NW to expand Early Childhood Development programme to rural communities

The North West Province will be expanding access to Early Child Development(ECD) 

 Centres to children in rural areas in order to reach 29,6 % of children between 0-4 years who do not have no access to the ECD 

 programmes.

This pronouncement on the extension of the primary service to improve quality of EDC Centres was made by Premier Thandi Modise in her State of the Province Address delivered in the provincial legislature on Friday.

Premier Modise reported that of the 

404 347 children between the ages 0-4,only 26,4 percent of the children who are supposed to be at ECD Centres have access to the programme.

To address this challenge, Modise said that the partnership that the Department of Education had established with the National Development Agency will be strengthened with the involvement of the Department of Social Development and Ilifa Labantwana (a national ECD programme) to expand ECD centres to rural areas.

Modise also highlighted that the ECD subsidy has been increased from R12.00 to R15.00 per child per day and support was also provided to ECD practitioners through the development of the ECD capacity building plan and training on regulatory framework.

Nutrition programmes are also used as a value-added measure for growth and wellness of children.

Premier Modise prioritises school infrastructure and sanitation in needy schools

The provision of school infrastructure to support the learning process and sanitation in needy schools are  to be prioritised through Premier Special Projects as North West Premier Thandi Modise focuses on infrastructure to support education as a key priority area.

“In the next financial year, we will continue to provide schools with requisite infrastructure by providing sanitation, fencing, recapitalisation of technical schools, water, renovations and extensions to improve the conditions of our mud schools, “Premier Modise announced during the State of the Province Address delivered on Friday.

Modise reported that eradication of mud schools has been a significant effort in the education infrastucture.

About 3 172 jobs were created through education infrastructure projects.

  These projects include the eradication of mud schools and constructon of thirteen schools, six in Ngaka Modiri Molema District, three in Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati districts respectively and one in Bojanala Platinum District. 

By Obakeng Maje

Mmabatho-Police are investigating a case of murder after a 21 year old man was stabbed to death on Saturday Phola village. 

“The victim was found lying dead in a pool of blood with stab wounds on a head” colonel Emelda Setlhako.

“The victim was transported to Mahikeng Provincial Hospital where he passed away” Setlhako. 

The suspects are unknown and investigation continues. 

Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects can contact Mmabatho police on 018 387 7558.

By Obakeng Maje

Itsoseng-North West police registered a case of murder of a 44 year old man on Saturday. “According to information the victim was brought to Itsoseng clinic by unknown men” colonel Emelda Setlhako said. 

“The victim sustained a stabbed wound on the left side of his chest and died on his arrival” police said. Investigations continue. 

Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects can contact Itsoseng Police Station on (018) 338-0000/3032.

The construction of Brits hospital has reached 96% towards completion and will be ready for use soon.Plans for staff accommodation have also been finalised, North West Premier Thandi Modise has declared. Premier Modise said the province has made significant inroads with upgrade of infrastructure development in hospitals, Nursing colleges and health centres. “The extensions of Mmabatho and Excelsius nursing colleges are underway. The planning of Moses Kotane, Potchefstroom, Lichtenburg and Taung nursing schools are at an advanced stages” the Premier said in her State of the Province Address which marked official opening of the Provincial Legislature in Mmabatho on Friday.

Through the Hospital Revitalization Programme the province has managed to source funds for construction of 10 community health centres, Modise said.

A total of R478 million has been set aside for the construction of new psychiatric hospital in Mahikeng and the project is expected to be completed in the next 24 months.

Initially the plan was to construct a 648 beds hospital, but following extensive consultation with mental health experts and recommendations by World Health Organization a decision was reached to downsize psychiatric hospital in favour of community based psychiatric health care facilities.

“This will increase access to mental health care services and also boost chances of psychiatric patients to respond to treatment as they will be treated and cared next to home.” She highlighted

The province will still meet the target of 648 psychiatric beds. About 384 beds will be at the hospital and the remaining beds will be spread across four districts of the province.  

The North West province has seen 20% improvement in Tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcome in the past four years, Premier Thandi Modise has revealed..

“The Tuberculosis treatment outcome improved from 40.3% in 2009 to 69.8% in 2012. Patients defaulting TB treatment have seen a sharp decrease from 10.8% to 7.8%” Modise said during her delivery of State of the Province Address in Mmabatho on Friday.

