By Obakeng Maje
Vryburg- A 53-year-old Sthembiso Nkala appeared in Vryburg Magistrates Court on Monday for being in possession of drugs. 

The accused was arrested on Friday at a hiking spot in Vryburg.  

“The apprehension came after members received a tip-off and followed up information about the alleged possession of drugs that were in possession of the suspect who was hiking to got to Kuruman. Upon arrival at the hiking spot, the suspect was seen taking the bag that was allegedly hidden in the dustbin and got into a car” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

The car was stopped and upon search, the accused was found in possession of a black bag containing more than 500 Mandrax tablets with  estimated street value of R40 000. 

The case has been remanded until 6 October 2014, and the suspect will remain in custody until, next appearance.  
-TDN
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Mahikeng- The North West Provincial Coordinating Council (NWPCC) has during its special sitting held today in Mahikeng endorsed the implementation of Setsokotsane, a programme initiated by Premier Supra Mahumapelo to pull government resources together in addressing local service delivery challenges without delay.

The NWPCC comprises the Provincial MECs, Executive Mayors, Mayors, Heads of Departments, Municipal Managers, Chief Financial Officers, and is chaired by the Premier Mahumapelo.

Targeted for launching and rolling out during the month of October 2014, Setsokotsane programme will see the Premier, MECs and Mayors visiting all local municipalities over a period of four months during which integrated planning will be enforced, while also solving local communities’ problems on the spot.

Taking the NWPCC through the objectives and key deliverables of the programme, Premier Mahumapelo said it seeks to address incoherent approach to planning, implementation and monitoring of government services and projects in the Province.

Other activities that will be incorporated into this programme include amongst others, the establishment of a sector-base database for Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMME) and taking stock of collapsed government projects in various wards, for possible resuscitation.

“There is a need for us to move away from convention, and we are positive that the implementation of Setsokotsane will contribute meaningfully towards the realisation of the conceived strategy of Rebranding, Repositioning and Renewal of the Province”.

“We will immediately consult all stakeholders including the traditional leadership and public and private sectors about this programme because their commitment and pledge to this initiative is important for the realisation of the programme’s objectives,” said Premier Mahumapelo, who maintained that as a unique programme to the Province, Setsokotsane has great potential for local job creation opportunities and entrepreneurship.

Setsokotsane – a Setswana word which means whirlwind – will be launched in Ngaka Modiri Molema District in October, and will thereafter be taken to Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Bojanala Platinum Districts.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Vryburg- The Naledi Community Against Crime Organisation vow to fight crime in Dr Segomotsi Mompati district and make the area a crime-free district.

Chairperson of Naledi Community Against Crime Organisation Seisho Shorane told Vaaltar FM that their planning to launch an anti-crime body in the district that will work hand-in-hand with police.

“We will be launching an anti-crime organisation in Tlakgameng village, as our plan is to amalgamate all anti-crime organisations in Dr Segomotsi Mompati District in November 2014” he said.

According to Shorane, the organisation will be called Bophirima District Community Against Crime.

The Naledi Community Against Crime patrol was launched in Vryburg area and their visibility has reduced crime in the CBD.

Shorane said they have installed cameras at the hotspots areas and since then, they have reaped the reward.

There are various crimes taking place in our district, like for in case in Taung they experience livestock theft and smash and grab mostly and in Vryburg House-breaking is an issue.

“By working hand-in-hand with other representatives from different areas, that will help because most criminals do not operate within their area. Some move around and uses other areas as ajourns for their criminal activities” Shorane said.

Pudumoe Police Station spokesperson sergeant Tebogo Thebe said they support the notion and believe this will be the best initiative. “We are aware that Crime affects society in different ways, and our view remains that we will only be able to address crime if we work together from an individual to the community at large” he said.

