Picture: Daily Maverick 

By REGINALD KANYANE

The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the North West on Monday urged the criminal justice system to ensure that the release of 19 000 low-risk offenders from the Department of Correctional Services is properly managed to eliminate blunders previously associated with the parole system.

This comes after the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa recommended the release of 19 000 low-risk offenders to avoid overcrowding in various correctional services facilities across the country amid COVID-19 pandemic.

SANCO provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe also calls on beneficiaries not to abuse humanitarian grounds that influenced the decision to grant them conditional parole to ease overcrowding including the internal and external threat posed by the spread of COVID-19 to the prison population.

“Mandatory Victim-Offender Dialogues that unfolded as part of the parole process have laid the foundation for reconciliation necessary for acceptance and community reintegration.

“We welcome the exclusion of inmates who are serving sentences for sexual offences, child abuse, murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, sedition, high treason, sabotage, terrorism, offenders declared as dangerous by the court in terms of Section 286 A of the Criminal Procedure Act, 51 of 1977 from the remission of sentence process,” he said.

Sebegoe added that communities should give those earmarked for release into community corrections that include inmates with underlying health problems, elderly (above 60 years) and female offenders with infants a second chance and support them. He insisted that early warning systems must be put in place to monitor on the case by case basis deviant behavior of parolees outside the confines of the correctional services environment.

However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said it does not support the decision by Ramaphosa to authorise the parole of thousands of selected categories of sentenced offenders in order to reduce overcrowding in prisons in an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19.

DA’ Member of Parliament (MP) and Shadow Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Glynnis Breytenbach said while South Africa’s overcrowded prisons create unique challenges for the Department of Correctional Services in the fight against Covid-19, they believe that the government has not adequately explored all of its options in this regard.

“This release of prisoners may lead to a greater humanitarian crisis than that which it is attempting to avoid. Many of the prisoners who stand to be released do not have families or homes to return to. Those who do may well return to a home where there is already little or no food. Finding employment, difficult enough under the best of circumstances for those with a criminal record, will be impossible in the current economy.

“So, all of these factors will increase the possibility of re-offending, contributing to South Africa’s high recidivism rate. It also adds a high social burden on already struggling families and communities,” Breytenbach said.

She said the government should have explored alternative means of reducing overpopulation in prisons, such as converting unused Department of Public Works properties into low-security correctional facilities for petty offenders and those nearing the end of their sentences.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Correctional Services and Justice, Raymond Lamola said: “The DCS has continually adopted a conscientious approach in implementing its Covid-19 Disaster Management Response Strategy across all its centres and offices. This strategy entails prevention, containment, treatment and recovery.

“We are confronted, however, with the glaring impossibility of maintaining physical distancing in our centres due to overcrowding. Those earmarked for release through the COVID-19 conditional parole must equally shoulder the responsibility that comes with the restorative justice system and demonstrate conduct that supports its intended objective to reassure victims and communities that a chance of them re-offending is remote.”

Lamola emphasizes that behind Correctional Centres walls, offenders are being rehabilitated. He further said there are programmes which are aimed at correcting offending behaviour, aide human development and promote social responsibility and positive social values.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By OBAKENG MAJE

Many teachers across the North West are ‘disinclined to return to work’ amid COVID-19 pandemic. One of the teachers in Mahikeng who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said they cannot go back to school, while the country is experiencing an increase in coronavirus disease infections.

“The re-opening of schools is premature as that might put our lives in danger. I just wonder how we are going to manage level 4 of lockdown regulations while having learners all over the place. Bringing in Grade 12s and 7s only will not guarantee prevention from the spread of the virus.”

Another teacher from Taung shared the same sentiments.

“We have so many schools in the sub-district where we experience overcrowding and shortage of water. How will the department afford to deal with coronavirus disease, while it is difficult to address basic services?”

However, the North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela said her department has an enormous plan to address all those challenges. Matsemela said they were supposed to re-open on Monday 11, but that did not materialize because of some challenges.

“We are still waiting for Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to arrive. Indeed, we all anticipated that we might be ready on 11 May 2020. However, by Thursday last week, a number of provinces highlighted that they were not ready. So, we informed our School Governing Bodies (SGBs) including our Senior Management Teams (SMTs).

“We are speaking about people who are less than seven at some stage and this number is favourable. If, we shall open today, we could have managed because we are dealing with a very sizeable number. The reason why we have not yet re-opened was that we have not received a consignment on the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) we have placed order upon,” she said.

