By BAKANG MAKOTO

North West Department of Health is ‘under pressure’ to appoint the Head of Department (HOD). This comes after the Portfolio Committee on Health showed concerns during the appearance of the department on Wednesday.

The department was briefing the committee on its healthcare services in relation to COVID-19 and on the vaccine roll-out strategy.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo said: “One of the challenges that the North West Department of Health faces in its administration, is the lack of an accounting officer, the Head of Department (HOD).

“The issue of the HOD position remains vacant and the province being placed under section 100 (1) intervention is a matter we were informed about. We were briefed on the challenges relating to the appointment of the HOD.

“The committee, however, noted that the situation that the department finds itself, not having HOD, must have a serious impact on the management of the pandemic, in particular, and the implementation of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.”

 The embattled former Head of Department, Dr Thabo Lekalakala was fired back in January 2020 after being implicated in fraud and corruption.     

Dhlomo further said the committee needs to have people who would be held accountable. He added that the committee was of the view that in order for the province to have stable leadership and be able to function and manage, the province needs to get out of the administration.

Dhlomo indicated that this is not a sustainable way of rolling out healthcare service in the province.

Meanwhile, the North West Department of Health administrator, Jeannette Hunter said the pending issues related to the appointment of the HOD, the issue of the pharmaceutical budget, and the issue of correcting the budget baseline.

“Currently, the province has sufficient equipment, oxygen and ventilators. Amongst the challenges that the province faces is contact tracing – wrong phone numbers and people not found at provided addresses, the limited capacity of environmental health in municipalities, staffing for the vaccination programme and transport for persons to be vaccinated,” Hunter said.

On matters relating to emergency medical services (EMS), Hunter said they have strengthened EMS with additional vehicles and have contracted additional EMS officers to ensure that patients are safely transported from areas that experience bed pressures to the hospitals in Dr Kenneth Kaunda that have available capacity.

“The committee raised this as an area of concern for the province and one that it struggles with. We are continuously working with Provincial Treasury to reprioritize available funds to be able to appoint additional staff where required. The vaccination of health care workers has started also,” she said.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) and DA North West Spokesperson on Health, Gavin Edwards said the department has submitted written questions to North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha requesting him to explain the department’s failure to provide effective, efficient emergency services that have resulted in R4 million in debt to private ambulance services.

“Sambatha should explain how the department, with a budget of R408 million, of which R162 million has been allocated to the payment of contractors and special services, still failed to pay invoices within the prescribed 30 days.

“While the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown has had a devastating financial impact on residents of the North West, private ambulances have been expected to continue providing vital support without payment.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Four people had died instantaneously when their vehicle collided head-on with truck. North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari said the accident happened on R503 between Coligny and Hartebeesfontein on Monday afternoon at around 2pm.

“It is allegedly that the vehicle carrying passengers was from Mahikeng to Klerksdorp. About seven kilometres just outside Hartebeesfontein the vehicle carrying a total number of six passengers overtook two vehicles one of which was waiting for the oncoming truck to pass before turning to the right.

“Unfortunately, the truck was too close and the driver and one other male passenger were immediately taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The case of culpable homicide is being investigated by the police,” Lehari said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By OBAKENG MAJE

Beleaguered executive mayor of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Boitumelo Mahlangu was ousted through a motion of no confidence on Thursday. According to our sources, one of the ANC councillors tabled a motion during a virtual meeting.

However, one of the councillors who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal alleged that the meeting did not form a quorum.

“The virtual meeting did not form a quorum because we have 32 councillors. However, most of us did not receive the proper link and we were not part of the proceeding. We waited for over 45 minutes for the Speaker to conduct the meeting.

“According to the rules of the house, there must be a minimum of members a deliberative assembly to continue with the meeting. However, to our surprises, we heard that the Speaker convened another virtual meeting with some of councillors excluded.

Now, he said they will not recognize that meeting as it was ‘illegal’.  

However, the Municipal Speaker Lorato Moagwe refuted these allegations and rendered them absurd. Moagwe alleged that she sent out the proper links to all councillors.

“It is true that the mayor was removed through a motion of no confidence by the council. The motion of no confidence was tabled by the ANC councillor and seconded by the EFF.

“Actually, there were two motions against the mayor and the speaker, but the councillor who initially tabled the motion against the Speaker withdrew it. It is not true that some councillors did not receive the link because we have sent out the link of the virtual meeting to them yesterday and also sent another one today,” she said.

She further said 18 out of 32 councillors were part of the meeting and therefore, the meeting formed a quorum. Kgalalelo Sereko was elected as the new mayor.

