By OBAKENG MAJE  

North West Provincial Coronavirus Command Council (NWPCCC) said there is a need to raise alarm as a concerted effort to prevent the possible second wave of infections. This comes after the public’s evident of non-adherence to the COVID-19 preventative measures, particularly the wearing of face masks.

The North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro who also serves as the NWPCCC chairperson has urged the law enforcement officers to keep a close watch on this behaviour. Mokgoro said the council reflected on this observation during its virtual meeting, which was attended by Ministers and Deputy Ministers deployed to the province as National District Champions, the MECs, Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, Chairperson of SALGA, Heads of Department and Administrators.

“While we note a steady decrease in the number of new and active infections in the province since August, we are concerned about the apparent public complacency, particularly on the use of masks. We need to caution the public that COVID-19 is not over and we have a collective responsibility to prevent a possible resurgence.

“The Command Council also welcomed the Epidemiology report from the department of Health which showed that the province’s recovery rate is now at 91%, and that there is a further decrease in hospitalisation cases which were at 180 as at 2 October,” he said.

Mokgoro further said the ICU and high care numbers were ranging between 5 and 23 during the same period. He said the Command Council welcomed the department’s resolve to continue educating the public about the significance of adhering to the preventative measures as well as strengthening the current strong focus on contact tracing.

“In support of this contact tracing effort, the Command Council encourages members of the public to download the COVID-19 Alert App launched recently by the national Department of Health, which lets users know when they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

“We urge the public to make a difference by adding their phones to the fight against the spread of COVID-19 using this contact tracing technology. On the use of available quarantine sites, the Command Council agreed to keep all 13 government quarantine facilities across the province open, this to ensure availability of about 500 beds when a need arises,” said Mokgoro. 

 He said the Command Council also stressed the need for parents to allow learners to go back to school in order to avoid unintended consequences of an increase in school drop-outs. Mokgoro added that the meeting called on other community structures including the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders to forge hands with the department of Education and strategically encourage learners to go back to school. 

“We urge members of the public to continue observing the Coronavirus prevention measures which include the washing of hands with water and soap regularly or use of an alcohol based sanitiser, wearing a face masks when in public places, keeping physical distance and covering the mouth with a flexed elbow when coughing or sneezing.

“We reiterate that through the consistent practicing of these hygiene tips, the fight to flatten the curve will be achieved and that COVID-19 will be finally defeated,” said Mokgoro.

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By STAFF REPORTER

Lindiwe Nkgobang said she is grateful after her rapist was sentenced to life imprisonment by Vryburg Regional Court recently. Nkgobang (23) said even though the case dragged for ten years before reaching its completion, she can breathe a sigh of relief.

“I was only 13 years when I was raped. We were chilling with friends from one of the joints in Vryburg when I decided to go home. My friends refused to go and I requested two of the young boys around to accompany me.

“Unfortunately, we came across two gentlemen who chased those boys away. I was left vulnerable as they dragged me to the toilets of an abandoned building and raped me,” she said.

Nkgobang said she was threatened with a knife and she was raped twice by the perpetrators. She said the first man used condom and Dikabelo Masiza who was sentenced to life imprisonment did not use it.

“It was heart-throbbing that the court acquitted the first accused. However, I still maintain that he raped me and I will not rest until he is also found guilty. They assaulted me during the ordeal and the incident has put me through severe depression in my life.

Masiza (32) had previous cases such as robbery, theft and being in possession of drugs. The court instructed that he should be deemed unfit to possess a firearm and his name be included in the sexual offenders’ register.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) regional secretary in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Justice Dabampe said: “We are happy that Lindiwe has finally found justice after 10 years of trial. Although the other accused was found not guilty, the other one was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

“This is after they raped her ten years ago. Mind you, she was only 13 years old. Indeed, ten long years to victory in Vryburg Magistrate’s Court. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) does not have space in our society. 

Dabampe added that the perpetrator has been convicted previously for theft, robbery, and being in possession of drugs and he is a well-known monster that has been terrorising the community for quite some time.”

Meanwhile, Sonke Gender Justice senior strategic advisor, Bafana Khumalo said it is so sad to see men waged a war against women’s bodies. Khumalo said they calling on men to resist patriarchy, change the narrative of what it means to be a man, and treat all women with dignity and respect.

“We call on all men in our country to take a firm stand against GBV and femicide. They need to commit to working as allies with all organisations that are working in this sector. As men, we need to lead from the front in all efforts that seek to heal our land of this scourge.

“Let us support women and girls in all their endeavours as they seek to actualise their dreams of living in a violence-free country. Women should not be afraid to walk freely in the streets,” he said.

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By STAFF REPORTER

Revellers were left high and dry at Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre with no provision of water for days. This comes after the North West Tourism Board organised an event at the institution last week to celebrate the Tourism Month in a quest to promote the province’s various tourist attractions.

