By Obakeng Maje
Mahikeng- The Democratic Alliance would like to express its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the correctional services officials and the policeman who were killed in a tragic crash near Rooigrond correctional centre in the North West.

This follows a weekend during which road accidents claimed 5 lives in the North West Province. 

The five correctional services officials were driving in one vehicle when their car collided head on with a police car just a few metres outside the prison yesterday afternoon.

This road has become the North West Province’s “road of death” with serious accidents claiming multiple lives becoming regular events.

“The response of the North West Provincial traffic authorities in policing moving traffic violations is deficient. Provincial officers are mostly found in the shade of a tree at the entrances of towns,  clustered in a group of 3 or 4 in one vehicle, stopping vehicles and checking and recording the validity of silences, while transgressions such as high speed overtaking on solid white lines have become the norm” DA Chris Hattingh said.

Hattingh said even by government vehicles and the North West’s blue light brigade.

DA said this latest series of accidents should be a wake-up call for the North West Road Inspectorate to get out of its comfort zone and to enforce the traffic laws, especially those involving moving violations.

“This will save lives on our roads. Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends, colleagues and families of the deceased during this hard time” he concludes.-TDN
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Mahikeng- The Financial Management Improvement Support programme which was put in place by the department of Finance in the two years ago, aimed at assisting the departments and public entities to compile and submit annual financial statements in time has continued to yield positive results.

This became evident last Friday when all provincial departments and public entities beat the deadline and submitted their annual financial statements for audit purpose.

In terms of the Public Finance Management Acts (PFMA) accounting officers for a department, public entity or constitutional institution must submit financial statements within two months after the end of the financial year to the auditor general for auditing purpose.

MEC for Treasury and Enterprise Development Wendy Nelson said this is the step in the right direction as this is for the second year in a row that North West provincial government account for the use of state funds and resources on time.

The MEC commended the programme and said she hopes it continues so that the state of financial management in the province changes for the better.

Nelson who has just commenced with her work in the department said the improvement of financial management of government institutions to ensure accountability in the use of public funds is of utmost importance. She said the accountability for state resources will occupy centre stage in all phases of government planning in the provincial government going forward.

She said the provincial government will consolidate on the gains it has made and strengthen the efforts to attain good governance which remains vital towards service delivery and place the North West province on the countries’ map.

The MEC commended the entities such as Provincial Council on Aids for ensuring that the financial statements of the council are submitted despite the challenges raised by the new Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer.

“Against all odds the PCA managed to account for the funds used and this was made possible by the willpower of all officials concerned. This was made possible by the extent to which they carried out their responsibilities towards changing the face of audit and particularly the lives of ordinary people in the province”, said MEC.

She emphasized that the relationship between good governance and service delivery must at all times remain the key principles that underscores the work of government and the premise from which the leadership of this province develop a shared vision of the people.

The MEC said it is important that in every task carried official must strive for quality and not perform duties for compliance.

“I therefore hope that the annual financial statements which are submitted for 2013/14 financial year will get the province an unqualified opinions at the end of the audit period otherwise it will be myopic and self defeating”, said MEC.

The event was attended by amongst others, chief financial officers and personnel in the financial management sections, the provincial accountant general Mr Geo Paul, department of finance HoD Mr Raedani Maada and the provincial auditor general Mr Lee Ally.-TDN
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Cape Town – Tensions remain high in an informal settlement where residents have been evicted from land owned by the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral).

People tried desperately to save their possessions as their homes were dismantled on Monday and Tuesday morning.
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By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley-A well known Kimberley photographer is facing charges on three counts of rape and the manufacture of child pornography.

Rudolf Coetzee,23,was arrested on the 23rd May 2014 by members of the Kimberley Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS).

“He appeared in court on the 26 May and  on Monday respectively. The case was remanded until Thursday for a formal bail application. He remains in police custody” colonel Priscilla Naidu said.

Naidu said Coetzee alleged took photos of children in naked and semi naked positions at his studio(which is at home) in Heuwelsig Kimberley.

Police have confiscated thousands of photo’s of children stored on his memory stick.

Investigating officer, D/W/O Elizma Roos is appealing to the public who may have engaged the services of Coetzee to contact her as more charges may emanate through identification of the photos.  

