Picture: Two bakkies involved in an accident near Tlapaneng village, on N18 road
By OBAKENG MAJE
Nine people were injured in an accident between two bakkies near Tlapaneng T-Junction on N18 road in Taung on Sunday. The North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen said nine people were seriously injured, while six were slightly injured.
“The bakkie was busy turning right to Matlapaneng village when the other bakkie collided with it from behind. The passengers, who were injured were ferried to hospital for medical attention.
“A case of reckless or negligent driving was opened at Pudimoe Police Station and is under investigation,” van Rooyen said.
The family in Madipelesa village near Taung is still reeling in shock after six of its family members died in a head-on collision accident between a white Toyota Quantum minibus taxi and a white Polo TSI on the R31 road in Danielkuil, Northern Cape on Sunday.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sgt Molefi Shemane said the accident claimed nine lives of whom three are children.
“Eleven people were hospitalised, of which, three injured were the occupants of the white Polo TSI, while eight people were in the minibus taxi.
In a separate incident, the police in Kathu are investigating a culpable homicide case following an accident that happened on the R380 road in Kathu on 15 July 2023. The preliminary investigations indicate that, a truck and a motor vehicle collided head-on, the sedan caught fire and the body burned beyond recognition,” Shemane said.
He further said the police and the Kathu Emergency Services were at both scenes.
“The police are investigating the circumstances that led to these tragic accidents,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola conveyed her sincere condolences and expressed her deepest sympathy to the members of the bereaved families and the injured.
Otola also appealed to road users to obey all rules of the road, exercise caution and show good behaviour, while on the road.
The acting Assistant Director for Out Patient and Casualty, Tshepo Setlhabe at the Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The community members in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region are encouraged to be cautious of mental illness. This comes after the Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital in Vryburg recorded a total of 235 patients, who displayed substance-induced psychosis and 312 known mental users, ultimately being categorised as mental illnesses.
The acting Assistant Director for Out Patient and Casualty, Tshepo Setlhabe at the Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital said mental illness entails a condition that involves psychological and emotional well-being and affects how one perceives things.
Setlhabe further said the community members are advised to take note of the signs and symptoms related to mental illnesses such as hallucination (seeing or hearing things that do not exist), delusions, false beliefs such as witchcraft, negligence of care, poor hygiene, and dirty clothes, insomnia, lack of maintenance of sleep, violence, physical and verbal abuse.
“Another sign might be roaming around without a particular destination. It is important that, when a person displays personality symptoms related to mental illness, they should be taken to the nearest clinic. In case the patient is violent, community members are advised to call the police for assistance.
“The common condition that is prevalent in the hospital is a substance-induced psychotic disorder with 80% of patients displaying this behaviour and dominated by male patients. The most common in patients is the use of a drug substance such as crystal meth, dagga, and nyaope,” he said.
Setlhabe added that the hospital has put in place mechanisms to ensure that health education is promoted to affected patients. He said this is achieved through a multi-disciplinary approach, which entails social workers, psychiatrists, medical officers, nurses, and occupational therapists.
“However, after stabilisation and observation, the patient is then referred to other hospitals for further intervention and treatment. I urge all community members to accord support to those that have mental health illnesses.
“No one is immune to mental illnesses and it can happen to anyone,” said Setlhabe.
Picture: The acting Assistant Director for Out Patient and Casualty, Tshepo Setlhabe at the Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The community members in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region are encouraged to be cautious of mental illness. This comes after the Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital in Vryburg recorded a total of 235 patients, who displayed substance-induced psychosis and 312 known mental users, ultimately being categorised as mental illnesses.
The acting Assistant Director for Out Patient and Casualty, Tshepo Setlhabe at the Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital said mental illness entails a condition that involves psychological and emotional well-being and affects how one perceives things.
Setlhabe further said the community members are advised to take note of the signs and symptoms related to mental illnesses such as hallucination (seeing or hearing things that do not exist), delusions, false beliefs such as witchcraft, negligence of care, poor hygiene, and dirty clothes, insomnia, lack of maintenance of sleep, violence, physical and verbal abuse.
“Another sign might be roaming around without a particular destination. It is important that, when a person displays personality symptoms related to mental illness, they should be taken to the nearest clinic. In case the patient is violent, community members are advised to call the police for assistance.
