Another one bites the dust

It is often said that 'crime does not pay' and one soul had to learn this the hard way. A 28-year old man was gunned down on Monday in Lakeside Extension 2, Orange Farm. Arthur (surname unknown) met his untimely death when he and two friends came across police. It is understood that they were stopped and searched, he allegedly refused and a gun shoot-out began. An eye witness relived the tragedy; ''It was around midday when the deceased came running towards our direction, by then he had already been shot at from the back. He fell and another cop who had just disembarked from a police vehicle appeared from the front and shot him five times as he lay on the ground.'' Orange Farm Police Spokesperson, Johannes Motsiri said; ''Our men were doing a stop and search when they met the deceased, up-on being asked to be searched; he resisted, drew a gun and shot randomly at the cops. Police returned fire while racing him for about 800 meters which is where he finally fell.'' An inquest docket has been filed while a case of unlicensed firearm and attempted murder has been opened.

Municipality engage community on Integrated Development Planning

Emfuleni Local Municipality recently hosted the IDP and Budget Public Participation meeting with the community at Palm Springs Hall, Sebokeng. The residents packed the tiny venue to hear their elected leaders outline plans and budget and noted down their suggestions.

The purpose of the meeting was to present to the community the projects earmarked for 2011/12 financial year and getting inputs from the community that will ultimately influence the development of the IDP for 2012/16. The current IDP was approved by the council in April 2011 and the implementation commenced in July 2011 and it is continuing.

So far more than 200 projects estimated to be around R 350-million have been identified and are funded through the MIG (Municipality Infrastructure Grant) and the municipality only contributed to electricity related projects.

Among concerns raised by the community were lack of schools and primary health facilities in their respective wards, escalating electricity and water bills, sewerage blockage, unsafe roads, a need for a closer police station and corrupt police and traffic officials.

Osizweni Clinic was singled out as being too small to accommodate patients whom at times are found wanting outdoor and staff who apparently have no good working relationship with the community. A library was developed and hasn't operated since though it has been completed. Newly-born babies, brick and blankets are said to be some of the things resulting in sewerage as they block drains.

''I fail to understand how my electricity bill could reach R35-thousands while I don't even own a business, it is said that the municipality paid a whooping amount of over R100-million to Eskom, would it not be better to introduce solar panel system'' pleaded one resident who suggested a bio-digester be brought to use which might prove to be a hit should it be implemented.

In response for his department MMC of Public Safety, Veli Mcera said ''We're working around the clock in bringing services closer to the people whereby police vehicles will cater for basic stuff like affidavits, certifying (of documents) and constant patrol day and night as we are about to rebrand all our department vehicles according to regions and we urge the public to report any corruption committed by these officials. The recent know your neighbour campaign will see the street committee system brought back and sector policing will be implemented. A municipal court (which will be built near the Evaton Firestation) is on the pipeline and we will be engaging with a view that stop signs be installed on the Golden Highway route which is a provincial road and is familiar with accidents.''

SMS Line (Fraud & Corruption) - 32211

UPCOMING IDP & BUDGET PUBLIC PARTICIPATION MEETINGS

Date: 04th October 2011
Time: 15h00
Venue: Vereeniging Banquet Hall

Date: 06th October 2011
Time: 15h00
Venue: Bophelong Community Hall

...see below for Financial Breakdown for 2011/12

...see above for the article!

FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN FOR 2011/12

> Electricity - R65 Million
> Roads and Storm-water - R38 Million
> Waste Management - R11 Million
> Water and Sanitation - R60 Million
> Public Safety - R38 Million
> SRAC - R26 Million
> Primary Health - R23 Million
> Social Development - R12 Million

ELECTRICITY
Project Name > Amount

- Replace 88kV Air break switches in various substations > R2,000.000

- New connections and network reinforcement > R3,000.000

- Upgrading of Public lighting > R2,000.000

- Upgrading of Traffic lights > R600.000

- Power Quality meters > R100.000

ROADS and STORM WATER

- Tarring of Bafokeng Street: Palm Springs > R2,600.000

WASTE MANAGEMENT

- Construction of Palm Springs Landfill site > R11,200.000

WATER and SANITATION

- Upgrading of the sewer pump station > R5,400.000

- Regional Bulk Infrastructure > R30,000.000

SPORTS, RECREATION, ARTS and CULTURE

- Development of Palm Springs Sport Facility > R10,000.000

PRIMARY HEALTH

- Building of a new Clinic (Evaton West) > R10,207.504

Fame, Youth, Alcohol and Fakers (Vaal Tropika Beach Party)

The much anticipated Annual Beach Party took place at Cecil Oldridge Park, Vanderbijlpark. The dooh which was hosted by Masia Sound Productions wooed a large crowd most obviously our youth. After the Vaal Uprising Rally, we (me and the media entourage) decided to make way to the venue to see what the hype is all about.

