Johannesburg – The ANC Youth League’s new top five leaders were elected unopposed at the national congress in Midrand, Johannesburg on Friday night.
They are:
– President Collen Maine
– Deputy president Desmond Moela
– Secretary general Njabulo Nzuzu
– Deputy secretary general Thandi Moraka
– Treasurer general Reggie Nkabinde
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APicture: Werner Beukes/SAPA
BY REGINALD KANYANE
IT SEEMS the African National Congress mean business in curbing ill-discipline within the party. This came to light yesterday at Potchefstroom were the leading party deployees met with ANC’s motherbody in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region. The team from Luthuli House led by Secretary-General, Gwede Mantashe and his deputy-general, Jessie Duarte disbanded the ANC Regional Executive Committee.
According to information, the disbandment came after the reports that the executive committee for the region was not elected accordingly.
Our attempt to get a comment from ANC was proven futile before going to print as the leadership was preparing for ANCYL elective conference that is underway at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg where North West MEC, Collen Maine is expected to be elected as the new ANCYL president.
Maine is contesting for the hot seat against league’s former executives, in Pule Mabe (ex-treasurer) and Ronald Lamola (ex-deputy president).
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BY REGINALD KANYANE
Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district was engaged in a council meeting in Vryburg on Thursday. The meeting was led by executive mayor, Choganyetso Elvis Tladinyane.
Tladinyane said the council meeting was to give them an ample opportunity to closely securitize and evaluate the impact of the municipality’s action in line with the expectations of the working class and the poor.
“We also evaluate our performance in line with the objective of the IDP and NDP as we move closer to the end of this last financial year of the third generation of the IDP. It is quite important to note that this Council Meeting takes place at the time South Africa celebrates women’s month, we salute and pay tribute to the women of 1956,” he said.
He also took time to commemorate 1956 women for their gallant and bravery action against the brutal and repulsive regime of apartheid.
Amongst those women, there were Mama Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, which the district is named after, Ray Alexandra, Rahima Moosa, Charlotte Maxeke, Ruth First and many other unsung heroines of our struggle.
“With the same spirit we say happy women’s month to all women of our country. As we celebrate this women’s month I am tempted to quote Comrade Samora Machel in his address to the first conference of Mozambican Women in 1973, he said and I quote “The liberation of women is not an act of charity. It is not the result of a humanitarian or compassionate position. It is a fundamental necessity for the Revolution, a guarantee of its continuity, and a condition for its success” he said.
Tladinyane said that, the District Municipality has assessed the performance of all Senior Managers except the District Municipal Manager, his office on performance assessment is scheduled for next week due the hectic dairy that we had last and this week.
“It must be noted that, the biggest statue that must fall is the scourge of Inequality, unemployment and abject poverty. The council must be briefed on the state of readiness for the Audit 2013/14 and the preparation of Annual Financial Statement.
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“It has to be noted that on Monday we are expected to submit our Annual Financial statement to the provincial treasury. I hope we will not experience the same situation of last year when were supposed to submit our AFS,” he said.
Tladinyane also briefed the council on the progress report regarding the implementation of the Audit Action Plan and the consolidation of the Annual Report of the past financial year. He said that will assist them to honestly assess their performance in the past financial year.
“I am quite confident that this council will be provided with a report on the challenges of water and sanitation and the plan of action to address those challenges. Because water and sanitation serves as one of our core mandate as the District.
“One of our functions is to ensure that there is an Economic Development and the Empowerment of the people through SMMEs and Cooperatives. I am of the view that it is through economic development that we could defeat and destroy the statue of unemployment, inequality and abject poverty. I therefore hope that this council will be provided with a convincing report on this matter,” he said.
The district has also signed a partnership with Sarah Baartman District Municipality in Northern Cape and requested that this council be given a synaptic report on the progress that has been registered thus far,” Tladinyane said.
He said the meeting also reviewed and approved Institutional Organogram in line with their IDP and mandate as outlined by the legislations.
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BY REGINALD KANYANE
The Bokone Bophirima Community Safety and Transport Management have put systems in place to fight against the abuse of women and girl children in the        province. MEC Oageng Molapisi called upon women to speak out and seek for help. He said that while addressing hundreds of women during Women in Dialogue against sexual abuse at Tshing Community Hall in Ventersdorp on Friday.
“Most of women are living in abusive relationships, children leaving under abusive conditions but they are silent about this. What we need from them is to break the silence and shout for help. We have put systems in place to fight this pandemic, but our victory solemnly depends on your cooperation and willingness to speak out. We are ready to help you start living a normal and secured life. We are here today with sector departments and all relevant government entities to provide you with tools and ongoing support you need,” said Molapisi.
As part of the build-up towards the Women in Dialogue, he visited schools around the Ventersdorp and encouraged learners to speak out.
