By BAKANG MOKOTO

A case of public violence against seven accused from Molelema village, near Taung was postponed by Taung Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Gaorongwe Mooki, Kenny Letebele, Ompolokile Leeuw, Malefane Motswakae, Chris Motsewaone, Olebogeng Monchusi and Tebogo Makoloi were arrested during protest at Molelema last week.

The seven accused, briefly appeared at Taung Magistrate’s Court and they were remanded in custody until 3 April 2018 for formal bail application. One of community leaders, Makoro Mothibi said they were disappointed and the community lost confidence in the justice system.

“We are very disappointed after the court denied our fellow brothers bail. We believe that there is a third force behind the decision. There are people who wanted to see our fellow brothers spending Easter holidays in custody. However, we are content and we will never budge.

“We are fighting for our rights and the department promised to construct D208 and D209 roads respectively. As the community, we handed over a memorandum which the department acknowledged. Now, they want to send us from pillar to post without giving us proper answers. We will meet with community on Thursday to discuss way forward,” Mothibi said.

He also dismissed allegations that their march was politically-motivated. Mothibi said their grievances are genuine and they are also aware of those who are against developments in their area.

Molelema Primary School, community hall and shops were torched and ransacked. North West MEC of Education and Sport Development department, Sello Lehari condemned the arson after Molelema Primary School’s administration block and the National School Nutrition Programme kitchen were reduced to ashes.

“The destruction of schools was never a solution to challenges residents face in communities. On behalf of the department, I condemn in the strongest terms the burning of the two schools in the province. Last year pupils of GS Phoi Secondary School lost about three months of teaching and learning due to strikes.

“At the end of the year in the matric results, they were at the bottom of the district with results of 46%. I am pleading with our communities to desist from burning schools as this act creates a huge backlog in the infrastructure for schools,” he said.

North West Public Works and Roads department MEC, Mmule Maluleke said: “We have met with Molelema community and requested them to give us seven working days. We will revert to them after we met with relevant authorities to come up with solution to this matter.”

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(Picture: Facebook)

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

It seems the North West Public Works and Roads department played an early ‘April Fool’ on Baga-Maidi community, if what Molelema community leader, Makoro Mothibi said is anything to go by.

According to Mothibi, the department promised to introduce the contractor to the community in January 2018, while the construction of the road between Manthe and Molelema villages in Taung will commence on the 1^st of April 2018.

Now situation is currently out of hand at Molelema as community went berserk. Police were forced to fire rubber bullets to unruly community members as they continue looting shops. The community demands tarred road on D208 and D209 roads and they promised not to stop until their grievances are met.

“The department failed to honour their promises. We submitted our memorandum last year and they agreed to maintain the road, while we are still waiting for the contractor to be introduced to us in January this year. However, nothing has happened and we are only left with few weeks before April.

“We have decided to embark on a protest to demonstrate our unhappiness. We have closed clinics, shops and schools, but we do not burn anything. Our roads are inaccessible especially during rainy season and that affects our livelihoods. So, we demand the tarred roads and we will never budge,” he said.

North West Public Works and Roads department spokesperson, Tsholofelo Mathibedi said: “The department has no money allocated for both roads due to budget constraints. However, MEC Mmule Maluleke will make time to visit the affected community and explain to them. The department will ensure that it grades those roads to the level of tarred roads. This will make them accessible and easier to tar them when there is budget available.

“We also urge communities to work together with us as we could not tar all roads at once. We understand their frustrations and we urge that patience must prevail among them. The department needs billions of rands to tar all roads across the province. The budget that we have is a conditional grant and we cannot shift it.”

North West Education and Sport Development department spokesperson, Elias Malindi lambasted those who prohibited children to go to school. Malindi said it is wrong to prohibit children to go to school as service delivery has nothing to do with them and the delay will affect them.

Pudimoe Police Station cluster spokesperson, Sgt Tebogo Thebe said: “No one has been arrested thus far. However, I will update you as the situation is currently underway. Police are in the area monitoring the situation.”

Unconfirmed reports stated that the Molelema Community Hall was up in flair.

NB: This is a developing story and we will continue to update you with any new developments.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

A Fidelity security guard was killed instantly in an accident next to Taung circle on Monday. Pudimoe Police Station cluster, Sgt Tebogo Thebe said: “Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a minibus taxi collided with a Fidelity Security vehicle. Unfortunately a male security guard lost his life in the accident.”

Thebe said investigations are underway and no one has been arrested.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

The ANC held an ordinary meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday. The NWC received and considered a number of reports on the affairs of the organisation including on specific issues of national interest.

ANC national spokesperson, Pule Mabe said: “The NWC engaged extensively with ANC Elections Sub-Committee Report which provided a comprehensive analysis of the open voter registration weekend. The NWC is a constitutional structure of the ANC mandated with the day to day running of the organisation and is task with the implementation of the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC).

“The ruling party embarked on an intense voter registration drive through visits to various communities throughout the country. The party leaders urged first time voters, primarily youth to register and for those who have registered to check and confirm their details. The outcomes of the open voter registration weekend are proof that South Africa has entered an era of hope and renewal.”

