A man dies at Manthe clinic, family want answers

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David Ikwaleng Nkwe
By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The family of Nkwe is aggrieved after their father, David Ikwaleng Nkwe was taken to Manthestad village clinic after he experienced chest pains.

They allegedly arrived at the Manthestad clinic at around 19h15 on Saturday(27 September 2014) and a 69-year-old man allegedly experienced some complications after one hour while waiting for an ambulance.

Nkwe was vomiting and convulsing after some time, and his family suggested to use their own transport to take him to Taung hospital which is only 18km away, but according to family member, the nurses vehemently refused.

“We took my brother to Manthestad clinic after he complained about chest pains. He was conscious when we arrived at the clinic. He started to have inhaling difficulties after an hour and the nurses called for an ambulance, which it never came” Moganetsi Nkwe said.

According to Moganetsi, who is a younger brother to the deceased, said his brother would’ve been alive if the nurses did not refuse to let them take their brother to the hospital because there was no ambulance.

“The deceased passed away at around 21:45pm after there was no sign of an ambulance. The nurses said the district has only two ambulances which one of them was at Taung Cultural Calabash and the other one was in Kimberley delivering another patient” he said.

They believed if only the nurses allowed them to use their private vehicle to transport the patient, Nkwe would’ve been alive and they put a blame solely on the department as they alleged they were failed.

However the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Health Director Ruben Matsepe said the nurses did what they could’ve done, but unfortunately this turned out this way.

“This is an unfortunate event because the district have five functional ambulances. The patient arrived in deteriorating condition at the clinic and the nurse in charge tried to stabilize him and called for available ambulance” Matsepe said.

According to Matsepe, all four ambulances were on the field where 15 people died on Hartswater crash.

“The only ambulance that was available was obstetric ambulance that is designed only for labour women, but unfortunately the family demanded their patient. The patient died while our nurse was busy filling confirmation forms that outlines the family demands release of their patient without our consent” he said.

The family won’t hear any of the department’s excuses and want the department of health to be held accountable.

The deceased was buried on Saturday.(04 October 2014).-TDN
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Solidarity scores win in Saps equity plan

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Johannesburg – The SA Police Service has conceded that Solidarity’s application to be involved in consultation on the Saps’s employment equity plan for 2015 to 2019 is urgent, the trade union said on Thursday.

“The Saps’s concession that the case is urgent is an important step forward,” deputy general secretary Johan Kruger said in a statement.

“We have consistently maintained that it is urgent because consultation with other trade unions and Saps structures on the proposed plan is commencing on 28 October already.”

The concession was made together with an application by the Saps’s lawyers to postpone the case to 23 October.

Police spokesperson Solomon Makgale could not immediately be reached for comment.

Solidarity is challenging the police minister, the Saps, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, and the SA Policing Union in the Labour Court in a bid to obtain a court order allowing the union to consult on the Saps’s employment equity plan.

“We believe we have strong grounds to bring the application,” Kruger said.

“It is clear to us that Popcru and Sapu, the two recognised police trade unions that have been involved in the drafting of the current employment equity plan, are not prepared to represent the interests of police members from minority and non-designated groups.”

– SAPA

Arms deal critic sticks to his guns

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Pretoria – Arms deal critic Terry Crawford-Browne on Thursday refused to retract his claims to the Seriti Commission of Inquiry that the aircraft the government bought in 1999 were not being used.

“The evidence of General Burger, who is the director of helicopter systems, is that they are frequently used for casualty evacuations. They are also used to train pilots,” Jennifer Caine, for the defence department, said while cross-examining Crawford-Browne at the inquiry’s public hearings in Pretoria.

“They have conducted operations in the DRC, Sudan and the Central African Republic. They have flown in excess of 18 000 hours. They have been used in numerous other rescue operations.”

They were also being used in anti-rhino-poaching missions.

Crawford-Browne said Caine’s details were not relevant to the inquiry’s terms of reference.

Caine asked Crawford-Browne whether he was prepared to withdraw a section of his sworn statement which reads: “With regards to the 30 Augusta helicopters purchased from Italy, I am informed that many of them are in storage and unused and/or rotting at Ysterplaat Air Force Base in Cape Town.”

Crawford-Browne said he would not retract and urged the commission to inspect the aircraft.

“I have not been to the base to verify it myself. It is one point that the commission may take an interest in. I am not prepared to withdraw it.”

Caine said Crawford-Browne’s submission was ridiculous.

On Tuesday, Crawford-Browne told the inquiry that government acquired four frigates reportedly equipped with defective engines and an obsolete combat suite and armoury system.

“South Africa acquired three submarines that spend most of the time on the ‘hard’ at Simon’s Town and 50 BAE Hawk and BAE/Saab Gripen fighter aircraft for which the country had almost no pilots to fly them, mechanics to maintain them, or even the money to fuel them.

