BY REGINALD KANYANE

ANC national chairperson and National Assembly speaker, Baleka Mbete added her voice to the call for churches to pray for peaceful elections.

Mbate made the call when she met church leaders during her recent visit to Sandfontein village in Rustenburg.

She said the church should pray for fair, honest and smooth-running elections.

“We should ask our people to pray for politics in general. We also urge them to pray for the leadership of the ANC. We want to make sure that we have free and fair elections,” Mbete said.

She added that they were already involved as national leadership to try and resolve some issues raised by disgruntled ANC members. Some of ANC members defected to other political parties after accusing the ruling party of ignoring their councillor candidate nomination lists.

“We are resolving matters that affected various branches. We want to help comrades to understand what went wrong, but everything is fine now. We are now looking forward to August 3.

“Our people must know that we want to continue to deliver better services. We will continue to empower and improve the lives of our people especially in the rural and far-flung areas,” she said.

Some of residents in Rustenburg said they expecting jobs after elections.

“We want the government to diminish poverty, unemployment and inequality. We also expect the educational system to be improved. Tertiary institutions must play a pivotal role in improving the lives of our people through education. Our youth need more bursaries and information,” she said.

Meanwhile 300 ANC members in Morokweng near Vryburg allegedly defected to Democratic Alliance.

They accused ANC of imposing a councillor candidate on them.

However even though Kagisano-Molopo municipality is ANC stronghold, DA councillor candidate, Kabelo Tshukudu said: “We are ready for the elections and we want to topple ANC from this municipality. We have welcomed more than 400 members from ANC.”

EFF councillor candidate in the area, Tshepo Shuping refuted that the youth in Kagisano-Molopo municipality will vote for the DA. He said that the youth will vote for EFF.

“The youth will vote for EFF. There is no use to be free while you continue to live in abject poverty. The youth feel betrayed by the ANC. They took a decision now to be affiliated to EFF,” Shuping said.

However Kagisano-Molopo municipal mayor, Veronica Keketsi said those who defected to DA do not know the policies of ANC.

“Those who defected to DA showed that they do not understand the policies of the ANC. We need to respect their decisions though,” Keketsi said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

MORE than ninety pupils from various schools in Dr Kenneth Kaunda district municipality.

Thabo Pelesane, the chairperson of Thabo Pelesane Foundation that donated the goods said that they wanted to show commitment to humanity by emulating good deeds of the late Dr Nelson Mandela.

“We donated sanitary pads at Mololokotoane Primary School to school girls. We also identified four families and gave them food and toiletry hampers. TP Foundation also donated school bags to Mahelo farm school pupils outside Tigane. The school bags were donated by Dirang Mmogo Business Enterprise. Sanlam donated food parcels as part of their social responsibility,” he said.

Pelesane is also a national TB ambassador. He was invited By Nelson Mandela Foundation for memorial lecture that was delivered by billionaire Bill Gates.

“We are human beings who must take action and we need to decide now because this unique moment will not last forever. We also need to clear away the obstacles that are eminence in young people’s way.

“If young people are sick and malnourished, their bodies and their brains will never fully develop. If they are not educated well, their minds will lie dormant. If they do not have access to economic opportunities, they will not be able to achieve their goals,” he said.

Pelesane added that if they invest in the right things, they will make sure the basic needs of Africa’s young people were taken care of.

He said that he was intrigued by Bill Gates’ words.

Pelesane said: “Gates said we need to empower the youth. He added that the youth must have the physical, cognitive, and emotional resources they need to change the future. Life on this continent will improve faster than it ever has.”

TP Foundation advisor, Geoffery Abrams emphasised that there was a greater need for business community to play a meaningful part in supporting community based initiatives through sponsorships either financial or playing an advisory role.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

NORTH West University (NWU) Mafikeng Campus lecturer, Dr Lehlohonolo Phali encouraged more pupils to take Mathematics and Science.

He said that will assist the country in the long run to acquire the much needed skills.

“Mathematics and Science are everywhere. If you think you are not going to use mathematics and science, you are mistaken. There are a lot of practical applications of physics and biology too. Having a good grasp on numbers help us make sense of finances, probabilities, time calculations and etc,” Phali said.

The youthful lecturer has taken it upon himself to teach these critical subjects to pupils from Grade 8 to 12.

“I also help out university and college students too. I give my lessons after hours and even during weekends. I am looking to start a mathematical sciences academy which will help me reach more people than I am now. My aim is to assist especially those pupils from rural areas.

“I also give motivational talks to high school pupils too. We need to teach the youth about the importance of education. Our generation needs to aware of opportunities that are out there,” he said.

Phali studied BSc and majored in Applied Mathematics, Electronics and Pure Mathematics. He went on to do Honours, MSc and PhD all in Applied Mathematics. Phali is currently the youngest student to complete a PhD degree at the North West University.

