Northern Cape
TEL: 053 8312331
WEDNESDAY 30 JULY 2014
WWW.EXPRESSNEWS.CO.ZA
Still no end to dispute
FREE
Government and KDF still at loggerheads over road } Boipelo Mere THE ongoing war between the Northern Cape Government and Kuruman Development Forum (KDF) is bound to escalate. Government has already implemented a plan as a measure of intervention to salvage what is left of the school days for this academic year, including a school catch-up plan and visible policing in the Joe Morolong Municipality. Since the KDF, purporting to be representing the Joe Morolong community, launched a protest centred around the construction of tarred roads leading from the N14 to connect Kuruman and Vryburg, learners of Joe Morolong have since February not attended school. According to Lucky Kaebis, a member of the Kuruman Development Forum, the Kuruman Community Forum and the Northern Cape Government did not see eye to eye. However, Monwabisi Nkompela, spokesperson at the Office of the Premier, said that there had been an opportunity for both parties to find each other at a scheduled meeting at the John Taolo Gaetsewe Municipal Offices, but that the members of the chamber had walked out of the meeting. He admitted this had been during an argument concerning the removal of one of the councillors which had been turned down by government. The KDF demanded that the construction of the road should first take place, and only then would they allow their children to return to school. Government, however, went on the offensive and labelled the prevention of learners from going to school as criminal. Mafu Davids, the spokesperson for the premier, was quoted as saying in the New Age newspaper: “We hold the safety of the community in high regard, that is why we are including the police in this plan. “The community has indicated to us that they are afraid of being attacked. Their safety is important to us and that is why we must have high police visibility.” A community member in the Joe Morolong Municipality, who wished to remain anonymous, lamented the fact that they, as the community, were stuck between a rock and a hard place. “As much as we want our children to be in school, we also want tarred roads. Our problem is that the police cannot be with us 24 hours a day because there are more than 100 villages. “What happens if we are attacked and the police are in another village? How will they get here if the roads are this bad?” ) See letter on page 6.
All powered up THE minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne Brown, together with the Northern Cape premier, Sylvia Lucas, launched key projects in De Aar in an attempt to revitalise the town’s economy and create jobs and development skills. They officially opened the Transnet Wagons Refurbishing Facility and a youth multipurpose precinct and handed over houses to two indigent families in De Aar. The minister is pictured switching on the Transnet Wagons Refurbishing Facility. Visit our website at www.expressnews.co.za for the full story. Photo: Supplied
2
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 30 JULY 2014
NEWS
Salga reaches out } Boipelo Mere
PICTURED are the representatives of the Nasional Development Agency (NDA), the South African Local Government Association (Salga) in the Northern Cape and Old Mutual with the items that they donated to the centre. Photo: Supplied
THE South African Local Government Association (Salga) in the Northern Cape spent Nelson Mandela Day at the Kagisho Day-care Centre for Children with Disabilities in Ritchie. According to Salga, the centre has 37 children in one classroom and a shack that is used as a kitchen. The centre is run by two teachers and a principal. The facilities are not adequate. Salga and other sponsors are committed to improve the centre through various projects. They started on Mandela Day when Salga Northern Cape donated four brand-new wheelchairs, clothing (second-hand clothing from staff), food items and a signpost for the centre (which also acknowledged all sponsors). The National Development Agency (NDA) contributed to the centre’s food garden which was extended by all stakeholders. As part of the sponsorship sourced by Salga in the Northern Cape, the Sol Plaatje Municipality will go back to the centre to build a proper structure, which will be a building that is suited for a day-care centre for disabled children.
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 30 JULY 2014
3
NEWS
NC hospital leads way } Boipelo Mere THE Northern Cape prides itself for being the first hospital in the country where 3D-printing titanium mandible implants were performed. That is after the transplant was successfully performed on the first two patients diagnosed with neck and mouth cancer at the Kimberley Hospital last week by a team of medical doctors. According to the Kimberley Hospital, this innovation is an effort to bring about change in the lives of patients. Dr Waleed Ikram of the Kimberley Hospital says the progress of the first two patients will determine whether the transplant can spread to other countries. According to the doctors who performed the transplant, the aim of the procedure is to restore the patient’s dignity by repairing the mandible and fixing the facial contours. Prof. Cules van den Heever of the Centre or Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), expresses their excitement over the transplant as it will get the patient to function and look normal, and be disease free. Van den Heever says that the innovation will better the lives of patients in the Northern Cape, where 500 new cases are reported for head and neck cancer annually. “Once the patient has cancer, the lower jaw has to be removed, making their quality of life terrible. They do not even have any speech function.” He adds that with the microvascular reconstructive techniques, which is a very expensive procedure, they used to restore the jaw, and the preformed recon plates that were previously constructed to replace the lower jaw of a patient fractures in most cases or erodes through the tissue. One of the transplant patients on the day was a patient who had developed a massive trauma on the lower jaw that had to be
THE digital layout of a patient’s jawline with a previously reconstructed jaw. replaced with the 3D-printing titanium mandible implants. The other patient received a recon plate that had fractured and had to be replaced by the custom-made plate. Ikram says that it is an honour for the province to be offered the opportunity to perform this kind of procedure. He also says that the procedure will be a cost-saving measure as it will now cost R800 000 less than the previous procedure due to less titanium material being used during the design of the jaw. “We are now able to perform specialised transplants in other areas. Our previous patients used to travel either to Johannesburg or to Cape Town for treatment on cancer of the jaw.” Ikram appeals to government and the private sector for sponsorships to make these operations a success.
