Picture: Former SGB chairperson, Pholoso Luka arrested by the Hawks/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
29 September 2024- Former School Governing Body (SGB) chairperson in Lichtenburg, who allegedly solicited gratification from four complainants in exchange for administration clerk and teacher assistant posts at a primary school in Lichtenburg, was granted a R5000 bail.
Pholoso Luka (41) was arrested by the members of the Mahikeng-based Serious Corruption Investigation Unit in Lichtenburg on 26 September 2024, for alleged corruption. The investigation revealed that, Luka was allegedly paid gratification by the complainants between 2022 and 2023, in order to secure them jobs at a local primary school.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Sivenathi Gunya said one complainant allegedly paid Luka R14 500, another paid him R10 000, and the other two paid R1000 each to secure jobs.
“Luka briefly appeared in the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on 27 September 2024, facing four counts of corruption. His case was postponed to 22 November 2024, for further investigations,” 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, Dr Rachel Makhari, have welcomed the arrest. They have cautioned public officials to refrain from involving themselves in corrupt activities as law enforcement agencies will not hesitate to act against perpetrators.
29 Lwetse 2024- Monna oneng a begwa a nyeletse, Collen Modiriemang Seipone (35), wa kwa motseng wa Kolong, gaufi le Taung, o fitlhilwe kwa dirapeng tsa baswi teng kwa Kolong ka Lamatlhatso. Bontsi jwa ditsala tsa gagwe ga mmogo le ba dira-mmogo, ba mo tlhalositse fa ene ele motho oneng a na le boikobo, ebile a le lerato.
Moruti Sylvester Aiseng are batho ga batla go dulela ruri mo lefatsheng, fela botshelo jwa motho bo itsiwe ke Modimo. Aiseng are batho ba ka dira tsotlhe tsa lefatshe, ba je monate, fela molaodi wa botshelo ke Modimo.
“Jaanong are se tsamaye ka kakabalo, mme re tlhaloganye gore botshelo re bo neilwe ke Modimo, ebile ke ene o tla bo khutlisang. Akere fa ngwana a tla mo lefatsheng o tla a kuparetse? Ke rata batho ba tlhaloganye lefoko la Modimo.
“Batho ba lefatshe ba ratile monate go feta lefoko la Modimo. Setlogolo sa ka se ile sa kopana le matsogo a sa siama. Matsogo ao, a ile a mo nyeletsa ebile re ile ra dula re maketse. Fela, re ile ra kopa gore Morena gore are arabe,” Aiseng wa tlhalosa.
Mongwe wa dibue ka letsatsi la tirelo matshidiso, Kgalolo Koji are Seipone one a sa tshwane le batho ba bangwe. Koji are one a itse Seipone, ga mmogo le metsamao ya gagwe.
“Lefatshe le kgona go go tlhoa, ba sa itse gore ba go tlhoela eng. Ke bua ka motho o eneng ele podile mo bathung ba bagwe, mme fa o botsa lebaka, ga gona karabo.
“Ke bua ka motho o montsho ka mmala, mme a le mosesane batho ba ipotsa gore go baneng a sa none. Batho ba kwala, mme ke bone le ngwana mongwe o neng a paletswe ke mophato wa marematlou, a beile setshwantsho sa ga Collen, mme ke ipotsa gore go baneng ane sa beye le setshwantsho sa gagwe sa marematlou,” Koji wa tlhalosa.
Are batho ba rata dilo tsa batho. Koji are ba lelapa la rra Seipone ba se ikobonye gore ba be ba na le ngwana o neng a bidiwang Collen.
“Ke itumelela selo se le sengwe fela, gonne Collen one a sena sepe le motho o sa itsholelang jaaka nna jaana. Fela one a tlhoilwe ke batho ba ba senang sepe jaaka nna jaana.
“Botlhe ba ba tsholotseng madi a gagwe, le bone ka letsatsi lengwe, madi a bone a tla latswa ke ditsha. Collen ene ele lekau, mme ene ere ka nako tse dingwe ha ke kopana le ene ko Ditshilong, ke be ke mmotsa gore o tswa kae, a be are: “kena le tsoga re omane ha go dume hao,” Koji wa tlhalosa.
Tikane Motsage are: “Collen ene ele mmotlana, mme re godile mmogo. Ke gopola ha kene ke kgaogana le ene, gone gole di 21, mme ke ene oneng a ntseisa dibeke. Ene ere fa a le ko Potchefstroom, one a kgona go nketela.
“Ka letsatsi le aneng a nyelela ka lone, one aga metsi mme ka Laboraro, ke fa ke utlwa gotwe o nyeletse. Go ne go se monate. Ke latlhegetswe ke nnake.”
