Picture: Seven suspects, Odiseng Komane, Katlego Tikane, Obakeng Mogabale, Mothusi Motimeng, Ali Sakiele, Ontiretse Gosenyegang and Pretty Masibelele/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The arson case against seven accused from Manthe village, near Taung resumes at Taung Magistrate’s Court today. The court will hear from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) 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 Disoufeng tavern.
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.
Picture: The alleged drug lord, Tefo Maboitshege/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The alleged drug lord was shot at Manthe village, near Taung on Wednesday night. It is alleged that, Tefo Maboitshege (52) who was at his roundtable house, was getting out of his vehicle when the gunman pounced on him.
According to information, the incident took place immediately after load shedding kicked in. Maboitshege was rushed to the local clinic for medical attention, however, he was ferried to Taung District Hospital due to his injuries.
It is alleged that he was transferred to Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital, where he is in stable condition.
The North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “We can confirm there was a shooting incident and no one has been arrested. The police investigations are underway.”
Three weeks ago, a man was killed by a mob justice after he allegedly broke into Maboitshege’s house during load shedding. Tseko Gabonnwe (37) from Kuaneng Section in Manokwane village, near Taung was allegedly caught red-handed while trying to steal.
The deceased was allegedly beaten to a pulp by community members before the police were called.
Gabonnwe was allegedly released, but instead of going home, he went to another house and broke into it. His lifeless body was allegedly discovered by a passer-by in the early hours of the morning on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said: “Yes, the police are aware of the incident, hence we are investigating a case of murder. At this stage, we have not made any arrests.”
Setshwantsho: Motshameki wa maloba wa Mighty Boys FC, Bakang Katong/Facebook
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
Motshameka-pele wa maloba o diphatsa wa setlhopa sa kgwele ya dinao sa Mighty Boys FC kwa motseng wa Manthe, gaufi le Taung o bonwe molato wa petelelo ke kgotlha-tshekelo ya sedika ya Taung mo letsatsing la maabane.
Bakang “Mahomed” Katong (32) yo jaanong eleng rakgwebo mme gape a belaelwa ka go rekisa seritibatsi sa nyaope, one a betelela lekgarebe lengwe la kwa Buxton ka ngwaga wa 2017.
Go begwa fa Katong, yo one a tswa Johannesburg ka nako eo, a ne a neelwa lekgarebe le ke mongwe wa tekesi kwa Schweizer Reneke gore a mo gorotshe ka pabalasego kwa lapeng. Fela, go kaiwa fa Katong a ne a tsena-tsena ka lekgarebe leo, mme a feleletsa a ipagologetse mogodu mo go ene ka dikgoka.
Go kaiwa fa lekgarebe le, lene la kaya fa le nyeleletswe ke madi a kanang ka R2000 mo tiragalong eo. Kgotlha-tshekele 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 seo, one a letsetsa lekgarebe le, le go kopana le lone kwa Taung Mall mo letsatsing le le latelang.
Katong one a fitlha a o kopa go mo neela madi a kanang ka R2000 a go begwang a nyeletse le go mo neela R500 ele pipamolomo gore a ye go tsholola kgetsi ya petelelo kgatlhanong le ene.
Fela lekgarebe le, le ne la gana go tsaya madi ao. Kgotlhatshekelo e utlwile fa mmagwe lekgarebe le yo ene 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 magistrate 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 mme a mo kaela fa ka di 6 Seetebosigo 2023 a tlile go ntsha katlholo.
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 ene a tshwarelwa go gweba ka diritibatsi mme a duela kotlhao mo dikgetsing tse dile pedi.
Kgabagare, Katong gape o lebane le kgetse ya polao e e diragetseng teng kwa motseng wa Manthe.
Picture: 54 vehicles impounded during a clampdown operation/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari said, they will continue to ensure that there is law and order in Stilfontein, near Klerksdorp. This comes after the department impounded 54 vehicles in the taxi violence clampdown.
“Recently, we have experienced taxi-related violence in the province. The resurgent conflict follows a long period of calmness and few incidents experienced were dealt with amicably.
“However, recently, there had been shootings in Khuma Township, near Stilfontein. The violence allegedly perpetuated by illegal immigrants that may be linked to zama-zamas (illicit miners), has claimed three lives already,” Lehari said.
He further said, to deal with the rising incidents, they have applied extraordinary measures in terms of the National Land Transport Act (NLTA) 5 of 2009. Lehari added that the measures empower law enforcement agencies to intervene as conflicts have been experienced in other municipalities as well.
