Picture: Water system allegedly vandalized by community members/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

Some residents allegedly vandalised the water supply infrastructure in Vryburg. The Naledi Local Municipality mayor, Cooper Groep said the recurring ‘acts of sabotage’ continue to hamper the municipality’s ability to supply adequate water to the people of Naledi.

“The residents deliberately sabotaged and vandalised the water supply infrastructure. So, we hereby notify the community about the above-mentioned matter.

“As previously indicated on a publication, the information communicated on this platform seems to give the perpetrators a map to the municipality’s pursuits and success in relations to operations,” Groep said.

He further said, just last week, the municipality had successfully refurbished all the boreholes. Groep added, yet again, some individuals have gone on to totally annihilate the Swartfontein transformer resulting in a loss of all the pumps in the said precinct.

“It is against the aforementioned that Vryburg town, Kismet, Colridge, Huhudi and the Extensions are experiencing a lack of water supply. The community members are encouraged to report any suspicious activities witnessed,” he said.

Recently, the residents of Vryburg embarked on protests demanding water. They also accused some government officials of corruption. It is alleged that some government officials closed the valves of reservoirs so that water tankering systems can be put in use.

It is alleged that the municipality spends over R2 million every month on the water tankering system.    

Meanwhile, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu said, his department has prioritised communities with critical water shortages in the province.

“The North West Provincial Steering Committee has received an assessment report on the state of water and sanitation service provision in the province and has instructed the Committee’s Technical Task Team to start prioritising critical projects that will ensure immediate restoration of water in areas with existing infrastructure in the province.

“The assessment report was tabled to the Steering Committee attended by the co-chair, North West Premier, Bushy Maape, Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, executive mayors from both district and local municipalities, the Magalies Water Board, traditional leaders and community leaders from various municipalities in the province,” he said.

According to Mchunu, the report has painted a clear picture that the province has enough sources of water, both on surface and groundwater to support domestic and other users, however huge infrastructural challenges in various parts of the province impeded the resource to be transferred to the users.

He said, most of the challenges identified stemmed from lack of capacity, skills and budget to carry out operations and maintenance, illegal connections, incomplete projects and infrastructure vandalism in the Water Service Authorities (WSAs) and municipalities’ reticulation systems.

“The task team will now start the process of prioritising projects for immediate interventions and get commitments from all role-players to enable the work to go ahead as we need to pump water to the people and put this water crisis in the North West behind us.

“There is extensive work lying ahead, and this collaborative process will enable our plans to take off with speed to restore water and sanitation services in the province. The task team should be able to provide us with this roadmap soon,” said Mchunu.

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Picture: The graduates from Potchefstroom College of Agriculture/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

A total of 63 students from Potchefstroom College of Agriculture have recently graduated in mixed agriculture. The graduations took place at the college on 3 March 2023.

The North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono said the college has obtained a 63% pass rate with 63 students conferred. Mohono further said 63 students pursued a Diploma in Agriculture in Mixed Farming.

“The last year of experimental learning took place at an approved enterprise thus completing the requirements of their qualification. So, I want to commend these students for their commitment and collaborative work that resulted in the achievement realised on this auspicious day.

“Your skills must be used for the betterment of your communities. Beyond graduating from this incredible institution, you still have a lifelong responsibility to continue learning to continuously change the lives of our people,” she said.

Mohono further said, the modules completed include Agricultural Management, Agricultural Engineering, Animal Production, and Plant Production.

Meanwhile, one of the graduates, Aluwani Manyabwe (23) from Limpopo, who completed his experimental learning at Vukani Piggery said, his three years of studying were tough, but he managed to graduate first class despite the challenges he faced.

“Truly, working and living on the farm assisted me in acquiring artificial insemination, boar, and dry sow management skills and knowledge,” Manyabwe said.

Another student, Olivia Ngwanatheko Mariri (25) declared PCA as her college of choice because it was the only college she found that offered both animal and plant production and aspires to become an agricultural entrepreneur.

