Picture: The embattled Greater Taung Local (GTLM) Municipality mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe who is missing in action/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

The embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) has been described as ‘leaderless’ by the chairperson of Standing Committee Public Accounts (SCOPA) in North West Job Dliso. This comes after the municipal speaker, Grace Moipolai, mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Cooperate Services, Dikagisho Mokoma failed to appear before the SCOPA.

The SCOPA had a public hearing with the embattled municipality on the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) over the 2019/20 audit reports and to seek clarity from responses to questions emanating from the Auditor General’s reports.

The AG report painted a grim picture of misuse of funds and unauthorised expenditure incurred by the municipality. The AG also alleged that, the municipality is running the risk of depleting its existing cash resources due to very low consumer recovery (little money coming in) and having to pay creditors.

“There is unauthorised expenditure closing balance amounts to R214m with R15m incurred in 2021/22. The previous year’s unauthorised expenditure was not investigated as required by legislation. Unauthorised expenditure incurred was due to overspending of the budget.

“This is due to inadequate budget and financial management controls to ensure the spending is within the budget guidelines. Continuing on this trend is likely to negatively affect the funds allocated to service deliver items,” said AG.

The AG highlighted that the municipality has challenges in delivering basic services to expectations too. The AG report said the municipality did not include indicators that speak to basic services such as water, sanitation, and electricity provision for all consumers of Taung (indicators included only focused on indigent households).

“We applaud the municipality for improving the audit outcome. However, we remain concerned about the sustainability of the improvement, as the finance unit still lacks the requisite skills to effect the daily and monthly financial management disciplines, such as reconciliations and regular reporting,” AG said.

AG further said even though the municipal infrastructure plays a key role in supporting service delivery, currently the municipality only spends R23 million on assets amounting to R762 million and that is not adequate to ensure these assets remain in good condition.

AG added that, the municipal manager must review the three annual budget before tabling to ensure it provides at least 8% of the value of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) as a repairs and maintenance budget.

“The mayor must review the SDBIP before tabling to ensure there are indicators and targets included for basic services, including water, sanitation and electricity.

“There are projects that were delayed such as Mokasa II due to heavy rainfalls and changing of the location, which was originally allocated to construct the community hall by the Ward Councillor and Tribal Council,” said AG.

Other projects that are incomplete are Loselong project that was delayed due to late appointment of the contractor by the Supply Chain Management (SCM) unit leading to a delay in receiving approval from geo-science for the dolomite studies.

“There are other projects such as Gasebuso that were delayed by heavy rainfalls and supply of roof sheets. Pudimoe Sport facility upgrade project not completed due to heavy rainfalls and budget cuts. Another incomplete project is Manthe sport facility due to poor cash flow problems of the contractor and heavy rainfalls leading to delays in delivering material,” said AG.

AG said incomplete projects include Rietfontein not completed due to poor cash flow problems of the contractor and heavy rainfalls leading to delays in delivering material, Mogopela B project not completed due to heavy rainfalls and community unrest.

“Community unrest resulting from complaints that no local community members were employed on the project.The paved road constructed in Pudimoe project was not completed and delayed due to yellow fleet breakdowns experienced during the year.

“Indigent households provided with basic services (i.e. basic water, electricity, refuse removal and sanitation). The municipality achieved 78% of the planned indicators during the 21/22 financial year. This is in addition to not having KPI’s for water, sanitation and electricity,” AG said.

Another challenge raised by the AG was a poor response to community complaints resulted in an increase in protests by the community, which at times result in the vandalism of the service delivery infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Dliso sent the municipality packing and requested it to respond to all questions raised in a detailed form.

Picture: The North West University (NWU) principal and vice-chancellor, Prof Bismark Tyobeka/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

The Springboks will face fierce Scotland during their 2023 Rugby World Cup match opener in Marseille, France on Sunday. The North West University (NWU) principal and vice-chancellor, Prof Bismark Tyobeka said Africa needs to make use of the global sports stage.

Tyobeka further said the previous tournament, which was won by South Africa – was held in Japan in 2019 and was the most-watched rugby event in the history of the game with more than 857 million people tuned in from around the globe.

He added that, Rugby has enjoyed a massive surge of popularity as has numerous other sporting codes, but is Africa reaping the rewards of these global sports events?

