Tag Archives: Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT)

Lenkopane vows to fight corruption at NWPTB

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Picture: North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane

By OBAKENG MAJE

24 February 2025- North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane said State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in North West, have been confronted with historic operational inefficiencies and they are focusing on rooting out mismanagement. Lenkopane, who addressed the media today in Mahikeng said, they have taken disciplinary actions against employees for alleged misconduct, property damage and unlawful protest participation.

She further said the SOEs such as the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) are faced with financial distress. Lenkopane added that the Board is confronting financial problems at the NWPTB that are due to multiple factors, including corruption, poor financial management and low revenue generation.

“Golden Leopards Resorts (GLR), a subsidiary of the NWPTB, has also experienced financial difficulties, resulting in unpaid salaries and taxes. Our turnaround plan at GLR has yielded a breakthrough and we will unpack this after the SOPA. DEDECT has gone to extraordinary lengths to fund the NWPTB.

“Despite these efforts, employee salaries were regrettably delayed this month due to internal challenges within the entity. I can confirm that all salaries were paid this past weekend. To ensure that our transformative interventions build better capacity for service delivery, multi-stakeholder engagements, including labour unions and entity boards, will continue to be convened to address these urgent matters,” she said.

Lenkopane said this has necessitated personnel reassignments to expedite service delivery and to facilitate investigations in the department and its entities. She said she will report the alleged corruption to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

“Our commitment to building capable state institutions is unshaken. The Acting Head of Department and I, are engaging constructively with labour unions to resolve employee concerns. In these engagements, we have always put our employees first, respecting their rights and treating each person with dignity.

“The Gambling Board and NWDC have initiated disciplinary proceedings for employee transgressions, including theft and sabotage. Disciplinary proceedings at the Gambling Board have been widely reported and we can confirm that the SAPS has made arrests in this matter,” said Lenkopane.

She said the department’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), has been seconded to the NWDC to strengthen financial governance at the entity. According to Lenkopane, these interventions are proof of their commitment to consequence management and proactive leadership.

“A new Board has been appointed to the NWPTB to improve governance and address adverse audit findings. DEDECT is actively engaging with the North West Provincial Legislature’s Committees to address mutual concerns and ensure alignment,” she said.

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North West MEC, Bitsa Lenkopane’s ‘bad’ behaviour under scrutiny after ‘attacking’ SCOPA members  

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Picture: The The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane

By OBAKENG MAJE

13 February 2025- The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane is under scrutiny after she allegedly attacked the Members of Provincial Legislature (MPLs) in North West.

The Chairperson of North West Provincial Legislature Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts (SCOPA), Smuts Matshe, who condemned the alleged behaviour of Lenkopane, said she opted to abuse her presence at a Scopa meeting convened on 12 February 2024, in Schweizer Reneke, to process the 2023/24 Audit Report of the North West Parks and Tourism Board by attacking Members of the Provincial Public Accounts Committee.

Matshe said the previous day, 11 February 2025, Lenkopane was scheduled to appear before the committee with the department and all its entities, but unfortunately the North West Parks and Tourism Board, failed to attend. He further said the committee resolved that the absence of the North West Parks and Tourism Board from the session is unacceptable and within 24 hours, the entity should present its report, hence the meeting that was held on Wednesday.

“The presentation from the North West Parks and Tourism Board failed to respond to all written pre-submitted questions of the committee. The committee then directed that since there was no report to be engaged, the Board must submit a proper report within seven days.

“I was surprised by the behaviour of Lenkopane towards the conclusion of the meeting as she attacked almost all Members of the Committee, accusing them of having vested interests in the entity,” said Matshe.

He added that, the Members of the Committee had not even put forward their views since there was no report to engage.

“An attack on Members of the Committee was the last thing one expected from a Member of the Executive Council. To even accuse members of being conflicted is not only being arrogant but disrespectful to the work of the Legislature.

“I am satisfied that none of the Members of the Committee were ever employed or deployed to oversee the North West Parks and Tourism Board for the period under review (2023/24) and therefore there should be nothing stopping them from carrying out their work as Members of the Legislature,” said Matshe.

He said the conduct of Lenkopane appears to be an attempt to intimidate and silence Members of the Committee from effectively playing their oversight role. Matshe said Lenkopane has no authority to direct SCOPA or any of its members on any matter, including how they must process reports from her department or its entities.

