Picture: Former Ditsobotla Local Municipality official, Tsietsi Shema and the Director of Tiro Attorneys, Thabe Tiro, nabbed for alleged fraud/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
The Director of Tiro Attorneys (PTY) LTD, Thouret Mampe Thabe Tiro (41), and the then acting Director of Corporate Services at Ditsobotla Local Municipality, Tsietsi Isaac Shema (54), briefly appeared in the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on 5 September 2024, facing charges of fraud. The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel, Tinyiko Mathebula said the accused were arrested earlier on Thursday in Lichtenburg by members of the Mahikeng-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation.
Mathebula said their arrest follows an investigation into allegations of fraud relating to the procurement of legal practitioner’s services for the municipality.
“In May 2021, Tiro allegedly submitted a request for payment to the municipality for legal services he had rendered. It was revealed during the investigation that Tiro Attorneys did not render any services and that Shema and another suspect, who is still at large, allegedly approved the request for payment.
“As a result, the municipality suffered a loss of over R460 000 for services that were never rendered. The pair has appeared in court facing four counts of fraud and an alternative theft charge. They have been remanded in custody and their matter was postponed to 6 September 2024, for formal bail application,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, have welcomed the arrest and subsequent court appearance of the accused. They have assured the public that the Hawks and NPA will not hesitate to act against public officials who are involved in fraud and corrupt activities.
5 September 2024 – Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named his final squad for next month’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan. Broos’ charges open their AFCON account when they face Uganda at home at Orlando Stadium on 6 September 2024 at 6pm) and then they travel to South Sudan to play their second match in the group on 10 September 2024.
The Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos will be without captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who is recovering from an injury, and the Belgian mentor said his absence would be a huge blow.
“If you have a guy like Ronwen who will not be with us in the two games, that is a big problem. He is not just a good goalkeeper, he is also a good captain. We have selected goalkeepers Ricardo Goss (SuperSport United), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu) and Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates).
“These three players will fight it out for the No1 jersey. I would make a decision on who will start in the coming days, and also on who will be captain during this camp,” he said.
Tickets to the opening qualifier against Uganda are on sale at all TicketPro outlets and South African Football Association (SAFA), President Dr Danny Jordaan and CEO Lydia Monyepao, have continued to urge fans to come out in numbers and support the team. Gates will open at 3pm on 6 September 2024, and tickets are priced at R30 (Children, Scholars and Student), R60 for Adults, and R140 for Family (2 adults + 2 children).
The tickets are available at TicketPro, all Spar supermarkets (QuickSpar and SuperSpar), SASOL, ENGEN, SHELL, PowerFashion and JAM Clothing. The two top finishers will qualify for the tournament to be hosted in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. Ticketpro – South Africa vs Uganda – 6th of September 2024 – (ticketpros.co.za)
Picture: The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West MEC for Viola Motsumi said her department, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has successfully concluded the first day of its three-day provincial online safety training workshop held at Kings Gate Palace in Rustenburg.
Motsumi said the schedule to proceeded from 3-5 September 2024. She further said the training aims to equip educators with the essential knowledge and skills they can transfer to learners on how to navigate the digital landscape safely and effectively.
“Recognising the growing influence of technology on education, the workshop focused on understanding both the positive and negative impacts of the cyber world on the learning environment. As a province committed to educational advancement, North West was selected as the pilot province for this innovative initiative.
“The online safety training provides valuable insights into online safety practices and strategies to address challenges faced by school communities. I am enthusiastic for the workshop’s success,” said Motsumi.
She further said she is delighted by the positive response and engagement from the educators and the stakeholders during this groundbreaking training. Motsumi added that by equipping them with the tools to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, they are taking a significant step towards ensuring that the schools are not only places of learning, but also safe havens for the youth.
“From here, our educators will transfer the skills learned to learners in their schools so they they use cyberspace responsibly and not as a platform to bully each other. We are fortunate to have stakeholders such as the Film and Publication Board, Google, the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies, amongst other stakeholders to address the challenges in cyberspace and how they can optimise cybersecurity for school-going children.
“Other stakeholders that are part of the online safety workshop, include MTN, Agape Youth Movement, Movibgdot, teacher unions and School Governing Bodies. This training marks a crucial milestone in the department’s efforts to prepare learners for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century,” she said.
5 September 2024 – The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development briefed the Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development on Wednesday about the Tenure Reform Programme, which focuses on land and tenure rights for farm dwellers and labour tenants.
The committee decided to defer the component on communal land tenure because it required focused attention. The report on tenure rights for farm dwellers and labour tenants outlined the progress made in acquiring land, protecting tenure rights for farm dwellers, and settling labour tenant applications lodged in terms of the Land Reform (Labour Tenants) Act of 1996.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development, Albert Mncwango said by 31 March 2001, the department had received a total of 20 524 labour tenant applications, of which 11 423 had been finalised and 9 101 were outstanding.
Mncwango said while the committee welcomed the progress, it expressed great dissatisfaction with the fact that it took 23 years to settle just a little over 50% of the applications.