“Sport is the ideal window to showcase a country’s potential and to aid in partnership building, but these windows need to be opened. For that to happen, governments’ investment in the development of sport in their respective countries, as well as private sector partnerships that can aid in this is crucial.

“Africa cannot be left by the wayside when it comes to representation on the global sports stage. As developing countries, we need to use every possible opportunity to enhance our global footprint and to show the world our potential,” said Tyobeka.

He said sport plays an integral role in achieving this. According to Tyobeka, every tournament in every sporting code where an African team is present means that the country is taking a step forward on the global stage.

“It means the connections that were not previously there are being built. It means our countries are introduced to new markets, and tourists see new, exotic locations that more often than not provide favourable exchange rates.

“Look at our national rugby captain, Siya Kolisi who not only became a national hero, but a global sports icon after he lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy at the conclusion of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. It is almost impossible to place a value on what that meant for our country and what it still means,” he said.  

Tyobeka said the number of commercialisation opportunities generated by these events and the subsequent job creation opportunities are of paramount importance because they need to utilise every tool at their disposal if they want to uplift the economy.

He said injecting financial and intellectual capital into the sport can only lead to sustainable solutions to pressing problems.

“Cricket is the second biggest sport in the world with more than two billion supporters, but so far only South Africa on the continent of Africa has qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup that will be held in India in October. That is a window closed to a continent bereft of global exposure.

“Numerous sporting codes such as hockey, tennis, and others are suffering the same fate. I want to implore our African leaders and decision-makers to commit not only to buying into the idea of sport as a global marketing tool for our continent that will enhance the prosperity of our people but also to exploring every opportunity the richness of these sports codes has to offer,” said Tyobeka.

He encourages the country to keep the sport in safe and trusted hands so that, they may one day look back and not remember a time when they did not feature on the global stage.

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Picture: Lieutenant Col, Nomvula Jacobs/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

The acting Springbok Police Station Commander, Nomvula Jacobs has been arrested for theft by the Hawk’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation team on 5 September 2023. The Hawk spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said Jacobs (49) is an employee of the South African Police Service and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

“Jacobs is accused of stealing an amount of R291 700 from the station safe (SAP13), where exhibits are kept. The amount is made up of R102 700, which was confiscated on an ongoing inquiry matter. The amount was supposed to be deposited into a Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA) after the High Court recently issued an order to that effect.

“The balance of R189 000 is made up of other matters which are still pending. The investigation team made the discovery after several attempts were made to access the safe but the key was missing. The safe was finally opened on 30 August 2023 resulting in the case of theft being opened against Jacobs,” said Thebe.

He further said Jacobs made a brief court appearance before Springbok Magistrate’s Court on 6 September 2023. Thebe added that the bail was set at R4000, and the matter was postponed to 2 October 2023 for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the Head of Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Northern Cape, Major General Stephen Mabuela couldn’t hide his disappointment on hearing the news.

“Employee Health and Wellness should be the first port of call when our employees go through any kind of distress. It is sad to see this happening,” concluded Mabuela.

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Picture: Water scarcity remains a challenge in Warrenton and Rustenburg

By OBAKENG MAJE

The Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) in North West lauded women from Boitekong Township, near Rustenburg for their courageous action after they went to do their laundry at the Rustenburg Local Municipality offices.

As a way of ventilating their grievances about lack of access to running water, women were seen on a video that went viral on various social media platforms doing their laundry at the municipal offices.

The EFF provincial spokesperson, Fanon Moema said residents have been faced with dry taps for seven months, despite many undertakings. He further said the residents have long apprised the municipality about the issue, yet there are no signs of improvement.

“At the heart of the problem, is the alliance of the municipal administrators and the ANC political elites in the department of Infrastructure and Technical Services. The municipality in question has failed to deliver running, clean and drinkable water, develop and maintain infrastructure.

“The municipality has recorded unprecedented levels of infrastructural collapse. The three years of sewer spillages in Tlhabane, is a proof lack of appetite to deal decisively with the service delivery crisis. Quite evidently, the municipality has no concrete plan on how to proactively prevent and/or address infrastructural collapse,” said Moema.

He added that, therefore, the residents were justified to engage in the protest action and do their laundry at the municipal offices. Moema said as the EFF, they will hold accountable those who use the municipality as business ticket as opposed to upholding good governance and delivering services to the people.

