North West Model Wins Big In Thailand

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

Rustenburg-born model, Kealeboga Matsafu said modeling must be treated as a career rather than a hobby. Matsafu (17) represented South Africa at the Miss Teen Globe International Pageant competition in Thailand recently and crowned the winner.

She described herself as “the rural girl with global dreams.” Matsafu who was born in Mabieskraal village near Rustenburg said that she prides herself through cultural background and her upbringing.

“I believe that my background has groomed me to become a person I am today. I am an outgoing and vibrant person, but love to read books too. I also make time for my social responsibilities through a charity organization called Rare Seeds.

“Having grown up in a rural village, I knew just how much I needed someone I could look up to. I needed someone whom I could draw inspiration from and that alone inspired me to be a model. So, I pushed myself to be that perfect example and inspired others,” she said.

Matsafu said it was not an easy task to become a model, but with morals, discipline, kindness and perseverance a break-through was guaranteed. She also said it is imperative for aspiring models to know what they want.

“I would like to encourage young and aspiring models not to try unethical short-cuts to get to the top because by so doing one will be putting her/his modeling career at risk. They must have direction and put all efforts into their craft.

“Remember, rejections are part of the journey, so do not despair but rather use that as a learning curve. One cannot make it through in every casting or pageant audition, but one needs to keep going,” she said.

Matsafu added that education is very significant and encourages young people to take it seriously. She said being educated gives a person the power to be able to stand up for herself or himself.

“If you are educated, you can afford the lifestyle you have always dreamt of. You are given freedom because as long as you are uneducated, no one will take you seriously. However, we understand that it is not by choice that others are uneducated, but because of the situation.

“I’m still in high school at the moment and I will be matriculating next year and I’m so grateful that I am doing quite well at school too. The experience of going to Thailand was amazing and it was my first international trip,” said Matsafu.

She advocates for the rights of women and children and said that “16 Days of Activism against Women and Children” need to be celebrated every day.

“I was born on the first day of 16 days of activism and I believe that I have to be the voice for those affected. I think this is not something that should be celebrated because it should be a norm already to live in homes without violence.

“We should campaign against GBV every day and break free from the abuses that we experienced recently. Women and children need to have people advocating for their rights not only for 16 days,” she concluded.

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The bank builds houses for the needy!

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Two families from Mokgareng and Ditshilong villages in Taung breathe a “sigh of relief” after the Greater Taung Local Municipality in partnership with Standard Bank promised to build them houses respectively.

Motsamai Tsolo (73) from Mokgareng village was staying alone in a dilapidating mud house and relied heavily on his pension grant for survival. He said it was difficult to live in dire condition and applauded the municipality and the bank for assistance.

“I am so grateful after I was identified as one of the beneficiaries of this project. I experienced challenges during rainy and windy seasons. However, my life will change for the better. Shelter gives people a feeling of well-being and boosts their will to live.

“Having a shelter is also a basic human necessity, in addition to food and water. The shelter also provides privacy and encourages independence from the community. I can now have a decent house and I am so grateful,” said Tsolo.

Another beneficiary, Martha Mooka (69) said: “Ten of us stayed in a two-roomed mud house and it was horrendous. However, I am happy to see the GTLM along with Standard Bank doing a sod-turning in my yard. No one is working here and we all rely on my pension grant for survival.

“We urge our government to ensure that underprivileged people receive basic needs. We would also like to send our attributes to Eddie Mogorwe who fought tooth and nail for us to get a house.”

Mogorwe said he known the family after he ran to the house seeking shelter, while it was raining. He said he was hurt by the unpleasant conditions the family was subjected to at that time.

“I am so grateful to see that the family will receive a decent house after a long time. I ran to the house seeking shelter because it was raining at that time. However, I found disaster as the water was flowing freely inside the house and the family had nowhere to go.

