Rustenburg Film Festival Returns to Cultivate Cinematic Synergy

NEWS Leave a comment

By REGINALD KANYANE

1 October 2024- The highly anticipated Rustenburg Film Festival (RFF) is back and set to take place at the Rustenburg Civic Centre and Ster-Kinekor Theatres Waterfall Mall in Rustenburg from 6 until 10 November 2024. The Rustenburg Film Festival acting Director, Bonginkosi Ncube said this year, film enthusiasts and industry professionals will gather for an unforgettable cinematic and collaborative experience that transcends borders, cultures, and narratives. Ncube further said with an impressive record-breaking, 1102 entries from 55 countries, RFF carefully selected 96 films from 22 countries for its 9th instalment.

“The Rustenburg Film Festival is more than just a venue for movie screenings. It’s a vibrant celebration of film’s power to bridge cultures and spark meaningful conversations. Prepare to be inspired by powerful documentaries that explore both deeply personal and universally relevant themes.

“Highlights include AmaPiano Pioneering DJs, which delves into the rise of a music phenomenon in South Africa, and Senegal, a Round Trip Dream from Spain, capturing the hopes and realities of migration,” he said.

Ncube added that local talent shines with must-see films like The Breastfeeding Warrior – Phila Portia Ndwandwe and Truth Be Told – Bheki Mlangeni – Pathways to Light from South Africa’s master documentary filmmaker, Enver Samuel (Indians Can’t Fly, Murder in Paris).

He said the feature film line-up is as diverse as it is compelling. Ncube said from the heart-warming tale of family and redemption in Boeta Is Coming Home (South Africa), to the gripping story of identity and survival in My Name is Misan (Nigeria), these films push the boundaries of narrative cinema.

“Each offers a unique voice and perspective. Creativity knows no bounds in the world of short films. South Africa’s Equilibrium, a tale of balance and chaos, and France’s Beyond the Door, a chilling exploration of the unknown, are just a few examples of the impactful shorts set to leave audiences breathless.

“Beyond the screenings, RFF 2024 offers an extensive program of industry events designed to inspire, educate, and connect attendees. From masterclasses in film production and directing to insightful sessions on the future of AI in filmmaking, the festival serves as a hub for creativity and innovation,” said Ncube.

He said he is excited about their debut Quick Starter series this year. Ncube said this is a special programme that runs parallel to the festival and is designed for new entrants.

“We are proud of our relevant partnerships with Final Draft, who will supply 50 licenses to all our Scriptwriting Masterclass attendees and Canon, who this year will bless our filmmakers with 2 amazing camcorders.

“On the more professional side of the fence, some highlights include an insightful “Building Creative Nations” panel, which explores the future of co-production treaties between South Africa and other African countries, along with discussions on the growing influence of Spanish cinematography,” said Ncube.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Monna o latofadiwang ka go kgabetlhela lekau la mokapelo wa lone wa maloba o ganetswe ka beile

NEWS Leave a comment

Setshwantsho: Monna o latofadiwang ka go boalya lekau la mokapelo wa lone wa maloba, Olebile Jan Sereetsi

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

1 Diphalane 2024- Monna wa kwa kgaolong ya Marikana kwa motse-setoropong wa Utlwanang kwa Christiana, Olebile Jan Sereetsi (40), yo o latofadiwang ka go bolaya mokapelo wa lekgarebe la gagwe la maloba, o ganetswe ka beile ke kgotlha-tshekelo ya Christiana mo letsatsing la maabane.

Go begwa fa ka di 26 Lwetse 2024, molatofadiwa a ile a leba kwa ntlung ya mokapelo wa gagwe wa maloba, mme a mo fitlhela a na le lekau la gagwe, Charlie Kate (31), mme go ile ga runya kgotlhang.

Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani, go begwa fa Sereetsi a ile a tlhaba Kate ka thipa, mme a mo gogela kwa sekgweng se se gaufi.  

