close-up of man holding knife smeared with blood and still dripping.
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
A 22-YEAR-OLD woman is expected to appear at Schweizer Reneke Magistrate’s Court on 22 November 2021 for murder. North West police spokesperson, Lit Colonel Amanda Funani said there was a commotion between the suspect and her cousin (42).
Funani said the atrocity took place at Amalia on 20 November 2021.
“According to allegations, the victim was visiting his mother’s residential place and found the suspect eating. They allegedly had an argument and the suspect took out a knife and threatened to stab him.
“However, the victim’s girlfriend managed to intervene and grabbed the knife from the suspect. The victim and the suspect were then left alone. The victim arrived a while later at his residential place which is three houses away from her mother’s residence and told his girlfriend that the suspect stabbed him on his upper body,” she said.
Funani further said an ambulance was called, but the victim died before he could be ferried to the nearby hospital. She added that the police were also summoned and the suspect was arrested and charged with murder.
The motive for the murder is still unknown and investigation into the matter continues.
The North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena condemned the incident and lauded the police for their quick response that led to the arrest and detention of the alleged perpetrator.
Picture: Prof Sonia Swanepoel appointed as new deputy Vice-Chancellor at NWU (Mafikeng campus)
By REGINALD KANYANE
The North-West University (NWU) Council has appointed Prof Sonia Swanepoel as the new deputy Vice-Chancellor for Community Engagement and Mahikeng Campus Operations on 18 November 2021, where she will serve a three year term.
The university’s website said: “As an industrial psychologist, Swanepoel has extensive knowledge and experience in various areas of teaching and learning, research and innovation, community engagement and management.
“She has been serving as acting deputy vice-chancellor for Community Engagement and Mahikeng Campus Operations since May 2021. Before that, she was executive dean of the NWU’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences for four years.”
According to the website, Swanepoel has also previously served as the executive dean of the former Faculty of Commerce and Administration in Mahikeng.
“Before joining the NWU eleven years ago, she was a consultant for Synergy Labour Consulting and held various positions at the Tshwane University of Technology, including that of dean and head of department.
“She was also a lecturer, senior lecturer and principal at Technikon Pretoria from 1982 until 2003. Swanepoel holds BCom and BCom Hons degrees in Personnel Management, and MCom and DCom degrees in Human Resources Management from the University of Pretoria,” said the website.
Swanepoel is part of various professional organisations, including the Health Professions Council of South Africa and the Psychology Association of South Africa for Industrial Psychology.
She was the chairperson of the higher-education committee of the South African Board of People Practices (SABPP) from 2011 to 2015. In addition, Swanepoel was a SABPP board member until 2015 and is a chartered human resources professional of this organisation.
“Swanepoel has presented many articles at conferences and published various articles in accredited journals, as well as in other journals and reports. Through her guidance and mentoring, nine students have obtained their PhD degrees and 16 their master’s degrees.
“The NWU Council congratulated her on her appointment and expressed full confidence in her ability to lead the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus and, as part of the executive management team, the broader university, to even greater successes,” said the website.
Picture: Mokgareng Secondary School principal, Tshepiso Seth Mvula/Facdebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The residents of Maphoitsile village near Taung welcomed the appointment of Tshepiso Seth Mvula as the new principal for Maphoitsile Primary School from January 2022. This follows the resignation of the embattled school principal, Kgotlaetsile Maboitshege.
Maboitshege was removed from the school in June 2021 after he allegedly sexually assaulted a Grade 6 learner. It is alleged that Maboitshege sexually violated a learner by touching her breasts and private parts without her consent.
South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) and community members picketed outside the school calling for his removal. SANCO branch organizer, Lucky Tidikwe said then that they have engaged in a consultative meeting with the department and they were happy that Maboitshege was finally removed.
“The learner reported this matter to her grandmother who is her guardian. However, nothing was done to address it even though the parent went to school to report it. What Maboitshege did was wrong and surprisingly, more than five female learners also came forward with the same allegations.
“Imagine, the same teacher who taught us many years ago. He was supposed to regard these children as his granddaughters. It is clear that our learners are not living in a safer environment here. We have also advised the parents of the learner to go and open a criminal case with the police,” Tidikwe said.
Meanwhile, the North West Education Department spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “Yes, Mr Mvula has been transferred to the school and he will resume his duties as the new school principal in January 2022.
