A-36-YEAR-OLD policeman has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with a R12 000 fine for negligent loss of a firearm by the Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court near Rustenburg.
North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said Constable Fortune Godwin Moemise’s conviction emanated from an incident in which he forgot his service pistol at his girlfriend’s place on 20 August 2020.
Mokgwabone further said a friend of Moemise’s girlfriend took the firearm, allegedly used it to commit attempted armed robbery and attempted murder.
“The friend was arrested and separately charged for attempted armed robbery and attempted murder as well as unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Moemise from Rustenburg Detectives, was fined R12 000 or sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.
“However, the half of which is suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of contravention of provision of Section 120 (s) of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000) during the period of suspension,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena has welcomed the sentencing of Moemise. Kwena also warned members to ensure that their equipment is kept safe and in accordance with the prescripts.
Picture: Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe
By OBAKENG MAJE
The newly-elected mayor of the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), Tumisang ‘Daddy’ Gaoraelwe (40) said he is meticulously prepared to ‘steer’ the municipality to the right direction. Gaoraelwe was sworn-in as the new mayor during the municipal council inauguration meeting at Sebitlwane Special School in Lokaleng village near Taung on Monday.
“I am grateful to be elected as the new mayor. It is our aim as the new cohort to play a crucial role in ensuring that we implement laws and policies that can greatly impact on how the municipality is run.
“So, as a political head, I believe this position can be both challenging and rewarding but requires an individual who is vigorously prepared for all what a political life entails. I believe I was born with the zeal of activism in me,” he said.
Buoyed Gaoraelwe who joined politics 16 years ago, said he equally grasped his enthusiasm to become a politician from his late brother, Goitseone Christopher “Jukie” Gaoraelwe who was a member of ANC MK (ANC military wing).
Jukie Gaoraelwe went to exile in 1989 and trained in Tanzania until he lost his life in 1995 back in South Africa.
“So, ordinarily, someone in the family had to take the baton. I started participating in politics during the time of “The downfall of Bophuthatswana ” era. I was only doing standard 6 at Olihile Mancwe Middle School in Pampierstad Township, which falls under the Northern Cape Province now.
“Due to the political milieu of the time, there was a student revolt and we were roped-in by older students to join the Congress of South African Student (COSAS),” said Gaoraelwe.
He further said they were given the understanding that all sectors of the community including political youth formations have to play part in the political transition, which was the national agenda at the time.
A political activist, an academic, a creative artist at heart and a father of four said, he is a proud member of the ruling party and dedicated his life to fight for the cause.
“I am the 10th child and last born in the family. I am the proud son of Kelebilemang Iris Gaoraelwe (Mankuroane-Maiden Surname) and Kgomotso Albert Gaoraelwe. I have occupied various leadership positions within the ANC and outside.
“It gives me a great pleasure and privilege to have been chosen among many by my organisation to lead the municipality. However, as I ascend to this position, I am deployed by the ruling party to ensure that we unite all people of South Africa, Africans in particular, for the complete liberation of the country,” said Gaoraelwe.
He said under his stewardship, he will ensure that people are in charge of their developmental aspirations. Gaoraelwe said the ‘plan of action’ for any municipality is the five year strategic document called the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) that is informed by the Community Based Planning (CBP), which is the communities consolidated priorities in regard to development.
Gaoraelwe’s Academic Qualifications
Honours Degree in Public Administration (Mancosa 2021)
B.A Degree in Conservation Tourism and Sustainable Development (2010 NWU)
Higher Certificate in Local Government (2018)
Matric (Batlhaping High School-Taung 1998)
Political career
2021 – To Date
Ward-11 ANC IBC Coordinator
2018
ANC RSM member of the REC and RWC
2019 – 2021
Ward-11 ANC Branch Chairperson
2016 – 2018
Ward-11 ANC Branch Secretary
2016
Ward-11 ANC Branch Elections Coordinator
2014 – 2018
Ward-11 ANC Branch Deputy Secretary
2009 – 2010
North West University SRC Member (EX Officio)
2008 – 2009
North West University Chairperson of Cultural Union
It may be tough to be the next Floyd Mayweather or Canelo Alvarez. However, 25 young boxers who will be representing the North West province under the auspices of the South African National Amateur Boxing Organisation (SANABO) say they got what it takes.
Young boxers aged between 12 and 18, will be performing at Gqeberha in the Easten Cape during December 2021.
North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, Virginia Tlhapi said she believes that these younger boxers will put out a ‘stellar performance’ and put the North West on the map.
“These boys and girls will be competing in the cadets (12 – 14 years) and juniors (15 and 16 years) from 14 to 18 December 2021. In the last encounter back in 2019, the North West scooped overall second place in cadets and third in juniors.
“They also romped home with the Boxer of the Tournament Award, through Olona Kolo.
The North West boxers were chosen from a provincial tournament that took place last Saturday in Rustenburg, where all four districts were represented,” Tlhapi said.
According to the department, the event comprised 28 bouts among young boys and girls, vying for a ticket to the coastal city. Tlhapi further said the tournament in Rustenburg and the provincial selections mark important milestones in their quest to bring boxing back to life in the province.
“Rustenburg was the second in a four destination series of tournaments to revive boxing in the province. The first one was in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda. Beyond the national event, we are setting our eyes on the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and Ngaka Modiri Molema Districts.
“We wish our boys and girls well in their quest for glory in the Eastern Cape. Given the size of our province, one could safely say they punch above their weight. We all hope they will keep or even improve on the high standards they set in Limpopo two years ago,” she said.
Tlhapi added that through them, they hope to produce boxers in the calibre of the late Norman ‘’Pangaman’’ Sekgapane.
It seems factionalism continues to be the order of the day within the African National Congress (ANC) in the North West.
This comes after ‘unknown’ ANC councillors who were sworn-in at Mamusa Local Municipality allegedly defied their party’s mandate and voted with the opposition parties by electing the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor, Olebogeng Mogorosi as the new municipal speaker.
The ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) spokesperson in the North West, Kenny Morolong lambasted ANC councillors at the municipality after they agreed to vote through a secret ballot which was against the directive of the party.
“In the worst act of counter-revolution, some ANC councillors who are unknown at this stage, voted in favour of the candidate of the opposition and elected him as the speaker of the municipality.
“The ANC vehemently condemns this act of disloyalty and betrayal which undermines the will of the people of Mamusa. The ruling party secured victory during recent Local Government Elections (LGE) after winning 7 out of 8 wards,” Morolong said.
According to statistics, the ANC is represented by nine councillors in a 16 member council. He further said the support the ANC enjoys in Mamusa was also palpable twenty two months ago when the ruling party secured victory during a hotly contested by-election following the disbandment of the previous municipal council.
“The ANC will investigate the conduct of our councillors whose actions have brought the movement into disrepute. Our councillors have recently signed deployment contracts, committing themselves to respect the constitution of the ANC,” he said.
“So, the actions of these faceless elements constitute gross violation of their deployment contract and the ANC constitution. As the IPC, we will continue to engage with our councillors with a view to expose perpetrators of this despicable act of treachery,” he said.
Today in Vryburg, the ANC IPC convened an ‘emergency’ meeting with its councillors from the embattled municipality. Morolong said ANC will spare no effort in unmasking and exposing these deceptive elements and ensure that they face the full might of the party’s constitution.
Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in the North West shared the same sentiments.
COSATU provincial secretary, Kopano Konopi said: “We have learned with disgust of the betrayal of the will of the people of Mamusa and the mandate of the ANC by organisationally ill-disciplined and politically immature individuals deployed as councillors by the ANC in Mamusa.
“The ANC was mandated by the voters in the municipality to govern and work together with the community to build a better Mamusa. However, this mandate was betrayed when some ANC councillors veered from the mandate of the organisation, decided to carry the mandate of dark forces and vote with the opposition.”
Konopi further said these organisationally ill-disciplined and politically immature elements have shown the ‘middle’ finger to the efforts of the liberation movement of renewal, hard work, development, self-correction and accountability.
He said it is for a reason that they are calling on the ANC IPC to exercise decisive leadership on the conduct of these councillors.
close-up of man holding knife smeared with blood and still dripping.
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
A 22-YEAR-OLD woman is expected to appear at Schweizer Reneke Magistrate’s Court on 22 November 2021 for murder. North West police spokesperson, Lit Colonel Amanda Funani said there was a commotion between the suspect and her cousin (42).
Funani said the atrocity took place at Amalia on 20 November 2021.
“According to allegations, the victim was visiting his mother’s residential place and found the suspect eating. They allegedly had an argument and the suspect took out a knife and threatened to stab him.
“However, the victim’s girlfriend managed to intervene and grabbed the knife from the suspect. The victim and the suspect were then left alone. The victim arrived a while later at his residential place which is three houses away from her mother’s residence and told his girlfriend that the suspect stabbed him on his upper body,” she said.
Funani further said an ambulance was called, but the victim died before he could be ferried to the nearby hospital. She added that the police were also summoned and the suspect was arrested and charged with murder.
The motive for the murder is still unknown and investigation into the matter continues.
The North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena condemned the incident and lauded the police for their quick response that led to the arrest and detention of the alleged perpetrator.
Picture: Prof Sonia Swanepoel appointed as new deputy Vice-Chancellor at NWU (Mafikeng campus)
By REGINALD KANYANE
The North-West University (NWU) Council has appointed Prof Sonia Swanepoel as the new deputy Vice-Chancellor for Community Engagement and Mahikeng Campus Operations on 18 November 2021, where she will serve a three year term.
The university’s website said: “As an industrial psychologist, Swanepoel has extensive knowledge and experience in various areas of teaching and learning, research and innovation, community engagement and management.
“She has been serving as acting deputy vice-chancellor for Community Engagement and Mahikeng Campus Operations since May 2021. Before that, she was executive dean of the NWU’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences for four years.”
According to the website, Swanepoel has also previously served as the executive dean of the former Faculty of Commerce and Administration in Mahikeng.
“Before joining the NWU eleven years ago, she was a consultant for Synergy Labour Consulting and held various positions at the Tshwane University of Technology, including that of dean and head of department.
“She was also a lecturer, senior lecturer and principal at Technikon Pretoria from 1982 until 2003. Swanepoel holds BCom and BCom Hons degrees in Personnel Management, and MCom and DCom degrees in Human Resources Management from the University of Pretoria,” said the website.
Swanepoel is part of various professional organisations, including the Health Professions Council of South Africa and the Psychology Association of South Africa for Industrial Psychology.
She was the chairperson of the higher-education committee of the South African Board of People Practices (SABPP) from 2011 to 2015. In addition, Swanepoel was a SABPP board member until 2015 and is a chartered human resources professional of this organisation.
“Swanepoel has presented many articles at conferences and published various articles in accredited journals, as well as in other journals and reports. Through her guidance and mentoring, nine students have obtained their PhD degrees and 16 their master’s degrees.
“The NWU Council congratulated her on her appointment and expressed full confidence in her ability to lead the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus and, as part of the executive management team, the broader university, to even greater successes,” said the website.
Picture: Mokgareng Secondary School principal, Tshepiso Seth Mvula/Facdebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The residents of Maphoitsile village near Taung welcomed the appointment of Tshepiso Seth Mvula as the new principal for Maphoitsile Primary School from January 2022. This follows the resignation of the embattled school principal, Kgotlaetsile Maboitshege.
Maboitshege was removed from the school in June 2021 after he allegedly sexually assaulted a Grade 6 learner. It is alleged that Maboitshege sexually violated a learner by touching her breasts and private parts without her consent.
South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) and community members picketed outside the school calling for his removal. SANCO branch organizer, Lucky Tidikwe said then that they have engaged in a consultative meeting with the department and they were happy that Maboitshege was finally removed.
“The learner reported this matter to her grandmother who is her guardian. However, nothing was done to address it even though the parent went to school to report it. What Maboitshege did was wrong and surprisingly, more than five female learners also came forward with the same allegations.
“Imagine, the same teacher who taught us many years ago. He was supposed to regard these children as his granddaughters. It is clear that our learners are not living in a safer environment here. We have also advised the parents of the learner to go and open a criminal case with the police,” Tidikwe said.
Meanwhile, the North West Education Department spokesperson, Elias Malindi said: “Yes, Mr Mvula has been transferred to the school and he will resume his duties as the new school principal in January 2022.
“Mr Maboitshege has resigned and his sexual assault matter has long been submitted to labour in the department. Mr Mvula is an experienced principal and we believe he will make a positive impact at the school,” Malindi said.
Mvula is currently the principal at Mokgareng Secondary School in Mokgareng village, Taung.
Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati also welcomed Mvula’s appointment. F4SD regional spokesperson, Mika Moeti said: “We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the department. Actually, they have transferred the right person who possesses great qualities of leadership.
“Mr Mvula is a visionary and he has done well in his career. So, we believe that he will steer this ship to the right direction and develop great leaders of tomorrow. What I like about this is that he is also from this community.”
Mika concluded that Mvula will work diligently to ensure that teachers are equipped to be able to be great leaders in the classroom.
A man who was abducted by the residents of Modimong village near Taung in connection of the former Vaaltar FM presenter and socialite, Tshepang Seelo’s murder case said he has ‘forgiven’ his disparagers.
On 17 November 2021, Bakang ‘Mahommed’ Katong was abducted by some angry community members from Modimong village outside the Taung Magistrate’s Court. They allegedly shoved him in a red bakkie and fled.
They allegedly linked Katong to two suspects, Rebaone Malekanyo (32) and Tumelo Tlonkwe (31) who were arrested for assaulting Seelo, while the police are investigating kidnapping and murder case against them.
According to some community members, one of the suspects allegedly confessed that the ‘missing’ body parts of Seelo were sold to Katong. It is alleged that the eyes and tongue were missing from the deceased’s body.
However, Katong said: “Even though I was injured by the angry community members for something that I did not do, I would not open any criminal case against them. I am at peace and I have forgiven them.
“Right now, I am at Taung District Hospital seeking medical attention. I believe that they did not know what they were doing.”
Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Lit Colonel Amanda Funani was quick to squash those allegations that Seelo’s body was mutilated.
“Yes, we can confirm that a man was kidnapped by community members and the police came to his rescue. He was unharmed in the whole fiasco and he is currently at his residential area.
“The victim is not linked to Seelo’s murder case. As the police, we can also confirm that there were no body parts missing from the deceased’s body,” Funani said.
The police strongly warn the community to refrain from committing acts of mob justice. They call on community members to report criminal activities to the lawful authorities rather than taking the law into their own hands.
“People who engage in mob justice should know that the law will definitely be after them. There is nobody who is above the law, despite whatever grievances one might have. You cannot be law unto yourself.
“So, we encourage communities to join structures such as the Community Police Forums (CPF’s) and work together with their local Traditional Leadership with a clear mandate of addressing crime. Acts of mob justice are acts of crime, that’s all.”
The family of the deceased, Kgotlaetsile Mompati (35) in Maphoitsile village near Taung, blame the North West Health Department for his death. According to the deceased’s brother, Clifford Mompati, Kgotlaetsile died a few hours after he was vaccinated.
“My brother complained of headache, dizziness and swollen arm. He also had no appetite during the night of vaccination. So, as a family, we are concerned because it is crystal clear that proper assessment was not done.
“He had chronic disease and we expected the nurses to treat him with high care because people with chronic diseases are at increased risk for complications. Now, he had severely allergic reactions towards the vaccine,” he said.
Mompati also said there were allegations that the nurses who were on duty at that time were under the influence of alcohol. The deceased died on 8 November 2021 at around 10pm and was buried on 14 November 2021.
Meanwhile, the North West Health Department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane refuted these allegations. Lekgethwane said on 7 November 2021, the Vaccination Team of the Greater Taung Sub-District, went to Maphoitsile Community Hall for vaccination.
