Picture: The accused, Caswell Mthombeni briefly appeared at Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court/Supplied  

By OBAKENG MAJE

A fraud and money laundering case against Caswell Mthombeni (52) was postponed to 27 July 2023 by the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. In October 2015, Mthombeni was allegedly appointed by the North West Community Safety and Transport Management to help the department in achieving its road safety objectives, which included training unemployed matriculants and empowering accredited driving schools in various pilot areas.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said: “Mthombeni’s duties also included training and developing driving schools and learner drivers. An amount of over R21-million was paid to him for the commencement of the programme. Over 40 driving schools allegedly signed contracts with the accused’s company as beneficiaries of the programme.

“It is further alleged that, these driving schools used their funds to participate in the programme, in anticipation that the accused will compensate them. Mthombeni allegedly failed to honour his contractual agreement with the driving schools and spent the money on himself. As a result, the department incurred losses to the tune of over R21 million.”

Mamothame further said, Mthombeni was arrested by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation assisted by Priority Crime Specialised Investigation and Tactical Operations Management Section on 26 June 2023 in Pretoria. He added that, Mthombeni was granted a R50 000 bail after appearing in the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director for Public Prosecutions, Dr Rachel Makhari commended the collaboration between the investigation team and prosecution leading to the arrest of Mthombeni. Makhari and Mbotho vowed to continue working together in clamping down on corruption in the province.

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Setshwantsho: Batshameki ba kwa sekolong sa Sebitloane mo Taung

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Baithuti ba sekolo sa Sebitloane kwa Taung, ba baneng ba ile go emela sekolo kwa metshamekong e e kgethegileng ya sejana sa lefatshe kwa toropong ya Berlin,  kwa nageng ya Germany ba amogetswe ka boitumelo mo letsatsing la gompieno. Sekolo se ne se ba diretse moletlo-gadi morago ga diphenyo tsa bone.

Setlhopha sa kgwele ya dinao sa basimane, ba fentse metale wa gauta, fa naledi mo motshamekong ya tense, Innocentia Msikinya go tswa kwa motseng wa Manthe, a fentse metale wa selefera le wa gauta. Msikinya are, le fa gone go se bonolo, o itumeletse phenyo ya gagwe.

“Ke itumetse thata fa ke kgone go fenya metale wa selefera le wa gauta. Gone go se bonolo, mme re ile ra kgona go fenya le fa re nnile le dikgwetlho,” Msikinya wa tlhalosa.

Mokaptein wa setlhopha sa kgwele ya dinao se se fentseng metale wa gauta, Kabo Kgomo (22) are, ba tswile mo Afrika Borwa ba ipaakantse go utlwa. Go ya ka Kgomo, se se ileng sa ba rotloetsa go itsotsoropanya ke gore, ba ne ba shebile gore fa gona le setlhopha sengwe sa kgwele ya dinao se se tla nnang lekgatlhego mo go bone, se ba kwadise.

“Ditlhopha dile dintsi di ne di sa dumele gore re tswa kwa Sebitloane Special School ka mokgwa o reneng re tshameka ka teng. Gona le ditlhopha tse di ne di sa tshameke sentle le rona, fela reile ra fenya,” Kgomo wa tlhalosa.

Mogokgo wa sekolo, Boipelo Mmokwa are ba motlotlo jaaka sekolo go bona baithuti ba bone ba dirile matshitshi.

“Rona jaaka botsamaisi jwa sekolo se, ke sa lebale le lekgotlha-tsamaiso la sekolo, re lebogile thata. Ebile, ga ke itse gore ke tla shupa boitumelo jwame jang mo go se se diragetseng. Bana ba, ba ikatisitsi go utlwala le fa ba ne ba sena ditlamelwana tse di maleba.

