By OBAKENG MAJE

The residents of Greater ZF Mgcawu District in Upington have mixed reactions regarding the Basic Laws Amendment Bill (Bela Bill). This was evident during the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education’s visit yesterday.

The committee completed the first of three public hearings in the Northern Cape on Friday, as part of its nationwide public participation process, which is the bedrock of the participatory democratic process.
 
The chairperson of Portfolio Committee, Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba said, those that supported the Bill, highlighted its necessity to deal with many practical challenges faced within the public education system, while those against it painted the apprehension with what they view as unnecessary veto powers conferred to the heads of the provincial departments of education.
 
She further said. those who supported the Bill tinted the current misuse of powers by School Governing Bodies (SGBs). Mbinqo-Gigaba added, they argued that the Bill will eliminate discriminatory tendencies exhibited by some SGBs that included the exclusion of some learners from different racial backgrounds.

“They emphasised that one of the benefits that will be derived from the implementation of the Bill will be the equality of all languages in the country. Those opposed to the Bill argued that, the Bill undermines the principle of cooperative governance in the running of schools, as each level of administration has clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

“They further emphasised that the SGBs are best placed to make decisions on language and admission policies for schools, given their better understanding of the socio-economic and other realities in the communities where the schools are situated,” she said.
 
Mbinqo-Gigaba said, regarding the reporting of financial reports on a quarterly basis, those against the Bill asserted that this was practically impossible and will put undue administrative burden on the SGBs. She said, also, there was an argument that the clause that proposes that members of the SGB must declare financial interests was unconstitutional and would most likely contravene the Protection of Personal Information Act.
 
“Those that supported the Bill were of the view that by imposing quarterly reporting cycles, it will stop the problem of misuse of funds early and ensure that school finances are administered fairly and ethically. Furthermore, they argued that this quarterly reporting cycle will empower communities with information on the financial management in schools and will reduce occurrences of corruption and squandering of scarce resources.  
 
“There were also divergent views regarding clause 41, with those supporting the Bill emphasising that the public education system was increasingly compelled to deal with the challenge of the rising pregnancy at schools and the Bill would provide a framework on how best to deal with this matter. Also, some highlighted that the clause will ensure that a girl child remains in school thereby resolving the high dropout rate of female learners,” said Mbinqo-Gigaba.
 
She said those opposing the Bill raised concerns that the Bela Bill was advocating for comprehensive sexual education, something they viewed as a foreign tendency seeking to impose a form of colonialism in the education system. Mbinqo-Gigaba said clause 37 of the Bill, which proposes the regulation of the home-schooling environment also raised contrasting perspectives from participants. She said for supporters, the home-schooling environment required monitoring to ensure education does occur and to gauge progression within the basic education schooling system.
 
“Those who opposed the Bill asserted that the Bill takes away the responsibility, which home-schooling parents have assumed of ensuring that their children learn despite some challenges they face. Also, there was an argument that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) does not, through this Bill, attempt to resolve many of the challenges the sector faces daily, such as overcrowding in schools, the lack of adequate infrastructure and the unavailability of qualified educators.

“Some asked about the practicability of monitoring the vast system when currently provincial education systems are struggling to monitor public schools under their purview. Some parents argued that despite their many attempts to interact with the Minister, especially on clause 37 their pleas were not considered leaving the committee with a not researched Bill that does not cater for the needs of unique learners,” she said. 

Mbingo-Gigaba said the committee welcomed all inputs made and assured the participants that their perspectives have been heard. The committee will today hold a session in Kuruman to enable the residents of John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality to make representations to the committee.

She said the committee emphasises that all interested individuals and organisations are welcomed to make submissions.

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Picture: The former Ditsobotla Local Municipality speaker, the late Fikile Jakeni/Facebook  

By OBAKENG MAJE

The heartfelt condolence messages continue to pour in after the passing of the municipal speaker of Ditsobotla Local Municipality. Fikile Jakeni passed away on Thursday evening after a long illness.

The Ditsobotla Local Municipality mayor, Elizabeth Lethoko said the death of Jakeni was confirmed by a family member.

“The passing of the distinguished speaker is devastating. Jakeni was more than a speaker for our municipality. He was a beacon of wisdom and strength, as he dedicated his life to the service of the people of Ditsobotla. His influence reached far beyond the confines of our local region.