“I grew up in an average family in Sebokeng in Vereeniging. My father was the only breadwinner at home. However he passed away back in 2003. My brothers had to take over the responsibilities at home. I loved studying especially Mathematics since from an early age.

“I saw the applications of mathematics in real life. So that helped me a lot. Mathematics is a scarce skill program/course, so that means is the market is there for those who are good in Mathematics and Science in general,” he added.

Phali said South Africa lacks more researchers in this field too. He further said what he learned was that Mathematics helped people to think analytically.

“I was also inspired by the late professor Matthews Nkambule. He always talked about the opportunities that are there in studying Mathematics. My overall passion and love for it kept me going. I specialise in Applied Mathematics- Mathematical modelling,” he added.

-TDN

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Picture: North West provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung

BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE North West provincial government dismissed reports that its employees were told to vote for the ANC or lose their jobs as laughable and absurd.

Provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said no one can threaten anyone as every citizen has a democratic right to be associated with a political party of his/her choice.

“There has not been any government platform where public servants were influenced or threatened to vote the ANC. The allegation is malicious and only serves to undermine public servants. This implies that they are pliable and do not know their rights.

“Your vote is your secret. So even if anyone threatens them, how would you know that they voted for which party? We need to apply logic on other things. Political parties will do anything to get media attention. So, we urge political parties to refrain from using dirty tactics,” Setswambung said.

The EFF in North West has filed a complaint with the Electoral Commission (IEC). The party alleged that ANC forced its government employees to campaign for the party.

EFF provincial spokesman Mpoletsang Montshosi said: “EPWP and CWP workers came to the EFF to say their jobs are being threatened. They are told to do ANC electioneering work. If they do not, they are told they will be fired.”

Montshosi said they have received those allegations from Mamusa, Ditsobotla and Maquassi Hills.

IEC provincial chairperson, Dr Tumelontle Thiba said that investigations were underway. Thiba added that they will visit various communities to verify the claims.

“We can confirm that we have received the complaint from the EFF. We urge political parties to have tolerance towards each other. There are penalties for misconduct and contravening the act in terms of the Municipal Electoral Act. The fines include a R200 000 fine and the disqualification of candidates and the withdrawal of parties registration,” she said.

ANC provincial secretary, Dakota Legoete said they have not mandated anyone to threaten EPWP and CWP workers in ANC’s name.

“We actually want to condemn public servants who threaten those EPWP and CWP workers if the allegations are true. However we also believe that EFF might be using this as a public stunt. We know EPWP and CWP are government project and the aim was to fight poverty, unemployment and create job opportunities as the caring government,” Legoete said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

THREE men who appeared in the Ganyesa Magistrates’ Court for murder were remanded in custody until Thursday after their first appearance on Tuesday.

North West police spokesperson, Sgt Kelebogile Moleko said the three were arrested in connection with the murder of a 20 year-old man at the weekend.

  “The case was postponed for formal bail application. The suspects were arrested on Sunday by Morokweng police. Alphius Mobodi, 26, Dumedisang Mosiane, 35 and Goitsemodimo Thaiyane, 29 allegedly assaulted the deceased at a local tavern in Saturday night.

  “The police received a call about a dead body lying next to the road with multiple stab wounds on Sunday morning. The deceased allegedly left the scene after he was assault. His body was found the next day at around 9am by a passerby,” Moleko said.

The three were arrested after investigations linked them to the murder.

-TDN

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CULTURE, art and traditional affairs (CATA) department will hand over four libraries today (Wednesday) and tomorrow.

CATA MEC, Ontlametse Mochware said handing over of the libraries is part of Mandela Month celebrations.

“Lethabong/ Maboloka, Tlokweng, Ganalaagte and Lomanyaneng communities will benefit from the initiative. Tlokweng in Moses Kotane local municipality and Lethabong village in Madibeng local municipality community libraries are equipped with books, toy library, Brail and equipment for visually impaired readers and with Wi-Fi.

“The swift access to internet will assist users and students doing research as well as necessary electronic security systems. We aiming at promoting the culture of reading, writing and studying which the late former president, Dr Nelson Mandela encouraged,” Mochware said.

The MEC added: “We are proud to be handing all four libraries to communities well deserving at this opportune time of celebrating our icon and father. These libraries will positively impact the lives of our people.”

She further said Madiba taught the nation the importance of education.

Mochware said that Mandela said education is the most powerful weapon one can use to change the world.

“We also encourage a culture of reading and writing in our communities. That is a lasting legacy in the formally disadvantaged communities especially in changing the mindset towards books.

“The libraries are also a perfect delivery by the department as all four libraries are located in the VTSD areas. The municipalities of the four areas are also actively involved as partners in these libraries. The communities are encouraged to use and sustain them for generations coming,” she said.

-TDN

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