Monthly Archives: June 2014

Premier Mahumapelo to share his vision with the Mahikeng Business Community


North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo is to share his vision on the province and the economic revival of the provincial capital city with the business community of Mahikeng at a partnership meeting to be held as from 5pm at the Cookes Lake on Tuesday afternoon.
 

“The unity amongst the business community in Mahikeng and the province is central to growing the economy of the province for us to move the North West Province forward as part of our rebranding, repositioning and renewal project and advancing the philosophy of Saam werk-Saam trek,” Premier Mahumapelo said ahead of the meeting.

 

Premier Mahumapelo who will be accompanied by the Economic and Infrastructure Cluster MEC;s and the Executive Mayor of Mahikeng has identified investment in water, energy, transport and sanitation infrastructure as key to the economic revival of the capital city”

 

Amongst others issues that the Premier will discuss with the business community is the recapitalization and commercialization of key infrastructure assets in Mahikeng that include the Mahikeng International Airport, Bop Recording Studios, Mmabatho Stadium,Lotlamoreng Dam, SABC Broadcasting facility, Leopard Park Golf Estate and the  Mmabatho Convention Centre.-TDN
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Bloemhof cholera tests negative


No cholera in Bloemhof – NICD

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2014-06-02 09:20
Johannesburg – Tests done to check for cholera in Bloemhof, in the North West, were negative, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Monday.

“The tests were negative, so cholera has been excluded now,” Professor Lucille Blumberg told Sapa.

“The source of the problem is contaminated water and that needs to be fixed.”

The institute was conducting more tests to check for other viruses, like gastroenteritis.

Gastroenteritis (infectious diarrhoea) is a condition characterised by inflammation of an intestinal tract which results in diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and cramping. Gastroenteritis is referred to as gastro, stomach bug, and stomach virus.

3 babies dead

Earlier, the North West health department confirmed that two more babies had died from diarrhoea in Bloemhof, where water contamination left the town without water last week.

“One baby was 7-months-old and the other was 13-months-old,” said spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane.

The circumstances surrounding their deaths were similar to the first baby that died last Wednesday, he said.

Dozens of residents went to local clinics to be examined last week following the contamination. Five babies were admitted to hospital for observation.

The Lekwa-Teemane municipality shut down its water supply system more than a week ago. The national water affairs department on Friday said the system had been cleaned and sanitised, and water was restored on Thursday evening.

But residents said the water coming out of taps was still brown on Friday, and residents were asked to boil the water first before using it.

Water samples were taken for testing.

On Sunday, Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane visited the area.

Meanwhile, civil rights group Afriforum conducted its own water tests.

“We haven’t received the results yet. We expect it by tomorrow [Tuesday] or Wednesday,” said Afriforum North West co-ordinator Carmea Huysamen.
-Sapa

Lekwa Teemane Municipal Manager suspended-Premier Mahumapelo


The Municipal Manager for Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality has been suspended pending the outcome of a forensic investigation whose preliminary report is to serve before a Special meeting of the Provincial Executive Council(Exco) to be held on Tuesday, North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo confirmed on Monday.

The suspension of Andrew Makuapan follows a meeting that involved Premier Mahumapelo, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane and the Exco Intervention task team established by the Premier to look into challenges facing the municipality and visits to families that lost three infants over the weekend.

A joint task team that includes the Exco task team and the Ministry of Water and Sanitation has been established to look into the ailing infrastructure, funding model for the municipality, governance and administrative challenges facing the municipality and sanitation spillage into the water pipes that has resulted in contamination of water.

Urgent interventions identified include upgrading of the sewer plant, review of the municipality’s Local Economic Plan in consultation with key stakeholders such as the business,civic, labour and religious structures  and rebuilding of public properties destroyed during the violence experienced in the area.  

“Developing solutions to the challenges faced by the community to put it on a trajectory of peace, reconciliation and healing and the need for unity among councillors were also identified as critical interventions to normalise and stabilise the crisis situation in the area,” Premier Mahumapelo said.

A feedback meeting with the community is to be held on Sunday afternoon after a report is finalised on Friday.-TDN
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Konka Bokamoso breeze to hit North West in celebration


By Obakeng Maje
Mahikeng- In 52 years, North West and South Africa at large has witnessed a number of significant events from Motsweding FM’s first day of broadcast back in 1962(Motsweding FM was born after Mmabatho FM and Radio Setswana was merged) after being granted a degree of self-government.

This month of June, Motsweding FM is celebrating its 52nd Birthday and to mark this occasion, the station has lined up a series of events in and around the North West province for its Stakeholders and the public at large.

“This celebration combines the station’s new brand identity which is aimed at taking the station to a new digital space of broadcasting whilst promoting cultural diversity and the heritage of the setswana language” Motsweding FM Station Manager Sibongile Mtyali said.

The new brand “Konka Bokamoso” was launched back in January and will set the scene for robust news reporting, content that resonates with current and future audiences and delivery of authentic stories through the usage of modern platforms.

In celebrating its success the station will be engaging with various listeners, through the province.