Kgabagare, go ne ga utlwala go gelebetega ga modumo wa dithunya kwa mabitleng morago ga phitlho.
29 September 2024- A former senior Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) official, Lizeka Tonjeni (49), was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, for corruption related to the Digital Vibes contract. This comes after Tonjeni was convicted of one count of corruption worth R160 000.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana said MISA is a national government component that is accountable to the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA). Mahanjana said in 2018, when MISA awarded a tender of almost R4 million to Digital Vibes to render communication services for a period of 24 months, Tonjeni was nominated as a project manager responsible for the appointment and management of the service provider, and to whom all communication had to be addressed.
“From December 2018 until August 2020, while Tonjeni was still a project manager, she received payments of R160 000 that were not authorised and due to her from Digital Vibes.
“After investigations by the Hawks Serious Corruption Offences (SCO), Tonjeni was arrested after she handed herself over to the police at the Pretoria Central Police Station on 24 May 2022,” she said.
Mahanjana further said Tonjeni pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied that she received payments from Digital Vibes in a corrupt manner. She added that in her testimony she said, the payments received from the brain behind Digital Vibes, Tahera Mather, were for weight loss and energy booster products she was selling and as such she still owes the Director of Digital Vibes R85 000, since she was unable to deliver some of the products and pay back her money.
“However, a team of prosecutors, Advocates Willem van Zyl and Phumla Dwane-Alpman, called witnesses who are MISA employees, to testify and adduced evidence to prove that indeed Tonjeni was guilty of the charges preferred against her.
“During the sentencing proceedings, Tonjeni asked the court to impose a non-custodial sentence of correctional supervision because she has a minor child to take care of,” said Mahanjana.
She said, however, the prosecutors asked for a sentence of direct imprisonment because Tonjeni committed a serious offence of corruption that is widespread on the part of state functionaries, which has become endemic in South Africa, that she committed the offence over a period of time and caused reputational damage to MISA.
Mahanjana said evidence clearly showed that it was MISA’s money that ultimately ended up in Tonjeni’s hands.
“Furthermore, the two advocates told the court that Tonjeni showed no remorse for the offences committed, and did not take the court into her confidence when she lied about the circumstances of her child.
“The prosecutors said having a minor child is not a get out of jail free card that offenders can use to escape prison. Therefore, placing too much emphasis on the child and not imposing imprisonment will send a wrong message to society,” she said.
Mahanjana said the NPA welcomed the sentence and wanted to send a strong message that corrupt officials know that impunity is no longer a given and that dreaded knock on the door has become a realistic prospect.
Meanwhile, when handing down the sentence, magistrate Setshoge said corrupt activities have become pandemic in the country, especially in parastatals and procurement.
“This case was a classic example of that. Tonjeni committed the offence to feed her greed. So, I found that the mitigating factors were overwhelmed by the aggravating factors.
“Therefore, the sentence given was appropriate,” said Setshoge.
Picture: A man arrested in connection of murder in Vryburg/Generic
By OBAKENG MAJE
29 September 2024– A man (40) from Marikana Section in Utlwanang Township, Christiana, was arrested for the alleged murder of his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend (31) on 26 September 2024. It is alleged that a quarrel ensued after the suspect went to his ex-girlfriend’s place at Utlwanang Township and found her with the victim.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani said the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim to death and dragged him to the bushes. Funani said the suspect allegedly chopped and removed the victim’s legs and private parts, then threw the victim’s body into the river.
“The ex-girlfriend reported a missing person to the police, who followed it up after getting information that the suspect was seen pushing a wheelbarrow towards the river. As a result, the police divers were summoned to search for the victim.
“His upper body and a leg were retrieved from the river on Thursday. A search continued on 27 September 2024, and a leg and other parts were recovered. The suspect is expected to appear in the Christiana Magistrate’s Court on 30 September 2024, for murder,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, condemned the incident and thanked all the members, including the divers, for the swift response and bringing the suspect to book.
Picture: Some of equipment seized by the police/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
29 September 2024- More than 21 illegal miners were arrested by a multi-disciplinary Vala Umgodi team in Bojanala Platinum District on 25 and 26 September 2024, for contravention of Section (49) (1) (a) of Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002). The suspects aged between 20 and 56, were nabbed in Tlhatlaganyane, Witrandjie, and Mooinooi.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani said the suspects include 10 Lesotho, five Mozambique, three Malawi, one Ethiopia, and one Zimbabwe foreign nationals and a South African. Funani said during the operations, the police seized illegal mining equipment such as generators, jack hammers, spades, drills, crowbars, and other tools.
