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‘Taung Tusk turned into Taung Hotel School’


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By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The North West Department of Economic Development, Environment Conservation and Tourism MEC Motlalepula Rosho will hand-over Taung Tusk to the department to be Taung Hotel School.

The event will take place on Wednesday at Taung Tusk and the department said the Hotel School will train and provide learners with a necessary skill to grow the economy of Taung and North West at large.

The hotel school will fall under the Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management (IHTM) which is a collective name of institutions that provide hospitality, tourism and conservation management and skills training in the North West Province under the auspices of the North West Parks and Tourism Board.

“Our institutions pride themselves in being among the leading institutions in the country that specializes in training future leaders in the sector” the department said.

The North West Parks and Tourism Board is one of the nine provincial tourism and conservation agencies in the country. It is only one of such agencies that have developed facilities to training people in a sector that is the fastest growing industry in the world.

The institutions are THETA Accredited and with Council for Higher Education (CHE) approved programmes offered in collaboration with institutions such as Centurion Academy, the City and Guilds of London etc.

We are in the process of expanding this network of collaboration and affiliation with international organizations and institutions such as, the Birmingham Institute of Tourism, Hospitality and the Creative Arts in the United Kingdom, the Tourism Institute of Singapore and the Hotelfachschule Belvoir Park of Zurich, Switzerland” the department said.

The institutions have over the years steadily gained a reputation as one of few such institutions in country with state of the art facilities.

The Hotel Schools Division (HSD) of the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWP&TB) consists of two schools: the Institute of Hotel & Tourism Management (IHTM) situated in Mafikeng and Ga-Rankuwa Hotel School (GHS) situated near Pretoria.

Now another Hotel School will be opened in the Greater Taung District of the Province.

The Taung Hotel School was suppose to open its doors to the first group of students back in January 2010.

The HSD operates under the auspices of North West Parks & Tourism Board Act, (Act 3 of 1997) said then plans were on foot for the institutions to function as autonomous institutions. They said this autonomy was supposed to be achieved by January 2010 or shortly thereafter.

Now the department said all plans are in place and the Taung Tusk will be handed over and be known as Taung Hotel School.

The launch was suppose to take place on Tuesday but due to president Jacob Zuma’s visit in the province, the matter was postponed for Wednesday.
“Department has postponed the Launch of the Taung Hotel School which was supposed to take place on 29 April 2014 due to President Jacob Zuma’s visit to the North West Province” departmental spokesperson Dumisa Seshabela said.

The launch has been rescheduled for Wednesday, 30th April 2014 at 10H00.
-TDN
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Debunking the Kekana rumour


Johannesburg-Social media is buzzing today with claims that Mamelodi Sundowns will be docked points for allegedly fielding a suspended player, but KickOff.com can confirm that is not the case.

It’s been rumoured for a while now that the Brazilians played Hlompho Kekana when he should have been serving a suspension.

But PSL spokesperson Lux September, while not specifically mentioning Kekana’s name, points KickOff.com to the NSL rules.

“According to article 52, a player is suspended for one match if he accumulates four yellow cards. If he accumulates another four yellow cards, it is another one-match suspension.

“However, if he accumulates 12 yellow cards in a season he will be suspended for three matches.”

It seems the confusion slipped in when people thought eight yellow cards equals a two-match suspension, when in fact it only counts for one match. 

So as it stands Kaizer Chiefs are five points behind Sundowns, who have two games remaining. Chiefs have three matches left, but will need the Brazilians to slip up against either SuperSport United or Maritzburg United.
For more http://www.kickoff.com

North West new-look RDP house launched


The North West has official launched the new look RDP house that will be the common feature of houses to be build in the North West with effect from this year. The house has more features than the previous houses that were built in the province but same in size.

The department launched the house during the recent provincial Govan Mbeki awards held in Phokeng outside Rustenburg.

“The New look house will be 45 square meters, with big windows, phase brick, plastered from inside, with gutters, both and basin inside. According the Departmental MEC Nono Maloyi the new houses will be a common feature in the province as from this financial year. He said that the houses will be of quality and will further enhance the face and the dignity of RDP houses build in the province” departmental spokesperson Ben Bole said.

“We want to make sure that whatever we are building is value for money. This is the first project countrywide, and as always we set the trend. We will continue to ensure quality and the face lift will further give our houses dignity. This will also make our beneficiaries to treasure and take care of the houses we are giving them as government,” said Maloyi.

Also who attended the event was the Minister of Human Settlements Conny September. The minister encouraged contractors to continue to assist government in making sure that deserving beneficiaries are given quality shelter and that their lives are changed for the better.

She said that what government is doing is to make sure that poor people of this country are cared for and that their dignity is restored.

MEC Maloyi called on the winners of different awards to make sure that the North West defends its title of being the number one province in the country in terms of housing delivery. He further encouraged women to work harder and dominate the field previously known to be a male territory.

