22 February 2025- A man (36) was sentenced to six years imprisonment for stealing a vehicle by the Postmasburg Regional Court, of which two years were suspended for five years. On 15 December 2023, the accused, Tshepo Links, stole the keys of a Ford Ranger from the house and drove without owner’s consent.
The ZF Mgcawu District police spokesperson, Sergeant Omphile Masegela said Links was driving on the Griekwastad road, where he was involved in a collision and fled the scene. Masegela said the police conducted an investigation, and Links was arrested.
“The police in the ZF Mgcawu District welcomed the conviction and sentencing of a theft of motor vehicle,” he said.
Meanwhile, the District Management, commended the collaborative work by advocate Moloi Motsatse, the investigating officer, Sergeant John Manzana of Upington Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit.
22 February 2025- Eskom has implemented stage 3 of loadshedding. The power utility said following over 20 days of uninterrupted electricity supply, it has encountered another temporary setback.
“As a result, stage 3 load shedding will be implemented from today at 17:30 until further notice. Eskom will give an update on 23 February 2025,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said load shedding and reduction, like VAT hikes, will plunge the prospects of growth and jobs. The DA spokesperson on electricity and energy, Kevin Mileham, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) said Eskom’s announcement of a return to stage 3 load shedding until further notice rings huge alarm bells.
“Eskom’s silence on the reasons behind this is shocking and continues to speak to a lack of transparency. While South Africans have been repeatedly told that load shedding is behind us, this has been far from true.
“A new term, load reduction has been introduced – but we must call it as we see it. We still live in blackouts, and we continue to pay more for less and less electricity,” he said.
Mileham further said that the looming tax hikes stalled due to DA intervention. He added that the DA calls on the government to fast-track electricity reforms, before our economy regresses.
“Measures that must be treated as of national importance are recovering the billions in municipal debt owed to Eskom. Fully separating Eskom’s power generation and transmission divisions and creating private sector competition by breaking Eskom’s power generation function into smaller companies for privatisation.
“After years of stagnation, we must position our economy on the right footing again. As our economy mounts its recovery under the Government of National Unity, we cannot afford to take steps back,” said Mileham.
Setshwantsho: Tonakgolo ya Bokone Bophrima, Lazarus Mokgosi
Ka BAKANG MOKOTO
22 Tlhakole 2025- Tonakgolo ya porofense ya Bokone Bophirima, Lazarus Mokgosi, are kopano ya bone ya kabinete (EXCO Lekgotla), ene e lekola seemo sa porofense gore se eme fa kae pele ga puo ya gagwe ya porofense ka di 27 Tlhakole 2025. Mokgosi are ba ile ba tsaya ditshwetso kwa kopanong ya bone ya EXCO Lekgotla ka kgwedi ya Diphalane 2024, go ipaakanyetsa ngwaga wa ditshelete wa 2025/2026.
Mokgosi are jaanong ba ne ba kopane go lebelela dithulaganyo tseo gore a di sentse di siame segolo bogolo jang morago ga puo ya mopresidente wa naga (State of the Nation), eleng Cyril Ramaphosa.
“Re batla gore fa kgwedi ya Moranang e simolola, gonne ke yone ngwaga wa ditshelete wa 2025/2026, re be re simolola ka dithulaganyo tseo. Maikaelelo a rona ke go netefatsa fa ditirelo di ya kwa bathung.
“Lekgotla le dumalane fela ka bongwe jwa pelo gore ditlamo tsa puso (SOEs) ga di mo seemong se se siameng. Ke ka moo, tsamaiso ya borataro ya puso (6thadministration), e ile ya thapa setlhopa sa baitsanape ba ba tla seka-sekang seemo seo,” Mokgosi wa tlhalosa.
Mokgosi are setlhopa seo, se setse se ba neetse dikatlenegiso (recommendations). Are seo se tla ba thusa go bona gore ba fetola jang seemo sa ditlamo tseo.
“Re ile ra golaganya pegelo eo le ya kgodiso le tlhabololo ya ikonomi ya porofense (Provincial Growth Development Strategy). Fela, re ile ra dumalana gore e batla go ka seka-sekiwa pele ga e ka tsengwa tirisong.
