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Board meets traders Rules, regulations of liquor industry reenforced
} Boipelo Mere INDUSTRIAL THEATRE was used by the South African Breweries (SAB) during their roadshow where they partnered with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Liquor Board to hammer in the message of compliance and renewal of licences by the liquor traders in the Northern Cape. Held at the Galeshewe Social Centre, the show was also a strong message by SAB to be seen not only as alcohol traders, but also a company that was concerned about its customers. They visited Upington and Kuruman before coming to Kimberley, where they invited liquor traders from the Frances Baard region. A stage play, where alcohol trading was highlighted, was performed by the Emzini We Zinsizwa comedy drama team with performers being Mofokeng (Jerry Phele), Magubane (Rhekinkosi Ngema), Chawe (Vusi Thanda), Chirwali (Jabulani Nkosi) and Nxumalo (Munda Zwane). Underage drinking was put in the spotlight during the event. According to local liquor traders, this is the big-
gest challenge faced by them. They revealed that underage drinking was the exact reason why the statistics of alcohol abuse remained high in the province. They appealed to the community to become role players in minimising and monitoring underage drinking. “We prevent them from entering the taverns, but they end up asking older people to buy alcohol for them. In my tavern it is a rule that when we notice intoxicated customers, underage children or pregnant women to escort them out. But with tight security they do not even make it inside,” said Abel Mokhutswane of Uncle’s Place in Club 2000. Unity amongst traders was also emphasised, especially during the festive season. “None-compliance is a big issue here, although we have minority cases in the province. The traders have to know how to handle underage drinking and intoxicated customers, including pregnant women. That is why we, as the Liquor Board, make it a point to meet with the traders on a regular basis,” said Mpho Bhunu, the compliance and awareness officer
at the Liquor Board. According to Maruping Phuthi, the licence and trade specialist at SAB, the partnership was formed so that there was one voice between the stakeholders, which should be up to speed in responsible trading, especially during peak times. “This cannot happen overnight. We should work together and intervene. After repeating this message to the traders again and again, they should be able to advocate the message to their customers,” he said. “We are trying to make these programmes as attractive as possible to our communities. That is why we partnered with the Industrial Theatre.” Phuti wished that this manner of partnership be maintained in order for them to equip society to take a stand, because alcohol abuse was an issue everywhere. To local traders like Thandeka Mathebula and Doreen Skinner the programme was a good initiative, especially during this time of the year when tavern owners have to be reminded of the rules and regulations, especially those trading on Sundays.
THE South African Breweries (SAB), South African Police Service (SAPS) and Liquor Board team.
FUNNY MOFOKENG (Jerry Phele) charmed his fans.
Photos: Boipelo Mere
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2013
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Suspect (16) arrested after murder of 17-year-old } Boipelo Mere THE Galeshewe Police are investigating a case of murder after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death, reportedly by a 16-year-old boy on Sunday at about 12:40. The incident happened in front of the deceased’s parents’ house in Itumeleng Street. It is alleged that the deceased had an argument, of which the details are still sketchy at this stage, with the suspect. The argument became heated leading to a family member of the deceased trying to intervene, but her intervention was not sufficient to spare the life of the deceased. The suspect, only known as Fire, drew a knife and stabbed the deceased twice in the chest and once in the face. After being stabbed, the deceased tried
Eye care now also offered
It is alleged that the de ceased had an argument of which the details are still sketchy at this stage, with the suspect. to run to save his life, but it was too little too late. He died due to the severity of the stab wounds he had sustained. The 16-year-old suspect fled the scene after the incident, but he was shortly thereafter arrested at his friend’s house in Kabelo Makaudi Street. He will soon be appearing in the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court.
