Picture: Bodies exhumed from various graves/Generic
By OBAKENG MAJE
The eleven unidentified bodies that were buried in Boikhutsong Township, near Lichtenburg will be exhumed. This comes after the North West Department of Health and the family of a man, who went missing at Thusong Hospital near Itsoseng Township, suspect that he might be among unidentified persons buried there.
The North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “The department has obtained a court order from the Ditsobotla Magistrate’s Court to exhume eleven unidentified bodies on Thursday. This is in search of the remains of a male patient, who went missing a number of years ago at Thusong Hospital.
“The DNA tests conducted on the remains of a body found at the hospital at the time proved inconclusive. However, following a lengthy investigation, it is now suspected that the remains of the missing patient could be in one of the eleven graves.”
Lekgethwane further said, the family and the department recently approached the court to grant an order for the exhumation of the remains of a body suspected to be that of the missing patient. He added that, the suspected remains are said to have been buried with some personal items which could assist in the identification process.
A man from Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Schweizer Reneke Regional Court for raping a pregnant girl (17). Deon Neo Masetlo was further sentenced to five years for assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH).
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said in 2018, Masetlo came across the complainant and grabbed her, while hurling insults at her. Mamothame further said, he then instructed her to go with him to an unknown location, where she subsequently attempted to escape, but failed as she fell and injured herself.
“He then took out a knife and threatened her to the point that she gave in and walked with him. The complainant only knew the accused by sight as one of the gang members at the Ipelegeng location. Along the way, she saw people sitting outside in a yard and she managed to run and ask for help.
“However, Masetlo followed her and threatened some of the men who were reprimanding him. He subsequently assaulted the complainant and told those men that she was the mother of his children. He then took her to a house, where he repeatedly raped her and only allowed her to leave in the morning after she promised to come back if he grants her permission to leave,” he said.
Mamothame added that, the matter was reported to the police and Masetlo was later arrested and denied bail. He said Masetlo pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In aggravation of the sentence, the state prosecutor, Mpho Sephapo, argued that the complainant was 17 years of age and pregnant, urging the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment. Sephapo argued that, the accused had an opportunity to leave when he was reprimanded at the house, where the victim sought refuge.
Magistrate Patricia Rangwako agreed with the state and said that, women and children have a right to free movement, without fearing for their lives. She highlighted the important role that the court must play in protecting the most vulnerable members of society.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari together with the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded Sephapo, Warrant Officer Tello Hlatswayo and other role players in bringing the perpetrator to book. They also highlighted the plight of women as a pandemic that needs to be curbed.
Masetlo was declared unfit to possess a firearm and his name will be entered in the register of sexual offenders.
North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said the Manthe Community Health Centre project in Manthe village, near Taung is in the final stages of planning and design. Last year, some residents complained about the dire situation at Manthe Clinic.
They alleged that, ceilings were falling off and the building was dilapidating. The residents called on the North West Department of Health to prioritise and refurbish infrastructure at the clinic.
Now, Sambatha said this is one of the priority projects for the department.
“The department continues to focus its attention on the maintenance of the existing health facilities through various programmes and term contracts that are being implemented.
“One of the implementation strategies for maintenance is through a Contractor Development Programme. We are in the process of appointing the project management consultants for this programme in the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year,” he said.
Sambatha said, in addition, a procurement process of contractors will be done in the second quarter of the 2023/24 financial year to fast-track implementation. He further said, a target of 44 contractors was set and the Terms of Reference (specification) for the targeted contractors in the category of CIDB Grade 2 to 5 is being developed.
“This programme is meant to advance three interrelated objectives as the development of local SMME’s (grade 2-5 all specialities), poverty alleviation and empowerment through infrastructure, and strengthening maintenance of the current infrastructure.
“Hospital and Clinical Support Services Branch is responsible for seven hospitals made of two Tertiary Hospitals, three Regional Hospitals and two Specialized Hospitals. For the financial year 2022-23 tertiary hospitals saw a total of 523 115 patients (average of 43 593 per month),” said Sambatha.
He added that, the Regional Hospitals saw a total of 223 243 (an average of 18 604 per month), while Specialized Hospitals saw a total of 33 383 patients (with an average patient visits of 2 781 per month) at the Outpatient Departments.
Sambatha said a total number of 18 768 operations were performed in Tertiary Hospitals and 11 035 in Regional Hospitals.
