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A task team established to assess Madibeng municipality


Mothutlung-The Provincial Executive Council having established a task team to assess the performance of Madibeng Local Municipality as a follow through to the collapsed section 154 intervention wishes to announce that it has after considering a report of the task team observed that:

The council has failed to fulfil its legislative and executive obligations in terms of the law by not reining in office bearers and or senior management to fulfil what is required in terms of local government legislation.

It is also evident that the council is dysfunctional as there are conflicts within council (those who are for and against implementation of the minister’s report).

Thus the council has abdicated its executive responsibility to ensure fulfilment of the legislative obligation. In this regard, this justifies the invocation of section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution. 

This therefore has called on the provincial executive to take responsibility of all executive powers of the council. This relates to the executive powers as prescribed in section 56 of the Local Government Municipal Structures Act in respect of the functions and powers of the Executive Mayor. This will also apply to the functions and powers of the Executive Mayor and the Mayoral Committee as it is appointed by the Executive Mayor and the Mayor delegates some of the executive powers to such members.

Consequently, the provincial executive council will henceforth assume the executive obligations and responsibilities as mandated to the Municipal Manager by Section 55 of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000 as well as the powers and functions allocated to the Executive Mayor in terms of section 56 of the Local Government Municipal Structures Act and vests same in the administrator.

In terms of the intervention, the council of Madibeng Local Municipality will still remain in existence but with limited powers.

The council will only exercise its powers in relation to adoption of the annual Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget, adoption of by-laws and policies and any other matter that might be introduced by the administrator in consultation with the provincial government (Exco).

Blake Mosley-Lefatola who is a former Head of Department for the North West Provincial Department of Local Government & Housing(1996-2003), former City Manager of Tshwane and also served as a Commissioner of the Fiscal and Finance Committee will however, oversee and guide the processes in relation to the aforementioned responsibilities.

Lefatola who established an alternative service delivery model at the City of Tshwane and assisted in implementing a turnaround strategy for the Ekurhuleni municipality during 2009 will lead a team of experts appointed by the provincial executive to take over and execute all executive functions and powers of the municipal council and report to the Provincial Exco.

The Administrator has strong leadership and managerial capabilities developed over a period of approximately 27 years working experience, sixteen years of which were gained in the public sector –specifically at the Provincial and Local Sphere of government and parastatals.

He has extensive change management, people and conflict resolution skills, negotiation skills and also played a pivotal role in establishing a decentralised Service Administration of the City of Johannesburg Region 7 during the Re-engineering of the City of Joburg in 2001.

Over and above taking over of Executive powers of council as administrator, Lefatola  will also assume responsibility of the entire administration in the Madibeng Local Municipality in accordance with Section 55 of the Municipal Systems Act of 2000 as from today Monday 10 February 2014.

The period for the intervention will be for a minimum period of six months and a maximum of 12 months to ensure that there is total stability in the municipality, both at council and administration levels.

The terms of reference for the Administrator and team of experts to be deployed within the municipality among other be to:

∙Appoint  of an Acting Municipal Manager outside the current municipal personnel with immediate effect.

∙Implement the recommendation of the minister’s reports, and previous administrator’s reports∙         Improve service delivery in Madibeng, prioritising water and sanitation services( this should include facilitation of new projects, unblocking of old projects and maintenance of infrastructure and cleaning)

∙Financial management ,improving the financial controls in the municipality, expenditure management, procurement processes, revenue enhancement and debt collection as well as addressing Auditor General’s reports and to ensure compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act.

∙Analysis and implementation of recommendations of past and  current investigations ,commissions of enquiry and forensic audits, i.e. the Gobodo report, De Swart Vogel Myambo Attorneys report and current investigations by the Special Investigations Unit(SIU).This includes taking decisive action against implicated individuals.

∙Attend to labour matters in the municipality such as outstanding disciplinary cases. labour disputes, functionality of   Local Labour Forum, instil culture of work and discipline of workers.

∙Facilitate the improvement of governance within council.

∙Conclude the disciplinary case of the previously suspended and reinstated managers , i.e develop charges and commence with disciplinary processes.

∙Investigate all recently awarded contracts to establish validity and legitimacy thereof and terminate those that are not legitimate.

∙Ensure that criminal proceedings are finalised against any suspected officials or councillors and service providers implicated. In conclusion, we appeal to our communities to exercise restraint and not to disrupt the momentum of the intervention which is aimed at ridding this municipality of fraud and corruption and turning it around so that delivery of services is accelerated.-TDN
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MAJAKANENG  PROTESTERS STILL IN CUSTODY


By Obakeng Maje
Majakaneng-Four accused, Innocent Mpompa (24), Isaiah Mokhekhe (34), Lebogang Ramphana (27) and Doubt Ngwenya (35) appeared in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of burglary and theft.

The accused are still in custody and will appear in court  on Tuesday for Legal Aid representation.

“It is alleged that the accused were caught breaking and looting a local business in Majakaneng, and anybody found in possession of suspected stolen or robbed property will face the full might of the law.” Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

The police will continue to intensify their actions around the area and a call is being made to all law abiding citizens and community leaders to identify and report to the police all those who are busy committing crime. 

“It is important that the community resist all the efforts of those who want to destroy the property and to loot local businesses as this will only worsen the plight of the community in terms of access to basic services” Mokgwabone said.-TDN
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Premier Modise to brief media on outcome of assessment of performance of Madibeng    


By Obakeng Maje
Mothutlung-North West Premier Thandi Modise is to announce the outcome of assessment of performance of Madibeng Local Municipality at a media briefing session scheduled to be held today, Monday 10 February 2013.

“The briefing to commence at 15:00-15:30 in the Municipal Council Chamber, First Floor, Van Velden Street in Brits is to be preceded by a closed council meeting to be addressed by Premier Modise” premier spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said.

