Monthly Archives: June 2025

SAPS in quest to recruit 5 500 aspiring police officers

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Picture: SAPS members during parade/Generic

By AGISANANG SCUFF

30 June 2025- The South African Police Service (SAPS) said it has launched its much anticipated e-Recruitment drive on its official website for 5 500 aspiring police officers to join its ranks. SAPS said for the first time in the history of the existence of the organisation, the SAPS is utilising an Electronic Recruitment System, through which youth from all walks of life, can submit their applications to be considered for the entry level Police Trainee posts.

The police national spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the shift to a digital platform is expected to reduce paperwork, curb corruption and nepotism and prevent lost applications. Mathe said will also enhance fairness, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and improve the integrity and speed of the recruitment process.

“The nationwide recruitment drive begins on 30 June 2025, with online applications closing on 18 July 2025. It targets young men and women aged 18 to 35 to join as police trainees for the 2025/2026 financial year.

“Qualifying young men and women without criminal records and/or pending criminal cases are encouraged to apply by visiting http://www.saps.gov.za/careers then select the e-Recruitment portal from the drop down menu,” she said.

Mathe further said it is worth mentioning that the SAPS will implement a targeted recruitment process to identify and consider applicants with specific skills and/or qualifications, i.e., Graduates in Law, Policing, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Forensic Investigation, and Information Technology, for placement in the specialised environments such as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Detective and Forensic Services as well as Crime Intelligence (CI).

She added that, to ensure that the SAPS enlist disciplined, energetic, intelligent, physically and mentally fit individuals, dedicated to serving their country through Policing, applicants will be subjected to a rigorous selection process, which entails: psychometric, integrity, physical fitness assessments and fingerprint/vetting screening as well as medical evaluations.

“Successful recruits will undergo nine-month-long training at the SAPS training academies nationwide and receive a monthly stipend of R4 500.

“The organisation said in the last three years, the SAPS Project 10 000, an initiative led by the Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa to bolster crime prevention efforts, has led to the recruitment and training of 30 393 young people between the ages of 18 and 35 as fully-fledged police officers,” said Mathe.

She said there are currently 5 500 young people in SAPS academies who are training to become fully-fledged police officers. Mathe said some will graduate in August 2025, while the rest will graduate in December 2025.

“The application process is free of charge, and no position within the SAPS is for sale. Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official SAPS website portal,” she said.

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Police looking for missing elderly woman

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Picture: Missing elderly woman, Tlhomphego Juliet Mokoka/Supplied  

By BAKANG MOKOTO

2025 – The police in Dwarsberg are requesting community assistance in locating a missing elderly woman, Tlhomphego Juliet Mokoka (85), of House No 10036, Vaal River Section, Sesobe village in Madikwe, outside Rustenburg. The police said according to information, Mokoka was last seen by her grandchild on 29 June 2025. 

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said a search was conducted with the assistance of the Local Community Police Forum (CPF) and Traditional Councillors around Dwarsberg policing precinct and all leads were followed up, but that did not yield positive results. Mokgwabone said at the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a brown skirt, brown jersey, brown flat shoes and a pink beanie.

“She is dark brown in complexion with round close together eyes and flat forehead, approximately 1.2 m tall, black hair and weighs 68kg. The missing granny suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.

“Anyone who may have information regarding her whereabouts is requested to contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Kelefilwe Simon Rampete on 071 251 0200 or call  the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop number: 08600 10111,” he said.

Mokgwabone further said anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via the MySAPS App.

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A man sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for defrauding school R500 000

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

30 June 2025- The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has sentenced Ralton Christopher Fischer (44), a former Human Resources Manager at New Hope School — a school catering for learners with special educational needs to 12 years’ imprisonment. Of which six years are suspended for five years, on condition that Fischer is not convicted of fraud or theft during the period of suspension.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said Fischer was convicted on 11 counts of fraud of over R6 million, committed between July 2018 and April 2022 while employed at the school. Mahanjana said Fischer’s duties included managing payments to staff members employed by the School Governing Body (SGB) and not by the Gauteng Department of Education.

“During this period, Fischer fraudulently made 11 payments into multiple bank accounts registered in his name, including accounts at ABSA, Standard Bank, Discovery Bank, Nedbank, Bidvest, FNB, and Capitec.

“The fraud came to light when Fischer scanned and sent documents to a colleague, requesting that they be forwarded to his personal email. The colleague noticed irregularities and raised the alarm,” she said.

Mahanjana further said a preliminary investigation uncovered payments to non-existent (ghost) employees. She added that the matter was reported to the police and Fischer was arrested on 4 April 2023.

“Fischer pleaded guilty, claiming he used the stolen funds to feed his gambling addiction and purchase a VW Golf GTI valued at R150 000.

