Daily Archives: June 9, 2025

Banyana coach trims her squad

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Picture: Hildah Magaia of South Africa celebrates with teammates after scoring her team’s second goal during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group G match between South Africa and Italy at Wellington Regional Stadium on August 02, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

By BAKANG MOKOTO

9 June 2025 – Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis has trimmed her preliminary squad for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) down to 28 players as she continues to fine-tune her list ahead of the continental tournament to be held in Morocco next month. Ellis initially announced a provisional squad of 46 players last month and 24 of the 28 players that have made this latest list will go into camp in Johannesburg on 19 June 2025.

She further said the 24 players will be joined by four overseas-based players at a later stage as they still have club commitments and with the date of assembly falling outside of the FIFA window, their arrival in camp will be delayed by a few days. Ellis added that Hildah Magaia will also join the camp at a later stage as she is still undergoing medical assessments following the recent #ThreeNations Challenge in Pretoria featuring Banyana Banyana, Zambia and Botswana.

“Thembi Kgatlana will not be part of the camp in Johannesburg and will also not be selected to the WAFCON-bound squad due to personal reasons. The final squad announcement will be made on 23 June 2025 in Johannesburg, and then the team will depart for Morocco shortly afterwards.

“The Sasol-sponsored African champions are in Group C and they will get their WAFCON campaign underway against Ghana on Monday, 7 July 2025 at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda. Oujda will be South Africa’s base during the group stages,” she said.

Ellis said Banyana Banyana will then face off against Tanzania on 11 July and finally Mali on 14 July 2025 in the group stages. She said the WAFCON tournament will be held in Morocco from 5-26 July 2025.

“The opening match will be played on 5 July 2025 between hosts Morocco and Zambia at the newly-built Olympic Stadium in Rabat,” said Ellis.

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Monna wa kwa Picong o teketilwe le go shupiwa ka sethunya

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Setshwantsho-papiso: Monna o teketilwe le go tshosediwa ka sethunya

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

9 Seetebosigo 2025- Monna wa kwa motseng wa Picong, gaufi le Taung, go begwa fa a teketilwe ke banna ba ba itsiweng mo letsatsing la Lamatlhatso. Go begwa fa monna o, a ile a kgorogelwa ke banna ba ba neng ba tsamaya ka sejanaga sa Toyota GD6 ga mmogo le Volkswagen Polo e khibidu ka mmala kwa legaeng la gagwe.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mono Bokone Bophirima, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone are go begwa fa balatofadiwa ba ile ba tsena kwa legae la mongongoregi le go mo teketa. Mokgwabone are go begwa fa banna ba, ba ile ba thuntsa dokolo di le pedi mo setswalong sa mongongoregi pele ga ba ka tsamaya.

“Sepodisi se butse dikgetsi di le tharo kgatlhanong le babelaelwa eleng kgetsi ya go teketa, tshenyo ya dithoto ga mmogo le go shupa ka sethunya. Go fitlha ga jaana, ga gona ope o tshwerweng, mme dipatlisiso di tsweletse.

“Jaaka sepodisi, ga re na bopaki jwa gore babelaelwa ba tshabiwa ke sepodisi, ebile ba amega mo dikgetsing tse dingwe. Jaanong, re ikuela go mongwe le mongwe o a nang le bopaki mabapi le seo go tsenya ngongora gore sepodisi se batlisise ntlha eo,” Mokgwabone wa tlhalosa.

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244 suspects nabbed during Operation Shanela

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Picture: Police busy with stop and search during Operation Shanela/Supplied

By AGISANANG SCUFF

9 June 2025- The police in Northern Cape said high density multi-disciplinary operation, Operation Shanela, remains steadfast and intentional in its quest to stabilize crime in high crime areas throughout the province. The police said a week long operations in the province, has netted 244 persons for various crimes including murder, attempted murder, rape, assault GBH, dealing in drugs and illegal dealing in liquor.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson,

Brigadier Mashay Gamieldien said detectives also executed tracing operations during which 63 wanted suspects were apprehended for evading arrests or failing to honour court appearances. Gamieldien said compliance inspections at numerous liquor outlets, second-hand dealers, recyclers, informal business establishments, hostels and unlicensed liquor outlets were conducted.

