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By OBAKENG MAJE

Gloves are off between the outgoing North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro and the ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC). It is alleged that the fight was flickered by the ANC IPC coordinator, Hlomani Chauke who ‘prematurely’ announced the ANC veteran, Bushy Maape as Mokgoro’s possible replacement on Tuesday.     

Mokgoro was agitated by Chauke’s utterances during the media briefing, where he said Mokgoro did not toe the party line.

Defiant Mokgoro was supposed to resign as the North West Premier and also as the Member of the Legislature (MPL) to make space for the Premier-elect, Maape to be sworn-in before resuming his duties.  

Now, Mokgoro allegedly want Chauke to apologise before he could resign as he feels that his reputation was tarnished. He was also engaged in a telephonic conversation with the ANC Deputy Secretary-General, Jessie Duarte who tried to convinced him to resign to allow smooth transition.

However, it is alleged that the meeting between the two was futile as unshakeable Mokgoro firmly stood his ground.

When contacted for his comment regarding the meeting with Duarte, Mokgoro who was spitting fire said: “Why do not you go to the people who have been running all over the place and saying all kind of filthy things about me? Just go to the ANC, go to the person whose been saying all the nonsense and ask them why are they doing the things that they are doing. No, I do not discuss ANC matters in public.”

However, Chauke said he will not apologise to Mokgoro because he has not done anything wrong.

“I’m not going to apologise because there is nothing wrong that I have done. If he says that I must apologise to him, tell him that I’m not going to apologise. I communicated the decision of the organisation.

“I’m not going to engage into organisational matters as we are dealing with them internally. So, I’m not going to comment for now until we have dealt with them internally,” he said.

The ANC IPC has suspended Mokgoro’s membership after accusing him of creating ‘rogue unit’ in his office and defying the party’s mandate by voting with the opposition parties at the North West provincial Legislature (NWPL).

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Chief Whip in the North West Provincial Legislature, Freddy Sonakile said: “The DA is not convinced that replacing Mokgoro with his former advisor will serve the interests of the people of this province. It is indeed shocking that Mokgoro’s poor performance under Mr Maape’s guidance is suddenly forgotten to the extent of being rewarded with the province’s top position. 

“Nonetheless, Mokgoro is yet to tender his resignation in the legislature. So, as things stand, no guarantee that Maape will be the successful candidate to serve as Premier. The nomination of Mr Maape as the ANC’s Premier candidate is nothing but a factional battle playing out in an attempt for one faction to gain dominance over another.”

EFF MPL, Lebogang Xaba said as the party, they were not surprised by ANC IPC to choose Maape as Mokgoro’s replacement. Xaba said the ANC has taken electorates and the people of the North West for a ride.

“Remember when they ousted the former North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo saying that there is no stability and service delivery and put in Mokgoro as his replacement? Now, they say Mokgoro is useless and bring in another old man, Bushy Maape.

“So, you cannot see any difference because nothing is happening there. We only feel sorry for the voters because they have been taken for a ride. They will change Maape and replace him with another person. They removed Mokgoro because he could not give them tenders, now they bring in big guns,” he said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Teaching and learning were affected at Seabo High School in Kokomeng village near Taung after more than 20 learners tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Some of the parents raised concerns and questioned whether the school complies with safety measures in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

One parent who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said: “We are concerned after many learners tested positive for COVID-19. We are not sure that in the context of COVID-19, a number of safety preconditions are applied. How can we be so sure about the safety of our learners while COVID-19 ravages them like this?

“We urge the school to come up with a recovery plan because teaching and learning were affected. Many learners are currently in quarantine especially those who are doing Grade 12,” she said.

In a letter that was sent to parents by the school management, the principal, Michael Lamola urged learners who tested negative for COVID-19 to come to school after allegations that many learners now refuse to go back to school in fear of being infected.

Lamola said in a letter sent to the parents or guardians that teaching and learning will continue as normal from 17 August 2021 after the classrooms were fumigated on 14 August 2021.

“We believe that it is safer now for learners to go back to classrooms and resume teaching and learning. The school management also urges learners who are still waiting for their results, to stay at home until they get them,” he said.

The North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said he cannot confirm nor deny whether learners got infected with COVID-19 while at the school premises or otherwise.  

“We might not be aware of what caused the infections. They either got it at home or otherwise. For now, the school continues to receive results, and learners who tested positive up to so far are Grade 12 (11), Grade 11 (17 and 16 have submitted the letters with one new case).

“A Grade 10 learner was also infected including the scholar bus driver. The school has 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases thus far and it has been fumigated. So, teachers have drafted their recovery plans to assist the learners,” he said.

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Health department, Madoda Sambatha acknowledged a provincial milestone of passing the 500 000 COVID-19 vaccines administered to date across the province’s four districts.

“As a province, we are proud to see the positive progress we are making in our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. As such our attainment of 509 290 vaccines administered is no small feat. This points to the hard work and dedication of our frontline staff to ensure that our communities receive this vital protection against the virus.

“North West has been on the top three provinces who have been experiencing the surge in third-wave infections therefore all efforts are needed to ensure that the registration and vaccination programmes are accelerated,” Sambatha said.

He further said they need to remind and urge communities to take full advantage of the current arrangement of walk-ins at various vaccination sites to receive these important jabs.

The province has to date registered 137 039 positive COVID-19 cases, with 116 920 people having recovered which translates to an 85,3% recovery rate.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

   

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The criminal case has been initiated against the former Director-General of the North West Provincial Government (NWPG). This comes after the North West Provincial Government failed to recover the financial misconduct amounting to R75 889 349.70. 

According to the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration (DPSA), three departments, Office of the Premier, Department of Health and Education were fingered in wrongdoings in a damning report.

The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration chairperson, Tyotyo James said: “On 2 June 2021, the committee received a presentation from the Public Service Commission (PSC) on financial misconduct in the public service in the 2019/2020 financial year.

“The PSC report flagged the State Security Agency (SSA) and the North West provincial departments of the Office of the Premier, Education, and Health as having failed to submit records on financial misconduct.”

James said they had written letters to the SSA and the North West province has submitted a consolidated presentation. He said the types of misconduct include fraud and financial misconduct, contravention of Section 195 of the constitution, supply chain management (SCM) prescripts, and the Division of Revenue Act, and fraud and contravention of SCM processes.

“The committee noted from the presentation that the amount involved is R75 889 349.70. We are concerned about the amount that may not be recovered amounting to R45 889 349.70 and asked why the province could not recover it.

The committee heard that criminal proceedings were initiated against one employee, a former Director-General. We have recorded our dissatisfaction that nothing has been recovered as yet, but noted that a preservation order for R30 000 000 has been obtained,” said James.  

The province also reported that nine disciplinary cases stem from 2019/20 to 20/21 is still pending.

He further said the committee also noted the progress made by the Department of Public Service and Administration on the establishment of the PAEIDTAU. James added that in March 2020, the unit was formally established as part of the DPSA’s macro-restructuring process and incubated within it.

“The committee welcomed this development and approval of the Lifestyle Audit Guideline and supports the implementation of lifestyle audits in the public service.

The DPSA also briefed the committee on the progress made thus far with the establishment of PAEIDTAU.

“The committee also considered and adopted the Committee Report on Ease of Doing Business Bill. The majority of the committee further adopted the report on the Ease of Doing Business Bill, with the exception of the Democratic Alliance, which had a dissenting view,” he said.

James said the overall report was adopted by the committee and the minutes of the meeting will record the objection by the opposition.

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