Bloemfontein – State prosecutor Gerrie Nel said on Tuesday he could not comment on the context in which Oscar Pistorius’s advocate Barry Roux had told him that he, Roux, was going to “lose”.

“No, I can’t. You should speak to Roux about it,” Nel told News24, smiling as he wheeled his briefcase across the Supreme Court of Appeal courtyard to the exit.

Roux did not answer his phone or respond to a text message for clarification.

After court adjourned on Tuesday afternoon, pool microphones for the broadcast picked up Roux and Nel chatting after proceedings, which had been broadcast live.

For more http://www.news24.com

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
Chairperson of Mkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association, in North West, Leon Mkabela to address the unbecoming behaviour of its member and the former mayor of Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality Africa Thale.

Mkabela said his association will also pronounce its decision to suspend the membership of Thale for refusing to abide to the orders of the ANC.

He said they will also raise reports that Afrika Thale has resorted to use members of MKMVA as his protectors which is viewed as a fight against the decision of the ANC.

The conference will be held on November 4 at ANC Parliamentary House in Venterdorp at 11H00.
-TDN
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BY REGINALD KANYANE
The North West Provincial Government has appointed four new Heads of Departments (HoDs) and two Deputy Directors General (DDG).

The newly appointed HoDs are for departments of Social Development, Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development and Tourism, while the appointed Deputy Directors General are for Administration and Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation respectively, within the Office of the Premier. 

This was announced by premier Supra Mahumapelo today during a media briefing that was held in Mahikeng.

Mahumapelo said, while the Provincial Government has put in place a flexible moratorium on filling of vacant posts across the departments, it remained critical for the province to prioritise filling of these management posts as the government administration rests in their hands.

“We have been having many officials appointed to act on critical Senior Management posts, and this is one way of dealing with this “acting” situation. We are also prioritising core function posts in lower levels, this with a view to ensure that service delivery is not compromised,” Mahumapelo said.

Emphasising the significance of introducing a flexible moratorium on the filling of vacant posts, Mahumapelo said it is meant to deal with the escalating wage bill.
-TDN
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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

THE Rustenburg local municipality continues to ensure that it makes efforts to fulfill their objective of becoming an infrastructure led economy Africa city. The municipality mayor, Mpho Khunou said that they were full-steamed ahead with its flagship programme during the Ramochana Bridge unveiling last week Tuesday.

“Infrastructure development is one of our key job drivers together with tourism, manufacturing, mining and beneficiation, the green and blue economies and agriculture. This represents an exciting journey for the municipality as we reached new frontiers in efforts to rally communities that we serve in seizing the unlimited growth opportunities that come with safe, reliable, affordable, comfortable public transport system.” Khunou said.

In line with the spirit of encouraging public transport usage, he said: “Without a flicker of doubt, I say, together we have turned the corner. We are changing course and making great strides towards fulfilling our vision of ushering in a world-class city where all citizens live a high quality of life.

“The bridges are among the most powerful and important symbols in human society. They are symbols of two-way communication, economic empowerment, connection, cooperation and most importantly the promotion of harmony. As we inaugurate the iconic Ramochana Bridge, we are fulfilling the people’s mandate and aspirations of a better life for all.” he said.

Khunou said that the unveiling of the new bridge was part of service delivery by the Rustenburg Rapid Transport project along the R510. He said that also symbolised the municipality’s common determination to help open up the city to new development and improved prosperity.

According to Khunou, since January to August this year, there have been an alarming 3,670 road traffic accidents on the city’s roads. He said in particular the highest number of accidents in Rustenburg was in March this year.

“We have recorded 512 accidents where some resulted in the loss of life. In previous years we as a municipality had been inundated with complaints from residents. We listened to the people, now we also gone beyond their requests. We have built a new interchange with a bridge over the railway line. The municipality hope that with the commissioning of the Ramochana Bridge, the challenges of accidents will be addressed. We will continue to monitor the area to evaluate the impact that this bridge brings to the quality of life of our community members,” Khunou said.

Khunou said the municipality and government, through National grants, has also embarked on other major infrastructure development initiatives to improve the road networks of the city of Rustenburg. He said key amongst these was the major upgrade currently taking place on the R24 through SANRAL.

