2017
R1-20/FREE
27 January
Modimolle land-grab Ronél van Jaarsveld
An open piece of municipal land near the R101 at Modimolle became a political battleground this week, after the EFF and ANC illegally handed out stands on the 67 hectares. After a week of negotiations and expectation, there was no clarity on the path ahead by the time of going to press. Approximately 700 people have gathered at the reservoir next to Phagameng since Thursday, 19 January, where they allegedly placed their names on a list and received a 10mx10m parcel of land. By Wednesday, 25 January, a large number of people were already clearing the land. In places, structures were being erected. Neighbouring farmer Jaco Vosloo of Woodvale saw his land invaded by squatters. He discouraged them. Alfred Maremane, also known as Madambi, was at the head of the unrest in Modimolle in March 2016, and is once again spearheading this action, but refused to comment. Maremane, clad in EFF colours, confirmed that the project was a cooperation between the ANC and the EFF. This step by the two parties placed the DAcontrolled municipality in a tight spot, since the DA is at the helm of the municipality thanks to the help of the EFF and the VF+. According to sources it appears that the delay in acting against the squatters is being caused by a power struggle between the DA’s management team and the ANC’s Municipal Manager, Oupa Sebola. Sebola apparently refused to sign documents that were necessary to obtain an urgent court order. The law requires that these documents be signed by the Municipal Manager. On Monday and Tuesday, local and provincial representatives of the EFF and the DA met until late. Jossey Buthane, the EFF’s provincial secretary and Desiree van der Walt, a DA Member of Parliament, attended the meetings. According to Van der Walt, it was agreed that the organizers would ask the squatters to withdraw.
Fence nabbed in Bela-Bela Page 2
A committee will be appointed to work with the municipality in order to speed up the development of the land and obtain funding from the government. Buthane’s version is that the agreement specifies that the land be given to the people currently occupying it. “We appointed a steering committee
yesterday,” he said. “The city planner will be visiting people today (on Wednesday, 25 January) to show them where they can’t build, because services need to be installed there. At the next council meeting the council will decide to give the land to them.” He added that things are moving quickly. By Wednesday, 26 January, there was no
sign that the squatters planned to withdraw. Vehicles were still dropping off wire, poles, and shovels. The squatters who spoke to The BEAT’s sister paper The Post, were full of hope. “What can we do?” one young woman said. “They said that we can have land here and that the water trucks will be bringing water. We are twelve people in a twobedroom tin shack in Phagameng, many of whom are children.” The other squatters had similar stories. Some of them complained that municipal and state officials, business-people and the organizer of the landgrab, Madambi, claimed several stands for themselves. There was also concern about expensive vehicles visiting the site. “The poor should receive land first,” one elderly man said. Van der Walt said that the ANC is exploiting the situation to try and overthrow the DA council. “The ANC did nothing for 23 years to give these people land,” she said. “Now they are putting these people’s lives and possessions at risk. We support land for the people. But we do not want to give them housing of poor quality, such as the HOP houses. We believe that processes need to be followed in order to allocate land to the people.” She also told reporters that once structures have been erected, it will be very difficult to install water and sewerage facilities. According to municipal spokesperson Patrick Shika more than 700 stands have been set out on land near the dumping ground by the municipality, but they are still waiting for approval from the Surveyor General in order to proceed. If the squatters do not leave the land as per the agreement between the DA and the EFF, the municipality will be forced to obtain a court order in order to remove them, which may take some time.
Mayoral columns
Still struggling with Phagameng schools
Township tour for youth upliftment
The EFF and the ANC have been illegally handing out land near Modimolle. Photo: Ronél van Jaarsveld
Jossy Buthane, the Provincial Secretary of the EFF, visited the site this week. Photo: Ronél van Jaarsveld
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
CRIME
2 |
beateditor@gmail.com |
Man in court for selling stolen goods
27 January, 2017 Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za
Another break-in at a retail store
Some of the stolen items which the suspect was found in possession of when he was apprehended. Photo: Lizzy Bapela This microwave was also confiscated and held at the station for identification. Photo: Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela The Bela-Bela police recently pounced on businesses that bought stolen goods and confiscated the items. Bela-Bela Detectives’ Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Abel Phetla said that a complainant from Leseding Section reported to the police station on Thursday, 19 January, that his house was broken into and a TV, fridge and microwave oven stolen. The police then opened a case and conducted investigations, leading them to the 22-year-old suspect, Maphori Makoene. The suspect is unemployed and resides in the township. Colonel Phetla said that Makoene was apprehended after thorough investigations. He was cornered and arrested in the street in Line 3 following a tip-off. By that time, he had already sold the oven and TV at a pawn shop on the R101 next to Swift Diesel petrol station, and the fridge at a fridge fixing workshop in line 2 of the old township. When asked how the confiscation went, Phetla said that the buyers know the game. That when the police arrive, they have no choice but to comply as they know that the risk of buying unidentified goods is that the
Lieutenant-Colonel Abel Phetla displays the stolen TV and fridge. Photo: Lizzy Bapela items might have been stolen. He added that they handed them over without any hustles and lost their money. Makoene was detained and charged with burglary and theft. He was expected to appear again before the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court shortly, following his first court appearance on Monday, 23 January. The police were still waiting for the alleged owner of the stolen items to come forth and identify them before handing them over to him.
“Doom prophet” not fazed by interdict
Another retail store in Bela-Bela has recently suffered a break-in. Five suspects broke into Ackermans on Friday, 20 January, and stole more than 50 cellphones, memory sticks, earphone sets and power banks. Lieutenant-Colonel Abel Phetla of the Bela-Bela police said that the case was reported after it was discovered on the morning of Saturday 21, and the stolen items were calculated to the value of R500 000. The colonel said they received information that there was a young man
walking around the township with a plastic bag full of the said items, which he was selling. He added that the police traced and found him without having sold even one of the items. Phetla further said the police managed to arrest the suspect, Thabiso Pollen Swarts with some of the stolen items. He also said the suspect took the police to his parents’ home in Mooka Street in Line 3, where he had hidden the rest of the items. Swarts told the police his four accomplices reside in Gauteng but he did not know the addresses. Swarts appeared before the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 23 January, and he is expected back in court shortly.
