BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The Democratic Alliance in the North West said they were concerned after the circuit manager in the Ruth Mompati district was assigned work at the department of Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs (CATA). DA parliamentary leader, Dr Tutu Faleni said Bitsa Lenkopane who served as circuit manager was still receiving her salary from the department of Education.

“We were informed during the Education Portfolio Committee meeting that education authorities are unable to replace the manager because she has not resigned from her position as department of education circuit manager in the Dr Ruth Mompati district.

“The position of the circuit manager carries a lot of authority and responsibility. The absence of the circuit manager impacts on the management of educational affairs in the circuit. The party is of the view that circuit managers play a pivotal role in school development and support. They should be engaged in supervising, coaching, staff development, and modelling designed to improve education in the communities,” Faleni said.

He said the absence of the circuit manager would be detrimental to the improvement of education in that community.

“We will write an urgent letter to the MEC for Education Wendy Matsemela and ask her to provide an explanation on the situation of the circuit manager. We want to know whether the she has resigned or return to fulfil her duties in the post where she was appointed.” Faleni said.

North West Education and Sport Development department said that they will fill the post left by the circuit manager, Bitsa Lenkopane. The department spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “The circuit manager was still employed by our department when she was assigned to second at the department of Culture Arts and Traditional Affairs (CATA).

“She was temporarily transferred to that job for a defined period of time. There has been an agreement between the department of CATA and Education and Sport Development that CATA will reimburse the salary of the employee to the department. The salary will be reimbursed to the department on monthly basis.”

“There are logistics involved in appointments, so we have been running a swift process of finding suitable personnel to fill the vacuum as soon as November. We can refute that the employee is earning on both departments. Such an act will be in breach of Human Resource prescripts as outlined by Public Service Act.” he said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

TWENTY FIVE unemployed youth will receive MICT-SETA accredited certificate in further education and training in Ganyesa on Tuesday. The youth received intensive training in Information and Communication Technology for 12 months.

The training was aimed at addressing skills shortages and job creation within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.

Independent Development Trust spokesperson, Phasha Mokgolane said: “Through this partnership, 149 unemployed youth were trained in Information Technology Technical Support. The graduates were recruited from different provinces in South Africa and underwent a 12 month intensive training programme. At the end of this training programme the learners received an MICT-SETA accredited certificate in Further Education and Training, Information Technology, Technical Support (Networking Support and A+ PC Support), National Information Support as well as in entrepreneurship,”

“The fifth group of graduates will receive their certificates in a graduation ceremony to be held at the Kagisano Molopo local municipality Chamber in Ganyesa village. The graduation ceremony will also recognise and reward the best performing students in the programme both in terms of theory and practical application in ICT technical support.” Mokgolane said.

She said they are in partnership with one of leading network in South Africa.

Vodacom Chief Officer in Corporate Affairs, Maya Makanjee said: “This is Vodacom’s contribution towards the creation of skills development and job creation opportunities for unemployed youth. It is premised on the concept that the more skilled the youth are the greater their opportunity for employment.

“Besides our core business, we are also committed to stimulating skills development and job creation within the ICT sector. Through the ICT skills training, we are now able to fulfil this commitment and also play an active role in the creation of job opportunities for young people.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Development Trust, Coceko Pakade reiterated the spirit of the partnership.

Pakade said: “Young people are the bedrock of our country and any programmes that empower youth, invariably contribute to a better tomorrow. The IDT is proud to be part of a partnership that resonates with its strategic focus on youth development and empowerment. The graduates in this programme contribute towards alleviation of skills shortages in the ICT sector and the knowledge economy in South Africa. Furthermore, the young people will become torchbearers and role-models in their communities. We are encouraged by the good results that these students have achieved and we hope that doors are going to be opened for them.”

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

A 64 YEAR-OLD struggle icon was honoured in Matlapeng village, in Taung on Saturday. Jacob Kujane was honoured by South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in Dr Ruth Mompati district.

The regional secretary, Mika Moeti said Kujane was one of the few people from Taung who fought for democracy. He said the participation of Kujane must go unnoticed and the youth of today could learn a thing from his life.