Matsemela added they are expecting to receive those PPEs before the end of this week and that will allow some of senior management and teachers back at work. She said only Grade 12s and 7s learners will be allowed back at school.

“We are expecting that teachers and staff to come back on the 18 May 2020. And also, it cannot be the entire staff of the school. It means that only teachers who are supposed to teach those classes in line with the phase-in programme will be allowed.

“We have also agreed that all teachers who are between the age of 50 and 60 and having underlying conditions should not come back until the situation is eased. The department will also ensure that is in line with what the Department of Public Service has also prescribed,” said Matsemela.

She said her department will implement a non-negotiable approach and ensure that level 4 of lockdown regulations such as social distancing, PPEs, sanitizers, masks, and decontamination of offices and classrooms are applied.

“Our staff and learners will be screened and tested before resuming classes. The department will also ensure that our staff and management are orientated. We have collaborated with other stakeholders like mining companies in Bojanala where they committed to buy us PPEs.

“We have 38 000 Grade 12s and 68 000 Grade 7s across the province. The department will also take Grade 12s to camps to avoid moving in and out of their communities. Those learners will be screened and tested before being taken away to various camps,” said Matsemela.

She further said Grade 12s are expected to sit for a fully-fledged curriculum examination paper and they need to work hard to cover the syllabus.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By BAKANG MOKOTO

A 42-year-old man appeared at Moretele Magistrate’s Court on Friday for allegedly stealing steel palisades belonging to a primary school in Motlhabaneng Section in Makapanstad.

North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said Seth Maroke was apprehended on Thursday after police conducted an intensive investigation. Myburgh said the police recovered suspected stolen property during the arrest.

“The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the detective for ensuring that the perpetrator is brought to book. Kwena also urged members of the community to report suspicious activities at schools by contacting their nearest police stations or calling Crime Stop on 08600 10111,” she said.

Maroke who was released on bail will be back in court on 15 September 2020. Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela said more than 50 schools across the province were vandalized during the recess.

Matsemela said: “We were shocked by the increasing number of the vandalized schools in the province. Last week, the province reported 7 schools that were vandalized but currently, the number has exponentially increased to 55.

“Every day during this lockdown the department continues to receive reports of burglary from different schools.  In all four districts, numbers of vandalized schools have increased drastically.”

Matsemela recently visited Bonwakgogo Primary in Chaneng Village near Phokeng to view the extent of damages from the school. She said criminals should not be allowed to damage and destroys the future of the learners.

“This is totally unacceptable, I personally went to Bonwakgogo Primary school to see the extent of the damages and I became so emotional to witness the destruction that happened there. This poses a serious drawback to the department,” said Matsemela.

She said learners will not be having their resources due to criminality when they resume their studies. Matsemela said these schools belong to the communities and urged them to work together with the police to apprehend the suspects.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: Local salon owners in a meeting at Taung CBD 

By OBAKENG MAJE

More than 20 salon owners operating in Taung CBD embarked on a peaceful protest on Friday and requested the Greater Taung Local Municipality for intervention. This comes after allegations that some of salons owned by foreigners continue to operate illegally during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

One of the local salon owners, Moreri Seanyane said the prolonged lockdown has affected their businesses. Senayan added that some of the foreign-owned salons continue to operate in Taung and no legal steps were taken against them.

“We have a crisis during this lockdown as informal traders. We have not received any relief fund nor food parcels. Most informal traders who are registered at the municipality to operate in the Taung CBD are in the dark.

“We embarked on a peaceful protest to call on the municipality for intervention. The municipality has a Local Economic Development (LED) structure but is rendered incompetent. We cannot continue to close business, while foreigners are operating,” he said.

Another local salon owner, Fuziwe Sokupha shared the same sentiments. Sokupha said they once engaged the municipality regarding the illegality of those foreign-owned salons operating in town, but instead, the municipality accused them of xenophobia.

“It is hard-breaking because even our ward councillors withhold information and that leaves us vulnerable. It’s been three weeks since I engaged my ward councillor regarding the relief fund and food parcels, but he sent me from post to pillar.

“We have evidence that illegal salon owners continue to trade, while we are not working. We believe that this is so unfair because we pay rent and services to the municipality as informal traders working in town, but there are people who are operating illegally and nothing is done to curb this,” she said.

Meanwhile, the GTLM ward 8 councillor, Mothohela Motshabi said: “Those informal traders raised a valid point and we have advised them to write down their grievances so that they can be addressed. The municipality informed all Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) owners to approach their ward councillors and submit their names in order to be considered for the relief fund.”

