BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

NORTHERN Cape police need your assistance in locating the parents of a missing boy. Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Sergio Kock said: “Police found the boy aged between 15 and 18 at Ackermans in Chapel Street, in Kimberley. The boy cannot speak, write nor hear. He is dressed in a light blue denim shirt, red pants, blue takkies and a black cap. He has an old burn mark on his right ear and a healed mark of operation on his right hand.”

Kock said the boy is around 1.6m tall, slender built and has a short hair. He added that anyone who could know the boy or his parents can call Kimberley Police Station on 053 838 4331 or alternatively call 10 111.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

It is still 0-0 between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in Telkom knock out semi finals at FNB stadium in Johannesburg. The two teams received equal share of chances, but could not bury them.

-TDN

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JOHANNESBURG – While students and workers arrested for protesting at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) have now been released, they say they are angry at the manner in which their struggle has unfolded. 

 
According to the police’s Tsekiso Mofokeng, all 141 protestors were released today on a warning on condition they appear at the Brixton Magistrates Court on Monday. 
 
They were detained for contravening a court order prohibiting protests at the Kingsway campus during exams. 

A student says they demands have been very simple. 

“There is a lot of anger and the manner in which the struggle has drawn out wasn’t expected. We are angry about how the demands are being ignored. We are angry because we are being referred to as a minority, we are not a minority.” 

Courtesy of http://www.ewn.co.za

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

THE DEMOCRATIC Alliance said they will force the minister of water and sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane to release the 2014 Blue and Green Drop reports.

DA deputy shadow minister of water and sanitation, Leon Basson said Nomvula’s reluctance shows the lack of transparency. “Mokonyane’s actions show the government’s unwillingness to own up and confront South Africa’s water crisis. She promised to release the reports in September 2015, but she missed the deadline without an explanation.

“Mokonyane’s inaction in this regard raises serious concerns. She is not committed to solve the country’s water problems.  Her department’s poor management of water infrastructure has already compounded the effects of the drought currently facing South Africa. Earlier this week, during an oral reply in parliament, she refused to give a date for release of the reports.” Basson said.

Basson said the Blue Drop programme measures water treatment plants and the quality of drinking water. He said that the programme assesses the quality of wastewater treatment.

“These reports are crucial for identifying systems that fail to provide communities with clean and safe water. The DWS clearly has something to hide regarding the state of our water infrastructure. The DA urgently calls on Mokonyane to stop stalling and table the 2014 Blue and Green Drop Reports in Parliament within the next seven days. Failing to do so, the DA will request the reports through the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2 of 2000.”

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

TWO men were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder on Thursday. Papiki Motabogi (27) and Maiuane Paulino Romao (44) were arrested for the murder of Ronel Van Ek. They appeared before North West High Court in Potchefstroom on Thursday.

Motabogi and Ramao killed a 49 year-old farmer in Hartbeesfontein in August 2012. Van Ek was entering her farm when she was attacked. The suspects pointed her with a firearm and robbed her hand bag and undisclosed amount of money, two cellphones and a hand gun.

 North West police spokesperson, Captain Paul Ramaloko said: “Motabogi and Romao attempted to steal Van Ek’s vehicle, but the police found it few meters away from the crime scene. The police followed the lead that assisted in tracking the suspects. On August 19 last year, Motabogi was arrested in Wolmaransstad for a separate case he committed. Police’s preliminary investigations linked him to the Hartbeesfontein farm murder,”

Ramaloko said a Mozambique man, who was a second accused in the matter, fled to Gauteng. He was subsequently arrested on December 15 last year.

“They were both charged with murder and robbery. Motabogi was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years for robbery. Romao was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years for robbery, four years for possession of firearm and one year for possession of ammunitions. All the years will run concurrently.” he said.

The acting provincial commissioner, Major General Job Tsumane welcomed the sentencing. He said the sentencing will send a clear message to criminals.

“We have no doubt that the sentence will send a clear message that police will deal effectively with those who commit crime. We commend the team of dedicated members who made it possible to secure the conviction. Together with other role players, we will continue to ensure that those who transgress the law are dealt with accordingly.” he said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

The Right2Know Campaign said they strongly condemn the action by the University of Johannesburg’s management and the SAPS’s conduct in dealing with the protesting students and workers.

About 138 students and 13 workers were arrested during a #FeesMustFall protest and are currently held at Brixton Police Station. According to the students, the University called in private security that has been very violent when dealing with the protesting students and workers. Further reports states that police who were called in used excessive force against protesters.

Busi Mtabane said: “We believe five students including the SRC president were suspended for allegedly inciting violence during protests at the institution, an accusation they strongly deny. The university claims that the workers were arrested for being in violation of a court interdict.

“The court interdicts which have been brought into play on campuses across the country are hugely problematic and have restricted students’ and workers’ rights to engage in protests, including those which are non-violent but disruptive of normal campus activities.

“We demand the release of the arrested protesters; we also call on the University to reinstate with immediate effect the suspended students.”

Mtabane said they call on UJ not to silence the students’ voices and respect their right to protest. She said the right to organise, protest and speak out is central to all community struggles for social justice.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Premier, Treasury and Enterprise Development grilled the Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development department, North West Development Corporation (NWDC) and Dirapeng (PTY) LTD company on the acquisition of Christiana Hotel School.

The committee found some discrepancies regarding the purchasing of the hotel school Committee chairperson, Raymond Elisha requested the NWDC to submit latest documents on the transaction of the property. He said the information like the deeds of sale; auction report and record of negotiations during the auction were missing.

Elisha also requested the copy of the provincial government’s resolution on NWDC’s acquisition of the entity. The salary of the acting CEO, Lemogang Moletsane which is R300 000 was in question. According to the reports, Moletsane’ salary is above the one of the suspended CEO, Mojalefa Nale.

Elisha said he was concerned about the latest transfer costs of R43m to purchase the hotel. The amount was augmented from the initial agreement which was R40m.

“I am not happy with the explanation on the breakdown of costs presented to us. We need a thorough written report on the costs incurred. The report should include all renovations to rooms classified as suites and all costs of removable assets,”

“The record of the deeds of sale and record of negotiations during the auctions was not available. We also need clarity on the number and types of wild animal species the game farm had when it was purchased. We have identified that the number of species presented on the pre-auction report stating assets of the hotel, versus the number of the post auction report and the evaluation report by the NWDC differs.

“We need to establish the value for money on purchasing the game farm as it only comprises of the less expensive wild species of animals as opposed to the animals such as the African Lion and the White rhinos which were once available in the farm,” he said.

The committee also demanded the previous owner’s detailed report submitted when selling the game farm.

“We want the full detailed report submitted by the previous owner. A detailed chronology of events that took place starting at the EXCO resolutions in the acquisition of NWDC entities with supporting documentation will be perfect. The costs incurred of employees from the Cookes Lake as discussed in the previous meeting and the PriceWaterHouseCoopers report. Also the assets that were on the farm during the time the owner sold it will be needed.

“We will need that report within 14 working days. The report should also include a copy of provincial government’s resolution on NWDC’s acquisition of the entity; a detailed information as to why the salary of the Acting CEO, Lemogang Moletsane is R300 000 above the one of the suspended CEO, Mojalefa Nale. A detailed information on whether any of the NWDC employees are doing business (any service whatsoever) with the entity and also information on the whereabouts of the species, the number and types of wild animal species the game farm had when it was purchased.

-TDN

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