Meanwhile, the municipality continued to be marred with fraud, corruption and maladministration allegations under Mahlangu’ stewardship. The Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality was one of four municipalities in the province implicated in the forensic investigation findings by the North West Provincial Government following the investment of a combined R314 million of taxpayers’ money into the VBS Mutual Bank.

The municipality invested R150 million of which R100 million was from the Regional Infrastructure Grant (RIG), R25 million from the Equitable Share-Free Basic Services and R25 million were from the Building Fund.

Recently, the EFF called for investigations after it was alleged that the municipality made an R16million ‘advanced payment’ to HT Pelatona Projects (PTY) LTD for a water project in Bloemhof.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI  

A man who is living with disability in Huhudi Location, near Vryburg, said his health continues to deteriorate because of the ‘illegal’ dumping site next to his yard. Lungile Nonkonkonya (34) stays in a house along with his other six siblings.

Lungile’s younger sister, Nomakhosazana said: “My brother has been in and out of hospital because of awful smell that we are subjected to next to our yard. We have reported this matter to the municipality, but we do not get any assistance.

“The municipality has since unsoiled the area in 2013. My brother is living with disability and suffering from muscular dystrophy. The municipality always gives us empty promises and we are sick and tired of that.”

Nomakhosazana further said her brother was once diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB) and suffered from a short breath because of the dumping site. She said they urge the municipality to clamp down on the ‘illegal’ dumping site next to their yard.

“It is heartbreaking to see our government ignoring our call while we living with a disabled person. Disabled people are large minority groups, starved of services and mostly ignored by society hence they live in isolation and subjected to poverty,” she said.

The Naledi Local Municipality acting spokesperson, Atwell Setlhapeloa said: “We’ve had a change in management. We have a new acting Municipal Manager and he would like to check (twick) few things first before we could respond.”

Meanwhile, the risenshine.org.za website said due to discrimination, disabled persons are not free to get those rights that a non-disabled person gets. The website said disabled persons are also deprived of education and employment.

“Persons with disabilities in South Africa continue to face barriers that prevent them from enjoying their full civil, political, economic, social, cultural and developmental rights. 

“This is largely due to a lack of awareness, ignorance, and prejudice in our society. It is also because some legislation fails to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Mainstreaming and universal access for persons with disabilities are the ultimate goals of the disability movement.”

In 2009, the North West Social Development held a media briefing on the launch of the policy on disability at Mmabatho Convention Centre. According to a statement, the department launched a policy on disability, developed for the social development sector.

“It is aimed at providing strategic guidelines in the delivery of social services that are compliant with departmental mandates and legislation within the social development context.

“It is intended to guide and inform the department on the mainstreaming and integration of disability within social development practices and to facilitate the transformation shifts in line with the current policy framework to promote inclusion for people with disabilities,” said the statement.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By OBAKENG MAJE

A 21-YEAR-OLD woman from Diretsang village near Taung said she is grateful that both her and the child are still alive. This comes after Kegomoditswe Tankie was seen on a video in Taung DailyNews’s position allegedly giving birth on the floor at the ‘disgraced’ Taung District Hospital without any assistance from nurses.

She said she always heard many people complaining about the abuse of patients by healthcare staff in maternity settings in the hospital but never thought one day she will be the victim herself.

“I went to the hospital for labour and I was put in the maternity ward with other pregnant women. The nurses who were on duty were in the other room and informed us to go to them if we experience any labour pains.

“Indeed, I experienced some pains and I went to seek help from them. They assessed and monitored the baby’s condition and ordered me to go back to where I was. They said I must come back at around 11:30,” she said.

However, Tankie further said, she experienced some labour contractions after reaching the room. She added that when she arrived at the ward, she put a towel on the floor next to her bed to rest on it as she was unable to climb the bed.

“I was also thirsty and I requested water from one of the women in the ward. I then went to the nurses after feeling some excruciating pains, but one of the officials in the corridors ordered me to go back saying nurses are still busy.

“I was in severe pains, but I managed to go back to the room again. I stand next to my bed and my legs cramped. I was feeling nauseated and my water breaks. The doctor was called and said I will be ready for labour at 00:20,” said Tankie.

However, she said she gave birth on the floor without any healthcare staff assistance. Now, Tankie mulls to take legal actions for medical negligence.

Belinda Lungile who was also in the maternity ward at the time of the incident alleged that nurses were rude and have arbitrary acts of unkindness toward pregnant patients.

“The abuse towards patients in that ward is well-documented. Since I was at the hospital, I saw the verbal abuse and psychological abuse many patients were subjected to. On 16 February 2021 before this initial incident, I saw nurses abusing some helpless patients and I confronted them.

