By OBAKENG MAJE 

The residents of Manthe village in Taung, call on the North West Department of Health to prioritise and refurbish infrastructure at Manthe clinic. The primary healthcare centre building is dilapidating and ceilings are falling off.

According to Bagwebi Ba-Maidi Business Council, the condition the building is in, does not provide effective and safe health services. The Bagwebi Baga-Maidi Business Council Secretary-General, Lebone More called for the “ideal clinic”, saying that the clinic would ensure the provision of quality health services to the community through good infrastructure.

“We have experienced challenges regarding the structural facility of the Manthe clinic building. Last year, we wrote a letter to the Office of MEC, Madoda Sambatha complaining about the dilapidating building of the clinic.

“The ceilings are falling off and that contributes negatively to the hygiene of the patients and staff. The department promised to construct a Community Healthcare Centre in our area, however, our clinic is in a dire state and we cannot wait any longer,” More said.

He further said, the construction project of the new CHC could take four years, but he does not think the building could stand until 2026. More added that even though he was happy to see some departmental officials visiting the clinic for the tender reviewing process recently, they raised various concerns regarding the roofing of the building.

“We urge the department to ensure that the roofing is completely removed because it is not in good condition. We believe that the roofing is leaking and the clinic is not conducive especially during the rainy season,” he said.

The North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “The department is aware of the infrastructural defects at Manthe clinic. Specifications for the renovation were designed and advertised for bidding and the procurement process is underway.

“No contract has been awarded yet and the renovation of this clinic is to ensure that healthcare service delivery is rendered in a safe and healthy environment to ensure compliance to occupational health and safety standards. This renovation is in no way replacing the building of a new clinic.”

Lekgethwane said the department has prioritised the building of a replacement clinic in the area. He said the Baga-Maidi Tribal Authority has awarded a site for building the replacement clinic. He said the primary healthcare centre is at the design stage and a tender will be advertised after this process.  

Meanwhile, most public healthcare centres in North West do not have medicines such as antiretroviral (ARVs). This damning report was released by the Ritshidze organisation and painted a grim picture of how North West is lagging behind in extending the supply of ARVs. 

The project manager at Ritshidze organisation, Ngqabutho Mpofu said, their detailed report into the state of the public healthcare system in the North West found improvement in certain indicators and deterioration in others over the last year. 

“The report is based on the results of data collected through Ritshidze’s community-led monitoring of 13 facilities in the province together with additional data collected at 57 facilities by Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Stop Stock-outs Project and Ritshidze related to stock-outs,” he said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

More than 3000 households in Vryburg, North West were left impoverished after the Naledi Local Municipality cut off their electricity due to non-payment. One of the community leaders, Keneilwe Pipi (35) said the municipality blocked their electricity metres and demand they pay R700 before the blockage can be lifted.

“The municipality alleged that we owe it rates and taxes and many households are now without electricity. It has been over a month since the electricity metres were blocked and several residents have been struggling to pay their municipal bills.

“With blocks placed on the meters, residents are unable to buy electricity until they pay the R700 the municipality demand for the blockage to be lifted,” she said.

Pipi said they have been trying to engage with the municipality and plea for leniency, however, nothing positive came out of those negotiations. 

She also alleged that, the municipality sent them the outstanding electricity bills amounting to R14 000 each household, however, (the municipality) failed dismally to explain how they (residents) have accumulated it.

“Most households affected are poor and rely on social grants as their main income. We understand that there is a budget for free basic services allocated for indigents, but we have not received any forms from the municipality.

Another resident, Aubrey Munyai said what the municipality did was unfair because they do not receive any basic services from it. Munyai said roads are inaccessible in their area, no clean and drinkable water, while sewer spillages are the order of the day.

“The municipality does not take us seriously as residents. Our roads are not accessible, especially during the rainy season, but we should keep quiet. The municipality never bothers itself to come and assess water metre readings, but sent us huge municipal bills,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Naledi Local Municipal Manager, Modisaotsile Segapo said the implementation of disconnection is a result of non-payment of services. Segapo said the communities in all affected areas were informed timeously before the execution of electricity cut-offs.

“Yes, it is true that the municipality has commenced with its implementation to cut off electricity to all areas, where they are licensed and authorised to. The cut-off is part of the mechanism by the council to implement debt collection.

“So, the disconnection is implemented in all areas such as Kismet, Vryburg Town, Colridge, and both Extension 25 and 28. In relation to the Extension 25 and 28 areas, the communities have already been notified during the month of March 2021 and again in April 2022,” he said.

He further said in November 2021, the municipality embarked on the indigent registration process, which included both extensions. Segapo added that the households affected are those that do not qualify for the indigent.

“The areas affected are either places operating as a business or rented out and also those who did not come forward to make arrangements. The municipality has decided to implement the minimum of R700 as payment at this stage, which includes a portion of the outstanding,” said Segapo.

He said most of the households in the area, owe the municipality around R14 000 for services.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Football was the winner during Olehile Sports Club Top 8 Soccer Tournament this past weekend in Manokwane village near Taung. The unmatched tournament celebrated 10 years anniversary in style by giving both participants and spectators the experience of belonging to something larger than themselves.

The ABC Motsepe League participants, Taung Mega Stars FC were crowned as 2022 champions after walloping the buoyed Queenspark Rangers from Manthe village 5-3 in penalties.

It was a few minutes before halftime when Kamogelo ‘Sonini’ Owesi (23) opened a goal-scoring chart for Mega Stars FC when he capitalised on Kone ‘Neymar’ Motimeng’s mistake and hit a cracker that left the Queenspark Rangers FC goalie, Katlego ‘Makgasa’ Tikane in no man’s land.    

However, the hard-wired Queenspark Rangers FC showed resilience and came back stronger in the second half. They fought like wounded lions and they were rewarded in the dying minutes, when their lucky charm player, Tebogo ‘Kwinya’ Leboa scored a goal to level the matter and takes the match to penalties.

Even though Taung Mega Stars FC benefitted from a referee’s controversial decision during penalties, their coach, Keaobaka Makoloi welcomed their win.  Makoloi said the game provided an unparalleled model for dealing with disappointment and misfortune.

“I am happy that we won and you know football is a game of opinions. So, one can never control how people express their views. However, the fact remains, that people will always have something to say.

“Whether it is in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), UEFA, or any way of that matter, you will find people thinking that referee could have done better. Yes, there are things that we can call out that the referee did not do well, but at the end of the day, football is the winner,” he said.

Makoloi further said they have played under the simple thing that referee’s decision is final. He added that they have been into the finals of this tournament three times in a row and also lost under controversial decisions.  

“When God says it’s your time, no one can stop it. So, if it was not our day, it would not have turned out that way. So, psychologically, this tournament was very good preparation for our team because I have young players here.

“They are still new and have never played in front of this magnitude. Remember, this coming season, supporters are coming back to the stadiums, so it is going to be massive. We must never undermine the quality of this tournament, as we played against a very good team in the final,” said Makoloi.

The disappointed Queenspark Rangers FC coach, Mmoloki “Tsiki-Tsiki” Batlang said: “I am happy that football was the winner at the end of the day as both teams played well. They displayed good quality of football and yah…eish, I think organisers need to improve on the issue of refereeing because what we have seen here does not augur well for a tournament of this magnitude.

“However, we have lost to the best team and I wish them good luck in their endeavours. So, congratulations to coach Makoloi, and I think he needed this more than us, as he is preparing for the league.”

Meanwhile, the Olehile Sports Club chairperson, Oduetse Kgorabocwe applauded all stakeholders and the unwavering support the tournament continues to receive.

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