Three suspects were nabbed for being in possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of state property and possession of stolen property. The North West police spokesperson, Captain Aaftje Botma said three men aged 36, 39 and 62 were arrested during a multi-disciplinary team comprising of Mmakau police, Brits Trio Task Team, and Crime Intelligence.
“The police received a tip-off about a Toyota Corolla of which the occupants allegedly attempted to hijack a truck in Parys, Free State Province. It was further indicated that the suspects were heading in the Rustenburg/Mooinooi direction.
“The vehicle was spotted driving towards Mooinooi on the N4 road and the team promptly responded. A car chase ultimately ensued, but the suspect’s vehicle was stopped at Kgware Road (M21) near De Wildt Crossing,” she said.
Botma said upon searching, the police found a Z88 pistol with one magazine and 11 ammunition, one RETAY MOD 92 pistol with 10 ammunition, blank ammunition, a police blue lamp, two pair of handcuffs, one wallet with SAPS badge, three black hoodies and cash.
She further said the police also seized the suspect’s vehicle for further investigation. Botma added that the suspects are expected to appear in the Brits Magistrate’s Court soon.
Meanwhile, the Bojanala Platinum Sub-District Police Commissioner, Major General Modisagaarekwe Mosimanegape, commended the police for their collaboration, which resulted in the arrests and recovery of firearms and ammunition.
Setshwantsho: Nama ya kgomo e e bonweng mo balatofadiweng
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Banna ba le bararo ba tshwerwe morago ga gore sepodisi se fitlhelele dirope tsa nama ya kgomo e go belaelwang e ne e utswilwe golo gongwe kwa polasing kwa Kimberley. Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi kwa Kimberley, Sarasanta Dikeledi Gopane, tiragalo e ke ya Labone wa beke e e fetileng.
“Sepodisi go tswa kwa lephateng le le rebang bosinyi, lene la tshwara banna ba le bararo ka Labone kwa Marrick Safari Farm. Batlhankela ba sepodisi ba ne ba tsweletse ka tiro ya bone ya twantsho ya bosinyi fa ba ne ba fitlhelela tshedimosetso ya gore gona le banna bangwe ba ba tlhabang kgomo golo gongwe.
“Ba ne ba itelekela kwa lefelong la tiragalo, mme ba fitlhela banna ba dingwaga dile 20, 22 ga mmogo 30 ka nama ya kgomo. Kgomo e e bolailweng e lekanyediwa go madi a kanang ka R15 000. Sepodisi se bone gape le digalapane jaaka thipa, selepe ga mmogo le kgetsi tse go dumelwang fa di dirisitswe fa gone go tlhabiwa kgomo e,” Gopane wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, Gopane o kaile fa banna ba, bane ba tshwarwa le go latofadiwa ka go tsoma go go seng mo molaong. Are ba tla tlhagelela kwa kgotlha-tshekelo ya Kimberley mo nakong e e sa fediseng pelo.
More than 1000 people were searched during a multi-disciplinary operation conducted by the SAPS, Department of Correctional Services, SARS Customs, Department of Home Affairs Immigration Office, SANDF, Provincial and Municipal Traffic through ZF Mgacuwa District on Friday.
The ZF Mgcawu District police spokesperson, Sergeant Omphime Masegela said women were at the forefront of the operation and they were under the overall command of the District Police Commissioner, Major General Thabo Mphuthi.
“This joint operation was conducted through roadblocks by collaborating with neighbouring stations in their respective areas, compliance inspections, high visibility and raiding of illegal liquor outlets.
“A total of 878 vehicles were stopped, 1549 persons were searched and traffic fines amounting to R32 100 were issued. Also, J534 fines worth R3 400 were issued. The public awareness on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBV&F) and substance abuse was raised by means of pamphlet distribution to motorists,” Masegela said.
He further said, the police also raided a tuckshop for illegal trading in liquor in the Rosedale area. Masegela added that, the police confiscated liquor to the value of R 24 247.30 and arrested a man aged 39.
“The operation concluded with crime prevention patrols and high visibility in Upington CBD, policing the taxi plaza, shopping centres, and ATMs,” he said.
