By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Only a few days before Grade 12 learners will be sitting for their final examinations. The North West Department of Education hosted a Pledge Signing ceremony and the Provincial Prayer at Rutanang Primary School recently.

The pledge signing ceremony and the provincial prayer were attended by the Faith-Based Leaders, Class of 2022 learners, and different stakeholders. The North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela said the objective of this session was to encourage learners to an incident-free examination.

“Since you are left with four days to get into your examination rooms for one of the most important examinations in your life as a learner, it becomes very important and appropriate for me to engage you at both intellectual and spiritual levels.

“Such an engagement is not only meant to motivate you, but also to inspire you. So, please have a sense of hope and determination to succeed against all odds. To you, the matriculants gathered here today, this examinations period must culminate a journey, which you started twelve or more years ago,” Matsemela said.

She further said, learners have walked a long mile to be where they are today. Matsemela added that now is the time for them to transfer the knowledge they have gained.

“We want this year’s examinations to be incident-free examination,” she said.

The North West Premier, Bushy Maape is set to visit Onkgopotse Tiro Comprehensive School on 31 October 2022 to assess the state of readiness ahead of the final examinations. Maape said the school was named after struggle veteran, Onkogopotse Abram Tiro.

“Tiro was SRC president at the then Turfloop University. He was also a history teacher at Isaac Morison High School, which later became a hive of political activities during the 1976 student uprisings. Tiro was one of the first anti-apartheid activists to be killed through a parcel bomb, while in exile in Gaborone, Botswana.

“The school accommodates largely learners from impoverished families and in particular farming communities in the Mahikeng and Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipalities. Last year, the school obtained a 97.4 % pass rate and over the years it has received excellence awards in teaching and learning,” he said.

Meanwhile, the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) chairperson in North West, Paul Sebegoe said: “We would like to wish the matric class of 2022 well in their exams and appealed for support and no disruption of the examination program. In appealing for support and no disruption, SANCO wishes all learners, who will be sitting for their examinations the very best and urged them to stay focused and not to be distracted from the task at hand.

“We also appeal to communities to allow learners the opportunity to write their final exams in a peaceful and conducive environment. The sacrifices and extra effort they have had to put in as part of preparing for the exams throughout the year under very trying Post Covid-19 recovery conditions must be jealously guarded so that they achieve their objective to pursue their dreams.”

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By REGINALD KANYANE

Various women from far-flung areas received material support such as equipment and stock from the government to scale their cooperatives and small medium, and micro enterprises during the commemoration of Rural Women’s Day.

The event was held at Maboloka village near Brits and beneficiaries from all four districts lauded the North West Social Development for providing them with the support. The department has spent R4.2 million to procure the necessary equipment for women.

Addressing women who filled the community hall to capacity, North West Social Development Chief Director for Integrated Services, Masego Mekgwe said, the department has a policy on material support and economic strengthening to households, individuals, and community initiatives in place to provide women-lead SMMEs and cooperatives with material support to grow their businesses.

“Some women in other districts have already benefitted from this initiative since last year. So we urge women to stand up on their feet, form income-generating projects and shirk from depending on men,” she said.

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Ka BAKANG MOKOTO

Ba lelapa la ga tlhogoputswa wa kwa motseng wa Cokonyane gaufi le Taung, ba kaile fa ba na le tsholofelo gore mosadimogolo Kgalalelo Mosadiwamaje Naledi (79) o tla goroga kwa lelapeng a tshela morago ga kgwedi a timetse. Dingaka tse difarologaneng ga mmogo le morafe, ba tlhotse ba phuthaganetse kwa lelapeng la ra Naledi ele go ka tla ka maano a go bona motlhala o tla ba isa kwa Kgalalelo a leng gone.   

Morwa Kgalalelo, eleng Eric Naledi, are ba na le tshepo ya gore dingaka tse di tlhotse di gorogile kwa lelapeng la bone di tla ba tlhaga thuso. Eric are, ha e sale go tlhokafala ga rragwe, Kgalalelo o tshimolotse go kubogelwa ke bolwetsi jwa go lebala.

“Gompieno re ile ra amogela dingaka go ya jaaka di ile tsa bidiwa ke kgosi. Mme dingaka tsa rona, di dirile tiro ya tsone sentle bothata ke gore dingaka tsa mo gae ga di kae motho ka leina, mme di tshwantsa seemo.

