Daily Archives: June 4, 2014

Greater Taung Municipality gets R218 million budget


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The Greater Taung Municipality delivered its much-anticipated budget speech on Wednesday by its Executive Mayor, cllr Kaone Lobelo.

Even though the budget speech left some with sour taste in their mouths, most of the opposition parties and public at large applaud it.

Lobelo said even though Taung is faced with a mammoth task to overcome, it will be amiss not to mention the present achievements and challenges overcame during the past financial year.

According to Statistic South Africa Community Survey, unemployment is one of the biggest challenges South Africa is facing with 23% rate. Lobelo said the municipality is slightly more than 90% of the municipality is rural with a high indigent rate.

“The municipality is graded at 3 in terms of the determination of upper limits for Councilors allowances and salaries. Agriculture remains the biggest source of livelihood in the area” Lobelo outlines.

Mayor Lobelo also took time to thank all South Africans who took time to go and cast their votes on 07 May 2014 to let their voices heard. However he said the stable democracies are not only measured by elections, but are also measured by the opportunities they create for sustainable livelihoods for citizens.

“People all over South Africa and the Greater Taung Local Municipality have a good twenty year story to tell about the democracy that we celebrate this year. The Greater Taung we live in today is better than yesterday” he said.

According to Lobelo, the Greater Taung is constantly changing and the living conditions of its people are improving. He also said the government has adopted the National Development Plan as the guiding tool for accelerated service delivery to the people of its country until 2030.

“In developing this budget, we have taken into account the inputs of our people during the IDP/Budget roadshows we held across the municipality in April 2014. We want to thank the people of our municipality for their overwhelming turnout at various venues where these important meetings were held” Lobelo said.

The budget of R218 million was bestowed to Greater Taung Municipality on Wednesday and the money was detailed according to priorities need to be upgraded by municipality.

Human Settlement

According to municipality, more than 2030 housing units have been delivered across the municipality between 2011 and 2013. The completion of the remaining 104 units in Extension 6 to the value of R11 million will start during 2014/2015.

“Another 350 residents will benefit from the Ba Phuduhucwana Rural Housing project also referred to as Mankuroane Gardens valued at R39 million, 931 units valued at R102 million will also be completed across the municipality during 2014/2015” said Lobelo.

Another project that will benefit the residents of Boipelo Township in Reivilo is valued at R22 million with 200 units to be built.

Community Services

“We have allocated R500 000 to refurbish sports facilities including the Taung Pudumoe and Manthe Sports Grounds. We will also planning to blade school sport grounds during 2014/2015” he said.

R250 000 was allocated on fencing local cemeteries and R350 000 will go Reivilo Park.

Boipelo Library in Reivilo will also get R620 000 for refurbishment and Pudumoe library will opened its doors soon after it was built at the value of R7 million.

Good Governance

The principles of Batho Pele are inculcated in all those who work for the municipality. “We have evaluated our organizational structure and proposed new positions to ensure that it helps us meet our set objectives. Atleast nine positions were identified as critical. We will also continue to fight corruption and improve our working relations with the Auditor General so that we can all work towards a clean audit” he said.

Mayor Kaone Lobelo also touched many items like;

Corporate and Educational Support
Disaster and Emergency
Community Safety
Local Economic Development
Public Participation
Community Based Planning
Communications and Customer Care
Integrated Sustainable Development
Neighborhood Development Program
Municipal Infrastructure Grant
Expanded Public Works Programme
Internal Audit, Audit Committee and Risk Management
Finance

Most of opposition parties applaud the budget and said they are positive the municipality could deliver.

“We would like to applaud the municipality for its budget and we wish all what has been said could be implemented and delivered ” DA councillor A.P Scholtz said.

Also APC leader Martha Hermanus said the municipality must fight corruption as it derails service delivery.

Thapelo Galeboe said the budget does not includes the youth development and the youth are the backbone of the economy. “The youth must be included in many structures so that we can be represented. We are now facing economic struggle and we need more projects where the youth can be equipped with skills. The socio-economic revival is key.”

