Year 7
189th Edition
Friday 25 November 2016
Tel: 013 262 4416
Sammy survived attack with bricks, now lives in fear
A Ga-Molepane community member, Sammy Mohlahlo (44), is living in fear. He was attacked while on duty as a security guard at Molepane Senior Secondary School. Sammy claims he
received death threats days before the attack, when he receive a phone call and text messages instructing him to refrain his taxi from operating between Molepane and Jane Furse.During the
attack that took place in the early hours of Wednesday 9 November, three criminals forced entry into a classroom when Sammy was patrolling. They found him inside and one of the criminals hit him with a brick. He collapsed and they threw him outside and continued kicking and hitting him with more bricks. They undressed him, tied him with a wire, throwing a pile of face brick that were lying around on top of him and left him to die. The criminals proceeded and gained entry to the strong room, stealing 3 laptops and 23 tablets. According to Sammy, the attack could be influenced by his business as a taxi operator at the Molepane taxi sub-route that operates between Molepane and Jane Furse. “After I bought the taxi a few months ago, I
started receiving unknown calls and text messages that death is awaiting me at the doorstep of my working place. I was warned that my children will be orphaned if I do not refrain my taxi from operating between Molepane and Jane Furse,” he said. He added the criminals thought he will die when throwing a pile of bricks on top of him during the attack. “These people were not just aiming to steal the school property but to kill me. If it wasn’t for a community member who was passing by during that time, I would have been death,” he said. Sammy claims the school principal and School Governing Body (SGB) members are only concerned about the school’s missing property and not about his attack and safety. He said the principal and SGB did not bother to visit him in hospital whereas they heard from community members that he was in a critical condition. “The only case reported by the school management was that of theft. They did not tell the police about my attack and I ended up hospitalized. I managed to open a case of assault GBH after discharged from Jane Furse Hospital,” he said. The father of three children said he is now living in fear, not knowing when his attackers will come and finish him off because he did not refrain his taxi from operating in the area. “My life is in danger. I am concerned about the safety of my family. I don’t know when will these people strike again because they are still out there,” he said. A community leader Loyd Mankge says residents are angry that the school principal and SGB did not show support to a community member who was attacked and injured during the incident. “They did not tell the community about the incident and also did not report to the police that the on duty guard was attacked and injured. They only reported about the missing property. This means a life of a community member is not important to them,” he said. Mankge claims the principal also refused to attend a community meeting that was scheduled for Saturday 12 November. “When we invite him to attend the meeting, he said he spends time with family during the weekends and not on school related issues,” he said. Jane Furse SAPS Spokesperson Thapelo Lesufi confirmed that a case of attempted murder was opened at their station and is under investigation.
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DISPATCH FRIDAY - 25 November 2016
TUPS endorsed as Indigenous and Recreation Sport A Sekhukhune invented home-grown sporting code, Thavhanacle Ultra-physio Sport (TUPS), has been endorsed as an Indigenous and Recreational Sport by the Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport Ms Anroux Marais. The sport was invented by a Sekhukhune resident, activist and an employee at Sekhukhune District
Municipality, Puleng Mmotla. TUPS was endorsed on Tuesday 8 November 2016 at the headquarters of Western Cape Provincial Government in Cape Town where TUPS sport inventor Mr Puleng Mmotla, made an impressive presentation to the Cultural Affairs and Sport Ministry panel. As a follow-up to the success-
ful meeting, TUPS Sport will hold an all-day demonstration match at Piketberg Farm in Cape Town. The demonstration match also granted opportunity for the Minister of Cultural Affair and Sport to watch and experience the TUPS play concept together with the community of the Western Cape. The demonstration event
was the beginning of a multi-fold partnership between Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs, TUPS Sport and African Agri Investments. “Key among areas of interest and cooperation for these role players is addressing the challenges of alcohol abuse, underage drinking, lack of diversity in sport and recreational activities for farm and rural communities,” said TUPS inventor, Puleng Mmotla. “We are so highly motivated by the warm reception and the positive response from Minister Marais and her office. We are eager to share the joy of playing TUPS with the minister and her office, together with the community of Western Cape. The immediate goal is to establish one TUPS Club in every farm community in the country. Once these clubs are established we aim to build their capacity and self-sustainance through the TUPS leadership and coaching programmes,” said Mmotla. He added that the efforts to reach out and introduce TUPS in all the provinces of South Africa is part of the objective to get the TUPS Sport recognized by the Department of Sport and Recreation (SRSA) and the South African Sport Confederations and Olympics Committee (SASCOC). “I wish to see TUPS in the country in its blue colours proudly marching into the 2017 Indigenous Games which are earmarked to be held in Limpopo. But before then, there is a lot of ground work to be done. The communities and our partners must begin to witness the manifestation of championship culture which is all about getting more young people to play TUPS Sport for fun, fitness and friendship. I am excited to learn that there are more social partners who view TUPS as a reliable sport movement in ‘Taking alcohol away from the hands of minors’, and we will stop at nothing to illustrate the social impact of TUPS Sport,” added Mmotla Mmotla said among the potential partners for TUPS Sport is African Agri Investments which is a company committed to consistent, coherent and sustainable farm sport programmes that aim to ensure farming communities. This includes schools which are afforded mainstream platforms to be availed by the introduction of TUPS in the country. “These platforms include having provincial TUPS teams for the 2017 Indigenous Games, from the ranks of rural young people,” he said. Mmotla concluded by indicating that TUPS Sport will continue to raise funds for the purchase of TUPS Sport equipment and sporting kit. This will assist to keep the farm teams motivated and to independently organise their own activities such as; inter-farm tournaments, and ultimately the TUPS Sport National Farms Festival which provinces will be bidding to host annually.
