Setshwantsho: Baagi ba tlile go ema nokeng ba lelapa la ga Serei nokeng kgatlhanong le ba latofadiwa kwa kgotlha-tshekelo
Ka BAKANG MOKOTO
Katlholo mo kgetsing ya polao ya mmakgwebo o o itsegaleng mo Taung, Kgomotso Serei, e buseditswe morago go fitlha 24 Moranang 2023. Kgetsi eno, ene e reeditswe kwa kgotlhatshekelo-kgolo ya Bokone Bophirima kwa Mahikeng kgatlhanong le balatofadiwa ba le bararo eleng, Tumo Phatudi, Zwelinzima Mohapi ga mmogo le morwa wa moswi yo eseng wa madi, Lebogang Serei.
Mo letsatsing la gompieno, lekgotlha le ntshitse molatofadiwa, Zwelinzima Mohapi mo kgetsing eno, gonne go sena bopaki jo bo lekaneng go ka mo golaganya le polao ya ga Kgomotso.
Go begwa ka ngwaga wa 2017, Lebogang Serei one a thapa balatofadiwa-nae go ka bolaya Kgomotso yo one a na le kgwebo ya mmoshara kwa toropong ya Taung. Go ya ka dipaltisiso tsa sepodisi, lekwalo le lene le kwadilwe ke moswi rragwe Lebogang, le leneng le atlholang gore dithoto tsa gagwe di ka neelwa mang (will), ele lone bakileng tlhatlharuwane ebile le tlhotlheleditseng Lebogang go ka rulaganya polao ya ga moswi mmagwe yo eseng wa madi.
Go kaiwa fa moswi rragwe Lebogang, a ne a kaya fa bontsi jwa dithoto ditshwanetswe ke go neelwa Kgomotso, mme seo go begwa fa sene sa utlwisa Lebogang botlhoko. Kgomotso one a lobelwa dintshi ka go thuntsiwa kwa dikagong tsa kgwebo ya gagwe. Go begwa fa Phatudi ele ene one a thuntsa moswi.
Lebogang o boleletse le kgotlha fa a ne a sa itse sepe ka thulaganyo eo ya polao, ebile ene one a seo mo motseng wa Taung ka motlha wa tiragalo e. Fela, dipatlisiso tsa sepodisi di ne tsa mo golaganya le polao ka mafaratlhatlha a mogala wa letheka.
Barua-kgomo mo motseng wa Taung, ba kaile fa bogodu jwa leruo bo tlisa tlhaka-tlhakano mo matshelong a bone gonne ba itshidisa ka lone. Barua-kgomo, bano, ba akgotse sepodisi morago ga go tshwarwa ga monna mongwe wa mmueledi wa semolao kwa motseng wa Cokonyane gaufi le Taung mo bekeng e fitileng.
Go kaiwa fa mmueledi ono wa semolao, o itsegeng mo motseng wa Taung, Tebogo Letloleng, a ne a tshwarwa ke sepodisi morago ga go fitlhelwa ka kgomo e le nngwe e go belaelwang ele ya bogodu.
Letloleng, o tlhotse a shadikantse matlho fa pele ga magistrata wa Taung le go dira kopo ya beile. Fela, kopo ya gagwe ga ya atlega, gonne kgetsi ene ya busediwa morago go fitlha ka Labobedi wa beke e e tlang.
Magistrata are, seno ke go naya sepodisi nako ya go ka dira dipatlisiso. Letloleng o ka nama a letile kwa ntlo-lefitshwana morago ga gore go tlhagelele gape dikgetsi dingwe tsa bosenyi tse a golaganngwang le tsone.
Lekgotla le utlwile fa Letloleng a amega mo dikgetsing dingwe tsa bosenyi kwa porofenseng ya Gauteng, mme a tshwanelwa ke go ka di arabela.
Mongwe wa Barua-kgomo kwa motseng wa Modimong, Brigadier Mothupi wa tlhalosa.
“Rele Barua-kgomo mo motseng wa Taung, re itumeletse go tshwara ga monna wa mmueledi wa semolao mabapi le bogodu jwa leruo. Kgang e, e re isa ko goreng leruo la rona le ntse le ya kae. Kgetsi e buseditswe morago, gonne go sentse go dirwa dipatlisiso. Fela, re tshepa fa dipatlisiso di ka senola sengwe gape.
