12 June 2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said they gathered stakeholders at Sun City Resort to launch the 5th phase of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI). Motsumi said this programme places assistants in schools across the province, offering young people valuable work experience while supporting the education system.
She further said BEEI targets youth aged 18 to 34, providing a stipend of R4000 per month for six months. Motsumi added that applicants must be under 35 by the end of March 2026.
“The programme aims to empower 13 200 young people with hands-on experience in schools and help ease staff shortages. We must ensure equal opportunities for disabled youth and women.
“Schools should prioritize hiring young people from their local communities to encourage growth and development in our province,” she said.
Motsumi said the department remains committed to improving youth employment and education through initiatives like BEEI. She said by investing in young assistants, the program enhances learning environments and helps reduce youth unemployment in the North West.
12 June 2025- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi accompanied by the North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha, will lead the launch of a large scale dry white beans farming project, which covers three thousand hectares of land. Mokgosi said the primary objective of the project is to empower rural communities through agriculture-based skills development to fight the scourge of poverty and create sustainable employment job opportunities for locals.
He further said close to 2000 learners are expected to undergo training with Bright Ideas, which has secured an off-take agreement with Harvest Hub Africa under government’s Labour Activation Plan Initiative. Mokgosi added that the project which is being implemented in collaboration with Baga-Maidi Agricultural Initiative under the stewardship of Baga-Maidi Development Agency is aimed at revitalizing Taung’s agricultural economy through high-value farming.
“The event will take place at Manthe Community Hall on Friday at 9am,” he said.
Picture: The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng
By OBAKENG MAJE
12 June 2025- There is a growing discontent and concern surrounding the recruitment processes of the traffic officers’ learnership programme from the North West Community Safety and Transport Management. Now, the North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management said it is probing the matter after it received a complaint letter from one of the disgruntled applicants.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Freddy Sonakile said they were told that the recruitment process was at the advanced stage. Sonakile said, however, they were shocked when they received a letter from one of the concerned applicants, who even underwent interviews.
“The applicant felt that the process was flouted. I then forwarded it to the Head of Department (HOD), Dr Hans Kekana, to provide us with a full report regarding all processes that ensued during recruitment.
“This will mean that he will have to provide us with a short-listing process, how many people have applied, how did they get to the one that they have recruited, including verification of the nepotism allegations,” he said.
Sonakile further said after receiving the report, they will table it to the committee for a way forward. He added normally, if they believe the recruitment process was flouted, they will rope in the Public Service Commission (PSC) to investigate deeper in terms of legislation of Human Resource.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the North West Provincial Legislature, Fanon Moema said they have received a leaked list that is alleged to be signed off by the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng. Moema they are told that those who were selected relate to those who were in the panel and occupying executive positions in the North West Provincial Government.
“There are allegations that an individual very close to the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, is also part of the list. There is an individual who shares the same surname with Morweng and is also part of the list.
“There is also a person who appears to be a girlfriend of one of the ANCYL members in North West and a councillor in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality area,” he said.
Moema said they are going to ensure that the ugly head of nepotism or cadre deployment does not exist, while young people are genuinely faced with unemployment, inequality and poverty.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management spokesperson, Oshebeng Koonyaditse said: “The positions for the Traffic Learnership Programme were advertised and the process to select candidates was embarked upon.
“This was done in line with the DPSA guidelines and the Public Service Regulations on employment processes and procedures. Since then, there had been numerous allegations of wrongdoing and none of the complainants came forward with any iota of evidence.”
A rape case against a man (45) was postponed by the Taung Magistrate’s Court to 21 July 2025. This comes after the accused, Kagalelo Setlhare, who is affectionately known as Starzen, was arrested and charged for rape.
He was granted a R2000 bail.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the complainant was attending a Taung Annual Gospel Music Festival at PH Moeketsi High School, a few months ago and she went outside the venue to look for her friend. Mokgwabone said Setlhare allegedly grabbed and pulled her to the nearby bushes, where he allegedly assaulted and raped her.
