Author: Thabang Morutloa
The North West Department of Social Development is yet to establish the cause of the fire that engulfed the two offices on the first floor of the Provident House building on Monday night. The four-storey building houses employees for both departments of social development, employment and labour. Social Development’s acting head, Obakeng Mongale, said the fire started in one office and spread to the other on Monday at around 21h00 in the evening. “Security officers who were on duty tried to quell the fire and called the emergency fire and rescue department for assistance. The firefighters responded within a very…
The slow pace of the Nelson Mandela Drive upgradings in Mahikeng have raised the ire of business owners and motorists because of the traffic congestion that they say is having a negative impact on their businesses. The R47 million road development project started on 10 February 2023 and was expected to be completed by 13 September 2023 as stipulated in the contract. However, it has been delayed and will be completed only in December. North West Department of Public Works and Roads, Oageng Molapisi, said the project was delayed by the installation of the stormwater drain. “There is a challenge…
The North West province has recorded a 4.8% increase in reported crimes on the back of an overall increase of contact crime in South Africa by 6 299 cases during the fourth quarter compared to the same period last year. The stats released by Police Minister Bheki Cele also show that the number of people murdered in South Africa increased by 206 and stood at 6 299 in the reporting period. The North West Department of Community Safety and the Police released the fourth quarter provincial crime stats recorded between January and March 2023, with the Bojanala District leading with…
Some communities in the North West are calling on the government to intervene and stop what is believed to be illegal initiation schools alleged to be abducting children and extorting money from their parents. The families said they are frustrated with the criminal justice system as no action is ever taken against the abductors. Parents of the boys forced into initiation said their children’s abductors are phoning to make demands and yet the police are failing to act against them. Mogolo Ledikwa from Lehurutshe said she was concerned about her son who is sickly, after she was called by a…
A hundred graduates from North West University (NWU) will be deployed to help improve the state of struggling municipalities across the province. MEC for Cooperative Governance, Nono Maloyi announced on Thursday in Mahikeng that graduates who possess qualifications in engineering, and public administration among others, are just what is needed to turn around the situation at the troubled municipalities. In the past five years, all the North West 22 municipalities have failed to obtain clean audits, which the provincial government believes is caused by a lack of skills at the organs of the state resulting in collapsed service delivery mechanisms.…
The newly appointed acting Premier of the North West, Nono Maloyi, says government programmes will not be affected during his temporary tenure. Maloyi, who’s also the MEC for Cooperative Governance, was sworn in by the North West High Court Judge President, Ronald Hendricks on Wednesday evening in Mahikeng to allow Premier Bushy Maape time to recover after he recently performed a minor surgery last week. Maape has since appointed Maloyi to act on his behalf in line with Chapter 6, Section 131(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic while he is recuperating. Maloyi said he is not going to do…
The North West Rural Development says a commissioner will be appointed to facilitate the return of land to the community of Doornlaagte currently residing in the Tswaing Local Municipality. The Provincial Legislature’s Committee on Local Government on Tuesday convened a meeting of stakeholders after being inundated with pleas from frustrated residents. A leader of the disgruntled community, Phefo Mosinki claims that they have been approaching various government institutions seeking restoration of the land. “We have been going to the government showing them proof from the British government that the land belongs to us. But we have been sent from pillar…
The Lebotlane in Moretele community say the area has recorded a high number of cancer-related deaths that could have been prevented if its members had access to information and education about the disease. As a result the community has taken upon itself the task of raising funds to set up a cancer treatment and information centre with the assistance of the North West Department of Health. The organiser of the crowdfunding initiative, Mothupi Malebye, said he has lost four loved ones to cancer. “This occurred after I lost four family members to cancer. In the year 1997, I lost my…
The North West Education says it is yet to establish the cause of the fire that engulfed an administration block at Boitsanape Technical High School in Mahikeng on Saturday. The fire is said to have damaged computers, photocopy machines, furniture and textbooks, which will take millions of rands to replace. The Provincial education spokesperson, Maphata Molokwane, said neighboring schools will be used to ensure exams are not affected. “The cause of the fire is still unknown. It is reported that around 16:00 in the afternoon the principal was alerted by another teacher that the administration block was on fire. Upon…
The Moshawane Cycling Club in partnership with the Chuck D Foundation in the North West celebrates Youth Day by feeding the hungry in Mahikeng. The team believes it’s important for today’s youth to commemorate this day by drawing inspiration from the actions of the 1976 youth. On 16 June 1976, high school learners led protests in South Africa against the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in local schools. An estimated 20, 000 pupils took part in what is known as Soweto’s Uprising, where police fired teargas and live ammunition and killed more than 176 learners. A team…