By OBAKENG MAJE

North West Public Works and Roads department continues to be marred with fraud, malpractice, and corruption allegations. This comes after President, Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the department for any illegal transactions that took place from January 2016 to 12 March 2021.

SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago said: “Ramaphosa has signed a Proclamation R21 of 2021 authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate corruption, malpractice and maladministration in the department and to recover any financial losses suffered by the department.

“The proclamation authorizes the SIU to look into transactions that took place between 1 January 2016 and 12 March 2021, the date of proclamation. The SIU is also authorized to look into transactions that took place after the date of the proclamation, which are relevant to, connected with, incidental, or involve the same persons, entities or contracts investigated.”

He further said the SIU investigation in the department will focus on the procurement of or contracting for works or services by or on behalf of the department relating to project management for the Transport Infrastructure Directorate of the Department.

Kganyago added that they will further, spread their investigations into the rehabilitation of flood-damaged road infrastructure in the North West

Province and the installation of perimeter fencing at the Eagle Waters Wildlife Resort, and payments which were made in respect thereof in a manner that was not fair, equitable, transparent, competitive or cost-effective, or contrary to applicable legislation and instructions issued by the National Treasury or the relevant Provincial Treasury, and any related unauthorised, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by the department or the State.

“We will also investigate any unlawful or improper conduct by the employees or officials of the department or applicable service providers, or any other person or entity in relation to the allegations.

“The SIU will exercise all its legislative powers to subpoena, search and seize evidence, and interrogate witnesses under oath during the investigation. We are an independent forensic and litigation agency established by the President in terms of the Special Investigating Unit and Special Tribunal Act, Act 74 of 1996, to investigate serious malpractice, corruption, malfeasance, and maladministration in relation to the administration of State institutions, State assets, and public money as well as any conduct which may seriously harm the interest of the State and the public,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Constituency Head in the Greater Taung Local Municipality and Member of Parliament (MP), Sello Seitlholo once accused the department of re-graveling the D201 road that links Pampierstad and Matlapaneng for a whopping R40 million instead of building a proper road. Seitlholo alleged that the ANC government wasted R40 million on re-graveling a road those residents cannot use when it rains.

“In July 2020, the DA wrote to MEC Oagile Molapisi regarding the tender process followed on the re-graveling of road D201. The tender for the re-graveling of the road was awarded to Lebo Tebo Trading despite the company not appearing on the tender bid document.”

“The DA raised concerns over allegations that the company belonged to a prominent ANC member in Taung. The said company had previously also received an R40 million tender contract for the construction of Sedumedi Primary School,” he said.

Seitlholo added that nearly seven months after writing to Molapisi, the DA is yet to receive a formal response from him regarding the tender and D201 road. He said they will once again write to Molapisi requesting him to call an urgent meeting with the affected communities to address the blatant disregard that his department has shown to them.

The North West Public Works and Roads department spokesperson, Matsube Mfoloe failed to respond to our media questionnaires that were sent to him by TDN almost three weeks prior to publishing the previous article.

Fraud and corruption allegations may be reported via the following platforms:

siu@whistleblowing.co.za / Hotline: 0800 037 774

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By REGINALD KANYANE

Former Executive mayor of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Boitumelo Mahlangu is heading to the North West High Court to challenge the decision to remove her as the executive mayor. 

The embattled Mahlangu was ousted from her position through a motion of no confidence two weeks ago where Kgalalelo Sereko was elected as the new executive mayor.

According to court papers filed by Mahlangu, she informed the municipal speaker, Lorato Moagwe about her decision through lawyers. She accused Moagwe of holding a virtual council meetings using Zoom link as the media platform, instead of the Microsoft Teams that have been purchased by the municipality.

The matter is expected to be heard on Thursday.

“By now, you should be aware that I have approached the High Court to challenge my removal from Office as the Executive mayor, amongst others, have also challenged the usage of Zoom as the official link for council meetings. 

“Therefore, I object to your unilateral decision to convene council meetings using Zoom platform and also the repetitive special council meetings which I find to be strange and unwarranted because important service delivery items that were to be tabled at the council on 25 February 2021 as emanating from the previous mayoral committee are ignored and not prioritised,” she said. 