She may be contacted on 0824664512.   
-TDN
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Cape Town – The eviction of people from the Lwandle informal settlement in Strand, Cape Town, was meted out as a punishment to the community for not voting for the DA in the elections, the ANC said on Tuesday.

“The African National Congress condemns the eviction… by the Cape Town metro without being given alternative accommodation as required by the law,” said spokesperson Zizi Kodwa.

“This is tantamount to undermining democracy and the freedom of choice by the DA metro.”

Sanral land

On Monday, the municipality’s human settlements MMC Siyabulela Mamkeli said the eviction was the enforcement of a Western Cape High Court order granted earlier this year to the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral).

“The interdict authorised the sheriff and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to give effect to the provisions of this order against any person in breach of this order or structure erected after the service of this order,” said Mamkeli in a statement.

“Further enquires in this regard should be directed to Sanral. The sheriff of the court has been assisted by its contractors to remove the structures following an illegal land invasion on this Sanral-owned land.”

Kodwa said the ruling party had contacted the national transport department, who owned the land, and the human settlements department to intervene on behalf of the community.

“We have been assured that teams have already been dispatched by the national government to investigate what options of intervention can be considered,” he said.

‘DA does not care for the poor’

“This once more proves that the DA does not care for the poor.”

Mamkeli said police supported the sheriff of the court’s actions.

“City law enforcement agencies were present, on the specific request from the sheriff of the court and the SAPS. City law enforcement has no role in the removal of structures,” said Mamkeli.

“The City has repeatedly urged Sanral to protect their land against the continual and new land invasions. As the land in question is owned by Sanral, the City has not been responsible for policing these informal settlements.”

Sanral had appointed a private company to ensure the settlement did not grow further, but new structures continued to be built on the Sanral land.

“As the settlements are on Sanral land, the city may not provide services without the consent of the land owner, which in this case is Sanral,” said the MMC.

“Previously, as part of our commitment to building a caring city, the city offered to provide a certain number of container toilets in the settlements, which Sanral allowed.”

The toilets were subsequently vandalised and damaged beyond repair.

Ward councillors requested the city to provide additional services, which were provided on the periphery of city-owned land, adjacent to Sanral’s property.

SAPA

North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management Gaoage Molapisi send his heartfelt condolences to the families of correctional and SAPS officers who died on a fatal accident between Mahikeng and Rooigrond Correctional Services on Monday afternoon.

According to Traffic Authorities, five Correctional officers were traveling from Rooigrond to Mahikeng with a green Toyota Corrola when they collided with a white sedan Chevrolet of SAPS.

Four Correctional Service officials and one police officer died on the scene while the sixth person died at the hospital bringing the total number of fatalities to six.

Traffic Authorities at the scene said speeding and overtaking might have been the cause of the accident.

MEC Molapisi strongly condemns speeding and reckless driving saying that the department will strengthen its high impact traffic law enforcement interventions to avert such incidents in future.

“Six people dying in one accident is too much, we cannot continue losing lives in such a manner. As we speak now, women are widows and children are orphans because of this reckless behavior on our roads,” concluded Molapisi.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Mahikeng- Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after two vehicles collided and six persons died along Lichtenburg-Mahikeng road near Dihatshwane village on Monday at approximately 14:30. 

“The cause of the collision is not yet known and it is alleged that five persons died on the scene while the sixth one died at the hospital” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

According to information available at this stage, the deceased are five members of Department of Justice and Correctional Services while the other is a member of South African Police Service.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo would like to extend heartfelt condolences to the families of deceased persons, including the member SAPS.

“Our hearts are with the families of all deceased during this difficult time”, said Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo.
Investigation into the matter continues.-TDN
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The deaths of six people who reportedly died in a crash involving a police vehicle and correctional service officers is a monumental loss to the criminal justice system in general and law enforcement in particular, Premier Supra Mahumapelo said in expressing shock on Monday.

“We are saddened by the tragic loss of lives and wish to convey our condolences to the families, friends, colleagues of those who died in the crash and the communities they served” Premier Mahumapelo said.

 Mahumapelo called to all road users to be considerate to ensure their own safety and that of other road users in order to reduce the carnage on public roads.

North West Police confirmed that though details are still sketchy, a case of culpable homicide is being investigated.

Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said that full details will be available soon.
-TDN
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