The Bela-Bela police spokesperson Charges dropped Sergeant Hester van Zyl said the man was in the process of being criminally charged against escapee for alleged house burglary when he Justin Steyn Criminal charges against the man who managed to escape from custody at the Bela-Bela police station, has been dropped. The BEAT followed up on the incident which happened on Thursday, 12 January when a man, who may not be named until he has appeared in court, was escorted from a holding cell at the station for processing at the charge offices but escaped on foot.
managed to escape from the station’s charge office. He was apprehended shortly thereafter and additional charges were laid. This week the Bela-Bela Magistrate says that the charged man’s name did not appear on their records and no court appearances had been made by him. Lieutenant-Colonel Abel Phetla told The BEAT that, for reasons unknown to him, the charges brought against the man had been dropped.
Zim Five back in Court The five Zimbabwean men who have been linked to serious crimes in BelaBela are expected to appear in court for their trial date. Photo supplied
Doom Prophet”, Lethebo Rabalago, says he is not fazed by the interdict brought against him by the Provincial Department of Health (DoH) to cease the use of Doom insecticide on his congregates. Photo supplied Justin Steyn Lethebo Rabalago, better known as the “Doom Prophet” says he is not bothered by the interdict brought against him by the Provincial Department of Health (DoH) to cease the use of Doom insecticide on his congregates. Rabalago became well-known after reports of him spraying the insecticide into the faces of congregates who attended a midnight prayer session at the Mookgophong community hall in November last year. Rabalago was ordered to appear before the High Court in Polokwane on Friday 20 January to supply reasons why he should be allowed to use Doom on his followers. “We want him to stop spraying his congregants with insecticide so we approached the court last Friday. He has been given time to come forward before the court order is made permanent. For now, he
is not allowed to spray his congregants with insecticide,” said the department’s spokesperson Derrick Kganyago after the application was granted on Friday 2 December. Kganyago said the court date had been postponed to Monday 30 January because Rabalago was not present at court. In a telephonic interview, Rabalago said he is not bothered by the interdict and the media attention has not affected him at all. “The interdict against me won’t succeed and I am not worried at all. The media is just doing the devil’s work and is trying to stop me from preaching the gospel,” he said. During the interview Rabalago said there are still many things he wants to do with his and said that he would like to extend his Mount Zion General Assembly to Bela-Bela. “There is still a lot of things I would like to do with my faith and would like to extend my following to Bela-Bela to prophecy there.”
Justin Steyn The Five Zimbabwean men who were arrested on Thursday, 5 May last year, in connection with a robbery at a residence near the R101 at Bela-Bela are back in court. The five were arrested four days after they were allegedly linked to robbing from BelaBela resident José Denabregah on Sunday, 1 May 2016. According to the former Bela-Bela police spokesperson, Maria Maswanganye, Denabregah told the police he was at home at around 22:00 that night when he heard the back door of his home being unlocked. “He set out to investigate the noise and found two armed men inside his home. The men threatened him and demanded money, then tied him up and searched the house,”
Maswanganye said Denabregah managed to untie himself and found that the men had stolen from him. “When he managed to untie himself after the men left, he found two of his cellphones and a thick leather belt had been stolen,” she said. Maswanganye said police received information about the whereabouts of the two men. The two suspects, and three other men wanted by the police, were arrested. Maswanganye said that police retrieved four firearms at the scene. Ngobile Nyoni (28) Christophe Mugabe (23), Wilson Monjeza (34), Elvis Musimeki (29) and Jacob Chio (22) made their first court appearance on Monday, 9 May and the case was postponed for further investigations. The men were only granted bail in November last year but are expected to appear at the Magistrate’s court on Friday 3 February where an official trial date will be set for the Regional court in Modimolle. Police investigations revealed that all five suspects have been positively linked to other cases involving armed robbery, burglary and theft, business robbery and murder.
27 January, 2017 beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za
Man invades house still under construction The police confiscated this stove which was stolen from the house that is still unfinished in Mampatile, Bela-Bela. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Bela-Bela Detectives’ Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Abel Phetla displays the stolen cements. Photo: Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela A man was arrested in Bela-Bela after allegedly stealing from a house that has just been built in the township. The 28year-old Jerry James Matlou aka Brown Dash was apprehended after he was found in possession of suspected stolen goods on Friday, 20 January. According to the Detectives’ Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Abel Phetla, the police were notified of a man selling 20 litres of paint for R70 and followed up on the lead. Phetla said when Matlou was approached, he had already sold the paint to a man named Johannes Thutse who also resides in the township. Matlou told the police he offloaded the paint from a bakkie belonging to a foreign national. While being questioned, he confessed to the housebreaking crime as well, admitting that he stole a new four-plate built in electrical stove from the house, which is situated in Mampatile and belongs to the well-known family of the Marimas.
The police are still looking for the owner of this paint. Photo: Lizzy Bapela According to Phetla, the family did not know of the crime since they have not yet moved into the house but were notified by the police after the suspect’s arrest and confession. When contacted for comment in the story, one of the family members, businessman Gordon Maluleka, said he could not comment as they have left the matter for the law enforcers to deal with. He did confirm that they were still finishing off the building and furnishing of the house before they can move in, which should be anytime soon as the work is almost done. Matlou was arrested in Extension 5, where he apparently hid the stolen items and told the police that he committed the crime alone. He appeared before the BelaBela Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 23 January for a charge of housebreaking. Meanwhile, the police are still looking for the owner of the stolen paint which is now under the police care and urge anyone who might have information that could shed light into tracing the owner to come forward with it.
