8 May 2025 ā The South African Football Association (SAFA) is proud to announce the appointment of Nelisiwe Motsoagae as the new HPC Girlsā Academy Administrator. SAFA CEO, Lydia Monyepao said Motsoagae brings with her a wealth of experience in finance, administration, coaching, and sport education skills that will prove invaluable in her new role.
Monyepao said her dynamic career has included roles such as Club Development Coordinator at the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Team Manager of the Springs Home Sweepers, and coach for various girlsā teams. She has also served in diverse capacities such as Technical Coordinator, Media Liaison Officer, Accreditation Officer, Safeguarding Officer, and Course Coordinator.
āMotsoagaeās wide-ranging experience and dedication to youth and womenās football development makes her an excellent addition to the team, bringing versatile sports professionalism with over nine years of experience to bolster womenās football development.
āSAFA wishes Motsoagae every success in this exciting new chapter and looks forward to her impact on the future stars of South African football,ā she said.
Meanwhile, Motseagae said: āIām grateful to SAFA for trusting me with such an important role in the development of womenās football,ā she said. āI see this appointment as a stepping stone towards making a meaningful impact in the high-performance space, particularly player pathways and development. My goal is to contribute towards building a strong pipeline of future stars for the national team.
āThe Technical department is not new to me as it is the same thing I was doing in the region, your coaching education as well as talent identification and player development pathways. I am looking forward to the challenge and I know that it will not be an easy one.ā
Picture: South African U20 menās national team/Generic
By BAKANG MOKOTO
8 May 2025 ā South African U20 menās national team coach, Raymond Mdaka has showered his players with praise after their demolition of Sierra Leone in an U20 Africa Cup of Nations group match played at the Suez Canal Stadium in Egypt on Tuesday night. Amajita, as the SA U20 menās national team is known, beat Sierra Leone 4-1 through goals from Jody Ahshene, Neo Rapoo and a brace from Thabang Mahlangu.
The win lifted the South Africans to second place behind Group A leaders Sierra Leone, who retained the lead despite the defeat.
Mdaka had predicted a tough match ahead of this meeting and was pleased by the dominance displayed by his players against the group leaders.
āIn our game against Sierra Leone, we knew that it was going to be difficult because it looked like they had already qualified (for the next round of the tournament). But credit to our boys (because) they played with character. We were tactically disciplined, we created a number of chances, and we were able to finish those chances. We will see where things go in the next game.
āAmajita face COSAFA neighbours Zambia in their next group game on Friday, 9 May 2025,ā he said.
7 May 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it welcomes the swift action taken by Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General, Koliswa Otola, in reporting an alleged incident of police brutality against a group of teenagers in Kimberley over the weekend to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). This comes after the DA reported the matter to Otola.
The DAās Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, Fawzia Rhoda said according to the group of friends, they were followed in a marked SAPS vehicle and threatened by officials, who used foul language and physical violence to scare them.
Rhoda said one official allegedly used his firearm to inflict bodily harm on an underage girl from the group before continuing the assault with pepper spray after she exercised her right to record the ordeal. She said the footage has been viewed by the DA and submitted as evidence.
āAnother SAPS official is also accused of acting violently and striking the driver of the vehicle for allegedly speeding. This is despite the driverās cooperation with the officerās demands that his blood- alcohol level be tested.
āThe DA is gravely concerned that the police officials are accused of exposing their official firearms without adequate justification, behaving violently and unprofessionally and driving off without taking the driver for alcohol testing, after one of the teenagerās guardians insisted on speaking to them,ā said Rhoda.
She said this case has arisen not long after media reports about Roodepan Police Stationās investigation into a kidnapping case of a 14-year-old boy, whose home was allegedly invaded by police officers ahead of his arrest and placement in a holding cell with an adult for over two hours. Rhoda said intimidation and unlawful behaviour by SAPS officials has no place in the Northern Cape, already marred by increasing levels of violent crime.
āThe DA will keep a close eye on the IPID investigation and continue to provide support to the affected teenagers and their families. Those meant to enforce safety in our communities must not be allowed to serve as the perpetrators of violence,ā she said.
7 May 2025- The Portfolio Committee on Police said it is of the view that the South African Police Serviceās continued use of conventional methods to combat gang violence is not assisting to achieve success, as communities struggle under the strain of organised crime. Today, the committee received a petition from Yusuf Cassim, a member of the Eastern Cape Legislature on the ongoing gang violence in the northern areas of Nelson Mandela Bay.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Ian Cameron said they have noted that the SAPS continues to adopt a nonchalant approach to the scourge of gang violence, despite the concerning fear that communities must contend with daily. Cameron said, also, the impact of gang murders on the high murder rate is not taken as a priority.
