Picture: The Varsity Cup champions, NWU Eagles/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The mood is high at the North West University (NWU) Eagles camp after beating Ikeys from the University of Cape Town (UCT) 27-25 during the Varsity Cup final held at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in Potchefstroom on Monday night.
This is for the second time the NWU Eagles crowned Varsity Cup champions after winning it in 2016. During the group stage, the NWU Eagles under the tutelage of coach Burger van der Westhuizen, showed their pedigree by being at the summit of the Varsity Cup log having lost only one game.
The game was nerve-racking, nail-biting, and mesmerising as the Eagles only missed 16 tackles and made a mountain full. It seems the Eagles’ fanatical home support worked in their favour.
The stands were painted in the NWU’s distinctive purple and the stage could not have been more perfectly set for an unforgettable evening.
On the other side, the Ikeys had nothing to lose and this did not bode well for the Eagles. The home team was the firm favourite and all the pressure was on them. However, they had everything going for them, then there was the lingering disaster of 2014 to contend with.
Although none of the players were part of the team that lost to Ikeys during that final in Potchefstroom, they were well aware of the stigma sticking since that encounter. Ikeys scored three tries in quick succession, to eradicate the Eagles’ more-than-comfortable lead with five minutes of game time to spare.
The NWU Eagles showed ample fortitude and all resolve. They kept fighting, defending, and eventually won.
The NWU principal and vice-chancellor, Prof Bismark Tyobeka congratulated the NWU Eagles and said this was a well-deserved victory.
“You were great and it was a triumph seven years in the making after we last won the Varsity cup in 2016. Now, we have reclaimed our mantle as Varsity Cup champions.
“The NWU community is proud of you. We are indeed the champions,” Tyobeka said.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in North West said the avaricious loss of conditional grants amounting to R340 million from the national treasury will cause a heavy blow on service delivery. COSATU’s provincial secretary, Kopano Konopi said, it is disappointing to see municipalities in the province losing their conditional grants due to their poor performance.
Three weeks ago, the minister of finance, Enoch Godongwana wrote a letter to the North West MEC, Nono Maloyi informing him about the decision.
Nine affected municipalities are, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, the City of Matlosana, Rustenburg, Moses Kotane, JB Marks, Madibeng, Ratlou, Ditsobotla, and Mamusa local municipalities.
“The money would have gone a long way to provide for the necessary services to the people of the province. These grants are the money that has been earmarked to improve service delivery and to make sure that residents have access to basic services.
“The biggest loser amongst the municipalities is Madibeng local municipality, which has lost money to the tune of R145m. Most of it was earmarked for municipal infrastructure grants,” he said.
Konopi further said, this is disappointing as this happens at a time when the province has a serious service delivery deficit. He added that this is the responsibility of the municipalities to deliver services.
“As COSATU, we view this as a lack of capacity from those who have been deployed to ensure that services are delivered to the people of the province. We also view this dereliction of duty by those who have been employed to provide services to the people of the province.
“So, we call for consequence management on those who are responsible for this loss of grants because we view this not as a loss of money, but a violation to basic human rights. COSATU calls on the ANC as it is the party which governs the majority of the municipalities in the province to rein on their deployees and make them account for this action,” said Konopi.
North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho said, they have introduced the Provincial EXCO Representatives to municipalities that are under mandatory intervention to implement Financial Recovery Plans. Rosho said, they have already introduced PERs that have been appointed to lead the eight municipalities that are under mandatory and discretionary intervention to implement the Financial Recovery Plans (FRP).
“The Executive Council resolved to place Naledi, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Madibeng, Kgetlengrivier, Ramotshere Moiloa, Tswaing, Ditsobotla, and Mahikeng, under mandatory intervention in line with Section 139(5) (a) and (c) of the Constitution read together with Section 139 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). Maquassi Hills local municipality has been placed under discretionary intervention.
“The PERs act on behalf of the Executive Council and are placed at each municipality to provide strategic leadership and guidance for the implementation FRP,” she said.
