Monthly Archives: July 2024

Majority of businesses in Stilfontein sell expired goods

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Picture: Some of expired food confiscated during the raid

By REGINALD KANYANE 

The City of Matlosana embarked on another Clean Up Campaign in partnership with various government departments and stakeholders such as South African Revenue Services (SARS), South African Police Services (SAPS) and Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in Stilfontein on 19 July 2024. During the campaign, it was discovered that the majority of businesses around the Civic Centre Shopping Complex in Stilfontein, were non-compliant and were operating without business certificates of compatibility from relevant authorities. 

The City of Matlosana spokesperson, Ntswaki Makgetha said health inspectors discovered that the products packaging from various stores were not barcoded. Makgetha said the majority of the businesses were selling expired and unauthorised goods to the public. 

“The non-compliant products were immediately confiscated. Most businesses were found to be operating without fire distinguishers for safety measures. Therefore, the Disaster Risk Management personnel issued notices to the business owners, in order to install fire distinguisher bottles in their businesses according to guidelines. 

“Six businesses that were not compliant were temporarily closed for risks identified. During the campaign, the City’s Finance Department officials found that some of the businesses were not paying the municipal services and encouraged them to pay for their services,” she said.  

Makgetha further said the tourism unit, managed to visit Bed and Breakfast lounges and Guest Houses to check compliance and were pleased to find that most of them were compliant.

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A man sentenced to seven years imprisonment for theft of ammunition 

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Picture: Ammunition confiscated by police/Generic 

By BAKANG MOKOTO 

A man (55) was convicted by the De Aar Regional Court for theft. This comes after Vuyo Eric Joe was convicted for four counts of theft. 

Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said on 14 November 2022, the police in Philipstown, were conducting patrols in town and surrounding areas, when they spotted a suspicious bakkie with a trailer. Shemane said when Joe saw the police vehicle, he took a detour onto a gravel road, however, the police followed and stopped the vehicle. 

“A search ensued and police recovered ammunition cartridges in the bakkie and the trailer. The accused could not provide a satisfactory explanation as to how he obtained the ammunition cartridges and he did not have a valid permit in his possession to transport ammunition. 

“Joe was subsequently arrested and bail was successfully opposed by the investigating officer. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment for count one, six years imprisonment for count 2 and seven years imprisonment for count 3, while he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for count four,” he said. 

Shemane further said count 1, 2 and 4 were suspended for five years. He added that Joe was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for count 3. 

“Communities are encouraged to blow the whistle on stolen goods and report unscrupulous dealers, suspicious individuals and suspected stolen goods to the police,” said Shemane.

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R164 billion set aside for establishment of Special Economic Zone  

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Picture: The Special Economic Zone in Mogwase/Facebook

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said approximately 97% of the total platinum production occurs in Rustenburg, with the mining sector providing around 50% of all formal employment. Mokgosi said they should harness this potential, however, they must also invest in people. 

He further said they are collaborating with the North West University, the Departments of Higher Education and Minerals and Petroleum Resources to establish an Engineering Faculty in Rustenburg to respond to the demand for technical and engineering specialities needed to meet the demand in the mining and related fields.

Mokgosi added that the 7th administration has already started consultations with the Minister of Trade Industry and Competition to remove all hurdles preventing the cabinet from approving the issuance of the license for the formal proclamation of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mogwase.

“We have now appointed a full time CEO for the North West Development Corporation (NWDC), who will work with the Board to appoint the rest of the Executive Management Team. The NWDC will be restructured to be fit for purpose to drive our economic and industrialization programme.

“We are continuing with work in the SEZ to renovate existing structures and the construction of Phase 2 of the project. The main hub of the Platinum Valley SEZ will be housed in a 100-hectare site at the Bodirelo Industrial Park, located near the town of Mogwase,” he said.

Mokgosi said the site will be developed in three phases, comprising a logistics park, light manufacturing space and heavy industries manufacturing space. He said they have so far garnered investment commitments to the tune of R164 billion for the Special Economic Zone.

“Eleven of these are at an advanced stage with three having signed pre-lease agreements. These commitments are a culmination of the investment initiatives of the 6th administration to create over five thousand job opportunities for our people.

“Our province is home to Phelindaba, South Africa’s main nuclear research centre, and with the new Electricity and Energy Minister’s vision for a 2500MW nuclear plant, we have the potential to become an investment destination of a powerhouse in the energy generation sector,” said Mokgosi.

He said nuclear energy has a catalytic potential across sectors like nuclear medicine, energy and human resource development to develop new rare skills and specializations, which are in high demand. 

Mokgosi said all these priorities require coherent policy direction and coordination from the government to guide interventions and direct sector contributions towards a common goal. 

