Banna ba ba neng ba latofadiwa ka polao ya ga Tshepang Seelo kwa Modimong, Rebaone Malekanyo le Tumelo Tlonkwe ba bonwe ba ja “soft”, fa baagi bone ba mina ka nko ele nosi   


Setshwantsho: Banna ba bane ba latofadiwa ka polao, Rebaone Malekanyo le Tumelo Tlonkwe ba iteboga

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Baagi ba motse wa Modimong, gaufi le Taung, ba kaile fa ba tlile go lwa ka tse tsotlhe tse banang natso go netefatsa fa bosiamisi bo diragala. Seno se tla morago ga gore kgotlha-tshekelo e kgolwane ya North West kwa Vryburg, e se bone banna ba babedi ba ba ne ba latofadiwa ka go bolaya Tshepang Seelo (32) yo ene ele mogasi wa maloba wa seteishene sa loago sa Vaaltar FM. 

Ka 11 Ferikgong 2024, kgotlha-tshekelo e golotse Rebaone Malekanyo (33) ga mmogo le Tumelo Tlonkwe (32) morago ga go se ba bone molato. Lekgotlha le kaile fa go sena bopaki jo bo tsepameng go ka golaganyang banna ba le polao ya ga Seelo.

Go ya ka dipego, ka di 31 Diphalane 2021, Seelo one a tswa kwa thaveneng ya selegae, mme one a tsamaya le lekgarebe la gagwe. Go begwa fa Seelo ane a bona Malekanyo le Tlonkwe ba utswa disenke kwa ntlung nngwe, mme a ba kgala. Go begwa fa seo, sene sa tshakgatsa Malekanyo le Tlonkwe, mme ba mo atamela.  

Go ya ka bopaki jo bo rebotsweng kwa kgotlha-tshekelo, Malekanyo le Tlonkwe, ba ne ba teketa Seelo le go mo dira motswara-kananyo, pele ga ba mo bolaya. Go begwa fa banna ba, ba ne ba latlhela setopo sa ga Seelo kwa nokeng kwa Khibitswane.  

Ba ne ba ineela kwa sepodising morago ga gore go tsoge tlhatlharuane kwa motseng wa Modimong fa baagi ba ne ba angwa fela ke tse ba diapereng. Baagi ba ne ba bolotsa letsholo-patlo go batlana le Seelo. Go begwa fa baagi ba ne ba tlhosetsa matlo a banna ba ka molelo.

Fela banna ba, ba ne ba seka ba bonwa molato wa polao le ditatofatso tsotlhe tse ba neng ba lebagane le tsone.

Tsala e e ntshanang se se moinong le Seelo, Mosetsanagape Mohitlheng (35) are, bosekisi bo ile jwa gobelela mo kgetsing e.

“Banna ba, ba boleletse lekgotlha fa ba ne ba seo kwa Modimong ka letsatsi la ditiragalo. Fela, seo ke maaka a matala gonne ke ne kena le bone kwa thaveneng ka letsatsi leo. Ke ile ka ba ka kopa Malekanyo gore a nrekele e e tsiditsana, mme one a ntshepisa gore o tla diraga jalo mo letsatsing le le latelang.

“Ka di 1 Ngwanatsele 2021, rene ra leba kwa matlung a banna ba, mme mmagwe Malekanyo, one a dirisa mogala wa letheka go bua le Rebaone. Se re se utlwileng mo mogaleng, Rebaone one a bolelela motsadi wa gagwe gore a reye batho ba ba ne ba tletse ka jarata gore fa ele gore ba batla Seelo a tshela, ba se fise sepe,” Mohitlheng wa tlhalosa.

Mohitlheng are, batlile go dira boikuelo mo kgetsing e, gonne one a tshwanetse gore e nne paki, ka maswabi mmatlisisi wa kgetsi ga ka a mo neela tshono eo.

Kgabagare, Malekanyo le Tlonkwe ba ne ba bonwa ba iteboga kwa lebenkeleng lengwe la mabono le le rekisang dijo kwa Vryburg, morago ga go gololwa. Mogoloe Rebaone, Pacman Malekanyo are ba tlile go netefatsa fa ba sala kgetsi ya go fisiwa ga matlo morago, mme ba ba molato ba sekisiwe.

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13 undocumented persons nabbed during Operation Vala Umgodi


By OBAKENG MAJE

Thirteen undocumented persons were arrested in Namaqua District on 10 January 2024. According to the Northern Cape police spokesperson, Col Cherelle Ehlers, 12 of the undocumented persons arrested, were Lesotho nationals aged between 23 and 45.

