By REGINALD KANYANE

The former ANC North West Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) member, Mmoloki Cwaile was sworn-in as the new Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the North West on Tuesday.

The outspoken Cwaile was at the forefront during #SupraMustFall campaign. The North West Provincial Legislature Speaker, Sussana Dantjie welcomed Cwaile from the ANC.

“Cwaile was sworn-in as Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the vacant seat left by the late Ndleleni Duma who recently passed on after long illness. Schedule Act 73 of 1988 schedule 1a Section 23(1)(b) states that in the event of a vacancy in the legislature to which this schedule applies, the party which the vacating member represented must fill the vacancy by nominating a person.

“In accordance with Section 107 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Cwaile took an oath and affirmed faithfulness to the Republic and obedience to the Constitution before he could begin to perform his duties in the Legislature,” Dantjie said.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

Two suspects aged 22 and 44 briefly appeared at the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday for being in possession of gold concentrate. The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said the arrest emanated from a multi-disciplinary stabilisation operation that was conducted in Khuma Location in Klerksdorp on Thursday.

Myburgh said the suspects will remain in custody until their next court appearance on the 10^th of January 2019.

“During the operation, 1 ton of crude gold were seized after being found in possession of the accused. An abandoned transformer as well as a Volkswagen Amarok was also seized by police. Further investigation revealed that the recovered vehicle was stolen in September this year in Germiston.

“During another stabilisation operation on Friday, Sineth Themba Dywili (30) was arrested for being in possession of illegal firearm and ammunition. Dywili was arrested in Kanana Location near Orkney,” Myburgh said.

She said the suspect was remanded in custody until Tuesday next week. Myburgh said also dangerous weapons such as knives were also seized during the operation.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane commended the police for their commitment that led to the successes. She said the multi-disciplinary operations will continue also as part of the Safer Festive Season Operations to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book.

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Picture: North West Health HoD Dr. Thabo Lekalakala 

The arbitration court has ordered the North West Department of Health to reinstate its embattled HOD Dr Thabo Lekalakala after he was placed on a special leave pending an investigation into claims of corruption.

Lekalakala was suspended in April . His suspension lapsed in June and then he was placed on special leave as he was accused of benefiting from the Gupta linked Mediosa company.

He is expected to be back at work on Monday.

Health department’s spokesman Tebogo Lekgethwane  welcomed the arbitration verdict made  by  the Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council in November 8.

Lekalakala’s alleged involvement in the Mediosa contract  saw the provincial health department workers  protesting and calling for his removal.

They refused to be led by a person linked with spending millions of rands on a mobile clinic rather than using that money to pay for their bonuses.

Lekgethwane  said Lekalakala was suspended following allegations of procurement irregularities which affected a number of contracts which have since been a matter of forensic investigation.

“One such contract is that of Mediosa which has since been terminated,” Lekgethwane said.

He said there were two issues which were to be considered in this matter. The suspension of Lekalakala and the disciplinary actions instituted against him.

Lekalakala was suspended and returned to work a day after his suspension lapsed, and then he was placed on special leave.

He said Lekalakala was suspended with full salary, however, owing to the fact that allegations against him were still being investigated, he was afforded special leave.

He said the arbitration verdict which instructs health department to reinstate Lekalakala  was only concerned with the merits of special leave.

“The verdict has nothing to do with the investigations and the disciplinary actions.

“ The Department can confirm that disciplinary actions are continuing,” Lekgethwane said.

Lekalakala has been charged with procurement irregularities and misrepresentation of facts.

Specifically on the special leave matter, Lekgethwane said his department was still studying the verdict and applying its mind as to the way-forward.

Efforts to get a comment from Lekalakala were unsuccessful.

Source: http://www.sowetanlive.co.za 

Picture: EFF leader, Bunga Ntshangane 

EFF’s deputy chairperson in North West province boasted that his children were well educated as compared to the party’s administrator whom he called “rubbish”.

