Picture: Murder accused, Bakang Masibi who allegedly killed Tumelo Mosesane at Happy Valley tavern in Buxton

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 27 year-old man from Buxton village in Taung briefly appeared at Taung Magistrate’s Court in Taung on Wednesday. Bakang Masibi was arrested for murder after he allegedly stabbed Tumelo Mosesane to death at Happy Valley tavern in Buxton on the 30^th of December 2017.

Masibi allegedly stabbed Mosesane to death and poured his lifeless body with cold water afterwards. He was remanded in custody until 19 February 2018 for formal bail application.

Community members from Buxton village and other neighbouring areas packed the courtroom and called for no bail.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

A fraud case against three Free State suspects will resume at Taung Magistrate’s Court on Monday and is expected to be transferred to Taung Regional Court. Mojalefa Springkan (30), Kgosana Tladi (49) and David Mokonyane (52) are facing a fraud case.

The trio was arrested in October 2017 at Taung Mall by South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence in partnership with Taung Police Station after a tip-off.

The suspects allegedly defrauded unsuspecting victims their hard-earned cash at the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) across Dr Ruth Mompati district. The accused allegedly robbed a woman her Sassa card at Pudimoe complex in Pudimoe Location, near Taung before they proceeded to Taung Mall.

Pudimoe Police Station cluster spokesperson, Sgt Tebogo Thebe said: “The suspects were followed by the police from Pudimoe Location to Taung where they were allegedly stopped and searched. The police found loads of various bank cards in their possession. They were arrested and police confiscated the vehicle that they used during the commission of crime.”

The suspects were remanded in custody until their next appearance on 12 February 2018. They have previous fraud cases committed in Gauteng and Free State provinces. The fraud case against the suspects in Ficksburg in Free State has been struck off the roll because of lack of evidence against them.

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Picture: (Batlhaping Baga-Maidi Community listening attentively regarding mining rights permit announcement) 

By REGINALD KANYANE

THE Batlhaping Baga-Maidi Tribal Authority community in Taung welcomed the mining rights permit. The Batlhaping Baga-Maidi Tribal Authority Chief, Kgosi Nnyoko Motlhabane addressed the community at Manthe Community Hall in Manthestad, near Taung on Saturday regarding new developments.

Motlhabane said this was a historical day for the community after many years of hardships and tribulations. He further said the mining right permit would assist the community to move away from poverty and starvation.

“The community occupied this land more than 100 years ago, but could not access the wealth beneath it due to the historical injustices inflicted by the apartheid system. Today after 23 years in democracy, the community obtained rightful ownership to the minerals in their land. We are now in the prospecting processes that will commence soon.

“We are grateful that the community trusted our leadership even though it took us longer than expected. We came across many challenges, but we never gave up. The prospecting processes normal take 5 years, but we are adamant that we will complete it in a year. We want to do it as soon as we can so that can make way for mining operation,” Motlhabane said.

He further said they would do bankable documents to invite potential investors. Motlhabane added that aim is to see the community controlling the wealth of the area.

“Any potential investor who will be operating here will operate under community’s conditions and regulations. The project will create job opportunities for young people because they will embark on a mentorship programme at Diamond School in Gauteng. The aim is to ensure that they acquire necessary skills to monitor the diamonds during sorting process.

“We will need proper monitoring especially during diamond sorting process. The project will also address socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, inequality and poverty. The authority will form development committees consist of community members. They will represent the community’s interest and ensure that everything is done overboard to avoid corruption, fraud and greed,” Motlhabane said.

One of community members, Nana Mogotsi said: “Mining project will assist us in addressing unemployment, inequality and poverty. We believe that our community will benefit and self-development is imminent. We want to commend buoyed Motlhabane for his fighting spirit.

Kutlwano Tikane (28) shared the same sentiments. Tikane who is self-employed, said this will also assist young entrepreneurs in the area.

“We are very grateful for the initiative and we hope this comes sooner rather than later. We know Taung is predominantly rural, but has wealth of raw minerals that need to benefit our people. We want to see changes after time of hardships, tribulations and injustices our people experienced in the past,” he said.

Boikie Madienyane (37) said: “This mining project is huge and mineral rights are valuable. We have been waiting for the permit and now things look brighter after prospecting process started. This will bring changes in the area and empower young people especially through education. We need new developments after all.”

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