By BAKANG MOKOTOet

North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari urges residents across the province to celebrate responsibly and continue to adhere to the COVID-y and Tprotocols.  

Earlier today, Lehari conducted a festive season  joint law enforcement operation in Moretele before going to Rustenburg N4 road which is one of the longest arterial routes in the country starting in Mozambique going through the length of the country from the east then to Botswana ending in Namibia.

“This makes the road the busiest in the province. These operations will continue until the middle of January 2022. Whilst everyone is out on the roads to visit families and some going on vacation, you are here to ensure a safer festive season for road users.

“That is a sacrifice we appreciate and we are grateful to have loyal officers across our province,” he said.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena shared the same sentiments. Kwena said as the people prepare to bid farewell to the year 2021, police urge all residents and visitors in the province to be in their best behaviour.

“We urge our people to behave in a responsible, loving, caring and respectful manner. After what has been another very difficult and traumatic year for all of us due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to remind one another that the storm is not yet over. 

“Even though the month of December is normally the period for festivities, let us remind one another that this time unlike in the past years, we cannot and dare not behave as if all is well and normal,” Kwena said.

He further said therefore, people should avoid all actions that will put their lives and others in danger. Kwena added that it is up to residents to avoid recreational and entertainment events that are likely to expose them, their friends and families to the risk of COVID-19.

“The police and other law enforcement agencies are ready and those who deliberately break the law will meet the full might of the law. Drunk and driving including excessive speeding, drinking in public, unlawful usage and discharging of fireworks and firearms are some of the transgressions the police will not tolerate,” he said.

Kwena also urged people not to swim in flooded rivers and dams especially after the recent torrential rains. He also encouraged people to continue to wear face masks, wash their hands with water and soap or use sanitisers even in their family gatherings.

“We would like to take this moment to thank Civil society, Community Police Forums (CPFs), Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), Business Against Crime (BAC), Organised Agriculture and all the people of our beautiful province for their support and wonderful working relationship especially during the July 2021 unrest during which we managed to make sure that no properties and lives were lost.

“Let us once again demonstrate our humanity as we pay tribute to our fallen colleagues and our departed loved ones by ensuring that this is a peaceful, enjoyable and memorable festive season,” said Kwena.

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By STAFF REPORTER

A 80-YEAR-OLD man went missing at New Stand Section in Majakaneng village near Brits. North West police spokesperson, Lit Colonel Amanda Funani said Andries Jairos Kgasi was last seen by his brother on 22 December 2021 walking around the yard at his homestead.

“The police in Mooinooi would like to request the community’s assistance in locating Kgasi. It is further alleged that he then left his house and never returned. The family and relatives searched for him in the same section.

“However, Kgasi was nowhere to be seen and the search was conducted around the neighbourhood without any success too. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a black jersey, white T-shirt, black trouser and a pair of black shoes,” Funani said.

She further said Kgasi is light in complexion, tall in height with a slender body and grey hair.

She said anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can contact the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Aaron Khunou of Mooinooi  Detectives on 060 987 9861 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111 .

Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via MySAPS App.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the North West has welcomed new adjusted Level 1 Lockdown rules. This follows a meeting between the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa and the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) recently.

In a statement from the presidency, Ramaphosa said the information gathered through the system used by the Department of Health has reported a 29.7% decrease in the number of new cases detected in the week ending 25 December 2021 (89,781), compared to the number of new cases detected in the previous week (127,753).

“All indicators suggest the country may have passed the peak of the fourth wave at a national level. Cases declined in all provinces except the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, which recorded increases of 14% and 18%, respectively.

“There has been a decline in hospital admissions in all provinces except the Western Cape. While the Omicron variant is highly transmissible, there has been a lower rate of hospitalisation than in previous waves,” he said.

Ramaphosa further said this means that the country has a spare capacity for admission of patients even for routine health services. He added that there is a marginal increase in the number of deaths in all the provinces.

“Based on the trajectory of the pandemic, the levels of vaccination in the country and the available capacity within the health sector, Cabinet has decided to make changes to Adjusted Alert Level 1 with immediate effect.

“The curfew will be lifted, therefore there will be no restrictions on the hours of movement of people. Gatherings are restricted to no more than 1 000 people indoors and no more than 2 000 people outdoors,” said Ramaphosa.

He said where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50 per cent of the capacity of the venue may be used. Ramaphosa said all other restrictions remain in place.

“’Alcohol establishments that have licenses to operate beyond 23h00 will revert back to full license conditions. The NCCC will continue to closely monitor the situation and will make further adjustments as necessary, particularly if pressure on health facilities increases.

“The wearing of masks in public places is still mandatory, and failure to wear a mask when required remains a criminal offense. South Africans are urged to continue observing basic health protocols to prevent the transmission of the virus,” he said.

SANCO provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe said: “We appeal to communities to celebrate the New Year responsibly and peacefully, while guarding against the spread of COVID-19 fuelled by the Omicron variant.

“Complacency and excitement must not overwhelm us to the point of us dropping our guard as this will undermine the gains and the national effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. All of us must be vigilant and conscious of the threat that the new variant poses to our lives and livelihoods.”

Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister of Tourism, Manny de Freitas lifting of the curfew means that the decimated tourism, hospitality, restaurant and entertainment sectors have an opportunity to rebuild themselves.

“Taking into account the various supply chains involved, this translates into hundreds of thousands of jobs that will be saved. This in turn can have only positive spin-offs for our economy.

“This announcement couldn’t have come sooner. New Year’s Eve is one of the most important periods for any of the tourism, restaurant, hospitality and entertainment sectors. In many cases these businesses rely on these high income generating periods to counter other quieter periods in the year,” he said.

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