BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 26 year-old man was arrested for an armed robbery. Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Sergio Kock said the incident took place on the weekend.

“The incident took place on Saturday at about 4pm. Two men allegedly entered a shop in Old De Beers Road and threatened the owner with screw drivers.

“The men fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and two cell phones. One of the suspects was arrested on Monday at approximately 8am. The police received a tip-off from community members,” Kock said.

He further added that the second suspect is still at large. Kock said they request anyone with information regarding the incident to call D/WO Marcus Mafaro on 082 302 0407.

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

taungdailynews@gmail.com

BY REGINALD KANYANE

A former police officer and accounting clerk were found guilty of fraud and theft. Captain Santa Pakalitha, 31, and Hillary Arries, 36 appeared in De Aar Regional Court on Monday.

The Hawks spokesperson, Captain Philani Nkwalase said the accused were both working for the South African Police Service (SAPS) and stationed at Colesburg finance office before their dismissal.

“They were charged for 118 incidents of fraud and theft combined, worth a total of over R293 000. Investigation revealed that false application requesting cash advances and claim were made. These claims varied from meals, accommodation costs as well as renewal of license disks. Personal particulars of fellow colleagues were used including senior management at the station,” Nkwalase said.

According to Nkwalase, they were arrested in August 2010 for defrauding the SAPS from November 2009 until July 2010. He said these irregularities were uncovered when a senior manager found that there was a pending claim R131 000 on her name.

“She knew nothing about that and Arries had since repaid R131 000 to the State. They were both sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. They were also suspended for 5 years on condition that they do not commit similar offences. They were additionally placed under correctional supervision and community service both for a period of 2 years,” Nkwalase said.

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

taungdailynews@gmail.com

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 30-YEAR-OLD man appeared at Taung Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with murder. Oagile Boul Boitsi allegedly stabbed Thabiso Mohotlheng at a local tavern in Mokgareng village, near Taung on Sunday morning.

North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said a fight ensued between the suspect and the deceased.

“The suspect and the victim were engaged in an argument at a local tavern. The suspect allegedly stabbed the victim with a knife twice in the chest. The deceased was rushed to a local clinic where he unfortunately died,” Funani said.

The murder case against Boitsi was postponed until June 13 for bail application. He will be remanded in custody.

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

taungdailynews@gmail.com

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

RUSTENBURG mayor, Mpho Khunou applauded the 2016 Comrades Marathon winner, David Gatebe and other athletes from the municipality who participated in this year’s run.

Khunou hosted a mini ceremony to honour the athletes, encouraging them to mentor others so that more champions can be produced from the province.

“We have 2015 comrade marathon winner, Gift Kelehe who works as a policeman in Rustenburg. We also have David Gatebe from Sun Rise Park in Rustenburg. These achievements augur well for our city. We want to put Rustenburg against the best cities in Africa and this is a testimony.

“We now want to formally congratulate David Gatebe as the municipality. He conquered the gruelling 89 kilometer down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on May 29 to win the title,” Khunou said.

He added that Rustenburg and the North West at large is now on the map owing to the exploits of Kelehe and Gatebe.

“You have not only put Rustenburg on the world map, but made us proud once again after Gift Kelehe did the same last year by winning the 2015 comrade marathon. You continue to inspire the youth of Rustenburg in particular, North West province and the rest of South Africa in general.

“Congratulations and keep it up as you will be defending the championship next year. The municipality will support your efforts at all times. We are in the process of availing Olympia Park stadium to yourself and club mates, Gift Kelehe, Peter Gaebetse and Gordon Lesetedi. We want the stadium to be your official training venue,” he said.

Gatebe appreciated the support shown by the municipality and promised to continue inspiring young people.

“I am grateful to God for granting me such strength to break a stunning world record. I also broke the record set by Russian Leonid Shvestsov in 2007. I am happy to celebrate the rare moment with the people of Rustenburg in general and Sunrise Park in particular. I dedicate this win to them,” Gatebe said.

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: (Mmabana employees barricade entrance at Mmabana Head Office in Mahikeng)

BY REGINALD KANYANE

STAFF at Mmabana Foundation said they will continue to embark on a strike if the institution does not commit itself in writing while addressing their grievances.

The workers downed tools at all the parastatals offices across the province on Friday.

Provincial coordinator for striking workers, Portia Phadi addressed the workers on Monday at Mmabana Foundation Head Offices in Mahikeng.

She alleged that the Mmabana Foundation exploited them and downgraded their salaries without engaging with the workers first.

Phadi said they embarked on a protest because the management ignored their call. She said they urged Mmabana Foundation to engage with their union (NEHAWU) before they could downgrade their salaries.

“We were guaranteed the certificate to embark on a strike by CCMA hence we shut down all entries leading to Mmabana Foundation Head Offices. As employees, we are paid meagre salaries. Employees were also not part of the decisions taken by the institution.

