A high-density operation in the greater Kuruman has resulted in fines amounting to R38 500 issued for various road traffic violations under the leadership of Northern Cape Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing together with the Provincial Head for Proactive Policing and Acting John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG) District Commissioner led a successful high-density operation in the greater Kuruman area and Bothithong policing precint.  which was carried out on 28 and 29 March 2025 was supported by the Community Police Forum (CPF) and Community in Blue Patrollers "The multi-disciplinary operations were executed by members from the affected stations members from the Provincial Proactive policing Provincial Corporate Communication and the Vehicle Safeguarding Section (VSS)," the SAPS said in a statement on Sunday.  The police actions targeted various offences including aggravated and business robberies The disruptive actions commenced with stop and searches Police also conducted roadblocks on the N14 road during which 392 vehicles were stopped and searched were issued for various road traffic violations tuckshops and taverns operating in Kuruman and Bothithong One tavern was closed down and a fine was issued for non-compliance A total of seven people were also arrested for contraventions Police further discovered an unregistered day care centre operating without the required documentation in a Kuruman residential area and the local Department of Social Development personnel were contacted for further handling The Acting District Commissioner and Brigadier Baloyi commended all role-players and law enforcement agencies for the collaboration in combating and preventing crime during the operations “These actions reaffirmed that police will continue to stamp down the authority of the state in the district especially as we are approaching the Easter holidays and beyond,” the SAPS said Members of the public are encouraged to report any criminal activities via the MySAPS  App or the 08600 10111 Crime Stop number General Enquiries newsfiles@gcis.gov.za Tel: 012 473 0213Editor Roze Britz roze@gcis.gov.za News Editor Janine Arcangeli janine@gcis.gov.zaEditor-in-Chief Zanele Mngadizanelemngadi@gcis.gov.za  It has been a month since three corpses went missing at a funeral parlour in Kuruman Police have put up a reward of R100 000 to any individual who can assist with the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator or perpetrators and the recovery of the bodies According to police who are conducting the search and investigation in Kimberley the three bodies — two adult males and one female infant were stolen from a funeral parlour in Kuruman on March 17 Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said the detectives from the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit are still diligently looking into this heist “All information will be handled confidentially and can be relayed to Lieutenant Colonel Doggy Magugu 082 469 0578 or the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or alternatively via the MySAPS App,” said Ehlers This after they discovered that a well known funeral parlour mistakenly cremated her When the family went to the parlour to collect the body they were told she had mistakenly been cremated The funeral parlour has admitted to the error and has offered to compensate the family Mamotsau said after an internal investigation He said the tags used to identify the deceased were mixed up by the morticians “Our investigations revealed the greatest mistake When we removed the bodies from the cold rooms for the preparations the tags on the body were actually removed “The bodies went for the preparations and the tags remained in the cold rooms And when we returned the bodies to the cold rooms the tags were mixed up The tag that was meant for body cremation was placed on a body that was not meant to be cremated.” Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content  Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Tel: +27 11 268 6300 Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms & conditions and privacy policy Home | South Africa One of the families of the three people whose corpses were stolen from a funeral parlour in Kuruman It’s been over three weeks since the bodies of two men and a baby girl were stolen from the Motheo wa Bophelo funeral parlour No one has been arrested and police investigations continue “We are hurting because we want to bury our loved one He should be respected and his soul rest in peace Sergio Kock said the investigation was continuing “Investigations indicate that unknown men entered a guard room at the funeral home and assaulted tied up and blindfolded the security guard The suspects allegedly fled with three corpses including two adult males and 10-year-old baby girl there has been no arrests and the missing corpses not recovered yet The investigating team are working tirelessly and following all leads regarding the case,” says Kock Kuruman Funeral Parlour | Bodies stolen from a funeral parlour in Kuruman: Johan Rousseau Northern Cape police say the three bodies of two adults and a 10-day-old baby girl that were stolen from a mortuary in Kuruman, two weeks ago, have not been found and no one has been arrested. The suspects entered a guardroom of a funeral parlour, assaulted, blindfolded and tied up a security guard and stole the bodies. Provincial Police Spokesperson, Sergio Kock says investigation is continuing. “Investigations indicate that unknown men entered a guard room at the funeral home and assaulted, tied up and blindfolded the security guard. The suspects allegedly fled with three corpses, including two adult males and 10-year-old baby girl. To date, there has been no arrests, and the missing corpses not recovered yet. The investigating team are working tirelessly and following all leads regarding the case,” says Kock. Kuruman Primary School proudly took part in the BRICS Youth Innovation Summit 2025 as observers exposing their learners to a world of possibility on the international stage Seen from left are Haydie