NORTH West premier Supra Mahumapelo will form part of a five week long youth entrepreneurship services (YES) programme. The director of the programme, Thapelo Sekawana said the tour commence today.

“The tour starts today at Kagiso-Molopo, Moretele and Matlosana local municipalities. Setsokotsane activities will be implemented in these areas and will be followed by Mamusa, Lekwa-Teemane, Kgetleng, Moses Kotane and Tlokwe-Ventersdorp local municipalities on May 26-27. This programme is viewed as a focused platform that seeks to connect unemployed young people of the North West province.

“The aim is to connect them with the public and private institutions. We want to expose them to entrepreneurship, employment, skills development and youth empowerment opportunities available in their respective sectors,” he said.

Acting provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said the rolling out of this initiative will be aligned to Setsokotsane activities that are currently being implemented in various local municipalities.

He said this will serve as a build-up to the provincial Youth Day commemoration on June 16. Setswambung said the commemoration day will be held at Ramotshere-Moiloa local municipality on June 18.

“Subsequent to the engagements the provincial government will have with the youth during this tour, premier Mahumapelo will sign an accord with the youth on June 18. He will commit the provincial government to address issues raised during the provincial tour,” Setswambung said.

He added that the youth tour will be taken to other local municipalities during the first two weeks of June.

“We will be heightened to roll out Youth Entrepreneurship Services (YES) Provincial Action Tour in these five weeks. MECs and mayors will also be part of it. YES Provincial Action Tour is also geared towards encouraging young people to lead a healthy lifestyle. This will also give a government to listen to the challenges young people are faced with in daily basis,” he said.

-TDN

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THE contractor will be appointed soon to build Kanana Police Station. The residents will now finally have the police station in their area. The sod-turning was performed more than 10 years ago, but the police station was never been built.

Minister for public works Thulas Nxesi said the police station was supposed to be built back in 2004.

“Kanana Police Station in Orkney was a priority in 2004 financial year. However SAPS changed its approach after the appointment of Commissioner General Bheki Cele. They focused in deep rural areas. However we can now confirm that the Kanana Police Station is planned for its construction in this financial year.

“The consultant was appointed by SAPS. And tender documents are at the final draft stage. The contractor will be appointed soon and the completion of the project is scheduled for next year,” Nxesi said.

-TDN

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Picture: (Marikana illegal housing occupants at North West High Court)

MARIKANA residents who illegal occupied RDP houses appeared in North West High Court yesterday (Thursday). The local government and human settlements department and Rustenburg local municipality ordered them to vacate the houses however their quest was futile. The department filed for eviction through court.

The court ordered residents to explain why they must not be evicted. The case was postponed until June 10 for hearing.

Local government and human settlements department spokesperson, Ben Bole said they welcomed the postponement.

“The case against Rustenburg local municipality versus the illegal occupants of the houses in Marikana was postponed in the North West High Court to June 10. This was to allow the respondents to file heads of arguments. The court ruled that all approved beneficiaries of the Marikana Extension 2 housing project allow the contractor space to complete the houses that they are presently occupying.

“The rest of the residents who have not been approved or are yet to be approved as beneficiaries must furnish their personal circumstances to the court on June 3. This is in accordance with the Land Act of 1998 – Section 4 of the Prevention of Illegal Occupation and Eviction,” Bole said.

Rustenburg local municipality spokesperson, Thapelo Matebesi said the project was a collaborative effort between our department, Rustenburg local municipality and Lonmin. He said the project was underpinned by the presidential package to deal with housing backlog in the country.

“This resulted in the decision to yield 2 600 units in the Marikana area. Lonmin donated a 50ha portion of land with 860 serviced sites known as Marikana Ext. 2. The sector provincial department provided subsidies and appointed developers for the first phase that saw the construction of 292 Breaking New Ground units (BNG’s). Construction is under way and the completion date was suppose to be this month,” he said.

Matebesi said lawful beneficiaries where identified through extensive consultation with the community. He said however, the project had numerous challenges ranging from stoppages by sub-contractors and community. Matebesi said illegal occupation and pending threats of illegal occupation of the BNG Units also caused the delay.

The Marikana illegal housing occupants leader, Napoleon Webster said: “We will suffer the same gross injustices suffered by mine workers and their families. What they went through was one part of the enslavement of the indigenous dispossessed of South Africa.

“We will never budge, but remain resolute on our mission. The houses are used as ANC machinery to get voters. However the corruption marred this government will be dissolved on August 3. The ANC-led government killed 34 miners and now they are gearing up to kill Marikana residents for demanding decent houses for our people. The houses are official built for mine workers and their community as stipulated in the mining charter,” Webster said.

-TDN

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RUSTENBURG – One of the two mineworkers trapped underground at Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats) mine in Rustenburg, North West was found dead on Thursday, the company said.

“The body was found in an area with extremely unstable ground conditions and has not yet been recovered. The search and rescue teams are continuing with their relentless efforts to find the second miner,” said company spokesperson Johan Theron.

“The families of the two miners have been informed of the latest developments and continue to receive support from the mine, the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu). The families have requested that we withhold the names of both miners at this time.”

Implats chief executive Terence Goodlace said: “This is a tragic loss for everybody and our heart-felt condolences are with the families of our colleagues. We extend our sincere gratitude to the mine rescue teams for their diligent and professional efforts in leading the search and rescue operation, as well as senior officials from the DMR, Amcu and the industry for their unwavering support.”

The two mineworkers were trapped underground at 1 Shaft in Meriting near Rustenburg on Tuesday following a rock fall. Seven miners managed to escape unharmed.

– Africa News Agency