DISPATCH FRIDAY - 25 November 2016
BPSA dispute appointment of HR candidate Elias Motsoaledi Councillor and Bolsheviks Party of South Africa leader, Seun Mogotji claims the party will act against the municipality’s recommendations of appointing the suspended Tubatse Local Municipality official, Joseph Motha. According to Mogotji, the municipality is planning to appoint Motha as a Deputy Director of Human Resources in the municipality. Motha, a convicted fraudster, was a prosecutor at the Middleburg Magistrate’s Court and was arrested and convicted for fraud and forgery charges. He was released on parole after serving 18 months of his five year fraud sentence in 2008. Motha was offered a job as a Labour Relations Officer in Greater Tubatse Local Municipality soon after his release. He was later promoted to Manager of Legal Services. Now it is alleged that Motha helped a law firm to claim R1.4 Million extra for a R453 720-00 job. A 2011 investigation report conducted by the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), revealed that Motha was irregularly appointed at Greater Tubatse Local Municipality after he was released from prison. His job was not even advertised. Coghsta investigation documents revealed that Motha’s department hired a law firm based in Polokwane to conduct a forensic investigation into three officials in 2013. The law firm Motha hired subcontracted another law firm that charged R453 720. The municipality paid the law firm Motha hired R1.4 Million for the job, but the subcontracted law firm was never paid. It then sued the municipality R614 212 including interests. In a council meeting that was held on 14 December 2015, it was resolved that the municipality should apply for a court order to be rescinded. According to the council meeting minutes, the municipality has to pay a total of R2 076 714. The total fruitless expenditure that the municipality could have been avoided is R1 622 994. The matter has been investigated by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). According to the SIU report, it shows that Motha and the former acting municipal manager at Greater Tubatse Local Municipality Adelaide Monyepao were happy about the fees charged by the law firm that Motha hired. Mogotji says they will object if Motha is appointed as Deputy Director of Human Resource in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality. “This official is under suspension in Tubatse for fraud. It is obvious that he is not a suitable candidate to be appointed in the municipality,” he said. He added that BPSA is aware that certain people are recommended for jobs without checking their status and they will continue fighting nepotism and jobs for pals in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality. “We are aware that employees appointed recently and specifically those in senior positions are politically connected to the management in the municipality. We are sick of political deployments, we are going to fight it,” added Mogotji. Mogotji proposed an intervention to check all recently appointed and promoted officials. “A serious consideration and intervention is required to establish if senior officials who were recently appointed meet the credentials to occupy those positions. BPSA will not keep quite while nepotism is prevailing in the municipality denying opportunities to deserving and disadvantaged individuals who can occupy those positions legally,” he said.
Drinking water leads to a theft sentence
A 24 year old man named, Lepoti Gift Mahlobogoane was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment or R500-00 fine by the Mdutjana District Court in Siyabuswa. The accused was found guilty of theft after drinking still water to the value of R9.99 inside the shop and left without paying. According to Constable Inanda Shipalani, Dennilton SAPS Spokesperson, Mahlobogoane drank Bonaqua Pump still water at Shoprite Moutse Mall on Saturday 13 November. “He then left the shop without paying for the still water. He was immediately approached by the security guards and failed to produce the receipt. The police were called and he was arrested,” she said. She said the accused was sentenced on Thursday 17 November at the Mdutjana District Court after he was found guilty of theft. “He was arrested and detained in police custody until the day he’ll be sentenced. If he fails to pay the fine, he will be transported to Paxton Prison in Witbank where he will be serving his sentence. The police welcome the sentence,” she said.
