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By OBAKENG MAJE

Five suspects who were arrested for the double murder of policemen are expected to appear at Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said the suspects were arrested during the early hours of Wednesday in Logageng village near Mahikeng by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Detective service, Tactical Response Team and members of the Local Criminal Records, for the alleged murders of Constable Simon Ngakaemang Ntsekeletsa (50) and Sergeant Mojalefa Horatius Molete (42), who were stationed at Mareetsane Police Station.

“It is alleged that on 26 July 2021 around 9pm, the two police officers were on patrol duties with a state vehicle when they came across a vehicle loaded with suspected stolen goats.

“The police officers reported the incident to the commander and mentioned that they would be bringing the suspect’s vehicle to the police station soon. About an hour later, the police reported that they were not far from the police station,” Rikhotso said.

She said, however, Molete and Ntsekeletsa never arrived at the police station and they could not be reached on both their cellphones and the police radio. Rikhotso further said a manhunt for the police officers was immediately launched.

“On 27 July 2021, the police were alerted by community members of bloodstains on the road leading to the police station. When the scene was visited, a knife and a police badge belonging to one of the deceased were found and the second badge was found near Mareetsane road.

“Further investigations led the team to a burnt state vehicle in Mosita village near Ganyesa, wherein the bodies of the deceased police officers were discovered. The team followed all the leads and worked tirelessly until they traced and arrested the five suspects who were allegedly found in possession of a 9mm pistol, which was taken from the slain police officers,” she said.

According to Rikhotso, a hammer, clothing with suspected blood stains and a vehicle has been seized for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the National Head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya condemned the acts of the perpetrators and applauded the joint team for the swift arrest and recovery of the police firearm.

Lebeya: “We would like to express our deepest condolences to the families. We certainly hope that the families of our fallen police officers would find comfort in the arrest of suspects and look forward to the successful prosecution of these criminal acts.

“An attack on the police is an attack on the state and this is why we will leave no stone unturned. We will utilise all resources at our disposal to ensure those who commit such heinous acts against our officers in blue are found and face the full might of the law.”

The suspects were charged with two counts of murder, malicious damage to property, and possession of a stolen firearm.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

 

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Factionalism continues to be a dreadful phenomenon within the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) council, especially in the ANC caucus. This comes after the municipal council elected Grace Totong as the new municipal mayor on Tuesday.

Some of ANC councillors defied their party’s mandate and opted to elect Totong as the new mayor instead of re-instating Kgosi Nnyoko Motlhabane as instructed.

Motlhabane was ousted few months ago through a motion of no confidence sponsored by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

Now, in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, the police were summoned to Totong’s residential area in Ditshilong village, Taung after the shootings. It is alleged that unknown men entered Totong’s yard and fired two bullets at her bedroom through the window.

Totong alleged that the ‘shooting’ was politically motivated.  

“It is now common knowledge that there was some shooting at my residential area in Ditshilong village in Taung at around 3am in the morning. I was from the bathroom when the shooting took place. Fortunately, no one suffered injuries.

“I would like to assure citizens of Taung that I am in good hands. I am healthy and sound as nothing has happened to me by the grace of God. Anyway, the police are handling the matter and to that extent, I’m not able to comment further because I might prejudice the investigations,” she said.

Now, Totong has confirmed that the municipality has hired a bodyguard for her to ensure that she is safe. However, she refused to divulge more details on how much of the taxpayers’ money was used.

“In terms of my safety, measures have been put in place by the municipality to ensure that my family and I are safe. I wish to thank the municipal leadership for acting promptly in this regard.

“I believe that the shooting was prompted by my election as the new mayor. This manifestation was seen rearing havoc immediately after the special council meeting where I was elected as the new mayor,” said Totong.

The newly-elected mayor confirmed that there are factions within the ANC. She also confirmed that she belongs to a faction, but refused to shed more details on which faction is she serving for fear of reprisal.    

“Yes, I can confirm that there are factions within the ANC and I also belong to a faction. However, I would not divulge which faction I belong to because of my safety. So, it is personal and I believe that might create conflicts, splits, and instability corollaries within the community of Taung.

“I am ready to execute my duties without being factional. So, my aim is to ensure there is service delivery to our community of Taung and there is no misappropriation of funds within the municipality,” she said.  

Totong said she was requested by the municipal council to step in and assist as the mayor, but not by the ANC even though she is deployed by it. She further said there are factions within the ANC that oppose her.

