Picture: The chairperson of the Provincial Community Policing Board (PCPB), the late Dixson Ngamlane/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Heartfelt condolence messages continue to pour in after the passing on of Dixson Ngamlane and his wife, Thozama. The couple perished on Monday evening, 26 June 2023, during a car accident in Fochville, Gauteng Province.
The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said at the time of Ngamlane’s death, he was an active member and chairperson of the Provincial Community Policing Board (PCPB).
“He assumed the position in 2016 and prior to that, Ngamlane served as the chairperson at Mahikeng Police Station, where he actively participated in community policing activities. Due to his commitment and will to serve the community, he was elected chairperson of the Mahikeng Cluster Board in 2000.
“The South African Police Services (SAPS) employees and community members will dearly miss this dedicated community builder, who never hesitated to work together with the police and the public alike in the fight against crime,” Mokgwabone said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena conveyed his sincere condolences to the Ngamlane family, relatives, friends and all SAPS employees and Community Police Forum (CPF) members in the province following the sudden death of Dixson Ngamlane and his wife.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with the Ngamlane family, as we fondly remember him. We are indeed grateful for all that he did for the service and the community,” Kwena said.
Five crafters from the province took part in this year’s Decorex Cape Town to showcase their handmade crafts and explore the international market from 22 to 26 June hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
A Re Bopeng Ceramics, Ba Devine, Ketso’Koi Creations, Take No Time Upholstery and Hearfelt participated at the show with support from the North West Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation after being nominated by the Bokone Bophirima Craft and Design Institute (BBCDI) in collaboration with the Department of Small Business Development.
Decorex is a leading design and décor exhibition, which has been in existence for 29 years. The show accords young and old crafters from all spheres of life an opportunity to exhibit their products. It also provides the amateurs in the industry to test the market for the viability of their crafts.
BBCDI Programme Manager for Market Access, Ephraim Dikobe said, through their programmes, which include product development, enterprise development as well as market access, they are able to reach out to as many crafters as possible in the province. Dikobe further said, as the institute, they still need to cover a vast majority particularly who are unable to access information on how to penetrate the market with their crafts.
“Decorex was not the only platform that crafters were afforded an opportunity to showcase their products. South African Retail Chemist Druggists Association (SARCDA) Christmas show, Aardklop and other international shows are some of the shows, where market access remains one key factor for the exhibitors.
“As the institution, our partnership with key stakeholders such as the Department of Small Business Development, Department of Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation and the Department of Economic Development in the province, would enable the organisation to achieve the intended purpose of ensuring that we cater for our target audience broadly,” he said.
Dikobe added: “We hope to increase the number of participants at such shows to enable them to gain as much knowledge and understanding as possible, but that is dependent on the work they produce to be able to compete with their counterparts in the industry.”
A crafter, Koketso Sedumedi of Ketso‘Koi Creations from Masutlhe village, outside Mahikeng said, it was her first time at Decorex and though the sales were not impressive, she was grateful for the opportunity. Sedumedi said after engaging and sharing information with some of the crafters at the show, she sees herself in a better position as there is a lot of potential for her products.
“We specialise in calabash making using dried peels. I am now going to focus on developing more products as we have more orders to follow up on from the show. My wish is for the department to assist us grow our business even bigger as there is a need for sustainability.
“The relations we have made will go a long way to assist us to remain in the business for generations to come. I definitely see potential in my product and that motivates me to do more. Collaboration with other prominent crafters is one factor that I would consider,” she said.
Sharlene Mphuloane of Heartfelt, who hails from Moretele village in Bojanala District said she was excited that she was able to make more sales compared to last year’s show. Sharlene said she even got an order of supplying one client with 250 Giraffe key rings.
“I am looking at collaborating with one company, which produces children’s toys and I am hopeful that the partnership would help a great deal. The platforms such as the one provided by SARCDA have opened our minds, in terms of what products to produce and for which market.
“I am thankful for the opportunity now that our product has hit the market. The response we received was overwhelming. My wish is to be afforded an opportunity to gain access into the international market and interact with international producers and suppliers with the know-how,” said Mphuloane.
Picture: The residents at Blydeville worried about poor service delivery in their area/Generic
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Nono Maloyi said they will upgrade the YizoYizo Informal Settlement in Rustenburg. Maloyi had a consultative engagement with the residents of Yizo Yizo Informal Settlements at Tlhabane Stadium (Open Space Parking) on 27 June 2023 to map the way forward.
“It is estimated that there might be over a thousand families living in the informal settlement that is located next to the industrial area in Tlhabane Township. The informal settlement was established more than 20 years ago. The department previously relocated over 600 residents to Seralemeng. However, a number of families continued to settle in Yizo Yizo.
