Potchefstroom: The extent to which farmers are able to get their businesses insured for unforeseen circumstances such as drought came under the spotlight during the drought mitigation dialogue which was held recently at the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture.

Addressing farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural industry who attended this first of its kind initiative in the province, Premier Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo challenged insurance companies to ponder being with farmers in good and bad times.

“As we have placed agriculture at the apex of driving the province’s economic growth, we need to robustly engage each other as partners in this environment, on why it is not possible to get farmers’ businesses insured”, said Premier Mahumapelo who maintained that government is ready to engage all partners, including the private sector, to discuss possible and sustainable ways of mitigating risks associated with drought.

Organised by the provincial Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development, the dialogue was aimed at creating a platform for stakeholders to come up with innovative approaches to dealing with drought challenges.

The session which was attended by the Deputy Minister for Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries General Bheki Cele, noted the preliminary assessment report which indicates that Bokone Bophirima Province is currently experiencing drought, this as the province experienced very erratic but reasonable rainfalls only until December 2014.

“Rainfall patterns have drastically reduced, grazing status continues to deteriorate, and as a maize province, it is expected that the crop yield will diminish”, stated Dr Poncho Mokaila, Head of Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development.

Applauding the province for initiating this dialogue, Deputy Minister Bheki Cele said this will help in coming up with province specific solutions and intervention strategies to dealing with drought, on a short, medium to long term basis.

Deputy Minister Cele further called on the province and the sector to assist young black African people with interest in agriculture, saying “Let us all please find a way of not letting these young people down”, urged the Deputy Minister.

The MEC for Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development, Ms Manketsi Tlhape, assured delegates of government’s stance to walk the path with farmers, saying that relief will be sought once the province is declared a state of disaster.

“This session has helped us to understand the expectation from the sector, and the deliberations here will certainly assist us to be better prepared for the next season”, said MEC Tlhape who also urged farmers to participate in the drought assessment exercise which the department has initiated, by collecting assessment forms from various departmental offices.

Stakeholders who participated in this one-day dialogue included organised agriculture such as Omnia, National Emerging Red meat Producers Organisation, Grain SA, National African Farmers Union, Agricultural Research Council, NoordWes Korporasie, Agri NW, Transvaal Agricultural Union, the financial institutions, the North West University and Dikgosi.

-TDN

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Koster- The Premier of Bokone Bophirima Province Mr Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo will tomorrow, Tuesday 31 March 2015, attend a memorial service of a 9-year old Kegomoditswe Boikanyo who together with Basetsana Octavia Modumo went missing in Koster on 24 September 2014.

This follows the release of International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP)’s report which confirmed that the decomposed body of a female minor that was found floating in Kgetleng River at Finfoot farm on Sunday, 28 September 2014, has been positively identified as that of Kegomoditswe Boikanyo.

The two girls went missing while at Mountain View, Reagile Location, Koster, and Basetsana Octavia Modumo remains missing. Kegomoditswe Boikanyo’s body which was found with missing parts including hands, head and private parts, will be buried on Wednesday, 01 April 2015 at Reagile location.

The Memorial Service will be held as follows:

Date                : Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Venue                        : Reagile Community Hall – Koster

Time               : 09h00

-TDN

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Johannesburg– Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana defender Thabo Matlaba has been declared fine after he was stretchered off and rushed to hospital on Sunday night (29 March).

Matlaba was elbowed on the chest in the latter stages of the second half of the international friendly match against Nigeria at the Mbombela Stadium which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Left-back Sibusiso Khumalo took his place in the 80th minute.

“The initial diagnosis was that he had a lung contusion (bruise) because he was in serious pain at the stadium and at the hospital this was confirmed after a CT Scan of the chest and lungs.

“He was elbowed hard on the chest but he is now fine, there is nothing broken, which is a great relief. He was discharged last night from the hospital but he will need total rest for some time, and this will be determined by his club’s medical team,” said Dr Thulani Ngwenya, the Bafana Bafana Team doctor.

Bafana Bafana have already returned from their camp in Nelspruit.

-TDN

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Potchefstroom- North West Provincial Legislature will be hosting the Feedback Session for the Health Practioners’ Sectoral at Tlokwe Local Municipality Banquet Hall in Potchefstroom.

The feedback session is aimed at addressing the health practitioners’ sector issues raised during the sectoral parliament that was held on 7 February 2014. The MEC and relevant senior management failed to attend such sectoral parliament.

Different stakeholders including the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA), Health & Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (HOSPERSA), South African Medical Doctors’ Association (SAMA) and Traditional Healers Association will attend the event.

-TDN

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BY OBAKENG MAJE

Ventersdorp- North West police are investigating a case of inquest after a 58-year-old man allegedly shot himself with a firearm. The incident took place on Friday at approximately 08:00 at Makokskraal near Ventersdorp.

“The deceased was found with a gunshot wound on the head at the back of his bakkie in a maize field. According to the information, a suicide note was found at the scene. No foul play is suspected at this stage” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

Police investigation into the matter continues.

-TDN

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BY OBAKENG MAJE

Koster- Subsequent to investigations conducted after two girls; Basetsana Octavia Modumo and Kegomoditswe Boikanyo went missing in Koster on 24 September 2014, the police can confirm that the naked body of a female minor that was found floating in Kgetleng River at Finfoot farm in the vicinity of Assen on Sunday, 28 September 2014, has been positively identified as one of the missing children; Kegomoditswe Boikanyo.

North West police said the body was found after shepherds alerted the police about the body that was found with missing parts including hands, head and private parts.

“Due to the body’s state of decomposition, it was difficult to identify it.  The identification breakthrough came after confirmation that the bone sample of Kegomoditswe was consistent with the one of her mother by the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP)’s report.  The pair went missing while at Mountain View, Reagile Location, Koster. They were learners at Kgalagatsane Lower Primary and Moitshoki Mofenyi Lower Primary Schools respectively” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

Mokgwabone said the community is once more urged to assist with the information that may lead to arrest of the suspect(s) by calling Investigating Officers; Captain Jerry Maboitshege 082 416 0978 or Captain Morema on 082 856 1087. Alternatively, information can be communicated through Crime Stop Number 08600 10111 or anonymous tip-off Crime Line sms 32211.

-TDN

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