290 suspects nabbed for various crimes

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

27 October 2025- The Northern Cape police said combating crime through decisive police and robust community involvement over the festive season and beyond led to a multitude of operations being executed across the province. The police said these disruptive actions were executed through targeted intelligence-driven operations, enhanced and heightened visibility patrols, by multi-disciplinary law enforcement teams, and community involvement from 20 until 26 October 2025.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane

Said the police blue light and foot patrols conducted in crime hotspot areas, led to the  stopping and searching of 2560 motor vehicles, and searching 4914 persons at numerous roadblocks and Vehicle Check Points (VCPs), conducted in the five districts, Frances Baard, John Taolo Gaetsewe,  ZFM,  Namakwa and Pixley Ka-Seme.

Shemane said the police arrested 290 suspects for various crimes, including dealing in drugs, illegal dealing in liquor, and possession of drugs, murder, rape, assault and burglary.

“Detectives also conducted tracing operations in search of wanted suspects who were evading arrest. Drugs, dangerous weapons, and cash believed to be the proceeds of crime were confiscated during the operations. Compliance inspections were conducted at farms, mines, formal and informal businesses, liquor outlets, and second-hand goods dealers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola together with the Northern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Limakatso Koloi, officially launched the Safer Festive Season Operation in Sunrise in De Aar under the theme: “Combatting crime through decisive police action and robust community involvement.”  Otola reassured communities that police operations will continue unabated during this festive season and applauded all law enforcement teams for stamping the authority of the state to ensure the safety and security of all communities.

“We urge communities to become robustly involved and report crime. We would also like to issue a stern warning to the community not to harbour and aid criminals as they become complicit in crime as well,” she said.

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Taung Agricultural College students forge ahead with protest

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Picture: Students at Taung Agricultural College embarking on protest/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

27 October 2025- Defiant students at Taung Agricultural College said they will forge ahead with their protest until the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi heeds their call. Last week, the students embarked on a protest expressing dissatisfaction against the college management.

On Friday, the protest turned violent, where the police allegedly shot at the students with rubber bullets after accusing them of pelting them with stones. The mayhem prompted the North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha to meet with the students on Sunday afternoon.

However, that meeting allegedly ended up abruptly as students accused Sambatha of taking the side of the college management.

The Student Representative Council (SRC) president, Obakeng Modise said the situation is dynamic and there is a continuation of the protest. Modise said this is due to unresolved issues such as sexual harassment, dilapidating hostels, lack of water, lack of internet connection among others. 

“There are male lecturers who make sexual advances to female students and victimise them when rejected. We have submitted the report on that matter, but there is no response thus far. Our hostels are in a dire situation, but the management has done nothing. There is no provision of water and we have only one washing machine, which makes it difficult for students to do their laundry.

“Sometimes we experience load-shedding only at our hostels, whereas the administration has electricity. So far, the only thing that the management has attended to is fixing the generator. In winter, students are being forced to bathe with cold water and we are not going to allow a situation where we are subjected to inhumane treatment,” he said.

Modise further said there is a Student Affairs Manager who continues to body shame female students and nothing was done to her even though several complaints were submitted to the management against her. He added that all these matters were raised three months ago during a meeting with Sambatha.

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha said even though there is a progress on some issues raised, he admitted that the college management has failed the students on the issue of sexual harassment.

“The college management has an updated report on the issues that were raised in the previous meeting. However, the students alleged that they were not informed about it, until our meeting with them yesterday. So, it is clear that there is a trust deficit between the SRC and college management.

“When I was here, there was a sexual abuse issue that was raised. So, we agreed that those who were sexually harassed should write their grievances and send them through an email that I provided them with. I want them to write to me directly in order to avoid reprisal,” he said.

Sambatha said this will assist his department to generate an approach on how to deal with this matter. He said they will be able to identify those lecturers who are accused of sexual harassment.

