Picture: The embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe
By OBAKENG MAJE
17 February 2025- The embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe, is accused of blocking a R5.1 million road construction project. This is a municipal project, which is an internal road from Extension 7 to 5, near Taung.
According to Kgosi Benjamin Kgwatlhang Moshweu, Gaoraelwe halted construction workers who were extracting soil in Khibicwane village.
“Indeed, it is alleged that the mayor has stopped the project. I heard that from the ANC ward councillor, Ntesang Montewa. As we speak, we are at the tribal office as council to have a consultative meeting regarding the matter.
“I asked Montewa why Gaoraelwe interfered in this project because that is the traditional authority’s prerogative. So, she said she has met with the municipal speaker, Grace Moipolai to engage Gaoraelwe on this matter,” he said.
Moshweu further said they have issued an official letter that gives the contractor permission to extract soil from the area. He added that they have been trying numerous times to engage Gaoraelwe, but their attempts were futile as he refused.
“Gaoraelwe told us that we do not have any rights to call him to our office as he only deals with the Batlhaping Baga-Phuduhucwana Tribal Authority. This really shows that he undermines us,” said Moshweu.
Meanwhile, the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) spokesperson, Ricky Oliphant said: “The mayor is aware of the allegation. He attempted to intervene in the situation, where the community wanted to stop the contractors from getting the soil from the borrow pit in Khibicwane.
“Gaoraelwe insisted that there should be consultation before the drawing of the soil for the project, which is taking place in another section of the community. The mayor is the custodian and face of service delivery in the municipal area.”
Oliphant said to that extent, he cannot stop the project. He said Gaoraelwe spoke to all concerned as part of his effort to resolve the problem.
“The road construction project, which is 800m long, its duration is four months and is expected to be completed by the end of April 2025,” said Oliphant.
Picture: The Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Tumisang Gaoralwe
By OBAKENG MAJE
10 December 2024- The embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe has described assertions that he refuses to resign as absurd and hogwash. Few months ago, the ANC in North West, took a decision to recall Naledi Local Municipality, mayor, Clifton Groep, Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality mayor, Tshireletso Marabutse and the Greater Local Municipality, Tumisang Gaoraelwe.
The party said it was guided by the assessment report that was conducted against their deployees across all 18 municipalities.
Gaoraelwe told www.sabcnews.comthat the ANC has taken a decision to redeploy them, but this is an internal process. He further said the process has not been effective.
“Currently, there have not been any redeployment or resignation yet. So, I’m still waiting for the ANC to deal with the redeployment issue. You will remember that the party is also guided by the cadre deployment policy that was derived from the constitution of the ANC.
“To answer your question directly, I’m still the mayor of the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM). There was no negligence in my vehicle accidents. What you need to understand is that, even though I have a hired driver, according to the 2022 SALGA Mayoral Book, there is nothing wrong, if I drive myself,” said Gaoraelwe.
He added that there is also nothing wrong if his wife drives the state vehicle. Gaoraelwe said he did not write that mayoral handbook and it says there is nothing wrong even if his uncle drives the car.
Meanwhile, the ANC spokesperson, Tumelo Maruping said the matter is internal for now, and they will inform the public when they complete the process.
“We never discussed the details of their redeployment. Well, it is not true that they are refusing to resign. They never said they refuse to resign, but said they are still waiting for ANC internal processes to finalise this matter.
“As soon as that is done, the ANC will communicate with them as to when to resign. We cannot discuss redeployment issues with the media. It is still an internal process, but that decision is still upheld,” he said.
Maruping said the redeployment is a privilege within the ANC to start with. He said it was not premature to recall these mayors, however, that was done in line with the assessment process that was conducted by the party.
“The assessment report has nothing to do with redeployment. No one joins the ANC in expectation of material gain and that’s exactly what the oath of ANC says. They were recalled from their positions due to the assessment report. There were concerns from communities and that is why they were recalled.
Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
29 November 2024- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng together with the Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe, led the Thuntsha Lerole Joint Business Compliance Inspection in the Taung Station CBD, Extensions 6 and 7 on Thursday.
The operation that started on Wednesday, inspected 27 tuck shops, retail stores and 16 liquor outlets. The inspection included businesses in the villages of Magogong, Diplankeng, Diphitsing, and Gamoduoana.
Morweng said the joint operation is one of the important activities of the Thuntsha- Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery Programme taking place bi-weekly to address service delivery issues with necessary interventions.
“These efforts aim to ensure that businesses comply with South Africa’s regulatory framework, such as the North West Business Licensing Act, National Liquor Act, Consumer Protection Act, North West Gambling Board Act, Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act.
“This includes Immigration Act, National Environmental Management Act, and relevant municipal by-laws, focusing on safeguarding both business operations and consumers well-being,” he said.
Morweng further said this operation also serves as a proactive response to the country’s rising concerns over food safety, including recent nationwide reports of food-borne illnesses and fatalities. He added that these incidents, which allegedly involved contaminated snacks causing severe illness and even death among children, have heightened the urgency for stringent compliance measures.
“Today’s inspection uncovered several violations of laws regulating the business sector in the province. Demonstrating zero tolerance for non-compliance, the team confiscated and condemned goods valued at R15 000 and issued fines totalling R5000 to non-compliant businesses.
“The transgressions included the sale of expired and dented food items, unlabelled products, and repackaged foodstuffs. Other violations included operating in unhygienic premises lacking ventilation,” said Morweng.
He said what they have also realised is that some business owners sleep inside shops, keeping animals on business premises, absence of rodents and pest control. Morweng said there is also a failure to separate personal foodstuffs from groceries for sale, particularly those stored in refrigerators.
“Improvements were noted in compliance with business legislation among liquor outlets. Of the 16 liquor businesses inspected, only 2 were found to be non-compliant with the National Liquor Act.
“Similarly, progress was observed in the area of labour regulations, wherein the Department of Employment and Labour recorded only 2 cases of non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage Act 9 of 2018 among the 19 shops visited,” he said.
Morweng said the Department of Home Affairs in enforcing the Immigration Act No. 13 of 2002, inspected 11 shops and noted overall compliance. He said the North West Gambling Board on the other hand confiscated 1 illegal gambling machine from a local tuck shop in Magogong, and a fine of R1500 was issued. “These machines promote illegal gambling among minors, which is strictly prohibited for individuals under the age of 18. So, we urge communities to report suspicious non-compliant spaza shops and retail stores for proper assessment and investigation.
“We appeal to our communities to report spaza shops and retail stores that are not compliant. Reports can be made to the DEDECT, municipalities or South African Police Service (SAPS),” said Morweng.
He said as a government through Thuntsha Lerole and other programmes, they will conduct thorough investigations, make arrests where necessary, press charges in line with the law, or even shut down non-compliant businesses. Morweng said they are a government of the people, and it is their responsibility to protect the communities.
“One death is too many. We must act decisively to end the noncompliance within the business environment. We cannot wait for more lives to be lost before taking action.
“The government will continue to intensify business compliance inspections in collaboration with other regulators, ensuring zero tolerance for non-compliance in the business sector and safeguarding communities’ well-being,” he said.
The Guardian 