BY REGINALD KANYANE

TSWAING local municipality will come up with strategic plan to assist the residents at Khunwana village after torrential rains. Few houses were dismounted during torrential rains on Friday. Some residents were left homeless after their houses were swept away by floods.

Kedibone Sekakanyo was left dejected after her four room house was cascaded down. According to her, she has no money to start to rebuild her house. Sekakanyo said they experienced torrential rains on Friday.

“We have nowhere to go after our house was plunged by heavy rains. We lost everything including our Id documents. We are now squatting at some relatives. We will have a black Christmas. We will welcome any form of assistance so that we can have a roof over our heads,” Sekakanyo said.

Community leader, Letlhogonolo Ntwe said the rains caused damage on many houses.

Ntwe said: “We have experienced a super storm in Khunwana village. We want the Tswaing municipality to declare the area as a natural disaster. The community is desperate and seeking financial assistance to rebuild their homes. The storm was massive and unprecedented.

Tswaing municipality mayor, Ceasar Mogatuse: “We are aware of the torrential rains that took place in Khunwana village. We will be meeting with Ngaka Modiri Molema district to come up with strategic plan. We will assist with remedial retort, so we will communicate with victims soon.”

The North West province also experienced other torrential rains a month ago. The local government and human settlements in province has spent R1.3m to assist those who were misplaced after torrential rains in areas like Signal Hills and Danville in Mahikeng.

The department of local government and human settlements spokesperson, Ben Bole said then that the province co-ordinate a humanitarian relief for families whose houses and belongings got destroyed by torrential rains and hail storm in Ngaka Modiri Molema district which has worst hit.

“The department is working with different stakeholders in the province. We have engaged The South African Red Cross Society, South African Social Security (SASSA), Social Development department, Ngaka Modiri Molema district and affected local municipalities to address the situation. The South African Red Cross Society and SASSA have already started to distribute food parcels, blankets and provide social relief distress grant to affected families,” Bole said.

He said number of incidents have been reported throughout the district in Mahikeng, Ditsobotla and Tswaing local municipalities where shacks have been blown away. Bole said formal structures’ like roofs damaged and window panes damaged.

He said through the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PMDC), the department spent R1.3m so far. “We have received assistance from other relevant stakeholders including Community Development Workers. We will continue to attend to cases reported and make the necessary arrangements to make the lives of those affected less unbearable.

“Whilst the PMDC is currently sourcing temporary shelter. We made arrangements for the repair of damaged shacks. We also donated 80 shacks to the victims. We would like to urge those who can afford to rebuild their houses. We will also put more effort on those that have been adversely affected,” Bole said.

He said other incidents took place in Bojanala platinum district in Kgetleng, Moretele, Madibeng local municipalities. Bole said a house has collapsed and others experienced broken window panes. According to him, also an early learning centre has been destroyed by strong winds.

“Bojanala platinum district municipality has been able to co-ordinate the provision of the necessary humanitarian relief for the affected families and will continue to monitor the situation,” Bole said.

One of the victims, Kesenogile Galebodiwe from Atamelang village near Delareyville said: “I lost a house after the strong rains washed it away. The strong winds and rains broke my windows. Now I do not know where to go. I hope the municipality and government will assist. It will be difficult to build another house because I am unemployed. As a single parent and a mother of three, the rains left a void.”

No incidents have been reported in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and Dr Kenneth Kaunda district municipalities.

-TDN

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

THE Operation Fiela continued to yield results across the province. Twenty two people were arrested for various crimes over the weekend.

North West police conducted searches in Rustenburg and Mahikeng since Thursday until yesterday (Sunday).

Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said: “The operation was to ensure safety among the communities during festive season. We have arrested 12 suspects for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, 5 for assault common, one for common robbery, 3 for malicious damage to property and one for burglary. The participation of other role players was the department of agriculture.

“Two motorists were also issued with fines for contravention of the Road Traffic Act. Eleven fines were issued for contravention of Fertilizers, Farm Feeds Agricultural Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947). The suspects were found in possession and selling of unregistered agricultural products, mainly fertilizers.” Mokgwabone said.

The police searched 81 premises, 121 vehicles and 396 persons. The suspects appeared before Mahikeng and Rustenburg Magistrate’s Courts respectively on Monday.

