Picture: The Portfolio Committee resolves to continue with tobacco bill
By REGINALD KANYANE
25 October 2024- The Portfolio Committee on Health has resolved, after receiving a legal opinion, to continue with its programme, which among other things includes public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems. The decision was made after the committee received a legal opinion from Parliament’s Legal Services division.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo said the legal opinion stated that, while NEDLAC has an internal protocol for considering matters, the NEDLAC Act does not prescribe a specific process that must be followed. Dhlomo said it also noted that NEDLAC is empowered to continue engaging on the bill even after it has been introduced in parliament.
“The legal opinion has provided clarity on the consultation process and we are satisfied that the Department of Health has met the necessary requirements. As a committee, we are now ready to proceed with the remaining public hearings and continue our consideration of the bill.
“The committee had previously conducted public hearings in seven of the nine provinces during the 6th Parliament. The committee will continue with remain two provinces, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal,” he said.
Dhlomo further said he had written to NEDLAC and had a discussion with the council’s director to ensure open communication and address any outstanding concerns. He added that they are committed to a transparent and inclusive process, and they welcome further engagement with NEDLAC as they finalise their consideration of this important legislation.
25 October 2023 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron said he is concerned by the continued increase in mass murders in South Africa, which highlights inadequacies within the South African Police’s Crime Intelligence unit.
Cameron’s comments follow the two recent mass killings in the Western Cape, where seven people were killed in Bishop Lavis on Thursday and five people were killed in Atlantis.
“The increase in mass killings in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape point to the need to capacitate the crime intelligence services both with funding and human capital that will enable the unit to proactively prevent these crimes from happening.
“The committee has consistently stressed the need to properly capacitate the intelligence and detective units as they are potent tools that can be used in the fight against crime,” he said.
Cameron further said the committee has reiterated the need for collaboration with provincial and local governments to ensure that these spheres put in place focused strategies to deal with emerging crime trends in their communities. He added that it is for this reason that they wholeheartedly welcomed the intentions of the Draft National Policing Policy, which highlighted the importance of collaboration and these murders provide an opportunity to share investigative capacity.
“Also, the formation and training of specialised units to tackle crimes like gang violence in the Western Cape should be considered. The increase in mass murders provides an opportunity to implement several safer cities initiatives, which were signed between the SAPS and provincial and local governments.
“The signed agreement has established the necessary framework to fight crime. It is now time to activate the plans and ensure that criminality is confronted head-on,” said Cameron.
He also called for the SAPS to leave no stone unturned in investigating these mass shootings and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Picture: Community members barricade internal road
By OBAKENG MAJE
25 October 2024- Eight suspects who were arrested by a multi-disciplinary team assembled to investigate criminal activities that engulfed Modutung village, near Taung on 20 October 2024, are set to appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the suspects (seven men and a woman) aged between 29 and 45, were arrested in Modutung village for allegedly committing the crimes after a missing girl, Rethabile Molapo’s burnt body was found and retrieved from an unused pit latrine.
Mokgwabone said following the discovery and the funeral of Molapo, some community members took the law into their own hands.
“Among others, they allegedly kidnapped and severely assaulted the traditional healer’ son, Kopano Legodu (22), set alight the traditional healer, Omphile Mothusiemang-Legodu’s house and ultimately killed her after she managed to get out of the house.
“Moreover, goods were looted from a tavern and a tuckshop, which were then set ablaze. The police worked tirelessly to effect the arrest of eight suspects in the early hours of today for different offences that include attempted murder and kidnapping, arson, murder and malicious damage to property,” he said.
Mokgwabone further said all suspects are expected to appear in the Taung Magistrate’s Court on 28 October 2024. He added that investigations into the matter are underway and the possibility of more arrests cannot be ruled out.
The North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the success and commended the police who were involved in the investigation, tracing and subsequent arrests of the suspects. Kwena urged members of the community to remain calm and work with the police to ensure that all those who perpetrated acts of mob justice and the killing of a young girl are brought to book to face the full might of the law.
