Daily Archives: March 11, 2026

‘Libraries are sanctuary spaces’

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Picture: The North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Virginia Tlhapi and North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi handing over a library/Supplied 

By AGISANANG SCUFF

11 March 2026- The North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Virginia Tlhapi officially opened a new Community Library in Thekwane. The collaborative efforts of the strategic stakeholders that comprises Rustenburg Chrome mine, Royal Bafokeng institute, Rustenburg Local Municipality and the department, culminated into the establishment of Tshukudu Community Library.

Tlhapi, accompanied by the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, officially handed a new library to the community of Thekwane on Friday, during the Provincial Thuntsha Lerole Programme in Marikana.  She said Tshukudu Community Library epitomises the commitment of the private sector collaboration with Government in developing and uplifting industry-hosting communities through infrastructural community development.

“Tshukudu Community Library offers a welcoming and inclusive environment designed to meet the diverse needs of Thekwane community. The library features a reception area and a dedicated librarian’s office, Internet and Wi-Fi access for patrons and ablution facilities for convenience.

“This includes a shelving area housing more than 2 500 books, a kitchenette for staff use, a children’s and toddlers’ collection area with age-appropriate resources, computer stations for research, study, and digital access and a specialized section equipped with resources and assistive technology for people living with Disabilities,” she said.

Tlhapi further said on behalf of the North West Provincial Government and the people of Thekwane, they convey a sense of gratitude to the Rustenburg Chrome mine and Royal Bafokeng institute for their courtesy and commitment to social investment. She added that they sincerely appreciate their strategic stakeholders in safeguarding the future of Thekwane by honouring their community with this invaluable information graveyard, it is now their property and they should protect it with their own lives, because protecting it, is securing the future of their young people.

“Libraries are sanctuary spaces, a place where silence and tranquillity meet and offer comfort and inspiration. Within the library walls, people can find comfort and peace that allows them to unlock their dreams and awaken their true potential,” said Tlhapi.

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More job creation in provincial public health sector

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Picture: A CHW addressing patients/Generic

By BAKANG MOKOTO

11 March 2026- The North West Provincial Government has in the last two years increased efforts to create job opportunities. As of early this year, the province has shown significant improvement in its labour market, with the official unemployment rate decreasing by 6.2% points year-on-year.

Delivering the 2026 State of the Province Address (SOPA) during the official Opening of the North West Provincial Legislature in Mahikeng, the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, lauded the provincial department of Health for contributing to the provincial employment statistics through the absorption of over 4500 Community Health Workers on a full time and temporary basis.

Mokgosi said CHWs across the province now have a confirmed employment status, either through permanent absorption into the public service or through fully standardised contractual arrangements with regulated remuneration.

“Of these, 2564 Community Health Workers who hold a matric qualification have been permanently absorbed into Level 2 posts, while 1999 workers without matric have been fully contracted and are receiving standardised pay. The department has further confirmed full back pay compliance for non-matriculant Community Health Workers.

“The Ngaka Modiri Molema and Bojanala Platinum Districts collectively account for 69% of the provincial Community Health Worker workforce, with Ngaka Modiri Molema contributing 42.6%, followed by Bojanala Platinum at 26.5%. Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Districts are at 17.3% and 13.5% respectively,” he said.

Mokgosi further commended the creation of opportunities for young people through their enrolment under the Nelson Mandela–Fidel Castro (NMFC) Medical Programme. He added that as a provincial government, they committed to send 31 unemployed young people from across the North West into the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro (NMFC) Medical Programme to pursue medical studies in Cuba, and this was achieved.

“An additional thirty young people will undergo this programme in the next financial year. There are plans by the provincial administration to continue to collaborate with SETAs, Organisations in the Skills industry, as well as business to build skills capacity and human development in the province,” said Mokgosi.

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North West Department of Education develops new plans for the future

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Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

11 March 2026- A two days Strategic Planning Lekgotla for the North West Department of Education took place at Seasons Wedding Centre in Mahikeng, from 9-10 March 2026. The Lekgotla was attended by the executive and senior management of the department to tighten the operational and administrative strategies that drove the education system forward.

The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said a focal point of the Lekgotla was to analyse, adjust and give more service delivery meaning to the annual performance plan, annual report and action plan towards schooling 2030, with more emphasis on goals and objectives that will be reached through achievable indicators and targets. Motsumi said more importantly, the main objectives of the Strategic Planning Lekgotla are to review the Branch Lekgotla resolutions, rationalise Branch indicators, align targets to budget, sign off Branch APP and review TIDs, SOPS and AOP.

