Monthly Archives: February 2014

Opt for balanced lifestyle to reduce cancer – Premier Modise


Premier Thandi Modise has urged residents of the North West Province to practice a healthy lifestyle in the fight against cancer.

 

“We are very concerned about high incidents of cancer in the province and wish to amplify the message for our people to prioritise a healthy lifestyle as way to fight this pandemic,” said Premier Modise on Tuesday during World Cancer Day.

 

The day is commemorated world-wide annually on February 4.

 

This year’s message is especially intended to reduce stigma and dispel myths about cancer, under the tagline “Debunk the myths”. 

Premier Modise said her administration support any legitimate form of awareness and effective prevention to reduce the pandemic and promote effective management of the condition where it already exists.

 

 “We know that prevention is better than cure and therefore wish to appeal to our people to reduce or stop tobacco smoking, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diet and general lifestyles that increase the risk of cancer,” said Premier Modise.

 

Accounting to research, tobacco use contributes almost 30% of cancer-related incidents, while unhealthy lifestyle including poor diet and lack of exercise account for about 30% to 40%.

 

Other causes include environmental factors and genetic predispositions.

 

Premier Modise says it is crucial that members of the pubic are educated about the pandemic as a way to dispel misconceptions and stereotypes about cancer.-TDN
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ATM blasted, Police shot dead in N West


By Obakeng Maje
Stilfontein-A case of Murder and contravention of Explosives Act whereby a 28-year-old constable was shot dead and an Automatic Teller Machine(ATM) was allegedly blasted at approximately 00:45  on Thursday. 

“It is alleged that the police were patrolling the area near Civic centre when several shots were fired  at them by unknown suspects” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

The incident happened about 300 metres away from the Civic centre where the (ATM) was. The Constable allegedly lost control of the vehicle after being shot.

The vehicle collided with a tree. 

“According to information, the other member managed to get out of the car, but was confronted by the suspects who forced him together with a passer-by to accompany them towards (ATM) which was ultimately blasted with an explosive” Mokgwabone said.

The deceased police’s firearm is missing and no cash was taken from the ATM during the incident.

No one has been arrested and investigation continues.-TDN
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Premier Modise condemns violent protests in Majakaneng    


Majakaneng-North West Premier has reiterated her call to communities to give the interventions to implementation of the over R2 billion Provincial water projects plan to be rolled out across the province in the short to medium term a chance. This follows a protest during which a cement truck was torched in Majakaneng outside Brits on Thursday.

“Communities should not allow themselves to be mobilised to be part of an agenda that seeks to create chaos in order to disrupt the momentum of interventions aimed at ridding Madibeng of fraud and corruption that has negatively affected delivery of basic services,” appealed Premier Modise in condemning the violent protest.
Modise urged communities to exercise their constitutional right to protest responsibly and not destroy properties.
“We have committed to engage stakeholders and community representatives of all communities across the province with water challenges to familiarise them with the plan. There is therefore no need for communities to be misled to participate in illegal matches, burn properties or allow themselves to be used by those who seek to exploit their genuine concerns to create an environment for chaos,” stressed Modise.-TDN
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Choseng residents irked over water shortage

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By Obakeng Maje

Pudumong-The community of Choseng village, near Pudumong were up in arms after their taps dried up for months. The community representatives allegedly wrote a letter of grievances to minister of Water Affairs, mme Edna Molewa.

 

Molewa’s office sent her representatives to compile a report.

 

The delegates was headed by Ismael Khumoeng who said he will deliver the community’s letter to relevant authorities and they will take it from there.

 

“We do not have answers for now , I will take your memorandum to the relevant authorities. The minster’s office will interact with them to make sure the issue is prioritized” Khumoeng said.

 

The community of Choseng village and their neighbourhood have been struggling with water to such extend that water tanks were brought to aid the process.

 

“We would like to urge Sedibeng water to supply us with clean water as the water they brought, sometime taste bitter” one of community members outlines.

 

However Sedibeng Communication Officer rre Legalammitwa said the community must make sure that they inform them immediately with any water problem they experience.

 

“Please make sure that as a community member you inform us immediately about any problem you experience with our water. We have a laboratory in place and all water supplied to the community is tested” Legalammitlwa said.