South Africa has approximately 2.5 million SMMEs in the country and that 1.5 million of them are in the informal sector.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By OBAKENG MAJE

The Community Health Centre (CHC) Promosa Section at Ikageng Location, near Potchefstroom was closed indefinitely after a nurse tested positive for COVID-19.

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha addressed the media at the Provincial Disaster Management Centre in Mahikeng, where the Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro as the chairperson of the Provincial Coronavirus Command Council (PCCC) was briefing the media on the province’s preparedness to implement level 4 of the lockdown.

“We took decisive action to immediately close the facility to allow decontamination. Mobile has been deployed to ensure access and continued service delivery until the decontamination of the facility. The District and Sub District Outbreak Response Teams (DSDORT) started with contact for patients, staff and their families.

“All staff members at the facility will be placed under quarantine for the next 14 days. The Outbreak Response Teams are checking the suitability of their homes for self-quarantine. If the homes do not meet criteria for self-quarantine, they will be taken to a designated quarantine site,” he said.

Sambatha added that this will also apply to their families and patients. He said for the next 14 days, the staff of the facility will not be at work.

“The department has appointed additional staff. We will have to scale down services like hours of operation and maternity services.

The clients will be serviced at other facilities,” said Sambatha.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize who received Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) from Stillwater and Old Mutual in Rustenburg on Wednesday said 511 health workers had tested positive for COVID-19 across the country.

However, Sambatha said the province had only 3 health workers tested positive out of that 511.

“All three health workers who were infected were from private health providers in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District. They have already recovered after finishing their 14 days of quarantine.

“Also, all their contacts are free after they tested negative. They finished their 14 days of self-isolation and out of 599 contacts, we have traced 573 and quarantined 344,” he said.

North West has 40 positive cases of COVID-19 and Sambatha was grateful after 20 recoveries. He said the Dr Ruth Mompati and Dr Kenneth Kaunda districts have recovered 100% after having 5 and 1 infections respectively.

“COVID-19 pandemic is still deadly. We do not want to celebrate recoveries because it may give a wrong impression to people that the lockdown is no longer applicable,” said Sambatha.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Nthuseng Makhelemele (78), from Villiers in the Free State, said she had been a sangoma since 1967 and lengana (Artemisia) in her Sesotho language was one of her most trusted medicines.

FILE: Covid-Organics or CVO is a ‘so-called remedy’ produced by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research (IMRA) created from the Artemisia plant and supposedly help to prevent any infection caused by the new coronavirus COVID-19. Picture: AFP.

The African National Healers Association (ANHA) on Wednesday said it was eagerly awaiting the outcome of an African Union study of the Madagascar COVID-19 tonic named Covid-Organics.

The ANHA has congratulated Madagascar for trusting its indigenous medicine, saying it was disappointed when South Africa turned down its suggestion to research and use the herb.

Healers said the herb – known as lengana in Sesotho and Setswana or umhlonyane in isiZulu – was one of the most trusted and safest remedies for respiratory infections, even for babies.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Tuesday said it was studying the scientific data and efficacy of Covid-Organics.

The ANHA’s Zukiswa Mvoko said the association was paying close attention to the study.

“They are now having this done. Most of us in South Africa when this thing started, we did mention umhlonyane [Artemisia]. A month later Madagascar is all over the news and this was never taken into consideration by our own government,” she said.

Nthuseng Makhelemele (78) from Villiers in the Free State said she had been a sangoma since 1967 and lengana in her Sesotho language was one of her most trusted medicines.

“When you or your baby have a cold and you drink lengana [Artemisia] you recover. I have never heard of it being unsafe – even pregnant mothers can drink it – in all these years, no one has died from lengana in my care,” she said.

The ANHA said South Africa would have to listen to its own healers if the tonic gets the green light.

Source: http://www.ewn.co.za 

By STAFF REPORTER

North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro who is the Provincial Coronavirus Command Council (PCCC) chairperson is expected to address the media regarding the preparedness of the province on the implementation of the lockdown level 4.

The media briefing will be held at the Provincial Disaster Management Centre in Mahikeng at 11am.

Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 7808, of which 37 is in the North West. Five more COVID-19 related deaths have been reported. This brings the total national deaths to 153 and zero in North West.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: (Courtesy of SABC: Klippat Farm in Bloemhof)

By OBAKENG MAJE

The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the North West calls on the Labour Department to inspect all farms across the province. This comes after the department shut down the Klippan farm in Bloemhof for violating the COVID-19 pandemic regulations.

