Picture: Some of the suspects arrested for illegal mining/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
More than 27 undocumented persons were arrested for illegal mining. The undocumented persons comprised of 12 Zimbabwean nationals aged between 28 and 50, 12 Lesotho nationals aged between 26 and 58 and 3 Mozambican nationals aged between 17 and 40.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the multi-disciplinary team of Operation Vala Umgodi in Kleinzee together with Namakwa District Visible Policing and Department of Home Affairs, raided several locations to address illicit mining activities and other related crimes on 10 June 2024.
Shemane further said the intelligence-driven operation was executed in the early hours of the morning targeting the identified hotspot areas in Kleinzee.
“The team seized five bags of possible diamond bearing gravel, tools and arrested a South African man (57) for illegal mining,” he said.
Shemane added that the arrested suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
“The Operation Vala Umgodi team in Kleinzee in conjunction with external stakeholders, remain committed in the fight against illicit mining and other related crimes in the area,” said Shemane.
Setshwantsho: Batshamiki go tswa kwa Dafita Rovers Cricket Club
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Setlamo sa Hollywoodbets se tlhotse se abetse setlhopa sa Dafita Rovers Cricket Club diaparo (kits). Tiragalo e, e tlhotse e tshwaretswe kwa Phoka Guesthouse mono Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno.
Motlhami wa setlhopa sa Dafita Rovers Cricket Club, Dafita Mainaakae are ba itumeletse kabelo e, mme dilwana tseo di tlile go ba thusa gore ba godise setlhopa. Mainaakae are ba neetswe kits ya batshamiki ba banyeyane ga mmogo le ya setlhopa se segolwane.
“Re neetswe gape le di diriswa tsa go ka ikatisa. Re itumetse thata, gonne rene re sena le madi a go ka di ithekela. Fa o tla go lebelela dilwana tse re di neetsweng, di feta madi a boleng jwa R20 000. Jaaka re bua jaana, liki ya batshamiki ba ba dingwaga tse di kwa tlase ya tshimolola.
“Jaanong kabelo e, e tlile go re thusa thata gonne re tla be rena le di diriswa tsa go tshameka kgatlhanong le ditlhopa tse dingwe. Jaanong, re tla lebagana fela le go batlana le baborogi ba sepalangwa,” Mainaakae wa tlhalosa.
Mainaakae are bana le mini-cricket ya batshamiki ba dingwaga di le tlhano go fitlha go di le supa, mme yone e akaretsa basimane le basetsana. Mainaakae are gape, ba na le batshamiki go tloga go dingwaga di le 11 go fitlha go di le 13, mme le bone ba akaretsa basimane le basetsana.
“Batshamiki botlhe ba ba nang le dingwaga tse di fetang 13, re ba isa kwa setlhopeng se se golwane, gonne ga re kgone go nna le ditlhopa tse di farologaneng go ya ka dingwaga tsa batshamiki ka ntlheng ya tlhokego ya matlole. Fela, rena le tshepo ya gore fa nako e ntse e tsamaya, re tla nna le ditlhopa ka go farologana ga dingwaga.
“Seo se tla re thusa gore batshamiki ba rona ba tsenele dikgaisano go ya ka dingwaga tsa bone. Go fitlha ga jaana, re gaisanela liki ya batshamiki ba ba kwa tlase ga 11, ga mmogo le batshamiki ba ba tonna,” Mainaakae wa tlhalosa.
Mainaakae are ga se ba kgone go tsenela dikgaisano ka batshamiki ba basetsana ka ntlheng ya go tlhoka. Are seo se tlholwa ke gore, mo liking ya basetsana, ba tshwanelwa ke go etela ditlhopa tse difarologaneng go ralala porofense ya Bokone Bophirima.
“Fela re itumelela tshegetso e re e boneng go tswa go ditheo tse difarologaneng, ga mmogo le batsadi. Go fitlha ga jaana, rena le batshamiki ba feta 50, mme rene re sa solofela seo gonne fa o tla go sheba, ga ese kgale re tshimolotse setlhopa se.
“Rena le tshepo ya gore fa nako e ntse e tsamaya, re tla fitlhelela ditoro tsa rona. Keletso yame ke go bona dikolo tse dikwatlase di nna le ditlhopa tsa cricket,” Mainaakae wa tlhalosa.
Mongwe wa batshamiki, Tshireletso Seilane (20) are o itumelela kabelo e ba e boneng go tswa kwa Hollywoodbets.
“Re itumetse thata gore re be re neetswe diaparo tse dintsha tsa go tshameka cricket, ga mmogo le dilwana tse re di tlhokang. Seno se tlile go re thusa thata gore re kgone go fitlhelela toro ya rona ka go nna batshamiki ba ba diphatsa ba cricket.