 

The community said they will wait with bated breath to see their request be attended to.-TDN

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ACDP: ANC good in social reform, bad in economy

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Johannesburg – The African National Congress government is doing well in social reform such as health care and housing, but is unable to tackle the economy, the ACDP said on Wednesday.

 
“Our economic growth is lagging behind compared with fellow growing countries; unemployment is rampant, especially among the youth,” African Christian Democratic Party representative Jo-Ann Downs said at an election debate with other political party leaders in Johannesburg.
 
The elimination of subsidies in agriculture had led to 600 000 job losses in the sector, she said.
 
“At least 90% of the unemployed are unskilled black people. That is a huge problem.”
 
The lack of broadband and infrastructure roll-out had also cost the country economic growth, she said.
 
Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said unions should not dictate economic policies.
 
“We are not against unions. I was once in the forefront of protecting workers’ rights many years ago,” Buthelezi said.
 
“But despite the value of unions, they cannot dictate economic policy. Strike action is costing the country more than we are able to pay and is discouraging new business,” Buthelezi said.
– SAPA

A man arrested with dagga in Kimberley


By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley-Police are investigating a possession of dagga case after a 35 year-old man was arrested near the Indian Centre Taxi Rank in Kimberley.

On 4 January 2014 at approximately 14:00 the Kimberley Visible Policing unit were busy with routine vehicle patrols.

“The vigilant police officers spotted the suspicious looking man carrying a black gym bag. The police stopped and search the suspect and found 6 bags of compressed dagga inside the bag. The dagga weighs 8.65kg and has a street value of approximately R50 000,00” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

The suspect was arrested and should be appearing in the Kimberley Magistrate Court soon. The investigation continues.-TDN
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Sebegoe calls for belt tightening measure


Mahikeng-The MEC for Finance Paul Sebegoe has called on consumers in the province to tighten their belts and spend their hard earned cash wisely in the wake of the recent hike of the interest rate by the reserve bank.

The primary responsibility of the bank is to keep inflation under control and ensure that inflation expectations remain well anchored.

“The bank increased the repo rate, the rate at which reserve bank lends money to commercial banks by 50 basis points or half a per cent to 5.5 percent there by pushing the prime rate from 8.5 per cent to 9 percent. The prime rate is the rate at which commercial banks lend money to consumers and businesses” Sebegoe said.

He said the increase of 50 basis points of the repo rate announced at monetary policy committee meeting by reserve governor Gill Marcus means that consumers with debts including personal loans, mortgage loans and credit cards will have to fork out a little more to service their monthly premium.

The monetary policy committee carefully considered economic challenges facing South Africa which include the weaker rand exchange rate, a threat to South Africa’s inflation outlook as it makes imported goods like oil more expensive to buy, and reacted with the appropriate policy response.

“The hike in interest rates will further exacerbate interest on government debt issued domestically in the form of bonds and treasury bills, which is also likely to follow suit and edge higher. A combination of higher interest rate and the imminent increase in the petrol price, expected to fall just short of R14 a litre, will have a negative and undesired impact on the consumers who are already feeling the pinch considering the expenses that come with January month of having to pay for school fees, uniforms and registrations at institutions of higher education”.

“I therefore advise consumers to moderate their appetite for debt and to differentiate between their needs and wants, spend their monies wisely and just forget the nice to have things which will further add to their financial distress in future,” said Sebegoe, who added that more interest rate and petrol hikes are looming if macro-economic fundamentals do not change for the better.-TDN
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MEC MALOYI TO HAND OVER 8000 HOUSES ACROSS NW


Bloemhof-Ms Maria Selale of extension 5 in Boitumelong location in Bloemhof says she is the happiest person in the world to have been given a house by government.

The 67 year old Selale is one of many people who benefited from many housing projects by the Department of Human Settlements Public Safety and Liaison in the North West. Ms Selale was officially given a house by the Departmental MEC Nono Maloyi during the first leg of handing houses over to beneficiaries across the province.

Ms Selale was the first to be honored, of the more than 8000 houses that are to be official handed over to beneficiaries in the next two months. The pensioner, who survives through social grants, says the house will protect her from cold weather conditions which will ease her arthritis.

She could not hide her excitement and gratitude for the best gift ever in her life. “This will be my home and my grand children’s home. I have been living in shacks which exposed me to unbearable weather conditions. I am happy now that government has made life easy for me”, said the exuberant Selale.