“Mr Maboitshege has resigned and his sexual assault matter has long been submitted to labour in the department. Mr Mvula is an experienced principal and we believe he will make a positive impact at the school,” Malindi said.
Mvula is currently the principal at Mokgareng Secondary School in Mokgareng village, Taung.
Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati also welcomed Mvula’s appointment. F4SD regional spokesperson, Mika Moeti said: “We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the department. Actually, they have transferred the right person who possesses great qualities of leadership.
“Mr Mvula is a visionary and he has done well in his career. So, we believe that he will steer this ship to the right direction and develop great leaders of tomorrow. What I like about this is that he is also from this community.”
Mika concluded that Mvula will work diligently to ensure that teachers are equipped to be able to be great leaders in the classroom.
A man who was abducted by the residents of Modimong village near Taung in connection of the former Vaaltar FM presenter and socialite, Tshepang Seelo’s murder case said he has ‘forgiven’ his disparagers.
On 17 November 2021, Bakang ‘Mahommed’ Katong was abducted by some angry community members from Modimong village outside the Taung Magistrate’s Court. They allegedly shoved him in a red bakkie and fled.
They allegedly linked Katong to two suspects, Rebaone Malekanyo (32) and Tumelo Tlonkwe (31) who were arrested for assaulting Seelo, while the police are investigating kidnapping and murder case against them.
According to some community members, one of the suspects allegedly confessed that the ‘missing’ body parts of Seelo were sold to Katong. It is alleged that the eyes and tongue were missing from the deceased’s body.
However, Katong said: “Even though I was injured by the angry community members for something that I did not do, I would not open any criminal case against them. I am at peace and I have forgiven them.
“Right now, I am at Taung District Hospital seeking medical attention. I believe that they did not know what they were doing.”
Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Lit Colonel Amanda Funani was quick to squash those allegations that Seelo’s body was mutilated.
“Yes, we can confirm that a man was kidnapped by community members and the police came to his rescue. He was unharmed in the whole fiasco and he is currently at his residential area.
“The victim is not linked to Seelo’s murder case. As the police, we can also confirm that there were no body parts missing from the deceased’s body,” Funani said.
The police strongly warn the community to refrain from committing acts of mob justice. They call on community members to report criminal activities to the lawful authorities rather than taking the law into their own hands.
“People who engage in mob justice should know that the law will definitely be after them. There is nobody who is above the law, despite whatever grievances one might have. You cannot be law unto yourself.
“So, we encourage communities to join structures such as the Community Police Forums (CPF’s) and work together with their local Traditional Leadership with a clear mandate of addressing crime. Acts of mob justice are acts of crime, that’s all.”
The family of the deceased, Kgotlaetsile Mompati (35) in Maphoitsile village near Taung, blame the North West Health Department for his death. According to the deceased’s brother, Clifford Mompati, Kgotlaetsile died a few hours after he was vaccinated.
“My brother complained of headache, dizziness and swollen arm. He also had no appetite during the night of vaccination. So, as a family, we are concerned because it is crystal clear that proper assessment was not done.
“He had chronic disease and we expected the nurses to treat him with high care because people with chronic diseases are at increased risk for complications. Now, he had severely allergic reactions towards the vaccine,” he said.
Mompati also said there were allegations that the nurses who were on duty at that time were under the influence of alcohol. The deceased died on 8 November 2021 at around 10pm and was buried on 14 November 2021.
Meanwhile, the North West Health Department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane refuted these allegations. Lekgethwane said on 7 November 2021, the Vaccination Team of the Greater Taung Sub-District, went to Maphoitsile Community Hall for vaccination.
“On arrival, the hall was booked for a gospel concert for Moruti Tube. The organizers of the concert then denied the vaccination team access to the hall, claiming they paid for the entire premises. They demanded co-payment for the use of the hall,” he said.
Lekgethwane further said the Vaccination Team then requested a space to vaccinate at a nearby house and the owner gave them permission. He added that the team vaccinated under a tree.
“On weekends, managers are allocated to support the vaccination teams. The team at Maphoitsile village was under the leadership of the Acting Assistant Director Community Health Service.
“The deceased was also a chronic patient who was on hypertension medication. The cause of death is not known to the department. So, the department would comment on the cause of death based on information provided on the death certificate,” he said.
Lekgethwane said their Sub-District has never experienced the death of a patient after being vaccinated. He said the cause of death can only be established through an investigation and it is a fallacy that nurses were under the influence of alcohol while vaccinating patients.
