By OBAKENG MAJE

The disgruntled Teaching and General Assistants at Madipelesa Primary School in Taung alleged that the school principal, Eva Bolokang has illegally deducted money from their salaries.  

This comes after these Teaching and General Assistants allegedly continued to receive R350 social grants, while employed by the government and failed to declare. One of the disgruntled Teacher Assistants, Goitsemang Lepang (31) alleged that the principal has already deducted R875 from her salary without her permission and now threatens to fire her when she demands her money back.

“I was not aware that supposed to declare that I am still receiving an R350  grant. She continuously deducts money from our salaries without our permission.

“We are not even sure if that money has been deposited back into the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) account or not. I have two children and also stay with my mother and I am the only one working in the house,” she said.

Lepang alleged that the school still owes her R3400 salary for January and March 2022 and they will embark on a protest to demand their money back.  

Another teacher assistant, Xoli Bosman shared the same sentiments. Bosman (29) alleged that the principal has illegally deducted R1750 at once from his salary.

“The principal was supposed to come up with a better strategy to deduct the money rather than taking it at once. It is so sad that the initiative was supposed to alleviate unemployment, but we are still plunged into poverty.

“The method used to repay the R350 grants is not working in our favour. I was not aware that, I was supposed to declare that I am still getting an R350 grant. So, I feel like the principal has put us under duress and threatened to fire us if we do not cooperate,” he said.

The North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said there is nothing sinister with what the principal has done because she has acted in line with the department’s rules and regulations.

Malindi said school principals should ensure that teacher assistants sign an acknowledgement letter of debt reflecting the chosen option and confirmation of receiving the grants.

“They should also provide a list of all teacher assistants who have signed the acknowledgement letter of debt to the circuit office. Principals, based on the option chosen by the teacher assistants, deduct the amount from the stipend prior to processing the stipend as per the chosen option.

“The school elect the option to transfer the recovered/reimbursed amounts by either transferring the recovered funds to the Provincial Education Department

(PED) bank account or the PED withhold the total recovered/reimbursement from future transfers to the school,” he said.

Malindi said then the school will inform the circuit of the option they have elected for the payment of the recovered amounts.

Meanwhile, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) said in a statement that 288 000 young people across the country have benefitted from this Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI).

Minister of DBE, Angie Motshekgwa spokesperson, Hope Mokgatlhe said the initiative has given hope to many young South Africans. Mokgatlhe said it has also set them on a path of self-discovery and awareness.

“Many have spoken about how this has been a life-changing experience for them. It has given them a sense of appreciation of what it is like to be involved in something whose outcome and impact are far-reaching and long-lasting.

“Many have spoken about how they never imagined themselves working with children or being a teacher. But, their involvement in the PYEI has encouraged them to take up teaching as a career,” she said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Most public healthcare centres in North West do not have medicines such as antiretrovirals (ARVs). The detailed report released by the Ritshidze organisation painted a grim picture and showed that North West is lagging behind in extending the supply of ARVs. 

The report revealed that just 6% of people living with HIV interviewed reported three-month ART refills — compared to 25% in the same reporting period last year.

The project manager at Ritshidze organisation, Ngqabutho Mpofu said, their detailed report into the state of the public healthcare system in the North West found improvement in certain indicators and deterioration in others over the last year. 

He said this impact the overall quality of HIV, Tuberculosis (TB), and other health services.

“The report is based on the results of data collected through Ritshidze’s community-led monitoring of 13 facilities in the province together with additional data collected at 57 facilities by Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Stop Stock-outs Project and Ritshidze related to stock-outs.

“The 2022 report identifies challenges that discourage people from going to the clinic for HIV, TB, and other health services. Despite the improvement, stock-outs still persist. This year, there were 398 reports of different medicines, contraceptives, and vaccines being out of stock in total across 57 facilities,” Mpofu said.

He further said 26% of patients said, they or someone they knew had left the facility without the medicines they needed. According to Mpofu, North West has scored worst across all provinces monitored on this indicator.

He added that, even though the waiting times have improved, but remain long.

“More than 91% of public healthcare users interviewed think that waiting times are still long and 64% of those people blamed staff shortages for the long hours waiting. While marginal improvement has been identified in staffing levels in the last year — from 0% of facility managers reporting enough staff last year, up to 15% this year — this remains a very high proportion of understaffed sites.

