Criminals are not welcome in South Africa, national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega has said.

“This is not a country for criminals. We shall reclaim this space for our nation,” she said at the memorial service of three police officers in Kuils River today.

The officers were killed at the end of last month.

“Those who are not interested in staying in this peaceful, wonderful country of ours can take leave.”

Constable Lungisa Depha (36) was shot dead on Sunday, July 28 while recording details at the scene of a car crash in Mitchells Plain. Phiyega said he was arresting a suspected drunk driver at the time.

The same day, Sergeant Landile Yengo (43) was shot in his Khayelitsha home while getting ready to go to work. He died on his way to hospital. The next day, Sergeant Bafundi Mdlalo (34) was shot dead in his Mitchells Plain home.

Seven police officers were killed in the province last month.

At the start of the church service, Phiyega and family members were led to a table in front with photos of the officers, surrounded by thick white candles and flower arrangements. Their widows, dressed in black, collapsed at the sight of the photos and were escorted, wailing, back to their seats.

One of the late officers’ young daughters, dressed in a frilly pink dress, sucked a lollipop and played on the floor, unaware of what was going on. Police colleagues and relatives in the large hall sang a mournful tune as Phiyega lit the candles and gazed into the flames for a moment.

– Sapa

A man was arrested on Monday in connection with the rape of his 12-year-old sister in Dobsonville, west of Johannesburg.

The 19-year-old was arrested in Doornkop after a relative reported him to police, Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said today.

The relative took her to a doctor when she appeared to be ill.

“(During the visit), the doctor pointed out that the girl was sexually active and that she had been for a long time. They then started interviewing her,” said Makhubela.

“According to the doctor, it looks like it has been a continuous thing for the past 10 years,” he said.

The girl was currently being treated in hospital.

The man was in police custody and would appear in the Protea Magistrates’ Court tomorrow on rape charges, Makhubela said.
For more http://www.citypress.co.za

By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley-Ou John Petrus Setlholo (50) will spend 15 years after being found guilty of raping 80 year old woman. Ou John raped the victim at her house at Santa Centre on the 2nd of January 2013. The victim and the accused are biologically related.
“The accused offered an 80 year old woman (victim) an alcohol, of which they both enjoyed. While the victim got intoxicated of the alcohol, the victim took an advantage of the situation and he raped the old woman” Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana said. The victim’s daughter caught the accused red-handed whilst in action busy raping the victim and she alerted the police about the incident.
The accused was arrested immediately on the scene by the Galeshewe police.
“Since his arrest he was denied bail and was remanded in police custody. On Friday, 02 August 2013, he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for rape by the Northern Cape High Court” Tawana said.
The Acting Judge took the fact that the accused is a first time offender into a consideration. However that did not deterred her from handing a hefty sentence to the accused.
“During the sentencing, the Acting Judge Mamosebo indicated that the victim trusted the accused, and relied on him to take care of her, and he is related to the victim” Kock said.
“Rape is a very serious offence; although the accused had pleaded guilty it does not mean that he should get a lesser sentence. He should learn to respect woman and protect them but not take advantage of their vulnerability” said the Judge Mamosebo.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley-Police are investigating an inquest into the death of an unknown man after his body found hanging from a tree with a nylon rope around his neck. The man was discovered by a passer-by on last week at approximately 09:20am in a veld.
“The open field used tobe a public park, situated between Brennan and Armstrong Street in Verwoerd Park, Kimberley. The deceased is slender, dark in complexion, medium length curly hair and approximately 1.6m tall” lieutenant Sergio Kock said.
Police said the deceased could be between the age of 20 and 30 years old and was wearing a green cotton jacket, blue jeans and black construction boots.
The police request that the public assist with the identification of this unknown male and all information about the incident can be forwarded to Detective Warrant Officer Patrick Dibebe at 082 331 4712 or 053 838 4100.
The police suspect no foul play at this stage. The investigation continues.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

