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Losing the first game of the season is never really a train smash, but it’s how you lose that often sets off alarm bells.

In their 2-1 defeat to Bidvest Wits on Tuesday night, Kaizer Chiefs never looked like a team that could go on to mount a championship challenge.

It was a team that seemed to lack any real sense of drive, purpose or conviction.

Coach Steve Komphela admitted that they looked desperate and made things easy for Wits, but he is not reading too much into the defeat as he believes Amakhosi can bounce back.

“When we defended, we looked desperate. As a result we could not play from the back. We need to be calm. We played the ball long. One man who showed that if we kept the ball on the ground something could have happened is Twala (William). He had a field day on the left. We made it easy for them,” said Komphela.

“It’s disappointing. We were reluctant to impose our game plan. Wits played with more purpose than we did and they looked more aggressive than we did. We need to accept that we deserved to lose, but You do not win the league through the first match.”

Komphela explained his bizarre decision not to have most of his new signings in the team for the opening match.

Chiefs brought in 10 new players during the off season, including two from their development squad, but only three of them made the 18-man match-day squad.

There was very little change from last season but the impression they had created is that they meant to make big changes this season.

“I thought the team had been training extremely well. It is the same team that played extremely well in the Carling Black Label Cup,” Komphela said, strangely overlooking the fact that the line-up for that competition was picked by fans.

Chiefs have a chance to get their first victory of the season when they visit the Mother City to face Cape Town City in the MTN8 tomorrow (8pm).

Source: http://www.sowetanlive.co.za

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THE community of Magogong village, Taung in conjunction with Taung Police Station convened to come up with strategic plans to combat crime. This came after unresolved crimes in the vicinity.

The meeting was held at Magogong Tribal Authority on Sunday. Taung 

Police Station representative, Captain Simon Jabetle said there were many unsolved cases reported at the police station. 

Jabetle said that could have been caused by lack of evidence or poor investigations from the police.

“We are aware of the escalating crime in Magogong village. The area and its vicinity are leading Taung as crime hot spot. The police also rely on the help of the local citizens and communities for case-making tips and information to make progress.

“Different methods are created to incentivize people coming forward and sharing valuable information. Our people need to assist police in dealing with crime. Some of the cases end up thrown out of court because they lack evidence,” he said.

He said witnesses play a pivotal role in many cases and assist police to combat crime. Jabetle added that in most instances, key witnesses refused to come forward with evidence.

“We urge our people to come forward with any key evidence to assist police in combating crime. Police websites offer crime hotline numbers and promise anonymity. For serious crimes, cash rewards may be offered. There were constantly house, business and armed robberies experienced in this area.

“We also decided to capacitate Community Policing Forums (CPFs) to assist the police. We also visited affected neighborhoods to distribute flyers and solicit information from locals. Despite these outreach efforts, many crimes still remain unsolved without adequate evidence,” Jabetle said.

Somali businessperson, Ayele Ayanto said crime is rife in Magogong village.

“I have a tuck-shop in the area and I was robbed at gunpoint last week Thursday. The criminals took undisclosed amount of money, airtime vouchers and groceries.  When we call the Taung Police Station, the police dropped the call if they realise that we are foreigners,” Ayanto said.

Another Somali, Ashebo Tumidaudi said: “We are not safe in this area. We need police to swiftly response to the situation. We sometimes have difficulties from police side. They will respond three days after the incident.”

Magogong Fight Against Crime leader, Tebogo Morweng said: “When neighbourhoods stand out against crime, they can improve the welfare of their community. Police and citizens must both understand the value of working collaboratively to solve difficult cases.”

“The neighbourhood patrol can change the living environment with direct police correspondence. This program will yield positive results by lowering criminal activity.”

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THE Goodwill Primary School held an entrepreneurship day to encourage children to calculate money in Mahikeng last week Friday. Education and sport development spokesperson, Elias Malindi said calculation was no more just a classroom matter.

“Mahikeng schools decided to host an entrepreneurial day in order to teach pupils about practical calculations of money. This will assist them to understand more about additions and subtractions.