Handing over houses from the first project in Boitumelong in the Lekwateemane Municipality, MEC Maloyi called on beneficiaries to take good care of those houses as they are a promise made in 1955 through the Freedom Charter and also as a constitutional obligation by government to deserving and legible beneficiaries in the country.

“It is gratifying to know that people’s lives are changing for the better on daily bases. Providing a home to deserving South Africans is a clear indication that government is prepared to better the lives of ordinary South Africans. We will continue to deliver services and not just services but quality services”, said MEC Maloyi.

The handing over programme will continue until the end of March. The MEC will among others handover low cost houses, rental stock, financially linked individual subsidy programme and Community residential units.-TDN
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Register to elect government of your choice– Premier Modise


North West Premier Thandi Modise has ahead of the last voter registration scheduled for this weekend urged everyone to register in order to excise their hard earned democratic rights to elect the government of their choice during the National and Provincial elections to be held later this year.

“People must make sure that they register in order to participate in the democratic process. First time voters and those who have relocated since the last election must visit their nearest voter registration points with their green, bar-coded Identity documents to register,” said Premier Modise.

The Independent Electoral Commission has set aside the weekend of 8 and 9 February 2014 for a nationwide voter registration campaign targeting new eligible voters.

The voting registration points will be open between 8am and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

“It is also important that we all check if our names appear in the voter’s roll to avoid last minute disappointment. We should exercise our right to vote in order to sustain our hard won democracy and uphold Madiba’s legacy,” said Modise.-TDN
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Northern Cape lease tenders were not advertised

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Kimberley – The Northern Cape government entered into lease agreements with the Trifecta Group without advertising any tenders, a court heard in Kimberley on Tuesday.

 

Northern Cape High Court Judge Mathebe Phatshoane was hearing evidence in the case against Northern Cape ANC heavyweights John Block, Alvin Botes, Yolanda Botha and Trifecta director Christo Scholtz.

 

They face charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.

 

The State called it first witness – Trevor White, a PWC forensic auditor form KwaZulu-Natal.

 

White spent most of the afternoon explaining the background and composition of the first of three forensic reports before the court.

 

The National Prosecuting Authority alleges the Trifecta Group entered into a number of lease agreements with the Northern Cape social development department in which rentals, or rental space, were grossly inflated.

 

As a result, the Trifecta Group received, or would receive, rentals of R57m at the end of the lease agreements.

 

There were also leases involving two other government departments.

 

White explained the Jyba Trust, with beneficiaries to be named by Botha, acquired 10% shares in Trifecta Investment Holdings for only R100, while the shares were worth millions.

 

Scholtz and a deceased Northern Cape businessman Sarel Breda were the directors of Trifecta Investment Holdings through their own trusts.

 

Breda died in an aircraft crash in the Northern Cape in March 2009.

 

White told the court that the National Treasury appointed PWC to investigate the various lease agreements entered into involving Trifecta in January 2012.

 

Pleading not guilty

 

Earlier, all the accused handed in plea explanations to the court after pleading not guilty to all the charges.

 

Scholtz explained he asked Breda to help with a business opportunity after it was identified there was a massive shortage of infrastructure in the Northern Cape.

 

This included office space in Kimberley and surrounding towns.

 

Scholtz told the court he had very little knowledge of Trifecta transactions in the Northern Cape done by Breda.

 

He denied any alleged attempt to give the other accused money as a reward for getting government leases.

 

Botha, in her plea explanation, also denied that the 10% shares she received in Trifecta Investment Holdings was gratification.

 

In his plea explanation, Block said at the time of the alleged offences he was not employed by a government department and he had to fend for himself as a businessman.

 

Referring to some payments to him, Block said those were payments for work done in his personal capacity.

 

Contested renovations to an Upington guesthouse, apparently done with Trifecta money, were done through a loan from Breda. Block was paying the loan, the court heard.

 

He further denied he had committed unlawful acts of corruption or influenced anybody to act unlawfully in regard to leases for Trifecta.

 

Botes, in his plea explanation, said he denied any unlawful act such as efforts to convince the department of social development to take a rental contract with Trifecta.

 

Referring to certain payments from Trifecta, Botes said those were salary payments for a period while not employed by a government department.

 

The trial continues.

 

SAPA