The best women contractor category was scooped by Sun-Success projects for the 600 houses they build Groot Marico, while the best Community Residential Unit was won by Khenta projects which is also lead by a woman. Agisanang Developers won the best informal settlements eradication category while Tsholetsanang won the best Youth category.

“The winners will represent the province at the national Govan Mbeki awards. The Govan Mbeki  awards are meant to motivate all stakeholders in the Human Settlements space to harness the human and other resources in accelerating delivery. The awards are further set to honor role players in the housing value chain that have committed to partner with government in building sustainable human settlements” Bole said.-TDN
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Malema thanks ANC for firing him


Johannesburg – Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema is grateful that the ANC expelled him from the party, The Star reported on Tuesday.

Speaking to a crowd in Moloto, Mpumalanga on Monday, he said: “We want to thank the ANC for expelling Julius Malema.

“Without that, we would not have known the true revolution. The ANC only talks about positions… but we speak of true messages. We thank them for expelling us. It was a nice thing,” Malema was quoted as saying.

Malema, who headed the ruling party’s youth league, was expelled in 2012 after he was found guilty of sowing divisions within the party.

He promised the Moloto community that he would deliver on reportedly unfulfilled promises President Jacob Zuma made to them in 2011.

“We spoke about this killer road (while) speaking about the suffering of the people here,” Malema said, referring to the notorious Moloto road.

“Here is the road killing people day in and day out, but nothing is being done.”

He promised to expand the road and construct a railway line which would link Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

“We will introduce a speed train to transport you to Pretoria in less than 30 minutes,” Malema said.

  
– SAPA

“White employer accused of ill-treating workers”


By Obakeng Maje
Zeerust- The Congress of South African Trade Union in the North West province condemns the continued exploitation of workers by Zeerust Metro.

“Since the merging of the previous owners, Cash and Carry, and the current one, Metro Cash and Carry, the workers have been complaining about their future with the current employers.
Workers have been dismissed unfairly; others took packages and others were retrenched” warns Cosatu North West provincial secretary Solly Phetoe.

Cosatu said workers are currently racially exploited by the current white management and they work under very bad conditions with no protective clothes.

One of the workers worked for thirty years and continues to be exploited and being treated as a new comer.
COSATU North West visited workers during the May Day mobilization and election program and found that workers are being exploited; many of the security work under bad conditions and when it is raining they are expected to work under the tree with no shelter.

“As the federation in the North West we demand that the current employers explain to workers who is their real boss and why workers are exploited in the manner that they are racially exploited.
We call on the DoL to do an inspection as a matter of urgency and take action against the poor conditions of workers and non-compliance of the company, including making sure all racist cases are registered with the Human Rights Commission” Phetoe said.

Cosatu also call on the company to release its report on employment equity and their program for skills development for the workers.

The COSATU Provincial Secretary, with the SACCAWU leadership visited the company on 23rd April 2014 at 14h30.-TDN
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“Zeerust Toll gate remains expensive”


By Obakeng Maje
Zeerust- The Congress of South African Trade Unions say they are highly disappointed with office of the Minister of Transport and the acting DDG of that office.

“It is on record that both the office of the minister and the office the acting DDG are playing delaying tactics. Since 2011 we have been promised that they are convening task team meetings to deal with the current challenges we are facing with the expensive toll gate of Swartruggens” Cosatu North West provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said.

Phetoe said they have submitted memorandums since 2011. “We have been at that toll gate picketing, demonstrations, blocking the toll gate peacefully, since 2011 up to now, and we have been promised that the task team dealing with the expensive toll gate, the alternative road and the state of our roads in the North West.”

Cosatu said they are disappointed that dates of meetings are planned and then postponed just a day before the meeting. They say this has happened more than ten times. Phetoe said it is on this basis that they must now start being unruly for the minister to act.

“We are convinced that being peaceful protestors does not give government time to act on our demands. We have been very patient and respecting the office of the minister, not knowing that we are wasting our time, not knowing that we are talking to leaders who do not respect the views of our poor working class” he said.

Cosatu said at their last action or protest action on 21st Feb 2014, the office of the minister made promises that they will convene the task team meeting and that the toll will not being increased until there has been a meeting with COSATU and other stake holders.

The meeting was convened for 24th March and postponed to 16th April 2014 and then postponed further to 15th April 2014 until further notice.

According to cosatu, this is clear disrespect and being undermined by their own government.
“We call on all our members to take the action against the expensive toll gate seriously, as resolved in our last PSSC, that we will intensify our campaign against the e-tolling system, the expensive toll gate and labour brokers.”

“We are aware that we are punished for being peaceful, for being respectful to our government. We are punished for following the procedure of applying and following the Gatherings Acts” he said.

He said by then that they will go back to the N4 road and the expensive toll gate on (25th April 2014) from 13h00 until the next day.

