By OBAKENG MAJE

Some of the patients at Taung District Hospital are aggrieved after nurses and doctors allegedly forced them to wear face masks. One of the patients, who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said, he visited the hospital a week ago and was forced to wear a face mask before he could be assisted.

“I was surprised when one of the nurses instructed me to wear a face mask. At that time, I had no mask with me and thought she was joking. I just laughed and brushed it off. However, things got serious when it was my turn to be assisted.

“She refused to assist me and said she do not want to be infected with COVID-19. I tried to explain to her that, actually the government has scrapped the wearing of masks and it is not mandatory. However, she did not buy any of it and asked me whether I trust the minister,” he said.

Other patients at the hospital shared the same sentiments. They alleged that the hospital management also instructed its employees to wear face masks. In June 2022, the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla repealed several COVID-19 regulations relating to the wearing of face masks, gatherings, and persons entering the country.

The regulations were promulgated by the Minister on 4 May 2022 in the Regulations Relating to the Surveillance and the Control of Notifiable Medical Conditions. In April 2022, the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa said during his address that regulations would be eased gradually.

Phaahla said: “The gazetting of the regulations means that the wearing of face masks in any public-use indoor space or when on public transport to contain the spread of COVID-19 fell away, as was required.

“On gatherings, people congregating in public spaces will no longer be limited to certain numbers. The regulations stipulated that a maximum of 50% of the venue capacity may be occupied, provided that every attendee must be vaccinated against COVID-19 and produce a valid vaccination certificate.”

He further said alternatively, individuals could produce a valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 test obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of the gathering. Phaahla added that, where the sub-regulation (3) was not complied with, then attendance at the indoor gathering had to be limited to 1000 people or 50% of the capacity, whichever is smaller.

“Regarding limitations on people entering the country, the regulations required that any person entering the country be vaccinated against COVID-19 and produce a valid vaccination certificate.

“Alternatively, this group of people needed to produce a valid certificate of a negative PCR COVID-19 test not older than 72 hours before the date of departure,” he said.

Meanwhile, the North West Health Department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said he was still in a meeting and would respond to our media inquiry accordingly. Lekgethwane said they have received several inquiries regarding this matter.  

“I still have to gather facts first and I will revert back to you accordingly. This is a national issue and I still need to determine where the confusion might have been,” he said.

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Ka KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Bontsi jwa baithuti ba tsweletse go ka itemogela tlhokego ya ditlhako tsa sekolo segolo thata jang ba ba tswang kwa malapeng a sa itsholelang. Mme seno, se dira gore bontsi jwa bone ba tlogele sekolo, fa bangwe ba ralala serame ka la ga Moshe.

Fela seno, se ne sa rotlwetsa basha ba kwa motseng wa Magogong gaufi le Taung go ka itira ngatana e le nngwe le go tla ka togo-maano ya go ka thusa. Morulaganyi wa setlhopha seno sa basha, Tebogo Morweng are fifing go tshwaranwa ka dikobo mme ke ka moo ba bone go le botlhokwa go ka tlhama porojeke eno.

“Thito-kgang ya porojeke eno, ke go ka netefatsa gore re neelana ka ditlhako tsa sekolo go barutwana ba ba dikobo magetleng. Re tlhamile setlhopa sa basha mo motseng wa rona wa  Magogong morago ga go lemoga gore go na le baithuti ba ba tlhokang.  

“Jaanong re neelane ka ditlhako di feta 100 go baithuti ba dikolo ka go farologana. Dikolo-potlana di tshwana le Sedibathuto, Olebile, Kopanang gammogo le Galeshewe di ungwetswe mo porejekeng eno. Re le basha ba ka nna thataro ka palo, re ile ra netefatsa fa seno se diragala,” Morweng wa tlhalosa.

Morweng o kaile fa seno e se kitla e nna selo se se fetang, gonne ba tlhaloganya gore botlhoki bo iphile maatla gape ngwana ele sejo a tlhakanenlwa. O kaile gape fa ba dumalane ka bongwe jwa pelo fela gore ba tlile go neelana ka ditlhako go baithuti ba ba farologaneng ngwaga le ngwaga.