“So, I took it upon myself to ensure that I inform the municipality about the Mooka family’s living conditions. I disseminated the information to the municipal mayor, Kgosi Charles Motlhabane during the municipality’s imbizo. I want to applaud the municipality for their swift response,” he said.

Motlhabane said: “Even though GTLM is a rural municipality, it strives to change the lives of its people. Most of our population is marred with unemployment, inequality, and poverty, but we engaged with Standard Bank to address this matter. We do not have enough budgets, but we will ensure that our people receive dignified houses.”

Standard Bank Public Sector Banking Head in North West, Walter Mogotsi shared the same sentiments. Mogotsi said it is his responsibility to build a strategic relationship, especially where his deliverables in the provincial government and local municipalities are key.

“The importance of us building houses for the needy came upon when I received these projects, so I realised that there were some areas that we never touched on especially in the most rural areas where there is a need.

“So, I took it upon myself to look around those municipalities and we approached them. Each beneficiary will receive a decent house worth R350 000. Standard Bank has constructed other ten houses across the province for the needy,” he said.

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ANCWL: “DO NOT LOOK AWAY, FIGHT AGAINST GBV”

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By REGINALD KANYANE

South African women call on the government to take harsh steps against those who continue to abuse and kill women and children. This comes after the country experienced rape and killing of women during the 16 Days of Activism against women and children campaign.

Tsholofelo Leshoe from Modimong village in Taung was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, Kabelo Seelo. According to the police statement, a fight ensued between Leshoe and Seelo during a love triangle argument at Seelo’s residential area. It is alleged that Seelo who is on R1000 bail, stabbed Leshoe and dumped her body in a nearby veld afterwards.

He was subsequently arrested and charged with murder after his other girlfriend allegedly informed the police about the tragedy. In a separate incident, an 18-year-old girl from Seweding village in Mahikeng was also brutally murdered allegedly by a 19-year-old suspect.

Gomolemo Legae-Mashetla suffered third-degree burns, but it was reported to have positively identified her attacker to the members of the community who had come to her rescue before drawing her last breath.

North West Premier, Job Mokgoro said it was a ‘concern’ to see the increasing number of violent rape and murder being perpetrated against young women in the various parts of the province recently.

“We would like to condemn the senseless, violent rape and brutal murder of Legae-Mashetla. In addition, we also thank the police for the arrest of a 37-year-old man, identified as Tebogo Setlhare for the alleged murder of his partner, Kgaugelo Tshwae (28) whose burnt remains were found in her charred Mini Cooper recently.

“We would also wish to condemn the stabbing and murder Eunice Motlaleso (34) from Dibate village in Mahikeng. Motlaleso was allegedly stabbed by a 36-year-old man, who has since been taken into custody by the police,” Mokgoro said.

Meanwhile, the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) in the North West discussed Stakeholder Relations and Cooperation to fight Gender-Based Violence, Women Empowerment, and Strengthening Support for the ANC and Governance.

ANCWL acting provincial secretary, Bitsa Lenkopane said: “Gender-based violence has reached unacceptably high and alarming levels where a woman or a girl child is attacked and killed every two minutes in the country. Perpetrators of this brutal and senseless deed have extended their reach to institutions of learning (schools, colleges, and universities) where young women have been raped and killed.

“The scourge has even placed the development of women, young women, and girl children in jeopardy as it will only be a matter of time before they’d start to be

discouraged from attending a learning institution in fear of being attacked.”

Lenkopane further said the ANCWL has decided to work closely with NGOs, NPOs and religious organisations to widen the reach to mobilize society to fight gender-based violence. She added that they have worked together in a number of activities including the last memorial services of the late Legae-Mashetla and the Mokopanele brothers who were brutally killed in vicious gender-based violence act.

“The league will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Christian Ministers Fraternal (SAMIFRA) and other Non-Governmental Organisations to work together in each other’s programmes to fight gender-based violence and address challenges that lead to the scourge.