“I have not received a report from the management generated from this matter. The students have submitted their report, yet the management is sitting on that report, while the abuse still continues. So, I requested affected students to write emails directly to me.

“I will be having a virtual meeting with the college management on Monday to get to the bottom of this. The students also feel that the Student Affairs Manager is powerful because she allegedly continues to victimise them and nothing has been done to her,” said Sambatha.

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Outrage after two women shot dead

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Picture: Two women shot dead in Mamelodi/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

27 October 2025- Soil of Africa Civic Movement (SOA) said it expresses its deep shock, pain and outrage at the brutal murders of two young women, Tshiamo Maramaga (22) and Baleseng Maramaga (21) in Mamelodi East in Gauteng. The movement said this marks the third woman killed in the township this week.

The chairperson of SOA, King Bongani Ramontja said these heinous crimes are not isolated incidents. Ramontja said they are acts of war against the dignity, safety and humanity of women in our communities.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Their loss is our collective wound, and their pain echoes through every street of Mamelodi. These killings are part of a growing epidemic of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) that continues to terrorize South African women.

“Women cannot walk freely. Mothers live in fear. Communities are held hostage by criminals who operate with impunity. The time for sympathy and statements has passed. We now demand action, arrests, and accountability. Immediate deployment of all levels of policing — including Tactical Response Teams, Crime Intelligence, and GBV Units to Mamelodi East,” he said.

Ramontja further said the police should arrest the perpetrators within seven days. He added that failure to do so will compel the community led by SOA, to lawfully shut down Mamelodi until justice is served.

“Inspect and enforce all taverns, shebeens and liquor outlets for compliance with municipal and national laws. Any business found operating illegally or serving as a hub for crime, trafficking, or GBV must be shut down immediately.

“This must be done in terms of Liquor Act 59 of 2003, City of Tshwane Business Licensing By-Laws, Safety at Public Venues Regulation Establishment of a Joint Community Safety Task Team comprising of SAPS, SOA and community representatives — to identify and monitor hotspots for women’s safety,” said Ramontja.

He said they need a public progress report within seven days — detailing arrests, investigation status, and operational measures. Ramontja said every day of silence is another life lost.

“Every delay buries another daughter. The people of Mamelodi live under siege. It is the constitutional duty of the SAPS, under Section 205 of the Constitution, to prevent, combat, and investigate crime — and to protect the lives of all citizens.

“Failure to act constitutes a dereliction of duty and a violation of constitutional obligations. The Soil of Africa Civic Movement will mobilize its Women’s Chapter to support victims’ families, attend court cases, and monitor police investigations,” he said.

Ramontja said they will engage IPID and the Public Protector to ensure accountability for police inaction. He said they will also organize lawful community demonstrations under Section 17 of the Constitution — until justice is achieved.

“We demand immediate liquor outlet compliance operations and law enforcement agencies should close down non-compliant and criminal-linked establishments. We call upon faith leaders, educators and business owners to unite for community safety.

“The City of Tshwane should deploy law enforcement and liquor licensing units immediately. Every resident of Mamelodi should stand up, speak out, and protect our women because silence is complicity. If the blood of one woman spills on this soil, it stains us all. We will not rest, we will not retreat, and we will not be silent,” said Ramontja.

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Monna o latofadiwang ka go bolaya ngwana le mmagwe o tlhagelela kwa kgotlhatshekelo

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Sestshwantsho: Baswi, Mosetsanagape le Phillip Pule

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

27 Diphalane 2025- Monna o latofadiwang ka maiteko a petelelo le dikgetsi tse pedi tsa polao, o solofetswe go tlhagelela ka boripana kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Mothibistad mo letsatsing la gompieno. Se, se tla morago ga gore a tshwarwe le go latofadiwa ka go bolaya Mosetsanagape Syliva Pule (49) ga mmogo le morwae, Phillip Pule (9) kwa motseng wa Cassel gaufi le Kuruman.

