Ka BAKANG MOKOTO

Lekoko la Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, le kaile fa le tlile go tswelela ka twantsho kgatlhanong le tshotlakako ya basadi le bana. Seno, se builwe ke motlatsa mokwaledi wa bosetshaba wa lekoko, Poppy Mailola kwa moletlong wa lekoko.

EFF ene le tshwere moletlo wa go ka tshwaya kgwedi ya basadi kwa Ipelegeng Multi-purpose Centre kwa motsesetoropong wa Ipelegeng gaufi le Schweizer Reneke.    

Mailola are, dikgetsi tsa petelelo kgatlhanong le basadi le bana ba basetsanyana di tsweletse go gola ka lobelo. O kaile fa seno ele tlhoba-boroko gonne bana bangwe ba ba setsanyana ba betelelwa ke ba masika a bone.

“Dipetelelo tsa bana mo malapeng di ama kgolo le bokamoso jwa bone, gonne ba gola ba le mo tlase ga kgatelelo ka ntlha ya fa ba belaelwa ba sirelediwa. Re ne re kopane le bagolo ba rona go ka tla go re tlhaba matlhale mo ntweng kgatlhanong le tshotlakako ya basadi le bana.

“O tla gopola gore re keteka kgwedi ya bomme, mme re tsweletse le go gopola basadi ba 1956 ba baneng ba tswa letsholo, mme ba gwantela kwa Union Building go ka neelana ka lekwalo la bone la ditopo (memorandum). Ba ile ba lwela kgololosego gore re seka ra tlhola re tsamaya ka di dompase,” Mailola wa tlhalosa.

Gape o kaile fa ngwana mongwe le mongwe a tsalelwa mo le lapeng, mme a godisiwa ke setshaba ka kakaretso. Jaanong, Mailola are go botlhokwa go tokafatsa tsela e batsadi ba godisang bana ba bone ka teng.

“Ke ikuela go batsadi gore ba godise bana ka go lekana go sa kgathalasege bong jwa bone. Bana ba rona ba basimane ba tshwanetse go itse gore ga gona ope o tshwanelwang ke gore ditshwanelo tsa gagwe di gatakakiwe. 

Kgabagare, motlatsa-mokwaledi wa lekoko mo sedikeng, Amogelang Matuane o ikamantse le puo ya ga Mailola. Matuane are moletlo ono, ene ele karolo ya metseletsele ya meletlo e lekoko la gagabo le e boloditseng naga ka bophara.

“Mme se ke tla se tlhalosang ke gore, thologelo ene ele e namatsang, ebile e kgatlhisa. Lekoko la EFF le ne le laleditse mafapha a farologaneng a puso jaaka lefapha la boitekanelo, le lefapha la katlatlelo-loago.

“Batlhankela ba boitekanelo ba tsibositse batla moletlong ka malwetsi a farologaneng ao eleng tlhoba boroko, ebile ale matshosetsi mo basading. Basadi ba tsibositswe go dira diteko tsa boitekanelo kgapetsa-kgapetsa le go netefatsa fa ba eleng batswa setlhabelo ba malwetsi a farologaneng ba bona kalafi,” Matuane wa tlhalosa.

Are ba itemogetse fa lefapha la katlatlelo-loago le tshwenyegile thata ka seemo se se tsweletseng go gola sa dikgetsi tsa tlhekefetso ya basadi le bana. Matuane o kaile fa lefapha le tsibositse maloko a EFF go akaretsa le batla-moletlong gore, go botlhokwa go bega di kgetsi tsa mofuta ono kwa sepodising.

“Sebui segolo sa letsatsi ene ele Poppy Mailola. Mme ene o supile fa basadi le bana ba tlhekefediwa, mme se o ele tlhoba boroko mo mokgatlho wa EFF, gonne puso e goga dinao go ka tokafatsa seemo,” Matuane wa tlhalosa.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The meeting that was scheduled to take place between residents of Lokgabeng village, near Taung and the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mpompati District Municipality over water scarcity is underway at a local community hall.

Even though there were no disruptions of water since the community embarked on protests, talks are continuing. The residents embarked on protests and barricaded R57 road that links Taung and Reivilo with burning tyres and shrubs last week.

According to one of community leaders, Mothohela Motshabi, it has been three months without access to clean and drinkable water. Motshabi said, residents are now forced to travel a long distance to fetch water.

