A man (23) has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by Lichtenburg Regional Court for raping a minor. The incident took place in Coligny on 14 January 2023.
The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said, it was reported that the victim is a cousin to the accused. Mokgwabone said she was walking from town to the Scotland Informal Settlement when she met the accused, who volunteered to accompany her.
“They were walking in the maize field when the accused grabbed, undressed, raped her. He also stabbed her with a knife and the victim was assisted by passers-by who heard her screaming.
“The passerby managed to restrain the accused and called the police. The accused who was declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000), has been in custody since his arrest,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and the Director for Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, applauded the Investigating Officer, Constable Tsekiso Tau of Lichtenburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for good investigative work and collaborative efforts with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), including Advocate Itumeleng Boikanyo to secure the conviction on crimes against women and children.
Kwena said the members of the community were also commended for their cooperation and bravery that resulted in one of the arrests.
A man (33) has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Itsoseng Regional Court for raping a girl (15). The girl was walking home with a friend at Verdwaal village, near Itsoseng on 28 December 2014, when she met the accused who is her relative.
The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said the latter grabbed and asked the girl if she did not see his girlfriend. Upon being told that his girlfriend went to Springbokpan village, the accused forced the minor to go and show him where his girlfriend was.
“The accused, who was carrying a knobkerrie, consequently took out a gun, threatened the girl and raped her in the maize field. Although the victim was warned and threatened not to disclose the incident to anyone, she ran home and informed her mother.
“The matter was reported to the police, who successfully traced and arrested the accused in Itsoseng in March 2015. The court ordered that the accused’s name be put in the National Register for Sex Offenders. He was further declared unfit to work with children,” he said.
Picture: Drugs that were confiscated by police during the arrested/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
A man (35) has been arrested for dealing in dagga in Upington on 4 April 2024. It is alleged that, the police in ZF Mgcawu District, received a tip-off regarding the alleged drug sales at the Upington Taxi Rank.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said, the police found dagga that led them to an address in Pabalello Township, where dagga is believed to have been stored.
“The police seized dagga valued at approximately R130 000 and arrested the suspect for dealing in drugs. The suspect is expected to appear in the Upington Magistrate Court soon.
“In a separate incident, a Congolese man (52) was arrested by a team composed of Upington Border Police and the ZF Mgcawu District Highway Patrol for selling drugs in Upington on 4 April 2024,” he said.
Sam further said the police in the ZF Mgcawu District, will continue with their relentless efforts in eradicating drugs from the streets.
Meanwhile, the acting Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Major General Luntu Ngubelanga, commended the police units for squeezing the space for drug dealers to operate within communities. Ngubelanga encouraged the public to rate the police efforts in fighting crime by participating in the “RATE OUR SERVICE” online survey to assist the police in improving services.
Picture: The Banyana Banyana players during training/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
Banyana Banyana are bracing for a titanic battle against long-time rivals Nigeria when the two teams meet in the first leg of an eagerly anticipated Olympic showdown in Abuja on Friday afternoon.
Coach Desiree Ellis’ charges have set their sights on qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, but they must first get past the Super Falcons of Nigeria over the two legs of this CAF Women’s qualifier.
As part of the tough challenge ahead, the Sasol-sponsored South African senior women’s team had a local camp that was held outside of the FIFA dates from 25 – 31 March 2024. They then travelled to Nigeria early to acclimatize ahead of the match on Friday.
A lot will be at stake as the two fierce rivals missed out on the last edition of the Olympics Games in Tokyo in 2021. Many believe that Banyana Banyana have the edge going into the two matches after emerging victorious in the last two encounters against the Super Falcons, winning 4-2 in 2021 in the Aisha Buhari Cup and again in the group stages of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in a 2-1 victory.
Ellis and captain Refiloe Jane, both emphasized that it would be a different ball game on Friday and past results would not matter in the all-important qualifier.
Jane, who is making a return to the team since being sidelined by an injury at the 2023 FIFA World Cup, believes that with the number of days the team has had to acclimatize in Nigeria have been crucial for their preparations.
“It feels good to be back with the team. It has been a long journey of recovery, but all of it is behind me now. I am more focused on re-joining the team and making sure that I am able to share the experience I have gained over the years,
“We have a mandate to qualify for the Olympic Games and that is what we are focused and working on as a team. We know the qualities that we have as a team and we will try to pool all that together and make sure we succeed,” she said.
Jane further said even though they have played Nigeria a couple of times and recently won against them. She added that they still need to give them the respect they deserve.
“They are still the undisputed African champions when you look at the number of times they have ruled the continent in the WAFCON,” said Jane.
Meanwhile, Ellis shared the same sentiments and further expressed gratitude to the South African Football Association (SAFA) and to sponsors, Sasol for work that went into the preparations for the qualifier.
“Firstly, I want to say thank you to SAFA and Sasol for making sure that we got here early and acclimatized. Even though we have got a heat wave in South Africa, it is a completely different heat.
“We put in a lot of work at home and we have also put in a lot of work here. The players have come in and put all of it together. I am very excited about the training, commitment, and the effort,” she said.
Ellis said from the final 24-member squad announced a few days ago, Sinoxolo Cesane, is the only player missing from the group and she will join the team in the return leg in South Africa.
The first leg will be played on 5 April 2024 at the MKO Abiola Stadium, and kick-off is at 5pm (18:00pm CAT).
TaungDailyNews 