By REGINALD KANYANE

Netball South Africa and Twizza have launched a new Netball Club Champions across the country. The Netball South Africa president, Cecilia Molokwane said this initiative will take netball back to the people. Molokwane said their quest to grow the game seems to be finally coming to fruition.

“It is always a pleasure to work with partners that understand the vision that we have as Netball South Africa and see the value in investing towards the growth of the sport. We are grateful to Twizza for throwing their weight behind this club netball tournament.

“This will help us to begin the journey of giving more players access to the sport. We believe that this is the start of greater things to come. I would like to urge all players to get involved in this tournament and challenge districts in making sure that we make this possible,” she said.

Molokwane further said the Twizza Netball Club Championships will be played over a four-month period between May and September 2021, and will be broken down into districts, provincial and national levels.

She added that the formation of the tournament will bridge the gap in the netball pyramid and help them to unearth talent at a local level.

“This tournament will provide players, coaches, umpires and administrators with the opportunity to showcase their abilities at a competitive level, and to contend for selection for the SPAR National Championships, followed by The Telkom Netball League, and eventually the SPAR Proteas.

“Event organisers are hoping to see about 52 districts hosting their own leagues with about 20 clubs per district participating. The top two teams from every district will compete at an inter-provincial netball competition which will run between July and August,” said Molokwane.

She said the winners of each provincial tournament will then compete in a national competition to determine the best club in South Africa and these finals will take place between the 23 and 26 September 2021.

Molokwane said growing the sport and making it professional is not an overnight job, neither is it a task that they can do alone.

“The federation has a 2025 vision themed ‘Magnificent 3M’ which seeks to have at least three million netball people registered, irrespective of whether they are coaches, players, umpires, or administrators, she said.

 Meanwhile, the Twizza’s Group Marketing Manager, Lance Coertzen said: “Sport is one of the world’s greatest unifying forces and one that as a country we can all get behind. As a proudly South African company, we are honoured to sponsor the rising young stars of the netball courts.

“We’ll also, be seeing many memories and Twizza moments being made in every match.  The competition seeks to attain a few objectives which are to ensure that we develop grassroots netball at a club level.”

Coertzen said this will assist the league to unearth netball talent across the country and most importantly, provide consistent competition for all players across South Africa.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A body of a girl was found dumped in the bushes in Kgomotso village near Pampierstad on Wednesday. According to information, Tshimologo Lotshabeng (4) went missing on Saturday.

North West police spokesperson, Lit Colonel Amanda Funani said on Friday evening, the girl’s mother (32) took Tshimologo to her friend’s place, where she left her with six other children and went to a local tavern.

“It is alleged that the mother came back drunk in the early hours of Saturday morning, accompanied by two friends. The mother, who found the children sleeping, apparently slept in her friend’s room.

“She woke up in the morning and realised that her daughter was missing. As a result, she went to her residential place to look for Tshimologo but did not find her. A missing person inquiry was ultimately reported on Saturday,” Funani said.

She said subsequently, the search was conducted in the area, and the girl’s naked body was found in the bushes on Sunday. Funani further said the preliminary investigation revealed that the young girl was allegedly raped and strangled to death.

“Investigation into the matter continues and the police request anyone who may have information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect to call the Investigating Officer, Warrant Officer Akanyang Pitsonyane on 082 378 3262 Alternatively, SAPS Crime Stop can be called on 08600 10111,” said Funani.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Dintletse Molefe condemned the incident and urged the community of Kgomotso to work with the police to ensure that the perpetrator is arrested. 

She further conveyed her condolences to the family and advised parents to be cautious with their children and not to leave them unattended.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A 34-YEAR-OLD man arrested in connection with possession of an unlicensed firearm, ammunition and explosive gel. North West police Lit Colonel Amanda Funani said the suspect is expected to appear in the Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court in Tlhabane on Thursday.

“The suspect’s court appearance emanates from his apprehension on Tuesday after the vehicle that he was in was intercepted near Rietvellie graveyard in Phokeng outside Rustenburg.

“Police received a tip-off from members of the community regarding a conspiracy to commit house-breaking at a farm in the vicinity of Swartruggens. Consequently, the Tactical Team of Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 2 acted swiftly by following the leads and interrupted the vehicle, a Toyota Prado,” Funani said.

She said two of the three occupants managed to flee while the suspect was arrested. Funani added that the police found 9mm, live ammunition, magazine, and explosive gel inside the vehicle.

The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Dintletse Molefe congratulated the Sub-District Tactical Team for their hard work that led to the arrest of the suspect. Molefe also emphasised that there will be no rest until the two remaining suspects are nabbed.