For more news and photos go to our website at www.express-news.co.za
ST JOHN KIMBERLEY offers an additional service, apart from first aid. An eye clinic opened last week at its new offices in Schmidtsdrift Road. Patients can have a free visual screening, have their eyes tested, choose frames and have spectacles made at low prices. Geraldine Janse van Rensburg was appointed at the optometrist. Here she is pictured testing her first patient at the clinic. Phone 053-838-2519 for appointments. Photo: Supplied
Ba simolotse! } Boipelo Mere
HEE BATHONG . . . ba simolotse diganka tsa batho botlhe, tse di tseelang batho madi, a ba a fufuletseng ngwaga otlhe ka bothata. O tla fitlhela ba dikaganyeditswe ke ditlhotswana tsa batho mo toropong, ke raya go neeletsanwa botala fela jwa makgolo a diranta mo godimo ga tlhogo. Kana le bone basadi ba mo moshomong o. Ba itira okare ke bafeti, ba ema, ba bo ba beeletsa madi a mantsi. Madi a bana a digranate. Ka dinako dingwe ba a fenya mo go one motshameko o ke sa itseng gore o bidiwa mang oo. Boitumelo jwa teng! …ke raya fa motho wa teng a sena go fenya. O ipotsa gore goreng fa motho wa teng a fetsa go fenya a sa tsamaele ruri. ...Hee! ele fela go etleletsa batho ba bangwe gore ba beeletse le bone. Etlare fa o sena go bona seo, o tswelele pele ka leeto la gago. Fa o boa, o tla ba fitlhela ba fudugetse ko lefelong le lengwe, ele ka gonne ba itse gore ga ba dire se se mo molaong. Botsotsi fela selo seo! Maloba’a-maabane ke ne ka feta mosadi mongwe a dikaganyeditswe ke maphodisa, mosadi wa Modimo a lela selelo sa mmaweee! Ba fetile ka ene basimane ba dinokwane. Mo pharakanong e e tletsetseng ya mmila wa wa Phakamile Mabija, ba ne ba bula kgetsi ya gagwe, ba ntsha sepatshe , a sa utlwe sepe. Mosadi wa batho fa a sena go tsena mo lebenkeleng a batla go wa ke pelo, kefa go tabogiwa ka metsi a šukiri. Kare ke ne ke nagana gore malome wa tsala ya ka o bua ditsia-badimo fa a ne a aga a tla gae morago ga malatsi a mabedi mafelo a kgwedi mangwe, a re o tshotswe ke sepoko. Fa sepoko se mo tshotse jalo o ne a goroga mo gae ka Sontaga bosigo ka sepatshe se tletse dipampiri. A re maslamose a mo tseetse madi, ebile o ne a sena le madi a go tla gae, kana ke raya ba bangwe ba mmone mo motsing. Tsala nngwe yame le yone e bone metlholo ya maslamose. Are tsheng-tsheng sa gagwe se tseetswe madi dibeke tse di fetileng ke one maslamose ao. Gatwe o tla kopana le motho a go kaela sengwe se o se tshasitsweng o sa bona. Go tla bo go tlhaga seka-mosamarea o o
My view Boipelo Mere Editor: Express Northern Cape Newspaper molemo are o go thusa go sutlha leswe leo. Kanthe, fa a ntse a sutlha jalo, ke fa madi one a ntse a fetoga dipampiri. A naa ke nnete bathong, re boleleleng tlheng ba lo tlileng lwa diragalelwa ke seo! Ee, ke boela ko kgannyeng ya ga malome, mma-malome o ne a feleletsa a buisane le mothapi wa ga malome gore a seka a tlhola a naya monna wa gagwe madi. Ene(mmamalome) o ne a feleletsa a latela mogolo wa monna wa gagwe ko tirong, a lapisitswe ke maslamose a a ba bolaisang tlala. Kgang e nngwe ke e. Ke kopane le mokgalajwe(kgali) mongwe maloba a batla go wa ka nna. Re ne re tla re lebagane le ene. Erile go nkatamela a simolola go nyeba, a ba a ntumedisa, jaaka motho o eleng kgale a feleleditse go mpona. Kgali: halloo wareng Nna: ga ke bue tlhe papa Kgali: Ke go bona mo matlhong gore kgwebo ya gago e santse e ikakatletse Nna: Kgwebo ya eng rra? Kgali: Akere re ne ratla go bula lebenkele la gago la dijo semmuso le ngaka Alex Nna: Nyaa rra o tshanetse o bo o ntshwantsha le mongwe, ga kena kgwebo Kgali: Ao o le montle jaana, kana kea bona gore o nale bokgoni jwa go ka nna le kgwebo e e nonofileng. A mme wa mo itse ngaka Alex? a ka go dira mohumi mo nakong e e khutswane. Kana o thusile borrakgwebo ba bantsi teng mo profenseng, mme ebile ga a kope madi a mantsintsi. O ka lemoga fela ka go tlala ga lefelo la gagwe ka malatsi otlhe. Se o tshanetseng go tla ka sone fela ke go tla ka diaparo tsa gago tsa ka fa teng le Nna: Ga kena kgatlego, bye. Kefa ke itsamaela nna ngwanyana’a motlokwa!