“He further asked the court to impose a sentence of correctional supervision or a wholly suspended sentence. He cited his responsibilities as a father to four minor children, two of whom live with disabilities,” said Mahanjana.

She said the NPA remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting vulnerable communities, particularly children with special needs. Mahanjana said this case highlights the organisation’s zero tolerance for white-collar crime, especially when committed by individuals who abuse positions of trust.

“Stealing from a school that serves learners with disabilities is both morally and legally indefensible. The court’s firm sentence affirms that such betrayal will be met with the full force of the law.

“The NPA welcomes the outcome as a clear statement that those who exploit public institutions will be held accountable,” she said.

The state prosecutor, advocate Abram Machitela, argued for a custodial sentence, citing the seriousness of the offence, the abuse of a position of trust, and the lack of remorse shown by the accused. Machitela emphasised that Fischer’s actions directly prejudiced the school and its vulnerable learners, many of whom use wheelchairs and rely on specialised support.

“The school also suffered tax liabilities exceeding R500 000 due to Fischer’s criminal conduct,” he said.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Du Preez agreed with the prosecution, finding that Fischer’s crimes were not merely driven by addiction, but also by selfishness and greed. Du Preez said the court noted Fischer’s lack of genuine remorse and that his guilty plea was primarily due to the strength of the state’s case.

“So, I conclude that only a direct term of imprisonment is appropriate under the circumstances,” he said.

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Committee concerned about high rate of youth unemployment   

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Picture: Graduates marching against high rate of unemployment

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

30 June 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Women Youth and Persons with Disabilities said it has informed the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) that there is an urgent need for the agency to enhance its effectiveness in combating youth unemployment and to ensure that its programmes reach out to the most marginalised young people across the country.

The committee raised concerns about youth development initiatives, the appointment of a new board, and the overall effectiveness of the NYDA in addressing the challenges faced by young people in South Africa.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Liezl van der Merwe said the committee received a briefing from the agency on its annual performance plan and strategic objectives for the 2025/26 financial year. Van der Merwe said during the briefing, the committee expressed a serious concern regarding the high youth unemployment rate and highlighted the need for the NYDA to implement strategies that are aimed at creating job opportunities for young South Africans.

“They also called for the agency to forge partnerships with local municipalities. The committee also engaged the agency on the delayed appointment of the agency’s new board. Members of the committee voiced their frustration over the absence of a permanent board and urged the executive authority to expedite the appointment process to ensure continuity in youth development initiatives.

“The committee also stressed the need to fill vacancies within the NYDA. The committee argued that the vacant positions are vital for improving the agency’s capacity to deliver on its mandate,” she said.

Van der Merwe further said the committee urged the agency to prioritise the recruitment of skilled personnel to better serve the youth and enhance the effectiveness of its programmes. She added that the committee expressed its concern on how the existing vacancies impact ongoing initiatives and the agency’s overall goals.

“Members requested a timeline on when these positions would be filled. In addition to these concerns, the committee asked for detailed information regarding the NYDA’s outreach programmes and their effectiveness.

“Members sought clarity on the frequency and scope of outreach initiatives, as well as the metrics used to measure their success. It requested the agency to provide a comprehensive report on the outcomes of the previous outreach efforts, including any challenges faced and lessons learned,” said van der Merwe.

She said funding was another matter that arose during the discussions. Van der Merwe said the committee addressed the agency’s funding sources and financial management.

“Members requested a detailed breakdown of the donor-funded income and the Presidential Youth Employment Fund, questioning how effectively these funds are being utilised to achieve the intended outcomes.

“The committee emphasised the need for transparency in financial reporting. Furthermore, the committee urged the agency to ensure that funds are directed towards impactful programmes that benefit young people,” she said.

Van der Merwe said the committee requested reports from the NYDA include a detailed breakdown of the donor-funded income. She said this includes the Presidential Youth Employment Fund, the segregated data regarding the impact of youth programmes, specifically demographics such as gender and disability and clarity on the operational strategies and outreach initiatives being implemented, especially in rural communities.

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Water pollution should be declared a national crisis  

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Picture: A squatter camp along river banks/Generic

By REGINALD KANYANE

30 June 2025- The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo said he commits to lead a sustained response to the growing infestation of invasive alien vegetation at Vaalkop Dam in Rustenburg. As part of his two-day oversight working visit from 27 to 28 June 2025, Seitlholo announced the establishment of a multi-stakeholder working group and declared his personal commitment to overseeing the complete removal of the infestation from the dam.

He further stated his intention to propose that water pollution be declared a national crisis, warning that South Africa can no longer afford to treat pollution as a localised or isolated problem. Seitlholo added that this move is necessary to unlock the urgency, coordination and resources required to protect the country’s already stressed water systems.

