More than 300 people were arrested during the intensified crime prevention in the weekend. The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said, the suspects were arrested for crimes ranging from robbery aggravating, murder, rape, attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, possession and dealing in drugs to illegal dealing in liquor.
“With Operation Shanela gaining momentum to squeeze the space for criminals, police in the province arrested 320 suspects throughout the weekend. In one of the operations in Mmakau on Thursday afternoon, Riaan Spies (32) was apprehended at Skietfontein smallholding in De Wildt near Brits, for possession and dealing in drugs.
“The accused was arrested during a multi-disciplinary and crime intelligence driven operation after the team executed a search warrant. During the search at the accused’s place, the police discovered drug manufacturing equipment as well as chemicals used to manufacture drugs and approximately 4000 ecstasy tablets, computer equipment and a tablet gadget,” he said.
Mokgwabone further said the Spies briefly appeared at the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Friday. He added Spies was remanded in custody and his case was postponed until 9 June 2023 for formal bail application.
“In Bokamoso Location, near Rustenburg, a multi-disciplinary team comprising Rustenburg Crime Intelligence, Rustenburg K9, Public Order Police (POP) and Detectives dealt decisively with illegal liquor outlets on Friday. They raided and shut down three illegal liquor outlets.
“The police also confiscated liquor worth R58 525 and other shebeen operating equipment,” said Mokgwabone.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the police for their commitment in striving for safer communities through execution of various crime prevention and combating actions.
The ANC disgruntled members across all four regions in the North West, whose names were allegedly unduly removed from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) selection list, welcomed the National Executive Committee’s move to investigate the matter. The ANC has called all councillors, who were allegedly elected unduly to substantiate their nomination.
Initially, the disgruntled ANC members called for the reinstatement of 155 councillor candidates, but according to the letter, only 27 disputes will be processed.
The former ANC regional secretary in Dr Kennth Kaunda, Lopang Rothman said: “I have gone through the letter of the Secretary-General Office and this takes me back to what we raised before, which I also raised during the visit by ANC National Working Committee in front of both ANC chairperson, Gwede Mantashe and Senzo Nchunu that, the ANC Provincial Elective Conference was prepared by the Interim Provincial Committee (IPC), who were referees and players.
“The ANC NEC expects the same manipulators of processes of councillors to implement a report that implicates them? The ANC Provincial Executive Committee members are the same individuals, who were IPC members who manipulated the councillors’ processes,” Rothman said.
He further said it is surprising that the same individuals are today expected to attend to the matter and recommend or even charge themselves for such misconduct? Rothman added that he does not hope that this is another delaying tactic by the ANC NEC.
In a letter, the ANC Investigative Team in North West, Dina Pule said: “The scheduled hearing for the hearings with councillors will commence on 12 until 16 June 2023. We have invited implicated councillors for the hearings from 12 – 16 June 2023 at the Rustenburg Civic Centre.
“Those councillors are Anna Bonga from ward 1 in the City of Matlosana (Dr Kenneth Kaunda region) at 12 June 2023, 09h00 – 09h30 2. Mothusi Pelele (Ward 13) 12 June 2023, 09h30 – 10h00 3. Portia Nyaqela (Ward 14) 12 June 2023, 10h00 – 10h30 4. Sisi Muhlanga (Ward 06) 12 June 2023, 10h30 – 11h00 5. Mmokgo Mogatla (Ward 26) 12 June 2023, 11h00 – 11h30 6. Queen Mahumapelo (Ward 23) 12 June 2023, 11h30 – 12h00.”
Pule said the hearing will continue with Victor Foboki (Ward 36) 12 June 2023, at 12h00 – 12h30 Rustenburg Municipality (Bojanala), 8. Mapogo Elek Mosete (Ward 38) 12 June 2023, 12h30 – 13h00 9. Fani Moathe (Ward 10) 12 June 2023, 14h00 – 14h30 10. Alphios Mosito (Ward 39) 12 June 2023, 14h30 – 15h00 11. Obrie Makhuto 12 June 2023, (Ward 22) 15h00 – 15h30 12. Vuyiswa Shomang (Ward 31) 12 June 2023, 15h30 – 16h00 Moses Kotane Municipality (Bojanala) 13. Jeremiah Mogaki (Ward 23) 12 June 2023, 16h00 – 16h30 14. Mamikie Radiokana (Ward 18) 12 June 2023, 16h30 – 17h00 Ditsobotla Municipality (Ngaka Moleme) 15. Boipelo Moroke (Ward 02) 13 June 2023, 09h00 – 09h30 16. Phillip Lotteren (Ward 04) 13 June 2023 09h30 – 10h00 Ratlou Municipality (Ngaka Moleme) 17. Thabang Mothibedi (Ward 04) 13 June 2023 10h00 – 10h30 Mahikeng Municipality (Ngaka Moleme) 18. Thepiso Motshabi (Ward 02) 13 June 2023 10h30 – 11h00 Taung Municipality (DR R.S Mompati) 19. Tumo Tabe (Ward 02) 13 June 2023 11h00 – 11h30 20. Mothusi Mojanaga (Ward 14) 13 June 2023 11h30 – 12h00 21. Lerato Babuseng (Ward 12) 13 June 2023 12h00 – 12h30 22. Gladys Melamu (Ward 18) 13 June 2023 12h30 – 13h00 23. Pico Seepamere (Ward 15) 13 June 2023 14h00 – 14h30 24. Dolly Pusho (Ward 23) 13 June 2023 14h30 – 15h00 Kgetleng River Municipality (Bojanala) 25. Amogelang Selaledi (Ward 06) 13 June 2023 15h00 – 15h30 26. Virginia Molatone (Ward 01) 13 June 2023 15h30 – 16h00 27. Mamiki Molefe (Ward 03) 13 June 2023 16h00 – 16h30.
