Picture: RSA president, Cyril Ramaphosa/Google

By CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Recent outbreaks of cholera in Hammanskraal in Gauteng and in the Free State have shown the vital importance of safe and effective water and waste water management.

The deaths of 24 people in Gauteng and the Free State are deeply tragic. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Hundreds more people have been hospitalised following the outbreak.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation and international relief organisations warned that after years of steady decline, cholera has made ‘a devastating comeback’, putting over a billion people in 43 countries at risk.

According to the WHO, 24 countries have had reported cases since the beginning of the year, including in parts of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Authorities are to be commended for their efforts to speedily assist all those affected, including setting up a field hospital in Kanana in Hammanskraal, providing additional water tanking services to residents and going into communities to raise awareness about proper hygiene.

An investigation is underway into the source of the outbreak. Technical teams from the City of Tshwane, the Department of Water and Sanitation, and the provincial and national departments of Health are carrying out water quality tests at distribution points and at water treatment works in the area.

They are also tracking and tracing infections. To date, the original source of the cholera infection has not been located. However, this waterborne disease is highly transmissible in conditions where there is inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

Unreliable and poor-quality drinking water has been a problem in Hammanskraal for many years. The Rooiwal waste water treatment works, which is upstream of Hammanskraal, has not been well-maintained and has insufficient capacity to deal with the volume of waste water entering the works. 

Over the years, in its role as the regulator of the water sector, the Department of Water and Sanitation has issued many directives to the City of Tshwane to address pollution from the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment works. Regrettably, these directives were not acted upon. Consequently, the Department initiated legal action to force the City to use its grant from national government to refurbish and upgrade the waste water treatment works.

While there must be full accountability for the failings that have resulted in the outbreak in Hammanskraal, at this time we must focus on the problem at hand. We must stop the spread of cholera and take remedial measures to safeguard human health.

Generally, water quality in South Africa is of a high standard, which, according to our Water Research Commission, “compares well with the best in the world”. It is important to note that the dual water systems supplied by Magalies and Rand Water to the Tshwane area meet national standards.

After it was abandoned nearly a decade ago, government reinstituted the Blue and Green Drop programmes to help improve national water quality and to assist municipalities with compliance. This formed part of Operation Vulindlela, a collaboration between the Presidency, National Treasury and government departments to fast-track economic reforms.

The most recent Green Drop Report shows there has been a steady decline in the quality of water and sanitation services in municipalities. Poor governance, ineffective management, increasing debt and underspending on public infrastructure like wastewater treatment plans have all contributed to poor water quality.

Under these circumstances, the fact that many councils underspend critical infrastructure grants is unacceptable.

Across the country, the Department of Water and Sanitation is working with municipal managers and technical teams to ensure local councils use their water infrastructure grants effectively. Support is being provided, among others, to water infrastructure projects like the Nooitgedacht water transfer treatment scheme in Nelson Mandela Bay, the Greater Mbizana Regional Bulk Water Scheme in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, and a number of projects in Maluti-a-Phofung in the Free State and Emfuleni and Midvaal Local Municipalities.

National government and Umgeni Water are helping eThekwini metro to improve the management of its waste water treatment systems. Similarly, the Drakenstein municipality in the Western Cape and the Lekwa municipality in Mpumalanga are being helped to address waste water treatment system challenges.

As announced in the State of the Nation Address in February, government is proceeding with a number of significant projects to improve our national bulk water resource infrastructure. Last week, I was in Lesotho to mark the start of construction of the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which will supply water to Gauteng and its surrounding areas.

As we wait for the results of the investigation into the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, it is critical that local government authorities continue to work closely with national government to address and overcome the immediate challenges with water quality in Hammanskraal.

It is encouraging that the City of Tshwane and the Department of Water and Sanitation are working together to ensure the various water supply systems meet drinking quality standards.

Quality water and sanitation is fundamental to the dignity of every South African.

I have therefore asked the Minister of Water and Sanitation to make recommendations to strengthen the governance, management and regulatory framework for municipal water and sanitation services. This includes ensuring that national minimum norms and standards are comprehensive, adequately monitored and adhered to by all water service providers.

