By REGINALD KANYANE

The residents of Khaukhwe village near Taung welcomed the cordial visit by the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management. This comes after the area experienced a high rate of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and stock theft.

One of the community members, Seanokeng Modisakoma said, they continue to experience a high rate of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in their area and urged the government to come up with a strategic measure to combat it. Modisakoma said many cases might have been caused by treble challenges such as unemployment, inequality, and poverty.

“In many instances, most households are either child-headed or occupied by elders. We are subjected to poverty and unemployment. Many youths in our area are unemployed and heavily rely on their parents for survival.

“This sometimes creates mayhem where they will forcefully abuse their grandparents and demand their pension money. So, we urge the government to create job opportunities for the young people, so that they can be able to fend for themselves.,” she said.

Another resident, Kgosietsile Mogapi said: “There is a high rate of crime in their area and that needs to be dealt with decisively. We have livestock that we use for survival, but criminals are stealing them. We need the high visibility of police and ensure that the law deals harshly with these criminals.

“Most of them steal knowing that the law will be too lenient on them. Imagine, losing your livestock that one used to earn a living and no justice prevails? I have lost over six cattle and 10 goats without any trace. The police are dragging their feet in investigating the matter.”

The North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management (DCDTM) Programme Co-ordinator from Crime Prevention Partnerships, Keitumetse Motlhatlhedi said, the visit was part of the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBV&F) campaign coordinated by the Crime Prevention Partnerships Directorate in the department.

“Khaukhwe is one of the villages serviced by Pudumoe Police Station and is experiencing high levels of assaults and stock theft crimes. The activities of the campaign include refurbishing house numbers in the village. We have also profiled households in terms of their needs too.

“This will make it easy for the stakeholders to execute their jobs easily without the hassle of identifying specific houses due to faded house numbers by the time of service delivery,” Motlhatlhedi said.

The department said it will continue with the GBV&F campaign in all parts of the province.

The Pudumoe Police Station Commander, Captain Tshidiso Leboiho shared the same sentiments. Leboiho said they are happy with the outcomes of the campaign in Khaukhwe, which forms part of previous campaigns held recently in their precinct of work.

“We urge the community to report any cases to the police station and grant police officers space to deal with reported cases lawfully and refrain from taking the law into their hands. We have various stakeholders, who also embraced the campaign such as Pudimoe CPF, Love Life, Department of Health, Department of Community Safety and Transport Management and Department of Justice,” he said.

Meanwhile, South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa in February 2022 said: “The National Strategic Plan (NSP) provides a cohesive framework that will guide the national response to the GBVF crisis. The plan outlines a comprehensive strategic response to GBVF with a specific focus on violence against all women – across age, physical location, disability, sexual orientation, sexual and gender identity, and national identity – as well as violence against children, and how these serve to reinforce each other.

“In strengthening the plan, earlier this month, we have approved the amendment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act Amendment Bill; the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Bill, and the Domestic Violence Amendment Bill.”

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By OBAKENG MAJE

It seems taking each other to courts is now a tradition on ANC radar and now this has spread to the party’s anatomy, ANCYL. This comes after the disgruntled ANCYL members were tied up in faction-driven court challenges against the newly-elected ANCYL leadership in North West.

Some of the ANCYL in the province, who are believed to be staunched supporters of ANC provincial chairperson, Nono Maloyi, filed court papers to interdict the ANCYL elective conference that took place a few months ago.

They alleged that, the ANCYL elective conference was bogus and violated the ANCYL constitution. Some alleged that the newly-elected ANCYL provincial chairperson, Wessels Morweng’s membership was not up-to-date at the time of his election.

The case was listened to at South Gauteng High Court on Thursday and the matter was dismissed with costs. Morweng said, they welcome the judgment and this is a stern warning to show that courts are not playgrounds.

“We welcome the court judgment and this brings jubilation because it marks the end of the fiasco and the fear tricks that have marred the post-conference of the 9^th ANCYL Provincial Conference.