According to the Labour Department’s provincial chief inspector, Boikie Mampuru, all operations at the farm have subsequently been closed after the farmer failed to provide workers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).

“Our inspectors have issued two prohibition notices. One for the farmers was not complying with PPE’s and the second one allowed the employees to be sleeping in a storeroom. So, all these operations have been prohibited,” Mampuru said.

SANCO provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe lauded the department. Sebegoe described the issuing of two prohibition notices by the department as a necessary step to protect vulnerable farm-workers from Covid-19 pandemic.

“The civic organisation called for inspections to be intensified across all farms in the province. Exploitative labour practices and the total disregard of occupational health and safety standards must be exposed and harshly dealt within the farming sector as they could potentially contribute to the spread of the coronavirus and ultimately threaten food security.

“Despite the failure to provide farm-workers with gloves and masks being a serious violation of the state of health disaster management regulations, allegations that 102 farmers were served with eight litres of milk and those who were not able to get milk were forced to eat porridge with snakes,” he said.

Sebegoe also calls on the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate those allegations. He added that human rights violations were prevalent among illegal foreign nationals employed on farms.

We suspect these to be the underlying cause of farm attacks involving illegal foreign nationals who were allegedly sacked, threatened with report to authorities for deportation, before they were paid, hence they retaliated as they have no legal recourse, says Sebegoe.

Meanwhile, COSATU President, Zingiswa Losi said the union will continue to fight for the rights of all workers and combat abuse leveled against them during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

She said the fight for PPEs and better working conditions is still on.

“In the bargaining chambers, in the streets, in the workplaces, in schools, in NEDLAC and everywhere, workers are waging battles against vicious and risky conditions and demand safe and healthy working conditions, as well as decent incomes for them and their families. This is the core of our mission and struggle.

“A global pandemic of untold proportions has already decimated numbers of human beings and resulted in huge sufferings in many parts of the world, not least in our own country. The Covid-19 virus is showing us the damage of unfettered capitalism in our country and around the world,” she said.

Losi said they are saddened by the extent to which this has exposed the fault-lines of the post-apartheid reality and the legacy of persisting inequalities, hunger, and poverty in many of our communities, workplaces, townships, and rural areas, in particular.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 38-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for the alleged rape of a minor. It is alleged that Paki Mqikela who is an ANC ward councillor in Klerksdorp raped the minor between April and August 2019 in Tigane Location, Hartbeesfontein.

The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said the matter was subsequently reported to the police on Thursday last week and Mqikela was arrested after he handed himself over to the Klerksdorp Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) on Monday.

“The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena welcomed the arrest and indicated that the police will continue to work hard to ensure that alleged sexual offenders are brought to book to face the full might of the law,” said Mokgwabone.

Meanwhile, the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) in North West applauded the police for the swift arrest of the suspected statutory rape perpetrator.

ANCWL acting provincial secretary, Bitsa Lenkopane said: “The perpetrator is said to have impregnated an underage girl, with conversations in the social media showing that he wanted to cover-up his disgusting deeds on fears of losing his status and/or career.

“The league is calling on the administrators of justice and all other law enforcement agencies to ensure that the alleged perpetrator is removed from the society and never see any slightest light of the day.”

Lenkopane added that what infuriates them more was that, the suspect is an ANC ward councillor from the City of Matlosana, who in the position he holds must be at the forefront of fighting all kinds of criminal activities in the city with child and women protection topping the list.

She said back in 2019, the ANCWL during its campaigns against Gender-based Violence (GBV) in Matlosana held discussions and handed memorandum over to the municipality and government departments, calling for an end to this kind of misogynistic behaviour.

“The league calls for creatures of this nature to be removed from communities and the protection of children and women should be strengthened through harsher punishment on everyone found to have been in the opposing side of the laws relating to the matter.

“We also call on the department of social development and child protection unit in the province to ensure that all affected by the incident are protected. We will not protect anyone who perpetrates this kind of crime irrespective of their status and or office they hold. The ANC as a liberation movement has no mandate of any position to send and allow its public representatives to abuse their position,” she said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Dear Fellow South African,

The entire world is in the unrelenting grip of the coronavirus pandemic, whose spread has been rapid. A vaccine has yet to be found. Across the world, over 3.4 million people are known to be infected and more than 240,000 have died. These are indeed desperate times.

When the national state of disaster was declared six weeks ago, South Africa only had 61 confirmed coronavirus infections. Despite the relatively low number, expert opinion and international experience indicated that infections would rise exponentially. I said that urgent and drastic measures would need to be taken.