“Tota maitlhomo le maikaelelo a porojeke e, ke go bona seno se diragala go ralala Taung ka bophara. O ka lemoga gore bontsi jwa malapa mo Taung a tshelela mo khumanegong, mme ba ikaegile thata ka madi a kotlo.

“Go na le tlhokego e kgolo mo go thuseng baithuti, mme ga jaana re leka ka thata go ka tswala mokhino ono. Ke rata go rotlwetsa basha ba le bantsi go ka tsamaya mo dikgatong tsa mogaka, eleng mo presidente wa maloba o hulereng, Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Re a itse gore rre Mandela e ne ele motho o o neng a rata go ka abela batho, mme segolo thata jang bana,” Morweng wa tlhalosa.

O ikuetse gape go basha gore ba dirise ditshono tse ba di bonang mo botshelo jwa bone sentle, mme ba tlise tharabololo mo mathateng a fara-fereng seshaba ka kakaretso. Morweng are basha ba lebagane le namane e tona ya tiro go ka lwantsha botlhoka-tiro, diritibatsi ga mmogo le go ima ka bonako ga bana ba basetsanyana.

“Ke rata go rotlwetsa basha gore ba eme ka dinao le go bontsha kemo-nokeng, mme ba tlogele go tlhola ba goga-gogana. Jaaka re le basha ba Taung, a re tlise diphetogo mo matshelong a rona. Bagaka ba ba fetileng jaaka Tsietsi Mashinini, Onkgopotse Tiro ga mmogo le Hector Peterson ba lwetse kgololosego, mme go ne go se bonolo.

“Jaanong, jaaka re keteka kgwedi ya mogaka, a re tlise ditlhabologo tse di maleba go matshelo a basha ba ba farologaneng,” Morweng wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, bagokgo mo dikolong tse di ungwetsweng ba amogetse ka boitumelo kabelo ya ditlhako, mme ba rotlweditse basha ba bangwe go ka tsenya letsogo.

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Ka REGINALD KANYANE

Kgetsi ya polao kgatlhanong le lekgarebe la kwa motseng wa Dryharts gaufi le Taung, e buseditswe morago ke kgotlha-tshekelo ya Taung. Seno se tla morago ga gore Rebaone Badise (28) a tshwarwe le go latofadiwa ka polao ya lesea la gagwe la ngwaga.

Tiragalo e, e diragetse ka kgwedi ya Mopitlwe 2022.

Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo porofenseng ya Bokone Bophirima, Col Adele Myburgh, setopo sa mosetsanyana se se neng sena le dintho tsa go tlhabiwa mo thamung, sene sa bonwa kwa nageng kwa motseng wa Matlapaneng.

Myburgh o kaile fa Badise yo eleng mmagwe moswi, o ne a bonwa ke rremogolo wa gagwe a tswa ko ntlung a tshotse lesea, mme ene ya re mo go boweng ga gagwe, ene ya nna: “o ne o mpeile kae lesea.”

Myburgh are seno sene sa makatsa bagolo, mme ba ne ba botsa Badise gore o tlogetse kae lesea.

“Go begwa fa Badise a ne shadikanya matlho, mme a mela muta mo ganong ka ntlheng ya go tlhoka dikarabo. Go ya ka tsedimosetso, sepodisi se ne sa letsetswa, sepodisi sene sa bolotsa letsholo-patlo ya lesea. Go begwa fa setopo sa gagwe sene sa bonwa kwa nageng sena le dintho tsa go ka tlhabiwa.

“Lesea leno, lene la kaiwa fa le tlhokofetse ke ba ditirelo tsa pholo ya ka bonako kwa lefelong la tiragalo. Seno, sene sab aka gore mmagwe ngwana a lelelwe ke ditshipi. Mokomishinara wa sepodisi mono Bokone Bophirima, Lit General, Sello Kwena o ile a akgola batsadi ba molatofadiwa ka go ka itsise sepodisi ka tiragalo eno,” Myburgh wa tlhalosa.

