By REGINALD KANYANE

North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL)’s Deputy Speaker, Linah Miga, has encouraged various voters across the province to collect their Identity Documents (IDs) at various offices of the Department of Home Affairs for voter registration weekend of 18 until 19 November 2023.

Miga said this comes after the establishment of the North West Provincial Home Affairs Stakeholder Forum, which serves as a mechanism for ensuring collaborations in addressing services related to the Department of Home Affairs.

She further said Section 118 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, requires that the legislature must facilitate public involvement in the legislative and other processes of the legislature and its committees.

“Through engagements at this forum, it came to light that there are thousands of ID smart cards that have not been collected from the various district offices of the Department of Home Affairs. According to the provincial report on uncollected IDs as of 6 November 2023, there are 26,863 Smart IDs in 15 district offices, as well as 684 green ID books.

“The breakdown per district shows that, a total number of 2840 uncollected IDs in Klerksdorp, 2613 in Potchefstroom, 1390 in Wolmaranstad. In Bojanala region, there are 2948 uncollected IDs in Rustenburg, 2093 in Brits, 2282 in Mankwe, and 1304 in Swartruggens,” said Miga.

She added that, in Ngaka Modiri Molema region, there are 1216 uncollected IDs in Lichtenburg, 2089 in Mmabatho, 1200 in Atamelang, and 998 in Zeerust. According to Miga, in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, there are 479 uncollected IDs in Taung, 816 in Ganyesa, and 2595 in Vryburg.

“Considering that a lower voter turnout was reported in the past elections, particularly in the North West, the legislature wishes to plead with all communities to visit the Home Affairs offices in their areas for collection of smart IDs.

“The call to action is made urgent by the fact that Voter Registration for the 2024 General Elections is scheduled for 18 and 19 November 2023 in the various Voting Stations across the country including the province.

“It is therefore imperative for those who have not collected IDs to do so in order to embrace and honour their right to vote in the coming General Elections,” she said.

 Miga also said, the Provincial Home Affairs Stakeholders Forum encourages communities to make use of the opportunity created by the IEC, whereby Voting Stations will be opened from 7am until 5pm on 18 – 19 November 2023 in order for citizens to register to vote in the upcoming 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mambolo said: “The Electoral Commission declares its readiness to conduct a General Registration weekend as part of the program for the preparations for the 2024 General Elections. Over two days on 19 and 20 November 2023, we will welcome the eligible citizens at 23 000 296 registration stations across the country.

“The registration stations will operate between 8am to 5pm on both days. Opening of all registration stations this weekend provides equal opportunities to all South Africans to access the voter registration process. The registration weekends as a modality of the registration, provide us by far the greatest registration yields in comparison with other methods.”

Mamabolo said of these voting stations, 62% are schools, 9.7% are places of worship and the balance of 28% include either categories such as community halls and other municipal infrastructure.

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Picture: Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu visiting water project in Zeerust/Supplied

By BAKANG MOKOTO

Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu said he will ensure that Operation Bulela Metsi meets its obligations to the people of Dinokana and ultimately the whole province. Mchunu said they have invested R106 million into the Dinokana Water Supply Intervention Project that is implemented by Magalies Water in Zeerust.

He further said, the Dinokana Water Project, is one of the 27 water and sanitation projects under Operation Bulela Metsi that were unlocked and reprioritised as a result of intergovernmental interventions led by his office and the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) early this year.

Mnchunu added that he conducted an oversight at the construction sites of the water project and met with the community of Dinokana.

“The delegation was taken through the ‘sacred’ Dinokana Eye, a natural spring where the source of the water and the pump station are located and also conducted a walkabout at the site where a 15-kilometer bulk pipeline is being laid.

“Through the intergovernmental structures set in the province and the constitutional mandate of each institution, the program will ensure that every household has access to water through a standpipe. So, the people need to be patient as the projects are being implemented in phases,” he said.

Mchunu said they are happy that, there is progress and that ultimately, water will reach everyone who needs to benefit from the project. He said they are now here to point to the work that is currently being carried out.

