Picture: Ntswanahatshe-born athlete, Ikageng Gaorekwe, who trades his mark in USA/Supplied 

By OBAKENG MAJE

Ntswanahatshe-born athlete, Ikageng Gaorekwe (26) who is now based in the United States of America (USA) said, it takes discipline, dedication, and determination to break through the ranks. A young talented Gaorekwe said, he has put a rigorous training from a tender age, while he was still a learner at Motlhamare Primary School.

“I grew up in the dusty streets of Ntswanahatshe village in Taung and always found joy in athletics. One of my friends, who is also an athlete played a pivotal role in becoming the athlete that I am today. He invited me to their training group in 2007, but I was unenthusiastic during that year.

“That led to my expulsion after missing a lot of training sessions. So, I started to take my career seriously in 2008 when I was in Grade 5. I think that was the same year, where South African athlete, Caster Semenya rose to prominence,” he said.

 Gaorekwe further said he was inspired by Semenya, and his coach, Ephraim Ruele, who was also a comrade marathon runner, saw an abundance of talent in him. He added that, since then, he never looked back.

“I have participated in several marathon competitions throughout my career. However, my international break was in Yaounde, Cameroon on 12 March 2016, where we were competing against more than 15 countries across Africa. I was grateful that I managed to occupy position 12.

“I was at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) when I realised that, I must get out of my comfort zone and see the world. So, I started emailing my portfolio to coaches in various schools in the USA. I must say, I was so humbled to see a lot of them showing interest,” said Gaorekwe.

At that time, Gaorekwe was a multi-national champion in South Africa from track and field to cross country. He said he decided to enroll at Central Arizona College in Arizona, USA in 2017.

“I am currently majoring in Sports Science because I feel like it’s a field that I still need to develop in. As an athlete, you come across a lot of challenges, especially when you are far away from home. Sometimes one becomes homesick and misses friends and family. Another issue is being injury-prone, but all you have to do is focus and keep your head up.

“You need to remind yourself why you still doing what you are doing as an athlete. I would like to see myself holding my Degree and being part of the Cape Town Marathon will be the cherry on top,” he said.

However, Gaorekwe urges upcoming athletes not to put themselves under unnecessary pressure. He said they need to take one step at a time and not put their bodies under strenuous pressure.

“Most important is to be patient. Eventually, everything you wished for will come true. It takes everything to become the best athlete and this sport is an individual sport. So, running is all about you and you only.

“You have to do everything perfectly- take care of your body as an athlete and you will get the results you are looking for,” concluded Gaorekwe.

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Picture: The award-winning athlete, Innocentia Msikinya, is ready for the big day 

By OBAKENG MAJE

The Special Olympic Gold Medallist and a former learner at MM Sebitloane Special School in Taung, Innocentia Msikinya said, she is very excited after being nominated for the North West Sports Awards. Msikinya, who is a nail technician by profession, has been nominated for Sportswoman of the Year with Disability category.

She is expected to compete against North West Basketball player, Linda Bosele and Christiana School for the Blind learner, Mpho Machete.

“I am super excited to be nominated and this means a lot to me. I hope to come out victorious because it feels awesome. It is also such an honour to be nominated alongside such an incredible selection of sportswomen.

“I’m excited that I am going to meet lots of other like-minded people. It is always interesting to go to events to meet others, who have the same interests, hobbies and passions. This will assist us to connect and winning would mean so much to me,” she said.

The MM Sebitloane Special School principal, Boipelo Mmokwa said they welcome the nomination. Mmokwa further said, that the school has been nominated for the awards including individuals.

“This really shows that the school is doing great in sports and vocational. The nominations will also change the narrative of the people at large about our school. I am really proud and I’m so looking forward to being part of the North West Sports Awards event.

“You will remember that, our learners performed exceptionally well at the Special Olympic Summer World Cup held in Berlin, Germany recently. So, the nominations come as an honour for their hard work, discipline and sterling performance they put out there,” she said.

The event is scheduled at Mmabatho Convention Centre on 18 November 2023 at 5pm.

Here are some of nominees:

Nominees for Rural School Team of the Year – North West Sports Awards 2023

1. Khumosejo Secondary School

2. Ramadile Primary School

3. Tirisano High School Sports Team

Nominees for School Team of the Year – North West Sports Awards 2023

1. Are Fenyeng High School

2. Meerhof Special School

3. MM Sebitloane Special School

Nominees for Journalist of the Year (Print) – North West Sports Awards 2023

1. Mohanoe Khiba – Daily Sun

2. Teboho Letselela – Mafikeng Mail

3. Wouter Pienaar – Potchefstroom Herald

Nominees Journalist of the Year (Electronic) – North West Sports Awards 2023

1. Sello Mokonopi – Mahikeng FM

2. Mosela Mokgosi – Motsweding FM

3. Masego Riet – Mahikeng FM

Nominees for Community Based Sports and Recreation Body of the Year – North West Sports Awards 2023

