By BAKANG MOKOTO

THOUSANDS of mourners from various arenas came out in numbers to witness the burial of SABC radio and television broadcaster, Cebo Mnyaapelo who passed away last week Wednesday after a long illness. Taung-born renowned sport presenter’s funeral was held at North West University (NWU) Greater Hall in Mahikeng.

Former soccer player and SABC commentator, Marks Maponyane said he shared good memories with Manyaapelo.

“We will always cherish Manyaapelo’s life and his charismatic personality. I will remember the moments we shared together. Manyaapelo always loved his family, his sport, and most important his birthday. He will normally not come to work on his birthday on the 7^th of May.

“Manyaapelo said life is too short and people tend to take their birthdays for granted. Truly, I mulled over these wise words and started to take my birthday serious. Manyaapelo taught me many life lessons and he has a unique personality,” Maponyane said.

He further said ‘CC’ as Clement Cebo Manyaapelo was affectionately known in the sport fraternity always dressed-up for his own birthday. Maponyane added that Manyaapelo believed that “life is a party.”

Former colleague and friend, Aubrey ‘JR’ Motloung shared the same sentiments. Motloung said Manyaapelo left a void in his life.

“Manyaapelo lived his life to the fullest and no one will ever replace him. The sport fraternity lost one of its integral members. However, we will soldier on and always learn from his life,” Motloung said.

Another colleague, Alpheus Koonyaditse said: “Manyaapelo taught us to value and appreciate people around us. He always loved his family, friends and colleagues. It is imperative to appreciate what we have. Looking back now, you begin to realise that life could be taken away from you when you least expect.

“Some of us who were able to see him, we were beginning to believe that he was recovering well. Manyaapelo also promised to join us back at work, but God had other plans. Indeed it was a shocker last week Wednesday when I received a call that Manyaapelo has passed on,” Koonyaditse said.

SABC spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago said: “The SABC Board, management and staff of the SABC would like to send its heartfelt condolences to the Manyaapelo family and friends. Manyaapelo will be remembered for his immense contribution at the SABC as the former Motsweding FM’s breakfast host for the programme ‘Re tla dula re thabile’ in 1998.

“He later became a Sports Presenter for ‘Mamepe’, a sports programme on Motsweding FM. He continued with ‘Mamepe’ as well as being a television Sports commentator, for ‘Laduma’ since 1998 until his untimely death. He worked on big special events where SABC was involved, like the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and 2010 and the AFCON 2013 and 2015.”

Kganyago further said Manyaapelo has a rich history in broadcasting environment which dates back from 1984 as a sports presenter for the erstwhile Radio Bop. He added that Manyaapelo was affectionately known to the millions of South Africans as one of the best sports commentators in the country.

“His in-depth, factual, well informed and yet playful commentary captivated many football fanatics to the SABC channels. His ability to use Setswana for football commentary inspired many youngsters and attracted them to the sport field. The country has lost a very great man in Cebo Manyaapelo.

“His work will continue to bring us great insight and understanding of the world of sport for decades to come. Manyaapelo’s talent was not only confined to South Africa, but he represented the SABC beyond the borders of South Africa where his skills were equally appreciated,” he said.

North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo said they will name Leopard Park Golf Course after Manyaapelo. 

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
North West Provincial government will host a Reconciliation, Healing and World Aids Day at Mogwase stadium in Mogwase near Rustenburg on Saturday. 

Provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said this is the plan to unite the citizens of province. Setswambung further said the province is also ready to intensify the fight against HIV and AIDS. 

“The event will set the tone for the implementation of Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal (RHR) programme among diversified groups and highlight achievements reached with regard to the HIV/AIDS Programme.

“The event will also seek to promote a united society, implement the RHR Charter Actions and Commitments, keep unity within diversity and help forge a closer relationship with affected communities in promoting tolerance,” he said.

 The event will commence at 8am. 

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Cyril Ramaphosa gave a lengthy speech recently, setting out the DA’s economic policy. To be fair, he didn’t call it that. He called it A New Deal for Jobs, Growth and Transformation. But there is nothing new about it. The DA has consistently called for economic policy that has jobs and growth at its centre, because that is the only way to lift 30 million South Africans out of poverty. We have consistently held that growth and transformation are mutually reinforcing, rather than conflicting, objectives. So even though Ramaphosa’s new deal is somewhat secondhand, we welcome it heartily.

