Picture: The Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe   

By OBAKENG MAJE

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) calls for the immediate resignation of the disgraced municipal mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe. This comes after allegations that the official mayoral vehicle, a luxurious BMW X3 worth R700 000 has been damaged by Gaoraelwe’s wife.

According to the tracker’s log report depicting a vehicle registration number: KRP 922 NW, shows that, on 11 July 2023, the BMWX 3 allegedly left for Kuruman. On 12 July 2023, the vehicle left for Kimberly and it was recorded in Wolmaranstad later on.

On 18 July 2023, the tracker records allegedly show the BMW X3 leaving Taung to Kimberley. On 11 August 2023, the tracker records allegedly show the BMW X3 leaving Kimberley and breaking down at Uranianville.

However, in the letter dated 20 August 2023, Gaoraelwe said in the morning of 16 July 2023, the information screen of the vehicle in question, was displaying information that reads: “Check control, drivetrain, you can continue driving. Roadside assistance not required, drive power reduced, have the problem checked by your service partner.”

“I then later reported the concerning matter that day to the acting Fleet Manager, who then booked the vehicle to be assessed at BMW in Kimberley.”

He further said the vehicle was taken to BMW on 18 July 2023. Gaoraelwe added that, after mechanical assessment, it was discovered that some hard substance could have damaged the vehicle underneath and subsequently made some bolts loose.

Picture: The mayoral vehicle, BMW X3 allegedly taken in for repair in Potchefstroom

“It was only at this time that, I was made aware that there could have been damage to the vehicle without my knowledge. Also, indicated to the mechanical personnel that I personally do not have any recollection of the damage,” he said.

EFF councillor, Amogelang Matuane said: “We are going to take this matter up because we heard that, the vehicle was driven by the mayor’s wife to Kimberley in Northern Cape. This vehicle is not used by the mayor but by his wife. We understand that the mayor drives a bakkie that belongs to the Community Services Unit.

“We have raised issues on that matter during the council. We have also received complaints from the Community Service Unit that, they cannot fulfil their functions because they have no transportation. The BMW X3 is too expensive for nothing because it was bought for the mayor’s wife.

“We actually want the mayor to resign because he is irresponsible and does not have the interests of the municipality at heart. So, we do not think he is fit to lead the municipality,” she said.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor, Sam Nape said it is very disappointing to see all these happening. Nape said he feels like this matter should be taken up on a serious note.

“Look, I think we should also involve external agencies because the ANC councillors continue to protect the mayor through votes. They downplay the mayor’s shenanigans and do not hold him accountable.

“It is too much now and if it is true, we do not have Gaoraelwe’s wife as the mayor. So, it is not acceptable that, the mayor’s wife drives the official municipal vehicle,” he said.

African Independent Congress (AIC) councillor, Tebogo Monchonyane said they only heard those allegations, but they were not formally informed as municipal council. Monchonyane said if there is any truth to the matter, they will table a motion of no confidence against Gaoraelwe.

Last year, the municipality allegedly forked out R300 000 to fix the BMW X3 after the ‘drunk’ Gaoraelwe crashed it during the accident.  Currently, it is alleged that, the vehicle is taken in for repair in Potchefstroom.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A man was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for cable theft. Ofentse Kau (36) briefly appeared before the Ga-Rankuwa Regional Court after he was arrested by the Eskom security officers on 20 October 2022. Kau was spotted through surveillance cameras at the Ga-Rankuwa industrial site in possession of 400m commercial copper cable, which was meant for replacement.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said Kau was subsequently handed over to the police and charged with cable theft. He pleaded guilty to the offence and the court also denied him bail.

In aggravation of the sentence, the state prosecutor, Adv Mummy Mosonodi urged the court to consider the load-shedding crisis the country is experiencing as a result of cable theft. She further alluded to the financial implications suffered by Eskom as a main service provider of electricity.

Magistrate Marianne Wessel agreed with the state and imposed a 15-year jail term, with 5 years suspended for 5 years.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the prosecutor, Detective Sergeant Tshepo Phale from the SAPS, and the Eskom security officers, for bringing the perpetrator to book. She alluded to the detriment brought by such offenses to the economic growth of the country.

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Picture: The missing baby was found/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

A woman aged 21 has been arrested after the missing baby was found in her house in Greenpoint, Kimberley on Friday. It is alleged, the baby was stolen from a hospital in Kimberley on 6 September 2023 at approximately 5pm.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Sergio Kock said: “On Friday at around 9am, the Kimberley SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit with the assistance of the Kimberley SAPS Crime Intelligence unit, followed up on a tip-off and found the newborn baby and her clothes with the female suspect.

“The baby will undergo procedural medical observation and will be reunited with her parents.”

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant Gen Koliswa Otola thanked the police for their relentless efforts that led to the infant being found and also commended the community for their assistance in this regard.

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Setshwantsho: Poloko Sekgopi one a latofadiwa ka go teketa/Facebook

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Baagi ba tlogetswe ga gamaregile morago ga gore lekgarebe (33) go begwang lene la bonwa le teketwa mo setshwantshong sa motshinyego se se tletse-tletse le maranyana a boitapoloso kwa Vryburg le tsholole kgetsi kgatlhanong le molatofadiwa, Poloko Sekgopi (39).