Snyders (teacher-RCL coordinator) and Pelonomi Itumeleng (teacher-RCL coordinator) IN A BOLD move to inspire young minds and ignite a culture of innovation and leadership It was the result of persistent networking and visionary leadership “I attended one of the summits years back and built networks I was able to reach out to and make this happen for our children,” explained a school representative “I asked the South African BRICS Youth Association (SABYA) to allow us to bring our children to the summit Kuruman Primary selected their head girl and deputy head girl from the current Learner Representative Council to represent the school and potential to benefit from the exposure to global ideas and initiatives the learners underwent meaningful preparation “The cohort participated in a leadership camp in January,” said the school's representative “The whole group will also take part in the NEXTGEN Trailblazer Leadership training.” These programmes aim to strengthen critical thinking and leadership skills vital for tomorrow’s changemakers Though the school’s learners did not showcase any individual projects at the summit this year their attendance as observers marks a strategic beginning “This is a long-term goal,” the school emphasised “For our kids to be part of the innovators that showcase their work on the international stage This gives them a five-year head start to work and refine their ideas.” Kuruman Primary has long been committed to innovation Rather than limiting education to the classroom the school integrates real-world experiences into its curriculum “We expose our learners to platforms that already exist and we listen to and support ideas they may want to implement,” said the representative from the school Participation in the BRICS Youth Innovation Summit is a natural extension of this ethos “Integration is very important to us – for learners to see concepts come to life,” the school's representative explained “We don’t only teach abstract concepts; we expose them to concrete outputs.” the summit was more than just a one-time event – it was a glimpse into what the future can hold it was the first step in a journey that aims to see its learners not just attending but one day leading on international platforms The family of a Northern Cape man whose body was stolen at a mortuary in Kuruman says they are traumatised Terrence Maloyi, the brother of the deceased, says the police notified them on Monday, that there was a break-in at a funeral parlour where his body was kept. Two men apparently entered the funeral parlour’s guardroom, assaulted security and stole three bodies. The distraught family says all they want is to find the body of their brother so that they can bury him with the dignity that he deserves. “It is very difficult, people are scared. Everyone is traumatised because you can imagine, we know that when someone passes away, you bury them. While you are waiting to do that you hear the news that the bodies have been stolen. We don’t know where the bodies are now. We just want to find those bodies because we need to bury my brother. It is so painful, I really don’t know what to do.” as well as the urgent establishment of sufficient Rural Safety Units in all parts of the country where it is lacking This request follows the murder of Mr Hendrik Venter who was found on Friday with three head wounds to his head Venter was on his way to pay wages to workers on his farm when he was ambushed at a gate on a farm road where his body was later found by his neighbour SAPS worked closely with farm security organisations the police immediately implemented a 72-hour action plan In a coordinated effort involving the K9 unit the local criminal records centre as well as the cooperation of the above-mentioned civic organisations The Democratic Alliance wants to thank SAPS and all the private and civic organisations and individuals who assisted with the successful arrests of the suspects These gallant efforts again illustrate the importance of the urgent establishment of well-functioning Rural Safety Units with dedicated detective support within SAPS throughout the country and not only in specific areas It is furthermore important that Stock Theft Units that continue to lack sufficient capacity be capacitated with experienced personnel as well as equipment Reservists are critical in stabilizing vast rural areas where permanent police members and equipment such as vehicles are often spread too thin They can play a vital role in bridging the gaps and providing more security for rural communities All of these actions are required to not only react to crimes in rural areas after it was committed but also to pro-actively assist in preventing these heinous crimes from taking place there were 52,054 SAPS reservists across the country including a 63% drop in one financial year has left a dangerous vacuum in rural policing that must be addressed urgently The Democratic Alliance will make sure that we monitor all investigations of this nature arrange a “watching brief” for the court appearances of these suspects registered non profit organisation in South AfricaReg No: 011-895 NPO Police in Kuruman in the Northern Cape have arrested three accused who they say were found in possession of a Pangolin valued at approximately a quarter of a million Rand. The vehicle believed to be used for the crime was also seized. Provincial Police Spokesperson, Cherelle Ehlers says the arrests emanate from an operation undertaken by a multi-task team. “A team consisting of John Taolo Gaetsewe, Crime Intelligence, Organised Crime, the Upington Stock Theft and Endangered Species unit and Kuruman Public Order Police executed an intelligence-driven takedown operation in Kuruman. Information led them to the arrest of three suspects, police in the Northern Cape are relentless in their efforts to protect endangered species.” Police have yet to confirm when the suspects will appear in court. IN A SHOCKING and chilling crime, three bodies, including those of two adult men and a baby girl, were stolen from a private funeral parlour in Kuruman in the early hours of Monday morning. According to Northern Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock, two unidentified suspects broke into the premises at approximately 1.30am on March 17. The criminals reportedly overpowered the on-duty security guard, subjecting him to a terrifying ordeal before making off with the corpses. The assailants assaulted the guard, blindfolded him, and tied him up in the facility’s guardroom, leaving him unable to raise the alarm. By the time he was freed, the perpetrators had vanished with the three bodies, leaving behind more questions than answers. The motive behind the brazen corpse heist remains unclear, with authorities scrambling to determine whether the crime is linked to ritualistic practices, organ trafficking, or another sinister agenda. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, leaving residents both horrified and perplexed. The Northern Cape SAPS Provincial Crime Investigation Services (CIS) has launched an urgent probe into the case and is appealing to the public for assistance. Anyone with information that could lead to the capture of the suspects is urged to contact Lieutenant-Colonel Doggy Magugu on 082 469 0578, the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111, or use the MySAPS app. All information will be handled with strict confidentiality. As investigators piece together the details of this macabre crime, families and community members are left anxiously awaiting answers, while concerns have also been raised over the safety of funeral homes in the region. THE POLICE in Kuruman arrested two suspects in connection with the murder of a 78-year-old man whose body was discovered near his abandoned vehicle on the Seoding road. According to Northern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers, the elderly man was last seen at 7am on February 11 when he left his home. Concerned for his safety, his daughter reported him missing on February 12 after she found his locked Isuzu vehicle abandoned. Authorities immediately launched a search operation, which led to the recovery of the vehicle. Upon further investigation, police officers discovered the man’s body in nearby bushes. The swift response by law enforcement resulted in the arrest of two suspects, who are now in police custody as the investigation continues. The Northern Cape provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, praised the officers for their quick and decisive action that led to the apprehension of the suspects. The police have urged anyone with information regarding the case to come forward and contact them via the MySAPS app or call 08600 10111. Two suspects assaulted and tied up a security guard before absconding with the bodies of two adult men and a 10-day-old baby girl in the early hours of March 17 from the Motheo Wa Bophelo funeral parlour. No breakthrough has been made in the investigation yet, police confirmed on Wednesday. There have been no arrests and the corpses have not been recovered. Police declined to be drawn on the possible motive. At the time, the funeral parlour's James Mangate described the crime as an act of desecration that was inhumane and deeply distressing for the affected families and mortuary staff.  “We respect the investigation process and will allow the police the necessary time to conduct and conclude their inquiries,” he said. “Understanding the emotional and psychological effect of this event we have engaged social workers and religious leaders to provide support and counselling to the affected families. Our hope is for the safe recovery of the stolen remains so the families can provide their loved ones with the dignified burial they deserve. “In addition to law enforcement efforts, we have deployed additional investigators and search teams to assist in locating the stolen remains,” Mangate said. Police have asked anyone with information who can assist with the investigation to contact Lt-Col Doggy Magugu on 082-469-0578. Alternatively, anonymous tips can be shared on the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600-10111, or the MySaps app.  Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now Please read our Comment Policy before commenting. The John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG) Flying Squad, SAPS K9 Unit and the Kuruman Vispol Unit tracked and arrested suspects from the North West after they were found in the possession of suspected stolen property valued at over R500 000 in Bankhara, Kuruman. SAPS Northern Cape provincial spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam on Wednesday said the suspected stolen items included 145 cellphones, explosives and clothing. “Police members were activated after information was received from the North West province regarding cellphones that were stolen during a business burglary. “The consignment was secured with a tracking device. The members immediately followed the tracker locations and traced the suspects.” He indicated that the members recovered 145 cellphones valued at approximately R520 000 as well as new clothing, that is believed to have been stolen during the burglary. “Upon further investigation the police found explosives and detonator cords. All exhibits were seized including a white Volkswagen Golf vehicle.” Sam stated that the three suspects between the ages of 40-58 years old were arrested and detained in Kuruman. “They will be transferred back to the North West province where they will be charged.” The Northern Cape provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola and JTG district commissioner, Major General Johnny Besnaar applauded the members for their rapid response. Otola reiterated that property related crimes remained a priority that would be vigorously addressed during the festive season and beyond. “With more boots on the ground, SAPS will reinforce and bolster our efforts to prevent and combat all categories of crime,” she added. THE NATIONAL Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has provided further details regarding the sentencing of Lesotho national Thabang Lesenyeho, who was convicted of a violent crime that shook the Maruping village community. The 