By BAKANG MOKOTO

Many learners across the country, especially in deep rural areas, continue to suffer during this winter season as they are forced to go to school either without shoes or wear worn-out shoes to protect themselves from the cold breeze.

Also, some female learners suffer double challenges as they mostly miss out on school every month because of menstruation. Now, community members in four villages such as Maganeng, Ntswanahatshe, Moretele and Khaukhwe near Taung, came together and donated over 150 shoes and 100 sanitary towels to underprivileged learners at Moitsemang Primary School in Maganeng, Moncho Primary School in Khaukwe, Motlhamare Primary School and Jerry Mahura High School in Ntswanahatshe.

Philanthropist and social activist, Mothusi Dikwelane who is the coordinator for the project said, they have realised that there was a need for school shoes and sanitary pads at these schools. Dikwelane further said even though menstruation is a natural phenomenon, female learners often do not have enough money to buy sanitary pads.

“As community members, we have realised that there is a need of school shoes and sanitary pads for some learners, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. So, we met and started a campaign to assist them.

“We are grateful because we managed to get something even though it was not enough. Eish, there is a serious challenge at Moncho Primary School. Some learners there are in disarray and you could see that they need more than shoes and sanitary pads,” he said.

Dikwelane pleaded with community members and business people to support their campaign, so that they can assist as many learners as possible. He said some adolescent girls are struggling to buy sanitary pads and resorted to rags, socks, even newspapers and that is not good for their hygiene.

“We know that talking about menstruation might be regarded as a taboo in many cultures, but what young girls are experiencing is a shame and embarrassment. Principals at these four schools welcomed the donations and applauded those who contributed.

“So, we need to work together to ensure that they get resources to manage their menstruation hygienically. This does not just affect their education, but some of them ended up dropping out of school because of this,” said Dikwelane.

He said the campaign was led by Othusitse Thabo Moroka as the chairperson, Fredah Mosepele as Secretary, Keitheng Kodisang as the Deputy Secretary including himself as coordinator through the help of the community at large.

Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) president, Thabang Mokoena said: “We have not engaged the Department of Basic Education (DBE) regarding the provision of sanitary towels to female learners in schools. However, we understand that there is a shortage of sanitary towels in most schools.

“So, we are still going to approach them and ensure that every female learner in school gets them. We also want to call on private companies to come on board and have a positive contribution towards social responsibilities across villages they operate in.”

Mokoena said most parents are working in various private companies, but these companies tend to turn a blind eye in assisting the same communities. He said Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) is crucial for community development.

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By KEDIBONE MOALETSI

North West Premier, Bushy Maape said the province is now in a better position since the invocation of Section 100 1 (a) (b) by the national government in 2018.

Maape, who tabled the Office of the Premier’s budget for 2022/2023 financial year, said this has been shown through performance reports of various departments since last week and was further demonstrated through the performance report of his office.   

“It is my privilege to table before this esteemed House for appropriation, the 2022/23 budget for Office of the Premier. The administration     will be allocated R114.825m, while the institutional development will receive R251.097m.

“The policy and governance will be allocated R106.589m and the total will be to the tune of R472.511m. In February 2022, Cabinet approved the Inter-Ministerial Task Team’s (IMTT) plan for a phased exit. This decision was communicated to the National Council of Provinces by the Convenor, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on 23 March 2022,” he said.

Maape further said no opposition was raised by the NCOP with regards to the decision of cabinet to support the phased exit started on 31 March 2022. He added that it is expected that all departments under section 100(1)(b) will complete their exit activities by the end of June 2022.

“A detailed hand-over report will be submitted to the Minister responsible for each department as well as the coordinator, who is the administrator in the Office of the Premier.

“Amongst the issues to be included in the report, will include the achievements and progress made to address the reasons for the intervention, outstanding matters, issues of concern and recommendations to address lessons learnt, progress against the original implementation plan, as submitted to the NCOP in the 5^th administration,” said Maape.

He said the report will also include a list of directives to be issued to the provincial executive to address outstanding priorities and areas vulnerable to regression, if required.

Maape said as part of the phased exit approach, they continue to carefully manage the transition and de-escalation of certain elements of the intervention, providing for the transfer of management and control of aspects of provincial administration previously assumed by national government departments since 2018.

He said the province is also working with the national government through the Inter-Ministerial Task Team led by Dlamini-Zuma to manage the transition and the eventual lifting of the intervention in a manner that does not erode and undermine the gains made by the province.