“Go begwa fa Seetsi, a ile a kgabetlhela moswi ka go mo kgaola maoto le go mo segolola serwe sa gagwe sa senna. Go begwa fa Sereetsi, a ile a latlhela dikarolo dingwe tsa mmele mo molapong, ga mmogo le setopo sa moswi.

“Go begwa fa lekgarebe la moswi, le ile la lotlegela sepodisi ka se se diragetseng, mme a bega fa lekau la gagwe le timetse. Seo, se ile sa lebisa kwa sepodising go ka batlana le moswi,” Funani wa tlhalosa.

Funani are mongwe wa baagi one a loma sepodisi tsebe gore o bone Sereetsi a kgorometsa kereibaye, mme a lebile kwa molapong. Funani are, lekala la sepodisi le le sapang, le ile la bidiwa le go batlana le setopo sa ga Kate kwa molapong.

“Sepodisi se ile sa bona serwe sa moswi sa senna, ga mmogo le dikarolo dingwe tsa mmele di latlhetswe mo molapong,” Funani wa tlhalosa.

Kgetsi kagtlhanong le Sereetsi, e buseditswe morago go fitlhelela ka Labotlhano.

Kgabagare, Mokomishinara wa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, o kgadile tiragalo e ka bogale. Kwena are batho ba ithute go rarabolola dikgotlhang tsa bone ntle le ntwa.

“Re rata go akgola sepodisi go ka tshwara molatofadiwa ka bonako. Re kgala tiragalo e ka bogale,” Kwena wa tlhalosa.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Former ANCYL president, Collen Maine to be appointed as the Deputy Speaker of North West Provincial Legislature

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: Former North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation Department, Collen Maine  

By OBAKENG MAJE

1 October 2024- The ANC in North West said it welcomes the resignation of South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) provincial chairperson, Tshepo Khoza, as a Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL).

The ANC provincial spokesperson, Tumelo Maruping said Khoza has canvassed this thoroughly thoughtful decision with his organisation and ANC.

“The ANC Provincial Executive Committee wishes to thank Khoza for his continued dedication to the movement and the people of the North West. He remains a dependable cadre of the movement, who has committed to continue to contribute to our National Democratic Revolution (NDR), through various roles and responsibilities, which both SANCO and the ANC shall proceed to bestow on him.

“The ANC PEC has thus resolved to deploy Collen Maine as the ANC Deputy Speaker candidate for the North West Provincial Legislature. Maine is the former ANCYL president, former ANC NEC member and therefore brings about vast experience of both the organisation and governance,” he said.

Maruping further said Maine is a former Member of Executive Council (MEC) of the 5th and 7th administration respectively. He added that Maine’s deployment to the legislature given the experience, shall therefore give new impetus on the oversight role of the house.

“Subsequent to these developments, the ANC further welcomes the decision by the North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi, to appoint Virginia Tsotso Tlhapi as a Member of Executive Council (MEC) responsible for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation Department.

“A very thoughtful decision indeed. Tlhapi served diligently in the same portfolio during the 6th administration and has in-depth knowledge and experience of the portfolio,” said Maruping.

He said ANC wants to thank Maine on the remarkable successful strides he made in the past three month as the MEC and firmly confident that the new MEC will continue with the good work.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Social Development Committee commemorates International Older Persons Day

NEWS Leave a comment

By REGINALD KANYANE  

1 October 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Social Development joins the South African nation and the international community at large in commemorating and celebrating the International Older Persons Day today by honouring the rich inheritance older people past and present pass to younger people.

Older persons are a foundation of the nation, its beauty and are a reservoir of its wisdom.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Bridget Masango said on 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated 1 October as the International Day of Older Persons. Masango further said this was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly.

She added that in 1991, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons (resolution 46/91).

“In implementing the above mentioned international obligations, the sixth Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development considered and passed the Older Persons Amendment Bill.

“It conducted extensive public participation on the Bill countrywide. It received substantial inputs from older persons, most of which related to service delivery issues,” said Masango.

