Daily Archives: September 19, 2014

Poo in the air as Dryharts residents dispute “bucket system” toilets


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The community of Dryharts were up on arms and threatened to send the new toilets project contractor packing.

The community “flocked-in” at Tribal offices in quest to let their grievances known.

The toilets project that is underway in Lohatlheng and Pompong villages, near Dryharts came to an abrupt stop after members of community voted against it.

Q/Tique company won a tender to build more than 500 toilets(bucket system) in those areas, but now the project was halted amid unhappiness from residents. They allege that Q/Tique pit toilets are not deep and that causes the toilets to be full prematurely and the smell from those toilets is unbearable.

According to Tshepiso Jantjies, there were two different toilets brought forward as samples before implementation took place, but most residents voted for pit toilets.

Community Liaison Officer Gaesiti Gaobusiwe told Tabea News that the toilet system was ushered and welcomed by residents. “This project was presented before residents and they welcomed it with both hands. The contractor said there is a chemical that will be used to make sure those pit toilets does not get full and remain sound” Gaobusiwe said.

According to some of residents, they want the flushing toilets that were presented by another company.-TDN
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Poo in the air as Dryharts residents dispute “bucket system” toilets


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The community of Dryharts were up on arms and threatened to send the new toilets project contractor packing.

The community “flocked-in” at Tribal offices in quest to let their grievances known.

The toilets project that is underway in Lohatlheng and Pompong villages, near Dryharts came to an abrupt stop after members of community voted against it.

Q/Tique company won a tender to build more than 500 toilets(bucket system) in those areas, but now the project was halted amid unhappiness from residents. They allege that Q/Tique pit toilets are not deep and that causes the toilets to be full prematurely and the smell from those toilets is unbearable.

According to Tshepiso Jantjies, there were two different toilets brought forward as samples before implementation took place, but most residents voted for pit toilets.

Community Liaison Officer Gaesiti Gaobusiwe told Tabea News that the toilet system was ushered and welcomed by residents. “This project was presented before residents and they welcomed it with both hands. The contractor said there is a chemical that will be used to make sure those pit toilets does not get full and remain sound” Gaobusiwe said.

According to some of residents, they want the flushing toilets that were presented by another company.-TDN
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Taung blind gogo can’t take it anymore


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- A 66 year-old granny who is living in poverty said she cannot take it anymore and request social workers to heed her call.

Decrepit gogo was suppose to enjoy her last days on earth under conducive atmosphere before she answers to her call, but that is just a dream that surely will never come true.

According to Tabea News, Julia Mapalentwe,66, have three children, and lives with her daughter and five grandchildren in Kuwaneng village,near Manokwane in Taung, but no one takes care of her.

“My daughter who was suppose to take care of me, she does not stay here constantly. She is always away and leaves me with her five children. The children always returned from school because of their bedraggled uniforms” she outlines.

According to gogo Mapalentwe, she tried to seek help from social workers but her attempts were futile. A despondent gogo was highly appreciating after the Lokgabeng Disability Centre volunteers cleaned-up her cluttered two-roomed house and helped her with laundry.

“I am very grateful my children, may Almighty God blesses you all” concludes Mapalentwe.

Our crew tried to contact Social Development in Greater Taung Municipality, but our attempt hit the deadwood before going to print.-TDN
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Taung Dam marked as Tourism destination


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The Dr Ruth Mompati Municipality celebrates a Tourism month and host a three day conference themed “Youth In Tourism Conference 2014”.

The out-reach programme is hosted by Dr Ruth Mompati Municipality with the intention to promote tourism as a business and career opportunity.

Tourism units such as SEDA, TEP, NYDA and other stakeholders were invited to exhibit at the event.

Themba Galeng who is a Tourism Co-Ordinator at Dr Ruth Mompati said the municipality want the youth to take part in tourism industry and graab opportunities created.

“Our youth must take ownership of the product on offer. A three day conference will include visit the tourist friendly factories in the area. On Saturday, we will visit Nkgwaneng, Taung Dam and Taung Skull area in Buxton. Those are some of tourism places we have in North West especially in our district” he said.

Amongst invitees were youth from various sub-districts that form Dr Ruth Mompati.

Unlocking the potentials of Tourism in the province

The North West MEC for Tourism, Desbo Mohono says that in order to unblock the potential of Tourism and improve the escalation of the Tourism economy in the province, it is important for people of the province to take pride in their rich heritage and culture.

MEC Mohono was addressing Tourism scholars, experts and Tourism Management students during a public lecture on Tourism at the North West University in Mahikeng recently.
-TDN
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Phokwane municipality embarks on Tourism trip


Phokwane- The out-reach programme was hosted in the Phokwane Local Municipality with the intention to promote tourism as a business and career opportunity.

Tourism units such as SEDA, TEP, NYDA were invited to exhibit at the event.

Photography Competition

The competition that was supposed to take place yesterday, was postponed due to unforeseen issues. The competition was to focus on grade 10 learners in the Phokwane municipal area.

Learners will do a 1 day crash course on photography and will be sent into the field/valley with the instructor to capture photos that will be included in the Vaalharts Valley Tourism Brochure.

Familiarization Tour Friday

The main objectives of this tour was to visit the tourist friendly factories in the area. Amongst invitees were include councilors, ward councilors tourism information officers from Frances Baard District Municipality and local municipalities.-TDN
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3 killed in Harrismith fire


Johannesburg – Three people were killed in a veld fire near Harrismith in the Free State, Working on Fire (WoF) said on Friday.

It was believed they were a farmworker and two farmers, WoF national spokesperson Linton Rensburg said.