Disease outbreaks such as the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal are made far worse in situations of poor governance, weak management and poor maintenance of infrastructure. We have responsibility – and are determined – to remedy those shortcomings in a sustainable way and as a matter of urgency.

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Picture: The nurses and doctors down tools at the embattled Bophelong Provincial Hospital

By OBAKENG MAJE

The smooth running operation at Bophelo Provincial Hospital in Mahikeng, North West was affected today. This comes after nurses and doctors embarked on a peaceful march. The march was in solidarity with two officials, who were allegedly been placed on precautionary suspension by the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha. 

Sambatha said, the nurse in charge of the unit and nursing manager will be placed on precautionary suspension pending investigation. The suspension emanated from a video that went viral on various social media platforms, where newborn babies were seen placed in card boxes at the hospital. 

Sambatha said the incident took place at the neo-natal unit on Saturday.

“Firstly, we must congratulate the nurses and doctors who are responsible for ensuring the safe deliveries of all 56 new-born babies. The issue that I’m confining myself to is only four newborn babies, who were put in card boxes. So, the preliminary report comes out tomorrow and that report must say to us, what had failed and if there is any person that the blame must be placed on.

“For now, I am clear and not interested to go to any doctor or nurse who delivered these babies. However, the hospital CEO and everyone who is in managerial positions, may not expect an escape from their responsibilities. Let’s wait for that preliminary report to come out,” he said.

Sambatha further said, the suspension of two officials was precautionary, not because they were charged.  He added that they will have a follow-up meeting on Wednesday to address other issues.

National Education, Health, Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) regional chairperson in Ngaka Modiri Molema, Zanele Lawu said, their consultative meeting with Sambatha was fruitful. Lawu said they had agreed upon a process to get to the bottom of what has happened with regard to the situation at hand.

“Also, we are happy that the perception of the hospital management is going to change with regard to the initial suspension of our members. We said that there should be a process that deals holistically with the issues that we have raised. We are now going on a walkabout to identify those issues that Sambatha might not be aware of.

“We know there are challenges at the hospital and we believe that the hospital management and workers should work together to address them. The aim is to ensure that the hospital function optimally and ensure that there is service delivery. Look, as NEHAWU, we are not of a view that historical, systemic, and structural issues should be punitive,” he said.  

Lawu said the challenges at the hospital are historical. He said it cannot be right that, every time when there is an issue, the management resorted to penalising those who were delivering service.

Meanwhile, DENOSA regional chairperson in Ngaka Modiri Molema, Tshepo Monoketsi shared the same sentiment.

Monoketsi said: “We deliberated upon issues and we had an agreement including the set of approaches. Sambatha also agreed that they might have overlooked some structural and systematic issues in terms of how the hospital should be operating.

“There is a plan and intention to make sure that those issues are addressed in no time. Some issues might not be resolved tomorrow, but there will be a follow-up meeting to ensure that we deal with them. I’m not going to enter the terrain on who should be suspended, but as long all necessary procedures were followed. As a union, we will go and defend our members.”

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Picture: The babies placed in card boxes at Mahikeng Provincial Hospital/Facebook 

By OBAKENG MAJE

The Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) in North West described the situation at the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital, where newborn babies were placed in card boxes, instead of incubators as inhumane. This comes after a widespread video circulated on various social media platforms, where newborn babies were placed in card boxes.

The EFF provincial spokesperson, Fanon Moema said, they strongly condemn the stripping of dignity of black children by the incapacitated and corrupt ANC-led government. Moema, who described the ANC-led government as careless and useless said, it is evidently hell-bent on violating fundamental human rights to access quality healthcare.

“It is a cause for concern that people living with disabilities, elderly persons, women, youth and newly-born babies are on the verge of being murdered on their sick beds as a result of gross negligence and lack of political will to procure resources needed for effective and efficient running of the hospital.

