By Obakeng Maje
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West province has learned with disappointment that the Department of Basic Education in the province is planning to close a number of farm schools in the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda Region, under the program of rationalisation of schools.
COSATU is informed that a number of schools in the Tigane Ottosdal area will be affected and a number of children will be forced to travel longer distances than they are travelling now.
COSATU provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said they had observed that many children in the farm areas are travelling more than ten kilometres to school in the current situation and the closure of the schools will increase the distance that they are travelling.
“COSATU have also observed that the school transport system is not functioning, as many farm children are still walking to school on a daily basis due to unavailability of transport. Where the transport is available it does not go into farms to collect the children, so they have to travel more than ten kilometres to the road to get the transport” Phetoe said.
“We believe that the continued closure of the schools will be taking away the rights of the children to education and will increase child labour as a number of children will be forced out of schools as the schools which will be too far for them to attend. The farm children are exposed to the racial attacks during travelling to school and this is one of the fights that COSATU in the NW had with the previous MEC, who ended up being removed and arrested for corrupt activities” they said.
Cosatu plans to call on the department of education to stop this process until there is an alternative school where children will be accommodated during the time they are attending school as was done with Onkgoposte Tiro and Moedwill.
“We call on the Department of Education in the NW to stop this and consult with farm communities and other stake holders that are involved in the farms. We are also calling on our government to act quickly on the challenges faced by Pomfret school which is in the poverty area, children are divided on the culture issue including teachers are treated badly with poor attendance of children on the bases of culture” Phetoe concludes.
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Daily Archives: July 23, 2013
Trapped miners found dead
The bodies of two mineworkers trapped underground after a rockfall at Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) Bathopele Mine in Rustenburg were found on Tuesday, Amcu said.
“They were found at about 3.50pm,” said Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) shaft leader George Tyobeka.
He said the two workers were drilling on Saturday when the accident happened.
For more http://www.timelive.co.za
Knives out for Robert Marawa
Metro FM host takes ‘gatvol’ leave and the move leaves his SABC bosses livid
SABC knives are out for popular Metro FM sports host Robert Marawa, who nearly threw the station’s programming into disarray by taking sudden leave on Monday.
It is claimed Marawa told his bosses he was not going to be there the next day, taking what sources have described as “gatvol” leave.
For more http://www.citypress.co.za
New owner of Malema’s Limpopo home has to wait 21 days for occupation
The Limpopo businessman who bought the house of Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius Malema, will have to wait for 21 days before he can occupy his new purchase. Tshimangazo Makhokha, of Khoza Development Properties, bought Malema’s house at Flora Park in Polokwane for R1.4 million.
SARS auctioned the house, as well as other properties owned by Malema, in a bid to recoup his R16 million tax debt that he owes.
The auctioneer, Aggie Stroh, says they’re waiting for a possible higher offer before transferring the house to Makhokha. He says:
“If there’s a higher offer, we are going to submit it to the liquidator and they will decide because they must fill in the same format – as the guy who made the offer has got a pre-emptive rights. If there comes one [an offer] and it is acceptable, the liquidators can accept the highest offer. It’s not final until 21 days.”
In May, Malema’s half-built Sandown mansion went under the hammer. The home was also attached by the court to help cover Malema’s tax bill. His Sandown house in Gauteng was sold for R5.9 million. Parallel to this process, his farm was sold by the government after it was found to have been obtained through the proceeds of fraud.
For more http://www.sabc.co.za
Ertugral extends Ajax stay
Cape Town – Ajax Cape Town has confirmed that Muhsin Ertugral has signed a three-year contract with the club on Tuesday.
Muhsin returned to the Urban Warriors in April the Head of Technical Affairs.
In a statement on the club’s official website, he was instrumental in keeping the club in the PSL, collecting eight points the last four games of the 2012/2013 season to ensure Ajax Cape Town’s top-flight status.
For http://www.news24.com
Criminals will not win – Mthethwa
Johannesburg – Criminals seeking to thwart crime prevention efforts by making police officers suffer will not succeed, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Tuesday.
“Those who seek to derail our crime-reduction efforts, merciless criminals whose intention is create anguish among us, shall not succeed,” Mthethwa said in a statement.
“The war on crime is a people’s war and as history has indicated, the people become victorious in the end.”
Mthethwa was reacting to the killing of a policeman on patrol in Nyanga on Monday night. Another officer was wounded in the shooting.
Police said two men shot the officer in the head as he and his partner were getting out of their police car.
The minister described the shooting as an “ambush”.
“We urge South Africans to rally behind our police officers,” said Mthethwa.
“We can all begin to make a practical declaration by exposing those who kill our officers and not harbour them.”
– SAPA
ANC warns Cosas about rape remarks
Johannesburg – The ANC on Tuesday called on Cosas not to take the law into its own hands by castrating rapists.
“Our position is that we have law enforcement agencies in this country and anybody who commits crime must face the might of the law,” said ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza.
“It is not the responsibility of Cosas to do that. We call on Cosas to recognise that there are law enforcement agencies. Where crime has been committed people must not take matters into their own hands,” he said.
Earlier, the Congress of SA Students (Cosas) threatened to castrate rapists.
“We are going to take the law into our hands… starting from cutting off private parts of those who rape our brothers and sisters, not to forget removing drug dealers in our communities because we know where they live,” said Cosas president Thlologelo Malaji.