“Each of these councillors should be instructed to bring along all available evidence and proof of their nomination through voting by the communities during the 2021 Local Government candidate selection process of the ANC. We also request the office of the ANC provincial secretary, Louis Diremelo to make all records pertaining to the nomination of these councillors available for inspection and scrutiny by the investigative team.
“The regional offices and former IRC officials might be of assistance in this regard. All the invited councillors are at liberty to bring witnesses to confirm that they were duly elected by the communities to be councillors in their respective wards,” she said.
The money laundering case against Jan Jacobus Van Niekerk was transferred to the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court by the Delareyville Magistrate’s Court. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in the North West, Henry Mamothame said, Van Niekerk is facing 337 charges of fraud and 20 of money laundering.
“He, in the company of his attorney, handed himself over to the SAPS’ Provincial Commercial Crimes Unit on 30 May 2023 and was subsequently charged with fraud and money laundering amounting to over R10 million. The police investigations reveal that Van Niekerk was employed by Botselo Mills (Pty) LTD as an accountant and authorised to transact on the company’s accounts.
“It is alleged that, between January 2017 and July 2022, Van Niekerk submitted forms fraudulently requiring approval for payment to be made into the accounts of service providers for a service that was not rendered. It was further discovered that in the forms, he provided the names of the service providers that are in the company database, but fraudulently replaced their banking account numbers into his six personal banking accounts that he holds with two major banks,” Mamothame said.
He further said, the police also discovered that Van Niekerk allegedly had working relationships with some of the companies he submitted for payment. Mamothame added that the investigations into the matter are completed and the state is ready to proceed with a pre-trial conference in the next court sitting.
“The case was postponed to 19 July 2023 and Van Niekerk was granted R12 000 bail. The court ordered him to report to his nearest police station once a week between 6am and 6pm,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari together with the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded the police for the arrest and commended the prosecution team led by the Head of the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit in the North West, Adv Bongani Chauke and the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, Major General Dintletse Molefe for a collaboration that led to the arrest and court appearances of the accused.
Picture: The accused person, Esther Mwanza arrested by the Hawks/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Two women who were brought to South Africa from the Democratic Republic of Congo for alleged human trafficking purposes were rescued by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team from a house in Klerksdorp. It is reported that, on 20 January 2023, two females aged 20 and 31 were found at Esther Mwanza’s home.
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said: “The victims are alleged to have been trafficked from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to South Africa, where they allegedly endured labour exploitation. The victims were interviewed and subsequently taken to a place of safety, which was provided by the Department of Social Development.
“Esther Mwanza (41) made a brief appearance at the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on 2 June 2023, following her arrest by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation in Klerksdorp for trafficking in persons. Meanwhile, the case has been postponed to 9 June 2023 for a formal bail application.”
Picture: A pangolin allegedly found in possession of suspects in Vryburg/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Four suspects aged between 43 and 59 were arrested in Vryburg on 2 June 2023 for allegedly being in possession of a Pangolin. The suspects were allegedly stopped by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and members of the SAPS Tactical Response Team along Vryburg Road, while on their way to Mahikeng to meet a buyer of a pangolin.
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said, the suspects were selling the pangolin for R60 000. She further said, the search was conducted and a pangolin was allegedly found in a bag in the boot of the vehicle.
“The vehicle was seized for further investigation and the pangolin was handed over to members of Nature Conservation. The suspects will appear at the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on 5 June 2023 for contravention of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004.
“Meanwhile, the case against Teboho Kodwa (28), Deon Mubhada (33) Kabelo Batsi (36), and Lesego Siana (45), who were arrested in possession of two pangolins in Mahikeng, has been adjourned to 6 June 2023,” concluded Rikhotso.
The Guardian 