A stock-theft case against the former policeman, Godfrey Itumeleng Setatwe (45) will resume at Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday for a formal bail application. Setatwe, who was stationed at Taung Police Station and working for the stock-theft unit, was arrested on 20 August 2022 for being in possession of suspected stolen livestock.
According to the North West police spokesperson, Aafje Botma, the accused was arrested by Vryburg police while travelling on N18 road towards Pudimoe. Botma said, the police spotted a suspicious-looking bakkie and stopped it for a search.
“During the search, 21 goats worth R42 000 were found at the back of the bakkie. The driver was questioned but failed to give a proper account for the possession. It was also established that he did not have transportation documents.
“As a result, he was arrested for stock theft and taken to Vryburg Police Station. Upon arrival, he allegedly tried to run away and assaulted two police officers who were detaining him. He was subsequently restrained and detained,” she said.
Botma said the livestock was given back to the lawful owner after he was successfully traced. Setatwe was remanded in custody until 6 September 2022. He is also having a pending case of fraud, where he allegedly connived with a convict, who alleged that his cellphone was lost.
Setatwe allegedly made a false affidavit for the convict, but he was arrested after the police preliminary investigation. The case is still on trial.
All systems are in place for the most gratifying music festival, the annual Cultural Spring Fest in Modimong village, in Taung. The much-anticipated music festival organisers, Collen Moeketsi Mohapi and Kabelo Vincent Gaotlhaelwe said Modimong village will be a place to be on 24 September 2022.
Mohapi said the annual Cultural Spring Fest event has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception. He said this year, they have pulled all stops and their line-ups encompass A-list performers such as Metro FM presenter and club Dj, the sizzling Lerato Kganyago, and Patrick “Dj Kathapila” Seleka, who is a South African actor best known for his starring role as Katlego ‘Kat’ Petersen in the SABC1 drama series, Skeem Saam.
“Our event aims to promote a culture and heritage that will not only embrace African culture but also economize our very own indigenous talent by showcasing business through music and art.
“What is essential is that this event is hosted by the youth for the youth. So, the intention is to go beyond heritage celebration and we are looking forward to providing opportunities to the Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) across Taung and North West,” he said.
Mohapi further said, local vendors and traders, will also have an opportunity to sell their variety of products or traditional food at the event. He added that their mission is to stimulate the local economy by creating job and business opportunities for the youth.
“Our short and long-term vision is to provide local artists in Taung and its surrounding with a platform to showcase their abundance of talent.
“Remember, local artists and DJs such as Mr Buzz, Skhokho, Dj Fire, and others are part of the sweltering line-up too. We will also have exclusive performances from our various local artists such as Bakgaratlhi Ba Ngwao Traditional Music Group, The Groove Sessions, and others,” said Mohapi.
Tickets are available for this mouth-watering event at Computicket countrywide or Shoprite/Checkers at R120 for general and R200 for VIP.
The tickets will be R160 at the gates and only R250 for VIPs.
Setshwantsho: Molatofadiwa wa bogodu jwa dithapo tsa motlakase a digelwa dingalo
Ka BAKANG MOKOTO
Baagi ba ba neng ba shakgetse ba kwa motseng wa Lokgabeng le Mokgareng gaufi le Taung, ba ne ba ikadima mongwe wa basimanyana ba ba latofadiwang ka go utswa dithapo tsa motlakase mo letsatsing la maabane bosigo.
Go kaiwa fa go utswiwa ga dithapo tsa motlakase ele tlhoba boroko mo motseng wa Lokgabeng le Mokgareng, mme seno se tlogetse matlo a le mantsi mo lefifing la mma ntshwarele ngwa ke ale.
Mongwe wa baeteledipele wa baagi, Mothohela Motshabi are ga jaana, baagi ba tshelela fela mo letshogong, ebile ba ikutlwa ba sa sireletsega.
“Re le baagi, ga re itumelele se basimanyana ba ba nyaope ba se dirang. Basimanyana ba, ba kaile fa ba utswa dithapo tsa motlakase tse di golaganyang matlo go tswa kwa dipale mme ba ye go di rekisa kwa scrapyard sa monna mongwe gatwe ke Mpofu.
“Mme se se re tshwenyang thata jaaka baagi ke gore, basimanyana ba, ba kaile fa Mpofu a reka dithapo tse ka madi a kanang ka R45 kgotsa R50. Jaanong, motse wa rona o senyegile bagaetsho,” Motshabi wa tlhalosa.
