Picture: (Marikana illegal housing occupants at North West High Court)

MARIKANA residents who illegal occupied RDP houses appeared in North West High Court yesterday (Thursday). The local government and human settlements department and Rustenburg local municipality ordered them to vacate the houses however their quest was futile. The department filed for eviction through court.

The court ordered residents to explain why they must not be evicted. The case was postponed until June 10 for hearing.

Local government and human settlements department spokesperson, Ben Bole said they welcomed the postponement.

“The case against Rustenburg local municipality versus the illegal occupants of the houses in Marikana was postponed in the North West High Court to June 10. This was to allow the respondents to file heads of arguments. The court ruled that all approved beneficiaries of the Marikana Extension 2 housing project allow the contractor space to complete the houses that they are presently occupying.

“The rest of the residents who have not been approved or are yet to be approved as beneficiaries must furnish their personal circumstances to the court on June 3. This is in accordance with the Land Act of 1998 – Section 4 of the Prevention of Illegal Occupation and Eviction,” Bole said.

Rustenburg local municipality spokesperson, Thapelo Matebesi said the project was a collaborative effort between our department, Rustenburg local municipality and Lonmin. He said the project was underpinned by the presidential package to deal with housing backlog in the country.

“This resulted in the decision to yield 2 600 units in the Marikana area. Lonmin donated a 50ha portion of land with 860 serviced sites known as Marikana Ext. 2. The sector provincial department provided subsidies and appointed developers for the first phase that saw the construction of 292 Breaking New Ground units (BNG’s). Construction is under way and the completion date was suppose to be this month,” he said.

Matebesi said lawful beneficiaries where identified through extensive consultation with the community. He said however, the project had numerous challenges ranging from stoppages by sub-contractors and community. Matebesi said illegal occupation and pending threats of illegal occupation of the BNG Units also caused the delay.

The Marikana illegal housing occupants leader, Napoleon Webster said: “We will suffer the same gross injustices suffered by mine workers and their families. What they went through was one part of the enslavement of the indigenous dispossessed of South Africa.

“We will never budge, but remain resolute on our mission. The houses are used as ANC machinery to get voters. However the corruption marred this government will be dissolved on August 3. The ANC-led government killed 34 miners and now they are gearing up to kill Marikana residents for demanding decent houses for our people. The houses are official built for mine workers and their community as stipulated in the mining charter,” Webster said.

-TDN

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RUSTENBURG – One of the two mineworkers trapped underground at Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats) mine in Rustenburg, North West was found dead on Thursday, the company said.

“The body was found in an area with extremely unstable ground conditions and has not yet been recovered. The search and rescue teams are continuing with their relentless efforts to find the second miner,” said company spokesperson Johan Theron.

“The families of the two miners have been informed of the latest developments and continue to receive support from the mine, the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu). The families have requested that we withhold the names of both miners at this time.”

Implats chief executive Terence Goodlace said: “This is a tragic loss for everybody and our heart-felt condolences are with the families of our colleagues. We extend our sincere gratitude to the mine rescue teams for their diligent and professional efforts in leading the search and rescue operation, as well as senior officials from the DMR, Amcu and the industry for their unwavering support.”

The two mineworkers were trapped underground at 1 Shaft in Meriting near Rustenburg on Tuesday following a rock fall. Seven miners managed to escape unharmed.

– Africa News Agency

BY REGINALD KANYANE

MEC for culture, arts and traditional affairs (CATA), Ontlametse Mochware sent her heartfelt condolences to Letlhogile’s family after the death of Kgosi Thuso Letlhogile. Mochware said Letlhogile’s presence will be highly missed.

“Our traditional authority mourns the death of disciplined, dedicated and determined leader, Kgosi Thuso Letlhogile. As the department we want to send the message of support to his family. We have worked with him and we believe his leadership was significant. We will continue to remember and celebrate his life,” Mochware said.

Provincial traditional leaders also sent their message of support. They said Kgosi Letlhogile played a pivotal role in transforming the institution. Ganyesa-born traditional leader passed away on Saturday. Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati municipality district mayor, Choganyetso Tladinyane said Letlhogile will be solely missed.

“We are disheartened and saddened by the untimely death of Kgosi Letlhogile. We want to convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Letlhogile was a husband, father, grandfather and uncle. He also served his people with diligence. Letlhogile was also part of the council at Dr Ruth Mompati municipality district.

