By OBAKENG MAJE

A 28-year-old woman who was allegedly assaulted by the flamboyant local hip hop artist, Andile “Teddy Cash” Sotshantsha calls for justice. Nomsa Prudence Banda said she had opened a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) case against the thespian after he allegedly assaulted her.

Banda said, the incident happened a week ago at Motimalenyora Bottle Store and Tavern in Pudimoe Township, near Taung. According to Banda, she was standing next to an A3 Audi vehicle with her friends when approached by Sotshantsha, who allegedly ordered her to move away from the vehicle.

“I actually told him that, the owner of the vehicle came earlier to his car and he does not have any problem. However, a commotion ensued between us after he insisted that, we move away regardless.  

“Sotshantsha lost his cool after I told him that, this is not his car. He grabbed my clothes and I poured him alcohol in self-defense. However, he grabbed the can of alcohol that I was holding and started assaulting me with it,” she said.

According to Banda, they know each other very well and they actually went out with her cousin and the muso a week before the incident.

“We know each other very well and he even borrowed me his jacket. So I was surprised to see him behaving like that. He is actually a friend of my cousin because he is the one who went to fetch Sotshantsha.  

“Imagine, the nerve of laying his hands on me, while we are living in times and ages where GBV is condemned. I won’t let this go because I actually do not deserve it,” said Banda.   

The incident opened a ‘can of worms’ as startling allegations of abuse levelled against Sotshantsha came forth. One of the women, Morwadia Selekow Momow Selekow, who was allegedly in a romantic relationship with Shotshantsha wrote on Facebook, where she accused Sotshantsha of abuse.

“I was afraid to speak out that Teddy Cash once abused me, while we were in a romantic relationship because he is capable of threatening a person for a very long time.

“He must go to jail because he has been doing this to many girls in Taung for a while,” she said.

The frustrated Sotshantsha said, he was advised not to comment on the matter as is sub judice. However, he promised to reveal the ‘naked truth’ in a court of law.

Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “A case of common assault was reported at Pudimoe Police Station and is under investigation. This comes after a woman reported that she was assaulted.

“According to the complainant, she was with her siblings at a local tavern on 15 October 2022, whilst outside the tavern. She was involved in an altercation with the suspect and was subsequently assaulted by the suspect in her face.”

Van Rooyen said no arrest has been made with regard to the incident thus far.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The widespread corruption and maladministration continue to show its ugly head at the embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM). This comes after startling revelations that directors, chief financial officer (CFO) and municipal manager, Katlego Gabanakgosi paid themselves a monthly danger allowance of R2500 during the COVID-19 pandemic even though they were working from home.

It is also alleged that these managers are doing this without any EXCO or council resolution and continue to get it even though the country has since gone back to its normality.

Now, the municipality has allegedly suspended the director of corporate services, Dikagiso Mokoma for misleading the municipal council. Mokoma ‘lied’ to the municipal council that, the decision to pay a monthly rate of R2500 to employees as a danger allowance was taken by the previous council. 

However, she could not back up her allegations with any tangible evidence and that led to her suspension. In the process, the current council was forced to listen to the recordings to get to the root cause of the matter because Gabanakgosi could also not provide any EXCO or council resolution.   

Now, the Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) and other opposition parties like EFF and Democratic Alliance (DA) want these managers to pay back the money. The F4SD councillor, Mika Moeti said, the municipality would have spent R6 million on danger allowance if each employee gets a monthly R2500 as danger allowance.

Moeti further said, he understands that the previous council agreed upon R1500 as a flat rate, not R2500.

“So, as the F4SD, we have taken this with an exception because all these directors and managers who were paid R2500 as danger allowance, were actually working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have also conducted our own research on the matter and found out that, this was only agreed upon between directors, municipal manager and chief financial officer (CFO) without any EXCO or municipal council resolution,” he said.

Moeti added that they have now taken a resolution that, the directors, CFO and Gabanakgosi must pay back R1000s from the R2500s they received. He further said, there is a lack of service delivery within the communities and the municipality’s budget is only R363 million.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor, Sam Nape said: “Clearly, there is malfeasance in this case. We are calling for a proper investigation and we will also call on the law enforcement agencies such as the Hawks and Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe the matter. There are also many issues in the municipality, where one could detect maladministration and corruption.

“To be honest, the management has not been fair because they insisted that they should be paid R2500 monthly because, at times, they are subjected to overtime.”  

Nape said, even though the overtime period ended up around March 2022, these managers are still getting those R2500 monthly. He said they have not taken any decision on whether the money needs to be paid back or not pending investigations.

