A fraud and corruption case against a man (47) was postponed by the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court to 6 July 2023 for a formal bail application. Labius Metlhabe was arrested for corruption, fraud and impersonating a police officer.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said Metlhabe was arrested in Boitekong Township, near Rustenburg on 23 June 2023 after he allegedly pretended to be an Investigating Officer of a theft case that was opened in September 2022.
According to Mamothame, Metlhabe allegedly called and demanded R3000 from the man, who was implicated in the matter on condition that he (the suspect) ensures that the docket disappears.
“After reporting the matter to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit (ACIU), the suspect was arrested during an undercover operation. A preliminary investigation into the matter revealed that, the suspect is not a police officer. The police are undertaking a verification process for the state to prepare for the bail hearing. Meanwhile, Metlhabe will remain in police custody until his next court appearance,” he said
Picture: The deputy minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and People with Disability, Nokuzola Tolashe along with delegates
By OBAKENG MAJE
Some of Small Micro-Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) owners urge the government, through District Development Model (DDM), to accelerate the provision of service delivery and implementation of developmental projects. One of the SMMEs owners, George Tong said in order for the model to be effective and perform optimally, opportunities should be created.
“We understand that, the objectives of this initiative is to address treble challenges such as poverty, unemployment and inequality in particular amongst women, youth and people living with disabilities. We do have a cooperative that specialises on bakery, farming and road maintenance.
“So, we urge the government to assist us with funding. We understand that, the government cannot assist us from word go with all these projects, but we will welcome any budget based on the needs and aspirations of our people and communities at a local level,” Tong said.
He further said, they will also be grateful if they can be capacitated with the necessary skills and provision of land amounting to at least 10 hectares. Tong added that, their projects aim at creating opportunities for the youth residing in their area by utilising youth development programmes.
An entrepreneur, Tshepiso Jantjies from Jantjies Boerdery said, even though the model is a great initiative, there should be coherence between government departments. Jantjies said, most government departments operate in silos and that is a challenge.
“This can be catastrophic and lead to a lack of planning and implementation. It will impact negatively in monitoring and oversight, which will lead to a non-optimal delivery of services. The rolling out of a new integrated district-based approach in addressing socio-economic challenges should also cater.
“As we speak, we have a high rate of unemployment and the most affected are the youth. We have young people who are indulging in drugs who are dawdling at Taung taxi rank daily. Usually, I call those boys and hired them because they do have good hands to work with. So, I think the government should not overlook them,” he said.
Jantjies said they need to give these boys hope and accommodate them. He said the government has the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)program, where some of these boys can be developed.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and People with Disability, Nokuzola Tolashe said: “We visited the area to address key issues that were raised during our previous engagement. This will assist us to understand the differential circumstances in society and also to ensure that the socio-economic empowerment and rights of women, youth and persons with disabilities are mainstreamed across all sectors of society within the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
“Furthermore, to advocate empowerment and gender equality for women, youth and persons with disability through capacity building and skills development programmes for them to participate meaningfully in all areas of the economy and the workplace in the district.”
Tolashe said that, president Cyril Ramaphosa has given emphasis to the DDM as a unique form of social compacting that involves all key players in every district and metro space to unlock development and economic opportunities. She said this initiative builds the capacity of the state, where it has been most broken.
Picture: The accused, Caswell Mthombeni briefly appeared at Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
A fraud and money laundering case against Caswell Mthombeni (52) was postponed to 27 July 2023 by the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. In October 2015, Mthombeni was allegedly appointed by the North West Community Safety and Transport Management to help the department in achieving its road safety objectives, which included training unemployed matriculants and empowering accredited driving schools in various pilot areas.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said: “Mthombeni’s duties also included training and developing driving schools and learner drivers. An amount of over R21-million was paid to him for the commencement of the programme. Over 40 driving schools allegedly signed contracts with the accused’s company as beneficiaries of the programme.