Modimolle police warns criminals and residents Lizzy Bapela The police in Modimolle sent out warnings to criminals in their area, saying there will be zero tolerance for perpetrators and their criminal acts. He added that the police are on high alert, waiting to send a strong message to criminals at large by apprehending those committing the crimes. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Findlay said the warning follows a series of crimes ranging from burglaries and theft, theft from motor vehicles, theft of tires and spare wheels to petty crimes such as snatching of handbags and common robbery. He added that most incidents happened in December and most of the suspects were apprehended and their cases are being heard in court. The police also warned people who commit rape that the state will where possible, allow them no bail when they get caught. This follows an increasing number of rape incidents, which mostly are caused by alcohol according to the police. The concerned police personnel further warned women who make false statements, alleging that they were raped that they will
Modimolle police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Findlay. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
be charged with perjury. Warrant Officer Findlay confirmed that such an incident did occur in the past and the suspect was brought to book. Furthermore, another warning went to all the people who are hitch hiking, that they must not to take any food or drinks from the people who give them the lifts. Findlay said there have been numerous incidents where this happened and the hitch hikers got robbed for taking the food and drinks, which were found to be drugged. He added that members of the public are urged to be alert at all times and ensure their safety first as many of the crimes can be prevented.
GOVERNMENT / POLITICAL
|3
4 |
GOVERNMENT / POLITICAL
27 January, 2017 beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za
Executive mayor recognizes teachers’ efforts that such interventions have a positive bearing on the quality of the results. “Working together we can make quality of learning and teaching a habit to improve performance. The Education sector is of course faced with challenges including dilapidated classrooms and furniture, uncoordinated
the district managed to obtain 70,6% which was an improvement of 10%. This improvement placed The Waterberg District’s Executive Waterberg on position 2. A further Mayor Morris Mataboge gave 70,5% was obtained in 2014, which recognition to all teachers’ efforts, was a decline of 0,1% and this especially those teaching in the placed the district at position four. A lower grades during a gathering at terrible decline of 12,4% was the Bela-Bela Forever Resorts on registered in 2015 through obtaining Friday, 13 January. Guests including 58,1% which placed the district at position four. This sponsors, decline resulted in stakeholders from the district various government performing below departments and the national norm of private sector, 60%. The 2016 political principals, academic year saw traditional leaders; Waterberg and officials and managing to obtain management from 65,1%, which is an municipalities from improvement of 7% across the from the 2015 Waterberg District results. This place assembled to the district at celebrate learners’ position three at the achievements of the Provincial level. 2016 National “We are proud of Senior Certificate. our circuits, schools Mataboge said and learners who they shall continue performed with this annual outstandingly by ritual regardless of The Waterberg District’s Executive Mayor Morris Mataboge. putting us on the the outcome of the Photo: Lizzy Bapela provincial map. results in an We say so because only three endeavour to encourage and modularisation in schools, scholar positions are recognised and we motivate learners to take their transport, provision of basic managed to get out of the Intensive studies and education seriously to services including water and Care Unit,” Mataboge continued. build a prosperous nation. The sanitation, and learning equipment Schools and circuits that district produced an ‘unsatisfactory’ such as libraries. There are also represented the Waterberg District performance in 2015 which left strategic interventions that at the Provincial Awards were everybody shocked, disappointed, government has put in place going embarrassed but still determined to forward which include the building, declared the District Ambassadors and these include Potgietersrus overcome the situation and turn renovation and provision of Circuit with over 500 learners. things around. sanitation in schools and plans for High schools that put Waterberg on Mataboge announced that there are free education in the near future. a number of interventions that they “We thank top performing schools the map by obtaining a 100% pass rate during the 2016 matric results embarked upon over the years and learners for the job well done include those located in deep rural aimed at improving not only the and are still adamant that we will pass rate, but also the quality of surpass this pass rate if more efforts areas of the district. These include; Mapanolla in Mokopane Circuit, results. These interventions include are invested. To the underamongst others, the Back-to School performing schools, we do not make Kgaubotlhale in Bakenberg South Circuit, Gobela in Mahwelereng and the Adopt a School Library failing a convention. Work harder campaigns. and make a difference. To regressed Circuit, Thekganang in Waalboom Circuit, Dimpe and Seoketseng in In partnership with UNISA, the schools, we say you can do better Phalala South Circuit, Waterberg in district municipality distributed and make the district proud if you Potgietersrus Circuit and Hoerskool more than 15 000 books among double your efforts,” said Frikkie Meyer in Thabzimbi schools, with Lephalale’s Mataboge. Circuit. Seoketseng High being one of the In 2012, Waterberg achieved Mataboge congratulated their schools benefiting from the 60,1% which was an improvement principals, teachers, SGB‘s and campaign. The school has since of 4,3% from 55,8% obtained in learners themselves for the total then joined the best performers in 2011. This placed the district on commitment they displayed. the district. Mataboge emphasized position five provincially. In 2013, Lizzy Bapela
Modimolle detective praised for breakthrough Lizzy Bapela A Modimolle police detective Sergeant Amanda Rossouw received praise from her station following a breakthrough she made in one of her cases recently. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer James Findlay said the incidents happened on Wednesday, 18 January in Modimolle town. According to the information received, the detective was driving in town when she noticed a VW Caddy driving on the Nelson Mandela Drive, direction N1. Findlay said she was alert enough to notice that photos of the very same vehicle were circulating the previous week on the SAPS WhatsApp chat group. It was further alleged that the caddy was involved in a theft from motor vehicle incident that happened in Lephalale the previous week. Rossouw then started to follow the vehicle while also calling for back up from her colleagues. Findlay further said
The caddy vehicle that was captured by the Modimolle. Photo supplied
the road towards Mookgophong was blocked by several police officers including the detectives. Rossouw kept behind the suspected vehicle until it was pulled over from the road. The police confirmed that three men were arrested as a result and that it was later established that the same vehicle also attempted commit a theft from motor vehicle incident the very same morning at a Toyota garage in Lephalale but sped off when community members saw them. Findlay further said police in Lephalale were contacted and asked to come and collect the suspects in Modimolle. He added
that according to the Lephalale police, the same vehicle and suspects are linked to more cases in that area. All the suspects are from Mamelodi East in Pretoria and are identified as: Deon Katlego Malefo, 34, Tebatso Matlou, 33 and Thabo Morotolo, 40 years old. Findlay said the case is now investigated by the Lephalale police and the suspects appeared before the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 20 January. They appeared again in court on Tuesday, 24 January for formal bail application and the police in Modimolle could not reveal the outcomes of the court proceedings as yet.
