Picture: The delegates during a sod-turning at Batho Batho Primary School/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said her department will continue to roll out its infrastructure development plan to improve schools across the province. Motsumi said this comes after they have marked another milestone with the sod-turning ceremony for the rebuilding of Batho Batho Primary School in Mareetsane village, near Mahikeng on 17 April 2024.
“Batho-Batho Primary School currently has mobile classrooms structures, which will be improved by a modern design boasting of 16 brand new classrooms, Grade R block comprising three classrooms with jungle gym and fencing.
“This also comprises of an administration block, a computer lab, a nutrition block eating area, a multipurpose hall, combo courts, and a guard house, amongst other facilities. The new structure will provide a conducive learning environment for learners, with a strong focus on creating employment opportunities for locals during the construction phase,” she said.
Motsumi further said by rebuilding Batho-Batho Primary School, they are creating a safe and stimulating learning environment ensuring inclusive and equitable for all learners in the province, as well as contributing to the economic empowerment of the Mareetsane community.
She added that, it is an important role to them as government, to ensure they use these programs to eradicate poverty, which is a much needed economic boost in the community.
“The construction of Batho Batho Primary School is another testament to the department’s ongoing commitment to replicate this success in communities across the North West,” said Motsumi.
Picture: The drugs seized by the police during the raids/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Three men were arrested for dealing in drugs during intelligence-driven operations on separate occasions. The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the operations were led by the Operation Vala Umgodi members, who continue to disrupt the distribution of drugs in the Frances Baard District.
Molefi further said the police responded to a tip-off received about drugs being sold in Galeshewe Township, near Kimberley. He added that, during the search and seizure actions on 16 April 2024, two identified locations were raided.
“At the first suspected drug outlet, crystal meth (Tik) and mandrax tablets were found concealed in the heels of women’s shoes. A man (35) was arrested for possession of drugs. The police proceeded to the second identified location and found two men in the house with mandrax tablets in their possession.
“Both suspects are 28 and 37 years old respectively. They were arrested for possession of drugs. Drugs estimated to the street value of R10,000, were confiscated as well as cell phones and money believed to be the proceeds of crime,” said Shemane.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, said they acknowledge the cooperation between the police and the communities, who are actively involved in the fight against crime. Otola applauded the police for their ongoing efforts towards addressing illicit mining and related crimes.
The police in Olifantshoek are appealing to the public to assist in locating Anna-Marie Rooi (24), who resides at Plakkerskamp, in Olifantshoek. The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said, Rooi was last seen by her mother on Sunday, 24 December 2023 in Plakkerskamp, Olifantshoek.
‘She was wearing blue jeans, a white top and black Adidas sneakers. Anyone who might have information about the whereabouts of Anna-Marie is urged to contact Sergeant KG Mqaisa at 073 840 2654 or 08600 10111 or either use the MySAPS app.
“All information received will be treated confidentially. The public is also reminded that there is no waiting period to report a person missing,” he said.
Picture: The missing Motsamai Petrus Phoko/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
The police in Roodepan are appealing to the public to assist in locating Motsami Petrus Phoko (76), who resides at 48465 Kanana, Roodepan in Kimberley. The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said, Phoko was last seen by his sister on 28 January 2024 in Roodepan.
Sam said it is alleged that Phoko has frequently been seen around the De Beers Stadium area.
“He was wearing grey jeans and black shoes. Anyone who might have information about the whereabouts of Motsami, is urged to contact Warrant Officer Vermeulen at 082 495 4717 or 08600 10111 or either use the MySAPS app.
“All information received will be treated confidentially. The public is also reminded that there is no waiting period to report a person missing,” he said.
Picture: Two men, Allie Edgar Pommer and Basil Owen Smith/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The police in Roodepan are appealing to the public to assist in locating Allie Edgar Pommer (40), who resides at 21st Street, No 42 Homevale Extension, in Kimberley. Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said, Pommer was last seen on 4 September 2022, when he left home after visiting his brother at Ivory Park Shanties, but never reached his destination.
