A 33-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mankwe Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FSC) for kidnapping, rape and contravention of a protection order.
North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said Mpho Mkhibane Nkwe kidnapped, assaulted and raped his former girlfriend on numerous occasions from 2017 to 2018. Botma added that the former girlfriend obtained a protection order against Nkwe, but he still continued abusing her.
“He ultimately kidnapped her and took her to a mountain where he raped and hanged her. The woman sustained injuries on her face, neck, bruised leg and head caused by a knife and broken bottle. The suspect was arrested in May 2018.
“Nkwe was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000),” she said.
In another separate incident, a 57-year-old man was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for rape. Botma said Jacob Shimane Mokgatle raped a 12-year-old girl on 5 February 2019.
She said the accused was caught red-handed by the mother of the victim.
“The complainant who is the mother to the victim came home looking for her daughter, but she couldn’t find her. She then went to the next-door neighbour, accompanied by a friend. When they entered the house, they found the accused busy raping her.
“The incident was immediately reported to the police who arrested the suspect. The North West police commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the life imprisonment sentence and another 18 years sentence handed down to two accused by the Madikwe Regional Court,” she said.
Kwena applauded the detective, Sgt Taolo Makgotlho of Madikwe Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) for a sterling job which ensured that merciless rapists were given hefty sentences.
(Picture Supplied: Tswaing Local Municipality office)
By REGINALD KANYANE
South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) came out gun-blazing and says it refuses to be silenced by corrupt municipalities in North West. SAMWU Secretary-General, Dumisane Magagula said they are enraged following attempts by a clique in the province to silence the union from blowing the whistle on rampant cronyism, corruption, maladministration and theft of municipal resources with impunity.
“We cannot allow the last line of defence for workers and communities to be silenced and turn a blind eye when the much-needed municipal resources are dried up by individuals who have no interest in service delivery, but rather the filling of their pockets and those of their friends and families.
“Recently, the union exposed evil intentions of the Tswaing Local Municipality to illegally sneak 127 individuals into its payroll. Instead of addressing these issues, the municipality responded by suspending 24 workers and ultimately dismissing the union’s Provincial Secretary, Vincent Diphoko and another member, Mogale Morwe,” Magagula said.
He further said the sins of those suspended were nothing but a ploy to threaten and intimidate workers from exposing the rot that is in the North West Municipalities.
However, Magagula said they maintain that the intention by the municipality to sneak 127 individuals into its payroll is because those who are in charge are not motivated by strengthening service delivery, but rather extending patronage and securing employment for their friends and families before the next local government elections.
“The municipality simply does not have the money to pay these people. These vacancies have not been approved anywhere and not budgeted for. Most importantly, the municipality is bleeding resources and it cannot pay workers their overtimes, third parties such as medical aids and pension funds have not been paid in over two years.
“This is the same municipality that is failing to honour its payment arrangement with Eskom, leading to constant power interruptions at great inconvenience to residents and businesses,” he said.
Magagula said the cowardice act of the municipality and the clique operating in the province is nothing but a provocation of workers and union-bashing. He added that they will not allow their members to be used as sacrificial lambs for executing their union and civil duties by exposing the rampant corruption in municipalities.
“Corruption has resulted in the collapse of the province’s municipalities as stated by consecutive Auditor General reports. Recently, we have seen the Hawks working overtime, crisscrossing the province’s municipalities raiding offices and arresting thieves.
“Surely people think that by silencing workers who are vocal and against the rot in municipalities, that they will not get their opportunity to be given a lift in the now-famous Golf 7 GTI,” said Magagula.
He calls on all workers, particularly in municipalities in the North West to continue blowing the lid on corruption. Magagula said the union will explore all legal avenues at its disposal to ensure that two dismissed and 24 suspended workers are re-instated and protected.
Meanwhile, the ANC Interim Provincial Committee chairperson, Hlomani Chauke has written to the IEC to deregister the municipal mayor, Lydia Malwane, speaker, Phemelo Lobele and Whip, Thabo Morei.
Democratic Alliance MP, Carìn Visser said: “The DA in North West noted the ANC Interim Provincial Committee’s (IPC) declaration of vacancies on their Proportional Representation (PR) list after a decision was taken to replace the Tswaing Local Municipality’s Mayor, Lydia Malwane, Speaker, Phemelo Lobelo and Whip, Thabo Morei.
It is however interesting to note that the letter was issued to councillors on 2 November but is dated 27 October. According to the letter, the decision to replace the Troika was already taken on 12 October.”
Visser said it is disappointing that the ANC would be aware of the total collapse of service delivery for years, but only take action after the DA wrote to President Ramaphosa last week.
“The fact that the Municipal Manager, Isaac Moruti, has not resigned yet, is a display of his shameless refusal to take responsibility for the collapse of service delivery that left residents without access to water, waste removal and sanitation services for the past six weeks.
“The DA will proceed to table a motion that seeks his suspension and removal, as we can no longer stand by while public servants are failing their mandate of serving communities,” said Visser.
Picture: The Hawks arrest the Maquassi Hills Local Municipality employee
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The 52-years-old suspect was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on Wednesday for alleged fraud. The Hawks’ spokesperson in the North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said the suspect who is employed by the Maquassi Hills Municipality as a Technician allegedly approached a client who’s municipal account was in arrears of approximately R1 million and offered to cancel the debt in exchange for a payment of R112 000.
“Then the matter was reported to the Hawks and the suspect was arrested during an operation after he was found in possession of the R112 000 which was paid to him by the client,” Rikhotso said.
She said the suspect will appear at the Wolmaranstad Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
The Guardian 