North West Premier Thandi Modise and the Executive Council have noted the arrest of MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, China Dodovu as a suspect in the murder case of ANC Regional Secretary in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, Obuti Chika.

In appealing for calm, Premier Modise called on communities to allow the law to take its course for justice to be done for the Chika family to find closure to their tragic loss and end speculations as to who is/are responsible for his untimely death.

“While we note the arrest and hope that justice will be done, we also believe that every suspect is innocent until proven guilty by a responsible court of law. It is on this basis that we support further and intensive investigation into the matter. We believe that MEC Dodovu will cooperate with the investigation. In the meantime, MEC for Finance Paul Sebegoe will be acting in the position,” said Modise

North West Premier Thandi Modise has called for truce in the mining sector between the two rival unions, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Association for Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).

Premier Modise called on all stakeholders to find an amicable solution to the recent crises in the mining sector in the province in her State of the Province Address delivered on Friday.

“We were faced with the worst calamity since democracy last year in Marikana. The death of the police and mine workers has shocked the people of this province and the world at large. The commission set by the President is still underway, we hope this situation will not repeat itself as it was and still is painful,” said Modise.

While wishing those who were injured in recent clashes at Anglo Platinum Mine in Rustenburg a speedy recovery, she said that the provincial government is engaging with the mining houses to ensure that the does not repeat itself.

Kimberley – A Kimberley woman, who has been the victim of horrific domestic abuse, was found dead in Promised Land early on Sunday morning. The semi-naked body of Bettie Thenza, 33, was discovered in the street after she was allegedly strangled to death by her boyfriend.

According to neighbours, Thenza was involved in an abusive relationship and the couple often fought. “This fight started on Thursday night. Thenza had several bruises on her neck while the shack they were staying in, was trashed as a result of the argument. Pots and plates littering the floor,” one neighbour told the DFA.

Police spokesman, Lieutenant Sergio Kock, on Sunday confirmed that the Kagisho police were investigating the murder of Thenza.

“The body was found by a passer-by at approximately 6am. The woman was naked from the waist down and had a scratch mark on her left eye and the eye also appeared to be swollen,” Kock said.

No other visible marks were detected but an autopsy will be done to determine the exact cause of death.

Shortly after the body was discovered, police, following up on information, arrested her boyfriend, aged 31, at the couple’s shanty down the road. The police confiscated bloodstained clothing of suspect and the deceased.

The body of a 33-year-old woman was found dead lying next to an open manhole in Promised land during the early hours of Sunday morning. Picture: Liz�ll Muller

INLSA

A family member of Thenza’s boyfriend said he was sleeping when a passer-by came to his shack and told him that a body had been found in a manhole. “My wife went out and she started to scream when she realised that it was Thenza.”

According to the relative, he saw the suspect at a local tavern on Saturday night where he asked for money. “The relationship between the two was very toxic and they always fought when they had been drinking.”

He claimed that the boyfriend had a history of violence and had also been abusive to previous girlfriends. “We are shocked at the murder but we are not surprised as this man had a history of violence. He was always looking for a fight and people in the community feared him.

“During their fights, Thenza would sometimes run to us for protection and sleep at our house. That made him very angry and he often threatened to kill us and burn down our shack.”

However, he also claimed that Thenza, on a previous occasion, set her shack alight when she found her boyfriend with another woman.

It is believed that the police found the clothes that both Thenza and her boyfriend were wearing on the Saturday night.

“The clothes were found at the back of the shack and had been burnt.”

The shocked community of Promised Land vowed that if the suspect gets bail they would resort to mob justice because they do not want him back in the community.

“He must be locked away in prison with other murderers. He is always looking for a fight. We will mobilise community members and protest at his bail hearing to make sure that he is denied bail.

“We cannot have murderers within our community,” several of them said.

Thenza has a child who is staying with the grandparents in Ritchie.

The MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Patrick Mabilo, on Sunday said that he strongly condemns the senseless and barbaric killing of a woman, allegedly by her lover.

“It is unfortunate and regrettable to have learned of such an incident, especially during this Safety Month of February where we encourage communities to partner with the police in fighting the scourge of crime.

“We must continue to intensify our war against brutal and merciless killings of innocent people in our communities. Our society is being robbed on a daily basis of its innocent youth and mothers by perpetrators who have no regard and any respect for human life.

“We have faith in our justice system. We need to ensure that such monsters, who continue to degrade other human beings in our communities, are removed from society for life.

