Picture: The 120 participants of the National Youth Camp/Supplied  

By OBAKENG MAJE

The week-long camp that targeted Grade 10 learners and learners from special schools and aimed to address the holistic needs and challenges of young people has been completed. Some of the aspects discussed at the camp that was held at Warthog Adventure Camping Site in Brits were economic participation, educational skills development, character building, leadership skills, social cohesion, nation building, community service, sport and recreation activities and motivation.

The camp was organised by the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation. The Head of Department, Itumeleng Mogorosi emphasised the importance of the participants to be fully committed to what they were taught and imparting lessons learned with communities they come from.

“We encouraged participants to use knowledge from Love Life stewards, lessons from Provincial Recreation (PRO-REC) facilitators, experience from NYDA outreach programme, and career guidance to emancipate themselves for their future.

“With this camp, we want you to be cognisant of your environment. Be mindful of challenges facing our society such as unemployment, substance abuse and Gender-Based Violence (GBV). We want you to be mindful of life’s challenges and be determined to overcome them,” he said.

Mogorosi further said the participants should be inspired with a sense of patriotism and create the future they want. He added that, the content of the youth camp included leadership, social cohesion, entrepreneurship, nation building and community outreach programme.

“The department took 30 learners from different schools in each district. These learners were divided into six different classes. We provided them with attire for the duration of their stay in the camp.

“The move sought to ensure that all participants had the same look and that there is no differentiation between the haves and the have-nots, based on social background and educational performance level,” said Mogorosi.

Meanwhile, one of the participants, Bokamoso Ncele (16) from Lichtenburg, praised the camp, saying she would encourage other young learners to compete in the Olympiads taking place in different schools, which have been identified by the North West Department of Education, where camp participants are then identified.

“The camp was very interesting and I enjoyed every single day of it. From classrooms to physical activities, which taught us so much about our country and our capabilities working together.

“I learned about what it takes to be a leader and different opportunities we have as youth. I was even able to come out of my shell and today I was able to be the 2023 youth camp closing ceremony’s Programme Director,” she said.

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Picture: Former SAFA CEO, Tebogo Motlanthe

By OBAKENG MAJE

The South African Football Association (SAFA) has described the reports that the former CEO, Tebogo Motlanthe is returning to the association next month as misleading and false. This comes after the reports by the Sunday newspaper.

SAFA president, Dr Danny Jordaan said the report is a complete fabrication, malicious, and devoid of any truth. Jordaan further said SAFA wishes to dismiss it with the contempt it deserves.

“There was never a conversation with Tebogo to come back to SAFA as CEO and this report boggles the mind. We had a successful SAFA NEC meeting on 9 December 2023 and at no point did this come up. The SAFA NEC appoints CEOs, and there was never such a conversation during the meeting.

“Lydia Monyepao is the SAFA CEO and we are not in the market for a new CEO. This is gossip and we wish to clarify that there is no truth in the report. There is no vacancy for a CEO at SAFA because we have a CEO,” he said.

The SAFA President and the NEC fully support CEO Monyepao and will not be deterred by attempts to destabilize her and the Association.

Meanwhile, Monyepao shared the same sentiments. She said these were just rumours.

“I have got a good working relationship with Jordaan and the NEC. In fact, I will be traveling with the SAFA president to Saudi Arabia to attend the FIFA Club World Cup and the World Football Summit in Jeddah on 21 and 22 December as invited by FIFA President, Gianni Infantino.

“Our focus right now is on our football being more globally competitive. We want to make it clear that, we will not be distracted by talk of elections and we are focused on the development of women’s football, Bafana Bafana’s preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire in January, and Banyana Banyana’s pursuit of qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games,” said Monyepao.

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Picture: The shortage of medicine is a challenge  

By REGINALD KANYANE

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said he will address challenges raised by community members over the shortage of medicine at the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District. Sambatha said earlier during the week, members of the public complained that some of the health facilities in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District had run out of essential medicines.

He further said since the intervention of Section 100 (1)(b), the department has implemented a five-pillar intervention plan for medicine availability, which was preceded by an in-depth diagnostic assessment. Sambatha added that the focus of the plan has been on strengthening pharmaceutical operations at the district level as well as the capacitation of the provincial office.

“The intervention was followed by significant improvement in medicine availability with the Mmabatho Medical stores having resolved all previous bottlenecks. We assure the public of a remedial plan.

“I have assigned a team led by the Deputy Director-General (DDG) for Hospitals and Clinical Support Services and the acting District Chief Director to investigate the complaints of shortage. They will also prepare a report of medicine availability and more specific to chronic medication for the entire district,” he said.

Sambatha said they will conduct visits to the facilities of Matlosana in the coming week before Wednesday. He said they will also receive a detailed report from managers on Sunday.

“The department remains committed to rendering quality care by improving the availability of medicines at all levels of the services platform,” said Sambatha.

