Zeerust Solar Farm’s recent business acceleration programme has nominated five principally women-led agriculture SMMEs as its key beneficiaries of its enterprise development initiative. Based in the Ramotshere Moiloa local communities, the five agricultural micro-entrepreneurs are to receive business funding and services support, following a stringent selection process.Of the five entrepreneurs, four are women and at least three are youth, demonstrating a shift in the perception that agriculture is male dominant. “Additionally, these beneficiaries will further address our obligation to ensure that women and youth are empowered through our various Economic Development programmes,” explains Nomzamo Landingwe, chief community operations officer for Zeerust Solar.
Picture: Nomzamo Landingwe/Supplied
The five overall winners will enter an Agri4Change accelerator programme and will also receive access to income-generating assets through allocation, which extends over 12 months; and an accredited certificate in mixed farming practices aligned with AgriSETA.
Picture: North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha
By STAFF REPORTER
North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha expressed grave concern as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the province. The cumulative number of cases reported thus far is 101 736 with 82 620 people have recovered from the coronavirus with an 81.2% recovery rate and 2 475 deaths.
“We are gravely concerned by the steady increase of COVID-19 cases in the province, the average cases reported since last week hovers around 1000 on average. This is a serious cause for concern for our province, given the status quo unfolding in Gauteng Province.
“The province has 16 001 active cases to date with Bojanala District accounting for 9801 cases, followed by Dr Kenneth Kaunda with 2981 and Ngaka Modiri Molema district with 2350 cases, while Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati has the least cases with only 614 cases,” he said.
Sambatha further said Bojanala and Dr Kenneth Kaunda districts remain the major concern for the province as they continue to register more positive daily cases and as the main economic zones of the province. He added that special attention must be paid to these districts.
“The early signs indicate that these districts might become serious hotspots once the Delta variant starts to pound our province. The province has administered 159 272 vaccines to date and we plead to all eligible persons to continue to register on the EVDS for vaccination.
“The process to register persons 50 years and above for vaccination has open on 1 July 2021. We still plead with our communities to adhere to basic preventative measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections, it is up to us to stop this deadly virus,” said Sambatha.
Therefore, he urged communities to take responsibility and not wait for the government to police them for compliance.
Meanwhile, a registered counsellor, Sumari Nel who works closely with the North West University’s Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP) said the pandemic could have dreadful effects on many people’s mental health.
Nel said: “People have lost their loved ones, financial stability, some of the freedom, social interaction and a “normal” people were used to. We have also learned a lot during this time, but a lot of uncertainty remains. This has a significant impact on our mental health.
“When the outbreak started, most of us thought or hoped that this would be temporary, but as weeks became months, a sense of hopelessness set in about the prevailing circumstances, and also about new challenges that are arising.”
She further said it is during these times that people must ground themselves in hope too. Nel said the American psychologist Charles Snyder describes hope as the perceived ability and motivation to walk certain paths that ultimately lead to the desired outcome.
“Hope is seen as the fuel that keeps people going through action. Snyder’s hope theory states that hope consists of both cognitive (process and content of thinking) and affective (emotions) components that ultimately lead to action.
“Therefore, you need to have focused thoughts, set goals and strategies to achieve them, and be motivated in pursuit of these goals. If, we perceive our current circumstances as hopeless, we may not be aware of the impact of our negative automatic thoughts on our experience of negative emotions and a change in functional behaviour,” said Nel.
She said it is important to be aware of and vigilant regarding thoughts, especially during this pandemic and to evaluate the rationale of our thinking.
Nel said this increased awareness makes way for a greater probability of experiencing an increase in positive emotions and of behaving in a more functional way, which ultimately improves mental health and allows you to live each day with hope.
“All around us we see individuals making an extra effort to take care of their physical health, but it is important that we also make an extra effort to nurture and protect our mental health.
“There is a lot of uncertainty and circumstances that are to a great extent out of our control, but people must embark on this journey with hope, focusing on what control they still have, nurturing the chances and opportunities they still have,” she said.
Nel also encouraged people to celebrate the “small” victories of each day with a grateful heart. She said at the end of the day, people should write down at least one thing for which they can be thankful.
“Set realistic, clear and achievable goals while recognising the potential barriers or roadblocks along the path. Spend time with people, even if it is virtually, who make you feel good and make you smile.
“Focus your attention on the facts from trusted resources to stay up to date regarding the news, but limit exposure to untrustworthy media resources. Constantly checking various websites for news and new comments can have an adverse effect on your mental health, as it may increase feelings of hopelessness and fear. Make time to also read about positive outcomes.
