Daily Archives: January 25, 2024

Beware of bogus colleges

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Picture: Prospective students urged to be cautious of bogus institutions of higher learning/Google

By OBAKENG MAJE

Many prospective students desire to further their studies in various higher education institutions. Unfortunately as they grappling to register, some of them end up enrolling with bogus tertiary institutions without knowing, leaving them with invalid certificates of higher education and money gone to waste.

Now, the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism, through its Consumer Affairs Office, has issued a strong advisory to parents and students, cautioning them to be vigilant about unregistered higher education institutions.

The department spokesperson, Jerry Matebesi said they acknowledge the rising concern that prospective students face the risk of being misled by bogus institutions, potentially ending up with qualifications that are unrecognized and, in essence, worthless.

Matebesi said bogus institutions exploit the aspirations of students seeking higher education by capitalizing on their desire for academic credentials.

“The Consumer Affairs Office expresses deep concern over deceptive tactics employed by these institutions, including the use of names and logos that mimic legitimate universities. This creates a significant challenge for students trying to distinguish between credible and fraudulent entities.

“Unsuspecting students may unknowingly pay tuition fees to colleges that are not accredited, rendering the qualifications issued by these institutions worthless,” he said.

Matebesi further said the rise in fraudulent tertiary institutions is a critical issue that requires urgent intervention to preserve students’ educational ambitions and the integrity of higher education. He added that, this trend not only creates confusion but also has long-term consequences for students’ academic and career lives.

“One of the primary concerns is the misleading representation of these institutions. It is very important for consumers to be aware of their rights and responsibilities on the services offered to them.

“Thoroughly research the institution before enrolling to avoid falling prey to illegal or non-registered institutions. According to the Consumer Protection Act No. 68 of 2008, consumers have rights, including the right to choose and the right to disclosure and information,” he said.

Matebesi said the department urges those who have fallen victim to these illegal operators to contact the Consumer Affairs Office at 018 388 5844/845 or visit the office located at the NWDC Building, Corner University and Provident Drive, Mmabatho.

“Consumers can also seek assistance from the departmental district offices located in Rustenburg, Klerksdorp, Brits, and Vryburg,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Consumer Affairs said: “We strongly encourage parents and students to verify the credibility of such institutions by contacting the Department of Higher Education (DHE) and also ensure the accreditation of courses with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) before registering and paying tuition fees.

“Consumer Affairs said for easy verification, aspiring students should contact the Department of Higher Education at 012 312 5911, their toll-free number 0800 87 2222, or visit their website at http://www.dhet.org.za. Contact UMALUSI at 0860 35 66 35 or visit http://www.umalusi.org.za, or check SETA at http://www.saqa.org.za.”

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A man sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his ‘cheating’ wife

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Tlhabane Regional Court for killing his ‘cheating’ wife. Sithandile Ndlobothi (36), was arrested on at Phase 1 Freedom Park, near Rustenburg on 16 January 2023.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said Ndlobothi suspected his wife, Subenathi Nqalekane of infidelity. Mamothame further said on the night of the incident, he was awakened by the cries of their baby.

“Ndlobothi went to put the baby to sleep. He subsequently realized that his wife was not in the house, to which he went out searching for her. He was later called by neighbours, telling him that she had returned.

“On his return, an argument ensued and he started assaulting her with his hands and a stick. Ndlobothi also kicked her with booted feet, while she remained helpless. He stopped momentarily while she confessed that she went to visit a man she was having an affair with,” he said.

Mamothame added that the beating continued thereafter, with onlookers and his brother-in-law pleading with him to stop. He said Nqalekane was later transported to a nearby medical facility, where she succumbed to her injuries upon arrival.

“During the trial, the accused pleaded guilty to the offense. The court further declared him unfit to possess a firearm.,” said Mamothame.

In aggravation of the sentence, the state prosecutor, Sangweni Zimema indicated to the court that domestic violence is a pandemic, which the courts need to act on vigorously. He alluded to the trauma that will be suffered by their son (6), who will grow up without a mother.

Magistrate Segakweng Moeng agreed with the state and remarked on the magnitude of cases before the courts relating to serious and violent crimes against women and children. Moeng highlighted the need for a clear message to be sent by the courts on such criminal offenses.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the prosecutor, Sergeant Motsheoa Segopolo from the South Africa Police Service (SAPS), and other role players, who ensured that the perpetrator was brought to book.

