7 October 2024- A man (48) who is a Tanzanian national was arrested for alleged cyber fraud, alternative fraud, alternative forgery and uttering. Vincent Christian Mkumbo, made a brief appearance before the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court on 4 October 2024.
It is alleged that Mkhumbo manufactures and sells fraudulent vehicle license discs in order to avoid going to the traffic department for renewal. He received old expired vehicle license disc and clients would later collect for an amount of R350.
The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi said he will then give his clients a printout of the same license disc with an extended expiration date or which he renewed.
“On 3 October 2024, a search and seizure disruptive operation was conducted at house number 104/13 Promise Land, in Kuruman. During the search, a red and black USB memory stick and the accused’s cell phone, were seized for further investigation.
“Mkhumbo was immediately apprehended by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team. He was released on R500 bail with conditions of informing the investigating officer his movements out of Kuruman at all times,” she said.
Mnisi said the case was postponed to 5 December 2024.
7 October 2024- The South African Police Service (SAPS) has embarked on a recruitment drive to re-enlist former police officers, who left the service in good standing. This initiative is the organisation’ strategy to boost its detective capacity.
The SAPS national spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said in the 2023/2024 financial year, SAPS re-enlisted more than 200 former police officers, who are now serving as detectives. Mathe said this drive aims to see more boots on the ground to assist in the investigation of cases and down management of dockets.
“Successful candidates will be appointed in the ranks they previously held, only for the ranks of Constable, Sergeant and Warrant Officer. The posts are for former members, who previously held the ranks of Constable, Sergeant and Warrant Officer only.
“Commencing salary for the constable post is R226 188 per annum, R283 797 per annum for sergeant, while warrant officer post is R351 570 per annum,” she said.
Mathe further said former members must have been appointed as a member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in terms of the Police Service Act 68, 1995 on the ranks of Constable, Sergeant and Warrant Officer. She added that they must have successfully completed basic police training and relevant functional police training courses, where applicable.
“Have a good disciplinary and attendance record during their former employment in the South African Police Service. Be in possession of at least a Grade 12 (Senior Certificate) or higher qualification,” said Mathe.
She said they must have at least a valid light motor vehicle license (code B), be a South African citizen of which documentary proof must be furnished. Mathe said they should be proficient in at least two of the official languages, of which one must be English.
“They should submit themselves to a medical examination as determined by the NationalCommissioner, undergo a psychological assessment as determined by the National Commissioner and be found to comply with the profile of a police official.
“Must not have any tattoo marks which will be visible when wearing any uniform of the service. Have no previous criminal convictions, and/or pending criminal, disciplinary cases and such person shall allow his or her fingerprints to be taken and allow background enquiries to be made,” she said.
According to Mathe, they should not have been declared unfit to possess a firearm, be prepared to be deployed based on the needs of the service, which may include having to relocate at one’s own expense and or to accept a post away from one’s current place of residence that could result in reasonable travelling.
“Not be involved in any business or activity that will be in conflict of interest with the integrity of the service. Be willing to undergo a refresher course or any other training as determined by the National Commissioner,” said Mathe.
She said the successful candidates who do not have experience/formal detective training will be subjected to three months training immediately after appointment.
Mathe said successful applicants for appointment, will be vetted in terms of Chapter 7, Part 2 of the Children’s Act, 2005 (Act no 38 of 2005) or the National Sex Offenders Register [section 42 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act no 32 of 2007)].
“A candidate whose particulars appear in either the National Register for Sex Offenders or Part B of the Child Protection Register, will be disqualified from appointment to that post.
“Candidates are expected to disclose if he/she is a respondent in an interim or final protection order in terms of the Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act no 116 of 1998) or Protection from Harassment Act, 2011 (Act No 17 of 2011), and may be disqualified from appointment to that post,” she said.
7 October 2024- The ANC member, Nathan Oliphant will be sworn-in as the new Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) on 8 October 2024. Oliphant’s swearing-in comes after the resignation of embattled South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) provincial chairperson, Tshepo Khoza.
The swearing-in will take place at Rio Hotel in Klerksdorp at 2pm.
Khoza, who was representing ANC and elected as the Deputy Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, resigned from that position barely three months after his deployment. He was unceremoniously removed from the position after a fake matric certificate scandal.
According to allegations, Khoza submitted a fake matric certificate and there was an outcry for his removal as the Deputy Speaker. However, he also resigned as the Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL).