“His unwavering dedication to public service and a deep-seated passion for social justice has indelibly shaped our community. Jakeni was a friend, a mentor and a guide to all of us, who had the privilege of working alongside him. His contribution to our community is immeasurable and his absence in our hearts is unbearable,” Lethoko said. 

She further said, in these moments of deep sorrow and loss, they stand in solidarity with the Jakeni family. Lethoko added that, they mourn this monumental loss and also remember and celebrate the remarkable life of Jakeni, whose legacy will forever be etched in the history of Ditsobotla.

“We kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of the Jakeni family during this challenging time. Details regarding the funeral and memorial service will be shared in due course. We have lost a leader, but his spirit and his teachings will continue to guide us in the days, months and years to come,” she said. 

Meanwhile, the North West Premier, Bushy Maape said: “Jakeni was elected as the speaker of Ditsobotla Local Municipality through a coalition following the by-elections in December 2022. He rose to prominence in the 1990s as a Congress of South African Students Organisation (COSAS) activist and has occupied several leadership positions in the African National Congress (ANC), ANC Youth League (ANCYL), as well as South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU).

“Jakeni was a selfless and dedicated public representative. He passed away at the time the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) is investing all its energies in finding a permanent solution to a number of administrative and financial challenges confronting the municipality.” 

Maape said Jakeni would be of excellent service in seeing to the success of several intervention measures they have developed to stabilise the municipality. He described Jakeni as a hard worker, who was dedicated to serving the people of Ditsobotla.

“We offer our condolences to Jakeni’s family, friends, colleagues and residents of Ditsobotla and the people of North West,” he said.

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Picture: The kudu statue at Taung Mall/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

Some shoppers at Taung Mall were taken by surprise to see the kudu statue, which represents the Batlhaping and Barolong tribes in Taung being taken down. They said this felt like a betrayal to these two tribes as the statue was a sign of identification.

However, the Taung Square management urged the community at large to ease their minds as the removal of the statue was done for safety reasons.

The Eris Property Group Manager, Carina Roux said the removal of the kudu statue was imminent because of its deterioration. Roux further said, the statue was no safer and poses a danger to children and community members at large, who shop at the square.  

“Unfortunately, the statue showed signs of deterioration and this posed a risk to the children that play around the area. The safety of the community and its children is of paramount importance to the management team and owners of Taung Square. Therefore, it was necessary to urgently remove it before someone was possibly injured.

“The Taung Square management team and owners are busy formalizing a project, in which the community will be engaged to participate in respect of a replacement for the statue,” Roux said.

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Picture: The Impala statue at Taung Mall/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

Some shoppers at Taung Mall were taken by surprise to see the kudu statue, which represents the Batlhaping and Barolong tribes in Taung being taken down. They said this felt like a betrayal to these two tribes as the statue was a sign of identification.

However, the Taung Square management urged the community at large to ease their minds as the removal of the statue was done for safety reasons.

The Eris Property Group Manager, Carina Roux said the removal of the kudu statue was imminent because of its deterioration. Roux further said, the statue was no safer and poses a danger to children and community members at large, who shop at the square.  

“Unfortunately, the statue showed signs of deterioration and this posed a risk to the children that play around the area. The safety of the community and its children is of paramount importance to the management team and owners of Taung Square. Therefore, it was necessary to urgently remove it before someone was possibly injured.

“The Taung Square management team and owners are busy formalizing a project, in which the community will be engaged to participate in respect of a replacement for the statue,” Roux said.

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Picture: North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha during the media briefing

By OBAKENG MAJE

Five managers who are implicated in the preliminary report at Bophelong Provincial Hospital in Mahikeng, have been precautionary transferred to other facilities pending investigations. The North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said this will allow the smooth running investigation process.  

This comes after the widespread video that was circulated across social media platforms, showing four newly-born babies placed in cardboard boxes. It is alleged that, 56 babies were delivered, but the hospital only had cribs and incubators to accommodate 47.

“We have sent a provincial team to the hospital consisting of divisions that we think were relevant such as the nursing division, labour relation, and quality assurance. This component has to do with management function. So, anybody who decided to admit 56 for delivery, yet knowing that the hospital has a capacity of 47, failed on the management function,” he said.

Sambatha said this shows gross negligence of the management. He said some managers did not even relate with information as a whole and the incident was not reported to the acting CEO.