“We have experienced the same challenges in Madibeng, Rustenburg, Moses Kotane, Mahikeng, JB Marks, and the Kgetleng River. The government had to intercede before the violence spiral out of control.
“The brashness of these intrusions is so brazen that this leaves us with no choice, but to restore law and order. As we have seen with the seizure, law enforcement officers will not be lenient with anyone violating the law,” he said.
In a search and seizure crackdown around Stilfontein, Lehari said 54 vehicles were impounded. He said these vehicles were seized for a variety of offenses that include illegal operations. Lehari said some of the legal operators were on routes that are not permitted in their licenses and they used non-compliant vehicles.
“We must do what is right and ensure everyone is in compliance with the law. Few motorists who will be on the wrong side of the law will be unhappy, but many law-abiding citizens will express gratitude.
“Some of the vehicles were released after fines were paid, but owners could not hide their disappointments when we met with them at the Khuma Taxi rank. The rank curiously situated in front of the Khuma Police Station is said to be the nucleus of the conflict,” said Lehari.
Some of the operators who patiently waited for Lehari urged him to end the violence. They alleged that they are prisoners in their own homes and they live in fear. Lehari said they will continue with these operations and their next stop will be Rustenburg, as it has also experienced conflicts between bus operators and taxi operators.
Meanwhile, the NWPTIT chairperson, Star Vilakazi said: “If matters are left unattended, they could stir instability in other areas and could spill to other provinces as well as some of these operators travel to Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo.”
A fraud case against the former Director of Local Economic Development (LED) at Moses Kotane Local Municipality, Gabonewe Madikela (39) was postponed to 19 April 2023. Madikela’s arrest emanated from her fraudulent orchestration of theft, involving her salary, while she was employed by the municipality during the period of April to September 2022.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said: “Madikela’s contract was to commence on 1 July 2019 and end on 30 June 2024, with an all-inclusive annual salary of R1 274 619.
“It is alleged that in March 2022, the accused applied for study leave from 30 March 2022 to 24 May 2022 with a confirmation letter from an institution of higher learning. On 29 March 2022, she applied for 39 days’ annual leave from 8 May 2022 to 27 June 2022, with the municipality granting her leave on both applications.”
Now, Mamothame said, the accused is facing six charges of fraud amounting to R522 881, which she received as remuneration for a period of six months, while she was allegedly simultaneously occupying another government post without her employer’s knowledge.
He further said, towards the end of the annual leave, Madikela submitted sick notes from a private medical facility in Akasia, purportedly issued by her doctor, indicating that she was sickly and hospitalised.
Mamothame added that, the investigations by the Hawks revealed that, during the period of her leave and purported illness, she was employed by the Department of Water and Sanitation as a Director, while still earning a salary from the Moses Kotane Local Municipality.
“The investigations revealed that reasons provided for her leave were false, including supporting documents from the institution of higher learning as well as the medical certificates she provided as proof.
“The investigations into the matter have been completed and the accused is expected to be back in court when the matter resumes in April 2023. The case has also been transferred to the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for trial,” he said.
Mamothame said, the court further granted her an R10 000 bail and she was ordered to surrender her passport to the investigating officer.
Picture: South African president, Cyril Rampahosa/Google
By CYRIL RAMAPHOSA
We have reached the end of Human Rights Month. It is a time in which we reflect on the sacrifices that were made in the struggle for freedom, but also on the progress, we have made in advancing the human rights of all.
The right to social security is explicit in the Bill of Rights. This is an approach that recognises that social security is essential to other rights, including the right to dignity.
It is this right that has underpinned the progressive expansion of South Africa’s social protection system over the past three decades.
In 1999 just over 2.5 million people were receiving social grants. Today that number has increased to over 18 million people.
In addition, more than two million indigent households also receive free basic water, basic electricity and solid waste removal services as part of this government’s commitment to free basic services for the poor.
Expanding the social wage is not simply an indication that more people need grants today than before, as some have tried to suggest.
In the past, many of the poor, including working-age adults who are unemployed, simply did not receive any support.
The Social Relief of Distress Grant that was introduced in 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic has reached more than 11 million people at its peak and has lifted millions of people out of food poverty. According to research approximately
50 per cent of the purchases made by SRD grant recipients are groceries.
Social grants also act as a stimulus for the economy as a whole, increase spending in townships and rural areas, and improve employment outcomes.
