By OBAKENG MAJE

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Rustenburg Regional Court for raping a girl (12). Pusoetsile Seabaneng (23) and his father were tenants at the home of the complainant, who was staying with her grandmother at the time.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said the incident took place at Photsaneng village, near Rustenburg in 2016.

“The evidence led in court indicates that, the victim’s grandmother left Seabaneng watching TV with the complainant, as he was a trusted individual, because of their over 10-year stay renting at their home. He then moved closer to the victim, who was covering herself with a blanket.

“Seabaneng subsequently undressed her without her consent, while she was resisting, and proceeded to rape her. Following this incident, he left the house and proceeded to his rented outside room, leaving the child unattended,” Mamothame said.

He further said, the victim then reported the matter to her aunt the following day. Mamothame added that Seabaneng was arrested and charged with rape, but pleaded not guilty to the offense.

In aggravation of the sentence, the state prosecutor, Aubrey Mataboge urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. Mataboge argued that Seabaneng manipulated the trust that the child had in him.

He said rape is a pandemic that the court has to act firmly against. Magistrate Marion Wessel agreed with the state as she imposed life imprisonment on Seabaneng.

Seabaneng was also declared unfit to work with children and his name will be listed in the national sex offender’s register.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, lauded the collaboration of the prosecutor, investigating officer, and the Thuthuzela Care Center for the conviction. She called on an intensified advocacy against the scourge of rape and gender-based violence and femicide.

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Picture: The North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi at BRICS Summit in Sandton/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

The much anticipated Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) Summit kicked off at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg today. The Summit is held under the theme: “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism” and is expected to last until Thursday.

The Summit brings together Heads of State and Government from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa with atleast 30 other Heads of State and Government from Africa and all across the world expected to attend.

The North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi said they hosted an Investment Forum on Tuesday at Sandton on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. Maloyi said the primary objective of this initiative is to promote trade and investment within the province to BRICS nations and the developing world.

“This includes promoting economic collaboration as well as attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) on high-value projects such as the Bojanala Special Economic Zone, which has already attracted 14 projects with an investment pipeline of R13 514 billion.

“We urge businesses to prioritise the province given its immense mineral wealth and natural resources. The province is endowed with mineral resources and forms part and parcel of the richest platinum belt, which accounts for 70% of the total reserves in the world,” he said.

In addition, Maloyi further said, the province currently has over 3000 active mines with investment opportunities ranging from exploration, processing in the form of smelters and refineries, as well as provision of mining equipment among others.

He added that Agriculture and Tourism are also the largest economic drivers in the province.

“The North West is currently the top producer of beetroot, the second biggest producer of sunflower and carrots, and a major contributor to the exports of maize in the country. Investment opportunities in the Tourism sector include resort development at Lindleyspoort Dam, hotel and conferencing facilities at Bloemhof Dam Reserve as well as the Sun City Theme Park.

“These initiatives are aimed at repositioning the province as a preferred choice for investments. We are hard at work to reposition our province as an ideal destination for investments. Last year, we saw mining companies like Sedibelo Platinum Mine investing over R9 billion rand at their operations in Moses Kotane Local Municipality,” said Maloyi.

He said they want to diversify the economy, particularly within the agriculture and tourism sectors. Maloyi said they are currently in talks with various business entities to revamp two airports.

“Our province is a gateway to the SADC region and the revitalization of these two airports will assist a great deal in the movement of goods across various countries in the region and the continent while creating socio-economic for our people,” he said.

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Setshwanantsho: Poloko Sekgopi o latofadiwang ka go teketa lekgarebe/Facebook

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Monna wa dingwaga dile 39 o solofetswe go ka shadikanya matlho kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Vryburg morago ga go latofadiwa ka dikgetsi dile pedi tsa go teketa. Poloko Sekgopi o go kaiwang ele modiri wa masepala wa selegae wa Naledi, one a lelelwa ke ditshipi morago ga go bonwa mo video e tletse-tletseng mo mafaratlhatlheng a boitapoloso a teketa lekgarebe kwa Shell Garage e e kwa Vryburg ka di 13 Phatwe 2023.

Go ya ka dipego, Sekgopi one a tsena kwa Shell Garage a hupile tedu kwa a fitlhetseng lekgarebe le teng, mme a le tlhasela. Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi kwa sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, Sekgopi one a tlhasela le motlhokomedi wa tshireletso yo oneng a leka go tsereganya.

Van Rooyen are, motlhokomedi o, le ene one a bula kgetsi ya go teketa kgatlhanong le Sekgopi.

