Picture: A man arrested for being in possession of drugs/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
A man (31) was arrested for allegedly being in possession of drugs worth R15 000. This comes after the swift response by Steinkopf SAPS, ‘D’ relief.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the police were conducting patrols when they received a tip-off regarding a man traveling from Port Nolloth to Steinkopf, who was allegedly in possession of drugs.
“The man fitting the description was spotted in Uitkyk Street, Steinkopf. He was stopped and searched. The police found mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R15 000 in his possession.
“The suspect was arrested and detained for possession of drugs and will appear in court soon. The police remain committed in eradicating and removing drugs from our streets,” he said.
Picture: A truck transporting 17 Bonsmara cattle seized by police/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
29 August 2014- Two men were arrested being in possession of suspected stolen 17 Bonsmara cattle. The accused, Francio Nel (44) and Steven Mothas Baduds (34), were arrested during Operation Basadi conducted in Madikwe on 27 August 2024.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said the police also confiscated an Isuzu Truck that was allegedly used to transport the cattle.
“This success came after a tip-off that a truck loaded with stolen cattle is driving in the Lindleyspoort area. The women in blue, supported by Madikwe Stock Theft and Endangered Species (STES) Unit and Traffic Officers, conducted a roadblock and patrols in the area, near Swartruggens.
“The police spotted and stopped the truck. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the cattle valued at R320 000, were reported stolen in Lomanyaneng village, near Mahikeng,” she said.
Myburgh further said Nel and Baduds briefly appeared before the Swartruggens Magistrate’s Court today and were both granted R3000 bail each. She added that their case was postponed until 25 September 2024.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, thanked the police and other role players involved in the operation for their excellent team work and said women will continue to play a huge role in policing by bringing perpetrators to book.
A man (49) was sentenced to 38 years imprisonment by the Kimberly Regional Court for rape, kidnapping and assault. During the early hours of 27 February 2010, a victim (13) and her friend, were on their way home in Galeshewe when they were accosted by the accused, Themba Dipheko.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Sergio Kock said Dipheko grabbed the victim and raped her at knife-point in a toilet at a nearby house. Kock said the accused fled the scene afterwards.
“In a separate incident on 27 September 2015, the accused met his ex-girlfriend (46) in the street in Galeshewe Township, and stabbed her in the face without any provocation.
“The two cases were combined in court and Dipheko was found guilty. He was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for rape, five years for kidnapping and eight years for assault GBH,” he said.
Kock further said the sentences will run concurrently and Dipheko’s name will be entered in the National Register for Sex Offenders.
Meanwhile, the acting Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Major General Luntu Ngubelanga, embraced the hefty prison sentence handed down to Dipheko. Ngubelanga lauded the Detective Sergeant Simphiwe Mdunge of the Provincial Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations unit for his relentless determination in securing the hefty sentence of the GBVF perpetrator during Women’s Month. “Detectives will continue to robustly and vigorously investigate all contact crimes,” he said.
29 August 2024- A man (59) was sentenced to six imprisonment or R30 000 fine by the Atamelang Magistrate’s Court for Contravention of National Environment Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) 10 of 2004. In September 2023, the Mahikeng-Based Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, received a tip-off about a suspect, who was allegedly in possession of a Pangolin at Setlagole village.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Sivenathi Gunya said the information was operationalised and the suspect’s premises were searched. Gunya said during the search, a Pangolin was found in the boot of an old vehicle.
“The accused, Kabelo Jantjies was apprehended for illegal possession of endangered species. Following a series of court appearances, Jantjies was found guilty and sentenced to six years imprisonment or R30 000, half of which is suspended for a period of five years on condition that the accused does not commit a similar offence within the period of suspension,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari lauded the investigation and prosecution team for ensuring that the accused is brought to book.
29 August 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration received a briefing yesterday from the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) on the fund’s state of readiness to implement the two-pot system to its almost 1.3 million public servant members when the new system comes into effect on 1 September 2024.
The committee welcomed the preparations that aim to ensure GEPF members have a user-friendly experience when using the online application system to access their pension fund information.
