The Chamber of Mines has agreed to postpone its court application in respect of the reviewed Mining Charter, which was due to be heard in the High Court this week.

The Presidency said on Sunday that it had been in discussion with the Chamber of Mines to resolve the impasse over the mining charter.

This was in a bid “to facilitate a process of developing a New Mining Charter that all stakeholders can support and defend”.

“The Chamber of Mines, on behalf of its members, has agreed jointly with the Department of Mineral Resources to postpone its court application in respect of the Reviewed Mining Charter, which was due to be heard in the High Court on 19 to 21 February.

“The postponement serves to allow parties the space to engage and find an amicable solution,” said the Presidency.

The Presidency and the Chamber of Mines have approached the seven other applicants, as well as two amici curiae, namely the National Union of Mineworkers and Solidarity, to advise them of the development, and have encouraged them to similarly postpone their applications.

The Presidency said this was in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment during the State of the Nation Address on Friday to intensify engagements with all stakeholders on the Mining Charter “to ensure that it is truly an effective instrument to sustainably transform the face of mining in South Africa”.

“By working together, in a genuine partnership, underscored by trust and a shared vision, I am certain we will be able to resolve the current impasse and agree on a Charter that both accelerates transformation and grows this vital sector of our economy,” President Ramaphosa said.

The Department of Mineral Resources amended the Mining Charter to strengthen and refine its effectiveness in driving economic transformation and competitiveness in the mining sector. – SAnews.gov.za

Bokone Bophirima’s provincial government held a two-day Executive Council (EXCO) Lekgotla at Cooke’s Lake Lodge in Mahikeng to highlight how it has been able to implement the National Development Plan (NDP).

The EXCO Lekgotla reflected on the work done by provincial departments, districts and local municipalities as well as state-owned entities.

Premier Supra Mahumapelo briefed the media on developments following the Lekgotla.

“We have assessed the progress we have made and the economy of the province is growing at 2%, which is above the national average. As the provincial government we have taken a decision to intensify the Setsokotsane 10 by 10 Campaigns on the issue relating to fighting greed, crime and corruption,” he said.

The provincial government will also be embarking on lifestyle audits on all government employees, mayors and councilors.

“Over 700 public servants and politicians will come under scrutiny as we conduct these lifestyle audits. From March this year we will be starting at the Premier’s Office where an independent team will start auditing the Premier and the administration. From there after, the auditors will be going to various departments on a monthly basis. This team will then be reporting on a quarterly basis to the public on the results of this lifestyle audit,’’ said Mahumapelo.

The provincial government will also be looking at all government related projects to see if all the procurement processes were followed when tenders were awarded.

“This will help to stop all these wild allegations against officials that are unsubstantiated. We encourage all members of the public to come forward with any information that might help to investigate corruption in the province,” said Mahumapelo.

The provincial government will also be intensifying its Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD) industrialization programme.

“As government we consume over R7 billion in services and products that are sourced from overseas and other provinces. We want to manufacture these products locally in our VTSD areas. Eskom has come on board and they have agreed to help us with electrification. Their target was 12 234 households for the 2017/2018 financial year, but they have reached 12 32, which is over a 100% of their target.”

In terms of municipal audit outcomes, the provincial government recently met with the Auditor General (AG) to discuss ways to improve the audits.

“When I came in as Premier we found that there were 15 ailing municipalities. We have reduced the number to eight, but some attention will have to be paid to these municipalities because the number has now increased to 12. We are working with the AG to see how we can reduce this number,” the Premier said.

In terms of water supply, 87% of people in the province have got access to clean drinking water. The province has realised that there are issues relating to infrastructure, but the Premier said this is being addressed.

Mahumapelo said the province of Bokone Bophirima would be using technology to report damaged roads and potholes so they may get quick attention.

“We will be using technology where road users can send information through a mobile application to Department of Public Works and Roads so that potholes can be fixed within 12 to 18 hours. This will assist in ensuring that our roads are safer to use,” he said.

The provincial government will have fully implemented the national cabinet decision on rationalisation of State Owned Entities (SOEs) by April this year.

“We are going to combine all SOEs under one roof, which will be called the People’s Economic Growth Agency (PEGA), which is currently known as the North West Development Corporation (NWDC). SOEs that will fall under PEGA include the North West Parks Board and the North West Housing Corporation”.