“It is true that the ANC Interim Regional Committee requested us to re-instate Motlhabane as the new mayor. However, I’ll say the municipality is guided by the legislation. So, if someone from outside comes and instructed us to do something that is not guided by the Municipal System Act, we would not adhere to that.

“The municipal council did what was supposed to be done. We did not refuse to re-instate Motlhabane, but the ANC must ensure that what they request us to do must be guided by the legislation,” said Totong.

When asked if she will defy the ANC’s instruction, if requested to resign, Totong said she will only comply if the ruling party brings valid reasons for her to resign.

Meanwhile, the ANC is expected to request Totong to resign as the IRC coordinator in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Walter Mabogola told Vaaltar FM that the party does not recognise her as the new mayor.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

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By OBAKENG MAJE

Situation continues to be volatile in Eswatini as some residents were shot and killed by security forces during protests. According to www.swazilandnews.co.za, King Mswati issued a decree banning protests and delivery of petitions after citizens organised series of protests in demand for democratic reforms.

The news site said, protestors subsequently defied the King who later unleashed the army to shoot and kill dozens of civilians.

Now, the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) came out guns blazing after it was reported that some journalists were assaulted, tortured and detained in the country.

SANEF Secretary-General, Mahlatshe Mahlase said: “The South African National Editors’ Forum calls on President Cyril Ramaphosa and his regional counterparts to urgently demand that the government of Eswatini adhere to SADC media Freedom protocols.

“SANEF is extremely concerned that on 4 July 2021, two New Frame journalists, Magnificent Mndebele and Cebelihle Mbuyisa, who were on assignment in Eswatini were detained, assaulted, and tortured by security forces. Mndebele and Mbuyisa were in Eswatini to report on the pro-democracy protests with a specific focus on the alleged state murders of citizens.”

She said while in the country, they were stopped at roadblocks on several occasions, threatened and forced to delete material from their phones and camera. Mahlase said they condemn the detention, assault and torture of both journalists in the strongest terms and calls for international solidarity with all journalists and activists facing repression in Eswatini.

“We call for the immediate restoration of democratic freedoms in that country, including the right to a free press. For decades, Eswatini’s security forces have been notorious for their brutality against journalists, trade unionists, students and other pro-democracy activists.

“The attempts to silence journalists and activists are aimed, among other things, at trying to prevent the scale of the suffering of the people of Eswatini from being conveyed to people outside the country,” said Mahlase.

She further said as SANEF, they have also noted the blackout of the internet, which they equally condemn as a stringent measure meant to silence the voices of the citizenry, and inconvenience all. Mahlase further said SANEF is concerned about the safety of journalists and media workers which continues to be a huge challenge with increasing reports of attacks such as arbitrary arrest and detention, jailing, physical assault, which are used as weapons to silence critical journalism covering unrests in Eswatini.

“We believe that SADC governments should show a stronger political will to protect journalists and independent journalism to put a stop to the deterioration of media freedom in the region.

“Media freedom is an essential pillar of our democracies in the region which is too often taken for granted. Respect for freedom of the media in Eswatini has disappeared overnight due to the lack of the government conscience to defend human rights,” she said.

Mahlase added that in the last years, they have witnessed an increase in the number of cases of violence and intimidation against journalists. She said SANEF wishes to remind the government of Eswatini of its commitment to media-friendly policies based on the August 1995 SADC declaration on Information and Communication.

“Eswatini undertook to remove systems and procedures that restrict the free movement of journalists, the exchange of news and information and the circulation of media products within the countries and across national boundaries of the countries of the SADC Community.

“It also recognises accreditation documents issued by any SADC Member State to media personnel to cover events and news in the other Member States, of the Community,” she said.

Mahlase said they call on SADC leaders to embrace the principles of free access to information. She said SANEF points the leaders to the letter they co-signed with key media partners including the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), calling for media freedom to be upheld and journalists to be protected.

Meanwhile, key South African news organisations including the public broadcaster (SABC), as well as Newzroom Afrika have had to pull their journalists out of the country due to the ongoing attacks and intimidation on their journalists.