“We welcome the lifting of section 100, though we must say we are anxious and worried about it, as we understood and appreciated the need for such intervention on the part of the national government.

“As we build internal capacity to deal with these historical cases, the Office of the Premier is also working with Provincial Treasury to assist the provincial departments to address their own cases,” he said.

Maape said this strategy has been adopted in order to transfer knowledge and skills to officials and to solidify an engine of internal control in and across the province in order to rid the provincial administration of the negative image of poor financial management.

“I wish to report to this house that during the period under review, the Office of the Premier paid 96% of service providers within 30 days as prescribed with the under-performance translating to only R3.812 million from a total spending of R305 millions of allocated operational budget.

“The office spent 83% of its allocated budget and allow me to conclude by providing key highlights and justification for the appropriation we wish this house to make for the Office of the Premier in the 2022/23 Financial Year,” said Maape.

He said ICT Transformation Programme is budgeted at R116.8 million, while the provincial communication services are budgeted at R8 million and the bursary funding is budgeted at R4.4 million.

Maape said the review of the provincial spatial development framework is budgeted at R1 million.

“We will also increase the support of the Foundations such as Moses Kotane, Mama Ruth Mompati, JB Marks and Onkgopotse Tiro from R100 000 to R200 000 this financial year.

“Women and Rights of Children activities/intervention is budgeted at R1.1 million, disability and older persons’ activities/intervention is budgeted at R1.2 million, while mega and infrastructure programmes are budgeted at R1 million,” he said.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

The residents said they have lost hope after the anticipated Old Age Home construction project worth R73.6 million in Pudimoe Township, near Taung is slowly ‘turning’ into a white elephant.

The state-run facility, which was constructed back in 2013, consists of 100 bed capacity, frail care unit, independent living unit, recreational hall, a kitchen, dining area, staff accommodation, laundry, gym and a TV room was expected to provide statutory services to the elderlies around the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region and the entire province. ty.

An HIV and AIDS Awareness activist, Motivational Speaker and Life skills & Health Coach, Neo Letlhogela said: “Most elderly people are vulnerable because they either stay alone or with their grandchildren. This exposes them to various crimes and danger as people know that they stay alone.

“We urge the North West Social Development department to ensure that the completion of the centre is imminent as it was also expected to create job opportunities, especially for the youth. Our senior citizens are the pillars of our communities, so it is important to acknowledge them and take care of them by ensuring that they remain safe and well looked after during their twilight years.”

The Re Aga Taung Civic Organisation chairperson, Modisaotsile Lebitse shared the same sentiments. Lebitse said crime is rife in that part of the world and the department needs to take that into consideration.

“It is entirely up to us to be devoted to helping our older people. Sometimes our elderly people continue to be abused by their grandchildren either emotionally, financially and physically for their own social grants. 

“We call on the department to complete the structure because some of elderly people stay alone, not because they want to. Sometimes their children are working far away from home and they are left vulnerable. So, the centre will assist in ensuring that they get decent care,” he said.

Meanwhile, the North West Social Development spokesperson, Petrus Siko said: “I would like to put it on record that the Taung Old Age home has not turned into a white elephant. The official opening of this centre has been delayed due to some structural defects.

“Secondly, the heavy storms damaged the roof of the centre twice in November 2021. So, the department has since postponed the opening of the centre in order to conduct a comprehensive structural assessment in line with Occupational Health and Safety Act.”

Siko further said the second state-run old age home after Sonop, which is situated in Madibeng was established in Taung following reported incidents of vulnerability of older persons in the district. He added that the facility was established in line with the White Paper on social welfare services, which advocates for transformation and equitable distribution of resources among elderly people.

“The department is working around the clock to open the old age home in the first quarter of 2022 financial year, albeit the procurement challenges that were brought by Constitutional Court ruling on Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act and subsequent National Treasury advisory on procurement of goods not exceeding R30 000,” concluded Siko.

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By SAFA  

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is scheduled to announce the final squad to take on Morocco in the capital Rabat on 9 June 2022. The announcement will take place at 12pm on Thursday at SABC Radio Park and will be broadcast live on SABC 1.

The Bafana Bafana versus Morocco match will take place at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the North African country’s coastal city of Rabat.

South Africa is in Group K, which includes Liberia, while the fourth team, Zimbabwe, is suspended from international tournaments and won’t participate in the qualifiers. Last week, Broos announced his provisional squad of 37 players and will name his final list on Thursday before the team goes into camp.

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