Subcommittee meetings are useless, says EFF Justin Steyn The coordinator for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Bela-Bela, Sello Mosweu, says it will refrain from attending subcommittee meetings before the local municipality has had its first council meeting where critical issues are expected to be addressed. In an official letter, which was sent on Thursday 19 January to all officials of the Bela-Bela municipality, Mosweu said subcommittee meetings have been previously held and recommendations were made to go to council for resolutions but he claims such meetings have not yet been held. “The EFF will not entertain
these fruitless and useless subcommittee meetings without first addressing issues that were raised in the past as well issues we want to be discussed in council,” Mosweu made mention of the controversial KPMG report which allegedly implicated the town’s municipal manager, Morris Maluleka and demanded its release. Mosewu said the EFF will take legal action if the report has not been released. “The EFF requests that the report be released to its councillors in the Bela-Bela Municipal Council, Failure which will leave us with no option but to approach the High Court,” At the time of going to press officials of the Bela-Bela municipality could not be reached for comment.
Intervention requested to combat farm and farming areas in the attacks province. Lizzy Bapela The DA in Limpopo seekd serious and urgent interventions from the high offices in order to combat cries in the rural areas and farms. This comes after recent brutal farm attacks taking place across the province, including the one in Thabazimbi, which they deem saddening. The farm murder, from which the party’s provincial leaders say they are still reeling, reportedly happened at a farm in the Thabazimbi area in December 2016. On enquiry at the local police station, the station commander LieutenantColonel Bodibe said they do not have such reports. He added that the only farm murder that took place in their area recently was one where two relatives had a huge fight that saw the both of them losing their lives. He further said a man was fighting with his relative and shot him dead, turning the gun on himself afterwards and they both died at the scene. The case is still under investigation. The DA announced that they wrote to the Limpopo Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nneke Ledwaba, seeking an urgent meeting to get an update on these farms attacks and crime in the rural areas. The meeting again should also address the provincial challenges in executing the national rural safety plan. The DA Limpopo Provincial Leader Jacques Smalle said it is clear that farmers and their employees living in rural areas face extreme danger. That is why there is the need for wellresourced crime units in rural
“According to the current crime statistics, common robbery, robbery with aggravating circumstances and burglary at residential premises has increased from 26 717 in 2015 to 27 197 in 2016. Farm attacks in Limpopo have taken on a very intense, frequent and brutal nature. If left to continue at this rate it will irreversibly affect our local economy. Experts predict that commercial farmer numbers will decline to 15 000 individuals over the next 15 years, causing significant job losses in the agricultural sector. This will ultimately impact the local production of food and significantly reduce this province and country’s food security,” said Smalle. The leader emphasized that it is clear that the national rural safety strategy is failing rural areas and farms. And that this is as a result of inadequate resources being provisioned from the start. The DA further announced that they will request that the Police Commissioner establishes well-resourced rural safety units and highly trained and resourced SAPS units that are trusted by the public to curb farm attacks and murders in the province. “We will further call for a joint-partnership between the departments of Safety and Security, Social Development and Health to implement a trauma and counselling programme for farm attack victims whose pain remains undocumented and unaddressed,” Smalle concluded. The Limpopo police provincial spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo respond after an enquiry that the enquiry has been noted and a response
27 January, 2017 beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za
MAYORAL COLUMN 23 JANUARY 2017 - Marlene van Staden Lim-368 Mayoral Column – Marlene van Staden Municipality starts with new projects Let me start by wishing all residents a blessed and prosperous 2017. By working together, we can achieve the goals that we have set to improve service delivery to all our residents. We have already seen in the recent months that we can all work together in an open, transparent and service delivery focussed way. The municipality has taken note of concerns regarding health care and wellness raised by residents at recent public meetings. We approached the provincial government to fast track the rolling out of clinics and are pleased to announce that new clinics will be built in Phagameng and at Roedtan. The old Phagameng clinic will be utilised as a health post for chronic patients. More information on when construction will commence will follow soon. We also have a number of projects set to start early in the year. These are service delivery driven and include the construction of a R4,3 million water pressure tower at Drie Hekke to receive water from boreholes in the area, the establishment of a 3,3 mega-litre steel reservoir and a new pipeline in Mabatlane, the Phase two rehabilitation of the reticulation network at Mookgophong, the replacement of the 7 km asbestos pipeline from the Nyl River to the main reservoir at Mookgophong and upgrading the Nyl pump station and reservoir. Also in the pipeline for the near future
are the drilling and commissioning of six boreholes at Mookgophong, six boreholes at Mabatlane, four boreholes and the electrical infrastructure to service them at Bosveldsig and the replacement of old asbestos pipes in Magazyn and Joe Slovo Streets. These projects are aimed at helping with water security in a very dry part of the country. Oversight visits will be undertaken to ensure that contractors stick to the agreements and there will be no mercy for contractors who deliver substandard work. Unfortunately, we also face some daunting challenges. One of these is the illegal occupation of land currently underway in Modimolle. While the Municipality is sympathetic and responsive to the needs of the community and we understand their frustration with the legacy of nonexistent delivery from the previous government, we urge residents to help us in turning this municipality around by letting their voices be heard through public participation processes, not resorting to illegal actions. The DA-Led municipality has committed to auditing the housing opportunity list in the municipality, to engage with the Limpopo Provincial Government to speed up housing delivery and to improve basic services in informal areas. These initiatives will improve the lives of many residents who are understandably frustrated with the pace of change.
