FREE COPY JUNE 8 2018 THE OFFICIAL BOKONE BOPHIRIMA GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER www.semphetenews.co.za @semphetenews Semphete Bokone Bophirima Tears for Coligny “sunflower” teen MPLs happy PPC e tsenya All the with Health seatla go SAMA24 turnaround tshegetsa thuto glam plan Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 and 9 TOGETHER WE MOVE BOKONE BOPHIRIMA FORWARD 2 June 8 2018 @semphetenews Semphete Bokone Bophirima www.semphetenews.co.za Witness in Coligny “sunflower” trial breaks down in court The state’s key witness Bonakele Pakisi couldn’t hold tears back when The two murder accused Phillip Schutte and Pieter Doorewaard are he told the court what he saw on the day teenager Matlhomola standing trial at the North West High court in Mahikeng Moshoweu was killed Photo by Mpho Bilwane Photo by Mpho Bilwane Nthusang Lefafa in his possession. There was a child in me inside the water. The third man then to rest. When I woke up, I went to the the bakkie with Accused 2 (Schutte) and instructed Doorewaard not to shoot be- police station. The female officer did not another man who is not appearing before cause people would hear the gunshots. want to take my case as she said I was key witness in the Coligny the court. Schutte then came towards me We went out of the water and Schutte drunk. On Saturday morning at about “sunflower” murder trial broke and repeatedly asked what I had seen. forced me to drink a beer at gun point,” 3:50am, the suspects visited me at my into tears while testifying at the I told them that I did not see anything,” the witness said. home. Doorewaard was in possession of A North West High Court in Ma- Pakisi told the court. The suspects then proceeded with Paki- a firearm. They asked me who I had told hikeng this week. The witness said he was pointed with si on a gravel road in the Putfontein area. about the events which had transpired Bonakele Pakisi (28) gave a detailed ac- a firearm by Doorewaard and forced to He was forced to jump off the bakkie near and I said nobody. count of the events that led to the death climb on a quad bike. He was taken to the some gum trees. The suspects forced “The suspects said we should meet be- of 16-year-old Matlhomola Moshoeu on bakkie and forced to climb in the back. him to run while both of them were firing hind FNB in Coligny on Sunday. Because 20 April last year. This is when he found Moshoeu lying on shots behind him. I was scared I then went to the police sta- Employees of Rietvlei Farm in Coligny, his stomach. “I vomited because of the excessive tion where I met the same female officer. Peter Doorewaard and Phillip Schutte, “Moshoue was lying on his stomach and alcohol intake. When I told the suspects She sent me to Warrant Officer (W/O) are currently on trial for the murder of he was bleeding through his mouth, nose that I am dizzy as a result of the vomiting Sponkane who took a statement,” said Moshoeu, who was allegedly killed after and ears. I was instructed by the accused they instructed me to eat my vomit,” he Pakisi. he was caught stealing sunflower pits on to lie on his feet and not to move. I was said. The witness said at the police station he their employer’s farm. taken to another area where I was again Pakisi explained that the suspects then was taken to Warrant Officer Sponkane’s Judge Ronnie Hendricks had to post- asked what I had seen and I told them told him to climb onto the bakkie and office where he was instructed to sign a pone the proceedings for a few minutes that I saw nothing. This is where both the they stopped near a sheep farm. He blank police document next to a state- so that the witness could calm down and accused assaulted me with their fists and was instructed to clean Moshoeu’s blood ment he had not read. They then went to compose himself. I was also slapped”. from the bakkie with a jersey and check the scene of Moshoeu’s death and there During his testimony, Pakisi said he was Pakisi explained that he was taken to a whether he is alive. was still blood that was visible. coming from town on his way to visit a remote area by the two accused where Pakisi said he was instructed to get off “Warrant Officer Sponkane said he will Constable Molete at Scotland Informal he was forced to drink a bottle of rum. He the bakkie and face down. At this point contact me on Monday after forensics Settlement. He then heard gunshots was then forced to jump a fence and get one of the accused hit him with some- had visited the scene. When I checked while he was on his way. into a dam where the water reached up thing on the neck and he passed out. with him on Monday, he said he forgot to “I saw Accused 1 (Peter Doorewaard) to his knees. “I woke up in the afternoon and did not call and the evidence had disappeared.” running towards a bakkie with a firearm “I pleaded with Doorewaard not to kill know where I was. I went straight home The trial continues. would like to hear from you. Send us your views on the stories we have covered or make a contribution to our content by writing to us on: @ [email protected] www.semphetenews.co.za @semphetenews Semphete Bokone Bophirima June 8 2018 3 @semphetenews Semphete Bokone Bophirima www.semphetenews.co.za Security officer chasing the teaching dream Kagiso Metswamere Primary School during the day and work- ing night shifts as a security officer. “It is not easy doing this because I rest ecurity Officer, Caroline Tshilo’s less, but it is worth it as I know that God dissatisfaction with just secur- will one day help me to get a permanent ing a job has seen her taking job so that I can be able to take care of Sa drastic action to better devel- my family,” she said. op herself and improve her life. She’s a She said with the little money she teacher by day and a security guard while makes as a security officer, she still takes fellow trainee teachers are enjoying a care of her family, including a sister who rest. is at college in Gauteng. The 33-year-old resident of Setlagole “I am a bread winner at home and im- village, about 70 kilometres from Ma- agine with a little salary of less than hikeng in the Ratlou Local Municipality, R4000 from work I do pay for my educa- told Semphete this week that her poor- tions fees, take care of my family and my er background would not discourage her sister who is schooling in Gauteng now,” from becoming a professional teacher as she explained. she will soon be completing studies to- Tshilo said her motivation comes from wards her Bachelor of Arts in Education the understanding that God always helps degree through University of South Afri- people who work hard to fulfil their own ca (UNISA). destinies, no matter how difficult things Tshilo is passionate about education can be in life. and helping people, particularly the youth “I could have been like many other in her community. young people in my community who are She could not fulfil her dream of study- Security officer Caroline Tshilo is on his way to achieving her dream of unemployed and doing nothing, but I re- ing immediately after passing Grade 12 becoming a teacher fused and decided to do something about because her unemployed parents could my life, hence all the efforts you see me not afford to finance her tertiary educa- her community. attempt to achieve her plans while at the taking to enhance my skills. tion fees. She also completed a certificate with same time taking care of her family of “I do have faith and believe that after all Instead of complaining and giving up UNISA in ABET education in 2015. nine that includes her parents. the hard work and the compromises I put on her dreams, she did short computer Sharing her journey and future plans “I am currently working on completing towards my studies and my life, one day courses, trained as a security guard in with Semphete, Tshilo said she has gone my BA in Education, which I started in things will work out better for me,” she Mahikeng and looked for employment in through some rough patches in life, in an 2016, doing practical work at Thutlwana said. 4 June 8 2018 @semphetenews Semphete Bokone Bophirima www.semphetenews.co.za State’s massive programme to intensify liquor compliance children in their area. The initiative is aimed at reducing so- cio-economic factors related to alcohol abuse as well as expressing govern- ment’s unwavering support to vulnerable families. The week-long programme was con- cluded with a compliance inspection where a total of 29 liquor outlets were visited. Approximately 10 outlets were found to be in contravention of the Liq- uor Act (Act 29, of 1989) with offenses ranging from managing liquor outlet with- out proper documentation, selling liquor beyond trading hours and several bottle stores were selling liquor on Sundays. One tavern and two bottle stores were Inspectors from the Department of Economy and Enterprise Development, accompanied by members of the closed down for selling takeaways and SAPS, inspecting one of the liquor outlets in Khuma Township operating on Sundays.