BY REGINALD KANYANE

ALL Systems go at Groot Marico as the North West Provincial government prepares to unveil the Jacob Zuma Capture Site Monument in Groot Marico on Wednesday. The Culture, Art and Traditional Affairs department (CATA) in Bokone Bophirima said the construction of the monument is part of honouring the struggle icons and freedom fighters.

CATA spokesperson, Daddy Sebolecwe said: “The site is located in the Provincial Liberation Heritage Route that has significance in the liberation struggle of the country. President Jacob Zuma was arrested with a group of 45 uMkhonto we Sizwe recruits as they were on their way to exile for military training through Zeerust in 1963.

“The unveiling ceremony is part of promoting activities and events linked to the Liberation Heritage Route. This is in tandem with the strategic objectives of transforming the heritage landscape of Bokone Bophirima, to develop, preserve and promote the liberation site through tourism.”

President Jacob Zuma will deliver the keynote address during the event.

However, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said it categorically rejects the planned unveiling of a monument or statue in honor of uBaba Ka Duduzane (President Jacob Zuma). EFF provincial spokesperson, Thabo Sehloho said they believe that the provincial government under the leadership of Premier, Supra Mahumapelo is using tax payers’ money to fight ANC battles.

“The planned monument in honour of uBaba ka Duduzane is nothing, but a ploy to appease him as a leader of a faction in the ANC called the Premier League. This is also an attempt by Mahumapelo to negotiate a space in the leadership contest of the ruling party.

“Fundamentally, we reject the monument because that R6m used to design and erect that monument of uBaba Ka Duduzane could have been used to address infrastructure backlogs such as the provision of water, road infrastructure, housing and the electrification and the eradication of the bucket system in Gopane,” Sehloho said.

He further said the erection of the monument of ‘uBaba Ka Duduzane’ was not budgeted for in the current Annual Performance Plan by CATA. Sehloho added that the erection of the monument of ‘uBaba Ka Duduzane’ is part of a plan to consolidate the faction of the Premier League towards the ruling party’s National Conference in December.

“We believe that uBaba Ka Duduzane does not deserve that honour because of his pathetic leadership of the country. Under uBaba Ka Duduzane, South Africa has been downgraded twice by rating agencies and unemployment is extremely high at around 28%. uBaba Ka Duduzane has run down and factionalised key institutions supporting democracy such as The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), SABC and the Public Protectors Office amongst others.

“He used the Gupta’s as his frontline troopers to loot the state and colonise key parastatals such as Eskom, Transnet, The National Treasury and SAA amongst others. Today South Africa is synonymous with corruption and State Capture has been consolidated by his friends, the Guptas. His dismissal of the former Minister of Finance Pravin Gordan and his Deputy Mcebisi Jonas plunged the country in chaos of capital flight, the weakening of the national currency (the Rand) and also created uncertainty amongst investors hence South Africa has been displaced by Egypt as the number one destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),” he said.

Sehloho said Zuma is a morally bankrupt leader who admitted to sleeping with an HIV positive woman while in a holy matrimony. He alleged that Zuma also impregnated Sonono Khoza while in an official marriage.

“Zuma is not fit to lead this country. Under the leadership of uBaba Ka Duduzane, the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality have worsened. So, we vow to bring down that monument of corruption,” he said.

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The South African Police Services (SAPS) are in the process of settling 653 civil claims worth R1.17bn for injuries and deaths that occurred in the 2012 Marikana massacre, MPs heard on Monday.

The exact amount from all 653 plaintiffs totalled R1 170 946 235 going back to 2014, legal services commander Lieutenant General Sally Kahn told MPs.

“This is in respect of injuries as a result of the shooting, claims to loss of support, assault, malicious prosecution and injuries as a result of arrest and detention,” Khan told the portfolio committee on police.

The dependents of 37 deceased miners have submitted claims for loss of financial support, 32 of which have been submitted to an actuary.

Some documents are still outstanding in four of the cases.

One case has already been settled to a deceased miner’s family of seven for just over R3m, paid in June this year.

Other offers between R50 000 to R100 000 have been made for arrest and detention claims, depending on the number of days the plaintiffs were detained for.

“Some offers have been rejected, and we have asked for proof of detention to consider settlement,” Khan said.

ALSO READ: Final Marikana dockets handed over to the NPA – IPID

Police minister Fikile Mbalula has authorised claims for those who seek R20 000 a day per plaintiff, 275 of which have been given to the State Attorney to make the offer to the plaintiffs, she said.

For those who filed assault claims, the SAPS await expert documents which will be made available at the end of November.

Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard asked if there would come a day where all claims would be settled.

“We do not have a date yet, but the approach is conciliatory,” Khan responded.

“In the event that the parties accept the settlements, we will reach finality soon. But the process is conciliatory, not defending or mitigating.”