“The committee welcomed the intervention by the courts to oversee the settlement of the labour tenant applications through a Special Master of Labour Tenants at the Land Claims Court. The department must submit credible information to the committee.
“Some of the statistics presented contradicted previous reports presented during the 6th Parliament. Further, the department’s report was short in detail,” he said.
Mncwango further said the committee expected the report to address the question of evictions and how the department has worked to secure the rights of farm dwellers, including the work of the Panel of Mediators and Judicial Administrators, Panel of Arbitrators, legal representation through the Legal Aid Board, and the Land Rights Awareness Campaigns.
He added that members of the committee raised concerns about what appears to be little work done to address the weaknesses identified in the Joint Oversight Report of the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour and the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development tabled in the National Assembly in 2022.
“The department said that it would have to come and present a comprehensive report about what it has done with the recommendations. Many loopholes identified in the parliamentary report were to find expression in the ESTA Amendment Act, enacted in April 2024.
“These amendments advocated for, among other things, the establishment of a Land Rights Management Board and Land Rights Management Committees to deal with a range of issues affecting farm dwellers and labour tenants,” said Mncwango.
He stressed the need for an audit to quantify the extent of farm evictions and outstanding labour tenant applications. Mncwango also said there is a need for developing a plan to settle claims quickly.
“The committee will invite the Special Master for Labour Tenants to further discuss the mechanisms put in place to fast-track finalising labour tenant applications.
“We urge the department to hold Land Rights awareness campaigns to inform farm dwellers and labour tenants about their rights and the statutory recourse provided in ESTA as amended and the LTA,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting Director-General, Nomtandazo Moyo said the progress aligns with budget allocation and staff capacity. Moyo said in addition to a decreasing budget of R206 293 000 in 2021/22 to R111 438 000, each Provincial Land Reform Office, has three staff members responsible for ESTA, LTA and CPA.
“The slow pace of finalising labour tenants’ applications reflected the available resources within the department. Parliament should push for a bigger budget so that the department can employ more officials and settle the cases,” she said.
5 September 2024- A Durban businessman, Thoshan Panday (51), briefly appeared before the Durban Magistrate’s Court today, on 27 counts of fraud, alternatively Contraventions of Tax Legislation, which outlaw false returns in respect of VAT and Annual Income Tax (AIT).
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said the matter was postponed to 9 September 2024, for a bail application. Mamothame said the state intends opposing the bail.
“The state alleges that Panday was effectively in control of several entities, which had received payments from the South African Police Services (SAPS) in an amount of approximately R47 million, owing to a corrupt relationship with members of the Supply Chain Management Division of the SAPS.
“These payments were allegedly made in respect of services rendered to the SAPS preceding and during the Soccer World Cup in 2010. He faces charges together with eight others in the High Court of racketeering, fraud and corruption. This matter is ongoing,” he said.
Mamothame further said Panday now faces tax fraud charges as a result of the submission of tax returns in respect of the entities that he had controlled, which received payments from the SAPS during the 2010 and 2011 tax years.
He added that after the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) had extended its investigations into the tax compliance of the entities controlled by Panday, tax investigations conducted by SARS revealed that declarations made in the tax returns were false.
“It is alleged that SARS had suffered prejudice in the amount of approximately R 7.3 million as a result of these false tax declarations.
“To give effect to a whole-of-government approach by addressing financial crimes, including tax crime, cooperatively, SARS and the IDAC are collaborating to enhance voluntary tax compliance by making non-compliance hard and costly.
5 September 2024- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ditsobotla said it will write to the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Oageng Molapisi, as well as the North West MEC of Finance, Kenetswe Mosenogi, to urge them to take decisive action in dealing with the defiance and deliberate flouting of laws by the municipality.
The DA Constituency Head in Ditsobotla Local Municipality, Joe McGluwa said deliberate disorder and lawlessness have once again rendered the municipality unstable and will soon lead to the total collapse of the municipality once again. McGluwa alleged that the ANC is finding itself in the centre stage once more, as its divided caucus plays a key role in the commotion within the municipality.
“Pairing this with the defiance from councillors representing the EFF, F4SD and Save Ditsobotla, the instability of the municipality creates a ripple effect shaking the municipality to the core.
“Despite being warned by the Department of COGTA that the municipality cannot afford to appoint a Municipal Manager (MM), the grouping persisted,” he said.
He further said last week, the Speaker cancelled a planned sitting citing a security threat. McGluwa added, however, the grouping went ahead with the sitting, tabled a motion against him and nominated a new Speaker.
“Today, the new Speaker called for a council sitting to appoint senior managers—another irregular appointment process. All this is taking place within a municipality that cannot afford to pay salaries or even deliver the most basic services, such as water and electricity, to the residents.
“Last week, the Auditor General (AG) also revealed in his report that Ditsobotla is one of only two municipalities in the country that did not submit its 2022/2023 Annual Financial Statements (AFS),” said McGluwa.
