A pensioner whose shack was gutted by fire receives assistance

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Picture: A fire-fighter extinguishes fire/Generic

By BAKANG MOKOTO

14 October 2024- The North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie is fast-tracking relief efforts for a Robega pensioner, whose shack was gutted by fire on Wednesday afternoon last week. Dantjie said the raging fire destroyed the pensioner’s three roomed shack, leaving him displaced without the furniture, clothes, identity document (ID) and other important amenities.

She further said it is alleged that the fire was caused by an electrical fault.

“On Thursday, we deployed a team of social workers from our department’s Rustenburg based office to provide psychosocial support in the form of trauma counselling to the pensioner and compile a home circumstance report.

“I thank God-Almighty that the pensioner is alive. I express my profound thanks to all the stakeholders, who have worked tirelessly to intervene in the plight of this pensioner in collaboration with our department,” said Dantjie.

She added the interventions are ongoing. Dantjie said their stakeholders have already delivered blankets, mattresses and clothes to the affected family.

“Social relief of distress in the form of food parcels has already been delivered to the affected family. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has also issued a voucher worth R2100 to the pensioner. The local residents have also brought groceries and cements to the pensioner, who is currently staying in a nearby shack.

“We call on community members to continue to take care of the elderly in their areas and to learn more about fire prevention and safety measures to avert property destruction and untimely loss of life,” she said.

Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies are still doing the investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire.

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Underperforming schools get boost ahead NSC final examinations  

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Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

14 October 2024- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi convened a critical meeting with circuit managers, Chief Education Specialists (CES), school principals, and retired school managers to strategize interventions aimed at improving the performance of underperforming schools across the province. Motsumi said they held a meeting following a detailed unpacking of results from the past three terms, focused on developing collaborative solutions to elevate the province’s academic standing, with the goal of securing a top-three national position in the upcoming year-end examinations.

During the meeting, she further emphasized the importance of collective expertise and knowledge-sharing in identifying the most effective strategies to address persistent challenges.

“It is crucial that we pool our insights and experiences to close the gaps in learner performance. Our commitment is to ensure that every learner is given the opportunity to succeed, and that we lift the educational standards of our province.

“Currently, schools are implementing the “Last Push” revision program, which aims to reinforce learner preparedness as the syllabus for the year has been concluded,” said Motsumi.

She added that this program plays a vital role in addressing content gaps identified throughout the academic season and is designed to give learners the necessary tools to excel in their final examinations. In addition, Motsumi said her department has engaged key stakeholders to support learners with both electronic and hard copy study guides.

“Partners such as Vodacom have been instrumental in providing access to e-learning platforms, ensuring that learners across the province benefit from digital resources,” she said.

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‘There are lot of positives to take out of the province’s health service delivery platform’

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Picture: The delegation of the National Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health and North West MEC for Health, Sello Lehari/Supplied

By REGINALD KANYANE

14 October 2024- The National Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health has concluded its four-day visit to the North West Province’s health facilities in the Bojanala District. A week long oversight visit saw the members of the Committee led by its Chairperson, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo visiting Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital, Boitekong Community Health Centre (CHC), Moses Kotane District Hospital, Mogwase Community Health Centre (CHC), Koster Hospital and the Brits Forensic Pathology.

The Committee’s debriefing session held on Friday at Brits District Hospital, brought to the surface a number of issues based on their findings. Kicking off the reflections on the final day, Dhlomo, said there are a lot of positives to take out of the province’s health service delivery platform, while there are a number of areas that still need improvement.

His sentiments were shared by all the members who while advised on where to improve yet spent a significant amount of time praising the good practices.

“Overall, we are satisfied with a lot of what we have observed in the health facilities that we visited. However, overall, the department needs to ensure that the non-negotiables like medicine availability, contraceptives and ambulance response are addressed.

“We commend the department for having helipads at small district hospitals, which is good for emergency referrals to bigger facilities and for the fact that there have been no maternal deaths at Koster and Moses Kotane hospitals,” he said.

Dhlomo further hailed Koster Hospital for its excellent patient care. He added that while Koster Hospital has an old structure that still needs renovations, he was happy at the level of care.

“We interviewed patients and all of them were pleased with the level of service. As the Committee, we visited various units like the Outpatient Department, Casualty, X-ray unit, Pharmacy and others and all of them were good.

