Category Archives: NEWS

Premier Mahumapelo condemns Oukasie mob justice


Brits- North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo has condemned in the strongest
terms mob justice after a 30-year-old man was stoned to death in
Oukassie outside Brits.

“Those who take the law unto themselves instead of reporting crime to authorities in the criminal judiciary system undermine the rule of law. We wish to discourage communities from taking the law into their own hands because our courts are the relevant institutions to dispense
of justice,” Premier Mahumapelo said.

Mahumapelo has expressed confidence that police will soon arrest those
responsible and appealed to members of the community who witnessed the
ghastly act to assist them in their investigations.

According to police, the man was killed in the early hours of
Wednesday, at Mosengleng Section.

“It is alleged that the two suspects broke and gained entrance into a
house,” Sergeant Kealeboga Molale said.

“The owner was woken up by the noise in the house. When the suspects
realised that the victim was awake, they ran away not knowing that
some of the community members saw what happened and ran after them,”
she said.

“The community members managed to apprehend one suspect while the
other ran away.”

Molale said the man allegedly stabbed a community member with a knife.

“It is further alleged that the community stoned and beat the suspect to death. No arrests have been made at this stage.”
-TDN
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MEC urges road users to buckle-up


North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management Gaoage Molapisi says road safety is everybody’s responsibility and called on road users to be ambassadors of road safety.

Speaking at the memorial service of five Correctional Services officers held in Rooigrond outside Mahikeng, Molapisi said government alone cannot reduce the rate of accidents on the roads but it requires commitment and self discipline from the road users.

“Let us give priority to the concept of self-policing to ensure that we all take responsibility for safer roads because road safety is everybody’s business.” Molapisi said.

He said the department will increase visibility on the R503 road and tighten the law enforcement until the numbers of incidents on this road have decreased.

“This accident has now opened our eyes and minds to look at excessive speeding and overtaking particularly on this R503 road. We are going to implement a high saturated law enforcement intervention and mainly focus on speeding, overtaking, use of cell phone while driving and drunken driving.”

“We are going to show no mercy to those reckless drivers and defaulters to get rid of this sickness of reckless driving on our roads,” warns Molapisi.

The MEC said his department will further intensify its road safety education campaigns to interact and educate road users on issues relating to driver behavior, drunken driving, safety belt, over speeding, cyclist, stray animals and pedestrian safety.

 “We are going to turn every road user and every citizen of this province to be ambassadors of road safety,” concluded Molapisi.
-TDN
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Banyana Banyana conduct coaching clinics in Zamdela


Johannesburg- Banyana Banyana took time off from their busy schedule on Wednesday afternoon, 04 June to conduct coaching clinics to leaners at Credo Primary School in Zamdela Township, Sasolburg.

As part of their CSI initiative, Sasol invited Banyana Banyana to spend the afternoon with the leaners, teaching them football skills.

The team was welcomed by more than two hundred leaners, both male and female from the different schools in the area.

Sasol Banyana Banyana coach, Vera Pauw and the players took the leaners through football drills and some small sided games.

“The welcome we received at the school was overwhelming, it shows the kind of support we have in Sasolburg. It is always great to give back to the communities across the country and we are grateful to Sasol for creating an opportunity for us to interact with the kids,” said Janine van Wyk, Sasol Banyana Banyana Captain.

“Sasol invests in creating shared values for communities by involving them. Sport, in particular football, is one of the fundamentals that unites people and we are privileged at Sasol to be involved in this spectrum with the South African Women’s National team,” said Henk Human, CSI and Sponsorship Specialist at Sasol.

The Senior Women’s National team is holding their camp in the Vaal, preparing for their international friendly match against neighbours Botswana this Saturday 07 June at the Vaal University of Technology. Kick-off for the match is at 15h00.-TDN
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Mmabatho Nursing College students on the rampage


Mahikeng- The Mmabatho Nursing College has been closed indefinitely. The closure follows a month long boycott of clinical practicals and learning activities.

Nursing students at the college are demanding that the Department of Health cease to transport them to clinical facilities and to also stop accommodating them. As result, they want to be given transport and accommodation allowance.

“The boycott started on Friday, 08 May 2014, when students refused to be transported to their clinical facilities citing late arrival to clinical facilities due to transport constraints and congestion of learners at clinical facilities” departmental spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said.

They requested to be provided with transport and accommodation allowance in addressing the above challenges. 

The Department is providing transport to clinical facilities and when there is a need transport is outsourced to alleviate shortage.

“Students are however expected to adhere to stipulated departure time which is a challenge to drivers as students do not adhere” Lekgethwane said.

He said on alleged congestion at facilities, students are placed on both night and day duty and this arrangement was not honoured by some students.

“Most of them only choose to be placed during the day hence the congestion. The Department is of the view that they should also rotate on night placement because even when they graduate to be nurses, they will be expected to work at night” he said.

The students refused management interventions and demanded accommodation and transport allowance instead, with the view that they can transport themselves to various clinical facilities. With the accommodation allowance, students want to rent own accommodation. Despite all efforts to intervene by management the students continued with their clinical boycott to date.

