Monthly Archives: January 2014

A decomposed body found hanged in North West


By Obakeng Maje
Potchefstroom-A decomposed body of a 23 year-old man was found hanged at Promosa location, near Potchefstroom on Wednesday.

It is alleged that a decomposed body was found by a community member and police were summomed after he allegedly committed suicide.

“It seems a 23 year-old man committed suicide and his body was in bad decomposed state. The body was found at Promosa cementery and according to information, no foul play suspected” said our mole.

A decomposed body was taken to government motuary and the cause of death will be conducted.

Police investigations continue.-TDN
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Lawsuit seeks CIA papers on Mandela arrest


Washington – An American student lodged a lawsuit against the CIA on Wednesday in an attempt to secure documents that purportedly show the intelligence agency was complicit in former president Nelson Mandela’s arrest.

Mandela, who died last month aged 95, was detained in 1962, convicted in the Rivonia Trial and incarcerated for decades under the country’s then apartheid rulers.

Ryan Shapiro, a PhD student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), filed the legal action after the CIA failed to comply with Freedom of Information requests he submitted to the agency regarding Mandela’s arrest.

“Although US intelligence has long been known to have been involved in the arrest of Mandela, little detailed information is available,” Shapiro’s lawsuit states, seeking details on the CIA’s alleged view of Mandela as a threat.

Shapiro contends that the CIA has refused to release the requested papers.

Questioned by AFP about the suit, lodged at a federal court in Washington, Dean Boyd, a spokesperson for the CIA , said: “The CIA generally refrains from commenting on court cases pending before the courts.”

AFP

Gabobidiwe High leads the way in Taung


By Obakeng Maje
Taung-Gabobidiwe High School is the only high school that reached 100% pass rate in matric in Dr Segomotsi Ruth Mompati.

A high school in Buxton, East of Taung scooped number one position in the district after being on a trap last year.

Gabobidiwe High School principal Tshepiso Mvula told our crew that he was targeting 80+ pass rate, but the school outdid itself by achieving 100% pass rate.

Our crew went on to speak to some of students at Gabobidiwe High and shared their feelings:”I am very excited and pround of our school after we managed to escape a trap that our school was in. I dedicate our achievements to our teachers who worked tirelessly even though we had some hiccups along the way” Ogodiseng Pelege said.

Pelege said even though he did not apply for any university, he is interested in studying Sports Management.

Rebaone Mothibuseng told TDN that she applied at University of North West and she is planning to study teaching.

“I want to become a teacher because the hardship our shools are going through especially in rural areas. I would love to see more improvements on education system and hopefully we can play our part” said Mothibuseng.

Mvula said 22 of his students achieved batchelor degree qualifications and other 32 pass with diploma.

Magadi Gaothuse is one of those who achieved Batchelor degree pass and said she wil persue a career as a Social Worker.

The community shared the same sentiment and the excitement was the order of the day.-TDN
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Heist robbers escape sentence


Pietermaritzburg – Five robbers were sentenced to in effect 30 years each on Wednesday for causing three deaths by pushing a pension-money transit vehicle off a road.

KwaZulu-Natal High Court Judge Anton van Zyl found that life terms for the murders were not appropriate as the robbers had not wanted the victims dead.

The five were: former Ladysmith police canine unit member Siyabona Mkwanyana; Jerody Mthiyane, of Mamelodi East; Philemon Nhleko, of Durban; Ewat Kaba, of Johannesburg; and Zikethula Sokhelo, of Vosloorus.

Gang member Ottoman Msimang himself died in the collision, in which the transit vehicle rolled, killing its trapped driver George van Tonder and guard Sibusiso Phakathi.

The robbers chose a stretch of road between Newcastle and Ladysmith for the robbery in October 2009 and it was well-planned.

Although the exact plan was not spelled out in court, it seemed the robbers planned to steal a vehicle with a long flatbed and use it to side-swipe the security van and push it off the road.

Van Zyl said there was an inherent risk of calamity in the plan to push the van off the road.

This plan seemed to go wrong, and a calamitous head-on collision, causing deaths and injuries, resulted.

After the collision, the robbers blew open a safe in the security van and tried to extricate their accomplice.

No attempt was apparently made to open a second safe in the back of the security vehicle.

Cash totalling R692 000 was stolen.

Each of the five robbers was sentenced to: Five years for the theft of the “attack” vehicle; 10 years for the explosion to open the safe; 15 years for the three murders, taken as one; 10 years for the attempted murder of a guard; and 20 years for aggravated robbery.

Some sentences and portions of others would run concurrently to avoid a Methuselah sentence.

Van Zyl said none of the robbers had expressed remorse. Where convicted criminals expressed apparent genuine remorse, it seemed that their chances of rehabilitation were enhanced.

