BY REGINALD KANYANE

MORE than 200 women law enforcement officers held a joint operation along R565 road between Rustenburg and Sun City recently. North West community safety and transport management department spokesperson, Thabo Sematle said the operation was part of Women’s Month celebration.

“More than 236 cars were stopped and eight illegal immigrants were arrested. They failed to produce proper and legal documentation. Seventeen traffic offenses were also issued to non-compliant motorists.

“Defaulting motorists have no choice, but to adhere to road rules throughout this month and beyond. We will continue to hold law enforcement special operations from time to time,” Sematle said.

He added that defaulting motorists will be punished by women law enforcement officers throughout this month. Sematle further said they will not allow any un-roadworthy vehicle to use the roads.

“They will not allow any drunken driver nor overloading and usage of cell phone while driving. We also urge our road users to cooperate and share the road without any rage.

“Our road users must not undermine these women, they must cooperate with them. They are doing their job which is to ensure compliance on our roads. Law enforcement officers are also committed to stamp their authority on our provincial roads without fear or favour,” Sematle said.

He added that female traffic officers will treat motorists with respect, humility and smile at you. Sematle said they will also show motherly love, but still summon or warn motorists sternly.

“All we request from you, road users; motorists, bikers, cyclists, jay and walkers is to cooperate and share the road. Members of the public experiencing any challenges or non compliance on the road are advised to contact the Departmental Call Centre on this number: 0800 204 992,”he said.

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Picture: (North West premier’s wife, Kule Mahumapelo)

BY REGINALD KANYANE

NORTH West premier Supra Mahumapelo’s wife visited Zambia to interact with women. Kule Mahumapelo said her visit at impoverished village of Sebitwane in
Sesheke district, Zambia was encouraging.

“I interacted with women those who make a living out of small-scale farming. The primary aim of the visit was a fact-finding mission on how small-scale farming has assisted the rural women of Lozi clan. They managed to pull themselves out of abject poverty through farming.

“We are in a process of getting South African women – particularly of Bokone Bophirima to work with their fellow women in Sebitwane to empower each other. Through this initiative, Sebitwane women will share their model of making agriculture work to create jobs and fight poverty,” Mahumapelo said.

She added that Bokone Bophirima women will exchange life and business skills including women empowerment in general.

“Their agricultural model is not complicated. Anyone can succeed through
it, whether they are skilled or not, as long as they have mentor to
oversee their work,” Mahumapelo said.

She further said there was a need to contribute after the Fifth Administration of Bokone Bophirima Provincial Government adopted five concretes that drive the Rebranding, Repositioning and Renewal of the province.

Mahumapelo added that she selected two out of the Five Concretes to focus on.

“I chose Agriculture, Culture and Tourism (ACT) and VTSD (Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies). I believe in active citizenry and civil society working together with government to steer development in the right direction.

“I have also teamed up on this mission with the businesswoman and the founder of Bokamoso Impact Investments, Lesego Serolong. She shares the same vision and embarked in agriculture for social and economic change. The partnership has already led to an agricultural project in Taung,” Mahumapelo said.

Women and youth of Taung will be trained, mentored and helped to run the agricultural project. They will eventually be linked with the appropriate market
where they can sell their produce.

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Picture: (Banyana player, Amanda Dlamini)

Banyana Banyana midfielder Amanda Dlamini says that while they were disappointed that their team did not progress to the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, a solid foundation has been laid.

Dlamini is one of ten players that recently returned from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and was also at the 2012 London Olympic Games. The others are Roxanne Barker, Nothando Vilakazi, Janine van Wyk, Noko Matlou, Leandra Smeda, Amanda Dlamini, Refiloe Jane, Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Robyn Moodaly and Sanah Mollo.

In selecting her squad for the Rio Olympics, Banyana Banyana head coach Vera Pauw mixed experience with a bit of youth in the team. Striker, Linda Motlhalo was the youngest at 18.

“Some of the players are under 20 or just above, and it looks like we have a solid future in the national team. It is just a matter of how we are going to rope the other players in,” Dlamini said.

“It is also about refreshing the consistency until we have a proper squad that will qualify for the World Cup. We also want that team to move reach the quarterfinals at the Olympics and perhaps even to the semifinals.

“I honestly believe that we do have a bright future with this team. It is just a matter making sure the ground we need to perform on is well laid at a very competitive level, apart from the big competitions like the Olympics.”

