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BY REGINALD KANYANE
The Bokamoso Agricultural Innovation hub has turned the tide against unemployment for the young people of Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality. The Manyeledi village based foundation fought against poverty within the village.
The foundation has launched an agricultural innovation hub and employed at least six full time employees.
The enterprise incubated and motivated community members for four months and provided them with basic course in agriculture. North West MEC of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development department, Manketse Tlhape said the youth were equipped with seedlings, advances to planting and ends with harvest courses.
The Deputy Minister General Bheki Cele and Tlhape visited the hub on Tuesday to conduct community engagements and unpack opportunities presented by the sector specifically to women.
“The Bokamoso Agri Innovation Lab has two years in operation. Its operation is a social enterprise which aims to connect rural communities to opportunities through empowerment by using diverse entrepreneurial platforms and encouraging increased participation of women in the economic stream as female entrepreneurs.
The owner of Bokamoso Agri Innovation Lab, Lesego Serolong said she had chosen the area as she believed that many rural communities did not get opportunities that were received by other urban ones. Serolong said she believed in the potential of any young South Africans.
“The young people in the Kagisano Molopo possess equal capability like any other young people. The most important thing that we need to do as a civil society facing the triple challenges of poverty, employment and inequality is to ask ourselves of what we need to do to address those issues.
“We need to find solutions to our problems.”
She holds a Bachelor degree from the London School of Economics. Serolong added that she wants to see more partners on the project and would like to see it connecting the invisible rural population to opportunities through empowerment using a diversified entrepreneurial platform.
Tlhape said the gathering was important as it happened during women’s month and after the departmental Female Entrepreneurship Awards. She added that the 5th administration was prioritising women empowerment and the Bokamoso Agri Innovation Hub showed that women can go to greater heights.
“I believe that the project leader, Serolong has passion more than any other thing on the work she does. It is imperative for young people to grab opportunities as they are brought forward by government. The project embraces the key government concretes which include VTSD and Saamtrek Saamwerk,” Tlhape said.
She urged young people to engage with Serolong so that she can impart her knowledge and skills.
Bheki Cele lauded the project and said it was unbelievable that non-arable land can grow such green and fresh vegetables. He further said the youth project has defied a myth about young people having no interest in agriculture.
Cele called on all partners to have a further discussion and model how the project can be grown further including assisting on water challenges they raised.
“The meeting should take place very soon because we want to see the project sustainable and young people getting involved,” he concluded.
The Bokamoso project also runs an after school program with the library for the local community with an aim of exposing young children to farming at an early age. Their vegetable produce market includes local public schools and local shops.
BY REGINALD KANYANE
NORTH West Premier Supra Mahumapelo said his plan and vision to the prime engine of metropolitan growth is rural-to-urban migration.
Mahumapelo said the provincial government will turn most rural areas into cities.
“The engineers and surveyors from public works department visited Taung on Wednesday. The aim is to build a stadium in the area and turn it into a city.
“Our fifth administration decided to capacitate Village, Town and Small Dorpies (VTSD) initiative. The most common factor contributing to rural-to-urban migration is rural unemployment resulting in part from rural areas having higher fertility levels than urban areas,” he said.
Mahumapelo added that a shortage of basic technology in rural areas also promotes out-migration and environmental degradation. He said this has led to a serious shortage of arable land in many communities throughout the developing world.
“While the growth of cities can contribute to economic progress, the study notes that problems arise when urbanization occurs so rapidly that it strains the ability of urban governments to provide housing, sanitation, public safety, and other necessary services and when there are not enough jobs,” he said.
Greater Taung Local Municipal Manager, Katlego Gabanakgosi said they met with public works department to do observation of the location.
“We have identified the location along N18 between Pudimoe and Taung. The process has not been implemented yet.
“We will meet with our community to inform them about the initiative. The public works department will then implement the project after reaching an agreement,” Gabanakgosi said.
Taung Civic Organisation, Tsibogo Ya Taung chairperson, Goitseone Legodu said: “We welcome the project and hope it will benefit the community of Taung. We urge that correct protocol be followed to avoid project hindrance.”
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BY REGINALD KANYANE
NORTH West Premier Supra Mahumapelo said there were positive results regarding all five concretes implemented by the provincial government. He said this during a press conference at Premier’s Guest House in Mahikeng on Thursday.
“We have noticed positive results on the provincial revenue enhancement strategy. We have mandated the department of finance, economy and enterprise development (FEED) to engage with other stakeholders to come up with strategic plans to increase the revenue in the province.
“We augmented our budget expenditure. We have already spent 26% so far on our first quarter. It is also encouraging to see Setsokotsane program being a force to be reckoned,” Mahumapelo said.
He further said 70% of the provincial government expenditure will be dedicated to Village, Township and Small Dorpies. Mahumapelo said VTSD will be intensified.
“We have come up with a provincial chamber of commerce inventiveness. The initiative will be rolled out at each village across the province. This will assist us to fight poverty, inequality and unemployment. Village Development Plan program will be implemented in November.
