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Eight police officers working at the Golela Border Post in KwaZulu-Natal have been arrested on corruption-related charges, authorities said on Wednesday.

The suspects, aged between 30 and 43, were arrested by officers from the national and province Counter Crime Intelligence Division as well as detectives in KZN.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said that an eight month long investigation revealed that the police officers allegedly solicited bribes to facilitate the movement of illegal vehicles and goods across the border into Swaziland.

“Once enough evidence had been collected, the investigators applied for warrants of arrest which were granted and had to be executed.”

Naicker said a team headed to the Golela border on Tuesday where they arrested four police officers who were on duty at the time.

“Two other officers were off-duty and at the police barracks when they were also arrested. The last two police officers were arrested in Pongola.”

KZN Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa welcomed the arrests.

“Corruption within the ranks of the SAPS will not be tolerated. We have many thousands of fine upstanding police officers who will never accept criminal police officers in the SAPS.”

Police Minister Fikile Mbalula also welcomed the arrests saying it was in line with his call to “get rid of corrupt elements within our ranks”.

“The police badge is an honour to serve not a right to be corrupt,” he said.

Mbalula added that corrupt police officers days “are numbered”.

Source: http://www.news24.com

BY REGINALD KANYANE
​The Democratic Alliance said it is concerned after the North West Department of Education has ignored recommendations aimed at improving access to education for the learners of Seoleseng Middle School in Vaaltyn village in the Greater Taung Municipality. 

The Portfolio Committee on Education recommended to the department that Seoleseng Middle School should be provided with mobile classes to address the acute shortage of classrooms at the school.

DA provincial spokesperson on Education, Dr Tutu Faleni said they found out that more than hundred of learners crammed in one classroom during an oversight visit to the school on Tuesday.

“The DA was informed that the more than 100 learners were actually grade 8 and 9 learners who due to lack of classroom, had to be accommodated in one classroom. 

“Two teachers are compelled by the unacceptable circumstances to deliver lessons to two grades under one roof,” he said.

Faleni further said they also concerned that 138 learners are transported in one bus to the school. He said they were appalled that the lives of the learners are at risk due to the refusal of the department to heed the recommendations of the Portfolio Committee. 

“It was brought to the attention of the DA that more than two hundred learners use two toilets which were unhygienic and in a state of disrepair. 

“The DA is of the view that the bad conditions of teaching and learning at Seoleseng Middle School are a violation of the learners’ constitutional right to education,” he said.

Faleni added: “We will write to the MEC for Education and urge him to implement the recommendations of the Portfolio Committee on Education which were meant to improve the conditions of teaching and learning for learners at Seoleseng Middle School.”

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

In an an effort to raise awareness on the rights of children, North West Department of Education and Sport Development Department has joined the nation in support of this vital national programme by hosting child protection summit.

MEC Sello Lehari said the summit was aimed at creating a dialogue between learners, department officials and the education community at large. Lehari further said learners will table their challenges on the infringement of their rights and how best the system can assist in resolving them.

“We are in partnership with SAPS, Social Development, Community Safety, Health and National Prosecution Authority (NPA). A total of 600 learners from six neighbouring schools will be gathered at Thuto-Kematla Secondary School in Zeerust on Friday. The event will commence at 9am and we have already spearheaded the process by running build up events in which over 40 schools were visited in search of drugs and illegal weapons,” he said.

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

North West Provincial Legislature will embark on O re bone, re go bone – Taking Parliament to the People campaign in Taung on Tuesday. The department’s Deputy Manager in Communication, Namhla Luhabe said they celebrating 20 years of the constitution through enhanced public participation, oversight and promoting accountability and transparency in various municipalities under the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.

“The O re bone re go bone which literally means “You see us and we see you”, is a programme aimed at taking Legislature to the people to strengthen oversight and public participation and to promote accountability and transparency in government. During the campaign, Members of the Legislature will also interact with different provincial departments and their MECs; Mayors, members of the Municipal Public Accounts Committees, ward committees, traditional authorities, farmers and their respective organisations, organised structures and members of the public on issues affecting them,” Luhabe said.

She further said the public is invited to a public meeting that will be held at Mamusa Local Municipality on Thursday.

