Picture: The Deputy Principal of Thethe Secondary School, Nono Mohohleng and Ditiro Selemela/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

In its quest to accelerate the growth and development of beekeepers in the province, the North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono, has officially launched the North West Province Beekeepers Association (NWPBA).

The association was launched during the Provincial World Bee Day celebration in Luka village, near Rustenburg on 19 May 2023. Mohono said the theme of the event was: “BEE ENGAGED: Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems.”

“This year’s event aimed at heightening awareness about the influence of the bee economy and enhancing the participation of rural women and young people in the apiculture sector. The launched association, which is represented in the South African Beekeepers Industry Organisation and the Honey Judges and Guild of South Africa as adjudicating team (HJT), is expected to also tackle challenges, such as market access that are faced within the apiculture sector.

“Our government is ready to assist aspirant beekeepers. There is an abundance of opportunities within the sector. Training of beekeepers will be prioritised and intensified. We will also continue to robustly market and position beekeeping in the province as a poverty-reducing tool,” she said.

Mohono further said, they are committed to improving the fortunes of beekeepers and to advancing the shared prosperity for all. She added that, it is also their commitment to achieving a large pool of real beekeepers in the entire province.

The Chairperson of North West Province Beekeepers Association (NWPBA), Kenalemang Mooketsi shared the same sentiments. Mooketsi added that, they are dedicated to elevating the provision of resources, training their members, and offering support.

“We aim to encourage the improvement and advancement of Apiculture within the province. We will do this by promoting the exchange of ideas between members, the public, and other institutions, as well as endorse and safeguard the interests of apiarists in general by ensuring that honey, hives, and other derivatives comply with standards established by the government.

“The number of beekeepers continues to rise in the province, as more people especially youth are showing interest in the sector. The department’s database has grown from five in 2019 to 80 beekeepers. We are happy that Mohono has called on all apiarists across all four districts in the province to register on its database,” he said.

Meanwhile, the department also visited the Thethe Secondary School, where an awareness drive was executed. Mohono said learners were educated on the importance of bees, their role in the agricultural ecosystem, and their monetary value.

A Grade 12 learner from Thethe Secondary School, Ditiro Selemela said: “We are happy to see that the department saw it fit to open our imagination to the world of bees and how we can start sustainable businesses from them. As learners, our role is to share what we were taught today with our communities as well as those who are close to us. We have always known bees to be dangerous, but from now on, we will take care of them and continue to research apiculture.

“Some of us have definitely benefited from this session. Maybe as we start our journey next year as young adults, we might join the industry as beekeepers.”

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Picture: North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said it is without a doubt that, healthcare is everybody’s business. Sambatha said this during the tabling of departmental budget allocation for the 2023/24 financial year today at the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) in Mahikeng today.

“That is why our department acknowledges the partnerships it has with the private sector and the broader health stakeholders in the provision of health services across the province. We continue to enjoy a solid partnership with the Rustenburg Health Forum, which consists of a collective membership of the department in the Bojanala District and the mining houses of the entire district.

“This partnership has made significant strides in the past towards the injection of resources in improving access to health services in the mining and peri-mining areas. We need to focus more on establishing such working relationships with cement manufacturers dominantly based in Ngaka Modiri Molema,” he said.

Sambatha said the allocated budget for this financial year is R15 219 592. He further said the budget is spread amongst the eight programs and economic classifications of the department.

“Administration is budgeted for R1 024 488, the District Health Services received R7 555 308, Emergency Medical Services received R465 965, the Provincial Hospital Services is budgeted for R2 183 729, Central Hospital Services will receive R2 241 007, while Health Science and Training is budgeted for R285 856. Health Care Support Services received R771 576 and Health Facilities Maintenance is budgeted for R691 663.

“In the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, we have a solid working relationship with Harmony Gold and this is evident in the deliberation between Harmony Gold and the department on the future of Westvaal Hospital. This engagement must be extended to other mining houses. The contribution of Sibanye Mine, who has approved a budget to purchase emergency vehicles by the end of April 2023, is a big plus in our efforts to improve ambulance response time,” said Sambatha.

He added that, they remain indebted to the valuable contribution, leadership, oversight, and guidance from the Provincial Executive Council (EXCO) led by the North West Premier, Bushy Maape, the Provincial Treasury, Auditor-General and Portfolio Committee. Sambatha said he also recognises the role of different labour unions in all facilities.