According to www.swazilandnews.co.za, the Senator Manqoba Khumalo, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade has told Channel Africa that protesters who were looting from businesses were armed with guns and government had to shut down the internet to control foreign insurgents who were leading the protests for democratic reforms.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Zeerust Solar Farm’s recent business acceleration programme has nominated five principally women-led agriculture SMMEs as its key beneficiaries of its enterprise development initiative. Based in the Ramotshere Moiloa local communities, the five agricultural micro-entrepreneurs are to receive business funding and services support, following a stringent selection process.Of the five entrepreneurs, four are women and at least three are youth, demonstrating a shift in the perception that agriculture is male dominant.
“Additionally, these beneficiaries will further address our obligation to ensure that women and youth are empowered through our various Economic Development programmes,” explains Nomzamo Landingwe, chief community operations officer for Zeerust Solar.

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The five overall winners will enter an Agri4Change accelerator programme and will also receive access to income-generating assets through allocation, which extends over 12 months; and an accredited certificate in mixed farming practices aligned with AgriSETA.

For more details visit: https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/358/217471.html

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By STAFF REPORTER

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha expressed grave concern as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the province. The cumulative number of cases reported thus far is 101 736 with 82 620 people have recovered from the coronavirus with an 81.2% recovery rate and 2 475 deaths.

“We are gravely concerned by the steady increase of COVID-19 cases in the province, the average cases reported since last week hovers around 1000 on average. This is a serious cause for concern for our province, given the status quo unfolding in Gauteng Province.

“The province has 16 001 active cases to date with Bojanala District accounting for 9801 cases, followed by Dr Kenneth Kaunda with 2981 and Ngaka Modiri Molema district with 2350 cases, while Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati has the least cases with only 614 cases,” he said.

Sambatha further said Bojanala and Dr Kenneth Kaunda districts remain the major concern for the province as they continue to register more positive daily cases and as the main economic zones of the province. He added that special attention must be paid to these districts.

“The early signs indicate that these districts might become serious hotspots once the Delta variant starts to pound our province. The province has administered 159 272 vaccines to date and we plead to all eligible persons to continue to register on the EVDS for vaccination.

“The process to register persons 50 years and above for vaccination has open on 1 July 2021. We still plead with our communities to adhere to basic preventative measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections, it is up to us to stop this deadly virus,” said Sambatha.

Therefore, he urged communities to take responsibility and not wait for the government to police them for compliance.

Meanwhile, a registered counsellor, Sumari Nel who works closely with the North West University’s Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP) said the pandemic could have dreadful effects on many people’s mental health.

Nel said: “People have lost their loved ones, financial stability, some of the freedom, social interaction and a “normal” people were used to. We have also learned a lot during this time, but a lot of uncertainty remains. This has a significant impact on our mental health.

“When the outbreak started, most of us thought or hoped that this would be temporary, but as weeks became months, a sense of hopelessness set in about the prevailing circumstances, and also about new challenges that are arising.” 

She further said it is during these times that people must ground themselves in hope too. Nel said the American psychologist Charles Snyder describes hope as the perceived ability and motivation to walk certain paths that ultimately lead to the desired outcome.

“Hope is seen as the fuel that keeps people going through action. Snyder’s hope theory states that hope consists of both cognitive (process and content of thinking) and affective (emotions) components that ultimately lead to action.

“Therefore, you need to have focused thoughts, set goals and strategies to achieve them, and be motivated in pursuit of these goals. If, we perceive our current circumstances as hopeless, we may not be aware of the impact of our negative automatic thoughts on our experience of negative emotions and a change in functional behaviour,” said Nel.

She said it is important to be aware of and vigilant regarding thoughts, especially during this pandemic and to evaluate the rationale of our thinking. 

Nel said this increased awareness makes way for a greater probability of experiencing an increase in positive emotions and of behaving in a more functional way, which ultimately improves mental health and allows you to live each day with hope.

“All around us we see individuals making an extra effort to take care of their physical health, but it is important that we also make an extra effort to nurture and protect our mental health.

“There is a lot of uncertainty and circumstances that are to a great extent out of our control, but people must embark on this journey with hope, focusing on what control they still have, nurturing the chances and opportunities they still have,” she said.  

Nel also encouraged people to celebrate the “small” victories of each day with a grateful heart. She said at the end of the day, people should write down at least one thing for which they can be thankful.

“Set realistic, clear and achievable goals while recognising the potential barriers or roadblocks along the path. Spend time with people, even if it is virtually, who make you feel good and make you smile.

“Focus your attention on the facts from trusted resources to stay up to date regarding the news, but limit exposure to untrustworthy media resources. Constantly checking various websites for news and new comments can have an adverse effect on your mental health, as it may increase feelings of hopelessness and fear. Make time to also read about positive outcomes.

taungdailynews@gmail.com