The TB treatment outcome is amongst the best in country, she said

She thanked a dedicated team of health professionals in Klerksdorp Tshepong Hospital Complex’s TB Unit for successfully curing first Extreme Drug Resistant (XDR) TB patient in the country. This was confirmed by the National Department of Health’s Communicable Disease Directorate.

“All fixed health facilities in the province are providing HIV Counselling and testing. This has resulted in 1398 Community Counsellors receiving stipend.

“We have seen the number of caregivers receiving stipend increasing from 4050 in 2009 to 6439 in 2012 inclusive of Caregivers benefiting from the EPWP Incentive Grant” Premier Modise said.

The annual HIV prevalence survey among pregnant women, showed a slight decline in the province, from 30% to 29.6 %, in the year 2009 and 2010 respectively.

By Obakeng Maje

Brits-Police are investigating a case of murder,attempted business robbery and armed robbery North West police said. 

“This is after a man was shot dead on Saturday when six men attempted to rob Brits Hardware” colonel Emelda Setlhako said. 

“It is alleged that six suspects entered Brits Hardware armed with what looked like AK 47 assault rifles” Setlhako said. 

The police said the suspects demanded cash while some of them were waiting outside.  

“According to information received, one customer was also outside talking on his cellphone and the suspects thought he was calling the police and shot him on his head killing him instantly” she said. 

The suspects fled the scene in a bakkie with unknown registration numbers. 

Investigation continues.

By Obakeng Maje

Mooifontein: A 42 year old man was arrested on Thursday at Naauwpoort for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition as well as possession of suspected stolen goods. 

“Police were patrolling when they saw a blue Nissan 1400 Bakkie parked next to the road and people hitch-hiking next to it” colonel Emelda Setlhako said. 

Police said they stopped and identified that two of them were once arrested at Mooifontein. “During observation the police suspected that the three unknown males might have committed a crime somewhere” Setlhako said. 

Police said pon questioning, the suspects alleged that the bakkie ran out of petrol. 

“Police found a 9mm pistol, live ammunition and short gun after intensive search” police said. 

Laptops, airtime and cigarettes were discovered.

“One of the suspects was arrested and two of them fled the scene on foot” Setlhako said. 

Investigation continues

Durban – No condoms would be distributed at schools built on Catholic Church property, according to a report.

The Sunday Times reported that Cardinal Wilfred Napier, head of the church in SA, has dismissed the plan by the KwaZulu-Natal education department as “short-sighted” and “immoral”.

Napier voiced his dissatisfaction about the move to curb teen pregnancies in a letter to education MEC Senzo Mchunu.

Mchunu’s decision followed a conference last month to find solutions to sexual abuse, teen pregnancy and substance abuse in the province.

“Once something is distributed by people in authority, children take it as an okay. I cannot understand the lack of insight into the psychological damage that is being done to the younger generation,” Napier told the newspaper.

According to the newspaper Mchunu confirmed that condoms would not be distributed to Catholic schools.

“There are some public schools who have strong relations with Catholics. We well continue to talk to them, but we respect their beliefs as well.” – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Polokwane-Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema is accused of playing a dirty game after some of bidders for his belongings that went under the hammer we left disappointed.

Malema properties were auctioned on friday by SARS after he allegedly owed the instistution close to R16m.

SARS attached all Malema’s valuable belongings and auctioned the to recoup tax debt.

However according to reports, Julius Malema “hides” his valuable properties as what was auctioned does not match his lavish lifestyle.

It is alleged that Malema valuable belongings were worth R54 000.

“I bought a mirror worth R300 and I am so disappointed about what a saw auctioned here as it is quite opposite compared to what he used to have” Malema’s former friend, Boy Mamabolo told http://www.timelive.co.za.

“I bought a piano for my church and to me that does not bother me who the previous owner was” Norman Motaung said.

Julius Malema found himself on the wrong side of the law after SARS questioned his lavish lifestyle.

It is alleged that Malema owns a two houses and a farmer which will be attached at the later stage.

“The sheriff will have written up an inventory of everything. So we are confident that all attempts to get around the administrations of justice will be futile” said Sars Adrian Lackay.

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