“We would like to thank the members of the community who came up with the information that assisted police in preventing the robbery,” said Molefe.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 17-YEAR-OLD girl from Mokgareng village near Taung was allegedly raped by a well-known employee of the North West Health Department at Taung District on Saturday night.

According to information, the alleged victim and her friends were hitch-hiking from Mokassa to Mokgareng village when they were picked up by the suspect.

It is alleged that the suspect dropped the friends of the victim and took her to Tamati’s storeroom in Mokgareng village, where the alleged rape took place. The alleged victim went home afterwards and allegedly informed her uncle about the ordeal.

A rape case was opened at Taung Police Station on Sunday morning. However, the North West police spokesperson, Lit Colonel Amanda Funani said: “Even though a rape case has been opened, no one has been arrested yet because of some technicalities in the evidence.

“We still have to conduct an identification parade. Police cannot just go out and arrest without following procedure, but please check with me on Monday and see if there is any development around this case.”

It is alleged that the police have also failed to go to the crime scene and collect evidence. Investigation continues.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Two siblings were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder by the North West High Court on Tuesday. Gopolang Maoka (36) and Moleko Maoka (37) were arrested for plotting Segwagwa Modiegi’s death.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said the accused who are related to Modiegi (64), were charged with murder, robbery and two counts of fraud.

“The Maoka brothers worked and stayed together in Kathu near Kuruman. The investigations revealed that the two were renting from the deceased and upon retirement, he moved to Seoding village where they all originate from.

“Modiegi left his premises under the care of Maoka brothers and among other things, they were responsible for collecting rental money from other tenants to send it to the deceased,” he said.

Mamothame further said upon realising the amount of money accumulated from rentals, the two brothers driven by greed, convinced each other to operate the business for themselves. He said the accused felt that the deceased was an obstacle in their quest to own his business and they conspired to kill him.

“On 7 January 2017, the accused arranged a meeting with the deceased under a false pretense of a family meeting in Seoding. They then left Kathu on the set date after knocking off from work and went to Seoding, where their plan was to be executed.

However, their cousin back in Seoding where the meeting was supposed to take place was not aware of their presence in the village. As planned, they called the deceased person to meet with him at their cousin’s house where the family meetings are usually held,” said Mamothame.

He said the accused waited for Modiegi in the bushes where he was supposed to pass through and they gruesomely murdered him by bashing his head with a huge stone and robbed him off his two cellphones.

Mamothame added that the deceased was discovered the following day with his face and head crushed and brain scattered.

“Evidence led in court by the investigating officer, revealed that a few months prior to executing the murder, the accused insured the deceased person with Nedbank as well as Assupol with an intention of cashing up on the two policies after murdering him.

“The family of the deceased was instructed by the police to refer anyone who requested the death certificate to the police. Following this instruction, investigations led to the arrest of Moleko Maoka on 17 January 2017 whilst making inquiries about the death certificate of the deceased with the intention of claiming from the insurance companies,” Mamothame said.

He added that Moleko eventually disclosed his reasons for inquiring about the death certificate and he also confessed to the entire plot of murdering the deceased to make financial gains on his rental property.

Mamothame said investigations further led the police to Kathu village on 23 January 2017 and the rented apartment belonging to the accused was searched and a blood stained pair of shoes were seized by the police.

“The forensic results positively matched the bloodstains to that of the deceased.

The two were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years for robbery. They were however acquitted on the two charges of fraud. Judge Gura emphasized that in killing the deceased who was 64 years at the time, their conduct was motivated by greed and as such an innocent life was lost.

In mitigating for maximum sentence, Advocate Cain Nontenjwa argued that this dreadful murder was premeditated and driven by greed, therefore warranted a maximum prison term, to which the judge concurred.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A 64-YEAR-OLD man went missing in Mokgareng village in Taung on Sunday. According to the North West police spokesperson, Sgt Tryphosa Van Rooyen, Borupile Frank Modisagaarekwe who stays alone in a house was last seen on Sunday.

“Anyone who may have information about the whereabouts of Modisagaarekwe can contact the investigating officer, Constable Kagiso Maje of Taung Detectives on ‪0824690369,” Van Rooyen said.

She further said people can also call the Crime Stop on ‪08600 10111 and send anonymous tip-offs via MySAPS App.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A 21-YEAR-OLD man from Majakaneng village near Mooinooi is missing. It is alleged that Rain Arthur Mfulwane was last seen on 29 April 2021 at around 5am.

