BY DADDY SEBOLECWE

The MEC for Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Dr Mpho Motlhabane along with the Greater Taung Local Municipality Mayor, Kaone Lobelo recently opened a new taxi rank at Taung Shopping Complex.

Community of Taung and stakeholders came in numbers to witness the opening of the rank that will make their lives easier. The taxi rank was built to serve the community and Taxi owners of Taung. The commuters will have access to Government Services (Labour, Home Affairs, Education, Agriculture, SASSA, and Municipality) because they are all close to the taxi rank.

MEC Dr Motlhabane said the community of Taung should be grateful and be passionate about this taxi rank.

“The Taxi rank was opened just after Madiba’s Birthday18 July, this simply means that people of Taung must be very proud of their gift which came during Mandela month the greatest leader of all times. This taxi rank will improve the local economy of Taung and is aligned to vision of our Premier, Supra Mahumapelo of Rebrand, Reposition and Renew Bokone Bophirima through Saamtrek, Saamwerk”, said Motlhabane.

MEC Motlhabane further said that the Department will ensure that surveillance cameras are installed in the taxi rank to monitor and reduce crime to make commuters feel safe and free in their taxi rank. Those who do illegal stuff will be brought to book and dealt with.

“We will have a peaceful and safe taxi rank,” concluded Motlhabane.

The taxi rank which is 2000 square meters caters for local and long distance routes like Johannesburg, Kimberly and other areas.

Kgosi Tshepo Mankuroane thanked the Department, Municipality and Taxi Associations for their team work.

“Working together is important because we achive more. Let’s maintain the relationship and ensure that we keep the rank clean at all times and report illegal activities to the Police,” said Mankuroane.

Kgosi Motlhabane who was amongst the other Chiefs gave a vote of thanks and thanked MEC Motlhabane and government for keeping their promise and ensured that Taung will become a better village.

NB: (Unedited version)

-TDN

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BY TSHOLOFELO DINTWE

MEC for rural, environment and agricultural development department (READ), Manketsi Tlhape has appointed a new board of directors for Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve.

The inauguration ceremony took place on Wednesday. The key stakeholders included landowners, representatives of Gauteng Provincial Government, local municipality representatives and community representatives around the Madibeng.

The committee consists of 9 members and will serve as a management authority. They will also provide strategic and policy direction for the promotion and sustainable development and utilisation of the biosphere reserve.

The Magaliesberg Biosphere’s unique geological landscape, rich biodiversity, human evolution and history is listed as a biosphere with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and recognised, appreciated, protected and enjoyed by resident land owners, South Africans and the international community through appropriate and sustainable development, use, research and education.

Tlhape said that formal endorsement by UNESCO will support the protection of the unique and diverse biodiversity of the area. She further indicated that it was important to note that “recognition of the presence of a biosphere in a particular landscape does not guarantee that a biosphere-inspired and bioregional approach to land and water resource management will be applied at the local level.

“It is important that the biosphere fully understands and utilises the full range of legal interventions that can support its protection. The road ahead is challenging. Today we are here to officially thank those of you who participated in the process by nominating candidates. We also want to thank those who were nominated for the work done during the time they had to mobilize support for them to be voted into office.

“You played a very critical role in that as you were mobilising for support, you actually created awareness about the Biosphere. It is through your work that today more people know about the Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve,” she said.

Tlhape further encouraged the management authority to be selfless in their role.

“The role of the management authority is to represent the many interest groups and to provide strategic and policy direction for the promotion and sustainable development and utilisation of the Magaliesberg Biosphere. Management authority members will represent organisation/s by which they are nominated and will therefore not have a seat in their personal capacity and will not represent their personal interests,” she highlighted.

MEC emphasised that the members will do their work without any compensation and it means their work should be out of passion.

The Chief Director for Environmental services, Mafu Nkosi said the next step was for the members to elect a chairperson. He said that Management plan submitted to UNESCO dictated that the chairperson of the Board will be elected from amongst the management authority members during a formal meeting of the management authority. A meeting to fulfil this has been arranged for later this month.

NB: (Unedited version)

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

TWO suspects aged 25 were arrested in Tlhabane near Rustenburg on Thursday. The police said the suspects were allegedly in possession of suspected stolen goods.

