Picture: The vehicle stopped and searched during multi-party operation/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Northern Cape police said they will intensify a multi-disciplinary operation ahead of the festive season. The police conducted a multi-party operation in the Greater Kimberley area such as Kagisho, Galeshewe, and Roodepan on Thursday.
Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Dikeledi Gopane said the Tactical Response Team, Mounted Unit, Visible Police from Frances Baard District office, VCIU, Stock Theft, Department of Home Affairs, and Provincial Traffic were part of the execution.
“The operation commenced with a formal parade conducted by Brigadier Charlotte Makgari as the operational commander. During phase one, 405 persons were searched, 205 vehicles were stopped, and seven traffic fines amounting to R4900 were issued.
“Visible patrols and blue light were conducted in the Central Business District (CBD), where 30 persons were stopped and searched. Twelve knives were confiscated in the process and compliance inspections were also conducted at a number of liquor outlets in the Greater Kimberley,” she said.
Gopane further said fines amounting to R4000 were also issued for non-compliance. She added that, during the roadblock on the N12 route, a vehicle was stopped and searched and cash amounting to R679 200 was found and confiscated.
Picture: The suspect accused of killing her relatives to cash in from insurance claims/Supplied
By OBAKENGMAJE
A 49-YEAR-OLD woman who is suspected of killing her relatives to cash-in from insurance claims, has been arrested. It is alleged that, suspect has been under police surveillance for the past two months. The national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said even though the alleged incidents took place in Mmabatho, North West, the suspect was traced and arrested in Centurion, near Pretoria this morning.
“The suspect was traced to and arrested in Centurion this morning during a takedown operation led by the police in collaboration and full cooperation with an insurance company. For the past two months, Sergeant Keshi Mabunda and a team of detectives have been working on this case following a tip-off from relatives of this suspect.
“Mabunda was roped in to kick-start investigations due to his expertise in solving similar cases. Through analysis and collection of evidence, including the exhumation of a body, the team was able to link its latest suspect to the team’s first focus of the case,” said Mathe.
She further said, the suspect will now appear on a charge of murder before the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Mathe added that, the murder that was initially ruled a ‘natural death’ happened in Mmabatho, where a female relative died under mysterious circumstances in March 2023.
“The investigations have revealed that, the suspect fraudulently took out insurance on behalf of her relative, prior to her murder. The police are also investigating the deaths of the suspect’s son, who died in July 2023, her husband who died in 2016 and her two daughters who died in 2015 and 2005.
“The suspect has according to investigations, pocketed large amounts of money throughout her activities. The South African Police Services (SAPS) takes this opportunity to urge insurance companies and families to be extra vigilant and alert to such criminal activities,” she said.
Mathe said they encourage insurance companies and families to report such criminality to the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or their nearest police station, where they will be assigned to a detective. She said the My SAPS App can also be downloaded to submit tip-offs.
“Callers and whistle-blowers are reminded that all information will be treated with confidentiality,” she said.
Kgotlha-tshekelo ya Taung e solofetswe gore e tla be e tletse ebile e penologa mo letsatsing la kamoso fa Kgosi ya Baga-Maidi, Nnyoko Charles Motlhabane, o tla be a tlhagelela kwa kgotlha-tshekelo. Seno se tla morago ga gore, Motlhabane a dire lekwalo-thibelo kgatlhanong le mongwe wa baeteledipele wa baagi kwa motseng wa Manthe.
Go ya ka Onalerona Benni Setumisho, o ile a amogela lekwalo-thibelo ka di 16 Diphalane 2023 go tswa kwa go Motlhabane. Setumisho are, lekwalo-thibelo leo, le ne la mo kaela fa a sa tshwanela go atimela gaufi le ntlo ya segosi kwa Motlhabane a dulang teng.
“Ke nnete ke ile ka amogela lekwalo-thibelo go tswa kwa go Motlhabane, mme ke ne ke sa tlhaloganye gore lekwalo-thibelo leo ke la eng, gonne ga e se ke tsamaye ke kopane le Motlhabane mo sebakeng sa ngwaga le seripa.
“Labofelo fa kene ke kopana le Motlhabane, ene ele ka nako e morafe one ntsha matshwenyego mabapi le go bulwa ga matekiri mo motseng mo ngwageng o fetileng. Jaanong, ke ile ka makala thata ha ke fitlhela mapodisi ka dikoloi tsa bone tse di itsegeng jaaka di hippo, ba tlile go kgokgontsha ba lelapa laka ba ituletse monate,” Setumisho wa tlhalosa.