It is alleged that the virtual council meeting that was convened where Mahlangu was removed, did not reach a quorum. However, Moagwe refuted the allegations and said 18 out of 32 councillors were part of the meeting.

The municipality responded to Mahlangu’s letter through their lawyers too. Attorney Tumelo Sifumba said: “The above subject has reference and we have been instructed by our client, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality and others, to cause this correspondence to your good self. 

“We advise that we are not in a position to file our client’s answering affidavit today at 4pm as envisaged, the delay is occasioned by our client relocating to new offices and consequently we have not been able to collate all the requisite documents to be annexed to the answering affidavit.”

Sifumba said in pursuant to the above, their client request indulgence to file their answering affidavit on the 10th instant at 10′ clock in the morning. He further said they advise that they were not opposed to the application being heard on 11 March 2021 later during the day to allow Mahlangu’s lawyers to file their replying affidavit if any. 

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor at the municipality, Coenrad Herbst wrote a letter to Moagwe stipulating that they were not part of the virtual council meeting where Mahlangu was removed.

Herbst said: “The notice you issued has 3 items that council cannot discuss and take legal binding resolutions if the meeting of 25 February 2021 did not quorate, thus will have financial and other implications, and you will be held personal responsible as Speaker of the municipality.”

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 36-old teacher from Pinagare High School in Taung has been suspended pending rape allegations. It is alleged that a learner (15) from the same school visited the accused who is a family friend at his residential area in Kgatlheng village near Taung on 22 February 2021.

According to information, a teacher who is of Ghanaian origin allegedly made sexual advances to the alleged victim before raping her. Later on, the parents of the alleged victim called the suspect and enquire about the whereabouts of the girl.

One of our sources said: “The suspect allegedly confirmed the presence of the girl and her parents came to fetch her. It is alleged that the parents found the girl who was on her period in the bedroom of the suspect.

“The victim alleged that the suspect raped and threatened her not to tell anyone. The victim told her parents about the ordeal and cried hysterically in the car. The parents went to the police station to open a rape case.”

Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said: “We can confirm that a rape case is under investigation and the suspect was arrested. His first court appearance was on 24 February 2021.

“The suspect was granted a R500 bail on 9 March 2021 by the Taung Magistrate’s Court during his formal bail application.”

North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said the teacher concerned has been put under a precautionary suspension pending the investigation. Malindi said the department has received only two rape cases against teachers in the province thus far.

“Our message to learners is that they should not keep quiet whenever they experience any violation. They should report to their parents about the matter or inform the school principal or a teacher that they trust most. They are free to call the Office of the MEC (018)388 5600,” he said.

Minister of Department of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga received strong criticism from the section of the society, after she made remarks at the Prospectus High School in Pretoria earlier this year that ‘educated men do not rape.’

However, Motshekgwa poured cold water on the matter and said told said her comments were made in relation to Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Motshekgwa said in a statement that: “Rape is indeed about power, hence the department has programmes to educate the boy child to appreciate the importance of how to deal with power relations between men and women from a young age.

“Therefore, my remarks must not be taken out of the context of educating children to develop them to become better people. Men need to be educated about how to deal with power, patriarchy, and negative or toxic masculinity. Educating men about power relations is also important also in the fight against rape,” she said.

Motshekgwa said regarding the reaction of the learners, she was not going to debate because the purpose of her remarks was to encourage them to be educated on GBV including educating them about women’s abuse.

Various organizations embarked on a peaceful march to the school and demand that the suspect be suspended pending the investigations.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

President Cyril Ramaphosa said building an efficient, capable, and ethical state free from corruption was among his foremost priorities. Ramaphosa in his weekly letter said only a capable, efficient, ethical and development-oriented state can deliver on the commitment to improve the lives of the people of this country.

“This means that the public service must be staffed by men and women who are professional, skilled, selfless, and honest. They must be committed to upholding the values of the constitution, and must, as I said in my inaugural speech, “faithfully serve no other cause than that of the public”.

