Cape Town -Paramedics and other emergency personnel are on the scene of a light aircraft crash in the veld close to the R59 near Parys.
Netcare 911 spokesperson Santi Steinmann reports that “A man and his five-year-old son has tragically lost their lives during a light aircraft crash near the R59 near Parys this afternoon.”
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BY STAFF REPORTER
MOGWASE- Police are investigating a case of
business robbery where a 55-year-old victim was robbed of an
undisclosed amount of cash by five unknown suspects at his business at
Mogwase Bodirelo Industrial on Friday at about 02:00am, North West police said.
Captain Pelonomi Makau said that the victim was contacted by his colleague informing
him that there was robbery at their work place. Upon arrival the
victim found the security official tied up in a room.
According to the information, the suspects broke the office windows and grinded the
safe where they robbed the business an undisclosed amount of cash
before they fled the scene on foot.
No one was injured and police investigations continues.
“Anyone with the information that may lead to arrest of the suspects
involved in this case can contact Mogwase police station or Crime Stop
number 08600 10111. Alternatively, anonymous Crime Line SMS tip-offs
can be done on 32211” Makau said.
-TDN
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BY STAFF REPORTER
MOGWASE- A 28-year-old suspect from Manamakgotheng village in Moruleng
will appear in the Mogwase Magistrate’s Court on Monday for allegedly killing his 6- month-old baby.
According to the information, the suspect who was allegedly under the
influence of alcohol visited his girlfriend and his baby and held the baby in his hands.
He allegedly dropped him on the floor.
“It is alleged the baby suffered head and body injuries. He was taken to the
local hospital where he later died. The suspect was arrested and
charged with murder” North West police spokesperson captain Pelonomi Makau said.
-TDN
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Johannesburg – The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Tripartite Alliance expressed concern on Saturday over the jamming of cellphones during the State of the Nation address.
SAHRC spokesperson Isaac Mangena said his organisation did not want to enter the political arena nor apportion blame to any party, but felt compelled to express its astonishment and disappointment at the events on Thursday.
On Thursday night, around 25 journalists launched a protest in the press gallery of the National Assembly because they did not have cellphone reception to file their stories.
DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen – supported by the EFF and Freedom Front Plus – rose on a “rule of order” to submit that the jamming was “in direct violation of the… Constitution”. The signal was then restored.
Mangena said: “The disabling of access to the internet in Parliament was and remains a serious violation of the right to receive or impart information or ideas to and from members of the public, and indeed the freedom of the press and other media as encapsulated in our Constitution”.
The SAHRC welcomed the presiding officers’ commitment to having the Secretary of Parliament probe the issue, and said it would monitor this.
“…We call on all leaders of political parties in this country to convene an urgent meeting to be facilitated by an independent individual/institution, or a collective of their choice to carefully and soberly reflect on what happened during State of the Nation, and inform the people of this country and indeed the world of what steps they will be taking to address and correct this situation and of course to prevent its recurrence going forward.”
The Alliance also condemned the signal jamming in a joint statement following a meeting of the secretariats of the African National Congress, SA Communist Party, Congress of SA Trade Unions and SA National Civic Organisation, in Cape Town on Friday.
“The secretariat condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the jamming of the signal in the National Assembly. It regards this as a serious error of judgment that must never be repeated.”
They said that some members of the media had also behaved in an unbecoming manner.
Disruption regrettable
“We urge the senior management in parliament and the parliamentary press corps to meet at the soonest opportunity to review events and to re-establish the collegial relationship which is so necessary for the effective functioning of our parliamentary democracy.”
The Alliance described the disruption of the president’s speech as “regrettable”.
Three Economic Freedom Fighters MPs, including party leader Julius Malema, were told to leave the House after they persisted in trying to question President Jacob Zuma about misspending on his home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, after he started delivering his state-of-the-nation address on Thursday.
Security officers were called in to escort the MPs out of the National Assembly.
The Democratic Alliance walked out shortly afterwards in protest against the security officers’ presence in the National Assembly Chamber.