“Our community members must stop living in fear and assist us to remove all the ills of society,” he said.
Malaji said Cosas had decided not to sit back and watch the future of the youth taken away by the “ills of society”.
“We call upon all stakeholders in the education sector… to take part and contribute in the struggle to improve the education of our country, ensuring that our students receive the best education,” he said.
Cosas would call mass meetings of parents, pupils, and others to discuss the state of education in the country.
“Core to these discussions… is the continuous disruptions of the culture of teaching and learning due to protests.”
Feeding scheme
Malaji said Cosas was also concerned about the number of schools, especially high schools, which did not have feeding schemes.
“If a child in a primary school has been depending on the feeding scheme, in high school their background is still the same. Where will that child get assistance if the feeding scheme is no longer there?” he asked.
He said the quality of the food being served in the feeding scheme was concerning.
Malaji said Cosas would also continue to oppose the publication of matric results in newspapers.
“As a students’ organisation, we still maintain that matric results should be a private matter between the matriculant and the department of education.”
– SAPA
MMABANA TO HOST SUPERSTARS DANCE FESTIVAL
The South African Dance Foundation North West (SADF – NW) in collaboration with Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation will on the 3rd August 2013 host the second annual SUPERSTARS DANCE FESTIVAL at Mmabana Mahikeng Gymnasium.
“While it is hosted as a provincial competition, the Superstars Dance Festival is a prestigious event where dancers are awarded points that qualify them for national colours and thereby stand a chance to be selected to represent the country at international competitions sanctioned by World Dance Council (WDC), of which SADF is a member” Mmabana spokesperson Trinity Bogosi said.
Over 400 participants from across the country, in provinces like Gauteng, Western Cape and Free State will join their North West counterparts to illuminate the dance floor with Cha Cha, Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Rumba and Jive moves. To add flavour to this already exciting occasion, the competition will incorporate traditional, Hip Hop and street dance styles.
“Having produced the crème of South African dance sport, the luminaries who until today continues to grace the stages and small screens; Mmabana Foundation is an accredited member of SADF and will be fully represented during the competition, hence a partnership with SADF NW to bring such an august dance event. The province will host the national championships later this year” Bogosi said.
Some of the Foundation’s products currently on television are Tebogo Kgobokoe, Mary Martins and Nombulelo Hlathi, who are judges and participants in Strictly Come Dancing reality show on SABC 3 respectively. Others are Salome Sechele, Frans Sema and Khutso Khunou who will judge the competition.
Proceedings start at 10H00, 3rd August 2013 at Mmabana Mahikeng Gymnasium. Admission is R80 all ages.
(Edited by Obakeng Maje)
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North West province to rebrand and reposition itself
The process to develop the rebranding and positioning strategy for the North West Province is to be launched by Premier Thandi Modise at the Provincial Rebranding and Positioning Stakeholder Conference to be held as from 9:00 am at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng on Friday.
Informed by the objectives of the National Development Plan, the Stategy Development Process is expected to have as an outcome the creation of a new brand reality, rooted in the culture of service delivery, and the promise of improved, world class livelihoods and infrastructure and ultimately a better life for the citizens of the Province.
“The new Brand Architecture and Brand Reality has to be based on research and Public Consultation. Only on the basis of a comprehensive understanding of the current perceptions about the North West Province’s Brand health, can informed decisions be taken as to defining a new provincial brand personality,” said Premier Modise ahead of the stakeholders conference.
“Though the strategy will deliver two key outcomes namely the new identity (name and image) of the province and new brand architecture, the Rebranding and Positioning process is more than just changing the name and logo of the Province,” added Modise.
The overall key strategic thrust of the Rebranding and Positioning Strategy is to cultivate specifically designated Marketing and Communications platform which will permit the province to articulate the wealth of its national endowment namely its rich heritage, culture and history to the various publics.
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Five remanded in custody after robbery in Klerksdorp
By Obakeng Maje
Klerksdorp- Five accused, a South African, Setholola Joseph Tsotetsi (38), Harrison Muroria (35), Joseph Njenga ( 38) both from Kenya, a Burundi National Hakuziman Luccin (33) and a Tanzanian, Richard Henry Mwanri ( 35) appeared before Klerksdorp Magistrates Court on Monday on charges of Business Robbery.
“It is alleged that the accused were arrested in Nigel in Gauteng Province on Friday after a member of a community tipped the police that goods were being off-loaded at a certain house at the township. Police responded to the information and on arrival they discovered that these goods were stolen in a company in Klerksdorp” Captain Pelonomi Makau said.
It was established that a Courier Delivery company in Klerksdorp was robbed goods to the value of R500, 000, 00 including a company vehicle on Thursday at about 23:00.
“According to the information received, two employees from the courier company were walking home from work when they were confronted by two accused that called them by their names and asked them when the last delivery at the company is. Without any suspicion, the victims disclosed the information and the accused forced the victims to accompany them to the company store room where goods were kept pointing them with firearms” Makau said.
Police said three other accused in a minibus arrived and joined their accomplice in commission. The latter as well as another who was still at the store-room were tied up and threatened with firearms before they were locked at the back of the company car.
“It is alleged that the accused drove away with another company car which was later found abandoned along Stilfontein and Rietfontein Road” police said.
All five suspects were allegedly remanded in custody.
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The Guardian 