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Picture: (MEC for community safety & transport management department, Dr Mpho Motlhabane)

BY REGINALD KANYANE
MEC for community safety and transport management department, Dr Mpho Motlhabane said he is concern about a 12 months traffic training learnership advert doing rounds on social media and some of other platforms.

“We are warning the unemployed young people of this province and South Africa at large to be wary of these bogus traffic learnership advertisements that was globalised. The advert is captured as Traffic Officer Learnership X 250. This is not an advert from our department.

“Our last 12 months advert for traffic training learnership was globalised early in 2016 with the last intake of 20 learners to compliment the 2016/17 financial intake recently. Those intakes commenced their training at the traffic college in January 2017,” Motlhabane said.

He further said his department is in line with the national call for intensive traffic training and has introduced a new three year traffic learnership training diploma. Motlhabane said the advert was closed on January 6 this year.

“Communities are alerted that the circulating advert has no letterhead of the department, recruit learners to train for the next 12 months period and applicants are requested to download the application form from a link provided by these bogus initiators.

“Note that all our department advertisements including traffic training learnerships are published with our letterhead including correct logo, address and contact details. Applicants are requested to fill in the Z83 application form and we do not specify the number of positions available for the learnership,” he said.

Motlhabane added that they were not sure of the intentions of the people behind this. He said this could end up putting the lives of the people in danger and eventually lose their hard-earned monies.  

“We request unemployed youth not to fall for these bogus schemes. They must ignore the advert and never attempt to apply or respond. They are also advised to report anyone who is suspicious of being behind this scam. 

“Let us avoid further circulation of the advert as that could lead you to be an accessory to the crime ring unintentionally,” he said.

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BY BAKANG MOKOTO
Three suspects between the age of 39 and 42 are expected to appear in the Bray Periodical Court on Tuesday for rhino poaching. 

North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said the suspects were arrested inside a private game farm in Mokopong on Sunday.

“According to information available at this stage, police were called to the Game Farm after a rhino was found dead. It’s horns were removed. The police together with Game Rangers tracked down the suspects by following the vehicle trails. 

“The police spotted the suspects and arrested them. All of the suspects are from Mozambique. They were found to be in a possession of a rifle and two rhino horns,” Mokgwabone said.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane commended the police and game rangers for their team work that led to the arrest of the suspects. 

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

MEC for Tourism in the North West Desbo Mohono has uncovered what she called a “potential tourism gem” situated along the banks of Spitskop dam in Kgomotso village outside Taung.

Mohono was accompanied by MEC for community safety and transport management department, Dr Mpho Motlhabane. She immediately called on the Greater Taung local municipality to consider the area as a new economic hub.

“The area stretches for over few kilometres along the Spitskop dam and has beautiful landscape with few birds spices and different types of fishes. We engaged with the municipality to start considering the area and include it in their future plans. It is crucial that there has to be developments in the area so that serious marketing of the area can be done.

“These are some of many areas that are still undiscovered within the province. It is my first time here and I already see potential in this area. The area is good for Tourism and Economic Development and a good potential to implement the Villages Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD) concept,” she said.

Mohono further said the area can also be used for recreation as people can venture into different water sport activities. She further said some of the local fishermen we found fishing there.

“There are lots of fishes in the dam and the only challenge is that the fishermen use the conventional way of fishing. They should be using the modern way to make a fortune from the fishes they catch daily. The municipality has also vowed to plan in developing the area,” she said.

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The North West Provincial Government will through the Department of Education and Sport Development take a deliberate decision to redirect more education resources to schools in the province’s villages, townships and small dorpies (VTSD), this in a bid to improve these schools’ overall performance and matric results. 

This was said by Premier Supra Mahumapelo while addressing hundreds of high school principals and chairpersons of schools governing bodies on Friday, 20 January at Rustenburg Civic Centre.  

According to Premier Mahumapelo, this conscious decision will not only be consistent with the provincial government’s VTSD strategy and its efforts to fight the levels of poverty, but will help in ensuring that quality teaching and learning takes place at all schools in the province, with special focus on VTSD schools.

“While we are pleased by the performance of the province in the 2016 matric results, the fact that schools in urban areas continue to perform far much better than those in rural areas, remains our concern. A radical action must therefore be done, to ensure that the contribution of VTSD schools in the province’s overall pass rate is pleasingly visible”, emphasised Premier Mahumapelo.

In evaluating the schools’ contribution to the overall provincial percentage, Mahumapelo announced that from this year onwards, the province will announce matric results per village, township and small dorpie. 

Premier Mahumapelo also expressed the provincial government’s concern about the seemingly high discrepancy between the number of learners who started Grade 1 in 2005 and those who wrote the 2016 matric examination.

According to the Department of Education and Sport Development, approximately 80 000 learners started Grade 1 in 2005, and only 32 049 wrote the 2016 matric results. 

