ANC in North West continue to visit various areas and introduce its mayoral candidates to the residents. ANC provincial chief whip, Hoffman Galeng said they visited Kagisano Molopo local municipality to interact with residents on Monday.

“People welcomed the ANC mayoral candidate. We are the only organisation that listens to the masses. Twenty years ago we began a new journey to eradicate the oppressive legacy of colonialism and apartheid. We have made significant steps towards achieving the vision of the Freedom Charter.

“We have achieved that through a collective effort. So we urge you to go and vote for the ANC so that we can continue to achieve our objectives. The lives of our people have vastly improved and South Africa is much better place than it was before 1994. Working together, we have defended and consolidated the social gains achieved since 1994, despite the negative global economic situation,” Galeng said.

He also highlighted that they will continue to work together with all South Africans to do more to fight inequality, poverty and unemployment

The Kagisano Molopo local municipality mayoral candidate, Bitsa Lenkopane said: “We are unshaken by many noises made by wannabes. They just talk, but fail to deliver. As the ANC, we have walked that path and we know what our people want. We will continue to improve the lives of our people. We will also continue to work with our people and address their grievances.

ANCYL representative, Seatlathebe Lepomane said: “Far-reaching economic transformation is the central question this election must answer. ANC provides clear, bold and decisive answers to this question. So as ANCYL in the region, we welcome all our mayoral candidates.

“More than ever before, we must work together to promote nation building, unity and social solidarity as we free the economy from the shackles of the past. We cannot rest until the economy is in the hands of the people who were historically excluded from participation.”

He also lashed out the independent candidates who defected from ANC. Lepomane alleged that they were luring voters using the name of the ANC.

SACP member in North West, Dr Mpho  Motlhabane said they supporting ANC and its mayoral candidates. He urged ANC members to follow proper channels to raise their grievances if they are not satisfied.

“As the alliance, we support ANC and welcome its mayoral candidates. We urge members to follow proper channels to raise their views rather than leaving the party. We know there was some mixed up through the candidate lists, but the ANC mentioned that they will rectify that. So there is no reason to panic,” Motlhabane said.

-TDN

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MATLOSANA Secondary School principal, Simon Makhanye said their achievements at ABC Motsepe School Eisteddfod Music Competition will encourage them to work harder. The school scooped the first prize at the competition that was held at Rhema Church in Randburg, Johannesburg on Friday.

“We have reached our mark through discipline, dedication and determination. Our learners put more effort and we practiced until late. The achievements show that hard work pays dividends. We appreciate the support and contribution showed by learners, teachers and parents,” Makhanye said.

North West province was crowned as the best province for their good administration and compliance in the smooth running of the provincial music competitions. The province also won total amount of R155 000 as prize money.  

MEC for education and sport development department, Sello Lehari commended all winners. He said the province made a history.

“I would like to thank our hard working educators and learners for putting the province on the map. The rebranding, repositioning and renewal vision is bearing excellent fruits for the province.

“The top achievements obtained show that unity prevails amongst the teachers, learners, parents and the department. I also want to applaud all stakeholders in education for their consistent support,” Lehari said.

He also added that the ABC Motsepe Schools Eisteddfod, formerly known as the South African Schools Eisteddfod (SASCE) is one of the department’s prestigious events in the annual schools calendar.

“The main purpose is to promote unity in diversity, national reconciliation, social cohesion and a national identity among young South Africans of school going age. The programme also addresses the embedded cultural, traditional and indigenous meanings to nation-building, sense of belonging and definition of a national identity,” Lehari said.  

The North West province sent 25 schools to the national competitions to compete in the 38 renditions. This included to recites the Preamble of the Constitutional of the Republic of South Africa, Plea for Africa, National Anthem and African Union Anthem.

Matlosana Secondary School was the most dominant choir at the competition. They won five renditions and pocketed R57 000 which will be used to address the academic needs of the school.

Some schools which participated and won were Reoleboge Special School from Moruleng Village in Rustenburg, Iteko Special School from Tlhabane Township, Zamakulunga Primary School from Jouberton in Dr Kenneth Kaunda district municipality and Botoka Secondary and Seiphemelo Secondary Schools from Tlokwe and Gatelopele from Tswelelang Township in Wolmaransstad.

-TDN

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IF your children are not learning how to program, now is the time to start now. Those were the words of a 27 year-old Information Computer Technology student from Dinokana village in Zeerust. Tsholofelo Botlholo is doing her final in ICT at Falsebay College in Cape Town.

She said it is important for programming to become a subject at many schools across the province.  

“Our children need to be taught mandatory computer programming education in schools. The ability in programming is taking on an unprecedented level of importance. Programming has not become this popular by accident. There is a growing understanding that knowing how to program is essential, especially for younger generations.