“We urge them to continue to be a partner in addressing all issues that affect our employees, who are their members. We should also value the principles enshrined in the constitution on the “Right to strike” governed through the bargaining process as not opposed to the “Right to access Health care.”

“At the facility level, the role of our governance structures remains valuable as representatives of our communities in health care delivery. A word of appreciation also goes to the management structure of the department led by the SG,” he said.

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Picture: The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said they welcome the allocated budget of R20 575 525 000 for the 2023/24 financial year. Motsumi, who tabled her departmental budget speech on Tuesday at the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) in Mahikeng said this represents an increase of R 229 382 000, which is a growth of 1.1% from R 20 346 of the 2022/23 financial year.

“This continuous budget increase for education by the ANC-led government underlines an even more rationale behind the government’s classification of education as an apex priority. The services rendered by the department are categorised into seven programmes.

“The Administration is budgeted for R981 960 000, Public Ordinary Schools Education received R15 021 810 000, Independent School Subsidies for R50 866 000, Public Special School Education reis budgeted for R904 898 000, Early Childhood Development for R 979 188 000, while Infrastructure Development is budgeted for R1 297 549 000,” she said.

Motsumi further said, Examination and Education-Related Services is budgeted for R1 339 254 000. She added that, the spending focus in this budget will go towards service delivery outputs as clearly captured in their 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan (APP).

“Of course, it will also be dedicated to the pronouncements derived, respectively, from the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and State of the Province Address (SOPA), which are intended to improve access and strengthen the quality of public education delivery in the province.

“An overview of the budget distribution per programme for the 2023/24 financial year is as follows. Administration (R 981 960 000, 0,2%). The strategic goal of this programme is to ensure effective and efficient governance, management and financial support systems in the department,” said Motsumi.

She said in the current year, this programme is allocated R981 960 000. Motsumi said they were disappointed that they could not claw back their good record of unqualified audit outcomes last year. Motsumi said that the record was broken in 2021/22 when they obtained a qualified audit report for the first time after receiving unqualified audit outcomes for seven consecutive financial years.

“It emerged once again that the commitment, immovable assets, work in progress and contract management registers were the main causes of a qualified audit report for the department. In spite of this, our grip on strengthening our governance, administrative and financial systems, monitoring and evaluation, internal audit, risk management, internal controls, management of commitment and immovable asset and contract management registers and implementation of the Post-Audit Action Plan is maturing,” she said.

Motsumi said, consequently, their qualifications from the Auditor-General are becoming gradually less. She said they remain hopeful to obtain an unqualified audit report in this current financial year.

“During the previous financial year, R15 398 008 000 was allocated for compensation of employees. The above compensation budget was, among others, spent on filling office and school-based vacancies and dealing with other compensation pressures.

“We must admit from the outset that we underspent the above allocation by R 483 million. This is primarily due to the high rate of vacant posts which took a long to be filled. We have since adopted strategies to avoid the recurrence of the risk of a high vacancy rate,” said Motsumi.

She said in the current financial year, R15 406 801 000 has been allocated for the compensation of employees’ budget, which consumes 79.6%, resulting in it being the highest cost driver of the total allocated budget of R20 575 525 000. Motsumi said this is predominantly due to the inherent labour-intensive nature of the basic education sector. 

“Notwithstanding the current pressure on the fiscus, the department will particularly ensure that the implementation of the Post Provisioning Norms responds adequately and effectively to the teaching needs of every school in the province,” she said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West High Court sitting in Mahikeng has dismissed the application by disgruntled ANC members, who wanted the court to declare the ANC’s 9^th elective conference that was held at Rustenburg Civic Centre from 12 to 14 August 2022 unlawful, invalid, of no force and effect. The applicants, Lebogang Medupe, Lesego Serapelwane, Puso Moeng, Sello Molefe, and Itumeleng Moswane alleged that, the ANC provincial elective conference was organised by Interim Provincial Committee (IPC), even though its term of office lapsed.

However, the North West High Court’s Deputy President Judge, Tebogo Djadje dismissed the matter with costs. Djadje ordered the applicants to pay the application costs, which shall include expenses consequent upon the employment of two counsels, jointly and severally, the one paying the others to be absolved.

“This matter first came before the court on 25 August 2022 as an urgent application. The applicants sought an order that the application be heard as an urgent application in accordance with Rule 6 (12) of the Uniform Rules of this Honourable Court and that the applicant’s failure to comply with the rules relating to forms and service is condoned.