Rosho said the process to appoint the PERs started in 2019 and appointments were effected at the end of the 2022/2023 financial year. She said the PERs have been appointed for a period of 3 years, which involved comprehensive transparent due processes.
“The PERs are required to ensure that municipalities will ultimately create a conducive environment to generate income, comply with financial legislations and improve service delivery.
“The PERs report to Maloyi and me and are required amongst others, to do quality assurance of monthly and quarterly review reports, which will be processed by the MECs for EXCO’s attention,” said Rosho.
She said they are tasked to maintain a record of decision-making processes taken by the municipal councils and accounting officers and ensure appropriate corrective measures and control measures. Rosho said they will also assist in the recruitment and selection processes for the appointment of senior managers and accounting officers, as well as provide strategic participation and stakeholder engagements in the affairs of the municipality.”
Meanwhile, the national treasury’s technical assistant, Keorapetse Tumagole indicated that mindset and culture change is crucial to the success of the implementation of the FRP.
“We are implementing change to achieve a future state that involves a specific desired outcome to ensure that the collapse in service delivery is turned around.
“The PERs must create the desire to embrace the change in the environment of respective municipalities,” he said.
Picture: Five suspected stolen cows recovered by police/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Three suspects aged between 29 and 39 are expected to briefly appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court for being in possession of suspected stolen cattle. The North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen said, on 14 April 2023, police in Reivilo were busy conducting patrols and whilst on patrol, received information about a bakkie loaded with five cattle traveling from Taung toward Reivilo.
Van Rooyen said, the police immediately followed up on the information and located the white bakkie with a trailer loaded with the cattle as indicated.
“The vehicle was stopped and searched. On closer inspection, it was found that the cows had various new brand marks. The suspects with the vehicle and cattle were taken to Reivilo Police Station for further investigation.
“The original brand mark was found and the ownership of the livestock was located and confirmed. A case of possession of suspected stolen livestock was opened and the three suspects were arrested,” she said.
Van Royeen said, the rightful owner positively identified four cows, which were handed back to him. She said the vehicle used in the commission of the crime was seized and the fifth cow was taken to the police pound.
Meanwhile, the acting District Police Commissioner, Colonel Mothusiemang Kgwenyape commended Detective Sergeant Buyani Sereetsi for his meticulous investigation, which led to the arrest. Kgwenyape also acknowledged and highly appreciated the security officers, who provided the information as well as the police who reacted swiftly to the information provided, which ensured the arrests of the suspects.
The ANC Member of Parliament (MP), Sibusiso Kula (34) murder case has been postponed by the Orkney Magistrate’s Court until 26 April 2023 after court recording devices experienced technical glitches. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, Kula’s attorney intends to present an application to oppose further postponement on the matter.
Mmaothame further said, the attorney intended to present this application in court, however, the recording devices had technical glitches, which forced the matter to be postponed.
“Kula is currently out on bail after The North West High Court in Mahikeng granted him R50 000 bail following his appeal on the Orkney Magistrate’s Court decision to deny him bail.
“He was ordered to surrender his passports, report twice a day at the nearest police station, provided the investigating officer with his work itinerary, and report to investigating officer, if he must move outside his residential jurisdiction and have no direct or indirect contact with his children,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mamothame further said, an application has been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, for the matter to be transferred to a higher court, owing to its serious nature. He added that, the office has noted some aspects of the investigation to be attended to by the investigating officer before the transfer can be authorised.
“The police reports reveal that Kula’s wife, Jennifer Mohlomi, was found murdered on 27 November 2022, in what seemed like a robbery. She was found with a stab wound on her back, but the object that was used for her alleged murder has not been recovered.
“The matter was reported by the medical facility, where she was allegedly transported by the accused to receive medical attention. Kula told the police that he was not present at his home when the incident occurred,” said Mamothame.
He said, however, following thorough investigations by the police, Kula was linked to the alleged murder and was arrested on 20 January 2023 and charged with murder. Mamothame said the police investigations are still underway and Kula is expected back in court on the set date.
