By BAKANG MOKOTO

A 42-YEAR-OLD man was arrested for fraud. It is alleged that Michael Mazwi Mazazo who was working at Stilfontein Police Station as administration clerk, committed 33 counts of fraud between August and November 2020.  

According the North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone, Mazazo was arrested at his workplace by the Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit (ACIU) on Wednesday.

“The crimes were allegedly committed between August and November 2020 wherein the accused used fuel cards of 12 different state-owned motor vehicles to refill petrol at one of the local filling stations while the said vehicles were actually parked at the police station.

“Mazazo was released on bail after he appeared at the local magistrate’s court on Wednesday. The accused was granted a R1000 bail and his next court appearance is on 19 May 2021. Meanwhile, the departmental investigation has been instituted against Mazazo in terms of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Discipline Regulations,” he said.

North West Police Commissioner, Lit General Sello Kwena commended the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit for sending out a clear message that corruption and fraud cannot be tolerated. Kwena added that the SAPS employees, who commit criminal and disgraceful acts such as this one, will not be spared.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The Ad Hoc Committee on Section 100 Intervention in the North West said even though there is steady progress at the Bophelong Provincial Hospital in Mahikeng, it has raised persistent challenges.

Ad Hoc Committee chairperson, China Dodovu said while they are cognisant that the eradication of entrenched and systematic challenges within the health department will take time, it is nonetheless alarmed that some of the low-hanging fruits have not been addressed.

“We welcome steady headway in resolving some challenges within the health portfolio, but remain concerned that some challenges that led to the intervention remains a reality. At the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital, the committee welcomes the information that 633 positions have been filled, including the appointment of 23 specialists.

“Despite the marginal gains, the committee is concerned about reports of eight fridges that are not functioning at the mortuary at the hospital, which serves almost a million people in the district,” Dodovu said.

He further said, while they welcomed the appointment of three mortuary attendants and the extension of operating hours, the committee is concerned by the limited capacity and old infrastructure at the hospital’s mortuary and the reported continuous breakdown of fridges.

Meanwhile, the hospital hackled headlines after a decomposed body of a 60-year-old patient was discovered in a malfunctioning drawer in the hospital’s mortuary a few months ago.

Dodovu added that they also welcome that the hospital board at Mahikeng is functional and the relationship between the employer and labour has improved. He said the committee considers the relationship important to engendering a conducive working relationship.

“The committee is also concerned by the inability to fill critical positions, including that of the chief executive officer, a position that has been vacant since 2015, as well as the finance and maintenance manager. All these positions are critical in the effective operation of the hospital to ensure effectively service delivery to the people.

“Also of concern is the non-functionality of the laundry services at the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital, a problem that was highlighted by the previous Ad Hoc Committee. The infrastructure challenges that continue to besiege the department give an impression that they are insurmountable,” said Dodovu.

Furthermore, he said the committee is concerned that the hospital continues to struggle to spend its budget and grants, with only 72% spent for the current financial year. Dodovu said the inability of the hospital to spend its budget has a direct impact on small businesses contracted to the hospital, as payments continue to be late.

“Of a major concern is that, while the bid adjudication committees have been appointed, no training has taken place to date. This is concerning in the context of the critical role these committees play in ensuring judicious appointment of service providers, which will ensure quality service and value for money.

“The committee is content with the full picture painted by all the stakeholders within the health sector and will, following the conclusion of its visit, consider the reports and submissions it received from role-players,” he said.

North West health department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “The above-mentioned fridges were fixed and there is a contractor on-site daily to ensure that broken fridges are attended to as soon they are reported to be dysfunctional.

“Also, the hospital laundry is functional with few domestic machines used to wash linen for specific units. Indeed, bigger machines are currently not functional and we are alternatively washing our laundry at Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex and Joe Morolong, while plans to fix our laundry machines are unfolding through the help of the provincial office.”

Lekgethwane said the CEO has been appointed and the successful candidate resumed duties on 1 April 2021. He refuted allegations that the hospital has spent only 70% of its budget too.

“The hospital has spent its equity budget up to 101% while its grants at 100% of its budget and not 70% as purported. There will always be strategies that are put in place in order to ensure that the budget is spent accordingly.

“Those strategies include monthly cash flow meetings for the purpose of detecting over and under expenditure. There is also a detailed business plan on how the budget will be spent. Service providers are appointed in accordance with Supply Chain Management processes,” said Dodovu.

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By OBAKENG MAJE and REGINALD KANYANE

The newly-elected mayor of the Greater Taung Local Municipality, Oageng Seleke said he is adamant that he will not recuse himself from the mayoral position as the ANC caucus at the municipality continues to be marred with internal factional battles and infighting.

This comes after ANC Interim Regional Working Committee (IRWC) sent a letter to Seleke requesting him to recuse himself. Seleke was elected unopposed as the new mayor of the municipality following the removal of Kgosi Nnyoko Charles Motlhabane as a mayor.

Motlhabane was ousted through a motion of no confidence sponsored by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) last week.  

“No my chief, a true leader cannot just instruct you. A selfless leader will listen to the cause then addresses the matter. So, it means the IRWC is not interested in addressing the cause, but they are interested in pleasing some bitter comrades.

