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By REGINALD KANYANE
ALL systems go as 500 houses will be electrified.  North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo will be part of switch-on electrification projects ahead of his State of the Province Address (SOPA) in Taung on Friday.

More than 500 houses will be electrified in Moretele Ext 88, Khaukhwe Ext 61, Ntswanahatse Ext 144, Matlapaneng Phase 2 11, Phola Park Ext 35, Khibicwane Ext Phase 2 91 and Maganeng Ext 150 11.

“This is the second achievement of Eskom’s North West Operating Unit this month, following the electrification of 1 400 houses in Kgabalatsane in Madibeng Local Municipality.

“I’ll be joined by Members of the Executive Council and the North West Eskom Senior Managers. The switch-on project will commence in Ntswanahatse at 10am and proceed to Khaukhwe,” Mahumapelo said.

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Subsequent to a series of reported mechanical breakdown incidents involving the official vehicles allocated to Premier Supra Mahumapelo, the North West Provincial Government has decided to purchase a new official vehicle for the Premier.

Premier Mahumapelo has been using two vehicles which he inherited from his two predecessors, Premiers Maureen Modiselle and Thandi Modise, which had not only clocked over 250 000 and 190 000 kilometers respectively, but had stuck on a number of occasions due to mechanical problems.

While the Ministerial Handbook allows the Premier to change his car once it has gone over 120 000km, Mahumapelo had always maintained his view that the people of the province need to play a role and guide him on when they believe it’s the right time for the provincial government to procure a new official car for the Premier. This despite the SAPS VIP Protection Unit warning Premier Mahumapelo that using old cars that are way beyond the prescribed 120 000km and tend to be unreliable can put both his life and those of his protectors at risk.

Equally, whereas the Ministerial Handbook allows for provincial governments to purchase a vehicle valued at R1.4million, Premier Mahumapelo had in his continued effort to lead by example and encourage Members of Executive Council to exercise cost saving measures when procuring official government vehicles, agreed to the purchasing of a vehicle with a total cost of  R1.1million, thus saving R300 000 of public funds.

The provincial government wishes to thank members of the public who have unreservedly supported the move to purchase a new and reliable official vehicle for the Premier, the process of which is being facilitated by the provincial department of Community Safety and Transport Management.

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MOKGARENG River in North West has claimed the life of another young girl.

Fourteen-year-old Hlompho Monchonyane from Leshobo Village in Taung was found dead on Saturday, about seven kilometres down stream from where she drowned.

Her father, Amos Monchonyane (46), said she was excited on the day of her death.

“She called her friends and they went to the river,” he said.O

ne of them told him Hlompho went straight into the water, claiming she wanted to test it.

The friend stood helplessly as she saw Hlompho going into the deep part before being swept away.

Aunt Elizabeth Dehuis (56) said: “ With the help of residents, police searched for Hlompho the whole night without success.

“Her body was swept to the bank of the river. She was a sweet girl who loved school. She performed well and had a bright future.”

Village chief Sam Mankuroane said it was not the first time the river has claimed lives.

He said there is a great need for cleansing and prayer.

The people in the area believe there is a snake that swallows teenagers.

“Some of these incidents are not reported to the authorities.”

In December, two teenagers drowned and one is still missing.

Pudimoe police spokesman Sergeant Tebogo Thebe confirmed that police are investigating.

He said residents called police to the scene, who found the body of the teenager reported missing on Friday.

“The family positively identified the body and investigations into the circumstances are underway,” said Thebe.

– Daily Sun