By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Diageo SA has announced the name of nominees for the 7th Responsible Drinking Media Awards. The RDMAs representative, Nicci Mitchell said that they have received more than 300 entries.

Mitchell said: “The Best Newspaper – Nicole Arend (Varsity Newspaper), Le Roux Schoeman (Die Burger) and Zoe Mohapo (The Sowetan) were nominated, while Sharlene Rood (News 24), Daphne Grundling (Netwerk 24) and Le Roux Schoeman (Netwerk 24) were nominated for the Best Online.

“Thosw who were nominated for the Best Magazine were Ernusta Maralack (Kuier) and Kieran Legg (Men’s Health), while Mohau Mamafha & Eusebius McKaiser (Talk Radio 702), Cleopatra Jones (SABC 3’s Special Assignment), Nomfundo Mzolo (Gagasi FM) and Veronique Smal (MFM) will compete for the Best Broadcast.”

Mitchell added that Nomfundo Mzolo (Gagasi FM), Veronique Smal (MFM) and Simphiwe Dlamini (Ugu Youth Radio) were nominated for the Best Community Media category. He

Best Best Up & Coming – Veronique Smal (MFM), Nomfundo Mzolo (Gagasi FM) and Cleopatra Jones (SABC 3’s Special Assignment)

“The RDMAs recognise journalists and media at large for their efforts to positively influence perceptions and habits related to the irresponsible use of alcohol. The awards are open to South African journalists who produce content that relates to responsible drinking and the impact of alcohol abuse, including issues such as drink driving, underage drinking, foetal alcohol syndrome, binge drinking and alcohol-related violence.

“Any published material on any media platform that aims to support this cause is eligible to enter the awards and win a prize. The 2017 judging panel was a mix of media experts consisting of media and reputation strategist Joanne Botha, author and former editor Ryland Fisher, TV anchor and celebrity media personality, Leanne Manas, news analyst and columnist Angelo Fick and former editor and political analyst, Mpumelelo Mkhabela,” Mitchell.

“The number of entries into this year’s Awards has been outstanding,” says Joanne Botha who has sat on the RDMA judging panel for the past three years.

Botha said the fact that so many media are writing about responsible drinking issues is a testament to how passionate they are about the topic and how relevant these stories are to the society.

“The winner of each category will walk away with R15 000 and a public acknowledgment for their efforts to help combat alcohol abuse in South Africa. There will also be an award for Journalist of the Year for the overall best entry, as well as for Media House of the Year for the media house with the most unique entries.

“Winners will be announced at an official awards ceremony on 31 August 2017. People can visit our website visithttps://diageordma.co.za/. for information on the awards. Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, The Singleton, Talisker & Lagavulin whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice,” he said.

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MEC for Education and Sport Development department, Sello Lehari has demoted two principals after they were implicated in maladministration. 
The department spokesperson, Freddy Sepeng said Bokamoso Primary School principal in Klerksdorp, Jackkie Pooe and Mokassa Primary School (Taung) principal, Kealeboga Mothibi were demoted to HoD positions. 

“The department deliberated on those issues after thorough investigations. Pooe spent R119 000 belonging to the school. However, she will repay the money in 36 months. The two principals were demoted to Head of Department (HoD) positions.

“The two principals will be removed from those schools and be transferred. The department is still in a process to relocate them,” Sepeng said.

It is allegedly that Mothibi spent R800 000 belonging to the school on His personal use.

North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education and Sports, Arts, Culture and Traditional Affairs Chairperson, Oageng Molapisi said they held a meeting with the department on 26 April 2017. 

Molapisi further said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the outstanding disciplinary cases in the department and the challenges the department is facing in finalising such cases.

“During the 2014/15, the department’s Internal Audit conducted investigations on allegations of irregular transfer of funds to Mokassa Primary School. In September 2015, the department’s Internal Audit revealed that on the 18^th October 2013, Mokassa Primary School received a transfer payment of R627 021.50 instead of R129 027.50 which resulted in overpayment of R498 000.

“On the 21^st October 2013, the department requested the principal, Kealeboga Mothibi and School Governing Body (SGB) in writing to refund the department an amount of R498 000. A cheque was issued by the school in the name of Mothibi on 24 October 2013. However, Mothibi cashed the cheque at FNB Hartswater branch and used it for his own personal gain,” he said.

Molapisi said on 23^rd October 2014, the school received a transfer payment of R497 491 73. He further said the department requested Mothibi on 30 October 2014 to return the money.

“The cheque was issued by the school in the name of Mothibi on 4 November 2014, and he cashed it in at FNB Hartswater. In December 2014, Mothibi refunded the department an amount of R497 491 73 after being confronted by the Departmental Internal Audit. Mothibi also borrowed money from the school to the amount of R20 860 for the payment of electricity without following proper procedures. In 2015, Mothibi paid back the R498 000 that he took in 2013.

