JOHANNESBURG – South Africa confirmed on Friday two separate cases of African Swine Fever, a highly contagious haemorrhagic fever among pigs, which the government said could affect the trade of pigs and pig products.

“If the disease gets into the wild pig population, we may end up with an endemic situation being created, which will result in outbreaks being reported periodically and affecting trade of pigs and pig products from the country,” the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said in a statement.

The government said it had set up a control zone to prevent contact between domestic pigs and warthogs so as to contain the disease.

– Reuters

Picture: (Dr Mpho Motlhabane congratulates traffic cop Mlahlwa Tolomo) 

COMMUNITY safety and transport management MEC, Dr Mpho Motlhabane applauded a traffic officer, Mlahlwa Jeremiah Tolomo for winning a bronze medal in this year’s Comrade Marathon.

Motlhabane said Tolomo was an example to what staff members in his department should be doing so as to live healthy life-styles that would keep obesity and other chronic diseases at bay.

“We want to applaud our own traffic officer, Tolomo who participated in 2016 Comrade Marathon competition. He won bronze medal and that showed dedication, discipline and determination.

“We will continue to give him a necessary support. We also want to encourage our members to take part in upcoming races. They need to join teams around their areas. We also want to encourage our staff members to live a healthy lifestyle,” the MEC said.

Motlhabane added that the department will implement North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo’s 10 point-plan that has fighting obesity as one of the goals, especially among public servants.

Tolomo has been a traffic cop for 17 years. He moved to Taung in 2013 on a promotional post.

Relating his experience, Tolomo said: “I registered to run in the standard marathon such as the Soweto marathon, Two Oceans and others. I was faced with lot of challenges that hampered my performance and training. However I persevered though it was difficult at the times.

“We need to continue to live a healthy lifestyle. However that may mean something different from one person to the other. But living a healthy lifestyle is a fundamental component. It helps you to achieve your optimal mental and physical well-being,” Tolomo said.

  The traffic cop added that keeping fit and a nutritious diet at all times helped him to concentrate on his work.

Tolomo said that people who engage in unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking, a poor quality diet, and physical inactivity are at increased risk for premature health decline and death.

-TDN

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MARIKANA residents who illegal occupied RDP houses will hear their fate today (Friday).

Residents will appear in North West High Court in Mahikeng after they petitioned the court to stop their eviction over a month ago.

This followed the notices of eviction that were handed over to the residents by the North West local government and human settlements department and the Rustenburg local municipality.

In their earlier appearance, the court ordered residents to explain why they must not be evicted and they are expected to submit affidavits to that aspect today.

Local government and human settlements department spokesperson, Ben Bole said they will wait for the court decision.

“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 furnished their personal circumstances to the court on June 3. This is in accordance with the Land Act of 1998 and section 4 of the Prevention of Illegal Occupation and Eviction Act,” Bole said.

Rustenburg local municipality spokesperson, Thapelo Matebesi said the illegally occupied houses were built through collaboration of the department, Rustenburg local municipality and Lonmin. He said the project was part of 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.

However, the Marikana illegal housing occupants’ leader, Napoleon Webster said that the houses were used as ANC machinery to get voters.

“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,” Webster said.

–TDN

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THE MEC of local government and human settlements, Fenny Gaolaolwe, visited projects where her department has spent R24m developing in the Dr Ruth Mompati district.

The projects seek to provide rural households with clean water, roads and storm water drainage.

“We contracted a supplier to install internal services like water reticulation, gravel roads and storm water drainage for 600 sites in Dithakwaneng village in Vryburg. The internal services are being provided for houses that were built in 2008 by the department.

“As the provincial government, we have committed to better the lives of our people. And we will continue to do the same in other areas. However we appeal to contractors to ensure that they complete projects on time,” she said.

Gaolaolwe added that people must not wait for long before they could be provided with basic services. She said it was within their constitutional rights to have services delivered to them.

“The current project is at 80% and the completion is expected at the end of October 2016. There are also talks with the contractor to install the same services to 88 houses that were built in 2008.

“We also visited another housing project worth R200m in Huhudi Ext 28 and 25. The project was completed recently and yielded 1500 housing units. Residents have already occupied the houses and we also fast tracking the provision of title deeds,” Gaolaolwe said.

She will also visit other housing project in Kagisano Molopo on Friday for inspection.

One resident, Kgosi Mahura appealed to Gaolaolwe to ensure that there is an installation of services in other houses.

