By Obakeng Maje

Marikana-Police are investigating a case of rape after a 5 year-old girl was allegedly raped at about 17:00 in one of the RDP houses near Marikana.  

“It is alleged that a 5 year-old girl went to a local tuck shop to buy sweets and she was confronted by an unknown suspect who took her to an abandoned RDP house where the atrocity took place” brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

The suspect is still at large and police request anyone with the information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect to come forward.

Police investigations continue.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

By Obakeng Maje

Zeerust-Twenty two suspects between the age of 18 and 57 who were arrested in Zeerust for public violence, malicious damage to property and arson on 29 January 2014 in Kruisrivier appeared in Zeerust Magistrate’s Court on Monday. 

The suspects will appear again on 10 February 2013 for bail application.

“It is alleged about 300 community members stoned and set alight a local businessman Tshepo Kraai’s house and tuck shop accusing him of the alleged child kidnapping and ritual killings in the township. Five of his vehicles were also torched” captain Pelonomi Makau said. 

The police said the victim and his wife were transported to the hospital with burnt wounds.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

North West Premier Thandi Modise has expressed concern about incidents of violence and called on AMCU to respect its earlier commitment to a non-violent strike action.

“We wish to express our disappointment that acts of violence have emerged amid allegations of intimidation of non-striking workers, barricading of some routes and pelting of motorists with stones. We wish to appeal to striking AMCU members to respect the rights of other citizens, their freedom of movement and their properties,” Premier Modise emphasised. 

Modise reminded AMCU that while workers’ right to strike is protected by the constitution, the rule of law has to be upheld and peace maintained to ensure protection of life, property and the advancement of the rights of all.

“Incidents that might lead to violent confrontation have to be avoided at all costs and efforts intensified by parties for a settlement to be arrived at before the situation gets out of hand,” she added.

The Premier’s plea follows reported incidents that according to police occurred in Mmantsere near Mogwase, route between Zinniaville and Khuseleka mine.

A bus transporting an Impala Platinum mine soccer team from Olympia Park stadium was allegedly stoned by a group of people at Freedom Park.

Spokesperson for the police, Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said that no injuries were reported and no arrests were made.

Amcu rejected a new wage offer tabled by Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum and Impala Platinum on Wednesday as it was not close to the workers’ demand of a R12 500 monthly salary.

Amcu’s national co-ordinator Evans Ramokga said workers earned R5 000, and the union suggested that the R7 500 gap be closed over three years, after which workers would ultimately earn the proposed R12 500.

Amcu had proposed to table a new proposal to the platinum companies on Friday after receiving a mandate from its members.

The strike in the North West platinum belt is in its second week. The platinum companies said hundreds of millions of rands had already been lost as a result of the strike.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

The Mahikeng Aerotropolis will position the North West Province as a gateway into the Southern African Development and Economic Community (SADEC), Premier Thandi Modise told investors and stakeholders during the roundtable discussion on the repositioning of Mahikeng towards an Airport city at the Mmabatho Palms Resort in Mahikeng on Friday. 

“We want to leave a legacy of Mahikeng as a city that will challenge established exports sites. The development of the freight hub will ensure that the number of trucks transporting cargo to as far out as Zambia that is damaging our roads network is reduced,” said Premier Modise. 

Modise told delegates including investors that her administration was committed to the empowerment of youth, women and people with disability.

“We want development in every sector of our lives in the North West. We are upfront as the province to say that, because of the rich history of the province, we want women, youth and people with disability to benefit as we reposition Mahikeng as an Airport city and create a vibrant economy in the province,” reiterated Modise.

The roundtable dialogue followed a site visit of the Mafikeng International Airport where R45 million infrastructure upgrade project is in its final stages of completion for the rejuvenation of the airport. 

The airport boasts a landing strip of 4.8 km which make it the second longest in Africa.

The runaway is wide enough for an aircraft of any magnitude to land and it is equipped with the state of the art instrument landing system allowing it to handle aircraft during severe climatic conditions.

Another major strength of the airport is that it is located very close to the railway line that links Africa from Cape to Cairo.

It is envisaged that the airport will resume scheduled flights and attract chartered freight aircraft in the next few months.

“This is a major economic development project and an investment that is going to impact on the lives of the people and replicate benefits for investors,” said Chairperson of Future Investment Holdings and local businessman Abel Naphtaly who was part of the airport tour and the roundtable discussions.

“The interest shown by local and overseas investors in the development that is going to unlock our economic potential and create much needed jobs through the proposed free special economic zone (SEZ) is heartening,” said an upbeat MEC for Economic Development, Conservation, Environment and Tourism, Matlalepula Rosho. 

