Picture: Situation at Potchefstroom during protests/OFM

OBAKENG MAJE

Seven accused partners were arrested during service delivery protests in Ikageng Township, near Potchefstroom on 23 February 2023. The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said, the police have also impounded the minibus taxis that were used during protests.

“As part of maintaining public order, police in Potchefstroom apprehended seven accused partners and impounded a taxi following violent protests that took place between Wednesday and Thursday.

“The accused partners were nabbed after a group of community members allegedly barricaded the N12 road in Ikageng and Potchefstroom with stones, burning tyres, and other objects,” Mokgwabone said.

He further said, the protesters then later marched to the Potchefstroom Central Business District (CBD) in a bid to voice their dissatisfaction over poor service delivery. Mokgwabone added that, the protesters’ action led to the temporary closure of the road for traffic.

“Subsequent to the arrest, all accused persons aged between 35 and 40, appeared before the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for public violence. They were released on warning and their case was postponed until 9 March 2023.

“The situation is currently calm and the road is open for traffic. While the police and traffic officers are maintaining their presence in the area, motorists and other road users are urged to exercise caution,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena condemned the violent protests and implored members of the community to raise their dissatisfaction in a peaceful and lawful manner as stipulated in the constitution. Moreover, Kwena warned that those who disrespect the rule of law will be dealt with effectively.
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Picture: Banyana Banyana players/Supplied

African champions Banyana Banyana received their trophy and medals after they were officially crowned as the Group A winners of the Turkish Women’s Cup on Wednesday.

Evima Football, the organisers of the tournament held in Antaly, Turkey, confirmed to http://www.safa.net that coach Desiree Ellis’ charges won their group on goal difference after beating Uzbekistan 3-0 on Saturday (18 February 2023), and drawing 1-1 with eventual runners-up Slovenia on Tuesday afternoon (21 February 2023). Both matches were played at the Emirhan Sport Complex in Antalya.

“It was very important to have a team like yours here because you are FIFA Women’s World Cup participants. This is very important and we hope at the same time this was a very good experience for you,” said Evima Football official Evgeni Marinov.

“After the game against Slovenia yesterday (on Tuesday 21 February 2023) we said the winner of the event was your national team, South Africa. You have the same points as Slovenia but in terms of the goal difference, yours is better and you are in first place.”

Marinov also confirmed that Hildah Magaia, who scored the equaliser against Slovenia on Tuesday, was named as the midfielder of the tournament.

The SASOL-sponsored Banyana Banyana and runners-up Slovenia finished with four points, Zambia claimed three points while Uzbekistan had nothing to show for their trouble. Kosovo were the winners of Group B.

Source: www.safa.net  

Setshwantsho: Morutabana wa kwa sekolong se segolwane sa Batlhaping/Facebook

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

Sepodisi sa Afrika Borwa mono profenseng ya Bokone Bophirima, se kaile fa go sena kgetsi e tlhatlhwetsweng kgatlanong le morutabana wa sekolo se segolwane sa Batlhaping mono Taung.

Seno se tla morago ga ma gatwe a gore, morutabana o, o tsatsankile lekgarebe la gagwe ka sengwe se se bogale mo mokotleng, mme a mo tlogela ka dikgobalo tse di tseneletseng. 

Go ya ka moanamisi wa mafoko mo mafaratlhatlheng a boitapoloso a Facebook, Reabetswe Pabi, tiragalo e, ke ya kwa motseng wa Ditshilong gaufi le Taung. 

“Dumelang baagi ba Taung. Ke tlile ka kgang e masisi tota, mme ke ne ke batla go bua ka morutabana o tlhabileng lekgarebe la gagwe kwa motseng wa Ditshilong. O tlhabile mosetsanyana o, makgetlho a le mararo mo lerapong la mokotla.

“Morutabana o, o ruta ko Batlhaping High School. Banna, ke kopa le tlogeleng tshotlhakako ya basadi. Ke rapela Modimo gore ngwana wa batho o tlhabilweng a bone tshiamiso.”

Fela, sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima kwa sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Tryphosa van Rooyen are: “Motlhekefadiwa ga se a bule kgetsi kgatlanong le molatofadiwa. Fela, ke tla lo itsise fa kgetsi e setse e butswe.”