“Re tsweletse jalo, re ba tshegeditse le fa gone go se bonolo. Fela, re ne re itse gore Modimo o teng o tla re fitlhisa. Bana ba, ga ese ba itshupe jaaka bana ba ba sa itsholelang. Ga se ba tsamye ba latlhegelwe mo metshamekong e. Ba tshamikile kgatlhanong le dinaga tse dinang le bokgoni, fela ba ile ba fenya go ntse fela jalo go fitlhela ba fenya metale wa gauta,” Mmokwa wa tlhalosa.

Gape, o kaile fa ka di 21 Phukwi 2023, ba tlile go direla bana ba moletlo o mo tona. Are, Msikinya le ene o dirile go utlwala le fa a ne a sena ditlabakele tse di lekaneng. Mmokwa are, tona kwa kantorong ya mopresidente, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma yo a ikarabelang mo go bomme, basha ga mmogo le batho ba ba tshelang ka bogwele, o kaile fa bana ba ba tlile go memiwa ke mopresidente wa naga, Cyril Ramaphosa go ya go ja dijo tsa motshegare le ene.

Morulaganyi wa porogerama ya diporojeke tse di kgethegileng kwa kantorong ya ga majoro kwa masepaleng wa selegae wa Greater Taung, Tebogo Morweng are ba motlotlo. Morweng are maikutlo ke a tseisang manya go bona bana ba, batla ka dimetale.

“O tla gopola gore majoro wa rona, Tumisang Gaoraelwe o ile a kaya fa a tlile go tshegetsa sekolo se sa rona sa Sebitloane. Re ile ra nna le tshono ya go etela bana ba pele ga ba leba kwa Berlin kwa Germany le go ba neela mafoko a thotloetso. Jaanong, jaaka motho a ka bua fela are, senampa sa ngwana wa kgosi re se bona mogang bojale bo a loga.

“Jaanong, botsetsi jo rene re bo beile bo fedile, gonne bana ba boile. Re tlhaloganya gore gona le batsadi ba ba ikobonyang ka go nna le bana ba ba tlhokang tshegetso e e kgethegile. Fela, re ikuela go bone gore ba tlise bana bao le bone ba kgone go rebolola talente tsa bone,” Morweng wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, Kgosi Lehatshe Mankuroane are bana ba, ba beile naga ya Afrika Borwa ga mmogo le motse wa Taung kwa setlhoweng.

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Picture: The acting North West Premier, Nono Maloyi with North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Oageng Molapisi along with delegates monitoring Nelson Mandela Drive road project/Supplied   

By OBAKENG MAJE  

Road infrastructure continues to be a challenge in North West. Currently, Mahikeng is duped as the ‘capital city of potholes’. Now, the North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi, who visited the Nelson Mandela Drive road construction project said, he will visit and monitor all road construction projects across the province.

Maloyi further said, his visit was to acknowledge the progress being made and offer solutions to accelerate the delivery of road projects timeously. He added that Nelson Mandela Drive is one of the roads identified for this purpose.

“Road infrastructure is key to the developmental trajectory of the province and one of the apex priorities of the government. Today, we are visiting Nelson Mandela Drive in Mahikeng to receive an update on this road construction project. Initially, this project was supposed to be completed by September 2023.

“We are very worried including business people and the community at large over the snail pace at this project going. We met with the contractor and he gave us a report on when will the project be completed,” said Maloyi.

He said they are satisfied, but they are going to monitor progress fortnightly. Maloyi said they are going to embark on a similar approach with other projects to see to it that, service providers meet their contractual obligations.

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Oageng Molapisi said: “The department is geared up to curb any delays on road projects. We understand the negative impact of the delays on our projects and the inconvenience to motorists and other road users.

“In line with the accelerated service delivery plan, we will be re-visiting this project in the next two weeks as per the instruction of the North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi. We will do everything in our power to see to it that, we complete this project on time.”

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Picture: The doctors posing for a photo after a successful cardiac operation on a patient/Supplied   

By OBAKEN MAJE

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha is beaming with pride following a successful cardiac operation on a patient (21), who was treated at Job Shimankane Tabane (JST) Hospital in Rustenburg. Sambatha said the patient was successfully treated for a congenital cardiac condition called Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) using a percutaneous technique in the catheterisation lab for closure of the defect. 