“The current situation at Bophelong Provincial Hospital is prima face evidence that, the pseudo communist MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha, lacks the appetite to provide adequate and quality access to healthcare. What is more amiss in the recent budget speech, he illustrated his obsession with slogans and made no attempts to come up with cogent measures to alleviate the state of public health in the province,” he said.

He further said, the EFF will promptly lodge a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in light of the above-mentioned unconstitutional and dehumanising act of misconduct. Moema added that, equally, they call for appropriate action to be taped against the hospital management

for endangering the lives of vulnerable and helpless newborn babies.

“Lastly, the EFF reminds the downtrodden communities of North West, whose plight has been ignored by the ANC to throw their weight behind the EFF as the only solution towards the betterment of their living conditions,” said Moema.

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said two officials at the hospital will be placed on precautionary suspension pending investigation. Sambatha said, the investigations will be concluded before Tuesday next week.

“I received the photo late last night and immediately request management to investigate. Indeed, the preliminary investigation, confirmed that the photo is from MPH. The incident occurred on Saturday around 11am. on the said day, 56 babies were delivered in the ward, with 16 incubators and 31 cribs available.

“That means, 47 babies had been placed in accordance with proper prescribed procedures and 9 babies had no proper incubator or crib. It’s reported that, four babies were placed in card boxes and others put as two in each crib. The report for the whole incident ended with the Nursing Manager, who didn’t report the incident to the acting CEO,” he said.

Sambatha said, after he saw pictures being circulated, he immediately instructed the hospital management to find extra incubators and cribs for MPH within the available ones in the province. He said 18 additional incubators and cribs have been received and are already at the hospital.

“The hospital management and the CEO were only informed yesterday about this incident on Saturday. Based on all this information above, the investigation was conducted and is set to be concluded no later than Tuesday next week. On the day, the nurse in charge of that unit will be placed on precautionary suspension.

“The Nursing Manager will also be precautionary suspended. I also constituted a task team with members who understand nursing practice to investigate the whole nursing division at the hospital and the whole operation accounting to the Nursing Manager,” said Sambatha.

He said the department issued a public apology to the 9 babies and more to the four

placed in card boxes and whose photos were circulated in public. Sambatha said the hospital management activated a redress process with the affected families.

“Relevant labour relations processes will determine the process of what will happen from precautionary suspension. All other processes will be supervised by me,” he said.

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Picture: The Buddies, The Bad poster    

By OBAKENG MAJE

Only a few hours left before The Buddies, The Bad crew ascend to the stage to showcase their God-given talents at Mmabana Taung. The fictional play was written by a local writer and enthusiast of art, Kagiso Kai. According to Kai, the play speaks about oppression and the negative experiences community members are subjected to by the local traditional leaders.

Kai further said, there is a traditional system that prevails between traditional leaders and communities at large, especially in deep rural areas.

“In this play, one of the community members spoke about the negative experience he was subjected to by a traditional leader. However, in turn, he was fined a few cows for speaking his mind. Now, two characters depicting young people stood up against the unjust sanctioned by most traditional leaders.

“The aim was to reflect on the relationship most traditional leaders have with their community members and try to change the narrative. Through this play, we also want to empower our people by bringing hope,” he said.

Kai added that, the play brings the ‘message of hope’ and inspiration to many people by encouraging them to tell their own stories to the world without being negative about it.

“The play confronts the traditional system of tribal authorities and the oppression that is meted out to the communities, especially those who respect the culture. This is fiction and the reason why I came up with it, I’ve realized that, in most cases, writers will focus more on political stories.

“So, this is a breath of fresh air to bring something totally different to the fore. All in all, we have 24 individuals as part of the production team, including actors and extras. Due to financial constraints, some individuals had to double up their work to ensure that we deliver an exceptional project,” said Kai.

He said even though this is his first stage play as a writer, more projects are in the pipeline. Kai said they are planning to tour the region, province, and the country at large.

“We still trying to source funds so that we can put our dream into reality. We want to tell our own story in our own language to the world. This production team is doing exceptionally well. We also encourage the community members to support this initiative by buying tickets.