Mahumapelo said the provincial government is looking at ways in which it can turn public servants into entrepreneurs. He said this is important because after serving for about 15 years in the public sector they have enough money in their pension funds that can be used as start-up capital for businesses. This will enable them to leave the system quicker to allow new entrants into the system. He said the provincial government would be speaking to the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) on how they can turn this into a reality.

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

The R500 000 rewards offered for the capture of the Gupta brothers and Duduzane Zuma have just been doubled to R1 million after a Cape Town based woman took it upon herself to match the reward money rand for rand.

In a tweet, CEO of Sygnia Tech Solutions, Magda Wierzycka calls on South Africans to contribute their spy skills to ensure that the fugitives are arrested.

Weirszycka says she is also looking to implement additional rewards to persuade people to cooperate with the investigation, including a reward for the first person in the Gupta circle to turn on the controversial family.

“Everyone is very aware of what Duduzane Zuma and the Gupta brothers have done to South Africa and they seem to have staged a disappearing act. I think it’s really up to every single South African to be on the lookout for these guys and in particular, what I do know is they are all protected by bodyguards.”

“So, I am hoping to appeal to the families of those bodyguards to turn those guys in so that justice can take its course and so that we can start recovering the billions of rand that they have stolen from South Africa,” says Wierzycka.

This past week, Hawks declared Ajay Gupta a fugitive from the law.

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

Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma announced his resignation with immediate effect on Wednesday night.

“Even though I disagree with the decision . I have always been a disciplined member of my organisation,” he said.

Zuma was speaking from the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday night.

Zuma’s statement comes after the ANC gave him an ultimatum to resign or be recalled in a letter delivered by the party’s secretary general Ace Magashule on Tuesday.

On Wednesday the ANC announced that their MPs would vote with opposition parties in support of a motion of no confidence against Zuma and that the Speaker of Parliament had agreed to move the motion, which was originally scheduled to be debated next week, forward to Thursday.

The ANC gave Zuma until midnight on Wednesday to respond to the recall letter, otherwise the debate on the motion of no confidence will commence at 2pm on Thursday as agreed to by all political parties.

A defiant Zuma earlier on Wednesday spoke out in an interview with the SABC, saying he had done nothing wrong and was never told the reasons for his recall.

He stated that he disagreed with the decision of the ANC to recall him, and warned that it would plunge the country into a “crisis”.

Zuma said he had made it clear to the party’s national officials that he was not willing to leave the Union Buildings without being told what wrong he had committed. He said he felt victimised.

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

Thabang Mosiako was supposed to travel to Algeria next month to compete in the African Championships but says doctors first want to run a set of tests.

JOHANNESBURG – A South African long distance athlete who fell victim to an alleged racial attack in Potchefstroom says he is angry and wants to see justice.

Thabang Mosiako and his friend Rantso Mokopane were assaulted over a week ago when they allegedly tried to correct a group of white young men who were swearing at a cashier.

Mosiako was supposed to travel to Algeria next month to compete in the African Championships but says doctors first want to run a set of tests. He is a 5,000m athletics champion and runs for the Nedbank running club.

He was discharged from hospital last week with three stitches to his head.

Mosiako says he hopes to still compete next month and represent his country in the 10km race.

“I’m angry at this moment. Next month I’ll have to go represent those guys that beat me here.”

Police are yet to make any arrests.

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

JOHANNESBURG – President Jacob Zuma is expected to brief the media at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday.

The media briefing is expected to start at 10am.

The ANC has decided to recall him as the country’s president.

Source: eNCA

By BAKANG MOKOTO

North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts (SCOPA) will hold public hearings on the Public Finance Management Act audit outcomes of the financial year 2016/17 for the Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development in the Legislature Committee Room 2 at 09h00.

The Chief Executive Officer CEO and senior management of the North West Parks Board will account at 11h00 in the same venue.

The Office of the Audit General will also attend the meeting.

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A Botswana fraudster is set to appear at North West High Court in Mahikeng to face fraud case. The fraud case against Daniel Smit was postponed until 9 February 2018. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Frank Lesenyego said Smit was convicted of four counts of fraud totalling R6 887 820 on 11 December 2017.

Lesenyego further said the accused resides in Botswana, but does business mostly in the North West.

“Smit defrauded farmers in the North West area as well as a family member, who practises as a medical doctor in Canada. The accused committed the crimes mainly by taking possession of cattle and maize without paying, receiving money to purchase cattle on behalf of complainants and failing to purchase the cattle and failing to return their money.

