By OBAKENG MAJE

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema encouraged his party members to continue recruiting many individuals. Malema, who was addressing the North West 3^rd Provincial People’s Assembly in Klerksdorp said, their target to reach 1 million members is still on course.

The EFF in the province elected the new leadership, where Shakes Botswe was retained as a provincial chairperson, Promise Bogatsu was elected as the new deputy provincial chairperson, Papikie Babuile retained his position as the provincial secretary, Justice Dabampe was elected as the deputy provincial secretary, while Kelebogile Kerileng was elected as the new provincial treasurer.

“Let’s continue to recruit new members as we make tactical moves. You must never think that the leadership has abandoned the strategic objective of the EFF. One million members of the EFF are going to be reached.

“I was very disappointed with the Bojanala region because I thought it was going to be the first one. The region has always been the base and the home of the EFF. The question will be, why one million members, those are one million foot soldiers of the party,” he said.

Malema further said they make recruitment this year and next year, they will workshop all of them in public political education and put them under one roof to politicise them.

He added that, in 2024, they will then unleash one million foot soldiers on the ground and say ‘go and fight for the victory of the EFF’.

“When we leave here, we are going to leave no stone unturned. Every house, street, school, hostel, mine, everywhere else where our people are found – we are going to recruit them to join the EFF.

“There is no ANC in North West and I told you many times. You are contesting against the ghost, but you are defeated by it. The ANC is not dying in North West, it is dead – completely dead,” said Malema.

He also urged his members to be disciplined and work as a collective. Malema said once the members are not disciplined, people must know that the organisation is finished.

“So, fighters, let’s go and rescue the people of North West. They are in desperate need and looking for you. When you wear that beret, you must know that you a wearing the hope of the hopeless masses of our people.

“We must take this opportunity to also greet and thank the Independent Electoral Committee (IEC) that is running the elections here with their staff members, who have compromised their weekend to come and make sure that indeed this 3^rd PPA becomes a success.

“In the EFF, we expect you as the members of the official opposition party in North West to always act in a disciplined manner that you have displayed in this conference when you meet.

“You can only induce the society if you make politics fashionable in your branches. When your branch meets, it must not go away without talking politics,” said Malema.

Meanwhile, the jubilant Papikie Babuile shared the same sentiments. Babuile said, they gathered to deliberate and produce strategies for the advancement of the people’s lives and further develop and groom the organisation to realise economic freedom in their lifetime.

“We have noted the ongoing appalling living condition of the people, the high rate of unemployment, entrenched corruption and maladministration in North West.

“We have also noted the thuggery and hooliganism in the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) under the stewardship and administration of the former liberation movement that is led by a few old individuals, who are hell-bent to milk all the state resources and collapse any anything and everything that seek to restore the dignity of the black child,” he said.  

Babuile said the 3^rd PPA was determined to develop radical inclusive policies and amongst others, they declared that all EFF public representatives will identify and visit all unfinished projects in every municipality.

He said all EFF public representatives will submit motions, statements, and questions to the executive every week.

“All public representatives will convene monthly community meetings in their wards of deployment. They will submit a comprehensive report on the work they have done at their deployed schools, Early Learning Centres, and clinics on Friday of every month end,” said Babuile.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

Five people have been killed on the R510 road near Rustenburg following a head-on collision between a bakkie and a light motor vehicle on Saturday night. The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari said, the accident took place between Manamakgoteng junction and Northam.

“Four of the five occupants in a bakkie and one in a light motor vehicle succumbed to their injuries on the scene. One passenger sustained serious injuries and was rushed to hospital.

“We would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. We plead with motorists to be extra cautious when driving at night,” he said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Although it is possible to start a TV channel, sometimes it is a bit challenging. But if you are up for it, it can be a rewarding project. So, this is exactly what Taung Community TV (TCTV) is doing.

