Monthly Archives: March 2024

Learners encouraged to take a stand against crime 

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Picture: The Northern Cape police during the junior commissioner project/Supplied 

By OBAKENG MAJE 

Learners from various schools were part of the Junior Commissioner Project, which envisages advancing and promoting the safety of learners and educators in schools. The glaring event was hosted by the Office of the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, at the Piet Thole Community Hall in Rosedale on Saturday. 

The event was attended by executives and senior officials from all relevant entities. 

According to the Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers, the Junior Commissioners will play an active role in initiating education and awareness campaigns on issues that affect the safety of learners. Ehlers said as the police, they will use community outreach programmes as platforms to mobilise and educate the youth about the dangers of involvement in criminal activities.

“Extramural and recreational activities will be initiated by the young leaders, where young people can demonstrate various talents and capabilities. The focus is on ensuring the development, nurturing of leadership skills and capabilities of all learners. 

“This will ensure that we provide guidance and mentorship initiatives to prepare them for future leadership endeavours and transforming into progressive and responsible citizens. Four learners per district, were subjected to an intensive induction programme that provided knowledge and information about the police,” she said. 

Ehlers further said they were coached by Constable Zamile Mgwevu, in preparation for the delivery of prepared speeches to showcase their knowledge and potential as young leaders. She added that these learners expressed their views on social ills experienced by the youth and how they can be remedied.

“The top 10 learners were announced and granted the opportunity to deliver unprepared speeches. The winners were announced after the vigorous scrutiny of a panel of adjudicators. Simone van Rooyen from the Frances Baard District, was appointed as the Junior Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Corporate Services. 

“Ealroe Taddese from the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, was appointed as the Junior Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing, Onkarabile Kgomonyane from the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, was appointed as the Junior Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, while Oragolele Kuriti from the Frances Baard District was appointed as the Junior Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape,” said Ehlers. 

She said maximum participation of young people in the fight against crime in their learning environment was emphasized. Ehlers also said the collaboration between the youth and police, will ensure that they see more South African schools safe and conducive to learning. 

“Bullying is rife in schools and must be eradicated. No learner must be prevented from attending school,” she said.

In her keynote address, the Northern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Sylvia Bloem, said they are in an era of hope. Bloem said it is inspiring that the youth is taking responsibility for their wellbeing. 

“Youth involvement in crime remains a concern. Substance abuse exposes them to become perpetrators or victims of crime.

So, we encourage young leaders to lead by example and have the courage to say ‘No’.

“Everyone is a leader, irrespective of whether they were chosen or not.  All participants will still be afforded the opportunity to partake in Safer School Programmes, CPF and Youth Against Crime initiatives,” she said. 

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Police address challenges raised by community members

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Picture: The police embark on an outreach programme/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

In an effort to address the challenges faced by the residents of Postmasburg, the office of the ZF Mgcawu District’s acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Monica Sebili, held a church service at Groenwater Community Hall on 10 March 2024.

Sebili has pledged to work with the community and requested them to join hands with the police. She also encouraged the local community to take advantage of her ‘open door’ policy and all the station commanders in the district in order to have a united front against crime.

“This session is an endeavour to bring in spiritual intervention as a strategy in the fight to curb criminal activities in communities and through the establishment of Community Policing Forum (CPF) structures in all sectors as expected.

“The program commenced with a church service led by the ZFM Employee Health and Wellness Spiritual Services. In attendance were various church leaders and fraternities, political affiliates and community members of Groenwater and Jenn-Haven CPF in support of the district,” she said.

After the service, the CPF structure of the Groenwater area was elected. Sebili was welcomed by the District Chairperson, Clement Baai. She said she will continue to engage with the CPF and community members of Jenn-Haven. 

“We highly-appreciate their progressive efforts, for taking it upon themselves to work with the police on the ground as the eyes and ears of the police within their own community.

“The community used the opportunity to thank the police of Postmansburg, who have already started working with them and have been conducting foot patrols jointly. They further requested the police to have a joint church service in their area,” said Sebili. 