Meanwhile, the community members have embarked on a protest. They have barricaded the internal road that links Magogong/Diplankeng and N18 road with stones and burning tyres demanding the release of those arrested.
25 October 2024- Eight people were arrested by the police in Modutung village, near Taung on 25 October 2024. This follows the death of a woman, Omphile Mothusiemang-Legodu (40), who was burned and killed by community members on 20 October 2024.
The community members also looted spaza shops, burned Mothusiemang-Legodu’ son, Kopano Legodu (22), including her RDP house. Legodu is currently in critical condition in hospital.
Mothusiemang-Legodu, was accused of kidnapping and killing a young girl, Rethabile Molapo (11) for ritual purposes. Molapo went missing on 13 October 2024, after she was sent to go and fetch a church uniform at home. It is alleged that she was kidnapped by unknown assailants.
Her charred body was found in a pit toilet in an abandoned house three days later.
This prompted the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng to visit the area on Wednesday. Morweng, who met with both bereaved family members, said they will lead a Crime Prevention Imbizo in the troubled community.
“The Imbizo comes as a form of intervention following my visit to the community. Last week, unrest ensued after an incident of a missing child, whose lifeless body was later found. Reportedly, tensions escalated in the community and resulted in an elderly woman’s home being set alight, leading to her demise.
“We are saddened by the unfortunate turn of events and went to visit the Jackson, as well as the Mothusiemang families. As a government, we have a great interest in the case because of the nature of how the events unfolded,” he said.
Morweng further said they have resolved to embark on an Imbizo to bring peace, stability and work together with the community in the creation of a safer community. He added that the police are thoroughly handling investigations into the matter to bring justice to the families and the community at large.
“I continue to urge everyone to remain calm and allow the police to do their work. I believe that the police will do justice to the case, the district is working together with the province and all hands are on deck.
“Investigations are underway, arrests will be made and perpetrators will be brought to book,” said Morweng.
Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said: “We can confirm that a team was established to investigate criminal activities that engulfed Modutung village, in Taung on 20 October 2024.
“Eight people were arrested in the early hours of today. A detailed statement will be released later today.”
Picture: The missing woman, Kedisalatse Mosapala/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
25 October 2024- The police in Jouberton Township, near Klerksdorp request the community’s assistance in locating a missing woman, Kedisaletse Mosapala (41), who resides at Extension 7, in Jouberton. Mosalapa was last seen by her mother on 4 September 2024.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said a search was conducted around the township and surrounding areas of Jouberton without any success. Mokgwabone said extensive investigations were done and all leads were followed up with no success.
“At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a pink t- shirt, pink trousers, and pink shoes. She is dark in complexion, with a fat body and short hair.
“Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts can contact the Investigating Officer, Sgt Tshepo Bantjies on 082 384 9397, your local police station or Crime Stop on 08600 10111,” he said.
Mokgwabone further said anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via the MySAPS App from your smartphone. He added that anyone who may have information regarding Mosalapa’s whereabouts is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Tshepo Bantjies of Jouberton Detectives on 082 384 9397 or your nearest police station or call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
“Anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via the MySAPS App on one’ smartphone or alternatively,” said Mokgwabone.
Picture: The Chairperson of North West Legislature Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management, Freddy Sonakile
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
25 October 2024- The Chairperson of North West Legislature Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management, Freddy Sonakile, together with the Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Education, Priscilla Williams, conducted a joint oversight meeting, where the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management and the Department of Education, were called to account on the unacceptable state of scholar transport in the province.
This follows numerous complaints and a recent oversight conducted by the both committees, where they inspected the state of scholar transport operations in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District during Legislature oversight week.
Sonakile expressed deep dissatisfaction with the dismal manner on how the scholar transport is operated.
“The departments’ failure to provide scholar transport to learners who need is a deprivation of their right to education and must never be tolerated. The departments made presentations on the situation, where the Joint Committees issued firm recommendations, demanding immediate action.
“The department should conduct unannounced roadworthy tests for all scholar transport service providers between now and December throughout the province and must launch a full investigation into the possibility that some service providers fraudulently passed the verification process,” he said.
