By OBAKENG MAJE

Football was the winner during Olehile Sports Club Top 8 Soccer Tournament this past weekend in Manokwane village near Taung. The unmatched tournament celebrated 10 years anniversary in style by giving both participants and spectators the experience of belonging to something larger than themselves.

The ABC Motsepe League participants, Taung Mega Stars FC were crowned as 2022 champions after walloping the buoyed Queenspark Rangers from Manthe village 5-3 in penalties.

It was a few minutes before halftime when Kamogelo ‘Sonini’ Owesi (23) opened a goal-scoring chart for Mega Stars FC when he capitalised on Kone ‘Neymar’ Motimeng’s mistake and hit a cracker that left the Queenspark Rangers FC goalie, Katlego ‘Makgasa’ Tikane in no man’s land.    

However, the hard-wired Queenspark Rangers FC showed resilience and came back stronger in the second half. They fought like wounded lions and they were rewarded in the dying minutes, when their lucky charm player, Tebogo ‘Kwinya’ Leboa scored a goal to level the matter and takes the match to penalties.

Even though Taung Mega Stars FC benefitted from a referee’s controversial decision during penalties, their coach, Keaobaka Makoloi welcomed their win.  Makoloi said the game provided an unparalleled model for dealing with disappointment and misfortune.

“I am happy that we won and you know football is a game of opinions. So, one can never control how people express their views. However, the fact remains, that people will always have something to say.

“Whether it is in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), UEFA, or any way of that matter, you will find people thinking that referee could have done better. Yes, there are things that we can call out that the referee did not do well, but at the end of the day, football is the winner,” he said.

Makoloi further said they have played under the simple thing that referee’s decision is final. He added that they have been into the finals of this tournament three times in a row and also lost under controversial decisions.  

“When God says it’s your time, no one can stop it. So, if it was not our day, it would not have turned out that way. So, psychologically, this tournament was very good preparation for our team because I have young players here.

“They are still new and have never played in front of this magnitude. Remember, this coming season, supporters are coming back to the stadiums, so it is going to be massive. We must never undermine the quality of this tournament, as we played against a very good team in the final,” said Makoloi.

The disappointed Queenspark Rangers FC coach, Mmoloki “Tsiki-Tsiki” Batlang said: “I am happy that football was the winner at the end of the day as both teams played well. They displayed good quality of football and yah…eish, I think organisers need to improve on the issue of refereeing because what we have seen here does not augur well for a tournament of this magnitude.

“However, we have lost to the best team and I wish them good luck in their endeavours. So, congratulations to coach Makoloi, and I think he needed this more than us, as he is preparing for the league.”

Meanwhile, the Olehile Sports Club chairperson, Oduetse Kgorabocwe applauded all stakeholders and the unwavering support the tournament continues to receive.

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Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Baithuti ba sekolo se se golwane sa Mokgareng gaufi le Taung, ba ne ba tsenetse tirelo ya thapelo kwa sekolong sa bone mo letsatsing la Labotlhano. Seno se tla morago ga gore mogokaganyi kwa Taung Annual Gospel Festival (TAGF), Tshidi Moreane, a rulaganye tirelo eno.

Moreane o kaile fa tiriso e botlhatswa ya diritibatsi ga mmogo le nnotagi, e mo rotlweditse go ka tla ka porogorama eno ya toga-maano.

“Gore re feleletse re tlile ka porogorama e, re itemogetse mathata a mantsi a basha ba rona ba ba iphitlhelang ba samagana le one. Re lemogile fa bontsi bo iphitlhela bo wela mo serai sa go ka dirisa diritibatsi ga mmogo le tiriso e botlhatswa ya nnotagi.

“Jaanong gole ga ntsi, ke bana ba dikolo ba ba fitlhelang ba amegile. Maikaelelo a rona ke go ka ba tsibosa ka tiriso eno e botlhatswa ya dilo tse, gonne ba feleletsa ba iphitlhela ba tsene ka ntlo-lehitshwana,” Moreane wa tlhalosa.

Gape o kaile fa ba leka ka bojotlhe go ka busetsa serodumo mo magareng ga basha. Moreane are, jaaka Afrika Borwa e keteka kgwedi ya bomme, ba tsweletse go nna kgatlhanong le tshotlakako ya bomme le bana.

“Tshotlakako ya basadi le bana ke tlhoba boroko mo setshabeng sa rona. Jaanong jaaka TAGF, re ka rata go ka rotlwetsa thata borre gore le bone ba eme ka dinao, mme ba tseye karolo mo go fediseng tshotlakako ya bosadi le bana.