Now, the ANC has nominated Oliphant as the next candidate to fill in the casual vacancy.
The Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Desbo Mohono said: “In terms of Section 107 of the Constitution, before a Member of the Legislature (MPL) begin to perform his or her functions in the legislature, he or she must swear or affirm faithfulness to the Republic and obedience to the Constitution in accordance with Schedule 2 of the Constitution.
Picture: Suspected stolen goats in the back of the bakkie/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
7 October 2024– More than 1000 suspects were arrested for various offences during Operation Shanela across North West. A total of 7499 actions were executed from 2 until 6 October 2024, and that led to the arrest of 1004 suspects. The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adéle Myburgh said the suspects were among others, arrested for crimes such as 10 for robbery, 7 for murder, 4 for rape, 125 for assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and 56 for common assault.
Myburgh further said 22 suspects were arrested for malicious damage to property, 30 for burglary at residential and business premises, 86 for possession of drugs, three for illegal possession of firearms, 31 for illicit mining, 2 for dealing in drugs, 27 for illegal dealing in liquor, 4 for theft out of/from motor vehicle and 58 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“Moreover, 72 suspected undocumented persons were taken in for processing by Immigration Officials. Of the 1004 suspects, 394 were apprehended during detectives’ suspect raiding operations.
“During the operations, a variety of drugs, 20 cell phones, 20kg of copper, liquor, tobacco products, two vehicles and other items were confiscated,” she said.
Myburgh added that in Makgobistad, the police on patrol noticed a Isuzu Bakkie at around 3am on 30 September 2024, with a couple inside. She said they allegedly managed to stop the vehicle at Senobolo Section in Disaneng village, outside Mahikeng.
“Upon searching the vehicle, the police allegedly found 11 goats and the occupants could not account thereof. Hopolang “Boss Arrow” Mofolo (42) and Zinhle Shezi (32), were immediately arrested for being in possession of suspected stolen property.
“They appeared before the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on 3 October 2024, and remanded in custody until 9 October 2024,” said Myburgh.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, thanked all role players for their continuous hard work and collaboration to ensure safer communities.
Picture: North West MEC COGHSTA, Oageng Molapisi/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
7 October 2024- The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi said the Presidential District Development Model (PDDM) programme, remains key in delivering services to the province.
Molapisi who delivered keynote address during his departmental strategic planning session in Rustenburg recently said, coordination of services among departments and other spheres of government is critical and most services require more integration from the beginning until the end.
He further said provision of services such as water, sewer, houses and many other, which remain a serious challenge to communities are priorities. Molapisi added that the DDM is the most viable tool at their disposal to address some of the challenges that they deemed as shortcomings within human settlement.
“We must work closely with provincial government departments, districts and local municipalities, to address issues such as poor maintenance of infrastructure and inadequate bulk, poor implementation and limited community engagements and population growth, which leads to the mushrooming of informal settlements.
“However, working together will lead to increase in us fulfilling our mandate of providing habitable human settlements for the people of the North West. I would like to acknowledge my departmental performance during the 6th administration and I remain hopeful that we will emerge victorious under this capable team,” he said.
According to Molapisi, assessing the work done in the previous five years, he is convinced that there is determination from all employees within his department. He said this will assist them to realise the vision and mission of his department.
“The current conjecture (GNU), places the department at the epicentre of ensuring that we lead to improved living conditions through the provision of integrated sustainable human settlement in the province.
“We are therefore all required to place our skills and expertise to realise this objective. Some areas require our immediate intervention. However, I am disappointed about the state of infrastructure in the province, especially blocked projects,” said Molapisi.
He said the recent report by the visiting National Council of Province (NCOP), should be corrected before November 2024. Molapisi said the committee expressed disappointment at incomplete projects and further called on the department to remedy the situation and deliver habitable homes to deserving beneficiaries.
“We also focused on other key departmental service delivery programmes such as the progress recorded in areas like Deelpan village, which was hit by two devastating floods in the past two years.
“We looked into developments in Moretele and the upcoming ministerial visit to the province in the next two weeks. I am happy that managers remained confident that the department will achieve its mandate, despite cut in budget.
7 October 2024- A man (26) was sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Kimberley Regional Court for the contravention of a protection order and assault. On 15 February 2024, Joseph Hendrick Douw went to the home of the victim (26), in Rietvale, near Ritchie.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the victim had a protection order against Douw.
