Picture: Aggrieved employees of Phalaborwa Consultant Company barricaded the road between Manthe and Kolong villages/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

The aggrieved employees of Phalaborwa Consultant company that was appointed has been appointed to install pipelines for abstraction of water from the iconic Taung Dam to the Taung Water Treatment Plant and reservoir in Morokweng village embarked on protest.

These employees barricaded a road between Manthe and Kolong villages, near Taung after they were not paid their three months’ salaries. According to one of the employees, Sparks Tshisi, they have tried to get in touch with the company representative, Simon Malatjie but to no avails.

“It’s been three months since last we received our payments. So, we decided to barricade the road in order for the company to pay us. We do have families to feed and we cannot continue to work without being paid.

“We need our salaries and we urge the municipality to intervene. Our Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) are nowhere to be found. The other one said he is in Johannesburg looking for a job, while the other one is in Kuruman also job-hunting,” Tshisi said.

The Phalaborwa Consultant representative, Simon Malatjie and the Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Infrastructure at Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Pico Seepamere failed to respond to our media inquiry regarding the matter.  

In 19 March 2022, the R1 billion Taung Bulk Water Supply project was brought to a grinding halt after community members alleged that, the contractor was not properly introduced to them.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Water and Sanitation department spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau said the project is funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG), with approximately R1 billion allocated to the project.

“The project is one of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) major infrastructure projects in the North West, aimed at developing water infrastructure that will meet the needs of the community and ensure water security.

“The construction of an adequate infrastructure such as the Taung Bulk Water Supply that can support and supply efficient safe water to communities in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, therefore is a critical input to sustainable growth and development,” Ratau said.

He said the scheme, which is implemented in phases, has created 304 jobs thus far and 189 139 households in more than 55 villages have been targeted to benefit from this water project.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: A G4S armoured vehicle bombed/Generic  

By OBAKENG MAJE

A 39-YEAR-OLD man briefly appeared in Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on 13 July 2023. Tyson Tizirayi was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation on 11 July 2023 in Klerksdorp for his alleged involvement in a Cash in Transit robbery that took place on 10 May 2023.

The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said, Tizirayi was arrested at Klerksdorp Police Station, while he was in custody for an unrelated case.

“It is alleged that, on 10 May 2023, two G4S security officers were travelling in an armoured vehicle on Terblanche Street in Freemanville, Klerksdorp, when a vehicle rammed into them, causing the armoured vehicle to overturn. A group of armed suspects allegedly approached the vehicle and ordered the security officers to lie down, then robbed them of a 9mm pistol with rounds of ammunition.

“The suspects allegedly bombed the vehicle and fired several shots before fleeing the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. The accused was charged with attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances and the matter was postponed to 21 July 2023 pending further investigation,” Mathebula said.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: The court sentenced a man to 20 years for raping a retarded woman

By OBAKENG MAJE

A man (42) sentenced to life imprisonment by the Calvinia Magistrate’s Court for raping a mentally-ill woman. According to the Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sgt Molefi Shemane, the woman (22) was walking alone in Calvinia West when she was lured by Benjamin Geswindt to an open field near Hantam High School and raped.

The incident took place on 5 June 2022.

Shemane said the police management welcomed the harsh sentence handed down to Geswindt. He said a witness alerted the victim’s father and a rape case was opened.

“The accused was arrested immediately and bail was successfully opposed. On 11 July 2023, the Calvinia Magistrate’s Court convicted and sentenced him to 28 years imprisonment, which 8 years was suspended for five years on condition that Geswindt is not found guilty of a similar offence.

“The accused will therefore serve an effective 20 years in prison. Geswindt was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. The Unit Commander, Detective Warrant Officer, Charl Blignaut applauded the investigation officer Detective Constable Jacques Nielsen for his thorough and meticulous investigation, which led to the hefty sentence,” he said.

Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola indicated that these sentences are a clear indication that violence perpetrated against the vulnerable members of society will not be tolerated, especially women and children. Otola said the meticulous investigation conducted by Nielsen is highly commendable.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

By OBAKENG MAJE

The 21 wanted suspects who have been on the run from the police for various crimes ranging from assault on police, murder, contravention of protection orders, assault with the intent to cause Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), assault common, warrants of arrest and theft were arrested.

In pursuit of a crime free society, Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sgt Molefi Shemane said, the Roodepan Police Station Detectives led by Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Mashodi, embarked on a wanted suspects tracing operation as part of Operation Shanela actions on 13 July 2023.

Shemane said the suspects will appear in the Kimberley and Galeshewe Magistrate’s courts soon.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Setshwantsho: Motshameki wa maloba wa Mighty Boys FC, Bakang Katong/Facebook

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Motshamekapele wa maloba o diphatsa wa setlhopha sa selegae sa Mighty Boys FC kwa motseng wa Manthe, gaufi le Taung, o a tlhotswe dingwaga dile robedi kwa kgolegelong ka ntlheng ya go betelela. Bakang Katong (32) yo jaanong eleng rakgwebo, ebile a latofadiwa ka go gweba ka diritibatsi, a ne a betelela lekgarebe lengwe la kwa Buxton ka ngwaga wa 2017.

