Daily Archives: October 30, 2020

‘Residents call for the return of Taung Skull’

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Picture: Deputy Minister of environment, forestry and fisheries, Makhotso Sotyu and Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Njabulo Nzuza at Taung Skull World Heritage Site
 

By OBAKENG MAJE

Residents of Taung are calling for the return of Taung Skull. The 2.5 million years old fossilized skull of a hominid child that was found encased in limestone in the Buxton quarry back in 1924, was taken to the University of Witwatersrand in Braamfontein, Gauteng.

Now, the residents say the fossil must return to its origin. Segametsi Leeuw from Tamasikwe village near Buxton said the return of the fossil will boost the economy of Taung.

“We have the most beautiful World Heritage Site in Taung that has been neglected for years. Tourists flock to our area every year to come and see where the fossil was found. However, our area remains poor and underdeveloped. The North West Provincial government has failed dismally to develop this area and ensure that it creates job opportunities for the locals.

“Remember, this scientific area is so significant because there is an ongoing debate amongst academics in the field that human ancestors had lived on the continent more than a million years earlier than previously believed,” she said.

One of unemployed youth in Buxton, Tebogo Masike shared the same sentiments. Masike said Taung was supposed to be the tourism hub in the province.

“Taung is rich in three aspects which are mining, tourism, and agriculture but our government does not notice that. We are calling for the return of the fossil because that will boost our economy. Recently, deputy ministers visited the area and promised to come back. It has been long overdue since the fossil left for the University of Witswatersrand.  

“We have seen many companies coming and going trying to develop the area, but nothing tangible has been done thus far. We would like to see our area being developed and creating job opportunities. So, we call on our people across Taung to be steadfast and demand what’s rightfully theirs,” he said.

Meanwhile, the deputy minister of environment, forestry, and fisheries, Makhotso Sotyu said: “We have visited Taung in our capacities as District Development Model Champions. President Cyril Ramaphosa in the 2019 Presidency Budget Speech identified the pattern of operating in silos as a challenge, which led to a lack of coherence in planning and implementation.

“This has made monitoring and oversight of the government’s program difficult. The consequence has been non-optimal delivery of services and diminished impact on the triple challenges of poverty, inequality, and employment. The President further called for the rolling out of a new integrated district-based approach to addressing our service delivery challenges and localise procurement and job creation, that promotes and supports local businesses, and that involves communities.”

She said their visit was only to come and view what is needed and to have an understanding of what kind of challenges is facing the communities here. Sotyu added that they asked for the profile of the area and amongst issues that were raised by the communities and leadership here, where the issue of the Taung Skull.

“So, we decided to come and view the place and see how it looks like so that when we go back we come up with some means to create economical activities around here. On our way here, we had a problem with roads as they were not accessible. We also identified that there is a lack of a provision of water and sanitation.

“There are beautiful buildings here, but the problem is that there is no water. The lack of water forces these buildings to become white elephants and we have also realized that there is a lot of theft and vandalism taking place here,” she said.

Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Njabulo Nzuza said they have identified a number of issues from the presentation they received mainly involving building strategic infrastructure, which involves amongst others making sure that there is water so that all the tourism notes that are in this area are able to prosper and people create job opportunities. 

Meanwhile, the Australopithecus africanus relic as Taung Skull was named by Professor Raymond Dart is still at the University of Witwatersrand.  

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A new computer lab built in Schweizer Reneke

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Picture: Deputy Minister, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu and MTN SA Foundation Director, Arthur Mukhuvha

By BAKANG MOKOTO

The residents of Ipelegeng Township near Schweizer Reneke, welcomed the launch of a new computer lab. This comes after the Deputy Minister for Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu in partnership with MTN Foundation launched the centre recently.

Mase Makgoane (26) said the computer lab will assist many youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to access computers. Makgoane added that a computer lab will also create a space where learning and educational activities can be executed.

“I want to applaud the department of social development along with its partner, MTN Foundation for considering our community. Many people, especially the youth do not have smart phones to access internet and that count against us.

“We need to be on the same level with the global community and ensure that we are equipped with technology. Many schools are moving to digital platform and use technology for educational methods. We will also be able to access internet at any given time because data is too expensive,” she said.

Another resident, Thabiso Dire (19) shared the same sentiments. Dire said computer labs create inclusive, structured learning environments, where learners can prepare for a tech-heavy future.

“We have socio-economic challenges in our area and I hope this will minimize the chances of boredom. I hope my fellow youth will make positive use of this computer lab and stop engaging in negative activities such as crime, alcohol and drugs abuse because that might ruin their future.

“We also urge our fellow community members to ensure that the computer lab is safe and no one steal or vandalise it. I will visit the centre to study more about technology and make use of the internet too,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bogopane-Zulu said they established a partnership with MTN SA Foundation to institute Multi-Media Computer Laboratories that are responsive to the improvement and enhancement of the quality of life of poor and vulnerable sectors within the community.

She further said Ipelegeng Community Care Centre was identified as one of the centres, which will benefit from this partnership.

“This will enable the Ipelegeng community to acquire the relevant skills for future opportunities. The centre is part of efforts to carry the community along in South Africa’s digital advances.

“As we move into the digital age, rural areas are not left out. They must also be able to interact with what is happening in the country virtually, participate in webinars and be heard virtually. The centre comes with connectivity for the next 24 months, which will enable our children to access computers,” said Bogopane-Zulu.

She added that the computers at the centre are loaded with a comprehensive digital content from Grade R to Matric. Bogopane-Zulu said the centre will also be serving as a catch-up space, where young people can come and do their school work.

“Learners have lost a lot in their studies because of COVID-19 lockdown. A total of five multimedia centres are to be rolled out across the province,” Bogopane Zulu said.

MTN SA Foundation Director, Arthur Mukhuvha said technology is crucial to teaching and learning especially now that the world is dealing with a pandemic. Mukhuvha added that the country is dealing with the pandemic at the moment that has affected everyone one way or the other.

“MTN is using the power of technology to assist the community with much-needed technology to advance learning and research, but more importantly again for the community to acquire a new set of skills in the new modern world,” he said.

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