“It is being three months since our taps ran dry. We have been trying to solicit answers from the district municipality, but our attempts were futile. We will continue to barricade the road until our grievances are resolved,” Motshabi said.

He further said, some residents are forced to use donkey carts to fetch water for household usage, while others have to pay an exorbitant amount of money to buy water. Motshabi added that, life has never been easy as most of the community members are unemployed and cannot afford to buy water sold to them in the village.

It is suspected that decades of chronic underfunding of water infrastructure are putting many villages at worse risk. Other residents urged the municipality to address the investment gap in water and sanitation and refrain from perceiving these services mainly as social issues rather than economic ones.

Meanwhile, the Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC), who is responsible for Infrastructure at Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Pico Seepamere said: “We have a challenge with water machinery that was vandalised after the cable was stolen. So, we are struggling to find the same model of stolen cable. 

“However, what we have done today is to re-energise another pumping machinery that can pump up to 1.2 litres per second. The one that is broken was able to pump 1.6 litres per second.”

Seepamere said the machinery in place can pump water for ten hours, then take a two hours interval. He added that, when the machinery reaches its highest level, can be able to supply water to all residents of Lokgabeng.

“As the municipality, we are working on a permanent everlasting solution. However, to redeem the situation, we have also provided the residents with jojo tanks.

“We will also have a consultative engagement with residents on Monday, where all stakeholders will be present. I believe that the municipality would procure a needed engine if the needs arise so that our people could get access to clean and drinkable water,” he said.

Meanwhile, the R580 million Taung /Naledi Bulk Water Supply Project launched by the late Minister for Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa back in 2012 is still incomplete. The project was expected to augment the bulk water supply scheme and bring relief to thousands of villagers who had to travel long distances to draw water.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

The newly-elected ANC chairperson in North West, Nono Maloyi has fired a warning shot against deployees of the ruling party in Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality. This comes after some allegations that, ANC deployees are going to connive with opposition parties to oust the mayor, Sebang Motlhabi through a motion of no confidence today.

The motion that was supposed to be tabled a few weeks ago at All Seasons Resort in Christiana, was sponsored by Freedom Front Plus (FF+). However, the special council meeting was disrupted by ANCYL members.   

The FF+ deputy leader in the North West, De Wet Nel said, they have tabled a motion of no confidence against the mayor because he failed to play an oversight role on the finances of the municipality.

It is alleged that Motlhabi has rented a mayoral vehicle that cost the municipality over R130 000 in two months.

“Here is the mayor driving the rented car with an exorbitant amount, which cost the municipality over R130 000 in just two months. So, if the mayor continues to use this vehicle for four years, the municipality would have forked out close to R2 million.

“The handbook from the national treasury clearly states that the mayor should purchase a vehicle in the amount of R700 000. So, regarding the motion of no confidence, we will not specifically lobby ANC councillors’ support, but one cannot rule out that because the ruling party is fractured in North West,” he said.

Meanwhile, Motlhabi said, this is just a fight-back strategy against his antagonists after he raised startling concerns over lack of service delivery. He said some senior municipal officials refused to be held accountable and now they are conniving to fight him. 

“You will remember that we got into the office in November 2021. So, I found the Toyota Fortuner, which was a mayoral car with a mileage of 490 000 km. This car experienced mechanical problems, while still using it.

“So, we reported this matter to the municipal mechanic, who advised us to take the vehicle to Toyota for repair. The municipality rented the same model, Toyota Fortuner through a travelling agency. I only used that car for two weeks and after realising that it will be too expensive, I took it back,” he said.

Motlhabi said, he then raised this matter during a council meeting, and a resolution to procure a mayoral car was taken, but the administration is yet to do procurement. He said according to his understanding, renting an SUV will not cost less than R3000 a day, so the allegations are far-fetched.

Maloyi said, there is no ANC deployee, who is allowed to connive with the opposition parties to oust an ANC delpoyee. He said all ANC members deployed at the municipality, must work as a collective.

“Anybody who decides to work outside the ANC constitution, the ruling party will have to deal decisively with that individual. If there are members of the ANC in Lekwa-Teemane who are preparing to work with the opposition to remove the mayor, they should know that they will be doing something that is tantamount.

“They will be violating the code of conduct of the ANC. Of course, we will interact with those members and remind them that those seats they are occupying, belong to ANC,” he said.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A former policeman is expected to appear in Vryburg Magistrate’s Court for stock theft on Monday. This comes after the suspect was arrested along N18 road between Pudimoe and Vryburg on Saturday.

