Picture: The Hawks arrested four senior officials from Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism
By STAFF REPORTER
Four senior officials aged 47 and 66 from the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) were arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, The Hawks for fraud, contravening the diamonds Act and Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) on Wednesday.
The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Col Philani Nkwalase said the department received funding surpassing R6.7 million from the European Union during the 2010/2011 financial year.
“The funds were intended for training students in cutting and polishing uncut (unpolished) diamonds. The diamonds were bought in March 2011 from a private entity without the necessary licenses to buy rough diamonds.
“However, consequently, these diamonds were stored at the premises of the same private entity. Forty students were enrolled in the same year, to undergo a mining qualification course in cutting and polishing of diamonds facilitated by Kimberley Diamonds International Jewellery Academy (KIDJA),” said Nkwalase.
However, he said it was established that the diamonds were missing and unaccounted for in July 2012. Nkwalase said this was discovered during the random inspection by the Auditor General (AG).
“We launched an investigation into the matter and this resulted in the arrest of these senior officials. The team executed (J50) warrants of arrest early on Wednesday morning. The suspects are expected to appear at the Kimberly Magistrate’s Court soon,” he said.
A naked body of a girl was discovered in an open veld in Mokassa 2 village near Taung on Monday. North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the police identified the deceased as Botlhale Maruping (14).
“We can confirm that a murder case was registered. This comes after the police were called on 20 September 2021 at around 8am where a naked body of a girl was discovered in the forest.
“The paramedics were also summoned to the scene and certified her dead. No suspect has been arrested and the motive of the killing is still unknown. However, investigation continues,” he said.
Tselanyane refused to comment further on whether the deceased was raped, stabbed or strangled to death.
Picture: Refuse bags blocked the Phokwane Local Municipality entrance/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Service delivery at Phokwane continues to be affected after municipal workers embark on a week-long unprotected strike. This comes after the embattled Phokwane Local Municipality failed to pay their September salaries.
Now, residents in the area call for the Northern Cape Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA)’s intervention.
One source said: “We urge the COGHSTA department to disband the municipality. The infights between the mayor, Chief Whip and the acting Municipal Manager continue to affect service delivery and plague the municipality in disarray.
“Nothing has changed since the new leadership ascended to the helm hence we call for an overhaul. These people do not care about service delivery, but instead, they put their own interests at the forefront.”
It is alleged that mayor, Olebogeng Tumodi and the Chief Whip, Remaketse Selogilwe forcefully took the key of the acting Municipal Manager, Kealeboga Gaborone’s office. This allegedly caused her not to pay the salaries of the municipal workers.
Now, municipal workers allegedly poured faeces at the reception and blocked the entrance of the municipality with refuse bags.
The Democratic Alliances (DA) councillor at the municipality, Annette van Wyk said they are concerned about the lack of service delivery.
“The DA will now make good on our threat to lay criminal charges against the municipality in respect of NEMA 107 of 1998 Section 49A (1) in an effort to enforce some kind of accountability.
“No amount of criminal charges, however, will make up for the inherent inefficiency within Phokwane, where ANC-infighting continues to thwart service delivery. This has already been demonstrated by numerous failed government-driven interventions in Phokwane,” van Wyk said.
She further said the failure of the municipality to fix an affordable and easy to repair sewerage spill that is wreaking devastation on homes, schools and businesses in Jan Kempdorp, has again raised concerns about the ANC-run local government’s internal instability and poor financial state.
“The sewerage situation at the silos remains intolerable. Sewage continues to seep into boreholes, with at least two already contaminated with E. coli. Sewage in the road is already pushing up into houses in Andalusia Park and in a house at the “Lande”.
“Businesses, school and a creche in the industrial area are also badly affected. The DA further previously reported that two bodies have been found in the sewage that has dammed up at the silos,” said van Wyk.
Meanwhile, Tumodi said: “We have noted in dismay the ongoing unlawful demonstration by employees from the beginning of the week. As much as we are disappointed by the actions of our employees, we wish to reaffirm our commitment to timeously resolve the impulse.
“There is ongoing engagements between the employer and recognised stakeholders to expedite the resolve (sic). We wish to confirm that salaries of employees will be paid on time, other outstanding payments will be facilitated as a matter of urgency.”
Tumodi added: “We wish to implore our employees to desist from engaging on unlawful strike and afford the leadership of the institution to resolve all concerns. We wish to express our utmost apology for any inconvenience caused, together we shall build a better society.”
Picture: North West Premier, Bushy Maape alongside government officials at Lotlamoreng Dam
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West Premier, Bushy Maape and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Deputy Minister, Obed Bapela including government officials were held ‘hostage’ by angry community members at Lotlamoreng Dam in Mahikeng on Tuesday.