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2013
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ECD practitioner receives award
} Boipelo Mere
THE beautiful young girls and boys of the Vanzylsrus Intermediate School during their gr. 9 farewell function. Foto: Verskaf
Farewell for gr. 9 learners held V Francine Noeth
EVEN us in the Kalahari, who are far from modern shops and salons, host special farewell functions for gr. 9 learners when they are expected to continue their high school careers somewhere else. The teachers of the Vanzylsrus Intermediate School were expected to assist with the design of the learners’ evening dresses. The learners were proud of their efforts, with the help of Marliza Fourie.
Evening gowns from all over, which were redundant in wardrobes, were received and the girls converted these gowns into their own creations. For the children of Vanzylsrus the farewell function was a special evening as the Vanzylsrus Hotel availed its hospitality for this beautiful evening, resulting in the children enjoying their three-course meal to the fullest. Gratitude is expressed to all those who assisted in making this special event a success.
VELIA MORRIS of the Helen Joseph Early Childhood Centre was crowned the best Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioner in the province during the recent provincial ECD award ceremony held at the Flamingo Casino, outside Kimberley. The event was sponsored by Absa in partnership with the Department of Education with the aim of motivating ECD teachers, practitioners, caregivers, parents and organizations to offer quality gr. R classes. Morris, who will represent the province at the national competition held in Johannesburg later this month, could not hide her excitement. She said her hard work had finally paid off. “I have been working hard and learning a lot from my colleagues. I feel honoured for being chosen among many other entrants in the province. I enjoy my work and want to develop my skills. I hope I will also perform well at the national competition,” said Morris. The annual ECD awards aim at recognizing ECD practitioners who are the main role
players in the development of learners who are entering the primary education system. There were two categories in the competition: Best ECD Centre and Best ECD Practitioner. The best ECD centre award went to the St Boniface Pre-School. More than 110 entrants were received for the best practitioner category and 62 ECD sites for best ECD centre category. “Gr. R provision continues to be an important budget priority. In fact, funding for this phase of education has risen dramatically in the past five years with our aim of ensuring universal gr. R enrolment by 2010. This target is extended to 2014 for all primary schools to be supported. We are pleased with the great strides in increasing access in gr. R. Currently 88% of our primary schools in the province offers gr. R,” said Marjorie Bosch of the Department of Education ECD unit during her keynote address. She added that the awards were a well-recognised way of drawing attention to excellence considering that many who were making a positive contribution in education were acknowledged.