She said the Department of Social Development noted them and committed itself to address them through regulations once the Bill has been enacted into law. Masango said inputs related to the Bill were considered by the committee and some were added as amendments to the Bill.

“The committee welcomed this process as it provided older people with an opportunity to be part of a process of drafting legislation that seeks to protect their basic human rights and also educating them about their rights and protections in law.

“On 27 March 2024, the committee adopted its report on the Older Persons Amendment Bill. In the report, the committee recommended that the National Assembly adopt the report and approve the Bill,” she said.

Masango said the National Assembly then passed the Bill and referred it to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) for further consideration and public participation by provincial legislatures. She said the Bill seeks to amend the Older Person’s Act (No. 13 of 2006) to address its implementation challenges.

“The Bill seeks to insert new definitions and new provisions relating to the monitoring and evaluation of all services to older persons, to make provision for the removal of older persons to temporary safe care without a court order, to tighten up the existing implementation and compliance measures, and to effect some textual amendments for greater clarity.

“The Bill seeks to address, among other things, the lack of coordination between areas of government to deliver services to older persons, non-inclusion in the Act of the valuable role older persons play in their families in terms of passing knowledge and wisdom to the younger generation,” said Masango.

She said this includes lack of legal provision for older persons to be capacitated with knowledge on non-communicable diseases and the lack of legal provision for services to older persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

Masango said the key amendments in the Bill include strengthening the protection and prevention of abuse of older persons, strengthening of coordination mechanisms between government departments, elimination of harmful traditional practices including witchcraft accusations against older persons, making provision for recognising the responsibilities of older persons in passing inter-generational knowledge and wisdom.

“We reiterate the commitment of the committee to its mandate of overseeing the executive in rendering services that include services to older persons. The committee takes the good social welfare of the older persons as a fundamental right,” she said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi removes former ANCYL president, Collen Maine as MEC

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi and newly-appointed MEC, Virginia Tlhapi/Supplied  

By OBAKENG MAJE

1 October 2024- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi has appointed Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), Virginia Tlhapi as the new North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation. This comes after the resignation of former ANCYL president, Collen Maine as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC), who was responsible for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation.

“I wish to take this opportunity to inform the people of the North West of my decision in terms of Section 132 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic to effect changes in the composition of the Provincial Executive Council by appointing Tlhapi in the same department.

“I wish to take this opportunity to thank Maine for his contribution during his tenure as MEC. Let me also congratulate the new MEC as she officially assumes this responsibility with effect from 1 October 2024,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mokgosi’s changes come after he was instructed by the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) to remove a male MEC and replace him with a female MEC to address gender disparity.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

An alleged serial rapist and murderer remanded in custody

NEWS Leave a comment

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

30 September 2024– A man (50), who is believed to be an alleged serial rapist and murderer, remanded in custody until 9 October 2024. The accused was arrested by the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit, Mahikeng Detectives, Mahikeng Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) and North West Phycology Investigation Unit, during multi-disciplinary investigation on 27 September 2024.

The accused was arrested at his residential place in Makhubung village, near Mahikeng, in the early hours of the morning on Friday.

The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adéle Myburgh said the suspect was arrested after he was linked to the rape and murder case of Neo Kgabanakgosi (42). Myburgh said according to the initial reports, Kgabanakgosi’s naked and lifeless body, was discovered by a passerby in the bushes at Danville Township, in Mahikeng, on 7 September 2024.

“The passerby immediately alerted the police. Kgabanakgosi was declared dead on the scene by Emergency and Medical Rescue Services (EMRS). The investigations revealed that, there is a witness who saw the suspect picking-up the victim with a car during the late hours of Friday night, 6 September, a day prior to when she was found killed.

“Furthermore, four more victims, who allegedly survived sexual and physical assaults by the same suspect, came forward and reported it to the police. Any person with information that can assist the police with the investigations, is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Boitumelo Motsamai of Mahikeng Detectives on cell: 079 881 9905,” she said.