The community members went berserk and barricaded the entrance of the iconic dam with stones and debris as they demand answers from government officials regarding the beneficiaries of the multi-million development project at the dam.
It is alleged that the government has spent over R80 million to revamp the area to become one of the best tourism sites in the province.
The community leader, Simphiwe Yuze said: “We are not happy about how the North West Provincial government is treating us. How can so many tenders be awarded to outsiders? We tried to have consultative engagements with our government officials, but our plea fell on deaf ears.
“We do not benefit as locals from all these projects and that must come to an end. We have capable contractors who can do the job better than these companies benefitting here. Now, we have Letlamoreng Dam project, but we do not get answers on who will be benefitting from it after its completion.”
Yuze alleged the provincial government has appointed a Limpopo-based company, G-Fencing to do maintenance at Letlamoreng Dam after its completion.
“These people do not have our interest at heart as locals. They are only here for money and we want all these projects including the buildings to be owned by our locals. We do not want to come across any situation where we will see them being sold without our knowledge in the future.
“We know there are many things in the pipeline, but we are repudiating with the government on awarding tenders to outsiders, while we are left behind. We will be engaging with all other stakeholders on Wednesday at 12pm to get answers,” he said.
Bapela who embarked on a three-day visit to Ngaka Modiri Molema District in his capacity as the District Development Model (DDM), said issues raised by community members were genuine.
“These might be genuine grievances that are there and we do not undermine them at all. But stopping and blocking the government to come and develop your area is not one of them. We urge our communities to talk to young people because we all want developments, but if there are some challenges we will listen and resolve them.
“This is the only area where we thought we could conclude today’s trip, but tomorrow the program still continues. Where people are receptive and able to allow development to happen, it will happen,” he said.
Bapela further said they agree that tenders should be awarded to locals if they meet the criteria. He added that if the tender is awarded to outsider, the beneficiary must localise it and work with locals by creating job opportunities and hire local sub-contractors.
“We were not allowed to enter the building, so we could not provide answers as they denied us access. Letlamoreng Dam is a big project that could create job opportunities for locals. 79% of young people are unemployed and we understand that our people are desperate if they do not get job opportunities in their own backyards.
Maape refused to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, Letlamoreng Dam project is expected to be completed on November 2021.
Three suspects were arrested for business robbery at Tswelelang Location near Wolmaranstad on Tuesday.
North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said Tshepang Boikanyo (22), Mosimanegape Malcolm Mokhutswane (33) and Katiso Mothupi (24) accosted a tuckshop owner (33) and threatened him with a knife.
“The trio allegedly overpoweredr shop owner in his shop at Tswelelang Location. The tuck shop owner was closing his shop, when the suspects grabbed him and held a knife against his neck.
“They allegedly ransacked the place and took an undisclosed amount of cash before they fled the scene on foot,” Myburgh said.
She said, however, the police managed to trace and arrest them shortly after the incident.
Myburgh further said the suspects were remanded in custody after they appeared at Wolmaranstad Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. She said the case was postponed until 22 September 2021 for formal bail application.
One of the patients who were admitted at Christiana Hospital has died. Monnaotsile Jacob Dire (52) from Khudutlou village near Taung was one of 22 patients who were ferried to nearby hospitals and Community Healthcare Centres (CHCs) after the hospital that was under construction engulfed by fire.
Now, Boitumelo Motswakae who is a nephew to the deceased said they believe that Dire who was transferred to Taung District Hospital, might have suffered from smoke inhalation and died.
“My uncle had swollen feet and we transported him to the hospital where he was admitted. However, on 8 September 2021, we received a call informing us that he has been transferred to Taung District Hospital after a blaze of fire ravaged the hospital.
“We received another call later on while we were preparing to go to the hospital to visit him telling us that he had passed away. What surprised us, the official who was on the phone instructed us to wait for three days before we could come to the hospital,” Motswakae said.
He said he went to the hospital to get more details the following day. Motswakae said he spent almost four hours at the hospital waiting to be assisted after being sent from “pillar to post.”
“There is something sinister about the cause of my uncle’s death. I was heartbroken seeing him in such a state. He was admitted to the COVID-19 unit even though he was negative, so we want to understand.
“The hospital also refused to tell us what was the cause of his death. As a family, we suspect that he might have been killed by smoke inhalation from Christiana Hospital. So, we need answers,” Motswakae said.
However, the North West health department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane refuted Motswakae’s allegations.
“The department wishes to state categorically clear that the patient was not admitted on a COVID-19 positive ward. He was, however, admitted as a COVID-19 suspect because he had general body weakness, shortness of breath, and low blood sugar.
