Sharpeville Massacre victims did not die in vain    

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Picture: The ANC MPL in North West Provincial Legislature, Kgalalelo Makgokgowa during the Human Rights Debate/Supplied

By BAKANG MOKOTO

18 March 2025- The ANC Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), in North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Kgalalelo Makgokgowa on Tuesday, declared that 69 victims of the 21 March 1960 Sharpeville Massacre, did not die in vain, but died for South Africans to enjoy the freedoms they enjoy today. Makgokgowa said in their memory, they need to entrench the culture of human rights and redress inherited past imbalances that were created by white supremacists that continue to advocate for exclusion and protection of the infamous 1913 Land Act that justified land dispossession.

She further said the supporters of anti-transformation emboldened by extremists, who have no regard for multilateral institutions and human rights in South Africa, Palestine and everywhere across the globe, now have allies who have bought into their false narrative of imagined white genocide. Makgokgowa added that, the ANC, has nonetheless stayed determined to redress the past inequalities with legislation it has passed since the dawn of freedom to ensure that it overcomes institutionalised racial segregation and discrimination that still haunts the historically marginalised to this day.

“We have nonetheless stayed determined to redress the past inequalities with legislation we have passed since the dawn of Freedom to ensure that we overcome institutionalised racial segregation and discrimination that still haunts our people to this day.

“The Freedom Charter still finds expression in the ANC’s unwavering commitment towards achieving a united, non-racial, non-sexist, prosperous and a democratic society. The dignity of our people will not be restored as long as they remain landless, unemployed and without hope for the future,” she said.

Makgokgowa underscored that the ANC’s progressive policies on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and discriminatory violence against the LGBTQ communities have been instrumental in protecting their human rights and dignities of the most vulnerable.

“We have shown our commitment to human rights by opening shelter for victims of Gender-Based Violence such as Thuthuzela and Khusela centers, offered psychological assistance through victim recovery programmes and ensured that our police stations and staff offer a victim friendly environment.

“We call on government to make the Sex Offender Register Public and see to the successful establishment of a fully functional and properly resourced National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act, which will be a national structure to oversee a coordinated response to GBVF,” she said.

Makgokgowa said as they reflect on their journey, they reaffirm their commitment to building a South Africa, where no one is left behind. She said they must deepen the culture of human rights by holding leaders accountable, ensuring fair economic opportunities, as well as foster the spirit of social justice and ubuntu.

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Northern Cape MEC for Roads and Public Works, Fufe Makatong urges road users to be cautious

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Picture: The Northern Cape MEC for Roads and Public Works, Mme Fufe Makatong

By BAKANG MOKOTO

18 March 2025- The Northern Cape MEC for Roads and Public Works, Mme Fufe Makatong, urges all road users to exercise caution as heavy rains, thunderstorms, and strong winds have severely impacted road conditions across the province. Makatong said flash floods have caused extensive damage, leading to road closures and disruptions to business routes.

She further said her department has deployed district response teams to assess and repair affected roads, while ensuring the safety of road users. Makatong added that road users are encouraged to report damaged and flooded roads on the Roads WhatsApp Line: 066 581 5626, providing the exact location with supporting footage.

“We advise motorists to remain vigilant, follow road signs, and strictly adhere to traffic rules. The affected roads are DR 778 (Kenhardt to Kakamas), MR 777 (Kenhardt to Putsonderwater)

R359, DR 2972 (Kakamas to Loeriesfontein) in ZF Mgcawu District, while DR 034 (near Danielskuil), R31 (Sisibalang).

Mamatwan & Witsand, MR 947 (Batlharos) & Battlemount to Cahar in in John Taolo Gaetsewe District were also affected.

“In Francis Baard District, MR 803 (Douglas to Lime Acres), MR 910 (Postmasburg to Smidtsdrift), and DR 3118 (Plooysburg to Belmond, were affected. In Namakwa District, Losperplaas DR 2948, Downes R354, Katkop DR 2976, Skansklip DR 2981 roads were affected,” she said.

Makatong said in Pixley Ka Seme District, DR 3169, DR 3179, DR 3063, DR 3058, DR3097, DR 3095, MR614, DR 3087, DR 3096, DR 3099, MR 791, DR 2318, DR 2429, DR 3294, DR 3299, DR 3300 and MR 769 roads were affected. She said the district teams continue to assess the situation on our roads.

“Further updates will be provided as conditions evolve. Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution and use alternative routes where necessary,” said Makatong.