Go begwa fa Katong, yo oneng a tswa kwa Johannesburg ka nako eo, a ne a neelwa lekgarebe leo ke mongwe wa bakgweetsi ba ditekesi kwa Schweizer Reneke gore a mo gorotshe ka pabalasego kwa lapeng.

Fela, Katong a ne a tsena-tsena ka lekgarebe leno, mme a feleletsa a ipagololetse mogodu. Gape, lekgarebe le, lene la kaya fa le nyeleletswe ke madi a kanang ka R2000 mo tiragalong eo.

Kgotlha-tshekelo e utlwile fa lekgarebe le, lene la fitlha la lotlegela mmagwe ka se se mo diragaletseng. Kgetsi ene ya bulwa, mme ene ya re Katong go utlwa seno, one a letsetsa lekgarebe le, le go kopana le lone kwa Taung Mall mo letsatsing le le latelang.

Katong one a fitlha a mo kopa go mo neela madi a kanang ka R2000 a go begwang a nyeletse le go mo neela R500 eleng pipa-molomo gore a ye go tsholola kgetsi ya petelelo kgatlhanong le ene.

Fela lekgarebe le, le ne la gana go tsaya madi ao. Kgotlha-tshekelo e utlwile gape fa mmagwe lekgarebe leno, yo eneng ele paki ya mmuso, a ne a tlhokafala fa kgetsi e sentse e tsweletse ka tsheko. Mmueledi wa ga Katong, one a tlhalosetsa lekgotlha fa bopaki jwa motlhekefadiwa bo sa ikanyege, gonne gona le phapang mo tshedimosetsong e a e neetseng sepodisi le e a e boleletseng kgotlha-tshekelo.

Fela magistrata Buti Zulu, ga ka a ganana le kgang eo, mme a tlhalosa fa ese pateletso gore bopaki jo bo neetsweng sepodisi bo ka botsolotswa, fela se se botlhokwa ke se motlhekefadiwa a se boleletseng kgotlha-tshekelo. Gape, se se ileng sa makatsa lekgotlha ke gore, Katong o ile a kaela beng ba mokgatlho wa ditekesi fa a iphantse ka thobalano le motlhefediwa, mme fela o ile a kaya fa seo se diragetse ka tumalano.

Fela Katong, one a kaela mmueledi wa gagwe fa a sa iphanya ka thobalano le motlhekefadiwa. Seo, sene sa baya Katong mo mosing, mme le kgotlha la mo bona jaaka motho o o sa ikanyegeng. Zulu one a tlhalosetsa Katong fa go sena sepe se se supang fa motlhekefadiwa a ka batla go mo bopela kgomo ya mmopa, gonne ba sa itsane.

Zulu, one a bona Katong molato mo kgetsing ya petelelo.

Kgabagare, lekgotlha lene la kaela Katong fa e se sa ntlha a thulana le molao, gonne ka ngwaga wa 2006 one a tshwarwa mme a bonwa molato mo kgetsing ya go itaya ka maikaelelo a go ntsha dikgobalo tse di masisi. Gape, go begwa fa ka 2013 le 2015, Katong a ne a tshwarelwa go gweba ka diritibatsi, mme a duela kotlhao mo dikgetsing dile pedi.

Katong gape o lebane le kgetsi ya polao e e diragetseng kwa motseng wa Manthe.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: Dagga worth R21 000 confiscated/Supplied  

By OBAKENG MAJE

A dagga estimated to the value of R21 000 was confiscated by the police in Paballelo Township, near Upington on Tuesday. The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sgt Omphile Masegela said the police in the ZFM District are working hard to squeeze the space for drug dealers to operate.

“The police made multiple arrests during Vuthu Hawe operations this week for dealing in drugs and possession of drugs. On 11 July 2023, the police conducted a search and seizure operation in Paballelo, where dagga to the estimated value of R21 000 was seized and one person was arrested.

“During operations in Postmasburg on 12 July 2023, Upington Public Order Police (POP) arrested a man aged 42 in Newtown for possession of drugs. The police received a tip about drugs at a butchery and when they arrived, the suspect attempted to destroy them,” Masegela said.

He further said, the police allegedly searched and found the Tik to the value of R7500 in a basin. Masegela added that, in separate cases, three suspects were arrested in Keimoes for dealing in drugs.

“The police confiscated dagga and mandrax to the total value of R2800,” he said.