“Pegelo eo, e tla neela khansele ya ga tonakgolo (Coordinating Council), mme e tla fetisetswa kwa EXCO Lekgotla morago ga moo go e amogela semmuso,” Mokgosi wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, Mokgosi are ba amogela gore pula ena ka mokgwa o tsitsibanyang mmele mo porofenseng, mme se se botlhokwa ke gore ba na le Provincial Disaster Management Centre. Are, mokhuduthamaga wa dipuso selegae, kago ya matlo le ditirelo tsa setso, Oageng Molapisi, o ba itsisitse fa dipula tse, di sentse marogo, mme gona le dikago tsa dikolo dingwe tse di weleng.
“Re emetse go amogela pegelo e feletseng. Tota ga gona tekanyetso-kabo e betsweng thoko ya matlhotlhapelo, mme go tla tshwanelwa ke gore re lebelele mo mading a puso a teng gore re samagane le bothata jo,” Mokgosi wa tlhalosa.
Picture: The coffin of SANDF soldier, Lance Bombardier Itumeleng Moreo/Facebook
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
22 February 2025- The South African Defence Force (SANDF) soldier, Lance Bombardier Itumeleng Moreo (37) from Extension 39, in Mahikeng, was described as a loving, caring and a disciplined person. Moreo was one of 14 SANDF soldiers who died in a fierce fight against M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) two weeks ago.
Moreo was accorded a state funeral and laid to rest at Matlalong cemetery in Mahikeng on Saturday. His wife, Kefilwe Moreo, who is a police officer said she will miss him.
“We dated back in 2008, while we were still in high school. In 2012, we were blessed with our first child. We got married in 2017, and were blessed with our second child in 2019.
“I never doubted his love. He never wanted to see us crying. For the past weeks, I have been missing his hugs. Itumeleng was a very disciplined person, who wanted his children to be disciplined as well,” she said.
Kefilwe said Itumeleng loved them in such a way that she will never forget. She said she learnt a lot from him.
“I remember the time I was at the SAPS academy, I was struggling with shooting. I could not align and I did not know what to do. Even if my instructors tried to explain, I could not do it. However, I managed in the end because of Itumeleng. On 27 January 2025, I spoke to him.
“Later on, Itumeleng sent a video telling me how much he loved us and we should never forget that. On 28 January 2025, it was my birthday and I received a present from him not knowing he is no more,” she said.
Kefilwe said she was worried because it was unlike Itumeleng not to send her a happy birthday message. She said, however, she thought it might be network problems.
“On 29 January 2025, I received a message telling me that he had passed away. I just want to thank God for the life of this man. Through Itumeleng, I received everything a woman can wish for.
“We had so many plans for this year together, and I am not sure if I will manage alone,” said Kefilwe.
Meanwhile, the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said: “We meet here today on a sombre mood. We bid farewell to a husband, father, brother, son and a true compatriot of our beloved continent, who dedicated his life to the struggles of African people.
“Moreo died pursuing a noble course. To see the people of Eastern DRC living in peace and their lives going forward. So, I want to take this opportunity and extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of this compatriot.”
Picture: The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng
By OBAKENG MAJE
22 February 2025- The Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management, Freddy Sonakile said there are many areas that need to be addressed regarding crime intelligence within the police in the province. Sonakile said they have seen this with the Stilfontein mine saga.
“It took the police more than two years to uncover illegal migrants underground. The latest one being the escape of the alleged underground kingpin, who is Lesotho national, Neo Tsoaeli, where the police officers were arrested for orchestrating it.
“I think it highlights serious challenges that need urgent attention. We need serious engagement with the police and other stakeholders to address our porous borders,” he said.
Sonakile further said the crime intelligence unit within the SAPS needs to be strengthened. He added that, more often, intelligence appears to be failing whether in preventing Cash-in-Transit heist, tackling drug trafficking in the province or even dismantling organised crime.
“While there have been some successes, concerns remain about rogue elements within the intelligence that undermine its effectiveness. So, I believe we need strong oversight mechanisms in place to ensure accountability and prevent corruption within the intelligence structures,” said Sonakile.
