A man (40) is under police guard at Taung District Hospital after being apprehended by community members in Cokonyane village, near Taung on Saturday for alleged armed robbery. According to the North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh, three armed men allegedly stormed into a business owned by a man (26).
“They attacked and overpowered him. The suspects took an undisclosed amount of cash and an electricity machine before they fled. The police were summoned to the scene and found one suspect being apprehended by community members, who assaulted him.
“The suspect was arrested and taken to hospital for medical attention. A case of business burglary was opened for further investigation and the suspect will face these charges in the Taung Magistrate’s Court as soon as he is released from hospital,” she said.
Myburgh said in an unrelated incident, four men were arrested for being in possession of suspected illegal firearms. She further said, the police received information about a suspicious vehicle near Taung District Hospital and immediately operationalised it.
“On their arrival, the police found the vehicle with four male occupants, who gave them permission to search the vehicle. During the search, two firearms were found in
possession of the men and they were arrested.
“The suspects are aged 32,35,39,47 and the matter is still under investigation,” she said.
A woman from Manokwane village, near Taung said she is heading to the Small Claim Court to seek a recourse. This comes after the Director of Reitlamile Funeral Parlour, Nobantu Cresta Verby sent her from pillar to post.
According to Boikhutso Plaatjie, she took a funeral cover at Reitlamile Funeral Parlour for her uncle, Tebogo Robert Plaatjie (76) and paid the premium every month as instructed. However, the parlour refused to pay after the passing of her uncle.
“My uncle passed away in February 2023, so I launched a claim with Reitlamile Funeral Parlour. However, the funeral parlour could not keep its promises as its director, Verby, gave me the runaround. She said their underwriter has not paid them yet.
“Now, it has been two months and we had to come up with another plan to ensure that our uncle is buried with dignity at the time. The Reitlamile Funeral Parlour’s behaviour left us in a difficult situation. Even some family members accused me of receiving the money, yet failed to hand it over,” she said.
Plaatjie further said she tried her level best to engage with Verby, but she refused to come to the party. She added Verby deposited R10 000 after she sought assistance from Taung Dailynews.
“She promised to deposit the rest a week after, however, she did not. Verby only deposited R4000 and there is a R6000 balance. I took the matter to the small claim court in a quest to recoup my money from Reitlamile Funeral Parlour. I have now sent them a letter of demand and we will take it from there.
“This is my horrible experience with the Reitlamile Funeral Parlour. I think this must serve as a warning to their potential clients and current ones. This is a kind of attitude that Reitlamile Funeral Parlour will dish out to them during their time of need,” said Plaatjie.
A month ago, Verby told Taung DailyNews that they had a challenge with their underwriter, hence the delay. She promised to resolve the matter, however, according to Plaatjie, nothing has been resolved.
Meanwhile, the Senior Small Claims Court Commissioner at the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court, Henro Du Plessis said: “The Small Claims Court offers a quicker and easier way of resolving certain civil disputes that involve amounts up to R20 000. You do not need a lawyer to represent you at a Small Claims Court.
“All official languages may be used in a Small Claims Court. The court assists on the amount not exceeding R 20 000 (This amount is determined by the Minister from time to time in the Government Gazette, GG 42282, GoN 296, 05 Mar 2019, which comes into effect on 01 Apr 2019. If your claim exceeds R 20 000 in value), you can institute a claim for a lesser amount to pursue your case in the Small Claims Court.”
According to du Plessis, there are cautionary principles for persons using the Small Claim Courts. He said, if one intends to institute a claim in the Small Claims Court, one should ensure that the opposing party is able to compensate you should the judgment be in your favour.
“It is futile to institute a claim against another person, who is unemployed and who possesses no property. Contact the person with whom you have a dispute in person, in writing or telephonically and ask them to settle your claim.
