Daily Archives: May 19, 2021

North West Health department to commemorate ‘The Move for Health Day’ campaign

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

Picture: North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha will visit Potchefstroom to commemorate The Move For Health Day on Thursday. North West Health department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said the departmental employees and community at large will be part of the commemoration.

“This is in commemoration of The Move for Health Day and 2021 is commemorated under the theme: Every step counts. The 10th of May is commemorated internationally as an annual global initiative to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles. 

“The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the importance of this day which formally got underway on May 10 2003, with broad links to communities around the world,” Lekgethwane said.

He further said the initiative was called for by the WHO Member States and since then member States have been urged to celebrate a Move for Health Day each year to promote physical activity as essential for health and well-being.

Lekgethwane added that the main objectives of the “Move for Health” campaign are to facilitate the development of sustained national and local physical activity initiatives, policies and programmes.

“The campaign also aims at increasing population-wide participation in physical activity, to increase participation in physical activity through sport organisations, events and other socio-cultural forums,” said Lekgethwane.

He said the campaign also promote healthy behaviour and lifestyles and also address health-related issues through sports and physical activity such as no tobacco use, healthy diet, reduction of violence, stress and social isolation.

Lekgethwane said this year’s campaign is to be undertaken under strict COVID-19 regulations.

“The programme aimed to promote and activate the adoption of a healthy lifestyle behaviours and the co-creation of wellness enabling environment by all members of the society.

“Objectives of the 2021 World Move for Health Day are to facilitate the re-activation of the NOW groups and establishing new local physical activity groups to be part of the NOW initiative,” he said.

Lekgethwane further said this will increase population-wide participation in physical activity through sport organizations, events and other socio-cultural platforms too.

 He said the activities will take place at the North West University (Potchefstroom campus) at 7am.

“The department will use this opportunity to further urge the eligible individuals on Phase 2 of the vaccine to register for vaccination including the healthcare workers and Traditional Healthcare Practitioners,” said Lekgethwane.

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A man nabbed for unlicensed firearm, ammunition and explosive gel

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A 34-YEAR-OLD man arrested in connection with possession of an unlicensed firearm, ammunition and explosive gel. North West police Lit Colonel Amanda Funani said the suspect is expected to appear in the Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court in Tlhabane on Thursday.

“The suspect’s court appearance emanates from his apprehension on Tuesday after the vehicle that he was in was intercepted near Rietvellie graveyard in Phokeng outside Rustenburg.

“Police received a tip-off from members of the community regarding a conspiracy to commit house-breaking at a farm in the vicinity of Swartruggens. Consequently, the Tactical Team of Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 2 acted swiftly by following the leads and interrupted the vehicle, a Toyota Prado,” Funani said.

She said two of the three occupants managed to flee while the suspect was arrested. Funani added that the police found 9mm, live ammunition, magazine, and explosive gel inside the vehicle.

The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Dintletse Molefe congratulated the Sub-District Tactical Team for their hard work that led to the arrest of the suspect. Molefe also emphasised that there will be no rest until the two remaining suspects are nabbed.

“We would like to thank the members of the community who came up with the information that assisted police in preventing the robbery,” said Molefe.

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A girl (17) raped, but no arrests yet!

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 17-YEAR-OLD girl from Mokgareng village near Taung was allegedly raped by a well-known employee of the North West Health Department at Taung District on Saturday night.

According to information, the alleged victim and her friends were hitch-hiking from Mokassa to Mokgareng village when they were picked up by the suspect.

It is alleged that the suspect dropped the friends of the victim and took her to Tamati’s storeroom in Mokgareng village, where the alleged rape took place. The alleged victim went home afterwards and allegedly informed her uncle about the ordeal.

A rape case was opened at Taung Police Station on Sunday morning. However, the North West police spokesperson, Lit Colonel Amanda Funani said: “Even though a rape case has been opened, no one has been arrested yet because of some technicalities in the evidence.

“We still have to conduct an identification parade. Police cannot just go out and arrest without following procedure, but please check with me on Monday and see if there is any development around this case.”

It is alleged that the police have also failed to go to the crime scene and collect evidence. Investigation continues.

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Two brothers sentenced to life imprisonment for killing relative over rental money

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Picture: A generic picture

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Two siblings were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder by the North West High Court on Tuesday. Gopolang Maoka (36) and Moleko Maoka (37) were arrested for plotting Segwagwa Modiegi’s death.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said the accused who are related to Modiegi (64), were charged with murder, robbery and two counts of fraud.

“The Maoka brothers worked and stayed together in Kathu near Kuruman. The investigations revealed that the two were renting from the deceased and upon retirement, he moved to Seoding village where they all originate from.

“Modiegi left his premises under the care of Maoka brothers and among other things, they were responsible for collecting rental money from other tenants to send it to the deceased,” he said.

Mamothame further said upon realising the amount of money accumulated from rentals, the two brothers driven by greed, convinced each other to operate the business for themselves. He said the accused felt that the deceased was an obstacle in their quest to own his business and they conspired to kill him.

“On 7 January 2017, the accused arranged a meeting with the deceased under a false pretense of a family meeting in Seoding. They then left Kathu on the set date after knocking off from work and went to Seoding, where their plan was to be executed.

However, their cousin back in Seoding where the meeting was supposed to take place was not aware of their presence in the village. As planned, they called the deceased person to meet with him at their cousin’s house where the family meetings are usually held,” said Mamothame.

He said the accused waited for Modiegi in the bushes where he was supposed to pass through and they gruesomely murdered him by bashing his head with a huge stone and robbed him off his two cellphones.

Mamothame added that the deceased was discovered the following day with his face and head crushed and brain scattered.

“Evidence led in court by the investigating officer, revealed that a few months prior to executing the murder, the accused insured the deceased person with Nedbank as well as Assupol with an intention of cashing up on the two policies after murdering him.

“The family of the deceased was instructed by the police to refer anyone who requested the death certificate to the police. Following this instruction, investigations led to the arrest of Moleko Maoka on 17 January 2017 whilst making inquiries about the death certificate of the deceased with the intention of claiming from the insurance companies,” Mamothame said.

He added that Moleko eventually disclosed his reasons for inquiring about the death certificate and he also confessed to the entire plot of murdering the deceased to make financial gains on his rental property.

Mamothame said investigations further led the police to Kathu village on 23 January 2017 and the rented apartment belonging to the accused was searched and a blood stained pair of shoes were seized by the police.

“The forensic results positively matched the bloodstains to that of the deceased.

The two were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years for robbery. They were however acquitted on the two charges of fraud. Judge Gura emphasized that in killing the deceased who was 64 years at the time, their conduct was motivated by greed and as such an innocent life was lost.

In mitigating for maximum sentence, Advocate Cain Nontenjwa argued that this dreadful murder was premeditated and driven by greed, therefore warranted a maximum prison term, to which the judge concurred.

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