Category Archives: NEWS

R15 million expenditure on multimedia resources contributed towards improving matric results-Premier Modise


The North West Province has spend over R15 million towards multimedia resources that benefitted 500 secondary schools over the past five years, Premier Thandi Modise reported in her State of the Province Address delivered on Friday.

Ptremier Modise said that the expenditure contributed significantly towards improvement of teaching and learning of mathematics and science and the overall improvement of matric results from under 60% in 1994 to 73% in 2012, under 50 in 1997 to 79,5 % in 2012 and excellent pass rate of 87.2% in 2013 to achieve the most improved results in the country.
“We are humbled by the work of our school governing bodies keeping schools functional in all respect, stocked, cleaned and repaired, punctual and presentable, often having to trade words to ensure that parents, teachers, learners and communities focussed their energies correctly on our children – our future,” emphasised Modise.
She expressed appreciation to teacher unions, parents and community members who went on their way to give qualitative support to bring the North West into the second place on the matric results.-TDN
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NWest tourism investment value stands at R10 billion-Premier Modise


Mahikeng-The Tourism investment value for the North West Province stands at R10 billion, has contributed about 4% of the provincial GDP and generated R2.2 billion during 2012,North West Premier Thandi Modise announced  in her State of the Province Address delivered in the Provincial legislature on Friday.

Premier Modise reported that the province supported 1144 SMME’s,81 cooperatives,40 economic development projects in municipalities and 28 capacity building and interventions. 

“One hundred and eighty-three SMME’s benefitted from first phase development, capacity building, Market access and exposure to industry in the past financial year.  Women, youth and people with disability were beneficiaries in Seventy-three (73) economic development programmes which were rolled out,” Modise said. 

The Province scoped the 2010/2011 Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year (ETEYA) award.-TDN
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Suspects arrested with R107 000 cash, Drugs

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By Obakeng Maje

Pretoria –The Organised Crime Unit of the Hawks in the North West arrested four suspected drug dealers on Thursday during a joint operation with Crime Intelligence in Wistaria Street in Flimieda, Klerksdorp. 

 

During the search, the team seized R107 000 in cash, 56 cellular phones, five laptops, three GPSs, 16 digital cameras, dagga worth R600,00 and drugs worth R200,00.

 

“Preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects was wanted for being in possession of dagga” Hawks spokesperson Paul Ramoloko.

 

The suspects with an outstanding warrant of arrest will appear in the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Friday. 

 

The three suspects will appear in the same court again Friday on charges of dealing in drugs and being in possession of suspected stolen goods.

 

“We will not rest until a supplier of these drugs is identified,” said the Head of the Hawks in the North West, Major General Ntebo Mabula.-TDN

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Premier Modise condemns torching of mineworker

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The attack and torching of a worker at Amplats’s Swartklip Union Mine allegedly by striking mineworkers at Sefikile is an appalling and barbaric act, Premier Thandi Modise said on Friday.

 

 

 

“We condemn in the strongest term the heinous deed and call on the community to assist police to bring the perpetrators to book,” Premier Modise stressed.

 

Modise said that intimidation of non-striking workers, violence associated with the current strike undermines the rule of law, peace and stability in the mining sector and should be stamped out before it ferments more violence and loss of lives.

 

According to police, the 46-year-old man was attacked by four men at 04:30 on Thursday while on his way to work.

 

“Two men initially stopped him and asked if he was going to work,” Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said.

 

Two men wearing balaclavas then arrived and pointed a firearm at him and took him to the nearby open veld and attacked him.

 

“They assaulted him with sticks and knobkerries. After he collapsed, assailants removed his socks and soaked them in petrol. They tied them on his belt before setting him alight.” Ngubane said.

 

The four men allegedly robbed the miner of his cellphone and left him for dead. Ngubane said the man took off his burning clothes and ran naked towards the shaft. He was taken to the mine hospital and treated for second degree burns and head injuries.

 

Police opened a case of attempted murder, pointing a firearm, and robbery. No arrests had been made.

 

Striking platinum miners belonging to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) have been on a four-week-long wage-related strike.

 

Members of Amcu at Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum went on strike on 23 January, demanding a R12 500 basic monthly salary for miners.

 

The platinum producers proposed a three-year agreement last month. The proposal was a 9% increase for A-level workers, 8.5% for B-level and 7.5% for C-level workers in the first year.-TDN

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12 critical in a horiffic accident in N West


Brits-Two people, including a two-year-old child, have been left in a critical condition after a taxi collided with a bus at the Hendrick Verwoerd and Crocodile street intersection, Brits.

Hartebeespoort EMS paramedics arrived on scene to find a severely damaged taxi, evidence shows that it collided with the back of the bus.

“Paramedics immediately began their assessment of the scene, discovering that out of the 12 people injured, a mother and her two-year-old child sustained critical injuries. The child’s injuries prompted the use of ER24′s emergency medical helicopter” Chris Venter said.

