The GUARD Newspaper

31/07/2024

Observing 67 minutes at Bophelo day care in collaboration with Chinise embassy in Soouth Africa ,Education MEC Dr Mamiki Maboya has this to say

31/07/2024

https://theguard.co.za/traditional-leaders-unpack-basotho-new-year/

31/07/2024

Residents speak out
By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Residents of Clubview have dismissed as futile the executive mayor of Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality Malekula Melato’s launch of a sewer spillage eradication project, citing failure to address the root course of the problem.
According to Mojalefa Tanyane of Mphatlalatsane who has experience working in sanitation, the problem that their community is facing of sewer spillages won’t be fixed by the municipality hiring contractors who only come once every few years to drain the main haul because this is not where the problem lies.
“Our community is suffering from a very serious sewer spillage problem, and it’s been over 12 years that we’ve been going to the municipality asking for help. The spillage flows into our yards when the main haul overflows, and I have dug a tunnel so that the sewerage can stop entering my yard and the neighbours’ yards.
“The sewerage is threatening the structural safety of my house because the moisture is seeping into my walls. Sending a honey sucker occasionally doesn’t solve our problem because the spillage doesn’t stop. I have kids and this is a serious concern to me because of their health,” Tanyane said in an interview with The Guard.
Another resident, Teboho Moloi shared the same sentiments when he said sending a honey sucker occasionally is not the answer.
“I do not agree with what is happing here today because it doesn’t solve our problem of sewerage spillage. I think what would help is if the municipality prioritises fixing the Phuthaditjhaba wastewater treatment plant nearby so that this problem gets a permanent solution,” Moloi said.
For her part Melato said: “Clubview is a community that is full of blocked sewerage systems and sewer spillages, and the stench here is very bad and this is very dangerous for our community’s health. During my 100 days programme I would like to deal with some of these spillages. We also visited the
https://theguard.co.za/residents-speak-out/

28/07/2024

26/07/2024

health MEC Monyatso Mahlatsi celebrating Mandela Month at Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional

26/07/2024

https://theguard.co.za/fs-anc-slams-youth-league/

By Staff Reporter BLOEMFONTEIN – The Free State African National Congress (ANC) provincial executive committee (PEC) reprimanded its youth wing over what it called ‘unpalatable behaviour’ towards Alliance partner Cosatu. Earlier this month, the Youth League in the province held its PEC meeting...

25/07/2024

THE GUARD NEWSPAPER 📰 EDITION
FRIDAY 26TH JULY 2024

ACCESS MORE STORIES AT www.theguard.co.za

23/07/2024

Centurion celebrates Mandela Day at the Bakoena royal Household
By Emily Setona
QWAQWA - Hundred- and one-year old Maggie Mohlolo and her 70-year-old daughter Emily Montshioa spent International Mandela day at the Bakoena royal household with a group of other elderly men and women.
Morena e Moholo Moremoholo Mopeli and the executive mayor of Maluti - a - Phofung (MAP) Malekula Melato joined hands to celebrate Mandela day, which is on 18 July, giving back to the elderly community of Namahadi. Hundred and one year old Mohlolo was very happy to be part of this celebration and expressed her gratitude when she received her food parcel and blanket from both Mopeli and Melato. “I am very happy to be here today, and I appreciate the gifts that I have received from Morena e Moholo Moremoholo and our mayor, may the good lord continue to bless them,” Mohlolo who can still talk very well said to this publication.
On behalf of the community Isaac Komako said that it is important to do unto others as you’d have them do unto you. He emphasised the fact that the community of Namahadi will stand by the executive mayor and support her because she has shown kindness and contributed to making their Mandela day a day to remember. “This is not the first time I meet the mayor; I know her and what she has done for us today may we do the same to her because the bible teaches that ‘do unto others as you’d have them to do unto you’. What Morena e Moholo Moremoholo has done for us today is a very good thing and we are truly thankful and will continue to support his efforts and those of mayor Melato,” Komako said when speaking on behalf of the community.
For her part Melato said that the elderly people are very close to her heart and the royal household has always been there with her throughout her journey as a leader. “When Morena e Moholo Moremoholo shared his desire with me that he wanted to give back to the elderly community of Namahadi on Mandela Day I said to him, ‘send me my king’

23/07/2024

https://theguard.co.za/mec-mbalula-joins-farmers-cops-to-fight-livestock-theft/

21/07/2024

US President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the presidential race and endorsed vice to take over to continue campaign against former president Donald Trump.

