Klerksdorp Record, Stilfontein - The second kidnapping for ransom in as many weeks in the Stilfontein/Khuma area brought together a specialised team consisting of hostage negotiators, police officers, the air wing and private security firms working around the clock to bring the kidnappers to book.

The latest drama started in the early hours of Saturday May 4, when a 23-year-old man was kidnapped outside the Blue Moon nightclub by armed men driving a Nissan vehicle. His vehicle, a VW Polo was also stolen during the kidnapping. It didn’t take long for the kidnappers to make contact and they demanded ransom from the victim’s family or their loved one would be killed.

Klerksdorp Record, Wolmaransstad - Four members of the “Mathintha” gang are behind bars. They are aged between 17 and 25, and were detained following an alleged incident reported on April 14.

According to Col Adéle Myburgh, police spokesperson, the gang, consisting of eight suspects, allegedly stormed a tuck-shop in Chris Hani Section, Tswelelang.

“The suspects were armed with pangas, knives and iron pipes and they robbed a shop of an undisclosed amount of cash and stock to the estimated value of R6 000. Shortly after the incident was reported to the police, the first two suspects, namely Tebogo Kenalemang (18) and Kgotso Emmanuel “Pakistan” Thabe (19) were arrested by Wolmaransstad police. They appeared in the Wolmaransstad Magistrates’ Court on April 17, and were remanded in custody ever since their apprehension.” 

Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - The DA in Klerksdorp is still calling for Matlosana Mayor James Tsolela’s resignation, even though ANC Councillors disrupted proceedings at the council meeting last week, preventing a motion of no confidence in the mayor to be heard.

DA Cllr Portia Burrel said the council meeting on Tuesday April 30 turned chaotic when ANC councillors defended and shielded the mayor from accountability.

“They even went so far as to dismiss their own ANC provincial executive committee’s decision that he must resign with immediate effect. We are aware that documents are doing the rounds allegedly implicating Mayor Tsolela in fraudulent payments. It is alleged that R52 000 was paid into the mayor’s bank account.’’

Klerksdorp Rekord, Klerksdorp - Die Matlosana Munisipaliteit het besluit om nie gebruik te maak van die tesourie se finansiële hulp- en ondersteuningspakket om elektrisiteits-slimmeters te installeer nie.

Rdl Annica Holtzhausen het gesê hulle was verstom toe die ANC-meerderheid in die raad besluit het om nie die aansoek vir bystand by die tesourie in te dien nie. “Die ANC in die raad het aangevoer dat ʼn diensverskaffer reeds in Oktober 2023 aangestel is om ʼn slimmeterstelsel in die munisipale gebied te installeer.