“They alleged that the institution does not have enough money in their account. We want to know where the money went to because we are aware that the culture, art and traditional affairs department (CATA) is injecting money into the institution,” Phadi said.

She added that the institution receive budget from the department of CATA however they could not even get salary increment as employees.

Phadi added that CATA department requested a meeting with NEHAWU.

“NEHAWU will be engaged in a meeting with CATA. However we stand firmly on our ground and need our grievances to be addressed. If there is no agreement, then we will continue to embark on a strike,” she said.

NEHAWU provincial spokesperson, Cassper Nanto said some employees alleged that the CEO and management get exorbitant salaries while they living in poverty.

“How relevant it is for the CEO to get R1.4m salary while workers are starving? It is the time now for the provincial government to enter into the fray and investigate exactly what is happening at Mmabana Foundation,” Nanto said.

However CEO for Mmabana Foundation, Sipho Nkese disputes the allegations levelled against him. He said the employees embarked on illegal strike.

“It is not true that the management is paying themselves exorbitant salaries. The union has salaries of everybody in the organisation. Our salaries are in line with what the government is paying its employees. So there is no one earning R1.4m at Mmabana Foundation,” Nkese said.

CATA head of department, Nono Bapela said interventions were put in place to assist the beleaguered institution. She said the portfolio committee also urged them to monitor Mmabana Foundation.

“We have engaged with the Mmabana Foundation management. We met with the acting CEO Sipho Nkese and newly appointed CFO. We are in the process of appointing the substantive CEO. We also believe that the situation can be turned around.

“There has not been a good collaboration between Mmabana Foundation and our department over the past few years. However we will continue to engage with senior management. The collaboration needs to take place particularly through art and culture component,” Bapela said.

“Drastic measures will be taken against those who mismanaged of resources at the institution after the completion of the investigations. We will make sure that we leave no stone unturned,” she said.

Bapela said the establishment of Mmabana Foundation was to promotes and unearthened art and culture within the province. She said even though the institution still does that however more can be done.

It is alleged that the CATA department reduced the Mmabana Foundation’s budget by R10m.

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

taungdailynews@gmail.com

BY REGINALD KANYANE

MORE than 150 needy pupils from Keagile Primary School in Ikageng location, Potchefstroom, received new pairs of shoes on Friday.

The shoes were donated by two healthcare workers, Kagiso Mojanaga, a paramedic and Mzukisi Jam, a professional nurse.

Mojanaga said it was imperative to plough back to the community to develop the high-quality future leaders. He said seeing kids going to school barefooted touched his heart.

“We will continue to show support to other schools. Our intentions are to make sure that the pupils have confidence when walking to school. By so doing they will produce better results. We hope this will play a pivotal role in the development of these learners,” he said.

Muzikisi Jam also highlighted that they were assisted by other doctors also working at Potchefstroom hospital.

It was all smiles for pupils who received the shoes.

Jam said they were on their way to work when they saw kids walking barefoot to school and decided to do something about it.

“We offered them a lift and ask why are they were not wearing shoes. Some of them highlighted that their parents are not working. And the other one said he was promised a new pair of shoes only in December.

“We went to the school and met with teachers. They identified 250 needy kids and we went on to buy 150 pairs of shoes. However we will continue to work hard to achieve our target,” he said.

Keagile Primary School Principal, Tefo Thabane said: “This is indeed a gesture of Ubuntu. This brings happiness to the needy. Seeing ordinary citizens doing such an extraordinary work is amazing. We highly appreciate the contribution at the school.”

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

taungdailynews@gmail.com

BY REGINALD KANYANE

MORE than 1 000 former Aquarius Platinum Mine workers in Kroondal, near Rustenburg received food parcels from Association of Mineworkers Construction Union president, Joseph Mathunjwa on Saturday.

The former mine workers said they have been living in abject poverty since their dismissals.

One of the former mine workers said: “We have been surviving by eating cats, jackals, rats, hares and wild spinach. Some of other miners died because of hunger. We have been living in abject poverty.

“We are sick and dying from poverty. We have tried all avenues to try to get our jobs back but with no avails. However we believe AMCU’s intervention will bear fruits.”

Another former mine worker from Lesotho said he could not visit his family because he has no money.

“Some of our compatriots have died here and we could not be ferried them to the country of birth because we are destitute,” he said.

In his address, Mathunjwa said that the situation the former mine workers are living in is appalling.

He said he will now urge the Mineral Resources Minister, Mosebenzi Zwane for intervention.

“I am not here to try to drop names but to save the situation. These are our fellow blacks and fathers who deserve better. I wrote a letter to the Minister of Mineral Resources, Mr Mosebenzi Zwane requesting a meeting to discuss how to address the situation.

