By BAKANG MOKOTO  

Lack of access to menstrual products continues to affect female learners from going to school especially in rural areas.  Now, the Buxton Youth Foundation (BYF) in Taung has taken a stand to donate sanitary pads to the underprivileged.

Buxton Youth Foundation co-ordinator, Lesedi Leeuw (32) said they visited three schools around the area to donate sanitary pads, toiletries and soccer kits.

“As the youth of Buxton, we saw it befitting to donate sanitary pads and toiletries to the less fortunate. This initiative was established by one of our own, the late Siphiwe Letselela and unfortunately he passed away back in 2020.

“He had already created a WhatsApp group which mostly consists of 25 young people. So, we decided to continue with his legacy and bring this to light.  We donated 28 bar soaps, 22 toothpaste, 26 roll-ons, 116 sanitary pads and a chess board at Gabobidiwe High School,” he said.

Leeuw further said they also donated 40 sanitary pads, 23 soaps, 20 roll-ons, 19 toothpastes and a chessboard at Pelotshweu Middle School, while Lekwene Primary School received 30 sanitary pads, 19 bar soaps, 20 toothpastes, 15 roll-ons, and 10 pairs of shoes,” he said. 

According to Leeuw, in total, 186 sanitary pads, 70 bars of soaps, 61 packs of toothpaste, 61 roll-ons and two chessboards were donated.  

He added that the foundation also donated a soccer kit and two balls to local soccer teams. Leeuw said they also have an annual soccer tournament on 26 December as awareness to address socio-economic challenges affecting the youth in their area.

“I would like to urge businesspersons to come on board and assist us with donations such as water, tents and sound for this soccer tournament. I also want to call on other young people in various areas around Taung to form the same initiative.

“We need to spread the spirit of Ubuntu and create a healthy society. Our youth are the leaders of tomorrow, so they need to be nurtured properly.  One of our objectives is to make sanitary pads accessible to all girls and women and deal away with the long-standing source of inequality and stigma,” said Leeuw.

He said some girls do not have access to sanitary pads and resort to using materials like rags, newspapers, or bark to manage their periods.

According to www.globalcitizen.org, In 2014, former South African President, Jacob Zuma established the position of minister of women in the presidency, a post meant to work toward gender equality in all areas of society.

Meanwhile, a Johannesburg-based community activist, Nokuzola Ndwandwe told the website that she is trying to make this goal a reality by pressuring the government to follow through on its commitments, mobilizing grassroots campaigns to empower women, and enlisting the help of other organizations dedicated to gender equality.

“My grassroots organization, Team Free Sanitary Pad, is campaigning to make sanitary pads available to all women in all contexts throughout South Africa. One of our major objectives is to make sure sanitary pads are as accessible as condoms.

“Pads are very expensive due to socio-economic imbalances like the pay gap. Even if women are working, they often can’t afford pads on a month-to-month basis, which affects their dignity, mental health, and hygiene.”

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Many schools in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region continue to be in dire situations. This was discovered during a visit at Morokweng Primary School and Setswakgosing Secondary School by the North West MEC for the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari during his Back to School campaign on Wednesday.

Morokweng Primary School principal, Errol Dithakgwe said the school has ablution facilities, but even though they are functional, they are far from being aseptic. Dithakgwe further said the 17 year-old main building of the school is dilapidated.  

“We have managed to refurbish some blocks, but the main building remains dilapidated. Against the protestation of the parents, we also chose to close this block as it was deemed unsafe. The parents were anxious that the closure could compromise teaching and learning even though cracks are visible on the walls.

“We now use the building only as a storeroom. The school yard is big and has a garden, which produces some vegetables used as part of the school feeding programme. In one corner is a high tower signal distributor mast that supplies wireless networks to the area,” he said.

Dithakgwe said the owners of the tower pay the school royalties for being in the school yard.

“This has helped us to refurbish a principal office and pay stipend to volunteers who clean the school, but there is more that needs to be done,” he said.

Another principal from Setswakgosing Secondary School, Olaotse Moreke shared the same sentiments. Moreke said even though his school has flushable toilets and buildings are more modern, they too have challenges.

“We have over one 1000 learners and a quarter of them are doing matric. We use a platoon system to ensure all learners come to school daily. Some learners start at 12:00pm and others in the morning.

“Even though the school has cameras, eight months ago, criminals broke in and stole laptops. Criminals forcefully opened all three strong rooms and stole a server as well,” he said.

However, Moreke added that even though the footage was stolen, criminals allegedly forgot a pair of glasses, which might assist police with investigations. He said the school has fewer tablets now and cannot cover all the learners.

“To circumvent this challenge, we have given 217 learners SIM cards to use on their smartphones or personal tablets to access electronic books,” said Moreke.

Meanwhile, Lehari said: “We want to assure you that the solutions to your challenges will be expedited. The purpose of these oversight visits is to monitor and oversee challenges that you are facing, so that we can speed-up solutions.

“Despite all these challenges, I see that teaching and learning is underway on the first day. It is laudable and we admire how both schools strictly adhere to COVID-19 protocols. There are boards outside near the gate ordering everyone who enters to wear a mask.”  