1. Fitness Crew

2. Lehurutshe Soccer Ritz

3. Saving Lives

Nominees for Provincial Federation of the Year – North West Sports Awards 2023

1. Ngaka Modiri Molema Open Boxing Organisation

2. North West Cricket Federation

3. NW Handball Federation

Nominees for Indigenous Game of the Year – North West Sports Awards 2023

1. Letlapa Kgati Group

2. Matlosane Recreation Club

3. North West Kgati

Nominees for Sports Volunteer of the Year – North West Sports Awards 2023

1. Azwindini Makananise – M.M Sebitloane Special School

2. Mpho Seate – North West Gymnastics

3. Tshepo Seponkane – Community Sports

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Picture: Learners attending classes in a shack/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in North West said it is uncalled for to see teaching and learning at Boitumelo Primary School in Bethel village, outside Mahikeng taking place in a shack owned by a community member. The EFF alleged that this happened because the school infrastructure has dilapidated.

The EFF provincial spokesperson, Fanon Moema accused ANC in North West of using all occasions to ‘speak glory’ and claim to be ‘accelerating service delivery’ through a scamming program called, Thuntsha Lerole to all sections of the communities. Moema said, however, that learners at Boitumelo Primary School, amongst others, are living and learning in appalling conditions with no access to water, electricity, toilets, and other basic necessities.

“It is unfortunate that, under the North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi, and the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, learners are facing the cold weather conditions and rain in shack classrooms.

“The North West Provincial Government (NWPG) has been aware of the situation in Bethel for quite some time with no interest to deal with it decisively despite many undertakings,” he said.

Moema further alleged that, Maloyi is using Thuntsa Lerole campaign to bypass due processes and advance his own ends. He added that, as the EFF, they will be meeting with the School Governing Body (SGB), parents, and teachers to ensure that learners get the necessary support for teaching and learning to proceed for the common good of the community.

“Furthermore, we will initiate a fully blown investigation into the matter and ensure that the provincial government does not enjoy any impunity for the flagrant disregard and gross remiss of the rights of the learners,” said Moema.

Meanwhile, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane said: “The school is under total renovation and it has asbestos roofing. The purpose of the renovation is to remove asbestos because it is hazardous. The school is still there, and roofing only has to be removed.

“The project started around July 2023 and the school has two blocks of five classrooms each. One block collapsed when the roof was removed, and that caused a delay in the project’s completion. The other block has been renovated and new roofing has also been completed.”

Molokwane said the Grade 2 and 3 learners were accommodated at a bigger building made of corrugated irons belonging to one of the SGB members. He said the parents were involved when that decision was taken to use the building.

“This started during the first week of August 2023. The school received three mobile classrooms on Saturday in order to accommodate the Grade 1 to 3 learners. The matter has been addressed and the school is awaiting approval to demolish the collapsed block and build a new structure of five classrooms.

“The infrastructure team is now involved to ensure that, the process of completing the remaining work is completed. It is expected that, by tomorrow the three mobile classrooms will be completed and handed over to the school for resumption of teaching and learning,” said Molokwane.

He said it is worth noting that, teaching and learning got disturbed for two days last week only.

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Setshwantsho: Tlhokego ya ditirelo ke tlhoba boroko kwa kgorwaneng ya borataro

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Go tsogile tlhatlharuane kwa kgorwaneng ya borataro e akaretsang motse wa Myra, ga mmogo le Mogopela B kwa Taung. Seno se tla morago ga gore, baagi ba kaele Taung DailyNews fa ba sa bone ditirelo go tswa kwa masepaleng o mogolwane wa Taung gonne ba voutetse lekoko la sepolotiki la Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD).

Go ya ka molekgotlha wa kgorwana eo, Seakgamoriri Mmokwa wa lekoko la sepolotiki la F4SD, gona le maiteko a go netefatsa fa baagi ba sa bone ditirelo, gonne ba voutela F4SD. Mmokwa are, o lobaka a ikuela go masepala go ka tokafatsa ditirelo kwa kgorwaneng e, fela maiteko a gagwe a iteile sefololetsa.   

“Re itemogetse gore tshwetso tsa baagi tse ba di dirileng fa gone go dirwa Integrated Development Planning (IDP), ga di a tsewa tsia. Baagi ba dirile ditshwetso tseo ngwaga le ngwaga, mme ga gona sepe se se dirilweng.  

“Go bontsha fa go sa tle go dirwa sepe, gonne gona le Portfolio Committee ya mafaratlhatlha e e dirang ditsitsinyo ka di porejeke tse di tla tlang, fela kgorwana ya borataro ga eo moo, ntle ke porojeke ya go tsenya dipone tsa mo mebileng (high mast light) dile nne ka 2026,” Mmokwa wa tlhalosa.