It flew the child to Sunshine hospital for further care.

The mother, was transported to a nearby hospital by ER24 ambulance. The remainder of patients were treated and transported by various other medical services on scene.

“The cause of the collision is unknown and local authorities were on scene for investigation” concludes Venter.-TDN
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ANC rules Taung after By-Elections

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By Obakeng Maje

Taung-The African National Congress in North West is elated by the overwhelming victory obtained in the Taung by-elections, held on Wednesday.

 

“According to our own statistics, through our candidate Keamogetse Grace Moipolai, the ANC reached a 70% percentage mark in these by-elections”. 

 

“Our victory is a demonstration that the ANC remains rooted in its constituencies and it continues to sustain its base. Our victory comes in the mist of negative media publicity and aspersions” said ANC North West spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi.

 

The ANC in the province said the people of Taung have spoken through their ballot that the ANC is a revolutionary movement that represented their aspiration in the past; that represents their aspiration now and it represents their aspirations in future.

 

“Indeed, the South Africa is a better place than what it was in 1994. Together as the people of the North West we can take South Africa forward” Mnisi said.

 

“We want to thank all our people who reaffirmed their confidence in the ANC by ensuring that in their numbers they vote the ANC” concludes Mnisi.-TDN

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N West alleged cop killer remanded in custody


By Obakeng Maje
Stilfontein-A third suspect Mandla Joseph Msibi,32, appeared in the Stilfontein Magistrates’ Court for the murder of the late Constable Daniel Ntonyane,28, of the Stilfontein Police Station in Klerksdorp in the North West province. 

“The case was postponed until Monday so that he can join his two accomplices, Reuben Sipho Sithole,29 and Dan Collen Sikhavelle,28 in the dock” departmental spokesperson Paul Ramoloko said.  

The two were arrested during an intelligence-driven operation in Palmridge near Thokoza on the East Rand, Johannesburg. 

“They appeared in court on Monday in Stilfontein and the case was postponed to Monday for a formal bail application. Constable Ntonyane was fatally shot in the line of duty in Stilfontein this year” Ramaloko said.

The suspects detonated explosives at an ATM, but no money was taken as the cash was stained. They fled in two vehicles which were later found abandoned a few kilometres away.  

Whilst fleeing, the suspects were allegedly confronted by a security patrol vehicle which was also shot at, but none was wounded. 

“Our members have been working around the clock to arrest these culprits and the three are now in police custody. Our search for more possible suspects is still under way,” said North West Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Ntebo Mabula.-TDN
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EFF North West To Launch Its Manifesto


Mahikeng-The Economic Freedom Fighters North West Election Manifesto Launch will take place at Montshioa Stadium, Mahikeng.

“EFF Command in Chief Julius Malema will deliver the key note address” EFF representative Seitebogeng Nkitseng said.

The Manifesto Launch which will be held as follows:

 Date: Saturday, 01 March 2014

 Venue: Montshioa Stadium, Mahikeng

 Time : 09h00
-TDN
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Robbers shot a tourist at lodge


Nelspruit – A tourist was shot in the leg by three men at a lodge in Hazyview in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Mpumalanga police said.

“It is alleged that three armed men forced opened the door of a chalet that was occupied by two men from Holland,” Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said.

“They went inside and fired a shot that wounded one of the tourists in his leg.”

The men took the tourists’ toiletry bags and a flat screen television.

“They proceeded to another chalet, also forced the door open and stole a flat screen television, then fled the scene,” he said.

One of the televisions was found abandoned not far from the chalet. The 55-year-old injured tourist was taken to hospital for medical treatment and discharged after a few hours.

The thieves were still at large.

Sapa

Kanye West to make a movie


London – Kanye West is making a movie with Brett Easton Ellis.

The controversial author was initially reluctant to work with the ‘Bound 2’ hitmaker, but was instantly won over when he heard the rapper’s latest album ‘Yeezus’, though he is unsure when the project will go ahead.

He said: “It’s in Kanye Land, and that’s subject to a whole other time frame.” offered Ellis on the status of the film.

“He came and asked me to write the film. I didn’t want to at first. Then I listened to ‘Yeezus’. It was early summer last year and I was driving in my car. He’d given me an advance copy, and I thought, regardless of whether I’m right for this project, I want to work with whoever made this. So f**k it, I said yes. And that’s how it happened.

“That was seven or eight months ago. We’ll see what happens.”

As well as being a fan of Kanye’s music, the ‘American Psycho’ author finds him a fascinating person, though he admits he doesn’t always come across well to the public.

He added in an interview with Vice: “I really like him as a person. I know he comes off in this performance-art way in the press, but if you’re just alone with him in a room talking for three hours, it’s kind of mind-blowing.” – Bang Showbiz