Picture: Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Oageng Seleke
By OBAKENG MAJE
Today, the Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Oageng Seleke is expected to resign from his position as a mayor as per ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC)’s instruction.
Seleke is expected to announce his resignation today at 2pm during a press conference. He was elected unopposed as the new mayor of the municipality back in April 2021, following the unceremonious removal of the then mayor, Kgosi Nnyoko Charles Motlhabane.
Motlhabane who is expected to be reinstated as the mayor during the course of this week, was ousted through a motion of no confidence sponsored by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Seleke was once adamant and said he will not recuse himself from the mayoral position.
“No my chief, a true leader cannot just instruct you. A selfless leader will listen to the cause then addresses the matter. So, it means the IRWC is not interested in addressing the cause, but they are interested in pleasing some bitter comrades.
“We need to shelve the spirit of arrogance first. To them, they are not interested in solving municipal issues but in pleasing their own interest. This is a revolution, so let them decide but the revolution continues. One day people will be reminded of their deeds,” he said.
However, the ANC IRWC coordinator in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, Walter Mabogola said in a letter that was sent to Seleke requesting him to resign: “The IRWC has noted with great concern that Nnyoko Motlhabane who is the ANC mayor of Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) was removed without proper consultation with the party that deployed your good self.
“It was further noted that the council meeting, which was held in GTLM on 13 April 2021, has elected you as the new municipal mayor after you have accepted the nomination.”
Mabogola further said in their view, Seleke’s election was done without proper consultation with the ANC.
Meanwhile at the time, the ANC IPC coordinator, Kenny Morolong said they have noted with concern the decisions of both Madibeng and Taung Local Municipal councils to remove both their mayors through motions of no confidence.
“We have also learned with utter shock that ANC deployees collaborated with the oppositions to remove both mayors of the ANC and did so without the organisation’s directive. These developments represent a continuation of a new and worrying tendency in our caucuses across the province.”
“This tendency seeks to erode the centrality of the ANC as the only centre of power. He said they would like to remind their deployees that the deployment and re-deployment of the mayors remain the exclusive domain of the IPC,” he said.
Picture: Ad Hoc Committee on Section 100 in North West Chairperon, China Dodovu
By OBAKENG MAJE
Ad Hoc Committee on Section 100 in North West chairperson, Chia Dodovu said a lot still need to be done to improve the situation in North West. Dodovu who submitted the report to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) for adoption, said the intervention in terms of Section 100 of the Constitution in North West should continue until the national executive undertakes a review process.
In 2018, certain provincial government departments were put under administration after the collapse of service delivery, rampant corruption, and malfeasance allegations were leveled against the fifth administration under the former North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo stewardship.
“The IMTT should continue to closely monitor the implementation of directives to ensure the achievement of outstanding priorities in Section 100(1)(b) departments.
The challenges in the North West Human Settlements department is addressed urgently.
“The national executive must monitor the performance of the province and institute early warning information systems to detect problems before they escalate into deeper crisis. However, at least the departments are fully capacitated at senior levels with qualified and experienced personnel and that skills transfer happen so that administration leaves a stable senior management leadership in place,” Dodovu said.
He further said the North West Public Works department should attend to the accommodation needs of departments, especially of the North West Social Development. Dodovu added that alternatively, the IMTT should look into dissolution of the function of property management from the North West Public Works back to other departments as a long-term solution to the current problem.
“The Minister of Transport together with the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management should urgently resolve the issues around an inability to promptly respond to the transport needs of the North West Department of Health including the procurement and maintenance of EMS fleet.
“Also the law enforcement agencies address issues of capacity, integrity, and allegations of corruption in their own ranks, where it is alleged that some criminal cases are fully investigated or are being withdrawn without valid reasons and whistle blowers and witnesses not being protected,” he said.
Dodovu said the should be progress in all the criminal cases be opened with the Hawks and the SIU be urgently considered by the NPA, particularly those that are subject to Section 100 intervention, and they be quarterly reported to the NCOP for close monitoring.
He said that all the role players engage one another in good faith and work together with a common view of restoring good governance and accountability culture in order to improved service delivery in the province.
“We recommend that proper and sustainable internal control measures, fraud prevention systems, monitoring and evaluation, audit units and independent audit committees be put in place.
“The consequence management be enforced in all incidents of unauthorised, irregular and fruitless and wasteful expenditure; possible abuse of the Supply Chain Management (SCM) system including fraud, corruption, and improper conduct,” said Dodovu.