He further said all learners and their educators had their masks on and there was a compliance officer with a register in hand taking records details, scanning and sanitising everyone who enters the school.

The five inland provinces include the Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West received learners from Grade R to Grade 12 on Wednesday, while schools in the other four coastal provinces such as Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and Western Cape will open only next week.

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By STAFF REPORTER

A family of slain North West University ‘s Digital Marketer at Mafikeng campus and a socialite, Sam Junior Mbatha (24) said they will finally find closure. This comes after the DNA results released on Monday positively linked to Mbatha’s identity.

Mbatha’s body that was burnt beyond recognition was found in a burnt-out Hyundai i20 vehicle at a soccer field in Ikageng Section, Klipgat at around 7am on 17 June 2021.  

North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said: “The DNA results came as part of the police investigation, wherein an unidentified male body was found inside a burnt vehicle. Initial investigations led the police to a house in Phutha Section, Klipgat on 21 June 2021.

“The house was searched and in one of the bedrooms, the team found blood stains on the floor, under and on top of a bed as well as on the carpet. Furthermore, an axe suspected to have been used during the commission of this crime, was found on top of the roof of the house.” 

Myburgh said after this gruesome discovery, investigations led to the tracing and arrest of four suspects, Arthur Khoza (19), Thato Masetla (22), Junior Modise (21) and Mahlatsi Nkuna (21). She said all four accused will appear at the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court on 18 January 2022 facing a murder charge.  

Meanwhile, Mbatha family spokesperson, Kgomotso Sepeng said they welcomed the unwavering support they received throughout the ordeal. Sepeng also applauded the police for the swift arrest of the suspects.

“We would like to appreciate every person who showed us support and circulated posts in regards to Sam, friends, colleagues, organisations including the media houses that took interest in sharing our story.

“We also want to laud the police and forensic experts who helped us during our time of pain. We have finally received the DNA results and they are positively matching Sam’s identity,” she said.

Sepeng added that they communicate details of the memorial services and funeral arrangements in due course.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The statistics shows that there is a steep increase in car hijackings across South Africa despite the impact of lockdown. According to the police reports, the aggravated robberies such as car hijackings increased by 92.2% compared to Quarter 1 in 2019.

Now, the North West police urge motorists to be cautious at all times. This comes after a few car hijackings were reported in the province recently. Meanwhile, the community members in Molelema village near Taung discovered a grey Polo Vivo sedan abandoned in their area on 30 December 2021.

North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said: “Apparently, the vehicle was abandoned for two days and community members became suspicious. They then informed the police on 2 January 2022 and the police were summoned to the scene.

“The police discovered that the vehicle was reported stolen in Klerksdorp in December 2019. The owner of the vehicle, who resides in Pampierstad in the Northern Cape, came and positively identified his vehicle.”  

Myburgh said currently, the vehicle is still under investigations and it will be handed back over to the rightful owner afterwards.  

Meanwhile, one of the social activists in Molelema, Mothibi Makoro, lambasted police at Taung Police Station for ‘dragging’ their feet while attending to a crime scene. He also urged community members to continue to be vigilant and report any transgression taking place in their area.

“I think as community members, we need to be more vigilant and report any criminal activity taking place in our area. This vehicle was abandoned here for three days and funny enough, some community members tried to strip it off.

“However, I want to warn them that if the police can link their fingerprints to the stolen car, they could be easily arrested. So, I urge those community members to refrain from committing a crime,” he said.

Makoro said he wanted to understand when the police at Taung Police Station will know that they have actually taken an oath to serve and protect.

“I am saying this because apparently some police officers arrived at the crime scene on the second day, but left without doing anything. So, I want to give credit to those police officers who attended to the crime scene when they were called even though they came after four hours.

“We urge our police to be diligent enough and respond to crimes with efficiency. My message to other motorists is simple. Please, be cautious at all times and to our community members, let’s continue to use social media platforms for information-sharing. These platforms have proven themselves as good tools for communication,” said Makoro.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 41-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested for rape and attempted murder. According to the North West police spokesperson, Lit Colonel Amanda Funani, a man who is currently separated from his wife, allegedly called her and organised an ‘emergency’ meeting between them.

Funani said as per agreement, the estranged husband fetched the wife from her parental home on 29 December 2021 and drove towards a local mall.

“However, the husband changed directions and headed to their house at Lerome village near Mogwase outside Rustenburg. Subsequent to an argument that ensued after the pair’s arrival in Lerome village, the husband allegedly assaulted and strangled the wife with a rope.

“He then poured her with petrol and eventually raped her. Consequent to the rape, the suspect allegedly forced the victim into his car and drove away with her. However, the victim managed to unlock the vehicle and jumped out,” she said.

Funani said the wife was assisted by a ‘Good Samaritan’ who was walking along the road. She said the wife was taken to the police station where charges of attempted murder and rape were laid against the suspect.

Funani said the suspect was arrested on 30 December 2021 and is expected to appear at the Mogwase Magistrate’s Court for attempted murder and rape on 3 January 2022.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena condemned the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) incident and congratulated the Mogwase Detectives for arresting the suspect.

Kwena said GBV will not be tolerated and the alleged perpetrators will be dealt with effectively.

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