“Porogorama e, e tlile go tswelela kwa dikolo ka go farologaneng go ralala Taung. Mme kemo-nokeng ya lona ka kakaretso e botlhokwa. A re emeng ka dinao go ka aga setshaba se se nang le ponelo-pele,” Moreane a re jalo.  

Mokgogo wa sekolo, Mphato Melamu are porogorama e, e tlile go ba thusa thata, mme ebile bokao jwa yone bo setse bo bonagala. Melamu a re o nagana fa mongwe le mongwe yo a leng teng ka kwano, a kgona go bona diphetogo mo seemong sa baithuti, gonne go bontsha fa ba tlhatswegile mo moweng.  

“Se, ga se tirelo ya ntlha e e tsweleditsweng ka kwano, gonne re le barutabana, re tlhaloganya gore bana ba tla dula ba ntse ba na le makoa a bone. Jaanong jaaka re le batsadi, re tshwanetse gore re ba eme nokeng go fitlhela ba fetoga mo ditseleng tsa bone tse ba di tsayang tse di sa siamang.

“Ke tla rata thata go ka rotlwetsa batsadi go ka tswelela fela jalo ka go nkema nokeng. Re leka ka bojotlhe, gonne seemo se fetogile mo sekolong sa rona. Go ne go na le baithuti ba ba neng ba dirisa diritibatsi. Fela, kene ka dula le bone mo fatshe, mme ra tla ka tharabololo,” Melamu wa tlhalosa.

Are go fitlha ga jaana, phapang e ntsi thata mo ebileng bontsi jwa baithuti ba fetogile. Melamu are gona le bana ba ba tswang kwa malapeng a sa itsholelang, mme ba tshotse tshwetso ya go ba thusa.

Mopresidente wa baithuti kwa sekolong, Amantle Wanyane (16) are: “Tiriso e botlhatswa ya diritibatsi ke tlhoba boroko mo baithuting ba rona mo sekolong. Diritibatsi tseo di dirisiwa thata ke baithuti ba basimane, jaanong  seo se ama tiragatso ya sekolo.

“Jaanong go bona gona le tirelo ya thapelo mo sekolong sa rona, re tshepa fa e tla tlisa phapang gonne re tla itse se se molemo le bosula go tloga ga jaana. Ga o le botlhale o le ngwana o utlwa, o tla itse gore sengwe le sengwe se o se dirang sena le ditla-morago.”

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

A fraud case against the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in North West, Betty Diale was postponed by the Rustenburg Regional Court until 29 August 2022.

A 52-year-old politician is facing six charges of theft amounting to approximately R700 000 allegedly stolen from the Road Accident Fund(RAF) claimants. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame, police reports reveal that Fidelity Funds, a body that oversees the conduct of attorneys, received several complaints from the RAF claimants, whose payments were deposited into Diale’s trust account.

“The claimants alleged that the said money did not reach them, after the pay-out and henceforth, reported to the police for investigation. Diale was practicing as an attorney during the alleged commission of the crimes between 2009 and 2011 and was subsequently charged with six counts of theft in June 2021.

“The Legal Practice Council has struck her off the roll, preventing her from practicing as an attorney. The state will engage with Diale’s attorney on the negotiations, although it is unknown what the negotiations are about at this stage,” Mamothame said.

He said the matter was set for a pre-trial, however, Diale’s defense attorney indicated to the court that, they intend to enter into negotiations with the state about the charges. Mamothame said the state did not oppose the postponement.  

Diale is out on a warning and has been cautioned not to interfere with the state witnesses.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Residents of Lokgabeng village and neighbouring areas in Taung call on the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality to provide them with clean and drinkable water. This comes after taps dried up three weeks ago and left them penurious.

One of the residents, Masego Megalanyane said the water scarcity in their area affects their well-being. Megalanyane said, they cannot do their laundry accordingly because of the situation they find themselves in.

“We are forced to pay those who have donkey carts to go and fetch water for us. We urge the municipality to do something about the situation. The taps are dry and we do not have money to pay as mostly we are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“Imagine paying R20 per bucket, while some of us are unemployed. As a community, we have tried by all means to engage with the councillor, but we received no joy. We urge the municipality to ensure that Sedibeng Water carries out its mandate as a water provider,” she said.

Another resident, Nomvula Sokupha in Ditompong Section shared the same sentiments. Sokupha said this has a bad impact on their livelihoods as they are forced to walk miles before they could have access to clean drinkable water.

The executive mayor at the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Motseokae Sense Maje said the municipality is aware of the situation and they are working on it.

Maje said the delays were caused by Eskom after cutting its services due to the account being in arrears. 

“The municipality owes Sedibeng Water R635 million, which is historical debt. The situation cut across the region and there is a mechanism in place to resolve it. 

