Picture: The vacancies at Gender Equality to be filled/Generic
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Nonhlanhla Ncube-Ndaba today said, they have adopted the programme and an advert on the filling of vacancies in the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE).
Ncube-Ndaba said the committee will now undertake a process of recruitment to fill six vacancies of commissioners in the CGE. She further said the recruitment of commissioners will be guided by the CGE Act and the processes would be in line with the Employment Equity Act and Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and the Constitution.
“The committee resolved to use an electronic application system through Google form on the parliamentary website. A link to the online form will be included in the advert and there will be a dedicated WhatsApp number for applicants and requests for the link.
“The committee further resolved to publish candidates’ résumes on the parliamentary website taking into consideration the prescripts of the POPI Act. The public will be provided an opportunity to make and submit comments on the shortlisted candidates as part of the public participation process,” added Ncube-Ndaba. taungdailynews@gmail.com
A 27-YEAR-OLD man who was arrested for allegedly stabbing his pregnant girlfriend to death died in police holdings in Hartswater. It is alleged that on 25 November 2023 at around 3:30am, the deceased, Faith Davids (29) was with her cousin at their home allegedly from a local tavern.
The accused, Sobressa Bosman shortly joined them and an argument ensued.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Northern Cape, Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the fight ensued between the couple. Senokoatsane further said Bosman allegedly stabbed his girlfriend several times.
“The victim was taken to the hospital, where she was declared dead. The matter was reported to the police and the accused was arrested. Unfortunately, Bosman passed on while investigations led by the South African Police Service were continuing in this matter.
“The matter will now be closed as the accused has passed on before the investigations were concluded. The accused had passed on while in the holding cells at the Hartswater Police Station and was to make a formal bail application in the Hartswater District Court,” he said.
Senokoatsane added that, the NPA was going to oppose this bail application.
Picture: North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho said the 2023/24 Provincial Adjustment Budget seeks to address the ever-evolving needs and challenges facing the people of the province.
Rosho, who tabled the budget recently, emphasised that the budget considered the service delivery needs of the community, especially towards the provision of education, health services, water, and sanitation as well as the provinces’ road network.
She further said the North West Provincial Fiscal Framework for the 2023/24 financial year has been adjusted upwards by R1.860 billion from R50.856 billion to R52.716 billion. Rosho added that several reductions have been made to the provincial conditional grants for 2023/24 amounting to R581.327 million due to the fiscal challenges faced by the government.
“Furthermore, the National Treasury has approved conditional grant rollovers from the previous financial year amounting to R574.879 million. The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development conditional grants have been reduced by R22.041 million and the approved rollovers amount to R28.125 million, mainly relating to the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme and Illima/Letsema Projects Grants.
“The North West Department of Education conditional grant rollovers amounting to R151.217 million have been approved and the reduction on conditional grants amounts to R169.331 million, primarily affecting the Education Infrastructure Grant and the Early Childhood Development Grant,” she said.
Rosho said the conditional grant reductions in the North West Department of Health amount to R106.922 million on the District Health Programme Grant and the Health Facility Revitalization Grant (HFRG). She said an amount of R168.413 million was approved as rollovers for the National Health Insurance Grant, National Tertiary Services Grant, and the HFRG from the previous year.
“The North West Department of Public Works and Roads has been allocated a rollover on the Provincial Road Maintenance Grant (PRMG) of R206.309 million and the reduction on their conditional grants equals R55.179 million on the EPWP and PRMG grants.
“The North West Department of Human Settlements has a reduced conditional grant allocation based on the national conditional grant reduction of R212.496 million, namely on the Human Settlement Development Grant by R167.735 million together with the Informal Settlement Upgrading Partnership Grant by R44.761 million,” she said.
Rosho said an amount of R6.565 million has been approved as rollovers from the previous financial year.
Picture: The Mandela Drive road in Mahikeng will be closed/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Oageng Molapisi said, motorists who are using the Mandela Drive in Mahikeng, would have to wait a little bit longer for the completion of the road. Molapisi said his department will temporarily close the busiest road in Mahikeng due to unforeseen delays in completing the project.
He further said the decision follows an oversight visit they conducted recently.
“It has been uncovered that the initially pronounced date of completion set at December 2023, will unfortunately not be achieved. The cause of delays is the main culvert running underneath the road for stormwater drainage, which came in as additional work.