The Alliance said: “At the heart of the regrettable disruptions in Parliament has been the anarchy of a six percent party, the EFF, deliberately taunting and seeking to provoke counter-measures in order to pose as a ‘victim’ of state repression.
“This behaviour is deplorable and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
“Many of the conventions and institutions of our democratic parliament, a key achievement of decades of liberation struggle, assume a degree of multi-party mutual respect and at least a modicum of shared multi-party commitment to nation-building out of the ashes of our divided past.”
Mahikeng – At least 15 908 previously unemployed people from 15 local municipalities in Bokone-Bophirima are involved various projects that are intended to address community needs and priorities in their respective wards, through the Community Work Programme (CWP) which is a non-stare sector component within the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
Such projects include vegetable gardens, building of public amenities such as old age homes, , clearing of illegal dumping sites, home-based care, community house building, cleaning of illegal dumping sites etc. Through the programme, 25 CWP participants have enrolled (2015-2018) for a Grade R Diploma through the University of North West (Potchefstroom campus), through distance learning.
CWP is a programme of the national Department of Cooperative Governance and it targets unemployed and underemployed people within communities at ward level to accelerate job creation and enhance service delivery through ‘useful work’. The main purpose of the programme is to provide an employment safety net, to contribute to the development of public assets and services in poor communities, to strengthen community development approaches and to improve the quality of life for people in marginalised economic areas by providing work experience, enhancing dignity and promoting social and economic inclusion.
Participants have been contracted for a period of three years (2014-2017), work eight days a month and receive a stipend of R608. Their main role is to identify ‘useful work’ in their wards that address community needs and priorities. The “useful work’’ is planned in partnership with ward councillors and traditional councils and institutions identified through the support of implementing agents and municipalities.
MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Collen Maine said the programme has immensely changed the lives of benefitting communities. “People will acquire different skills and the much needed experience in the job market something which will go a long way in changing their lives. They must embrace the opportunity and make full use of it”, he said.
The Department has partnered with other stakeholders such as Departments of Social Development, Public Works and NGOs in order to ensure that the programme achieve its intended objective.
Local municipalities that have benefited from CWP are : Mahikeng, Ratlou, Tswaing, Ramotshere Moiloa, Moses Kotane, Madibeng, Moretele, Rustenburg, Ventersdorp, Maquassi Hills, Greater Taung, Naledi, Kagisano-Molopo, Mamusa and Kgetleng Rivier.
-TDN
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Khuma – North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlements is to restore the dignity of the mining hostels dwellers at Khuma township near Stilfontein in Matlosana local municipality by demolishing the hostels which are currently in an appalling condition and providing them with decent family units. The announcement was made by MEC Collen Maine in a meeting attended by the hostel dwellers recently.
The mining hostels will be completely demolished at the beginning of April this year to make way for subsidized family units with proper sanitation and infrastructure which will be build were hostels where. Whilst the demolition takes place the occupants will be given temporary accommodation, a stone throw away from where there are staying. The temporary structures will also be demolished when they go back to occupy their family units – an exercise which will see them being integrated with the rest of the community of Khuma.
MEC Collen Maine told residents that the hostels were no longer conducive for human habitat. “These hostels must be demolished as soon as possible. There are no proper services here and some unoccupied hostels are now a nest of criminals. The process to relocate the occupants will be completed by the end of March to allow demolition to take place. The occupants list that has been compiled by Matlosana local municipality, would be used to re-allocate family units upon completion of the project”, he said
More than 250 people currently stay in the hostels which were original built for migrant workers.
The action will fulfil a call made by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa for residents to be provided proper shelter.
-TDN
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Mahikeng – In what has been described as “taking the bull by its horns” the Bokone-Bophirima Department of Local Government and Human Settlements has terminated the contracts of poor performing housing developers in the province. This happened when the department held One-on-One Contract Review Sessions with developers in all four districts since last week.
The objective of the contracts review sessions is meant to monitor and evaluate performance of contractors and get the first hand information from the developers themselves about projects that have stalled and those that have not met deadlines, with a view of unblocking all bottlenecks and speeding-up housing provision in the province.