However, the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Mmoloki Cwaile said: “We, as a provincial government, are of the view that Section 100 has succeeded, despite few of other presenting challenges. The progress has been recorded since S100 invocation on North West and that the NCOP in its interaction with law enforcement, on 11 June 2021, took note of the progress being done on tackling all allegations of corruption, malfeasance and maladministration.
“We appreciate that the challenges for which S100 was invoked, flow from 5th North West Provincial Government (NWPG) administration, a test is whether or not the 6th
Administration Executive Council (EXCO) has equally failed on its mandate? Has that been tested?”
Cwaile said a critical test – is whether or not continued S100 intervention that does not get reduced in its intensity or strength – does not hold potential to undermine prospects of sustainability of redress made by the S100 Administration?
“Isn’t time for weaning off or engaging on conditional handover – which may include S100 (1) (a) – allowing supervision of national departments, and some form of mitigation against possible relapse?
“Whereas S100 intervention was necessary and doing well even in the face of some challenges – it would be not in the interest and spirit of the constitution to seek to permanentize it over the present electoral period of the 6th NWPG administration, even when it is no longer for redress,” said Cwaile.
He further said it would be an error – a serious constitutional omission not to seek to enable the province to manage its affairs with the national government playing its own prescribed oversight. Cwaile added that the intervention should be supported with an allocation of funds so that the intervention itself should not only depend and use resources made available for services.
NCOP adopted the report after eight provinces voted in favour except the Western Cape province.
Picture: One of community members holding a placard outside the school
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West Department of Education has temporarily removed the Maphoitsile Primary School principal, Kgotlhaitsile William Maboitshege from the school after he allegedly sexually assaulted a Grade 6 learner.
It is alleged that Maboitshege sexually violated a learner by touching her breasts and private parts without her consent.
South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) and community members picketed outside the school calling for the removal of the principal. SANCO branch organizer, Lucky Tidikwe said they have engaged in a consultative meeting with the department and they are happy that Maboitshege was finally removed.
“The learner reported this matter to her grandmother who is her guardian. However, nothing was done to address this matter even though the parent went to school to report it. What Maboitshege did was wrong and surprisingly, more than five female learners also came forward with the same allegations.
“Imagine, the same teacher taught us many years ago, so he was supposed to regard these children as his granddaughters. So, it is clear that our learners are not living in a safer environment here. We have also advised the parent of the learner to go and open a criminal case with the police,” Tidikwe said.
Meanwhile, North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “We have taken a decision as the department to temporarily remove the principal from the school after the community picketed outside the school over this matter. We have requested him to report to the sub-district office in the meantime, while investigations are underway.
“So, we will wait for the outcome of the investigations. If it warrants that disciplinary actions need to be taken against the teacher, the department will do so. We have also summoned social workers to counsel the learners and parents.”
According to www.legalwise.org.za website: “Sexual abuse is where a person has sexual relations with another person without his or her consent, such as rape or sexual violation. The rights of a child must be protected at all costs and every child has the right to dignity, such as not to be humiliated, freedom and security, such as not to be subjected to any form of violence and not to have his/her body touched in an inappropriate way, which would include sexual abuse.
“Bring criminal charges against any person who has committed an offence against him/her, such as that a child who has been sexually abused by his/her teacher has a right to report this to the South African Police Service (SAPS).”
The website said a child can report an offence without the assistance of his/her parents or legal guardians, however, it is advisable that a child consult with them for assistance, report any incident, such as sexual abuse by a teacher, to another teacher at his/her school, and bring a civil claim in court (such as a claim for damages) against a teacher who sexually abused him/her.
It reported that the child will need the assistance of his/her parent or legal guardian to bring a civil claim in court. A website said a teacher is required to place the interests of a child first.
“While a child is at school, a teacher has a duty of care over such a child. This means that a teacher must look after the child and act as the child’s parents, especially where there may be a threat to the safety of the child.
“A teacher also has a duty to report any knowledge that s/he may have that a child is being sexually abused. Except for the teacher, there is a general duty on every person who has knowledge of a child being sexually abused to report that knowledge.
Picture: ANC in Ngaka Modiri Molema region addressing the media
By REGINALD KANYANE
ANC in the Ngaka Modiri Molema region has been dissolved by the ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) with immediate effect. This was announced by the ANC IPC coordinator, Hlomani Chauke yesterday.
Chauke said the decision to disband the region was reached after intensive engagement with the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC).
“We have consulted with the national leadership and it has come to a conclusion to disband the region with immediate effect. So, the IPC has established an interim structure that will now run the affairs of the party in the region.
