The venture by the North West Department of Tourism to market the province in the neighboring Botswana has grown enormously in the past eight years. 

The Batswana’s have now made the North West their second home as they visit and spend time in the province on holidays. 

The good news were received with much appreciation by the Tourism MEC in the North West Desbo Mohono who led a campaign that was intended to promote the North West province as a preferred Tourism Destination over the weekend. 

The venture is reported to have injected millions of rands spent by Botswana Tourists in the province. 

The Department together with its agency, the North West Tourism Board took the opportunity to further promote the provincial programme of  Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies. Patrons attending the events were introduced to guest houses and other tourism products based in the VTSD areas. 

Some were even offered free weekends away in most of those products.   

The Marketing part was further extended to the Botswana Media houses, who have supported the venture over the years. 

Speaking during the activation, the chairperson of the North West Tourism Board David Mogashoa hailed the support and the humidity displayed by the people of Botswana when visiting the North West province. 

“For the past eight years since the commencement of this venture, many people from Botswana have had the opportunity of visiting our province and had more fun. 

“We are also in the process of negotiating with Botswana Tourism who wants to send 40 young people to study in our hotel schools. That simply signals great partnership between the two tourism entities” Mogashoa said. 

The Marketing which was done in Gaborone the capital was characterized by activities which included meetings with potential tourists, entertainment activities which featured South African and Botswana DJ and artists.     

Welcoming the North West to the Marketing campaign was the Deputy High commissioner in Botswana, Bulelwa Kiva, who also endorsed how the Tourism venture has contributed to the South African economy. 

Kiva assured the people of Botswana about the good relationship, more especially in terms of culture the two countries shared. 

“The two countries boarders should not prevent us from sharing good practice. The people of Botswana and mostly of the North West are one people. The share the same culture, language and most of them relate as well,” said Commissioner Kiva.  

MEC Desbo Mohono who was excited by the fruits the venture is bearing could not stop singing praises about the support and numbers of Botswana residents visiting the province. 

“Our mission and vision is to improve the North West Province from number seven to number four come the year 2020. Now we have realized that in order for us to arrive to that point we need to establish treaties with neighbouring countries and of course Botswana is just a stone throw away. 

“We have met with lot of product owners from Botswana and they acknowledge the fact that a lot still needs to be done in trying to come up with ways to improve the current status quo,” Mohono said.

“As a province we have also taken a route of luring tourists via events, now the three day engagements with Batswana will also see our Bokone Bophirima born artists performing against fellow Botswana artists. 

“With the state of facilities we have and capability of hosting international events, the province has adopted events strategy which has thus far brought numbers to our province,” she said. 

The marketing campaign was further graced by renowned artists and DJ’s like MO-MOLEMI, TUKS, BONOLO, KHULI CHANA, D-MOS, KAY BEE, Stoane Seate, and many more others.

Tourism product owners across the four districts of the North West were also invited to promote their products. 

Products include Guest houses, Hotels, resorts and many other products that can be visited when visiting the province. 
The promotion of Destination North West and A re yeng Bokone Bophirima brand which continued for three days in the Botswana Capital, Gaborone was led by the MEC, Head of Department Neo Sephoti, Tourism Board chairperson and CEO, Tourism officials from local and district municipalities product owners and many other from the Tourism sector in the province. 

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

Bafana Bafana defender Thulani Hlatshwayo says they have to reverse the loss they suffered at the hands of Mauritania back in September last year in the 2017 Gabon African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

South Africa lost 3-1 to Mauritania in a match that derailed Bafana Bafana’s chances in the qualifers.

They tried to rescue the mission with two credible draws against Cameroon and a convincing win over Gambia, but the damage had already been done.

Bafana Bafana take on Mauritania in a dead rubber on Friday at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Kickoff is at 19h05.

Hlatshwayo says even though the match will have no bearing on the qualification for the Gabon showepiece, there is still a lot at stake.