“This is temporary, not permanent and it is not sustainable. These workers have skills and they can be employed around.  We have been told by them they have been blacklisted.” Mathunjwa said.
He said the former mine workers were dismissed back in 2009.

Mathunjwa added that it was reported that many of the former miners died without receiving compensation.

The mineworkers were allegedly dismissed after embarking on an unprotected wage strike.

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

taungdailynews@gmail.com

BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE North West Film Commission (NWFC) met with upcoming filmmakers in the province during its recent road-show campaign.

NWFC spokesperson, Pieter Kruger said that the tour afforded them an opportunity to meet with various filmmakers and film production companies.

“We conducted our road shows in Rustenburg, Mahikeng, Vryburg and Klerksdorp since last week. The dearth of the sector robbed North West people many opportunities in the past.

“Some of the challenges came across was that the province was poorly resourced and lacked skill pool to grow and develop the film and television sector. Hover most people were grateful to see the emerging of NWFC. They stated that the province will now play its role in utilising talents,” Kruger said.

He added that many implored the NWFC to mobilise financial grants, lobby government departments and facilitate distribution and marketing of their film projects.

NWFC has already held high-level meetings with MICTSeta. Kruger said the discussions were underway for the establishment of transformational relationship between the two bodies.

He added that Big Fish Production Company was another partner they will foster a relationship with.

“The Big Fish Production Company will provide training to local filmmakers.

Plans are afoot to fast-track the sector development. We also met with Zidaka to collaborate filmmakers and production companies in North West. This will result in a number of locations be identified for shootings.

“We will create opportunities for trainees and internships for North West talent. Five projects will form the core of this relationship between NWFC and Zidaka,” he said.

NWFC said they will also support the Mafikeng International Film Festival that will take place in August. Kruger said they will also meet with organisers of Bojanala Film Week.

Zidaka chief executive officer (CEO), Jeremy Nathan said: “The discussions about the province’s participation at major film festivals national and international as well as the national premiere release of the world acclaimed “Mandela’s Gun” are at an advanced stage.”

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

taungdailynews@gmail.com

BY REGINALD KANYANE

STAFF at Mmabana Foundation embarked on a strike at all the parastatals offices across the province on Friday.

The employees alleged that the Mmabana Foundation exploited them and downgraded their salaries.

Provincial coordinator for the strike, Portia Phadi said they embarked on a protest because the management ignored their call.

She said they urged Mmabana Foundation to engage with their union (NEHAWU) before they could downgrade their salaries.

“We were guaranteed the certificate to embark on a strike by CCMA hence we shut down all entries leading to Mmabana Foundation Head Offices. As employees, we are paid meagre salaries. Employees were also not part of the decisions taken by the institution.

“They alleged that there institution does not have enough money in their account. We want to know where the money went to because we are aware that the culture, art and traditional affairs department (CATA) is injecting money into the institution,” Phadi said.

She added that the institution receive budget from the department of CATA however they could not even get salary increment as employees.

One employee said: “I have 26 years as an employee at Mmabana Foundation. However I am ready to go on pension, but I do not have enough money. I am living in abject poverty, yet I am working.”

Another worker said the CEO and management get exorbitant salaries while they living in poverty.

NEHAWU provincial spokesperson, Cassper Nanto urged provincial government to investigate discrepancies at Mmabana Foundation.

“How relevant it is for the CEO to get R1.4m salary while workers are starving? It is the time now for the provincial government to enter into the fray and investigate exactly what is happening at Mmabana Foundation,” Nanto said.

However CEO for Mmabana Foundation, Sipho Nkese disputes the allegations levelled against him. He said the employees embarked on illegal strike.

“It is not true that the management is paying themselves exorbitant salaries. The union has salaries of everybody in the organisation. Our salaries are in line with what the government is paying its employees. So there is no one earning R1.4m at Mmabana Foundation,” Nkese said.

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

taungdailynews@gmail.com

BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE manager at Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre, Herman Phetlho has been suspended.

North West Tourism Board acting CEO, Charles Ndabeni said Phetlho was put on suspension to allow for investigations into his conduct.

“We can confirm that Phetlho has been suspended for administrative purposes. However I cannot get into details because the matter is now sub-judice. We have already started with investigations and we hope to complete them soon,” Ndabeni said.

More than 200 hotel students embarked on a strike three months ago after they were promised bursaries.

One of the students who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were sold empty promises by Phetlho.

“We are been ill-treated at the school by the management. We hope the NWTB will resolve our challenges because the management at the hotel school turned a deaf ear. We are also working abnormal hours and knock off late with no transport to get home,” she said.

However, the contractor is busy building accommodations at the hotel school for students after the tourism department intervened to resolve accommodation issues.

Efforts to reach Phetlho were futile.

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

taungdailynews@gmail.com