Picture: The crime scene, where Fidelity Cash-in-Transit van was robbed
By OBAKENG MAJE
No one has been arrested in a Cash-in-Transit robbery case that took place in front of Pep Store in Taung Central Business District (CBD) on Monday. This comes after three heavily armed suspects driving a Blue Audi A4, allegedly robbed the Fidelity vehicle undisclosed amount of money.
The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said: “According to initial reports, it is alleged that the cash-van was approached by three armed suspects in a blue Audi A4, who fired shots towards the two security guards and ordered them to lay down on the floor.
“They then allegedly took money bags and two pistols of the security guards and fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. No person was injured, and no arrests have been made.”
Myburgh said anyone with information that can assist the police are requested to contact the nearest police station, crime stop on 08600 10111 or from the MySAPS app from your smartphone.
Picture: The school principal, Lydia Masiu and circuit manager in Ventersdorp, Petrus Mokobe nabbed for corruption/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
A school principal and the circuit manager at the North West Department of Education were arrested on 5 August 2024, by the Hawks for corruption. Lydia Masiu (53) and Petrus Mokobe (63) briefly appeared before the Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, facing five counts of corruption.
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said Masiu and Mokobe, were arrested by members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation in Klerksdorp and Ventersdorp on 5 August 2024. Mathebula said their arrest follows an investigation into allegations of corruption in the appointment of school teachers in Ventersdorp.
“Investigations revealed that Masiu and Mokobe allegedly solicited gratification from the complainants in exchange for teacher posts in the local schools. The complainants reportedly paid the accused R15 000 in instalments.
“Following an investigation, a warrant of arrest was issued against the pair and executed last night. They appeared in court and were granted R8000 each. Their case was postponed to 6 September 2024 for further investigation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West Province, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the sterling work from the investigation and prosecution team. They have vowed to continue collaborating in the fight against corruption in the province.
Crime and violence has become so common in our country that many South Africans often despair of us ever stopping it. It is no surprise that every time we hear another story of a robbery or a murder or a rape, we find ourselves asking why nothing can be done to tackle crime.
A recent update by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Operation Shanela should give us encouragement that the fight against crime is gaining momentum.
Operation Shanela, which was launched last year, is a high-density initiative to enhance visible policing and to find wanted suspects, particularly those accused of murder and sex crimes.
Importantly, Operation Shanela is a multi-sectoral crime-fighting strategy. It is driven by the SAPS with the support of the South African National Defence Force, national and provincial traffic authorities, metro police departments, the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Revenue Service and the National Prosecuting Authority.
It draws heavily on collaboration with community policing forums (CPFs) and community patrollers, and works with private security companies.
Through roadblocks, stop and search operations, foot patrols and business compliance inspections, Operation Shanela’s teams have made important progress in dealing with crime hotspots and organised crime syndicates.
The update delivered by the SAPS last week noted that solid police work over the past year had resulted in more than 700,000 arrests for various crimes, including murder, cash-in-transit robberies, vehicle hijacking and sexual offences.
Over the past two years more than 20,000 firearms have been seized, including several homemade guns and rifles. More than 3,000 firearms were seized in the Western Cape, where gun violence amongst warring gangs is particularly rife.
The SAPS has been working closely with the banking sector around the bombing of cash machines, arresting a number of suspects in Gauteng and in the Free State.
Beyond the trauma and instability crime causes in communities, crime is also an impediment to economic growth and development.
During the sixth administration, we established specialised task teams to deal with economic sabotage such as cable theft, the vandalism of power installations and railway lines, illicit mining and extortion in the construction industry.
These crimes are highly organised and run by syndicates. As such, we have taken a multi-pronged strategy to combat them. Over the past five years, 722 so-called construction mafia suspects have been arrested for extortion at construction sites. Fifty-two have so far been convicted and sentenced to terms ranging from 7 months to 89 years imprisonment.
Operations continue into the disruption of illicit mining activities, including working with mining houses and the Department of Mineral Resources to seal abandoned mine shafts.
Our approach to crime-fighting has had to evolve in response to new types of crime. These include illicit mining and construction site extortion, and, more recently, kidnappings for ransom and more sophisticated drug manufacturing and smuggling operations.
