Picture: Prof Binu Luke receives honorary award in UK/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha lauded Prof Binu Luke on his achievements. This comes after Binu was conferred with Honorary Fellowship award by the Royal College of Physicians. Sambatha said that even though the honorary award was conferred back in 2020, the ceremony was held last week in London, United Kingdom.
“Prof Luke is one of our best specialist clinicians and has demonstrated his
capabilities as the Head of Clinical Services at Klerksdorp/Tshepong Complex Hospital. His expertise has benefitted the rest of the province, as our hospitals refer patients to Klerksdorp/Tshepong Complex Hospital.
“It is not surprising that his expertise and contribution have caught the attention of the international community. We encourage other clinicians in the province to emulate Luke,” he said.
Sambatha further said, the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District is fortunate to have
a brilliant mind like Luke and that the province is truly proud to see his work being recognised by his peers in the international community. He added that, this award comes after a rigorous peer review by international peers and it is based on contribution to medicine and Royal College over many years.
“An honour like this is a wonderful tribute to one of the best medical minds we have in the department. It comes hot on the heels of a bitter battle Luke led against the COVID-19 pandemic. Luke is currently the Head of the clinical department at Klerksdorp/Tshepong Complex Hospital Complex since 2014.
“He is also a Tertiary Medical Co-ordinator, serving as a medical advisor to the Deputy Director-General for clinical services in the province,” said Sambatha.
Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Boitumelo Moiloa
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Social Development is under siege after it is accused of contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) after it ‘irregularly’ awarded an R130 million security tender. According to the North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Premier, Finance and Cooperative Government, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs, the department proceeded with the awarding of the tender, despite being warned by the Provincial Internal Audit after it highlighted some discrepancies in their bid documents.
The chairperson of the Committee, Aaron Motswana said, they will urgently write to the North West Treasury to investigate the possibility of reviewing and setting aside this tender. Motswana further said, according to the information at their disposal, the department had advertised for the panel of security companies for 36 months (NW/DSD/07/22) on 31 August 2022.
“However, the same tender advertised for 36 months, is now awarded for eighteen months. On 2 May 2023, the department awarded ten companies, six of which are based in Gauteng, a tender valued at more than R130m. The department had earlier in September 2022, given the same ten companies, contracts varying at R566 000.
“This simply implies that, the adjudication process of this bid was already pre-conceived from September 2022. Between that time and now, these companies had earned R 4 528 000 for eight months on site. The Provincial Internal Audit report is very clear on inconsistencies applied in advertising, evaluating, and adjudicating this tender,” he said.
Motswana further said, they implore the North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho to pull all the stops and investigate whether there was compliance.
“This irregularity confirms the view held by the majority of Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) that, companies of the North West are being deprived and throttled by their own government in favour of other provinces. The economic opportunities are exported at a grand scale.
“The Office of the Premier has to date, failed to respond on how a person who in the Public Service Commission (PSC) report of 6 March 2019, possessed only a matric, but suddenly had qualifications by September 2020 when he applied for a post of Head of Department (HoD) of the North West Social Development,” said Motswana.
He added that, the PSC report has not been taken on review to date, yet the Office of the Premier ignored that the report was adopted and tabled. Motswana said it remains a House Resolution and by implications, not only they are dealing with a fraudulent HoD, but the department is in contempt of parliament.
Meanwhile, the North West Social Development spokesperson, Petrus Siko said he is still gathering more details on the matter.
“Look, I’ll look for answers and come back to you,” he said.
A man has been sentenced to double life imprisonment by the North West High Court in Mmabatho on Tuesday for killing his ex-girlfriend (29) and her mother. The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said, in 2018, Boitshoko Abednigo Swanepoel (36) went to his then ex-girlfriend’s house at Lonely Park, outside Mahikeng to speak with her regarding a court interdict issued against him, but an argument ensued between him and his ex-girlfriend’s mother (52).
Funani further said, Swanepoel then took out a firearm and shot the ex-girlfriend, the mother, and their daughter.
“Upon hearing the gun sound, the ex-girlfriend’s brother went to check at the house, but Swanepoel also shot at him. The daughter (2) was ferried to Baragwaneth Hospital in Johannesburg with serious injuries.
After the shooting incident, Swanepoel fled the scene and the police searched for him. He was arrested on 28 September 2018 at Setlagole village, outside Mahikeng. Swanepoel has been behind bars ever since his arrest,” she said.