THE Steach United team plans to regroup for the next challenge.
Photo: Supplied
Steach Utd regroup } Boipelo Mere AFTER failing in their bid to be promoted to the first division league now known as the ABC Motsepe League, Steach United from Galeshewe in the Northern Cape has vowed to regroup. They plan to concentrate on the upcoming matches in their division and ensure that next year this time, they are back at the qualifications for the ABC Motsepe League. Things did not turn out well for Steach in Durban in their quest to be promoted to the first division. Every soccer fan in the province has been crossing fingers, praying for a positive outcome for Steach United. The MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Lebogang Mokoena, has expressed
his desire to reign in an era where the province has a professional club playing in the Absa Premier Soccer league, so, Steach’s attempt would have been a step up for the province. Steach Mnguye expressed his satisfaction at the team’s performance in Durban. “We were motivated by everyone, including Safa officials, who highlighted our talent and hard work and encouraged us to come again next year. I sincerely send my appreciation to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and all who supported us in deeds and prayers. This was truly a learning curve for us and good exposure for the players. I believe if the community can work together we can keep these boys out of court,” said Mnguye.
For more news and photos go to www.express-news.co.za. FOCUS ON TWO OCEANS FORWARDERS
Your goods in safe hands TWO OCEANS FORWARDERS prides itself on being the definite answer to all types of goods transportation. Transporting from small and bulk shipments to chemicals, including the shipment of dangerous goods, Two Oceans Forwarders has been operating from and to South Africa over the past five years. With a good track record and management that has 20 years of experience in
the transport industry, the company accepts cash and cash on delivery (COD) transactions. The office can be contacted on 053-8323516 or 053-831-7907 during weekdays (Monday to Friday) between 08:00 and 17:00. The Kimberley premises of Two Oceans Forwarders can be located at 18 Fabricia Road, Fabricia, Kimberley.
4
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 30 JULY 2014
NEWS
Government doing headcount } Boipelo Mere ALL government employees are urged to visit the identified verification centres to have their information verified and to assist the process of updating their information and cleaning up the pay-roll system. That is after the Northern Cape Provincial Government committed itself to conducting biometric headcount projects to clean up the system of government with the aim of eliminating ghost employees. The process was engaged by the Department of the Provincial Treasury which scheduled a list of venues for government officials to verify their details between July and
August. Mojalefa Mphapang of the Department of Communications at the Provincial Treasury made the appeal to all officials to come in numbers to verify their details. Officials are requested to produce a green South African bar-coded ID, smart card, valid temporary ID, valid passport issued by country of origin or work permit. Certified copies of highest academic qualifications or proof of affiliation or registration with a professional body (e.g. HPCSA, SACE), must also be supplied. The Kimberley verification sites are the Floors Civic Hall (Stokroos Street, Squarehill Park), Kimberley Hospital Complex (James Exum
Auditorium, Dutoitspan Road), Northern Cape Provincial Legislature (Nobengula Boulevard, Galeshewe), Mayibuye Multi-purpose Centre (Sehurutshe Street, Galeshewe), Kimberley City Hall (Market Square) and Recreational Hall (corner of Hulana and Lang Streets, Galeshewe). The scheduled regional verification sites are Upington, Kuruman, De Aar and Springbok between 4 and 8 August. Carnarvon, Williston, Prieska, Colesberg, Kenhardt, Pofadder and Askham will be on 11 and 12 August, while Sutherland, Calvinia, Victoria West, Douglas, Postmasburg and Port Nolloth will be on 14 and 15 August.