“They wanted the court to declare that, the ANC’s 9th Provincial Conference that took place on 12-14 August 2022 and subsequently postponed to the 26 August 2022 was held in violation of the ANC constitution as well as the court order of 12 August 2022 under case number: UM 152/2022 and the said provincial conference, its decision/resolutions and/or outcome are unlawful and be set aside.

“That the ANC be interdicted from continuing and/or finalizing the ANC’s 9th Provincial Conference of the North West scheduled for the 26-28 August 2022. That the ANC be ordered to appoint an interim structure in terms of the ANC constitution, instead of the North West Provincial Executive Committee, pending the election of a lawfully constituted Provincial Elective Committee of the ANC in the province,” said Djadje.

Meanwhile, the ANC Provincial Executive Committee said they welcome the court decision. The ANC provincial secretary, Louis Diremelo said this is not in a triumphalist spirit, but a point of reflection as they believe the ANC has enough instruments to resolve any matter brought forward by its members.

“We believe this dismissal brings to an end a path that we believe should have never been traversed in the first place. We shall not deter from our commitment to building program-based unity of the movement, rebuilding and renewing our structures.

“We call on all movement members to focus on contributing to the agreed agenda of building our organization, its renewal, and uniting it as we prepare for the elections in 2024,” Diremelo said.

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Setshwantsho: Baagi ba ngongorega ka boleng jwa metsi go tswa kwa Magalies Water   

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Baagi ba motse-setoropo wa Pudimoe gaufi le Taung ba kaile fa ba tshelela mo letshogong morago ga kanamo ya bolwetsi jwa Cholera. Seno, se tla morago ga kgatiso ya video e e tletsetletseng mo mafaratlhatlheng a boitapoloso, e mo go yone go bonwang metsi sasanka diboko.

Jaanong, mongwe wa baagi, Joyce Pule are ba na le lobaka ba itemogela kgwetlho ya metsi a a seng phepha. Go ya ka Pule, ke ene a dirileng kgatiso eo ya video e e bontshang metsi a tsamaya diboko, ebile a fetotse le mmala a le ma tala.

Ha a ne a buisana le Motsweding FM, Pule o tlhaolitse jaana.

“Ga kena bopaki jo bo feletseng jwa gore go ka tswa go diragetse eng ka metsi. Fela, ke metsi are a fitlhelang mo dipompong tsa rona. Metsi a, a nkga sebodu, a na le mmala o mo tala, ebile a tsamaya diboko. Selo se, se simolotse ka kgwedi ya Tlhakole, mme re ile ra ipolelela gore ke selo fela sa feta.

“Kgatiso ya video e o e bonang eo, ke metsi a ma tala a a tswang mo ntlung yame mo pompong e ko kamoreng ya boapeelo. Ene ele ka di 30 Moranang fa kene ke bulela pompo. Go kgonega gore ka nako nngwe, metsi a be a le teng go fitlha mantsiboa. Fela, fa re tsoga mo mosong go ka bo go sena metsi,” Pule wa tlhalosa.

O kaile gape ka nako e metsi a bowang ka yone, a tla ale matala. Pule are kgatiso ya video, o e gatisitse ka di 12 Motsheganong.

“Batho botlhe ba ne ba ngongorega ka seemo sa metsi ha ba bulela dipompo. Fela, seo ga se tshimologe ka di 12 Motsheganong, gonne ha e sale diboko tse ditswa go simolola ka kgwedi ya Moranang. Tota fela, ha e sale bothata jwa metsi bo tshimolola ka nako ya fa go ne go sitlhamololelwa setlamo se se rebolang metsi sa Sedibeng Water go ya kwa Magalies Water.

“Ka nako ya Sedibeng Water, ga ese ebe re tsamaye re itemogele bothata jo. Ee, metsi a ne ke a tsamaye, mme ere fa a bowa, a boe ale phepha. Re ne re nagana gore gongwe selo se, se diragala ka ntlheng ya gore gongwe go phephafatswa dipepi,” Pule wa tlhalosa.

Are, se se utlwisang botlhoko ke gore, gona le baagi bangwe ba ba sa direng, mme ba tlile go dira jaanag fa ba sena madi a go reka metsi a go nwa.

Kgabagare, molekgotlha wa kgorwana eo, Onkarabile Tong o kaile le fa ba itemogela mathata a metsi a a seng phepha kwa Pudimoe, kgatiso ya video ese ya ga jaana. Tong are, kgatiso eo ya video e e tsamyang diboko, e ile ya tlhagelela mo ngwageng o o fetileng, mme bothata joo bo ne jwa rarabololwa.

