BY REGINALD KANYANE

TOURISM remains one of the key factors in boosting the economy of North West province according to MEC Desbo Mohono.

She said the province scored some brawn points after it hosted a successful Bray July event on Saturday in Dr Ruth Mompati region.

“We remain resolute that Bray July will continue to play a pivotal role in advancing the course of tourism industry. The initiative will transform, develop tourism and sustain socio-economic revolution.

“We hosted and celebrated a 20^th anniversary celebration of Bray July. We started our official Bray July activation with a philanthropically driven door-to-door excursion. We interacted with senior citizens in the area,” Mohono said.

The MEC said the Bray July was Africa’s best horse riding event in a small dorpie.

She further indicated that the annual event was a tradition in Dr Ruth Mompati region and was a unique.

“This is the natural horse racing turf of the red Kalahari sand. We dubbed it the dessert race. A three days event includes various activities such as wine tasting, poitjiekos competition, a beauty pageant, a barn dance and a sport tournament while the horse racing remains the main event.

“The event is aligned with the department’s constitutional mandate of developing and sustaining potential tourism products through various strategies such as provincial tourism events strategy and the departmental marketing brand property,” she said.

Mohono added that the event has been added on the provincial calendar of events recently. She further said the provincial government will continue to use it as a pedestal for the promotion of Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD).

“We want to advance the course of social cohesion. The event remains a tool for sustainable local economic development. It also resonates with one of our concretes which are Saamtrek-Saamwerk.

“It is evident that there are direct economic spin offs which boost the economic status quo of the people in this area during the event. The fact that the brand property is celebrating 20 years of existence speaks volume,” Mohono said.

The Bray July horse race winner was Lesego Foromane, a 15 year-old jockey.

Foromane said: “I am very grateful to be crowned a winner. This really shows that the province has a potential. We can compete amongst the best in the world in horse racing.”

The event also produced the new Miss Bray July for 2016 in Florah Batlhaping, 22, who said it was a memorable time in her life to reach such a feat.

Batlhaping said: “The event will help me to launch my modelling career. I believe that I will find my niche and continue to improve the lives of our people. I will like to dedicate my win to hard work, discipline and determination.”

Mr Bray July title was scooped by a 21 year-old man, Moemedi Sesipi. He said the event has potential and commended the tourism department to host a flourishing event.

“We were spoiled for choice after variety of activities. More revelers from across the Sub-Saharan came out in numbers to support the event. I am grateful to be crowned Mr Bray July,” he said.

One of the revellers, Joseph Chobokoane, 36, from Kuruman said he attended the event for the first, but he was overwhelmed. He said that the horse racing was epic and the event lived up to its expectations.

“This event exceeded my expectations. I was expecting a small gathering of horse racing fanatics, but what I saw was amazing. I saw multitudes of people from various walks of life enjoying various activities in the bush away from a busy life.

“I will make sure I bring my camping facility next year. I will make sure I attend all festivities which the event has to offer including the beauty pageant and the sports tournament. I am also happy that the horse which won is from my hometown,” he said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE pupils from three different schools in Tosca and Bray received laptops and other donations. The donations were made by minister of transport, Dipuo Peters on Monday.

Peters visited the areas alongside North West MECs to celebrate International Mandela Day.

“We saw it fit to come to these areas and make a positive contribution. We donate laptops to schools, blankets, cleaning detergents, groceries and bicycles to school children who walk long distance to various schools.

“We urged the communities to work together with government to make service delivery possible. I also want to commend the communities for taking care of the houses that the government has built for them. Please, also play your part to preserve water,” she said.

Peters added that communities must refrain from destroying public institutions because that deters government’s service delivery programs.

MEC for community safety and transport, Dr Mpho Motlhabane said they visited Dr Ruth Mompati region to celebrate the life of struggle iconic hero.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.

“Education and respect can make you a better person in life. Respect your elders, teachers and make time to study. Children are leaders of tomorrow, you must learn as much as you can. South Africa needs leaders like doctors, MEC’s, ministers, engineers and Presidents of tomorrow, who come from Bokone Bophirima to make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

Other MECs who were part f the visit were CATA MEC, Ontlametse Mochwari, Public Works MEC Madoda Sambatha, MEC for FEED, Wendy Nelson.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

CHRISTIANA School for the Blind pupils received 145 blankets in celebration of International Mandela Day. North West provincial legislature speaker, Susanna Dantjie visited the school in Christiana on Thursday.

She said that schools with disabilities can be positively or negatively influenced by the attitudes and behaviours of pupils and staff. Dantjie also added that general public need to take the lead in assessing school climate in relation to pupils with disabilities.

“The school serves pupils with special needs. So it is imperative to give them imperative support. These children play a pivotal role within our society and we will make sure we continue to support them.

“We need to instill positivity within the pupils. They can become whoever they want to be. Do not allow your disability to determine your destiny. God created you with purpose. We need to work together and make sure that you achieve your dreams,” Dantjie said.

