Picture: A suspect allegedly arrested with dagga/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
A 55-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested with a dagga estimated to have a street value of R76 500 in a minibus taxi. The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col, Sergio Kock said the taxi was allegedly stopped and searched at a Vehicle Check Point(VCP) on N12 road, near Kimberley.
Kock said the police allegedly found dagga concealed in black bags. He further said, on 24 July 2023 at around 18:45pm, the Kimberley SAPS Flying Squad and Crime Intelligence unit, followed up on information of dagga allegedly in transit on a taxi inbound from the North West en route to Springbok in the Northern Cape.
“The suspect will appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court soon. The SAPS will continue to unabatedly strengthen their efforts in eradicating drugs from our communities,” added Kock.
An attorney who was arrested for fraud was granted R5000 bail by the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Emanuel Mesele Tau (50) was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for allegedly defrauding a client R763 195. The Road Accident Fund (RAF) pay-out.
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said the money was a pay-out from Road Accident Fund (RAF). Rikhotso further said, Mesele received the money on behalf of the client but kept it for himself.
“It is reported that the client who had lost her husband in a vehicle accident, requested the assistance of the accused to lodge a claim with RAF. In 2014, the payout was allegedly received by the accused, who failed to divulge this information to a client.
“In 2021, after allegedly many failed attempts to get hold of the attorney, the widow reported the incident to the police. The case was subsequently transferred to the Hawks for further probing, resulting in the recent arrest of the attorney,” she said.
Tlangelani added that, the matter was adjourned to 8 August 2023 for the regional court date.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho welcomed the arrest and commended the exceptional efforts of the investigator and the prosecutor, who worked on the case.
Two accused briefly appeared before the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court for possession of a suspected vehicle on Monday. Mangaliso Sinxi (38) and Adrian Symour (49) were arrested at Skilpadhek Port of Entry, while trying to escape to Botswana with a white Toyota Fortuner estimated to value of R850 000 on Saturday.
North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said the police stopped a white Toyota Fortuner at the departure point for a search. She further said, it was discovered during the search and scanning that, the vehicle details were tampered with.
“It also established that, the vehicle’s documents were fraudulent. Further investigations indicated that, the vehicle was reported stolen in Vereeniging, Gauteng Province on 13 July 2023.
“As a result, the suspects were arrested and charged with possession of a suspected stolen vehicle. They were remanded in custody and their case was postponed until 31 July 2023 for bail application,” she said.
The North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the police officers at Skilpadshek Port of Entry for a sterling job and pointed out that, the arrest will send out a clear message that the police and other role players will continue to work hard in the fight against transnational crimes.
Picture: Boxes of illicit cigarettes confiscated at Skilpadhoek Port of Entry, near Zeerust/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
A Zimbabwean man who was arrested at Skilpadhoek Port of Entry for allegedly trying to smuggle illicit cigarettes valued at R12 million will remain in custody. A truck driver, Joseph Kuselwa (44) briefly appeared at the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court and his case was postponed until 27 July 2023 for formal bail application.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said it was during load shedding, when Kuselwa who was from Botswana, entered South Africa through Skilpadhoek Port of Entry at around 6:40am. She said a police officer, who was patrolling along the border, allegedly saw the truck leaving the border and driving towards Zeerust.
“The police allegedly informed his commander. The truck was chased and stopped before it reached Zeerust. The driver was ordered to drive back to Skilpadhek Port of Entry. SARS and Customs members were requested to inspect the truck and boxes of cigarettes, which the driver failed to declare at customs, were discovered inside the truck.
“The driver was arrested by the North West Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigating Unit (ACIU) for allegedly trying to smuggle illicit cigarettes worth more than R12 million. Trucks entering or leaving the country are not allowed to do so during load shedding at Port of Entries, since computers are off-line,” she said.
Funani said the police officer, who allowed the truck to leave the border is being investigated and charges of defeating the ends of justice could be added when the investigations are concluded.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena congratulated the North West Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigating Unit for the sterling job and for making sure that, the suspect was arrested. Kwena further said, corrupt police officers will not be tolerated and they will face the full might law.
He added that, the case was handed over to the Hawks in North West for further investigations.
Picture: The former Vaaltar FM and socialite, the late Tshepang Seelo/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
A trial in a murder case against two men from Modimong village, near Taung will continue at the North West High Court sitting in Vryburg today. The trial commenced on Monday and more state witnesses are expected to ascend to the stand.
Rebaone Malekanyo (33) and Tumelo Tlonkwe (32) are facing a murder case after allegedly killing the former Vaaltar FM presenter and a socialite, Tshepang Seelo (32) back in 2021. Malekanyo and Tlonkwe are allegedly facing premeditated murder, assault, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in the North West, Henry Mamothame, Seelo was allegedly killed on 31 October 2021, while walking from a local tavern with his girlfriend.
“The deceased allegedly saw the duo stealing roof sheets from a certain house and blew the whistle. Then the accused allegedly assaulted, kidnapped, and killed him before dumping his body in a furrow near Khibitswane village near Taung.
