“Heads to roll” in North West regarding “Textbooks” shortage

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By Obakeng Maje

North West Provincial Exco resolved to act against officials responsible for shortage of learner teaching support material. This follows a briefing from MEC for Education and Training, Louisa Mabe on Wednesday.

 

“We apologies for the inconvenience that learners experienced as a result of the actions and or non-action of officials in the department. We owe it to our children to take drastic action against those who brought this unacceptable state of affairs and shame upon us and those who misled the provincial government on the supply of textbooks and stationery on numerous occasions. No stone will be left unturned in the investigations that are underway. We will not protect those responsible at the expense of learners.”-Premier Mme Thandi Modise.

 

Modise said that besides taking steps against service providers who were paid whilst they had not delivered the full quota of ordered materials, those who processed full

 

  payments would have to answer for their actions.

 

“The integrity of our supply chain management processes has to be protected at all costs to ensure that this despicable experience does not reoccur.”

 

She said that investigation would also cover whether managers at all levels of the provincial department, from the Acting Superintendent General, Provincial, Regional, Area Project Office officials and school managers had carried out their responsibilities for early intervention and to rectify the situation.”

 

MEC Mabe will brief media on the extend of the shortages and steps to be taken against those responsible including support programmes on Tuesday 21 August 2012.

 

The briefing will be held in the Director General’s Boardroom, Third Floor Ga-Rona Building in Mmabatho at 10:00am.

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North West Govvernment to annonce Board suspension

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By Obakeng Maje 

The North West Provincial government is to announce the suspension of the board of one of its parastatals .The announcement is to be made at a media briefing to be held at 2:00 pm on the sideline of its Provincial Anti-Corruption Roundtable  that commences on Thursday in Potchefstroom.The suspension was approved by the Executive Council (Exco) on Wednesday on 

 

 the eve of the Professional Ethics in the Workplace Roundtable at which Premier Mme Thandi Modise will deliver the keynote address. The seminar commences at 8:30am at the Madiba Banquet Hall.

 

Premier Modise has described corruption as the new enemy that needs to be fought with renewed vigour wherever it raises its ugly head as it stifles growth and development.

 

“Corruption is the biggest and toughest enemy against black empowerment, wealth creation and income distribution. Undoubtedly, corruption destroys business ethics and is consequently unethical, it is unfair, it makes prices of goods soar making it unaffordable to the vulnerable and poor in our society,” says Modise who is the Chairperson of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Forum.

The seminar advances the Provincial Anti-Corruption Forum’s programme of action for a holistic and integrated approach to the fight against corruption, build a framework for the Provincial integrity and ensure a continued awareness to prevent and combat corruption, in order to entrench and deepen the fight against corruption.

Following on Premier Modise’s keynote speech, papers to be presented by other

 

  high-profiled speakers and experts on the first day of the two-day roundtable are:

The role of religion in promoting integrity within society (Dr. Mathole Motshekga-Chief Whip of the Majority Party in the National Assembly and Representative of the National Religious Leaders Forum,)∙          Moral Regeneration( Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, CEO : Moral Regeneration Movement),∙         Ethics (Mr Kris Dobbie, Chairperson: Ethics South Africa)∙         Moral Ethical Dillemas/The Law and Society( Hon Justice Yvonne Mokgoro)∙         State of Professional Ethics in the Public Sector (Ms Selina Nkosi : Office of Public Service Commission),∙         The role of the Public Protector in the fight against fraud and corruption (Adv Thuli Madonsela: Public Protector),∙         Organisational Culture and its impact on Ethical Decision Making by Prof. Jonathan Jansen: University of Free State)∙         The consequences of fraud and corruption in respect of financial reporting in the province. (Mr. Liaquath Ally: Business Executive Provincial Office of Auditor General),∙         Why do people do bad things? Temptations, Ethical risks and resulting red flags (Prof David Mosoma: University of South Africa),∙         How corruption impairs on national strategic operations service delivery (Prof Shadrack Gutto: University of South Africa),∙          The role of the Business Sector in promoting integrity in the workplace (Mr Seboka).∙         Deputy Rector of North West University, Prof. Mosimegi will also deliver message of support on behalf of the university. 

 

Members of the media are invited to cover the roundtable discussion and the afternoon media briefing session.

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Ten men get fifteen years imprisonment for assaulting officer

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By Obakeng Maje

Mmabatho-Ten men charged for attacking a police officer in Mmabatho Police Cells were sentenced on Tuesday, 14 August 2012, at Mmabatho Regional court.