Myburgh gape o kaile fa Kwena, a tsweletse go ikuela go baagi go ka nna le tirisano mmogo ga mmogo le sepodisi, mme ba neelane ka tshedimosetso ya bogodu bongwe le bongwe jo bo diragalang.  

Kgabagare, kgetsi e buseditswe morago go fitlha fa kgwedi ya Phatwe e tlhola matsatsi a le 4 fa dipatlisisdo di tswelela.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

It is all systems go for the Taung Community TV project. This comes after the TCTV delegation met with the Presidential District Development Model (DDM) team in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region at Taung Skull World Heritage Site in Buxton recently.

The CEO of Taung Community TV, Kagiso Kai said they had a fruitful consultative engagement and the DDM team pledged its support to the TCTV initiative.

“I am happy because we have presented our case and North West Department of Public Works and Roads has committed to assist us with a building, that we would use as our operational office.

“So, for me, this is progress that we are making. The good thing is that in one of our presentations, we formed part of the DDM meeting. Our submission will form part of the case study that will be submitted to the cabinet,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries spokesperson, Christopher Mashilo said it was productive to meet with TCTV delegation.

“What is important is that the TCTV is a new initiative for the community of Taung. So, we are excited as the DDM team because it will bring back the culture of the area and revive it. It will also educate the young generation about the history of Taung and also promote tourism in the area.

“We want to see it growing and we will ensure that it receives the expression it deserves. We are going to support this project and see it eventually being listed as one of the channels on DSTV,” he said.

Mashilo said even though they would not commit to anything, they will lobby support and resources for TCTV. He said what he likes about the TCTV initiative is that, it is diverse.

“We also received a presentation regarding the developments at the Taung Skull Heritage Site since our last visit. According to me, the presentation was fair and honest. As the DDM, we have captured the Taung Skull as one of the catalysed projects.

“Taung Skull Heritage Site is one of the tourist attraction areas in the district. What is good is that it is also listed as one of the World Heritage sites in our country. So, our aim as the DDM team is to ensure that we revive it and bring back tourism attraction towards it,” he said.

Mashilo said they are engaging with relevant stakeholders on how best they can make sure that the Taung Skull comes back to its place of origins.

“What we want to achieve now is to have a Sector Focus Stakeholder Engagement, where we will be addressing governance and service delivery-related issues. This will assist us to ensure that we find a solution.

“Afterwards, we will be engaging in a DDM Investment Summit, which aims to bring investors to invest in the district and create job opportunities, especially for young people. Secondly, in the same district, we have identified Dipudi village in Kagisano-Molopo to be a model for a smart village,” he said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Listeners of the newly-launched community radio station, Bodumedi FM said they are grateful to finally have a fully-fletched radio station in their area. The Schweizer Reneke-based radio station was established back in 2015 and operating as a makeshift until it received funding from the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) recently.

The station received state-of-the-art studio equipment including computers from MDDA. One of the listeners, Mosimanemang Sirwe from Amalia said: “We are grateful to finally have a proper radio station in our area. We hope the station management will continue to serve us diligently without fear or favour.

“As the community of Schweizer Reneke, we will continue to give the management our unwavering support. We also want to see the station growing abundantly. So, we want to send our appreciation to the MDDA and the Office of the Presidency for their support.”

Sirwe also encouraged local businesses to support the station through advertising.

The Member of Parliament (MP) and Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Thembi Sewiya, who was the keynote speaker, urged community members to embrace the radio station as it will be used as a tool to disseminate information.  

“This radio station will empower the community of Schweizer Reneke and its surroundings. The Bodumedi FM’s presence will ensure that community members are able to make informed decisions regarding issues such as health, dealing with family matters and etc.

“Part of the MDDA is to create an enabling environment for media development and diversity, which reflects the needs and aspirations of all South Africans. The agency is glad to be able to lend a hand in growing what the station started with a make-shift studio in 2017,” Sewiya said.

