Motorists and other road users in Rustenburg have been urged to be extra careful when they use roads under the Rustenburg Rapid Transport (RRT) construction project.

The RRT system is entering a new phase where lanes that have been under construction will be opened up while work shifts to the other lanes.

RRT director Marks Rapoo said it was imperative that road users exercised caution and followed road signs directing them for the construction period.

“On the road between Foord Street and Dr Moroka Street construction on the north-bound lanes has been completed. From the beginning of March the southbound lanes on this section are closed for construction and the opposite lanes opened to two-way traffic. Weather permitting, the switchover of lanes will happen today and motorists will experience delays as the new traffic flow is established. RRT urges residents to please exercise caution in the area while driving or walking at all times,” he said.

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Knives that were out for Madibeng local municipality mayor Poppy Magongwa have now been sheathed following the formation of the rapid response team to address a water crisis that has haunted communities around the area.

The formation of the team follows an emergency meeting between acting MEC for local government and traditional affairs Paul Sebegoe, the mayor and councillors to curb the protest actions in Letlhabile, Centreville, Kgabalatsane, Klipgat and Oskraal communities over dirty, contaminated water for the past three years.

“The water treatment plant in the area will be upgraded. Stolen electricity transformers in some water pump stations will be replaced and those that are dysfunctional will be fixed to ensure sufficient water capacity to reservoirs,” said Sebegoe.

“This will enable them to supply water to high-lying areas. Water filters that are not functional will be fixed. We appeal to communities not to steal these facilities as this denies communities the right to water.”

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Murder of ANC North West official Obuti Chika was expected to continue in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Proceedings for the bail application began last week.

Chika, 33, was shot at point-blank range in the driveway of his home on December 14. He died later in the Klerksdorp Hospital.

Local government MEC China Dodovu was among those arrested for Chika’s murder.

The suspected trigger-man, Sihlangu Sekhakhane, was also arrested. He led police to Msinga in KwaZulu-Natal, where the suspected murder weapon was found.

The other accused are community member Jeffrey Letuka, North West provincial ANC Youth League chairman Papiki Baboile, ward Secretary Paul Molomonyane, councillor Itumeleng Molebatsi, municipal worker William Malefo and taxi driver Kgotso Kali.

Sapa

Six men accused of corruption in the building of the Mbombela stadium were expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The six are Jacob Dladla, Tebogo Kubeka, Herbert Thelebi, Kaizer Chiefs’ manager Bobby Motaung, Christiaan Grib and Micheal Romanos.

Grib was the CEO of Lefika Emerging Equity (Pty) Ltd while Motaung and Romanos were directors of the company.

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By Obakeng Maje

Taung-Police are investigating a case of arson and public violence after Mamokwane residents burned down their chief’s house.

No one has been arrested yet and police are searching for suspects.

Protesters set alight a house in Manokwane village in Taung on Friday morning, North West police said.

Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said the house was being rebuilt after it was set alight last year.

“The community has demands to the municipality… It’s like (they are) holding the municipality ransom,” said Mokgwabone.

The details of their demands were not clear.

“We don’t know their demands,” he said.

Contractors started rebuilding the house on Monday. It was set alight around 1am on Friday.

Residents of the village opposed the rebuilding of the house by the municipality, saying they wanted their demands met first, by both the municipality and the chieftancy.

The house was not occupied during the fire, and no reports of any injuries had been filed.

Two other houses were set alight in the village last year.

A case of arson was opened. – Sapa 

Madikwe -Two men accused of murder and stock theft appeared in the Madikwe Magistrate’s Court on Friday, North West police said.

Modise Mekgwe, 32, and Isaac Setshedi, 33, would be back in court on March 7 for a bail application, Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

They are accused of killing a 72-year-old man, whose burnt body was found in bushes near Molatedi village, Madikwe, on February 19.

A charge of defeating the ends of justice had also been added.

“They hid his burnt body with shrubs in the bush. That is why they are also facing a charge of defeating the ends justice.”

The man, a subsistence farmer, was last seen on February 17

herding his livestock. He was reported missing the following day. His 70 sheep and 120 goats were stolen.

Mekgwe’s sister handed him to police on Monday. The victim was Mekgwe’s uncle.

Setshedi is the sister’s boyfriend. Mekgwe appeared in court on Wednesday. Setshedi was arrested that day after Mekgwe allegedly implicated him in the crime.

“He 1/8Setshedi 3/8 admitted the incident and informed the police that the stolen livestock was sold at a butchery in Alexandra 1/8Gauteng 3/8,” said Mokgwabone.

Eleven goats and four sheep believed to have belonged to the victim were found in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, on Thursday.

Three men, including the butchery owner, were taken into custody for possession of stolen goods. They would appear in the Madikwe Magistrate’s Court on Monday. – Sapa

Johannesburg – The trial of seven police officers charged with killing protester Andries Tatane will continue in the Ficksburg Regional Court on Monday.

Tatane was killed on April 13, 2011, allegedly by police using rubber bullets during a service delivery protest in Ficksburg.

The case was postponed last year after the State cast doubt on its own witness, Captain Matshidio Lesomola.

He had been deployed in an observer capacity at the protest.

Prosecutor Sello Mathloko said the State had not been aware of the testimony Lesomola delivered, which was not the same as his statement to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) a few days after the shooting.

Mathloko said Lesomola had earlier read through his statement but had not indicated that it contained any discrepancies as he later alleged in his testimony in court.

Asked by Mathloko whether he had read the statement, Lesomola said: “Not really, because I was somewhat traumatised, confronted with so many pages, I just signed and went away.”

Given an opportunity in court to indicate with which portions of the statement he was not happy, Lesomola avoided being declared hostile.

He testified that he had not willingly made his statement to the IPID and alleged that after watching a video of the protest, he was threatened by two investigators. – Sapa