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Picture: The U-15 players in a match/Google

By OBAKENG MAJE

The South African U15 Boys National Team will travel to Rabat, Morocco on Sunday, 10 December 2023, where they will partake in their first-ever international friendly matches. The newly formed U15 National Team has been in camp for the past week, where they were taken through their paces by Head Coach, Vela Khumalo, assisted by Thabo Mngomeni and Shaibu Walters.

Khumalo said the 21-man squad will play against Cote d’Ivoire U15 on 12 December 2023 and face tournament host, Morocco on 17 December 2023.

“We have had a great week of training, and we are looking forward to this ground-breaking initiative by the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS). We will be going to Morocco to allow the players to experience international football.

“We want to use this tournament as an eye-opening mission for the boys. We need them to realize what it takes to make a great team. We will give all of them game time, but also implement our playing philosophy,” he said.

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Picture: One of the suspects arrested during Operation Shanela/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

More than 112 suspects were arrested for various crimes during Operation Shanela over the weekend. The suspects were nabbed for crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft, illicit mining, human trafficking, illegal possession of protected plants, malicious property damage, dealing and possession of drugs as well as undocumented illegal immigrants.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col, Sergio Kock said more than 34 Vehicle Check Points (VCPs) and 8 roadblocks were conducted across the province. Kock further said 1489 actions were also executed and 30 premises were searched. He added that, 2376 vehicles and 4406 persons were stopped and searched through the execution of 655 high visibility patrols.

“Operation Shanela, which is a multi-disciplinary high-density maneuver, continues to gain strides in clamping down on crime in hotspot areas. This was evident during disruptive actions, which commenced on 7 until 10 December 2023 with a continued focus on the reduction of contact and violent crimes in various hotspots.

“Actions and police activities executed during the operations included VCPs), stop and searches, roadblocks, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, and mine visits. Compliance inspections were executed at second-hand dealers and liquor premises. Mines, farms, formal and informal businesses were also visited,” said Kock.

He said 44 daily wanted suspects were traced and brought to book for various crimes and for not attending court and contravention of court orders. Kock said the police confiscated several alcoholic beverages, drugs, non-ferrous metal items, and cash that is believed to be the proceeds of crime.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended all role players for their unabated efforts and reaffirmed the importance of community involvement in robustly fighting crime. Otola also encouraged the community to continue being the eyes and ears of the police.

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Setshwantsho: Dipudi di le 21 di bolailwe ke legadima

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Ba lelapa la ga Khosi kwa motseng wa Mokassa 2, gaufi le Taung ba re ba setse ba gamaregile morago ga gore dipudi tsa bone di le 21 di blawe ke legadima mo letsatsing la maabane. Sebueledi sa lelapa, Gaelebale Kudube (51) are one a dutse mo ntlung ga mmogo le mme wa gagwe, Lenah Khosi (75) fa seno se diragala.

“Go ne gona pula, mme ke utlwile legadima le betsa. Ene ya re fa re lebelela kwa ntle, re ne ra bona dipudi di rapalese hatshe mo tlase ga setlhare. Nna ebile ke bontshiwa ke mme gore ke lebelele mo tlase ga setlhare.

“Jaanong, re mo kutlo-botlhokung tota jaaka lelapa. Mosadimogolo o ntse a itshidisa ka go rekisa leruo le. Go riana re setse fela ka dipudi di le 22. Se se diragetseng ke poelo morago, mme ga re itse gore re dire jang,” Kudube wa tlhalosa.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Five suspects were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property and theft during the safer festive season “Operation Tlotla Molao”. North West police spokesperson, Captain Sam Tselanyane said on 8 December 2023, the suspects allegedly arrived in one vehicle at the parking lot of a Mall in Potchefstroom. 

Tselanyane further said, that upon their arrival, they alighted from the vehicle in pairs and went into the mall. He added that the car guard became suspicious and alerted a security company that kept an eye on their movements as well as their vehicle.

“Furthermore, after some time the suspects returned to their vehicle and drove off.  The security company’s reaction team tried to stop the suspects’ vehicle, but they sped off. A chase ensued and the police were informed.

“The vehicle was eventually stopped just outside Potchefstroom towards the direction of Klerksdorp. A search was conducted and plastic bags filled with clothing items from two well-known clothing stores were found with price tags on them,” said Tselanyane. 

He said the suspects could not produce any proof of purchase for those items and they were all arrested. Tselanyane said the five suspects consisted of three women and two men aged between 27 and 54.

“They are expected to appear before the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on 11 December 2023. The police will be working jointly with other law enforcement entities in the province and would want to warn all store managers and employees to be more vigilant.

“This time of the year, perpetrators of these kinds of crimes target stores when it is busy and employees are distracted. Investigation into the matter continues,” said Tselanyane.

