Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi visiting John Frylinck Secondary School in Huhudi Township, near Vryburg/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

Learners at John Frylinck Secondary School in Huhudi Township, near Vryburg, believe that the intervention from the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi will assist in resolving gangsterism at their school. Motsumi visited the school on Monday after it was shut down due to gang-related matters.

One of the learners who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said: “Teachers and learners continue to be under siege due to gang-related matters. Gangsters are running amok at the school and everyone is afraid of them.

“Last week, the school was closed for two days due to gang-related matters. As learners were afraid to attend due to the violence that took place. Some learners came armed with knives and axes as weapons. However, we hope Motsumi’s visit will assist in resolving the matter.”

Another learner shared the same sentiments. She said, there is lawlessness at the school.

“We hardly concentrate on our school work. Now, we are afraid that we might fail because teaching and learning have been severely affected. Teachers are also afraid of the gangsters as they come to school with weapons.

“We urge the police to patrol our school often and ensure that they curb any wrongdoings. As female learners, we do not feel safe anymore because anything can happen to us,” she said.

The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said: “We have visited the school to nip the surge of gangsterism in the bud as allegations of gang violence swell. On Friday, the department received reports of school not running for two days due to learners carrying dangerous weapons to school with the intention to cause gang-related crimes.

“So, we strongly condemn this barbaric act. We will not be bullied by learners in schools. No teacher or learner should be frightened of coming to school because of certain learners, who want to carry their wayward behaviour toward others. The democracy we have is to be enjoyed by all and remember, no one is above the law.”

Motsumi further said she has adopted the school because it needs proper support to be at a level that is admirable. She added that they have roped in our external stakeholders like the South African Police Services (SAPS), ward councillors, and School Governing Bodies (SGBs) to adopt and frequent this school

“Random Search and seizure will be the order of the day and gang leaders using our children should be brought to book. We encourage cooperation among school management and avoid any division as it will impact teaching and learning,” said Motsumi.

According to www.sicelo.org.za website, youth gang violence (YGV) is on the rise in South Africa and the situation seems to have led to increased fears about safety and security in and around schools

“The increasing number of high school learners getting involved in gang activities raises a major concern regarding the impact of their involvement on their educational attainment and/or lives in general. The objectives of the study included exploring the participants’ schooling background, their motivation for joining the gangs, the benefits, if any, of gang membership; the regrets, if any, for involvement in gangs; their future intentions regarding their involvement in YGV; and the role of the community in relation to YGV.

“The article presents, firstly, the theoretical framework that underpinned the study, followed by a discussion on the literature review. This is followed by a summary of the methodology of the study and presentation of the participants’ profiles and a detailed discussion of the research data. The article is concluded with a summary of the key findings and the main recommendations of the study.”

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: The Sekhing Community Health Centre

By OBAKENG MAJE

It’s been almost 12 years since the North West Department of Health built an R130 million state-of-the-art community health centre (CHC) in Sekhing village, near Taung. However, the ‘abandoned’ building is slowly turning into a white elephant.  

According to one of the residents, Modiegi Senye said, they have lost hope in having their own healthcare centre. Senye said, they have to travel more than 15km to access healthcare centres in Pampierstad or Kgomotso village.

“We are not sure anymore what is going on with that project. However, we really need a clinic in our area and we urge the North West Department of Health to ensure that the centre is working soon.

“Many elderly people are suffering because there is no coordination between primary healthcare centres in Pampierstad, which is in Northern Cape and the North West Department of Health. When we go there, they order us to go to primary healthcare centres in Kgomotso village because we come from North West province,” she said.

Another resident, Tshetse Lontshitse (65) shared the same sentiments. Lontshitse said, it is costly to reach primary healthcare facilities either in Kgomotso or Pampierstad.

“It is very difficult for us because to reach the nearby healthcare facilities is costly and burdensome. Sekhing is a remote rural area, where many people are living beyond the poverty line, but we have to pay R30 in return for a taxi fare because the healthcare facilities are too far,” she said.

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said: “As we speak now, Sekhing CHC is heading for the 12^th year, but the progress on its infrastructure is around 90%. That means it is a facility that can be easily opened.

“Remember, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility was used as a vaccination site. When we used it, I wanted to show that we take it over. However, the problem is, contractors who were awarded the work kept changing plans.

“The real problem at Sekhing CHC is the non-availability and non-guarantee of water. We need to find water so that we can drill a borehole and ensure that the facility gets water. The expectation was, we were going to get water from the gravesite.”

Sambatha further said, however, that will be a bad manner. He added that they are now looking for a source of water to ensure that, there is provision of water at the facility before it opens its doors to the public.