*Meanwhile, the municipal manager, Katlego Gabanakgosi and the municipality spokesperson, Ricky Oliphant failed to respond to our media enquiry, despite being sent to them three weeks ago.   

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The cash-strapped ANC will construct state-of-the-art offices in Mahikeng, North West. This announcement was made by the ANC provincial chairperson, Nono Maloyi during a sod-turning on Friday.

Maloyi said, the ANC in North West is the only province without decent offices, so they have decided to build proper offices here in Mahikeng. He said they will utilise the land that was bought 10 years ago by the ruling party.

“This is the piece of land that was bought by the organisation many years ago. However, we have not been able to utilise it until now. So, we thought it must be put to good use by building new offices.

“This is going to be a revolutionary house, where all ANC structures will be housed including alliance partners if they have that appetite. The aim is to complete the project before the 2024 General Elections if things go accordingly,” he said.

The ANC provincial treasurer, Sello Lehari shared the same sentiments. Lehari said the ruling party does not have money, but they will rely on good Samaritans for funding.

“We were impressed by the ANC offices in Limpopo on January 8 this year. So, we are benchmarking with them, but this one will be the best of the best in Africa. The construction project will commence anytime soon.

“As you know, the party does not have money, but we are relying on donations, not in the form of cash. If we need any material, someone will go and buy it for us,” Lehari said.

He further said, these will be state-of-the-art offices and they will invite the media during the opening. Lehari added that, they have not identified a contractor yet, but talks are at an advanced stage.  

“It is up to the people who are assisting us and the talks are at 80% in identifying the potential contractor. Also, the designers are still finalising the construction plan.

“We will soon let you know how much the construction project will cost us. Remember, this land was bought 10 years ago before we could even become leaders, so, we do not have figures with us now on how much it was purchased for,” said Lehari.

However, the cagey Lehari promised to share the amount when at a later stage. 

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Top teachers were rewarded for their excellence at the 2022 annual National Teaching Awards (NTAs) ceremony held at held CSIR Convention Centre, in Pretoria on Thursday.

The North West province stole the show during the prestigious event and scooped six awards. The North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela said, they have sent six candidates out of thirteen who won during the provincial awards to represent them.

“All six candidates brought home various awards from the national level. Mmabatho High School teacher, Tebogo Mokwene obtained position one in the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics FET category. Mokwene, who is also a Mathematics tutor for “Dial a Tutor” programme, taught learners Mathematics through social media platforms, YouTube.

“The “Dial a Tutor” programme, which is a telephone system, aims at helping secondary school learners in the province. Mokwenen also uses songs to entice learners to different concepts in the subject,” Matsemela said.

She further said, Dikeledi Sekopamotse from Platinum village in Rustenburg, obtained the first position in Excellence in Primary School Leadership category. Matsemela added that, Sekopamotse is the founding principal of the school.

“Another winner, Tsholofelo Lechuti from Tswelelopele Secondary School in Itsoseng Township, near Lichtenburg scooped the second prize in Excellence in Secondary School Teaching category. Lechuti is offering English First Additional Language on YouTube and her lessons are used by other teachers in their schools,” she said.

The Reabona Secondary School teacher, Bongumusa Mabuza in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, obtained the second position in the Excellence in Teaching Physical Science category. According to Matsemela, Mabuza strives to change the ‘famous belief’ that, science is difficult.

“He is using all the available resources to impart knowledge to his learners.

Lezeth Van Der Walt from Hoerskool Skoonspruit in Klerksdorp won the second position in the Excellence in Technology – Enhanced Teaching and Learning category.

“She serves as an ICT manager, senior Hostel Official, sports coach, a member in numerous committees and organises Olympiads at her school. Marakane Mokhele from Areitshokeng Primary School in Jouberton Township, Klerksdorp, won the third position in the Excellence in Grade R Teaching category,” said Matsemela.

She said, Mokhele is not only contributing positively in class but also engages with learners in different sporting codes.

“North West is now a force to be reckoned with in all competitions within the sector. I would like to congratulate all those teachers who have made our province proud. I regard them as heroes to our children in different schools.

“Recently in the music competitions, we brought home many trophies and we were crowned as the best province. I am very excited that our province has also retained the first position in the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics FET category,” she said.

Matsemela calls on all teachers in the province to continue to sacrifice their family time and spend it with the learners. She said, next year they aiming high and would love to see many teachers taking part in this competition next year.

The position one winners walked away with Tablet and laptop fully loaded with data for 12 months, R10 000 cash for the school, training courses, Fundza Lushaka bursary to a learner and a computer lab for the school.

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