The North West Premier Thandi Modise has appealed to disgruntled Swartruggens and Koster residents to give the provincial government time to investigate allegations of maladministration, nepotism and corruption leveled against Kgetleng Rivier Local Municipality.
“The seriousness of the allegations warrants an indepth probe and not a slapdash investigation .We therefore call on you to remain calm and exercise restraint and not engage in violent action and destruction of properties,” Premier Modise addressing the agitated residents at the municipal offices in Koster on Friday afternoon.
Premier Modise said that the provincial government will not be intimidated by the alleged bussing in of people from other areas outside the municipality to create an impression that communities do not support investigation of the allegations.
“No amount of obstruction and or bully tactics will dissuade us to shirk our constitutional responsibility of ensuring that your municipality is clean, effective, responsive, accountable and meets your basic service needs,” Modise assured the residents.
Among the allegations that the protestors had levelled against the municipality was that the annual Skierlik commemoration is used to siphon monies out of the municipality and has not benefitted victims and families, irregular appointments and suspension of officials who are opposed to nepotism and corruption that has benefitted some councillors and party officials, councillors sit on tender bid committees are involved and in supply chain and procurement process and employees are imposed on contractors awarded tenders.
The Premier has committed that where rules and regulations are found to be flouted, matters would where desirable be referred to law enforcement agencies for action to be taken against those who might be implicated by the investigation.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_
Archives
Barker: We’ll bounce back
University of Pretoria coach, Steve Barker, has promised that his side will turn the corner and get a win when they meet Platinum Stars on Sunday.
The coach admitted that his side is experiencing a bad run as they have lost three games in a row. They lost 1-0 to SuperSport United, 3-2 to Maritzburg United and 2-0 to Bloemfontein Celtic last Sunday.
However, the former Wits University player said it’s important to get a win and as they’re experiencing a bad situation, they must be mentally strong.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za
Lifestyle audit will assist identify corrupt public servants-Premier Modise
Lifestyle audits will assist identify corrupt officials in the public service, North West Premier Thandi Modise said in her response to memorandums that were submitted from communities in Madibeng Local Municipality during the Imbizo held at the Brits Sprots Ground on Friday afternoon.
“Though people have a right to live extravagant lifestyles, this should not be at the expense of our communities,” Premier Modise said to a resounding applause from residents of Mothotlung, Lethabile, Maboloka, Damonsville,Jericho , Oskraaal and Oukasie who were in attendance.
“Nepotism and jobs for pals compromise the pace and quality of service delivery and need to be uprooted wherever they rear their ugly heads,” emphasised Modise to further applause.
The Premier said that the Administrator appointed in Madibeng would among others investigate the accuracy of the billing system in the municipality, all abandoned infrastructure projects, high mast lights that have not worked since their installations and come up with recommendations that the provincial government will consider.
“We are going to act against corruption and have already engaged with the Special Investigation Unit, the Hawks and the Director of Public Prosecution to fast track the process,” added Modise.
She committed that the provincial government will assist the municipality to develop economic roads, improve sanitation and waste management while it addresses service delivery challenges affecting communities.
“We need officials who are able and capable to do the job. We lost some of our friends and community members who were fighting the corrupt elite,” said Mothotlung shooting survivor Omphile Mahlangu in agreeing with the Premier that corruption needed to be uprooted in the municipality.
Mahlangu who had sustained three bullet wounds during the Mothotlung protest proposed blacklisting of corrupt officials.
Lucky Mathibedi also from Mothotlung said that service delivery protests are caused by councillors who are not accountable and visible in their communities.
Electrification of Oskraal, equipping of boreholes in Jericho, water and internal roads for Maboloka and Mmakau, flooding and abandoned housing project in Letlhabile Block I were proposed as projects that need to be prioritised.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_
Sars takes on Zuma’ son
Durban – President Jacob Zuma’s son, Edward, is embroiled in a heated battle with the South African Revenue Services which accuses him of dealing in contraband cigarettes.
According to the Sunday Independent, Zuma’s battle with SARS stretches back to 2011. His company, Amalgamated Tobacco Manufacturing (ATM) was given a 25 January deadline to reply to SARS’s allegations. They also claim he has under-declared turnover to hide millions of rands in profit.
Zuma’s saga erupted in 2011 when SARS officials descended on his Pietermaritzburg factory. After seizing goods they shut the plant down. However, it was later reopened. Zuma however has accused SARS of corruption, racism and running a smear campaign against him.
This is not the first time that Zuma has been in the spotlight. In 2012 he was sued by a wedding co-ordinator for R1.5m after failing to pay them for his big day. In the same year, Ithala Development Finance Corporation took him to court after he apparently defaulted on two loans, one worth R4.4m and another of R512 000.
For more http://www.news24.com
Polokwane City shocks Pirates
Absa Premiership
Full Time: Polokwane City 1-0 Orlando Pirates
Date: 15 February 2014
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
A single goal from Sipho Jembula handed Polokwane City a shock 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates in an Absa Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za
Katsande to captain Chiefs
By Obakeng Maje
Windhoek-Kaizer Chiefs will lock horns against Black Africa on a return match to continue with their quest in conquering Africa.
Johannesburg-based team won the first leg convincingly by 3-0 and Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter rested some reguarly players back home.
The hard as nail midfield Willard Katsande is expected to lead Amakhosi after Bafana and Chiefs skipper given a well-deserved rest by enterprising coach.