The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) spokesperson in North West, Mzukisi Jam shared the same sentiments. Jam said they are not happy regarding the effectiveness of crime intelligence with the SAPS.
“Honestly, we can never be happy with crime intelligence and how everything is happening. Most importantly, we are disappointed in our own North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, because we were of the view that he will do better considering the fact that he is young and from the ranks of the ANCYL.
“He also grew up among the very same communities that are crime ridden. Morweng would at least have a clear insight as to what exactly needs to be done, but he seems to be clueless,” he said.
Jam said a typical example is the issue of Stilfontein. He said while they were busy dealing with the humanitarian crisis there, they then realised that the reason why the police were sceptical in saving the lives of illegal miners, is because they were working with the kingpins.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) provincial secretary, Papikie Babuile said: “Basically, there is no crime intelligence in South Africa at all. It has collapsed and we no longer have people that we call informants.
“If the SAPS had informants, all these activities that are happening in the province would not be happening,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng said crime intelligence is a component within the police, but intelligence is the responsibility of the SASSA, Crime Intelligence and Defence intelligence.
Setshwantsho: Dingwe tsa leruo le go belaelwang le utswilwe/Facebook
Ka REGINALD KANYANE
22 Tlhakole 2025- Barui ba ba farologaneng go tswa mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, ba ikuela go sepodisi go ka bolotsa ntwa kgatlhanong le bogodu jwa leruo. Se se tla morago ga gore tona ya sepodisi, Senzo Mchunu, o rebotseng dipalo-palo tsa bosenyi mo letsatsing la Labone, a tlhalose fa porofense ya Bokone Bophirima, ele nngwe ya diporofense tse di tsweletseng go itemogela bogodu jwa leruo go ralala Afrika Borwa.
Mongwe wa barua-kgomo kwa motseng wa Tlapeng, o sa batleng leina la gagwe le itsiwe are: “Rena le bopaki jwa gore gona le segongwana se se dirisanang le batlhankedi bangwe ba sepodisi go utswa leruo.
“Maswabi ke gore, le fa re ba tlalea, ga go sepe se se dirwang. Re kopa gore mokhuduthamaga wa lefapha la tshireletso ya baagi ga mmogo le tsamiso ya dipalangwa mono Bokone Bophirima, Wessels Morweng, a tle ka toga-maano ya go lwa kgatlhanong le bogodu jwa leruo, gonne jaanong magodu a utswa ka bodipa.”
Kgabagare, Morweng are bogodu jwa leruo ke nngwe ya matsapa a ba a itemogelang mo porofenseng. Morweng are, porofense ya Bokone Bophirima ke nngwe ya diporofense tse di tletseng ka metse-selegae.
“Jaanong gwa tlhaloganyesega gore e be e iphitlhela e le nngwe ya diporofense tse di itemogelang bogodu jwa leruo. Re tla gopola gore bontsi jwa baagi ba itshidisa ka leruo. Jaanong go botlhokwa thata jaaka puso gore re sireletse leruo la bone.
“Ke setse ke kopane le mokomishinara wa nama-o-sa-tshwere wa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Major General Patrick Asaneng, mme re dulamane gore di dika di le pedi eleng sa Ngaka Modiri Molema le Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, entle le go tlodisa matlho di dika tse dingwe, di amegile thata,” Morweng wa tlhalosa.
Morweng are o tlile go kopana le dimasepala tse di farologaneng, ga mmogo le Lefapha La Temo-thuo le Tlhabolo ya Lefatshe, gonne ba lemogile fa mo leruo le bewang teng go sa siama.
“Bo nnete ke gore, ga nkitla re tlodisa matlho kgang ya gore bangwe ba batlhankedi ba sepodisi ba ka tswa ba dirisana le magodu a utswang leruo.
“Ke ka mo re tlileng go leka ka bojotlhe gore batlhakedi ba ba amegang ba otlhaiwa. Re tshwanelwa ke go dirisa mafaratlhatlha a setegenike a farologaneng go ka reba bosinyi jo,” Morweng wa tlhalosa.
Morweng are o tlile go nna le dikopano le barui ba ba farologaneng go ralala porofense.
The Guardian 