Mayoral Colum Bela-Bela – Jeremiah Ngobeni Bela-Bela Mayor Jeremiah Ngobeni has once more declined to send his Mayoral Column for January.
?
EDITORIAL
Are our people still being going to suffer and the suffering is abused? just going to escalate. Gerhardt Breytenbach from Modimolle writes: Ecclesiates 1:9 – “What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun!” This prophecy was written thousands of years ago and was the first thought that came to my mind when I learned about the illegal occupation of the land in Modimolle next to the reservoir on the R101. This whole initiative is apparently driven by ANC and EFF individuals claiming to be community leaders presenting themselves as some kind of heroes to the poor under the veil of handing out land to the poor. It was also reported on Sunday, 22 January 2017 that president Zuma indicated that the land reform process will be escalated in 2017 since the poor will never be economically emancipated without land. There are however, two very different scenarios in what the president has said and what these so called community leaders are doing in Modimolle. The president is absolutely right. The poor will only be able to actively participate in the economy if they receive land which includes equity. This means that the land so given must have some kind of value which can only be done with the issuing of title deeds and which can only be done in terms of the law after proper township planning and the provision of basic services. This idea was in fact pleaded for many years ago even by people such as the late Anton Rupert in the 1970’s who was then branded as some kind of unpatriotic traitor. The instigation of the poor by the so called community leaders to unlawfully occupy vacant land will never satisfy the goal to give relief to the poor since the land so occupied does not have any equity. The only result is that people are dumped on vacant land without any proper planning or basic services forcing them to live like animals. This “strategy” by leaders by exploiting the poor to gain cheap political points is also nothing new in our history. In fact it was an official policy of the Apartheid government in the 1960’s to move people from land and merely dumping then on vacant land leaving them destitute to fend for themselves without any basic services or equity. This only led to more poverty and the subsequent hatred for the previous government. The same is now being done by these community leaders to present themselves as “heroes” by the exploitation of the poor! It is no secret that the community in Modimolle is already suffering from limited water supply to households and the supply of water from this specific reservoir where the occupation is taking place, is stretched to the limit for providing water to the existing infrastructure in Phagameng. Surely more people are
|5
I have raised these concerns on social media and the response I got from these so called leaders was that “....Rome was not built in one day.” My reply to this remark was “..exactly...it is because the Romans already realised the logic of first providing basic infrastructure and then build houses.” Suddenly the lessons learned from the Romans were ignored and I received a reply that “We will do it our own way”. Nobody however can give me any information what “our own way” entails. History has taught us that providing land to the poor with no basic services and equity, will result in slums leaving people to live in the most appalling circumstances and even more poverty. This reality is being ignored by the very same individuals claiming to fight for the poor whilst in fact are only abusing the poor for cheap political points. More concerning is the fact that the management at the Municipality including the municipal manager is seemingly not prepared or able to take any leadership responsibility with any efforts to prevent this tragedy in the making. The municipal manager is well aware of the fact that the municipality is hopelessly unable to provide any basic services to these people and his reluctance to intervene is a clear indication of following a hidden agenda instead of executing his duties for which he was appointed in the first place. But there is another serious concern and that is the questionable leadership shown by the local EFF representatives. There can be no doubt that the ANC will do anything possible to destabilise the current political leadership in our municipality since the very existence of the ANC is dependent on the failure the current DA/EFF/VF+ coalition. It further follows that the speaker was in no position to call a council meeting with a view to denounce the illegal land invasion or to compel the municipal manager to take any lawful action since such items will have been opposed by both the EFF and the ANC. In this regard the ANC has very cleverly aligned itself with the EFF in supporting the land invasion with the result that the local EFF is effectively failing the very people who voted for the EFF without even realising it! Nothing is new, what has been done will be done and the exploitation of the poor is just continuing. Only the faces of the architects of this tragedy have changed, save for the fact that the poor are now being exploited by the very same people who are supposed to be representing them. Our only hope is the urgent intervention by the provincial and national leadership of the DA and EFF in an effort to have sanity prevail and to avoid the natural consequences already been proven by history.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
May 2015
6|
ADVERTISMENTS / LEGALS
SMALLS
LEGALS AMENDMENT SCHEME I, TEHIO ALBERT RODRIDGUE (full name)being the owner/ authorized agent of the owner of erf/erven/ portion(s) 571/2 Smith Street. Complete description of property as set out in title deed hereby give notice in terms of section 56(1)(b)(i) of the Town-planning and Townships Ordinance, 1986 (Ordinance 15 of 1986), that I have applied to the Modimolle Local Municipality for the amendment of the townplanning scheme in operation known as Modimolle Land Use Scheme2004, by the rezoning of the property(ies) described above, situated at Modimolle from Residential 1 to Residential 2. Particulars of the application will lie for inspection during normal office hours at the office of: The Divisional: Town Planning, Ground Floor, Modimolle Municipal Building, Field Street, Modimolle, for a period of 28 days from (the date of first publication of this notice). Objections to or representations in respect of the application must be lodged with or made in writing to the Divisional Manager: Town Planning at the above address or at Private Bag x1008, Modimolle, 0510, within a period of 28 days from (the date of first publication of this notice).Address of owner/authorized agent: Physical as well as postal address) 571/2 Smith Street Modimolle 0510 Telephone no: 083 774 5341. (20&27/01). BELA BELA AMENDMENT SCHEME NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AMENDMENT OF THE TOWN PLANNING SCHEME IN TERMS OF SECTION 56 (1) (b) (i) OF THE TOWN PLANNING AND TOWNSHIPS ORDINANCE 1986 (ORDINANCE No 15 OF 1986) READ TOGETHER WITH THE SPLUME ACT 2013. We, GEO PROJECTS, authorised agents of the owner of portion 125 of the farm Noodhulp 492 KR Bela Bela hereby give notice in terms of section 56 (1) (b) (i) of the Town Planning and Townships Ordinance, 1986 (Ordinance No 15 of 1986) read together with the SPLUMA 2013 act, that we have applied to the BelaBela Municipality for the amendment of the Town Planning Scheme, known as the Bela-Bela Land Use Scheme, 2008, by the amendment of the zoning of the property by the