Thebe said they are very thankful to those people who volunteer to be part of  Community Policing Forums as their involvement goes a long way in decreasing crime. “We will continue to forge relationships with NGOs, or any organised Community so that we can fight Crime together and with partnerships, we hope will continue growing and making an impact on our core mandate of Crime reduction” concludes Thebe.-TDN
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By Obakeng Maje
Potchefstroom- A 60-year-old woman escaped injury this afternoon after a veld fire trapped her in her home on a farm 30km outside of Potchefstroom, North West Province.

ER24 as well as provincial fire services received the emergency call for assistance and immediately responded to the farm.

“Once on the scene, rescue workers discovered the route blocked by a raging veld fire. Fire services battled for some time to get the blaze under control before the woman could be rescued” Er24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said.

Fortunately the son of the trapped woman was able to reach his mother before she sustained any harm.

A fire fighting helicopter was called in to assist in fighting the blaze.
The cause of the incident is not yet known but local authorities are on scene for further investigations.-TDN
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Johannesburg – Severe thunderstorms are expected in several provinces across the country on Monday, the SA Weather Service said.

These included a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms in Gauteng, the north-eastern parts of the Free State, the eastern parts of the North West, the Mpumalanga highveld, the south-western parts of Limpopo, and the extreme western parts of KwaZulu-Natal, said forecaster Dithuso Mogapi.

A 30 percent chance of showers was also expected in Gauteng on Tuesday morning.

However, the rainy weather conditions would clear up in the rest of the affected provinces by Tuesday.

Sapa

Rustenburg – A taxi driver accused of the murder of his girlfriend and her mother was found guilty by the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Seuntjie David Nakedi, 33, was found guilty of killing Tshepiso Moilwe, 28, and her mother Annah Moilwe, 44, at their home in Lethabong on March 15, 2013.

Tshepiso was shot in the stomach and chest, and her mother in the chest and chin.

Magistrate Cornelius Nel said Nakedi’s claims that the two were shot accidentally and that he went to their home after his girlfriend invited him there left many questions unanswered.

Nakedi told the court during his trial that he wrestled for the gun with Tshepiso when a shot accidentally went off, hitting her.

Nel said Nakedi did not explain how the gun ended up being aimed at the deceased.

“If they were wrestling for the gun she could have been hit in the side,” Nel said.

He said Nakedi could not explain how Annah Moilwe was shot while she was pulling him from behind.

Referring to the post mortem report, Nel said the bullet that struck Annah in the chin went through her throat and exited her back. Another bullet hit her in the thigh and exited behind her knee.

“Cellphone records did not indicate the deceased (Tshepiso) calling you… instead what is found is an exchange of text messages from the accused to the deceased (Tshepiso) and her reply.”

Nakedi had told the court Tshepiso called him to her parents’ home in an attempt to reconcile after she obtained a protection order against him.

Nakedi said on arrival she opened the door for him. They went to her bedroom and they talked about their strained relationship. As he was leaving Tshepiso called him. He claimed that when he turned around she was pointing a gun at him.

While wrestling for the gun both she and her mother were shot.

He claimed he found the gun inside a bag in his taxi. He took it home with the intention of handing it to Lethabong police, but forgot.

Obakeng Ngwenya, for Nakedi, asked the court to impose a sentence which was fair and fit for the offence.

In mitigation, Nakedi told the court he regretted killing the two and asked their family to forgive him.

He asked the court for a non-custodial sentence as he was afraid his taxi would be repossessed if he did not pay the monthly instalments.

“My other taxi was repossessed before I was granted bail,” he said.

Nakedi was arrested near Magaliesberg, Gauteng, while consulting a traditional healer a few days after the murders.

His bail was revoked and he would remain in custody until sentencing on Tuesday.

Outside court the two families exchanged heated words and security guards separated them.

Sapa

Polokwane – A large crowd cheered as EFF leader Julius Malema walked onto a stage set up near the Polokwane High Court on Tuesday, after his corruption trial was postponed for almost a year.

He was accompanied by Economic Freedom Fighters MPs. EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi began chanting “Hands off our commander and chief, hands off”.
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