Chiefs will play against Namibian team at 20:00 on Saturday.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_
Family murder accused waiting for psych bed
Johannesburg – A Durban man accused of beating his wife and two teenage children to death appeared in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Friday, the NPA said.
The matter was postponed to 10 March so that a bed could be secured for him in a mental institution, KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson said.
“After his last court appearance we were unable to secure a bed for him in a mental institution.”
In his previous appearance, Magistrate Prem Singh ruled that Rajan Kandasamy, 44, should undergo psychiatric assessment.
Ramkisson said space would be available on the day of his next appearance.
Teenage
“He will appear in court and thereafter go to the institution.”
Kandasamy allegedly used a gada — a traditional Indian mace carried by the Hindu god Hanuman — to kill his wife and their two teenage children, aged 18 and 17.
Their bloodied and battered bodies were found in the family’s home on 29 December.
Their friends called the police after they failed to attend a memorial service.
SAPA
Radebe welcomes ukhuthwala conviction
Johannesburg – Justice Minister Jeff Radebe on Friday welcomed the first conviction of a man linked to the ukuthwala practice in the Western Cape.
“The Constitution states that a child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child,” Radebe said in a statement.
“We believe that the sentencing will send a strong message to those who are still practising ukuthwala, against traditional practices and the law.”
The practice, which is associated with some African traditions, involves the abduction of women and under-aged girls and leads to forced marriage.
On Thursday, Wynberg Regional Court Magistrate Daleen Greyvensteyn sentenced Mvumeleni Jezile, 32, to 22 years behind bars, The Star newspaper reported.
He kidnapped a 14-year-old girl in 2010 and forcefully married, raped, and assaulted her.
Jezile was found guilty of trafficking, three counts of rape, and two counts of assault.
His victim said she was kidnapped from her home in Ngcobo, Eastern Cape, and forced by her grandmother to marry Jezile.
She escaped from him and returned home but her family forced her to return to him.
She told the court that Jezile had assaulted her when she refused to have sex with him.
In November, KwaZulu-Natal traditional affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube signed a pledge denouncing the practice of ukuthwala.
It was also signed by Commission for Gender Equality chair Mfanozelwe Shozi, provincial House of Traditional Leaders chair Inkosi Chiliza, and KwaZulu-Natal Council of Churches chair Bishop Mike Vorster.
They agreed that the practice should take place only if both parties to it consented, and the woman was of marrying age – 18 under South African law.
During the pledge signing it was announced that the National Prosecuting Authority would also charge the parents of under-aged girls who agreed to their children being forcefully married.
Radebe encouraged victims of ukuthwala to lay charges of kidnapping, rape, and trafficking so that the perpetrators could face the law.
He further urged them to apply for a protection order under the Domestic Violence Act against family members involved in the abductions.
SAPA
FFPLUS asks for probe involving R3bn
Johannesburg – The FFPlus has asked Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to investigate a R3 billion investment transaction between an oil company and a corporation.
“The Freedom Front Plus would like to know exactly what is happening,” spokesperson Anton Alberts said in a statement.
“The FF Plus requested the public protector to investigate the whole transaction and also to look at any advantage which the ANC may receive from it.”
The allegation involved Camac Energy and the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which manages the state’s pension fund.
Large portion
The Mail & Guardian reported on Friday that the PIC planned to invest the money with Kase Lawal, Camac’s chief executive and an acquaintance of President Jacob Zuma.
Alberts said the transaction involving R3bn was questionable.
“Everything points to the [oil] company being on the brink of bankruptcy and the possibility exists that a large portion of the money can be channelled back to the ANC’s election fund.”
ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu could not be reached for comment.
The newspaper said the PIC failed to answer questions and the ANC did not respond to its question on whether Lawal had given it funding.
SAPA
SA gives Shrien Dewani undertaking
London – The South African government confirmed on Friday that it would give an undertaking on how long honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani would be kept in the country.
Dewani has come a significant step closer to removal from Britain to South Africa to face charges of organising the killing of his wife.
The Press Association reported that the South African government paved the way for imminent extradition by confirming it would give an undertaking on how long Dewani would be kept in the country without trial if he continued to suffer mental health problems.
The confirmation looks set to bring to an end a three-year legal battle to block his removal, although there remains the possibility of a last-ditch appeal to the UK Supreme Court.
A panel of High Court judges, headed by Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, ruled last month that it would not be “unjust and oppressive” to extradite Dewani, despite his illness, if an undertaking was given by South African authorities.
A Judicial Office spokesperson said on Friday: “The court has received a letter from the South African government stating that they will be providing an undertaking which will be with the court on 21 February as directed in the judgment.”
Dewani, 33, from Bristol, has been fighting removal from the UK to face proceedings over his wife Anni’s death until he has recovered from mental health problems, including severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
His lawyers have said at various hearings that he will be willing to defend himself at trial once he is fit to do so, but they say he is unfit to plead under English law and his “prognosis is not certain”.
Dewani, who is compulsorily detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act, is accused of ordering the killing of his new wife Anni, 28, on their honeymoon.
The pair were kidnapped at gunpoint as they drove through the Gugulethu township in Cape Town in a taxi in November 2010. Dewani was released unharmed.
The next day the body of Mrs Dewani was found in the car. She had injuries to her head and chest.
Xolile Mngeni was later convicted of premeditated murder and jailed for life. Prosecutors allege he was hired by Dewani to kill his wife.
Dewani has always denied the accusation and has been fighting efforts to secure his extradition since it was first ordered by a senior district judge in 2011.
SAPA
The Guardian 