Picture: Livestock allegedly drinking contaminated water from sewage spillage/Generic 

By OBAKENG MAJE

Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Infrastructure at the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), Itumeleng Maribe said they are working around the clock to ensure that, the challenges of sewage spillage in Pudimoe Township, near Taung have been addressed.

This comes after a former ANC councillor, Lopang Tokwe, and others complained to Newzroom Afrika TV channel that, the sewage spillage overflowed into the river in Matlapaneng village, near Taung and that affected their livestock. According to Tokwe, they are experiencing high levels of livestock mortality due to sewage spillage flowing into the river.

“We have reported the matter to the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) and other departments responsible but nothing has changed. It’s been over 10 years since we have been experiencing this and when we slaughter our animals, you will see that they have been drinking from a sewerage.

“Most of them have a pot-bellied appearance and we have written numerous letters to the municipality for intervention without any response. We even called the department responsible to come and conduct tests,” he said.

Tokwe further said, they were surprised when they were told that the water sample results will be handed over to the municipality. He added that they have tried in vain to gain access to the results to no avail.

The local tribal authority representative, Tshepo Gasekoma shared the same sentiments. Gasekoma said they need a permanent solution to the problem.

“It’s been long since we have been experiencing this. We wrote several letters to the municipality and reported this on every public platform. We even went as far as going to the Office of the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe but nothing has happened until today.

“They have never responded but said this is not their competency. They said it is the responsibility of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, but as the tribal authority, we know nothing about that. What we want is a permanent solution because those who are affected are ordinary citizens,” he said.

Gasekoma said the residents go to their office to complain about the ongoing sewage spillage that overflows into the river. He said they even sent Tokwe to the Dr Ruth Segomotsi District Municipality, however, the response was not satisfactory.

“They keep on saying they are busy appointing the contractor. We urge the municipality to come to us and show us the tangible evidence that indeed, they have appointed a contractor to fix this mess. Again, we have not received the outcome of the testing conducted here,” said Gasekoma.

Meanwhile, Maribe said: On behalf of the Greater Taung Local Municipality, indeed I can confirm that, there is a technical challenge with the main sewage pipe regardless, we are responsible for maintenance.

“We have gone an extra mile and ensured that we raise the main hole so that it will be able to flow better. This cost the municipality not less than R150 000 for material and labour. Regardless, this is the responsibility of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.

“We can also confirm that we bought chemicals in trying to contain the environmental challenges. Just to add on that, the District Municipality has made a commitment to attend to the challenges on 22 August 2023,” he said.

Maribe said basically, they are working in collaboration with Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality and made an assessment to come up with a long-term solution.

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Setshwantsho: Modiri wa masepala wa selegae wa Naledi, Poloko Sekgopi o latofatswa ka go teketa lekgarebe/Facebook 

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Monna wa dingwaga dile 39 o tlhotse a shadikanya matlho kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Vryburg morago ga go latofadiwa ka dikgetsi dile pedi tsa go teketa. Poloko Sekgopi o go kaiwang ele modiri wa masepala wa selegae wa Naledi, one a lelelwa ke ditshipi morago ga go bonwa mo video e tletse-tletseng mo mafaratlhatlheng a boitapoloso a teketa lekgarebe kwa Shell Garage kwa Vryburg ka di 13 Phatwe 2023.

Go ya ka dipego, Sekgopi a ne a tsena kwa Shell Garage a hupile tedu kwa a fitlhetseng lekgarebe le teng, mme a le tlhasela. Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi kwa sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, Sekgopi one a tlhasela le motlhokomedi wa tshireletso yo oneng a leka go tsereganya.

Van Rooyen are, motlhokomedi o, le ene one a bula kgetsi ya go teketa kgatlhanong le Sekgopi.

“Ke nnete, go butswe dikgetsi dile pedi tsa go teketa kgatlhanong le Sekgopi. Mongwe wa ba ngongoregi mo dikgetsing tseno, ona le dingwaga dile 33. Sekgopi o tlhageletse ka bo ripana kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Vryburg mo letsatsing la gompieno, mme kgetsi e buseditswe morago.

“Dikgetsi kgatlhanong le ene di buseditswe morago go fitlha ka di 23 Phatwe 2023. Ga re itse fa bosekisi bot la kopanya dikgetsi tseo kgotsa di tla seka ka go farologana. Fela, molatofadiwa o tla nna a namile kwa ntlo-lefitshwana, mme o solofetswe go ka dira kopo ya beile,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.