“I also want to impact the lives of young people in our communities, because I have realised that agriculture is not regarded as a profession or a career.

“You can still be successful even though you didn’t study courses are normally viewed as being for success,” she said.

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Picture: The North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho said the 2023/24 budget proposals set out the funding proposals for various service delivery programmes that will be executed as part of the 2023 (Medium Term Expenditure Framework) MTEF.

Rosho tabled the provincial government budget at the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) in Mahikeng on Tuesday.

“This budget embodies the accomplishments and pledges made since the commencement of our journey in 2019. When the current administration began its term in 2019, it inherited the administration with huge service delivery challenges, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

“Despite these challenges, the government continued to ensure sustained funding for key service delivery programmes. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the province revised the 2020/21 budget thrice, which was unprecedented,” she said.

Rosho further said, the budget had to be reprioritised to provide for socio-economic relief, increased public health spending and a vaccine rollout. She added that, this budget aims to showcase the government’s commitment towards funding service delivery programmes.

“It will also set a solid foundation for the next administration to sustain the execution of the programmes meant to eradicate the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

“We pledge to use public funds responsibly by reducing unnecessary spending, increasing efficiency and savings through the appropriate use of technology and economies of scale,” said Rosho.

She said the greatest contributor to the province’s economy in 2021 was the Bojanala Platinum District, which contributed R98.3 billion, which is a reduction from R106.7 billion in 2019. Rosho said, however, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District was the lowest contributing region, which contributed R19.8 billion in 2021.

“The overall allocation for the province is R50.856 billion, R51.932 billion and R54.379 billion in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years respectively.

“The allocations to Departments and NWPL, included in the main allocations per year are increases in conditional grants of R742.197 million in 2023/24, R49.185 million in 2024/25 and R83.977 million in 2025/26,” she said.

According to Rosho, these increases are mainly attributed to Health, Education and Public Works & Roads. She said the NWPL receives an amount of R503 million.

“Included in this allocation is an additional R12.8 million of which R5.8 million is for improvement in conditions of service and R7 million for general budget pressures and revision for organisational structure.

“The Office of the Premier receives an amount of R482 million. The ICT transformation in the province has been allocated R119 million each year to enable connectivity across the province in most public institutions including schools, libraries, clinics and hospitals and upgrading of the government ICT systems,” she said.

Rosho said the provincial treasury receives an amount of R565 million to continue with the provision of technical support to municipalities, departments and public entities.

She said the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management is allocated R2.333 billion.

“The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is allocated an amount of R659 million to effectively monitor, support and promote local government and institutions of traditional leadership through a cooperative governance system.

“The Department of Health receives an amount of R15.219 billion. The Department of Education is allocated a budget of R20.575 billion. The Department of Social Development is allocated R1.713 billion,” said Rosho.

She said the Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation receives R742 million, while the Department of Public Works and Roads receives R1.087 billion.

“The Department of Human Settlements is allocated R1.999 billion and the Department of Economic Development,

Environment, Conservation and Tourism receive an amount of R1.009 billion.

“The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is allocated an amount of R1.229 billion. The province has been experiencing high rainfalls resulting in floods in some parts of the province,” she said.

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Picture: The SA president, Cyril Ramaphosa/Google

By OBAKENG MAJE

The South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa has made a few changes to the National Executive. Ramaphosa has appointed Paul Mashatile as the deputy president.

This comes after the former deputy president, David Mabuza’s resignation. Ramaphosa also appointed the former mayor of City of Tshwane, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as the minister electricity.

“The purpose of these changes is to ensure that government is properly capacitated and directed to give effect to the commitments made in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the budget speech.

“We have said that, the people of South Africa want action. They want solutions and the government to work for them. All members of the executive, have been directed to focus on those agreed actions that will make a meaningful difference now,” he said.

Ramaphosa further said, this will enable real progress within the next year and that will lay a foundation for a sustained recovery into the future. He added that, all parts of government are focused on addressing those issues that concern South Africans such as load shedding, unemployment, corruption, poverty and the rising cost of living and crime.

