6 October 2024- More 166 suspects were nabbed during the unabated efforts of a multi-disciplinary high density operation. The disruptive actions conducted across the five districts in Northern Cape, included numerous stop and searches of vehicles and persons at vehicle checkpoints and roadblocks.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said 166 suspects were arrested for various criminal activities such as assault, robbery, theft, malicious damage to property, house breaking, theft and contravening of court orders.
Kock said numerous actions were executed, including visits to farms and mines, as well as compliance inspections were conducted.
“Collectively, 128 second-hand dealers and liquor premises were visited, as well as formal and informal businesses. This resulted in the closure of unlicensed liquor premises and the confiscation of large amounts of alcoholic beverages and home-made brew.
“Confiscations during the actions included 2 firearms, ammunition, copper cable, a vehicle, dangerous weapons, drugs, and cash believed to be the proceeds of crime,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended and appreciated the police, external role players, and community members who played a pivotal role in combating crime. Otola also reiterated that they will continue adopting the “all hands on deck” approach by leaving no one behind.
6 October 2024- The Democratic Alliance (DA) held an extended Federal Executive (FedEx) meeting in Cape Town, where the party’s leadership gathered to deliberate on the roadmap towards the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE).
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Member of Parliament (MP), John Steenhuisen said this crucial meeting, attended by the party’s national and provincial leadership, as well as senior staff from across the country. Steenhuisen said the meeting comes at a time when the DA is stronger and more unified than ever.
“The DA remains positive that it will continue its winning streak and is poised to secure even more metros and municipalities in the upcoming election. Based on the 2024 results, we can emerge as the biggest party in major metros.
“The successes of the 2024 election have set the DA on a powerful trajectory. We are more determined than ever to expand our footprint in 2026, which will further solidify our position to lead nationally and provincially in 2029,” he said.
Steenhuisen further said the response they receive from South Africans across all levels of government, drives them to raise the bar. He added that the meeting thoroughly explored the current state of the South African political landscape, focusing on election opportunities, potential threats, and meticulous preparations for the campaign ahead.
“The Chairperson of the Federal Council, Helen Zille, led discussions on the party’s objectives and strategies, ensuring that the DA is well-positioned to build on its successes.
“With increasing support in national polls and a renewed sense of purpose, the DA is fully prepared to tackle the challenges ahead and lead South Africa toward a brighter future in 2026 and beyond,” said Steenhuisen.
6 Diphalane 2024- Sepodisi sa Taung se batlisisa kgetsi ya polao. Se se tla morago ga gore monna wa kwa nageng ya Lesotho, a bolawe le go fisiwa kwa motseng wa Manokwane, gaufi le Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno.
Go begwa fa baagi ba kwa Manokwane, ba ile ba leba kwa mogwafatshe wa monna o, mme ba fitlha ba mo teketa pele ga ba mo tsenya letaere le le tukang mo thamong. Go begwa fa baagi bano, ba ne ba latofatsa monna o ka go thuba kwa ntlung nngwe, mme a betelela mosadi.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Colonel Adele Myburgh are: “Sepodisi se butse kgetsi ya polao, mme ga gona ope o tshwerweng go fitlha ga jaana.”
3 October 2024- According to a weekly hydrological report released by the Department of Water and Sanitation on the status of water levels, there has been no change this week as they are sitting at 65.7% and there is a notable increase in dam levels at several dams in the North West province.
Hartbeespoort Dam saw a significant rise from 89.8% to 92.7% this week, while Setumo Dam increased from 85.3% to 85.7%. Additionally, Disaneng Dam showed a slight increase from 52.8% to 53.6% this week.
The Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Dr Mandla Mathebula said these increases are a positive indicator of the province’s water security and demonstrate the effectiveness of our water management strategies. Mathebula said, however, some dams experienced decreases in their water levels.
“Buffelspoort Dam dropped from 96.8% to
94.6% and Klipvoor Dam decreased from 92.4% to 88.6% this week. Other dams that have declined this week include Lindleyspoort (31.3% to 30.4%), Koster (78.3% to 77.8%), Roodekopjes (91.6% to 90.1%), Molatedi (30.8% to 30.4%), and Madikwe (26.5% to 26,0%).
“The Bospoort Dam remained relatively stable, decreasing slightly from 101.0% to 100.7%. The department urges water users to remain vigilant and continue conserving water and also appeal to all water users to report leaks and burst pipes promptly to the local municipalities or to the departmental toll-free number 0800 200 200, use water-efficient appliances and fixtures, implement rainwater harvesting systems, while practising responsible water use,” he said.
Mathebula said the Department of Water and Sanitation in North West, remains committed to monitoring dam levels closely and implementing strategies to ensure sustainable water management practices and that it is working tirelessly to ensure a secure water future.
3 October 2024- The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Khusela Sangoni Diko said she notes and welcomes the statement issued by the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, on actions being taken by the Department of the Communications and Technologies (DCDT) to save the South African Post Office (SAPO).
