Ba lelapa la ga Refilwe Motlhankana kwa motseng wa Kolong, gaufi le Taung ba kaile fa ba itumetse go feta selekano morago ga kgorogo ya lekgarebe la bone mo letsatsing la maabane. Go begwa fa Motlhankana yo eleng moithuti kwa sekolong se segolwane sa Kebinelang kwa motseng wa Manthe, a ne a nyelela ka Lamatlhatso fa a ne a ile sekolong go tsenela dithuto tsa tlaleletso.
Fela, mongwe wa baagi, ba ba ne ba tshweneyegile, Galaletsang Magare are, lekgarebe leno, le gorogile kwa lapeng mo letsatsing la maabane.
“Re itumetse thata go bona ngwana wa rona a goroga kwa lapeng. Motlhankana o tlhalositse fa ele kgale a le kwa tsaleng nngwe ya gagwe. Re ne re tshogile thata, gonne batho ba nyelela matsatsinyana a,” Mogare wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen are, mogokgo wa sekolo sa Kebinelang, one a kaela sepodisi mo letsatsing la gompieno fa Motlhankana a tlhotse a le teng kwa sekolong, mme a ne a sa timela. Van Rooyen are, mogokgo o netefaditse fa Motlhankana a ne a etetse lekau la gagwe, mme one a sa timela.
Setshwantsho: Sejanaga sa modiro wa Polo/Tshwantshiso
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Mokgwedi wa dingwaga dile 23 o latlhegetswe ke botshelo kwa motseng wa Longaneng, gaufi le Taung mo letsatsing la Tshipi. Go kaiwa fa mokgweetsi ono, Onalenna Motaung (21) a ne a tswa kwa motse-setoropong wa Pampierstad, mme a ne a etetse ba losika la gagwe kwa Mothanthanyaneng.
Go begwa fa lekawana le, le ne le sena lekwalo la go kgweetsa, mme o ile a fitlha a tsaya koloi ya modiro wa Polo Vivo kwa a ne a etetse teng, mme a leba kwa maitisong kwa motseng wa Longaneng.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, o kaile fa mokgweetsi o, a ne a tsamaya le lekgarebe lengwe fa kotsi e diragala.
“Mokgweetsi ono, one a latlhegelwa ke taolo ya sejanaga, mme sa menoga. Go kaiwa fa lekgarebe le a ne a tsamaya le lone, lene la rwalelwa kwa bookelong morago ga bona dikgobalo tse di botlhotshwana.
“Kgetsi ya polao ntle le maikaelelo ene ya bulwa ke sepodisi. Re tla netefatsa fa mokgweetsi ono, ane a sena lekwalo le le maleba la go kgweetsa. Mokgweetsi one a netefatswa fa a tlhokafetse kwa lefelong la tiragalo,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.
The use of drug substances continues to be prevalent in the North West, especially among the youth. This was revealed during the substance abuse dialogue in Mahikeng on Wednesday.
The North West MEC for Social Development, Lazarus Mokgosi urged the community members and the stakeholders not to turn the provincial substance abuse dialogue into a “talk shop”. Mokgosi, who many see as a man of action, called on delegates at the provincial substance abuse dialogue to come up with implementable plans to uproot substance abuse in the communities across the province.
“Drug abuse is really killing our nation. Upon my appointment as executing authority, I interfaced with young people who struggle with substance abuse in the capital Mahikeng. My heart bled when I realise that the majority of them are graduates from tertiary institutions, who have decided to indulge in various substances because of unemployment and other personal problems.
“It is time we develop a programme to keep these young people busy by providing appropriate opportunities for them. As the department, we have budgeted an amount of R4.2 million to enable NPOs to provide substance abuse prevention services and aftercare to persons with substance use disorders,” he said.
Mokgosi further said they will establish Local Drug Action Committees in all local municipalities by October 2023. He added that, this is indeed their plan for this year, which will see these local committees coordinating and intensifying substance abuse prevention programmes, which include Siyalulama Community Outreach Programme, Festive Season Campaign, and Debates on Substance Abuse in some schools.