“Ke nnete, go butswe dikgetsi dile pedi tsa go teketa kgatlhanong le Sekgopi. Mongwe wa ba ngongoregi mo dikgetsing tseno, ona le dingwaga dile 33. Sekgopi o ka tlhagelela ka bo ripana kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Vryburg mo letsatsing la gompieno.

“Dikgetsi kgatlhanong le ene di ne tsa busediwa morago go fitlha ka di 23 Phatwe 2023. Ga re itse fa bosekisi botla kopanya dikgetsi tseo, kgotsa di tla seka ka go farologana. Molatofadiwa o solofetswe go ka dira kopo ya beile,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.

Lekgotlha gape le ne la utlwa fa Sekgopi ane a bonwa molato mo kgetsing enngwe ya go teketa ka Motsheganong 2023. One a neelwa kotlhao ya dikgwedi dile tharo kwa kgolegelong e ene ya beelwa thoko sebaka sa dingwaga dile tlhano.

Kgabagare, mokgatlho wa baagi wa South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) mo Bokone Bophirima, o kaile fa o goeletsa gore molatofadiwa a se neelwe beile ke kgotlha-tshekelo. Sebueledi sa SANCO mo porofenseng, David Xolile Kham are ba kgatlhanong le tshotlakako ya bong.

“Ke ka maswabi go bona motho wa mme a bediwa ke rakgwebo o itsagaleng go tswa kwa North World Circles. Tshotlakako kgatlhanong le bong e goeleditswe jaaka leroborobo mo Afrika Borwa. Jaanong, re rotloetsa banna ba ba dikgoka go ka thusa go aga setshaba se se tsepameng.

“A banna ba atle bomme gona le go ba teketa, kgotsa go ba bolaya. Seo se botsha fa tshotlakako ya bong e sentse ele tlhoba-boroko. Re tlile go ikuela go lefapha la katlatlelo-loago go ka netefatsa fa ba ba sotlakakiwang ba bona bosiamise,” Kham wa tlhalosa.

O kaile gape fa mokgatlho wa SANCO o tlile go sala morago tiragalo e, le go netefatsa fa ba ba molato ba rweswa maikarabelo.

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Picture: The missing Thato Ralisite found dead in a grazing field/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

The body of a missing Thato Ralisite (2) was discovered on Tuesday evening by a passer-by in a grazing field in Myra village, near Pudimoe at around 6pm. The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said who was playing outside in the yard of her aunt’s house, went missing on 19 August 2023.

“She wore a red tracksuit top, cream trousers, and pink tekkies during her disappearance. Since her disappearance, a search was conducted by the police, family, and community around the village without any success.

“On Monday, the search continues with K9 and Mounted Units of the police added to the search party. However, nothing fruitful came out of the search too. She was discovered by a passerby in a grazing field in the area yesterday at around 6pm,” she said.

Myburgh said a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of her death.

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Picture: Constable Okaetse Mandindi and Sergeant Kedimetse Masilo/Supplied 

By OBAKENG MAJE

The Police National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola has commended the police for the swift arrest of a suspect (38), who allegedly shot and killed two police officers in Kimberley, Northern Cape on Tuesday morning.

Masemola said Constable Okaetse Mandindi (35) and Sergeant Kedimetse Masilo (45) who were both attached to the Kimberley Flying Squad, were tracing a stolen vehicle when they were fatally shot.

“Masilo joined the service in 2007 and had 16 years of service at the time of her death, while Mandindi joined the service in 2012 and had 11 years of service at the time of his death. The organisation will ensure justice prevails for their families, friends, and colleagues.

“The killing of these members happens a week before the commemoration of 34 members, who died in the line of duty in the 2022/2023 financial year. We will work hard to secure a water-tight case that will result in a lengthy conviction for this perpetrator,” he said.

Masemola further said, while the arrest of the alleged perpetrator will not bring Mandindi and Masilo back, may their souls rest in peace knowing that they died serving and protecting South Africa and all its inhabitants. 

The suspect is expected to appear before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on 24 August 2023 on a number of charges including two counts of murder.

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Setshwantsho: Motsamaisi kwa Multi-purpose, Motseokae Duncan Cwaile/Facebook

Ka OBAKENG MAJE  

Motsamaisi wa Multi-Purpose Centre e kwa motseng wa Morokweng, gaufi le Ganyesa kwa masepaleng wa Kagisano Molopo, Motseokae Duncan Cwaile (45) o solofetswe go dira kopo ya beile mo letsatsing la Labotlhano.