Setumisho are, ebile one a nagana fa mapodisi a tlile go mo tshwara go ya ka mokgwa o ba ne ba le bantsi ka teng. Are, mo lekwalo-thibelo leo, Motlhabane o mo laela gore a tsamaele bokgakajana jwa dimitara di le 200 go ntlo ya segosi, ga mmogo le dikantoro tsa morafe.
“Fela, se se makatsang ke gore, dikantoro tsa morafe ke ko re bonang ditirelo teng. Gape, lekwalo-thibelo leo le tlhalosa fa ke sa tshwanela go ka dira dikopano kgotsa go thibela ditirelo mo motseng. Mme ke sa itse gore o raya jang.
“Fela dintlha tsotlhe ke tla di utlwa go tswa mo molomong wa gagwe mo letsatsing la kamoso kwa kgotlha-tshekelo. Motlhabane gape o ntatofatsa ka go mo rogaka, mme ke ga itse gore leng. O tla tshwanelwa ke go tlhagisa bopaki joo botlhe fa pele ga lekgotlha gore le nna ke kgone go ikarabela,” Setumisho wa tlhalosa.
Bangwe ba baagi ba tlhalositse fa se se dirwang ke Motlhabane ele go kgokgontsha morafe, mme ba tlile go ema Setumisho nokeng mo letsatsing la kamoso.
Kgabagare, Motlhabane are ga nkitla a kgona go tshwaela mo kganyeng e, mme o tla bua le bobega-kgang mo letsatsing la kamoso.
Setopo sa monna se bonwe kwa ntlung nngwe kwa motseng wa Manokwane, gaufi le Taung mo letsatsing la Laboraro mo thapameng. Go ya ka dipego, Kgosiemang Mothibi wa dingwaga di le 50, o fitlhetse a ikaleditse kwa ntlung ya gagwe, mme setopo sa gagwe sene se setse se senyegile.
Go begwa fa ba lelapa la ga Mothibi, ba feleleditse go bona Kgosiemang la bofelo ka letsatsi la Tshipi.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen are: “Ke nnete sepodisi sene sa bilediwa kwa lifelong la tiragalo kwa ba fitlhetseng monna wa dingwaga dile 50 a ikaleditse. Setopo seo, sene se setse se senyegile, mme ga go belaelwe fa go nnile le letsogo la tshwene mo losong leo.
“Sepodisi se butse kgetsi a dipatlisiso tsa morago ga loso. Go fitlha ga jaana, ga go itsiwe sebakwa se se tlhodileng gore monna o, a ikgwagetse,” van Rooyene wa tlhalosa.
Monna wa dingwaga dile 39 o solofetse go ka tlhagelela kwa kgotlha-tshekelong ya Taung ka Labotlhano, morago ga go tshwarwa. Seno se tla morago ga ma gatwe a gore, banna bangwe ba le bararo ba ba itsiweng, ba ne ba kgorogele basadi bangwe ba ba ne ba bala madi a bone a stokvel kwa motseng wa Lokaleng, gaufi le Taung ka Lamatlhatso.
Go begwa fa basadi ba, ba ne ba bala madi a lekanyediwang go R11 000, fa ba ka kgorogelwa ke babelaelwa ba go begwang fa ba ne ba tshwere dithunya le dithipa. Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi kwa sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati mo Bokone Bophirima, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, mapodisi ba tshwere mongwe wa ba belaelwa mo letsatsing la gompieno.
“Re le sepodisi, re ka netefatsa fa mongwe wa ba belaelwa mo kgetsing ya go kgothosa o tlhometse e e diragetseng kwa motseng wa Lokaleng ka Lamatlhatso, a tshwerwe. Mmelaelwa o, o tla tlhagelela ka boripana kwa kgotlha-tshekelong ya Taung mo letsatsing la kamoso.
“Mmelaelwa o lebagane le kgetsi ya go kgothosa a tlhometse, mme sepodisi se mo motlhaleng wa babelaelwa ba bangwe,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.
A man was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Kuruman Regional Court. This comes after Stanford Hatidani (42) was convicted on three counts of Restricted Activities Involving Specially Protected Species, Protected Species, and Indigenous Species in terms of the Northern Cape Nature Conservation Act 9 of 2009. On 14 June 2022.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Northern Cape, Mojalefa Senokoatsane said, the state’s first witness, an ambulance driver, out of concern, stopped at a bakkie and a truck standing next to the N14 Highway between Kuruman and Kathu.
“On enquiring whether everything was okay, he became suspicious when he saw plants being loaded from the bakkie onto the truck and alerted the Kuruman- neighbourhood watch and the South African Police Service.
