Private and public sector partnerships to foster change within Tourism

NEWS Leave a comment

images
Mmabatho – The North West MEC for Tourism Desbo Mohono says the private and public sector partnerships will go a long way in assisting her department to achieve one of its primary goals of making North West Province a tourism destination of choice for both domestic and international tourists.

In fostering the necessary change within the current Tourism panorama, MEC Mohono said that her department strives to continuously create various platforms for building strong partnerships with the private sector in responding to both the demand and supply requirements of the tourism sector.

“We will do our utmost best to support all Tourism enterprises in the province to play a meaningful role in the mainstream Tourism Economy, facilitate the provision of tourism supporting infrastructure to enhance the competitiveness of the tourism destination. The Department will partner with the Tourism Enterprise Program (TEP) and other private Sector initiatives to develop off take agreements in support of Tourism Enterprise Development in the Province,” she said.

MEC Mohono added that in enhancing cooperation and coordination between all spheres of government and the development and management of tourism in the province, her Department will consult with both District and Local municipalities in establishing institutional capacity within government that will ensure the implementation of the Provincial Tourism Sector Strategy

“We will establish a forum between the MEC and the MMCs responsible for local economic development both at District and local municipalities.� Furthermore together with the districts and local municipalities the Department will establish local, district and Provincial tourism associations”, she said.

“The Department will finalize the tourism product and infrastructure portfolio investment plan to address the skewed supply structure of the tourism plant and diversifying tourism products and formalizing the segment or niche of heritage and cultural tourism. Furthermore, the Department will also continue to lobby the National Department of Tourism through the Social Responsibility Program in funding the recapitalization and commercialization of productive tourism assets owned by the Provincial Government”, concluded Mohono.
-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Two nabbed for murder in Atamelang

NEWS Leave a comment

77969b41a19e4f8b8b3a0ab67f0a7c04
By Obakeng Maje
Atamelang- Two suspects aged 25 and 40 respectively will appear at the Atamelang Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 27 August 2014 for an alleged murder of a 36-year-old man, says North West police.

“It is alleged that on Sunday at about 18:00, the victim and the two suspects were at a tavern when an argument ensued. The suspects allegedly assaulted the victim with fists and kicked him. The victim was taken to a local clinic where he was certified dead” Captain Pelonomi Makau said.

Investigation into the matter continues.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

A man arrested for murder in Ganyesa

Uncategorized Leave a comment

117a7689f3304609bc2addf57607c4a8

By Obakeng Maje
Vryburg- A 29-year-old suspect, Molatlhegi Makodi appeared in the Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for alleged murder of a 37-year-old man at Water Vlak farm in Tlhaping section, Ganyesa, says North West police.

The suspect was remanded in custody until 1 September 2014 for bail application.

“It is alleged that the victim and the suspect were involved in an argument that led to the fight on Sunday. The suspect allegedly stabbed the victim with a knife in the chest and he died on the scene” captain Pelonomi Makau said.
Police investigations continue.

Road rage, toy gun, police blamed in Taung


By Obakeng Maje
Dryharts- The taxi drivers were left despondent after they alleged that Pudumoe police did not take any action against a taxi driver who allegedly pointed them with a firearm in a road rage on Sunday.

According to taxi drivers who were at the scene, a taxi driver from Kimberley stopped and picked up a commuter in Dryharts village, near Taung.

“We approached and informed the taxi driver that he is not allowed to pick-up commuters because it is out of his jurisdiction. He pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot us” one of taxi drivers known only as Bashin said at the scene.

Police were called and it is alleged that local taxi drivers forcefully took Kimberley taxi driver’s car keys.

“The situation was dissolved after intervention from police and the accused taxi driver was whisked away for protection as the situation was out of hand. The agreement was reached between two parties and decided not to open cases against each other” Pudumong Police Station spokesperson sergeant Tebogo Thebe said.

However some of taxi drivers said they blame police for not taking drastic measures against the driver who pulled a gun at themthat was later discovered that it was toy.

“We can confirm that the gun that was allegedly used during the argument was a pallet gun and police advice those who are unhappy to go and launch a case at the police station” Thebe said.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

KZN MPL Vusi Dube: Masturbate to avoid unwanted pregnancies


edical students studying abroad should masturbate to avoid unwanted pregnancies, pastor and KwaZulu-Natal MPL Vusi Dube yesterday.

