By REGINALD KANYANE

North West MEC for Department of Education, Wendy Matsemela said the tragic death of five learners at Vyfhoek Primary School in Potchefstroom is devastating.

Learners were allegedly run over by a mini truck inside their school premises on Thursday afternoon. According to the ER24 spokesperson, Russel Meiring, five learners were killed and four others injured when a truck crashed through a school fence and stopped in the parking area.

Meiring said ER24 and several other services responded to the scene along the N12, approximately 10km outside of Potchefstroom.

“On arrival, paramedics found the truck parked near several small container buildings. Upon closer inspection, paramedics found three children lying under the truck while several others were around the vehicle.

“All the children were believed to be aged between 7 and 11. Medics quickly assessed the patients and found four children had shown no signs of life. Unfortunately, nothing could be done for them, and they were later declared dead,” he said.

Meiring said three other children were in critical condition, while two others had severe injuries. He said paramedics treated the patients and provided them with advanced life support.

“Unfortunately, after a short time, one critically injured child succumbed to their injuries. Once treated, paramedics transported the three other children to a nearby hospital for urgent care.

“The driver of the truck escaped injury. The exact details surrounding this incident are unknown, but local authorities were on the scene for further investigations,” said Meiring.

Meanwhile, Matsemela said: “The mini truck is reported to have been traveling from Potchefstroom towards the Johannesburg direction on the N12 road and capsized after a front wheel tyre burst.

“The driver lost control of the vehicle, then went straight through the school fence plunging on four learners and killing them on the spot, while one died in the ambulance.”

Matsemela said according to the school report, the learners were waiting for their school transport after school. She further calls for cooperation during this difficult time.

“This is the most devastating news to share. Losing five learners in this manner is not easy to accept- as a parent and as a caretaker to these learners.

“We are truly lost for words and we plead with the public to treat the matter with sensitivity as parents are still trying to get to terms with this sudden loss. I wish to send a word of comfort to the bereaved families and for those whose learners are hospitalised,” said Matsemela.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

Teaching and learning have resumed at Morokweng primary School in Morokweng village, outside Ganyesa. This comes after the North West Department of Education reached an agreement with the parents of the learners.

Aggrieved parents, prohibited their children to attend school since June 2022, calling for the department to build a new school. They cited that the current school building is dilapidated and is a ticking bomb as learners are not safe.

However, the North West MEC for Department of Education, Wendy Matsemela said: “We can confirm that there is a resumption of teaching and learning at the school. This is due to an outcry by parents who complained about the conditions of the school.

“Classes resumed on Wednesday with a recovery plan in place to cover the lost classroom time. Since the beginning of the third quarter, on 19 July 2022, learners could not return to school because parents wanted a new school.” 

Matsemela further said the school has received 20 mobile classrooms to mitigate the challenging school environment. Two more will be delivered as soon as they arrive to be 22 in number. She also lauded the community for their patience during this time.

“We are thankful to the school community of Morokweng Primary School for their patience during this time. Indeed, our learners deserve better, safe, and dignified spaces for learning.

“Currently, processes are unfolding for the building of a new school. In terms of lost teaching and learning time, extra classes are being administered to meet the lost time,” she said.

Matsemela added that the school will not close during the September break as part of a recovery plan to catch up and conclude the syllabus.

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By OBAKENG MAJE  

The heartfelt condolences messages continue to pour into the families of five learners, who were killed by a truck at Vyfhoek Primary School near Potchefstroom on Thursday.

It is alleged that the driver of a heavy truck traveling on the N12 road, lost control and ploughed through the school fence, and hit 11 learners. Five of the learners were killed instantly, while the other six sustained injuries.

They were ferried to the hospital for medical attention.

The chairperson of North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development, Gavin Edwards, extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

“The incident occurred while the department of health was unveiling new ambulances allocated in the province. Due to the number of patients involved, The MEC for health, Madoda Sambatha immediately dispatched new ambulances to attend to the multi-casualty incident together with local emergency services.

“The committee extends its gratitude to all the private emergency medical and rescue services, who together with the provincial EMRS responded to the multi-casualty incident,” he said.

Edwards further said all services worked tirelessly to stabilise the injured learners, who were transported to the Potchefstroom Hospital. He said, they will request a report on the circumstances surrounding the tragic event, once the authorities have concluded their investigation.  

“As the committee, we join the families in mourning the loss of young lives in the province, while wishing the injured learners a speedy recovery,” said Edwards.

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari said this is a tragedy because these children could have been future leaders. Lehari said as a government, they are deeply devastated to hear of the loss.

“We will continue to offer a message of condolences to the bereaved families. We pray that they find comfort in this dark time and that they accept our sincere condolences.

“We also wish a speedy recovery to the injured. A case of culpable homicide is currently under investigation,” he said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE  

Five learners aged between 5 and 13 were killed after being hit by a truck. This happened at Vyfhoef Laerskool near the N12 road, a few kilometres outside Potchefstroom. The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari said six more learners were injured and were rushed to the hospital.

Lehari said the truck driver allegedly lost control and drove towards the learners, who were standing by the school gate, and hit them. He said they are saddened by the tragedy.  

“This is indeed a tragedy because these children could have been our future leaders. As a government, we are deeply devastated to hear of the loss. We will continue to offer a message of condolences to the bereaved families.

“We pray that you find comfort in this dark time and that you accept our sincere condolences. We also wish a speedy recovery to the injured. A case of culpable homicide is currently under investigation,” he said.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

Four suspects were arrested for being in possession of abalone without a permit. Emelio Saal (29), Keith Saal (34), Conwald Wyngaard (37), and Hubert Felix (39) were arrested by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigative unit working together with the local K9 unit and the Department of Environmental Affairs officials.