“Lenkopane should be advised that there is no credibility crisis regarding MPLs elected to serve in different committees. The view of the committee is that the conduct of Lenkopane is quite unfortunate, unlawful and at best immoral.

“I will be taking up this matter with the Political Office Bearers of the Legislature as well as relevant structures of the House to ensure that no MEC is allowed to undermine committees of the North West Provincial Legislature,” he said.

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NWPTB employees not paid their salaries

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Picture: The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane

By BAKANG MOKOTO

22 January 2025- The Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) said it has strengthened its monitoring and oversight mechanisms to intervene at the North West Parks and Tourism (NWPTB). This comes after the entity’s failure to pay employee salaries, despite receiving its quarterly financial allocation from the department at the beginning of the fourth quarter of the current financial year.

The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane said they have consistently released the quarterly allocation to the entity as per the legislation, with the last of the year released earlier following the entity’s request. Lenkopane said failure to pay salaries might be a bad omen brewing a regress on the department’s employed mechanism to right the financial wrongs and deficiencies that adversely affected the entity’s audit outcomes.

“This is a risk and the entity’s financial management needs more attention. It is inconceivable that the entity is unable to pay salary at the beginning of the fourth quarter, while the funds have already been transferred.

“This appears to be a regular occurrence, but it needs to change. The risk of not paying salaries is not a new phenomenon in the entity. This situation has been prevalent in the previous administration dating back as far as 2022,” she said.

Lenkopane further said the records prove that the entity has failed to generate and or sustainability manage revenue for its benefit. She added that this situation cannot continue unattended, especially in this new administration.

“The department is left with no choice but to put magnifying glasses on the financial affairs of the Board. I have since instructed the department’s Accounting Officer, where necessary, to invoke the Treasury Regulation 8.4.2.

“It gives him powers to withhold a transfer payment or grant, other than division of revenue, if he is satisfied that the entity is failing to meet certain financial conditions, and no financial value is realized,” said Lenkopane.

She said this provision of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) applies to all the entities. Lenkopane said the department has begun the process of putting measures to strengthen the oversight on the entities.

“This is to help steer the ailing entities to the right direction. A task team consisting of financial experts and auditors from DEDECT will be appointed to look closely into the finances of the entity.

“The team will also be mandated to open all the reports written by the experts that were appointed by the Board of Directors during the 6th administration and to implement their recommendations,” she said.

Lenkopane said the NWPT Board of Directors has, in its first meeting of 2025, drafted a Revenue Enhancement Plan and resolved to appoint a subcommittee to look into Revenue Enhancement, and exploit the opportunities in biodiversity economy. She said her department is in full support of this initiative in quest for diversification to explore closely into these particular untapped and sustainable biological resources, altogether with their markets for contribution into the Provincial Gross Domestic Product.

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Two white rhinos dehorned and killed by criminals

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Picture: Rhino horns

By OBAKENG MAJE

30 December 2024- The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane said she strongly condemns the recent rhino poaching incident that happened at Botsalano Nature Reserve over the Christmas holidays.

Lenkopane Lenkopane further condemns the barbaric deeds by perpetrators, who allegedly shot and killed two white rhinos (bull and a cow), which were previously legally dehorned by departmental conservation personnel.

She further said the carcasses of poached rhinos were discovered by field rangers, whilst conducting their routine security operational patrols in the nature reserve. Lenkopane added that, they are well aware that poaching perpetrators are taking advantage of the festive holidays to infiltrate the reserves, but they are intensifying security to prevent this criminality from happening again.

“The investigations are well underway and we are working together with all relevant law enforcement agencies. We will leave no stone unturned in pursuit of those who have carried out these evil deeds.

“Communities around the reserves are encouraged to silently observe and alert law enforcement agencies when suspicious activities are detected as some of these criminals harbour within nearby communities either before or after such crimes are committed,” she said.

Lenkopane said the police together with the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) and the Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMIs), are jointly investigating the matter with the single objective of bringing suspects to book. She said her department wishes to inform the public that the escape of two rhinos at Mafikeng Nature Reserve on 25 December 2024, is a separate incident and not related to the Botsalano rhino poaching incidents.

