Daily Archives: August 1, 2019

NW govt probe scholar transport tender

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By REGINALD KANYANE

The North West Provincial government will launch forensic investigations on the scholar transport tender. The North West Premier, Job Mokgoro’ spokesperson, Vuyisile Ngesi said scholar transport tender is one of the cost drivers in the province.

“We will commission a forensic investigation into the irregularities that were identified in the existing Scholar Transport Tender. For example, we pay R65 per learner in a day, which is two times compared to the national rate of R35 per learner. Also, some of our service providers were appointed irregularly hence we will approach the high court to set aside those contracts.

“We have also realised that some of the routes that the government is charged for, were not there in the initial contracts. So, the scholar transport tender is opened to abuse and this cost us money unnecessary,” Ngesi said.

He further said there is no route verification system in place to assist government to record all the travelling expenses of the scholar transport buses. Ngesi added that all tenders will be made public and will be advertised to bring transparency.

“We urged the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management to design a table that takes into consideration the applicable rates in accordance with distance and terrain in which a service provider operates, instead of paying all service providers a seemingly high flat rate.

“The Department of Community Safety and Transport Management will further explore a new Integrated Scholar Management System and report back to the EXCO soon. This is part of the provincial government’s Programme of Action to reflect and take decisions on matters that seek to expedite service delivery in the province since the beginning of the 6th Administration,” said Ngesi.

State of the North West Transport Investments (NTI)

Ngesi also said the EXCO received a report from the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management on the financial state of the NTI, which is an entity of the North West Provincial Government and provides public transport services in Gauteng. He said the NTI mainly transport commuters from Atteridgeville, Hammanskraal, Mabopane, Soshanguve, and Ga-Rankuwa.

“The report further included the ongoing engagement with the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula as well as the recommended appointment of an Interim Board and a diagnostic report compiled by Provincial Treasury on the finances of the NTI.

“As a result, EXCO resolved on the appointment of an Interim Board comprising of four people with expertise in governance, legal and financial matters. This will be done in consultation with Mbalula,” he said.

Ngesi added that Mokgoro will engage with Mbalula on what could be done to rescue the NTI and turn it into a profit-making concern. He said the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, as well as the NTI management, should prepare a Comprehensive Strategy Plan on the future of the NTI and report back to the next EXCO meeting.

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‘Sasco leaders not guilty’

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Lesego Maimela.jpg

Facebook: Lesego “Fire-Brand” Maimela 

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The South African Students Congress (Sasco) at the North West University (Mafikeng campus) has re-instated its provincial chairperson, Zubenathi Jentile and Lesego “Fire-Brand” Maimela, who is the Provincial Secretary to their positions. This comes after Jentile and Maimela were subsequently suspended after they were indicted of maladministration, fraud, and corruption.

However, Sasco Provincial Disciplinary Chairperson, Thato Sedupe said: “We have uplifted the duo’ suspension because they were found not guilty of any wrongdoing. We have conducted investigations to verify the allegations leveled against them after recommendations from the PEC.

“However, the DC found that the allegations were unfounded, untrue and malicious. The DC has reinstated them immediately and furthermore, the two months period of suspension against them has lapsed,” Sedupe said.

He added that the Sasco wishes Jentile and Maimela well as they resume their revolutionary duties and equally thank those who have been acting on their behalf.

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‘Court orders Mokgoro to release the Bakgatlha Ba Kgafela report’  

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Picture: North West Premier, Job Mokgoro 

The North West Provincial Government said it welcomed the ruling of the South Gauteng Division of the High Court yesterday to allow the premier, Job Mokgoro to release the report of the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela Commission, which was chaired by Adv S Baloyi.

The North West Premier, Job Mokgoro’ spokesperson, Vuyisile Ngesi said the commission was tasked with conducting an inquiry into Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims in respect of the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela, among others.

“However, Mokgoro was unable to release the report to the affected communities because of a legal challenge that had been brought against the release of the report by Julius Mogale of the Bapo ba Mogale.

“Yesterday, four applicants approached the High Court in relation to the Rule Nisi which had been granted in favour of Mogale, which the Premier was restrained not to release the report.

The High Court yesterday then granted an order in favour of the applicants; for the report to be released,” Ngesi said.

He further said the court order has been brought to the attention of the Chairperson of the Commission, Adv S Baloyi, for her to release such report to Mokgoro as she was previously restrained by the Rule Nisi that was granted to Mogale.