The department has contracted housing developers to provide integrated human settlements across the province with important services such as sanitation and water system.
“We can’t allow a situation where developers take their own time to complete their projects outside the agreed work schedule with the department. We had to part ways with some of the developers as they were not rising to their contractual obligations. Contractors who have raised genuine challenges in terms of delays have been given an extension to complete their work as soon as possible. Our communities can’t wait for long, they need those houses” said Maine.
Some developers have raised diverse challenges which range from unfavourable weather conditions, unavailability of building materials, industrial action and protests by communities.
Strict measures were employed to those who were given extensions. They were instructed to ensure the speedy completion of the projects at hand or face termination of their contracts or be blacklisted forthwith.
According to Maine the poor performing contractors affect the performance of the province as far as housing delivery is concerned. Bokone Bophirima province had scooped the best performing award during the 2013 Govan Mbeki Awards.
“Our province has made a mark nationally as the best performing in housing delivery. The poor performance and shoddy work by these contractors will dent the image that we have worked so hard for. They need to up their game for us to remain at the peak. On the same note the poor performance is also making our communities to get agitated and to rise against government because the promised houses are not forth coming” remarked Maine.
Currently there are several housing projects that are taking place in different municipalities to decrease the housing backlog in the province.
The One-on-One Contract Review Session was to pave way for the provincial housing developer’s convention which will be held in the province soon. The convention will discuss general housing delivery issues and provide feedback to developers.
-TDN
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By Lesedi Setlhodi
From 9am-5pm his job is to make sure that pharmaceutical companies look good and sell more medication as for what he gets up to after hours, grab a seat and read on…..as KG Rap takes you through his journey.
This week our entertainment crew got to have a chat with Kagiso Rapati aka KG_Rap; a local hip-hop artist from Kgobadi (Dryharts) as he calls his hometown. This rapper does not live far from the railway lines; his neighbourhood is called Station as around the train station.
What has drawn you to music and why hip-hop?
“When I met her I was innocent but bright to a certain degree and she taught me how to be cool. She initially played hard to get but we connected and since then hip-hop is the only one for me.” You do not have to dig deep; from just that line you can learn that Kagiso is an artist. He takes me way back to that movie Brown Sugar when he refers to hip-hop as “her”. He further mentioned that the faith his parents had in him prior his music career and words of encouragement, he can always be better as a person and freed his ability to explore.
What does it take to be a hip-hop artist?
The hip-hop genre is one that most of the youth entering the music industry feel like they can do better in; that they can connect and relate to. For most upcoming artists it may however take a longer period to be recognised by their fans and fellow artists in the industry so patience would have to be a firm virtue for one to succeed in making a career out of their talent.
He said “Persistence, deep love for the art of creating and recreating utopia” is what drives him to bring catchy flowing lines to his fans
How is the recognition as a local artist?
About the recognition Kagiso receives as a local artist, he said that it is well balanced as long as one works hard the fans do show their support. “Majority of my fans are from high school and tertiary level.”
Kagiso’s future plans?
“I have a lot of future plans. It’s all about what God allows first, but yes I am working on a lot of things which will surprise many. You might just see me appear in a suit and regard me as an uptight guy who can rap.” he said jokingly…
Whom have you opened for when performing and who would you like to work with?
After releasing three albums titled Pay Day mission, Money is the issue and The less anticipated Kagiso has shared the stage with the likes of Chommie, Tshabbz, Mo Flava to name a few; as for opening for an artist our local marvel would like nothing more than to open for Senyaka. I must say I’m looking forward to the day that concert takes place. Kagiso further said that, “I would also like to share a stage with HHP, Zubz and Tumi because they saying what I want to hear and have an audience that I know when given a chance they would feel me too.”
Who inspires you in the music industry?
“Artists that inspire me are HHP, Kanye West, Tumi, Bra Chico Thwala, Tshepo Tshola and the late Lebo Mathosa, arguably the coolest artist in the world next Breanda Fassie if not better.”
Do you ever get time to just relax and if, what do you do mostly?
