Author Archives: The Guardian

‘Be vigilant and alert as we approach festive season’

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By REGINALD KANYANE

7 November 2024- The Northern Cape police appeal to the public at large to be vigilant and alert to ensure personal safety as they approach the festive season. The police said parents and guardians are prompted to know the whereabouts of their children at all times.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said it is important to know that there is no waiting period to report a person missing. Shemane said the people should remember that, when a person goes missing, it is of the utmost importance for the police to fulfil the mandate to serve and protect the citizens of South Africa.

“It is essential to take steps and start the investigation into a missing person’s case immediately. The public can assist the police when reporting a missing person by providing a recent photograph of the missing person, if possible.

“Give a complete description of the missing person’s last whereabouts, clothes that they were wearing, as well as any information that can assist the investigating officer. To complete and sign a SAPS 55(A) form,” he said.

Shemane further said this form safeguards the police from hoax reports and indemnifies them to distribute the photograph and information of the missing person. He added that to obtain the investigating officer’s contact details and send any additional information that might become available.

“If a missing person is found or returns voluntarily, inform the investigating officer immediately. A SAPS 92 form must be completed to inform the Bureau of Missing Person’s that the missing person’s report can be removed from the circulation system.

“Report a missing person at the nearest police station immediately. Let us be vigilant and work collectively to keep families together and safe during the festive season period and beyond,” said Shemane.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron said he is extremely concerned by growing reports of members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) turning people away when they try to open a missing person report, on the basis of a non-existent 24-hour rule.

Cameron said the committee has in recent weeks been inundated with reports that SAPS members continue to refuse to open a missing person report before 24 hours has elapsed from the start of the disappearance.   

“We must reiterate that there is no 24 or 48-hours rule that precludes members of the public from opening a missing person report. A missing person report must be opened and investigated immediately.

“The refusal to open a missing person report is irresponsible and runs counter to the directive issued by the National Commissioner of the SAPS. This is serious dereliction of duty and amounts to undermining of the SAPS code of conduct,” said Cameron.

He also highlighted that the prevention of filing such reports is concerning in the context of the increased prevalence of kidnappings in South Africa. Camron has emphasised that the reporting and investigation of missing person reports might be the difference between life and death.

“It is important for station-level leadership to enhance training of members to ensure that they are able to provide adequate service to the people. The people require quality service and this must be provided.

“It is also important for members of the public to have greater awareness of their rights. So, we encourage station-level leadership to have an open-door policy to enable people to escalate matters to them in instances where officers insist on not opening a missing person report,” said Cameron.

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Nine people arrested for murder, attempted murder, arson, kidnapping and malicious damage to property are back in court

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By OBAKENG MAJE

7 November 2024- The bail application in a murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, malicious damage to property and arson case against nine accused, who were arrested in Modutung village, near Taung, will resume today. This comes after a court recording device malfunctioned on Monday and the magistrate decided to postpone the matter.

Letlhogolo Mothobi (38) and Itumeleng Boikanyo (45), are facing charges of kidnapping, attempted murder and malicious damage to property. Othusitse Oshubile (31), Paul Kwati (43) and Ogopoleng Semau (33), were charged with attempted murder, murder and arson.

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said Thomas Morakanele (29), Tshepo Sekgetho (31) and Lesego Mongale (34), appeared on a charge of arson. Mokgwabone said the police also arrested the 9th suspect, Lebogang Morakabe (44).

“Morakabe is facing charges of kidnapping, attempted murder and malicious damage to property together with Mothobi and Boikanyo. A multi-disciplinary team assembled to investigate criminal activities that engulfed Modutung village in Taung on 20 October 2024.

“The accused persons were arrested for allegedly committing the crimes after a missing girl, Rethabile Molapo’s burnt body was found and retrieved from an unused pit latrine. Following the discovery and the funeral of Molapo, some community members took the law into their own hands,” he said.

Mokgwabone further said among others, they allegedly kidnapped and severely assaulted the traditional healer’ son, Kopano Legodu, set alight the traditional healer, Omphile Mothusiemang-Legodu’s house and ultimately killed her after she managed to get out of the house. He added that goods were looted from a tavern and a tuckshop, which were then set ablaze.

“The investigations into the matter are underway and the possibility of more arrests cannot be ruled out,” said Mokgwabone.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the success and commended the police involved in the investigation, tracing and subsequent arrests of the suspects.

Kwena urged community members to remain calm and work with the police to ensure that all those who perpetrated acts of mob justice and the killing of a young girl are brought to book to face the full might of the law.  

