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Three killed, six injured on Klerksdorp crash


By Obakeng Maje
Klerksdorp- Three men were killed and six others sustained minor injuries when a bakkie overturned on Klerksdorp, North West on Sunday. 

ER24 paramedics arrived on the mass casualty scene and found that the three deceased had already succumbed to severe head injuries.

They are suspected to have been in their twenties. 

“Six other occupants of the bakkie sustained minor injuries and were transported to Tsepong Hospital for observations” Er24 Luyanda Majija said. 

The driver of the bakkie was left uninjured in the collision.

The incident apparently occurred when he lost control and the bakkie overturned multiple times ejecting its occupants.
 
The incident is currently under investigation by local authorities.-TDN
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Man trapped in trench rescued after 11 hours


Durban – A man trapped in a water-filled trench at a residential property in Orient Hill in Isipingo was freed on Saturday night after an 11-hour rescue operation, paramedics said.

The 29-year-old man was rushed to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital after his ordeal, ER24 spokesperson Luyanda Majija said.

“The man is in a stable condition and is now being treated for his suspected severe pelvic fracture and leg injuries.

“ER24 paramedics, fire department personnel and SAPS Search and Rescue worked for approximately 11 hours to rescue the man.”

It was believed that the man was building a retainer wall, when his leg got stuck in debris at the bottom of a deep trench around 09:00.

Rescue workers had to contend with difficult circumstances, as water kept pouring into the trench as quickly as it could be drained out.

The man was submerged up to the waist at times during the rescue, Majija said.

SAPA

1 in 4 Khayelitsha toilets don’t work – SJC


Cape Town – Over a quarter of toilets inspected in four Khayelitsha informal settlements are not in working order, Social Justice Coalition (SJC) said on Saturday.

This was one of the preliminary findings of a week-long social audit on the janitorial service for communal flush toilets, the SJC said.

A social audit is a tool that enables community participation in monitoring government service delivery and spending.

On Saturday the SJC and Ndifuna Ukwazi hosted a public hearing to report back to communities on the social audit.

“At the public hearing… participants presented their evidence and community members gave testimonies of their experiences of this service,” the SJC said.

Dirty

The social audit also found that almost half of the toilets inspected were “either dirty or very dirty”.

Not all areas had enough janitors to service the toilets, and janitors did not have the required cleaning equipment or receive the required training.

The preliminary report also indicated that janitors were not being inoculated against disease and did not have the required protective personal equipment, the SJC said.

The SJC made headlines in September when 18 of its members were arrested along with Treatment Action Campaign founder Zachie Achmat after they chained themselves to railings of the Cape Town civic centre to demonstrate their frustration over sanitation provision in Khayelitsha.

SAPA

Mandela Day showed selflessness, unity – govt


Pretoria – The government has thanked South Africans for their good deeds in honour of Nelson Mandela on Mandela Day.

Communications Minister Faith Muthambi said on Saturday that every person had the ability and responsibility to make a positive change.

“No matter how small the action, the aim was to practice a healthier and cleaner way of living.

“This Mandela Day South Africans showed a spirit of selflessness, unity, volunteerism and dedication by participating in clean-up initiatives.”

Thanks

Earlier, the Nelson Mandela Foundation thanked the world for carrying out good deeds in memory of the former president, whose birthday was celebrated on Friday.

“We have been heartened by the number of sustainable projects still thriving. At the same time it has been inspiring to see the range of innovative new projects to emerge,” foundation spokesperson Danielle Melville said.

“We welcome the degree to which structures of the state, of civil society and in the private sector are working together for the campaign.”

Melville said people in 126 countries participated in Mandela Day, and more 1 200 positive deeds had been registered on their website.

Melville said in South Africa almost half a million food parcels had been distributed to needy people, and more than a million sanitary towels handed to schoolgirls.

Habitat for Humanity in South Africa built 67 houses in one week for the poor.

