A 17-YEAR-OLD girl from Mokgareng village near Taung was allegedly raped by a well-known employee of the North West Health Department at Taung District on Saturday night.
According to information, the alleged victim and her friends were hitch-hiking from Mokassa to Mokgareng village when they were picked up by the suspect.
It is alleged that the suspect dropped the friends of the victim and took her to Tamati’s storeroom in Mokgareng village, where the alleged rape took place. The alleged victim went home afterwards and allegedly informed her uncle about the ordeal.
A rape case was opened at Taung Police Station on Sunday morning. However, the North West police spokesperson, Lit Colonel Amanda Funani said: “Even though a rape case has been opened, no one has been arrested yet because of some technicalities in the evidence.
“We still have to conduct an identification parade. Police cannot just go out and arrest without following procedure, but please check with me on Monday and see if there is any development around this case.”
It is alleged that the police have also failed to go to the crime scene and collect evidence. Investigation continues.
Two siblings were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder by the North West High Court on Tuesday. Gopolang Maoka (36) and Moleko Maoka (37) were arrested for plotting Segwagwa Modiegi’s death.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said the accused who are related to Modiegi (64), were charged with murder, robbery and two counts of fraud.
“The Maoka brothers worked and stayed together in Kathu near Kuruman. The investigations revealed that the two were renting from the deceased and upon retirement, he moved to Seoding village where they all originate from.
“Modiegi left his premises under the care of Maoka brothers and among other things, they were responsible for collecting rental money from other tenants to send it to the deceased,” he said.
Mamothame further said upon realising the amount of money accumulated from rentals, the two brothers driven by greed, convinced each other to operate the business for themselves. He said the accused felt that the deceased was an obstacle in their quest to own his business and they conspired to kill him.
“On 7 January 2017, the accused arranged a meeting with the deceased under a false pretense of a family meeting in Seoding. They then left Kathu on the set date after knocking off from work and went to Seoding, where their plan was to be executed.
However, their cousin back in Seoding where the meeting was supposed to take place was not aware of their presence in the village. As planned, they called the deceased person to meet with him at their cousin’s house where the family meetings are usually held,” said Mamothame.
He said the accused waited for Modiegi in the bushes where he was supposed to pass through and they gruesomely murdered him by bashing his head with a huge stone and robbed him off his two cellphones.
Mamothame added that the deceased was discovered the following day with his face and head crushed and brain scattered.
“Evidence led in court by the investigating officer, revealed that a few months prior to executing the murder, the accused insured the deceased person with Nedbank as well as Assupol with an intention of cashing up on the two policies after murdering him.
“The family of the deceased was instructed by the police to refer anyone who requested the death certificate to the police. Following this instruction, investigations led to the arrest of Moleko Maoka on 17 January 2017 whilst making inquiries about the death certificate of the deceased with the intention of claiming from the insurance companies,” Mamothame said.
He added that Moleko eventually disclosed his reasons for inquiring about the death certificate and he also confessed to the entire plot of murdering the deceased to make financial gains on his rental property.
Mamothame said investigations further led the police to Kathu village on 23 January 2017 and the rented apartment belonging to the accused was searched and a blood stained pair of shoes were seized by the police.
“The forensic results positively matched the bloodstains to that of the deceased.
The two were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years for robbery. They were however acquitted on the two charges of fraud. Judge Gura emphasized that in killing the deceased who was 64 years at the time, their conduct was motivated by greed and as such an innocent life was lost.
In mitigating for maximum sentence, Advocate Cain Nontenjwa argued that this dreadful murder was premeditated and driven by greed, therefore warranted a maximum prison term, to which the judge concurred.
A 64-YEAR-OLD man went missing in Mokgareng village in Taung on Sunday. According to the North West police spokesperson, Sgt Tryphosa Van Rooyen, Borupile Frank Modisagaarekwe who stays alone in a house was last seen on Sunday.
