Monthly Archives: December 2024

‘Be wary when using bank cards’

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Picture: A vehicle allegedly being used by suspect/Supplied

By BAKANG MOKOTO

23 December 2024- The police in the North West are warning the members of the community to be cautious when using their bank cards, especially during this festive season. This comes after incidents, wherein two suspects aged 52 and 56 respectively, were arrested in two different incidents in Potchefstroom.

In the first incident, it is alleged that on 11 December 2024, a man (55), attempted to withdraw money from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at one of the malls in Potchefstroom. After inserting his card and pin, he could not get the money he was withdrawing. 

The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane said, moreover, the man cancelled the transaction and the card was returned, but he noticed it was not his. Tselanyane said a few moments thereafter, he got a notification that there was a cash withdrawal at a nearby filling station from his bank account. 

“It was then that he blocked the bank card, went to the filling station and viewed the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of who withdrew the cash.  Thereafter he reported the matter to the police.

“On 20 December 2024, at around 1:30pm, the complainant went again to another ATM to withdraw money. Whilst there, he noticed a man resembling the one he saw on the CCTV footage at the filling station and he shouted for help,” he said.

Tselanyane further said the man allegedly tried to flee, but was cornered at a taxi rank. He added that the police were called and the suspect was arrested and numerous bank cards were found hidden in his wallet.

“In a second unrelated incident around 1pm on the same day, Potchefstroom Crime Prevention members were on patrol around town when they received a call to look-out for a suspicious looking Mini Cooper vehicle. 

“The vehicle was spotted driving on Dr James Moroka Avenue and members pulled it over. Upon conducting a search on the vehicle and driver, police found numerous bank cards hidden in the driver’s underwear and he could not give a satisfactory account of those cards,” said Tselanyane. 

He said as a result, he was also arrested and his vehicle confiscated. Tselanyane said furthermore, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is also on trial in Gauteng for the same offence.

“Both suspects appeared before the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on 23 December 2024, on charges of possession of suspected stolen property.

“Further investigation is underway to determine if the suspects could be linked to other incidents of theft/cloning of bank cards within the province,” he said.

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Honey Badger Project case postponed

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

23 December 2024- A case of Contravention of Section 234(d) of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011 against the Director of TFBS Funeral, Bongani Sydwell Mafuleni (58), was postponed by the Orkney Magistrate’s Court to 13 February 2025. This is to allow Mafuleni to provide proof that he filed his returns with South African Revenue Services (SARS).

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)regional spokesperson in the North West, Sivenathi Gunya said Mafuleni is facing four counts of Contravening Section 234(d) of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011, for failing to submit tax returns. Gunya said between 2023 and February 2024, he allegedly failed to submit Company Income Tax and Value-Added Tax (VAT) returns, despite telephonic reminders from SARS and subsequent written notices.

“This court appearance follows the work of the Honey Badger Project, a collaborative initiative between the NPA, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks), and SARS.

“The project seeks to enhance compliance by holding individuals and entities accountable for tax non-compliance through legal action,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, the acting North West Hawks Head, Brigadier Silas Munzhedzi and SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, have commended the teamwork that led to this matter being placed on the court roll. They have assured the public that non-compliance will have serious consequences and defaulters will face the full might of the law.

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Tau postponed decision to award 4th National Lottery Licence 

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Picture: The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau

By REGINALD KANYANE

23 December 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition said it has noted the Minister Parks Tau’s status update on the process to award the 4th National Lottery licence.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Mzwandile Masina, welcomed Tau’s decision to further interrogate the bids without compromising the credibility of the licensing process as directed by the Lotteries Act 57 of 1997. Masina said the committee fully supports the Minister’s statement that further work will be done to ensure the credibility of this process, which has come under public scrutiny in the recent past.

“We implore Tau to consider various options, if awarding the new lottery licence becomes impractical before the expiry of the 3rd Lottery licence on 31 May 2025.

“Such options could include exploring Section 13B in the Lotteries Act that deals with issuing a temporary licence and/or considering the option of a ‘State led’ the Lottery in terms of Section 13A of the Act amongst others,” he said.