An interview-based study by the University of Johannesburg of informal traders in the Johannesburg CBD, Orange Farm, Mthatha, Mqanduli and Warwick Junction in Durban, found that the SRD Grant stimulated customer spending, provided capital to purchase stock, and enabled the new businesses to be initiated.
Informal traders and SRD grant recipients in Philippi in the Western Cape also told researchers that it had a positive impact on their businesses.
According to another recent study by researchers at the University of Cape Town, the SRD grant also increased the probability of recipients searching for jobs and gaining employment.
Similarly, many participants in the Presidential Employment Stimulus Initiative (PESI) have gone on to find work after they have completed the programme. The school assistants programme has provided opportunities for 750,000 young people to date in over 22,000 schools, reaching every corner of the country.
Over 72 per cent of participants in the PESI said that having gained their first work experience, the programme helped them to gain a foothold in the labour market thereafter.
In all of these ways, South Africa’s world-renowned social protection system provides important benefits for many in our society, not only those who receive social grants.
It supports economic growth from the bottom up, enables business activity, and strengthens social solidarity and stability. It is one of the greatest achievements of our democratic society, and one that we should all be proud of.
The SRD alone represents a significant step in our commitment to provide a minimum level of support below which no South African should fall.
As I said in the State of the Nation Address last month, we are working on options to provide basic income support for the unemployed, within our fiscal constraints, beyond the expiry of the SRD Grant in April next year.
If the focus of our struggle for liberation was to end apartheid and achieve political freedom, the focus of our efforts now must be to address inequality and ensure that every South African enjoys the fruits of democracy.
It is now well-recognised that inequality constrains growth, and that growth which takes place in unequal societies tends to reproduce those patterns of inequality.
This is why our economic policy is guided by the need on the one hand to implement structural reforms to stimulate growth and enhance our economic competitiveness, while on the other hand expanding social protection and public employment and supporting the social wage.
We cannot have one without the other, and we are making steady progress on both.
Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi and newly appointed Director for Employees Labour Relations Services, Sello Ramong/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said, the appointment of Sello Ramong as the new Director for Employees Labour Relations Services will augment service delivery.
Motsumi said Ramong’s appointment will be effective from 1 April 2023.
“In its efforts of improving service delivery to the public, the department has started with the process of filling up vacant posts. All vacant posts from office based to the classroom will be filled in order to increase the pace of service delivery.
“Ramong possesses a Degree in Master of Business Administration, Post Graduate Diploma in Management, Diploma in Labour Law, Advanced Diploma in Labour Law and an Advanced Certificate in Education,” she said.
She further said, Ramong is no novice to the North West Department of Education as he served as a teacher for 12 years at Thebephatswa Secondary School in Magong village, near Moruleng. Motsumi added that, Ramogo later served as the provincial organizer of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), as well as a Chief Negotiator of Labour at the Co-ordinating Chamber of the PSCBC for North West Province (CCNWP) representing members both employed in terms of Public Service Association and Employment of Educators Act in their disciplinary cases.
“Before this current appointment, Ramong worked at Ngaka Modiri Molema District, where he administered and managed grievances, disciplinary cases, etc. So, as the department, we want to congratulate him on his new appointment.
“On my arrival in this department, I indicated that all budgeted vacant posts should be filled. This is the first senior post I have filled up, while others are still at the advertisement stage,” said Motsumi.
According to Motsumi, she called for a meeting with Human Resources (HR) Management team to instruct them to fill up all the vacant posts in the department. She said, her department has also advertised posts for Administration Assistants and General Assistants at the school level, which were vacant for years.
“During my engagements with principals, I told them that anyone who is not ready to work should resign. Now, we are busy filling up vacant positions which existed for many years without any favouritism.
“I am happy that Ramong is an oiled machine. With his qualifications and experience, we will be able to improve the speed of services to the beneficiaries of the department,” she said.
Motsumi emphasised that all temporary educators who are currently teaching in schools and occupying vacant substantive posts, they should be immediately converted to permanent with immediate effect.
Picture: North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha/Google
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The North West Department of Health has refuted allegations that it has spent R1.5 million on a borehole at Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital in Vryburg. The North West Department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane said, even though the department has spent R1.5 million, it includes addressing water challenges at the hospital, not only for a borehole.
“The article on Taung DailyNews, which stated that the North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha said that the department spent R1.5 million on a borehole was incorrectly captured.
“What Sambatha said is that, the department spent R1.5 million on a number of interventions on water tinkering and to improve capacity for water storage, including for the drilling of a borehole.