“Anyone who may have information about the whereabouts of Modisagaarekwe can contact the investigating officer, Constable Kagiso Maje of Taung Detectives on 0824690369,” Van Rooyen said.
She further said people can also call the Crime Stop on 08600 10111 and send anonymous tip-offs via MySAPS App.
Picture: North West MEC for COGHSTA, Mmoloki Cwaile
By BAKANG MOKOTO
North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement, and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Mmoloki Cwaile said his department is committed to redressing and restore dignity in the lives of poor communities in the North West.
Cwaile made these commitments during the roundtable discussion with Newszroom Afrika TV channel on Tuesday.
“Our department will continue to build houses according to the needs of beneficiaries, making examples of people living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. We are mindful of the different circumstances our beneficiaries are faced with. So, as a department, we conduct due diligence in every project we engage in.
“Quality assurance and accountability form part of our contract with service providers.
We are also enrolled with the National Housing Builders Regulatory Council, which ensures quality and compliance within the industry,” he said.
Cwaile further said his department is committed to unblock blocked projects and to make sure that contractors that left shoddy work in their projects are engaged to rectify their mistakes. He added that the department would make sure that it blacklists contractors who continue to do substandard work or leave projects incomplete.
“We have a contract with the people of the North West. We committed to building houses for them, which will bring and restore their dignity. We are selfless in approach and committed to housing our people in habitable homes with basic amenities,” said Cwaile.
He said there are many other projects his department is planning to embark on. Cwaile further said that issues such as mining towns, farming houses, land acquisition, capacity building for both internal and external houses will be at the helm of departmental agenda this financial year.
“Many families are continuing to be evicted in most farms within the province and government will not fold its arms and watch people left homeless. The department is in the process of developing township across the province which mostly will be in mining towns.
“Our main target will be Marikana, where immediate intervention is needed. The department is also intending to ensure that in every development, there are bulk services, which will ensure that when people occupy those houses, services will be up and running,” he said.
Cwaile said the department will further strengthen relations with local and district municipalities to ensure that services are delivered to local communities. He said they have an obligation to bring development in the 623 villages, 12 towns and 23 townships in the province.
“We do all this because we are mandated by the constitution and the outcome of the National Development Plan (NDP). Our young democracy is now 27 years-old in this year and the achievements of the government have managed to change the lives of the people of our country for the better,” concluded Cwaile.
Meanwhile, many housing projects were abandoned across the province and were left incomplete. Recently, the department was under fire for returning unused R100 million to the National Treasury in 2019/2020 financial year.
A 21-YEAR-OLD man from Majakaneng village near Mooinooi is missing. It is alleged that Rain Arthur Mfulwane was last seen on 29 April 2021 at around 5am.
Police spokesperson, Maria Nkabinde said: “Mfulwane was last seen wearing a navy blue T-shirt with white stripes, black trousers, and a pair of navy blue sneakers. He is medium built, tall in height, and has short black hair.
“In addition, he is light in complexion with a scar on the nose. Mfulwane was acting flamboyant and told his mother that he is going out, but he never returned home,” Nkabinde said.
She said anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can contact the Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Justice Maselesele of Mooinooi Detectives on 082 416 2415 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via MySAPS App.
Picture: President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa
By CYRIL RAMAPHOSA
Our experience with the democratic transition is a lesson about the power of empathy, negotiation and compromise. The escalating situation in Israel and Palestine affirms once more what we South Africans know too well, that intractable conflicts can only be solved through peaceful negotiation.
It also demonstrates that unless the root causes of a conflict are addressed, in this case the illegal occupation by Israel of Palestinian land and the denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, there will never be peace.
The latest violence was sparked by an Israeli court decision to evict a group of families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem to make way for Israeli settlements.
The sight of men, women and children being evicted from the homes their families have lived in for generations brings back painful collective and personal memories for the majority of South Africans – of forced removals and land dispossession.
