Author: Motlhaping Modise
A high-level delegation of the North West Provincial Government has been engaging captains of the mining industry on the side lines of the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba held in Cape Town on various issues ranging from mineral beneficiation, social labour plans and preferential procurement for small enterprises. The delegation is led by Premier Lazarus Mokgosi, who’s accompanied by MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Bitsa Lenkopane. Lenkopane has expressed confidence on the delegation’s ability to reverse the low investment patterns that has been hindering the province’s development. Speaking on YOU FM Newshour after series of meetings with…
The Bafokeng Taxi Owners association in Rustenburg in the North West has taken a prompt action against a driver who was found guilty of misconduct following an assault on a fellow driver over the weekend. In a video which was widely circulated on social media over the weekend, the victim Tumisang Mafatshe was seen assaulted several times by his attacker Kgothatso Mabale who has since been expelled. Speaking on YOUFM the association’s Chairperson Arthur Phalatse confirmed that Mabale was dismissed immediately due to misconduct. “It was not the first time we received complaints about his bad behaviour. We have established relevant…
The North West Gambling Board (NWGB) has sounded the alarm over the rapid growth of illegal gambling activities in the province, with the Bojanala Platinum District emerging as the hardest hit. Concerns around the escalating problem were first raised by stakeholders from the gambling and business sectors during a Presidential engagement with President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Rustenburg Civic Centre in January. Industry players warned that illegal gambling continues to divert revenue from licensed operators, undermine regulatory compliance, discourage investment, and expose communities to crime and social harm. In response, the NWGB has intensified its intervention as part of its…
The North West Department of Public Works and Roads is calling for calm in Maboloka township near Brits in the Madibeng Local Municipality following a community protest over delays in the completion of the rehabilitation and upgrading of roads in the area. The residents blocked the road with tree trunks, stones and burning tyres demanding that their roads Z606 and Z608 be fixed expeditiously. They alleged that it’s difficult to access the schools in the areas especially when it’s raining due to the bad condition of the roads. Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, the department’s acting Director for Communications Bayanda…
The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in the North West has threatened legal action against the Lichtenburg-based Ditsobotla Local Municipality, accusing it of corruption. This after it failed to pay workers’ pension fund contribution over the past two years despite deducting the money from workers’ salaries monthly. The municipality has been placed under several unsuccessful interventions by the government, and is notorious for its widely reported maladministration, failure to deliver services, instability and infightings involving councillors and workers. Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, the union’s provincial Secretary Vincent Diphoko said that the municipality which was placed under national cabinet…
Thousands of commuters in Rustenburg and Mogwase in the North West have been left stranded, following a strike by bus drivers at the Bojanala Bus Services, who abandoned their shifts on Monday. The drivers are allegedly demanding amnesty following several offences including negligence, reckless driving and failure to issue tickets to commuters which is regarded as theft and serious offence to the company. Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, Bojanala Bus Services regional Manager Karl Myburgh said that the strike started after disciplinary hearings were instituted against some of the drivers for various offences. “This an illegal work stoppage. It is…
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) has maintained its criticism towards the government regarding its handling of the Operation Vala Umgodi crackdown on illegal miners in Stilfontein, North West last year, accusing authorities of creating a humanitarian crisis that led to deaths of zama zamas. LHR’s comments comes as the South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) commenced with the second leg of the National Inquiry into the Policy Framework Governing Artisanal Mining in Parktown, Johannesburg. The inquiry will also probe its impact on surrounding communities, and the scope and methods used in Operation Vala Umgodi. The inquiry on Monday received evidence…
The National Health Department has appealed to parents, caregivers, and legal guardians of girls in Grade 5 aged nine-years and older to sign the consent forms issued by the schools to allow them to receive the lifesaving, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination. According to the department, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the country, after breast cancer. The department will commence with the drive on Monday with the aim of protecting young girls from developing cervical cancer later in their lives. Furthermore, the department said that the country records a high number of cases of…
North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi has vehemently denied allegations that he tried to influence former Naledi Local Municipality Director for corporate Services Thabo Appolus to alter a report relating to the appointment of Modisenyane Segapo as the Municipal Manager after an interview process. The allegations were made by the municipality mayor Clifton Groep, who told Parliament’s Joint Portfolio Committees chaired by Zweli Mkhize, during an oversight visit last year in the province that Mokgosi had allegedly instructed a former municipal employee to alter a report relating to the appointment of municipal manager. Mokgosi took to the stand on Saturday at…
The Department of Correctional Services says there’s nothing unusual in the transfer of convicted rapist and jailbird, Thabo Bester, to super maximum eBongweni Correctional Facility in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal. This following criticism from Bester’s legal team, that they were not informed nor consulted about his transfer, from the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Facility in Pretoria. “It has to be emphasised that offender transfers are a routine practice, guided by established security risk assessments to ensure the safety, security, and stability of correctional facilities and the broader criminal justice system. The offender will continue to receive appropriate care in line with applicable legislative…