The North West Department of Education has appointed Prince Masilo as the new acting Head of Department (HOD). This comes after the period of the acting appointment of Dr Shadrack Mvula in that position lapsed.
The North West Department of Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane said, the Executive Authority for Education took this decision after consultation with the North West Premier, Bushy Maape. He said Masilo’s acting role commenced on 1 February 2024.
“Both Masilo and Mvula are on the same post level of Deputy Director-General in the department. Mvula continues serving in his substantive post as the Deputy Director-General for Institutional Management, Governance and Support in the department.
“The powers to appoint a Head of Department for any provincial government department, rest with the Premier. Therefore, the department is not a position of authority to determine and subsequently state a date on which its currently vacant HoD post will be filled,” he said.
Molokwane further said the acting appointment does not have a bearing on the smooth running of the department, since the officials appointed to act in the vacant HoD post meet the inherent requirements for the post in terms of qualifications, experience, knowledge, values and skills.
He added that, in closing, it should be noted that the department in collaboration with Office of the Premier, is doing its best to finalise the recruitment and selection process regarding the filling of its vacant HoD post in the interest of clean governance.
The president of Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced the date for the National General Elections. Ramaphosa said in a statement that, this is in accordance with Section 49(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, read with Section 17 of the Electoral act of 1998, determined 29 May 2024, as the date for the 2024 General National and Provincial elections.
“We have also in line with Section 17(2) of the Electoral act 73 of 1998, consulted with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on the election date. Furthermore, I convened a meeting with all nine Provincial Premiers and the IEC to discuss the state of readiness for the National General elections.
“The 2024 elections coincide with South Africa’s celebration of 30 years of freedom and democracy. Therefore, we call on all eligible voters to fully participate in this important and historic milestone of our democratic calendar,” he said.
Ramaphosa further said beyond the fulfilment of the constitutional obligation, these upcoming elections are also a celebration of democratic journey and a determination of the future that they all desire. He added that, all South Africans should exercise their democratic right to vote and for those who will be campaigning to do so peacefully, within the full observance of the law.
“We also urged unregistered voters to use the online registration platform to register. The proclamation to declare the date will be issued in due course,” said Ramaphosa.
Picture: The acting North West Premier, Nono Maloyi/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Democratic Alliance (DA) said the State of the Province Address (SOPA) delivered by the acting North West Premier, Nono Maloyi was lacklustre. Maloyi delivered the speech at the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) chamber in Mahikeng on Tuesday.
According to the DA caucus leader in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Freddy Sonakile, Maloyi was ‘out of touch’ as his speech was not resonating to the people on the ground. He said it is ‘high time’ people of the province remove the ANC-led government from power.
“This was very uninspiring SOPA and not so inspiring speech by the outgoing ANC-led government. I think throughout the speech, Maloyi used the line that, they are the province on the move. He was telling the truth because we are moving towards a new government.
“He was apathetic and he kept on talking about stories that we do not know. Maloyi spoke about job creation and I just wonder which jobs were created because North West is the most province with high rate of unemployment in the country,” Sonakile said.
He further said Maloyi spoke about houses that were built. Sonakile added that, he is startled to see Maloyi boosting about 19 000 houses they built since 2019. Sonakile added that, it is actually an absurd case because that means in a year, they only managed to build 4000 units.
“I think Maloyi was supposed to use that time to apologise to the residents of the North West for the instability created by empty promises they have been making over the years.
“They promised to form a forensic unit in this office, they promised to do life-style audit on all the Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) in North West. However, five years down the line that has never happened,” he said.
Sonakile said the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) allegedly promised to create multi-tenacity building office space, however, government offices are still leased with millions. He said there is nothing that they have achieved, but he thinks that, Maloyi presented the speech just to safe faces because the North West Premier, Bushy Maape could not stand the lies that he had been peddling to the residents over the years.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) spokesperson in North West, Fanon Moema shared the same sentiments. Moema said they anticipated that, they are going to be told lies.
“It is not a coincidence that, Maloyi selectively went on and quoted Guinea-Bissau revolutionary and one of the finest African thought leaders, Amilcar Cabral when he said: “Always bear in mind that, the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone’s head, they fighting to win materials benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward and to guarantee the future of their children.”
“But, we would like to engage him further and say he was supposed to quote Amilcar Cabral when he says, telling no lies and claiming easy victory. The truth be told, the ANC-led government has inherited the infrastructure system that was well-functional from the then homeland, Bophuthatswana government, but collapsed everything found operational,” he said.