“This is a dual carriage road way to improve access into the city and major intersections such as the N4, D108 for ease of traffic, improve road safety and facilitate freight access into the mines. The road is also aimed at attracting investment through the Rustenburg- Mogale City Development Corridor, an initiative between the Gauteng and North West Provincial Government as well as the Rustenburg and Mogale City local municipalities.”

BY REGINALD KANYANE

A 38 year-old man appeared before Tlhabane Magistrate’s Court on Friday for alleged murder of his girlfriend. North West police spokesperson, Major Pelonomi Makau said: “The man was arrested after he allegedly stoned and stabbed his girlfriend to death. A 26 year-old girl was found in a pool of blood on Wednesday last week at a dumping site in Phokeng, near Rustenburg.”

Makau said the preliminary investigations led the police to his boyfriend who was questioned and subsequently arrested. She said victim’s lifeless body was found with multiple stab wounds on the upper part of it.

Makau said the girl also suffered head injuries.

“Several stones with blood stains were also found around the deceased’s body. Police suspect that the victim might also be stoned to death. The suspect was denied bail and will remain in custody until his next appearance on November 5.” she said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

TWO suspects were arrested for theft after they allegedly entered a well-known retail shop in Mahikeng on Friday. North West police spokesperson, Major Pelonomi Makau says the suspects were arrested after suspected stolen goods were found in their possession.

“A 24 year-old woman allegedly entered a retail shop and stole new clothes from the shop. The security guards followed her. When the woman realized that the security guards are pouncing on her, she dropped the plastic and ran into a gateway minibus taxi that was waiting for her.

“The security guards managed to arrest the driver and the woman before they could flee. The other clothes from other retailers estimated at R35 000 were also found in the taxi. The driver aged 32 was arrested alongside the woman for being in possession of suspected stolen goods. They appeared before Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on Monday for theft.” Makau said.

-TDN

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The Democratic Alliance in the North West said they were concerned after the circuit manager in the Ruth Mompati district was assigned work at the department of Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs (CATA). DA parliamentary leader, Dr Tutu Faleni said Bitsa Lenkopane who served as circuit manager was still receiving her salary from the department of Education.

“We were informed during the Education Portfolio Committee meeting that education authorities are unable to replace the manager because she has not resigned from her position as department of education circuit manager in the Dr Ruth Mompati district.

“The position of the circuit manager carries a lot of authority and responsibility. The absence of the circuit manager impacts on the management of educational affairs in the circuit. The party is of the view that circuit managers play a pivotal role in school development and support. They should be engaged in supervising, coaching, staff development, and modelling designed to improve education in the communities,” Faleni said.

He said the absence of the circuit manager would be detrimental to the improvement of education in that community.

“We will write an urgent letter to the MEC for Education Wendy Matsemela and ask her to provide an explanation on the situation of the circuit manager. We want to know whether the she has resigned or return to fulfil her duties in the post where she was appointed.” Faleni said.

North West Education and Sport Development department said that they will fill the post left by the circuit manager, Bitsa Lenkopane. The department spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “The circuit manager was still employed by our department when she was assigned to second at the department of Culture Arts and Traditional Affairs (CATA).

“She was temporarily transferred to that job for a defined period of time. There has been an agreement between the department of CATA and Education and Sport Development that CATA will reimburse the salary of the employee to the department. The salary will be reimbursed to the department on monthly basis.”

“There are logistics involved in appointments, so we have been running a swift process of finding suitable personnel to fill the vacuum as soon as November. We can refute that the employee is earning on both departments. Such an act will be in breach of Human Resource prescripts as outlined by Public Service Act.” he said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

TWENTY FIVE unemployed youth will receive MICT-SETA accredited certificate in further education and training in Ganyesa on Tuesday. The youth received intensive training in Information and Communication Technology for 12 months.

The training was aimed at addressing skills shortages and job creation within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.

Independent Development Trust spokesperson, Phasha Mokgolane said: “Through this partnership, 149 unemployed youth were trained in Information Technology Technical Support. The graduates were recruited from different provinces in South Africa and underwent a 12 month intensive training programme. At the end of this training programme the learners received an MICT-SETA accredited certificate in Further Education and Training, Information Technology, Technical Support (Networking Support and A+ PC Support), National Information Support as well as in entrepreneurship,”

“The fifth group of graduates will receive their certificates in a graduation ceremony to be held at the Kagisano Molopo local municipality Chamber in Ganyesa village. The graduation ceremony will also recognise and reward the best performing students in the programme both in terms of theory and practical application in ICT technical support.” Mokgolane said.

