By REGINALD KANYANE

The Phokwane Local Municipality has been dissolved after being marred with a series of alleged corruption, fraud, and mismanagement for the past four years. Northern Cape Provincial government said in a statement that it implemented Section 139(1) (c) given all the above governance and administrative challenges.

Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul said: “The beleaguered municipal council failed to fulfill its executive obligations. The council failed to hold critical council meetings to appoint senior managers, failing to consider the section 106 report, failing to approve the 2019/20 financial year budget, the mid-year budget and performance assessment report, and the 2019/20 adjustments budget.

“The proliferation of litigation matters has ultimately resulted in the municipality having two mayors and two speakers. This confusion permeated into the administration and resulted in the dual convening of municipal council meetings, giving of conflicting instructions to the administrator and officials.”

Saul added that the manifestation of political dynamics within the council further circumvented the implementation of the Section 106 report which investigated the serious malpractice at the municipality. He said the municipality having two speakers and mayors resulting in financial and legal constraints.

“The unfortunate sequence of events at Phokwane Local Municipality has unfortunately been unfolding at the expense of the people, robbing communities of basic service delivery. It is in this context that after numerous interventions and for the benefit of the people of Phokwane, the municipal council is hereby dissolved with immediate effect.

“The Provincial Executive Council (EXCO) has delegated the MEC of CoGHSTA to amongst others publish the powers and function of the administrator who will continue to be supported by the administration team of the financial expert and an engineer from the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA),” he said.

Saul said all necessary processes will be put in place to ensure that by-elections are held.

He said as a result of this intervention, the municipality will be in a better position to work with the Department of Health to deal with the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The total Covid-19 infections in South Africa now stands at 12 739, with 238 deaths.

The Western Cape, with a total of 7 235 confirmed infections, accounts for 56.8 percent of the confirmed cases in the country. The province is also responsible for 12 of the 19 Covid-19 related deaths recorded over the past 24 hours.

Gauteng has the second-highest number of confirmed cases with 2 135 infections, and the Eastern Cape was third at 1 569.

A total of 403 018 tests have been conducted for the novel coronavirus to date, with 16 666 tests done in the past 24 hours.

Here is a look at the breakdown per province:

“Close to 10 million people have been screened for symptoms of the virus and testing in the public and private sector has been ramped up exponentially, with 270 000 more tests being conducted in this period than initially planned for,” Mkhize said in a statement on Thursday.

“Government has also worked fervently to increase the number of beds in hospitals across the country in preparation for an influx of patients suffering from Covid-19 symptoms.”

Commenting on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that most of South Africa can expect to ease into a level 3 lockdown from the end of May, Mkhize said that levels 5 and 4 of the lockdown had allowed government time to strengthen the healthcare system, but he stressed that this had not been without its challenges.

“In some instances, data emerging on case numbers in some provinces has been misaligned and sometimes inaccurate. Covid-19 hot spots have emerged in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, with more than half the country’s cases emanating from the two provinces,” Mkhize said.

“Cluster outbreaks concentrated in and around Cape Town are driving the pandemic in these regions and require targeted efforts to track and trace contacts in Western Cape and Eastern Cape.”

• For the latest on the Covid-19 outbreak, visit IOL’s special #Coronavirus page.

** If you think you have been exposed to the Covid-19 virus, call the 24-hour hotline on 0800 029 999 or visit sacoronavirus.co.za

Source: IOL

By STAFF REPORTER

A Taung man is expected to appear at Kathu Magistrate’s Court for Cash-in-Transit heist ON Wednesday. The suspect was subsequently arrested by the Hawks on Monday after intensive investigations.

The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Nomthandazo Mnisi said even though the incident took place in January 2020 at Kathu Mall in Kuruman, where heavily armed suspects allegedly attacked and robbed a security guard a trolley bag containing an undisclosed amount of money, they are grateful to make a breakthrough in this case.

“Police responded to the scene, resulting in a high-speed chase which ended in one suspect, Karabo Moshweshwe (37) being apprehended. The rest of the group managed to getaway. However, in the latest turn of event, another suspect was arrested following months of investigations.

“The intensive investigation was effected during a tracing operation in Taung in the North West province by a  team consist of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Crime Intelligence and Tactical Response Team on Monday,” said Mnisi.

Meanwhile, Moshweshwe has already made several court appearances and his bail application attempt has been unsuccessful thus far. Mnisi said the remaining suspects are still at large and being pursued.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West Department of Health continues to be marred with corruption, fraud, and maladministration. This comes after four senior officials were suspended for tender irregularities recently.