“Although the complainant works at the place in question, she was not on duty on the day of the incident, but attending a gospel festival. The accused appeared before the Taung Magistrate’s Court.
“He was arrested on Tuesday and charged with rape,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron said it is disillusioned that despite constant talk, there has been no tangible action to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Cameron said the seeming inability and unwillingness to implement strategies is evidenced by the continued non-compliance with the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act.
“Despite the commitment made to the committee in a meeting held on 30 October 2024, there remain a substantial number of administrative and operational non-compliances at police station level. The direct consequence of the non-compliance is that the lives of the victims are endangered.
“It is concerning that of the 243 police stations visited, 60 non-compliance incidents were reported, including the failure to properly record reported incidents, which can be used in a court of law should the need arise,” he said.
Cameron said such records are necessary to ensure effective conviction of GBV crimes and gaps must be eradicated. He said the committee underscored that, while the presentation painted an improvement in certain areas, the reality on the ground is that many victims are still turned away from police stations when reporting GBV or the police do not deliver protection orders within the stipulated timeframes.
“The lack of consequence management within the South African Police Service (SAPS) is the root cause of this inability to change course and to adhere to prescripts. Until the SAPS ensure that errant police officers are held accountable, there will be no change.
“It is still concerning that to this day, there are police stations that do not have Victim-Friendly Rooms (VFR) that enable victims to report crime in a safe and discreet room. The SAPS reported that there are 95 Stations without designated VFR,” said Cameron.
12 Seetebosigo 2025- Mafelo ano a beke ditsela tsotlhe di tla be di lebile kwa mabaleng a metshameko kwa motseng wa Khibitswane, gaufi le Taung. Kgangkgang e tla be e ja nkgawana fa go tla be go bogetswe lobebe la kgwele ya dinao.
Kwa mabaleng a, go tla be go tshwerwe metshameko ya kgwele ya dinao ya Sylvester Kroos Tokotshane Memorial Top 8 Tournament. Ditlhopa di tshwana le Indomitable Lions FC, Lovely Movers FC, COVID FC, Bayern Leverkrusen FC, AC Berg FC, NW Stars FC, MD Royals FC le Dikgwamolelo FC, di tla be di tshotse karolo.
Mongwe wa barulaganyi ba metshameko e, Omphemetse Meto Manganeng are, ba bone fa go le botlhokwa go ka rulaganya metshameko e, ele go gopola Tokotshane. Manganeng are Tokotshane yo eneng ele motlhankela wa sepodisi, o ile a tlhokafala mo kotsing ya sejanaga ga mmogo le mapodisi a mangwe a le mabedi kwa porofenseng ya Eastern Cape ka 2018, fa ba ne ba le mo tirong.
“Jaanong, re ile ra atlhaatlha ntlha e ya go rulaganya tonamente e fa a ne a fetsa go tlhokafala ka ngwaga wa 2018. Jaaka batho ba ba neng ba tshela le ene, ebile ene ele motshamiki wa kgwele ya dinao, re bone fa go le botlhokwa go mo gopola.
“Tokotshane o tlhokafetse ngwana wa gagwe a sentse a le monnye. Jaanong ka go dira jaana, ke go tlhoma segopotso le gore morwae a itse fa rraagwe a ne a tshela le batho,” Manganeng wa tlhalosa.
Are Tokotshane one a tshamekela setlhopa sa Dikgwamolelo FC ka nako eo. Manganeng are ba ne ba tshamekela setlhopa sa North West Stars FC pele ga ba ka leba kwa setlhopeng sa Dikgwamolelo FC fa se ne se bulwa ka ngwaga wa 2018.
“Go tlile go tshamekiwa Top 8, mme setlhopa se se fenyang se tlile go iponela madi a kanang ka R18 000, dimetale ga mmogo le sejana. Setlhopa se se latlhegelwang kwa makgaola-kgannyeng se tla bona madi a kanang ka R8000, ga mmogo le dimetale tsa selefera.
