By OBAKENG MAJE

The community of Molelema near Taung said it has lost hope in getting a tarred road in their village. This comes after a R65 million road construction project was brought to a ‘grinding halt’ by a contractor over non-payment.

InvesTong Construction was appointed by the North West Public Works and Roads department to construct a 10km road linking Matsheng and Molelema villages. Some of community members, who refused to be named for fear of reprisal alleged that the contractor has ‘undercharged’ the department and he has since requested a top-up. 

“We know that the contractor has undercharged the department and he had since requested for an increase. He owns a DIY franchise here, and probably he used all the money on it. However, we demand the road as community or else….”

However, Community Liaison Officer (CLO) for the project, Mothibi Makoro refuted these allegations. Makoro said the contractor down tools because of non-payment from the department.

“The department failed to honour its payments to the InvesTong Construction owner, Daddy Tong for three months (June, July, and August 2020). I can confirm that, we were not paid our salaries due to non-payment by the department.

“The contractor tried in numerous times to engage with the department so that it can process the payments, but his attempts fell on deaf ears. As workers, we even met with the North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Oageng Molapisi, and informed him about our challenges,” he said.

Makoro further said Tong even arranged a consultative meeting with all stakeholders including the community at the local tribal authority’s offices, but the department failed to honour the meeting.

He said it is heart-breaking to see the department disregarding its own agreement, but instead tried to sow some divisions among community members. Makoro said, there were people among the community who peddle lies that Tong has spent all the monies and he is left with nothing to continue with the project.

The department spokesperson, Matsube Mfoloe failed to respond to our media inquiry even though it was sent two months ago. Mfoloe said he had not received answers from his principals.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Greater Taung has launched a petition calling for an investigation into the abrupt stop to the construction of the road.

DA Constituency Head: Greater Taung Local Municipality, Sello Seitlholo said: “We will drive the petition across the Ba-Ga Maidi villages. During a meeting held by the DA with community leaders on 20 June 2021, we heard various allegations ranging from failure by the department to pay the contractor on time, the contractor being paid without any work done, and alleged tender fraud in respect of the bid amount for the project.”

Seitlholo further said, they were also informed by community members that the department told them that the project stopped when the contractor requested more money to complete the construction. He added that this was after the department had already allegedly paid R19 million in total.

“The department also alleged that the contractor had indicated that he can only complete 7 kilometres of the total 10 kilometres that were budgeted for, if he did not get the requested amount.

“If this is true, then the department has misled the community when they indicated that they paid the contractor R19 million without having any work done. Makoro indicated that during the months of non-payment to the contractor, Tong had to do the work and pay salaries from his own pocket,” he said.

Seitlholo said they will, through the party spokesperson on Public Work and Roads, Freddy Sonakile MPL, write to the Molapisi to request that he immediately begin a process to address the community of Ba-Ga Maidi together with the contractor.

“If indeed the department paid money for work not done, the MEC should also demand that a case be opened against the contractor to recoup the money paid. The reality, however, for the villages of Ba-Ga Maidi is that they have been waiting for a tarred road for 27 years and cannot afford to wait any longer,” said Seitlholo.

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By STAFF REPORTER

Two suspects were arrested at Elias village village, near Ganyesa for armed robbery, attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition on Tuesday. North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said the security company officials were busy with pension pay-outs in the Elias Community Hall outside Ganyesa when four male suspects pounced on them.

“The suspects allegedly pointed them with firearms and ordered everyone to lie down. Consequently, the suspects robbed security officials of their firearms and ultimately took two cash containers before fleeing the scene.

“They were driving a white Toyota Double Cab bakkie vehicle affixed with Northern Cape registration number. Following the incident, an intelligence-driven operation by a multi-disciplinary team comprising of detectives, K9, Air Wing and Visible Policing resulted in the arrest of two suspects, aged 39 and 40 respectively,” Mokgwabone said.

He said the arrests stemmed after two suspects were allegedly spotted storming out of a certain house in Kgokgojane village carrying what appeared to be cash bags. Mokgwabone added that the police followed them up and found two cash containers.

“The suspects who allegedly fired shots at the police, were finally arrested in the nearby bushes. During the arrest, R35 000 was found in possession of one of the suspects. In addition, a 9mm pistol and a bag containing cash were also found concealed in a hole,” he said.

Mokgwabone said the search for other suspects is still underway.

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By OBAKENG MAJE
Former Mahikeng Local Municipal Manager, Thabo Mokwena briefly appeared at Mmabatho Regional Court on 11 August 2021 facing charges of contravention of the MFMA, Prevention and combatting of Corrupt Activities Act. Mokwena was arrested by The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit on Tuesday in Klerksdorp for allegedly invested R92million of taxpayers’ money into the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank.

He was granted R50 000 bail and the case was postponed to 16 November 2021.

The Hawks spokesperson, Col Katlego Mogale said the arrest of Mokwena (59) is part of their ongoing fight against corruption and maladministration.

“The suspect is reported to have taken part in the looting of VBS Mutual Bank through investing of the Mahikeng Local Municipality funds. Investigation revealed that R92 million of the taxpayers was invested into VBS in contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).  

“The suspect alleged to have received gratification in the form of credit facilities for purchases of two high-powered vehicles and a property in Klerksdorp amounting to over R1.7 million between 2017 and 2018,” Mogale said.

Mahikeng Local Municipality is one of the 20 municipalities that had invested municipal funds into VBS. According to information, out of R92million that was unduly invested into the VBS Mutual Bank, only R7million was paid back to the municipality.

The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya said: “As indicated previously, all those who participated in that illegal scheme which resulted in the loss of taxpayers’ monies into VBS matters will be held to account.

Meanwhile, North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Mmoloki Cwaile welcomed the arrest of a Mokwena.

Cwaile said although they welcome the arrest of the first suspect in the VBS saga in the province, he hopes that many others who failed their fiduciary duty would be asked by courts to explain themselves and account for their deeds.

“This is necessary as municipal councils are failing to hold managers accountable including those who fail to honour statutory obligations like payments to SARS and pensions of workers.

“I warned against reckless usage and abuse of state resources and all those who ignored faculty of the regulatory framework in public service should be dealt with,” he said.

Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial spokesperson on COGHSTA, Freddy Sonakile said: “The DA will be waiting with much anticipation to see the third set of arrests that the Hawks had promised to be of high-profile political leaders behind the VBS saga.

“We will closely monitor developments to ensure that even those North West municipal officials suspected of involvement, who resigned and took up positions in other provinces, will be arrested and prosecuted.”

Sonakile further said the VBS scandal proves that the ANC has no qualms about the abuse of public funds and even went as far as participating in a scheme that stole from the poor.   He said the North West municipalities have completely collapsed under the ANC government.
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