A man accused of murder remanded in custody


By AGISANANG SCUFF

24 August 2026 – A man (51) who was arrested for murder remanded in custody until 4 September 2026, for formal bail application. The accused, Thabang Jan Monouna, briefly appeared before the Bloemhof Magistrate’s Court today.

The North West police spokesperson, Captain Majang Skalkie said the police in Bloemhof are investigating a case of murder following the fatal attack on a woman (89) at her residence on 21 August 2026. Skalkie said the victim’s son went to his mother’s house to check on her.

“Upon arrival, he found an unknown man inside the house in the kitchen. The man allegedly told the son that he was working for his mother. When asked about his mother’s whereabouts, the man allegedly claimed that she had gone to visit neighbours.

“The son went to the neighbours to look for her, but they informed him that she was not there. In the meantime, the unknown man left the premises. The son returned to the house and continued searching for his mother,” she said.

Skalkie further said the son subsequently proceeded to a backroom, where he found her with multiple serious injuries. She added that, the son immediately contacted an ambulance, and the victim was transported to a local medical facility for treatment.

“She was later transferred to a hospital in Vryburg, where she subsequently succumbed to her injuries.

“A man was traced and arrested shortly after the incident with the assistance of community members. He was charged with murder,” said Skalkie.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Arthur Adams, applauded the police for their swift response and the prompt arrest of the suspect. Adams said his sincere sympathy with the family and friends of the victim.

“I will ensure that the perpetrator of the senseless killing of a vulnerable, elderly person feel the full might of the law as a result of his callous deed.

“The cooperation of the community contributes immensely to the prevention and solving of crime,” he said.

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Former financial administrator nabbed for R4.6m fraud remanded in custody


By STAFF REPORTER

6 July 2026 – Former financial administrator (43) at Kathu High School, who was arrested for fraud, forgery and uttering, remanded in custody until 7 July 2026, for formal bail application. The accused, Maria Jessica Kuhn was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team working together with their counterparts from Serious Organised Crime on 2 July 2026, at her place of residence in Kathu, near Kuruman.

The Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said Kuhn who previously served as a financial administrator at Kathu High School, is accused of embezzling school funds to the tune of R4.6 million rands. Thebe said the modus operandi included creating separate private banking accounts, where school funds were diverted.

“Financial discrepancies were identified in October 2025, when an audit detected irregularities in the school’s financial records. The stolen funds included normal school fees and donor amounts, which are used to pay School Governing Body (SGB) teacher’s salaries.

“The Directorate’s investigation revealed that the accused created fictitious invoices purporting to be legitimate school suppliers and authorised payments which went to her private account and for her benefit. Allegations are, the accused further paid herself overtime, despite the school’s policy prohibiting such payments,” he said.

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