​

Mahikeng – The president of the regional court in North West, who has been reported to the Hawks by the Magistrate’s Commission for allegedly defrauding the state of thousands of rands, shouldn’t be suspended from her job because too many women are being suspended, an ANC MP said on Wednesday.

The Hawks in North West are investigating magistrate Seka Monaledi – one of the most powerful women in the justice system – after the Magistrate’s Commission reported her to the Hawks following a fraud investigation, the commission’s secretary, Vick Misser, told City Press’ sister newspaper, Rapport.

For more http://www.news24.com

​

Picture: North West Premier,Supra Mahumapelo

Speaker Baleka Mbete read out the apology for an incident she claimed this week she’d never even heard.

North West premier Supra Mahumapelo has written to Speaker of parliament Baleka Mbete, tendering an apology to DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen on Thursday.

Mbete read the letter before members of parliament – to which they clapped hands when she was done. In the letter, the premier apologised for having overreacted during an “altercation” with the DA’s chief whip. He said that his actions had been unjustifiable and he “unreservedly apologises”.

“We have received a letter from the Honourable S.O.R Mahumapelo, premier of the North West Province. The premier has apologised for not being able to attend today in this session. In the letter, the premier states the following, among others:

“On the occasion of Sona, there was an unfortunate off-the-record altercation between myself and and honourable Steenhuisen of the DA. I must say I regret for having overreacted to the honourable member concerned, and my actions were not justifiable and I profusely and unreservedly apologise.”

During the state of the nation address (Sona), Steenhuisen raised his view on how unfit President Jacob Zuma was and how he had allegedly “broken the country”. In response, Mahumapelo shouted the F-word, and also called the DA chief whip in parliament a racist.

Zuma is giving answers to the debate about the Sona that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday. He had delivered his Sona on Thursday last week.

Source: http://www.citizen.co.za

​

NORTH West police said investigations regarding the death of NW 405 Local Municipal mayor’s son, Mike Khumalo are still underway. Maimane, 30 was the son of the Executive mayor of Ventersdorp/Tlokwe NW 405, Kgotso Khumalo.

Provincial police spokesperson, Lt Col Pelonomi Makau said: “The victim was allegedly stabbed to death at Ikageng Location, Potchefstroom on Saturday. The motive behind the killing is yet unknown and no one has been arrested. Police investigations are underway.”

Khumalo’ spokesperson, Victor Boqo said: “It is with deep sadness and sorrow to inform the public about the passing away of Mike Maimane due to unnatural causes. He was the eldest son, of Malebitso and Kgotso Khumalo. Cllr Kgotso Khumalo is the Executive Mayor of Ventersdorp/Tlokwe NW 405.

“His lifeless body was found by a passerby in Extension 11 in the early hours. At this stage of the investigation, the police suspect the cause of death to be stabbing with a sharp object. The police are investigating further and the motive for the attack at this stage is not yet known.”

Boqo said on behalf of Council and the Executive Mayor’s Office, they would like to express their deepest and sincere condolences to Khumalo’s family. 

“We encourage the police to do everything in its power to track down the perpetrator/s of this horrendous, criminal and selfish act. We call on anyone with information that can assist the police in finding the culprits responsible for this to please contact the Ikageng Police at (018) 295 1731.

“At the same time, we request calm and let’s give the family time to mourn in this difficult times. Details of the funeral arrangements will be communicated at the later stage,” he said.- Newsnote

​

Absa Premiership Report: Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 Chippa United, 19 February 2017

Absa Premiership

Teams: Bloemfontein Celtic v Chippa United

Date: 19 February 2017

Venue: Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium 

Bloemfontein Celtic recorded a 2-0 victory against ten-men Chippa United in their Absa Premiership encounter at the Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium  on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors got off to a brighter start in the early exchanges and dominated possession stakes on the wet Molemela pitch. Celtic were granted the first opportunity of the game in the fifth minute when Deon Hotto was released through on goal by Lantshene Phalane but the winger’s effort hit the side-netting.

The Chilli Boys continued to look promising with their patient build-up, but create any clear-cut chances in the final third. Celtic were content on absorbing on the pressure and hitting the visitors on the counter-attack, with Dumisani Zuma’s pace causing Chippa all sorts of troubles.

Dan Malesela’s side were reduced to ten-men in the 25th minute when Rhulani Manzini was sent off for an off-the-ball headbutt on Alfred Ndengane. The visitors were forced to reshuffle their tactics, but they continued to see the majority of the ball although they posed little threat to the Celtic defence.