“The nurses were not under the influence of alcohol and they were supervised by a manager. The department would act if substantive evidence is brought forward to support the allegations.
“As department, we would also welcome such information and investigate. We would take appropriate steps if any official is found to have been under the influence of alcohol whilst on duty,” concluded Lekgethwane.
Picture: North West Education department administrator, Johannes Mohlala/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
GATVOL voters and residents’ organisation in North West, call for the removal of all administrators in the province. This comes after the arrest of the North West Department of Education administrator, Nkhono Johannes Mohlala (57) by the Hawks recently.
Mohlala was arrested in Pretoria by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation unit, The Hawks, along with two suspects.
It is alleged that Mohlala illegally invested over R230 millions of the taxpayers’ money into the now defunct VBS Mutual Bank, while he was still the Municipal Manager at Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality.
Now, GATVOL provincial chairperson, James Gadinabokao said: “We welcome the arrest of Mohlala who has been at the helm of the North West Department of Education for the last three years. There is nothing to show for his stay in that department.
“The same department has under-spent R200 millions of infrastructure grants under his watch. This happens despite many schools in the province still dilapidated and lacking in infrastructure.”
Gadinabokao said Mohlala is a ‘perfect’ example of what they have been complaining about. He further said the national government ‘undermines’ the many skilled and qualified men and women in the province and appoints people who have no interest in the province at all.
“Their aim is to loot and fill their pockets. The North West province has been placed under Section 100 of the Constitution for the last three years, but it continues to be in a dire situation.
“There is tender manipulation in the departments that are under administration. It is heart-breaking to see the same administrators milking the budget of the province and channelling tenders to people who reside out of this province,” he said.
He also challenged the government to check all tenders awarded in the last three years. Gadinabokao further said the findings will be shocking.
“The concept of locality is undermined by these administrators. We will continue to call on the state President to remove these administrators as they have embarrassed him and they will continue to loot what remains of the depleted resources of this province.
“The North West Provincial Government is in a worse situation than in 2018. Unemployment and poverty continue to rise even when we have administrators. The municipalities have not improved at all, yet we have administrators in the province,” said Gadinabokao.
He said as GATVOL, they are sick and tired of the deteriorating state of affairs in the province under the ‘watch of administrators’ who were projected as messiahs when they were appointed.
The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the North West shared the same sentiments.
SANCO provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe said: “We take strong exception that the national intervention team could have included such a dubious character as this suggests that earlier concerns about the administrator’s alleged preference of service providers from outside the province were not possibly misplaced and without basis.
“The objective to restore good governance and confidence in public institutions was severely compromised in the choice of an individual shrouded in corruption allegations. The turn of events could indicate that the said official may not have been adequately experienced in provincial education administration hence over R200 million in infrastructure grant was underspent under his leadership.”
He said that communities in the province cannot afford another looting spree which denies them quality services.
The National Treasury had earlier in the year reported that R2.3 billion is believed to have been squandered on dodgy tenders while the provincial department was under Section 100 administration.
Mohlala was granted a R50 000 bail and will be back in court on 1 March 2022.
A-28-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Atamelang Regional Court for rape. On 16 July 2016 at around 00:45am, Goitsemodimo Solomon Keagile, gained entry through a window into a house at Sloja Section in Madibogo.
North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said Keagile gained entry through the bedroom of the victim’s grandmother. He said Keagile overpowered the victim (22) and raped her in three different places inside the house.
“Following the incident, a case of rape was registered and Keagile was traced and arrested. On two occasions, the accused did not attend the court and a warrant of his arrest was issued. As a result, Keagile was detained until his trial.
“Ultimately he pleaded guilty to the charge of rape and was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000). On 12 November 2021, the accused was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the Investigating Officer, Detective Warrant Officer Tumiso Halenyane of Vryburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for a sterling job.
Kwena reiterated that the police will continue to ensure that perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide face the full might of the law.
Picture: Former Vaaltar FM presenter, Tshepang Seelo/Deceased
By OBAKENG MAJE
The residents of Modimong village near Taung were up in arms and accused the Taung police of being incompetent. This comes after the murder of the former Vaaltar FM presenter and socialite, Tshepang Seelo (32).