The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Capt Tebogo Thebe said the incident took place in Springbok on 16 August 2022

Thebe said the suspects briefly appeared before The Springbok Magistrate’s Court on 18 August 2022.

“The police followed up on information after four males were observed diving into the sea at Kleinsee village on the West Coast of the province. Four diving suits and a bag containing 30 units of abalone valued at the estimated amount of R84 000 were found at the scene. 

“The team further seized a vehicle, which was used during the commission of a crime. The case was postponed until 22 August 2022 for formal bail application,” he said.

Thebe added that the case was also transferred to Port Nolloth Magistrate’s Court.

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

A former policeman in Northern Cape, who was arrested for fraud, pleaded guilty. Johan Frederic Burger, 62, who was a Lieutenant Colonel appeared before Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Capt Tebogo Thebe said: “Burger committed fraud while working at Provincial Crime Intelligence in Kimberley. He was supposed to attend a work session in Pretoria, but it was postponed before he could travel.

“However, in November 2019, he submitted a fraudulent travel claim of more than R3 000 purporting to have attended a work session. Burger was served with summons during December 2021 by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team.”

Thebe said, Burger made a series of court appearances until he ultimately pleaded guilty to the charges. He further said, Burger was sentenced to a fine of R10 000 or 12 months imprisonment, which is suspended for a period of 5 years.

“He was further ordered to pay back an amount of R3 974.60 to the South African Police Service,” said Thebe.

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By REGINALD KANYANE

A business robbery case against three men that took place at a Shoprite store in Taung was postponed by the Taung Magistrate’s Court until 24 August 2022 for a formal bail application.

Three accused, Belcarid Salvadon Malate (39), Mosimanegape John Sebolao (49), and Monnapula Tshabadira, who were arrested on 1 August 2022, will remain in custody.

It is alleged that Malate, Tshabadira, and Sebolao entered the store, while it was about to close and held staff captive. They allegedly robbed the store of an undisclosed amount of money and some belongings.

However, the North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen said, the police in Taung quickly reacted after receiving a call about a business robbery in progress at the store.

“The Community Service Centre and Crime Prevention Unit members were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival at the scene of the crime, the police found three suspects who were about to exit the store.

“The suspects were immediately arrested and the stolen property was confiscated. A case of business robbery was opened and the suspects appeared in the Taung Magistrate’s Court on 17 August 2022,” van Rooyen said.

According to information presented before court, the accused have other pending cases of business and armed robberies committed in Klerksdorp and Vesselbron in Free State respectively.  

Meanwhile, the acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Tshenolo Tlotleng lauded the police for their swift response, which led to the arrests of these suspects.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

The police in Taung said they are investigating a case of ATM bombing. This comes after an ATM was bombed in a garage in Pudimoe Township, near Taung on Wednesday morning.

North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said: “The ATM bombing case is being investigated. On 17 August 2022, an ATM bombing was reported at a garage in Pudimoe.

“The ATM is completely damaged and an undisclosed amount of money was taken. No arrests thus far.”

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By OBAKENG MAJE

The residents of Lokgabeng village, near Taung, said it’s been three months without access to clean and drinkable water. The community members embarked on a protest and barricaded R57 road that links Taung and Reivilo with shrubs and burning tyres.

One of the community leaders, Mothohela Motshabi said, now residents are forced to travel a long distance to fetch water.

“It is being three months since our taps ran dry. We have been trying to solicit answers from the district municipality, but our attempts were futile. We will continue to barricade the road until our grievances are resolved,” Motshabi said.

He further said some residents are forced to use donkey carts to fetch water for household usage, while others have to pay an exorbitant amount of money to buy water. Motshabi added that, life has never been easy as most of the community members are unemployed and cannot afford to buy water sold to them in the village.

It is suspected that decades of chronic underfunding of water infrastructure are putting many villages at worse risk. Other residents urged the municipality to address the investment gap in water and sanitation and refrain from perceiving these services mainly as social issues rather than economic ones.

Meanwhile, the Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC), who is responsible for Infrastructure at Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Pico Seepamere said: “We have a challenge with water machinery that was vandalised after the cable was stolen. So, we are struggling to find the same model of stolen cable.  

“However, what we have done today is to re-energise another pumping machinery that can pump up to 1.2 litres per second. The one that is broken was able to pump 1.6 litres per second.”

Seepamere said the machinery in place can pump water for ten hours, then take a two hours interval. He added that, when the machinery reaches its highest level, can be able to supply water to all residents of Lokgabeng.

“As the municipality, we are working on a permanent everlasting solution. However, to redeem the situation, we have also provided the residents with jojo tanks.

“We will also have a consultative engagement with residents on Monday, where all stakeholders will be present. I believe that the municipality would procure a needed engine if the needs arise so that our people could get access to clean and drinkable water,” he said.

Meanwhile, the R580 million Taung /Naledi Bulk Water Supply Project launched by the late Minister for Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa back in 2012 is still incomplete. The project was expected to augment bulk water supply scheme and bring relief to thousands of villagers who had to travel long distances to draw water.

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

Two waiting trial detainees, who allegedly escaped from lawful custody at Wolmaranstad Police Station on 13 August 2022, were re-arrested Last night. The North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said Gomolemo Chacha (24) and Ditshebi Eric Molaetsi (28), escaped together with six other awaiting trial detainees after overpowering a police officer.

“The incident happened at around 16:20 on 13 August 2022. They then took the cell key from the member and ultimately escaped. At the time of escape, the detainees were among others, facing charges of armed robbery, murder, burglary, and domestic violence.

“Six of the detainees were re-arrested between 13 and 14 August 2022, while Chacha and Molaetsi were nabbed last night,” she said.

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