NORTH West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Provincial Affairs, Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development and a Portfolio Committee on Public Works, Roads, Transport and Community will be conducting public hearings on the Division of Revenue Bill 2016 and Expropriation Bill 2015 in four districts across the province.

Deputy Manager in Communication, Namhla Luhabe said the public hearings will be held simultaneously at Mahikeng Civic Centre, Chris Hani Community Hall in Sarafina, Potchefstroom, Vryburg Banquet Hall and Rustenburg Civic Centre on Tuesday at 2pm.

“The division of Revenue Bill 2016 aims to provide for the equitable division of revenue raised nationally among the national, provincial and local spheres of government for the 2016/17 financial year, and the determination of each province’s equitable share and allocations to provinces, local government and municipalities from national government’s equitable share.

“It also aims to provide the responsibilities of all three spheres pursuant to such division and allocations; and to provide for matters connected within. Part of the legislature’s mandate is to promote public participation and oversight, therefore the Bill intends to hear the voice of the community with regards to how funds should be allocated into various Government structures,” Luhabe said.

She said the money appropriated by the legislature to the government departments should be spent in terms of the Public Finance Management Act No 1 of 1999.

The Expropriation Bill 2015 aims to provide for the expropriation of property for a public purpose or in the public interest and to provide for matters connected within.
-TDN
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Picture: Kopano Mosioa and John Dames appear before court in connection of armed robbery

BY REGINALD KANYANE

Jan Kempdorp- Two suspects aged 19 appeared in the Jan Kempdorp Magistrates’ Court on Monday on a charge of business robbery. Northern Cape police said Kopano Mosioa and John Dames allegedly threatened the business owner with a firearm.

Provincial spokesperson, Lieutenant Sergio Kock said: “Two suspects robbed a tuck shop of an undisclosed amount of cash and groceries. The incident took place at Valspan on Thursday at about 4pm. They were arrested the following day at their homes in Masakeng, near Jan Kempdorp.”

Kock said Mosioa and Dames were remanded in custody and their case was postponed until April 18 for a formal bail application.

He said police investigation continues.

-TDN

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TWO men were incarcerated for 66 years by Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Happy Makhanya, 21, and Zweli Kgati, 21 were arrested for raping a 17 year-old girl back in December 2012.

The incident took place at Lotlhakane village, outside Mahikeng. They dragged the victim to a house and raped her.

North West police spokesperson, Col Sabata Mokgwabone said: “The Mmabatho Regional Court sentenced the two accused in three separate cases of rape. In the first case, they were both handed down 20 years imprisonment respectively for raping a 17-year-old minor in December 2012. They raped the victim after dragging her to a house in Lotlhakane village near Mahikeng. 

“Makhanya was further sentenced to 18 years in prison for raping another minor aged 16 during February 2013 in Lotlhakane village. He threatened her with a knife and raped her. The court also sentenced Kgati to a separate 8 years for raping an 18-year-old girl in March 2013 in the same village.”

Mokgwabone said the sentences meted to the accused will run concurrently with the 20 years imprisonment. 

“They were also declared unfit to possess firearms in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000). The North West provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane expressed her gratitude for the convictions. She said that the police in the province will continue to send messages through swift investigations that would subject wrong doers to receive hefty sentences,” he said.

-TDN

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THE situation is back to normal in the restive Boitumelong township in Bloemhof after a wave of protests last week.

Protests started on Thursday after pupils from Thuto Lore and Gaopalelewe secondary schools boycotted classes. They accused the North West education and sport development department of ignoring their pleas.

Pupils had called qualified teachers for Mathematics and Science, tablets and an improvement of health standards in the School Nutrition Programme.

However, provincial chairperson for Congress of South African Students (Cosas), Letlhogonolo Merementsi urged pupils to return to classes on Monday to avoid unnecessary delay.

“We urge our pupils especially from Thuto-Lore secondary to return to classes on Monday. Continued protests will cause unnecessary delays in the curriculum. Whatever their grievances are, they need to follow proper channels to raise them. We do not want to see the repeat of what happened last year across the provinces.

“Many pupils especially Grade 12 were forced to be ferried to other areas so that they can be able to prepare for final examinations after unrest. The protests affect the pupils and contribute to the bleak future of many youth in the country,” Merementsi said.

The school governing body (SGB) at Thuto-Lore secondary school, Motlalepula Taunyane also shared Cosas’ sentiments.

