A man (23) has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mothibistad Regional Court for raping a girl (16). The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Sergio Kock said, on 30 July 2016 at around 4am, the sister of the victim (23) was at a local establishment next to her house when she heard her sister (16) screaming.
“The complainant entered the house through an open window and found the accused raping her sister. The complainant tried to remove the suspect from her sister and was severely assaulted by the accused.
“The accused ran away and was later arrested and sentenced on 23 May 2023. The accused has been on trial for raping a 16-year-old female victim and assaulting the victim’s sister at their home in Bothitong village, near Kuruman,” Kock said.
He said the Mothibistad Regional Court sentenced the man to 15 years imprisonment and a further 3 years for assaulting a victim’s sister.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police’s Head for Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, Brigadier Sipho Kheswa lauded the Kuruman FCS commander, Captain Caren Nel, and the investigating officer Sergeant Lebogang Serati for his meticulous investigation that led to the outstanding conviction.
Picture: Seven accused persons appear in court/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The arson case against seven accused persons from Manthe village, near Taung has been postponed to 22 June 2023 for a pre-trial conference. The former soccer star, Odiseng “Teenage” Komane (41), Obakeng “Prosto” Mogabale (46), Mothusi Motimeng, Pretty “Zero” Masibelele (36), Ali Sakiele (50), Ontiretse Patrick Gosenyegang (38) and the former Mega Stars FC goalie, Katlego “Makgasa” Tikane (32) were arrested and charged for arson.
The seven accused were arrested by the police in July 2022 during an intelligence-driven operation.
In May 2022, the community members embarked on a violent protest, torched three houses and looted the Disoufeng tavern belonging to Katong’s family. They accused the alleged drug lord, Bakang Katong (32) of killing the late Thabiso Mothibedi (35).
The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said: “We can confirm that the police have arrested seven suspects for arson and they were granted R500 bail each.”
Meanwhile, Bakang, and his brother, Phenyo “The Great” Katong (34), Thabang Lenyai (23), and Katlego “Makita” Mosimege (31) were arrested for Mothibedi’s murder and the case is still pending.
The police preliminary investigation revealed that, on 29 April 2022, Mothibedi was at Longaneng village near Taung, where Katong and his cronies allegedly fetched him. They allegedly transported him back to Manthe village after accusing him of stealing R20 000 and cigarettes worth R600.
Picture: The ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa visits North West/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
The ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit Mahikeng on Saturday. Ramaphosa will be part of the ruling party’s National Working Committee (NWC) delegation that will be visiting North West province from 27-29 May 2023.
The ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the NWC visit forms part of the ANC’s renewal programme and is aimed at reconnecting with its constituencies, organisational structures, and communities.
“The ANC NWC weekend-long programme will mainly involve engagements with the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), Regional Executive Committees (RECs), Branch Executive Committees (BECs), the Leagues and the Tripartite Alliance partners
“According to our draft itinerary, Ramaphosa will lead the activity at Mahikeng Civic Centre in Mahikeng from 9:30am until 4pm, deputy president, Paul Mashatile will be in Matlosana Banquet Hall, Dr Kenneth Kaunda region, where he is expected to meet with ANC structures, Troikas (Metros, District and Local Municipality), Top 5 Leagues and Alliance,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
She further said, the ANC national chairperson, Gwede Mantashe and ANC 1st deputy secretary, Nomvula Moknyane will be in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region. Bhengu-Motsiri said the activity will take place at Naledi Banquet Hall in Vryburg.
“The ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula and 2nd deputy secretary-general, Maropene Ramokgopa will visit Rustenburg in Bojanala region. The engagement will take place at Rustenburg Civic Centre. On Sunday, the ANC National Working Committee will meet with the ANC Provincial Executive Committee in Rustenburg,” she said.
Picture: The Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality mayor, Sebang Motlhabi/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality said, it has managed to pay salaries for the month of May 2023. A few days ago, the acting municipal manager, Kabo Forane sent a letter to municipal employees informing them about the possible delays due to financial distress.
“The office of the acting municipal manager would like to bring it to your attention that, as the municipality is depending on revenue collection as one of its main sources of income, we are currently experiencing financial difficulties that have resulted from a low collection of revenue from consumers.
“Taking the above-mentioned statement into consideration, councillors, senior managers, line managers and officials are hereby informed that there is a great possibility that the payment for May 2023 salaries will be delayed until the municipality has sourced sufficient funds to process the salaries for May 2023,” said Forane.
He said, they trusted that, the matter will be resolved at the earliest convenience and apologised for the inconvenience caused.
However, yesterday, the Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality mayor, Sebang Motlhabi told Taung DailyNews that, the municipality managed to pay salaries for the month of May 2023. Motlhabi said the municipality was able to collect enough revenue to cover salaries for May 2023.