He said if no response on their letters comes forth within the next seven days, they will have no choice, but to seek the intervention of COGHSTA Minister, Velinkosi Hlabisa. McGluwa said the residents and businesses of Ditsobotla are suffering.
“We call on all parties in the GNU at national level to bring the national sobriety into this municipality for the sake of the residents of Ditsobotla, who deserve none of this current drama.
“Although the DA in Ditsobotla wishes to distance itself from the chaos that is the municipality, we will not stop fighting for the residents until Ditsobotla Local Municipality and the town as a whole return to their former glory,” he said.
Picture: The unknown man in hospital after being knocked by a taxi/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The Roodepan Detective Unit is seeking the assistance of the public in tracing the relatives of an unknown man. According to the Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the man was allegedly knocked over by a taxi in Barkly Road, near Coro Bricks on 30 July 2024.
Shemane said: “He is being treated at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley and is in a serious condition, and unable to speak. He further said the police are urging anyone with information that can help with locating his relatives to contact the investigating officers, Detective Captain Teno Slambert on 071 675 4427 or Sergeant Melanie Boughan, on 084 406 8772 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.”
Picture: Missing Richard Samuel Steenkamp/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
5 September 2024- The police in Roodepan are requesting assistance in locating Richard Samuel Steenkamp (73), who went missing in Roodepan, Kimberley. According to the Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock, Steenkamp was last seen on 16 August 2024, at the C-Block Shanties in Freezia Street, Ivory Park in Roodepan.
“He apparently suffers from Alzheimers and was wearing Black and White Orlando Pirates T-shirt, black Tracksuit pants, blue and white striped Adidas sandals with white and black socks.
“The family reported him missing over the weekend and requests that anyone with information, to contact Detective Captain Deon Rheeder on 082 469 0681. The investigation continues,” he said.
The Hawks Priority Crime Specialised Investigation team with the assistance of Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), secured a preservation order of Ford Focus estimated at R48 000 against Jefta Chikwanhadze (36). The order was granted on 4 September 2024, by Kimberley High Court.
The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said this follows a tip-off regarding theft of copper cables at Adeisiestad Farm, near Olifanthoek.
“The information was followed up by Upington visible policing and a silver Ford Focus was spotted not far from the farm. Members tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver did not stop.
“A chase ensued and the vehicle was stopped. A search and seizure was conducted on the said vehicle and during the search, copper cables with an estimated street value of R35 000 was recovered,” he said.
Thebe said Chikwanhadze was arrested with his co-accused Joe Mawere Mkanya (32), and they were charged for theft.
Picture: The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Dina Pule/Google
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
5 September 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture on Wednesday welcomed the presentations it received from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on the Poultry Master Plan and Sugar Master Plan. It also welcomed the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development’s presentation on the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP).
The committee heard that the AAMP is a sectoral economic framework designed to coordinate efforts, bring efficiency and transparency in the implementation, and provide the common goal and indicators of success in contributing to the National Development Plan.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Dina Pule said AAMP was signed in May 2022, by the agriculture social partners as the template for inclusive growth, investments, sustainable jobs, transformation, and market development for the sixth administration.
Pule said the Poultry Sector Master Plan was signed in November 2020, by all stakeholders of the former Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, including the poultry industry, importers and exporters, and also labour representatives.
“The committee heard that the plan was developed to address several serious challenges faced by the poultry industry. For example, the industry had to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing feed costs, impediments to exports due to the outbreak of avian influenza and significant imports.
“The poultry industry was the largest contributor to the agricultural sector with a total annual gross value of production of almost R72 billion in 2022, accounting for 17.1% of the total agricultural gross value,” she said.
Pule further said on the Sugar Master Plan, the committee heard that the plan was developed to address several serious challenges faced by the industry and to ensure its long-term sustainability. She added that it was adopted as a phased approach.
“Phase one was about restructuring and setting foundations for diversification to stabilise the industry and restructure industry capacity and costs in an orderly manner to ensure alignment with current and future market size.
“During deliberations on the plans, the committee heard the challenges each plan faced. Members asked that the qualitative implementation of all the plans be sped up. As not all the questions were responded to, the committee asked the departments of agriculture and trade and industry to respond in writing and submit the responses by Friday,” said Pule.
She said at the end of the 7th administration in 2029, there must be tangible results for implementing the master plans. Pule said the Government of National Unity (GNU), must be able to show something – evidence of good results and meeting the objectives that are clearly spelt out in the plans.
“The committee told the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Nokuzola Capa that, it received a request from unemployed Assistant Agricultural Practitioners (AAPs) to intervene between them and the department over possible appointments as there is a need for extension of services.
“The committee asked Capa for a report on the issue so that it intervenes if it is possible. Members also shared concerns with her about media reports that, the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, allegedly appointed people in senior management positions in his office, who allegedly have Grade 12 in a country with a high number of unemployed and highly qualified graduates,” she said.
Pule said they called it insensitive for a member of cabinet given the challenges of unemployment, especially for qualified black graduates.
The Guardian 