Category Archives: NEWS

‘North West women shine at farming awards’

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Women Awards

BY NALEDI BOGACWI

The Bokone Bophirima Provincial Government honoured women who showed character and pedigree within the agricultural sector.

The awards ceremony was attended by amongst others, Queen Mother of Bafokeng Royal Nation Mmemogolo Semane Molotlegi, the Province’s Director-General Dr Lydia Sebego and the Executive Mayor of Madibeng Local Municipality Cllr Jostina Mothibe.

He North West premier Supra Mahumapelo said this at a glittering Department of Agriculture, Forest and Fishery Female Entrepreneur Awards (DAFF) ceremony hosted by the Provincial Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development at Haartebeespoort, Madibeng Local Municipality.

Addressing more than 600 women who attended the ceremony, Mahumapelo said the character and vigor displayed by women in the agricultural sector will go a long way in ensuring that the 6% economic growth target set by the province is reached by 2019.

“We are happy that women in this province are continuing to make an impact in the agricultural sector, and that they comprehend our prioritisation of agriculture as a key economic driver”.

“While government is mindful of the challenges they go through as agricultural entrepreneurs, we are challenging them to see those challenges as a necessary platform for their immeasurable success.

“Having placed agriculture at the apex of the province’s economic growth strategy, we remain positive that our women farmers will sustain their meaningful contribution in our collective pursuit for radical socio-economic transformation, premier Mahumapelo said.

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Manketsi Tlhape, the MEC for Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development challenged women farmers to produce more food, this in the wake of Provincial Government’s resolve to make local farmers main suppliers of agricultural produce for government institutions such as hospitals and schools.

“This is a great market opportunity government is creating for our farmers, and we challenge you to grab and make full use of this radical opportunity”, said MEC Tlhape who also implored women farmers to claim their space in the sector and treat agriculture as a serious business.

Crowning the winner of the Provincial DAFF Female Entrepreneur Award, Premier Mahumapelo announced Phindi Abdulla of Khuphuka Salgap Projects in Bojanala Platinum district as the competition overall winner.

Abdulla was a nominee for the Top Export Market category, and won R250 000.00 in cash plus agricultural infrastructure worth R1 million. The ceremony which takes place every year in August, has made a significant mark in the province and continues to inspire women to be the best in the farming business.

The programme aims at recognising improved delivery, innovation and excellence in the Agricultural mainstream economy by women.

It is also an instrument through which women’s enormous contributions in pushing back the frontiers of poverty can be recognised through the Food Security Programme.

The winners of various competition categories will represent the Province at a national awarding ceremony to be hosted by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in partnership with Total SA, later this month.

-TDN

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‘North West police commissioner condemns burning of police vehicle’

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The North West Acting Provincial Commissioner; Major General Jacob Tsumane condemned in the strongest possible terms the mob justice and damage to property incident that took place on Saturday at about 04:40pm at Ten Rooms Informal Settlement near Hartbeespoortdam.

 

This is after one police vehicle was burnt and the other pelted with stones. According to North West police spokesperson Col Sabata Mokgwabone, the police were allegedly attended to a complaint when they saw members of the community assaulting a man.  “The police allegedly tried to intervene by removing the man from enraged community.  The latter set alight the police vehicle, but the officials managed to rescue the severely assaulted man who was accused of being responsible for the crime in the area,” Mokgwabone said.

 

Mokgwabone said the community members also pelted the second police vehicle that came as a back-up with stones. “It is alleged that the community attempted to burn the car by throwing a burning tyre onto. However, the vehicle was not burnt but severe damages were experienced,” he said.

 

According to Mokgwabone, the injured man was given medical attention at the scene and no police official sustained any injury. “The man is currently admitted at the hospital due to severe injuries he sustained during the incident. No one has been arrested and investigation into the matter continues,” he said.

 

The North West Acting Provincial Commissioner; Major General Jacob Tsumane warned the community sternly that taking the law into one’s hands is unlawful and that will not be tolerated.  “The community must understand and accept that while we need their support, the rule of law must be obeyed. Damaging of properties is a criminal act and cannot be allowed. The members of the community often complain about the service they get from the police, and burning of police vehicles is more of denying innocent communities of their deserved service which is likely to be affected by resources that were deliberately damaged as it happened with these cars”, said Major General Jacob Tsumane.

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Taung Business Forum concern over foreign businessmen killings in Taung

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE plan to beef up security in various foreign shops has been discussed amidst the killings that recently escalated in across Taung. According to Taung Foreign Business Forum (TFBF) more than 10 business owners had been killed in Taung so far. This results in them planning to close down their businesses.

Hasan Al Zaid, 34, who is a secretary for Taung Foreign Business Forum (TFBF) said it seems their safety has been compromised. “We no more feel safe in the area. Almost 10 foreign-businessmen had been killed so far, and that leaves us vulnerable because you end up asking yourself who is next. We need an intervention and also the police need to act swiftly,” Zaid said.