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Hitting the road . . . THE clear N14 road takes motorists from the Namaqua region towards Springbok. } Lerato Sebe TRAVELLERS now have the opportunity to be alerted of the new ways of exploring and experiencing the essence of South Africa’s largest province with a handy pocketbook-size tourism map. This was revealed during the launch of Northern Cape Tourism (NCT) 2013/14 Vaya Summer campaign for summer and the festive season. According to Northern Cape Tourism (NCT), the Northern Cape is well
known for its unique set of diverse offerings to appeal to different tourism markets with an enjoyable warm-hearted hospitality. For their campaign, the tourism team highlighted the different highways throughout the province and turning the spotlight on some hidden travel gems that should be included on any itinerary. They also mention the province’s five regions, namely the Kalahari, Green Kalahari, Diamond Fields, Namaqualand and the Karoo, with each region capturing the imagina-
Photos: Supplied
tion of those who dare to explore it and its ancient mysteries. At the same time NCT is boasting a total of six national parks, including two transfrontier parks crossing into world-famous safari destinations such as Namibia and Botswana, as well as six provincial nature reserves, two of the largest rivers in South Africa and three legendary deserts. ) Look out for more tourist destination points in out next edition of Northern Cape Express with our own tour guide, Lerato Sebe.
Nickel in phones leads to allergies } Lerato Sebe PHARMA DYNAMICS, a company specialising in allergy treatments, has in recent months reportedly received dozens of calls from the public enquiring whether their cellphones were the reason for the itchy red bumps and blisters along their jawlnes and on cheeks and ears. According to Mariska Fouche, spokesperson of Pharma Dynamics, endless conversations on your cellphone can lead to an allergic reaction. “While it is often referred to as a cellphone allergy, it is actually a nickel allergy,” says Fouche. “If you consider that the average cellphone user makes or receives an average of 22 phone calls a day, and checks their phone every six and a half minutes, the prolonged exposure to nickel can be a likely cause of the allergy.” Nickel, a metal which is often used in cellphone buttons, headsets and LCD screen frames, is one of the most common contact allergens. Even though there are no statistics available for South Africa, experts suggest that figures are comparable with that of the UK where one in ten people suffer from a nickel allergy. Pharma Dynamics also revealed that there has been an increase in the number of cellphone, or rather nickel, allergies reported worldwide. Teenagers particularly, who easily spend half the day on their cellphones, texting, talking, checking Facebook, playing games and listening to music, are especially at risk. “Some might only get a small rash
which goes almost unnoticed, so it is likely that the increase in cellphone allergies are much higher than is actually being reported,” Fouche says. “The risk, however, is increased by frequent and prolonged contact with items containing nickel, such as cellphones and jewellery.” According to Fouche, women are more likely to develop the allergy than men due to a possible introduction to nickel into the bloodstream earlier in life when they had their ears pierced. “When the ear is pierced, an earring stud is left in the ear to keep the hole open until the skin around it heals. Since the piercing is an open wound, the nickel salts are able to enter the bloodstream and break down the body’s natural resistance. Nickel is a strong irritant and repeated contact with it can weaken the body’s resistance.” Symptoms range from redness, itching, swelling, blistering and skin lesions to eczema; sometimes oozing or scarring may also occur. To alleviate symptoms, Fouche advises people to ask a doctor or pharmacist for treatment, which may include an oral antihistamine or cortisone cream. Fouche suggests that cellphone users suffering from a nickel allergy should use a wireless ear piece, set their phones to speakerphone when making or receiving calls or put a phone cover and clear film screen on the device – or better yet, switch to a phone that does not contain metal on surfaces that are likely to make contact with your skin, such as an iPhone phone.
THERE are more attractive sites that dare to be explored.
