COSATU NW conveys message of condolence to the victims of the accident on R503
3 May 2014

Mahikeng- The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West province have learned with sadness about the tragic death of five correctional officers and one policeman who were all members of its affiliate POPCRU.

The officials died after a tragic accident which happened between Mafikeng and Rooigrond yesterday in the afternoon.

“COSATU has several times questioned the state of the roads in the province but our call has fallen on deaf ears, while at the same time the roads in the province continue to claim the lives of innocent motorists and their passengers” Cosatu provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said.

Phetoe said the R503 road has been notorious for accidents which claim many lives.

“This has been happening for many years and our belief is that the accidents on that road are caused by the traffic volumes which divert on to that road to avoid an expensive toll gate near Swartruggens” he said.

COSATU calls on the Department of Transport, both national and in the province, to speed up the work of looking at the condition of the roads in the province. COSATU further demands that a thorough investigation must be made on the said accident.

COSATU conveys a message of condolence to the families who have lost their loved ones and to POPCRU which have lost members. They said may the departed souls rest in peace.

“We hope our government will take responsibility for all the funeral costs and the counselling of the family members and the workers who worked closely with those departed.” Phetoe concludes.-TDN
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Johannesburg – Twenty-three people will be prosecuted for the deaths of young men during last year’s initiation season in Mpumalanga, the NPA said on Tuesday.

At least 30 boys died at seven initiation schools in Kwaggafontein, KwaMhlanga, Verena, Delmas, Siyabuswa, Belfast and Middelburg last year.

“The police acted swiftly by opening dockets and commenced with the investigations,” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Nathi Mncube said.

The 23 would face a range of charges.

Doctors also face charges

“In separate trials, four medical doctors, 18 traditional circumcisers and one circumcision principal stand to be tried on 24 counts of culpable homicide, two counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and 12 counts of contravening… the Children’s Act.”

The Act prohibits the circumcision of children below 16 and allows for the circumcision of boys between 16 and 18 only in certain circumstances.

Inquests would be held in three of the deaths.

SAPA

By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg- Police recovered explosives with estimated street value of R135 000 at Lonmin mine in Rustenburg on Sunday at about 02:30.

Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said the police and mine security spotted three suspects walking underground where nobody is supposed to be due to the current strike.

“A reaction group was sent immediately to the shaft where they saw suspects coming out of the shaft, jumped over the fence and ran away” Ngubane said.

Police were allegedly recovered the following explosives and copper wire:

➢  201 x Explogel V6 Explosives Cartridges,➢  500 kg copper wire,➢  126 x Shock tube Assemblies- Reefmasters,➢  25x Durafuse Shock tube starter, and➢  1 x Reel Stopeline igniter cord. 

“It is not yet determined how these recovered properties were going to be utilised. No one has been arrested and SAPS members as well as security mine are still investigating” he said. 

A case of theft of explosives and copper cables is investigated.-TDN
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New Exco to accelerate economic and social transformation
The new North West Provincial Executive Council (Exco) is expected to accelerate economic and social transformation after Premier Supra Mahumapelo received a handover report from former Premier Thandi Modise over the weekend.
The handover ceremony attended by new Members of the Executive Council, the Acting Director General and Heads of Department signified a smooth transition from the previous administration led by Thandi Modise who is now Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. 

“We will continue to implement policies and programmes that further improve the quality of life of all, especially the poor and push ahead with the implementation of the Provincial Development Plan, our roadmap for roll out of the National Development Plan to promote an inclusive economic growth and job creation,” Premier Mahumapelo said at the ceremony. 

In keeping with his commitment to set up an effective and responsive provincial administration, Premier Mahumapelo has since made three strategic appointments in his private office to bolster the Premier’s Office and enhance dynamic interaction between his office and strategic stakeholders. 

Bishop Moagi Khunou of the Berachan Bible Church in  Mogwase who practiced as an Attorney for 18 years has been appointed Special Adviser to the Premier; former

Mayor of Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality, Ontlametse Motshwari is the Political Advisor to the Premier while Sam Mokaila who was the political advisor to former Premier Maureen Modiselle is responsible for Media Liaison and will also act as Spokesperson for the Premier. 

Premier Mahumapelo has expressed confidence that the collective brings together wealth of experience and expertise covering wide areas including legal, education,  media, political, religious  etc.
-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg- North West police arrested two suspects for dealing with dagga after two bags of dagga weighing 18,8kg were allegedly found in a house in Rustenburg.

Captain Philani Mvuna said the police acted on a tip-off after a member of community informed them about the dagga hidden in a specific house.

“The K9 cluster allegedly searched the house and found two bags hidden in the house. Police arrested two suspects aged 38 and 42 respectively” Mvuna said.

A man and a woman were arrested and will appear before Rustenburg Magistrate Court soon.

Police said they are gaining ground in a fight against proliferation of drugs in the area.

The dagga valued at R18 000.
-TDN
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Cape Town – New MPs began a five-day training course on Tuesday to learn the ropes of the legislature with a reminder that they were there to hold the executive to account.

“Democracy does turn into demo-crazy if public representatives remain ignorant of the responsibility they carry,” National Council of Provinces chairperron Thandi Modise told them.

“You can’t do your job if you don’t begin to understand the concept of holding the executive to account.”

Over half are new MPs

More than half of the members of the fifth democratic Parliament took up their seats for the first time, said senior parliamentary official Neil Nel.

