Tshasa March 2012 is out for those without internet access

Here is Tshasa March 2012 

Update on the Bafokeng chief’s court application to have Bafokeng communities’ farms registered in his name

The RBN has indicated that they are finalizing their Replying Affidavit, and that they await a report from their expert. They expected to meet with their Advocate on 02 April 2012 and will give a date for submission of their Replying Affidavit shortly after the envisaged meeting. BLBA also intends submitting Supplementing Affidavits to beef up their case.

Kgale Village in Bafokeng rejects prepaid water meter system

'Ba ithare re difofu. Baagi ba Luka ke kgale ba bua gore bona gaba kitla ba duela metsi ka gore meepo e kgotletse metsi a bona mme meepo ebile ya dumela gore e tla ba fa metsi mahala. O Semane ga a batle meepo e re duelela metsi’. ‘Chelete entsi ya Bafokeng yona e dira eng? Ge madi a prepaid a fela, metsi a itswalla. A batho batla nna ba sena metsi? Ga aile go dirisa Kgale jaaka di-example or di-guinea pigs go tsenya di-prepaid meter tsa gagwe, tse le gona re sa itseng gore tendara ya teng e tswile jang. E filwe mang?’- correspondents.

North West rural communities are squaring-up against the Traditional Courts Bill

North West community leaders held three workshops to consider the Traditional Courts Bill which is currently out for public comments. Discussions on the Bill have been robust, with many depicting the brutal oppressive state of traditional governance they are subjected to in their rural communities. Communities insist that many Chiefs are not fit and proper to preside over (traditional) courts, and that the traditional courts bill should not be enacted whilst the land claims, which will have direct impact on traditional structures and governance, were still pending.

 Other pertinent points raised against the Bill are that:

1. The Bill is gender biased and discriminatory against women since the role of women in  traditional structures is not fairly treated;
2. The Bill denies accused/defendant/respondent parties the right to legal representation;
3. The Bill does not afford accused/defendant/respondent a choice to litigate in other judicial structures (eg magistrates courts);
4. The Bill empowers the chiefs to impose unlawful sanctions or punishments like ‘lepasha’ (working for the chief or community without pay);
5. The Bill does not recognize other traditional dispute resolution structures at dikutle (community) level;
6. The Bill will endorse and empower, disputed and apartheid imposed chiefs onto communities;
7. The Bill does not provide adequately on the need to assess the fitness and competency of the chiefs to hold public office like the traditional court;
8. The Bill does not afford land claiming communities a choice not to be subjected to traditional courts; and
9. The Bill does not take into account the disputed traditional authorities, land restitution process and current territorial disputes

 The North West public hearings are scheduled for the 18 May 2012, 10am at Tlhabane Hall.

‘Why are rural communities sent to a township to discuss a Bill that impacts on rural traditional customs?’, asked concerned community leaders from Tsitsing village.

Lefaragatlhe say NO to relocation, NO to Anglo’s open-cast mine project

‘Ga go tshamekelwe ko Lefaragatlhe’ warns Mosime as the community of Lefaragatlhe on two separate occasions chased Tshepi Tlhapane, Anglo Platinum, Kenny Mokate, Magosi Tumagole and Leruo Molotlegi out of the community. The Bafokeng leadership had on the first occasion convened a community meeting to unveil Anglo Platinum’s open-cast mine project. The project would effectively relocate a number of households who have built their houses on top of the platinum reserves. In a later occasion Leruo ‘came to impose a chief’ on the community. ‘Why basare batho ba tseye dipeke or digandaganda ba ikepele platinum ya bona. Sa bona ke go lwantsha batho ka go itlhomela kgosana ya bona ya ee baas gore atle a bafe platinamo ya rona’, Mosime a bua a galefile.