“Disruptive actions included roadblocks, VCPs, intensified blue light patrols, high visibility actions at shopping malls and complexes. Large volumes of alcoholic beverages were seized, while homebrewed concoctions were destroyed during compliance inspections at illegal liquor outlets.

“Drugs were also seized during stop and searches as well raids at identified locations. This week also seen numerous social crime prevention initiatives and programmes conducted at schools as part of the Child Protection Week campaign,” she said.

Gamieldien further said police convened community meetings to encourage collaboration between law enforcement and the community to prevent and combat crime. She added that, illicit cigarettes were also seized during a joint operation on 6 June 2025, in Rosedale amounting to almost R1.8 million.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola and the Northern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Limakatso Koloi, together with stakeholders and departments hosted a very successful Crime Indaba in Mothibistad. Otola cited that, Operation Shanela will continue to promote better relationships between law enforcement and the community.

“We encourage cooperation and collaboration in crime prevention efforts. We highly appreciate and commend the support and assistance of all external stakeholders in this collective fight against crime,” she said.

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Bopaganang Secondary School principal back in court

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Picture: Bopaganang Secondary School principal, Boitumelo Cynthia Gopane

By AGISANANG SCUFF

9 June 2025- A corruption case against Bopaganang Secondary School principal, Boitumelo Cynthia Gopane (56) in Vryburg, will resume at Vryburg Magistrate’s Court today. Gopane was arrested by the members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation on 30 May 2025, for alleged corruption.

The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said Gopane’s arrest follows an investigation into allegations of soliciting gratification from a complainant in exchange for a contract teacher post. Mathebula said it is alleged that in June 2024, the suspect promised the complainant a contract teaching post on condition that the complainant pays her R30 000.

“The complainant allegedly paid the suspect R25 000 and another R5 500 at a later stage. The complainant was subsequently hired. Following an investigation, the suspect was apprehended and charged with two counts of corruption.

“She briefly appeared in the Vryburg Magistrate’s Court on 2 June 2025. Gopane made an urgent bail application in the North West High Court on 1 June 2025. She was subsequently released on R2000 bail and her matter was postponed to 9 June 2025,” he said.

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Kgetsi ya polao ya kwa Majaneng e boela kwa kgotlhatshekelo

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Setshwantsho: Monna o bolaile tsala ya gagwe ka thipa

Ka KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

9 Seetebosigo 2025- Kgetsi ya polao kgatlhanong le monna (35) wa kwa motseng wa Majaneng, gaufi le Taung, e tla boela kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno. Motseothata Nelson Seoleseng, yo o kwa ntlo-lefitshwaneng, o latofadiwa ka go tlhaba tsala ya gagwe, Mosimanegape Adam van Wyk (31) ka thiba go fitlhelela a tlhokafala.

Tiragalo e, e diragetse dikgwedi di le mmalwa kwa motseng wa Majaneng. Go begwa fa Seoleseng ga mmogo le moswi, ba ne ba le mmogo, mme ba ile ba ya kwa gabo molatofadiwa ko ba fitlhetseng morwa rragwe molatofadiwa ana le lekgarebe la gagwe.

Mongwe wa bo maratahelele wa tlhalosa: “Go begwa fa go ile ga runya kgakgauthano ya mafoko ma gareng ga molatofadiwa le monnawe. Sebakwa sa kgakgauthano ke gore, molatofadiwa one a botsa monnawe gore goreng a tlisa lekgarebe kwa gagabo.

“Ene ya re fa e ya matsogong, tsala ya molatofadiwa, van Wyk, one a leka go tsiriganya. Fela go begwa fa molatofadiwa a ne a mo tsogela kgatlhanong, mme a mo tsatsanka ka thipa. Go ya ka dipego, moswi one a rwalelwa kwa bookelong jwa sedika jwa Taung, fela one a balelelwa le badimo mo letsatsing le le latelang.”

