By BAKANG MOKOTO

The Nelson Mandela Foundation donated sanitary towels to Batlhaping High School in Taung recently. The Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sello Hatang said many female learners miss school days because of lack of sanitary towels.

“The foundation aims to create, establish, protect and preserve a centre of memory about the late Dr Nelson Mandela. We also aim to convene dialogue around critical social issues, including particular issues regarding human rights and democracy, in order to contribute to a just society.

“The foundation saw the need for young female people particularly in rural areas to have access to sanitary towels. Lack of sanitary towels makes it impossible for young girls to go to school. We also understand that girl children are the most disadvantaged group.

“We took it upon ourselves to ensure that we donate sanitary towels to them. The aim of the foundation is to assist 2 million school girls by 2020. We donated sanitary towels to 480 girls here at Batlhaping High School today and we hope the donation will last them for a year. As the foundation, we also urge other stakeholders to play a fundamental role in assisting those who are destitute,” Hatang said.

He further said it is imperious for the society to contribute to avoid girl learners missing school. Hatang added that if that happens, the country is running a risk of developing illiterate society. 

“We cannot have young people with no future hence we call all stakeholders to play their part. The late Dr Nelson Mandela was clear on his mission of what he was willing to die for back in 1962. However, it hurts to walk around today and see young people with nothing to die for. It is not government’s role alone to provide for the needy. Mandela believed that education is at the hub of developing any community and the future lies right there.

“We have partnered with the Department of Education across the country. The foundation also has schools that are working with in Klerksdorp, Rustenburg and Taung. We visited Mahikeng recently and donated sanitary towels too. The project is reaching each and every corner in South Africa,” Hatang said.

Batlhaping High School Teacher Liaison Officer, Isak Bessie welcomed the donation. Bessie commended the foundation and said the sanitary towels will ensure that girl children stay at school while having their menstruation.

“We are grateful that the foundation assisted our deprived girl children. On behalf of the school management, School Governing Body (SGB) and learners, we want to express our gratitude to them. According to research, almost 50 days of schooling is lost every year because of lack of sanitary towels.

“Mr Hatang also shared motivational talks with learners and urged them to face challenges head-on,” he said.

One of beneficiaries, Boipelo Moshweu, 18, from Mokassa 2 in Taung said: “We welcome the donation because some of us come from deprived backgrounds. Our parents could not afford to buy sanitary towels for us and we end up using cloths and tissues. That affects one’s confidence and we cannot concentrate in class.”

Grade 12 learner, Modisang Mangwegape, 20, said: “I stay with my grandparent and siblings. Life is hard because no one is working at home. We heavily rely on our granny’s pension money. However, the money is not enough to support all of us. Having sanitary towels will assist me to concentrate on my school work without necessary worrying about menstruation periods. I think the packets I received will last me for three months.”

taungdailynews@gmail.com

For the past 23 years the people of Greater Taung Municipality have been struggling to get their vehicles tested for roadworthiness. The Taung Vehicle Testing Station which has since been closed in 1994, was recently renovated, refurbished and upgraded. Thus readied for being officially opened by the Community Safety and Transport Management MEC, Dr Mpho Motlhabane.

In the last 23 years motorists in Taung had to travel over 70km to Vryburg to access a vehicle testing services or had to travel about 40km to Hartswater, which is in the neighbouring Northern Cape Province.

Speaking during the official opening of this long awaited Taung Vehicle Testing Station, MEC Motlhabane said the department has noted serious concerns that; the non functioning of this station has not only frustrated the motor vehicle owners, but also the law enforcement officers who could not have suspected un-roadworthy vehicles tested locally, here in Taung.

“Today we are not only shortening your journeys to Vryburg and Hartswater but we are cancelling these unnecessary trips. Let us use this testing station effectively in order to ensure that our vehicles are compliant and fit for the road.

Remember that whenever a vehicle is tested outside the province, Hartswater which is in Northern Cape in this regard, it becomes a loss of revenue to Bokone Bophirima, which is what we are safeguarding. The province needs the skills, infrastructure and personnel to operate this vehicle station, and we do have, by the way.” said Motlhabane.

According to the systems report, recently there are about 430 unlicensed motor vehicles around Taung, of which; 180 are light-loading vehicles, 05 heavy-loading vehicles, 17 mini buses as well as 205 light passenger vehicles carrying less than 12 persons.

“These 430 unlicensed vehicles are on our roads on daily basis and as a result, they increase potential accidents and road safety risks. We therefore humbly request owners of these vehicles to come to this station and test their vehicles,” concluded Motlhabane who further appealed to officials employed at the station to be vigilant against individuals who would attempt to bribe them.

In his response to the opening of the station, the Chief of Batlhaping Ba-Ga Phuduhutswana, Kgosi Tshepo Mankuroane expressed his gratitude and appreciation. “The opening of this station brings us a great sigh of relief because we have been frustrated for the past years having to cope with the long distances to access these services. We are grateful and we are committing to taking a good care of the facility,” he said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com