Picture: Two accused persons, Elias Koketso Mongale and Joyce Catherine Phiri nabbed by the Hawks/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
5 March 2025- Two people briefly appeared before the Molopo Magistrate’s Court on 5 March 2025, facing charges of fraud and contravention of tax administration Act on cases emanating from Project Expresso. The accused persons, Elias Koketso Mongale and Joyce Catherine Phiri, were arrested by the Mahikeng based Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation on Tuesday, following their alleged fraudulent activities in declaring their gross income to the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Warrant Officer Amogelang Malwetse, said probe into the matter revealed that Joyce Catherine Phiri was registered with SARS for personal tax income. Malwetse said, however, Phiri allegedly failed to declare her gross income between the years 2016 to 2022.
“It is further alleged that she also omitted to submit returns for tax assessment, despite constant reminders from revenue officials. Reports indicate that in some instances, Phiri either under-declared her income or misrepresented herself by making false entries to evade tax.
“As a result, SARS suffered a total prejudice amounting to R1.9 million. Investigation revealed that Elias Mongale defrauded SARS by submitting personal income tax with false information that he received no taxable income between 2015 and 2022. As a result, SARS suffered a total loss of R1.8 million,” she said.
Malwetse further said they appeared before court and Phiri was released on R5000 bail, while Mongale was released on R3000 bail. She added that, both matters were postponed to 16 April 2025, for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Brigadier Silas Munzhedzi and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, welcomed the arrest and commended the investigation and prosecution team for their collaborative efforts with SARS to fight tax corruption and ensure that perpetrators are brought to book.
5 March 2025- The embattled Ditsobotla Local Municipality said it has terminated the employment contract of the suspended Municipal Manager, Olaotse Bojosinyane. The municipality said in a statement that, this decision was taken on 30 January 2025, however, it was taken on a judicial review by the aggrieved party at labour court on 14 February 2025, on an urgent application and of which judgement was handed down by his lordship, Makhura J on 28 February 2025, ordering the reinstatement of Bojosinyane as a Municipal Manager.
The acting Municipal Manager of Ditsobotla Local Municipality, Rasupang Mooketsi said, on Monday, the whole judgement was appealed and the effects of which suspended the operation and or implementation of the judgement as regulated by Superior Court Act. Mooketsi said to that extent, a communication was done to Bojosinyane by the mayor, Mazwi Moruri, regarding the notice of application for a leave to appeal.
“Regrettably, Bojosinyane disregarded the communication and took office by force being aided by his private security. The chaos then erupted between a security company employed by the municipality, some municipal employees and the private security of Bojosinyane.
“During the chaos that erupted, live ammunition was used by the private security shooting at municipal employees and injured two. One employee sustained a gunshot to the chest and he is in a critical condition at hospital, whilst the other one sustained a gunshot to the lower leg,” he said.
Mooketsi further said on the fraudulent letters of resignations by municipal speaker, Jairous Modisakeng and Moruri, the municipality would like to put it on record that viral letters of resignation are fake and fraudulent. He added that, to this extent, cases are registered with South African Police Services (SAPS) for further investigation.
“The speaker and mayor view this as an attempt to cause confusion and uncertainty. Those committed to continuously change and undermine the political office bearers have today, unlawfully convened a council meeting out of jurisdiction of Ditsobotla Local Municipality. A notice of council meeting was circulated undersigned by Bojosinyane (who is no longer an employee of the municipality pending the finalisation of the appeal).
“These actions are nothing but desperate attempts to create parallel structures of governance. It is rather sad that few councillors are in support of this attempt to create a state of dysfunction. The public and stakeholders are cautioned not to interact with Bojosinyane in any capacity related to the Ditsobotla Local Municipality,” he said.
Mooketsi said on 5 March 2025, Modisakeng had convened a properly constituted special council sitting, at which the council received an update from Moruri regarding the visit by the Office of the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation. He said since the end of January 2025, their municipality through the intergovernmental relations, has been engaged in continuous engagements to source resourceful support and interventions to assist the municipality provide much needed basic services to residents.