THE ENVIRONMENT

As it is a norm that at such events stampede is expected this was no different as we struggled to find parking with fans being on their best behaviour especially up-on noticing the men in blue perhaps it was not yet 'mad' time.

Finally when we found parking, we had to walk an extra mile to the VIP entrance only to find there's one which we passed as a result of an unhelpful guard.

PERFORMANCES

The performances by All Star DJ Cleo (who earlier performed at the Vaal Uprising Rally), Wright Ngubeni and Zenzo Ngqobe (both of Rhythm City) with their groups, L-Tido, Kuli Chana, DJ Fresh, Euphonik and Ralf Gum were phenomenal. Speedy sent the crowd wild but it was sad to note that not even a single song he performed were his, how hard can it get in order to be creative? I heard one patron asking ''Are we in the States?''

The Miss Tropika Pageant was a real beauty with contestants strutting their stuff to the crowd cheers and fantasies. The friendly faces complemented everything and being served by a lady in a bikini is without a doubt enticing.

PS: Don't ask to see a journo's VIP armband when s/he orders drink that's unless you want to kiss your precious job goodbye!

DOWNWARD SPIRAL

In the evening a group of journalists and photographers had a stand-off with the securities as they forbade them access to the VVIP section citing their accreditation as being invalid and an armband required to go through. Isaac Masia, CEO Masia Sound Productions who was backstage had to be called, only to resurface an hour later demanding press cards to be presented and went further with instruction that whoever doesn't have an armband must be escorted off the section.

A lady who declined to divulge her name except that she was Isaac's PA boldly told one of the journo's companions that the drink he was sipping is strictly for the VVIP, Duh!

I was later surprised to spot strange faces in the so-called VVIP sections with media accreditations around their necks with a weed pot 'puffing and passing'. Not even one of my media colleagues could recognize or knew them. Could this be a matter of freebies to friends and family from the organiser's part or worse still municipality?

Vaal Uprising - Our heroes, our stories least we forget

The 27th Anniversary in commemoration of Vaal Uprising took place this past weekend at Bophelong Stadium. The rally which is held annually was poorly attended this despite the municipality's effort in arranging buses to ferry residents from different areas and extensive marketing on local media. MMC Community Safety and SRAC&H, Cllr. Mmakgomo Raikane expressed her disappointment ''Through out the week we held meeting with relevant stakeholders and everything was arranged, I am shocked by the turn-out. We are going back to the drawing board and will make sure that such a thing never happens again.'' The Beach Party which was taking place slightly at the same time as the rally took the blame.

This year's event which went under the theme ''Reclaiming Our Heritage To Consolidate Governance'' is in recognition of selfless hero's and heroines who heeded a call on Monday the 3rd September 1984 to observe a stay-away in protest against the rent increases announced by the then-Lekoa Council. Protest marches took place in all townships in the Vaal, where two people died.

Charles Nhlapo, a resident of Bophelong relived the memories ''I dislike the word councillor because during the apartheid regime we fought a fierce fight against them and leaders, Piet Kornhoff being one of them. I still remember vividly, whenever we had a gathering, police would pounce on us and I would urge fellow comrades to remain strong as we indulged in hymns which would rescue us as it was mistaken for a church service. South Africa would not have been free from oppression if it wasn't of the uprising, even when we felt ill, going to the doctor was a risk because instead of receiving help police would be called and you will be arrested. We boycotted the rent as we took to the streets with placards written ''Asinamali Akubhadalwa'', he concluded with a revolutionary tune ''Mabayeke umhlaba wethu''.

Sedibeng District Municipality, Executive Mayor, Cllr. Simon Mahole Mofokeng said; ''We endeavor in making our heritage known, we call up-on writer's to avail themselves as we are about to publish a book which will entail the rich history of the Vaal; at this stage it's only a draft and we tossing around with titles that have yet to be confirmed. History is done through development and not resistance''.

Mofokeng acknowledged handful leaders who played a significant role in the history of the Vaal, this include among others Elizabeth Letanta, Simon Nkoli, Esau and Dorcas Raditsela, Jerry Tlhopane whom at once jumped ship to be an independent candidate during election time and Bavumile Herbert Vilakazi who was the convener for Sedibeng Region, first mayor in Ekurhuleni Metro and was also involved in the Delmas Trial.