Sam further said another missing person, Basil Owen Smith (35), who resides at 45201 Ivory Park in Roodepan, was last seen on 11 February 2023, wearing black jeans and a white t-shirt. He added that Smith is mentally challenged and likes walking from home to sit at the corner of Raven Street crossing in Roodepan and would normally return home.
“The two missing persons were amongst a list missing persons circulated by the police on 23 February 2023. Anyone who might have information about their whereabouts is urged to contact the Investigating Officer Captain Allistair Slambert at 071 675 4427 or 08600 10111 or either use the MySAPS App.
“All information received will be treated confidentially. The public is also reminded that there is no waiting period to report a person missing, said Sam.
Picture: The Chairperson of the North West House of Traditional Leaders and Khoi-San, Kgosi Thari Maotwe and North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho, hand over financial report to a traditional leader from the Bakgatla ba Kgafela tribal council/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Treasury, Molalepula Rosho said, the provincial government has honoured its promise to the North West Traditional Authorities by handing over financial reports of their respective councils.
Rosho said for many years, the North West Traditional Authorities have requested the provincial government to provide them with information relating to the financial transaction reports regarding their respective councils.
In a meeting that was held last year in Sun City, Rosho and North West MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Nono Maloyi, have acceded to the call by the traditional authorities and committed that the request will be sanctioned.
“The North West Department of Treasury in collaboration with the North West Department of COGTA and Office of the Premier, have commenced with a series of roadshows that are aimed at providing traditional authorities with the information related to financial transactions processed since 1994 to March 2023.
“These roadshows mark a significant step towards fostering transparency, collaboration, and accountability within our traditional communities. The initiative kick-started on 16 April 2024 in Phokeng, near Rustenburg with Dikgosi of Rustenburg and Mankwe,” she said.
Rosho further said this will be followed by Madikwe, Moretele, Madibeng, Lehurutshe, Ditsobotla, Molopo, Taung and Ganyesa respectively. She added that, the exercise is envisaged to be concluded during mid-May.
“We acknowledged the importance of traditional authorities to be provided with these financial reports as they are expected to play a more significant role in overseeing the allocation of resources in their communities.
“The need to foster clear and open communication channels and committed government towards building trust and ensure that traditional authorities are fully informed and engaged in decision-making processes that impact their communities,” said Rosho.
She emphasised that traditional authorities should also be equipped with knowledge that enables them to understand the financial information contained in the report. Rosho also indicated that traditional authorities have proven beyond reasonable doubt that they are valuable community builders, therefore it is imperative that they are empowered with knowledge.
“Yet, amidst the trials of adversity, traditional leaders emerged as beacons of resilience and agents of progress. In the absence of adequate government infrastructure in the past, they assumed the mantle of development, spearheading initiatives to uplift their communities and foster sustainable growth.
“The indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment of our traditional leaders to the well-being of their people, epitomize the essence of African leadership at its finest,” she said.
Meanwhile, the representative from the Office of the Premier, Zacharia Tolo, who is an advisor to the Premier, endorsed the session and commended the two departments for ensuring that the D-account has been shared with the traditional authorities. Tolo said it is public knowledge that this has been a thorny issue that ought to be dealt with in a transparent manner.
“We draw inspiration from the rich tapestry of history that surrounds us and may we march forward with steadfast determination towards a future characterized by prosperity, inclusivity, and shared prosperity,” he said.
The Chairperson of the North West House of Traditional Leaders and Khoi-San, Kgosi Thari Maotwe, expressed his gratitude and said this move is an indication that intergovernmental relations are recognised in the province.
Maotwe committed that the traditional leaders will always welcome any interventions that are brought by the government to empower traditional leaders as this will translate to better service delivery in the various communities of the province.
The traditional leaders that were present received envelopes containing various reports of their respective traditional councils and signed an acknowledged receipt to symbolise their commitment to the handover process.
Setshwantsho: Monna le mosadi ba shetse mo sejanageng kwa Morokweng
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Batho ba le babedi ba shetse mo sejanageng sa modiro wa VW Jetta kwa motseng wa Morokweng, gaufi le Ganyesa, mo letsatsing la maabane. Go begwa fa sepodisi sene sa bilediwa kwa lifelong la tiragalo, mme ba fitlhela sejanaga se tuka.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen are, tiragalo e ke ya mo letsatsing la Labobedi mo mosong. Van Rooyen are go fitlhetswe motho wa mosadi le monna ba shetse mo sejanageng seo.
