BY REGINALD KANYANE
THE members of African National Congress were picketing, singing struggling songs and closed down Phokwane municipal offices in Hartswater after the municipal manager Moeketsi Dichaba was placed on “special leave” for a period of three months, pending allegations of maladministration, financial misconduct, insubordination and nepotism.

The decision was tabled at a special council meeting and was unanimously supported by ANC and opposition parties councillors.

The motion was presented after the Phokwane municipal mayor Vuyisile Khen allegedly asked municipal speaker Dieketseng Mooketsi to organize meetings  several times, but failed to comply.

“We decided to go ahead with the council meeting because municipal speaker failed us dismally to organize special meeting. So if you read the rules and regulations, they bide us, mayor has all right to organize the meetings if the speaker does not comply” Khen said.

Khen stressed that municipal manager Mooketsi Dichaba is on ‘special leave’ pending investigations against him.

There are parallel structures at Phokwane municipality as other members of ANC who support Dichaba gathered outside the municipal offices and blocked the gates.

ANC Phokwane branch secretary, Micheal Setlhogomi said they gathered at the municipal offices because the decision taken by executive committee council was illegal as all decision taken by EXCO must passby through branch structures.

“We are taking a stand against councillors for failing to inform the branches of what is going on. An ANC faction met to make a decision regarding the municipal manager without the knowledge of the regional executive committee(REC) or provincial executive committee (PEC)”.

Setlhogomi said they will force the provincial office to curb out divisions within the ANC or they will call for by-election.

“It is impossible to report to a body that is split between two factions. We not here to support the municipal manager, but we want to be informed of all decision taken by EXCO before they can be implemented” he said.

The interim municipal manager was appointed along with speaker.

Municipal speaker Dieketseng Mooketsi said she was not informed of any meetings and she was excluded.

“I only learnt about the meeting after it was moved from Hartwater to Jan Kempsdorp on Wednesday. I believe the all decisions taken by EXCO were illegal because I had no knowledge of” Mooketsi said.

ANC regional spokesperson, Ali Diteme said that the decision to place the municipal manager on special leave was not done with the consultation of the REC or the PEC.

“The PEC oversees municipal managers and has the authority to overturn the decision. It is not for the municipality r select group of individuals to make these pronouncements.  So all decision taken by EXCO are regarded as null and void” Diteme said.

The allegations levelled against municipal manager, Dichaba were supposed to be investigated from Thursday, but the task team tasked to do that haven’t started yet.

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Adamant: Dj Rickey promises fireworks with his new single (Photo Supplied)

By Lesedi Setlhodi

Our entertainment crew chilled with disc jockey, Riaan Robinson popularly known as Deejay Rickey to his fans. Enjoy what we found out when we took a glimpse into Dj Rickey’s world…

To the fans who have been wondering where Dj Rickey was born, well he was born and bred in Vryburg at Colridge 30 years ago. Our local maestro from Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati did not dream of being a disc jockey but it is something that developed as he grows up.

Where it all began?

“I was still in high school when I used to see Dj’s play at different events and became interested as to how they actually made crowds dance. It was in 2001 that I finally had a chance to be behind the decks and a mixer; with practice I took, was able to see happy faces and people getting down to the music I was playing and mixing for them.”

Dj Rickey has been since into music and in 2011 he even released an album called Dreamer’s Hope. He is the man that you find at places that are most happening in and around the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati.

Our crew learnt that Dj Rickey is a man of few words and claimed to be a bit shy too. He however has that little cute smile…

What does it take to be a disc jockey?

“I think that this is a field that is on a shocking rise as most people want to be deejays, but what sets the difference is the effort you put in, being passionate about music and how serious you take what you do. This may sound like a cliché but I love music, with it I feel like I’m in another world. I practice a lot; I keep up with the latest and music of all genres. Knowing your crowd as a Dj is also vital as you don’t want to have people not enjoying your sets.”

He further went on to mention what challenges he came across as a Dj…

“When you are starting off and no one knows you it becomes very difficult to get bookings for gigs. You have to build your brand and work hard to network with fellow Djs and most importantly, the fans.”

How do you juggle your music career and your daily job?

When he makes you twist, turn, limbo and dance with his music mixes you’d never imagine him for a tie guy. During the day he is a financial advisor, getting all corporate with you and after hours he gets you down.

“Well aaaaaah… I do manage but it takes a lot as when I knock off from my day job, unlike other people who are lucky to go home and relax or go out to party and have fun, I have committed myself to entertain them through music. It makes me really happy seeing someone lost in their own little world while on the dance floor or when their favourite song comes up and they just cannot contain their excitement.”

When asked about his future plans, Dj Rickey said that at this stage he could only reveal that fans must be on the lookout for his upcoming single that he hopes will give him even more exposure to a larger fan base.