“Over the past two weeks, public consultations have been underway on an important policy document that will give greater impetus to our efforts to bolster, strengthen and capacitate the civil service,” he said.

However, the ANC-led government has been accused of malpractice of parachuting of poorly qualified individuals into positions of authority through political patronage. 

Ramaphosa shared the same sentiments and said even though 27 years into democracy, it can be said of the public service that while several pockets of excellence exist, they have serious challenges in many government departments with regards to skills, competence, and professionalism.

“All too often, people have been hired into and promoted to key positions for which they are neither suitable nor qualified. This affects government performance, but also contributes to nepotism, political interference in the work of departments, lack of accountability, mismanagement, and corruption.

“There is also the related problem of political and executive interference in the administration of the public service. One need only to look at the instability in government departments when senior managers are swopped or replaced each time a new Minister is appointed,” said Ramaphosa.

He said Directors-General and provincial heads of departments are particularly affected. Ramaphosa added that in some departments, DGs, HoDs, and executive managers have had the stability of tenure, enabling the departments to function with little disruption.

“In most of these departments where there is leadership stability, audit outcomes tend to be positive and public funds can be accounted for. Where there is a high turnover of heads of department, there is often administrative turmoil.

“One of the key recommendations made in the draft, framework is that the public service must be depoliticised and that government departments must be insulated from politics,” he said.

Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister for Public Service and Administration, Dr Leon Schreiber said: “Ramaphosa recycles the same empty words he has used countless times before to declare his supposed commitment to building a professional public service.

“On 21 January 2020, Ramaphosa declared himself committed to ending the practice of poorly qualified individuals being parachuted into positions of authority through political patronage. Over a year later, he again complains that all too often, people have been hired into and promoted to key positions for which they are neither suitable nor qualified.”

Schreiber said this begs several questions that why has Ramaphosa done absolutely nothing about this problem since he complained about it last year. He asked why does the Ramphosa only ever moan and whinge, instead of taking concrete action.

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By BAKANG MAKOTO

North West Department of Health is ‘under pressure’ to appoint the Head of Department (HOD). This comes after the Portfolio Committee on Health showed concerns during the appearance of the department on Wednesday.

The department was briefing the committee on its healthcare services in relation to COVID-19 and on the vaccine roll-out strategy.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo said: “One of the challenges that the North West Department of Health faces in its administration, is the lack of an accounting officer, the Head of Department (HOD).

“The issue of the HOD position remains vacant and the province being placed under section 100 (1) intervention is a matter we were informed about. We were briefed on the challenges relating to the appointment of the HOD.

“The committee, however, noted that the situation that the department finds itself, not having HOD, must have a serious impact on the management of the pandemic, in particular, and the implementation of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.”

 The embattled former Head of Department, Dr Thabo Lekalakala was fired back in January 2020 after being implicated in fraud and corruption.     

Dhlomo further said the committee needs to have people who would be held accountable. He added that the committee was of the view that in order for the province to have stable leadership and be able to function and manage, the province needs to get out of the administration.

Dhlomo indicated that this is not a sustainable way of rolling out healthcare service in the province.

Meanwhile, the North West Department of Health administrator, Jeannette Hunter said the pending issues related to the appointment of the HOD, the issue of the pharmaceutical budget, and the issue of correcting the budget baseline.

“Currently, the province has sufficient equipment, oxygen and ventilators. Amongst the challenges that the province faces is contact tracing – wrong phone numbers and people not found at provided addresses, the limited capacity of environmental health in municipalities, staffing for the vaccination programme and transport for persons to be vaccinated,” Hunter said.

On matters relating to emergency medical services (EMS), Hunter said they have strengthened EMS with additional vehicles and have contracted additional EMS officers to ensure that patients are safely transported from areas that experience bed pressures to the hospitals in Dr Kenneth Kaunda that have available capacity.

“The committee raised this as an area of concern for the province and one that it struggles with. We are continuously working with Provincial Treasury to reprioritize available funds to be able to appoint additional staff where required. The vaccination of health care workers has started also,” she said.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) and DA North West Spokesperson on Health, Gavin Edwards said the department has submitted written questions to North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha requesting him to explain the department’s failure to provide effective, efficient emergency services that have resulted in R4 million in debt to private ambulance services.

