Picture: Learners celebrating National Child Protection Week/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

In order to ensure that children in the North West are safe, the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) visited various schools across the province in commemoration of the annual National Child Protection Week. The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col, Amanda Funani said this year’s celebration was between 29 May and 5 June 2023.

Funani further said, the police from different police stations across all four districts, visited schools in their vicinity.

“During their school visits, the police officials educated school children ranging from Grade 4 to Grade 7 about domestic violence, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), bullying, alcohol, and drug abuse. The learners were also taught their rights, and how to respect their teachers and their elders.

“Khulisa Primary School, Gatelapele Secondary, and Maquassi Hills English School were among those schools the police officers visited. The police officers, who visited those schools, also prayed for learners as they were about to start their June exams,” she said.

The North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena commended the units such as the Family, Child, Protection and Sexual Offence Unit (FCS), Crime Prevention and Employee at the Health and Wellness (EHW), who visited the schools. Kwena also encouraged learners to stay in school and get involved in sports activities in quest of staying away from drugs and alcohol.

Meanwhile, the People’s Assembly said: “The Child Protection Week is commemorated in the country annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005).

“The campaign is led by the Department of Social Development in partnership with key government departments and civil society organisations rendering child protection services. Child Protection Week in South Africa serves as a platform to raise awareness about the rights, needs, and vulnerabilities of children.”

According to the People’s Assembly website, this is an opportunity to educate individuals, families, communities, and institutions about the crucial role they play in safeguarding children’s well-being.

This year’s theme is: ‘Let us Protect Children during Covid-19 and Beyond’.

The Center for Global Development said, there is a wealth of evidence that shows that social grants for child care are good for their health and welfare. The centre said children who receive social grants saw improved nutrition, more schooling, and less labour-force participation, and were more likely to possess formal identity documents. Below is a list of social grants that the government distributes for child care.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A man (44) has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the North Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria on Thursday for killing his girlfriend. Ishamael Mofolo, who resided at Checkers Section in Maboloka village, near Brits killed his girlfriend, Florence Bong (43) on 4 April 2022.

The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said, Mofolo was called by his brother, who wanted to understand why they (the convict and his girlfriend) failed to arrive at Letlhabile Mall as agreed upon. Tselanyane said, in his response, Mofolo told his brother that he did something terrible and hung up the phone.

“The brother together with his sister went to their parental residence, where the accused was residing. Upon arrival, they knocked at the door, but there was no response. They then forced entry by breaking the door open and eventually found Bongo’s lifeless body inside the house covered with blood. 

“It was established that, Mofolo drank poison in an attempt to commit suicide. The police were called to the crime scene. Mofolo was apprehended and transported to the local hospital, where he was placed under police guard. After appearing in court, he was granted bail, which was withdrawn after being found guilty,” he said.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Kwena applauded the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Julius Nkgoeng from Letlhabile Detectives and all other role players including prosecution for their excellent collaboration, which he said, will send a stern warning to those perpetrators, who commit Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBV&F).

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The residents of Greater ZF Mgcawu District in Upington have mixed reactions regarding the Basic Laws Amendment Bill (Bela Bill). This was evident during the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education’s visit yesterday.

The committee completed the first of three public hearings in the Northern Cape on Friday, as part of its nationwide public participation process, which is the bedrock of the participatory democratic process.
 
The chairperson of Portfolio Committee, Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba said, those that supported the Bill, highlighted its necessity to deal with many practical challenges faced within the public education system, while those against it painted the apprehension with what they view as unnecessary veto powers conferred to the heads of the provincial departments of education.
 
She further said. those who supported the Bill tinted the current misuse of powers by School Governing Bodies (SGBs). Mbinqo-Gigaba added, they argued that the Bill will eliminate discriminatory tendencies exhibited by some SGBs that included the exclusion of some learners from different racial backgrounds.

“They emphasised that one of the benefits that will be derived from the implementation of the Bill will be the equality of all languages in the country. Those opposed to the Bill argued that, the Bill undermines the principle of cooperative governance in the running of schools, as each level of administration has clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

“They further emphasised that the SGBs are best placed to make decisions on language and admission policies for schools, given their better understanding of the socio-economic and other realities in the communities where the schools are situated,” she said.
 
Mbinqo-Gigaba said, regarding the reporting of financial reports on a quarterly basis, those against the Bill asserted that this was practically impossible and will put undue administrative burden on the SGBs. She said, also, there was an argument that the clause that proposes that members of the SGB must declare financial interests was unconstitutional and would most likely contravene the Protection of Personal Information Act.
 