“Escaped rhinos were successfully driven back into the reserve by staff members on 26 December 2024,” said Lenkopane.

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DEDECT partner with NWU to find the root cause of violence surrounding Hartbeespoort Dam

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Picture: North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

4 November 2024- North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane said they are in collaboration with the North West University (NWU) in an effort to find a permanent solution on the impasse at Hartbeespoort Dam. Initially, the NWU was commissioned to scientifically investigate the root cause of the violence that affects communities residing around the Hartbeespoort Dam.

Lenkopane further said they have now expanded the scope for the scientific inquiry to research possible economic opportunities, which can benefit the people of the North West province equally. She added that the outbreak of violence in September 2024, in Hartbeespoort Dam has been characterized as racial tension, while in some quarters the altercations were labelled as a scramble for economic opportunities and participation.

“We since intervened, calling for peace and tolerance. We want to find a permanent solution to the problem at Hartbeespoort Dam and we do not want to be seen jumping the gun by arriving at assumption based conclusions on what could be the root cause of the violence.

“What we are condemning outright as a department, are acts of violence, criminality and destruction of property. That is why we have partnered with the NWU under the leadership of Professor Gilbert Motsaathebe to bring about a proper scientific inquiry into this matter,” said Lenkopane.

She said her department has already collected some data and several business people around Hartbeespoort Dam have been interviewed. Lenkopane said the preliminary investigations would not be released until the NWU concludes its report.

“We would then release the report for public consumption and engagement. The commission of the scientific report would end all forms of speculation around the problems of violence at Hartbeespoort Dam and will also identify economic opportunities, which can benefit the people of the North West Province.

“We are working around the clock with all relevant stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the problems affecting communities around the Hartebeespoort Dam,” she said.

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North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane happy with progress recorded over issuing of licences 

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Picture: North West MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT)

By OBAKENG MAJE 

The North West MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane said she is happy with the progress recorded in the last two months on processing and issuing of licences to applicants. Lenkopane said more queries were also addressed and gave involved parties closure on matters raised and cleared paths for licensees to conduct their respective business. 

She further said among the department’s core responsibilities is to register and regularize business operations in the province, including issuing of Liquor and Gambling Licences, where revenue through levies could be sourced for re-investment into the provincial economic support, growth and service delivery. Lenkopane added that she has embarked on a meet and greet session with stakeholders of the department, including entities. 

“Through submitted reports from the directorates, we discovered deficiencies from the North West Liquor Board, where such impeded and its functionalities led to a huge backlog on adjudication of licensing applications. 

“Other members of the Board had also resigned, affecting the Board’s constitutional composition thus being disabled to make legal decisions. I appointed the Liquor Board in July and strengthened its operation to improve and accelerate its work,” she said.

Lenkopane said the chairperson and deputy chairperson were given the responsibility to reposition the entity to enable it to collect more revenue. She said they were also charged with unblocking challenges on the applications and ensuring that set targets are reached on time as many queries were received with being attended to and responses issued. 

“In July alone, the North West Liquor Board has managed to process and adjudicate 79 new licence applications and 9 secondary applications seeking relocations within the same magisterial areas. All applications received were approved and applicants will be invited to receive their licences to be handed over by me on 21 to 23 August 2024 dates. 

“These outcomes were communicated and successful applicants are expected to start operating accordingly and are warned to do so within the Liquor Act prescripts and all applicable laws. The Board has recorded improved collection of revenue from levies in the same period,” said Lenkopane. 

She said the Board has also attended to complaints regarding non-compliance from licencees ranging from non-adherence to operating hours, where a tavern from Ventersdorp was punished among others. Lenkopane appealed to licensees to comply and operate within the law as required and allow their establishments to be embraced by communities so as to contribute to the local economy and reduce unemployment. 

“We warned that those not respecting the law will not be left unpunished to ensure that the rights of all community members are secured. The province is still working on the Act that will allow the entity to, amongst others, enable adjustment with new dispensations. 

“Applicants can meet their respective market requirements such as operation on Sundays and or public holidays. This will however be done with strict compliance measures. We are also pleased with the progress recorded in Gambling Licencing applications,” she said. 

Lenkopane said in early July, she had a session with Gambling Licencees, where she recorded many complaints that included the long turnaround time for the approval of the licences. 

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