Monthly Archives: September 2015

‘Manokwane residents demand answers over D221 road’

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MEC Removes stones

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

NORTH West premier Supra Mahumapelo said the committee has been established to oversee and monitor all projects that will be taking place within the province. According to Mahumapelo, there is a need to appraise all projects that taking place because some of the contractors leave a shoddy work behind.

“We will establish a task team that will be monitoring all projects across the province. Many contractors leave sloppy work behind and we only realize after a long time that the contractors did not deliver required work accordingly. So we want to get rid of that as the province. We will also incorporate services of private companies who will make sure they help us to monitor all that.  This will include any project in North West either within the municipalities, districts or provincial,” he said.

Mahumapelo also outlined that there are many contractors that were approved to build roads in the province, however that was done without checking whether the province has money or not. “Many contractors were offered projects to build roads within the province, but unfortunately that was done without checking if the province has money.

The residents of Ganyesa are expected to meet with Public Works MEC, Madoda Sambatha to get way-forward regarding Bona-Bona road that was abandoned by Leviro Construction Company. Another road that has caused uproar was a road between Madinonyane and Ganyesa.

Community leader, Norman Moncho said: “We will be meeting with MEC Madoda Sambatha to hear what if there is any new development. We really have a mammoth task to travel under those conditions especially during rainy season. These roads are inaccessible and the ambulances struggle to reach its destinies on time and that results in losing lives unnecessary.”

Sabambatha is also expected to meet with Manokwane residents in Taung to give them answers regarding D221 road in their area.

The community of Manokwane burned two houses belonging to headman and councilors two years ago in protest regarding the road.

One of community leaders, Benjamin Lekaowa said they want answers from MEC because he promised them that the road will be tarred during 2015 financial year. “We are now sick and tired of empty promises, what we want from MEC is to tell us when the contractor will come to the site. We want our road tarred. We cannot keep on postponing because time is not on our side,” he said.

-TDN

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Protector probes fatal school blaze in North West

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Credit: (wonderwomen.co.za )

Credit: (wonderwomen.co.za )

BY REGINALD KANYANE
THE Public Protector’s office demand answers from North West Department of Education and Sport Development MEC, Wendy Matsemela.

Advocate Kevin Malunga who is a deputy to Thuli Madonsela, wrote a letter of demand to Matsemela, to explain what was the cause of fire that killed three pupil at North West School For the Deaf last week.

Another fire broke out at Volkskool Hoer in Potchefstroom where pupils lost all their belongings including books.

The Public Protector spokesperson, Kgalalelo Masibi said: “The Deputy Public Protector,  Adv Kevin Malunga wrote a letter to MEC Matsemela on (31 August 2015) informing her that the death of three deaf pupils due to fire at North West Secondary School  for the Deaf in Leeudoringstad is being investigated by his office.”

Masibi said the Malunga has requested information from the MEC in order to assist him with the investigation.

Another fire arose at Christiana School for The Blind in 2010 and that resulted in four pupils being killed.

North West department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi confirmed that MEC Matsemela had received a letter from the office of the Public Protector, however outlines that Matsemela will only respond after forensic investigations are completed.

-TDN

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Municipality blows R1bn

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE troubled Ngaka Modiri Molema municipality reportedly lost staggering R1bn in irregular and wasteful expenditure between 2012 and 2014. This came to light when officials of the municipality appeared before the provincial select committee on public accounts (SCOPA) in Mahikeng on Wednesday.

Scopa members described the state of affairs at the municipality as shambolic and in need of complete overhaul. It seems that the root cause for many problems facing the municipality related to instability and vacancies in key management positions.

And other issues were key officials lack appropriate competences, and that causes the municipality to be reliance on expensive consultants in the process.

Mahlake Mahlakeng questioned the leadership style of the new administration that was put in place since the municipality was put under administration last year.

He said the administration did not have answers and any strategic plans that show that they could turn around the situation at the municipality. He sent the municipal manager and the administrator packing.

“We cannot accept the report like this one. Almost all questions are not answered, and we want to know if there is any remedial measure in place to address the auditor general findings for the 2013-14 financial years,” Mahlakeng said.

The municipality has been obtaining disclaimer audit opinions for the period 2009/10 to 2013/14. According to report, the findings are repeated findings meaning they have not been addressed over the years.

The municipality was put under section 139(c) of the Constitution from September 2014 to November 2014. The council was dissolved in September 2014 and the new council was inaugurated.

“We want to know if the council comply with section 127 and 129 to 132 of the MFMA. But according to your response, you say the executive mayor did not table the annual report for 2013-14 on time because the auditor general suspended the audit process. But what did you do until today? That’s my question to you,” Mahlakeng said.

He ordered the acting municipal manager, Norman Gopane and the administrator, Nono Dince to act accordingly and take major decision against those who do not comply.

Acting municipal manager, Gopane said: “We having a problem with the workers at the municipality. Most of them do not want to comply according to their job descriptions. The mentality within the employees needs to change so that we can resolve all issues that we find the municipality in,” he said.