“Pupils were also encouraged to secure stalls for the business. They were encouraged to sell products like sweets, toys, lollipops, drinks, ice-pop, etc. Some parents went to as far as Johannesburg to buy stock for their children’s business,” Malindi said.

He added that the main objective of the entrepreneurial day was to empower pupils with the practical knowledge of calculations. Malindi further said they have experienced that most pupils were unable to understand word questions during examinations.

“The entrepreneurial day offered them a practical platform to add and subtract when selling products,” Malindi said.

One of the parents said: “As parents, we truly appreciate the initiative of entrepreneurial day because it gives pupils a practical exposure. The initiative deals with counting money. We want to applaud the education system for this exercise.”

Goodwill Primary School principal, Kirileng Seremo added that the exercise targeted pupils of all grades except for the Grade R class. Seremo further highlighted that Goodwill Primary school usually hold the entrepreneurial day once a quarter for pupils to understand calculations.

 Another parent, Thabo Lehutso said he went as far as Johannesburg to buy goods for his daughter. Lehutso added that pupils’ participation in the exercise is imperative.

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NORTH West provincial legislature Chief Whip, Hoffman Galeng lambasted the way in manner EFF provincial chairperson, Betty Diale conducted herself during the legislative sitting on Tuesday.

Diale rose on a point of order during a house sitting where members of all political parties in the legislature were given a platform to debate on the Women’s Month in the legislature chamber.

She was tricked by Portfolio committee member statement, Motlalepula Rosho when she said ANC won all local municipalities in the province including Rustenburg.

However, Diale did not leave that lying down and said ANC won Rustenburg local municipality after possibly bribing small parties to get their votes.

“ANC did not win Rustenburg local municipality on its own. They needed assistance of smaller parties to win. There was a missing R3m from Rustenburg local municipality, and it was possibly used to bribe people,” Diale said.

However, chair of chairs, Itumeleng Mosala who was the presiding officer requested Diale to retract her statement or provide substantial evidence to support her derogatory statement after portfolio committee member, Raymond Elisha asked Diale to retrieve her statement.

“I am certain about what I said and I cannot degrade myself by making false statement. I will bring prove in the next sitting to support my statement,” Diale said.

ANC North West provincial legislature provincial chief whip, Hoffman Galeng said if a member has evidence in whatever she/he said, they will submit that as a notice of motion in line with the legislative rules.

“It is tantamount for political leaders to mislead the house without substantial evidence. I am very pleased that Diale said she does have evidence that the ANC has bribed people to the tune of R3m.

“It will be very much interesting to see that evidence and that will indicate who bribed who. It will also be surprising for Diale to have that kind of evidence, but still did not take that evidence to the relevant law enforcement authorities,” Galeng said.

He added that bribery is regarded as a criminal offence. Galeng also said Diale was supposed to lay criminal charges against those who did that as it has been three weeks since the elections.

“We will further advice her to lay charges against the perpetrator/s. Her statement leaves many questions than answers because she is a lawyer by profession, but decided to sit on evidence like this.

“The public has now developed a keen interest on the matter as she alleged that the ANC bribed people to win Rustenburg local municipality. We will also take serious steps as the ruling party because the statement is serious allegations,” he said.

North West provincial legislature provincial chair of chairs, Itumeleng Mosala said necessary procedures will be followed to address the matter.

“We will follow the legislative process and let the law takes it course. The matter will be adjourned and allow the EFF provincial chairperson, Betty Diale to provide evidence on the matter,” Mosala said.

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NORTH West provincial legislature held a sitting on Tuesday to debate women month. Members of all political parties in the legislature were given a platform to participate.

Provincial chairperson of local government portfolio committee, Motlalepula Rosho said women played a pivotal role in shaping the country.

She said the role of women in society has been greatly overseen in the last few decades and are coming to a more perspective to people.

“In the early days women were seen as wives who were intended to cook, clean, and take care of the kids. They were not allowed to vote while men took care of having jobs and paying any bills that had to be paid. The journey travelled was made possible by ANC-led government.