Some of the young players Dlamini referred to were Kaylin Swart, 21, Stephanie Malherbe, 20, Thembi Kgatlana, 21, Linda Motlhalo, 18, Jermaine Seoposenwe, 22, Lebogang Ramalepe, 24, Refiloe Jane, 24, Roxanne Barker, 25, Andile Dlamini, 24, Shiwe Nogwanya, 22 and Robyn Moodaly, 22.

They can all still features at the next Olympics Games which will take place in Tokyo in 2020.

Dlamini says they are disappointed that they did not get the desired results in the tournament when they did not progress to the next stage. But she believes they have made their mark as a team.

“Yes, obviously we are very disappointed purely because I know the quality that is in this team and the ability we have shown is just amazing. But having said that, we achieved something we had never done before.

“Firstly, we have always wished that we can have proper preparations towards big tournaments, and for the first time ever we played world champions USA and also played back to back matches against the Netherlands, not forgetting New Zealand –  something that has never happened before,” said Dlamini.

“Because of the performance we displayed in the last couple of months, nations are now willing to play Banyana Banyana. Also, with the performance that we showed at the Olympic Games – people won’t ignore us. We hope to have more of these games with the top nations. If other teams have qualified for major tournaments, they will want to play Banyana Banyana, so it’s good exposure. I am pleased in that regard but disappointed that we couldn’t make it to the next round.”

Banyana Banyana’s next major assignment is the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations. The 12th Edition will be staged in Cameroon between 19 November and 3 December.
A total of eight teams will play in the tournament – hosts Cameroon (11th appearance), Egypt (2nd), Ghana (11th), Kenya (1st), Mali 6th), Nigeria (12th), South Africa (11th) and Zimbabwe (4th).
NB: Mali replaced Equatorial Guinea after they were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.

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THE Education and Sport Development department in North West said it was happy that it hosted a successful Maize Cup at Moruleng Stadium, Moruleng on Saturday.

This was the second edition of the tournament.

MEC Sello Lehari said that bringing Premier Soccer League giants like Orlando Pirates to Moruleng help boost soccer development in rural areas.

“We hosted a wonderful match between Soweto Giants Orlando Pirates and Platinum Stars. The Maize Cup was formerly known as Bokone Bophirima Maize Traingle Cup. Last year we featured all three maize producing provinces like Free State and Mpumalanga. However, because of unforeseen challenges, those provinces could not partake in the tournament this year.

“We decided to continue with this project because the idea was born from this province. This is a thematic profile attempts to broadly introduce some of the current themes related to physical education and sport for children and youth. It is also part of fifth administration’s vision. We have five concretes which are economy-drive for the province,” Lehari said.

He added that matches like these boost small to micro medium enterprises (SMMEs).

Lehari further said they invited former professional players to run sport clinics in Moruleng on Friday before the game.

“Despite economic successes achieved across South Africa, people in rural areas continue to live in abject poverty. Hence North West premier Supra Mahumapelo came up with Village, Towns and Small Dorpies (VTSD) initiative. We need to empower our people from far-flung areas too.

“We also want to condemn those political parties who said the event is just a wasteful expenditure. People in the province are mostly affected by a myriad of economic problems. This includes pockets of poverty, inequality, insufficient economic growth,” Lehari said.

Lehari dismissed as misguided views by opposition political parties that alleged that the tournament was a waste of money after it reportedly cost government R7m to stage it.

“SMMEs benefited from this project including taxi industry. Sport is the only metaphor that can be used to fight socio-economic issues like teenage pregnancy, crime, unemployment, inequality, and alcohol and substance abuse. The fundamental cause of these problems is scarcity. There are unlimited wants and needs that must be addressed with scarce resources,” he said.

Bakgatlha Ba Kgafela chief, Kgosi Kagiso Pilane shared the same sentiments. He said that a match like this will benefit the community.

“We are so grateful to host the match of this magnitude consecutively. We would like to see the tournament remaining in our area. It boosts our local economy development and many locals generate income.

“All guest houses were full-booked and all businesses were functional. We should use what we have to address our social and economic problems effectively and efficiently. The primary objective of the VTSD framework policy is to develop an economic strategy towards accelerated and sustainable shared growth for North West province using entrepreneurship as a pathway,” Pilane said.

Orlando Pirates won the Maize Cup after beating Platinum Stars 3-1 in penalties.