“Smit was sentenced to undergo 10 years imprisonment, which was wholly suspended on the conditions that he repays the complainants, Jan Le Roux, Gerhard Meyer, Johan Schikerling and Basie Spies a total amount of R4 400 000, 00 on or before 11 January 2018. He should not be convicted of fraud, theft or any other crime involving an element of dishonesty committed during the 5 year period,” he said.

Lesenyego added that Smit’s wife, Cornelia Elizabeth Steinberg-Smit was initially charged with him, but charges against her were withdrawn as Smit pleaded guilty.

Judge Samkelo Gura said: “On the 11^th of December 2017, Mr Smit appeared before this court and he was convicted on several counts of fraud and sentence was imposed on him accordingly.

“All these amounts had to be paid to the four different complainants by the 11^th of January 2018. On the 15^th of January 2018, the accused appeared before court that was during recess. The duty Judge at that stage was my sister Judge J because the case then had to serve before the trial Judge who originally sentenced the accused.

“However, because of my unavailability on the 11^th of January 2018 due to the high court has recessed, the case was postponed until today (29^th of January 2018). Today the accused appears and he is represented by Mr Themba Gura who has stated to the court that the accused attorney is not available today,” Gura said.

Gura said it has been placed on record before the court that on the 15^th of January 2018 when the accused appeared before another Judge, whether he had been brought before this court whether with a warrant of arrest or he appeared his own.

“The Judge who heard this matter on the 15^th of January 2018 directed that the accused must be retained in custody until today. I am entitled to regard this as a first appearance because on the 15^th of January 2018 was actually during the recess of High Courts of South Africa.

“Therefore, this means that it was not possible that this matter to be heard and the accused to be committed to prison. So, today the recess period has ended in all High Courts of South Africa. This is the first day after a recess and I am faced with the application by the state to commit the accused to jail for his failure to comply with the court order directing him to pay R4.4m by the 11^th of January 2018,” Gura said.

He added that Mr Gura informed the court that the attorney for the defence promised to be available on Friday next week. Gura said that will be appropriate to grant the accused a chance until next week.

“This is the first appearance of the accused today and the accused must be granted this chance until Friday next week. I decided not forgetting that the matter has been pending quite for a number of months before sentencing in 11 December 2017. The implication of the decision of the court today if the court will refuse the postponement could have a potential that accused will have to serve from now immediately 10 years imprisonment.- Newsnote

Northern Cape MEC of Education department, Martha Bartlett is set to visit victims of accident that took place next to ER Motsoaledi Primary School in Hartswater on Thursday afternoon. A truck loaded with sand collided with a scholar bus carrying learners and left two learners injured and one dead.

The department spokesperson, Jeffrey Van Der Merwe said: “Bartlett will visit the school and the families of the victims at 10am. She will engage with them and discuss a way forward. Bartlett also wished all those who are injured a speedy recovery. She sent her heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased too.”

A Grade 5 learner, Refentse More (13) from Nkandla in Hartswater suffered injuries on her nose, head and hand, while Thapelo Diane (10) who is doing Grade 5 also lying in hospital with head injury and fractured left hand.

Refentse’s mother, Kealeboga More (31) said: “The accident has traumatised me and I cannot copy. I only pray to God to grand my child a speedy recovery.”

Another victim’s mother, Poppy Diane (36) said accident was terrible. Diane added that she puts everything in front of God, and believe that all those who are injured will recover soon.

Northern Cape police spokesperson, Capt Olebogeng Tawana said they have launched investigations regarding the matter. Tawana further said the police launched investigations regarding a culpable homicide case.

“The accident involved a bus and a truck. A bus carrying school learners was involved in accident with a truck, which was loaded with sand. The drivers of the truck and bus survived the accident without any injuries, while a learner who was a bus passenger died because of injuries sustained during the accident.

“At this stage, we are unable to confirm the number of the injured learners. Injured learners were ferried to the local hospital to receive medical attention. The investigation continues,” he said.- Newsnote

Picture: (Facebook)

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The ANCYL in the North West province will hold a press conference at Villa Vik Guest House in Klerksdorp at 11am on Tuesday.

The ANCYL provincial spokesperson, Tshiamo Tsotetsi said: “We will comment on the availability of Reggie Nkabinde as the next ANCYL president. We will also brief media on ANCYL North West provincial conference date and preparations.

“A call for president Jacob Zuma to resign and exit peacefully and Back To School campaign and youth empowerment in the province.”

Tsotetsi further said the press conference will be addressed by the Provincial Secretary of the YCL, Provincial Chairperson of SASCO, the Provincial Secretary and spokesperson of the ANCYL in North West.

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