“It is further alleged that, these driving schools used their funds to participate in the programme, in anticipation that the accused will compensate them. Mthombeni allegedly failed to honour his contractual agreement with the driving schools and spent the money on himself. As a result, the department incurred losses to the tune of over R21 million.”
Mamothame further said, Mthombeni was arrested by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation assisted by Priority Crime Specialised Investigation and Tactical Operations Management Section on 26 June 2023 in Pretoria. He added that, Mthombeni was granted a R50 000 bail after appearing in the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director for Public Prosecutions, Dr Rachel Makhari commended the collaboration between the investigation team and prosecution leading to the arrest of Mthombeni. Makhari and Mbotho vowed to continue working together in clamping down on corruption in the province.
Setshwantsho: Batshameki ba kwa sekolong sa Sebitloane mo Taung
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Baithuti ba sekolo sa Sebitloane kwa Taung, ba baneng ba ile go emela sekolo kwa metshamekong e e kgethegileng ya sejana sa lefatshe kwa toropong ya Berlin, kwa nageng ya Germany ba amogetswe ka boitumelo mo letsatsing la gompieno. Sekolo se ne se ba diretse moletlo-gadi morago ga diphenyo tsa bone.
Setlhopha sa kgwele ya dinao sa basimane, ba fentse metale wa gauta, fa naledi mo motshamekong ya tense, Innocentia Msikinya go tswa kwa motseng wa Manthe, a fentse metale wa selefera le wa gauta. Msikinya are, le fa gone go se bonolo, o itumeletse phenyo ya gagwe.
“Ke itumetse thata fa ke kgone go fenya metale wa selefera le wa gauta. Gone go se bonolo, mme re ile ra kgona go fenya le fa re nnile le dikgwetlho,” Msikinya wa tlhalosa.
Mokaptein wa setlhopha sa kgwele ya dinao se se fentseng metale wa gauta, Kabo Kgomo (22) are, ba tswile mo Afrika Borwa ba ipaakantse go utlwa. Go ya ka Kgomo, se se ileng sa ba rotloetsa go itsotsoropanya ke gore, ba ne ba shebile gore fa gona le setlhopha sengwe sa kgwele ya dinao se se tla nnang lekgatlhego mo go bone, se ba kwadise.
“Ditlhopha dile dintsi di ne di sa dumele gore re tswa kwa Sebitloane Special School ka mokgwa o reneng re tshameka ka teng. Gona le ditlhopha tse di ne di sa tshameke sentle le rona, fela reile ra fenya,” Kgomo wa tlhalosa.
Mogokgo wa sekolo, Boipelo Mmokwa are ba motlotlo jaaka sekolo go bona baithuti ba bone ba dirile matshitshi.
“Rona jaaka botsamaisi jwa sekolo se, ke sa lebale le lekgotlha-tsamaiso la sekolo, re lebogile thata. Ebile, ga ke itse gore ke tla shupa boitumelo jwame jang mo go se se diragetseng. Bana ba, ba ikatisitsi go utlwala le fa ba ne ba sena ditlamelwana tse di maleba.
“Re tsweletse jalo, re ba tshegeditse le fa gone go se bonolo. Fela, re ne re itse gore Modimo o teng o tla re fitlhisa. Bana ba, ga ese ba itshupe jaaka bana ba ba sa itsholelang. Ga se ba tsamye ba latlhegelwe mo metshamekong e. Ba tshamikile kgatlhanong le dinaga tse dinang le bokgoni, fela ba ile ba fenya go ntse fela jalo go fitlhela ba fenya metale wa gauta,” Mmokwa wa tlhalosa.