“Sambatha should explain how the department, with a budget of R408 million, of which R162 million has been allocated to the payment of contractors and special services, still failed to pay invoices within the prescribed 30 days.

“While the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown has had a devastating financial impact on residents of the North West, private ambulances have been expected to continue providing vital support without payment.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Four people had died instantaneously when their vehicle collided head-on with truck. North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari said the accident happened on R503 between Coligny and Hartebeesfontein on Monday afternoon at around 2pm.

“It is allegedly that the vehicle carrying passengers was from Mahikeng to Klerksdorp. About seven kilometres just outside Hartebeesfontein the vehicle carrying a total number of six passengers overtook two vehicles one of which was waiting for the oncoming truck to pass before turning to the right.

“Unfortunately, the truck was too close and the driver and one other male passenger were immediately taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The case of culpable homicide is being investigated by the police,” Lehari said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Beleaguered executive mayor of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Boitumelo Mahlangu was ousted through a motion of no confidence on Thursday. According to our sources, one of the ANC councillors tabled a motion during a virtual meeting.

However, one of the councillors who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal alleged that the meeting did not form a quorum.

“The virtual meeting did not form a quorum because we have 32 councillors. However, most of us did not receive the proper link and we were not part of the proceeding. We waited for over 45 minutes for the Speaker to conduct the meeting.

“According to the rules of the house, there must be a minimum of members a deliberative assembly to continue with the meeting. However, to our surprises, we heard that the Speaker convened another virtual meeting with some of councillors excluded.

Now, he said they will not recognize that meeting as it was ‘illegal’.  

However, the Municipal Speaker Lorato Moagwe refuted these allegations and rendered them absurd. Moagwe alleged that she sent out the proper links to all councillors.

“It is true that the mayor was removed through a motion of no confidence by the council. The motion of no confidence was tabled by the ANC councillor and seconded by the EFF.

“Actually, there were two motions against the mayor and the speaker, but the councillor who initially tabled the motion against the Speaker withdrew it. It is not true that some councillors did not receive the link because we have sent out the link of the virtual meeting to them yesterday and also sent another one today,” she said.

She further said 18 out of 32 councillors were part of the meeting and therefore, the meeting formed a quorum. Kgalalelo Sereko was elected as the new mayor.

Meanwhile, the municipality continued to be marred with fraud, corruption and maladministration allegations under Mahlangu’ stewardship. The Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality was one of four municipalities in the province implicated in the forensic investigation findings by the North West Provincial Government following the investment of a combined R314 million of taxpayers’ money into the VBS Mutual Bank.

The municipality invested R150 million of which R100 million was from the Regional Infrastructure Grant (RIG), R25 million from the Equitable Share-Free Basic Services and R25 million were from the Building Fund.

Recently, the EFF called for investigations after it was alleged that the municipality made an R16million ‘advanced payment’ to HT Pelatona Projects (PTY) LTD for a water project in Bloemhof.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI  

A man who is living with disability in Huhudi Location, near Vryburg, said his health continues to deteriorate because of the ‘illegal’ dumping site next to his yard. Lungile Nonkonkonya (34) stays in a house along with his other six siblings.

Lungile’s younger sister, Nomakhosazana said: “My brother has been in and out of hospital because of awful smell that we are subjected to next to our yard. We have reported this matter to the municipality, but we do not get any assistance.

“The municipality has since unsoiled the area in 2013. My brother is living with disability and suffering from muscular dystrophy. The municipality always gives us empty promises and we are sick and tired of that.”

Nomakhosazana further said her brother was once diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB) and suffered from a short breath because of the dumping site. She said they urge the municipality to clamp down on the ‘illegal’ dumping site next to their yard.

“It is heartbreaking to see our government ignoring our call while we living with a disabled person. Disabled people are large minority groups, starved of services and mostly ignored by society hence they live in isolation and subjected to poverty,” she said.

The Naledi Local Municipality acting spokesperson, Atwell Setlhapeloa said: “We’ve had a change in management. We have a new acting Municipal Manager and he would like to check (twick) few things first before we could respond.”

