Picture: A missing girl, Philadelphia Fila Motato (17)/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
A girl (17) from Gamokake village near Taung is missing. Philadelphia Fila Motato who was attending school at Kebinelang High School in Manthe village, was last seen on 11 January 2022 after fetching stationery from school.
Tsholofelo Motato, who is Fila’s sister, said her sister’s phone was traced to Kimberley but police could not locate the exact location. She urged anyone who knows her sister’s whereabouts to contact her on 0631871733 or 0719562065.
Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “The police in Taung have opened a missing person’s report after it was reported Motato went missing.
“She was wearing blue jeans, a pink t-shirt and black and white Elles tekkies. A search was conducted with no success. The search is continuing and the police request anyone who can assist the police with information on her whereabouts to contact Captain Montwedi on 082 469 0332,” van Rooyen said.
Picture: A missing girl, Lerato Tshiamiso Bendile(19)/Suplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
North West police request community assistance in locating Lerato Tshiamiso Bendile (19) from Itsoseng village near Lichtenburg. According to the North West police spokesperson, Aafje Botma, Bendile was reported missing after she was allegedly being picked up by a white Opel Corsa vehicle on Sunday around 21:35.
“Bendile never returned home and she was reported missing. She is dark in complexion, tall built with long brown hair. Bendile was last seen wearing a blue jean and brown top with green sandals.
“Anyone with information that can assist police in finding her, can contact the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Seeco on cellphone: 082 416 0763. Alternatively, Crime Stop can be contacted on 08600 10111,” she said.
Botma further said anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via My SAPS Application from your smartphone.
A 42-YEAR-OLD man sentenced to five life terms imprisonment by the Rustenburg Regional Court on 8 February 2022. Michael Motsamai Segale who is from Lethabong village near Rustenburg, was arrest through an intensive investigations after he committed numerous of cases of rape in 2013.
North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said: “These cases of rape were committed between April and June 2013 in Boitekong and Lethabong villages outside Rustenburg.
“Segale targeted young girls aged between 5 and 15 respectively. As part of his method of committing these crimes, the accused would ask the girls to show him certain places and upon directing him, he would cunningly persuade the victims to accompany him.”
She said Segale would instruct unsuspecting girls to undress and threaten them with a knife before raping them. Botma further said the long arm of the law caught up with the accused on 19 July 2013.
“It was established during the arrest that the accused was on parole after being sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for rape on 30 January 2003. Subsequently to the arrest, the accused was linked with all the rape cases through the DNA.
“Segale was ultimately sentenced to five life terms on four counts of rape,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena welcomed the sentence and applauded the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Obakeng Rasego and other investigating officers who worked on the cases before as well as prosecution for their cooperation that culminated in the conviction.
Picture: A missing Monnanyana Johannes Mahusi found unharmed/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
A-55-YEAR-OLD man from Granspan village near Taung who went missing more than a month ago, was found unharmed in Pokeng near Rustenburg. Monnanyana Johannes Mahusi, who left home to go back to work in Luka village near Rustenburg allegedly never reached his destination.
The North West police spokesperson, Adele Myburgh said: “Mahusi allegedly spoke with his wife telephonically on 6 January 2022. During the conversation, Mahusi indicated that he was at Lichtenburg Garage buying food,” Myburgh said.
She said a case of a missing person was opened after Mahusi never reached his destination and could not be located.
Picture: ANC councillor, Judy Lebogang Mothibi (32) accused of assaulting a reveller/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
ANC councillor in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Judy Lebogang Mothibi (32) alongside with other three accused are set to appear at Taung Regional Court facing a GBH assault case today.
It is alleged that Mothibi, Thebe Templeton Khubyane (36), Khotso Ebenezer Mogapi (38) and Sherren Boitshoko Van Wyk (42) assaulted a reveller, Aobakwe Tau to the pulp at Mothibi’s tavern in Lokaleng village near Taung after a commotion in 2021.
It is alleged that there was a misunderstanding between Tau and Mothibi at around 8pm and that led to a confrontation. Tau was assaulted to the pulp and sustained multiple injuries.
He was taken to a local clinic and transferred to Taung District Hospital.
According to information, Tau was later transferred to Klerksdorp/Tshepong Complex Hospital due to injuries sustained. Those who were at the scene when the incident unfolded, alleged that Mothibi who is also a member of the ANCYL Regional Conference Preparatory Committee in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, also urinated on Tau while lying down after the beatings.
Meanwhile, ANC Interim Regional Committee (IRC) co-ordinator in the region, Walter Mabogola said: “We were not aware of this incident until it was brought to our attention by the media. So, we will liaise with the ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) to see if we could take any steps against Mothibi.”
At the 2017 Nasrec policy conference, ANC implemented a ‘Step-Aside-policy”. The stepping aside rule would force any ANC member who is office bearer or occupies any political position and dealing with allegations of corruption or serious crime to step aside.
The case was transferred to Taung Regional Court and the accused are out on a warning.
A 41-YEAR-OLD serial rapist was sentenced to three life imprisonment by the North West High Court in Mahikeng on Wednesday. Pontsho Mosinki was arrested after he raped an elderly woman (70) and other two women aged 19 and 20 in Ganyesa near Vryburg.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said: “Mosinki was charged on four counts of rape and four of housebreaking with intent to rape. The court sentenced him to three life terms on three counts of rape, ten years on another count of rape and five years on each count of housebreaking.”
Judge Andre Peterson ordered for the sentence to run concurrently.
Police reports revealed that Mosinki committed these offences between 2017 and 2018 before he was apprehended in June 2019. He was in police custody during the entire duration of the trial as his bail was denied.
According to Mamothame, the accused broke into the homes of the victims at night, while they were asleep. He said Mosinki threatened to kill them if they did not abide by his instructions.
“The 70-year-old disabled woman was raped twice in 2017 and 2018 respectively. She sadly passed away in 2021, after having testified in court in 2020. The Judge who was presiding on the case also passed on in the same year and the matter had to be restarted again.
“Following the appointment of Judge Peterson, the deceased statements on the two rape charges were admitted as evidence in court. The trial was further delayed by Mosinki firing his Legal Aid Attorney and he was subsequently allocated a new one who had to be granted time for consultation,” he said.
Mosinki also repeatedly raped women aged 19 and 20 respectively. He said in all these cases, he was linked through DNA specimens in the commissioning of these offences.
In aggravation of sentence, Adv Florence Rasakanya urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence and argued that the accused be sentenced to life imprisonment. She further argued that the accused was a remorseless individual who was not even a candidate for rehabilitation.
Judge Andre Petersen agreed with the state and described Mosinki as a sexual predator that attacked and raped innocent women for no reason. The Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari- Sekhaolelo lauded the SAPS and Advocate Rasakanya on a successful conviction.
The Guardian 