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Premier Modise calls on IPID to expedite Mothotlung investigations, condemns grandstanding and political opportunism


North West Premier Thandi Modise has called on the independent police investigative directorate (ipid) to expedite investigations into allegations of brutality levelled against police following the death of a third person in Mothotlung near Brits.

“We are saddened by the death and wish to convey our condolences to the family that lost their loved one in this recent incident. The volatile situation demands for police and the protestors to exercise restraint to avoid further loss of lives,” emphasised Premier Modise in reiterating her call for calm.

According to police, the man identified as Lerato Seema died from head injuries after he fell from a moving police Nyala vehice while trying to evade arrest.

Modise has expressed concern about irresponsible, inflammatory statements that seek to incite further violent confrontation.  

“Grandstanding and political opportunism to draw political mileage out of a tragic situation should not override the need to support interventions aimed at finding a solution to the water crisis in the area. We remain confident that water would be restored by Friday as per the commitment made by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs during our visit to the area on Tuesday,” she stressed.

Members of bereaved families and community leaders had in their engagement with Premier Modise, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa and Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa alleged that Madibeng Local Municipality officials who benefit from water tankering service business had tampered with the water pumps hence their rejection of tankered water.  

The government delegation has committed to institute investigations into the alleged sabotage that resulted in water interruptions in Mothotlung, Damonsville and part of Mmakau.-TDN
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DA: Minister Molewa lied to the Nation over Mothutlung saga


By Obakeng Maje
The DA in the North West is concerned about the political spin of Minister Edna Molewa about the water crisis in the Madibeng Municipality (Brits) which leads to the death of at least three people.

“The crisis has not been the result, as the minister has implied, of a sudden and unexpected breakdown of the water pumps in Madibeng” DA Chris Hattingh said.

Hattingh said during her explanation to the community of Mothutlung, Minister Molewa failed to state that two of the three water pumps (300cubic m/h each) serving the Mothutlung and Damonsville communities had been out of service for more than two years.

“The municipality did not care enough to repair the pumps before. When the third 600-700 cubic meter /hour pump broke down the communities were left with only the water remaining in the reservoirs” he said.

After the national outcry this week, all three pumps were sent in for repair on Tuesday.

Democratic Alliance said one will be operational later today, another one will be back in operation before Friday while the bigger pump should be functional during the weekend.

The negligence by the municipality in not maintaining critical infrastructure has in the past resulted in communities being without water for months.

“This was not the first time that Mothutlung went without water.  
Minister Molewa should expand her investigation – 4 of the other 9 pumps providing water to communities in the Madibeng Municipality have also been dysfunctional for months – one of these pumps has disappeared” he said.

Several investigations into the affairs of this dysfunctional municipality have already been conducted – however the findings and reports of these investigations remain a tightly guarded secret.

The DA calls on the NW Premier to table all these reports and to give feedback on the implementation of the recommendations: “Swift and decisive action will be required to start to turn around the troubled municipality”.-TDN
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Seven accused out on bail


By Obakeng Maje
A case of fourteen suspects arrested for Contravention of Road Traffic Act, Act No. 93 of 1989 has been postponed until 27 February 2014 for further investigation.

“All accused persons with ages ranging from seventeen (17)  to fifty (50)  are still in warning” said colonel Sabata Mokgwabone.-TDN
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Premier Modise expresses shock at Blydeville triple murder


North West Premier Thandi Modise has expressed shock and condemned the murder of a pregnant woman, her unborn baby and her toddler in Blydeville outside Lichtenburg.

“We condemn in the strongest terms possible this horrendous act which has left us cold with shock. No amount of anger justifies this heinous act. The heartless person responsible needs to be permanently removed from society,” said the angered Premier Modise.
The Premier who expressed concern about escalating incidents of gender based violence called for united action against the scourge and for real men to stand up to protect women and children.
“Men who are experiencing pressure should seek counselling and professional help before matters get out of hand to avoid such incidents,” added Modise.
According to police, the 32 year old Zimbabwean national, Samuel Ndlvovu was arrested after allegedly stabling Jenelee van Rooyen on Saturday night.“The police were called to the scene, where on arrival they found the bodies of the 22-year-old woman and her daughter with blood all over them. The woman was pregnant and her womb was cut to remove the foetus and its throat was slit with a knife. Charges of murder are being investigated,” said Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone.
 

Ndlovu was remanded in police custody when he appeared briefly in the Lichtenburg Magistrates court on Tuesday. He is expected to appear again in court on January 22.-TDN
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EFF gain support as ANC loses momentum


Cape Town – Julius Malema’s belief that his EFF party will win the 2014 elections is way off base, according to a survey.

However, an October/November Ipsos survey on provincial political party support on moderate voter turnout, could see the EFF as official opposition in both Limpopo and North West.
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Maphoitsile boy ‘turned’ into a zombie


By Obakeng Maje
Maphoitsile-The community of Maphoitsile gathered at Gabonewe’s house yesterday with excitement and mixed emotions after it was alleged that the boy who went to train as a sangoma will be home.

Onalenna Gabonewe,15, left his house on 06 December 2013 under the agreement between his mother and the sangoma. Gabonewe allegedly has the ancestral spirit and decided to train as a sangoma after intervention.

The agreement was reach between Onalenna’s mother Annah Gabonewe,36 and the sangoma Thulaganyo Pico,36 to put her son through the passage.

“We handed over my son to the sangoma on the 06 December 2013 and agreed tha Onalenna will be back on the 14th January 2014” Annah Gabonewe said.

