BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

MORE than 1000 households in Kgabalatsane village near Brits will be switched on by Eskom North West Operating Unit on Friday.

Bokone Bophirima Provincial Government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said Premier Supra Mahumapelo will attend the event.

“Mahumapelo and the Minister of Energy will be part of milestone celebration. One thousand four hundred households will be switched on.

“The Switch-On will take place at Block G, Ward 10. Eskom has met and exceeded its electrification target by connecting 19 407 houses instead of 19 285 in the 2016/17 financial year,” Setswambung said. 

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BY BAKANG MOKOTO

The Right2Know condemns in the strongest possible terms the unprecedented security clampdown in and around Parliament as part of the State of the Nation Address.
The organization spokesperson, Murray Hunter said that the Presidency announced that Jacob Zuma had called in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to help “maintain law and order” at the opening of Parliament.

“Four hundred and forty one SANDF members will be deployed. The public deserves answers to some basic questions. What legitimate security threats exist that justify deploying the military? What functions will they perform? How many police are being deployed, from which areas, and what are the safety implications for communities that have fewer police on the streets as a result?

“The deployment of the army is part of a longer trend of securitisation and militarisation. Each year, we have seen the securocrats ramping up ‘security measures’ around Parliament to new levels – and each time the public is told that this is ‘normal’. Hundreds of police, called from across the country to the streets around Parliament. Barbed wire and water cannons to meet protesters.

He further said riot police were brought in to drag out troublemaking MPs. Hunter said there will be signal jamming from the State Security Agency and interference with the television and audio feed.

“The restrictions on the movement of journalists and calling in the army is part of that trend. We are told that this is normal. But there is nothing normal about this. These are features of a clampdown, with the aim of shielding Zuma from political embarrassment and shutting out voices of dissent.

“It is not just in Parliament. It is on our streets, and in our communities. It is on our campuses too. These shows of force are the efforts of paranoid and fearful leaders, whose insecurity threatens everyone’s freedoms. And if we do not challenge the creep of securocratic tendencies into our democratic spaces, it continue until there is no democracy left,” he said.

Hunter said whatever Zuma says in his address on Thursday night, this is the real state of our nation.-TDN

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Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the R20 per hour minimum wage agreement between labour, business and government on Tuesday.

That is according to Dennis George, general secretary of the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) on Wednesday.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa declined to confirm the signing late last night. “Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will provide details on the status of discussions of (National Economic Development and Labour Council) Nedlac committee of principals on labour relations and wage inequality tomorrow (Wednesday),” he told Fin24.

The signing was supposed to have taken place at Tuesday’s InvestSA lunch that President Jacob Zuma hosted in Cape Town ahead of his State of the Nation address (Sona) on Thursday.

However, the Presidency announced on Tuesday that it was postponing the signing due to Cosatu’s request to delay the agreement until its central executive committee (CEC) could review the new proposal.

However, George said Cosatu was not able to stop the signing. “Our friends from Cosatu think they can stop the process,” he said. “Cosatu said they were in agreement and that all they want to do is speak to their CEC. They must tell us when they are ready to sign.”

“This agreement kicks in from May 2018,” he said. “After this, we need to draft legislation and that must go through a public consultation process.

“There were concerns around the R20 per hour salary as employers could try reduce hours,” he said. “But we will put in a law that workers cannot be worse off.”

He said Zuma will spell out the details of the agreement in his Sona.

Signing the agreement on Tuesday were (left to right) National Council of Trade Unions President Joseph Maqhekeni, Fedusa president Godfrey Selematsela, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant.

The deal follows Ramaphosa’s proposal of a R3 500 national minimum wage. He has been heading up the negotiations with Nedlac.

He explained that the panel considered the low level of growth in the South African economy, but also looked at South Africa’s peers, such as Brazil, Turkey and Mexico and how a minimum wage has affected them.

Ramaphosa argued that a minimum wage will be a radical shift to address wage inequality. About 47% of South Africans earn below R3 500, while 51% live on less than R1 600 per month, he said at the time.