“I am taking personal responsibility to ensure that the infestation at Vaalkop Dam is eradicated. We cannot allow pollution and negligence to cripple our water systems any further. I will also be proposing that water pollution be declared a national crisis.

“It is time we recognise that this threat affects the health, economy, and future of our nation. The infestation, primarily caused by water hyacinth and Salvinia minima, has seriously impacted the operations of the Vaalkop Water Treatment Works, threatening water abstraction, treatment capacity, and regional water supply,” he said.

Seitlholo said it has been worsened by heavy rainfall, which carried high concentrations of nutrients from upstream sources into the dam. He said these include discharges from wastewater treatment plants, agricultural runoff, urban drainage, and pollution from informal settlements and mining activities.

“Nutrients from bottom sediment recirculation have also been added to the dam’s ecological load. The combination of historically low water levels, the presence of invasive seeds and nutrient flooding created ideal conditions for the aggressive spread of the aquatic weeds.

“We would like to issue a stern warning to municipalities that are failing to meet their wastewater management responsibilities. Let me be very clear, municipalities that continue to pollute our rivers and dams with untreated waste are directly contributing to the destruction of our water resources,” said Seitlholo.

He said this negligence will not be tolerated. Seitlholo said the department will intensify compliance monitoring and where wrongdoing is found, there will be serious consequences.

“My planned working group will bring together the Department of Water and Sanitation, Magalies Water, affected municipalities, environmental scientists and other critical partners. The group will assess the scale of the infestation, recommend both immediate and long-term interventions and oversee the implementation of recovery plans for the dam and surrounding systems.

“This initiative is part of a broader departmental effort to strengthen environmental enforcement, restore infrastructure resilience and address the growing national threat posed by pollution and invasive species,” he said.

Seitlholo said since assuming office nearly a year ago, he had led numerous oversight inspections across the country, confronting issues of water pollution and infrastructure failure head-on. He said he had consistently called for accountability and improved service delivery.

“We will soon announce a set of coordinated and strategic national interventions to tackle the pollution of South Africa’s water sources and restore the health of critical water ecosystems,” said Seitlholo.

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JST Hospital procured R7.5m Digital Mammography X Ray Machine to accelerate service delivery

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Picture: Deputy Board Chairperson, Batsile Ramosepele and the acting CEO of Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital, Ellen Moromane/Supplied    

By OBAKENG MAJE

30 June 2025- The Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital in Rustenburg said the procurement of Digital Mammography X Ray Machine will accelerate the turnaround time of mammography results for patients. The Hospital’s Deputy Board Chairperson, Batsile Ramosepele, indicated that the procurement of this machine was as a result of improving access to care for patients, as they had to travel to Mahikeng Provincial Hospital to access this service.

Ramosepele further said the procurement of the Digital Mammography X Ray machine cost R7.5 million and was awarded in February 2025 to June 2025. She added that it took four months to complete the project.

“The Commissioning of Digital Mammography X Ray Machine on 25 June 2025, brought excitement to Hospital Management and Staff as patients will access the results within 72 hours. The sole purpose of this machine is to screen and diagnose breast changes, cancer calcification in patients both female and male.

“Through this machine, the hospital aims to attain increased cancer screening and further do biopsies for full investigations of the abnormalities,” said Ramosepele.

She further said the project also entailed staff kitchen, installation and training of staff members on how the machine operates. Ramosepele added that currently, the hospital boasts two qualified mammographers to operate this machine, as it is a prerequisite to have a qualification in mammography.

“Now, the hospital can detect tumors and do biopsies to confirm the nature of the tumors. We, as the Board, are delighted with this state-of-the-art unit commissioned today as it will improve the health of our people,” she said.

Meanwhile, the acting CEO of Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital, Ellen Moromane shared the same sentiments. Moromane said this is a good milestone for them.

“We are ultimately getting there to provide tertiary services that patients deserve,” she concluded.

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DA welcomes arrests of former !Kheis municipal manager for pension fund crimes

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By BAKANG MOKOTO  

30 June 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it welcomes further progress in the fight against pension fund crime in the Northern Cape, where municipalities reportedly owe more than R100 million in outstanding pension fund contributions. This follows the arrest of the former Municipal Manager of !Kheis Local Municipality, Joseph Floyd Leeuw, on 30 counts of contravening the Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956.

The DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader, Harold McGluwa, who is also a Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) said Leeuw stands accused of failing to pay over pension deductions for the period of October 2019 to June 2022, resulting in late payment interest ballooning to R8 545 980. McGluwa said they are relieved that more municipalities are being exposed for robbing employees of their hard-earned pensions.

“The DA has been actively fighting against municipal pension fund crime in the Northern Cape for years. In 2017, the DA laid a criminal charge against Kai !Garib for failing to pay over contributions to third parties, also reporting our concerns to the Office of the Public Protector in 2020.