“We need to honour our struggle icons while they are still alive. Noble people like Kujane dedicated their lives to the struggle. Even though the situation was hard-hitting, he never gave up. Now they deserve all the honour. We need to record our history so that the upcoming generation can take out a leaf out of our legendaries’ book. Kujane is a living authentication, so we must continue to strive and fight for what we believe in.” Moeti said.

Even though Taung was under the hard leadership of Bophuthatswana regime, some of the people went on exile and joined African National Congress to help dilute the apartheid administration.

Kujane whom the Sanco branches in Matlapaneng and Choseng villages named after him, joined politics back in 1970. He said that the apartheid left a fissure in many people’s lives.

“We did not enjoy our lives as the cadres of the struggle. We fought against whites’ monopoly in quest to achieve a political freedom and democracy. I went to Johannesburg to seek employment as any other citizen. The circumstance we found ourselves in was not conducive. I met with other political activists and never looked back. I joined the underground movement and trained as uMkhonto Wesizwe. In 1989 we fled the country and went to Botswana to attend intensive training as a soldier.

“We had four key factors that we planned to execute. We had internal mobility, mass mobility, armed struggle and underground movement. Our plan was to execute all this four key factors and dethroned the apartheid administration. I once worked with the late Mma Ruta and other struggle icons in exile,” Kujane said.

Kujane once worked as parliamentary liaison officer at the department of Social Development during former MEC Mosetsanagape Mokomela-Mothibi.

He said even though he was not working closely with the late Dr Nelson Mandela, he was impressed the way they received commands from other leaders.

“I never worked closely with the late Dr Nelson Mandela and other struggle icons. But we always received messages of support and that alone made us strong. Our aim was to see economic freedom in our lifetime, so even though we have not achieved that I think we moving towards that.

“I also went to neighbouring countries like Tanzania and Zambia. I was later promoted to be instructor where I trained young soldiers. I highly-appreciate the moment and my message to the youth is very simple, make sure what you strive for will be a long term process.” Kujane said.

One of the struggle icons in Taung, Kgosi Sam Makuroane said: “Kujane was a formidable leader. He helped me a lot during the Bophuthatswana tenure. They wanted to kill me and I had to escape by being ferried by an ambulance. He became the leader in many trade unions in Gauteng then. Kujane once formed a funeral club called Tshireletso, which was a disguise. We were discussing other ANC policies during the meeting. He was the acting president of Sadtu and fled the country after the police were summoned to arrest him. We organized meetings across the province like in Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp and also in Hartswater.” Mankuroane said.

-TDN

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

THE Ganyesa community agreed to put their differences aside and allowed learners to return to school. The community, contractor and the department of public works reached an agreement on Friday.

The contractor agreed to return to the site to continue building the road between Madinonyane and Ganyesa village.

The community barricaded the roads and embarked on protests. They shut down 17 local schools and prevented children to attend classes. More than seven people were arrested and are expected to appear before Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court on November 15. The department of education and sport development was forced to relocate Grade 12s and look for suitable area for them to commence with their examinations.

Public Works MEC Madoda Sambatha met with the community on Friday and re-introduced the Murray and Roberts contractor.

Community Liaison Officer for the project, Norman Moncho said: “We have reached an agreement with the department of public works on Friday. The contractor agreed to return to the site, so we are grateful. We hope to see the completion of the road as soon as possible because the road is in tatters.” Moncho said.

Democratic Alliance applauded the decision taken by the community of Southey in Ganyesa. Parliamentary leader, Tutu Faleni said the community did the right thing to allow schoolchildren to return back to school and finish their school year.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

TWO police officers were arrested and charged with assault and defeating the ends of justice relating to the killing of Moses Mosepele, 45, in Soutpansfontein farm near Stella.  Two constables, Mazibuko and Nkele were denied bail after they appeared before Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

North West police spokesperson, Captain Paul Ramaloko said: “The two police officers allegedly joined a farmer, his wife and friends in assaulting Mosepele and his two friends after they were called to arrest them. The assaulted victims were accused of stealing livestock from the farm. They were subsequently arrested during the weekend after preliminary investigations implicated them.”

The Mosepele’s family launched a complainant regarding the police conduct.

Ramaloko said the suspects will now join their co-accused on Wednesday when the case resumes.

A 48 year-old farmer, his wife and five other suspects appeared in the Vryburg Magistrate’s Court for murder, two counts of attempted murder, assault and kidnapping on Friday. They were remanded in custody until Wednesday.