“The arms deal was a confidence trick played at huge socio-economic cost to the people of South Africa, which has seriously undermined our still-fragile constitutional democracy,” said Crawford-Browne.

The commission was appointed by President Jacob Zuma three years ago to investigate alleged corruption in the arms procurement deal in 1999.

For billions of rands, government acquired, among other hardware, 26 Gripen fighter aircraft and 24 Hawk lead-in fighter trainer aircraft for the air force, and frigates and submarines for the navy.

– SAPA

DA spy tapes: DA’s case ‘gets stronger’


The Democratic Alliance has received additional documents that were part of the so-called “spy tapes”.

“Some 25 or so documents were referred to in the record of decision given to us and were not part of the record,” said DA federal executive chairperson James Selfe yesterday.

The national director of public prosecutions was directed to give them to the DA.

“They have given us what they have been able to find, locate and source. There are some documents that we asked for that they can’t find.”

He said the DA’s lawyers were going through the documents and would communicate with the State attorney if needed. Otherwise the documents would be used to start drafting a supplementary affidavit for the review.

The DA was handed the spy tapes last month after the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that the National Prosecuting Authority had to comply with a previous order to release the tapes. Zuma had opposed the move.

The recordings, internal memoranda, reports and minutes of meetings dealing with the contents of the recordings had to be provided.

The tapes, containing recorded phone conversations, allegedly reveal collusion between the former head of the Directorate of Special Operations (the now defunct Scorpions) Leonard McCarthy, and the NPA’s former head Bulelani Ngcuka, to manipulate the prosecutorial process before the ANC’s Polokwane conference in 2007.

Zuma was elected ANC president at the conference. Former president Thabo Mbeki had been a contender for another term.

The charges were dropped shortly before Zuma was sworn in as president in 2009. Then acting National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mokotedi Mpshe, said the tapes showed there was a political conspiracy against Zuma and so the case against him could not continue.

Selfe said the DA was still convinced that it had a case for review.

“We more convinced than ever that we have a case for review and that case only gets stronger the more documentation has been made available to us,” he said.

The DA was hoping to lodge its affidavit for the review next week.

“We hope to be able to be in court roughly by March next year.”

– Sapa

Samaritans’ Purse to touch impoverished Mahikeng Children 


Mahikeng- Children from impoverished communities around Mahikeng and neighboring villages are to receive books, bibles and early Christmas gift boxes from Samaritan’s Purse.

Mahikeng Ministers Fellowship is coordinating a meeting with Operation Christmas Child team to determine needs and distribution scheduled to be held with local Pastors at 11:00 am at the Rhema New Life Church in Golf view Cnr Acacia and Gemsbok Street, Mahikeng on Friday.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. The organization has since 1970 helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ” pastor Lesiba Kgwele said.

The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
-TDN
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North West Education department to intevene in Cokonyane ‘kidnapping’ teacher issue


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- It is almost two months after Cokonyane community erupted with anger and mixed emotions. The community accused one of the teachers at Marubising. Secondary of kidnapping and sent a stern message that the teacher must stay away from their school.

Now the North West Department of Education decided to intervene and will either seek for a replacement of the teacher or engage with the community to plan a way-forward regarding the matter.

Thapelo Oss was accused by some of residents for allegedly stealing and kidnapping children in the area, however the matter was not substantial as no one came forward nor lay a charge of kidnapping against the teacher.

North West department of Education spokesperson Brian Setswambung said the matter will be resolved soon. “We will engage with relevant authorities to try and solve the matter. A teacher never gone back to school since the accusations. We will either replace him or try to talk to the community of Cokonyane and solve the matter so that the teacher can continue with his teaching career” Setswambung said.

He said the teacher is sitting at home without doing anything and he earns a salary. “The whole situation will affect the teacher’s career and I can imagine the frustrations he is going through. We will solve the matter soon and we appeal to churches and other stakeholders to come on board to help us reach agreement”.

Thapelo Oss who is a teacher at Marubising Secondary School in Cokonyane village near Taung, was accused of kidnapping children around the area, but denied the allegations leveled against him.-TDN
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N West premier refutes Media reports

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By Obakeng Maje Mahikeng- The Office of the Premier in the North West refutes the early reports that premier Supra Mahumapelo was not part of the Presidential Coordinating Council on Wednesday. The Office of the Premier released an asperous statement lashing out News24.com website for allegedly providing wrong information. “The Office of the Premier would like to correct wrongful information published on news24 online today alleging that Premier Supra Mahumapelo did not attend the Presidential Coordinating Council convened by President Jacob Zuma today.   “We would like to confirm unequivocally that Premier Mahumapelo attended the PCC from 08h45 this morning until 15h00” North West Premier spokesperson Sam Mokaila laments. Mokaila said the Premier has since convened a special EXCO meeting in Mahikeng to brief the Executive Council about the outcome of the President’s Coordinating Council.   “For the record, Premier Mahumapelo has attended all meetings and events convened and arranged by President Zuma’s Office since he assumed Office in May this year, including today’s PCC.   “We advise members of the public and citizens of the North West in particular to ignore any media reports to the contrary” he said. Mahumapelo’s Office said they urge the concerned media group to correct the false information published.-TDN Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

N West Government’s “Bua Le Puso” initiative significant

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By Obakeng Maje
Taung- North West Provincial Government officially launched “Bua le Puso” EXCO Programme at the Taung Taxi Rank in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District on Wednesday.

Bua-Le Puso which is loosely translated as “Speak to the government” is an initiative by EXCO led by the Premier to bring government to the people and provide direct and immediate response across all Departments to concerns that people might about government services.

North West premier Supra Mahumapelo was not present as he was in Pretoria where was expected too meet with president Jacob Zuma, however North West MEC for Rural, Environmental and Agricultural Development Manketse Tlhape said the aim of the initiative is to bringthe government to the people.

“We want to bring the government services closer to the people. We doing this because we know many people are relying on government and as Taung is one of the most backwoods areas in the province, we launched this initiative here and it will spread across the province” Tlhape said.

She said the government’s plan is to rebrand and reposition itself and entrench “Batho pele” principle.

“This is a unique initiative as we saw all MEC’s operate their Offices from the Taung Taxi rank with full support of Government machinery to offer direct response to issues communities raised” Tlhape outlines.

EXCO was accompanied by the Director-General of the Province (Prof Job Mokgoro), Heads of Departments and Senior Managers who all ran their Offices from the taxi rank to offer direct on-the spot services to the people.

However all was not cosy as some of the residents complained about bad service they experienced at various Greater Taung Municipality offices from government officials who are always rude and drag their feet in helping them.

“I am very disappointed because the government is here and encourage us to bring forward our grievances, but people who we suppose to complain about are actually the ones you find sitting there” Kealeboga Mankuroane said.

Some of the residents from Shaleng village, near Taung complained about illegal taverns that operate beyond agreed hours and Taung Police Station who is a Station Commissioner, Mothusieng Kgwenyape said the police will deal with all issues raised.

“The community raised all those issues from stock-theft and other challenges, but as they know we always meet and discuss those social issues affecting them” he outlines.

MEC Tlhape said the initiative will spread across the province and on the 17th October 2014, the premier will launch “Setsokotsane” programme in Moruleng, near Rustenburg.

“A Setsokotsane programme means whirlwind, will deal with community grievances that mostly affect the community of North West at large. We will be launching the programme on 17th October 2014 in Moruleng” she said.

A 16 year-old boy Kopano Seatla from Rooival village, in Taung was so happy after he brought his two dogs to be vaccinated. “I think this is very good for government to bring services closer to the people. My dogs will be in good health now” he said.

Kgosi Tshepo Mankuroane welcomed the government initiative and said the government must adhere to the people’s grievances and make sure the service and communication run smoothly between taxpayers and government personnels.-TDN
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N West man kills wife, hangs self


By Obakeng Maje
Atamelang- Police are investigating a case of murder and inquest after a 45-year-old man murdered his 33 year-old wife with a garden fork on Tuesday at their home in Middleton village in Atamelang.

“It is alleged that the wife was found dead with multiple head wounds by a community member who alerted the police” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

Makau said the couple allegedly had an argument in the evening of the incident that precipitated to the murder of a wife before the man hanged self to death with a rope.

Prior to this incident, the police can confirm that the husband was served with a protection order in attempt to put an end to the domestic violence he subjected his wife under.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo condemned the incident and appealed to all men and women who experience domestic violence to come forward to the police and seek assistance.

“Victims should also go to other relevant centres that offer counselling and should never suffer in silence” she concludes.-TDN
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Medical personnel injured as truck slams into collision scene


Three emergency workers were injured this morning after a large truck crashed into multiple emergency vehicles that were on scene at a previous incident on the N3 near Marianhill, KwaZulu Natal.

ER24 paramedics, as well as other services, arrived on scene and found that two large trucks had collided in the middle of the highway.

On assessment, paramedics discovered that a man in his 20s had sustained fatal injuries while two others sustained minor to moderate injuries.

While paramedics and rescue workers were tending to the injured, a third truck apparently lost control and crashed into a number of the emergency vehicles pushing them through the crash site.

Three rescue personnel sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate. Additional ambulances were called in to assist in the scene while Metro services closed two lanes of the highway for to provide further safety.

Paramedics provided the patients with advanced life supported and thereafter transported them to nearby hospitals for further medical treatment.

The cause of both incidents is not yet known but local authorities were on scene for further investigations.-TDN
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