She said another undocumented persons was a Zimbabwe national aged 45.

“On 10 January 2024, the members from Public Order Police (POP), executed Operation Vala Umgodi and conducted a search and seizure actions in the Namaqua district.

“A 190 items believed to be used in the commission of illicit mining were seized, including pliers, jackhammers, drills, spotlights, grinders, generators, shovels, sand sieves, pickaxes, chisels, hand hammers and screwdrivers,” said Ehler.

She said Operation Vala Umgodi will continue unabated to curb illicit mining.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended the police for executing arrests.

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Bafana Bafana camp hits by injuries ahead of AFCON


By OBAKENG MAJE

Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos has shared his thoughts on the injury concerns that have affected his team ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire. Broos said Mamelodi Sundowns FC and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, is currently being managed by the medical team due to a knee niggle, midfielder Themba Zwane took a knock on the knee a few days ago, while Mothobi Mvala had a groin injury.

“Mvala is still part of this team for now. I will not rule him out or think further until I have the full medical details from the team doctor. He is still a part of the AFCON-bound team. Mvala is the type of player that gives everything, both during a match and in practice.

“The above-mentioned players were not part of the South African senior men’s team that faced Lesotho in a preparation match at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, on Wednesday afternoon (10 January 2024),” he said.

Bafana Bafana team doctor, Dr Tshepo Molobi said: “As it is in any camp, we will always be faced with something and this is the nature of football when you’re dealing with athletes. In the case of Mvala, all medical assessments have been made and while we continue practicing caution with all and any injuries, there is no need to rule him out.

“He will travel with the team to Côte d’Ivoire and we as a medical team, will continuously monitor all injuries and niggles that need our care.

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana played to a goalless draw against Lesotho on Wednesday.

The team departs from Johannesburg to Abidjan on Thursday 11 January 2024 and will make their residence in CAN Village in Korhogo their home from Friday.

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Two men who were accused of killing former Vaaltar FM presenter and socialite, Tshepang Seelo not guilty!


By OBAKENG MAJE

The families of two men, Tumelo Tlonkwe (33) and Rebaone Malekanyo (34), who were accused of killing a former Vaaltar FM presenter and local socialite, Tshepang Seelo (32) back in 2021 said, they are relieved that the court did not find them guilty. Malekanyo and Tlonkwe from Modimong village, near Taung, were facing premeditated murder, assault, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in the North West, Henry Mamothame, Seelo was allegedly killed on 31 October 2021, while walking from a local tavern with his girlfriend.

“The deceased allegedly saw the duo stealing roof sheets from a certain house and blew the whistle. Then the accused allegedly assaulted, kidnapped, and killed him before dumping his body in a furrow near Khibitswane village, near Taung.

“Seelo’s girlfriend allegedly ran away and escaped unharmed. The deceased’s lifeless body was found floating in a river on 3 November 2021. It is alleged that, his body was also mutilated and his eyes and tongue were missing,” said Mamothame.

He further said, the two men were arrested on 2 November 2021 after they handed themselves over to the police. Their case was transferred to the North West High Court sitting in Vryburg.

On 11 January 2024, Tlonkwe and Malekanyo were found not guilty by the North West High Court due to lack of sufficient evidence.

Meanwhile, Rebaone’s brother, Pacman Malekanyo said: “We are happy that, finally the justice system has acquitted our brothers and the truth has prevailed. This is what we have been saying that, our brothers are falsely accused in this matter.

“Unfortunately, our livelihoods have been severely affected in the process because our houses were torched by irked residents. We had to relocate our parents from their area of birth due to safety measures.”

Pacman said they will now shift their focus and ensure that, those perpetrators who torched their houses are being arrested and prosecuted. He said they will also have a consultative engagement with their lawyers to look into a civil case against the state.

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Drivers urged to buckle up in wet conditions


Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari 

By OBAKENG MAJE

North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari urges road users in general to be cautious, especially in flooding and misty areas. This comes after excessive rain in different parts of the North West.

Lehari said motorists are advised to drive with minimum speed, and headlights on, while cyclists and those jaywalking are requested to wear reflective clothing. He further said reminding road users to obey road rules and regulations to avoid unnecessary accidents is important.

“We continue to plead with our motorists to comply and cooperate with our law enforcement agencies. Normally, rain causes roads to be slippery and it becomes worse with the level of rain. We urge drivers to reduce speed is a crucial element in wet weather conditions.