“North West Development Corporation (NWDC) has embarked on a feasibility plan to see how we can capacitate those areas. We have over 807 villages in the North West and each village will have its chamber of commerce,” he said.
Mahumapelo highlighted that they have put the youth at the centre stage. He said also those who run SMME’s will be empowered.
“Our aim is to change and improve the lives of the masses. We will make sure that service delivery reach our people especially at the far-flung areas. All our new councillors and mayors will be inducted to ensure that they know what is expected from them.
“MEC for local government and human settlements department, Galaletsang Gaolaolwe will monitor all processes closely. We have also acquired assistance from other stakeholders like North West University to ensure that we achieve unqualified audit report in all municipalities,” he said.
Mahumapelo added that out of fifteen municipalities that were put under administration previously, only seven were still under threat. He further said 66.5% of local suppliers were sustained thus far.
He also encouraged community leaders to visit various schools. According to Mahumapelo, children needed to be capacitated about the fruit of democracy.
“Many children are demoralised and demobilised. They need to be educated and inspired about our democracy. They need to be engaged on how to rebrand our province,” he said.
Mahumapelo added that they will de-tenderise all projects in North West province. He said most service providers did not stick to agreement and delivered as per agreement.
“We will discuss that matter soon. We will like to pass that policy where we train youth in various areas like plumbing, construction, engineering and others. When the provincial government wants to construct a road for example, we know we have people who are equipped to do the job.
“We also acknowledge the fact that water is a challenge in the province. However, we spoke with water and sanitation minister, Nomvula Mokonyane, and we will drill more borehole,” he said.
Mahumapelo said Setsokotsane Call Centre was operational and MECs will visit the area to take calls in monthly a basis. He also said the provincial government will continue to verify CVs of all public servants.
Mahumapelo said they have reached an agreement with Denel over new developments at Mahikeng Airport.
BY REGINALD KANYANE
The Northern Cape Hawks Provincial Head, Major General KD Galawe has welcomed the sentencing on one case among many related to illegal mining in the province.
Maloi Edward April (53) was arrested for illegal diamond digging on bearing gravel in Reuning mining area near Alexander bay on December 28 last year. April first appeared at Port Nolloth Magistrates Court where he was released on warning.
“This success sends a strong message in curbing the prevalent illegal mining in our province,” Galawe said.
The accused was fined R300.
In a separate incident, eight suspects aged between 24 and 54 years were arrested. They were all charged for alleged illegal digging and trespassing in Oudeep mining area, near Port Nolloth.
Nkwalase said the incident took place on August 17. He said the suspects appeared at Springbok Magistrate’s Court on August 18.
“We would like to appeal to all stakeholders involved in fighting this practice to exercise vigilance and continue to work in partnership with us to curb illegal mining in all our mining area,” Nkwalase said.
The case was postponed to September 26. The suspects were all out on warning.
BY REGINALD KANYANE
EIGHT police officers were arrested by the Northern Cape Hawks after they were allegedly involved in a heist.
Sergeant Samuel Jantjies (45), Constable Hendrik Daniels (35), Jennifer Claasen (46) and Jean Pierre Wolfaard (26) appeared in Kimberley Magistrate Court and were denied bail.
Nothern Cape the Hawks spokesperson, Captain Philani Nkwalase said: “Four other suspects, Densel Deon Jantjies (35), Conrad Christopher Buys (25), Charles Buys (61), Andries Buys (38) were all released on R10 000 bail.
“The incident happened on May 6, 2016 at about 19:00, at G4S base in Kimberley. Three armed men gained access to the G4S premises and took off with an undisclosed amount of cash,” Nkwalase said.
He said five suspects were arrested between July 20-22 and others were arrested shortly afterwards.
“Over R1.4 million was recovered and an assortment of new house hold furniture as well as several vehicle purchased were seized.
Their case was postponed to the 29 September for further investigation.
BY REGINALD KANYANE
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Local Government and Human Settlement has raised serious concerns about the Local Government and Human Settlements department’s lack of progress on the allocation of houses to the military veterans in the province.
Portfolio committee chairperson, Motlalepula Rosho said this came after the committee held an oversight meeting with the department and North West Housing Corporation over their 1st Quarter reports for the financial year 2016/17 and 1st draft of the Annual Performance Plan (APP) for the 2017/18 financial year.
Rosho said although the matter of the backlogs on allocation of houses to the military veterans was seriously raised in the previous financial year where the draft of the current APP was discussed, the department continuously fail to provide houses to the military veterans.
“It is unfortunate that out of the 142 houses that the department plans to build in the current financial year, they cannot inform the committee about the number of houses built in the 1st quarter of 2016/17 financial year. There is lack of progress on this strategic government policy that was pronounced by the minister of Defence and Military Veterans and North West province.
“The government policy has not implemented it accordingly and timeously as some of the veterans feel undignified by the government. It cannot be correct that in Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality where there are a lot of struggle icons, no housing unit on this programme has been constructed whilst a plan of 60 units was done by the department, but only 15 beneficiaries were reported to qualify,” she said.