“Atrial Septal Defect is a hole between two chambers of the heart causing the mixing of blood, if not closed in time it can cause serious complications in the future. 

“Traditionally, this kind of operation is fixed through an open heart procedure. However, due to technological advancement in catheterisation techniques, allows it to be done in a cath lab as a day procedure with no open surgery needed,” he said.

Sambatha further said this collaborative effort between the JST and Life Peglarae medical teams, truly augurs well as they look to the future with the National Health Insurance (NHI). He added that the procedure was done in the Cath Lab of Life Peglarae Hospital in Rustenburg jointly with the JST medical team. 

“I would like to congratulate the team of Cardiologists that carried out this procedure Dr Mogwera, Dr Msiza, and Dr Raphala along with Dr Pege. The Anaesthetist, Cardiac Technologists, Radiographers, and Nurses.

“This is the first of its kind in the public sector in the province and it is indeed a model of NHI in action,” concluded Sambatha.

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Picture: The North West Social Development logo/Google

By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West Social Development has terminated the contract of the acting Chief Director, Lorato Gasealahwe. The acting Head of Department (HoD), Obakeng Mongale said this comes after the intervention aimed at stabilising the department.

“You will remember that, the North West Premier, Bushy Maape assembled the intervention team on 30 May 2023. We can also confirm that, we have lifted the suspensions on the five employees. This decision is a culmination of intense engagements between the intervention team, legal and labour experts, who studied the background, as well as processing all the details that emanate from disciplinary proceedings and records pertaining to Gasealahwe and the other five employees.

“With regard to the five employees, the immediate lifting of their suspensions will allow the intervention team space for a proper review process to start off their alleged transgressions. The intervention team will determine whether correct procedures were followed as prescribed by the law,” Mongale said.

He further said, the affected employees have been informed of the decision to lift their suspensions effective from 19 June 2023. Mongale added that, with regards to Gasealahwe, the merits of the decision to terminate her contract, will be further ventilated at the Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council for Conciliation (PHSDSB) following her previous referral of the matter to the same council.

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Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Kgetsi ya go tlola molao wa bofaladi kgatlhanong le banna ba le babedi kwa motseng wa Maphoitsile, gaufi le Taung, e buseditswe morago go fitlha di 3 Phukwi 2023. Banna bano, ba ne ba tshwarwa dibeke dile pedi tse di fetileng mabapi le go sa nne le ditlankana tse di siametseng go nna mo nageng ya Afrika Borwa.

Ba ne ba tlhageletse fa pele ga kgotlha-tshekelo ya taung go sale gale. Baagi ba ba shakgetseng ba kwa Manokwane, ba dumela fa banna ba, ba amega mo polao ya basadibagolo ba le babedi ba ba bolailweng kwa sekgweng kwa Manokwane fa bane ba ile go rwalela dikgong mo dibekeng dile pedi tse di fetileng.

Go begwa fa Kelebogile Mirriam Mokgalagadi (70) le Mapulana Polinah Mmusi (80), ba ile ba tlhaselwa le go bolawa ke batho ba ba sa itsiweng. Go ya ka dipego tsa sepodisi, Mmusi le Mokgalagadi ba ne ba tswa kwa malapeng a bone go ya go rwalela dikgong kwa nageng.

Fela, ba masika a bone ba ile ba se nnisege fa Mmusi le Mokgalagadi ba palelwa ke go boela gae ka tlatlana.

Baagi ba ile ba tswa letsholo la go ba batla, mme ene ya re ka ura ya bongwe masigo a sa, bane ba bona masetlapelo. Go kaiwa fa ditopo tsa bone tse dineng di na le dikgobalo tse di masisi dine tsa bonwa kwa nageng. Gape go kaiwa fa baswi ba ka tswa ba beteletswe gonne, ditopo tsa bone di ne di sa apara marokgwe a kha teng.

