Daily Archives: March 31, 2025

NWPTB to crack the whip against employees who took part in illegal strike

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Picture: North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane

By OBAKENG MAJE

31 March 2025- The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane, has welcomed the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) resolutions to deal with an illegal industrial action by employees. Lenkopane said employees of the entity have, for the past month or so, embarked on an unprotected strike, which destabilised operations both in the entity and the department, traumatized other staff members and disrupted tourism business operators.

She further said the Board has briefed her that the entity will take disciplinary and or prosecution action against employees or any individual involved in this illegality. Lenkopane added that, the Board has acknowledged that protesting employees had obtained a permit to picket, but flouted the rules thereof, engaging in illegal actions that included intimidations to non-striking staff, vandalism and disruption of private business at lodges and parks.

“Lodge and Park owners have since obtained a court interdict to prevent the illegal picketing and the disruption of their businesses. The Board has directed the entity’s acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to be firm and decisive in implementing its resolutions to deal with any element of criminality and or unsanctioned absenteeism.

“The Board has also resolved that the situation be declared an emergency, to allow the deployment of extra security resources, to protect the property of the entity and its human resource capital. This is also to enable business to normally run again,” she said.

Lenkopane said she welcomes the Board’s decision to implement a salary of 4.7% increase to the non-managerial positions. She said half of the salary increase will be implemented retrospectively from March 2024 and another half in April 2025.

“We appreciate the improved financial management of both the administration and the Directors of the entity. The department acknowledges the salary disparities between employees from the merged the then Parks and Tourism Boards.

“We also call on the current NWPTB Directors and management to bring balance thereto. We unreservedly apologised to all staff members and businesses, who experienced the unruly behaviour of the illegal picketing, and assured them that parties are working together to bring the situation to normality,” said Lenkopane.

She said they highly appreciate the efforts of all who stood up and joined hands with the government to fight against the illegal strike.

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Sonakile: “Those who looted NTI will be held accountable”

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Picture: The Chairperson of North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management, Freddy Sonakile/Facebook

By BAKANG MOKOTO

31 March 2025- The Chairperson of North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management, Freddy Sonakile, said they welcome the judgment delivered by the Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria, which dismissed the appeal by the Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) at Northwest Transport Investment (NTI). 

Sonakile said the court granted Section 18(3) relief in favour of the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management and ordered the BRP to pay costs. He further said the entity has suffered years of mismanagement and the BRP’s tenure only worsened its state.

“Instead of steering the entity toward recovery, salaries were left unpaid while a single creditor continued to receive preferential payments, a blatant violation of the Companies Act, which requires an equitable approach to all creditors, employees, and shareholders.

“The Committee’s oversight visits to NTI depots last year revealed a shocking reality, abandoned properties, assets left to waste, and an administration that refused to engage,” said Sonakile.

He added that unions reported gross worker abuse, unfair disciplinary processes and cases, where employees died without receiving their pension and funeral benefits because third-party payments were neglected. Sonakile said these injustices cannot and will not be ignored.

“The committee will return in the first quarter of 2025/26 financial year to assess NTI’s turnaround strategy, scrutinise its revival plan and ensure that all necessary support is provided to rescue this crucial entity.

“We acknowledge that the department has already taken steps by seconding an acting CEO and we expect swift action to continue servicing the Gauteng Department of Transport contract with NTI as it is key to the entity’s survival,” he said.

Sonakile said furthermore, the committee will call on the Gauteng Department of Labour to report back on the investigation they requested into NTI’s labour law violations. He said the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) will also be called for an update on progress regarding allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

“The rescuing of NTI cannot happen without justice. Those who looted, mismanaged and sabotaged the entity from politicians to administrators, board members and service providers, will be held to account.

“For too long, NTI’s workers and commuters have suffered at the hands of greed and incompetence,” said an emphatic,” he said.

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Former Denel senior officials appear in court for corruption

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

31 March 2025- Two accused, Lungisani Daniel Mantsha and Zwelakhe Nhlanganiso Ntshepe, briefly appeared before the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court on counts of corruption that includes The Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, Contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, Contravention of the Companies Act and fraud. Their court appearance follows an arrest by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).

The IDAC spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said Mantsha and Ntshepe stand accused of their alleged involvement in the irregular approval and establishment of the Denel Asia Joint Venture. Mamothame said they allegedly signed the venture without following due process and further misrepresented facts to the ministers that the deal was not yet signed, while it was.

“The alleged irregular joint venture is a formation between VR Laser South Africa (VRLSA) and Denel Asia which is a private company registered in Hong Kong. Denel is said to be a 51% shareholder in Denel Asia, while VRLSA holds 49%.