Gape Motshabi o kaile fa baagi ba mafelo a umakilweng a, ba tlile go kopana ka letsatsi la Tshipi ele go tla ka toga-maano ya go rarabolola bothata jo ba lemogileng ele botupi jwa nta ya tlhogo mo motseng.
“Ntlha ya rona ke gore, re tlile go kopana re le baagi ba Mokgareng le Lokgabeng ka Sontaga, gonne re kopile gore scrapyard se, se tsamaye mme go botsha fa mongwe wa sone a thibane ditsebe gonne se sale teng.
“Gape re itemogetse fa go na le dipanyane mo motseng wa rona ba ba golaganang le Mpofu, mme ba mo rorela mafoko gore ke bo mang ba ba neng ba bua ba reng ko dikopanong,” Motshabi wa tlhalosa.
A re jaaka ele baagi, ga ba tshabe sepe ebile ba ikiteile sehuba gore ga batle go letlelela bonokwane mo motseng wa bone ebile bodirwa ke dirathana.
“Nagana fela ntlo ya mogolo e tseelwa thapo ya motlakase? Gape sepodisi sa rona le sone ga se tsiboge, gonne fa ba tshwara basimanyana ba go le bosigo, kamoso mo mosong o tla be o ba ba bona gape ba sasanka mo motseng.
“Re ne re ikuela ko sepodising sa rona gore se re tseele tlhogong, gonne re le baagi re ka tlogana re tswa mo taolong ka ntlha ya dilo tse ba di dirang,” ga tlhalosa Motshabi.
A re ga ba itumela, mme ka Sontaga gone batla tsaya tshwetso ya gore go dirweng ka bothata jo. Motshabi are jaaka baagi, ba utlwile, mme ebile ga ba kgore boroko.
“Fa motho a sentse a robetse go le bosigo, fela fa utlwa sengwe se thwanya ko ntle, o tshwanelwa ke go tswa a ye go sheba gore a mme ga se magodu a thapo tsa motlakase.
“Ga re re ke setlhopa sengwe, mme rare jaaka baagi ba Mokgareng ga mmogo le Lokgabeng re tshwere bothata,” Motshabi wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, mokaptein Aafja Botma are, ga gona kgetsi e butsweng ko sepodising kgatlhanong le mosimanyana mongwe o a latofadiwang ka go utswa dithapo tsa motlakase.
Picture: A gun-wielding learner was seen chasing other learners with a gun in his hand/Screengrab
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Congress of South African Students (COSAS) calls on the North West Department of Education to put school safety as an apex priority.
This comes after a video of the chaos that erupted in Kruger street in Wolmaranstad, where a learner allegedly wearing Maquassi Hills Secondary School was seen carrying a gun and chasing another learner from Gatelapele Secondary School was shared on social media platforms.
It is alleged that the incident took place at the gates of the department’s sub-district offices in Wolmaranstad.
According to the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi: “At around 2:30pm, there was some chaos outside the sub-district office gate. The two male learners were fighting over township issues.
“The learner from Maquassi Hills Secondary School was armed with his father’s gun. The police were called during the rowdy running.”
He said, the father allegedly did not give the learner from Maquassi Hills the gun, but instead jumped out of his moving vehicle to retrieve the gun from his son.
The North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said they noted with concern the video doing the rounds on social media platforms following a confrontation that ensued among learners outside a school in Wolmaranstad.
“It is alleged that during the confrontation, one of the learners took a firearm from his father and chased fellow pupils. According to information, no shot was fired during the incident.
“As a result, two cases of assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and a common assault were opened between 8 and 9 September 2022,” he said.
Mokgwabone said, consequently, the police confiscated the firearm, which the child had in his possession while chasing fellow learners. He said, furthermore, that a case has been opened for contravention of Section 120 (10) (a) of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).
“The motive of the incident is yet to be determined and no arrests have been effected at this stage. Investigations into the reported cases are underway,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mokoena said teaching and learning should be the safest place for all learners, educators, and relevant stakeholders in schools. He said the department should ensure that there is no place for violence and other criminal acts in schools as it poses a serious barrier to learning.
“We urge the department to ensure that there is security in our schools. We cannot continue to experience criminal activities in schools,” he said.
An elderly woman was found strangled to death in an open field in Maphoitsile village, near Taung on Wednesday. The North West police spokesperson, Capt Aafje Botma said, Sarah Mothibi (73) allegedly left her house for a meeting, but her life was cut short by the perpetrator/s.