“Kgale re tlhaela ka dipurugwana tsa go tshameka le go ikatisa. Go botlhe ba ba batlang go ipona ele batshamiki ba cricket mo nakong e e tlang, kere go bone ba se ikobonye mme ba dumele mo go bone. Ba tshwanetse gore ba dirise bokgoni jwa bone ntle le go oka-oka,” Seilane wa tlhalosa.
Motshamiki o mongwe, Karabo Moatlhodi (23) are: “Ke tshameka jaaka bowler, mme tota go bua nnete fela kgale re tlhaela ka dilwana tsa go ikatisa. Se se tlile go dira dilo bonolo, mme re ikatise gore re kgone go tshameka kgatlhanong le ditlhopa tse dingwe.
“Cricket e batla o e tshimolola dingwaga di sale kwa tlase gore o kgone go ithuta go le gontsi. Cricket ke e tshimolotse ke le mo dingwageng tse di kwa godimo, mme yone ke motshameko o balolang,” Moatlhodi wa tlhalosa.
Picture: The suspect accused of raping a woman/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
The police in Ikageng Township, near Potchefstroom, request the community’s assistance in locating and identifying a man as per attached identikit. On 11 May 2024 at around 15:25, a woman (34) was allegedly visiting a local tavern in Sarafina Section, where she met the unknown man. He allegedly requested her to accompany him home.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said as the victim and the alleged perpetrator were walking closer to the Sarafina Taxi Rank at an open field, the man suddenly became aggressive. Funani said the suspect allegedly assaulted the victim and ultimately raped her.
“The man is brown in complexion with dark eyes, short in length, medium built and has a thin moustache. He was wearing a blue Uzzi hooded Jacket and is estimated to be in his twenties.
“Anyone with information that can assist the police to identify and trace the man is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Warrant Officer Rendani Bulannga of Potchefstroom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit on 082 568 9028,” she said.
Funani said anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via MySAPS App on smart phones or alternatively call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
The police in Ventersdorp request the community’s assistance in locating and identifying a man as per attached identikit. On 1 April 2024 at around 7:30pm, a victim (45) was walking in Extension 2, Tshing Township, in Ventersdorp to visit her boyfriend when she was allegedly approached by two unknown men, who overpowered her and one of them raped her.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said a man is dark in complexion with dark eyes, medium in height, slender built and has a bald head. Funani said he is estimated to be in his twenties or younger.
“The police are appealing to anyone who can assist them to identify and trace the man. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Cicilia Batantse of Potchefstroom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit on 060 967 3966.
Funani said anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via MySAPS App on your smartphone or alternatively call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Picture: Drugs and money confiscated by police during raids/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
Five suspects were arrested in connection with drug-related crimes during Project Nights and Nathi in Jan Kempdorp, Warrenton, Hartswater and Schweizer Reneke respectively.
The suspects were arrested by a team led by the Northern Cape Provincial Organised Crime Investigations Unit in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday, 11 June 2024.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said the project team consisting of Provincial Organised Crime Investigation, Hartswater Crime Intelligence, Kimberley Serious and Violent Crime, Kimberley and Vryburg Public Order Police, Kimberley and Hartswater K9 units, Frances Baard District Detective Unit and Jan Kempdorp Department of Home Affairs, executed the arrests.
“During the take down operation of Project Nathi in Warrenton, two suspects aged 34 and 36, were arrested on charges of dealing in drugs. Project Nights was executed in Schweizer Reneke, where three suspects were identified.
“Two suspects aged 38 and 41, were arrested. A third suspect aged 4, was already in custody as he is allegedly an undocumented foreign national,” she said.
Ehlers said the suspects’ premises were searched in Schweizer-Reneke, where Tik and Mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R31 641 were recovered. She further said the police also searched a vehicle of another identified suspect and recovered Tik, Mandrax tablets and dagga with an estimated street value of R21 691.
“The suspect (39) was subsequently arrested. The vehicle valued at approximately R80 000 was confiscated.
“A significant amount of cash, believed to be the proceeds of crime was seized. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon on charges of dealing in drugs,” added Ehlers.
Picture: A drugs and firearm seized by the police during a search/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
A man (49) was arrested for being in possession of drugs in Campbell on 10 June 2024. This comes after the police received a tip-off regarding a suspicious hitch-hiker on the N8 national road from Kimberley to Campbell with alleged drugs in his possession.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said the police set up a monitoring post awaiting for the identified vehicle. Sam said they spotted it with four occupants, including the driver from whom permission was sought to be searched.