“Refurbishing the pump station is critical so that all the pumps are working optimally in order to pump the required quantities and be able to meet the demand of these communities in the four wards.

“The project scope underway entails the refurbishment and upgrade of the Dinokana Rural Water Supply Infrastructure, which consists of high lift pump refurbishment and upgrade from 2 Ml/day to 4 Ml/day, refurbishment of boreholes, upgrading of spring water pump station and pipeline, refurbishment of the distribution system up to the bulk water reservoirs and constructing an additional 2 Ml reservoir to provide additional gravity pressure,” said Mchunu.

He said already over 1000 metres of the bulk pipeline has been laid, works on the refurbishment work have commenced, and work on the bulk distribution network has also commenced. Mchunu said that 17 local people benefited through the Dinokana Water Supply Intervention project, and 5 more job opportunities will in the future be added to benefit 25 locals each per ward.

“We encourage those with illegal water connections to report to the local mayor to be legally connected for free. This way, they won’t face the wrath of the law. We also call on the community to safeguard the infrastructure.

“Connecting water illegally damages the pipes and further assigned one of the local youth in Dinokana to lead in the fight against vandalism of the water infrastructure. Dinokana Water Supply intervention project which commenced on the 30 September 2023, is expected to be completed on the 30 September 2024,” said Mchunu.

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Picture: The GWK merged with VKB Group/Google

By OBAKENG MAJE

GWK said it merger with VKB has produced a positive impact in less than six months. According to the GWK Engagement Manager, Madri Scheepers, the merger was officially approved by the Competition Authorities earlier this year.

“There are positive stories about the impact of the merger and the people in this story have already emerged. Directly or indirectly, people, including employees, customers and communities in the areas where GWK and VKB operate businesses, have begun to experience the positive impact of the merger.

“Value has already been unlocked for the VKB Group (or the combined group) in specific divisions, either monetarily or through efficiencies. More positive news is that, the combined group is moving forward and successfully finding solutions for more efficient energy consumption at various business units,” she said.

Scheepers further said this value can be attributed to several factors and one of these, is the leadership of the GWK/VKB’s integration committee, which follows a structured and comprehensive process to lead the integration process in collaboration with the executive leadership team of the VKB Group.

She added that, apart from the input of this committee, the dedication of the employees of the combined group is worth mentioning.

“Every day, employees embrace the changes and focus on utilising the opportunities on a professional, personal, and business level. These people are, and have always been a core focus for GWK and VKB, even before the merger.

“As a combined group, employees have the certainty that no retrenchments linked to the merger will take place for 36 months from the effective date and eligible employees will soon share in the benefits of employee trusts,” said Scheepers.

She said in addition to this, employees have more opportunities to develop and grow their careers as part of one of the largest agricultural businesses in South Africa. Scheepers said as part of the integration process, dedicated focus and hard work are being done to unlock benefits for clients as a result of the merger.

“This applies to commercial and emerging producers who each play a valuable role in the sustainability of agriculture – something vital to the combined group. The focus on support for emerging producers and the establishment of these producers as sustainable commercial farmers in the future, are supported by projects that are already actively operating for the last few years, as well as access to financing and other services. 

“The latter includes established and committed financing solutions and input financing to eligible emerging producers, which are available through the combined group (subject to the credit policy and relevant legislation),” she said. 

Scheepers said potential qualifying beneficiaries can send their enquiries to contact@vkb.co.za. She said currently, the processes and qualifying requirements are being put in place for managing financing options – the group will communicate with relevant stakeholder groups as soon as more information is available.

“The company’s connection with PALS (Partners in Agri Land Solutions) is a further vital partnership to promote innovative and inclusive growth in the agricultural sector and to support communities, as well as promote sustainability within the industry. 

“An example of one existing project is Agriqua, which is a structured mentorship programme that has been successfully implemented and is operating in the Taung area. One hundred and fourteen producers form part of the programme, which strives to support emerging producers in preparation for establishing commercial farms,” concluded Scheepers.

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