Gape, o kaile fa ka di 21 Phukwi 2023, ba tlile go direla bana ba moletlo o mo tona. Are, Msikinya le ene o dirile go utlwala le fa a ne a sena ditlabakele tse di lekaneng. Mmokwa are, tona kwa kantorong ya mopresidente, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma yo a ikarabelang mo go bomme, basha ga mmogo le batho ba ba tshelang ka bogwele, o kaile fa bana ba ba tlile go memiwa ke mopresidente wa naga, Cyril Ramaphosa go ya go ja dijo tsa motshegare le ene.
Morulaganyi wa porogerama ya diporojeke tse di kgethegileng kwa kantorong ya ga majoro kwa masepaleng wa selegae wa Greater Taung, Tebogo Morweng are ba motlotlo. Morweng are maikutlo ke a tseisang manya go bona bana ba, batla ka dimetale.
“O tla gopola gore majoro wa rona, Tumisang Gaoraelwe o ile a kaya fa a tlile go tshegetsa sekolo se sa rona sa Sebitloane. Re ile ra nna le tshono ya go etela bana ba pele ga ba leba kwa Berlin kwa Germany le go ba neela mafoko a thotloetso. Jaanong, jaaka motho a ka bua fela are, senampa sa ngwana wa kgosi re se bona mogang bojale bo a loga.
“Jaanong, botsetsi jo rene re bo beile bo fedile, gonne bana ba boile. Re tlhaloganya gore gona le batsadi ba ba ikobonyang ka go nna le bana ba ba tlhokang tshegetso e e kgethegile. Fela, re ikuela go bone gore ba tlise bana bao le bone ba kgone go rebolola talente tsa bone,” Morweng wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, Kgosi Lehatshe Mankuroane are bana ba, ba beile naga ya Afrika Borwa ga mmogo le motse wa Taung kwa setlhoweng.
Picture: The acting North West Premier, Nono Maloyi with North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Oageng Molapisi along with delegates monitoring Nelson Mandela Drive road project/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Road infrastructure continues to be a challenge in North West. Currently, Mahikeng is duped as the ‘capital city of potholes’. Now, the North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi, who visited the Nelson Mandela Drive road construction project said, he will visit and monitor all road construction projects across the province.
Maloyi further said, his visit was to acknowledge the progress being made and offer solutions to accelerate the delivery of road projects timeously. He added that Nelson Mandela Drive is one of the roads identified for this purpose.
“Road infrastructure is key to the developmental trajectory of the province and one of the apex priorities of the government. Today, we are visiting Nelson Mandela Drive in Mahikeng to receive an update on this road construction project. Initially, this project was supposed to be completed by September 2023.
“We are very worried including business people and the community at large over the snail pace at this project going. We met with the contractor and he gave us a report on when will the project be completed,” said Maloyi.
He said they are satisfied, but they are going to monitor progress fortnightly. Maloyi said they are going to embark on a similar approach with other projects to see to it that, service providers meet their contractual obligations.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Oageng Molapisi said: “The department is geared up to curb any delays on road projects. We understand the negative impact of the delays on our projects and the inconvenience to motorists and other road users.
“In line with the accelerated service delivery plan, we will be re-visiting this project in the next two weeks as per the instruction of the North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi. We will do everything in our power to see to it that, we complete this project on time.”
Picture: The doctors posing for a photo after a successful cardiac operation on a patient/Supplied
By OBAKEN MAJE
North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha is beaming with pride following a successful cardiac operation on a patient (21), who was treated at Job Shimankane Tabane (JST) Hospital in Rustenburg. Sambatha said the patient was successfully treated for a congenital cardiac condition called Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) using a percutaneous technique in the catheterisation lab for closure of the defect.
“Atrial Septal Defect is a hole between two chambers of the heart causing the mixing of blood, if not closed in time it can cause serious complications in the future.
“Traditionally, this kind of operation is fixed through an open heart procedure. However, due to technological advancement in catheterisation techniques, allows it to be done in a cath lab as a day procedure with no open surgery needed,” he said.