Kgosi Nyoko Motlhabane sent a vote of thanks and lauds the municipality. He also urged the municipality to come up with a plan to develop the community of Taung especially the youth.-TDN
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Banyana Banyana preparations in full swing


Johannesburg- Sasol Banyana Banyana’s preparations are in full swing ahead of their friendly international match against Botswana.

The clash will take place on Saturday, 7 June 2014 at the Vaal University of Technology Stadium.

Kick-off is at 15h00.

The South Africans are using the match as part of their preparations for the upcoming 2014 African Women’s Championships that will be held in Namibia from 11 – 25 October.

The Senior Women’s National Team started their camp on Sunday, 1 June.

“It is unfortunate that Comoros withdrew from the second leg, but I am grateful that everyone at SAFA and Sasol reacted quickly and worked hard for us to get a match against Botswana. We have more friendly matches lined up against stronger opponents to ensure that we get the team ready for the African Women’s Championships,” said Pauw

Pauw has invited strikers Kgadi Mokoma and Chantelle Esau from Sasol League triple national champions Palace Super Falcons from Gauteng and Mpumi Nyandeni from Russia to be part of the team for the match.

“We have had a look at a lot of players and with 144 teams participating in the Sasol League, the reality is that we cannot invite everyone. The group we have now is the core of the team and we believe that they are capable of doing a great job, starting with the match against Botswana on Saturday,” added Pauw.

Botswana is expected to arrive in South Africa on Thursday (5 June).

They will have a training session at the match venue on Friday.-TDN
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Mahumapelo: Mahikeng to be vibrant and industrialised


Mahikeng should be cleaner, vibrant and an industrialised, says Premier Mahumapelo. He has revealed that part of his rebranding, repositioning and renewal project to change the image of the province includes economic revival of the provincial capital of the North West, Mahikeng into a cleaner, vibrant and industrialised city.

Premier Mahumapelo who was accompanied by members of the new Provincial Executive Council made the disclosure at a consultative meeting with the Mahikeng business community held on Tuesday evening.

“The Saamtrek-Saamwerk philosophy underpins partnership between government and the business sector which is critical to massify and expand our economy for the province to move forward with speed and quality” Premier Mahumapelo stressed.

In committing to radicalize government for accelerated economic, social transformation and job creation, Mahumapelo invited the business sector and communities in the province to contribute their suggestions for his State of the Province Address (SOPA) to be delivered on the 27 June through email to be addressed to sopa@nwpg.gov.za or alternatively to post them on the website : www.bualesupra.nwpg.gov.za.Access to funding, reopening of the Mafikeng International Airport, youth empowerment, the cleanliness of the Mafikeng town, the prevalence of people from outside the province benefiting from tenders awarded to the exclusion of those in the province, the recapitalization and commercialization of key infrastructure assets were some of the issued raised by the business community for redress by the provincial government.

Responding to allegations of corruption in awarding of tenders and supply chain processes, Premier Mahumapelo said that his administration will in line with its zero tolerance on corruption stance investigate the allegations.

MEC for Public Works and Roads, Madoda Sambata appealed to the business sector to assist his department to clean corruption and for the sector to stop corrupting government officials.

“The Department of Public Works and Roads is not about parasitic accumulation of wealth but development,” Sambata said.

Commenting on the meeting, local businessman Youssuf Dada of Dada Motors said that the meeting has ignited hope that the province is moving in the right direction.

Businesswoman Babadi Tlatsana of Kenk Suppliers and Distributors said that the interaction was positive and has laid the foundation for the business sector to contribute its skill in the rebranding, repositioning and renewal project.-TDN
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North West writers invited to raise their voices


By Obakeng Maje
Mahikeng- Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation will host its first of many staged readings, as a way of encouraging the telling of new stories, and the development of new trends of writing. In this first ever staged readings the following works will be under scrutiny.

 Intuition – by Douglas Tsimane  

The production is about human intuition, how we respond to our human intuition and our ability to listen and respond to our inner self.

