BY Obakeng Maje

Taung is one of the richest towns concerning minerals in South Africa, and the town itself is poverty-stricken as unemployment is one of major issues faced by the community.

Despite that,the land of Batlhaping ba-ga Maidi and Phuduhutswanana is very rich regarding minerals like oil and diamond,but the stumbling block is resources per se.

The community is ruled by most powerful men by name of Tshepo Mankuroane and Nnyoko Motlhabane who are both young. There is a non-operative mine in town,just down the area near Taung Dam, between Cokonyane and Manthestadt where we saw most Mining companies flocking there to get their fair share of the minerals there. Some of those companies were operating without consent of the community and its leaders. 

The latest perpetrators were Taung Giant Diamond Mining, who were allegedly operating with a fraudulent documents. The chief Nnyoko Motlhabane took the matter to court were it took almost a year before the solution can be reached,eventually The Taung Giant Mining company’s licence was suspended.

We spoke to Chief Nnyoko Motlhabane who confirmed that the talks are at advanced stage and soon things will come together. ” We can outline that we are at very high level of negotiations with the government to obtain our Mining licence. We have raw minerals and our land is very rich,so our aim is to make sure we are in fully operation as soon as we can” he said. 

Last year the Chief and his crew were engaged in talks with Minister of Minerals to be granted the licence of operation and we are in position of the video captured during that meeting. Motlhabane continues”To the community of Taung, we are really working tirelessly claim back what is rightfully ours. The Taung Giant Diamond Mining company obtained their licence fraudulently and never benefited the community. We do not want people who come and put their needs first before community. We will fight for what belong to our community and make sure they benefit from it” he outlined.

He promised to call all Batlhapings for a general meeting where they will inform them about any new developments.

Taung falls under Dr Ruth Segomotso Mompati District.

Taung

Location

On the N18 between Vryburg and Jan Kempdorp.

Interactive Map

 Dr Ruth S. Mompati District

History

Taung “The Place of the Lion” named after Tau, chief of the Bataung people, who made his headquarters here during the 18th century

Taung – the “place of the lion” made world headlines when Australian anthropologist Professor Raymond Dart made a startling find here in 1924. The little Taung skull, which he classified as Australopithecus africanus, belongs to one of the earliest hominids that lived in southern Africa some 2.5 million years ago.

Attractions

Taung Skull Heritage Site

A monument to the discovery of the Taung skull has been erected at this historic site.

Blue Pools

A popular picnic site at the Buxton quarry at the Taung Heritage Site. In a picturesque valley with caves, streams and rock pools which lies close to the site where the skull was discovered. Barbecue facilities, set alongside a pristine spring winding through an ancient limestone valley.

Boipelo Game Reserve

Boipelo is a small reserve forming part of the Tusk Hotel complex, consisting of 150 hectare of bushveld. This bushveld reserve supports seven different species of wildlife and more than 100 bird species. Visitors may enjoy game viewing either on mountain bikes (provided by the hotel), or along hiking trails of varying length.

Dinkwaneng

Some excellent examples of San Bushman engravings can be viewed at the Dinkwaneng site situated approximately 20km from the centre of Taung, near the Manthe village.

Taung Dam

A perfect picnic spot, 17km out of town on the Kolong River.

Mmabana Cultural Centre

A modern social and educational centre offering locally produced arts and crafts. A short distance east of the village.

                                                                   Pic: (Taken from internet)

BY Obakeng Maje

Taung– Kokomeng-born boy, Keletso Kgatwe who was born with dysfunctional genitals went under the knife on Monday for an operation. And there is a hope as most people hold their breath for a six year boy operation be successful.

Keletso has been using colostomy bag since he was born, but his life is about to change. The sad story appeared on SABC Touching Life and most people were touched.

The boy’s grandmother previously said what is needed is an operation,without it nothing will help. “We have to travel over 200km to Klerksdorp Hospital, but we do not have the taxi fare. No one is working in this house.” 

Then doctors from Durban Hospital offered some help, and Keletso was taken there. Unfortunately when he arrived, after some intensify assessment the agreement was that, he must bre taken to Chir Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

Now the boy has been operated on Monday and the family hope for the better. our crew spoke with family spokesperson Lucky Komane who confirmed the news.

“It is absolutely true that Keletso went for an operation on Monday and his sister was there with him,but was sent back home yesterday where the doctors promised to keep us in touch regarding latest updates. So we still waiting for their call to get when he will be discharged” he said.

BY Obakeng Maje

TAUNG- The Cultural Calabash has taken place in this area and drew
attention from different walks of South Africa including as far as
Botswana.
And has more than ten years in existence,but we have seen in recent
years rather to say losing its sparks and change of venues..
It started been hosted in Mmabana Taung,then being removed to Taung
Cover ground.
And last year the event never took place resulting rumours that it has
been moved from the area,but the CEO and co-ordinator of the event mr
AB Mogashoa dispute that the event has in any way being removed from
the area.

“The Cultural Calabash has never been removed from the area,so i will
tell you that the event belongs to all North-West people at large and
is been hosted in Taung for more than a decade. And i can also confirm
that the event will take place this year” he said.
The North Wet Cultural Calabash will takes place in the rural village
of Taung,home of the famous Taung child skull found in the early 20th
century.
The Calabash is a multi -disciplined youth arts festival which include
Local and District Sections,as well as a Provincial Festival held
annually in the North West Province qnd cullminating in the village of
Taung and aimed at an adult audience.
Mogashoa also said even though the event will take place i
September,the date and featured artists who will grace the event are
yet to be confirm. “Yes the event is oon,but the dates and the line-up
is yet to be confirmed. The event did not take palce last year and i
was never taken away from Taung people” he said.
The event normally is contested in three components,which is Amateurs
and semi-professinal artists audition during April/May in twenty two
municipal districts of the Province.

The best of these are then showcased at four district events held in
the main towns of the provinceduring July.
In September,the winner in each of the categories compete at the Main
Event in Taung.