That was a “huge” change in attitude from the SAPS, Kohler-Barnard remarked.

The SAPS were in Parliament on Monday to account for their 2016/17 annual report.

The meeting continued on Monday.

Source: http://www.news24.com

Picture: Hip Hop artist, Flizzy The Tone 

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Music plays a pivotal role within the society and people cannot live without it. Taung emerging hip hop artist, Modiri Thebeyagae (17) from Pudimoe Location in Taung said music is so important in the contemporary society.

Flizzy The Tone as Thebeyagae is affectionately known in music fraternity said he fell in love with hip hop genre while he was only 4.

“I was inspired by the likes AKA, Cassper Nyovest and other world renowned artists. Music plays an important role in everyday life. I started to develop interest while I was in Grade 4. I worked with various artists across North West including my former producer, Da Ruse Mavest.

“It is hard to be an artist especially coming from Taung which is a predominantly rural. We come across many challenges in the industry. There is a lack of exposure especially from Taung. However, I am still young and I anticipate great things. My main objective is to become one of the finest artists across the country,” Flizzy The Tone said.

A 17 year-old musician said music is a prevailing art that need to be nurtured well. Flizzy The Tone further said music is an autonomous art form, functioning independently from social, political, economic, technological, and ethical developments.

“Music does much more than depicting or embodies values. Music is active and dynamic, constitutive not merely of values but of trajectories and styles of conduct. It plays an important role in shaping society and identities. The scope of music reaches far beyond the concert hall.

“I am currently doing Grade 10 at PH Moeketsi High School and looking forward to continue with my studies. My upbringing was just normal and I believe that we can achieve a lot through discipline, dedication and determination. I also want to urge our youth to focus more on their education and fight poverty, inequality and unemployment,” he said.

Flizzy The Tone added that music provides parameters that can be used to frame experiences, perceptions, feelings, and comportments. He released a Mix Tape last week and expects to release an album soon.

“We are having challenges as artists in Taung. The area is predominantly rural and there is lack of opportunities here. We want to urge provincial government to support our craft and ensure that we grow. We have also realised that government alone cannot not afford to support us. However, private sector needs to come on board and invest in us.

“Music is no more a hobby, but a career. There are so many different roles, functions, and positions within the music industry. South Africa is blessed with abundance of talents and that need to be nurtured. We must learn to bring music into philosophical, sociological, and various cultural perspectives. Music is placed in a socio-cultural context,”

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BY BAKANG MOKOTO

Greater Taung Local Artists Forum organisation (GTLAF) said it is adamant that it will receive positive outcome from Mmabana Foundation management. The organisation submitted a memorandum to Mmabana Taung on Friday. The GTLAF chairperson, Modisaotsile Lebitse said they embarked on a march after local artists were excluded from prestigious Taung Cultural Calabash event.

“This is a matter of urgency and we demand answers. We, as GTLAF demand that our local artists be recognised for Taung Cultural Calabash event. We also demand urgent arrangement of transport to collect all local artists as they are ready to perform and explore their talents. The organisation also demand that the Mmabana Taung pay R10 000 to each soloist and R15 000 to groups that consist of more than one artist.

“There are artists who were allegedly not paid during last year’s edition. We demand new system to be used in organising the event. Our traditional leaders in our villages, forums representatives and community leaders need to be consulted two months prior the event. Taung Cultural Calabash event shall not be tendered to individuals too.

“We want to see our local communities benefiting from the event in terms of Local Economic Development (LED). There is no social responsibility from service provider and we demand plough back percentage,” Lebitse said.

Tsibogo Ya Taung Civic organisation shared the same sentiments. TYT coordinator, Goitseone Legodu said as a civic organisation, they support the interest of the community. Legodu further said the Greater Taung Local Artists Forum (GTLAF) has a point as far as Taung Cultural Calabash event is concern.

“We do not see economic growth and local artists do not get formal assessment from Mmabana Foundation. TYT also want to know how Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD) implementation fits in this programme. We have structures like Local Economic Development (LED), but local service providers are constantly excluded.

“Our aim is to see every local service provider benefit from R3.1m injection. We understand that Taung Cultural Calabash is a provincial event as MEC for Culture, Art and Traditional Affairs department (CATA) Ontlametse Mochware said. However, the provincial government highlighted that 70% of its procurement will be dedicated to VTSD areas,” he said.

Legodu added that the security company appointed for the event is from Johannesburg. He said the sub-contract appointed, Khanyapr is also from Johannesburg too.

“The department has also not shed more light on the originality of companies providing stage, marquees and sound system. So, it is clear that event manager failed dismally to consult beneficiaries which are the community members of Taung.

“We want to know if the North West province at large does not have capabilities to provide that kind of services? How does provincial government will grow the economy of Taung while using service providers outside the province? We are crystal clear as Tsibogo Ya Taung Civic organisation that the event will not go ahead if our grievances are not addressed in terms of compliance,” he said.