Source: http://www.thenewage.co.za

NORTH West premier Supra Mahumapelo said he followed all required legislative processes in destabilising the Provincial Council on Aids (PCA). This comes up after Democratic Alliance provincial leader, Joe McGluwa said they will seek explanation from Mahumapelo on dissolving the PCA.

McGluwa said since 2001, the North West Provincial Council on AIDS has been making great strides in coordinating HIV/AIDS programmes.

“The body mobilised all available resources in the province to combat this outbreak. With over 441 816 people living with HIV, the establishment of the Aids council was vital to fight the epidemic.

“Statistics reveal that the province has experienced an increase in new HIV/AIDS infections and deaths. Up to 5 000 people die annually from HIV-related diseases,” McGluwa said.

He added that PCA was such an important body directly mandated to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS.

However, Mahumapelo refuted that and defended his decision. According to Mahumapelo, he resolved the body because there was a need for an all encompassing structure that will pay dedicated attention to all diseases and not HIV/AIDS only.

“The Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal forum has in this regard been established to perform this function. This will include carrying on with the work previously done by the PCA. However, this will have added responsibilities to also pay attention to other ailments in the province.

“Furthermore, we have chief directorate located in the health department which also pays attention to HIV/AIDS issue. Health department extract shows that the province is on course with regard to its efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic,” he said.

Mahumapelo further said all health facilities provided antiretroviral and TB treatment. He also added that the number of patients initiated and remain on ART has increased from 147 782 in 2012/13 to 190 861 in 2015/16.

“This is attributed to 2014/15 policy change. That allows treatment initiation at less than 500 CD4 count. This benefits pregnant women and children below the age of 5 irrespective of CD4 count including co-infected patients.

“TB treatment success rate has also improved from 76.6% in 2012 to 82.1% in 2015. The health department is currently decentralising MDR treatment to Primary Health Care. This will assist in order to de-institutionalise stable patients and bring follow-up treatment closer to communities,” Mahumapelo said.

Source: http://www.thenewage.co.za

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Picture: (Taung Magistrate Court)

BY REGINALD KANYANE

A MURDER case against Maphoitsile man from Taung, Boitumelo Seoposengwe will resume on August 15 for sentencing. Seoposengwe will appear in Taung Regional Court after he allegedly killed his son, Remoratile Sehemo, 5, back in 2015 during Christmas Eve.

Seoposengwe was ordered by court to undergo psychiatric check-up. Taung Regional Court wanted to test the mental stable of the suspect before they could hand down the sanction.

South African Civic Organisation regional secretary in Dr Ruth Mompati region, Mika Moeti said they were satisfied so far how the case was handled. Moeti added that even though it was taking long, justice will be served at the end.

“The suspect allegedly hanged his own son during the Christmas Eve at his house back in 2015. The relationship between Seoposengwe and his girlfriend soured and that prompted him to commit murder. We urge people to make use of institutions available than opting to murder,” Moeti said.

Seoposengwe allegedly went to fetch his son under the false pretence that he wanted him just for Christmas holiday visit. He allegedly hanged Remoratile in his back room. Remoratile body was found by one of his friend and informed the family.

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JOHANNESBURG – Obliteration! That’s how Wayde van Niekerk’s world record performance in the 400 metre final at the 2016 Rio Olympicshas been described.

Van Niekerk has won Team South Africa’s first gold medal at the Games.

Lining up in lane eight – the worst lane on the blue track of the Olympic Stadium – the sprinter ran a perfect race on Sunday night to cross the line in 43:03 seconds.

Van Niekerk beat his rivals Kirani James of Grenada and American LeShawn Merritt into second and third, respectively.

The pair was expected to push the Western Cape-born athlete hard, but the real race was only ever between van Niekerk and the clock.

The 24-year-old did what no man has been able to do for almost 17 years, and that was to beat Michael Johnson’s long-standing world record time of 43:18 seconds.

“He has obliterated Michael Johnson’s world record,” was how one commentator reacted.

It was also the first 400 metre final in which all three medallists ran below 44 seconds.

Van Niekerk’s victory was witnessed by his girlfriend, mother, father and other people close to him who were in the stands.

His win pushes Team SA’s medals tally to seven – one gold, five silvers and one bronze.

It’s not often that anyone overshadows sprinting great Usain Bolt, who won his third straight 100 metre Olympic gold medal less than 30 minutes after van Niekerk.

Wayde van Niekerk – Olympic champion, world champion, world record holder.

Source:www.ewn.co.za