“The Tertiary Hospitals conducted 5627 Caesarean Sections, whilst Regional Hospitals performed 3974. This accounts for 30% of operations in Tertiary Hospitals and 36% in Regional Hospitals.
“All the three acute regional hospitals have been equipped with CT scans with the resultant improved management and treatment of trauma and medical emergencies. Furthermore, the second cancer radiation therapy machine is now functional at the Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex,” he said.
Sambatha said they also procured a neuro-navigation unit and anaesthetic machines. He said some of the scarce skills such as Radiation Oncologists, Radiologists, and specialist nurses have been appointed.
“The access to healthcare for all our people is one of the gains of our democracy. It is also a basic, fundamental and constitutional right, that the liberation movement, the ANC, its alliance partners and other struggle frontiers fought for.
“This ANC-led government is committed to continuing the fight for access to health care such that when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a threat to access to health, the government introduced extraordinary measures including the state of emergency to ensure that our people are not denied access,” said Sambatha.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named a 34-member preliminary squad for the mouth-watering 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco next month. Broos’ charges face the Moroccans at FNB Stadium, in Johannesburg, on Saturday (17 June 2023) with both teams having already qualified for the continental tournament to be held in Côte d’Ivoire on 13 January – 11 February 2024.
The preliminary squad will be trimmed to 23 players early next month when Broos announces his final list for the eagerly anticipated match between the two sides. Broos also announced that a reduced pre-camp will be held from 31 May 2023 to 7 June and it will be made up of local and a few overseas-based players.
The final squad will go into camp on Sunday 11 June 2023.
A murder case against four accused will resume today at Taung Regional Court. Bakang Katong (32), Thabang Lenyai (23) and Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34) were arrested more than a year ago of allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35) in cold blood, after accusing him of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in Manthe village, near Taung.
The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, the deceased was at Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried him back to Manthe village.
“Upon arrival, the deceased was allegedly chained to a generator and assaulted. After the assault, the victim was reportedly transported to a local clinic by the accused, however, he was declared dead upon arrival. The accused were arrested and charged with murder,” Tselanyane said.
On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.
Picture: The Deputy Principal of Thethe Secondary School, Nono Mohohleng and Ditiro Selemela/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
In its quest to accelerate the growth and development of beekeepers in the province, the North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono, has officially launched the North West Province Beekeepers Association (NWPBA).
The association was launched during the Provincial World Bee Day celebration in Luka village, near Rustenburg on 19 May 2023. Mohono said the theme of the event was: “BEE ENGAGED: Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems.”
“This year’s event aimed at heightening awareness about the influence of the bee economy and enhancing the participation of rural women and young people in the apiculture sector. The launched association, which is represented in the South African Beekeepers Industry Organisation and the Honey Judges and Guild of South Africa as adjudicating team (HJT), is expected to also tackle challenges, such as market access that are faced within the apiculture sector.
“Our government is ready to assist aspirant beekeepers. There is an abundance of opportunities within the sector. Training of beekeepers will be prioritised and intensified. We will also continue to robustly market and position beekeeping in the province as a poverty-reducing tool,” she said.
Mohono further said, they are committed to improving the fortunes of beekeepers and to advancing the shared prosperity for all. She added that, it is also their commitment to achieving a large pool of real beekeepers in the entire province.
The Chairperson of North West Province Beekeepers Association (NWPBA), Kenalemang Mooketsi shared the same sentiments. Mooketsi added that, they are dedicated to elevating the provision of resources, training their members, and offering support.
“We aim to encourage the improvement and advancement of Apiculture within the province. We will do this by promoting the exchange of ideas between members, the public, and other institutions, as well as endorse and safeguard the interests of apiarists in general by ensuring that honey, hives, and other derivatives comply with standards established by the government.
“The number of beekeepers continues to rise in the province, as more people especially youth are showing interest in the sector. The department’s database has grown from five in 2019 to 80 beekeepers. We are happy that Mohono has called on all apiarists across all four districts in the province to register on its database,” he said.
Meanwhile, the department also visited the Thethe Secondary School, where an awareness drive was executed. Mohono said learners were educated on the importance of bees, their role in the agricultural ecosystem, and their monetary value.