Malatsi has announced that he has sought the National Treasury’s support to proactively establish a task team to pursue private financial and operational partners for SAPO.
Diko said that Malatsi’s efforts are in line with the committee’s recommendation made on two separate occasions. She further said the committee called for urgent and decisive action from the DCDT to resolve the challenges at SAPO following disappointing interactions with SAPO and the Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs).
“While the committee strongly believes that strategic and value-creating public-private partnerships are of critical importance to ensure a sustainable Post Office, it is, however, extremely concerning that Malatsi’s statement seems to suggest a foregone conclusion that entering into such partnerships must equate to the “privatisation” of the Post Office.
“In this regard, Malatsi has said the pursuance of private financial and operational partners will enable serious consideration of privatisation scenarios as a preferential option to further funding from the fiscus,” she said.
Diko added that SAPO is a strategic state institution with an important mandate to connect people to one another and to the government in a fast-evolving technological age.
“As such, it must remain in the hands of the state, not beholden merely to commercial interests but committed to delivering on its universal services obligations espoused in the Postal Services Act of 1998.
“Further, the position of government cannot and should not shy away from unreservedly supporting the rescue and resuscitation efforts at the Post Office by, amongst others, preserving, protecting and extending its competitive advantage as provided for in law to reserve its exclusive licence to provide postal services for all parcels weighing under 1kg,” she said.
Diko said such measures and other revenue-generating initiatives, including leveraging its extensive property portfolio, more deliberate action to expand government-to-government procurement spent towards the Post Office, and enhanced and synergistic public sector partnerships, will go a long way to turning around the Post Office.
She said the committee reiterates its position that the Business Rescue Practitioners have failed to deliver on their mandate to rescue, stabilise and ensure the long-term commercial viability of the Post Office.
Diko said consequently, the committee shall invite Malatsi to explain his vision of the organisation and present to the committee all different scenarios with evidence and financial implications for each option.
“We support partnerships with the private sector to leverage resources, skills and market access, but that is not privatisation. It is strategic partnerships where risks are shared, not a scenario where the state carries the risks and capital monopolises the upside.
“That is an old model of public-private partnerships. We want to see clearly thought-out plans that build the capacity of state institutions whilst making SAPO commercially viable,” she said.
3 October 2024—The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Dina Pule, today stressed the important role of Agriculture in the South African economy. Pule said this is despite agriculture only contributing a relatively small share of 2.8% to the country’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
She further said this when she addressed the annual State of the Beer Economy event, which was held at the Caledon Farm Research & Development Facility in Caledon, in the Western Cape today, where the South African Breweries (SAB) showcased its significant contribution to the agricultural economy.
The event, which was attended by members of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and the Minister of Agriculture, offered an in-depth exploration of the beer sector’s shared value and its inclusive role in growing the economy.
“While agricultural contribution can be seen as relatively small compared to the contribution of other sectors, that does not make it less important. The sector has relatively large linkage effects with the rest of the country’s economy, and when considering the whole agricultural value chain, the sector is estimated to contribute up to 12% to the national GDP.
“As we all know, South Africa has a dual agricultural economy characterised by a well-developed, highly productive and export-oriented commercial sector and emerging smallholder and subsistence-oriented sectors that are often under-resourced and concentrated in the country’s rural and former homeland areas,” said Pule.
She added that the challenges facing emerging producers in agriculture, which she said are attributed to, among other things, a lack of financial and technical support, marketing infrastructure and market knowledge, and insufficient produce volumes.
Pule commended the investments that the SAB has made, including its partnerships, in the development of emerging producers to address some of the challenges of the emerging sector. She said the committee applauds the SAB for sourcing 95% of ingredients for beer making from local farmers when some industries may choose to rely on cheap imports at the expense of local producers and thus transferring job opportunities elsewhere.
“We are happy to learn that SAB’s research activities are not only confined to barley and hops, the main ingredients in beer making, but wheat, canola and other crops to develop the agricultural sector and support local farmers,” said Pule.
Meanwhile, the partnerships between the SAB’s Research and Development Centre and other research institutions to strengthen local capacity in technology and innovation were commended by Pule and she called for the support of those partnerships.
3 October 2024 – The Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration (Traditional Affairs, Human Settlements and Water & Sanitation) said it welcomes the decision by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), to approve the decision by the Limpopo Provincial Executive to invoke provisions of Section 139 (1) (c) of the Constitution to dissolve the Thabazimbi Local Municipality Council as per the recommendation of the committee.
All nine provinces voted in favour of the motion to approve the intervention.
The Chairperson of Portfolio Committee, Mxolisi Kaunda said, following the extensive engagement with both internal and external stakeholders of the municipality, the committee is convinced that the municipality is unable to achieve the objects of local government as set out in Section 152 of the Constitution.
“The committee is convinced following engagements with both internal and external stakeholders, that there are exceptional circumstances that warrant the dissolution of the municipality as it has proven that it is unable to function and achieve its constitutional obligation in terms of Section 152 of the Constitution.