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Picture: The Potchefstroom Hospital

By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West Department of Health described the allegations that the Potchefstroom Hospital turned away a patient without any assistance as absurd. This comes after the ‘pregnant’ Van Eden was allegedly brought to the Potchefstroom Hospital casualty on 27 November 2023, but turned away.

According to the Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Health in North West, Gavin Edwards, a recent incident at the hospital is a precursor to the type of medical care that will become common practice in an already overburdened system that faces collapse as the ANC-led government forces the NHI Bill through the parliamentary process.

“Van Eeden, a pregnant patient, had to wait more than five hours after initially being turned away by the Potchefstroom Hospital Casualty. She had been examined by a General Practitioner (GP) earlier in the day, who confirmed a good fetal heartbeat.

“Her husband, Steven van Eeden, rushed his wife to the hospital when she started bleeding and was experiencing severe abdominal pain. Casualty staff turned the patient away from the casualty department, insisting that the beds were all full and they would be unable to assist,” he said.

Edwards alleged that Van Eeden begged that his wife be examined and was sent to open a file. He further said Van Eeden’s vital signs were assessed, but her pregnancy was ignored.

“The couple were then sent to a crowded waiting area, where they had no other option than to sit on the floor as there was no seating. Despite repeated requests for urgent assistance, no medical care was provided to the patient.

“After waiting almost five hours, seated on the waiting room floor, the patient left the hospital without any medical care being provided. The hospital staff on duty provided no assistance, insight, or explanations for the delay,” said Edwards.

However, the North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebog Lekgethwane refutes these allegations. Lekgethwane alleged that the patient said she arrived at the casualty just after 7pm.

“However, the hospital found no record of that. According to casualty records and statements, this patient only arrived at 9pm. Furthermore, at 7pm, there were only four patients for triage and there is no way that she could not have been seen immediately if indeed she had arrived at 7pm.

“Patient profiles at casualty on 27 November 2023 between 6pm up to midnight were 42 in total. Two red patients, 28 orange patients (including 6 pediatrics, 3 general surgery and 19 medical), 1 yellow and 1 green that doctors and nurses were attending to,” he said.

Lekgethwane further said the available beds for examination in casualty are eight. He added that only eight patients can be examined at a time.

“Examination beds will only be free when patients are fully examined, investigated, admitted, or discharged. This can take a total treatment time of 60 to 240 minutes per patient; depending on the patient’s condition.

“Also, the attitude of the family is concerning to the hospital as it smacks of racism. This is evidenced by the utterance that apartheid Kallie de Haas Hospital was much better than this ANC looters black management run butchery of a hospital,” said Lekgethwane.

He said this comment was written in the complaint and he repeated it during the redress meeting.

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Picture: Underage children indulge in alcohol/Generic

By REGINALD KANYANE

To ensure there are safer celebrations, the North West Liquor Board said it will continue with its operation to crack down on underage drinking during the end-of-year parties.

The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Virginia Tlhapi said as the academic year calendar is being completed, learners in the province are eagerly anticipating their end-of-year exams.

Tlhapi said, however, there are concerns over a growing trend on social media platforms – the hosting of “Pens Down Parties” by matric learners and students in general.

“The department is taking a decisive stance to address this issue and is sending a stern warning to all liquor establishments in the province. Licensed liquor traders are reminded of the explicit prohibition outlined in the Liquor Act 27 of 1989 Section 45, which prohibits the presence of juveniles on their premises.

“As department, we have mandated the Liquor Act to actively oversee the liquor industry in the province and is stressing the importance of responsible liquor regulation, especially during celebratory events,” she said.

Tlhapi further said in South Africa, the sale of liquor is strictly regulated through licensing, and it is expressly forbidden by law to sell alcohol to underage individuals or permit their access to licensed premises. She added that, despite the legal provisions surrounding end-of-year celebrations, the department has observed with concern that some liquor outlets knowingly permit underage drinking, which is a clear violation of the law.

“To address this, the department asserts that ignorance of the law will not serve as an excuse and any establishment found hosting such activities will face severe sanctions recommended by the office to the board. The department emphasizes that profiting should not take precedence over the well-being, safety, and future of the youth.

“Liquor traders are implored to comply with regulations and are encouraged to report any form of noncompliance from licensed facilities to the department,” said Tlhapi.

She said underage drinking has been associated with various negative consequences, including fights, sexual assault and physical violence. Tlhapi said as a department, they underscore the importance of avoiding such incidents and hold those who advertise such events on social media accountable if they occur in their licensed establishments.

“In a collective effort, the department calls on the community, other sector departments and liquor traders to collaborate in ensuring the safety of young people. While action would be taken against those who sell liquor to children, parents are urged to abstain from sending underage individuals to purchase alcoholic substances.

“These actions encapsulate the shared responsibility to create a safe, secure, and conducive environment for the youth. By working together, the department and the relevant stakeholders aim to prevent the potential harms associated with underage drinking and make a positive impact on the community,” she said.

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