A TO Z GUIDE
NOLIZWE TAME (right) of the Department of Transport and Liaison was among those who heard the call during the first week of the verification process. Here she is assisted by headcount official Mpho Kgatlane (left) at the city hall. Photo: Boipelo Mere
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 30 JULY 2014
5
6
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 30 JULY 2014
NEWS
Forum members act childish MONWABISI NKOMPELA (head of communication: Office of the Premier, writing in his personal capacity): THE so-called crisis, or rather anarchy, caused by some selfish individuals in the John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG) region should be properly contextualised. Furthermore, the utterances and the actions of the forum leaves much to be desired. All along, the issue has been about the construction of the roads, which government has committed to address and the work is underway to deliver on that commitment. Not for the sake of the demands from the forum, but to respond to the service delivery
needs of our people in JTG. Now the goal posts have been completely shifted. To the extent that the chairperson of the forum says: “We want them (government) to tell us where is the R240 million that was given by the mine? Otherwise, there won’t be any development of the road in this area”. The same forum demanded that Premier
Sylvia Lucas come to meet with them. When she availed herself to meet them, they decided to stage a walk-out because of someone who they did not want in the meeting. Now any sober-minded person who wants to resolve a crisis will never act and behave in this manner. This makes me ask a few questions: 1. Is it not that the forum members want a share of the so-called R240 million? 2. Is it not that the forum members are engaged in a political battle? 3. Is it not that the forum members are just selfish people who seek attention at the expense of our school children? You be the judge.
Take these actions between 5pm and 9pm weekdays, to help keep the lights on this winter… 7[MXGL SJJ ]SYV KI]WIV YRRIGIWWEV] PMKLXW ERH ETTPMERGIW (IPE] W[MXGLMRK SR ]SYV IPIGXVMG WTEGI LIEXIV GSRWMHIV EPXIVREXMZIW WYGL EW KEW LIEXIVW SV E LSX [EXIV FSXXPI (SR´X VYR ]SYV TSSP TYQT PMQMX [EXIV GMVGYPEXMSR XS SRGI E HE] SYXWMHI TQ XS TQ 1SWX MQTSVXERXP] VIWTSRH XS XLI 4S[IV %PIVXW ]SY WII SR XIPIZMWMSR Being electricity smart cuts your energy costs… and reduces pressure on the national power grid. For more information go to www.eskom.co.za/idm
)WOSQ ,SPHMRKW 73' 0MQMXIH 6IK 2S
Five off to academy } Boipelo Mere DONALD MOJAKI, who was a scout for the South African Football Association (Safa) during the SAB u.21 Championship in Mahikeng, reported to Express Northern Cape that five boys who were in the u.21 Northern Cape team were selected for the 2015 Castle Lager Football Academy. The squad will go into camp under the mentorship and training of Neil Tovey and assistants where the team will be trimmed down to a last 23. The selected players are Howard Mbasa, Avril Vries, Christopher Balie, Zinzan Coetzee and Alroy Baardman.
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 30 JULY 2014
7
NEWS
Youth in De Aar gets a boost THE minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne Brown, and the premier of the Northern Cape, Sylvia Lucas, officially opened the Transnet Wagons Refurbishing Facility, the Youth Multi-Purpose Precinct and handed over houses to two indigent families in De Aar on 28 July. The Transnet Wagons Refurbishing Facility will maintain various types of wagons for Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) operations. This investment of more than R30 million is aimed at increasing the TFR’s capacity on the main corridor between Sentrarand and Cape Town, known as Capecor. The facility has already created jobs and improved rail engineering skills, a boost for De Aar’s economy. The De Aar wagon facility has 47 employees, 22 of them from De Aar, and it is estimated that about 300 direct and indirect jobs will be created through the facility. The De Aar wagons depot will be run as a satellite workshop for the Transnet Rail Engineering Beaconsfield Depot in Kimberley and will have a production capacity of 250 wagons per annum. Brown and Lucas proceeded to hand over houses to two families that had to make way for Trans-net’s plans to establish the Youth Multi-Purpose Precinct at their dilapidated houses next to the De Aar Railway Station. Transnet volunteers were called in on Mandela Day last year to clean the houses in preparation for the rebuilding of the youth precinct. Transnet relocated the two families to new houses. The youth precinct consists of: ) Youth shelter for 20 homeless boys: A shelter which aims to take homeless boys off the streets and place them in a healthy environment from which they can be reintegrated into their families, society or be equipped with self-sustaining life skills. ) A youth educational centre: An education information centre offering access to a library, career information, higher education information, healthcare and more. Provision of information and knowledge that will create informed and inspired young people from De Aar. ) Youth recreational park: A positive environment for youth to interact and socialise in constructive and safe surroundings. This will consist of, amongst other things, an outdoor amphitheatre, an outdoor chess board and a basketball court. ) Youth enterprise development: An exit strategy for men older than 18 who have a sustainable occupation as artisans; men will be trained to form their own small