“My love for music and being part of the reason as to why people become happy and dance away their worries is what greatly inspires me to play music.” Amongst others, Dj Rickey has opened for artists like Uhuru, Black Motion and even our own Cassper Nyovest.

Do you ever get time to just relax and kick back?

From the corporate world to the music world, Dj Rickey shares what he does when he is not working.

“I love soccer, not just watching it but getting on the field and play as well.” Well there you have it, the guy wears shorts and breaks a sweat in the soccer field during his free time while when entertaining crowds, they are the ones sweating on the dance floor due to his music.

Fans can check him out on Facebook under Deejay Rickey; you could also follow him on Twitter: @Deejayrickey

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

Former president Nelson Mandela’s personal assistant, Zelda la Grange has found herself in hot water after comments she made on Twitter aroused the ire of some, including 702 talk show host Redi Tlhabi.

La Grange, who was Madiba’s personal assistant for two decades and has penned a memoir on the deceased former statesman’s life – has come under attack.

For more http://www.timelive.co.za

The North West Education Department is investigating allegations that teachers at a high school in Maboloka were bribed by pupils to be promoted to the next grade without writing their examinations.

“The department stepped in to investigate the matter on the basis of the allegations that were surfacing,” department spokesperson Brian Setswambung told Sapa.

“It is alleged that some learners were involved in buying report cards from teachers.”

The Motshwane High School pupils involved were from Grade 10 and 11.

“Not all the pupils were involved. It emerged that only some pupils were involved” said Setswambung.

By Monday, the investigation report will be ready.

The department said it was going through examination scripts to determine which pupils had been involved in the alleged bribery.

He said until the matter was finalised, all grade 10 and 11 pupils from the school would remain in the grades they were in last year.
“By Monday, the investigation report will be ready,” he said.

A daily newspaper on Friday reported that pupils paid teachers an R800 bribe to promote them to the next grade. About eight pupils had boasted to their colleagues that they had passed despite them not writing exams.

One pupil recorded the conversation on his cellphone and handed it to the department, demanding that he also be promoted.

-SAPA

Durban – Four hijackers and the man who hired them have been arrested after a planned hijacking went wrong.

The men are alleged to have hired a metered taxi from Samora Machel (Aliwal) Street to Archery Road in Clairwood on Tuesday.

Once at their destination, one of the men produced a Taser and shocked the driver, said police spokeswoman Captain Louise le Roux.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – A man was arrested on Friday after he was caught raping a woman, 65, at Zoo Lake in Parkview, Johannesburg, police said.

“The rape was witnessed by a lady who works for City Parks at Zoo Lake. She alleges she heard a lady screaming and… she went to investigate with her colleague,” said Sergeant Lloyd Ramovha.

Passers-by helped to apprehend the suspect, 23, at around 9am after the witnesses screamed for help.

Parkview police responded immediately and the suspect was detained at Parkview police station, he said.

He would appear in court soon.

Sapa

Mthatha – The abaThembu royal family on Friday said all decisions taken by former president Nelson Mandela must be respected, broadcaster eNCA reported.

“It’s a family issue and we have taken a view which says we cannot change the decisions of the late man,” said Chief Ngangomhlaba Matanzima, chairman of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders.

“We have got to respect that, even if we don’t want his decision, even if we disagree with it, we cannot change that.”

About 20 elders discussed family matters, which were not disclosed.

The meeting between the Mandela family and the abaThembu clan was called by Mandela’s grandson Mandla to resolve apparent infighting in the family. It was held at Mandela’s family home in Qunu, Eastern Cape.

On Tuesday, Mandela’s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela tried to stop the meeting because she feared violence could erupt. Her application to the High Court in Mthatha was struck off the roll as she did not own the Qunu property, as she had claimed. She was instructed to pay costs.

Mandla reportedly said the meeting would go ahead and that the men of the family would try to unite the various factions, as his grandfather would have wanted.

Sapa

KwaZulu-Natal’s former agricultural and environmental affairs MEC, Mtholephi Emmanuel Mthimkhulu, died aged 56 on Friday, the provincial legislature said.

Johannesburg – An Mbombela local municipality manager appeared in the Nelspruit District Court on Friday for alleged fraud and corruption, Mpumalanga police said.

Noko Michael Senaego, 40, was granted R2 000 bail and would appear in court again on 19 February, police spokesperson Selvy Mohlala said.

Senaego, who was arrested earlier on Friday, was accused of not following correct procedures when employing law enforcement officials.

A panel that had interviewed candidates complained that Senaego had not considered some of the candidates it recommended for employment.

“Instead, he allegedly opted to employ some officials who did not even apply or did not make it to the short-list,” he said.

“His alleged conduct led to a protest by some of the law enforcement officials, who are reported to have been suspended later.”

This conflict between the panel members and Senaego led to a case being opened at the Nelspruit police station.

“After the case was registered, and the police presented all facts before the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] for a decision, the court ordered that he be arrested,” Mohlala said.