A primary school teacher (47) in Leeudoring, near Wolmaranstad, was arrested for allegedly raping siblings aged 12 and 14. This comes after the principal and mother of the two learners registered cases at the Wolmarastad Police Station on Tuesday.
According to the North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani, the incident took place in Leeudoringstad, near Wolmaranstad. Funani said the suspect allegedly would ask the two minors to help him carry books or go and fetch something at his office, where he performed sexual acts.
“He was arrested at the school on 16 May 2024. The teacher was remanded in custody until 21 May 2024, for formal bail application,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, condemned the incident and said it is sad that the victims were allegedly abused by someone, who was supposed to protect them.
Pictures: Criminal allegedly hijacking a vehicle/Generic
By REGINALD KANYANE
The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Northern Cape said it has noted with concern that perpetrators allegedly threaten victims with realistic looking toy firearms. The police urge community members to adhere to precautions to ensure personal safety.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said individuals must always be vigilant and stay alert. She further said they should always stay with a group when possible.
Enhlers added that if there is a fight or argument, people should stay out of it and get help.
“When traveling by vehicle, lock all doors and close windows, especially at night. Tuck shops and small businesses must adhere to operating times and not remain open until late at night.
“Do not transport valuable items in your vehicle. Also, avoid unlit and secluded intersections, when traveling at night or early morning. Do not slow down or stop your vehicle when approached by strangers and always check, if you are not being followed,” she said.
Enhlers said people should check their streets when approaching their homes. She said they should also be aware when parking their vehicles.
“Keep alert when entering your vehicle and have your vehicle key ready. Try to remain calm at all times,” said Enhlers.
The Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa said on 29 May 2024, the country will hold elections for national and provincial government. He said many of them remember the historic Election Day in 1994, when they voted for the very first time for a democratic government of their choice.
“We all remember how we felt as we stood in long queues patiently waiting to cast our vote for a government of our choice. As we cast our votes, we were mindful of the weight of history.
“We were mindful of the fact that so many people had struggled and sacrificed for this right to vote and many had lost their lives in the cause of freedom. The right to vote has been the cornerstone of our democratic order and is enshrined in the Bill of Rights of our constitution,” he said.
Ramaphosa further as the people cast their ballot, firstly through special vote on 27 and 28 May 2024, and many of them on 29 May 2024, they will be demonstrating their faith in the democratic order. He added that, by placing their crosses on the ballot papers, they will be executing a responsibility that history has placed on their shoulders.
“Most importantly, you will be deciding for yourself the direction that our country should take and determining the path that we should follow to get there. By voting, you are taking responsibility for your future and the future of your community.
“Your vote is important and it counts. As the election campaigns have unfolded, we have shown that we are a diverse, tolerant, and free society where different views can be heard and are respected. Let us continue in this way and all work together to ensure that we have an election that is free, fair, and peaceful. I call upon you to go and vote,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Joint Operations and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) Co-Chair, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said: “We are confident that the measures that have been put in place are sufficient to ensure that the country’s upcoming general elections proceed without any incidents of crime and disruptions.
“Having conducted a national security assessment with key role players in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, we are satisfied with the operational plan that is currently being implemented, and can assure South Africans that a conducive environment for a peaceful election has been prepared.”
Mosikili said while measures have been put in place, the ultimate responsibility of a safe and secure election lies with each one of them. She said it is a partnership that is required to create harmony, respect for self and others even as we make our way to the polls and back home.
Picture: The slain nurse, Iris Mamotlakana Mohokare/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
A murder case against a man (24), who allegedly killed a nurse at Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke back in 2022, will resume today at the North West High Court sitting in Klerksdorp. Bongane Gregory Shebi is facing a charge of murder and robbery after he allegedly killed Iris Mamotlakana Mohokare in cold-blood at her rented home in Ipeleng Township, near Schweizer Reneke on 12 October 2022.
The then National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, Mohokare’s bloodied body was discovered by her landlord on 13 October 2022, with her throat cut open.
Mamothame further said the landlord subsequently informed the police, who immediately started investigating the cause of her death.
“The accused became a person of interest after police received information, while doing investigations, that he was spotted not far from where the incident took place, walking with bloodied clothes. A search for him ensued and he was ultimately arrested on 15 October 2022.