The deputy chairperson of the Central Drug Authority (CDA), Nomcebo Dlamini urged the communities to implement strategic measures in quest of curbing substance abuse.
“This challenge is on the basis that families are the first frontier in avoiding societal problems that can be posed by substance abuse. We plead to the communities to take a stand and be part of the solution.
“We need to revisit similar strategies that we had while we were fighting for freedom. At the national level, we develop policies that are brilliant and envied by other countries, but we fail at the implementation stage. It is local drug action committees that are the implementing agencies,” she said.
She said, therefore, they appeal to all local authorities to establish firm committees that will implement our strategy. Dlamini said substance abuse in her opinion, is the third national pandemic after HIV and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
“The sad part is substance abuse allows the other two to thrive. When we apply evidence-based solutions, we will definitely win the war against substance abuse,” said Dlamini.
The executive mayor of Mahikeng Local Municipality, Tshepiso Mphehlo also appealed to the stakeholders to take substance abuse prevention programme to schools.
“Healing the nation must be a concerted effort of all concerned. We must nip the abuse in the bud. Mahikeng is fully committed to seeing this programme implemented across all our wards,” he said
Meanwhile, the former substance abuser, Lawrence Sekhomba said: “I have been sober since 2018 and I attribute the teachings at JB Marks Treatment Centre for my resistance to relapse. It started with smoking a hubbly bubbly, which was laced with nyaope in Brits.
“When I returned to Mahikeng, I mixed nyaope with marijuana to maintain my habit. I appreciate my aunt who linked me with the social worker when I got tired of my addictions. My mental strength will see him through.
“My mother passed away in 2009 and my troubles started a year later when I enrolled with Tshwane University of Technology,” he said.
Another survivor, Rebaone Morakile (32) of Bethel, outside Mahikeng shared the same sentiments. Morakile said he felt invisible with the inheritance and joined the wrong circle of friends. Like Sekhomba, he said nyaope was an underlying drug that got him hooked.
Picture: The dagga allegedly stashed in a wheel tyre/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
A man was arrested for possession of dagga estimated at R1.7 million street value. The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Sergio Kock said this happened while the K9 and Crime Intelligence police in Springbok conducted intelligence-driven sting operations in the Namakwa District, Northern Cape.
Kock said in Port Nolloth, the police arrested five undocumented persons at the first premises. He further said the police arrested a man at the second premises in possession of 8990kg Hydro Dagga with an estimated street value of R1.7 million that was stashed in vehicle tyres.
“In Brandvlei, the police went on to search an open area near an alleged drug dealer’s house and seized seven Tik bankies, four half mandrax tablets, 24 quarter mandrax tablets, 84 pokes of dagga, 107 bankies dagga, and a bag of loose dagga buried underground.
“The police will continue to keep high visibility in and around the identified hotspot as no arrests were made. The police from the Nababeep Crime Prevention unit executed tracing operations in Okiep and followed up on information on drug sales,” said Kock.
He added that, the police also arrested a man and woman with 39 mandrax tablets and confiscated an undisclosed amount of cash from the suspected drug dealers.
Meanwhile, the Namakwa District Police Commissioner for Namakwa, Brig Schalk Andrews commended the police for their vigilance and commitment during the operations that led to these outstanding arrests. Andrews said the community is also appreciated for being the ears and eyes of the police that assist in sweeping the streets clean of drugs and other criminal elements.
Picture: The embattled Greater Taung Local (GTLM) Municipality mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe who is missing in action/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) has been described as ‘leaderless’ by the chairperson of Standing Committee Public Accounts (SCOPA) in North West Job Dliso. This comes after the municipal speaker, Grace Moipolai, mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Cooperate Services, Dikagisho Mokoma failed to appear before the SCOPA.
The SCOPA had a public hearing with the embattled municipality on the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) over the 2019/20 audit reports and to seek clarity from responses to questions emanating from the Auditor General’s reports.
The AG report painted a grim picture of misuse of funds and unauthorised expenditure incurred by the municipality. The AG also alleged that, the municipality is running the risk of depleting its existing cash resources due to very low consumer recovery (little money coming in) and having to pay creditors.