“The structure will assist the region in preparing our branches to go to BGMs that will lead into the regional conference including the preparations for a provincial conference,” Chauke said.
He lauded the new interim structure and wished them well in their new responsibilities. Chauke said the aim was to build the united ANC in the region.
“They will also make sure that during this period when there is a total collapse of service delivery, they will carry with them the responsibility of ensuring that there is accountability across all municipalities in Ngaka Modiri Molema to make sure that they deliver services to our people,” he said.
The disbanded ANC leadership in the region is well-known to be staunched supporters of the former ANC provincial chairperson, Supa Mahumapelo as they have lashed out at the IPC accusing them of serving their own interests and purging those who differ with them politically.
Recently, the structure also suspended the ANC memberships of Mahumapelo and the ANC Women’s League acting provincial secretary, Bitsa Lenkopane for five years for misconduct.
Picture: Setshwarapelo Primary School in Mokgareng village, Taung in dire situation
By OBAKENG MAJE
Parents of learners at Setshwarapelo Primary School in Mokgareng village, near Taung said they are bothered about safety of their children at the school as far as COVID-19 is concerned.
This comes after the ‘hazardous’ situation their children are exposed to at the school because of dilapidated buildings and lack of provision of water.
“Our children’s lives are in danger because of dilapidated buildings they are exposed to. There is also no provision of water to wash their hands. The situation there is appalling and we blame the North West Department of Education for being ignorant.
“Mostly affected are Grade 3 learners as their classroom’s ceiling is falling down, while the walls are about to collapse anytime. The department does not take us serious even though we have raised these concerns with them in numerous times,” one parent said.
Another one said: “The department brought few mobile classes which are not conducive for teaching and learning. These mobile classrooms are also not enough because our learners are cooped in mobile classrooms, while department officials work in air-conditioned and well-refurbished offices.
“However, we will continue to engage with the department to ensure that infrastructure is improved at our school. Pupils are demoralized because of the dire situation they are subjected to. The department is slapdash when it comes to our children’s future. Our learners cannot even adhere to COVID-19 regulations because of overcrowding.”
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said the school has been prioritised for building of two blocks in 2021/22 financial year and it is in the planning stage as the scope has been done.
“However not all the blocks had cracks as there is a solid block. We have also provided seven new mobile classrooms and awaiting four additional mobiles to make it eleven. The old buildings are not used since the learners moved back after the provision of mobiles.
“Currently, there is a borehole project for the school and 10% of Section 21 must be used for a falling ceiling. All schools have been allocated this budget precisely to make minor repairs. A ceiling will be attended with the 10% of the infrastructure budget allocated to the school,” he said.
Recently, the department reported that more than 2000 teachers and more than 1000 learners across the province tested positive for COVID-19.
Tshepo Lenyai (32) is expected back in Taung Magistrate’s Court today. Lenyai from Manthe village, in Taung, was arrested for the murder of Kamogelo Lekaota (18). The incident took place at Disoufeng tavern in Manthe village during Easter weekend this year.
It is alleged that Lenyai stabbed Lekaota to death during a robbery. Lenyai appeared in court several times since his arrest, but he was denied bail by the court citing non-disclosure of his previous and pending cases.
The National Prosecuting Agency (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said: “Lenyai briefly appeared at Taung Magistrate’s Court for a formal bail application. However, he was denied bail after he failed to disclose his previous convictions, outstanding evidentiary evidence, and the state argued that he might intimidate state witnesses.
“The degree of violence in the charge against the accused was also taken into consideration including a pending case of assault GBH against him. The community will also not be pleased and his safety might be in jeopardy if released on bail.”
North West Department of Education continues to be marred by widespread corruption and malfeasance. This comes after the department is implicated in the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) scandal worth R9.2 million recently.
According to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the department established an informal committee to manage the procurement of PPEs outside the committee as provided by in terms of treasury regulations.
SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago said the investigation in the affairs of the department has uncovered that the committee may have committed financial misconduct as it failed to ensure that the Supply Chain Management governing public procurement process was fair, equitable, transparent, competitive, and cost-effective.
“The investigation further shows that two requests for quotations (RFQ) were issued by the committee on behalf of the department for the supply and delivery of 50 000 masks per RFQ.
“In the first RFQ, three service providers were appointed to the value of R3.7 million, while on the second RFQ, five service providers were appointed to the value of R5.512 million,” he said.
Kganyago said, however, the department used the two RFQs to procure 400 000 masks, which was 300 000 more than what was initially requested. He said the irregularity has resulted in the department having to pay more than R9.2 million for masks, instead of R2.5 million.