The North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said, the police saw a suspicious-looking bakkie travelling towards Pudimoe and stopped it.

Botma said, the vehicle was searched and atleast 21 goats were found at the back of the bakkie. The suspect, who is former police, was stationed at Taung Police Station and working for the stock-theft unit.

He was fired for fraud and corruption after he allegedly made a false affidavit for a murder convict. The convict alleged that his cellphone was lost and went to the Taung Police Station to make an affidavit.

However, police investigations revealed that, the former police allegedly connived with the convict and made a false affidavit. Now, he has a pending case of fraud and corruption. 

“The driver failed to give satisfactory answers for possession of livestock and did not have Section 6 or 8 (transportation documents for such stock). The estimated value of the livestock is R42 000.

“The driver was immediately arrested for stock-theft and taken to Vryburg Police Station. Upon arrival, he allegedly tried to run away and assaulted two police officers, while trying to detain him,” she said.

Botma said the suspect was arrested for stock theft and the livestock was handed over back to the lawful owner after being traced.

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Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Baagi ba motse wa Taung ba solofetswe go ka bolotsa mogwanto wa boipelaetso go ralala Taung gompieno. Seno, se tla morago ga gore baagi ba ikuele gore majoro ga mmogo le mmusa-kgotlha wa masepala wa Taung o mogolwane, Tumisang Gaoraelwe le Grace Moipolai ba itokolole mo tirong.

Moeteledipele wa baagi, Modisaotsile Lebitse are, go na le dintlha di le dintsi tse ba sa dikgotsofaleleng. Lebitse are nngwe ya dintlha tseo, ke go thapiwa ka bokukuntshwane ga bana bangwe mo ithutela-tirong (learnership) kwa masepaleng.

“Ke moagi o tletseng wa mo Taung, jaanong re lora go bona Taung e tlhabologa, mme re tshwane le mafelo a magwe a ko ntle. 

“Ka go tlhoka lesego, rona mo Taung ga rena baeteledipele. Baagi ba pipitletswe, ebile ba mina ka nko ele nosi ka ntlheng ya batho ba le ba bedi fela bao ba phutlhamisang Taung,” Lebitse wa tlhalosa.

A re morago ga dikgwedi di le supa, Gaoraelwe le Moipolai, ba bontshitse gore le bone ba tlile go tshwana le baeteledipele ba ba fitileng. Lebitse are malobanyana fa, go nnile le ithutela-tirong (learnership) ya pharakano e eneng e tshwanetse go unngwela bana ba Taung, mme e unngwetse fela batho bangwe ba ba rileng.

“Bana ba ba tshotsweng, gotlhelele ga ba maleba. Gaoraelwe o kaile fa ithutela-tiro (learnership) e tseile bana ba le 11, fela fa re tla go lebelela mo mafaratlhatlha, e tshotse bana ba le 30.

“Mme o buile puo ya gore ga go reye gore bana bao ba tlile go dira fa ba boa. Ke nkgata ke tlhaname, gonne gape one a kaya fa bana bao ba tlile go fitlha ba thapiwa,” Lebitsa wa tlhalosa.

Lebitse gape o kaile fa ba sa itumelele mokgwa o Taung Cultural Calabash e tsamisiwa ka teng. Are go matshwenyego a le mantsi a ba nang le one.

Mongwe wa baagi, Thato Mampane, o latofaditse Gaoraelwe ka go thapa lekgarebe la gagwe mo ithutela-tirong (learnership) ya pharakano e e tsositseng dipuo-puo.   

“Nna jaaka moagi, kena le bopaki jwa gore sejanaga sa modiro wa BMW se se neng se dirisiwa ke majoro wa maloba, Kgosi Nyoko Motlhabane se sale gone.

“Gape, lekgarebe la ga Gaoraelwe ke mongwe wa ba unngwelwa mo ithutela-tirong (learnership) eo. Rena le bopaki jwa gore o tlile a nna le di kamano tsa marato le ene,” Mompane wa tlhalosa.

Gape o kopile gore masepala go neele baagi tokomane ya MPAC e tlhalosang gore matlole a dirisiwa jang.

Fela Gaoraelwe, o ganetse ditatofatso tseo. O kaile fa kgang ya dijanaga tse di rekilweng ke masepala, e sa tlhole ena le mooko gonne e builwe kgapetsa-kgapetsa.

“Melao e tsamaisang dimasepala go ralala naga, ya re kaela gore fa sejanaga se setse e fetile nako e rileng, ga se sa tlhole se babalesegile go ka kgweediwa ke majoro.