“The suspects are expected to appear before the Brits and Mogwase Magistrate’s Courts respectively, on 30 September 2024,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, commended the Vala Umgodi team for the sterling job they do in the fight against illicit mining in the province.
29 September 2024- Engen said it has given rise to a number of talents to go on and flourish in their respective careers. It said from players to coaches, administrators and even those who work in the background.
“The number of individuals’ careers have catapulted after featuring in the tournament which has entered its 22nd year of existence,” said Engen.
The latest example of such is Pimville-born Thabo Senong, who is an Engen ambassador, having competed in the tournament as youth coach with Orlando Pirates stretching as far back as 2010. The 44-year-old has taken the next step in his career, where he was handpicked by none other than Arsene Wenger to form part of FIFA’s Technical Development Scheme.
Senong said: “I’ve just joined FIFA in August as a FIFA talent coach, which is a program that falls under the technical development scheme, which is the idea pioneered by the Chiefs of Global Development at FIFA, coach Arsene Wenger.
“He wants to improve countries that are struggling and close the gap between developing countries and the leading nations in football,” he said.
Senong, who will be stationed in Malawi as part of his duties has given credit to Engen for the platform they have provided, not only for himself but for coaches who are currently making headway in the Premier Soccer League, as well as up-and-coming coaches who are making a name for themselves in youth football.
“We are all products of this tournament and that’s where we started. I was at Pirates under professor [Augusto] Palacios, we won it twice. It has produced a lot of coaches. Coach Kwanele Kopo is coaching Chippa United, and he has coached in this tournament a number of times.
“[There is also] coach Arthur Zwane at Kaizer Chiefs, so this tournament has produced a lot of coaches and there are more up-and-coming coaches like coach ‘DVD’ (David Mathebula), coach Andisiwe Mcgoyi and a whole lot of other coaches,” he said.
Senong said people can see that it is a well-rounded tournament that gives them experts from the administration and technical sides, not only players.
Picture: Former Bafana Bafana player, benson Mhlongo/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
29 September 2024– Participants of the Betway 12th Man Programme have gathered once again for a two-day workshop of learning and information exchange in Workshop 5 of the ongoing Betway 12th Man Programme in Johannesburg.
Season 2 of the Betway 12th Man Programme has seen a total of 12 retired sport stars travelling a new and life-changing journey of re-inventing themselves through the uniquely designed programme by the globally acclaimed sports betting company.
Retired athletes from the fields of football, rugby, cricket, netball, boxing, canoeing and mixed-martial arts are nearing the conclusion of the uniquely designed programme that has so far resulted in them being empowered with various skills set – which include Marketing, Media, Strategy, Reputation Management as well as Financial Literacy.
Workshop 5 of the programme comes at the back of four highly informative Workshops overseen by various industry experts who continue to guide and mentor the retired heroes in their new journeys.
Speaking from the ongoing Workshop in Johannesburg, Betway 12th Man participant and former national team football player, Benson Mhlongo, said the course instilled a new sense of self-belief and confidence in him that he is putting to use in his everyday life.
“As a footballer, we were taught the importance of being confident on the field of play but very little has been taught about the importance of confidence and self-belief in the outside world.
“Through the knowledge gained with the Betway 12th Man, I am becoming a better coach and all-round human being who is better skilled and equipped to confidently venture into other areas of sport that I had very little knowledge of,” he said.
Echoing Mhlongo’s words, was former South African Netball national team player, Phumza Maweni, who went on to encourage retired sports stars to take up such opportunities.
“Life as a retired athlete can be quite depressing if you are not well prepared for it, which unfortunately is the case with most retired athletes. It is therefore important for us to be involved in such programmes to not only be able to give back to the sport in different capacities, but also equip us to continue making a living beyond our playing days.
“I really urge all retired athletes to look into such programmes that have changed our lives like the Betway 12th Man,” she said.
Workshop 5 of the Betway 12th Man programme will have a special focus on modules such as Brand Management, Sports Law as well as Strategy Development.
Monna wa dingwaga di le 22 wa kwa motseng wa Nommer 1, gaufi le Taung, o tshwerwe go latela polao ya ga Letlhogonolo Bogosi wa dingwaga di le 33. Go begwa fa go ile ga runya ntwa kwa mmileng kwa Nommer 1 mo letsatsing la Lamatlhatso, mme Bogosi o ile a leka go thiba ntwa eo.
Fela go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ile a tlhaba Bogosi ka thipa mo sehubeng, mme a mmolaya ka gangwe.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Colonel Adele Myburgh are, sepodisi se ile sa bilediwa kwa lefelong la tiragalo. Myburgh are fela ba ile ba fitlhela setopo sa ga Bogosi.