This incident happened on Saturday, 29 October 2005 at about 17:00 when Captain Manaka (42) was grabbed and attacked by inmates as he was responding to the request from an awaiting trial detainee.

He was grabbed from behind, pushed into the cell, other inmates jumped in and assaulted him.

“During the attack the inmates, kicked and stabbed him with sharp objects and used his work pepper spray on him”

“His legs were tied up and his Samsung phone taken.They piled him up with blankets to suffocate him.He was ultimately rescued by the remaining inmates who were not involve in the assault” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.

The suspects used the cell and main gate keys forcefully taken from him to escape.

  The inmates who are currently serving sentences ranging from robbery, house breaking, assault GBH and rape.     

Each of the suspects received a fifteen-year imprisonment sentence running concurrently with their previous criminal offences.

 The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo, welcomed the sentence and she said this sentence is an indication to all those who continue to make brutal attacks on our police men and women, that they will not go unpunished.  

 

 

A brother killed his twin for booze

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On Thursday, 16 August 2012, a 49 year old brother arrested for killing his twin sister over alcohol will appear before the Itsoseng Magistrate court.

It is alleged that the twins were at home on Saturday, 11 August 2012, enjoying their drinks.

They were later joined by neighbouring lady. It is reported that the twin brother was not impressed with the neighbour who joined in to have free booze.

He seemed not to take kind to the neighbouring lady joining in to have free booze, that was sufficiently enough for the twins. This is alleged to be the main course for the fight that left the twin sister dead.

According to information received, an argument broke out between the twins. It is alleged that the brother walked out leaving the two women inside the house.

Whilst he was outside, he picked up a brick and threw it inside the house through the window.

The twin sister got hit on her head by the heavy brick the twin brother threw.

“The  49 year old twin sister was taken to the local clinic for treatment, she was reported as having lost a lot of blood but was stabilised and  released by the clinic” Sergant Nkwalase said. 

However, on Sunday afternoon, 12 August 2012, she died at home. It is reported that the brother took the twin sister’s body to the private mortuary without informing the police. Police received tip off information and followed the leads which led to the arrest of the twin brother.

The body was taken out private mortuary by the police to a pathologist for a post-mortem report.  He was arrested on yesterday on 14

 

th August 2012. The twin brother is now facing a charge of murder for allegedly assaulting her twin sister to death.

 

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Kaizer Chiefs mum on Bobby’s arrest report

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Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung has been arrested after a swoop by the Hawks on Wednesday.

 

Although details remain sketchy, Motaung stands accused of forgery and fraud in relation to his role in the construction of the Mbombela Stadium ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

 

The details of the case against him have yet to be made public.

 

The construction of the venue was fraught with controversy from the start and was the likely cause of at least one death, though this has yet to be been proven in a court of law.

 

Mbombela municipality speaker Jimmy Mohlala, who blew the whistle on alleged corruption in a 2010 construction project, was shot dead in his Nelspruit house in 2009.

 

Mohlala had blown the whistle on Mbombela municipal manager Jacob Dladla, who was accused of manipulating 2010 construction contracts.

 

Mohlala was also already investigating a fraud case involving a company belonging to Motaung that was responsible for the construction of the Mbombela Stadium.

For more details go to http://www.kickoff.com

A “Village Death” rapist arrested

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Johannesburg – An Eastern Cape man accused of a string of rapes and murders in an area of Butterworth dubbed the “village death” has been arrested, according to a report on Wednesday.

 

The Daily Dispatch reported that the man was arrested on Sunday after allegedly hacking an elderly woman to death the previous night.

 

He appeared in the Butterworth Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of murder, attempted murder, rape and housebreaking, but was not asked to plead.

 

Captain Jackson Manatha said the man was accused of a number of crimes in the area, which residents referred to as the “village of death” because of the murders of 19 women there since 2008.

 

He was believed to be related to a man convicted earlier this year of murdering a 70-year-old woman and her granddaughter, 12, in the village.

 

He would appear in court again on August 23.

 

SAPA

 

Banyana shift their focus to AWC

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By Obakeng Maje

The South African Senior Women’s National team, Banyana Banyana will be looking to utilise their recent London Olympics experience in the forthcoming Eighth Edition of the African Women’s Championships (AWC) in Equatorial Guinea where they will compete against the continent’s best from 28 October – 11 November 2012.

 

The AWC tournament will be played at the Nkoantoma Stadium in Bata and the Nouveau Stade in Malabo, the venue for some of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations games.