“There is unauthorised expenditure closing balance amounts to R214m with R15m incurred in 2021/22. The previous year’s unauthorised expenditure was not investigated as required by legislation. Unauthorised expenditure incurred was due to overspending of the budget.
“This is due to inadequate budget and financial management controls to ensure the spending is within the budget guidelines. Continuing on this trend is likely to negatively affect the funds allocated to service deliver items,” said AG.
The AG highlighted that the municipality has challenges in delivering basic services to expectations too. The AG report said the municipality did not include indicators that speak to basic services such as water, sanitation, and electricity provision for all consumers of Taung (indicators included only focused on indigent households).
“We applaud the municipality for improving the audit outcome. However, we remain concerned about the sustainability of the improvement, as the finance unit still lacks the requisite skills to effect the daily and monthly financial management disciplines, such as reconciliations and regular reporting,” AG said.
AG further said even though the municipal infrastructure plays a key role in supporting service delivery, currently the municipality only spends R23 million on assets amounting to R762 million and that is not adequate to ensure these assets remain in good condition.
AG added that, the municipal manager must review the three annual budget before tabling to ensure it provides at least 8% of the value of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) as a repairs and maintenance budget.
“The mayor must review the SDBIP before tabling to ensure there are indicators and targets included for basic services, including water, sanitation and electricity.
“There are projects that were delayed such as Mokasa II due to heavy rainfalls and changing of the location, which was originally allocated to construct the community hall by the Ward Councillor and Tribal Council,” said AG.
Other projects that are incomplete are Loselong project that was delayed due to late appointment of the contractor by the Supply Chain Management (SCM) unit leading to a delay in receiving approval from geo-science for the dolomite studies.
“There are other projects such as Gasebuso that were delayed by heavy rainfalls and supply of roof sheets. Pudimoe Sport facility upgrade project not completed due to heavy rainfalls and budget cuts. Another incomplete project is Manthe sport facility due to poor cash flow problems of the contractor and heavy rainfalls leading to delays in delivering material,” said AG.
AG said incomplete projects include Rietfontein not completed due to poor cash flow problems of the contractor and heavy rainfalls leading to delays in delivering material, Mogopela B project not completed due to heavy rainfalls and community unrest.
“Community unrest resulting from complaints that no local community members were employed on the project.The paved road constructed in Pudimoe project was not completed and delayed due to yellow fleet breakdowns experienced during the year.
“Indigent households provided with basic services (i.e. basic water, electricity, refuse removal and sanitation). The municipality achieved 78% of the planned indicators during the 21/22 financial year. This is in addition to not having KPI’s for water, sanitation and electricity,” AG said.
Another challenge raised by the AG was a poor response to community complaints resulted in an increase in protests by the community, which at times result in the vandalism of the service delivery infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Dliso sent the municipality packing and requested it to respond to all questions raised in a detailed form.
Picture: The North West University (NWU) principal and vice-chancellor, Prof Bismark Tyobeka/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Springboks will face fierce Scotland during their 2023 Rugby World Cup match opener in Marseille, France on Sunday. The North West University (NWU) principal and vice-chancellor, Prof Bismark Tyobeka said Africa needs to make use of the global sports stage.
Tyobeka further said the previous tournament, which was won by South Africa – was held in Japan in 2019 and was the most-watched rugby event in the history of the game with more than 857 million people tuned in from around the globe.
He added that, Rugby has enjoyed a massive surge of popularity as has numerous other sporting codes, but is Africa reaping the rewards of these global sports events?
“Sport is the ideal window to showcase a country’s potential and to aid in partnership building, but these windows need to be opened. For that to happen, governments’ investment in the development of sport in their respective countries, as well as private sector partnerships that can aid in this is crucial.
“Africa cannot be left by the wayside when it comes to representation on the global sports stage. As developing countries, we need to use every possible opportunity to enhance our global footprint and to show the world our potential,” said Tyobeka.
He said sport plays an integral role in achieving this. According to Tyobeka, every tournament in every sporting code where an African team is present means that the country is taking a step forward on the global stage.