āFurthermore, although the police have committed to a data-centric approach to policing, the continued under-resourcing of police stations with high crime rates and the complete disregard of the Anti-Gang Unit continues to inhibit the unitās ability to meaningfully target and arrest gang leaders to achieve the objective of dismantling these gangs.
āWhile the committee is cognisant of the socio-economic factors that encourage gang affiliation in these areas and which require a collaborative approach from various stakeholders, the committee remains concerned about the unwillingness of SAPS to implement intelligence operations intended to infiltrate and disrupt gangs,ā he said.
Cameron further said the SAPS must also consider using technological advances as force multipliers in the fight against gang violence. He added that the committee highlighted that the challenges faced in the northern areas of Nelson Mandela Bay are similar to those in areas of the Cape Flats in Cape Town and Eldorado Park in Johannesburg.
āThis requires urgent action and intervention. The approach adopted by SAPS is not showing signs of success and a change of course is necessary to ensure that we rid our streets of gangs and the associated violence they bring.
āThe committee received a petition from Fokus Group, a group of former members and widows of SAPS members who have struggled to get compensation for occupational injuries sustained while on duty. The committee was disappointed by the weak and uncaring response from SAPS,ā said Cameron.
He said it is unacceptable that although members have been injured on duty, the process is cumbersome and that the SAPS is seemingly unwilling to assist its members to apply and benefit from the Compensation Fund. Cameron said the committee is of the view that while the delays might be on the part of the Department of Labour, SAPS should be doing more to engage its sister department to expedite its processes.
āIt is unacceptable that the SAPS have just passed the buck to the Department of Employment and Labour without accepting its administrative shortcomings and lack of adequate support. The committee considers it inhumane that a beneficiary has had to wait for over 30 years to access the benefits they are entitled to.
āUnfortunately, the responses given to the committee by SAPS leave much to be desired. The non-responses are unaware of the plight of former police officers who were injured on duty. The South African Police must do more to support its members in accessing benefits from the Compensation Fund,ā he said.
Cameron said similarly, the committee is concerned that while the SAPS gave a glossy presentation, the realities on the ground are grim for members who are injured on duty. He said, for example, a member of the SAPS in the Western Cape who was paralysed while on duty has had to stop physiotherapy sessions due to SAPSās non-payment for over 20 appointments.
āThe committee is concerned that the bureaucratic mess leaves members of SAPS and their families vulnerable. For its part, the committee resolved that it will engage with the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour to plan a joint meeting, where the petition and general injury-on-duty claims will be the main area of focus,ā said Cameron.
7 May 2025- A man (55) was allegedly found dead in the house at Lokgabeng village, near Taung on Monday. According to the North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, the deceased was found by family members in the house.
Van Rooyen said the cause of death was declared as natural.
āWe are aware of the matter and no foul play is suspected,ā she said.
Picture: Scholar transport challenges in North West
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
7 May 2025- The North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management said it has noted with serious concern the non-payment of scholar transport service providers in the North West, which has resulted in some providers suspending learner transport services since yesterday.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Freddy Sonakile said this disruption directly infringes on learnersā constitutional right to education. Sonakile said the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, has confirmed that it engaged in a full-day, tense meeting yesterday with service providers in Ngaka Modiri Molema District to address the issue.
He further said the department has acknowledged the urgency and is committed to clearing all outstanding payments by 9 May 2025. Sonakile added that, to ensure accountability and progress, they are in constant communication with the department.
āStarting from yesterday, the Head of Department (HOD), Dr Hans Kekana will submit daily proof of payments to the committee after 2pm, to verify that payments are being processed timeously. The delays were largely due to recent technical issues with the BAS (Basic Accounting System) payment system, which have since been resolved.
āThe committee wishes to remind the public that it has been actively working on long-term solutions to scholar transport challenges since last year. Several resolutions adopted by the North West Provincial Legislature are already being implemented, including Invoice Tracking System,ā he said.
Sonakile said the department has since 1 April 2025 adopted the āRea Patalaā invoice tracking system, as per the committeeās resolution. He said the National Public Works ICT Unit trained departmental staff on its use yesterday.
āThis system ensures invoices are processed efficiently and in line with legal requirements. On submission of a Business Case on Funding Shortfalls, the department has finalised a business case to present to Provincial Treasury to address the current funding gap in scholar transport.
āAlthough R85 million was allocated for scholar transport this financial year, there remains a shortfall of approximately R150 million. Addressing this shortfall is critical to prevent similar payment crises towards the end of the year,ā said Sonakile.