“In certain areas of the province, motorists will experience misty weather and it is advisable to always drive with headlights on to be visible on the road. Drivers must avoid hard braking and sudden turns,” said Lehari.

He added that, the law enforcement and road safety officers will be visible. Lehari said they request motorists to cooperate on the road.

“Our responsibility is to make sure that you reach your destinations safely as we cannot afford to lose lives due to incidents.

“Traffic is expected to increase as most people are traveling back from holidays to their work destinations, especially when schools are also due to open for the 2024 academic year,” he said.

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SA ready to host U19 Cricket World Cup


Picture: The SA cricket team ready for U19 Cricket World Cup 2024/Supplied  

By KABELO SELEBOGO

South Africa has been announced as the host for the International Cricket Council (ICC) U19 Cricket World Cup 2024, following the suspension of Sri Lanka as the host late last year. JB Marks Oval (Potchefstroom), Willow Moore Park (Benoni), Mangaung Oval (Bloemfontein), Kimberly Oval, and Buffalo Park (East London) will host 16 countries divided into four groups with a total number of 41 games from January 19 to February 11.

JB Marks Oval will host la crème de la crème of 50 overs clashes. The Oval which is named after a struggle icon, Uncle John Beaver Marks, is set to host South Africa, England, the West Indies, and Scotland. The Oval holds several stats and records across various formats of cricket matches, which include tests, One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 International (T20Is).

The four countries will battle it all out to earn maximum points and compete for spots in group stages. The Super 6 matches will commence from January 19 to February 3 in Potchefstroom.

The host side will take on West Indies in an opener on January 19, followed by England on January 23, and ending the group fixture by facing Scotland on January 27.

The CEO of North West Cricket, Ismail Minty said: “We are more than prepared to welcome all cricket enthusiasts from all walks of life and to host an event of this magnitude. The Oval is well-maintained and in good shape.

“We have excellent training facilities, infrastructure, a sports village, a high-performance centre, and fields that have hotels on-site which make it easier for logistics. We are hosting a competent pool that comprises exciting young talent in the world of cricket.”

Minty further said this is the same event that has produced the likes of Kagiso Rabada and other prominent stars.

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, Kenetswe Mosenogi, applauded North West Cricket for the sterling job and for always being ready to host events of this magnitude.  

“We pride ourselves with the Oval named after Uncle JB Marks with notable records. This is the same venue that has previously hosted both the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and U19 ICC Men’s World Cup as well as the senior’s ODI between Proteas and Aussies (Australia).

“We are pleased by the number of locals, who are temporarily employed to work behind the scenes such as ushers, safety officers, security, accreditations, VIPs, media, and cleaning services ensuring that everything runs smooth,” she added.  

Mosenogi said to give back to the cricket fraternity, ICC has organised several coaching clinics targeting children that play cricket at local clubs and school teams in Ventersdorp and surrounding areas in Potch.

She said the 10 matches that will be played over 15 days, are free to watch and they encourage patriotic citizens to come in numbers at the games.

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‘Undocumented’ foreign bus driver flees as North West traffic officers pounce on him   


Picture: A bus from Zimbabwe with passengers/Generic

By OBAKENG MAJE

A suspected undocumented Zimbabwean driver allegedly abandoned his bus with 78 passengers inside. This comes after the North West traffic officers, allegedly stopped a bus with Zimbabwean registration number on R101 road, near Carousel Casino, outside Pretoria on 10 January 2024.

The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari said the alleged driver fled on foot. Lehari further said the traffic officers were on their regular patrol when they stopped the bus.

“The bus had 78 passengers and was apparently en route to Johannesburg. After bringing the bus to a stop, the driver alighted and took off on foot, leaving perplexed officers behind. However, his passengers were not bemused by his antics.

“The traffic officers called the police and handed the matter to them. The passengers were taken to the Makapanstad Police Station for verification of their status and the bus was impounded. We would like to applaud the traffic officers for exceptional work,” he said.

Lehari added that this is a further testimony that, their operations and monitoring mechanisms on the roads are impactful. He said they had been on all roads – both interconnecting and rural to ensure that, there is compliance with the law.

“The presence of law enforcement and their efficiency has been extolled by ordinary citizens as is the case with Johannesburg resident, Lorenzo Roberts, who praised our traffic officers on social media.

“Roberts was stranded on his way from a family outing in Sun City and was assisted by our friendly law enforcement officers. Ordinary people must feel safe in the presence of law enforcement officers. They should not be petrified and we are happy when citizens give us this type of feedback,” said Lehari.