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24 foreign nationals arrested for illegal mining 

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Picture: Twenty four foreign-nationals nabbed for illegal mining

By REGINALD KANYANE 

As part of intensifying the fight against illegal mining, 24 suspects aged between 19 and 47, briefly appeared before the Brits Magistrate’s Court on 24 July 2024, on charges of contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002, and illegal mining.  Of the 24 accused persons, 12 were remanded in custody until 25 July and 13 August 2024, for legal aid, plea and interpreter. 

The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said moreover, 11 accused were found guilty and fined R2000 respectively. Funani said the suspects were arrested by Vala Umgodi deployment that included various South African Police Service (SAPS) Units and members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) at Skeerpoort Farm illegal mining site near Hartbeespoortdam on 22 July 2024.

“The preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are from Mozambique, Lesotho and Zimbabwe foreign nationals. The police seized illegal mining equipment that included the phenduka machine, generators, hammers, jack hammers, water pumps and many others,” she said.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the Vala Umgodi multi-disciplinary team members for the successful operation that led to the arrests and confiscation of illegal mining equipment.

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Tug-of-war between SGB and Board of Directors at Tigerkloof Combined School in Vryburg 

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Picture: Tigerkloof Combined School in Vryburg

By OBAKENG MAJE 

North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said she will establish a committee that will investigate allegations that there are parallel structures at Tigerkloof Combined School in Vryburg. According to School Governing Body (SGB) members at the school, there are members of the Board of Directors who interfere with the role and functions of their duties. 

SGB chairperson, Dr George Balebe said: “Even though Tigerkloof Combined School is a public school, it was built on private land. So, this has led to a tug-of-war between two structures. We urge MEC to address the chaotic relationship that the SGB is having with these so-called Board of Directors members. 

“Truly, we do not know their role and where they report to. This includes what is guiding them. There is a grey area that needs to be addressed. Actually, we do not know most of these members who claim to be Board of Directors there.”

Motsumi said she is going to establish a committee that will specifically deal with this issue as a matter of urgency. She said the problem is that, the more they leave this matter without addressing it, the more it will affect the issues of curriculum and management in that particular school. 

“So, there will be a team that will go and investigate. We will see how best we can resolve this matter. Two months from now, we will be able to issue a final report on the findings and recommendations regarding that particular school,” said Motsumi.

Meanwhile, Taung DailyNews’ attempts to get a response from Board of Directors members were futile.  

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Baagi ba kwa Mothanthanyaneng ba itumeletse go agelwa ntlo-lehalahala 

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Setshwantsho: Mayara wa masepala o mogolwane wa Taung, Tumisang Gaoraelwe ga mmogo le batlotlegi bangwe 

Ka OBAKENG MAJE 

Baagi ba motse wa Mothanthanyaneng, gaufi le Taung ba kaile fa ba itumeletse go agewa ntlo-lehalahala kwa motseng wa bone. Se tla morago ga gore masepala o mogolwane wa Taung, o neele semmuso baagi ntlo-lehalahala e jetseng masepala R6 million mo letsatsing la maabane. 

Mayara wa masepala o mogolwane wa Taung, Tumisang Gaoraelwe o ikuetse go baagi go ka tlhokomela ntlo-lehalahala eo, le go netefatsa fa e sa thubiwe. Gaoraelwe are go agiwa ga ntlo-lehalahala, go tlile go tlisa ditlhabololo mo motseng. 

“Re bone go le botlhokwa jaaka masepala gore re dire pulo-semmuso ya ntlo-lehalahala le. Se, se tlile go re thusa thata gore re efoge kgang ya maloba mo masepala oneng o aga matlo-lehalahala, mme go be go sa nne le pulo-semmuso. 

“Jaanong, jaaka karolo ya thebolo ya ditirelo, re neele baagi semmuso ntlo-lehalahala e baneng ba ikopile. Rena le maikarabelo jaaka puso go ruta baagi gore ba se fise kgotsa go senya dilo dingwe tsa bone tse ba di agetsweng fa ba ipelaetsa,” Gaoraelwe wa tlhalosa. 

Gaoraelwe are baagi ba tshwanetse gore ba itse fa dikago tse, ele tsa bone mme ba tshwanetswe gore ba di tlhokomele. Gaoraelwe are jaaka masepala, ba setse ba thapile batlhankela ba tshireletso go tlhokomela dikago tsa bone go efoga tshenyo ya dithoto. 

“Fa rakonteraka a neela masepala ntlo-lehalahala, masepala o tshwanelw ke go netefatsa fa go sa nne le bosinyi le tshenyo ya dithoto. Re dirisitse madi a kanang ka R6 million go aga ntlo-lehalahala e, mme madi ao a akaretsa sengwe le sengwe jaaka mogokaganyi (consultant). Gape, o se lebale gore seo se akaretsa 14% ya lekgetho,” Gaoraelwe wa tlhalosa. 

