BY REGINALD KANYANE

TWO suspects sentenced to a combined 28 years imprisonment by Klerksdorp Regional Court on separate charges of rape on Tuesday. North West police spokesperson, Col Sabata Mokgwabone said the first accused, 22 was incarcerated to 18 years after raping a 14-year-old minor.

“This incident occurred in January 2011 in Jouberton Township near Klerksdorp. The minor was sent to the shops by her mother when she came across the accused who raped her. In another separate incident, a 43-year-old accused was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for raping a seven year-old minor,” he said.

Mokgwabone said the incident took place in September 2015 in Khuma Location near Klerksdorp.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane welcomed the sentences. She said that the sentences will serve as an indication that the law will not hesitate to deal with heartless criminals.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

A 29 YEAR-OLD man was arrested for dealing in drugs in Vryburg on Wednesday. North West police spokesperson, Col Sabata Mokgwabone said a Nigerian man was arrested by Crime Intelligence together with Traffic Officials.

“The police approached a suspicious vehicle along the gravel road just outside Vryburg. The driver allegedly ran into the bushes after realising the police were behind him. The police chased and arrested him.

“He was found to be in possession of drugs after he was searched. The police found various types of drugs such as KAT, rock-cocaine, and heroine hidden along the road. The drugs estimated to the value of R327 000 were confiscated,” Mokgwabone said.

He said the suspect will appear in the Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

-TDN

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Picture: (North West health department spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane)

BY REGINALD KANYANE

MANY patients across North West will now access their medication in various pharmacies. This was part of Central Chronic Dispensing and Distribution programme. MEC of health Dr Magome Masike said the programme was piloted in Dr Kenneth Kaunda municipality district and will be implemented across.

“We have an agreement with some pharmacies around the province. The aim of this initiative was to reduce backlog and queues in our hospitals. We have already piloted this project in Dr Kenneth Kaunda municipality district. The department experienced queues on daily basis at various hospitals.

“This is part of speeding up basic service delivery. We will inform our patients how the process works. We have patients who fetch ARVs, diabetes and TB medications at the hospitals. The process will make collection of medication easy and accessible,” Masike said.

He said patients will have unique code and will be provided with their medication at their nearest pharmacies. Masike further added that the patients will collect their medication for six months then they will be referred to hospitals afterwards for check-ups.

“We have also bought bicycles for our community healthcare workers in Dr Kenneth Kaunda municipality district. Many patients will wake up at around 3am in the morning just because they want to avoid queues. So we believe together with community healthcare workers we can win the fight,” he said.

Masike said if the programme is successful in Dr Kenneth Kaunda municipality district it will be rolled out to various municipalities. However he said it was also implemented at Ratlou local municipality. He said patients collected their medication at local clinic because there is no pharmacy in the area.

-TDN

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JUSTICE and constitutional development department in North West said they were ready to rub shoulders with their counterparts across the country. The department honoured their provincial employees. The department will also host National Service Excellence Awards soon.

Acting regional head of justice and constitutional development department, Joseph Makutle said they hosted regional awards to honour employees who dedicated themselves to their work. The second edition of Service Excellence Awards in the region was hosted recently. (Friday last week) in Mahikeng.

“This is our second annual service excellence awards. We want to honour those employees who showed dedication and selflessness. They played a pivotal role towards service delivery.

“The awards will inspire greatness within their performance. We also believe they will uplift the morality at work place. We also want to applaud all nominees and also want to encourage all staff to participate in the future,” Makutle said.

He also urged all employees to continue to practice Batho Pele principles at all time. Makutle further added that the employees were at the cutting edge while dealing with clients.

Justice and constitutional development department national chief-director for programme support, Mosalanyana Mosala was part of the proceeding. Mosala commended those who were nominated too.

“We want to applaud you for your unwavering dedication towards your duty. You form the integral part of this institution. I also want to encourage you to work harder. Just bear in mind that your participation is noticeable. To all those who have been awarded must continue to work hard too,” he said.

One of the recipients, Seledu Moloko said: “I have learnt a lot from you guys over the years. And I believe our contribution will continue to inspire others. We learn new things daily.”

Manager for Language Practice, Billy Molele commended Moloko for his dedication.

“He is very profound, dedicated and eloquent in most languages. He had a unique quality for interpretation services. The department pride itself by having you. We hope upcoming and young interpreters have learnt from you,” Molele said.