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Picture: A house of a traditional healer torched  

A trial on a murder case against rapist and co-accused resumes in court

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Picture: Three of accused in a murder case

By OBAKENG MAJE

7 November 2024- A trial on a murder case against a rapist and alleged murderer, Bakang Katong (32) and his co-accused, Thabang Lenyai (23) and Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34), will today resume at Taung Regional Court. The case was postponed due to a malfunctioning court recording machine.  

The accused persons were arrested two years ago for allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35), in cold blood.

This comes after they accused Mothibedi of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in Manthe village, near Taung.

The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, the deceased was at Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried him back to Manthe village.

“Upon arrival, the deceased was allegedly chained to a generator and assaulted. After the assault, the victim was reportedly transported to a local clinic by the accused, however, he was declared dead upon arrival.

“The accused were arrested and charged with murder,” he said.

On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.

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MRM calls for in-depth probe into Rauwane Sepeng Second School fire disaster    

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Picture: The Rauwane Sepeng Secondary School gutted by fire/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

7 November 2024- The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West calls for an in-depth probe into the fire that gutted six Grade 12 classrooms at Rauwane Sepeng Secondary School in Tlhabane Township, near Rustenburg. MRM described it as a crisis that points to the need for safety, fire prevention protocols and equipment at schools to be reviewed.

MRM provincial convenor, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele said the movement promoting the Charter of Positive Values and Ubuntu expressed relief that, there were no casualties to learners and educators or fatalities in the Monday incident that caused extensive damage that could run to over a R1 million. 

“We commend the swift response of the Rustenburg Local Municipality Fire and Emergency and urge law enforcement agencies not to leave any stone unturned.

“Recent trends of destruction of public infrastructure in our province cannot rule out treacherous acts of sabotage or nefarious acts whose motive might be aimed at creating chaos and instability,” he said.

Kgwele shared the North West MEC FOR Education, Viola Motsumi sentiments that the incident is a significant drawback given the huge inherited school infrastructure delivery backlog that the province has to deal with. He further expressed concern about the extent to which the destruction of the classes, Head of Department ‘s Office and toilets will impact on exams at the school and the time that it would take to renovate the gutted classrooms.   

“We appeal to our communities to jealously guard and protect their facilities as well as assist police in their investigations. We also urge local churches to assist with provision of temporary relief for the school to use their facilities for internal examinations.

“Sound community values that promote and harness collective responsibility within our communities as espoused by the Charter of Positive Values must be entrenched in order to promote responsible freedom, as well as the rule of law as well as zero-tolerance to crime and violence,” said Kgwele.

Meanwhile, The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said: “No injuries have been reported as all learners and staff were able to evacuate the premises safely. This tragic event, which has destroyed a vital section of our school infrastructure, is a significant setback.

“This unfortunate event destroying a block of classrooms, is incredibly distressing and represents a significant setback, particularly as Grade 12 candidates are currently undertaking their final exams.”

Motsumi added that this will undoubtedly affect the school’s operations and efforts. She said that they are also facing a significant backlog in school construction and maintenance projects, which will be addressed in the 2024–2025 financial year.

“We must prioritise the rebuilding of a safe and functional educational environment. The cause of the fire is still under investigation,” said Motsumi.

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Climatology conference highlights severity of climate change

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The SASAS conference delegates: Working together to take on climate change/Supplied

By REGINALD KANYANE

7 November 2024- The world is 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than it was in preindustrial times. A threshold has been breached and the times they are a-changin’.

When the South African Society for Atmospheric Sciences (SASAS) president, Prof Francois Engelbrecht opened the 38th Annual Conference of the South African Society for Atmospheric Sciences at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North West University (NWU), he did so in a sombre tone, even with a sense of disbelief.

Engelbrecht said because history has been made for the wrong reasons. He further said it is the first time that SASAS conference has taken place when the world’s average temperature has been 1,5 °C higher for more than a year, since official recordings began.

“When the Paris agreement was signed in 2016, the aim was to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1,5 °C. It has failed. The consequences have already been dire and if temperatures keep rising, the consequences will be catastrophic.

“Heat waves, wildfires, flooding cyclones, hurricanes and tornadoes have been some of the hallmarks of climate change that have devastated the globe in 2024. The effects cannot be reversed, but an escalation can be stopped,” said Engelbrecht.

He said from 29 to 30 October, SASAS members discussed the pertinent question of climate change at hosting venues across the NWU (Potchefstroom Campus). Engelbrecht called for an increased focus on climate change adaptation, including developing early warning systems capable of handling unprecedented future extreme weather events.

