Monthly Archives: September 2024

Namibian delegation commends North West’s clinical programmes

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Picture: the Namibian delegation and their North West counterparts/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

19 September 2014- A delegation from the government of the Republic of Namibia, commended the North West’s clinical programmes, health technology and Human Resources capacity, particularly in specialised clinical areas at Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital Complex. This comes after delegation embarked on a two-day benchmarking visit to the North West Department of Health and the North West University (NWU).

The Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services representative, Taimi Amaambo said their first day of the visit, started with the National Department of Health, outlining the country’s approach to human resource for health, highlighting the strategic plan for health with a detailed presentation on recruitment, training and retention of personnel including specialists and general health workers.

“We are honoured as the Namibian delegation to have been hosted by both the North West Department of Health and the North West University. The partnership between the department and the university is purposeful and driven by the need to service the nation.

“So, we have learnt a lot in that regard. We realise that here is a lot we can implement back home. Some lessons like that of the medical school are long term but at-least we can start planning. There are however immediate human resource practices that we think can benefit us in the short terms as we want to increase our workforce,” she said.

Speaking on day two of this visit, Dr Luvuyo Bayeni who is the Chief Director for Human Resource management said: “The reason we chose North West was for us as a country to showcase the journey that the Provincial Health department and North West University has undergone to develop the medical school, to enhance teaching for undergraduate and how we manage the postgraduate through medical internship because we believe that the North West province has the best model that not only the country but other countries can learn from”.

The North West Department of Health representatives led by DDGs for Hospitals and Clinical Support Services and that of District Health Services, as well as Technical Advisors, presented the North West service delivery offerings. The presentation covered tertiary service platforms, training platforms, twinning and dual appointments with universities, employee and wellness programme, as well as the medical school project.

The DDG for Hospitals and Clinical Support Services, Polaki Mokatsane said they believe that the benchmarking went very well.

“I believe that the objective of understanding how our health system works, which is what the Namibians were looking for was achieved. This was an interaction which was beneficial to both parties.

“We also learnt from them how to improve on governance and ethics as well as dealing with challenges of a long bureaucratic process in our system”, said Mokatsane.

Meanwhile, the NWU presented a model of cooperation with the Department of Health and highlighted joint medical school programme as a model that continues to improve health services particularly at clinical level in the province. Speaking on behalf of the university, Professor Petra Bester who is the operation lead for the university’ school of medicine said that the need for cooperation is necessitated by the fact that we have the same disease burden.

“It is important that the cooperation is strengthened as it benefit all of us in terms of exchanging expertise, research and this can extent to our Namibian counterparts,” he said.

Professor Binu Luke, who is the lead person for the North West Medical School project and the Technical Advisor for Hospitals and Clinical Support said he is confident that the province has demonstrated its capacity.

“We were able to showcase our premier institution of leaning and teaching which is Klerksdorp-Tshepong Hospital. We believe that the Namibians have been able to learn from our areas of excellence,” said Luke.

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Learners Taught About Trafficking In Persons and Its Danger

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Picture: The Hawks in Northern Cape educate learners about Trafficking In Person cases/Supplied 

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

19 September 2024- The Hawks in Northern Cape said it has joined forces with Galeshewe SAPS’ Social Crime Prevention Unit and visited one of the local schools, Mankuruane Primary School, in quest of addressing trafficking in Persons and its danger. The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said they had an engagement with Grade 6 and 7 learners.

“Learners are currently doing an activity, which is related to the topic and the Directorate’s TIP coordinator, seized the opportunity to educate them on the topic.

“There are TIP cases that have been reported in the Greater Kimberley area. Learners were encouraged to exchange information with their parents in relation to the signs, where and how to report, as well as to discuss their suspicions with their educators,” he said.

Thebe further said in closing, learners were asked questions and those who answered, were rewarded with Hawks branded items. He added that the event was a successful partnership between SAPS and Hawks.

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Three municipal officials in court for alleged fraud

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By REGINALD KANYANE

19 September 2024- The Kimberley Serious Commercial Crime Investigation members served the management of Renosterberg Local Municipality in Pixley ka Seme District in the Northern Cape Province with summons to appear in court.

This comes after two current employees and a former employee, are accused of failing to pay over the municipal employees’ pension contribution over to Municipal Workers Retirement Fund and LA Retirement Fund, respectively.

The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said, as a result, both retirement fund houses suffered prejudice to the value of R73 563 652 60.

“The implicated officials are former acting Municipal Manager (44), current Unit Manager (50), at the municipality, and former Municipal Manager (51), at the municipality.  

“The trio is charged with fraud/theft, contravention of Municipal Finance Management Act, and Pension Funds Act. The accused will appear before Petrusburg Magistrate’s Court on 15 October 2024,” he said.

