Fear lessl y the tr uth 13 January 2012
Tzaneen, Modjadjiskloof, Haenertsburg, Letsitele, Phalaborwa, Gravelotte, Giyani, Hoedspruit, Lenyenye, Mica, Mooketsi, Nkowankowa, Ofcolaco, Trichardtsdal
3838, Tzaneen • 8 Crown Street/Straat 8 • 015 307 7248 • 015 307 7684 • editor@bulletin.us.com • www.bulletin.us.com
R3
Missing millions Report kept secret
Tzaneen koes vir storm Inwoners van Tzaneen het op tweede nuwejaarsdag groot geskrik, toe ‘n tropiese streepstorm Tzaneen en omgewing getref het. Erge donderweer, ‘n verwoestende wind en swaar reën het groot ontwrigting veroorsaak, veral met die elektrisiteitsnetwerk. Verkeer is ontwrig en smouse se stukture is op talle plekke omgewaai of weggewaai. Binne is besonderhede oor die skade wat gelukkig nie oeste te erg verniel het nie.
Francois Aucamp
francois@bulletin.us.com
Foto’s: Jacques Smuts
A forensic report with information about the alleged disappearance of assets worth R121 million from farms returned to the Makgoba clan in Magoebaskloof, is being kept secret by Limpopo’s department of agriculture. The former deputy minister of rural development and land reform, Mr Thulas Nxesi, commissioned the investigation in reaction to allegations of mismanagement of assets and financial misconduct against the Mamphoku-Makgoba Community Trust. According to Mr Mmamaponya Makgoba, the secretary of the Makgoba royal council, the report hasn’t been made available to the community because the department said “it could stir up emotions if it was made public”. Limpopo’s land claims commissioner, Mr Tele Maphoto, said the report is only for internal use. In the mean time the bitter infighting between the Makgoba clan over the control of the 35 farms — spread over 5 000 ha — returned to them after a successful restitution claims continues. The purchase of the farms cost the government more than R100 million in 2009 and the community caretakership of the land and the settlement was to benefit over six hundred families. But since the farms, including Sapekoe, were handed over they have deteriorated. In 2011 the Limpopo agriculture department took over the tea estate. Mr Joe Makgoba of the community trust has since denied reports of conflict between the trust and the royal council. He said they are in fact working together. He said that both the trust and the council agreed to hand over the caretakership of the tea estate to the department. According to a report in a daliy newspaper the royal council confirmed there was conflict as they do not recognise the trust as the legal entity representing the community and the chief.
Top matric achievers Pages 8 & 9