“Ga gona bo nnete mo kgatisong ya video eo. Kgatiso ya video e e tletse-tletseng mo mafaratlhatlheng, ke ya ngwaga o o fitileng. Go tlile ga nna le yone kgang eo ya metsi a tsamayang diboko mo ngwageng o o fitileng, mme ke a gopola gore rene ra kopa tsereganyo go tswa kwa masepaleng wa sedika. Seo, se ile sa diragala gonne ka nako eo, re ile ra nna le di kopano le baagi morago ga boipelaetso joo.

“Jaanong, bonnete ke gore, ga se video ya ga jaana. Selebego sa metsi mo mosong ke se se siameng, jaanong ga nkitla ke ganetsana le baagi ba ba reng, metsi a nkga sebodu, gonne mongwe le mongwe o bua se se mo diragaletseng,” Tong wa tlhalosa.

Tong are, seemo sa boleng jwa metsi se tokafetse thata fa o bapantsha le di beke tse di fitileng. Are, fela fa a bua puo-phaa, seemo sa metsi go tswa kwa setlamong sa Magalies Water ga se se se jesang diwelang.

“Ke seemo se se bosula, gonne nako enngwe metsi a ke a nne le mmala. Seo, se re lemotsha fa metsi ao a sa tlhatswiwe sentle. Bontsi jwa nako, metsi a bone ga mantle, mme re ke re buisane le ba masepala wa sedika go tlisa tharabololong, gonne ele bone ba ba dirisanang le ba setlamo sa Magalies Water go re rebolela metsi jaaka rele masepala wa selegae,” Tong wa tlhalosa.

Sebueledi sa Magalies Water, David Magae one a tshepisa Taung DailyNews go boela mo go rona morago ga go batla dikarabo mo letsatsing la maabane, mme fela re sentse re beile letsogo mo phatlheng le go fitlha ga jaana.

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Picture: Two accused persons, Patience Mokhali and Tshegolekae Motaung in court/Supplied  

By OBAKENG MAJE

A fraud and corruption case against the former Head of Department of Northern Cape Public Works and Roads, Patience Mokhali (65) and Tshegolekae Motaung (59), who is a Director of Babareki Consulting Engineers was postponed to 11 July 2023 by Kimberley Magistrate’s Court.

Mokhali and Motaung briefly appeared at Kimberley Magistrate’s Court facing charges of contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA),

fraud, corruption and money laundering. Both accused persons were arrested earlier this morning by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team in Kimberley.

The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Nomthandazo Mnisi said Mkhali was granted a R10 000 bail, while Motaung received a R50 000 bail. In 2003, the Northern Cape Department of Health together with the Department of Roads and Public Works as implementing agent, allegedly embarked on a project to construct a new Mental Health Facility in Kimberley. 

Mnisi further said, the original contract was to the amount of R290 million. She added that, it further alleged that, some of the constructed buildings faced possible demolition after R420 million was paid to a liquidated contractor on a project that was originally budgeted for R290 million. 

“It was discovered that, the company that was appointed did not have the capacity to render the service, and the contract was terminated whilst money was already paid. Work on the project has since been halted, leaving the facility incomplete and unusable, and at a considerable cost to the Department of Health. 

“Officials did not follow the normal procurement procedures when appointing the consultant. Mental health hospital whilst under construction, there were issues of maladministration for the years that the project was ongoing and there was no value for money,” said Mnisi.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Head of the Directorate, Major General Stephen Mabuela welcomed the arrest and applauded the investigation team for their diligent work under difficult circumstances. Mabuela said further arrests are imminent.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The former Head of Department at Northern Cape Roads and Public Works and a Director of a liquidated company are expected to appear at the Kimberley Magistrate Court today for contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), fraud, corruption, and money laundering. Both accused persons were arrested earlier this morning by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation unit in Kimberley.

The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Nomthandazo Mnisi said, in 2003, the Northern Cape Department of Health together with the Department of Public Works and Roads, allegedly embarked on a project to construct a new Mental Health Facility in Kimberley. Mnisi further said the original contract was to an amount of R290 million.

“It is further alleged that, some of the constructed buildings faced possible demolition after R420 million was paid to a liquidated contractor on a project that was originally budgeted for R290 million. It was discovered that the company that was appointed did not have the capacity to render the service and the contract was terminated, whilst money was already paid.