Sonakile further said a session with all unpaid service providers must be held within two weeks, and all outstanding payments must be fast-tracked where services have been rendered. He added that an electronic monitoring system must be in place and operational by January 2025.
“Non-compliant buses operating at Mampho Secondary, Kromellenboog Combined, Botoka Secondary, Resolofetse Secondary, Phakedi Primary, Letlhasedi Combined and Reabona Primary Schools, must be revoked immediately following the committee’s investigations, which revealed negligence and serious risks to learners’ safety.
“The committees also resolved that the Department of Education must commission an urgent study to locate the 9,045 learners, who are not part of the scholar transport across the province,” said Sonakile.
He said the study must include the affected schools, identify whether these learners are still attending or they have dropped out, and assess the full impact. Sonakile said they must also submit a detailed report on the 21 learners of Phakedi Primary School, who last attended school in March 2023 due to a lack of scholar transport after the previous service provider’s contract expired.
“Phakedi Primary School incident has been referred to the Human Rights Commission for investigation as the committee believes the situation constitutes a blatant violation of the learners’ right to education.
“Our recommendations are non-negotiable and will be strictly monitored for compliance. A comprehensive report on the findings must be compiled, and decisive consequences must be enforced,” he said.
Sonakile said they call for a zero-tolerance approach toward those who are putting children at risk. The rights of learners are non-negotiable and must be safeguarded at all costs.
Picture: North West MEC for Health, Sello Lehari visit a nursing college in Klerksdorp/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
25 October 2024- North West MEC for Health, Sello Lehari has embarked on an oversight visit at a Nursing College in Klerksdorp on 24 October 2024, to confront issues as part of “Re Bona Ka Matlho” service delivery intervention. Lehari’s visit was part of his fact-finding mission on the stalled infrastructure project to renovate the college, which has been underway since 2020.
“The project was initially planned for 24 months to complete, but it is currently standing at 96%. We plead for concomitant action from the management of the department and the college to ensure swift completion of the project.
“It is unacceptable that the department is still sitting with a project almost 8 years later, while it was planned for a mere two years,” he said.
Lehari further said the college was supposed to educate and train nurses, so that upon qualification, they mitigate the shortage of staff experienced in their facilities. He added that it is up to them to ensure that, they change people’s lives, not only in delivering medical services, but by empowering them with quality education.
“A new contractor has been appointed for six months to complete the outstanding 4% of the work. A follow-up visit is planned, where tangible commitments will be undertaken towards completion of the project,” said Lehari.
Picture: The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo visiting a canal, where Sehemo drowned
By BAKANG MOKOTO
25 October 2024- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Northern Cape said the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), together with local and provincial governments, must adopt a whole of society approach to canal safety in the Phokwane area. This follows two recent drowning incidents in the canal.
The DA’s Constituency Head of Diamond North, who is also Member of Parliament (MP), Lisa Schickerling said they appreciate the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo’s visit to the area over the weekend and his commitment towards amplifying canal safety education.
“After myself, together with DA Provincial Leader, Harold McGluwa, personally extended our condolences to the grieving family members of a boy, Kutlwano Sehemo (13), from Bonita Park Informal Settlement, near Hartwater, who drowned in the Vaalharts main canal, the DA feels strongly that more needs to be done to safeguard the community from further loss of life.
“The DA will engage with the Northern Cape MEC for Education and ask that he works together with Phokwane Local Municipality, to initiate safety programmes at schools in the vicinity of open canals. The municipality should extend awareness campaigns to farming communities, in addition to churches and broader community organisations,” she said.
Schickerling said they will further ask the Northern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) to engage with the municipality, to determine how underlying issues, such as access to water or the facilitation of safe, public swimming areas, can be better facilitated to prevent communities from relying on the canals in any way.
In addition, she said they would like to see local authorities take responsibility for erecting warning signs in the canal vicinity as a matter of urgency.
“With summer temperatures already being experienced, and the lure of water set to increase substantially as we head towards the hotter months, we hope that solutions will be implemented without delay to help prevent further tragedy, especially in the Hartswater area,” said Schickerling.