Sambatha further said this collaborative effort between the JST and Life Peglarae medical teams, truly augurs well as they look to the future with the National Health Insurance (NHI). He added that the procedure was done in the Cath Lab of Life Peglarae Hospital in Rustenburg jointly with the JST medical team.
“I would like to congratulate the team of Cardiologists that carried out this procedure Dr Mogwera, Dr Msiza, and Dr Raphala along with Dr Pege. The Anaesthetist, Cardiac Technologists, Radiographers, and Nurses.
“This is the first of its kind in the public sector in the province and it is indeed a model of NHI in action,” concluded Sambatha.
Picture: The North West Social Development logo/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Social Development has terminated the contract of the acting Chief Director, Lorato Gasealahwe. The acting Head of Department (HoD), Obakeng Mongale said this comes after the intervention aimed at stabilising the department.
“You will remember that, the North West Premier, Bushy Maape assembled the intervention team on 30 May 2023. We can also confirm that, we have lifted the suspensions on the five employees. This decision is a culmination of intense engagements between the intervention team, legal and labour experts, who studied the background, as well as processing all the details that emanate from disciplinary proceedings and records pertaining to Gasealahwe and the other five employees.
“With regard to the five employees, the immediate lifting of their suspensions will allow the intervention team space for a proper review process to start off their alleged transgressions. The intervention team will determine whether correct procedures were followed as prescribed by the law,” Mongale said.
He further said, the affected employees have been informed of the decision to lift their suspensions effective from 19 June 2023. Mongale added that, with regards to Gasealahwe, the merits of the decision to terminate her contract, will be further ventilated at the Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council for Conciliation (PHSDSB) following her previous referral of the matter to the same council.
Kgetsi ya go tlola molao wa bofaladi kgatlhanong le banna ba le babedi kwa motseng wa Maphoitsile, gaufi le Taung, e buseditswe morago go fitlha di 3 Phukwi 2023. Banna bano, ba ne ba tshwarwa dibeke dile pedi tse di fetileng mabapi le go sa nne le ditlankana tse di siametseng go nna mo nageng ya Afrika Borwa.
Ba ne ba tlhageletse fa pele ga kgotlha-tshekelo ya taung go sale gale. Baagi ba ba shakgetseng ba kwa Manokwane, ba dumela fa banna ba, ba amega mo polao ya basadibagolo ba le babedi ba ba bolailweng kwa sekgweng kwa Manokwane fa bane ba ile go rwalela dikgong mo dibekeng dile pedi tse di fetileng.
Go begwa fa Kelebogile Mirriam Mokgalagadi (70) le Mapulana Polinah Mmusi (80), ba ile ba tlhaselwa le go bolawa ke batho ba ba sa itsiweng. Go ya ka dipego tsa sepodisi, Mmusi le Mokgalagadi ba ne ba tswa kwa malapeng a bone go ya go rwalela dikgong kwa nageng.
Fela, ba masika a bone ba ile ba se nnisege fa Mmusi le Mokgalagadi ba palelwa ke go boela gae ka tlatlana.
Baagi ba ile ba tswa letsholo la go ba batla, mme ene ya re ka ura ya bongwe masigo a sa, bane ba bona masetlapelo. Go kaiwa fa ditopo tsa bone tse dineng di na le dikgobalo tse di masisi dine tsa bonwa kwa nageng. Gape go kaiwa fa baswi ba ka tswa ba beteletswe gonne, ditopo tsa bone di ne di sa apara marokgwe a kha teng.
Gone ga tshwarwa banna bale bararo ba batswa-kwa, kwa motseng wa Maphoitsile, fela go fitlha ga jaana, ga go bopaki jo bo ba golaganyang le kgetsi e ya polao.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Col Adele Myburgh wa tlhalosa: “Ga gona ope yo o tshwerweng go fitlha ga jaana mo dikgetsing dile pedi tsa polao kwa Manokwane. Re le ba sepodisi, re sentse re ikuela go baagi go ka re thusa ka tshedimosetso e ka lebisang kwa go tshwarweng ga balatofadiwa mo kgetsing e.