Meanwhile, the chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, Mr Robert Mashego said they have received petitions regarding water shortages from residents in Warrenton in Northern Cape and Rustenburg in North West. Mashego said even though they have received petitions in these two areas, they agreed that, there is a need for a broader discussion on solutions to water shortages in many areas in the country.

“We have resolved to give the Departments of Water and Sanitation and of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) 14 days to respond and find solutions to the water shortages in Rustenburg and Warrenton.

“The petitions are an important tool to ensure oversight and the committee will use these petitions to seeks answers from all spheres of government that are constitutionally mandated to provide quality water to the people of South Africa,” said Mashego.

He said they will send the petitions to the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to get answers for the residents of those areas.

Mashego said the committee highlighted that, there remains a concerning gap within the water value chain, with some stakeholders such as municipalities failing to deliver on their mandate.

“The decision to include the Department of Cooperative Governance in solving water shortages is to ensure that there is joint accountability and that all stakeholders contribute, as per their mandate, to resolve this challenge.

“Also, the committee highlighted that the District Development Model (DDM), which seeks to integrate planning and delivery of services, should be exploited by all spheres of government to ensure collaboration in the delivery of quality services,” he said.

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Picture: North West’s six top learners to participate in the National Public Speaking Competitions 

By OBAKENG MAJE

Six top Mathematics and Physical Science learners emerged victorious during the Provincial Public Speaking Competitions hosted by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in Mahikeng on 29 August 2023.

The Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa said the Public Speaking competition is a national School Intervention Programme under the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Education Programme (WSEP), which aims to change the mindset, attitude and behaviour of South Africans in water and sanitation use efficiency.

Mavasa further said as one of WSEP’s sub-programmes, the Public Speaking competition aims to achieve water and sanitation literacy. He added that, under the theme: “The increasing threat of climate change to the environment and water resources necessitates communities to take radical action”, 33 high school learners throughout the North West province contended for the top six positions by developing and presenting topics.

“They were then judged based on the competition’s theme and on their presentations. Eleven Grade 10 -11 learners from North West are from Mmabatho High School, Ikopanyeng High School from Setlagole, Ramotshere High School, Tong High School in Ganyesa, Malatse High School, ZM Seatlholo High School in Lotlhakane, Letsatsing High School, Pinagare Secondary School, Klerksdorp High School, Golf View High School and Seleje High School.

“These schools competed towards the winning provincial positions. Specialists in the science and engineering fields listened attentively, while they adjudicated to the well-researched performances by this country’s future scientists and engineers, and were highly impressed, especially during the competition’s rebuttals and dialogue session,” said Mavasa.

He said, however, as learners were judged according to their individual performances and school performance, only the ‘cream of the crop’ had to be chosen. Mavasa said eventually, six top learners fit to represent the province in the National Public Speaking Competitions were selected.

The winning team of the North West Provincial Public Speaking team are as follows:

Manthatisi Tau and Naledi Molaolwa from Golf View High School

Kholiwe Sokhupa from ZM Seatlholo High School

Matshidiso Mbotshela from Letsatsing High School

Lesedi Baloyi and Karabo Mampe from Malatse High School

The six learners will contend for 27 tertiary bursaries and 27 laptops with other eight Provinces this year in Pretoria.

“The Department of Water and Sanitation’s mantra “Water is life and Sanitation is dignity” is self-explanatory and that is why the department is committed to securing specific scarce and technical skills such as engineering, geohydrology, environmental management, engineering and other water sciences courses to the youth to ensure that they continue managing this country’s water resources sustainably,” he said.

The Department of Water and Sanitation’s Educational Programme Manager in the North West, Peter Mogosetso said: “South Africa is one of the driest countries in the world and that the school’s intervention programme, is not a competition but one of the many awareness campaigns.

“Today’s learners are already feeling the negative effects of water scarcity in their communities and schools and that is why the subject of water use and efficiency has been introduced in the school Curriculum by the Department of Education to conscientize the country’s young minds about the importance of water and the need to protect it.”

One of the adjudicators Gladness Masindi, who is a Geo-hydrologist from the Department of Water and Sanitation, commended learners in this year’s competitions and encouraged them to continue seizing all the opportunities provided by the department.

She encouraged the learners to apply for tertiary bursary, which is currently open and closing on 30 November 2023. Masindi said information pertaining to the Department of Water and Sanitation external bursary can be found on the web page (http://www.dws.gov.za/LearningA).

