Picture: A policeman arrested for committing crime/Generic
By BAKANG MOKOTO
11 March 2025- A policeman who was stationed at Wolmaranstad Police Station, Sergeant Leepile Mtimkulu (46), remanded in custody until 14 March 2025. This comes after Mtimkulu was arrested on Saturday afternoon, 8 March 2025, for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend, Dikeledi Ingrid Serake (40), in the neck with a knife.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said Serake was declared dead at the scene at Tswelelang Township, Wolmaranstad. Mokgwabone said following the incident, Mtimkulu handed himself over to the police.
“The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, condemned the incident and said it is disheartening to see a police officer being arrested for a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) related incident, which was committed during International Women’s Day by someone whom the public is looking to for protection. Asaneng urged police to use the professional services of the Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) rather than resorting to violence.
11 March 2025- Four men who brutally killed two police officers, Constable Simon Ntsekeletsa (50), and Sergeant Mojalefa Molete (42), in Mareetsane village, outside Mahikeng, were sentenced by the North West High Court sitting in Mahikeng. The accused, Benjamin Kerneels Jacobs (45), Gaorekwe Jeremiah Mongale (28), Rapula George Keaikitse (27), and Mathews Modukanele (23), were found guilty on multiple charges, including theft of stock, robbery with aggravating circumstances, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of murder, defeating the ends of justice, malicious damage to property, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Sivenathi Gunya said the convictions stem from a tragic incident on 26 July 2021, where Molete and Ntsekeletsa, from Mareetsane Police Station, stopped a vehicle carrying 18 goats. Gunya said the occupants failed to provide a valid permit for transporting the livestock and were instructed to follow the officers to the police station.
“On the way, the suspects’ vehicle experienced mechanical issues, prompting them to ask the officers for assistance. As one officer attempted to secure a tow rope, the suspects attacked both officers with hammers, restrained them with a rope, and loaded them into the back of the police van.
“Later, authorities discovered a burnt police vehicle at Mosita Wildlife Farm, near Vryburg, with two bodies inside, burnt beyond recognition. The vehicle was confirmed to be the SAPS bakkie used by the deceased officers,” he said.
Gunya further said following a swift investigation, police arrested three of the accused at a residence in Logageng, where they also recovered a Z88 pistol with nine live rounds hidden under a mattress. He added that the fifth accused, who was 16 years old at the time, turned state witness and provided crucial testimony that assisted the prosecution.
“As a result, the charges against him were withdrawn. It was later revealed that accused number one was the father of the state witness. In court, all four accused pleaded not guilty, but were convicted based on the overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution.
“In aggravation of the sentence, state prosecutor advocate Siphiwo Jika, submitted Victim Impact statements from the police and the family members of the deceased, emphasising the devastating impact of the crime,” said Gunya.
He said Jika urged the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence, as they all showed a lack of remorse throughout the trial. Gunya said the presiding Judge agreed with the state.
“She said the community still needs to have confidence in the police. Benjamin Jacobs, Gaorekwe Mongale and Rapula Keaikitse were each sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for stock theft, 15 years for robbery aggravating circumstances, 10 years for count of kidnapping, two counts of life imprisonment for murder, 6 years for defeating the ends of justice, 10 years for malicious property damage, 15 years for unlawful possession of firearms and 10 years for possession of ammunition.
“Sentences to run concurrently with life imprisonment for murder. Mathews Modukanele was sentenced to 5 years for stock theft, 15 years for robbery aggravating circumstances, 10 years for each count of kidnapping and 4 years for malicious property damage,” said Gunya.
He said the court ordered that all sentences run concurrently with the 15 years imprisonment for robbery aggravating circumstances. Gunya said the accused were all declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng and the acting Provincial Head of the
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Brigadier Silas Munzhedzi, welcomed the sentence and thanked all the role players for their collaborative efforts to ensure that justice is served. They pointed out that the killing of police officers undermines the authority of the state and that the sentence will convey a strong message that those who kill police officers or any other person who serves to protect society and our citizens deserve a harsh punishment as seen in this case.
Picture: The Northern Cape MEC for COGHSTA, Bentley Vass on oversight visits/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
11 March 2025- The Northern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Bentley Vass, has embarked on oversight visits in Perth and Heuningvlei, where the One Billion Rand Housing Project will commence. The project was launched by the Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa in January 2024.