The meeting will be held as follows;

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Picture: Abandoned Manthe Indoor Centre

BY BAKANG MOKOTO
HOPES of emerging and aspiring athletes to benefit from abandoned half-built Manthe Indoor Centre are slowly waning away after the multi-million project came to a grinding halt. The indoor centre was expected to help the youth to enhance and develop their skills.

Baga-Maidi community said it is in the dark regarding the delay of the project. The indoor centre was built more than three years ago.

“Taung consists of unemployed youth and poverty and we thought having an indoor centre here will nurture the abundance of talents that we having in our mist. Many youth rely on sport to bring social cohesion and fight unemployment, inequality and poverty,” one resident said.

Another resident said: “There is no development in the area. We having a local soccer teams here and we expected them to use the centre for skill developments. However, the project is wedged and no one wants to be accountable. Crime is the order of the day nowadays and that affects our youth.”

North West Department of Sport and Education acting spokesperson, Elias Malindi said the department is still investigating the matter. He said many projects were handed over to their department after sport configuration was incorporated to them from Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs (CATA) department.

“We are aware of the matter and we can swiftly say the continuity of the project will take place soon. We still need to engage with relevant authorities and see how we resolve it. We cannot say what caused the delay hence investigations,” Malindi said.

The Indoor Centre project came to a grinding hauled after the misunderstanding between the department and contractor. It is alleged that the contractor did not receive payment thus far.

More than 15 locals who were employment at the project lost their jobs in the process too.

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BY BAKANG MOKOTO

A 44 year-old man was arrested in connection with drugs at Maboloka village, Brits on Saturday. North West police spokesperson, Lit Colonel, Pelonomi Makau said the arrest was part of an effort to curb trafficking of drugs.

“A crime intelligence task team led a multi-disciplinary operation conducted on Saturday. The suspect was arrested at his house after being found in possession of dagga estimated at R15 000. 

“The suspect is expected to appear in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Monday for being inpossession of dagga,” Makau said.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

MEC for local government and human settlement department, Fenny Gaolaolwe held an engagement session with emerging contractors in Vryburg recently. Gaolaolwe said she is determined to intensify and develop young emerging contractors in the province.

She further said the aim was to hasten the delivery of housing opportunities to qualifying developers as well as to cement partnership with various stakeholders in the housing sector.

“The engagement session was to introduce the new human settlements delivery approach called the bietjie-bietjie maak meer approach in the Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD) following a pronouncement by the Premier, Supra Mahumapelo at the human settlements indaba in Rustenburg in March.

“The department is in process of implementing the preferential procurement strategy to capacitate young developers by giving them 50 units to small contractors of levels,” she said.

Gaolaolwe said well-established contractors will be given 70 % of the housing projects whilst emerging developers will get 30 % of the allocation. She added that the approach was intended to further increase the pool of participants in the construction of low cost houses.

“We also want to transform and break the monopoly of big companies in the construction industry. As part of the departmental service delivery plan, the department will put more stringent deadlines on project delivery and see to it that contractors that do not deliver quality houses be penalised. We will continue with our engagement session with contractors in other districts across the province,” she said.

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​BY REGINALD KANYANE 
A DRIVER sustained moderate injuries after he allegedly lost control of his vehicle. Netcare 911 spokesperson, Chris Botha said the incidenr took place on Sunday morning.

“Our paramedics responded to a collision on the Genhaven Road about 20km from Postmansburg. Reports from the scene indicate that the vehicle lost control on a gravel road and overturned. 

“Exact detail to the cause of the crash and preceding events is still speculative and will form part of the police investigation,” Botha said.

He further said paramedics arrived at the scene and found that the vehicle had come to rest on its roof . Botha added that the male driver was found to have sustained moderate injuries. 

“Paramedics stabilised the man at the scene before he was transported to hospital by the provincial ambulance services,” he said.

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​RUSTENBURG- Rapper Kwesta left with an armload of SAMA statuettes at Sun City Superbowl resort in Rustenburg.

Kwesta cemented his place as a hip-hop force to be reckoned with.  He started his winning streak on Friday when he won the Best Collaboration Album at the industry awards. 

Kwesta collected five awards. He won Samro Highest Airplay of the Year, SAMPRA Highest Airplay of the Year, Best Rap Album, Best Male Artist of the Year and Best Album of the Year for his Dakar II album and hit single Ngud. 