 The Greatest Gift Above – by Fitzgerald Goeieman (his latest work include Florence and Nothing but the truth)

“A staged reading is a form of theatre without sets or full costumes. The actors, who read from scripts, may be seated, stand in fixed positions, or incorporate minimal stage movement” Mmabana Marketing Manager Trinity Bogotsi said.
 
Artists, theatre-practitioners (writers, actors, directors) and audiences are therefore invited to this event organized as follows:
 
Venue : Mmabana Head Office (Studio 1)
Date : 07 June May 2014
Time : 10:00 am – 16:00 pm
Admission : FREE
-TDN
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Two injured, one dead in a collision


By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg- Police are investigating a case of Culpable Homicide after two vehicles collided this morning at around 6:30 on the R24 (old Pretoria Road) outside Rustenburg.

Sergeant Kealeboga Molale said that the two vehicles, the Toyota Tazz and Opel Corsa collided with each other. 

“The 48 year-old male driver of the Toyota Tazz died on the scene and the male driver of the Opel Corsa was transported to Peglarae Hospital while the female passenger was transported to Job Shimankane Tabane Hospital both with serious injuries” Molale said.

Police investigation continues.-TDN
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DA: Electricity disconnection in Tswaing deplorable


By Obakeng Maje
Tswaing Municipality started disconnecting electricity without giving the legal notice as required to consumers as part of their Credit Control Policy on Friday last week, says DA in the province.

DA media liaison officer Tiaan Kotze said disconnection occurred without reconciling accounts. 

“Many consumers paid their accounts over the past 2 years, but did not receive credit on their accounts for these payments to date” Kotze said.

A supermarket which is a rented building in Ottosdal was disconnected with a paid-up account at the municipality while all legal procedures were followed in signing a new contract with Tswaing and payment of the required deposit 2 years ago. 

DA said the owner has never failed to pay the account during this period. 

“They were disconnected because the owner of the building has an outstanding bill with Tswaing. They had to acquire legal assistance to reconnect them before loss of products in cold storage occurred” he said.

The Democratic Alliance in Tswaing agrees that Credit Control should be enforced legally.  But the Consumers have a right to be issued with a correct account reflecting all the payments paid to Tswaing before disconnections can be enforced. 

“The Finance Department should know that a consumer must be given a final notice informing the consumer of the proposed disconnection before any disconnection of electricity occurs” he outlines. 

The Democratic Alliance said they further demand that Tswaing follow the prescribed Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) procedure when disconnecting electricity of Consumers. 

Kotze said when lists for disconnection are compiled there should be no discrimination against account holders but all consumers at fault are treated equal and not only selected ones.

“When the disconnection were done, all the telephones were switched off and consumers could not make contact with the Municipal Manager, the acting Chief Finance Officer (CFO) or the Credit Control Manager.” 

“Electricity of some of the consumers was only restored on Sunday without making contact with the relevant responsible officials” says Kotze.

The DA said they will hold this executive to account to ensure that fairness and equality returns to Tswaing Local Municipality.-TDN
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North West Provincial Govt to intervene in Khunotswana fiasco


Zeerust- A high level government delegation is to address the community of Khunotswana near Zeerust in Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality following several service delivery protests in the area since in April 2014 which saw the community setting alight the traditional council offices and a house belonging to a ward councillor, Boitumelo Sikwa.

The team which was announced by Premier Supra Mahumapelo last week will comprise of the MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Collen Maine, MEC for Education and Sport Development, Mmaphefo Matsemela and MEC for Public Works and Roads, Madoda Sambatha.

“Amongst concerns that the community have raised are the poor conditions of roads, insufficient water supply, lack of housing and electricity supply and these protests led to children not going to school” departmental spokesperson Dineo Lolokwane said.