26-year-old Lesenyeho was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the Mothibistad Regional Court for murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, arson, and contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002. NPA regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane stated on Monday that the incident occurred on June 18, 2023, in Maruping village, Kuruman. He said that the deceased, Siphiwe Joseph Dithupe, was last seen with Lesenyeho at a local tavern. “The accused, along with an accomplice - who was also a Lesotho national - went to Dithupe’s home, where they fatally stabbed him, stole several valuables, and set his house on fire before fleeing to Diamond View, a nearby village,” said Senokoatsane. He added that neighbours alerted the police when they noticed smoke coming from the house. “Community members and the deceased’s friends tracked the suspects' footprints for approximately 20 kilometres to Diamond View, where they executed a citizen’s arrest. During the arrest, members of the Tactical Response Team (TRT) fatally shot the accused’s accomplice.” Senokoatsane stated that during sentencing, State prosecutor Emmanuel Gabobonwe argued that the brutal and cold-blooded nature of the crime warranted a severe sentence. “Lesenyeho was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment for murder, 25 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and 10 years for arson. Additionally, he received a concurrent sentence for contravention of the Immigration Act.  “The court ruled that the sentences for robbery, arson, and immigration violations would run concurrently with the murder sentence.” Senokoatsane emphasised that the NPA remained committed to ensuring that perpetrators of violent crimes faced swift and appropriate justice. Boost for Rural Tertiary Education and Community Learners John Taolo Gaetsewe District, November 2023 Recognizing the critical role that technical colleges play in providing access to tertiary education, for students from remote areas of the country, a funding and development programme has been announced.  This intervention is set to provide extensive study bursaries to a cohort of over 40 students, with future plans in place to address infrastructure support, to assist with power interruptions. This programme follows a needs analysis undertaken by Kathu Solar Park, which identified the areas of support to help improve the tertiary education and the teaching environment within the Northern Cape’s John Taolo Gaetsewe District communities of Kuruman, Kathu and other surrounding villages. “Our research revealed that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges fulfil an important role within the tertiary education offering within these remote communities and that the quality of education and students learning experience is being hindered by the lack of access for student funding and the rolling power-outages,” commented Cheryl Persensie Economic Development Manager for Kathu Solar Park. The programme’s study bursary funding aims to support the ‘missing middle students’, categorized as those who don’t qualify for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.  The programme funds students who have not been able to secure any financial support for their studies for the 2023 academic year, with 45 students identified. The Kathu Solar Park’s KSP bursary funding for TVET students, extends to incorporates the timeframe that it takes for students to complete their respective qualifications, with the following criteria for considered for this financial support: “We have clear indicators that will be used to track the implementation of the programme, this includes number of students supported with tuition and thereby able to continue their studies, the number of teaching hours increased because of decrease in power disruption; and finally financial savings benefitting each family not having to fund their student’s academic year,” concluded Persensie. The programme provides bursary to South African students who want to further their studies in TVET that is eligible for funding: A 50-YEAR lease that was signed for the construction of a shopping complex in Kuruman, on municipal land owned by the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality, has been reported for investigation by the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit. According to the agreement, the lease that was concluded on July 1, 2018, for a period of 30 years, would automatically be renewed for a further 20 years on the expiry date. The monthly rental for the three-hectare piece of land in Kuruman was set at R120,000 per annum (R10,000 per month). The chairperson and head of the legal unit of the Northern Cape Civics Organisation, Ross Henderson, said the company that was awarded the long-term lease was a copy shop based in Kuruman. “It did not have the financial capacity or expertise needed to develop the land,” said Henderson. He stated that the service provider’s core business was the sale of stationery, textbooks, toiletries, cleaning supplies and photocopying and office equipment. “The developer entered into a joint venture with a company based in Klerksdorp to build a shopping mall on the former railway grounds,” said Henderson. “A number of small businesses operating on the grounds pay monthly rentals of R96,000 to the municipality, as opposed to the R10,000 that it would receive from the lessee.” Henderson stated that the lease was later ceded to another company that shared the same director. “A false affidavit was made under oath to conceal the true identity of this director, who allegedly acted as a front for the company,” Henderson claimed. “The conditions of the agreement do not permit the lease to be ceded to another company without the consent of the municipality.” He added that the development could not proceed due to an ongoing court battle to prevent the eviction of the small business owners. Henderson believed that a senior official at Ga-Segonyana Municipality had failed in his duties to prevent “unlawful conduct”. “He actively participated in allowing