Picture: Some of the firearms and ammunition confiscated by police/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
10 November 2024- Two suspects aged 26 and 51, were arrested separately in Lehatlheng Section in Dryharts village, near Taung for dealing in drugs, unlawful possession of firearms and unlawful possession of ammunition. The suspects were arrested during a crime intelligence-driven operation on Friday morning.
According to the North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, search and seizure warrants were executed at two residences by the members of Pudimoe Visible Policing Support. Mokgwabone said at first residence, the police allegedly found 100 full and eight halves of mandrax tablets, 72 sachets of crystal meth, 80 sachets of nyaope and 145 sachets of dagga.
“All with estimated street value of R21 200. The police also found R7 032 cash in possession of the house owner, a woman (26). The money, which was suspected to be the proceeds of crime, was seized and the woman was arrested.
“The search continued at the second and last residence, where 76 quarters and two halves of mandrax tablets with estimated street value of R2 500 were found. In addition, the police found a black shopping carry bag containing two 9mm pistols with magazines, one R5 magazine, six R5 ammunition, 31 x 9mm ammunition, three 7.5mm ammunition and three handset two-way communication radios,” he said.
Mokgwabone further said the suspect (51), was also arrested. He added that both suspects are expected to appear respectively in the Taung Magistrate’s Court on 11 November 2024.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the arrests and seizures of the drugs, as well as the firearms, which he said are used in the commission of serious and violent crimes.
10 November 2024- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said they have collaborated with the North West University (NWU) to tackle mental health challenges among learners, teachers, and parents, especially during the examination period in their efforts of assisting learners in their studies. Motsumi said her department realized that many learners become overwhelmed during finals, feeling scared and uncertain about preparation.
She further said to address this, parents need to be well-informed and involved to assist their children at home. Motsumi added that the collaboration with the NWU is due to the promotion of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) strategy adopted by the government.
“Education is a societal matter, alone we will not be able to achieve good performance without the involvement of other stakeholders. We need each other in order for learners to excel. Our learners during this period are extremely overwhelmed and their minds need to be focused.
“I wish to appeal to parents and guardians to adhere to the experts’ advice on mental health. The department has set a target of a 90% pass rate for 2024, aiming to position the province as a top performer. To support this goal, the department has implemented various initiatives, including incubation camps,” she said.
Motsumi indicated that the collaboration between the department and the NWU, is an exercise of Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign (QLTC).
Meanwhile, the NWU Psychologist and Senior Lecturer, Dr Khido Ramadie visited various schools in the province prior to the examination, motivating them. Ramadies urged parents to create a calm learning environment for their children at home.
“Help set a routine study table, encourage breaks and foster open communication. Monitor progress without pressure. Parents should be able to provide reassurance to their children, be it emotional supportive and remind them that they are not alone.
“Parents should promote healthy coping. They should be mindful about deep breathing or meditation. Parents should ensure that learners embark on physical activities so that they can be fresh when they are writing examinations,” said Ramadie.
Picture: The stakeholders conducting inspection in various tuckshops in Taung
By REGINALD KANYANE
10 November 2024- The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in Taung conducted and inspected different tuckshops across the area on Friday. This follows the national outcry regarding foreign-owned tuckshops allegedly selling musty goods.
Some of foreign-owned tuckshop owners are accused of endangering the lives of locals by selling expired products. Recently, the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) said it is deeply concerned by the alarming rate of food poisoning incidents that have claimed the lives of many children – with 19 lives lost and 437 affected in Gauteng and also affecting more than a thousand of children across the country.
The ANCWL Secretary-General, Nokuthula Nqaba said the cause of the deaths is linked to organophosphate contamination, and this has had the most impact on children between the ages of 4-9 years old. Nqaba said this is not just a public health crisis, but it is a call for them to act with both urgency and compassion.
“We recognise that among those impacted by these incidents, are women street vendors most of whom are our sisters, mothers and grandmothers, striving to make an honest living by selling snacks and foods to our communities. It is essential to acknowledge that these vendors find themselves vulnerable to this tragic contamination of food that threatens their children, their livelihoods and their dignity.
“They are not only sellers, but are caregivers and community members who wish to provide safe, nutritious options for our children and families – and their struggle is our struggle. As the ANCWL, we stand in solidarity with these women. We are committed to ensuring that they are empowered with the knowledge and resources necessary to uphold food safety standards and the tools to detect contamination,” she said.
Nqaba further said they advocate for immediate action through stronger food safety regulations and support for training programs that can educate vendors on safe food handling practices, identifying contamination, and the unseen dangers posed by harmful substances like organophosphates that have so devastatingly crept into the communities.
She added that, therefore, they urge the government to declare a state of emergency and take immediate action to safeguard public health.
“We demand thorough investigation to identify sources of food poisoning and contaminated products. Public awareness is needed to intensify education campaigns on food safety and handling practices. Support for affected families is needed to provide medical and financial assistance.
“Interagency collaboration is needed through health, education, and law enforcement departments. They must work together to prevent future incidents. Immediate closure of spaza shops selling contaminated food is needed. Furthermore, we call upon local health authorities to work collaboratively with these vendors during health inspections and food safety blitzes to ensure that they are not disproportionately penalised or
stigmatised,” said Nqaba.
She said they must foster a spirit of unity, treating them not as culprits but as partners in their journey towards a safe and a healthy environment for all. Nqaba said instead, let them create an environment that supports their efforts to
provide safe food options, while safeguarding the children’s health.
“Let this crisis be our call to action and a rallying cry to secure our communities against threats to our health and dignity. The ANCWL is dedicated to mobilising all efforts and our communities to collaborate on this pressing issue and to advocate for policy changes that protect our children and empower our street vendors.
“Together, let us create a safer food environment and ensure that the most vulnerable among us can thrive without the fear of contamination. In memory of our young lives lost, we commit to continue to work tirelessly to bring awareness to this
crisis, support initiatives that promote food safety, and uplift the voices of women street vendors who are integral to the fabric of our communities,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries, Makhi Feni said they welcome the pronouncement from the African National Congress (ANC) that the country’s spaza shops will be reregistered and any that are operating illegally will not be allowed to operate in the country.
“The committee welcomes this commitment and all other processes that are underway to restore order. Our interest is the safety of poor South Africans and their children. The report of poisonous snacks sold to our children has reached a crisis point.
“We would like the government to ban situations where homes are sub-let to illegal immigrants for purposes of operating spaza shops. Due to the undesirable effects of foreign ownership, like the protection fee and the massive killings over the collection of these monies, should be decisively dealt with. On Thursday, the ANC Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, announced that work was already underway to reregister spaza shops following the deaths of several young primary school learners and hundreds who have taken ill and nearly died.”
Feni said the government should ban foreign nationals from operating spaza shops and also maintain an updated register of people who sell at schools.
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