The Chairperson of Portfolio Committee, Jan De Villers said the app will give members a dashboard view of their retirement pots and an opportunity to withdraw funds from the savings pot, as per the new rules of the two-pot retirement system.
“The committee noted the concerns that some public servants do not understand how the new two-pot system works, but we were encouraged by the GEPF’s commitment to continue educating its members.
“We also welcome the legislation’s intention to protect South Africans’ retirement savings, as well as the fact that members will be able to access a component of their savings before retirement without having to resign from their job,” he said.
De Villiers further said this is intended to help them in times of unforeseen financial emergencies. He added that the committee calls upon members of the public service to highlight any frustrations with the implementation of the new system so that the committee can adequately fulfil its oversight responsibilities over the GEPF and its execution within the rules of the new two-pot retirement system.
Picture: The acting North West Premier, Oageng Molapisi/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
29 August 2024- The North West Premier, Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi, has appointed the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Oageng Molapisi as acting Premier effective from 29 August until 6 September 2024. During this period, Mokgosi will be leading a delegation of the provincial government to Gyeosangbu-DO province of South Korea and the Henan province of China on an international mission.
Mokgosi said the primary objective of this mission is to strengthen economic ties with the two provinces. He further said their quest is to also critically position the North West province as a prime destination for investments.
“This mission forms part of our ongoing efforts as the province to attract investments and address the high levels of unemployment afflicting our communities. There lies huge spin offs in the three economic drivers of our province and our visit is centred on exposing these opportunities to our prospective investors,” he said.
29 August 2024 – The police in Potchefstroom request community assistance in locating a missing woman, Nomsa Jass (26). The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said Jass was last seen on 25 August 2024, when she left her place of work at a Mooirivier Mall in Potchefstroom.
“She did not report back at work on 26 August 2024. The employer contacted the missing person’s family and they went to her flat in Meyer Street in Potchefstroom, but could not find her or her vehicle, a charcoal-colored Volkswagen Polo.
“Jass was reported missing on 27 August 2024. On Wednesday, the police recovered her abandoned vehicle, which was parked in a parking area at the Daveyton Mall, near Benoni in Gauteng. It is unknown what she was wearing during the time of her disappearance,” she said.
Myburgh said Jass is light-brown in complexion with brown eyes, black medium length hair, about 1.2 m tall and a very slender build body. She said the police request anyone who may have information that can assist to locate her to contact the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Johan Mostert on 082 568 5734 or the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.
“Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via the MySAPS App from your smartphone,” said Myburgh.
29 August 2024 – A man (62) who was arrested for allegedly killing his three family members by poisoning them, briefly appeared before Bloemhof Magistrate’s Court. Initially, three family members, who died over a period of three years, were buried and considered to have died due to natural causes.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said in all three cases, Daniel Mokwai successfully claimed from his insurance policies. Myburgh said, however, family members reported him to the police after becoming suspicious that he murdered their relatives by allegedly buying all three of them pies.
“They would then get sick after eating the pie and eventually die. The bodies of all three deceased were exhumed and pathology reports confirmed that they were poisoned, leading to the murder investigations.
“In the first incident, reported on 5 December 2020, a boy (16), died at midday between Phuduhudu and Gopane, near Bloemhof. The boy was the relative of Mokwai’s wife,” she said.
Myburgh further said the second deceased (17), who was also the relative of the wife of the accused, died on Wednesday night,1 December 2021, in Boitumelong Township, outside of Bloemhof. She added that the last victim, Mothibi Alpheos Mokwai (31), was the accused’ son.
“He died on Sunday afternoon, 9 October 2022, at his house in Mathyse Street in Bloemhof. Mokwai was remanded in custody until his second court appearance on 4 September 2024, for legal representation. Through prosecution led investigations, police identified Mokwai as a suspect and obtained a warrant of arrest that was effected on 26 August 2024,” said Myburgh.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, said it is unacceptable that young children were murdered by someone they trusted. Kwena reiterated that the police will continue to work hard to remove criminals such as this one from society.
“We call upon insurance companies and members of the public to report cases, where they suspect foul play or criminal activity when they process insurance claims,” he said.