Kgabagare, sebueledi sa Lefapha la Thuto mo Bokone Bophirima, Elias Malindi are, jaaka lefapha, ga ba itse sepe ka kgetsi eno. Fela, Malindi are ba dula bana le metseletsele ya go atlhosa barutabana ba bone kgatlhanong le tshotlakako ya basadi le bana.   

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Picture: The deceased, Tshepang Seelo/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

Modimong murder case was postponed indefinitely to 8 March 2023 after the investigating officer allegedly dismally failed to deliver the docket to the North West High Court in Mahikeng. Two men from Modimong village, near Taung, Rebaone Malekanyo (33) and Tumelo Tlonkwe (32) are facing a murder case after allegedly killing the former Vaaltar FM presenter and a socialite, Tshepang Seelo (32) back in 2021.

Malekanyo and Tlonkwe are allegedly charged with premeditated murder, assault, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in the North West, Henry Mamothame, Seelo was allegedly killed on 31 October 2021, while walking from a local tavern with his girlfriend.

“The deceased allegedly saw the duo stealing roof sheets from a certain house and blew the whistle. Then the accused allegedly assaulted, kidnapped, and killed him before dumping his body in a furrow near Khibitswane village near Taung.

“Seelo’s girlfriend allegedly ran away and escaped unharmed. The deceased’s lifeless body was found floating on 3 November 2021. It is alleged that his body was also mutilated and his eyes and tongue were missing,” Mamothame said.

He said the two accused partners were arrested on 2 November 2021 after they handed themselves over to the police.

Meanwhile, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in North West allegedly appointed a Provincial Task Team a few months ago to investigate the case from scratch after a ‘shoddy’ done by the previous investigation team.

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Picture: Former Eskom’s GCE, Andre de Ruyter/Google

By OBAKENG MAJE

The power utility, Eskom has parted ways with its outgoing, the Eskom Board and Group Chief Executive (GCE) Andrè de Ruyter with immediate effect. Eskom spokesperson, Sikhonathi Mantshantsha said, the decision was reached between the two parties following a special Board meeting on 22 February 2023.

“The Eskom board has reached a mutual agreement to curtail de Ruyter’s notice period to 28 February 2023. The board further resolved that de Ruyter will not be required to serve the balance of his notice period but that he will be released from his position with immediate effect.

“Acting GCE arrangements are being finalised with the shareholder Minister and will be communicated shortly.”

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Picture: Seven accused partners, who were arrested for arson and looting/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

The arson case against seven accused from Manthe village, near Taung has been postponed to 30 March 2023 by Taung Magistrate’s Court. The court will hear from the Director of Public Prosecutions to either continue with the case or not.

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 by the police during an intelligence-driven operation in July 2022.  

In May 2022, the community members embarked on a violent protest and torched three houses and a vehicle belonging to the alleged drug lord, Bakang Katong (34) after accusing him of murder. They also looted Katong’s tavern, Disoufeng.  

Bakang, his brother, Phenyo “The Great” Katong (34), Thabang Lenyai (23), and Katlego “Makita” Mosimege (31) allegedly brutally killed Thabiso Mothibedi (35) in cold blood.

The police preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, Mothibedi was at Lenganeng village near Taung, and Katong and his cronies allegedly fetched and transported him to Manthe village after accusing him of stealing R20 000 and cigarettes worth R600.

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. They are expected to appear in court and investigations into the matter continue.” 

Meanwhile, the accused had to acquire the services of the new lawyer, advocate Thabo Letsapa after the arrest and sentencing of their previous lawyer, advocate Tebogo Letloleleng.

Letloleng was arrested for stock theft and sentenced to 20 months in prison. He also has other pending cases in Gauteng. Seven accused are out on R500 bail each.

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Picture: A lioness escapes, while in transit/Generic

By OBAKENG MAJE

The community members around Stella, Setlagole, Beesdam, Kudunkgwane, and Tlakgameng villages are warned to be on the lookout for a lion. This comes after a lioness escaped from her container, whilst in transit on the back of a Ford Ranger Bakkie on the Beesdam road between Stella and Tlagameng on 22 February 2023 at 8am.