Cwaile one a tshwerwa morago ga go latofadiwa ka petelelo. Go begwa fa Cwaile, yo gape eleng moeteledipele wa lekoko le le busang la ANC teng kwa kgaolong eo, a ile a ipagololela mogodu mo mosetsanyaneng wa dingwaga dile 14 wa moagisani. Go ya ka sebueledi sa lephata la bosekisi la National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) mo Bokone Bophirima, Henry Mamothame, mosetsanyana o, one a ile go ga metsi kwa sedibeng kwa ntlung ya ga Cwaile ha tiragalo e e diragala ka 13 Phatwe 2023.

“Go begwa fa Cwaile one a biletsa mosetsanyana o kwa ntlung, mme a mo gogela kwa phaphusing ya borobalo kwa a ileng a mo betelela teng. Go ya ka dipego, Cwaile one a lebotsa phokoje morago ga tiragalo e, le go tlogela mosetsanyana owa kwa ntlung.

“Fela, motswasetlhabelo one a ya gae, mme a fitlha a lotlegela bagolo ka se se mo diragaletseng. Kgetsi ya petelelo ene ya bulwa, mme Cwaile one a tshwarwa moragonyana. Cwaile one a tlhageletse ka boripana kwa kgotlhatshekelong ya Ganyesa ka Mosupulogo,” Mamothame wa tlhalosa.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen o kaile fa kgetsi ya petelelo kgatlhanong le Cwaile ene ya busediwa morago go fitlha ka 25 Phatwe 2023. Van Rooyen are, Cwaile one a busediwa kwa ntlo-lefitshwana, mme o solofetswe go ka dira kopo ya beile ka Labotlhano.

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By REGINALD KANAYANE

Most residents in Mahikeng have in their majority supported the objectives of the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill (B33-2022) and said they believe it strengthens the country’s public health policy.

The Portfolio Committee on Health hosted the last of three public consultation processes in Mahikeng on 21 August 2023, which concluded the North West Leg of nationwide public hearings.   

The chairperson of the Committee, Kenneth Jacobs said they are generally satisfied with the process that unfolded thus far and are confident that they have met the standard set by Section 59 (1) of the constitution. Jacobs further said the committee will take into consideration all the submissions made when they deliberate on all public submissions made to them.

 
“There was more support for the Bill, especially the proposal of smoke-free zones as supporters were of the view that it will empower and protect non-smokers from possible dangers caused by second-hand smoke inhalation.

“Those in support also highlighted that the provisions of the Bill will lessen the burden on the healthcare system caused by the consumption of tobacco products. There was also a view that by passing the Bill and reducing the consumption of tobacco products, the country will benefit through increased productivity as more people will not waste time with constant smoking breaks,” he said.    

Jacobs added that, regarding the electronic delivery system, there was a strong view that the Bill addresses the regulatory loophole of those products. He said also, those with this view, said the regulation is necessary to give a framework on how they are marketed, where they are sold, testing standards, and research on those products.

“Supporters were critical of producers of tobacco and electronic delivery systems on the basis that the industry cared more about its selfish interests and not the wellbeing of the people. Regarding the packaging and advertising of tobacco and non-tobacco-based products, there was a strong argument that the standardised packaging proposed by the Bill will prevent producers from attracting young people with colourful packages and will have the desired effect of reducing consumption.

“A concern was highlighted that young children are exposed to tobacco products and those who expressed that concern argued that passing the Bill into law would guarantee their protection. Despite the support the Bill enjoyed during the hearings, there were those that rejected it on the basis that passing it into law will have a negative impact on the economy,” said Jacobs.

He said the reason for this, according to them, was that the country is failing to address illicit tobacco products, which are already dominating the tobacco industry and market. Jacobs said, furthermore, they cautioned that the over-regulation would reduce the national tax revenue base and fiscus from the industry in the end. 
 

“Those who work within the industry pleaded that the Bill has the potential of closing the industry and that will be followed by retrenchments and unemployment as the industry is one of the major employers and creators of job opportunities in the country.

“They also highlighted the lack of capacity on the side of the state on the implementation of the current legislation. They warned that standardised packaging will promote the sale of illicit and substandard tobacco products which are more harmful to consumers,” he said.    

Jacobs said the committee reiterated its appreciation of the interest shown by participants in North West and the qualitative contributions they made. He said the committee continues to call for individuals and organisations to make written submissions after it has extended the deadline for written submissions.

“The closing date for written submissions is 4 September 2023. It will afford interested parties to make submissions to it. Written submissions must be emailed to: tobaccobill@parliament.gov.za or submissions can be made online at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjWlMn59a9z58aNNN6UYWWAeP14_m7p0oJQARaSGg7QxED7Q/viewform?pli=1.  