“It was also not reported to the doctor, who was supposed to do referrals. Even when the incident was reported on Monday, the management did not bother to visit the ward. Instead, they packed their bags and went to Rustenburg to attend the Lekgotlha.

“So, these are managers employed here and discussing the incident that is now of national interest. They discussed it, while they are still here, but did not even go and check the ward if there is an overflowing. They made it as normal deliberations within themselves without any urgency,” said Sambatha.

He further said the provincial department was also not informed. Sambatha added that, they only received the news through social media.

“From what we could gather, we have five managers and they must give the department a formal accountability. As we speak now, there is no formal report of the incident from the management. We are only relying on our intervention and preliminary report.

“Unfortunately, we cannot disclose their names or ranks because they are still in a meeting with the provincial management. Now, we will conduct a fully-fledged investigation regarding the incident, but it will only be limited to the actions and responsibilities of these five managers,” he said.  

Sambatha said the initial precautionary suspension against the nursing supervisor and nursing manager who were initially precautionary suspended pending investigation now falls off. However, Taung DailyNews was informed that, the nursing manager who was on duty during the incident, is part of the five managers who are transferred.   

DENOSA regional chairperson in Ngaka Modiri Molema, Tshepo Monoketsi said, they have indicated that the precautionary suspension pending investigation of two officials was misplaced and misinformed. Monoketsi said, this has been supported by the preliminary report today.

Meanwhile, NEHAWU regional chairperson, Zanele Lawu said: “In the beginning, we did say that the situation should be pointed out at the management, but not doctors and nurses who were in charge that day. We believed that, they improvised and delivered babies safely without any casualties.

“This indicated that, there is a total lapse in management within the institution. This was also indicated by Sambatha when he said the matter was never reported and instead, the management went to Lekgotlha.”

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Picture: The NTI workers in large numbers demanding their salaries

By OBAKENG MAJE

The disconsolate workers of a parastatal company, North West Transport Investments said they are ‘fed up’ with the ill-treatment they continue to receive from the Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP). Yesterday, the deconsolidated workers barricaded the entrance of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) with buses demanding their salaries.

One of the workers who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said, they have not been paid for three months and this is uncalled for. He said they are now forced to bear the brunt in a prolonged legal battle between the BRP and the North West Community Safety and Transport Management.

This comes after the North West Community Safety and Transport Management approached the court in a quest to terminate the BRP contract.

“It is really unfair that we are caught between the department and the BRP squabbles. We were here two weeks ago to protest and were promised that our salaries will be paid on 26 May 2023. However, nothing of that matter materialised. Now, we are back here again and it seems there is no solution.

“The department is telling us about the BRP, but we are sick and tired of these shenanigans. We want to meet the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari, because he told us that they cannot pay us, while the BRP is still there,” he said.

Another worker shared the same sentiments.  

“As I’m talking right now, there is a crisis after one of our workers passed away. His family is struggling to make ends meet and does not have money to bury him. As his colleagues, we are disheartened because we want to donate to his family, but we cannot do that because we do not have money.

“So, what are we supposed to do in this kind of situation? We are also tired of living in squalor, while we are working. We left our wives and kids at home hungry, while we came to seek for answers. We don’t have anything, we can’t even buy electricity,” he said.

Meanwhile, the acting Head of the Department, Mpho Maleme said: “We blame the BRP for diverting funds, instead of paying its workers. In terms of Section 40 of 140 of the company’s Act, the BRP has all powers within the NTI. We promised the employees that we would give them their money, which we did.

“The challenge is that, immediately when the money was deposited into the account, the BRP moved the money. He then sent a very long message telling us that he is not going to pay the employees, but he is going to pay other creditors. We then wrote a letter to him to say that the employees are also special creditors. He chose who he wanted to pay and unfortunately, we did not even have any powers to do anything within the account of NTI because of Section 140 of the company’s act. However, we are dealing with this challenge.”  

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Picture: The John Frylinck Secondary School soccer players/Supplied  

By OBAKENG MAJE

The parents applauded the management of John Frylinck Secondary School in Huhudi Township, near Vryburg for coming up with a method in addressing socio-economic challenges amongst learners. Recently, the school organised soccer, chess and netball tournaments at Huhudi Sport-ground, where other three schools, Pule Leeuw, Bopaganang as well as Tiger Kloof Secondary School also participated.

One of the parents, Magdalene Mofokeng said, most learners are indulging in drugs and alcohol abuse. She said the use of sports will play a pivotal role in preventing them from engaging in criminal activities and usage of drugs. 