Meanwhile, the Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) in North West, Gavin Edwards, who is also the Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial spokesperson on Health said, it is depraved that the R130 million healthcare centre consists of an outpatient department, emergency medical rescue services, a pharmacy and staff accommodation has not provided a single patient with any medical care.

“This multi-million project is another clear indication that the ANC-run North West Provincial Government (NWPG) is not serious about quality healthcare to residents. In March 2019, Sambatha publicly announced that the facility was 90% complete and it would be handed over to the department at the end of March 2019.

“The fact that not a single construction worker is on-site again points to the fact that this centre will not be ready to provide much-needed medical services to the residents in the area any time soon,” Edwards said.

He called on Sambatha to institute an in-depth investigation to find the culprits that held up the project and heads must roll accordingly.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Setshwantsho: Bangwe ba baagi ba kopa gore mokgogo a ba tswele ka motse

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Baagi bangwe kwa motseng wa Manokwane ba ikuela gore mokgogo wa sekolo se se potlana sa Baisitse, Lesetjha Solly Kgoahla a gate kosene. Seo, se tla morago ga gore, batsadi kwa sekolong seo, ba laelwe go ntsha madi a kanang ka R150 go thusa sekolo go ka duela madi a saletseng kwa morago a sekoloto sa motlakase.  

Go ya ka dipego, sekolo se kolota setlamo sa Eskom amusausa a dirata a balelwang go R80 972. Go ya ka mongwe wa baagi, Eddie Mogorwe, baagi ba lobaka ka ikuela gore Kgoahla a ntshiwe kwa sekolong, gonne a dirisa madi a sekolo botlhatswa.

“Kgale tota morafe o ikuela gore rre o, a kgotlhisiwe setlhako. Morafe one wa tsena kopano, mme ntlha kgolo ene ele go dira jalo petition. Ba ile ka kopa kopano ya tshoganyetso morago ga kopano ya baagi le go dumalana fela ka bongwe jwa pelo gore Kgoahla a tsamaye.

“Mo petition e ba e dirileng, ba ne ba kopa kopano le lefapha la thuto ga mmogo le molekgotlha wa kgorowana ya bone. Ba ne ba batlile segopa sotlhe se fletse. Mo kopanong, go dumalanwe ka gore mokgogo wa sekolo are tswele ka motse,” Mogorwe wa tlhalosa.

Mogorwe o kaile fa morafe o dumalane gore, fa lefapha le sa ntshe mokgogo wa sekolong, bone batla mo latela kwa sekolong, mme ba mo ntshe ka dikgoka. Are, go bontsha fa mokgogo a sa tsamaise sekolo sentle, mme ga ba batle maitshwarelo mo go ene gonne se se botokwa ke fa lefapha le ka tlisa mokgogo o mongwe.

Fela, go ya ka Kgoahla, mathata a simologile fa bokoso ya sekolo ya motlakase ene ya sha (meter box) ka 2021. Kgoahla are, mono ngwaga, Eskom ene ya ba romelela setlankana se se supang fa sekolo se kololoto setheo seo, madi a kanang ka R75 000, mme go fitlha ga jaana a tlhatlhogetse go R80 972.

“Eskom e re tlhaloseditse fa sekolo sentse se sa duele madi a sene se tshwanetse go a duela. Fela, phoso eo, e dirilwe ke Eskom gonne sekolo sentse se duela madi are dumalaneng ka one kgwedi le kgwedi. Go ya ka Eskom, dikolo di tshwanetse go duela jaaka di feme.

“Re lekile go ka buisana le Eskom, mme ba ne ba re laela fa bone ba shebile mokgwa wa tiriso ya motlakase kwa sekolong. Jaanong, mo kopanong e rene re e tsenetse le batsadi, go dumalanwe gore, ngwana mongwe le mongwe o tla ntsha madi a kanang ka R150,” Kgoahla wa tlhalosa.

Kgoahla are, fela gona le bangwe ba baagi ba ba tsamayang ba tlhotlheletsa baagi ka go bua maaka bare, gona le tsamiso e botlhatswa ya madi kwa sekolong, ke ka moo go sa patelwang Eskom. Go ya ka Kgoahla, ga bana metshini e e dirisang motlakase o montsi kwa sekolong, ntle le pompo ya metsi, setsidifatsi, motshini o tlhagisang dipampiri (photocopy machine) ga mmogo le sethutafatsi (heater).

“Kgale Eskom e goga madi a kanang ka R4000 mo letloleng la sekolo kgwedi le kgwedi go ka duela motlakase. Jaanong, re maketse gore go baneng fa ba ne ba lemoga gore sekolo se patela madi a kwa tlase, ba sa re itsise gore madi a tlhatlhogile.

