A son (27) was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by ther Kuruman Regional Court for contravention of protection order. On 7 November 2023, a son who was staying in the same yard with his mother (58), at Promiseland, near Wrenchville, went to knock on her door.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the complainant did not want to open the door. Shemane said, however, her son started swearing at her.
“The same day, the accused came back and forcefully opened the door of the house. The complainant had her handbag next to her on the sofa containing R600. Later on, the complainant realized that her bag was missing. She went to her son’s shanty after seeing him walking towards the gate.
“The mother asked him where her handbag was. The accused told her to look for it in his shanty. The complainant found that R200 was missing from her handbag. The complainant, who had a protection order against her son, went to the police station to open a case,” he said.
Shemane further said the Kuruman Regional Court convicted and sentenced the accused to 12 months imprisonment and declared him unfit to possess a firearm. He added that the SAPS management applauded Detective Sergeant Jamine Melissa Armstrong of Kuruman Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for her dedication that led to the conviction and sentencing of the accused.
“The police in the province will continue to support and protect older persons, promote and advance their rights in our areas of influence,” he said.
Picture: Gelukspan District Hospital under refurbishment
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Health, Sello Lehari visited the Gelukspan District Hospital to get first hand updates and evidence of the refurbishment project progress. The visit was part of Lehari’s Re Bona ka Matlho Programme, which is about visiting hospitals and clinics to get first-hand information.
The visit to Gelukspan Hospital follows a negative media report and complaints from locals over the alleged slow provision of health-care services in the area. Lehari and the management of the hospital, discussed an array of issues including the delay in the completion of the building of a theatre at the hospital.
“The project entails additions and upgrades with the scope covering upgrades to the theatre, mortuary, kitchen and laundry, as well as construction of a new MDR-TB ward.
“It was awarded to a joint venture between Mpfumelelo Business Enterprise and Kolwana Holdings in early 2022, while the site was handed over in August 2022. We discussed challenges encountered during the first stages of project implementation,” he said.
Lehari further said the project managers highlighted that the contractor did not perform nor provide resources as was required per the contract from the outset. He added that subsequently, the contractor was issued with four default notices between September and December 2022.
“A recommendation to terminate the contract was prepared in mid-December 2022. However, in early January 2023, the contractor issued a default notice for late payment to the department and subsequently self-terminated the contract based on the same reason.
“The contract managers further ascertained that the payment in question was not late, but could not immediately be processed as additional information and supporting documents were requested from the contractor, which was timeously communicated to them,” said Lehari.
He said due to the limited progress the termination was not challenged. Lehari said the progress made by the time of termination is that the contractor demolished the existing theatre and mortuary, started on the ground preparing for the new kitchen and started on foundation trenches for a new MDR-TB ward.
“The project was then advertised with the scope that entails the same work as for the first project, excluding the work executed by the first contractor. The bid was awarded to a joint venture between Rembu Construction and Peregrine Multiservice in March 2024.
“The handover of the site was done on 27 June 2024. We demand a commitment from everyone that the project be finished within the agreed time frame. I see progress here,” he said.
Lehari said they must improve in monitoring projects. He said they should also strive to deliver without delays going forward.
Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng called on all law enforcement agencies in the province to stamp authority in the fight against any form of criminality on the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC).
In his address to the hundreds of law enforcement officers prior to the four hour Trans Kalahari Corridor National Committee (TKCNC) domestic operation in Rustenburg, Morweng said the objectives of the Trans Kalahari Corridor Management Committee (TKCMC), are geared towards improving trade relations between the three member states and are also in line with the department’s mandate of providing protection to the communities.
During the operation, 11 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested. Amongst them, there was a woman who was arrested immediately on Morweng’s arrival at the operation prior to his address to law enforcement officers.
“Make sure that you deal with any kind of lawlessness that might emerge. It is in our quest to provide stable communities because it is incumbent upon us as government to make sure that there’s relative stability and that will be possible if you carry out your duties with diligence.
“Make sure that all those who are on the wrong side of the law are brought to book without thinking twice.
“We have also arrested ten foreign nationals during the vehicle stop and search exercise. A total number of 500 vehicles were searched,” he said.
Morweng further said the Home Affairs Immigration officers have initiated processes of identifying the nationalities of the said individuals and proper procedures will be undertaken. He added that as part of the operation, two stolen vehicles were recovered by the Gauteng NaTIS, 72 vehicles inspected and charged for various vehicle and driver defaults by both Provincial and Municipal Traffic officers.
“Thirty trucks were inspected and one issued with a fine by the Cross Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA) for failing to complete consignment note, while the Rustenburg Fire Department charged three trucks for transporting dangerous goods without adequate protocols.
“The Trans Kalahari Corridor National Committee Operation was held to promote compliance with law enforcement, promote safety and security and increase law enforcement visibility on the corridor and further to enforce laws and regulations intended to improve traffic safety and enforce related laws to transport, including weight limits and response rules to transportation of dangerous goods,’ said Morweng.
Meanwhile, the Trans Kalahari Corridor is a tripartite trans-boundary Corridor Management Institution that was established with a political and economic vision to pursue or contribute towards deeper regional integration programs of The Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD.)