the lease to be ceded and in the registration of the notarial lease. “A special power of attorney was signed by the municipality on behalf of the company to appoint a firm to cancel the existing leases of tenants on the land and evict the occupiers, without a council resolution.” Henderson reported that he had contacted the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta). According to his claim, Coghsta informed him that the municipal official’s approval of the unlawful lease cession violated municipal asset transfer regulations. “The legal adviser promised to investigate our concern, which until now seems not to have happened. “Under these circumstances, we will bring an application in the public interest to review and set aside the unlawful cession. “We cannot allow a situation where government condones this kind of unlawful conduct where officials show no respect for the rule of law.” A spokesperson for Coghsta, Babalwa Mzambo, stated that the head of legal services, Frank Mashilo, was unable to confirm any record of being questioned about this matter. “The MEC is prepared to address any enquiries or concerns directed towards him and will comply with any court summons if necessary,” said Mzambo. She added that the department could not comment on the lease agreement as it was a matter between the municipality and the lessee. Hawks provincial spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Tebogo Thebe confirmed receipt of the docket from the Kimberley SAPS on July 30. “The docket still has to undergo internal processes to determine whether to investigate the matter and to designate to which unit the allegations fall in line with our mandate,” said Thebe. A legal representative for the company, Justus van Heerden, said that while he was not aware of any criminal charges, his clients would offer their full co-operation with any investigation. He stated that the “unlawful occupiers” of the property had not succeeded in appealing an urgent eviction notice that was obtained in the Northern Cape High Court in 2021. “The application involving a fence that was erected around the property was also dismissed with costs. The eviction application is currently the subject of a petition to the Supreme Court of Appeal.” Van Heerden added that the cession of the lease agreement formed the subject of a review that was also dismissed with costs in court in 2022. “The dismissal of the review application was not appealed and the land occupier abided by the court’s decision. “At no point did our clients act unlawfully or deliberately withhold information from the court, as alleged. The occupants of the property raised their allegations in open court and were found to be without merit, as supported by the judgments.” He stated that his clients had at all times acted “openly and honestly”. In court papers dated 2021, Zinvomax (Pty) Ltd related that the unlawful occupiers had delayed the development for approximately four years, while building costs had escalated and the cost of steel had increased by 60 percent. It stated that it could have been deriving rental income had it not been for the delays, while it would not be able to recover its losses. The company had bound itself to deliver occupation by 2025 or suffer penalties, lose secured tenants of the shopping complex and suffer reputational harm. It described the illegal occupants as “commercial squatters”. Ga-Segonyana Municipality did not respond to media enquiries by the time of publication. A 59-YEAR-old visually impaired and diabetic patient died in transit while en route to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital (RMSH) after waiting two days for an ambulance to transport him from Kuruman to Kimberley. Elfrida Vogt-Hans described her husband’s harrowing last moments as he gasped for air. “He grabbed my hands as his mouth and tongue turned purple, while sweat poured down his face,” recalled Elfrida.  “He wasn’t considered a medical emergency and staff at Kuruman Hospital became agitated when I pleaded for help. Patients are dying and are not receiving the treatment or empathy they deserve.”  She stated that her husband, Bishop Ernest Hans, was blind and was recently diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure.  “We are still waiting for an autopsy to be conducted.”  She said that her husband underwent a tooth extraction at the Kagisho Community Health Centre on February 19.  “He was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition - Ludwig’s angina - on February 25 when he returned to the clinic with a swollen jaw, swollen lymph nodes, and a high fever. He was referred to a maxillofacial surgeon in Kimberley on February 26. “We waited at Kuruman Hospital to be transported by ambulance. However, when the two patient transport vehicles arrived at 2am on February 26, they were filled to capacity. Pregnant women and elderly patients were given priority and we were told to wait until 7-8am the following morning.”   Elfrida stated that she was accused of refusing to listen to the nurses when they instructed her to wait, despite her alerting them that her husband was unable to breathe, swallow or eat. “I asked what I was supposed to do as he was diabetic and his tongue was swollen and was sticking out of his mouth. There was a shortage of diabetic medication and he was only administered one intravenous drip.”  She added that they waited until 5 am on February 27, when they were finally able to be transported to Kimberley. “The ambulance was overcrowded with nine patients, including a baby and a patient who was seated in front of the ambulance with the paramedics. My husband was seated on the chair as a disabled child was lying on the stretcher.”  She said her husband grabbed her when they hit a speed bump at the bridge near Gong Gong.  “I was holding him while sitting on the edge of the stretcher to prevent him from falling off the chair, when his neck collapsed and his heart stopped. I unsuccessfully tried to administer chest compressions.”  