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DISPATCH FRIDAY - 25 November 2016
Former learner contributes to renovate school
Vusi Ntuli, a former learner at Tlou Kwena Primary School in Elandsdoorn, Dennilton contributed to see the school in good shape again. This Enye
Phez’ Kwenye (PTY) LTD director was touched after the school’s roof was blown away by a heavy storm in 2010. Since then, the Education Department did not repair the roof. The school building is very old with broken windows, a leaking roof and walls that need to be repainted. Vusi Ntuli and another former learner at Tlou Kwena Primary, Promise Mnisi, took an initiative and went out to seek donations from different institutions including government departments and private companies. By some institutions their request was turned down but they managed to get assistance from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) that contributed R68 000-00 to cover all renovation costs. The renovations started earlier this month. On Thursday 10 November, Ntuli mobilized community members to paint the walls and replace broken windows in the entire school. “We see education as a key to unlock the potential of people and to enable them to become part of a vibrant South Africa. Thus this project is not just about a school, it is about a community and ultimately our country, and what is possible when the right people come together to make a difference,” he said. He said
in a visit to the school in 2010, it was apparent that the school is not suitable for teaching and learning. With the broken windows being a norm rather than an exception, and the state of disintegrating blocks that were blown away was impacting on the ability of the school to function effectively. He said they are still going to assist the school in terms of career guidance and other donations. Ntuli went on and said they were aiming to contribute to the school on Mandela day but they postponed due to the instability of politics in the area. The school Principal Mr Hlabane told the Dispatch that they are very grateful for what the former learners have done to the school. “They assisted us a lot and we are very proud of them. It is the first time that former pupils make such wonderful efforts and took a stand to assist this school. We express our gratitude for their efforts,” he said. Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality donated 5 computers and 2 printers while the Community members volunteering to Department of Educa- renovate Tlou Kwena Primary School tion donated sanitary in Elandsdoorn, Dennilton. towels to pupils.
Tension over multi-million rand worth of farm
Tension erupted between members of the Kopano Disabled LTD after the company’s eleven founding members claimed the Chairperson Seun Mathale expelled them for self benefit. The company members claim Mathale removed them without their knowledge. He then replaced the founding members with another group of people known by him. Some of the new members that replaced the founding members are not even living with disabilities. Kopano Disabled LTD was formed in Tafelkop Village and was registered on 29 June 2005 with a total of 14 members. On 8 December 2008, the company received a funding of R4 760 940 from the Department of Agriculture. On 23 April 2009, a 170 hectares Farm was bought at Swatskop near Marble Hall by Kopano Disabled Ltd with an amount of R4 760 940. Mathale then went to apply for another certificate in September 2012, using the name Kopano Primary Disabled. One of the company’s founding member, Lawrence Matsepe claims they lodged a complaint with the Public Protector in April 2014, demanding that the expelled members be reinstated and that Mathale should be held accountable for corruption and fraud. Matsepe added that they engaged in a number of meetings with Mathale but he refused to bring back the expelled beneficiaries who are founding members of the company. He said the farm employed a number of people and is fully operational growing vegetables where Mathale and other people benefit illegally. He said the farm is believed to be making millions of rands. Matsepe explained they demand they nullification of the new company Kopano Primary Disabled by the Public Protector and Mathale be removed from the company. He stated that as the new Public Protector has been appointed, they are afraid that she will come with new recommendations and the matter is going to take a very long time to be resolved. Kopano Primary Disabled Chairperson Seun Mathale slammed claims that he removed members illegally for self benefit. He said Matsepe and other members became interested after the company started to be succesfull. “These people were not participating in the company. We were struggling to see the company successful and they were not attending meetings. We had to remove them guided by the CIPC constitution that if members take too long to participate in meetings and other related issues they could be replaced with other interested members. They only came out when they heard we bought a farm in Marble Hall, claiming to be members of the company and want to benefit,” he said.