“In October 2022, we protested outside the Upington Magistrate’s Court following the arrest of the former Municipal Manager of Kai !Garib Local Municipality, Johnny Mackay for pension fund crime totaling more than R9 million.

“In October 2023, the DA laid criminal charges against the Renosterberg MM for pension fund crime. In October 2024, we picketed outside the Petrusville Magistrate’s Court, following the arrest of multiple senior managers of Renosterberg, in relation to pension fund prejudice suffered to the value of R73 563 652,” he said.

McGluwa further said the DA also came out in full support of the arrests of the Municipal Manager of Kamiesberg, Rufus Beukes in November last year, as well as the ex-CFO of Thembelihle Local Municipality earlier this year, both in relation to contravention of the Pension Fund Act. He added that late payment interest in these cases exceeds R2 million and R6 million respectively.

“Pension crimes are an assault on the future and dignity of municipal employees. The DA will continue to monitor all five criminal cases closely. We hope that they will expose the true extent of pension injustices suffered and allow for a swift remediation process to unfold for affected employees,” said McGluwa.

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Municipalities in North West urged to foster a culture of accountability

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Picture: Embattled Ditsobotla Local Municipality

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

30 June 2025- In a decisive move to transform municipalities’ audit reputation, the North West Provincial Treasury convened a high-level stakeholder engagement session on Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) Audit Cycle Readiness ahead of the 2024/25 Annual Financial Statements (AFS) submission deadline at the end of August 2025.

The session which aimed to strengthen municipal compliance and improve audit outcomes brought together key stakeholders such as National Treasury, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Office of the Auditor-General (AG), and representatives from 22 provincial municipalities.

Delivering a compelling address, Auditor-General Mthokozisi Sibisi, called for a collective commitment to change the province’s reputation for poor audit outcomes.

Sibisi said the AG has issued a clear call to action.

“Enough is enough. It is time to rebrand the North West Province by turning the tide on poor audit outcomes. Communities are weary of negative perceptions, and municipalities must confront the gaps head-on.

“This proactive engagement before the audit cycle begins. It is a critical step toward credible financial reporting and improved service delivery. Support mechanisms like today’s session will help municipalities to compile credible financial statements timeously, which may significantly improve audit results and municipal functionality,” he said.

Sibisi further said they welcome the province’s development of an Audit Improvement Strategy for 2024/25–2028/29 financial years as a bold framework for long-term transformation and highlighted the importance of the Quadrilateral Consolidated Support Plan, which outlines coordinated support to municipalities focused on key drivers of audit opinion enhancement.

He added that officials from top-performing municipalities, including the City of Ekurhuleni and Capricorn

District Municipality, shared best practices, emphasizing financial discipline, minimal reliance on consultants, robust internal audit processes, and a culture of compliance as key to their success.

The North West Provincial Treasury’s Head of Department, Ndlela Kunene, described the session as unprecedented and pivotal. Kunene said for the first time, they are creating a platform for all key role players to engage directly on overcoming barriers to credible financial reporting.

“The time for reactive responses is over. Municipalities must now implement tangible post-audit action plans that

address root causes, establish steering committees, and meet regularly to drive progress toward clean audits.

“We urge municipalities to demonstrate commitment by working closely with the North West Provincial Government and ensuring that the right personnel are allocated to implement agreed support interventions,” he said.

Kunene said the Provincial Treasury reiterates its unwavering support for municipalities in this endeavour and remains committed to fostering a culture of accountability, compliance, and improved governance across the province.

He said the session concluded with a unified pledge to sustain this momentum and transform the North West into a benchmark for good governance and fiscal accountability.

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Mopagami o tlhokafetse mo kotsing ya sejanaga

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Setshwantsho: Mokgweetsi o tlhokafetse mo kotsi ya sejanaga

Ka REGINALD KANYANE

30 June 2025- Mopagami o tlhokofetse mo kotsing ya sejanaga mo letsatsing la maabane mo tseleng ya N18, kwa ntlenyana ga Vryburg. Go begwa fa dijanaga di le tharo, Mercedes Benz, Toyota Quantum and Nissan Micra di thulane.

Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mono Bokone Bophirima, mopagami mo sejanaga sa Nissan Micra o ile a balelelwa le badimo kwa lefelong la tiragalo. Mokgwabone are bapagami ba le barataro, go akaretsa le mokgweetsi wa Toyota Quantum, ba bone dikgobalo.

“Kgetsi ya polao ntle le maikaelelo e butswe. Fela, ga gona ope o tshwerweng go fitlha ga jaana,” Mokgwabone wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, go begwa fa mokgweetsi wa Nissan Micra a amogatwe kwa bookelong jwa Joe Morolong kwa Vryburg.

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