BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE North West provincial government continues to engage with its residents through Setsokotsane program. The acting provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said that the government will continue to speed up service delivery in an integrated manner and poised to change and better the lives of the people.

He said that the program has now changed direction and will blow into Ditsobotla municipality in Ngaka Modiri Molelma region.

“The Community Safety and Transport Management department will declare October as Transport Month. During this month, citizens are encouraged to use public transport such as taxis, buses, trains, flights and other non motorised modes. MEC Molapisi will officially launch October Transport Month in Lichtenburg and is also expected to announce events that will follow after the launch. North West premier Supra Mahumapelo is expected to be part of the event and other Setsokotsane activities.”

Setswambung said that the department invited various stakeholders in the transport industry as they play pivotal role in minimizing road accidents. The launch will take place on Wednesday at Lichtenburg Town Park at Ditsobotla municipality offices.

-TDN

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Durban – Detectives have been left baffled after a KwaMaphumulo man was stabbed repeatedly and thrown off a cliff at the weekend.

The 31-year-old man had left his home on Sunday in the settlement north of Durban to buy airtime, but never returned.

His body, pockmarked with stab wounds, was found at the foot of a steep cliff.

Police Search and Rescue Unit officers used an elaborate rope system to haul his body to the overhang.

For more http://www.news24.com

Johannesburg – A Germiston man is facing an attempted-murder charge after he allegedly tried to hang a 10-year-old boy who was caught throwing stones at birds.

Police said the 48-year-old man was arrested in Rondebult, Germiston, on Monday afternoon.

He is expected to appear in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

“The children… were playing and they were throwing stones to hit birds,” Captain Tsekiso Mofokeng said.

For more http://www.news24.com

Cape Town – A person can be appointed to serve Abathembu King Buleyekhaya Dalindyebo’s 12-year jail term on his behalf according to tradition, the Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA (Contralesa) has said.

“In terms of our tradition, a king does not really go to jail. His people choose a person on his behalf because he is the father of the nation,” Contralesa general secretary Xolile Ndevu told News24.

He said this was done “knowing very well” that the king would do something to thank the servant.

“Sometimes a king would then compensate that person by giving a status of a supreme loyal subject, headman or chief. Or he may give a piece of land or cattle.”

Durban – Police have found the remains of a foetus that was dumped into a long-drop toilet in Lamontville.

The dark hollow of the pit latrine was the final resting place of the baby which had yet to take its first breath.

The tiny body bore the injuries of marks believed to have been made by a coat hanger when it was delivered prematurely.

It is understood that police received a tip-off that the foetus had been dumped into the long-drop in Lamontville on Monday night.

For more http://www.news24.com

Cape Town – Every year, black and coloured parents face an uphill battle to enrol their children at elite schools such as Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch Against Racism (Star) said on Tuesday.

“They have a quota of how much coloured and black children they allow in. Children [from other areas] are bussed in. We say no – we have enough children here [to fill the schools],” founder Franklin Adams said outside the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s Court.

For more http://www.news24.com

Cape Town – Suspended Western Cape police commissioner Arno Lamoer’s contract will not be renewed, a spokesperson for national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega said on Monday.

“Yes management has decided not to renew General Lamoer’s contract,” spokesperson Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale confirmed in a text message.

For more http://www.news24.com

Slain North West businessman Wandile Bozwana’s employee allegedly survived an attempted hit at the same highway off-ramp where his boss was killed.

Family spokesperson Benedict Bozwana told News24 that a shot was fired at the car belonging to Piet Brink, a senior employee of the Orgazma Special Energy Drink company.

“Yesterday [Sunday] one of his employees was followed and one shot was fired at his car. He had to take a wrong off-ramp in Pretoria just to get away. He is one of the key personnel who is handling sensitive information,” he said.

For more http://www.news24.com

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

NORTH WEST premier Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo visited Kopela village in Tswaing local municipality on Friday following a violent service delivery protest which resulted in 3 schools and a clinic being burnt.

Mahumapelo said: “I was supposed to have gone to Zeerust to address government employees on a national recreation and wellness day celebration but I decided to visit Kopela to personally observe the extent of the damage and to understand what drove the community to resort to burning schools and a clinic.”

Mahumapelo visited the burnt schools and the clinic. The extent of the damage is such that learning and teaching cannot take place in the 3 schools. Similarly, the clinic can no longer serve the community in its current state.

Mahumapelo urged the traditional leadership and community members to cooperate with the MEC for Education and Sport Development, Wendy Matsemela when she visits the area for a meeting with parents and stakeholders on Monday in coming up with alternative and interim accommodation for the learners as they are about to commence with the final examinations in the next three weeks.

He set up a committee to immediately met and emerged with proposals on steps that should be taken to resolve the water situation at Kopela village. Acting provincial spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said that the committee comprised of the district mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema, the mayor of Tswaing local municipality, councillors, the chief, representatives of the traditional council and an official from the national department of Water and Sanitation who is based in the province.

Chief Moshoete of Kopela village thanked Mahumapelo for his prompt intervention and for not forsaking his community during this difficult time. He said that a truly-caring leader conducts him the way Mahumapelo did.

North West Education and Sport Development department spokesperson, Elias Malindi said that MEC Wendy Matsemela was expected to visit Kopela village today. He said that Matsemela will be meeting with the community leaders to discuss alternative regarding new accommodations for the matric pupils who will be writing examinations soon.

“MEC Matsemela expressed extreme disappointment at the events which unfolded. It is deeply saddening that schools are burnt at this critical time where learners are about to write exams. There is no excuse for the destruction of centres of learning. We are in the process of meeting with councillors, priests and traditional leaders to find places where learners can write their exams. In the meantime while schools are not habitable for learning, we are looking at churches and other community centres to cater for learners.” Malindisi said.

-TDN

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