By OBAKENG MAJE

The newly-elected mayor of the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), Tumisang ‘Daddy’ Gaoraelwe (40) said he is meticulously prepared to ‘steer’ the municipality to the right direction. Gaoraelwe was sworn-in as the new mayor during the municipal council inauguration meeting at Sebitlwane Special School in Lokaleng village near Taung on Monday.

“I am grateful to be elected as the new mayor. It is our aim as the new cohort to play a crucial role in ensuring that we implement laws and policies that can greatly impact on how the municipality is run.

“So, as a political head, I believe this position can be both challenging and rewarding but requires an individual who is vigorously prepared for all what a political life entails. I believe I was born with the zeal of activism in me,” he said.

Buoyed Gaoraelwe who joined politics 16 years ago, said he equally grasped his enthusiasm to become a politician from his late brother, Goitseone Christopher “Jukie” Gaoraelwe who was a member of ANC MK (ANC military wing).

Jukie Gaoraelwe went to exile in 1989 and trained in Tanzania until he lost his life in 1995 back in South Africa.

“So, ordinarily, someone in the family had to take the baton. I started participating in politics during the time of “The downfall of Bophuthatswana ” era. I was only doing standard 6 at Olihile Mancwe Middle School in Pampierstad Township, which falls under the Northern Cape Province now.

“Due to the political milieu of the time, there was a student revolt and we were roped-in by older students to join the Congress of South African Student (COSAS),” said Gaoraelwe.

He further said they were given the understanding that all sectors of the community including political youth formations have to play part in the political transition, which was the national agenda at the time.   

A political activist, an academic, a creative artist at heart and a father of four said, he is a proud member of the ruling party and dedicated his life to fight for the cause.

“I am the 10^th child and last born in the family. I am the proud son of Kelebilemang Iris Gaoraelwe (Mankuroane-Maiden Surname) and Kgomotso Albert Gaoraelwe. I have occupied various leadership positions within the ANC and outside.

“It gives me a great pleasure and privilege to have been chosen among many by my organisation to lead the municipality. However, as I ascend to this position, I am deployed by the ruling party to ensure that we unite all people of South Africa, Africans in particular, for the complete liberation of the country,” said Gaoraelwe.

He said under his stewardship, he will ensure that people are in charge of their developmental aspirations. Gaoraelwe said the ‘plan of action’ for any municipality is the five year strategic document called the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) that is informed by the Community Based Planning (CBP), which is the communities consolidated priorities in regard to development.

Gaoraelwe’s Academic Qualifications

Honours Degree in Public Administration (Mancosa 2021)

B.A Degree in Conservation Tourism and Sustainable Development (2010 NWU)

Higher Certificate in Local Government (2018)

Matric (Batlhaping High School-Taung 1998)

Political career

2021 – To Date	Ward-11 ANC IBC Coordinator
2018	ANC RSM member of the REC and RWC
2019 – 2021	Ward-11 ANC Branch Chairperson
2016 – 2018	Ward-11 ANC Branch Secretary
2016	Ward-11 ANC Branch Elections Coordinator
2014 – 2018	Ward-11 ANC Branch Deputy Secretary
2009 – 2010	North West University SRC Member (EX Officio)
2008 – 2009	North West University Chairperson of Cultural Union
2006-2007	Member of FAWU Tiger Milling Branch (Randfontein)
2007 – 2010	Member of SASCO NWU (Mafikeng Campus)

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By OBAKENG MAJE  

It may be tough to be the next Floyd Mayweather or Canelo Alvarez. However, 25 young boxers who will be representing the North West province under the auspices of the South African National Amateur Boxing Organisation (SANABO) say they got what it takes.

Young boxers aged between 12 and 18, will be performing at Gqeberha in the Easten Cape during December 2021.

North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, Virginia Tlhapi said she believes that these younger boxers will put out a ‘stellar performance’ and put the North West on the map.

“These boys and girls will be competing in the cadets (12 – 14 years) and juniors (15 and 16 years) from 14 to 18 December 2021. In the last encounter back in 2019, the North West scooped overall second place in cadets and third in juniors.

“They also romped home with the Boxer of the Tournament Award, through Olona Kolo. 

The North West boxers were chosen from a provincial tournament that took place last Saturday in Rustenburg, where all four districts were represented,” Tlhapi said.

According to the department, the event comprised 28 bouts among young boys and girls, vying for a ticket to the coastal city. Tlhapi further said the tournament in Rustenburg and the provincial selections mark important milestones in their quest to bring boxing back to life in the province.

“Rustenburg was the second in a four destination series of tournaments to revive boxing in the province. The first one was in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda. Beyond the national event, we are setting our eyes on the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and Ngaka Modiri Molema Districts.

“We wish our boys and girls well in their quest for glory in the Eastern Cape. Given the size of our province, one could safely say they punch above their weight. We all hope they will keep or even improve on the high standards they set in Limpopo two years ago,” she said.

Tlhapi added that through them, they hope to produce boxers in the calibre of the late Norman ‘’Pangaman’’ Sekgapane.

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