Daily Archives: April 14, 2025

NTI appoints new Business Rescue Practitioner

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Picture: NTI transport

By BAKANG MOKOTO

14 April 2025- The North West Transport Investment (NTI) has appointed the new Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP). The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, has in November 2024, guided that an application be made to the Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria to remove the then BRP, Thomas Hendrick Samons.

Morweng said after experiencing financial challenges, the NTI had in July 2022, applied for a voluntary business rescue process in July 2022. He further said Samons was then appointed as the Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP).

“His primary responsibility was to turn the entity around to make it more sustainable and generate income to pay creditors primarily of who are the employees. To do this, the BRP was supposed to have developed a plan within 25 days of his appointment as stipulated by the Companies Act.

“The BRP has since failed to do all that including accounting for the money the Government has paid to the entity. Following the department’s successful application to remove him at Gauteng High Court, the BRP then applied for a leave to appeal the Gauteng High Court ruling,” said Morweng.

He said the department then lodged a Section 18 of the Superior Court Act application seeking an implementation of the initial order for his removal. Morweng said the purpose of this Section 18 is to ensure that the court ruling is enforced in spite of the BRP application for a leave to appeal.

“The judgement, which was handed down electronically on 27 March 2025, enforced the initial ruling that removed the BRP from NTI. It is following this judgement that the NTI has now appointed Mahomed Mahier Tayob as the new BRP. This, as the entity still needs to be rescued and be turned around to be profitable.

“Tayob is a senior business rescue practitioner with impressive qualifications obtained in South Africa and the UK. Among other entities Tayob has rescued include a state bus company in Gauteng and has also investigated a R2.6 billion investment scheme on behalf of the Hawks,” he said.

Morweng said Tayob will work closely with Dr Ntlhopeng Dikobe, who has been seconded by the department as the NTI acting CEO. He said Tayob is expected to present a turnaround plan and report regularly to the shareholder representative and ensure the NTI is restored to profitability. 

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A man arrested for allegedly assaulting a learner  

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

14 April 2025- A man (37), who is facing charges of reckless driving and common assault for allegedly assaulting a high school learner (18), briefly appeared at the Nigel Magistrate’s Court. It is alleged that on 10 April 2025, the victim was a passenger in a school transport on their way back from school, while there was traffic on the road. 

It is alleged that the accused, Xolane Qhubeke was driving on the wrong side of the road, thus blocking the scholar transport. 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said an altercation between the accused and the driver of the scholar transport allegedly ensued, while the two were standing outside next to the scholar transport vehicle. Mahanjana said, while standing outside, it is alleged that the accused put his upper body inside the scholar transport and disengaged the hand brake of the vehicle.

“The complainant, who was sitting at the back of the car, then pulled the hand brake back up. At that point, it is alleged that the accused began to assault the learner by hitting her with an open hand multiple times.

“The learner reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested on 12 April 2025, and released the same day on police bail. In court, the matter was postponed to 22 April 2025 for legal representation,” she said.

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A man sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his girlfriend  

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By REGINALD KANYANE

14 April 2025- A man (42) was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Atamelang Regional Court for murder. This comes after Itumeleng Gabonewe (42) killed his girlfriend, Manana Rosina Ditsebe (29).

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in the North West, Sivenathi Gunya said the atrocity took place at Khunwana village, near Kraaipan on 28 April 2024. Gunya said Gabonewe and Ditsebe were in a romantic relationship and they have a child together.

“Ditsebe came from a nearby tavern in the company of her boyfriend. Upon arrival at the accused person’s residence, they had an altercation. They were heard by the accused’s cousin, who was in the same house.

“The cousin heard a banging sound of a person being hit against the wall and shortly after the sound stopped, she heard the door of the bedroom being opened and heard footsteps of a person leaving the house. The cousin told the court that she was afraid of the accused, hence she did not intervene,” he said.

Gunya further said she then went to the bedroom to go and observe what happened. He added that she found the deceased badly injured with visible injuries to her face and body.

“The accused’s cousin then tried to awaken the deceased to no response. She then went outside the house and called on their neighbours for assistance. Upon the neighbour’s arrival, the neighbour informed her that Ditsebe had passed on and the police were then called.

“Subsequently, the deceased was declared dead by the EMRS personnel, who were called to the scene by the police. The suspect, Itumeleng Gabonewe, was then traced and arrested by the police,” said Gunya.

He said in court, the accused pleaded guilty to the charge of murder. Gunya said during sentencing, the state prosecutor, advocate Edward Manicus, in his argument, argued for life imprisonment to be imposed as there were insufficient grounds adduced by the defence for the court to deviate from the applicable and prescribed minimum sentence.

“The Presiding Officer, Magistrate Stephan Du Toit, agreed with the state and subsequently sentenced the accused to life imprisonment and declared him unfit to possess a firearm,” he said.

Meanwhile, welcoming the sentence, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, commended the investigative and prosecution teams for their dedication. Makhari reaffirmed the unwavering commitment by the NPA in fighting gender-based violence.

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A man sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for rape

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By OBAKENG MAJE

14 April 2025- A man was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Galeshewe Sexual Offences Court for rape. On the night of 18 December 2022, a woman (20), was socializing with her boyfriend, friends and the accused, Tshwaro Sebogodi in Galeshewe Township, near Kimberley.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Northern Cape, Mojalefa Senokoatsane said later, together with her boyfriend, retired to bed because she was not feeling well. Senokoatsane said during the night, she awoke to the horrifying reality of being sexually violated by Sebogodi, a person she did not personally know.

“Despite her efforts to resist, she was overpowered and she passed out. When she woke up in the morning, she found herself naked, alongside the accused that was also undressed. She asked her boyfriend what is the accused doing naked in the same bed and the boyfriend also did not have answers.

“The forensic analysis confirmed the presence of the accused’s semen on the victim’s underwear, which was submitted for DNA testing. Sebogodi pleaded not guilty and maintained a bare denial throughout the trial,” he said.

Senokoatsane further said, however, after hearing the evidence, the court found the victim to be a credible and reliable witness. The accused, on the other hand, was found to have been evasive under cross-examination and failed to account truthfully for his actions. He added that, in sentencing, the court took into account the grave psychological and emotional trauma endured by the victim, as outlined in a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) compiled by the Court Preparation Officer, Thandi Diphae.

“The victim expressed her ongoing fear, her withdrawal from social life, and the profound impact the incident has had on her mental health. She continues to receive counselling for the severe distress caused by this ordeal.

“The state prosecutor, advocate Shareen Links, emphasised that women should not be reduced to mere objects and condemned the persistent violence faced by women in South Africa. The accused should be sentenced to lengthy prison terms, as he did not even show remorse for his crimes. Links further argued how rape is prevalent in this jurisdiction, but also in the country,” said Senokoatsane.

He said Links said women are not even free anymore in households, let alone on the streets. Senokoatsane said women live in fear daily, fearful that this barbaric, monstrous act might also happen to them.

“The news is full of rape cases daily. The court highlighted the ongoing prevalence of rape cases and reinforced the judiciary’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of women. The court held that a woman should not be treated as an entity/sex toy.

“The court ordered that Sebogodi’s name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unfit to possess a firearm. The NPA remains steadfast in its mission to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and will continue to advocate for the protection and empowerment of victims,” he said.

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