Two Directors attached to Infrastructure Development Technical Support Chief Directorate unit were suspended on 23 April 2020 for the alleged asymmetrical payments worth over R10 million to the service provider arising from a bid for additions and alterations to existing Mmabatho Nursing College including all related site works.

North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “It is alleged that the said officials within the Infrastructure Development and Technical Support (IDTS) facilitated irregular insertion of the “Contract Price Adjustment Provision”, which resulted in the contractor undue enrichment in payments.

“The principal building agreement for construction works at Mmabatho Nursing College commenced on 2 November 2015. The value estimated on this matter is amounting to R10 959 472-35 excluding VAT of adjustment/escalation was paid illegally.”

He said in the latest matter, the other two senior officials involve the department’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the Director responsible for Supply Chain Management. Lekgethwane added that those officials have been suspended due to the allegations of Supply Chain Management irregularities.

“This arises from the security tender. The appointment letter of the successful bidders allegedly contained the prices which materially varied from what those bidders had bid for thus inflating prices and causing the department serious financial loss.

“The value of the financial loss is not yet known as investigations are to start after their suspension. The department wishes to state that the suspension of these officials is not a conclusion that they are guilty. The suspension intends to allow the department to investigate the above allegations as they are of a serious nature,” said Lekgethwane.

The officials will remain suspended until the investigations and disciplinary hearings against them are completed, says Lekgethwane.

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Picture: Daily Maverick 

By REGINALD KANYANE

The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the North West on Monday urged the criminal justice system to ensure that the release of 19 000 low-risk offenders from the Department of Correctional Services is properly managed to eliminate blunders previously associated with the parole system.

This comes after the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa recommended the release of 19 000 low-risk offenders to avoid overcrowding in various correctional services facilities across the country amid COVID-19 pandemic.

SANCO provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe also calls on beneficiaries not to abuse humanitarian grounds that influenced the decision to grant them conditional parole to ease overcrowding including the internal and external threat posed by the spread of COVID-19 to the prison population.

“Mandatory Victim-Offender Dialogues that unfolded as part of the parole process have laid the foundation for reconciliation necessary for acceptance and community reintegration.

“We welcome the exclusion of inmates who are serving sentences for sexual offences, child abuse, murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, sedition, high treason, sabotage, terrorism, offenders declared as dangerous by the court in terms of Section 286 A of the Criminal Procedure Act, 51 of 1977 from the remission of sentence process,” he said.

Sebegoe added that communities should give those earmarked for release into community corrections that include inmates with underlying health problems, elderly (above 60 years) and female offenders with infants a second chance and support them. He insisted that early warning systems must be put in place to monitor on the case by case basis deviant behavior of parolees outside the confines of the correctional services environment.

However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said it does not support the decision by Ramaphosa to authorise the parole of thousands of selected categories of sentenced offenders in order to reduce overcrowding in prisons in an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19.

DA’ Member of Parliament (MP) and Shadow Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Glynnis Breytenbach said while South Africa’s overcrowded prisons create unique challenges for the Department of Correctional Services in the fight against Covid-19, they believe that the government has not adequately explored all of its options in this regard.

“This release of prisoners may lead to a greater humanitarian crisis than that which it is attempting to avoid. Many of the prisoners who stand to be released do not have families or homes to return to. Those who do may well return to a home where there is already little or no food. Finding employment, difficult enough under the best of circumstances for those with a criminal record, will be impossible in the current economy.

“So, all of these factors will increase the possibility of re-offending, contributing to South Africa’s high recidivism rate. It also adds a high social burden on already struggling families and communities,” Breytenbach said.

She said the government should have explored alternative means of reducing overpopulation in prisons, such as converting unused Department of Public Works properties into low-security correctional facilities for petty offenders and those nearing the end of their sentences.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Correctional Services and Justice, Raymond Lamola said: “The DCS has continually adopted a conscientious approach in implementing its Covid-19 Disaster Management Response Strategy across all its centres and offices. This strategy entails prevention, containment, treatment and recovery.

“We are confronted, however, with the glaring impossibility of maintaining physical distancing in our centres due to overcrowding. Those earmarked for release through the COVID-19 conditional parole must equally shoulder the responsibility that comes with the restorative justice system and demonstrate conduct that supports its intended objective to reassure victims and communities that a chance of them re-offending is remote.”

Lamola emphasizes that behind Correctional Centres walls, offenders are being rehabilitated. He further said there are programmes which are aimed at correcting offending behaviour, aide human development and promote social responsibility and positive social values.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Many teachers across the North West are ‘disinclined to return to work’ amid COVID-19 pandemic. One of the teachers in Mahikeng who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said they cannot go back to school, while the country is experiencing an increase in coronavirus disease infections.

