A key witness in the Coligny murder trial broke down as he testified in the North West High Court in Mahikeng on Wednesday, forcing the judge to briefly adjourn the matter.

Bonakele Pakisi told the court how he witnessed 16-year-old Matlhomola Moshoeu being pushed from a moving vehicle on April 20, 2017. He broke down and lost his composure as he relived the incident.

Judge Ronnie Hendricks was forced to adjourn the matter for a few minutes to allow the 28-year-old to recover as he battled to speak.

Pakisi was testifying in the trial of farmworkers Pieter Doorewaard 27, and Philip Schutte, 34, who are accused of killing Moshoeu in Coligny last year. The pair claim they caught Moshoeu stealing a sunflower on April 20, 2017.

Doorewaard and Schutte said they intended to drive him to the local police station, but that he jumped off their bakkie along the way and broke his neck.

Dressed in a maroon shirt and blue jeans, Pakisi told the court that on the day of the incident, he heard gunshots coming from the sunflower field.

‘He was bleeding through his mouth, nose and ears’

He also claimed that he heard Moshoeu crying and screaming: “Mama help, I am dying.”

Pakisi said he saw the accused assaulting Moshoeu and then pushing him from a moving vehicle. He said when the accused saw him, they apparently asked him what he had seen.

“I told them I saw nothing,” he testified.

Pakisi also alleged that the accused drove him around with Moshoeu, who was severely injured.

“He (Moshoeu) was injured on the face. He was bleeding through his mouth, nose and ears. I couldn’t speak to him because I was told to lie down,” he said.

He said while Moshoeu lay in the bakkie injured, the accused “did nothing to assist him”.

“Accused two (Schutte) instructed me to check if the child was still alive. They also instructed me to take off my jersey in order for me to wipe his blood. They said I should lift the child but his [head] was hanging, so I didn’t know if he was still alive,” he said.

‘The police told me that I was crazy’

Pakisi also alleged that the accused forced him to drink alcohol and when he refused, he was then assaulted.

He said after drinking the alcohol, he felt dizzy and started vomiting.

“They hit me with open hands and clenched fists. They hit me on the face…they forced me to eat my own vomit,” he said.

He said they then said they were taking Moshoeu to the clinic.

“I went to the police station the same day and the police told me that I was crazy,” he said, adding that another officer said he was drunk.

Moshoeu’s death sparked protests in the area as some residents believed he was killed because he was black. Several houses and businesses were burnt to the ground.

The accused have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, intimidation, kidnapping, theft, the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and pointing a firearm.

Doorewaard and Schutte are out on R5 000 bail each.

Source: http://www.news24.com 

By REGINALD KANYANE

A 29 year-old man was hijacked his Toyota Corrolla vehicle at Taung Dam in Manthe village, near Taung on Sunday. North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said the motorist was stranded next to the road after he ran out of petrol.

Myburgh said the motorist, who was with his friend at the time was approached by five occupants driving a white BMW. She said the suspects allegedly offered to assist the gullible motorist and ferried him to the local petrol station.

“The motorist filled his car and drove off to Cokonyane village, in Taung where he dropped off his friend. The motorist was allegedly stopped on his way back by the same white BMW with occupants who assisted him earlier.

“The suspects allegedly forced the motorist to drive towards Manthe village through Taung Dam route. They allegedly stopped and assaulted. The victim managed to escape from the claws of the suspects leaving his car behind at around 23:00,” she said.

Myburgh said a case of assault and car hijacking was opened at Taung Police on Tuesday. She also urged motorists to buckle-up at all times. Few car hijacking were reported recently at Taung and its surroundings.

Meanwhile, two suspects were arrested over kidnapping and hijacking in Taung in November 2017. Tshepiso Monyadiwa, who was driving his Hyundai 120i from Kuruman to Kathu said he is grateful that he is still alive.

“I picked three suspects who masqueraded as hitch-hikers. They hitch-hiked me and pretended to be going to Kathu. Along the way, one of the suspects drew a firearm and pointed it at me. They ordered me to get off the road before they tied me up and squeezed me in the boot of my car.