“Upon arrival at the police station, Shebi informed the police of his intention to confess. He was subsequently taken in for a confession to be obtained and later took the police to point out where he had thrown away the bloodied clothes he was wearing,” he said.
Mamothame added that the accused alleged he was in the company of another person, but the motive only became clear in the accused person’s confession, that he and another person intended to rob the deceased. He said Shebi alleged that he is not the one who stabbed the deceased, but it was the person whom he was with.
“The police have indicated that, evidence obtained at the scene, indicated that only one person was at the scene at the time of the commissioning of this offence. Investigations have been completed and the state is ready to proceed with trial.
“Meanwhile, Shebi will remain in police custody until the completion of his trial after his bail application was rejected. During the pre-trial conference, the state and the defence attorney confirmed that consultations were completed and all the necessary documents were provided by the state,” said Mamothame.
Picture: The acting National Assembly speaker, Lechesa Tsenoli/Google
By REGINALD KANYANE
In his last major public engagement in his constituency in the Free State Province before retiring from parliament after 25 years as a parliamentarian, the acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli, relaunched his newly relocated Parliamentary Constituency Office (PCO) in Botshabelo Township.
Tsenoli said the PCO has recently been relocated to a more publicly accessible address at the Reahola Shopping Centre in Botshabelo, to better address the service delivery needs of that community. He further said the PCOs are crucial resources that provide a platform for Members of Parliament (MPs) as public representatives to avail themselves to the public and provide feedback on the work of parliament.
The relaunch, which is part of parliament’s outreach programme to communities that need developmental interventions to improve the quality of their lives, was attended by, among others, community members, ward councillors, representatives from the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), and Community Development Workers.
Tsenoli said: “The relaunch of the PCO represents the opening of a new chapter to improve these offices and their value to communities. The relocation of the office was aimed at ensuring improved access and impacting the lives of the people in the area.
“We have come to a place situated right in the middle of where people are. This is a busy complex and, therefore, convenient for a PCO that often serves as an adviser, providing communities with a variety of information concerning challenges they encounter.”
He said PCOs, among others, are critical in strengthening the oversight role of Parliament over the Executive through interacting with citizens and ensuring ongoing engagement with the public on issues affecting them. Tsenoli said the office will be instrumental in building partnerships with communities in the law-making processes and will be fully resourced to work for the benefit of the communities.
“PCOs are also among the crucial mechanisms of parliament to ensure it realises its vision as an activist and responsive People’s Parliament that improves the quality of life of South Africans and ensures enduring equality in our society.
“The office will also be key in improving cooperation with local government representatives and ensuring local officials are responsive to the needs and questions raised by the community,” he said.
Tsenoli said they request that councillors and government departments respect officials from these offices when they come looking for information because they will be asking in the interest of the people.
Tsenoli said during the 6th parliamentary term, the Botshabelo PCO bagged several successes, including a donation of 100 wheelchairs to people living with disabilities in the area. He said another success was informative feedback to locals through circulating a monthly newsletter to report on progress on service delivery issues raised by community members who visited the office.
“Parliament has embarked on a programme of reimagining, remodelling, and repurposing PCOs as strategic points to build partnerships with communities. These PCOs enable Members of Parliament to engage people in unmediated dialogue on their concerns and aspirations.
“The launch of the Botshabelo PCO was part of the ongoing implementation plan undertaken by the 6th parliament. In terms of the constitution, Sections 59 and 72, parliament has a duty to promote public access and meaningful participation in parliamentary processes and activities to strengthen South Africa’s participatory democracy and help accelerate the development of the people,” said Tsenoli.
Meanwhile, also present at the launch was the local councillor, Dikololo Matshepe, who welcomed the relocation of the PCO and appreciated the role the office will play – through its proximity to the public – in strengthening the relationship between the people and parliament.
Members of the public can visit Parliament’s website at www.parliament.gov.za for more information about the work of Parliament and PCOs in their respective areas.
Picture: Some of stolen items confiscated by the police/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
Two suspects aged 25 and 28, were arrested for burglary residential and business burglary, respectively. This comes after employees at a local coffee shop in Prieska allegedly reported for work on 16 May 2024, and noticed that the cash register and money had been stolen.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said, upon further inspection, they allegedly found that a window had been broken.