Among them was Glynnis Breytenbach, the former senior state prosecutor who has became an MP for the Democratic Alliance.

Breytenbach said she thought the crash course in lawmaking appeared “quite well-structured”, adding she hoped to serve on the portfolio committee on justice for the official opposition.

“I hope so but I don’t have any expectation.”

She said the DA would allocate portfolios later in the week.

Comfortable

Economic Freedom Fighters MP Floyd Shivambu said he planned to take part in all portfolio committee work that went to the heart of the left-wing party’s policies.

“I’m going to work on land, nationalisation of mines, free education, all the issues that we have set out in our election manifesto.”

The former ANC Youth League spokesperson said he felt comfortable in Parliament.

“It feels good. We have a job to do and need to implement our agenda.”
His colleague Kgotso Morapela concurred: “I feel very much energised and looking forward to the work I have to do.”

The training course, dubbed “on-boarding”, will continue on Wednesday and, after a week-long break, resume on Wednesday next week.

It ranges from teaching new members how to access Parliament’s order papers and notices of announcements and tabled documents on their mobile phones to comprehensive guidelines on drafting legislation.

Efficiency

Timothy Layman, who manages policy analysis at Parliament’s legislative support sector, said the course has become weightier in some respects, as it now sought to draw on the experience of the past two decades to improve efficiency.

“It is more extensive in the fifth Parliament than before. We have developed new modules and larger programmes that take an overview of work done in all the legislatures,” he said.

Friddah Nkadimeng, a teacher from Limpopo who is taking her seat as a first-time ANC MP, brimmed with excitement as she sat reading documents in the Old Assembly chamber.

“I have this passion and I know I must now just hit the grass running.”
“I have been a councillor and a deputy principal, I am used to leading people but today it feels like a new start.”

– SAPA

Johannesburg – Following the dismissal of Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund on Monday, South African Football Association (SAFA) President Danny Jordaan and the National Executive Committee have commenced with the search for a new coach to take the national team forward.

Igesund was given the boot by the country’s governing body after they decided against renewing his two-year contract which is set to elapse at the end of July.
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-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Mahikeng- The Democratic Alliance would like to express its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the correctional services officials and the policeman who were killed in a tragic crash near Rooigrond correctional centre in the North West.

This follows a weekend during which road accidents claimed 5 lives in the North West Province. 

The five correctional services officials were driving in one vehicle when their car collided head on with a police car just a few metres outside the prison yesterday afternoon.

This road has become the North West Province’s “road of death” with serious accidents claiming multiple lives becoming regular events.

“The response of the North West Provincial traffic authorities in policing moving traffic violations is deficient. Provincial officers are mostly found in the shade of a tree at the entrances of towns,  clustered in a group of 3 or 4 in one vehicle, stopping vehicles and checking and recording the validity of silences, while transgressions such as high speed overtaking on solid white lines have become the norm” DA Chris Hattingh said.

Hattingh said even by government vehicles and the North West’s blue light brigade.

DA said this latest series of accidents should be a wake-up call for the North West Road Inspectorate to get out of its comfort zone and to enforce the traffic laws, especially those involving moving violations.

“This will save lives on our roads. Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends, colleagues and families of the deceased during this hard time” he concludes.-TDN
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Mahikeng- The Financial Management Improvement Support programme which was put in place by the department of Finance in the two years ago, aimed at assisting the departments and public entities to compile and submit annual financial statements in time has continued to yield positive results.

This became evident last Friday when all provincial departments and public entities beat the deadline and submitted their annual financial statements for audit purpose.

In terms of the Public Finance Management Acts (PFMA) accounting officers for a department, public entity or constitutional institution must submit financial statements within two months after the end of the financial year to the auditor general for auditing purpose.

MEC for Treasury and Enterprise Development Wendy Nelson said this is the step in the right direction as this is for the second year in a row that North West provincial government account for the use of state funds and resources on time.

The MEC commended the programme and said she hopes it continues so that the state of financial management in the province changes for the better.

Nelson who has just commenced with her work in the department said the improvement of financial management of government institutions to ensure accountability in the use of public funds is of utmost importance. She said the accountability for state resources will occupy centre stage in all phases of government planning in the provincial government going forward.

She said the provincial government will consolidate on the gains it has made and strengthen the efforts to attain good governance which remains vital towards service delivery and place the North West province on the countries’ map.

The MEC commended the entities such as Provincial Council on Aids for ensuring that the financial statements of the council are submitted despite the challenges raised by the new Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer.

“Against all odds the PCA managed to account for the funds used and this was made possible by the willpower of all officials concerned. This was made possible by the extent to which they carried out their responsibilities towards changing the face of audit and particularly the lives of ordinary people in the province”, said MEC.

She emphasized that the relationship between good governance and service delivery must at all times remain the key principles that underscores the work of government and the premise from which the leadership of this province develop a shared vision of the people.

The MEC said it is important that in every task carried official must strive for quality and not perform duties for compliance.

“I therefore hope that the annual financial statements which are submitted for 2013/14 financial year will get the province an unqualified opinions at the end of the audit period otherwise it will be myopic and self defeating”, said MEC.

The event was attended by amongst others, chief financial officers and personnel in the financial management sections, the provincial accountant general Mr Geo Paul, department of finance HoD Mr Raedani Maada and the provincial auditor general Mr Lee Ally.-TDN
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