It is wonderful that there is a growing consensus at the centre of SA’s politics around the DA’s approach to economic policy and growth. This is the unity of purpose we have been pursuing. We want South Africans to come together around the values of Constitutionalism and an open economy that delivers for all and not just the elite. We want South Africans to unite behind economic policy that focuses on the 30 million poorest South Africans rather than on enriching a small number of black industrialists.

So this public endorsement from a leading ANC presidential candidate is gratifying. At the Daily Maverick’s The Gathering last week, Pravin Gordhan emphatically denied any common ground with DA policy, but was unable to point out major differences. From our side, we’re certainly happy to be in the “same Whatsapp Group” as anyone in SA who understands that job creation through an unrelenting focus on inclusive growth and investment is the only way to sustainably transform our economy and society.

As Ramaphosa acknowledges, this requires us to commit to stable, investor-friendly policies, to invest heavily in infrastructure and skills, and to put small and medium enterprises at the centre of our policies, since they have the highest potential to create jobs. These are policies that have led to growth and employment where we govern. This is why the Western Cape has achieved faster job creation in the past decade than has the rest of the country. Our policy approach has been tried and tested and shown to work. We believe strongly in it, and we want to see it implemented as widely as possible.

As Ramaphosa conceded, rather ironically, we need to move from looking to create a small number of super elite to an economy in which the state’s role is to create an enabling environment so that entrepreneurial activity can flourish, creating sustainable, private-sector jobs on a massive scale.

He recognizes that this means aggressive support for SME’s by massively reducing their cost of doing business, through policy and regulatory reform. It means prioritizing sectors with the greatest potential for job creation, such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and mining. It means promoting renewable energy. It means harnessing ongoing urbanization to improve access to land and housing ownership, services and economic opportunities. It means land reform that includes systems to improve land productivity, and greater support for small-scale black farmers.

So much music to our ears: He says we must maintain fiscal discipline and reject populist projects. We must promote export-oriented businesses, and local procurement from a wider variety of smaller businesses. SOE’s must be properly governed and operated for the benefit of the public, and private capital must be considered.

Sound familiar?

The DA has been consistent in this policy approach for years. Ramaphosa is getting to the table somewhat late, but better late than never. It is unfortunate, though, that he and Gordhan and their faction within the ANC have been legitimizing policies that serve to enrich a connected elite at the expense of the many, for many years now. This has taken South Africa backwards, increasing poverty and enabling corruption and state capture to take root and become deeply entrenched.

And herein lies the most important difference between the DA and the ANC. The DA will be able to actually implementthese policies. We already do so where we govern, which is why DA governments have lower unemployment and higher growth. Effective implementation requires a capable state. The DA seeks to recruit the best people for public service, who will actually implement policy. Appointments are not a reward for comradeship.

The ANC is so deeply infested with corruption, patronage and factionalism, that it is literally paralysed. Ramaphosa has been the second most powerful person in the country for some years now and under his watch South Africa has gone backwards.

Point number 10 in Ramaphosa’s 10-point plan is to confront corruption and state capture. He states unequivocally that it is “necessary to take immediate steps to remove from positions of responsibility those individuals who have facilitated state capture”. I couldn’t agree more. Roll on 2019.

Mmusi Maimane
DA Leader

Facebook: (North West Provincial Legislature Deputy Manager in Communication)

By BAKANG MOKOTO

North West Provincial Legislature speaker, Sussana Dantjie will host the Legislature Stakeholders’ Dialogue at Coleridge Stadium in Vryburg on Wednesday. NWPL Deputy Manager in Communication, Namhla Luhabe said the initiative will be under the theme: “Unleashing The Economic Spin-Offs in Dr R S Mompati District In The Context of VTSD.”

“The event will commence at 9am and the objective is to create a platform for robust debates on growing the local economy of the district. This will be done through existing resources and to identify the unique intervention mechanisms necessary for unleashing the economic spin-offs in the region.

“The outreach programme was launched by Dantjie to afford the executive an opportunity to account to the people of the North West on the work and commitment by government. The platform also provides an opportunity for people of province to engage with government and table their expectations,” Luhabe said.

She further said a panel of expertise consisting of the Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development (FEED), Tourism department, North West University (NWU) and District Economic Development Officers (DEDO) will present on various topics.