Go begwa fa Phillip, yo o neng a tswa sekolong, o ile a fitlhela mmelaelwa a leka go betelela mmagwe, mme a leka go tlhaga mmagwe thuso. Fela ka maswabi, go begwa fa monna o, a ile a tlhaba Sylvia ga mmogo le Phillip ka thiba go fitlhela ba tlhokafala gone kwa lefelong la tiragalo.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi kwa porofenseng ya Northern Cape, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers are sepodisi sa kwa seteisheneng sa Bothithong se ile sa bolotsa dipatlisiso. Ehlers are tiragalo e, ke ya kgwedi ya Diphalane e tlhola matsatsi a le 20 ka ura ya bobedi mo motshegareng.

“Dipatlisiso tsa go sa le gale di shupile fa Phillip a ile a leka go pholosa mmagwe go selalome se se neng se leka go mo betelela. Dipatlisiso dishupa fa baswi ba tlhabilwe ka thipa go fitlha ba tlhokafala. Mmelaelwa o ile a tshwarwa, mme o solofetswe go tlhagelela kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Mothibistad fa dipatlisiso di tswelela,” Ehlers wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, baswi ka bobedi ba bolokilwe mafelo ano a beke kwa motseng wa Glenred gone kwa porofenseng ya Northern Cape.

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Portfolio Committee on Agriculture embark on a week-long oversight visit  

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Picture: Farmers during harvesting/Generic

By AGISANANG SCUFF

27 October 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture will today embark on a week-long oversight visit programme to the Eastern Cape, where it will receive briefings from the Eastern Cape Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, and from the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Agriculture on the projects to be visited that include Ncera Macadamia Nuts Farming Project and the Zanyokwe Farmer Production Support Unit in Keiskammahoek.

The committee said on Tuesday, it will meet Chief Siseko Maqoma in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality and thereafter will visit the Citrus Projects and Packhouses in the Kat River/Seymour Area. It said on Wednesday, the committee will be in Ngqushwa Local Municipality, where it will visit the Ngqushwa Citrus Projects, farms and the Ripplemead Packhouse.

“On Thursday the committee will visit the Alexandria FPSU in the Ndlambe Local Municipality. On Friday it will be in Sunday’s River Valley Local Municipality where it will visit the Santa Clara FPSU and the surrounding citrus farms,” said committee.

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A stock-theft case postponed

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Picture: Two men nabbed for stock-theft/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

27 October 2025- A stock-theft case against two men, Moagi Motlhabane (27) and Sipho Tobi (27), has been postponed until 25 November 2025. Motlhabane and Tobi were arrested on 20 and 21 October 2025, by the members of Lehurutshe Stock Theft and Endangered Species (STES) Unit at Brakkuil and Koffiekraal villages, in Madikwe on 17 October 2025.

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the pair was arrested following the theft of 11 cattle worth R254 000, on 16 October 2025. Mokgwabone said after becoming aware of the incident, the farmer searched around the farm and found one of the cattle and a calf, but bearing new brand marks.

“Ensuing police investigations identified the registered owner of the brand mark. Information was later received and followed up regarding a speculator who was about to auction cattle, including the one with a new brand mark. The questioning of the speculator at the Zeerust Auction culminated in the impounding of the cattle and the recovery of the farmer’s five cattle.

“Motlhabane granted a R3000 bail upon appearance before the Zeerust Magistrate’s Court, while Tobi, who is from Lesotho, abandoned the bail application. He is also facing a further charge of contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002. Investigations into the matter continue,” he said.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo welcomed the arrest.

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NWU named headline sponsor of the 2025 North West Media Awards

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

27 October 2025- The organisers of the North West Media Awards (NWMA) said they are pleased to announce that the North West University (NWU) will serve as the headline sponsor for the 2025 edition of the awards. The organisers said the partnership marks an important step in building stronger ties between the university and the media sector in the North West.