“Mothibi was officially charged for misconduct for contravening the Employment of Educators Act 76 of 1998 on November 2016. The hearing took place on 30 November 2016 where Mothibi was dismissed with immediate effect. He appealed his dismissal through the office of MEC, Sello Lehari. However, the matter has been finalised,” he said.

Molapisi also shed more light on Bokamoso Intermediate School principal, Jackkie Pooe. He added that the school is based in Klerksdorp in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District and Pooe resides in Gauteng.

“She was travelling from Gauteng Province to Klerksdorp on daily basis. Pooe was found guilty of mismanagement of funds at the school in 2015. She was subjected to disciplinary hearing that commenced in October 2015 and was concluded in April 2016.

“Pooe was found guilty and the sanction was that she should be dismissed. She appealed against the sanction through the office of the MEC, Sello Lehari.”

Molapisi said another case was against Onkgopotse Tiro Comprehensive School principal, Edwin Teach Kgonothi. He said the case against Kgonothi started in 2012 where there was investigation against him for mismanagement of school funds. 

“It was alleged that Kgonothi used some of the school money for his personal benefit. In 2014, there was a precautionary suspension against him, and the department appointed a forensic team to do investigations.

“The team came with the same conclusion that Kgonothi was guilty and must be charged. It was agreed that Kgonothi must be removed as the principal and be placed at the department to work there. The department failed to implement the recommendation,” Molapisi said.

He further said an instruction was given by Court on 2 February 2017 for the department to conduct a disciplinary hearing against Kgonothi. Molapisi added that the department took a decision that since this case is already implicating Ngaka Modiri Molema Education District; they have to outsource the Public Protector and Labour Relations from Gauteng Province in order for the case to get a fair trial. Newsnote  

​BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) in Bokone Bophirima will  host and join other key events to commemorate Women’s Month and give honour to the women of 1956 and many others who fought for the liberation of South Africa and its women.

In some of the key events scheduled to wrap up the Women’s Month activities, the ANC Women’s League will host and join other empowering seminars and dialogues under the main message of Building Young Women’s Confidence, which will be addressed by ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who’s also former African Union Commission Chairperson.
ANCWL provincial secretary, Bridgette Mogakwe said from 22 to 24 August the ANCWL in the province will hold and/or join the following key events:
Event 1: Courtesy visit to Bapo ba Mogale Traditional Leadership in Madibeng
Date: Tuesday 22 August 2017 at 10h00

18h30: Young Women’s Dialogue at North West University Mahikeng Campus

Lecture: The role education can play in influencing Radical Economic Transformation

Event 2: Join the Provincial Economic Summit organised by Bokone Bophirima
Provincial Government for all women of the province at Mmabatho Convention

Centre at 09h00

Date: Wednesday 23 August 2017

Theme: The Role of Women in African Economy

Keynote Speaker: Cde Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Event 3: Cadre’s Assembly, Matlosana Auditorium, 10h00
Date: Thursday 24 August 2017

Theme: Women united in moving South Africa forward

Keynote Speaker: Cde Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

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BY BAKANG MOKOTO
Provincial Working Committees (PWCs) of African National Congress (ANC) in Bokone Bophirima and Northern Cape will hold a joint PWC meeting to discuss matters of common interest and share ideas and advises on a range of issues.

ANC North West Provincial secretary, Dakota Legoete said: “The meeting is schedule for Monday at 11h00. The proceedings will be held at Taung Tusk Boardroom, Taung.” 

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JOHANNESBURG – Eyewitness News has reliably learnt that Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe has left the country.

Sources say the first lady left South Africa in the early hours of Sunday morning along with her husband President Robert Mugabe.

South African authorities had placed a red alert on Grace after she was charged with assaulting 20 year old model Gabriella Engels last Sunday.

She has applied for diplomatic immunity from the South African government.

Source: http://www.ewn.co.za 

PRETORIA – The North Gauteng High Court on Friday dismissed Pravin Gordhan’s application for a declaratory order that the Finance Minister could not get involved in Gupta bank fight.

Gordhan turned to the court for a declaratory order confirming that he could not intervene in a dispute between Oakbay Investments and four banks. 

Oakbay had asked the former finance minister for assistance after the banks closed all accounts related to Gupta-owned companies. 

The court did not conversely find that the finance minister does have the power to intervene in such a matter, saying that it was not necessary to make a declaratory order on a law that already exists.

Following the banks’ decisions to cut ties with the Guptas, the Financial Intelligence Centre listed 72 apparently suspicious transactions totalling almost R7-billion, implicating the Guptas and their companies.

The influential family denied that any of the transactions were dubious.

Source: http://www.enca.com

BY BAKANG MOKOTO

MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements in Bokone Bophirima, Galaletsang Gaolaolwe has opened up to the National Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements on the challenges experienced by the department in its endeavor to deliver quality houses to benefitting communities.