Details of the meeting are as follows:

Date: 05 June 2014

Time:13h00

Venue:Khunotswana sports ground
-TDN
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Child Protection Week launched in Kimberley


By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley- The police together with Department of Health, SANCA, Love Life, Eye on the Child, Light Holistic Care Centre and the Kimberley Community Police Forum held a programme in Colville, Kimberley.

The programmes started at 14:30 on Wednesday and this multi-disciplinary approach forms part of the National Child Protection Week which is held between 2 and 6 June 2014.

Topics such as drug abuse, child abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV and Aids and the protection of children were at the order of the day.

“Children were reminded of their rights and the responsibilities that come with these rights. Parents were also informed of child neglect, foetal alcohol syndrome and reminded of the task they have at hand with raising their children” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

Several care givers, social workers and child abuse and councillors made presentations emphasizing to the community that help is available and encouraged them to speak out on any form of abuse they might be aware of.

Several of the programmes are planned for National Child Protection Week and beyond, where children and the community are motivated to dream, believe and achieve. The children were also spoilt with some gifts and treats which were sponsored ENA Protection Services.-TDN
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Rooigrond accident victims named


By Obakeng Maje
Mahikeng- The Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services has released names of five correctional officials that were fatally wounded in a tragic car accident near Rooigrond Correctional Centre in North West on 2nd June 2014. 

The deceased officials, who were stationed at Rooigrond Correctional Centre are:•Mr Johannes Kanono Moruledi;•Mr Tiisetso Morris Motsamayi;•Mr Charles Rantlwana Sekgobela;•Mr Luncedo Ebenezer Tshangela; and •Mr Simon Mosue Lesajane.

“A joint team of social workers and psychologists from the Departments of Health and Correctional Services began counselling sessions for the affected officials and family members today.The Acting National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Ms Nontsikelelo Jolingana, will lead a  high level entourage to the accident site to lay a wreath and proceed to address a memorial service to be held at the Rooigrond Correctional Centre on Thursday 5 May 2014 at 10:00.The fatal accident was a head on collision between the correctional officials’ and the South African Police Services’ cars. The accident  happened on R501 road near the Rooigrond Correctional Centre. The five officials had just knocked from an early shift on 2 June and they were heading to Mahikeng” Rooigrond Correctional Services Department said.-TDN
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Greater Taung Municipality To Announce Its Budget Speech


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The Greater Taung Municipality will table its Intergrated Development Plan during budget speech that will take place on Wednesday at Taung Hotel School & Convention Centre.

The belligerent municipality met with its residents in Mmabana Taung where residents tabled their suggestions and wishes last week.

The visits actually started back in February and on Wednesday next week, the municipality will be mapping out its plan for how it will spend the money for the next five years, on what, and where.

Greater Taung is the fourth-largest local municipality in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district and consists of close to 106 villages.

“It is a plan to help us set our budget priorities and an agreement between local government and its residents” Executive Mayor Kaone Lobelo said at Lokgabeng village months ago.

Lobelo said thus a fine balance needs to be struck in allocating scarce resources.

Consultation with residents resulted in three top priorities being defined- poverty alleviation, job creation and service delivery.

Even though Taung at large is agricultural significant, it is poverty-stricken area.

Amid corruption and nepotism leveled against the municipality, the newly-appointed Municipal Manager, Katlego Gabanakgosi is really getting his hands dirty and is planning to scrap corruption and maladministration allegedly experienced in the past.

According to our source, the audit is currently underway at municipality and if our mole’s information is anything to go by, close to R46 million has allegedly been misused.

According to Lobelo, Greater Taung is mostly consists of rural areas and only Pudumoe, Reivilo and Taung CBD are only areas that pay for service delivery and that affects the economy of Taung.

“Most areas in Taung does not pay for sanitation, water and refuse removal as they are rural areas, only Pudumoe, Taung CBD and Reivilo do” Lobelo outlines.

Most residents voiced their unhappiness regarding poor state of most roads in the area, electricity, houses and lack of job opportunities.

On Wednesday at Taung Hotel School and Convention, the municipal manager will outlines his plans and what is given first priority regarding residents wishes.-TDN
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