“They will share ideas on how to multiply and drive the economy of Dr R S Mompati through Tourism industry to off-set benefits to the community. The role of communities in addressing local economic development challenges such as funded projects that have collapsed.

“They will also talk about resuscitating government and community initiatives geared towards economic growth. Representatives from the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) and Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD) Forums, District Chamber of Business, Tourism Associations, Agricultural College and community members will be present at the event,” Luhabe added.

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Picture: (Facebook: Enoch Molebiemang who is accused of stealing 21 sheep)

By REGINALD KANYANE
A 42 year-old man appeared in Taung Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection of livestock theft. Enoch Molebiemang who is a teacher at Bogosing Secondary School in Maphoitsile village, in Taung was arrested last week Friday.

Molebiemang was arrested at his residential area in Matolong village. Police allegedly found 21 suspected stolen sheep in his possession.

It is alleged that Molebiemang stole sheep from various areas like Matolong, Maphoitsile, Cokonyane and Nhole.

Some of victims have already identified their livestock. Princess Maleho (48) said: “I am self-employed and have no income. We found our sheep in Molebiemang’s possession. I run Early Childhood Development (ECD) and heavily depended on my livestock for survival. We urge the judiciary system to be harsher on livestock thieves. We cannot continue to have people who steal from us.”

Another victim, Joseph Kgosieng from Maphoitsile village said he lost everything.

“I had cattle, sheep and goats. However, I lost everything after criminals stole them. We survive through our livestock simply because there are no job opportunities here in Taung. The area is predominantly rural and we urge our community to work together and combat livestock theft,” he said.

Lucas Koji from Nhole village said he suspects that criminals are working as syndicate. Koji said police must frequently visit auctions.

“We urge our police to ensure that they visit auctions frequently so that they can arrest those who sell stolen livestock. It is very depressing to take care of your livestock and criminals come and steal from you just like that. We will end up taking the law into our own hands because these criminals continue to roam the streets,” Koji said.

Greater Taung Anti-Crime organisation chairperson, Peggy Molatlhegi said: “We are so disappointed after Molebiemang’s arrest. As a teacher, he should be good example to our kids. We never thought a person of his calibre can be involved in criminal activities.

“Stock-theft has become a white collar crime and we urge our police to work hard in arresting suspects. We know that some of thieves are working together with police and that will be hard to win these kind of cases. Most of our people depend on their livestock for survival. If you steal their livestock you leave them vulnerable and deprived.”

The case was postponed until December 4 for formal bail application.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By REGINALD KANYANE 

TWO suspects aged between 39 and 40 are expected to appear at Pampierstad Magistrate’s Court on Monday. North West police spokesperson Lt Colonel, Amanda Funani said the suspects were arrested at Kgomotso village, near Pampierstad on Friday.

“Two suspects were found to be in a possession of suspected stolen copper cable. The pair was arrested after the police swiftly responded to a tip-off.

“They were seen carrying copper cables in the bushes in Kgomotso village. According to information, the police found the suspects loading the copper cables worth R13 000 in the vehicle,” she said. 
taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: Motsweding FM Sport presenter, Cebo Manyaapelo

The SABC Board, management and staff of the SABC would like to send its heartfelt condolences to the Manyaapelo family and friends. Mr. Manyaapelo will be remembered for his immense contribution at the SABC as the former Motsweding FM’s breakfast host for the programme ‘Re tla dula re thabile’ in 1998.

He later became a Sports Presenter for ‘Mamepe’, a sports programme on Motsweding FM. He continued with ‘Mamepe’ as well as being a television Sports commentator, for ‘Laduma’ since 1998 until his untimely death. He worked on big special events where SABC was involved, like the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and 2010 and the AFCON 2013 and 2015.

Mr. Manyaapelo has a rich history in broadcasting environment which dates back from 1984 as a Sports Presenter for the erstwhile Radio Bop. Cebo, as he was affectionately known to the millions of South Africans  was one of the best Sports Commentators in the country. His in-depth, factual, well informed and yet playful commentary captivated many football fanatics to the SABC channels. His ability to use Setswana for football commentary inspired many youngsters and attracted them to the sport field.

The country has lost a very great man in Cebo Manyaapelo, and his work will continue to bring us great insight and understanding of the world of sport for decades to come. Mr. Manyaapelo’s talent was not only confined to South Africa, but he represented the SABC beyond the borders of South Africa where his skills were equally appreciated.