“Seelo’s girlfriend allegedly ran away and escaped unharmed. The deceased’s lifeless body was found floating on 3 November 2021. It is alleged that his body was also mutilated and his eyes and tongue were missing,” Mamothame said.
He said the two accused persons were arrested on 2 November 2021 after they handed themselves over to the police.
Picture: The bus that a learner allegedly pushed out of it/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Chairperson of the North West Provincial Legislature’s Public Works, Roads, Community Safety and Transport Management, Mmoloki Cwaile said they have requested the North West Department of Community of Safety and Transport Management to thoroughly investigate the incident, where a Grade R learner from Moeti Primary School in Huhudi Township, near Vryburg, was pushed out of the moving scholar transport bus.
It is alleged that, the learner, Lethabo Goralotse (5) was allegedly pushed out of a moving scholar transport bus by other learners. The incident allegedly took place on Friday morning between Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital and Morning Star Private School at around 6:30am.
Cwaile said, Lethabo was allegedly pushed into the bus and balanced with her hands on the emergency exit window, which was reported to be loose at the time. He further said, that allegedly resulted in her being thrown out of a moving bus.
“The driver could not be alerted immediately and the injured learner was assisted by a motorist. She was transported to the Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital for medical attention. As the Portfolio Committee, we have reached out to the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari and North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, who has also made an effort to reach out to the family.
“We have also reached out to the family of the affected learner and assured the mother, Connie Goralotse that, we will react once we have received the investigation report that will determine ascertain us that the bus was in good condition and roadworthy, including how the accident happened,” he said.
Cwaile added that, they will have an interaction with the North West Community Safety and Transport Management to seek redress. He said they have also been informed that, the injured learner was assessed only for five hours at the hospital then her family transferred her to a private hospital because they were not happy with the service they received.
“It is alleged that, no clinical observations and investigations were conducted to exclude the possible head injuries. However, we will continue to engage with the family and monitor the kind of support that is provided to them. We will continue to hold the department accountable.
“So, we condemn with the strongest possible term the usage of unroadworthy buses as scholar transport and the collapse of the thorough inspection that must exclude the risks that are associated with scholar transport. However, we are confident that we will drill this matter to the bottom of it and take it to the logical conclusion,” said Cwaile.
The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari said: “We wish the learner a speedy recovery and also assure the parents that a thorough investigation into what happened will be done. We will in the meantime, engage the family to hear their side of the story.
“The department has a team of monitors in all the districts and observance of compliance is done on an extemporaneous basis. The service level agreement (SLA) the department has with contracted operators includes a passenger liability by the operator.”
Lehari said roadworthiness inspection of vehicles is not done exclusively for learner transport, but as part of normal law enforcement operations to ensure compliance. He said it is on record that, earlier this year, many learner buses which were not roadworthy were impounded by the department.
The Director for Public Transport Service, Dr Olebogeng Baikgaki engaged the operator following Lehari’s directive for an intervention. Baikgaki said the department has already engaged the operator to arrange for the learner to be treated and be responsible for the medical bill until the child recovers fully.
“Over and above this, the operator has committed to assist with the private transportation of the learner to and from school until she has fully recovered”, said Dr Baikgaki.
A man (34) is expected to appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for murder. It is alleged that, the suspect stabbed Kopano Tutubalang (23) to death during a scuffle at Kgalalelo’s tavern in Extension 6, near Taung on Saturday night.
According to the North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, there was a fight in which the suspect was involved.
“Tutubalang tried to intervene and stopped the fight, but he was ultimately stabbed. The suspect will appear in the Taung Magistrate’s on 25 July 2023 facing a murder case. The investigations in the matter continue,” she said.
Picture: A Grade R learner, Lethabo Goralose injured after being thrown out of the scholar transport bus/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The mother of a Grade R learner, Lethabo Goralotse (5) said she is grateful that her child is still alive. This comes after Lethabo was thrown out of a moving scholar transport bus on Friday.
According to Connie Goralotse (48), her daughter boarded a scholar transport bus at Extension 25, near Vryburg in the morning. Goralotse said, they normally ensure that their children who are younger, board the bus that arrives in the morning because they are bullied by older learners.
“Apparently, the driver of that bus put them in another bus that was already overloaded with older children. So, Lethabo said older children pushed them out of the seats and they had to stand up. Then, she was pushed towards the window.
“She said the window was loose and unfortunately, she was thrown out of the moving bus. Lethabo landed in the middle of the road and sustained injuries on her head, including a fractured ankle. My child was assisted by a passer-by who saw her lying helplessly in the middle of the busy road,” she said.
Goralotse further said she is devastated by the accident. She added what would have happened to her daughter if the passer-by did not assist her.
“What is more painful is that the driver of the bus never bothered even to stop even though other learners tried to get his attention. The passer-by allegedly saw an ambulance passing and called for help. Lethabo was ferried to the Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital for medical attention.
“I really do not know what to do now because she continues to have flashbacks because she was traumatised. The officials from the North West Department of Education paid us a visit on Saturday and promised to come back. However, there was no word from the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management officials,” said Goralotse.
She calls on the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management to ensure that scholar transport buses are in good condition and do not compromise learners’ safety.