Myburgh further said the possibility of linking the suspect to multiple cases of the same nature, where females were found raped, murdered and their bodies dumped in the bushes around Mahikeng, cannot be ruled out.

She added that the accused briefly appeared before Molopo Magistrate’s Court on 30 September 2024, for the alleged murder and rape Kgabanakgosi.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the police for their diligence and working around the clock to arrest the suspect. Kwena said the police will continue to work hard to ensure that criminals face the full might of the law.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Suspects implicated in farmer’s murder remanded in custody

NEWS Leave a comment

By REGINALD KANYANE

30 September 2024- Four suspects who were arrested in connection with the murder of a farmer, Hendrik Venter (81), briefly appeared in the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court on 30 September 2024. Two of the suspects aged 18 and 20 respectively, were released.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said Orabile Vincent Motsewakgosi (24) and Kabelo Tata (26), will remain in custody until their formal bail application on 4 October 2024.

taungdsilynews@gmail.com

Two people arrested for car theft in Mahikeng

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: A suspect arrested for allegedly stealing vehicles/Supplied

By BAKANG MOKOTO

30 September 2024- North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng have applauded traffic officers around Mahikeng for being vigilant. This follows the arrest of a suspect at a tavern in Mahikeng, who is regarded as a kingpin to the syndicate that are stealing cars mostly from Botswana at shopping malls around Mafikeng and one who was also arrested in Mafikeng with suspected stolen car from Zeerust.

Morweng said according to Eagles Unit Manager responsible for N18, R503 and R49, the first suspect is part of the syndicate that target Botswana vehicles parked at shopping malls and allegedly uses tow trucks to take them away.

“The second suspect was driving a grey Toyota Corolla without number plates and when traffic officers stopped him, he was not able to give clear answers. It was established that the car was stolen in Zeerust.

“Searching the vehicle, the officers came across boxes of counterfeit cigarette. The two were taken to Mafikeng Police station and charges of counterfeit goods and theft of motor vehicles were opened,” he said.

Morweng has reiterated his call to make the province safer from criminals.

“People must do their shopping without fearing that when they come back they might not find their cars at shopping malls.

“It cannot be business as usual and we are determined to eradicate this type of crimes as they also affect our cross border relations but also economic spin offs,” he said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

A policeman nabbed for attempted murder

NEWS Leave a comment

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

30 September 2024- A policeman (47) briefly appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on 30 September 2024, for attempted murder. A policeman, who is a Sergeant attached to Marikana Police Station, was arrested in the early hours of the morning on Friday, 27 September 2024, in Marikana.

The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said the suspect was apprehended after he allegedly shot a victim (22) in the head after he flirted with his girlfriend at a tavern at the RDP Section. Myburgh said the victim was rushed to a local hospital, where he is admitted in a critical condition.

“A 9mm pistol was seized on the scene and the matter was referred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), for further investigation,” she said.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the arrest and thanked the police for their continued efforts and quick response that led to the arrest. Kwena also reiterated that employees involved in criminal conduct will not be condoned in the service. 

taungdailynews@gmail.com

More than 30 undocumented suspects nabbed for illegal mining

NEWS Leave a comment

By REGINALD KANYANE

30 September 2024- More than 39 suspects were arrested during Operation Vala Umgodi for contravention of Immigration laws in Kimberly on 28 September 2024. The suspects were arrested by a team comprising of South African Police Service (SAPS), South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Immigration officials.

The law enforcement agencies took part in the execution of an intelligence-driven operation about different hide outs of alleged undocumented individuals in the Kimberley area.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Merapelo Pilane said in the early morning hours of Saturday, 28 September 2024, the law enforcement officers tactically operationalised the the information at their disposal, which led to the arrest of 31men and 8 women aged between 21 and 49, at different addresses in Galeshewe Township and Kimberley CBD.

Pilane said the suspects are expected to appear before the Kimberley Magistrates Court soon.

“Operation Vala Umgodi is committed to strengthen the fight against all criminal and unlawful activities taking place in the Northern Cape,” she said. 

taungdailynews@gmail.com