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Tsheko mo kgetsing ya polao kgatlhanong le monna wa kwa Khibicwane ya tshimolola

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Setshwantsho: Molatofadiwa wa polao, Kabelo Mogongwa o busediwa kwa ntlolefitshwana

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Tsheko mo kgetsing ya polao kgatlhanong le molatofadiwa wa kwa motseng wa Khibicwane, gaufi le Taung, ya simolola mo letsatsing la gompieno. Go begwa fa Kabelo Mogongwa (47), a ile a tshwarwa morago ga dipego tsa gore o thuntsitse lekgarebe la gagwe, Tsholofelo Nde Emphukile (38). 

Go begwa fa lekawana le le lekgarebe la gagwe, ba ne ba dula botlhe kwa phaphosing e e hirilweng kwa motseng wa Khibitswane, gaufi le Taung. Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Mokaptein Aaftje Botma, yo a rotseng tiro ga jaana, moagisani wa monna o, o ile a tlhalosetsa sepodisi fa baratani ba, ba gorogile ka ura ya bongwe mo mosong, mme go ile ga tsoga kgakgauthano magareng ga bone.

“O kaile fa a utlwile modumo wa sethunya. Sepodisi se ile sa biletswa kwa lefelong la tiragalo, mme se ile sa fitlhela moswi a le mogare ga bophadiphadi jwa madi.

“Sepodisi se ile sa patelesega go shaga burglars, gore ba kgone go tsena mo ntlung. Molatofadiwa o ile a tshwarwa, mme one a ganelwa ka beile,” Botma wa tlhalosa.

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City of Matlosana mayor, Fikile Mahlophe announces his Members of Mayoral Committee

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Picture: The executive mayor of the City of Matlosana, Fikile Mahlophe

By BAKANG MOKOTO

The executive mayor of the City of Matlosana, Fikile Mahlophe, has officially announced the new Members of Mayoral Committee (MMCs).

Mahlophe said: “The city wishes the new members all the best in their tenure and looks forward to their impactful and thoughtful contributions to servicing the people of Matlosana.”

The Members are as follows:

1. Cllr A.M Ramphele- Finance & Debt Normalisation

2. Cllr S.O.C Barrends- Technical & Infrastructure

3. Cllr W. Kgang- Local Economic Development

4. Cllr K.V Seitshero- Community Development

5. Cllr N.P Mokoto- Corporate Support

6. Cllr J.M Mosupa- Sports, Arts & Culture

7. Cllr W.G Zitwane- Public Safety

8. Cllr K.E Mabebe- Transversal Issues

9. Cllr P.Y Mtshawulana- Planning and Human Settlements

10. Cllr M.I Mangesi- Electrical Engineering

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A man sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for killing his partner with iron rod

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A man (48) was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Phillipstown Regional Court for killing his life partner in Plakkerskamp Informal Settlement, near Phillipstown. On 27 January 2024, the Adam Van Rooy brutally beat his life partner Sarah Masok (51), with iron rod, where she was subsequently found dead by police when they attended the scene.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant’ Col Sergio Kock said Van Rooy was arrested afterwards and charged with murder.

“On 22 July 2024, he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the murder. The police in the Northern Cape will continue with a zero tolerance approach towards GBVF perpetrators,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola commended Detective Constable Heroldt Saunders from the Phillipstown Detectives for his meticulous investigation that ensured no impunity is granted to the perpetrator of this brutal GBVF crime.

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Northern Cape police launches innovative programmes for young offenders 

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Picture: The Northern Cape police launch innovative programme for young offenders/Supplied  

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI 

As part of our ongoing efforts to support vulnerable members of the community, the police in Northern Cape have launched innovative programmes designed to help young offenders overcome their challenges and make positive changes in their lives. 

Upington Police Station was one of the stations that was identified to have a programme with children in conflict with the law as part of the government’s effort to minimize crime through identification and assistance during the process of correction. ZF Mgcawu District police spokesperson, Sergeant Omphile Masegela said there are nine young people identified, profiled and will engage with essential stakeholders to build strategic partnership as a better tool in addressing common challenges and ensuring that they don’t become repeat offenders.

“The first phase of the programme has concluded and they are now beginning to do community services, crime prevention awareness and will be in continuous engagements with the police and other stakeholders to address their shortcomings and assist in changing their future for the better.

“Since the commencement of the programme, they have participated in soup kitchens for street dwellers, child protection projects and will be more involved in activities with the Spiritual and Youth Crime Prevention Desk,” she said.

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