BY REGINALD KANYANE

MEC for health in the North West, Dr Magome Masike will visit Koster Hospital on Thursday. The visit follows the report of Portfolio Committee on Health at the hospital.

The report highlighted that the state of some medical equipments is not in good condition at the hospital. Masike said he will also look into the state of infrastructure and the general maintenance of the hospital.

“We will also assess patient satisfaction and conditions of service of health professionals. I want to get first hand information on what is taking place at the hospital and also to interact with patients and staff on the delivery of quality healthcare as it is his focal area,” he said.

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

MINISTER of Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga gave thumbs up to the North West Education and Sport Development department for consistently obtaining a clean audit every financial year and for their good performance in the matric results.

She met with various managers from education and sport development department at Mmabatho Convention Centre, Mahikeng on Tuesday.

Motshekga’s primary purpose of her visit was to monitor the readiness of provinces before the writing of the final examination.

Every year towards the end of the year, the minister visits provinces to monitor performance and this involves interaction with senior managers and the school principals.

She was accompanied by the Director General, Mathanzima Mweli and other senior officials from her department. The national delegation was welcomed by North West Education and Sport Development MEC, Sello Lehari, Dr Itumeleng Molale and other senior managers of the department.

North West education and sport development department spokesperson, Elias Malindi said the Minister started her interactions with a meeting with the provincial senior management team then later met with the school principals from across the province.

“Minister Motshekga in her address highlighted that, though the North West province is regarded as a rural province, academically it is rated high in the matric results. The province is now regarded as the top province in the country. It is one of the performing provinces,” Malindi said.

Motshekga said: “North West continues to be our trendsetter in the country. We are impressed by their intervention plans namely; Learner Improvement Plan (LAIP), First Push, Last Push, etc. It is one of the provinces which are consistently performing well. They are ranked with the best performing in the country.

“Today we want to congratulate the province for their clean audit, every financial year the department obtains an unqualified report from the Auditor General. We are encouraging provinces to improve their performance on finances and academically because these programmes are inseparable”, said Motshekga.

She further requested the North West province to fill all vacancy posts in the department. Motshekga added that the province should improve their infrastructural backlogs which include sanitation.

Mathanzima Mweli the Director General highlighted that for principals to achieve better results at their school, they should be managers of curriculum. “Principals should be able to monitor curriculum delivery from the teachers to the learners. The department is preparing children for the world not only for the country,” Mweli said.

Jan Masibi Secondary School principal, Tsakane Baloyi said the training of teachers is not relevant.

“Some of the new teachers are challenged in handling the learners in schools.”

The North West Education and Sport Development MEC, Sello Lehari said the province is targeting position one in the matric results for 2016.

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

NORTH West Premier Supra Mahumapelo will address the media on the outcomes of the Provincial Executive Council (EXCO) Lekgotla meeting that is currently underway at Cook Lakes in Mahikeng.

The meeting is attended by the Members of Executive Council (MECs), mayors, HoDs, municipal managers and CFOs.

“The EXCO Lekgotla is conversing about the establishment of the People’s Economic Growth Agency (PEGA). We are also discussing the implementation of recommendations of the anti-corruption and forensic cases.

“We look at progress on water and sanitation projects and implementation of the shared service model amongst others,” Mahumapelo said.

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THREE men aged between 23 and 30 were arrested for murder in the Coligny, near Lichtenburg at the weekend.

  The three allegedly attacked and killed a 33 year-old Zimbabwean man with panga.

North West police spokesperson, Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said: “The three were arrested on Saturday in Extention 5, Tlhabologang location in Coligny. They allegedly stabbed the victim with a panga in the same area.

  “It is alleged that the victim’s girlfriend and one of the suspect’s sister had an argument. Upon hearing about the argument involving his sister, one of the suspects together with his accomplices went to the victim’s place. They allegedly saw the victim whom they assaulted him. The latter ran away, but the suspects caught and stabbed him with a panga,” Mokgwabone said.

  The victim was declared dead at the scene. 

“After they were alerted about the incident, police traced and arrested the three suspects and investigations into the matter continue,” he said.

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Maritzburg United midfielder Deolin Mekoa is excited with his first call up to Bafana Bafana but admits he is very nervous.