Lekwa-Teemane is not the only municipality struggling to pay salaries. The embattled Ditsobotla Local Municipality is also experiencing delays in salary payments for the month of May 2023.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in North West, Leon Basson said all North West municipalities are dysfunctional. Basson said the average score for North West municipalities in the Rating Africa’s annual Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI) is a mere 21 points.
“This is the lowest in the country shared with the Free State. In short, all North West municipalities are facing collapse, are dysfunctional, unable to deliver services, or maintain or expand on infrastructure to meet service delivery demands.
“This contributes significantly to economic decline and unemployment as we can see in all small dorpies throughout the province from Christiana to Vryburg, Leeudoringstad to Ganyesa, and Koster to Ventersdorp,” he said.
Basson further said the JB Marks Local Municipality is considered to be the best-performing municipality in North West, at a score of 35, but is, at the same time, one of the worst performing in South Africa, one point below the national average of 36. He added that the Naledi Local Municipality scored 7, the worst in the country.
“The Vryburg residents can attest to the misery they are forced to endure because of the ANC’s sustained misrule there. The MFSI report confirms that the “unabated destruction” of municipalities continues throughout much of South Africa, but that there is hope.
“The DA-governed municipalities continue to far outperform all those misgoverned by the ANC. The Western Cape average score is recorded at 52 points, the highest. Evidence that confirms the DA’s good governance track record and the only party that is capable to rebuild what the ANC has destroyed in North West,” said Basson.
He said the Ratings Africa in its annual Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI) confirmed what North West residents knew all along, informed by their daily lived experiences – that three decades of ANC misrule has basically destroyed the province.
According to Basson, water, electricity, sanitation, and refuse removal services are erratic at best, unemployment is the highest in South Africa at 54%, roads are potholed-ridden death traps and all North West municipalities are dysfunctional.
The South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) said it could not make any ruling on the labour practice case filed by the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) against the embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM).
The SAMWU-affiliated employees, approached the SALGBC for arbitration after the municipality vehemently refused to pay them a monthly R2500 for danger allowance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, the municipal employees embarked on a protracted strike after allegations that, the Director of Corporate Services, Dikagiso Mokoma paid senior managers and directors a monthly R2500 as danger allowance, instead of R1500, which was a standard flat rate agreed upon.
The municipality launched an investigation against Mokoma’s alleged misconduct and appointed an independent firm, Matshego Ramagaga Attorneys.
According to Ramagaga’s report, Mokoma allegedly misled the previous council on danger allowance for the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in the municipality losing R508 500 due to Mokoma’s alleged misconduct.
Now, the chairperson of SAMWU in the Greater Taung Local Municipality, Modipadi Ruele said: “The purpose of today’s meeting was an arbitration sitting. However, the case could not continue because the dispute was not filed within the required 90 days. So, we had an agreement to apply for the condonation.
“We believe that, we have a winnable case against the municipality over the danger allowance issue. We will be patient and wait for that day to come. However, if our workers decide that we take the legal route, we will do so.”
Some community members classified the situation at the embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), as being at medium risk for deterioration.
One of the community members, Benjamin Mashuga said there is a grim reality in the municipality, which is a direct result of municipal mismanagement. Mashuga further said the future of the residents looks bleak if the municipality is not going to be guided by the Municipal System Act.
Picture: The missing person, Nakedi Andrew Motene/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The police in Phokeng request the community’s assistance in locating Nakedi Andrew Motene (53), who is affectionately known as Killer. Motene resides at Chaneng Ramotene Section in Phokeng, near Rustenburg. The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said, Motene was last seen by his brother-in-law on 1 May 2023.
Funani further said a search was conducted around the neighbourhood and surrounding areas of Chaneng without any success.
“During the time of his disappearance, Nakedi was wearing a brown T-shirt and brown trousers. He is dark in complexion, has brown eyes, with a medium body, a short beard, and black hair.
“Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can contact the Investigating Officer, Detective, Warrant Officer, Johanna Masenya of Phokeng Detectives on cell phone at 073 801 7173. Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via MySAPS App or Crime Stop on 08600 10111,” she said.
Picture: Seven accused persons in an arson case/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The arson case against seven accused persons from Manthe village, near Taung is set to resume in court today. The case was postponed by the Taung Regional Court to 25 May 2023 after the state highlighted that, it still has to submit the outstanding documents with crucial evidence before it could continue with the case.
The former soccer star, Odiseng “Teenage” Komane (41), Obakeng “Prosto” Mogabale (46), Mothusi Motimeng, Pretty “Zero” Masibelele (36), Ali Sakiele (50), Ontiretse Patrick Gosenyegang (38) and the former Mega Stars FC goalie, Katlego “Makgasa” Tikane (32) were arrested and charged for arson.
The seven accused were arrested by the police in July 2022 during an intelligence-driven operation.