More than 15 000 books were also donated to school libraries.

Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated on 18 July, Mandela’s birthday, when people are encouraged to give 67 minutes of their time and of themselves to help those less fortunate.

Mandela spent 67 years of his life working for social justice.

SAPA

SABC defends paying R42m in bonuses


Johannesburg – The SABC has paid around R42m in bonuses to its staff and middle management, the Sunday Times reported.

According to the report, bonuses of R8 000 after tax were paid to 3 007 workers as part of a wage agreement with unions.

The bonuses were reportedly a gesture of gratitude for hard work during former president Nelson Mandela’s funeral and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Can afford to pay bonuses

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago defended the move, saying the SABC had overcome its financial difficulties and could afford to pay the bonuses.

“I don’t know why it should be an alarming thing that we are paying staff,” he was quoted as saying.

He told the Sunday Times that the SABC now had R1.2bn in the bank.

Kganyago distanced chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng and SABC board chairperson Zandile Tshabalala from the bonus deal.

In February, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela released a report on Motsoeneng, while he was acting COO. She found that his salary increased from R1.5m to R2.4m in one year, that he had purged senior staff, and misrepresented his qualifications – that he had passed matric – to the SABC.

At the time, Madonsela recommended that a new COO be appointed to the SABC within 90 days.

Earlier this month Communications Minister Faith Muthambi announced Motsoeneng’s permanent appointment as COO, saying the decision was taken following a recommendation by the SABC board.

She said he had been cleared of all wrongdoing by a legal firm before being appointed permanently.

SAPA

Deposed Kgwele Takes SABC To Ombudsman


By Obakeng Maje
Mahikeng- Embattled North West Provincial Head of Communication, Lesiba Kgwele has lodged a complaint against the SABC with the Press Ombudsman for the public broadcaster’s distortion of his statement responding to his widely publicised dismissal from the Office of the Premier.

“The SABC first broadcasted the statement issued by the Acting Director General without seeking my comment and contrary to the statement that I had issued reported on that I had alleged that senior politicians are involved in the bigger orchestrated plot to purge and ultimately destroy me” diligent Kgwele said.

Kgwele said such insensitive distortions and sensationalised reporting not only have the potential to jeopardise his case including the appeal process but are also a violation of his constitutional rights.

“The endorsement of the premature announcement of my dismissal by Democratic Alliance (DA) Provincial Leader, Chris Hattingh is not suprising as his party would be the major and unintended beneficiary of my sacking.
It is not in his party’s interest that the provincial government has at its helm a skilled, experienced and assertive communicator who has frustrated its effort to project government in a negative light” he concludes.-TDN
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A woman died in a horrific accident near Reivilo


By Obakeng Maje
Reivilo- North West police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a woman died in a horrific accident.

The accident took place on Saturday at around 17:00 near Reivilo.

A green Venture with three passengers and a driver, was allegedly towing a white double cab towards Reivilo from Taung.

The white double cab lost control and that forced a Venture to capsized. A woman died on the scene and two girls aged 10 and 16 were rushed to Taung hospital for medical attention.

Police investigation continues and full details will follow.-TDN
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North West premier urges Taung community to calm down after ‘witchcraft’ fiasco


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- North West police are investigating a case of GBH Assault and Attempted Murder after the community of Mokassa 2 pounced on a woman.

Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said the mob allegedly attacked Vinolia Sesing after the accused her of witchcraft. The atrocity took place on Friday after Sesing and her family relocated to Mokassa village, near Taung.

Sesing was allegedly accused of bewitching Boikie Nthutang and turned him into a zombie. Reitumetse Monnahela allegedly said she saw Nthutang in company of Vinolia Sesing at her door-step.

Boikie Nthutang’s younger brother, Thabang shared the same sentiment and said: “I saw my brother wearing black in company with Sesing. I chased after them, but they vanished in a thin air.”