The North West police spokesperson,Capt Aaftje Botma said: “The owner only realised that the lion has escaped when he reached his destination at Tlakgameng village.

“The Nature Reservation and farmers are on the lookout for the animal. Please contact Nanti Strydom on 082 563 7763 or Siyabonga Mseleku at 0734467452 / 0813366882 from Nature Conservation or your local police station, if you see the lioness.”

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Picture: The alleged illegal miners arrested in Stilfontein/Supplied 

By OBAKENG MAJE

Sixteen alleged illegal miners are expected to appear in Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. This comes after their arrest by the Hawks Organised Crime team at Quest mine, near Stilfontein.

The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Capt Tlangelani Rikhotso said, the suspects were arrested during a multi-disciplinary operation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation assisted by the North West Air wing, Explosives unit, Cluster IMTT, Public Order Policing, Tactical Response Team, Crime Prevention Unit, Local Criminal Record Centre and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

“The team followed up on information regarding the alleged illegal mining activities at Quest mine, which is situated just off Buffeldoorn road. Resultantly, sixteen alleged illegal miners were flushed out from underground leading to their subsequent arrest.

“The elaborate illegal mining activities were allegedly operated through a heavy-duty industrial generator, whilst supplemented by other smaller generators which were strategically located at multiple processing stations for gold bearing material,” Rikhotso said.

She said during the operation, two firearms were seized including the explosive cartridges, detonating cords, capped fuses, four generators, and illegal mining paraphernalia, which consisted of 23 buckets of gold-bearing material, electric mills, heavy-duty electrical equipment, water pumps, and diesel.

Rikhotso further said, in addition, large amounts of food were also seized.

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Picture: The deceased, Odiseng Comfort Setlhabe/Facebook   

By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West police said, they have opened an inquest case after a lifeless body of a man was found behind a local tavern in Extension 6, in Taung on 19 February 2023.

The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said the deceased was identified as Odiseng Comfort Setlhabe. Myburgh further said, no foul play is suspected at this stage.

“We can confirm that a body of a man was found behind a local tavern in Extension 6 in Taung on Sunday at around 8am. The inquest case has been opened and no foul play is suspected at this stage.

“The deceased was wearing dark blue jeans and black shoes. He was identified as Odiseng Setlhabe,” she said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

A 36-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Schweizer Reneke Regional Court for raping his step-daughter. In December 2017, Motlhaliemang Alfred Motshwane took the victim (12) and her sibling (3) to the kraal just outside the Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke without their mother’s consent.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said: “Upon arrival, the younger sibling was asleep and Motshwane took his jersey off and let her sleep on it. He subsequently ordered the victim (12) to undress, but she refused and attempted to escape.

“However, Motshwane caught up with her and moved her to a different location within the kraals and raped her. At the time of the rape, the 3-year-old was awake, and observed her sister’s suffering.”

Mamothame further said, the siblings were let go and upon arrival, the younger sister relayed the story to the grandmother, as her sister was crying hysterically. He added that the victim was also able to corroborate what her sibling transmitted to the grandmother.

“At that point, their mother was out looking for them. upon her return, the grandmother relayed the incident to her, and she confronted Motshwane, who denied ever raping the child.

“When he was asked to accompany them to the hospital for the child to receive a medical check-up, he immediately fled. The matter was reported to the police and Motshwane was arrested two weeks later and the court denied him bail,” he said.

Mamothame added that Motshwane was also sentenced to five years imprisonment for kidnapping. He said the court further declared Motshwane unfit to possess a firearm and his name will be recorded in the register of sexual offenders.

In aggravation of the sentence, the state prosecutor, Mpho Sephapo urged the court not to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence of life imprisonment. Sephapo argued that, the accused abused the trust the victim had in him as a father figure and his action was not about sex, but about displaying his power over a defenseless child.

In passing sentence, Magistrate Patricia Rangwako agreed with the state and further remarked that the accused showed no remorse for his actions. She further condemned the accused for committing the offense in front of his 3-year-old daughter.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari lauded the police and NPA for a collaboration that resulted in a conviction.

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