​BY DINEO LOLOKWANE
Integrated tourism planning and development will once again take center stage when the North West Department of Tourism embarks on district tourism makgotla engagement sessions across the province to solicit inputs and also actively engage with key stakeholders in all spheres of government and the private sector.

The department spokesperson, Dineo LOLOKWANE said they will travel across the province to share legislative changes that may be coming up in the industry but also seeking inputs into various tourism legislations and policies.

“This will seek to advance and enhance the way in which the department and the industry conduct its business and also seeks to ensure that it reaches its set targets and achieves its constitutional mandate.

 

“In the spirit of Saamwerk-Saamtrek, these district makgotla continue to serve as valuable platforms for improved inter-governmental relations, solidifying of partnerships, creating collaboration, improve joint and meaningful sectoral planning and a pedestal for radical economic transformation by working together to achieve goals set in the National Development Plan (NDP) by 2030,” she said.

 

These District Makgotla will be held under the theme “Sustainable Tourism, A Tool for Development” as follows:

 

DISTRICT	DATE	TIME	VENUE
Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati	22 August 2017	08H00	Taung Hotel School
Bojanala District	24 August 2017	08H00	Brits Town Hall
Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District	29 August 2017	08H00	Matlosana Recreation Centre

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Diageo SA has announced the name of nominees for the 7th Responsible Drinking Media Awards. The RDMAs representative, Nicci Mitchell said that they have received more than 300 entries.

Mitchell said: “The Best Newspaper – Nicole Arend (Varsity Newspaper), Le Roux Schoeman (Die Burger) and Zoe Mohapo (The Sowetan) were nominated, while Sharlene Rood (News 24), Daphne Grundling (Netwerk 24) and Le Roux Schoeman (Netwerk 24) were nominated for the Best Online.

“Thosw who were nominated for the Best Magazine were Ernusta Maralack (Kuier) and Kieran Legg (Men’s Health), while Mohau Mamafha & Eusebius McKaiser (Talk Radio 702), Cleopatra Jones (SABC 3’s Special Assignment), Nomfundo Mzolo (Gagasi FM) and Veronique Smal (MFM) will compete for the Best Broadcast.”

Mitchell added that Nomfundo Mzolo (Gagasi FM), Veronique Smal (MFM) and Simphiwe Dlamini (Ugu Youth Radio) were nominated for the Best Community Media category. He

Best Best Up & Coming – Veronique Smal (MFM), Nomfundo Mzolo (Gagasi FM) and Cleopatra Jones (SABC 3’s Special Assignment)

“The RDMAs recognise journalists and media at large for their efforts to positively influence perceptions and habits related to the irresponsible use of alcohol. The awards are open to South African journalists who produce content that relates to responsible drinking and the impact of alcohol abuse, including issues such as drink driving, underage drinking, foetal alcohol syndrome, binge drinking and alcohol-related violence.

“Any published material on any media platform that aims to support this cause is eligible to enter the awards and win a prize. The 2017 judging panel was a mix of media experts consisting of media and reputation strategist Joanne Botha, author and former editor Ryland Fisher, TV anchor and celebrity media personality, Leanne Manas, news analyst and columnist Angelo Fick and former editor and political analyst, Mpumelelo Mkhabela,” Mitchell.

“The number of entries into this year’s Awards has been outstanding,” says Joanne Botha who has sat on the RDMA judging panel for the past three years.

Botha said the fact that so many media are writing about responsible drinking issues is a testament to how passionate they are about the topic and how relevant these stories are to the society.

“The winner of each category will walk away with R15 000 and a public acknowledgment for their efforts to help combat alcohol abuse in South Africa. There will also be an award for Journalist of the Year for the overall best entry, as well as for Media House of the Year for the media house with the most unique entries.

“Winners will be announced at an official awards ceremony on 31 August 2017. People can visit our website visithttps://diageordma.co.za/. for information on the awards. Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, The Singleton, Talisker & Lagavulin whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice,” he said.

