By THEBETSILE KEAMEDITSE Residents of Maquassi Hills Local Municipality have lauded Bua Le Puso community meetings as an effective platform to get their concerns across and be serviced better by the municipality.

This emerged in one of the meetings at Tswelelang township, in Wolmaranstad on Wednesday.

The initiative was part of the Roma Nna Setsokotsane 10×10 Campaign programme.

North West Provincial Government representatives descended to the Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies ( VTSD) areas within the municipality to intensify the monthly Roma Nna Setsokotsane 10×10 Campaigns which will unfold for a period of 10 days with the implementation of different campaigns.

One of the eldest residents of Tswelelang Ext4, Tseko Motaung (78) said the Bua Le Puso community meetings have made a difference in the area.

“We come to the meetings to raise our concerns and in some instances we make meaningful proposals which are intended to change our lives. We can’t go anywhere if we don’t engage in these meetings and resolve issues,” Motaung said.

While some took the opportunity to thank government for the services provided recently in their area, others complained about shortage of water in some areas, lack of employment in the community projects, poor internal roads, dysfunctional streets lights and poor waste management.

A resident in the area, Nombulelo Maseko (41), who encouraged community members to attend Bua Le Puso Community meetings, said they have resolved many issues through these platforms and residents received feedback on developments in their ward.

“It is through these meetings that we have developments such as houses, high mast lights, road maintenance, and other developments. Everyone must attend these meetings to make the necessary contribution” said Nombulelo.

Ward Councillor, Nanisi Seakane believes the residents’ cooperation and constructive criticism of the municipality will go a long way in changing the lives of local residents.

“As the municipality, we work together with the ward committee to address all concerns raised. Where we are failing, we seek assistance from the district municipality or from the relevant provincial government department. “We’ll never cease to hold these meetings even if we disagree with our people in some of the issues” said Seakane

“We’ll never cease to hold these meetings even if we disagree with our people in some of the issues” said Seakane,” Seakane said.

Roma Nna Setsokotsane 10×10 campaigns are rolled out in all local municipalities in the province from the 11^th to the 20^th of every month. The Programme starts with campaigns such as Bua Le Puso community meetings, VTSD Entrepreneurship Services, Pothole Patching and Street Lights Fixing as well as Human Settlements and Sanitation Services.

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BY BAKANG MOKOTO

A motion of No Confidence against North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo will be conducted thhrough Open Ballot System.
North West Provincial Legislature Speaker, Sussana Dantjie announced on Thursday. Dantjie said the legislature will hold a Special House Sitting on the 17 April 2018 at 9h00 to debate a ‘Motion of no Confidence’ against Mahumapelo.

The motion was tabled by the EFF on the 8th of March 2018.

“In terms of the process followed, the motion was first discussed at the Rules Committee on 27 March 2018 and in that meeting all parties agreed that the motion will be tabled for debate in the mentioned day. “The matter was further processed and programmed by Programming Committee held in Klerksdorp on 11 April 2018 and was accordingly programmed for the said date,” Dantjie said.

“The matter was further processed and programmed by Programming Committee held in Klerksdorp on 11 April 2018 and was accordingly programmed for the said date,” Dantjie said.

She said she met with the Whips of Political Parties represented in the Legislature to convey her decision on the request by the EFF to subject the motion to a secret ballot. “In making a determination on whether the ballot on the motion should be an open or secret ballot. I had to take into consideration all facts surrounding this motion and to ensure that members will be able to express their views without being subjected to undue influence, intimidation, fear of disapproval or anything like that

“In making a determination on whether the ballot on the motion should be an open or secret ballot. I had to take into consideration all facts surrounding this motion and to ensure that members will be able to express their views without being subjected to undue influence, intimidation, fear of disapproval or anything like that.

“It must be noted that it has not been easy for me to arrive at the decision and that although it was not easy, the EFF could not share at the meeting on the reasons for requesting a secret ballot on the motion except for their continuous uncontrolled urge to pursue legal avenues should I not respond to them by the 10 April 2018,” she said.

Dantjie further sais she take note of the fact that ‘Motion of No Confidence’ in the Mahumapelo is one of the available tools of oversight for members of the Provincial Legislature to hold the Executive accountable.

She added that this avenue and many other processes of holding the Executive accountable has always been practiced in the Legislature without any fear or favour.

“We have since 2014, when I took over as the Speaker of the Legislature, never experience any situation where members of the Legislature are obstructed, intimidated, threatened, disapproved or in any manner influenced to take decision or action that would somehow make it difficult for them to express their constitution mandate of playing oversight on the Executive.