“They purported VRLSA to be the only suitable business entity that met all the legislative requirements to enter into a Shareholders Agreement with Denel, a South African government entity,” he said.

Mamothame further said at the time of the commission of the alleged offence, Mantsha was a Non-Executive Director and a Chairman of the Board of Directors of Denel, when Ntshepe was the acting Group Chief Executive Officer, but later appointed on the position on a permanent basis. He added that the alleged offences were committed in the period between 2014 March and 2018 March.

“They allegedly disregarded a directive by the Minister of Finance stipulating that all transactions relating to Denel (SA) should be subjected to the minister’s approval as well as the approval from the Ministry of Public Enterprises.

“This was following the finance minister issuing a guarantee to Denel (SA) in the amount of R1.8 billion. They further stand accused of receiving gratification for their alleged involvement in facilitating the deal,” said Mamothame.

He said it was further discovered that confidential information relating to the affairs of the Board of Directors was disclosed between July 2014 and May 2016. Mamothame said there were also further discoveries of disregard to the PFMA stipulations by allegedly awarding bursaries without the required authority to do so.

“The two were granted R30 000 bail and their matter was postponed to 16 May 2025, for disclosures. The court ordered them to surrender their passports and not apply for new ones.

“They were further ordered to make an application with the court to amend the bail conditions l, should a need arise for them to travel outside the country,” he said.

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Six people died in a horrific car accident

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Picture: Six people died in a horrific accident/Generic

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

31 March 2025- Six people died in a horrific head-on collision accident on the road between Klerkskraal and Welverdiend on Saturday at around 8pm. This comes after two vehicles that were driving in opposite directions collided head-on.

The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng said four of the deceased were in one vehicle that carried six passengers. Morweng said both drivers are also deceased.

“In total, both vehicles were carrying ten passengers. Four survivors are seriously injured and have been taken to the hospital. Of the six deceased, three are women whose ages have not as yet been verified. A case of culpable homicide is being investigated by the Klerkskraal Police Station.

“We send our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wish speedy recovery to the injured,” he said.

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Morweng welcomes the removal of BRP at NTI

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Picture: The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng

By REGINALD KANYANE

31 March 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng said he has noted and welcomed the ruling of Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria on the removal of the Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) at the NTI. Morweng said following financial difficulties and collapse of governance the NTI experienced, the shareholder resolved to put the entity under voluntary business rescue process in July 2022.

He further said Thomas Hendrick Samons was thereafter appointed as the Business Rescue Practitioner. Morweng added that Samons’ key mandate was to turn the entity around to make it more sustainable and generate income to pay creditors.

“To do this, the BRP was supposed to have developed a plan within 25 days of his appointment as stipulated by the Companies Act. However, the BRP has since failed to do all that including accounting for the money the Government has paid to the entity.

“The department has written numerous letters to the BRP asking for accountability and all the letters went un-replied. Following this failure of the BRP to submit progress reports and account to the department, the matter of removing him was pursued through the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria,” he said.

Morweng said after successfully removing him, the BRP then applied for a leave to appeal the High Court ruling. He said the department then lodged a Section 18 of the Superior Court Act application seeking an implementation of the initial order for the removal of the BRP.

“The purpose of this Section 18 move is to ensure that the court ruling is enforced in spite of the BRP application for a leave to appeal. The judgement, which was handed down electronically on 27 March 2025, enforced the initial ruling that removed the BRP from NTI.

“In handing down the judgement, Judge Hendrick Kooverjie said that the BRP failed to appreciate that he was statutorily obliged to compile the financial records expeditiously. Kooverjie also said that the business rescue process is not intended to continue indefinitely.

“Samons who has been removed as a business rescue practitioner by this court, cannot cling to his position, particularly for personal reasons. The judgement also said that the department as well as the NTI have shown on balance of probabilities that it will suffer irreparable harm, if the orders are not immediately executable,” said Morweng.

He said with the judgement handed down, the NTI must now focus on restoring best management practices. Morweng said the department will now guide NTI management to restore credibility of the entity.

“The NTI provides crucial transportation services and given its history, this entity can surely be better. Following strings of governance failures by the BRP, the we have guided in November 2024, that the department intervene directly at the entity.

“The Head of Department, Dr Hans Kekana then seconded Dr Ntlhopeng Dikobe, who is the Chief Director for Corporate Services at the Department, to be the Acting CEO at NTI,” he said.

He said as accounting officer, Dikobe will then ensure that creditors, primarily of whom are employees, are paid on time and that services are running full steam.

