North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa has commended police for the arrest of the sixth suspect in the Lethabong/Khoza murder case. MEC Yawa informed families of the five people who were brutally murdered last Christmas that a suspect, Bongani Ntshoi (40) was arrested last Thursday and appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrates Court on Monday. Ntshoi was denied bail.
MEC Yawa had earlier announced to the packed Lethabong Community Hall that 1 153 firearms had been removed from circulation, 1 033 through voluntary surrender and 120 recovered by police during operations since the 2010 Firearm Amnesty Campaign commenced on 11 January 2010.The MEC said that the surrender of firearms in the province is gaining momentum.
Yawa led a Firearm Amnesty Campaign Awareness march through the streets of Lethabong to mobilise the community to also report people with illegal firearms and to take a stand against violent crime involving firearms culminated into a visit to the Khoza residence.
Relatives of the slain five that included Lethabong businesswoman, Mirriam Khoza’s father, Estevao Machaieie (73) welcomed MEC Yawa’s entourage with that included Provincial Commissioner Lesetja Beetha and some divisional commissioners from South African Police Service (SAPS) head office in Pretoria, pastors and local councillors with warmth.
Appreciation for the hard work that the police put in their investigations of murder cases including the support that the family received from them and government in general was expressed on behalf of the family by Fautino Machaieie, brother to the late Mirriam Khoza.
Pastors from over a hundred churches from around Rustenburg supported the firearm outreach campaign in Lethabong and have committed to spread the Awulethu Umshini Wakho-surrender your firearm call during Easter services. The amnesty period ends on Sunday 11 April 2010.
Yawa is confident that with the support of the churches, the province will surpass its target of over 2000 firearms which is informed by the overwhelming support it has received from various organisations including the North West Provincial Taxi Council, its regional structures and affiliates.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