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Batsadi ba bana ba ba timetseng kwa Bloemhof ba tshelela mo khutsafalong

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Setshwantsho: Mongwe wa bana ba ba timetseng kwa Bloemhof, Rethabile Tshabadira

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

19 Lwetse 2024- Batsadi ba bana ba le babedi ba ba ileng ba timela kwa motse-setoropong wa Boitumelong, kwa Bloemhof, ba ikuela go sepodisi go ka tsenya marapo dinameng go ba thusa go bone bana ba bone ba ba nyeletseng. Rethabile Tshabadira (3) le Matseleng Nteta (7), ba ile ba nyelela ka ngwaga wa 2017, fa ba ne ba ile kwa lebekeleng go ya go reka dimonamone. Fela, le go fitlha ga jaana, ga go itsiwe kwa ba leng teng.

Mmagwe Matseleng, eleng Maria Motlalepula Nteta (35), are o tshelela fela mo khutsafalong, gonne a sa itse gore ke eng se se jeleng ngwana wa gagwe. Go ya ja Nteta, sepodisi ga se dire ka botlalo go ka ba thusa go batlana le bana ba bone ba ba latlhegileng.

“Go bua nnete fela ga re a itumela ka mokgwa o sepodisi se dirisanang le rona mo go batleng bana ba rona ba ba timetseng. E sale re nyeleletswe ke bana, ga se re utlwe sepe go tswa kwa go bone le go re itsise gore dipatlisiso di tsamaya kae.

“Ngwanake o nyeletse ka ngwaga wa 2017, le go fitlha ga jaana ga gona mokgwasa ope. Ke ne ikuela go mongwe le mongwe o a ka tswang ana le motlhala ka go nyelela ga bana ba rona go re loma tsebe. Go botlhoko go nyelelelwa ke ngwana, mme o sa itse gore o lefatshe kae,”Nteta wa tlhalosa.

Nteta are go tla nna botokwa fa a ka fitlhelela marapo a ngwana wa gagwe fa ele gore o bolailwe, gonne o tla itlhobogela. Are ga bone boroko, mme o dula a tlhontse thata jang fa ele letsatsi la ga Matseleng la matsalo.

Go begwa fa mmemogolo wa ga Rethabile, eleng Lenah Tshabadira, ene a setse a iketse badimong ntle le go itse gore go ka tswa go diragetse eng ka setlogolo sa gagwe.

Kgabagare, sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen are: “Go fitlha ga jana, ga gona bopaki bope jo bo ka thusang sepodisi go ka bona bana bao, ba ba latlhegileng. Motlhala mongwe le mongwe o sepodisi seneng se o setse morago, ga wa nna le maungo a namatshang.

“Re le sepodisi, re ikuela go batsadi go ka itsise sepodisi ka go timela ga mongwe wa lelapa ka bonako jo bo kgonagalang. Seo se tla thusa sepodisi gore se latele motlhala mongwe le mongwe ka bonako, mme ba tshware babelaelwa kgotsa ba bone mong wa lelapa o timetseng.”

Van Rooyen are ga gona seelo se se beilweng go ka bega motho o timetseng. Are fela fa ba lelapa ba belaela gore mongwe wa bone a ka tswa a timetse, ba tshwanetswe ke go itsise sepodisi.

“Go botlhokwa go ka itsise maloko mangwe a lelapa fa ba tsaya leeto, mme ba tlhalose gore ba go boa leng. Re ikuela go baagi go se tsamae ba le nosi mo lefifing, kgotsa mo ditulong tse go senang batho ba le bantsi teng,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.

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Mmelaelwa a le mongwe mo kgetsing ya go kgothosa sejanaga sa Fidelity mono Taung o tshwerwe

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Setshwantsho: Sejanaga se se rwalwang madi sa Fidelity se tlhasetswe mono Taung

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

19 Lwetse 2024- Mmelaelwa a le mongwe o golaganngwang le kgetsi ya kgothoso ya madi mono Taung, o tshwerwe. Kgetsi e, e diragetseng fa pele ga lebenkele le le itsegeng la Shoprite ka di 10 Lwetse 2024. Go begwa fa banna ba le bane, ba ba neng ba tlhometse go utlwala, ba ile ba kgothosa sejanaga se se rwalang madi sa Fidelity.  

Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, banna ba, ile ba kgorogela batlhankela ba tshireletso ba setlamo sa Fidelity ba ba neng ba pega mabokoso a le mararo a tsenyang madi mo sejanageng sa bone.

