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By REGINALD KANYANE

Former Executive mayor of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Boitumelo Mahlangu is heading to the North West High Court to challenge the decision to remove her as the executive mayor. 

The embattled Mahlangu was ousted from her position through a motion of no confidence two weeks ago where Kgalalelo Sereko was elected as the new executive mayor.

According to court papers filed by Mahlangu, she informed the municipal speaker, Lorato Moagwe about her decision through lawyers. She accused Moagwe of holding a virtual council meetings using Zoom link as the media platform, instead of the Microsoft Teams that have been purchased by the municipality.

The matter is expected to be heard on Thursday.

“By now, you should be aware that I have approached the High Court to challenge my removal from Office as the Executive mayor, amongst others, have also challenged the usage of Zoom as the official link for council meetings. 

“Therefore, I object to your unilateral decision to convene council meetings using Zoom platform and also the repetitive special council meetings which I find to be strange and unwarranted because important service delivery items that were to be tabled at the council on 25 February 2021 as emanating from the previous mayoral committee are ignored and not prioritised,” she said. 

It is alleged that the virtual council meeting that was convened where Mahlangu was removed, did not reach a quorum. However, Moagwe refuted the allegations and said 18 out of 32 councillors were part of the meeting.

The municipality responded to Mahlangu’s letter through their lawyers too. Attorney Tumelo Sifumba said: “The above subject has reference and we have been instructed by our client, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality and others, to cause this correspondence to your good self. 

“We advise that we are not in a position to file our client’s answering affidavit today at 4pm as envisaged, the delay is occasioned by our client relocating to new offices and consequently we have not been able to collate all the requisite documents to be annexed to the answering affidavit.”

Sifumba said in pursuant to the above, their client request indulgence to file their answering affidavit on the 10th instant at 10′ clock in the morning. He further said they advise that they were not opposed to the application being heard on 11 March 2021 later during the day to allow Mahlangu’s lawyers to file their replying affidavit if any. 

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor at the municipality, Coenrad Herbst wrote a letter to Moagwe stipulating that they were not part of the virtual council meeting where Mahlangu was removed.

Herbst said: “The notice you issued has 3 items that council cannot discuss and take legal binding resolutions if the meeting of 25 February 2021 did not quorate, thus will have financial and other implications, and you will be held personal responsible as Speaker of the municipality.”

taungdailynews@gmail.com

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 36-old teacher from Pinagare High School in Taung has been suspended pending rape allegations. It is alleged that a learner (15) from the same school visited the accused who is a family friend at his residential area in Kgatlheng village near Taung on 22 February 2021.

According to information, a teacher who is of Ghanaian origin allegedly made sexual advances to the alleged victim before raping her. Later on, the parents of the alleged victim called the suspect and enquire about the whereabouts of the girl.

One of our sources said: “The suspect allegedly confirmed the presence of the girl and her parents came to fetch her. It is alleged that the parents found the girl who was on her period in the bedroom of the suspect.

“The victim alleged that the suspect raped and threatened her not to tell anyone. The victim told her parents about the ordeal and cried hysterically in the car. The parents went to the police station to open a rape case.”

Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said: “We can confirm that a rape case is under investigation and the suspect was arrested. His first court appearance was on 24 February 2021.

“The suspect was granted a R500 bail on 9 March 2021 by the Taung Magistrate’s Court during his formal bail application.”

North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said the teacher concerned has been put under a precautionary suspension pending the investigation. Malindi said the department has received only two rape cases against teachers in the province thus far.

“Our message to learners is that they should not keep quiet whenever they experience any violation. They should report to their parents about the matter or inform the school principal or a teacher that they trust most. They are free to call the Office of the MEC (018)388 5600,” he said.

Minister of Department of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga received strong criticism from the section of the society, after she made remarks at the Prospectus High School in Pretoria earlier this year that ‘educated men do not rape.’

However, Motshekgwa poured cold water on the matter and said told said her comments were made in relation to Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Motshekgwa said in a statement that: “Rape is indeed about power, hence the department has programmes to educate the boy child to appreciate the importance of how to deal with power relations between men and women from a young age.

“Therefore, my remarks must not be taken out of the context of educating children to develop them to become better people. Men need to be educated about how to deal with power, patriarchy, and negative or toxic masculinity. Educating men about power relations is also important also in the fight against rape,” she said.

Motshekgwa said regarding the reaction of the learners, she was not going to debate because the purpose of her remarks was to encourage them to be educated on GBV including educating them about women’s abuse.

Various organizations embarked on a peaceful march to the school and demand that the suspect be suspended pending the investigations.

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