“Fela, re tlile go nna pelotelele, mme re na le tshepo ya gore molao o tla diragadiwa. Go na le dikgetsi dile dintsi tsa bogodu jwa leruo tse re nang le tshepo ya gore monna o, a ka latofadiwa ka tsone,” Mothupi wa tlhalosa.
O mongwe wa Barua-kgomo, Gaobusetse Kanyane le ene o ntshitse maikutlo a gagwe jana.
“Bogodu jwa leruo ga jwa siama, gonne bo re dirisa dilo tse re sa tshwanelwang le ke go di dira. Ke boatla jo bo tshwanetsweng ke gore bo emisiwe. Tota go ka nna monate, ha mongwe le mongwe a ka tshele ka se eleng sa gagwe. Go fitlha ga jaana, maikutlo a barua-kgomo a ko godimo morago ga go tshwarwa ga monna o,” Kanyane wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Lieutenant Colonel, Amanda Funani o boleletse ba dikgang tsa Taung DailyNews fa dipatlisiso di tsweletse kgatlhanong le Letloleng.
“Molatofadiwa o tshwerwe ka di 2 Sedimonthole 2022 morago ga go fitlhelwa ka leruo le go belaelwang ele la bogodu. O tlhageletse lekgetlho la ntlha fa pele ga magistrata wa Taung ka Mosupulogo, mme one a solofetse go ka dira kopo ya beile mo letsatsing la gompieno. Go ya ka dipego, go fitlhetswe kgomo ele nngwe e go belaelwang ele ya bogodu go molatofadiwa,” Funani wa tlhalosa.
Picture: North West Star buses parked at NTI offices/Google
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
Corruption and mismanagement of funds allegations continue to hackle the North West Investment (NTI). This comes after the Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) that was appointed to assist in resuscitating the embattled NTI dismally failed.
Now, the North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts chairperson, Job Dliso resolved that the contract of the BRP be terminated with immediate effect.
Dliso said, this is to safeguard the monies of the North West Provincial government.
“We have the responsibility of protecting the interests of our people and guard against the continuous abuse of funds being embezzled at NTI. The reliance on the assistance of the Business Rescue Practitioner has been fruitless, as there is no comprehensive report on the progress registered thus far since its inception.
“We, therefore, instruct the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management to stop all payments made to the Business Rescue Practitioner with immediate effect until all relevant documentation and reports are submitted before the committee to ensure compliance,” he said.
Dliso further said the BRP was appointed by the Shareholder Technical Task Team on 19 July 2022 to intervene in long-standing challenges faced by the NTI. He added, amongst some of the challenges facing NTI, was the failure to submit Annual Financial Statements (AFS), non-payment of statutory obligations, and non-payment of licenses and permits resulting in daily threats of withdrawal of buses leased, due to amounts owed.
“The BRP had failed to submit the Business Rescue plan as per terms of reference and extended his contract, while not having adhered to terms of reference for his appointment. He also failed to follow supply chain management and PFMA even after being advised by Provincial Treasury,” he said.
Dliso further lambasted the North West Premier, Bushy Maape for ‘no show’. He added that, this was not the first meeting, where Maape failed to come and account for issues of NTI.
“We needed clarity, amongst others is why the BRP had opened a separate bank account from the NTI account. We need clarity on the legality of that, the signatories of that account, how much was transferred to the account and how much has been spent to date, and on what.
“We also want the details of the board meeting, including the minutes and attendance registers of the meeting that took a resolution that NTI must be put under Business Rescue. The process followed in putting NTI under Business Rescue included allegations of an existence of a court order revoking the license of the BRP and a comprehensive Business Rescue Plan,” said Dliso.
He asked how BRP request an extension of a contract, while he dismally failed to adhere. Dliso said the BRP allegedly disregarded the legislation, in particular, the PFMA and Supply Chain processes.
“If the extension is granted, it will increase the irregular expenditure the Auditor General (AG) always raised about our entities. As SCOPA, we cannot allow that to happen. We have a duty to hold government accountable and play our oversight role,” said Dliso.