 

Banyana Banyana has been drawn in group A alongside hosts Equatorial Guinea, Senegal and DR Congo. Group B will consist of reigning champions Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Cote d’Ivoire.

The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will be looking to pick up from where they left off when they held World Champions Japan to a goalless draw in their last Olympic game.

Banyana Banyana head coach, Joseph Mkhonza said he would like to pick up from where the squad left off in London. Three top countries will represent Africa at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada in 2015.

 

“We are looking to build a strong squad that will compete in the African spectacle and do well. Our profile has gone up since the Olympics and we want to maintain that momentum.

 

“In the upcoming camps, we would like to bring in new talent that we identified during the Sasol League National Championship. That way, we can manage to blend youth with experience so that we can sustain the success and have continuity,” said Mkhonza.

 

The soft-spoken Banyana coach said his technical team has been following the rehabilitation process of regulars like Memory Makhanya and Mamello Makhabane with keen interest.

 

“I am hopeful that they will all recover in time for the AWC. I have been monitoring their progress and I am pleased that Memory (Makhanya) and Mamello (Makhabane) will be ready to join us when we start our preparations for the continental championships.”

 

Mkhonza said he would like to see the players build on what they learnt at the Olympics and maintain the momentum.

 

“It is important that we constantly work on improving because our goal is to do well in Africa and finish among the top three nations and qualify for the 2015 Women’s World Cup.” added Mkhonza

 

 

DA shows their support against E-tolling

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Group of DA supporters gathered outside constitutional court and claim they are against E-Toll gates system.

“We are going to be here the whole day,” Precious Gcabashe said.

 

“We don’t want the toll gate. We are hoping for the government to hear us.”

 

Clad in blue DA T-shirts they sang and danced, holding posters which read: “Hoot for a toll free GP”.

 

Democratic Alliance MPL Jack Bloom said he was expecting up to 300 supporters.

 

The court is expected to hear arguments today as to why it should overturn an interim interdict preventing e-tolling in Gauteng from going ahead.

 

According to the interdict granted by the High Court in Pretoria on April 28, a full review first needed to be carried out before electronic tolling of Gauteng’s highways could be implemented.

 

The SA National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral) and National Treasury are appealing the order.

 

The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa), which was granted the interdict, would oppose this move.

 

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan applied to the Constitutional Court to set aside the court order preventing Sanral from implementing e-tolling.

 

Gordhan argued that Judge Bill Prinsloo had ignored the principle of the separation of powers. He said the decision to halt e-tolling would negatively affect the economy.

 

In its reply, Outa said Sanral was still not ready to launch the project.

 

Last week, the DA said it had applied to join the Constitutional Court case, but it was not admitted as a friend of the court as it had hoped.

 

The High Court in Pretoria would hear further arguments in the e-toll case on November 26.

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Sexwale fails to placate protesters

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Yesterday Sexwale was in Langa township for the handing-over of the most recently completed houses of the N2 Gateway development.

 

But, instead of listening to the complaints of the protesting residents, Sexwale told a packed marquee that it was wrong to play politics when development was at stake.

 

Earlier, about 200 residents from informal settlements along the N2 sang Sexwale’s praises, saying that he would take them out of shacks.

 

But their high spirits took a dive when the housing minister said those who were not on Cape Town’s housing waiting list would not benefit from the latest phase of the N2 development.

 

“Those who are getting these houses, do not sell these houses. Do not rent them out,” Sexwale told beneficiaries before the ceremonial handover.

for more details go to http://www.sowetanlive.co.za

ANC OR TAMBO REGION ANTI ZUMA-REPORTS

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This decision by the ANC’s top six to order the conference to resume and its results to be released is an indictment on the Eastern Cape’s provincial leaders.

They stand accused of having been at the centre of the chaotic gathering two weeks ago that came to an abrupt end after members of the provincial executive committee (PEC) decided to dissolve the conference and withhold the results.

 

The ANC’s national leaders, including ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, ruled the OR Tambo regional executive committee must reconvene the conference from August 24 to August 26 with the same adopted credentials; that the electoral commission be instructed to announce the results and conclude its work; and that more national executive committee members be deployed to the region to oversee the conclusion of the conference, said an ANC leader.

 

The ANC heavyweights’ decision was a major boost for those lobbying for President Jacob Zuma to be replaced. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale have been touted as possible ANC presidential successors.

 

The results of the conference, which were leaked to the media, show that the anti-Zuma camp in the region had won by a slight margin.

For more details go to http://www.mg.co.za