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Dipatlisiso di tsweletse morago ga go timela ga ga Otimilwe Michael “Sergeant” Mosimane

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Setshwantsho: Monna o a begwang fa a timetse, Otimilwe Michael Mosimane

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Lelapa la ga Otimilwe Michael Mosimane yo o tlwaelegileng ka leina la Sergeant, lare le mo kakabalong, morago ga go timela gagwe. Lelapa le kaile fa Mosimane a timetse ka di 3 Ngwanatsele 2023, mme ga se nke ba mo bone gape.

Go ya ka mongwe wa lelapa o sa batleng leina la gagwe le itsiwe ka ntlheng ya go tshaba go tlhaselwa, are Mosimane o ne a amogela mogala go tswa go mongwe, mme morago o ne a ba laela fa a ya go kopana le ene.

“One a tswa ka sejanaga sa gagwe sa modiro wa Nissan NP 200, mme ene ele labofelo re mo bona. Mme morago ga matsatsi, rene ra bolotsa letsholo-patlo, le go etela kwa dikgolegelong, maokelong ga mmogo le di mmoshara, fela ga gwa nna le nko e tswang lemina. Mongwe wa ba lelapa, one a bona sejanaga sa ga Sergeant go lo gongwe kwa motseng wa Magogong, gaufi le Taung mme one a re itsise.

“Ba lelapa ba ne ba thologela kwa ntlung eo, mme monna mongwe one a kaela ba lelapa fa a ne a adimilwe sejanaga seo ke monna mongwe wa kwa nageng ya Lesotho. O ne a tlhalosa fa a ntse a tsentse mophato, mme kgale a dirisa sejanaga seo go dira ditiro tsa mophato,” mongwe wa lelapa wa tlhalosa.

Are ba ne ba letsetsa monna wa kwa nageng ya Lesotho, mme ba mo kopa ditlhaloso gore o tsaya kae sejanaga sa ga Mosimane. Mongwe o wa lelapa, one a tlhalosa fa ba ne ba kopana le monna wa kwa nageng ya Lesotho fa a ne a tswa lebenkeleng, fela o ne a ba kopa gore a ye go baya dilwana tsa gagwe pele a tla go kopana le bone.

“Monna o wa kwa nageng ya Lesotho, o ne a lebotsa phokoje, mme re ne ra itlhoboga le go boela gae. Rene ra boela kwa monneng o neng sejanaga se le kwa go ene kala ntlhaneng mo letsatsing le le latelang, fela one a re tlhalosetsa fa monna wa kwa nageng ya Lesotho a tshotse sejanaga seo.

“Rene ra letsetsa monna wa kwa nageng ya Lesotho go mo botsa gore o kae, fela one a tlhalosa fa a sa tlhole a na le kgatlhego ya go kopana le rona jaaka lelapa. Re ne ra ya kwa sepodising go ya go kopa thuso, mme le go fitlha ga jaana ga gona sepe se se dirilweng,” mongwe o wa lelapa wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone are: “Ke nnete sepodisi sa Taung se batlisisa kgetsi ya go timela ga motho, mme kgetsi ene ya bulwa ke mogolowe Mosimane. Ke nnete gore sejanaga sa ga Mosimane sene sa bonwa kwa ntlung nngwe kwa motseng wa Magogong, mme mongwe wa ntlo eo, yo eleng lepodisi kwa porofenseng ya Northern Cape, one a bolelela sepodisi fa a ne a adimilwe sejanaga seo ke monna mongwe wa kwa nageng ya Lesotho.

“Fela, sepodisi sene sa fitlhela fa sejanaga seo se seo, mme monna o wa lepodisi o ne a tlhalosa fa monna wa kwa nageng ya Lesotho a se tshotse. Go fitlha ga jaana, sejanaga seo ga ise se bonwe, mme dipatlisiso di tsweletse.”

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Uncertainty surrounding SAPS Psychometric and Integrity test results in North West   

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Picture: Police officers during a parade

By OBAKENG MAJE

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in North West said it is aware of the uncertainty about getting the Psychometric and Integrity test results for the Recruitment and Selection: Entry Level Police Trainees: 2024 / 2025 financial year.

The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said the situation was also exacerbated by a voicenote making rounds on social media platforms.

“To avoid unnecessary transport costs and a long queue at the SAPS Provincial Office in Potchefstroom, applicants are advised to check their results at the districts, where they stay or wrote the test by visiting or calling the Human Resource Management offices.