The NTI Group CEO, Grace Sadiki said: “The BRP has not assisted the NTI since its inception and only formally met on 8 November 2022. We have not received any Business Rescue Plan. We do not have a report on the company’s bank accounts, or any bank statements, which affects the preparations of monthly bank reconciliations.
“Changes are not communicated to NTI management, with regard to the appointment of service providers and that procurement processes are not in line with PFMA.”
Meanwhile, the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) also opposed the extension of the BRP’s contract, stating amongst others that BRP breached the agreement by using his vantage point to advance personal and/ or business interests to supply the state-owned bus company with fuel.
Picture: Former North West Provincial Legislature’s deputy speaker, Viola Motsumi/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
The former North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) deputy speaker, Viola Motsumi has been appointed as the new North West MEC for Education. This comes after the former MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela rendered her resignation.
The North West Premier, Bushy Maape said: “I wish to take this opportunity to inform the people of this province of my decision in terms of Section 132 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic to effect changes in the composition of the Provincial Executive Council by recalling Wendy Matsemela from her position as Member of Executive responsible for Education, and in her position, I appoint, Viola Motsumi as the new MEC for Education.
“I wish to take this opportunity to thank Matsemela for her contribution during her tenure as MEC for Education and for other portfolios she held in the Executive Council. I congratulate the new MEC and wish her all of the best as she assumes her career as a Member of the Executive Council.”
Picture: The community members pack the Taung Magistrate’s Court
BY BAKANG MOKOTO
The North West High Court in Mahikeng is expected to hand down a judgment on a premeditated murder case of a prominent businesswoman, the late Kgomotso Serei. It is alleged that, Tumo Phatudi, Zwelinzima Mohapi, and Lebogang Serei were arrested in connection with her murder.
Kgomotso, who owned a mortuary was shot dead, while at her business office in 2017. According to the investigation, Lebogang Serei, who is a stepson to the deceased allegedly hired hitmen to kill Kgomotso.
It is alleged that the motive behind the killing was prompted by a ‘will’ that Lebogang’s father signed and made Kgomotso a beneficiary. This allegedly caused a feud between the deceased and the accused.
Meanwhile, the Taung Community against Crime organisation’s chairperson, Peggy Molathegi said then: “We will continue to follow up on this case. We want to see suspects rotting in jail and the law must prevail.”
An urgent bail application hearing in a murder case against four accused was postponed by Taung Magistrate’s Court to 13 and 14 December 2022. A local businessman and alleged drug lord, Bakang Katong (31), Thabang Lenyai (23), Phenyo Katong (34), and Katlego Mosimege (31), who allegedly brutally killed Thabiso Mothibedi (35), made an urgent bail application and their request was granted.
They were arrested in April 2022 for allegedly killing Mothibedi, who was one of their loyal customers after accusing him of stealing R20 000 cash and cigarettes worth R600 from Katong’s house at Manthe village, near Taung.
The North West police spokesperson, Capt Sam Tselanyane said the preliminary investigation revealed that on 29 April 2022, the deceased was at Longaneng village in Taung, when the accused allegedly fetched and transported him back to Manthe village.
“Upon arrival, the deceased was allegedly chained to a generator and assaulted. After the assault, the victim was reportedly transported to a local clinic by the accused, however, he was declared dead upon arrival.
“The accused were arrested and charged with Thabiso’s murder,” Tselanyane said.
On 1 May 2022, the community members were up in armed and allegedly torched three houses and a bakkie belonging to Katong’s family. The murder case against the accused was initially postponed to 15 February 2022, but they made an urgent bail application for 22 November 2022, which was granted.
However, magistrate Edwin Letsapa postponed the matter to 5 and 6 December 2022. Letsapa said this was to give enough time to both the defence and state to prepare for their ‘heads of arguments’ for bail application.
Meanwhile, community members packed the court to the rafters. They also submitted a petition calling for no bail against the accused.
Thabiso’s aunt, Kehilwe Modisakoma said: “We were not even informed as a family about this urgent bail application launched by the accused. So, we just wonder why it was made a secret. However, we do not want to see these criminals getting bail because they sell nyaope to the youth.