Molapisi further visited the three families where one family the 10-year-old girl was raped and murdered, the second family was the one of the 88 year-old woman who was also raped and murdered, and the third family was for the 18 year-old lesbian who was also raped and murdered. He said all cases were recorded last year and some of them are still in court. Molapisi said only one case has been completed so far and the perpetrator was sentenced for two life sentences in prison.
As part of ensuring safety for the child headed, granny headed families and for all women in general, the department installed security gargets to certain identified families. The gargets are linked to different people including the South African Police Services for quicker response in case of emergency.
Women attending the event were also handed over small gargets that they can use to protect themselves when attacked by thugs.
Members of the public experiencing any challenges, non compliance on the road or any possible act of criminality are advised to contact the Departmental Call Centre on this number: 0800 204 992.
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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
THE Economic Freedom Fighters in Ngaka Modiri Molema region in North West questioned the viability of The National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC) after they alleged that the programme is futile.
The EFF spokesperson in Ngaka Modiri Molema, Ouma Nkitse said the government should consider scrapping NARYSEC as the programme because it continues to grow structural unemployment. She said the move advocates for massive labour-absorptive sustainable industrial development through state-led industrialisation.
“The programme was established in September 2010 by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform with the objective to recruit and develop youth; and to perform community service in their own communities, but this has not been the case as mostly in many government programmes including Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP),” she said.
Nkitse said EFF in Ngaka Modiri Molema region is concerned by government wasting valuable tax payer’s money through NARYSEC which they view as an extension of EPWP which the ruling party is using as elections machinery.
“Over 50Â 000 beneficiaries from the NARYSEC programme are not eligible for employment due to the poor quality of the programme which cost taxpayers over R14.000 per month for each beneficiary; which amounts to millions in fruitless expenditure.”
“We have NARYSEC beneficiaries as trainees under the fire station of Mahikeng which is under-resourced and under-stuffed. The station also service nearby municipality which puts the already ailing station under tremendous pressure,” she said.
According to Nkitse, the party is concern about the situation at Mahikeng Fire Station. She said, while a shift at a fire station should comprise of more than 12 fire fighters, in Mahikeng a shift has 6 firefighters on stand-by.
“Over 90% of the stuff at this station is approaching retirement. There is no clear indication as to the age of the safety gear and how often it is replaced; this puts the life of firefighters in danger. It comes as a shock that fire fighters in Mahikeng fire station do not receive trauma counselling,” she said.
Nkitseng said what is happening is an indication of how government parastatals and departments operate in silos and the lack of proper planning; and the ultimate inability of the ANC to manage the state.
“As EFF Ngaka Modiri Molema Region, we call for a shake-up of the leadership of Mafikeng Local Municipality, the fire station has taken a nose dive over the last decade and heads must roll as this is an indication of the political instability and maladministration in Mahikeng Local Municipality,” she said.
The statement by EFF is incorrect in many respects. A number of issues are conflated into certain assumptions which are not accurate.
However the department of Rural Development and Land Reform said NARYSEC recruits youth from rural areas and train them in skills identified as scare within the provinces. Chief Director for NARYSEC, Anton van Staden said: “The skills that the youth are provided with enable municipalities to absorb NARYSEC youth trained as builders, electricians, welders, farm and game rangers, Fire and Rescue Operations and many others skills.”
He also said as 50 000 NARYSEC participants in the programme – the most youth ever in the programme was 14 400 about a year ago and now have about 9 500 youth.
He said the monthly expenditure per youth is R14 000 and the youth are paid a monthly stipend of R1320.
“All the skills training the NARYSEC participants attend are SAQA accredited and are provided by the TVET Colleges. The allegation that training is of poor quality is therefore not correct. Unemployment statistics indicates that majority of youth in the country are unemployed due to economic realities including those with tertiary qualifications. NARYSEC can therefore not be singled out,” Staden said.
Staden said the department has 8 youth doing work place (practical) training at Mahikeng Municipality. “The youth are about to complete their qualification in Fire and Rescue Operations Level 4. The department is grateful to the Mahikeng municipality for allowing the NARYSEC youth to receive work place training. It is hoped that the youth may be considered for permanent employment once they are qualified,” he said.
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Picture: (Bags of dagga that were allegedly found in a house in Mahikeng after tip-off)
BY REGINALD KANYANE
A 75 year-old woman pleaded guilty after she briefly appeared before Taung Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Elisa Serolong, 75, from Mokgareng village, near Taung was arrested on Sunday morning after the police received a tip-off from one of the community members that there was a bag of dagga in the elderly’s home.
Provincial National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Frank Lesenyego said the woman pleaded guilty and was cautioned and discharged by court.
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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
THE South African National Roads Limited strengthened their working relationship with North West province. The road agency hosted an outreach programme in Mahikeng recently.
