Picture: Batlhaping High School

By OBAKENG MAJE

More than 46 395 Grade 12 learners in the North West, will be sitting for their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations across 448 centres today. However, it seems it will be a bumpy start for some Grade 12 learners from Batlhaping High School in Taung.

This comes after they were taken to a camping centre in Louwna on Saturday night, but they were forced to return home in the wee hours of Sunday morning after there was accommodation for them. Some of the learners alleged that there was no electricity and the centre too.

However, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane said indeed there was a shortage of accommodation for 57 learners due to overlap. Molokwane said the plan was that learners from Batlhaping High School were scheduled to be accommodated at the Louwna Hostels.

“Due to the 57-person overlap, it was decided to return the learners to their centre/school. The circuit coordinator visited the facility in person to confirm its legitimacy, however, when rooms were assigned upon arrival, there was a shortage.

“The department was able to pick it up yesterday upon arrival. There is a plan for Batlhaping High School learners and parents and the School Governing Body (SGB) were fully informed. This arrangement won’t affect learners, as the department is making sure that the learners will be in good care throughout the examinations,” he said.

The North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi said, he is confident that the Class of 23 will do well in their final examinations. Maloyi further said the North West Department of Education has done enough spade work to prepare learners for this year’s National Senior Certificate examinations.

“I am confident that these learners will do well in these examinations given the enormous work that the department has carried out in preparation of these examinations. I am also confident with the readiness on the technical side.

“The printing of question papers is up to prescribed standards and safety measures have been put in place. To our Class of 23, the provincial government is fully behind you. I would also like to express our gratitude to the parents, SGBs, as well as community members for their unwavering support to the learners throughout the 2023 academic year,” he added.

Maloyi also thanked the parents and all stakeholders for their continued support and further pleaded for more parental support during this critical time of the year.

Meanwhile, the convenor of Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) Interim Provincial Committee, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele said, they appeal for support and no disruption.  He said they urge Grade 12 learners to stay focused and not to be distracted from the task at hand.

“We urge the communities to allow learners the opportunity to write their final exams in a peaceful and conducive environment. The sacrifices and extra effort they have had to put as part of preparing for the exams throughout the year, must be safeguarded so that they achieve their objective to pursue their dreams.

“The investment that the country has made in the education of young people as future leaders is key to sustainable development. We therefore appeal to public transport operators for hassle free transportation of learners to their various examination centres,” he said.

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Picture: The disgraced mayor of Greater Taung Local Municipality, Tumisang Gaoralewe/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

Dear Tumisang Gaoraelwe

I hope this letter finds you not drunk or high. Let me take this opportunity to re-introduce myself. My name is Obakeng Maje (editor) of Taung DailyNews, which is a community newspaper.

I received a call on 25 October 2023 at around 7:40pm from one of your close associates, who requested me to check my WhatsApp and see what a scumbag has written about Taung DailyNews and I on Facebook. Indeed, I checked my WhatsApp even though I was reluctant. I was disappointed to see what you have written about Taung DailyNews and I.

You wrote this on your Facebook page: “The news that you will never find in Taung DailyNews. If you want to know that you have credibility, it is when someone uses your profile to project themselves. We have worked hard to be where we are at the pick (peak) of the mount (mountain), that is why when Taung DailyNews or Ice-T Maje writes about me, I do not respond.

“I will never dignify that hogwash with a response. I have worked for more than a decade to be where I am. I am at the pick (peak) of the mountain, academically, personally, socially and otherwise.

“I do not come down, climb the f**k up.”

However, let me correct you. We have already written about that cancelled petition under this headline way before you could even post about it. Here is the link to full article: https://twitter.com/IceT_/status/1717173403008786576?s=19

As Taung DailyNews, we strive on factual reporting. Again, we do not target any individuals, but we follow the story. So, if the story takes us to you, then hard luck.

We also do not get any personal in our reporting, but as the watchdog, we have the responsibility to ensure that there is accountability and consequence management. 

If we have a personal vendetta against you, we could have reported about the allegations that you are on drugs. We could have reported allegations that, there is a video of you engaged in a sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl, who is now allegedly blackmailing you. If we were personal, we could have reported about allegations that you do not take care of your children from your failed marriage.

How true are allegations that, a few months ago, you went to Klerksdorp and collected a whopping R1 million from a security company awarded a multi-million rands tender at the Greater Taung Local Municipality as bribery?

Now, let’s get down to business and deal with real issues. If you say you are credible and some people will use your profile to project themselves, kindly give us one thing that is credible about you. I would imagine us (media) reporting about a corrupt individual like your fellow ANC cadre, John Block and he says journalists use his profile to project themselves.  

