Latest news with #MadodaSambatha
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Water infrastructure upgrades boost North West farming communities
Through targeted interventions and strategic infrastructure upgrades, the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has brought much-needed relief to farming communities that have long contended with unreliable water sources. The provincial department says over a dozen villages in the Kagisano-Molopo and Greater Taung Local Municipalities are benefiting from restored, upgraded and newly developed water systems. These improvements include the installation of windmills, submersible pumps and high-capacity storage tanks, as well as the drilling and equipping of new boreholes. These enhancements ensure farmers consistently access reliable water for their livestock, marking a significant step towards sustainable agriculture in some of the province's most water-stressed areas. Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Madoda Sambatha says this was a major step in the right direction. 'For us, farmers are a priority. Without water, there is no farming, and without farming, there is no rural economy. What we have achieved in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati is a clear example of how the government must respond to the needs of its people. We are not done; there are still areas in need, but this marks a firm beginning,' Sambatha explains. In Kagisano-Molopo, communal farmers in the areas of Langpomp, Gamongalenyane 1, Maheng, Setabeng and Matlhabatlhabe are now benefiting from improved access to water. This follows the installation of new windmills, the rehabilitation of boreholes and the construction of reservoirs. In Greater Taung, eight villages, including Comforthill, Choseng, Tlapeng, Fairview, Mogopela B, Tamasikwa, Maphoitsile and Manthe, are already enjoying the advantages of upgraded boreholes, new pumps and a reticulation system that feeds into a newly constructed 60 000l zinc storage tank. A farmer from Kgomotso Village, under the Baga Mothibi Tribal Authority, Pucoe Oatlhotse, says the interventions have made a significant impact on their farming practices. 'We are truly encouraged by the progress we are seeing. Access to clean water is making it easier for us to care for our livestock. The department's support has brought real change on the ground, and we are grateful,' Oatlhotse says. As part of its broader livestock support strategy, the department has also installed handling facilities alongside existing dipping tanks, enabling safer and more efficient livestock management during health inspections and disease control operations. 'These efforts are not only helping sustain livestock farming in the district but are also reinforcing food security and stimulating local rural economies.' The department is assessing additional areas across the province for similar interventions. – Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Star
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Marikana workers should not be forgotten
As we approach Workers' Day, a time meant to honour the struggles and sacrifices of workers, we are reminded of the tragedy that unfolded on 16 August 2012 at Marikana. The DA demands the immediate tabling of a detailed, costed plan for the Marikana monument, including clear timelines and accountability mechanisms from the Departments of Arts and Culture as well as DEDECT, and a formal apology from the North West Provincial Government for years of delay, dishonesty, and disregard. This was after MEC Madoda Sambatha, who was delegated by Premier Lazarus Mokgosi to respond to a question posed by the DA, during a Question and Answer session in the North West Provincial Legislature, blatantly admitted that the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) failed to secure funding from Treasury, effectively shelving the monument yet again. Since 2017, repeated public commitments have been made to honour the fallen workers of Marikana: * In 2017, the North West Government formally committed to constructing a monument at the koppie. * In 2022, then Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, announced that the Bojanala District Mayor would visit the site to assess the area for a future monument. * In the February 2024 State of the Province Address, former Acting Premier Nono Maloyi recommitted to constructing the monument. Yet, in 2025, the MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha, shamelessly told the House that there are no funds, no plan, and no timelines, stating arrogantly that 'we can wait until 2029', now that the matter has been shifted to the Department of Arts and Culture. Tragically, not only has justice remained elusive for the victims' families, but the North West Government continues to spit on their memory through broken promises and inaction. This is not merely a failure of project management; it is a moral disgrace and a deliberate betrayal of the Marikana families and their slain loved ones. The DA has long warned that this government thrives on empty promises and political theatre, using major tragedies like Marikana for populist soundbites, only to abandon communities once the cameras are off. This Workers' Day, while the ANC clap hands for itself at rallies, the families of the 34 slain mineworkers who were gunned down while demanding better living and working conditions will still be waiting for the dignity of a monument, thirteen years after the massacre. The memory of the Marikana victims is not a political prop. They were workers. Fathers. Breadwinners. South Africans. They deserve honour, not more lies and empty promises. Freddy Sonakile DA Caucus Leader in the North West Provincial Legislature