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More than 600 suspects arrested for various crimes during Operation Shanela

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Picture: More than 600 suspects arrested for various crimes during Operation Shanela/Supplied  

By OBAKENG MAJE 

More than 600 suspects were arrested for various crimes during Operation Shanela across the Northern Cape. The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Sergio Kock said 676 suspects were apprehended for crimes ranging from murder, attempted murder, robbery, assault and stock theft. 

Kock said this includes burglary, theft out of motor vehicles, malicious damage to property, dealing and possession of drugs, dangerous weapons, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. 

He further said some of the suspects were arrested for illegal dealing in liquor, illegal immigrants as well as contravention of the Second Hand Goods Act. Kock added that, of 676 total arrests, 585 were wanted suspects, who have been on the run from the police for numerous offences. 

“The arrests were executed during tracing operations by detectives across the province. Disruptive actions focusing on the illegal trading in liquor, resulted in the confiscation of large volumes of alcoholic beverages and numerous dangerous weapons at illegal liquor outlets and other hot spot crime areas.

“The multi-disciplinary high density operation remains steadfast and intentional in stabilizing crime. The intensified police operations commenced from 3 until 10 March 2024, with a specific focus on the reduction of contact and violent crimes in hotspot areas, which ensured the multitude of successes,” he said.

Kock said actions and police activities executed during the operations included, Vehicle Check Points (VCPs), stop and searches, foot and vehicle patrols, compliance inspections, drugs and other commodities smuggling and tracing operations by detectives. He said 48 VCPs and several roadblocks were conducted across the province during which 2711 vehicles and 5672 persons were stopped and searched.

“Numerous police actions were executed, including compliance inspections at second-hand dealers, firearm dealers, liquor premises, formal and informal businesses, school visits as well as farms,” said Kock.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, reiterated that the police will continue to robustly and vigorously prevent and combat crime. Otola also commended all the law enforcement agencies and stakeholders, including the Community Policing Forum (CPF) structures for the concerted efforts in addressing crime in the province.

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Mosimane o tlhokafetse fa o mongwe a lwela botshelo jwa gagwe morago ga go thulwa ke sejanaga mo tsela-kgolo ya N18 gaufi le Maphoitsile

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Setshwantsho: Sejanaga se se thudileng basimanyana ba le babedi ba ba ne ba kgweetsa setobetobe

Ka OBAKENG MAJE 

Makawana a le mabedi ba letse ba thudiwe ke sejanaga sa modiro wa Polo Vivo e pududu ka mmala mo tsela-kgolo ya N18, gaufi le matsenong a motse wa Maphoitsile mono Taung. Go begwa fa basimane ba, Koketso Setilo (20) le tsala ya gagwe, Tlotlang Maruping, ba ne ba palame setobetobe (bicycle) go leba kwa motseng wa Majaneng fa ba ne ba amega mo kotsing ya sejanaga. 

Go begwa fa Setilo a ile a tlhokafala ka gangwe, fa Maruping a ile a bona dikgobalo tse di tsetsibanyang mmele, mme o lwelwa botshelo jwa gagwe kwa bookelong kwa Tshepong/Klersdorp Hospital Complex kwa Klerksdorp. 

Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo porofenseng ya Bokone Bophirima, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani, sepodisi se butse kgetsi ya polao ntle le maikaelelo, mme ga go ope o tshwerweng go fitlha ga jaana. 

“Mokgweetsi (32) wa Polo Vivo o kaile fa a ne a tswa ntlheng ya Taung le go leba ntlheng ya Hartswater mo tsela-kgolo ya N18 fa basimanyana ba ba neng ba palame setobetobe ba ne ba tlhaga mo matsenong a motse wa Maphoitsile,” Funani wa tlhalosa. 

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Kotsi ya dijanaga mo matsenong a toropo ya Taung 

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Setshwantsho: sejanaga sa poraevete se go begwang se thudilwe kwa morago  

Ka OBAKENG MAJE 

Go ile ga nna le thulano ya dijanaga mo tsela-kgolo ya N18, gaufi le matseno mo toropong ya Taung mo letsatsing la Lamatlhatso. Go begwa fa mokgweetsi wa tekesi, a ile a thula sejanaga sa poraevete kwa morago. 

Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo porofenseng ya Bokone Bophirima, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani: “Sepodisi se ile sa bilediwa kwa lefelong la tiragalo, ga mmogo le bo rrapharakano. Ga gona ope o boneng dikgobalo. 

“Ke ka moo sepodisi se ile sa kwadisa kgetsi ya kotsi fela, gonne go ne go se dikgobalo dipe.”

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ANC concerned after its candidate lists leaked

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By OBAKENG MAJE
The African National Congress (ANC) said is concerned after its candidate lists was leaked to the media. The ruling party said it has successfully submitted its National and Provincial candidate lists for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections via the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) online candidate nomination system (OCNS) on 8 March 2024, as stipulated in the Electoral Timetable.

The ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said, they welcome the great public interest in the ANC’s collective of candidates, who represent the mosaic of South African diversity. However, Bhengu-Motsiri said they have noted with concern that ANC candidate lists that appear to emanate from the IEC online candidate nomination system are now circulating on social media.

“We have conveyed our concerns to the IEC about this unauthorised release of personal information in potential contravention of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

“We wish to reiterate our full confidence in the IEC’s proven track record of administering and overseeing free, fair, and credible elections over the past three decades,” she said.

Bhengu-Motsiri further said the IEC continues to do so with professionalism, impartiality and integrity, attributes which have also extended to the secure management of confidential information. She added that, the ANC supports the IEC in any efforts it may pursue to investigate the unauthorised release and hold anyone responsible to account.

“The ANC has and will continue to speak for itself throughout this process on the nature and constitution of the ANC’s candidate lists. The ANC will continue with its planned media briefing on Monday. A media alert with details will be circulated in due course.
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COGTA to sign implementation protocols with municipalities for improved performance

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Picture: The Head of Department at North West Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Ben Bole

By OBAKENG MAJE

The Head of Department (HoD) at North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Ben Bole is to lead the signing of Implementation Protocols between the department and Bojanala Platinum District Municipality and its local municipalities to ensure accountability and improved performance.  

Bole said the Chapter 3 of the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act provides for organs of state to enter into an implementation protocol as an Agreement, where the implementation of a policy, the exercise of a statutory power, the performance of a statutory function or the provision of a service depends on the participation of organs of state in different spheres of government to achieve a government objective.  

“The signing of protocols, which will also be done next week in other districts, follows the One-on-One Engagement Sessions the department had with all municipalities in the province earlier this year, to provide support and strengthen their capacity to manage their own affairs in terms of Section 154 of the Constitution,” he said.

Bole said the signing of the protocols will be held at Bojanala Platinum District Municipality Chambers in Rustenburg at 10am.

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Grade 6 learner allegedly raped behind Grade R classrooms by four boys from neigbouring school 

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A Grade 6 learner at Thuto Botshelo Primary School in Mahikeng, has allegedly been raped. According the North West Department of Education, the learner was allegedly raped by four boys from neighbouring school, Kebonang Secondary School. 

The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said, the incident allegedly took place behind Grade R classrooms on 7 March 2024. Motsumi said upon hearing of the incident, the parents of the learner were informed and a police case was filed by the school. 

“The learner was taken to Mahikeng Provincial Hospital and was confirmed to have been sexually violated. We are aggravated by the alleged rape incident. We are calling for a swift investigation to find the perpetrators.

“I am extremely disappointed by this incident to have happened in our schools on our own by our own. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) has found its way into schools and we will not tolerate it,” she said. 

Motsumi further said not only does this offend the learner, but it also offends the basic values of the country. She is calling for a combined effort with the police, the school management, SGB and the community at large to find these perpetrators, so that due sanction will be levelled against them. 

“We condemn this with the strongest possible terms. Both the learner and the family are receiving psychological support from the department and Thuthuzela Care Centre,” added Motsumi.