DA member, Chris Hattingh told Gopane that the most of municipality’s irregular expenditure comes from hiring expensive consultants while there are people within the municipality hired to do the same job. “I am flabbergasted because you come here and you want the committee to believe your report. Most of what we see here is a repetition of what was presented previously. So we want to know what you did since you were roped in.

“You know the disclaimer that you always get is from prior year, and can you explain to the committee that is there any plan to recoup the irregular expenditure that we see reported by audit-general. More than R1bn cannot be accounted for, and that becomes a problem because that money belongs to the taxpayers,” he said.

Administrator, Dince told the committee that the municipality’s problems are deeper than what it seems. She said the staff employed need to have the right attitude because it seems there is no way forward.

“Most senior managers do not report, and that becomes a problem for us because now we have to run around and get reports from them,” she said.

According to the report, unauthorised expenditure of R1bn has not been investigated and dealt with in terms of section 32 and chapter 15 of the MFMA.

However Gopane said: “This is one of the issues that have been identified as part of the legacy issues during 2014/2015 audit process. This will be addressed in the next financial year as part of the audit action plan.”

Mahlakeng requested the municipality representatives to bring back a well-tailored report which includes a strategic plan within 14 working days.

-TDN

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ANC has ‘keen interest’ in ANCYL leadership

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The election of a new African National Congress Youth League leader is directly linked to the mother body, national task team member Malusi Gigaba says.

http://m.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/Politics/ANC-has-keen-interest-in-ANCYL-leadership-20150904

ANCYL North West members will be disciplined: Mthethwa

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The ANC Youth League North West members who tried to interdict the upcoming national congress will be disciplined, national task team co-ordinator Nathi Mthethwa has said.

http://m.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/ANCYL-North-West-members-will-be-disciplined-Mthethwa-20150903

‘Pregnant’ SA drug mule arrested in India

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Johannesburg – Government is trying to determine the identity of a woman who was arrested at an Indian airport after she claimed to be seven-months pregnant but was allegedly smuggling drugs.

“We are aware of the situation. The [South African embassy] is still working with the authorities to verify her citizenship,” International Relations spokesperson Nelson Kgwete told News24 on Thursday.

“They will provide normal consular services, including facilitating access to family members if that is the wish and access to legal representatives.”

For more http://www.news24.co.za

Phiyega tells Zuma she needs ‘more clarity’

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Pretoria – National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega has told President Jacob Zuma she needs more time to respond to his letter warning her of a possible suspension.

The Presidency said in a statement on Thursday – the day the deadline expired for her to respond to him – that she had informed him she was unable to do so.

“President Jacob Zuma wrote to National Police Commissioner General Victoria Phiyega on… August 20 2015, informing her of his intention to institute an inquiry into the allegations of misconduct and/or lack of fitness for the office…

For more http://www.news24.com

Zuma meets with Bashir to ‘strengthen relations’

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Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma has met with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to “strengthen relations” between the two countries.

In a statement, the Presidency said Zuma and Bashir met on the margins of the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese Peoples’ War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, taking place in Beijing, in The Peoples’ Republic of China.

“South Africa and Sudan enjoy warm bilateral relations. Sixteen bilateral agreements have been concluded between the two countries to date,” said the Presidency.

For more http://www.news24.com

ANCYL delegate gives birth on bus

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ANCYL

An Eastern Cape delegate on her way to Gauteng for the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) national elective conference gave birth on a bus.

OR Tambo ANCYL regional secretary Mvuzo Mxenge confirmed the incident‚ but refused to divulge any further details.

“At this stage‚ it is best we protect the privacy of the new mother. This is a sensitive matter and we would like to treat is as such. All I can say is that we are almost in Johannesburg and the incident happened not so long ago‚” said Mxenge.

-TDN

 

ANC member arrested for ‘stealing’ from the poor in Taung

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

A prominent African National Congress (ANC) member, and a well-known Taung  taxi-owner, was arrested by Taung police on Wednesday for allegedly stealing from the poor.

Tebogo Monchonyane who is also a staunch member of South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in Taung, briefly appeared before Taung Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Monchonyane allegedly went to Thomeng village, near Buxton and helped himself with the bricks that were supposed to speed-up service delivery within the community by building RDP houses for the poor.

One of the community members said that, it was not for the first time Monchonyane stole bricks that were meant to build RDP houses.

“We saw the bakkie loading bricks that were meant to build RDP houses in Thomeng village, and we called the contractor. The contractor arrived with his security guards, and the suspect was subsequently arrested and taken to Taung police station,” our mole said.

North West police confirmed that the police arrested a man who was accused of stealing bricks at Thomeng village.

“Taung police arrested a suspect who was accused of stealing bricks that were meant for RDP houses. A case of theft was opened at Taung police station. The suspect appeared before Taung Magistrate’s Court facing theft charge,” major Pelonomi Makau said.

-TDN

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