Those measures – which included a nation-wide lockdown and the closure of our borders – have proved to be effective in delaying the spread of the disease.

This has been possible because most South Africans have adhered to the lockdown provisions, practising social distancing and wearing face masks. I applaud you for this and for all the other sacrifices you have made.

At this stage in the progress of the pandemic, other countries had far more infections than we do. As of now – which is 46 days since we recorded our 100th coronavirus case – we have 6,783 confirmed cases. Italy, which has a similar size population to ours, had more than 140,000 cases and the United States had around 700,000 confirmed cases at the 46-day mark.

But this does not mean that the danger has passed. We have not nearly reached the peak of infections in South Africa. All the scientific models show that the infection rate will continue to rise at a much faster rate in the next few months.

However, the speed with which the virus spreads and the number of people who are ultimately infected will be determined by what we do now. That is why the easing of the lockdown needs to be gradual and cautious. It is for this reason that many regulations need to remain in place and why it is absolutely essential that people observe them. I know how difficult this is and I understand the concern that many of our compatriots have about how these regulations are interfering and limiting their rights. But all this is necessary. Our overriding objective is the preservation of life.

Social distancing and proper hygiene are still our best and only defences in this struggle. This is what informs the regulations we have put in place for level 4 of our response. Our considerations are based on empirical evidence, scientific and economic data and international best practice.

In the 1995 judgment of the Constitutional Court that outlawed capital punishment, Justice Arthur Chaskalson wrote: “The rights to life and dignity are the most important of all human rights and the source of all other personal rights. By committing ourselves to a society founded on the recognition of human rights we are required to value these two rights above all others.”

The regulations we have put in place are founded on that commitment to life and dignity, and which justify – in these extreme circumstances – temporary restrictions on other rights, like freedom of movement and association.

In doing this, South Africa is not unlike many other countries.

An estimated one-fifth of the world’s population is under quarantine or nationwide lockdown, with this number growing rapidly in response to rising infections. This includes countries with substantially larger populations than ours, like India with its 1.5 billion people.

Dozens of countries have imposed curfews such as the one that is now in place here. Limitations on movement are in place in a number of countries. In the UK and the French capital, Paris, public exercise is limited to certain hours and within a certain distance of one’s home.

Containment and prevention measures similar to ours are in place in a number of countries. For example, alcohol sales during lockdown have been either restricted or banned in a number of territories and by local governments, including parts of Mexico, Hong Kong and Greenland, which last month imposed a ban on alcohol sales during lockdown to limit infection but also ‘to curb violence against women and children.’

There has been much public comment on government’s decision to extend the prohibition on the sale of tobacco products into level 4. A decision like this is bound to be controversial, but it is wrong to suggest that there are Ministers or a President doing and saying whatever they want on this matter.

On 23 April, I announced that cigarette sales would be permitted during level 4. This was based on the view of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), and which was contained in the draft framework that was published for consulation.

After careful consideration and discussion, the NCCC reconsidered its position on tobacco. As a result, the regulations ratified by Cabinet and announced by Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on 29 April extended the prohibition.

This was a collective decision and the public statements by both myself and the Minister were done on behalf of, and mandated by, the collective I lead.

Every regulation we have put in place has been carefully considered. Along the way there has been consultation with medical experts, various constituencies and different industries. We have been guided by international bodies and the experience of other countries.

The reality is that we are sailing in uncharted waters. There is still a great deal about the epidemiology of the virus that is unknown. It is better to err on the side of caution than to pay the devastating price of a lapse in judgment in future.

While there are differing views on some of the decisions we have taken – and in some instances these have polarised opinion – government is making every effort to act in a way that advances the rights to life and dignity of all our people.

Listening to our people and their concerns during this period has been one of the distinguishing features of how we as government have managed this pandemic. We continue to listen to the concerns of our people and are prepared to make adjustments that balance people’s concerns about the challenges they face with the need to save lives.

At this difficult time, our collective energies must be focused on ensuring that health and life is preserved, that the delivery of food, water, health care, social security and social support is not disrupted.

Under these extraordinary circumstances, as government, as individuals and as society we will at times make mistakes. When these occur, we will correct them. But we must carry on, losing neither our nerve nor our resolve.

The situation in which we find ourselves demands courage and patience. It requires goodwill and trust between you, the citizen, and your government, and between each other.

Over the past five weeks, most South Africans have adhered to the lockdown regulations and, as a result, we have slowed the spread of the virus.

It is my plea that we continue in this way and that we remain united in confronting this grave threat to the life and dignity of our people.

With best wishes.

taungdailynews@gmail.com