“The re-opening of schools is premature as that might put our lives in danger. I just wonder how we are going to manage level 4 of lockdown regulations while having learners all over the place. Bringing in Grade 12s and 7s only will not guarantee prevention from the spread of the virus.”

Another teacher from Taung shared the same sentiments.

“We have so many schools in the sub-district where we experience overcrowding and shortage of water. How will the department afford to deal with coronavirus disease, while it is difficult to address basic services?”

However, the North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela said her department has an enormous plan to address all those challenges. Matsemela said they were supposed to re-open on Monday 11, but that did not materialize because of some challenges.

“We are still waiting for Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to arrive. Indeed, we all anticipated that we might be ready on 11 May 2020. However, by Thursday last week, a number of provinces highlighted that they were not ready. So, we informed our School Governing Bodies (SGBs) including our Senior Management Teams (SMTs).

“We are speaking about people who are less than seven at some stage and this number is favourable. If, we shall open today, we could have managed because we are dealing with a very sizeable number. The reason why we have not yet re-opened was that we have not received a consignment on the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) we have placed order upon,” she said.

Matsemela added they are expecting to receive those PPEs before the end of this week and that will allow some of senior management and teachers back at work. She said only Grade 12s and 7s learners will be allowed back at school.

“We are expecting that teachers and staff to come back on the 18 May 2020. And also, it cannot be the entire staff of the school. It means that only teachers who are supposed to teach those classes in line with the phase-in programme will be allowed.

“We have also agreed that all teachers who are between the age of 50 and 60 and having underlying conditions should not come back until the situation is eased. The department will also ensure that is in line with what the Department of Public Service has also prescribed,” said Matsemela.

She said her department will implement a non-negotiable approach and ensure that level 4 of lockdown regulations such as social distancing, PPEs, sanitizers, masks, and decontamination of offices and classrooms are applied.

“Our staff and learners will be screened and tested before resuming classes. The department will also ensure that our staff and management are orientated. We have collaborated with other stakeholders like mining companies in Bojanala where they committed to buy us PPEs.

“We have 38 000 Grade 12s and 68 000 Grade 7s across the province. The department will also take Grade 12s to camps to avoid moving in and out of their communities. Those learners will be screened and tested before being taken away to various camps,” said Matsemela.

She further said Grade 12s are expected to sit for a fully-fledged curriculum examination paper and they need to work hard to cover the syllabus.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

A 42-year-old man appeared at Moretele Magistrate’s Court on Friday for allegedly stealing steel palisades belonging to a primary school in Motlhabaneng Section in Makapanstad.

North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said Seth Maroke was apprehended on Thursday after police conducted an intensive investigation. Myburgh said the police recovered suspected stolen property during the arrest.

“The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the detective for ensuring that the perpetrator is brought to book. Kwena also urged members of the community to report suspicious activities at schools by contacting their nearest police stations or calling Crime Stop on 08600 10111,” she said.

Maroke who was released on bail will be back in court on 15 September 2020. Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela said more than 50 schools across the province were vandalized during the recess.

Matsemela said: “We were shocked by the increasing number of the vandalized schools in the province. Last week, the province reported 7 schools that were vandalized but currently, the number has exponentially increased to 55.

“Every day during this lockdown the department continues to receive reports of burglary from different schools.  In all four districts, numbers of vandalized schools have increased drastically.”

Matsemela recently visited Bonwakgogo Primary in Chaneng Village near Phokeng to view the extent of damages from the school. She said criminals should not be allowed to damage and destroys the future of the learners.

“This is totally unacceptable, I personally went to Bonwakgogo Primary school to see the extent of the damages and I became so emotional to witness the destruction that happened there. This poses a serious drawback to the department,” said Matsemela.

She said learners will not be having their resources due to criminality when they resume their studies. Matsemela said these schools belong to the communities and urged them to work together with the police to apprehend the suspects.

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Picture: Local salon owners in a meeting at Taung CBD 

By OBAKENG MAJE

More than 20 salon owners operating in Taung CBD embarked on a peaceful protest on Friday and requested the Greater Taung Local Municipality for intervention. This comes after allegations that some of salons owned by foreigners continue to operate illegally during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

One of the local salon owners, Moreri Seanyane said the prolonged lockdown has affected their businesses. Senayan added that some of the foreign-owned salons continue to operate in Taung and no legal steps were taken against them.

“We have a crisis during this lockdown as informal traders. We have not received any relief fund nor food parcels. Most informal traders who are registered at the municipality to operate in the Taung CBD are in the dark.

“We embarked on a peaceful protest to call on the municipality for intervention. The municipality has a Local Economic Development (LED) structure but is rendered incompetent. We cannot continue to close business, while foreigners are operating,” he said.