Provincial police spokesperson, Sgt Kelebogile Moleko said the incident took place at around 9am.

“According to information, the police received a tip off from community members about a suspicious vehicle roaming around Motsamai Street in Tlhabane. They were summoned to the scene and found a white bakkie with two occupants inside.

“The police searched the vehicle and allegedly found a suspected stolen copper cable estimated at the value of R8000. The suspects were arrested after they failed to account to it. They are expected to appear in Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court on Monday,” Moleko said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

NORTH West police was killed in the early hours of Thursday. Provincial police spokesperson, Col Emelda Setlhako said a police constable, 32 was stationed at Hartbeesfontein Police Station.

“The police was allegedly killed while responding to a business burglary alarm at a local bank in Hartbeesfontein. The preliminary investigation indicates that the deceased and his colleague were responding to a call out from the local security company.

“The suspects allegedly opned fire at the police and fled the scene in a vehicle belonging to a security company afterwards. They allegedly hijacked the vehicle from a security guard earlier on,” Setlhako said.

North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane has condemned the incident. Baile also sent her heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased.

“We will do everything possible to track down those heartless perpetrators who committed the heinous crime. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (HAWKS) is investigating the case,” Baile added.

-TDN

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In the spirit of being more like the great Nelson Mandela himself, the North West MEC for Tourism Desbo Mohono joined the Minister for Cooperate Governance and Traditional Affairs, Des van Rooyen in Ventersdorp to celebrate Nelson Mandela International Day.

Mandela Day is celebrated worldwide by people from all walks of life as a day for goodwill, volunteerism and good old philanthropy towards those that are less fortunate in any manner.

This year the provincial department of tourism and the National Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs spent their time in the small township of Tshing where they first visited the JB Marks’ Grave which is a Heritage site and the grave of the former Mayor of Ventersdorp Local Municipality, Cllr Kabelo Mashi.

The high profiled delegation ended their day by visiting the Mogomotsi family, which is one of many that are headed by children, in Extension 5, Tshing Township.

This is where MEC Mohono and Minister van Rooyen did their 67 minutes in honor of Nelson Mandela where they helped with panting of the house, cleaning the yard and donating clothes. MEC Mohono urged the community to lend a helping to the family.

“Let us not only be generous on Mandela Day, let us carry the spirit of kindness with us at all times. Let us be more like Mandela and help those that are less fortunate for our purpose in this life is greater than us as human beings. In our culture it takes the whole village to raise a child and these children should not feel like they do not have parents, they should be loved and embraced by all community members”, said Mohono.

Minister van Rooyen urged the people of Tshing to work together with government in ensuring that there is constant and sustainable development.

“People should not be afraid to approach local government representatives in their area to collaborate service delivery. Mandela fought for our freedom and democracy so we need to ensure that every day is Mandela Day. We need to take good care of our elders, educate our children, and provide food, shelter and a secure environment”, said van Rooyen.

The 2016 Nelson Mandela International Day is celebrated under the theme “Education and literacy, food security, shelter and the environment.”

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

Two suspects aged 19 and 21 will appear in Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday in connection with murder. North West police spokesperson, Sgt Kelebogile Moleko said the suspects from Khuma location in Stilfontein were arrested after they allegedly murdered Vusi Qholoma back in 2015. 

“It is alleged that Qholoma was walking from the taxi rank when he was robbed of his cellphones and fatally stabbed by the suspects. Investigation was conducted and that led the police to the arrest of the suspects.

“The first suspect was arrested at Ikageng location, Potchefstroom on Tuesday while the second suspect was nabbed in Rustenburg on Wednesday,” Moleko said.

She added that both suspects were also linked to other two different rape cases.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

NORTH West premier Supra Mahumapelo will launch a Setsokotsane Operation Centre at Archives Centre, Mahikeng on Friday at 10am. Provincial spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said the initiative will be a one-stop shop for the citizens in the province.

“Setsokotsane Operation Centre will be in every ward across the province. This will make it easy for people to access government services. The project is also part of Fifth Administration’s commitment to improve communication with all citizens, particularly in Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD). It will also assist us to find a quicker way to resolve communities concerns,” Setswambung said.