It was a pain and humiliation faced by my own family, and by many South African families. My family was forcibly moved to different parts of the country on two occasions.
Being forced from one’s home at gunpoint is a trauma not easily forgotten, and is carried across generations. As a country we are still living with the residual effects of the callous acts carried out in the name of apartheid spatial planning.
For all who believe in equality, justice and human rights, we cannot but be moved and indeed angered, at the pain and humiliation being inflicted on the Palestinian people; for it echoes our own.
Israel’s actions are a violation of international law. They show a total disregard for successive United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions that call for an end to the occupation of Palestinian land and for the fulfillment of the rights of the Palestinian people.
Since Israeli security forces launched assaults on worshippers at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem last week, the violence has now engulfed the Gaza Strip, large parts of the West Bank and a number of Israeli cities. It has claimed the lives of dozens of people, including children.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) at least 40 children have been killed in Gaza since 10 May. Over half of them were under 10 years old.
It is also deeply troubling that Israeli forces last week destroyed a multi-storey building that housed a number of media organisations, sending a chilling message to media reporting on the violence.
The senseless and continued Israeli bombardment of Gaza will have devastating consequences for more than two million people who have been suffering under an illegal Israeli blockade for 14 years. As is always the case, it is civilians who will bear the brunt, with their homes and livelihoods destroyed.
Every effort must be made to dissuade both sides from further escalation, and to end the violence that is causing fear, death and misery on both sides.
We call on all parties involved to show restraint, to respect human life, and to cease the current hostilities.
Far too many lives have been lost to this intractable conflict. The continued occupation of Palestinian land and the suffering of the Palestinian people is a blight on the conscience of humanity.
As South Africa we are committed to being part of international efforts aimed at reviving a political process that will lead to the establishment of a viable Palestinian state existing side-by-side in peace with Israel, and within internationally recognised borders.
The two-state solution remains the most viable option for the peoples of Israel and Palestine, and must continue to be supported.
Just as Israeli security forces were attacking worshippers at the Al Aqsa Mosque, we in South Africa were preparing to commemorate the centenary of the Bulhoek Massacre at a religious site in Ntabelanga in the Eastern Cape. On 24 May 1921, colonial security forces armed with machine guns and artillery opened fire on worshippers, killing more than 160 people and wounding nearly 130.
The massacre laid bare the brutality not only of the police force of the Union of South Africa, but also the racist system that it was charged to uphold.
Just like the dispute in the Sheik Jarrah neighbourhood, the atrocity at Bulhoek was not just about a local dispute; it was fundamentally about the forced dispossession of land, about colonial occupation, about racial discrimination and about the violent suppression of dissent.
As we reflect on the crisis in the Middle East and particularly on the suffering of the Palestinian people, we would do well to recall the words of Selby Msimang, a founding member of the African National Congress.
In the aftermath of the Bulhoek massacre he wrote: “History has shown that the human soul naturally revolts against injustice.” The protests and the revolt of the oppressed people of South Africa against colonialism and apartheid proved the veracity of this prophecy.
As lovers of freedom and of justice, we stand with the Palestinian people in their quest for self-determination, but also in their resistance against the deprivation of their human rights and the denial of their dignity.
As citizens of a country that was able to turn its back on race-hatred and bloodshed and build an inclusive society rooted in human rights for all, it is our collective hope that the people of Israel and Palestine will follow a similar path; that they will find each other, and that they will find peace.
A 46-YEAR-OLD man is expected to appear at the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Monday for the alleged rape of four minors in Maboloka village, Letlhabile. North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said last week Wednesday, a girl (17) informed her teacher at school that her grandfather allegedly raped her and this has been happening since she was in Grade 2.
Botma further said it was also determined that other two younger girls were also allegedly raped by the same suspect.
“Three of the victims, aged 9 and 17 who are sisters and their cousin (8) had been staying with family, including their grandfather. Furthermore, the mother of a girl (14), who is a neighbour, also alleged that her daughter was also raped by the suspect.