THE Transnet Wagons Refurbishing Facility was officially opened after Lynne Brown had cut the ribbon. enterprises and contracted to maintain Transnet properties. This programme will be funded by Transnet Property. ) Youth volunteers: A social club of youth volunteers who embark on monthly volunteering activities; youths who are engaged constructively and develop socially responsible values and furthermore contribute towards volunteering activities that will impact positively on the landscape of De Aar. The Transnet Foundation will fully fund the De Aar Youth Precinct NGO for the first three years (2014 to 2016). During this time the Transnet Foundation and the board will engage with other potential donors and partners to invest in the precinct and thus ensure its sustainability. “Government is committed to revitalising the economy of rural towns such as De Aar so that we create sustainable livelihoods for the local people. A wagon refurbishment facility will have a long-term impact, not only on De Aar, but also the surrounding areas as it will be a springboard for development within the broader Northern Cape. The establishment of such a facility brings hope to the youth of De Aar to become engineers and better their lives,” said Brown. The Northern Cape is proud to be the host of this facility that will have a
Photos: Supplied
THE minister proceeded to hand over the keys to the Youth MultiPurpose Precinct to Premier Sylvia Lucas to declare it operational. positive impact on the people of De Aar, said Lucas. “We are happy that state-owned companies such as Transnet’s business philosophy is clearly defined in the saying that for the companies to prosper, they need the communities they operate in to also prosper.” Guided by the belief that South Africa’s greatest resource is its youthful population and that through their active participation
the country can surmount many of its challenges, Transnet’s investment in De Aar reaffirms its long-standing commitment to youth development. “We believe we can make an important contribution to society by going a step beyond corporate social responsibility to create value through our core business for our society, employees and the shareholders,” says Transnet Foundation head, Cynthia Mgijima.
Doing their bit for others THE Kolomela Mine with the Shoprite team who also did their part for Man dela Day, are seen here with the Post masburg Hospital staff.
Going places . . . AFTER being crowned the first Tsantsabane Idol in May, Mpho Maroane is bound to release her 12track album, Yes, Lord, in August. The talented Mpho would like to pursue her dream of singing for Joyous Celebration and has opted for a gospel album with classic hymns and praise and worship medleys. The album, which was part of the prize package of the 2014 Tsantsabane Idols competition, includes composi tions from her own pen. The first ever Tsantsabane Idols were held as part of an innovative youth development partnership between the Tsantsabane Centre of Hope, National Youth Development Outreach and the National Arts Council. “Mpho is a very talented lady and the album will be a runaway hit,” says Hendré Jacobs of the Tsantsabane Centre of Hope. Mpho will also make her television debut soon. Photo: Supplied
KUMBA IRON ORE’S Kolomela Mine devoted 67 minutes of their time for Mandela Day to the Jan Vorster OldAge Home by handing out knitted scarves and blankets to the senior citizens of Postmasburg and to patients at the Postmasburg Hospi tal. Pictured are the Kolomela team dis playing the scarves that were handed out at the oldage home. These scarves were knit ted by a few of the Kolomela female employees. Photos: Supplied
8
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 30 JULY 2014
Games inspire kids } Boipelo Mere
THE teams that participated in the 2014 u.15 Fernando Visagie Community Tournament praised it to be a success as it succeeded in taking the children’s minds off the streets during the school holiday. The organisers of the event said it was evident from the talent that the young boys displayed, that they had practised hard for the tournament. Three of the selected teams failed to participate in the tournament, because the children were at different destinations during the holidays. Five teams from Colville Development Structure and the Galeshewe and Mankurwane Structures managed to pitch. According to the organiser of the event, Jerome Doyle, the tournament, which was sponsored by Fernando Visagie, is one of their annually community development programmes. He added that the tournament was a success and everything went well during the organising process. “The aim of the tournament was to keep the children off the streets during the school holiday. The small tokens of recognition that were sponsored, made a huge difference, because it motivated the players to concentrate and keep their eyes on the ball,” he said. Doyle said that Visagie donated gold and silver medals, soccer balls and a trophy for the tournament. Tokelo Thekisho from Bush Bucks FC said the absence of three teams did not discourage them. The teams that took pride in participating in the tournament at the Homevale Sports Grounds were Hope United, Masokolaar, Bush Bucks FC, World 11 and Norman FC. The Dalton Brothers, Diamond City and Vuduka were absent. The round robin tournaments that started the Friday, caused the Fernando Visagie Community Tournament’s semi-finals to shift to the Saturday. In the finals, Bush Bucks FC ended up with the trophy in their hands after beating Hope United 2-1. They received a trophy, soccer balls worth R400 and gold medals. The runners-up received silver medals. The teams are looking forward to next year’s tournament.
WORLD 11 were one of the teams that participated in the Fernando Visagie Community Tournament.
The aim of the tour nament was to keep the children off the streets during the school holiday
Photos: Supplied