BY REGINALD KANYANE

Taung– North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo will perform a sod-turning ceremony for the new bridge in Taung tomorrow. Acting provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said the move was a result of his intervention on a wedged bridge project.

“Community complained several times about the delayed project during current affairs interviews on Motsweding FM. Listeners called in and reported that the bridge project was stuck and causing an inconvenience to the residents of Taung.

“Mahumapelo visited Taung to engage with the relevant stakeholders regarding the project. He successfully resolved the challenges,” Setswambung said.

The event will take place at Kolong Bridge at 10am.

-TDN

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Three children – aged between eight and 18 – were killed in the accident with their aunt and gogo on the N12 road, about 10km from Potchefstroom in the North West.

The memorial service for the victims from Jouberton, near Klerksdorp, will take place at the Jouberton Hall at 2pm today and the funeral will take place at the Brazil Stadium in Jouberton tomorrow.

Boipelo (8), Topito (13) and Nthabeleng Mayoyo (18) died with their aunt, Flora Hlungu (56) and gogo Shiwe Xulu-Mayoyo (67) while travelling back from a wedding in Carletonville, west of Joburg, on 30 April.

According to ER24, the accident happened when the taxi driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll several times.

Flora’s son, Luckyboy, said the Matlosana Municipality had helped the family with funeral costs.

ANC chief whip in the municipality, Steve Nkebe, confirmed the party would be part of the memorial service.

– Daily Sun

BY REGINALD KANYANE

TAUNG- MEC for Local Government and human settlements, Fenny Gaolaolwe will join a service delivery blitz in Greater Taung local municipality on Saturday. Gaolaolwe will hand over houses, water and sanitation projects as part of the Back to Basics programme in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district.

“Part of the programme will also involve a massive drive to register the indigents for free basic service i.e. free water and electricity as well as educating communities on accessing housing opportunities.

“We will also touch on free basic services like water, electricity, and sanitation. Water allocation will be 6 kiloliters per household per month and on electricity, 50 kilowatts per hour per month,” Gaolaolwe said.

The event will take place at Taung taxi rank .

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

OVER 90 unemployed youth in Taung will receive certificates after they participated in a short skills programme.

The programme was organised by National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) in partnership with Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district municipality.

NYDA spokesperson, Lerato Gambu said graduates underwent training on the YouthBuild Skills Project. He said the programme empowered the youth to start their own enterprises.

“The aim was to impart skills to the youth who could play a part in the mainstream economy.

The young people received skills in plumbing and welding. The training ran for six months and it was accredited by Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA).

“The skill development programmes are mechanism to provide young people with skills. This will enhance opportunities for income. And will also create employment whilst simultaneously encouraging voluntary and service activities by young people to support community development,” Gambu said.

He added that as part of its exit strategy for young people, the project focused on three development streams: hard-skills training, enterprise development and further learning.

The graduation takes place at Mmabana Cultural Centre in Taung today (Friday) at 9am.

-TDN

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Picture: (North West University logo)

THE national Energy department hosted an energy lecture in partnership with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at North West University Potchefstroom campus on Wednesday.

IAEA director, Amano Yukiya said it was very imperative for any country to use nuclear power sparingly.

He said that the use of nuclear must be safe, sustainable and transparent at all times.

Yukiya further added that countries must always prioritise safety and reduce risks. He said that the use of nuclear will benefit the countries rather than posing as a threat.

Yukiya visited South Africa to attend an International Radiation Protection Agency Conference in Cape Town. As part of this visit DG Amano visited iThemba LABS in Cape Town May 9. 

South African Permanent Mission in Vienna ambassador, Tebogo Seokolo said this initiative will make sure there is no violation of rules regarding the use of nuclear. He said the high-tech use of nuclear power will be taken into consideration.

“Yukiya was on an official visit and he met with minister for energy to share his expertise. He came here to strengthen relationship with South Africa. We are one of the countries using nuclear to generate electricity. South Africa also use nuclear to contribute in health and produces medical isotones,” Seokolo said.

North West University welcomed the expertise shared by Yukiya. Vice-chancellor, Dan Kgwadi said the up and coming scientists and science students will benefit from the lecture.