The ANCYL in North West said it condemns the criminal activity that took place at Are-Fadimeheng Secondary School in Jouberton Township, near Klerksdorp, where 58 learners were allegedly robbed of their tablets. The incident took place on Sunday morning, while learners were in camp.
It is alleged that in the early hours of Sunday morning at around 4 a.m., six armed men wearing balaclavas gained entry to the school premises. According to allegations, the armed robbers tied the security guard in his guardroom before they proceeded to where learners and a teacher had lodged.
The North West police spokesperson, Capt Aaftje Botma said learners and a teacher had gathered for an organised weekend camp for Grade 12 Physical Science learners.
“A business robbery case was opened and no arrests thus far. It is alleged that the learners at the school were busy with their studies when the suspects wearing balaclavas, entered and pointed them with firearms before taking some cell phones and laptops.
“No injuries were suffered and learners and a teacher were taken to Tshepong Complex Hospital for counselling,” she said.
The ANCYL spokesperson in North West, Kutlwano Masibi said: “We condemn this barbaric act with the strongest terms it deserves and want to reiterate that, such acts do not have space in our community. Furthermore, states that the sale and purchasing of stolen property is equally criminal.
“We further wish to commend the department for having attended to the psycho-social support needs of the learners. We are once more appealing to the police to continue looking out for these criminals, who have no place in our society.”
Masibi further said they call on community members to be on the lookout and come forward with any information that may be of assistance towards the investigations.
He added that, the spread of this action must be vehemently opposed and rejected by all and make sure that this cancerous behaviour does not spread to other parts of the province.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi condemned the incident. Motsumi further said learners were voluntarily joined by five other accounting learners.
“This is an act of cruelty and we call for the perpetrators to be found and brought to book. I am gravely aggrieved by this barbaric act that is deliberately set at drawing an African child backwards.
“As the department, we are progressively improving the quality of education of learners by exposing our learners through engagements that bridge the technological divide by affording them gadgets for educational purposes,” she said.
Motsumi added that it seems they live in a society that is contrary to the progress of the very African child.
“This is unbecoming behaviour and needs to stop. Now we are left with learners with no gadgets and emotionally damaged. I earnestly ask our South African Police Services (SAPS) to move swiftly in their search and arrest of these criminals and bring them to book.
“In the same breath, we are thankful to the Department of Health for stepping in to administer psychological evaluation to the learners. The department will continue to administer psychological support to all learners as of Monday,” said Motsumi.
Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari
By OBAKENG MAJE
Maladministration and corruption allegations hackle the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari’s department. This comes after allegations of political manipulation in the appointment process of the new Head of Department (HOD) at the department surfaced.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West said there are allegations that the ranking of the two candidates on the interview list has been switched to benefit a candidate, who is allegedly closely aligned with Lehari.
The DA spokesperson on North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Freddy Sonakile said they are concerned by allegations.
“The Head of Department position has been vacant since April 2022. The position was only advertised in February 2023 and later re-advertised. Interviews were held early in July and an interview report with the results was sent to the North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi, who has since signed off on the appointment of a new Head of Department with effect from 1 September 2023.
“It appears that the results may not have favoured the candidate that Lehari preferred and the process may have been manipulated to make provision for appointing an individual who will be more amenable to the ANC,” he said.
Sonakile further said they will submit a Promotion of Access to Information (PAIA) to the Office of the Premier, requesting the entire interview report to be released. He added that should allegations of manipulation of the interview and appointment process prove to be true, they will be left with no choice but to explore all avenues at their disposal to reverse the appointment.
“Good governance cannot continue to be undermined because of the ANC’s continued interference with appointment processes within the public service.
“We will not hesitate to stop the ANC-led government in its tracks if any signs of cadre deployment are exposed. We are already legally fighting ANC cadre deployment in court nationally,” said Sonakile.
It is alleged that the appointed Head of Department (who is known to Taung DailyNews), is a staunch member of ANC in North West and a close ally to Lehari. He also holds a PhD from the North West University and he was a popular House DJ in the 90s.
