Daily Archives: May 13, 2025

A principal and teacher fired for having sexual relations with learners

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Picture: Golfview Secondary School in Mahikeng

By BAKANG MOKOTO

13 May 2025- The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West on Tuesday welcomed the recent dismissal of a Golf View Secondary educator and Letsatsing Secondary School principal found guilty by the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) of improper relationship and sexual assault on learners. The civil society led organisation promoting the Positive Charter of Values and Ubuntu said that abuse of the most vulnerable in the school system constitutes a national crisis that cannot no longer be tolerated.

The Convenor of the MRM Provincial Interim Committee, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele, commended learners who blew the whistle on the two perpetrators describing their actions as heroic. Kgwele said shocking exhibits of a video of a Golf View Secondary teacher, Modise Mokomele allegedly having sex with a pupil, a photo of her private parts and one of her lying on his chest, while they were in bed together reportedly shared with a teacher by one of the learner’s friends, were shown during the ELRC arbitration hearing held last week Tuesday.

“The ELRC also dismissed Paseka Molefe, the principal of Letsatsing Secondary School in Mmabatho, after finding him guilty of grabbing her waist and apparently saying it was pleasurable to grab.

“The said educators had betrayed the trust bestowed upon them to act in loco-parentis and the best interest of learners. Their unprofessional conduct was a violation of the South African Council of Educators’ code of professional ethics as well as Educators Code of Conduct and thus brought the teaching profession into disrepute,” he said.

Kgwele applauded Golf View Secondary and Letsatsing School Management, as well School Governing Bodies (SGBs), including the North West Education Department for taking necessary steps to hold the alleged perpetrators accountable. He further said the inclusion of their names on the Sexual Offenders Register will guarantee that they are no-where near learning institutions.

“We commend the North West University (NWU) students for their outreach programme on sexual harassment, which encouraged the Letsatsing learner to speak out on her ordeal at the hands of Molefe.

“This underscores the importance of meaningful dialogues and partnership with higher education institutions and other stakeholders necessary to promote sound family and community values during the year MRM has dedicated as the Year of the Family to address among others strengthening the  of families to care for children,” said Kgwele.

He added that intensifying such initiatives will assist reduce teenage pregnancies and the prevalent sugar daddy syndrome that is robbing school girls of their innocence and childhood. Kgwele said the ruling should serve as a deterrent and encourage other learners with similar experiences to speak out because it does not matter how far back incidents of sexual harassment and or rape took place, the SAPS Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit will investigate reported cases in order to bring justice to victims.

Meanwhile, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane said: “The department acknowledges the findings of ELRC regarding Molefe and Mokomele, who have found to have committed a serious sexual misconduct involving learners. Both Molefe and Mokomele, have not yet indicated whether they intend to appeal the sanction through labour court or not.

“The department encourages learners to speak out and not to remain silent in cases of sexual victimisation within schools. Furthermore, the department emphasises the importance of teachers fostering a caring parental relationship with learners and maintaining appropriate boundaries to ensure a safer and respectful learning environment.”

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Monna o ‘bolailwe’ kwa Phaphosane

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Ka OBAKENG MAJE

13 Motsheganong 2025- Monna wa dingwaga di le 38, o tlhokafetse kwa motseng wa Phaphosane, gaufi le Ganyesa ka Lamatlhatso. Go ya ka magatwe a sa totobalang, go begwa fa monna o, a ne a tlhaselwa ke baagi morago ga go mo latofatsa ka bogodu.

Go begwa fa monna o, a ile a thuntsiwa le go fisetswa mo ntlung.

Kgabagare, sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone are: “Sepodisi se butse kgetsi ya morago ga loso morago ga gore monna a fitlhelwe a tlhokafetse mo ntlung. Dipatlisiso di tsweletse.”

