North West Education Hosts Youth Seminar


Brits- The North West department of education & Sports development is hosting a two-day youth seminar (27-28June 2014) at SedibaKwele Veldskool in Brits.

The Department of Education said 200 Grade 10 and 11 learner representatives from schools across the province will engage with the department’s senior officials and other stakeholders from sister departments such as Social Development, Department of Health, Moral Regeneration in the Premier’s Office and Love Life to discuss social issues affecting youth in schools.

“The session will help the department to understand the challenges experienced by learners in schools and together with the learner representatives come up with strategies to intervene on the challenges identified” departmental spokesperson Brian Setswambung said.

Setswambung said this will also groom learner representatives’ leaderships skills and to act as catalysts of school discipline.

This seminar was piloted in 2013 to discuss learner concerns and how the department’s senior officials and the learner representatives could resolve them.

North West MEC for Education and Sports Development Wendy Matsemela will deliver a key note address at the seminar.
-TDN
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Pauw happy with Banyana progress


Johannesburg- Banyana Banyana held a four day training camp which ended yesterday. The South African Senior Women’s National Team coach Vera Pauw says it was important to have this camp so as to keep the players active. This is in preparation for the upcoming 9th edition of the African Women’s Championship in Namibia later this year.

The squad lost 4-2 in a practice match against the SAFA School of Excellence U16 team on Wednesday (18 June) at the Bedfordview FC grounds.

Sasol Banyana Banyana’s goals came from experienced defender Gloria Thato who plays for University of Pretoria Ladies F.C as well as Alochia Thoboka who plays Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies F.C, both in the Gauteng Sasol League.

Pauw is impressed with the team’s progress thus far, as they aim to finish in the top three teams at the AWC so as to qualify for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup scheduled for Canada.

“The aim of playing the match was for us to test our strength and our build-up going forward. I think we’ve made huge progress if I compare to the first time we played against the same team two months ago, and lost that game 4-0,” said Pauw.

“We only struggled later in the match, and they managed to score four goals, but we created different chances and scored two goals as well – that is a huge step for us.”

“The girls have improved a lot from the last time we played against them, they are better organised and defend very well. They are more dynamic when going forward and physically strong,” said Mojalefa Mathebula, SAFA School of Excellence U16 coach.

“I am confident that the girls will do well at the African Women’s Championships. What impressed me the most was their technical ability. They are more vigorous, their first touches are impressive and their ability to play accurate long diagonal balls is outstanding,” concluded Mathebula.
-TDN
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The Department of Education to address binging disorder amongst learners


Rustenburg- In a quest to promote positive mindset amongst learners, the department of basic education dedicated the month of June to commemorate International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by converging about 1, 300 Grade 8-11 learners of schools around Bojanala district at Tlhabane Technical High School on the 24 June 2014 at 10:00.

Under the theme “Don’t let binging be your sinking”, the event is aimed at sensitizing learners about dangers of alcohol abuse which has adverse consequences on academic performance and lack of sporting activities.

According to the statistical survey by the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) in 2008, there prevalence rate of Grade 8-11 learners who had used alcohol and drugs was at 12percent. This also led to increased engagement in risky sexual behaviour of contracting HIV, STIs or expecting early pregnancy.

“Upon informing learners on dangers of alcohol binging, the department of education will distribute information on binge drinking to enrich the learning outcomes. Furthermore, learners will participate in a competition to design pamphlets on binge drinking” departmental spokesperson Brian Setswambung said.

The competition will take place in all provinces and each province will select the best three pamphlets designed by learners which will then be used by DBE to develop one pamphlet on binge drinking.-TDN
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Social Development needs Safety parents in Dryharts


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The North West Social Development in Dr Segomotsi Ruth Mompati intensify its commitment to help the abused children within the communities. The department said they need people who could come out and voluntarily foster for the children who come from abusive home.