“Patients who are COVID-19 suspects cannot by any means be admitted in the same ward as those who are positive, but they cannot be admitted in the same ward as those who are negative, while their status is not yet known,” he said.
Lekgethwane further said Dire was admitted at the PUI ward and managed there while waiting for results. He said the COVID-19 PCR test was collected at 12H50, but sadly the patient passed away at 19H49 the same day.
“The results of the patient came back negative on 10 September 2021 after the patient had already passed away. The patient had a lot of complications coupled with uncontrollable sugar levels and this made his organs not respond to treatment.
“So, his death was not caused by smoke inhalation because all patients at the hospital were evacuated on time,” he said.
Former SABC reporter, Sello Tatai was appointed as the North West Premier, Bushy Maape spokesperson. Maape said in a statement that Tatai comes with a wealth of experience in the media and communications fraternity.
“He is a former senior television journalist with a career spanning close to a decade. Tatai holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, African Literature, and Media Studies from the University of Witwatersrand, an Advanced Certificate in African Political Economy from the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute (TMALI).
“He is currently pursuing his Post-Graduate Degree in Public Administration with the Management College of Southern Africa (MANCOSA),” he said.
While excited at his new responsibilities, Tatai succinctly avers that given the rurality of the province, communications must play a developmental role. He said this must encapsulate informing and educating the people of the North West about various government programmes and plans in fighting the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment, and income inequalities.
“The North West story must also include profiling the majestic tourist destination sites that the province has to offer, the heritage and culture through music, arts, literature, and preservation of oral history.
“The re-imaging of the province is therefore of critical importance in luring investment to the shores of the province while creating socio-economic opportunities for the youth, women as well as emerging and small enterprises. The communication of the province must be seen propagating for this trajectory,” said Tatai.
Reivilo- A 47-YEAR-OLD teacher from Tshepang Thuto Primary School in Reivilo is expected to appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court on 30 September 2021 for allegedly assaulting a Grade 7 learner with sjambok.
According to the learner’s parent, Mogomotsi Jacobs, the teacher assaulted Refentse Jacobs (12) on 23 August 2021 after he accused him of stealing a memorandum. Jacobs said she reported the matter to the school, but the North West education department ignored her.
“I was surprised when I bathed my child and saw some bruises on his hand. I asked him what had happened and he said the teacher has beaten him up after accusing him of stealing a memorandum.
“I was confused because even though my son did not attend school that day, he went to his friend and borrowed the memorandum so that he could do his homework. He requested money to go and make copies of the assignment and did his homework as required,” Jacobs said.
She said according to her son, the teacher was surprised to see him handing over homework when he requested it because he thought her son did not do it. Jacobs alleged that then the teacher accused her son of stealing a memorandum and assaulted him.
“My son tried to explain and reason with him that he did not steal anything, however, he was assaulted nonetheless. I launched a complaint with the school, but nothing was done. So, I decided to go to the police station and open an assault case because it is not the first time the teacher accused of beating learners,” said Jacobs.
North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said: “We can confirm that a case of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm was opened at Reivilo Police Station. A suspect was charged and will appear before court for his first court appearance on Thursday, 30 September 2021.”
Meanwhile, the North West education department spokesperson, Elias Malindi said corporal punishment is against the law and has been prohibited in schools. Malindi further said the matter is under investigation and a disciplinary hearing will be conducted soon.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said a stock-theft case against Boniwe Marcia Dichaba (39) was struck off the roll because there is no prima facie case against her for now. North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said Dichaba was arrested for stock theft in Mokassa 2 near Taung on 10 September 2021.
“A stock theft incident was reported after a cow and three calves were recovered after the trailer that was transporting them overturned. The police were summoned to the scene and arrested Dichaba as she could allegedly not account for them(cows).
“Police also managed later to identify the rightful owners of the cows. The suspect appeared in court on 13 September 2021 on a charge of stock theft. The police investigation is continuing,” she said.
However, NPA regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said: “The matter was not enrolled on the court roll because there is no prima facie case against the accused for now, but police will conduct further investigations.”
A 36-YEAR-OLD man was arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend. North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said Alfred Sphiwe Dlamini was apprehended on 12 September 2021, after he handed himself over at the Hebron Police Station.
“Initial investigation led the police to a shack in Itireleng Section in Hebron, where the body of Lebogang Mahlabahlaba Mokonyane (33) was found under the bed with a stab wound on her neck.
“According to the accused, the tragic incident happened on 11 September 2021 morning. Dlamini briefly appeared at the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and he was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on 23 September 2021,” Myburgh said.
Meanwhile, North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena said: “We are saddened by this atrocity. We request the community to resolve their differences peacefully rather than resorting to violence or seek professional assistance from social workers and other professionals.”
The Guardian 