Some of the guests were allegedly forced to draw some water from the swimming pool to bath. They allegedly informed the institution’s acting chief executive officer (CEO), Adv Mothusi Tsineng but instead he allegedly requested them to revolt against the matter.  

Tsineng allegedly entered a tour bus at the hotel school and accused the media of not writing anything about lack of water. He allegedly called on people to embark on protests over lack of water and shut down strategic areas with burning tyres.

North West Tourism Board spokesperson, Mamaki Phoolo said: “We are aware that there is no water at the hotel. However, it is not only the hotel school affected as this includes the surrounding areas.

“We will continue to engage with the water service provider and ensure that our guests are catered for. On allegations leveled against the CEO, I cannot comment. Please, call him so that he can answer for himself.”

Tsineng did not respond to our messages and his phone rang unanswered before going to print. Some of the staff members who did not want to be named for reprisal also alleged that Tsineng displays arrogance towards them too.

 Meanwhile, the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism in the province and its agency North West Tourism Board in partnership with the Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation on Thursday launched the province’s film festival in Taung under the theme “Film inspires Tourism’’. 

The North West Tourism Board marketing coordinator, Mpho Motshegwa said: “Communities must sell the province to potential tourists. What we want to see going forward is that the first people to traverse this province should be the residents of the North West.

“We also concede that it could have been how we have been marketing the destination, our pre-occupation has been with the outside people forgetting our people. So, we are trying to rework our marketing model, so that it has an internal focus to start with our people because our people understand the dynamics of the province,” Motshegwa said.

The Regional Director of Mmabana in Taung, Nako Molema said Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports foundation through outreach programs identify talent from different villages and nurture it.

“We are an academy of arts and culture, we identify the talent of children in the villages through what we call outreach programs, it’s mostly called talent search but we call it outreach. And once we have identified talent we nurture it and groom them to become professional artists by providing necessary platforms for them,” said Molema.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono has lauded ‘good Samaritans’ for lending a helping hand to emerging farmers. This comes after the Mamusa Agricultural Forum donated goats, sheep, pigs, heifers, and bull to emerging farmers in the area.

Mohono said she was personally touched by the generosity of these farmers. She further said many emerging farmers’ daily livelihood patterns and their everyday means of sustaining themselves have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am completely humbled and touched by this gesture. I therefore wish to thank the forum for the initiative that they have come up with and for sharing with others what they have so they can and empower themselves. Not everybody gives out, but it is a good thing for the mere fact that they have extended a hand to help others.  

“We are grateful as the department and we would like to encourage other farmers to do the same. I urge beneficiaries to go and multiply what they have received. If you take care of them, they will take care of you,” said Mohono.

She said the humanity between farmers will help the department to grow and make the agricultural sector a more economical one thus leading to a general upliftment of the farmers and the broader communities. 

The Mamusa Agricultural Forum deputy chairperson, Kabelo Digopo said the majority of beneficiaries were young people from the Mamusa region that are actively involved in farming and other agricultural activities. Digopo added that the forum is made up of emerging farmers and was established in 2017.

“The aim of this initiative is to protect, advance the interests of local farmers and to promote the development of a viable farming industry in order to improve rural community standard of living and enhancing rural farming.

“Our vision is to see many young people taking part in the agricultural sector and the donation of these few animals is our contribution towards that vision,” said Digopo.

One of the beneficiaries, Ofentse Seane who is a young female and aspiring farmer from Ipelegeng Township in Schweizer Reneke welcomed the donation.

“I would like to applaud the forum for their kind gesture. So, on behalf of all beneficiaries, I wish to convey our genuine appreciation and heartfelt thanks to the forum for everything they have done for us.

“We thank them for reaching out to us as aspiring and emerging farmers and we want to assure them that we will not disappoint. Maybe without the help of these fellow farmers, our passion for farming would have died a long time ago,” she said.

The generosity and acts of kindness by the farmers towards fellow farmers in the province is not a new phenomenon. Not so long ago, the department welcomed a donation from a group of stud breeders in the province who donated ten Boran bulls to emerging farmers to help them improve the quality of their herds.

Meanwhile, in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, the passion for farming also motivated six stud breeders to donate bulls to a number of emerging cattle farmers. The breeders handed over five bonsmara bulls and one bramvee to the beneficiaries.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI  

African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region welcomes the deployment of Lena Miga as the new Member of the Provincial Legislature in North West.

Miga who was sworn-in on Monday replaces the late North West Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) MEC, Gordon Kegakilwe who passed away two months ago due to COVID-19 related diseases.

The ANCYL regional secretary, Crespo Menyatso said: “Miga is a disciplined member of the ANC who has displayed devotement to the development of the people. She has worked tirelessly in ensuring that the ANC remains the beacon of hope to hopelessness and the revolutionary parliament of our people. 