“Remember, the ANCYL has been asking themselves as to what really happening because their leadership has been spending most of their time in courts, whereas they were supposed to spend it on the grounds ensuring that ANC mandate is realised,” he said.

Morweng also lambasted the involvement of some ANC PEC members in the saga. He said the ANCYL in the province is disappointed to learn that the first applicant on the matter was the ANC spokesperson in the province, Tumelo Maruping.

“This is an embarrassing moment for the ANC. This is unprecedented to see ANC leadership taking the ANCYL to court, whereas such matters can be able to be resolved internally.

“Remember, this is the same ANC leadership that has emphasised that matters of this nature must be taken out of court and be resolved politically. But we have seen the hypocrisy of note, where the same comrades supporting those who are taking the league to court,” said Morweng.

Meanwhile, the ANC provincial spokesperson, Tumelo Maruping, who was also one of the applicants said: “The ANC in North West has never taken the ANCYL in the province to court. The sentiment by Morweng is frivolous and leaves much to be desired.

“He deliberately misleads the ANCYL membership populace and society in an attempt to tarnish the name of the ANC PEC. This might be a serious act because it lacks a factual basis.”

Maruping said the matter was between the former ANCYL PCPC members and the alleged bogus ANCYL PEC. He said it is true that, as the spokesperson, he was indeed one of the applicants by a virtue of him being a former member of the ANCYL PCPC.

“What Morweng is not explaining in his unfortunate statement is that this matter has been in court before the ANC provincial elective conference, where I was later elected as the spokesperson.

“The ANC consider this allegation seriously as it misrepresents the truth and seeks to drive a certain narrative, which only Morweng knows and may be required to clarify to the organisation,” said Maruping.

It is alleged that the ANC provincial leadership is currently intervening to resolve the gridlock caused by a factional conflict in its lower structure.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A fraud case against Thinus Becker (61) was postponed by the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on 21 September 2022. It is alleged that, Becker defrauded farmers’ cattle worth R4 million.

The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said the accused was summoned to appear in court following the finalisation of investigations by the Hawks’ Commercial Crime Investigation unit.

“It is alleged that Becker, who was a representative of Vleissentraal Auction in Klerksdorp, allegedly took cattle from farmers and gave the farmers false invoices.

“He allegedly sold the cattle at an auction under his name, where he allegedly made approximately R4 million, however he never paid the farmers for their cattle,” she said.

Rikhotso said the accused was charged with ten counts of fraud and the matter was postponed to 23 November 2022.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Heads are expected to roll at the North West Department of Health after delays that affected the completion of the R130 million Sekhing Community Health Centre project in Sekhing village near Taung.

The project was advertised in 2012, but was marred by challenges after the previous contractor declared insolvency. Now, the department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said they were forced to remove another contractor after he failed dismally to complete the project. 

This left residents with no choice but to seek medical attention at the nearest healthcare facilities, which are more than 15km away.

“As the department, we will institute an in-depth investigation to find the culprits that held up the project and heads will roll accordingly. So, without any reservations, we are disappointed with ourselves in terms of how this project has gone.

“Of course, part of the disappointment will be directed to the contractors that we appointed. You’ll remember that, since the time the project started, we have been changing contractors,” he said.

Lekgethewane further said, some of the contractors could not continue with the project and requested to relinquish the responsibility because of their financial constraints. He said they have visited the project recently in order to get a sense of whether the resolutions that were made in July 2022 are being implemented.

“It is disappointing to find out that there are now legal issues marring the project. These legal issues are impeding the department and the legal advice we have received warned us that, if we go ahead and appoint another contractor to complete the project, which will take only two months, we will be sued.

“However, there are processes already in place to remove the contractor who has failed dismally to deliver the project. There are immediate challenges that are not only facing the department, but the community,” Lekgethwane said.

He added that one of these critical issues is access to healthcare. Lekgethwane said they have taken a cautious decision with the risk of being sued by allowing some of the services to be rendered at the facility.  