She added that they were offloaded at Professor ZK Matthews Hospital in Barkly West when paramedics were unable to resuscitate her husband. “They said, ‘Sorry, ma’am, he died. You cannot travel with us to Kimberley’. I waited there until the funeral undertakers came to collect his body.” Elfrida added that her husband was the sole breadwinner of the family.  “He ran a bible college and a community crèche and trained many pastors.” Bishop Ernest Hans ran a bible college and community crèche. Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson Lulu Mxekezo stated that various health disciplines were consulted to discuss the case. “The patient received treatment at Kuruman Hospital on February 20 as he had mobile (loose) teeth. Three teeth were extracted under local anaesthesia. There was no need for extra pain medication,” said Mxekezo. She added that the dentist conducted an oral examination on February 25 and there was no sign of inflammation or infection. “The condition that developed later could be caused by various reasons,” she said. Mxekezo explained that the delay in transportation from Kuruman Hospital to RMSH resulted from an overlapping emergency that Emergency Medical Services was dealing with on that day. She indicated that the department was conducting a clinical investigation after receiving a formal complaint.  “The post-mortem has not been done but the family has been guided on the process. They will be updated on the outcome and a response to the complaint will be provided.”  She extended her deepest condolences to the bereaved family. Northern Cape SAPS  spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the police had opened an inquest into the death of a patient who died in transit near Barkly West on February  27.   THE ACCUSED implicated in the “Hollanders gang” trial pleaded not guilty to all charges in the Northern Cape High Court this week The list of allegations against the 17 accused has grown from an initial 56 to 117 charges Several State witnesses have been placed under the care of the investigating officer to ensure their protection and co-operation The trial got off to a staggered start this week when the alleged gang leader fell ill and had to consult a doctor on March 17 Peters and his co-accused - Britney Arends illegal possession of firearms and ammunition The majority of the alleged incidents took place between August 2020 and February 2023 in Kimberley and Kuruman Among the individuals they allegedly attempted to kill are a police officer and suspected rival gang leader Rodger Johnson who was shot outside the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court in December 2020 They were also charged with contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and racketeering An amount of R1.3 million was paid into an accused’s bank account through alleged proceeds of unlawful activities The money was later deposited into various bank accounts and cellphone holder accounts belonging to the co-accused The accused also face charges for allegedly orchestrating the murder of one of Barney’s many "sister wives" to claim fraudulent life insurance policies several life insurance policies were claimed on her name including a R2 million policy from FNB Life Insurance the accused were not the lawful beneficiaries of the policies Several of the "sister wives" who appeared in the Northern Cape High Court this week Another of Barney's wives was allegedly kidnapped Hawks Northern Cape spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said the accused were arrested in Kimberley and Kuruman in May 2023 during a multi-disciplinary operation involving the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team “One of the accused was found in possession of mandrax tablets and an undisclosed amount of money An additional case was laid against Smith for dealing in drugs,” said Thebe He added that members of the Kimberley Serious Organised Crime Investigating team successfully opposed bail for most of the accused were granted bail in October 2023 after a lengthy bail application process Other members of the group were arrested at different times and locations The case continues before Judge Almé Stanton The accused charged in connection with alleged gang activity have denied any involvement Maungo Mokgoje from Kuruman in the Northern Cape was given a calf by his uncle It became his duty to oversee the calf’s development ensuring its healthy growth by providing adequate nourishment he would also spend time playing with or grooming the calf He had enough uncles—also farmers—around him to advise him “Everything my grandparents’ livelihood relied on was farming including crops and livestock such as cattle My passion for farming developed from being involved in it.” Mokgoje left the village to live with his mother so he instructed his uncle to look after his animal for him he told his uncle to take care of his calf while he was away having completed his matric and earned a national diploma in business administration from Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology along with gaining work experience as an intern at Edcon in Johannesburg Mokgoje’s calf had give birth consistently over a period of six years he started his own kraal and both his uncles This marked the beginning of The Cruise Ranch Farming and Projects which are a mixture of Simbra and Charolais cattle The family farms on a 1262-hectare camp inherited from his late grandparents it is divided into various camps for different farming enterprises Mokgoje says his grandparents also bred Simbra and Charolais cattle because they believed in the characteristics of these animals “Simbra is known for its resilience and physical characteristics making it well-suited to farming under harsh climate conditions,” explains Mokgoje Charolais is the best breed for producing heavyweight calves They also produce heavy calves with easy calving for the mothers,” he adds Mokgoje says he is hard at work to grow his herd even bigger “For any male calves born from this cow since she began breeding I would ask my uncle to exchange them with me for females I have vaccination programmes which I use to prevent disease and there are various antibiotics available for all diseases.” he