You say you are at the peak of the mountain academically, but indeed, your qualifications are like a golden ring on the snout of a pig, they mean nothing. Rather say you are certificated because you do not qualify to run the municipality as a political head.

While we are still there:

·        Kindly take the people of Taung into confidence and tell them what happened to the R101 million equitable share that was allegedly depleted in weeks.

·        Kindly tell the people of Taung, what happened to the R3 million budgeted for disaster? Why does the municipality continue to use consultants even though they are too expensive.

·        Mayor, please enlighten us on what happened to the luxury BMW X3 that is now being fixed with taxpayers’ money. Last year, you crashed the same BMW X3, while you were drunk and you confessed in an audio that the police officers who attended the scene assisted you to clean it. This alone shows that you are a corrupt individual who disregards the law. It cost the taxpayers over R250 000 to fix the damaged BMW X3 without accountability on your side.

·        Again, tell the community of Taung why the tracking report of the same BMW X3 shows that it was constantly driving between Kuruman, Kimberley and Carletonville. It eventually stuck in Kimberly, where it was towed to Potchefstroom to be fixed and cost the taxpayers around R230 000. Kindly tell the people of Taung why your precious wife allegedly drives the mayoral vehicle?

·        Mayor, please tell the people of Taung how much is left in the Investment Accounts of the municipality.

·        Tell the people of Itireleng village what happened to the R10 million budgeted for their internal road?

·        Tell the people of Taung why those learners who were awarded by the municipality for being top achievers have not received their R10 000 each and laptops you promised them?

·        This year, you organised a mayoral cup, where the winning teams were awarded accordingly, however, they are still waiting for their incentives.  

Mayor, you say you are at the peak of the mountain and we must climb the f***k up because you are not coming down. Let me tell you this, you are actually sitting at the top of the mountain of fools. So, we are not climbing the f***k up.

You better come down and listen to the plea of ordinary people on the ground. Let your qualifications do the talking and stop being unscrupulous.

I told you that I have nothing personal against you and I will continue to report about what is happening around Taung with no contraction of fear or favour. You do good, we report and you do bad, we will also report.

So, mayor you are given responsibility to run the municipality, but it seems everything is crumbling under your watch. Now, your own cadres have turned their backs against you because they are sick and tired of your shenanigans. They say they want you gone because they cannot be associated with a person of your calibre. So, you still maintain that you are credible?

When the ANC introduced you as the mayor, the people of Taung had high hopes and said finally, a young person will be at the helm and steer this ship to the right direction. However, you disappointed them because of greed.

Enjoy your day mayor and just know that there is nothing honourable about you.

(Note: Mr Obakeng Maje is an award-winning journalist and holds a three-year Diploma in Media Studies and Journalism. In   his blossomed career, he worked for various media houses such as Daily Sun, The New Age and Sunday World, including You FM (formerly known as North West FM). Some of Mr Obakeng Maje’s articles were incorporated in a book called Civil Strife against Local Governance, written by political analyst at the University of Free State, Professor Sethulego Matebesi.)  

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Four men were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Schweizer Reneke Regional Court for two counts of robbery. In the early hours of the morning on 14 May 2017, a man (21) was walking in the street, accompanied by his friend (17) in Extension 5 in Ipelegeng Location, outside Schweizer Reneke.

They were greeted by a man known to them, while walking past a local tuck shop. North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said the two were suddenly surrounded by four suspects, Kagiso Godfrey Molapo (34), Goitsemodimo Jacob Malape (28), Monnapula Alfred Seotimeng (28) and Kgosietsile Philadelphia Motsage (26).

Myburgh further said one of the suspects was armed with a knife.

“The two friends were robbed of two pairs of tekkies, a belt, jersey, cellular phone, school bag, a wallet and a brown leather jacket. Furthermore, the victim (21), was assaulted with an empty beer bottle on the hip, while his friend (17) was stabbed with a knife on his right hand.

“After the torment, the victims went straight to the police station to report the robbery. Whilst at the police station, the four suspects who were arrested by police for another crime, were brought into the police station and the duo positively identified them. All the robbed items were found in their possession,” she said.

Myburgh added that four accused were found guilty on two charges of aggravating robbery on 21 September 2023. She said they were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each on 20 October 2023.

“In terms of Section 103 of the Firearm Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000), all accused persons were also declared unfit to possess firearms,” she said.

North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Kwena applauded the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Ditlhokwe of the North West Anti-Gang Unit as well as all other role players including prosecution for their excellent collaboration, which he said will send a stern warning that those who perpetrate crime, will be dealt with effectively.  

