By Obakeng Maje

North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise has welcomed the wage settlement agreement reached between Lonmin and Marikana mineworkers on Tuesday as a progressive development.

“Beyond the wage settlement, parties have a responsible to rebuild trust among themselves so that the healing process assists put closure to a tragic chapter in the history of wage negotiations in the mining sector. We should never ever again be in a situation where all of us emerge as losers,” Premier Modise said emphatically.

Premier Modise urges workers to reorganise themselves within union structures for collective bargaining and thanks the South African Council of Churches and Traditional leaders for playing a significant role in resolving the conflict through mediation. 

 The Premier calls for support for the Judicial Commission appointed by the President to investigate the Marikana tragedy and for responsible action and conduct that will contribute towards normalising the situation and assist the healing process. 

  Premier Modise said that its part, province will continue to engage with relevant national government departments and mining houses for closer involvement on issue relating to implementation of Social Labour Plans, decent housing, as any conflict in the sector affects communities.

Modise appeals for calm and cessation of hostilities at other mines in the province and for engagements within the framework of the Labour Relations Act to be sped up to avoid further violent confrontations

By Obakeng Maje

Taung- The communication breakdown between to offices in North West caused confusion regarding North West Cultural Calabash that was supposed to be held at Taung village this weekend.

Minister of Sports,Art & Culture mme Tebogo Modise announced earlier that the event has been put in abeyance because of investors that retreat of sponsoring the event.

The event did not take place last year after an outcry from the community of Taung as they say the event does not benefit them.

“As minister said on Thursday, the event won’t take place as it was suppose to” said Vusimuzi Kama.

“I actually wanted you to speak with her personally” he continued.

This rather left the residents of Taung in repugnance, as they expected to see the most loved event with much popularity returning to it’s origin.

Our crew was taken aback when we spoke with mr Kgwele, Thandi Modise spokesperson who confirmed the event and promised to give more details.

This prelude residents of Taung to become more restive. 

We decided to do follow ups and this is the respond we received.

“I am in a meeting now with premier, I will call you back immediately after I’m done” Lesiba Kgwele said.

So it seems you have to brace yourselves for another year without the event especially with the visit of the president next week.

Editor’s point: It is very disheartening and embarassing to see two departments that rather supposed to work hand-in-hand have a poor communication like this.

We hope next time two Departments communicate very well, and avoid creating any confusion in their statements.

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By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng- Thousand of public servants across the North West Province turned up in large number on take part in the Provincial Sports and wellness day that is part of the Public Service Month.

More than 3 000 Public Servants participated in sporting and wellness activities aimed at promoting individual wellness, fitness and healthy lifestyles held at the Mmabatho Stadium last Friday.

Many participants started at 6:30 am with a fun walk and run around Mahikeng.

Amongst other activities that characterized the day were aerobics, soccer, table tennis, volleyball and netball.

Employees participated in free health and wellness screening for ailments like high blood pressure, cholesterol, Tuberculosis, HIV & Aids and cancer pap smear screening for female employees.

Most of civil servants participated in the Marathon Aerobics to burn a few calories and acknowledged the importance of employees’ wellness, fitness and healthy lifestyle.

Dietician Meokgo Maine advised public servants that in order to lose approximately 500g to 1kg in one week, they should adopt an energy restricted diet as a method of promoting weight loss. Along with energy restriction, they should also follow a healthy balanced diet and combine it with physical activity.

The diet should be made mainly of fresh fruit and vegetables, beans, whole grains and fish. If these foods feature in every meal, one will definitely benefit to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight and ensure an optimal heath. One should also ensure an adequate amount of fibre, which could reduce the cravings for food while it helps to eliminate toxins and detoxify the entire system.

Captain Leeuw from the Provincial Office of the SAPS indicated that they were part of exhibiting the Employee Health and Wellness Service of their unit, which deals with psycho-social stress, management of trauma and debriefing victims of suicide, physical attacks, hostage drama, and hostage shooting incidences.

The other services they provide includes counselling employees experiencing relationship problems, work related problems like dealing with transfer, sick leave, absenteeism, grievances, sexual harassment, incapacity leave, dealing with bereavement of members of families, HIV/AIDS counseling with employees, dealing with the infected and affected.

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By Obakeng Maje

The untimely death of the Deputy Secretary General of the Young Communist League (YCL), Mike Mokhutshane who reportedly died in his sleep over the past weekend has robbed South Africa and the North West Province of an incorruptible young revolutionary who was at the prime of his youth, North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise said on Tuesday.

“We wish to convey our condolences to the Mokhutshane family, the YCL and the SACP. We are shocked as we had looked up to mature and principled cadres of the calibre of Comrade Mike Mokhutshane to contribute towards unity and to guide our youth during this turbulent times. His selfless contribution and dedication to serve will be sorely missed as his death has left a void within the YCL, the Progressive Youth Alliance and structures of the Mass Democratic Movement and our glorious movement, the African National Congress.”Mokhutshane had served as the 4

th Provincial Chairperson of South African Students Congress, General Secretary of the Student Representative Council at Vaal Technicon (Klerksdorp Campus), the first Provincial Secretary of YCL in the Province and a member of the National Youth Development Agency Board and ex-officio member of the Provincial Working Committee of the South African Communist Party.

  He is to be buried in Agisanang Township outside Sannieshof this coming Saturday-

“. . . It’s all in the mind”

The mighty penis! Men secretly agonise over its size, we love to play with it (even if we don’t necessarily like to admit it). However we always wish that our spouses would play with it a lot more than we do. On a good day it performs fantastically and we get a whoop-whoop and high-fives from our partners, but on some days, the performance is diabolical and no one goes to bed happy. One thing is certain; men are obsessed with the Penis.

I receive a lot emails and letters from readers and among the stories of cheating husbands and wives finding out the amakhwapheni’s  has been bought a car, the most common question I get asked is “is my penis too small?” or “should I get a penis enlarger, Bra Mo?” Men, it seems, are just not happy about the size of their packages.

Perhaps I’m not the right person to comment about penis enlargement because I detest any form surgery that alters one’s body just for the sake of vanity. Admittedly porn to a degree plays a role in men thinking that their Bazooka’s are the size of pistols.  Young men grow up watching almost infinite amounts of porn in which the “star” of the show is a large penis. And porn is really just the hardcore version of the increasingly visual culture that we’re now immersed in.

For more details go to http://www.drum.co.za

By Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg- The South African Under 20 National Team, Amajita, will play a practice match against National First Division side Sivutsa FC of Nelspruit.

The encounter will take place on Tuesday, 18 September at the Mbombela Stadium.

Kickoff is at 19h00.

The match is in preparation of the much-anticipated 2013 African Youth Championship qualifying clash against Nigeria on Friday, 21 September at the same venue (Mbombela Stadium), starting at 19h00.

The Amajita squad is already in camp in Nelspruit.

Head Coach Solly Luvhengo says the practice match will afford him and his technical team a very good opportunity to have a comprehensive look at the team in a competitive situation and adjust accordingly.

“Most important thing for us right now is that the players are in the right state of mind and maintain it. The preparations did not start with this camp or with this match, they started when we played against Botswana in the two friendly matches that we won. The clash on Friday is a pressure match and we need to prepare accordingly, but I am confident that my players will do well,” said Luvhengo.