By REGINALD KANYANE

An arson case against seven accused persons from Manthe village, near Taung, has been postponed to 12 February 2024 by the Taung Regional Court. The trial commenced on 16 until 18 October 2023, but it was postponed to 28 January 2024.

However, it was postponed again until 12 February 2024 due to the magistrate, Buti Zulu’s ill-health.

The former soccer star, Odiseng “Teenage” Komane (41), Obakeng “Prosto” Mogabale (46), Mothusi Motimeng, Pretty “Zero” Masibelele (36), Ali Sakiele (50), Ontiretse Patrick Gosenyegang (38) and the former Mega Stars FC goalie, Katlego “Makgasa” Tikane (32), were arrested and charged for arson.

The seven accused were arrested by the police in July 2022 during an intelligence-driven operation.

In May 2022, the community members embarked on a violent protest, torched three houses, and looted the Disoufeng tavern belonging to Katong’s family. They accused the alleged drug lord, Bakang Katong (32) of killing the late Thabiso Mothibedi (35).

The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said: “We can confirm that the police have arrested seven suspects for arson and they were granted R500 bail each.”

Meanwhile, Bakang, and his brother, Phenyo “The Great” Katong (34), Thabang Lenyai (23), and Katlego “Makita” Mosimege (31) were arrested for Mothibedi’s murder and the case is still pending.

The police preliminary investigation revealed that, on 29 April 2022, Mothibedi was at Longaneng village near Taung, where Katong and his cronies allegedly fetched him. They allegedly transported him back to Manthe village after accusing him of stealing R20 000 and cigarettes worth R600.

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Picture: The seven accused persons who are accused of arson

Picture: Learners participating in athletics in school/Facebook

By REGINALD KANYANE

North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said learners across the province kicked off the school year with a flurry of inter-class athletics competitions. Motsumi said these events serve as a springboard to select the best athletes for upcoming regional and provincial competitions.

“Sport plays a vital role in our learners’ well-being, fostering physical and mental health. Participation relieves stress, improves academic performance, and builds teamwork,” she said.

Meanwhile, echoing this sentiment, Goodwill Primary School principal in Mahikeng, Lucia Seremo said the “holistic development” approach, aims to nurture learners intellectually and socially. Seremo further said the athletic journey continues next week at the cluster level, followed by the district, and culminating in the provincial championships.

“The winning team will proudly represent North West at the national level,” she added.

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Setshwantsho: Monna oneng a timetse, Otimilwe Michael Mosimane   

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Ba lelapa la monna oneng a begwa fa a timetse, Otimilwe Michael Mosimane (47), ba re ba mo khutsahalong morago ga go tlhokafala ga gagwe. Go begwa fa Mosimane wa kwa motseng wa Khibitswane, gaufi le Taung, a ne a timela ka di 3 Ngwanatsele 2023.

Go ya kgaitsedie moswi, Tshoganyetso Mosimane, setopo sa ga Mosimane se seneng se na le dintho tsa go teketiwa, se ne sa bonwa kwa motseng wa Majaneng ka di 5 Ngwanatsele 2023.

‘Go ya ka dipego, go bontsha fa Otimilwe a ne a hapilwe matsogo ka fa morago, mme sefatlhego sa gagwe se ne se rurugile. Gwa bontsa gore one a biditswe, mme one a kgaotswe le kgokgotso. Mo letsatsing la maabane, mapodisi a ile a tla ko go rona gore re ye go supa setopo kwa mmoshareng wa puso wa Vryburg.

“Mapodisi ba kaile fa ba tshotse nako go lemoga gore motho o bongweng kwa Majaneng ke Otimilwe, gonne ba re motho o ba mo boning, e kare ke motho wa letso la Sesotho go ya ka tlhoro e ba e boning kwa lefelong la tiragalo.

“Fela, ke ile ka ba itsise fa Otimilwe le ene a ne a na le tlhoro eo ya Basotho. Jaanong, ba ile ba tsaya mongwe wa legae go ya go netefatsa fa ele ene. Ngwana wa mamogolo wa gagwe, one tsamaya le bone, mme a netefatsa fa moswi e le Otimilwe go ya ka di tattoo sa gagwe,” Tshegonyetso wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Mokaptein Aaftje Botma, are ke nnete setopo sa ga Otimilwe se bonwe kwa motseng wa Majaneng. Botma are ga jaana, kgetsi ya polao e ile ya bulwa, mme dipatlisiso di tsweletse.

“Re tla netefatsa gore setopo sa moswi se ne se teketilwe, mme re sentse re emetse dipholo tsa morago ga loso. Ga gona yo o tshwerweng mo kgetsing e go fitlha ga jaana,” Botma wa tlhalosa.

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Setshwantsho: Baoki ba direla fela mo lefifing kwa kliniking ya Ganyesa/Facebook

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Mongwe wa baeteledipele wa baagi, Lebogang Bosman are ba na le mathata mabapi le tlhokego ya motlakase kwa kliniking ya selegae ya Ganyesa. Go ya ka Bosman yo o kwadileng mo mafaratlhatlheng a boitapoloso, are motlakase one wa tsamaya ka ura ya boraro mo motshegareng ka di 25 Ferikgong 2024, mme seo sene sa pateletsa baoki go direla mo lefifing. 

“Jaanong, motho o thapilweng ke Lefapha La Boitekanelo (service provider) gore a tshele lokwane mo sefetlha-motlakase (generator) one a sa kgone go reka lokwane la diesel, gonne one a le kgakajana, mme seo sene sa mo itsa go bona gore kliniki ga ena motlakase.