“Mongwe le mongwe yo o nang le tshedimosetso, a ka letsetsa mobatlisisi mo kgetsing e, eleng Warrant Officer, Peace Babe mo dinomorong tse di latelang 0824438680. Gape ba ka letsetsa dinomoro tsa 08600 10111. Mongwe le mongwe o sa batleng leina la gagwe le itsiwe a ka romela molaetsa go MySAPS App.”
Mongwe wa baagi, Eddie Mogorwe are se ba se itseng jaaka baagi ke gore, balatofadiwa ba ba tshwerweng ba golagangwa le kgetsi ya polao ya bagodi ba. Mogorwe are, Manokwane Community Forum e ne ya tsamaya le mapodisi go ya go tshwarwa balatofadiwa bao.
“Re tlhaloganya gore diaparo tsa mongwe wa balatofadiwa di ne di na le madi. Gona le bopaki jo bo tsepameng jo bo ba golaganyang le dipolao tse. Gape go dilo di le dintsi jaaka dipolao tse di diragalang mo Taung, mme rele baagi, re tshwanetse go ema ka dinao.
“O mongwe wa balatofadiwa, o ntshitswe kwa kgolegelong mme ga re itse gore jang. Gape gona le mme mongwe o o neng a tlhaselwa le go bolawa kwa sekgweng kwa motseng wa Maphoitsile mo dikgweding tse di fetileng.
Banna ba le babedi ba ba tshwereng mo bekeng e e fitileng go tlola melao ya bofaladi, ba solofetswe go ka rotola matlho fa pele ga magistrata wa Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno.
Fela baagi ba kwa motseng wa Manokwane gaufi le Taung, dumela fa banna ba, ba amega mo polao ya basadibagolo ba le babedi kwa motseng wa bone. Go begwa fa Kelebogile Mirriam Mokgalagadi (70) le Mapulana Polinah Mmusi (80), ba ile ba tlhaselwa le go bolawa ke batho ba ba sa itsiweng.
Go ya ka dipego tsa sepodisi, ene ya re ka Labotlhano mo mosong, Mmusi le Mokgalagadi ba ne ba tswa kwa malapeng a bone go ya go rwalela dikgong kwa nageng. Fela, ba masika a bone ba ile ba se nnisege fa Mmusi le Mokgalagadi ba palelwa ke go boela gae ka tlatlana.
Baagi ba ile ba bolotsa letsholo la go ba batla, mme ene ya re ka ura ya bongwe masigo a sa, bane ba bona ditopo tsa bone tse dineng di na le dikgobalo tse di masisi kwa nageng. Gape go kaiwa fa baswi ba ka tswa ba beteletswe gonne, ditopo tsa bone di ne di sa apara marokgwe a kha teng.
Gone ga tshwarwa banna bale bararo ba batswa-kwa, kwa motseng wa Maphoitsile, fela go fitlha ga jaana, ga go bopaki jo bo ba golaganyang le kgetsi e ya polao. Go begwa fa banna bao, ba sena ditlankana tse di maleba go ka nna mo nageng ya Afrika Borwa, mme ba tshwaretswe go tlola melao ya boditshaba.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Col Adele Myburgh wa tlhalosa: “Ga gona ope yo o tshwerweng go fitlha ga jaana mo dikgetsing dile pedi tsa polao kwa Manokwane. Re le ba sepodisi, re sentse re ikuela go baagi go ka re thusa ka tshedimosetso e ka lebisang kwa go tshwarweng ga balatofadiwa mo kgetsing e.
“Mongwe le mongwe yo o nang le tshedimosetso, a ka letsetsa mobatlisisi mo kgetsing e, eleng Warrant Officer, Peace Babe mo dinomorong tse di latelang 0824438680. Gape ba ka letsetsa dinomoro tsa 08600 10111. Mongwe le mongwe o sa batleng leina la gagwe le itsiwe a ka romela molaetsa go MySAPS App.”