“Work on the project has since been halted, leaving the facility incomplete and unusable, and at a considerable cost to the Department of Health. Officials did not follow the normal procurement procedures when appointing the consultant,” she said.

She added that, the project was marred with maladministration and there was no value for money.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Head of the Directorate, Major General Stephen Mabuela welcomed the arrest.

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Picture: RSA President, Cyril Ramaphosa

By CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

After the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to our local tourism industry, the latest figures on tourist arrivals show that the industry is making a strong and sustained comeback.

Statistics from StatsSA and SA Tourism that were released by Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille recently show that nearly 5.7 million visitors graced our shores last year. This was an increase of over 150% on the previous year.

In the first quarter of this year, we received just over two million visitors, more than twice as many compared to the same period in 2022.

Although tourist arrivals are not yet at pre-pandemic levels, the latest figures show that a significant and rapid recovery is underway. This is taking place in the midst of heightened political and economic uncertainty across the world and particular challenges, especially around the electricity supply, here at home.

Yet, despite these difficult conditions, visitors see South Africa as an attractive destination with unparalleled natural beauty, warm and hospitable people, and good value.

The potential of our tourism industry was evident at Africa’s Travel Indaba held in eThekwini earlier this month. The Travel Indaba is one of the largest tourism marketing events on the continent and regularly attracts high numbers of exhibitors, marketing bodies and representatives from hotels, airlines and tour operators and media from Africa and the rest of the world. We were able to showcase the great variety of our tourism products to give further impetus to our recovery.

Of the exhibitors at the Indaba, over 120 were small local tourism enterprises that were supported by Government to display their unique products and services, expand their networks and foster partnerships. This is part of our commitment to nurturing small operators in the tourism sector to encourage transformation and the creation of many more jobs.

Not only are we seeing more tourists coming to our shores, but they are also spending more during their visits – more than R25 billion in the first quarter of 2023. This is a valuable stream of foreign exchange, sustaining and creating jobs and enabling further investment in our tourism infrastructure.

The release of these figures during Africa Month is particularly encouraging given that the majority of visitors to South Africa in 2022, approximately 4 million, were from our continent. Travellers from the region and the broader continent are increasingly seeing South Africa as a premier tourism destination and are flocking here to experience our natural wonders and to spend money at South African businesses.

Given the importance of growing tourism to South Africa’s economy, we are determined to forge ahead with the process of immigration reform to improve our competitiveness as a tourism destination.

At this year’s 5th South Africa Investment Conference, I announced that we will be expanding the e-Visa system from the 14 countries in which it currently operates to include an additional 20 countries.

There are obvious linkages between tourists visiting a country and potential future trade and investment. Last week, the Department of Home Affairs published its visa reform implementation plan, which will help to further boost tourism and attract investment.

The recovery of South Africa’s aviation sector is also supporting tourism growth.

South African Airways is expanding into ever more markets on the continent, and we are seeing the resumption of direct flights from major destinations. By way of example, Air China has resumed direct flights to South Africa, and United Airlines now flies directly to New York and Washington DC.

The latest tourism figures are very encouraging and should strengthen our resolve to ensure that tourism becomes one of the biggest drivers of our economic recovery.

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Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Boitumelo Moiloa

By OBAKENG MAJE

North West MEC for Social Development, Boitumelo Moiloa is set to table her departmental budget speech at the North West Provincial Legislature today. Moiloa is expected to outline new service delivery plans on youth development, social relief of distress safety net for poverty-stricken households, foster care applications, creation of job opportunities, empowerment of women, and services to older persons and persons with disabilities.

The North West Social Development spokesperson, Petrus Siko said: “She will also highlight key milestones of her department in the year under review.

“The four social cluster departments in the North West inclusive of Social Development are scheduled to table their budget speeches for the 2023/24 financial year from 9am today at the provincial legislature chamber.”

Meanwhile, the North West Legislature Speaker, Sussana Dantjie will preside over Legislature House Sittings. The North West Department of Education will kick-start the Departmental Budget Votes at 9am, followed by the Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, Department of Health, and the Department of Social Development.

According to the Deputy Manager of Communication at North West Provincial Legislature, Namhla Luhabe, the proceedings of the House Sitting will be streamed live on the Legislature’s Facebook page and other platforms such as the YouTube channel.

The residents are also advised to also tune in to local radio stations to listen to the budget speeches.

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