North West – Three men believed to be kingpins of a housebreaking syndicate and a fourth man were arrested and appeared in court in the North West province following a community tip-off, provincial police said on Friday.

“We were on the lookout for the three men believed to be kingpins of a syndicate suspected to be behind a spate of crimes, including robberies and housebreakings in the Rustenburg area,” said provincial spokesperson Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone.

“We thank the community for information that led to the arrest. Active partnership between the police and community in policing issues can go a long way in the fight against crime.”

After a spate of robberies and housebreakings, Tlhabane police alerted the local community to be on the lookout for a “suspicious-looking silver grey Toyota Corolla with three male occupants wearing reflector jackets”.

On Tuesday, March 24, a community member informed Tlhabane Crime Prevention about a vehicle matching the police description.

Police responded, cornering the three suspects – Neo Matsemela, Sello Itumeleng, and Maboa Stevens – and immediately recovering two unlicensed firearms without serial numbers and 18 rounds of live ammunition.

The officers also found housebreaking implements including a crowbar and screw driver, jewellery, three cellphones, a duvet set, and expensive perfumes.

Shortly before their arrest, the trio had allegedly committed an armed robbery at a local tuckshop, robbing the complainant of an undisclosed amount of money and merchandise.

Added to this, preliminary investigations revealed the suspects’ vehicle had a false North West registration number while another set of Gauteng-issued number plates were discovered.

Further investigation into the trio’s case led police to the recovery of two plasma televisions, two remote jammers, and two cellphones at a home in Thlabane.

The homeowner, 39-year-old Peter Mogale, was arrested and charged for possession of stolen properties after appearing in Bafokeng Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Mogale was granted R1000 bail and would appear again in court on April, 24.

Matsemela, Itumeleng, and Stevens appeared in Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for possession of suspected stolen property, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as possession of housebreaking implements.

Their case was postponed until April 2 for further investigation.

“At this stage, investigations are underway to try and link the suspects to similar cases reported within the Rustenburg area,” said Mokgwabone.

African News Agency

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) says a national strike at Telkom is imminent if the fixed line operator continues with its planned restructuring process. The union has addressed the media in Johannesburg on Friday.

Communication Workers Union says they will bring Telkom to a standstill if it continues with its intended plans. They say Telkom indicated that in light of unhappiness of workers to transfer them, they will offer voluntary severance packages.

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

A 53-year-old school principal in one of the schools in Chartswoth has been arrested and charged for assault. He appeared before the Pinetown Magistrate Court and the case has been remanded for further investigation.

This emanates from the assault that took place in 2013 in one of the schools when the principal Asogan Subramaney Naicker allegedly assaulted a 14-year-old girl for misconduct.

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

The community of Mnini, south of Durban, has come forward with information about a number of graves in the area. They say people were buried in shallow graves in the 1980’s.

Recently, a number of graves were discovered at Dududu, and the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government had asked President Jacob Zuma to launch an investigation.

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

A member of the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, Kuben Naidoo, has been appointed as the new Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank.

President Jacob Zuma says Naidoo will assume his position on April 1, 2015. He is currently the advisor to the Governor of the Reserve Bank and also acts as the head of the Secretariat of the National Planning Commission.

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

Mahikeng – The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in Bokone Bophirima, Mahlakeng Mahlakeng has applauded the Department of Local Government and Human Settlements for the unwavering support it provides to all established Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPAC), the provincial forum in the Province.

Mahlakeng, was speaking recently at a meeting to prepare for the Annual General Meeting and Council of Delegates which will be held in Pretoria. The Bokone Bophirima is amongst the eight provinces that have succeeded in establishing of the MPACs, the provincial MPAC chairpersons forum chaired by the chairperson of the PPAC, MPAC support staff and MPAC district forum in all the four districts. The MPACs are intended to enhance accountability and local government oversight in order to achieve clean audits.

He acknowledged that SCOPA is aware of the challenges outlined in the audit outcome and that the position paper from Association of Public Accounts Committees will assist in coordinating the support given to MPACs to execute their oversight responsibility appropriately towards achieving clean audit.

“Members were given the opportunity to make their inputs towards the document that basically addresses the legality, functionality and coordination of MPACs towards government oversight. “Though we align ourselves to the principle content of the document, there are however certain issues that we will take a position on and present to the general meeting as the Bokone Bophirima provincial delegation. Mahlakeng” Human Settlements departmental spokesperson Ben Bole said.

Mahlakeng further reminded the members that they must take responsibility of their work and further assured them of the support available to them from SCOPA. “The Department of Local Government and Human Settlements is there to assist and I applaud them for the support and dedication that they have shown since the establishment of MPACs. We have also urged you to know what you are doing and get clarity regarding your role. I believe that if you are given relevant administration and personnel support, you will not need SCOPA intervention from time to time” concluded Mahlakeng.

-TDN

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Rustenburg- This year’s Easter Arrive Alive launch will take a different approach with the involvement of transport stakeholders signing the pledge in support of Road Safety Campaign.

Community Safety and Transport Management, MEC Molapisi said it is time for the Department to implement an integrated approach with all relevant stakeholders in promoting road safety.

“Road safety is a combined responsibility, therefore, the department has taken a conscious decision of bringing all the stakeholders on board to commit in working closely with us to save millions of lives on our roads.

Our roads are painted red with blood of our loved ones and we are saying it’s enough, one fatality on the road is too many,” he said.

The pledge will be signed at the Rustenburg Bus and Taxi Rank where the MEC will further engage with drivers and commuters advocating for road safety during this year’s 2015 Easter Season.

Immediately after the official launch and signing of the pledge, MEC Molapisi will handover car seats donated by the Road Accident Fund to motorists. The beneficiaries will be identified during the road safety campaign roadblock at Ziniaville.

Members of the Media are therefore invited to be part of the event that will be held as follows:

Date  :         Tuesday 31 March 2015

Venue:        Rustenburg bus and taxi rank

Time  :         6H30 am

-TDN

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Head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mxolisi Nxasana, says the accusations and allegations made against his Department by the SA Police Service (SAPS) regarding a summons for the NPA deputy Director, Nomgcobo Jiba, were unnecessary and distasteful.

A war of words has erupted between the NPA and the police over the summons. The SAPS says the summons was acquired unprocedurally.

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