By VUSI KAMA

North West Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape has hailed the N12 Ultra Marathon as a golden opportunity for both athletes and small businesses in the province. The marathon is jointly organised by the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation (ACSR), the City of Matlosana, JB Marks Local Municipality, Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, and Coca-Cola.  

“The N12 Ultra Marathon was a success in its inaugural year in 2022. It is scheduled to take place again on April 29. Economies of major cities around the world are developed through events, and sport drives most of tourism.

“The hosting of the N12 Ultra Marathon will provide athletes with opportunities while promoting the involvement of small business in sports,” he said.

Maape further said the resounding success of the inaugural North West N12 Ultra marathon positively impacted the sporting landscape in the province. He added that, the event has become a flagship project of the province.

“The race’s stature has been elevated, with the Comrades Marathon organisers, declaring it as one of the qualifier races for the Ultimate Human Race.

“The starting point was at the North West University (Potchefstroom campus), with the finish line at the Klerksdorp Recreation Centre. In this year’s race, the starting and finishing points will be the other way round,” said Maape.

The event comprising 5km, 10km, 21km, and 50km races – took place under ideal cool weather conditions. It attracted more than 2 000 runners, including some from as far as Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.

According to Maape, the N12 Ultra Marathon is the first of its kind in the province. He said from a tourism point of view, Lodges, and Hotels in both Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom are benefiting.

“Although the well-oiled Ethiopian long-distance machine came in all its glory by taking the top spots in both the male and female N12 Ultra Marathon races, two athletes from North West also made it to the podium.

“Thomas Toodi (23) from Klerksdorp came second in the men’s race followed by Johannesburg-based Zimbabwean national, Givemore Mudzinganyama 32),” he said.

Meanwhile, the Potchefstroom-based athlete, Adele Broodryk (31) made good of her preparations for the Comrades Marathon by being the second lady to hit the finish line with a time of 3:08:30.7. She was followed by Melissa Jansen Van Vuuren (27), who clocked 3:17:05.8.

However, as it has become a norm in the N12 Ultra Marathon race circles, the stars of the show were the Ethiopians. Sintayehu Yinesu (31) claimed the crown as the king of the N12 by clocking a cool 2:33:52, while fellow Ethiopian, Laketh Seba who trotted home with the women’s crown in 3:08:08 after pipping Broodryk in the final metres of the race.

Among the attendees, was a retired legendary North West long-distance runner, Matthews Temane.

Temane said: “The marathon was good and I am happy it took place. However, there is a lot of work to be done to make it even better.”

A triple athletics springbok, the retired runner excelled in races ranging from 800m to Comrades Ultra Marathon. In one of his famous runs, he broke the 21km world record in East London, during the 1990s.

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Picture: The divers searching for the body of the deceased who drowned/Generic

By OBAKENG MAJE

A boy drowned at Matharise Section, near Ranstad village in Taung on Thursday afternoon. It is alleged that Tshwanelo Mosala (20) and his friends, were fishing when the atrocity happened.

The North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “According to information received, the victim and his friends were fishing at the river when the incident happened.

“The deceased allegedly entered the water, but he drowned. He called out to his friends for help, but they were unable to assist him. His body was removed on Friday morning by the divers. An inquest was opened and is under investigation.”

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Rabodigelo Primary in Ditshilong village, near Taung will be amongst the first 300 schools in poor and economically marginalised communities, where breakfast will be introduced. This was announced by the embattled North West Premier, Bushy Maape during his State of the Province (SOPA) at North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) in Mahikeng on Friday.

Maape also said, there are strategic plans in place to ensure that there are improvements in terms of National Senior Certificate results. He further said, the province is targeting position one in the 2023 matric results calendar.

“Poverty and hunger impact on the mental state of learners and their ability to fully participate in effective learning. In fulfilling our obligations to meet the adequate nutrition levels of the most vulnerable, Dingake Primary in Verdwaal, Rabodigelo Primary in Ditshilong (Taung), Gaeonale Primary in Kgokgojane, Modubyane Primary in Pitsedisulejang and Kgolane Primary in Dwarsberg will be amongst the first 300 schools in poor and economically marginalised communities, where breakfast will be introduced.

“To date, the government continues to feed 744 320 learners in more than 1300 schools across the province. We will be rolling out the sanitary dignity towels to 120 000 learners in quintile 1 to 3 schools at a cost of R17.7 million. Schools that will benefit from this programme include Mmoledi Secondary in Phitsane, Boskuil Combined and Batlokwa Secondary in Molatedi village, and many others,” said Maape.

He said, they also want to reclaim their position as one of the two best-performing provinces in terms of National Senior Certificate results. Maape said, however, they can only do this if they re-double and multiply their efforts.

“A detailed Provincial Matric Results Improvement Plan to take forward our achievement will be communicated by the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi during her budget speech.  

“Our government will roll out access to the internet, through broadband and Wi-Fi from the current 25 % of learners to 75% in the current academic year. He added that, this will see the government expanding broadband connectivity to schools to the tune of R31.2 million,” he said.

Maape said the provision of sanitary dignity towels will be extended to deserving community members with the North West Departments of Health and Social Development taking a lead in the implementation of this rollout.

The province received a 79.8% pass rate during the 2022 calendar and occupied position five.

Meanwhile, the DA’s Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in North West, Winston Rabotapi who is also DA’s provincial spokesperson on Education said, almost 30 000 learners dropped out of school before reaching matric.

“Even though the North West Department of Education recorded 79.8%, however, this pass rate does not account for the 27 243 learners who dropped out of the school system since Grade 10 in 2020.

“So, considering the high drop-out rate, the real matric pass rate in North West is actually 49.2% This means that half of the 71 066 pupils who began Grade 10 in 2020, failed to complete matric,” said Rabotapi.

He said, it is also disappointing to see North West province further drop in its provincial ranking from being in the 4^th position in 2021 to the 5^th spot in 2022.

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Picture: Situation at Potchefstroom during protests/OFM

OBAKENG MAJE

Seven accused partners were arrested during service delivery protests in Ikageng Township, near Potchefstroom on 23 February 2023. The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said, the police have also impounded the minibus taxis that were used during protests.

“As part of maintaining public order, police in Potchefstroom apprehended seven accused partners and impounded a taxi following violent protests that took place between Wednesday and Thursday.

“The accused partners were nabbed after a group of community members allegedly barricaded the N12 road in Ikageng and Potchefstroom with stones, burning tyres, and other objects,” Mokgwabone said.

He further said, the protesters then later marched to the Potchefstroom Central Business District (CBD) in a bid to voice their dissatisfaction over poor service delivery. Mokgwabone added that, the protesters’ action led to the temporary closure of the road for traffic.

“Subsequent to the arrest, all accused persons aged between 35 and 40, appeared before the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for public violence. They were released on warning and their case was postponed until 9 March 2023.

“The situation is currently calm and the road is open for traffic. While the police and traffic officers are maintaining their presence in the area, motorists and other road users are urged to exercise caution,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena condemned the violent protests and implored members of the community to raise their dissatisfaction in a peaceful and lawful manner as stipulated in the constitution. Moreover, Kwena warned that those who disrespect the rule of law will be dealt with effectively.
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