“However, they also tried to bully me but I stand my ground. They even said I think I am somebody of importance and advocating for those patients will not take me anywhere. It is so ridiculous to find many women shouted at, sometimes beaten and neglected in that maternity care facility,” she said.

Meanwhile, the North West Health Department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “The hospital has reported the incident to the Adverse Events Committee. The department is disturbed by the incident and we have established that even the Nursing Services Manager was not made aware of the incident.

“The department will ensure that justice is done to that patient. We have made arrangements to get incident reports from the affected shift of nurses and the Adverse Events Committee will take the process forward and make recommendations to the MEC.”

The hospital Board of Directors chairperson, James Gadinabokao who shared the same sentiments came out gun blazing. Gadinabokao said the disciplinary process is going to be instituted.

“Nurses who were on duty that day must be suspended pending the outcome of disciplinary hearings. MEC of Health will be notified about this incident and others that were not reported.

“As the chairperson of the board, I would like to apologise to the family of Ms Kegomoditswe Tankie, her good self and the entire community of Taung. It is not the first time this negligence happened under our watch. Unfortunately, perpetrators of such always hide behind their union trying to play victim knowingly that they have transgressed their contractual obligations as public servants,” he said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By BAKANG MOKOTO

Taung-born Hip Hop artist, Lion The Rebel said he is grateful for finally finding his niche in the music industry. This comes after he was nominated for the Best Hip Hop artist by PLAMAS.

“It all started with the love for poetry. I realised that I love poetry more when it is in the music, then I started free-styling on top of the beats. It feels enormously great to be recognized.  

“Being nominated for this award out of so many artists in the province gives me courage. My first song was recorded back in 2012 after being a street cipher rapper for a while,” he said.

Lion The Rebel (28) said he is a rapper, writer, poet, and recording/performing artist with outstanding skill. He further said his rap fuses languages in a unique way and most are classified under the Motswako, which is a Hip Hop sub-genre.

“I am mostly known for my hit single titled Top 7 and other hits like On, Mo Ke Gatang Teng, Lekwalo La Motswako, Leroborobo La Corona and a track called Khapo Terug that came out with an official music video that is available on YouTube.

“I am a poet, and my daily life situations inspire my content. I do celebrate other artists, but none of them is fueling my artistic spirit. I live to be inspired then put it in the music,” said Lion The Rebel.

In 2018, he released his first album titled Mind State with ten tracks. Lion The Rebel said even though he was born and bred in Mokgareng village, outside Taung, moving to Klerksdorp was a great move.

“I moved to Klerksdorp where I matriculated before heading to Pretoria to study further. I also attended a lot of freestyle cipher sessions where I would showcase my talent.

“I started seeing people jamming to my lyrics and that encouraged me to find my niche in the game. I’d like to embark more on the business side of music in the future, but still writes and record music while having a healthy stable family,” said Lion The Rebel.

He also encouraged aspiring artists not only to concentrate on music as it is seasonal. Lion The Rebel who is a qualified nurse said education is key.

“I am a qualified nurse and unfortunately, I was financially excluded while studying towards my chemistry degree at the University of Pretoria. Life is one big game and education is the best cheat for it.

“There are other challenges in the music industry like publishing and distribution deals. You will need money to neither make money, so if you do not have any sponsor or budget, it becomes almost impossible to create music,” he said.

Lion The Rebel said music took him out of a very dark place in his life. He added that he highly-appreciate everyone who has been there supporting him through thick and thin.

You can find Lion The Rebel’s music on YouTube, Reverbnation and Audiomack or visit his social media platforms such as Facebook: LION THE-REBEL Twitter: @LiontheRebel or alternatively email him at liontherebel607@gmail.com

Those who would like to vote for him can sms: PLAMAS AAM to 45633 and the sms costs R1.50. You can vote as many times as you want.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By OBAKENG MAJE

The residents of Dryharts village in Taung welcomed the re-opening of Molehabangwe as a Primary School. The school was shut down a few years ago as part of the urgent need for redress in rural schooling.

One of residents, Maki Modisapudi (34) said the opening of the school will make sure that children access education at their doorsteps. Modisapudi further said learners are travelling a long distance to Molemoeng Primary School.

“Our village is growing faster and that makes human settlements drift towards Vryburg whereas the only primary school is in the opposite direction. We then approached the Baga-Phuduhucwana Tribal Authority chief, Kgosi Tshepo Mankuroane for intervention.

“We are happy that our plea has been answered. The additional primary school will promote the culture of teaching and learning. Our children are also wildly enthusiastic to have a school in their backyard,” she said.

