The Kimberley SAPS Serious and Violent Crime unit said is probing a murder and attempted murder case. This comes after fatal shooting of a man (28) in Newpark, Kimberley. The preliminary investigations indicate that on Wednesday evening, 31 July 2024 at around 9pm, the deceased was fatally shot in his white Toyota Hilux bakkie.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Sergio Kock said the victim and his spouse (27), were at the gate entering into their townhouse complex when an unknown man allegedly approached and fired several shots into the vehicle.
Kock said the unknown suspect fatally wounded the deceased. He said the police have not affected any arrests as yet.
“All relevant role players and specialised SAPS units are working together on a 24 hour basis to apprehend the perpetrator/s.
“All information can be forwarded to the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Thabang Kamolane on 082 302 0407 or during office hours on 053 838 4344. All information will be treated confidentially and the police investigation continues,” said Kock.
A man (50) was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Calvinia Regional Court for damaging of essential infrastructure. On 19 February 2024, an incident was reported to the police in Brandvlei regarding the burning of copper cables.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said upon further investigation, the acused, James Klein was found in possession of copper cable that he was burning.
“He was subsequently arrested and it was established that the cables were the property of Telkom. Detective Sergeant Lwazi Ngindana was assigned to investigate the case and he successfully managed to oppose bail.
“Klein was remained in custody until his sentencing. On 29 July 2024, the Calvinia Regional Court convicted and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment for the damaging of essential infrastructure of which 4 years was suspended for 5 years,” said Shemane.
He further said the accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. Shemane added that Detective Sergeant Ngindana was commended for the meticulous investigation that led to the sentencing of the perpetrator.
“The safeguarding and securing of essential infrastructure remains a priority for the police in the Northern Cape, thus the sentencing of Klein was embraced by the management,” said Shemane.
Picture: The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said the media plays a significant role in keeping the communities abreast of key government programmes that are primarily aimed at changing the lives of the people for the better. Mokgosi, who held a Provincial Media Day at Protea Hotel in Mahikeng on 2 August 2024 said, they have invited the media as part of their ongoing efforts to cement the relations with members of the media.
He further said as Members of Executive Council (MECs) in the North West, they met with the media after he delivered a speech on the official opening of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), to highlight and put emphasis on the priorities of the 7th administration. Mokgosi added that they affirm and fully support the independence of the media to hold the government accountable as enshrined in the constitution.
“This Media Day that we are launching today will be held annually after the Premier’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) to communicate developmental initiatives of this administration, as well as interventions on various socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, poverty and income inequalities afflicting our communities.
“We will also hold quarterly media sessions with yourselves to report progress registered in attending to a number of challenges, remedial action plans and achievements.
We are not ignorant to challenges confronting our province and we are hard at work to speedily resolve them,” he said.
Mokgosi said in the past two weeks, Members of the Executive Council (MECs), have been tabling their Budget Votes and Policy Speeches that are aligned to their Annual Performance Plans (APPs) to ensure that they create economic opportunities for their people, whilst attending to their concerns on service delivery. He said the period from now until 31 March 2025, the 7thadministration will be completing the work of the 6th administration to ensure a seamless transition between the two administrations.
“The full account and report back of the 2024 SOPA will therefore be in February 2025, which will also include a full resourced Programme of Action of the 7th administration. The provincial government has subsequently developed a Programme of Action for the 2024 SOPA for implementation.
“Today, we have invited you to highlight what the priority areas of the 7thadministration are. We have appointed the Economic & Investment Advisory Council, consisting of Members of the Executive Council (MECs), Economists, Industry Experts, Organised Agriculture, Labour, Tourism Sector, Mining and Independent Experts,” said Mokgosi.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Joy Maimela said she has noted with great sadness the loss of five young lives in a horrific crash between a bus and a train earlier this week in Mpumalanga. Maimela said it is indeed a great loss.
“We note more and more accidents on our roads that take the lives of innocent young learners. The youth are the future of our country. These learners will now never reach their full potential to contribute to the growth of South Africa.
“According to reports, the five learners died when a bus they were traveling in and a train collided on the R104 Road, near Mafube village between Wonderfontein and Arnot on Wednesday. A further 11 learners were reported to be injured in the crash,” she said.
Maimela further said this is indeed a great loss. She added that they mourn with the parents, families, school community and all those affected by this accident and they wish the injured a speedy and complete recovery.
“We appeal to the providers of scholar transport and public transport owners to screen drivers before hiring them to ensure they are fit to be trusted with transporting passengers,” said Maimela.
Picture: The situation at the Brits Forensic Pathology Services/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) in the North West has called on the North West Department of Health to immediately shut down the Brits Forensic Pathology Services. This comes after the union painted a grim picture regarding the status quo of the mortuary.
NEHAWU regional secretary in Bojanala District, Shadrack Ramaru said the union is revolted by the terrible state of Brits Forensic Pathology under the North West Department of Health, where workers are subjected to intolerable harmful working conditions.