“The case docket was assigned to Constable Abigail Morgan, who steered the investigation and arrested the accused. Morgan successfully opposed bail.
“Douw appeared in court on several occasions until his sentencing,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Frances Baard District Management applauded the collaboration between Morgan and the prosecution team for ensuring that the accused remains incarcerated for the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) related offence.
7 October 2024- The Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa said today marks one year since the start of an onslaught against the Palestinian people that has thus far claimed more than 43 000 lives.
Ramaphosa said in his weekly letter to the nation that, the violence that has been committed by Israel against Palestinians over many decades, intensified after an attack on Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7 October 2023.
He further said South Africa has condemned the atrocities committed against civilians in Israel on 7 October 2023, as it has denounced the killing of civilians in any context. Ramaphosa added that the majority of those killed over the past year, are Palestinian civilians, largely women and children in the besieged Gaza Strip.
“It is alarming that more Palestinians are also being killed in the West Bank due to Israeli Defence Force military activities. More than 1000 Israelis were killed in the attacks of 7 October last year.
“Over 100 Israelis remain in captivity in Gaza. There are over 6000 Palestinians, who are languishing in Israeli jails. As South Africa, we have consistently called for a resolution to the conflict and the release of all the hostages abducted on 7 October 2023,” he said.
Ramaphosa said they have also called for the release of all the prisoners unlawfully detained in Israel. He said they cannot, but be moved by the plight of all the families who have loved ones in captivity.
“With negotiations to secure their release having once again stalled and Israel’s bombardment of Gaza continuing, the conflict shows no signs of abating.
“Amid efforts by the international community to secure a ceasefire, the situation has been worsened by strikes by Israel on Lebanon and by Iran on Israel,” said Ramaphosa.
He said Israel has vowed to retaliate against Iran and Iran has threatened to respond accordingly. Ramaphosa said the escalating situation in the Middle East is of grave concern.
“It threatens to plunge the region into a war in which civilians will inevitably bear the greatest and the cruellest brunt of this conflict. As the UN Secretary-General has said, each escalation after the next is leading the people of the Middle East over the cliff.
“We remain committed to the peaceful resolution to ending the occupation of Palestine, to upholding the tenets of international law and to advancing social justice. We once again call for an immediate ceasefire that will end the suffering of the people of Gaza and allow for humanitarian aid to reach those in need,” he said.
Picture: The buses torched at the Bojanala Bus Depots in Chaneng and Tlaseng villages/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
7 October 2024- The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West on Monday said they condemn the recent torching of 23 buses at the Bojanala Bus Depots in Chaneng and Tlaseng villages. The movement described the incidents as atrocious and despicable acts of economic sabotage.
The provincial convenor of the Moral Regeneration Movement, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele said they call on law enforcement agencies not to leave any stone unturned until all those responsible are behind bars.
According to Kgwele, the in-depth investigation must also probe whether these treacherous and shocking acts that appear to have been well coordinated are linked to any criminal activities that are targeted at economic infrastructure in the province.
“We maintain that the impact of the losses incurred, estimated at R69 million, will have far reaching consequences on the provision of public transport for affected rural communities and greatly inconvenience commuters.
“We welcome the R50 000 reward that police have offered for information that might lead to the arrest of the perpetrators and appeal to our communities to assist them in their investigations,” he said.
Kgwele further emphasised that lawlessness must be ‘nipped in the bud’ for those involved in such acts of cowardice to be unmasked and brought to account for their evil deeds. He added that the charter of positive values must assist them to entrench sound community values in order to promote responsible freedom, as well as the rule of law and zero-tolerance to crime and violence.
“The October Transport Month must be used to promote safer, reliable and efficient public transport, as well as scholar transport,” said Kgwele.
Meanwhile, the police in North West said they are offering a reward of up to R50 000 for any information that can lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of alleged perpetrators in the Bojanala Bus Fire investigations.
The North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, urged the community to come forward with information that will ensure that these ruthless criminals, who’s actions are hampering the transportation of school children and elderly persons, are brought to book to face the full might of the law.
“Anyone with information is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Captain Johannes Montsho of Phokeng Detectives on 076 834 3531 or the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop on number: 08600 10111.
“Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via the MySAPS App from your smartphone,” he said.
The Guardian 