“Jaanong, ba re itsisitse fa patlo e re tla e batlang e se kgakala le motse wa rona wa Cokonyane, ebile go gaufi le ha lapeng. Nnete ke gore mosadimogolo ene o ntse a dirisiwa. Jaanong re emetse go bona gore go tla diragalang gonne, dingaka di dirisitse meshunkwane ya bone jalo, mme re tla nama re letile matsatsinyana go bona gore go ka diragala eng,” Naledi wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, kgosana ya motse, Rabodigelo Mankuroane are: “Re ne re le mo ga rra-Naledi ka ntlheng ya mme Kgalaleo yo o timetseng. O na le nako e kang ka kgwedi le beke a sa bonwe. Jaanong, re ne re biditse dingaka tsa setso le morafe ga mmogo le mapodisi go ka tla go re thusa gore re mo batlele ntlheng efe.

“Jaanong ka gore ga se a bonwe, tshwetso e re e tshotseng ke gore, re nne re sa letile mme dingaka tsone di dirile tiro ya tsone. Re sentse re shebeletse go bona gore tiro ya dingaka e tla re tlela ka eng.”

Sepodisi sa Bokone Bophirima se kaile fa kgetsi ya go timela ga motho e butswe kwa sepodising sa Taung, mme dipatlisiso di tsweletse.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A learner from Batlhaping High School in Taung is dejected and does not feel safe anymore. This comes after she was allegedly sexually assaulted by a teacher, Lebogang Mooka.

According to the aggrieved Grade 12 learner (18), the teacher started to make sexual advances back in 2020, but the school management allegedly swept the matter under the carpet.

*Naledi Kenosi (not her real name) said, the sexual assault started back in 2020 when she was the admin of a Physical Science subject WhatsApp Group. She said the teacher was part of the group because he teaches the subject.

“It was on Friday night around 11pm back in 2020, when I received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. So, I asked who the sender of the message is. But the person said he is the school administrator and asked if I’m still a virgin.

“So, I told the sender that, yes I’m still a virgin, but he said I’m lying. He then sent a message making sexual advances towards me. The message he sent said, kea go galela, (which is loosely translated as, I sexually fantasise you). I responded to the message by saying, I wonder what will the principal say about this inappropriate message.” she said.

Naledi said, she immediately received a call from Mooka, who said the administration has just called him. She said, she told Mooka that, it is surprising that he is calling her immediately after she responded to the message.

“So, he confessed that, actually it was he who sent the inappropriate WhatsApp message using his other number. Then he begged me not to report him to the school management because he might lose his job.

“I told a family friend who in turn, reported the matter to my mother. My parents went to the school and a meeting was arranged between Mr Mooka, school management and me,” Naledi said.

She further alleged that, Mooka confessed and apologised for his behaviour in front of the school management and her parents.  

“On 15 October 2022, I got level 1 in Physical Science subject. So during the break, I went to Mr Mooka to ask him why did I get level 1. He said, I should come and see him after the break when everyone has settled down.

“Immediately after the break, I went to him and found him in a computer room. There is another hidden room next to it. He stood up and went into that secluded room and I followed him,” she said.

Naledi added that, Mooka allegedly grabbed her buttocks and dragged her closer to him. She alleged that, Mooka demanded a kiss from her.

“I was so terrified and I did not even know what to do. He said he would not let me go until I kissed him. So, said I’ll kiss him immediately after my final examinations.

“Unfortunately, he needed assurance, but I told him that, the only thing that he could do is to trust me. He let me go and request me not to tell anyone,” said Naledi.

She said, now her life is upside down because of this ordeal. Naledi said she could not even attend either the incubation program or the Physical Science period because she is afraid of Mooka.  

“I cannot even concentrate anymore and I do not think I will pass my matric. I become so emotional when I see him and I feel like my rights were violated yet the school does not care.

“I think he was supposed to be suspended with immediate effect pending investigations. I mean, this is not the first time happening and I do not know want he will do next,” she said.

The North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said, they have despatched the investigating team from their labour unit.

“With regards to the concerning Batlhaping High School, the department has dispatched a team of investigators from the labour unit to go and investigate these allegations. So, we will be able to report properly after the labour unit has dealt with the matter,” Malindi said.

Meanwhile, North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafja Botma said: “A criminal case was opened against the alleged suspect, but due to problems with the electricity the docket will only be registered today.

“Then the case number will be provided to the victim immediately thereafter. The allegations that the docket was missing is false and the suspect will be charged as soon as the docket is registered,” Botma said.

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