Picture: Two nabbed for alleged;y bribing police/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
Two suspects aged 50 and 28 were arrested by the North West Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team in Klerksdorp on Sunday for corruption. The pair allegedly offered an investigating officer R50 000 to get rid of a docket involving their friend, who is a former senior municipality official.
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said, the pair was nabbed at the Hawks offices moments after handing over R25 000 and a bottle of Glenfiddich whisky to the investigating officer. Rikhotso said their vehicle was also searched and R41 500 was allegedly found.
“Both suspects will appear before the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where they will be facing charges of corruption. Meanwhile, the money and the vehicle have been seized for further investigation,” she said.
The Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in North West, Major General Patrick Mbotho hailed the investigating officer for upholding the highest level of integrity and warned people to refrain from enticing police officials because it will not end well for them.
Picture: The residents of Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke outside court/Facebook
By BAKANG MOKOTO
The accused, Bongane Shebi who was arrested for allegedly killing a nurse in Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke is set to appear at Schweizer Reneke Magistrate’s Court on Monday. This comes after Irish Mohokare was found murdered in her rented backroom with her throat slit open.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, Mohokare’s bloodied body was discovered by her sister on 13 October 2022.
“She subsequently informed the police, who immediately started investigating. Shebi became a person of interest after police received information while doing investigations, that the accused was spotted not far from where the incident took place, walking on with bloodied clothes.
“The police then started looking for the accused and ultimately arrested him on 15 October 2022. Upon arrival at the police station, the accused informed them that he wants to tell the truth,” Mamothame said.
He further said, Shebi was subsequently taken in for a confession to be obtained and later took the police to point out where he had thrown away the bloodied clothes he was wearing.
Mamothame added that, the accused alleged that he was in the company of another person, but the motive only became clear in the accused person’s confession.
“He said they were intending to rob the deceased. He further alleges that, he is not the one who stabbed the deceased, but it was the person he was with.
“However, the police have indicated that, the evidence that was obtained at the scene, indicates that only one person was at the scene at the time of the commissioning of the offense,” said Mamothame.
He will remain in custody until the next court appearance, where he will be doing a formal bail application.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha condemned the brutal killing of Mohokare. Sambatha said Mohokare was recently promoted to the position of Facility Manager at Charon Clinic.
“Mohokare’s murder is devastating and we called on communities to protect women. As the department, we condemn the atrocity in the strongest terms. Mohokare was murdered only two days after assuming her new role.
“It is an unfortunate and disturbing reality that women in this country are no longer safe. Our communities and homes have become a haven for criminals, who prey on women and young girls,” he said.
Sambatha sent his heartfelt condolences messages to the bereaved family, colleagues, and friends.
Picture: The former Vaaltar FM presenter and socialite, the late Tshepang Seelo
By OBAKENG MAJE
A murder case against two accused from Modimong village, near Taung will resume today at Taung Regional Court. Rebaone Malekanyo (32) and Tumelo Tlonkwe (31) were arrested for premeditated murder, assault, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.
Malekanyo and Tlonkwe were arrested for allegedly killing the former Vaaltar FM presenter and a socialite, Tshepang Seelo (32) back in 2021. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in the North West, Henry Mamothame, Seelo was allegedly killed on 31 October 2021, while walking from a local tavern with his girlfriend.
The deceased allegedly saw the duo stealing roof sheets from a certain house and called them out. Then the accused allegedly assaulted, kidnapped, and killed him before dumping his body in a furrow near Khibitswane village near Taung.
Seelo’s girlfriend allegedly ran away and escaped unharmed. The deceased’s lifeless body was found floating on 3 November 2021. It is alleged that his body was mutilated and his eyes and tongue were missing.
The two accused were arrested on 2 November 2021 after they handed themselves over to the police.
Meanwhile, according to Taung DailyNews highly-placed source who is close to the investigations, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in North West has appointed a Provincial Task Team to allegedly start investigations from scratch after a ‘shoddy’ work presented by the previous investigation team.
It is alleged that, so far, the police cannot pin any of the accused to the murder scene and now the case has hit the dead end. The accused will be remanded in custody until their next court appearance.
The Taung Irrigation Scheme will be given a facelift. This emerged at the Provincial EXCO Lekgotlha in Rustenburg on Thursday last week that was addressed by the North West Premier, Bushy Maape.
Maape said, his government has prioritised infrastructure development. He said the primary objective of Lekgotlha was to assess the performance of the provincial government departments, State Owned Entities – SOEs as well as municipalities towards the realization of priorities of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2019-24.
“The government is broadly on track with the implementation of the MSTF priorities. There is still room for improvement in enhancing government planning processes to ensure the delivery of all the commitments made.
“As part of promoting good governance and ethical conduct, the Exco Planning Lekgotlha resolved to establish ethics committees in various departments and government institutions,” said Maape.
He said in addition, Exco Lekgotlha has resolved to institute a vetting process for all supply chain personnel in all government departments. Maape further said they need to put emphasis on good governance by putting various strategies in place to fight corruption and acts of malfeasance gripping the government.
“Moreover, the Exco Planning Lekgotla took place as part of a broader strategy by the government to find solutions to a number of challenges confronting the province.
“This includes a declining economy, deteriorating infrastructure as well as high levels of unemployment and poverty. So, as part of ongoing efforts to resuscitate the economy, several mega projects have been identified by the provincial government,” said Maape.
He added that, the identified projects include amongst others, investing and improving provincial roads and rail infrastructure. Maape said the government also plans to invest and refurbish the George Dick Montshioa Airport through an aero-tropolis.
“The government is also looking at expediting developments around the Smart City in Madibeng Local Municipality. Other projects to be rolled out include strengthening the Special Economic Zone in Bojanala-Platinum District Municipality, as well as, the Fresh produce market in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality.
“The province is on course in carrying out its intended objectives. Furthermore, the Lekgotlha resolved to promote the creation of socio-economic opportunities for women and people with disabilities by removing all the barriers that impede the empowerment of these designated groups,” said Maape.
He said the municipalities were also implored to have units that pay attention to the needs of women and people with disabilities. According to Maape, internship and learnership programs will be massified and attention will be given to women, youth, and people with disabilities.
“The planning of all the identified projects will start in earnest to ensure that the implementation of all identified projects begins early in the 2023/24 financial year,” he concluded.
The Guardian 