“This has led to slow progress because of the staggered supply of culverts by manufacturers and existing services, which require relocations. We had taken a posture to allow space for the contractor to work without any obstructions, performing fewer oversight visits as we had initially agreed,” said Molapisi.
He added that, unfortunately, they found out that, there seems to be zero commitment to complete the project. Molapisi said the reasons advanced by the contractor for the delay cannot be acceptable.
“In the process, I have directed the Head of Department, Moses Kgantsi to closely monitor the project and ensure that, the contractor is committed to completing the project.
“Due to deep excavations on the roadworks (between McDonald food outlet and Victoria Road) and the hosting of the Annual Mahika Mahikeng Cultural Music Festival, the department will close the road temporarily,” he said.
Molapisi said the road closure will take place effectively on 8 December between the Victoria Road intersection and the McDonald food outlet in town. He said the road will then be re-opened in the morning of Monday, 11 December 2023.
“The motorists will be diverted to alternative routes in line with the traffic accommodation plan during the three-day closure. Road users will be directed by road signs to use Victoria Road and other alternative routes connecting back through the Mall and Dadford Road.
“Trucks from Nelson Mandela turn left on Voortrekker (Dada Motors), straight up until Quigley Street, and turn right at Quigley until Royal Estates. Pass Royal Estates until Shippard Street (Zeerust Road),” said Molapisi.
He said motorists would then turn right until Nelson Mandela Drive. Molapisi said the arrangements have been made for Traffic Control Officers to be available full-time and throughout the closure to monitor all signage and ensure road users adhere to safety regulations and speed limits.
He said the department wishes to apologise to everyone for any inconvenience caused during this period.
“We urge residents in general and motorists in particular to exercise a little more patience and allow us to complete the project.
“The desire to lead the department towards the construction of quality road infrastructure remains a key priority, but the preservation of life is of utmost importance,” concluded Molapisi.
Picture: Thousands of residents continue to experience significant water shortages
By OBAKENG MAJE
Thousands of residents across North West continue to experience significant water shortages and do not have access to running water. To add salt to the wound, the Blue Drop report that was published recently, highlighted that the water quality is poor.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Freddy Sonakile said they are concerned about the reported deteriorating water quality in the province.
Sonakile said this comes after only one water system in the province managed to meet the requirements of the blue drop status.
“Only the Potchefstroom water system in JB Marks qualifies for Blue Drop status and is thought to be in “excellent condition”. Seven systems are reported as “critical and 30 systems are regarded as being in “poor condition.”
“While only 30 other systems are “average” and 5 are “operating well”, the report has also listed several major concerns that we have long been raising, including ineffective operations, faulty infrastructure, insufficient dosing rates, a lack of disinfection chemicals, inadequate monitoring, and a lack of operating and chemical knowledge,” he said.
Sonakile further said, the report makes use of specific criteria in determining the quality of the water, specifically aimed at protecting consumers from unsafe and unsuitable water. He added that, the province’s TSA score, which assessed how well raw water handling, water treatment, and processed water delivery were done has dropped from 28% to 18%.
“This significant drop increases the risk to residents, while the biggest concern is Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Ngaka Modiri Molema, and Kgetlengrivier, which has the lowest Blue Drop score of 21.60%. The report also voiced concerns about the lack of skilled technical personnel. A problem that can mostly be attributed to the ANC’s insistence on hiring unqualified cadres for critical technical positions.
“The DA has written to the North West Provincial Water Technical Steering Committee that was established by Minister Senzo Mnchunu.
“The committee must present an intervention plan to address the 33 average, poor, and critical water systems in the province and provide a plan to assist municipalities in dealing with the skills shortages within the Water and Sanitation Divisions,” said Sonakile.
Meanwhile, the Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa said that based on water quality tests carried out by municipalities themselves during the 2021/2022 municipal financial year, 54% of water supply systems achieved excellent or good microbiological water quality compliance and 46% achieved poor or bad microbiological water quality compliance.
Mavasa said in 2014, 5% of water supply systems achieved poor or bad microbiological water quality compliance.
“This indicates a severe regression in drinking water quality between 2014 and 2023. Drinking water quality is generally good in the major metropolitan areas. The tests carried out by a municipality indicate that, drinking water poses a health risk.
“The municipalities are obliged by law to inform its consumers that the quality of the water that it is supplying poses a health risk. DWS has sent non-compliance letters to the municipalities with systems which scored poorly or badly in terms of drinking water quality in the 2023 Blue Drop Report,” he said.
The Guardian 