Picture: Drugs and money confiscated by police during raids/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
Five suspects were arrested in connection with drug-related crimes during Project Nights and Nathi in Jan Kempdorp, Warrenton, Hartswater and Schweizer Reneke respectively.
The suspects were arrested by a team led by the Northern Cape Provincial Organised Crime Investigations Unit in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday, 11 June 2024.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said the project team consisting of Provincial Organised Crime Investigation, Hartswater Crime Intelligence, Kimberley Serious and Violent Crime, Kimberley and Vryburg Public Order Police, Kimberley and Hartswater K9 units, Frances Baard District Detective Unit and Jan Kempdorp Department of Home Affairs, executed the arrests.
“During the take down operation of Project Nathi in Warrenton, two suspects aged 34 and 36, were arrested on charges of dealing in drugs. Project Nights was executed in Schweizer Reneke, where three suspects were identified.
“Two suspects aged 38 and 41, were arrested. A third suspect aged 4, was already in custody as he is allegedly an undocumented foreign national,” she said.
Ehlers said the suspects’ premises were searched in Schweizer-Reneke, where Tik and Mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R31 641 were recovered. She further said the police also searched a vehicle of another identified suspect and recovered Tik, Mandrax tablets and dagga with an estimated street value of R21 691.
“The suspect (39) was subsequently arrested. The vehicle valued at approximately R80 000 was confiscated.
“A significant amount of cash, believed to be the proceeds of crime was seized. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon on charges of dealing in drugs,” added Ehlers.
Picture: A drugs and firearm seized by the police during a search/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
A man (49) was arrested for being in possession of drugs in Campbell on 10 June 2024. This comes after the police received a tip-off regarding a suspicious hitch-hiker on the N8 national road from Kimberley to Campbell with alleged drugs in his possession.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said the police set up a monitoring post awaiting for the identified vehicle. Sam said they spotted it with four occupants, including the driver from whom permission was sought to be searched.
“The police allegedly found 10 zip bags of dagga with an estimated street value of R7 500. The police also found and confiscated a suspected stolen firearm.
“The suspect was arrested and charged for illegal possession of drugs and will appear in the Campbell Magistrates Court soon,” he said.
Sam further said the police in Campbell were commended for their swift response and removing drugs from the streets. He added that the community was also applauded for their active role in reporting crime.
“The public is encouraged to rate the police efforts in fighting crime by participating in the “RATE OUR SERVICE” online survey to assist the police in improving services,” said Sam.
Picture: The NTI failed to submit its Annual Financial Statement/Google
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho said all provincial departments, provincial legislature and public entities with the exception of North West Transport Investment (NTI), managed to adhere to the legislated submission deadline of the Annual Financial Statement (AFS), as stipulated by Sections 40 (1)(b) and 55 (1)(b) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) (Act 1 of 1999).
Rosho said the submission of the statements is an accountability exercise that kickstarts the audit process by the Office of the Auditor-General for the 2023/24 financial year.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Rosho said that much gains in audit outcomes had been achieved in the past five years under the 6th administration and that all audits have been consistent in submission of AFS.
“A significant improvement has been made in audit outcomes over the past five years, whereby provincial treasury has implemented support measures that have increased the number of favourable outcomes in departments as well as public entities.
“It goes without saying that we still have to double our efforts in public entities like NTI, which have nearly collapsed due to mismanagement and inability to keep the entity afloat,” she said.
Rosho added that although they introduced the clean audit strategy in the past five years, not a single department has been able to achieve a clean audit. However, she said there has been a significant reduction in audit findings and only two public entities achieved clean audit in the previous year.
“Furthermore, we commend the accounting officers of departments and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of public entities for the sterling leadership and dedicated support they have provided to their organisations to enable the Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and their respective officials to put in the long hours that were required to be able to finalise the AFS on time.
“The accounting officers and CEOs, as well as CFOs, were very optimistic that the information contained in the statements is credible and that the resultant audit outcome for the year under review would register a marked improvement,” said Rosho.
