LOCAL government and human settlements MEC Fenny Gaolaolwe handed over a number of houses to residents in villages near Taung at the weekend. Gaolaolwe used the opportunity to warn contractors that her department would continue to monitor housing development projects.

“We will continue to monitor all projects implemented by our department. As the government, we have realised that there some were lethargic concerning some projects.

“We are completing the housing project in Taung. The 500 houses units were built and delayed but the contractor promised that he would complete the project by September.

“We visited Mogopela A, Nhole and Khudutlou villages. We aim to reduce poverty and inequality among our people.

“The local government and human settlements department is working tirelessly to make sure that all our deserving residents, especially our elderly, receive houses. We will continue to improve their lives,” Gaolaolwe said.

One of the beneficiaries is Onewang Tlhase from Nhole village. Tlhase stayed in a oneroomed mud house and is turning 106 years old today. She received a furnished house and groceries from the government.

“I am very grateful for the house and want to thank the government. I have been sleeping in a mud house for a very long time. Today I can proudly say that our government has the interests of its people at heart.

“Our children are unemployed. Poverty and inequality leads to social-economic challenges.

“We know Taung is predominately rural and having basic service delivery is imperative. We appreciate the house and hope the government continues to improve the lives of the people,” Tlhase said.

Another beneficiary, Shadrack Thibe from Mogopela A village, said he was happy to leave his one-roomed structure for a proper house. Housing project contractor Floyd Ngwana said they were working tirelessly to make sure the people finally received their houses.

“We will work hard and make sure the housing project is completed. We believe with competent employees we will achieve our target. The project is expected to be completed in September,” Ngwana said.

Greater Taung local municipality mayor Kaone Lobelo said they would continue to work closely with the local and human settlements department. He said even though they had received complaints in the past, there were staggering improvements regarding the backlog.

“We are fighting a backlog on the housing projects. Our people need more houses and as the municipality we will make sure that we improve their lives.

“We have been working together with the local government and human settlements department. We will continue to work hard to make sure we remove them from abject poverty,” Lobelo said.
Courtesy: http://www.thenewage.co.za

Rustenburg – A teenage boy allegedly beat a 29-year-old man to death with a cricket bat in Blydeville, near Lichtenburg, North West police said on Friday.

“According to information, the victim and the suspect had an argument over the alleged theft of a cellphone. The victim was allegedly hit with a cricket bat on the head and he died on the scene,” said police spokesperson Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone.

He said the 17-year-old boy was arrested on Thursday and was expected to appear in the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
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Ventersdorp – The SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in the North West on Saturday called for a probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of Jan Rammekwa – a farmworker allegedly “left to die” from a leg injury caused by a harvesting machine.

Rammekwa’s burial is being held in Tshing township near Ventersdorp on Saturday, Sanco provincial chairman Paul Sebegoe said.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – The African National Congress’s Gauteng provincial general council (PGC) has resolved to accept President Jacob Zuma’s apology following the recent Constitutional Court ruling that he violated the Constitution by ignoring the public protector’s directives on the Nkandla matter.

In a statement issued on Sunday afternoon after the PGC meeting held at the weekend, the Gauteng provincial office-bearers said the meeting had further resolved that Zuma, the ANC national executive committee (NEC), and “the whole movement must continue reflecting on the matter”.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

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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