Madikwe Magistrate Court scooped the best model award and Taung Magistrate Court was honoured as the best model sub cluster court. Other individuals were also recognised.

-TDN

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NALEDI local municipality mayor, Langa Modise was instructed to take firm action against municipal manager. This came about after municipal manager, Modisenyane Segapo walked out of the meeting on Wednesday at legislature. The municipality appeared before North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts to account on the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) outcomes of the 2014-15 financial year.

Chairperson for the committee, Mahlakeng Mahlakeng said Segapo’s behaviour was uncalled for.

“Segapo appeared before the committee without having the MFMA documentations. When I asked him about it he took exception. We requested the mayor to speak to ask him to come back, but he still refused. We cannot have officials who refuse to account. This is taxpayers’ money.

“In terms of the Constitution, Sec 114(2)(a)states that a provincial Legislature must provide for mechanisms to ensure that all provincial Executive Organs of the state in the province are accountable to it. Furthermore provisions of the North West Provincial Legislature Standing Rules, Rule 239, provides that Segapo is in contempt of the Legislature as he had actually interfered with the ability of the Legislature to perform its function, more so by failing to report to the Committee when required to do so and by failing to obey any ruling, order or resolution of the Legislature,” Mahlakeng said.

He said they rescheduled the meeting until Wednesday.

According to the provincial Auditor General’s office, the Naledi local municipality is struggling to pay their debtors including Eskom. It was also discovered that most of the officials owe the municipality a lot of money for rates and services. Some of officials and councillors are doing business with the municipality too.

-TDN

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NORTH West premier Supra Mahumapelo will form part of a five week long youth entrepreneurship services (YES) programme. The director of the programme, Thapelo Sekawana said the tour commence today.

“The tour starts today at Kagiso-Molopo, Moretele and Matlosana local municipalities. Setsokotsane activities will be implemented in these areas and will be followed by Mamusa, Lekwa-Teemane, Kgetleng, Moses Kotane and Tlokwe-Ventersdorp local municipalities on May 26-27. This programme is viewed as a focused platform that seeks to connect unemployed young people of the North West province.

“The aim is to connect them with the public and private institutions. We want to expose them to entrepreneurship, employment, skills development and youth empowerment opportunities available in their respective sectors,” he said.

Acting provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said the rolling out of this initiative will be aligned to Setsokotsane activities that are currently being implemented in various local municipalities.

He said this will serve as a build-up to the provincial Youth Day commemoration on June 16. Setswambung said the commemoration day will be held at Ramotshere-Moiloa local municipality on June 18.

“Subsequent to the engagements the provincial government will have with the youth during this tour, premier Mahumapelo will sign an accord with the youth on June 18. He will commit the provincial government to address issues raised during the provincial tour,” Setswambung said.

He added that the youth tour will be taken to other local municipalities during the first two weeks of June.

“We will be heightened to roll out Youth Entrepreneurship Services (YES) Provincial Action Tour in these five weeks. MECs and mayors will also be part of it. YES Provincial Action Tour is also geared towards encouraging young people to lead a healthy lifestyle. This will also give a government to listen to the challenges young people are faced with in daily basis,” he said.

-TDN

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THE contractor will be appointed soon to build Kanana Police Station. The residents will now finally have the police station in their area. The sod-turning was performed more than 10 years ago, but the police station was never been built.

Minister for public works Thulas Nxesi said the police station was supposed to be built back in 2004.

“Kanana Police Station in Orkney was a priority in 2004 financial year. However SAPS changed its approach after the appointment of Commissioner General Bheki Cele. They focused in deep rural areas. However we can now confirm that the Kanana Police Station is planned for its construction in this financial year.

“The consultant was appointed by SAPS. And tender documents are at the final draft stage. The contractor will be appointed soon and the completion of the project is scheduled for next year,” Nxesi said.

-TDN

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Picture: (Marikana illegal housing occupants at North West High Court)

MARIKANA residents who illegal occupied RDP houses appeared in North West High Court yesterday (Thursday). The local government and human settlements department and Rustenburg local municipality ordered them to vacate the houses however their quest was futile. The department filed for eviction through court.

The court ordered residents to explain why they must not be evicted. The case was postponed until June 10 for hearing.

Local government and human settlements department spokesperson, Ben Bole said they welcomed the postponement.