“We need to shelve the spirit of arrogance first. To them, they are not interested in solving municipal issues but in pleasing their own interest. This is a revolution, so let them decide but the revolution continues. One day people will be reminded of their deeds,” Seleke said.

However, the ANC IRWC coordinator in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, Walter Mabogola said in a letter: “The IRWC has noted with great concern that Nnyoko Motlhabane who is the ANC mayor of Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) was removed without proper consultation with the party that deployed your good self.

“It was further noted that the council meeting, which was held in GTLM on 13 April 2021, has elected you as the new municipal mayor after you have accepted the nomination.”

Mabogola further said in their view, Seleke’s election was done without proper consultation with the ANC. So, he said they have instructed Seleke to tender his resignation as a mayor of the GTLM in writing within 48 hours.

Meanwhile, the ANC IPC coordinator, Kenny Morolong said they have noted with concern the decisions of both Madibeng and Taung Local Municipal Councils to remove both their mayors through motions of no confidence.

“We have also learned with utter shock that ANC deployees collaborated with the oppositions to remove both mayors of the ANC and did so without the organisation’s directive. These developments represent a continuation of a new and worrying tendency in our caucuses across the province.”

“This tendency seeks to erode the centrality of the ANC as the only centre of power. He said they would like to remind their deployees that the deployment and re-deployment of the mayors remain the exclusive domain of the IPC,” he said.

Morolong further said the IPC in due course will reflect in these developments. Following which it will explicitly expresses itself with respect to its decisions and the next course of action.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Factional battles inside the ANC continue to engulf municipalities across the North West province. The latest municipality to hackle the headlines is the Tswaing Local Municipality.

The municipality has recently declared nine posts of councillors vacant and has written to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) requesting it to remove the names of these councillors from the IEC list.

Estranged municipal speaker, Phemelo Lebelo said: “The municipal council took a resolution after seven ward councillors and two PR councillors failed to attend council meetings in numerous times.

“These councillors have infringed their code of conduct. So, the council establish a special committee to investigate why these councillors failed to attend, but they did not cooperate.”

Lebelo further said the special committee submitted its recommendations to the council. She added that the recommendations were also submitted to the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Mmoloki Cwaile.

“Cwaile failed to respond to our requisition regarding this matter and the council was forced to implement option 2 by suspending them and withheld their three months salaries.

“Unfortunately, these councillors continued to be rebellious and failed to attend council meetings afterwards. This forced the council to remove them from their posts and write to the IEC declaring their posts vacant,” said Lebelo.

However, one of these councillors, Sam Letlakane refuted these allegations. Letlakane said on 29 June 2020, the council agreed to pass a motion of no confidence against the Speaker, Chief Whip and the Mayor.

“Lebelo went to court and interdicted the decision. Unfortunately, the court ruled in their favour and from that time, she conducted all council meetings visually, Lebelo frustrated us by not providing us with correct links, sometimes we will get the link for the meetings without any agenda.

“We made numerous attempts to urge the speaker to convene a council meeting and add motion of no confidence in the agenda. We eventually took the matter to court for intervention. Lebelo told the court that she will adhere to our request till now,” he said.

Defiant Letlakane added that they remain councillors at the municipality and the only person who is vested with powers to remove them from the IEC lists is the MEC.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the IEC in North West, Dr Tumelontle Thiba responded to the municipality’s letter.

“We would like to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 9^th April 2021 regarding the declaration of nine vacancies in the Tswaing Local Municipality. The attached do not indicate the decision of the MEC in accordance with the provision of the Municipal Systems Act, 2000, Schedule 1 particularly items 14.2, 14.3, 14.4 and 14.6.

“Please read the attached extracts of the Schedule and if needs be, respond accordingly,” Thiba said.

Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus leader, Kagiso Mangwejane said: “We would like to disassociate ourselves from all ANC political infights. The issue of removing nine councillors by the speaker using the council resolutions is not the proper way.

“According to the legislation, the must be a special committee established to investigate allegations levelled against the councillors. All recommendations need to be submitted to the council and the MEC. The only person with the prerogative to decide on the sanctions against the councillors is the MEC, not the Speaker.”

Cwaile said he is still applying his mind around the matter and he will respond afterwards.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

A 32-YEAR-OLD man is expected to appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court for murder. Tshepo Lenyai from Manthe village, in Taung allegedly stabbed Kamogelo Lekaota (18) at a local tavern called Disoufeng a week ago during Easter weekend.

North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the atrocity took place at around 3:30am. Tselanyane said it is alleged that the duo was fighting over alcohol.

“Taung police received a call from the Manthe clinic at around 3:30am. The police rushed to the scene and found Lekaota’s lifeless body in a pool of blood with stabbing wounds. He was stabbed on the left side of his chest.

“According to information, the deceased was ferried to the clinic for medical attention, but he succumbed to his injuries. A 32-year-old man was arrested and is expected to appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court for a formal bail application,” he said.

Lenyai was remanded in custody during his first appearance to give police more time to investigate. He is expected to apply for bail today.

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