“We would like to apologise to the public, residents, consumers as well as stakeholders about the recent incidents of public disorder that disrupted provision of services in the municipality. We wish to reaffirm the commitment to provide basic services within our financial limitations and daunting challenges confronting the municipality,” said Moruri.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor at Ditsobotla Local Municipality, Manana Bogatsu and ANC councillor, Molefe Morutse, were elected as municipal speaker and municipal mayor during a special council sitting today allegedly convened by Bojosinyane.
*Meanwhile, Bojosinyane has not responded to Taung DailyNews request regarding allegations levelled against him yet. His response will be incorporated in the article when received.
5 March 2025- The police in Kagisho are requesting assistance from the public to locate the missing Maureen Makhunga (57), who resides at 17760 Nobengula road in Vergenoeg, Galeshewe. It is alleged that on 15 December 2024, Makhunga went to the Kimberley Information Centre to book a bus ticket and indicated to her daughter that she was to visit her sister in-law in the Eastern Cape.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said, however, Makhunga’s phone remained switched off and her relatives indicated that she never arrived at her destination in the Eastern Cape. Shemane said anyone with information or who knows the whereabouts of Makhunga is urged to contact Detective Sergeant Alec Filander of Kagisho SAPS at 071 685 9625 or call SAPS Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS App.
“The public is reminded that there is no waiting period to report a person missing,” he said.
Picture: The Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre under construction
By OBAKENG MAJE
5 March 2025- A R28 million facelift project at Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre was marred by challenges. Now, the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), was forced to terminate the contractor after he allegedly failed to reach contractual obligations.
The centre is currently undergoing a major restructuring that would result in its expansion from its current capacity. In 2015, the then Department of Tourism (now the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism), embarked on the development and construction of the Taung Hotel School and Conference Centre Infrastructure Programme in efforts to improve the tourism infrastructure and skills development in the province.
According to the North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane, the main purpose of the infrastructure programme is to renovate and build additional infrastructure at the Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre in an attempt to convert the existing infrastructure to a Hotel School and Convention Centre into a State-of-art facilities.
Lenkopane said the resulting infrastructure is designed to provide a holistic educational and hospitality environment for beneficiary communities within the context of a Local Economic Development (LED), Rural Development and Community Development. She further said in the 2024/25 financial year, the department has allocated R28 million towards the renovation of the main hotel building and facilities.
“Many job opportunities will be created through the construction project of Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre. The ongoing project has created 78 jobs through local labourers and sub–contracting. This would continue to benefit the community for decades and would positively impact on the lives of many persons, who would in turn positively impact the lives of the community they reside in and the province as a whole.
“Yes, it is true we must close shops, we cannot be a construction site forever. Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre is a hotel and hotels must make money. We also have appointed new people who will complete the project. We told the IDT as implementing service that we are going to terminate its contract, if it does not deliver. So, it is true that they have terminated the contractor and the Head of Department briefed me that they have appointed the new one,” she said.
Lenkopane added that, once the hotel is up and running, they will hand it over.
Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management/Wessels Morweng/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
5 March 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng said the province has a general decrease in crime. Morweng, who released 2024/2025 Third Quarter Crime Statistics in Stilfontein on Wednesday, said the province has recorded a total of 26 999 cases, which are over 1100 cases less than for the corresponding period the previous year.
He further said this translates into a 3.9% decrease. Morweng added that, in total, the province had contributed 6.6% to the national crime total.
“Despite the reduction in crime generally, certain crime patterns were more prevalent in some areas. There are areas where we need to intensify our operations. Not surprisingly, one of these is in the area of illegal mining.
“As had been emphasised before, illegal mining is costing the economy of the country well over R70 billion annually in gold mining alone. Added to this, illegal mining has other causal ramifications with sinkholes the common immediate detriment,” he said.
According to Morweng, they are grateful for the successful operation in Stilfontein where though the problem is not completely over, it has been significantly stemmed. He said just as they were heaving a collective sigh of relief on the back of the Stilfontein operation success, another similar challenge reared its ugly head elsewhere in the province.
“The Vala Umgodi operation had recently arraigned 22 illegal mining suspects in the Bojanala District. Of particular interest is that the nationalities of the arrested are no longer just from Africa, but from Asia as well. Of those arrested previously, nationalities varied from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.
