By OBAKENG MAJE

The artists and businesspersons in Taung, call on the North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation (ACSR), Virginia Tlhapi to have a consultative engagement with them before the Taung Cultural Calabash (TCC) event take place on 18-19 November 2022.

The Mmabana Foundation received a whopping R5.5m to organise the event. It was supposed to take place on 15 October 2022, however, it was postponed due to disruptions. Some artists and local businesspersons alleged that the unique art festival that was set to discover new talent through a series of provincial auditions is marred with corruption and embezzlement.

One of the business persons, Xolani Nkonyana said, they have written numerous letters to various stakeholders including the Office of MEC to have consultative engagements with them, however, that has not happened. Nkonyana said, Tlhapi failed to honour their meeting on 27 October 2022 and that no event will take place until their grievances are addressed.

“As local businesspersons, nothing about us without us. We have written numerous letters to the Mmabana Foundation including Tlhapi. We wanted to have a meeting with the MEC, Head of Department (HOD), Chief Financial Officer (CFO) including the CEO of Mmabana Foundation.

“They promised to meet with us on 27 October, unfortunately, they did not pitch as they promised. To our surprise, the department sent through their junior staff. So, we agreed that we will no longer continue with the event until Tlhapi comes down to the community of Taung and address our grievances,” he said.

A cultural activist, Keaoboka Molomo shared the same sentiments. Molomo further said, as artists, they do not benefit from the Mmabana Foundation programs. 

“The proper transformation is needed at Mmabana Foundation. We urge the department to appoint relevant individuals, who have creative backgrounds. Even though art is called the golden economy, as artists, we continue to suffer at the hands of politicians.

“When we raise our grievances, they label us as hooligans. The Batlhaping Baga-Phuduhucwana Tribal Authority also does not represent us well because the Chief, Kgosi Tshepo Mankuroane is never there. He is actually missing in action and why should we entertain this family that is holding the entire community hostage? He asked.

Molomo added that in other provinces, chiefs are the ones who fight for the preservation of indigenous and cultural events.

Meanwhile, the acting CEO of Mmabana Foundation, Paul Malatsi said: “We understand that the Taung Cultural Calabash was previously sponsored, but most of the sponsors later withdraw due to the audit outcome that was not up to standard. Hopefully, going forward, we will be able to attract sponsors.

“In 2021 financial year, the budget received from the department was re-directed to the COVID-19 pandemic and we did not have the event. In 2021/2022 financial year, we were planning to have the event in November 2021, but it was postponed to March 2022.”

Malatsi said in the current financial year, they have received eight bidders for the tender and they all went through the evaluation and administrative processes. He said they awarded a tender to a service provider to the tune of R3.9 million.

“The reason why we postponed the calabash was because of some disruptions. Initially, the event was earmarked to take place in September, which is a heritage month.

“However, through the challenges that we have experienced, we had to postpone the event. The management took a decision to engage with all stakeholders, but there were many issues raised,” he said.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

A murder case against Lazarus Chaka Hambone (38) from Extension 4 in Kgakala Township, near Leeudoringstad, was postponed until 16 November 2022 for a formal bail application. Hambone who was on parole for murder was arrested on 6 November 2022 for allegedly killing his niece’s infant with a spade.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame, on 5 November 2022, a commotion ensued between Hambone and his niece (16) who was carrying her baby on her back.

“The accused then went outside, came back with a spade, and tried to assault his niece. Unfortunately, he ended up hitting the five-month-old baby boy. The baby was taken to a local clinic, where he was transported to Wolmaransstad Hospital and ultimately transferred to Tshepong Hospital where he died due to head injuries. 

“This led to the arrest of Hambone and he will remain in custody until the next court appearance. Hambone has appointed a Legal Aid attorney to represent him. The state will oppose bail as the accused is a parolee on a murder case that occurred in 2011,” Mamothame said.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A man was sentenced to life imprisonment by Taung Regional Court for raping an elderly woman, Naomi Motlhwareng (73). Daniel Kediemetse Sehemo (53) from Sekhing village near Taung, was apprehended on 3 February 2022 after he broke into the home of Motlhwareng, who was his neighbour with the intent to commit rape.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, Sehemo subsequently strangled and raped Motlhwareng before fleeing the scene.