addition of an annexure to the existing Agriculture zoning, to make provision for a lodge, liquor store, restaurant and ancillary uses, as indicated in an annexure to the amendment scheme. Particulars of the application will lie for inspection during normal office hours at the office of the Municipal Manager, Municipal Offices, Bela Bela, for a period of 28 days from 27 January 2017 Objections to or presentations in respect of the application must be lodged with or made in writing to: The Municipal Manager at the above address or Private Bag x1609, Bela Bela, 0480, within a period of 28 days from 27 January 2017 Address: P.O. Box 919, Bela Bela, 0480, Tel: 082 881 7252. (27/01&03/02). NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN DECEASED ESTATES All persons having claims agaist the undermentioned Estate must lodge it with the Executor concerned within 30 days (or as indicated) from date of publication hereof. Mandatory Fields A. Estate number: 017958/ 2016 Province: Limpopo Surname: PIENAAR First names: ZACHARIA WILHELMUS Date of birth: 1950 - 02 27 ID number: 500227 5130 087 Last address: Eenheid 140 - Die Oog Aftree Landgoed - R520 - Mookgophong, 0560 Date of death: 2016 - 05 13 Master’s office: Pretoria B. Only applicable if deceased was married in community of property/ subject to the accrual system: First names of surviving spouse: ELSABE Surname of surviving spouse: PIENAAR Date of birth of surviving spouse: 1955 - 05 - 08 ID number of surviving spouse: 550508 0068 086 C. Name of Executor or Authorised Agent: GODIVA BARNARD Address of Executor or Authirised Agent: 3 Arend Road, Safari Tuine. Rustenburg, 0299 D. Period allowed for lodgement of claims, if other than 30 days: Advertiser name: GODIVA BARNARD Advertiser address: 3 Arend Road, Safari Tuine, Rustenburg, 0299. Advertiser email: godiva.barnard@psg.co.za Advertiser telephone: (014) 533 0410. BELA BELA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY AMENDMENT SCHEME Notice of application for amendment of the TownPlanning Scheme in terms of Section 56(1)(b)(i) of the Town-Planning and Townships Ordinance, 1986 (Ordinance 15 of 1986). I, NICOLA LUDIK being the authorized agent for the registered owner of the following propertiy hereby give notice in terms of Section 56(1)(b)(i) of the Town Planning and Townships Ordinance, 1986, (0rdinance 15 of 1986) that I have applied to the Bela Bela Local Municipality for the amendment of the TownPlanning Scheme in operation known as the Bela Bela Land Use Scheme, 2007 by the rezoning of the property described below, situated within the jurisdiction of
the Bela Bela Local Municipality as follows: Bela Bela Amendment Scheme ·Erf 264 Warmbaths, located at 14 Botha Street, Bela Bela, in Bela Bela area of jurisdiction, from “Residential 1” to “Residential 2” at a density of 60 units per hectare; All relevant documents relating to the applications will be open for inspection during normal office hours at the offices of the Bela Bela Local Municipality, The Divisional Manager: Town-planning, Chris Hani Drive, Bela Bela Municipal Building, Bela Bela for a period of 28 days i.e. 27 January 2017 to 24 February 2017. Any person who wishes to object to the applications or submit representations in respect thereof must lodge the same in writing to the Bela Bela Local Municipality at its address specified above on or before 24 February 2017. Name en address of agent: NICOLA LUDIK, Alto Africa Town Planning & Development Consultants, P.O. Box 3007, Modimolle, 0510, 076 606 6372. (27/ &03/02). MODIMOLLE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY AMENDMENT SCHEMES Notice of application for amendment of the TownPlanning Scheme in terms of Section 56(1)(b)(i) of the Town-Planning and Townships Ordinance, 1986 (Ordinance 15 of 1986). I, NICOLA LUDIK being the authorized agent for the registered owners of the following properties hereby give notice in terms of Section 56(1)(b)(i) of the Town Planning and Townships Ordinance, 1986, (0rdinance 15 of 1986) that I have applied to the Modimolle Local Municipality for the amendment of the TownPlanning Scheme in operation known as the Modimolle Land Use Scheme, 2004 by the rezoning of the properties described below, situated within the jurisdiction of the Modimolle Local Municipality as follows: Modimolle Amendment Scheme 346 ·Erf 5592 Phagameng Extension 7, located in Phagameng Extension 7, Modimolle, in Modimolle area of jurisdiction, from “Residential 1” to “Residential 3” at a density of 125 units per hectare; Modimolle Amendment Scheme 351 ·Erf 2/490 Nylstroom Extension 2, located at 23 Van Rensburg Street, Modimolle, in Modimolle area of jurisdiction, from “Residential 1” to “Residential 3” at a density of 115 units per hectare; Modimolle Amendment Scheme 352 ·Erf 1/266 Nylstroom Township, located at 108 Hagen Street, Modimolle, in Modimolle area of jurisdiction, from “Residential 1” to “Residential 3” at a density of 96 units per hectare; Modimolle Amendment Scheme 351 All relevant documents relating to the applications will be open for inspection during normal office hours at the offices of the Modimolle Local Municipality, The Divisional Manager: Townplanning, Ground Floor, Modimolle Municipal Building, Harry Gwala Street, Modimolle for a period of 28 days i.e. 27 January 2017 to 24
27 January, 2017 beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za
February 2017. Any person who wishes to object to the applications or submit representations in respect thereof must lodge the same in writing to Private Bag x1008, Modimolle, 0510 or lodge it with the Modimolle Local Municipality at its
address and room number specified above on or before 24 February 2017. Name en address of agent: NICOLA LUDIK, Alto Africa Town Planning & Development Consultants, P.O. Box 3007, Modimolle, 0510, 076 606 6372. (27/ &03/02).
