BRITS AND RUSTENBURG

29 January 2014Volume 2 Week 5

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MILLIONS AT THE CENTRE OF MAKO’S FALLOUT?

FULL ACCOUNT PAGE 2

SUSPENDED: DR. KIDDO MAKO (PHOTO: SUPPLIED)

CLEANING UP: EXECUTIVE MAYOR, MPHO KHUNOU. (PHOTO: LEVY MOKWELE)

02 29 January Leseding News - Rustenburg

Millions at the centre of Mako’s fallout?

The decision by the Rustenburg Local Municipality to put Municipal Manager Dr. Kiddo Mako on special leave pending the findings of a probe by the Auditor General could have saved the city from going into administration, Leseding News has been informed.

Dr. Mako – who had been playing a key role in the implementation of the Rustenburg Rapid Transport (RRT) project and the city’s other initiatives – was put on special leave during an extraordinary Council sitting held late last year.

In the interim, Andries Boshoff has been thrust back into the position of Municipal Manager to allow the Auditor General to get to the bottom of the reasons that led to Mako to fall out of favour with the city’s political heavyweights.This will be the second time that Boshoff has been thrust into the position of Municipal Manager since he resigned from the post in 2011.

Sources within the municipality and the ANC have informed Leseding News that part of the Auditor General’s investigations into Dr. Mako’s conduct will focus on allegations that between R25million and R30 million cannot be accounted for.

“If this intervention (of putting Dr. Mako on leave) had not been made, then I think the city could have gone into administration,” one source privy to the developments told Leseding News.

“A lot of money, between R25million and R30million cannot be accounted for and this was a major concern.

“There are also allegations that the Municipal Manager was using some money meant for the city’s activities for his own personal use. More details will emerge when the auditor general’s report comes out,” added the source.

The communications office in the Rustenburg Local Municipality – could not immediately confirm these allegations.

“We will issue out a media statement addressing those issues,” Lebo Makete told Leseding News.

It is also not yet clear when the investigations by the Auditor General into the allegations will be completed.

10 500 to: Rustenburg. 10 500 to Brits, Marikana and derby

EditorLevy Mokwele

Brits News EditorRicky Dire

Rustenburg News EditorFarirayi Kahwemba

JournalistsZanele SitholePrudence MoganeElfas Ngoepe

Sub-editorEddie Kok

Production ManagerDivan Bekker

Advertising ExecutiveDesiree Visser

ClassifiedsLesley Peters

Although reasonable efforts are made by the owners, directors, publishers, editors and staff thereof (all refered to as “Leseding News”), no responsibility is taken by Leseding News for any errors and/or incorrect aspects and/or misstatements in any format published herein, and whoever provides Leseding News with any information, including editorial, advetorial and/or advertising material, in any format, indemnifies Leseding News against any claim of whatsoever nature which may be brought against Leseding News by whoever

PO BOX 2335, Rustenburg, 0300. Tel: 014 597 9980. Published by Ukhahlamba Newspapers

farirai@lesedingnews.co.za Farirayi Kahwemba

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0329 JanuaryLeseding News - Rustenburg

SPECIAL REPORT2

3 4

1

1. MYSTERY: The new Tlhabane Clinic is yet to open its

doors to the public.

2. WAITING: Patients wait outside the Old Tlhabane Clinic

to be attended to.

3. WAITING: Pumzile Hamca.

4. WORRIED: Stanford Ramahlape says the ceiling of the

building could collapse.