“Also index testing is always meant to be voluntary, yet worryingly. More than 36% of respondents reported that they could not refuse to give the contacts,” Mpofu said. 

He said, worse, while every precaution should be taken to not put people at risk of violence, 34% of respondents were not asked if their partners had any risk of violence, despite national guidelines mandating this process. 

Mpofu said the report also showed that only 20% of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, 9% of people who use drugs, 14% of sex workers, and 14% of transgender people reported being offered PrEP at the facility. Mpofu said, however, that only 9% of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, 12% of people who use drugs, 5% of sex workers, and 4% of transgender people said they could access lubricants.

“The inadequate space also continues to be a challenge as 92% of facility managers interviewed reported needing more space for waiting areas, filing systems, and rooms for private HIV counseling/testing and medical care,” he said.

 Meanwhile, the North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “The department is aware of the issues raised in that report. Those are the issues that we have been dealing with since section 100 (1) (b) intervention. These are the issues that were highlighted as areas of intervention and there has been progressing on them, particularly in regard to medication stock-out.

“At the beginning of section 100 (1) (b), the situation was far worse than it is now. So, there have been a lot of improvements in terms of the availability of medication. Of course, there have been challenges with some of the service providers that have put the department on hold because of some monies owed to them.”

Lekgethwane said, however, that a lot of service providers have been paid and they are beginning to see an improvement. He said the issue of long queues, is linked to the availability of staff, but there had been a lot of improvement as they have recruited over 3000 healthcare professionals recently.  

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The parents of learners at Morokweng Primary School near Ganyesa said, they will continue to barricade the school entrance until the North West Department of Education heeds their call. The parents demand a new school as they alleged that the old school building has dilapidated.

One of the parents, Albert Mosiu said the school is not in good condition and they will not allow their children to continue to use the building. Mosiu said the building is dilapidating, while the roof is collapsing. 

“Since we requested the department to build a new school many years ago. However, our plea has fallen on deaf ears, so we will continue to disrupt teaching and learning because of the state the school finds itself in.

“Our department does not care about the well-being of our children. No child should be subjected to what our children find themselves in. This is just a ticking bomb that is waiting to befell on them,” he said.

However, another parent, Monica Modise has a different view. Modise said even though other parents raised valid points, it is worrisome that the future of the children is being adversely affected through the denial of their constitutional right to education.

“If this continues, it could impact negatively on the economic, social, and cultural development of the area. No child should be prevented from accessing his or her right to education in the new democratic South Africa. 

“This is in line with the provisions of Section 29 of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution, which unequivocally states that everyone has the right to a basic education including adult basic education, So, I call on other parents to review their decision,” she said.

Learning and teaching have not taken place since the winter break. 

Meanwhile, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elis Malindi said: “It is true that parents have closed and locked school gates demanding a new school building. The department is aware of school building conditions and the school is on the priority list for building.

“However, parents need construction to get off the ground with immediate effect. The school was provided with 11 mobile classrooms and the sub-district requested parents to allow for platooning, (which is possible) but they refuse and demand the commencement of building new buildings with immediate effect.”

Malindi further said school buildings can still be used, whilst waiting for the new building.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A-30-YEAR-OLD man from Ikageng village near Taung has been arrested for suspected Methaqualone (Mandrax) tablets, Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) and an undisclosed amount of money in his possession during crime prevention operations conducted in the Kgomotso Policing area between 21 and 22 July 2022.

He appeared at Taung Magistrates’ Court on 25 July 2022.

North West policed spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen said, the station commander and police from Kgomotso Police Station were performing duties to ensure compliance to the Regulations of the Liquor Act, Act 27 of 1989.

“During the operations, the team managed to close two liquor premises, which were operating without having valid licences to sell liquor. At one establishment located in Shaleng village, liquor amounting to R70 000 was confiscated.

“At the second premises located at Losasaneng village, 50 litres of homemade beer were destroyed and 102 cases of different liquor to the estimated value of R15 080 were confiscated,” van Rooyen said.

She said both owners will face charges of selling liquor without a licence. The Acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Tshenolo Tlotleng commended the police, who were responsible for these successes for their vigilance and commitment.

Tlotleng reiterated that the police cannot achieve these types of successes without the support of the community, since the community is their eyes and ears. 