Go begwa fa kgetsi ya polao ene ya bulwa, mme mmelaelwa one a tshwarwa.

Kgabagage, sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen are, kgetsi ya polao e butswe. Kgetsi e ne ya busediwa morago go fitlha 9 Seetebosigo 2025, fa dipaltisiso di tsweletse.   

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Ipelegeng murder case back in court

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Picture: The deceased, Onalenna Mafane

By REGINALD KANYANE

9 June 2025- A case of assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), malicious damage to property and murder against three accused, Reginald Sepoko Moeme (30), Tumelo Ernest Riberry Bart (26) and Otlotleng Berry Kagisho Segole (28), will resume today in the Schweizer Reneke Magistrate’s Court. Moeme, Bart and Segole, were arrested following the outbreak of violent confrontations apparently between two local rival groups known as TRT allegedly operating from the Ahmed Kathrada Section and the Hawks Patrollers from Extension 8, in Ipelegeng Township, near Schweizer Reneke. 

The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng said in response to this violence which posed a serious threat to peace and stability in Ipelegeng Township, he immediately directed the acting Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Commissioner, Brigadier Tshelo Tlotleng, to activate the Joint Operational Command Centre (JOC). Asaneng said the JOC was constituted by among others, local ward councillors, Community Police Forum (CPF), local businesses, taxi associations, different government departments such as the Department of Education, Health and Traffic to ensure that the situation is dealt with speedily and without further escalation of unrest and tension.

“In order to speedily respond to this public unrest, Tlotleng has further issued a stern warning to those involved and  instructed that those responsible for incitement of  public violence that have seen throngs of mostly youth from these rival groupings running amok in Ipelegeng, be identified, tracked and arrested.

“Unfortunately this senseless anarchy and violence has resulted in the brutal death of Onalenna Mafane (19). Mafane was allegedly found lying dead with stab wounds in the chest on Tuesday evening, 20 May 2025, along the Amalia/Schweizer-Reneke road,” he said.

Asaneng further said the reports of local residents, neighbours, friends and fellow residents, including adults brandishing and attacking one another with an assortment of dangerous weapons points to a serious disintegration of the social fabric and moral decay within Ipelegeng.

He added that, the public violence in Ipelegeng is not a spontaneous occurrence, but the result of a long primed ticking time-bomb which happened under the watch of parents and community leaders.

“Surely the signs have been there for local community leaders and parents, who should have acted swiftly and decisively. This violent confrontation involving mostly young persons could have been averted,” said Asaneng.

He said they have deployed a large contingent of police units that include Public Order Police (POP), Provincial Anti-Gang, Tactical Response Team (TRT), Mounted Unit and K9 to normalise the situation and to prevent damage to public and private property, loss of lives, injuries and the escalation of violence that may result in the disruption of day-to-day activities, which include schooling, public transport, businesses, health and emergency services.

Meanwhile, Moeme is facing four cases including two of assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), malicious damage to property and a murder. Bart and Segole are both linked to a house robbery case.

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A probe into Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality inferno

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Picture: The Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality offices up in flames/Facebook

By OBAKENG MAJE

9 June 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi to immediately commission a comprehensive forensic investigation into the burning of the Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality offices in Christiana. The municipal offices went up in flames on Saturday night and the cause of the fire is still unknown.

The DA spokesperson on SCOPA in the North West Provincial Legislature, Freddy Sonakile asked when governance burns, who benefits? Sonakile said they call for an urgent probe into the Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality inferno.

“It is not the first time that public infrastructure has gone up in flames in Lekwa-Teemane. Over the years, the municipality has seen fires consume critical facilities, including the town hall, a clinic, and a hospital.

“The pattern is deeply troubling and demands urgent scrutiny. This latest fire comes just days after the municipality appeared before the North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), where members expressed outrage at the municipality’s disclaimed audit opinion,” he said.

