By REGINALD KANYANE

The aspirant community television station, TV North West (TVNW) is set to host its inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday at the City of Life Community Centre, the City of Life Estate in Letlhabile near Brits.

The chairperson of TV North West, Lesiba Kgwele said, this will also form part of public consultation processes as TV North West wraps its community television license application. Kgwele further said, they are vying for one of the three licenses that the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has earmarked for the North West.

“The board will also use the AGM to be hosted from 9am to 12pm at the City of Life Community Centre, City of Life Estate Letlhabile K along the Brits-Letlhabile Road to introduce additional board members and its professional team with the extensive broadcast experience to stakeholders and members of the public.

“After giving an update of progress that the board has registered, we will, beyond the AGM, intensify our effort to clean up our application for full compliance and work tirelessly to meet the 12 January 2023 closing date,” he said.

Kgwele added that, their focus henceforth will be to ensure that their bid is flawless and competitive. He said, they have now overcome the major stumbling block, which was the two years of existence requirement that saw them and 41 other applicants being disqualified in the previous round.

“The ICASA Public Provincial workshop in respect of licensing for Community Television Broadcasting Services held on 15 November 2022 has greatly empowered us to address objections from our previous application, which were pointed to us during the informative session.

“The TV North West board is humbled by the overwhelming support and endorsement it has received from various stakeholders across the province. We are confident that, we have attracted the requisite leadership skills with dynamic expertise coupled with broadcast technical experience,” said Kgwele.

He said this will be necessary for TV North West to live up to its commitment to enrich and empower the province and its citizens. Kgwele said this will be done through compelling programming, powered by an authentic drive to engage, educate, entertain, inform and inspire.

“The Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) will offer the licensed station the ability to reach historically marginalised rural communities, as it broadcasts across the province, throughout the country, and with a spillage into neighbouring countries,” he concluded.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it will oppose the bail of three men, who were arrested for kidnapping and killing a Bangladeshi national businessman, Pierre Ahmed Mujunder. 

It is alleged that on 22 November 2022, Aobakwe Ntsomane (32), Modisa Ralokwakweng, (31), and Kabelo Badimo (32) kidnapped Mujunder (40), who owned a supermarket at Hartswater and drove him to Magogoe village, near Mahikeng.

According to police, the deceased was kidnapped, while opening the gate at his home. The accused allegedly demanded ransom money of R1 million from his family. Mujunder was allegedly rescued by the police two days after he was kidnapped.

The deceased was allegedly found tied into a chair at the house, where one of the accused stays. The police allegedly untied him and he collapsed. Mujunder was certified dead at the scene.

Ntsomane, Ralekwakweng, and Badimo were arrested and charged with kidnapping and murder after the police traced the vehicle that they were driving. The vehicle was also found in Magogoe village.

The NPA spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said: “The accused made their first court appearance at Molopo Magistrate’s Court on 28 November 2022. The case was postponed to 9 December 2022 for formal bail application, which the state intends to oppose.

“The investigations are still underway to uncover the real facts in this case.” 

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