Picture: The missing person, Tanki Thetso/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
20 January 2025– The police in Sun City request community assistance in locating a missing person, Tanki Thetso (23), who is Lesotho national. Thetso, who is residing at Lekwadi Section Ledig village, was last seen by his girlfriend on 22 August 2024.
The North West police spokesperson, Captain Mpho Manyoba said a search was conducted around the village and surrounding areas of Sun City with no success. Manyoba said all leads were followed-up without successful results.
“At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing blue overall. Thetso is dark in complexion with brown eyes, a medium built body, about 1,5m in length.
“Anyone who may have information regarding the missing person’s whereabouts is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Constable Sydney Moitsheki on 0823739842 or the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop on 08600 10111,” she said.
Manyoba further said anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via the MySAPS App from your smartphone.
Picture: The alleged kingpin, James Neo Tshoaeli/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
20 January 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng said he is disenchanted, but also angry following the reports of an alleged escape of one of the kingpins in the illegal mining activities in Stilfontein.
Morweng said, according to the police reports, James Neo Tshoaeli, a Lesotho national known as Tiger who resurfaced from shaft 11 in Stilfontein last week, was never booked into any of the police stations, where illegal miners are being booked.
He further said this is an embarrassment that cannot be tolerated when you look into resources that are put together to eradicate illegal mining activities, which so far have been successful. Morweng added that, so the news of escape comes as a shock.
“This person was fingered by illegal miners who have resurfaced from the shaft and a video in police possession showing him as one of the brutal people underground who controlled all operations, killed, tortured and assaulted many and even kept food away from other illegal miners.
“I call on members of the public to notify nearby police stations when they come across Tiger as he is considered dangerous and fugitive of justice The fact of the matter is that, there are many good police officers out there and if there are those who are involved in aiding Tiger, an example should be made out of them to show that they have chosen a wrong career in the police,” he said.
Morweng said those police officers must be dealt with harshly. He said they cannot tolerate those kinds of officers in their ranks.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management, Freddy Sonakile said they are deeply concerned by reports that the alleged ‘Kingpin’ in the Stilfontein illegal mining saga has escaped police custody after resurfacing from Shaft 11 last week. Sonakile said this incident is particularly troubling as the police have been making strides through Operation Vala Umgodi to combat illegal mining.
“We urge the police to dedicate all resources towards capturing the alleged kingpin and to thoroughly investigate how this escape occurred. More concerning is the report that the kingpin was never booked into various police stations along with other illegal miners, suggesting a possible inside job.
“The committee previously engaged with SAPS in an in-committee meeting, during an oversight visit to Stilfontein last year, October 2024, where concerns were raised by the committee about the involvement of kingpins in illegal mining operations and alleged collusion with police officials,” he said.
Sonakile said at that time, the committee was assured that the situation was under control, even though the recent incident raises serious doubts. He said once the dust settles, they will revisit Stilfontein to conduct further oversight and request a joint meeting with all relevant stakeholders, including the Departments of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), Home Affairs and the police.
“We urge the police to act swiftly in re-arresting the alleged kingpin. We believe the kingpin holds vital information in uncovering the real masterminds behind these illegal mining operations. Heads must roll, and police officials complicit in criminal activities must be held accountable.
“This incident highlights critical deficiencies in intelligence operations and raises concerns about the integrity of policing efforts in addressing the illegal mining crisis,” said Sonakile.
20 Ferikgong 2025- Monna wa dingwaga di le 32, o solofetswe go tlhagelela kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Christiana mo letsatsing la gompieno. Se setla morago ga go latofadiwa ka go betelela mosetsanyana wa dingwaga di le 17.
Go begwa fa tiragalo e, e diragetse kwa motsesetoropong wa Utlwanang, gaufi le Christiana mo letsatsing la Labotlhano.
Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, moroba o, one a romilwe kwa lebenkeleng fa a ne a kopana le monna wa dingwaga di le 32. Van Rooyen are go begwa fa mokola a ile a tshosetsa moroba o ka thipa, mme a mo betelela.
“Kgetsi ya petelelo e ile ya bulwa kwa seteisheneng sa sepodisi sa Christiana, mme mokola o ile a tshwarwa. O solofetswe go tlhagelela kwa kgotlhatshekelo, mme ene o lebagane le kgetsi ya petelelo,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.
