16 January 2015 R1-20/FREE
police on the straight and narrow
Modimolle From left to right: Constable Tshepo Nkuna, Constable Gert Steenberg, Constable Piet Mahloma and Constable Katitolshelo Radali. Photo supplied Lizzy Bapela Members of the Modimolle Police Crime Prevention Unit did their uniforms proud on Sunday, 11 January, when they resisted an attempt at bribery and arrested the man who had allegedly attempted to bribe them to release his friends. The four constables, Tshepo Nkuna, Gert Steenberg, Piet Mahloma and Khatitotshelo Radali, spotted a blue Toyota Hilux bakkie speeding over the traffic lights at Mampoerboer going in the direction of Bela-Bela with its lights off. The officers followed the bakkie and pulled it off the road just outside Modimolle. The officers noticed eight truck tires on the back of the bakkie. When they asked who the tyres belonged to, the vehicle’s two passengers fled, while another tried to explain that the tyres were being taken to Mafikeng to repair a broken truck. Two suspects did not manage to flee, and were arrested for possession of alleged stolen property. On the way to the police station one of the suspects received a phone call. The caller
Lifeguard
commits suicide situation and saw that the man had apparently been hanged from the tree,” he said. He phoned the police The body of a Bela-Bela resident was and an ambulance was called to the discovered at the town’s dam by a scene. local resident who was apparently Mashiane was declared dead on the visiting friends in the area. scene. Caiphus Mashiane, a Spa Park The management of Forever Resorts resident and lifeguard at Forever expressed great sadness over the Resort, apparently committed suicide on Thursday, 8 January, and his body death of Mashiane. In a statement, a spokesperson said that Mashiane had was found that afternoon. been employed by the company since Matthew Roach, a local resident, 1999, and has assisted in many said that he was walking in the area situations such as near-drowning. when he discovered Mashiane’s body. The management at the resort “I was walking extended their sympathies to along the Mashiane’s friends and family and dam and told reporters that he would be sorely saw a man missed as a colleague. dangling Bela-Bela police spokesperson Glen from a tree. Manamela said that she is concerned I moved with the rate at which suicides have closer to increased during the past year. The inspect seriousness of the situation was the echoed by the Bela-Bela speaker Elizabeth Maluleka during a drug and suicide awareness campaign last year. Maluleka said that she was concerned about the growing number of incidents and held a ceremony at the dam with several traditional healers to pray for those Caiphus Mashiane, a lifeguard from who had taken their Bela-Bela who passed away recently. lives in that area. Photo Supplied Justin Steyn
asked to speak to one of the officers. When the phone was passed to the officer, the caller allegedly asked the officer to release their suspects, offering R10 000 in return. The same man phoned again while they were at the police station and asked the officers to meet him in town. The officers met him and another man at the SASSA offices at Thabo Mbeki Drive in Modimolle. The man then allegedly offered the police R 14 000 for the release of his friends. The police officers promptly arrested him and the other man, who was identified as one of the men who had fled from the bakkie at the initial apprehension. Kenenth Mantanagala, (24), Peter Musekiwa, (30) and Wungisani Dlamini, (33), appeared in the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 12 January, on charges of possession of stolen property. Michael Sithole, (36), appeared on a charge of attempting to bribe a police officer.
Lawyer up on more charges
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SAB League resumes next week
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