18 September 2024 – The police in Mahikeng are appealing to the public to assist them to locate the family of a deceased woman, Gabana Kgosi (41). It is alleged that the lifeless body of Gabana Kgosi was discovered next to the dumping site in Danville Township, outside Mahikeng, on 9 September 2024.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said, according to initial investigations conducted, it became evident that the deceased was raped before she got murdered. Myburgh said Kgosi’s face was covered with a cream/white trouser with floral print on it, while a peach t-shirt, a grey and black blouse and a military jacket, were found next to her.
“She is short and slender, built with long hair. The police request anyone who may have information that can assist to locate her family to contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Boitumelo Motsamai on 079 881 9905 or the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop on number 08600 10111.
“Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via the My SAPS App from your smartphone,” she said.
Picture: The Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Khusela Diko
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
18 September 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies said it is gravely concerned about the business rescue process at the South African Post Office (SAPO), following a presentation to the committee yesterday, 17 September 2024. This comes after the Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs), appeared before the committee to provide an urgent update on mitigation strategies to avoid the so-called Day Zero scenario.
The Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Khusela Diko said a Day Zero – set for 30 October 2024 – is understood to be the day when the ailing national postal services are expected to run out of cash reserves required for their operations.
Diko said the presentation covered the progress to date with implementing the business rescue plan and proposed mitigation measures being considered by the BRPs, who have assumed full management and operational control of the company. She further said the committee noted some of the BRPs’ work to achieve short to medium-term objectives, including reducing approximately R1.2 billion in annual employee costs, right-sizing the entity and paying dividend awards of 12 cents in the Rand to all pre-commencement current creditors.
“The committee has, however, expressed its dissatisfaction with the presentation, reaffirming its position that the BRPs have failed to present a cogent business case for the SAPO’s long-term sustainability in line with their statement of intent at the start of the business rescue proceedings, to ensure “the stabilisation, survival and future-proofing of the SA Post Office”.
“The committee believes that the BRPs were appointed to implement a three-legged mandate of rescuing, stabilising and ensuring the long-term commercial viability of the Post Office. In the briefing to the committee, the BRPs said nothing about the plan to future proof SAPO, except to say that they needed R3.8 billion from the fiscus,” said Diko.
She added that, according to the BRPs, this money is used to pay the final tranche of the retirement packages to employees, meet obligations with payroll creditors and use the remainder for capital and operational expenditures.
Diko said the committee believes that to access the desired cash draw down from the fiscus, the business rescue process should clearly demonstrate the path to viability and sustainability beyond this requested bail out. She said failure to do so is to absolve the BRPs of their obligation to the organisation.
“Consequently, the committee has called on the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Molatsi, to urgently establish a Ministerial Intervention Team (MIT) to work with the Business Rescue Practitioners and the National Treasury, amongst others, to develop a strong business case to save and restore the Post Office as a reinvigorated going concern.
“The MIT should, amongst other actions, urgently convene stakeholders and other industry players in the postal services, courier and e-commerce sectors to engage on proposals towards strategic, sustainable and value-creating private sector partnerships,” said Diko.
She said due to consideration, should also be given to exploring opportunities to leverage SAPO’s extensive property assets for retail, residential and student accommodation purposes. Diko said to support the process, the committee shall also engage with its counterparts in parliament to aggressively enhance support for the SAPO by the rest of government.
“Furthermore, the committee shall also seek a joint meeting with the Standing Committee on Finance to explore any available measures that can be put in place to salvage the situation.
“The committee firmly believes that no effort must be spared to rescue and revive the South African Post Office as a vital state institution with an important mandate to connect people to one another and to the government in a fast-evolving technological age,” said Diko.
18 September 2024- A man (32) was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court for murder. This comes after Collen Rorisang Mogotsi killed his own son.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, 8 November 2017, police were called to a house in Willowpark in Lehurutshe where the body of a five-month old baby boy was found with head and other injuries.
“He was declared dead by Emergency and Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) on the scene. It was reported that the baby’s mother and her boyfriend (father of the baby) had an argument earlier at their home in Mmamoswane Section in Dinokana village, outside Zeerust.