“Seo ga se direge fela mo masepaleng wa Taung, mme se diragala mo dimasepala tsotlhe go ralala Afrika Borwa. Fa Mampane are nna ke thapile lekgarebe lame, ga gona se ke tla se buang gonne nna ga kena lekgarebe moo,” Gaoraelwe wa tlhalosa.

Gaoraelwe o kaile fa a se mo seemong sa go ka tlhalosa gore lekgarebe la gagwe ke mang, gonne a setse a tshwaragane le kgang ya go kgaogana (divorce) le mosadi wa gagwe.

“Jaanong, fa motho ele mosadi wame, mme a le maleba go ka tsena mo maemo mangwe mo masepaleng, a seo se raya gore a se thapiwa? Molao ga o kganele ope go ka thapiwa, fela ga gona ope o ke ratanang le ene mo bathung ba ba thapilweng mo ithutela-tirong (learnership) ya pharakano.

“Mongwe le mongwe yo eleng moagi, o kgona go bona MPAC report. Jaanong, Mampane a ka ya ko masepaleng go ka ikopela tokomane eo. Jaaka masepala, re na le setlankana sa kgotlhatshekelo kgatlhanong le Lebitse,” Gaoraelwe wa tlhalosa.

Mme o kaile fa ka 2019, Lebitse a kganetswe ke kgotlhatshekelo go ka dira dikopano le go tsena ka dikago tsa masepala. Gaoraelwe are se ba tla se dirang fela, ke go letsetsa sepodisi, mme Lebitse a tshwarwe.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

A 27-YEAR-OLD man was arrested for house robbery and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Thabo Calvin Mabe was remanded in custody after he appeared at Schweizer Rekene Magistrate’s Court on charges of house robbery and robbery with aggravating circumstances on 18 August 2022.

North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said: “Mabe was initially arrested and appeared in court in 2019, for separate charges of house robbery and robbery aggravating.

“He allegedly threatened a victim with a knife in a house in Ipelegeng Location, near Schweizer Reneke, then robbed him of his cellphones. In the second incident, he robbed the victim of some household items.”

Botma said subsequent to several court appearances, Mabe was granted bail. She said, however, that the accused failed to appear in court on 24 August 2021 and a warrant of arrest was issued against him.

“The Anti-Gang Unit followed up on information and Mabe was traced to his uncle’s place in Boitekong outside Rustenburg. He was arrested on 17 August 2022.

“Mabe was remanded in custody until his next court date on 30 September 2022,” said Botma.

By OBAKENG MAJE

The gloves are off as aggrieved ANC members intend to interdict the ANC elective conference in North West. The party’s 9^th Provincial Conference was marred with challenges and was held at Rustenburg Civic Centre last weekend. 

The former North West MEC for Human Settlements, Nono Maloyi, who was pitted against his fierce rival, North West Premier, Bushy Maape, won the race and was elected as the new provincial chairperson.

Now, in the urgent court application to the North West High Court in Mafikeng that was seen by Taung DailyNews, Lebogang Medupe, who is believed to be Maape’s staunch supporter, and the other four,  intend to interdict the conference. 

The conference was adjourned last week before additional members could be elected due to time constraints and it will resume on 27- 28 August 2022. In the applicants’ founding affidavits, they want the conference to be declared unlawful, invalid and of no force and effect.

“Be pleased to take notice that, the applicants intend to make an application to the above Honorable Court on Thursday, 25 August 2022 at 10am or so soon thereafter as counsel may be heard for an order in the following terms.

“We call on the court to declare the conference that took place on the 12-14 August 2022 and subsequently postponed to 26 August 2022 that, it was held in violation of the ANC constitution as well as the court order of the 12 August 2022 under case UM 152/2022,” the court papers said.   

He said the provincial conference, its decisions, resolutions, and outcomes were unlawful and should be set aside. 

Medupe further said the ANC’s decision on 13 August 2022 to usurp the powers and functions of the ANC’s 9th Provincial Conference after the court had declared on 12 August 2022 under case number (UM 152/2022) that the term of the IPC of the North West had lapsed is in violation of the ANC constitution and is unlawful and set aside.

However, the ANC national spokesperson, Pule Mabe said during a media briefing held at ANC provincial offices in Mahikeng on Friday that, the ruling party will defend itself in court.  