“If the person owing your money has not paid the claim in 14 days, go to the small claims court with a copy of the letter of demand, any contract or agreement between you and the person, which proves the claim, a post slip or any other document that proves that the letter of demand was handed to the person,” said du Plessis.
He said, the clerk of the court will prepare a summons, which will force the person to come to court at the set date. Du Plessis said the summons will be delivered by you or the sheriff of the court.
“Please, always remember the date and time during which your case will be heard. On the day of the court hearing, you must bring proof that the summons was delivered to the person you are claiming from. The court procedure is informal and not complicated.
“You will be expected to tell your story and answer questions from the commissioner of the small claims court. If the person who owes you money refuses to pay, they should then be sent a letter of demand which indicates all the facts and the specific amount you are claiming,” he said.
Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi visiting John Frylinck Secondary School in Huhudi Township, near Vryburg/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Learners at John Frylinck Secondary School in Huhudi Township, near Vryburg, believe that the intervention from the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi will assist in resolving gangsterism at their school. Motsumi visited the school on Monday after it was shut down due to gang-related matters.
One of the learners who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said: “Teachers and learners continue to be under siege due to gang-related matters. Gangsters are running amok at the school and everyone is afraid of them.
“Last week, the school was closed for two days due to gang-related matters. As learners were afraid to attend due to the violence that took place. Some learners came armed with knives and axes as weapons. However, we hope Motsumi’s visit will assist in resolving the matter.”
Another learner shared the same sentiments. She said, there is lawlessness at the school.
“We hardly concentrate on our school work. Now, we are afraid that we might fail because teaching and learning have been severely affected. Teachers are also afraid of the gangsters as they come to school with weapons.
“We urge the police to patrol our school often and ensure that they curb any wrongdoings. As female learners, we do not feel safe anymore because anything can happen to us,” she said.
The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said: “We have visited the school to nip the surge of gangsterism in the bud as allegations of gang violence swell. On Friday, the department received reports of school not running for two days due to learners carrying dangerous weapons to school with the intention to cause gang-related crimes.
“So, we strongly condemn this barbaric act. We will not be bullied by learners in schools. No teacher or learner should be frightened of coming to school because of certain learners, who want to carry their wayward behaviour toward others. The democracy we have is to be enjoyed by all and remember, no one is above the law.”
Motsumi further said she has adopted the school because it needs proper support to be at a level that is admirable. She added that they have roped in our external stakeholders like the South African Police Services (SAPS), ward councillors, and School Governing Bodies (SGBs) to adopt and frequent this school
“Random Search and seizure will be the order of the day and gang leaders using our children should be brought to book. We encourage cooperation among school management and avoid any division as it will impact teaching and learning,” said Motsumi.
According to www.sicelo.org.za website, youth gang violence (YGV) is on the rise in South Africa and the situation seems to have led to increased fears about safety and security in and around schools
“The increasing number of high school learners getting involved in gang activities raises a major concern regarding the impact of their involvement on their educational attainment and/or lives in general. The objectives of the study included exploring the participants’ schooling background, their motivation for joining the gangs, the benefits, if any, of gang membership; the regrets, if any, for involvement in gangs; their future intentions regarding their involvement in YGV; and the role of the community in relation to YGV.
“The article presents, firstly, the theoretical framework that underpinned the study, followed by a discussion on the literature review. This is followed by a summary of the methodology of the study and presentation of the participants’ profiles and a detailed discussion of the research data. The article is concluded with a summary of the key findings and the main recommendations of the study.”
It’s been almost 12 years since the North West Department of Health built an R130 million state-of-the-art community health centre (CHC) in Sekhing village, near Taung. However, the ‘abandoned’ building is slowly turning into a white elephant.
According to one of the residents, Modiegi Senye said, they have lost hope in having their own healthcare centre. Senye said, they have to travel more than 15km to access healthcare centres in Pampierstad or Kgomotso village.
“We are not sure anymore what is going on with that project. However, we really need a clinic in our area and we urge the North West Department of Health to ensure that the centre is working soon.