Premier Modise and her entourage are expected to proceed to Hebron to address rioting community members immediately after the media briefing.-TDN
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Seven arrested for damaging IEC material in Taung


North West Premier Thandi Modise has condemned the damaging of election material alleged to have occurred in Taung during the final voter registration over the weekend. Seven people arrested in connection with the incident are due to appear in the Taung Magistrates Court today.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible disruption of election processes and acts of violence during voter registration as they undermines our hard won democracy and the right of citizens to exercise their right to vote in a safe and peaceful environment, without intimidation.These should be stamped out and those responsible dealt harshly by the law,” Premier Modise stressed.

Modise called for an investigation as to why the disruptors were not immediately arrested at the scene of the alleged incident.

According to police, the group of three women and four men aged between 20 and 33 allegedly forced entry into a voter registration station at Itlameleng Primary School on Saturday around 7:40 and demanded registration from IEC officials.

“They allegedly removed IEC banners from the school fence and set them alight before fleeing the scene,” said Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

Damaging election material is prohibited in terms of Section (1) (c) of the Electoral Act of 1998.-TDN
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Where are the born-frees?


Cape Town – Less than a quarter of South Africa’s born-frees have registered for the 7 May general election.

Figures from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) show that 22%, or 427 655 of South Africa’s almost two million 18- to 19-year-olds, had registered to vote before this weekend, City Press reports.

The commission said it hoped to register about 500 000 of these first-time voters during this weekend’s final registration push.

The born-frees – those born after South Africa’s democracy in 1994 – make up 6% of South Africa’s total voting population of 31.4 million.

IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said the commission was worried about the low registration of eligible young voters.

Bapela said the IEC was running television and radio campaigns featuring musicians and other celebrities in a bid to appeal to young voters.

– City Press

Land Redistribution Malema’s Priority


Johannesburg – Land redistribution would be the first order of business for EFF leader Julius Malema if he were to succeed President Jacob Zuma in the upcoming general election.

“The first decision I make as president would be the redistribution of land back to the people,” Malema said while visiting the Thusong Youth Centre in Alexandra on Sunday.

“And the land would be to produce food and create jobs.”
A voting registration outlet had been set up at the centre.

Wearing a red EFF beret and a white shirt, Malema received a warm welcome in Alexandra as people, particularly children, smiled, clapped and shook his hand.

Malema entered the voting station after 13:00 and greeted IEC officials at the registration office.

He spoke briefly with them before making his way onto 12th Avenue to speak to residents.

Malema said government had failed the people of South Africa.

“It is very clear and evident through the uncontrollable service delivery protests that South Africans are looking for an alternative,” he said.

“They have absolutely failed our people in a big way. People were losing interest in politics until the EFF arrived.”
Asked whether many South Africans had lost interest in voting, he said:

“No, they will vote.”

– SAPA

Lolly Jackson’ suspect to be extradited


Johannesburg – The man wanted in connection with the murder of Teazers boss Lolly Jackson has been returned to South Africa, police said on Sunday.

“A team comprising SAPS Crime Intelligence, the Interpol extradition team and the department of justice has successfully repatriated George Louca from Cyprus,” said Lieutenant General Solomon Makgale.

Louca fled South Africa after the murder of strip club boss Jackson at a house in Edenglen on 3 May 2010.

He was wanted by the Hawks in connection with the murder since then.

Louca made several attempts to evade extradition, but he failed when he lost his final appeal in the Cypriot Supreme Court.

“The accused was brought into the country at 07:15 this morning by Interpol and he has since been handed over to the Hawks.

“The Hawks are also investigating other cases to which he could possibly be linked,” Mokgale said.

SAPA

‘Zuma relaxes while SA burns’


Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma was relaxing in Nkandla while the country burns, DA Gauteng premier candidate Mmusi Maimane said on Sunday.

Maimane was addressing around 50 people outside the Lefika primary school in Sebokeng, south of Johannesburg.

“People are dying during protests and the president or his senior staff fail to address their people. This is not the ANC of Nelson Mandela.”

Maimane was expected to visit the family of Lerata Rabolila, who was shot and killed during the violent protests in Boiketlong.

He said he would mobilise the community of Boiketlong to register to vote.

“We want to show the current government that the pen is mightier than the bullet,” said Maimane.

– SAPA

More tha one million register to vote


Johannesburg – More than one million people registered to vote over the weekend, the Independent Electoral Commission said on Sunday.

“It is estimated that yesterday [Saturday] there was total registration activity of about 1.2 million across the country,” spokesperson Kate Bapela said.

She said about half of the people who registered to vote on Saturday were new voters aged between 18 to 29 years.

“Early indications from the country’s 22 263 registration stations showed that young people were heeding the call to participate in the elections which mark the 20th year of democracy.”
President Jacob Zuma announced on Friday that the fifth national general elections would be held on 7 May.

“The Electoral Commission calls on all unregistered voters to make sure they visit their registration stations today to make use of this final weekend day to register,” Babela said. Registration stations in the country were operating smoothly.

“Heavy overnight rains in Gauteng, Limpopo, North West and the Free State caused some logistic challenges to registration stations, especially those in tents, but in most cases officials had re-erected structures and signage in time for opening,” she said.

– SAPA

Sars after Kebble killer


Johannesburg – The taxman is after Brett Kebble’s hit man, Mikey Schultz, for unpaid taxes on blood money he earned in the 2005 shooting.

According to the Sunday Times, the South African Revenue Services has gone to the High Court in Johannesburg in a bid to sequestrate Schultz over outstanding taxes of more than R240 000. When asked in 2011 to explain the source of R400 000, Schultz said it was for money received for Brett Kebble’s assisted suicide.
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