Lekgotlha gape le tlhotse le utlwile fa Sekgopi ane a bonwa molato mo kgetsing ya go teketa ka Motsheganong 2023 mo kgetsing e e farologaneng le e, mme one a neelwa kotlhao ya dikgwedi dile tharo kwa kgolegelong e e beetsweng thoko sebaka sa dingwaga dile tlhano.

Kgabagare, mokgatlho wa baagi wa South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) mo Bokone Bophirima, o kaile fa o goeletsa gore molatofadiwa a se neelwe beile ke kgotlha-tshekelo. Sebueledi sa SANCO mo porofenseng, David Xolile Kham are ba kgatlhanong le tshotlakako ya bong.

“Ke ka maswabi go bona motho wa mme a bediwa ke rakgwebo o itsagaleng go tswa kwa North World Circles. Tshotlakako kgatlhanong le bong e goeleditswe jaaka leroborobo mo Afrika Borwa. Jaanong, re rotloetsa banna ba ba dikgoka go ka thusa go aga setshaba se se tsepameng.

“A banna ba atle bomme gona le go ba teketa, kgotsa go ba bolaya. Seo se botsha fa tshotlakako ya bong e sentse ele tlhoba-boroko. Re tlile go ikuela go lefapha la katlatlelo-loago go ka netefatsa fa ba ba sotlakakiwang ba bona bosiamise,” Kham wa tlhalosa.

O kaile gape fa mokgatlho wa SANCO o tlile go sala morago tiragalo e, le go netefatsa fa ba ba molato ba rweswa maikarabelo.

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Setshwantsho: Setshwantsho sa screw Driver

Ka REGINALD KANYANE

Kgetsi ya polao kgatlhanong le monna wa kwa Cokonyane, Thatayaone Senyasamore (29) e tlhotse e buseditswe morago go fitlha ka Laboraro ke kgotlha-tshekelo ya Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno. Go begwa fa Senyasamore a ne a tlhaba le go bolaya Tshepang Chupane ka sengwe se se bogale.

Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi kwa sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, o kaile fa tiragalo e ele ya ha masigo a sa mo letsatsing la Tshipi mo bekeng e e fetileng. Van Rooyen are, sepodisi se ile sa bilediwa kwa kliniking ya selegae kwa Cokonyane morago ga gore banna ba le bararo ba ise moswi, Tshepang yo one a na le dintho tsa go tlhabiwa go bona thuso.

“Fela, go kaiwa fa Tshepang a ne a sentse a tlogetse lefatshe le le ka kwano fa a goroga kwa kliniking. Dipatlisiso tsa sepodisi di kaile fa gone ga bulwa kgetsi ya polao, mme Senyasamore one a tshwarwa. One a tlhageletse kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Taung, mme kgetsi e buseditswe morago,” Van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, ba lelapa la ga Chupane, ba kaile fa loso la ga Tshepang le ba utlwisitse botlhoko. Motlogolowe Tshepang, Nonosi Chupane are se se diragaletseng lelapa la bone se botlhoko.

“Tota nna ke le esi, kene kere a mo hitlhe. Ga re itse gore sebakwa sa tiragalo e ke eng gonne batho ba bangwe ba kaya fa Senyasamore a ne a nolwe ke lekgarebe lengwe, mme lene la kopa go tsamaya le Tshepang. Go kaiwa fa lekgarebe leo, le dula mo kgaolong e le nngwe le Tshepang.

“Fela, ga re itse bo nnete jwa kgang gonne re ne re seo. Go tlhalositswe fa seo se ile sa tlhola ntwa gareng ga Senyasamore le Tshepang. Gatwe, Senyasamore o ile a lwantsha Tshepang le go mo tlhaba ka screw driver. Hela jaaka ke buile, ga re na bo nnete jwa kgang eo, gonne nna ke ne ke seo,” Chupane wa tlhalosa.

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Picture: One of the firearms confiscated during Operation Shanela/Supplied 

By OBAKENG MAJE

More than 1000 suspects were arrested during Operation Shanela. The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said, the aggressive policing approach is showing its effectiveness through crime prevention and combatting operations.

Myburgh further said its value and impact on the overall policing strategy is showing after 1 059 suspects were arrested across North West from 17- 20 August 2023.