J2SE to join sectors } Lerato Sebe
EXPERTS have revealed that endless conversations on a cellphone can lead to an allergic reaction. Photo: Lerato Sebe
THE Northern Cape Province launched their Journey to Service Excellence (J2SE) pilot project in Upington in an attempt to ensure the renewal of their commitment to service excellence in the tourism industry. The J2SE campaign was developed to create public awareness of the importance of exceptional service delivery standards and a consultative process between the national Tourism Department and the Service Excellence Forum which consists of key national and local industry stakeholders. John Block, MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, said that the decision was made to conceptualise an awareness campaign with high impact at grassroots level. “It is crucial that we raise awareness of the importance of service excellence. It is a key driver in making South Africa and the Northern Cape a globally competitive destination. The campaign has been linked to the Rural Tourism Strategy and smaller towns in the various rural nodes were identified for the implementation of the Journey to Service Excellence pilot project. In the case of the Northern Cape, the commercial hub of Upington in the Green Kalahari was earmarked as a suitable ven-
ue as it met the selection criteria for participation,” announced Block. The campaign is said to form part of the National Tourism Service Excellence Strategy launched by the National Department of Tourism back in 2011. It is committed to building a service excellence culture and to improve service levels in the tourism value chain throughout South Africa. This strategy was developed after research had been done in 2009, showing that customer service delivery was inconsistent. “With this campaign we want to bring together the entire town from tourism businesses and products to local communities, law enforcement, transport providers and other stakeholders to raise awareness across different economic and service sectors,” Block continued. Block explains that the J2SE campaign aims to involve all sectors from the tourism value chain in a series of workshops and training sessions are conducted until March 2014. “We want to create a service excellence culture in Upington and these workshops are providing a platform for sharing ideas and information for improvement. It will also have a strong educational component to create true service excellence ambassadors,” Block stated.
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2013
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THE school choir of the Laerskool Kuruman delivered a memorable performance during their cultural event last week. The theme of the event was An Adventure in Music. Photos: Ilse Watson
BEAUTIFULLY dressed the Primary School Kathu performed amazingly during the event.
THE choir members of the Primary School Lareng amazed the audience with their voices.
Matrics nearing end of road } Lerato Sebe “STOP stressing about the subjects you’ve already written. There is nothing more you can do about those results. But retain your focus right to the end, especially for the so-called ‘easier’ subjects which are often scheduled towards the end of the exam timetable,” advises Dr Felicity Coughlan, director of the Independent Institute of Education to the class of 2013 matriculants who are still writing their final exams. With six weeks set aside for the matric exams, a tenacity is required from school-leaving young adults for which the rest of their education had not necessarily prepared them. According to Coughlan, the relative freedom of this period can be counterproductive, as students give up the security created by a routine that others managed. Some learners have been allowed to study at home in order to sustain (or not) the self-discipline needed such as a study timetable and scheduled reviews of progress and productive opportunities to engage with peers on progress. Coughlan revealed the shocking truth that young adults needed their peers, and a complete ban on this interaction would lead to
many wasted hours using social media and other communication tools to stay in touch. “As the list of subjects you still need to write becomes shorter and shorter, don’t be tempted into relaxing too soon. “Don’t drop the ball on that strategy now, or stumble over the last hurdle and forfeit those points. The end of November will arrive, and with it the end of your school career,” she says. Coughlan further advised that matriculants should keep their focus by not looking back at what had been done because that could not be changed in the next three weeks. “Each paper should be treated as a standalone opportunity to do their best. There is nothing left for you to do about the way you started. Now it is all about the way you will finish,” she says. She highlighted that they should ensure that they stuck to a schedule of eating healthy, and getting enough sleep and exercise. “But right now remember that the only thing that should matter is that you earn the very best marks you can right until you put down your pen after writing your last paper. “Put in the time now and stick it out right until the end, and you will find your focus and additional effort will be the gift that keeps on giving throughout the rest of your life.”