“The 2026 Lekgotla is intended to address all the challenges and identify key deliverables that are clear, realistic, measureable, attainable, time bound and open for easy monitoring and implementation going forward.

“Most significantly, the departmental priorities should encapsulate our statements that we stated in the 2026/ 2027 Annual Performance Plan of the North West Department of Education. Incorporation of the SONA, SOPA and provincial programme of action is taken into consideration,” she said.

Motsumi further said the Lekgotla is redirecting management of the department to realise and implement the vision statement of the department in line with the set priorities of government and the current service delivery demand throughout the sector. She added that the Lekgotla has been joined by NECT to present on the important expectations and key identified challenges to be addressed by the department.

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Department shifts focus to integrated human settlements

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Picture: North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi hand over RDP houses to beneficiaries/Supplied

By REGINALD KANYANE

11 March 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, accompanied by the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi, recently handed over six houses to rightful beneficiaries at Bokamoso and Thekwane villages in the Rustenburg Local Municipality.

Handing over the houses last Friday, Mokgosi said the gesture was not only about giving beneficiaries a roof over their heads, but also about restoring their dignity and ensuring that they have security, worth and a sense of purpose. He described this as an important aspect of living a dignified life.

“The handover came at the right time as we celebrate Human Rights, urging us to accelerate the fight against inequality and discrimination in all its forms. Government is prioritising housing developments that are fully integrated with infrastructure and social amenities.

“This approach aims to address historical spatial inequalities by ensuring that new housing developments have access to basic services and social amenities. This vision will only be realised, if all stakeholders adhere to the principles of the District Development Model (DDM),” he said.

Mokgosi further said for many years their focus has been on the number of houses built. He added that while this helped to reduce the housing backlog they are facing, they have realised that in doing so, they sometimes overlooked other basic services such as reliable water supply, sanitation and electricity.

North West MEC for COGHSTA, Oageng Molapisi, echoed the Premier’s sentiments, stressing that access to basic services remains a critical part of the government’s housing mandate.

“Our mandate as the department goes beyond simply building houses. It is about creating sustainable human settlements and improving the quality of life for residents by ensuring that they have access to basic services.

“Government now aims to ensure that new housing projects are connected to infrastructure and social amenities in order to create communities where residents can live, work and access services without being isolated,” he said.

Molapisi urged the beneficiaries to take care of their new homes, as they are investments for their future and that of their loved ones. He said this was made possible through strong coordination between local and provincial governments in an effort to create sustainable and integrated human settlements.

Irene Taunyana (79) pensioner, who had been living in a house built from precast walls, was one of the beneficiaries who received her house during the visit to Thekwane village. Taunyana, who was overjoyed, could not hide her excitement when she received her new home and sang at the top of her voice.

“This is a miracle. My life has just changed, and this generous gesture will help restore my health forever. What the government has done for me is a clear signal of how it cares about us, its citizens,” said Taunyana.

Meanwhile, out of a total of 250 housing units in Bokamoso, 161 houses have been built, while in Thekwane 43 houses have been built out of a total of 50 houses. The Department of Human Settlements has reaffirmed its commitment to providing citizens with adequate housing connected to essential services.

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Dantjie set sights on departmental clean audit

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Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie

By OBAKENG MAJE

11 March 2026 – North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie has challenged her department to achieve a clean audit at the end of the upcoming financial year. Dantjie, addressing management at the departmental strategic lekgotla in Klerksdorp has been impressed by the improvement registered in the current financial year.

“There have been pockets of excellence, but we need to fully crack our mandate on development of our communities. We are duty-bound to contribute meaningfully to the betterment of those who rely on our services.  

“We ought to be having a visible impact on the lives of the people of the province. We need to be intentional about improving the lives of the vulnerable in our communities. Therefore, we must ensure that our annual performance plan (APP) is aligned to government priorities as guided by the National Development Plan as well as the medium-term development plan,” she said.

Dantjie further appealed to senior managers to delve deep into the real reasons for any underperformance.  She added that they must be accountable and take correctional measures.  

“We urge the managers never to delegate accountability. Every post that you occupy calls on you to take full responsibility and account for what you signed up for. It cannot be acceptable for senior managers to hide under delegating, when we need immediate responses.

“The three-day lekgotla that there should be no deviations on targets that it was unnecessary to deviate on. Avoidable deviations and underperformance should find no space in our plans. The outcomes of this session are binding to all employees of the department,” said Dantjie.  

She said when they get back to their workstation, they should make sure that these are part of key performance areas in the work plans of each employee. Dantjie said her department of social development’s strategic planning lekgotla will end on Thursday.

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