“Preliminary investigations were conducted and the suspect was immediately arrested and charged with four counts of rape. The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Dintletse Molefe condemned these incidents of Gender-Based Violence (GBV),” she said.
Molefe said the police will continue to work hard to ensure that perpetrator/s are brought to book.
Picture: Former Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Kgosi Nnyoko Motlhabane
By BAKANG MOKOTO
North West High Court in Mahikeng has struck the application of the former Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Kgosi Nnyoko Motlhabane off the roll with cost. The court said Motlhabane’s application is not an urgent matter.
Motlhabane has approached the North West High Court on an urgent basis, arguing that his removal as a mayor of the Greater Taung Local Municipality a month ago was unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.
He was ousted as the mayor through a motion of no confidence tabled by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
In his court papers, Motlhabane said: “On 31 March 2021, a council meeting was held. In the afore-stated meeting, I was asked about allegations of under-performance of the members of the executive council of the municipality.
“I answered the afore-stated question posed to me by responding that I could not immediately confirm or deny such allegations and that I will investigate the allegations of underperformance and will present a report to the council after the allegations have been investigated and my report on the matter had been compiled.”
He further said it would have been irresponsible and untoward to have answered such question in relation to the integrity of three of the members of the executive council of the municipality without firstly investigating such allegations.
Motlhabane added that unfortunately, certain members of the council were not content with the way in which he responded to the allegations in the council meeting of the 31 March 2021 and subsequently gave notice of the motion is of no confidence against me.
“The afore-stated motions of no confidence suggested that I had misled the council in as far as my answer to the allegations of under-performance of certain members of the executive committee was concerned.
“On 1 April 2021, a motion of no confidence was submitted to the Speaker, Ebusang Tladi by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). On 4 April 2021, another motion of confidence similar to the motion of no confidence was tabled by Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD),” said Motlhabane.
A special council meeting was called by the Speaker for the 13 April 2021 which was a virtual special council meeting. According to information, Tladi introduced the motion and councillor Crespo Menyatso raised an objection against the introduction of the motion.
Motlhabane said however, Tladi did not allow objections to the motions. He said Tladi was of the attitude that objections had to be directed to him in writing- which was not done.
“Astonishingly, the Tladi then proceeded to treat the motions of no confidence as unopposed motions and allowed it to be tabled. The meeting adopted the motions and resolved that I be removed as mayor of the municipality.
“Surprisingly, although the council resolved to remove me as mayor, I was not removed as a member of the executive committee. I am still a member of the executive committee,” said Motlhabane.
He added that the executive committee consists of 10 members and the newly-appointed mayor, Oageng Seleke was not a member of the executive committee when he was elected and appointed as mayor.
“It is common cause that mayor is appointed from the executive committee and not from the municipal council according to Section 48 (1) of the Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998.
“Bearing in mind that the council consists of 48 members and the executive committee members consists of 11 instead of 10 according to the provisions of Section 43 of the Municipality Structures Act,” he said.
Motlhabane said bearing in mind that the special council was held on 13 April 2021, the last day for the submission of the notice of motion to lawfully serve before a council meeting on 13 April 2021 would have been 26 March 2021. He said applying the provisions of the Standing Orders to both of the motions of no confidence, it is clear that both motions of no confidence was submitted late.
“It is the prerogative of the Speaker in terms of Rule 9 of the Standing Orders, to ensure the council meetings are conducted in accordance with the rules. So, by allowing two motions of no confidence against me to find its way into the agenda of the special council meeting of 13 April 2021, the Speaker had acted in clear contravention of the Standing Orders.
“This is not where the unlawful conduct of the Speaker ceases. As already described earlier in this affidavit, an objection was raised at the special council meeting to the tabling of the motions of no confidence and the Speaker had the opportunity to disallow the motions,” said Motlhabane.
He said ignoring the objection, Tladi ignored his constitutional duty to ensure that a council meeting is conducted in accordance with the rules contained in the Standing Orders and allowed the irregular motions to be tabled.