“The amount was therefore not solely spent on a borehole as per the impression created by the article,” Lekgethwane said.
Sabatha said, they have done this in quest of addressing water shortage at the hospital He said this comes after the Naledi Local Municipality’s failure to provide water.
“Water is a challenge across the province and just last year, we decided to drill boreholes for each facility. So, we can rely on these boreholes when the municipal supply cannot provide us with water.
“The problem is, we are unable to complain, yet we have patients to attend to. So, that is the reason we use our own money, yet it is not our responsibility. We are doing this because patients and staff cannot be in a facility that does not have water,” he said.
Sambatha further said, they do not want to rely on water tankers. He added, they want a reliable water supply, so boreholes will be on the basis of their own budget.
“We are already providing ourselves with water tankers, because the municipality’s water tanks intervention is failing. There is a suspicion of water infrastructure sabotage.
“There is a problematic element of tempering with the supply of water deliberately. Sometimes, the ones that are responsible for water tanks are also involved because when there is no water supply, water tank intervention kicks in,” said Sambatha.
He said in some instances, one finds out that even those employed in the same water departments are part of the sabotage.
In the past, the hospital was forced to turn away new patients because of a water shortage.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu said: “We will prioritise communities with critical water shortages in the North West through interventions. As the steering committee, we have already received an assessment report on the state of water and sanitation service provision in the province.
“So, we have instructed the Committee’s Technical Task Team to start prioritising critical projects that will ensure immediate restoration of water in areas with existing infrastructure in the province. The report has painted a clear picture that the province has enough sources of water, both on the surface and groundwater to support domestic and other users. However, huge infrastructural challenges in various parts of the province impeded the resources to be transferred to the users.”
Mchunu said, most of the challenges identified stemmed from a lack of capacity, skills, and budget to carry out operations and maintenance, illegal connections, incomplete projects, and infrastructure vandalism in the Water Service Authorities (WSAs) and municipalities’ reticulation systems.
He said the task team will now start the process of prioritising projects for immediate interventions and get commitments from all role-players to enable the work to go ahead as we need to pump water to the people and put this water crisis in the North West behind them.
“There is extensive work lies ahead, and this collaborative process will enable our plans to take off with speed to restore water and sanitation services in the province. The roadmap emanating from the assessment report will now be developed outlining immediate and long-term plans with clear sources of funds to finance the projects, timelines, and roles that all stakeholders will play to ensure the work on the plan is fully executed.
“The roadmap will focus on prioritising refurbishment of the current existing infrastructure including resuscitation of non-functioning boreholes and temporary supply through water tankering for immediate supply in communities where the situation is dire, while the long-term plans will involve the development of bulk water services infrastructure, Water Treatment Works, Reservoirs, Waste Water Treatment Works, pump stations, reticulation, as well as operations and maintenance of the whole water value chain systems in the province.
Tshotlakako ya bong e tsweletse go nna tlhoba-boroko mo setshabeng. Seno, se rotloeditse ba South African Christian Ministers Council (SACMIC) go ka tla ka toga-maano ya go ka lwa kgatlhanong le sera se. Modulasetilo wa SACMIC, Bishop Daniel Matebesi are, ba ne ba rulagatse tirelo ya thapelo kwa kerekeng ya UCCSA kwa motse-setoropong wa Huhudi gaudi le Vryburg.
“Re ne re rulagantse tirelo ya thapelo kgatlhanong le tshotlakako ya bong. Mme maitlhomo le maikaelelo a thapelo e, ene ele go rapedisa ditshotlakako tse di kana-kana that jang kgatlhanong le basadi le bana. Mme re itumetse thata gonne moletlo o, o atlegile tota.
“Baeteledipele ba diphutego ga mmogo le malapa a farologaneng ba ne ba tlile ka makatla a namane. Molaetsa wa rona o mo khutsane ke gore, are tsweleleng pele ka ntwa kgatlhanong le tshotlakako ya basadi le bana, mme re godise naga ya rona ya Afrika Borwa e re e ratang thata,” Matebesi wa tlhalosa.
Mmosa-kgotlha kwa masepaleng wa selegae wa Naledi, Pico Kgolane are, jaaka masepala, ba bone go le botlhokwa go ema nokeng tirelo ya thapelo eno. Kgolane o kaile fa ele nnete, tshotlakako ya bong e le teng, mme e tsweletse go ka ama thata bomme ga mmogo le bana.