“We were informed timeously that Eskom will cut off its services to our water sources because of the account being in arrears. However, we did intervene timeously to make sure that the situation is abated by working together with Sedibeng Water and Eskom,” he said. 

Maje further said the situation was affected by load shedding and water provision was affected. He added the water reservoirs were at a low level and most systems do not have backup generators. 

“We are working together with Sedibeng Water and Magalies Water to finalise the millions of rands debts owed to Sedibeng Water. There is a process where we acknowledge that we are in debt to them and this will ensure that some of their invoices are validated. 

“There is an amount, which is a historical debt that was put in the books of the municipality by another authority. But we are in the process of ironing out those issues,” said Maje. 

He said they have committed that the current invoices will have to be audited as a matter of urgency to ensure that, while they are addressing the arrears, these ones do not fall into the same situation of arrears that we inherited.       

Meanwhile, Mchunu who visited the North West a few months this week said: “Water supply should be at the peak of the province’s service delivery and that all communities should be supplied with clean water.

“There will be a review of water boards broadly and the disestablishment of the Sedibeng Water Board, which has been servicing a bigger part of the North West. At the moment, Magalies Water has been identified as the water board that will in future supply water to the province,” Mchunu said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A case of business robbery against three men was postponed to 10 August 2022 by Taung Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Belcarid Salvadon Malate (39), Mosimanegape John Sebolao (49), and Monnapula Tshabadira (29) were arrested during a business robbery at Shoprite in Taung on Monday.

According to the North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen, the police in Taung received a call of a business robbery in progress as Shoprite was about to close.

“The Community Service Centre and Crime Prevention Unit members were immediately dispatched to this scene. Upon arrival at the scene of the crime, the police found three suspects who were about to exit the store.

“The suspects were immediately arrested and the stolen property was confiscated. A case of business robbery was opened and the suspects appeared in the Taung Magistrate’s Court on 3 August 2022,” van Rooyen said.

The magistrate postponed the case for a formal bail application and also for accused number 2, Malate to get a foreign language interpreter. Sebolao and Malate alleged that they were assaulted by police during the arrested and that led them to suffer injuries.

The magistrate also instructed the investigating officer, Kemoletile Samuel Paul to take them to Taung District Hospital for medical attention.

Meanwhile, the acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Tshenolo Tlotleng lauded the police for their swift response, which led to the arrests of these suspects.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said his department will continue to strengthen accountability in the way government resources are utilised. This follows the release of the Auditor General (AG) report on vote 3 concerning the department’s audit outcome.

Sambatha said, in terms of the report, the AG indicated that, the financial statements which comprise appropriate statement and financial position as of 31 March 2022 was audited.

“The audit also covered financial performance, statement of net changes in net assets, cash flow statement for the year that ended as well as notes to the financial statements. So, congratulations to all managers and programs, that contributed to our unqualified audit outcomes.

“Well done to the SG and the executive team, please keep the performance at the same level. I encourage you to work for improvement instead of decline. While there are still some internal control deficiencies identified, there is a need to strengthen oversight,” he said.

Sambatha added: “I am confident that, we are on the right track and there is a need to deal effectively with the weaknesses that have been identified by the audit. Our risk management, audit committees, and internal audits will require special attention.

“This way, we will be able to pick up any audit issue and address it even before the AG audits the department. The implementation of post audit action plan remains a priority for our department and we will rally all our managers behind this important task.”

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A murder and inquest case has been opened by police in Letlhabile near Brits after a man allegedly stabbed his grandmother, Elsie Matlhasedi (70) to death and kill himself afterward.

According to the North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani, Matlhasedi’s son allegedly found the lifeless body of his mother lying in a pool of blood at their home at Tambo Section, in Maboloka village outside Letlhabile near Brits on Monday.

“The son of the deceased allegedly found his nephew standing next to the lifeless body of his mother with a knife. As a result, the uncle called the police and the suspect, who allegedly stabbed his granny multiple times, fled the scene.

“The suspect allegedly stabbed himself with a knife and eventually fell on the ground in a bushy area, while being chased by the uncle. The motive for the killing is still unknown,” Funani said.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena condemn the incident and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe said, he will continue to wage a war against ‘periods poverty’, especially in schools. 

This comes after Gaoraelwe’s office, donated over 2 400 sanitary pads to various schools across Taung through the ‘Keep A Girl Child in School’ initiative.

He said the lack of sanitary pads makes it difficult for girls to attend school. It is estimated that 3 out of 10 girls in South Africa miss school during their periods each month.

“We have donated 2 400 sanitary pads to seven different schools across Taung. As the municipality, we were assisted by the North West Department of Education and Social Development for school identification purposes.

“We have realised that, there is a need for this initiative after disturbing reports of female learners’ absenteeism in schools due to poor access to sanitary products. Most of them cite lack of sanitary pads as a reason for their absenteeism.