He further said the ANC elections machinery was led in action by the National Officials with President Ramaphosa kicking off the mobilization programme with a health walk from Regina Mundi Church to Mangalane in Chiawelo, Soweto, followed by door-to-door visits and blitzes. Mabe added that the NWC commended the thousands of ANC volunteers including alliance partners and party agents who took to the streets to mobilize and ensure that eligible South Africans are registered to vote.

“Registration took place in conditions that were largely peaceful, orderly, and conducive to the free exercise of fundamental political rights. The ANC further calls on all eligible South Africans who have not registered or checked their details during the open voter registration weekend to visit IEC offices within their reach, mostly located within municipal offices including using the SMS line and the toll-free number provided by the IEC to verify their details.

“The NWC further noted that in a number of areas, voters were prevented from accessing voting stations due to disruptive protest actions. The ANC calls upon all South Africans to exercise their fundamental right to protest peacefully and unarmed with due regard to the rights of their fellow citizens,” Mabe said.

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(Picture Supplied): Bophirima FM station manager, Funnie Morontsi

By BAKANG MOKOTO

Vryburg-based community radio station, Bophirima FM is marred with alleged mismanagement, corruption and fraud. Some of presenters alleged that the management is using the embattled community radio for self-enrichment.

One of presenters who wished to remain anonymous said: “The station is not operating, owned and driven by the communities they serve anymore. It seems the management has forgotten the role of the community radio station. It does not serve geographic communities and its interests, but is been used as a cash cow.

“The station management and its interim board are misusing funds. The station received R800 000 from Dr Ruth Mompati District Municipality in 2015. It also continue to receive the amount of R200 000 monthly from the municipality. It is heartbreaking that we are paid paltry salaries, while other presenters who have close ties with the management getting around R3 900 per month.”

Another presenter alleged that the station manager, Funnie Morontsi uses his company to request funds from businesses on behalf of Bophirima FM. He/she also alleged that Morontsi registered the station’s equipment under his name and uses them for Outside Broadcast purposes.

The Bophirima FM is also in loggerheads with Metla Kgola Trust which was running the station. However, the trust has since taken the station to court which and the case sat at Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on 21 February 2018.

The Dr Ruth Mompati District Municipality spokesperson, Joe Motlhasedi said: “The municipality has indeed funded the Bophirima FM in 2013 at the amount of R300 000 for the pre-establishment phase of the radio. We have also funded them to the amount of R250 000 in 2015 for operationalization purposes.

“However, there is no monthly allowance of R250 000 that was ever been funded to the station until to date. The station has no tax certificate due to ownership challenges that are currently under legal process. We are also aware that the station is not producing adequate revenue to either pay for services or other stipends of the presenters currently.”

Motlhasedi added that the station has been accommodated at the building that was leased for free to them by the North West Public Works. He said the department has declared the building unsafe and it will be demolished soon.

Motlhasedi further said the municipality has also funded Morongwa Media which is a community newspaper in Vryburg to the amount ofR49 000 thus far. Morontsi failed to respond to our e-mails and text messages despite numerous attempts.

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Facebook: (Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality mayor, Bitsa Lenkopane)

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

South African Communist Party (SACP) in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district calls for the removal of embattled Kagisano-Molopo local municipality mayor, Bitsa Lenkopane. The attempt to recall Lenkopane comes after she was found guilty of assault by Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Lenkopane assaulted Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) ward councillor, Boipelo Bareng on the 14 November 2017. Bareng said Lenkopane found her in the Municipal Manager’s office and chased her out alleging that she has a meeting with the Municipal Manager.

Lenkopane was fined R5000 or six months imprisonment and the sentence was suspended for three years in condition that she will not be found guilty of the same offence.

“Lenkopane barged into the Municipal Manager and found us in the middle of the meeting. She instructed me to go out as she has a meeting with the Municipal Manager. However, I politely requested her to wait for few minutes as I was also in the middle of the meeting. Lenkopane became raucous and hauled insults towards me.

“I was shocked when she manhandled and assaulted me. I suffered few bruises on my neck and elbow as she stifled me. I am grateful after she was found guilty and this will be a stern warning to all those who occupy leadership positions. No one is above the law and I believe that the judgment has restored public’s confidence in the judiciary system,” she said.

SACP regional secretary, Maria Seimelo said: “We want the ANC to depose Lenkopane from her position as a mayor. She is not a good leader and we have raised this in previous occasions, however, the ruling party ignored our call. There are also allegations of maladministration at the municipality and we urge the ruling party to remove her before is too late.

“We cannot have a leader who take the law into her own hands. She must an exemplary and abide by the law. Lenkopane’s time to go has arrived and we need another leader who has the interest of our people at heart. We cannot continue to deploy incompetent leaders who will serve only their interests at the expenses of the communities.”

North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo said he is still waiting for a formal report from MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements department, Fenny Gaolaolwe before he could comment on the matter.

Taung DailyNews understand that Lenkopane was summoned to appear before ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) on Monday to explain what transpired. She will also appeal the judgment in quest to overturn it.

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