“They drove with me to Taung and we arrived there at around 4am. The suspects robbed me off my belongings including my cellphone, before they released me. They dropped me off at Taung circle and ordered me to walk away,” Monyadiwa said.

He further said he went to the local garage for assistance. Two suspects aged 35 and 38 were subsequently arrested and appeared at Taung Magistrate’s Court and Hartswater Magistrate’s Court respectively. Monyadiwa’s red Hyundai 120i was also recovered.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

A theft of a motor vehicle was opened at Taung Police Station on Tuesday. North West police said the unknown suspect stole Vincent Marwele’s Toyota Cressida 1.6 vehicle at Taung Complex in Taung.

“A 54 year-old motorist who took his sick father to the doctor, parked his vehicle at Taung Complex parking lot. According to Marwele, he looked back at his car before he approached the surgery. He saw someone in his car and ran back.

“A commotion ensued between the suspect and the driver. The suspect allegedly drove off and dragged Marwele few metres with the car. The victim suffered a broken leg and he was ferried to Taung Hopsital for medical attention,” she said.

Myburgh said the victim was later transferred to Klerskdorp Hospital in Klerksdorp after his situation deteriorated. She said the police are concerned about car hijacking and urged motorists to always avoid situations that make them vulnerable.

“Avoiding those situations is a step in the right direction to stop crime. There are tips motorists can apply when parking their vehicles. They should check their rear-view mirror to ensure that they are not being followed. They must always be on the look-out for suspicious vehicles or persons.

“Motorists must never leave the keys in the ignition when climbing out of their cars to open the gates. Never sit in your parked car without being fully conscious of your surroundings. Sleeping in a stationery vehicle is also dangerous. When exiting your vehicle, be cautious and aware of surrounding obstructions and bushes that may conceal a hijacker,” Myburgh said.

She further said motorists should familiarize themselves with their environment, especially in CBD and unmanned parking lots. Myburgh said those motorists who encounter challenges in Taung can call: Taung Police Station on (053) 994-9222/6 or Emergency number on (10111) or dial 112 on their cellphones.

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Picture: (F4SD PR councillor, Mika Moeti)

By BAKANG MOKOTO

Taung struggle icon, Mika Moeti was sworn-in as PR councillor. Moeti left the African National Congress (ANC) back in 2016 just before Local General elections, where he served the ruling party as a PR councillor.

It is alleged that Moeti was calamitous after the ANC in the Greater Taung sub-region did not submit his name to be nominated as a councillor for 2016 Local General elections.

He joined and lobbied support for the ‘unknown’ National Freedom Party (NFP) in Taung. However, he left the party after it failed to register for 2016 Local General elections.

Moeti allegedly joined Democratic Alliance (DA) before jumping ship to join F4SD where most people believe that he will now end his ‘political prostitution.’

However, buoyed Moeti said he does not care much about what people say. He said he is adamant that the F4SD will do well during 2019 General Elections and will continue to represent the masses.

“I was sworn-in as a PR councillor at the Greater Taung Local Municipality along with Keneilwe Kgosimore. We replaced Soleni Gasetlolwe and Mothusi Montwedi respectively. Our colleague, Dipuo Itumeleng will be a member of Exco. We are still waiting for the GTLM Speaker to allocate us accordingly to various Portfolio Committees,” he said.

A 52 year-old politician was once charged for treason by Bophuthatswana government for his participation in a struggle. He was appointed as the Chief of Staff at North West Social Development department under the stewardship of the then MEC, the late Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi.

Greater Taung Local Municipality Speaker, Ebusang Tladi said: “We can confirm that the F4SD submitted a letter to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa. We then received a letter from IEC confirming that the F4SD wants to replace two councillors.

“We have not allocated them to various Portfolio Committees and we will do that soon. We wish them the all best and hope that their presence will be necessary in ensuring that they serve their mandate accordingly.”

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