Back to school- but the struggle continues Learners are back to school in Phagameng. Photo: Mzamane Ringane
Mzamane Ringane Parents who attended the meeting at Phagameng High School on Thursday, 19 January heaved a sigh of relief when the SGB Forum announced that classes will resume at all schools in Phagameng. The decision was taken following discussions between the SGB Forum and the Department of Education at both circuit and district level. On Monday, 23 January learners went back to school, while an established task team continues with their attempts to have a high school built in Extension 10. The task team comprises of four members of the SGB Forum, and an additional two from education department’s circuit and district respectively. SGB Forum Secretary Lolo Selamolela said the task team will engage the office of the MEC of Education in Limpopo, the Minister of Education and the office of the President, while classes will be underway at all schools. Schools in Phagameng were shut down for about 7 days,
following a collective resolution taken by parents and the SGB Forum. The SGB forum has indicated that they will be pleading with the government to speed up the process of building a school in the area, citing that they hope that construction would commence after April. With a total of five primary schools and only two high schools in the Phagameng area, the building of a new high school will certainly remedy the issue of overcrowding in classes. The five primary schools are currently promoting Grade 7 learners to Phagameng High School and Solomon Mahlangu High School. In other related news, the MEC of Education Ishmael Kgetjepe said his Department was expecting most schools to receive stationery by the end of this week. Waterberg was one of the regions which experienced a challenge with non-delivery of stationery. The Limpopo Department of Education has previously been in the news, after failing to deliver textbooks on time.
Ikageng gets new funding TK Mashaba Ikageng Youth Centre, a local NGO from Bela-Bela, has secured a new location outside Bela-Bela. The new location is next to the R101, and is still in need of renovations. The centre, which has been operating in the township for several years, and will be moving to their new home after the renovations are finished. According to John Modiba, the treasurer, they have big plans for the centre, as it will give them more space to add on other projects.
John Modiba, the treasurer, and Dapheny Bapela next to the new location, which still require renovations. Photo: TK Mashaba
“The centre will be dealing with lots of things, among which we count rehabilitation for drugs and substance abuse among the township youth,” said Modiba. The other projects will include arts and sports facilities in the centre, and there will also be more space for team building and extra classes. Modiba said they are still sourcing funds from various stakeholders in order to help pay for the renovations. “At the moment, we are selling raffles in a variety of different high schools,” he said.
beateditor@gmail.com |
27 January, 2017 Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za
Township tour a way to improve youth employment
CHARITY / ENTERTAINMENT / SCHOOL
| 7
Mmamakwa Primary School girls receive sanitary towels
Audience members on a donkey cart Mothapo created for the township tour. Photo supplied
TK Mashaba It took Bela-Bela’s young entrepreneur Semakaleng Mothapo three years to see his dream come true. Mothapo has been building a donkey cart which will conduct tours around the township, showing and teaching people about the township lifestyle. He launched his tour in December with the presence of the Tourism Department and the municipality. According Mothapo, this has always been a way to unite people. “The reasons for a tour at the Bela-Bela township is to make our guest understand the struggles of apartheid and how it impacted on the lives of black people,” he said. The other thing Mothapo mentioned is the
importance of tourists hearing the stories of people in the township and interact with them as they go about their daily lives. “There are so many historical establishments in the township which people do not know about and this will be a chance to introduce visitors to these sites as they visit our township,” he said. He added that there are many unforgettable adventures for guest to explore in the township. This will also include the delicious locally cooked meals. The project is operational now and guests can arrange with the tourism board or liaise with him directly. “We use a 18-seater donkey cart, local taxis and also walking to our different venues,” he said. For bookings phone John Ikagend at tel. 071 283 3058.
Thabo Mothokwa (Founder of Bela-Bela Game Changers) with the learners during the donation. Photo: TK Mashaba TK Mashaba Thabo Mothokwa, the founder of Bela-Bela Game Changers, a non-profit organization, visited Mmamakwa Primary School on Wednesday, 18 January, to donate sanitary towels and stationery to the school. Mothokwa, an official at Bela-Bela Municipality and a resident of the town, said that it has always been his dream to
DA questions department’s readiness DA Councillor Frans Mothokoa (left) and Bishop Hendrick Mothokoa of the New General Apostile Church of Bela-Bela handed over the donated books to Mampatile Primary School teachers Joyce Pilane and Annah Thulare. Photo: Lizzy Bapela
Kennedy cheers for reading
Lizzy Bapela
Raeleng School learners received motivation to read and spell. Photo: Lizzy Bapela Lizzy Bapela Learners of Raeleng Secondary School in Bela-Bela were graced by a visit by a member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature (MPL), Honourable Snowy Kennedy at their school assembly. The MPL visited the school on Monday, 23 January to address and give them motivation according to the principal Joseph Mashishi. Kennedy told The BEAT the fact that Waterberg is always coming out last for producing poor results every year is very concerning and more needs to be done to help improve the learners’ marks. She said reading is very important and it seems like in our region, children are not being taught from an early age about the culture of reading and that is worrisome. She gave an example about children in Soweto, who go to different households to share a newspaper with their fellows to teach each other how to read and spell. Also that they attend school even during the weekends and in their full school uniform and that should also be the case in Limpopo as well. “It is very important that children must read and be able to spell. Others may not take it
serious but reading really helps children to make up words, be able to spell and read aloud. It is worrying to see very few children entering the reading and spelling competitions and we must work on that part and encourage more children to read. It is no use passing your exams but not understanding what you were writing. Children must read and be able to perform the best in their studies,” she said. Mashishi highlighted hat a word from the higher government level is always good for the learners and it is appreciated. He said Kennedy spoke to the learners with an English at their level and they heard her very well. “Every school that I visit, I always remember Raeleng because it is my home. And I always tell the principals of the schools that I visit about Mr Mashishi, that he is a down to earth man who accommodates everyone. All the times that I met or spoke with him, there was never a dull moment. He is always open to talk to anyone all the time,” said Kennedy, praising Mashishi’s character. Kennedy was accompanied by a member of the local Constitutional Office Maureen Ouwani and they proceeded to Maope Secondary School after their visit at Raeleng.