DISPATCH FRIDAY - 25 November 2016
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SAPS prayer following tragedies hitting police officers Members of the Groblersdal and Motetema SAPS held a prayer service at Motetema Police Station on Thursday 17 November. This follows a bus accidents where 29 SAPS members stationed in Motetema and Groblersdal sustained injuries and were hospitalized on Sunday 13 November. Community members, Groblersdal Cluster Commander Brigadier Mogwaneng, police officers from other stations and senior police officers from the province were in attendance. During the prayer session, Speaker after speaker was shocked about the tragedies hitting the station in a short space of time. The injured officials were on their way to bury one of their members when the accident occurred. “When the accident occured, the police officials were on their way to bury a fellow member, Constable Khosa who passed away on Monday 7 November. Khosa was stationed in Motetema Police Station. The officers did not manage to reach their destination to bury Khosa due to the accident that occurred on Sunday 13 November,� said Motetema SAPS Spokesperson Constable Boitumelo Matlala. Matlala added that another SAPS member stationed in Motetema, Constable Tshibeyahope died in a car crash on Sunday 30 October.
TB Case Finding Door to Door Campaign at Kgaphamadi Village Limpopo MEC for Health Dr Phophi Ramathuba visited Kgaphamadi Village near Kgobokwane in Moutse, for a Provincial TB Case Finding Door to Door Campaign on Tuesday 15 November. The campaign was conducted as part of the department to encourage the community to test for TB. The Department of Health was also encouraging those having the symptoms of TB including; coughing for more than two weeks, drenching night sweats without any effort, fever and loss of weight to visit their clinic for a free TB screening and testing to reduce the spread and unnecessary deaths due to TB. During the campaign, MEC Ramathuba was joined by the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality Mayor Cllr Julia Mathebe and representatives of the Mathebe Tribal Authority. Addressing the people, Ramathuba stressed that Non-Profit Organizations funded by the government should pay Home Based Care givers accordingly much to the delight of Home Based Care teams. MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba and Mayor Cllr Julia Mathebe visited various households during the campaign where residents responded positively. The campaign was also aiming to encourage people to get tested for other non-communicable diseases such as HIV/Aids. The department recently mentioned places in the province and targeted them because of their huge contribution to TB cases in the province.
Limpopo MEC for Department of Health Dr Phophi Ramathuba addressing the people at Kgaphamadi Village during a TB Case Finding Door to Door Campaign.
Matlala said both deceased constables were coming from the Tzaneen area. The accident occurred at approximately 6am on the R71 Road in Magoebaskloof. The bus overturned leading to most passengers sustaining minor to moderate injuries. When ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene, the bus was lying on its side and all occupants were found
Police officers praying for their fellow colleagues involved in a bus accident when on the way to bury their fellow SAPS member.
on the side of the road. Van Velden Provincial Hospital in Polokwane All 29 occupants were assessed by paramedics for treatment. The majority of them sustained and rushed to Tzaneen Medi Clinic and also to minor scrapes and bruises.
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DISPATCH FRIDAY - 25 November 2016
Police makes several arrests during operation Three suspects were arrested by the Marble Hall Police during a operation held on Thursday 17 November. The operation was held in Marble Hall Town where different police units were taking part. During the operation, hawkers, vendors and other suspecting people were
searched by the police for dangerous weapons and illegal substances. A 66 year old woman named Lisberth Thamagane was arrested after been found in possession of concoctions. According to Constable Lethunya Mmuroa, Marble Hall SAPS Spokesperson, Thamagane was found selling the concoctions in the stalls. “She was approached and found with concoctions worth R30000. She was arrested and was released after paying an admission of guilt fine of R50000,” he said. He added that two other suspects were also arrested for possession of dagga. “The pair was also arrested during the operation. Tshepiso Moswane (36) and Kalado Chauke (26) were approached and searched. Packets of dagga were found in their possession. The dagga is estimated to the street value of R60. They were arrested for being in possession of dagga and they were released after paying admission of guilt fine of R300 each,” said Mmuroa.
DISPATCH FRIDAY - 25 November 2016
Marble Hall and Siyabuswa football Masters battle on the field On Sunday 20 November, Marble Hall Masters FC hosted Siyabuswa Masters FC for a friendly soccer match. The match was organized at Marble Hall Sports Fields where each participant was encouraged to be competitive yet supportive. When the match started, both teams were very consistent on the field and playing good passes to their teammates. They attacked each other but failed to score goals in the first half. In the second half of the match, the host, Marble Hall Masters scored an opening goal by Patrick Mampuru in the 49th minute. After the goal the host kept pressuring the visitors. They extended the lead when Moruti Maake scored a second goal in the 55th minute making it 2-0 to Marble Hall Masters. The visitors bounced back in the 55th minute when Sipho Mtshweni scored the first goal of Siyabuswa Masters. After a beautiful goal by Sipho, the visitors started dominating the match. An equalizer was scored by Sipho’s brother Khura Mtshweni in the 61st minute making the scores 2-2.