Masina further said he shared Tau’s views that the running of the National Lottery is complex and that many vulnerable people and important organisations depend on it. He added that this makes due diligence more necessary.

“The Minister announced the postponement of his decision regarding the awarding of the licence on Saturday. The committee acknowledges his commitment to fulfil his responsibility in respect of the law when it came to ensuring a fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective adjudication process.

“Tau announced that an applicant needed to demonstrate the necessary commitment to a social responsibility programme and the advancement of the historically disadvantaged,” said Masina.

He said the committee wishes to caution that whenever the final decision is made, sufficient time for hand-over must be provided to allow setup, testing and other technical work. Masina said, furthermore, any work by the ministry should minimise or limit the period, where there may not be an active operator as this would disrupt and impact negatively on good causes.

“The committee welcomes the Minister’s recognition that he has a duty to ensure that no political party or political office-bearer has any direct financial interest in the applicant or a shareholder of the applicant, which is an important aspect when considering the awarding of the National Lottery licence.

“Finally, the committee commends the Minister for acting cautiously and applying his mind on the matter. We have full confidence that the observations and input given during the Portfolio Committee’s meetings will also be taken into account without meddling in the process, especially as it relates to ‘conflict of interests’ as sharply raised on numerous occasions,” he said.

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Traffic officers to deal harshly with drunken drivers

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Picture:  Traffic officers during roadblock/Generic

By BAKANG MOKTO

23 December 2024- Zimbabwean driver (32), who is facing two charges, briefly appeared in Brits Magistrate’s Court on Monday. This follows an attempt to bribe a North West Provincial Traffic Officer upon his arrest for an alleged drunken driving.

It is alleged that the accused tried to bribe a Traffic Officer with a R100 when arrested for drunk driving. He is allegedly one of the 941 drivers arrested for drunk driving throughout the country.

The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng said about 30 drivers were arrested in the Brits CBD and surrounding areas of Mothotlung, Letlhabile and Mmakau over the weekend. Morweng said drunk driving has been identified as one of the major contributors of fatal crashes.

“As of the beginning of the festive season, the province has recorded 36 fatalities from 31 crashes. This is 7% of the 512 fatalities in the Republic for the weekend leading to Christmas.

“We appreciate the work of the North West Provincial Traffic Officers since the beginning of the festive period. The traffic officers must continue to do their work diligently and all forms of traffic violations will be severely punished on all provincial routes,” he said.

Morweng further said these crashes are causing them a lot of pain and they continue to lose beloved ones due to avoidable accidents. He added that this also costs the state millions of rands.

“We will not allow any drunken driver on our roads as this has recently been identified as one of the major contributing factors to crashes. Any contravention of any traffic statute will be met with harsh punishment.

“Anyone found behind the wheel while intoxicated will be locked up. When we activated the Provincial Road Safety Campaign with the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi a week ago, we also launched a Mobile Alcohol Evidence Centre,” said Morweng.

He said the State-of-the-Art facility was donated by the South African Breweries (SAB) and will expedite detection and processing analysis of drunk driving incidents on the provincial roads.

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Municipality compelled to provide residents with temporary accommodation

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Picture: Temporary accommodation for homeless people/Generic

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

23 December 2024 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Nocks Seabi is of the considered view that the Constitutional Court Judgement that compels the City of Cape Town to provide Bromwell Street residents with temporary emergency accommodation in the inner city and as close to their current homes as possible is a reaffirmation of spatial equality and upholds the dignity of largely marginalised communities.

Seabi’s comments follow the Constitutional Court judgement delivered on Friday following an eight-year legal battle to stop the eviction until the City of Cape Town has developed a new housing programme, incorporating transitional housing.

“The judgement is important for two aspects, the fact that it entrenches the right to transitional housing on one hand and the importance of spatial justice on the other.

“The committee has always emphasised the importance of housing opportunities that are closer to economic centres to transform the spatial apartheid that marginalised mainly the poor to areas far away from city centres compelling them to spend inordinate amounts of their earnings on transport,” he said.

Seabi further said this judgement sets an important legal framework to safeguard the rights and dignity of the people.