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George Barnett Peters back in the Northern Cape High Court for trial

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Picture: George Barnett Peters back in the Northern Cape High Court for trial/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

18 March 2025- The accused, George Barnett Peters and 16 others aged between 21 and 36, are expected to appear in the Northern Cape High Court sitting in Kimberley for trial. The trial is scheduled to take place from 17-28 March 2025.

The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said the group is facing numerous charges of aiding and abetting of criminal gang activities, 350 charges of money laundering, racketeering, murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearm, insurance fraud, kidnapping, rape, assault, conspiracy to commit murder and contravention of Section 9 Act 121 of 1998 Gang related offenses.

Thebe said Chane Adams (28), Shawnwin Smith (25), Henry Blom (28), Estee Sade Lawan (25), Bincent Rosen (37), Michael Peters (30), Semone Rose (30), Thabo Sekopano (36), Stephanie McAnda (22), Britney Arends (21), Janine Plaatjie (22) and Abigail Van Wyk (24), were arrested on 4 and 6 May 2023, in a multi-disciplinary approach consisting of Hawks Serious Organized Crime Investigation and Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, Provincial Serious Organized Crime team and Crime Prevention.

“The accused persons were arrested in Kimberley and Kuruman simultaneously. It is alleged that between August 2020 and March 2023, a well-known gang from Kimberley was engaged in the above-mentioned criminal activities.

“During the arrest, one of the accused was found in possession of mandrax tablets and an undisclosed amount of money, which were confiscated for further investigation. An additional case against the accused (Shawnwin Smith) was registered for dealing in drugs,” he said.

Thebe further said members of Kimberley Serious Organised Crime Investigating team managed to successfully oppose bail against the group and only two (Chanaaz Mentor and Henry Blom) of the accused managed to be granted bail in October 2023, after a lengthy bail application process. He added other members of the group whom were arrested at different times and locations, include accomplices Deon May, Clive Peters, Nico Hofuza, Pameston Mentoor and Tshepo Malimbi.

“The case continues before the Northern Cape High Court sititng in Kimberley on 18 March 2025,” said Thebe.

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Ditopo di le tharo di utswitswe kwa mmoshareng

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Setshwantsho-papiso: Ditopo kwa mmoshareng wa puso

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

18 Mopitlwe 2025- Sepodisi kwa porofenseng ya Northern Cape se boloditse dipatlisiso morago ga go utswiwa ga ditopo kwa mmoshareng wa poraevete kwa Kuruman. Go begwa fa ka masa a di 17 Mopitlwe 2025, banna ba le babedi ba ba sa itsiweng, ba ile ba kgorogela motlhankela wa tshireletso kwa mmoshareng o, mme ba mo teketa pele ga ba ka mo bofa sefatlego.    

Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi kwa Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock, magodu ao, a ile a utswa ditopo di le tharo eleng tsa banna ba le babedi le sa lesea la mosetsanyana. Kock are ba ikuela go mongwe le mongwe o a ka tswang a na le tshedimosetse ka ga tiragalo e, go ka letsetsa mmatlisisi mo kgetsing e, Lieutenant Colonel Doggy Magugu mo go 0824690578 kgotsa a letsetsa dimomoro tsa sepodisi tsa 08600 10111.

“Kgotsa ba ka dirisa MySAPS app go ka neelana ka tshedimosetso. Tsedimosetso e tla tsewa jaaka ya sephira, mme dipatlisiso di tsweletse,” Kock wa tlhalosa.

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Taxi operators’ chaos in Klerksdorp caused by miscommunication

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Picture: The taxi operators blocked various roads in Klerksdorp/ Klerksdorp Community Marketing

By OBAKENG MAJE

18 March 2025- The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) in North West said they are happy after reaching a lasting solution with the North West Provincial Government (NWPG). This comes after SANTACO representatives had a consultative meeting with the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi and North West Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, regarding issuance of permits.

On Monday, various roads in Klerksdorp were closed down with burning tyres and debris as taxi operators embarked on strike. They demanded that, Permit Board issue the approved permits to them.

SANTACO provincial chairperson, Ebusang Tladi said the taxi industry has come a long way since the very first taxi was introduced more than half a century ago. Tladi said they had a fruitful consultative engagement with all stakeholders including the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi and North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng.

“As SANTACO, we raised an array of issues regarding the alleged circular handed out by Morweng that all permits that were approved by the Permit Board should be held. It was alleged that taxi owners must come and pay for them. So, this was the root of the problem.

However, in the meeting, Morweng denied ever sending out that kind of circular. He said he told the Permit Board not accept new applications anymore because the taxi industry is saturated as per our agreement. This will affect the business and I can say without any fear of contradiction that we are happy with our resolution,” he said.