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2013
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Prostitution a bone of contention LEBOGANG OLYN: YCLSA provincial spokesperson: THE Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) in the province has noted an increase in prostitution, mostly with girls and young women. In our endeavour to get to understand what motivates prostitution, the YCLSA interacted with a number of these women in areas such as Kimberley, Colesberg, De Aar, Barkly West, Postmasburg, Upington, Olifantshoek, Kathu and Kuruman. They told us they are in prostitution to make a living because they are either single mothers or youth headed households. Amongst other things that we have picked up, is that they are harassed by the police who remind them of the illegality of their offences and the immoral and unethical nature and character of prostitution, and the fact that they should find other forms of income generation. On an ongoing night basis in the streets of many towns other than the ones that have been mentioned above, we are confronted with young women who for various reasons resorted to selling their bodies. Amongst the pile of blame that is levelled at the young women, is that poverty and unemployment does not justify the fact that they are involved in such acts, and that they deserve most of the ill and abuse that befall them. The reasons that these young women advance, whether true or false, wrong or right, find
commonness in that they are all trying by all means to see another day. Some of them, from circumstances such as abuse within the family, poverty and hunger, unemployment or lack of money to further their studies, find solutions in prostitution. Some of the prostitutes are objects of syndicates who give them sanctuary in the city, pay their electricity and rent and buy their groceries in exchange for them selling their bodies and paying the proceeds to their owners. On a daily basis these young women are subjected to humiliating circumstances when all they want is to earn a living. They are subjected to the cold of the winter and the heat of the summer, all in the name of this new form of slavery. In the night’s darkness they are also victims of petty crimes because petty criminals believe that they have money on their person or other material things that can be taken from them. They are also fed with drugs as a means for them to forget the miseries of their trade and the unequal abuse that they face from both their owners and their customers. Some of the prostitutes contract HIV/Aids because some man has forced themselves on their body, and because they are defenceless,
they submit to the pressure of sex without protection and therefore contract such disease. They cannot run to their parents because in the eyes of their families they have become outcasts. They cannot run to the police because they believe that their crime of prostitution is greater than that of rape and abuse. They cannot run to their owners, the owners and managers of brothels and drug cartels, because they will be told that it is the work they chose and that as prostitutes they should withstand the implications thereof. And thus, the only thing they can run to is the whole night’s booze and drugs to intoxicate themselves far from the miseries of societal exclusion. The main reason why young women involved in prostitution subject them to such a horrendous and atrocious life is because they should earn an income. Prostitution has been around for hundreds of centuries and we say it is as old as exploitation because as soon as human beings were expected to sell their labour power for an income, social and economic inequities emerged and new forms of income generation were found. Our society has created laws and a moral based on various philosophical and ideological orientation to label prostitution as evil and satanic, and therefore is engaged into by those who should not belong to society. That prostitution is illegal, generates new forms of corruption and abuse because those who prostitute their bodies for income
know that they cannot find any other home in the law. They are used to traffic drugs by those who own them and therefore perpetuate another form of crime. We need to realize that these activities that we deem immoral are not as a result of the choosing of those who perpetuate them. They are also as a result of the material, social and economic conditions that these people find themselves in. A debate on whether prostitution should be legalized or not will take us a long way in curbing the crimes that are a resultant of its outlaw. Let’s talk about it without the hypocrisy that most do. Among others, we need to intensify the distribution of condoms and make sure that they reach this section of communities, as well as the popularization of female condoms. The YCLSA has picked it up that female condoms are only made available at clinics or government facilities, and this encourages us to call on the commercialized and cosmetic sector of male condoms to also do the same with female condoms. Through our campaign we wish to minimize a perception or an expectation that it is men who must wear a condom, but to encourage women to wear a female condom. Hence the strategy to make female condoms also available at the nearest community facilities or stores may be one way of popularizing and making sure that it reaches women. Socialism in our lifetime.
LEONARD MCKAY
An ode to ‘Express NC’ } Leonard Mckay THE birth of words, simple on paper. The beginning of many stories, truly unspoken. A name starts to create, not just but a legacy. A Wednesday madness has arisen amongst the Northern Cape folks. An opportunity source for the old and unemployed youth. Those seeking monthly, and reading weekly . . . Express Northern Cape! The old “tannie” baking at home, taking a break and reading. Express NC! The mechanic servicing cars, sharing the news with clients. Express NC! The old “madala” in his backyard, Wednesdays have become his business newspaper day. Express NC! Government and businesses, official showcase . . . Express NC! It has become part of many, a footprint, a destiny. It is now part of me, the Express NC!
