Picture: The Vryburg Magistrate’s Court windows smashed
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
A 35-YEAR-OLD man is a free man after the Vryburg Magistrates’ Court withdrew a malicious damage to property against him. Sibongile Dude was arrested on suspicion of smashing windows at the Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on 9 January 2022.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said the matter was withdrawn after the state’s key witness deviated from his original statements during trial.
“The security guard who the state relied on to lead its evidence-in-chief, told the court that he did not see the accused committing the crime. This weakened the state’s case as there wasn’t sufficient evidence linking Dube to the alleged offence.
“The initial statement from this security officer, who was on duty on 9 January 2022, alleged that he heard windows being smashed and upon investigation, he saw the suspect running away from the scene,” Mamothame said.
He further said the security guard claimed that he gave chase and caught Dube, then called the police, who apprehended and formally charged him. Mamothame added that, during Dube’s court appearance on 17 January 2022, he opted to represent himself and told the court that he intended to plead guilty to his offence.
“However, he later changed his mind and requested Legal Aid representation. Dube claimed that his actions were driven by anger, following a three month jail sentence he served for failing to appear in court on a separate offence in June 2020.
“He also attributed his anger to a two year sentence he received in 2009 on an assault case. Dube alleged he had a valid reason for not attending court, but was nonetheless sentenced. However, the state was unable to use his confession as evidence as it was not a formal admission and the charges had not been presented to him before sourcing the services of a legal representative,” said Mamothame.
He said the reasons for the key witness to deviate from the original statement are unknown and regrettably, the matter had to be withdrawn.
A murder case against a woman who was arrested for allegedly killing her daughter (1) was postponed by the Taung Magistrate’s Court until 22 March 2022. Rebaone Cordelia Badise (27) from Dryharts village near Taung, was arrested on 12 March 2022 after the lifeless body of her baby was found in an open veld.
North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said: “The grandparents alleged that they saw Rebaone leaving the house with her daughter, but returned alone later.
“Upon arrival, her grandparents allegedly questioned her about the whereabouts of her daughter, but she could not give any explanation. The police were contacted and subsequent investigations led the police to the bush in the area, where the body of the baby was found.
“The preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased had what appeared to be a stab wound in her neck. The baby was declared dead on the scene by Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) paramedics,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant Gen Sello Kwena lauded the grandparents for quickly reporting the incident and working with the police to ensure that the baby’s mother faces the full might of the law.
Picture: Former Bafana Bafana players in 1996/Kickoff
By REGINALD KANYANE
Former Bafana Bafana players will face Team MetroWired’s corporate group in the Ryder Cup-style competition. This follows after Donald “Ace” Khuse, Marks Maponyane, Pollen Ndlanya, Jimmy Tau and the members of the Sydney 2000 Olympics Team, Stanton Fredericks, Brian Baloyi, Matthew Booth and Aaron “Mbazo” Mokoena signed up for the Class of 96 Legends Golf Day.
SAFA spokesperson, Matlhomola Morake said the event will take place at Bryanston Country Club on 29 March 2022.
“The Bafana Legends consist of a strong line-up and hail from different eras. They have over 2 000 international caps combined. Even though they will not play in the golf match and conduct coaching clinics, they will join the viewing of Bafana Bafana’s international friendly against France after the golf day awards,” Morake said.
Former Kaizer Chiefs goalie, Brian Baloyi said: “We get invited to a few golf days in a year, but this is a very special day for us because as the football family, we never get together like this — to celebrate our own heroes who inspired us when we started.
“More importantly, being there to honour the late Shoes Moshoeu by shining the spotlight on his Shoes of Wisdom Foundation and helping to raise funds for shoes to be handed to needy children in the community, is a great privilege that we do not take for granted,” Baloyi said.
He said he hope to get the HOLE-IN-ONE and win R100 000 prize to share with the foundation.
While the golf battle is raging on at the Bryanston Country Club, non-golfers like Doctor Khumalo and David Nyathi will be at the nearby St. Stithians College to conduct football coaching clinics.
The two former South African internationals will take young enthusiasts through their paces with football skills, while sharing their experiences of playing for Bafana Bafana in France ‘98 FIFA World Cup, which is South Africa’s first-ever World Cup tournament.
Morake further said businesses and corporates interested to be part of the day can secure their golf 3-ball packages to play with a Bafana Bafana legend at R20 000.
Picture: Two luxury BMWs bought by the GTLM speaker and mayor
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe and the municipal speaker, Grace Moipolai are under fire from opposition parties after they allegedly bought two luxury BMWs worth R1.6 million barely four months in office.
This comes after they alleged that their previous cars, the BMW 2015 model and the Nissan X-Trail 2015 are bewitched. According to the Democratic Alliance’s Member of Parliament (MP), Sello Seitlholo, who is also the DA’s Greater Taung Constituency Head, they will press the municipality to launch a deeper internal probe on the alleged splurging of taxpayers’ money.