Mekoa, a product of the School of Excellence, helped the South African u23 Men’s National Team qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
 
He comes to Bafana Bafana after travelling to Brazil with the squad and played in all three games against Brazil, Denmark and Iraq.
 
Prior to the Olympics, Mekoa played a pivotal role in seeing South Africa lift the 2016 COSAFA Castle Cup in Namibia.
 
“I feel great and also honoured to be here. It’s every boy’s dream to play for the senior national team and I am grateful for the opportunity,” said Mekoa after Bafana Bafana first training session at the Kanyamazane Stadium in Nelspruit.
 
“I am confident of doing well because being in the COSAFA Cup squad and playing at the Rio Olympics gave me the boost to work harder which shows hard work pays off. First I was very nervous at my first training session around all these guys but now
I am ok, and I am looking forward to many more sessions.”
 
Bafana Bafana face Mauritania in the 2017 Gabon Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday, 2 Septemer 2016 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
 
Kickoff is at 19h05.
 
Mekoa is hopeful of getting a chance to play as there are two matches – the second is the 2016 Nelson Mandela Challenge against Egypt on Tuesday, 6 September at Orlando Stadium.
 
“We have a very good squad and I have a lot of confidence in the guys, and also, playing at home increases our chances of winning. As for me, I also fancy my chance of playing and given a chance I will do the best I can,” added Mekoa.
 
He believes he will settle in quicker as there are a lot of familiar faces In the Bafana Bafana squad – players he went with to the Olympics and those he won the COSAFA Cup with – Keagan Dolly, Gift Motupa, Thabiso Kutumela, Thapelo Morena,
Itumeleng Khune, Aubrey Modiba and Abbubaker Mobara.

Mekoa also played under Mashaba at the COSAFA Cup in Namibia.
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BY REGINALD KANAYANE

The SA Police Service Women’s Network and the Men for Change in conjunction with other stakeholders hosted a build-up programme leading up to “The Female Officer’s Parade” that will take place on Wednesday.

Northern Cape police spokesperson, Cpt Sergio Kock said the event took place at Hulana Park in Galeshewe.

He said the prayer service was in memory of Keitumetse Magwadibane, 5 who recently went missing in Galeshewe, Mitasha Lee who was allegedly murdered by her husband in Roodepan and other females who were victims of crime during this period.

“The women in uniform and their different departments relayed their support to all female victims and their families. They vowed to stand firm in the fight against crime,” he said.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lt Gen Risimati Peter Shivuri together with representatives from the Office of the Premier and all other stakeholders rendered messages of support. They said that they will not rest in their laurels, but be out there in full force to ensure that everyone is safe.

“The female parade also marched and prayed through Galeshewe. They started at Hulana Park and finished off at the Yorkshire Cricket grounds in Galeshewe. The follow-up event will be held tomorrow.”  

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A group picture of Delegates and Football Legends from Soweto during the 2016 Clinix Soccer Challenge at Nike Centre in Pimville on August 2016 ©Aubrey Kgakatsi/BackpagePix

“WOMEN’s football in South Africa is producing some shining stars and we believe the Stix Morewa tournament is a great place for young talent to be recognised,” says Dr KOP Peter Matseke, the CEO of the Clinix Health Group.

This week the South African Football Association, the Soweto Football Association, Clinix Health Group and special dignitaries, officially opened and announced the teams for this year’s Stix Morewa Tournament.

The tournament, initiated in honour of the father of football, Bra Stix Morewa, grows each year, with this year being no exception.

“The 2016 tournament will once again be a brilliant platform for exposing and developing young talent, especially our up-and-coming female players. The fact that we are launching the tournament during Women’s Month seems especially apt,” says Matseke.

Banyana Banyana midfielder, Refiloe Jane, will be this year’s ambassador having started her career playing in the Stix Morewa Tournament.

“Jane understands what it takes to work hard and achieve. We believe she will inspire young women looking at making a career of football,” says Phil Mogodi, the Chairman of the Soweto Football Association (SFA).

Played under the auspices of the Soweto Football Association (SFA), which is affiliated to SAFA, the three-month long Stix Morewa Tournament is split into three divisions: Under 11, Under 17 and Seniors and is open to all Sowetan SAFA-affiliated youth soccer teams.