Another resident, Pauline Setlhapo said they believe that learners will capture what they are taught effectively and efficiently. Setlhapo said even though the school is not ‘larger and better resourced’, it will contribute to the development and poverty alleviation in their area.

Few years ago, the Basic Education Department adopted a rationalization and redeployment policy to address the inequalities in education created by apartheid. There were an excess of educators in historically advantaged schools and a shortage of teachers in historically disadvantaged schools.

Meanwhile, North West Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “Mankurone met with the Dryharts community after they requested him to assist them for the resuscitation of Molehabangwe as a Primary School.

“The reasons were that the community is growing faster since the establishment of the new settlement towards Vryburg. Learners are now traveling a distance to Molemoeng Primary. Mankuroane wrote a letter to the Director of Education at the district and we sent a team to research.

“Indeed, there was a need for the re-opening of the school and the district sent the report to our head office for the registration process after the permission was granted.  The school has 306 learners and 10 educators currently,” Malindi said. 

He added that the department has appointed an acting principal and recruitment processes are underway. Malindi further said the department spent almost R400 000 for the refurbishment of the school.

“The school is registered and will receive its allocation in the ensuing financial year on 1 April 2021,” said Malindi.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) Constituency Head in the Greater Taung Local Municipality and Member of Parliament (MP), Sello Seitlholo said the re-opening of the school is a victory for the community of Dryharts. 

“DA in the Greater Taung submitted a petition in parliament calling for the re-opening of Molehabangwe Middle School as a Primary school in 2019 after we were approached by the community leaders for assistance.

“The concerns were raised about the dilapidating building and the prospect of it being used as a criminal hub. In February 2020, the North West Department of Education presented a report during the Basic Education Portfolio Committee meeting acceding to the call by the DA to indeed re-open the school in 2021 academic year.

“Although the school is experiencing some administrative and budget relates challenges, we are hopeful that these will be dealt with as time goes on,” he said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By OBAKENG MAJE

North West province has incurred R3.7 billion and R3.8 billion in irregular expenditure in 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years respectively. The startling revelation was announced by the chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Section 100 Intervention, China Dodovu on Sunday in a statement.

Dodovu said the committee received a briefing from the National Treasury and the Office of the Auditor-General (AG) on the financial position of the province and audit reports since the intervention.

“The committee highlighted that despite the fact that the province incurred R3.7 billion and R3.8 billion in irregular expenditure in 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years, there is little or no movement in consequence management against those that irregularly awarded contracts outside legislation.

“We are concerned that there is an insignificant movement regarding the consequence management against those that have been identified to have committed financial misconduct in the province,” he said.

He said some of the concerning causes for irregular expenditure are that the Department of Education had issued a tender of R25.4 million that was not evaluated by the evaluation committee and the Department of Public Works and Roads had issued contracts worth R371 million without following proper procurement processes.

“Also, the Office of the Premier had issued a contract worth R19.8 million without a competitive process, and the Department of Health had contracts worth R1.1 billion in which it deviated from competitive processes, and had continued with expired contracts worth R707.8 million.

“Despite the intervention, the committee raised concerns over the continued underspending by the province that impacts directly on the lives of the people of the province. Primarily, the committee is concerned that only R1.5 billion from the R45 billion of the province’s budget is planned for infrastructure development, a major driver of economic development,” said Dodovu.  

He further said, as a result, the committee is concerned that a considerable budget is lost to the National Treasury as a result of underspending. Dodovu added that the province lost conditional grants allocations for the Department of Education amounting to R125.373 million in 2018/19 and R225.621 million in 2019/20.

“The Human Settlements department also lost grant allocations amounting to R100 million in 2020/21. The stopping of conditional grant allocations reflects poor planning and delivery on projects within the respective departments.

“Furthermore, the committee highlighted concerns that even the Department of Agriculture is underspending on its conditional grants, in a province that depends on agriculture as a driver of its economic activity. The committee has called on the intervention team to work towards ensuring prudent and maximal spending of budgeted resources,” said Dodovu.

Meanwhile, the committee has called on the Office of the AG to utilise provisions of the Public Audit Amendment Act to recoup some of the losses incurred in the province. Dodovu said the committee has also considered issuing a certificate of debt for suspected material irregularities found during successive negative audits.

“While the committee acknowledges that since the intervention there has been an appreciated downward trend in irregular expenditure from R3.8 billion to R2.6 billion, it has called for consequence management to discipline those in the wrong and safeguard the resources of the state.

“On Monday, the committee will interact with the National Prosecuting Authority, Special Investigating Unit and the Asset Forfeiture Unit to get an update on the causes of delays in prosecuting alleged wrongdoers,” he said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com