Seelo, who was walking from a local tavern with his girlfriend on 31 October 2021, allegedly saw two men stealing roof sheets from a certain house and called them out. However, the suspects, Rebaone Malekanyo (32) and Tumelo Tlonkwe (31) allegedly accosted him.
According to information, they allegedly assaulted and kidnapped him. Seelo’s girlfriend allegedly ran away and escaped unharmed. Seelo’s lifeless body was found floating in a furrow in Khibitswane village near Taung on 3 November 2021.
It is alleged that his body was mutilated and his eyes and tongue were missing.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, Malekanyo and Tlonkwe were arrested on 2 November 2021 after they handed themselves over to the police.
“The Taung Magistrate’s Court postponed the case against Malekanyo and Tlonkwe to 22 December 2021 for further investigations. They are currently charged with assault to do grievous bodily harm and police are currently investigating a case of kidnapping and murder.
“The two have abandoned their bail application. They will remain in police custody until their next court appearance,” he said.
However, the residents of Modimong were not happy with the court decision and they barricaded the road that links Modimong and Cokonyane with rocks and burning tyres yesterday.
They also allegedly snatched a man outside the court whom they accused of having the deceased’s missing body parts, however, the police reacted swiftly and rescued him.
Meanwhile, Seelo’s aunt, Lesego Chupane said: “We feel short-changed by the police regarding investigations in this saga. The police never bothered to visit us as a bereaved family and give an update.
“We are crestfallen and we urge the police to perform their duties diligently. We do not know if these two suspects were arrested in connection with Seelo’s murder or they were arrested for stock-theft case.”
One of the residents, Lucky Kwate, shared the same sentiments. Kwate said they are not happy after the court postponed the matter.
“Truly, we are not happy after the court postponed the matter. We urge the court to speed-up this case and ensure that justice prevail. We will wait for 22 December 2021 and see if these suspects are granted bail.
“We will discuss the next step as the community on what will happen if they are granted bail. We do not think it will be an ideal for the court to grant them bail because we do not know what will happen afterwards,” he said.
Kwate further said, as a community of Modimong, they are sick and tired of criminal activities taking place in their area.
Picture: Former Vaaltar FM presenter and Socialite, Tshepang Seelo/ Deceased
By OBAKENG MAJE
Two men who were arrested in connection with GBH assault, kidnapping and murder of the former Vaaltar FM presenter and socialite, Tshepang Seelo (32) will be back at Taung Magistrate’s Court for bail application on Wednesday.
Rebaone Malekanyo (32) and Tumelo Tlonkwe (31) were arrested few days after Seelo was kidnapped. According to information, Seelo who was walking from a local tavern with his girlfriend in Modimong village near Taung on 31 October 2021, allegedly saw the two suspects stealing roof sheets from a certain house and called them out.
It is alleged that the two ‘attackers’ accosted him, but his girlfriend managed to escape unharmed. The suspects allegedly abducted the deceased and shoved him in a white bakkie and before driving away with him.
Seelo’s lifeless body was found floating in a furrow at Khibitswane village near Taung on 3 November 2021.
Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said: “The body of the deceased was discovered and had bruises in his face and an open wound in his back.”
A 27-YEAR-OLD man is expected to appear at Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court on Friday for stock-theft. North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said, the police received a tip-off that there were suspected stolen goats hidden at a certain house in Lokalaneng Section in Morokweng village.
“The information was operationalised and the swift reaction by the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Detectives and members from Vryburg Stock Theft and the Endangered Species Unit (STES) pounced on the suspect.
“Out of 18 goats that were reported stolen at Caffhill Farm, near Morokweng on 5 November 2021, only 13 were recovered and will be handed back to the lawful owner. The suspect was arrested on Wednesday and his arrest coincides with the Provincial Commissioner’s stock theft awareness campaign that was held earlier on the day in Ganyesa,” Tselanyane said.
He further said the event was aimed at combating stock-theft as well as to activate the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Rural Safety and Community in Blue Priority Committee. Tselanyane added that this comes after the release of crime statistics for the 4th Quarter of 2020/2021 by the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele who indicated an increase of cases related to stock theft in Ganyesa.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, has applauded members of the community for their vigilance. Kwena urged the community members to continue reporting suspicious criminal activities within their vicinity.
“This success is a perfect example of police/community partnership where crime is combatted, leading to a safe environment. We would like to emphasise that stock theft is a high priority for police as it threatens food security, which is a basic human need,” he concluded.
The Guardian 