SOPA E-News Update Second Edition
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SOPA e-News Special Edition 2019 08 July2019 Fraud and corruption cases under investigation North West Provincial Legislature Speaker, Sussana Dantjie, welcoming Premier Prof Job North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro, addressing the North West Provincial Legislature during Mokgoro, at the Legislature the State of the Nation Address Thebeetsile Keameditse billion. The Hawks were investigating 46 to institute disciplinary action against those conducted by the National Treasury, which c a s e s i n t h e N o r t h We s t P r o v i n c i a l individuals,” said Premier Mokgoro. relates to the Buthelezi Emergency Medical Government and the Special Investigations “We have been assured by the head of the Service case. We are keeping keen eye on this Unit was dealing with 44 cases. Hawks that very soon further progress will be investigation too,“ the Premier said. s part of the provincial government's The Premier announced that the scope of recorded. The provincial government has also The Premier said as a result of these c o n c e r t e d e f f o r t t o r o o t o u t investigation covered Scholar Transport terminated irregular and illegal contracts. interventions, the “bleeding” of the Ac o r r u p t i o n i n t h e p r o v i n c i a l contracts, the Expanded Public Works “We have already terminated Tokiso provincial scus has been substantially government, North West Premier, Prof Job Programme (EPWP) as well as road Security contract at NWDC, the Mediosa reduced. Mokgoro, announced during the State of the construction. contract at the Department of the Health, the According to the Premier, there are 31 Province Address on Friday last week that the “The Special Investigations Unit is at an NEPO Data Dynamics contract at the Ofce forensic investigations currently on-going in Hawks had placed 10 cases on the court roll advanced stage with the investigations into of the Premier, the Ayamah Consulting the province, with 21 of them relating to for trial, while 21 cases were pending a the Scholar Transport contracts in the contract at the Department of Roads and provincial departments while the remaining decision to enroll by the National Prosecution province, with three criminal cases having Public Works and the Agri-Delight contract at 10 are related to municipalities; and 20 Authority (NPA) and a further 15 were been handed over to the NPA for prosecution the Department of Agriculture and Rural managers, some of them senior, are facing pending for further investigations, all while ve cases of ofcials implicated in Development. disciplinary processes across various involving monies amounting to R2,497 wrong doing handed to relevant departments “A part from these, investigation is being departments. Decisive action to turn NW municipalities around o r t h We s t P r e m i e r, P r o f J o b “We are aggressively going to be “The Hawks had placed ten cases on the unemployment, water and sanitation, rural Mokgoro, says the provincial decisive on any action we take to turn these court roll for trial while 21 cases were roads, housing, health services, crime, Ngovernment is deeply disturbed by municipalities around in the interest of pending a decision to enrol by the National corruption, education and land,” Mokgoro the Auditor-General's ndings with regards service delivery and we are not going to be Prosecution Authority (NPA) and a further said. to the province's municipalities wherein intimidated while our only interest is to 15 were pending further investigations; all The provincial government will none of the province's 22 municipalities provide a better life for our people,” involving monies amounting to R2.497 improve the quality of life for the 3.85 received a clean audit. Mokgoro said. billion,” Mokgoro said. million residents of the North West province “This is a serious indictment on us in Auditor-General, Kimi Makwethu, He said the provincial government was during this electoral term and beyond. relation to the implementation of the Section released the 2017/18 Consolidated General committed to working towards improving “We appreciate and acknowledge the 139 intervention in the last 12 months at Report on the Local Government Audit people's lives in the province. genuine concerns of our people who time to these municipalities,” Mokgoro said. Outcomes in Pretoria on Wednesday last “It is high time we roll up our sleeves as time prefer street demonstrations to voice The Premier said it was further a week. The report reveals that of the country's elected public representatives, supported by their frustrations, we are also aware of other concern with reports that at some of the 257 municipalities, only 18 (8%) received a capable and committed public service and forces whose intentions are to instigate municipalities, the Auditor-General's staff clean audits – a decline from the previous