“You will remember that we had to open some part of the facility to create a vaccination site because of COVID-19. So, we think that the community of Sekhing has been patient enough with us and we cannot continue to come up with the same story over and over again.

“We decided that primary healthcare services should be rendered at the facility. What the management has decided after getting a report was to bring a mobile station to the vicinity of Sekhing to be used. Secondly, we will bring a doctor to operate from there,” said Lekgethwane.

Meanwhile, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said: “The right to have access to health care services is a basic human right guaranteed by the constitution. Section 27 of the constitution provides that everyone has the right to have access to health care services, including reproductive health care services and no one may be refused emergency medical treatment.

“The constitution and the National Health Act 61 of 2003 (as amended) envisage a single health system for South Africa. However, in addition to public healthcare, a number of private healthcare service providers exist in the country.”

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Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Lefapha la Boitekanelo mo Bokone Bophirima le kaile fa thendara e ene e tshwanetswe ke go ka phatlhaladiwa mabapi le go ka baakanya kliniki ya kwa motseng wa Manthe mono Taung e sekegilwe nakwana.

Go ya ka sebueledi sa lefapha, Tebogo Lekgethwane, tshwetso eno e tshotswe morago ga gore go nne le dikgogakgogano marageng ga baagi le lefapha. Go begwa fa dithulelo tsa mogare ga kliniki (ceilings) diwele, mme le mantlwana-boithusetso a sa dire.

Baagi ba ne ba ikuela mo lefapheng go ka baakanya kliniki eno, gonne e sa sireletsega go ka dirisiwa ke baagi. Mokwaledi wa foramo ya kgwebo o bidiwang, Bagwebi Baga-Maidi Business Council, Lebone More are, ba ne ba ikgolaganya le kantoro ya mokhuduthamaga wa lefapha, Madoda Sambatha go latela ditletlebo tsa baagi.

E ne ya re dikgwedi dile pedi tse difetileng, lefapha lene la romela badiri ba lone go kopana le baagi le go ba neela tshedimosetso mabapi le ditlankana tsa thendara go tswa kwa lefapha.

Fela, kopano eno, ene e seka ya bona maungo a namatshang gonne baagi ba ne ba kaya fa ba sa itumelele dintlha-kaelo dingwe mo setlankaneng sa thendara.  

Baagi ba ne ba kopa gore badiri bao ba lefapha ba boele morago, mme ba baakanye ditlankaelo tseo pele ba boela kwa go bone.

“Ga jaana lefapha le tshotse tshwetso ya go ka itirela tiro eno, gonne go tla re tsaya nako go nna re ntse reya kwa pele le kwa morago. Jaanong se re tlileng go se dira ke gore, re na le di artisans mo ditheo tsa rona jaaka ko bookelong jwa kgaolo jwa Taung, ga mmogo le kwa Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital kwa Vryburg.

“Gona le dilo tse re naganang gore di ka dirwa ka bonako ntle le tiego. Tse dingwe tsa tsone ke dithulelo (ceilings) jaaka re di bone diwele kwa kliniking ya Manthe. Jaaka lefapha, re itemogetse gape fa mantlwa-boithusetso a mangwe a sa tlhole a dira,” Lekgethwane wa tlhalosa.

O kaile gape fa lefapha le tshotse tshwetso ya go reka dilo tse di tlhokegang mo go baakanyeng sengwe le sengwe se se senyegileng, mme batla tsaya badiri (artisans) ba bone go ya go dira tiro eo.

Lekgethwane are, kgang ya thendara e tla dirwa, mme go melao le melawana e tshwanetswe ya salwe morago. Are, go botlhokwa gore go thibiwe boatla pele fa go sentse go letilwe kgang ya thendara.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A case of fraud against four accused, Norton Carld Howard (43), Charles Moses Howard (56), Jezeral Selvin (39), and Kenshia Charlene Howard (36) was postponed until 3 November 2022. Four accused briefly appeared before the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

It is alleged that, in April 2010, Norton Howard fraudulently used Kallies Business Enterprise CC credentials to bid for a tender advertised by Anglo American, which is Kathu Khumba Iron Ore. As a result of misrepresentation, Howard was awarded the tender for plant maintenance.