Police spokesperson, Maria Nkabinde said: “Mfulwane was last seen wearing a navy blue T-shirt with white stripes, black trousers, and a pair of navy blue sneakers. He is medium built, tall in height, and has short black hair.

“In addition, he is light in complexion with a scar on the nose. Mfulwane was acting flamboyant and told his mother that he is going out, but he never returned home,” Nkabinde said.

She said anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can contact the Investigating  Officer, Detective Sergeant Justice Maselesele  of Mooinooi Detectives on 082 416 2415 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via MySAPS App.

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By CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Our experience with the democratic transition is a lesson about the power of empathy, negotiation and compromise. The escalating situation in Israel and Palestine affirms once more what we South Africans know too well, that intractable conflicts can only be solved through peaceful negotiation.

It also demonstrates that unless the root causes of a conflict are addressed, in this case the illegal occupation by Israel of Palestinian land and the denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, there will never be peace.

The latest violence was sparked by an Israeli court decision to evict a group of families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem to make way for Israeli settlements.

The sight of men, women and children being evicted from the homes their families have lived in for generations brings back painful collective and personal memories for the majority of South Africans – of forced removals and land dispossession.

It was a pain and humiliation faced by my own family, and by many South African families. My family was forcibly moved to different parts of the country on two occasions.

Being forced from one’s home at gunpoint is a trauma not easily forgotten, and is carried across generations. As a country we are still living with the residual effects of the callous acts carried out in the name of apartheid spatial planning.

For all who believe in equality, justice and human rights, we cannot but be moved and indeed angered, at the pain and humiliation being inflicted on the Palestinian people; for it echoes our own.

Israel’s actions are a violation of international law. They show a total disregard for successive United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions that call for an end to the occupation of Palestinian land and for the fulfillment of the rights of the Palestinian people.

Since Israeli security forces launched assaults on worshippers at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem last week, the violence has now engulfed the Gaza Strip, large parts of the West Bank and a number of Israeli cities. It has claimed the lives of dozens of people, including children. 

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) at least 40 children have been killed in Gaza since 10 May. Over half of them were under 10 years old.

It is also deeply troubling that Israeli forces last week destroyed a multi-storey building that housed a number of media organisations, sending a chilling message to media reporting on the violence.

The senseless and continued Israeli bombardment of Gaza will have devastating consequences for more than two million people who have been suffering under an illegal Israeli blockade for 14 years. As is always the case, it is civilians who will bear the brunt, with their homes and livelihoods destroyed.

Every effort must be made to dissuade both sides from further escalation, and to end the violence that is causing fear, death and misery on both sides.

We call on all parties involved to show restraint, to respect human life, and to cease the current hostilities.

Far too many lives have been lost to this intractable conflict. The continued occupation of Palestinian land and the suffering of the Palestinian people is a blight on the conscience of humanity.

As South Africa we are committed to being part of international efforts aimed at reviving a political process that will lead to the establishment of a viable Palestinian state existing side-by-side in peace with Israel, and within internationally recognised borders.

The two-state solution remains the most viable option for the peoples of Israel and Palestine, and must continue to be supported.

Just as Israeli security forces were attacking worshippers at the Al Aqsa Mosque, we in South Africa were preparing to commemorate the centenary of the Bulhoek Massacre at a religious site in Ntabelanga in the Eastern Cape. On 24 May 1921, colonial security forces armed with machine guns and artillery opened fire on worshippers, killing more than 160 people and wounding nearly 130.

The massacre laid bare the brutality not only of the police force of the Union of South Africa, but also the racist system that it was charged to uphold.

Just like the dispute in the Sheik Jarrah neighbourhood, the atrocity at Bulhoek was not just about a local dispute; it was fundamentally about the forced dispossession of land, about colonial occupation, about racial discrimination and about the violent suppression of dissent.

As we reflect on the crisis in the Middle East and particularly on the suffering of the Palestinian people, we would do well to recall the words of Selby Msimang, a founding member of the African National Congress.

In the aftermath of the Bulhoek massacre he wrote: “History has shown that the human soul naturally revolts against injustice.” The protests and the revolt of the oppressed people of South Africa against colonialism and apartheid proved the veracity of this prophecy.

As lovers of freedom and of justice, we stand with the Palestinian people in their quest for self-determination, but also in their resistance against the deprivation of their human rights and the denial of their dignity.

As citizens of a country that was able to turn its back on race-hatred and bloodshed and build an inclusive society rooted in human rights for all, it is our collective hope that the people of Israel and Palestine will follow a similar path; that they will find each other, and that they will find peace.

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