“The atmospheric sciences community to collaborate with colleagues in different fields and engage with stakeholders to ensure early warnings reach vulnerable communities. In this changing environment, SASAS allows, and encourages, delegates to share research, build networks, develop young scientists, and form lasting collaborations.

“During the conference, Prof Stuart Piketh from the NWU was awarded the SASAS Medal, the highest honour in South African atmospheric sciences, recognising significant contributions to the field. Prof Piketh’s work has advanced the understanding of atmospheric processes and their implications for local and regional pollution transport, environmental policy and community health initiatives,” he said.

Engelbrecht said other highlights included the keynote address by Prof Paola Formenti, whose work on atmospheric aerosols in southern Africa is crucial to improve climate models and their understanding of cloud process. He said a panel discussion led by the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), a national research facility that manages long-term environmental observation programmes, included discussions on collaborations, sharing of data and community involvement under the theme: “Science and Society”.

“SAEON plays a crucial role in atmospheric science by providing high-quality environmental data and infrastructure essential for research and monitoring. Their involvement emphasised the significance of collaborative efforts in advancing the understanding of atmospheric processes and environmental change.

“The 38th SASAS conference highlighted the critical role of atmospheric sciences in addressing climate change and environmental challenges. As global temperatures continue to rise, the insights and innovations from the SASAS community are vital. The collective efforts of the delegates demonstrate a commitment to advancing atmospheric sciences for societal benefit.”said Engelbrecht.

He said, however, the SASAS, together with partners such as the NWU, cannot fight the climate change battle alone. Engelbrecht for the first time in 130 years, there is no snow capping Japan’s Mount Fuji.

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ANC remember Rivonia Trialist, Govan Mbheki

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Picture: The Rivonia Trialist, Govan Mbeki

By BAKANG MOKOTO

6 November 2024- The African National Congress (ANC) commemorates the release of Isithwalandwe, the late Comrade Govan Mbeki, famously known as Oom Gov, a communist, a stalwart of the South African revolution, Umkhonto we Sizwe High Commander, and a Rivonia Trialist, who spent 24 years on Robben Island for treason and terrorism against the unjust apartheid state before his release on 5 November 1987.

The ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said yesterday, as they remember Oom Gov, they honour him as a revolutionary intellectual dedicated to the struggle for freedom and liberation for all South Africans. Bhengu-Motsiri said his hatred for poverty and racial oppression is clear in his seminal work, “The Peasants Revolt,” which analysed peasant struggles in the Transkei and exposed apartheid injustices, serving as a guide for freedom fighters.

“Oom Gov consistently placed the people’s needs and security above his own, working fulltime as a political reporter and editor for New Age, exposing colonial-apartheid evils in the movement’s newspaper until its ban in 1962 by John Vorster.

“We reflect on the commitment to education transformation and access to learning today through the historical lens of the Freedom Charter, which Oom Gov believed in and how it symbolises our advance towards a South Africa where “The Doors of Learning and Culture Shall Be Opened” for all,” she said.

Bhengu-Motsiri further said yet, on this day that must celebrate a giant of the struggle who gave his all for freedom and equality in South Africa, they witness the Democratic Alliance (DA), Freedom Front Plus, and Afri-Forum holding a so-called protest rally at the Voortrekker Monument. She added that this gathering signals their intent to further consolidate and revive the divisive system of our dark past under the pretence of opposing the progressive Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, which has been signed into law by President Ramaphosa.

“Their protest against the implementation of the BELA Act, which seeks to promote social cohesion and provide dual mediums of instruction, is emblematic of their commitment to preserving apartheid-era policy thinking.

“The Voortrekker Monument was completed in 1949 and inaugurated as apartheid’s symbol of Afrikaner supremacy just after the National Party adopted its system of apartheid, and this protest symbolically represents a painful era of exclusion, dispossession, and oppression,” said Bhengu-Motsiri.

She said their choice to protest there is not coincidental. Bhengu-Motsiri said it is a calculated move that aligns itself with the values of a South Africa they fought against and are consistent in dismantling and burying in their efforts for a true united non-racial South Africa that has no place for discrimination and exclusions of any form.

“As we reflect on this protest, we cannot deliberately ignore or imagine away the historical connection of the evil John Vorster, whose oppressive system of apartheid unjustly threw Oom Gov and other Rivonia Trialists into jail during his tenure as Minister of Justice.

“Vorster’s strong influence and direction in the apartheid regime’s language policies was significant, exemplified by his declaration of 1975 as Language Year when he was President. This immoral and heartless apartheid head diametrically opposed the progress of a black child and his government forcefully imposed Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in black schools, to deeply entrench historic inequality and cultural hegemony,” she said.