The Office of the Auditor-General’s Business Unit representative, Mthokozisi Sibisi said they are looking forward to a smooth audit process and the improvement of the audit outcomes of the province.
However, he expressed his concern over the failure of the NTI to submitting their AFS over the years.
“We will continue reaching out to the leadership there to have that sorted. It is important for leaders to be close to the audit process and raise any issue as soon as possible.
“Problems happen when leaders are not close to the process or continue supporting the process,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of provincial department CFOs, Tabea Mooketsi said they put in a lot of work to ensure that they account appropriately on how departments spent public finances and resources. She also advocated for the implementation of a five point action plan to assist CFOs to execute their duties in a conducive environment.
“We send our gratitude towards support programme by provincial treasury. The department has equipped us with skills to prepare credible AFS and the measures aimed at strengthening of internal controls and the control environment in general,” said Mooketsi.
Parliament said the first sittings of the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), will take place on 14 June 2024, as confirmed by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
Parliament spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo said Zondo confirmed 14 and 15 June as the dates for the first sittings of the Houses of Parliament in a letter to the Secretary to Parliament, Xolile George.
Mothapo said according to Section 51(1) of the Constitution, the first sitting of the National Assembly must take place at a time and on a date determined by the Chief Justice and within 14 days after the election results have been declared.
“During the first sitting of the NA, the Chief Justice will swear in the designated members and administer the oath or affirmation of faithfulness to the Republic and obedience to the Constitution.
“All members must take this oath or affirm faithfulness before they can perform their functions in the Assembly. Following the swearing-in of the members, the Chief Justice will preside over the election of the NA Speaker,” he said.
Mothapo further said once the Speaker has been elected, he or she will then preside over the election of the Deputy Speaker. He added that after the Deputy Speaker has been elected, Zondo will then take over again and preside over the election of the president.
“In the NCOP on 15 June, the Chief Justice will swear in and administer the prescribed oath and affirmation to the members and thereafter preside over the election of the NCOP Chairperson.
“The Chairperson will preside over the election of the NCOP Deputy Chairperson. The rules that will apply during the first sittings were gazetted by the Office of the Chief on 30 May 2024,” said Mothapo.
The sittings will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Picture: The outgoing CEO of Magalies Water, Sandile Mkhize/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Magalies Water is bidding farewell to its well-decorated Chief Executive Officer, Sandile Mkhize. This comes after Mkhize, who served the institution across various capacities from the late 2014, tendered his resignation. Magalies Water spokesperson, David Magae said back in 2014, Mkhize was appointed as General Manager until as Chief Executive Officer from 2018 to date.
Magae further said Mkhize who has been with North West’s only Water Board for almost a decade, will leave the Rustenburg head-quartered water utility at the end of June 2024, almost a year after his re-appointment as the institution’s Accounting Officer for a fixed term of five years, following the successful completion of his first term of office.
He added that among other responsibilities, Mkhize was appointed as Chief Operations Officer during his period of employment and has overseen numerous projects in response to the water demand in Magalies Water’s area of operation.
“These projects include the completion of the Bulk Water Master Plan in June 2015, upgrade of Vaalkop Water Treatment Works from 210Ml/d to 240Ml/d, upgrade of Klipdrift Water Treatment Works from 18Ml/d to 42Ml/d.
“Other projects include efficiency improvements at Wallmansthal Water Treatment Works with the development of improved high-lift pump-station. Implementation of Pilanesberg Phase 2 Mafenya Reservoir, pumpstation, Pipeline, and Tlhabane Reservoir,” said Magae.
He said more recently, Mkhize was ceased with the difficult task of integrating Magalies Water with the erstwhile Sedibeng Water, whose North West operations, liabilities and staff was duly transferred to former following the latter’s disestablishment. Magae said this saw Magalies Water’s area of operation grow to include Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Distric, as well as the workforce growing from a humble 370 to over 700 employees.