Initially five people were thought to have died in the veld fire on Thursday. On Friday it, however, emerged that a woman and her one-month-old baby, who had been presumed dead, were found alive.

Provincial WoF spokesperson Limakatso Khalianyane said the fire was still raging on Friday afternoon.

“By Friday afternoon about 400 000 hectares had been destroyed by the two fires that had started earlier in the week from different directions, met and then moved toward the KwaZulu-Natal border.”

It was believed the runaway fire may have started when a fire for burning rubbish got out of control.

Agriculture Minister Senzeni Zokwana visited the area on Friday.

“To all families who have lost their loved ones, farmers and farmworkers who have lost livelihoods and livestock, sustained injuries, lost houses and other infrastructure, we express our deepest condolences and sympathy,” he said in a statement.

He thanked firefighters for their bravery.

“We will continue to do all in our power to minimise further loss of life and damage to property and infrastructure.”

The extent of the fire damage was being assessed to facilitate emergency relief and interventions.

SAPA

Celebrating 20 years of democracy in Tourism


Mahikeng- Taking full advantage of the successes recorded within the Tourism Sector in the province since the inception of the democratic dispensation, the Bokone Bophirima department of Tourism will in partnership with Khaya Cool International Radio and other strategic partners celebrate 20 years of Democracy in Tourism.

“MEC for Tourism Desbo Mohono will deliver a key note address which is expected to further expatiate on the past 20 years of expanding the tourism product base and infrastructure” departmental spokesperson Dineo Lolokwane said.

The celebration will be held as follows:

Date: 20 September 2014

Venue: Mmabatho Hotel School

Time: 9AM
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Mabe’s assets seized in fraud case


Johannesburg – Assets of R2.2m have been seized from former ANC Youth League treasurer general Pule Mabe and two others accused of defrauding the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Friday.

Spokesperson Nathi Mncube said in a statement that the NPA’s asset forfeiture unit was granted a freezing order in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on 9 September.

The order was granted against Mabe, former Sassa spokesperson Paseka Cornelius Letsatsi, and Surprise Kabedi Ramosa in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

“This order prohibits them from dealing in their property, and appointed a curator to attach their assets.”

In court documents the NPA alleged that the three siphoned funds from Sassa and/or the Social Responsibility Fund account through organisations that did not qualify for funding.

The three have appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court in connection with the case.

Letsatsi allegedly solicited funds illegally from the agency in 2008 on the pretext of a community development program, the Progressive Young Women’s Co-operative, needing to pay service providers directly.

Instead the money was allegedly given to companies Mabe and Ramosa owned.

“The amounts were paid on 17 September 2008 and 26 November 2008 even though these entities did not render any services,” Mncube said.

“Afterwards, money was transferred not only between these accounts, but also into the account of KG Project Management of which Mr Mabe is the only signatory.”

Earlier this month the ANC Youth League in Gauteng backed Mabe, and ANC national executive committee member, for the position of ANCYL president.

Chairperson Matome Chiloane told reporters in Johannesburg that the ANCYL in the province noted the charges Mabe faced and resolved to continue to support him as he was innocent until proven guilty.

“Comrade Pule Mabe is a member of the ANCYL in good standing within our province and we believe that the knowledge and experience he has acquired through time from the various leadership positions he has held puts him in good standing to take our organisation further.”

The elective conference will be held next week.

SAPA

Generations off air for 2 months


The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on Friday announced minor changes to its TV schedule, in light of the fact that SABC 1 soap drama Generations will be revamped.

The revamp comes after 16 actors contracts were terminated by MMSV Productions.

From Wednesday the 1st of October 2014, Generations will be off screen until December as new episodes are filmed.

In place of Generations in the 20:00 time slot, the SABC 1 drama Skeem Saam Season 3 will be broadcast.

The Generations repeat slot on SABC 3 at 10:30 will be replaced by Muvhango.

The SABC appealed to the public to be patient as it deals with the challenges currently faced in ensuring the longevity of Generations.

In place of Generations in the 20:00 time slot, SABC 1 drama Skeem Saam Season 3 will be broadcast.

Meanwhile, the 16 axed actors fired from the soap opera have approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to seek reinstatement.

The actors, organised under the “Generations Actors Guild” (Gag), said in a statement they were “unshaken” in their resolve to secure their demands.

These include a reduction to 10 working hours a day, provision of social benefits, an end to inconsistencies in remuneration, payment of royalties, and better working conditions.

Cosatu in KwaZulu-Natal has called for the SABC to terminate Generations executive producer, Mfundi Vundla’s contract, should he fail to re-instate the fired actors.

They demonstrated outside the SABC building in Durban along with members of the Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA).

Cosatu and CWUSA are also calling for the improvement of working conditions for creative artists across the country.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za

SA murder rate goes up 5% – Phiyega

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Pretoria – The number of murders increased by 800 in the past financial year, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega said on Friday.

Murder had gone up by 5% and attempted murder by 4.6%, said Phiyega, announcing the 2013/2014 crime statistics in Pretoria.

Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm increased by 1.5% and robbery with aggravated circumstances was up by 12.7%.

Common assault was down by 3.3% and sexual offences decreased by 5.6%, with rape and sexual assault dropping.

“We are not going to rest. We will continue putting effort into these areas,” she said.

Bank robberies decreased by 77.4% over a five-year period, but increased from seven incidents in 2012/13 to 21 in 2013/14.

That is a 200% increase.

The robbery of cash-in-transit vehicles stabilised at 145 incidents, this year compared to last year.

Common robbery went up by 0.6%.

Drug-related crimes increased by 26.1% in the past financial year.

– SAPA