“We now demand that the minister come and explain to the masses of the poor people and the road users why she has been treating us like kids for the past four years and why she is not able to respond to our call and respond to our memorandums”.

Cosatu call on all the people of the North West to start boycotting all the toll gates on the N4 road. Cosatu call on the people of Botswana who are using that toll gate almost every day that they must support them by boycotting the fees of that toll gate.

The alliance also call on all the taxi industry, all truck drivers and all farmers to bring their taxis, trucks and tractors to support their action against the expensive toll gate.

“We are pleading with alliance and MDM structures to support our campaign” he said.-TDN
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Cosatu: All roads lead to Olympia stadium for Worker’s Day Celebration


By Obakeng Maje
Rustenburg-The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West province will be celebrating workers’ day on 1st May 2014 at Olympia stadium, jointly with the alliance and with the support of the communities around the Bojanala platinum belt as part of preaching peace to the rest of the people of the North West, in particular in the platinum belt, Cosatu provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said.

“We are calling all workers in the North West not to allow employers again to dictate for them on whether they can celebrate their workers’ day or not. It is the workers’ right with their families to attend May Day celebration as part of their public holiday” Phetoe said.

COSATU North West will be celebrating the workers day provincial on 1st May 2014. All workers across the North West province are expected to travel from all four regions to Rustenburg Olympia stadium to celebrate the workers’ day as this will also used to mobilize workers to vote for the ANC on the 7th May 2014.

This will take place only six days before national elections.

Cosatu said as the federation in the North West they want to warn the employer, in particular the farmers and retailers who continue to refuse workers to celebrate their workers’ day.

“This time we calling all workers not to go to work on their day which is the 1st May 2014, workers’ day” Cosatu said.

Phetoe said all workers must report any employer who refuses to let them to celebrate their workers day and those who refuse to let workers participate in the coming national and provincial election on 7th May 2014.

“We are aware that farmers and retailers are already threatening workers who will be joining the masses of the people during workers’ day and voting day that if they go and participate in those activities, they must not come back to work. Some farmers are already preparing to evict workers if they go out to those activities” he outlines.

Cosatu said they are calling on those employers and their lawyers that this time they will find them right at their main gate demanding that they be prosecuted for undermining workers’ constitutional rights.

He said farmers in the North West and Sun City must know that Cosatu is ready for them, as they will be marching to Sun City before the celebration day to demand the full reinstatement of all workers who were dismissed for attending their workers’ day in 2013.

“We have been waiting for too long, following the procedure, requesting our government and the Sun International board to intervene. Till today, two years down the line, our members are still on the street with no food and no work due to exposing the racial discrimination led by the Guptas during May Day of 2013” Phetoe said.

Cosatu also warned farmers in the following areas – Ottosdal, Brits, Tigane, Vryburg, Stella, Bosdam and the chicken farm at Lichtenburg. “Must know that those days are our workers day. No trade off. We call the IEC of the North West to intervene now and make sure that all those farm workers have access to the voting stations in the in entire North West.”

Phetoe said the DoL must make sure that all workers celebrate their workers’ day unconditionally.

He also warns Retailers such as Shoprite, Choppie’s, Game, Metro and others to release all workers to celebrate their workers day and to vote on 7th May 2014.

“We are requesting the media people to help the workers explain their rights publicly” he concludes.-TDN
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Mbalula denies stoning incident


JOHANNESBURG – Minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula has shrugged off claims that he had to leave an election rally at Freedom Park in the North West on Sunday due to stoning by unionists.
Various reports in the media claim Mbalula had to be evacuated in a bullet–proof vehicle after Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members began throwing stones at cars.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

4,000 loot Rustenburg shopping centre


JOHANNESBURG – Police have confirmed an entire shopping centre next to Impala Platinum’s number 9 shaft in Rustenburg was looted and several houses and a community hall torched between Sunday night and the early hours of this morning.

In a remarkable case of public disorder, around 4,000 people started gathering near the shopping centre at midnight shortly after the nearby hall was set alight, police say.

It’s still unclear who the looters are but it’s suspected the incident is linked to the lengthy strike by members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

The strike, which has entered its third month, has left many mineworkers in the platinum sector without food or any other income.
The police’s Thulani Ngubane says they can only confirm one arrest so far which was related to the arson case.

He says the incident was a culmination of violence which started yesterday afternoon.

“There’s a continuous investigation we’re embarking on to make sure we bring the perpetrators to book,” he adds.

The police are not yet able to say how much money was lost by businesses at the shopping centre.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

Nkandla committee postpones investigation


CAPE TOWN – The Parliamentary ad–hoc committee considering Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s Nkandla report has postponed its work until after the 7 May elections.
The ANC has used its majority on the committee to vote in favour of deferring the matter to the next session of Parliament which will only be convened after the country goes to the polls.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za