BY OBAKENG MAJE

The smuggling of illicit cigarettes case against a Zimbabwean national, Cleophas Meso (42) who was arrested on Sunday, at Kopfontein Port of Entry, has been postponed until Wednesday, 22 April 2015.

The accused was remanded in custody for further investigation.

“It is alleged that the truck was crossing the border from Botswana to South Africa when the police stopped and searched it.  The members became suspicious and requested the driver to pull the truck to the ramp and to unhook the trailer. According to the information, the police were still searching when they discovered a false compartment beneath the trailer” COLONEL Sabata Mokgwabone said.

Mokgwabone said the compartment was opened and 519 Chelsea master cases and 1 732 packets (20’s) of cigarettes were found inside with an estimated value of R7, 3 million.

-TDN

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Mahikeng- The Provincial Departments of Health, Public Works and Roads as well as Education and Sports Development will for the next 18months have their financial affairs co-managed by Provincial Treasury. This follows years of financial instabilities and general mismanagement of budgets leading to amongst others the inability by these departments to pay creditors and accumulation of unmanageable accruals which have negatively affected the financial positions of the Departments.

The decision to place these key departments under administration was announced by the Premier of Bokone Bophirima Mr Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo following a special meeting held in Matlosana over the weekend.

This means that the Provincial Treasury will in line with EXCO decision ensure that the financial position of the three departments is stabilised, and that capacity is deployed to ensure that day to day financial management and decisions are done within provisions of the Public Finance Management Act.

The intervention also entails undertaking a thorough audit of the financial skills and qualifications of all personnel appointed to run finances of the affected departments.

“It is the Provincial Government’s considered view that this decision was well timed, noting that the new financial year has just started”, remarked Premier Mahumapelo who insisted that proper financial management systems will be put in place to ensure that these departments recover”.

Premier Mahumapelo assured the public that there will be no interruption of services to the public as a result of this intervention. Measures have been put in place to ensure that the three departments comply with the Premier’s vision of ensuring that 60% of their respective Budgets are spent in Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD) as part of the intervention to fight unemployment, poverty and inequality.

-TDN

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North West Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Gaoage Molapisi condemn with strongest possible terms the ongoing terrorisation of community and gangsterism that has emerged in Kanana location in the Matlosana area.

This follows allegations that there are two groups in the area which are attacking and killing each other in the eyes of the community. It is alleged that gangsterism groups known as “BO2” and “Getto Ruff” brutally killed each other’s members.

MEC Molapisi strongly warns those involved in the alleged actions and said the Department will do everything in its power to deal with the situation. “We cannot allow young people to rule and terrorise our communities. Is ether they cooperate and obey the law, or else we will remove, isolate them and remain with peace.”

“We will not hesitate to remove anyone in the community who is a menace, people must live in peace, women and children must feel save on the streets, at their homes and at work says the National Development Plan Chapter 12″, warns Molapisi.

He said the department has deployed a team of officials and law enforcement officers who will engage with the community, stakeholders and the alleged gangsters to resolve the situation in the area.

Molapisi will lead the working team of officials and law enforcement officers and will further visit the bereaved families of the deceased.

-TDN

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The disjointed management of the criminal justice system by the police, courts and correctional services has led to sharp increases in the levels of dissatisfaction among victims of crime in South Africa, according to Statistician-General Pali Lehohla.

Data collected from 30 000 households and people, who fell victim to house robbery, housebreaking and burglary and assault, showed that the entire criminal justice system had to urgently change the manner in which it managed cases or risk lowering satisfaction levels among victims of crime, said Lehohla, who was addressing the media in Pretoria today on the release of Statistics South Africa’s Victims of Crime survey.

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It is not necessary to call in the army to assist authorities in dealing with xenophobic violence that has taken grip in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, says Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko.

“The situation… has not come to that point to necessitate the point of army deployment,” he told reporters in Cape Town and Pretoria via video conference today.

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The integrity of High Court Judge Joseph Raulinga was called into question today after he dropped the name of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa in his interview before the Judicial Service Commission.

As well as listing Ramaphosa as one of his friends, he also made it known that he voted for the ANC and used to be a member of the party.

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

BY OBAKENG MAJE

The North West Provincial Commissioner; Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo applauded the police for working hard to ensure that wanted suspects are arrested.

This follows arrest of five suspects by Potchefstroom Visible Policing, Flying Squad and Kroonstad Crime Intelligence at Extension 7 in Ikageng at approximately 07:00 on Tuesday.

North West police spokesperson Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said the suspects, aged between of 30 and 40 were arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions and possession of suspected stolen properties.