Tuelo Mankabane who is a social worker for Ward 4 in Dryharts village, near Taung request that three people who would like to act as foster parents to abused children must come forward, he said that during community meeting.

“We need three parents who could be voluntarily chosen and accommodates children in the area who will be identified by department of Social Development. We need someone with a conducive home, minimum having three children under her/his care and would be assessed by the department to see if that person meet the criteria” Mankabane said.

He said the department will help the chosen parent with a monthly salary of R750 per child. And the person might accommodate close to six children at once.

A safety parent initiative is to help children from broken background and before they copy things that are bad from their parents/guardian.

“We want to build a positive society with morals and values of life. Children are our future leaders, so they need to be taken care of” he said.

The department also advised blind and myopic people to come forward to be identified for any job opportunities or skill development- TDN
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20 School Choirs To Represent North West In Music Competitions


The Department of Education & Sports development’s MEC, Wendy Matsemela will embark on a roadshow to congratulate school choirs that will be representing the province at the National schools’ choral Eisteddfod competitions.

MEC Matsemela’s first road show will be in Dr. Kenneth Kaunda district and details are as follows:

Venue: Jouberton Hall
Date: Monday, 23 June 2014
Time: 09:00am

Followed by Venue: Daeraad Special School
Date: Monday, 23 June 2014
Time: 12:00pm

The National schools’ choral Eisteddfod competitions will be held in Durban, from the 15-17 July 2014.

The North West province will be represented by 20 school choirs, which are in the intermediate phase (Grade 4-Grade7), senior phase (Grade 8-Grade10) and FET band phase (Grade10-12).

“Music is one of the art forms and is embedded in Creative Arts in the Life skills subject (Gr R-9) to enrich the academic part of schooling” departmental spokesperson Brian Setswambung said.

-TDN
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Pudumoe Police Held Bring Back Our Girls Campaign


By Obakeng Maje

The Pudumoe Police Station held a campaign in pledging the release of Nigerian girls those who were kidnapped by the rebels called Boko Haram in Nigerian a month ago. The South Africa Police Service says they are part of the world to make their voice heard by delivering a message to those perpetrators.

The prayer service was held at Pudumoe Police Station Board room and many schools in the area especially girl came to show their support.

“The recent abduction of school children in the Federal Republic of Nigeria by armed group, Boko Haram, has sparked global outrage and prompted calls for action from people all over the world” lieutenant colonel Motshidisi Moruting said.

Most representatives from churches were there and candle lighting was performed. Keabetswe Lepodisi , 19, said the world need to pray and always make sure that countries get prepared to deal with rebels.

“We, the female learners from Maatla and Pudumoe High School, encourage all public servants to commit to join hands with all people across the world and in particular, Nigerian people, to work for safe return of our girls” she said.

Chaplin Khuduge from Mafikeng was part of the event and said our actions are inspired by our conviction that injustice anywhere in the world must never be tolerated. “Women and children abuse must be confronted with every might at our disposal and should be everybody’s duty to work relentlessly towards its total elimination” he said.
-TDN
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Career Expo hosted at Mmabana Taung


North West department of Social Development hosted a Career Exhibition at Mmabana Taung to enlighten local students in Dr Ruth Mompati district and provide them with awareness, knowledge and education about job and internship opportunities in various departments across the province.

Social Development said this will guide the youth to the right directions for their future.”We want to give the youth support and valuable information about the different life opportunities that will help and encourage a positive future, at the same time we want to promote the Exhibitors, Sponsors, and Lecturers giving the exposure to the youth” Mogomotsi Keameditse said.

Tshwane University of Technology representative Tshepang Manyesa shared the same sentiment. He said there are many students who leave school and struggle to know what they want to study, where they want to study and a lot are thinking about Gap year, some students are forced to university, misled or misunderstood.

“We see failures, drop outs and successful students every year, surely we are in need of events like this. MY CAREER EXPO is very essential as it guide, educate, support, and lead in the right direction towards a positive future” he said.

