By OBAKENG MAJE

The Grade 12 learners at Tamasikwa High School in Tamasikwa village, near Taung said they are demoralised and do not think they will perform well in their national final examinations.

The Grade 12 learners who were kept at the school during camp said, they were allegedly forced by a teacher, Reokopile Mothibuseng to go to the veld and fetch firewood every afternoon so that they can be able to cook and prepare hot water every morning. 

One of the learners who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said: “This is torture because we are expected to study afterward. At times, we are tired and we could not concentrate. We just wonder what happened to the budget allocated for gas.

“We will perform badly during this final national examination, simply because we were put through torture by our own teacher. She even told us to lie to the media when we are interviewed,” said a learner.

One of the concerned parents, Delilwe Tjali shared the same sentiments. Tjali further said she blames the North West Department of Education for all shenanigans taking place at the school.

“The department is undermining us including these teachers. We cannot be undermined simply because we come from a deeply rural area. When we raise our grievances, teachers become very defensive and rude towards us.

“Even one of the teachers, Reikupile Mothibuseng had the guts to call and insult me after raising concern about this matter. We know that they will try everything in their power to defend themselves. However, this is something that everyone is concerned about,” she said.

Tjali further said Grade 12 learners could have used this time to study, instead of fetching firewood. She added that it is flabbergasting to see the school forced to accommodate learners when they do not have the full capacity to do so.

Taung DailyNews also visited the school and Grade 11 and 10 learners that spoke to the newspaper confirmed that indeed, Grade 12s were forced to go to the veld to fetch firewood.

Meanwhile, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “The school manager and the School Governing Body (SGB) do not agree with the allegations made. The school made an agreement with the parents on 7 August 2022 and 21 October 2022 that they must come to prepare food for learners during camps.

“There is an arrangement that one of the community members brings wood for cooking and preparing warm water to save gas during weekends and when there is load shedding.”

Malindi said for cooking, there is a teacher who is sleeping with the learners and she is the one who serves learners in the morning when the SGB is still coming. He said the parents of learners are not cooperating at all to help the learners.

“The issue of insulting learners is not true at all. The educators are taking these learners as their children and ended up buying them food from their pockets. They have evidence, that they bought two Grade 12 learners’ school uniforms.

“The staff donated money for these learners during camp and the entire school is shocked and frustrated by these allegations,” said Malindi.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

The police officer, Sgt Oaratwa Kgomotso (35) briefly appeared at the Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Kgomotso was charged with theft and defeating the ends of justice.

The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said, Kgomotso who was working at Ganyesa Police Station, attended a burglary and theft crime scene on 3 February 2020. He said the accused recovered stolen goods from one of the suspects but failed to effect the arrest.

“Kgomotso allegedly registered some of the goods in the exhibit register and took others. Upon becoming aware of the allegations, police management tasked the Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit (ACIU) to conduct an investigation and that led to the summoning of the accused to appear before the court. He is expected to re-appear before the same court on 15 December 2022,” Mokgwabone said.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena firmly warned that police management will not hesitate to act against any employee who commits a crime.

“We express our disapproval of the police officer’s conduct. The arrest will serve as a warning to corrupt employees, who lack integrity and in the process tarnish the image of the South African Police Services (SAPS). That will indeed not be tolerated,” he said

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A murder case against four alleged drug lords was postponed to 5 and 6 December 2022 by the Taung Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. A local businessman and alleged drug lord, Bakang Katong (31), Thabang Lenyai (23), Phenyo Katong (34), and Katlego Mosimege (31) were arrested in April 2022 for allegedly brutally killing the late Thabiso Mothibedi (35), who was one of their loyal customers.

They accused Mothibedi of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house at Manthe village, near Taung in North West. The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, the deceased was at Lenganeng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and transported him back to Manthe village.

“Upon arrival, the deceased was allegedly chained to a generator and assaulted. After the assault, the victim was reportedly transported to a local clinic by the accused, however, he was declared dead upon arrival.

“The accused were arrested and charged with Thabiso’s murder,” Tselanyane said.

On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in armed and allegedly torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family. The murder case against the accused was initially postponed to 15 February 2022, but they made an urgent bail application for 22 November 2022 and was granted.

However, magistrate Edwin Letsapa postponed the matter until 5-6 December 2022. Letsapa said this was to give enough time to both defence and state to prepare for their ‘heads of arguments’ for bail application.  

Meanwhile, community members packed the court to the rafters. They also submitted a petition calling for no bail against the accused.

Thabiso’s aunt, Kehilwe Modisakoma said: “We were not even informed as family about this urgent bail application launched by the accused. So, we just wonder why it made secret. However, we do not want to see these criminals getting bail because they selling nyaope to the youth. 

“They turned Thabiso into their slave and killed him afterwards. Nyaope is killing the future of many young people and we hope that justice system will take that into consideration. We call for no bail against the accused and because we not sure what will happen if they are granted it.”

One of community leaders, Rapampiri Motshitshi shared the same sentiments. Motshitshi said they do not want to see the accused among their community because of their criminal activities they executing within the community.

“Our youth to do not have future because they are destroyed by nyaope. The only thing that we want is to see a clean community that is free from drugs. These young boys come to our houses and steal just to feed their cravings,” he said.

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