“Go begwa fa banna ba, ba ne ba kgweetsa sejanaga sa modiro wa Volkswagen Tiguan, mme ba ile ba thuntsa le go tlogela mokgweetsi wa sejanaga se se rwalang madi sa Fidelity ka dikgobalo.

“Tiragalo e, ke ya ura ya bo robongwe mo mosong kwa toropong ya Taung. Sepodisi se ile sa ragogela teng, mme ba fitlhetse sejanaga se se rwalang madi sena le diphatlha tsa dikolo tsa sethunya. Go begwa fa mokgweetsi wa sejanaga se se rwalang madi a ile a tswa kotsi, morago ga go thuntsiwa mo legetleng la gagwe la moja,” Mokgwabone wa tlhalosa.

Mokgwabone are, go begwa fa batlhankedi ba ba tshireletso, ba ne ba pega dibokoso tse di senang madi mo sejanageng sa bone fa ba ne ba tlhaselwa. Mokgwabone are, go begwa fa mongwe wa ba belaelwa a ile a tswa kotsi, morago ga go thuntsiwa mo leotong.

“Sepodisi se fitlhetse sejanaga se se neng se dirisiwa ke bo rasethunya ba, se tlogetswe kwa sekgweng ma gareng ga Taung le Hartswater. 

“Go bontsha fa babelaelwa ba, ba ile ba tshaba ka mabokoso a le mararo a neng a sena sepe mo teng. Kgetsi e, ile ya shutisediwa kwa lephateng la The Hawks,” Mokgwabone wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, sebueledi sa bosekisi mono Bokone Bophirima, Sivenathi Gunya are, lephata la The Hawks, le ile la tshwarwa mmelaelwa a le mongwe mo kgetsing e. Gunya are monna o, o ile a tlhagelela kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Taung, mme o lebagane le dikgetsi di le tharo tse di masisi tsa kgothoso, kgetsi ele nngwe ya maiteko a polao le go tshwara dithunya go se mo molao.

“Kgetsi kgatlhanong le monna o, e buseditswe morago go fitlha di 23 Lwetse 2024, mme molatofadiwa o solofetswe go dira kopo ya beile,” Gunya wa tlhalosa.  

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A man sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for theft and corruption

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A man (46) was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for contravention of the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act (POCA) 12 of 2004, corruption. Lebogang Matthew Theane was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team and Serious Corruption Investigation members on 29 March 2022, for alleged theft and corruption.

The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said Theane was charged alongside his colleague, Lebone Shomang (39). Thebe said Lebone’s case continues after their matter was separated for trial.

“The Hawks in Upington received a complaint from the lawful owner’s nephew alleging that his uncle’s minibus was impounded without a fine, by South African Revenue Services (SARS) Customs Division in Kakamas. The nephew approached Theane with a view of having the minibus released.

“The accused in his capacity as SARS Custom official, demanded gratification to an amount of R8000 prior the release of the minibus to its lawful owner. Theane was sentenced by Upington Magistrate’s Court after entering into a guilty plea,” he said.

Thebe further said Upington Magistrate’s Court sentenced the accused to a fine of R30 000 or 12 months imprisonment, and a 24 months Correctional Supervision Court on 17 September 2024. He added that the case against the second accused continues and was postponed until 7 October 2024.

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North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie calls for compliance on various NPOs

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Picture: The North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie/Supplied

By BAKANG MOKOTO

18 September 2024- The North West MEC for Social Development, Basetsana Sussana Dantjie, decried non-compliance of Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) with legislation as a major cause of her department’s inability to achieve a clean audit. Dantjie was addressing the representatives of various NPOs in Ngaka Modiri Molema District as part of a meet and greet programme in her first 100 days in the office.

She further said her department account to oversight bodies on how they spend the budget that is allocated to them. Dantjie added that a large percentage of the departmental budget goes to the NPOs to enable them to work in partnership with the department in delivering services to the people.

“If we fund NPOs that are not fully compliant with legislation, we will surely attract a finding from the Auditor General. NPOs must refrain from using unspent monies without the approval of the department.

“To be in the good books of the AG, we will not release your next trench, if you cannot appropriately account for your previous one. Our department is affected by a shrinking fiscus and this calls for funded NPOs to explore other avenues, which include fund-raising, sponsorship and any other assistance from government departments and its entities,” she said.

Dantjie said NPOs must understand when there is a budget cut, they should maximise what they have received.  She said the department has ensured that each NPO has a bookkeeper, therefore failure to comply will not be tolerated, adding that the NPOs must maintain the number that they started with and inform the department of any changes in their staff complement.

“On NPOs that work with older persons, such NPOs must familiarise themselves with the Older Persons Act. The key highlights of the Act must also be displayed at the NPOs for the community to know them.  