“Kgetsi ya polao e ile ya bulwa kgatlhanong le mmelaelwa, mme ene o ile a tshwarwa. One a latofadiwa ka polao.
“Mmelaelwa o solofetswe go ka shadikanya matlho kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Taung mo letsatsing la Mosupulogo, fa dipatlisiso mo kgetsing di tswelela,” Myburgh wa tlhalosa.
29 September 2024- The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, John Steenhuisen said his party chose to put South Africa first. Steenhuisen said in the 100 days since the election, the DA has begun to turn that optimism into action.
“Our first decision was to prioritize economic growth and job creation above all else. By entering the Government of National Unity (GNU), the DA has generated enormous optimism for a better future, and injected new confidence in our country’s economic prospects.
“The single most important outcomes for the GNU are higher levels of growth and lower unemployment. Those are the KPIs that the DA is focused on. Consequently, we are viewing every department in which the DA is represented as an opportunity to drive growth and jobs, and to develop policy priorities accordingly,” he said.
Steenhuisen further said this can be seen in some of the work already done by DA ministers and deputy ministers. He added that this includes promoting a comprehensive spending review to identify government programmes that do not deliver value for the people of South Africa, with a view to eliminating them.
“We absolutely have to bring the debt-to-GDP ratio under 70% in the next five years in order to avoid a fiscal crisis. Faster growth is necessary, but so too is better prioritized spending.
“Working with Treasury and the Presidency to include in Operation Vulindlela the concession of ports and the concession of the rail management system, creating open access to rail, establishing a secondary market for broadband, reforming the local government financial model and reforming the financing of local government infrastructure,” said Steenhuisen.
He said this includes developing the “Home Affairs@home” vision for a digitally transformed department that delivers world-class services without requiring clients to visit Home Affairs offices. Steenhuisen said they have also introduced a Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) to unlock tourism from China and India.
“We have refined and finalised regulations for remote work visa and a new points-based work visa that will attract skills into the economy to drive growth and create tens of thousands of new jobs.
“Positioning infrastructure South Africa as the single point of entry for all priority infrastructure projects, to streamline processes and reduce inefficiencies. Initiated a series of investigations into corruption in the department of public works,” he said.
Steenhuisen said they have initiated a review of the 30% local procurement rule for construction projects to ensure that it is not abused by criminal elements and that small businesses are truly empowered. He said this includes amending the KPIs of the Energy and Water SETA and the Fibre, Processing and Manufacturing SETA, to include the number of the learners that are absorbed into employment or enabled to become entrepreneurs.
“Initiating the first ever comprehensive review of education financing and beginning the process of stabilizing the funding for education over the medium term.
“Within less than one month of identifying the issue, the Department of Home Affairs has managed to clear a backlog of almost 250 000 ID applications that had been accumulating for almost a year,” said Steenhuisen.
29 September 2024– A man (50), who is believed to be an alleged serial rapist and murderer, was arrested by the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit, Mahikeng Detectives, Mahikeng Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) and North West Phycology Investigation Unit, during multi-disciplinary investigation on 27 September 2024.
The suspect was arrested at his residential place in Makhubung village, near Mahikeng, in the early hours of the morning on Friday.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adéle Myburgh said the suspect was arrested after he was linked to the rape and murder case of Neo Kgabanakgosi (42). Myburgh said according to the initial reports, Kgabanakgosi’s naked and lifeless body, was discovered by a passerby in the bushes at Danville Township, in Mahikeng, on 7 September 2024.
“The passerby immediately alerted the police. Kgabanakgosi was declared dead on the scene by Emergency and Medical Rescue Services (EMRS). The investigations revealed that, there is a witness who saw the suspect picking-up the victim with a car during the late hours of Friday night, 6 September, a day prior to when she was found killed.
“Furthermore, four more victims, who allegedly survived sexual and physical assaults by the same suspect, came forward and reported it to the police. Any person with information that can assist the police with the investigations, is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Boitumelo Motsamai of Mahikeng Detectives on cell: 079 881 9905,” she said.
Myburgh further said the possibility of linking the suspect to multiple cases of the same nature, where females were found raped, murdered and their bodies dumped in the bushes around Mahikeng, cannot be ruled out.
She added that the suspect is expected to appear before Molopo Magistrate’s Court on 30 September 2024, for the alleged murder and rape Kgabanakgosi.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the police for their diligence and working around the clock to arrest the suspect. Kwena said the police will continue to work hard to ensure that criminals face the full might of the law.
The Guardian 