“Jaanong, seemo se ile sa nna fela jalo go fitlhelela bosigo. Gape, re o ikuela go balwetsi go se nwe metsi a kwa kliniking eo, gonne dipompo tsa teng di sa siama,” Botman wa tlhalosa. 

Botman are metsi ao a na le kalaka, gape o kaile fa madutelo a metsi kwa kliniking a dirilwe fa gone go na le modutelo wa kgelelo-leswe (drain) teng. 

“Motsamaisi wa setheo o tlhalositse fa badiri ba batla go nwa metsi, ba a bedise pele. Se se makatsang ke gore, le batlhokomedi ba dikago le bone ga ba na mabone (torches). Gape, go dira baoki ba le babedi fela mo bosigong. 

“Yo mongwe wa belegisa, fa yo mongwe a thusa balwetsi. Balwetsi ba ntse ba tsena ka lefifi mo kiliniking. Nagana fela o tla kliniking o bobola o be o fitlha o newa ditlhare tse di sa siamang ka phoso ele ka ntlheng ya tlhokego ya motlakase?” Bosman wa  tlhalosa. 

Are malobeng, o ile a tsibosa baagi ka tsamaiso e sa lolamang ya motsamaisi wa setheo. Bosman are ka di 22 Ferikgong 2024, ba ile ba nna le kopano le motsamaisi wa setheo, mme ba batla go itse ka madi a setsha sa kliniki entsha gore a kae. 

Bosman are fela motsamaisi o ile a tshaba, mme one a itse gore o tshaba eng.

“Baagi ke one mathata are kopanang le one a, nna ke a iponetse mo bosigong jo bo fetileng jwa di 25 Ferikgong 2024. Bangwe ba komiti ya rona, ba ile ba tsaya balwetsi ba ba tabogisetsa kwa bookelong, gonne motlakase one o seo.

“Ngwana o lomilwe ke phepheng, gona le motho yo o robegileng le ngwana a lela ka selo mompeng. Jaanong, kliniki ya rona mo gae ga ena ditirelo tse dintle gotlhelele,” Bosman wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, sebueledi sa Lefapha La Boitekanelo mo porofenseng, Tebogo Lekgethwane are: “Lefapha le ntse le sa itse ka mathata a balwetsi ba a itemogelang kwa kliniking ya Ganyesa. Fela, kgang e e netswe kantoro ya lefapha ya sedika sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati go ka bolotsa dipatlisiso. Mme rona jaaka lefapha, re tla emela dipholo tsa dipatlisiso tseo.

“Mo kgannyeng ya tlhokego ya lokwane, kantoro ya kgaolo ke yone e neetsweng maikarabelo a go netefatsa fa go na le generator e e dirang fa gona le tlhokego ya motlakase.”

Lekgethwane are kantoro ya sedika, ke yone e itseng gore mothapiwa wa go tshela lokwane kwa kliniking o newa bokae. 

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Picture: The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari said 92 people lost their lives on various roads across the North West during the festive season. Lehari said there had been a steady and gradual reduction in fatalities in the past five years.

“For the year 2019/2020, there had been a 10% reduction followed by 8% the following year and a massive 27% in 2021/2022. This of course was due to travel restrictions imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This was followed by 17% when those restrictions were lifted for the 2022/2023 period. For the 2021/2022 period, there had been 142 crashes and we are happy that this figure had gone down to 94 last year and to 92 for the 2023/2024 period,” he said.

Lehari further said the disturbing pattern is that lifestyle exacerbates these crashes. He added that some of the factors that continuously increase fatalities are excessive drinking, excessive speeding, and excessive recklessness.

“The crash statistics we released are from the period starting on 1 December 2023 to 11 January 2024. For this period 92 lives had been lost on the Provincial roads from 113 crashes, which is 2% less than the same period last year.

“We attribute this reduction to the measures we implemented to ensure compliance with the traffic regulations. For this period, we began regular weekly law enforcement operations in various locations across the province in the last six months,” said Lehari.

He said among other contraventions for which road users were heavily penalised, were moving violations, transportation of contrabands, and unroadworthy vehicles. Lehari said as part of intensifying these measures, they have increased the working hours of the traffic officers to be visible on the roads 24 hours per day.

“We have also revamped traffic management with our new unit called The Eagles to ensure compliance is not compromised and is strictly applied. The Eagles are patrolling all arterial roads, including the N4 from our border with Gauteng next to Brits toll plaza all the way down to the Skilpadhek border post with Botswana.

“To ensure the efficiency of The Eagles, we have bought 30 high-powered vehicles including two which will secure the accident scenes. This will shorten the road closures as a result of the accident and are equipped with the latest technologies to ensure all processes are followed correctly,” he said.

Lehari said they have reduced the crashes in Ngaka Modiri Molema District by almost 60%, which is from 60 last year to 23 this year. He said in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, fatalities went down from 11 at the beginning of 2023 to 8 at the beginning of 2024, and have recorded 17 crashes in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District.

“The other noticeable trend is that more crashes happened between 6pm in the evening and 6am the following morning, which is 64 in total. There had been five head-on collisions that happened just before 23:00 during the night.

“One disturbing and growing trend is that 38 of the crash victims for this period are pedestrians and mostly were hit by vehicles during the night. However, we believe that with the measures they have put in place, they shall continue to ensure the safety of the road users,” said Lehari.

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