“Jaanong, e nna ekare rona barongwa pusong ga re bue sepe. Fela, re tshwanetse go kgala ditiragalo tse re sa kgale mathe ganong. Jaanong, ke leboga thata ba tsaya karolo botlhe. Mafoko a lekgotlha a mantle otlhe.
“Tshotlakako ya bong ke tlhoba-boroko mo setshabeng. Ke ikuela thata mo go bomme gore, e sere ba fetsa go bua di kgetsi kwa sepodiseng, ba boe gape e nne bone ba ba yang go di tsholola,” Kgolane wa tlhalosa.
O kaile fa seo ele poelo-morago. Kgolane gape o ikuetse mo sepodiseng sa Afrika Borwa go se dule ka di kgetsing tsa mothale o, mme ba sa di ise kgotlha-tshekelo.
“Gape, re ikuela go baeteledipele ba ba farologaneng go ka dira mmogo. Gopola, mathata a otlhe a diragalang mo setshabeng, a lebagane le rona jaaka baeteledipele. Ke rotloetsa thata bomme gore ha ba leba kwa ntlung ya thapelo, ba tseye le bana ba bone gore ba ke ba ithute go rapela.
“Mme botlhale jo ke tla bo naya borre that jang ba ba nyetseng kebo. Ha o bona gore go na le go sa utlwane magareng ga gago le mme ko ntlung, tswa o tsamaye. Ekare ha o boa, o mo fitlhe a siame, mme le baakanye bothata joo,” Kgolane wa tlhalosa.
Mme Kgolane o akgotse thata baithaupi ba ba dirang jaaka Community Policing Forums (CPFs). Are ba dira tiro e e tswileng diatla le go thusa mo tswantshong ya tshotlakako ya bong.
Chaplain Thato Cwaile go tswa kwa sepodiseng sa Afrika Borwa are, “Ke mo tlotlo thata gore ke be ke le karolo ya tiragalo e. Re lebagane le sera se se sa batleng go re neela tshono ya go tshela. Jaaka setheo, re dira thata le bana, mme re fitlhetse fa gona le bana bangwe ba le bone ba tsayang karolo mo ditshotlakakong tse.
“Fela, reile ra ba lemotsha fa seo sele phoso. Se se botlhokwa ke go tlhaloganya tshotlakako ke eng. Ga e se gore tshotlakako ke fela ha monna a sotlakaka motho wa mme. Re na le ditshotlakako tse di farologaneng, jaaka tshotlakako ya maikutlo, kgotsa batho ba bomme ba lwa ka bo bone.”
Cwaile are gape se sengwe se se etlegetsang tshotlakako ke tiriso ya diritibatsi. Go ya ka Cwaile, ban aba le bantsi ba ba dirisang diritibatsi, ke basimane, mme seo se tlholwa ke gore ba gola ba se mo tlhokomelong y abo rrabone.
Picture: The ANC MP, Sibusiso Kula in court/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The bail judgment on ANC Member of Parliament (MP), Sibusiso Kula has been reserved by the North West High Court. Kula (34), is accused of killing his wife, Jennifer Motlhomi (32) at their matrimonial home in Kanana Township, near Orkney on 27 November 2022.
He has filed court papers at the North West High Court urging the court to grant him bail.
However, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, the North West High Court will make a decision within seven days. Mamothame further said, advocate Benny Kalakgosi argued strongly for the state in persuading the court not to grant Kula bail.
This comes after the Orkney Magistrate’s Court denied him bail. He added that Kula’s legal representative also argued for him to be granted bail.
Judge Andre Petersen said he will apply his mind and consider all arguments and supporting documents presented in court before passing judgment.
Mamothame added: “The police report reveals that Kula’s wife was found murdered on 27 November 2022, in what seemed like a robbery. She was found with a stab wound on her back but the object that was used for her alleged murder has not been recovered.
“The matter was reported by the medical facility, where she was allegedly transported by the accused to receive medical attention. Kula told the police that, he was not present at his home when the incident occurred.”
He said, following thorough investigations by the police, Kula was linked to the alleged murder and he was arrested on 20 January 2023. Mamothame said police investigations are still underway and Kula will remain in police custody, pending the outcome of his bail appeal.
Meanwhile, the Orkney Magistrate’s Court has postponed Kula’s murder case to 17 April 2023 for further investigations. He said, the NPA has also submitted an application to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari for the matter to be transferred to a higher court, owing to its serious nature.