“We want to applaud the management from various schools for coming up with this initiative. Our children do not want to listen to us anymore. They do as they please and indulge in various criminal activities including the usage of alcohol and drugs.

“You will be surprised to see them roaming the streets during school hours. However, I think the new joint agreement between these schools, will have a positive impact. Using a sport as a tool to prevent crime and drug use among youth has always worked wonders,” she said.

Another parent, Keitumetse Malgas shared the same sentiments. Malgas also urged all stakeholders such as North West Social Development, Health and South African Police Services (SAPS) to come on board.

“The implementation of this initiative will assist in providing life skills and build resilience among the learners. It will also increase adaptive and positive behaviour among them by addressing risk factors related to violence, crime and drug use.

“Our learners have turned schools into battlefields nowadays by carrying dangerous weapons. Teachers are now afraid of them because of their violent behaviour. If the police can do unannounced visits to schools and conduct searching, things might improve,” she said.

Meanwhile, a few months ago, the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi adopted the John Frylinck Secondary School in a quest to bring law and order.

Motsumi said she is exultant that the school has introduced sporting activities to keep learners away from criminal activities. She further said, the John Frylinck Secondary School, obtained the first position in the top four school tournaments.

“The school won both chess and soccer competitions, while the netball team obtained the second position. Parents and school management are delighted by the positive impact that this competition brought to the school. Sports is a way to go in shaping the behaviour of learners.

“I also take this opportunity to applaud the school management and the Community Policing Forum (CPF) for the brilliant initiative. It is imperative to keep learners busy with sports as a way of removing them from the challenges experienced on the streets,” she said.

Motsumi added that, the learners’ participation in sports will teach them about tolerating each other, rather than being violent. She said, automatically, their behaviour is going to change drastically.

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Picture: Four suspects arrested for allegedly being in possession of pangolins/Supplied 

By OBAKENG MAJE

Four suspects were arrested in Mahikeng on Tuesday, following their attempt to sell two pangolins for R200 000. The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team was following up on information regarding the suspects aged 29 and 45, who were allegedly looking for a buyer for the Pangolins.

The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said, a quartet was cornered at Mahikeng Mall, where they were found in possession of the endangered species.

“They will appear before the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on 1 June 2023, where they will be facing charges of contravention of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004. The pangolins have been taken to a Wildlife Veterinary Hospital,” she said.

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Picture: Workers at embattled Mahikeng Provincial Hospital in North West embarked on a peaceful march

By OBAKENG MAJE

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha is expected to brief the media on the progress of the investigation regarding the incident that took place at the embattled Bophelong Provincial Hospital in Mahikeng, where newly-born babies were put in cardboard boxes on Saturday.

The hospital delivered 47 newborn babies and there was a shortage of cribs and incubators. The situation forced the nurses and doctors who were on duty that day to improvise by putting four babies without cribs and incubators in cardboard boxes. 

However, their actions caused an outcry. Amid that, Sambatha lodged an investigation and placed two officials, the nursing supervisor and nursing manager at the neo-natal unit on precautionary suspension. The smooth-running operation of the hospital was affected on Monday, as doctors and nurses down tools with the solidarity of suspended nurses.

This led Sambatha to engage in a consultative meeting with representatives from various unions in a quest to map a way forward.

“I am satisfied with the progress registered, first with the team that is conducting the investigation into the incident that saw nurses at the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital place newly born babies on boxes instead of incubators.

“Secondly, I believe the meeting with union leaders, inclusive of nurses’ unions, DENOSA, and NEHAWU paved the way for implementing key interventions that will improve operations at the hospital. The meeting acknowledged challenges that contributed to the situation as systemic and structural,” he said.

He further said, for example, the issue of limited space in the hospital, which he already highlighted in the Budget Speech, even stating that the hospital will be expanded with additional 100 beds was acknowledged as a contributing factor, and suggestions on other solutions were provided.

Sambatha added that, as part of further increasing space in the facility, the hospital management has already started engaging the provincial infrastructure to procure a park home that will provide enough space for the neonatal unit.

“Such move should not mean delay on additional 100 beds. The hospital had already advanced with the procurement of additional cribs and baby incubators. It was also acknowledged as a sign that the hospital had anticipated the need to address the challenge of space for newborn babies.