The acting provincial commissioner in the North West, Major General Jacob Tsumane raised a concern in the manner that the police allegedly failed to do their primary function.

“We can’t be associated with criminal activities while we are crime fighters. We will take severe measures against any police member found to be in the wrong side of the law.”  Tsumane said.

-TDN

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JOHANNESBURG – President Jacob Zuma has been slammed on Twitter for sending congratulatory wishes to hip-hop artist Cassper Nyovest, who #FilledTheDome in Northgate on Saturday.

Zuma today joined millions of South Africans who congratulated Nyovest for the sold-out #FillUpTheDome concert at the 20,000 capacity venue.

The rapper made history by becoming the first local artist to do so.

In the short statement, the president extended praise to Nyovest for filling up The Dome “without the assistance of any international act.”

I’m not concerned about Zuma congratulating Cassper Nyovest. Im more concerned about Zuma typing 20 000 without flawpic.twitter.com/GmO6mL5K08

For more http://www.ewn.co.za

JOHANNESBURG – Four police officers have been arrested for the murder of 32-year-old Khulekani Mpanza, who was caught by police for an attempted robbery.

Still images of CCTV footage were first published by the Sunday Times over the past weekend. 

They showed how two weeks ago Mpanza was caught by the officers and then shot dead while lying on a pavement.

The suspect had opened fire at police officers before being chased and shot.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Robbie Raburabu says an investigation led to the arrests.

“Three gentlemen, two sergeants and one constable, and one constable lady have been arrested for the murder. They will appear in the Krugersdorp Magistrates Court tomorrow.”

For more http://www.ewn.co.za

BY REGINALD KANYANE

A 31 year-old man from Ratloung village, near Mahikeng set to appear before Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court for murder. North West police spokesperson, Major Pelonomi Makau said the suspect was arrested on Sunday morning.

“He allegedly assaulted his mother to death in the early hours of Sunday at their house. The suspect arrived home with his girlfriend in the early hours and demanded food from his 63 year-old mother. There was no food and that angered him. He allegedly assaulted her to death with his bare hands. Police were called and postmortem will reveal what caused her death.” Makau said.

-TDN

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Johannesburg – Former president Nelson Mandela had come to the assistance of Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula when she went into labour with her son Chumani 23 years ago. On Saturday night Chumani was fatally stabbed in Bezuidenhout Valley while his mother was overseas for work.

Mapisa-Nqakula relayed the story of her son’s birth following Mandela’s passing in December 2013.

In 2013, Sapa reported that Mapisa-Nqakula said her water broke in Mandela’s presence in August 1992.

She said Mandela had realised she hadn’t been in the ANC’s offices in Johannesburg for a while as she had been ill during her pregnancy.

Mandela had asked Baleka Mbete, then secretary general of the ANC Women’s League about her, and Mbete took him to her flat in Yeoville, Johannesburg.

For more http://www.news24.com

BY REGINALD KANYANE

In a quest to obtain fair commentary results in the National Senior Certificate for 2015, MEC for Education and Sport Development in the North West, Wendy Matsemela continued to monitor various centres across the province.

Matsemela visited Kgononyane Secondary School in Southey village near Ganyesa on Thursday. The matriculants sat for their Geography first and second papers.  According to the department of Education and Sport Development, Elias Malindi, no examination irregularities were reported at the school.

Kgononyane Secondary school accommodates 115 candidates from 17 schools from the neighbouring villages that had threatened to shut down schools due to service delivery protests.

Malindi said: “The candidates arrived at the school two weeks ago. The security measures were put in place as the SGBs also took part in ensuring that learners are safely-housed.”

Matsemela was happy with the condition of the learners at the school and also commended SGBs for their proactive role in giving learners a chance to write for their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

“It is important for the department to provide a conducive space for these learners because if they were not given an opportunity to write, they would be frustrated and discouraged,” Matsemela said.

The department said that they hope no classes will be disrupted and expect free flowing of NSC examinations. Matsemela said they eyeing to defend their top three positions.

“Candidates will sit for their first paper in Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy and foreign languages followed by second paper in Mathematics divisions on Monday. We will continue to monitor the examinations and we also visited Swartruggens on Friday.” she said.

-TDN

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