A 58-YEAR-OLD man was sentenced to six years imprisonment by the Kuruman Regional Court for sexual assault. Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lt Colonel Dimakatso Mooi said Allan Charles Reed who was a teacher, was found guilty for assaulting a learner (12) back in 2015.
“The assault happened on 15 February 2015 in a classroom when the victim went to Reed for assistance as her teacher. Reed put his arm around the victim, kissed her, and put his hand inside the girl’s panty. The victim cried and ran away to report the matter to another teacher.
“The matter was reported to the Police on 20 February 2020 and Reed was arrested on 23 February 2015. The accused was granted bail, although the state opposed it. On 3 February 2021, Reed was sentenced to six years direct imprisonment, two years suspended for five years,” Mooi said.
She further said the accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and his name will also be entered on the National Register of Sexual offenders.
Meanwhile, the FCS Provincial Head in Northern Cape, Brigadier Nicky Mills commended the Kuruman FCS commander, Captain Caren Nel for her commitment and hard work which led to the incarceration of the perpetrator.
Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in the North West calls for the disbandment of the North West Provincial Legislature. COSATU provincial secretary, Kopano Konopi said they have been disturbed by the inaction of the ANC to resolve the problems facing the provincial administration.
“There was a protracted battle between the ANC and its deployees on the filling of the vacancy of the MEC of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) following the death of Gordon Kegakilwe.
“The post was filled by the current incumbent, MEC Mmoloki Cwaile without the blessing of the party in the province and national. The alliance and the deployment committee of the ANC in the province were never consulted,” Konopi said.
He added that they have also learned with disappointment that the ANC MPLs in the NWPL have voted with the members of the opposition parties in electing the Chair of Chairs. Konopi said this conduct is the highest form of ill-discipline and drastic steps should be taken to correct the situation.
“It is clear the mandate of the ANC and voters has been abandoned. The federation is calling for fresh elections in the province because leaders are no longer willing to represent the party, but they represent their own jackets.
“COSATU wants to remind all the members of the ANC in the NWPL that they are all deployees of the movement. The ANC National Executive Committee needs to intervene before the situation gets out of hand,” he said.
However, many ANC branches across the province came out gun blazing and accused the ANC IPC of factionalism. Mamusa Sub Region Branches representative, Papa Jood said their branches were disgusted by the apparent temporary suspension of Aaron Mocwana and others on the basis of undisclosed allegations by the so-called unconstitutional IPC.
“The branches view this as a publicity stunt and a display of political anarchy by those who want to clinch unelected positions. We have long noted attempts by the IPC to remove those who do not dance to their tune nor crouch for crumbs of tenders.
“The IPC has failed to remove mayors and municipal managers for the past twelve months and now they have turned their sight to attempting a coup in the NWPL and the caucus,” Jood said.
He further said the IPC cannot proclaim the dishonest prophecy of evidence that voting has taken place through secret ballot, unless it says it was present in those voting booths inside the Legislature. Jood further accused the IPC of double standards.
“The IPC once instructed councillors to work with the opposition to remove the troikas in different municipalities. So, it cannot be them who now today want to accuse members of the ANC for colluding with opposition because honestly, this is exactly their style.
“The same people who are now MECs worked with opposition to remove Chairman, Supra Mahumapelo. The same so-called IPC coordinator, Hlomani Chauke was ready to vote with the opposition to remove President Jacob Zuma in National Parliament. Today he acts like an angel and a perfect comrade, so we cannot be fooled,” he said.
Jood said they will stop at nothing to expose this blatant factionalism and the hypocrisy that is done by this ‘monster structure’ that is busy eating the unity of the ANC in this province. He added that the IPC does not have powers to take such decisions of suspending the membership of any ANC members even expelling them because they serve at the behest of the NEC and the sooner they are disbanded the better.
“Their meeting with the EFF plotting to remove North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro through a motion is known, and will be exposed even before it starts. It is our responsibility as the membership of the ANC as custodians of its constitution to protect and make sure that every rule is adhered to,” he said.