The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Capt Tebogo Thebe said: “It is alleged that in August 2018, Howard made a misrepresentation to CIPC. He submitted another fraudulent resolution to CIPC that the members of Kallies Enterprise resigned.

“As a result, the membership of the close corporation was amended, where the father and siblings of the suspect were added as new members of the entity. The prejudice to the complainant is R61 million.”

Thebe said Howard was granted R50 000 bail, whereas the other accused were released on R30 000 bail each. He said the matter was postponed for further investigation.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The much-anticipated Taung Cultural Calabash will be held on 15 October 2022. The Mmabana Foundation said this is in order to protect the integrity of the programme and ensure successful implementation.

The annual event was established in 1994 as a celebration of cultures and coincided with the democratic elections in the country. The Taung Cultural Calabash started as a one-day event and soon found a sponsor in the Transnet Foundation that enabled it to grow and bear fruit.

Soon the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) through the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture came on board as a funder and enabled the event to prosper and grow.

However, the four-day event was marred with maladministration, corruption and mismanagement of funds over the years. This prompted the Transnet Foundation to stop funding it.

Now, the North West Department of Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport has budgeted R4 million to revitalise the event.

The Mmabana Foundation spokesperson, Kelebogile Modiselle said: “We chose that date to avoid incurring any potential fruitless and wasteful expenditure and to afford the Service Provider sufficient time for preparations.

“Taung Cultural Calabash Provincial Competitions, which are a developmental platform for artists will be hosted on the 23 September 2022 to select overall provincial winners, who rewarded in accordance with the set thresholds.”

Modiselle said Mmabana Foundation aims at nurturing, developing and promoting artistic talent in the province. She further said they also aim to create platforms for artists to demonstrate their exceptional capabilities.

“Taung Cultural Calabash is a flagship programme implemented by Mmabana, Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation and is historically implemented in the heritage month of September given its nature.

“We have already advertised a bid (tender) for the management of the programme and internal processes have been finalised. So, the appointment of the service provider is being concluded after thorough bid evaluation, adjudication and quality review process,” she said.

Modiselle added that, in order to realise their legislated mandate of artistic talent development, the district auditions for the 2022 Taung Cultural Calabash were successfully held across the province with a total of 965 participants.

According to Modiselle, a total of 210 visuals and performing artists who took position one in their various categories at their district auditions, qualified to proceed to the Taung Cultural Calabash Provincial Competitions (developmental programme), which will be held at Mmabana Taung on 23 September 2022.

“We have 57 in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, 56 from Dr Kenneth Kaunda, 49 in Bojanala and 48 in Ngaka Modiri Molema 48. The management of the entity would like to thank all stakeholders in advance, and will ensure that the 2022 Taung Cultural Calabash lives up to the expectations,” she said.

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Ka KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Baagi ba rotlwediwa go ikela tlhoko le go itlhokomela kgatlhanong le ba ba dinalanyana, mme ba tsweletsa bogodu ka mokgwa wa tsietso. Seno se tla morago ga gore banna ba le babedi ba ba magareng ga dingwaga dile 22 le 49 batshwarwe kwa Kuruman ka Mosupulogo.

Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi la lephata la dipatlisiso jwa bogodu jo bo rulagantsweng, The Hawks kwa Kapa Bokone, mokaptein Tebogo Thebe are go begwa fa banna bano, ba tsieditse monna mongwe matsebe-tsebe a diranta di ka nna R350 000.

“Go begwa fa balatofadiwa ba, bane ba supetsa monna o matsebetsebe a diranta a eseng a nnete le go mo kaela fa madi gagwe a tla ntsifala fa a ka tlisa kwa go bone. Go ya ka dipatlisiso, balatofadiwa ba ne ba dira ga mmogo le ngaka nngwe ya setso.