“I am teaching kids programming from the age of seven to 22 years. There is a challenge amongst the kids especially in rural areas. Hence we came up with this project called Kids In ICT. We have visited few schools across Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality and offered the course for free,”

Botlholo said they have also created few applications that could make life easier for people. She came up with an application called Bua which is a translator.

“The application helps kids to understand words easily. It also translates words into different 11 official South African languages. It also has an audio, so this will help kids to easily understand about what they talking about. However we are still waiting for licensing and we can be able to put it into use.

“We also created another application called Pulse App. We are already testing it in few hospitals in Cape Town. The Pulse App helps on filing system. We have realised that filing at many hospitals is still in analog and it is always difficult to find a file of a patient. But with this app, it will be easy to track down the file. Patients can be able to collect their medication from pharmacies and other institutions the health department agreements to fight backlog and queues at many hospitals,” she said.

Botlholo added that the educational system is changing to digital and other children should adjust before they were left behind.

“South Africa is now a global player. We need to move together with the world. These skills will enable children to succeed. Programming is a basic literacy in the digital age and kids are growing up in a very different world than that of their parents.

“We need to also understand the logic behind this. When learning to program, kids understand and tinker with the digital world they inhabit. Programming draws back the seeming magic of technology so they can truly understand the logic and science,” Botlholo said.

-TDN

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NEWLY-built multipurpose at Madidi village in Madibeng local municipality is expected to bring government services closer to the people. Madibeng local municipality spokesperson, Tumelo Tshabalala said a R7.4 million institution will address the underlying issues encountered by those who are impoverished.

“The implementation of multi-purpose centre is to bring government services closer to the people. It will provide the community with the opportunity to communicate with government. Multi-purpose centre has been identified as the primary approach for the implementation of development communication and information programmes.

“We know that many South Africans live in abject poverty. So the centre is part of community development. This is part of unemployment, inequality and poverty alleviation strategy. We also promote the improvement of the quality of community life,” he said.

Councillor Susan Ntshangeni reiterated that the government does not want to alienate those it is trying to serve. She added that this complement the North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo’s vision to develop of villages, townships and small dorpies.  

“Our aim is to improve the quality of community life. We are looking forward to its completion to allow local residents to utilise it for different activities. The project has created 53 jobs to locals,” she said.

One of the workers, Jabu Hlongwane said he was grateful for the job.

“I am now able to provide for my family. I have been out of job for a very long time. Job creation is imperative as we continue to live in abject poverty. We welcome the centre as it will also create jobs after it is completed. People will also have easy access to government primary services. We have been travelling to far-fetched areas to get help,” Hlongwane said.

Community liaison officer, Victor Budlele said: “We have been using the tribal hall to host events. We are looking forward to the completion of the centre to host. However we hope our government will bring more services to be accessible to our people. We will not lose hope as good things come to those who wait.”

-TDN

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A 89-YEAR-OLD elderly woman officially moved into her new furnished RDP house. The house was handed over to her by local government and human settlements department.  

Gaserekwe Matlabe from Khunwana village in Tswaing local municipality lived in a dilapidating mud house which was at the verge of collapsing.

Matlabe could not believe the sudden change in her life. She thanked the provincial government for restoring her dignity.

“I’ve been staying in the house for years and it was not comfortable. Insects would creep in and when callous weathers come, I would pray for my house not to collapse. I highly appreciate the house. I have a better shelter to call it home now,” she said.

Local government and human settlements department MEC, Galaletsang Gaolaolwe said a house was part of Breaking New Ground (BNG) project.

“As per mandate of the department, we are hard at work to provide houses, security and comfort to our people especially elderly people. We have prioritised them and they deserve a better life. We will continue to ensure that we fulfil our objectives,” Gaolaolwe said.

North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo was also part of the handing over.

He said: “As government, we know that we have delivered when an undisputed change has been registered in the life of an ordinary citizen. We have set aside over R2 billion in this financial year for the construction of houses. We want to improve the lives of our people.”

-TDN

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NORTH West police are investigation two separate cases of business robberies in Taung. According to information, a Malawian shop owner, 24 was allegedly attacked by four unknown suspects at his shop in Nhole village around 1:40am on Sunday morning.

Provincial police spokesperson, Sgt Kelebogile Moleko said the victim was asleep.

“The suspects allegedly gained entrance after breaking the window and threatened the victim with a knife. They allegedly tied his hands with a DVD cable before stealing cigarettes, airtime vouchers, groceries and undisclosed amount of cash. No one has been arrested so far,” she said.

Moleko also added that another business robbery took place at Kgetlheng village in Taung on Sunday at around 6pm. She said a Pakistani national was allegedly closing his shop when he was attacked.

“One suspect allegedly entered the shop under the false pretence as a customer. He pointed the owner with a gun. Two other suspects were allegedly waiting outside, but entered afterwards. They stole airtime, cash cellphone belonging to the victim and undisclosed amount of cash. No one has been arrested and police investigations are underway,” she said.

-TDN

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