Portfolio Committee on Education, Arts, Culture and Sport Development conducted an oversight visit at Setswakgosing Secondary School; Morokweng Cultural Village and Southey Library in Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality in Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.

This forms part of the Legislature’s oversight week in various municipalities under the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality. The program is aimed at strengthening oversight and public participation and to promote accountability and transparency in government.

During the program, Members of the Provincial Legislature interact with different provincial departments and their MECs; Mayors; Accounting Officers; and members of the Municipal Public Accounts Committees.
Setswakgosing Secondary School.

The school obtained a 92 percent pass rate on the matric class of 2022 which continued from the three academic years. The school principal, Mr. Patrict Moreke informed the Committee that although the school is performing at matric level, it is experiencing certain challenges. They include substance abuse by learners. “The problem in different grades and most affected learners is boys. The common substance used is dagga (Marijuana). Learners have previously disclosed to the police where they are buying those drugs but no action was taken against those suppliers,” said Mr. Moreke.
“In 2021 and 2022 the school experienced high number of learner pregnancy but the numbers show decline in 2023 which might be the results of Teenage Pregnancy Awareness Drive by the Department of Health,” said Mr. Moreke.
He further told the committee that the school doesn’t have security personnel onsite and security services are only utilised during matric examination periods to safeguard matric examination papers and other related material.

Acting Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Paul Sebegoe said the Committee is impressed with the performance of the matric learners. “The committee will engage the MEC of Public Safety, Hon. Lehari to discuss status of various cases reported by different schools. The reason of the engagement is to highlight to the MEC of Public Safety that cases of theft, drugs and these cases are reported to the police by the schools but no action is taken nor positive feedback shared with the schools,” said Hon. Sebegoe.

Hon. Sebego encouraged the educators to continue with the great job they are doing with learners and producing best results for North West Province.

The committee continued to Morokweng Cultural Village to check the status and functionality of the centre. The committee found an incomplete structure that is abandoned with no activities taking place.
The committee will write a letter to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to provide an up to date expenditure report of Morokweng Cultural Village.

The Southey Library is complete but not yet functional. The committee was informed by the security guard that the expected date of opening to the public is the 15th of September 2023. The committee noticed few structural defects which they will share with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to address with the contractor while the structure is still covered by the defect period clause.