Picture: The accused, Agnes Setshwantsho

By OBAKENG MAJE

A murder and fraud case against Agnes Setshwantsho (43) has been deferred to 19 January 2024 by Molopo Magistrate’s Court for judgment on her bail application. Setshwantsho is facing a murder case, two counts of fraud, and defeating the ends of justice.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said the state and the defense attorney have completed their closing arguments, following testimony by the investigating officer and the correctional nurse from the facility, where Setshwantsho is detained.

Mamothame further said the South African Police (SAPS) reported that on 16 November 2023, an intelligence operation led to the arrest of the accused on suspicion that she murdered her relatives to benefit from insurance claims.

He added that, Setshwantsho was traced and arrested in Centurion during a takedown operation, led by the SAPS in collaboration and full cooperation with an insurance company.

“The police further reported that in the past two months, Sergeant Keshi Mabunda, and a team of detectives have been working on the case following a tip-off from relatives of this suspect.

“Through analysis and collection of evidence, including the exhumation of two bodies, the team was able to link its latest suspect to the team’s first focus of the case. According to the police report, the murder that was initially ruled a “natural death” happened in Mmabatho, in the North West, where a female relative died under mysterious circumstances in March 2023,” said Mamothame.

He said the investigations have revealed that, Setshwantsho fraudulently took out insurance on behalf of her relative before her murder. Mamothame said the police are conducting further investigations, with the possibility of adding more charges against the accused.

Meanwhile, the accused will remain in police custody pending the outcome of the bail application.

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Picture: One of the suspects arrested for business burglary/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

Two suspects aged 33 and 28, were arrested for allegedly breaking into a local restaurant in Port Nolloth during the early hours of Monday, 15 January 2024. The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said the police who were on duty in the Community Service Centre (CSC), received a complaint of an alleged business burglary, not far from the station.

“One of the police officers immediately ran on foot to the scene and cornered the suspects, who were busy breaking in. A police vehicle arrived to assist.

“The two suspects were apprehended with the tools they allegedly utilized in the commission of the crime. The suspects were charged with business burglary and will appear in the Port Nolloth Magistrate’s Court soon,” said Sam.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General, Koliswa Otola, commended the public for their vigilance and the police officers for their swift response. 

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Setshwantsho: Batsadi ga mmogo le lekgotlha-tsamaiso la sekolo ba tlhagola  

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Lekgotlha-tsamaiso la sekolo se se potlana sa St Paul’s kwa motseng wan Nhole, mono Taung ba kaile fa ba itumeletse thologelo e ba e boneng go tswa go batsadi mo letsatsing la gompieno. Batsadi, botsamaisi jwa sekolo, ga mmogo le maloko a lekgotlha-tsamaiso la sekolo ba tlhotse ba tsenetse letsema la go phephafatsa sekolo mo letsatsing la gompieno (15 Ferikgong 2024).

Modulasetilo wa lekgotlha-tsamaiso la sekolo, Otlotleng Monnawabokone are, ba ile ba rulaganya letsema le, mme maitlhomo a lone ene ele go ka tla go tlhagola ga mmogo le go phephafatsa sekolo pele ga dikolo di bulwa ka Laboraro.

“Ka gore ngwana ke sejo wa tlhakanelwa, re ile ra bona fa go le matshwanedi go ka rulaganya letsema le, mme lone le tlile go re thusa thata. Jaanong, baithuti ba tlile go tlhomela mogopolo wa bone mo dithutong tsa bone, ntle le go kgorelediwa ke maemo a sa jeseng diwelang, a lefelo le ba ithutelang mo go lone.

“Jaanong, re itumeletse thologelo e re e boneng go tswa mo batsadi, mme re lebogile thata. Se re se bonang mo sekolong sa rona ke bontle, gonne gwa bontsha gore motsadi mongwe le mongwe o eme ka maoto fa go tliwa mo thutong ya bana ba bone,” Monnawabokone wa tlhalosa.

Monnawabokone are sekolo sa bone se tshimolola ka Grade R go fitlha go Grade 7.

Tlhogo ya lekala la tsamaiso (Head of Department for Foundation Phase), Beauty Phukuile are: “Gompieno, re ne re dirile letsema la go phephafatsa. Re ne re biditse batsadi ba baithuti go tla go nna karolo ya phephafatso eno ya sekolo. Se se tla re thusa gore fa dikolo dibulwa ka Laboraro, re be re tswelela ka dithuto, mme re sa kgorelediwe ke sepe.

“Re itumeletse karolo e tshamikilweng ke batsadi, le tirisano mmogo e ntle e re e bone. Re leboga le lekgotlha-taolo la sekolo ka go rotlowetsa batsadi. Fa o tla lebelela, re tsweletse ka go thebetha, mme motsadi mongwe le mongwe o tseile karolo. Re ne re tlhagola legora la rona la sekolo, gape re phephafatsa.”

Phukuile are batsadi botlhe ba ba sa kgonang go nna karolo ya letsema la gompieno, ba ka ikgorotsa ka makatla-a-namane mo letsatsing la kamoso.

Kgabagare, moemedi go tswa kwa kerekeng ya Catholic, Batshidi Bantobetse are ba lebogetse tshegetso e sekolo se e boneng go tswa mo batsading.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

One of the prime suspects in a human trafficking case, Beaula Maruza (41), was denied bail today by the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court. Maruza and her co-accused, Tafadzwa Otis Nadakurwa (46), were arrested during a multi-disciplinary operation on 6 December 2023 for trafficking in-person allegations.

The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi said, two Zimbabwean nationals were allegedly seen boarding a bus in Midrand with 14 undocumented kids aged between 6 and 14. Mnisi further said the police were alerted to the incident by a vigilant passenger in a bus from Midrand in Johannesburg en route to Cape Town.

“The bus stopped in Kimberley and the passenger called an off-duty police officer, alerting the multi-disciplinary team for investigation and arrest. The suspects claimed to be taking the kids to their parents in Cape Town, however, this information could not be verified by the police.

“This led to the arrests and the victims were inspected. They looked hungry and were found to be dirty without any additional clothes or bags. The Provincial Trafficking in Persons rapid response team led by the Northern Cape Department of Social Development, was contacted to assist the victims with shelter and food,” said Mnisi.

She further said Nadakurwa has since been released on bail. Mnisi added that their case was postponed to 12 February 2024.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

More than 1200 suspects were arrested during the Safer Festive Season Operation Shanela in the province. North West police spokesperson, Captain Aaftje Botma said, as part of keeping the province safe and secure, this resulted in the arrest of 1201 suspects for numerous crimes between 8 and 14 January 2024.

Botma further said 162 suspects were arrested for drug-related offenses, 19 for illegal dealing in liquor, 25 for driving under the influence of liquor, and four for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. She added that 66 suspected undocumented persons were handed over to the Immigration officials for further processing.

“A further 269 suspects arrests were made for serious and violent crimes that included 6 for murder, 186 for assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH), 67 for assault common and 10 for rape.

“Three hundred and thirteen suspects were arrested during detective suspect raiding operations. In of one of the successes on 11 January 2024, the vigilant members of Stilfontein Police Station, arrested a man (62) with a bag containing 56kg of burned copper cable on the Klerksdorp/Khuma road,” said Botma.

She said the suspect is expected to appear in the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on 15 January 2024 for possession of suspected stolen property.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, commended the police and all other role players for their continued collaborative efforts to ensure the safety of all people in the country and the province in particular.

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