“The Department accepts that the infrastructure needs a facelift. To this effect, the National Department of Health is currently in the process of revitalizing the college infrastructure. The maintenance plan has been submitted. Students had started vandalizing college property, intimidating admin staff, and closing employees inside the college.”

Yesterday, college staff had to leave under police guard as students had become violent.

The Department is committed to resolve any legitimate grievance the students have.-TDN
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MEC GAOLAOLWE RIDS CHILDREN OFF THE STREETS


Mahikeng- The newly appointed MEC for Department of Social Development, Galaletsang Fenny Gaolaolwe will on Friday undertake a day long campaign in Tlokwe to raise awareness on the plight of children living and working on the streets.

Gaolaolwe’s campaign is part of the observance of the annual child protection week themed, “Working together to protect the rights of children.”

Gaolaolwe said the campaign is geared towards assessing children living and working on the street, identifying push factors that led to the children choosing the streets and retail shops as their homes.

“The issue of children living and working on the streets is a serious challenge facing all of us. This year we are targeting hotspots such as road intersections, built-up areas and the hotels. These are some of the areas which these children often beg for money. We also intend to visit their families, assess their capacity to care and protect their children,” Gaolaolwe said, adding that Child and Youth Care Centres funded by her department will also be assessed to monitor compliance to the provisions of the Children’s Act.

MEC Gaolaolwe said she deployed a team of social workers and coordinators to profile the children living and working on the streets in Mahikeng town the targeted hotspots in the intersections and retail shops.

Gaolaolwe said her team will further develop action plans for each child and their families to provide the relevant interventions at the end of the campaign which ends on Sunday 15 June 2014.-TDN
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The couple’s house razed by fire in Majaneng village


By Obakeng Maje
Majaneng- The Pakwe family was left crestfallen after five-roomed house razed by a fire. The atrocious incident unfolded at Majaneng village, near Taung the around 12:00am during the weekend.

According to Saki Phatwe who is the mother of two, they were allegedly asleep with her husband when they were woken to the blazing fire.

“We were asleep when we felt the is something burning. My husband woke me up and in a minutes, the fire was all over the house” Phakwe said.

The five-room house were reduced to ashes in minutes and Phakwe’s family were left with nothing except what they were wearing.

The Emergency Service were called along with the police and they said all they had went up the smoke including IDs and their Sassa cards.

A 51 year-old woman and her husband seek refugee in the neighborhood and said anyone who could help them rebuild their shattered house, is welcomed.

The cause of the fire was unattended cattle.

Phakwe said they had no units of electricity in the house so they decided to use the candle.

Anyone who is willing to help the Pakwe family to rebuild their house can call 0820480934/0763880959
-TDN
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North West robber stoned to death


By Obakeng Maje
Brits- Police are investigating a case of murder after a 30 year-old suspect was allegedly killed by community members in the early hours of Wednesday at Mosengleng Section in Brits.

“It is alleged that the two suspects broke and gained entrance into a house.  The owner was woken up by the noise in the house.  When the suspects realised that the victim was awake,  they ran away not knowing that some of the community members saw them” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

The community members managed to apprehend one suspect while the other ran away. 

The suspect allegedly stabbed one community member with a knife further alleged that the community stoned and beat the suspect to death. 

No arrests have been made at this stage.

The police are appealing to the community members not to take the law into their own hands.

Investigation Continues.

-TDN
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Police: House and Business robberies rife in North West


By Obakeng Maje
North West- Police are concerned about escalating reported cases of business and house robberies. 

“It is important that hands-on approach is applied to curb this kind of crime.  It is also imperative that security is beefed up and that the community work with the police to effectively and proactively address the challenge. Business owners and the broader community are advised to take heed apply the following safety hints” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said. 

❖  Be on alert as crime can occur any time. ❖  Close their businesses on time❖  Where possible, employ security officials to guard their premises❖  Identify possible hiding places outside and around their places.❖  Know full details of your gardeners and domestic workers❖  Report suspicious people who roam around as they could be monitoring your home or businesses.❖  Make sure all shrubs and trees are trimmed so that they do not obstruct the view.

Mokgwabone said it has also been noted that stolen serial numbered properties are not circulated in the SAPS system as complainants, upon opening cases they do not provide serial numbers. 

“This poses a serious challenge to SAPS and creates a market as well as possible circulation of such properties from one person to the other without being identified.In such situations, it also becomes difficult for the police to identify owners when such goods are recovered” he said.

The community is therefore advised to create and keep safe a register where they will record serial numbers of their properties. This will enable them to provide serial number of a particular item to the police when they register cases, thus allowing the police to circulate it immediately as stolen.-TDN
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Greater Taung Municipality gets R218 million budget


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The Greater Taung Municipality delivered its much-anticipated budget speech on Wednesday by its Executive Mayor, cllr Kaone Lobelo.

Even though the budget speech left some with sour taste in their mouths, most of the opposition parties and public at large applaud it.

Lobelo said even though Taung is faced with a mammoth task to overcome, it will be amiss not to mention the present achievements and challenges overcame during the past financial year.