“The regulated price for the face cloth mask by the National Treasury is R25. Our investigation has also revealed that one service provider was appointed despite submitting a quotation after the cut-off time.
“Furthermore, the committee even requested that one of the service providers reduce their quotation so that it be below the threshold set by National Treasury. This is the second irregularity relating to PPEs procurement that the SIU has uncovered in the department.
“The SIU has commenced with the civil litigation process to declare the contract invalid and unlawful and to recover any financial losses suffered by the North West Provincial
Government (NWPG),” said Kganyago.
He added that in line with SIU Act of 1996, the SIU made a disciplinary referral against members of the informal procurement committee for flouting supply chain management processes and for exposing the department to over expenditure of more than R6.5 million in the appointment of service providers.
Kganyago said ordinarily, all competitive bids above R500 000 that are awarded by the government entities must be awarded by a Bid Adjudication Committee in terms of National Treasury regulations.
“The Bid Adjudication Committee consider the recommendations of the Bid Evaluation
Committee and depending on the delegated powers make a final award or a recommendation to the accounting officer to make a final award,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Education department spokesperson, Elias Malindi said he will comment on the matter after meeting with his principals.
Picture: ANC leadership in ward 7 in Mokgareng village, Taung
By OBAKENG MAJE
African National Congress (ANC) leadership in Mokgareng village, Taung alongside with its embattled branch secretary, Mmoloki Mojaki who was accused of assaulting the chief, visited the Ntokwe royal house on Sunday.
The truce visit comes following a ‘frosted and fractured’ relations between the ANC leadership, its deployee and the tribal leadership in the village.
Some residents raised concerns over Mojaki’s nominee as the incoming ANC ward 7 councillor after 2021 Local Government elections. They deemed Mojaki as ‘rebellious and ill-disciplined’ person who is not fit to lead.
It is allegedly that Mojaki assaulted Kgosi Victor Ntokwe back in 2019 after a commotion ensued over Mokgareng High School project.
ANC ward 7 branch spokesperson, Vela Ntuli said in a statement that the ‘highly powered’ delegation had an extraordinary session with Bogosi Baga Kgosi Ntokwe after spurious allegations made rounds in the media and social media fraternity.
“We visited the Bogosi Baga Kgosi Ntokwe after spurious allegations did rounds in the media and social media and making serious but baseless allegations against the ward branch secretary and nominee of the branch for ward candidate, Mojaki.
“An extraordinary meeting was attended by Kgosi Ntokwe Kingsley Ntokwe and the highly powered delegation led by the branch chairperson, Oupa Moses Moshe
Mopharing,” he said.
Ntuli said the deliberations reflected on the need for the traditional authority to be respected and for relations to be rebuilt. He said they agreed on the need to normalize working relations and work for the common good of the community of Mokgareng in particular and ward 7 in general.
According to Ntuli, Kgosi stated in no uncertain terms that all political parties in the ward, including all candidates are his subjects and he refuses to be made to hate other members of the community.
“Kgosi Ntokwe made it categorically clear that he has no objection against any candidate of any political party assuming high office, including Mojaki. Kgosi also highlighted that they will work with any elected leader to bring developments to the community.
“Mojaki also indicated that he heard for the first time in the media about those frivolous and baseless allegations. He committed to work with all stakeholders to bring development in the area, be it former councillors, NGOs, churches and other faith-based organizations, small businesses and the tribal authority,” said Ntuli.
He said Mojaki personally called for a new era, which is an era of focus, unity and service delivery. Ntuli added that the ANC Branch Executive Committee wishes to reaffirm its faith and confidence in the Bogosi as led by Kgosi Ntokwe and the Branch Election Team under the stewardship of Mojaki.
“We call on residents of ward 7 to work together and not entertain petty and manufactured concoctions from prophets of doom, who want to see the society divided.
“As BEC, we note the allegations as a poorly-orchestrated plan to cast aspersion on the integrity of our ward candidate and equally defame him. We pledge to rally around Mojaki and deliver a resounding ANC victory for ward 7,” he said.
However, Kgosi Victor Ntokwe who was allegedly assaulted by Mojaki did not buy it. Ntokwe said he was called by Kgosi Ntokwe Kingsley Ntokwe who informed him that there are ANC members who want to make truce.
“I was not part of that meeting because I feel that Mojaki is undermining me. He cannot go and ask for forgiveness from my brother, while I am the one he assaulted. He was supposed to request forgiveness from me if he really mean it,” he said.