“Many elderly people are suffering because there is no coordination between primary healthcare centres in Pampierstad, which is in Northern Cape and the North West Department of Health. When we go there, they order us to go to primary healthcare centres in Kgomotso village because we come from North West province,” she said.
Another resident, Tshetse Lontshitse (65) shared the same sentiments. Lontshitse said, it is costly to reach primary healthcare facilities either in Kgomotso or Pampierstad.
“It is very difficult for us because to reach the nearby healthcare facilities is costly and burdensome. Sekhing is a remote rural area, where many people are living beyond the poverty line, but we have to pay R30 in return for a taxi fare because the healthcare facilities are too far,” she said.
North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said: “As we speak now, Sekhing CHC is heading for the 12th year, but the progress on its infrastructure is around 90%. That means it is a facility that can be easily opened.
“Remember, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility was used as a vaccination site. When we used it, I wanted to show that we take it over. However, the problem is, contractors who were awarded the work kept changing plans.
“The real problem at Sekhing CHC is the non-availability and non-guarantee of water. We need to find water so that we can drill a borehole and ensure that the facility gets water. The expectation was, we were going to get water from the gravesite.”
Sambatha further said, however, that will be a bad manner. He added that they are now looking for a source of water to ensure that, there is provision of water at the facility before it opens its doors to the public.
Meanwhile, the Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) in North West, Gavin Edwards, who is also the Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial spokesperson on Health said, it is depraved that the R130 million healthcare centre consists of an outpatient department, emergency medical rescue services, a pharmacy and staff accommodation has not provided a single patient with any medical care.
“This multi-million project is another clear indication that the ANC-run North West Provincial Government (NWPG) is not serious about quality healthcare to residents. In March 2019, Sambatha publicly announced that the facility was 90% complete and it would be handed over to the department at the end of March 2019.
“The fact that not a single construction worker is on-site again points to the fact that this centre will not be ready to provide much-needed medical services to the residents in the area any time soon,” Edwards said.
He called on Sambatha to institute an in-depth investigation to find the culprits that held up the project and heads must roll accordingly.
Setshwantsho: Bangwe ba baagi ba kopa gore mokgogo a ba tswele ka motse
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Baagi bangwe kwa motseng wa Manokwane ba ikuela gore mokgogo wa sekolo se se potlana sa Baisitse, Lesetjha Solly Kgoahla a gate kosene. Seo, se tla morago ga gore, batsadi kwa sekolong seo, ba laelwe go ntsha madi a kanang ka R150 go thusa sekolo go ka duela madi a saletseng kwa morago a sekoloto sa motlakase.
Go ya ka dipego, sekolo se kolota setlamo sa Eskom amusausa a dirata a balelwang go R80 972. Go ya ka mongwe wa baagi, Eddie Mogorwe, baagi ba lobaka ka ikuela gore Kgoahla a ntshiwe kwa sekolong, gonne a dirisa madi a sekolo botlhatswa.
“Kgale tota morafe o ikuela gore rre o, a kgotlhisiwe setlhako. Morafe one wa tsena kopano, mme ntlha kgolo ene ele go dira jalo petition. Ba ile ka kopa kopano ya tshoganyetso morago ga kopano ya baagi le go dumalana fela ka bongwe jwa pelo gore Kgoahla a tsamaye.
“Mo petition e ba e dirileng, ba ne ba kopa kopano le lefapha la thuto ga mmogo le molekgotlha wa kgorowana ya bone. Ba ne ba batlile segopa sotlhe se fletse. Mo kopanong, go dumalanwe ka gore mokgogo wa sekolo are tswele ka motse,” Mogorwe wa tlhalosa.
Mogorwe o kaile fa morafe o dumalane gore, fa lefapha le sa ntshe mokgogo wa sekolong, bone batla mo latela kwa sekolong, mme ba mo ntshe ka dikgoka. Are, go bontsha fa mokgogo a sa tsamaise sekolo sentle, mme ga ba batle maitshwarelo mo go ene gonne se se botokwa ke fa lefapha le ka tlisa mokgogo o mongwe.