20 Ferikgong 2025- Baagi ba motsesetoropo wa Utlwanang, gaufi le Christiana, ba re ba setse ba gamaregile morago ga tiragalo ya maabane. Se se tla morago ga dipego tsa gore mosadi mongwe o ipolaile ka go itatlhela kwa nokeng ya Vaal.
Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, go begwa fa mosadi yo, a ile a latlhela ngwana wa gagwe wa dingwga di le 2, mo nokeng ka maiteko a go mo bolaya. Fela, Van Rooyen are, lesea leo le ne la pholosiwa ke banna ba ba neng ba tshwara ditlhapi ka mokoro wa bone ka nako eo.
“Go begwa fa mosadi yo, a ne a leka go tlhatlhela ngwana wa bobedi. Fela ngwana o, o ile a le botsa phokoje. Mosadi o, one a itatlhela mo nokeng, mme ka maswabi o ile a latlhegelwa ke botshelo.
“Banna bao, ba ile ba letsetsa sepodisi. Kgetsi ya morago ga loso e butswe, mme dipatlisiso ditsweletse,” Van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.
20 January 2025- More than 1567 suspects were arrested for various crimes ranging from murder, rape, aggravated armed robberies, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and many more others. Moreover, detectives conducted raids to nail wanted suspects for business robbery, murder, rape, assault GBH and house robbery.
The North West police spokesperson, Captain Mpho Manyoba said in total, 405 suspects were arrested. Manyoba said as part of the operations, 197 premises, 2879 persons and 1244 vehicles were searched.
“Furthermore, 253 high visibility patrols were conducted including 292 stops and searches. More than 102 second-hand goods dealers and 18 licensed liquor premises were visited for compliance and inspections.
“The police were focused and able to execute 5901 actions in different crime focus areas. Police visibility was heightened through spontaneous roadblocks, stop and searches and other actions, whereby the authority of the state was once more stamped,” she said.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, reiterated that police and other law enforcement agencies across the province will continue to squeeze the space for criminals when responding to serious and violent crimes through Operation Shanela, which is focused on enhanced crime prevention and combating.
Asaneng said they welcome the results achieved and urged police to be consistent and dedicated to ensure the safety and security of every citizen in this province.
Picture: Former Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
By REGINALD KANYANE
20 January 2025- The Pretoria High Court postponed the corruption and money laundering case against the former Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to 28 March 2025, for the state and her legal representative to discuss her request for further disclosures following her application to have disclosures of “B” and “C” sections of the docket which contain correspondence and the investigation diary, respectively.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said they followed this approach in the interest of justice, in a sincere attempt to narrow the facts at issue and to move the matter to trial as soon as possible.
“Her R50 000 bail was extended until the next court appearance,” he said.
20 January 2025- The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng said he has ordered maximum resources to be mobilised in finding an alleged kingpin who resurfaced from shaft 11 in Stilfontein last week. Asaneng has also warned that heads will roll once they find those officials that aided the kingpin to escape from police custody after resurfacing from shaft 11.
He further said extensive investigations and tracing operations are underway to find those officials, who aided his escape between shaft 11 and the Stilfontein Police Holding Cells. Asaneng added that, according to records, TIGER was never booked into various other stations, where some illegal miners are being kept.
“TIGER is also not admitted at a local hospital for further medical care. The alleged kingpin and ringleader is a Lesotho national and according to records, his name is James Neo Tshoaeli but is commonly known as TIGER.
“TIGER is being fingered in several statements as one of the ring leaders who controlled operations underground. He is also being accused by some illegal miners who resurfaced underground as him being allegedly responsible for some deaths, assault and torture that is alleged to have taken place according to videos in police possession,” he said.
Asaneng said TIGER is also alleged to have hoarded and kept food away from other illegal miners. He has expressed disappointment in what he terms as an embarrassment to the Vala Umgodi operation that has been running from December 2023.
“I vow to ensure that those responsible for this escape from custody are brought to book and that TIGER is found. TIGER is a fugitive of justice and is considered dangerous.
“Members of the public are advised to share any information pertaining to his whereabouts to the Stilfontein Police Station,” said Asaneng.
20 Ferikgong 2025- Sepodisi sa Taung se ganeditse dipego tse di sa totobalang tse di tletse-tletseng kwa motseng wa Manthe, gaufi le Taung, mabapi le go tlhokafala ga monna mongwe wa dingwga di le 30. Se se tla morago ga magatwe a gore, Kagiso Baitsumedi-Gaobuse o bolailwe ke diritibatsi.