According to Statistic South Africa Community Survey, unemployment is one of the biggest challenges South Africa is facing with 23% rate. Lobelo said the municipality is slightly more than 90% of the municipality is rural with a high indigent rate.

“The municipality is graded at 3 in terms of the determination of upper limits for Councilors allowances and salaries. Agriculture remains the biggest source of livelihood in the area” Lobelo outlines.

Mayor Lobelo also took time to thank all South Africans who took time to go and cast their votes on 07 May 2014 to let their voices heard. However he said the stable democracies are not only measured by elections, but are also measured by the opportunities they create for sustainable livelihoods for citizens.

“People all over South Africa and the Greater Taung Local Municipality have a good twenty year story to tell about the democracy that we celebrate this year. The Greater Taung we live in today is better than yesterday” he said.

According to Lobelo, the Greater Taung is constantly changing and the living conditions of its people are improving. He also said the government has adopted the National Development Plan as the guiding tool for accelerated service delivery to the people of its country until 2030.

“In developing this budget, we have taken into account the inputs of our people during the IDP/Budget roadshows we held across the municipality in April 2014. We want to thank the people of our municipality for their overwhelming turnout at various venues where these important meetings were held” Lobelo said.

The budget of R218 million was bestowed to Greater Taung Municipality on Wednesday and the money was detailed according to priorities need to be upgraded by municipality.

Human Settlement

According to municipality, more than 2030 housing units have been delivered across the municipality between 2011 and 2013. The completion of the remaining 104 units in Extension 6 to the value of R11 million will start during 2014/2015.

“Another 350 residents will benefit from the Ba Phuduhucwana Rural Housing project also referred to as Mankuroane Gardens valued at R39 million, 931 units valued at R102 million will also be completed across the municipality during 2014/2015” said Lobelo.

Another project that will benefit the residents of Boipelo Township in Reivilo is valued at R22 million with 200 units to be built.

Community Services

“We have allocated R500 000 to refurbish sports facilities including the Taung Pudumoe and Manthe Sports Grounds. We will also planning to blade school sport grounds during 2014/2015” he said.

R250 000 was allocated on fencing local cemeteries and R350 000 will go Reivilo Park.

Boipelo Library in Reivilo will also get R620 000 for refurbishment and Pudumoe library will opened its doors soon after it was built at the value of R7 million.

Good Governance

The principles of Batho Pele are inculcated in all those who work for the municipality. “We have evaluated our organizational structure and proposed new positions to ensure that it helps us meet our set objectives. Atleast nine positions were identified as critical. We will also continue to fight corruption and improve our working relations with the Auditor General so that we can all work towards a clean audit” he said.

Mayor Kaone Lobelo also touched many items like;

Corporate and Educational Support
Disaster and Emergency
Community Safety
Local Economic Development
Public Participation
Community Based Planning
Communications and Customer Care
Integrated Sustainable Development
Neighborhood Development Program
Municipal Infrastructure Grant
Expanded Public Works Programme
Internal Audit, Audit Committee and Risk Management
Finance

Most of opposition parties applaud the budget and said they are positive the municipality could deliver.

“We would like to applaud the municipality for its budget and we wish all what has been said could be implemented and delivered ” DA councillor A.P Scholtz said.

Also APC leader Martha Hermanus said the municipality must fight corruption as it derails service delivery.

Thapelo Galeboe said the budget does not includes the youth development and the youth are the backbone of the economy. “The youth must be included in many structures so that we can be represented. We are now facing economic struggle and we need more projects where the youth can be equipped with skills. The socio-economic revival is key.”

Kgosi Nyoko Motlhabane sent a vote of thanks and lauds the municipality. He also urged the municipality to come up with a plan to develop the community of Taung especially the youth.-TDN
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Banyana Banyana preparations in full swing


Johannesburg- Sasol Banyana Banyana’s preparations are in full swing ahead of their friendly international match against Botswana.

The clash will take place on Saturday, 7 June 2014 at the Vaal University of Technology Stadium.

Kick-off is at 15h00.

The South Africans are using the match as part of their preparations for the upcoming 2014 African Women’s Championships that will be held in Namibia from 11 – 25 October.

The Senior Women’s National Team started their camp on Sunday, 1 June.

“It is unfortunate that Comoros withdrew from the second leg, but I am grateful that everyone at SAFA and Sasol reacted quickly and worked hard for us to get a match against Botswana. We have more friendly matches lined up against stronger opponents to ensure that we get the team ready for the African Women’s Championships,” said Pauw

Pauw has invited strikers Kgadi Mokoma and Chantelle Esau from Sasol League triple national champions Palace Super Falcons from Gauteng and Mpumi Nyandeni from Russia to be part of the team for the match.

“We have had a look at a lot of players and with 144 teams participating in the Sasol League, the reality is that we cannot invite everyone. The group we have now is the core of the team and we believe that they are capable of doing a great job, starting with the match against Botswana on Saturday,” added Pauw.

Botswana is expected to arrive in South Africa on Thursday (5 June).

They will have a training session at the match venue on Friday.-TDN
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