Picture: One of the suspects nabbed during Operation Vala Umgodi/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
27 October 2024- Two men aged 35 and 42 were arrested for illegal mining and trespassing during Operation Vala Umgodi on Thursday. The operational teams of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF), allegedly followed up on intelligence-driven information from Ekapa mine security personnel, regarding illegal mining activities taking place on the mine premises in Kenilworth, Kimberley.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Merapelo Pilane said the information was tactically operationalised by both SAPS and SANDF. Pilane said the suspects allegedly tried to flee, but they were successfully arrested.
“Mining equipment believed to be used in the commission of crime, a vehicle as well as suspected diamond bearing rocks were confiscated.
“On 26 October 2024, a man (57), was arrested and issued with a fine for the contravention of the Liquor Act, at the Samaria Informal Settlement in Kimberley after he was found to be trading with liquor illegally,” she said.
Pilane further said a significant amount of alcohol was confiscated and the shebeen was closed down. She added that the Operation Vala Umgodi team will continue with a zero tolerance approach to address illicit mining and related crimes in the province.
Picture: Some of the items confiscated during the raid/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
27 October 2027- More than 252 suspects were arrested during Operation Shanela. The multi-disciplinary teams inspected numerous liquor outlets of which 21 unlicensed outlets were closed for non-compliance.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said through high visibility vehicle and foot patrols and stop and search actions, 3131 vehicles and 6375 persons were stopped and searched at vehicle check points (VCPs) and at roadblocks across the province.
“The suspects were arrested for illegal dealing in liquor, burglaries at residential and business premises, malicious damage to property, assaults, robberies, dealing in drugs and possession of dangerous weapons.
“The compliance inspections were conducted at second-hand dealers and liquor premises, as well as formal and informal businesses, farms, scrapyards,” he said.
Shemane further said during the weekly execution of the operation, police confiscated counterfeit goods, dangerous weapons, firearms and ammunition, alcoholic beverages, drugs and cash. He added that various community outreach programmes were held in conjunction with community policing structures in the districts.
“The police have tightened its grip on crime in the province by securing the arrest of 252 suspects throughout the five districts from 21 until 27 October 2024,” said Shemane.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, applauded all the force levels in conjunction with other departments in the execution of the operations and thanked the public for their efforts in the fight against crime.
Picture: A contaminated water in a canal in Hartswater
By REGINALD KANYANE
27 October 2024- Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo has fervently called on municipalities that are discharging raw sewage into water courses to take a decisive action and tackle their municipal waste water infrastructure challenges in order to address the widespread problem of pollution in rivers and streams.
Seitlholo met with different stakeholders and the Executive Mayors of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati in North West and Francis Baard and Pixley ka Seme District Municipalities in Northern Cape, whose waste water systems discharge effluent into the rivers, where the recent cholera bacteria were detected in raw water.
He further said the department recently issued a warning about the presence of cholera bacteria in raw water along Harts and Vaal rivers following a routine raw water sampling at five monitoring sites, Wentzel Dam, Schweizer Reneke, Christiana, Barkley West Caravan Park, and Douglas Weir in September 2024.
Seitlholo added that municipalities along the Lower Vaal catchment in North West and Northern Cape, discharge raw sewage into the river, with Gauteng being the main culprit with a discharge of about 160 million litres daily into the water courses in the Middle Vaal catchment.
“We have released the latest results on the follow-up tests, which were taken after the previous warning was issued. The results of the second tests have revealed that the cholera bacteria (Vibrio Cholerae) were still present in the raw water, however it was a non-toxic strain.
“There are two types of strains of cholera. One that occurs in the environment (non-toxic) and the other known as an enterotoxigenic strain that produces cholera toxin that can cause gastrointestinal illness,” he said.
Seitlholo said the strain detected is not responsible for causing gastrointestinal illness. He said, however, urged water users to continue to be cautious around the raw water and the affected municipalities to also continue taking extra care in the water treatment process, disinfection and chlorination of the water in their water supply systems.
He reiterated the importance of ensuring that effluent that is being discharged into rivers by municipalities and industries should be that of required standards in line with the National Water Act.
“Municipalities are at the forefront of representing the interests of South Africans in their area of jurisdiction. Together, we need to change the mindset of normalising discharging raw sewage into our rivers and get back to basics of not allowing sewer to get into dams, river systems or any water resource.
“That is the standard that all of us should strive towards,” he said.
Picture: Expired food confiscated by police/Generic
By BAKANG MOKOTO
October 2024- Two suspects aged between 22 and 44 respectively, were arrested by the Brits Visible Policing and Pretoria West Detectives for Contravention of Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No. 58 of 1962), Consumer Protection Act, 2008 (Act No. 68 of 2008), Food Stuffs Cosmetics & Disinfectant Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972) Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002) and Counterfeit Goods Act, 1997 (Act No. 37 of 1997) 24 October 2024.
According to the North West police spokesperson, Birgadier Sabata Mokgwabone, the Pretoria West Detectives were following up leads after arresting a man delivering expired food stuffs he allegedly bought in Brits. Mokgwabone said they teamed up with the local Visible Policing members and proceeded to a warehouse at industrial sites, where they found the owner, a South African and his undocumented employee from Malawi.
“The pair was allegedly found manufacturing food items on three separate machines. Furthermore, the police detected boxes containing seasoning spices, which expired in July 2022. The members also discovered five x 20 Litres of expired peanut butter, as well as macaroni, pasta, spaghetti and a variety of spices.
“The owner was requested to prove the legitimacy of his business, but failed to do that. As a result, Bojanala District Municipality Health Services officials were summoned to the scene and they later confirmed that some of the products had expired and cannot be consumed,” he said.