Legodu further said they want Section 195 of the constitution to be implemented. He added that the constitution says the needs of the communities need to be properly addressed.

“It also states that all documents need to be disposed before us in terms of transparency. The company that is running the event is Molite which had a three year contract with the Mmabana Foundation. However, they are in their final year and we believe that it does not have the interest of Taung people at heart.

“We also want to know the strategy used to appoint all service providers regarding the calabash. Mahika Mahikeng event came after Taung Cultural Calabash, however it receives R16m budget. The Taung Cultural Calabash event receives a meagre R3.1m and people from Mahikeng still benefit from it,” Legodu outlines.

He said what kind of policies the provincial government has that guide the Taung Cultural Calabash, but fails to be implemented while running Mahika Mahikeng event. Legodu further said the provincial government shall always comply and implement transparency at all times.

“If VTSD vision is not implemented in this regard, then let the initiative be scrapped across all projects in Taung. The event was not properly planned because inter-governmental relations are non-existence in Taung. The organising company, Molite had a three year contract with Mmabana Foundation to organise the Taung Cultural Calabash. However, Mmabana Foundation interjected them last year for non-compliance.

“The company has never given any audit report for their programme. We wonder why the company is given any priority after failing to present an audit report. Mmabana Foundation terminated their contract, but they approached the court instead and won the case,” he said.

Legodu highlighted that the aim of the organising company was to be compensated.

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Picture: North West MEC of CATA, Ontlametse Mochware 

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

RESIDENTS of Taung will embark on a massive march on Friday in support of local artists. The artists alleged that they were excluded from Taung Cultural Calabash event that will be taking place on Sunday at Taung Sportground in Taung.

Greater Taung Artists Forum organisation (GTAF) coordinator, Modise ‘Disco’ Lebitse said the gathering will commence at the Hoax Sportground in Ditshilong village in Taung on Friday at 9am.

“We will embark on a protest in solidarity to our local artists. Taung Cultural Calabash has lost its meaning and value. The event was supposed to benefit the community of Taung. Most of our artists are excluded from the main event. We will march from Hoax Sportground to Mmabana Taung and hand over memorandum.

“We demand answers from the Mmabana Foundation and Culture, Art and Traditional Affairs department (CATA). As residents, we cannot sit back while the rights of our people are violated. We urge every citizen to join us in quest for justice and claiming what is rightfully ours,” Lebitse said.

He further said the event only benefit people from outside Taung.

Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) also shared the same sentiments. F4SD spokesperson, Elias Mogoru said they are aggrieved as the people of Taung and the entire province. Mogoru said local event management companies as well as artists are constantly overlooked on the organising and performing in as far as the Taung Calabash is concerned.

“CATA MEC, Ontlametse Mochware blatantly lied to over 3 million Motsweding Fm listeners about the Calabash. (F4SD) would like to put it categorically clear that the company that is organising the Taung Cultural Calabash is none other than Mabala Noise, owned by the ANC Treasurer General, Reggie Nkabinde.

“This has turned to be ANC Cultural Calabash. F4SD would also like to place it on record that our artists have been ignored and excluded because the Taung Calabash has been reduced to yet another ANC’s ‘get rich quick’ scheme where our artists in the North West are crooked by the same government that promised people a “Better Life” since 1994,” Mogoru he said.

He further said the party noted the inclusion of some of North West artists. Mogoru added that platforms like the Taung Cultural Calabash were meant specifically for the development and support of artists in the province.

“What the main event line-up suggests to us is that criminals have decided to staff-ride the Calabash. The platform is no longer beneficial to the people of this province. Mochware told the nation green lies on the Motsweding Fm current affairs. She said she was only told that the organising company is from the North West.

“She refused to give the name of the organising company and said the caller must come to Taung Cultural Calabash on Sunday to get the name of company. Really MEC? You were ‘only told’? Now let’s tell you MEC that the company that is organising the ANC (Taung) Cultural Calabash is the Mabala Noise owned by Reggie Nkabinde, the ANC Treasurer General. Got it?,” Mogoru added.

He said they will write a letter to the MEC in terms of the Promotion of Administration Justice Act 3 of 2000. Mogoru said they will also challenge the MEC, Ontlametse Mochware and North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo in an open public engagement on this matter.

“We have evidence of wrongdoing by CATA under the watchful eye of the Premier as per his instructions. F4SD further calls upon residents of Taung and the province to boycott this ANC corrupt activity. When will it come to an end that artists in the province, have to leave for places like Johannesburg in search of opportunities?

“This is the reason why Cassper Nyovest has deserted this province. North West never made him, he made himself. We have artists who have previously won SATMAS and some are even nominees, artists that can perform in the main event, but they’ve been sidelined. This is again yet another reason why we advise people not to vote for ANC, a party that care less about those who votes for it,” he concludes.

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