“The police allegedly found 10 zip bags of dagga with an estimated street value of R7 500. The police also found and confiscated a suspected stolen firearm.
“The suspect was arrested and charged for illegal possession of drugs and will appear in the Campbell Magistrates Court soon,” he said.
Sam further said the police in Campbell were commended for their swift response and removing drugs from the streets. He added that the community was also applauded for their active role in reporting crime.
“The public is encouraged to rate the police efforts in fighting crime by participating in the “RATE OUR SERVICE” online survey to assist the police in improving services,” said Sam.
Picture: The NTI failed to submit its Annual Financial Statement/Google
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho said all provincial departments, provincial legislature and public entities with the exception of North West Transport Investment (NTI), managed to adhere to the legislated submission deadline of the Annual Financial Statement (AFS), as stipulated by Sections 40 (1)(b) and 55 (1)(b) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) (Act 1 of 1999).
Rosho said the submission of the statements is an accountability exercise that kickstarts the audit process by the Office of the Auditor-General for the 2023/24 financial year.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Rosho said that much gains in audit outcomes had been achieved in the past five years under the 6th administration and that all audits have been consistent in submission of AFS.
“A significant improvement has been made in audit outcomes over the past five years, whereby provincial treasury has implemented support measures that have increased the number of favourable outcomes in departments as well as public entities.
“It goes without saying that we still have to double our efforts in public entities like NTI, which have nearly collapsed due to mismanagement and inability to keep the entity afloat,” she said.
Rosho added that although they introduced the clean audit strategy in the past five years, not a single department has been able to achieve a clean audit. However, she said there has been a significant reduction in audit findings and only two public entities achieved clean audit in the previous year.
“Furthermore, we commend the accounting officers of departments and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of public entities for the sterling leadership and dedicated support they have provided to their organisations to enable the Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) and their respective officials to put in the long hours that were required to be able to finalise the AFS on time.
“The accounting officers and CEOs, as well as CFOs, were very optimistic that the information contained in the statements is credible and that the resultant audit outcome for the year under review would register a marked improvement,” said Rosho.
The Office of the Auditor-General’s Business Unit representative, Mthokozisi Sibisi said they are looking forward to a smooth audit process and the improvement of the audit outcomes of the province.
However, he expressed his concern over the failure of the NTI to submitting their AFS over the years.
“We will continue reaching out to the leadership there to have that sorted. It is important for leaders to be close to the audit process and raise any issue as soon as possible.
“Problems happen when leaders are not close to the process or continue supporting the process,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of provincial department CFOs, Tabea Mooketsi said they put in a lot of work to ensure that they account appropriately on how departments spent public finances and resources. She also advocated for the implementation of a five point action plan to assist CFOs to execute their duties in a conducive environment.
“We send our gratitude towards support programme by provincial treasury. The department has equipped us with skills to prepare credible AFS and the measures aimed at strengthening of internal controls and the control environment in general,” said Mooketsi.
Parliament said the first sittings of the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), will take place on 14 June 2024, as confirmed by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
Parliament spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo said Zondo confirmed 14 and 15 June as the dates for the first sittings of the Houses of Parliament in a letter to the Secretary to Parliament, Xolile George.
Mothapo said according to Section 51(1) of the Constitution, the first sitting of the National Assembly must take place at a time and on a date determined by the Chief Justice and within 14 days after the election results have been declared.
“During the first sitting of the NA, the Chief Justice will swear in the designated members and administer the oath or affirmation of faithfulness to the Republic and obedience to the Constitution.
“All members must take this oath or affirm faithfulness before they can perform their functions in the Assembly. Following the swearing-in of the members, the Chief Justice will preside over the election of the NA Speaker,” he said.
Mothapo further said once the Speaker has been elected, he or she will then preside over the election of the Deputy Speaker. He added that after the Deputy Speaker has been elected, Zondo will then take over again and preside over the election of the president.
“In the NCOP on 15 June, the Chief Justice will swear in and administer the prescribed oath and affirmation to the members and thereafter preside over the election of the NCOP Chairperson.
“The Chairperson will preside over the election of the NCOP Deputy Chairperson. The rules that will apply during the first sittings were gazetted by the Office of the Chief on 30 May 2024,” said Mothapo.
The sittings will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Picture: The outgoing CEO of Magalies Water, Sandile Mkhize/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Magalies Water is bidding farewell to its well-decorated Chief Executive Officer, Sandile Mkhize. This comes after Mkhize, who served the institution across various capacities from the late 2014, tendered his resignation. Magalies Water spokesperson, David Magae said back in 2014, Mkhize was appointed as General Manager until as Chief Executive Officer from 2018 to date.