“We need a little bit of financial support and we hope the North West Arts, Culture Sport and Recreation will come on board. However, we should not wait for the government to give us support, but do it ourselves. As a country, we are faced with socio-economic challenges, especially in rural areas. However, we have individuals who can put compelling, meaningful, and resonant stories in quest of changing the tale.  

“So, I call on all young people out there to channel their energies correctly. The play will run for three days and the entrance will only cost R80 for adults, while children will pay R40. The play will start at 6pm on 26 and 27 and at 3pm on 28 May 2023. We call on our community members to come out in numbers and watch Taung natural talents on display,” said Kai.

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Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Setlamo se se rebolang metsi sa Magalies Water, se kaile fa go tlile go nna le kgoreletsego ya metsi kwa Pudimoe le mafelo a mabapi mo letsatsing la di 30 Motsheganong 2023. Sebueledi sa Magalies Water, David Magae are, seno se tla tlholwa ke letsema le le boloditsweng la go phephafatsa madutelo a metsi kwa lifelong leo.  

Go ya ka Magae, madutelo a metsi kwa Pudimoe a tla phephafadiwa go simolola ka ura ya bosupa mo mosong, go fitlha ka ura ya borataro mo maitseboweng.

“Seno se tla re thusa gore metsi a neelwang baagi e nne a phepha, mme re ikuela go baagi kgotsa ba dirisi ba metsi go ka dirisa metsi ka kelo-tlhoko. Seo se tla dira gore metsi a se tswe ka bonya fa re feditse ka tiro ya rona ya go phephafatso ya madutelo ao.      

“Mafelo a a tlileng go angwa ke phephafatso eno ya madutelo ke Pudimoe, Matlhako 1 le 2, Ncweng, Myra, Mogopela A le B, Khibitswane, Khibitswane Extension, Cokonyane, Taung Central, Nhole, Ranstad, Taung Station, Itireleng, Rooiwal le Matolong,” Magae wa tlhalosa.

Mo matsatsing a le mmalwa a fetileng, baagi ba motse-setoropo wa Pudimoe, bane ba kaya fa ba tshelela mo letshogong morago ga kanamo ya bolwetsi jwa cholera. Seno, se tlile morago ga kgatiso ya video e tletsetletseng mo mafaratlhatlheng a boitapoloso, e mo go yone go bonweng metsi a tsamaya diboko.

Mongwe wa baagi, Joyce Pule one a kaya fa e le lobaka ba itemogela kgwetlho ya metsi a seng phepha. Pule are, one a gatisa video e bontshang metsi a tsamaya diboko, ebile a fetotse le mmala ale matala.

Ha a ne a buisana le Motsweding FM, Pule o tlhalositse jaana.

“Ga kena bopaki jo bo feletseng jwa gore go ka tswa go diragetse eng ka metsi. Fela, ke metsi are a fitlhelang mo dipompong tsa rona. Metsi a, a nkga sebodu, a na le mmala o mo tala, ebile a tsamaya diboko. Selo se, se simolotse ka kgwedi ya Tlhakole, mme re ile ra ipolelela gore ke selo fela sa feta.

“Kgatiso ya video e o e bonang eo, ke metsi a matala a tswang mo ntlung yame mo pompong e ko kamoreng ya go apeela. Ene ele ka di 30 Moranang fa kene ke bulela pompo. Go kgonega gore ka nako nngwe, metsi a be a le teng go fitlha mantsiboa. Fela, fa re tsoga mo mosong go ka bo go sena metsi,” Pule wa tlhalosa.

O kaile gape ka nako e metsi a bowang ka yone, a tla ale matala. Pule are kgatiso ya video, o e gatisitse ka di 12 Motsheganong.

“Batho botlhe ba ne ba ngongorega ka seemo sa metsi ha ba bulela dipompo. Fela, seo ga se tshimologe ka di 12 Motsheganong, gonne ha e sale diboko tse ditswa go simolola ka kgwedi ya Moranang. Tota fela, ha e sale bothata jwa metsi bo tshimolola ka nako ya fa go ne go sitlhamololelwa setlamo se se rebolang metsi sa Sedibeng Water go ya kwa Magalies Water.