“I have too many responsibilities. I cannot relax.”
Follow him on twitter @Kg_Rap_AGMedia or find him on facebook as Kagiso Rapati
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews
BY REGINALD KANYANE
TAUNG- PASTOR Elvis Thabang Moepeng is nursing an injury on his back after a tussle with alleged criminal who hit him with a hammer. Moepeng said the criminals broke into his church on Friday and stole two speakers worth R15 000 and a fan. He said on Saturday, he went to a funeral at Matolong village, near Taung and fortunately he was approached by an unknown person who informed him about the speakers whereabouts.
“I went to a funeral at Matolong village, near Taung on Saturday and I was approached by one of local people who informed me that he knows where my speakers are. He said I must come later on at around 20:00pm because according to information, the suspect planned to use the speakers for after party” Moepeng said.
According to Moepeng, he waited until the scheduled time.
“At around 20:10 I heard the noise coming from the pin-pointed house. I went there and most definitely the music that was playing, was from my speakers. I entered the tent and looked at my speakers and left. I planned to go to the police station to open a theft case, but because my wife knows that person as she is from the area we agreed to speak to him first” he said.
Moepeng said that was the beginning of hell and nothing holy came out of that talk. When he approached the house, there was no music and people told him that the minute he left the area, the owner decided to disconnect the music and packed those speakers away.
“We approached Buti Sekamoeng and asked him where are my speakers, but instead he retaliated. Sekamoeng grabbed a hammer and chased me away. He hit me twice on my back with a hammer and I fell down. I was rescued by other community members from Sekamoeng’s jaws” Moepeng said.
North West police spokesperson captain Pelonomi Makau said the case was opened at Taung Police Station and the suspect was arrested.
“We can confirm that a case of assault with grievous bodily harm (GBH) and house breaking and Theft were opened at Taung Police Station. The suspect appeared at Taung Magistrate Court and the case was postponed until 12 March 2015. The suspect was remanded in custody until he returns to court” Makau said.
Moepeng request to anyone who knows or have any information about where he can find his speakers to come forward and he will make sure that that person will be rewarded as the church is not enjoyable without speakers.
“We appealing to the public to come forward with any information that could lead police to recover those speakers as they are very expensive and we use instruments to sing, so we cannot perform to our best levels” he said.
-TDN
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BY STAFF REPORTER
TAUNG- THE Community of Lokaleng village in Taung are up in arms after they claimed that the owner of Top Store in the area Moni Molla(29), sells expired stock to them.
According to one of customers at the shop, Caroline Nosipho Mphahlele, said is been a while since Molla selling expired stock to them and when they question him he becomes angry and arrogant.
“We’re sick and tired of this foreigners. They come here and do as the please. We go there to support their businesses but what we get in return? They ill-treat us when we return the parcels” Mphahlele laments.
Another victim, Michael Motate said the Bangladesh national does not co-operates, but instead threaten them.
“Everytime one buy something from this shop, you will find it either rotten or expired. And the worst part is when you return the product, he becomes angry and promise to shoot us” Matate said.
However Moni Molla refutes the allegations and said he never threatened anyone and people are jealous of his business so that is why they bad-mouthed him.
“You see here my friend, this people are jealous of my business. I do not sell expired goods, everytime I see expired product I move it out of the shelve. I know the stock is many, but I make sure I check my stock every now and then” Molla said.
Few minutes later Molla changed his tune after our crew went down through his shelves and found some of the products like mayonnaise and canned beetroot with expired date.
Molla who was soft-spoken tried to bribe our crew by offering our reporter any money he wants as he said the bad publicity will affect his business.
“Please my brother do not write about this as if this appears on papers it will affect my business. I can give you any money you want, please promise me you won’t write about this neh” Molla said.
North West Health Department official said that consumers must report anything they do not understand regarding the products to National Consumer Commission.
“Customers can report anything that they’re not happy with to National Consumer Commission. They must be informed and assert their rights by refusing to buy or use expired product as that could harm their health” he said.
-TDN
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The Guardian 