Onalenna was certified dead on the 28th December 2013 after he allegedly threw himself into the Mangope Dam.

“We left the house with Onalenna and other people to go to the dam as the calling ordered us to. The minutes we arrived at the dam, Onalenna ran towards the dam and threw himself into the dam. That was very unsual and some of people we were with tried by all means to save him, but unfortunately they couldn’t save him” sangoma Thulaganyo Pico said.

“It was on Friday,27 December 2013 in the evening and we called the police after we could not save Onalenna from drowning. Some members of the community alleged that I turned Onalenna into a zombie and there is no truth in the matter” outlines Pico.

Pico has been practising as a sangoma almost four years and Onalenna was her first initiate to train as a sangoma.

According to Pico, the boy’s death might be planned to blackmail her. She said some of healers told her about jealousy from her fellow sangomas.

The family of Onalenna alleges that they buried a wrong person as Onalenna did not have moles on his face but the burried person has.

“The sangoma promised to deliver my boy on Tuesday and people gathered here to experience the homecoming of Onalenna. We believe that our son is not dead but turned into a zombie” said Annah Gabonewe.

A case of inquest was opened by Taung Police Station after the body of Onalenna Gabonewe was discovered from the dam the following day. He was taken to mortuary and the post-mortem results will be released soon.

“I am very sorry about what happened to Onalenna, but I never said I will deliver the boy alive on Tuesday. We tried to engage the family in the matter, but they snubbed us. The mother of the child said she knows what ate her child and his spirit has been turned in a black bird” said Pico.

Pico said she does not buy stories that Onalenna has been turned into a zombie as she also went to other traditional doctors who could not confirm the utterance.

Maphoitsile community left disappointed as the scheduled time of Onalenna’s arrival pastby without showing his side.

The Gabonewe family insist that Onalenna is still alive and alleged that they paid R4000 for Onalenna’s training.

Pico said she could not continues to take the money from the bereaved family as the initiate died before he could finish his term.-TDN
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The first day of school should set the pace foe effective learning and teaching-Premier Modise


The first day of the academic school year is critical and should be used to set the pace for effective learning and teaching across all of schools, North West Premier Thandi Modise said ahead of the opening of schools on Wednesday.

“Our determination to surpass the milestones we achieved in 2013 should echo in every classroom for every learner to enjoy their learning experience and excel,” emphasised Premier Modise.
The Premier said that the year of the 20
th celebration of our freedom and democracy affords us with an opportunity to unite in action and extra effort to take South Africa forward.
“The bond we have established with our social partners including governance structures and parents in our schools gives us confidence that we would be in position to take the standards we have set to an all-time higher level this year,” added Modise.-TDN
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A 35 year-old woman hangs self in Cokonyane


By Obakeng Maje
Cokonyane-A 35 year-old woman allegedly hanged herself in Cokonyane village, near Taung and that left her family shocked.

Sylvia Baba Mangwegape,35, allegedly committed suicide on Sunday after she suffered depression.

Mangwegape was sick and the illness affected her mental, according to family member.

“Sylivia Mangwegape was allegedly sick since 2007 and she went through almost to every doctor without any help. The illness actually affected her mentally and she started to show some depression symptoms. In December she once highlited that she want to kill herself, but we took it very lightly” Monaunwa Mangwegape said.

According to Mangwegape’s family she committed suicide on Sunday after her mother left for a church.

“I left Sylvia with her son Phenyo Mangwegape,7, and left for a church. My grandson, Phenyo arrived at church shocked and said his murder has committed suicide by hanging herself on the rafters” Georginah Mangwegape.

The mother of the victim said they found a two drums linked together in Sylvia’s beedroom where she committed suicide.

A 35 year-old girl was unemployed and the family suspect maybe that might also contributed to her death.

Mangwegape was allegedly ill for a long time and she was always quite. She will be buried on Saturday and leaves her son called Phenyo and her brothers and mother.-TDN
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Over 34 cows poisoned at Matlapaneng, near Taung


By Obakeng Maje
Matlapaneng-The community of Matlapaneng village, near Taung was left crestfallen after they found their livestock dead.

Almost over 34 cows were discovered yesterday morning dead after it was alleged that they were poisoned.

According to information, the atrocity were committed by some of farmers in the area. Our mole told us that the cows were poisoned after they graze on farm and destroy the plants.

“The cows were poisoned because they gain entry onto the nearby farms and eat away our vegetables. This was agreed upon by some of the farmers and that was it” said our mole.

One of the victims who suffered the fate was former Kgosi Sam Mankuroane who lost few cows too.

The shocking event was discovered on Tuesday morning and this causes uncertainity within the community.

Even though the unidentified substance were discovered in the water that was set for dead cows, most of community members said they were shocked by the event.

Police were called and investigations continue.-TDN
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PIET PLESSIS LEARNERS TO RECEIVE SCHOOL UNIFORM


North West MEC for Social Development Collen Maine is set to handover school uniform to destitute learners at Piet Plessis Primary School on the reopening day of schools, his office said.

“Today when the schools re-open, MEC Maine will handover school uniform to 25 learners whose living conditions were assess by the department towards the end last year and found to be needy,” departmental spokesman Vuyisile Ngesi said.
  
The handover ceremony will be held as follows:-
Date : 15 January 2014
Venue: Piet Plessis Primary School 
Time: 07h30
Maine will be accompanied by the Executive Mayor of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, mayor of Naledi and Kagisano Molopo local municipalities.-TDN
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