“Now added to those nationalities, we have some from Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Pakistan. For the reporting period, we had a 2.5% decrease on the contact crimes, 10.5% decrease on property related crimes and a 2.2% on other serious crimes category.
“Even though there was a general decrease in crime, contact related crimes increased by 2.3%. Malicious damage to property contributed
most cases which are 1969 cases. This is 48 more cases compared to the previous year, which is a 2.5% increase. Bojanala continued to lead particularly with serious and violent crimes with Rustenburg appearing in the top 12 stations in the country. Dr Kenneth Kaunda District is a provincial hotspot for illegal mining, sexual offences and all assaults.
“The district has both operational and non-operational gold mines, which contributes to the problem of illegal mining and associated crimes. This district also has a challenge of gangs, which are often involved in crimes such as rape, robberies, murder, assaults and drugs particularly in the Klerksdorp,” said Morweng.
“This is the similar pattern in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, who also recorded sexual offences. For the total figure 26 999 cases reported in the province, 11 958 were in Bojanala, 6 580 in Dr KK, 5530 in Ngaka Modiri Molema and 2931 in Dr RSM District.
He said Ikageng Township, in Potchefstroom continuously reports assault cases and appears in the National top 30 stations for this crime. Morweng said reported crimes in Ngaka Modiri Molema, include assault and murder and stock theft.
“Although murder cases went down by 48,14% compared to the previous year, it is worth noting that Boitekong in Rustenburg, Mmabatho in Mahikeng and Kanana in Orkney had reported more cases. There had been ten multiple murder cases resulting in 24 deaths,” he said.
He said the Ngaka Modiri Molema recorded an increase in the number of murder cases. Morweng said the province has recorded 146 rape cases less than the previous reporting period, which is a decrease of 14.3%.
“Despite this decrease, Mmabatho has recorded more rape cases than the previous year for the same period. Dr Kenneth Kaunda, however, still remains the provincial hotspot for rape cases. There had been 679 cases less in property related crimes which decreased 10.5%.
“The stock theft remains a problem in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District with most reported in Taung, Pudumong and Ganyesa. In majority of the cases, livestock stolen in the province is sold in Gauteng. As we have indicated before, we are intentional in fighting Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and sexual offences,” he said.
Morweng said they are all well aware that crime fighting though primarily is the mandate of the police, however, successful crime fighting requires all to work together.
5 March 2025- Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named a 37-member preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin this month. Broos’ charges host Lesotho at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo, on 21 March 2025 (kick off is at 18h00) and then travel to Côte d’Ivoire to face Benin on 25 March 2025.
The Beninese will host the South African men’s senior national team in Côte d’Ivoire after their home grounds were deemed unsuitable for international matches. The team will report for camp in Johannesburg on Monday 17 March 2025 and then travel to Polokwane on the same day.
After hosting Lesotho on 21 March, Broos and his charges will travel to Abidjan the next day on a charter flight to face Benin in the away match. They will return to South Africa on 26 March 2025. The preliminary squad will be trimmed to 23 players in the coming days when Broos announces his final list for the two matches.
SAFA president, Dr Danny Jordaan and CEO Lydia Monyepao, urged fans to continue to buy their tickets and ensure that the stadium is full when Bafana Bafana resume their World Cup campaign. They said tickets are on sale at TicketPro and they cost R70 for adults and R40 for children under the age of 12.
Meanwhile, the game will be broadcast live on SABC.
Access to the corporate/business 22-Seater Suite can be arranged withtsholot@polokwane.gov.za while SAFA, Southern Sun and Limpopo Tourism will release weekend accommodation packages in due course.
Picture: NWU political analyst and academic, Dr Snyman Motloung/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
5 March 2025- South Africa is at a breaking point, says North West University (NWU) political analyst and academic, Dr Snyman Motloung. According to Motloung, the political landscape is shifting, economic pressures are mounting, and trust in government is waning.
He further said he has spent years studying the nation’s fractures: how power is won, wielded, and too often squandered. Motloung added that his research spans electoral behaviour, constitutionalism, and the politics of water, an issue he argues is central to the country’s long-term stability.