Meanwhile, the risenshine.org.za website said due to discrimination, disabled persons are not free to get those rights that a non-disabled person gets. The website said disabled persons are also deprived of education and employment.

“Persons with disabilities in South Africa continue to face barriers that prevent them from enjoying their full civil, political, economic, social, cultural and developmental rights. 

“This is largely due to a lack of awareness, ignorance, and prejudice in our society. It is also because some legislation fails to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Mainstreaming and universal access for persons with disabilities are the ultimate goals of the disability movement.”

In 2009, the North West Social Development held a media briefing on the launch of the policy on disability at Mmabatho Convention Centre. According to a statement, the department launched a policy on disability, developed for the social development sector.

“It is aimed at providing strategic guidelines in the delivery of social services that are compliant with departmental mandates and legislation within the social development context.

“It is intended to guide and inform the department on the mainstreaming and integration of disability within social development practices and to facilitate the transformation shifts in line with the current policy framework to promote inclusion for people with disabilities,” said the statement.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A 21-YEAR-OLD woman from Diretsang village near Taung said she is grateful that both her and the child are still alive. This comes after Kegomoditswe Tankie was seen on a video in Taung DailyNews’s position allegedly giving birth on the floor at the ‘disgraced’ Taung District Hospital without any assistance from nurses.

She said she always heard many people complaining about the abuse of patients by healthcare staff in maternity settings in the hospital but never thought one day she will be the victim herself.

“I went to the hospital for labour and I was put in the maternity ward with other pregnant women. The nurses who were on duty were in the other room and informed us to go to them if we experience any labour pains.

“Indeed, I experienced some pains and I went to seek help from them. They assessed and monitored the baby’s condition and ordered me to go back to where I was. They said I must come back at around 11:30,” she said.

However, Tankie further said, she experienced some labour contractions after reaching the room. She added that when she arrived at the ward, she put a towel on the floor next to her bed to rest on it as she was unable to climb the bed.

“I was also thirsty and I requested water from one of the women in the ward. I then went to the nurses after feeling some excruciating pains, but one of the officials in the corridors ordered me to go back saying nurses are still busy.

“I was in severe pains, but I managed to go back to the room again. I stand next to my bed and my legs cramped. I was feeling nauseated and my water breaks. The doctor was called and said I will be ready for labour at 00:20,” said Tankie.

However, she said she gave birth on the floor without any healthcare staff assistance. Now, Tankie mulls to take legal actions for medical negligence.

Belinda Lungile who was also in the maternity ward at the time of the incident alleged that nurses were rude and have arbitrary acts of unkindness toward pregnant patients.

“The abuse towards patients in that ward is well-documented. Since I was at the hospital, I saw the verbal abuse and psychological abuse many patients were subjected to. On 16 February 2021 before this initial incident, I saw nurses abusing some helpless patients and I confronted them.

“However, they also tried to bully me but I stand my ground. They even said I think I am somebody of importance and advocating for those patients will not take me anywhere. It is so ridiculous to find many women shouted at, sometimes beaten and neglected in that maternity care facility,” she said.

Meanwhile, the North West Health Department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “The hospital has reported the incident to the Adverse Events Committee. The department is disturbed by the incident and we have established that even the Nursing Services Manager was not made aware of the incident.

“The department will ensure that justice is done to that patient. We have made arrangements to get incident reports from the affected shift of nurses and the Adverse Events Committee will take the process forward and make recommendations to the MEC.”

The hospital Board of Directors chairperson, James Gadinabokao who shared the same sentiments came out gun blazing. Gadinabokao said the disciplinary process is going to be instituted.

“Nurses who were on duty that day must be suspended pending the outcome of disciplinary hearings. MEC of Health will be notified about this incident and others that were not reported.

“As the chairperson of the board, I would like to apologise to the family of Ms Kegomoditswe Tankie, her good self and the entire community of Taung. It is not the first time this negligence happened under our watch. Unfortunately, perpetrators of such always hide behind their union trying to play victim knowingly that they have transgressed their contractual obligations as public servants,” he said.

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