Towards the end of the match, both teams tried their level best to score a third goal which would have been paved their way to victory but they were denied by defenders. The official 90 minutes ended with a 2-2 draw, calling the teams for penalty shoot-out. In the penalties, Siyabuswa Masters slaughtered Marble Hall Masters with a 1311 score. Siyabuswa goalie managed to save two penalties while marble Hall Masters goalie saved only one penalty.
Marble Hall Masters goalie being beaten by Khura Mtshweni who sent him into the wrong direction to make the scores 2-2 in the 61st minute. Marble Hall Masters on their attack to score a beautiful goal by Moruti Maake.
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DISPATCH FRIDAY - 25 November 2016
Sports Against Crime soccer match drawn Blue Birds FC hosted Dennilton SAPS for a Sports Against Crime soccer match. The match was organized at Blue Birds Sports Ground in Leeufontein RDP Section on Wednesday 16 November. SAPS went to the match without some of its key players like Mandla ‘Matlaba’ Magagula who was ruled out the matches due to a knee injury. Magagula is expected to return early next year. The host dominated the first half. They played good passes and made attacks but could not hit the target. A few minutes after being pressured, the visitors started playing long passes into the box. They then scored an early goal in the 12th minute by Walter Kotelo, a close range in the box beating the goalie after a square pass by Nico, 1-0 it was to Dennilton SAPS. After the goal by Walter, SAPS kept the pressure on where their mid-field players started pushing forward. This led to the hosts making frequent counter attacks and put SAPS defenders under pressure. An equalizer was scored by Blue Birds after a pressured SAPS defender mistakably passed a ball to the opponent. The hosts’ Klate made no mistake and used the opportunity to score a equalizing goal for his side, 1-1 it was. Two minutes after the equalizer, SAPS grabbed another lead when Nico make a counter attack penetrating two defenders and scored a beautiful goal with a hanger facing the goalie, 2-1 it was to the visitors in the 23rd minute. A few minutes later, Nico had a chance to extend the lead when penetrating three defenders entering the box, his shot went straight to the goalie’s hands. Towards the 30th minute, the host started dominating the match. They managed to score an equalizer, a long range out of the box by Filter beating the goalie after another mistake made by SAPS defenders. Blue Birds’ goal celebration did not last for long when SAPS’ striker, Nico, scored a third goal for his side. A close range inside the box sending the goalkeeper into the wrong way after a good counter attack played with teammates, 3-2 it was to Dennilton SAPS in the 32nd minute. Towards the end of the first half, SAPS were given a penalty after the host player conceded a hand ball in the box. SAPS mid-fielder, Sparks Mahlangu took the penalty and sent the goalie to the wrong side extending the visitor’s lead to 4-2. The first half ended 42 to SAPS. In the second half, both teams started by playing good passes in the mid-field, but unable to penetrate each other’s defenders to score goals. This led to SAPS players starting to shoot from long ranges trying to beat the goalie but shots went off target. A good attempt was made by Blue Birds in the 53rd minute after a counter into the box, the hosts were unlucky when Klate’s shot rebounded on the goalie and was rescued by a defender at close range. Towards the 60th minute, Blue Birds started dominating the match, leading SAPS playing half ground and stopped attacking. A free kick was given to the host in a dangerous position, a few metres out of the box after a SAPS player conceded a hands ball. Bisto’s shot went wide. The host scored a third goal by Bisto, a close range sending the goalie to the wrong way after a counter attack in position 7, 4-3 it was in the 63rd minute. A few minutes later in the 67th minute, the host equalized by Ponka when receiving a ball from a square pass in position 11 and beat the goalie to make it 4-4. SAPS bounced back in the 76th minute and scored a leading goal by Nico, a beautiful goal penetrating three defenders and sending the goalkeeper to the wrong way, 5-4 it was to Dennilton SAPS. The host kept the pressure on when they equalized the scores in the 79th minute by Thabo when he scored facing the goalie after a counter, making the score 5-5. After the goal the hosts continued to pressure SAPS attempting to score more goals but denied by defenders. Towards the 90th minute, SAPS defender conceded a free kick just a few meters out of the box. The host’s last chance of grabbing the lead was shattered when Bisto’s shot went off target. The match ended 5-5 to Blue Birds FC and Dennilton SAPS FC.