The founder of the North West Media Awards, Ananias Ndlovu said it will create more opportunities for collaboration between journalism and communication students, media houses, government departments and the private sector. Ndlovu said through this partnership, media practitioners will also benefit from expert insights and analysis provided by NWU academics across various fields, enriching the quality of media reporting and public discourse in the province.

“This is a major milestone to partner with the university to uplift the struggling media in the province, especially community media. This partnership will see the university, together with the awards and the winners, engage in media and communication workshops to uplift the standard of media in the province.

“The North West Media Awards 2025 will take place on 5 December 2025 at the Rustenburg Civic Centre, where the university’s top management led by the North West University’s principal and vice-chancellor, Professor Bismark Tyobeka, will present awards to some of the winners who will also walk away with cash prizes in recognition of their excellence in journalism and communication,” he said.

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A man nabbed for killing and burying a woman in a shallow grave

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

27 October 2025 – A man (40) who was arrested for killing a woman and buried her in a shallow grave was remanded in custody by the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on 24 October 2025. The accused, Lebogang Molutsi is facing the charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice.

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said Molutsi’s case was postponed until 31 October 2025. Mokgwabone said Molutsi was arrested by members of Tactical Response Team (TRT) on 22 October 2025, for allegedly killing and burying Rachel Manone (49) in a shallow grave. 

“The members initially questioned a person of interest in connection with a missing woman. Consequent to the questioning, the team proceeded to a house at Extension 7, where Molutsi was found. He led the police to his place at Sunnyside Informal Settlement in Jouberton Township, near Klerksdorp, where Manone’s body was found buried in a shallow grave inside a shack.

“Molutsi was then placed under arrest and the motive of the incident is still unknown,” he said.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, applauded the police for their swift reaction that led to the arrest. Naidoo stated that the police will continue to act decisively against perpetrators of heinous and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) related crimes.

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A man nabbed for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle to appear in court  

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By REGINALD KANYANE

27 October 2025- The accused, Karabo Mooketsi (34) is expected to appear in the Madikwe Magistrate’s Court on 27 October 2025, on charges of house robbery and theft of a motor vehicle. Mooketsi was arrested in Delareyville on 21 October 2025, in possession of a motor vehicle and other goods robbed during a house robbery at Kgosing Section, Molatedi village, near Madikwe.

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said it is alleged that a homeowner arrived at his place on Monday evening, 20 October 2025, parked his Ford Ranger car outside and entered the house. Mokgwabone said according to information, the victim was accosted by an unknown man while going outside to fetch something from the car.

“The man allegedly threatened him with a knife, tied his hands and feet, then ransacked the house. Following this, the suspect fled from the scene with the victim’s car after taking a laptop, cell phone, and various other household goods.

“The suspect was arrested in Delareyville on 21 October 2025, and appeared before the Delareyville Magistrate’s Court the following day,” he said.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, indicated that the arrest demonstrates intensified and coordinated efforts in addressing the threat of serious and violent crimes in line with the Safer Festive Season Operations under Operation Shanela II. 

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Two suspects accused of killing a policeman to appear in court

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Picture: The deceased, Constable Boikanyo Molale/Facebook

By AGISANANG SCUFF

27 October 2025- Two suspects aged 22 and 27, are expected to appear at Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court today for allegedly killing a policeman, Constable Boikanyo Molale (30).  This comes after the lifeless body of an off-duty policeman was found at approximately 5:30am at Thokoza Section in Ganyesa, near Vryburg.

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the preliminary investigation revealed that Molale, who was attached to Ganyesa Visible Policing, was allegedly assaulted by an unconfirmed number of suspects. Mokgwabone said Molale was declared dead at the scene and thus far, two suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder.

“The suspects are expected to appear in court soon. The motive of the incident is unclear at this stage,” he said.  

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo said he is saddened by the murder of Molale. Naidoo has instructed the investigation team to track and bring the remaining suspects to book to face the full might of the law.

“We convey our heartfelt condolences to the Molale family, relatives, and colleagues,” he said.

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