Mahikeng-The spiteful article published by Daily Maverick that is supposed to be addressed to North West Premier Thandi Modise titled “Dear Premier Thandi Modise, let’s talk frankly ” dated 8 January 2014 authored by Onkgopotse JJ Tabane has not only exposed his ignorance but should also be an embarrassment to those he sought to ingratiate himself to, says premier Thandi Modise’ spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele.

Kgwele said the ludicrous article reminds him of the wise words of the 1925 Nobel Prize Winner for Literature and Irish Playwright, George Bernard Shaw:”Beware of false Knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”

“In his quest to join the bandwagon of populism orchestrated by Premier Modise’s detractors who are growing increasingly desperate to tarnish her image ahead of elections, JJ forgot that for his article to be credible, it had to be factually correct, juxtapose the remarkable progress made on many fronts to the hopeless picture he was trying to paint and put blame where it rightfully belongs” said Kgwele.

The article supposedly premised on JJ’s concern about the purchase of an official vehicle for use by Premier Modise and underdevelopment in Hebron village had to recognise that projects delivered include the tarred road running through the village, installation of high mast lights, electrification of Moagi and Midas Sections, construction of Hebron Technical High School, state of the art Mmanotshe Moduane Doubled Storey High School, Extension of Tlhasedi Primary School, construction of a clinic, close to 200 houses have been constructed through the People Housing Development and a new Police Station has also been delivered by the democratic government in the village, says Kgwele.

The premier Office said a reservoir for water supply for Hebron, Rabokala and Kgabalatsane is nearing completion and new pipelines are being installed to replace old illegal water connections.

Kgwele further said besides improving the quality of the lives of the villagers these projects provided income for locals during construction.

“Contractors are on site for construction of a new library and waste transfer stations to commence by the end of this month while installation of new electrical connection has commenced in block E and Rockville”.

“Although the former government communicator and parliamentary advisor to the leader of Congress of the People (Cope) should knows that internal roads in Hebron are the responsibility of the local sphere of government, does not mention that one has recently been paved and also absolves all elected public representatives within the Bojanala Platinum District and Madibeng Local Municipalities from this responsibility and unfairly singled out Premier Modise for personal attack” he said.

He said somebody needs to urgently remind JJ that Babelegi and Ga-Rankuwa were re-demarcated from the North West Province thirteen years ago and have since then been part of the City of Tshwane in the Gauteng Province that he is resident of.

According to Lesiba Kgwele, life has not stopped since JJ left his birthplace affectionately called Mmanotshe Moduane village by Bakwena Ba- Mogopa,as thousands of teachers and the likes of Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng to whom Hebron Training College was our Alma mater.

“If JJ had kept abreast with development in his home village and governance issues related to the North West Province, he would not have misled readers of the publication that he is a columnist for into believing that Mr.China Dodovu, MPL is still MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs. He would have known that Dodovu was relieved of the responsibility on the 23 June 2013” he said.

He said false knowledge is indeed more dangerous than ignorance.

“Mr. Tabane would also not have misled readers that the proposed name change for the province was an initiative of Premier Modise and her Executive Council as it was a resolution of the ANC PEC”.

“In her Departmental Policy Statement and Budget Speech, Premier Modise did assure communities in the province that they will determine whether to proceed with the proposed name change when the consultation processes ensue” he said.

Kgwele said had the respectable Mr. Tabane done his research and not based it on political opportunism, he would have come across a statement which the NEC felt had misrepresented the position of the ANC and not government with regard to participation at the Marikana tragedy 1st annual commemoration service.

“The statement that JJ referred to in his article was not issued by Premier Modise as alleged by JJ and equally the reprimand that followed as per media statement dated 16 August 2013 issued by Cde Jackson Mthembu was not directed at her either”.

“The untruths and inaccuracies running through the article are defamatory and unless retracted could put JJ in hot water and or even discredit his reputation as a communicator and a member of the ANC if he is still one”.

He said readers of his column whom he has encouraged to share his misleading article on facebook, twitter, email, google. linken and other platforms should have picked it up that JJ seem to be under the impression that Premier Modise chairs the provincial structure in the province.

False knowledge is more dangerous than ignorance.

“The majority of the people of North West Province and the country are acutely aware that Premier Modise’s deployment to ensure that there is clean governance in the province has earned her many enemies from those who benefitted and those who seek to benefit from greed and corruption” he said.

Recent independent assessments on performance in education, health and housing attest that though there are challenges, the North West Province could objectively be the best performing province and does not represent “the worst of us”

“It would seem Ben Okri was warning us of JJ’ when he wrote: “To poison a nation, poison its stories. A demoralized nation tells demoralized stories to itself. Beware of the storyteller who are not fully conscious of the importance of their gifts, and who are irresponsible in the application of their art” Kgwele concludes.-TDN
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