Author: Thabang Morutloa

Opposition parties have slammed the North West Department of Public Works and Roads for failing to act against civil servants, who have been living rent free in properties owned by the province. Public Works MEC Oageng Molapisi, said a law firm was appointed to recoup more than R70 million of the outstanding amount accumulated over 20 years but opposition parties want him to account for his department’s failure to recover the money. The DA’s deputy leader in the North West, Freddy Sonakile wants Molapisi to account for the department’s failure to recoup the rent and to implement the State Housing…

Some former employees of the Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West, are accusing the municipality of using their personal details to pay bogus employees while they struggle to get social grants and employment because the system reflects that they are still employed. One of the affected former employees is 58-year old Tlale Pholo, who was alerted to the shenanigans of the municipality by the South African Revenue Services (SARS). “We were released from our duties as casual workers on the 25 February 2011, and told we will be called back. But that never happened despite the fact that we…

The mayors of nine municipalities in the North West who failed to spend the R460 million of the Municipal Infrastructure Grants (MIGs) for the 2021/22 financial year, have been given two weeks to act against officials who didn’t do their jobs. The MEC for Cooperative Governance, Nono Maloyi, warned at a media briefing in Mahikeng, that political heads will face dire consequences for protecting municipal officials. The province’s 13 municipalities were afforded an opportunity to provide reasons as to why they should be allocated grants after failing to spend them in the previous financial year and nine of them failed…

The residents of Ward 9 in Madibogo Village in the North West say they gamble with their lives daily when for their survival, they are forced to use unsafe water from rivers where animals and livestock also drink The community which falls under the Ratlou Local Municipality have claimed to have not had access to clean water for well over a decade. Their representative, Itumeleng Moabinyane, said sharing water with animals has led to a high number of cases of people suffering from illnesses with some parents complaining that their children are often sick from drinking unhygienic water. “What hurts…

Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi this morning confirmed that convicted murderer, and rapist, Thabo Bester is a South African citizen. Motsoaledi who addressed the media on the arrest of Bester and his accomplice, Dr Nandipha Magudumana in Pretoria, said the confusion about Bester’s citizenship was because he was never officially documented as a South African with the Department of Home Affairs, since he had disappeared at the age of 16. The Minister blamed Bester’s complicated upbringing for the failure of his mother, Maria Mabaso to register him after giving birth at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital on 13 June…

Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi this morning confirmed that convicted murderer, and rapist, Thabo Bester is a South African citizen. Motsoaledi who addressed the media on the arrest of Bester and his accomplice, Dr Nandipha Magudumana in Pretoria, said the confusion about Bester’s citizenship was because he was never officially documented as a South African with the Department of Home Affairs, since he had disappeared at the age of 16. The Minister blamed Bester’s complicated upbringing for the failure of his mother, Maria Mabaso to register him after giving birth at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital on 13 June…

The National Treasury’s decision to halt the Municipal Infrastructure Grants (MIG) of some of the North West municipalities was informed by the failure of the local authorities to provide answers for the unspent money. Treasury says 13 municipalities were afforded an opportunity to provide reasons as to why they should be allocated grants, after failing to spend them in the previous financial year and nine of them failed to do so. The nine municipalities are among those who have failed to render basic services like water and sanitation and are set to lose a whooping R460 million in grants collectively.…

The number of people killed on the roads in the North West roads has risen to 14, since April 1 and there is a growing concern over the increase in the number of pedestrians hit by cars, says the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management. The spokesperson for the department, Oshebeng Koonyaditse, said five people lost their lives in recently reported incidents and this brings the number of fatalities to 14. “A pedestrian was hit by a car in Klerksdorp and a motorist died instantly in an accident in Lichtenburg. Three other people died in a head-on…

The Department of Water and Sanitation warns faith-based organisations not to conduct baptism ceremonies in rivers and dams during Easter because of an increase in water volumes with some dam levels reported to be at 90% full because of the rain. Last year 15 people drowned at the Jukskei River in Johannesburg during a baptism ceremony. The Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Wisani Mavasa, dam levels remain quite high at above 90% across the country, including those that are in the North West province.  “Therefore it remains very dangerous to be near those water places, whether to do any…

The decision by the national Treasury to withhold the Municipal Infrastructure Grants (MIGs) from some of the North West municipalities should be blamed on the provincial government’s failure to spend the much-needed funds on the provision of clean water and sanitation among other essential services for the communities, said the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The EFF in the North West becomes the latest political party to criticise the provincial government over its failure to spend the much-needed MIGs, which has led to Treasury’s decision to withhold the funds in the current financial year. Nine municipalities in the North West are…