Market Square was a hive of activity when (SANRAL) visited the centre on Saturday (29 August 2015), to engage with the local community. Local radio station, Mafikeng FM was broadcasting from the centre and provided excitement with their popular presenters.
Two high schools, Leteane and Barolong pupils went head-to-head in an engaging quiz hosted by SANRAL. The representatives came out in their numbers to support the learners and were keeping scores to ensure that the competition runs smoothly and it is fair to the participants.
The SANRAL school quiz enabled the agency to engage with the community, educate people and also award the prizes to the deserving schools.
David Sebopela, a teacher at Leteane High School said: “I am highly motivated by the SANRAL outreach programme coming to schools and working hand-in- hand with the Department of Education. This initiative will enlighten students and by extension even the community about the role of SANRAL, what the agency actually does. We are very pleased by our win and that will help us in nurturing pupils to make sure they reach greater heights.”
The first prize for the winning school was a mobile library worth R25 000 fully equipped with reading material suitable for high school learners while the runners-up walked away with a R5 000 cheque. The participating schools were given SANRAL’s bi-monthly publication, By The Way, to read and prepare for the quiz. They were then tested on the contents of the bulletin.
Fezile Zozi, Barolong High School teacher said: “The initiative of bringing SANRAL to the communities will make people aware of the agency. We started with our preparations in about two weeks and the students were very excited. Even though we did not win, we are still adamant that we gave the winners a run for their money. School competition is healthy and stretches the best out of our pupils. This is an investment to our youth.”
Northern Regional Manager for SANRAL, Ismail Essa said: “It is telling that the learners have prepared very well for the quiz as this is not something they learn at school everyday. I was impressed with the level of knowledge those learners displayed. It showed that they took this seriously and read the newsletter.
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The schools battled it out over six rounds of questions and both schools started out slowly before they got into the swing of things.
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Leteane High School emerged victorious and claimed the mobile library with books to the value of R25 000. Barolong High School did not leave empty handed as they grabbed the R5000 cheque.
Tshegofatso Mantsi from Leateane High School could not hide her excitement after they were announced as the first prize winners. She said: “I feel so honoured, I am happy for our school. The library is going to help me a lot with my studies and possibly learn more about SANRAL.”
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BY REGINALD KANYANE
NORTH WEST’s accelerated service delivery drive has successfully completed its first month in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality with a resounding success in its effort to accelerate service delivery and ultimately addresses the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
North West provincial acting spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said on Thursday, Setsokotsane will pull out all the stops to focus on Tlokwe Local Municipality with its massive service delivery outreach being taken to Boskop, Ward 3, where over 15 government departments and public entities will converge to render essential government services.
“On Thursday, the Setsokotsane will be tackling two locations on the same day, namelyPromosa Community Hall in Extension 3, Ward 21 and Ikageng Stadium, Ward 10. All these service delivery drives will take place from 8:00am in the morning till 4:30 in the afternoon,” he said.
Setswambung said Setsokotsane will remain in DR KK District Municipality and will criss-crossing various local municipalities within the district until the end of September as it addresses all service delivery problems facing communities.
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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
NORTH West premier Supra Mahumapelo said the committee has been established to oversee and monitor all projects that will be taking place within the province. According to Mahumapelo, there is a need to appraise all projects that taking place because some of the contractors leave a shoddy work behind.
“We will establish a task team that will be monitoring all projects across the province. Many contractors leave sloppy work behind and we only realize after a long time that the contractors did not deliver required work accordingly. So we want to get rid of that as the province. We will also incorporate services of private companies who will make sure they help us to monitor all that. This will include any project in North West either within the municipalities, districts or provincial,” he said.
Mahumapelo also outlined that there are many contractors that were approved to build roads in the province, however that was done without checking whether the province has money or not. “Many contractors were offered projects to build roads within the province, but unfortunately that was done without checking if the province has money.
The residents of Ganyesa are expected to meet with Public Works MEC, Madoda Sambatha to get way-forward regarding Bona-Bona road that was abandoned by Leviro Construction Company. Another road that has caused uproar was a road between Madinonyane and Ganyesa.
Community leader, Norman Moncho said: “We will be meeting with MEC Madoda Sambatha to hear what if there is any new development. We really have a mammoth task to travel under those conditions especially during rainy season. These roads are inaccessible and the ambulances struggle to reach its destinies on time and that results in losing lives unnecessary.”
Sabambatha is also expected to meet with Manokwane residents in Taung to give them answers regarding D221 road in their area.
The community of Manokwane burned two houses belonging to headman and councilors two years ago in protest regarding the road.
One of community leaders, Benjamin Lekaowa said they want answers from MEC because he promised them that the road will be tarred during 2015 financial year. “We are now sick and tired of empty promises, what we want from MEC is to tell us when the contractor will come to the site. We want our road tarred. We cannot keep on postponing because time is not on our side,” he said.
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