The successes of Operation Shanela have shown the benefits of multi-sectoral collaboration and the value of specialised task teams. The SAPS and all stakeholders involved in Operation Shanela are to be congratulated for this sterling work.
Crime, even if it has not affected us directly, is everybody’s problem. If we continue to work together as government, the business community, labour and civil society, we can restore the safety and security that is critical to economic activity and the creation of jobs.
If, as communities, we play an active role in supporting the police through the CPFs and other structures, we can indeed take back our homes, our businesses, our communities and our streets from criminals. If we continue the good work started through Operation Shanela, we can beat crime and build a safe and secure country.
Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille said the sector is often overlooked as a key economic sector, yet it is a significant contributor and driver of economic growth and job creation. De Lille said as they commence the 7thadministration, their mission is to elevate the profile of tourism by supporting efforts to grow the sector and demonstrating this growth and the sector’s impact on the economy and communities.
She further said as articulated by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Opening of Parliament Address, the cabinet has defined the three priority areas for government for the next 5 years. De Lille added that the cabinet will develop a Medium-Term Development Plan, which will translate these priorities into a detailed plan and interventions that the government will implement over the next five years.
“The Government of National Unity (GNU) has resolved to dedicate the next five years to actions that will advance three strategic priorities such as driving inclusive growth and job creation, reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living and build a capable, ethical and developmental state.
“We have placed inclusive economic growth at the centre of the work of the GNU and at the top of the national agenda. Those are the three priorities for the government and all departments, entities and sectors must make a contribution to achieving these priorities within the next five years,” she said.
De Lille said her department is currently working on finalising their five-year plan, which will align to the GNU priorities, the National Development Plan(NDP), the Tourism Sector Master Plan and the National Tourism Sector Strategy. She said the NDP states that Tourism is one of the fastest growing economic sectors and there is an opportunity to increase employment in this sector.
“As part of our plan, our target will be to increase arrivals to 15 million by 2030, as stated in the NDP. We have just finalised a 2-day departmental Lekgotla together with SA Tourism, where we have made an assessment of where we are now.
“The next part of the plan is to map where we want to go and how we will get to the 15 million arrivals by 2030. We have an opportunity now to design the future of tourism for the next 5 to 10 years and it is not going to be business as usual.
“We have to drive urgency in the implementation of our plans for us to succeed in reaching our targets. These action plans will be implemented together with the private sector inclusive of the whole tourism value chain,” said de Lille.
Picture: North West MEC Oageng Molapisi, his Head of Department, Kgomotso Mahlobo and departmental officials handing over goodies to some of the elders at Hands that Cares Old Age Home/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
The North West MEC for Corporate Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi accompanied by Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality mayor, Dinah Pitso and Head of Department (HOD), Kgomotso Mahlobo, closed off the Mandela Month activities by spending 67 minutes at Hands that Cares Old Age Home in Dinokana and Gopane Village, Zeerust.
Molapisi visited the centre wherein he donated blankets, groceries, toiletries and sanitary packs to the centre. He described the Nelson Mandela Day as an extremely important day for everyone, especially South Africans as it reminds them of the global icon and all the good deeds he has done towards building a better South Africa.
“Throughout his lifetime, Madiba inspired us with acts of generosity. We are forever indebted to his lesson of humanity. His legacy should not die. I therefore urge all of us to work together in ensuring that the Madiba legacy multiplies for generations to come.
“We are grateful that our officials lent helping hands at the centre by cleaning the yard. We would like to thank them for their selfless contribution and ensuring that they play their part as this embodied the values of peace and human dignity as espoused by Nelson Mandela,” said Molapisi.
In addition, he also handed over two newly-built houses to the Morubane and Phejane families at Gopane village. The handover is part of the Molapisi’s programme of unblocking all the blocked projects across the province.
Meanwhile, both beneficiaries appreciated the gesture bestowed to them citing that indeed their living conditions will be improved.
Hands that Cares Old Age Home was founded in 2006 by Gadifele Sebogodi and operates as a non-profit making organisation, which renders social welfare services to elderly people, middle-aged people, people living with disability and destitute people.