Picture: Some of the suspects nabbed during the raids/ Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
More than 19 illegal and undocumented suspects were arrested for trespassing and contravention of the Immigration Act. The suspects were arrested by the multi-disciplinary operation team during Operation Vala Umgodi.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said the team consists of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Department of Home Affairs Immigration Services in the Frances Baard District, was patrolling the Greenpoint and Colville mining dumps and arrested seven undocumented foreign nationals from Nigeria, Malawi, Ethiopia and 1 South African citizen for illegal mining.
“The focus of the operations was to trace illegal and undocumented immigrants that are suspected to be conducting illegal mining in the Northern Cape. In the Koiingnas mining area in Namakwa District, the team executed a cordon and search operation and detained 11 Zimbabwean and Lesotho nationals for trespassing and contravention of the Immigration Act.
“The suspects were detained in order to be processed and verified by the immigration officials before being formally charged and presented to court for deportation. The police collaborative patrol operations continue in hotspot areas in the Frances Baard and Namakwa Districts,” he said.
Picture: Some of the dagga confiscated by police/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
Two suspects aged 21 and 40 were arrested for dealing in dagga in Kakamas on 11 July 2024. This comes after the members of Upington Public Order Policing (POP), were conducting high density patrols in Kakamas during which they conducted cordon and search operation at two premises.
The ZF Mgcawu District police spokesperson, Sergeant Omphime Masegela said during the search at the identified house, they found dagga to the estimated value of R98 750. Masegela said they continued with the operation in the area, where they conducted another search and seizure operation at the second identified house and confiscated dagga amounting to R36 000 and undisclosed amount of cash.
“The suspects are expected to appear in court soon. The police in the ZFM District are determined to stamp the authority of the state by fighting towards creating a drug free society.
“This includes reducing possibilities of young people falling trap of drugs through continuous search and seizure operations, as well as visible patrols in hot spot areas,” she said.
Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng with bus operators/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng met with commuter bus operators in the province as part of a meet and greet with department’s stakeholders in Rustenburg. Morweng is set to understand the operational jurisdictions of the appointed commuter bus operators in the province.
He further appreciated the level of service that the operators have committed to deliver to the communities. Morweng added that it is important for the department to establish and strengthen working relations with bus commuter operators to ensure that all people in the province are well serviced.
“My main interest is the level of service to our communities because I report to them. We will have to work hand in glove to assist one another to ensure efficient and effective service delivery. I’m very close to the community and whenever I receive any complain from your service, I will just pickup a phone and we must be able to resolve,” said Morweng.
He said the department is currently working with Bojanala Bus Service, Atamelang and Thari Bus Services.
Four suspects were arrested for possession of gold bearing material in Tlhatlaganyane. The suspects were arrested separately during integrated Operation Vala Umgodi on 6 and 8 July 2024 in Tlhatlaganyane village and Rustenburg respectively.
Two of the four suspects were nabbed in Tlhatlaganyane for possession of gold bearing material. Biology Maphorisa (33) and Ishmael Dube (20), who are both Zimbabwean foreign nationals, briefly appeared in the Mogwase Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the accused were remanded in custody until 16 July 2024, for bail application. Mokgwabone said the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) is investigating the matter.
“In another incident, Galenkwane Ralenkwane (35) was found guilty for contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002, on appearance in the Mogwase Magistrate’s Court on 9 July 2024. Ralenkwane, who is from Lesotho, was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment or pay R1500 fine.
“Chistopher Lentswe (41) briefly appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition following his arrest on 7 July 2024. Lentswe was remanded in custody until 16 July 2024, for bail application,” he said.
Mokgwabone said the accused is further linked with a case of robbery committed in Rustenburg in May 2024. He added that during the operations, the police seized illegal mining equipment such as motors, generators, spades and extension cords.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the arrests and thanked the police for their continued efforts in the fight against illicit activities.
Picture: SGB members and principals during interactive session in Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi urged School Governing Bodies (SGBs) across the province to give principals necessary support in quest to improve the results of learners. Motsumi held a successful interactive session with SGBs, principals, and education stakeholders at Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng on Thursday.
She further said the event brings together school principals, SGBs, secretaries, Representatives Council of Learners (RCL) and various education stakeholders from across the province. Motsumi added that commitment is vital to ensure excellence, integrity and a strong dedication to learner success in the governance of schools.
“As the 2024-2026 SGB term of office begins, we express our heartfelt gratitude to all SGB members for accepting this significant responsibility. I’m thankful to the parents who took the role of being invested in their children’s school governance.
“It is important to clearly understand the task ahead. Your term of office is three years, a relatively short period in which you are expected to leave a lasting legacy. Clean governance is not just a goal, but it is a necessity,” she said.
Motsumi said they must strive to be transparent, ethical, and accountable in all our actions. She said the session focused on several critical areas, including the smooth transition and handover processes, stressing the importance of finalising the handover processes from the previous term to ensure a seamless transition into the new administration.