“During the argument, the mother told her boyfriend that the baby is not his. The intoxicated man became aggressive and assaulted the baby. Mogotsi then told the mother that the baby is dead and must be taken back to her parental home in Willowpark,” she said.
Myburgh further said the police arrested the father shortly after the incident was reported and appeared in court on 13 November 2017. She added that the convict was further declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of section 103 of the Firearm Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and the Director for Public Prosecution, Dr Rachel Makhari, applauded the investigating officer, Sergeant Thabo Tshweu of Lehurutshe Detectives, as well as the prosecutor, Neo Sedumedi, for their teamwork and diligence that resulted in the conviction.
Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie, MEC for Treasury and City of Matlosana mayor, Fikile Mahlope, with abandoned baby/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
17 September 2024- The North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie and MEC for Treasury, Kenetswe Mosenogi, visited Neserhof abandoned baby at Klerksdorp/Tshepong hospital to check its health condition. On Tuesday, Dantjie and Mosenogi, who were accompanied by the mayor of City of Matlosana, Fikile Hlope brought a set of layette, including infant baby milk and pampers for the baby who is still receiving medical attention at the hospital.
During the visit, Dantjie asked social workers to compile a home circumstance report on the family of the abandoned baby and continue to provide them with counselling.
“So far, we appreciate the role that Rata Organisation, SAPS, the hospital management and other stakeholders have played in ensuring the care and safety of the baby. Let us work together to assist the affected family so that similar incident does not happen again.
“According to information that was doing the rounds on social media, the baby was swaddled in a blanket with a carton of milk and a few nappies next to him. The police were called to the scene. They took the baby to Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital,” she said.
17 September 2024- A former senior government official, Neil Naidoo together with two businessmen, Kenny Govender and Matthew Pillay, appeared before the East London Regional Court on 16 September 2024, on charges of corruption, the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) and one of defeating the ends of justice.
Naidoo and Pillay are out on R5000 bail, while Govender is out on R50 000 bail.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said: “Three accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges and their trial is set to commence until 20 September 2024. Subsequent to their plea, Govender’s attorney made an application for the provision of further particulars and the court dismissed it.
“The state has called its first witness to present its evidence in chief.”
Picture: North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Elizabeth Mokua with beneficiaries/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
17 September 2024- The North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Elizabeth Mokua conducted an oversight visit to the Military Veterans Housing Programme in Ganyesa, near Vryburg. Mokua’s oversight visit was part of the Provincial Government’s Accelerated Service delivery Programme, Thuntsha Lerole.
Mokua, who was standing in for the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi, was accompanied by local ward councillors and Dikgosi. She expressed her satisfaction in the progress made by the department in ensuring the provision of housing to the Military Veterans in the province.
“We also engaged with beneficiaries of the three houses amongst those that the department has constructed. During these engagements, we observed, registered and acknowledged progress in relation to the specifications on these houses.
“These include built -in kitchen, stove, bedroom cupboards and fitted bathroom amongst others. The house is also making provision of an additional 3rd Bedroom replacing the carport, which beneficiaries have requested for,” said Mokua.
She further reiterated that it is in the interest of the department to complete all backlogs as it is the department’s commitment to redress and restore dignity in the lives of communities in the province. Mokua added that they are mindful of different circumstances the beneficiaries are faced with.
“The department will continue to conduct due diligence in every project they are working on and quality assurance, compliance and accountability forms part of the contract with service providers,” she said.
Meanwhile, the emotional Tsimane Kamanyane, who is one of the beneficiaries, showed his gratitude and appreciation to the gesture that the department has extended.
“I am very emotional because I now see that indeed, the government is caring. I am an owner because I now have a dignified home,” he said.
17 September 2024- A stock theft case against Kenalemang Moses Matshego (39), was postponed to 20 September 2024, for a further bail hearing by the Itsoseng Magistrate Court. Matshego is facing serious charges related to his failure to provide satisfactory accounts for his possession of stock or produce.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Sivenathi Gunya said the charges against the accused, arose from an incident on 4 September 2024, when members of the Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit, acted on intelligence regarding suspected stolen cattle loaded onto a truck near Itsoseng.