“Women bear the brunt of social and economic challenges. They are burdened with family responsibilities and the nurturing of children. Such responsibilities are unbearable for women as they have no financial muscles to attend to these challenges with male partners and or fathers of children not playing a role as required,” said Lenkopane.

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Radio veteran Oshebeng Alpheus Koonyaditse quits Motsweding FM

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The veteran radio broadcaster Oshebeng Alpheus Koonyaditse presented his last sports show last Friday, before he decided to quit his job at the public broadcaster after almost 30 years spent in the media industry.

He spent 21 of the 30 years at the SABC.

Although Koonyaditse’s freelance contract was set to end only in four months, he decided to call it quits this week. The veteran broadcaster has spent 19 years in current affairs at Motsweding FM.

The celebrated presenter is currently completing his thesis in international relations and holds an MBA from the University of the North West. He is also a Fellow at the United States International Visitor Leadership Programme (Edward R. Murrow Programme for Journalists).

“In life, you never say never. There is nothing that I know besides journalism. If granted another opportunity in the future, I will definitely consider it,” said Koonyaditse.

It is understood that Koonyaditse became frustrated at Motsweding FM when he was not offered a new contract earlier this year, and there was also believed to be unhappiness around the management at the radio station.

Another source claimed that Motsweding FM’s station manager Katlego Mokhele, who was suspended on August 2019, was at the centre of veterans leaving the radio station. Mokhele was fired by the public broadcaster last Wednesday.

The SABC’s acting spokesperson Mmoni Seapolelo said Koonyaditse resigned out of his own volition.

“We confirm that Mr Alpheus Koonyaditse has resigned from the SABC, a decision which is his prerogative. The SABC wishes Mr Koonyaditse, who was an instrumental part of Motsweding FM, well in his future endeavors’, said Seapolelo.

Oupa Matla, the founder of the Oupa Matla Foundation, said the SABC in the North West was increasingly losing experience because of alleged poor decisions by management.

Matla met with the SABC group chief executive Madoda Mxakwe and Philly Moilwa, the acting group executive for corporate affairs in November, where he demanded Mokhele be fired as station manager. He was dismissed last week.

He said they were not happy that radio veterans including Peter Manzana, Goitsemodimo Seleka and Stella Seballo were given month-to-month contracts.
“Since SABC has dealt with the issue of Mokhele, we will lobby other stakeholders to put pressure on SABC to review their decision and bring back Goitsemodimo Seleka, Peter Manzana, Stella Sebalo and Alpheus Koonyaditse,” said Matla.

Source: Sunday Independent

7.4 MILLION PEOPLE ARE HIV POSITIVE!

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Deputy President David Mabuza addresses a National Aids Council meeting on Saturday. Photo by Bulelwa Ginindza.

DEPUTY President David Mabuza has urged civil society and the private sector to work with government to stop the increase in HIV infections.

Speaking at the South African National Aids Council plenary meeting in Secunda in Mpumalanga on Saturday, Mabuza said it was the responsibility of the three partners to empower women and young girls with information that could save their lives.

“One HIV infection is one too many,” said Mabuza.

“We need to continue putting in place practical and decisive measures to reduce incidence levels as we know how much it affects young women,” he said.

“It is within our grasp to reverse the pandemic and conquer gender-based violence. We’ll win the battle by working with all stakeholders in our schools, our homes, boardrooms and workplaces.”

Mabuza said government would work closely with district mayors to strengthen district Aids councils.

“The model of district participation will ensure we make the desired impact. We’ve given ourselves the responsibility of reaching two million people who need to be tested and treated,” he said.

Source: http://www.dailysun.co.za

Taung policeman back in court

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police-vest

By BAKANG MOKOTO

A 27-year-old policeman is expected to apply for bail at the Taung Magistrate’s Court today. Keaobaka Mmolawa who stationed at the Taung Police Station was arrested on Friday for armed robbery and attempted murder.

