Picture: North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said his department will continue to strengthen accountability in the way government resources are utilised. This follows the release of the Auditor General (AG) report on vote 3 concerning the department’s audit outcome.
Sambatha said, in terms of the report, the AG indicated that, the financial statements which comprise appropriate statement and financial position as of 31 March 2022 was audited.
“The audit also covered financial performance, statement of net changes in net assets, cash flow statement for the year that ended as well as notes to the financial statements. So, congratulations to all managers and programs, that contributed to our unqualified audit outcomes.
“Well done to the SG and the executive team, please keep the performance at the same level. I encourage you to work for improvement instead of decline. While there are still some internal control deficiencies identified, there is a need to strengthen oversight,” he said.
Sambatha added: “I am confident that, we are on the right track and there is a need to deal effectively with the weaknesses that have been identified by the audit. Our risk management, audit committees, and internal audits will require special attention.
“This way, we will be able to pick up any audit issue and address it even before the AG audits the department. The implementation of post audit action plan remains a priority for our department and we will rally all our managers behind this important task.”
close-up of man holding knife smeared with blood and still dripping.
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
A murder and inquest case has been opened by police in Letlhabile near Brits after a man allegedly stabbed his grandmother, Elsie Matlhasedi (70) to death and kill himself afterward.
According to the North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani, Matlhasedi’s son allegedly found the lifeless body of his mother lying in a pool of blood at their home at Tambo Section, in Maboloka village outside Letlhabile near Brits on Monday.
“The son of the deceased allegedly found his nephew standing next to the lifeless body of his mother with a knife. As a result, the uncle called the police and the suspect, who allegedly stabbed his granny multiple times, fled the scene.
“The suspect allegedly stabbed himself with a knife and eventually fell on the ground in a bushy area, while being chased by the uncle. The motive for the killing is still unknown,” Funani said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena condemn the incident and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family.
Picture: Tamasikwa Secondary learners after receiving sanitary pads/Obakeng Maje
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe said, he will continue to wage a war against ‘periods poverty’, especially in schools.
This comes after Gaoraelwe’s office, donated over 2 400 sanitary pads to various schools across Taung through the ‘Keep A Girl Child in School’ initiative.
He said the lack of sanitary pads makes it difficult for girls to attend school. It is estimated that 3 out of 10 girls in South Africa miss school during their periods each month.
“We have donated 2 400 sanitary pads to seven different schools across Taung. As the municipality, we were assisted by the North West Department of Education and Social Development for school identification purposes.
“We have realised that, there is a need for this initiative after disturbing reports of female learners’ absenteeism in schools due to poor access to sanitary products. Most of them cite lack of sanitary pads as a reason for their absenteeism.
“The initiative emanates from the GTLM mayoral cup event, where we have requested all affiliated teams to donate a bulk of sanitary pads as registration for the event. This will be an annual initiative and remember, lack of sanitary pads sometimes forces girls to use unhygienic materials, while others decide to stay at home,” he said.
The Tamasikwa Secondary School principal, Kenalemang Lehihi applauded the municipality. Lehihi said the intervention will reduce the burden of menstruation for school girls.
“We are very happy and fortunate enough to receive sanitary pads from the municipality. This will assist learners to concentrate, because just last week Friday, we had a Grade 12 learner, who was absent from school because she had no sanitary pads.
“I have also received a call from Chabalala Optometrist, where they commit to donating sanitary pads to the school too. So, we need to work together in ensuring that periods poverty is alleviated,” she said.
One of the learners who benefitted from this initiative, Tshepiso Selebogo (16) said: “I feel honoured to receive sanitary pads because some of us come from disadvantaged backgrounds. I stay with my grandmother because my parents stay in Choseng village, near Pudimoe,” she said.
A Grade 12 learner, Nametsang Tshipenyane (17), who also received the sanitary pads shared the same sentiments. Tshipenyane said, this initiative will come in handy and assist many learners, who sometimes miss school because of poor access to sanitary pads.
Meanwhile, Dr Marlin McKay, a medical healthcare practitioner and owner of Goldman Medicine Centre, who has over 28 years of experience in the private family practice told Parents24 that, access to sanitary towels is critical because having a period without sanitary towels at school can impact the girl’s long term social and economic activities.
“Lack of sanitary pads can also force girls to use unhygienic material such as cow dung, leaves, newspaper, and dirty cloth. We need to acknowledge that menstruation is a natural and biological function that people did not choose to have to happen to their bodies.
“Thus society must ensure that girls, women, and menstruators can experience their periods with dignity. If we do not ensure that ‘period poverty’ is ended, we will be perpetuating a culture of silence that forces many to cope in isolation,” she highlighted.
Picture: Kebinelang Secondary School in Manthe village, near Taung/Obakeng Maje
By REGINALD KANYANE
A teacher at Kebinelang Secondary School in Manthe village near Taung is under siege over assault allegations. It is alleged that, a teacher, Katlego Moncho assaulted a Grade 9 learner, Thomo Gaoboihe on 28 July 2022 during break time.
North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “The teacher saw some learners still hanging at the toilets, while the break was over. He then approached them and cautioned them about time.
“Other learners ran to the classrooms, however, Gaoboihe was immovable and did not carry the instruction. He was also wearing a red cap, which the teacher told him to take it off, but he refused.”
Malindi further said the learner started to become unruly and insulted the teacher. He added that the teacher forced the learner to go to the principal’s office.
“The learner alleged that the teacher manhandled him, Moncho refuted the allegations. So, our labour relations will investigate the matter in due course,” he said.
In March 2022, a learner (14) from the Living Faith Private School in Mahikeng, allegedly committed suicide after corporal punishment was handed to him. The deceased and another learner were allegedly fighting in class and the teacher who intervened took both of them to the staff room, where corporal punishment was practiced in full view of other teachers.
The learner went home, where he later committed suicide by hanging himself with a rope. In 1996, the South African Schools Act, under Section 10 banned the use of corporal punishment in schools. Despite the ban on corporal punishment 26 years ago, teachers are still hitting children at school.
Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) in North West said drastic measures should be taken against educators who continue to use corporal punishment against learners.
The COSAS president, Thabang Mokoena said: “Corporal punishment has a negative impact on learners. So, as COSAS, we are not happy to see that these cases are not resolved. We are aware that corporal punishment is still being practiced in various schools.
“This is happening and the department is turning a blind eye. We are saying to the department, we are fed up. Learners are being beaten in schools and nothing has been done. There are safety summits, which are held year in and year out to discuss such issues, but nothing has changed.”
Mokwena further said, what the department is doing is only ‘pep-talk’ with no implementation. He added that, the documents from previous safety summits are archived and continue to gather dust, while learners continue to be subjected to corporal punishment.
Picture: The Shoprite in Taung still not opened after business robbery/Obakeng Maje
By OBAKENG MAJE
Three suspects aged 29, 39, and 45 are expected to appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for a business robbery at Shoprite in Taung. According to the North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen, the police in Taung received a call of a business robbery in progress as Shoprite was about to close.
“The Community Service Centre and Crime Prevention Unit members were immediately dispatched to this scene. Upon arrival at the scene of the crime, the police found three suspects who were about to exit the store.
“The suspects were immediately arrested and the stolen property was confiscated. A case of business robbery was opened and the suspects are due to appear in the Taung Magistrate’s Court on 3 August 2022,” van Rooyen said.
Meanwhile, the acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Tshenolo Tlotleng lauded the police for their swift response, which led to the arrests of these suspects.
The Guardian 