“Miga served as the provincial secretary of the ANCWL and executive mayor of Mahikeng Local Municipality in the past. She was until recently part of the Support Staff in the Office of Premier and is currently the member of the ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) in the province,” he said.

Menyatso added that the ANCYL will continue to fight for the deployment of young people and women by the ANC in positions of responsibility. Indeed our struggle will not be complete without the involvement of women, he said.  

ANC Chief Whip at the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Paul Sebegoe shared the same sentiments. Sebegoe said they are confident that Miga will make a meaningful contribution towards advancing the ANC’s strategic objective and development agenda aimed at improving the lives of the people through an activist parliament that is responsive to the plight of the communities.

“Miga is a tried and tested cadre who is passionate about gender issues, community development as well as socio-economic transformation. The deployment of this principled, hard-working servant of our people will enrich debates within the ANC caucus including the provincial legislature.

“She brings with her an enormous experience as former Provincial Secretary of the ANCWL, executive mayor of Mahikeng Local Municipality and a political activist,” he said.

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By STAFF REPORTER

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the North West came out gun blazing and said it will not involve itself in factional horse-trading in municipal councils affected by the ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) decision.

This comes after the IPC’s failed attempt to recall mayors, speakers, and chief whips (Troikas) in five municipalities last week. The affected municipalities were Mahikeng, Ditsobotla, Maquassi Hills, Matlosana Local Municipalities, and the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.

However, it was reported that only six councillors have rendered their resignation letters thus far.

DA provincial chairperson, Joe McGluwa said they have written to all the DA municipal caucuses not to extend any support to any ANC candidate to replace an ANC office bearer. He said the ‘root of the rot’ in North West is the ANC in its entirety.

“We further call on all opposition political parties in the North West to support our initiative not to give credence to this futile exercise of replacing one ANC cadre with another. The time has come to let the ANC deals with the mess it has created.

“The ANC had 26 years to deliver good governance and quality basic service delivery in the province and it has failed miserably. Instead of improving the lives of people, the ANC in North West has presided over the collapse of governance and the cessation of service delivery while corruption and looting have transformed the province into a wasteland of deprivation, desperation, and despair,” said McGluwa.

He added that when the ANC’s IPC coordinator, Hlomani Chauke announced the decision on the recall, the DA warned that this move is nothing but factional battles playing out at the expense of the people of North West.

“We also warned that the ANC North West IPC’s decision will be rejected by branches and factions and that affected cadres in executive positions will challenge the decision in court.

“The DA is on record stating that the recall will fail because a similar recall just before the 2019 general elections failed miserably, and the battle lines unfolding now were exactly the same as in 2019,” he said.

McGluwa further said the ANC is trying to realign preferred factions to positions of power and access to resources to continue the looting and theft of taxpayers’ money, which is ultimately the goal of this recall. He said all of this is being done under the pretense of restoring good governance and service delivery in North West municipalities.

Meanwhile, the ANC IPC spokesperson, Kenny Morolong said the ANC Interim Provincial Working Committee convened a special meeting on Friday and noted that whilst there are deployees who have tendered their resignations, others are yet to comply with the directive of the organisation to relinquish their various positions of deployment.

“The IPWC further noted that there were some ANC members who have publicly criticised the IPC decision to recall these troikas and that a report to this effect will be compiled and presented to the next IPWC meeting.

“The IPWC is immensely perturbed by the conduct of the deployees who have demonstrated utter disregard for the authority of the organisation by refusing to resign,” he said.

Morolong said the IPWC has resolved to continue to engage the councillors who have yet to resign and urge them to comply with the directives of the organisation. He said the IPWC will meet with the affected councillors and amongst others, remind them of their duties as spelled out in the ANC constitution to observe discipline, behave honestly and carry out loyally the decisions of the majority and decisions of higher bodies.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A 82-year-old gogo lives in fear after she was allegedly assaulted by her own children. Bella Mogwase from Setlagole village said she was caught in the middle after she tried to intervene in a fight between her children recently.

Mogwase allegedly went to the police station to seek help, but she was referred to the North West Social Development offices in Setlagole village. However, she found the offices closed and she could not receive any assistance.

“My children were fighting and in the process also assaulted me. I went to the police and they referred me to the department of social development. Unfortunately, I found the offices closed and no one was available to assist me.

“Now, I do not know where I should go to seek help. We cannot live like this because it is clear that the workers at the department prioritise themselves before us. I would like to appeal to the North West MEC for Social Development, Boitumelo Moiloa for assistance,”

 Mogwase said the situation is really bad and she is still terrified.

