Rustenburg- North West Premier Thandi Modise has called on women to break the silence on rape and stop protecting perpetrators of sexual violence in their homes, workplaces, churches and communities. Premier Modise made the appeal in her keynote address delivered at the Provincial Interfaith Prayer Service held at Olympia Park in Rustenburg on Sunday.“We should name and shame perpetrators. Teenage pregnancies in our schools point to decay in our moral fibre. We fail our children when we cannot be their role models. We demand truth and accountability from our educators, parents and politicians because our communities are demanding truth, stability and service delivery,” emphasised Premier Modise in formally launching a campaign against the scourge of rape and gender based violence.

The campaign aimed at getting signatures of a million people who are denouncing rape by signing a pledge against sexual abuse of women rape will be taken to a deeper and higher level with the involvement of faith based organisations, men organisations, non-government organisations, community organisations and other social partners. The targeted number of signatures is expected to be reached by the end of next month.

The National Interfaith Council of South Africa-North West Chapter, North West FM and the North West Provincial Council on Aids are the latest partners to join the campaign that was initiated by Premier Modise. Motsweding FM is already a partner of the campaign that is supported by the Executive Council (Exco).

Modise said rape has reached an unacceptable levels and should be combated by all of us and called on all community members to join in the campaign to say no to high rate of rape taking place in the province and other part of the country.

“We are not going to sit back and do nothing as the provincial government about this sick behavior of men who are raping innocent members of our communities.

BY Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng- Police swift reaction led to the arrest of two suspects for House robbery that was committed at about 03:00 on Saturday at Lonely Park, in Mahikeng North West police said.

“It is alleged that the complainant was at her place when the suspects gained entrance into the house by breaking the door. They threatened her and robbed her R900 and fled the scene” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

“The suspects were later traced and arrested after the matter was reported to the police.  The suspects aged 16 and 17 respectively are expected to appear before the court soon” police said. 

BY Obakeng Maje

Coligny: A 20-year old suspect is expected to appear before Magistrates’ Court today for alleged murder of a 24 year old man North West police said.

The incident took place on Saturday at approximately 19:10 in Tlhabologang location,near Coligny. 

“It is alleged that the suspect and the victim were involved in an argument over a girlfriend, and that led to a fight. The suspect allegedly took out a knife and stabbed the victim in the neck and shoulder” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said. 

“According to the information received, the victim died on the scene” police said.

Investigation regarding the matter continues.

Cyferskuil-Police arrested a 23- year old suspect for allegedly raping a 16-year old minor on Friday North West police said.

“It is alleged that the survivor was on her way to school when the suspect approached her” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.

 Police said a suspect allegedly forced her to the nearby bushes where he raped her. 

“The survivor went home after the incident and informed her mother about the ordeal” Mokgwabone said. 

“They were in a taxi to the local clinic when the victim spotted the suspect and the taxi driver stopped to call him. He allegedly responded to the call, but ran away when he saw the survivor” police said.

The matter was reported to the police and the suspect was traced and arrested. 

He is expected to appear before Temba Magistrates’ Court soon.

SOUTH African prisons are filling up with mothers and daughters who have killed male abusers in their families, the Minister of Correctional Services said yesterday.

“We have witnessed an increase in the number of women serving life sentences as a result of killing their partners,” Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said in a statement issued after the department’s excellence awards at the weekend.

“What is even more disturbing is that some of these women are serving time together with their daughters, who assisted them in committing these murders after they themselves were direct, or indirect, victims of abuse by their fathers.”

Ndebele said these women needed help dealing with the trauma of having experienced often long-term physical and emotion abuse.

He said another growing number of female prisoners were those who had violently acted against other women “due to competition for affection from their male partners”.

He said the number of women prisoners who were pregnant or had babies under two years at the time of entering jail was of great concern.-Sapa

COSATU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi’s political woes worsened yesterday in the face of yet more veiled attacks from the labour federation’s alliance partner, the SA Communist Party.

The leaders of the two organisations have not always enjoyed cordial relations and this weekend’s SACP central committee meeting provided ample opportunity for the party to attack Vavi’s leadership of Cosatu.

Vavi has come under fire recently following a week in which reports surfaced that he was being investigated by his own organisation over allegations of questionable financial dealings, which have loosened an already shaky grip over the leadership of the federation.

