By Obakeng Maje

North West Premier Thandi Modise has expressed her disappointment that 24 hours had hardly lapsed since she decried that the involvement of police in crime undermines the confidence that the public has on law enforcement that two more policemen are facing murder charges.

Premier Modise reiterated her earlier statement that there should be no place in the police service for those who disgrace the dignified blue uniform, those who terrorise our communities instead of protecting them.

“The conduct of police officers should at all times be above reproach whether they are on or off duty. We expect the immediate suspension and disciplinary action to be taken against the three officials arrested for criminal activities” stressed Modise.

The Premier was reacting to reports that a police constable was arrested for allegedly shooting dead a relative in Potchefstroom. According to Lieutenant Colonel Lesego Metsi, the officer allegedly used his service pistol to shoot the 36-year-old man from behind during an argument on Sunday afternoon.

The bullet hit him in the left shoulder. He died at the scene.

The constable was expected to appear in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

In a separate incident, a police reservist was arrested for allegedly stabbing a man to death near Bloemhof.

A woman police constable and two other people were earlier arrested for allegedly kidnapping, assaulting and robbing a man in Taung after accusing him of having stolen their property.

They are also expected to appear before their respective courts tomorrow.

Obakeng Maje

The recovery of thirty head of cattle which were reportedly stolen from Verdwaal village near Itsoseng is encouraging, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Monday.

The stock valued at R80 000 which was reported stolen last week Monday was found kept in a kraal at (Venter Silo) Bodibe village on Friday.

The owner of the kraal was arrested after he failed to convince the police when questioned as to how did he came to possess the cattle and why is he keeping them in his kraal.

The suspect is expected to appear briefly before Itsoseng Magistrate Court on charges of possession of suspected stolen Stock and Stock Theft on Tuesday 18 December 2012.

In commending police for the breakthrough, Premier Modise urged them not to spare any effort to stamp out stock theft as it impoverishes subsistence farmers and commercial officers.

Modise called on 

traditional leaders, farmers unions, farmers, sector departments, crime prevention structures and stakeholders in farming communities to work with the police in order to address challenges experienced with regard to stock theft in the province.These include lack of brand marking, insufficient fencing, part time farmers not always on their farms, improper record keeping of stock and insufficient stock taking, insufficient pounds and the fact that not all farmers are incorporated in Agricultural Unions.

BY Obakeng Maje

Eighteen people living with HIV and Aids in Ngaka Modiri Molema District are to undergo training to run their own farming empowerment project . The skills development programme for beneficiaries of the initiative which is the brainchild of North West Premier Thandi Modise is to commence early in the new year.

Speaking at the launch of the job creation and farming empowerment project recently, Premier Modise said that it should serve as a model for three more projects to be rolled out for people living with HIV and Aids in three other districts in the province.

 Modise said that the project will provide people living with HIV And Aids with access to healthy and nutritious vegetables.

 While it will create permanent and seasonal jobs for the local community, it will assist beneficiaries to establish a viable market level of conventional vegetable production for them to sell them to local and other markets and also assist farmers to be trained at the adjacent Kgora Farmers Training Centre understand how to take care of and support employees infected with the virus.

   Project Coordinator and mother of three, Gladness Seetseng says that the project has not only given hope to people living with HIV and Aids.

“Most of us are unemployed so the project is a lifeline for us to grab the opportunity with both hands,” says 39 year-old Seetseng.

Provincial Chairperson of People living with HIV and AIDS, Rev Neo Moepi said that the project is an appropriate intervention and empowerment programme that expresses in more ways than one the compassion and care that the sector expects from their government and Premier Modise’s foresight and visionary leadership.