Moema said municipalities are paralysed and there is no infrastructure, including in the health department. He said hence Maape seek medical attention from abroad.
The Freedom Front + leader in the NWPL, De Wet Nel said: “I do not think so and the speech was unintelligible. They can see that is election time and now they promise people houses. People should realise that, it takes this government over five years to build these houses.
“There is a promises of houses in the eve of elections, which is ridiculous. These promises were made last year and none of them came to light.”
Meanwhile, South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) provincial spokesperson, Mzukisi Jam said Maloyi has demonstrated how a caring government should deal with communities’ service delivery concerns and responding promptly to address those concerns.
“We appreciate and commend his enthusiasm and appreciation for the need for the government that embarks on an accelerated, effective, and efficient service delivery provision and this is the type of leader our government needs in the province.
“Our communities are impatient and need services now, and as SANCO, we understand their frustrations and support the objectives of the Thuntsha Lerole Programme. Maloyi has led by example in his role as the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs,” he said.
Picture: Dysfunctional boreholes in Ntswanahatshe village
By OBAKENG MAJE
Some residents in Ntswanahatshe village, near Taung, call on government to ensure that, they have access to clean and potable water. According to one of the residents, Boitumelo Dilapiso, the government has been ignorant in solving water, sanitation and hygiene-related issues in marginalised communities for so long.
Dilapiso said government should also ensure that, there is transparency, accountability, proper implementation and completion of water projects in rural communities. He said piped drinking water is not enough to cater for the whole community in their area and that has forced others to walk long distance to access clean and drinkable water.
“So far, many people depend on water wells to get their daily water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning due to a serious challenge of provision of water. What is disheartening being that, we do have boreholes that can be refurbished, but no one is willing to listen. Those boreholes were shut down by now defunct Sedibeng Water.
“We really do not know the reason, but we do need those boreholes now. We cannot be marginalised like this because water is our basic right. Many of poor families living in remote rural areas, their primary wish is to have access to water. Many of these poor villagers, have to trek for miles every morning to fetch their daily pail of water,” he said.
However, the acting North West Premier, Nono Maloyi said in the last 30 years, the province has witnessed unprecedented levels of development. Maloyi, who delivered State of the Province Address (SOPA) at the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) in Mahikeng on Tuesday said, just over 80% of households in the province have access to piped water.
Maloyi further said this has happened either inside the dwellings, yards or community stands, as compared to 20% in 1996. He added that in November 2023, the provincial government in cooperation with Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu launched the R106 million Dinokana Water Supply Intervention Project.
“In September last year, we began the construction of the over R200 million water pipeline from Pudimoe to Huhudi to augment the provision of bulk water supply. Harmony Gold Mine is resuscitating the Kraaipan Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant back to functionality at a cost of R8.5 million to ensure sustainable water provision in parts of the Ratlou Local Municipality.
“The plant will be handed over to the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality for upkeep and management. Several more water infrastructure projects in Mahikeng, JB Marks, Moses Kotane, Greater Taung, Matlosana, Kagisano-Molopo, Moretele, Rustenburg as well as Mamusa Local Municipalities will be completed in the 2024/25 financial year,” he said.
Maloyi said all these projects will be implemented through Operation Bulela Metsi, which they launched in July last year. He said furthermore, construction of R36 million bulk water sewer pipeline at Agisanang township in the Tswaing Local Municipality is due for completion this year.
“We can report to the people of Madibeng Local Municipality that the Brits Water Treatment Plant will be completed by May this year.The completion of this project will bring an additional 20ml that will ensure provision of water in the communities of Oukasi, Mothotlung, Damonsville, Mmankau, Brits town, Elandsrand, Letlhabile and Sonop.
“The pipeline from Mafenya to Tlhabane will be completed in April. The 25ml in Tlhabane reservoir, is 99% complete and will be handed over within the next two weeks. Additional boreholes have been drilled and equipped for both the Rooigrond Waste Water Treatment Plant and Water Augmentation project to address water provision challenges in Mahikeng,” said Maloyi.
Picture: The toilets are used as classrooms at Nthapelang Primary School in Matolong village
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Department of Education has suspended the principal of Nthapelang Primary School in Matolong village, near Taung. This comes after Taung DailyNews exposed a dire situation at the school, where toilets were used as classrooms.
The North West Department of Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane said the principal has been suspended until the hearing of his case. Molokwane said his suspension is based on the fact that, he was responsible for the human degradation of putting children in the toilet as a form of a learning environment.