“I would highly-appreciate it if all housing units in the area have common services. We do not want other people to be left out without such basic services,” Mahura said.

Another resident, Mummy Makwati, 55 could not hide her excitement. She said: “We have been travelling long distance to fetch water in tankers. Now I have my very own tap in my yard. I don’t have to travel anymore.”

-TDN

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RESIDENTS of Ditsobotla local municipality in Lichtenburg welcomed the municipality’s move to write off municipal debts owed by poor households.

Mayor Lesego Holele said the municipality reached an agreement to give a reprieve to underprivileged residents after a council meeting.

“We can confirm that we have reached an agreement as the municipality to erase bills of some residents. We know that most of our people are living in appalling conditions.

“We also want to advice our needy residents to apply for indigent assistance. We have also reached an agreement with Eskom regarding the monthly payment. The municipality will pay R5m to Eskom and that will help in settling our bill with them,” Holele said.

Even though Holele was reluctant to say how much was owed to the municipality, the bills were from water and electricity rates.

Eskom spokesperson, Khulu Phasiwe said they have reached an agreement with Ditsobotla local municipality.

He added that they also signed agreements with other 10 municipalities in North West to address the payment system.

“We can say that yes, we met with Ditsobotla local municipality. However we cannot reveal what was our agreement with our client. But we are glad that the agreement is there. We have also met with other local municipalities to address this issue. They also committed themselves and we can say as Eskom we are happy,” Phasiwe said.

The beleaguered local municipality is under section 139 administration.

North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo highlighted that they will monitor situation at various local municipalities in order to improve them.

-TDN

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A NEW member of the provincial legislature (MPL) Johanna Mmule Maluleke, was sworn in yesterday (Thursday).

Maluleke fills in the vacancy left by ANC MPL Nono Maloyi who was recently deployed to the Nationals Assembly in Cape Town.

North West provincial legislature deputy speaker, Jane Manganye welcomed Maluleke when she took her oath of office in Mahikeng.

“We have sworn in Mmule Maluleke as a new member. The vacant seat of the African National Congress (ANC) came available after Maloyi served in his resignation letter this month.

“Schedule Act 73 of 1988 schedule 1a Section 23(1)(b) states that “in the event of a vacancy in the legislature to which this schedule applies, the party which the vacating member represented must fill the vacancy by nominating a person,” she said.

Manganye added that Maluleke took an oath and affirmed faithfulness to the republic and obedience to the constitution before she could begin with her duties in the legislature.

“Maluleke served as the ANC for more than 10 years. She showed selflessness and devoted. Maluleke ultimately served as the ANC Whip in the Water and Sanitation Select Committee at the National Assembly. She is also a former member of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration at the National Assembly,” Manganye said.

Maluleke said: “I want to thank the organisation for having full confidence in me. I promise to play a fruitful role towards development in this province. I am happy to be back in the province and looking forward to assist in bringing best services to the people of the North West.”

-TDN

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DEPUTY Minister of mineral resources Godfrey Oliphant said they are looking for former mine workers across the country who never received compensation for their sweat.

Oliphant said that more R1.5bn has not been claimed so far.

“We have people who have been diagnosed with chronic diseases like tuberculosis and asthma while working at various mines. We urge those people to come forward. So far we have 103 000 people who were affected.

“This initiative was set by South African President, Jacob Zuma. We are struggling to get the beneficiaries. Those were come across they do not have valid documents, but we will make sure they receive assistance too,” he said.

Oliphant said they are working in partnership with social development department to reach those people. He added that they have reached more than 761 former mine workers through Mikondzo outreach programme.

“So we are here in Disaneng village in Ratlou local municipality to explain how our initiative works. It is not all about money, there are other benefits. According to our law, the former mine workers need to be taken care of after every two years.

“They need to visit medical institutions for check-ups and receive necessary help. Sometimes it takes years before one could see that he/she is sick. We also welcome those who received compensation. The will receive necessary help too,” Oliphant said.

He said they have also created a database for all former mine workers. Oliphant said they working closely with health department too.

“We have built a special clinic for former mine workers in Eastern Cape. We call that a One Stop Centre. When they visit the centre, they will receive check-up from head to toes. There is also a rehabilitation centre for those who were injured.

“We want to have all those clinics in each province. We are also in talks with neighbouring countries. Those former mine workers from various countries and once worked as miners will also be assisted,” he said.

Oliphant said those who need help can call this number 080 1000 240 for assistance.

-TDN

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