She further said it was imperative to celebrate the life of the struggle icon, the late Dr Nelson Mandela.

“Mandela dedicated his life to improve the lives of the masses. He also loved children. All our struggle heroes fought for democracy, now is the time to enjoy and reap the fruits.

“We encourage you to work hard and also prepare for the future of the next generation. The freedom charter said the people shall share. Let us remember the selflessness of Dr Nelson Mandela. We need to walk on his footprints and change the lives of the people,” she said.

Lekwa-Teemane local municipality, Kagisho Palagangwe shared the same sentiments. He said broader community needs to know the history of South Africa.

“We need to know where we come from, to be able to know where we going. Let us use this 67 minutes wisely. We had few challenges back in 2010 at the school after few pupils were gutted to death in a fire.

“However we continue to believe that we can. We must not lose hope and the late president, Dr Nelson Mandela also encouraged young people use education as the beacon of hope. Mandela believed that education was the only gateway vehicle from abject poverty,” Palagangwe said.

Christiana School for the Blind school governing body (SGB) chairperson, Mpho Gaobuse said they welcome the donations.

“We are very grateful because we were actually planning to buy blankets for our pupils. This initiative came at the right time and we believe this will encourage the pupils to work harder. We always tell them that they must not let their disability to determine their destinations,” Gaobuse said.

Representative council of learners committee (RCL) member, Obakeng Moshabe said: “We are very positive because we know God made us special. I draw my inspiration from Minister of Justice, advocate Michael Masutha. He is partial blind just like me. Nevertheless he went on to achieve a lot.”

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

SOCIAL development department expressed a concern about the increasing number of street kids across Mahikeng. The department spokesperson, Petrus Siko said that there were many reasons that force children to go to the streets.

“There are mainly two categories which are pulling and push factors that result in children ending up in the streets. The push factor is influenced by circumstances at home like hunger and poverty.  Neglect and abuse by parents also force the children to run away from home. There are cases where irresponsible parents force the children to go to the streets to look for food for the family.

“These parents use the children to win sympathy of the community in giving them food or money. Dysfunctional families also see the children running away. While other children cannot stand harsh discipline of the parents,” Siko said.

He added that on pulling factor, it was mostly that the children run away because of ill discipline. Siko further said these children left comfortable homes to live in the street because they do not want to be under parental guidance.

“Other children go to the streets because they envy the children living in the streets. However, others leave because of peer pressure. Some go to the streets just to ask for money from motorists especially at the robots,” Siko said.

He said the department was working with communities and families to help reintegration of these children to the families. Siko added that the community is urged to refrain from giving the street children materials especially money.

“The community is also asked to provide information to the department when they find children in the streets. We conduct advocacy programmes throughout the year at our local offices. Our officials from these offices teach communities on child protection measures.

“We also assist by taking these children to residential care centre areas and Drop-In centres. Drop-In centres are where the children bathe, get meals and assisted on homework.  There are also outreach services by the Drop-In centres where they look for children in the streets and ask social workers to intervene with the families,” he said.

“There are measures in place to root out this challenge. There is an implementation of national strategy and guidelines for children living and working in the streets. There are levels of intervention like those at Drop-In centres. Early intervention is on children who beg but return home.

“Other children are placed at Drop-in centres by court orders. The department seeks to rehabilitate homes to be enabling environment for the children to return. On misuse of child support grants, social workers and Sassa can choose another beneficiary from the family who will get the grants instead of the one who is misusing it,” he said.

A street kid, 14, from Lichtenburg said he left his home because his mother was abusive.

“I am living in the street because my mother abuses me. She always comes home drunk. So there is no one to look after me.”

Another street kid said: “We are living in abject poverty at home, hence I decided to come and beg at the robots. Some of us ended up using drugs and abuse alcohol at the younger age because of pressure. We cannot continue to live dangerously like this.”

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

MINISTER in Presidency Susan Shabangu said that the government will continue to improve the lives of ordinary citizens, especially elderly women.

Shabangu handed over few houses to elderly people in Naauwpoort village outside Mahikeng on Thursday.

“We do what is in line with the promises we made to the residents of Bokone Bophirima. We will ensure that there is housing, security and comfort. The former President, Dr Nelson Mandela was very passionate about service delivery. We can only honour him by make sure that we deliver on our promises,” she said.

MEC for local government and human settlements department, Galaletsang Gaolaolwe was also part of the proceeding.

An ecstatic elderly woman, 77 from Naauwpoort could not contain her happiness.

“I have been staying in a shack for most of my life. I am very grateful and want to commend our provincial government. Receiving a key to my new house was amazing,” she said.

Another woman, Seritshane Maditjane who is a mother of seven children, survives on her monthly grant.

“I cannot survive on R1 500 a month. I was living in abject poverty and could not afford to build myself a house. At my age, I felt it was not safe for me to stay in a shack. So I decided to go and stay with my child,” she added.

-TDN

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