Funani added that Swanepoel was also sentenced to a further 20 years imprisonment for two counts of attempted murder. She said this comes after he attempted to kill his daughter and his ex-girlfriend’s brother.
“The court ordered that all sentences imposed run concurrently with the two life imprisonment. Swanepoel was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000),” said Funani.
The North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, and the Director for Public Prosecution, Advocate (Dr) Rachel Makhari welcomed the sentence. Kwena applauded the Mahikeng Flying Squad Unit, Detective Unit, especially the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Kebaabetswe Chabaemang, and the business watch who assisted the police in effecting the arrest.
“We would also like to laud the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) prosecutor, Advocate Goloda for his cooperation with other role players for the meticulous handling of the matter and subsequent securing of the conviction,” he said.
Meanwhile, Makhari expressed her gratitude for the securing of the conviction, which she attributed to collaborations of the South African Police Service (SAPS), NPA, and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI). She said the sentence will definitely send a clear message that crime, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV), will not be tolerated. taungdailynews@gmail.com
Picture: The NWU students and SAPS members embark on a GBV campaign/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West University (NWU) management said it is concerned about Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases taking place at the institution. According to statistics, the most affected campus is Mafikeng, compare to other campuses such as Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark.
The member of the North West University council, Pego Kgomo said the GBV cases keep increasing. Kgomo further said they have realised that most students including community members do not want to speak up.
“They experience these cases but tell themselves that once they speak up, people will laugh and mock them. However, through this campaign, we are saying to them that, instead of keeping quiet, let us try and involve certain organisations that will assist them.
“For instance, the NWU has appointed a former police officer who works mainly with GBV cases. Because she is a woman, then it becomes easier for women to speak up. I do not think at times men are too empathetic when it comes to GBV cases than women themselves,” he said.
Kgomo added that women feel the pain of others, so it is easier for another woman to relate. He also called on the law enforcement agencies to ensure that GBV cases are properly prosecuted.
“The reason I called out the law enforcement agencies is that, in most cases, there are GBV cases that are thrown out of court not because the victims did not present a winnable case, but because certain cases are being bought.
“Sometimes evidence is destroyed for nefarious reasons. So, we say, these things need to stop. We are not doing this for the benefit of students only, but for the upcoming generations, so that they can have safer campuses and country,” said Kgomo.
He said everyone has a pivotal role to play and be involved. Kgomo said it is the responsibility of every citizen to ensure that GBV statistics go down.
“We can play a crucial role by raising awareness. Most importantly, if we can share love, we will win this pandemic. Cases are being reported at the campus all the time and the management is doing its best to assist the affected students.
“Our only challenge is that, when these cases leave the institution and are taken over by the law enforcement agencies, there is nothing that we can do. I do not have figures with me now, but what I can tell you is that this campus is leading when it comes to GBV cases compared to other campuses,” he said.
The North West University (NWU) Counsel psychologist and Manager for Student Development Centre, Lerato Wana said: “I think our students have lost faith either in the services on the campus or in the law enforcement agencies. So, it is important that we try and rebuild that faith and trust in the services that are available.
“At the campus, date rape is common and many of our students are violated by the people they know. Either close friends or those they are in a relationship with. Also, some of our students are trusty with their male friends or colleagues.
“There is a lot that we need to teach male students, who are going to serve in our communities one day as professionals. We need to spend more time on these students and teach them how to treat themselves with respect and exonerate that to female students.”
Wana said, generally, most victims across the country, do not report this kind of cases because they are thrown out of court.
The Crime Prevention Officer from Mmabatho Police Station, Sergeant Monica Kraai said they condemn the actions of the police officers who do not investigate the GBV cases thoroughly and deliver poor services to the people. Kraai said they will continue to work hand-in-hand with the members of the community because they are their ears and eyes on the ground.
“We encourage the affected victims to come and open cases timeously because the evidence is within their bodies,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West University (NWU) student, Oscar Mosenogi shared the same sentiments. Mosenogi said, the university is doing much to give support to the victims.
“We highly appreciate the support from the university and the community at large for their unwavering support. We need to stand together and say no to GBV. We need to stand together in solidarity with the affected students and tell them that, it is safe to report and speak up about their ordeal concerning GBV cases.