“On arrival, the hall was booked for a gospel concert for Moruti Tube. The organizers of the concert then denied the vaccination team access to the hall, claiming they paid for the entire premises. They demanded co-payment for the use of the hall,” he said.
Lekgethwane further said the Vaccination Team then requested a space to vaccinate at a nearby house and the owner gave them permission. He added that the team vaccinated under a tree.
“On weekends, managers are allocated to support the vaccination teams. The team at Maphoitsile village was under the leadership of the Acting Assistant Director Community Health Service.
“The deceased was also a chronic patient who was on hypertension medication. The cause of death is not known to the department. So, the department would comment on the cause of death based on information provided on the death certificate,” he said.
Lekgethwane said their Sub-District has never experienced the death of a patient after being vaccinated. He said the cause of death can only be established through an investigation and it is a fallacy that nurses were under the influence of alcohol while vaccinating patients.
“The nurses were not under the influence of alcohol and they were supervised by a manager. The department would act if substantive evidence is brought forward to support the allegations.
“As department, we would also welcome such information and investigate. We would take appropriate steps if any official is found to have been under the influence of alcohol whilst on duty,” concluded Lekgethwane.
Picture: North West Education department administrator, Johannes Mohlala/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
GATVOL voters and residents’ organisation in North West, call for the removal of all administrators in the province. This comes after the arrest of the North West Department of Education administrator, Nkhono Johannes Mohlala (57) by the Hawks recently.
Mohlala was arrested in Pretoria by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation unit, The Hawks, along with two suspects.
It is alleged that Mohlala illegally invested over R230 millions of the taxpayers’ money into the now defunct VBS Mutual Bank, while he was still the Municipal Manager at Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality.
Now, GATVOL provincial chairperson, James Gadinabokao said: “We welcome the arrest of Mohlala who has been at the helm of the North West Department of Education for the last three years. There is nothing to show for his stay in that department.
“The same department has under-spent R200 millions of infrastructure grants under his watch. This happens despite many schools in the province still dilapidated and lacking in infrastructure.”
Gadinabokao said Mohlala is a ‘perfect’ example of what they have been complaining about. He further said the national government ‘undermines’ the many skilled and qualified men and women in the province and appoints people who have no interest in the province at all.
“Their aim is to loot and fill their pockets. The North West province has been placed under Section 100 of the Constitution for the last three years, but it continues to be in a dire situation.
“There is tender manipulation in the departments that are under administration. It is heart-breaking to see the same administrators milking the budget of the province and channelling tenders to people who reside out of this province,” he said.
He also challenged the government to check all tenders awarded in the last three years. Gadinabokao further said the findings will be shocking.
“The concept of locality is undermined by these administrators. We will continue to call on the state President to remove these administrators as they have embarrassed him and they will continue to loot what remains of the depleted resources of this province.
“The North West Provincial Government is in a worse situation than in 2018. Unemployment and poverty continue to rise even when we have administrators. The municipalities have not improved at all, yet we have administrators in the province,” said Gadinabokao.
He said as GATVOL, they are sick and tired of the deteriorating state of affairs in the province under the ‘watch of administrators’ who were projected as messiahs when they were appointed.
The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the North West shared the same sentiments.
SANCO provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe said: “We take strong exception that the national intervention team could have included such a dubious character as this suggests that earlier concerns about the administrator’s alleged preference of service providers from outside the province were not possibly misplaced and without basis.
“The objective to restore good governance and confidence in public institutions was severely compromised in the choice of an individual shrouded in corruption allegations. The turn of events could indicate that the said official may not have been adequately experienced in provincial education administration hence over R200 million in infrastructure grant was underspent under his leadership.”
He said that communities in the province cannot afford another looting spree which denies them quality services.
The National Treasury had earlier in the year reported that R2.3 billion is believed to have been squandered on dodgy tenders while the provincial department was under Section 100 administration.
Mohlala was granted a R50 000 bail and will be back in court on 1 March 2022.
The Guardian 