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By REGINALD KANYANE

Four men were arrested for being in possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition in Christiana. David Baloyi (47), Joa Masson (49), Roger Motswasele (52), and Joel Msimango (28) briefly appeared at Christina Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The North West police spokesperson, Capt Aaftje Botma said the accused were arrested during a roadblock on the N12 road between Christiana and Bloemhof last week. Botma said the police stopped and searched a white Ford sedan with Gauteng number plate.

“During the search, a custom built 30.06. firearm with a filed-off serial number, a silencer, ammunition, gloves, axe, and two knives was found in the vehicle. The four occupants were arrested and the vehicle was seized. 

“Through the silencer, the manufacture of the firearm as well as the owner were traced. The firearm will be subjected to ballistic tests and possible linkage to a case of theft of a firearm in Rustenburg in 2021,” she said.

Botma further said the preliminary investigations revealed that the seized vehicle belongs to a rental company in Gauteng. She added that the investigations into the matter are underway and the police cannot rule out any possibility of linking the accused to other crimes in North West and other provinces.

The suspects will remain in custody until 2 August 2022 for a formal bail application.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena expressed his gratitude for the police’s efforts in the fight against the illegal proliferation of firearms.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

The North West police squashed rumours that investigating officer in a murder case of former Vaaltar FM presenter and socialite, Tshepang Seelo has taken a transfer to Zeerust after being inundated with threats.

The detective warrant officer, Israel Tshipo is heading investigations into Seelo’s murder case. A few months ago, Seelo, who was walking with his girlfriend from a tavern in the early hours of the morning, was kidnapped and killed after he allegedly saw two individuals stealing roof sheets from a certain house in Modimong village, near Taung.

Two accused, Rebaone Malekanyo, 32, and Tumelo Tlonkwe, 31, were arrested and subsequently charged with Seelo’s murder. It was also reported that Tshipo recently plunged into depression and was admitted to a private healthcare facility for medical attention. 

North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “The allegations that the investigating officer received threats have been noted and we confirm that there were no threats toward him.

“The investigating officer had personal challenges that he had to deal with and was admitted to receive assistance in this regard. However, he is currently well and continuing with his duties,” van Rooyen said.

Meanwhile, the murder case against Malekanyo and Tlonkwe has been transferred to the regional court and postponed until 29 September 2022 for trial.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A-26-YEAR-OLD man was killed during a mob justice in Matolong village, near Taung. It is alleged that Tefo Gaoraelwe was assaulted by community members, who accused him of theft.

North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen said, on 19 July 2022, the police were called to Taung District Hospital to attend to an aggravated assault case.

“On arrival, the police found the sister of the victim. She allegedly told the police that community members assaulted the victim after they accused him of committing a crime. Gaoraelwe was badly assaulted and taken to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

“A case of murder was opened by Taung police, but no one has been arrested thus far. However, the investigation into the matter continues and anyone with information that can assist the police in their investigation is requested to contact Detective Warrant Officer Israel Tshipo on 082 469 2284,” van Rooyen said.

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Ka KEDIBONE MOLAETSI  

Baagi ba ba farologaneng kwa motseng wa Glaudina gaufi le Schweizer Reneke, ba itumeletse thebolo ya ditirelo go tswa mo pusong. Masepala wa sedika wa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati ga mmogo le mafapha a a farologaneng, ba ne ba etetse motse wa Glaudina go ka tlisa ditirelo kwa bathung.

Mongwe wa baagi, Olebogeng Madito wa dingwaga dile 68, o ikuetse mo pusong go ka tswelela ka lenaneo la thebolo ya ditirelo, mme ba se boele morago. Madito are ba sentse ba tshelela motlase ga tlhaolele kwa motseng wa bone.

“Re amogetse ketelo ya puso ka botlalo, mme re ne re re e nne selo sa leruri gore kamoso ha re nna le bothata re bone thuso. Re kopa gore puso e re sekegele tsebe mo mathateng otlhe a re nang le one mo tulong e.

“Re sentse re tshelela motlase ga tlhaolele, mme ga se re fitlhelele boipuso jo go buiwang ka bone. Mo Gluadina, re na le bothata gonne rona barua-kgomo ga gona mo diphologolo tsa rona di hulang teng,” Madito wa tlhalosa.

