Picture: The North West MEC for COGHSTA, Oageng Molapisi
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
9 April 2025- The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi, will on 10 April 2025, host the strategic meeting of the MEC with Executive Mayors and Mayors (MUNIMEC).
Molapisi said the MUNIMEC has been established in line with the Intergovernmental Relations Framework (IGR), which is the platform designed to improve collaboration, enhance municipal governance, address systemic service delivery challenges, such as housing; foster financial accountability and amplify the institutionalisation of the District Development Model (DDM).
“We will also officially launch the Clean Cities Campaign under the theme “Rata Tikologo Ya Gago” (Love Your Environment). The campaign forms part of the province’s broader commitment to sustainable development and improved service delivery.
“The meeting will take place at Protea Hotel in Klerksdorp on 10 April 2025, at 9am, while the launch of the Clean Cities Campaign will take place in Kanana Township, near Orkney at 2pm,” he said.
9 April 2025- The police in Jan Kempdorp are requesting assistance in identifying the body of an unknown man. The decomposed body was discovered by a passerby on 20 March 2025, in the veld, near the SANDF Ammunition Depot in Jan Kempdorp.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said the deceased is estimated to be approximately 45 years old and 1.6 meters tall. Kock said the deceased was dressed in a red Redbat medium-sized T-shirt and blue shorts.
“The police request that anyone with information regarding a missing person to please contact Detective Sergeant Raneo Molelekeng on 060 976 9067 or contact the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or utilize the MySaps app.
“All information will be treated confidentially. The investigation continues,” he said.
Setshwantsho-papiso- Monna o kgaotswe letsogo morago ga go tlhaselwq ka panga
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
9 Moranang 2025- Sepodisi sa Taung se batlisisa kgetsi ya go teketwa ka maikaelelo a go ntsha dikgobalo tse di masisi. Se setla morago ga gore monna wa kwa motseng wa Manokwane a teketwe ka panga, mme seo se ile sa lebisa kwa goreng a kgaolwe letsogo.
Go begwa fa Thabang Malepe a ile a tlhaselwa ke banna bangwe ba kwa nageng ya Lesotho kwa thaveneng kwa Manokwane mo bosigong jwa Lamatlhatso. Go ya ka dipego, banna ba ba kwa nageng ya Lesotho, ba ne ba hirile kwa ntlung ya bo Malepe.
Go begwa fa ba ile ba tswa letsholo le go batlana le Malepe. Go begwa fa ba ile bam o fitlhela kwa thaveneng a timola lenyora, mme ba mo latofatsa ka go nna dinalanyana.
Go ya ka dipego, banna ba, ba tlhalositse fa Malepe a ntse a ba senyetsa kwa pahophosing e ba hirileng mo go yone, mme ba mo tlhasela ka panga. Go begwa fa ba ile ba inaya naga morago ga tiragalo, mme Malepe ene a tabogisetswa kwa bookelo jwa sedika jwa Taung a opa-opelwa.
Go begwa fa a ile a kgaolwa letsogo, mme a fitisetswa kwa bookleong jwa Tshepong kwa Klerksdorp, gonne letsogo le lengwe le lone lene le na le dintho tse di tsitsibanyang mmele.
7 April 2025- The Legal Aid South Africa (Legal Aid SA) Means Test, used to determine if applicants qualify for legal aid, has been revised upwards to cater for increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). By adjusting the financial eligibility criteria, Legal Aid SA aims to support individuals and families who may otherwise struggle to afford legal representation.
The Legal Aid South Africa national spokesperson, Pateka Quwe said below is a summary of the new Means Test threshold:
Below is a summary of the new Means Test threshold:
She said in criminal cases, children continue to automatically qualify for legal aid and do not have to take the Means Test. She further said if it is a civil case, the family of the child will need to take and pass the Means Test.
“The revised Means Test took effect from Tuesday, 1 April 2025, and will continue to be applied to all new applications received from this date onwards,” said Quwe.
