Picture: One of the suspects, Mayeso Ginora Lufeyo/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
15 November 2024- The Hawk’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation team is requesting public assistance in locating the whereabouts of Mayeso Ginora Lufeyo, who can assist in resolving an ongoing case regarding stolen gold/silver bars during November 2022 at Witsloot Farm in Vosburg. It is alleged that during November 2022, the complainant and his wife were accosted by four suspects wearing balaclavas at their leased farm house.
The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi said the suspects were armed with firearms, including shotguns. Mnisi said they allegedly robbed them of gold bars and silver bars worth R40 million, as well as a 22 rifle.
“The police were notified, and an armed robbery case was opened which was later transferred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. The stolen gold/silver bars might be sold to unsuspecting buyers.
“Individuals with information regarding the whereabouts of Lufeyo, are requested to contact Investigating Officer Warrant Officer Rooiland at 082 770 5219, or contact crime stop number 08600 10111, nearest police station, or share information on MySAPSApp,” she said.
15 November 2024- The North West Provincial Government (NWPG) said in its concerted effort to accelerate service delivery to its residents, it will continue to rollout Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, Thuntsha Lerole Reloaded across four districts of the province. On 15 November 2024, North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi joined by Members of Executive Council (MECs) and District and Local municipalities leadership, led the provincial programme at Maquassi Hills Local Municipality in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality.
Mokgosi said through this programme, key service delivery areas such as water and sanitation, roads maintenance, infrastructure projects, waste management, compliance monitoring and inspection and health and social services are prioritised. He further said amongst the activities that were conducted, was a site inspection of a water augmentation project, which was commissioned to improve water supply in the Wolmaranstad area and an oversight visit to a rehabilitation and reseal project of a 37km road from Wolmaranstad to Wesselsbron.
“Furthermore, four completed RDP houses and 10 title deeds were handed over to beneficiaries in Lebaleng and Tswelelang Townships respectively, while two local Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) providing care and protection services to the needy community, were presented with dummy cheques worth R3 million combined.
“The food security programme included planting of vegetable seedlings at the North West School for the Deaf at Leeudoringstad, handing over of bulls to female farmers at Louwpan Farm and Oersonskraal, distribution of fruit trees and vegetable packages to identified households and handing over of garden equipment to the existing four community gardens in Tswelelang,” said Mokgosi.
He added that to ensure alignment with the provincial Thuntsha Lerole Reloaded Programme, Ngaka Modiri Molema District will roll out its programme in Ga-Motlatla village in Ditsobotla Local Municipality, while in Bojanala Platinum District it will be at Ramaphosa Sports Ground in Moretele Local Municipality. Mokgosi said the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District programme will be at Geluksoord in Christiana, Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality.
“This week’s Thuntsha Lerole Reloaded Programme was also used to mobilise and assist communities to recode their electricity meters to Key Revision Number 2 (KRN 2), this as the deadline of 24 November is looming,” he said.
However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Chris Steyl accused Mokgosi of abusing government resources to campaign on eve of Maquassi Hills Ward 5 by-election. Steyl said it appears that Mokgosi may be abusing provincial government resources under the guise of Thuntsha Lerole.
“Mokgosi’s so-called Accelerated Service Delivery programme is used to campaign in Maquassi Hills Ward 5, scheduled for a by-election on 4 December 2024, in which the ANC is contesting. He announced this week that he will bring all provincial government departments to Tswelelang, Extension 15, in Ward 5 Maquassi Hills, where his government will host a service delivery exhibition from 8am to 4pm and a community feedback session today.
“The Public Protector’s report, State and Party Colours released in 2016, found that the government has an obligation to ensure that there is no conflation between the party and the state. In this instance, it is obvious that the two are being conflated. The DA will request the Public Protector to investigate this event to confirm whether there has been an abuse of public resources.
“Any government resource abuse towards party-political gain indicates a desperate ANC trying to cling to electoral support. The ANC’s desperation to try and secure a win in this by-election follows the continued electoral losses suffered by an ANC that no longer enjoys popular support,” he said.