“We are very proud to be part of luminous historical journey. We will be celebrating throughout the province. On Friday we will be at Mahikeng taxi rank engaging with our listeners” Mtyali smiles.

Mtyali said the station will also tour the province to celebrate with their listeners who stood with them through thick and thin.

She said the station will continue to give the listeners a riveting content and variety of programmes offered within the station.

Motsweding FM has claimed their niche in forever growing competition in radio landscape. Mtyali said the station is planning to become one of the best in South Africa.

Listen to Motsweding FM every day on 87.9- 109.7MHz or Live streaming http://www.motswedingfm.co.za

Platinum Belt strike affects economy- Mayor


The economy of the country has deteriorated due to the strike in the platinum sector, the mayor of Moses Kotane local municipality Fetsang Mokati-Thebe said on Friday.

“Our economy has deteriorated.

I have full confidence in the current leadership that it has capacity to resolve the current efforts of negotiation for positive resolutions that will see sanity prevailing,” she said during her budget speech in Madikwe outside Rustenburg.

She said people of Bojanala Platinum District Municipality and Moses Kotane in particular, were most affected by the platinum strike.

Bojanala platinum district municipality is made up of Rustenburg, Moses Kotane, Kgetlengrevier, Madibeng and Moretele local municipalities.

Mineworkers affiliated to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) at Lonmin, Impala and Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) downed tools on January 23 demanding a basic monthly salary of R12,500.

They have rejected the companies’ offer that would up their cash remuneration to R12,500 by July 2017.

Amplats mines in Limpopo draw labour from villages within the Moses Kotane municipality.

Tabling her budget of R682 million, Mokati-Thebe said the budget made provision for new infrastructure in the municipality through municipal infrastructure grant (MIG) funding as one of the sources of financing of the capital programme.

“Our main priority is provision of basic services.

Hence our full focus has been directed towards other sources of water, and I am also proud to share with the house that more than R7 million has been allocated to ground water optimisation projects which will benefit communities.”

“In response to your outcry with regard to roads and storm water the municipality has allocated an amount of R68.1 million for construction of internal roads and storm water projects.”

R14 million has been allocated to Street lighting.

She said R27 million was allocated for purchasing five water tankers, two tipper trucks, two graders and everyday-use vehicles.

She said the budget made provision for 182 permanent jobs.

“For all the capital projects to be implemented we have encouraged the contractors to make use of the local labour mainly to reduce unemployment,” she said.
     
-Sapa

Mahumapelo applauds spectacular performance by Comrades Marathon Gold Medalist Gift Kelehe


North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo has applauded Gift Kelehe for his spectacular performance that earned him third place and a gold medal in the 2014 Comrades Marathon.
“Thirty-year old Kelehe has made the country and the province proud as our ambassador in the highly competitive and ultimate human race following in the footsteps of his legendary older brother Andrew who won 11 Comrades Marathon gold medals and scooped the 2001 championship. With three gold medals to his name, Gift has stamped his authority as a force to be reckoned with on the road running and ultra marathon circuit. He is an inspiration and a role model for our youth,” Premier Mahumapelo said on Sunday.
The Premier said that the provincial government joins the Kelehe family and communities across the province in congratulating Kelehe who clocked 5:34:39 behind Bongumusa Mthembu who won his maiden Comrades Marathon after clinching the 2014 ‘down run’ title by a comfortable 5:28:34.Mthembu finished the 89.28km race over four minutes ahead of Ludwick Mamabolo, the defending ‘down run’ winner from 2012 recorded a time of 5:33.14
Three-time former champion Stephen Muzhingi of Zimbabwe came fourth clocking 5:35.18 after Kelehe. 

Meanwhile, the woman’s race was won by British-born Canadian, Eleanor Greenwood, ahead of the Nurgalieva twins, Elena and Olesya.-TDN
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SAFCA pays tribute to Kungwane


Tributes continue to pour in for the late Isaac “Shakes” Kungwane who passed away on Wednesday afternoon (28 May). He was 43.
Among those paying tribute were the South African Football Coaches Association (SAFCA) for the former Bafana Bafana player’s contribution to South African football. He made a positive impact in his days as an industrious midfielder with Kaizer Chiefs and later in his new career as a football analyst.
“Kungwane’s sudden death is a shock to the football family and a true loss to the coaching fraternity. Football is deemed by many as a matter of life and death, but the affable Kungwane introduced an entertaining dimension to football analysis; the same approach that brought joy to millions of television viewers during his playing days,” said SAFCA President Greg Mashilo.
SAFCA views Kungwane’s death as a great loss to his family and the nation at large, but at the same time as an opportunity to reflect and draw lessons from his unique ways of doing things.
“Our role as SAFCA is to educate, train and empower people with technical matters relating to coaching, it is always a sad and devastating blow to lose one of us. Shakes has coached from the bench and went on to spread the coaching gospel through the broadcast media, we take this opportunity as the South African Football Coaches Association to convey our heartfelt condolences to the Kungwane family. We wish them strength in these difficult times,” added Mashilo.
Mashilo concluded by saying:

“Our recent on-the-field fond memories of Shakes was when he entertained millions of television viewers with his disguised passes in a legends match against the African selection at the Moses Mabidha Stadium in Durban.  Coach Clive Barker introduced Shakes in the second half and South Africa went on to win the match 3-1. Kungwane went on to play the next day against the Durban legends in a match that was staged to open the new stadium in honour of the legendary Cedric Sugar Ray Xulu in Claremont.”
Although the South African legends lost the match, Kungwane was elated to have played in honour of a legend with a magic left foot like his. He kept on reminding everyone about his common trait with Xulu, the magical left foot.
SAFCA salutes Shakes Kungwane by saying: 
IT IS NOT HOW LONG YOU LIVE, BUT HOW WELL YOU LIVE. 
-TDN
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A cyclist critically injured in accident in Potchefstroom


By Obakeng Maje
Potchefstroom- A cyclist was found in a critical condition after a taxi on Viljoenskroon Road(R501) in Potchefstroom collided with him on Sunday.

Paramedics arrived on the scene and found the man approximately 30 meters away from his bicycle.

“Bystanders on the scene explained that the taxi collided with him ripping his bicycle in two and sending the man flying into the air before he landed back onto the road” Er24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak said.

He sustained severe head injuries and paramedics had to stabilise him on the scene before they rushed him off to Potchefstroom Provincial Hospital for further medical treatment.

Wermaak said it is understood that the man works on a nearby farm in the area.

No one was injured in the taxi. The local police and traffic services attended the incident.-TDN
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Minister Mokonyane visits Bloemhof after water problem


By Obakeng Maje
Bloemhof- The Department of Water and Sanitation has over the last week or more, in co-operation with the North West Department of Health, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality and the Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality been seized with the challenge of spillage in the area of Bloemhof including the Boitumelong township.

The spillage has led to the pollution of the Vaal River as it flows through the area, ultimately to the negative impact on the community with regard to the quality of drinking water supply.

“A number of health related challenges were experienced with around 117 people taken to hospital and treated. Over time this number reduced and stabilised at around 61 cases. What has been treated was identified as diarrhoea. The suspected cholera has not yet been identified” departmental spokesperson Katlego Mokaila said.

The matter of the one fatality in this period, suspected to be from the same diarrhoea, is still to be verified.

Part of the work that has been done includes the collection of water samples for laboratory testing.

The sampling was done at the reservoir, the school and the source.

“The laboratory tests are crucial in order to verify exactly what is affecting the community” Mokaila said.

The tests are still in incubation and the results thereof will be shared once available.

Part of the challenges relating to the quality of water supply were impacted upon by the previous social unrest, vandalisation of some of the infrastructure, as well as matters related to maintenance and operations at local level.

“The Department has been in contact with both the District and Local Municipalities and will continue to engage and assist both Municipalities in order to bring the matters of up to standard water supplies to the area” Mokaila outlines.

This assistance will continue as well in terms of the Blue and Green Drop certification processes.

In the meantime, in order to ensure the community does not continue using contaminated water, a number of steps were taken. The Local Municipality shut off the water supply to the community. This ensured no access to the contaminated supply. The community has been assisted with tankered water in the meantime. The Municipality sanitised the reservoir and pipeline, including backwashing. Since Friday 30th May, the Municipality allowed water back into the system with the main intention of flushing it in order to get it ready for normal use by Monday 02 June.

Included in these actions, has been an awareness drive with regard to water and personal hygiene to ensure that all users continue in the meantime to use water only after boiling it and taking care of issues like ensuring the washing of hands in order to reduce possibilities of further infection.

This awareness will continue even beyond the resumption of normal water supply.

“The Minister of Water and Sanitation is concerned about the status of the water quality and the negative impact on the health of the community, thus her decision to visit the area this morning” Mokaila said.

Minister engaged with the Premier of the North West, Premier Mahumapelo, her colleagues in the province, in both the District and Local Municipalities, the responsible officials of all tiers of government, give leadership on the matter and thus bring the matter to a close. Minister Mokonyane also took time to visit some of the families of those affected by the use of the water and fell sick.

The officials at all tiers of government have been working around the clock to find resolution to the challenge as well but the critical political leadership will ensure any possible blockages in terms of inter-governmental relations are immediately taken care of and the community receives the requisite services.

Whilst the Department of Water and Sanitation will continue to assist the Local and District Municipalities, “ the Sedibeng Water Board has been brought in to ensure there’s requisite expertise in the course of action in this regard”, Minister Mokonyane said.-TDN
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A child died in a horrific accident in Mokasa


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- A case of culpable homicide is being investigated after a vehicle overturned and a 3 year-old child died instantly on Friday at approximately 17:45 at Mokasa village, near Taung.

Colonel Sabata Mokwabone said it is alleged that the driver was negotiating a curve along Mokasa gravel road when he lost control of the vehicle. 

“The injured persons were taken to hospital for medical attention” he said.-TDN
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