“On 17 May 2024, the members from the Prieska Crime Prevention Unit, embarked on a tracing operation. Both suspects were traced and arrested, and the stolen goods were recovered.
“In a separate incident, the complainant allegedly returned home after leaving his home locked and secure. He allegedly discovered that the door had been forced open and several items were missing, including a flat screen television, laptop, and groceries,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended the police for their swift action and continued efforts towards policing property related crimes.
A man was sentenced to 39 years imprisonment by the Upington Regional Court for rape and assault. On 26 November 2023, two young women aged 21 and 22 respectively, were walking from one compound to the other in Kakamas in the early hours of the morning, when they met an unknown man, who was later known to be Derrick Brussel (43).
Brussel stabbed one lady with a bottle neck and directed them to the nearby school, where he tied them up and took turns raping them. They managed to escape after some time and went to seek help.
The ZF Mgcawu District police spokesperson, Sergeant Omphile Masegela said: “The accused was identified and arrested on 10 December 2023. He pleaded guilty on both counts of rape and was remanded in custody until his sentencing.
“Brussel was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment on the first count of rape, 14 years for second count of rape and 3 years for assault. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.”
Masegela further said the investigating officer, Sergeant Tsholofelo Mohutsiwa, was applauded for the excellent investigation and for ensuring that another Gender-Based Violence (GBV) perpetrator is removed from the community.
Picture: The Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe said they were able to deliver on some of the services they undertook to deliver to the communities during 2023/24 financial year, regardless of serious budget constraints.
Gaoraelwe, who tabled the municipality’s 2024/25 financial year at Sebitloane Special School in Taung on Friday said, for they are strong and believe that gloom and despondency have never defeated adversity.
“This budget comes at a time when the general state of our economy is unsatisfactory. This has resulted in the decrease of income from grants we receive from other spheres of government and negatively impacted our ability to deliver services to our communities.
“In response to this situation, the municipal council has deliberated on, and approved our institutional cost containment strategy. This is meant to assist us to curb high costs of doing business and find innovative ways of increasing our revenue,” he said.
Gaoraelwe further said this indicates that they were going to be uncompromising in their efforts to collect revenue from different government entities and households. He added that the budget comes after extensive consultation with members of the communities over the last two weeks through mayoral imbizo.
“We remain committed to the realisation of our five key performance areas, such as basic service delivery and infrastructure development, municipal transformation and organisational development, Local Economic Development, municipal financial vitality and management and good governance and public participation.
“In this budget, I am able to announce that the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework proposes the appropriation of a total budget operating revenue of R360 million for 2024/2025 financial year,” said Gaoraelwe.
He said the municipality has a total operating expenditure of R356 million and a total capital expenditure of R72 million. Gaoraelwe said when compared to the 2023/2024 adjusted budget, the total operating revenue for the 2024/2025 financial year has increased by 4%.
“This is a result of an increase in allocation from the government sphere and annual increase in tariffs. The two outer years are expected to increase by 5% and decrease by 1% respectively. A Total Operating Expenditure is expected to decrease by 2% in most contracted services.
“This will also affect other recurring expenditure items in the 2024/25 financial year when compared to 2023/24 financial year. This is in the spirit of trying to contain costs and live within our means, however, without jeopardising the utmost need for service delivery,” he said.
Gaoraelwe said zero based budgeting is used as far as possible.
A primary school teacher (47) was arrested for allegedly raping two learners aged 12 and 14. This comes after the mother and the principal of the two minors registered cases at the Wolmarastad Police Station on Tuesday.
According to the North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani, the incident took place in Leeudoringstad, near Wolmaranstad. Funani said the suspect allegedly would ask the two minors to help him carry books or go and fetch something at his office, where he performed sexual acts.
“He was arrested at the school on 16 May 2024. The teacher was remanded in custody until 21 May 2024, for formal bail application,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, condemned the incident and said it is sad that the victims were allegedly abused by someone, who was supposed to protect them.
Two people aged 38 and 34 died in a horrible car accident on the R385 Road, near Groenwater in Postmasburg. The police said they have opened a culpable homicide case.
Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said the preliminary investigations indicate that, on Tuesday, the patient transporter was travelling from Kathu to Kimberley with one patient and a co-driver on board.
“The driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle. The police are investigating the circumstances that led to this tragic loss of life. The investigations continue,” he said.