“In closing, she said there seem not to be any risk by allowing the motion to be proceeded with in a democratically permissible voting procedure like it has always been done in this Legislature,” Dantjie said.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The community of Kolong village in Taung embarked on basic service delivery protest on Tuesday. They barricaded the R77m newly built Kolong Bridge that links Taung and Schweizer Reneke with tree branches and stones.

The community alleged that ward councillor, Paseka Sedupane continue to ignore them even though they wrote numerous letters to him for intervention.

Community leader, Lucas Modise said: “We demand developments and job opportunities in our area. There are lot of projects taking place in our ward, but Sedupane sideline us. There is a bush-cutting project, construction of Indoor Centre in Manthe village and a phase 2 pipeline project that is underway. No one is employed in all those projects.

“Sedupane never bothered to come to us and hold monthly meetings as stipulated by North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo. We have also written numerous letters of grievances to the Greater Taung local municipality speaker, Ebusang Tladi and the mayor, Kgosi Nnyoko Motlhabane for assistance. However, they also continue to ignore us too.”

However, Greater Taung local municipality speaker, Ebusang Tladi refuted the allegations. Tladi said he has the minutes to show that the ward councillor held a monthly meeting with the community.

“We understand that the community of Kolong prohibited people from other areas to come and work in their area during the construction of a dual Kolong Bridge recently. No one from other areas that fall under ward 14, was allowed to be employed in that project.

“It seems the community had that agreement that no one from outside will come and work there, hence other communities also deny them that opportunity to work in their areas. However, we will engage with all communities in ward 14 to resolve this matter.”

MEC for Community Safety and Transport Mangement department in North West, Dr Mpho Motlhabane condemned with strongest terms the barricading of roads and stoning of vehicles during protests. Motlhabane said they have noticed a number of incidents across the province where roads were being barricaded with burning tyres, stones and other objects, thus, obstructing the traffic flow especially on national roads.

“In recent weeks, the community of Gopane barricaded the N4 following the protests march on their dissatisfaction police response to a reported case of crime. The trend continued in other areas such as Ganyesa, where the community was also angry, following number of cases of murder and rape which were reported to the station,” he said.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

The community in Molelema village, near Taung rejected the offer tabled by North West MEC of Public Works and Roads department, Mmule Maluleke regarding construction of tar road on D208 and D209.

Maluleke addressed the community on Thursday after they embarked on a month long strike. They demand proper roads in their area.

One of community leaders, Mothibi Makoro said: “We are not happy about the 10km matter. They promised atleast 71km road construction, but now they have changed their tune. We will now engage with the community and discuss way forward.”

School children are prohibited to go to school. The Molelema Primary School and local community hall were torched. Foreign-owned shops were also looted during protests.

Tshepang Diseko who is a Grade 12 learner from Letlhogile Secondary School said: “We urge for tranquility in the area because the strike affects our education. It’s been a month without attending any classes and that is a concern. We are left behind and our end-of-the-year-results will be affected.”

Maluleke said: “The department does not have money and will only manage to construct 10km road. We have a budget of R268m for the whole province. The department is faced with budget constraint because the budget is allocated according to the population.

“North West province is predominantly rural, but the needs are huge. We understand that the community received a letter that informed them that it is part of budget. However, that letter was not signed by Head of Department (HoD).”

Maluleleke said the government official who handed over the letter to the community is currently on suspension. She said the construction of 10km road will started soon after the engagements between the department, municipality and the Tribal Authority.

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Picture: (Deceased: Motsamai Matlawe)

By BAKANG MOKOTO

A popular poet from Magogong village, near Taung and his girlfriend will briefly appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court in connection of murder on Tuesday. The two are accused of stabbing Motsamai Matlawe (31) from Magogong village to death after a drinking spree.

Matlawe’s family member, Goitsemang Tselaekae said: “The atrocity took place at around 3am in Sunday morning. It is alleged that Motsamai was drinking beer with a female suspect at a local tavern. They left the tavern to the woman’s house afterward.

“The stains of blood was found on the curtain at the house and also on a broken window. It seems the couple killed Motsamai and dragged his lifeless body to the street.”

Tselaekae also said they suspect that the couple drank Motsamai’s blood as there was a glass soaked with blood inside in the house.

“Those who were arrested will never ever find inner peace. They must not be released because we will kill and burn them. This is satanic deeds and we want answers. Motsamai was a hawker who tried to make a living by selling tomatoes and potatoes in Hartwater,” she said.

North West police spokesperson, Sgt Kelebogile Moleko said: “A case of murder has been registered at Taung Police Station. Two suspects aged 39 and 30 will appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

“The motive behind the killing is unknown and the deceased sustained a stabbing wound. He was found in a pool of blood in the street. Police investigations are underway.”

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