help the less fortunate. By donating the towels, he says that the leaners were made aware that they could be proud of being a women, no matter what challenges they may face. “We must remember that women must unite to overcome these challenges,” he said. The school responded positively to the donation. “We are very happy to have received this donation,” said educator Oupa Modisha.
The DA in Limpopo challenges the Department of Education to provide a full and frank update on the Department’s state of preparedness for the 2017 academic year. The party alleges that the Department has shown a lacklustre approach in ensuring that schools in Limpopo are ready for the 2017 academic year. The DA Limpopo Provincial Leader Jacques Smalle said there have been many setbacks with regards to the start of the school year such as learners that are still not placed in schools, non-delivery of school textbooks and the Learner Teacher Support Material (LTSM), as well as schools that remain closed. The party deemed the nondelivery of textbooks or support materials by the Department to a number of schools in the province’s different districts worrisome. Smalle said this is further compounded by schools such as Hector Petersen Primary, Solomon Mahlangu Secondary, Maokeng Primary, Modimolle Primary, Phagameng High and Lekkerbreek Primary in Modimolle’s Phagameng Township. He added that the schools which remain closed due to teacher shortages, poor infrastructure and the non-delivery of textbooks. Smalle said the DA believes that these are not isolated cases and that similar challenges exist in most schools, while the Department has not offered clarity on their plans to remedy these issues. He also said the reluctance by the Department to be transparent in their plans and time frames to address these issues that hinder the province’s learners year after year is simply unacceptable. “This culture of unpreparedness in the
Limpopo Department of Education depicts a bleak picture regarding future of our learners, especially the most vulnerable who are in our quintile 1 and 2 schools. The DA believes the Department has a fiduciary duty to the people of Limpopo to ensure that all learners are placed in a school, have textbooks and learning materials. The DA will continue to hold the Department accountable in order to empower our learners,” said Smalle. Departmental spokesperson Doctor Naledzani Rasila confirmed during his interview with national media on the schools’ reopening day that only Capricorn and Vhembe districts received books and other districts were set to receive theirs on the days following the reopening. Doctor Rasila is awaited a response on the current situation in schools and the allegations levelled against his department by the DA. Meanwhile in Bela-Bela, teachers at Mampatile Primary School welcomed with warm hands a donation of exercise books from DA PR Councillor and Caucus Chairperson Frana Mothokoa. The councillor told The BEAT during a visit at the school that their party was concerned about the non-delivery of text books and support materials to various schools in the district and felt a need to land a helping hand by assisting with the little they managed to bring together. The books were intended to assist in the foundation phase and a little in the higher grades. “After hearing that many schools in our province did not get books, we sat together as party leaders and agreed to help where we can. We then put our heads together and managed to bring to the table a little help for primary school learners. For now, we could only manage to assist at Mampatile Primary and Ulnado Combined Schools”
8 |
SPORT
27 January, 2017 beateditor@gmail.com | Website: thebeat.linmedia.co.za
Build up to Easter games underway TK Mashaba
Soccer legend and educator Jack Maluleke in action during a game against Bela-Bela Pirates. Photo: TK Mashaba
Raymond Molekoa in full swing against Mabaleng player during the build-up soccer game. Photo: TK Mashaba
Celtic outshines Bussel in seven goal thriller
Celtic FC claimed a crucial three points when they defeated Bussel FC. Photo: Mzamane Ringane
Mzamane Ringane Modimolle Celtic FC walked away with a crucial three points, after beating Bussel FC 4-3 in a game which was not short of goals. The local teams played on Sunday, 22 January at the Ephraim Mogale Stadium. Celtic FC is number eight on the log, while Bussel FC is on position 10. NTK Happy Boys on the other hand brought home a single point, when they traveled to Bela-Bela Pirates in pursuit of the league title. The Happy Boys of Modimolle are sitting on position four on the league log, while Bela-Bela Pirates are number nine. Bela-Bela Diesel N Dust and Modimolle Troublemakers shared the spoils after playing to a 1-all stalemate. Troublemakers and Diesel N Dust are positioned five and six on the log respectively. Qualitho FC of Rapotokwane continued to better their chances of winning the stream A of the Waterberg SAB Regional League, when they humiliated Bela-Bela Happy Hearts 6-0. Qualitho FC is sitting at the top of the log, with a difference of four points to secondplaced Modimolle All Stars. Qualitho FC will this week host Diesel N Dust in Rapotokwane. Troublemakers FC will do battle with local rivals Modimolle Home Defenders FC, while NTK Happy Boys will lock horns with Happy Hearts FC. KK United was expected to host Boys 2 Men FC, with Bussel FC hosting Bela-Bela Pirates. Modimolle All Stars were also scheduled to square off with Celtic FC.
The Mabaleng crew has created an atmosphere of games since the beginning of the festive season, and they are now playing them every Sunday at Bela-Bela sports centre. The games have brought young and old together with many old folks attending the games. According to Benjamin Molekoa, one of the organisers, the games are part of the build-up of the Easter games. ‘We are happy so far with the support from the local people attending these games,� he said. He said that they will be adding a fun walk and volleyball during Easter games.