The home side emerged a better outfit in the second half but struggled to break down the Chippa defence. Paseka Mako should’ve given his side the lead in the 52nd minute, when he evaded the onrushing goalkeeper with a delicate touch before firing wide of target. 

Celtic slowly started to find their rhythm and were presented with a number of opportunities but goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi proved equal to the task to keep his side at bay. Lehlohonolo Seema’s side dominated proceedings, but were unable to make use of their opportunities.

Chippa were forced to play on the counter-attack due to Celtic’s dominance. The home side deservedly took the lead in the 77th minute, after a great team move resulted in Musa Nyatama slotting home.

The visitors almost equalised five minutes later when substitute Andile Mbenyane’s through ball was met by Bereng, but the midfielder’s attempted lob went wide of the target.

Kabelo Mahlasela was adjudged to have been brought down in the area late-on and Nyatama stepped up to net the penalty to hand Chippa their first defeat of 2017.

Celtic record their first league victory of 2017 and go five points clear of bottom-placed, Baroka.

Here is how they lined-up:

Celtic: 30. Tignyemb (C), 4. Nyatama, 5. Letlabika, 27. Ndengane, 19. Mxoyana, 3. Dube, 6. Maruping, 11. Hotto, 9. Nyondo, 8. Phalane, 10.Zuma.

Chippa: 1. Akpeyi, 24. Thopola, 35.Bergman, 13. Chabalala, 7. Mako, 23. Bereng, 33. Mdaki, 15. Zuke, 41. Masuku, 6. Sali, 19. Manzini R 

Source: http://www.soccerladuma.co.za

​

BY REGINALD KANYANE
MOTLALEPULA Obusitse (75) who is partially blind said she lost hope of getting an RDP house. Obusitse who is from Modimong village, near Taung, seeks shelter from relatives after her two roomed mud house collapsed while she was inside. 

“My house collapsed recently because of torrential rains. I was forced to find shelter elsewhere along with my two grandchildren. No one is working and we rely on my pensioner’s grant. 

“I am also partially blind since 2012. I applied for an RDP house and back in 2014, the contractor who was supposed to build a house just constructed a foundation only and never came back,” she said.
Obusitse said all her children passed away except the first born (daughter) who went missing until now. 

Mita Ipeleng (65) who is a neighbour said: “We are worried about Motlalepula’s living condition. She is struggling daily and it seems government is doing nothing about it. She was promised an RDP house, however, they built a foundation and left.” 

Greater Taung Local Municipality spokesman, Ricky Olifant said: “We have started with the process of building temporary structures (shanties) for those who were affected by torrential rains. The municipality is also working with other stakeholders to bring stability. 

“We will also address their needs with Local Government and Human Settlements department.” 

taungdailynews@gmail.com

​

The COSAFA meeting last Saturday, 11
February 2017 endorsed candidates for the CAF and FIFA positions which will be determined at the forthcoming CAF Congress in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on 13 March.
 
SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan will contest for the FIFA (Council) Executive seat in the Open Category which has three vacancies of which one has to be a female
candidate.
 
Other contenders in this category are Kabele Camara of Guinea and Chabur Goc of South Sudan. Lydia Nsekera of Burundi is vying for the female position.
 
Africa has 7 representatives on the FIFA Council with the President of CAF being an automatic Vice-President of the world governing football body.
 
There is a seat that is solely reserved for a female candidate and a representative each from the following language Groups; English, French and combined
Arab/Portuguese/Spanish.
 
The three remaining seats will come from the Open Category, one for the female spot and two for Open contest.  It is for one of these two Open contest posts that Dr
Jordaan will be vying for.
 
The duration of the incoming candidates run from 2017-2021.
 
Over the past weekend, COSAFA Council took a decision to support their candidates, but emphasised that they will only back sitting FA presidents; which give all aspirants
a jump start to their campaign. COSAFA has 14 members, meaning they carry 14 votes.
 
Meanwhile, the CAF Executive Committee will descend in South Africa this weekend for the Super Cup final to be played between Champions League title holders Mamelodi
Sundowns and Confederations Cup winners TP Mazembe of DR Congo. The match will take place at Loftus Versfeld on 18 February and kicks off at 19h00.
 
Two days later, FIFA President Gianni Infantino will lead a high level delegation to South Africa for a three-day FIFA Summit that is scheduled for Sandton Convention
Centre (to run from 21-23 February 2017) in Johannesburg.taungdailynews@gmail.com
  

The DA has come out to condemn the ANC for this tender, though it may have confused the statue’s height, 6 metres, with its alleged price, R6 million.

The ANC is said to be planning to sculpt and erect a statue of President Jacob Zuma worth a whopping R6 million, according to the DA, though it’s unclear where the opposition party sourced this figure from.