Motlhabane said his alleged conduct was not investigated nor reported on, despite the existence of such procedures in Municipal Legislation.
“I was furthermore not provided with an opportunity to state my defence or to advance any counter arguments in the meeting. The act has been trampled upon publicly and brazenly by the Speaker, which leads me to draw the conclusion that the Speaker is acting with sinister motives.
“It is the well-published fact that local politics have lately been clouded by factionalism and specially factionalism within the ANC. It is no secret that Tladi and Seleke are sympathetic to a divergent faction within the ANC and has been supportive of this faction’s agenda for some time,” he said.
Motlhabane said he has no doubt that this faction will stop at nothing to reach their sinister objectives and I have no doubt that this process of ridding the municipal council of anyone that stands in the way of reaching the faction’s motives has now commenced.
Meanwhile, Tladi refused to comment on the matter and said he will only be available on Monday.
A 43-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the North West High Court in Vryburg on Wednesday. Orapeleng Patrick Ratilodi who resides in Cokonyane village in Taung shot and killed the driver of Sasko bakery, Onalenna Moreothata during an armed robbery back in 2018.
It was reported that, on 10 September 2018, Ratilodi and his accused, Obakeng Vaaltyn who is from Magogong village in Taung visited a local supermarket in Mogopela B where they bought a cool drink. According to information, the duo was sitting outside the supermarket when one of them inquired about the arrival time of the bakery from the owner of the supermarket who is of a foreign nation.
North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said: “Moreothata and his assistant were busy preparing the order for the shop when Ratilodi and Vaaltyn suddenly pointed them with a firearm. The accused shot and killed Moreothata during the confrontation.
“The court heard that the accused searched the truck and robbed an undisclosed amount of money. Furthermore, the accused fled the scene in a red BMW. After a thorough investigation and information received from witnesses, the suspects were arrested and the red BMW was seized.”
Botma said Vaaltyn was later acquitted in court due to a lack of evidence against him. However, she said Ratilodi was found guilty on charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
“The accused was sentenced to 20 years for murder, 10 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances and five years’ imprisonment for pointing of a firearm. The court also ordered that the five years imposed on count two should run concurrent with count one, therefore, Ratilodi was effectively sentenced to 25 years imprisonment,” said Botma.
Meanwhile, acting North West police Commissioner, Major General Dintletse Molefe welcomed the sentence handed down to Ratilodi. Molefe applauded the investigating officer, Sergeant Phemelo Seothaeng of Pudimoe Detectives and all other roles players including prosecution for their diligence in ensuring that the accused gets maximum sentence.
“This will serve as a warning to those who commit crime, including murder, that they will do the time in jail,” said Molefe.
As we approach the regional and provincial conferences, a concept: “Reading of the balance of forces” is misused to mean numerical strength of a faction as opposed to its organizational use and applications.
Since the adoption of the strategy and tactics this concept, “balance of forces” has been used by the ANC to read both the subjective and objective conditions and the contending forces in the society. In order to assess it strength and weakness as it prosecute its National Democratic Revolution (NDR) for the attainment of its strategic objectives of building a national democratic society.
This assessment of the balance of forces in the struggle is necessary for the application of the specific and concrete tactics to navigate through the path against the forces that oppose the ANC and its creation of the ideal society.
In our conferences, some would be carrying scientific calculators as oppose to conference discussion documents, because to some the conference is merely about the election of their preferred candidates.
The culture of objective engagement, honest discussion and correct decisions at the commissions are abandoned, precisely because we are not honest about the capacity of the people we elect in the positions of responsibilities.
When we say a comrade is equal to the task, it means he or she is equal to serve the interests of a faction, not the task of being a midwife of social transformation.
*Orapeleng Moatshidiso is a social activist, ANC member and working for the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality as Media Liaison Officer. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Taung DailyNews.
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