“This is in violation of human rights. The principal is currently suspended with pay. The outcome of the hearing of this case will be communicated as soon as the matter is concluded,” he said.
Meanwhile, the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) provincial spokesperson, Mzukisi Jam said, they are deeply concerned with strong displeasure regarding the decision taken by the school principal and the School Governing Body (SGB) at the school to repurpose toilets as classrooms.
Jam further said this decision made due to a shortage of classrooms, is not only unacceptable but also creates an unconducive environment for the learners.
“The situation also infringes upon their basic human rights. The start of the 2024 academic year in the province has witnessed an overwhelming surge in the number of learners, exacerbating the issue of overcrowded schools.
“It is disheartening to note that year after year, little to nothing is being done by the provincial government to address and resolve the persistent problem of classroom shortages. The Nthapelang Primary School is equipped with only six classrooms and is forced to accommodate 220 learners, spanning from Grade R to Grade 7,” he said.
Jam added that the amalgamation of Grade R and Grade 1, as well as Grade 5 and 6 at the school, further exacerbates the challenge. He said during discussions with the Head of the School, it was disclosed that the SGB, parents, and school management collectively agreed to convert an unused toilet into a classroom due to the underutilization of the pit ablution block.
“We are profoundly dismayed and raise concerns about how the department allowed the situation to escalate to a point, where the school principal felt compelled to make such a decision.
“This suggests a concerning lack of proactive intervention by the district office and the department in addressing the alarming incident at schools, particularly, at Nthapelang Primary School,” said Jam.
He said this unfortunate circumstance not only burdens teachers and principals with immense pressure, but more importantly, compromises the quality of education provided to the learners. Jam said they are wondering whether the district office was aware of the school’s dire situation of shortage of classrooms.
“We anticipate that, the department should have prioritised this matter and taken steps to ensure that, the school prevented the repurposing of toilets as classrooms. Such actions compromise the integrity of the department,” he said.
Kgetsi ya polao kgatlhanong le monna wa dingwaga di le 47, e solofetswe go ka reediwa mo letstatsing la 21 Tlhakole 2024 kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Taung. Kabelo Mogongwa o solofetswe go dira kopo ya beile gone mo letsatsing leo.
Go begwa fa Mogongwa a ile a tshwarwa morago ga dipego tsa gore o thuntsitse lekgarebe la gagwe, Tsholofelo Nde Emphukile (38). Go begwa fa lekawana le le lekgarebe la gagwe, ba ne ba dula botlhe kwa phaphosing e e hirilweng kwa motseng wa Khibitswane, gaufi le Taung.
Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Mokaptein Aaftje Botma, moagisani wa monna o, o ile a tlhalosetsa sepodisi fa baratani ba, ba gorogile ka ura ya bongwe mo mosong, mme go ile ga tsoga kgakgauthano ma gareng ga bone.
“O kaile fa a utlwile modumo wa sethunya. Sepodisi se ile sa biletswa kwa lefelong la tiragalo, mme se ile sa fitlhela moswi mogare ga bophadiphadi jwa madi.
“Sepodisi se ile sa tlhoka gore ba shage burglars gore ba kgone go tsena mo ntlung. Molatofadiwa o ile a tshwarwa, mme one a ganelwa ka beile,” Botma wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, sebueledi sa lelapa la moswi, Medupe Emphukile are: “Re utlwisitswe botlhoko ke tiragalo e, mme ga ke itse gore a kgolagano ya moswi le molatofadiwa kgale e na le mathata. Kgale ba dula ba le babedi kwa Khibitswane, mme Tsholofelo ene kgale a tla fela fa etile kwa lapeng kwa Cokonyane.”
Setopo sa monna wa dingwaga di le 45 se bonwe kwa nokeng ya Blue Pool kwa motseng wa Buxton, gaufi le Taung mo letsatsing la Tshipi. Go begwa fa monna o, ane a tsamaile le ba lelapa go tsenela dikolobetso, fela o ile a relela mme awa.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen are, ba lelapa ga ba bona gore monna o o wetse kae.
“Ba lelapa ga ba kgona go itsise sepodisi ka ntlheng ya mabaka a setso. Fela mongwe wa lelapa, one a boela kwa nokeng eo, mme a bona setopo sa mo gagabo. Kgetsi ya morago ga loso e butswe, mme dipatlisiso di tsweletse,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.
TaungDailyNews 