started a cleaning company called The Cruise Hygiene and Cleaning Services I started a small cleaning business in addition to farming to have multiple sources of income,” Mokgoje says He borrowed a car from his uncle Matshidiso Mokgoje and a vacuum cleaner from his aunt Ontlametse Mosielele “I realised that starting out with no financial support makes it almost impossible.” Mokgoje has started planting green maize on a small plot of land to help supplement his livestock feed Mokgoje explains that his main challenge is not having his own bull which is hindering the progress of his business I believe I could have expanded more than where I’m at now.” Mokgoje says he sells most of his cattle at auctions and also through individual sales to people who want to slaughter for events Mokgoje wishes to expand his livestock holdings and believes that his qualifications have been helpful in managing his business READ NEXT: Old and new MECs gear up for next era in agriculture Get Stories of Change: Inspirational stories from the people that feed Mzansi Tshianeo Mathidi in Venda is cultivating more than just potatoes – he's growing back a family legacy.. With 21 global awards in the first six years of its existence Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society Contact usOffice: +27 21 879 1824News: info@foodformzansi.co.zaAdvertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za THE DEFENCE has objected to lengthy delays in the trial involving the “Hollanders gang” which will only commence in the Northern Cape High Court on March 24 as one of the legal representatives is also representing another accused in the Thabo Bester prison escape trial in Bloemfontein Legal representatives pointed out that their clients had been kept in custody for a long time Nico Hofuza and Shawn Smith – are facing 56 charges including murder Many of the alleged crimes were committed between 2020 and 2023 in Kimberley Prieska and Kuruman and emanate from a long-running feud between the “Hollanders” and “Madpacks” gangs George Pieters was involved in relationships with seven of the accused who was identified as playing an integral role in the criminal activities was allegedly raped by Pieters at a cemetery in Wrenchville She was also held against her will in a house in Wrenchville The accused allegedly assaulted and threatened SAPS officers at Roodepan police station when they demanded the release of two family members of George Pieters Shirley Hofuza was sentenced to eight years imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder after rival gang leader Roger Johnson was shot outside the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court in December 2020 was shot multiple times at his flat in Roodepan in June 2021 Shots were also fired into another neighbouring flat that was “full of people” the firearms and ammunition were handed to the female members of the group The firearms were later retrieved at the back of the SAPS vehicle that was used to transport them to the police station The accused took out nine life insurance policies after George Pieters questioned her loyalty towards him as his wife It was allegedly decided that she would be murdered as soon as the waiting period had lapsed although only R1.3 million was paid out upon her death Several bungalows were booked for the accused in Kuruman in July 2021 some of the wives allegedly stabbed and suffocated the deceased while George Pieters apparently sat outside The accused are alleged to have damaged Francois van Zyl's property after mistakenly identifying his home as that of mechanic Johannes Niewoudt George Pieters reportedly thought that Niewoudt was taking too long to service his BMW The accused then reportedly drove to mechanic Lucas Clapton's house where they allegedly kicked in the door and threw bricks and stones at the house They allegedly assaulted Clapton and his partner Clapton retrieved his own firearm and returned fire were injured and had to be rushed to the hospital The accused were apparently unable to lure Clayton Virgil Jackson leading them to abandon their alleged plan to kill him in January 2022 they bumped into Ramon Dukiayne Jacobs and Racharm Norman in the street was killed after being shot multiple times in the chest and back A police officer was shot when he arrived at the Roodepan flats on February 27 after shots were fired at Johnson’s associates - Pule Darrius and Austin Beyers Beyers died as a result of medical complications after sustaining serious injuries Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries The sparsely populated province only has about 1.4 million residents with Kimberley as the main city and mostly smaller towns serving mining or farm areas along with some coastal villages Several landmarks characterise the province from the mighty Orange River to the Kalahari Desert and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (shared with Botswana) It is also home to the MeerKAT radio telescope (80km north of Carnavon) and copper set for revival) is a major driver of housing demand The highest volume of sales is recorded in Kimberley and Upington Agriculture comprises mostly livestock such as beef Only 2% of land is used for crop farming due to the arid nature of the province a fair amount of first-time buyers used the low-interest rate to invest in homes Kimberley offers good value with average house prices around R1.45m and R845,000 for sectional titles Property owners experienced strong capital growth during the 2021/2 market boom Kuruman in the heart of the Kalahari is surrounded by mines and is thus somewhat of a buyer's hotspot but offers excellent value in the R1.3m to R1.9m range Danielskuil offers more affordability compared to Kuruman Postmasburg and Kathu with the average house price of R1.1m to R1.4m and is popular with younger buyers and retirees from the mines say it is popular for its good services including solar which is under construction Buyer enquiries have picked up since the election along with a choice of houses and smallholdings People who come to work in the mine in Aggeneys will often prefer to settle in the Springbok