Two waiting trial detainees, who allegedly escaped from lawful custody at Wolmaranstad Police Station on 13 August 2022, were re-arrested Last night. The North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said Gomolemo Chacha (24) and Ditshebi Eric Molaetsi (28), escaped together with six other awaiting trial detainees after overpowering a police officer.
“The incident happened at around 16:20 on 13 August 2022. They then took the cell key from the member and ultimately escaped. At the time of escape, the detainees were among others, facing charges of armed robbery, murder, burglary, and domestic violence.
“Six of the detainees were re-arrested between 13 and 14 August 2022, while Chacha and Molaetsi were nabbed last night,” she said.
Picture: The vandalised Kobane Primary School in Maphoitsile village, near Taung/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
Four suspects were arrested by community members in Maphoitsile village, near Taung on Tuesday for theft. This come after the alleged criminals ransacked the Kobane Middle School by stealing furniture, roof sheets, and door frames.
Kgosi Keaobaka Saku said, even though they have not opened a criminal case, they have arrested four suspects, who were allegedly in possession of stolen goods. Saku said, they still want to engage with other stakeholders before they could open a criminal case.
“We are aware of where those goods are and the people involved. So, we aim to recover those stolen goods and this will need all stakeholders involved. We condemn any subverted, reckless, and irresponsible attempts to vandalise our infrastructure,” he said.
Many schools affected by rationalisation continue to be vandalised across the province. The school was shut down during rationalisation back in 2017.
The North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen said she was informed that the school falls under Hartswater Police Station and this could be the reason the case was not opened at Taung Police Station.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Department of Basic Education (DBE) and MP, Angie Motshekgwa said then, that the existence of the micro-schools compromises effective teaching and learning.
“South Africa comprises rural, farm, township, suburban, and urban settlements. Some of these settlements are located in remote areas with very small population sizes.
“Despite the size of these settlements, the government is expected to provide social services to these communities, in cost-effective ways. Micro schools are a common phenomenon in these small human settlements, some having been developed by the local communities,” she said.
Motshekga further said the existence of these micro schools is that the sector is not able to provide its services cost-effectively. She added that it also compromises the quality of teaching and learning due to multi-grade teaching that becomes necessary, and the unavailability of wide subject choices, especially for secondary school learners.
“Following the problems associated with micro-schools, the Department of Basic Education assessed means by which quality education could be provided in an affordable manner in the immediate and long-term.
“This led to a need to consider closing down some of the micro-schools and merge them with other schools, doing so after extensive technical assessments and inclusive stakeholder consultations have been carried out,” said Motshekga.
She said this was done as part of the school rationalisation and re-alignment process. Motshekga said they have presented the guidelines for rationalisation and re-alignment of public schools – a holistic approach to guide the basic education sector, stakeholders, and service providers on the processes and procedures to be followed when undertaking the school rationalisation and re-alignment processes.
The Guardian 