Are, gona le porojeke ya metsi e eneng e tshwanetswe go ribololwa ka 2021, fela masepala one a e gogela morago ntle le mabaka a tsepameng. Go ya ka Mmokwa, masepala o tlhalositse fa madi a porejeke eo, a le mantsi. 

“Fela seo ene e se nnete gonne porojeke eo, ene e tlile go jela masepala madi a lekanyediwang go R7m. Fela, go bontsha fa go nnile le botsokunape gonne, motsamaisi wa maloba wa masepala, one a tsenya khansele ya masepala ka sekgwa ka go ba kaela fa porojeke eo e tlhoka R30m.  

“Jaanong, seo se re lemotsha gore kgang e, e dirilwe ka bomo gonne baagi ba ne ba tlile go bona fa F4SD e direla baagi. Le gompieno jaaka ke bua le wena jaana, ga gona metsi kwa kgorwaneng ya rona ya Myra le Mogopela B,” Mmokwa wa tlhalosa.

Fela motlatsa modula-setilo wa Myra Civic Movement, Obakeng Sentshegeng, o latofatsa Mmokwa ka go sa tsenele dikopano tsa baagi tsa kgwedi le kgwedi. Sentshegeng are, ba na le matsapa a tlhaelo ya metsi kwa motseng wa bone, ebile one a leba kwa dikantorong tsa masepala mo letsatsing la maabane go batla dikarabo.

“Metsi a na le kgwedi yotlhe a seo, mme go sena ope fela kgotsa molekgotlha wa rona go re bolelela gore go diragalang. Gape, molekgotlha wa rona ga tsenele dikopano tsa kgorwana ya gagwe. Ke ile ka leba kwa dikantorong tsa masepala, mme ka kopana le modiri teng yo ke ileng ka mo tlhalosetsa ka matsapa a rona a tlhaelo ya metsi.

“Fela, rre o, one a mpotsa gore molekgotlha wa rona ke mang, ebile le mokgatlho wa sepolotiki o re o voutetseng ke ofeng. Seo, se ile sa ntemosa gore re otlhaelwa gore re be re voutetse mokgatlho wa F4SD ka ntlheng ya gore, ga re bone ditirelo kwa motseng wa rona,” Sentshegeng wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, masepala ga wa araba mo ntlheng eo.

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Picture: A call centre that causes an outcry/Google 

By REGINALD KANYANE

The Municipal Manager at the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Itumeleng Jonas said they will not be side-tracked by mischievous reports that, the municipality has paid a R38 million for a call centre. Jonas, who was speaking to Newzroom Afrika TV channel said, they have responded to a clarion call made by the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) to have a call centre in each district to dichotomise service delivery challenges.

“The process in terms of the appointment of the service provider was done in December 2021. In February 2022, the former Municipal Manager, awarded the tender to the bidder. The appointment letter stated categorically that, the service provider was appointed for three years to the tune of R38 million.

“The appointment letter stipulated that annually, the municipality has to budget a R12 million. In that R12 million, there are certain activities included such as the appointment of individuals, the annual licence fee, monthly fee and Adhoc training,” he said.

Jonas said the council approved a budget for a call centre and all processes unfolded were above board. He further said the appointed service provider was the lowest amongst them all.

“The inclusive monthly fees to the training component, are to the value of R1.4 million. So, at this particular moment, we have not paid R38 million. All payments will be subjected to the approval.

“We have received calls from various community members regarding sewage spillages and shortages of water through the call centre and we were able to address those challenges,” added Jonas.

However, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in North West said they would engage various law enforcement agencies to probe the tender. According to allegations, the approval of the tender was done, while the EFF executive mayor, Tebogo Babuile was at the helm of the municipality.

The EFF provincial spokesperson, Fanon Moema said: “I think we must make it quite clear that, as we were working in the office, we have never received such a discussion or never been in a position, where the Office of the Speaker, summoned the executive mayor to the council to discuss such item in a special council meeting.

“So, we are quite surprised by the revelations that office of the former executive mayor, Tebogo Babuile was really faced with such discussion. So, we have never came to a point where we discussed such. So, we are not aware of that particular call centre.”

Meanwhile, the chairperson of North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Aaron Motswana alleged that, the municipality created a duplicate call centre with public funds that were meant for service delivery.

“We urge the North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi to take necessary steps to stop rampant corruption, fraud and looting at an industrial scale in the municipality.

“This shows thuggery, theft, and fraud of the highest order that when thieves ran out of ideas on how to authorise theft of taxpayers’ monies, the only logic was for them to create a shack and imaginary computers, handheld radios and vehicles to justify their greed,” he said.

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