-TDN

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MADIBENG residents embarked on a cleaning programme to celebrate International Mandela Day. Water and sanitation department spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau said the initiative was in conjunction with other stakeholders.

“More than 3000 volunteers embarked on a cleaning campaign. We cleaned the streets of Jericho and later on proceeded to Toloane River which was left sparkling clean after the cleanup.

“The event was a response to a call made by our department to all South Africans to participate in a Clear River campaign by cleaning stream, river, wetland or any other freshwater ecosystem in their environment,” Ratau said.

He added that community members converged at Kwena Madiba a Toloane High School in Jericho to celebrate International Mandela Day afterwards.

The Water and Sanitation Forum chairperson of Madibeng Local Municipality, Moses Seokane promised the Jericho community that they will forever have water now.

“We also want to encourage the youth and broader community members to save water. This includes fighting vandalism to water infrastructures and selling of water to the community. We urge them to also identify and fix leaking taps and water meters.  

“We also presented wheel chairs, wheel barrows and blankets to 140 elderly people in the process. A cake was also shared by the community in honour of late Dr Nelson Mandela,” Seokane said.

-TDN

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THE North West government believes that the reactivation of the airports in Pilanesberg and Mahikeng have contributed significantly to the tourism boom that is being experienced not only in the province but also in the country.

According to the latest figures released by Stats SA, well over 3 million travellers entered the country during the month of May – an increase of 11% when compared to the same period last year.

In the tourism sector, accommodation increased by 8.7%. This lead to a 9.1% increase in terms of money generated from accommodation.

Of significance is the fact that over 90% of the visitors travelling in and out of the country preferred air travel with the rest opting for either road or sea transport.

While the increase in the volumes of tourists has largely been attributed to the relaxation of visa laws by the department of Home Affairs, the North West government is of the view that the country is also reaping the benefits of the revival of domestic commercial flights in the province.

Last year, the provincial government –through partnerships with SA Express and other stakeholders – played a key role in reviving flights to Pilanesberg from OR Tambo airport as part of moves to stimulate local tourism activities.

Flights to and from Mahikeng were also reactivated – giving more travel options to both local and foreign tourists.

Venues such as the Sun City resort are very popular among local and foreign tourists as well as the several game reserves dotted around the province.

The North West provincial government’s acting spokesperson – Brian Setswambung – told The New Age that figures show that the revival of these flights is one of the reasons why tourism figures have picked up.

“It is clear that the move to reactivate domestic flights in the province is now yielding positive results and this is why such a step was taken,” Setswambung said.

“Access to a number of tourist attractions in the province has now been opened up to more people and we are confident that this will continue to help the tourism sector to grow and add more value to the provincial and national economy,” he added.

“Additionally, jobs were created through the resuscitation of the flights and this also points towards a positive future for our economy,” he added.

Setswambung further explained that the provincial Executive Committee (EXCO) has decided to facilitate the establishment of cargo flights to and from Mahikeng.

“The cargo flights will make it easier to transport goods from other countries into Mahikeng and then to other parts of the North West province.

“This will have a positive effect because business activities within the province will be increased while more jobs will also be created,” he added.

-TDN

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EDUCATION and sports development MEC, Sello Lehari wants to increase the number of boarding school in the province.

He said the move is meant to fight moral decay among the school going youths partly fuelled by many absent parents in communities.

“Because of the changing economic environment, parents have to go out and work hard for their children. They are away from their kids most of the time and as a result of that, this contribute indirectly to moral degeneration and some of the social problems we have,” said Lehari.

He said with more boarding schools, capable janitors will be appointed to parent the young people.

“This will help us contain the spiralling misbehaviour of children. We find these days a young man raping a 90-year-old woman, this should never happen,” Lehari said.

The other approach is to revive and spread Mmabana Foundation programmes to schools as pronounced by Premier Supra Mahumapelo.

“We cannot allow our learners being involved in crime and substance abuse when they are free from school work. They must do positive things that can assist them in the development of their lives,” the MEC said.

Lehari said the provincial government cannot delay this anymore.

“School children can be able to do aerobics, they can sing and dance at every school and there are many other things that can be done now without spending additional money at the schools,” he said.

-TDN

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