“It’s about pride for the country, and as the caoch has been saying there are no friendly games when you play for South Africa. We will make sure we play to the best of our abilities to win the match because to be called up to the national team is an honour. We will play as though when we win we will qualify for the tournament, that’s how important it is to us,” said Hlatshwayo.

The tough defender comes into the match at the back of fine performances for his club where he has scored two goals in as many matches. He says he would like to continue with that form.

“They say you are only as good as your last game, given a chance to play I will use it whenever called upon. We have to get a result more so because we are playing at home. We know that South Africans will come out in numbers to watch to support. I was not part of the first match because of the injury but the coach has told me so much about the game,” added Hlatshwayo.

“They always say a good defender is the one who scores goals, even though we have strikers in the team. At the moment it is just that I am at the right place at the right time and given a chance I will go forward and try to score.”

Hlatshwayo looks likely to be the main man in defence as there will be no Rivaldo Coetzee (illness) and Eric Mathoho (injury) – both were in central defence when Bafana Bafana lost in Mauritania.

“The coach knows that everyone called upon here can do the job, they have the ability to perform, and I know anyone given a chance to play they will do their best so I will also take to the field with a winning mentality when given a chance,” said the Bidvest Wits captain.

Tickets for the match against Mauritania are on sale for R50 all round and can be purchased at Computicket, Shoprite and Checkers countrywide.

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The African National Congress Youth League in Gauteng on Monday commended the “bold stand” Pretoria High School for Girls pupils have taken against its code of conduct about hairstyles.

“The young girls have come out in their numbers to unambiguously and unashamedly say they do not want to be ‘Becky with that good hair’, their curly African hair is their pride,” spokesperson Mbali Hlophe said.

No child should be discriminated upon because of who they are. Discrimination based on hair texture was an injustice, and racist, said Hlophe.

“Straight hair which is predominantly associated with whiteness enjoys higher prestige and is more widely accepted in both professional and school settings,” Hlophe said.

It called on Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi to investigate schools and their policies and to protect black children.

Hlope said the ANCYL and its youth alliance partner, the Congress of SA Students, would visit and support the girls in their fight against an “unjust system”.

The Economic Freedom Fighters was deeply saddened that 22 years into democracy, there were still institutions that sought to suppress black aesthetics and culture.

Spokesperson Fana Mokoena said this was the result of a society still struggling with transformation and failing to address white hegemony.

“A white minority culture is still so dominant that it can decree on a black majority what they should look like and how they should behave. This culture is as old as slavery itself and does not belong in a democratic dispensation such as ours,” he said.

Source: http://www.news24.com

Owen Da Gama during the 2014 Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search match between Bootcamp 25 and Tuks at the HPC fFeld, Johannesburg on the 07 August 2014 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

South African Under-23 national team head coach, Owen Da Gama is confident that this year’s Nedbank Ke Yona Team will come out victorious against reigning Nedbank Cup champions, Supersport United at the Sinaba Stadium on Sunday.

After leading the U23 national team that included 2014 Ke Yona graduate and PSL Young Player of the Season, Maphosa Modiba and Da Gama headed straight to the High Performance Centre to finalise preparations with the team alongside Shakes Mashaba, Khabo Zondo and Mike Mangena.

“The team, which has been selected from different parts of the country, has been under strict training programmes under the auspices of the Ke Yona selectors and sports scientists are determined to make history and become the first Ke Yona Team to win the Ke Yona Challenge since its 2013 inception.

Speaking at the team’s training camp, “Rubber Doll” as the coach is affectionately known said that the team is responding well to the tactics and is ready to cause an upset against their more fancied opponents.

“Supersport United will be very tough to match. They are a very disciplined side with plenty of experience. However, we have a slight edge over them based on the fact that they have not seen any of our players. We have a solid team that just needs a bit of fine-tuning but come match day, we will give them a very tough match,” said a confident Da Gama.

Supersport United coach, Stuart Baxter said they would not undermine their opponents and would treat the encounter as any other important match.

“I think this is a great opportunity for football development in the country and a good initiative from the sponsors. With regards to playing them we are looking forward to a highly competitive match and will approach it like any other professional match and play to win” said Baxter.