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More than 1348 suspects nabbed for various crimes during Operation Shanela  

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Picture: Police during stop and search/Supplied

By REGINALD KANYANE

23 December 2024- More than 1348 suspects were arrested for various crimes during the high density Operation Shanela across North West. The multi-disciplinary operations, which was conducted from 16 until 22 December 2024, focused on regular stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle check points (VCPs), high-visibility patrols including foot patrols.

The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane said this includes the tracing of wanted suspects, the confiscation of illegal firearms, as well as visits to liquor outlets and taverns.

Tselanyane said for the period mentioned, a total of 10 suspects were arrested for murder, 12 for robbery aggravating (armed robbery), 8 for rape, 234 for assault with the intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), 38 for burglary at business and residential premises, 79 for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs and 113 for contravention of the Immigration Act.

“Furthermore, 35 suspects were arrested for illegal dealing in liquor and 79 for possession of drugs. Nine firearms, consisting of 5 handguns and 4 shotguns, were removed from the wrong hands and two suspects were arrested for illegal possession of firearms.

“The confiscations include among others, 652 packets of tobacco products, 81 rounds of ammunition, 712 ecstasy tablets and two suspected stolen vehicles,” he said.

Tselanyane further said high density Operation Shanela, that is inclusive of the safer festive season operations, continues to stamp the authority of the state when a significant number of suspects were brought to book.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, reiterated that the heightened police presence, especially during this time of the year, will foster a sense of trust among community members, contributing to the ongoing crime prevention strategies of Operation Shanela.

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Minister’s action on SABC Bill unconstitutional

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Picture: SABC offices in Auckland park, Johannesburg

By BAKANG MOKOTO

23 December 2024- The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Khusela Diko, has unequivocally condemned Minister Solly Malatsi’s challenge on the Speaker of the National Assembly over the withdrawal of the SABC Bill from Parliament as reported by the Sunday Times on 22 December 2024.

Diko is of the view that this action is not only unwarranted in its spirited pursuit to unilaterally withdraw the Bill, but is also unconstitutional. She said the committee has never accepted the withdrawal of the Bill by the Minister, it has instead sought clarity from the Executive on the Minister’s authority for the unilateral withdrawal of the Bill before Parliament.

“The committee has reiterated that Bills before Parliament from the Executive do not belong to individual Ministers but to the Cabinet as a whole. Malatsi’s attempts to dismiss constitutional procedure as mere “convention” or a “gentlemen’s agreement” is not just incorrect—it is a dangerous misrepresentation of the law.

“The constitution, to which all members of the cabinet are bound, explicitly states in Section 85(2) that Executive authority is vested in the President, who exercises such authority together with other members of cabinet to, amongst others, prepare and initiate legislation,” said Diko.

She further said the Rules of the National Assembly do not take precedence over the constitution. Diko added that, as such, no single Minister, including Malatsi, has today or ever had the authority or power to unilaterally introduce or withdraw Bills in Parliament without the consent of the Cabinet.

“Earlier on, the committee welcomed the necessary clarification and corrective instruction provided to the Minister by the Deputy President and Leader of Government Business in this regard.

“The Minister should fully comprehend the limits of his powers, especially in relation to law-making, the role of the Cabinet, and that of the Leader of Government Business,” said Diko.

She said similarly, where necessary, clarification should also be provided to the Minister on the distinction between Private Members’ Bills, to which a Member of the Executive is not entitled, and Bills piloted by the Executive.

Diko said the Speaker of the National Assembly is the leader of a separate arm of the State -the Legislature- which acts as the guardian of the democracy, and stands firm against any attempts to undermine its authority and procedures.

“Cabinet members are expected to respect this role by ensuring that the authority of the Office of the Speaker is not undermined through frivolous challenges which disregard not only established protocols on engagement between the Speaker and the Executive but also the doctrine of separation of powers.

“For our part as the committee, the amendment of the SABC Bill will be among the first orders of business in the new year,” she said.

Diko said while Malatsi has raised some valid concerns regarding the powers to be accorded to the Minister to appoint board members of the proposed commercial subsidiary of the SABC, his other objection regarding the absence of a funding model in the current version of the Bill is unfounded, flimsy and inconsequential.

She said they trust that when the Minister takes the opportunity to present the department’s responses to the committee, he will also concede that, unless the SABC Bill is a Money Bill, Ministers cannot legislate a funding model from the fiscus.