“His death left an immeasurable void in our hearts. We urge everyone to take this opportunity and cast his/her vote during local government elections in Letlhogile’s memory. Letlhogile was a man of integrity and served the Barolong Boo – Tlou le Tau meticulously,” Tladinyane said.

He also urged the people to celebrate the lives of their heroes. Tladinyane encouraged the community leaders to learn from Letlhogile. He said they must serve their people with integrity and changes the lives of ordinary people.

According to Tladinyane, Letlhogile has been had stroke while taking sugar diabetes medication.

Kgosi Letlhogile will be buried on Saturday at Ganyesa.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

RUSTENBURG local municipality came up with strategic plan to fight housing backlog in the area. Municipality spokesperson, Thapelo Matebesi said they have experienced high rate of migration over the years.

“We have foremost plans to reduce housing backlog we are currently facing. We are working collaboratively with national and provincial sector departments in providing decent new typology human settlements.

“We have built Breaking New Grounds (BNG’s) and Community Residential Units (CRU’s) to mitigating the high housing demand in the Rustenburg area. The cause of this was job opportunities across Rustenburg,” Matebesi said.

He said they have also experienced mushrooming of informal settlements. Matebesi further added that the burgeoningaffects the municipality.

“The rapid growing of population and mushrooming of informal settlements interferes with our set-up in terms of Integrated Development Planning (IDP). This affects service delivery and therefore we cannot plan accordingly in terms of service provision.

“All of a sudden we now have more people to cater for, even though they were not part of the plan. This has been growing over years due to many people relocating to Rustenburg. There is a mining industry and that attracts people across,” Matebesi added.

He said there are over 38 expansive informal settlements so far. Matebesi further added that some informal settlements have occupied illegal lands belonging to mining companies.

“We cannot provide service delivery to some of the areas and that creates unrest. Rustenburg accounts for most of the informal settlements in the North West,” he said.

Meanwhile the residents who illegally occupied RDP houses will appear in North West High Court on Thursday. They were summoned and requested to explain to the court why they must not be evicted. Rustenburg local municipality and human settlements department applied for court eviction earlier this year.

North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo also came out gun blazing and lambasted EFF in North West over illegal occupation of RDP houses in Marikana. He alleged that they have received reports from the police that confirm that EFF was behind the illegal occupation of RDP houses.

“We want to put it on record that EFF is behind the illegal occupation of RDP houses in Marikana. We have received that information from the police. However we urge them to refrain from that as their behaviour derails service delivery. One of EFF member of legislature in North West said they will encourage residents to occupy RDP houses illegally.

  However EFF in the North West said the Marikana housing allocation was used by ANC and Rustenburg municipality as part of their illegal electioneering tactics in the run-up to the 2016 local government elections. Acting provincial secretary, Leigh-Ann Mathys said the ANC’s mismanagement of this process has the potential to result in another Marikana blood bath.

“The Minister of Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu handed over the Marikana Housing Development Project to ANC-led Rustenburg municipality during January 8 rally. This was a clear indication of mobilising rounds for her party. The community requested clarity on the processes in which the housing will be allocated.  There was no response, and that resulted in illegal occupation,” Mathys said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

RUSTENBURG local municipality came up with strategic plan to fight housing backlog in the area. Municipality spokesperson, Thapelo Matebesi said they have experienced high rate of migration over the years.

“We have foremost plans to reduce housing backlog we are currently facing. We are working collaboratively with national and provincial sector departments in providing decent new typology human settlements.

“We have built Breaking New Grounds (BNG’s) and Community Residential Units (CRU’s) to mitigating the high housing demand in the Rustenburg area. The cause of this was job opportunities across Rustenburg,” Matebesi said.

He said they have also experienced mushrooming of informal settlements. Matebesi further added that the burgeoningaffects the municipality.

“The rapid growing of population and mushrooming of informal settlements interferes with our set-up in terms of Integrated Development Planning (IDP). This affects service delivery and therefore we cannot plan accordingly in terms of service provision.

“All of a sudden we now have more people to cater for, even though they were not part of the plan. This has been growing over years due to many people relocating to Rustenburg. There is a mining industry and that attracts people across,” Matebesi added.

He said there are over 38 expansive informal settlements so far. Matebesi further added that some informal settlements have occupied illegal lands belonging to mining companies.