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2013
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Budget adjustment announced } Lerato Sebe
KURUMAN POLICE OFFICERS with the stolen items. From the left are, front: Const. Obakeng Mainaakae, Lt.Col. Jacobus van Wyk and Const. Pontsho Malela; back: Constables Donald Motshabeng, Solomon Tikane and Jaco Visagie. Photo: Ilse Watson
Police take down ‘shopping’ thieves V Ilse Watson ON 12 November the Kuruman police received a call about a suspect car reported to be driving through the streets of Kuruman. Lt.Col. Jacobus van Wyk and his team followed this vehicle and observed the activities of the passengers. There were four female passengers and a male driver who drove from one shop to another.
According to reports, they would stop in front of a shop and the women would get out. After a while they would return, get into the car and then they would drive to the next shop. They were followed by the police and searched. Stolen clothes and shoes from shops like Foschini, Pep, Edgars and Ackermans were recovered. The value of the stolen items is R45 758. All the suspects are Zimbabweans. They are still being investigated by the Kuruman police.
Inaction Programme promoting upsets DA artisanal careers visits Kathu } Boipelo Mere THE DA strongly condemns the inaction of Premier Sylvia Lucas and MEC for the Transport, Safety and Liaison, Mac Jack, after the arrest of HOD Stephen Jonkers 180 days ago. Jonkers is accused of corruption after he allegedly received a kickback of R260 000 from the owner of a bus company who was awarded a five year R10 million contract. The DA alleges that, instead of Jonkers facing disciplinary action, MEC Patrick Mabilo, who suspended Jonkers, has been demoted in a cabinet reshuffle. The HOD is also accused of awarding tenders to three bus companies in excess of R25 million without following proper procedures. Calling for Jonkers’ suspention, the DA has reportedly received information indicating that he is in fact continuing with corrupt practices at the department. He has allegedly approved the appointment of two different contractors for learner transport in the Schmidtsdrift-Bathlaping areas to schools in Douglas. One of the beneficiaries of these contracts is allegedly not even in the transport business and did not have any buses when the contact was awarded.
MDUDUZI MANANA, the deputy minister of Higher Education and Training, will visit Kathu on 26 November as part of the 2013 Year of the Artisan Programme. The programme is aimed at promoting careers requiring artisanal and technical skills as careers of first choice to learn-
ers and in response to the skillstarved economy of the country. Campuses from De Aar, Upington, Namakwa, Kuruman and Kathu will all be involved in this event. The Northern Cape is the last province to be visited on this programme.
THE MEC of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, John Block, promised that the economies of both South Africa and the Northern Cape are predicted to improve in 2014 during his budget adjustment. According to statistical information, the tertiary sector still dominates the economy by contributing 69 and 57,8% for national and provincial respectively. With regards to the provincial audit outcomes, nine departments received unqualified audit opinions compared to five in the previous financial year ending 31 March. “In the past, I have reported that the cumulative unauthorised expenditure as at the end of the 2011-’12 financial year amounted to R911 617 million,” said Block. “In the previous financial year the Department of Education overspent its budget by R16 891 million while the Departments of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs, Provincial Legislature and Transport, Safety and Liaison combined overspent their budgets by R3 610 million which increased the cumulative unauthorized expenditure to R932 118 million of which R681 241 million represent what this administration inherited from the previous administration. In order to liquidate this amount of unauthorised expenditure we have set aside through the debt redemption strategy an amount of R677 728 million to be utilised before the end of this financial year which will result in a balance of R254 390 million to be authorised by the next administration,” said Block. According to Block, the focus of government towards reigniting economic growth includes measures to resolve the energy constraint; to increase investment in infrastructure; to improve the regulatory environment; to stimulate agricultural development; to increase the prospects for youth employment and intensify support for the development of small business. He also mentions that the total provincial funding amounts to R328 035 million which resulted from the under-spending equitable share 2012-’13 financial year, unallocated re-