Tladi further said they agreed to cease their protest and all roads are now trafficable. He added that they normally do not want to embark on a protest strike as this affects the livelihoods of their commuters.

Morweng said: “We had a consultative engagement with the taxi industry in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda region and listened to their grievances as they made it clear that they will only listen to the government, if the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi and I, are here.  

“Indeed, Mokgosi set everything aside and prioritise them as they are priority. We have engaged with them and agreed to expedite most of their issues raised. Other issues are operational and there has been a miscommunication between ourselves and them.”

Morweng said that is something they are going to strengthen because there was a message that says the Permit Board was instructed to stop the issuance of permits, which was an agreement between government and SANTACO.  He said the reason for this was, the industry is now bloated.

“Now, officials misinterpreted that communication to say we are halting the whole service altogether, which is something that cannot happen. Service is required on a daily basis. We are dealing with old permit applications, and we are not issuing any new permits thus far.

“This was an agreement that we have reached with them as per their memorandum that they have long submitted to us. Generally, there was an agreement and we will be able to move forward and improve on other things that they also raised,” said Morweng.

He said they are looking forward to improving the industry as the taxi operators are rendering service on the government’s behalf. Morweng said they must ensure that the environment and industry is conducive at all times so that taxi operators can thrive as they ferry commuters from one place to another.   

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Motshwarwa o ngwegile mono Taung

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Ka OBAKENG MAJE

18 Mopitlwe 2025- Sepodisi sa Taung se boloditse letsholo-patlo morago ga go ngwega ga motshwarwa, Thatayaone Motati (23). Se, se tla mogaro ga gore Motati yo o neng a tshwaretswe ditatofatso tsa kgothoso, a kubogelwe ke bolwetsi fa a ne a le kwa diseleng tsa sepodisi kwa seteishaneng sa Taung ka Lamatlhatso.

Go begwa fa Motati a ile a tabogisetswa kwa bookelo jwa Taung go ya go bona thuso ya potlako. Fela, go begwa fa Motati yo o neng a le ka fa tlase ga tlhokomelo ya sepodisi kwa bookelong jwa Taung, a ile a ikgolola, mme a ngwega ka go dirisa letlhabaphefo le leneng le le kwa morago.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen are: “Ke nnete sepodisi se boloditse letsholo-patlo. Go begwa fa motlhankedi wa sepodisi yo o neng a tlhokometse motshwara o, a ne a mo tlogela, mme leba ka kwa kgorong e e dirisiwang thata (main entrance).

“Re tlile go tsaya dikgato kgatlhanong le motlhankedi o, mme go fitlha ga jaana motshwarwa o ngwegileng ga ese a tshwarwe.”

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Kgetsi ya polao ya kwa Diplankeng e buseditswe morago

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Ka OBAKENG MAJE

18 Mopitlwe 2025- Kgetsi ya polao kgatlhanong le Mietjie Babiki Fischer (44), wa kwa motseng wa Diplankeng kwa Magogong, gaufi le Taung, e buseditswe morago go fitlha di 20 Mopitlwe 2025, ke kgotlhatshekelo ya Taung. Se, se tla morago ga gore Fischer a latofadiwe ka go bolaya Boitumelo Sebekedi wa kwa motseng wa Lokaleng dibeke tse pedi tse di fetileng.  

Go begwa fa Sebekedi a ne a latofadiwa ka go utswa Jojo tank, mme a tlhaselwa ke baagi. Go ya ka dipego, Sebekedi o ile a teketiwa ka ketane le go tlhabiwa ka thipa pele ga a ka bidiwa ka garawe.

Go begwa fa baagi ba ile ba mo tsenya mo kgetsing, mme ba mo latlhela kwa forong. Ene ya re morago ga nakonyana, go begwa fa baagi ba ile ba ntsha Sebekedi kwa forong eo.

Go begwa fa baagi ba ile ba mo isa kwa godimo le kwa tlase makgetlhonyana, pele ga ba mo tshela ka motlhapo le makgome. Go begwa fa sepodisi se ile sa tshwara basadi ba le bararo, fela ba le babedi ba ile ba ntshiwa gonne go se bopaki jo bo tletseng kgatlhanong le bone.

Sepodisi se ile sa tshwara Fischer, mme ba mo latofatsa ka polao. Fischer o solofetswe go dira kopo ya beile ka di 20 Mopitlwe 2025.

Kgabagare, sepodisi se ganne go tshwaela mo tiragalong e, gonne ba tlhalositse fa seo se tla kgoreletsa dipatlisiso tsa bone mo kgetsing.

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More than 1000 suspects nabbed during Operation Shanela

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Picture: Police conducting stop and search during Operation Shanela/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

18 March 2025 – More than 1227 suspects were arrested for various crimes during Operation Shanela. The suspects were amongst others, arrested for rape, murder, assault GBH, malicious damage to property, burglary at residential and business premises, possession of drugs, theft out of/from motor vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said of the 1227 arrested suspects, 424 were wanted for contact crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and common, as well as house and business robberies. Mokgwabone said they were held during detectives’ suspect raiding operations.  

“Furthermore, a total of 28 suspected undocumented persons were taken in for processing by Immigration Officials. The arrests were effected through execution of several actions, which included stop and searches, roadblocks, patrols, vehicle check points, visiting and inspecting of licensed liquor premises, Second-hand goods dealers, tracing of wanted suspects and many others. 

“In Ikageng Township, near Potchefstroom on 14 March 2025, a fine of R1000 was imposed on a man (33), after he was found transporting liquor without a delivery note. Moreover, a joint roadblock on the R509 (Potchefstroom/Carletonville) road, resulted in the issuing of fines worth R6200 to eight motorists for road traffic related offences,” he said.

Mokgwabone further said items such as 95 ammunition, three firearms, three vehicles and a variety of drugs, were confiscated during the operations. He added that Operation Shanela will continue to bring more perpetrators to book as part of ensuring that the communities are and feel safe.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, congratulated the police and other stakeholders for their continuous support in fighting crime in the province to ensure the safety and security of the inhabitants.

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AFU secures a preservation order of R2.2m related to the FDG Group of companies founded by Louis Liebenberg

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

17 March 2025- Pretoria’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), obtained a preservation order in the Pretoria High Court on 12 March 2025, to preserve a house in Hartbeespoort, North West worth R2.2 million belonging to Johannes Jakobus Badenhorst aka Hannes Badenhorst and his wife, Christelle Badenhorst. 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said the house was purchased in May 2022, for an amount of R2.2 million and registered in the names of Johannes Jakobus Badenhorst, aka Hannes Badenhorst, and his wife, Christelle Badenhorst, who are still residing in the house.

Mahanjana said investigations by the AFU revealed that the funds used to purchase the property originated from Tarioco (Pty) Ltd, which is one of the companies founded by Louis Petrus Liebenberg as part of the Forever Diamonds and Gold group of companies (FDG group of companies). She further said Hannes Badenhorst was one of the Directors of Tarioco.

“They ran a syndicate where members of the public were enticed to partake in a Joint Venture agreement with the FDG group of companies by purchasing diamond parcels, which would supposedly be sold by the FDG group of companies and the profits shared. The joint venture partners were then promised high returns on their investments.

“However, evidence revealed that the scheme was fraud, the diamond parcels did not exist, and the investors’ funds were used to purchase a mine and properties for the directors,” she said.

Mahanjana added that evidence revealed that incoming investors were paid with the investments of existing investors, which carries the hallmark of a classic Ponzi scheme. She said the house that is preserved does not form part of the assets seized by the liquidators of Tariomix.

“The next step is to apply for a final forfeiture order, when granted the house will be sold on public auction and the proceeds paid into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account.

“The criminal case against the two and others implicated Liebenberg, and 9 others will appear on 8 July 2025, at the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court,” said Mahanjana.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Pretoria AFU, advocate Martin Mafojane, welcomed the preservation order and wants to assure the public that the AFU remains committed in confiscating proceeds of crime.

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A man nabbed for business robbery, while appearing in court

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

17 March 2025- A man (30) who was arrested for business robbery will remain in custody until his next court appearance on 27 March 2025. The accused, Steven Ndlovu, briefly appeared before the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on 12 March 2025, on three counts of business robbery.

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said, Ndlovu was arrested in Johannesburg on 6 March 2025, where he was appearing in court. Mokgwabone said this was after he was linked, through forensic leads, to business robberies allegedly committed in Rustenburg between August 2016 and December 2024.

“Subsequent to the arrest, the accused was brought to Rustenburg, where he was linked to three cases. The accused is also facing two charges of business robbery committed in Hillbrow and Roodepoort.

“Investigations into the matter continue and the possibility of linking him to other cases cannot be ruled out,” he said.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, applauded the police for the arrest, which he said will serve as an indication that nothing will deter the police from tracing and arresting those who commit crime.

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