The Bloemhof Regional Court has found three men who were accused of murder guilty. On 10 September 2018, Shanton Moabi (25), Thapelo Frank Geco (22), and Lucas Malepe (20) were arrested after they brutally murdered a man (20) with sharp objects in Extension 5 in Boitumelong Township, near Bloemhof.
The North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “The Bloemhof Regional Court found Geco, Malepe, and Moabi guilty of murder and sentenced them to direct imprisonment.
“Moabi was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, Geco was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment, while Malepe was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. The accused were remanded in custody until the finalization of the matter.”
The ANCYL in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati said, political education is essential in ‘shaping’ future leaders within its ranks. This comes after ANCYL held its Regional General Council (RGC) at Depot Hall on Saturday.
The ANCYL regional chairperson, Sello Mokwatsi said, they have recently experienced wayward behaviour from some of the ANCYL members, and that needs to be addressed. According to Mokwatsi, ANC continues to be the ‘Agents of Change’ and political education will assist them in building the ideological, intellectual, and organisational capacity going forward.
“This was an opportunity to engage on critical issues facing our people and the movement. Our RGC went very well and I am saying this because the event came on very short notice. We had logistics problems, but we are happy that the event was a success.
“What is important is to disseminate the message to the branches. So, as the host, we are happy regarding the outcome of the event. The message was inculcated to the branches,” he said.
Mokwatsi further said, with regard to disciplinary, as ANCYL, they have encountered inward-looking characters within the party, and that increased loss of credibility and loss of trust. However, he added that they cannot disown them, but educate them on how a cadre should conduct themselves.
“We will continue to educate them to take themselves seriously so that ANC will take them seriously too. We will also continue with our political education in order to teach our members how they should conduct themselves.
“Until we do that, it is our responsibility to ensure that the behaviour of our members is proper. Another issue that contributed to the low attendance is load shedding that continues to affect the network,” said Mokwatsi.
He said they could not get hold of some of their members who reside in deep rural areas due to poor network connection. Mokwatsi said these ANCYL members could not receive the information timeously.
“So, we will inculcate the message to them and ensure that it reaches everyone. We need to ensure that the guidelines are executed and adhered to the latter,” said Mokwatsi.
Two men who appeared at the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court for possession and dealing with drugs were remanded in custody. Papiki Piet Mofokeng (42) and Ifegbu Chinedu (32) were arrested during disruptive operations on Thursday by the North West Provincial Organised Crime, Provincial Drugs Task Team and Stilfontein K9 unit.
The North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said, in the first arrest, the police were executing search warrants in Khuma Township, near Stilfontein when they arrested Mofokeng after being found in possession of 10 mandrax, 51 packets of crystal meth, and nine half tablets of mandrax and dagga estimated at the street value of R50 000.
“The police were still at the scene when a blue Chevrolet Spark with two occupants arrived. One of the occupants, Ifegbu Chinedu who was allegedly delivering drugs, was arrested after being found in possession of 50 mandrax tablets, and a packet of crystal meth; all with an estimated street value of R40 000.
“Chinedu, who is a Nigerian national, is also facing an additional charge of contravention of Section 49 (1)(a) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002),” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the police for arresting the suspects as part of ridding communities of drugs.
Picture: The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs will be conducting public hearings on the Division of Revenue Bill (B2 – 2023) at Mabule Community Hall in Mabule, Boskuil Community Hall in Boskuil, Tosca Community Hall in Tosca and Mabeskraal Tribal Hall in Mabeskraal at 10am.
The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Aaron Motswana said, they will be conducting public hearings on the Division of Revenue Bill (B2 – 2023) bill seeks to provide for the equitable division of revenue raised nationally among the national, provincial and local spheres of government for the 2023/24 financial year.
“The determination of each province’s equitable share, allocations to provinces, local government and municipalities from national government’s equitable share, the responsibilities of all three spheres pursuant to such division and allocations and to provide for matters connected therewith.
“Relevant stakeholders have been invited to attend the public hearing. The public hearings will be streamed live in the North West Provincial Legislature Facebook and other social media platforms such as YouTube Channel,” Motswana said.
The Guardian 