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Magalies Water welcomes the declarations of the Water and Sanitation Indaba

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Picture: Magalies Water logo

By OBAKENG MAJE

31 March 2025- Magalies Water said it has taken note with great appreciation of declarations made at the Water and Sanitation Indaba recently held in Gauteng Province. According to Magalies Water, these commitments represent a fresh mandate from the highest echelons of government in the country, with support from the highest office in the land.

Magalies Water spokesperson, David Magae said the Indaba took place at a time when the water sector faces numerous challenges, to which Magalies Water is not immune. Magae said as an organisation that has emerged from a reconfiguration process, which resulted in the expansion of its service mandate to cover the rest of the North West province, they are working diligently to finalize the updated Bulk Water and Sanitation Master Plan.

“Previously, this strategic document focused on the Bojanala Platinum (North West) and Waterberg Districts (Limpopo). Upon the conclusion of the review, it will shed light on the entire North West’s water challenges and future demands.

“It will also be a key driver in our quest to expand the entity’s presence in previously un-serviced areas by ensuring that all future water and sanitation projects undertaken are informed by feasibility studies and bankable business cases that highlight the need for bulk infrastructure investments across all four districts of the North West,” he said.

Magae further said much of the North West province’s water resources are strained, limited and in certain areas lack the requisite bulk infrastructure to respond more pragmatically to water-related challenges. He added that to this extent, Magalies Water has been implementing key projects that seek to address the water supply challenges, where it currently has operations.

“Below are some of the projects the entity has undertaken in the last seven financial years and has continued to implement beyond the reconfiguration process as part of its growth strategy into the future.

“Pilanesberg South Bulk Water Supply project in Rustenburg Local Municipality – where a 50 megalitre reservoir has been completed, as well as a pump station. This project also includes a construction of a 30 megalitre reservoir in Tlhabane Township, which has also been completed,” said Magae.

He said upon full commissioning, this project will impact about 63 238 households bringing about much-needed relief to residents in areas with historically high-water demand patterns. Magae said Klipvoor Bulk Water Supply Scheme is a bulk water infrastructure mega-project.

“The project beneficiaries include Moretele, Bela-Bela, Modimolle-Mookgophong and Mogalakwena Local Municipalities. Currently only two out of seven work packages are in the construction stage, as project implementation processes for the other work packages are still at early stages.

“Magalies Water is currently engaging national government departments on funding models, and technical project scoping. The Vaalkop Water Treatment Plant upgrade project is also underway. We are nearing the upgrade and optimization of the raw water pump station,” he said.

Magae said the raw water pump station has been upgraded from a capacity of 270 Ml/d to a 360 Ml/d, including linking of the raw water pipeline and supernatant to a common inlet works. He said practical work on this aspect of the project is earmarked for end of May 2025.

“Implementation Readiness Study for the upgrade of Vaalkop Water Treatment Plant from a 270 Ml/d to a 360 Ml/d, including upgrading of the distribution works is underway, and this mega project will be submitted to National Treasury’s Budget Facility for Infrastructure for blended funding.

“This catalytic project will ensure water security in the Bojanala Platinum District of the North-West. The Moretele South Bulk Water Supply Scheme is a multi-phased project being implemented by the Magalies Water,” said Magae.

He said a total of R640 617 000 had been budgeted for the scheme from the Department’s Regional Bulk infrastructure Grant (RBIG). Magae said Phase 1 of the project was an upgrade of the Klipdrift Water.

“Treatment Works from 18 ml/d to 42ml/d completed in 2022. Phase 2 consisted of 30-kilometre bulk pipeline from the treatment plant towards the far west end of Moretele, while Phase 3 is currently under construction, and includes the construction of a reservoir and bulk pipeline, to ensure reliable supply of potable water to seven villages identified in far west of Moretele including Swartdam, Noroki, Ratsiepane, Moeka, Ga-Motle, Kromkuil and Mmakaunyana,” he said.

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Molapisi appoints new acting NWHC Board

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Picture: The new NWHC Interim Board members/Supplied   

By BAKANG MOKOTO

31 March 2025- The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi has appointed interim board members for the North West Housing Corporation (NHWC) with effect from 1 April 2025, until a new board is appointed. Molapisi has made appointments in terms of Section 3(2) of the North West Housing Corporation Act No 24 of 1982.

He further said the primary mission of the NWHC is to provide housing through development and property management. Molapisi added that he has appointed Dr Manketsi Tlhape, Kabelo Mataboge, Wendy Nelson, Dikeledi Moagi, Samuel Tsagae, Sarah Nkatlo, Seatlathebe Lepomane and Lenah Miga.  