“We also outlined the legal framework within, which SGBs and school governance operate to promote accountability to stakeholders – parents, teachers and the broader community. We emphasised the importance of fostering a culture of collaboration and cohesion within schools to create environments where learners can thrive.
“We also addressed respect and vandalism in schools. It is about time we bring back respect and discipline to our schools. Learners should be taught respect and gone are the days where teachers are held at ransom by our learners,” said Motsumi.
She said vandalism will also be a thing of the past and as SGBs and school governance, they need to put their foot down in the socials they see creeping into their schools. Motsumi said stakeholders and RCL raised concerns focused on expediting school infrastructure, inclusion of RCLs in the school management, and prioritisation of learner transport.
“These kinds of engagement sessions will be held annually to enhance the quality of education in the province,” she said.
Picture: Conflict Criminologist affiliated to the NWU’ School of Philosophy, Dr Casper Lotter/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
The North West University (NWU)urges the newly-appointed Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald to improve the country’s correctional service system. Conflict Criminologist affiliated to the NWU’ School of Philosophy, Dr Casper Lotter said it is indeed a wonderful time to be in criminology, when the possibility exists that a government in the developing world is more likely to listen to alternative voices than those in the developed world.
Lotter said this is the opportunity presented by South Africa’s new Government of National Unity (GNU) after the May 2024 elections.
He further said under the previous administration, unethical actions such as the BOSASA tender and supply chain scandal, the violent suppression of prison unrest (often exacerbating the serious underlying problems) and the Thabo Bester escape debacle (possibly with the help of corrupt wardens) were par for the course.
“Our new GNU has the potential to usher in a dispensation of transparency and renewed confidence in the authorities. With this in mind, I have compiled a short wish list for our new Minister of Correctional Services.
“I offer ten items for consideration and possible implementation. It is well known that South Africa has one of the highest and most unsustainable recidivism rates in the world at around 86-94%,” he said.
Lotter added that this is higher if compared to Japan’s 48%, China’s 6-8% (two countries that embrace integrative shaming rather than stigmatising shaming practices) and Finland’s 31%. He said the United States, yet another stigmatising shaming culture, has a recidivism rate of 77%.
“This means that about 9 out of every 10 offenders in South Africa reoffend. In my own PhD, I looked at this problem (also known as the penologist’s stone) and I concluded that the emasculating stigma against ex-offenders is the single most important factor in why offenders are unable to reintegrate into the communities from which they were removed before their incarceration.
“The Australian criminologist John Braithwaite famously described stigma as “counterproductive” and “criminogenic”, in the sense that it drives ex-offenders away from mainstream society and into the arms of welcoming criminal subcultures,” said Lotter.
He said the government’s “criminalization and marginalization practices” (in the words of the British criminologist Eugene McLaughlin), should therefore be urgently scrutinised. Lotter said the foothold that the prison-industrial complex (PIC) gained in South Africa during Zuma’s tenure is evidence of this.
“In addition, I have argued that the stigmatisation of ex-offenders, directly and the profit motive as it has come to be embedded in the PIC, indirectly are important, though certainly not exclusive, drivers of South Africa’s unsustainable rates of incarceration and recidivism.
“If our new Minister were to tackle just this one issue of the stigma that fuels reoffending and cements criminal careers, he would have made a huge impact on our unsustainable rates of recidivism and carved out an enduring legacy for himself. How is this to be done? By outlawing the stigmatisation of ex-offenders, including significant civil and criminal consequences for any proven act or practice of discrimination, marginalisation and/or stigmatisation,” he said.
Lotter said but more importantly, a massive public awareness campaign by the DCS on the dangers of stigma, in terms of crime prevention, should perhaps be highlighted in its budget planning. He said it is vital that the public be educated about the societal costs of stigma [in terms of recidivism rates] if they are serious about creating safer communities.
“No stone should be left unturned to bring the South African correctional system into the admirable position of Finland’s in terms of blunting the impact of stigma through integrative shaming measures.
“This is bound to have a positive impact on both socioeconomic and recidivism rates. It is worth noting that John Burton, one of the giants in the field of conflict management, has contributed significantly to the theory that meeting basic human needs (respect, dignity, employment opportunities, etc.) will prevent prolonged social conflict,” said Lotter.
The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration has today considered and adopted the budget vote reports of the Department of Public Service and Administration, the Public Service Commission and the National School of Government.
In adopting the reports, the committee mentioned that it had limited time to finalise the work that was generated by its 6th Parliament predecessor, which has placed it in something of a predicament. However, given the fact that the reports should be considered and deliberated at committee level before they can be debated in the House, the committee went through all of them and adopted them.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Jan de Villiers said the administrative staff informed the committee that the department submits reports to the Office of the Speaker, and it is that office that refers them to the committee.
“Regarding the legislation the committee inherited from the 6th parliament committee, such as the Public Service Commission Bill, the committee’s administrative staff said that this Bill has expired, and a new one will be referred to the committee.
“We welcome this explanation and the committee needs an induction programme on various aspects of its work, including the consideration of legislation and for committee members to meet the administrative staff. This meeting should be convened soon,” he said.