Mongwe wa baagi, Eddie Mogorwe are se ba se itseng jaaka baagi ke gore, balatofadiwa ba ba tshwerweng ba golagangwa le kgetsi ya polao ya bagodi ba. Mogorwe are, Manokwane Community Forum e ne ya tsamaya le mapodisi go ya go tshwarwa balatofadiwa bao.
“Re tlhaloganya gore diaparo tsa mongwe wa balatofadiwa di ne di na le madi. Gona le bopaki jo bo tsepameng jo bo ba golaganyang le dipolao tse. Gape go dilo di le dintsi jaaka dipolao tse di diragalang mo Taung, mme rele baagi, re tshwanetse go ema ka dinao.
“O mongwe wa balatofadiwa, o ntshitswe kwa kgolegelong mme ga re itse gore jang. Gape gona le mme mongwe o o neng a tlhaselwa le go bolawa kwa sekgweng kwa motseng wa Maphoitsile mo dikgweding tse di fetileng.
Picture: Dikgwamolelo FC players celebrating after winning a soccer tournament
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe said they saw it imperative to come up with a few ways to bring growth to various sporting codes such as football and netball in the area. Gaoraelwe said grassroots football and netball will be beneficiary to local players who have an abundance of talents.
He held the GTLM Mayoral Cup competition at Taung Agricultural College sport-grounds on Sunday. Gaoraelwe further said, the second edition of the tournament was successful and benefited not only the participants but the wider surrounding community.
“These kinds of tournaments will encourage the growth of grassroots football in netball beyond our own town. So, we are grateful that the games were successful and we want to applaud the organising committee, and the teams that participated including those supporters who came out in numbers.
“To show the importance of everyone’s contribution, there are six players who were selected by scouts from Sekhukhune United FC for further assessment, while the other two were selected by the former Orlando Pirates FC player, Tebogo Moloi for ABC Motsepe League,” he said.
Inevitably, Gaoraelwe further encouraged all stakeholders to participate in grassroots sporting codes. He added that, the municipality has awarded teams with financial support including donating soccer and netball kits and trophies.
The Dikgwamolelo FC won the soccer tournament after beating Mogopela Wonderous FC 1-0 in the final. The Ditshilong-based team was rewarded with a whopping R50 000.
Dikgwamolelo FC coach, Odirile Mogaadile said: “Last year, we were eliminated in the first game. So, this year, we came well-prepared. I told our players to go out there and enjoy themselves. They played wholeheartedly and never put themselves under pressure.
“Even though we knew that the scouts were here, we played our normal game. I am so grateful that we won the tournament and the financial muscle that it comes with will be important.”
Mogopela United FC coach, Ompolokile Phekonyane said they did not have the capacity in terms of numbers. Phekonyane added that, his players were tired because they played more games.
“We will come prepared next time and it was painful to lose in the final. Our players came out gun blazing, but it was not meant to be as goals were elusive,” said Phekonyane.
Meanwhile, the Sekhukhune United FC Technical Director, Themba Sithole said the municipality should help the players by improving facilities. He said if they want to see good football, the players should be given good surfaces to play on.
“It is important to have one or two surfaces, which are good so that these kinds of tournaments can be played in. When I was with Free State Stars FC, they signed a defender from this area. So, that is why when I was invited I said, let me come and see.
“However, on Saturday when I arrived, I thought it was a waste of time until the last game was played. So, today, the semi-finals and finals were quite good even though the majority of the teams were a little bit defensive,” Sithole said.
He said he was happy that they saw what they wanted to see. Sithole said they were going to take either eight or ten players for further assessment in Johannesburg.
“We will continue to keep in contact with local coaches. We have also selected two players, who are still doing Grade 12 and they will join us in December,” he said.
The Guardian 