By BAKANG MOKOTO

A 40 year-old traffic officer was arrested for corruption on Tuesday. Zahid Bhayat allegedly solicited bribes from motorists while conducting highway patrol on the N12 in Potchefstroom.

The Hawks provincial spokesperson, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said Bhayat was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigations unit.

“According to information, Bhayat allegedly targeted motorists driving superfluity vehicles. He will claim that they had exceeded the speed limit and threatened to arrest them. Bhayat will subsequently follow the motorists and demand a minimum payment of R2000 to cancel the speed reading. He briefly appeared at the Klerksdorp Magistrate Court on Tuesday and granted a R2000 bail.”

The case was postponed to 24 January 2018 for further investigation.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Linda Mbana said that the Hawks will continue to fight the scourge of corruption in the province.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) took a broadside on the defence team in Coligny murder case for delaying tactics.

This came out after the North West High Court set March 19 to 30 as trial dates for two men arrested for the murder of Matlhomola Moshoeu (16) in Mahikeng on Monday.

A pre-trial conference was held in Mahikeng on Monday after earlier postponements.

Pieter Doorewaard (26) and Phillip Schutte (34) were arrested after they allegedly killed Moshoeu. It is alleged that Doorewaard and Schutte found Moshoeu stealing sunflowers on their farm and apprehended him.

The suspects say that they put the deceased in the back of the bakkie and ferried him to Coligny Police Station. They further allege that Moshoeu jumped off the moving bakkie and died.

The case was transferred to the North West High Court in Mahikeng to set a trial date.

NPA regional spokesperson, Frank Lesenyego said the pre-trial conference was postponed to 12 December 2017 after the defence legal team claimed that some documents in the sockets were unreadable.

“It is all systems go from our side and we are ready to continue with the trial. The defence team is also ready as they said in court.

“The case will commence for two weeks. The accused will be back in court from March 19 till 23 and from March 26-30.

“We believe that we have a strong case against the accused. Thepre-trial conference was postponed indefinitely after  the defence’s legal team claimed that some documents were unreadable,” Lesenyego said.

He further said that the NDP regarded that as a delaying tactic from the defence.

“The defence team was called on November 7 after this matter was transferred to the North West High Court in Mahikeng to get copies of the docket.

“However, they did not come on the scheduled date. The  defence only came on November 13. We believe that this could have been averted because they would have highlighted to us that some statements were unreadable. The NPA could have typed them and handed them over to them on time,” Lesenyego said.

The accused are out on R5000 bail each. On the day they were granted bail, Coligny residents ran amok and a number of houses were burnt down in protest.

North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo said they rebuilt one often houses burnt during protests in Coligny.

Mahumapelo said the house belonged  to a white woman and they would hand it over to the owner in a  few weeks.

“This is part of Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal (RHR). A journey to Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal is a never-ending one because where people are involved there will always be a need to foster mutual understanding.

“However, it would be very difficult to have RHR without economic development,” he said.
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By REGINALD KANYANE

A motorist, who allegedly attacked a North West traffic officer, will be back in court for a formal bail application at Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Sabata Kortman was arrested along with his sister, Ntswaki Kortman (26) for crimen injuria and failure to comply with traffic official.

Kortman was clearly seen manhandling a traffic officer, Johannes Manthi in an incident caught on video. He also threatened to cut-off Manthi’s manhood.

North West police spokesperson, Col Pelonomi Makau said the suspects appeared at Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

“Two people were arrested and appeared in court after they allegedly assaulted a traffic officer. Sabata Kortman (32) and his younger sister, Ntswaki Kortman (26) were denied bail and remanded in custody. They were charged with crimen injuria and failure to comply with traffic official.

“They will be back in court on Thursday for formal bail application. We urge all road users to cooperate and obey the rules and regulations of the roads. They must also comply when stopped by traffic and police officials.”

The officer, Johannes Manthi Johannes Manthi (47) said he felt disrespected and humiliated by a motorist who attacked him on Sunday between Potchefstroom and Johannesburg on N12 road.

Manthi said he was on duty with his female colleague 12km outside Potchefstroom when the incident happened.

“I stopped the motorist who was driving a Yaris vehicle after he overtook another vehicle on the barrier line. I gave him a fine for breaking the law. However, all hell broke loose when I requested a physical address from him.

“Sabata Kortman gave me a post address instead, but I politely explained him that I needed a physical address. Kortman failed to cooperate and hurled insults at me. He demanded his driver’s licence back but I refused. He man-handled and assaulted me after I refused to hand over his licence,” Manthi said.

A 47 year-old man is living with disability after being involved in a horrible car accident back in 2013. Manthi said he lost a limb during the accident and being attacked in public especially by motorist was absurd and distasteful.

“The area is one of the high risk areas and more than 55% of accidents took place here. So, being attacked for doing my job is debauched. We are here to assist and render our services to all road users. Traffic officers’ high visibility on the roads, endeavour to minimise disruption. Traffic officers also provide safe and timely response to incidents.

“We liaise with emergency services where necessary and relieve congestion as soon as possible. So, this incident will not deter my spirit and I am looking forward to work with cooperative motorists on the roads during festive season,” he said.

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