Magae further said Mkhize who has been with North West’s only Water Board for almost a decade, will leave the Rustenburg head-quartered water utility at the end of June 2024, almost a year after his re-appointment as the institution’s Accounting Officer for a fixed term of five years, following the successful completion of his first term of office.
He added that among other responsibilities, Mkhize was appointed as Chief Operations Officer during his period of employment and has overseen numerous projects in response to the water demand in Magalies Water’s area of operation.
“These projects include the completion of the Bulk Water Master Plan in June 2015, upgrade of Vaalkop Water Treatment Works from 210Ml/d to 240Ml/d, upgrade of Klipdrift Water Treatment Works from 18Ml/d to 42Ml/d.
“Other projects include efficiency improvements at Wallmansthal Water Treatment Works with the development of improved high-lift pump-station. Implementation of Pilanesberg Phase 2 Mafenya Reservoir, pumpstation, Pipeline, and Tlhabane Reservoir,” said Magae.
He said more recently, Mkhize was ceased with the difficult task of integrating Magalies Water with the erstwhile Sedibeng Water, whose North West operations, liabilities and staff was duly transferred to former following the latter’s disestablishment. Magae said this saw Magalies Water’s area of operation grow to include Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Distric, as well as the workforce growing from a humble 370 to over 700 employees.
Reflecting on his years of service to Magalies Water, the outgoing Chief Executive Officer said his tenure was not without its fair share of challenges.
“Some of the challenges we have experienced include the lack of sufficient potable water production to meet the demand in Rustenburg and Moses Kotane Local Municipalities, which comprise the highest number of people in Bojanala Platinum District.
“Lack of funding to speedily implement the Bulk Water Master Plan, the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, which negatively impacted the water sector including Magalies Water customers in Moretele Local Municipality, non-payment by the municipalities for services rendered by us, as well as the lack of local support in Madibeng Local Municipality for Magalies Water to finish the longest running water treatment works upgrade project in Brits” he said.
Mkhize has overseen the revenue growth from R0.2 billion in 2014/15 to R1.2 billion in 2022/23 financial years and an asset growth from R0.9 billion to over R4.5 billion, as well as leading Magalies Water to three consecutive clean audits from 2019/20 – 2021/22 financial years.
Meanwhile, Board Chairperson Dr Lydia Sebego said Mkhize leaves behind an impressive track record and his leadership will be sorely missed, given the meticulous approach with which he handled the integration of Magalies and Sedibeng Water Boards, at a time when there had been a lot of anxiety and uncertainty.
“We are obviously saddened by his departure, given his contribution and wish him the best as he prepares for working life beyond Magalies Water. We are confident that he will continue to do very well,” she said.
Sebego said the appointment of the acting Chief Executive Officer will be communicated in due course to stakeholders and the public once all internal processes in this respect have been completed.
A well-rested Bafana Bafana team hit the Free State Stadium pitch in the final practice session on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe. The South African senior men’s team has had a bit of time to catch their breath in Bloemfontein after a taxing travelling schedule to and from Nigeria a few days ago, and coach Hugo Broos said he briefly took time to share the team’s experience on the road.
“I believe in my team, and I believe they can (perform). If we play the game the way we did on Friday (against Nigeria), taking travel into consideration, then I believe a win is possible against Zimbabwe.
“I am complimentary of the group of players that have come together, eager to fight for their places in the team that is bidding to qualify for the next edition of the FIFA World Cup. I’m also pleased that despite the challenges, they kept their focus and stuck to the plan,” he said.
When Kaizer Chiefs FC defender, Given Msimango was asked how he felt when the call-up came for him to join the team after Grant Kekana had to be withdrawn due to injury, he could not stop smiling.
Msimango said Bafana Bafana did what they needed to do against the West Africans in Friday’s World Cup qualifier.
“I was on vacation with my wife, and we had to cut that short. I’m happy to be here, honoured to play and I will give it my best.
“The travel was tough, yes, but the game was going to go ahead anyway, so we kept our focus. We all did! It’s about the football at the end of the day,” he said.
The team enjoyed their training session on Monday and are excited to play in front of the fans of ‘The City of Roses’ in what is going to be a match that will be remembered for a long time.
Kickoff is at 18h00 on Tuesday. Tickets to this encounter are now available at the match venue, Free State stadium.
The gates will open at 15h00 and the tickets are priced at R50.00 for adults. Kids, scholars and students will pay R20.00 (school uniform and student cards required for over 12-year-olds). Tickets are also available at TicketPro outlets, Spar, SuperSpar, Putco, Postnet etc. Hospitality tickets are available from the stadium, and they are priced at R1500.00 and R2000.00 packages, including food and drinks.
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