However, there has been widespread criticism of a minimum wage of R3 500, with political parties and labour unions referring to it as “slave wages” and “poverty wages”. They are demanding a “living wage” for workers.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Tuesday the African National Congress failed to implement its policy to radically transform the economy. “It is ridiculous,” said spokesperson Sizwe Pamla.

“We made it very clear that the minimum wage is not just about having a wage,” he told Fin24. “It’s about having one that makes a difference to South African lives.”

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said paying workers R20 per hour is an insult.

Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim also climbed into Ramaphosa, claiming that he has proven to be “hostile” to workers.

“Ramaphosa, the billionaire and ultra-capitalist, values his precious buffalo more than the lives of human beings.”

For more http://www.news24.com

By REGINALD KANYANE

An impoverished community of Lekgopung village outside Zeerust is still reeling in disappointment after RDP housing project expected to improve their lives was left incomplete.

Konki Construction Company, which is linked to North West Business Forum spokesman, Sello Mogodiri was awarded the tender to build 250 RDP houses back in 2015.

Lekgopung Tribal Authority speaker, Motlogelwa Mokgosi said the incomplete project left them dejected.

“Where it was supposed to be 250 houses, now consists of trenches, incomplete foundations, dilapidating walls without windows. We requested several meetings with the contractor and Ramotshere Local Municipality to address the matter. However, we heard a deafen silence from Mogodiri,” Mokgosi said.

The project Community Liaising Officer (CLO), Dinaane Kopeka said: “I live in fear now after some of community members accused me of taking bribes from the contractor.”

One of beneficiaries, Sarah Makhutlhe, 53 said: “We expected a lot from this project. My mother applied for a RDP house on behalf of her grandchildren. Their mother passed away and stay in a shack. We are also living in abject poverty because our house was blown away by heavy rains recently. We are now forced to find shelter in a two roomed house. We have more than seven family members and all unemployed.”

Toki Motlhokodi, 73 who stays in a mud house said she was disappointed after the house was not built. A mother of three children said: “My mud house was demolished because I was promised a RDP house. The contractor only dug a trench and left.”

However, Konki Construction Company representative, Sello Mogodiri said he should not personally be linked to the companies that did business with government.

“I only represented the companies, but did not benefit unduly from government. There were problems regarding that project,” he said.

According to North West Provincial government Director-general, Dr Keneilwe Sebego, Mogodiri’s company was awarded tenders worth R33 million by government and failed to finish them

“Mogodiri who is a member of North West Business Forum secured government tenders worth R33 million.

“He was supposed to construct a road in First Street in Mahikeng. The road was forced to be re-done due to poor workmanship by Mogodiri. He also left a housing project in Lekgophung incomplete.”

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BY REGINALD KANYANE
FOURTEEN people were left injured this morning when a taxi rolled on the N12 near a casino in Klerksdorp.

ER24 spokesperson, Russel Meiring said paramedics arrived on the scene and found a taxi lying in a ditch on the side of the road. 

“Several occupants from the taxi were found walking
around on the scene.

“Paramedics assessed the patients and found that 14 people had been in the taxi at the time of the collision,” Meiring said.

He said all 14 patients were assessed and found to have sustained minor
to moderate injuries.

“The patients were treated for their injuries and thereafter transported them to Tsepong Hospital for further treatment.

“The patients later stated that the driver lost control of the vehicle when the engine apparently burst into flame,” Meiring said.

Local authorities were on the scene for further investigations.

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Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. File photo. 
Image by: Ruvan Boshoff

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane will be getting “a legal opinion” this week on whether or not to oppose President Jacob Zuma’s review of her predecessor Thuli Madonsela’s State of Capture report.

Mkhwebane on Monday denied reports that she was siding with Zuma‚ who is opposing Madonsela’s order that Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng appoint the judge to chair to inquiry.

In an interview with the Sunday Times‚ Mkhwebane said she believed that any judge‚ even one appointed by Zuma‚ would be capable of investigating the Gupta family’s alleged influence on Zuma’s cabinet‚ because the judiciary was independent.

