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By OBAKENG MAJE

Heartfelt condolence messages continue to pour into the Maluleke’s family after the passing of the former North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Johanna Mmule Maluleke.

Maluleke died today at her home in Mathibestad village near Rustenburg after a long illness. North West Provincial Legislature (NWPG) speaker, Sussana Dantjie said she is saddened by the sudden and untimely death of Maluleke.

Dantjie who spoke to Maluleke telephonically two days ago, said she was convinced that Maluleke was fully recovered especially that she presented no sign of illness whatsoever.

“This is a tragic loss to the legislature and to the nation as a whole. Death has robbed the people of the North West and South Africa at large, one of a dedicated servant of the people who selflessly served her nation with distinction and loyalty.

“Maluleke met her untimely death whilst serving as the Media Liaison Officer (MLO) in the office of the Speaker. She previously worked as the Member of the National Assembly (MP), MEC for Public Works in the North West Province and was at some stage the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Public Works,” she said. 

Dantjie further said it is, therefore, the sincerest wish of her to express that in these entire mentioned portfolios. She added that Maluleke never disappointed as she served the public service with distinction.

“She was an accomplished, committed, and dedicated servant of the people with a high level of a very sharp mind who was ever ready to serve the people and her country.

“So, as the legislature, we are poorer without her. Maluleleke was a humble leader in her own right, imboqo, malibongwe, and a woman of note. She died on the day of the burial of one of the dedicated servants of the people, the late Victor Tsie,” said Dantjie.

Political background

According to the People’s Assembly website, Maluleke became involved in politics at primary school in Soshanguve, near Pretoria. She said then, she was quite unaware that she was gradually getting involved. In high school, she was actively involved in boycotts against the use of Afrikaans as a medium of learning.

“Student politics in 1984 were influenced by movements like the Black Power Movement. I was denied permission to enter Mathibestad in former Bophuthatswana homeland, where my parents lived, due to my political activity and told to return to Pretoria.

“Upon my return to Pretoria, I discovered that the programs we had been involved in at school had been driven by the mass democratic movement as our meetings had been held at the Roman Catholic Church in F section, Soshanguve where Pastor Smangaliso Mkhatshwa was the patron of the United Democratic Front (UDF),” she told the website.

After matriculating in 1992, Maluleleke returned to Mathibestad where she officially joined a branch of the ANC – underground of course. In 1993, when a recognised structure of the ANC was allowed to operate in Bophuthatswana, she was elected branch secretary.

“When the new municipal demarcations came in 2000, I then fell under ward 12 of Moretele Local Municipality where I was again elected branch secretary until 2002. From 2002 until the end of 2003 I was elected branch chairperson of the ANC Moretele branch and stayed there until 2008.

“In 2008, I relocated to ward 18 in the same municipality and was elected ward secretary for the third time. I have been a Regional Executive Committee Member of the ANC in the Bojanala Region since 2005 to date,” said Maluleke.

NB: To read more about Maluleke’s biography, kindly go to www.pa.org.za for more details

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

North West police request the public to assist them in locating Oratile Mangwekea (23) of house no. 397 Matlhako II village near Pudimoe. According to the North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone, Mangwekea went missing on 26 December 2020.

“He was last seen near Randos tavern in Pudimoe wearing a dusty pink t-shirt, with light blue jeans, black cap, and Puma takkies. Police are appealing to anyone who may have information about Mangwekea’s whereabouts to contact D/Sergeant Nombulelo Segosapelo on 082 416 2133 or call South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop number: 08600 10111,” Mokgwabone said.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

Community of Ntswanahatshe village and its neighbouring areas such as Moretele and Maganeng said it is fed up with the lack of water. Now, the community members threatened to barricade N18 road that links Vryburg and Kimberley in protest.

One of the community leaders, Mothusi Dikwelane said it has been months without water. Dikwelane further said they have tried to engage with the North West Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), North West Office of the Premier and the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, but their plea fell on deaf ears.

“We will engage in a consultative meeting with community members to map a way forward. All these villages are affected by lack of water and it’s been months. What is very surprising is that our reservoir is full, but we continue to experience water scarcity.

“We have been trying to engage with Sedibeng Water as the service provider for years, but we do not get any lasting solution. We have also engaged with various government departments since last year, but we only get a temporary solution,” he said.