Sebogodi said: “The centre provides the victims with access to shelter, provision of nutritious food, emotional support and other essential services in order to ensure the physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being of fellow citizens.
“We would like to thank the department and all stakeholders involved for the donations they received. Truly, we did not expect anything nor made applications to any institution for assistance.”
She further thanked the department for remembering them on Mandela Month. Segodi added that this is a testament that indeed the good work is noticed out there.
Picture: A school choir during music competition/Google
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said they wish schools representing the province at the 2024 ABC Motsepe South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE) Championships well. Motsumi said the province is sending 22 choirs from 18 schools that will be competing at the national championships, that is 7 primary schools and 14 secondary schools (other schools are competing in two sections).
The national championships will take place at Rhema Church, Randburg from 7-11 August 2024.
“Choirs will be accompanied by 47 teachers including conductors and 18 departmental officials and the Provincial Task Team members. Day 1 Choirs for primary schools are Reoleboge Primary School from Bojanala District, which will be competing in the Own Choice category, Ramaifala Primary School from Bojanala District will be competing in the Sextet and Boys Choir categories.
“Motlhabane Primary School from Ngaka Modiri Molema District will be competing in the Boys Choir category. Kgwanyape Primary School Bojanala District will be competing in the Mixed Choir (Western) and Mixed Choir (African) categories. Sunrise View Primary School from Bojanala District will be competing in the Folklore category,” she said.
Motsumi further said Day 2 Choirs, which are secondary school include Tlamelang Special School in Ngaka Modiri Molema District that will be performing in the Own Choice category, Moedwil Combined School in Bojanala District will be performing in the MDQ and SATB Chamber Choir, Mothutlung Secondary School in Bojanala District will be competing in the Mixed Choir B (African). She added that Ikatisong Secondary School in Bojanala District will be competing in the Mixed Choir B (African).
“During Day 3, which falls under secondary schools, Batswana Secondary School will be competing in the Soprano Solo category, Baitshoki Secondary School will be competing in the Tenor Solo category, Kebonang Secondary School will be competing in the Male Choir (TTBB) category, Mmabatho Secondary School will be competing in the Female Choir (SSA) category, while Kgaphamadi Secondary School will be competing in the Mixed Choir A (Western) category.
“On Day 4 (Secondary School), Tshebedisano Secondary School in Dr Kenneth Kaunda will be competing in Mezzo Soprano Solo category, Ntolo Secondary School in Bojanala District will be competing in the Baritone/Bass Solo category, Kebonang Secondary School in Ngaka Modiri Molema District will be competing in Septet category, Matlosana Secondary School in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District will be competing in Mixed Choir A (Afican) category, while Setilo Secondary School in Ngaka Modiri Molema District will be competing in the Folklore category,” said Motsumi.
She conveyed her heartfelt well wishes to the choirs and urges them to bring the trophies home. Motsumi also extended her sincerest gratitude to the dedicated teachers, who have worked tirelessly with the learners throughout this musical journey.
“I also express my appreciation to the parents for their unwavering support. Your contributions have been invaluable. Choirs will be traveling from 6-11 August 2024. The department will accommodate and cater learners, teachers and the officials during the championship period,” she said.
Picture: Three Zimbabwean suspects nabbed for theft/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
A concerted effort between police and private security company employees, culminated in the arrest of three Zimbabwean foreign nationals on 1 August 2024, in Lichtenburg for possession of suspected stolen goods. it is alleged that a suspicious white Ford Ranger vehicle with three occupants, was spotted in Lichtenburg on 31 July 2024.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said as a result and utilising CCTV cameras, Lichtenburg Visible Policing, K9 Unit and CIB Security members, monitored the movement of the vehicle, which headed to the direction of Mahikeng. Mokgwabone said on Wednesday evening, 1 August 2024, the same vehicle was spotted entering Lichtenburg with truck tyres loaded at the back.
“The vehicle was stopped and one passenger tried to run away, but he and two other suspects were caught. It was established that the trio stole the tyres from trucks at Ramatlabama Port of Entry in the policing precinct of Mahikeng. The suspects aged 32, 37 and 38, briefly appeared in the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on 5 August 2024,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the success and thanked the team for their collaborative efforts, hard work and patience.
