Tag Archives: outside Rustenburg.

Three Mozambican men nabbed for house robbery

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: Three Mozambique nationals arrested for house robbery

By OBAKENG MAJE

28 April 2025- Three men arrested for house robbery in Tlhabane Township, near Rustenburg. It is alleged that two men forced entry into a woman’s house at Phetoane Section, Kanana village, near Boitekong, outside Rustenburg, on Sunday evening, 20 April 2025.

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said, the accused then allegedly threatened the victim with knives. Mokgwabone alleged that in spite of her screaming, the accused nevertheless robbed her of her cash, two cell phones and a blanket.

“A prompt and thorough investigation resulted in the arrests and recovery of all the robbed items. The accused, Musa Santos Mthimkhulu (24), Django Salvador (21) and Jedo Mashaba (31), were traced to Plastic View Informal Settlement, where they were arrested.

“Mthimkhulu, Salvador and Mashaba, were arrested during collaborative efforts between the police and members of the community. The trio briefly appeared at the Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court in Tlhabane on 25 April 2025,” he said.

Mokgwabone further said their case was postponed until 19 May 2025, for bail application. He added that the investigation has since established that all three accused are undocumented foreign nationals from Mozambique. 

“They will therefore be facing additional charges of contravention of Section 49 (1) (a) of the Immigration Act, 2002,” said Mokgwabone.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

A man sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his stepdaughter 

NEWS Leave a comment

By BAKANG MOKOTO 

A stepfather (33) sentenced to life imprisonment by the Tlhabane Regional Court for raping his stepdaughter (12) in Tlhabane, outside Rustenburg, on 1 June 2023. According to the North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani, the accused got home drunk on Thursday night, and had a quarrel with the victim’s mother, who left the accused with her two children aged 5 and 12, and went to sleep at her friend’s place. 

“The accused subsequently raped a girl, who was sleeping at the sitting room. The victim informed her mother of the incident when she came back the following day. As a result, the matter was reported to the police and the suspect was arrested at his home in Moruleng.  

“On aggravating a maximum sentence, the Prosecutor, Adv Zola Mpayipheli said that the accused showed no remorse during the trial. He said rape is a serious offense and it will leave the child with a permanent scar on her life,” she said.

The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000).

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Rachel Makhari, hailed the life sentence handed down to the accused. 

taungdailynews@gmail.com

North West MEC Sello Lehari calls for urgent arrest on Boitekong shooting massacre

NEWS Leave a comment

Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari has condemned with strongest terms the brutal shooting and killing of nine people at Popo Molefe Informal Settlement in Boitekong, outside Rustenburg.

It is alleged that, Lesotho nationals shot dead nine Xhosa speaking people and eleven people survived, others still in critical conditions at hospital.

During his visit to the scene of the shooting, Lehari met some of those who have been discharged, including a child (9), who had already been taken through counselling. Prior to his visit to the scene, Lehari had urged the team of investigating officers to work around the clock and explore every lead for the speedy arrest of suspects.

“We need to see people getting arrested on this case. It is almost a week now since the shooting and victims needs to see suspects being arrested. They must be arrested and face the full wrath of the law for their violent killings.

“The people who are responsible for this, cannot continue roaming the streets freely as if nothing happened. Nine people is too many. We further call on the residents within the area to avail information that would assist the police for the arrest of the suspects,” he said.

Lehari added that, the police cannot conclude this case alone, but they need coporation from the community members who might have seeing or heard anything. He said, so any information is important for the investigators to start arresting.

“As department, we send our heartfelt condolences to the families of nine deceased m persons and wished speedy recovery to the injured ones. According to the information divulged during the briefing of stakeholders, a conflict between the Xhosa and Sotho speaking people in the area comes a long way.

“It is reported that in September, about 40 shacks belonging to the Sotho speaking people were allegedly burned down by the Xhosa speaking people,” said Lehari.

Meanwhile, the acting District Police Commissioner for Bojanala 2, Brigadier Mmamotsamai Ntoagae said they are experiencing a lot of contact crimes in the Boitekong area.

“We do have operations, make arrests and host crime prevention campaigns but we still experience a lot of cases on contact crimes,” said Ntoagae.

taungdailynews@gmail.com