Sonakile further said this includes the lack of proper supporting documentation. He added that the timing of this fire raises serious concerns and cannot be ignored.

“Facts must be confronted. The committee itself was unequivocal. Destroying or failing to safeguard public records is a criminal offence under the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa Act.

“The forensic investigation must establish the whereabouts and responsibilities of municipal security personnel at the time of the fire. Whether the municipal offices and their contents were insured and whether this incident may be linked to a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence relevant to financial mismanagement or maladministration,” said Sonakile.

He said in addition, they call on law enforcement authorities to urgently open and pursue a criminal case of arson and for both investigations to be concluded without delay, with findings made fully public. Sonakile said they are determined to uncover the truth.

“The people of Lekwa-Teemane deserve transparency, accountability and justice, not ashes where governance should stand,” he said.

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said: “At this stage, enquiry has been registered regarding the incident and investigations are underway.”

*Meanwhile, the Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality mayor, Sebang Motlhabi was not available for comment as his phone rang unanswered. His response will be incorporated in the article when received.

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Health crisis at Bophelong Hospital

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Picture: Bophelo Hospital in Mahikeng

By OBAKENG MAJE

9 June 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West said it has formally written to the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, demanding a full investigation and immediate intervention regarding the state of healthcare services at Bophelong Hospital in Mahikeng. This comes after allegations that there is a health crisis at the hospital.

The DA councillor in Tswaing Local Municipality, Kagiso Magwejane said patients were allegedly left unattended for over a month. Magwejane said these patients have been admitted for extended periods.

“Some for over a month without receiving the critical surgical procedures urgently required. Patients admitted with fractures are being subjected to repeated surgical postponements without proper consultation or reasonable explanation.

“In one instance, surgery was postponed five consecutive times, with the latest cancellation occurring on 23 May 2025. Like many others, patients have to fast from 10pm the previous night in preparation for the procedure, only to be informed on the morning of the surgery about the cancellation due to a shortage of available nurses for the theatre,” he said.

Magwejane further said this is not an isolated case as several patients have shared similar ordeals. He added that some have been discharged without being operated on and told they will only be called back once the theatre becomes available—an alarming practice that poses a serious risk to their health and recovery.

“This situation is not only emotionally distressing, but also medically dangerous. Patients are suffering unnecessarily, while their conditions worsen.

“It is clear that Bophelong Hospital is struggling with severe staff shortages, poor planning, and a breakdown of internal systems. This points to a broader crisis in our provincial healthcare system—one that is failing the very people it is meant to serve,” said Magwejane.

He said they were calling for urgent action. Magwejane said they will also engage with Hendriette Huyssteen, the DA’s Provincial Spokesperson on Health, to urgently conduct an oversight visit to Bophelong Hospital.

“Our communities deserve better. The health and dignity of our people cannot be compromised any longer,” he said.

Meanwhile, the North West Department of Health spokesperson, Tshegofatso Mothibedi who admitted that there is a shortage of nurses at the hospital said, the department is finalizing the process to recruit nurses to stabilise the operating theatre by 30 June 2025. Mothibedi said they will increase theatre operational time and number of operating theatres over weekends.

“Yes, some surgeries have been postponed multiple times over the past month due to shortage of staff. Not all surgeries could be performed hence some postponement.

“This is due to the retirements as well as resignations for greener pastures and unexpected sick leaves,” he said.

Mothibedi said an average of 45 operations scheduled for April and May 2025, were cancelled. He said if operations are not an emergency, the waiting time is plus minus 6 weeks.

“Recruitment of nursing staff and increasing theatre times to manage the backlog. It is not standard procedure for patients to be released without being operated on, however, emergency cases are prioritized within the hospital.

“Those found not to be of emergency by nature would be discharged following stabilization and will be booked for an elective surgery. Those that need emergency operations that cannot be done internally are referred to other hospitals within the province,” said Mothibedi.

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