Picture: Some of the patients at Taung District Hospital allegedly abandoned/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

About 51 National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) affiliated members in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District have not received their salaries for this month. This comes after they allegedly embarked on ‘illegal’ protests a week ago demanding a 10% increment.

Now, patients at Taung District Hospital were allegedly left unattended as some of the aggrieved workers stopped working and picketed outside the hospital in demand of their salaries.

NEHAWU acting regional secretary in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, Ismael Tshabile said: “It is true that some of our members did not receive their salaries for this month. We had a consultative engagement with the Human Resources (HR) Manager in the region regarding this.

“However, the HR Manager confirmed that this was the instruction from the provincial office not to pay them. So, negotiations are underway in a quest to ensure that, our members receive their hard-earned salaries. They have worked so hard for those salaries. So, the employer does not have any right to withhold their salaries.”

The North West Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said, employees who participated in the recent NEHAWU strike were not paid their salaries.

“This is the decision of the national government. It is not all the employees, but those who participated in the strike. The cause of the withdrawal of salaries was due to what the national government deemed as participation in the unprotected strike,” Lekgethwane said.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister of Health, Michele Clarke who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) said, in light of the severe damage to the public health sector and the detrimental impact on patients, the DA will request that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) investigate the NEHAWU strike.

Clarke further said, since the strike’s commencement, the DA has done multiple oversights and engaged with even more public health sector stakeholders.

“Our findings concur with media reports. The hospitals and clinics that aren’t crippled by the strike, are being overrun by the patients diverted there – and buckling under the pressure. We commend these public health facilities for doing their best to serve the public under extremely difficult circumstances and provide the best possible care. However, the situation is unsustainable.

“The Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla has confirmed that the death toll is rising. Patients and staff are being barred access to health facilities and intimidated and threatened – often in full view of the police who rarely intervene. Hospitals are filthy, and at many facilities, all but the most infirm patients have had to be discharged,” he said.

Clarke added that the impact on the health of the discharged patients and other members of the public that seek care might be immense. He said it is time NEHAWU brings the strike to an end.

“Yesterday, the Labour Appeal Court interdicted this strike action, which includes essential workers in the health sector. This bars them from participating in pickets, strikes, or industrial action.

“While the DA has sympathy for the horrendous circumstances many public health practitioners work in, a wage dispute cannot supersede the oath of care,” said Clarke.

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Picture: ANC MP, Sibusiso Kula/Facebook  

By OBAKENG MAJE

A murder case against ANC Member of Parliament (MP), Sibusiso Kula was postponed by Orkney Magistrate’s Court until 17 April 2023 for further investigations.

Kula (34) is accused of killing his wife, Jennifer Motlhomi at their matrimonial house in Kanana Township, near Orkney on 27 November 2022. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame, Motlhomi was found with a stab wound on her back in what seemed like an armed robbery.

“The object that was used for her alleged murder has not been recovered. The matter was reported by the medical facility, where she was allegedly transported by the accused to receive medical attention.

“Kula told the police that, he was not present at his home when the incident occurred. Following thorough investigations by the police, he was linked to the alleged murder and arrested on 20 January 2023,” Mamothame said.

He further said, Kula was charged with murder. Mamothame added that, the police investigations are still underway and Kula will remain in police custody until his next court appearance.

“Also, the North West High Court issued a notice for 23 March 2023 for Kula to appeal the bail judgment. The accused’s first appeal on the bail judgment was struck off the roll by the North West High Court because his application was not in order.

“The senior state Advocate, Benny Kalakgosi has prepared heads of argument to oppose the application.  The application has been submitted to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, for the matter to be transferred to a higher court, owing to its serious nature.

Meanwhile, the ANC Chief Whip at the National Assembly (NA), Pemmy Majodina said: “The ANC caucus has been driving campaigns in our constituencies around the country against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBV&F). We are deeply saddened by the news that Motlhomi was brutally murdered during 16 Days of Activism for violence against women and children.

“While we may not pronounce on the merits of the charges against Kula, the Office of the Chief Whip has submitted a report to the Head Office of the ANC on this matter. We expect ANC processes to follow, guided by the ANC step-aside rule since Kula is facing criminal charges.”