area an agent with Seeff who also services a number of smaller towns around Housing in the small towns starts from R645,000 from R1.5m in Port Nolloth and R19.5m in Springbok Choose a topic below and thereafter view all articles on the topic using the "Next >" button or swiping left Choose a topic below and thereafter view all articles on the topic using the "Next >" button or the keyboard right arrow key In collaboration with our link diocese of Kimberly and Kuruman in South Africa we were thrilled to welcome four young adults to our diocese This visit offered a unique opportunity for cultural exchange and mutual learning and included meeting young adults from our church communities sharing in faith aspiration and celebrating together the glorious diversity of humanity St Frideswide’s in Milton Keynes and Greyfriars in Reading Our parishes who have links with parishes in Kimberly and Kuruman hosted them in Summertown The young people reflected on their time with us: "We feel very privileged and want to thank the summit and our dioceses for listening to the young people who asked for their voices to be heard It is good to be asked to share our opinions and be taken seriously It has been enlightening and encouraging for us to see people working in different parts of God's vineyard and we can see that everyone has a part to play in their diocese and the link." "A lady in one parish said that 'Young people prefer speaking to young people' I wonder is this true We have incredible role models in our churches and young people benefit from those relationships We hope elders can be patient and engage even if the energy of young people seems chaotic praying for each other we all have something to offer all in the vineyard." Activities included a Space Makers retreat with other young adults, enjoying time with parishioners, and meeting with church leaders including Bishop Steven, Bishop Olivia, Bishop Henry Scriven (Secretary of Partnership In World Mission) and Mark Humphriss our DioSec With their hosts they have enjoyed two trips to London where they were warmly welcomed at the Anglican Alliance and Westminster Abbey as well as enjoying various sightseeing highlights - and reviewing a number of burger outlets "It has been the greatest honour and privilege to journey alongside our four visitors Cara Rethabile and Thato during their two-week stay in the Diocese of Oxford I know I speak for all those who have met them in thanking them for the joy and wisdom they have shared I am very much looking forward to helping to select a similar group of young people to travel to the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman later in the year." This is the first part of a two-way exchange. Young adults (18 to 25) from our diocese are invited to apply for the return visit, planned for early September. The application deadline is 14 July. See the full details and how to apply Please do consider applying yourself and/or pass the information on and pray both for the four people returning to Kimberley and Kuruman and for people applying or considering an application to join the September exchange See a full gallery of the visit on our Facebook page contemplative | compassionate | courageous The Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance is a company limited by guarantee 142978) Registered Charity (No.247954) VAT registration number 630 6345 61 Northern Cape MEC Mase Manopole (third from the right) handed over Bonsmara cattle to traditional leaders in Kuruman land reform and environmental affairs in the Northern Cape has challenged traditional leaders in the John Taolo Gaetsewe district in Kuruman to continue playing a pivotal role in encouraging various communities Manopole visited the area and handed over 30 Bonsmara cattle to five principal traditional leaders in Kuruman the gesture was part of the provincial government’s promise made by the premier Dr Saul committed that all senior traditional leaders elevated to principal traditional leadership status would receive six cattle each from the government to support their self-sustainability “During the first two phases of this elevation in May 2024 cattle were handed over to two principal traditional leaders and MEC Manopole recently completed this process by handing over the remaining 30 Bonsmara cattle to five leaders,” the department said in a statement Manopole highlighted the importance of a good working relationship between the government and traditional leaders for positive outcomes The Northern Cape House of Traditional Leader chairperson acknowledged the challenge of a lack of grazing land but welcomed the government’s gesture READ NEXT: Agriculture must build on gains from previous administrations Toto said a harmonious relationship between them and the government fosters social cohesion as it aligns traditional authority with national objectives She said unity is crucial for addressing social issues such as poverty ALSO READ: FoodForward SA nurtures communities with food and hope Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain Seventy one beneficiaries of the government-subsidised housing project in Wrenchville in the Northern Cape are still waiting for their houses At least 240 houses which were supposed to be built still have 71 outstanding after the contractor abandoned the project The project which has cost more than R50-million “The reason I applied for a house here is for my children to be safe Please help me because I am not getting younger Beneficiaries still waiting for RDP housing: Home | Lifestyle There’s huge excitement in the normally bone-dry Kalahari after the Kuruman River started flowing through the area for the first time in more than 40 years The last significant flow in the area was in 1976 bringing their children to witness the rare sight “I think it’s something we will remember for a long time so for the kids and me – it’s quite an experience to see it for the first time,” says resident The abundance of water in the Kalahari is also a boost to its tourism industry Recent flooding in the John Taolo Gaetsewe area of the province is responsible for the flow