Reflecting on his years of service to Magalies Water, the outgoing Chief Executive Officer said his tenure was not without its fair share of challenges.
“Some of the challenges we have experienced include the lack of sufficient potable water production to meet the demand in Rustenburg and Moses Kotane Local Municipalities, which comprise the highest number of people in Bojanala Platinum District.
“Lack of funding to speedily implement the Bulk Water Master Plan, the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, which negatively impacted the water sector including Magalies Water customers in Moretele Local Municipality, non-payment by the municipalities for services rendered by us, as well as the lack of local support in Madibeng Local Municipality for Magalies Water to finish the longest running water treatment works upgrade project in Brits” he said.
Mkhize has overseen the revenue growth from R0.2 billion in 2014/15 to R1.2 billion in 2022/23 financial years and an asset growth from R0.9 billion to over R4.5 billion, as well as leading Magalies Water to three consecutive clean audits from 2019/20 – 2021/22 financial years.
Meanwhile, Board Chairperson Dr Lydia Sebego said Mkhize leaves behind an impressive track record and his leadership will be sorely missed, given the meticulous approach with which he handled the integration of Magalies and Sedibeng Water Boards, at a time when there had been a lot of anxiety and uncertainty.
“We are obviously saddened by his departure, given his contribution and wish him the best as he prepares for working life beyond Magalies Water. We are confident that he will continue to do very well,” she said.
Sebego said the appointment of the acting Chief Executive Officer will be communicated in due course to stakeholders and the public once all internal processes in this respect have been completed.
A well-rested Bafana Bafana team hit the Free State Stadium pitch in the final practice session on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe. The South African senior men’s team has had a bit of time to catch their breath in Bloemfontein after a taxing travelling schedule to and from Nigeria a few days ago, and coach Hugo Broos said he briefly took time to share the team’s experience on the road.
“I believe in my team, and I believe they can (perform). If we play the game the way we did on Friday (against Nigeria), taking travel into consideration, then I believe a win is possible against Zimbabwe.
“I am complimentary of the group of players that have come together, eager to fight for their places in the team that is bidding to qualify for the next edition of the FIFA World Cup. I’m also pleased that despite the challenges, they kept their focus and stuck to the plan,” he said.
When Kaizer Chiefs FC defender, Given Msimango was asked how he felt when the call-up came for him to join the team after Grant Kekana had to be withdrawn due to injury, he could not stop smiling.
Msimango said Bafana Bafana did what they needed to do against the West Africans in Friday’s World Cup qualifier.
“I was on vacation with my wife, and we had to cut that short. I’m happy to be here, honoured to play and I will give it my best.
“The travel was tough, yes, but the game was going to go ahead anyway, so we kept our focus. We all did! It’s about the football at the end of the day,” he said.
The team enjoyed their training session on Monday and are excited to play in front of the fans of ‘The City of Roses’ in what is going to be a match that will be remembered for a long time.
Kickoff is at 18h00 on Tuesday. Tickets to this encounter are now available at the match venue, Free State stadium.
The gates will open at 15h00 and the tickets are priced at R50.00 for adults. Kids, scholars and students will pay R20.00 (school uniform and student cards required for over 12-year-olds). Tickets are also available at TicketPro outlets, Spar, SuperSpar, Putco, Postnet etc. Hospitality tickets are available from the stadium, and they are priced at R1500.00 and R2000.00 packages, including food and drinks.
Picture: The expelled founder of uMkhonto weSizwe, Jabulani Khumalo
By OBAKENG MAJE
The uMkhonto weSizwe Youth League said it abundantly and fervently denounces the statement by expelled party founder, Jabulani Khumalo. This comes after Khumalo released a media statement confirming his attendance to the first sitting of the National Parliament on 14 June 2024.
Khumalo said he made that public statement in his capacity as the ‘leader’ of uMkhonto WeSizwe. He further said their Members of Parliament (MPs) will be present for their swearing-in on the designated date.
