By BAKANG MOKOTO

Democratic Alliance in the North West said it is concerned about the safety of the victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) at Khuseleka One Stop Centre in Vryburg. This comes after the DA spokesperson on Health and Social Development, Gavin Edwards, Member of Parliament, Sello Seitlholo and Councillor Hendriette van Huyssteen visited the centre on an oversight inspection recently.

Edwards said the purpose of the centre is to house victims of violence and crime that is referred for shelter by the South African Police Services (SAPS). He further said these women and children’s lives are often endangered and therefore optimum security is a non-negotiable necessity.

“It is concerning that the centre has no empowerment programmes in place to assist victims to develop skills or find jobs to rebuild their lives after leaving the centre. The recreational activities available are limited to a TV room, gym equipment and library consisting of a few books and computers.

“There are currently no tutors to assist with computer classes or other skills development programmes. Due to the Covid-19 regulations, the children staying at the centre are unable to attend Early Learning Centres,” said Edwards.

He added that the centre has a playground, but there are no other resources to ensure learning activities. Edwards said this concerning especially for children housed for an extended period of time.

“The centre management has, on several occasions, contacted the Naledi Local Municipality to unblock the overflowing drain, but to no avail. There is also a broken water pipe on the premises that has not yet been repaired by the Department of Public Works. The area is not cordoned off, posing a safety hazard to residents and staff.

“We will also write to the MEC for the Department of Public Works and Roads, Oageng Molapisi to request urgent attention to all maintenance challenges. We will also continue to apply pressure on the Department of Social Development to fulfil its constitutional obligations towards the vulnerable in society,” he said.

Meanwhile, the North West Social Development spokesperson, Petrus Siko said the centre is receiving support from the department. Siko said in 2019/20 financial year, the centre received an additional budget of R500 000 from the department to address all the identified needs including general maintenance of the centre.

“Currently, the centre has been allocated R6 000 000 for operational costs for the 2020/21 financial year. Our support service officials would do an assessment and ensure that the CCTV cameras are functional. Our work inspector has been engaged to assess the damage on the gate and developed specification for repairs. 

“The gate is not functional but it does open and close manually. The interim structure for the institution was approved in 2017 and due to pressure on Compensation of Employees, not all the posts were filled. Social workers are currently providing Life Skills in order to make clients self-reliant,” said Siko.

He further said the department would prioritise the appointment of a Child and Youth care workers to provide services to children at the centre. Siko said there is a septic tank at the premises of the centre that needs to be regularly drained and at times the municipality takes time to respond to the call. 

“The drain has been sucked and currently dried out, but District Works Inspector has assessed it and identified areas for repairs. Specifications for repairs were developed and submitted to Provincial Infrastructure sub-directorate for a briefing of Service Providers,” he said.

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Picture: Broken pipe at the centre 

By OBAKENG MAJE

Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza said the government will continue to work together with farmers to ensure that food security is preserved. Didiza engaged with commercial, subsistence and smallholders farmers around Taung to assess the conditions of their farms.

“One of the issues that the farmers have raised which they requested the government to work on it is the expansion of the irrigation scheme. Clearly, when you look at this area, there is a lot of lands that can still be irrigated. 

“Secondly, they also requested the government to assist them in the area of the revitalization of the scheme. They need us to deal with issues of the canals which are very old and some of them need to be repaired,” she said.

Didiza further said irrigation infrastructure is a key area where farmers need assistance. She added that farmers urged the government to give them support so that they can reach their goals.

“They say even though government gives them support, sometimes it comes too late for the agricultural calendar. What do I mean about that is for instance, if it is the summer season where people are planting grains like maize or sunflower, when the government gives some inputs to them, sometimes the assistance comes in the middle of the calendar or even at the end of the season.

“So, those inputs are normally not going to be of use to the farmers. This has propelled some of the farmers to get into contracts with some of the commodity organizations, or in some of the individuals of the members of the commercial farmers. What we are concerned about is the times of contracts they tight themselves to because are not working in their favour.  

“Farmers enter into these contracts and my guess is that sometimes they do not examine the conditions of the contracts. This happens because most farmers do not have the implements to farm the land. Contractors come, plant the land and harvest it and at the end, farmers get nothing out of their own land,” said Didiza.

She added that one of the things they have agreed on is coming back here and work with farmers. Didiza said they will look at how they can resolve some of those issues and ensure that they come up with mechanisms to assist these farmers.

One of the farmers, Keitumetse Kgosiemang (27) who has six years in farming said they are faced with a mammoth tasks. Kgosiemang said she is now sitting on top of R80 000 worth of debts after she engaged in a contract with a white commercial farmer.

“I am a farmer at Tshidiso South and I cannot see any progress in farming because of a lack of support from the government. This forced us to resort to seeking assistance from white commercial farmers. They buy planting seeds for us and pay water and electricity bills including the mechanism.

“However, this is not financially viable because we come out of this with nothing at the end of the cropping season. We are forced to seek assistance from these white commercial farmers because we do not have the financial backing to cover all our costs,” she said.

Kgosiemang urged government to provide them with the financial muscle and assist them with machinery and fertilizers.

Another disgruntled farmer, Aobakwe Gaobuse from Bosele Cooperative shared the same sentiments. Gaobuse said they have serious challenges as farmers in Taung.

“Firstly, we have a serious problem in Taung with machinery and even what the government is helping us with is not coming on time. That is why our people go to white commercial farmers for assistance. We also have a challenge regarding our extension officers who supposed to lead us, but they are not helping us at all.

Oratile Segosapelo who is one of the 176 people whom their land was taken by force back in 1992 said they want to be compensated. Segosapelo said even though their land was restituted back to them in 2017, it has turned into a ‘white elephant’ because of a lack of support from the government.

“We are not happy with how the department has handled our matter. We are 176 farmers and our land was forcefully taken away from us back in 1992. The government distributed back the land to us, but it has done little in giving us any support. What is happening is that white commercial farmers have been utilizing that land without compensating us.

“We have even written to the Office of the Public Protector for intervention. We would like at least to get compensated by those who have been benefiting from our land. Government bought a pivot irrigation system for us, but white commercial farmers strapped it and used those parts to fix theirs,” said Segosapelo.

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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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