Meanwhile, the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) spokesperson, Brian Setswambung refuted the allegations and described them as ludicrous. Setswambung said the post of Head of Department was initially advertised on 27 January 2023.
“The advert was placed with a closing date of 10 February 2023. The post was advertised both internally and externally in the North West Provincial Government Intranet, Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Circular 03 of 2022, and National Publications.
“The initial shortlisting session was held on the 6 April 2023 in Rustenburg and the panel resolved that the post be re-advertised as it had the potential to exclude many competent potential candidates,” he said.
Setswambung said the Head of Department post was subsequently re-advertised on 21 April 2023 both internally and externally in the North West Provincial Government Intranet, Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Circular No. 14 of 2023 and National Publications with the closing date of 11 May 2023.
He said the interview was held on 4 July 2023 at Rustenburg (Hunters Rest).
“There were eight shortlisted candidates, and seven candidates availed themselves. The candidate who has been recommended and approved for appointment is expected to assume duty on 1 September 2023. We are not aware of any manipulation of the process to favour the recommended candidate.
“All candidates were subjected to a fair selection process i.e. interview, competency assessment, and pre-employment verification process. The panel that interviewed candidates was representative of a balanced Selection Committee of six members, three MECs, the Director General, the National Department of Transport representative, and the Secretariat for Police Services,” said Setswambung.
According to Setswambung, the appointed candidate scored higher than any other recommended candidate and is therefore appointed on merit to the post.
Setshwantsho: Thato Ralisite o setopo sa gagwe se bonweng kwa nageng
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Lesea la dingwaga dile 2 le lene le timetse, mme la fitlhelwa le tlhokofetse kwa sekgweng kwa motseng wa Myra, gaufi le Taung, le tlhotse le bolokilwe mo letsatsing la gompieno. Go begwa fa Thato Ralisite ane a nyelela fa a ne a tshameka kwa ntle kwa ntlung ya ga rakgadiagwe ka letsatsi la di 19 Phatwe 2023.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, mokolonele Adele Myburgh, o kaile fa gone ga dirwa letsholo-patlo kwa motseng, mme ga gwa nna le nko e e tswang le mina. Myburgh are, setopo sa ga Thato sene sa bonwa ke mofeti ka tsela ka Labobedi mo maitseboeng.
“Ga gona ope o o tshwerweng go fitlha ga jaana, mme dipatlisiso di tsweletse. Dipatlisiso tsa go netefatsa tlholo ya loso di tla tswelela go netefatsa gore loso la ga Thato le tlhodilwe ke eng,” Myburgh wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, modulasetilo wa Myra Civic Movement, Moabi Joseph Oshupeng are ga ba itumelele tsamaiso ya bogosi kwa motseng wa bone. Oshupeng o latofatsa kgosi ya motse ka go tsaya letlhakore mo ntlheng e, ebile o kaile fa a makaditswe ke motho mongwe o o dulang kwa motseng wa Mogopela B a ne a bua jaaka kgosi kwa phitlhong ya lesea.
“Gona le selo se se tlhotseng se ntenne tota kwa phitlhong ya leseanyana la rona gompieno. A moya wa ga Thato o bone boikhutso, le fa ke tennwe ke gore, erile fa gotwe ditebogo ka kgosi ko mabitleng, ke fa go ema motho yo re sa mo itseng le gone ese motho wa Myra ele motho wa kwa Mogopela B.
“Motho yoo, o buile dilo disele are rona jaaka baagi ba Myra, re tshwanetse re itshwarele motlhodi kgotsa batlhodi ba go nyelela le go bolawa ga lesea la rona. Bogosi jwa rona bo tshwanetse bo tlhalose ka Laboraro. Re le baagi, re tlile go baakanya Myra, gonne loso la ga Thato le bakile ketsaetsego e e seng kana ka sepe mo motseng,” Oshupeng wa tlhalosa.
Gape o kaile fa jaaka baagi, ba na le bana le batho bangwe kwa ntle ga motse wa bone, mme batho bao ba simolotse go gana bana ba bone ba etela motse wa bone wa Myra ka ntlheng ya pabalesego. Oshupeng are, fa ba ka tlogela kgang e fela jaana, e tla ba baya ka mosing gonne ga ba itse gore ke lesea la ga mang le le tla latelang.