Gone ga tshwarwa banna bale bararo ba batswa-kwa, kwa motseng wa Maphoitsile, fela go fitlha ga jaana, ga go bopaki jo bo ba golaganyang le kgetsi e ya polao.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Col Adele Myburgh wa tlhalosa: “Ga gona ope yo o tshwerweng go fitlha ga jaana mo dikgetsing dile pedi tsa polao kwa Manokwane. Re le ba sepodisi, re sentse re ikuela go baagi go ka re thusa ka tshedimosetso e ka lebisang kwa go tshwarweng ga balatofadiwa mo kgetsing e.

“Mongwe le mongwe yo o nang le tshedimosetso, a ka letsetsa mobatlisisi mo kgetsing e, eleng Warrant Officer, Peace Babe mo dinomorong tse di latelang 0824438680. Gape ba ka letsetsa dinomoro tsa 08600 10111. Mongwe le mongwe o sa batleng leina la gagwe le itsiwe a ka romela molaetsa go MySAPS App.”

Mongwe wa baagi, Eddie Mogorwe are se ba se itseng jaaka baagi ke gore, balatofadiwa ba ba tshwerweng ba golagangwa le kgetsi ya polao ya bagodi ba. Mogorwe are, Manokwane Community Forum e ne ya tsamaya le mapodisi go ya go tshwarwa balatofadiwa bao.

“Re tlhaloganya gore diaparo tsa mongwe wa balatofadiwa di ne di na le madi. Gona le bopaki jo bo tsepameng jo bo ba golaganyang le dipolao tse. Gape go dilo di le dintsi jaaka dipolao tse di diragalang mo Taung, mme rele baagi, re tshwanetse go ema ka dinao.

“O mongwe wa balatofadiwa, o ntshitswe kwa kgolegelong mme ga re itse gore jang. Gape gona le mme mongwe o o neng a tlhaselwa le go bolawa kwa sekgweng kwa motseng wa Maphoitsile mo dikgweding tse di fetileng.       

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Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Banna ba le babedi ba ba tshwereng mo bekeng e e fitileng go tlola melao ya bofaladi, ba solofetswe go ka rotola matlho fa pele ga magistrata wa Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno.

Fela baagi ba kwa motseng wa Manokwane gaufi le Taung, dumela fa banna ba, ba amega mo polao ya basadibagolo ba le babedi kwa motseng wa bone. Go begwa fa Kelebogile Mirriam Mokgalagadi (70) le Mapulana Polinah Mmusi (80), ba ile ba tlhaselwa le go bolawa ke batho ba ba sa itsiweng. 

Go ya ka dipego tsa sepodisi, ene ya re ka Labotlhano mo mosong, Mmusi le Mokgalagadi ba ne ba tswa kwa malapeng a bone go ya go rwalela dikgong kwa nageng. Fela, ba masika a bone ba ile ba se nnisege fa Mmusi le Mokgalagadi ba palelwa ke go boela gae ka tlatlana.

Baagi ba ile ba bolotsa letsholo la go ba batla, mme ene ya re ka ura ya bongwe masigo a sa, bane ba bona ditopo tsa bone tse dineng di na le dikgobalo tse di masisi kwa nageng. Gape go kaiwa fa baswi ba ka tswa ba beteletswe gonne, ditopo tsa bone di ne di sa apara marokgwe a kha teng.

Gone ga tshwarwa banna bale bararo ba batswa-kwa, kwa motseng wa Maphoitsile, fela go fitlha ga jaana, ga go bopaki jo bo ba golaganyang le kgetsi e ya polao. Go begwa fa banna bao, ba sena ditlankana tse di maleba go ka nna mo nageng ya Afrika Borwa, mme ba tshwaretswe go tlola melao ya boditshaba.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Col Adele Myburgh wa tlhalosa: “Ga gona ope yo o tshwerweng go fitlha ga jaana mo dikgetsing dile pedi tsa polao kwa Manokwane. Re le ba sepodisi, re sentse re ikuela go baagi go ka re thusa ka tshedimosetso e ka lebisang kwa go tshwarweng ga balatofadiwa mo kgetsing e.