The suspects were apprehended after Kroonstad police followed leads and alerted their counterparts in Potchefstroom about the suspects and their criminal activities.

“Upon arrest, the suspects were sought for business robbery committed in Kroonstad in which one suspect had already been arrested.  The crime was committed in April 2015. Upon conducting a search, the police found seven weapons; two hunting rifles, 1X Bore handgun, three Revolvers and 1C Clock 19. Other items such as 190 9mm ammunition, three laptops, two blue lights, three reflector jackets, one handset radio, two telescopes, bolt cutter, crystal platinum stones, four cellphones and docket cover were found in possession of the suspects” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

He said the police suspect that these items were used to commit crimes.  Mokgwabone said according to information, one of the suspects was on bail in an armed robbery case, and was arrested while attending court in Potchefstroom. They are expected to appear in Potchefstroom Magistrate Court soon.

“Eradication of proliferation of firearms is one of our priorities, and we believe that this will serve as an indication that the long arm of the law will deal with any person who commits crime”, said Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo.

-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje
ANC North West chairperson and premier, Supra Mahumapelo said all ANC branches must get ready and be prepared for next year’s Local government elections.

He was speaking in Taung where the African National Congress Provincial Execuitive Committee visited the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District during Imvuselelo (Revival) campaign on Monday.

Mahumapelo met with all ANC councillors in Greater Taung Municipality before visiting some of 65 branches.

“Through the campaign, the party aims to thank South Africans for voting for the ruling party and placing them in power for another five years. And to also encourage our supporters that every day is My ANC Day” Mahumapelo said.

He said ANC has three worse enemies i:e unemployment, poverty and inequality.

He also reminded councillors about their objectives.

“The Imvuselelo Campaign is not a once-off campaign. It should form the basis for an ongoing programme of membership development, organisation building and community engagement. The lessons learnt from the first campaign should be used to mould the annual programme of branches” he said.

ANCYL Regional Secretary, Crespo Menyatso said they welcome the visit of the chairman and as ANCYL in the region, will make sure they teach people about Imvuselelo campaign especially ahead of Local Government elections that will take place next year.

“We’re humbled by our chairperson’s visit and that really shows that ANC is the only party that can improve the lives of South Africans. We are faced with inequality, unemployment and poverty, which we need to work towards eradicating all that” Menyatso said.

ANC North West recently honoured the struggle stalwart, Ruth Mompati by giving her a brand new E200 Mercedes Benz.

Mahumapelo said they honouring Mama Ruta while she is still alive and the youth need to take a leave out of her book.

-TDN

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Pic: Greater Taung Municipal Mayor, Kaone Lobelo

Municipal officials in Bokone Bophirima who do not implement the signed agreement to honour the conditions set out by the National Treasury to address non-payment of creditors within stipulated period of 30 days, are likely to have disciplinary and or civil criminal proceedings instituted against them in terms of Section 172 and 173 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA)

This follows National Treasury decision to withhold the transfer of equitable share of 15 municipalities after they failed to honour their financial commitments and to pay Eskom and other service delivery creditors in line with Section 65 of the MFMA, 2003 (Act no 56).

Early in March this year, National Treasury informed municipalities of its intention to invoke Section 216(2) of the Constitution, subject to municipalities entering into repayment arrangements with creditors and preparing a financial recovery plan.

Both the Provincial Departments of Local Government and Human Settlements, Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development, have since summoned municipalities to commit to:

• Ensuring that the current accounts of Eskom and water boards are settled by no later than 30 April 2015
• Submit proof of settlement of outstanding amounts to both Provincial and National Treasury within two days of settlement of the account
• In the event that municipalities owe either Eskom or Water Boards monies in excess of 30 days, the necessary repayment schedule will be determined and an agreement entered between the relevant parties.

MEC for Local Government and Human and Settlements in Bokone Bophirima, Collen Maine said municipalities will be expected to commit to addressing the non-payment of creditors for services rendered, as a matter of urgency.

MEC Wendy Nelson also urged municipalities to get their houses in order as their non-spending on allocated grants impacts negative on the future allocations by National Treasury. She further encouraged municipalities to submit their plans for next financial year by April 14.

15 municipalities whose equitable share has been withheld are : Lekwa Teemane, Tswaing, Ventersdorp, Kgetleng Rivier, Madibeng, Maquassie Hills, Ratlou, mamusa, Ditsobotla, Naledi, Moses kotane, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Matlosana, Ngaka Modiri Molema and Mahikeng.

-TDN

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