Steyl said Mokgosi must uphold his oath of office and govern in a manner that is beyond reproach. He said abusing government resources in this manner brings his government’s integrity into question.
“The residents of Tswelelang will not be so easily swayed. This community, much like all residents throughout Maquassi Hills, has been neglected by an uncaring ANC for decades. Residents continue to bear the burden of ANC corruption and failed governance which continues to leave them without access to basic services like reliable water and electricity supply, quality sanitation services, refuse removal, roads maintenance and poor economic and job prospects.
“In fact, year after year, the quality of life of Maquassi residents continues to erode while ANC comrades live largely on the taxpayers’ funded dime. The gravy train in Maquassi Hills must come to an end for ANC bigwigs,” said Steyl.
He said, instead, residents will rally behind the DA’s Ward 5 candidate, Councillor Don van Zyl, who diligently fights for improved governance and service delivery for all residents.
15 November 2024- A man (34) was sentenced to 18 months by the Postmasburg Magistrate’s Court for stealing grocery items at a local business establishment in Postmasburg. Doctor Dash Sibanyoni was caught stealing grocery items on two different occasions on 16 August 2024, and again on 21 August 2024.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said the accused was subsequently arrested and charged for theft. Sam said the court out of the testimony led by the prosecution and investigating team, advocate Tshifiwa Muruba and Detective Constable Simon Mqweba, found that the accused is a habitual thief and sentenced him to 18 months’ direct imprisonment for theft.
“Shoplifting is a criminal offence; possession of stolen goods is a crime. If you see it, say something. The police are encouraging the public to rate the police efforts in fighting crime by participating in the RATE OUR SERVICE online survey to assist the police in improving services and to report criminal behaviour via the MySAPS App and 08600 10111,” he said.
15 November 2024 – Bafana Bafana have qualified for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) without kicking a ball. The South African senior men’s national team arrived in Kampala, Uganda, on Thursday ahead of their AFCON qualifier against the hosts on Friday and was preparing to go to training when word reached the camp about developments in South Sudan that would have implications in Group K.
The Sudanese pulled off a stunning feat that would have repercussions in Group K after they beat Congo Brazzaville 3-2 in another group match on Thursday, in a result that enabled both Bafana Bafana and Uganda to qualify for the tournament, while sitting in their respective hotels in Kampala.
Broos’ charges can now go into their qualifier against the Ugandans at the multipurpose Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Friday with a spring in their step after securing back-to-back qualification to the AFCON.
While the South Africa camp celebrated the win, Broos said they would not pop the champagne bottles yet and would still go full throttle in the matches against Uganda today and against the self-same South Sudan in Cape Town on 19 November 2024.
“We want to win the game, we want to win to end top of the group and that means we have to beat Uganda. So (qualifying) does not change anything for us.
“I hope that it will be a nice game and a good game. It will be a full house, and there will be a lot of atmosphere inside the stadium. This is motivation for the players and let us hope that the best team wins today,” he said.
Bafana Bafana captain, Ronwen Williams said: “We want to finish the year on a positive note. We have had a wonderful year, a successful year, so we want to keep building on that. It is going to be a tough one (against Uganda), we are excited. The week has been amazing, we have got some of the players back who have been injured and that is good. We lost some of our players (due to injury) and we will be playing on their behalf as well because they have been on this journey with us. It has been a long journey, and we are proud of our achievement getting to AFCON back-to-back.”
Meanwhile, the South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan congratulated the team after they qualified for the next AFCON with two games to spare.
“Congratulations to coach Hugo Broos, his technical and support staff, the players and everybody who contributes to the team. This is a magnificent feat to have qualified for the next AFCON in the same year that Bafana Bafana won the bronze medal at the tournament held in Côte d’Ivoire from 13 January – 11 February 2024. On behalf of the SAFA NEC, congratulations to the team,” said Jordaan.
The Guardian 