“Go begwa fa ene ya re yo go bona matsebetsebe a diranta, monna yo one a itokolola kwa tirong le go rekisa sejanaga sa gagwe, mme a neela balatofadiwa madi ao. Go ya ka dibego, monna yo, one a ya go kopa thuso kwa sepodising morago ga go lemoga fa a tsieditswe,” Thebe wa tlhalosa.

Go ya ka Thebe, balatofadiwa ba ne ba tshwarwa mo metseletseleng ya dipatlisiso tse di neng di boloditswe ke sepodisi. Thebe are, sepodisi sene sa gapa ditlankana tse di dirisitsweng go ka dira madi a eseng a nnete ga mmogo le megala ya letheka ya banna bano.

“Go begwa fa ngaka ya setso yone e ile ya lebotsa phokoje, fela sepodisi se kaya fa sele mo motlhaleng wa gagwe. Balotofadiwa ba solofetswe go tlhagelela kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Kuruman ka Laboraro,” Thebe wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, tlhogo ya lephata la sepodisi la The Hawks kwa Kapa Bokone, Major General Kholekile Galawe o kopile baagi go ikela tlhoko gonne matsatsi a khunulogo a setse a atamela, mme seo se dira gore ditsietso di ntsifale.  

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

More than 400 suspects were nabbed during suspect raiding operations executed on 15 and 16 September 2022. North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said 277 suspects were arrested for assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and assault common.

Myburgh said other arrests include 26 for common robbery, 9 for rape, 32 for contravention of protection orders, 31 for burglary residential, 10 for business burglary, 10 for possession of suspected stolen goods, 7 for murder, and 8 for stock theft, while others were apprehended for many other offenses.

“The suspects were arrested at all four districts in the province and they appeared at various courts on 16 and 19 September 2022,” she said.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena said: “We would like to laud detectives and point out that the arrests will certainly send a clear message that those who perpetrate crime, will be traced and brought to book.”

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By REGINALD KANYANE

Various stakeholders believe that commercialisation of cannabis will be a burgeoning opportunity for economic growth. The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development held a much-anticipated two-day hybrid Cannabis Lekgotla at North West University in Mahikeng.

The North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono said the aim of the Cannabis Lekgotla was to ensure that the Cannabis Master Plan finds space in agriculture transformation in the province.

She said the event was widely welcomed and appreciated by various cannabis advocacy groups, which amongst them included the Cannabis Council of South Africa, the Rastafarians formations, traditional leaders, academics, interest groups, and individuals as well as farmers.

“This event was the first of its kind in the province and our objective was to discuss the way forward on the rollout of the National Cannabis Master Plan and engage on the economic purpose of commercialisation and development of the herb.

“The department provides a stark reminder that every avenue to create employment and fight poverty must be pursued. This will also allow businesses to grow, emerge and thrive while using the capabilities of the state to create a conducive environment for farmers,” she said.

Mohono further said, this is a dream come true for people of the North West because they too, deserve to benefit from the value chain of this herb. She added that, as government, they always appreciate the direct, considered, and constructive approach that higher institutions of learning take in responding to the challenges facing the country.

“That is why we saw it fit as government to rope in the North West University (NWU) in particular, looking at their research output, which is amongst the best in the entire country.

“This Lekgotla unlocked many opportunities through commissions and the education drive. Going forward, we will march to our traditional leaders as the department in forging a partnership and making sure that our people in communal land are not left behind by the train of this economic hub,” said Mohono.

Meanwhile, the North West University Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Dr Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka said: “We must all work with the government to assist in the review of policy and regulatory framework that will fast-track the industrialisation of hemp and cannabis towards the realisation of economic investment and job creation.

“So, the NWU is ready to contribute towards the implementation of the National Cannabis Master Plan to unlock the economic potential of rural communities.”

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