Plans are afoot to build a sophisticated multicultural city in Taung, North West Premier Thandi Modise announced during a meeting held with traditional leaders from Taung on Wednesday.

Premier Modise was accompanied by MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism Motlalepule Rosho, MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs Manketse Tlhape, the Executive Mayor of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Tshoganyetso Tladinyane and the Mayor of Taung Local Municipality Kaone Lobelo.

The meeting was attended by Kgosi Kgosiemang Mothibi of Batlhaping Ba Ga Mothibi, Kgosi Tshepo Mankuroane of Batlhaping Ba Ga Phuducwana and Kgosi Nyoko Motlhabane of Batlhaping Ba Ga Maidi Traditional Councils.

“We want development, we think Taung can become a city, it will not be for the first time that a multicultural city is established,” said Premier Modise citing the Belgian city of Brussels as a good example of the sophisticated cultural city they envisage for Taung.

Modise also told the meeting that they will develop the place where the Taung Skull was discovered. The Taung Skull ranks among the most important early human fossils ever discovered. It is also believed to be the first hominid to be discovered in Africa.

“We must preserve our heritage sites and make sure that future generations know about these important archaeological discoveries in our province. It is part of the history of the province and it’s also crucial for scientific research,” said the Premier.

Modise reiterated that her administration in conjunction with the local chiefs will ensure that the local communities benefit from the number of projects that they have in the pipeline.

“Whatever development we do, we must always make sure that locals are the first beneficiaries. We want services to go to the people,” reiterated Modise.

Premier Modise also told the meeting that the provincial government wants to open a preparatory school for traditional leaders in the province. She said the school that will teach critical leadership and management skills is more likely to draw interest from other provinces across the country.

Most women resort to unhygienic practises just to survive the cycle because sanitary towels remain a luxury for millions of women in South Africa due to the high level of poverty and the commodification of the basic product.North West Premier Thandi Modise said after distributing towels to 300 girl-learners at two rural schools in Dryharts near Taung on Wednesday.

Premier Modise said that government is considering a sustainable and coordinated intervention targeting girl-learners because several sources have revealed that the majority of girls in Africa miss up to 50 days of schooling each year due to menstrual related challenges resulting with girl learners missing up to 300 days(almost a whole year) over a period of 6 years.

Modise expressed appreciation for the partnership and donation of sanitary towels received through MEC for Economic Development, Conservation, Environment and Tourism,Motlalepula Rosho from gambling licensees like Carousel Casino, Mmabatho Palms, Betting World, Zonke Monitiring and Phumela.

The Premier who was also accompanied by MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs Manketse Tlhape, the Executive Mayor of Dr Ruth Mompati District Municipality Tshoganyetso Tladinyane, the Mayor of Greater Taung Local Municipality,Kaone Lobelo and other senior government officials encouraged learners at Molehabangwe Middle School and Sekate Mahura Middle School to focus on their studies as a way to have a better future.

“It doesn’t matter where you grow up, the most important thing is to focus on your goal. You must abstain from sex. Be what you want to be because you determine your future,” said Premier Modise.

She also urged learners to report any form of abuse irrespective of who the culprit is.

“I urge you to report sexual offences where it’s a teacher, a fellow learner or anybody, notify the police,” added Premier Modise.

The Chairperson of the School Governing Body at Molehabangwe Middle School, Pelonomi Khumoeng said the donation of sanitary pads shows that the government cares about the youth particularly female learners who often face multiple challenges. “We are very happy that the Premier is here today because parents in our communities are very poor and often struggle to provide sufficiently for their children. This shows that our government cares because children at this school are beneficiaries of the school nutrition programme,” said the elated Khumoeng.

Katlego Sekgetho, one of the 140 female learners who received the sanitary towels Molehabangwe Middle School said she was excited that the Premier has chosen to come to their school. “I am so excited that the Premier came here to advise us about how to deal with some of the challenges that we often encounter without knowing who to ask,” said the grade 7 learner.

Realeboga Kalamore and Mokakale Boingotlo of Skate Mahura Middle School said they have been inspired by Premier Modise’s message.

“I am now more inspired than ever before to take my studies very seriously,” said the elated Mokakale who is in grade 9.

Neo Letlhogela, a reading coach and debate convenor who visits schools in the area three times a week to work with learners said the initiative will go a long way in empowering female learners. “I am so happy that the Premier has emphasised the importance of self-respect and I am confident that learners will take the advice seriously so that they don’t lose focus of their goals, said Lethogela.

Cape Town – Most of the Cape Town children who are wounded or killed from firearm-related incidents are caught in the crossfire, the majority being shot outside their homes, a local study has found.

The study, which was presented by Dr Tyson Welzel, a senior lecturer at UCT’s division of emergency medicine at Stellenbosch University on Wednesday, also showed that boys between six and 12 were at greater risk of being shot than girls of the same age group.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Pretoria – Police have been placed at the heart of the drug surge that has taken over Brown Street and Marabastad, with residents, drug users and businessmen in the area claiming drug dealers roam free at the hands of corrupt police officials.

The Pretoria News has learnt that the notorious Brown Street is run by Tanzanian nationals who have high-level protection from police officials. It took two weeks for the Pretoria News to establish a trusting relationship with the infamous “nyaope boys”, who are feared, even by other smokers across the city.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Pretoria – A police minibus used as a getaway vehicle, police demanding bribes, no visible policing, lack of professionalism and a general bad attitude, and attacks and victimisation of foreigners were just some of the concerns raised by residents in the west of Pretoria when they met the new station commander and various top police management as a community this week.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Pretoria – The Tshwane Metro Police’s termination of their contracts has left 40 trainees so devastated that one of them came close to committing suicide.

According to fellow trainees, the woman – who had been training for more than a year to become a metro police constable – wanted to fling herself in front of an oncoming train after signing a termination letter. Friends rescued her from the railway tracks before she could carry out her plan.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Durban – Today is the first anniversary of the death of three-year-old William Ratcliffe, but the alleged drunk driver claimed to have caused the crash in which he was killed is yet to go on trial.

Pensioner Robert Ian Gilmore, 63, is alleged to have driven through the intersection of Kingsway and Old Main Road in Amanzimtoti, crashing into the BMW that William was travelling in.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Durban – Police have nabbed five members of an alleged syndicate who went around KwaZulu-Natal applying for accounts and loans using fake identity documents, payslips and bank statements.

The four men and a woman have been linked to 25 incidents of fraud and forgery, amounting to almost R500 000.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Pretoria – A father who raped his 15-year-old daughter and even impregnated her was, on appeal, given a lifeline by the Pretoria High Court which reduced his life sentence to 15 years’ imprisonment, as the court felt he stood a chance of being rehabilitated.

Judges A Van Niekerk and J Kruger felt that the 40-year-old father would be denied the prospect of being rehabilitated if he had to serve a life term. The judges also considered case law in similar circumstances when they reduced his sentence.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – Convicted drug dealer Glenn Agliotti has denied accusations by the SA Revenue Service [Sars] that he has money stashed in offshore accounts.

“I think Sars investigators had to make a political statement and I’d like to tell them they wasting their time in trying to find something which isn’t there. This investigation will cost the taxpayer a lot of money,” Agliotti told Radio 702.

Sars believes Agliotti stashed funds in European bank accounts in Geneva and Guernsey, EWN reported.

Agliotti said while he respected Sars as the only efficient government body in the country, he will challenge the institution on its treatment of him.

The businessman said the Geneva account has been closed.

Agliotti claimed that Sars was going after him because he’s “back at the top again”.

– News24