Shoddy workmanship delays opening of facilityFrom the outside, the new Tlhabane Community Health Centre is an epitome of sheer structural elegance. On the inside of the building however, shoddy workmanship and infrastructural defects are allegedly evident – a development that is said to be the cause of the failure by Department of Health officials to open the health facility to the public.Leseding News could not gain entrance into the facility this week as security guards guarding the R108-million structure did not have the keys.“We are just guarding this area. We do not have the keys,” said one of the guards.However, investigations by Leseding News revealed that the project – initially due to be completed before the start of the 2010 Fifa World Cup (but only completed a year later) – is now a “white elephant” just two years after it was supposed to have started operating. Meanwhile, as community members continue waiting for the centre’s doors to open, nurses at the old Tlhabane clinic have the unenviable task of dealing with a flurry of patients who cannot be properly catered for in the small vicinity.“We have many people that we serve. Sometimes there are too many people in comparison to the nurses,” Boitemelo Mogodiri, the sister in charge, told Leseding News.And as to when the new community centre – constructed with a view of lessening the old Tlhabane Clinic’s admission problems – will be open, is anyone’s guess. “We are told that the new clinic is finished but we do not know why it is not operating. No one tells us the problem,” said Enock Mentoro, a resident in Tlhabane.“We are told that the problem has to do with very few nurses who will be unable to serve all these people. Even the nurses do not know when the clinic will open. The sisters at the clinic must be commended for their patience, they treat everyone

very well,” said Pumzile Hamca, another resident. There is actually talk that a defective roof inside the building will have to be removed. According to Stanford Ramatlhape, SANCO’s branch secretary in Tlhabane, the centre may be a danger to the public if opened owing to its infrastructural safety. “The roof is substandard and there is a looming fear that part of the ceiling might collapse,” charged a furious Ramatlhape, adding: “When it rains the roof licks leaving the floor flooded.”In December, the institution’s woes continued after power utility giant, Eskom disconnected electricity supply to the centre – leaving it in complete darkness. Eskom was not immediately available to divulge more information. Evidence that the area around the centre is fast becoming a danger to the community surfaced when a woman was recently robbed by three men who ambushed her in the parking lot outside the facility. The project has been dogged by controversy since its tender was awarded in 2006. In April 2012, a national newspaper reported that an investigation had been commissioned to conduct a forensic investigation into the controversial awarding of the tender for the construction of centre. The report denied at the time by North West provincial government – though one of the contractors admitted to the newspaper, that he was awarded the tender without following proper tender procedures.The contactor claimed that because of the urgency of the project, his company was not the only one that was given a stake in the project.“There were many other 2010 Soccer World Cup projects that were concluded without proper tender processes,” the contactor was quoted by the newspaper.Improper awarding of the tender was speculated at the time as a reason for the delay in the opening of the centre.

levy@lesedingnews.co.zaLevy Mokwele

All is not well at new Tlhabane clinic

04 29 January Leseding News - Rustenburg 0529 January

ACHIEVER: Thapelo is aiming to pursue his studies

(PHOTO: FARIRAYI KAHWEMBA)

BRILLIANT: Rorisang Nkomo(PHOTO: SUPPLIED)

WINNER: A proud Lesego (right) receives his prize from North West Premier Thandi Modise (PHOTO: FARIRAYI KAHWEMBA)

The announcement of Lesego Keogatile’s results was one of the major highlights of the recent release of the 2013 North West matric results in Sun City.

Lesego (18) walked away with a R20 000 prize, a trophy and a certificate for being the top rural leaner achiever.The last born in the family of five, Lesego was a leaner at Kgonanyane High School in Saudi Village near Ganyesa.He was doing six subjects and got distinctions in all of them. He intends studying Mechanical Engineering at Wits University.The school caters for 22 surrounding villages in the area.“I received a call from my principal on Saturday morning that I have to come to Sun City and nothing came to my mind. I did not expect that I had to receive a prize. I still cannot believe it,”

said Lesego.He said he was motivated by the fact that he wanted to show his brother that he can perform better.“My brother was the best leaner in 2010 in our area and I said to myself I can do better.”Lesego said he used to go to school at 6am before returning home at 10pm to study.“Sometimes I would sleep at school with my study group just to prepare for exams.”His unemployed mother, Dipuo, could not hide his joy when asked about Lesego.“I am very proud of my boy. I am touched as I was staying at home with him unlike his brother and sister who were not staying close to me most of the time when they were matriculating,” said Dipuo.Another achiever was the top candidate in the province, Anne-Marie Roux, from Potchefstroom Gymnasium who wrote 8 subjects and achieved between 93% and 97% in all her subjects.