“Mongwe le mongwe yo o nang le tshedimosetso, a ka letsetsa mobatlisisi mo kgetsing e, eleng Warrant Officer, Peace Babe mo dinomorong tse di latelang 0824438680. Gape ba ka letsetsa dinomoro tsa 08600 10111. Mongwe le mongwe o sa batleng leina la gagwe le itsiwe a ka romela molaetsa go MySAPS App.”

Mongwe wa baagi, Eddie Mogorwe are se ba se itseng jaaka baagi ke gore, balatofadiwa ba ba tshwerweng ba golagangwa le kgetsi ya polao ya bagodi ba. Mogorwe are, Manokwane Community Forum e ne ya tsamaya le mapodisi go ya go tshwarwa balatofadiwa bao.

“Re tlhaloganya gore diaparo tsa mongwe wa balatofadiwa di ne di na le madi. Gona le bopaki jo bo tsepameng jo bo ba golaganyang le dipolao tse. Gape go dilo di le dintsi jaaka dipolao tse di diragalang mo Taung, mme rele baagi, re tshwanetse go ema ka dinao.

“O mongwe wa balatofadiwa, o ntshitswe kwa kgolegelong mme ga re itse gore jang. Gape gona le mme mongwe o o neng a tlhaselwa le go bolawa kwa sekgweng kwa motseng wa Maphoitsile mo dikgweding tse di fetileng.       

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Picture: Dikgwamolelo FC players celebrating after winning a soccer tournament

By OBAKENG MAJE

The Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe said they saw it imperative to come up with a few ways to bring growth to various sporting codes such as football and netball in the area. Gaoraelwe said grassroots football and netball will be beneficiary to local players who have an abundance of talents.

He held the GTLM Mayoral Cup competition at Taung Agricultural College sport-grounds on Sunday. Gaoraelwe further said, the second edition of the tournament was successful and benefited not only the participants but the wider surrounding community.

“These kinds of tournaments will encourage the growth of grassroots football in netball beyond our own town. So, we are grateful that the games were successful and we want to applaud the organising committee, and the teams that participated including those supporters who came out in numbers.

“To show the importance of everyone’s contribution, there are six players who were selected by scouts from Sekhukhune United FC for further assessment, while the other two were selected by the former Orlando Pirates FC player, Tebogo Moloi for ABC Motsepe League,” he said.

Inevitably, Gaoraelwe further encouraged all stakeholders to participate in grassroots sporting codes. He added that, the municipality has awarded teams with financial support including donating soccer and netball kits and trophies.

The Dikgwamolelo FC won the soccer tournament after beating Mogopela Wonderous FC 1-0 in the final. The Ditshilong-based team was rewarded with a whopping R50 000.

Dikgwamolelo FC coach, Odirile Mogaadile said: “Last year, we were eliminated in the first game. So, this year, we came well-prepared. I told our players to go out there and enjoy themselves. They played wholeheartedly and never put themselves under pressure.

“Even though we knew that the scouts were here, we played our normal game. I am so grateful that we won the tournament and the financial muscle that it comes with will be important.”

Mogopela United FC coach, Ompolokile Phekonyane said they did not have the capacity in terms of numbers. Phekonyane added that, his players were tired because they played more games.

“We will come prepared next time and it was painful to lose in the final. Our players came out gun blazing, but it was not meant to be as goals were elusive,” said Phekonyane.

Meanwhile, the Sekhukhune United FC Technical Director, Themba Sithole said the municipality should help the players by improving facilities. He said if they want to see good football, the players should be given good surfaces to play on.

“It is important to have one or two surfaces, which are good so that these kinds of tournaments can be played in. When I was with Free State Stars FC, they signed a defender from this area. So, that is why when I was invited I said, let me come and see.

“However, on Saturday when I arrived, I thought it was a waste of time until the last game was played. So, today, the semi-finals and finals were quite good even though the majority of the teams were a little bit defensive,” Sithole said.