“Those who receive older persons’ grants, please ensure that the elderly meet their obligations with their churches and burial societies. We would also like to caution the NPOs against crying foul when their trench has not been paid, while they had received the 90% of the older persons grant of the elderly under their care,” said Dantjie.

She said as part of the activities of the day, they conducted a visit to Lonely Park – Signal Hill disabled project.

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North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane calls for tranquillity at Hartbeespoort amid racial tensions  

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Picture: The Hartbeespoort Dam during cleaning session/Generic 

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

18 September 2024- The North West MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism, Bitsa Lenkopane calls on the Madibeng Local Municipality to strengthen its by-laws and raise awareness of business regulations to ensure peaceful dispute resolution without resorting to violence or property damage.

This comes after a recent violent incident in Hartbeespoort, where properties were set on fire. It is alleged that the incident was sparked by racial tensions.  

“We express our deep concern over the recent violent incident. We also acknowledged the racial tensions surrounding the incident, amid allegations that, “Afrikaans-speaking individuals”, are attempting to displace black residents and their businesses from the area.

“The matter has been reported to the police and investigations are currently underway. Transformation is ongoing in the Hartbeespoort area, particularly with the involvement of the Mekgareng Communal Property Association (MCPA) and Oberon Development, following the return of approximately 400 hectares of land to the black community,” she said.

Lenkopane further said the government has already allocated nearly R70 million towards the area’s development, with plans to create a smart city featuring office parks, a five-star hotel and other tourism-enhancing infrastructure. She added that her department remains committed to supporting Mekgareng and Oberon in advancing this significant project.

“The municipality has recorded the highest post-pandemic recovery rate in the province at 65%, particularly Brits and Hartbeespoort Dam. The area’s proximity to Gauteng’s Lanseria and OR Tambo International Airports, offers the North West a strategic advantage in attracting international tourists and revitalizing tourism in the province.

“We cannot allow these violent incidents to derail our recovery efforts, especially during Tourism Month and as we approach the festive season. We affirm that our department will continue collaborating with the Department of Community Safety and Transport, to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for tourists,” said Lenkopane.

She said roadblocks will be set up along the N4 and other major routes connecting the North West to neighbouring provinces to enhance security measures.  Lenkopane called for those responsible for unlawful activities to be held accountable and urged all parties involved in the Hartbeespoort incidents to allow law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation.

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Four alleged illegal miners nabbed in Sun City

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Picture: Some of the equipment seized by the police during the raid/Supplied

By REGINALD KANYANE

18 September 2024 – Four suspects have been arrested on 17 September 2024, for Contravention of Section 49 (1)(a) of the Immigration Act, (Act No. 13 of 2002) in Sun City, Rustenburg during Operation Vala Umgodi. The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said during the operation, the police seized illegal mining equipment such as generators, spades, mining equipment like jack hammers and drills and pendukas.

“All four suspects were nabbed for contravention of Section 49 (1)(a) of the Immigration Act, (Act No. 13 of 2002) and will appear before the Mankwe Magistrate’s Court on 19 September 2024” she said.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the arrests and thanked the police for their continued efforts in the fight against illicit activities.

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Judgement on Manthe arson case postponed  

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Picture: The seven accused persons on an arson case

By OBAKENG MAJE

18 September 2024- The judgement on an arson case against seven accused persons from Manthe village, near Taung, has been postponed until 3 October 2024. This comes after the defence lawyer’s no show due to some other commitment.

The former soccer star, Odiseng “Teenage” Komane (42), Obakeng “Prosto” Mogabale (47) Mothusi Motimeng, Pretty “Zero” Masibelele (37), Ali Sakiele (51), Ontiretse Patrick Gosenyegang (39) and the former Mega Stars FC goalie, Katlego “Makgasa” Tikane (33), were arrested by the police in July 2022, during an intelligence-driven operation.

In May 2022, the community members embarked on a violent protest, torched three houses and looted the Disoufeng tavern belonging to Katong’s family. They accused the alleged drug lord and rapist, Bakang Katong (33) and his co-accused of killing the late Thabiso Mothibedi (35).

The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said: “We can confirm that the police have arrested seven suspects for arson and they were granted R500 bail each.”

Meanwhile, Bakang, and his brother, Phenyo “The Great” Katong

(35), Thabang Lenyai (24) and Katlego “Makita” Mosimege (32), were arrested for Mothibedi’s murder. The police preliminary investigation revealed that, on 29 April 2022, Mothibedi was at Lenganeng village near Taung.

Katong and his cronies allegedly fetched and transported him back to Manthe village after accusing him of stealing R20 000 and cigarettes worth R600.

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