Go begwa fa Baitsumedi-Gaobuse a ile a wa fela mo bekeng e e fetileng, mme a tlhokafala moragonyana.
Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, kgetsi ya morago ga loso e butswe. Van Rooyen are jaaka sepodisi, ba setse ba emetse dipholo tsa morago ga loso, mme tsone di tla ba thusa go konosetsa kgetsi.
“Ga ese nnete gore moswi o bolailwe ke go tsuba diritibatsi phetelelo. Fela kgetsi ya morago ga loso yone e butswe. Ga re belaele fa go ka tswa go nnile le letsogo la tshwene mabapi le loso la ga Baitsumedi-Gaobuse,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, go begwa fa moswi a tla fitlhiwa mo go yone beke e, teng kwa motseng wa Manthe.
Picture: Community members attending Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) campaign/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
20 January 2025- The police in Frances Baard District in conjunction with the Community Police Forum (CPF) and the Youth Crime Prevention Desk, supported by the Northern Cape Gambling and Liquor Board, as well as the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), embarked on a Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) awareness campaign at Tello’s tavern in Club 2000 on Friday.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said activation of the programme is part of the Northern Cape Police Commissioner’s commitment towards the fight against GBVF that was initiated during 2023. Sam said in outlining the purpose for the day, the Frances Baard District Commissioner, Major General Charlotte Makgari cited that these ongoing awareness programmes at taverns aim at addressing challenges relating to GBVF related crimes in collaboration with tavern owners and their patrons.
“Stakeholders raised numerous issues ranging from alcohol abuse, responsible gambling, domestic violence, victim support, access to justice, protection orders, parental values, changing social norms and issues pertaining to vulnerable groups,” he said.
The Deputy Provincial Commissioner (DPC) for Corporate Services, Major General Thabo Mphuthi, accompanied by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, Major General Luntu Ngubelanga, commenced by saying, taverns are intended to be establishments for responsible socialising, but has noted with concern that they are steadily becoming hotspots for violent contact crimes.
“The police and the community must take collective responsibility to ensure that taverns are safe areas to socialise. We need to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach across all societal sectors in ensuring that our girls, and women and vulnerable groups are protected from GBVF.
“Communities must stop the colourisation of violence, starting at our homes by treating the boy and the girl child equally and collectively provide care and support to survivors of GBVF,” said Mphuthi.
She further said perpetrators of GBVF should be held accountable through a strengthened criminal justice system, including tavern owners taking precautions to stop GBVF crimes at their establishments. Mphuthi added that, everyone must work towards raising societies that are free of GBVF through educating communities, challenging and correcting stereotype views, and creating a culture of respect.
Meanwhile, Ngubelanga shared the same sentiments. Ngubelanga said the community committed to working together with the police, by joining the established CPF structures at their sectors and reporting any criminality to the police.
Picture: Some of drugs confiscated during Operation Vala Umgodi/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
20 January 2025- Twelve suspects were arrested during the continuous intelligence-driven disruptive operations conducted on 18 January 2025, by the multi-disciplinary teams of Operation Vala Umgodi. The police in Northern Cape said the operation focused on illicit mining and other related crimes in Frances Baard and Namakwa Districts.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the police received a tip-off regarding suspected illegal mining activities taking place at a mining hotspot area in Kleinzee. Shemane said further investigation led to the arrest of four suspects aged between 35 and 57, for alleged illegal mining and trespassing.
“The police seized equipment suspected to be used in the commission of illicit mining and bags containing possible suspected diamond bearing material. In Frances Baard District, the police received information about illegal activities taking place at identified locations in Barkly West.
“The police pounced and arrested five undocumented persons aged between 26 and 47, as well as the seizure of ammunition. Furthermore, the police received a tip-off regarding the sale of drugs in Windsorton,” he said.
Shemane added that, upon arrival, a suspect (65), was searched and suspected drugs were found in his possession. He said the suspect was subsequently arrested.
“Another location in Kimberley was identified and searched. Drugs were found and confiscated, and a man (50) was apprehended for possession of drugs.
“In an unrelated matter on 19 January 2025, a man (36), was apprehended in Galeshewe for dealing in drugs. Drugs with an estimated value of R3000 were confiscated with a substantial amount of money believed to be the proceeds of criminal activities,” said Shemane.
He said the police will continue with their concerted efforts in addressing illicit mining activities, as well as other related crimes. Shemane said the public is reminded to report any criminal activities to SAPS Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS App.
The Guardian 