A Grade 12 learner from Thethe Secondary School, Ditiro Selemela said: “We are happy to see that the department saw it fit to open our imagination to the world of bees and how we can start sustainable businesses from them. As learners, our role is to share what we were taught today with our communities as well as those who are close to us. We have always known bees to be dangerous, but from now on, we will take care of them and continue to research apiculture.
“Some of us have definitely benefited from this session. Maybe as we start our journey next year as young adults, we might join the industry as beekeepers.”
Picture: North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said it is without a doubt that, healthcare is everybody’s business. Sambatha said this during the tabling of departmental budget allocation for the 2023/24 financial year today at the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) in Mahikeng today.
“That is why our department acknowledges the partnerships it has with the private sector and the broader health stakeholders in the provision of health services across the province. We continue to enjoy a solid partnership with the Rustenburg Health Forum, which consists of a collective membership of the department in the Bojanala District and the mining houses of the entire district.
“This partnership has made significant strides in the past towards the injection of resources in improving access to health services in the mining and peri-mining areas. We need to focus more on establishing such working relationships with cement manufacturers dominantly based in Ngaka Modiri Molema,” he said.
Sambatha said the allocated budget for this financial year is R15 219 592. He further said the budget is spread amongst the eight programs and economic classifications of the department.
“Administration is budgeted for R1 024 488, the District Health Services received R7 555 308, Emergency Medical Services received R465 965, the Provincial Hospital Services is budgeted for R2 183 729, Central Hospital Services will receive R2 241 007, while Health Science and Training is budgeted for R285 856. Health Care Support Services received R771 576 and Health Facilities Maintenance is budgeted for R691 663.
“In the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, we have a solid working relationship with Harmony Gold and this is evident in the deliberation between Harmony Gold and the department on the future of Westvaal Hospital. This engagement must be extended to other mining houses. The contribution of Sibanye Mine, who has approved a budget to purchase emergency vehicles by the end of April 2023, is a big plus in our efforts to improve ambulance response time,” said Sambatha.
He added that, they remain indebted to the valuable contribution, leadership, oversight, and guidance from the Provincial Executive Council (EXCO) led by the North West Premier, Bushy Maape, the Provincial Treasury, Auditor-General and Portfolio Committee. Sambatha said he also recognises the role of different labour unions in all facilities.
“We urge them to continue to be a partner in addressing all issues that affect our employees, who are their members. We should also value the principles enshrined in the constitution on the “Right to strike” governed through the bargaining process as not opposed to the “Right to access Health care.”
“At the facility level, the role of our governance structures remains valuable as representatives of our communities in health care delivery. A word of appreciation also goes to the management structure of the department led by the SG,” he said.
Picture: The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said they welcome the allocated budget of R20 575 525 000 for the 2023/24 financial year. Motsumi, who tabled her departmental budget speech on Tuesday at the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) in Mahikeng said this represents an increase of R 229 382 000, which is a growth of 1.1% from R 20 346 of the 2022/23 financial year.
“This continuous budget increase for education by the ANC-led government underlines an even more rationale behind the government’s classification of education as an apex priority. The services rendered by the department are categorised into seven programmes.
“The Administration is budgeted for R981 960 000, Public Ordinary Schools Education received R15 021 810 000, Independent School Subsidies for R50 866 000, Public Special School Education reis budgeted for R904 898 000, Early Childhood Development for R 979 188 000, while Infrastructure Development is budgeted for R1 297 549 000,” she said.
Motsumi further said, Examination and Education-Related Services is budgeted for R1 339 254 000. She added that, the spending focus in this budget will go towards service delivery outputs as clearly captured in their 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan (APP).
“Of course, it will also be dedicated to the pronouncements derived, respectively, from the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and State of the Province Address (SOPA), which are intended to improve access and strengthen the quality of public education delivery in the province.
“An overview of the budget distribution per programme for the 2023/24 financial year is as follows. Administration (R 981 960 000, 0,2%). The strategic goal of this programme is to ensure effective and efficient governance, management and financial support systems in the department,” said Motsumi.
She said in the current year, this programme is allocated R981 960 000. Motsumi said they were disappointed that they could not claw back their good record of unqualified audit outcomes last year. Motsumi said that the record was broken in 2021/22 when they obtained a qualified audit report for the first time after receiving unqualified audit outcomes for seven consecutive financial years.