This Saturday, all roads will be leading to the Taung Sports Ground for a mouth-watering fund-raising event. The social mogul, Kagiso Kai who is TCTV founder and CEO said, the event is all about raising funds.

“This event will assist us in many ways, so we urge all community members to come in numbers and show their support. We need to raise funds so that we can be able to buy some equipment needed for the TV and for the renovation of the house that was donated by the North West Department of Public Works and Roads to the channel.

“We understand that, when one requests assistance, it takes time for institutions to respond. So, we came up with this initiative in order for us to have funds that will assist us to be operational. This will be an annual event as we also welcome the spring season,” he said.

According to Kai, the gates will open at 10am. He further said all systems are in place as they have roped in award-winning artists to perform.

“There will be high police visibility and the EMS will be on standby in case of any emergency. We expect the people of Taung and its surroundings to come in numbers in support of this event.

“Those who support this initiative will be contributing enormously to this good cause. We would also like to thank the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), Paper City Tent Hire, Kebonekatlo, and MMA security services for their contributions,” he said.

Kai also lauded other contributors such as Lesego Plaatjie, Daylight Delight, Boema Purified Water, and many others who came on board. He added that the Taung Community TV project will benefit the people of Taung at large including the whole Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region.

“TCTV will be giving our local artists an opportunity to showcase their talents through our platform. So, we are requesting those who will be attending to contribute towards the sanitary towel campaign too.

“These sanitary pads will be distributed accordingly to various schools after the event. The aim of this campaign is to keep a girl child in school in confidence. Our performing artists are locals, who will be volunteering their services as part of their contribution towards this great initiative,” said Kai.

The tickets for the event are available at the gates and will only cost R50 for adults and R30 for children. Kai said adults are urged to bring along a packet of sanitary pads or R30 as a top-up.  

“We submitted our application documents to ICASA on 30 June 2022 for licensing and we are waiting for the outcomes. However, there is a call on Digital Terrestrial Television that is coming.

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Picture: The Taung Community fund-raising event 

By OBAKENG MAJE

The family of Poiho Modise (30) who was kidnapped almost a year ago in Loselong village, near Taung said, they are dejected. According to a family member, Kehilwe Modise, Poiho was abducted by a mob justice that called themselves Mapogo on 20 September 2021 and he never returned home. 

“I have a complaint against the mob justice members, who call themselves Mapogo in Loseng. They abducted our brother after accusing him of stock theft. We do not even know whether he is still alive or not wherever he is.

“We went to the Pudimoe Police Station to report the matter, but we have not received any joy. What triggered this is because the same group allegedly kidnapped a boy (19) a few months ago and killed him,” Modise said.

She further said, those who kidnapped her brother, were supposed to hand him over to the police if he committed any criminal activities. Now, Modise urged the police to intensify their search for the kidnapped Poiho and also call on anyone who can help to track him to come forward.

“What is hard-breaking is that those who kidnapped him are roaming the streets freely without any accountability. So, we also feel unsafe as a family because we do not know who will be next.  

“We only want to know whether he is still alive or not, so that we can have closure. This has affected us all as family and we could not take it anymore. Anyone who has information regarding our brother’s whereabouts, please come forward,” said Modise.

Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “A case of kidnapping was opened on 22 September 2021 after it was reported to the police in Taung that, Poiho Modise had been kidnapped by a group of men at Leshobo village.

“The investigations were conducted and the victim has not been found yet. The case docket was taken to the Taung Magistrate’s Court for a decision on 4 August 2022 and we are still waiting for the outcome.”

Van Rooyen added that, the investigating officer indicated that he has been updating the family member on a regular basis. She said, if the family is still not satisfied, they can go and see the Detective Commander of Taung so that the progress in the case can be explained.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

More than 850 000 job opportunities have been created through the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI). The Minister for Department Basic Education (DBE), Angie Motshekga said this initiative has done more than providing a chance for young people to gain meaningful work experience.

Many Teaching and General Assistants across the country bid farewell after the PYEI concluded on 31 August 2022.

