Author: Thabang Morutloa

Just two days after voting took place in the local government elections, Mahikeng residents in the North West woke up to dry taps again after Sedibeng Water employees affiliated to trade union SAMWU, continued with their stay away. The union is accusing the water board of failing to implement a salary increment of 5.5% that all parties signed off on and has vowed not to come to work until their demands are met. SAMWU’s secretary at Sedibeng Water, Moiloa Mofokeng, said workers will not report for duty until they get what’s due to them. “The bargaining agreement was that there…

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has welcomed the decision by Parliament to ensure that pregnant learners and boys who impregnated them are allowed to continue attending school. The Teenage Pregnancy Policy that was passed by the cabinet will come into effect in January next year. Recent statistics show that more than 33 000 young girls fell pregnant in the year 2020. Spokesperson for the CGE, Javu Baloyi, said early learner pregnancies often create uncertain futures for the young mothers. “We welcome the announcement that the Teenage Pregnancy Policy that was recently approved by Cabinet will be implemented from January…

Itsoseng, Ward 9 residents in the North West are frustrated because they were unable to cast their votes because of the shortage of ballot papers. One of the voters, Modisaotsile Kgaje, criticised the IEC over its failure to prepare adequately for the polls. “Not only is this disappointing but it is also embarrassing because they had the whole weekend to prepare for this election day. This is my voting station, I’m supposed to vote here but now there are shortages of ballot papers,” Kgaje said. ANC’s Thabang Matlhaku, said the shortage of voting material will affect political parties’ results. “What…

The ANC in the North West has conceded that it is self-correcting to address the issue of dwindling voter support. The party has promised, among others, to appoint suitably qualified people into positions of government leadership. So far the party has won 14 municipalities across the province that include Ramotshere Moiloa, Ditsobotla, Tswaing, Ganyesa and Madibeng local municipalities, among others. ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee spokesperson, Kenny Morolong, said the party regards declining voter support as a warning from communities. “We note that we fell short in three of our municipalities, and as for the hung municipalities, we will be guided…

Thabang Morutloa Political parties are taking stock of their performance following this week’s local government elections where smaller formations appear to have more gains while the two biggest parties saw a decline in support. Among those that have had a successful election is the FF Plus, which has grown across the country, including doubling its support in the North West province. The FF Plus is now the official opposition in Kgetlengrievier Local Municipality, and its deputy leader in the North West, De Wet Nel, said this was a welcome milestone. “We gained more councillors in different municipalities. In Madibeng we…

North West Premier, Bushy Maape, has assured poultry producer, Country Bird Holdings, that the provincial government is attending to the service delivery concerns raised by his company. Maape said this following an eNCA report that Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Obed Bapela, said Country Bird Holdings (CBH), employing 1200 workers in Mahikeng alone, is planning to leave the province due to poor service delivery. CBH, trades under the brand Supreme Chicken and employs more than 5000 people in different provinces and more than a 1 000 of them in Mahikeng Maape met the management of Supreme Chicken…

Thabang Morutloa The African National Congress (ANC) in the North West has expressed confidence that it will secure an overwhelming victory in the local government elections. With more than 60% of the votes counted, the party has already secured victories in four municipalities; Mahikeng, Kgetlengrivier, Naledi, Maquassi Hills and Mamusa. The party’s Interim Provincial Committee Coordinator, Hlomani Chauke, said the ANC also hopes to win outright where it previously governed through coalitions. “In terms of our numbers, what we have realised is that we have grown in a number of municipalities, including those that we were not in control of.…