“The initiative emanates from the GTLM mayoral cup event, where we have requested all affiliated teams to donate a bulk of sanitary pads as registration for the event. This will be an annual initiative and remember, lack of sanitary pads sometimes forces girls to use unhygienic materials, while others decide to stay at home,” he said.

The Tamasikwa Secondary School principal, Kenalemang Lehihi applauded the municipality. Lehihi said the intervention will reduce the burden of menstruation for school girls.

“We are very happy and fortunate enough to receive sanitary pads from the municipality. This will assist learners to concentrate, because just last week Friday, we had a Grade 12 learner, who was absent from school because she had no sanitary pads.

“I have also received a call from Chabalala Optometrist, where they commit to donating sanitary pads to the school too. So, we need to work together in ensuring that periods poverty is alleviated,” she said.

One of the learners who benefitted from this initiative, Tshepiso Selebogo (16) said: “I feel honoured to receive sanitary pads because some of us come from disadvantaged backgrounds. I stay with my grandmother because my parents stay in Choseng village, near Pudimoe,” she said.

A Grade 12 learner, Nametsang Tshipenyane (17), who also received the sanitary pads shared the same sentiments. Tshipenyane said, this initiative will come in handy and assist many learners, who sometimes miss school because of poor access to sanitary pads.

Meanwhile, Dr Marlin McKay, a medical healthcare practitioner and owner of Goldman Medicine Centre, who has over 28 years of experience in the private family practice told Parents24 that, access to sanitary towels is critical because having a period without sanitary towels at school can impact the girl’s long term social and economic activities.

“Lack of sanitary pads can also force girls to use unhygienic material such as cow dung, leaves, newspaper, and dirty cloth. We need to acknowledge that menstruation is a natural and biological function that people did not choose to have to happen to their bodies.

“Thus society must ensure that girls, women, and menstruators can experience their periods with dignity. If we do not ensure that ‘period poverty’ is ended, we will be perpetuating a culture of silence that forces many to cope in isolation,” she highlighted.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A teacher at Kebinelang Secondary School in Manthe village near Taung is under siege over assault allegations. It is alleged that, a teacher, Katlego Moncho assaulted a Grade 9 learner, Thomo Gaoboihe on 28 July 2022 during break time.

North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “The teacher saw some learners still hanging at the toilets, while the break was over. He then approached them and cautioned them about time.

“Other learners ran to the classrooms, however, Gaoboihe was immovable and did not carry the instruction. He was also wearing a red cap, which the teacher told him to take it off, but he refused.”

Malindi further said the learner started to become unruly and insulted the teacher. He added that the teacher forced the learner to go to the principal’s office.

“The learner alleged that the teacher manhandled him, Moncho refuted the allegations. So, our labour relations will investigate the matter in due course,” he said.

In March 2022, a learner (14) from the Living Faith Private School in Mahikeng, allegedly committed suicide after corporal punishment was handed to him. The deceased and another learner were allegedly fighting in class and the teacher who intervened took both of them to the staff room, where corporal punishment was practiced in full view of other teachers.

The learner went home, where he later committed suicide by hanging himself with a rope. In 1996, the South African Schools Act, under Section 10 banned the use of corporal punishment in schools. Despite the ban on corporal punishment 26 years ago, teachers are still hitting children at school.

Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) in North West said drastic measures should be taken against educators who continue to use corporal punishment against learners.

The COSAS president, Thabang Mokoena said: “Corporal punishment has a negative impact on learners. So, as COSAS, we are not happy to see that these cases are not resolved. We are aware that corporal punishment is still being practiced in various schools.

“This is happening and the department is turning a blind eye. We are saying to the department, we are fed up. Learners are being beaten in schools and nothing has been done. There are safety summits, which are held year in and year out to discuss such issues, but nothing has changed.”

Mokwena further said, what the department is doing is only ‘pep-talk’ with no implementation. He added that, the documents from previous safety summits are archived and continue to gather dust, while learners continue to be subjected to corporal punishment.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Three suspects aged 29, 39, and 45 are expected to appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for a business robbery at Shoprite in Taung. According to the North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen, the police in Taung received a call of a business robbery in progress as Shoprite was about to close.

“The Community Service Centre and Crime Prevention Unit members were immediately dispatched to this scene. Upon arrival at the scene of the crime, the police found three suspects who were about to exit the store.

“The suspects were immediately arrested and the stolen property was confiscated. A case of business robbery was opened and the suspects are due to appear in the Taung Magistrate’s Court on 3 August 2022,” van Rooyen said.

Meanwhile, the acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Tshenolo Tlotleng lauded the police for their swift response, which led to the arrests of these suspects.

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