At the meeting of the NWU Council on 16 March 2017, Dr Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka was elected as the new chairperson who will steer the Council for the next three years. This follows the expiry of the previous chairperson, Adv Johan Kruger’s term of office at the end of March 2017. He did not avail himself for re-election.

Dr Tyobeka, who was elected as the fifth chairperson of the NWU Council, has been a member of the NWU Council since November 2014. He currently serves as chairperson of Council’s Transformation Oversight Committee, and was recently appointed to the Student Oversight Committee of Council.

He is a proud NWU alumnus and is recognised as one of the leading nuclear power experts in the world. He has held the position of CEO of the National Nuclear Regulator of South Africa (NNRSA) since 2013 and plays a major role in various initiatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He currently serves in the IAEA’s International Advisory Committees on Nuclear Safety (INSAG), is the vice-chairperson of the International Nuclear Regulatory Cooperation Forum (RCF), and serves as the vice-chairperson of the Forum for Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA), among others. Despite this international prominence, he has not forgotten his roots and retained strong contact with many former students who now work in the nuclear power industry in South Africa.

He obtained the degrees BSc (Ed) (1999) and MSc (2001) at the former University of North West and in 2004 another master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering at Penn State University in the USA.

In 2005 he obtained a master’s degree in project management at the Colorado Technical University in the USA and in 2007 his PhD in Nuclear Engineering at Penn State University.

Dr Tyobeka was honoured with an NWU Alumni Award of Excellence in 2013 for his personal and career achievements, in particular for his huge contribution to nuclear science across the world.

Prior to his appointment as CEO of the NNRSA, he worked as a nuclear engineer at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Austria (since 2008). From 2002 to 2007 he worked at the Penn State University as senior reactor physicist, and from 2000 to 2002 he held the same position at Eskom.

Dr Tyobeka has been author and co-author of several academic articles and has travelled all over the world to present papers at international academic conferences.

In his acceptance speech Dr Tyobeka thanked the Council for the opportunity to serve the NWU and its communities and for the trust placed in him. He intends to build on the excellent work, cohesion and momentum of his predecessors. “I am under no illusion that it will be an easy task, but I am confident that with the cooperation of all members, and the shared commitment to see NWU succeed, we will make it happen.  I look forward to walking the path with the NWU, and together we will be flying this institution’s flag high,” he says.

Adv Johan Kruger has served as chairperson of the NWU Council since November 2014, and he has led the NWU through difficult times.

“The NWU’s new strategy and restructuring process has been a complicated and sensitive matter, but my term as chairperson was assuredly also one of the most enriching experiences of my life. The quality of the people with whom I worked and served, fills me with hope for the future of our country and our institution. That goes for all those involved: Council members, management (institutional and campuses), and also the academic and support staff. I also had the great privilege of dealing formally and informally with a wide variety of staff members and students. I will always cherish that. NWU, I salute you, you have made my task an easy one,” said Adv Kruger.

Several of Adv Kruger’s colleagues on the Council have praised him for his contribution:

“Council and the broader NWU community owe you a debt of gratitude for your stewardship. I cannot, for the life of me, imagine where we would be without your steadfast, firm, just and fair leadership of our Council.”

“You served the NWU Council with distinction. You are so flexible, but yet so firm. You are a good leader, listener – honest, balanced, sober and very fair. You became the chairperson at the critical time of transformation at our university. I’m going to miss your wisdom and outstanding good leadership.”

“Chair you came and steered this ship through extremely turbulent times, where you were called names, but because God was always with you, you came, you saw and you conquered. I will definitely miss all your leadership qualities. I wish you well in your future endeavours, may our Lord bless you abundantly, and preserve and protect you at all times.”

Prof Dan Kgwadi, vice-chancellor, says under the leadership and guidance of Dr Tyobeka, he is sure that the NWU Council will continue to govern the university in such a way that it will achieve even greater heights. Despite challenges, the NWU will remain one of the top universities in South Africa.”

Prof Kgwadi thanked Adv Kruger, on behalf of management, staff and students, for his guidance during his term as chairperson of the NWU Council.

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​JOHANNESBURG – Tributes poured in on Sunday for legendary actor Joe Mafela.
The 75-year-old star of ‘Sgudi ‘Snaysi died on Saturday night reportedly in a car accident in Johannesburg.

Fellow veteran actress Lillian Dube could hardly believe the sad news

“He was the happiest when I last saw him on Saturday, telling me that he was going on a cruise with his wife,” said Dube.

“I have known Joe forever and Joe was such a lovely human being and generous. I am so saddened,” she said.

“I started working with Joe, I had known him as this imbungulu on Sis’ May (‘Sgudi ‘Snaysi) . I first worked with him on Khululeka when we were preparing for the elections and I was playing the part of his sister.

“I found him to be a very wonderful person, sharing and encouraging.”

Dube said she had been disbelieving when told Mafela had died in in a car accident.
The Department of Arts and Culture said that the nation had lost an “extraordinary son of the soil” who was multi-talented, multi-skilled and much loved.

