Taung – Efforts by North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlement to empower youth by skilling them, has once again came to light following the recent graduation of 120 unemployed women from disadvantaged communities of Greater Taung Local Municipality.

They graduated in Fire Fighting and First Aid training which is meant to introduce disaster risk reduction at ward level, to enhance the survival skills of vulnerable communities, especially women and children who bear the brunt of disasters. 

Pontsho Kgosieng, a district municipal councillor at Dr Ruth Mompati District who stood in for MEC Collen Maine at the event said the training will provide young women with the necessary skills to deal with disaster incidents as and when they arise.

“Communities are the backbone of our survival as they are the first people to respond to any incident. This is part of our efforts to ensure that we equip them with the necessary skills to help themselves. They will be able to apply first aid lessons and safe lives or use their fire fighting skills to extinguish fire. Taung was chosen after several disaster incidents which left people vulnerable and exposed to hazards. We expect all graduates to manage all disaster risks and bring change to your communities” remarked Kgosieng.

Kgosieng reassured young people that the department is taking disaster management serious. “Government will continue to avail opportunities for as long as such critical skills are needed, for the sustainability and benefit of our communities. We will continue to put emphasis on the need to pay attention to disaster management services, so that we manage emergencies on time, before they escalate into disasters. This will ensure that the environment, in which our people live, is well secured and protected against harm. This is part of what we mean by safer communities and sustainable human settlements” concluded Kgosieng.

One of the graduates Eunice Maboitshege (26) from Moretele village thinks the First Aid training will help her assist relatives and neighbours in the village.

“We were taught handling and usage of fire extinguisher as well as First Aid, which entails Artificial Respiratory (AR) and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). With the first aid skill that I now possess, I’ll be able to save the lives of residents in my community. I now know how to assist those who sustained different injuries including stab wounds. I’m intending to make a meaningful contribution to my community since the local clinic is not open 24hours” said Maboitshege.

Another beneficiary Keitumetse Leboe (28) of Lokaleng village, appealed for the employment of more women in Disaster Risk Management.

“The training was interesting and challenging at the same time. However my concern is that, there are few women employed in disaster management. In the whole of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, there are only eight (8) women fire fighters and one (1) in management. More women must be employed as Taung is a disaster prone area” said Leboe.

The training programme is in line with the National and Provincial Disaster Management Policy Framework and the Disaster Management Act. The project seeks to present women from historically disadvantaged communities with information and training on first aid and fire-fighting.

Meanwhile other ten (10) departmental women, working for Fire and Emergency Centres in Greater Taung Municipality were also awarded with certificates of recognition for their valuable contribution in disaster management and fire services and making communities safe. One of them is Moipone Matoonyane who has been a fire fighter for over eight years.

The event was also used to officially launch the International Day for Disaster Reduction – IDDR Conference to held in Rustenburg next month (October).
-TDN
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Johannesburg- Outgoing Amajita coach Shakes Mashaba, who saw the U20 team qualify for the CAF Youth championships in Senegal next year after beating Cameroon 2-1 at Peter Mokaba Stadium for a 3-2 aggregate score, said Bafana Bafana must emulate the youngsters and complete an unfolding turnaround fortunes within all South Africa’s national football teams.

Mashaba, who will oversee Bafana Bafana squad training at Marks Park today Monday, 1 September 2014, having travelled from Polokwane soon after the Amajita win, challenged the Senior Men’s National team to maintain the high standards set by the youngsters.

“I have always said that the fortunes of South African football have totally changed for the better in recent times and it is a good feeling to go into the Bafana Bafana camp with the U20 CAF qualification in the bag. Now it is time to move on and I am asking the senior players to take this positive vibe forward.

“This is great for the country and football at large. What I would now like to request is for the country to rally around all our national teams because we are bringing that pride back,” said Mashaba adding he would give the South African Football Association (SAFA) his own views about the U20 squad and whom he thinks will take the team forward.

“I am proud of these young guys. They showed determination, guts and a never-say-die attitude. That is what I expect of everyone who dons the national colours; patriotism and passion are non-negotiable for me,” added Mashaba.

Meanwhile, in congratulating Mashaba, SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan said Amajita’s qualification was a culmination of the new Executive’s broader plan to develop South African football through Vision 2022.

“Since our coming into office in September 2013, we have made soccer development our fundamental philosophy and as all can see, things are beginning to fall into place.

“Amajita have now joined Banyana Banyana in qualifying for a major continental tournament and our U17 are two games away (against Egypt) from qualifying for the CAF Junior champs to be played in Niger next year. We are right in the middle of an exciting evolution,” said Dr Jordaan.

“To us (SAFA), the watchword is development, development and more development. Our U13 and 15 leagues for both girls and boys are being played around our 52 Regions and this chain reaction culminates into our junior national teams performing at the highest level.”-TDN
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Two people found in possession of 208kgs of suspected stolen platinum are expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, North West police said.

Police saw two suspicious-looking men in a stall in Rustenburg, Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said on Saturday.

“They searched them and recovered platinum weighing 208 kg and 22 grams of dagga hidden in their bags,” he said.

The men failed to explain where the platinum came from.

They were arrested in Thursday and charged with possession of platinum and possession of drugs.

       
-Sapa

A Madibeng Local Municipality councillor and two other people accused of killing a teenage boy appeared in the Ga-rankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, North West police said.

The councillor, her son and a neighbour were released pending investigations, said Brigadier Thulani Ngubane.

“The court felt that more information was required because it is a mob justice case.” Apparently the councillor, 44, her son, 19, and their 25-year-old neighbour assaulted the 17-year-old boy who allegedly attempted to rape someone in Brits.

“It is alleged that the suspects assaulted the victim by kicking him all over his body and throwing him on the ground. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.”

Police were investigating, Ngubane said.

– Sapa