“The initiative was designed to assist young people’s livelihoods and acts as a means of addressing South Africa’s high rates of youth unemployment. The youth had numerous opportunities to gain more skills through training opportunities offered by partners such as the University of Johannesburg (UJ), NEMISA, Digify Africa, and 2Enable.

“Schools across the country have enjoyed hosting a group of enthusiastic and dedicated young South Africans, whose contribution to teaching and learning have been immense,” she said.

Motshekga further said the end of Phase III of the PYEI-BEEI does not mark the end of the road for the youth. She added that the initiative has created a platform for many to chart a path towards better prospects in the labour market.

“The skills and experiences gained will impact positively on future career prospects of the youth. The department wants to encourage all youth to take advantage of the many opportunities that are available on the SAYouth.mobi platform.

“Through this platform, youth can access earning, learning, and entrepreneurial opportunities that are provided by private partners. The youth can also access other beneficial information such as CV writing and interview tips on the eCubed WhatsApp called Teacher Connect, through this number; 060 060 3333,” said Motshekga.

She added: “The youth can also access scholarship and bursary opportunities that are made available through the eCubed WhatsApp Bot. The youth and their employers have made contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) throughout their tenure as School Assistants in the PYEE-BEEI.

“The UIF is an essential safety net to which employees and employers contribute, and from which employees who become unemployed are entitled to benefits, and in so doing, alleviate the harmful economic and social effects of unemployment.”

Motshekga said applications for unemployment benefits must be made in the prescribed form at an employment office. She said the application must be made within six months of the termination of the contract of employment.

“The UIF payment can only be claimed if a person was previously employed but is currently unemployed. The department thanked all the youth that participated in the PYEI-BEEI for availing their services to schools.

“The department further wishes everyone who was part of PYEI success with their future endeavours. In the main, all provinces have paid stipends for August 2022, however, there are a few cases of outstanding stipends, which Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) are working tirelessly to resolve,” said Motshekga.

She said where the unpaid stipends are identified, the delays are due to the finalization of the validation and verification (V&V) processes to ensure that there is no under or over-allocation of funds to schools.

Motshekga said through the V&V process, the PEDs are working with districts to verify the funds previously sent to schools against the reported number of stipends.

“Schools are required to provide certain documents to provide assurance to the PEDs that all funds transferred to schools for the payment of stipends are in line with the number of youth appointed,” she said.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A man was sentenced to four life terms imprisonment by Taung Regional Court for rape, house-breaking, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) and theft. Lebogang Nyoka (34) was sentenced to a further five years for assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm (GBH) and three years for theft.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, the police reports revealed that on 15 September 2014, Nyoka broke into a house and found a woman (40) asleep.

“He then assaulted her with a knobkerrie all over her body and subsequently raped her. Following this heinous crime, Nyoka then stole the victim’s television set and fled the scene.

“In a separate incident, Nyoka applied the same modus operandi by breaking into a house in Pampierstad on 24 September 2014. He found a woman (64) and her granddaughter (9) asleep. Nyoka then threatened them with a knife before raping both of them,” he said.

Following his action, he stole a laptop and fled the scene. The woman (64) has since passed on, while the matter was still in court. Nyoka was later arrested for an unrelated incident of house-breaking and police managed to link him to the other two rape incidents through DNA specimen, however, he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He was remanded in custody until the completion of the cases. In aggravation of the sentence, state prosecutor, Sandile Mbokazi urged the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence as he described Nyoka as a remorseless individual, who had no regard for women and children.

Magistrate Thataetsile Matolong agreed with the state and alluded to the responsibility that the court holds in dealing with cases of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide(GBV&F).

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari-Sekhaolelo said: “We want to applaud the state prosecutor and the investigating officer for a successful conviction. This conviction should send a stern warning that the criminal justice system will deal harshly with those who continue to engage in such odious acts of crime against women and children.”

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