“The only issues that needed improvement at this facility are security, minor maintenance and replacement of the old roof was recommended. We are also impressed by the Brits Forensic Pathology, which has been visible interventions to improve on its state,” said Dhlomo.

He commended North West MEC for Health, Sello Lehari and his management for addressing all the issues that were recently raised in the media and public domain. Dhlomo said these issues which included inadequate fridge capacity for storage of bodies, leading to overcrowding of corps and bad odour have been addressed.

“I commend this mortuary for camera surveillance. We know that if ever there can be a story about missing body parts it won’t be at Brits Forensic Pathology. I have gone around and noticed that there is sufficient backup water, heating capacity, adequate space, backup generators, a waiting area and overall clean environment,” he said.

Meanwhile, in his response, Lehari commended the Committee for their thoroughness when conducting oversight, and thanked them for not only looking at the challenges but also highlighting areas of excellence which others can learn from.

“We have listened to the Chairperson and the members’ observations and recommendations. I can promise that I will work together with our team to address the issues raised,” he said.

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A learner killed after being run over by a scholar bus

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Picture: A scholar bus ferrying learners to school/Generic

By OBAKENG MAJE

14 October 2024- A Grade 10 learner from Moreri Secondary School in Tseoge village, near Ganyesa, was allegedly killed by a scholar bus on 9 October 2024. It is alleged that the incident took place after school.

Kgosiemang Teto (18), was allegedly trying to catch a moving bus when the incident happened. He was allegedly run over by the driver.

The North West Department of Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane said: “The department has been informed of the tragic passing of Teto, who was involved in an accident after school.

“Following the incident, Teto was promptly transported to the nearest clinic. However, he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries approximately 20 to 30 minutes later.”

Molokwane further said the medical team reported that internal bleeding was identified as the cause of his death. He added the department is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the matter and appropriate measures will be implemented to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

“A loss of any learner is unacceptable. North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi extends her heartfelt condolences to both the family and the school community during this profoundly distressing time,” said Molokwane.

Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the police are investigating the incident that occurred at approximately 2:30pm, outside school premises. Mokgwabone said no one has been arrested thus far.

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Embattled municipalities owe AGSA over R1bn

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Picture: The AGSA

By BAKANG MOKOTO

14 October 2024 – The Standing Committee on the Auditor General engaged with National Treasury on the more than R1 billion in audit fees owed to the Auditor General South Africa (AGSA) by auditees such as financially distressed municipalities. The committee invited the National Treasury to brief it on the interventions to assist the AGSA with regards to the outstanding audit fees, especially audit fees owed by financially unviable municipalities.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Wouter Wessels said the National Treasury explained the current interventions to resolve this issue which could, if not effectively attended to, have dire consequences to the fulfilment of the Chapter 9’s constitutional mandate of overseeing the expenditure and the management of the public purse.

Wessels further said one intervention is to defray excess audit fees from auditees that are in financial difficulty as a direct charge against the National Revenue Fund. He added that a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the National Treasury and the AGSA was signed for the implementation thereof.

“The committee heard that these outstanding fees are due to the constrained fiscal environment. Members of the committee highlighted that municipalities and government entities’ failure to pay creditors within the 30 days as stipulated in the PFMA constitute financial misconduct.

“The committee said the National Treasury should consider deducting the fees owed to AGSA from either the Equitable Share or National Revenue Fund allocated to the provincial budget of the municipality concerned,” said Wessels.

He expressed his grave concern for the lack of clear strategic interventions to deal with the matter at hand. Wessels said what the committee is worried and concerned about is how the outstanding audit fees are increasing and how this can be detrimental to the continued independence of the AGSA.

“The committee said if nothing is done to address the R1 billion audit fees owed to AGSA by some municipalities and government entities now, this amount will easily escalate to more than R2 billion in the next five years.

“The committee called for decisive plans and interventions to address this in order to keep the AGSA independent, and ensure transparency and accountability regarding public funds,” he said.

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VAR in the pipeline for PSL

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Picture: The video assistant referee (VAR)

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

14 October 2024– The South African Football Association (SAFA) held a very successful Ordinary NEC Meeting in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape this weekend. Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie joined the meeting towards the end and was present during some of the presentations.

The members of the NEC discussed several matters robustly and were happy when McKenzie reassured the meeting that he would continue to support SAFA’s various programmes. Among some of the issues that were discussed, SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan said a lot of work has been done behind the scenes with regards to the video assistant referee (VAR), including discussions with the Minister and the PSL.