“It emerged once again that the commitment, immovable assets, work in progress and contract management registers were the main causes of a qualified audit report for the department. In spite of this, our grip on strengthening our governance, administrative and financial systems, monitoring and evaluation, internal audit, risk management, internal controls, management of commitment and immovable asset and contract management registers and implementation of the Post-Audit Action Plan is maturing,” she said.
Motsumi said, consequently, their qualifications from the Auditor-General are becoming gradually less. She said they remain hopeful to obtain an unqualified audit report in this current financial year.
“During the previous financial year, R15 398 008 000 was allocated for compensation of employees. The above compensation budget was, among others, spent on filling office and school-based vacancies and dealing with other compensation pressures.
“We must admit from the outset that we underspent the above allocation by R 483 million. This is primarily due to the high rate of vacant posts which took a long to be filled. We have since adopted strategies to avoid the recurrence of the risk of a high vacancy rate,” said Motsumi.
She said in the current financial year, R15 406 801 000 has been allocated for the compensation of employees’ budget, which consumes 79.6%, resulting in it being the highest cost driver of the total allocated budget of R20 575 525 000. Motsumi said this is predominantly due to the inherent labour-intensive nature of the basic education sector.
“Notwithstanding the current pressure on the fiscus, the department will particularly ensure that the implementation of the Post Provisioning Norms responds adequately and effectively to the teaching needs of every school in the province,” she said.
The North West High Court sitting in Mahikeng has dismissed the application by disgruntled ANC members, who wanted the court to declare the ANC’s 9th elective conference that was held at Rustenburg Civic Centre from 12 to 14 August 2022 unlawful, invalid, of no force and effect. The applicants, Lebogang Medupe, Lesego Serapelwane, Puso Moeng, Sello Molefe, and Itumeleng Moswane alleged that, the ANC provincial elective conference was organised by Interim Provincial Committee (IPC), even though its term of office lapsed.
However, the North West High Court’s Deputy President Judge, Tebogo Djadje dismissed the matter with costs. Djadje ordered the applicants to pay the application costs, which shall include expenses consequent upon the employment of two counsels, jointly and severally, the one paying the others to be absolved.
“This matter first came before the court on 25 August 2022 as an urgent application. The applicants sought an order that the application be heard as an urgent application in accordance with Rule 6 (12) of the Uniform Rules of this Honourable Court and that the applicant’s failure to comply with the rules relating to forms and service is condoned.
“They wanted the court to declare that, the ANC’s 9th Provincial Conference that took place on 12-14 August 2022 and subsequently postponed to the 26 August 2022 was held in violation of the ANC constitution as well as the court order of 12 August 2022 under case number: UM 152/2022 and the said provincial conference, its decision/resolutions and/or outcome are unlawful and be set aside.
“That the ANC be interdicted from continuing and/or finalizing the ANC’s 9th Provincial Conference of the North West scheduled for the 26-28 August 2022. That the ANC be ordered to appoint an interim structure in terms of the ANC constitution, instead of the North West Provincial Executive Committee, pending the election of a lawfully constituted Provincial Elective Committee of the ANC in the province,” said Djadje.
Meanwhile, the ANC Provincial Executive Committee said they welcome the court decision. The ANC provincial secretary, Louis Diremelo said this is not in a triumphalist spirit, but a point of reflection as they believe the ANC has enough instruments to resolve any matter brought forward by its members.
“We believe this dismissal brings to an end a path that we believe should have never been traversed in the first place. We shall not deter from our commitment to building program-based unity of the movement, rebuilding and renewing our structures.
“We call on all movement members to focus on contributing to the agreed agenda of building our organization, its renewal, and uniting it as we prepare for the elections in 2024,” Diremelo said.
Setshwantsho: Baagi ba ngongorega ka boleng jwa metsi go tswa kwa Magalies Water
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Baagi ba motse-setoropo wa Pudimoe gaufi le Taung ba kaile fa ba tshelela mo letshogong morago ga kanamo ya bolwetsi jwa Cholera. Seno, se tla morago ga kgatiso ya video e e tletsetletseng mo mafaratlhatlheng a boitapoloso, e mo go yone go bonwang metsi sasanka diboko.
Jaanong, mongwe wa baagi, Joyce Pule are ba na le lobaka ba itemogela kgwetlho ya metsi a a seng phepha. Go ya ka Pule, ke ene a dirileng kgatiso eo ya video e e bontshang metsi a tsamaya diboko, ebile a fetotse le mmala a le ma tala.