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Setshwantsho: Diphologolo tsa naga dishele

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Balemi-rui kwa sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati ba ikuela go puso go ba tlhaga thuso mo twantshong kgatlhanong le melelo ya naga e e tsweletseng go fisa masimo a bone. Mo dibekeng tse tharo tse di fetileng, melelo ya naga ene ya tswelela go fisa masimo ga mmogo le naga, mme diphologolo dile dintsi di ile tsa amega thata.

Mokhuduthamaga wa lefapha la Temo-Thuo le Tlhabololo ya Naga mo Bokone Bophirima, Desbo Mohono o ikuetse go baagi go se fise naga, gonne seo se baka tatlhegelo e kgolo ya moruo. Mohono one a buisana le Motsweding FM, mme are baagi ba ele tlhoko gonne seo se ka tswa se bakiwa ke phetogo ya lewapi.  

“Ke utlwile botlhoko thata go bona seno se diragala. Ga re gane ke setlha sa melelo, mme gona le batho ba ba tsweletseng go tlhotlheletsang mathata a renang le one a melelo. Gole gantsi, ke go ikgatholosa ga batho ba ba gotsang melelo. Fa o gotsitse molelo, netefatsa gore molelo o timile gotlhelele.

“Ra tlhaloganya gore re sentse rena le bagaetsho ba ba setseng ba dirisa molelo go apaya mo di karolong dingwe tsa porofense. Jaanong, fa molelo o o sa timiwe, o tla baka mathata. Gape, se sengwe se se tlholang melelo ke batsumi ba rona kwa nageng,” Mohono wa tlhalosa.

Mohono are go le gantsi fa batsumi bao ba lelekisitse kolobe ya naga e be e tsena mo mosimeng, ba gotsa molelo gore e tswe. Mohono are jaanong fa kolobe eo e tswa mo mosimeng e tshaba, batsumi bao ga ba sa tlhole ba lebelela molelo, mme ba shebana le go tshwara kolobe.

“Jaanong, seo se feleletsa se ama mahulo a rona. Gape se sengwe se se bakang melelo, ke fa naga ya rona ele tshetlha, e kgona go tshubelwa ke magadima. Ke gopola gore seno se ile sa diragala kwa masepaleng wa Kagisano-Molopo.  

“Le batho ba ba gogang metsoko ba feleletsa ba latlhela metsoko eo ya bone mo nageng, mme e feleletse e bakile melelo. Se baagi ba ka se dirang ka nako ya go runya ga molelo, ke go leka go o tima fa o sentse ole monnye, mme fela fa o setse o godile re ba rotloetsa gore ba se tsene mo molelo owa, gonne o ka ba bakela dikgobalo,” Mohono wa tlhalosa.

Mohono are gona le mekgatlho e e farologaneng ya melelo, jaanong baagi ba ka dirisana mmogo le yone. Are, molelo wa matsatsi a o kotsi gonne wa fofa.

“Go le gantsi re itemogela gore molelo o kgona go tlola tsela ya sekontere, mme seo ga sa tlwaelega. Re rotloetsa balemi-rui ba rona go nna le dikgorwana tse di thibelang melelo (fire belts). Re tla gopola gore, phetogo ya lewapi le yone e fetotse dilo dile dintsi jaanong re tshwanetse re tsamaye le dinako.  

“Gape, gona le dithupelelo tse re di dirang jaaka lefapha, mme re di neele bagaetsho go ka leka go samagana le melelo e e ntseng jalo. Re rotloetsa gape balemi-rui ba rona e nne karolo ya thupelelo eo fa re neelana ka yone,” Mohono wa tlhalosa.

Mohono are ba rotloetsa gape dimasepala tsa porofense gore ba netefatse fa melao le melawana e latelwa. Mohono are ba rotloetsa balemi-rui go netefatsa fa ba na le di insurance go netefatsa fa ba thusega ka nako ya mathata.

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Picture: The chairperson of SCOPA in North West, Job Dliso visiting Modimong Water Infrastructure Upgrade in the Taung during oversight/Facebook    

By OBAKENG MAJE

The residents at Kolong village said they are happy that, the Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts (SCOPA) in North West has intervened in their water crisis. One of the community members, Rebaone Madia said it has been four years since they cannot access clean and drinkable water in their area due to a broken borehole.