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MEC for Education and Sport Development department, Sello Lehari has demoted two principals after they were implicated in maladministration. 
The department spokesperson, Freddy Sepeng said Bokamoso Primary School principal in Klerksdorp, Jackkie Pooe and Mokassa Primary School (Taung) principal, Kealeboga Mothibi were demoted to HoD positions. 

“The department deliberated on those issues after thorough investigations. Pooe spent R119 000 belonging to the school. However, she will repay the money in 36 months. The two principals were demoted to Head of Department (HoD) positions.

“The two principals will be removed from those schools and be transferred. The department is still in a process to relocate them,” Sepeng said.

It is allegedly that Mothibi spent R800 000 belonging to the school on His personal use.

North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education and Sports, Arts, Culture and Traditional Affairs Chairperson, Oageng Molapisi said they held a meeting with the department on 26 April 2017. 

Molapisi further said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the outstanding disciplinary cases in the department and the challenges the department is facing in finalising such cases.

“During the 2014/15, the department’s Internal Audit conducted investigations on allegations of irregular transfer of funds to Mokassa Primary School. In September 2015, the department’s Internal Audit revealed that on the 18^th October 2013, Mokassa Primary School received a transfer payment of R627 021.50 instead of R129 027.50 which resulted in overpayment of R498 000.

“On the 21^st October 2013, the department requested the principal, Kealeboga Mothibi and School Governing Body (SGB) in writing to refund the department an amount of R498 000. A cheque was issued by the school in the name of Mothibi on 24 October 2013. However, Mothibi cashed the cheque at FNB Hartswater branch and used it for his own personal gain,” he said.

Molapisi said on 23^rd October 2014, the school received a transfer payment of R497 491 73. He further said the department requested Mothibi on 30 October 2014 to return the money.

“The cheque was issued by the school in the name of Mothibi on 4 November 2014, and he cashed it in at FNB Hartswater. In December 2014, Mothibi refunded the department an amount of R497 491 73 after being confronted by the Departmental Internal Audit. Mothibi also borrowed money from the school to the amount of R20 860 for the payment of electricity without following proper procedures. In 2015, Mothibi paid back the R498 000 that he took in 2013.

“Mothibi was officially charged for misconduct for contravening the Employment of Educators Act 76 of 1998 on November 2016. The hearing took place on 30 November 2016 where Mothibi was dismissed with immediate effect. He appealed his dismissal through the office of MEC, Sello Lehari. However, the matter has been finalised,” he said.

Molapisi also shed more light on Bokamoso Intermediate School principal, Jackkie Pooe. He added that the school is based in Klerksdorp in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District and Pooe resides in Gauteng.

“She was travelling from Gauteng Province to Klerksdorp on daily basis. Pooe was found guilty of mismanagement of funds at the school in 2015. She was subjected to disciplinary hearing that commenced in October 2015 and was concluded in April 2016.

“Pooe was found guilty and the sanction was that she should be dismissed. She appealed against the sanction through the office of the MEC, Sello Lehari.”

Molapisi said another case was against Onkgopotse Tiro Comprehensive School principal, Edwin Teach Kgonothi. He said the case against Kgonothi started in 2012 where there was investigation against him for mismanagement of school funds. 

“It was alleged that Kgonothi used some of the school money for his personal benefit. In 2014, there was a precautionary suspension against him, and the department appointed a forensic team to do investigations.

“The team came with the same conclusion that Kgonothi was guilty and must be charged. It was agreed that Kgonothi must be removed as the principal and be placed at the department to work there. The department failed to implement the recommendation,” Molapisi said.

He further said an instruction was given by Court on 2 February 2017 for the department to conduct a disciplinary hearing against Kgonothi. Molapisi added that the department took a decision that since this case is already implicating Ngaka Modiri Molema Education District; they have to outsource the Public Protector and Labour Relations from Gauteng Province in order for the case to get a fair trial. Newsnote  

​BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) in Bokone Bophirima will  host and join other key events to commemorate Women’s Month and give honour to the women of 1956 and many others who fought for the liberation of South Africa and its women.

