BY REGINALD KANYANE

MURDER case against nine suspects was postponed by Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. A 48 year-old farmer, his wife and seven other suspects were arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and assault case.   

Tigwinita Luwantu, Lindiwe Mpathani,39, Moipolai Mmastoki, 54, Lehula Kedibone, 37, Simphiwe Cele, 31,  David Plaatjie, 43, and Thatafalo Kibane,18 allegedly kidnapped,  assaulted, and killed a man and seriously wounded other two men on their farm in Soutpansfontein, near Stella last week.

National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson, Frank Lesenyego said: “Three men were accused of stealing livestock from Tigwinita’s farm. Ten suspects were subsequently arrested on Wednesday last week following the incident. Three people were later released. One person could not be positively linked to the crime while other two were minors aged 14 and 16 respectively,”

Lesenyego said the group allegedly assaulted three men with knobkerries and poured them with boiling water on their bodies. He said that three victims were allegedly walking in the veld looking for wood when they were caught by the group.

“Moses Mosepele died while the other two are still recovering at a local hospital. The family of the deceased accused Stella police for being involved in the assault after they arrived at the scene,”

“The suspects will be remanded in custody including two Constables, Bonginkosi Mazibuko and Olebogeng Nkele. Police officers were arrested after they allegedly participated in assaulting the victims. The case was postponed until Friday for bail applicationapplication,” he said.

-TDN

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Cape Town – MTN, Africa’s biggest mobile-phone company that’s facing a $5.2 billion fine in Nigeria, must follow the rules in countries where it does business, said South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“We will obviously be taking note of what is happening with a view of seeing how the company involved responds and reacts in this matter,” Ramaphosa told lawmakers in Cape Town on Wednesday. “We would like our companies to comply with the laws and regulations of countries where they operate, without violating those.”

The comments by Ramaphosa, a former chairman of MTN, suggest South African authorities may leave MTN to fend for itself as it seeks to have the penalty reduced. MTN shares have slumped 14 percent since October 26, when Nigeria’s industry regulator imposed the fine for failing to disconnect customers with unregistered phone cards.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

Bloemfontein – State prosecutor Gerrie Nel said on Tuesday he could not comment on the context in which Oscar Pistorius’s advocate Barry Roux had told him that he, Roux, was going to “lose”.

“No, I can’t. You should speak to Roux about it,” Nel told News24, smiling as he wheeled his briefcase across the Supreme Court of Appeal courtyard to the exit.

Roux did not answer his phone or respond to a text message for clarification.

After court adjourned on Tuesday afternoon, pool microphones for the broadcast picked up Roux and Nel chatting after proceedings, which had been broadcast live.

For more http://www.news24.com

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
Chairperson of Mkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association, in North West, Leon Mkabela to address the unbecoming behaviour of its member and the former mayor of Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality Africa Thale.

Mkabela said his association will also pronounce its decision to suspend the membership of Thale for refusing to abide to the orders of the ANC.

He said they will also raise reports that Afrika Thale has resorted to use members of MKMVA as his protectors which is viewed as a fight against the decision of the ANC.

The conference will be held on November 4 at ANC Parliamentary House in Venterdorp at 11H00.
-TDN
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BY REGINALD KANYANE
The North West Provincial Government has appointed four new Heads of Departments (HoDs) and two Deputy Directors General (DDG).

The newly appointed HoDs are for departments of Social Development, Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development and Tourism, while the appointed Deputy Directors General are for Administration and Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation respectively, within the Office of the Premier. 

This was announced by premier Supra Mahumapelo today during a media briefing that was held in Mahikeng.

Mahumapelo said, while the Provincial Government has put in place a flexible moratorium on filling of vacant posts across the departments, it remained critical for the province to prioritise filling of these management posts as the government administration rests in their hands.

“We have been having many officials appointed to act on critical Senior Management posts, and this is one way of dealing with this “acting” situation. We are also prioritising core function posts in lower levels, this with a view to ensure that service delivery is not compromised,” Mahumapelo said.