This is seen as a clear indication that Mkhwebane is likely to withdraw her notice to oppose Zuma‚ the newspaper reported.

But‚ she told Radio 702 on Monday morning: “Now I indicated that we are giving‚ we have given ourselves time to consult enough to prepare a well-informed affidavit whether to oppose or not to oppose‚ that was based on the fact that the opposition was to comply to the court rules‚ so purely based on that and nothing else.”

When pressed‚ she said: “I have opposed to comply with court rules‚ and I indicated that we have requested the legal opinion from senior counsel‚ with the attorneys of record‚ and then I will respond soon on where we are going.

“In fact‚ if we didn’t respond‚ it would be to our disadvantage‚ as an institution‚ therefore we also needed to be given time to prepare our documentation and prepare our affidavit to indicate our intention to oppose‚ and then we give enough information to say what are the reasons for us to that effect.”

Mkhwebane said she understood the frustrations of the public‚ but said the legal opinion was expected this week.

For more http://www.timelive.co.za

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Democratic Alliance provincial Chief Whip in North West, Jacqueline Theologo said they wish a speedy recovery and good health to their member, Sello Motswenyane after spending the past two weeks in hospital.

“The former DA Chief Whip and current member of the Provincial Legislature has played a vital role in building and advancing the DA’s vision of an open opportunity society for all.

“We send our thoughts and prayers to the Motswenyane family, friends and colleagues during this challenging times.The DA is saddened by his untimely illness but we wish him a full recovery,” Theologo said.

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo lambasted SA Express after he arrived two hours late at President Zuma’s cabinet Lekgotla on Friday.

This follows challenges associated with air flight company. Mahumapelo confirmed that he personally felt the inconvenience that was often reported about SA Express flight schedules.

“Other passengers were also angered by what they referred to as the inefficiencies of SA Express. The Executive Council of the North West province has since last year received complaints of flights that arrive and depart later than the scheduled time,” Mahumapelo said.

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A total of 493 students will benefit from the R48million set aside by the North West Provincial Government in bursaries for the current academic year. Of this total, the provincial government will spend R29million to support 232 new bursary beneficiaries, while the 261 existing bursary holders will be supported with R19million. More than 70% of these beneficiaries are from villages across the province, the majority of whom are for University studies.
This was revealed today, Wednesday 01 February, by Premier of the North West, Supra Mahumapelo while addressing members of the media on some of the resolutions and highlights of the Executive Council (EXCO)’s first sitting of the year, which was held today in Mahikeng.

Premier Mahumapelo who was joined by MECs Manketsi Tlhape of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development and Fenny Gaolaolwe of Local Government and Human Settlement, also announced that a further 129 students from the province will be funded by the department of Basic Education through Funza Lushaka bursary this year, to train as Educators.

“Moreover, we are now for the first time since the launch of Kgetsi-Ya-Tsie Bursary and Skills Development Fund in 2015, able to tap into the fund to assist deserving and needy students who have applied”, said Premier Mahumapelo adding that performing and needy students who applied for funding will be assisted with registration costs and clearing of outstanding balances.

Expressing his profound gratitude to members of the public who have responded to the call for donations towards this fund, Premier Mahumapelo said, “Kgetsi-Ya-Tsie fund is a moral responsibility of every citizen of this province, and has indeed been an exemplary demonstration of Bokone Bophirima’s commitment to the spirit of Saamtrek-Saamwerk.

“The money that has been collected so far is however not enough to assist all the applicants. We are appealing to individuals and the private sectors to join hands and help us sustain this initiative”, Mahumapelo pleaded.

The Premier also announced the launching of a Denel Technical Academy Satellite Campus in Mahikeng in June this year, which will be in partnership with Denel Technical Academy. The first group of forty (40) students with matric passes in Mathematics and Science will be trained on aircraft electrical trade, aircraft mechanical trade and engineering mechanical trade, and will receive full government bursaries of R150 000 per student.  

The province has in the past financial year empowered about 1 034 youth through various skills development initiatives to the tune of over R100million, this in partnership with organisations including Skills Education and Training Authorities (SETA’s).

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