Author: Mpho Manyaapelo

North West Premier Bushy Maape has expressed his deepest condolences for the passing of the North West Chairperson of the House of Traditional leaders, Kgosi Madode’nkundla Langa-La-Sembo Zibi. Kgosi Zibi also served as Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, and worked closely with the government in addressing a number of issues relating to traditional leadership in the province. The Principal Traditional Leader of AmaHlubi both in the Eastern Cape and North West provinces, passed away peacefully at his homestead of Kwa-Khayakhulu, Rustenburg in the presence of his family. Kgosi Zibi was buried on Saturday at Kwa-Khayakhulu…

The North West Department of Education has launched the National Schools Democracy Programme (SDP) on Thursday, at Platinum Village Primary and Secondary School, in Rustenburg. Through the SDP, the department has partnered with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Department of Basic Education, with the aim to encourage and educate learners to participate in civic and democracy education as well as voter registration.  Learners took part in mock elections where they were shown how elections are conducted. They also simulated the roles of election officials. Learners heard that any person who is 16-years or older and has a valid…

The Mayor of Moses Kotane Local Municipality in the North West, Nketu Ntsokwe, said theft and infrastructure vandalism are some of the causes of electricity blackouts in the area. Eskom announced yesterday it will implement stage 6 load shedding due to a shortage of generation capacity, from 16h00 until 05h00 daily until further notice. Ntsokwe was speaking at the Moruleng stadium on Wednesday, during the launch of the Community Cooperatives Programme in partnership with Eskom. She said the izinyoka are stealing and damaging electricity infrastructures at the municipality, and so far five people have been arrested for vandalism and cable…

The Brits Magistrate Court in the North West, has postponed the murder case against Tebogo Mpete to 21 April for a formal bail application and further investigations. Mpete, is accused of killing his pregnant ex-wife, Ntombizodwa Khumalo, at the parking lot of the Brits District Hospital last week. According to reports, Mpete, who is a police officer at Rapid Rail in Silverton, went to the hospital where Khumalo worked as a switchboard operator and fired several shots at her. He then handed himself over at the Brits Police station. It has also emerged in court that Mpete is awaiting sentencing…

Taxi associations in Rustenburg say they are ready to deal with high traffic volumes, as holidaymakers return from their destinations on Tuesday and so far fifteen fatalities have been recorded in the province since April 1. About 700 people have been arrested across the country for various traffic offences. South African National Taxi Council’s (Santaco) deputy chairperson Herman Sebego, said they’re ready to handle commuters throughout the province and those traveling from the Eastern Cape and Lesotho. “Some will need transport to ferry them to different locations like Phokeng, Luka, Bleskop, after hours when they arrive. All our associations Chairpersons,…

The Rustenburg Mayoral Committee Member for Infrastructure Thabang Rampuo, led the community of Boitekong during a prayer service held at Boitekong Secondary School near Rustenburg, North West, to appeal for divine intervention for reduced road fatalities during the Easter weekend. Rustenburg, like the rest of the province, has been experiencing increased service delivery protests and so far authorities have failed to do something about the crumbling infrastructure. But Rampuo said they are working tirelessly to improve service delivery in the area, and they will continue putting residents first. Rampuo said the prayer service was held with the belief that a…

The North West Department of Health MEC Madoda Sambatha has condemned the gruesome killing of a 35-year-old pregnant woman in a parking lot outside the Brits District Hospital, on Wednesday. The woman was a switchboard operator at the hospital. Sambatha, said the incident has shocked the family and staff, and gave an assurance that the police and other law enforcement agencies will not let the family down by ensuring that justice is served. He has also thanked the hospital management for acting swiftly by providing counselling and support and conveyed his condolences to her family and her colleagues . North…

Tensions and rivalry between bus companies and taxi operators in Rustenburg has escalated and turned violent as commuters are alleged to be forced out of buses by taxi drivers. Taxi associations claim buses are encroaching on their market at a Rustenburg taxi rank for long distance transport where commuters would be flocking during the Easter weekend. The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) deputy chairperson Herman Sebogo didn’t deny or condemn claims that taxi operators have forcefully removed commuters from buses. Instead he accused bus drivers of provoking the violent reaction from taxi drivers because they were “illegally picking up…

Traffic volumes are expected to increase on the roads in several provinces over the long Easter Weekend and motorists have been warned traffic officers will be on high alert for drunk drivers and those not adhering to the rules of the road. The North West Department of Transport Management, said law enforcement officers will be placed throughout the province, to ensure the adherence to the rules of the road. This emerged on Tuesday when MEC Sello Lehari, launched the province’s Easter Traffic Plans at Brits, North West. Lehari said law enforcement officers will conduct roadblocks, stop and search operations, to…

Authorities are concerned about the prevalence of Tuberculosis (TB) with many deaths attributed to the fact that patients are defaulting on their treatment which results in the more deadly drug-resistance TB. To mark TB month (March 1- 31), the government embarked on an aggressive awareness campaign, focusing on getting patients to adhere to treatment. Newsnote spoke to a TB survivor, David Makhana (pictured), who has embarked on a campaign to encourage those infected by the illness to take their treatment timeously. The 41-year-old Makhana said when he started his treatment he had to take tons of pills three times a…