The North West Executive Council (Exco) has adopted a revised Job-Access Plan to accelerate employment of persons with disabilities. In terms of the plan, close to 1200 more people with disabilities are targeted for employment by the provincial administration within the next 10 months.

Premier Thandi Modise who had recently urged provincial government departments to endeavour to employ more people with disabilities, whites, coloured and Indians within the provincial administration says that the plan is product of intense debates during the consultative process involving departments and the Provincial Disability Forum.

Modise had said that building an inclusive society, requires that departments should go beyond placing people with disabilities as interns to employing them and advancing their upward mobility within the public service.

Approval of the plan will bring changes to employment practices including the inclusion of disability interests in short-listing and interview panels.

In addition to mainstream recruitment process, Exco has directed departments to work with the Office of the Status of People with Disabilities(OSPD) to identify posts for exclusive recruitment of Persons with Disabilities.

The OSPD and relevant structures in government have also been mandated to coordinate initiatives aimed at preparing and placing job-seekers Persons with Disabilities.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-A 44 year-old man was allegedly found dead on Thursday at about 21:00 in his shack at Ikageng location, near Potchefstroom.

North West police said that the deceased sister alerted the police after she found his brother dead that morning.

Captain Pelonomi Makau said Emergency Medical Services were summoned to the scene and certified the victim dead.

“According to the information by emergency services, the deceased had a swollen eye and he bled from his nose” Makau outlines. 

No one has been arrested and investigation continues.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Jouberton-North West police are investigating a case of murder after a 25 year-old man was allegedly shot dead at his place on Thursday at about 19:00.

“It is alleged that the victim was standing in front of his gate when he was shot in his chest by an unknown suspect” captain Pelonomi Makau said. 

Police said the suspect is sought and investigations continue.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Christiana-North West police arrested a 14 year-old suspect for allegedly stabbing a 17 year-old victim at Utlwanang township near  Christiana on Friday at about 18:00.

“It is alleged that both the suspect and the victim fought in the street and the suspect took out a knife and stabbed the victim in the stomach” captain Pelonomi Makau said. 

Emergency Medical Services were called and the victim was certified dead on the scene. 

The suspect was traced and arrested by police. 

Makau said the reason led to a bloody fight is not yet known.

The suspect will appear at Christiana Magistrates Court on Monday, in connection of murder.

Police investigations continues.-TDN

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Cape Town – Almost a year after 10 new ambulances were donated to the Northern Cape’s Kuruman Hospital, five of them have yet to hit the road, according to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.

In a written reply to a parliamentary question on Friday, he pinned the blame for this on paperwork.

“[The] trust [that donated the ambulances] did not provide the necessary documentation required to register the vehicles as ambulances, and this delayed the registration,” Motsoaledi said.

The question was posed by Congress of the People (Cope) MP Paul Mnguni, who wanted to know if the minister had been informed “that 10 brand new ambulances donated to the [hospital] by the John Taolo Gaetsewe Developmental Trust last December are still standing unused at the back of the hospital”.

Motsoaledi said he knew about the vehicles.

“The department had to start the process of registration and five of the ambulances have been registered and operational.

“The other five were incorrectly registered and this error is being rectified,” he said.

The John Taolo Gaetsewe Developmental Trust is located in the Northern Cape municipal district of the same name.

Kuruman is the administrative centre.

According to its website, the trust aims to carry out “public benefit activities in a non-profit manner and with an altruistic or philanthropic intent”.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The government’s biggest challenge is to make maths and science exciting and popular for school pupils, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.

“Science offers students the ability to access a wealth of knowledge and information, which will contribute to an overall understanding of how and why things work the way they do,” he said in a speech prepared for delivery.

“Through science, you will be able to explain the mechanics and reasons behind the daily functioning of complex systems, which range from the human body to sophisticated modern methods of transport up to the workings of the Square Kilometre Array telescope that our country won the bid to construct.”

Zuma was speaking to finalists of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists. He was hosting them as part of National Children’s Day at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House, in Pretoria.

Zuma said that by producing more science and technology graduates, the country was assured of a bright future economically.

“It means our economy will have all the scientists, technologists, engineers, artisans and other skills that we need for economic development.

“It also means we will have all the expertise we need to prevent and cure diseases or to fight poverty through better agricultural methods,” he said. 

SAPA

Johannesburg – Crime is a complex problem and to defeat it social partnerships need to be formed, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Friday.

“On a daily basis, we continue to develop and implement plans to reduce crime, with the support and in partnership with all law-abiding citizens of our country,” he said in a speech prepared for delivery at the launch of the North West “duty calls” campaign.

He said the festive season should be a period of relaxation which families could enjoy free from crime.

“We are here today to say that we cannot allow criminals to rule your festive season. We cannot allow criminals to rob you of your all-year earnings, which you acquired through legitimate hard work and dedication,” Mthethwa said.

“This is your sweat and toiling. As such, you deserve to enjoy your hard work free from crime, but to achieve all this, the police cannot do it on their own, they need your support.”

He said that since the start of operation duty calls in the province in October, a total of 690 arrests for serious crimes had been made.

Police visibility in the province would be intensified and there would be concerted programmes to deal with aggravated robberies, border security, illegal firearms and road safety, he said. 

SAPA