“It is important as a society to intensively educate our children about family values to avoid such crimes in future. We would also like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt sympathy and profound condolences to the bereaved family members and friends of the deceased,” Mabilo said.

Anyone with information regarding the murder is asked to contact Detective Warrant Officer Anthony Shuping on 078 194 7402. 

The suspect is due to appear in the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court soon. 

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BY Obakeng Maje

Potchefstroom-The Hawks has made another breakthrough on Oubuti Chika’s murder case.

The police has arrested another suspect for Chika’s muder.

The eight suspect was arrested an hour ago in Potchefstroom and will appear in court soon.

“We have arrested a high profile suspect and will appear before magistrate soon” Hawks spokesperson said.

Oubuti Chika was gunned down at his house in a driveway a day before ANC Elective Conference that took place in Mangaung.

Police also arrested some dignitaries of the  ruling party.

Seven suspects were remanded in jail and will appear briefly before magistrate next week.

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It has been a bad few days for Orlando Pirates, who now have to pay a massive fine for supporter misbehaviour, after an Arbitration hearing found that the club is responsible for its fans.

Pretoria – It was unclear by midday on Monday whether murder accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius would check-in at the Brooklyn Police Station, in Pretoria, as had been widely reported since Friday.

Journalists were divided about whether chief magistrate Desmond Nair had ordered Pistorius to report to the police station when he granted him bail in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Scores of journalists gathered outside the police station from around 6am on Monday, anticipating the arrival of Pistorius. Around midday, the journalists debated among themselves who had heard Nair pronounce on Pistorius’ bail.

Some journalists went back to their cars to listen to last week’s recordings. Convinced that Pistorius would not turn up at the police station, some journalists elected to leave.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Medupe Simasiku was not immediately available for comment.

The 2012 Paralympics 400m gold medallist has spent his first weekend at home, after being held for eight days at the Brooklyn police station.

He is charged with murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot at his home in Pretoria on February 14.

In an affidavit submitted as part of his application for bail, Pistorius said he had thought there was an intruder in his house when he fired the shots.

After listening to extensive argument, Nair ruled that the sprinter was not a flight risk, and that the State had not shown that he had a propensity for violence.

Pistorius was granted bail of R1 million. He was allowed to pay an initial instalment of R100,000, with the balance due by March 1.

The conditions of bail included that Pistorius not be charged with any offence relating to violence against women; not return to his home in Silver Woods country estate; not apply for travel documents; and not take banned substances or alcohol.

His next court appearance is on June 4. – Sapa

The North West Department of Health MEC, Dr. Magome Masike will tomorrow visit Lethabong Clinic in Hartebeesfontein (About 45km from Rustenburg) to attend to clinic committee and concerned residents’ plea for “superior” health services and offer tangible solutions.

” The clinic committee, which was appointed by the department to serve as service delivery “watch dogs” recently, brought to the attention of the MEC concerns about the state of the facility, inadequate ambulances, and health services at the 24 hour health facility” Tebogo Lekgethwane said.

“Community members will also be afforded an opportunity to air their concerns on top of those highlighted by clinic committee during a mini Imbizo” He said.

MEC will also use the platform to disperse 19 new ambulances to various service points across the province ınlcudıng the Rustenburg Sub District where Lethabong Clinic is based.

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The North West Province has established a Rhino Priority Committee in an effort to intensify the fight against the scourge of rhino poaching which claimed 77 rhinos last year as compared to the 21 Rhinos of 2011 and 57 of 2010.

Premier Thandi Modise reported that the province has lost 11 rhinos to poaching since the beginning of this year. In her report on rhino poaching in her State of the Province Address delivered on Friday, Premier Modise said that the committee serves to evaluate occurrence of the rhino incidents, plan jointly and give feedback on investigations.

“Rhino poaching is priority crime and therefore treated as a serious crime. We hope to make a breakthrough in combating rhino poaching. Miscreants will undoubtedly be put to book. We will arrest them, charge them, find them guilty and sentence them,” emphasised the Premier.

She credited the committee for its active involvement which resulted in 32 arrests that have been made thus far, the latest being the arrest of six poachers who were arrested in the Sandgate farm in Vryburg on Wednesday night.

The committee chaired by the South African Police Services is constituted of various government security agencies and stakeholders such as NPA, Justice, Unions, Traditional Leaders, North West Parks and Tourism Board, Private Rhino Association and the Provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism.