Picture: A knife with blood dripping from it/Generic
By OBAKENG MAJE
Police in Kagisho, near Galeshewe need your assistance in the investigation of a murder case. This comes after a man was allegedly stabbed by unknown persons on a footpath behind the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court on 9 October 2022.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sgt Timothy Sam said the preliminary investigations indicates that Thapelo Mathome (36) was allegedly accosted by unknown suspects, who robbed him of his shoes and stabbed him multiple times on his body.
“The police are requesting any public members, who may have information that may assist in the apprehension of the suspect/s. The investigating officer in this case is Detective Sergeant Boitumelo Dipico and can be contacted on
082 469 0505 or 08600 10111 or via the MYSAPS App. All information will be treated confidentially,” Timothy said.
Picture: Former South African President, the late Dr Nelson Mandela/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
Due to popular demand, the multi award-winning Nelson Mandela African Folktales mini-series will be launched on 18 July 2023 in Johannesburg at the Avalon CineCentre Killarney Mall. The Noble Pictures representative, Claudia Noble-Areff said the Johannesburg event comes after the successful launch that took place in Durban in May 2023.
“The Durban event was a hit amongst guests, media, and the children. Therefore, it is befitting to also launch in the beautiful City of Gold, where Madiba resided following his release from prison. This event will not only celebrate the award-winning stories, but Madiba’s legacy which is internationally commemorated on 18 July.
“The mini-series comprises folktales stories told to Former President Nelson Mandela as a boy in the village of Qunu in Eastern Cape by his mother and the elders. These stories were about the history and folklore of the African Continent, stories which formed and shaped Madiba into the beloved hero he is remembered for today,” Noble-Areff said.
She further said this is a product of Claudia Noble-Areff and Sheldon Noble of Noble Pictures in collaboration with Nanda Soobben of the Centre of Fine Arts Animation and Design. Noble-Areff added that, the mini-series has been showcased in various countries and mesmerising audiences who had the opportunity to watch it.
“It is officially selected in 77 festivals from countries such as United Kingdom (Manchester & London), United States (Chicago, Connecticut, San Antonio, Oklahoma), Australia, Germany, India, South Korea, Japan, Rome, Romania, Turkey, Africa (Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria) and of course South Africa. The mini-series received numerous accolades around the globe.
“From the 77 selections, the films won 26 Best Animation Short Film Awards, an Audience Choice Award and Merit Award, and received 4 Honourable Mentions, 2 nominations and was a finalist in 7 festivals. The films in addition received Sub-Category Awards from 4 Film Festivals for Best Producer, Best Director, Best Art Director, Best Editor, Best Music Composer, Best Animator and Best Screenplay,” said Noble-Areff.
She said the series continues to shine globally. Noble-Areff said nominations and awards they received are testament that they produced stories that needed to be told to the world.
“We have recently returned from the Bali International Film Festival, where our stories were marketed to a completely different target audience that highly appreciated the series. The themes of the folktales deal with love and loyalty, perseverance, responsibility, sharing and trust – all valuable lessons to be learnt and reinforced to the young ones.
“The animated project was produced with the financial support of the KwaZulu Natal Film Commission (KZNFilm) and the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition. The National Film and Video Foundation funded the marketing and distribution of the project and the Gauteng Film Commission funded our festival attendances,” she said.
Noble-Areff said they are extremely grateful to all their funders.
Picture: The athletes from North West who participated at 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany/Twitter
By OBAKENG MAJE
The athletes from North West who represented South Africa at 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany will be honoured. The Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation spokesperson, Shuping Sebolecwe said the welcoming ceremony will be held on 20 July at M.M Sebitloane Special School in Taung.
Sebolecwe said the Special Olympics World Games are internationally recognised to inspire, promote and advance the world with full inclusive participation of intellectually impaired athletes (physically challenged individuals).
“The 2023 Berlin Special Olympics Games hosted around 7000 athletes from six countries and takes place every four years between the Summer and Winter games. The North West province was represented by various teams sporting disciplines and participants from across the province to form part of the South Africa National Team.
“These included MM Sebitloane Football team, Iteko Special School on swimming, out of school players in swimming, athletes and equestrians qualified to represent the country in Germany, which took place from the 17-24 June 2023,” he said.
Sebolecwe further said the team brought home a total medal tally of 49, which is one Gold and one Silver in Table Tennis, 13 x Gold medals in 7-A Side Men’s Football and one Gold medal and one Silver in Swimming, one Gold and one Bronze in Athletics and obtained position 4 in Equestrian.
He added that, a total number of medals for the North West province is 19.
Picture: Aggrieved employees of Phalaborwa Consultant Company barricaded the road between Manthe and Kolong villages/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The aggrieved employees of Phalaborwa Consultant company that was appointed has been appointed to install pipelines for abstraction of water from the iconic Taung Dam to the Taung Water Treatment Plant and reservoir in Morokweng village embarked on protest.
These employees barricaded a road between Manthe and Kolong villages, near Taung after they were not paid their three months’ salaries. According to one of the employees, Sparks Tshisi, they have tried to get in touch with the company representative, Simon Malatjie but to no avails.
“It’s been three months since last we received our payments. So, we decided to barricade the road in order for the company to pay us. We do have families to feed and we cannot continue to work without being paid.
“We need our salaries and we urge the municipality to intervene. Our Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) are nowhere to be found. The other one said he is in Johannesburg looking for a job, while the other one is in Kuruman also job-hunting,” Tshisi said.
The Phalaborwa Consultant representative, Simon Malatjie and the Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Infrastructure at Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Pico Seepamere failed to respond to our media inquiry regarding the matter.
In 19 March 2022, the R1 billion Taung Bulk Water Supply project was brought to a grinding halt after community members alleged that, the contractor was not properly introduced to them.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Water and Sanitation department spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau said the project is funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG), with approximately R1 billion allocated to the project.
“The project is one of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) major infrastructure projects in the North West, aimed at developing water infrastructure that will meet the needs of the community and ensure water security.
“The construction of an adequate infrastructure such as the Taung Bulk Water Supply that can support and supply efficient safe water to communities in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, therefore is a critical input to sustainable growth and development,” Ratau said.
He said the scheme, which is implemented in phases, has created 304 jobs thus far and 189 139 households in more than 55 villages have been targeted to benefit from this water project.
A 39-YEAR-OLD man briefly appeared in Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on 13 July 2023. Tyson Tizirayi was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation on 11 July 2023 in Klerksdorp for his alleged involvement in a Cash in Transit robbery that took place on 10 May 2023.
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said, Tizirayi was arrested at Klerksdorp Police Station, while he was in custody for an unrelated case.
“It is alleged that, on 10 May 2023, two G4S security officers were travelling in an armoured vehicle on Terblanche Street in Freemanville, Klerksdorp, when a vehicle rammed into them, causing the armoured vehicle to overturn. A group of armed suspects allegedly approached the vehicle and ordered the security officers to lie down, then robbed them of a 9mm pistol with rounds of ammunition.
“The suspects allegedly bombed the vehicle and fired several shots before fleeing the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. The accused was charged with attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances and the matter was postponed to 21 July 2023 pending further investigation,” Mathebula said.
Picture: The court sentenced a man to 20 years for raping a retarded woman
By OBAKENG MAJE
A man (42) sentenced to life imprisonment by the Calvinia Magistrate’s Court for raping a mentally-ill woman. According to the Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sgt Molefi Shemane, the woman (22) was walking alone in Calvinia West when she was lured by Benjamin Geswindt to an open field near Hantam High School and raped.
The incident took place on 5 June 2022.
Shemane said the police management welcomed the harsh sentence handed down to Geswindt. He said a witness alerted the victim’s father and a rape case was opened.
“The accused was arrested immediately and bail was successfully opposed. On 11 July 2023, the Calvinia Magistrate’s Court convicted and sentenced him to 28 years imprisonment, which 8 years was suspended for five years on condition that Geswindt is not found guilty of a similar offence.
“The accused will therefore serve an effective 20 years in prison. Geswindt was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. The Unit Commander, Detective Warrant Officer, Charl Blignaut applauded the investigation officer Detective Constable Jacques Nielsen for his thorough and meticulous investigation, which led to the hefty sentence,” he said.
Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola indicated that these sentences are a clear indication that violence perpetrated against the vulnerable members of society will not be tolerated, especially women and children. Otola said the meticulous investigation conducted by Nielsen is highly commendable.
Picture: Paediatric Cardiologist, Dr Precious Msiza/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha has congratulated the Job Shimankana Tabane (JST) Hospital in Rustenburg for the successful appointment of 17 specialists, which is in line with the hospital management’s strategy to strengthen its medical team across various specialties. Sambatha said the specialists will serve on anaesthesiology, dermatology, ear, nose and throat, internal medicine, orthopaedics, oncology, ophthalmology, paediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, urology and radiology units.
“These appointments include that of a paediatric cardiologist, Dr Precious Msiza. This makes JST the only public hospital in the North West to acquire paediatric cardiology services. A paediatric cardiologist, is a doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating cardiac related conditions in children.
“Dr Msiza was part of a team of cardiac surgeons that made history in the North West on 27 June 2023, by conducting the very first Percutaneous Aseptal Heart Defect (ASD) repair at the hospital. So, we hail the appointments as a significant milestone in improving the quality of healthcare services and increasing the life expectancy for residents of Bojanala,” he said.
Sambatha further said, the acquisition of a paediatric cardiologist, will greatly benefit the province as historically, they had to send children to neighbouring provinces for cardiac interventions. He added that other critical milestones at the hospital include the establishment of two new departments specialising in an ear, nose and throat as well as dermatology services.
“These developments make JST the second public hospital in the province to offer dermatological services together with Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District. Both of these two new service offerings will reduce the number of referrals to other facilities,” said Sambatha.
The 21 wanted suspects who have been on the run from the police for various crimes ranging from assault on police, murder, contravention of protection orders, assault with the intent to cause Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), assault common, warrants of arrest and theft were arrested.
In pursuit of a crime free society, Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sgt Molefi Shemane said, the Roodepan Police Station Detectives led by Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Mashodi, embarked on a wanted suspects tracing operation as part of Operation Shanela actions on 13 July 2023.
Shemane said the suspects will appear in the Kimberley and Galeshewe Magistrate’s courts soon.
The alleged illegal miners aged between 20 and 35 are expected to appear before the Orkney Magistrate’s Court on 17 July 2023 for conspiracy to commit a crime, attempted murder and Contravention of Section 49 (1)(a) & (b) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002).
The 28 suspects were apprehended on Wednesday evening, 12 July 2023. The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said this comes after the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Illicit Mining Task Team, supported by the National Intervention Unit (NIU) and Phokeng K9, followed-up on information received about a group of illegal miners, commonly known as “zama zamas” that were being transported in three minibus taxis and a bakkie (LDV) in Ariston Road, Orkney.
“The police stopped those vehicles and it is alleged that some of the illegal miners tried to flee. They allegedly fired shots towards the police and the latter returned fire. One suspect was wounded and later died, whilst being treated in a nearby hospital.
“A 9mm pistol and ammunition were found next to him and confiscated as well as the three vehicles allegedly used during the commission of the crime,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded the police for their continuous hard work, which led to the arrest and confiscation of the firearm, ammunition and vehicles. Kwena strongly warned that illicit economic activities will not be tolerated and that those involved will be dealt with harshly.