“We had a good engagement with McKenzie and he has committed to support the implementation of VAR. We will now meet again with him and the PSL to finalise the plan.

“He has made a commitment that he will make a contribution from the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, McKenzie later joined SAFA at a packed Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where Bafana Bafana hosted Congo Brazzaville in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Coach Hugo Broos’ charges produced one of the most polished and clinical displays seen in recent years when they beat the visitors 5-0 in a pulsating match.

The city presented Bafana Bafana captain and Eastern Cape hero Ronwen Williams with an award in recognition of his immense contribution to sports performance.

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SAFA partners with Telkom VS Gaming to Elevate South African Esports around Diski

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Picture: Telkom VS Gaming

By REGINALD KANYANE  

13 October 2024– In a significant milestone for the South African esports community, the South African Football Association (SAFA), is excited to announce its partnership with Telkom VS Gaming. This collaboration officially accredits the Telkom E-Diski leagues and finals as SAFA National qualifying competitions, allowing players the opportunity to represent South Africa in FIFA-operated global esports events.

This partnership marks a transformative moment for esports in South Africa, bridging the gap between traditional football and competitive gaming. By aligning the E-Diski leagues with the SAFA eCup, Telkom VS Gaming is providing a premier platform for local talent to thrive while promoting growth within the esports ecosystem.

SAFA CEO, Lydia Monyepao said they are excited to collaborate with Telkom VS Gaming to operate the SAFA eCup under the E-Diski league banner. Monyepao said since joining the FIFA eGlobal series in 2019, their teams have achieved impressive results, including a top-four finish at the recent FIFAe World Cup in Liverpool.

“The E-Diski leagues will further our reach to new players and inspire a new generation of gamers to excel and proudly represent South Africa on the global esports stage. We are thrilled to partner with SAFA in this ground-breaking initiative, which highlights our dedication to advancing esports in South Africa,” she said.

Meanwhile, Telkom Chief Marketing Officer, Gugu Mthembu said: “By recognising the E-Diski leagues as the official qualifying competition for the SAFA eCup, we are granting our players a unique opportunity to showcase their skills on an international stage.

“The E-Diski leagues have quickly become a leading platform for esports football in South Africa, cultivating a passionate community of gamers and enthusiasts.”

She further said with SAFA’s support, Telkom VS Gaming is enhancing the profile of these leagues, establishing them as a vital pathway for aspiring esports athletes to pursue their dreams of national representation. Mthembu added that they have witnessed a massive rise in interest in gaming and esports across the globe in recent years and it was always a matter of time before they saw a similar boom take place in South Africa.  

“Our VS Gaming platform has become a catalyst to a major rise in interest in local gaming and that has illustrated the amazing local esports talent we have in the country.

“The partnership kicks off with an exciting Rocket League showdown, where four players will represent South Africa at the next FIFAe World Cup of Rocket League, featuring 16 nations,” she said.

Meanwhile, the domestic qualifying competition will take place this weekend October 12-13, 2024. Teams that registered on http://www.fifa.gg including those that qualified via the E-Diski League competition on Rocket League.

For more information about the eDiski leagues and the official FIFA eWorld Cup qualifying competition, please visit http://www.vsgaming.co.za or follow Telkom VS Gaming on @vsgamingworld.

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A policeman nabbed for defeating end of justice and perjury

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Picture: A policeman arrested for corruption/Generic 

By OBAKENG MAJE  

13 October 2924– A policeman (39) was arrested by the Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit (ACIU) for investigation for defeating the ends of justice and perjury. It is alleged that one of the members deployed for Vala Umgodi Operations, arrested a foreign national for contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002.

He further handed a statement from the Department of Home Affairs confirming the (illegal) status of the foreign national to the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Mmokwa Ratshoke, who is attached to Stilfontein Detectives. It is alleged that, Ratshoke took the docket to court without the statement from the Department of Home Affairs and the case was, as a result, withdrawn. 

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the matter was reported to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit (ACIU) for investigation and the accused was nabbed.  

“Ratshoke briefly appeared in Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court and granted R1 500 bail and the case was postponed until 1 November 2024, for further investigation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, expressed his gratitude to all the members involved in exposing and arresting employees, who fail to act with integrity in rendering a service and that the South African Police Service (SAPS), will not hesitate to take drastic actions against those who are involved in criminal activities.