“MEC Wendy Matsemela explained that Rome was not built in one day. We have to be patient, but our learners do not want to heed the call. Some of them are used by political forces so disrupt classes,” Taunyane said.

Nonetheless, those who organised the march said they will continue with the protest.

One of the Cosas members in Dr Ruth Mompati region said: “We have taken a resolution that we will not listen to the provincial leadership of COSAS. We believe (COSAS) at provincial level do not care about our grievances. MEC Wendy Matsemela sent them to talk to us? However we will continue with the protest.”

MEC for education and sport department, Wendy Matsemela said the department met with the representative council of learners (RCL) to listen to their demands. She said that the pupils alleged that the department hired unqualified teachers in their schools.

“They also alleged that corporal punishment still prevails. They also said non-functional school management and SGB was amongst their grievances. They also said they were served unhealthy meals amongst others. I express disappointment by the conduct of the pupils. They were supposed to use proper challenges when addressing concerns.

“As learners we should be mindful of proper channels in raising issues. The constitution recognises your rights to education and success and these rights should be of peaceful demonstration without disrupting teaching and learning,” she said.

The department refuted all the allegations as unfounded. Matsemela further highlighted that the department hired qualifiedacademics to bridge the gap caused by the influx resignation of teachers.

She said the newly qualified academics are recognised by the department of Higher Education and Training and provisional South African Council of educators (SACE).

“Their certificates are registered with higher institution towards their post graduation qualifications.  Good teachers are the cornerstone of learning in the education system. The department cannot compromise quality of education,” Matsemela said.

She said they will further meet with provincial Cosas leadership to resolve all pending issues as urgent as possible. Matsemela further added that recovery plan will be rolled out for the lost teaching and learning time.

Police are monitoring the situation in the township. Four people aged between 14 and 16 were arrested on Thursday amid protest.

North West police spokesperson, Col Sabata Mokgwabone said the residents embarked on an illegal protest and barricaded N12 road with objects.

He said a Nissan 1400 bakkie was torched in the process during the early hours of Thursday morning.

“The protesters allegedly looted foreign-owned shops at Ext 4, in Boitumelong location. However the traffic is flowing well as the police are monitoring situation. Police reported that some of protesters pelted passing by cars with stones, but the situation is calm now,” Mokgwabone said.

The community embarked on a march and were picketing at Lekwa-Teemane municipality. They accused the municipality with corruption, fraud and maladministration.

Those who were picketing outside municipality’s offices demanded that the municipality be dissolved.

Community leader, Kgotlha Leshonang said: “The municipality has 14 days to respond to their grievances. The current administration is not the one wanted by Boitumelong residents. There are some decisions taken by municipality. They will organise a public participation, but few people will attend. Afterwards they will take decision based on those who attended. So we condemn that behaviour.

“We want the municipality to be resolved so that we can rebuild it. There is a lot of nepotism here. Back in 2014, local government and human settlements department launched a forensic investigation regarding the unrest. Now it is the time for the findings to be implemented. We demand that our municipality be relocated to Kenneth Kaunda district,” he added.

Lekwa Teemane municipal manager, Ndoda Mgego said: “That forensic indicated certain issues which the council has looked on them. The council requested a detail forensic to be undertaken. It is an indication that there are things not run well within the municipality. As an accounting officer, I am looking at those issues. It shall be known that as the municipality we also have our own investigations underway and we have suspended one of our directors.”

-TDN

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THE North West education and sport development department said it will build new schools to cater for the needs of communities.

  This came after the department met the provincial legislature portfolio committee on education.

  The two entities met after the portfolio committee visited Maiketso Primary School in Morokweng village, outside Vryburg on Friday.

  Portfolio committee chairperson, Boitumelo Moiloa said that the committee will not approve the department’s Annual Performance Plan (APP) if the construction at Maiketso Primary and Ramotshodi Secondary schools were not part of their financial plans for this financial year.

  Moiloa said the department had to give a commitment as to what was going to happen with pupils at the schools.

  The committee, MEC Wendy Matsemela and senior management discussed serious infrastructural challenges found during an oversight visit at Maiketso primary and Ramotshodi secondary schools.

  Maiketso primary school was the only full-service school in the area. The school offers inclusive education and accommodates pupils with barriers in all grades.

  The school has 870 pupils and 26 teachers with an average class size of 50 pupils. However there were classes which have up to 68 pupils. The committee found out that there were 13 classrooms, but only three were conducive for teaching and learning as the rest were dilapidated.