A tender has been advertised on National Treasury’s website, calling for bidders who wish to build a statue of Zuma six metres tall.

Tender number CATA116/2016, apparently issued by the department of arts, culture and traditional affairs in North West, is set to help build “lifelike bronze statue and plaque” of the president in Groot Marico under Ngaka Modiri Molema Local Municipality.

“Sculpturing services for the design, manufacturing and installation of 6m lifelike bronze statue and plaque of President Jacob Zuma in Groot Marico under Ngaka Modiri Molema Local Municipality,” reads the tender information of the National Treasury’s website.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) came out to condemn the ANC in North West for the advert, and said that there was nothing to celebrate in Zuma, “a man who has so brazenly broken our laws”.

“We are shocked the ANC North West wants to spend R6m of public money to erect a statue of a man who has so brazenly broken our laws.

“There is nothing to celebrate about Jacob Zuma’s presidency, a regime that has left 9 million people unemployed.

“The North West tender (CATA116/2016) to sculpt & build an enormous statue of Jacob Zuma is a disgraceful waste of public money.”

For more http://www.citizen.co.za

Check out @unamntantala’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/unamntantala/status/831755080886018049?s=09

taungdailynews@gmail.com

BY BAKANG MOKOTO

Following the launch of February Safety Month at Boitekong, MEC of Community Safety and Transport Management, Dr Mokgantshang Motlhabane in conjunction with Mahikeng SAPS, Mahikeng Local Municipality and Mahikeng community De-bushed one of the notorious crime hot spots in Mmabatho. 

The campaign took place behind Mmabatho Stadium recently.

This crime hot spot is mainly used by cyclists and walkers from the community of Lokaleng village, students attending at Taletso TVET College and at the North West University. 

These often fall victims of numerous crime incidences like: rapes, muggings, hijacking, stalking, assaults and robberies.   

Community members who were part of the clean-up campaign were happy about the efforts taken by government to fight the crime in the area. 

“We are sick and tired of living in fear and it is time to work together towards the safety of the community,” said Lebogang Mokaleng of Montshioa Township.

MEC Dr Motlhabane was overwhelmed to see the local community showcasing their courage in fighting crime.

Community members were well-equipped with Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) which included amongst others; hand saws, rakes, grass slashes and petrol grass cutter in order to cut the trees and grass around the area. 

“A double sided crime information board was also erected to warn the pedestrians, walkers and cyclists who pass through that road about the crimes that often happen around the area.

“I am impressed about the hard work and the passion to fight crime. It is very impressive to see the community come together to fight against crime in their area.,” Motlhabane said.

He said the communities need to fight for what was right. Motlhabane further said even though the area is cleared that alone does not mean residents are safe to pass through the area at any given time of the day more especially after hours. 

“The community should remain vigilant  at all times,” he said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

​

NORTH West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo will deliver his fourth State of the Province Address (SOPA) at the official Opening of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), which will be held at Taung Sports Ground, Greater Taung Local Municipality on February 24.

The ceremony will be presided over by the NWPL Speaker, Sussana Dantjie and will start at 9am.

The SOPA which will be delivered within the context of celebrating 20 years of the Constitution, will see the Mahumapelo putting more emphasis on the provincial government’s deliberate focus on growing the local economy and creating a culture of entrepreneurship amongst the community.

North West Provincial Government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said Mahumapelo will respond to the growing need for capacity building and skills development within the public service and the broader society.

“Mahumapelo will pronounce strategies the provincial government will introduce in this area, through the Ikatisong School of Government.

“The provincial government is aware that society judges us on issues involving the provision of water and sanitation infrastructure, creation of sustainable jobs, conditions of our roads, delivery of human settlements, provision of quality education and health care services, as well as the findings of the audit outcome,” Setswambung said. 

He said Mahumapelo will therefore as part of the State of the Province Address, prioritise these areas of service delivery, this also in the context of the strategy to rebrand, reposition and renewal of Bokone-Bophirima.

Setswambung further said Premier will also provide progress made and lessons learned in working towards realising the objectives of the five-concretes, namely, prioritisation of Agriculture, Culture and Tourism as key economic pillars, developing the Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies economy, leading Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal programmes in an effort to build unity and social cohesion, accelerate the delivery of services through an all-inclusive radical interventionist programme of Setsokotsane and promoting a culture and spirit of partnerships through Saamwerk-Saamtrek philosophy.     

“The proceedings of the Opening of the North West Provincial Legislature and the State of the Province Address will be broadcast live on all North West based radio stations.”

taungdailynews@gmail.com