Meanwhile, the acting District Commissioner, Brigadier Peet Coetzee commended the efforts of the police and encouraged the community to continue to give information on drug dealings as a collaborative effort to remove drugs from the streets.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Setshwantsho: Motshameki wa maloba wa Setlhopha sa Mighty Boys FC, Bakang Katong/Facebook

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Motshamekapele wa maloba o diphatsa wa setlhopha sa selegae sa Mighty Boys FC, Bakang Katong kwa motseng wa Manthe, gaufi le Taung, o tla itse ka bokamoso jwa gagwe ka di 13 Phokwi 2023. Seno setla morago ga gore mosekisi mo kgetsing e Katong a lebaneng le yone ya petelelo, a kaele le kgotlha fa a tshwanetswe ke go neelwa dingwaga dile lesome kwa kgolegelong.

Go begwa fa Katong (32), yo jaanong eleng rakgwebo, ebile a latofadiwa ka go gweba ka diritibatsi, a ne a betelela lekgarebe lengwe la kwa Buxton ka ngwaga wa 2017. Go begwa fa Katong, yo oneng a tswa kwa Johannesburg ka nako eo, a ne a neelwa lekgarebe leo ke mongwe wa bakgweetsi ba ditekesi kwa Schweizer Reneke gore a mo gorotshe ka pabalasego kwa lapeng.

Fela, go kaiwa fa Katong a ne a tsena-tsena ka lekgarebe leno, mme a feleletsa a ipagololetse mogodu. Gape, lekgarebe le, lene la kaya fa le nyeleletswe ke madi a kanang ka R2000 mo tiragalong eo.

Kgotlha-tshekelo e utlwile fa lekgarebe le, lene la fitlha la lotlegela mmagwe ka se se mo diragaletseng. Kgetsi ene ya bulwa, mme ene ya re Katong go utlwa seno, one a letsetsa lekgarebe le, le go kopana le lone kwa Taung Mall mo letsatsing le le latelang.

Katong one a fitlha a mo kopa go mo neela madi a kanang ka R2000 a go begwang a nyeletse le go mo neela R500 eleng pipa-molomo gore a ye go tsholola kgetsi ya petelelo kgatlhanong le ene.

Fela lekgarebe le, le ne la gana go tsaya madi ao. Kgotlha-tshekelo e utlwile gape fa mmagwe lekgarebe leno, yo eneng ele paki ya mmuso, a ne a tlhokafala fa kgetsi e sentse e tsweletse ka tsheko. Mmueledi wa ga Katong, one a tlhalosetsa lekgotlha fa bopaki jwa motlhekefadiwa bo sa ikanyege, gonne gona le phapang mo tshedimosetsong e a e neetseng sepodisi le e a e boleletseng kgotlha-tshekelo.

Fela magistrata Buti Zulu, ga ka a ganana le kgang eo, mme a tlhalosa fa ese pateletso gore bopaki jo bo neetsweng sepodisi bo ka botsolotswa, fela se se botlhokwa ke se motlhekefadiwa a se boleletseng kgotlha-tshekelo. Gape, se se ileng sa makatsa lekgotlha ke gore, Katong o ile a kaela beng ba mokgatlho wa ditekesi fa a iphantse ka thobalano le motlhefediwa, mme fela o ile a kaya fa seo se diragetse ka tumalano.

Fela Katong, one a kaela mmueledi wa gagwe fa a sa iphanya ka thobalano le motlhekefadiwa. Seo, sene sa baya Katong mo mosing, mme le kgotlha la mo bona jaaka motho o o sa ikanyegeng. Zulu one a tlhalosetsa Katong fa go sena sepe se se supang fa motlhekefadiwa a ka batla go mo bopela kgomo ya mmopa, gonne ba sa itsane.

Zulu, one a bona Katong molato mo kgetsing ya petelelo.

Kgabagare, lekgotlha lene la kaela Katong fa e se sa ntlha a thulana le molao, gonne ka ngwaga wa 2006 one a tshwarwa mme a bonwa molato mo kgetsing ya go itaya ka maikaelelo a go ntsha dikgobalo tse di masisi. Gape, go begwa fa ka 2013 le 2015, Katong a ne a tshwarelwa go gweba ka diritibatsi, mme a duela kotlhao mo dikgetsing dile pedi.

Katong gape o lebane le kgetsi ya polao e e diragetseng kwa motseng wa Manthe.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Picture: Syn Mege found on a farm in Ottoshoop/Supplied  

By OBAKENG MAJE

A man who seems to be mentally unstable was found lying next to the gates of one of the farms in Ottoshoop. The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said the police in Ottoshoop request the community’s assistance in locating the family of Syn Mege (50).

“Mege seems to be mentally unstable and he said he is from Cape Town. He was found on Wednesday morning, 12 July 2023, lying next to the gate of one of the farms in Ottoshoop.

“Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of his family is requested to contact Captain Maduo Mogoerane on ‪082 375 5032,” Myburgh said

taungdailynews@gmail.com