Picture: The newly appointed University of Mpumalanga Vice Chancellor, Professor Thenjiwe Meyiwa
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
9 April 2025 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, Tebogo Letsie, has warmly welcomed the appointment of Professor Thenjiwe Meyiwa as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga (UMP). Letsie said they extend their heartfelt congratulations to Meyiwa on her appointment.
He further said the committee is confident in her leadership, vision and ability to steer UMP towards new heights of academic excellence and innovation. Letsie added that they are pleased that the council has once again appointed a female Vice-Chancellor to lead this esteemed institution.
“This is a positive and progressive step in a sector that continues to be largely male dominated. The committee also expressed its sincere gratitude to the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Thoko Mayekiso, for her exceptional service and leadership since the establishment of UMP in 2013.
“We thank Mayekiso for her dedicated service and wish her the very best in her future endeavours. Meyiwa brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role,” he said.
Letsie said since 2018, she has served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation at the University of South Africa. He said her distinguished career includes several senior academic and administrative roles across various institutions.
“Meyiwa is set to officially assume her duties as Vice-Chancellor of UMP on 1 October 2025,” said Letsie.
9 April 2025- Military veterans in Ganyesa were on cloud nine as they moved into their new houses. This comes after the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi, presented them with keys to their houses recently.
Molapisi said the handover marked a significant milestone in the department’s commitment of eradicating the military veterans housing programme backlog and providing quality houses to them, thereby improving their livelihoods. He said during the handover, he emphasized that the provincial department, in conjunction with the National Department of Military Veterans, have resolved and agreed on the standard plan nationally and that made way for these houses to be constructed.
“The department remains committed to ensuring that all military veterans are traced and get access to their benefits, including building houses for them. It remains the department’s mandate to ensure that the military veterans housing backlog becomes a thing of the past.
“This is possible, if we work together to ensure that our military veterans are given back their pride and dignity for all the sacrifices they have made for the freedom we are enjoying today,” he said.
Molapisi further said he is proud to stand before them to witness their patience finally paying off. He added that they kept their faith and thanked them for that.
“This is your home, please look after it,” said Molapisi.
The acting mayor of Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality, Karolo Mothwane, welcomed the delivery and handover of the houses. Mothwane said the municipality prides itself to be recognised as the first municipality in the North West to hand over houses to military veterans.
“As the municipality we are very privileged to be home to these great men who committed their lives to the fight for freedom, their legacy will forever be preserved for prosperity” he said.
Former Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF) member and one of the beneficiaries of the military veterans housing programme, Patrick Nampa (54) said he is happy that his dream of owning a house has been realised. Nampa has been living in his family house with his wife and children.
Another beneficiary, Motlapele Otto (59) said that he is happy for his family now that they have their own home. Otto worked for the Bophuthatswana Defence Force from 1986 to 1994, then joined the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) until 1997. He is currently staying with his wife and children, and he is a military veteran’s grant recipient.
“I want to thank the department for taking care of the military veterans. This really shows that we were not fighting the Apartheid regime for nothing,” said Otto.
Both Nampa and Otto urged other military veterans to be patient, because they believe that their turn will also come.
Meanwhile, out of the targeted 33 houses for the previous financial year, the department has managed to build and complete 13 military veterans’ houses. Seven are in Ganyesa, two in Tlakgameng, one in Kgokgojane and the other three are in Mabele-a-pudi and Bapong villages respectively.
Picture: The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
9 April 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, has visited the family of the late Constable Eric Tekolo (41), in Ganyesa. Tekolo was allegedly stabbed last week Friday evening, while walking in the streets towards his sister’s house in Phohung Section in Ganyesa.
Three accused, Karabo Kunene Karabo (25), Taolo Sebolai (23) and Boikanyo Setlhabetsi (19), were arrested and charged with robbery. Their case was postponed by the Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court until 16 April 2025, for formal bail application.
“We send our heartfelt messages of condolences to the family and commended the police for the arrest of three suspects who appeared at Ganyesa Magistrate Court, after their arrest on Saturday.
“The off-duty police Constable was attacked on his way home after knocking off. He was taken to the local clinic after being found with stab wounds on the street at Phohung Section, Ganyesa village, outside Vryburg on Friday evening, 4 April 2025,” he said.
Morweng further said Tekolo later succumbed to his injuries.
Picture: Some of goods seized by the police/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
9 April 2025- During the Weekly High Density Shanela Operations, inclusive of Safer Easter Paseka Operations, police in the North West apprehended a total of 986 suspects for a variety of crimes. To mention a few, 124 were arrested for possession of drugs, 22 for illegal dealing in liquor, 72 for assault with the intent to do previous bodily harm, 45 for common assault, 15 for burglary and 48 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said operations led by the District Commissioners, were conducted from 31 March until 6 April 2025. Myburgh said out of the 986 arrested suspects, 442 were arrested by the Detectives as those on the circulated wanted suspects’ lists, this included 17 for murder, 29 for rape and 141 for assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm.
“In addition, 124 illegal immigrants were arrested for being in the country in contravention of the Immigration Act. Through Joint law enforcement compliance inspections (to enforce the provisions of the Liquor and Second-Hand Goods Acts), 8 unlicensed Liquor outlets (shebeens) were closed and more than 1300 litres of liquor were confiscated.
“The police also seized 112 rounds of ammunition and a variety of drugs. On Tuesday evening, four cattle were allegedly stolen in Masamane village in Tshidilamolomo and a theft case was reported. The members of the Mahikeng Stock Theft and endangered Species Unit (STES) discovered during their investigation that the cattle were sold later at an auction in Tosca,” she said.
Myburgh further said with the assistance of Mahikeng Public Order Policing (POP), two suspects, Kopano Iven Melangwane (44) and Tsaone Edward Mooki (47), were traced and arrested on 29 March 2025. She added that the duo appeared before the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on 31 March 2025, and again on 4 April 2025.
“They were granted bail of R300 and R500 respectively and will appear before the same court soon. In Kanana on 3 April 2025, information received via crime intelligence-led team consisting of the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit, Provincial Drug Task Team, Potchefstroom Public Order Policing (POP) and Stilfontein K9 to a house in Extension 11, where police discovered and seized 173 bottles of liquor, wrapped in layers of plastic.
“It is suspected that it forms part of illegal mining activities,” said Myburgh.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General, Patrick Asaneng, said the arrests as well as confiscations made by police across the province are as a result of intelligence-led, integrated, multi-agency, high density operations, which are intended to ensure that law abiding citizens are safeguarded from the endemic serious and violent crimes. Asaneng said the public is advised to report crime at their nearest police stations or anonymously through the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or the MySAPS application.
“Extortion-related incidents can be reported on the Extortion hotline on 080 091 1011,” he said.
Picture: The Northern Cape Department of Education logo
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
9 April 2025- The Northern Cape Department of Education (NCDoE) said it will be opening the 2026 Online Learner Admissions from 14 April 2025 at 9am until 23 May 2025, at 00:00, only for Grades R, 1 & 8 applications. The department said parents/legal guardians can apply directly to schools for admission and placements for all other grades.
The Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe said parents must log on to the NCDOE Online Learner Admissions website at www.ncdoeadmissions.org to complete the application process, which consists of 3 steps. Van der Merwe said the form consists of parent/ legal guardian registration, learner profiling and application.
“Parents must complete all three steps for the application to be completed. The following documents must be submitted within 7 days after making an application. If you’re a South African citizen, a copy of the parent/legal guardian ID (or sworn affidavit in a case, where the parent/legal guardian does not have an identity document.
“Proof of Home address (A Municipal Account in the name of the parent with the home address used during application or a legal lease agreement between the tenant and the owner of the property/landlord),” he said.