“The minister [ Nathi Mthethwa] salutes Mafela’s lifelong contribution to South African arts and culture,” department spokesperson Lisa Combrink said.

“He sends his condolences and his strength to the Mafela family. He was part of our living legends legacy programme and he was a very popular member of that programme.

“We were really taken by his great spirit of generosity and being prepared to help others.”

Source: http://www.enca.com

BY REGINALD KANYANE
A 56 year-old woman was arrested for being in possession of dagga at Lekgema Street, Klipgat on Friday. 

North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said that Visible Policing, Klipgat K9 and their counterparts from Gauteng Province resulted conducted an intelligence drive operation after a tip-off. 

“A woman was arrested after police allegedly found 32 bags of dagga at her house. The dagga worth the street value of R100 000. 

“She is expected to appear in the Garankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Monday,” Mokgwabone said.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane commended a joint effort that resulted in the arrest of the suspect.

“The arrest was effected because police and community members were at the drug awareness campaign in Letlhabile not far away from Klipgat. This will send a message that drug dealers have no place in society,” Motswenyane said.

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BY BAKANG MOKOTO
THE situation allegedly turned ugly last night at Itsoseng Location, near Lichtenburg after community members embarked on a protest. 

One person who believed to be a security guard, has allegedly being killed after the people went berserk and looted shops. 

The people of Itsoseng embarked on a protest a month ago demanding service delivery like water amongst other things.

However, they met with Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality to resolve the matter. 

North West police were called to the scene and we will keep you updated as the story unfold. 

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​CAPE TOWN – Newly elected African National Congress (ANC) Nelson Mandela Bay chairperson Andile Lungisa has been ordered to step down.
The ANC councillor is part of a 25-man regional executive committee elected last week.

However, according to the party’s constitution, Lungisa was not eligible to stand in that elective conference because he is also a PEC member.

Prior to the conference, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe had issued a directive that Lungisa not stand but he defied the instruction.

ANC Eastern Cape Secretary Oscar Mabuyane says Lungisa was informed of the latest decision.

“We’re dealing with the matter within our internal organisational arrangement. This morning, I had a discussion with the regional secretary there and they’re working on that matter and we think this matter will be easily sorted out.”

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

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BY REGINALD KANYANE
Bokone Bophirima Premier, Supra Mahumapelo vehemently dismissed media reports alleging that he has withdrawn his defamation case against the North West Business Forum (NWBF).

Provincial Government spokesperson Brian Setswambung said the case has been removed from the court’s urgent roll with costs reserved. Setswambung further said this followed an agreement between the two parties.

“Lawyers representing Mahumapelo served the NWBF’s Fana Moraka, Sello Mogodiri, Themba Gwabeni and Oupa Mphomane with papers calling on the group to end its smear campaign against him. 

“The papers also demanded that the group stops its attacks on Mahumapelo’s reputation and good name, among others. Mahumapelo’s lawyers demanded that the group stops its actions and provide a written apology or face litigation,” Setswambung said.

He said Mahumapelo initiated legal proceedings against the group following its endorsement of two songs which purported the Premier to be corrupt. 

“This was followed by a sustained campaign on various media platforms where the same allegations were repeated, including a media briefing on 14 February 2017 in Mahikeng.

“The Premier would like to set the record straight and debunk the myth that claims that the defamation case against the NWBF has been withdrawn,” Setswambung said.

“The fact of the matter is that the case has been removed from the urgent roll and the respondents, who agreed to the removal were consulted. The matter will still sit, albeit not on an urgent basis,” he said.

Setswambung said the group has, in its papers, stated that they do not intend to defameahumapelo or commit any violence or influence any party to do such.  

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BY BAKANG MOKOTO
MEC for  Education and Sport Development department, Sello Lehari said they are saddened by the untimely death of Tshegofatso Witkooi (15) at Thuto Lore Secondary School in Bloemhof on Monday.

Witkooi passed away upon arrival at Boitumelong clinic where she was rushed to after constant vomiting after school lunch break.   

Lehari said the cause of death is not yet known and the department is waiting for autopsy results from the forensic pathology.

“We want convey our message of condolences to the family. We have also arranged counselling for Tshegofatso’s family, learners and teachers at the school. 

“The department is also aware of the unfounded allegations by the Progressive Student Movement (PSM) that the learner died as a result of food poison at the school,” he said.
Lehari wishes to inform the public that the cause of death is not yet known to the Witkooi family or the department and wishes the PSM or any member of the public to give the family the descent grieving period it deserves. 

“A memorial service for Witkooi will be held next week at a date that will soon be communicated while the funeral will be on Saturday, 25 March 2017,”Lehari said.
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North West Legislature Portfolio Committee on Education Lambasts Department for Challenges Found at Schools
North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education, Sports, Arts, Culture and Traditional Affairs met with the Department of Education to address challenges the Committee had discovered while conducting oversight visits to over 200 schools around the province, including special schools.

