Daily Archives: February 27, 2014

MEC Maloyi continues to accelerate access to housing in NW


Klerksdorp-MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison Nono Maloyi will on Friday officially hand-over houses to about 188 families of Joubertina Extension 16 in the Matlosana Local Municipality. The families have been staying in informal settlements.

The gesture is part of the departmental handing over programme of more than 8 000 houses between the February and March month, across the province. The programme also seeks to speed eradicate informal settlements, restoring the dignity community members and celebrating 20 years of democracy.

The media is invited to be part of the handover ceremony which will be held as follows:

Date: 28 February 2014

Time: 10H00

Venue: Jourbertina Extension 16
-TDN
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Bafana Bafana/Brazil game, a special moment – Gauteng Premier


Johannesburg- The international friendly match between Bafana Bafana and Brazil was yet another opportunity to show the outside world how good the country was in hosting events, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane told the media on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Bafana Bafana versus Brazil game scheduled for 5 March 2014 at FNB Stadium, Mokonyane said the upcoming clash with five-time world champions was also an opportunity to show people how stable and united South Africa is.

Bafana Bafana take on Brazil in a match which is to mark 20 years of the country’s freedom. The match is scheduled to kick off at 19h00 and both teams will use the occasion to unveil their new kit.

Brazil will be unveiling their 2014 FIFA World Cup playing kit while Bafana Bafana will show off their new Nike gear.

“This is a special occasion which should be celebrated by all South Africans. We should also take this occasion to celebrate our late Father of the Nation, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s legacy,” said Premier Mokonyane.

Current BRICS chair, President Jacob Zuma will be handing over the chairmanship to his Brazilian counterpart and South Africa will also be handing over the World Cup button to Brazil who will be hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan reiterated the fact that every match played between South Africa and Brazil was special. This upcoming one was more special, he said.

“This is Brazil’s World Cup squad with an array of stars plying their trade in Europe for top sides like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Paris St Germain, just to name a few. You will never get another opportunity like this one if you don’t buy your ticket in time,” said the SAFA president.

“Let me take this opportunity to wish Brazil well in hosting the World Cup and we want them to know we are always on hand to offer any assistance if required,’ he added.
FNB Stadium management CEO Jacques Grobbelaar said all logistics pertaining to transport and security matters had been finalised and it was all systems go.

“Come to the stadium early, utilise the public transport and come and have a great day,” said Grobbelaar.
Tickets can be purchased at Computicket, Shoprite and Shoprite Checkers stores countrywide and are going for R50, R100 and R200.-TDN
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Police arrested 20 protesters near Setlagole


By Obakeng Maje
Setlagole-In order to bring the situation under control and restore order, the police had to use rubber bullets and stun grenades on Thursday at around 10:00 to disperse a crowd of approximately 400 hundred people.

This is after the crowd gathered illegally and blocked N18 between Vryburg and Mahikeng with burning tyres at approximately 03:00, thus affecting the free flow of traffic. 

“The community allegedly barricaded the road and demanded to be given feedback by the Mayor of Ratlou Local Municipality on issues pertaining to the memorandum they handed on 14 February 2014. They were allegedly expecting to get feedback on Wednesday, and that did not happen” Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said.

In the process of dispersal, 20 persons, I.e 9 females and 11 males with ages still to be determined, were arrested. 

“According to the information available at this stage, unconfirmed number of shops owned by foreign nationals were also looted. That led to arrest of 7, I.e 4 females and 3 males for possession of suspected stolen goods” Ngubane said.

It was also reported that attempt was made to set alight the house of the Mayor, but the police intervened and only windowpanes were damaged after being pelted with stones by protesters.   

All suspects are expected to appear in Atamelang Magistrates’ Court soon for Public Violence, Possession of suspected stolen goods, business robbery and Contravention of Road Traffic Act. 

The leadership of the protesters or concerned community members are urged to ensure that they behave properly and refrain from criminal activities like looting of shops.

“The community must ensure that they expose criminal elements who hide themselves behind legitimate service delivery concerns by committing crime” concludes Ngubane. 

The police are still monitoring the situation.-TDN
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Mi Casa to perform at Bafana Bafana, Brazil game


Johannesburg-Top musical group, Mi Casa is excited to perform at the Bafana Bafana versus Brazil game which will be played at FNB Stadium on 5 March 2014.

The match kicks off at 19h00 and tickets for the match are sold at Computicket, Shoprite and Shoprite Checkers Stores across the country for R50, R100 and R200.

“For us performing at the game between our Bafana Bafana and world soccer icons Brazil is truly a dream come true. This is one step closer to realising our dream of performing at the World Cup in Brazil this year”.
 
“We can’t wait to see the stadium packed with supporters and for us all to celebrate through music and sport our beautiful country and the 20 years we have enjoyed of democracy,” said Mi Casa publicist Collin Mokgaotsi.

Gates at FNB Stadium open at 16h00 and Mi Casa will start playing at 17h30 and at half-time.-TDN
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Five died in fatal accident


By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg-Five men lost their lives on the N4-highway near Rustenburg on Wednesday afternoon at about 17:30 when the car they were driving in collided with another.

