The Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Hon. Sussana Dantjie showed her appreciation by fulfilling her promise to the matric class of 2014 at Tswaing Local Municipality, rewarding all those who received distinctions at any subject with trophies, and those who attained more were showered with latest laptops, i-pads and data cards.

The Matric class of 2014 at Tswaing form part of other learners who attained 87% pass rate in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district. This has placed the North West province in the 2^nd position nationally with an 84, 6% pass rate, led by Gauteng province in the exceptional performance of education.

The Speaker encouraged learners and educators to continue to strive in ensuring that education plays a central role towards development, discipline and respect.

She placed her gratitude above all to a learner who attained a distinction at Mogawane Commercial High School, who was the only matric student at her school. Out of the 39 students who attended with her in  Grade 11, she managed to pass whilst the rest of her peers failed.

The Speaker mentioned that, despite her coming from a disadvantaged background, having raised by a single parent and consumed by a lot of peer pressure, the learner chose to make it through all that.

“Nothing encourages me than to see a learner at such a young age having a vision, disciplined and focused to see herself being  a leader and striving for success amidst all challenges thrown at her”, said Dantjie.

Even though the learner attained just one distinction, the Speaker accorded her with a special achiever’s award for her dedication, commitment and vision in life.

The two learners who received the 6 distinctions could not make it to the event, instead their parents were present to receive multiple awards on their behalf. The two had a special promise made by the Speaker that birthday celebrations will be accorded to them and parents ululated with joy having received, laptops, i-pads, an honorary gold plate award including trophies for their children.

Guests were entertained and inspired by a motivational speaker, Ms. Mogau Motlhatswi, a young aspiring actress who is a 3^rd year student at University of Johannesburg.

She instilled principle, respect, discipline and hardwork to those who yearned for success in life.

Many felt honoured by the event, and thanked the North West Legislature for honouring, appreciating and encouraging not only the learners, but educators and parents for their commitment.

“We are indeed proud of the dedication and hardwork imprinted in education, we as the North West Legislature will see how best we can unite with other government sectors and ensure that there is enough support needed to grow more doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers, business entrepreneurs and many more,”said Dantjie.

-TDN

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Brits- The Department of Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs(CATA) in partnership with The Provincial Geographical Names Committee (NWPGNC) are continuing with the third leg of awareness campaigns on name changes, the event will be held on the 20^th February 2015 at Maboloka Ward 4 Ambassadors Sports Ground (Rustenburg).

The campaign will take the form of a conference/seminar, Key stakeholders such as Traditional Leadership, Historians and Community Leaders have been invited, Member of the Executive Council Tebogo Modise will address the gathering.

Key issues to be discussed are:

• Engagement process of changing names,
• The main strategy of the council,
• As well as the purpose of the campaign.

“People need to be educated about the work of the PGNC. What it is, its purpose and key responsibilities of the committee. We therefore urge all role players to come in their numbers at Bojanala District so that they make their own contributions”, said MEC Modise.

Details of the Conference are as follows:

Venue:           Maboloka Ward 4 Ambassadors Sports Ground

Date:               20 February 2015

Time:              9h00

-TDN

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North West- Communities of Papi Ntjana (Bojanala District), Khunwana (Ngaka Modiri Molema District) and Tlakgameng (Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District) in the North West Province will soon receive state-of-the-art libraries for their villages – thanks to the Department of Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs (cata).

Each of the three structures (measuring 625m2) will be equipped with a range of books for all age groups, as well as free internet access and facilities for the visually-impaired. Also included in each is a toy library for the young ones.

Cata recently handed over the sites for the constructors to start working. Work is scheduled to take nine months.

“The handing over of construction sites signifies the commitment by government in improving the lives of the people and promoting the culture of learning and reading amongst their communities,” said MEC for Cata, Mme Tebogo Modise.

“The new libraries will be equipped with tailor-made furniture, also housing resources ranging from reference books, learner support material, study collection, books for leisure reading, material to support adult literacy and indigenous languages.

“Libraries are centres for community life. We envisage that the service provided by the libraries will contribute in improving the lives of people by providing for their educational, informational, recreational and developmental needs. The Department of Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs is ready to provide professional and support staff at all the three libraries.”

MEC Modise further urged communities to love, protect and grow their libraries which are aimed at improving culture of learning and reading in their respective communities”.

-TDN

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Kimberley – A 19-year-old Kimberley resident, Magmoet Mohamed, was stabbed to death in Gregory Park in Roodepan, apparently due to a misunderstanding that arose over cigarettes.

While the police have launched an investigation into his death, a relative mentioned that an argument arose between the suspect and the deceased over money, after the deceased went to the tuck-shop to purchase cigarettes on Sunday morning at about 7am.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

Galeshewe – The three Roodepan police officers who are accused of robbing a tuck-shop owned by a foreign national, were on Monday denied bail in the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court.

This comes after their defence failed to convince the court that there were exceptional circumstances warranting the release of Warrant Officer Johan Joubert, Reserve Constable Edward Arendse and Constable Olebogeng Molatlhwe until their next court appearance on March 9.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

Government on Tuesday dismissed a hoax statement saying it had been warned by Eskom that the main power grid could crash, plunging the country into darkness for over two weeks, the department of communication said.

“The message regarding Eskom is not true and is meant to create unnecessary panic.”

Load shedding is a controlled and planned method to ensure that the power system is protected from a total blackout,” said acting director-general Donald Liphoko in a statement.

For more http://www.sabc.co.za

The Police watchdog Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is yet to investigate a case of a three-year-old Diepsloot boy, allegedly shot by police in the forehead.

Police were dispersing residents who had wanted to forcefully occupy vacant land in the area earlier this month.

During an illegal land grab, police were chasing protestors who had run past his home. His grandmother says police prevented her from getting the child who was playing on the pavement, and he was hit on the forehead by a rubber bullet.

For more http://www.sabc.co.za

Suellen Sheehan has testified how she assisted former tennis champion Bob Hewitt in removing her underwear before he allegedly raped her in his vehicle. Tuesday is the second day of Hewitt’s trial.

Hewitt is facing two charges of rape and one of indecent assault and he has pleaded not guilty.

A fifteen minute recess was called to give an emotional Sheehan a chance to compose herself before she continued detailing the abuse, allegedly at the hands of her former tennis coach. She told the court she never questioned his instructions as she trusted and respected him.

Sheehan says she tried to tell her parents about the abuse, but being abusive themselves, they dismissed her claims as rubbish.

For more http://www.sabc.co.za

The community of Inchanga, west of Durban, is reeling with shock after the gruesome murder of two foreign nationals killed last night. Ethiopian brothers  Getechaw Paulos (32) and Deselegn Daniel (30) were attacked in their tuck shop by a group of armed men who stole their cell phones, money, goods and used their car as a get-away vehicle.

Both were shot execution-style. A large pool of blood bears testimony to the gruesome murder. Blood spatter from the victims is painted on the walls and groceries on the shelves. It was a heart breaking sight for their brother Eshetu Zewde who could not hold back the tears.

For more http://www.sabc.co.za

The African News Agency (ANA), which plans to syndicate stories across the continent, will open its doors in March, founding CEO Chris Borain said on Tuesday.

“With Sapa terminating its services on the 31st of March, we intend to commence operations…on the 1st of March 2015,” he told journalists in Cape Town.

For more http://www.sabc.co.za