Rosho also said the department must accelerate housing projects including areas such as Welgevonden, Kwa Mogopa and Makweteng villages in the then Ventersdorp local municipality now LM 405, where the elderly complained about RDP houses that are prioritised to young people.
“Some of the elderly in these areas have not received their houses yet they submitted applications as far back as 1998,” she said.
Rosho added that the committee was concerned that there are no close-up reports on the municipalities that were under provincial government’ Section 139 (1)(b) interventions.
“The committee needs to assess whether there was value for money and any positive outcomes on these interventions in municipalities such as Ngaka Modiri Molema district municipality, Maquassie Hills, Ventersdorp and Ditsobotla local municipalities.
“In the 1st quarter ended on June 30, 2016, the department spent 23% of the planned 25% of budget which constitutes to R598 372 million. It also oversaw the implementation of the Back to Basics principles and supported the institutionalization of performance management systems in all the 22 municipalities in the province,” she said.
North West MEC of local government and human settlements department, Galaletsang Gaolaolwe said the department will engage the with department of Defence and Military Veterans on how to accelerate allocation of houses to the military veterans.
“The department’s main challenge is on the criteria used to allocate houses to the veterans as many do not qualify. The veterans cannot be subjected to ordinary people’s criteria on allocation of houses,” Gaolaolwe said.
She said they will submit a close-up report on the municipalities that were under provincial government’ Section 154 and Section 139 (1)(b) interventions.
Gaolaolwe added that the department will approve extension of housing contracts to fast-track housing deliveries.
“We will also engage and assist municipalities to issue clearance certificates so that we can deliver title deeds to new home owners. On the construction of Provincial Disaster Management Centers, we have requested additional funding from the Provincial Treasury to complete them,” she said.
The North West Housing Corporation (NWHC) spent 14 percent of the 25 percent budget which constitutes to R3, 24 million. The Chairperson of the board, Kgalalelo Tlhaole said the incurred expenditure in the 1st quarter was mostly due to the compensation of employees, transfer payments, and goods and services.
“We are in a process of negotiating with the municipalities on payment arrangements for outstanding property rates,” Tlhaole said.
Rosho urged the department to submit a close-up reports on the municipalities that were under provincial government’ Section 139 (1)(b) interventions in the North West Housing Corporation should within 14 days.
She also said they must submit a turnaround plan on how they will accelerate performance in the 2nd quarter.
Picture: (Dagga worth R4.5m in Northern Cape)
BY REGINALD KANYANE
NORTHERN Cape Police Border Policing confiscated R4.5 million of dagga on Wednesday. Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Sergio Kock said that the operational commander of the Nakop Border post, Lt Col Eugene Van Kratenburg and two SAPS administration members were en-route from Upington to the border post when they spotted 34 striped bags lying in the veld.
“The bags were discovered approximately 16km from the border post. Upon its discovery, police found 885kg of dagga stashed inside. The approximate street value of the dagga is R4.5 million,” Kock said.
The investigation continues.
Picture: (Prisoners in jail)
BY REGINALD KANYANE
A 37-YEAR-OLD man was sentenced to three years imprisonment by Kakamas Magistrate Court on Wednesday. Nico Quinton Pieters was arrested after he was found guilty of house breaking with intention to commit an offence.
Kakamas Police Station spokesperson, Captain Francois Steenkamp said: “The incident took place on January 8, 2016 at about 21:30. Steenkamp said the complainant was woken up by a barking dog.
“Upon investigating, he found that one of his house windows were broken and found the accused inside the house. The accused ran away when questioned how he got inside the house. The accused was arrested after two days and appeared in court.”
The Kakamas Police Station commander, Colonel De Bruin applauded the police for a job well done. De Bruin said dedication and hard work made it possible to secure this sentence.
“Kakamas SAPS experience a lot of housebreakings. We hope that this sentence will send a strong message to intended perpetrators. We also urge community members to properly mark their property and also try to minimise opportunities for criminals to execute their actions,” he said.
Picture: (Minister Lindiwe Zulu)
BY REGINALD KANYANE
Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu will host women in small businesses as part of the Women’s Month programme on Friday.
The department spokesperson, Cornelius Monama said the event is a business and knowledge sharing engagement.
“We seek to address challenges female entrepreneurs faced with. We also want to inspire and bring key institutions of government, and private sector closer to female entrepreneurs.
Monama said minister Zulu will also launch the publication.
“Exploring the finance pipeline for women-owned SMMEs in South Africa. The publication contains a report of a study commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2012 in partnership with Small Business Development department.
“The purpose of the study was to look at the financing pipeline for women-owned SMMEs and to investigate problems underlying access to finance despite there being an array of financial institutions and funding vehicles in South Africa,” he said.
Monama added that the study was also aimed at assessing current financial mechanisms in order to provide recommendations for an alternative approach to financing women owned SMME South Africa. He said the event will be held at DTI CAMPUS, INTERNAL STREET at 8:30am.
“The department believes that Friday’s event will provide an opportunity for women in business to gain knowledge, share insights and lobby for extended market access. We also hope to use this event to celebrate women achievers in business and to highlight progress on women economic empowerment in the last twenty-two years,” he said.
The Guardian 