“This is very important lecture to our students. As the university we are at the forefront regarding science and technology. Our science and technology students learnt a lot on what nuclear can be used. I believe they also learnt how nuclear will benefit our country and Africa as a whole.

According to reports, South Africa is the only African country in the world having a commercial power nuclear power plant. It has two reactors located at the Koeberg nuclear power station and accounts for around 4% of South Africa’s electricity production.

The spent fuel is disposed of at Vaalputs Radioactive Waste Disposal facility.

-TDN

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Picture: Tlokwe municipal mayor Kgotso Khumalo

TLOKWE municipality executive mayor Kgotso Khumalo condemned the DA’s allegations that the council continued to take decisions without proper consultations.

The DA claimed that they laid criminal charges against Tlokwe municipal manager, Dr Nomathemba Blaai-Mokgethi.

DA councillor, Hans-Jurie Moolman alleged that they have laid a fraud and corruption charges against Blaai-Mokgethi.

However Tlokwe municipality spokesperson, Victor Boqo said it was very strange that DA claimed to open a fraud and corruption case against the municipal manager without a case number.

“DA went to the police after they lost the case in the High Court with costs. We regard this as cheap politicking by DA. We are electioneering and they seek media attention. It is not clear from the DA’s statement what is criminal by appointing lawyers on behalf of councillors who were cited in the court papers.

“They were there in their capacity as municipal councillors, speaker and the executive mayor. They were not there in their personal capacities. The Mazabane Attorneys and Associates are on the panel lists of attorneys. The employment decisions of the lawyers were approved by the council back in 2014,” Boqo said.

He added that the DA was part of the council resolution meeting during the decision making process.

“All what they want is power. They must go and read their council documents and stop misleading the public. There was nothing wrong done by municipal manager as she executed her duties with distinctions. She defended Tlokwe municipality against power mongers like DA,” he said.

DA took Tlokwe municipality council to court after they alleged that the speaker refused to convene a meeting.

Moolman said they have a strong criminal case against Tlokwe municipal manager, Dr Nomathemba Blaai-Mokgethi.

“Democratic Alliance in Tlokwe laid criminal charges against the municipal manager and accounting officer at Potchefstroom Police Station. We do believe that police will investigate the fraud, corruption and contraventions of the local government: Municipal Finance Management Act charges in respect of the abuse of public and incurred solely to the benefit and furthering the political interests of the ANC.

“This latest abuse of public funds was to promote political goals. Barei Mosiane Segotso refused to convene a council meeting or entertain motions for her removal and the removal of the executive mayor, Kgotso Khumalo,” he said.

Moolman added that this caused them to approach the High Court to compel Segotso to comply and to adhere to a request of the majority of councillors in order to table the motions of no confidence.

“Legal representation was appointed by the municipal manager to act on behalf of the council at the public’s expense. There was no council resolution on this and the lawyers weren’t appointed by the approved panel of attorney. Even more alarming is that the illegally appointed law firm was also appointed and briefed by council to act only on behalf of ANC councillors,” Moolman said.

-TDN

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Picture: SABC Current Affairs host, Oshebeng Koonyaditse

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

VETERAN radio journalist Oshebeng Alpheus Koonyaditse welcomed the honour bestowed to him by the Gauteng education department recently.

Koonyaditse was honoured during the opening of new high tech specialised school, Curtis Nkondo in Emdeni, Soweto.

The sports complex at the school was named after him.

Koonyaditse shared the honour with other dignitaries those other complexes were named after them like Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

Motsweding FM current affair host said he was speechless when he was informed that the sports complex at the school will be named after him.

“I am very grateful to be honoured by Curtis Nkondo School. It really shows that hard work, dedication and determination will always takes one far to another level. It is an honour that you cannot even begin to measure and that leaves me with indescribable feeling,” he said.

The Taung-born journalist also works as sport commentator at SABC’s Motsweding FM. Koonyaditse was a former journalism lecturer at North West University (Mafikeng campus). He quit because he wanted to continue with his studies.

“Education is very key particularly because we need young South Africans to play a role in solving our socioeconomic problems. I have a Masters degree from North West University. And I also attended Edward R. Murrow Journalism Programme in the US in 2008. I have now registered for post graduate programme and studying International Relations,” Koonyaditse said.

