■ ZEERUST
Traditional healer arrested for possession of snake skin and monkey
A traditional healer and another person were arrested after they were found in possession of snake skin, eagle feathers and chaining a vervet monkey to a pole. North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh, said Tshidiso Pitso, 28, and Hlompho Mary Seoehla,21,werearrestedon Friday, 17 March 2023, and appeared in the Lehurutshe Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 20 March 2023, for contravention of Section 88 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, the Animal Protection Act and for contravening the Immigration Act. “They were remanded in custody until their next court appearance
on April 24,” said Myburgh They were arrested after a multidisciplinary team consisting of the Lehurutshe Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit (STES) Unit, Crime Prevention, National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (NSPCA) and the LocalCriminalRecordCentre (LCRC) Unit followed up on informationthatatraditional healerchainedamonkeytoa pole. “The team finally arrested the duo for possession of a vervet monkey, eagle feathers and skin of an African rock python snake, without a permit The monkey was taken to the State veterinarian for medical treatment,”saidMyburgh
Police officer allegedly 'gunned down' his estranged wife
■ ZEERUST The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the murder of a policewoman in Sandvlakte,Zeerust,allegedly byherpoliceofficerhusband
According to the police, the 48-year-oldwarrantofficeris expected to appear in the Zeerust magistrate’s court soonfor“killing”his44-yearold estranged wife and her male companion Police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone confirmed the incident and saidittookplaceonTuesday, 14 March 2023, in Sandvlakte, Zeerust “According to information, the off-duty police officer, who is stationed at Nietverdiend, went to a house in Sandvlakte where he allegedly fired several shots and instantly killed a
30-year-old man and his estranged wife, who is also a police officer, stationed at Kopfontein Port of Entry
Subsequent to the incident, thesuspecthandedhimselfto the police and the firearm that was allegedly used during thecommissionofthe crime was confiscated,” he said Mokgwabone said the motive for the crime is unknown and investigations are underway North West police commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, conveyed his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of both victims and urged employees to use the Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) programme andprofessionalsratherthan resortingtoviolence.
