Picture: A woman breastfeeding her child/Google  

By OBAKENG MAJE

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha calls on workplaces to ensure that there are adequate breastfeeding facilities and become breastfeeding-friendly. The department marks the World Breastfeeding Week from 1 until 7 August 2023 under the theme: “Enabling breastfeeding and making a difference for working parents.”

Sambatha further said he has recognised that, workplace challenges often are one of the most common contributory factors for women to stop breastfeeding their babies sooner than recommended. He added that they call on corporations to become breastfeeding friendly.

“If South Africa is to reach the 2025 United Nations (UN) target of an exclusive breastfeeding rate of 50% for the first six months of an infant’s life, we need to empower and support women who breastfeed in our organisations.

“Some of the challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers returning to work include a lack of time to breastfeed their babies. With hectic work schedules, it can be difficult for mothers to find the time to breastfeed regularly,” he said.

Sambatha said another challenge the working mums face is that, some workplaces do not have proper nursing rooms for breastfeeding mothers due to various reasons. He said this was part of the reasons given by working mothers, who have opted to discontinue breastfeeding exclusively and resorted to alternative methods such as formula feeding or introducing infants to solids much earlier than the recommended age. 

“Having unsupportive managers is another challenge that working mums who breastfeed face. Even if the workplace has facilities that can accommodate working mothers, many companies have not implemented accommodative practices for their breastfeeding employees.

“We are now using the world commemorations of Breastfeeding Week to remind mothers of the benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and infants. Breast milk is uniquely tailored to meet the nutritional needs of infants, providing essential nutrients, antibodies, and hormones that promote healthy growth and development,” said Sambatha.

He said it offers protection against various illnesses, such as respiratory infections, gastrointestinal issues, and allergies. Sambatha said it further nurtures a deep emotional bond between the mother and child, promoting security, comfort, and closeness.

“The health professionals recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. No other food or liquid is needed during this period. Continued breastfeeding for two years or longer with the introduction of appropriate complementary foods is also ideal.

“The crucial function performed by the four districts’ Breast Milk Bank Facilities in the province, as well as the importance of Donor Breast Milk (DBM) and nursing in lowering infant mortality and morbidity at the beginning of the human development chain, with a special emphasis on premature neonates,” he said.

Sambatha said, currently, the province has Breast Milk Bank facilities hosted in public hospitals across all four districts. He said they operate from Potchefstroom, Mahikeng Provincial, Joe Morolong Memorial, and Job Shimankana Tabane Hospitals respectively.

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Picture: The alleged illegal miners nabbed in Stilfontein/Generic  

By OBAKENG MAJE

Six men aged 37 and 39 have been arrested for being in possession of gold bearing material in Stilfontein on 25 July 2023. The North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said five out of six men are facing additional charges of contravention of Section 49 (1)(a) & (b) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002).

“The suspects were apprehended on 25 July 2023 after the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Illicit Mining Task Team followed up on information received. The suspects were ultimately found and arrested at an abandoned workshop next to a scrapyard in possession of gold bearing material.

“The fight against illicit mining gained success. All suspects have been remanded in custody and are expected to re-appear in court on 3 August 2023,” said Botma.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, commended the illicit mining team members for their swift response, which led to the arrest. Kwena strongly warned that illicit economic activities will not be tolerated and that those involved will be dealt with harshly.

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Picture: Dagga worth R59 000 confiscated/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

A man (27) has been arrested for being in possession of dagga worth R59 000. The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said, on Monday, the Springbok Highway Patrol and the Public Order Policing Units as well as the Provincial Traffic Department conducted a Vehicle Inspection Point (VCP) in Springbok.

Sam said a white light motor vehicle with three occupants was stopped and searched.

“Dagga valued at R59 920 was allegedly found and confiscated. A man was arrested and charged for possession of drugs. In an unrelated incident on Tuesday, the Keimoes police received information from the public about drugs stored at a house in Keimoes.

“They operationalised the information and obtained the relevant search and seizure warrants. The police raided the identified house and allegedly found and seized mandrax tablets and Tik all valued at R3061.30,” he said.

Sam further said the suspect (43) was arrested and charged for possession of drugs. He added that drugs impact negatively on the lives of the youth, families and also on the country.

“Therefore, the police will confiscate any drug no matter how small. That is a success on itself,” said Sam.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Deputy Police Commissioner, Major General Luntu Ngubelanga lauded the collective teams and the public for ensuring the removal of drugs within the communities. Ngubelanga said they are happy that the police managed to bring the perpetrators to book.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A father has been sentenced to six life imprisonment by the Upington Regional Court for raping his own daughter (14). In September 2012, a then 14-year-old victim was allegedly raped and impregnated by her biological father, who also threatened to kill her if she reported the matter to anyone.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson in ZF Mgcawu District, Sergeant Omphile Masegela further said, the case was reported to the police in June 2013 and the father was arrested. Masegela added that, the father was found guilty of rape and sexual assault.

“He was sentenced to six life sentences for rape and three years of imprisonment for sexual assault. The meticulous investigation by Warrant Officer, Thabisho Mashililishili and Sergeant Elliot Gaya of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in the ZF Mgcawu District cannot go without recognition after a hefty sentence that was handed down to the accused,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola welcomed the sentence. She warned that there is no place for perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBV&F) in the communities.

“The fight against GBV continues and the police are determined to stamp down the authority of the state,” said Otola.

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Picture: The GROGL movement patch potholes in Lichtenburg/Supplied  

By OBAKENG MAJE

The Chairperson of the God Restore Our Good Life (GROGL) Movement, Pastor Daniel Buthelezi said they patched up potholes on various streets across Lichtenburg. Buthelezi said they used that to create awareness over Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and other social ills.

“The GROGL initiated a program of patching up potholes in Lichtenburg, where our focus was on 6^th Avenue, 6^th Street and Sarel Celliers. This program was made a success due to the support and generosity of Noord Wes Koperasie (NWK), which donated 30 bags of cold asphalt.

“The GROGL would like to express our words of appreciation for this good gesture. The movement would also like to encourage other businesses around town to have confidence in it and ensure that they support our agenda of fighting social ills within the society and bring stability,” he said.

According to Buthelezi, their movement subscribed to the principle of transparency and accountability. He further said they would also like to convey their appreciation to the residents of 6^th Avenue for their humanity by assisting them with necessary tools.

“Their cooperation made our job easy and we would like to request others to do the same. The movement shall have not done justice in their fiduciary duties, if it could fail to appreciate the cooperation of the 6^th Avenue road users too.

“We will continue to be a civic movement that is not aligned to any political party and also not advanced doctrines of any particular church. However, we acknowledge and appreciate being confined to God and also advancing the restoration of good life,” said Buthelezi.

He added that what they want to see existing within the society is self-respect, self-confidence, self-worth, integrity, dignity, self-esteem and all positive character traits that God has created a man with. Buthelezi said they encourage men to be sympathetic and empathetic towards women and children.

“Ultimately, we would appreciate having a healthy and respectful society. The society that pushes the positive agenda of love, peace and stability to fight all social ills, with the attitude of having a province and country that we could be proud to live together in united.

“The movement was created with the purpose of gathering matured men, who do not have the luxury of time. We are committed as men to nurture the boy child to be a better man in future. We also want us to be men of integrity with sound minds,” he said.

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