Kgetsi ya go teketa kgatlhanong le Sekgopi ene ya busediwa morago go fitlha di 13 Lwetse 2023. Fela, mo letsatsing la maabane, mongongoregi one a go tsholola kgetsi.

Sebueledi sa bothati jwa bosekisi, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) mo Bokone Bophirima, Henry Mamothame are: “Ke nnete, mongongoregi one a leba kwa kgotlha-tshekelo mo letsatsing la maabane, mme a fitlha a tsholola kgetsi ya go teketa kgatlhanong le Sekgopi. O kaile fa maikaelelo ene ese go bula kgetsi morago ga tiragalo, fela o ile a patelediwa ke bangwe ba baagi.

“Sepodisi se ile sa kwadisa bopaki jwa gagwe, mme a bewa fa pele ja magistrata le go paka mot lase ga maikano fa a sa patelediwe kgotsa go tshosediwa go ka tsholola molato kgatlhanong le molatofadiwa. Kgetsi ene ya tshololwa kgatlhanong le Sekgopi.”

Gone ga kaiwa fa Sekgopi a ile a lelelwa ke ditshipi morago ga go bonwa a teketa lekgarebe kwa Shell Garage teng kwa Vryburg ka di 13 Phatwe 2023.

Go ya ka dipego, Sekgopi one 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.

Lekgotlha gape le ne la utlwa fa Sekgopi ane a bonwa molato mo kgetsing enngwe ya go teketa ka Motsheganong 2023. One a neelwa kotlhao ya dikgwedi dile tharo kwa kgolegelong e ene ya beelwa 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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Picture: Rapist, Simao Hlongwane/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Garankuwa Regional Court for raping his niece (12). Simao Hlongwane (43) and his sister, were not staying far from each other in Mothutlung village.

At the time of the incident, Hlongwane’s sister was staying with her daughter. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame, on 17 January 2017, Hlongwane sent the complainant to his other stand to clean a shack.

Mamothame said Hlongwane subsequently followed the complainant and raped her in the shack.

“The complainant went to report the matter to her sister (15), who then conveyed the message to the mother. The mother, however, failed to report the matter to the police. Evidence led in court revealed that, on 23 January 2021, the complainant who was 15 years of age at the time, in fear of being raped again, went to the police to report the matter, after the accused had continued to touch her inappropriately over some time.

“The police subsequently summoned the mother to assist the child in opening the case. The mother was described as being hesitant and unsupportive of the daughter’s actions, as the accused was their primary source of financial support,” he said.

Mamothame further said in the pre-sentence report, the mother of the complainant, described the accused to be a generous person. He added that the accused’ wife also described him as being a person who believes in religious values and prayer, and he is affiliated with a Christian church, at which he is a preacher.

In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Adv Mummy Mosonodi, convinced the court that the accused failed to demonstrate moral and religious values when he committed an offense that was against his Christian beliefs.

Mosonodi urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. Magistrate Aggrey Sephothi agreed with the state as he imposed a sentence of life imprisonment.

The court further ordered that Hlongwane’s name be registered in the National Register of Sexual Offenders.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the prosecutor, Constable Caroline Mothemane from the South African Police Services (SAPS), and the assistance by the Thuthuzela Care Center to the victim, for bringing the perpetrator to book.

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Picture: North West MEC for Arts, Sports, Culture and Recreation, Keneetswe Mosenogi

By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education, Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation has urged the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation to ensure that, there is an embryonic role in various libraries across the province.

According to the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Priscilla Williams, the department has underspent on its capital projects such as construction and maintenance of libraries. Williams further said this is worrisome as only R5.8 million was spent due to delays in implementation by the North West Department of Public Works as an implementing agent.

The committee had an oversight meeting with the North West Department of Arts, Culture and Sports Recreation and Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation over the first Quarter Performance Reports for the 2023/24 financial year and the first and second draft Annual Performance Plans for the 2024/25.

“Both departments should urgently ensure that infrastructure projects are implemented. There have been serious challenges to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in libraries for many years. Our people cannot access Wi-Fi that can assist them with relevant educational information.

“There has been a consistent concern about the type of reading material in libraries. The department must also prioritise modern reading material in our libraries as our children cannot learn from old material. Furthermore, there should be partnerships between Non-Government Organisations (NGOs, institutions of Higher Learning, and communities on the enhancement of learning through usage of our community libraries,” she added.

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for the Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, Keneetswe Mosenogi said: “In the first quarter of the financial year, the department achieved 100% on all 22 indicators. The department overachieved in the number of structures and events in the creative and cultural industries supported, and the number of historical days celebrated.

“In terms of underspending, programme 3 is the lowest which is attributed to the infrastructure projects and library material respectively. It further relates to underspending of R10.1 million on library material and R13.8 million for operations on libraries including maintenance allocation.”

Mosenogi also said in terms of transfers and subsidies, an amount of R19.9 million for transfers to local municipalities could not be processed in the first quarter due to the non-commencement of the financial year of municipalities. She said all the outstanding transfers would be prioritised at the commencement of the second quarter.

“A service provider has been appointed to install internet services in 123 libraries in the province. About 49 libraries have been connected so far as the project is facilitated by SITA as a mandatory transversal service. The department together with publishing houses and local authors have also ensured that we have their books in our libraries,” said Mosenogi.

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