“We wanted to create the platform to break the silence and encourage students to report these cases. This is a great initiative and we want to encourage students to come to us and ensure that cases are reported,” he said.
Picture: The North West Premier, Bushy Maape along with Uni Jet representatives during a demonstration in Mahikeng
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West Premier, Bushy Maape said they are forging ahead in addressing potholes across the province. On Wednesday, Maape alongside the North West MEC for Public Works and Roads had a consultative engagement with the Uni Jet company that specialises in road rehabilitation.
“Today, we had to come and see how the jet patcher company is going to assist us in repairing potholes. As the North West Provincial Government (NWPG), we want to deal with damaged roads.
“This will assist us to have roads that are trafficable. Yes, I am impressed with the presentation, but we will give other companies an opportunity to come and demonstrate what they can do to join us in this campaign of repairing potholes,”
A few months ago, Maape came under siege after he allegedly said there were no potholes in North West province.
The North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Oageng Molapisi shared the same sentiments. Molapisi said, Maape has directed them to ensure that they deal with all potholes across the province.
“We have given ourselves six months to deal with all potholes in the North West Capital City, Mahikeng. We are very much pleased that today, we have partnered with the jet patcher company, where they demonstrated their capacity.
“One of the unique things they are doing is the efficiency in what they are doing. Also, it is not time-consuming and in terms of the problem that we have with potholes, they go deeper than we normally do when fixing them,” he said.
Molapisi further said the Uni Jet company’s machinery is very unique and what is exciting is the time, speed, and efficiency they take in dealing with potholes. He added that they are partnering with Uni Jet company and of course, moving forward, they will engage them and see how they utilize them in re-sealing potholes in the province.
“For now, they are just demonstrating and obviously, they are in business. But, I am saying, they are coming in very handy. If they are bringing uniqueness to the services that they are doing, we might consider them moving forward.
“We will use their services where is necessary and we have identified five municipalities in the province, but it is not really our competence to deal with issues of potholes at the municipal level. However, we know that our municipalities do not have the capacity, so we will intervene and assist,” said Molapisi.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of Uni Jet company, Dr Bongani Mabizela said: “Let me start off by saying, we thank the opportunity to partner with the government. I think it is very important to understand the essence of a partnership between the private sector and the government on service delivery.
“More often, people think the private sector partners with the government because they want to make money. However, we are in for service delivery, and in this case of fixing potholes, we are in impactful accelerated service delivery.”
Mabizela said they are the only company in South Africa that manufacture jet patchers like theirs. He said they are bringing a unique method of re-sealing roads using automated machinery, which can create job opportunities.
Setshwantsho: Baagi ba tsenetse kopano le baetseldipele ba lefapha kwa sekolong sa Baisitse
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Baagi ba motse wa Manokwane, gaufi le Taung ba setse ba hupile tedu mme ka kaile fa ba sa fetoge mo tshwetsong ya bone. Baagi ba tlhotse ba tsenetse kopano le baeteledipele ba Lefapha la Thuto go tswa kwa sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati.
Seno se tla morago ga gore ba latofatse mogokgo wa sekolo se se potlana sa Baisitse, Lesetjha Kgoahla ka go ruga madi a sekolo. Baagi ba, ba latofatsa Kgoahla gore o lobaka a sa ba neele ditlankana tsa boruni le gore o dirisitse jang matlole a sekolo. Ga jaana, sekolo se, kolota motlamedi wa motlakase, Eskom madi a balelwang go R80 000.
Ene ya re mo bekeng tse tharo tse di fetileng, baagi ba ne ba kaela ba lekwalo dikgang la Taung DailyNews gore Kgoahla ga mmogo le kemedi ya sekolo (School Governing Body) ba laetse batsadi kwa kopanong gore, moithuti mongwe le mongwe a duele madi a kanang ka R150 mo go thuseng sekolo go ka fokotsa sekoloto sa Eskom.
Baagi ba ne ba ipelaetsa le go kopa lefapha le rune matlole a sekolo. Jaanong, lefapha le ne la tlhama komiti eo, mme ene ya etelelwa pele ke Bafana Makhanda jaaka modulasetilo wa yone. Mo letsatsing la gompieno, Makhanda o boleletse batsadi ga mmogo le baagi fa go sena bogwenegwene jo bo diragetseng kwa sekolong mabapi le tsamaiso ya matlole.