Van der Merwe further said a child’s birth certificate or an affidavit or a sworn statement, clinic card/proof of immunisation (Gr R and 1) will be needed. He added that the most recent Grade 7 learner progress report is also necessary.
“If you are a non-South African citizen, a valid study permit/asylum seeker/refugee permit/ temporary or permanent residence issued by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) are needed.
“Parent/legal guardian passport/asylum seeker/ refugee permit/temporary or permanent residence issued by DHA are necessary. Proof of home address (A Municipal Account in the name of the parent with the home address used during application or a legal lease agreement between the tenant and the owner of the property/landlord), proof of immunisation (Gr R and 1) and the most recent Grade 7 learner progress report needed,” said van der Merwe.
He said all the applications will be considered and recommended as successful or unsuccessful applications based on ranked criteria such as, if the applicant learner(s) already has (have) a sibling attending the school of application in the year of submission (sibling means a learner who has at least one parent who is also the parent of the learner already attending that school).
Van der Merwe said, if the place of residence of the applicant learner(s) is in the same suburb as the school applied to and if the place of residence (residential suburb) of the applicant learner(s) is adjacent to the suburb of the school applied to.
“If applicant learner(s) whose parent/ guardian is an employee at the school applied to. If places remain after all the above-mentioned applicants have been offered places, other applicants, in the order of the position of the application should be recommended.
“The above-mentioned directives with regard to the criteria shall not apply to special schools, schools of skill or industrial schools. We are cognisant of the fact that the Northern Cape is a rural province, where certain areas/towns are experiencing challenges in terms of internet connectivity,” he said.
Van der Merwe said to mitigate these and other factors which may have an impact on the Online Admission process, they identified 94 walk-in centres to assist parents/legal guardians without a device/gadget or internet connectivity to complete their application. He said in preparation for the 2026 learner admissions, the department has issued Circular No 10 of 2025 to guide schools and amend the timeframes to manage the online learner admissions process in Public Ordinary Schools.
“For further information visit the NCDoE’s website at: http://ncdoe.ncpg.gov.za. Please contact the Call Centre on 053 874 7012/64 or 053 874 7161/89 and 053 874 7239/92. We further appeal to all parents/legal guardians to adhere to the stipulated time frame for application for admission of learners for the 2026 school academic year from 14 April 2025 – 23 May 2025,” said van der Merwe.
Picture: The North West Department of Education’s South African Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired (SASA-II) team/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
9 April 2025- The North West Department of Education’s South African Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired (SASA-II) team, composed of special school learners, secured the first position at the National Age Group Summer Games. The tournament was held from 31 March to 4 April 2025, which took place at Paterson Multipurpose Centre and Queens High School in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province.
The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said the team, consisting of 130 learners from across four districts, showcased dedication, passion, and resilience throughout the competition, ultimately claiming the winners’ trophy. Motsumi said the sporting codes played during the championship were Blackball Pool, Cricket, Hocker, Indoor Rowing, Swimming, and Table Tennis.
“The SASA-II is a member of SASCOC (South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee) and Inas (International Sports Federation for people with Intellectual Disability). SASA-II adheres to the international definition of intellectual disability recognized by the United Nations World Health Organisation.
“We congratulate them and on behalf of the entire department, I take this moment to congratulate Team North West. Our learners have really made us proud, and today, we welcome them back to the province as heroes and heroines,” she said.
Motsumi further said their responsibility as a department is not only to teach learners in the classroom, but they also expose them to other extramural activities like sport and music. She added that exposure to these activities contributes to good health and it also assists them to engage with other learners.
“Next year, our province in September will be hosting the South African Special Olympics. This achievement will encourage our learners to be the best next year since they will be the hosts.
“The North West Department of Education is working towards achieving the “Vision 350” of the South African Arts and Culture, which aims to foster a thriving arts, culture and heritage sector that contributes to sustainable economic development and social cohesion,” said Motsumi.
The Guardian 