“The department is going to resolve the Yizo Yizo situation with the necessary speed it requires due to the living conditions in the area. It’s been years since the people of Yizo Yizo have been living in such dire situations. I will personally monitor progress in the upgrading of this informal settlement,” he said.
Maloyi further said they need to build houses as soon as possible and restore the dignity of these residents because it is a constitutional mandate. He added that the North West Public Works and Roads and Rustenburg Local Municipality have availed land for human settlements development.
“The process must start immediately and young people should be employed to assist with verification of households and beneficiary administration. It is hogwash and absurd that intervention at Yizo Yizo is motivated by electioneering.
“I have been in government not more than a year and part of my key priorities when he assumed duty as the MEC was to ensure that services are delivered in local government. We have also prioritised the unblocking of blocked projects and ensuring that, legible beneficiaries receive habitable homes and the creation of sustainable Human Settlements in the province,” said Maloyi.
One of the residents, Anna Ditsebe said: “As residents, we have been asking the municipality to intervene and remedy the living conditions in the informal settlement, but to no fruition. So, today’s message was music to our ears and we are more hopeful now that the government is here.
“We will see much improvement in the areas and services will be rendered. We have been staying here for more than 20 years and we are optimistic that we will finally get houses and basic services rendered. It’s been a serious struggle, but now we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
A fraud and corruption case against a man (47) was postponed by the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court to 6 July 2023 for a formal bail application. Labius Metlhabe was arrested for corruption, fraud and impersonating a police officer.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said Metlhabe was arrested in Boitekong Township, near Rustenburg on 23 June 2023 after he allegedly pretended to be an Investigating Officer of a theft case that was opened in September 2022.
According to Mamothame, Metlhabe allegedly called and demanded R3000 from the man, who was implicated in the matter on condition that he (the suspect) ensures that the docket disappears.
“After reporting the matter to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit (ACIU), the suspect was arrested during an undercover operation. A preliminary investigation into the matter revealed that, the suspect is not a police officer. The police are undertaking a verification process for the state to prepare for the bail hearing. Meanwhile, Metlhabe will remain in police custody until his next court appearance,” he said
Picture: The deputy minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and People with Disability, Nokuzola Tolashe along with delegates
By OBAKENG MAJE
Some of Small Micro-Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) owners urge the government, through District Development Model (DDM), to accelerate the provision of service delivery and implementation of developmental projects. One of the SMMEs owners, George Tong said in order for the model to be effective and perform optimally, opportunities should be created.
“We understand that, the objectives of this initiative is to address treble challenges such as poverty, unemployment and inequality in particular amongst women, youth and people living with disabilities. We do have a cooperative that specialises on bakery, farming and road maintenance.
“So, we urge the government to assist us with funding. We understand that, the government cannot assist us from word go with all these projects, but we will welcome any budget based on the needs and aspirations of our people and communities at a local level,” Tong said.
He further said, they will also be grateful if they can be capacitated with the necessary skills and provision of land amounting to at least 10 hectares. Tong added that, their projects aim at creating opportunities for the youth residing in their area by utilising youth development programmes.
An entrepreneur, Tshepiso Jantjies from Jantjies Boerdery said, even though the model is a great initiative, there should be coherence between government departments. Jantjies said, most government departments operate in silos and that is a challenge.
“This can be catastrophic and lead to a lack of planning and implementation. It will impact negatively in monitoring and oversight, which will lead to a non-optimal delivery of services. The rolling out of a new integrated district-based approach in addressing socio-economic challenges should also cater.
“As we speak, we have a high rate of unemployment and the most affected are the youth. We have young people who are indulging in drugs who are dawdling at Taung taxi rank daily. Usually, I call those boys and hired them because they do have good hands to work with. So, I think the government should not overlook them,” he said.
Jantjies said they need to give these boys hope and accommodate them. He said the government has the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)program, where some of these boys can be developed.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and People with Disability, Nokuzola Tolashe said: “We visited the area to address key issues that were raised during our previous engagement. This will assist us to understand the differential circumstances in society and also to ensure that the socio-economic empowerment and rights of women, youth and persons with disabilities are mainstreamed across all sectors of society within the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
“Furthermore, to advocate empowerment and gender equality for women, youth and persons with disability through capacity building and skills development programmes for them to participate meaningfully in all areas of the economy and the workplace in the district.”
Tolashe said that, president Cyril Ramaphosa has given emphasis to the DDM as a unique form of social compacting that involves all key players in every district and metro space to unlock development and economic opportunities. She said this initiative builds the capacity of the state, where it has been most broken.
Picture: The accused, Caswell Mthombeni briefly appeared at Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
A fraud and money laundering case against Caswell Mthombeni (52) was postponed to 27 July 2023 by the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. In October 2015, Mthombeni was allegedly appointed by the North West Community Safety and Transport Management to help the department in achieving its road safety objectives, which included training unemployed matriculants and empowering accredited driving schools in various pilot areas.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said: “Mthombeni’s duties also included training and developing driving schools and learner drivers. An amount of over R21-million was paid to him for the commencement of the programme. Over 40 driving schools allegedly signed contracts with the accused’s company as beneficiaries of the programme.