“It means the connections that were not previously there are being built. It means our countries are introduced to new markets, and tourists see new, exotic locations that more often than not provide favourable exchange rates.
“Look at our national rugby captain, Siya Kolisi who not only became a national hero, but a global sports icon after he lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy at the conclusion of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. It is almost impossible to place a value on what that meant for our country and what it still means,” he said.
Tyobeka said the number of commercialisation opportunities generated by these events and the subsequent job creation opportunities are of paramount importance because they need to utilise every tool at their disposal if they want to uplift the economy.
He said injecting financial and intellectual capital into the sport can only lead to sustainable solutions to pressing problems.
“Cricket is the second biggest sport in the world with more than two billion supporters, but so far only South Africa on the continent of Africa has qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup that will be held in India in October. That is a window closed to a continent bereft of global exposure.
“Numerous sporting codes such as hockey, tennis, and others are suffering the same fate. I want to implore our African leaders and decision-makers to commit not only to buying into the idea of sport as a global marketing tool for our continent that will enhance the prosperity of our people but also to exploring every opportunity the richness of these sports codes has to offer,” said Tyobeka.
He encourages the country to keep the sport in safe and trusted hands so that, they may one day look back and not remember a time when they did not feature on the global stage.
The acting Springbok Police Station Commander, Nomvula Jacobs has been arrested for theft by the Hawk’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation team on 5 September 2023. The Hawk spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said Jacobs (49) is an employee of the South African Police Service and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
“Jacobs is accused of stealing an amount of R291 700 from the station safe (SAP13), where exhibits are kept. The amount is made up of R102 700, which was confiscated on an ongoing inquiry matter. The amount was supposed to be deposited into a Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA) after the High Court recently issued an order to that effect.
“The balance of R189 000 is made up of other matters which are still pending. The investigation team made the discovery after several attempts were made to access the safe but the key was missing. The safe was finally opened on 30 August 2023 resulting in the case of theft being opened against Jacobs,” said Thebe.
He further said Jacobs made a brief court appearance before Springbok Magistrate’s Court on 6 September 2023. Thebe added that the bail was set at R4000, and the matter was postponed to 2 October 2023 for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Head of Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Northern Cape, Major General Stephen Mabuela couldn’t hide his disappointment on hearing the news.
“Employee Health and Wellness should be the first port of call when our employees go through any kind of distress. It is sad to see this happening,” concluded Mabuela.
Picture: ANC MP, Sibusiso Kula who is accused of killing his wife/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
The murder case against ANC Member of Parliament (MP), Sibusiso Kula (34) was postponed by the Orkney Magistrate’s Court to 13 October 2023. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, the case was postponed for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to decide on the transfer of the case to the North West High Court owing to its serious nature.
Mamothame said Kula’s attorney argued against a further postponement, citing unreasonable delay by the state. He further said, however, the state indicated that previous postponements were a result of incomplete investigations.
“The investigations have been completed and the state is ready to act on the awaited instruction from the DPP. Kula was also provided with a list of witnesses, as was instructed by the North West High Court when granting him bail.
“He is currently out on R50 000 bail, granted by the North West High Court following his appeal on the Orkney Magistrate’s Court decision to deny him bail. Kula was ordered to surrender his passports, and report twice a day at the nearest police station,” said Mamothame.
He added that Kula was also instructed to provide the investigating officer with his work itinerary, report to the investigating officer if he must move outside his residential jurisdiction, and have no direct or indirect contact with his children.
Mamothame said Kula’s bid to have the case struck off the court previously rejected the roll.
“The police reports reveal that Kula’s wife, Jennifer Mohlomi, was found murdered on 27 November 2022 in what seemed like a robbery. She was found with a stab wound on her back, but the object that was used for her alleged murder has not been recovered.
“The medical facility reported the matter, where she was allegedly transported by the accused to receive medical attention. The accused told the police that he was not at home when the incident occurred. Following thorough investigations by the police, he was linked to the alleged murder and was arrested on 20 January 2023, and charged with murder,” he said.
The Guardian 