Ha a ne a buisana le Motsweding FM, Pule o tlhaolitse jaana.
“Ga kena bopaki jo bo feletseng jwa gore go ka tswa go diragetse eng ka metsi. Fela, ke metsi are a fitlhelang mo dipompong tsa rona. Metsi a, a nkga sebodu, a na le mmala o mo tala, ebile a tsamaya diboko. Selo se, se simolotse ka kgwedi ya Tlhakole, mme re ile ra ipolelela gore ke selo fela sa feta.
“Kgatiso ya video e o e bonang eo, ke metsi a ma tala a a tswang mo ntlung yame mo pompong e ko kamoreng ya boapeelo. Ene ele ka di 30 Moranang fa kene ke bulela pompo. Go kgonega gore ka nako nngwe, metsi a be a le teng go fitlha mantsiboa. Fela, fa re tsoga mo mosong go ka bo go sena metsi,” Pule wa tlhalosa.
O kaile gape ka nako e metsi a bowang ka yone, a tla ale matala. Pule are kgatiso ya video, o e gatisitse ka di 12 Motsheganong.
“Batho botlhe ba ne ba ngongorega ka seemo sa metsi ha ba bulela dipompo. Fela, seo ga se tshimologe ka di 12 Motsheganong, gonne ha e sale diboko tse ditswa go simolola ka kgwedi ya Moranang. Tota fela, ha e sale bothata jwa metsi bo tshimolola ka nako ya fa go ne go sitlhamololelwa setlamo se se rebolang metsi sa Sedibeng Water go ya kwa Magalies Water.
“Ka nako ya Sedibeng Water, ga ese ebe re tsamaye re itemogele bothata jo. Ee, metsi a ne ke a tsamaye, mme ere fa a bowa, a boe ale phepha. Re ne re nagana gore gongwe selo se, se diragala ka ntlheng ya gore gongwe go phephafatswa dipepi,” Pule wa tlhalosa.
Are, se se utlwisang botlhoko ke gore, gona le baagi bangwe ba ba sa direng, mme ba tlile go dira jaanag fa ba sena madi a go reka metsi a go nwa.
Kgabagare, molekgotlha wa kgorwana eo, Onkarabile Tong o kaile le fa ba itemogela mathata a metsi a a seng phepha kwa Pudimoe, kgatiso ya video ese ya ga jaana. Tong are, kgatiso eo ya video e e tsamyang diboko, e ile ya tlhagelela mo ngwageng o o fetileng, mme bothata joo bo ne jwa rarabololwa.
“Ga gona bo nnete mo kgatisong ya video eo. Kgatiso ya video e e tletse-tletseng mo mafaratlhatlheng, ke ya ngwaga o o fitileng. Go tlile ga nna le yone kgang eo ya metsi a tsamayang diboko mo ngwageng o o fitileng, mme ke a gopola gore rene ra kopa tsereganyo go tswa kwa masepaleng wa sedika. Seo, se ile sa diragala gonne ka nako eo, re ile ra nna le di kopano le baagi morago ga boipelaetso joo.
“Jaanong, bonnete ke gore, ga se video ya ga jaana. Selebego sa metsi mo mosong ke se se siameng, jaanong ga nkitla ke ganetsana le baagi ba ba reng, metsi a nkga sebodu, gonne mongwe le mongwe o bua se se mo diragaletseng,” Tong wa tlhalosa.
Tong are, seemo sa boleng jwa metsi se tokafetse thata fa o bapantsha le di beke tse di fitileng. Are, fela fa a bua puo-phaa, seemo sa metsi go tswa kwa setlamong sa Magalies Water ga se se se jesang diwelang.
“Ke seemo se se bosula, gonne nako enngwe metsi a ke a nne le mmala. Seo, se re lemotsha fa metsi ao a sa tlhatswiwe sentle. Bontsi jwa nako, metsi a bone ga mantle, mme re ke re buisane le ba masepala wa sedika go tlisa tharabololong, gonne ele bone ba ba dirisanang le ba setlamo sa Magalies Water go re rebolela metsi jaaka rele masepala wa selegae,” Tong wa tlhalosa.
Sebueledi sa Magalies Water, David Magae one a tshepisa Taung DailyNews go boela mo go rona morago ga go batla dikarabo mo letsatsing la maabane, mme fela re sentse re beile letsogo mo phatlheng le go fitlha ga jaana.
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