“She walked through the field on her way to the meeting and unfortunately, her lifeless body was found by a passerby.
“The police preliminary investigations showed that she was strangled to death. A murder case has been opened and no arrests yet,” she said.
Botma said the police investigations are underway and anyone who could assist them with information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrator/s should come forward.
Setshwantsho: Molatofadiwa wa bogodu jwa leruo/Facebook
Ka KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
Baagi ba metse e farologaneng kwa Taung, ba tlhotse ba tlile ka makatla-namane kwa kgotlha-tshekelong ya Vryburg go tla go itseela ka tsebe mo letsatsing la gompieno. Seno se tla morago ga gore lepodisi la pele, Godfrey Itumeleng Setatwe (45) yo oneng a tshwarwa le go latofadiwa ka bogodu jwa leruo a tlhagelele ka boripana kwa kgotlha-tshekelo.
Go begwa fa sepodisi sa Vryburg sene sa emisa sejanaga se se belaetsang, mme se kgwediwa ke molatofadiwa, Setatwe. Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, mokaptein Aafje Botma, sepodisi sene sa bona dipudi dile 21 tsa boleng jwa R42 000 mo sejanageng sa ga Setatwe morago ga go sepuruputsha.
Botma are, sepodisi sene sa tlhoma Setatwe dipotso le go mo botsa gore o tsaya kae leruo leo. Fela go begwa fa Setatwe a ne a shadikanya matlho, mme a palelwa ke go araba dipotso tse di mogote tsa sepodisi.
“Sepodisi se ne sa lemoga fa molatofadiwa fa a ne a sena le lekwalo la go ka tsamaisa leruo. O ne a lelelwa ke ditshipi, mme sepodisi sa leba kwa seteisheneng sa sepodisi sa Vryburg le ene.
“Go begwa fa go goroga ga sepodisi kwa Vryburg, Setatwe ane a leka go le botsa phokoje. Go kaiwa fa sepodisi sene sa mo baya marowa, mme ene a digela mapodisi ba ba ne ba leka go mo latlhela kwa ntlolefitshwaneng dingalo. Leruo le go belaelwang fa lene le utswilwe, le ne la neelwa mong wa lone morago ga go mo batla,” Botma wa tlhalosa.
Gobegwa fa Setatwe yo oneng a direla sepodisi sa Afrika Borwa kwa lephateng la leruo kwa seteisheneng sa sepodisi sa Taung, a lebagane le kgetsi enngwe ya bonwenwe. Setatwe o ne a kobiwa kwa sepodising morgao ga dipego tsa gore one a direla mongwe wa batshwarwa ba polao seshupo (affidavit) e ene e kaya fa a ne a seo kwa lefelong la tiragalo fa bosenyi bo ne bo direga, gonne a ne a etetse seteishene sa sepodisi go ya go tlaleya fa a latlhegetswe ke mogala wa letheka.
Fela dipatlisiso tsa sepodisi, di ne tsa shupa fa mogolegwa o, a ne a bua maaka, mme ba dirile bogwenegwene le Setatwe ka go leka go bipa bopaki. Kgetsi ya bogodu jwa leruo kgatlhanong le Setatwe e buseditswe morago go fitlhelela ka Labone wa beke e.
Setatwe ene o ka nama a letile kwa ntlo-lefitshwaneng.
Kgabagare, mokhanselara wa kgorwana ya bone kwa motseng wa Dryharts, Kagiso Pudule are bosinyi jwa leruo ke tlhoba boroko.
“Jaaka moetapele, go botlhoko go bona leruo la baagi le utswiwa etswa ele lone le ba itshidisang ka lone. Jaanong, nna kare a molao o diragadiwe gore go seka ga diragala gore baagi ba rona ba utlwe botlhoko, mme kamoso ba tsoge ba itseela molao mo matsogong.
“Bosinyi ke tlhoba boroko mo motseng wa rona, mme leruo ke lone khumo ya ngwana wa thari e ntsho,” Pudule wa tlhalosa.
The embattled North West Premier, Bushy Maape allegedly failed to take drastic actions against government officials, who were implicated in COVID-19 relief funds. On Tuesday, the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) briefed the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) on the management of COVID-19 after the Auditor-General’s startling findings relating to real-time audits in 2021.
The AG highlighted recommendations to the NWPG departments and municipalities relating to adverse findings, including Ngaka Modiri Molema District and JB Marks Local Municipalities.