“On entering Kuruman, both the bakkie and truck were pulled over by the neighbourhood watch and the SAPS. On further investigation, a total amount of 2850 endangered and protected plants were found, which included five different species with a combined international value of over R9 million,” said Senokoatsane.
He further said, that the accused, being the driver of the truck, tried to downplay the situation by indicating that he was only assisting the people of a broken-down bakkie to transport these plants to Johannesburg.
Senokoatsane added that, Hatidani was arrested and pleaded not guilty to all the charges conferred against him. He said the accused disputed that, the truck he was driving was carrying illegal plants.
“During the trial, the Regional Court Prosecutor, Advocate Sherlaine Smith, emphasized the impact of these offences on nature conservation and the communities, where these plants are poached from.
“Smith further argued that, these offenses are of such a serious nature that the legislature deemed it necessary to have a specific Act relating to such offenses – The Northern Cape Nature Conservation Act 9 of 2009,” said Senokoatsane.
In strengthening the state’s case, the prosecutor provided the court with expert and compelling statements from Botanist and Zoologist, Adam Harrower, as evidence, that indicated that the accused were very specific about the species he was targeting. Harrower told the court that, from the large size and great age of these plants, the accused was to sell them for immediate commercial gain.
Smith said the astounding quantity of large trophy plants collected indicated no restraint or ecological sensitivity, which shows a complete disregard for nature and the law.
“The prosecution also argued that, when looking at the evidence before the court, the people and vehicles involved and the planning, show the sophisticated manner in which the poachers operate and the only inference that can be drawn, is that syndicates are involved in the commission of these offenses.
“These plants were to be taken out of the country once they have reached Johannesburg. The main objective of poachers of these protected plants is for them to reach the international market, where it is seen as a status symbol,” she said.
Smith continued by emphasizing the fact that, there is a high prevalence of poaching of these plants in the Northern Cape, and are increasing in numbers at a shockingly high rate.
After a lengthy trial and the state calling four witnesses, the court believed that the evidence adduced by the state was overwhelming and that the state had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The accused was consequentially found guilty of all 3 charges and sentenced to 10 years of direct imprisonment (all 3 charges were taken together for sentencing).
“NPA lauded the work of the prosecution as well as the vigilant conduct of the ambulance driver, whose observant nature, and prompt actions led to the arrest of the accused.
“The Prosecuting Authority also commends the rapid response by members of the South African Police Service in ensuring that the suspect is apprehended. The NPA remains committed to the fight against the poaching and plundering of our country’s natural resources and the protection of our flora and fauna,” said Senokoatsane.
Bafana Bafana’s plans and preparations for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Benin at home and Rwanda away remain on track, even though injuries and withdraws have had an impact on the South African senior national team.
South African senior national team coach, Hugo Broos’ charges host Benin at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on 18 November 2023 and then travel to East Central Africa to face Rwanda in the second FIFA World Cup qualifier on 21 November 2023.
The team doctor, Tshepo Molobi said, Lyle Foster, Njabulo Blom, Grant Kekana and Thapelo Maseko were part of coach Hugo Broos’ initial plans for these crunch matches, but things did not go according to plan and changes had to be made.
“Lebo Mothiba’s team sent through a medical report and we had to call in reinforcement on Sunday night. We could not risk Lebo, and Evidence Makgopa was called up as his replacement that same night. Grant Kekana and Thapelo Maseko joined the Bafana Bafana camp in Pretoria on Monday but also had to undergo medical tests.
“Kekana had a scan on Monday when he arrived at camp and we could not risk it. We had to let him recoup as there was no guarantee that the medical team could have him ready by Saturday in Durban or Tuesday in Rwanda next week,” he said.
Molobi further said it was best that they let him continue with treatment and allowed him the time he needed to fully recover. He added that, Maseko’s scans also revealed that, it was best to release him and let him rest as well.
“They have also had a lot of games and needed the time to bounce back to full health, and that is why they are not in camp. Thapelo Xoki and Elias Mokwana have joined the team as their replacements. While most of the more serious injury woes have been handled, our medical room is still busy.
“We can never, ever as a national team have full fitness with no concerns. We have niggles that we are treating, but nothing serious at the moment and we hope that it stays this way,” said Molobi.
He said with two big games looming, Bafana Bafana cannot afford to have any more changes to the team.
The tickets to the World Cup qualifier against Benin are available for purchase at Ticketpro. General admission tickets are available at R50 (adults) and R20 (kids under 13 Years).
The Guardian 