A re leruo la bona le hula mo tseleng, mme re tlhoka lefatshe. Go ya ka Madito, basweu ba ba dulang mo dipolaseng tse di gaufi, ba tsweletse go bolaya kgotsa go neela leruo la bone bolthole fa le hula gaufi le dipolase tsa bone.

Evelyn Bogatsu wa dingwaga dile 39, ene o ikuetse go puso go ka netefatsa fa ditsela di nna mo maemong a a namatshang segolo bogolo jang fa dipula dinele.

Sebueledi sa motlatsa-tona wa lefapha la dikgwa, tikologo le botshwara-tlhapi, Makhotso Sotyu, se kaile fa seno se tlile go tswelela go ralala sedika. Christopher Mashilo wa tlhalosa: “Jaaka re le fa, re tlisitse ditirelo go baagi, gonne re a itse gore bontsi jwa baagi mo mafelong a farologaneng ga bana ditlabakelo tsa go ya kwa toropong go ka fitlhelela ditirelo tse di farologaneng tsa puso.

“Jaanong seno, se tlile ba fa tshono ya go bona thebolo ya ditirelo tse di farologaneng. Mafapha a le mantis a gorogile ka kwano, mme re itumetse thata go utlwa fa thologelo ya baagi e namatsa segolo bogolo jang lefapha la boitekanelo. Re itemogetse fa baagi ba tlile ka bontsi fa re bapantsha le kwa setheo sa kliniki.”

Jaanong, Mashilo o kaile fa ba tlile go etela masepala wa Taung go tloga.

Kgabagare, majoro-khuduthamaga wa sedika, Motseokae Sense Maje are bontsi jwa baagi ba amogetse thebolo ya ditirelo tse di farologaneng, mme o rotloeditse basha go ka ikatimetsa go kantoro ya gagwe ya sedika go ka iponela ledi la go ka tlhola ditiro tse di farologaneng.

“Re na le mafapha a farologaneng jaaka la tsa merero ya selegae, le le neng le kwadisetsa baagi makwalo-itshupo, lefapha la sepodisi le lone le ne le le teng go ka thusa baagi ka go ka tlanya ditokomane tsa bone ga mmogo le lefapha la pholo.

“Re ne re na le lefapha la dipuso selegae ga mmogo le matlo, mme ba ne ba dira ga mmogo le masepala wa selegae wa Mamusa. Mme masepala o ne o kwadisa baagi ba ba dikobo dikhutsane thebolo ya ditirelo tsa mahala,” Maje wa tlhalosa.

Maje gape o kaile fa lefapha la tlhabololo ya loago le lone le ne le gorogile go ka neelana ka ditirelo go baagi ba ba batlang go ikwadisetsa kamogela ya madi a kotlo.

“Baagi ba tlhagisitse mathata a farologaneng, mme re fitlhetse fa bana ka bontsi kwa dikolong ba sena ditokomane tsa boitshupo jaaka ditlankana tsa matsala. Gape re lemogile fa ba sa bone madi a kotlo.

“Re lemogile fa go sentse go na le tlhokego ya matlo, fa botlhoka-tiro le bone bo ile kwa godimo. Jaanong, re rotlwetsa basha go ka ikgolaganya le kantoro ya rona ya masepala wa sedika, gonne re na le mafapha a a farologaneng a ka ba thusang ka go tla ka toga-maano ya go tlhola ditiro,” ga bua Maje.

Are ba na le lefapha le le ikarabelang ka tsa tlhabololo ya ikonomi, bojanala ga mmogo le temo-thuo. Maje are lefapha le, lena le matlole a ka thusang basha gore ba kgone go tlhomama ka go itirela ditiro tse di tla ba direlang letseno.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Opposition parties at the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) said, they will ensure that there is transparency and good governance at the embattled municipality. 

This comes after the municipality lost a case to interdict a court order filed by opposition parties at North West High Court in Mahikeng on Tuesday.

The opposition parties at the municipality, wanted municipal speaker, Grace Moipolai to convene a physical statutory council meeting to unpack the proverbial concept and make an adoption.

However, according to the Patriotic Alliance councillor, Mmoni Letele, Moipolai opted to convene the anticipated statutory council meeting visually. Letele said they approached the high court because they wanted to do away with the ‘dictatorship’ displayed by Moipolai and ensure that the democratization process is followed.