Mokgwabone said the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) processed the scene, which the District Municipality Health Services sealed for further investigation. He added that, as part of investigation, the owner’s laptop was seized.
“The suspects are expected to appear in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on 28 October 2024. The discovery comes amid an outcry regarding treatment and admission of children to hospitals in various parts of the country due to apparent poor hygiene, food handling practices and alleged unsafe production of certain counterfeit food items and suspected food poisoning,” said Mokgwabone.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Commercial Crime is investigating in conjunction with other departments and entities in accordance with the operational directives.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the arrest. Kwena indicated that different role players under the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (PPROVJOINTS), with the Department of Health taking the lead, are ready to deal with issues pertaining to food safety.
27 October 2024- The House Chairperson for Committees and Oversight in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Dennis Ryder, commended the excellent and successful oversight visits undertaken by the NCOP Select Committees during Oversight Week. The Oversight Week, which took place from 21 to 25 October 2024, is an annual feature of the NCOP programme and a critical mechanism for Select Committees to conduct physical visits to government departments, entities, and services.
Ryder said the NCOP Select Committees undertook oversight visits to five provinces to, amongst others, monitor service delivery progress at various care facilities for older people across the Western Cape and attend to a petition to declare areas with sinkholes as national disaster zones.
He further said this includes observing the work of the Border Management Agency at the Beit Bridge border post and visiting various municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. Ryder added that the committees remain the engine room of the NCOP, and physical oversight allows for better interrogation and understanding of issues than presentations given in a committee room.
“Oversight visits create a far more personal engagement with the realities on the ground, empowering Members of Parliament) MP to hold the executive to account and assist the executive in identifying challenges and providing evidence-based solutions.
“During oversight week, the Select Committee on Security and Justice, visited the newly constituted Border Management Agency at the country’s Beitbridge Border post in Limpopo. It concluded with visits to the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court and Police Station,” said Ryder.
He added that in the neighbouring province of Gauteng, the Select Committee on Petitions and Executive Undertakings, visited Carletonville on the West Rand to ascertain the impact and devastation caused by sinkholes. Ryder said the visit stems from a petition submitted to the NCOP by a resident.
“The Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries was also in Gauteng to conduct oversight over six schools.
“This preceded a presentation and interactive engagement with the provincial department of education on various challenges, including the infrastructure backlog, impending budget cuts, sanitation and eradication of pit latrines, and the status of the National School Nutrition Programme,” he said.
Ryder said in the Cape Winelands and Cape Metro Districts in the Western Cape, the Select Committee on Social Services visited various care facilities for older people. He said this programme comes at a crucial time when the Older Persons Amendment Bill.
“This is a piece of legislation geared towards improving the monitoring and evaluation of all services to older persons, as well as tightening up current implementation and compliance measures, is currently with all nine provincial legislatures who are conducting public participation sessions on the Bill.
“The Select Committees on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources, and Economic Development and Trade held a joint oversight week programme across the Free State province, which explored the support received by Communal Property Associations from various national government departments,” said Ryder.
He said the joint visit also conducted oversight on SanParks, a Special Economic Zone in Maluti-a-Phofung municipality, the Post Office in Bethlehem, and the Department of Employment and Labour. Ryder said the committee heard, amongst others, that the park has become a corridor for highly organised criminal syndicates involved in the transportation of stolen cattle and horses from neighbouring commercial farms into Lesotho.
“This issue extends beyond the park’s boundaries, adversely impacting local communities and agricultural operations. Another joint oversight programme was conducted by the Select Committees on Public Works and Infrastructure and the Minister in the Presidency, and Cooperative Governance and Public Administration, which included engagements with internal and external stakeholders on the constitutional, procedural and substantive process of section 139 interventions in the Zululand District and Umzumbe Local municipalities.
“This includes the assessment of national, provincial and local governments on social, economic and transport infrastructure in the Ugu District, Umzumbe Local, Umdoni Local, and the eThekwini Metro municipalities,” he said.
Ryder said these oversight visits are critical to the overall functioning of the NCOP in fulfilling its mandate of elevating provincial and local government issues to the national sphere of government. He said members have now seen for themselves the realities facing South Africans.
“The NCOP remains a unique institution envisaged in our constitution, where it brings together local, provincial and national governments in a cooperative manner to identify intergovernmental challenges and carve the way for solutions, embodying the provisions of chapter three of the Constitution, and working towards a government that operates seamlessly, with all functions working in tandem.
“The findings of each visit will be recorded to direct and inform the committee’s work going forward. This will ensure the visits result in meaningful discussions and resolutions on challenges,” said Ryder.
27 October 2024- An alleged extortionist (20) was arrested by the members of Provincial Anti-Gang Unit for robbery aggravating in Womaranstad on 26 October 2024. It is alleged that the suspect and two other men armed with pangas, went to a supermarket construction site in Wolmaranstad on 6 October 2024.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the trio allegedly intimidated and demanded money from the employees. Mokgwabone said the suspects then allegedly searched and robbed two employees of their R800 and R150 respectively, and fled.
“The matter was reported to the police and upon receiving the case on 26 October 2024, members of Anti-Gang expedited investigation, which resulted in the arrest. The preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a member of a gang known as Mathinta.
“The gang members allegedly target contactors, employees at construction sites, tuck shops, as well as members of the community, among others demanding protection fees and committing robberies,” he said.
Mokgwabone further said investigation into the matter, including the tracing of the remaining suspects continues. He added that the police cannot rule out the possibility of linking the suspect to other cases.
The suspect is expected to briefly appear in Wolmaranstad Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, applauded the police for the success. Kwena pointed out that those who rob or request for money or services without a legitimate reason from the public, communities and businesses, will be dealt with harshly.
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.”
The Guardian 