“We regard the procurement of the BMWs with a price tag worth of R 1.6 million for exclusive use by two politicians during these hard economic times as a slap in the faces of our impoverished communities, who must grapple daily with going to bed hungry, decaying infrastructures, horrible access roads, virtually non-existent sanitation, nagging water supply outages and housing backlogs.
“Whether such vehicles have been procured on lease or freehold basis could never be justifiable as in either way, the cost to the unsuspecting communities and taxpayers is exorbitant, irresponsible and insensitive,” he said.
Seitlholo further said the GTLM is a Grade 3 level municipality largely dependent on equitable share grants for financial sustenance given the virtually non-existent municipal revenue collections from its mostly indigent community base.
He added that the municipality is currently sitting on Auditor General’s financial disclaimer for the past two consecutive accounting periods.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) provincial secretary, Papiki Babuile said, it is ridiculous for the municipality to splurge that money considering that it is facing a financial crisis and is unable to deliver adequate services to its residents.
He said the residents of Taung do not have access to tarred roads and drinkable water.
“Generally, we do not have municipalities in the North West. Not even a single one, which we can point at and say this municipality is better than one. However, we have cadres of the ANC, who are deployed to enrich themselves and maintain their life-style through the public purse.
“It does not make any sense for the mayor to buy close to R1.6 million cars when you do not have proper roads. Just in front of the municipality, there is a serious challenge of roads. The area also has a challenge of water, while the mayor goes and buys R1.6 million cars,” said Babuile.
African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) councillor in the municipality, Gaolatlhwe Tshipo shared the same sentiments.
Tshipo said: “While we acknowledge that the speaker’s vehicle is in the range that is stipulated by the National Treasury regulation that governs the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), we are of concern that the mayor’s vehicle has exceeded the budget.
“Again, the cars bought are not user-friendly in comparison to the roads of Taung. These cars are more sophisticated to be used in comparison to our inaccessible roads in Taung. So, we think they are more urban and will hinder the mayor and speaker’s movements in fulfilling their duties,” said Tshipo.
Meanwhile, the municipal mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe arrogantly said: “The municipality does not just wake-up and decide to buy cars. The Political Office Bearers Act dictates that the mayor and speaker are both required to perform, attend official duties and functions on behalf of the municipality.
“I personally do not subscribe to uncivilised, primitive and dogmatic beliefs. To put it lightly, I do not believe in witchcraft. If cars can be bewitched, why cannot offices, chairs and tables that were used by former mayors/speakers be bewitched too?”
Gaoraelwe said according to the mayoral handbook, vehicles used for political office-bears are replaced or transferred to municipal car-pools, after completion of 150 000 kilometres mileage.
“The National Treasury Instruction No.6 of 2019/2020 (The 2019 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement) says the price threshold is revised from R700 000 to R800 000 inclusive of VAT. So, these cars are going to impact positively and efficiently on service delivery.
“Both our previous cars were purchased during the 2012-2016 council term. A Nissan X-Trail 2015 with registration number JJN392NW that was used by the speaker has more than 250 000 km mileage,” said Gaoraelwe.
He further said the BMW 2015 model with registration number, JKC623NW used by previous mayor, has also reached more than 250 000km mileage.
According to Municipal Mayoral Member (MMC) chairperson on Finance, Mika Moeti from F4SD, the mayor’s BMW X3 cost R774 451 inclusive of VAT, while the speaker’s BMW X1 cost R612 389 inclusive of VAT.
A 26-YEAR-OLD man was allegedly attacked set alight by infuriated community members in Khuma Township, near Stilfontein after being accused of theft on Monday.
North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said, the yet to be identified members of the community allegedly attacked and burnt Victor Chauke to death after accusing him of theft.
Video contains graphic content: North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant Gen Sello Kwena says, they condemn in the strongest possible term act of vigilantism after a man(26) was allegedly burnt to death in Khuma Location, near Stilfontein on Monday. @Taung_DailyNewspic.twitter.com/EOpQ29ibtJ
It is alleged that Chauke was out on R1000 bail for the same matter.
“The victim was declared dead at the scene. In another related incident, Chauke’s mother (56) and his friend (33) escaped with serious burn injuries following attempts by members of the community to set them alight.
“They were accused of harbouring Chauke. The duo was rushed to the local hospital for medical attention. The house they were living in was partially burnt, while a police vehicle was also damaged during the incident,” he said.
Mokgwabone said, as a result, the police are investigating cases of murder, attempted murder, arson and malicious damage to property.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant Gen Sello Kwena condemned in the strongest possible terms the acts of vigilantism. Kwena instructed the Stilfontein Police Station Commander to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted to expose those who committed these unlawful and brutal acts of mob justice.
The Guardian 