Meanwhile, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) deputy provincial chairperson, Leonard Chweneemang said they shut down the offices because the service point manager is purging them. He said they could not execute their duties because of favouritism and factionalism at the institution.

“We urged the meeting with the department managers to address our challenges. The reason why we are closed here is that we want a hearing of the social development principals.

“We have made countless complaints regarding what has transpired at the office in Ratlou. She told us that the district director who happens to be her immediate supervisor is her friend, so there is nothing that can be done,” Chweneemang said.  

He further said there was a clip circulating on social media where the service point manager allegedly refused to allocate the departmental vehicles to social workers to perform their official duties.

“Where have you found qualified social workers who happen to be a service point manager refusing to release a car when there was a complaint that an elderly person and a child are being abused? Obviously, those are the most vulnerable groups in our country, and she says she does not care and she will not release a car.

“How do you expect the community to be happy in such a situation? As workers here, we want to perform our duties but unfortunately, we are unable to do so because the manager is working with factions,” said Chweneemang.

 North West Social Development spokesperson, Petrus Siko said: “We will ensure that residents receive services while we resolve issues with our workers. We are doing our best to ensure that problems at Ratlou service point is resolved.

“We would like to ensure to residents that we will do our best to make sure that they receive services while we are still engaging our employees to find a lasting solution for internal problems that are related to labour relations,” Siko said.

The Ratlou service point has been closed for more than seven days.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

Some of disgruntled members of the African National Congress (ANC) embarked on a peaceful march in Vryburg on Friday. The march was led by the ANC Regional Secretary of the disbanded Regional Executive Committee (REC) in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, Gaolatlhwe Kgabo.

Kgabo said they marched because they are against the decision of the ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) in the North West after it recalled troikas from five municipalities. He said even though they respect the authority and the hierarchy of the ANC, the decision of the IPC was malicious and factional.

“We have noted wild and far-reaching allegations that were peddled by the IPC coordinator, Hlomani Chauke as a reason for recalling our district troika. We were shocked that only Chauke and the IPC spokesperson, Kenny Morolong knows about the paralysis of the caucus, unbecoming conduct by the troika as well as wrongdoing by the district troika deserving punishment.

“There was never any report, allegation, or outcry by anyone in society or our communities that have lamented wrongdoing by the troika neither was there ever any paralysis or collapse of a caucus in our district municipality. We therefore assert beyond doubt that what Chauke and Morolong have been feeding our nation was a fabricated, machinated and choreographed spin devoid of truth and honesty,” he said.

Kgabo further said they have a respect for higher and senior structures of the ANC but that respect is more to the ANC constitution, its democratic principles and protocols and not respect for factional egos of individual leaders of the party who use the legitimate office to advance illegitimate endeavors. He added that the ANC is a constitutional democratic movement that is the custodian of the human rights enshrined in the national constitution of the Republic.

“There is no ANC that has ever punished anyone historically and even in recent times on the common purpose of misconduct or wrongdoing where the crime of one person becomes the crime of another by political association.

“In the culture of ANC and constitutional dispensation of our country, every person is trialed or held accountable for wrongdoing through substance and process. In the ANC, rule 25 is the route and for our common law transgression, the laws of the Republic is readily available, why does the ANC led by IPC recall and remove a person from office on the basis of allegations that were never tested by any competent tribunal, either internally within the ANC or externally by our Courts? asked Kgabo.

He said they respect the IPC as appointed by the ANC but they will not bow down and glorify its factional inclination to decision-making. Kgabo said they know as fact that it is not a coincidence that those troikas are not necessarily the worst in the province or their removal is a move to fight corruption.

“It is a common cause that all troikas removed are those whose mayors are aligned to the former PEC chairperson, Supra Mahumapelo. Their removal is intended at giving Chauke and his factional congregants’ authority and access to resources of this municipality in order to loot and fund their moribund factional program towards ANC conferences.

“We want to state in no uncertain terms that we have seen through the self-serving power smash and grab antics of the IPC. Chauke must face branches and communities of the district before gunning for the throat of a woman who occupies office at the behest of us ANC branches,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ANC Interim Provincial Working Committee had a consultative engagement on Friday after the IPC’s failed attempt to remove troikas. According to the reports, only six councillors have rendered their resignation letters thus far.

ANC IPC spokesperson, Kenny Morolong told Motsweding FM’s current affairs that the IPWC would collate and put together a report on what had transpired. He said the refusal of some deployees to resign is a sign of ill-discipline.

“ANC would look at some ways on how to approach the matter. We might send them to the Provincial Integrity Commission or use a motion of no confidence to oust them. We have only received six resignation letters out of 15 councillors,” he said.

The municipalities affected are Matlosana, Maquassi Hills, Mahikeng, Ditsobotla and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality. Our source told us that the speaker and the chief whip at the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality are amongst those who tendered their resignation letters.

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