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Picture: The Greater Taung Local Municipality speaker, Grace Moipolai 

By OBAKENG MAJE

The Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) speaker, Grace Moipolai said the scheduled special council meeting that was proposed by the majority of ANC councillors and other political parties at the municipality, is invalid and redundant.

This comes after two councillors from opposition parties, PR councillor, April Sephula and F4SD ward 6 councillor, Seakgamoriri Mmokwa, who were signatories to the petition withdrew their support. 

Aggrieved councillors from the municipality, who are mostly ANC members, wrote a letter requesting Moipolai to convene a special council meeting at Depot Hall in Taung at 10am today. In the letter that was seen by Taung DailyNews, they raised burning issues that they wanted to form part of the agenda.

They alleged that Gaoraelwe has gone rogue and the status quo of the municipality has deteriorated under his tutelage.

“We, the undersigned majority of duly elected councillors of the GTLM, herewith request our municipal council’s speaker, Grace Moipolai to convene a special council meeting in terms of Section 29(1) of the Local Government Municipal Structure Act No. 117 of 1998.

“The speaker of a municipal council decides when and where the council meets subject to Section 18(2), but if a majority of the councillors request the speaker in writing to convene a council meeting, the speaker must convene a meeting at a time set out in the request.”

These councillors further said, if the speaker or acting speaker refuses to call a meeting of the council in terms of subsection (1), the municipal manager, or in the absence or refusal by the municipal manager, a person designated by the MEC for Local Government in the province, may call and chair the meeting.

They added that Moipolai’s attention is further and kindly drawn to the fact that, under no circumstances may the requested meeting be conducted via zoom or any other hybrid platforms.

“Outlined below in our order of importance, are the items we deem as of utmost importance for inclusion in the requested meeting’s agenda. We would like to discuss the danger allowance progress report, progress report on municipal manager’s appointment, the state of the investment account, performance report on executive committee and a motion on the adoption of council resolutions by secret ballot.

“Speaker, it remains our firm view that, any further procrastination or failure by council to address and deal with the aforesaid items, can only plunge our municipality further into operational inefficiencies and costly functional paralysis.”

They said the biggest casualties are the municipality’s biggest stakeholder – the people of the Greater Taung. The councillors said, they kindly hope that their request shall merit her sense of urgency and priority.

These councillors also called for reshuffling and allegedly suggested that Nga Tong becomes a mayor, Kealeboga Tong ascends to the municipal speaker position, while Lerato Babuseng becomes the new Chief Whip.

The municipality has been plunged into disarray as widespread allegations of corruption and maladministration were said to be entrenched into it. It is alleged that the municipality has depleted R101 million equitable share in weeks, finished R3 million budgeted for disaster with nothing to show for and also continues to spend millions of rands from investment accounts with no accountability.

Also, the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA), highlighted that the municipality continues to make use of consultants, which are too expensive.        

Meanwhile, Moipolai said: “Kindly note that your petition has been received by my office on 23 October 2023 at around 9:45am. At the time and date, I was not in the office attending to other business outside town. You have accordingly requested that a special council meeting be convened at a time set out in your request.

“I wish to advise you that, even if the act accords you convenience on time, the decision on the venue of the meeting remains the prerogative of the speaker of the council. I regret to inform you that, the meeting cannot be convened as per your wishes, because two of the councillors that are signatories to the petition, April Sphula (PR Councillor) and Seakgamoriri Mmokwa (Ward 6 councillor) have since withdrawn from the spirit of your letter, thus rendering the petition invalid and redundant.”

However, one councillor who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said, they have lobbied for the support of more councillors and they will submit another petition.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Two police officials who were arrested for corruption at Schweizer Reeke Police Station, are expected back in court today. Captain Kagiso Peace Maiketso (59), who was working as Detective Commander and Sergeant Thomas Moleme (45) who was working as Detective, has been implicated in a corruption case.

Moleme was arrested by the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit (ACIU) on 23 August 2023 after he allegedly solicited bribery from a suspect, who was arrested for assault.

The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said Moleme along with a person who accompanied him and introduced himself as Captain, allegedly arrested a suspect for assault in May 2023.

“On their way to the police station, the pair demanded R1000 on behalf of the assault victim on condition that, the latter withdraws the case. The suspect consented to the demand and gave them R1000. Moleme and his companion further demanded R1000 each from the suspect.

“As a result, they were given R2 470 and released the suspect. However, Moleme apparently kept on harassing and demanding money from the suspect. Subsequent to reporting the matter to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit (ACIU), Moleme was arrested during an undercover operation by the ACIU and Anti-Gang Unit,” said Mokgwabone.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said: “Another accused, Captain Kagiso Peace Maiketso was added and charged with corruption. There was also another charge of corruption added against Moleme.