“We cannot provide service delivery to some of the areas and that creates unrest. Rustenburg accounts for most of the informal settlements in the North West,” he said.

Meanwhile the residents who illegally occupied RDP houses will appear in North West High Court on Thursday. They were summoned and requested to explain to the court why they must not be evicted. Rustenburg local municipality and human settlements department applied for court eviction earlier this year.

North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo also came out gun blazing and lambasted EFF in North West over illegal occupation of RDP houses in Marikana. He alleged that they have received reports from the police that confirm that EFF was behind the illegal occupation of RDP houses.

“We want to put it on record that EFF is behind the illegal occupation of RDP houses in Marikana. We have received that information from the police. However we urge them to refrain from that as their behaviour derails service delivery. One of EFF member of legislature in North West said they will encourage residents to occupy RDP houses illegally.

  However EFF in the North West said the Marikana housing allocation was used by ANC and Rustenburg municipality as part of their illegal electioneering tactics in the run-up to the 2016 local government elections. Acting provincial secretary, Leigh-Ann Mathys said the ANC’s mismanagement of this process has the potential to result in another Marikana blood bath.

“The Minister of Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu handed over the Marikana Housing Development Project to ANC-led Rustenburg municipality during January 8 rally. This was a clear indication of mobilising rounds for her party. The community requested clarity on the processes in which the housing will be allocated.  There was no response, and that resulted in illegal occupation,” Mathys said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

RUSTENBURG local municipality came up with strategic plan to fight housing backlog in the area. Municipality spokesperson, Thapelo Matebesi said they have experienced high rate of migration over the years.

“We have foremost plans to reduce housing backlog we are currently facing. We are working collaboratively with national and provincial sector departments in providing decent new typology human settlements.

“We have built Breaking New Grounds (BNG’s) and Community Residential Units (CRU’s) to mitigating the high housing demand in the Rustenburg area. The cause of this was job opportunities across Rustenburg,” Matebesi said.

He said they have also experienced mushrooming of informal settlements. Matebesi further added that the burgeoningaffects the municipality.

“The rapid growing of population and mushrooming of informal settlements interferes with our set-up in terms of Integrated Development Planning (IDP). This affects service delivery and therefore we cannot plan accordingly in terms of service provision.

“All of a sudden we now have more people to cater for, even though they were not part of the plan. This has been growing over years due to many people relocating to Rustenburg. There is a mining industry and that attracts people across,” Matebesi added.

He said there are over 38 expansive informal settlements so far. Matebesi further added that some informal settlements have occupied illegal lands belonging to mining companies.

“We cannot provide service delivery to some of the areas and that creates unrest. Rustenburg accounts for most of the informal settlements in the North West,” he said.

Meanwhile the residents who illegally occupied RDP houses will appear in North West High Court on Thursday. They were summoned and requested to explain to the court why they must not be evicted. Rustenburg local municipality and human settlements department applied for court eviction earlier this year.

North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo also came out gun blazing and lambasted EFF in North West over illegal occupation of RDP houses in Marikana. He alleged that they have received reports from the police that confirm that EFF was behind the illegal occupation of RDP houses.

“We want to put it on record that EFF is behind the illegal occupation of RDP houses in Marikana. We have received that information from the police. However we urge them to refrain from that as their behaviour derails service delivery. One of EFF member of legislature in North West said they will encourage residents to occupy RDP houses illegally.

  However EFF in the North West said the Marikana housing allocation was used by ANC and Rustenburg municipality as part of their illegal electioneering tactics in the run-up to the 2016 local government elections. Acting provincial secretary, Leigh-Ann Mathys said the ANC’s mismanagement of this process has the potential to result in another Marikana blood bath.

“The Minister of Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu handed over the Marikana Housing Development Project to ANC-led Rustenburg municipality during January 8 rally. This was a clear indication of mobilising rounds for her party. The community requested clarity on the processes in which the housing will be allocated.  There was no response, and that resulted in illegal occupation,” Mathys said.

-TDN

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Nigerian woman filed for divorce from her husband because his penis was ‘too large’.

An Islamic Sharia court in Nigeria’s Zamfara State granted Aisha Dannupawa a divorce from husband Ali Maizinari after just one week of marriage.

Living in an Islamic state,  the couple were bound by law not to have sex before marriage.