He said he was happy that they saw what they wanted to see. Sithole said they were going to take either eight or ten players for further assessment in Johannesburg.

“We will continue to keep in contact with local coaches. We have also selected two players, who are still doing Grade 12 and they will join us in December,” he said.

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Picture: The handover ceremony of construction sites at Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital in Vryburg/Supplied  

By OBAKENG MAJE

The CEO of Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital in Vryburg, Portia Tlou said the construction of bulk water supply and refurbishment of the Club House into student accommodation, will enhance the provision of quality health care services, eradicate challenges relating to water shortages and lack of student accommodation.

This comes after the hospital was handed over sites to drill a borehole and refurbish a Club House into student accommodation.

“Our hospital currently has a reservoir with 500 000 litres capacity, which functions on average of 80% supplied by the municipality. There are also additional six JoJo tanks with 10 000 litres of water. However, the situation became severe when the contingency plan could not keep up with the demand.

“So, as part of resolving the water crisis in the hospital, a geo-hydrological survey was conducted in order to establish a groundwater source. A suitable place was identified in an area located on a golf course, which is a private area,” she said.

Tlou further said, a borehole was drilled after permission was granted to the hospital by a golf course management. She added this will ensure that the hospital has a permanent backup of water.

Meanwhile, as part of the Public Private Partnership (PPP), Tlou said an unused Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital Clubhouse was allocated to North West University (NWU) for refurbishment into student accommodation after permission was granted by the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha.

“This was promulgated by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the hospital university. The aim is to place 4th-year pharmacy students in workplace learning and necessitated the need to accommodate them.

“An average of 60–80 students are placed per year for two weeks on rotation at the hospital by the university. The accommodation project will greatly benefit the hospital in the rollout of clinical training as well as community involvement in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District with the focus on workplace learning in a clinical setting,” said Tlou.

She said the hospital will also benefit from the refurbished clubhouse through the accommodation of other clinicians and also the use of a multi-function conference/training room. Tlou said after the refurbishments, the student house will accommodate 12 pharmacy students.

“The water supply project is estimated to take 6 months to complete, which entails water pumps, treatment plant of water, construction of water pipes from the borehole to the hospital, and the construction of a reservoir, while the refurbishment of student accommodation is expected to take 12 months to complete.

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Picture: Five suspects nabbed for attempted murder in Kuruman/Supplied 

By OBAKENG MAJE

Five suspects aged 24 and 47 were arrested by the police in Northern Cape for attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, kidnapping, resisting arrest, and failure to stop a vehicle on a reasonable instruction of a police officer. According to Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said the police dealt tactically with a dangerous situation in Kuruman on 18 June 2023, following a reported murder case in Maruping village, near Kuruman.

“The police were on the trail of suspects, who were allegedly involved in the murder of a man (42) in the early hours of Sunday morning in Maruping village.

“The SAPS Tactical Response Team (TRT) and the Flying Squad members under the Command of Captain Chumani Yono, were mobilised in order to effect the arrests,” said Sam.

He further said, the police traced the suspects along the Mothibistad road while in transit and stopped their vehicle. Sam added that, however, the suspects failed to adhere to police instructions and sped off.

“The police gave a chase and one of the occupants in the suspect’s vehicle was spotted pointing an object resembling a firearm at the police. A shoot-out ensued that brought the suspects’ vehicle to a halt and one occupant was wounded.

“During a thorough search of the vehicle, the police discovered two more occupants in the boot, who were believed to be the murder suspects the police were tracing,” he said.

Sam said one suspect, who was wounded, later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. He said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident.

“All suspects will appear in the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court soon. The management of the police is committed to the enhancement of service delivery in crime combatting initiatives, the reaction time and apprehension of perpetrators in medium to the high-risk incidence of crime,” said Sam.

Meanwhile, the acting Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Major General Mmantsheke Lekhele applauded the police for their swift response and the tactical manner, in which they approached the situation without any police being injured.

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