29 August 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Women Youth and Persons with Disabilities received a briefing today from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) on its annual performance plan (APP) and budget for the 2024/25 financial year. The committee heard that for the 2024/25 financial year, the budget allocation for the Department for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities is R791.3 million.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Lindelwa Dunjwa said the budget includes a significant portion earmarked for youth development programmes, although it reflects a decrease from the previous year’s budget. Dunjwa the APP outlines specific targets, including support of youth-owned enterprises, job creation and the facilitation of skills development programmes.
“The committee praised the comprehensive presentation provided by the NYDA and commended their ongoing efforts to address the challenges facing South Africa’s young people. Throughout the discussions during the meeting, several important themes emerged.
“Firstly, there was consensus among committee members about the urgent need to address the high levels of youth unemployment. Many members highlighted the importance of aligning education systems with the demands of the job market,” she said.
Dunjwa further said the committee believes entrepreneurial skills should be integrated into the school curriculum to better prepare young people for future employment opportunities. She added that the committee had concerns about the accessibility of NYDA services, particularly in rural areas.
“The committee members said it is crucial for the agency to enhance outreach efforts to ensure that young people, especially those from marginalised communities, have access to vital information and resources that the NYDA has to offer.
“Members suggested exploring partnerships with local organisations and using mobile units to reach young people who may face transportation barriers. Regarding the NYDA’s budget, members of the committee noted discrepancies between the agency’s reported allocations and the figures obtained from the National Treasury,” said Dunjwa.
She said this discrepancy warrants closer scrutiny to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of resources. Dunjwa said the committee recognised the significant reduction in funding for various programmes and indicated that it is eager to understand how the NYDA plans to sustain its initiatives under these financial constraints.
“The committee noted in the presentation that the upcoming financial year marks the last for additional funding of R250 million for the National Youth Service programme, which raises questions about the long-term sustainability of such initiatives.
“The committee also inquired about the effectiveness of the NYDA’s programmes, specifically regarding the distinction between job opportunities created and actual long-term employment. The committee indicated that it is keen to understand the sectors that have benefited most from these opportunities and the sustainability of the jobs created,” she said.
In addition, Dunjwa said the issue of inclusivity for persons with disabilities within the NYDA’s programmes was highlighted. She said while the NYDA has made strides in developing a disability strategy, the committee encourages further efforts to ensure that programmes cater to the diverse needs of all young people, including those with disabilities.
“Finally, the committee expressed a desire for more detailed reporting on the performance of board members and the mechanisms in place for evaluating their contributions. It is essential that we hold ourselves accountable and ensure that our leadership remains effective in driving the NYDA’s mission forward.
“The committee is committed to supporting the NYDA in its mandate to empower young people across South Africa. We look forward to continued engagements that will enhance our collective efforts to address youth unemployment and promote socio-economic development,” said Dunjwa.
29 Phatwe 2024- Lefapha la Thuto mo Bokone Bophirima, le beile mogokgo wa sekolo potlana sa Matlape kwa Coligny kwa thoko go simolola ka 23 Phatwe 2024. Lefapha le tlhalositse fa tshwetso eno, e ne ya dirwa morago ga gore go begwe fa mogokgo wa sekolo se, a amogetse pipa-molomo ya go thapa morutabana.
Mokhuduthamaga wa Lefapha la Thuto mo Bokone Bophirima, Viola Motsumi are tiragalo e, e diragetse morago ga kgang e e tshwanang le eno kwa sedikeng sa Dr Kenneth Kaunda, koo mookamedi wa kgaolo le mogokgo wa sekolo ba neng ba tlosiwa mo tirong. Motsumi o rotloetsa badiri botlhe go bega ditiragalo tsa bobodu.
“Mo boemong jwa lefapha leno, ke ikuela go mongwe le mongwe go begela lefapha ka ditiragalo dingwe le dingwe tsa bonweenwee tse di dirwang. A molao o diragatswe go batho botlhe ba ba amegang mo ditiragalo tsa bonwenwe.
“Bokaedi jwa badiri bo tla tswelela ka thulaganyo ya kgalemo, le go tlhomamisa ka botlalo gore ditatofatso tsotlhe di a batlisisiwa le go sekasekwa,” Motsumi wa tlhalosa.
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