“Ka nako ya Sedibeng Water, ga ese ebe re tsamaye re itemogele bothata jo. Ee, metsi ane ke a tsamaye, mme ere fa a bowa, a boe ale phepha. Re ne re nagana gore gongwe selo se, se diragala ka ntlheng ya gore gongwe go phephafatswa dipepi,” Pule wa tlhalosa.

Are, se se utlwisang botlhoko ke gore, gona le baagi bangwe ba ba sa direng, mme ba tlile go dira jaanag fa ba sena madi a go reka metsi a go nwa.

Kgabagare, molekgotlha wa kgorwana eo, Onkarabile Tong o kaile le fa ba itemogela mathata a metsi a a seng phepha kwa Pudimoe, kgatiso ya video ese ya ga jaana. Tong are, kgatiso eo ya video e e tsamyang diboko, e ile ya tlhagelela mo ngwageng o o fetileng, mme bothata joo bo ne jwa rarabololwa.

“Ga gona bo nnete mo kgatisong ya video eo. Kgatiso ya video e e tletse-tletseng mo mafaratlhatlheng, ke ya ngwaga o o fitileng. Go tlile ga nna le yone kgang eo ya metsi a tsamayang diboko mo ngwageng o o fitileng, mme ke a gopola gore rene ra kopa tsereganyo go tswa kwa masepaleng wa sedika. Seo, se ile sa diragala gonne ka nako eo, re ile ra nna le di kopano le baagi morago ga boipelaetso joo.

“Jaanong, bonnete ke gore, ga se video ya ga jaana. Selebego sa metsi mo mosong ke se se siameng, jaanong ga nkitla ke ganetsana le baagi ba ba reng, metsi a nkga sebodu, gonne mongwe le mongwe o bua se se mo diragaletseng,” Tong wa tlhalosa.

Tong are, seemo sa boleng jwa metsi se tokafetse thata fa o bapantsha le di beke tse di fitileng. Are, fela fa a bua puo-phaa, seemo sa metsi go tswa kwa setlamong sa Magalies Water ga se se se jesang diwelang.

“Ke seemo se se bosula, gonne nako enngwe metsi a ke a nne le mmala. Seo, se re lemotsha fa metsi ao a sa tlhatswiwe sentle. Bontsi jwa nako, metsi a bone ga mantle, mme re ke re buisane le ba masepala wa sedika go tlisa tharabololong, gonne ele bone ba ba dirisanang le ba setlamo sa Magalies Water go re rebolela metsi jaaka rele masepala wa selegae,” Tong wa tlhalosa.

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Picture: The discolorated water coming out of taps/Generic

By OBAKENG MAJE

In fear of a cholera outbreak, some patients at the Taung District Hospital said they are concerned about the water that comes out of the taps. According to one of the patients who does not want to be named for fear of reprisal, the water that comes out of taps at the hospital is yellowish.

“Truly, we fear for our lives because cholera is an extremely virulent disease. The number of fatalities in Hammanskraal can attest to that. So, we urge the hospital not to take this matter lightly as cholera is an extremely virulent disease,” she said.

Meanwhile, the North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “On 19 May 2023, there was an observation that the colour of the water was not clear and showing a discoloration. It is true that the hospital has reverted to buying purified water.

“On Friday, the hospital started to issue water to the patients immediately and planned for the temporarily shut down of the outside water to check where the challenge can be. The environmental specialists are doing the tests on the water and in the meantime, the borehole water will be used, but also will be tested.”

Lekgethwane further said the cause of discoloration is unknown and the only people who could respond to that are, the water supplier and the municipality. He added that, there is no case of cholera being reported at the hospital.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A man (25) has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the Atamelang Regional Court for raping and killing his aunt. In 2021, Gopolang Moilwa was drinking alcohol with his aunt and the latter’s boyfriend at a local shebeen at Kgothu Section in Setlagole village, near Mahikeng.