Emphasising the significance of introducing a flexible moratorium on the filling of vacant posts, Mahumapelo said it is meant to deal with the escalating wage bill.
-TDN
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BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

THE Rustenburg local municipality continues to ensure that it makes efforts to fulfill their objective of becoming an infrastructure led economy Africa city. The municipality mayor, Mpho Khunou said that they were full-steamed ahead with its flagship programme during the Ramochana Bridge unveiling last week Tuesday.

“Infrastructure development is one of our key job drivers together with tourism, manufacturing, mining and beneficiation, the green and blue economies and agriculture. This represents an exciting journey for the municipality as we reached new frontiers in efforts to rally communities that we serve in seizing the unlimited growth opportunities that come with safe, reliable, affordable, comfortable public transport system.” Khunou said.

In line with the spirit of encouraging public transport usage, he said: “Without a flicker of doubt, I say, together we have turned the corner. We are changing course and making great strides towards fulfilling our vision of ushering in a world-class city where all citizens live a high quality of life.

“The bridges are among the most powerful and important symbols in human society. They are symbols of two-way communication, economic empowerment, connection, cooperation and most importantly the promotion of harmony. As we inaugurate the iconic Ramochana Bridge, we are fulfilling the people’s mandate and aspirations of a better life for all.” he said.

Khunou said that the unveiling of the new bridge was part of service delivery by the Rustenburg Rapid Transport project along the R510. He said that also symbolised the municipality’s common determination to help open up the city to new development and improved prosperity.

According to Khunou, since January to August this year, there have been an alarming 3,670 road traffic accidents on the city’s roads. He said in particular the highest number of accidents in Rustenburg was in March this year.

“We have recorded 512 accidents where some resulted in the loss of life. In previous years we as a municipality had been inundated with complaints from residents. We listened to the people, now we also gone beyond their requests. We have built a new interchange with a bridge over the railway line. The municipality hope that with the commissioning of the Ramochana Bridge, the challenges of accidents will be addressed. We will continue to monitor the area to evaluate the impact that this bridge brings to the quality of life of our community members,” Khunou said.

Khunou said the municipality and government, through National grants, has also embarked on other major infrastructure development initiatives to improve the road networks of the city of Rustenburg. He said key amongst these was the major upgrade currently taking place on the R24 through SANRAL.

“This is a dual carriage road way to improve access into the city and major intersections such as the N4, D108 for ease of traffic, improve road safety and facilitate freight access into the mines. The road is also aimed at attracting investment through the Rustenburg- Mogale City Development Corridor, an initiative between the Gauteng and North West Provincial Government as well as the Rustenburg and Mogale City local municipalities.”

BY REGINALD KANYANE

A 38 year-old man appeared before Tlhabane Magistrate’s Court on Friday for alleged murder of his girlfriend. North West police spokesperson, Major Pelonomi Makau said: “The man was arrested after he allegedly stoned and stabbed his girlfriend to death. A 26 year-old girl was found in a pool of blood on Wednesday last week at a dumping site in Phokeng, near Rustenburg.”

Makau said the preliminary investigations led the police to his boyfriend who was questioned and subsequently arrested. She said victim’s lifeless body was found with multiple stab wounds on the upper part of it.

Makau said the girl also suffered head injuries.

“Several stones with blood stains were also found around the deceased’s body. Police suspect that the victim might also be stoned to death. The suspect was denied bail and will remain in custody until his next appearance on November 5.” she said.

-TDN

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BY REGINALD KANYANE

TWO suspects were arrested for theft after they allegedly entered a well-known retail shop in Mahikeng on Friday. North West police spokesperson, Major Pelonomi Makau says the suspects were arrested after suspected stolen goods were found in their possession.

“A 24 year-old woman allegedly entered a retail shop and stole new clothes from the shop. The security guards followed her. When the woman realized that the security guards are pouncing on her, she dropped the plastic and ran into a gateway minibus taxi that was waiting for her.

“The security guards managed to arrest the driver and the woman before they could flee. The other clothes from other retailers estimated at R35 000 were also found in the taxi. The driver aged 32 was arrested alongside the woman for being in possession of suspected stolen goods. They appeared before Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on Monday for theft.” Makau said.

-TDN

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