Ngesi added that Mokgoro, on receipt of the report, will study the factual basis of its recommendations, in terms of section 38(3) and (4) of the North West Traditional Leadership and Governance Act and at an appropriate time, make the report available to the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela.

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Man arrested after allegedly paying R10K to have his family bombed

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The HawksA North West man was arrested for the possession of a large quantity of explosives after he allegedly paid someone R10 000 to bomb his family.

Tau Lekoa, 58, appeared in the Orkney Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Unit and the Stabilisation Unit arrested him in Kanana on Sunday.

He faces charges of illegal possession of explosives and conspiracy to commit murder.

According to the police, the arrest was made after they received information that Lekoa had created a bomb and paid someone to plant it.

“Hawks members were directed to an empty shack where the suspect had allegedly hid powergel explosives, shock tube starters, shock tube assemblies and nitro cords, estimated to be worth approximately R1m,” Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso said.

The man is in custody and is expected to appear in court again for a bail application on August 8.

Source: http://www.news24.com

 

“Teenage pregnancy a concern”

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Teenage pregnancy.jpgWith some 82 000 learners between the ages of 14 and 19 having fallen pregnant in 2017 alone, South Africa is pinning its hopes on a social and behaviour change campaign to curb early and unplanned teen pregnancies.

Aptly known as “Let’s Talk”, the campaign is implemented across 21 countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, which has one of the highest adolescent fertility rates in the world.

The campaign is driven by multiple factors which include poverty, lack of information and access to reproductive health services, cultural norms, peer pressure, sexual coercion and abuse.

A United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) situational analysis reported that in some countries, up to 95% of young girls drop out of school after pregnancy.

On Wednesday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga launched the campaign in Gauteng. The timing has never been more urgent. Teen pregnancy impacts negatively on educational opportunities and the achievement of adolescents – a situation South Africa can ill afford, given the tough economic climate domestically and abroad.

In South Africa, it is reported that up to one-third of young girls who fall pregnant drop out of school.

“Teens who become pregnant are at a greater risk for health complications and face a host of challenges to remaining in school and achieving educational milestones.

“Teen pregnancy impacts on education [outcomes]. Unfortunately, this scourge disproportionately affects girls from lower socio-economic communities, thus adding on their burden,” Motshekga said.

The Minister said factors that influence teen birth rates are dynamic and hotly debated, as is the appropriate response by the education sector to educating teens who become pregnant and teen mothers.

“We hope to share and learn from other countries on how to address this stubborn challenge. We need a coordinated and cohesive effort to accelerate progress in the prevention and management of early and unintended pregnancies (EUP).

“As the education sector, we are especially apprehensive of the resultant high drop-out rates from school by young girls who experience unplanned and early pregnancies,” Motshekga said.

Unesco Regional Director Remmy Shawa said while girls should be taught about pregnancy, boys should not be left out of the equation.

“Early pregnancy has consequences on the lives of young girls. They face shame from their communities and miss out on education… Let us not forget that boys are part of the problem and that they are also part of the solution.”

Shawa called on the education sector in Africa to respond speedily to the crisis facing young girls. Part of the solution, he said, is giving girls access to health services.

Regional Director of United Nations Fund for Population Activities, Julitta Onabanjo, said action must be taken urgently to prevent teen pregnancies. She stressed that governments must make the commitment to take action and follow through. – SAnews.gov.za

 

Breaking: Swallows Are Back!

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The Siya crew can reveal that Moroka Swallows will make a comeback to the Premier Soccer League after an R8-million deal was concluded.
Following months of speculation over whether the Dube Birds, who were relegated to the National First Division four years ago and then subsequently to the ABC Motsepe League, insiders have told the Siya crew that the Soweto club has bought the status of Maccabi FC and will be return to the second tier immediately.

PSL chairman Irvin Khoza is expected to make the announcement this morning shortly after the board of governors meeting in Johannesburg.

It is unclear at the moment if Maccabi will in turn drop down to the ABC Motsepe League – which is South Africa’s third tier.

Many will know that since their relegation from the top-flight four years ago, attempts have been made by several high profile administrators to get Swallows back in the PSL. With Gauteng MEC Panyaza Lesufi at the forefront and acting as mediator for a wealthy consortium, the Dube Birds came close to buying Free State Stars, but the deal fell through on the eleventh hour.

But now the Siya crew can confirm that the deal has been done and Swallows are back!

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