In a candid and unflinching conversation, Motloung dissects the nation’s biggest challenges, from coalition politics to economic distress, and presents a stark choice: reform or decline. His research is deeply rooted in interpretive qualitative methods, focusing on electoral behaviour and political development.
“My latest work has explored topics as diverse as the fragile state of constitutionalism, the impact of the 2024 elections on women in politics, and the often-fraught relationship between Members of Parliament (MPs) and their constituencies. My most recent publication in 2025, explores the impact of a lack of mentorship on the career progression of young black women, while his latest studies examine the politics of water in South Africa – an area he believes is critical to the country’s long-term stability.
“At the heart of my research is the fusion of classical political theory with contemporary policy issues. Understanding how governance works – or doesn’t work – is central to ensuring that democratic institutions serve the people,” said Motloung.
He said the most immediate political and economic challenge facing South Africa is the consolidation of its democracy in an era of coalition governance. Motloung said the country’s political landscape is shifting, with weakened opposition parties and a polarised civil society.
“The fragmentation has stifled efforts at national unity, he argues, and created space for interest groups such as AfriForum to push parochial agendas. Perhaps even more concerning is the growing loss of trust in government. People no longer believe in the political process. Declining voter turnout is a symptom of deeper discontent. If government performance does not improve and politicians cannot demonstrate that they are working in the public interest, the erosion of trust will accelerate.
“Beyond politics, economic distress is exacerbating instability. The soaring cost of living has placed even middle-class households under strain. Service backlogs are growing because many residents cannot afford municipal charges. This forces people to seek private alternatives, doubling their financial burden,” he said.
Motloung said then there is corruption, an entrenched force that breeds a “society of contempt”. He said from government tenders subverted for personal gain to the theft of electricity and water, these systemic failures weaken state legitimacy.
“Even residents who can afford municipal rates are refusing to pay. On the global stage, South Africa faces an increasingly polarised geopolitical environment. I believe the country must exercise assertive non-alignment, while safeguarding its sovereignty.
“BRICS offers South Africa a vital platform to challenge arrogant foreign policy practices,” he says. But while the country must maintain its partnerships, it cannot afford to neglect African geopolitics. South Africa must take its role on the continent seriously,” he argued.
Setshwantsho: Motaki, Oduetse Ditshwele le seopedi s ammino wa Setswana, Maausi Lekoma
Ka BAKANG MOKOTO
5 Mopitlwe 2025- Motaki wa kwa motse-setoropong wa Ipelegeng, gaufi le Schweizer Reneke, Oduetse Ditshwele, are o simolotse ka leeto la gagwe la botaki dingwaga di le dintsi tse di fetileng. Ditswele are le fa go se bonolo go nna motaki mo porofenseng ya Bokone Bophirima, o leka ka bojotlhe go ntsha maungo a namatshang.
“Ke gola ke le motho o neng a rata go taka ditshwantsho. Ka 2001, ke ile ka nna karolo ya setlhopa sa Amajub-jub Threatre Club teng mo Schweizer Reneke. Setlhopa seo, se ne se diragatsa, mme moeteledipele wa sone e ne ele motaki.
“Ke ile ka tsamaya tsela e ya botaki le ene, mme e ne ya re fa a tloga kwa lefatsheng la Schweizer Reneke go boela gagabo, ke ile ka tlogela. Fela ka 2009, ke ile ka ya kwa kholejeng go ka tsweletsa dithuto tsame. Ke ne ke dira dithuto tsa Human Resources Management, fela ga ke a kgona go di fetsa,” Ditshwele wa tlhalosa.
Ditshwele are ka ngwaga wa 2012, o ile a boela kwa gagabo kwa Schweizer Reneke, mme a simolola ka go taka dikipa ka ntlheng ya botlhoka-tiro. Ditshwele are, one a kopana le modiri wa Lefapha la Botaki, Metsameko le Botsweletsi mo Bokone Bophirima, Keabetswe Rakgwale, o a ileng a mo thusa go ka tokafatsa talente ya gagwe.
