Picture: The embattled Ditsobotla Local Municipality

By OBAKENG MAJE

The situation continues to worsen at the embattled Ditsobotla Local Municipality in Lichtenburg. This comes after the acting municipal manager, Mamorena Lethoko in a letter that is circulating on various social media platforms, informed the municipal employees that, their salaries for the month of May 2023 will be late due to the critical financial distress the municipality finds itself in.

“This internal communication serves the purpose to inform the workers of the critical financial situation the municipality is facing. We regret to inform you that, the municipality is unable to make payment of salaries for the month of May 2023 until further notice shall be issued on the date of payment.

“Workers are also notified that claims on overtime worked will be paid once the main salaries have been addressed. To that extent, workers are advised to make necessary arrangements with the creditors. Commitment is herewith made that, the management is addressing this matter and putting systems in place to correct the financial situation going forth,” Lethoko said in a letter.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) in North West said it is disappointing to see the municipality collapsing right under the nose and watch of the ANC-led government. The EFF provincial secretary, Papiki Babuile said, this is happening because senior municipal employees are staunch allies of the ANC councillors and they teamed up in the ongoing rampant corruption, maladministration and nepotism in the municipality in question.

“The municipality in question has recorded a growing number of ghost employees. The current administration has not initiated any meaningful and/or full-blown investigation to that effect. Under these circumstances, the community bear the brunt of poverty and/or continue to live in absolute squalor with no basic services,” Babuile said.

He further said the municipal employees will go months without income, whilst those who teamed up to misappropriate funds are living lavishly. He added that, as the EFF, they have always warned against the flagrant disregard and gross remiss of the law, when dealing with appointments of senior employees of the municipality.

“We will dispatch our provincial labour desk to assist employees to lodge formal labour disputes with relevant forums. We will further initiate a full-blown investigation and open criminal cases against those implicated in the great collapse of Ditsobotla Local Municipality.

“We also note with grave dismay the revelations that, the Sheriff for the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court will be placing movable properties of Ditsobotla Local Municipality on auction to the highest bidder on 31 May 2023,” said Babuile.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: Three of the four accused persons, Bakang Katong, Phenyo Katong and Katlego Mosimege/ Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

A murder case against four accused persons took a bewildering direction today at Taung Regional Court. This comes after the lawyer of the defence told the court that, his clients intend to plead guilty on the matter. The alleged drug lord, Bakang Katong (32), Thabang Lenyai (23) and Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34) were arrested more than a year ago for allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35) in cold blood.

They accused Mothibedi of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in Manthe village, near Taung.

The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, the deceased was at Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried him back to Manthe village.

“Upon arrival, the deceased was allegedly chained to a generator and assaulted. After the assault, the victim was reportedly transported to a local clinic by the accused, however, he was declared dead upon arrival. The accused were arrested and charged with murder,” Tselanyane said.

On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.

Meanwhile, the court also heard that, there is a letter from the community members requesting that the murder case be transferred to the North West High Court in Mahikeng owing to its nature. Apparently, the docket was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West to make a decision.

The case was postponed to 13 June 2023.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: Bodies exhumed from various graves/Generic

By OBAKENG MAJE

The eleven unidentified bodies that were buried in Boikhutsong Township, near Lichtenburg will be exhumed. This comes after the North West Department of Health and the family of a man, who went missing at Thusong Hospital near Itsoseng Township, suspect that he might be among unidentified persons buried there.

The North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “The department has obtained a court order from the Ditsobotla Magistrate’s Court to exhume eleven unidentified bodies on Thursday. This is in search of the remains of a male patient, who went missing a number of years ago at Thusong Hospital.

“The DNA tests conducted on the remains of a body found at the hospital at the time proved inconclusive. However, following a lengthy investigation, it is now suspected that the remains of the missing patient could be in one of the eleven graves.”

Lekgethwane further said, the family and the department recently approached the court to grant an order for the exhumation of the remains of a body suspected to be that of the missing patient. He added that, the suspected remains are said to have been buried with some personal items which could assist in the identification process.

The exhumation will take place at 9am.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By OBAKENG MAJE

A man from Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Schweizer Reneke Regional Court for raping a pregnant girl (17). Deon Neo Masetlo was further sentenced to five years for assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH).

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said in 2018, Masetlo came across the complainant and grabbed her, while hurling insults at her. Mamothame further said, he then instructed her to go with him to an unknown location, where she subsequently attempted to escape, but failed as she fell and injured herself.

“He then took out a knife and threatened her to the point that she gave in and walked with him. The complainant only knew the accused by sight as one of the gang members at the Ipelegeng location. Along the way, she saw people sitting outside in a yard and she managed to run and ask for help.

“However, Masetlo followed her and threatened some of the men who were reprimanding him. He subsequently assaulted the complainant and told those men that she was the mother of his children. He then took her to a house, where he repeatedly raped her and only allowed her to leave in the morning after she promised to come back if he grants her permission to leave,” he said.

Mamothame added that, the matter was reported to the police and Masetlo was later arrested and denied bail. He said Masetlo pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In aggravation of the sentence, the state prosecutor, Mpho Sephapo, argued that the complainant was 17 years of age and pregnant, urging the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment. Sephapo argued that, the accused had an opportunity to leave when he was reprimanded at the house, where the victim sought refuge.

Magistrate Patricia Rangwako agreed with the state and said that, women and children have a right to free movement, without fearing for their lives. She highlighted the important role that the court must play in protecting the most vulnerable members of society.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari together with the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded Sephapo, Warrant Officer Tello Hlatswayo and other role players in bringing the perpetrator to book. They also highlighted the plight of women as a pandemic that needs to be curbed.

Masetlo was declared unfit to possess a firearm and his name will be entered in the register of sexual offenders.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: The primary healthcare centre in Manthe

By OBAKENG MAJE

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said the Manthe Community Health Centre project in Manthe village, near Taung is in the final stages of planning and design. Last year, some residents complained about the dire situation at Manthe Clinic. 

They alleged that, ceilings were falling off and the building was dilapidating. The residents called on the North West Department of Health to prioritise and refurbish infrastructure at the clinic.

Now, Sambatha said this is one of the priority projects for the department.

“The department continues to focus its attention on the maintenance of the existing health facilities through various programmes and term contracts that are being implemented.

“One of the implementation strategies for maintenance is through a Contractor Development Programme. We are in the process of appointing the project management consultants for this programme in the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year,” he said.

Sambatha said, in addition, a procurement process of contractors will be done in the second quarter of the 2023/24 financial year to fast-track implementation. He further said, a target of 44 contractors was set and the Terms of Reference (specification) for the targeted contractors in the category of CIDB Grade 2 to 5 is being developed.

“This programme is meant to advance three interrelated objectives as the development of local SMME’s (grade 2-5 all specialities), poverty alleviation and empowerment through infrastructure, and strengthening maintenance of the current infrastructure.

“Hospital and Clinical Support Services Branch is responsible for seven hospitals made of two Tertiary Hospitals, three Regional Hospitals and two Specialized Hospitals. For the financial year 2022-23 tertiary hospitals saw a total of 523 115 patients (average of 43 593 per month),” said Sambatha.

He added that, the Regional Hospitals saw a total of 223 243 (an average of 18 604 per month), while Specialized Hospitals saw a total of 33 383 patients (with an average patient visits of 2 781 per month) at the Outpatient Departments.

Sambatha said a total number of 18 768 operations were performed in Tertiary Hospitals and 11 035 in Regional Hospitals.

“The Tertiary Hospitals conducted 5627 Caesarean Sections, whilst Regional Hospitals performed 3974. This accounts for 30% of operations in Tertiary Hospitals and 36% in Regional Hospitals.

“All the three acute regional hospitals have been equipped with CT scans with the resultant improved management and treatment of trauma and medical emergencies. Furthermore, the second cancer radiation therapy machine is now functional at the Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex,” he said.

Sambatha said they also procured a neuro-navigation unit and anaesthetic machines. He said some of the scarce skills such as Radiation Oncologists, Radiologists, and specialist nurses have been appointed.

“The access to healthcare for all our people is one of the gains of our democracy. It is also a basic, fundamental and constitutional right, that the liberation movement, the ANC, its alliance partners and other struggle frontiers fought for.

“This ANC-led government is committed to continuing the fight for access to health care such that when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a threat to access to health, the government introduced extraordinary measures including the state of emergency to ensure that our people are not denied access,” said Sambatha.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos/Facebook

By SAFA

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named a 34-member preliminary squad for the mouth-watering 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco next month. Broos’ charges face the Moroccans at FNB Stadium, in Johannesburg, on Saturday (17 June 2023) with both teams having already qualified for the continental tournament to be held in Côte d’Ivoire on 13 January – 11 February 2024.

The preliminary squad will be trimmed to 23 players early next month when Broos announces his final list for the eagerly anticipated match between the two sides. Broos also announced that a reduced pre-camp will be held from 31 May 2023 to 7 June and it will be made up of local and a few overseas-based players.

The final squad will go into camp on Sunday 11 June 2023.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: The late Thabiso Mothibedi/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

A murder case against four accused will resume today at Taung Regional Court. Bakang Katong (32), Thabang Lenyai (23) and Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34) were arrested more than a year ago of allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35) in cold blood, after accusing him of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in Manthe village, near Taung.

The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, the deceased was at Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried him back to Manthe village.

“Upon arrival, the deceased was allegedly chained to a generator and assaulted. After the assault, the victim was reportedly transported to a local clinic by the accused, however, he was declared dead upon arrival. The accused were arrested and charged with murder,” Tselanyane said.

On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.

taungdailynews@gmail.com