By BAKANG MOKOTO

A gun-wielding man (40) was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Klerksdorp Regional Court for premeditated murder and five years each on two counts of attempted murder. In 2019, Confidence Sekgoro purchased a vehicle at Speedy Car Sales in Klerksdorp and drove it to Mahikeng where he resided.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, however, later on, Sekgoro complained about some defaults on the car, which the dealership was obliged to inspect.

A gun-wielding man sentenced to life imprisonment for premeditated murder! https://t.co/CGNHK6sgrX pic.twitter.com/vZ7HP4Ryn1

— Obakeng Ice-T Maje (@IceT_) July 1, 2022

“The dealership ordered Sekgoro to pay for the costs of transportation before they could release his car back to him. He then approached the North West High Court on an urgent basis for his car to be given back to him. However, his application was dismissed and the matter was struck off the roll,” he said.

“Subsequently, the dealership took the vehicle back for a mechanical check-up in Klerksdorp at a cost of approximately R4700. The inspection results, however, showed no defaults to the car as it was serviced before.

Mamothame said on 11 November 2019, Sekgoro went to the dealership to collect his motor vehicle, but the sales manager, Mehboob Soomra (36) told him to pay for the transportation costs after consulting with the dealership attorney before receiving his car back.

“He was then told to wait for Mohamed Dangor, (deceased) who was the son of the dealership owner to further engage on the matter. Sekgoro then went to the office of the deceased, who was in the company of Yusuf Ally (61), and an argument ensued before he started shooting at them.

“He proceeded to chase after Soomra in the showroom and fired shots at him. Dangor was declared dead on the scene, while Soomra and Ally were rushed to a nearby hospital to receive medical care after sustaining serious gunshot injuries,” said Mamothame.

He said following this shooting incident, Sekgoro asked for directions to the police station, where he handed himself over. Mamothame said he was later granted R10 000 bail, but the bail was revoked after he was found guilty on all three charges.

“In his defense, Sekgoro claims he acted in self-defense as Dangor was reaching for a firearm, threatening to shoot him. He further asserted that he heard gunshots fired inside the dealership, hence he fired shots at the third victim.

“However, this submission was dismissed by the state, through video footage that was accepted by the court as evidence. In aggravation of sentence, Adv Riekie Krause urged the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence, considering the serious nature of the offense committed,” he said.

Krause also urged the court to consider the prolonged traumatic sufferings by the family of the deceased and the two surviving victims. She further alluded to the remorseless posture of the accused.

“In passing sentence, Judge A.J Makoti also agreed with the state and alluded to the devastation caused by this incident to the family of the deceased and the two victims, who survived the attack. The court further agreed with the state that Sekgoro could have advanced further legal means to address his dispute with the dealership.

“The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm and granted him leave to appeal on premeditated murder,” said Mamothame.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A murder case against four accused, Junior Modise (21), Arthur Khoza (19), Thato Masetla (22), and Mahlatsi Nkuna (21) was deferred to the North West High Court by the Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court.

Modise, Khoza, Masetla, and Nkuna are linked to the gruesome death of the late North West University (Mafikeng campus) digital marketer and socialite, Sam Junior Mbatha (24). Mbatha was reported missing a few days before the police made a grim discovery of his charred remains in his burned Hyundai i20 vehicle near a soccer field in Ikageng Section, Klipgat.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said all inquiries relating to the investigation have been completed and the state advocate, Nangamso Goloda has completed compiling the indictment and is ready to proceed with pre-trial when the matter goes to the high court.

“Meanwhile, Modise who allegedly missed his court date and his bail was revoked, was granted free bail and warned to be present in court on the next appearance. A bail hearing against Masetla, who initially abandoned it was set for 7 July 2022.

“Khoza and Nkuna are still out on R500 bail each and their bail conditions are that they must report to the Klipgat Police Station every Wednesday and Sunday between 17h00 and 18h00. They are also barred from interfering with the state’s witnesses,” Mamothame said.

He said the accused were positively linked to Mbatha’s murder after the police investigations led them to a house in Phutha Section, Klipgat where they found bloodstains on the floor, under and on top of a bed as well on the carpet. Mamothame further said an axe suspected to have been used during the commission of the crime was also found on top of the roof of the house.

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By OBAKEN GMAJE

The ANC Women’s League in North West said it is disgusted by the incident, where the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality councillor, Gaolatlhwe Kgabo was humiliated and mistreated during the municipality’s budget speech on Thursday in Vryburg.

Kgabo was prevented from participating in the municipal council special meeting and he was seen on a video being escorted out. It is alleged that the municipal speaker, Kgalalelo Sereko, instructed security officers to prohibit him from entering the Banquet Hall building, where the budget speech was held.

The acting ANCWL’s provincial secretary, Bitsa Lenkopane said: “The move has completely compromised the ANC in the council and the public, especially with no intervention provided by the organisation’s caucus chair.

“Kgabo is a deployee of the ANC in the district council and the ANC ought to aid him or any other of its deployees when subjected to such ludicrous treatment. Since the inception of this council, Kgabo has been subjected to consistent humiliation and enjoyed no protection from the organisation and or its members even those in council.”

Lenkopane said in fact, the first humiliation Kgabo experienced was from their own ANC members in the council, when they defied the ANC mandate to elect him to be an executive mayor. She said the ANCWL as an integral part of the ANC, would like to raise a serious

concern and frown at the organisation’s failure to jealously guard its honour and rebuke those who disrepute its good name.

“The League respect young people of the movement and accord them necessary space to play their role to inject lifeblood into the life of the ANC. They should be nurtured accordingly, invested in and marshalled to become future leaders of the movement.

“History has shown us that young people have the capacity to rejuvenate, set the agenda and direct the ANC’s campaigns as a leader of society. The organisation’s stalwarts rose from its young ranks,” she said.

Lenkopane further said they would never stand by the side and allow inhumane treatment of a young person, who is entrusted with service delivery programmes of the ANC in government.

The incompetent Sereko failed to respond to our media inquiry timeously but said the manager in her office will respond.

Meanwhile, the ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) in North West said they never instructed anyone to prohibit Kgabo to participating in any council meeting, but they will respond accordingly to the matter.

ANC IPC spokesperson, Kenny Morolong said: “According to our knowledge and records, Kgabo is a councillor representing the ANC in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality. With respect to recent development and letters circulating on social media, the ANC will in due course appropriately respond.”  

The disgruntled Kgabo penned his grievances in a form of a letter directed to Sereko and the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Lenah Miga. In the letter that was seen by the Taung DailyNews, Kgabo said: “I’m in Vryburg, Banquet Hall attending the Special Council meeting of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality as a councillor. However, I’m denied access by security officials claiming that they have received an instruction from yourself and the acting Municipal Manager not to allow me entry into the council meeting venue because I am a problem.

“I called you yesterday informing you that I have not received the invitation and the agenda for the special council meeting of today (30 June 2022). Indicating the unlawfulness of your actions and the financial implications of your actions on the municipality, but rather you chose to disregard me.”

Kgabo added that Sereko’s decision not to invite him to a council meeting and deny him access is a direct infringement of his rights. He said it was also illegal and unlawful for the Municipal Manager to instruct security officers to deny him access.

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