The community of Mokgareng village were up in arms and ordered Sesing to leave their area. Sesing went to Mokassa village to seek refugee, but they were welcomed by enraged community members.

Things turned from bad to worse at around 20:00 when she was attacked. Sesing was allegedly beaten up and her husband allegedly ploughed on some acrid community members leaving six injured.

“We have opened a case of attempted murder, assault, malicious damage of property and also a case of reckless and negligent driving was launched” Mokgwabone said.

One of the victims was transferred to Klerksdorp hospital in critical condition after suffered major injuries.

North West premier Supra Mahumapelo urge police to act swiftly and monitor situation.

“Mahumapelo urge residents to calm down and let the law take its course. He also said the people must not rush to take decision without any tangible proof. He said leveling unfounded allegations against our elders is not good” said premier’s office spokesperson Sam Mokaila.-TDN
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Ramaphosa: Mahikeng can become the best city in S.A


Mahikeng has the potential to become the best city in South Africa if people work together, says Ramaphosa.
 
Mahikeng has the potential of becoming the best city in the rest of South Africa if the community work together with the provincial government to make the city a clean and better place to live, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said in Mahikeng on Friday at the beginning of a hectic schedule to mark the Nelson Mandela Day.
 
Ramaphosa who was accompanied by North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo, Minister of Water and Sanitation Nonvula Mokonyane, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Pravin Gordan and North West Health MEC Dr Magome Masike, said government takes Mandela Day very seriously  as it honours one of the world’s greatest statesmen. 

“We are very pleased to be here on this special day which is the birth-day of Nelson Mandela that the whole world loves. On this day people all over the world remember him for the good work that he has done for humanity. All the leaders of our government are all working today to contribute their 67 minutes of community service in recognition of Mandela’s 67 years of commitment to human rights and equality,” said Ramaphosa.
 
Premier Mahumapelo said it was gratifying to see government leaders from National government coming to the province to contribute their 67 minutes by working with the community in the cleaning campaign of Mahikeng and spreading the message of cooperation.
 
“I take this opportunity to welcome the Deputy President and the two ministers accompanying him. We welcome the Deputy President and thank him for coming here to spread the message of cooperation on this important day,” said Premier Mahumapelo.
 
Mahumapelo also expressed his gratitude to the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB) for donating a phaco machine that is used for cataract surgery, to the Mafikeng Provincial Hospital.
 
SANCB’s representative Phandle Phandle, who presented the machine to the hospital’s CEO Adriaan Lourens, said his organisation’s key objective was to prevent avoidable blindness and advocate for the establishment of eye care centres in all hospitals across the country.
 
“The machine is able to remove cataract in a very quick and effective way and we hope it will benefit the people of Mahikeng and the province. We are looking forward to be involved with many hospitals across the province,” said Phandle Phandle adding that he was happy that SANCB was able to contribute 67 minutes of goodwill by ploughing back to communities.
 
Ramaphosa and Mahumapelo’s team contributed their time by painting of walls at the Mafikeng Provincial Hospitals, before heading to the city centre where they helped with the cleaning of the city and repairs of potholes, among others.
-TDN
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Two arrested for human trafficking


Two Nigerian men have been arrested in Rustenburg for human trafficking, North West police said on Friday.

Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said the men, aged 29 and 30, were arrested on Thursday after a 24-year-old Cape Town woman told the police she had been forced into prostitution.

“According to the information received, the woman was offered a lift by one of the suspects on Friday, [July 11] after visiting her boyfriend in Springs, Gauteng,” he said.

“The suspect allegedly failed to stop and allow the woman to alight from the vehicle at the agreed destination, and instead drove to Rustenburg.”

She was allegedly locked inside a house and was later taken to a street in Rustenburg to do business as a prostitute, guarded by one of the men.

The woman managed to tell patrolling police what was going on and identified the 30-year-old man guarding her.

“The other suspect arrived with a car a while later and both were arrested,” said Mokgwabone.
       
-Sapa