“Ngongora ya baagi ene ele gore, sekolo ga nke se ba neele pegelo ya go runiwa ga matlole (financial audit) go tloga ka ngwaga wa 2016. Bagaetsho, re bone ditlakana tsa go runiwa ga matlole a sekolo go tloga ka ngwana wa 2014.
“Jaanong, go tloga ka ngwaga o, go na le ditlankana tsa go runiwa ga matlole tse di tswang ko baitsanape ba ba runang matlole (financial auditors). Re ile ra fitlhelela gore, ditlankana tseo tsa matlole tsa 2020 le 2021, di ile tsa tlhagisiwa mo kopano ya batsadi ka kgwedi ya Sedimonthole 2022,” Makhanda wa tlhalosa.
Makhanda are, ga bana bopaki jwa gore a ditlankana tse dingwe di le tsa tlhagisiwa mo kopano le batsadi gonne ga ba bona dithulaganyo tsa di kopano tseo (minutes). Fela, o kaile fa ditlankana tseo, di le teng kwa sekolong ebile bana le bopaki jwa tsone mo go bone.
“Jaanong, kgang ya gore matlole a sekolo ga dirisiwa sentle, ga se nnete. Gape, le ile la ikuela gore go nne le boruni mo ditlankaneng tsa kgwedi dile robongwe.
“Bagestsho, re ile ra fitlhelela gore sekolo se kolota Eskom madi a kanang ka R80 000. Madi a kolotiwang Eskom, a tshimolotse ele R75 000, mme dipatlisiso tsa rona dishupile fa go tlile ga nna le dipuisano ma gareng ga mogokgo le kemedi ya sekolo,” Makhanda wa tlhalosa.
O kaile mo dipuisanong tseo, go shupa fa sekolo se tlile sa shelwa ke bokoso ya motlakase ka 2021. Jaanong Makhanda are, Eskom e ne ya tlhalosa fa ile ya tsenya bokoso e ntsha.
“Go ya ka Eskom, sekolo sentse se patala madi a sa totobadiwang go ya ka tiriso ya motlakase go tloga ka 2014. Eskom e tlhalositse fa ene e fetsa go tsenya bokoso e ntsha, ene ya dira dipalopalo go bona gore sekolo se dirisitse jang.
“E kaile fa ene ya fitlhela fa sekolo se kolota madi a balelwang go R80 000. Ka mantswe a mangwe, ga gona botlhatshwa jo bo dirilweng ke sekolo. Mme fela, sekolo sentse se duela Eskom sentle,” Makhanda wa tlhalosa.
Are, botlhatshwa jotlhe bo tlile ka Eskom go ya ka mokgwa o ba neetseng sekolo pego ya bone ka teng. Makhanda o tsweletse ka gore, dingwaga tse tsotlhe, Eskom e tlhalositse fa go tloga ka ngwaga wa 2021, e ntse e phopholetsa gore sekolo se dirisitse motlakase wa madi a balelwang go bo kae, mme e sena bo nnete.
“Dipatlisiso di shupa gore ene ya re mogokgo go bona pego ya Eskom, one a bitsa kopano le morafe. Ke mo go ilwe ga dumalana gore moithuti mongwe le mongwe a duele R150 go thusa sekolo go duela sekoloto sa Eskom.
“Fela, go bontsha fa go sena le ha ele motswadi ale mongwe o a ileng a duela madi ao. Enngwe kgang e re ile ra e fitlhelela ke gore, baithuti ba ne ba fetsa dibeke dile pedi ba sa bone dijo kwa sekolong. Fela go ya ka dipatlisiso, sekolo se dirisa madi a kanang ka R7000 kgwedi le kgwedi go rekela baithuti dijo. Jaanong, gona le baithuti ba ba seong mo lenaneng la lefapha gore ba neelwe dijo ka ntlheng ya gore, ditlankana tsa bone di sa felelela,” Makhanda wa tlhalosa.
O kaile fa baithuti ba ba seong mo lenaneng la la go neelang dijo ke sekolo, puso e sa ba duelele. Makhanda are, jaanong seo se ile sa pateletsa sekolo go ka dirisa madi mangwe go oketsa dijo tseo gore di lekane baithuti botlhe.
Kgabagare, mongwe wa baeteledipele ba baagi, Mphayas Mpheng are jaaka baagi ga ba amogele setlankana se se tlisitsweng ke Makhanda, ebile se Kgoahla a tshwanetse go se dirang ke go gata kosene a ba tswele ka motse.