The Committee Chairperson, Boitumelo Moiloa said they had discovered, amongst others, challenges of Infrastructure; schools whose roofs were blown-off; Storm damaged school buildings; lack of security at schools: vacant posts and challenges in filling them; employment of Foreign Educators, issues of temporary educators; and National Schools Nutrition Programme.

MEC for the Department of Education and Sports Development, MEC Sello Lehari and the Head of Department (HOD) Dr. Itumeleng Molale including senior management of the department attended the meeting.

Infrastructure Director, Lebogang Tire made a presentation to the Committee on progress made in attending to schools that have been identified in previous reports on school visits. 

He also reported on Special Schools, schools affected by the storms and those vandalized or torched during service delivery protests. 

Although Moiloa commended the department on progress made in filling of vacant principal posts and progress made in paying outstanding salaries of temporary educators, she stated that she was not happy with the department’s delay in responding and dealing with emergencies at schools. 

She also expressed her unhappiness with dire conditions the Committee found at the schools. 

“Ablution facilities in most of the schools I visited are in the worst conditions. In Batlhalerwa and Moshosho Primary School the pit toilets are full. In Loselong Primary, the Department of Labour has written a letter that the school must be closed because of the inhumane condition of the ablution facilities. 

“There is a school in Bojanala where 3 classrooms were built by the School Governing Body (SGB) without an inspector or engineer, approving the construction. What if that building falls on the learners?” she said.

Moiloa said Area Managers were supposed to be on the ground checking all these things.

The Committee also raised sharply the case of Onkgopotse Tiro Comprehensive School principal, Teach Kgonothi who took the Department to court after admitting and being found guilty of fraud and corruption.

Moiloa said she feels that the department is disregarding and disrespecting the Legislature. 

“It saddens me that this Committee tabled this issue in the Legislature House and a Resolution was taken that the settlement agreement between the department and Mr Kgonothi must be implemented. 

“The Settlement was not even expelling him after having admitted that he committed fraud and corruption, but it was offering him a post in office, instead he took the department to court,” Moiloa said.

Responding to the issues raised by the Committee, Dr Molale, indicated that the delay in addressing the challenges at schools is caused by budget constraints. 

“Our budget gets over stretched due to amongst others, increased storm damages and schools that are torched by communities during service delivery protests. These are not budgeted for but learners have to go to school and therefore the department has no choice but to provide interim resources. 

“The department appreciates the Oversight work done by the Committee as it enlightens us to the existing challenges that schools have on the ground,” Molale said.

The department is expected amongst others, to submit the judgement on Mr Kgonothi’s case, including Heads of argument by the department.

A detailed report on Mokasa primary school principal ,allocation of 60 mobile classrooms to prioritised schools; a security report for schools; and a refined National School Nutritional Programme menu that is suitable for the mental and physical health of learners. All reports are expected within 7 working days.

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By Thabo Sematle
Community Safety and Transport Management MEC, Dr Mpho Motlhabane condemns vandalism of contracted learner transport buses by the learners in the province. 

Motlhabane condemned the recent incident where learners of Blydeville in the Ditsobotla Municipality vandalized the scholar transport bus.

“This bus transport learners was from their residence in Blydeville to Boikhutso Village. The arrangement was made since there is no high school in Blydeville and many of these learners had to walk long distances to the nearest school. 

“What saddens the department is that this operation has not been very long in the area, it’s only been a month in operation but already been vandalised,” Motlhabane said.

He further said the operation came recently as an intervention after the community demanded the service which they have since acceded to. 

“Through the involvement of the Ditsobotla Local Municipality and the Department of Education and Sport Development, we then made means to introduce an operator here.

“Again in recent weeks, learners from Welverdien in the same area of Ditsobotla also protested and demanded learner transport operation after the operator who was contracted by the department withdrew his services in the area following continuous vandalism of his bus,” he said.

Motlhabane added that the service provider wilfully terminated his contract with them due to continuous vandalism of his bus. He further said the department had to start the procurement processes of appointing another service provider.

“It was notably disturbing that the same learners who led the previous service provider to terminate his contract, have now ran to the media and claimed not to be attending school because they don’t have transport, whereas they are the ones that drove the service provider away,” Motlhabane.

The MEC said if learners and communities continue with this kind of behaviour, the department will end up struggling to get learner transport service providers in certain areas of the province. “No one will allow his property to be damaged especially deliberately. We humbly request our learners to behave and stop these strange acts of vandalism,” he said.

Motlhabane said the department continue to be committed to provide learner transport service to learners traveling more than 7km to schools across the province.

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BY REGINALD KANYANE
ANC in Bokone Bophirima’s Dr Kenneth Kaunda region will hold a Press Briefing on Wednesday following the acquittal of the accused in the murder of the late David Aubuti Chika.

Regional spokesperson, Ntombi Koloti said Chika was killed in 2012 ahead of the 53rd ANC National Conference in Mangaung.

“The Briefing will be held at Matlosana PCO, 216 Vanilla Building, OR Tambo Street, in Klerksdorp,” Koloti said.

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