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A woman sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for attempted murder

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

6 November 2024- A woman (23) was sentenced to 6 years by Kakamas Magistrate’s Court for attempted murder. On 25 November 2023, the accused, Jo Ann Coetzee was fighting with her mother at their house in Noordkamp, Keimoes, when her brother was called to intervene.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said Coetzee threw a beer in her brother’s face, stabbed him in his back and chest. Kock said she was subsequently arrested and sentenced on 30 October 2024.

“She was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment, but suspended for 5 years. She was also declared unfit to possess a firearm,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Management lauded Detective Sergeant TZ Mohutsiwa of the Kakamas Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit for her thorough investigation that led to the conviction. The management said the police will continue to display a zero tolerance approach towards domestic violence and are committed to bringing perpetrators thereof to justice.

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North West Premier lauds police after arrests of over 1000 illegal miners

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Picture: The illegal miners arrested by police in Klerksdorp

By OBAKENG MAJE

6 November 2024- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi commended the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), in their unwavering commitment to root out illegal mining activities in the province and in particular, Klerksdorp. Mokgosi said to date, over 1000 illegal miners affectionately known as Zama-Zamas, have been arrested through Operation Vala Umgodi.

“This ongoing operation forms part of the Safer Festive strategy, which will run for 123 days until the end of January 2025.

“This is an all-inclusive crime fighting initiative, which is centred on tackling illicit mining, murder, attempted murder, rape, Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), drug offences, illegal dealing in liquor and burglaries, as well as traffic violations and illegal immigration among others,” he said.

Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said: “A number of illegal miners who resurfaced yesterday, rose from the initial 269 to 439. In total, the number of illegal miners who resurfaced between 18 October and 5 November 2004, rose to just above 1000.

“The suspects are still being processed accordingly. The 55 suspects arrested on 2 November 2024, appeared in court on 5 November 2024, however, charges against them were withdrawn.”

Mokgwabone further said they were nevertheless detained by Immigration Officials in terms of Section 34 of the Immigration Act, 2002, pending deportation order.

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Dagga worth R300 000 seized

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Picture: The dagga confiscated by the police/Supplied

By REGINALD KANYANE

6 November 2024- A man (41) was arrested for dealing in Upington on 3 November 2024. According to the Northern Cape police, the suspect was arrested during crime intelligence-driven actions.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the police received a tip-off that was operationalised by crime intelligence and Upington Border Police. Shemane further said a search was conducted at the identified premises, where dagga valued at approximately R303 450 was found and confiscated.

“Subsequently, a foreign national was arrested for dealing in drugs,” he added.

Meanwhile, the ZF Mgcawu acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Peet Coetzee, applauded the police for their swift response in removing the drugs and arresting the suspect. Coetzee also thanked the community members, who continuously provide the police with valuable information.

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Mokgosi welcomes the launch of MTbBE program

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By OBAKENG MAJE

6 November 2024- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi applauded the North West Department of Education on the successful launch of its ground-breaking Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education (MTbBE) program for Grade 4s. Mokgosi said the department launched the program, which is primarily aimed at offering Mathematics, Natural Science and Technology in mother tongue.

“We congratulate the department on the successful launch of its ground-breaking MTbBE, which is primarily aimed at offering Mathematics, Natural Science and Technology in mother tongue.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to applaud tavern owners and their continued support by reducing their business operating hours and other activities during these matric examinations. We extend our gratitude to traditional leaders, School Governing Bodies (SGBs), parents, Faith-Based Organisations and Youth organizations,” he said.

Mokgosi further said their preparations for the 2024 National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) examinations and the implementation thereof has so far not experienced any incident, both from a policy or operational perspective.

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said: “The launch marked a pivotal step in promoting cultural inclusivity and strengthening foundational learning through the use of mother tongue instruction which is Setswana starting with the Grade 4 learners.

“The event featured a keynote address highlighting the vision and goals of MTbBE, set to begin in January 2025 for Grade 4 learners, and panel discussions exploring the benefits and implementation strategies of this transformative approach. The MTbBE program is designed to empower North West learners by connecting their education to their linguistic heritage, fostering inclusivity, and building a bilingual foundation.”

Motsumi added that in alignment with South Africa’s National Language Policy Framework, MTbBE also draws inspiration from the African Union’s call to build resilient, inclusive education systems across the continent. She said she shared a keynote address, while panel discussions were lined up by linguistic experts.

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