Picture: Situation at Brits Forensic Pathology Service/Supplied
Ramaru alleged that they have always raised concerns about non-compliance to Occupational Health and Safety Act in several institutions of the Department of Health and there seems to be no willingness from the side of the department to address these challenges.
He further said workers are without proper Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) and office space for forensic staff. Ramaru added that workers allegedly utilize their cars as offices in this cold winter season.
“The sub-district management failed dismally to protect workers and their main focus is exerting pressure on workers to report for duty knowing fully well the state of OHS in the mortuary.
“The fact that the Department of Labour issued notices in December 2022, for the department to effect improvements, however, to date there are no improvements nor a sign that the department will act,” he said.
He said what the department has done to their members, was a total disregard to legislative prescripts that govern public service. Ramaru alleged that what is happening at the mortuary is mutilation of Basic Conditions of Employment and Occupational Health and Safety Act.
“The dilapidated state of the mortuary, damaged refrigerators, non-functional toilets and failure to provide water has contributed to workers not coping at all with their daily duties. It is therefore, a serious misconduct from the side of the department to have failed to ensure proper basic conditions of employment.
“As the NEHAWU, we call for the immediate closure of Brits Forensic Pathology services due to non-compliance with OHSA and BCSA and all workers employed under the workplace, must be taken for medical check-up on the departmental costs,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Health spokesperson, Lucas Mothibedi said: “The department has a very strong Occupational Health and Safety culture that was strengthened during COVID-19. There are functional Occupational Health and Safety committees that are functional at all levels of the service platform.
“The department can also confirm that all labour unions are part of these structures, which have registered much progress. Indeed, the department is aware of the situation at the Brits Forensic Pathology. It is not true that workers are without proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and office space for forensic staff.”
Mothibedi said there is adequate PPE with a buffer stock in the storage area in Orkney College. He said the department acknowledges the fact that space is not adequate to accommodate every staff in their individual offices, but all staff do get accommodated.
“This mortuary was donated by a mining house and the department will be refurbishing the infrastructure once the Phokeng Mortuary project is completed. It is also not true that workers utilize their cars as offices in this cold winter season. There is a well-furnished office space that is used by staff.
“The allegations that the sub-district management failed dismally to protect workers and their main focus is exerting pressure on workers to report for duty knowing fully well the state of OHS in the mortuary are unfounded,” said Mothibedi.
He said indeed the Department of Labour has issued a notice, but that was issued mainly dealing with infrastructure gaps that required huge financial investment. Mothibedi said the department prioritised the total refurbishment of Phokeng Mortuary, which was in an extremely bad condition to a point of closure by the then MEC.
“It is the intention of the department to refurbish all the mortuaries, with Brits being earmarked as the next in line following Phokeng. An alarm was raised through NEHAWU about the alleged state of disrepair within the mortuary and calling for closure of the facility and the provincial management responded immediately.
“There were challenges that were identified and action was taken to resolve them. Only one fridge was reported to have stopped working for a day on the 24 July 2024, and the supplier was activated and got it fixed the next day,” he said.
Mothibedi said due to challenges of water interruptions in the area sometimes and the water pump that was malfunctioning, water could not be pumped from the water storage in a pressurised manner, which affected even the cleanliness of the facility. He said, however, a new water pump was installed on 26 July 2024, to increase the water pressure.
“There are 11 toilets of which three were found to be malfunctioning and the district maintenance team is attending to them. There is a process that is followed for any facility to be closed, which can come in the form of the Department of Labour, Environmental Health Office and Member of Executive Council,” said Mothibedi.
He said in this case, the department believes that much work has been executed and will continue to work on these things in a phased-in approach due to budgetary constraints. Mothibedi said it is the responsibility of the department to subject the employees to medical surveillance through OHS and it will be implemented as per OHS Director recommendations.
Picture: One of the accused arrested by the Hawks for dealing in drugs, possession of drugs and facing 250 counts of money laundering amounting to R4.6 million/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Two persons who were arrested for dealing in drugs, possession of drugs and facing 250 counts of money laundering amounting to R4.6 million, briefly appeared in the Mogwase Magistrate’s Court on 2 August 2024. John Siphiwe Mahlangu (44) and Emily Dube (39), were arrested in Ledig, near Rustenburg on 1 August 2024, following intensive investigations on drugs and drug trafficking activities around Ledig and Sun City.
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said Mahlangu was charged on five cases of drugs and drug trafficking. Mathebula said this comes after intelligence-driven operations.
“He also faces money laundering charges in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998. Dube was only charged with money laundering after investigation revealed that large amounts of money were transferred from Mahlangu’s bank account into her bank account between 2019 and 2020.
“The accused made a brief court appearance and were remanded in custody until 13 August 2024, for formal bail application,” he added.
Meanwhile, the North West Hawks Head, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, have welcomed the arrest and commended the investigation team for working tirelessly to ensure that the accused are brought to book.
The Guardian 