In May 2022, the community members embarked on a violent protest, torched three houses and looted the Disoufeng tavern belonging to Katong’s family. They accused the alleged drug lord, Bakang Katong (32) of killing the late Thabiso Mothibedi (35).
The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said: “We can confirm that the police have arrested seven suspects for arson and they were granted R500 bail each.”
Meanwhile, Bakang, and his brother, Phenyo “The Great” Katong (34), Thabang Lenyai (23), and Katlego “Makita” Mosimege (31) were arrested for Mothibedi’s murder.
The police preliminary investigation revealed that, on 29 April 2022, Mothibedi was at Lenganeng village near Taung. Katong and his cronies allegedly fetched and transported him back to Manthe village after accusing him of stealing R20 000 and cigarettes worth R600.
Picture: The preparation to exhume the bodies/Generic
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Department of Health will exhume eleven unidentified bodies that were buried at Boikhutsong cemetery, near Lichtenburg. The department suspects that, the remains of a patient that went missing while admitted at Thusong Hospital near Itsoseng Township might be among those bodies.
According to the North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane, the patient went missing a few year ago.
Lekgethwane said: “The department has obtained a court order from the Ditsobotla Magistrate’s Court to exhume eleven unidentified bodies on Thursday. This is in search of the remains of a male patient, who went missing a number of years ago at Thusong Hospital.
“The DNA tests conducted on the remains of a body found at the hospital at the time proved inconclusive. However, following a lengthy investigation, it is now suspected that the remains of the missing patient could be in one of the eleven graves.”
Lekgethwane further said, the family and the department recently approached the court to grant an order for the exhumation of the remains of a body suspected to be that of the missing patient. He added that, the suspected remains are said to have been buried with some personal items which could assist in the identification process.
Picture: The embattled Ditsobotla Local Municipality
By OBAKENG MAJE
The situation continues to worsen at the embattled Ditsobotla Local Municipality in Lichtenburg. This comes after the acting municipal manager, Mamorena Lethoko in a letter that is circulating on various social media platforms, informed the municipal employees that, their salaries for the month of May 2023 will be late due to the critical financial distress the municipality finds itself in.
“This internal communication serves the purpose to inform the workers of the critical financial situation the municipality is facing. We regret to inform you that, the municipality is unable to make payment of salaries for the month of May 2023 until further notice shall be issued on the date of payment.
“Workers are also notified that claims on overtime worked will be paid once the main salaries have been addressed. To that extent, workers are advised to make necessary arrangements with the creditors. Commitment is herewith made that, the management is addressing this matter and putting systems in place to correct the financial situation going forth,” Lethoko said in a letter.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF) in North West said it is disappointing to see the municipality collapsing right under the nose and watch of the ANC-led government. The EFF provincial secretary, Papiki Babuile said, this is happening because senior municipal employees are staunch allies of the ANC councillors and they teamed up in the ongoing rampant corruption, maladministration and nepotism in the municipality in question.
“The municipality in question has recorded a growing number of ghost employees. The current administration has not initiated any meaningful and/or full-blown investigation to that effect. Under these circumstances, the community bear the brunt of poverty and/or continue to live in absolute squalor with no basic services,” Babuile said.
He further said the municipal employees will go months without income, whilst those who teamed up to misappropriate funds are living lavishly. He added that, as the EFF, they have always warned against the flagrant disregard and gross remiss of the law, when dealing with appointments of senior employees of the municipality.
“We will dispatch our provincial labour desk to assist employees to lodge formal labour disputes with relevant forums. We will further initiate a full-blown investigation and open criminal cases against those implicated in the great collapse of Ditsobotla Local Municipality.
“We also note with grave dismay the revelations that, the Sheriff for the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court will be placing movable properties of Ditsobotla Local Municipality on auction to the highest bidder on 31 May 2023,” said Babuile.
Picture: Three of the four accused persons, Bakang Katong, Phenyo Katong and Katlego Mosimege/ Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
A murder case against four accused persons took a bewildering direction today at Taung Regional Court. This comes after the lawyer of the defence told the court that, his clients intend to plead guilty on the matter. The alleged drug lord, Bakang Katong (32), Thabang Lenyai (23) and Katlego Mosimege (31), and Phenyo Katong (34) were arrested more than a year ago for allegedly killing Thabiso Mothibedi (35) in cold blood.
They accused Mothibedi of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house in Manthe village, near Taung.
The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, the deceased was at Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused fetched and ferried him back to Manthe village.
“Upon arrival, the deceased was allegedly chained to a generator and assaulted. After the assault, the victim was reportedly transported to a local clinic by the accused, however, he was declared dead upon arrival. The accused were arrested and charged with murder,” Tselanyane said.
On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in arms and torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family.
Meanwhile, the court also heard that, there is a letter from the community members requesting that the murder case be transferred to the North West High Court in Mahikeng owing to its nature. Apparently, the docket was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West to make a decision.
The Guardian 