She said they are in partnership with one of leading network in South Africa.

Vodacom Chief Officer in Corporate Affairs, Maya Makanjee said: “This is Vodacom’s contribution towards the creation of skills development and job creation opportunities for unemployed youth. It is premised on the concept that the more skilled the youth are the greater their opportunity for employment.

“Besides our core business, we are also committed to stimulating skills development and job creation within the ICT sector. Through the ICT skills training, we are now able to fulfil this commitment and also play an active role in the creation of job opportunities for young people.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Development Trust, Coceko Pakade reiterated the spirit of the partnership.

Pakade said: “Young people are the bedrock of our country and any programmes that empower youth, invariably contribute to a better tomorrow. The IDT is proud to be part of a partnership that resonates with its strategic focus on youth development and empowerment. The graduates in this programme contribute towards alleviation of skills shortages in the ICT sector and the knowledge economy in South Africa. Furthermore, the young people will become torchbearers and role-models in their communities. We are encouraged by the good results that these students have achieved and we hope that doors are going to be opened for them.”

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

A 64 YEAR-OLD struggle icon was honoured in Matlapeng village, in Taung on Saturday. Jacob Kujane was honoured by South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in Dr Ruth Mompati district.

The regional secretary, Mika Moeti said Kujane was one of the few people from Taung who fought for democracy. He said the participation of Kujane must go unnoticed and the youth of today could learn a thing from his life.

“We need to honour our struggle icons while they are still alive. Noble people like Kujane dedicated their lives to the struggle. Even though the situation was hard-hitting, he never gave up. Now they deserve all the honour. We need to record our history so that the upcoming generation can take out a leaf out of our legendaries’ book. Kujane is a living authentication, so we must continue to strive and fight for what we believe in.” Moeti said.

Even though Taung was under the hard leadership of Bophuthatswana regime, some of the people went on exile and joined African National Congress to help dilute the apartheid administration.

Kujane whom the Sanco branches in Matlapaneng and Choseng villages named after him, joined politics back in 1970. He said that the apartheid left a fissure in many people’s lives.

“We did not enjoy our lives as the cadres of the struggle. We fought against whites’ monopoly in quest to achieve a political freedom and democracy. I went to Johannesburg to seek employment as any other citizen. The circumstance we found ourselves in was not conducive. I met with other political activists and never looked back. I joined the underground movement and trained as uMkhonto Wesizwe. In 1989 we fled the country and went to Botswana to attend intensive training as a soldier.

“We had four key factors that we planned to execute. We had internal mobility, mass mobility, armed struggle and underground movement. Our plan was to execute all this four key factors and dethroned the apartheid administration. I once worked with the late Mma Ruta and other struggle icons in exile,” Kujane said.

Kujane once worked as parliamentary liaison officer at the department of Social Development during former MEC Mosetsanagape Mokomela-Mothibi.

He said even though he was not working closely with the late Dr Nelson Mandela, he was impressed the way they received commands from other leaders.

“I never worked closely with the late Dr Nelson Mandela and other struggle icons. But we always received messages of support and that alone made us strong. Our aim was to see economic freedom in our lifetime, so even though we have not achieved that I think we moving towards that.

“I also went to neighbouring countries like Tanzania and Zambia. I was later promoted to be instructor where I trained young soldiers. I highly-appreciate the moment and my message to the youth is very simple, make sure what you strive for will be a long term process.” Kujane said.

One of the struggle icons in Taung, Kgosi Sam Makuroane said: “Kujane was a formidable leader. He helped me a lot during the Bophuthatswana tenure. They wanted to kill me and I had to escape by being ferried by an ambulance. He became the leader in many trade unions in Gauteng then. Kujane once formed a funeral club called Tshireletso, which was a disguise. We were discussing other ANC policies during the meeting. He was the acting president of Sadtu and fled the country after the police were summoned to arrest him. We organized meetings across the province like in Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp and also in Hartswater.” Mankuroane said.

-TDN

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