Three weeks ago a Bangladesh businessman was killed in Matsheng village, Taung in his shop while he was asleep. North West police managed to arrest four suspects whom they were linked positively to the crime.

A week ago, another Bangladesh was a victim in Mothanthanyane village, after the suspects entered his shop and bludgeoned to death. The suspects allegedly set his shop ablaze afterwards and no one has been arrested so far.

Taung Business Forum chairperson, Lesego Lencwe said they met with foreign businessmen including police to come up with strategic plan of how to combat this criminal behaviour. He said they will beef-up security and another plan is to have patrollers around different areas.

“We met with our fellow foreign brothers to discuss plans how to stop this carnage. We decided to come up with strategic plan like to have patrollers and also to work hand-in-hand with police. The killings of business owners are a serious concern,” Lencwe said.

However North West police spokesperson, col Sabata Mokgwabone said: “It is not true that we are dragging our feet to deal with crime. We are committed to ensure a safe and secure environment for all the citizens. Visible patrols are conducted on a daily basis not only in Taung, but in other parts of the province.

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“In Taung, regular meetings are held with communities including foreign nationals who own shops as part of proactive measures of curbing crime are discussed. However, it is imperative that the community work together,” he said.

According to Mokgwabone six suspects have been arrested relating to two cases in which foreign nationals were attacked in Matsheng.

He said in the first case, four accused are expected to appear in court on Monday, (24 August 2015).

“In the second case, two accused appeared in court on Friday, (21 August 2015). We are still investigating a case in which a foreign national was killed in Mothanthanyaneng village,” he concludes.

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‘Four to appear in court after public violence’

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Pic: (Prisoner's cell)

Pic: (Prisoner’s cell)

BY REGINALD KANYANE

Four accused suspects aged between 19 and 36 will be appearing in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday (24 August 2015) where they will be facing charges of public violence.

Makgetla, 36, Godfrey Malepe, 19, and Daniel Mokgosi (26) were arrested on Wednesday, (19 August 2015) following a spate of public violence incidents. They appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on Friday, (21 August 2015) and were remanded in custody.

North West police spokesperson, col Sabata Mokgwabone said the trio will appear together with Tshegofatso Mangole, 32, who was apprehended on Saturday (16 August 2015) for public violence in Dikhibidung. “He appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (19 August 2015) and he was remanded in custody until Monday (24 August 2015).

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“The community allegedly burnt and damaged properties belonging t the municipality two weeks ago in Dikhibidung Informal Settlement near Sunrise Park in Rustenburg.  The violence erupted after community and local municipality representatives failed to reach consensus on service delivery issues,” he said.

It is alleged that the community demanded to be employed at the local sewerage plant. The properties that were damaged include burning of two municipal trucks, a park home, an ambulance and pelting of municipal car with stones. The situation is calm currently and police are monitoring it to ensure stability.

-TDN

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ANC in North West embark on qualifications verification process

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

THE African National Congress in North West is taking a huge measure by verifying all academic qualifications of their senior managers across all municipalities. The initiative was unveiled by the ruling party on Friday at Orkney during Setsokotsane visit.

ANC provincial secretary, Dakota Legoete said the ruling party is planning to curb discrepancies and transparency is needed. “We want to make sure every manager has valid qualifications that fit his job descriptions. We will make sure we achieve this through a system of performance management and effective internal controls intended to enhance a conducive environment that is fair, equitable, competitive and cost effective,” he said.

He said the processes and procedures implemented by departments to verify qualifications is an area of concern that needs to be monitored on a regular basis. Every MEC will make sure he or she verifies qualifications of its staff. “To do this work effectively, though, we depend on the support and commitment of all the departments within the South African Public Service. This guide should assist departments and is intended to provide direction on the process for auditing the qualifications of officials. Verifying qualifications should be seen as a means to manage and control corruption and fraud within the human resource area,” he said.

The objective of implementing such a verification process is to enhance the ethical infrastructure of departments. Legoete said the party want to make the province a custodian of good governance. “The Heads of Department and line functionaries have a major role to ensure that personnel understand their collective responsibility to fight corruption and prevent fraud. The verification of qualifications project is one element to assist in this process,” he said.

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‘Rape suspect due in court’

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

A 22 year-old suspect is due to appear in the Lichtenburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday (24 August 2015) for allegedly raping a 12-year-old minor, says North West police.

North West police spokesperson, maj Pelonomi Makau said the suspect who is employed at one of the local farms in Lichtenburg, allegedly raped the minor and afterwards injected her with medication meant for cattle to prevent her from falling pregnant.

“The matter was reported to the police and the suspect was traced and apprehended. The minor was admitted at the hospital for medical treatment and police investigation into the matter continues,” maj Pelonomi Makau said.