The LoveLife was also part of the event and Oratile Matsitle who is a co-ordinator also outlines that events like this serve as a solid platform for students to come and seek information on what they want to do after school.

Parents and Guardians were also encouraged to be part of the event.

“Education is the only thing that will sustain your livelihood and eradicates poverty. We want to have a fostering and self-reliant society that will uphold human dignity” said a motivational speaker Selebogo Setswalo.-TDN
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Livestock theft accused arrested in North West


By Obakeng Maje 
Wolmaransstad- Three suspects are expected to appear in Makwassie Magistrates’ Court on Friday for theft under false pretence and robbery.

The trio were arrested on Wednesday at Makwassie after a tip-off from the member of public about presence of men who previously conned people under the pretext of selling livestock.

“The suspects aged 38, 42 and 45 were positively linked to previously reported cases in Wolmaransstad Cluster between 2012 and 2014 with estimated value of R600 000” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

The suspects allegedly lure their victims by showing and selling them livestock that does not belong to them. 

“It is alleged that they would then take the victims to a house in Boskuil near Makwassie or any other place around Wolmaransstad to do the transaction. They (suspects) would then run away in different directions after receiving the money and eventually collected by different cars” he said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects worked in groups and used different names. The Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Ryno Naidoo thanked the community for their cooperation with the police in the fight against crime.

The police urge any member of the community who might have been a victim of this kind of crime in and around Wolmaransstad to contact Major Dihemo Dihemo on 082 773 0630. Investigation into the matter continues and more arrests are imminent.-TDN
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‘Social Development host Career Expo at Mmabana Taung’


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The North West Social Development in Dr Segomotsi Ruth Mompati intensify its commitment to help the abused children within the communities. The department said they need people who could come out and voluntarily foster for the children who come from abusive home.

Tuelo Mankabane who is a social worker for Ward 4 in Dryharts village, near Taung request that three people who would like to act as foster parents to abused children must come forward, he said that during community meeting.

“We need three parents who could be voluntarily chosen and accommodates children in the area who will be identified by department of Social Development. We need someone with a conducive home, minimum having three children under her/his care and would be assessed by the department to see if that person meet the criteria” Mankabane said.

He said the department will help the chosen parent with a monthly salary of R750 per child. And the person might accommodate close to six children at once.

A safety parent initiative is to help children from broken background and before they copy things that are bad from their parents/guardian.

“We want to build a positive society with morals and values of life. Children are our future leaders, so they need to be taken care of” he said.

The department also advised blind and myopic people to come forward to be identified for any job opportunities or skill development- TDN
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Dryharts community laud new Brick-making project


By Obakeng Maje
Dryharts- The community of Dryharts and its neighborhood welcomed a new project that will be implemented in the area.

Dryharts Brick-making Plant is a new initiative that will help to eradicate poverty and fight unemployment in Dryharts. According to Community Development Worker Tshepiso Jantjie, the piloted project will commerce soon.

“We had some technicalities that we had to sort out as the project has been long in the pipeline. So far so good as everything is running accordingly and also the North West Department of Public Works endorsed the project” he said.

According to Jantjie, this brick-making project will help fight poverty and most people especially the youth of Dryharts will benefit from it.

“There are many people who have skills in brick-making and we will also rope in those who do not have any skill for training. The project initially was part of War On Poverty and we want this project to be successful” Jantjie outlines.

The community applaud the initiative and said they are positive that the project will benefit the residents of Dryharts at large.

The plan is to let the project grow and become the source to all other projects that will need bricks for different use of them.

“We are very grateful to see the symptoms because is been a while waiting for this kind of project. We are very adamant that all the people of Dryharts and Taung at large will benefit from it” Boikanyo Mokgatlhe said.

Kabelo Picoyame also shared the same sentiment by saying the project is big investment as it will create job opportunities in a long run.

The project will be monitored by two consultation companies hired by the department and as soon as it is stable then it will be handed over to the community of Dryharts.-TDN
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