“There has been some concern expressed by South Africans about the amount of time it has taken to finalise these changes to the executive.

“This delay is the result of a number of processes that needed to be followed. Some of which relate to the requirements of the constitution relating to the appointment of members of the national executive,” said Ramphosa.

He said, understanding that just over one year remains in the term of this 6^th administration, these changes are not about overhauling the national executive.

Ramaphosa said the changes that he announced, are intended to fill vacancies that have occurred in the executive and to direct government more effectively towards the areas that require urgent and decisive action.

“I have sought to balance the need for new skills and capabilities to drive the agenda that we outlined in the SONA with the important task of ensuring stability and continuity in the work of government.

“In the course of attending to current challenges, we are establishing two new ministries. The first of these is the minister for electricity to deal with the immediate crisis of load shedding,” he said.

Ramaphosa said the second ministry will be the minister with specific responsibility for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation to focus greater attention on the performance of government.

“While this will result in an increase in the number of ministries in the short term, as indicated in SONA, I have instructed the presidency and national treasury to develop a proposal to rationalise government departments, entities and programmes to ensure greater efficiency.

“This work, which will result in the reduction of the number of ministries, will inform the configuration of government going into the next administration,” said Ramaphosa.

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has been appointed as minister in the presidency, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma appointed as minister in the presidency responsible for women, youth and persons with disabilities.

Maropene Ramokgopa has been appointed as minister in the presidency responsible for planning, monitoring and evaluation and Mondli Gungubele will head communications and digital technologies portfolio.

Ramaphosa appointed Thembi Nkadimeng as minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, Noxolo Kiviet has been appointed as minister of public service and administration.

He also appointed Sihle Zikalala as minister of public works and infrastructure, while Zizi Kodwa will head the sports, arts and culture portfolio.

“Patricia de Lille has been appointed as minister of tourism, Sindisiwe Chikunga has been appointed as minister of transport. With respect to deputy ministers, I announce Nomasonto Motaung and Kenneth Morolong as deputy ministers in the presidency.

“I appoint Sisisi Tolashe as the deputy minister in the presidency responsible for women, youth and persons with disabilities, Pinky Kekana as deputy minister in the presidency responsible for planning, monitoring and evaluation,” said Ramaphosa.

He said, there will be two deputy ministers for cooperative governance and traditional affairs, which is Parks Tau and Zolile Burns-Ncamashe. Ramaphosa said, there will also be two deputy ministers for water and sanitation, which is David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala.

Bernice Swarts has been appointed as deputy minister of public works, while Dipuo Peters being appointed as deputy minister of small business development.

Obed Bapela has been appointed as deputy minister of public enterprises, while Lisa Mangcu appointed as deputy minister of transport.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A MAN (44) was stabbed to death at Rooiwal village, near Taung on Saturday. The North West police said a man (22) has been arrested for allegedly stabbing Phanuel Kgosiebonya.

The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said: “According to the information received, a fight ensued between Kgoebonya and the suspect, while they were seating at a local tavern.

“The deceased allegedly ran away, but the suspect pursued him. He ended up stabbing Kgosiebonya, who succumbed to the injuries.”

Tselanyane said a murder case was opened and under investigation. He said the suspect was arrested at the crime scene and was due to appear before the Taung Magistrate’s Court on 6 March 2023.

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Picture: NEHAWU-affiliated members embarking on strike

By OBAKENG MAJE

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) said, they will continue with the strike until the government comes to the table.

The NEHAWU-affiliated members across the country embarked on a national shutdown demanding 10% salary increments.  

The NEHAWU national treasurer, Kgomotso Mokhupola, who was in Mahikeng, North West on Monday addressing NEHAWU members said, the purpose of today’s strike was mainly on collective bargaining issues.

“We have tabled demands at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC), however, those demands have not been attended to.

“Instead, what the government is doing, is applying the same tactics they did all these years. They are unilaterally implementing what they think is correct for the workers,” she said.

Mokhupola further said, they are not going to take what the government is going to give them, which is 3%. She added that the government is actually misleading the public that, in the previous years, they have given them 7.5%, which is not true.