“This intervention is necessary to bring stability to the municipality and enable better service delivery to the people. Some of the reasons the committee cited as reasons for its recommendation, include the inability of the council to sit and take critical resolutions that enable service delivery,” he said.
Kaunda further said this includes the inability of critical committees such as the Municipal Public Accounts Committee and Municipal Executive Committee to sit, non-functional ward committees which undermines participatory democracy, council’s inability to sit and pass the 2024/25 Integrated Development Planning (IDP).
He added there were also inability to enforce the Code of Conduct against councillors for prolonged and unjustified absence from lawful council meetings and parallel political and administrative structures made it impossible for the municipality to function.
“These and many other reasons are behind the committee’s recommendations, now adopted by the house, that the municipality is dysfunctional and requires a reset that will ensure better and quality service delivery than what they are getting currently,”
“The committee is hopeful that the invocation of Section 139 (1)(c) will put the municipality on the path of recovery and progress. To ensure this, the committee has recommended that the Limpopo MEC of the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs should furnish the Committee with Terms of Reference of the administrator to ensure that they are geared towards achievement of a viable municipality,” said Kaunda.
He said, also, the committee has called for the administrator to undertake lifestyle audits of senior and middle managers within the municipality and also conduct a skills audit to ensure that the municipality has the right skills.
Kaunda said to ensure accountability and openness, the committee also recommended that the MEC must consider instituting a full forensic investigation in terms of Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act to investigate all allegations of financial mismanagement, fraud and corruption within the municipality.
“But, most important to the committee is the need to ensure strong oversight over the municipality to ensure that the intervention yields the desired results. It is on this basis that, we have committed and will also engage other committees in the NCOP and National Assembly to conduct post intervention assessment to monitor progress of the municipality after the intervention,” he said.
3 October 2024– The police in North West said they are offering a reward of up to R50 000 for any information that can lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of alleged perpetrators in the Bojanala Bus Fire investigations.
This comes after two malicious damage to property cases were reported in the early hours of the morning of Tuesday, 1 October 2024, at two Bojanala Bus Depots. It is alleged that six buses at the Bojanala Bus Depot at Chaneng and a further 17 buses at Tlaseng were set on fire to a combined estimated value of R69 million.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said: “The buses were burnt to ashes.”
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, urged the community to come forward with information that will ensure that these ruthless criminals, who’s actions are hampering the transportation of school children and elderly persons, are brought to book to face the full might of the law.
“Anyone with information is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Captain Johannes Montsho of Phokeng Detectives on 076 834 3531 or the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop on number: 08600 10111.
“Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via the MySAPS App from your smartphone,” he said.
Picture: The police in Northern Cape conduct service blitz in Galeshewe/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
3 October 2024- As festive season approaches, the police in Northern Cape in partnership with other stakeholders, provided essential mobile services that are easily accessible to the community in Galeshewe Township, near Kimberly on 3 October 2024.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said Service on Wheels initiative by South African Police Service (SAPS) and government departments such as Home Affairs, Social Development, Department of Justice, Independent Investigative Directorate, and Pathways to Change Wellness Clinic (partner of Department of Health), brought e government services to the community via mobile structures at the Galeshewe open circle.
“The Department of Home Affairs assisted with Smart Identity Cards and other registrations and the SAPS mobile Community Services Centre (CSC), assisted with affidavits and other crime related enquiries.
“The Pathways to Change, conducted Tuberculosis, HIV and STI screenings. The Department of Justice, Social Development and IPID, offered advice and information regarding legal processes and legislation,” he said.
Kock further the Frances Baard District Police Commissioner, Major General Charlotte Makgari, was joined by the Kimberley Station Commander, Brigadier Nicholas Mtongana and representatives from provincial components during engagements with government officials and community members. He added that the event coordinator, Colonel Sebe Qunta and her team from SAPS Provincial Proactive Policing, steered the initiative, while the SAPS Provincial Band provided musical entertainment for all who utilised the various services offered.
“The acting Provincial Head for Corporate Communication, Colonel Laaiqah de Saldanha, concluded the day by thanking all role players for going the extra mile to enhance services to the community and recommended that more of these programmes are to be rolled out throughout the Northern Cape,” said Kock.
Picture: Some of the accused persons in a murder case
By OBAKENG MAJE
3 October 2024- A trial date has been set on a murder case against four accused persons from Manthe village, near Taung. The convicted rapist, Bakang Katong (32), Thabang Lenyai (23) and Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34), were arrested two years ago for allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35), in cold blood.
This comes after they accused Mothibedi of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in Manthe village, near Taung.
The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, the deceased was at Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried him back to Manthe village.
“Upon arrival, the deceased was allegedly chained to a generator and assaulted. After the assault, the victim was reportedly transported to a local clinic by the accused, however, he was declared dead upon arrival.
“The accused were arrested and charged with murder,” he said.
On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.
The Guardian 