Dikwelane added that around April 2020, the government introduced the tinkering system to try and resolve water shortage water, but only two tanks were allocated for the whole area and it is not enough. He said the government also failed to ensure that those tanks are always filled with water.

“It’s been months since they filled those tanks with water. What is worse, our area was allocated only two tanks which are not enough to cater for the whole village.

“How come our government encourages people to constantly wash their hands in a fight against COVID-19, but they failed to ensure that there is a provision of water?” he asked.

Another resident in Tlapeng village near Pampierstad shared the same sentiments.

Emmanuel Tong said: “What we need from the Coghsta department is only bulk water for those pipes at the Pampierstad reservoir. The Coghsta department promised us the bulk water since 2010 and last year at Mankuroane council meeting, they said our bulk water project has been approved.

“They were supposed to deal with that issue last year, maybe that could have delayed the increase of COVID-19 cases in our area. So, in the meantime, we need Jojo tanks while they are still busy processing this bulk water issue.”

However, North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Mmoloki Cwaile said they are working around the clock to redress the water scarcity across the province.

Cwaile said he had engaged in a consultative meeting with all municipalities, Department of Water and Sanitation, Water Boards, Salga, and many other various role players to come up with a lasting solution to the water challenges.

“Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District continues to experience challenges on and around the issues of provision of water. However, we can assure you that the Department of Water and Sanitation has committed that the Bona Bona Water project would find expression in their next financial year plans.

“The Greater Taung Water Treatment Plant is being completed and it is on and around 90%. However, the project was delayed due to tribal leadership and also disruptions by the local businesspersons for almost the period of two years,” said Cwaile.

He further said they will ensure that they provide water for human consumption, industrial use and for food security. Cwaile added that they already have irrigation system in place around Ga-Maraga and Taung that just need to be connected to supply water for the purpose of irrigations and the water will be available for consumption.

“We have the project that relates to Bloemhof water scheme and it is planned for the medium-term expenditure framework period and we are in an agreement that should be implemented on a multiple-year period.

“Mamusa Bulk Line, there were plans in place but they were not able to be implemented due to the unavailability of funds. The provincial department had used its own provincial Infrastructure Grant (PIG) at some extent to refurbish water treatment plant,” he said.

Cwaile said they have also taken into consideration that in other areas there is no underground water hence they implemented a tinkering system as other means. He also applauded the efforts made by the Department of Agriculture after drilling on and around 16 boreholes in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region for purposes of livestock.

“This will serve a positive purpose as they provide a form of relief. The water will be available for animal use and plantation. The challenge surrounding the leaking of pipes for the supply of Naledi, are being redressed by Sedibeng Water even though there is an issue around payments between Sedibeng Water and the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.

“We hope this matter will be resolved and there will be alternative means for the reservoirs in Naledi to be filled with water. This includes the new developmental areas and we are making a difference there,” said Cwaile.

He said they will continue to speed up the process of implementing other interventions including how they will mitigate against the water losses due to leaks or poor workmanship, the aging of pipes, and vandalism.

Cwaile further said they have also realised that there is unaccounted water because of un-metered water supply to new extension areas due to expanding communities. He added that there is also another issue of dysfunctional meters that needs to be recalibrated.

“We are working on a process of utilising the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG). Support agency has deployed its capacity in more than 19 municipalities and they are assisting us in various areas including water, roads, electricity and maintenance of plants.

“On water, they are dealing with leaks as a short term and equality of water in medium-term, while they intending to increase the availability of water in a long term process. They have also developed 40 frameworks that can be used by the municipality to support the Supply Chain Management processes,” said Cwaile.

He outlined that one of their challenges was planning and implementation of projects and the usage of cash flow. Cwaile said the usage of cash flow does not necessary supporting the basic services but they are making a redress and establish their own understanding in making this intervention work.

“The Department of Water and Sanitation is having its own internal infrastructure directorate that we are hoping that they are working on increasing their capacity. Salga has also presented a progressive program on how we can intervene on non-revenue water and we are in agreement.

 “We will have them available for our purpose. We will continue to use the tinkering system even if we discourage it and we believe it should not be permanent. Vandalism indicates that there is a syndicate, but we hope to bring interventions to resolve those challenges,” he said.

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