By BAKANG MOKOTO

North West Community Safety and Transport Management MEC, Dr Mpho Motlhabane urged people to be cautious against bogus learnership recruitment. Motlhabane said this after the arrest of Oscar Mompati Mmutlwane (33) from Magogoe village, near Mahikeng on Monday.

“It has come to the attention of the department that a scam is presently underway in which suspects demand an amount of R3 000 from young people around Mahikeng in order to be recruited and access the Road Traffic Management course.

“We understand that there is too much pressure of unemployment especially among young people. However, this must not drive them to be victims of fraudsters such as this. We condemn this criminality with strongest term,” Motlhabane said.

He further said they trust the judicial system that the perpetrator will get a judgment that he deserves to pay for his actions. Motlhabane advised the public to constantly verify information relating to recruitment and learnerships directly with them.

“We advise our people wishing to undergo the Road Traffic Management training to send their application to the department only when there is an official advertisement from us. The department normally publish advertisements with its letterhead depicting the correct logo including address and contact details.

“Applicants are requested to fill in the Z83 application form and we do not specify the number of positions available for the learnership. We also want to commend the police for their quick response and arrest of the suspect who allegedly defrauded a number of people in Mahikeng with a promise to take them to the traffic college,” he said.

Motlhabane said it was reported that the suspect claimed to be working at the Head Office and responsible for the recruitment, while using names of certain departmental officials. He further said the arrested suspect appeared at the Molopo Magistrate Court and was remanded in custody until the 18^th of January 2018 for formal bail application. “The police are still looking for his accomplice/s and we appeal to members of the community who might have experienced the scam to come forth and report their cases to the Mahikeng Police Station,” Motlhabane said.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

SEVEN people were arrested for dealing with rhino horns in Kuruman. Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Dimakatso Mooi said the Kuruman Flying squad and Stock theft Units arrested the suspects on Wednesday.

“It is alleged that the police officers were doing their routine patrols when they noticed two suspicious looking vehicles. When they made a U-turn to check these vehicles, one was already gone. The car left behind had two Chinese nationals and one black male occupant aged between 27 and 39.

“They were searched and questioned. Further investigation revealed that the occupants were dealing in rhino horns and pictures of the horns were found on their cellphones. The police officers immediately activated Vryburg police to be on the look-out for the elusive car,” Mooi said.

She further said the Vryburg police allegedly stopped the second vehicle. Mooi added that two rhino horns estimated to the value of R600 000 were discovered in the second vehicle upon searching.

“Three females and one male aged between 35 and 50 were arrested for possession of rhino horns.  The suspects are expected to appear in court soon,” she said.

The Northern Cape Police Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Risimati Shivuri applauded the members for the vigilance and commitment displayed in ensuring that criminals face the might of the law. Shivuri said the police will intensify their fight against rhino poaching.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

Various political parties have put aside their squabbles and came together to condemn what has been happening in Rustenburg recently. More than six houses were torched during a fight against alleged drug lords in the area.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial leader in the North West, Joe McGluwa said they call for serenity in Rustenburg after structures such as houses belonging to alleged drug lords were torched by community members. He said the frustrations of community members emanate from their complaints falling in deaf ears, while local police officers colluding with alleged drug lords and other criminal elements.

“The DA will write to the North West Police Commissioner, Baile Brenda Motswenyane to initiate an investigation into the allegations that police in the area are working with criminals and contributing to the increase in crime rate. In order to stem the tide of criminality in our communities, honest and well-resourced police armed with a pro-active and responsible crime-busting programme of action are needed.

“Violence will not solve the problems in the area, but will only deteriorate the situation even further. Our nation is governed by the rule of law, so we cannot allow citizens to take the law into their own hands by allowing acts of vandalism and mob justice to prevail,” McGluwa said.

He further said it is unfortunate that the absence of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the community has created a vacuum that has allowed mob justice and vigilantism to flourish. McGluwa added that the DA will continue to be on the ground to engage with community members and monitor the situation.