He told the more than 200 students on a month-long break from their studies in Cuba: “If it means that there are pictures in your room and [you] turn to them in times of need, then so let it be [sic].”
For more http://www.timeslive.co.za

One dead, three injured in Hartswater crash


By Obakeng Maje
Hartswater- Phokwane Municipality saddened by the death of one of their employees who passed on on Saturday in a fatal car accident.

Jacob Mooketsi,36 died in a crash after the car they were travelling in was involved in an accident.

According to police, three people were taken to local hospital and one died after a taxi and a car crashed in a ‘head-on collision’.

“We are investigating a case of culpable homicide and police investigations continue. The accident took place on Saturday between Hartswater and Pampierstad” Hartswater Police Station spokesperson Boikanyo Tong said.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

One dead, three injured in Hartswater crash


By Obakeng Maje
Hartswater- Phokwane Municipality saddened by the death of one of their employees who passed on on Saturday in a fatal car accident.

Jacob Mooketsi,36 died in a crash after the car they were travelling in was involved in an accident.

According to police, three people were taken to local hospital and one died after a taxi and a car crashed in a ‘head-on collision’.

“We are investigating a case of culpable homicide and police investigations continue. The accident took place on Saturday between Hartswater and Pampierstad” Hartswater Police Station spokesperson Boikanyo Tong said.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

A woman arrested for dagga in Onseepkans


By Obakeng Maje
Onseepkans- Police arrested a 53-year-old woman over the weekend and charged her for dealing in drugs worth street value R67 000.

“The arrest was effected after we reacted promptly to a tipped-off, about a woman hitch-hiking with luggage, suspected to be filled with drugs. And as a matter of urgency all the roads leading in and out Onseepkans were patrolled after receiving tipped-off information that there is a woman on her way to Onseepkans and she is in possession of drugs” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.

During patrol, a woman appropriates to the description which was communicated to the police was spotted next to the road on R358. Upon investigation and search, 5.700 kg dagga and mandrax tablets were found inside her luggage.

“The suspect will appear in the Onseepkans Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges of dealing in drugs” Kock said.

The Onseepkans Station Commander Marius Malan commended his team, for being resilience to tipped-off information.

“Fighting crime begins with the involvement of the community, once the community have faith to work in partnership with the police and that with the available resources we shall successfully win war against crime” he said.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

One dead, three hospitalised in Hartswater crash


By Obakeng Maje
Hartswater- Pokwane Municipality saddened by the death of one of their employers who passed on on Saturday in a fatal car accident.

Jacob Mooketsi,36 died in a crash after the car they were travelling in was involved in an accident.

According to police, three people were taken to local hospital and one died after a taxi and a car crashed in a ‘head-on collision’.

“We are investigating a case of culpable homicide and police investigations continue. The accident took place on Saturday between Hartswater and Pampierstad” Hartswater Police Station spokesperson Boikanyo Tong said.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Lonmin questioned on social responsibility


Pretoria – Lonmin management needs to provide answers about its social responsibilities, the lack of which possibly contributed to the strike action that left 44 people dead, the Farlam Commission of Inquiry heard in Pretoria on Monday.

The commission chair, retired judge Ian Farlam, ruled that the mining company would be questioned on its aborted programmes that included building houses for its mineworkers.

In a bid to avoid the grilling, the company had applied not to be questioned.

The move followed the decision to scrap phase two of the commission’s work due to time constraints.

Lonmin was to face these questions during workshops which were part of the commission.

This part of the commission was abandoned and Lonmin argued that it would not have sufficient time to prepare for the questions, which had now been fused into the hearing.

The inquiry is probing the events around the August 2012 strike-related unrest.

In its objection to cross-examination, the platinum mining company argued that social responsibilities were outside the commission’s mandate.

It also claimed it would be unfair to be questioned on this during the first phase as it had not had enough time to prepare.

Farlam on Monday rejected the response.

“In our view there is no substance in any of these grounds of objection,”he said.

Muti 

Meanwhile, the commission on Monday heard evidence from Xolani Nzuza, a mineworker who was part of a group which led the strike.

Xolani told the commission that the unrest occurred because of Lonmin’s response to their calls for a meeting with management.

“The cause of all that happened there is because of a lack of care from Lonmin and them calling us criminals,” said Nzuza.

“Had they not called us criminals, this would have not happened.”

He denied that muti played a crucial role in the unrest.

“Not everybody believed in the muti. Others believed in their prayers,” said Nzuza.

He claimed workers used the muti to protect themselves and they believed it would make the mine bosses listen to them.

No one was forced to use the muti and those that did, did so openly.

Nzuza’s testimony will be put on hold on Tuesday while Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, testifies.

SAPA