Mokgwabone said the operations will continue in various parts of the province under operation “Fiela- Reclaim”. He said they want to maintain stability and ensure the safety of the community during this period.

 -TDN

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

PREMIER Supra Mahumapelo said the provincial government will host a reconciliation, healing and renewal programme at Morare High School grounds in Pella, near Rustenburg on December 16.

The event is meant to heighten the need for unity among residents.

“Renewal, healing and reconciliation continues to remain amongst our five key pillars. We want to bring unity and reconciliation within the province. It is very important to heal the past wounds. That can only be possible when we join hands.

“The provincial government has achieved unprecedented work since the fifth administration. This is part of various remedial programmes we have. The programme was launched back in 2014 at Wonderkop stadium in Marikana. We believe this will help to resolve challenges the province is facing. There will be also a commemoration for reconciliation day during the ceremony,” he said.

A similar campaign was recently held at Montshioa Stadium in Mahikeng through a prayer service.

Mahumapelo said that there was need to bring unity, renewal and healing within communities.

“We want to bring together members of the community and instil peace, unity and Ubuntu.  If we want to achieve our objective, we need to work together. Every individual must play his/her part to make sure North West becomes a better province. Basically we’re pursuing what our former president late Nelson Mandela and other struggle stalwarts stood for.

“We want to make sure that we make necessary intervention in societal issues. Many people are faced with challenges in their daily lives. We are going to create a database for all those who retired, but have necessary skills. We will bring people like lawyers, teachers, nurses and social workers and other professionals on board to assist,” he said

The premier added that the event was set for Phella to honour the late struggle icon, Moses Kotane.

“We must remember what our struggle icons did for us. People like Moses Kotane were selflessness and dedicated their lives to the struggle. We need to learn more from them and their history. To know where one going, we need to know where we come from,” he said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE inaugural Mahika Mahikeng music and cultural festival lived to the billing as it brought a lot of entertainment to Mahikeng over the weekend.

The three-day concert started at Mmabatho Convention Centre on Friday with live performances from some of the best musicians in the country.

North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo said that the festival was aimed at transforming Mahikeng into one of the arts and cultural hubs in the country.

Mahumapelo said that the festival will stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities for those in the music and arts industry.

“Mahika Mahikeng will also promote tourism product in the province. The platform develops local artists and also gives opportunity to Setswana culture to broader audience. We want to make sure that the communities across the province have an opportunity to come and sell their crafts to the masses.

“The music festival started as a three-day show and it will gradually be grown into an eight-day festival. We want it to be an eight day musical festival. The aim was to uplift the face of Mahikeng as a capital city. Mahikeng is unkempt, untidy and in need of a facelift. We want vibrancy within the city. We want the city to be amongst the best in the country,” he said.

Local artists like KB Motsilanyane and Bucie Nqwiliso applauded the concept.

Bucie said: “As local artists from the province, we want to applaud the premier, Supra Mahumapelo for endorsing the festival. It is long overdue because North West artists used to be brought together like through Taung Cultural Calabash and other events. We need the leadership of Mahumapelo’s calibre. The province has potential to conquer the world with its craft. The Mahika Mahikeng and other festivals will boost the economy growth within the province. As an artist, we are happy to come and present what we have back at home.”

Mahika Mahikeng, which was in the mould of Macufe, will be an annual event.

World renowned artists like Nathi, Tshedi Mholo, Bonolo, Donald, The Soil and others graced the event.

On Saturday, artists like Cassper Nyovest, HHP, Tuks, Notshi, Mo Molemi, Rick Ricky and many more came forth.

R&B singer, Keabetswe Motsilanyane said: “The impact Mahika Mahikeng festival will have in the lives of ordinary people will be awesome. Local business persons can come and sell their crafts to the world. It is also a platform for local and upcoming artists to showcase their talents. There is also a fashion show that is taking place, so is not all about music.

“As the premier said, they want to form Mahikeng into arts and culture hub. The initiative augurs well because it will also boost the tourism product. People from various areas will flock to the city and spend their money here,” she said.

The festival was held at Lotlamoreng dam in Mahikeng on Saturday and Sunday.

-TDN

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