Daily Archives: March 1, 2014

Rankotea community to receive mining royalties commission report


MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison Nono Maloyi will

on Saturday officially hand-over 600 houses to the communities of Groot Marico that has been living in an informal settlement situated next to the N4 in the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality.

The houses are now part of the departmental handing over programme of more than 8 000 houses between February and March across the province.

The programme seeks to speed-up the eradication of informal settlements in the province as to restore the dignity of community members and celebrating 20 years of democracy.

The handover ceremony will be held as follows:

Date: 01 March 2014
Time: 10H00
Venue: Groot Marico – Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality
-TDN
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McBride new Head of IPID


By Obakeng Maje
Pretoria-The Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa on Friday officially announced the appointment of Mr Robert McBride as the new Executive Director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
 
He will assume this position with effect 3 March 2014. 

“The Minister, together with Mr McBride will host a media briefing in the coming days to officially introduce him” departmental spokesperson Zweli Mnisi said. 

The briefing will provide Mr McBride to broadly outline his strategic vision towards ensuring that IPID continues to play its oversight role more effectively. 

“It will also provide members of the media to get an opportunity of interacting with him” Mnisi said.

Minister Mthethwa wishes Mr McBride all the best in his new role and remains confident that, with the support IPID management and staff, they will steer IPID to become an effective and efficient oversight institution within the criminal justice system.

The Minister further thanked the former Acting Executive Director, Ms Koekie Mbeki for having led IPID over the past year and half.-TDN
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Acting Premier Sebegoe applauds arrest of union leader found in possession of firearm and ammunition


The arrest of a union leader allegedly found in possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition signals a determination on the part of the police to stamp the tide of senseless killings and violence in the mining sector, North West Acting Premier Paul Sebegoe said on Friday.

“We applaud police for the arrest and trust that their effort to unmask the bullies behind the spate of killings and violence will be intensified to restore peace and stability,” Acting Premier Sebegoe stressed.

According to police, the 42 year old AMCU South Branch Chairperson at Impala mine was arrested at his home in Freedom Park Section in Phokeng in the early hours of Friday.

He is expected to appear in the Phokeng Magistrates Court on Monday.

Meanwhile, Sebegoe has also condemned in the strongest terms possible the alleged brutal assault of a 51-year old mine-worker who was reportedly assaulted with stones by striking workers.“These acts of violence undermine AMCU’s earlier commitment to peaceful strike and to respect the rights of non-striking workers,” the Acting Premier added. 

According to police, the victim was on his way to work when he was offered a lift in a car with two occupants.

But the car drove straight to a group of picketing mine workers. 

“The victim was allegedly undressed before being taken to a nearby dumping site where he was severely assaulted with stones, before being rescued by security officers,” Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said.

Two suspects arrested in connection with the assault will appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate Court on Wednesday next week.-TDN
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Rankotea community to receive mining royalties commission report


The community of Rankotea is to receive the findings of the much awaited Hendler Commission from the Office of the Premier for North West Province at a report back meeting to be held as from 10:00 am at the Vametco Hall in Rankotea near Mothotlung outside Brits today.

The Hendler Commission of Inquiry was appointed in 2008 by then Premier Edna Molewa in terms of the North West Commissions Act to investigate the management of the royalties and or income derived from mining companies and alleged activities of corruption and maladministration of the funds of the Rankotea community.

The commission completed its work in June 2013, despite two adjournments. In receiving the report on 4 November 2013, Premier Modise had undertook to study the report and action its recommendations.

The Premier had emphasised the significance of presenting the report to the Rankotea community as a matter of urgency and that the report to be presented to the Rankotea community should be translated into Setswana so as to accommodate all residents of Rankotea.

Family members of the joint co-owners, the family representatives and the residents of Rankotea who had participated in public hearings conducted by the Commission of inquiry to complete outstanding work after it was appointed by Premier Modise to resume its work. 

Among its terms of reference, the commission had also investigated:

– the functionality of the Executive Committee if any and other committees or subcommittees entrusted with the general management of the affairs of the community.

– to collect and examine information relating to the administration and management of the financial affairs of the community.

– the cause of continuous battles between all committees that were ever elected or appointed and recommend scenarios to be considered to ensure non-recurrence of such problems.

On completing its investigations, the commission had to make recommendations to Premier Modise on any proposed actions and/or steps to be taken to prevent the mismanagement of the funds of the community, including the appropriate financial and management structures that must be put in place for future management of the funds and general administration thereof.-TDN
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