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‘A man arrested after killing his girlfriend’

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 26-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Lichtenburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday on a charge of murder.

 

The suspect was allegedly found with the naked body of his 22-year-old girlfriend beside his vehicle on Saturday along the Zeerust – Lichtenburg road.

North West police spokesperson maj Pelonomi Makau said the motorists allegedly discovered the body of a woman lying next to the suspect’s vehicle after he (suspect) stopped them for assistance after his vehicle broke down.

 

“According to the information available at this stage, the woman only had her underwear on, and it was suspected that she was allegedly strangled to death. Preliminary investigation revealed the woman’s body had bruises on her neck,” Makau.

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The suspect was arrested after the police were called to the scene. It is not known at this stage if the woman was raped, and investigation into the matter continues.

-TDN

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Department of Education in North West refute DA claims

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE NORTH West Education and Sport Development refute the claims from Democratic Alliance that they refused to appear before NCOP committee. In response to the statement issued by the Democratic Alliance on two weeks, about the National Council of Provinces Select Committee on Education and Recreation summoning MEC Maphefo Matsemela to explain the current administration of the department.

The North West Education and Sport Development department said they view the reaction of the DA as unnecessary and regard it as sensational more than anything, because it is normal for any government department or parastatal to be invited to the NCOP to explain its operation.

“At the moment the department has not received any formal invitation by NCOP, however the department will comply with any call to explain its operation and also to report on its achievements. In the 2014/2015 financial year under the tutelage of MEC Matsemela, the department obtained a clean audit due to the hard work shown by all officials of the department,” departmental spokesperson, Elias Malindi said.

“Since the visit of the NCOP last week to the province, his department has honoured all the engagements that were requested from them and therefore MEC Matsemela will avail herself and the management of the department anytime should there be a formal invitation to do so,” he said.

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‘Situation calm at Lekwa Teemane schools after intervention’

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BY  REGINALD KANYANE

It took the provincial intervention from the North West Education and Sport Development MEC, Maphefo Matsemela and Superintendent General, Dr Itumeleng Molale at the Lerona Secondary School in Christiana Township and Thuto Lore in Bloemhof for learners to agree to suspend the class disruption and go back to school today, Friday.

This follows after 3 days of class disruption by learners at Lerona Secondary School and Thuto Lore Secondary School demanding that MEC Matsemela and Dr Molale should come down and address them before they could go back to their classes. Some of the demands from learners at Lerona were that, they did not want their current principal TF Jantjies and that they want new text books. The learners at Thuto Lore Secondary marched to the police station complaining that, they want cases opened for burglary from their school to be resolved urgently and those teachers who bunk classes to be disciplined by the department.

The North West Education and Sport Development departmental spokesperson, Elias Malindi said, Thuto Lore Secodary School learners went out from their school and disrupted lessons at Gaopalelwe Primary School, Thamagane Primary School and further went to Vaaloewer Primary School were they broke the gate of the school.

“In both towns the learners wanted Congress of the South African Students (COSAS) organisation to be given the equal recognition with the Representative Council of Learners (RCL) in all their schools.

MEC Matsemela and Dr Molale put everything aside and called meetings with the Principal, COSAS representatives, RCL representative, Young Communist League representatives, School Governing Bodies members and school senior managers from both schools respectively to jointly come up with a peaceful resolution to the debacle.

MEC Matsemela stated that the department of education puts the interests of every learner at its heart, so they will do everything in their ability to ensure that those interests are protected at all the times.

“We must at all times respect the rule of law; we cannot dismiss or expel the principal if he has not transgressed any policy of the department. Teachers need to honour their contract of teaching at all times. We are not going to allow those teachers who bunk classes to continue to do that. We will task our departmental teams to investigate all the allegations highlighted by the learners in order to get to the bottom of the problem in both schools while teaching and learning is continuing unhindered”, she said.

MEC Matsemela concluded the meeting by assuring the learners and the school management at Lerona Secondary School that the shortage of teachers will be provided in the coming week.

She strongly discouraged the disruption of classes and the destruction of school properties. MEC Matsemela further pleaded with learners to honour their non-negotiable responsibilities of attending classes at all times without ceasing so that they can be the pride of the nation in future.

The department has submitted the order for the new text books.

-TDN

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Four perished in ‘head on’ collision near Ventersdorp

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Picture: (Police Tape)

Picture: (Police Tape)

BY REGINALD KANYANE
VENTERSDORP- Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after two vehicles, a Toyota Tazz and Volkswagen Polo collided head-on along N14 between Ventersdorp and Coligny in Thursday night. 

Major Pelonomi Makau said three people from the Toyota Tazz, two men, a woman and the driver of the Volkswagen Polo died on the scene.

“The cause of the accident is not yet known, and investigation into the matter continues,” she said.
-TDN
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