“Monna one a na le dingwaga di le 45, fa mosadi ane ana le dingwaga di le 29. Dipatlisiso tse di bontshang gore tiragalo e, e ka tswa e bakilwe ke eng di tsweletse,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.
Picture: North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Gaoage Molapisi
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Public Works and Roads is set to evict rent-free government employees, who allegedly owe the department over R72 million. It is alleged that government employees continue to occupy houses belonging to the North West Public Works for years without paying any rent and are now in arrears.
The North West Department of Public Works and Roads has appointed a law firm in a quest to recoup the money owed to them. It is alleged that the department might also evict those who fail to pay the rental money.
The North West Department of Public Works and Roads spokesperson, Lerato Gambu said, the department is aware of tenants (both private and government employees), who are not-up-to-date in terms of rental payment. Gambu said the department remains committed to running a well-managed and commercially viable property portfolio.
“There are various interventions, which have been implemented to ensure the residential portfolio is effectively managed. We have capacitated our housing accommodation sub-directorate to do adequate rental management of its housing portfolio.
“This involves regular calls to tenants, sending letters to those in arrears and calling tenants to remind them to update their stop orders. Should the Lessee default in any payment due under this agreement or be in breach of its terms in any other way and fail to remedy such default or breach within 14 days after receiving a written demand that such breach be remedied, the landlord shall be entitled, without prejudice to any other rights which it may have, to cancel this agreement with immediate effect, and be repossess the property,” he said.
Gambu further said, given the high rental arrears, the department had decided to give tenants 90 days to settle the debt and failing which to institute legal actions against the defaulters. He added that letters have been sent to all the defaulters to put them in terms of their obligation in line with the signed lease agreement.
“As the 90 days expire, the names get handed over to legal services. Most public servants are paying through the persal system and are paying on a monthly basis. However, what the department realised was that not all tenants were paying the correct tariff.
“Now, there was a need to have the Head of Departments (HoDs) to implement automatic increase of rental. The department has through its HoD, written to other HoDs to assist in this matter by implementing automatic increase of rental prices, for those who are tenants,” said Gambu.
He said the client department has responded positively to this call. Gambu said the arrears will be recovered through the legal process.
Meanwhile, The Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial spokesperson on Public Works and Roads, Freddy Sonakile said Molapisi must account for the department’s inability to recover lost rent, as well as for failure to implement the State Housing Policy.
According to Sonakile, the State Housing Policy only allows political office bearers and scarce-skill officials such as medical doctors, nurses, and other professionals in far-flung rural regions, not departmental employees, who work at provincial government departments.
“The Auditor General (AG) has for years indicated that the department suffers from internal control deficiencies, and a failure to implement its policies confirms this.
“The DA raised this matter several times at the Portfolio Committee. The department has previously indicated that it administers 1352 properties across the North West, which consist of freestanding houses, apartments, institutional accommodation, and single-quarter residences. These properties should be used to accommodate scarce skills in communities,” he said.
Picture: The EFF members doing oversight at Taung Treatment Centre/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in North West said, most drug addicts will continue to suffer. This comes after the non-operational of Taung Treatment Centre. The centre that was supposed to open its doors to the public on 1 December 2023, was expected to help clients to overcome addiction.
The EFF provincial deputy chairperson, Primrose Bogatsu said they have embarked on oversight visits to government institutions to ensure that the budget allocated to them is put to a good use.
“As public representatives, it is our duty to do oversight in government institutions to ensure that the budget allocated to various institutions is used accordingly. We also want to ensure that our people get services.
“This centre was supposed to play a pivotal role within the community by helping clients to overcome addiction. The centre was also supposed to offer clients a chance to work on their behaviours, which are aligned with their addiction in a safe and non-judgmental environment,” she said.
Bogatsu further said they have realised that, since the establishment of the institution in 2018, it is not fully functional. She added that, also, the institution has not been officially handed over.