By Obakeng Maje
Potchefstroom-The ridiculous statements of Social Development Minister for Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, that over 19 000 children are suffering from malnutrition and that there more than 17 000 child-headed households in Potchefstroom, most of whom do not receive social assistance”, is indicative to which level the ANC will stoop in its desperate attempts to regain control over the Tlokwe Municipality in Potchefstroom DA Chris Hattingh reiterates.
“If these statistics were remotely accurate and trustworthy is would almost have been criminal not to declare a state of emergency in the municipality. It would also have been a serious indictment against her Department for allowing such a disaster to unfold without any intervention during the last 20 years:” Chris Hattingh said.
DA said the truth however lies in the deliberate abuse of state resources in the ANC’s attempt to win Ward 9 in Potchefstroom during Wednesday’s by-election. The Minister’s deployment of officials, including community development workers and social workers only into Ward 9, even handing out food parcels from the ANC candidate’s house, places her statement that this is done in the normal day to day run of Departmental business into context – even staunch ANC supporters sniggered sheepishly.
“It has very little to do with community-care and all with electioneering. Future Dlamini statements should be consumed in this context” said DA.
“The reality is that the ANC, in once again blurring the lines between party and state and will stop at nothing to mislead the community in the days before an important election. The deplorable abuse of state resources and then to pretend that the ANC is a caring and delivering government by preying on the emotions of impoverished voters in squatter areas has apparently become standard practice” He yields.
However the one promise that Dlamini made that can be trusted is the one that she will return to Potchefstroom in one month’s time – that will be before the next round of by-elections in this municipality where more truckloads of state-funded food parcels and blankets will be handed out said DA.
The Potchefstroom community demanded action from the ANC about the allegations of fraud and corruption as confirmed in forensic investigative reports which finally lead to the expulsion of 14 ANC whistle-blowing councillors.
“The ANC responded with the delivery of food parcels and blankets days before the ward 9 by-election. How the electorate will respond to the ANC’s smoke and mirrors strategy in lieu of action and delivery will become clear on Wednesday” concludes Hattingh.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

TUESDAY was a normal day for Joburg social worker 

Annah Mokgethi.

That was until she started receiving death threat messages on her cellphone!

The messages to Annah, from Snake Park near Dobsonville in Soweto, threatened to kill her two children, her niece, her niece’s 10-month-old daughter, and her mum.

For more http://www.dailysun.mobi

By TDN

North West MEC for Social Development, Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Collen Maine will tomorrow embark on ‘Operation Dignity’ to raise awareness on the rights of elderly people in Matlosana Local Municipality, departmental spokesperson Vuyisile Ngesi said on Monday.

Ngesi said the operation will include community work involving various stakeholders and trained youth who will volunteer their skills to improve the living condition of the eldest granny, Johanna Mazibuko aged 119 years at Jourbeton.

“As part of the activities earmarked to honour and celebrate the life of Mme Mazibuko, the MEC Maine together with the stakeholders will paint, clean the house, put the tiles, erect a fence and further re-arrange electric wiring in the house, Ngesi said. Ngesi adds that 100 older people aged 70 years and above have been invited to have a lunch with Mazibuko at Brazil Stadium at 12h00.

“Afterwards MEC Maine will also convene a meeting with faith based organisations including the departamental management and staff members in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District as part of his 100 days programme in office” he said. 

MEC visits to district offices will be undertaken to Ngaka Modiri Molema, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and Bojanala before the end of August this year.-TDN

(Edited by Obakeng Maje)

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

Johannesburg – Thirty-two children were injured when their bus veered off the road in Douglasdale, northern Johannesburg, on Monday, paramedics said.

The school bus was carrying 100 children aged 10 years and younger, ER24 said.

It crashed into a ditch on the corner of Witkoppen and Waterford roads.

All the children managed to climb from the wreckage. The injured 32 were taken to nearby hospitals.

The cause of the accident was still unclear.

SAPA

Former Chairperson of the National Press Club, Patrick Hlahla was a modest unifier who enriched and touched the lives of many in a special way, the North West Provincial Communicators Forum (PCF) agreed in its monthly meeting held in Mahikeng on Monday.“We wish to convey our condolences to the Hlahla family, relatives, friends, colleagues that served with him on the National Press Club and Pretoria News. Bra Pat was an inspiration to many upcoming journalists and colleagues alike. He was a progressive, principled, assertive yet humble journalist who pursued truth and strove at all times to present all sides to a story,” said Provincial Spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele on behalf of the PCF.

Kgwele said that the premature death of Hlahla has robbed the country and the media fraternity of an independent, versatile, experienced and dynamic journalist who was highly respected within the media industry hence he led the National Press Club for three consecutive terms.

“His intellect seethed with talent and ideas. He was professional through and through and was a pleasure to work with,” he concluded.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

By Obakeng Maje

Taung-North West police arrested two gang members who terrorised the community in Magogong village, near Taung.

According to our source, six members escaped from custody and allegedly terrorised community in the area.

“The community launched a man-hunt after six gang members assaulted and robbed people in the area. One of them was allegedly found in Modutung village” said our source.

However police could not confirm the incident and arrested as North West police spokesperson sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa said she will confirm the incident and come back to us, but she haven’t at the time of going to print.

“We haven’t received that incident report, but I will check on it and come back to you” Moiloa said.

Two of six members only known as Majanja and Zoro from Diplankeng area were allegedly arrested by Taung police yesterday after they intervene.

“The community is gatvol with crimes taking place in the area and they launched a man-hunt. Police were called after the community mull to take the law into their own hands” he said.

Our crew tried to call Taung Police Station for further details, but our attempt proved futile as their phone rang unanswered.-TDN

Are you around the area and could share more details regarding the issue?

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_