“In terms of Section 3(2) of the Act, I have designated Tlhape as the Chairperson of the Interim Board with Mataboge, serving as her Deputy. The interim board has been directed to lead review of the current Act and kickstart the process of filling the vacancy of the CEO, as the tenure of the incumbent ends in July 2025.

“Immediate focus will also be on the Smart and Mega Cities Project, including the Mahikeng Student City. We wish the interim board well in its efforts to assist the housing development mandate in the province,” he said.

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Mosadi o bolailwe ka go tlhabiwa ka thipa  

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Ka KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

31 Mopitlwe 2025- Monna o solofetswe go tlhagelela kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Schweizer Reneke mo letsatsing la kamoso mabapi le polao. Se se tla morago ga dipego tsa gore monna o, o ile a tlhaba mosadi wa dingwaga di le 33, ka thipa mo thamong ka di 30 Mopitlwe 2025.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Colonel Adele Myburgh are go begwa fa moswi a ne a tsamaya le mokapelo wa gagwe kwa mmileng wa Extension 6, kwa motse-setoropong wa Ipelegeng, gaufi le Schweizer Reneke, fa a ne a kgorogelwa ke mmelaelwa. Myburgh are go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ile a mo tlhaba ka thipa.

“Moswi o ile a rwalelwa kwa bookelong go ya go bona thuso ya potlako. Fela, o ile a tlhokafala moragonyana. Sepodisi se ile sa bilediwa kwa bookelong, le go batlana le mmelaelwa. Mmelaelwa o ile a tshwarwa.

“Mmelaelwa o tla tlhagelela ka boripana kwa kgotlha-tshekelo mo letsatsing la Labobedi. Dipatlisiso mo kgetsing e di a tswelela,” Myburgh wa tlhalosa.   

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Seven suspects nabbed for various crimes during Operation Shanela

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Picture: The police conducting patrol and search during Operation Shanela/Supplied

By REGINALD KANYANE

31 March 2025- Seven suspects were arrested for various crimes during Operation Shanela. The suspects were arrested for drunk and driving, possession of drugs, riotous behaviour, shoplifting, and contravention of immigration laws after they were found to be illegally in the country.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Merapelo Pilane said the police further discovered an unregistered Day Care Centre operating without the required documentation in a Kuruman residential area, and the local Department of Social Development personnel were contacted for further handling. Pilane said the senior officers led a deployment of police members in executing high density operations in the Kuruman and Bothithong policing prescient, supported by the Community Police Forum (CPF) and Community in Blue Patrollers.

“The police actions focused on combating aggravated and business robberies, burglary at residential premises, preventing stolen property in transit, combating drugs and human trafficking, as well as stock theft.

“The multi-disciplinary operations were executed by members from the affected stations, SAPS K9 unit, Flying Squad, members from the Provincial Proactive Policing, Provincial Corporate Communication and the Vehicle Safeguarding Section (VSS),” he said.

Pilane said the disruptive actions commenced on 28 March 2025, and concluded on 29 March 2025, with stop and searches, foot patrols, blue light patrols, compliance inspections and drugs searches were the order of the day. He said the police conducted roadblocks on the N14 road during which 392 vehicles were stopped and searched. 

“Fines amounting to R38 500, were issued for various road traffic violations. During compliance inspections at tuckshops and taverns operating in Kuruman and Bothithong were also visited. One tavern was closed down and a fine was issued for non-compliance,” said Pilane.

Meanwhile, the acting John Taolo Gaetsewe District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Kenneth Baloyi, appreciated all role players and law enforcement agencies, who were involved in the crime blitz for the collaboration in terms of combating and preventing crime during the operations. Baloyi said these actions reaffirmed that police will continue to stamp down the authority of the state in the district, especially as they are approaching the Easter holidays and beyond.

“Members of the public are encouraged to report any criminal activities via the MYSAPS App or the 08600 10111crime stop number,” he said.

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Alleged cellphone robber found dead

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Picture: A man died after accused of stealing cellphone/Generic

By OBAKENG MAJE

31 March 2025- A man (25) who was reported missing was found allegedly dead in Kuruman. It is alleged that the deceased was forcefully put into a scholar transport vehicle near a high school in Wrenchville as he allegedly robbed off a learner (16) his cell phone earlier that morning.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said an investigation was launched after his family reported him as missing on 14 March 2025. Ehlers said the police received a tip-off regarding the missing person’s whereabouts and operationalised it.

“The body of the victim was found in Kuruman on 19 March 2025. The suspect (33) was arrested and investigation continues. The police in Wrenchville are investigating a case of murder,” she said.

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