“Go nnile le dithuto-katiso tse ke ileng ka di tsenela. Morago ga moo, ke ile ka dira le lefapha go taka matshwao a farologaneng kwa dikolo go ralala porofense. Ga jaana, ke tsweletse go ka dira ditiro tsa go taka, le fa go le thata.
“Go bua nnete ditiro di dintsi, fela batho ba bo rona ba gana go ntsha madi. Batho ba tshwanetse ba itse, ga go bonolo go bona dilwana tse re di dirisang go taka. Re di fitlhelela kgakala, gonne re dirisa mefuta e farologaneng ya dipente,” Ditshwele wa tlhalosa.
Ditshwele are tlhoba-boroko enngwe ke gore bone jaaka bataki mo porofenseng, ga ba tsewe tsia. Ditshwele are fa gona le meletlo e farologaneng jaaka Mahika Mahikeng Cultural Music Festival le Taung Cultural Calabash, ga gona mo ba tsayang karolo teng.
“Jaanong, re sentse re ipotsa gore gobaneng re lebetswe. Ke takile ditshwantsho tsa batho ba le bantsi ba ba itsegeng jaaka motlatsa-tona kwa kantorong ya ga mopresidente, Kenny Morolong ga mmogo le seopedi se se diphatsa sa mmino wa Setswana, Maausi Lekoma,” Ditshwele wa tlhalosa.
5 March 2025- A pastor (34) of the New Babillon Apostolic Church in Evaton West, briefly appeared at the Sebokeng Regional Court. He is accused of raping a girl (14), who is a member of his church multiple times. It is alleged that on 16 August 2024, the child, her parents and the pastor, were returning from a spiritual ritual in Clearence, Free State.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana said when they stopped at a filling station to allow the victim to use the restroom, the pastor allegedly followed her to the restroom and raped her, while her parents waited in the car unaware of the incident. Mahanjana said following this, it is alleged that the pastor asked the victim’s mother to bring the girl to church for prayer sessions.
“On several occasions between August 2024 and January 2025, it is alleged that the pastor would rape the girl during the sessions, while her mother waited outside. The abuse came to light after the victim developed infections and confided in her sister, who informed their parents.
“The mother confronted the pastor and reported the matter to the police. The pastor was arrested on 2 March 2025, and made his first court appearance the following day. The case was postponed to 13 March 2025, for a formal bail application, which the state intends to oppose,” she said.
Mahanjana said the NPA remains dedicated to pursuing justice for victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and ensuring accountability for such crimes.
5 March 2025- The accused, Sarathamoney Devi Sigamoney (69) was sentenced to a cumulative 10 years imprisonment by the Pretoria North Regional Court for perjury, fraud and theft. This is after Sigamoney defrauded the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pension payouts, while being the sole director of a company that was awarded tenders worth millions from the South African Police Service (SAPS) to supply office furniture.
The Investigating Directive Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said she has applied for leave to appeal and the court postponed the matter to 12 March 2025, for arguments. Mamothame said in his sentencing remarks, Magistrate Pieter Nel, highlighted the need to convey a strong message to potential perpetrators, on the seriousness of such offences.
“The court previously granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit a confiscation order against her, stipulating that an amount of R138 593.00 with interest calculated at 11.25% per annum, calculated from the date of this order, be paid back to SASSA.
“Sigamoney’s conviction is as a result of an occurrence of 13 April 2017, wherein she applied for an old age grant with SASSA, attaching a supporting affidavit wherein she stated that she has never worked for a period of 20 years,” he said.
Mamothame further said, on 18 April, SASSA provided Sigamoney with a letter of approval, which she signed for as received. He added that she is alleged to have received grant money from SASSA amounting to approximately R123 000, from July 2017 to July 2022.
“Subsequent to charges being registered against her, she continued to receive the grant for a further 16 months. Although she is listed as the director of KJP Traders Pty and Matthew Pillay (her son), KJP is alleged to have conducted business with the state as early as 2012, preceding her application to SASSA.
“Furthermore, the company is estimated to have cashed in approximately R88 million from the SAPS contracts, to which the last payment was in 2022,” said Mamothame.
The Guardian 