This year 1200 teams are competing in the Under 9 category, a further 140 in the Under 11, 180 in Under 13, 260 in Under 15, 260 in Under 17 categories and 60 in the Seniors and also 16 teams of ladies. Once again teams will compete in a knock out with various teams being eliminated in the different rounds, culminating in a semi-final and a final in November.

The Stix Morewa Tournament is one of the biggest football tournaments in the country and supports SAFA’s 2022 programme vision of developing the game in a more holistic way by not only focussing on what happens on the field but also on life skills, trying to develop the youth as holistic human beings.

“With 341 football associations in Soweto, we need to focus on technical skills, proper and improved administration, gender equality and the chance for SA to become a major player in the world of football. With 1 200 soccer teams in Soweto alone it is important to makesure we keep the momentum going and inspire young people to get involved,” says Mogodi.

He thanked the Clinix Health Group for its continued sponsorship of the event. “This sponsorship makes this tournament possible and through it the success stories we keep seeing such as Refiloe Jane, our ambassador.”

“Our goal this year is once again to inspire more women to play through schools, coaches and our communities. We are looking forward to a professional, fun and competitive tournament this year,” concludes Mogadi.

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North West
SCOPA Lambasted HODs for Lack of Concrete Strategies in Dealing with Irregular, Unauthorized, Fruitless and Wasteful Expenditure as Per PFMA Regulations

The North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts has lambasted the Heads of Provincial Departments (HODs) and the Chief Financial
Officers for lack of concrete plans on dealing with officials who commit irregular, unauthorised, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure. 

This came after the Standing Committee held a meeting with the Provincial HODs and CFOs to discover how they have been
dealing with the irregular, unauthorized, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure in their respective departments; whether there is implementation of the consequence management and SCOPA Resolutions.

SCOPA Chairperson, Mahlakeng Mahlakeng said as the provincial departments’ irregular expenditure stands at R13, 2 billion from 31 March 2016, each Head of department
failed to provide a clear and probable strategy or plan in relation to how they can attend to it.

“Even those people who are charged on financial misconduct and cases reported to the South African Police Services
they actually win them at the level of courts of law, which creates a challenge on how the departments would have been preparing themselves.

“The fruitless and wasteful expenditure also relates to bills and interest on invoices being paid late, such as Telkom; Eskom and municipalities and it creates a
problem again as not even half of the money in relation to a particular department is recovered.

“Today, we stand at a fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R28 million and that money must be fully recovered or if not, we need to have specific reasons suggesting
why it would not be recoverable,” said Mahlakeng.

He said the meeting was important as the Committee had to take up the issue of irregular, unauthorised and fruitless and wasteful expenditure with the HODs in relations
to the Public Finance Management Act No 1 of 1999 and highlighted Section 38; 39; 40
and 42 which deals with their responsibilities which should be read with
Section 81 and 84, that deals with disciplinary proceeds on financial misconduct by officials in the departments and what needs to happen on financial matters.

“In this particular period, it is definitely business unusual, meaning that if we are unsatisfied with their individual reports, we will take them up on those responsibilities
as per PFMA regulations,” said Hon. Mahlakeng.

Amongst some of the departments, in the financial year 2014/15, which is the year under review, the Department of Education and Sports Development incurred an irregular
expenditure of R131, 7 million and fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R408 000 and the Department of Health incurred an irregular expenditure of R763 834 million and fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R20,3 million.

 The North West Provincial Government’s Director-General Dr. Lydia Sebego said the accounting officers in the provincial government  are grateful that SCOPA has called
them to account and promised to fully implement consequence management policies and ensure that the irregular, unauthorized, fruitless and wasteful expenditure is drastically reduced.

“In the coming weeks, we will be hosting workshops on consequence management with the accounting officers for them to understand and implement matters raised in the
audit report. We also promise to send irregular, unauthorized, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure registers to the Public Accounts Committee in the next 14 days,” said Dr. Sebego.

Members of the Committee also instructed the HODs to implement recommendations of all forensic investigation reports in their respective
departments. 

“The recent local government elections suggest that complacency is not something we must adhere to. Service delivery must be accelerated to the people. All HODs are qualified to do their jobs and must follow processes to the latter no matter how
tedious they might find them to be,” said Hon. Mahlakeng.