“Forty eight suspects were nabbed for possession of drugs, 42 for dealing in drugs, 27 for illegal dealing in liquor, 90 for assault with the intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), 52 for assault common, 31 for burglaries, 25 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and 10 for murder.

“The 209 illegal immigrants were taken in for processing by the Department of Home Affairs. Shanela Operations also resulted in the confiscation of 9 firearms, 1 rifle, 2 shotguns, knives, precious metals, tobacco products, a truck, 8 vehicles, a variety of drugs and explosives, and liquor,” she added.

Myburgh said, furthermore, 5 458 persons and 2506 vehicles were searched, while 199 licensed liquor premises were inspected of which 27 unlicensed liquor premises were closed down. She said in one of the operations in Boitekong on 17 August 2023, a team consisting of Brits Crime Intelligence, Marikana Crime Prevention, Rustenburg K9 and Rustenburg Flying Squad operationalised information received, leading them to an address in Extension 5.

“The police knocked on the door and the suspect aged 24, attempted to flee when he saw the police but was caught. Upon further investigation, the police found two pistols and ammunition in his possession. He was then arrested for possession of a firearm and ammunition without a license.

“In another operation conducted in Marikana on Thursday evening, a team consisting of Marikana Crime Prevention, Rustenburg K9, and Rustenburg Flying Squad, conducted an intelligence-driven operation at Tlapa Village. The team found copper to the value of R30 000 at an identified house,” said Myburgh.

She said a suspect (44) could not account for the copper cable and he was immediately arrested. Myburgh said, at Mogwase, another suspect aged 40, was arrested for allegedly being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in the early hours of the morning of Friday at his house in Diphale Section in Sefikile village.

“The police, consisting of Rustenburg Crime Intelligence and the Rustenburg Mounted Unit, operationalised information received and searched the suspect’s house and found a 9mm pistol, ammunition, and three magazines that the suspect could not account for.

“Lastly, in another incident conducted by the Provincial Organised Crime Unit on Friday, a search warrant was obtained to search a house in Ikageng, Extention 2 in Sarafina. During the search, the police found 21 sticks of Ammonium Nitrate blasting explosives and arrested a man aged 42 for possession of explosives,” she said.

Myburgh said the suspects appeared in various courts throughout the province today.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena expressed his gratitude to all the police including those of other law enforcement agencies and government departments for their participation in the high-density operations. He said the communities have so far welcomed the aggressive approach to crime and it is on this score that, operation Shanela will be intensified.

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Setshwantsho: Petshe e e sa dirisiweng/Tshwantshiso

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Batho ba le babedi ba tlhokafetse kwa motseng wa Kokomeng, gaufi le Taung mo letsatsing la Lamatlhatso ha masigo asa. Go begwa fa Daise Meis (49) ga mmogo le motlogolowe, Segomotso Senwedi (24) ba nwetse le go tlhokafala mo petsheng.

Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi kwa sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, Segomotso one a ya go ithusa, mme one a wela mo petsheng.

“Go kaiwa fa Segomotso one a kua mokgosi le go kopa thuso ka motsi wa fa a ne a nwela mo petsheng. O begwa fa malomagwe, Daise, a ne a tsiboga le go leka go mo tlhaga thuso. Fela, malome le setlogolo ba ne ba nwela le go tlhokafala ka gangwe mo petsheng,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.

O kaile fa kgetsi ya morago ga loso ene ya bulwa ke sepodisi sa Taung, mme dipatlisiso di tsweletse. Van Rooyen o kaile fa go fitlha ga jaana, sepodisi se sa belaele fa gona le letsogo la tshwene mo kgannyeng e.  

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Picture: Some of the money confiscated during Operation Shanela/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

Nine people were arrested for robbery, possession of the suspected stolen property, riotous behaviour, dealing and possession of drugs as well as drug trafficking, at Breipaal and Bongani locations respectively. The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said, the suspects were arrested during Operation Shanela.

Sam said the operation was led by the Pixley Ka Seme District Commissioner, Major General Nomana Mtukushe in the Douglas Police Station precinct supported by the Siyancuma Local Municipality Mayor, Patrick McKlein, the Community Police Forum (CPF) and the Community in Blue Patrollers as well as the Department of Economic Affairs and the Liquor Board officials.