“Those who are in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District can call SAPS Klerksdorp office on (018) 464 5509, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, they can call Vryburg office on (053) 928 4116/5, in Ngaka Modiri Molema, they can call Mahikeng office on (018) 397 5701, while those in Bojanala Platinum 2 can call Rustenburg office on (012) 707 8900,” he said.

Mokgwabone further said those in Brits can call Bojanala Platinum 1 on (014) 523 7656. He added that, applicants who stay in and around Potchefstroom can still check their results at the SAPS Provincial Office between Monday and Thursday from 8:30am until 12:30pm.

“Alternatively, the applicants can call these numbers: (018) 299 7139 / 7126. Should applicants encounter challenges during the process, the Provincial Head for Human Resource Management, Brigadier Sibeko can be contacted on 071 354 6206,” said Mokgwabone.

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North West Department of Health spends R41 million on temporary structure at Christiana Hospital

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Picture: The park homes delivered at Christiana Hospital/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

A temporary structure to the value of R41 million has been erected at the Christiana Hospital. The North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said they have brought in park homes to restore critical health care services to the community.  

Lekgethwane said it was necessary to implement the project after the fire ravaged the hospital a few years ago.

“This project was necessitated by the closure of the hospital due to the fire. The project’s intention is to restore critical healthcare services to the community. The practical completion date of this project is estimated before the end of the first quarter of 2024.

“The park homes are to serve as a temporary hospital to restore critical health care services. This project is implemented by the North West Department of Health and does not fall under the maintenance work project at the hospital, which is done by the national department,” he said.

Lekgethwane further said a maintenance works at Christiana Hospital is a project of the National Department of Health (DoH) that is implemented by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). He added that this is the project that was damaged by a fire and where litigation was instituted.

“So, the department is not privy to information in this regard. Details on this project should be requested from and verified with the national department. Also, the cost for maintenance work done at the hospital should be requested either from the national department or DBSA.

“Investigations in terms of the fire fall under the maintenance work project implemented by DBSA on behalf of the national department. So, details should also be requested from and verified with the national department as we are not privy to this information,” said Lekgethwane.

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Bafana Bafana through to AFCON Round of 16

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Picture: The Bafana Bafana players against Tunisia/Google

By OBAKENG MAJE

Bafana Bafana is through to the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a 0-0 draw with Tunisia. The draw guaranteed Bafana Bafana a passage out of the group stages of the Côte d’Ivoire-held tournament.

Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos’ charges put up a masterful defensive display to keep the North Africans at bay and finished second and a point behind Group E winners Mali. Now, the South African senior men’s team will play again in Morocco as their Round of 16 opponents.

Broos said: “The Bafana Bafana vs Tunisia encounter was a tense battle of wills that was marked by furious tackles, especially during a first half that was balanced on a knife edge. Some of the tackles looked dangerous, but the referee allowed the play to continue.

“The best chance of the opening period fell to Evidence Makgopa in the 27th minute. But his effort flew agonizingly close to the upright, to the relief of Tunisia goalkeeper Bechir ben Saïd. The two sides went into the halftime break still tied at 0-0.”

He said the second period played out in a similar fashion, with Themba Zwane controlling things and delivering another man-of-the-match performance for the South Africans.

Meanwhile, Zwane said: “We wanted to qualify for the next round and we did well as a team. We managed to get a point today and overall as a team we did well.”

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A farmer sentenced to six years imprisonment for fraud!

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A man (52) has been sentenced to six years imprisonment for fraud by the Bloemhof Commercial Court on 22 January 2024. Jacobus Hendrikas Oosthuizen 2024. Oosthuizen was arrested in connection with fraud he committed in May 2021. The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said, the convict was self-employed as a farmer and a director of a company in Bloemhof between 2019 and 2020.

“He ordered farming seeds from another company, which was supplying farmers with seeds and on condition that payments will be done after harvesting. However, he failed to do that and a case was registered and transferred to Provincial Commercial Crime Unit for investigation. 

“Oosthuizen was finally arrested in 2021 and made several court appearances until he was found guilty on three counts of fraud to the value of R194 400. Four years was suspended for a period of five years on condition that, he is not convicted of fraud committed during the period of suspension,” Mokgwabone said.

In addition, Oosthuizen was declared unfit to possess firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Kwena, welcomed the sentence and thanked the investigation team and prosecution for their collaborative efforts that led to the conviction.

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