  “It cannot be that we keep our own children in expensive schools whilst the children of the people who elected us are learning in an environment that is not conducive for teaching and learning. It is very unacceptable that almost half of the roof of the classrooms for pupils was blown away by the wind. This poses a serious danger to both pupils and teachers.

  “Service delivery on education by department is not only good for Grade 12 pass rate. The most important is what happens at lower grades and infrastructure. They also need to focus on the lower graders and infrastructure. We are not here to police the department, but to assist one another in providing services to our people,” Moiloa said.

  She said that is why they have taken a decision as a committee not to approve the APP of the department if two schools are not in their plans for building.

  Maiketso Primary School was built by the community in 1980. The buildings were not in good condition. Pupils used pit toilets and ablution facilities for pupils were not enough due to the numbers in the school.

  “The school needs a full-time remedial/learning support teacher to support pupils as not all teachers are trained in specialised areas. Many requests for interventions date from November 27 in 2007. The requests were made by the school to the department and nothing was done. The principal and SGB said they were then surprised by a contractor who allegedly told them that he was sent by the department to renovate the school,” Moiloa said.

  Chief Director for Auxiliary Services, Lebogang Tire explained that the renovation of the school was just a temporary measure. He said the department was planning to build them a school.

  Another school, Ramotshodi secondary school was built by the community of Moalogane in the 1990s. The school has a pupil enrolment of 229. The building was severely dilapidated and has serious cracks on the walls.

Moiloa said the window frames at Ramotshodi secondary school were also damaged. She further added that there were no doors and ceilings and pupils were taught in four worn-out, unstable and damaged mobile classes.

  “There are also two damaged classrooms used for both National Schools Nutrition Programme and teachers’ staff room. The principal’s mobile office was blown-away by strong winds ten minutes after he left the school premises in January 2016.

  “We felt that we must call MEC Wendy Matsemela the same evening to know whether the department will build a new school for pupils of Maiketso and Ramotshodi. We also wanted to know what will be the temporary measure to accommodate pupils whilst building,” she said.

  Moiloa said they wanted to know the department’s plan phases with a progress report and time-frame of building the two schools.  

  However MEC Wendy Matsemela promised that the schools will be built in the current financial year 2016/17.

  “The department has committed to do renovations which include replacing roofing and fix toilets, windows and doors as a temporary measure.  We have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Impala Platinum mine to build a new school at Ramotshodi secondary school and renovate mobile classes,” she said.

  Matsemela said they will also submit a comprehensive plan for addressing infrastructural challenges of schools in the province.

-TDN

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A WITCHCRAFT case against former Mahikeng municipal councillor, Gaasite Legalatladi, 43, was postponed until today for a trial date.

National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson, Frank Lesenyego said Legalatladi was arrested after she was accused conspiring to murder North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo and Mahikeng municipality mayor, Gosiame Seatlholo.

Lesenyego said Legalatladi appeared before Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday last week.

“The case was postponed until Monday for a new trial date. Legalatladi was arrested back in 2014 at Mmasebudule village in Zeerust.

She allegedly approached the traditional healer in the village on November 21 in 2014 and asked for assistance in killing Mahumapelo and Seatlholo using muti.

However the traditional healer who reluctantly agreed to help her regarding her intentions approached the police,” he said.

The traditional leader informed them about Legalatladi’s intentions and a set-up was made. Legalatladi was allegedly arrested at a traditional healer’s kraal during her second consultations.

Three cellphones were confiscated by the Hawks as part of investigations. According to reports, the motive behind the killings was that Mahumapelo allegedly stole the farm belonging to Legalatladi’s parents. Another reason behind Seatlholo’s assassination was that the Legalatladi allegedly said that Seatlholo was given mayoral position that was supposed to be hers.

-TDN

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THREE people were arrested in two separate murder cases that happened in Mahikeng and Potchefstroom.

  A 25 year-old woman is expected to appear in the Mmabatho Magistrates’ Court for the murder of her boyfriend.

  The incident took place at Lonely Park village, in Mahikeng on Friday. The suspect allegedly had an argument with her 26 year-old boyfriend.

   Provincial police spokesperson, Col Sabata Mokgwabone said the woman allegedly stabbed the victim to death.  

  In another incident, two suspects were arrested for murder in Ikageng near Potchefstroom on Friday.

  “This follows an incident where two Bangladeshi nationals were stabbed with knives and one victim died. The incident took place April 4 and the suspects had been on the run. The suspects aged 21 and 25 were successfully traced and nabbed. They are expected to appear in the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court today (Monday),” he said.

 -TDN

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