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North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management defrauded R21 million, restraint order obtained against the accused

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Picture: The businessman, Caswell Mthombeni who is accused of defrauding the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management R21 million  

By OBAKENG MAJE 

The North West High Court has granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks, a restraint order against Caswell Mthombeni (52) and his company, Caswell Mthombeni Consultants CC. 

This is to restrain properties to the value of over R21 million belonging to Mthombeni and his company. These include luxury properties in Mooikloof Heights Estate in Pretoria East, a filling station in Giyani in the Limpopo Province, and 6 other immovable properties located in Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said, the order also includes 25 motor vehicles, which are mostly bakkies, Range Rover, and a Mercedes Benz GLE63.

Mamothame said it is alleged that, in October 2015, Mthombeni was appointed by the North West Community Safety and Transport Management to help the department achieve its road safety objectives, which included training unemployed matriculants and empowering accredited driving schools in various pilot areas. 

“His mandate also included training and developing driving schools and learner drivers. An amount of over R21 million was allegedly paid to his company for the commencement of the programme. 

“Over 40 driving schools allegedly signed contracts with the company as beneficiaries of the programme. It is further alleged that these driving schools utilised their funds to participate in the programme, in anticipation that the company would compensate them,” said Mamothame. 

He further said Mthombeni allegedly failed to honour his contractual agreement with the driving schools, but the funds on himself. Mamothame added that, as a result, the department incurred losses to the tune of over R21 million. 

“He was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation assisted by Priority Crime Specialised Investigation and Tactical Operations Management Section in Pretoria on 26 June 2023. Mthombeni is expected back in court on 27 March 2024.

“He made his first appearance in the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on 27 June 2023, facing charges of fraud, theft and money laundering. Mthombeni was granted R50 000 bail and the court ordered him to surrender his passport, report to his nearest police station every Monday and Friday between 6am and 6pm,” he said. 

According to Mamothame, the accused was also informed not to interfere with the state’s witnesses. 

Meanwhile, the Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPP), Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director for Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, commended the collaboration between AFU, DPCI and the NPA’s Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU) in obtaining a restraint order against Mthombeni to recoup on proceeds of crime. 

Makhari and Mbotho vowed to continue working together in clamping down on corruption in the province.

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26 initiates rescued from illegal initiation school

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Picture: Illegal initiation school shut down/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

More than 25 initiates were rescued from illegal initiation school at Witfontein Farm, which is between Ottosdal and Klerksdorp. The raid was carried out through a joint operation between the North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) and the South African Police Services (SAPS), which led to the closure of the school.

The COGTA spokesperson, Dineo Thapelo said the school operated for two weeks. Thapelo said the department officials have rescued 26 young people from an illegal initiation school, which was raided and closed.

“Some of the initiates required immediate medical attention, while others needed medical check-ups. One was admitted at Ottosdal Hospital, six were referred to Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp and four were referred to Gelukspan Hospital.

“A case has been opened at Ottosdal Police Station against the principal for contravening the Customary Initiation Act,” she said.

The Deputy Chairperson of PICC, Andries Stemmer, led the operation which conducted an early morning raid and shutdown of the unauthorised initiation school. This comes after receiving a tip-off that, the school is operating without a permit.

“These people have disregard for the law and the safety of our children. There are procedures that one needs to follow to register the initiation school for approval by the department.

“We urge parents to remain vigilant as many young boys are at risk of being abducted,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the North West House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Kgosi Thari Maotwe, further re-emphasised the severity of the mushrooming illegal initiation schools, labelling it a national crisis.

“It is quite disheartening to know that, there are initiation schools that are still operating without authorisation from the department, despite our efforts to educate everyone about the importance of following proper procedures.

“We urge all stakeholders to unite in safeguarding this cultural practice, especially as the department is yet to open applications for the upcoming June initiation season intake,” said Maotwe.

He added that, the collaborative efforts by all role players in the operation, which led to the shutdown of the school is commendable. Maotwe urged communities to support interventions by government and traditional leaders to prevent unnecessary deaths and injuries due to illegal initiation schools.
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