He is also the author of a book, The Politics of South African football. According to him, another book could be coming soon.

“I am busy with research. After I complete my research, I will begin to write. Unfortunately is at a slower pace as I have to balance it with my work responsibility here at the SABC and being a student and a family man,” he said.

Koonyaditse pointed out that it was very important that transformation happens in sports so that it helps unite people.

“Our former late president Dr Nelson Mandela once said sport can unite different races. So transformation is important. However sports bodies should communicate their transformation programmes so that the nation should know where they are with the process. All of us should play a role and we should approach it holistically.

“Martin Luther king had a dream and Nelson Mandela had an ideal for which he was prepared to die. I simply have a wish to see us emphasising on our South Africanness rather than the innocuous differences that our skin pigments are,” he said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

Bloemhof is on knife-edge again as residents ran riot, burning three trucks on Wednesday night. One motorist died while trying to escape from the claws of mob barricading N12 road.

They demand the dissolution of the Lekwa Teemane municipal council.

Residents made the same demands in 2014 and the town was engulfed in a protracted violent protest where several vehicles, including one belonging to SABC and buildings were burnt.

About a month ago, four teenagers were arrested after a group of people barricaded the N12 and torched a bakkie.

The Wednesday night flare-up came as a baptism of fire to the newly appointed local government and human settlements MEC, Fenny Gaolaolwe and her counterpart at community safety, Dr Mpho Motlhabane.

While police sprung to action to restore order, Motlhabane condemned the violent protest and called for dialogue between residents and government.

The MEC warned motorists using the road to look for alternative routes until the situation was resolved.

“Motorists are cautioned and advised to use alternative roads due to the closure of the N12 following community protests. The community of Bloemhof went on a rampage on Wednesday night blockading the road.

“It is alleged that the community is complaining about lack of service delivery and none response of their memorandum delivered to government. According to SAPS and Traffic Authorities on site, three trucks were torched and two bakkies were involved in an accident trying to avoid the mob which thrown them with stones. However no injuries were reported so far,” Motlhabane said.

He added that in making their grievances known, communities do not need to resort to destructive behaviour.

“Torching and destruction of property is condemned at all costs and will never be tolerated in a democratic country, communities have the right to a peaceful demonstration. Every person has the right to move freely and use our roads which should not be taken away by anyone.

“We advise drivers using the N12 road to be very careful. We also urge them to use alternatives roads and cooperate when they are redirected by Traffic Authorities. To report bad driving, accidents and other unlawful acts, please contact our Call Centre on 0800 204 992,” he said.

One resident who did not want to be named said they are tired of corruption, fraud and maladministration at the municipality and their cried are never responded to.

“We submitted the memorandum of grievances to the municipality and gave them 14 days. However, they decided to ignore our call. The current administration is not the one wanted by Boitumelong residents. There are some decisions taken by municipality that we were not part of. We want the municipality council to be resolved,” the resident said.

SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in Dr Ruth Mompati region urged the provincial government to swiftly react and intervene.

Regional Secretary, Mika Moeti said: “We urge our local government and human settlements department to intervene. We need stability ahead of local government elections. The government must listen to the people’s grievances and act accordingly. However we condemn the violent behaviour of the Boitumelong residents. We request them to refrain from using violence as that will cost more money to repair torched buildings or vehicles,” he said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

COMMUNITY safety and transport management MEC, Dr Mpho Motlhabane visits the Hlungu family in Jourbeton Ext 7, Klerksdorp to offer his condolences today.

The family lost five members in a road accident on April 30. A mass funeral is scheduled for tomorrow.

“It is African to go and support the family that is going through the difficult times. Loosing such a number of people in one family at the same time is too much. Therefore, as the provincial government, we need to come closer to our people so that they do not feel despair,” Dr Motlhabane said.

Senior officials from his department visited the family last week. They were accompanied by the Road Accident Funds (RAF) officials who assisted the family on processes of making arrangements for their claims.

The Hlungu family was coming from a wedding in Carletonville when the driver of the taxi they were travelling with allegedly lost control after a tyre burst on the N12 between Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom.

According to reports, five family members died on the scene. Two people survived with critical injuries.

-TDN

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