“The common condition that is prevalent in the hospital is a substance-induced psychotic disorder with 80% of patients displaying this behaviour and dominated by male patients. The most common in patients is the use of a drug substance such as crystal meth, dagga, and nyaope,” he said.
Setlhabe added that the hospital has put in place mechanisms to ensure that health education is promoted to affected patients. He said this is achieved through a multi-disciplinary approach, which entails social workers, psychiatrists, medical officers, nurses, and occupational therapists.
“However, after stabilisation and observation, the patient is then referred to other hospitals for further intervention and treatment. I urge all community members to accord support to those that have mental health illnesses.
“No one is immune to mental illnesses and it can happen to anyone,” said Setlhabe.
Six suspects were arrested for an attempted truck highjacking in Hammanskraal on Thursday. The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said various police units were involved in securing this arrest, including Brits and Rustenburg Crime Intelligence, Brits Trio Task Team, Mooinooi and Jericho Visible Policing and District Detectives of Bojanala Platinum District.
“The police seized a Toyota Hilux, tools that can be used to strip a truck as well as numerous cellular phones allegedly used in the commission of the crime. The suspects, aged between 41 and 28, will appear before the Temba Magistrate’s Court on 17 July 2023.
“Further linkages to other cases are expected and investigations will continue by Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Unit,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the teams for their dedication and diligence that lead to these arrests. Kwena emphasised that police would leave no stone unturned to ensure that hardened criminals are put behind bars.
The third suspect linked to the theft of 51 rhino horns at the North West Parks Board offices on 26 June 2023, has been arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit. The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said the suspect (46) was arrested in Rustenburg on 14 July 2023.
Mathebula further said the information led them to Rustenburg, where a suspect was arrested for the alleged theft of rhino horns. He added that this brings the number of arrests made thus far to three.
“The suspect is due to appear in the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on 17 July 2023, where he will be facing a business burglary charge. Meanwhile, Lindani Mthombeni (32) and Elias Mangande (40), the accused in the alleged theft of rhino horns, made a brief appearance in the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on 13 July 2023.
“The pair will be back in court on 21 July 2023 for bail application,” said Mathebula.
Picture: A hijacking case opened in Rustenburg/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
The alleged hijacker has been arrested and is set to appear at Mogwase Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Abraham Alexander Mkhabela (31) is linked to three hijacking cases and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in Sun City, Phokeng, and Mogwase and Mogwase.
These cases were reported between June 2016 to June 2023.
The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said in the last hijacking case reported at night on 3 June 2023 in Sun City along the R565 road, a motorist (33) was allegedly driving in a silver Mercedes Benz.
“He stopped to pour petrol at a filling station in Ledig. He just pulled out of the filling station when he was allegedly approached by three armed men, who were also driving a Mercedes Benz. They allegedly pointed him with a firearm and instructed him to get out of his vehicle.
“Furthermore, he was allegedly robbed of his vehicle and personal belongings. The victim was allegedly left unharmed next to the road. Mkhabela was arrested by the Rustenburg Public Order Policing (POP), Visible Policing, and Crime Intelligence police on 9 July 2023, while asleep at his flat,” she said.
Myburgh further said the police also seized a police reflective jacket. She added that Mkhabela’s first court appearance was on 10 July 2023, where he was remanded in custody.
Picture: The explosives allegedly found in possession of two occupants/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Two suspects aged between 39 and 47 were arrested by the police consisting of Brits and Hartbeespoortdam Crime Prevention Units, Hartbeespoortdam K9, Brits Crime Intelligence, and Lethlabile Visible Policing at the corner of the R566 and New Road, in Brits for unlawfully being in possession of explosives.
The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said the police allegedly cornered a white Toyota Conquest with two occupants after receiving a tip-off.
Myburgh further said the vehicle was searched and police allegedly found two electrical shock-tube initiators, two lengths of blasting cables, one battery, and one full blasting cartridge with an estimated street value of R25 000.
She added that, as a result, the duo was immediately arrested for unlawfully being in Possession of Explosives, thus contravening Section 128 of the Explosives Act, 1956 (Act No. 26 of 1956).