He said plans are underway to convene a comprehensive Transport Summit later this year, bringing together service providers, Provincial Treasury, the Department of Education, school principals, SGBs, and the Portfolio Committee. Sonakile said the summit will aim to establish a provincial scholar transport policy, clearly defining stakeholder responsibilities, improving monitoring, and ensuring enforceable accountability.
āThe committee urges all service providers to continue transporting learners while the Department processes outstanding payments this week. The committee is closely monitoring progress, and should payments not be finalised by Friday, we will push for strong consequence management measures against those responsible for delays,ā he said.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the North West said it is gravely dismayed by the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management continued failure to provide a responsive, learner centred and effective scholar transport. The party said from 29 April 2025 to date, the department in question failed to provide transport for learners of JM Lekgetha Commercial School and Gaetsho Secondary School.
EFF provincial spokesperson, Fanon Moema said: āAs if that was not enough, the department did not inform the concerned parties about the predicament and it also appears that the department does not have a concrete plan to deal with the crisis.
āIt is evident enough that the department did not do anything to address or prevent the crisis at hand. Since Wessels Morweng took over the reins as the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, challenges of unroadworthy scholar transports and late payments of service providers persists.ā
Moema said as a result of this, learners are the ones who suffer the most as they miss important lessons and assessments. He said the department is tasked with allocating scholar transport resources of the province
in the best interest of the learners, however, the elites are using scholar transport as a business tickets for their self-enrichment at the expense of the children of the black
working class.
āAs the EFF, we will initiate a fully blown investigation of reported cases of unroadworthy scholar transport, irregular awarding of scholar transport tenders and
malicious delays of payments. We further urge the department of education to put necessary measures in place to assist all the affected learners to catch up with the
Picture: Farmer, Mr Pucoe Oatlhotse from Kgomotso Village stands next to the new livestock handling facility built by the department to support safer and more efficient animal health and disease control/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
7 May 2025- In a decisive move to strengthen rural livestock farming and deliver on its service commitments, the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, has improved water access for communal livestock farmers in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District. This development marks a meaningful step towards securing sustainable agriculture in some of the provinceās most water-stressed areas.
The North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha said through targeted interventions and strategic infrastructure upgrades, his department has brought much-needed relief to farming communities that have long contended with unreliable water sources. More than a dozen villages across Kagisano-Molopo and Greater Taung Local Municipalities are now benefiting from restored, upgraded, and newly developed water systems.
Sambatha said these improvements include the installation of windmills, submersible pumps, high-capacity storage tanks, and the drilling and equipping of new boreholes, ensuring farmers have consistent and reliable access to water for their livestock.
āThis is a major step in the right direction. For us, farmers are a priority. Without water, there is no farming and without farming, there is no rural economy.
āWhat we have achieved in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati is a clear example of how the government must respond to the needs of its people. We are not done, there are still areas in need, but this marks a firm beginning,āhe said.
Sambatha further said in Kagisano-Molopo, communal farmers in Langpomp, Gamongalenyane 1, Maheng, Setabeng, and Matlhabatlhabe, now enjoy improved access to water following the installation of new windmills, rehabilitation of boreholes, and construction of reservoirs. He added that, He added that, in Greater Taung, eight villagesāComforthill, Choseng, Tlapeng, Fairview, Mogopela B, Tamasikwa, Maphoitsile, and Manthe, are already experiencing the benefits of upgraded boreholes, new pumps and a reticulation system that feeds into a new 60,000-litre Zinc storage tank.
āAs part of its broader livestock support strategy, the Department has also installed handling facilities alongside existing dipping tanks, enabling safer and more efficient livestock management during health inspections and disease control operations.
āThese efforts are not only helping sustain livestock farming in the district, but are also reinforcing food security and stimulating local rural economies,ā said Sambatha.
He said his department is currently assessing additional areas across the province for similar interventions, as it continues to roll out its mandate to support agricultural development and climate-resilient farming systems.
Meanwhile, for farmers like Pucoe Oatlhotse of Kgomotso Village, the intervention has had a tangible impact.
āWe are truly encouraged by the progress we are seeing. Access to clean water is making it easier for us to care for our livestock. The departmentās support has brought real change on the ground, and we are grateful,ā he said.
7 May 2025- Two men who were allegedly arrested for kidnapping, robbery aggravating, rape and murder case are expected to appear at Ganyesa Magistrateās Court today. The accused, Tshepiso Montswane (33) and Gaonapotso Rantsho (33), were arrested after they allegedly kidnapped, robbed, rape and killed Motlalepule Kau (43).
