By THEBEETSILE KEAMEDITSE

North West Premier, Bushy Kaobitsa Maape has thanked and applauded the Matric Class 2021 for assisting the province to improve the matric results after achieving 78,2% which represents an increase of 2% from the 76,2% in 2020.

Maape was addressing the North West Provincial Matric Results Announcement ceremony held at MM Sebitloane Special School in Taung.

The ceremony was also attended by top achieving learners and schools in the province, including the officials from the North West Department of Education.  

In 2018, the province improved to 81.1% and occupied position 4, while obtained a pass rate of 86.8% in 2019 and occupied the same position. 

“In 2020, the province dropped to 76.2% and relegated to position 5 on the national ranking. However, in 2021, the province is back to position 4 with 78,2%.

“The performance is a reflection of the resilience of learners who had to adapt to new ways of learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic which affected their schooling program,” he said.

Maape further said the Class of 2021 faced the stark realities of living side-by-side with the Coronavirus pandemic. He added that learners had to adapt and cope with the dictates of a pandemic that dramatically changed their conventional ways of doing things at home and at school. 

“Despite all these, they rose above the challenges they faced and emerged victorious. We are proud of the character displayed by the Class of 2021,” said Maape.

North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela also applauded the learners for helping the province to improve the results after dropping their position in 2020. 

Matsemela announced the best performing candidate for the North West Class of 2021, Eloise Elizabeth Shelley from Hartbeespoort High School. 

Shelley obtained seven distinctions and scored 1709 marks in all subjects excluding Life Orientation and obtained beyond 90% in all her subjects.

“When we said we will bounce back after taking a knock in the 2020 matric result, many thought it was just rhetoric. Our commitment to rise again was inspired by the wisdom drawn from the words of our former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and Maya Angelou’s poem ‘Still I Rise’. 

“We have reclaimed our position and we are counted amongst the stars. We are extremely proud of the Class of 2021”  she said.

Top Performing Schools based on the highest number of subject distinctions (Excluding Life Orientation), in ascending order. 

In Position 3 is Potchefstroom Girls High with 186 subject distinctions, Position 2 – Wesvalia High School with 207 subject distinctions and Position 1 goes to Gimnasium High School with 214 subject distinctions.

Bojanala District is the top performing district with 81,6%, followed by Dr Kenneth Kaunda with 79,3%, Ngaka Modiri Molema 75,2 and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati with 72,9%.

Maape took the opportunity to announce that the province will be increasing the number of bursaries for the 2022 academic year.

“The Provincial Bursary Scheme is now known as Victor Thebe Sifora who is a struggle icon in the province, who education was very close to his heart. 

“We will also increase the roll-out of learnerships and internships for those who will not succeed in securing the bursary. This will give them an opportunity to acquire the needed skills, lessen the high unemployment rate in the province and contribute to the economy” said Maape.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The family of Mathe from Maganeng village near Taung is looking for Tebogo Mathe who is missing. It is alleged that Mathe left his homestead on 2 January 2022 and never came back.

According to Mathe’s nephew, Rebaone Phoko, the missing man who is mentally-ill, was wearing a blue t-shirt, black trousers and Nike sneakers.

“Anyone who could know his whereabouts, please call me on 0710680805/ 0725506352. We will highly-appreciate your assistance,” he said.

Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh confirmed that a missing person case was opened at Pudimoe Police Station.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

A 35-YEAR-OLD man who was arrested for allegedly smashing the windows of the Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on 9 January 2022 changed his mind. Sibongile Dube was charged with malicious damage to property and told the court that he will represent himself with intentions of pleading guilty.

However, in a turn of events, Dube who appeared in court recently, is now seeking the assistance of Legal Aid and told the court that he will no longer plead guilty to the charges.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in the North West, Henry Mamothame said: “The Vryburg Magistrate’s Court postponed Dube’s case to 25 January 2022 for Legal Aid representation.

“Dube told the court that he will no longer plead guilty to his alleged offense and he further requested a Legal Aid attorney. In his last appearance in court on 17 January 2022, he opted to represent himself then told the court that he intends to plead guilty for his offense.”

Mamothame said Dube alleged that his actions were driven by anger following a three months jail sentence he served for failing to appear in court on a separate offense in June 2020. He further said Dube also attributed his anger to a two year sentence he received in 2009 on an assault case.

“He alleged that he had a valid reason for not attending court, but was nonetheless sentenced. A security officer on duty on 9 January 2022 heard windows being smashed and upon investigation, saw the suspect running away from the scene.

“The security officer gave chase and caught Dube. The police were called and he was arrested. Dube was officially charged and will remain in custody until his next court appearance,” said Mamothame.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha lauded nurses and doctors at Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital in Vryburg for successfully delivering quadruplets recently. Sambatha said during the wee hours of January 15, 2022, three boys and one girl were born.

“The mother of the quadruplets is from the Sewedi family in Monoto-Mosweu near Vryburg. Quadruplets are a set of four offspring born at one birth. An individual that is part of such a set is called a quadruplet and sometimes referred to as a quad.

“I want to congratulate both nurses and doctors who delivered the babies as well as the mother. The family is blessed with bundles of joy. Well done to our doctors and nurses for a successful operation that delivered the babies,” he said.

Sambatha further said most importantly, he wanted to congratulate the mother who gave birth to these quadruplets.

“We know that Ms Lettie Sewedi had been booked to attend the Antenatal care at Coleridge clinic and was later referred to JMM Hospital where a successful operation was undertaken by our well-experienced medical team.

“According to the experts, quadruplets are formed when a single fertilized egg splits into four different embryos (these are known as monozygotic quadruplets) and they are genetically identical quadruplets. Four eggs are then released and are each fertilized by a different sperm,” said Samabatha.

He added that all the quads came out weighing reasonably as anticipated by the team. Sambatha said of the four new-borns, three are boys (Quad 1, 2 and 4) and one is a girl

(Quad 3).

“Currently all the boys are being fed whilst the girl is receiving close monitoring on ventilation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This is after the doctors discovered that she has apnoeic attacks and was given blood transfusion.

The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Hospital, Portia Tlou applauded the nurses and doctors too. Tlou emphasised the long standing assignment of the department of impeccably delivering health services to all, at all times.

“Ours is only to serve our patients with distinctive love,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sewedi (39) who is a mother of nine children was ecstatic to have received the generous and professional service from JMMH. She further indicated that she cannot wait to go home and enjoy life with her new bundles of joy.

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