She also urged community members not to burn the radio station during service delivery protests.

Meanwhile, the executive mayor of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Motseokae Sense Maje shared the same sentiments. Maje said one of the critical components of under-development is information poverty.

“I am raising this deputy minister because we are gathered here today in an effort to address and unlock this challenge facing our people. We are gathered here today to create access to information and knowledge in the process of developing our people.

“Our people can only become better through sharing of information and being integrated into the entire global family. To that effect, we as the municipality, want to appreciate the effort of MDDA working together with the Office of the Presidency,” he said.

Maje said the entire efforts made, realised that the rural community members form part of the entire country and ultimately, the global community. He said the municipality pledges to assist Bodumedi FM with fully-fletched branding materials. 

“The municipality will continue to show enormous support to community media as it plays a crucial role within communities,” said Maje.

In his address to the ceremony, a board member of Bodumedi FM, Ivan Otsheleng thanked the government for the support and re-committed that the radio station will work with all relevant stakeholders in advancing the interest and the development of society.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs chairperson, Aaron Mocwana has lambasted the North West Housing Corporation (NWHC) for its lacklustre performance in complying with the committee resolutions since 2019.

The committee embarked on special oversight visits to engage all municipalities, where the province has properties. Mocwana said the committee is conducting special oversight visits on the NWHC’s cross-border properties (residential/business/vacant land) in Ga-Rankuwa and Mabopane in Gauteng.

“As part of the special oversight visits in Gauteng, the committee held a meeting with the board members and management of the entity as well as conducted visits to the properties in Mabopane and Ga-Rankuwa, where members of the committee interacted with residents who occupied properties of the entity.

“We needed a comprehensive report and plans with timeframes on what the housing corporation plans to do with those properties and vacant land. If the entity is experiencing challenges with certain government entities such as the City of Tshwane, the intergovernmental relations processes should take place such as involving the Department of Human Settlements and Office of the Premier, which can engage with their counterparts in Gauteng and other provinces to resolve the long outstanding issues,” Mocwana said.

He further said he is worried that the human settlements department is not involved in the processes as it has failed to appear before the committee on the issues of the housing corporation.

“The department is not playing its role as a shareholder within the entity. The Office of the Premier appropriated around R5million to revive the entities but there are no concrete plans on how the processes will unfold,” said Mocwana.

Meanwhile, the NWHC CEO, Sello Mogodiri said: “The entity has properties in the asset register classified as 99-lease properties (old two and four-roomed houses built before 1994 by the old South African government.

“The total number of those properties is 4886 and we also have new stock of about 4004 properties built by the former Bophuthatswana government using the loan from Sebowana Holdings (now Public Investment Corporation).”

Mogodiri added that the provincial entity has properties with lease agreements (rentals) signed by the occupants at a total of 462 and vacant land that has been purchased, where clients only paid a 10% deposit and still owe a total of 490.

He said in Gauteng, the entity has experienced several challenges which include unreliable asset register as stipulated on the audit outcomes, illegal occupation of the properties and vacant land, lack of cooperation between the entity and the City of Tshwane on some of the properties, and illegal and fraudulent selling of the properties by residents and crime syndicates.

“The City of Tshwane is refusing to sign a memorandum of agreement with us and continues to sell some of our properties and vacant land. In Mabopane for example, the City of Tshwane built a wastewater treatment plant on our vacant land with a market value of R36.7million.

Mocwana said they have resolved that the entity concludes the matter of ongoing disputes on property ownership; maintaining an updated and accurate asset register, and submitting a detailed report on the number of municipalities that are reluctant to transfer old stock properties including the proof of letters that written to those municipalities.

NB: The article will be updated after receiving the City of Tshwane’s comment.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The murder case against nine accused, Oleogeng Donald Bohelo (29), Tumisang Duncan Lobelo (23), Bakang Makolonkwane (42), Mosepele Gideon Mompati (64), Amos Mbolelo Sanoke (27), Grace Molemoeng Segacwe (41), Frans Seabelo Thae (54), Gobonamang Thae (39) and Tekoetsile Francis Thae (58) was postponed by the Taung Magistrate’s Court until 27 July 2022 for further investigations.