“I am happy and feel on top of the world because this is victory. Now, the people of Taung will be able to attend the physical statutory council meeting. The attempt to have a visual meeting was a way to deprive them of their rights.

“The municipal manager, Katlego Gabanakgosi and Moipolai wanted to deny our people their rights to attend this anticipated statutory council meeting. However, this is only the beginning in our quest to ensure that there is accountability at the municipality,” Letele said.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor, Sam Nape shared the same sentiments. Nape said opposition parties are key role players in ensuring that, there is good governance and respect for the rule of law.

“We highly commend the judiciary system and this is a victory for the people of Taung against corruption, malfeasance and maladministration that prevails in the municipality. Those who are responsible wanted to use a visual platform to execute resolutions that are marred with corruption and do not have the interest of the people,” he said.

Nape said they are fighting corruption at the municipality and they will pursue that, those who are responsible pay the cost from their own pockets. He further said this will be a great lesson that, in future, they should not misuse the taxpayer’s money.    

One of the analytic topics expected to be discussed during the next statutory council meeting ‘scheduled’ for Thursday is the adoption of traffic officer learnership. The selection process of the learnership caused an outcry as some opposition parties accused ANC councillor, Pinkie Mosinkiemang of corruption.

Mosinkiemang was seen on a video that went viral having a list of those individuals selected for traffic officer learnership training.  

It is alleged that, only those who have close proximity to some municipal officials and politicians were elected.

Meanwhile, Moipolai said, she was advised not to comment on the matter as there are steps that the municipality is planning to embark on.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) owners in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and Dr Kenneth Kaunda regions benefitted from the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) empowerment fund.

The equipment and machinery that were handed over in both districts were valued at approximately R1.2 million and were for SMMEs which mostly operate in manufacturing, catering, baking, décor, cleaning and environmental services.

One of the beneficiaries, Tshepiso Jantjies from Jantjies Boerdery said the machinery he received from the department, will come in handy. Jantjies said his enterprise is a multi-agricultural company, which specialises in crop production and animal feed manufacturing in the Taung area.

“We are grateful after we have received a wheel rake and drum mower through the departmental empowerment fund. We started to turn our company into an enterprise back in 2019. We are specialising in agro-processing.

“We had some challenges with machinery after our storeroom was gutted by fire. Our old machinery was dysfunctional and we were so happy to receive new machinery. These ones will improve our turn-around strategy,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Lancelot Koos from Ganyesa village, near Vryburg shared the same sentiments. Koos, who is the owner of Lanzito’s Buy and Braai said his business model entails car wash services and a complementary Shisa Nyama/ Braai business.

“I conceptualised the business line after I identified a market gap in Ganyesa Business Centre, whilst working for the bank in Pretoria. Since its inception, the business was operating informally until 2018 when I decided to leave my full-time job to focus more on it.

“Since then, the business has been doing well except during the lockdown period. Most of my customers are within Ganyesa and neighbouring villages such as Tlapeng, Tlakgameng and Morokweng,” he said.

Koos received a walk-in freezer room, gas griller – turn burner radiant free-standing, wrapping machine, price computing scale, glass meat chiller and countertop pie warmer.

Meanwhile, North West MEC for DEDECT, Kenetswe Mosenogi said: “We have embarked on an ongoing programme of handing over business equipment and machinery to successful applicants of the departmental empowerment fund for the 2021/2022 financial year.

“The programme is part of the department’s interventions aimed at leveraging enterprise funding through procurement of equipment and machinery for start-ups, as well as growth and expansion of enterprises, which will result in job creation and poverty alleviation.”

Mosenogi further said the applicants must have been operating a legally registered business and be residing in the North West province. She added that, in order to reverse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses and cooperatives, they ought to urgently provide some support to these entrepreneurs.

“Through this hard-headed intervention by the department, we will certainly improve their competitiveness and bring up profitability. Through this programme, the government is only re-affirming its commitment to support and sustain enterprises through operational tools.

“This is also proof to all entrepreneurs in the province, especially young people that, the department’s financial assistance is not designed for a certain group of people, but for any entrepreneur who meets the qualifying criteria required for funding,” said Mosenogi.

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