Gunya said upon interception, police arrested Matshego and recovered 15 cattle valued at approximately R150 000.
“The investigations revealed that the cattle were allegedly stolen from various locations in and around Mahikeng and Itsoseng. The state is opposing bail, arguing that Matshego has a propensity for committing schedule one offenses, casting doubt on his reliability as a candidate for bail.
“The accused remains in custody until his next court appearance. The NPA and the South African Police Service (SAPS), are committed to combatting stock theft and ensuring that offenders are held accountable for their actions,” he said.
Gunya further said this case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to protect the agricultural community from theft and other related crimes.
Picture: North West University (NWU) alumnus, Chris van Dyk/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
17 September 2024- North West University (NWU) alumnus, Chris van Dyk who was recently bestowed with the Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering’s (SAIIE) Best Industrial Engineering Practitioner – Employer’s Choice Award said, he is grateful with his achievements.
Van Dyk said the award demonstrates his contributions to the field of agriculture and the respect he has earned from peers and employers as business analyst at Taaibosch Piggery. Reflecting on his career path, van Dyk said he started thinking about his future, while he was doing his third year.
“In my third year at the NWU, I started thinking about which industry I wanted to enter as an industrial engineer. I found that agriculture, with its increasing reliance on technology and data management, was intriguing.
“Interestingly, industrial engineering is still a relatively new field within the agricultural industry. After graduating with a degree in industrial engineering in 2021, I saw an opportunity to enter this sector,” he said.
Van Dyk further said the opportunity came through job openings shared by the School of Industrial Engineering. He added that he applied for the position at Taaibosch, and the rest is history.
“This marked the beginning of my career in agriculture as an industrial engineer. My work at Taaibosch presented me with unique challenges. Working as an engineer at a piggery, made me realise that I needed to prioritise the success of others, which led to opportunities and successful projects.
“So, receiving the SAIIE award made me reflect on the impact of my work. This recognition made me understand the significance and relevance of my contributions,” said van Dyk.
He said it also reinforced the importance of collaboration, to advance people, farms and the industry. Van Dyk said he is now focusing on a long-term project to introduce a learning enterprise structure to farming, inspired by the Toyota Way.
“The Toyota Way is a set of principles defining the organisational culture of Toyota. A learning enterprise with a core philosophy of scientific thinking could benefit farms as businesses and improve the lives of those involved.
“I am currently pursuing a master’s degree and my research focuses on the relationship between farm administration and quality management. I continue to work as a business analyst for Taaibosch Piggery,” he said.
Picture: The dagga worth R340 000 confiscated by the police/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
17 September 2024- A man (40) was arrested for allegedly dealing in dagga. This comes after the vigilance and alert action by the Deben Station Commander, Captain Mosimaneotsile Letsapa on 16 September 2024.
This resulted in the arrest and seizure of dagga worth almost R340 000. Letsapa, who was en-route to Kathu driving on R380 road, noticed a suspicious silver Toyota Verso Sedan driving in the direction of Deben.
“I activated my members, who responded swiftly and spotted the vehicle. The members stopped and searched the vehicle and found dagga with an estimated street value of R340 000.
“The vehicle was also confiscated as it was utilized in the commission of a crime. The suspect is expected to appear in the Kathu Magistrate’s Court soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Commissioner, Major General Johnny Besnaar, commended the vigilance of the police, stating that criminals will not be tolerated in his district and their space to operate will be squeezed to zero.
Picture: The missing Shewan Cherman van Staden/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
17 September 2024- The police in Upington are requesting the assistance of the public to locate missing man, Shewan Cherman van Staden (29) of Louisvaleweg. According to the ZF Mgcawu District police spokesperson, Sergeant Omphile Masegela, Shewan was last seen on 27 August 2024, in Leseding when he went to visit his aunt, but never returned home.
“He was last seen wearing a purple jacket with blue denim pants. Anyone with information can contact the investigation officer, Sergeant Tsaone Motshwari on 082 495-4615 or 054 337 3435.
“The public is reminded that there is no waiting period to report a missing person,” she said.
The Guardian 