Picture: The ANC Chief Whip in North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL)
By REGINALD KANYANE
The ANC North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) Caucus on Monday joined the multitudes of South Africans from all walks of lives welcoming and celebrating Women’s Month 2024. The ANC Chief Whip in North West Provincial Legislature, Motlalepula Rosho said women’s month is important in the calendar of South Africa’s liberation struggle in pursuit of the fundamental goal of advancing women’s rights.
Rosho said every year in August, South Africa celebrates Women’s Month to pay tribute to more than 20 000 women, who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. She further said the demonstration by women changed the political landscape of South Africa in quest for freedom and democracy.
“The tireless efforts of the women of 1956 demonstrated the resilience and bravery of our womenfolk in changing the course of the struggle for the emancipation of women in general and South Africans in particular. As we use this month as an opportunity to reflect on strides, we have made as a nation to advance women’s struggles. It also equally affords us an opportunity to look at what needs to be done to protect and empower women going forward.
“This call to action to accelerate women’s equality and protect the gains already made by the ANC and spur us to actively work to improve women’s access to economic opportunities and, in particular, business financing and credit so that women can pursue business opportunities in all areas,” said Rosho.
She added that it remains a collective responsibility to ensure that women of this country and beyond, are equally represented in the economy and receive equal pay. Rosho said investing in women and championing gender equality turbocharges a future where everyone in society can thrive, creating a world of boundless opportunity and empowerment for all.
“Implementing gender responsive budgets will strive for a fair distribution of resources especially towards women residing in our remotest areas. We firmly believe that achieving gender equality and women’s well-being in all aspects of life is more crucial than ever if we are to create inclusive and prosperous economies and healthy society.
“Ending gender-based violence against women, children and LGBTQ+ people remains our priority as the ANC. We must continue to affirm the freedom of women and engage in campaigns that involve communities in the prevention of femicide and rape. As a country, we need to redouble our efforts and ensure that women are not exposed to any form of harassment and discrimination,” she said.
Rosho said the ANC Caucus calls on all South Africans to mark this month by rededicating themselves to the realization of the vision of those gallant women of 1956, who sought a country where they had equal opportunities, felt safe and had the freedom to contribute as equals in our country’s development.
Setshwantsho: Banna ba ba tlhometseng ba tshwere sejanaga se se rwalang madi sa Fidelity poo
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Sepodisi mono Taung se tlhalositse fa se butse kgetsi ya go kgothosa go tlhometswe. Seno se tla morago ga gore banna ba ba neng ba tlhometse go utlwala, ba kgothose sejanaga se se rwalang madi sa Fidelity fa pele ga lebenkele la Pep Store mo toropong ya Taung mo letsatsing la maabane.
Go begwa fa banna ba, ba ile ba thuntsa sejanaga sa Fidelity, mme ga gona ope o boneng dikgobalo.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen are: “Ka ntlheng ya bosisi mo dipatlisisong mo kgetsing e, ga nkitla re kgona go tsenelela mo dintlheng mabapi le gore go diragetse eng, gonne seo se ka ama dipatlisiso tsa sepodisi.”
Picture: The newly-appointed SAFA COO, Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe
By OBAKENG MAJE
The former South African Football Association (SAFA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe has returned to the South African Football Association (SAFA) as the new Chief Operations Officer (COO). The position of COO has been vacant since May 2023, when Lydia Monyepao was elevated to CEO following Motlanthe’s departure for personal reasons.
SAFA president, Dr Danny Jordaan welcomed Motlanthe back and said the new COO has already hit the ground running.
“The position of COO has been entrenched at SAFA but was vacant, so we are happy that Adv Motlanthe has agreed to return. We want to make sure that we have winning national teams, we want to strengthen school sports, we want to qualify for the FIFA Women’s and Men’s World Cups, AFCON and WAFCON, strengthen our administration and also work on the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup bid,” he said.
Montlanthe said he was happy to be back at SAFA House.
“I am happy to be back and part of a collective that is working on making SAFA a world class organisation,” he said.
The Guardian 