“Jaaka rele baagi, rena le bana mo motseng wa rona. Jaanong, bana bao ba tlile go ikutlwa ba sa sireletsega. Gape, go begwa fa kgosi a boleletse ba lelapa la Ralisite fa boloi ele setso. Jaanong, re ikopela tirisano mmogo go kgosi ya rona, mme re nne le phitlhelelo mo ditiragalong tse tsa bosinyi jaaka morafe,” Oshupeng wa tlhalosa.
Ka maswabi, Taung DailyNews ga ya kgona go fitlhelela tsibogo go tswa go kgosi ka nako e gone go phasaladiwa kgang e. Karabo go tswa kwa bogosing e tla tlalelediwa fa e setse e bonwe.
More than 50 learners including a teacher were allegedly robbed of their tablets and laptops during a school camp at Are-Fadimeheng Secondary School in Jouberton Township, near Klerksdorp on Sunday.
It is alleged that in the early hours of Sunday morning at around 4 a.m., six armed men wearing balaclavas gained entry to the school premises. According to allegations, the armed robbers tied the security guard in his guardroom before they proceeded to where learners and a teacher had lodged.
The North West police spokesperson, Capt Aaftje Botma said learners and a teacher had gathered for an organised weekend camp for Grade 12 Physical Science learners.
“A business robbery case was opened and no arrests thus far. It is alleged that the learners at the school were busy with their studies when the suspects wearing balaclavas, entered and pointed them with firearms before taking some cell phones and laptops.
“No injuries were suffered and learners and a teacher were taken to Tshepong Complex Hospital for counselling,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi condemned the incident. Motsumi further said learners were voluntarily joined by five other accounting learners.
“This is an act of cruelty and we call for the perpetrators to be found and brought to book. I am gravely aggrieved by this barbaric act that is deliberately set at drawing an African child backwards.
“As the department, we are progressively improving the quality of education of learners by exposing our learners through engagements that bridge the technological divide by affording them gadgets for educational purposes,” she said.
Motsumi added that it seems they live in a society that is contrary to the progress of the very African child.
“This is unbecoming behaviour and needs to stop. Now we are left with learners with no gadgets and emotionally damaged. I earnestly ask our South African Police Services (SAPS) to move swiftly in their search and arrest of these criminals and bring them to book.
“In the same breath, we are thankful to the Department of Health for stepping in to administer psychological evaluation to the learners. The department will continue to administer psychological support to all learners as of Monday,” said Motsumi.
Picture: Ward 20 councillor, Itumeleng Maribe addressing the Women Empowerment symposium/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Ward 20 councillor, Itumeleng Maribe said that even though women’s empowerment has been made significantly in various sectors, the marginalisation of poor women severely compromises the progress. Maribe was addressing the women empowerment symposium in Kameelpuits village, near Taung on Friday.
He further said the symposium was attributed to more than 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. Maribe added that, since the advent of democracy in South Africa, great strides have been made in changing the status quo.
“You will remember that we celebrate Women’s Month and it was imperative to have a symposium like this. Many women, especially in rural areas continue to be marginalised. However, we call on men to stand up and eliminate any form of discrimination against women. Instead, we need to empower them without expecting anything in return.
“Women are the pillars of the society and I am happy that, they continue to break the barriers across all sectors. The least that we could do is to give them support and ensure that they succeed in that mission. Furthermore, government policies and programmes have improved the living conditions of women,” he said.
Maribe said women in rural areas should also be allowed to make inroads and occupy strategic positions. He said nationally, a number of women are taking up leadership positions in areas previously dominated by men.
Meanwhile, on 9 August 2023, the president of the Republic of South Africa (RSA), Cyril Ramaphosa said: “Together, we thank the women of South Africa for the role they play in the life of our nation. We celebrate how far we have come in building a non-sexist society, where women are free and equal and enjoy the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution.
“We recall the suffering that women have endured for no reason other than that they are women. We remember the courageous struggles waged by women against oppression, from those who stood up against colonialism and slavery to those who risked jail rather than carry the hated dompas.”
