LEPHALALE - It has been five weeks since an estimated 7000 workers belonging to the National Union of Metalworkers (NUMSA) first went on strike on 10 January, forcing Eskom to close the Medupi building site near Lephalale.

In co-operation with the department of health’s youth centre, Love Life and a CPF sub forum, the Mokopane police recently embarked on a back-to-school campaign. They paid a visit to the learner’s of Gwenane Secondary school at extension 19 RDP where issues such as crime, teenage pregnancy as well as alchol and drug abuse were discussed. Girls were also lectured on situations to avoid to mitigate the risk of being raped. Lt. Monene of Mokopane Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) told learners that real men don’t rape, real men respect women. Sister Thia Mononela told the learners that they must focus on their studies to become future leaders and avoid being parents while they are still too young.

Police are looking for information on a missing person after the body of an African male estimated to be between the ages of 35 and 45 was discovered at an open field near the corner of Hooge and Voor Street in Mokopane. The body was found by a garden worker who was pruning trees. Police appeal to anyone who might have information, missing a relative, a friend or might assist them in identifiying the deceased to contact investigating officer, Warrant Officer Seabela on 072 267 7900 or Lt.Col. Mashamaite on 082 856 8629.

Six people died in a head-on collision on the road between Marken and Mokopane on Saturday. According to Captain Sebotsaro Motadi of the Mahwelereng police station, a Citi Gholf with five passengers was heading towards Mokopane when it collided with a Isuzu bakkie heading for Marken. All five the people in the Golf were killed in the accident as well as one person in the Isuzu.

LEPHALALE - A vehicle transporting employees of Molalatau Security was involved in an accident on Nelson Mandela avenue last Wednesday evening. The vehicle was on its way to Marapong when it was hit from behind by a vehicle swerving to avoid a head-on collision.

Koperkabeldiefstal in die Lephalale-omgewing het verskeie boere al baie skade berokken. Op die plaas Odendaalspoort op die Vaalwaterpad het twee verdagtes verlede Woensdag kabels van ‘n boorgatpomp en ander elektronies toerusting gesteel. Francois Vorgers van Molalatau Sekuriteit (MS) se spoorsnyspan het die verdagtes se spore gevolg en op 30 meter koperdraad afgekom. Die spore het egter teen die teerpad sowat 10km verder doodgeloop. Volgens Andries Bester van MS wil dit voorkom of die verdagtes kennis dra van die area en die uitleg van die plaas. Inligting is ook ingewin oor waar gesteelde koperdraad onwettig aangekoop word. Die ondersoek duur voort.

 LEPHALALE - Die seun van ‘n bekende sakeman in Lephalale is Dinsdagmiddag dood in sy motor voor ‘n huis in Onverwacht aangetref. Volgens die Lephalale polisie het die man vermoedelik weens vergassing gesterf. Geen gemene spel word vermoed nie. Paramedici van Medupi, Exxaro en Dr. Jos Coetsee het vir meer as 50 minute noodhulp toegepas, waarna hy op die toneel dood verklaar is.

Agri Lephalale is bekommerd dat die astronomiese bedrae wat myne in die omgewing vir plase betaal die waarde van landbougrond uit verband uit gaan ruk. Boere is veral bekommerd oor die belastingimplikasies wat dit vir hulle mag inhou.

Roelof Jordaan, ‘n arbeidskonsultant sal Dinsdag 19 Februarie om 13h30 by die Agri-Lephalale kantore praat oor die arbeidswet. Die doel van die praatjie is om boere in te lig oor die vereistes rakende arbeidswetgewing nadat dit aan die lig gekom het dat baie boere in die omgewing werkers moet aflê weens die onlangse verhoging van minimum lone. Jordaan sal praat oor die prosesse wat volgens wet gevolg moet word. RSVP voor of op Maandag 18 Februarie by 014 7631888. Die Agri-Lephalale kantoor sal van 11-25 Maart gesluit wees, maar eposse kan steeds gestuur word aan: agrilephalale@vodamail.co.za

Die TLU SA het hierdie week ‘n persverklaring uitgereik waarin die party die staaspresident meedeel wat hulle graag in sy presidentsrede sou wou hoor.

The Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (Ahi) this week called on government to take urgent steps to stop the growing incidents of savage attacks on innocent and law-abiding South African citizens. The torturing and murders of vulnerable elders on farms, farm owners and farmworkers, the string of brutal rapes and gruesome murders of young girls and women in townships and targeted raids of business entities require particular attention, the organisation said in a press statement.

The police in Limpopo released a statement this week warning rapists that they have had enough with the escalating number of rapes being committed on a daily basis. “We have now declared war against rapists,” said Brigadier Hanwani Mulaudzi. The announcement was made when statistics showed that 121 cases of rape were reported in the province since the beginning of the year.

Vrydag 8 Februarie het Hoërskole, Ellisras, Piet Pogieter, Merensky en Nylstroom aan ‘n middag en aand byeenkoms in Modimolle deelgeneem. Johanè Pistorius van Ellisras was weereens die top atleet van die dag met die hoogste ASA telling van 950 vir diskus dogters o/15 37.80m.

For Adri Munger it was a dream come true when the Kairos Resource & Media Centre at the Aldersgate Society Methodist Church in Mokopane came off the ground. She lives to serve and firmly believes working in this centre is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do God’s work by serving the community.

It is with mixed feelings that I write this letter. On the one hand, we are very excited about the wonderful opportunity and challenge ahead, but on the other hand we are very sad to leave. The past eight years in Lephalale were our best years. We soon found that newcomers were not quickly accepted and trusted by the Lephalale community, but once won over, they will trust one with their lives.