This was heard in  the Mmabatho magistrate’s court in Mahikeng on Tuesday, when EFF leader Bungas Ntsangane appeared on a case of assault.

who is also the party’s chief whip is facing a charge of assault and intimidation.

Ntsangane, who is also the party’s chief whip in the provincial legislature, is accused of beating up junior staff member Maggie Klaas in November 2017. The assault allegedly started after Ntsangani had requested Klaas to report early to work so that she could  open the office for assets management officials.

Klaas allegedly told him that she would not be able to come early to work as she did not have the office keys where the assets staffs were supposed to work.

Called to testify on what he had observed on that day, a witness who is also a party member, Thapelo Mothibi, said he heard Ntsangane verbally abusing Klaas.

“He said he did not care if he won’t be elected at the coming elections, saying he has children who were lawyers and engineers and that he did not care about rubbish like Maggie,” he told the court.

He said he also heard Ntsangane threatening to cut up Klaas’ genitalia, and also hearing a reference to her clitoris being “up” because the party was preparing for then  upcoming 2017 December conference.

Earlier in the day, another witness and EFF’s provincial chairperson Betty Diale, told the court that Ntsangane throttled Klaas and punched her with fists.

She said the incident might had happened for less than a minute, contrary to the version of Mothibi who said it happened for three to four minutes.

Ntsangane’s legal representative advocate Modisaotsile Segopolo capitalised on the contradiction and said all the witness gave the court different version of what had happened on that day, especially on how the said assault happened.

“You agree with me when I say, you saw what you saw but that contradicts what other witnesses have testified,” Segopolo asked.

The court heard that Ntsangane and Klaas wrestled for a while as Ntsangane was feeling that Klaas who was reporting to him at the time was being disrespectful and undermining his authority.

He pleaded not guilty, saying Klaas was instead the one who attacked him and that he pushed her away as she was trying to strangle him. The trial continues on Wednesday.

Source: http://www.sowetanlive.co.za 

By REGINALD KANYANE

The Roodepan police held a cancer awareness campaign. Northern Cape police spokesperson, Capt Thabo Litabe said the aim of the initiative was to create awareness on all issues surrounding breast cancer.

Litabe said the event forms part of the build-up activities to the main event on October 31. He said members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) from various provincial offices in the Northern Cape in conjunction with the Women’s Network and Men for Change will host a Pink Walk to generate funds for CANSA.

“The Pink Walk is the brainchild of SAPS Corporate Communication at the provincial offices. The event will start at Kimberley Police Station at 8:30am and will end at Trimm Park in Kimberley. Members of the SAPS Sports Office from Provincial Human Resource Development will from thereon host a mass aerobic session and a registration fee of R10 will be requested from each participant.

“Components and stations will also be expected to donate cupcakes and tea that will be sold at the event. All proceeds generated on the day will be handed over to CANSA at the event. The initiative at Roodepan Police Station was spearheaded by Captain Aubrey Mgadi, Sergeant Eloise Kock, Administration Clerk Elmarie Yalias and Provision Administration Clerk Kelebogile Leeuw,” he said.

In remembrance to those who lost the battle to cancer, members lit candles and observed a moment of silence to honour the deceased.
Litabe said they have also invited the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) to the event. He said the members had serious talks about the disease. CANSA representative, Leone Taljaard also gave a lecture on how to identify cancer symptoms at an early stage.
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Things just keep getting better for the Sasol-sponsored team, Banyana Banyana. Desiree Ellis-led team has been nominated for the Team of the Year Award in the upcoming annual South African Sports Awards. They will be battling it out with the Rugby Sevens Team as well as the Super Rugby side Lions.

Minister of Sport and Recreation, Thokozile Xasa made the announcement on Friday in Johannesburg. The reigning 2017 CAF Team of the Year has qualified for the Africa Women Cup of Nations that will take place in Ghana.

Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis said: “I think this is just amazing for Banyana Banyana and for women’s football in general. The nomination comes as a huge surprise, but we welcome it. We have had a fantastic year so far – qualifying for the 2018 AFCON and retaining the COSAFA Women’s Championship title is not mean feat, mind you, we are still the reigning 2017 CAF Women’s Team of the Year.

“We are pitted against very strong and worthy candidates – the Rugby Sevens Team and the Lions Super 15 side – both did well in their respective disciplines, hence the nomination. But just being nominated is a great achievement on its own as it speaks volumes of the year Banyana Banyana has had. We are so blessed and grateful for the support of SAFA and our proud sponsor Sasol, not forgetting all the coaches and players in the Sasol League.”

Ellis said while winning the award would mean a lot, the bigger picture is the mission ahead. The squad goes into camp on Sunday to start preparations for AFCON, which will be used as the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier for the African zone – the top three nations will book their spots in France.

In Ghana, South Africa will be up against the hosts, Algeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria and Zambia.

“We would love to win the award, without a shadow of doubt, but for us the focus is on task at hand. I have said this over and over again that we have never won the AFCON and we believe now is our time, failing which we must be one of the top three sides that will play in the World Cup in France – and the latter is not negotiable, we have to qualify for the World Cup,” added Ellis.

Already qualified for the World Cup are France (hosts), Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China Peoples Republic, England, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Norway, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand and the USA.

Since the start of the year, Banyana Banyana have played 14 matches – winning eight, drawing three and losing the other three (Sweden, Belgium, Chile).

The first game was against Sweden in January, followed by the Cyprus Women’s Cup in March, where they reached their highest finish in the tournament by ending 6^thwith a loss to Belgium.

Next up was the 2018 AFCON qualifier against Lesotho in June, winning 1-0 away, and 6-1 at home to book their place in the 8-Nation tournament in Ghana.

In September, they continued where they left off by defending their COSAFA Women’s Championship title in Port Elizabeth – winning all their five matches with victories over Madagascar (2-1), Botswana (1-0), Malawi (6-0), Uganda (2-0) and Cameroon (2-1) in the final.

They scored 13 goals and conceded just two – one from the penalty spot.

Banyana Banyana has just recently returned from a tour of Chile, South America.

Despite losing 2-1 and drawing 2-2 against the host nation, they gave a good account of themselves as they were preparing for AFCON.

Source: http://www.safa.net

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 28 year-old man was arrested after he was allegedly found to be in a possession of a firearm in Kimberley. Northern Cape police spokesperson, Capt Thabo Litabe said the suspect was allegedly found with a 38 Special Rossi revolver, three live rounds and one cartridge.
Litabe said that Reservist Constable Kagisho Leshage reacted to an intelligence driven information about a suspicious looking man who carried a firearm at old Game Centre in Bultfontein Street in Kimberley.
“Upon his arrival at the scene, Leshage searched the suspect and found unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The suspect was arrested and his firearm was booked as evidence into the SAPS 13 store.

“He was charged for being in possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The suspect is expected to appear at the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Monday,” he said.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

A man (30) died and three others sustained injuries ranging from moderate to serious after multiple vehicles collided on the N12 between Potchefstroom and Fochville on Friday. ER24 spokesperson, Ineke van Huyssteen said paramedics arrived at the scene shortly before 1pm and found a vehicle lying on its side in the road.

Van Huyssteen said: “Three more vehicles were also found at the scene. Upon further assessment, paramedics found two people inside of the vehicle lying on its side. Unfortunately, a man had sustained fatal injuries and was declared dead at the scene by paramedics. The other patient sustained moderate injuries.

“One other person was found to have sustained serious injuries, while another sustained moderate injuries. ER24, as well as other medical services on the scene, transported the patients to hospital for further medical care.”

Van Huyssteen said the exact circumstances surrounding the incident were not known, but local authorities were on the scene for further investigations.

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