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Former Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni described as notable servant

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Picture: Former Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni

By BAKANG MOKOTO

13 October 2024 – Heartfelt condolence messages continued to pour in after the passing of the former Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni (65). Mboweni died in hospital in Johannesburg on Saturday night after a short illness.  

The Presiding Officers of Parliament, National Assembly (NA) speaker, Thoko Didiza and the Chairperson of National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, expressed their heartfelt condolences on the passing of Mboweni. Didiza said he was a distinguished and versatile people’s servant, who dedicated his life, passion and vast expertise to the service of the people of South Africa.

“Mboweni’s activism spanned both the struggle for freedom and the consolidation of democracy in our country. As a dedicated anti-apartheid activist, he passionately fought for justice, equality, and the

liberation of all South Africans, laying the groundwork for the democratic values he later championed in public service.

“After the dawn of democracy, he became the first Minister of Labour under the cabinet of President Nelson Mandela. In this role, he was instrumental in shaping South Africa’s labour policies during a critical time of transition, ensuring that the rights and dignity of workers were protected and enshrined in the new democratic order,” she said.

Didiza further said as one of the first generation of members of the first post-apartheid Parliament, Mboweni contributed to the establishment of laws and policies aimed at dismantling the legacy of apartheid and building a more inclusive and just society.

She added that as the first Black Governor of the South African Reserve Bank in 1999, his tenure was marked by visionary leadership and transformation.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane said although his stewardship of the Bank came during a turbulent period for the rand, his astute management ensured South Africa’s resilience in the face of global and local challenges.

She said under Mboweni’s guidance, the Reserve Bank was not only a guardian of economic stability, but also a symbol of transformation and progress.

“Mboweni’s legacy will forever be remembered for his unwavering commitment to building a better South Africa. He was a patriot who believed in the potential of this nation, and his work has left an indelible mark on the country’s democratic and economic institutions.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and comrades in the African National Congress (ANC). May his memory serve as a source of inspiration to us all, as we continue the work of building the South Africa he so tirelessly championed,” said Mtshweni-Tsipane.

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Mtshweni-Tsipane calls on parliaments to combat technology-facilitated GBV and Discrimination

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Picture: The Chairperson of NCOP, Mtshweni-Tsipane

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

13 October 2024 – The leader of Parliament’s delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, has called on Parliaments to use legislation to prioritise the prevention, elimination and responses to all forms of technology-facilitated Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination.

Mtshweni-Tsipane, the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), made the call in Geneva, Switzerland, this morning during the IPU Forum for Women Parliamentarians’ discussion on a draft resolution for the IPU Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights titled: “The impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”

She said the world continues to grapple with a significant gender equality problem, and the emergence of artificial intelligence systems holds the potential to perpetrate and exacerbate this issue. Mtshweni-Tsipane further said of particular concern is technology-facilitated Gender-Based Violence (GBV), a rapidly spreading problem that evolves with each new technological advancement.

“This poses serious challenges to digital governance and creates a persistent lag in adopting laws and policies to tackle this issue effectively. The legislation should include guidelines on enhanced content moderation, accessible and effective reporting systems and the establishment of content removal processes compliant with international human rights laws.

“A 2024 United Nations report based on a survey encompassing women journalists from 125 countries revealed that 73% of those women had fallen victim to online violence in the course of their work,” she said.

Mtshweni-Tsipane added that this serves as a reminder that the impact of technology-facilitated GBV is pervasive and affects individuals across diverse professions and regions. She said as legislatures, it is their responsibility to confront this pressing issue.

“We must take proactive measures to address the use of artificial intelligence in perpetuating GBV and ensure that our laws and policies effectively keep pace with these evolving challenges.

“So, we urge Parliaments to enact legislation prohibiting the distribution of non-consensual, explicit images and providing the cost to the victims,” said Mtshweni-Tsipane.

Meanwhile, the 149th IPU Assembly is held under the theme: “Harnessing science, technology, and innovation (STI) for a more peaceful and sustainable future.” This is the first time a delegation of the 7th Parliament has attended the IPU Assembly, a decision-making body where parliamentarians from 180 national member Parliaments adopt resolutions.

The IPU is the global organisation of national parliaments. What began in 1889 as a small group of parliamentarians, dedicated to promoting peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue, has since grown into a truly global organisation with 180 members and 15 associate members.

The IPU facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world.

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