20/07/2024

Date: 19th July 2024 Notice is hereby given that it is the intention of the person whose details are set out below to lodge an application for a LIQUOR STORE LICENSE to the secretary of the local committee. Liquor Authority at 83 Cnr Henry & Markgraaff Westden Bloemfontein 9300Full Name of Applicant...

18/07/2024

Celebrating Mandela day at Bakoena Royal House executive mayor of Maluti-A-Phofung Malekula Melato.

17/07/2024

School receives intervention

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA – Learners of Morena Mokopela Secondary School (SS) on July 11 paid attention as ex-convict Mohau Monyobo shared his painful story of how two and a half years in jail changed his life.

According to South African Police Services (SAPS) officer Tlaleng Lakaje the learners of Morena Mokopela SS carry weapons to school, engage in drug use, have a high rate of teenage pregnancies and are susceptible to joining gangs because of their vulnerable backgrounds.

“Children at this school bring knives to class and we have learned that they abuse drugs and alcohol and there is a high rate of bullying and teenage pregnancy, that is why we are here today to motivate and inspire them to make better choices,” Lakaje said in an interview with The Guard
https://theguard.co.za/school-receives-intervention/

17/07/2024

Acting MM Sefantsi to be replaced
By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – The Free State provincial government says it believes incoming acting Municipal Manager Amos Goliath is the man to bring administrative stability to Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) after Monyane Sefantsi failed at this task.
The MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Teboho Mokoena mentioned that a new acting MM will be brought on who the Provincial government believes will be able to bring administrative stability to MAP.
Mokoena said this during at a media briefing at an extraordinary intervention meeting held in MAP on July 12, where he was joined by the premier a week after his service delivery intervention visit to the municipality.
“As the council sits on Tuesday next week, they will process things so that the new acting MM can start. His first task on the table is to stabilize the municipality administratively and trigger the process of the employment of a full-time MM, and the employment of the senior managers so that the municipality can function normally and be able to address all service delivery issues. At the current moment under the current circumstances, it is completely difficult to handle service delivery issues because at a higher level there is instability, there is no accountability, and there is no management of a lot of areas.
“We need a municipal manager who is permanent not an intervention; we have given ourselves three months’ starting from next week Tuesday, that the acting MM is the first thing they need to do together with the new executive mayor is to complete the process and if the process has gone against the timelines, they’ll have to start it afresh. We will help them to ensure that come the next three months, Maluti-a-Phofung should be having a permanent municipal manager who will work with the staff for the next five years to really make sure that they resolve their issues to bring administrative stability . https://theguard.co.za

17/07/2024

Dead patient’s family wants answers

By Libuseng Nyaka

QWAQWA – The Devastated family of Dibakiso Suzan Tshabalala (58), who died at Mofumahadi Monapo Mopeli hospital on July 2, 2024, allegedly due to power cuts, have slammed the government for lack of empathy when announcing her death.

The deceased is alleged to have died while in the ICU for treatment of diabetes after electricity outage that lasted three days.

The son of the deceased, Dumisane Tshabalala, says his mother’s death has affected the family negatively, exacerbated by the manner in which her death was communicated to them by department of health which left them with more questions than answers.

“There are many questions that need to be answered by the department of health or Mofumahadi Manapo hospital. There is a lot of information pertaining to our mother’s death which we have only learnt of from social media and other community leaders. We are unable to find answers. When announcing the death of our mother, the hospital showed lack of empathy; they just told us our mother has passed away and we must fetch her co**se after two days.