serves and the over-collection of provincial own revenue. An amount of R935 million for Human Resource Development Strategy is suspended from the Department of Education’s equitable share to the Office of the Premier. An amount of R677 728 million is available to clear part of the unauthorised expenditure as indicated earlier on. Giving further details on the detailed budget of the funds allocated to the various departments he revealed that Provincial Treasury is allocated a total of R28 874 million while the Department of Economic Development and Tourism is allocated a total amount of R44 106 million to finance expenditure relating to the Kimberley Diamond Cup of which R10 000 million represent a donation from Kumba Iron Ore. An amount of R3 088 million is available to the COGHSTA. The Office of the Premier has been allocated an amount of R19 341 million of which R2 467 million is relating to the re-location from the Templar Building to the JW Sauer Building and the increase in rental space. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development will receive R302 731 million which includes R5 600 million set aside to improve cattle handling facilities. The Department of Environment and Nature Conservation has been allocated additional funds amounting to R12 961 million of which R10 500 million is to modernise the provincial reserves facilities. An amount of R134 998 million is allocated to the Department of Health while the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture has been allocated R32 210 million of which R11 342 million will cover roll-over requests for the community library, conditional grant and R20 million intended to erect two portable, multipurpose sports grounds in each district. The Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison has been allocated an amount of R15 475 million and the Department of Roads and Public Works an amount of R114 583 million. The Department Of Education has been allocated an additional R3 111 million while the Legislature has been allocated R3 204 million and no allocation to Social Development.
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2013
TSHEPO PLAATJIE went on to represent the province in the Griqua FNB u.15 team at the FNB Festival held in Johannesburg in September.
THE Bushbucks u.11 team. From the left are, front: Christopher Geweer, Xolani Fiellies, Sergio van Wyk, Tshekiso Tokelo (coach), Tshepang Selemogo, Bradley Volmink and Thabo Tshipi; back: Thato Mabusela, Ofentse Seile, Sabata Japhta, Marius Seile, Poloko Jakkals, Michael Mokgwai, Thapelo Setumisho, Maechall Oor and Mbulelo Swarts. Photos: Boipelo Mere
Bushbucks look back on big year
Excited about soon lifting trophy yet again } Boipelo Mere TSHEKISO TOKELO, the Bushbucks coach, smiles from ear to ear when he has to elaborate on the fruitful year that he had with his team. Tokelo attributed all his achievements to team work and a good relationship between himself and his team. His u.11 team is looking forward to lifting the league championship trophy after being declared the Galeshewe and Mankurwane league champions for the second year in a row this year. They were still the u.9 team when they won the league last season. They expect to be handed their trophy during the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s awards ceremony on 7 December at the Mayibuye Centre. According to the coach, his whole team
consists of five divisions: u.9, u.11, u.13, u.15 and u.17. Tokelo proudly revealed that they expected another big achievement, because his u.9 team was currently leading in the structure, and was left with only three games before they could officially be declared winners. “I am positive that we will also make it big with the young ones,” he said with confidence. “My u.15 team is also in second position this season. They moved from fifth position in the last season,” said the coach. Tokelo went on to say that it was not too difficult for him to share the four practice days amongst his divisions because they were already determined and committed. “My secret has always been to focus more on the younger ones, which is the u.9 team. That is the way to form a winning team.”
The coach expressed his appreciation to the parents who allowed their children to participate, especially those who assisted with donations and raising funds for training equipment. “I encourage them (parents) to attend the awards ceremony in order to witness their children’s achievements. “I would also like to thank Berry Gertberg of Top Lay eggs who sponsors us every year. We value his contribution,” he concluded. The cherry on top for the Bushbucks team was when Tshepo Plaatjie, one of the u.15 team members, went on to represent the province in the Griqua FNB u.15 team at the FNB Festival held in September. Plaatjie was amongst the 20 players from different structures in Sol Plaatje who represented the province.