Gaolaolwe said that the province has a huge back log on title deeds as a result of township establishment and townships not proclaimed which delays the process of issuing out of title deeds.  

She further said the fact that the province is highly dolomitic (67%) also posed as a challenge. However, Gaolaolwe indicated that the department has commissioned a report on the dolomitic areas in the province.

“Another serious challenge is on informal settlements which are either located on private land or are not feasible for upgrading because they are close to environmentally sensitive areas i.e. mines and flood plain, ’’ she said.

Gaolaolwe added that the department has included a punitive clause on contractual agreements and poor performing developers get terminated whilst poor performing developers get scaled down.

The committee members are in the province for the entire weekend to interact will both the Departments of Local Government and Human Settlements, the National Department of Human Settlements, local municipalities (Mahikeng, Matlosana, Moses Kotane, Rustenburg, Madibeng local municipalities) and other stakeholders on matters of human settlements.
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FORMER Rustenburg Local Municipality mayor, Matthew Wolmarans will replace embattled Brian Molefe in parliament. African National Congress (ANC) in North West officially confirmed that during a press conference at their provincial office, Mpekwa House in Mahikeng on Thursday.
ANC provincial secretary, Dakota Legoete said: “We have identified Wolmarans as former Eskom CEO, Brian Molefe’s replacement. Molefe requested to be excused from the post and we accepted his request. The ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) is content that Wolmarans will represent us well.
“We are aware about wild accusations that were levelled against Wolmarans, but we believed that he is still innocent. With his vast experience, we have confidence in him as the party. Our main objective is to ensure that we provide service delivery to our communities and carry its mandate.”
Wolmarans was jailed for 20 years in 2012 for the murder of whistle-blower councillor Moss Phakoe. The Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court sentenced his former bodyguard, Enoch Mtshaba to life in prison.

However, the two appealed the sanctioned after spending two years in prison. They were acquitted after their lawyers poke holes in the witnesses’ statements.- Newsnote taungdailynews@gmail.com

 

BY BAKANG MOKOTO

NORTH West education and sport development department has finally suspended a principal at Onkgopotse Tiro Comprehensive School in Zeerust. Edwin Teach Kgonothi faces a slew of graft charges.

The department spokesman, Freddy Sepeng said Kgonothi was implicated in mismanagement of funds.

Kgonothi was initially slapped with 13 charges of fraud and corruption. Some of the charges emanated from alleged submission of falsified quotations. In one instance, Kgonothi is said to have concocted a quotation of R92 430 directed to the school.

The quotation was designed as if it was sourced and submitted by KC Chemicals Company.

The department also alleged that Kgonothi submitted another false quotation to the amount of R114 130 to his school, pretending that the submission was from LKAB Company.

He was also charged for failure to execute functions and responsibilities of his duty as the principal.

Kgonothi allegedly approved and paid travel or transport claims of the School Governing Body members and educators in the amount of R103 775 for 2013/2014 without the necessary or required documents attached to each of the claims submitted. Moreover, the principal faces close to R1m in moneys not properly accounted for.

The department said he allegedly pleaded guilty to three charges mounting to R330 000 and reached an undisclosed agreement with the North West Education and Sport Development department.

However, Kgonothi felt that the sanction was biased and added that he signed the agreement under duress.

North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education and Sports, Arts, Culture and Traditional Affairs Chairperson, Oageng Molapisi said they held a meeting with the department on 26 April 2017. Molapisi further said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the outstanding disciplinary cases in the department and the challenges the department is facing in finalising such cases.

“The case against Kgonothi started in 2012 where there was investigation against him for mismanagement of school funds. It was alleged that Kgonothi used some of the school money for his personal benefit. In 2014, there was a precautionary suspension against him, and the department appointed a forensic team to do investigations.

“The team came with the same conclusion that Kgonothi was guilty and must be charged. It was agreed that Kgonothi must be removed as the principal and be placed at the department to work there. The department failed to implement the recommendation,” Molapisi said.

He further said an instruction was given by Court on 2 February 2017 for the department to conduct a disciplinary hearing against Kgonothi. Molapisi added that the department took a decision to outsource the Public Protector and Labour Relations from Gauteng Province in order for the case to get a fair trial.

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
A 31 YEAR-Old man briefly appeared at Molopo Magistrate’s Court in Mahikeng on Wednesday. 

The Hawks in the North West province arrested Ditebogo Kamogelo Molema for allegedly sending an sms to the North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo, threatening to kill him.
The Hawks provincial spokesperson, Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso said the incident took place on 14 July 2017 and investigations  got underway.
 “The suspect was  then arrested at his home in Mmabatho today. He made an appearance at the Molopo District court. Molema was granted bail of R3000 with bail conditions set,” Rikhotso said. 

The case was postponed to 22 September 2017 for further investigations.  
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in North West, Major General Linda Mbana said: “Hawks will continue investigating  without fear or favour. We also urge the community to report any illegal activities within their environments.”

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