In a statement following this weekend’s meeting, the SACP central committee noted: “We respect and salute the independence of the federation, and strongly affirm the necessity of a militant trade union movement that refuses to become a simple transmission belt for government, or for any political party, including the SACP.

“However, the SACP has raised with Cosatu our concern that, on occasion, a blanket oppositionism (sic), or an exaggerated focus on secondary challenges has weakened, rather than strengthened Cosatu’s ability to impact upon defining and driving a second, more radical phase of our nationademocratic revolution.”

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ANC deputy provincial chairperson China Dodovu faces the possibility of suspension from the party’s structures after the provincial executive committee (PEC) recommended that resolutions taken at the party’s 53rd conference be applied to him.

Dodovu, who is also the local government and traditional affairs MEC, was arrested last Monday in connection with the murder of ANC regional secretary Obuti Chika.

At its Mangaung conference in December last year the ANC underscored the need for moral integrity and restoration of the party’s core values, declaring that members implicated in damaging allegations should relinquish their positions until they are cleared.

The PEC met last Thursday and resolved that the provincial working committee (PWC) would work together with the party’s national executive committee (NEC) to decide Dodovu’s fate.

In a statement ANC provincial spokesperson Kenny Morolong said: “The PEC reaffirmed the 53rd conference resolutions on the need to uphold the moral integrity and restore the core values of the ANC and in this regard resolved that the PWC must process the implications of the above conference resolution in consultation with the national executive committee on ANC public representatives alleged to be involved in the brutal assassination of Chika.”

Morolong added that the party was disturbed by the way groups of people claiming to be ANC members squared off outside the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court where Dodovu and seven other co-accused appeared last Wednesday.

One group waved placards written “Hands-off Dodovu” while the other countered with “Hands-on Dodovu”.

“The PEC is perturbed by the anarchy exhibited outside the court by rowdy crowds. We view the death of Chika as a criminal act and reject any attempts to drag the ANC’s name in support or condemnation of the arrested suspects,” he said.

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Motorists and other road users in Rustenburg have been urged to be extra careful when they use roads under the Rustenburg Rapid Transport (RRT) construction project.

The RRT system is entering a new phase where lanes that have been under construction will be opened up while work shifts to the other lanes.

RRT director Marks Rapoo said it was imperative that road users exercised caution and followed road signs directing them for the construction period.

“On the road between Foord Street and Dr Moroka Street construction on the north-bound lanes has been completed. From the beginning of March the southbound lanes on this section are closed for construction and the opposite lanes opened to two-way traffic. Weather permitting, the switchover of lanes will happen today and motorists will experience delays as the new traffic flow is established. RRT urges residents to please exercise caution in the area while driving or walking at all times,” he said.

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Knives that were out for Madibeng local municipality mayor Poppy Magongwa have now been sheathed following the formation of the rapid response team to address a water crisis that has haunted communities around the area.

The formation of the team follows an emergency meeting between acting MEC for local government and traditional affairs Paul Sebegoe, the mayor and councillors to curb the protest actions in Letlhabile, Centreville, Kgabalatsane, Klipgat and Oskraal communities over dirty, contaminated water for the past three years.

“The water treatment plant in the area will be upgraded. Stolen electricity transformers in some water pump stations will be replaced and those that are dysfunctional will be fixed to ensure sufficient water capacity to reservoirs,” said Sebegoe.

“This will enable them to supply water to high-lying areas. Water filters that are not functional will be fixed. We appeal to communities not to steal these facilities as this denies communities the right to water.”

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Murder of ANC North West official Obuti Chika was expected to continue in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Proceedings for the bail application began last week.

Chika, 33, was shot at point-blank range in the driveway of his home on December 14. He died later in the Klerksdorp Hospital.

Local government MEC China Dodovu was among those arrested for Chika’s murder.

The suspected trigger-man, Sihlangu Sekhakhane, was also arrested. He led police to Msinga in KwaZulu-Natal, where the suspected murder weapon was found.

The other accused are community member Jeffrey Letuka, North West provincial ANC Youth League chairman Papiki Baboile, ward Secretary Paul Molomonyane, councillor Itumeleng Molebatsi, municipal worker William Malefo and taxi driver Kgotso Kali.

Sapa