After tying the knot, the couple attempted to consummate their marriage twice but the pain was too much to bare and even medication did not make intercourse easier.

“When he came, we had sex but the experience was a nightmare. Instead of enjoying the sex, it turned out to be something else because his penis was too big,” she told the court, according to Nigeria’sTribune.

Ali did not contest the divorce in court but requested that his dowry and money spent during the courtship be paid back

This is Aisha’s second failed marriage. Perhaps she’ll be luckier third time round.
Sources: www.dailymail.co.uk, jezebel.com, tribune.com.ng,nypost.com

African National Congress chief whip Jackson Mthembu said on Thursday that members of EFF leader Julius Malema’s private security team had entered the parliamentary chamber with the Sergeant-at-Arms during Tuesday’s fractious session attended by President Jacob Zuma.

Mthembu said that ANC sources had seen that these individuals were protecting Malema.

Labelling this a security breach‚ he said the ANC has asked Parliament to conduct an investigation.

The EFF MPs are on an automatic suspension for five days starting from the date of their eviction from the House‚ Parliament said on Wednesday. A criminal complaint has also been lodged with the police after a glass entrance door to parliament was shattered‚ furniture damaged and clothes torn during the brawl.

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

Mamelodi Sundowns have been knocked out of the CAF Confederation Cup on the away goals rule following their 2-0 defeat to Medeama in Ghana on Wednesday night.

Medeama started well in the game, forcing Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango into making few saves.

The hosts broke the deadlock in the 36th minute through Akwa who converted a penalty after he was brought down in the box by Thabo Nthethe.

In the second half, Mosimane brought on Cuthbert Malajila for Teko Modise. However, the hosts doubled their lead in the 65th minute through Aforu.

Things went from bad to worse for Mosiame’s side when they were reduced to 10 men after Onyango was sent off for kicking Mohammed Abass.

The situation forced “Jingles” to sacrifice Bangaly Soumahoro and bring on keeper Kennedy Mweene.

The Brazilians tried to get an away goal but couldn’t find the much needed goal as Medeama earned a spot in the group stages draw, taking place in Cairo, Egypt on May 24.

BY REGINALD KANYANE

LOCAL and human settlements department in North West, MEC Galaletsang Fenny Gaolaolwe said they will continue to restore hope to the desperate and needy community across North West. Gaolaolwe handed over 150 toilets to Lower Majakgoro village, near Taung on Saturday.

“We handed over 150 toilets to our community. The department of local government and human settlements will make sure all projects are monitored from now on. We have experienced a backlog on some of our projects. However we will do what it takes to make sure they reach its completion.

“The department seeks to restore hope to the desperate and needy communities. We will continue to bring basic services to them. We will also develop the communities to a point of self-reliance through the provision of learnerships and training initiatives,” Gaolaolwe said.

She said the project created job opportunities to locals. Gaolaolwe said changing the lives of the masses was imperative.

“North West province is predominantly rural areas. However with Premier Supra Mahumapelo’s vision we can free our people from abject poverty. As the department, we will make sure the situation changes for the better,” Gaolaolwe said.

North West premier Supra Mahumapelo said they will implement village development plan strategy. He said the assessment and interaction will be completed in July.

“We have come up with a plan to make sure we change the situation in many rural areas. As the part of rebranding, reposition and renewal process, we drafted village development plan. We want to have each and every village (VDP). That will help us to prioritise the needs according to the village.

“We will continue to work together with all departments to make sure we reach our mark. We have dedicated 60% of provincial government budget to rural areas. We also want to eradicate poverty and inequality. By developing locals, we will reduce unemployment and that will boost economy of the province,” Mahumapelo said.

Deputy Minister for education, Enver Surty said the ANC-led government aimed at developing the youth. He said the government will continue to invest in the community projects.

“We will continue to inspire changes by empowering the youth. We also want to ensure sustainability for each of our projects. The government will continue to work together with other local companies and organizations. We will use a holistic approach and offer the best possible basic service to the people,” he said.

Greater Taung local municipality mayor, Kaone Lobelo said: “The people will continue to receive basic services like electricity, water and sanitation. We also aim at supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs. We want our young people to be employers than employees. Even though Taung is surrounded by rural areas, we will have ways to try and develop the area to be more viable.”

-TDN

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