All the accused were supporting their families, and their imprisonment would cause misery to their dependants, but they should have considered this before deciding to commit the robbery.

Van Zyl said robberies were a scourge and sentences should be a deterrent.

SAPA

A woman raped and murdered in North West


By Obakeng Maje
Lichtenburg-Police have arrested a 36 year-old suspect for allegedly raping and murdering his 41-year-old girlfriend on Tuesday at Letsopa Location in Ottosdal, says colonel Emelda Setlhako.

“It is alleged that the suspect had visited the deceased at her home on Tuesday evening. The deceased told her father that she is accompanying the suspect” said Setlhako. 

The father woke up and found her naked daughter outside his home in a pool of blood with a wound on her head. 

The Police were informed and went to the suspect’s house where they found his shoes with blood-stains. 

“The suspect arrested and will appear at the Ottosdal Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 14 January 2014” said Setlhako.-TDN
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A driver knocked off a teen in Rooivaal, near Taung


By Obakeng Maje
Taung-A 17 year-old girl was knocked down by an unknown motorist on the 01 January 2014 at Rooivaal, near Taung.

Gomotsegang Leeuw was enjoying a New year when an unknown motorist short-lived their joy.

“We were celebrating a New year in the morning of 01 January 2014 when a silver private car pounced on us. It seem the driver was drunk as we were walking along the pavement and the car came pouncing on us” said Leeuw.

Leeuw was admitted at hospital with minor bruises. She suffered injured on her legs, body and other parts of the body.

The driver fled the scene afterwards, but some of Leeuw’s friends took car registration number.

The case of hit and run was registered at Taung Police Station.

Police investigations continue.-TDN
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A man injured in accident at Kologong bridge, near Taung


By Obakeng Maje
Taung-One person was fatally injured after a Sasko truck knocked him off at Kolong bridge near Taung.

Thapelo Molale was moving along the bridge with hois friend when a Sasko truck got puncture.

The truck driver allegedly lost control of the truck and plagued on Molale.

“An ambulance was called and Molale was taken to Taung hospital with back injuries” said our mole.

A case was opened and investigations continue.-TDN
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We should not be complacent but aim for the top spot- Premier Modise


The North West Province should not be complacent about obtaining second position, recording over 80% pass in 288 high schools and the milestone of 78 schools having achieved 10 or more subject distinctions but should aim for the top spot next year, North West Premier Thandi Modise declared at the release of the Provincial 2013 matric results held at Sun City outside Rustenburg on Tuesday. 

“The matric class of 2013 has served as role models for the class of 2014 which should aim to beat the remarkable improvement and record set by the class of 2013,” highlighted Premier Modise in her keynote speech to celebrate improvement of the provincial pass rate from 79, 5% to 87,2%.                                           

“We will do everything in our power to ensure that we attain the goals we set ourselves as the province. We are very proud as the province and we can proudly say that we have provided a conducive environment and resources for efficient teaching and learning to take place,” said Premier Modise in calling for united action to sustain the remarkable improvement and congratulating learners, educators and all stakeholders.

 

In appealing for education, health and security not to be politicised and conveying gratitude to unions in the education sector for prioritising education of children, Modise said that the class of 2013 had broken racial and gender barriers in the top 20. She highlighted that two of the top 10 learners in the country are from the province. 

The Premier called on business to join the provincial government in awarding bursaries to top performing learners in the province to pursue studies towards being among others Chartered Accountants, Town Planners, Financial experts and Civil and Mining Engineers.

 

The Office of the Premier has allocated R61 million towards bursaries for top learners in this financial year.

   In congratulating the province, Deputy Minister for Basic Education, Enver Surty said he was very proud for the province’s achievement.

 

“I stand here with great pride to be the citizen of the province that has done so well. This event is an affirmation of the enormous contribution and achievement which would have not been possible without the enormous support of teachers and all stakeholders,” said adding that the results speak for themselves as no district has achieved less than 80 percent.

 

 MEC for Basic Education and Training, Mmaphefo Matsemela said she was very pleased with the excellent performance of the 2013 matric class.

 

“Let us acknowledge that education is one of the priorities of government. We must work together to achieve more out of our collective efforts because education is a societal issue, Our learners must be proud and must not be shy to celebrate their achievement,” said the elated Matsemela.

 

Matsemela attributed the success to their “Last Push Campaign” and benchmarking against best practices.

 

Anne-Mari Elizabeth Roux from Potchefstroom Gimnasium was the top candidate in the province for the year 2013. She attributed her success in the examination to early preparation.

 

“I am very happy and grateful. My recipe for success involved early mornings and early preparation and support from my family especially my mom,” said the elated Anne-Mari Roux.