Tickets to the Ke Yona Challenge are available for free at all Computicket and Shoprite Checkers stores. Fans are advised to bring their ID copies to collect a maximum of TWO tickets per person. Kick Off of the match is 15:00 and will be broadcast live on SABC 1.

Ke Yona Team TV Series:

Make sure you catch this week’s heart-warming episode of the Ke Yona Team where you’ll witness the squad visiting schools around Daveyton. Also get glimpse of the team practicing in preparation for the much-anticipated match between Supersport United and the Ke Yona Team!

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Some of the country’s most famous faces have added their voices to the calls of outrage at Pretoria High School for Girls, defending black students’ rights to wear their hair naturally in the classroom.

The school came under the spotlight over the weekend after students claimed that black pupils were being told to straighten their hair.

As the student’s fight spread across social media, making the #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh hashtag one of the most talked about trends on social media site Twitter, celebrities added their voices to the protests.

Outspoken Metro FM DJ Unathi Msengana used her radio show to bring awareness to the student’s plight and took calls and messages from people naming and shaming other schools that had allegedly instituted similar policies against black students. She later took to Instagram to post a picture of a student protesting at the school.

Source: http://www.timelive.co.za

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

A murder case against Tesele Dikole,33 will resume at Jan Kempdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday. 

Dikole allegedly killed a six year-old boy, Kutlwano Garesape three weeks ago in Jan Kempdorp.

It is alleged that Dikole pounced on Kutlwano’s mother in the street and demanded money. Kutlwano, his mother, Segomotso and Thabiso (brother), were on their way to a school when they came across Dikole.

Segomotso said the suspect allegedly produced a broken bottle and tried to rape her after she did not have money.

“The suspect threatened me with a bottle and attempted to rape me. Kutlwano intervened and the suspect stabbed him. He also tossed Kutlwano’s body in the air and dropped him. The suspect threw Kutlwano’s lifeless body on the railway tracks afterwards,” Segomotso said.

Operation Wanya Tsotsi chairperson, Pantsi Obusitse said: “We will make sure that the criminal is removed from our society. We must not be apologetic about that. We need to fight crime and I also urge politicians to be part of the fight. Lets us use the same energy we injected during local government elections to fight crime.

“The atrocity cannot be explained and we should be ashamed as a country. We need to honour Kutlwano and take a stern look at ourselves. We cannot let the country be terrorised by criminals and rob us our future leaders because of their senseless thinking.”

Dikole is facing murder and attempted rape charges. He is expected to do a formal bail application.   

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Deputy Minister for Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu says her ministry is concerned at the discovery of more than 3 000 under-age girls who are pregnant or are made mothers.

The discovery was made late on Saturday at the rural Ratlou Local Municipality, about 70 kilometres outside Mahikeng in the North West.

All young mothers are school drop-outs, unemployed and their children are suspected to have been fathered by older men.

A 12-year-old young girl is amongst those that were discovered. The discovery has left everyone, including government reeling in shock.

The Ratlou Local Municipality has a population of about 100 000 people. Of the number, 3 000 are under-age girls who were in 2015 impregnated and had to drop out from school.  

The young mothers are from Mareetsane, Setlagole, Madibogo and all other villages in the Ratlou municipality. And they all have sad stories to tell while some claimed to have been raped by their relatives, some practiced unsafe sex, others are reported to have been the victims of the popular blesser-blessee phenomenon.

Shockingly, all of them are below the age of 18.

Government is adamant that this is a tip of an iceberg

Some girls, who could not be named because they are below the age of 18, had this to say: “It was a mistake. (I) was young, did not know that doing that will lead me falling pregnant. My brother used to be beat me up, and my mother was not really staying at the house. Life is so hard because I am young and even the child has no support. My brother did not treat me well at all.”

Coming into question, are the households of these young mothers; how they themselves were allegedly failed to be provided with proper parenting.

In other cases, it was revealed that the area is rife with child-headed households.

A 12-year-old, who had already given birth to a bouncing one year six month baby, was amongst the young girls discovered.

Bogopane-Zulu wants government to crack the whip.  

“The first step is to understand, who are the perpetrators, and but to also listen to the girls because we can’t judge them. As social development, we work with the children to be able to understand what happened, how it happened, and obviously, we have those that were cheated and those that were raped. So, each case has its own merits. We can’t be happy when our children are denied the rights to be children.”  

Popular cultural activist, Mme Grace Masuku who attended the event was shocked, and pleaded with government to institute investigations into the matter, saying punitive action should be taken against the perpetrators. 

“I am shocked. (I) saw how they came here with the babies. In all 80 something years of my life, this is the first time I see this. I am concerned about parents of these young mothers. Here, something is wrong. Where is the future of these girls, the future for this village?”

Mayor for Ratlou municipality, Tebogo Modise says her municipality will leave no stone unturned. 

With the news sending shock-waves even to the presidency, a delegation of government officials, social workers, and police officials is this expected to be dispatched to the area. 

Government is adamant that this is a tip of an iceberg.

Source: http://www.sabc.co.za

Picture: (ANCWL provincial secretary, Bridgette Magakwe)

BY REGINALD KANYANE

ANC Women’s League in Bokone Bophirima lauded the ANC leadership in the province for being considerate. ANCWL provincial secretary, Bridgette Magakwe said majority of women were elected as mayors in most municipalities.

“Twelve women as opposed to eleven men were recently elected in mayoral positions following the recent local government elections. We feel much respected and we are elated that women are also holding top leadership positions in the troikas of most municipalities.

“As the league, we see the positive gesture and the reward the ANC gave to women of the province during the women’s month celebration. For this move, the ANC provincial leadership has become the leading province in women space to lead both in the provincial and at the local level,” she said.

Magakwe added that the move also proves that Bokone Bophirima province is fast moving to achieve the 50 percent gender balance that they have pleaded for. She said the ANCWL leadership in the province was also proud that there has been good leadership in most positions headed by women in the province.

“We also appeal to the community to support women leaders and give them space to govern.”

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

NORTHERN Cape police said they need assistance in the tracing of two alleged armed robbery suspects. Provincial spokesperson, Capt Sergio Kock said that two men allegedly entered a tuck shop in 7de Laan, Delportshoop recently and threatened the owner with a firearm.

“The suspects tied the victim’s hands with a rope and fled with an undisclosed amount of money. They also stole three cellphones and airtime vouchers. Police request that anyone with information regarding the incident or the suspects in the ID kits to please contact D/Const Earnest Raadt on 079 717 4851,” he said.

Kock highlighted that all information will be treated with the strictest of confidence.

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

PENSIONERS at Mathibestad village, in Moretele local municipality will
be spoiled in another episode of Grandparents’ Day on Saturday. This is a courtesy of no one other than Bokone Bophirima province first lady, Kule Mahumapelo.

Mahumapelo said she is hosting another installment of Grandparents’ Day
in the area as she promised.
Grandparents’ Day that was incepted in October back in 2014 is under the theme: “Treasure the feeble hands of the
wise.”

“Through this initiative, I created a platform for the elderly to be pampered. They need to be the centre of attraction on in a while. Five older persons have so far received newly built and fully furnished houses. This was part of the celebration,” Kule Mahumapelo said.

She said they visited to five pensioners’ homes on Friday. Mahumapelo added that the main purpose of the visits was to check on elderly persons who were fragile.

“Some elderly persons are so sick and need assistance. The main Grandparents’ Day event will be on Saturday at Moretele Community Hall, in Mathibestad,” she said.

Grandparents will be showered with gifts and entertained by several
musicians including MmaAusi.

“This is to show appreciation for the vital role elderly persons have played and continue to play in the society. Prayer session for pensioners will be on Sunday at Mabula Old Age Home, Mathibestad at 09h00am,” Mahumapelo lamented.

She will also spend the day with about 50 pensioners and observe
their living conditions at the centre. Moretele local municipality mayor, Makinta Monaheng will accompany Mahumapelo throughout the event.

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