It is allegedly that Mmolawa shot a man who was hitch-hiking next to the filling station in Pudimoe Township in Taung along N18 road. According to the Pudimoe Police Station cluster spokesperson, Warrant Officer Tebogo Thebe, Mmolawa allegedly approached the man and demanded to search him.

Thebe said the victim allegedly requested Mmolawa to identify himself before any search can be conducted.

“It is alleged that a commotion ensued between the two. Mmolawa allegedly shot the victim several times, took his bag and put it in his car. The policeman was not on duty at the time of the incident.

“We can confirm that the victim was admitted at the Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp with gunshot injuries. Mmolawa briefly appeared at the Taung Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, but he was remanded in custody until Thursday for a formal bail application,” he said.

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DA: ‘Power-cuts affect businesses in Vryburg’

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Businesses and residents in Vryburg continue to be subjected to severe electricity cuts due to poor maintenance of the electrical infrastructure, said the Democratic Alliance.

DA councillor in the Naledi Local Municipality, Jan Brand said the party will write to the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Gordon Kegakilwe asking him to intervene in the municipality’s failure to restore electricity supply to several areas and to fix streetlights.

“The ANC-led Naledi Local Municipality is unable to attend to the basic and yet critical part of service delivery which directly impacts the safety of residents which is to fix the electricity problems that currently engulf the whole municipality.

“For the past ten years, the smallholdings and households on the Delareyville and Schweizer road have been subjected to severe electricity cuts. Residents have to endure long consecutive hours without electricity due to poor maintenance of the electrical infrastructure,” said Brand.

He said this negatively affects businesses who suffer in losses not only in productivity but incur damage to their equipment as a result of the unstable electricity supply. Brand added that in August, three transformers were burnt down and only two of them were fixed.

“The transformer will cost the municipality R400 000 to fix, money which the municipality does not have. This leaves households to each use up to 40 Amperes (amps). This is too low and causes residents’ electricity to trip and go off for more than 20 minutes if they plug in more than one electronic device.

“For the past three years, almost all the streets lights within the town have not been working due to a burnt-out cable. The DA has on numerous occasions asked the municipality to replace it, but nothing is being done to fix the problem,” he said.

According to Brand, the municipality does not have the necessary equipment and vehicles such as cherry picker trucks to attend to necessary electrical faults. He said the lack of street lights has also allowed criminals to take advantage.

“There has been an increase in crime, particularly, house burglaries and robberies. The automatic timer switch is also broken and has not been replaced, which causes many streets in Vryburg to either permanently be in the dark as the street lights have to be manually turned on and off from each light pole.

“Due to ANC mismanagement, the municipality is in a deep financial crisis and is failing to maintain electrical infrastructure and deliver basic services to its residents. It is no longer enough to place municipalities under administration as this does not yield any results.

“The municipality needs a change of government that will implement a turn-around strategy to fix the municipality’s finances and restore service delivery,” said Brand.

The Administrator at the municipality, Paul Maseko has not responded to our messages before going to print. The Naledi Local Municipality is one of 14 municipalities put under administration in the province.

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Incomplete RDP houses a ‘cause for concern’

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Incomplete RDP house

Picture: One of the unfinished RDP houses Source: Daily Sun

By REGINALD KANYANE

Incomplete RDP houses in the North West province continues to be a “cause for concern.” According to the beneficiaries, the contractors left these houses incomplete and have continuously promised to come back to complete them, but that has never happened.

Some of these houses in Lekgopung and Taung have been left without roofing, plastering, windows, doors and proper floors.

However, the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs in the North West, Mothibedi Kegakilwe he recently met with senior officials in the department to discuss the state of housing delivery in the province.

Kegakilwe further said his department should no longer tolerate poor performance by housing developers and must not hesitate to take action against such developers.

“We should not be lenient with developers because they decided to be in business and they must deliver good products. We, on the other hand, are in the business of delivering houses and we must do just that.