Ramaphosa said, remember those women who took up arms against a violent regime, who organised workers to fight exploitation, who led political movements and civic organisations, and who were involved in the drafting of our new democratic Constitution.
He said, today of all days, they salute imbokodo, amaqhawekazi, the brave pioneers who marched to the Union Buildings on this day in 1956.
“We are still moved by the images of women like Lilian Ngoyi, Rahima Moosa, Sophie De Bruyn and Helen Joseph carrying armfuls of petitions from the women of South Africa. Today, all the women of South Africa, whether they are black, white, Indian, or coloured, have freedom and equal rights thanks to the bravery, activism, and sacrifices of the generation of 1956.
“Thanks to the struggles of women over the generations, all South African women have the right to vote, the right to work, the right to have control over their bodies, the right to property and equality,” he said.
Ramaphosa said despite hardship, deprivation and many difficulties, South African women continue to stand strong. He said they bring up children, many of them as single parents.
Picture: The former Naledi Local Municipality employee, Seiso Clifford Shoarane/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
A judgment on a rape case against the former Naledi Local Municipality employee, Clifford Seiso Shoarane, who was found guilty of rape by the Vryburg Regional Court, has been postponed to 28 September 2023. Shoarane, who was working as Assistant Manager in the security department at the municipality, raped a woman in Vryburg a few years ago.
It is alleged that the woman in question was a well-known prostitute in Vryburg. According to information, the woman was hitchhiking to Huhudi Township when she met Shoarane. Shoarane promised the woman to take her safely to Huhudi, but instead, he headed straight to a dilapidated building, where he raped her.
After the ordeal, Shoarane dumped the woman in the streets and left. The woman went to the Vryburg Police Station where she opened a rape case against him.
Picture: Social media platforms across South Africa/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies will hold a symposium to discuss the impact of digital media misinformation, disinformation, and content moderation ahead of the upcoming general elections in 2024. The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Justice Molafo said a two-day symposium will commence at the Tshedimosetso House in Hatfield, Pretoria from 29 until 30 August 2023.
“On the first day, the symposium will receive presentations from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, Government Communications and Information Systems, Independent Electoral Commission, Films and Publications Board, South African Broadcasting Corporation, Media Development and Diversity Agency, National Association of Broadcasters, South African Communication Forum, as well as the Association of Comms and Technology.
“There will then be discussions in between presentations. More industry players will make presentations on day two, including Google, Meta, TikTok, Twitter, Media Monitoring Africa, and Right2Know. Once again, there will be discussions in between presentations,” he said.
Molafo further said the committee aims to assess the state of readiness of the communication sector and its capacity to meet its mandate to disseminate information relatively in the run-up to the national and provincial government elections. He added that this will include the measures it will take to guard against spreading misinformation during future elections.
“The committee considers it necessary to interrogate the role played by social media network platforms in shaping the social fabric of the country and the Southern African Development Community and will engage with all digital media platforms to explore the environment within which they operate.
“Next year, South Africans will head to the voting stations to elect their public representatives at provincial and national levels for the seventh time since the beginning of the country’s democratic dispensation. The emergence of digital communication platforms in the 21st century has transformed the communications landscape, including the way information is disseminated,” said Molafo.
He said with this transformation, however, the troubling power of disinformation campaigns also grew. Molafo said in the interests of holding free and fair elections and protecting South Africa’s democracy in the digital age, Parliament must begin to debate the guidelines that will ensure fair and impartial communications during election cycles, notwithstanding the proliferation of digital communication platforms.
“The symposium will cover various themes, including, amongst others, digital media platforms and their influence on the integrity of electoral processes in South Africa, the practical dangers posed by digital media platforms around user-data misappropriation, and the measures put in place to protect digital media platform users.
“Digital media platforms’ self-regulation and the policies in place to promote the protection and personal privacy of the end-users, budget allocations for identifying misinformation by social network platforms for South Africa in contrast to profits generated in the country as well as political advertising on digital media platforms,” said Molafo.
The Guardian 