BY REGINALD KANYANE

RUSTENBURG- Democratic Alliance in the North West said it’s deeply concerned with the rising level of violent crimes in Sondela Informal Settlement, in Rustenburg. DA spokesperson on community safety, Sello Motswenyane said the area experienced a high number of brutal murders.

He said firearms were the most commonly used weapon.

“The community of Sondela continues to live in fear without hope. The area is considered to be a no-go area. Five young people were set alight by community members for allegedly killing a 30 year-old man in March last year. Three succumbed to their injuries and died.

“The situation has not improved as the area is still considered to be a crime hotspot. Residents alleged that there is an overflow of illegal firearms and dangerous weapons. They demand more police presence in the area,” Motswenyane said.

He further added that the community members complained that criminals go unpunished and that is why they take the law into their own hands.

“We strongly condemn mob justice and violence in the strongest possible terms. However, DA calls on the newly elected MEC for community safety, Dr Mpho Motlhabane to intervene and address crime in Sondela.

“Dr Motlhabane must do what his predecessor was unable to do. He must ensure that enough police are deployed to the area to deal with the rising crime levels. We also encourage the community to work with the police to ensure that these criminal activities are rooted out in our communities,” he said.

Motswenyane said they believe that a functional criminal justice system was required to keep people safe. He said that will ensure that residents were free from the deprivations that rob them of their ability to use their opportunities.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

ORKNEY- North West provincial government was dejected after a brutal killing of a young man in a gangsterism fight at Kanana Township in Orkney on Wednesday. Acting provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said they have learnt with great sadness about the passing on of yet another young person.

“The brutal killing of a young person happened next to Matlhaleng Secondary School. And the atrocity has left learners and teachers who witnessed the incident in a state of shock.

The SAPS confirmed the incident and that a community meeting is being convened in a quest to bring about a lasting intervention on the gangsterism that has reportedly been going on for some time,” Setswambung said.

Premier Supra Mahumapelo has condemned the brutal killing and has urged the gangsters to seize fire in Kanana.

“The current spate of attacks and counter attacks by the warring gangsters will not assist to bring peace. Their actions will only serve to exacerbate tensions in the area. I therefore urge the gangs to stop fighting and allow the community and law enforcement agencies to intervene,” Mahumapelo said.

Mahumapelo has called on the social development and education and sport development departments to intervene. He further added that they need to provide counselling to the learners and teachers at Matlhaleng Secondary School.

Mahumapelo also emphasised that dialogue amongst key stakeholders in the area must be given a chance so that lasting peace is restored.

-TDN

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MORE than two hundred unemployed youth in North West completed a week-long youth camp training at the South African Military Base in Zeerust. The youth camp was organised by the Youth Entrepreneurship Services (YES) in the Office of the Premier.

YES programme director, Thapelo Sekawana said the aim of the initiative was to address poverty, unemployment and inequality within the society. He said they previously held youth camps in Potchefstroom and another intake will be in July.

North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo said the young people in the province shall claim their rightful place in the world. He said young people need to be employers and not employees.

“I came up with the idea that we must have Youth Entrepreneurship Services (YES) because I would like to see young people in the North West being developed. They need to be developed and assist the government in job creation. We want them to participate on village development programmes.

“They must remember that challenges are necessary platforms for success. They must become role models and live their lives accordingly. We know there are many challenges that our youth come across. We need to help them on their mission. We have HIV and Aids epidemic, crime, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse and teenage pregnancy. Working on these socio-economic issues will improve their lives,” Mahumapelo said.

SANDF colonel, Bruce Motlhoki commended Mahumapelo for organising the youth camps. He said they were very grateful to present the training, knowledge and better skill developments to the youth.

“The youth have completed the most rigorous training and passed the test. They have been given the opportunity to make something for yourselves. They have learnt how to become better human beings and make better decisions. The youth are the future leaders of our country and they must have the ability to accomplish great things.

“Life coaching programme are necessary within the youth. We also encouraged them to live positive life-style. They must know that their background does not determine their future. We instill discipline, dedication and determination within them. We also encouraged them to study harder,” Motlhoki said.

One of the young people who completed the youth camp training, Tlotlo Sekgweleo said: “We highly-appreciate this initiative. We are honoured to have the leader of Mahumapelo’s calibre. He is a visionary and we want to be part of decision-making process in the province. We have benefited a lot from the programme and we believe this will be worthwhile. We come from different backgrounds and learning about morals and values of life was imperative.”

-TDN

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Picture: (North West University logo)

BY REGINALD KANYANE

POTCHEFSTROOM- The Director-General of International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano will deliver the lecture to the students of the University of North West (Potchefstroom campus) tomorrow.

Energy department spokesperson, Johannes Mokobane said Amano will be accompanied by Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo from the South African Permanent Mission in Vienna and other senior managers in government.