The ANCYL regional spokesperson in Ngaka Modri Molema, Wessel Morweng shared the same sentiments. Morweng said these excruciating developments are not only unfortunate, but they have a serious negative impact on the image of the glorious movement.
“The North West ANC IPC does not only possess a high level of insanity, but they have opted to turn our glorious organization into a circus of note. Their thoughtless conduct continues to reflect the type of leadership we have in the ANC North West continues to lead us into a serious political abyss.
“The harsh reality is that Chauke’s one-man show called the ANC North West IPC continues to cause more harm than good to the livelihood of the organisation in the province. It is evident enough that Chauke’s IPC is self-serving and has no regard for the ANC principle and constitution,” Morweng said.
He alleged that the ANC IPC structure lacks a serious organisational understanding as they are guided by personal feelings as opposed to the political understanding of running a big organization like the ANC. Morweng said as the ANCYL in Ngaka Modiri Molema region call on Mokgoro to continue doing his work diligently as he has been doing.
Meanwhile, suspended MPLs representative, Aaron Mocwana said they are challenging their suspension. Mocwana said the rule 25.4.3 of the ANC constitution gives the powers to any member of the ruling party who is facing any disciplinary hearing over allegations of misconduct to appeal, especially when such a member holds any public office.
“We have lodged an appeal to the ANC National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal (NDCA). That is how we have exercised that particular right through the constitution of the ANC for 2017 as amended.
“Now, we have made an appeal and we have denied all allegations levelled against us. We have also requested that the ANC IPC in the North West furnish us with proof of what they are saying because the voting was agreed on the 27 January 2021 in a virtually sitting,” said Mocwana.
He further said the NWPL Speaker, Sussana Dantjie could not conduct its business, but she utilised the rule 6 of the Standing Rules of the NWPL. Mocwana added that Dantjie adjourned the sitting, so that it could take place on 28 January 2021 through physical attendance and allow secret voting to take place.
“Now, when coming to the issue of who voted who and so on, it is highly impossible for us to the to be charged on that particular matter because voting was secret. Now, we require the IPC to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt,” he said.
Picture: North West MEC, Wendy Matsemela along with some officials visiting various schools
By BAKANG MOKOTO
North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela visited various schools in rural areas in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District to monitor schools readiness ahead of reopening on the 15 February 2021.
On Tuesday, Matsemela visited Phenyo Botlhe Secondary School near Groot Marico and a mega farm school, Nietverdiend Combined.
“The visit was to ensure that schools are compliant towards Covid-19 protocols. Today, I am doing unannounced visits to schools to monitor the conditions of our schools.
“Whenever I visit at any school, I want to make sure that the necessary health and safety protocols of COVID-19 are being followed. We have trained the Compliance Officers on COVID–19 protocols and I am monitoring them if they are aware of their responsibilities,” she said.
Matsemela added that she does not want her department to be found unprepared when schools resume. She further said she has informed the district directors to ensure that learner admission is concluded when learners resume school too.
“I want teaching and learning to start immediately on the first day. I have concluded my monitoring of school readiness at Mathews Mangope Secondary School at Shupingstad village near the Gaborone Border.
“I have decided to visit this agricultural focused school and I am very happy that learners are given a chance to do the practical work at the garden. This is one of the schools which are able to give us 100% pass in the matric results even though they are in the rural area,” said Matsemela.
This year, I want the agricultural focused schools to emphasise on exposing learners to practical work, said Matsemela. She further said the country needs individuals who will be able to produce food for the millions of people.
“During my unannounced visits to schools, I emphasised that I am responsible for all schools in the province and I will not be selective to any area. So, I want to emphasise that I will visit any school in this province no matter whether the school is in a rural or urban area.
“Rustenburg in Bojanala district has many schools and the results of these schools are able to boost the results of the province. Therefore, I will continue to support all schools irrespective of their location in this province,” she said.
Matsemela encapsulated that her department has employed Education Assistants and General Assistants to support teaching and learning at school.
The Guardian 