“To this end, we urge the Minister to cease dilly dallying on this point and to act with urgency in developing the funding model, which the SABC Bill provides a legislative framework for and which the SABC desperately needs.

“We noted and welcomed the invaluable inputs received from civil society organisations and other stakeholders, saying that their inputs will be thoroughly considered and addressed in the committee’s deliberations and reflected in the final legislation presented to the National Assembly for consideration,” said Diko.

She said, lastly, the doors of the committee shall remain open for constructive engagement with the Minister.

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Shaleng triple murder case back in court

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Picture: The accused, Olebogeng Mampe Kale

By OBAKENG MAJE

23 December 2024- A triple murder case against the accused, Olebogeng Mampe Kale (33), will resume today at the Kgomotso Periodical Court. This comes after the case was postponed for further investigations.

Kale is accused of killing his father, Mosimanegape Kale (74), his mother, Phodisho Kale (68), and his younger sister, Bonolo Kale (27) in Shaleng village, near Taung on 15 November 2024.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Sivenathi Gunya said the investigations revealed that members of the family were inside their shack, sitting around the coffee table when the accused entered and struck them over their heads with a knobkerrie.

“He allegedly fled the scene afterwards. All three victims were declared dead on the scene and Kale was apprehended by the police on 16 November 2024. The accused was remanded in custody until the next court appearance,” he said.

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Monna wa kwa Shaleng o latofadiwa ka go rema mmagwe ka selepe le go mo tlhaba ka thiba go fitha a tlhokafala

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Setshwantsho: Mapodisi ako lefelong la tiragalo morago ga gore monna a latofadiwe ka go rema mmagwe ka selepe

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

23 Sedimonthole 2024- Monna wa dingwaga di le 26 wa kwa motseng wa Shaleng, gaufi le Taung, o solofetswe go tlhagelela kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Kgomotso mo letsatsing la gompieno. Monna o, o lebagane le kgetsi ya polao le maikaelelo a polao.

Se se tla morago ga gore a latofadiwe ka go rema mmagwe ka selepe le go mo tlhaba ka thiba go fitlha a tlhokafala ka di 21 Sedimonthole 2024. Gape, go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ile a tlhaba kgaitsadie ka thipa.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane, are go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ne a tsena kwa ntlung le go batla madi mo go mmagwe ka dikgoka. Tselanyane are mmagwe mmelaelwa, one a letsetsa ngwana wa gagwe wa mosetsanyana, Masego Gabadise go tla go mo thusa.

“Go begwa fa Masego a ne a fitlhela mmelaewa a teketa mmagwe. O ile a leka go tsireganya, fela go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ile a mo tsogela kgatlhanong le go mo tlhasela.

“Go begwa fa a ile a ntsha thipa, mme a mo tlhaba. Go ya ka dipego, Masego o ile a tabogisediwa kwa bookelo go bona thuso ya potlako,” Tselanyane wa tlhalosa.

Tselanyane are go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ile a tlhasela mmagwe ka selepe le go mo tlhaba ka thipa. Go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ile a sia kwa lefelong la tiragalo.

“Mmelaelwa o ile a tshwarwa, mme o solofetswe go tlhagelela kwa kgotlha-tshekelo,” Tselanyane wa tlhalosa.

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A woman killed in car accident

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Picture: A woman, Innez Prince killed in a car accident/Facebook

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

23 December 2024- A woman (21) was killed in an accident near Shell Ultra in Kimberly on Saturday. The accident took place around 5am.

The deceased was allegedly crossing the road when she was knocked over by a VW Transporter and died on the scene.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said the grey VW was traveling with 6 occupants and all escaped the accident unscathed.

“The Kimberley SAPS Serious and Violent Crimes unit are investigating a culpable homicide after an unknown female was killed in an accident. The deceased is unknown and could be in her 30s.

“She is light in complexion, black hair, about 1,6 meters tall, medium build and dressed in blue jeans, blue top and white Crocs. Anyone with information can call Detective Sergeant Modise Moshotloa on 082 302 0407 or contact 08600 10111 or utilize the MySaps app. The investigation continues,” he said.

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