“Ga ra itumelela setlakana se re se neetsweng sa thuno ya matlole a sekolo. Jaanong, re le baagi re dumalane fela ka bongwe jwa pelo gore, mogokgo a se tlhole a le baya kwa sekolong. Mme le baeteledipele ba lefapha, ba neseditse pula tshwetso eno ya rona.
“Ba tla bona gore ba re tlisetsa jang mogokgo o motsha mo sekolong, gonne Kgoahla ga re sa tlhola re mo batla mo sekolong sa rona.”
Setshwantsho: Mokhuduthamaga wa Ditsela, Oageng Molapisi ga mmogo le rakonteraka, Daddy Tong
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Bontsi jwa baagi go tswa kwa motseng wa Molelema le Matsheng, ba kaile fa ba amogela tsoseletso ya porojeke ya tsela e e gokaganyang metse eno ka bobedi. Mokhuduthamaga wa Dithoto tsa Sechaba ga mmogo le Ditsela, Oageng Molapisi, o letse a tsene kopano le baagi bano, mme ntlha phisegelo ele go ka itsise rakonteraka wa porojeke, Botong Nkolele JV Construction e e tsamaisiwang ke Daddy Tong.
Porojeke ya dimilione tsa diranta di feta 65, ene ya puagangwe ke rakonteraka morgao ga dikgoga-kgogano magareng ga ene le lefapha. Go ya ka lefapha, rakonteraka one a kaya fa madi a porojeke e, a le ma nnye, mme one a ikuela go lefapha go ka oketsa madi ao.
Fela, lefpaha lene la seka la mo tshekegela tsebe, mme one a leba kwa kgotlha-tshekelo go batla tsereganyo. Jaanong, Molapisi o tlhaloseditse baagi fa ba bone tharabololo mo morerong o, ebile lefapha la gagwe le okeditse madi a porojeke.
“O tla itse gore, re thapile rakonteraka ka Tlhakole 2020, mme ka Mopitlwe, mopresidente wa naga, Cyril Rampoahosa, a be tsenya naga mo tlase ga taolo ka ntlha ya kamano ya bolwetsi jwa COVID-19. Kanamo ya COVID-19, e ile ya emisa ditirelo tsotlhe go ralala naga.
“Mme seo, se ile sa ama rakonteraka gore a ka tswelela ka tiro ya gagwe. Fela, morago ga gore rakonteraka a boele tirong fa naga ene e tsentswe mo tlase ga seemo sa bobedi, se se diragetseng ke gore, rakonteraka o ile a tlhagisa gore ga a kitla a kgona go tswelela ka ntlheng ya gore madi a neetsweng ale manyenyane. Jaanong, o ile a kopa gore a dire dikhilomitara di le supa fela,” Molapisi wa tlhalosa.
O kaile fa lefapha la gagwe le ile la bona gole matshwanedi gore rakonteraka a dire se ba dumalaneng ka sone. Molapisi are, porojeke ya tsela ene ele dikilomitara dile le some, jaanong seo seile sab aka ketsaetsego le go sa utlwane.
“Go ile ga nna le dikgetsi tsa semolao magareng ga lefapha le rakonteraka. Jaanong, go ile ga tsaya lobaka gore bothata jo, bo rarabololwe. O tla gopola gape gore, lefapha le ile la bewa ka fa tlase ga tsamaiso, mme motsamaise yo one a thapilwe (administrator) o ile a tlhalosa gore ga gona gore re ka seka-seka konteraka eo, gone morero o, o setse ole ko kgotlha-tshekelo.
“Fela, morago ga go thapiwa ga mo tsamaile wa lefapha (Head of Department), re ile ra dumalana go ka tla ka tharabololo mo kgannyeng e, gonne se se botlhokwa ke go isa ditirelo kwa baaging. Batho ba ba amegang, ke baagi ba rona jaanong re lemogile gore e kabo e setse ele kgale re rarabolotse bothata jo,” Molapisi wa tlhalosa.
Molapisi are rakonteraka o tla tshimolola ka tiro ya boalo jwa tsela fa Seetebosigo a rogwa. O kaile gape fa ba okeditse madi a porojeke, mme one ke R109 ya dimilione.