“They turned Thabiso into their slave and killed him afterward. Nyaope is killing the future of many young people and we hope that the justice system will take that into consideration. We call for no bail against the accused because we are not sure what will happen if they are granted bail.”
One of the community leaders, Rapampiri Motshitshi shared the same sentiments. Motshitshi said they do not want to see the accused in their community because of the criminal activities they execute.
“Our youth are faced with a bleak future because they are destroyed by nyaope. The only thing that we want is to see a clean community that is free from drugs. These young boys come to our houses and steal just to feed their cravings,” he said.
Picture: An attorney representing the accused in a court of law/Generic
By OBAKENG MAJE
A well-known advocate has been arrested for stock theft in Taung. The North West police said adv Tebogo Letloleng (42) was arrested on 2 December 2022 for being in possession of the suspected stolen livestock.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said: “We are investigating a case of possession of the stolen livestock. A suspect was arrested after he was allegedly found in possession of a suspected stolen cow.
“Letloleng briefly appeared in Taung Magistrate’s Court on 5 December 2022. He will be back in court on 7 December 2022 for a formal bail application.”
Picture: The police at the initiation school/Generic
By OBAKENG MAJE
A BOY (18) died at an initiation school in Tlapeng village, near Taung on Sunday. It is alleged that Thabang Lehihi, who stays in Longaneng village, arrived at the initiation school and complained of stomach cramps.
The North West police spokesperson, Warrant Officer, Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “The deceased passed away on 4 December 2022. He was identified by his father and no foul play is suspected.
“An inquest case is under investigation by Taung Police Station.”
A 28-YEAR-OLD man is expected to appear at Taung Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday in connection with the murder. This comes after the suspect allegedly assaulted Gosego Mahura (28) at a local tavern in Mokgareng village, near Taung on Saturday night.
The North West police spokesperson, Warrant Officer, Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “The untimely death of Mahura was reported to the Taung Police on 4 December 2022. According to the information at hand, Mahura was at a tavern when he was assaulted and sustained serious injuries.
“He was taken to his parental home after the assault. Later on Sunday, the family discovered that he had passed on. A case of murder was opened and a suspect was arrested.”
A priest, who is a Zimbabwean national, Lucas Chauke (50) was sentenced to two life terms for murder and rape by the North West High Court. Chauke also received a cumulative 30 years on two other counts of murder and rape.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, Chauke was illegal in the country. Mamothame further said, the court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
“Chauke’s murder emanates from an incident that occurred on 8 October 20217 in Temba, wherein he met a 53-year-old woman known to him, as he was known to be a priest in the area. He then took her to a secluded place near a dam, under the pretense of assisting her with her spirituality.
“Upon arrival, he repeatedly raped her and subsequently tied her to a tree, before fleeing the scene. After a while, she managed to untie herself and ran to ask for help,” he said.
Mamothame further said, the victim managed to report the incident to the police, who then started searching for the accused. He added that Chauke was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape.
“In a separate incident that occurred on 10 May 2018, he took a 55-year-old woman to the same secluded area next to the dam, raped her, and tied her to a tree before fleeing the scene.
“Her decomposed body was later discovered still tied to the tree, as she was unable to set herself free. He was sentenced to life for murder and a further 15 years for rape,” said Mamothame.
He said on 3 August 2018, Chauke took another woman (55) to the same place and attempted to rape her, but seemingly failed. Mamothame said he then tied her to a tree and left her to die.
“Chauke was sentenced to 15 years for murder. He was eventually arrested, and linked through DNA specimens to all other incidents,” he said.
In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Adv Benny Kalakgosi urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, as the offenses committed were serious. Kalakgosi further argued that Chauke took advantage of unsuspecting women, who trusted him as a priest.
Judge Frances Snyman agreed with the state and described Chauke’s actions as horrific and further alluded to the trust that he abused towards women who held him high.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari Sekhaolelo lauded the prosecutor and the investigation team from the SAPS for a successful conviction.
“We welcome this conviction, especially at a time when we are reflecting on the plight of women during the 16 Days of Activism. This fight needs to be activated 365 to be victorious against this scourge,” she concluded.