“It is further alleged that, these driving schools used their funds to participate in the programme, in anticipation that the accused will compensate them. Mthombeni allegedly failed to honour his contractual agreement with the driving schools and spent the money on himself. As a result, the department incurred losses to the tune of over R21 million.”
Mamothame further said, Mthombeni was arrested by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation assisted by Priority Crime Specialised Investigation and Tactical Operations Management Section on 26 June 2023 in Pretoria. He added that, Mthombeni was granted a R50 000 bail after appearing in the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director for Public Prosecutions, Dr Rachel Makhari commended the collaboration between the investigation team and prosecution leading to the arrest of Mthombeni. Makhari and Mbotho vowed to continue working together in clamping down on corruption in the province.
Setshwantsho: Batshameki ba kwa sekolong sa Sebitloane mo Taung
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Baithuti ba sekolo sa Sebitloane kwa Taung, ba baneng ba ile go emela sekolo kwa metshamekong e e kgethegileng ya sejana sa lefatshe kwa toropong ya Berlin, kwa nageng ya Germany ba amogetswe ka boitumelo mo letsatsing la gompieno. Sekolo se ne se ba diretse moletlo-gadi morago ga diphenyo tsa bone.
Setlhopha sa kgwele ya dinao sa basimane, ba fentse metale wa gauta, fa naledi mo motshamekong ya tense, Innocentia Msikinya go tswa kwa motseng wa Manthe, a fentse metale wa selefera le wa gauta. Msikinya are, le fa gone go se bonolo, o itumeletse phenyo ya gagwe.
“Ke itumetse thata fa ke kgone go fenya metale wa selefera le wa gauta. Gone go se bonolo, mme re ile ra kgona go fenya le fa re nnile le dikgwetlho,” Msikinya wa tlhalosa.
Mokaptein wa setlhopha sa kgwele ya dinao se se fentseng metale wa gauta, Kabo Kgomo (22) are, ba tswile mo Afrika Borwa ba ipaakantse go utlwa. Go ya ka Kgomo, se se ileng sa ba rotloetsa go itsotsoropanya ke gore, ba ne ba shebile gore fa gona le setlhopha sengwe sa kgwele ya dinao se se tla nnang lekgatlhego mo go bone, se ba kwadise.
“Ditlhopha dile dintsi di ne di sa dumele gore re tswa kwa Sebitloane Special School ka mokgwa o reneng re tshameka ka teng. Gona le ditlhopha tse di ne di sa tshameke sentle le rona, fela reile ra fenya,” Kgomo wa tlhalosa.
Mogokgo wa sekolo, Boipelo Mmokwa are ba motlotlo jaaka sekolo go bona baithuti ba bone ba dirile matshitshi.
“Rona jaaka botsamaisi jwa sekolo se, ke sa lebale le lekgotlha-tsamaiso la sekolo, re lebogile thata. Ebile, ga ke itse gore ke tla shupa boitumelo jwame jang mo go se se diragetseng. Bana ba, ba ikatisitsi go utlwala le fa ba ne ba sena ditlamelwana tse di maleba.
“Re tsweletse jalo, re ba tshegeditse le fa gone go se bonolo. Fela, re ne re itse gore Modimo o teng o tla re fitlhisa. Bana ba, ga ese ba itshupe jaaka bana ba ba sa itsholelang. Ga se ba tsamye ba latlhegelwe mo metshamekong e. Ba tshamikile kgatlhanong le dinaga tse dinang le bokgoni, fela ba ile ba fenya go ntse fela jalo go fitlhela ba fenya metale wa gauta,” Mmokwa wa tlhalosa.
Gape, o kaile fa ka di 21 Phukwi 2023, ba tlile go direla bana ba moletlo o mo tona. Are, Msikinya le ene o dirile go utlwala le fa a ne a sena ditlabakele tse di lekaneng. Mmokwa are, tona kwa kantorong ya mopresidente, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma yo a ikarabelang mo go bomme, basha ga mmogo le batho ba ba tshelang ka bogwele, o kaile fa bana ba ba tlile go memiwa ke mopresidente wa naga, Cyril Ramaphosa go ya go ja dijo tsa motshegare le ene.
Morulaganyi wa porogerama ya diporojeke tse di kgethegileng kwa kantorong ya ga majoro kwa masepaleng wa selegae wa Greater Taung, Tebogo Morweng are ba motlotlo. Morweng are maikutlo ke a tseisang manya go bona bana ba, batla ka dimetale.