In some of the key events scheduled to wrap up the Women’s Month activities, the ANC Women’s League will host and join other empowering seminars and dialogues under the main message of Building Young Women’s Confidence, which will be addressed by ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who’s also former African Union Commission Chairperson.
ANCWL provincial secretary, Bridgette Mogakwe said from 22 to 24 August the ANCWL in the province will hold and/or join the following key events:
Event 1: Courtesy visit to Bapo ba Mogale Traditional Leadership in Madibeng
Date: Tuesday 22 August 2017 at 10h00

18h30: Young Women’s Dialogue at North West University Mahikeng Campus

Lecture: The role education can play in influencing Radical Economic Transformation

Event 2: Join the Provincial Economic Summit organised by Bokone Bophirima
Provincial Government for all women of the province at Mmabatho Convention

Centre at 09h00

Date: Wednesday 23 August 2017

Theme: The Role of Women in African Economy

Keynote Speaker: Cde Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Event 3: Cadre’s Assembly, Matlosana Auditorium, 10h00
Date: Thursday 24 August 2017

Theme: Women united in moving South Africa forward

Keynote Speaker: Cde Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

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BY BAKANG MOKOTO
Provincial Working Committees (PWCs) of African National Congress (ANC) in Bokone Bophirima and Northern Cape will hold a joint PWC meeting to discuss matters of common interest and share ideas and advises on a range of issues.

ANC North West Provincial secretary, Dakota Legoete said: “The meeting is schedule for Monday at 11h00. The proceedings will be held at Taung Tusk Boardroom, Taung.” 

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JOHANNESBURG – Eyewitness News has reliably learnt that Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe has left the country.

Sources say the first lady left South Africa in the early hours of Sunday morning along with her husband President Robert Mugabe.

South African authorities had placed a red alert on Grace after she was charged with assaulting 20 year old model Gabriella Engels last Sunday.

She has applied for diplomatic immunity from the South African government.

Source: http://www.ewn.co.za 

PRETORIA – The North Gauteng High Court on Friday dismissed Pravin Gordhan’s application for a declaratory order that the Finance Minister could not get involved in Gupta bank fight.

Gordhan turned to the court for a declaratory order confirming that he could not intervene in a dispute between Oakbay Investments and four banks. 

Oakbay had asked the former finance minister for assistance after the banks closed all accounts related to Gupta-owned companies. 

The court did not conversely find that the finance minister does have the power to intervene in such a matter, saying that it was not necessary to make a declaratory order on a law that already exists.

Following the banks’ decisions to cut ties with the Guptas, the Financial Intelligence Centre listed 72 apparently suspicious transactions totalling almost R7-billion, implicating the Guptas and their companies.

The influential family denied that any of the transactions were dubious.

Source: http://www.enca.com

BY BAKANG MOKOTO

MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements in Bokone Bophirima, Galaletsang Gaolaolwe has opened up to the National Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements on the challenges experienced by the department in its endeavor to deliver quality houses to benefitting communities.

Gaolaolwe said that the province has a huge back log on title deeds as a result of township establishment and townships not proclaimed which delays the process of issuing out of title deeds.  

She further said the fact that the province is highly dolomitic (67%) also posed as a challenge. However, Gaolaolwe indicated that the department has commissioned a report on the dolomitic areas in the province.

“Another serious challenge is on informal settlements which are either located on private land or are not feasible for upgrading because they are close to environmentally sensitive areas i.e. mines and flood plain, ’’ she said.

Gaolaolwe added that the department has included a punitive clause on contractual agreements and poor performing developers get terminated whilst poor performing developers get scaled down.

The committee members are in the province for the entire weekend to interact will both the Departments of Local Government and Human Settlements, the National Department of Human Settlements, local municipalities (Mahikeng, Matlosana, Moses Kotane, Rustenburg, Madibeng local municipalities) and other stakeholders on matters of human settlements.
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