Another local salon owner, Fuziwe Sokupha shared the same sentiments. Sokupha said they once engaged the municipality regarding the illegality of those foreign-owned salons operating in town, but instead, the municipality accused them of xenophobia.

“It is hard-breaking because even our ward councillors withhold information and that leaves us vulnerable. It’s been three weeks since I engaged my ward councillor regarding the relief fund and food parcels, but he sent me from post to pillar.

“We have evidence that illegal salon owners continue to trade, while we are not working. We believe that this is so unfair because we pay rent and services to the municipality as informal traders working in town, but there are people who are operating illegally and nothing is done to curb this,” she said.

Meanwhile, the GTLM ward 8 councillor, Mothohela Motshabi said: “Those informal traders raised a valid point and we have advised them to write down their grievances so that they can be addressed. The municipality informed all Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) owners to approach their ward councillors and submit their names in order to be considered for the relief fund.”

South Africa has approximately 2.5 million SMMEs in the country and that 1.5 million of them are in the informal sector.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The Community Health Centre (CHC) Promosa Section at Ikageng Location, near Potchefstroom was closed indefinitely after a nurse tested positive for COVID-19.

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha addressed the media at the Provincial Disaster Management Centre in Mahikeng, where the Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro as the chairperson of the Provincial Coronavirus Command Council (PCCC) was briefing the media on the province’s preparedness to implement level 4 of the lockdown.

“We took decisive action to immediately close the facility to allow decontamination. Mobile has been deployed to ensure access and continued service delivery until the decontamination of the facility. The District and Sub District Outbreak Response Teams (DSDORT) started with contact for patients, staff and their families.

“All staff members at the facility will be placed under quarantine for the next 14 days. The Outbreak Response Teams are checking the suitability of their homes for self-quarantine. If the homes do not meet criteria for self-quarantine, they will be taken to a designated quarantine site,” he said.

Sambatha added that this will also apply to their families and patients. He said for the next 14 days, the staff of the facility will not be at work.

“The department has appointed additional staff. We will have to scale down services like hours of operation and maternity services.

The clients will be serviced at other facilities,” said Sambatha.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize who received Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) from Stillwater and Old Mutual in Rustenburg on Wednesday said 511 health workers had tested positive for COVID-19 across the country.

However, Sambatha said the province had only 3 health workers tested positive out of that 511.

“All three health workers who were infected were from private health providers in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District. They have already recovered after finishing their 14 days of quarantine.

“Also, all their contacts are free after they tested negative. They finished their 14 days of self-isolation and out of 599 contacts, we have traced 573 and quarantined 344,” he said.

North West has 40 positive cases of COVID-19 and Sambatha was grateful after 20 recoveries. He said the Dr Ruth Mompati and Dr Kenneth Kaunda districts have recovered 100% after having 5 and 1 infections respectively.

“COVID-19 pandemic is still deadly. We do not want to celebrate recoveries because it may give a wrong impression to people that the lockdown is no longer applicable,” said Sambatha.

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Nthuseng Makhelemele (78), from Villiers in the Free State, said she had been a sangoma since 1967 and lengana (Artemisia) in her Sesotho language was one of her most trusted medicines.

FILE: Covid-Organics or CVO is a ‘so-called remedy’ produced by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research (IMRA) created from the Artemisia plant and supposedly help to prevent any infection caused by the new coronavirus COVID-19. Picture: AFP.

The African National Healers Association (ANHA) on Wednesday said it was eagerly awaiting the outcome of an African Union study of the Madagascar COVID-19 tonic named Covid-Organics.

The ANHA has congratulated Madagascar for trusting its indigenous medicine, saying it was disappointed when South Africa turned down its suggestion to research and use the herb.

Healers said the herb – known as lengana in Sesotho and Setswana or umhlonyane in isiZulu – was one of the most trusted and safest remedies for respiratory infections, even for babies.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Tuesday said it was studying the scientific data and efficacy of Covid-Organics.

The ANHA’s Zukiswa Mvoko said the association was paying close attention to the study.

“They are now having this done. Most of us in South Africa when this thing started, we did mention umhlonyane [Artemisia]. A month later Madagascar is all over the news and this was never taken into consideration by our own government,” she said.

Nthuseng Makhelemele (78) from Villiers in the Free State said she had been a sangoma since 1967 and lengana in her Sesotho language was one of her most trusted medicines.

“When you or your baby have a cold and you drink lengana [Artemisia] you recover. I have never heard of it being unsafe – even pregnant mothers can drink it – in all these years, no one has died from lengana in my care,” she said.

The ANHA said South Africa would have to listen to its own healers if the tonic gets the green light.

Source: http://www.ewn.co.za