The provincial government’s delegation included MECs from the department of Finance, Motlalepula Rosho, Wendy Matsemela for Education, Boitumelo Moiloa for Social Development, and Madoda Sambatha for Health.
The chairperson of the committee, Fikile Xasa said: “We engaged the MECs on the implementation of the AG’s recommendations, as well as the consequence management following the real-time audits.
“The committee also wanted to hear about the provincial government’s response to the findings of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (The Hawks).”
Xasa said, however, the committee expressed its unhappiness with the presentations and the MECs’ responses to questions posed by committee members. He said the committee also wanted more details on the consequence management process, particularly as it relates to the four officials mentioned.
“In addition, the committee will invite the municipalities that were supposed to be in today’s meeting to appear before it on 20 September to answer the AG’s findings against them.
“We will collaborate with Chapter 9 institutions to sharpen its oversight responsibility over the use of public funds, including money used by municipalities, as some municipalities have disclaimers after every audit. The committee has also identified some municipalities for intensified oversight, starting in the Eastern Cape province,” said Xasa.
He said the provincial treasury departments can play an important role in reversing the culture in public institutions of no accountability for public money.
It is alleged that the MECs, whose portfolios were implicated in the SIU report over the COVID-19 relief funds saga, failed to submit their consequence management reports to Maape.
The SIU released a report with findings, where municipalities such as the embattled JB Marks, Ramotshere-Moiloa, and Ratlou allegedly flouted the procurement processes when awarding tenders to companies buying PPE- related equipment on their behalf.
The SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago said, whistle-blowers from various municipalities reported malfeasance and corruption to them.
“At JB Marks in Potchefstroom, the business chamber responsible for disaster hunger relief requested the municipality to provide them with a donation to enable them to buy food for the needy.
“Our investigation has revealed that the municipality paid the business chamber R1.2 million without any due diligence. There is no expenditure breakdown in the proof of receipt document for the relief funds that were paid to the business chamber,” he said.
Kganyago said their investigation further revealed that an official played a role in the awarding of the donation without following any proper procurement processes. He said the SIU made a referral for the executive action against an office bearer for misconduct in respect of the awarding of a donation without following proper municipal processes on 12 November 2020.
“On August 2020, we also received another allegation from the same municipality that there was a supplier, who overcharged the municipality when it provided COVID-19-related PPE. It is also alleged that other companies were overlooked when awarding the tender to the supplier.
“The supplier supplied the municipality with items such as sanitizers, face masks, dust masks, and disinfection chemicals to the value of R900 000. Our investigation revealed that the company charged R25 per mask, which was an inflated price and was way above the R15 set by the national treasury’s guide,” said Kganyago.
He further said the SIU also found no supporting information in the documents obtained, which proved that the company was registered on the CSD system before the tender was awarded. Kganyago added that the state attorney has been instructed and counsel briefed to initiate proceedings for setting aside the contract.
“In Ratlou local municipality, our investigation revealed that the supplier was appointed without following a proper procurement process and also that it was not tax-compliant according to the CSD report generated at the time it was awarded a tender.
“We recommended that disciplinary actions be taken against two officials who were implicated,” he said.
A few months ago, the North West Premier, Bushy Maape’ spokesperson, Sello Tatai said, the reports that were requested were submitted by all departments who have cases. However, he said it was premature to divulge further information in relation to this matter as it was at a sensitive stage.
Meanwhile, the DA’s MPL in North West, Freddy Sonakile said: “Expecting the Premier or any of his MECs to submit implementation plans of the SIU report on PPEs is dreaming big. The Premier does not want to lose favour or support with some of his comrades, who are implicated in the SIU report, hence his failure to act.
“The ANC-led government has never been serious about fighting corruption. That report will sit there until it gathers dust or until a new government comes in to implement it.”
The newly-elected ANC in North West has appointed enigmatic Tumelo Maruping as its new spokesperson. Taung-born politician came through ANC ranks under the tutelage of the former ANCYL president, Collen Maine.
Maruping, who was born and bred in Matseng village in Taung, completed his matric at Batlhaping High School and later moved to Mahikeng to further his studies at the North West University (NWU).
“It is an honour to be appointed as the new ANC provincial spokesperson. I started my political career back in school while doing Grade 12. So, my political activism escalated, while I was at the university.
“I was part of the Student Representatives Council (SRC). I obtained my Honours Degree in Social Development studies and worked for the North West Social Development as a social worker/ probation officer,” he said.
Maruping was later recruited by the former North West MEC for Social Development, Collen Maine to his office. He also moved with Maine after he was re-deployed as the North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs.