The accused were arrested on 29 June 2022 for allegedly killing Dikakanyo Sanoke (19) at Loselong village near Pudimoe.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said: “It is alleged that the mob fetched Sanoke from his home on 28 June 2022 after accusing him of house-breaking.

“The accused allegedly forcefully took him to the nearby bushes and beat him to death. They were subsequently traced, arrested, and appeared before the Taung Magistrate’s Court and charged with murder.”

He said the police reports indicated that further arrests are imminent and the accused will remain in police custody until their next court appearance.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A triple murder case against Kitso Ben Jood (55) and the other eleven accused was postponed by the Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court until 28 July 2022 for further investigations. Jood and his accused are facing charges of kidnapping, arson, and murder of three men in Morokweng village near Ganyesa.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said: “The police report reveals that eleven of the suspects were arrested in the early hours of Friday morning on 27 May 2022 during a crime intelligence-driven operation by a multi-disciplinary team, comprising of Tactical Response Team (TRT), Public Order Police (POP) and Detectives.

“The report further reveals that on 24 May 2022, some members of the community went to a rented house at Ga-Mokgopha Section, where Bonakele Sabasaba (32), Khayalethu Sabasaba (22), and Zanaflex Sabasaba (26), who are all South Africans from Carletonville in Gauteng Province lived.”

Mamothame said the group allegedly pelted the house with stones to force out the trio. He further said in the process of escaping the attack, the victims allegedly stabbed and injured some of the attackers.

“The group then chased and caught the men, who were accused of dealing with drugs. The

men were then taken back to the house, which was eventually set alight. Sadly, the victims burnt and died in the house.

“The police managed to confiscate a vehicle that was allegedly used during the commission of the crimes. The investigations into the matter continue and the state also intends to have all twelve appearing before the court on 28 July 2022,” he said.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A murder case against Thabang Moswane (24) has been postponed by the Koster Magistrate’s Court to 1 August 2022. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said the delay was caused by the autopsy report and police photo albums to complete investigations.

Mamothame said the Boons police were summoned to a horrific murder scene in Mathopestad on the 9 May 2022 afternoon. He said initial information indicated that there was a fight between Kedisaletse Elizabeth Moswane (53), and her son, Thabang Moswane.

“On arrival, the police found Kedisaletse’s body inside a shack with numerous stab wounds. The police were informed that Thabang, was allegedly seen drinking his mother’s blood after stabbing her.

“He was immediately arrested and appeared before the Koster Magistrate’s Court. Thabang has abandoned his bail and he will remain in police custody until the next court appearance. He is charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed his mother to death,” he said.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested for the alleged murder of his nephew, Neo Refemetswe Tlhame (2) in Extension 3, Blydeville outside Lichtenburg. This comes after the lifeless body of Tlhame was allegedly found in a shallow grave near a river on 5 July 2022.

The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col, Amanda Funani said the suspect was arrested after being questioned and linked with the case.

“According to the information received, police were called by Neo’s mother after they spotted a suspicious grave near the river. The grave was dug out and the decomposed body of young Neo was identified with the clothes he was wearing on the day of his disappearance.

“Neo went missing on 24 May 2022, while with his grandparents. However, his disappearance was established by his mother when she went to fetch him after work,” Funani said.  

She said subsequent to the fruitless search by the community members and Neo’s family, a missing person inquiry was opened for investigation. Funani further said the police also joined the search, but Neo was never found.

“The suspect is expected to appear in the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on 8 July 2022 for murder,” said Funani.  

North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena congratulated the Lichtenburg Detectives for the quick response that led to the arrest of the suspect. Kwena added that the police take crimes against children and women very seriously and this arrest proves that those who commit such heinous crimes will not be allowed to walk free in the province.

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