Majodima said the ANC caucus takes GBVF extremely seriously and they wish to assure the people of South Africa that, they shall act speedily on this matter. She said, the ANC caucus also calls on the NPA and the courts to act decisively to bring about justice for Motlhomi and her family, as many other victims of violent crime.

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Pictures: The suspect and two deceased/Facebook 

By OBAKENG MAJE

A police officer has been arrested for double murder. It is alleged that, the suspect (48) shot dead his estranged wife (44) and her alleged lover (30) on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone, the incident took place at Sandvlakte, near Zeerust.

“The off-duty police officer who is stationed at Nietverdiend went to a house in Sandvlakte, where he allegedly found his estranged wife who is also a police officer and stationed at Kopfontein Port Entry with a male companion. He allegedly fired several shots and instantly killed his estranged wife and her male companion.

“Subsequent to the incident, the suspect handed himself to the police, and the firearm that was allegedly used during the commission of the crime was confiscated. The motive of the incident is unknown at this stage and investigations into the matter are underway,” Mokgwabone said.

The suspect is expected to appear at Zeerust Magistrate’s Court soon for double murder.  

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena condemned the incident and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of both victims.

Kwena further urged employees to use the services of the Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) and other professionals, rather than resorting to violence.    

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Picture: An athlete, Amogelang Tatai in a final burst of his record-breaking performance/Kagiso Mbatha

By VUSI KAMA  

If the young primary and high school athletes at the provincial athletics event recently held in Potchefstroom had one thing in mind, it was the famous Olympic slogan: “Faster, Higher, Stronger”.

In many of the track and field events at the two-day meet at the world-famous Kenneth McArthur Stadium, records were either equalled or downright tumbled. The event was jointly backed by the Departments of Education and, Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation.

Boys and girls from Dr Kenneth Kaunda District were on fire over the two days. They blitzed their way to the top of the table in the Primary and High Schools competitions which were held on two successive days.

On both days the log standings were a mirror image, with Bojanala second, Ngaka Modiri Molema third and Dr Ruth Mompati consistently placed fourth. The future champions on both days made the task look easy as they were fighting for places in Team North West.

Qualifying athletes in the primary schools’ section will represent the province at the national athletics event in Pietermaritzburg from March 19 – 21. Their elder High School brothers and sisters will be at the national event in Germiston in April.

In the Primary Schools contest two provincial records were broken, while one was equalled. In the 150m Under-12 Boys hurdles, Reuben Smit went home with a new record of 20.91 (21.13), while he equalled Richardt Jourbert’s 2022 previous of 11.4 in the 75m Under-12 Boys hurdles. In the Under 12 Boys high jump, Benyamin Kriek soared higher than his counterparts at 1.52, in the process beating DC Theron’s 2015 record of 1.50.

However, it was the High Schools contests that proved to be a spectacle to behold. What with a whopping 56 records broken and only one equalled.  Three of the stars of the show broke their own records.

They were 15-year-old Carli Visser (90 metres hurdles) who outdid her own 2022 performance, clocking 13.27 from a previous 13.34. In a remarkable execution, Kate-Lynn Fourie equalled Visser’s previous.

In another jaw-dropping performance, Henrico Kruger (Under-15, 1 500m) shaved his own previous record from 05:10.10 in 2022 to 04:52.63. Equally illustrious was Bojanala’s 16-year-old Temoso Masikane, a long jumper.

The serial record-breaker was on song as he got the crowd to clap with him as a build-up to his new North West record of 7.54, beating his own previous of 7.18. The teen got the crowd clapping louder and faster, in awe of his breath-taking performance.

After his stunner, the 2021/2 South African Championships Silver medallist had this to say: “It feels really great when things go according to plan. The weather conditions were great.”

Parent Natha Gulmini from Hartebeespoort Dam was one of the spectators who were impressed with the athletics meet.

“The event was well-organised and the vibe was very good.” She is mother to Juliana Gulmini, who came first in the Girls Under-10 contest. With sterling performances like those witnessed at the Potchefstroom meet, there is little doubt that we will one day see one or more of the athletes at future Olympic events.

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