“We are grateful that finally, there is somebody who understands our hardships. It has been very difficult for us to have portable water in our area. We had numerous consultative engagements with the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) including the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, however, nothing has changed.

“Our borehole is broken and that makes it difficult for us to have water timeously. This is alarming because water is a basic need for our health and basic hygiene. Our area has grown over the years and that has shown the growing need for water,” said Madia.

He further said water scarcity has become a cause of concern, but some government officials from both municipalities take it as a joke. Madia added that they hope the SCOPA intervention will bring a lasting solution to their problem.

Meanwhile, the chairperson of SCOPA in North West, Job Dliso said: “We conducted an oversight visit at Modimong Water Infrastructure Upgrade in the Taung. The visit forms part of the Oversight Week that the North West Provincial Legislature has embarked on in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati from 29 August to 1 September 2023.

“Rural Water projects was appointed in October 2022 for the contraction of four boreholes. In fact, one borehole had to be refurbished, whilst the other three had to be re-constructed from scratch. The budget for the project is R24 million and 93% of the work is done to the satisfaction of all parties involved.”

Dliso said the contractor confirmed to them that, by 6 September 2023, the project will be 100% complete. He said they are only left with fixing leakages and small things to do.

“We are happy with the work completed, but we requested the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality to involve Taung Local Municipality in all its dealings with Magalies Water, which the district said will be handling operational maintenance.

“A lot of people including municipalities have been raising concerns about Magalies Water, therefore the district municipality must share its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Magalies Water with the committee and the GTLM, a maintenance plan and schedule of engagements with all parties involved by 6 September 2023,” said Dliso.

He said they also went to Kolong village to check on the water challenges that the community had written to the committee about. Dliso said some village representatives told them that, the village has four years without water.

“They said this happened because their only source, which is a borehole whose mechanism that including a windmill, was vandalised. We gave the two municipalities one week to resolve the matter.

“I want a report detailing how they have resolved this water challenge by Friday. Failing, I will be forced to escalate the matter to the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Nono Maloyi who is also the acting North West Premier,” he said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

More than 800 suspects were arrested during Operation Shanela across North West. The North West police spokesperson, Captain Sam Tselanyane said the arrests were effected through the execution of several actions, which included stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, visiting and inspecting of licensed liquor premises, second-hand goods dealers, tracing of wanted suspects and many others.  

“Operation Shanela to prevent and combat crime has proved to be gaining momentum with the arrest of 849 suspects on various crimes including among others, dealing in drugs, business robberies, murder, attempted murder, and rape.

“This includes crimes such as sexual assault, assaults, fraud, and burglaries. This was executed between Thursday and Sunday. The arrest included 119 undocumented persons and eight wanted persons,” he said.

According to Tselanyane, during the operations, police confiscated 467 litres of liquor, four firearms 13 ammunition, 14 cellular phones, copper cables, and drugs. He added that all the arrested suspects are expected to make their court appearances in different courts after they have been charged.

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Picture: Incomplete RDP houses in the Dr Ruth Segomotsai Mompati District/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

Backlog in the construction of RDP houses continues to be a challenge in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District. It is alleged that the government has spent millions of rands on contractors, who were appointed to build RDP houses but never did.

The chairperson of North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Aaron Motswana said they conducted oversight visits at Amalia, Schweizer Reneke, and Glaudina, where they engaged with various beneficiaries.  

“This forms part of the Legislature’s oversight week in various municipalities under the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality. The program is aimed at strengthening oversight and public participation and to promote accountability and transparency in government.

“During the program, Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) interact with different provincial departments and their MECs, mayors, Accounting Officers, and members of the Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPAC),” said Motswana.

He further said the blocked housing projects are part of the first RDP houses that were supposed to be built in 2000 when the then Department of Local Government and Housing sent financial trenches to municipalities for the construction of RDP houses. Motswana added that, however, some of the RDP houses were never built as stipulated.

“The Department of Human Settlements should engage municipalities in resolving the challenges faced by the beneficiaries. Although money was sent to the municipalities for the construction of these RDP houses, unfortunately, they were never built.

“The beneficiaries cannot apply for new RDP houses as the system of the department indicates that they benefitted although it is not the case on the ground. There is a need for urgent intention between the department and municipality on helping these beneficiaries, who have waited for houses for more than 23 years,” said Motswana.

He said the department must also submit a comprehensive report on how it will ensure that the RDP houses are built.

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