“He knew the victim very well and also had privileged information that she stayed alone. Sehemo was also aware that the victim had previously suffered from a stroke. The victim reported the matter to the police and Sehemo was subsequently arrested.

“He was denied bail and in the mitigation of the sentence, his defense read a statement wherein he pleaded guilty as an illustration to express remorse for his action. The victim also took a stand and referred to her ordeal as a painful one, as it was committed by a person she trusted, referring to him as “my son” while giving her evidence,” he said.

The state prosecutor, Tecia Khula urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment, arguing that elderly people are vulnerable and must be protected from the likes of Sehemo.

In a passing sentence, Magistrate Buti Zulu agreed with the state and lamented that society is outraged by rape as it makes them feel unsafe. Zulu further alluded to the responsibility the court has in imposing sentences that will restore the faith of the public in the criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, the North West Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Rachel Makhari Sekhaolelo lauded Khula and the investigating officer from the SAPS for a collaboration that yielded a positive outcome.

“Our fight against protecting the most vulnerable members of society will be demonstrated through such convictions”, she added.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The ANC in the North West said cabinet reshuffling is imminent and that will take place within seven days. This comes after the swearing-in of its provincial chairperson, Nono Maloyi as the new Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) in North West on Tuesday afternoon after the resignation of MPL, Kim Medupe.

The ANC provincial secretary, Louis Diremelo said they are also in talks with other ANC MPLs to vacate their seats in order to make way for other provincial leaders such as Jostinah Mothibe, Wendy Nelson, and Lazarus Mokgosi amongst others.

“The ANC in the province took a decision to replenish the list. So, we wanted the legislature to actually reflect the ANC provincial leadership that has just been elected. Also, we want to make sure that we strengthen the legislature and have stability.

“Those who will resign will not be thrown out in the cold, but they will be redeployed somewhere strategic to sustain what they are doing. We have not encountered any formal resistance from them and we hope to reach an agreement before the end of this week,” he said.

On reshuffling, Diremelo further said, either the legislature or cabinet in the province should reflect the newly-elected provincial leadership. He added that, they will not use a yardstick to measure performance and evaluate their cabinet members when removing them.

“I will not point out which portfolios are going to be affected. So, reshuffling will be done after our consultative engagements with ANC officials. Just to clear the air, Medupe was not forced to resign and she did that voluntarily.

“She is going to be re-deployed somewhere strategic either in the government or private. Our alliance partners were highly briefed about these developments during our Alliance Council Meeting (ACM). Fortunately, we have found each other and again, there will be a series of meetings afterward,” he said.

Maloyi said he is more than ready to ascend to any position ANC deploys him to.

Meanwhile, NWPL speaker, Sussana Dantjie said: “I have received the resignation letter from ANC MPL, Kim Medupe who was serving as a full-time member of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL). 

“I have also received a letter from the ANC in terms of the Electoral Act 73 of 1990 A Schedule 1 Section 93 (1), which states that in the event of a vacancy in the legislature to which this schedule applies, the party which the vacating member represented must fill the vacancy by nominating a person who is the next qualified and available person on the list.”

She added: “I’ve also checked with the revised list of the ANC as gazetted by the party on gazette number 8425. I am satisfied that, Dumile Patrick Nono Maloyi is the next in line of the party list as submitted by the ANC Provincial Secretary, Louis Diremelo.”

Dantjie further said, the swearing-in is needed in terms of Section 107 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which states that before a Member of a Provincial Legislature (MPL) begins to perform their functions in the Legislature, they must be sworn in or be affirmed to be faithful to the Republic and be obedient to the Constitution in accordance with Schedule 2.”

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