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Recall of various vehicles with defect in SA   

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Picture: More vehicles being recalled in RSA/Generic

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

13 May 2025- The National Consumer Commission (NCC) said Stellantis South Africa (Pty) Ltd has informed it that they are recalling the Jeep-Wrangler and Jeep-Wrangler Chrysler 300c models due to a defect in the Takata airbag. NCC said, according to the supplier, the passenger airbag inflator may rupture, due to excessive internal pressure, during normal airbag deployment events. The NCC spokesperson, Phetho Ntaba said in the event of an inflator rupture, metal fragments could strike the vehicle occupants, which may result in serious injury or death. Ntaba said these vehicles were made available for sale from 2014 to 2016. Consumers are required to visit the nearest authorised dealership for a repair or replacement of the airbag.

“Stellantis South Africa (Pty) Ltd is recalling the Citroen C4, DS4 and DS5 models distributed from 2009 to 2016. These vehicles are being recalled due to a driver’s and passenger’s airbag inflator that may rupture during the airbag deployment phase.

“The potentially high energetic deployment of the inflator may lead to metal fragments detaching from the bursting inflator, and these parts could fly in the direction of the driver or occupants in the vehicle, capable of causing serious injury or possibly death in a worst-case scenario,” she said.

Ntaba further said Mercedes-Benz AG South Africa has notified the NCC that certain CLA (118 platforms) vehicles, “the length of the brake hoses on the rear axle might not have met the specifications”. She added that the brake hoses of the rear axle might come into contact with surrounding components, chafe over time, and subsequently cause brake fluid to leak.

“This, according to the supplier, will lead to a reduced braking performance in one of the two brake circuits, increasing the risk of an accident caused by the brake fluid loss. Same with the S-Class (model series 223). Mercedes-Benz AG South Africa is recalling these vehicles due to brake hoses on the front axle.

“The brake hoses may gradually start to leak in hot and moist areas after an extended operating period. As a result, the brake fluid could leak out, impairing brake power in one of the two brake circuits, increasing the risk of an accident. The recalled vehicles were produced between 2020 and 2023,” said Ntaba.

She said also Audi South Africa informed the NCC that they were recalling the Audi -Tron GT vehicles. Ntaba said the recall is as a result of a high high-voltage battery.

“This is caused by some individual cell modules of the high-voltage battery that may display technical irregularities. The high-voltage battery may overheat, resulting in an acute fire hazard, with the associated risk of severe fatal injuries to people inside and or outside the vehicle, as well as significant property damage,” according to the supplier.

“A total of 46 affected vehicles were made available nationally. Consumers with affected vehicles should submit their vehicles to any Audi SA-approved Dealer for checking and, if necessary, module replacement. The affected vehicles were produced on 27 October 2021 onwards,” said Ntaba.

Meanwhile, the Volkswagen of South Africa Limited notified the NCC that they were recalling the VW Polo Sedan.  According to the supplier, the latch plates for the rear seat belt were produced with insufficient hardness.

Ntaba said, therefore, in the event of powerful deceleration (accident or hard braking), “there may be a reduced retention or protective effect and related increased risk of injury.” She said 905 affected vehicles were made available for sale nationally from 2 April 2025 onwards.

“Affected consumers are urged to contact an approved Volkswagen dealer for a check and, if necessary, replacement of the affected components. Volvo Car South Africa is recalling 27 Volvo (XC90 models years 2020-2022). The recall is as a result of a potential issue with the high-voltage battery. According to the supplier, the issue may lead to overheating of the battery cells when the battery is fully charged, and in a worst-case scenario, the overheating in the high-voltage battery may lead to a thermal event.

“Consumers with affected vehicles are requested to book their vehicles into the nearest approved agents or dealerships for a check and the replacement of defective components where necessary,” said Ntaba.