“The meeting emphasised the need to find solutions and to stop pointing fingers at individuals. In that spirit, both the union leaders and I agreed that the suspension of the employees directly involved was not meant as a punitive measure but a precautionary suspension,” said Sambatha.

According to Sambatha, he never concluded that the suspended employees are guilty without due process. He said he had been consistent in saying that the suspension was precautionary.

“A precautionary suspension is often given where the employer thinks that the employees may interfere with the investigation because of them being directly implicated but no one can say they are guilty when the investigation is still ongoing.

“The meeting admitted that most of the challenges affecting the hospital even contributing to the incident require the management collective accountability and no individual can be entirely blamed since the challenges are systemic and structural,” said Sambatha.

Meanwhile, the COSATU provincial secretary, Kopano Konopi said: “Workers must not be used as the scapegoat for the failure of the authorities. We have learned with disappointment that Sambatha wants to use workers as sacrificial lambs on the failures of the department to provide quality health care to the people of the province.

“Sambatha and his department should be using this challenge to deal with the issues of shortage of medical equipment in the health facilities in the province and come up with a plan to resource them and not to target workers for being creative.”

Konopi said Sambatha should conduct an audit on the state of the health facilities in the province and this should be done at the same speed, as the investigation against the workers was conducted and the report should be released by next week as this is important to improve the quality of health service in the province.

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Picture: The Naledi Local Municipal Manager, Modisenyane Thompson Segapo/Facebook 

By OBAKENG MAJE

North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Patrick Nono Maloyi has written a letter to the embattled Naledi Local Municipality regarding the appointment of municipal manager, Modisenyane Thompson Segapo.

Segapo, who previously served as the municipal manager at Naledi Local Municipality, was appointed on 10 March 2023. However, Maloyi said in a letter that is seen by Taung DailyNews that, there were some incongruences on Segapo’s appointment.

“The appointment report as submitted has been evaluated against the requirements of the Local Government Municipal Senior Management Regulations. I confined myself to the procedural and substantive requirements, in so far as relates to the appointment of municipal and senior managers by focusing on the documents submitted as per Reg 17 (4). 

“The appointment report partially comes with the prescribed content requirements. There are issues of non-compliance as the interviews were conducted 44 days after the screening process, which is more than 23 days of the screening process. This is in contravention to Reg 15 (1) on appointment and conditions of employment of senior managers,” he said.

Maloyi further said, the screening report was attached, but incomplete. He added that, there was also no letter from the national COGTA or evidence from the municipality that, the request for screening was sent to the National COGTA.

“MIE screening result is dated 1 July 2021, which is prior to the vacancy date (31 October 2022). Minutes of the interviews are non-compliant, not mentioning the top three candidates and those recommended for competency assessment.

“No written confirmation attached by the successful candidate that does not hold political office. The term of the contract as reflected on the letter of appointment is non-compliant as it exceeds the term of the council by four months,” said Maloyi.

He said, according to the information at his disposal, the recruitment process partially complies with the prescribed requirements of the regulations on appointment and conditions of employment of senior managers, therefore it is not supported.

During his portfolio’s budget speech tabling for the 2023/24 financial year at the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) in Mahikeng yesterday, Maloyi said there are strategic measures in place to address the dysfunctional municipalities and building a brighter future with collaborative efforts for municipal reform.

“The state of local government in our province calls for our urgent intervention. The general performance of municipalities in the province has over the years been on a downward slope. One of the key enablers of this unpalatable state of affairs is the high vacancy rate in senior management positions, which undermines the effective and efficient execution of the local government mandate.

“On 1 March 2023, we issued a directive that all vacant senior management positions in municipalities must be filled before the end of April 2023. Currently, only 50% of the positions of municipal managers and 45% of senior managers have been filled. During the 2022/23 financial year, we conducted empowerment workshops to strengthen municipalities to comply with the anti-corruption measures,” he said.

Maloyi said, unfortunately, the compliance continues to be unsatisfactory. He said in collaboration with key stakeholders, they will continue to strengthen the capacity of municipalities to fully comply with the anti-corruption policy scheme.

“The department will further strengthen targeted training support to councillors to enable them to meaningfully execute their political oversight role and we will also ensure that ward committees are capacitated for them to be fully functional and effective. 

“In our radar for the current financial year, we have 15 training projects which are meant to benefit 740 councillors, municipal officials, and ward committee members. The projected budget for this intervention is set at R6 million,” said Maloyi.

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