They were approximately 2,5 km from Rustenburg when the vehicle they were driving in Opel Astra when it collided with a white Toyota Fortuner. 

“Both occupants of the Fortuner were taken to hospital with serious injuries, while only one occupant in the Opel Astra managed to survive the accident and was admitted at hospital” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said. 

Mokgwabone said it is still unclear who was driving the Opel Astra.

A case of Culpable Homicide is registered.-TDN
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Acting Premier welcomes reinstatement of farmerworker’s murder trial   


The reinstatement of the trial of two farmers alleged to have electrocuted a farmworker should ensure that his family finds closure and restore public confidence in the criminal justice system, North West Acting Premier Paul Sebegoe said on Thursday.

“Although the majority of farmers in our province treat their workers well, incidents of human right violation, worker abuse and disregard for the law by some farmers are an affront to our democracy and need to be stamped out. We hope that justice will be served and that appropriate action will be taken against those who sought to misrepresent the facts surrounding the case,” Acting Premier Sebegoe stressed. 

The trial resumed on Monday in the Vryburg Magistrates Court after new evidence by a state forensic pathologist was presented which contradicted testimony that Bakang Moleko had died of natural causes.

Sixty-nine -year- old Mathys Cloete and his son Danie, 34, were arrested on Monday 3 September 2012, after they allegedly assaulted, electrocuted and killed a farm worker Bakang Moleko, 24, and seriously injured Shadrack Anderson, 20.

The two suspects who had been out on R2000 bail are facing charges of murder, attempted murder, assault and pointing a firearm.

The Cloetes’ allegedly assaulted Moleko and Anderson after accusing the two of stealing tyres and 50 litre of diesel at their farm in Boshoek.

It is alleged that Danie choked one of them with a car battery booster cable after they refused to tell the truth. The deceased collapsed and Danie poured water on his face to wake him, but was certified died upon arriving at the local clinic.

 Moleko’s body was kept in a government mortuary for nine months due to postmortem disputes.-TDN
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Woman traffic officer assaulted by motorist in Zeerust

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Zeerust-A middle aged BMW X 5 driver will appear in Zeerust Magistrate court today, following allegations of assaulting a female traffic officer. North West Provincial Traffic Authorities said a case of assault and crimen injuria was opened at the Zeerust police station.

Traffic Authorities said the driver failed to stop at the four-way-intersection along the N4 road in Zeerust and refused to provide his full details as the officer was issuing a traffic fine for failing to stop. The driver allegedly assaulted the officer claiming to be wasting his time.

North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Nono Maloyi harshly condemned the action and said that he viewed it seriously as it is not the first one in the province. MEC Maloyi further called on motorists in general to cooperate with traffic authorities and obey the road traffic laws.

“No one is above the law. We must all obey the law and cooperate with authorities. When you are not complying with the road laws and regulation, traffic authorities will panelise you,” said Maloyi.

The incident is the third following the two ongoing cases, with the first one registered in Ventersdorp police station after a farmer, Karen Petrus Coetzer was arrested and charged for assault and failure to furnish information to traffic officers.

The farmer allegedly assaulted three women traffic officers on the R-30 road between Derby and Ventersdorp. It is reported that he refused to cooperate after the officers discovered that his vehicle’s disc expired in 2007.

The second case was registered in the Mahikeng police station where a 33-year-old Mahikeng taxi driver was arrested and charged for crimen injuria and intimidating a female traffic officer while in duty. All the cases are still under investigation.-TDN
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“Abandoned houses in Extension 6, Taung used for criminal activities”

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By Obakeng Maje
Taung-The Housing project that started more than seven years ago in Taung is yet to be completed as there are some abandoned unfinished houses in the area.

Taung Extension 6 housing project was piloted many years ago and most houses have people abode in.

However all is not well as there are more than 15 empty houses that are now dilapidating.

The project was allegedly abeyance because of internal issues.

North West Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liason spokesperson Ben Bole said they are planning to complete the process before the end of March 2014.

“We have done physical assessments of the said project, financial reconciliation and quantification of the project. We are currently busy with the supply chain processes to procure a contractor that will complete the project” said Bole.

Most of the residents are living in abject poverty in the area and said the abandoned house invite vagrants in the area where they conduct their criminal activities.

“We anticipate to finalize the whole process by end March 2014 so that the contractor can start in the new financial year” outlines Bole.
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The North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison Nono Maloyi expressed his satisfaction about the quality of houses that are given to the beneficiaries in other parts of North West.

Maloyi said this during the handing over of more than 700 houses in Jouberton, ext 20 where two blind beneficiaries became proud owners of dignified homes.

According to Maloyi, housing is one of the major challenges facing the government. However, he said that government has to ensure that houses handed over to beneficiaries are of great quality, despite the pressure caused by the ever increasing backlog country wide.

He said that government’s main objective is to build quality and dignified homes for generations to come.

Taung has experienced many various crimes and residents said abandoned houses like this can only spell danger as they are used as ajourns by criminals.