Modulasetulo wa mokgatlo wa tsamaiso ya sekolo (School Governing Body), Moikanyi Reetseng are: “Re ile ra bitsa kopano go tla go tlhaosetsa batsadi ka kgang ya Eskom. Mme mo kopanong eo, re ile ra dumalana gore ngwana mongwe le mongwe a ntshe R150, mme re ile ra makala fa bagwe ba baagi ba re latofatsa ka go ruga madi a sekolo.”

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: Some of the drugs allegedly found in Paschal Ezekwuene Enuna’s possession/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

A man who was arrested at his flat in Dassierand, near Potchefstroom on Thursday for being in possession of drugs, will be remanded in custody. The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said, Paschal Ezekwuene Enuna (51) was arrested during an operation conducted by the North West Provincial Drug Task Team.

“Enuna appeared before the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on 21 April 2023 for possession of drugs. He was remanded in custody until 28 April 2023. He was arrested after the police obtained a search warrant and operationalised it.

“During the search, police allegedly found CAT with an estimated street value of R125 000. The accused was previously arrested several times for drug-related crimes,” Myburgh said.

She further said, Enuna was out on R19 000 bail in another case of dealing in drugs at the time of his arrest. Myburgh added that the other three cases against Enuna are still pending.

“In addition, investigations revealed that Enuna’s Asylum Permit has expired and will be dealt with in terms of Section 49(1)(b) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002),” she said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By OBAKENG MAJE

Escalating gang violence at John Fryling Secondary School in Huhudi, near Vryburg has forced the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, and North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari to visit the school on Monday.

Motsumi said, the school has been ravaged by incidents of gangsterism, which negatively affects learning and teaching. It is alleged that gang-related attacks have occurred since the beginning of the year.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By OBAKENG MAJE

Residents of Mokgareng village, near Taung are up in arms after a man allegedly tempered with their windmill water tank. According to the information, a man was given a stand, which was next to the unused windmill by the local tribal authority.

One of the residents, who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said: “We were surprised to see this man turning the windmill tank into a house. He formulated it by creating a doorpost and windows.

“As residents, we call on the local traditional authority to remove him from there and be given another stand. Remember, it is criminal and unlawful to intentionally tamper with essential infrastructure.”

Kgosi Kingsley Ntokwe said, he is aware of the outcry from the community and he is in the process to address the matter. Ntokwe further said, the individual who is responsible to give out stands to residents is the one who made that mistake.

“I am aware of the matter and we are in the process of rectifying it. However, I still have to speak to the person responsible for awarding stands to residents and the affected individual. We will resolve this matter amicably so,” he said.

Meanwhile, the South African Parliament Bill on the Criminal Procedure Act,1977 was amended to regulate bail in respect of essential infrastructure-related offences. According to parliament, this was to regulate the imposition of discretionary minimum sentences for essential infrastructure-related offences.

“The new offence relating to essential infrastructure was created to amend the Prevention of Organised Crime Act,1998, so as to insert a new offence in Schedule 1 to the Act and to provide for matters connected therewith.”

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: A windmill tank turned into a house/Supplied  

Picture: A missing Moloko Johannes Maletsoa/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

Is been almost two years since Moloko Johannes Maletsoa went missing. According to the North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh, Maletsoa (33) went missing on 21 May 2021. Myburgh said Maletsoa resides at Extension 7, Ikageng Township near Potchefstroom.

“The police in Ikageng request the community’s assistance in locating Maletsoa. He was last seen by a family member on 21 May 2021. A search was conducted and extensive investigations were done without any success.

“He is dark in complexion with brown eyes, a muscular body, and 1.8m tall. He was wearing a grey jersey, grey jeans, brown and tan pair of takkies. Information was received that, he might be in the Fochville area,” she said.

Myburgh further said anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Constable Thabang Kumalo of Ikageng Detectives on 078 553 4353. She added that anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via the MySAPS Application or phone Crime Stop on ‪08600 10111.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: A missing woman found dead/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

A missing woman’s body was found in the river in Nhole village, near Taung on Wednesday. Bontle Manyesa (45), who worked at Standard Bank in Taung was reported missing a day before her death.

The North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “It was reported that, her family last saw her on 17 April 2023. She was found in the river at Nhole village by a family member on 18 April 2023.

“An inquest case was opened for further investigation and no foul play is suspected.”

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: The Monotomosetlha Informal Settlement in Vryburg

By OBAKENG MAJE

The residents at Monotomosetlha Informal Settlement in Vryburg said it is sad to see North West Provincial Government (NWPG) ‘returning’ over R1 billion to the national treasury, while they continue to live in squalor. 