 

She wrote 8 subjects and achieved between 93% and 97% in all them with an overall percentage of 94,9. She was followed by Pieter Marx de Villers and Susanna Maria Pohl who obtained 94.6% and 94.4% respectively.

 

Ngaka Modiri Molema was the top performing district with a pass rate of 90.4%, followed by Bojanala Platinum with a pass rate of 87, 31%, and Dr Kenneth Kaunda with an 86,79% pass rate.

 

Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati was the most improved district with an improvement of 11,24% to obtain 82,97% pass rate.

 

Onkgopotse Tiro Comprehensive High School for farm learners in Ngaka Modiri Molema District and BO Seobi High School situated in an informal settlement in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District were among the schools that obtained 100% pass.

 

The meritorious award for best achievement under extremely challenging circumstances went to Selouna Visser from Ferdinand Postma High School in Potchefstroom. The wheelchair enabled Visser excelled in her studies in spite of living with a spinal muscular atrophy disability.

 

EDTP Seta pledged R50 000 worth of bursaries to 10 top learners while Kgosi Nyalala Pilane of the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Traditional Authority and the National Youth Development Agency’s(NYDA) Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund undertook to each award bursaries to 5 learners.

 

Lesego Leseley Keogatile from Kgononyane High School in Southey near Ganyesa declared the 2013 “freedom candidate” of the year by MEC Matsemela for his outstanding performance under challenging rural condition received a R20 000 bursary from Post Office Speed Services.

 

He together with Visser and all top 20 learners were presented with trophies, certificates and brand new ipads by the Provincial Department of Education and Training.

 

Commenting on the results, Cosatu’s North-West Secretary, Solly Phetoe said they were impressive, adding however that more still needs to be done to address challenges related to learners transport, rural allowance and improvement of condition of service for educators and learners. 

“We congratulate all the learners, teachers and all stakeholders including the department of education staff for the role that they played to ensure that the province recorded the highest improvement in the education system in the country,” Phetoe said.-TDN
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Heist robbers convicted of murder


Pietermaritzburg – Five robbers, including a former police officer, were on Tuesday convicted on three counts of murder because they had used a car to crash into and overturn a moving cash-in-transit vehicle.
Judge Anton van Zyl convicted the five in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg of the murder of their own accomplice, Ottoman Msimang, who died in the collision.

Van Zyl said they must have foreseen that death could occur when moving vehicles collided.

The other men killed were the transit van driver George van Tonder and his guard Sibusiso Phakathi.

The murders and robbery of R692 000 took place as the money was being taken from Newcastle to a Ladysmith pension pay-out in October 2009.

Explosives were used to blast open the back of the transit van.

Evidence of cellphone calls made from and to the crash scene played a large role in the convictions.

Van Zyl said not all the robbers performed the same acts during the robbery, but because of the doctrine of common purpose they were equally guilty.

The convicted men are Jerody Mthiyane, 37, of Mamelodi East; Philemon Nhleko, 41, of Durban; Ewat Kabr, 35, of Johannesburg; Zikethela Sokhela, 36, of Vosloosrus; and Ladysmith police dog unit Warrant Officer Siyabonga Mkanyana, 41.

Sentencing starts on Wednesday.

SAPA

Tlapeng-born students scoops two distinctions


By Obakeng Maje
Taung-The North West province came second on 2013 Matric pass rate after Free State province claims number one spot. The province managed to scoop position two amidst of some uncertainity.

Walter Letsie High school was one of the worst performers in Dr Segomotsi Ruth Mompati in 2012, but they turned the corner after they showed more improvements in 2013 matric pass rate.

Walter Letsie High’s best achiever Lebogang Kubi,19, from Tlapeng could not hides his excitement. Kubi said he was very grateful for his achievements and will continues to be munificent to other upcoming students.

“I am very delighted for being a top achiever and will continue to work hard. I was inspired by some of other students who achieved high marks who came before me” Kubi giggles.

Tlapeng-born student said his secret was to immiscible with bad influence.

“I was so dedicated my work and believe with hard work, determination and discipline nothing is impossible. I believe no one is imbecile, but one can be anything and the ball is in one’s court” said Kubi.

A 19 year-old student said he would like to study Electrical Engineer this year.

“I would like to persue my studies as applied for various universities across the country. I’m still waiting for their respond and probably I’ll be studying in Kwazulu-Natal” said Kubi.

Kubi was raised by a single parent and he is a last born. His wish is to peregrinates to Natal and continues with his quest of achieving a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering.

A soft-spoken student said he wishes the achievements for the school will be perennial as he wishes to see more top achiever students come out of Walter Letsie High.

Dr Segomotsi Ruth Mompati’s stop achiever probably was Keabetswe Kgang from Bogosing High school in Maphoitsile with five distinctions.

Kubi scooped two distinctions in Physical Science and Geography.-TDN
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