When we arrived at the hospital on Tuesday to collect our mother’s body at 11 am, we were told to wait until 13hrs for a doctor who was busy with other surgeries, to fill out and sign forms. While still there at the hospital we received a call from hospital management telling us that they at our house. We were confused because we were at the facility; it left us perplexed that they decided to leave us unattended and go to our home to pass their condolences when they were supposed to assist us.

“It is behaviour like this which raised more suspicions and questions. In what capacity did they be obliged to go and pass condolences? There are many patients that have passed at the hospital but they never visited their families to pay condolences.”

Following this incident, Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae visited Maluti-a-Phofung https://theguard.co.za

17/07/2024

https://theguard.co.za/protest-action-leads-to-lights-on/
Protest action leads to lights on
By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – While disgruntled Phuthaditjaba residents were ushered into a meeting with the chief whip and the MMC of electricity and infrastructure Ditaba Nhlapo. Executive mayor Malekula Melato met with her Mayco and key stakeholders to discuss the issue of electricity that had left residents of this community without power for almost five consecutive days.
Tuesday 16 July saw the residents of Phuthaditjaba take to the streets near BP garage to barricade the road and burn tyres. This disruption of inferno caused the scheduled council sitting to be postponed and instead Melato called an impromptu meeting with her Mayoral committee and several key stakeholders to come up with an immediate tangible solution.
According to chief whip Moeketsi Lebesa part of the community of Phuthaditjaba have been without electricity for five consecutive days.
“The problem is that people want electricity right now. The MMC of electricity and infrastructure will be escorted by police to fetch a municipal electrician who lives in Marakong village to go switch on the substation in Bluegumbosch today. The fear was that people are barricading the roads and that it is unsafe. He will also go to SS1 to go and lift the switches, this substation is carrying most of the community and it gets overloaded and overworked,” Lebesa said to the media.
MMC of social development Mary Crokette reported to her ward and said that the people who wanted to go fix the issue of electricity feared for their lives but through the intervention of the mayor they came up with a solution and the issue of overtime money was also being sorted out because it contributed to the problem.
“The problem was the lack of communication because the premier did commit to giving the municipality money for the SS1. We need to communicate more with the people to let them know what is going on in the municipality.

09/07/2024

New MAP Mayco faces baptism of fire
By Emily Setona
QWAQWA - Executive mayor Malekula Melato and her newly appointed mayoral committee in Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) have their work cut out for them as they seek to restore administrative stability in the local municipality that is plagued by maladministration and corruption.
This was top of the agenda during an ordinary council sitting that was held in the council chamber on Thursday 4 July.
Melato introduced her new mayoral committee which the council immediately tasked with the responsibility of finding practical, impactful and immediate solutions to many of the service delivery problems destroying the community of MAP.
“The municipality needs solutions that will be implemented now, because both Eskom and MAPWater have presented to us the challenges facing the municipality when it comes to providing adequate electricity and water to our people. I want the council to discuss these situations now as sitting with the MM and CFO at a later stage will put pressure on me because you as council will be asking me for a report on an action plan that we can implement very soon.”
Melato said while addressing the council after representatives of both Eskom and MAPWater made their presentations to council on what the challenges are regarding electricity and water and what possible solutions to remedy the situation are.
Council chief whip Moeketsi Lebesa echoed the sentiments of most of the councillors when he said it is almost as if the council is playing and lying to themselves because no clear and decisive decisions are being made to fix the situation in MAP, and this is very devastating for all residents including themselves as councillors and elected leaders of this community.
“We cannot wish our problems away, and if we are not honest, we will keep on lying to ourselves and we will have stress and suffer from depression and continue to fight amongst ourselves as councillors,” Lebesa said.
On behalf of the new Mayco, Councillor Mary Crockett said they will let the Troika lead the way then they come up with solutions together.
“With all these issues

https://theguard.co.za/new-map-mayor-faces-baptism-of-fire/

09/07/2024

Electricity and water are needs, not luxuries

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA - Representatives of Eskom and MAPWater painted a bleak picture of the state of electricity and water service delivery, respectively, in the Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) local municipality which is faced with a severe electricity and water crisis.

In his presentation to the council on June 4, Eskom’s Andre Damons outlined how Eskom will be assisting MAP to stabilize its electricity crisis.

“Eskom has been appointed as the service delivery agent and I need to be quite clear about the role of Eskom. Eskom will ensure that we work together with the municipality to solve the issues that have been identified. I will remind council about what happened two years ago. Eskom funded R10 million to kick start activities, but unfortunately things came to a halt.

“Now the issue we are sitting with is budgetary constraints. Number one we need funding to undertake any project; number two we need the establishment of a Project Management Office (PMO), which outlined that it is the responsibility of the municipality. Without a PMO nothing can happen between Eskom and the municipality.

“Eskom has assessed the situation at the substations, and we have developed plans to normalise and refurbish the substations, but the network of Maluti-a-Phofung is very unsafe; it is scary what is going on there. We cannot do anything without money. We need to develop a plan on where to get the money otherwise all the plans that Eskom and the municipality have worked on together will not happen. It will be hard at this time to talk about the timelines when there is no money,” Damons told the council.

For his part MAPWater’s CEO Willie Lefora said MAPWater is plagued by acts of sabotage from community members and several insubordinate behaviours from internal staff some of whom are facing disciplinary hearings now.

“MAPWater is faced with many problems

https://theguard.co.za/electricity-and-water-are-needs-not-luxuries/

09/07/2024

New MAP Mayco faces baptism of fire
By Emily Setona
QWAQWA - Executive mayor Malekula Melato and her newly appointed mayoral committee in Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) have their work cut out for them as they seek to restore administrative stability in the local municipality that is plagued by maladministration and corruption.
This was top of the agenda during an ordinary council sitting that was held in the council chamber on Thursday 4 July.
Melato introduced her new mayoral committee which the council immediately tasked with the responsibility of finding practical, impactful and immediate solutions to many of the service delivery problems destroying the community of MAP.
“The municipality needs solutions that will be implemented now, because both Eskom and MAPWater have presented to us the challenges facing the municipality when it comes to providing adequate electricity and water to our people. I want the council to discuss these situations now as sitting with the MM and CFO at a later stage will put pressure on me because you as council will be asking me for a report on an action plan that we can implement very soon.”
Melato said while addressing the council after representatives of both Eskom and MAPWater made their presentations to council on what the challenges are regarding electricity and water and what possible solutions to remedy the situation are.
Council chief whip Moeketsi Lebesa echoed the sentiments of most of the councillors when he said it is almost as if the council is playing and lying to themselves because no clear and decisive decisions are being made to fix the situation in MAP, and this is very devastating for all residents including themselves as councillors and elected leaders of this community.
“We cannot wish our problems away, and if we are not honest, we will keep on lying to ourselves and we will have stress and suffer from depression and continue to fight amongst ourselves as councillors,” Lebesa said.
On behalf of the new Mayco

03/07/2024

By Emily Setona QWAQWA – S*x workers in Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP), have advised women with better options and prospects to pursue and hold on to them in order to avoid falling into the trap of s*x work. According to local NGO, Tholoana e Molemo their database reveals that there are 3642 s*x workers i...

02/07/2024

https://theguard.co.za/psl-star-plans-to-change-face-of-college/

02/07/2024

https://theguard.co.za/new-cabinet-members-to-be-sworn-in/

02/07/2024

By Emily Setona QWAQWA – The new Free State MEC of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Teboho Mokoena has stepped in to intervene in the troubled Maluti-a- Phofung (MAP) local municipality following residents protests over frequent power cuts and water shortages. Mokoena went to...

02/07/2024

Service delivery comes at a cost

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA - The new Free State MEC of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Teboho Mokoena has stepped in to intervene in the troubled  Maluti-a- Phofung (MAP) local municipality following residents protests over frequent power cuts and water shortages.

Mokoena went to the municipality on Monday July 01, 2024 to engage with its leadership in order to find a solution.

After meeting with the Maluti-a-Phofung coalition government known as troika, Mokoena revealed some of strategies and plans  for solutions to be implemented by the municipality.

“As a department we are going to provide technical support to Maluti-a-Phofung to rectify many of the severe service delivery challenges that need to be fixed properly and stabilized.

"We have achieved political stability; we now need administrative stability inside this municipality so that service delivery can reach the residents of MAP.

"We are in the building phase for the improvement of service delivery for our people and we are willing to work with everyone, but we are also going to fight those who want to stand in the way of progress.”

Mokoena called for everyone to join in rebuilding of Maluti-a-Phofung by playing their part.

“I also urge residents to come to the party and start paying for services because there is no such thing as free electricity. Working people like me, such as teachers, the police, and people working for the private sector must pay for their services because the municipality needs this money to be able to deliver adequate services to the people.

"Municipal workers also need to do their jobs because not doing so will be infringing on the rights of residents. Naturally I am a very tolerant person, but when it comes to people who abuse the community my tolerance ends immediately because as government officials we cannot play with the lives of our people. In a week’s time we will be back to monitor if the new strategies and solutions we have discussed are being implemented or not.” 

This visit from COGTA strongly indicates that the newly appointed executive mayor Malekula Melato and her team will receive adequate support f

02/07/2024

Service delivery comes at a cost

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA - The new Free State MEC of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Teboho Mokoena has stepped in to intervene in the troubled Maluti-a- Phofung (MAP) local municipality following residents protests over frequent power cuts and water shortages.

Mokoena went to the municipality on Monday July 01, 2024 to engage with its leadership in order to find a solution.

After meeting with the Maluti-a-Phofung coalition government known as troika, Mokoena revealed some of strategies and plans for solutions to be implemented by the municipality.

“As a department we are going to provide technical support to Maluti-a-Phofung to rectify many of the severe service delivery challenges that need to be fixed properly and stabilized.

"We have achieved political stability; we now need administrative stability inside this municipality so that service delivery can reach the residents of MAP.

"We are in the building phase for the improvement of service delivery for our people and we are willing to work with everyone, but we are also going to fight those who want to stand in the way of progress.”

Mokoena called for everyone to join in rebuilding of Maluti-a-Phofung by playing their part.

“I also urge residents to come to the party and start paying for services because there is no such thing as free electricity. Working people like me, such as teachers, the police, and people working for the private sector must pay for their services because the municipality needs this money to be able to deliver adequate services to the people.

"Municipal workers also need to do their jobs because not doing so will be infringing on the rights of residents. Naturally I am a very tolerant person, but when it comes to people who abuse the community my tolerance ends immediately because as government officials we cannot play with the lives of our people. In a week’s time we will be back to monitor if the new strategies and solu

01/07/2024

The 7th administration new cabinet

30/06/2024

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ON THE APPOINTMENT
OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE

30 JUNE 2024

Fellow South Africans,

Just over a month ago, on the 29th of May, the people of South Africa voted in a watershed election.

In casting their votes, the people made it clear that they expect political parties to work together to deliver on a mandate of transformation, growth and renewal.

To give effect to this mandate, it was agreed that a Government of National Unity, which brings together parties from across the political spectrum, should be formed.

This Government of National Unity would be bound by certain fundamental principles and would undertake a basic minimum programme of priorities.

Following discussions over the course of the last few weeks, a total of eleven parties have elected to work together in government and in Parliament.

These are the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, Patriotic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, Good Party, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Freedom Front Plus, United Democratic Movement, Al Jama-ah, Rise Mzansi and the United Africans Transformation.

The partnership between the GNU parties is guided by a Statement of Intent, which outlines fundamental principles and a minimum programme of priorities.

All the parties have made a commitment to respect the constitution and to promote a accountable and transparent governance, evidence-based policy and decision-making, the professionalisation of the public service, integrity and good governance.

The incoming government will prioritise rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and the creation of a more just society by tackling poverty and inequality.

The establishment of the Government of National Unity in its current form is unprecedented in the history of our democracy.

We have had to consider how to form the new government in a manner that advances the national interest, that gives due consideration to the outcome of the election and t