His meaningful contribution to the SABC will remain and continue to inspire all who knew him in his personal and professional space. He will be deeply missed and may his soul rest in peace.

The details of his memorial and funeral service will be announced in due course.

Source: http://www.motswedingfm.co.za 

Picture: (Facebook: Tshidiso Dube who allegedly defrauded people their hard-earned cash)

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

INVESTORS of Money versus Poverty scheme were left dejected by Forex trade and music producer, Tshidiso Dube aka Dr Doggz. A Tlapeng-born musician and trader allegedly failed to pay up some of people who invested in his business.

One of investors, Gloria Mosala (46) from Pampierstad said she invested in the business and expected fruitful returns. Mosala further said she introduced her husband, brother and neighbour to the trade, but that brought animosity between them after Dube failed to pay them.

“I am contemplating on opening a fraud case against Dube. I invested more than R2800 into the trade and I have not received even a cent thus far. He is ignoring our calls and we do not know where to go now. I am unemployed and the money I invested belongs to the stokvel.

“The mess caused financial upheavals for my family. My marriage is now facing challenges because of this,” she said.

Another investor, Tshepo Seele (42) said: “I feel like Dube defrauded us and we need to take legal steps against him. I do not know if I was stupid enough to trust him. That man has taken all my heard earned money. I was introduced to him by my sister as he was known to be a successful Forex trader around Taung.”

Kuruman-based self-employed man, Tshepo Sebigi said Dube allegedly conned him too. Sebigi said he known Dube back from Tlapeng village, near Taung and he trusted him.

“I believe it was a bad idea to trust him. I have invested R9 500 and expected it with interests. However, he is avoiding my calls and comes up with different stories all the time. I have children to take care of and we are heading towards festive season. I thought that money will assist me where necessary because I am self-employed.

“I would like to advise people not to trust Dube again. He is on the run with our money and I do not think he is willing to pay it back. However, I will meet with him face-to-face during festive season and take it from there,” Sebigi said.

However, a 26 year-old man disputed the allegations levelled against him. Dube said he has experienced challenges through his bank.

“I am aware that there are some people who invested in my business and I must pay them back. However, I experienced challenges with my bank account and I agreed with them that I’ll use my salary to pay back their money. I am working for Health department at Tlapeng clinic as a data capturer. I believe I will use my salary to pay them back.

“I used most of the money to trade after I was under pressure. They wanted their money immediately and I do not have it with me now,” Dube said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: (Hartswater K9 Unit police, Sergeant Altus Coetser with his patrol dog, tiger)

By BAKANG MOKOTO

A 23 year-old man will appear in Hartswater Magistrate’s Court on Monday for theft. Northern Cape police spokesperson, Capt Sergio Kock said two suspects allegedly entered into the Grocery Warehouse through its roof on Thursday.

“Hartswater K9 unit received a complaint of a business burglary in progress. Our police were summoned to the crime scene along with their patrol dogs. Upon arrival, the two male suspects were in the process of entering the Grocery Warehouse building. The incident took place during broad-daylight.

“Police only managed to arrest one suspect as the other one fled the scene. One of our police officers entered the building, but he was pelted with tin food. Our police announced three warnings and sent in patrol dog. The dog managed to assist our police in arresting the suspect,” he said.

The Frances Baard Cluster Commander, Maj Gen Jean Abrahams lauded the members for the positive arrest and also thanked the community for their assistance in this regard. Kock said investigation continues and police are looking for the second suspect who is still at large.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: (North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo)

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo will launch Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD) Retail Economy Mini Shopping Centre and VTSD Hyper at Ventersdorp and Potchefstroom respectively on Wednesday.

Mahumapelo said this is the efforts to revitalize community enterprises across the province. “VTSD initiative will be taken to greater heights and this will be the first of its kind. This enterprise programme is aimed at empowering local business people to run sustainable enterprises, while at the same time working collectively through social enterprises.

“The VTSD Retail Economy is powered by the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) which is a form of co-operative business model. Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) who are running tuckshops, butcheries, hair salons and hardware stores in a social enterprise model will benefit from this,” Mahumapelo said.

Relevant stakeholders, including the beneficiaries of the VTSD Retail Economy projects will be attending the launch.

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