“The incident occurred on Friday and the suspects will appear before the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the police for their speedy reaction and bravery. Kwena also thanked the community for being the eyes and ears of the police and said that their positive response averted crime.
Picture: The clothes belonging to the missing Kgalalelo Naledi/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The family of a missing elderly woman in Cokonyane village near Taung said, they are dejected regarding the snail pace the police investigations are going through. This comes after Kgalalelo Naledi (79) went missing on 10 October 2022. According to the police, Kgalalelo allegedly left her house and never returned.
Now, one of her daughters, Patricia said, they were hopeful that the police will make a breakthrough after making a gruesome discovery a few months ago. The police discovered the human skull and bones along with Kgalalelo’s clothes in a grazing field in Modimong village, near Taung four months after she went missing.
“We are still waiting for the forensic outcome after the police discovered the human skull and bones along with my mother’s clothes. However, there is nothing positive that is coming out of that discovery.
“The police are still mum on the matter and it has been almost nine months since our mother went missing. We have done almost everything including bringing in traditional healers and sangomas to the house in quest of locating her, however, all that was futile,” she said.
Patricia further said, her family is not coping anymore as they do not know the whereabouts of their mother. She added that they only pray for her safe return.
The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said an inquest case is still underway after the police discovered a human skull on 9 February 2023 in a grazing field.
“Furthermore, human bones and clothes were also discovered on 13 February 2023 in the same field. The bones were found far apart and the spine and hand bones are missing from the corpse. The DNA results are still awaited and the investigation continues.”
Myburgh said no one has been arrested in the matter.
Meanwhile, Taung DailyNews’s highly-placed source said: “It is highly impossible for that skull and bones to belong to someone, who died nine months ago. Even the forensic unit said, there is nothing they could do in identifying who might the skull and bones belong to.
“There was no single muscle on the skull and bones. So, there is a high possibility that those bones do not belong to the missing Naledi. What is surprising is that community members including shepherds have been grazing in that field, but did not see these bones. But, suddenly, the clothes of Naledi and these bones appear.”
A murder case against five accused was postponed by the North West High Court in Garankuwa to 18 September 2023. Mamokgethe Gertrude Mashimbi (41) was charged with murder of her husband, the former policeman, Thomas Mashimbi, along with other four accused, Thandi Margaret Khumalo (38), William Maluleka (32), Nicholas Malope (35) and Jan Chauke (28).
Five suspects were arrested and charged with murder, two counts of conspiracy or incitement to commit murder, housebreaking with intent to kill, murder with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, fraud on accused one only, and perjury on accused one only.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said: “The police investigations reveal that between 7 and 24 January 2018, Mashimbi approached two individuals, now state witnesses, and incited them to commit a planned robbery at their marital home in Lebanon, near Winterveldt.
“The two then failed to commit to the proposition, but reported the matter to the police. She then approached Khumalo, who arranged a meeting with the other three accused. Reports reveal that meetings were conducted between 7 and 24 February 2018, to plot the execution of the plan to murder Mashimbi.”
Mamothame further said, on 21 February 2018, Mashimbi allegedly ensured that the gates and kitchen door were not properly closed to facilitate entry into the premises. He added that Mashimbi allegedly went to the police on 10 November 2017 and complained that her husband was abusing her, thus requesting a protection order.
“The order was granted and Mashimbi’s firearm was confiscated as a result, pending the outcome of the SAPS internal process to ascertain his fitness to possess a firearm. The state argues that this was part of the plan to disarm the deceased, to prevent him from defending himself when the attack is executed.
“It is alleged that, on 21 February 2018, Maluleka, Malope, and Chauke entered the house and shot at the deceased, subsequently escaping the scene with two cellphones, a TV set and money estimated at R20 000. It is alleged that Gertrude and two of their children were in the house when the plan unfolded,” said Mamothame.
According to information, Gertrude was unharmed during the commissioning of the crime. The suspects were all arrested between 18 and 19 September 2019.
Mamothame said the state has completed its leading evidence with an expert from the cell phone network provider, who demonstrated the link in communication between all accused persons in plotting the murder. He said the defence attorneys have also completed cross-examining the witness.
“The state is expected to call more witnesses, including the investigating officer when the matter resumes in September. The five will remain in police custody until the matter is concluded,” he said.
The Guardian 