It is alleged that Kau who resided in Montshioa Township, near Mahikeng, was lured by Rantsho and Montswane to Kudunkgwane village, near Ganyesa under false pretence of being traditional healers. It is alleged that Kau was reported missing by her family at Mahikeng Police Station on 23 April 2025, and a search commenced.
The accused allegedly kidnapped, robbed, raped and killed her. Kauās lifeless body was found buried in a shallow grave in the bushes between Tlakgameng and Kudunkgwane on 24 April 2025.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said Kauās body was positively identified by a next-of-kin. Mokgwabone said the gruesome discovery came after forensic leads led the investigation teams that worked tirelessly to the area.
āRansho and Motswane were remanded in custody until 7 May 2025, for possible bail application. They are facing charges of kidnapping, robbery aggravating, rape and murder,ā he said.
The duo told the court that, they have a pending rape case.
6 May 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it strongly condemns the ANC factional battles in Mahikeng Local Municipality (MLM), which continue to sow confusion, disrupt governance, and betray the residents of Mahikeng. The DA said yesterday, the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB), convened a public participation meeting at the Mmabatho Civic Centre to deliberate on proposed ward delimitations.
The DA Mahikeng Caucus Chief Whip, Neo Mabote said, however, in a clear act of defiance, the Speaker of Council, Gagoangwe Mathe, issued a conflicting notice and convened a parallel meeting at the Lonely Park Multipurpose Centre, despite formal authorisation designating the Civic Centre as the sole venue. Mabote said this resulted in two competing gatherings.
āWhile the executive mayor, Tshepiso Mphehlo, the Single Whip of Council, Monametsi Moeti and the Municipal Manager, Dineo Mongwaketse, honoured the MDB meeting at the Civic Centre, the Speaker refused to cancel the Lonely Park gathering, even after being instructed to do so.
āAs a result, community members were left stranded, confused and disenfranchised. This is yet another instance where ANC infighting is undermining the work of the municipality and even affecting external stakeholders, following similar incidents involving the Public Protector and the Auditor-General,ā he said.
Mabote further said these power struggles have paralysed service delivery and collapsed governance in Mahikeng. He added that the DA will submit formal requests for detailed information on all expenditure incurred for both conflicting events, with the intention of identifying any instances of fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
āShould such expenditure be uncovered, we will call for full accountability and consequence management in line with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), including disciplinary action against officials and political office-bearers responsible for authorising unnecessary spending.
āThe DA reiterates that the only solution to end this dysfunction is for residents to vote out the failing ANC government and elect a DA-led administration that prioritises accountability, service delivery, and good governance,ā said Mabote.
6 May 2025- The weekly Joint Law Enforcement operations conducted under Operation Shanela, have resulted in the arrest of suspects and the seizure of illegal contrabands, including three illegal firearms, a variety of drugs, liquor and dangerous weapons.
In the space of a week from 28 April to 4 May 2025, a total of 919 suspects were arrested for a variety of crimes. The suspects, include 18 for murder, four for robberies, eight for attempted murders, 19 for burglaries, 103 for assaults, three for illegal dealing of drugs, 90 for possession of drugs, 17 for selling of liquor without license, 46 for driving under the influence of liquor, 33 for malicious damage to property and seven for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
āIn Tshidilamolomo and Atamelang, information received led the police to various addresses, where seven suspects were traced and three firearms confiscated.
āThese firearms were allegedly stolen during a housebreaking and theft case reported between 12 and 20 September 2024, in Tshidilamolomo. Fredy Tsokonya (33), Donald Kamanyane (42), Hendrick Lethobeng (22), Aobakwe Mogwasi (18) and Tshepang Tsokonya (27), briefly appeared before the Molopo Magistrateās Court in Mmabatho on charges of housebreaking and theft,ā she said.
Myburgh further said they were all remanded in custody until their second court appearance on 9 May 2025. She added that Lawrence Rambo Gabonewe (35), who was found in possession of a firearm in Atamelang, appeared before the same court on 2 May 2025.
āHe was granted R2000 bail and his next court appearance will be on 9 May 2025. The last suspect, Cacious Patrick Kamanyane (38), was also found in possession of two firearms in Tshidilamolomo and appeared before the Molopo Magistrateās Court on a charge of possession of unlicensed firearms on 2 May 2025.
āHe was granted R1000 bail and his next court appearance will be on 30 June 2025. The public is advised to report crime at your nearest police station or anonymously through the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or the MySAPS application,ā said Myburgh.
She said extortion-related incidents can be reported on the Extortion hotline on 080 091 1011.
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