“O tla gopola gore majoro wa rona, Tumisang Gaoraelwe o ile a kaya fa a tlile go tshegetsa sekolo se sa rona sa Sebitloane. Re ile ra nna le tshono ya go etela bana ba pele ga ba leba kwa Berlin kwa Germany le go ba neela mafoko a thotloetso. Jaanong, jaaka motho a ka bua fela are, senampa sa ngwana wa kgosi re se bona mogang bojale bo a loga.
“Jaanong, botsetsi jo rene re bo beile bo fedile, gonne bana ba boile. Re tlhaloganya gore gona le batsadi ba ba ikobonyang ka go nna le bana ba ba tlhokang tshegetso e e kgethegile. Fela, re ikuela go bone gore ba tlise bana bao le bone ba kgone go rebolola talente tsa bone,” Morweng wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, Kgosi Lehatshe Mankuroane are bana ba, ba beile naga ya Afrika Borwa ga mmogo le motse wa Taung kwa setlhoweng.
Picture: The acting North West Premier, Nono Maloyi with North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Oageng Molapisi along with delegates monitoring Nelson Mandela Drive road project/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Road infrastructure continues to be a challenge in North West. Currently, Mahikeng is duped as the ‘capital city of potholes’. Now, the North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi, who visited the Nelson Mandela Drive road construction project said, he will visit and monitor all road construction projects across the province.
Maloyi further said, his visit was to acknowledge the progress being made and offer solutions to accelerate the delivery of road projects timeously. He added that Nelson Mandela Drive is one of the roads identified for this purpose.
“Road infrastructure is key to the developmental trajectory of the province and one of the apex priorities of the government. Today, we are visiting Nelson Mandela Drive in Mahikeng to receive an update on this road construction project. Initially, this project was supposed to be completed by September 2023.
“We are very worried including business people and the community at large over the snail pace at this project going. We met with the contractor and he gave us a report on when will the project be completed,” said Maloyi.
He said they are satisfied, but they are going to monitor progress fortnightly. Maloyi said they are going to embark on a similar approach with other projects to see to it that, service providers meet their contractual obligations.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Oageng Molapisi said: “The department is geared up to curb any delays on road projects. We understand the negative impact of the delays on our projects and the inconvenience to motorists and other road users.
“In line with the accelerated service delivery plan, we will be re-visiting this project in the next two weeks as per the instruction of the North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi. We will do everything in our power to see to it that, we complete this project on time.”
Picture: The doctors posing for a photo after a successful cardiac operation on a patient/Supplied
By OBAKEN MAJE
North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha is beaming with pride following a successful cardiac operation on a patient (21), who was treated at Job Shimankane Tabane (JST) Hospital in Rustenburg. Sambatha said the patient was successfully treated for a congenital cardiac condition called Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) using a percutaneous technique in the catheterisation lab for closure of the defect.
“Atrial Septal Defect is a hole between two chambers of the heart causing the mixing of blood, if not closed in time it can cause serious complications in the future.
“Traditionally, this kind of operation is fixed through an open heart procedure. However, due to technological advancement in catheterisation techniques, allows it to be done in a cath lab as a day procedure with no open surgery needed,” he said.
Sambatha further said this collaborative effort between the JST and Life Peglarae medical teams, truly augurs well as they look to the future with the National Health Insurance (NHI). He added that the procedure was done in the Cath Lab of Life Peglarae Hospital in Rustenburg jointly with the JST medical team.
“I would like to congratulate the team of Cardiologists that carried out this procedure Dr Mogwera, Dr Msiza, and Dr Raphala along with Dr Pege. The Anaesthetist, Cardiac Technologists, Radiographers, and Nurses.
“This is the first of its kind in the public sector in the province and it is indeed a model of NHI in action,” concluded Sambatha.
Picture: The North West Social Development logo/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Social Development has terminated the contract of the acting Chief Director, Lorato Gasealahwe. The acting Head of Department (HoD), Obakeng Mongale said this comes after the intervention aimed at stabilising the department.
“You will remember that, the North West Premier, Bushy Maape assembled the intervention team on 30 May 2023. We can also confirm that, we have lifted the suspensions on the five employees. This decision is a culmination of intense engagements between the intervention team, legal and labour experts, who studied the background, as well as processing all the details that emanate from disciplinary proceedings and records pertaining to Gasealahwe and the other five employees.
“With regard to the five employees, the immediate lifting of their suspensions will allow the intervention team space for a proper review process to start off their alleged transgressions. The intervention team will determine whether correct procedures were followed as prescribed by the law,” Mongale said.
He further said, the affected employees have been informed of the decision to lift their suspensions effective from 19 June 2023. Mongale added that, with regards to Gasealahwe, the merits of the decision to terminate her contract, will be further ventilated at the Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council for Conciliation (PHSDSB) following her previous referral of the matter to the same council.
The Guardian 