“In 2015, I moved to the ANC Headquarters, Chief Albert Luthuli House in Johannesburg after Mr Maine was elected as the new ANCYL President. So, for the past seven years, I’ve been working in the ANC.
“I also worked in the Office of the Presidency for monitoring and evaluation unit after the dissolution of the ANCYL,” said Maruping.
Meanwhile, the newly elected ANC provincial secretary, Louis Diremelo said: “Yes, I can confirm that we have appointed Mr Maruping as the new ANC provincial spokesperson and we have confidence in him. His experience will add value to the ANC PEC as he has vast experience.”
The North West Premier, Bushy Maape said the Section 100 intervention has yielded positive results and assisted the province to recover from its slumber. This comes after the Office of the Premier registered an improved audit opinion.
Maape said the audit results for the 2020/21 financial year show a continued positive trajectory after five years of decline and stagnation.
“The Office of the Premier has received unqualified audits following Section 100 intervention in the province. The North West Provincial Government (NWPG) was placed under Section 100 (1) (a) and 100 (1) (b) intervention in terms of the constitution for over four years to address maladministration, non-adherence to supply chain prescripts and poor service delivery among others.
“Since the national intervention, we have made some significant strides in addressing the governance and service delivery challenges facing our province. They include improved alignment of planning between departments to deliver on service delivery priorities,” he said.
In addition, Maape said they have also managed to fill key management positions and this is primarily aimed at improving the capacity to deliver services. He further said, they are happy that a moratorium on the recruitment of staff has also been lifted.
“This is going to enable us to expedite the pronouncements made during the State of the Province Address (SOPA). The functions previously centralised in the Premier Office have been transferred back to their original departments.
“Moreover, wasteful and poorly managed outsourcing contracts were also terminated and officials have been empowered to do the work they were employed for,” he said.
Maape added that, as part of restoring financial controls and governance, they have built capacity across departments to strengthen Supply Chain Management (SCM).
He said the provincial departments have also been re-configured to correlate with national norms and standards.
“Massive reduction of irregular expenditure was achieved and improvement on internal control systems was registered resulting in unqualified audit findings.
“Key services administered by the Office of the Premier include the Youth Advocacy Programme and Skills Training, which contributes to the development and empowerment of youth. The office also provides bursaries for young people from poor backgrounds to access tertiary education through the Victor Thebe Sifora Bursary Scheme,” said Maape.
He said his office has also approved a Fraud Prevention Policy and Implementation plan. Maape said the policy is being implemented through awareness campaigns on a quarterly basis as a control measure to deter any form of fraud and corruption within the government.
“The Office of the Premier also uses the complaints management system to deal with various service delivery complaints across the province through the Provincial Call Centre Toll-Free hotline.
“Through different platforms, collaboration and partnerships we have made significant progress in steering the province in the right direction and strengthening the capacity of government to deliver quality basic services to the people, as well as mending the broken bridges between ourselves, communities and organised labour,” he said.
Maape said his government remains committed to serving the community of North West and strengthening its oversight role in monitoring the implementation of all government plans through provincial departments.
Picture: The former policeman, Godfrey Itumeleng Setatwe/Facebook
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
A stock-theft case against a former police officer, Itumeleng Godfrey Setatwe (45) will resume at the Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The North West police spokesperson, Aafje Botma said the accused was arrested by Vryburg police, while travelling on N18 road towards Pudimoe on 20 August 2022.
Botma said, the police spotted a suspicious-looking bakkie and stopped it for a search.
“During the search, 21 goats worth R42 000 were found at the back of the bakkie. The driver was questioned but failed to give a proper account for the possession. It was also established that he did not have transportation documents.
“As a result, he was arrested for stock theft and taken to Vryburg Police Station. Upon arrival, he allegedly tried to run away and assaulted two police officers who were detaining him. He was subsequently restrained and detained,” she said.
Botma said, the livestock was given back to the lawful owner after he was successfully traced. Setatwe, who was stationed at Taung Police Station and working for the stock-theft unit Setatwe was remanded in custody.
He is expected to do a formal bail application. Setatwe also has a pending case of fraud. According to information at our disposal, he allegedly connived with a murder convict, who lied that his cellphone was lost and he was not at the crime scene when it unfolded as he was at the Taung Police Station doing an affidavit.
Setatwe allegedly made a false affidavit for the convict, but he was arrested after the police preliminary investigation revealed otherwise.