One of the residents, Theo Diale said, the situation is bad at Monotomosetlha Informal Settlement because they are forced to go and relieve themselves at the nearest bushes when their toilet buckets are full.

Diale said they need flushing toilets as the ‘use of the bucket system’ is not good for their health. They also accused the Naledi Local Municipality of not collecting toilet buckets timeously, which is hazardous for their health.

“We are subjected to inhumane conditions, while our government fails to spend money allocated for service delivery. This clearly shows that those who are in power do not even care about us. We have inaccessible roads, especially during the rainy season, infrastructure is collapsing, and no clean and drinkable water too.

“However, every financial year, you would hear reports that our government has returned the unspent money. We cannot continue to live like that, while some individuals occupy offices and do nothing. I think is high time now we get rid of this ANC-led government,” he said.

Another resident from the Colour Block section shared the same sentiments. Abraham Tubatse said they have been experiencing severe water scarcity for the longest time in their area. Tubatse said, they cannot do anything without water, and that has negatively affected their livelihoods.

“I am really short of words because of the situation that we continue to find ourselves in. How can our leaders allow the situation to deteriorate to this level? It is clear that we have the wrong people in various positions. We have been complaining about the lack of water in Naledi for ages, but it seems our plea fell on deaf ears.

“Also, there are allegations that some government officials are conniving with service providers and closing reservoirs valves so that we cannot be able to get water. How can they deny us basic services like water? So, drastic changes are imminent and I am happy that national general elections are just around the corner,” he said.   

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Human Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Nono Maloyi said: “The aggregate preliminary expenditure of the province as at the end of March 2023 amounts to R49.870 billion or 96.42% of the R51.722 billion adjusted appropriations.

“All provincial departments recorded expenditure above 90% and eight recorded expenditures above 95%, which contributed to the departmental spending improvements compared to the same period last financial year.” 

Maloyi said, resultantly, the preliminary under expenditure as of the end of the 2022/23 financial year amounts to R1.852 billion. He further said, of the R1.852 billion, unspent conditional grants amount to R1.015 billion, and the equitable share accounts for the remainder of the under-expenditure, which is R849.390 million.

“The North West Department of Health has unspent conditional grant amounting to R302 million, Education has R383 million, Public Works and Roads has R227 million, Agriculture and Rural Development have R64 million, Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation as R32 million and Human Settlements is sitting at R7.5 million.

“In line with Section 21 of the Division of Revenue Act (DoRA) No 5 of 2022, the R1.0015 unspent conditional grant funds would be subjected to the rollover processes. The above-mentioned provisions of the DoRA provide the departments with an opportunity to submit a request for rollover to committed identifiable projects,” said Maloyi.

He added that, the province has already commenced with this process and the departments are expected to submit such requests by the end of April 2023 for consideration by the transferring accounting officers of the national departments and national treasury prior to the adjustment budget processes, which is normally tabled in October/November each year.

Maloyi said, in terms of DoRA read together with the PFMA, approved rollover requests, which process is applicable in all Provinces including national departments, unspent conditional grant funds would only revert to the National Revenue Fund post finalisation of this critical process including but not limited to confirmation of expenditure numbers through the audit process.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp/Google  

By OBAKENG MAJE

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said they condemn with the strongest terms possible, the armed robbery incident that took place at Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp on Wednesday. It is alleged that doctors at the hospital were having their normal early briefings when four armed men entered a boardroom they were in.

They pointed them with guns and demanded their phones, money, and any valuable possession. Sambatha, who visited the hospital for a Smile Week launch was immediately briefed about the incident on his arrival.

“I am questioning the security company and demanding an explanation on how these men were able to pass through the security gates with guns. The security company indicated that, all people who enter the hospital

premises are checked but failed to explain how these men entered the facility with guns.

“Fortunately, one of the men was apprehended still within the hospital premises. The police were called and he was arrested. The police have taken over the case for investigation,” he said.

Sambatha further said a debriefing session was held with the affected doctors with a view to providing counselling services. He added that Matlosana is known to be having a high rate of gangsterism, and health facilities are often confronted with such incidents.

“For this reason, we call on the law enforcement agencies to help stamp out gangsterism in the area and ensure the safety of health facilities,” said Sambatha.

Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said: “Yes, I can confirm that the police are aware of the matter. One person was handed over to the police by the security guards at the hospital. He is currently being questioned by the police.

“The initial investigation indicates that they were three suspects. No one was injured during the commotion.”

taungdailynews@gmail.com