Fela, go ya ka Kgoahla, mathata a simologile fa bokoso ya sekolo ya motlakase ene ya sha (meter box) ka 2021. Kgoahla are, mono ngwaga, Eskom ene ya ba romelela setlankana se se supang fa sekolo se kololoto setheo seo, madi a kanang ka R75 000, mme go fitlha ga jaana a tlhatlhogetse go R80 972.
“Eskom e re tlhaloseditse fa sekolo sentse se sa duele madi a sene se tshwanetse go a duela. Fela, phoso eo, e dirilwe ke Eskom gonne sekolo sentse se duela madi are dumalaneng ka one kgwedi le kgwedi. Go ya ka Eskom, dikolo di tshwanetse go duela jaaka di feme.
“Re lekile go ka buisana le Eskom, mme ba ne ba re laela fa bone ba shebile mokgwa wa tiriso ya motlakase kwa sekolong. Jaanong, mo kopanong e rene re e tsenetse le batsadi, go dumalanwe gore, ngwana mongwe le mongwe o tla ntsha madi a kanang ka R150,” Kgoahla wa tlhalosa.
Kgoahla are, fela gona le bangwe ba baagi ba ba tsamayang ba tlhotlheletsa baagi ka go bua maaka bare, gona le tsamiso e botlhatswa ya madi kwa sekolong, ke ka moo go sa patelwang Eskom. Go ya ka Kgoahla, ga bana metshini e e dirisang motlakase o montsi kwa sekolong, ntle le pompo ya metsi, setsidifatsi, motshini o tlhagisang dipampiri (photocopy machine) ga mmogo le sethutafatsi (heater).
“Kgale Eskom e goga madi a kanang ka R4000 mo letloleng la sekolo kgwedi le kgwedi go ka duela motlakase. Jaanong, re maketse gore go baneng fa ba ne ba lemoga gore sekolo se patela madi a kwa tlase, ba sa re itsise gore madi a tlhatlhogile.
Modulasetulo wa mokgatlo wa tsamaiso ya sekolo (School Governing Body), Moikanyi Reetseng are: “Re ile ra bitsa kopano go tla go tlhaosetsa batsadi ka kgang ya Eskom. Mme mo kopanong eo, re ile ra dumalana gore ngwana mongwe le mongwe a ntshe R150, mme re ile ra makala fa bagwe ba baagi ba re latofatsa ka go ruga madi a sekolo.”
Picture: Some of the drugs allegedly found in Paschal Ezekwuene Enuna’s possession/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
A man who was arrested at his flat in Dassierand, near Potchefstroom on Thursday for being in possession of drugs, will be remanded in custody. The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said, Paschal Ezekwuene Enuna (51) was arrested during an operation conducted by the North West Provincial Drug Task Team.
“Enuna appeared before the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on 21 April 2023 for possession of drugs. He was remanded in custody until 28 April 2023. He was arrested after the police obtained a search warrant and operationalised it.
“During the search, police allegedly found CAT with an estimated street value of R125 000. The accused was previously arrested several times for drug-related crimes,” Myburgh said.
She further said, Enuna was out on R19 000 bail in another case of dealing in drugs at the time of his arrest. Myburgh added that the other three cases against Enuna are still pending.
“In addition, investigations revealed that Enuna’s Asylum Permit has expired and will be dealt with in terms of Section 49(1)(b) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002),” she said.
Escalating gang violence at John Fryling Secondary School in Huhudi, near Vryburg has forced the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, and North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari to visit the school on Monday.
Motsumi said, the school has been ravaged by incidents of gangsterism, which negatively affects learning and teaching. It is alleged that gang-related attacks have occurred since the beginning of the year.
The Guardian 