“Mme re dumalana gore rakonteraka a tlhotlhomise konteraka e, mme a simolole go ala tsela kwa tsela-kgolong ya sekontere e e fetelang Schweizer Reneke go tswa Taung. Maitlhomo le maikaelelo a kopano e, ene ele go ka buisana le baagi gore ba amogela porojeke e. Ga re tshepe fa go ka nna le matsapa fa porojeke e, e tshimolola.
“Re tshepa fa porojeke e, e tlile go simolola ka boalo jwa tsela fa Seetebosigo a rogwa. Porojeke e, e balelwa go dimilione dile R109 morago ga di ntlha tse rakonteraka a di tlhagisitseng,” Molapisi wa tlhalosa.
Picture: The Phokwane Local Municipality mayor, Tebogo Afrika and newly appointed Municipal Manager, Zithulele Nikani/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The embattled Phokwane Local Municipality has appointed the new Municipal Manager. The municipality spokesperson, Kgalalelo Letshabo said in a statement that, the appointment of the Municipal Manager, was amongst items on the agenda during the special council meeting that was convened on 3 May 2023.
Letshabo further said after thorough engagements and debate, the council resolved to appoint Zithulele Nikani on a five-year contract, effective from 8 May 2023.
“A contract is stipulated on the Local government: Municipal structures Act 2000 that the employment should be up to a maximum of five years, not exceeding a period ending a year after the election of the next council meeting.
“Today, the mayor, Tebogo Afrika, introduced Nikani to the staff. In his remarks, Afrika said, it is with great honour and privilege to welcome Nikani back to the municipality. He said Nikani’s appointment will bridge the service delivery gap and bring stability after a lengthy duration,” she said.
Letshabo further said, Afrika requested the officials to give necessary support Nikani.
Nikani said, he was happy to be appointed as the new Municipal Manager. He said, he will embark on a face-to-face, section-to-section meetings with officials to get a sense of what are the challenges and how do they improve much-needed service delivery.
Nikani holds BA Honours in African Studies, Certificate in Executive Leadership Municipal Development Programme, certificate of attendance in Bid Committee and certificate in Public Finance and Fiscal management in the Local Government.
He has more than ten years’ experience in Local Government and he is a former Director of Community Services and acting Municipal Manager.
Picture: The convicted murderer and rapist, Thabo Bester at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court/Google
By GILBERT MOTSAATHEBE
There are striking similarities between the current story of convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester and another story involving a conman who stole large sums of money from unsuspecting South Africans in the 1930s. In 1934, a man purporting to be the son of Emperor Haile Selassie and heir to the Abyssinian (present-day Ethiopia) throne arrived in South Africa with a startling story.
According to an article published by Drum Magazine in June 1981, the man using the name Prince Yusuf claimed that Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini was planning chemical warfare and that the poisonous gas would engulf the rest of South Africa. He claimed that he has connections and could arrange the necessary protective gear for those who do not want to be killed by the gas.
He hurriedly formed a company and told people to invest so they could be supplied with the necessary safety equipment to ensure that they survive the fatal chemicals the Italians were about to unleash. His company however was not a property or media company, it was more like a political movement called the African Legion.
As the Drum reported “the legion was to fight to save South Africa from the Italians and in a massive recruitment drive recruits were told that poison gas would be used in the war and the smoke would fill South Africa.
“It [The gas] would kill everybody apart from those in the legion who would be specially equipped with protective uniforms (cost 2 pounds) and gas masks (2 pounds five shillings). Membership of the Legion cost 2 pounds five shillings”.
The Money started coming in.
However, it turned out that Prince Yusuf was a big-time swindler. His name was not Yusuf either and he was not a prince. He was in fact a local South African by the name of David Kgobe.
Now, recently South Africans were absorbed in another reverting story of similar proportions if not more involving a convicted rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester and her girlfriend, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, South Africa’s modern-day Clive and Derby who arrived in Tanzania with Thabo posing as a US citizen before being arrested and sent back to South Africa.
The interesting thing is that a year prior Thabo Bester who was in jail for rape and murder among others had launched a daring escape leaving behind a trail of destruction including a charred body and a doused cell.
It later emerged that he had been alive and well living a lofty lifestyle in one of the leafy suburbs of Johannesburg and had been sleeping in one of the presidential suites of some of our luxurious hotels while many thought he was in prison. The similarities between Prince Yusuf and Tom Motsepe alias TK Nkwana or Tommy William Kelly are startling.
Perhaps the first and obvious similarity is that both men were big-time fraudsters who were not afraid to come up with elaborate plans to con unsuspecting people.
Secondly, they both started scam companies and enticed people to invest large sums of money. Kgobe formed the African Legion and the South African Mark Trading Corporation LTD, while Bester formed the 21st Century Media and a construction company called Arum Properties. They both recruited people who started investing in their respective companies.
They both used aliases throughout their criminal escapades. They both claimed to be related to famous people. Bester claimed to be related to business Patrice Motsepe while Kgobe claimed to be reacted to Ethiopian Ruler Emperor Haile Selassie. They both went for an elaborate spectacle to launch their companies. As the money started rolling in, Kgobe went for the spectacle to launch the movement in the glitz and glamour.
As the Drum reported: “In a comic opera attempt at a show, the army began drilling, marching and countermarching with sticks instead of rifles”.
Similarly, Bester organised a glitzy ceremony in Sandton and even appeared in a video link at his Women in Media Conference attended by some of the country’s A-Listers who even belted a happy birthday song for Thabo Bester, apparently thinking that he was Tom Motsepe, the company’s CEO. In the case of Kgobe, he later slipped off the country briefly, telling told his members that he was being deported back to Ethiopia but that they must keep the Legion going. But he was back in 1938 and he started a new venture.
This time, he told followers that he had a connection with an English wool manufacturer, claiming that their products were of good quality and started another company. “He flouted a company called the South African Mark Trading Corporation Ltd. A wide network of agents was set up and people bought shares in the new corporation.”
But the amazing prince was not done. He told investors that he was forming a bank called the Bantu Bank and that he needed 10 000 pounds to get it off the ground. The investors were promised huge interest.
“Once again the money began flowing”.
It was only when members started to worry when they realised that there was still no sign of poison gas that people started paying attention. In the same breath, Bester had started at least two known companies namely a property investment company and a media company called 21st Century Media. Like Kgobe, Bester claimed that his company had a connection with a foreign company as he purported that the company was a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox.
The two stories have all the hallmarks of a successful blockbuster, with compelling plots, unimaginable twists, suspense and daring and audacious characters. In both cases the odds are stacked against the main characters and the tension builds as our characters find their way taking the audience on an elaborate journey of discovery.
What can we learn?
As Bop Leshoi once wrote in a preface to a popular youth novel Albatross Winter, although stories are not necessarily meant to teach us moral lessons, incidental lessons do happen. Perhaps what we can learn from the two stories are the same old rules of thumb: do not believe everything that you hear; trust no one; rules are made to be broken; crime does not pay.
Note: (Gilbert Motsaathebe (PhD) is an NRF-rated Professor at the North-West University in the Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) research entity. He was until recently the Editor-in-Chief of Communicare—Journal for Communication Studies in Africa)
Picture: The embattled ANC ward councillor, Tebogo Sepale/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
A statutory rape case against the disgraced ANC ward 25 councillor, Tebogo Sepale has been postponed 17 may 2023 by the Orkney Magistrate’s Court. Sepale (43) has requested a week to appoint a private attorney to represent him.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, Sepale will remain in police custody until his next court appearance and the state intend to oppose his bail application.
“Sepale is facing 11 provisional charges, two for statutory rape, three for the violation of a child with consent, one for manufacturing pornographic material, four for rape and one for sexual intimidation. The state is not ruling out the possibility of more charges being added.
“His court appearance emanates from a report by the police indicating that, the Klerksdorp Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, was investigating a case of crimen injuria and two separate counts of statutory rape, after they were reported at Kanana Police Station respectively,” he said.
Mamothame further said, in one of the cases, Sepale allegedly shared a nude picture of his private parts with the complainant. He added that, in the second and separate case, but involving the same accused, two counts of statutory rape were laid on 6 May 2023, by the parents of two boys aged 15 and 17.
“Investigations are still underway to gather more evidence against Sepale. The public is urged to refrain from circulating sexual content of any form through all mediums as it may compromise the victims and their families, as well as the investigations into the matter,” said Mamothame.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari Sekhaolelo, together with the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded the police for acting swiftly in arresting the accused. He said a senior public prosecutor has been assigned to the case, owing to its serious nature.
The Guardian 