“The ruling party shook the struggle against apartheid government. It is befitting to pay tribute to the struggle icons like Mama Ruta Segomotsi Mompati, Charlotte Maxeke, Rahima Moosa and others,” Rosho said.

She added that struggle stalwarts made it possible for them to continue where they left off.

“We need to follow on their footprints and remain united. They were selflessly dedicated and believed in women empowerment.

“History has imposed responsibilities to women of today to continue the struggle. However, ANC-led government has put many projects to empower women. We are making stride in empowering women. South Africa is amongst countries globally in fighting patriarchal tendencies,” she said.

Rosho further said more women were employed in universal gender equality. She added that girl children were also empowered at schools and their dignity restored.

“The constitution made it possible for women to climb corporate ladder. Women rights remain human rights. Regardless of race, colour and sex, we need to lay the process in changing the landscape of women empowerment.

“We also acknowledge that a lot still has to be done. Women emancipation needs to be dealt with. We need to accelerate gender equality and create more job opportunities to eliminate poverty, inequality and unemployment,” she said.

North West MEC of finance, economy and enterprise development department (FEED), Wendy Nelson shared the same sentiments.

Nelson said: “The attitude towards women has dramatically changed. More than 20 000 women embarked on a fight against the laws that dehumanised women. Women from all races were not allowed to play part in democracy during apartheid regime.

“However, 1956 women march remains edible in the minds of all South Africans. The aim of the march was to resist the law of permit to be renewed every month. Women proved that they can take the matter into their own hands.”

She further said women fought for dignity. Nelson added that women stalwarts needed to be the identity in struggle for economic emancipation.

“Women are leading many chieftaincies under the leadership of ANC. We celebrate the nourishment and support of women empower. Many women are now engaged in construction, farming and energy industries.

“This resonate the power of women. We are aware that there is a long way to go, but we will make sure we work hard and uphold the mission of our stalwarts,” she said.

Economic Freedom Fighters provincial chairperson, Betty Diale: “Struggle for women need to be given a necessary attention. She said women emancipation can be achieved through EFF’s seven cardinal points. Women are deprived off their rights because of the laws. They continued to be sidelined in participation on decision-making processes.”

DA provincial chief whip, Jacqueline Theology also shared the same sentiments.

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NORTH West premier and ANC provincial chairperson Supra Mahumapelo urged for tranquillity at Rustenburg. Mahumapelo has recommended that all political parties to work together in delivering good governance and improve the lives of the masses.

This came about after Botho Community Movement leader allegedly received death threats after he voted for ANC during council meeting. ANC won Rustenburg local municipality with the assistance of smaller political parties. 

“We are grateful that we managed to secure Rustenburg local municipality and other all municipalities in province. We also acknowledge that ANC received declined percentage during local government elections 2016.

“As ANC, we will go back to the drawing board and see where and how can we improve. We have reached an agreement with AIC and BCM in Rustenburg to work together until 2021. 

“We will make sure that we put people’s needs first. Batho Pele principles will be implemented and we will also engage with other political oppositions to speed-up the service delivery process,” Mahumapelo said.

He added that service delivery like job creation, poverty eradication, and unemployment, making sure that healthcare centres are intact, compacting roads and supplying water to the people will be on the top of their list.

Mahumapelo said many people did not vote in Rustenburg because they were allegedly threatened. Mahumapelo said they will also investigate the allegations and address them.

“We will make sure that all councillors conduct monthly meetings and they must report back. We have appointed local government and human settlements department MEC, Galaletsang Gaolaolwe to oversee the process. Councillors will also be capacitated so that they can be able to deliver.

“We met with all government top managers on Tuesday to discuss strategic plans. We want to speed up the process of Village, Township and Small Dorpies (VTSD). This will assist in job creation and eradicate unemployment, poverty and inequality,” he said.

Mahumapelo also added that they will speed up village Development Plan (VDP) for each village across North West. He said there are more than 800 villages in the province and they will implement chamber of commerce in each village.  

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