It is very rare for a student to attain maximum marks in a matric examination. However, a student at Ithutheng Commercial High School managed to defy all odds during the 2013 matric examinations. Thapelo Lebese is a shining example to the Moretele community and other students in the North West province that hard work pays off. The student scored 300 marks (out of 300) in the Business Studies paper he sat for during the matric examinations. Together with Thabo Herbert Tema (President Mangope Technical High School) and Ithumeleng Moses Mofokeng (Vaal Reefs Technical High School), Thapelo is among an elite group of students in the country that managed to score maximum marks in one of their subjects. “I feel very proud of myself. It was hard work

but all the effort I put in my studies has paid off,” Thapelo told Leseding News soon after his achievements were announced in Sun City. “I thank God for what I have achieved and for helping me all the way. I also thank my family for the support that they gave me. “This is a very special moment for me and my school but I could not have done all this alone. It was a tough experience. I was nervous during the examinations but I had to remain confident throughout,” he added. Thapelo will now be carrying on with his studies at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). “I will be studying Cost Management Accounting at TUT,” Thapelo said. “It is a four-year course and I will continue to work extremely hard because it is a very long road to success,” he added.

farirai@lesedingnews.co.za Farirayi Kahwemba

The year 2013 saw the third graduating class of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) completing their National Senior Certificate, and for the first time the students wrote the Independent Examinations Board (IEB Matric).

The class of 2013 attained 100% pass rate with all students obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree pass and a total of 105 distinctions.Leading the way to academic excellence in 2013 is OWLAG Dux Scholar, Rorisang Nkomo.Rorisang tragically lost her father on the last day of her examinations. Her results are nothing short of phenomenal, achieving 8 distinctions. Rorisang, who hails from Rustenburg, left home at the tender age of 11 to join OWLAG. “I have learned that life is about more than your marks or the place that you come from, it is about what you have to give back,” said Rorisang of her time at the academy. As all OWLAG girls come from challenged backgrounds, it is necessary for them to apply for financial support in order to attend university after

leaving the academy. Rorisang had applied for a number of bursaries and scholarships but has received the Allan Gray Scholarship, one of the country’s top awards; taking her one step closer to fulfilling her dream of studying a Bachelors of Accounting at the University of Johannesburg. In addition to her studies, Rorisang dreams of creating a project aimed at up-skilling women and girls from her home town of Phokeng, Rustenburg and to play a significant role in changing the traditional mindsets towards women that exists in the region and in South Africa. In so doing she says she hopes to give back what she has so generously been given by Ms Oprah Winfrey at OWLAG. “The 2013 matric class is an extremely special class of girls, with whom I will be departing OWLAG… The responsibility we all have of being given the gift of this school, is the responsibility of giving back and that is what sets OWLAG girls apart. They lead the charge to not only transform themselves, but also their communities and the world around them,” said the outgoing Head of Academy Anne van Zyl.