“The case against Rustenburg local municipality versus the illegal occupants of the houses in Marikana was postponed in the North West High Court to June 10. This was to allow the respondents to file heads of arguments. The court ruled that all approved beneficiaries of the Marikana Extension 2 housing project allow the contractor space to complete the houses that they are presently occupying.

“The rest of the residents who have not been approved or are yet to be approved as beneficiaries must furnish their personal circumstances to the court on June 3. This is in accordance with the Land Act of 1998 – Section 4 of the Prevention of Illegal Occupation and Eviction,” Bole said.

Rustenburg local municipality spokesperson, Thapelo Matebesi said the project was a collaborative effort between our department, Rustenburg local municipality and Lonmin. He said the project was underpinned by the presidential package to deal with housing backlog in the country.

“This resulted in the decision to yield 2 600 units in the Marikana area. Lonmin donated a 50ha portion of land with 860 serviced sites known as Marikana Ext. 2. The sector provincial department provided subsidies and appointed developers for the first phase that saw the construction of 292 Breaking New Ground units (BNG’s). Construction is under way and the completion date was suppose to be this month,” he said.

Matebesi said lawful beneficiaries where identified through extensive consultation with the community. He said however, the project had numerous challenges ranging from stoppages by sub-contractors and community. Matebesi said illegal occupation and pending threats of illegal occupation of the BNG Units also caused the delay.

The Marikana illegal housing occupants leader, Napoleon Webster said: “We will suffer the same gross injustices suffered by mine workers and their families. What they went through was one part of the enslavement of the indigenous dispossessed of South Africa.

“We will never budge, but remain resolute on our mission. The houses are used as ANC machinery to get voters. However the corruption marred this government will be dissolved on August 3. The ANC-led government killed 34 miners and now they are gearing up to kill Marikana residents for demanding decent houses for our people. The houses are official built for mine workers and their community as stipulated in the mining charter,” Webster said.

-TDN

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RUSTENBURG – One of the two mineworkers trapped underground at Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats) mine in Rustenburg, North West was found dead on Thursday, the company said.

“The body was found in an area with extremely unstable ground conditions and has not yet been recovered. The search and rescue teams are continuing with their relentless efforts to find the second miner,” said company spokesperson Johan Theron.

“The families of the two miners have been informed of the latest developments and continue to receive support from the mine, the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu). The families have requested that we withhold the names of both miners at this time.”

Implats chief executive Terence Goodlace said: “This is a tragic loss for everybody and our heart-felt condolences are with the families of our colleagues. We extend our sincere gratitude to the mine rescue teams for their diligent and professional efforts in leading the search and rescue operation, as well as senior officials from the DMR, Amcu and the industry for their unwavering support.”

The two mineworkers were trapped underground at 1 Shaft in Meriting near Rustenburg on Tuesday following a rock fall. Seven miners managed to escape unharmed.

– Africa News Agency

BY REGINALD KANYANE

MEC for culture, arts and traditional affairs (CATA), Ontlametse Mochware sent her heartfelt condolences to Letlhogile’s family after the death of Kgosi Thuso Letlhogile. Mochware said Letlhogile’s presence will be highly missed.

“Our traditional authority mourns the death of disciplined, dedicated and determined leader, Kgosi Thuso Letlhogile. As the department we want to send the message of support to his family. We have worked with him and we believe his leadership was significant. We will continue to remember and celebrate his life,” Mochware said.

Provincial traditional leaders also sent their message of support. They said Kgosi Letlhogile played a pivotal role in transforming the institution. Ganyesa-born traditional leader passed away on Saturday. Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati municipality district mayor, Choganyetso Tladinyane said Letlhogile will be solely missed.

“We are disheartened and saddened by the untimely death of Kgosi Letlhogile. We want to convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Letlhogile was a husband, father, grandfather and uncle. He also served his people with diligence. Letlhogile was also part of the council at Dr Ruth Mompati municipality district.

“His death left an immeasurable void in our hearts. We urge everyone to take this opportunity and cast his/her vote during local government elections in Letlhogile’s memory. Letlhogile was a man of integrity and served the Barolong Boo – Tlou le Tau meticulously,” Tladinyane said.

He also urged the people to celebrate the lives of their heroes. Tladinyane encouraged the community leaders to learn from Letlhogile. He said they must serve their people with integrity and changes the lives of ordinary people.

According to Tladinyane, Letlhogile has been had stroke while taking sugar diabetes medication.

Kgosi Letlhogile will be buried on Saturday at Ganyesa.

-TDN

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