“While we note that there could be various reasons for this difference, it remains my dream as a leader that every learner who starts schooling at Grade 1 must complete by the twelfth year, and that every learner who is in class, doing Grade 12, must pass”.  

The purpose of this meeting was for the Premier to thank the schools principals, teachers, members of the schools governing bodies and parents, for the support shown to the learners during the 2016 schooling year, and to encourage them to continue enforcing efficiency and discipline at all schools.

Accompanied by MEC for Education and Sport Development Mr Sello Lehari and MEC for Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development Ms Wendy Nelson, Premier Mahumapelo expressed his satisfaction about the readiness of the province on the first day of schools reopening, saying so far 98% of schools across the province have recorded 100% of learner supported material delivered.

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: https://youtu.be/-Osq6mB9R2g

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Mahikeng Ministers Fellowship (MMF) in the North West slammed the actions of a Daveyton pastor, Prophet Theo Bongani Maseko of the Breath of Christ Ministries for allegedly making his congregants to drink a vehicle engine cleaning fluid during a sermon describing them as atrocious and outrageously wicked.

Chairperson of an Interdenominational Fellowship of Pastors, Zandisile Mpame said: “It is about time for the church of Jesus Christ to take a stance and say, not in our name. Charlatans that are misrepresenting the Kingdom of God through abuse of our people’s belief systems and their so-called miracles that are not supported by the Word of God must be dealt with accordingly.”

Mpame called on the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to act against occultism and charlatans that are involved in human rights abuses.

“We do not need draconian laws or imposed structures to deal with a handful of individuals that are an embarrassment that is giving Christianity and an overwhelming majority of upright servants of God a bad name but consistent and firm implementation of the existing legal framework and adequate acts that are available to deal with the impostors,” he said.

Mpame highlighted that charlatans are giving traction to processes that might ultimately lead to the persecution of the church.

“The history of the church is replete with examples that prove that once regimes involve themselves with where and how people worship though direct or indirect control, persecution follows,” he said.

Meanwhile, MMF has mobilised fraternal associations and individual church leaders to participate in the provincial consultative engagement to consolidate submissions towards the Hate Speech Bill and the Commission for Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Religious, Cultural and Linguistic Communities (CRL) Report on Commercialization of Religion.

“The Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, John Jeffrey will be the keynote speaker at the event and engage with those in attendance on the objective of the draft Hate Speech Bill which church leaders are concerned might declare quoting of certain Bible verses unlawful.

“Church leaders from various denominations across the province and representatives from other provinces are expected are being part of the engagement to commence at 9:30 at Mocoseng Sundown Resort in Mahikeng on Saturday,” Mpame said.

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Pic: (Prisoner’s cell)

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 35 year-old man was sanctioned to 25 years for raping his cousin. Alfonso James Visser raped his cousin, 20 at Sunrise near, De Aar on November 2016. Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lt Colonel Dimakatso Mooi said Visser appeared at De Aar Regional Court recently. She said the perpetrator’s cousin was from a party and came home late at night under the influence of alcohol.

“Visser who stays in the same house with the victim, found her asleep and raped her. The victim woke up and caught Visser busy raping her. She called for help and the accused was arrested and charged with rape,” she said.

Mooi further said the provincial management welcomed the sentence and applauds the investigating team for a job well done.

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

NORTH West premier, Supra Mahumapelo along with MEC for education and sport development department, Sello Lehari will host a dialogue session with SGB chairpersons and principals at Rustenburg Civic Centre in Rustenburg on Friday.

The department of education spokesperson, Freddy Sepeng said: “This is an effort to improve the matric results. We also want to push the province to the top position. We will host a dialogue session with School Governing Bodies Chairpersons and the School Principals for all schools across the province.”

Sepeng said the primary objective of the meeting is for Mahumapelo to interact with school management in terms of 2017 academic year activities.

“Mahumapelo has called this meeting to come and personally thank the school management for their contribution in the Rebranding, Repositioning and Renewal of the Bokone Bophirima. The outcome of the National Senior Certificate is an indication of the hard work and commitment of men and women under their leadership in schools,” he said.

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo has commended Eskom for reaching its 2016/17 target of connecting electricity to citizens of the province.

Mahumapelo addressing the media alongside the Premier’s Infrastructure Coordinating Committee Meeting (PICOCO) held at Cookes Lake, Mahikeng on Tuesday.

He further also applauded Eskom for its hard work.

“We have received an update from Eskom about the progress they are making as far as electricity connectivity is concerned and I must say it was impressive. Eskom has put a lot of work in making sure that more and more people in our province benefit from the electrification programme and they are way ahead of the target they have set for themselves,” Mahumapelo said.

Eskom has targeted to electrify 19 285 houses in the province for 2016/2017.