He said due to every presence of the traffic officers, the fatalities on the North West roads stand at just below 90, which is about 10% less compared to the same period last year. Lehari said the traffic is expected to pick up going into the weekend as schools will be opening next week.

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Police are looking for the missing John Mafethe


By OBAKENG MAJE

The police in Sannieshof request the community’s assistance in locating Jan Mafethe of Phelandaba Section in Sannieshof, near Lichtenburg. According to the North West police spokesperson, Captain Aaftje Botma, Mafethe was last seen by his friend, Ephraim Malebelela on 29 December 2023.

“A search was conducted around the township and surrounding areas of Phelandaba without any success. No one has information about the clothes he was wearing when he disappeared.

“He is dark in complexion, brown eyes with a medium built body, 1.9m in height with black hair. Anyone who may have information regarding his whereabouts is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Steven Masoko on Cell 082 373 8250 or call the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop on 08600 10111,” said Botma.

She said anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via the MySAPS App from a smart phone.

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Delays in the implementation of the Routine Roads Maintenance Projects


By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West Department of Public Works and Roads has announced that, there will be a delay in the implementation of the Routine Roads Maintenance Project. The acting Head of Department (HoD), Sifiso Diko said the decision to delay implementation is due to administrative-related issues.

Diko further said the department is committed to implementing the Routine Roads Maintenance Project after consideration of the available budget.

“It is worth mentioning that the department has suffered a major budget cut of over R150m in the 2023/2024 financial year. Our priority is to see current participants of the Vuk’phile Contractor Development Programme exit in line with our existing strategy.

“In this regard, communication with participants of the programme is ongoing. Accordingly, the department will fulfill its obligations to appointed main contractors,” he said.

Diko added that, the department wishes to categorically state that, no work has commenced and therefore it is disingenuous to suggest that, the project has been suspended after meeting stakeholders on the matter. He said the department has advised the public to avoid overreliance on statements made by individuals not appointed to officially communicate on behalf of the department.

“We reiterate our position that, threats against officials of the department and the closing of the Head Office to raise concerns is unacceptable” said Diko.

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Maruping family in Lokgabeng live in fear as water overflows into their yard during heavy rainfalls   


Picture: Joseph Maruping in front of his overflowed yard  

By OBAKENG MAJE

The family of Maruping in Lokgabeng village, near Taung said, it lives in fear that, one day their house might be washed away. This comes after the water overflowed into their yard after a rainfall.  

Joseph Maruping (67) said the overflow of water is caused by the topography of their area and how the roadway was designed. Maruping said the water comes from Leropong until it reaches their yards.

“Even though there are culverts, they are clogged because of soil. So, they serve no purpose because they are not maintained. We have urged the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) to address this matter and ensure that, there is stormwater that is conveyed along the tarred road with curb and gutter. However, our call fell on deaf ears.

“The water was supposed to go through into the storm sewer system through inlets or catch basins. The catch basin will take the water off the street and into the storm sewer pipe under the bridge. However, nothing has happened,” he said.

Maruping further said the culvert that was installed by the municipality, is too small too. He added that, when there are rainstorms, the water overflows into their yards and they are forced to stay indoors, which affects their livelihoods.

“What is disheartening is that, this is happening every year. We call on our municipality to take our concerns into consideration, instead of ignoring us. They kept on promising to come and address this matter year in and year out with no action.

“The water that overflows into our yard also enters into our borehole. You can imagine how hazardous the situation might be. We do not know if that water is contaminated or not. So, we might drink the water from the borehole, only to find out that it is contaminated,” said Maruping.

He said their neighbour has since relocated due to the situation. Maruping said if it was up to them, they would have relocated a long time ago, but they have no due to financial constraints as they are pensioners.

South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) deputy regional secretary in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, Mothohela Dikhai shared the same sentiments. Dikhai said they are concerned about heavy rains that continue to pour in and affect the residents in the process.

“What we have realised is that the affected people are constantly living in fear. Last night, they hardly slept due to the situation they found themselves in. So, we urge the municipality to act swiftly and address this matter.   

“The problem is how the tarred road that links Mokassa and Lokgabeng was constructed. No drainage system can redirect water to avoid overflowing into the residents’ yards. We urge the municipality to assist by installing big culverts,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Infrastructure at the municipality, Itumeleng Maribe said: “As the municipality, we are aware of the predicament the Maruping family finds itself in. We have installed a culvert there, but it seems the culvert serves no purpose.

“However, we have engaged the District Director of North West Public Works and Roads for assistance. So, he agreed to assemble a team to assess the situation before installing the bigger culvert that will redirect water.”

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