Daily Archives: August 21, 2025

SAPS to investigates a case of alleged abuse of a destitute man

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Picture: The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng

By BAKANG MOKOTO

21 August 2025- The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng said he has instructed the Mahikeng Police Station Commander to contact both the SABC News and the North West Department of Social Development, to get information on the alleged robbery committed against the elderly man (77). Asaneng said he did this immediately upon seeing a video footage on the SABC News about a destitute man living in squalor in a village, outside Mahikeng.

He further said the South African Police Service (SAPS), which has a constitutional and legal duty to prevent, combat and investigate crimes, views this information in a very serious light and would want to immediately investigate the alleged abuse, harassment and attack of a vulnerable and defenceless old man so that those involved are identified and arrested. 

Asaneng added that the police are therefore, calling upon anyone who has information that could lead to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of the culprits, to call the SAPS Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or share information via MySAPS App.

“By remaining silent while knowing or being aware of this crime will only encourage those criminals to continue with their abhorrent deeds. Let us rise and work together to rid our communities of crime and criminals,” he said.

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Corruption and fraud case postponed

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

21 August 2025- The Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court postponed the case against Mervyn Casterns and seven others to 29 October 2025, for further investigations. Three of the accused, Daniel Nathan, Martha Rapetsoa and Kuben Moodley, have indicated their intention to file applications for their bail conditions to be relaxed.

The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henr Mamothame said bail proceedings will be heard on 9 September 2025. Mamothame said Zarina Prasadh (formerly Kellerman) was arrested on Monday and had appeared before the same court.

“The state opposed bail. After a formal bail hearing bail was set in the amount of R50 000 subject to strict conditions. Prasadh was expected to appear with the rest of the accused today. However, her attorney informed the court that she was admitted to hospital.

“A warrant for her arrest was issued, but the execution thereof stayed until 4 September 2025, when she is expected to appear before court,” he said.

Mamothame further said Mervyn Casterns, the CEO of the Alexkor RMC Pooling and Sharing Joint Venture (“PSJV”) together with Daniel Nathan, his company Alexander Bay Diamond Company (Pty) Ltd – formerly known as Scarlet Sky Investments (Pty) Ltd (“SSI”), Kubentheran Moodley, Martha Rapetsoa, Roslyn Crossingham, Raygen Phillips and Zarina Prasadh, are facing numerous charges of fraud and offences in terms of the Diamonds Act.

He added that the charges emanate from two diamond marketing tenders that were awarded to SSI in 2015 and again in 2016, which gave SSI exclusive right to market and sell all diamonds produced by the PSJV, a joint venture formed between Alexkor SOC and the Richtersveld Community.

“SSI allegedly acquired all unpolished diamonds produced by the PSJV and sold it on behalf of the PSJV. It is alleged that several individuals and affiliated entities did, through the marketing tenders, acquire unpolished diamonds from sales conducted by SSI for the PSJV over a period of more than five years. 

“The Alexkor investigation conducted by the IDAC, emanates from findings of the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector Including organs of State,” said Mamothame.

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A man sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for raping a minor

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By REGINALD KANYANE

21 August 2025- A man (33) was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the Pofadder Regional Court for rape. The accused was convicted and sentenced for serious sexual offences and related crimes committed against a minor victim (14).

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Captain Ivan Magerman said the offences occurred on 1 July 2023, when the accused abducted, assaulted, robbed, and repeatedly sexually assaulted the victim over a two-day period. Magerman said he was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for assault.

“The accused was sentenced to three years imprisonment for robbery, two years for kidnapping, 25 years imprisonment for rape on count 1 (5 years suspended) and another 25 years imprisonment for rape on count 2 (5 years suspended).

“The sentences will run concurrently. In addition, the name of the accused has been placed on the National Sex Offenders Register and he was declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act (Act 60 of 2000),” he said.

Magerman further said the case was successfully prosecuted by advocate Basil Kock, with Detective Sergeant Rowen Nortje, leading the investigation. He added that their combined efforts ensured that justice was served.

Meanwhile, the Namakwa District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, commended the swift police response, the thorough investigation and the victim’s bravery in coming forward. Andrews said he reaffirmed the commitment of the police to protect the most vulnerable, particularly children and ensuring that perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) face the full might of the law.

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More than 70 learners receive uniform

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Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

21 August 2025- More than 70 learners at Dingateng primary school near Setlagole village received school uniforms from the authorities to advance their studies. On Wednesday, the North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie took her outreach programme to Dingateng in collaboration with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to distribute school uniforms to learners facing undue hardship and whose parents cannot afford school uniforms and other important amenities.

Dantjie further said the learners both males and females received two sets of shoes, socks, trousers, vests, sport shirts, school bags, tunics and tracksuits to the value of more than R4000 per learner. She added that the government has developed programmes to provide for the needs of learners and adults alike in its intervention in the plight of learners.

“We call on officials to protect the children’s right to education and ensure that they have birth certificates and identity documents. Of the 235 registered learners, 25 of them do not have birth certificates or identity documents.

“About 208 learners receive social grants. In the next seven days, our social workers will profile needy learners and their families in this area. Based on their home circumstances report, we will intervene with our social relief of distress and Re thuse re go thuse programmes, which includes provision of food parcels, school uniform, sanitary towels and other amenities to our communities,” said Dantjie.

She vowed to bring her Re thuse re go thuse flagship to needy communities so that they access government services at their doorsteps.

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Molelo o runtse gaufi le seteishene-potlana sa Eskom

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Ka OBAKENG MAJE

21 Phatwe 2025- Setlamo se se tlamelang baagi ka motlakase sa Eskom, se kaile fa se tla bolotsa dipatlisiso mabapi le molelo o runtseng gaufi le seteishene-potlana sa motlakase kwa Taung. Eskom e kaile fa molelo o, o runtse kwa lefelong le go latlhelwang matlakala kwa go lone, gaufi le seteishene-potlana sa Eskom.

Motsamaisi wa Eskom mono Bokone Bophirima, Ezekiel Baruti are go pegwa fa molelo o, o tlhodilwe ke mongwe wa baagi. Baruti are se se monate ke gore molelo o, o ile wa thibiwa ke khuti e neng ele gaufi.

“Ga gona di tshenyegelo dipe kwa seteishene-potlana sa rona. Setlhopha sa rona sa tsibogo ya ka bonako (Emergency Response Team), ga mmogo le lefapha la go tima-molelo (Fire Emergency Department), le ile la tsiboga ka bonako.

“Re tla netefatsa fa motlakase o ile wa busediwa tirisong kwa Taung. Dipatlisiso tse di tseneletseng di tla tswelediwa go ka netefatsa se se tlhodileng molelo o ka botlalo,” Baruti wa tlhalosa.

Baruti are ba tlile go tlhatlhoba dithapo (cables) tsa motlakase, mme ba tla bega ka seemo sa mafaratlhatlha a tsone kwa tlase ga lefatshe. Baruti are ba lebogela tsibogo ya ka bonako ya setlhopha sa bone, mme tshedimosetso enngwe e tla neelwa baagi mo nakong e e sa fediseng pelo.

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Setshwantsho: Molelo o runtse gaufi le seteishene-potlana sa Eskom