“Maiketso was released on R7000 bail and the case is postponed to 25 October 2023 for further investigation.”

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena welcomed the arrest and subsequent appearance of the accused in court. Kwena said dishonesty cannot be tolerated and any South African Police Service (SAPS) employee who acts in an unethical manner, will be brought to book to face the full might of the law.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The officials from North West Department of Public Works and Roads were allegedly threatened. It is alleged that a group of men arrived at the Provincial Offices in Mahikeng and demanded to see some officials.

The Head of Department, Moss Kgantsi alleged that these men were carrying chains and locks with the view to shut down the office. Kgantsi further said, they are demanding subcontracting opportunities on the grass cutting project.

“The grass-cutting project is not even at the discretion of the department. This has had a negative impact on operations as access for employees and members of the community was prohibited. As a department, we condemn threats against officials for business opportunities (grass-cutting project.

“We are extremely concerned about acts of violent intimidation and threats against officials. The continued threats are meted by individuals demanding business opportunities in general and participation on the grass cutting project in particular,” he said.

Kgantsi further said the threats cannot be taken lightly as perpetrators were allegedly branding firearms and insulting officials insisting to hold meetings without scheduled appointments. He added that, to this end, the department has informed the relevant authorities and the law will take its course in this regard.

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Picture: The disgraced Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe

By OBAKENG MAJE

The majority of ANC councillors at the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), have written a petition to the municipal speaker, Grace Moipolai, instructing her to convene a municipal special council sitting on Wednesday at 10am.

In the letter that has been seen by Taung DailyNews, the aggrieved councillors raised burning issues that need to form part of the agenda. They alleged that Gaoraelwe has gone rogue and the status quo of the municipality has deteriorated under his tutelage.

The letter reads: “We, the undersigned majority of duly elected councillors of the GTLM, herewith request our municipal council’s speaker, Grace Moipolai to convene a special council meeting in terms of Section 29(1) of the Local Government Municipal Structure Act No. 117 of 1998.

“It reads, the speaker of a municipal council decides when and where the council meets subject to Section 18(2), but if a majority of the councillors request the speaker in writing to convene a council meeting, the speaker must convene a meeting at a time set out in the request.”

The councillor further said, if the speaker or acting speaker refuses to call a meeting of the council in terms of subsection (1), the municipal manager, or in the absence or refusal by the municipal manager, a person designated by the MEC for Local Government in the province, may call and chair the meeting.

They added that Moipolai’s attention is further and kindly drawn to the fact that, under no circumstances may the requested meeting be conducted via zoom or any other hybrid platforms.

“Outlined below in their order of importance are the items we deem as of utmost importance for inclusion in the requested meeting’s agenda. We would like to discuss the danger allowance progress report, progress report on municipal manager’s appointment, the state of the investment account, performance report on executive committee and a motion on the adoption of council resolutions by secret ballot.

“Speaker, it remains our firm view that, any further procrastination or failure by council to address and deal with the aforesaid items, can only plunge our municipality further into operational inefficiencies and costly functional paralysis.”

The ANC councillors said, sadly however, the biggest casualties are the municipality’s biggest stakeholder – the people of the Greater Taung. They said they kindly hope that their request shall merit her sense of urgency and priority.

Meanwhile, the ANC councillors also call for reshuffling and allegedly suggest that Nga Tong becomes a mayor, Kealeboga Tong ascends to the municipal speaker position, while Lerato Babuseng becomes the new Chief Whip.

The municipality has been plunged into disarray as widespread allegations of corruption and maladministration were said to be entrenched into it. It is alleged that the municipality has depleted R101 million equitable share in weeks, finished R3 million budgeted for disaster with nothing to show for and also continues to spend millions from investment accounts with no accountability.

Also, Auditor General OF South Africa (AGSA) highlighted that the municipality continues to make use of consultants, which are too expensive.   

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: A baby allegedly found in a shallow grave by a pig/Generic

By REGINALD KANYANE

The police are investigating a case of concealment of birth after the body of a newborn baby was found in a shallow grave in Modderrivier on 16 October 2023. The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said, a community member allegedly saw a pig carrying an object with its mouth and went to investigate.

“Upon further inspection, the object was identified as a baby with the umbilical cord still attached. The police and other emergency services were contacted and attended the scene. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

“The police request anyone who may have information that can assist in the investigation of the case and the tracing of the suspect/s to contact the Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Abigail Morgan on 0641330314 or call the Crime Stop Number at 08600 10111. They can also SMS anonymously to 32211 or utilize the My SAPS app,” he said.

Shemane further said all information will be treated as confidential. He added that the investigation continues.

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