Premier Modise was accompanied by MEC Rosho, MEC Desbo Mohono of Agriculture and Rural Development, Kgosi Jeff Montshiwa of the Barolong Boo Ratshidi and MMC for in Mahikeng Local Municipality, Councillor Pontsho Tabane.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Every facility under control of government will be made accessible to People with Disabilities, North West Premier Thandi Modise said at the closing of a two-day Provincial Disability Rights Conference that ended in Mahikeng on Friday.

“Every municipality must make sure that its buildings are accessible to People with Disability. We will make sure that every facility under the control of government is accessible to people with disability. Clinics and other buildings must all be wheelchair friendly,” said Premier Modise.

Premier Modise also echoed Representative of the North West House of Traditional Leadership, Kgosi Anthea Seatlholo’s concern that the current disability grant needed to be increased as People with Disability often needed more support which tend to increase their financial burden, saying that her administration will raise the matter with the national government.

Delegates emerged from the conference convened under the theme “Breaking barriers, open doors for an inclusive society for all,with key priority areas for the disability rights sector that will inform the work of the Provincial Government over the next five years.

“We have singled-out education, health, universal access, economic empowerment, governance, institutional support, decent jobs and employment as critical areas that should be given urgent attention by government,” read the declaration. 

The conference also resolved that the Provincial Government should lobby for the health policy to be reviewed to include other types of disabilities such as Albinism.

Delegates were also resolute that 2% employment target must be achieved by all departments in the next two years and that the government must take action against those that fail to achieve this target.

“We congratulate Premier Thandi Modise and her team in the Provincial Administration for convening this important conference and wish that they use their evident energies to ensure effective implementation of the resolutions of this conference,” said delegates in the declaration.  

The delegates closed by paying a fitting tribute to the late former President Nelson Mandela.

“We remain indebted to Madiba as he laid a firm foundation for a united, democratic, prosperous and an inclusive South Africa that disregards any form of unfair discrimination. We will continue to pursue the ideals that he represented. Our conference is therefore the first step in defending the legacy of Nelson Mandela.”-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_Dailynews or @IceT_

The alleged rape of an elderly woman by her son in Mapetla section in Mmakau village near Mothotlung outside Brits is a wicked and a despicable act and demands for all women and real men to stand up against the scourge of rape and gender based violence, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Monday.

“The scourge of rape has reached alarming proportion and calls for united action and intensified action to protect women and children,” emphasised Premier Modise in condemning the incident.

Modise called for no bail for the 49-year-old suspect alleged to have raped his 74-year-old mother on Thursday.

“No woman or child would be safe with a man who rapes his own mother roaming the streets. He should be locked away and the key thrown into the deep sea,” Premier Modise added.

She reiterated her call to faith based organizations, women formations, children’s right groups and men rights groups to join the COSATU picket to be held on the Friday 7 February 2014 at the Swartruggens Magistrates Court to highlight the scourge of gender based violence and amplify the call for no bail for perpetrators as the court at which the suspect is going to appear is outside the province.

The Premier called on those around Mmakau,Hebron and Kgabalatsane to picket at the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate Court where the suspect is expected to appear for bail application on Friday.

Police alleged that the victim was asleep when her son entered her bedroom. The victim informed her sister who alerted the police.”

“The mother was taken to hospital for medical examination, where rape was confirmed,” said Captain Pelonomi Makau.

Police  investigations are continuing.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews o@IceT_

By Obakeng Maje

Pudumong-A 25 year-old man was denied bail by Taung Magistrate Court after he was subsequently arrested for assaulting his own father.

Mzwandile Nkomo,25 from Choseng village, near Pudumong was denied bail even thou his father pleaded with the court to release him on bail and he also offered to pay bail for him.

Franscis Batlhalihe Nkomo,50 opened a GBH assault against his son, Mzwandile after he allegedly assaulted him.

“This is not for the first time being assaulted by my only son. We stay together in a house and the fight started after he asked for money to buy a cellphone” Nkomo said.

Nkomo said Mzwadile becomes unruly most of the time when he is drunk.

“He assaulted me with a iron stick and I ended in hospital. I would like to pledge with him to stop assaulting me as I love him as my son” said heartbroken Nkomo.

The case was postponed until the 24 February 2014 for next appearance and the court said that will be risky to release Mzwandile on bail as he might abuse his father while on bail.

“I offered to pay bail for him after I felt the pain of him staying in custody. He is my son and I want to stay with him as no one want him” Nkomo outlines.

Mzwandile Nkomo is unwanted and no one in his family or extended ones want anything to do with him because of his behaviour.

The case of GBH assault was opened against him and the latter will remain in custody.

Police investigations continue.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_