Vass who was accompanied by the executive mayor of the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, Pulane Mogatle-Thoane, the District Municipality Speaker, Ephraim Aiseng, the Joe Morolong Local Municipality mayor, Dineo Leutlwetse-Tshabalala, Kgosikgolo Hastings Jantjie and Kgosikgolo Pule Bareki, and several councillors, also had community engagement with the housing beneficiaries in Heuningvlei.
“We briefed the delegation on the housing project for the JTG District and its progress. Over 500 houses will be built in Joe Morolong Municipality as part of the One Billion Rand Housing Project to address the housing backlog in the JTG District.
“This provided us with a first-hand opportunity to observe the progress in the JTG District and to engage with the contractors responsible for the area. The successful visit was concluded with a community meeting, where we engaged 200 housing beneficiaries at the Heuningvlei Community Hall,” he said.
Vass further said as the Northern Cape Provincial Government (NCPG, they intend to expedite the One Billion Rand Housing Project and ensure that the beneficiaries receive their quality houses sooner. He added that, to this end, they receive a weekly progress report, and the Human Settlements team is working closely with the contractors to ensure adherence to the project timelines.
“A follow-up meeting between COGHSTA, the Traditional Council, and the District and Local Municipality, will take place to address some of the challenges highlighted by members of the community, including beneficiary administration and job opportunities and sub-contracting issues.
“Following the briefing, we handed over two houses to Albert Mothobi and Selita Nkgari’s family in Churchhill. These two families were assisted after news reports on the dire state of their mud houses,” said Vass.
11 Mopitlwe 2025- Modulasetilo wa setlhopha sa Indomitable Lions FC sa kwa motsesetoropong wa Pudimoe, gaufi le Taung, Archibald Aotlotlwe Seothaeng (50), o fitlhilwe kwa dirapeng tsa baswi kwa motseng wa Dryharts, mono Taung ka Lamatlhatso. Seothaeng o neetswe phitlho ya manobonobo, o kailwe jaaka motho o neng a le boikobo, bonolo, ebile a rata thuto.
Batla phitlhong ba ne ba tlile ka bontsi jo bo thibang letsatsi go tla go felegetse Seothaeng.
Mokatisi wa setlhopa sa Indomitable Lions FC, Olebogeng Kalabatane are ba simolotse go dira le Seothaeng ka 2021, fa ba ne ba aga setlhopa sa seo. Kalabatane are Seothaeng, one a le botlhale, mme ba fitlheletse dilo di le dintsi thata motlase ga tsamaiso ya gagwe.
“Bontsi jwa nako, re kopane le mathata mme Seothaeng one a dumela mo go baleng. One a itse melao ya kgwele ya dinao. One o tla bona seo fa go na le dikgogakgogano. Gape, Seothaeng one a dumela mo go tsweleleng pele.
“Seothaeng o thusitse setlhopa ka keteledi-pele ya gagwe e manontlhotlho. Se se utlwisang botlhoko ke gore, ga nke re itse nako ya loso ke leng. Gona le dilo di le dintsi tse oneng a batlile go di direla setlhopa mo ngwageng o,” Kalabatane wa tlhalosa.
Mokhuduthamaga kwa LGSETA, Inneeleng Molete, o tlhalositse Seothaeng jaaka motho oneng a rata tiro ya gagwe. Molete are LGSETA tiro ya bona ke go rotloetsa basha le go bula ditshono tsa ditiro le dithuto.
“Kgang ya rona ke go bula ditshono, mme re dira gore go nne le kgolagano magareng ga dimasepala tsotlhe go ralala naga. Re thusa bana ba dikobo dikhutsane gore ba bone madi a go tsweletsa dithuto tsa bone kwa di unibesiti tse di farologaneng.
“Karolo eo, e tshamikilwe ke Seothaeng mo porofenseng ya Bokone Bophirima. Boeteledipele jwa gagwe ene ele jo bo namatshang,” Molete wa tlhalosa.
Modiri-mmogo wa maloba wa ga Seothaeng kwa Lefapheng La Badiri, Paul Motshweneng are Seothaeng o dirile jaaka Employment Officer kwa lefapheng la bone, mme one a le bonolo. Motshweneng are Seothaeng o iponetse dikgele di le mmalwa jaaka modiri o gaisitseng wa ngwaga.
Kgabagare, morwadia Seothaeng, Kganya, o tlhalositse rragwe jaaka motho oneng a dula a ba rotloetsa thata gore ba tseye dithuto tsa bone tsia. Kganya are bat la dula ba mogopola ka dinako tsotlhe.
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