“The purported MK communication to the effect that parliament is not constituted based on the absence of 58 MK Members of Parliament (MPs) is misguided in law and frankly embarrassing.
“The true leader of MK, being myself, does not agree with it. Parliament has been constituted with 400 members as at the confirmation of 400 elected members following the elections,” he said.
Khumalo added that should any MK Member of Parliament not avail themselves for understandable fear of victimisation by Jacob Zuma and his clique, will not in itself be basis for parliament not to continue with its business of swearing in MPs and continue with its scheduled business on the date chosen by the Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo.
He alleged that Zuma will not continue to abuse their democratic processes, including the will of the people.
“He cannot continue to undermine our parliament and other constitutional institutions such as our courts and not least their leader, Zondo. I confirm that, on behalf of MK, accept the results as pronounced by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and no amount of staple conspiracy theories by Zuma will collapse this nation.
However, it seems the statement rubbed the MK young lions the wrong way. MK’s Head of Communications & Media, Nkateko Mkhabela said as the Youth League, they stand firm in their rejection of this ‘fly by night’ claiming to be the leader of the party.
“To be abundantly clear, we only recognise President Jacob G. Zuma as the only and rightful leader of the party. Khumalo’s sell out attempts to hinder our ongoing revolution will not succeed, regardless of any support he may receive from those premature and dull witted funders of his.
“His reckless actions and utterances are nothing, but a distraction, plotted by him and his loose cannon associates. We are still awaiting to hear what contribution he has made to the emancipation and struggle of South Africa and her children,” he said.
Mkhabela said people should make no mistake, the uMkhonto weSizwe Youth League will always protect and stand firm in what’s right and is for the greater good and that is Zuma. He said as the MKYL, they have no place for treacherous and deceitful individuals, who claim to be leaders of the party, yet they can easily sell for a fully specked Land Cruiser.
“It would do Khumalo and his feebleminded handlers and supporters to stop their behaviour and let Zuma continue to gallantly lead the party towards the economic freedom of our lifetime,” said Mkhabela.
Picture: Learners addressed by police during school visit/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The Deputy Junior Provincial Commissioner for Corporate Services in the Northern Cape, Simone Van Rooyen accompanied by the Roodepan SAPS Social Crime Prevention, Safety Volunteers, Department of Education and Social Development kicked off youth month with an event at Roodepan Primary School on 6 June 2024.
Van Rooyen also introduced the Junior Visible Policing Commander for Roodepan SAPS, Rougracia Fisher and the Junior Detective Commander for Roodepan SAPS, Perpetua Morgan, as they are all Grade 11 learners at Pescodia High School in Roodepan.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Sergio Kock said the police addressed 956 learners under the Youth Month theme: “Actively embracing the socio-economic gains of our democracy”.
Kock said the scholars were informed about general bullying, cyber bullying, sexual offences, social ills and school/general discipline.
“They were reminded of basic safety hints they should adhere to at school and during the upcoming school holidays and beyond. The learners were entertained by the SAPS Provincial Band and received safety hint flyers and other marketing materials.
“Van Rooyen also reminded the scholars to break the silence on crime and call the police on 08600 10111. You can also call Child Line for help on 0800 0555 55 or the Department of Social Development Command Centre on 0800 428 428,” he said.
With the 2024 elections behind us and discussions between political parties around the formation of a government ongoing, there is broad support for the continuation of economic reforms.
At this important moment in the life of our nation, eradicating poverty and inequality and reducing unemployment must remain our overriding collective priorities. We cannot address these challenges and improve the lives of our people without attracting more investment in our economy and accelerating growth.
Economic growth, transformation and job creation has been at the centre of the programme of the Sixth Administration. Since 2019, we have implemented a range of growth-enhancing structural reforms to remove the constraints which have held back growth, to attract higher levels of investment, and to make our economy more efficient and competitive.
In 2020 we established Operation Vulindlela, a government-wide initiative to accelerate the implementation of these reforms and support economic recovery. Because well-functioning network industries are vital to economic growth, we have undertaken far-reaching reforms in energy, logistics, the water sector and telecommunications.