The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col, Amanda Funani said, on their way home, Moilwa attempted to rape his aunt, Keshwalegile Jane Molehe. She further said an argument ensued between Gopolang and his aunt’s boyfriend.

“Molehe’s boyfriend ran away after Moilwa threatened to stab him with a knife. Consequently, Molehe was raped and strangled by the accused. Molehe’s lifeless body was discovered in the bushes the following day by a passer-by, who alerted the police.

“Following the investigation, Moilwa was arrested and charged with rape and murder. He has been behind bars ever since his arrest on 11 October 2021. Moilwa was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for rape and 15 years imprisonment for murder,” said Funani.

She added that, Moilwa was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the Setlagole Crime Investigation Services, especially the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Mbulelo Isake, and all other role players including the prosecution for securing the sentence.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A 41-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court for stealing R100 000 from a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in Ganyesa. Daniel Mmoledi Marite was arrested by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in North West after he transferred the money into his personal account.

The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said: “The North West Social Development funded an NGO in Ganyesa back in 2018. The funding was reportedly meant to sustain the NGO’s projects, which were intended to uplift the community.

“When the department was monitoring compliance with the Service Level Agreement, it was discovered that, over R100 000 had been transferred by the accused from the NGO’s account into his personal account. Marite was the NGO’s chairperson at the time,” she said.

Rikhotso further said, the matter was investigated by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation and the accused was arrested and made his first appearance before Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court. She added that, Marite made a series of court appearances until he was convicted.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho lauded the wonderful work of the investigator and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

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Picture: The new-born babies placed in boxes at Mafikeng Provincial Hospital/Facebook 

By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West Department of Health said investigations are underway after new-born babies were placed in boxes, instead of incubators. This comes after a shocking video was circulated on various social media platforms.  

North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said: “The department is shocked to learn of the visuals of new-born babies, placed in boxes, instead of incubators at the neo-natal section at Mafikeng Provincial Hospital in Mahikeng.

“The incident allegedly happened on Saturday and we are told that, the management was not aware of the incident. As a result, North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha has directed that the matter be speedily investigated.”

Lekgethwane further said, as a matter of urgency and intervention, Sambatha has called for additional cribs to be immediately sent to the hospital from the facility that has more. He added that the hospital CEO is following up on the procurement because the department has already started the process for additional incubators.

“The department unreservedly apologise to the public and mothers of those babies on how the situation was handled,” he said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The residents of Lower Majeakgoro village, near Pampierstad, said they are still shocked after a man allegedly stabbed and burned four people in the house. Two people succumbed to their injuries, while the other two are receiving medical attention.

According to a family member, Thandi Oliphant, her cousin who stays with the victims was on his way home, when he saw the smoke coming out of the house.

“He allegedly ran towards the house and found the doors locked. According to him, he forced entry by breaking the door with a spade. He found four of our family members burning on the bed.

“The attacker also stabbed them with the knife and we realised that after rushing them to the local clinic for medical attention. Even though we do not know what might be the cause of the attack, the suspect is a neighbour who is known to the victims,” she said.  

Ward 19 councillor, Michael Makwati said: “The atrocity left us dejected and we condemn it. We also urge the police to ensure that, the victims get justice. The Greater Taung Local Municipality officials visited the bereaved family.”

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col, Sergio Kock said the atrocity took place on 23 May 2023 at around 1:30pm. Kock further said the man allegedly entered the house and stabbed four persons with a knife, while robbing them of a cell phone.

“He then locked the female victims up in a room and set the place alight. An elder woman (71) and a girl (3) died on the scene, while two victims aged 28 and 62 respectively, were transported to the hospital for medical treatment.

“The suspect (25) is allegedly a known neighbour to the victims and was arrested hours later. He will appear in the Pampierstad Magistrate’s Court soon,” he said.

Kock said the police are investigating a double murder, attempted murder, malicious damage to property and robbery case. Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant Gen Koliswa Otola is saddened by the tragic and heinous incident and reiterated that GBVF remains a priority to the SAPS and cases of this nature will be dealt with harshly.

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