“The committee will conduct public hearings on the Bill in Limpopo and Mpumalanga respectively and will communicate the dates and venues once all necessary internal processes have been concluded,” said Jacobs.

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Picture: North West MECs donate R3m to Wolmaranstad Tehuis vir Bejaardes Home for the Aged/Supplied

By REGINALD KANYANE

North West MEC for Social Development, Lazarus Mokgosi gave a much-needed financial injection amounting to R3m to a Wolmaranstad-based home for the aged to enable it to continue to offer residential and therapeutic care to the elderly, Wolmaranstad Tehuis vir Bejaardes. Mokgosi said this was in a move to support frail and semi-frail elderly people.

“Wolmaranstad Tehuis vir Bejaardes was established in 1979 to provide residential care to elderly people who are 60 and above and have limitations in self-care capacity and require continuous care and therapeutic services. Currently, the facility has accommodated 92 older persons from Maquassi Hills and neighbouring areas in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District.

“During the third leg of Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery campaign in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, we donated a symbolic cheque to Wolmaranstad Tehuis vir Bejaardes,” he said.

Mokgosi further said, at the time, elderly people from Tswelelang, Makwassi and other areas within the jurisdiction of Maquassi Hills, gathered at the local sports ground for their annual golden games.

“Our appeal is that NPOs should use government money for its intended purpose. We call on the management of this home for the aged to do just that. This money is subject to relevant legislation and make sure that you comply with NPO Act.

“Since the Thuntsa Lerole campaign, we have already donated symbolic cheques to registered NPOs in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Bojanala and Dr Kenneth Kaunda districts. The masses need services more than ever before, especially post-COVID-19 pandemic, which affected many sectors of society,” added Mokgosi.

He said his department is determined to implement meticulous service delivery plans at a brisker pace to address the challenges that communities face.

Meanwhile, the Wolmaranstad Tehuis vir Bejaardes Manager, Brand Pretorius described the authorities’ gesture as a surprise and honour to his organisation. Pretorius said they have received financial assistance from the Department of Social Development over the years of his reign.

“What is more humbling is that, the symbolic cheque is being handed over to us by the MECs. We feel so honoured and will make sure we use this money carefully and make sure that, it benefits the right people.

“Our organisation depends squarely on social development for funding and other means such as fundraising and marketing of their services to potential donors,” he said.

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Picture: North West MEC for Treasury, Motlalepula Rosho/Facebook 

By BAKANG MOKOTO

North West MEC for Treasury, Motlalepula Rosho said in an effort to address the persistent challenges faced by municipalities and enhance their financial management and governance systems, her department has successfully concluded a ground-breaking 40-day Audit Action Acceleration Plan (AAP).

Rosho said the culminating session marked a significant milestone in the province’s ongoing commitment to rectify issues highlighted by the Auditor General (AG) in the audit reports of various municipalities. She further said the 40-day AAP, which commenced in June 2023, has been specifically designed to guide municipalities and their entities in navigating the complex landscape of addressing audit-related concerns raised by the AG.

“Under the direction of the Provincial Treasury, municipalities were provided with comprehensive guidance on the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder. Furthermore, tailored action plans were developed and implemented, outlining specific activities aimed at resolving the identified issues.

“This forward-looking approach also allowed for the continuous monitoring and refinement of these action plans, with the ultimate aim of improving the anticipated 2023 audit outcomes. It is important to closely monitor and support municipalities in order to counter the negative narrative surrounding the province,” said Rosho.

She added that, there is a need for a hands-on support program to facilitate the preparation and submission of Annual Financial Statements (AFS). Rosho also expressed confidence that, this approach would yield enduring results, ultimately leading to enhanced municipal operations and service delivery.

“We are happy with the encouraging progress made since the implementation of the AAP. This is because of the unwavering commitment displayed by various municipalities in addressing the identified issues head-on.

“It is significant to recognise challenges and proactively address them as a means to steer institutions in the right direction through challenges and problem identification. The municipalities will be steered in the right direction upon resolving their issues,” she said.

Rosho cautioned municipalities from avoiding, identifying, and resolving financial problems as stipulated by the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). She underlined the importance of prudent financial management to avoid undue expenditure that could potentially compromise the stability of municipalities.

“As the culmination of the AAP approaches, municipalities are preparing to submit their Annual Financial Statements (AFS) for the 2022/2023 financial year to the AG on 31 August 2023. This critical juncture marks a pivotal moment for the province as the concerted efforts of the Provincial Treasury and municipalities seek to effect lasting change in governance and financial management practices.

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