“There are still some challenges that make it difficult for the municipality to give the centre a go ahead to operate. Apparently, the water sprinkler system is not working, so that makes the building non-compliant. So far, the building does not serve any purpose.
“This means all those who are drug addicts, cannot get help as there is nothing happening here. We have to hold the North West MEC for Social Development, Lazarus Mokgosi accountable. Mokgosi was supposed to officially open the building on 1 December 2023, but that did not happen,” said Bogatsu.
She said it was clear that he misled the public.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Social Development spokesperson, Petrus Siko said: “The department is aware of this matter and the processes to install the sprinklers and smoke detectors have commenced. The centre will be operational in the current financial year.
“The building was allocated for the provision of substance abuse treatment services. The centre provides out-patient services in collaboration with the North West Department of Health. These services include prevention services and individual counselling.”
Siko said this also includes motivational sessions with service users, joint interviews, referrals to the hospital for drug testing and psychiatric evaluation, assessment and family engagements for support systems towards service users. He said people who require treatment services are being referred to a state-run JB Marks Treatment Centre in Potchefstroom.
“This is the only treatment centre in Taung and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District. However, the province has another state-run treatment centre in Potchefstroom. There are also private treatment centres in Bojanala and Dr Kenneth Kaunda Districts.
“There is staff in the treatment centre and their role include providing outreach services and referring service users to treatment centres, as well as working with the
Taung District Hospital,” said Siko.
He said they also provide services, which include prevention services, individual counselling, motivational sessions with service users, joint interviews, referrals to the hospital for drug testing and psychiatric evaluation, assessment and family engagements for support systems towards service users.
Picture: The 2024 Men’s Two Oceans Marathon winner, Onalenna Khonkhobe/Twitter
By OBAKENG MAJE
The award-winning athlete, Onalenna Khonkhobe (27) from Sekhing village, near Taung, said he is grateful and excited after winning the 2024 Men’s Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town over the past weekend. Khonkhobe said it was not easy winning the 2024 Men’s Two Oceans Marathon, but through discipline, dedication and determination.
“Honestly, I did not think I would win considering the elite athletes that I was up against. They exhibit unique traits and strong, admirable characteristics that help them succeed in their careers.
“However, I was up to the test and I also developed these traits from my various experiences and opportunities. My preparation was well-orchestrated and I also embarked on intensive training,” he said.
Khonkhobe further said his training program was marred with challenges prior to the competition due to rain. He added that, as an antithesis opposed to ordinary, he soldiered on and that paid dividends.
“I took a look at myself through the mirror and said, you got this. So, I remembered all the traits that a successful athlete must demonstrate. When I entered the race, I was innately self-confident.
“So, to all aspiring athletes, especially in rural areas, kindly be the best that you can and most importantly, believe in yourself. They should also be upbeat to deal with any unexpected situations that may arise.
“For the past two weeks prior to this competition, I could not train to the fullest due to rain. So, they need to know that, to be a high-performing athlete, one will need to be motivated and have the desire to be better than their opponent. They have to be patient and persevere when working on their skills. Also, focusing on their goals will be the cherry on top,” said Khonkhobe.
He said elite athletes know that success does not happen overnight. Khonkhobe encouraged them to have self-discipline to put in early morning training sessions, to sacrifice social activities in exchange for more practice, and to power through sore muscles and exhaustion.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, Kenetswe Mosenogi said: “Following the two North West athletes’ incredible performances at the 2024 Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town over the past weekend, the department will be hosting a welcome ceremony for Onnalenna Khonkhobe (marathon winner) and Thaba Mosiako (half-marathon winner).
“As the department, we are proud of the sterling performance of the athletes from the province, who continue to put us on the world map – joining the likes of Tete Dijana, Edward Mothibi, the Kelehe brothers and many others.”
She said Khonkhobe crossed the finish line in 3:09:30. Mosenogi said Mosiako, who came fourth in the same race last year, dashed home in 1:04:40.
The welcome event will be held at Batlhaping Baga Mothibi Tribal Authority, Sekhing village, in Taung on April 17.
The Guardian 