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North West Legislature Agriculture Committee to Approach Department of Agriculture for Additional Resources for Cattle
breeders Under “Tshimo ya Kgosi” programme at Zeerust.

The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Rural, Environment and Agriculture Development will approach
the Department of Rural Environment and Agricultural Development to provide agricultural resources which includes water supply; land for cattle breeding and additional training to cattle breeders under
Tshimo ya Kgosi programme in Gopane and Motshana villages in Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality.

The Committee went to assess the programme which was launched by the MEC for the department,
Manketse Tlhape in 2014 where amongst the beneficiaries, Kgosi Ikalafeng Lencoe of Moshana and Kgosi Kereeditse Gopane of Gopane villages received twenty-five (25) pregnant heifers; 1 bull; feeds and medication. 

The programme which is in line with the National
Department of Agriculture’s Fetsa Tlala poverty alleviation programme, aims to encourage the use of
arable land for agriculture and food production.

Kgosi  Lencoe of Bahurutshe Ba Ga Lencoe said the farm where the cattle are kept, has scarce water and feeding recourses.

“We are situated near a desert-like environment which has experienced severe drought in the past years. Since the department brought cattle to our farm, they have not
assisted us with any agricultural resources,” said Kgosi Lencoe.

Kgosi Gopane of Bahurutshe Bo Gopane raised a serious concern on lack of training on cattle farming which resulted in the community loosing several calves.

“I have requested more training from the department on how to improve our farming skills. We have also asked for a farm were we can keep the cattle as we do not own the
current farm. Our communal land is overpopulated for grazing,” said Kgosi Gopane.

The Acting Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Mahlakeng Mahlakeng assured the traditional leaders that all their complaints will be forwarded to the department and will
arrange a joint oversight for re-visit some of the projects.

“We will convene a meeting with the department to fast track the matter of acquiring land for the cattle and additional training and feeds, as deemed fit for a Chiefs.
The intended objective of this poverty alleviation programme will not be feasible if there is no land provided for the cattle to stay and graze on,”said Hon. Mahlakeng. The Committee has resolved to meet the department within 14 days.

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Thabiso Kutumela has joined his Bafana Bafana teammates in Nelspruit after he was called upon to replace the injured Prince Nxumalo of Ajax Cape Town.

Kutumela of Orlando Pirates arrived in Mpumalanga on Monday night (29 August). He was part of the South African u23 Men’s National Team that recently went to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
 
Chippa United’s Diamond Thopola is expected today (Tuesday, 30 August) to replace Rivaldo Coetzee who has been withdrawn from the squad due to illness.
 
Thopola, who received his maiden call up when he was included in Bafana Bafana squad that faced Gambia in June this year, will arrive together with the overseas-basaed pair of Andle Jali (Belgium) and Tokelo Rantie (Turkey).
 
The arrival of the trio will complete Ephraim Mashaba’s 25-man squad that will be preparing for the two clashes against Mauritania and Egypt.
 
South Africa wraps up the 2017 Gabon Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they face Mauritania on Friday, 2 September at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
 
They will then travel back to Johannesburg to play the Pharaohs of Egypt in the 2016 Nelson Mandela Challenge on Tuesday, 6 September at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
 
Both matches kick off at 19h05.
 
Mashaba says he wants to use as many players as possible for these two matches, while also looking for resutsl.
 
“Our mandate when we took over we said we are building a side for 2022. The team that went to the Olympics, won the COSAFA Cup in Namibia, and I was in charge of that team assited by the caoch of u23 and u20, so we are on that mission. We will see
all these players, even the u17s and we are also earmarking some of the boys who were playing in the u19 tournament in Durban recently,” said Mashaba.
 
“We will try and use all the players in this camp for the matches against Mauritania and Egypt as we want all of them to get some action.
 
Mashaba added that while they are about building, they also need to get some results.
 
“We are with the people, they are expecting results and so are we – because results are what it is about, but at the same time we have to give these youngsters a chance to blend in well. Development takes time,” added the Bafana Bafana mentor.
 
South Africa will have two training sessions today at the Kanyamazane Stadium at 10h00 and 18h00.