“Yukiya is visiting South Africa to attend an International Radiation Protection Agency Conference in Cape Town. This was part of the visit at iThemba LABS in Cape Town and will be followed by an envisaged lecture at the North West University in (Potchefstroom) on Wednesday at 11h00,” he said.

-TDN

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Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has stirred parents into a new debate after stating that he would like the South African flag on all school uniforms.

Lesufi took to Twitter to tell his more than 22‚000 followers: “My wish is to ensure that from 2017 all school uniforms must have our SA Flag just like national sporting teams.”

This patriotic proposal follows on the Department of Arts and Culture’s Flag in Every School Campaign‚ which started in 2014. The campaign involves hoisting the national flag‚ the correct way of singing the national anthem‚ reciting the preamble of the Constitution and learning about our national symbols.

While Lesufi did not say whether he was proposing the emblem should be stitched onto a lapel‚ a badge pin or if it should be a more elaborate design‚ parents immediately questioned the additional cost of the change.

“Seriously? Will that be free? Because it costs us parents a whole lot of money!‚” Bernice Le Roux ‏@bernice__leroux said.

James Brodie ‏@Gyrator thought there was a better goal for the MEC‚ stating: “Focus on educating the children please.”

Lesley Blake ‏@JoburgBlake also chimed in‚ saying: “@Lesufi INSTEAD: Make sure each school has enough teachers. Make sure each Principal is at his post because YOU chose him‚ not SADTU.” The comment came as the country is waiting to see a report commissioned by the Education Department into the alleged buying and selling of teacher posts‚ implicating members of the South African Democratic Teachers Union.

Lesufi’s idea garnered support too‚ with Bus.Reg.Cipc.Beecert ‏@OhNganeYami tweeting: “Visionary Mr Lesufi‚ very proud to be a South African right now”.

Radovan Dimitri ‏@FidellCastro commented‚ “Bra @Lesufi can make other Education MECs non-existent in as far as innovation is concerned. Thumbs up”.

“It’s very doable‚ leadership‚” iMtolo ‏@Thulani_Mtolo added.

Kwena Sekoaila ‏@Skoax took a contrarian stance in the debate: “That is going to be a tough one… I am against school uniforms”.
Source: Timelive

Rustenburg – A 29-year-old man was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition in Mmakau near Ga-Rankuwa on Tuesday, North West police said.

Police spokesperson Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said the Zimbabwean national was arrested at Selosesha Section in Mmakau.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

AN uncle told Daily Sun he had been living in the shack for almost four years with the girls after their mum died and they can’t force him out of the shack.

But the girls, aged 18 and 19, say their uncle has no authority over them. Now the single room shack with the two side-by-side beds has been broken down.

Richard Ngubane (36) from Wattville, Benoni, Ekurhuleni told Daily Sun he asked the community to help.

Residents then chased away the teenagers and demolished the shack.

Richard claimed for nearly a year his nieces have been giving him a hard time.

“They wear miniskirts and stand by the side of the street looking for men.

“They tell me to go out even if I want to rest on my bed. It can happen at any time, day or night. The girls bring different men to the house.”

Richard said he would sometimes find used condoms under his bed and when he asked them about it, they would swear at him instead. The two teenagers, Phumelele Mhlongo and Palesa Mareka, told Daily Sun their uncle must get a life.

Source: Daily Sun

Cape Town – If no drastic action is taken against unaffordable cancer and TB drugs, the country will be counting body bags like it was at war, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Tuesday.

“Anybody who is desperate to remain alive and tries to obtain treatment at current costs will end up in poverty,” he said.

Motsoaledi was presenting his budget vote in Parliament, where he bemoaned the high costs of medical care, using cancer drugs as an example.

“Just as the price of ARVs were unaffordable then, cancer drugs are devilishly unaffordable today.

“Two years ago, I was regarded as exaggerating, or outright insane by some, when I spoke openly against pharmaceutical companies that were planning a price onslaught against us. Today, that onslaught, which I had foreseen, is here with us,” he said.

He called for the same solidarity that was employed to reduce the price of ARVs, to be used in the fight against non-communicable diseases and drug resistant TB.

Pretoria – Residents of Spoorview, in Ga-Rankuwa, were on Tuesday protesting against exorbitant fees for municipal services.

They blocked roads in the area, with its large bonded houses, with burning tyres, rocks, and rubble. Police were keeping an eye on the situation.

Ruddy Maseko, secretary of the United Ga-Rankuwa Spoorview Community, said their biggest problem was the exorbitant fees they were paying for water and electricity.

“Our community is said not to be on the map. We have been paying services for over 20 years, but today they say we are not on the map. They must return our money since we are not recognised,” he claimed.

Source:  www.news24.com

Johannesburg – Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and beleaguered High Court Judge Mabel Jansen have requested that Justice Minister Michael Masutha place her on special leave, the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) said on Tuesday.

“The CJ and Judge Jansen met and agreed to request that the minister place her on special leave,” JSC spokesperson advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza told News24.

For more http://www.news24.com