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Committee to conduct urgent oversight visit to Alexkor SOC LTD

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By REGINALD KANYANE

13 May 2025 – After a briefing from the Equitable Access Campaign (EAC) on its petition to the Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Thoko Didiza, relating to allegations of general accountability failure, maladministration and corruption at Alexkor SOC Ltd, the Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Petroleum Resources has resolved to conduct an urgent oversight visit to Alexkor. The committee said EAC is composed of small-scale marine diamond miners, who were contracted to Alexkor.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Mikateko Mahlaule said the campaign petitioned Didiza, to request Parliament’s intervention in addressing the alleged wrongdoings at Alexkor. Mahlaule said Didza then referred the petition to the committee for further processing.

“We thanked the EAC for bringing Parliament’s attention to all matters of wrongdoing at the company and reiterated the committee’s commitment to getting to the bottom of the allegations. The emergency oversight will form part of the fact-finding mission to deepen our understanding on the complexities around Alexkor’s operation, governance, as well as the alleged maladministration, unfair business practices and corruption.

“An oversight visit to Alexkor has always been on the committee’s programme and given the EAC’s petition, the committee believes that exceptional reasons exist to treat the matter with urgency. Alexkor is a state-owned company established in terms of the Alexkor Limited Act of 1992 as a listed schedule 2 public entity wholly owned by the government, with the Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources as the shareholder representative,” he said.

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Committee wants SACP leader, Chris Hani’s killer re-arrested  

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Picture: SACP leader, the late Chris Hani

By OBAKENG MAJE

13 May 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services today received a briefing on the process leading to the cancellation or revocation of parole for inmates serving life sentences, highlighting concerns about granting parole to those who show no remorse for their crimes. The acting Committee Chairperson, Janho Engelbrecht said committee members were referring to one inmate in particular, Janusz Walus, who was serving a life sentence for the murder of South African Communist Party leader Mr Chris Hani.

Engelbrecht said members took exception to the fact that after Walus’s release, he said in an interview that if given the opportunity, he would repeat his actions.

Walus was deported to Poland after serving his sentence.

“Members further enquired if it was possible to request that Walus be returned to South Africa, as they wanted him re-arrested for his utterances. Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald told the committee that Walus’s sentence falls within the terms of the Van Vuren Constitutional Court judgement, which referred to those sentenced to life before 1 March 1994.

“The judgement confirmed that a life sentence meant serving at least 10 years of a sentence or 15 years in the case of serious circumstances. Thereafter these inmates are placed on parole for a period of three years. Over 360 lifers benefited from the Van Vuren judgement, including Walus,” he said.

Engelbrecht further said the committee heard that Walus benefited from the Van Vuren finding, as he killed Hani in 1993. He added that Walus served his sentence and three-year parole period before he was deported.

“Regarding the cancellation of parole for Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger, who brutally raped Alison Botha in 1997, the Minister explained that it is first for the Parole Board to assess an application and make a recommendation to the National Council for Correctional Services (NCCS). The NCCS will then assess the recommendation on the basis of all the files and make its own decision, which is sent to the Minister. Before making his determination in this matter, the Minister considered a risk analysis, among other things.

“He said the department received notice of litigation from Botha’s legal representatives indicating that, among other things, there had been no victim consultation in the parole process. The Minister indicated that the department received legal advice on the matter. He also considered the utterance of the Judge in the case, who said neither of the two should ever be allowed out on bail due to the brutality of the crime,” said Engelbrecht.

He said the committee noted the Minister’s conviction on the matter and his stance that he is prepared to fight his decision to cancel the parole in court. Engelbrecht said they appreciate the fact that he took all matters into consideration when he made his determination.

“The committee also received a briefing on the process of overhauling South Africa’s parole system. The committee expressed serious concern about the number of vacancies on Correctional Supervision and Parole Boards. The committee heard that the Department of Correctional Services has had to defend a number of disputes in various courts owing to conflicts in the contracts of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Correctional Service Parole Board.

“In an effort to put an end to this problem, a number of engagements were held with affected parties, including obtaining a legal opinion on how the matter could be resolved. The legal opinion obtained culminated in the drafting of a revised contract,” he said.

Engelbrecht said the committee will monitor these matters very closely, as it is important to fully capacitate them.

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