“In fact, what the government gave us was a mere 4.5% including a gratuity allowance of R8000. The gratuity allowance was a non-pensionable allowance and the government will take it away in the coming salary negotiations.

“This means the salary brackets of the workers will actually go down. So, we do not want the 3% the government wants to impose on us, but instead, we want a 10% increase,” said Mokhupola.

She said they have appealed the interdict from the Department of Service and Administration. Makhupola said it is absurd for the government to expect the same disgruntled workers to render services to the public diligently.

“It started in 2018 when government reignite on a particular resolution. The same government expects the same workers to render service to the public. 

“So, it must come to the party, even if that means we meet each other halfway, not us being shown the middle finger by it,” said Makhupola.      

Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Captain Sam Tselanyane said: “We can confirm that three NEHAWU members aged 32, 40, and 56 respectively, were arrested for public violence by the police.

“They will appear in court once they have been charged. So, for now, I cannot tell when will they appear in court.”

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Picture: Professor Omolola Fayemi/Supplied

By BERTIE JACOBS

One thousand millionth of a metre. Or, to put it differently: one billionth of a metre. This unfathomably small number is called a nanometre and the world of nanotechnology operates at between 1 and 100 nanometres. This is also where the North-West University (NWU) is unearthing new ways to combat disease, to help protect the environment and to develop materials that will promote sustainability.

The focus area Material Science Innovation and Modelling (MaSIM) at the NWU has endeavoured to become a leading research and development centre in the area of materials, metal initiatives and nanotechnology initiatives to solve industry-related problems on a regional, provincial and national level. In addition, research at the NWU investigating solutions to long-term food security questions extensively incorporates the use of nanotechnology, such as the development of less toxic agricultural inputs, which include fertilisation approaches. But that is hardly where the NWU’s exploits into the field of nanotechnology stop.

Professor Omolola Fayemi and her team from the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences at the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences are focused on nano sensors. Here, they fabricate electrochemical-based sensors with different nanocomposites such as green-based synthetics, chemical-based synthetics and electrospun nanofibres to sense biological molecules such as environmental pollutants, adulterants in food and contaminants in waste water.

“Basically,” says Fayemi, “we are dealing with nanomaterial for sensing applications.”

The applications of nanotechnology are nigh on endless.

“When you look at neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin in the body, we can use nano sensors to detect abnormal levels of these neurotransmitters, which in turn can help us to determine the psychological well-being of a person.” Nanotechnology also has huge implications for illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease and cancer.

“We can also use nano sensors to pre-emptively warn people not to use water that has been adversely affected by pollutants such as industrial waste. The same applies to food, which is sometimes laced with adulterants that can be detrimental to your health. Too many food suppliers are neglecting to uphold the requisite standards and nano sensors can help detect this,” says Fayemi, who was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, roughly 6 487,5 km from her office at the NWU’s campus in Mahikeng. Incidentally, that translates to 6 487 000 000 000 002 nanometres.

“I am a long way from where I was born, but the NWU is my home. It is an institution that strives for excellence in all its endeavours and one that encourages academic freedom. It is also an institution that cares. We have had great outputs in the field of nanotechnology and this helps us to spread our ethic of care to our wider community, both locally and abroad. I cannot recommend the NWU highly enough, especially if you want to pursue a career in nanotechnology.”

If ever there was a slogan for the exciting uses of nanotechnology, then it is perfectly encapsulated by Fayemi when she says: “Nanotechnology might be small, but it is mighty.” Now that is no secret.

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Picture: North West Premier, Bushy Maape/ Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West Provincial Government (NWPG) has allegedly returned the R445 million budget allocated for a conditional grant to the national treasury.

This was part of R1,063 billion during the 2021/22 financial year.

According to the Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) and Democratic Alliance (DA) North West Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) spokesperson, Freddy Sonakile, these conditional grant funds were intended to improve bulk infrastructure, ensure provincial roads maintenance, establish early childhood development centres and expand the National School Nutrition Programme in North West.  