Setshwantsho: Motshameki wa maloba wa Mighty Boys FC, Bakang Katong/Facebook
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Motshamekapele wa maloba o diphatsa wa setlhopha sa selegae sa Mighty Boys FC kwa motseng wa Manthe, gaufi le Taung, o a tlhotswe dingwaga dile robedi kwa kgolegelong ka ntlheng ya go betelela. Bakang Katong (32) yo jaanong eleng rakgwebo, ebile a latofadiwa ka go gweba ka diritibatsi, a ne a betelela lekgarebe lengwe la kwa Buxton ka ngwaga wa 2017.
Go begwa fa Katong, yo oneng a tswa kwa Johannesburg ka nako eo, a ne a neelwa lekgarebe leo ke mongwe wa bakgweetsi ba ditekesi kwa Schweizer Reneke gore a mo gorotshe ka pabalasego kwa lapeng.
Fela, Katong a ne a tsena-tsena ka lekgarebe leno, mme a feleletsa a ipagololetse mogodu. Gape, lekgarebe le, lene la kaya fa le nyeleletswe ke madi a kanang ka R2000 mo tiragalong eo.
Kgotlha-tshekelo e utlwile fa lekgarebe le, lene la fitlha la lotlegela mmagwe ka se se mo diragaletseng. Kgetsi ene ya bulwa, mme ene ya re Katong go utlwa seno, one a letsetsa lekgarebe le, le go kopana le lone kwa Taung Mall mo letsatsing le le latelang.
Katong one a fitlha a mo kopa go mo neela madi a kanang ka R2000 a go begwang a nyeletse le go mo neela R500 eleng pipa-molomo gore a ye go tsholola kgetsi ya petelelo kgatlhanong le ene.
Fela lekgarebe le, le ne la gana go tsaya madi ao. Kgotlha-tshekelo e utlwile gape fa mmagwe lekgarebe leno, yo eneng ele paki ya mmuso, a ne a tlhokafala fa kgetsi e sentse e tsweletse ka tsheko. Mmueledi wa ga Katong, one a tlhalosetsa lekgotlha fa bopaki jwa motlhekefadiwa bo sa ikanyege, gonne gona le phapang mo tshedimosetsong e a e neetseng sepodisi le e a e boleletseng kgotlha-tshekelo.
Fela magistrata Buti Zulu, ga ka a ganana le kgang eo, mme a tlhalosa fa ese pateletso gore bopaki jo bo neetsweng sepodisi bo ka botsolotswa, fela se se botlhokwa ke se motlhekefadiwa a se boleletseng kgotlha-tshekelo. Gape, se se ileng sa makatsa lekgotlha ke gore, Katong o ile a kaela beng ba mokgatlho wa ditekesi fa a iphantse ka thobalano le motlhefediwa, mme fela o ile a kaya fa seo se diragetse ka tumalano.
Fela Katong, one a kaela mmueledi wa gagwe fa a sa iphanya ka thobalano le motlhekefadiwa. Seo, sene sa baya Katong mo mosing, mme le kgotlha la mo bona jaaka motho o o sa ikanyegeng. Zulu one a tlhalosetsa Katong fa go sena sepe se se supang fa motlhekefadiwa a ka batla go mo bopela kgomo ya mmopa, gonne ba sa itsane.
Zulu, one a bona Katong molato mo kgetsing ya petelelo.
Kgabagare, lekgotlha lene la kaela Katong fa e se sa ntlha a thulana le molao, gonne ka ngwaga wa 2006 one a tshwarwa mme a bonwa molato mo kgetsing ya go itaya ka maikaelelo a go ntsha dikgobalo tse di masisi. Gape, go begwa fa ka 2013 le 2015, Katong a ne a tshwarelwa go gweba ka diritibatsi, mme a duela kotlhao mo dikgetsing dile pedi.
Katong gape o lebane le kgetsi ya polao e e diragetseng kwa motseng wa Manthe.
The Guardian 