ricky@lesedingnews.co.zaRicky Dire

levy@lesedingnews.co.zaLevy Mokwele

Rural boy makes NW proud

Phokeng’s Rorisang is OWLAG top performer Thapelo – Ithuteng

School’s pride and joy

POSITION SuRNAme FIRST NAmeS SchOOLTOTAL 6 beST SubJecTS

1 ROUx ANNE-MARI ELIzABETH POTCHEFSTROOM GYMNASIUM 1709

2 DE VILLIERS PIETER MARx HOER VOLKSKOOL 1703

3 POHL SUSANNA MARIA LICHTENBURG HIGH SCHOOL 1700

4 VAN JAARSVELD MAARTEN JACOBUS HARTBEESPOORT HIGH SCHOOL 1697

5 HAVENGA OKKERT CORNELIUS LICHTENBURG HIGH SCHOOL 1693

5 YACOOB AHMED zINNIAVILLE SECONDARY 1693

6 GROBLER MARIKE LICHTENBURG HIGH SCHOOL 1691

6 DE LA HARPE KARA ISABEL POTCHEFSTROM GIMNASIUM 1691

7 RETIEF ANRI LICHTENBURG HIGH SCHOOL 1688

8 HASSIM zAFEERAH POTCHEFSTROOM GIRLS HIGH 1664

9 HASSIM YASEERAH POTCHEFSTROOM GIRLS HIGH 1670

10 WILLEMSE KINAH POTCHEFSTROOM GIRLS HIGH 1654

11 MDLALANI VUSI PETRUS ELETSA SECONDARY SCHOOL 1640

12 MOKAA MMANOKO GOITSEONE PATIENCE

ST. ANNE’S HIGH SCHOOL 1637

13 TEMA THABO HERBERT PRES MANGOPE TECH HIGH SCHOOL 1636

14 HUMA THABANG zINNIAVILLE SECONDARY 1632

15 VOLSCHENK DANIEL LEOPOLD POTCHEFSTROOM GIMNASIUM 1631

16 NTLADI HERMAN SEEMA THULARE HIGH SCHOOL 1630

17 CALASSE AIMEE KOSTER HIGH SCHOOL 1628

18 RASEROKA EMMANUEL TEBOGO MMANKALA TECH AND COMM HIGH SCHOOL 1627

19 FOURIE FALLON ALLISON POTCHEFSTROOM GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL 1625

20 DU TOIT LEONE WESTVALIA HIGH SCHOOL 1624

Leseding News06 29 January Leseding News - RustenburgThe streets of Rustenburg – especially those in the Central Business District (CBD) – have turned into a political platform for the various parties that will be contesting this year’s general elections.In the Leseding News issue of 25 September 2013, we reported how the African National Congress (ANC) was the first on the campaign trail by erecting its posters in Rustenburg and surrounding areas.Today, more than four months down the line, other political parties such as the Democratic Alliance (DA), Congress of the People (COPE) and Agang SA have joined the fray – pasting and hanging their posters on lamp poles as they look to attract the attention of voters and those intending to register for the polls.With the final voter registration weekend of 8 and 9 February fast approaching, such canvassing is set to increase with all political formations likely to become more aggressive in their attempts to sway the vote in

their direction. The ANC recently launched its election manifesto in which it pledged to: “Empower, educate and create jobs for youth through job placement and internship schemes.” The ruling party said it will also allocate 60% of employment in infrastructure and other projects for the youth while also promoting youth employment and training incentive schemes. The ANC, which also seeks to prioritise the fight against crime and corruption, also pledged to: “Promote investment and access to credit in the productive economy from the financial sector, including development finance institutions, through bolder and far-reaching reforms.”The DA is also targeting the youth vote. “The North-West is the Province with the fastest and most DA growth in South-Africa. Our focus is on the Born-frees, who are the first generation born after 1994. We have launched a series of videos on the importance of registration and the feeling of voting for the first time,” DA 2014 campaign manager in the North West, Joe McGluva, told Leseding News. “It is the youth who are mostly affected when it comes to unemployment, poor education, lack of decent healthcare, skills development and opportunities to succeed in life,” he added. Agang SA, which will be contesting the general elections for the very first time this year, revealed that they are currently focusing on recruiting as many members as they can. Stein Mopedi, who is Agang SA’s communications officer in Rustenburg, said the party would hold a meeting in March aimed at recruiting more members. “We will be having a meeting during the first week of March with the main aim of registering as many members as we can,” Mopedi said.“The elections are near now and this is why we have also put up our placards. We have received a lot of encouragement from the public since our formation and for us the important thing is to ensure that our ideas and solutions go out to the people,” Mopedi said. While the actual dates of the election are yet to be announced, the polls are likely to be held between April and July.

farirai@lesedingnews.co.za Farirayi Kahwemba

Parties jostle to woo voters

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Leseding News - Rustenburg

PLATINUM PEOPLE

COMEDIAN: Hector Mputle (PHOTO: FARIRAYI KAHWEMBA)

To many people who have watched him cracking hilarious jokes at several events and social gatherings, standup comedian Hector Mputle is just another “funny guy.”