“So far, they have managed to connect 18 007, leaving 1 278 in the province. This means Eskom is well within their target as they will have completed the 19 285 by the end of March 2017 according its North West Regional Manager,” he said.

Eskom is currently cutting electricity for municipalities which owe them money. Five municipalities in the province where affected. Mahumapelo cited that he has established a Task team led by the MEC for Local Government and Human Settlement, Fenny Gaolaolwe and the MEC for Finance Economy and Enterprise Development, Wendy Nelson to assist the struggling municipalities.

“We have set up a task team in December last year to deal with the challenge of electricity debts and so far the team has made interventions in assist struggling municipalities to make payment plans working with Eskom.

“The municipalities affected by the cut offs is only Naledi and NW 405 Local Municipality. However, the team is currently working with Eskom to come up with an amicable solution to the challenges in these municipalities,” he explained,” he said.

Mahumapelo added that indicators show that residents in the communities do not pay electricity which makes many municipalities to end up accumulating huge debts.

MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Fenny Gaolaolwe has urged municipalities to pay ESKOM because the provincial government will take strict and decisive action on municipalities failing to pay their debts.

“We call upon all our people and the municipalities to pay for their electricity to avoid unnecessary blackouts. Eskom is not playing, it will cut off electricity if we do not pay our bills on time,” she said.

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Durban – The assets of Durban tenderpreneur couple Shauwn and S’bu Mpisane will be held for at least another two months by the South African Revenue Service (Sars) as it prepares to seize more than R200 million in taxes from the flamboyant pair.

On Tuesday, Durban High Court Judge Kate Pillay granted the application sought by Sars to extend the preservation order that was originally granted in November.

The application, brought by Advocate Simon Anderton for Sars, was unopposed and there was no legal representative for the Mpisanes, who themselves were not present in court.

The order allowed Sars to seize and preserve assets from the Mpisanes as the tax authority prepares to claw back in excess of R204 million it believes it is owed in taxes from as far back as 2008, as revealed in court papers.

Those papers allege that Shauwn Mpisane owes R57 million of this in her personal capacity. While most of the assets are in Shauwn’s name, both S’bu and Shauwn have been targeted in the preservation order because they are married in community of property.

Their known assets include 128 cars and 10 properties, including their lavish La Lucia home which has played host to some of the city’s most extravagant parties attended by South Africa’s political elite, celebrities and business tycoons.

Over the last decade, the Mpisanes have secured over R1 billion in government business, predominantly to build low-income houses.

They are being represented by Johannesburg-based tax lawyer, Jennifer Faber from Faber Goëtz Ellis Austen Inc.

The preservation order was extended to March 13, by which time the couple is expected to submit “answering affidavits”.

The preservation order was brought against the couple and their companies Zikhulise Group, Zikhulise Cleaning Maintenance and Transport CC, Zikhulise Auto Restorers CC, Inyanga Trading 559 (Pty) Ltd, Royal Eagles Football Club and Zikhulise Auto Recoveries (Pty) Ltd as well as a Mr Madoda Mbeje, a trustee of the Mpisane family trust, the Sbusha Trust.

The Sunday Tribune reported late last year that the couple had been declared “factually insolvent” by Sars.

This is not the first time the Mpisane’s have had a run in with Sars.

In June 2011, Shauwn was criminally charged for VAT fraud and forgery, totalling 119 charges, at the Durban Magistrate’s Court relating to the 2008 tax year. A year later, she was re-arrested, this time for interfering with a state witness, who she allegedly tried to bribe with the offer of lucrative contracts.

This matter was heard at the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court.

In 2013, in an unrelated matter, Shauwn was charged again, this time at the Durban Commercial Crimes Court, for allegedly forging her construction company’s Construction Industry Development Board grading.

This alleged forgery allowed Shauwn to score contracts above her company’s competency between 2007 and 2013.

But by mid-2013, the State’s cases in the Durban and Pinetown magistrate courts began to unravel when Shauwn’s defence claimed the State’s lead prosecutor, Advocate Meera Naidu, had coached a key State witness and withheld information from the defence team.

Shauwn’s defence made representations to the then National Director of Public Prosecutions Mxolisi Nxasana where they alleged Naidu’s conduct was so serious it was a “miscarriage of justice”.

On January 31, 2014, the Nxasana, agreed, and stopped the tax-related trials in both Pinetown and Durban, acquitting Shauwn on some charges while withdrawing others.

Naidu was suspended pending an internal disciplinary hearing.

Sars had also formally withdrawn its support for the trial.

Coincidentally, just two weeks prior to Nxasana’s decision, the Commercial Crime Court also withdrew its charges on the grounds that the State was not ready to proceed.

Nearly two years later, in December 2015, Naidu was cleared of any wrongdoing in her handling of the Mpisane trial and returned to work.

African News Agency