“We must also ensure that proper planning, monitoring, and contract management in the housing delivery chain is essential. Managers must plan, do a review and act to produce good results. Gone are the days when houses were built without internal services,” said Kegakilwe.

He added that the department cannot still be talking about developers who have long been appointed and have not yet occupied the site. Kegakilwe said communities expect nothing from them, but the delivery of quality houses.

“The department needs to address the challenge of water and sanitation in the context of housing delivery too. We also want to denounce the illegal occupation of the Community Residential Units (CRU) in Mahikeng. Most of the people who are occupying those units are government officials who can afford houses and we must, therefore, address this issue once and for all.

“We would request the Minister of Human, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu to convene a meeting with Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) to resolve the issue of the social housing units in Mahikeng – Unit 3,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kegakilwe also appealed for the empowerment of women, youth and emerging housing contractors. He said the government will nurture them so that they do not collapse.

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Taung police arrested for attempted murder and armed robbery

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police-vest

By BAKANG MOKOTO

North West policeman was arrested on Friday for armed robbery and attempted murder. Keaobaka Mmolawa (27) who is stationed at the Taung Police Station allegedly shot a man who was hitch-hiking next to the filling station in Pudimoe Township in Taung along N18 road.

According to the Pudimoe Police Station cluster spokesperson, Warrant Officer Tebogo Thebe who told Vaaltar FM News, Mmolawa allegedly approached the man and demanded to search him. Thebe said the victim allegedly requested Mmolawa to identify himself before any search was conducted.

“It is alleged that a commotion ensued between the two. Mmolawa allegedly shot the victim several times, took his bag and put it in his car. The policeman was not on duty at the time of the incident.

“We can confirm that the victim was admitted at the Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp with gunshot injuries. Mmolawa briefly appeared at the Taung Magistrate’s Court today, but he was remanded in custody until Thursday for a formal bail application,” he said.

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Interviews for deputy Public Protector position continue

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Public_protector_Emblem

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services today commenced with interviews for the Deputy Public Protector position which will become vacant next month.

Committee Chairperson, Bulelani Magwanishe said the committee will expedite the process and aims to recommend a candidate for the position before parliament rises for its annual recess next month, in order for the National Assembly to adopt its decision.

“The deputy Public Protector is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the National Assembly for such a period as the President may determine at the time of such appointment, but not exceeding seven years.

“The Deputy Public Protector may at the end of his or her term, be reappointed for one additional term. The committee received 29 applications/nominations of which three withdrew before the shortlisting process. A total of eight candidates were shortlisted for interviews, but one withdrew after this,” Magwanishe said.

Today, the candidates were Adv Shadrack Nkuna, Buang Jones, Adv Moshoeshoe Moshoeshoe and Adv Noxolo Mbangeni.

Questions to the candidates include: How do they understand the concept of rule of law and that of due process? How will they address the possible conflict between the Deputy Public Protector (DPP) and the Public Protector (PP) and the roles regarding responsibilities given the DPP? Question of neutrality, decisions free from political bias were also raised with the candidates.

“The person recommended for appointment as Deputy Public Protector must be a South African citizen, who is a fit and proper person to hold such office, and who is admitted as advocate or an attorney and has, for a cumulative period of at least 10 years after having been so admitted, practised as an advocate or an attorney.

“The person must also be qualified to be admitted as an advocate or an attorney and has, for a cumulative period of at least 10 years after having been so qualified, lectured in law at a university or has specialized knowledge of, or experience for a cumulative period of at least 10 years, in the administration of justice, public administration or public finance or has, for a cumulative period of at least 10 years, been a Member of Parliament; or has acquired any combination of experiences mentioned above, for a cumulative period of at least 10 years,” he said.

The interviews will continue tomorrow at Old Assembly Chamber Building with Adv Lwazi Kubukeli, Adv Puleng Matshelo, and Adv Kholeka Gcaleka.
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