North West Department of Education spokesperson, Mpatha Molokwane said: “We are aware of the incident and the mother did not report to the principal, since she took her child to the hospital in the morning. Evidently, other learners did not report when they arrived at the school, though we cannot blame them because they are also children. Learners were crammed to the gills and began pushing each other.
“The circuit manager visited the family on Saturday and the service provider said that they will visit the family 24 on July 2023. It should be highlighted that, the department only benefits from scholar transport, although it is the prerogative of the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management to choose service providers for scholar transport”
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management is mum on the matter and has not responded to the media inquiry sent to them. The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari’s spokesperson, Oshebeng Koonyaditse said he is still gathering information surrounding the matter.
A learner who allegedly assaulted a teacher at Obang Secondary School in Amalia, near Schweizer Reneke, was found guilty of contravening the school code of conduct of learners and the South African School Act. Katlego Keohitlhetse (20), his father, Ntwaetsile Frans Keohitlhetse (42), who works as a ground man at the school, including the School Governing Body (SBG) member, Tebogo William Seleke (46) allegedly assaulted a Mathematics teacher (58).
The North West Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane said the department is aware of the incident and Katlego was afforded a chance to appear before the Disciplinary Committee more than 10 times to highlight what led to the incident.
Molokwane further said, both the SGB member and the ground man also attended the disciplinary hearing to tell their side of the story and what transpired.
“They both denied that they assaulted the educator. Now, the matter is with Labour Relations and not yet concluded because of fewer officials. The matter remains pending and details cannot be divulged as this may jeopardize the case.
“The SGB at the school found the learner guilty of contravening the school Code of Conduct of learners and the South African School Act. The learner was charged with assault and his studies were suspended until 2 March 2023,” he said.
Molokwane added that, as the department, they can certify that the learner is receiving academic support and has returned to school to date. He said the department is committed to providing educators with the necessary training to combat bullying in schools, as well as methods for spreading preventative measures and support to learners.
“The educators are always prepared to offer assistance to both victims and perpetrators of bullying. There is a mechanism in place that permits every school to be linked to their local police station, allowing the South African Police Service (SAPS) to conduct searches and confiscate unlawful things within schools.
“Furthermore, SAPS can raise awareness about illegal activity and teach pupils how to prevent it on school premises,” said Molokwane.
Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “An assault with intent to cause Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) case has been opened against three suspects and the matter was postponed until 7 August 2023.”
Amateur beekeeper Angel Nieto, known as “the Bee Rescuer”, checks the frames of an apiary after removing a swarm of bees from a tree on a private property, in Vina del Mar, Chile December 3, 2022. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido
By OBAKENG MAJE
A beekeeper in Letlhapong village, near Taung said beekeeping farming is a profitable business and cost-effective. Nkululeko Kula (32) said he started the business after he quit his day-to-day job in Kimberley, in Northern Cape a few years ago.
Kula said those who are aspiring beekeepers, need to equip themselves with knowledge and techniques of bee farming before anything else. He further said, there are specific techniques such as understanding how to manage the bees.
“I encourage other young people to embark on bee farming. However, they need to know the structure of the hive, how bees function and their favourite foods.
“There are other challenges such as predators and diseases that might affect one’s business. Also, understanding the market is very imperative. As we speak, I produce 132 litres of honey and I do not have a market,” he said.
Kula further said he started his own business by going to the forest and fetching bees. He added that his business grew in leaps and bounds over the years.
“I received support from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). It has been three years since running this business and I was happy when I received boxes from the NYDA to house the bees.
“What I can say is that bee farming is cost-effective compared to other businesses like poultry, animal farming and others. When you do bee farming, you do not have to feed them because they can fend for themselves,” said Kula.
He said what he does is just harvest honey and sell it. Kula said he is grateful that he recently received a call from a service provider in Rustenburg to provide him with honey and that will assist his business with market opportunities.
“You can use honey to produce various products and you can also use it for human consumption. I still need more boxes because the demand is high. I am happy to see the government committing to assist me as this will assist me to create more job opportunities too.
“Remember, I also do crop farming too and the little I get, I use it to support my family. I will be grateful if I become a commercial beekeeper one day and see my business growing,” he said.
Meanwhile, the deputy minister in the presidency for women, youth and persons with disability, Sisisi Tolashe, who visited Kula on 26 June 2023 said, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Development Model (DDM) has declared the year 2023 “A Year of Implementation”.
“It means all hands must be on deck to accelerate the provision of service delivery and implementation of developmental projects. Part of this plan focuses on providing opportunities to the youth residing in the district by utilising youth development programmes led by key stakeholders in relevant sectors.
“We visited the district to address key issues that were raised during the engagement by understanding the differential circumstances in society. Also, is to ensure socio-economic empowerment and through capacity building to participate meaningfully in all areas of the economy and the workplace in the district,” said Tolashe.
She said in order for the state to function and perform optimally and effectively, every organ of the state has to perform its core functions well and work harmoniously with other organs of the State and with civil society.
Tolashe said the “pattern of operating in silos” is a challenge, which has led “to lack of coherence in planning and implementation and has made monitoring and oversight of the government’s programme difficult”.
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