“It is shameful that the provincial government neglects to improve infrastructure, while the North West residents continue to experience one of the worst service delivery failures in the country.

“In response to the DA written questions, the North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho indicated that the provincial government departments failed to spend over R1,063 billion during the 2021/22 financial year,” he said.

Sonakile said, the North West Department of Health failed to utilise over R256 million, while the North West Department of Public Works and Roads failed to utilise nearly R380 million. He said the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development forfeited over R85 million to National Treasury.

“The failure of these departments to spend the conditional grants will have a devastating impact on residents of the province. This will also impact the conditional grant funding allocation to the province over the next financial year, resulting in less development in North West.

“The North West is in an advanced state of general decay due to the inability of the ANC-led provincial government to ensure improved service delivery and infrastructure development,” he said.

Sonakile said the residents of North West cannot afford provincial departments losing 41% of their conditional grant funding. He said the DA demanded a detailed consequence management plan from the embattled North West Premier Bushy Maape over the conditional grant funding under expenditure.

“It is Maape’s job to monitor the spending patterns of his departments. While we note that R619 million was approved by National Treasury to roll over into the next financial year, the provincial government’s track record in effective spending of conditional grant funding leaves little confidence that it would be able to spend allocated funding in the next financial year.

“Action must be taken and during the SOPA debate on Tuesday last week, we asked Maape to resign in the interest of the residents of North West,” said Sonakile.

He said Maape’s government’s poor performance justifies this call and should he fail to resign, the least he could do is to remove and replace his incompetent MECs with competent individuals.

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho said, the current challenges experienced by departments are largely on the basis of capacity including slow implementation of their procurement plans that contribute to the slow spending by the departments.

Rosho said, her department is working with those affected departments continuously to improve spending and ensure value for money. 

“All risk factors that hinder spending and provision of service delivery are currently being addressed by the accounting officers of different departments and it is anticipated that the previous years’ performance would be improved.

“We assess monthly Section 40 reports of departments and provide these reports monthly to Broader Extech and Quarterly to EXCO, Provincial Legislature, and Audit Committee,” she said.

Rosho said the feedback reports to the oversight structures constitute the commitment by the provincial treasury and NWPG to improve expenditure performance through robust monitoring, evaluation, and tracking budget implementation by departments.

She said the feedback also provides an opportunity for the accounting officers to account for expenditure performance including service delivery targets.

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Picture: EFF councillor, Betty Diale/Google 

By OBAKENG MAJE

A fraud case against Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor, Betty Diale (52) has been postponed to 21 and 22 June 2023 for trial by Rustenburg Regional Court on Friday (3 March 2023). Daile, who is facing six charges of theft, amounting to approximately R700 000, allegedly stolen from the Road Accident Fund(RAF) claimants.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman in North West, Henry Mamothame said, police reports revealing 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 payout 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,” Mamothame said.

The Legal Practice Council has struck her off the roll, preventing her from practicing as an attorney. Diale is currently serving as EFF councillor at Rustenburg Local Municipality after being demoted as the Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) in North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) a few months ago.

Mamothame said, the pre-trial conference was completed and the state has provided Diale with all the necessary documents in preparation for trial. He said, Diale has indicated to the court that she will be representing herself.

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Picture: The Speaker of North West Provincial Legislature/Sussana Dantjie

By OBAKENG MAJE

The speaker of North West Provincial Legislature, Basetsana Dantjie will hold the Provincial Speaker’s Forum, where speakers from different local and district municipalities will discuss the turn-around plans and post-audit actions plans for the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) audit outcomes for 2020/21 financial year

The meeting is scheduled at Villa Brocant Lodge, Vryburg on Friday at 9am. According to Dantjie, different speakers and senior management from all the municipalities including councillors from Municipal Public Accounts (MPAs) committees and representatives of the North West Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), North West Department of Finance and South African Local Government Association (SALGA) are expected to attend the meeting.

The meeting will be live-streamed on the North West Provincial Legislature Facebook page.

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