“The constitution of the ANC, which is the supreme law of the organisation does not make provision for the petition of conferences. So, it means that, if the National Executive Committee (NEC) applies itself to something like that, it will have first to locate where in the rules of the constitution is something like that provided for.

“The issue that we need to clarify is that those who want to interdict the conference, have contested for positions. However, if they had made it, would they have been part of those in the petition?” he asked.

Mabe further said the ANC NEC recognises the first part of the conference, so those who are elected, are the ones who will run the next installment. He added that the ANC will defend itself because they have a duty to protect its internal processes.

“We also have a duty to educate our cadres to accept the outcomes of conferences. You see, ANC is a democratic organisation, now if you agree to become part of the voluntary enterprise called ANC, it then follows that you ought to also submit yourself to the democratic processes of that voluntary enterprise,” said Mabe.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A disgraced former police officer was arrested for stock-theft on N18 road between Pudimoe and Vryburg on Saturday. According to the North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma, the police saw a suspicious-looking bakkie travelling towards Pudimoe and stopped it. 

Botma said, the vehicle was searched and atleast 21 goats were found at the back of the bakkie. The suspect, who is former police, was stationed at Taung Police Station and working for stock-theft unit.

He was fired for fraud and corruption after he allegedly made a false affidavit for a murder convict. The convict alleged that his cellphone was lost and went to the Taung Police Station to make an affidavit.

However, police investigations revealed that, the former police allegedly connived with the convict and made a false affidavit. Now, he has a pending case of fraud and corruption.  

“The driver failed to give satisfactory answers for possession of livestock and did not have Section 6 or 8 (transportation documents for such stock). The estimated value of the livestock is R42 000.

“The driver was immediately arrested for stock-theft and taken to Vryburg Police Station. Upon arrival, he allegedly tried to run away and assaulted two police officers, while trying to detain him,” she said.

Botma said the suspect was arrested for stock-theft and is expected to appear at Vryburg Police Station on Monday. She added that, the livestock was handed over back to the lawful owner after being traced.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Patients were allegedly left vulnerable and unattended at Bophelong/Mahikeng Provincial Hospital after nurses and doctors embarked on a two-day strike. This comes after the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the hospital, Nonzaliseko Mendela, suspended two employees (Deputy Director: Nursing Services and her Assistant Director) for misconduct.

It is alleged that Mendela charged the duo with misconduct and insubordination after they allegedly close the vaccination site without obtaining authorisation from her.     

One patient from Tshidilamolomo village, outside Mahikeng, Mosimanegape Kubu said, he was left helpless with no one to assist him. Kubu further said the department was supposed to make sure that there is adequate assistance available for patients, who need medical attention during protests.  

“Yesterday, I was here at the hospital and I received no assistance. Just imagine, I arrived here at 7am and left at 11:30pm because there were no nurses available.

“Today again, I arrived at 7am and I have not received any assistance yet. They say nurses and doctors are on strike, so the smooth running of the hospital will be affected. What will happen to admitted patients, who need extra care from the nurses and doctors? He asked.   

Another patient, Mosadiotsile Letebele from Lomanyane village said, she was referred to the hospital by the local clinic for a medical check-up, but she was surprised to see nurses and doctors on strike when she arrived.  

The North West Department of Health acting spokesperson, Keletso Ratlhagane said: “The department has placed the CEO on special leave pending investigations on allegations by staff. The investigations will test the validity of the suspension she matted out against two nursing managers at the hospital. 

“The staff and labour unions representing them (suspended nurses) are questioning the suspensions citing they were procedurally unfair, hence the department took a decision to appoint an investigator to look into these claims together with other allegations which, will be presented by employees to the investigator in writing.”

She said the investigations will serve as a tool to point out any irregularities or wrongdoings and the decision regarding a disciplinary hearing will only commence after the investigation processes are concluded.

Ratlhagane said the health services were restored after the provincial management acted swiftly into the matter and convened a meeting with the aggrieved parties.

Meanwhile, NEHAWU regional chairperson in Ngaka Modiri Molema, Zanele Leeuw said, even though they welcomed the department’s decision to suspend Mendela, they want thorough investigations against her.

“The CEO continues to take decisions that are not in favour of the institution on an ongoing basis. In this instance, she took a decision to suspend two employees alleging misconduct.  

“The two employees allegedly closed down the vaccination site because there were no individuals or patients coming to the site. The nurses decided to re-organise staff and ensure that they are deployed to other units that need extra care,” Leeuw said.  

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