Kwesta’s trophy haul stands at six in one year.

Newcomer Amanda Black had an impressive run, picking up two of the top 5 awards – Best Newcomer of the Year and Best Female Artist of the Year, adding to her silverware the Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album award that she won last night, making her a three time SAMA winner on her debut album.

Nasty C secured the much coveted and public voted Record of the Year award with his song Hell Naw.

Dance pair Black Motion won the Best Duo/Group of the Year and Best Dance Album. The high kicking Dr Malinga snapped the Best Kwaito Album award while crooner Vusi Nova secured the Best Afro Pop Album trophy.

In the traditional front, Khuzani with his album Inyoni Yomthakathi won Best Maskandi Album. And in the gospel stakes Spirit of Praise won Best Traditional Faith Music Album while the African Indigenous Gospel Album went to Living in Christ Legends.

The star studded award show hosted by television and radio personality Somizi Mhlongo and comedian extraordinaire Tumi Morake also saw the industry pay respects to its own legends. Rebecca Malope, Don Laka and Babsy Mlangeni were honoured with Lifetime Achievement awards.

International soprano Pretty Yende received the International Recognition Award for her work in opera around the world.

The SAMA 23 stage exploded with performances that featured collaborations between rock star Kurt Darren and hip-hop royalty Khuli Chana, Stogie T (featuring Yanga and Emtee) plus Kwesta (featuring TLT).

The Afro Pop segment produced magic as vocal powerhouses Kelly Khumalo, Jaziel Brothers, Robbie Malinga and Musa banded together for a distinctly African flavour.

Amadodana ase Wesile gave a pleasant surprise as they teamed up with exciting new talents Soul Kulture and Thee Legacy as well as rock veteran Arno Carstens for harmonies and melodies we won’t forget in a hurry.

Bongani Radebe, the new and skilful sax genius accompanied the moving In Memoriam tribute.

Gospel stars Lebo Sekgobela , Dr Tumi, Neyi Zimu and Jerusalema E Ncha delivered a powerful and spirited gospel medley.

The urban maskandi, Afro pop and hip hop acts Mma Ausi, Thokozani Langa, Sjava and Ms Pru (featuring Mtee, Amanda/LaSauce) delivered a mesh up of sounds, beats and influences.

The night’s performances were closed with a spectacular collaboration by dance stars Naakmusiq, DBN Finest (DJ Tira & Sox Feat. Professor), Babes Wodumo (featuring Mampintsha, Cassper and Dancers) and OkMalumKoolKat who got together for a pulsating and energetic finale.

Comments Nhlanhla Sibisi, CEO of RiSA: ‘By all accounts this has been a successful SAMA 23. We applaud all the winners and nominees, and the music loving South Africans who have supported these awards. We are encouraged by the generosity of our sponsors and all stakeholders, media included in this great project. South African music can only grow from here. See you at SAMA 24.’

Complete list of winners:

• Best Newcomer of the Year – Amanda Black – Amazulu

• Best Duo-Group of the Year – Black Motion – Ya Badimo

• Best Female Artist of the Year – Amanda Black – Amazulu

• Best Male Artist of the Year – Kwesta – Dakar II

• Best Album of the Year – Kwesta – Dakar II

• Record of the Year – Nasty C – Hell Naw

• Best Maskandi Album – Khuzani – Inyoni yomthakathi

• Classical Instrumental Album – Charl du Pleassis Trio – Baroqueswing Vol.II

• Best Afro Pop Album – Vusi Nova – Vusi Nova

• African Indigenous Gospel Album – Living In Christ Legends – Living In Christ Legends

• Best Rock Album – Albert Frost – The Wakeup

• Best Pop Album – GoodLuck – The Nature Within

• Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album – Joshua na die Reen – Die Wereld Binne My

• Best Rap Album – Kwesta – Darak II

• Best Kwaito Album – Dr Malinga – Goodwill

• Best Dance Album – Black Motion – Ya Badimo

• Best Traditional Faith Music Album – Sprit of Praise – Spirit of Praise Vol.6

•  Samro Highest Airplay of the Year – Ngud – Kwesta

• SAMPRA Highest Airplay of the Year – Ngud – Kwesta

• The main SAMA 23 event on 27 May 2017 was broadcast live on SABC1 from 8pm.

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