Picture: Banyana Banyana players against Namibia/Google
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
25 October 2024 – With the COSAFA Women’s Championship in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, expected to shift a gear in the coming days, coach Maud Khumalo’s youthful squad now shifts their attention to Eswatini in their second match of the regional tournament.
A lone strike from Tshegofatso Motlogelwa settled COSAFA Banyana Banyana’s opening match of the tournament against Namibia on Tuesday and Khumalo will hope her players retain that winning feeling and also find more goals when they meet Eswatini in the second match of Group A at the Wolfson Stadium at 3pm on Friday, 25 October 2024.
Khumalo said their main focus going into today’s group match will be on keeping the winning momentum and securing maximum points.
“We plan to pick up where we left off against Namibia and we need to score goals. It’s more of an emphasis on scoring goals and making sure that we collect maximum points so that we don’t put ourselves under pressure in the group stages and things like that.
“It is more on planning to score more goals, but we are also not going to undermine Eswatini,” she said.
Meanwhile, Banyana Banyana Captain Thalea Smidt said she is proud of the way the team performed against Namibia.
“I think the team did fairly well, I think we got what we set out to do, and the objective was to win. We would have loved to score more goals, however, I think the most important thing for us on the day was getting the three points and we managed to do that.
“We need to make better use of the many opportunities they create and not leave anything to chance. The main focus for us in today’s game is on taking care of the ball more, being more comfortable, not rushing our decisions and most importantly when creating opportunities, to make sure we bury them and be more clinical,” she said.
Picture: The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng and his delegation/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
25 October 2024- The mother of a child, Rethabile Molapo (11) who was found murdered in Modutung village, near Taung, said she has a low trust in the police. Keneseilwe Jackson said the police showed incompetence and misconduct, while handling the case of Molapo.
Molapo went missing on 13 October 2024, after she was sent to go and fetch a church uniform at their house. However, she was kidnapped by unknown individuals and her charred body was found in a pit toilet at an abandoned house a few days later.
Jackson said there are many contributing factors, including miscommunication, brutality, violations of civil rights and a lack of training.
“The police did not respond timeously to the matter after we reported my child as missing. After the charred body of Rethabile was found in a pit toilet, they took away the shepherd who saw it.
“According to the shepherd, he will not continue to give evidence because the police suffocated him with plastic and used excessive force during questioning. He now fears for his life because he has been assaulted and being treated as a suspect,” she said.
Jackson further said the police also sent her from pillar to post when she was supposed to fetch her daughter’s body after post-mortem. She added that all these have contributed to her distress.
The community of Modutung went berserk and embarked on protest. They killed and torched a woman, Omphile Mothusiemang-Legodu (40), and her house after accusing her of kidnapping Rethabile for ritual purposes.
They also burned her son, Kopano Legodu (22), who is in critical condition in hospital.
However, the Dr Ruth Segopomotsi Mompati District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Tshenolo Tlotleng said they will launch investigations against all the police officers, who were involved in misconduct.
The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, who visited both bereaved families said he will lead a Crime Prevention Imbizo in the area as a form of intervention. Morweng said he is saddened by the unfortunate turn of events.
“As government, we have a great interest in the case because of the nature of how the events unfolded. We have resolved to embark on an Imbizo to bring peace, stability and work together with our community in the creation of a safer environment.
“The police are thoroughly handling investigations into the matter to bring justice to the families and the community at large. I continue to urge everyone to remain calm and allow the police to do their work,” said Morweng.
He said he believes that the police will do justice to the case, the district is working together with the province and all hands are on deck. Morweng said investigations are underway, arrests will be made and perpetrators will be brought to book.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Speaker of Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), Grace Moipolai said: “We welcome the resolution of an Imbizo and the awareness campaign will provide much needed insight on the dangers of crime and how the law works.
“There is a recurring trend in the community of Magogong of missing children and subsequently found dead. Last year, we experienced a similar incident. We now find ourselves here again.”
Moipolai said they believe the Imbizo will educate the people on how to go about in dealing with conflict and to desist from lawlessness. She said the Imbizo will be conducted by way of the District Development Model (DDM), to coordinate all spheres of government and ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
The Guardian 