But apart from making people laugh to bits, Mputle is also an established businessman, farmer, father, husband and a devout Christian.He has also travelled to seventy four (74) countries – an experience he says has broadened his perspective towards life and strengthened him spiritually. “I enjoy travelling. It is my ambition to travel to 100 countries,” Mputle told Leseding News. “My passion of travelling comes from my background in tourism, which I developed in my business ventures. Tourism is an experience and I travel for that experience. “I have travelled to many African countries such as Nigeria, Uganda and Egypt. I have just returned to South Africa from Uganda,” he added. “I am a very inquisitive person by nature and this also drives me to continue exploring other countries. I believe that my travels have strengthened me. I am very spiritual and before I travel, I kneel down and ask God to protect me. “So this has strengthened me spiritually as I have to rely on God in everything that I do. You also begin to appreciate God’s creation everywhere you travel,” Mputle explained. Mputle is involved in two business ventures – 360 Cure and Hector Mputle Incorporated (which focuses on the restoration of the arts and crafts) and Hector Mputle Incorporated (which is involved in areas such as risk management, capitalization and funding as well as mergers and acquisitions).

“People know me as a comedian but I am also a farmer. I have goats and chickens and I am also involved in producing vegetables. I dedicate my Saturdays to the activities around the farm,” he said. Born in the Naledi area of Soweto in 1971, a young Hector was raised by his grandmother in Luka. “My grandmother used to wake me up very early in the morning and give me 100 fatcakes to sell to people in the area. I would get 10% of the sales. This experience developed my business acumen,” Mputle said. “I was the only child being raised by my grandmother so I would do all the chores – even those that are traditionally considered as ‘girl’s work’. This kind of upbringing helped me because I can cook, wash dishes, clean the house and iron my clothes,” He added. He did his primary and secondary education at the schools around the area before enrolling for a degree in Education at the North West University (which was then called the University of Bophuthatswana). “I was involved in many activities at school including drama. I developed my passion for comedy while I was at university. I also got in trouble on a number of occasions by the authorities for imitating President (Lucas) Mangope during university events and gatherings. “Today, I am a teacher by profession but I have never been involved in any formal teaching,” he reveals. A father of four, Mputle is also a family man. “I am married with four children. I enjoy the joys of fatherhood such as dropping and picking up the kids at school. I have been involved in business for almost 18 years now but my family plays a very important role in my life,” he explained.

Getting to know: Hector Mputle

0729 JanuaryLeseding News - Rustenburg

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in this section (Rustenburg/ Brits editions), contact Lee Peters on

014 597 9980.

08 29 January Leseding News - RustenburgLeseding News - Rustenburg

SPORTLeseding

STRETCHING TIME: Platinum Stars players training at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus(PHOTO: FARIRAYI KAHWEMBA)

“It is the desire of the club, in 2014, to continue winning as many matches as we can. Already, we have won two cup competitions but the hunger to win more is still there. This is the feeling among everyone at this club.” These are the words of Aubrey Molobi, who is the club’s Media Relations and Supporters Head. Molobi says the club’s players – who are back in training following a well-deserved festive break – are showing the same determination that made them stand out among the rest of the teams playing in the local topflight league. “The players were given an extended break because of the heavy workload they endured, especially towards the end of last year.“You must understand that they reached two cup finals and won both of them. This is in addition to the league fixtures that they had to fulfill in between these cup competitions,” he added. “It is back to business now and we are now focusing on carrying on where we left off. “As we said at the beginning of the season, our desire is to make sure that we win the league championship and it is important for us to start the year in a positive way by winning our first match,” he explained.Dikwena – as the team is known among their supporters – played a total of 22 games in the first

half of the season (14 in the Absa Premiership and four each in the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout competitions).However, as they prepare for their match against Polokwane City on February 4, Platinum Stars will have to make do without a number of their key players who will be representing South Africa in a continental competition. The players – goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane, defenders Vuyo Mere and Tsepo Gumede, and midfielder Lindokuhle Mbatha – are all in camp with the national side taking part in the African Nations Championships (CHAN). However, this is unlikely to derail the team’s preparations as they have a large pool of players capable of standing their ground. The match between Platinum Stars and Polokwane City will be important to both teams – for different reasons. For Dikwena, who are 5th on the log with 22 points after 14 matches, a victory would take them closer to Kaizer Chiefs who lead the log standings with 30 points. For Polokwane City, a win is also vital as they look to amass as many points as possible and avoid being relegated to the lower league. Currently, Polokwane are 13th on the log with 15 points from 15 matches.

Platinum Stars brace for 2014 action