Daily Archives: September 13, 2015

‘Pampierstad murder case postponed’

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

A case against three Pampierstad murder suspects was postponed by North West High Court and will resume on September 14 until 18, National Prosecuting Authority provincial spokesperson, Frank Lesenyego said.

Lesenyego said the pre-trial conference against three accused, Benjamin Mongale, 28, Letlhogonolo Kaushu, 21, and Refilwe Molokwane, 25, was postponed.

“A case against Pampierstad murder accused will resume on September 14-18th of 2015 at North West High court in Vryburg. The trio was arrested amid Pampierstad taxi driver, Boy Kheswa’s death,” he said.

Mongale, Kaushu and Molokwane were subsequently arrested after they were linked to Kheswa’s murder. Kheswa was kidnapped three years ago and was found with a bullet wound in his head.

-TDN

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‘Two arrested for dealing in dagga’

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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

KAGISHO police are investigating two separate drug related cases. This came after a crime intelligence driven led the police to two suspected drug houses in Phutanang near Kagasho. Northern Cape police spokesperson, lieutenant Sergio Kock said the Crime Intelligence Unit with the assistance of Kagisho Visible Policing Unit, pounced on a 35-year-old woman.

“Upon arrival at the house, the suspect tried to flee with a black plastic filled with dagga. She was arrested and further searches at the premises, led the police to another plastic bag containing dagga which was stashed in a washing machine. Both bags contained loose dagga, weighing approximately 1kg. Police also confiscated undisclosed amount money at the premises. The suspect was charged with dealing in dagga,” he said.

In another incident, a 33 year-old man was arrested after police searched his house in Phutanang. Provincial police spokesperson, lieutenant Sergio Kock said, police confiscated approximately 1kg of dagga from the white Opel Astra which belonged to the suspect. “The suspect was charged with possession of dagga and the approximate street value of all the confiscated dagga was valued at R1000. Both suspects will appear before Galeshewe Magistrates’ Court soon,” he said.

-TDN

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Youth miss out as NYDA moves training programme

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

ABOUT 50 young people in the Kagisano-Molopo local municipality took to the streets on Wednesday after a National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) training programme that was meant for them was moved to Taung.

The youth blamed the local municipality for the bungle.

One of the affected young people, Tumisang Duncan Goboentse, 29, said that they were supposed to start with their plumbing and wielding learnership, but the move was blocked by mayor, Veronica Keketsi.

“We were offered a learnership, but now it seems our names were removed from the list. We want to know what happened because this learnership will come in handy. Unemployment is taking over our lives, now the least we expect is confusion within the programme,” Goboentse said.

Another disgruntled youth, Molly Magabe, 23, said poverty was the order of the day in the area and without any skills development, they will struggle forever.

Mayor Veronica Keketsi said she never received any information regarding the learnership programme and refuted claims that she was the one blocking the programme.

“I really know nothing about that programme, but I will ask the MMC to look into the matter. I will never stand in the way of any youth programmes that will be implemented in the area,” she said.

Boitumelo Chichinbua, a member of the mayoral committee for local economic development at kagisano-Molopo local municipality said that investigations were underway to establish why the programme was moved.

“So far, I’m not aware of what really transpired because the youth submitted their grievances to me on Monday, and I am still trying to find out who got all answers. We will make sure we inform them of the outcome immediately we get all facts correct,” Chinchinbua said.

NYDA coordinator in the area, Mothusi Montoedi said: “There learnership was delayed in Kagisano-Molopo and it was moved to Taung because of some technicalities. We were engaged with all stakeholders on Wednesday and the training commenced yesterday (Thursday). The municipality was not involved in any delays, and we will go back to those youth and inform them about any development amid the issue.”

-TDN

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‘North West University commits to change’

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

PREMIER Supra Mahumapelo has expressed confidence that the North West University will be able to reach its transformation targets and be a pride for the province.

This came after his meeting with vice-chancellor Prof Dan Kgwadi in Potchefstroom on Wednesday.

It is over ten years since the merger of the Potchefstroom, Mafikeng and Vaal campuses but complaints have been raised on the slow pace of having same standards of facilities and resources at the three campuses.

Acting provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said the premier discussed plans how to make sure that all three campuses work together in harmony.

“Premier Mahumapelo met with Professor Kgwadi and he wanted to understand the measures taken by the university to bring equity and academic excellence at all campuses. This came about after complaints that the Potchefstroom Campus was given the best lecturers as opposed to the other two campuses.

“The premier addressed students and reminded them that they are part of society, so they need to make sure there is transformation between black and white communities. He also added that the university must assess and evaluate its diversity process an integral part of their management system. Mahumapelo also said he will make sure he monitor situation closely and be in touch with the management at the university in making sure that is accomplished efficiently and conveniently,” Setswambung said.

Prof Kgwadi said that he shared the premier’s sentiments and will do his best to make sure that transformation is speeded up.

“Our meeting was very successful. I want to reiterate what premier said: we have to eliminate a mindset of selfishness that defined our past so that we can be able to provide academic excellence at this university.

We are working around the clock to bring transformation within all campuses. One thing that I do not want to see is having every campus with its own rector because that creates factionalism and it would have to be done away with,” Kgwadi said.

He added that as the vice-chancellor, it rests upon him to see all campuses receiving the best education possible.

Newly-elected university SRC president at Mafikeng Campus, Linda Xavier Mabengwane said: “We are meeting with the university management today (Friday) and we will discuss all issues regarding transformation within three campuses. So we can say the computer laboratory cater only for 600 students and opened from 8am until 5pm, and that affect learning process to other students. Another issue was facilities, and infrastructures. In Potchefstroom, the infrastructures are maintained and take care of, whereas in Mafikeng and Vaal, you will find that they are dilapidating,” Mabengwane said.

He argued that tuition fee was very expensive and that closed the doors of learning on previously disadvantaged students.

“We will make sure that also highly-qualified lecturers are roped in at both Mafikeng and Vaal campuses. We only have lecturers with master degrees, whereas in Potchefstroom Campus, they having professors. We also want to fight racism issue within the university. All campuses need to be treated equally without any favouritism, because thus far, Potchefstroom students are given first preference,” Mabengwane said.

-TDN

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