Picture: Fire erupted at the North West Department of Health offices in Mahikeng/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The fire that erupted at the North West Department of Health’s provincial offices in Mahikeng today, engulfed part of the basement parking area. The North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said a preliminary report suggested that, the fire caught a bulk of light bulbs, which were stored in a corner at the basement parking.
Sambatha said, however, what set the light bulbs on fire is not yet known and the investigation is continuing.
“The fire department was called and they were quick to respond. Fortunately, the fire was quickly contained and no other property was damaged. There are also no fatalities as and the evacuation of employees and cars out of the building and basement was also quickly done.
“We would like to commend the quick response of the Mahikeng Fire Department. I am pleased that no other property of the department or of our employees were damaged by the fire,” he said.
Sambatha further said the professionalism and quick response of the Mahikeng Fire Department deserves credit for that. He added that, the challenge has been the smoke coming out of the basement into the rest of the building.
“That is why we quickly requested our employees to leave early to avoid the risk of inhaling the smoke. A professional air quality specialist was called to come and assess the quality of air.
“The outcome of the assessment will give indication of whether to immediately call the employees back to the offices. Employees are therefore only expected to report for duty on Wednesday as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) will be busy with the air specialist to get rid of the smoke to ensure that the working environment is conducive,” said Sambatha.
Five people died in a horrific car accident on the R502 road between Leeudoringstad and Makwassie on Monday when a heavy motor vehicle and a sedan involved in a crash.
The North West Community Safety and Transport Management spokesperson, Lucas Mothibedi said all deceased persons were from a sedan. Mothibedi said this has raised the number of fatalities in the province just over 85, since the beginning of festive period on 1 December 2023.
“This is also the first major crash in the province, where a single accident claims five lives or more. The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari has sent the deepest condolences to the families of the deceased persons.
“Despite this crash, the province is still at about 10% less of all road fatalities recorded, compared to the same period last year. Lehari has been leading all joint law enforcement operations and they will continue until the middle of this month,” he said.
Mothibedi further said, Lehari once again is pleading with motorists and pedestrians alike to exercise caution and be patient at all times. He added that, the law enforcement officers have been directed to be strict, precise and exacting in applications of the traffic regulations to curb further fatalities.
Picture: The disgruntled ANC members protesting outside Mpekwa House in Mahikeng
By OBAKENG MAJE
The disgruntled ANC members in North West accused the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of fiddling with the North West ANC Elections Nomination List. On 4 January 2024, the concerned ANC members, gathered outside ANC provincial office at Mpekwa House in Mahikeng to register their dispute.
The concerned ANC members spokesperson, Kefilwe Adindu said the ANC Elections Nomination List has been riddled with irregularities at an unprecedented rate and contradicts the actual preferences of the branches pursued through due democratic processes.
“This gathering is meant to register not only to dispute with the provincial ANC leaders but also with the National Executive Committee of the ANC through the Office of the Secretary-General (SG), as the ANC remains the custodian of its policies and processes, which unfortunately the ANC PEC, extended PEC and Provincial List Committee (PLC) have deliberately chosen not to observe and adhere to.
“This is about the failure of the above-mentioned structures to ensure compliance with established regulatory faculty applicable to the processes of the list nominations. The ANC Branch General Meetings (BGM) preferences or chosen representatives have been altered through bogus or parallel processes, which included falsifying the outcome of the BGMs and replacing the nomination lists,” she said.
Adindu further said the actual democratic results of the branches’ nominations were further not taken into consideration by the PLC and subsequently not presented for consideration when the ANC extended PEC processed the nomination. She added that the nominations were rather replaced by deal-making.
“This deal-making is evidenced by how participating structures have shared amongst themselves their own preferred candidates for the list. Hence it is dominated by those who are serving presently in the various structures that participated in the finalising of the nomination list.
“The guide for nominations has sought that those preferred should have matric plus post matric qualifications as well as the expertise and or experience, knowledge, and skills that would add positive impetus to the work of the ANC in both the Legislature and in government,” said Adindu.
She alleged that those preferred, are not necessarily those whose capacities are able to help the organisation. Adindu said there are about four individuals, who are allegedly not having matric and many hold no post-matric qualifications nor any of the capacities needed such as skills, knowledge, or experience relevant to help the ANC in Legislature or in government.
“The process was completed with no regard to the conducted interview outcome. The list includes one person who was never nominated nor attended the interviews. This includes two individuals, who were implicated in the Zondo Commission and or affected by Zondo-related investigations and or implicated in the allegations of having benefitted from State Capture corruption.
“The list demonstrated no regard for the inherent requirements prescribed in the guidance adopted by the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC). Whereas the guidance provides that, those affected by disciplinary process or having pending appeals against them should be disqualified, ANC NEC sub-Committee on disciplinary appeals failed to process the appeals/reviews against ANC PEC and the Provincial Disciplinary Committee (PDC),” she said.
Meanwhile, the ANC provincial spokesperson, Tumelo Maruping said: “Look, there are people who are hell-bent to try and destroy the ANC within. As the leadership of the organisation in North West, we are aware of the situation and we are not going to allow this nonsense to continue. Firstly, the individual who is leading this group of people calling themselves the concerned members of the ANC, has been found guilty by the ANC Provincial Disciplinary Committee of contravening Section 25 of the ANC Constitution.
“So, he does not stand any chance in complaining. I mean even complaining about the extended Provincial Executive Committee, which he was not even part of and did not qualify to stand as a nominee.”
Maruping said they were complaining about vetting and screening processes, but the report was not presented at the extended PEC. He said the guidelines of the ANC that have been adopted by the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC), are very clear.
“If you look at the 6.2 of that document, the responsibility of screening and vetting remains with the secretariat and the PNC. It does not say that the report must be presented at the extended PEC. What we do at the PEC, is to re-arrange the list, make inputs where we need to, and add or remove names if we wish to do so.
“However, there is a process that needs to be followed when you remove or add names to the list. So, the issues that they are raising are unfounded and as the ANC PEC in the province, we are confident that, we adhered to the guidelines to the core and we do not have any issues,” said Maruping.
Bafana Bafana players and the South African Football Association (SAFA) management met on 7 January 2024 to outline the payment structures for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament to be held in Côte d’Ivoire this month. The players were represented by captain Ronwen Williams, Percy Tau, Siyanda Xulu, Veli Mothwa, and Themba Zwane and signed the memorandum on behalf of the Bafana Bafana team participating in this year’s edition of the continental tournament.
The SAFA management included the President Dr Danny Jordaan, Vice President Bennett Bailey, CEO Lydia Monyepao, and the Head of Department (HOD), David Molwantwa.
“We are happy that we could meet with the players, hear them out, and come to an agreement on the financial side. Bafana Bafana will fare well in this edition of the AFCON and we are happy that this side of the game is now laid to rest.
“We have discussed and signed an agreement, which remains confidential between management and players. We are now fully focused on the tournament and doing well at the AFCON,” said Jordaan.
Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos and his charges are currently in camp in Stellenbosch preparing for the continental tournament. Broos said the team flies back to Johannesburg to play an international friendly against Lesotho behind closed doors on 10 January 2024 before leaving for Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday morning.
More than 900 suspects were arrested for various crimes such as rape, assault with intention to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and common, murder, robbery aggravating, burglary residential and business, drug-related offenses, illegal dealing in liquor, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and unlawful possession of firearms, among others.
North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said, this was done in an endeavour to keep the province safe during the safer festive season and beyond.
“The South African Police Service (SAPS) members in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, arrested 979 suspects between 1 and 7 January 2024. Of the 979 suspects, 276 were arrested during detective suspect raiding operations.
“During the actions executed, items such as two vehicles, seven firearms, 536 ammunition, a variety of drugs including 32 mandrax tablets, 750 packets of tobacco products, liquor, and nine cell phones were confiscated,” he said.
Mokgwabone further said regarding suspected undocumented persons, 27 of them were handed over to Immigration Officials for further processing. He added that 27 premises, 2 311 persons, and 1 385 vehicles were also searched during the operation.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, expressed thanks to all stakeholders for their commitment to prioritising the safety and security of the citizens and in the process sent out a clear message that, the long arm of the law will not be selective.
Picture: The North West Department of Health’s Head, Obakeng Mongale
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Premier, Bushy Maape has reinstated the North West Department of Health’s Head, Obakeng Mongale who was on suspension since October 2023. Mongale was suspended following his arrest over matters connected to his previous duties as HoD of North West Public Works and Roads.
Maape said the suspension was granted under such circumstances that is prescribed to last for 60 days and may be extended, if there are exceptional circumstances supporting such an extension.
“After extensive consultation and obtaining legal advice, I determined that there are no valid exceptional legal reasons to extend the special leave of Mongale. As a consequence, he will resume his duties with effect from 8 January 2024.
“ I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Mmadipuo Tlhogane, who acted as Superintendent General and Head of Department and kept the department focused on its service delivery mandate whilst Mongale was on special leave,” he said.
Maape further said he would also like to extend his gratitude to the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha, for his leadership and guidance during this unprecedented development in the department.
He added that, all necessary arrangements have been made to allow for a smooth handover process as the substantive SG resumes his duties.
“The Office of the Premier will continue to monitor the situation in the department and inform the public of any further decision if any new developments arise.
The return of Mongale from special leave does not stop the ongoing work by the Office of the Premier to interrogate all documentation and reports linked to the case he is facing,” said Maape.
He said his office has obtained sufficient information linked to the case of Mongale and can assure the public that, there is no risk of interference with the case. Maape said once the team in the Office of the Premier concludes its assessment, he will consider any further recommendations regarding the future of Mongale and inform the public accordingly.
Picture: The Operation Shanela conducted in Kimberley/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Northern Cape police said a multi disciplinary operation conducted in the Greater Kimberley area continues to clamp down crime. The Operation Shanela was conducted by the police from Galeshewe, Kagisho, Roodepan, Kimberley , Public Order Police, Border Police, Provincial Visible Police, Flying Squad, Search and Rescue, Traffic, Sol Plaatje Municipal Peace Officers, and Environmental Health.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Dikeledi Gopane said the operation commenced with a parade conducted by Kimberley SAPS Station Commander, Brigadier Nicholas Mtongana as the operational commander and Brigadier Monica Sibili of Operational Response Services.
She said Brigadier Simon Bopape from Firearms, Liquor and Second Hand Goods (FLASH) Head Office also participated in the operation.
“A number of Vehicle Check Points (VCPs) were conducted in Kagisho, Roodepan and Galeshewe, where 1713 persons were searched, 491 vehicles stopped and searched, 83 traffic fines valued at R61100 issued, four warrants of arrest valued at R8000 issued and one firearm checked.
“Brigadier Bopape visited local tuckshops for compliance inspections with the Sol Plaatje Municipal Peace Officers and health inspectors. Five tuckshops were closed down for non-compliance and two fines to the value of R3000 were issued,” said Gopane.
She further said during the second phase, Frances Baard District Police Commissioner, Major General Johan Bean, joined the operation during which high visibility and blue light patrols were conducted in the Kimberley area, including foot patrols in the Central Business District (CBD) and at the Malls.
Gopane added that, the operations will continue beyond the festive season.
The Guardian 