“Those that supported the Bill were of the view that by imposing quarterly reporting cycles, it will stop the problem of misuse of funds early and ensure that school finances are administered fairly and ethically. Furthermore, they argued that this quarterly reporting cycle will empower communities with information on the financial management in schools and will reduce occurrences of corruption and squandering of scarce resources.  
 
“There were also divergent views regarding clause 41, with those supporting the Bill emphasising that the public education system was increasingly compelled to deal with the challenge of the rising pregnancy at schools and the Bill would provide a framework on how best to deal with this matter. Also, some highlighted that the clause will ensure that a girl child remains in school thereby resolving the high dropout rate of female learners,” said Mbinqo-Gigaba.
 
She said those opposing the Bill raised concerns that the Bela Bill was advocating for comprehensive sexual education, something they viewed as a foreign tendency seeking to impose a form of colonialism in the education system. Mbinqo-Gigaba said clause 37 of the Bill, which proposes the regulation of the home-schooling environment also raised contrasting perspectives from participants. She said for supporters, the home-schooling environment required monitoring to ensure education does occur and to gauge progression within the basic education schooling system.
 
“Those who opposed the Bill asserted that the Bill takes away the responsibility, which home-schooling parents have assumed of ensuring that their children learn despite some challenges they face. Also, there was an argument that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) does not, through this Bill, attempt to resolve many of the challenges the sector faces daily, such as overcrowding in schools, the lack of adequate infrastructure and the unavailability of qualified educators.

“Some asked about the practicability of monitoring the vast system when currently provincial education systems are struggling to monitor public schools under their purview. Some parents argued that despite their many attempts to interact with the Minister, especially on clause 37 their pleas were not considered leaving the committee with a not researched Bill that does not cater for the needs of unique learners,” she said. 

Mbingo-Gigaba said the committee welcomed all inputs made and assured the participants that their perspectives have been heard. The committee will today hold a session in Kuruman to enable the residents of John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality to make representations to the committee.

She said the committee emphasises that all interested individuals and organisations are welcomed to make submissions.

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Picture: The former Ditsobotla Local Municipality speaker, the late Fikile Jakeni/Facebook  

By OBAKENG MAJE

The heartfelt condolence messages continue to pour in after the passing of the municipal speaker of Ditsobotla Local Municipality. Fikile Jakeni passed away on Thursday evening after a long illness.

The Ditsobotla Local Municipality mayor, Elizabeth Lethoko said the death of Jakeni was confirmed by a family member.

“The passing of the distinguished speaker is devastating. Jakeni was more than a speaker for our municipality. He was a beacon of wisdom and strength, as he dedicated his life to the service of the people of Ditsobotla. His influence reached far beyond the confines of our local region.

“His unwavering dedication to public service and a deep-seated passion for social justice has indelibly shaped our community. Jakeni was a friend, a mentor and a guide to all of us, who had the privilege of working alongside him. His contribution to our community is immeasurable and his absence in our hearts is unbearable,” Lethoko said. 

She further said, in these moments of deep sorrow and loss, they stand in solidarity with the Jakeni family. Lethoko added that, they mourn this monumental loss and also remember and celebrate the remarkable life of Jakeni, whose legacy will forever be etched in the history of Ditsobotla.

“We kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of the Jakeni family during this challenging time. Details regarding the funeral and memorial service will be shared in due course. We have lost a leader, but his spirit and his teachings will continue to guide us in the days, months and years to come,” she said. 

Meanwhile, the North West Premier, Bushy Maape said: “Jakeni was elected as the speaker of Ditsobotla Local Municipality through a coalition following the by-elections in December 2022. He rose to prominence in the 1990s as a Congress of South African Students Organisation (COSAS) activist and has occupied several leadership positions in the African National Congress (ANC), ANC Youth League (ANCYL), as well as South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU).

“Jakeni was a selfless and dedicated public representative. He passed away at the time the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) is investing all its energies in finding a permanent solution to a number of administrative and financial challenges confronting the municipality.” 

Maape said Jakeni would be of excellent service in seeing to the success of several intervention measures they have developed to stabilise the municipality. He described Jakeni as a hard worker, who was dedicated to serving the people of Ditsobotla.

“We offer our condolences to Jakeni’s family, friends, colleagues and residents of Ditsobotla and the people of North West,” he said.

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