The African National Congress (ANC) in North West also shared the same sentiments. ANC provincial spokesperson, Gerald Modise said: “ANC in North West notes with concern the violent clashes that have affected the Rustenburg Central Business
District and other areas since this past Monday. The PEC is worried about the incidents that seem to have started sometimes last week in Boitekong, when one taxi driver was apparently mugged.
“We therefore call for calm and urge all members of the public in the area to allow the police to restore order and to give space to the Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) as well as the Fire Brigade to attend to injured community members and damaged properties.”

Rustenburg local municipality is currently working together with police and community members to bring tranquillity in the area. Municipality spokesperson, Thapelo Matebesi said these incidents of violence were sparked by allegations made by the community members that a certain police officer was caught earlier in the company of known drug dealers in possession of drugs at Rustenburg North.

“Community members accosted the police officer and the alleged drug dealers. Police reinforcements were called in, and the alleged drug dealers, together with the police officer were taken into custody. This irked the community members who wanted to take the law unto their own hands.

“Community members allegedly mobilised several taxi drivers which marked the beginning of a spate of violent attacks within some parts of the CBD. During this campaign of violence, all the premises within the CBD known for drug trafficking, human trafficking and prostitution were set alight. To date, ten properties have been razed by the fire. Although the situation remains tense, some level of calmness has descended into the CBD. The police are working together with the Rustenburg local municipality to quell further incidents of violence,” Matebesi said.

He added that the municipality fully understand the community outrage against the drug trafficking, human trafficking and prostitution.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane said she condemn in the strongest possible terms public violence incidents that took place in the area. Motswenyane said they urge members of the community to refrain from damaging of properties.

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MEC for Local Government and Human Settlement department, Fenny Gaolaolwe said constant meetings with developers will ensure proper monitoring of housing projects of underperforming contractors.

Gaolaolwe said this was an effort to fast-track quality housing delivery within the North West province. Gaolaolwe and Head of Department (HoD), Ephraim Motoko met with service providers recently to identify possible challenges and provide solution to expedite completions.

“We have pleaded with contractors to accelerate the remaining houses and slabs across the province. Technical sessions with contractors will continue without fail to assist developers to complete their projects within agreed period stipulated in their respective contracts.

“The department is committed to pay invoices within a short period of time provided all required documents are submitted,” she said. – Newsnote

BY BAKANG MOKOTO

Six people were killed and three others injured following a head-on collision on the N12 Highway, just 15km outside of Potchefstroom on Wednesday night. ER24 paramedics’ spokesperson, Russel Meiring said their paramedics alongside other services arrived on the scene shortly before midnight where a bakkie and light motor vehicle were found in the middle of the road.

Meiring said both vehicles had sustained a significant amount of damages in the collision. He further said upon closer inspection, paramedics discovered six patients lying in the light motor vehicle while three were found inside the bakkie. Paramedics assessed the patients in the light motor vehicle and found that two men, a woman and two children, aged between three and four, had all sustained numerous injuries and showed no signs of life.

“Nothing could be done for them and they were later declared dead. A sixth patient from the light motor vehicle, a woman was found to be in a critical condition. Paramedics treated the woman and provided her with advanced life support interventions,” Meiring said.

He further said that upon inspection of the bakkie, paramedics found three men inside. Meiring added that two had sustained moderate injuries, while a third had sustained fatal injuries.

“Nothing could be done for the man and he was declared dead. Once paramedics had treated the three patients, the critically injured was airlifted by a private medical helicopter to Lenmed Randfontein for urgent treatment. The two other patients were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

“The exact details surrounding this incident are not yet known but local authorities were on the scene for further investigations,” he said.

MEC for community safety and transport management department, Dr Mpho Motlhabane said the province is still consolidating its figures and national department will pronounce first.

“We had a situation on Sunday which really shocked all of us as a province where we lost seven people, while other seven were hospitalised. I believe that these accidents affected our statistics phenomenally. However, we hope that will sum well as we have done our best under the circumstances,” Motlhabane said.

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