“Douglas as one of the top provincial priority stations, commenced with the multi-disciplinary high-density operation from 16 August until 20 August 2023 with emphasis on combating aggravated robberies, robberies at businesses and residential premises, preventing stolen property in transit as well as combatting drugs, human trafficking and tracing of wanted suspects executed.

“The stop and search, foot and blue light vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, drugs, and other commodities smuggling searches. A roadblock was conducted at the Hopetown and Kimberley intersection where 70 vehicles and 196 persons were stopped and searched,” he said.

Sam further said 14 drivers were issued road traffic management fines to the value of R19 050 00 for driving without a driver’s license, unroadworthy vehicles, failure to display a license disc, operating a motorbike without a license, and driving with an expired license disk.

He added that six compliance inspections were executed at taverns and informal businesses.

“Two taverns were immediately shut down for non-compliance, numerous operational successes were achieved including seizures of drugs valued at approximately R 23 900, dangerous weapons and R27 418 00 cash believed to be the proceeds of crime was confiscated,” said Sam.

The Siyancuma Local Municipality mayor, Patrick Mc Klein appreciated the efforts of the police in sweeping the streets of Douglas and committed to sustaining this working relationship, including his ward committees at sector crime forums.

Meanwhile, the Pixley Ka Seme District Commissioner, Major General Nomana Mtukushe, thanked all stakeholders involved for contributing to these successes and reaffirmed that the police will continue to stamp down its authority in ensuring a safe policing district.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A 43-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to 24 months imprisonment to pay an R25 000 fine by the Zeerust Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Nyoni Mambunganye was found guilty of contravening Customs & Excise Act 91 of 1964 by failing to declare goods upon entering the Republic.

The accused was arrested on 01 August 2023 at the Kopfontein Border Post after he had allegedly lied to SARS Customs officials that the truck he was driving was not carrying cargo. Upon searching the truck, officials allegedly found master cases of cigarettes concealed in hidden compartments.

The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said after entering into a plea agreement with the State when he appeared in court, Mambunganye was found guilty and sentenced to R25 000 fine or 24 months imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Trevor Oosthuizen (50), Virginia Motshabi (50), and Ernest Langa (54) were on Thursday, sentenced to five years wholly suspended sentence by the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court, after they were found guilty of unlawful dealing in and trafficking in wildlife. Mathebula further said the accused were given a wholly suspended sentence on condition that they pay R40 000 each to the Johannesburg Wildlife Hospital.

“In April 2022, the accused along with the fourth accused, who has absconded after being granted bail, were arrested at Mahikeng Mall after they were caught in possession of a pangolin. They were arrested soon after trying to sell the pangolin to a buyer for the value of R250 000.

“The accused made a series of court appearances until their conviction and sentencing. A warrant of arrest has since been issued against the fourth accused who is still at large,” he added.

Meanwhile, The Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho, and the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari lauded the investigation and prosecution team for their collaboration and resultant convictions. They have assured the public that the Directorate and NPA will continue to work together to address crimes against endangered species.

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Picture: RSA president, Cyril Ramaphosa/Google

By CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

This year marks 25 years of diplomatic ties between South Africa and the People’s Republic of China. Our bilateral relationship with our largest trading partner is almost as old as our democracy. On Tuesday we will receive Chinese President Xi Jinping on his fourth state visit to South Africa. President Xi will also participate in the 15th BRICS Summit being hosted in Johannesburg.

 Energy cooperation between South Africa and China is a focus area that holds great promise. In June this year companies from both countries participated in a New Energy Investment and Cooperation Conference, which looked at opportunities for collaboration in the green economy, the just energy transition and on the transfer of science and technology.

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Picture: The missing Thato Ralesile (2)/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

The police in Pudimoe request the community’s assistance in locating Thato Ralesile (2), who resides at Myra village, near Pudimoe. The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said Thato was last seen playing in her aunt’s yard on Saturday at about 5pm.

“She wore a red tracksuit top, cream trousers, and pink tekkies during her disappearance. Since her disappearance, a search was conducted by the police, family, and community around the village without any success.

“Today, the search continues with K9 and Mounted Units of the police added to the search party. Anyone with information regarding Thato’s whereabouts can contact the Investigating Officer, Capt Obakeng Phirichwane of Pudimoe Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) on 060 967 3947 or your nearest police station,” she said.

Myburgh said anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or via the MySAPS App from your smartphone.

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