These reforms include an overhaul of the energy sector to enable efficiency, stability and greater investment in electricity generation and to introduce a more competitive electricity market. We have introduced private sector participation in the operation of port terminals, enabled open access to the freight rail network and completed the auction of high-demand broadband spectrum.
While we recognise the value of public-private partnerships, we have stressed that the state must continue to play a strategic role in the development and ownership of public infrastructure in the interest of the people.
To attract critical skills needed to boost the economy and to grow the tourism sector, we have also implemented reforms to overhaul the visa regime.
The progressive implementation of these structural reforms has helped to improve investor confidence. This has in turn enabled us, despite an extended period of load shedding, to attract investment into the economy across a range of industries.
The structural reform process has produced tangible results and laid the groundwork for sustainable growth into the future.
Regardless of the form or composition of the incoming administration, it is important that the momentum of reform be retained and sustained. While we have come a long way in the reform journey, there is much work that still needs to be done to reignite growth in our economy.
A change in direction would derail the positive progress that has been made and take us back to the starting blocks. This sentiment was echoed in a recent study by the Bureau for Economic Research (BER), an independent research institute, on South Africa’s economic trajectory following the recent general elections.
Pointing to existing structural reforms, the BER commented that there is no need ‘to reinvent the wheel’, and that sustained implementation of the existing reforms had far greater currency than ‘miracles or fairy tales for a better outcome.’
We have said that it will take time for the impact of many of these reforms to be fully felt. At the same time, the process of recovery and rebuilding is well underway. The electricity sector is one such example.
The implementation of the Energy Action Plan that we announced in 2022 has seen accelerated procurement of new generation capacity, a growing number of new energy projects being connected to the grid, and a surge in rooftop solar energy.
These developments, together with Eskom’s ongoing work to improve the maintenance of its power stations, have helped to reduce the severity of load-shedding. These reforms must continue alongside measures to advance economic inclusion, such as skills development, addressing spatial inequality and investing in skills development and public employment programmes.
To realise higher economic growth and create more jobs, we need a combination of structural reforms, increased investment and sound macroeconomic management. As the Minister of Finance noted in this year’s Budget Speech, successful efforts to improve the fiscal position, complete structural reforms and bolster the capacity of the state will in combination reduce borrowing costs, raise confidence, increase investment and employment, and accelerate economic growth.
Modelling by the National Treasury showed that the successful implementation of key reforms could raise GDP growth to over 3% a year, add an additional R600 billion to revenue and create a substantial number of additional jobs over ten years.
This approach is supported by the BER study, which shows that continuing the path of reform could increase growth. This would start to make a meaningful dent in our unemployment rate and usher in a new era of growing prosperity for all.
By deepening our partnership as government, business and labour, by accelerating structural reform, by continuing the work to strengthen state capacity and improve the operation of state-owned enterprises, we are firmly on course for realising greater economic growth and creating more jobs.
As the country prepares for a new democratic administration, all parties need to work together to sustain the momentum of reform, growth and transformation. A stable and effective government committed to economic reform will enable us to build an inclusive and growing economy that benefits all South Africans.
Picture: Former Crime Intelligence boss, Richard Mdluli/Google
By OBAKEG MAJE
A corruption case against former Crime Intelligence boss, Richard Mdluli and his two co-accused, a Supply Chain Manager, Heine Barnard and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Solomon Lazarus, was postponed by the Pretoria High Court to 7 October 2024, for trial.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said the court ordered that trial will commence on the set date regardless of the pending outcome on an application by Mdluli, compelling the South African Police Service (SAPS) to pay for his legal fees.
“Mdluli, together with Barnard and Lazarus, are facing charges of corruption, fraud and theft relating to the police’s secret slush fund from the time they were employed by the SAPS in the Crime Intelligence Services, between 2008 and 2012,” he said.
The Guardian 