work towards improving the lives of our violence and exploit community grievances were intimidated and prevented from year's 14%. people; the same people who demand that we for their own ends. conducting their work. Some had to be With regards to eradicating corruption, become one with them and not be far from “They will not succeed and our people escorted by the police to enter or leave those the provincial government had previously them,” Mokgoro said. will see them for who and what they are, premises. reported that the Directorate for Priority He said the better life promised to the agents provocateurs. These forces are Delivering the State of the Province Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, people in 1994 and subsequent years cannot making use of genuine service delivery Address in Makeng on Friday, Mokgoro were investigating 46 cases in the North West be postponed. issues to pursue narrow, selsh and assured the province that there would be Provincial Government and that the Special “We have resolved to include in our destructive political interests,” the Premier repercussions and that the provincial Investigations Unit was dealing with 44 priorities critical issues raised by our people said. – SAnews.gov.za government would be cracking the whip. cases. d u r i n g t h e e l e c t i o n c a m p a i g n , Together We Move North West Province Forward Page 02 Industrial Parks and SEZ to bolster investment drive in NW Zia Cassim industrialists operating on site and nine investor companies which have shown great interest to move in. This will ultimately create orth West Premier, Prof Job Mogoro, about 1 076 jobs. This asserts our long-held has outlined major steps in line with conviction that SMME development remains a Provincial Economic Stimulus the nucleus of the economic transformation of N th package during the 6 Administration's State the Bojanala region,” said Premier Mokgoro. of the Province Address at the Provincial The Premier believes the SEZ will be a Legislature in Mahikeng on Friday last serious game-changer in addressing the week. weakness of the North West mining industry The stimulus package will, among others, which is currently spending a large portion of seek to boost the economy through the its procurement budget outside the province, revitalization of the province wide Industrial with the excuse that there is lack of Parks and the formation of the Bojanala Special infrastructure, lack of relevant industrial skills Economic Zone (SEZ). as well as testing facilities. The Premier noted The Premier outlined and reported that the province would engage the Mining progress on a number of projects which would Council on discussions to work together for the be spear-headed by the North West benet of the region. Development Corporation (NWDC) through The provincial government estimates that the Department of Economic Development, North West Provincial Legislature Speaker, Sussana Dantjie and Premier Prof Job Mokgoro in a the average annual impact on employment due Environment and Tourism. The NWDC will relaxed mood at the Legislature to the operations associated with the SEZ will also provide formidable technical support be 50 000 direct jobs during the less optimum working with the National Department of level to 142 000 jobs created at optimum levels; Trade and Industry in revitalizing and Legislature that through phase one of the cameras, fencing, guard houses and access and 16 000 indirect jobs to 42 000 indirect jobs refurbishing state owned industrial parks as project and with accruing much needed gates. created respectively going forward. part of the North West economic stimulus investment, Babelegi already has ve new The combined value of the completed Since the pronouncement of the package. investors with an investment value of R15.6 Phase one in all areas is a staggering R105.3 Economic Stimulus and Recovery Plan by the Regional industrialization and increasing million and 257 new job opportunities created. million with a multitude of industries and President in September last year, Mokgoro said the manufacturing base by offering industrial Babelegi Phase 2 would realize the sectors targeted. Finalization of Phase 2 for the the province, in response, crafted a range of infrastructure in townships and rural areas, is refurbishment of more stands, installation of industrial parks is set to commence soon and high impact measures which would ignite an essential part of this meticulous programme. high mast lights and resealing of roof will bring the total combined value to economic activities, restore investors' Areas targeted through the Industrial Park are coverings. These improvements would cater approximately R150 million. condence, prevent further job losses, create Mogwase, Babelegi, Bodirelo and Ga- for 13 potential investors in the pipeline, with “The designation of the Bojanala Special new jobs and address some urgent challenges Rankuwa.