“Re batla gore mo nakong e e tlang, go nne le batho ba ba tswang kwa ditlhopeng tse dikgolo go tla go lebelela batshamiki ba ba tsayang karolo mo metshamekong e,” Manganeng wa tlhalosa.
Manganeng are tonamente e, e tlile go godisa ikonomi ya Taung, gonne bagwebi ba ba botlana ba tla nna le tshono ya go rekisa dikgwebo tsa bone kwa metshamekong eo. Are yone e tlile go tshamikiwa kwa lebaleng la Khibitswane ka Lamatlhatso le Tshipi.
11 June 2025 – Network service providers such as Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom and Rain have been invited to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies on 13 June 2025. The appearance of these mobile network operators (MNOs) is in line with Parliament’s constitutional oversight responsibility.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Khusela Sangoni Diko said the Parliament’s Oversight Model mandates the committee to balance oversight of government with an evaluation of how industry, specifically MNOs, support national priorities and complies with South Africa’s legislative, policy and regulatory frameworks.
Diko said equally, the committee is tasked with assessing whether existing laws, economic conditions, technological developments and socio-political realities are enabling or hindering investment and growth in the South African economy and to recommend appropriate interventions where necessary.
“The MNOs and the telecommunications companies are expected to brief the committee on progress being made in response to challenges facing the people.
“Among the issues to be considered include measures to reduce the cost of data, network connectivity standards in rural areas, contributions to job creation, transformation and economic inclusion,” she said.
Diko further said this includes empowerment for blacks in general, women, youth and persons with disabilities, data security and privacy, compliance with universal service obligations and spectrum conditions for universal connectivity, including school connectivity. She added that, this includes the compliance with directives of the competition commission.
“With the licences of the MNOs due for renewal within the next three years, the committee remains appreciative of the catalytic role the MNOs continue to play in achieving the National Development Plan’s target of universal coverage and connectivity by 2030.
“To this end, it is essential that, as a country, we seize the opportunities presented by rapid technological advancement to ensure no one is left behind,” said Diko.
The meeting will be held at Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building on 13 June 2025, at 10am.
Picture: The 2025 Comrade Marathon winner, Tete Dijana
By OBAKENG MAJE
12 June 2025- South African superstar, Tete Dijana has further strengthened his status as one of the world’s best ultra-distance runners. This comes after a Signal Hill-born runner emerged triumphant once again in the Comrades Marathon on 8 June 2025.
Dijana, the winner in 2022 and 2023, crossed the line first in 5:25:28. In the men’s race, the Sekhing-born runner, Onalenna Khonkhobe, led for most of the race, but he was eventually caught with less than 20km to go. Dijana surged into the lead, but struggled to shake off the determined challenge of 2024 winner, Dutchman Piet Wiersma.
The South African had to dig deep to maintain his small lead, and in a repeat finish of the 2023 race, Dijana took the win in 5:25:27, with Wiersma crossing the line in 5:25:32.
“I came prepared and stuck to my race plan. In the last 10km, I saw Piet was closing, so I accelerated and opened the gap, and I felt like I was in control,” he said.
The Comrade Marathon Association (CMA) General Manager, Alain Dalais said this was the 98th edition of the iconic ultra between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban, run in alternating directions each year, and this was the 49th edition of the Down Run.
Dalais said the official distance of this year’s race was 89.98km and as the event builds up to its much-anticipated 100th edition in 2027, the 2025 race attracted a record field for the Down Run of 22,677 qualifying entrants. He further said this prompted the Comrades Marathon Association’s decision to introduce the first ever split start in the event’s history, for safety reasons and to allow all runners in the field the opportunity to get over the start line quicker.
“The is saw Group 1 starting at 5:45am, and Group 2 setting off at 6:00am, as a slightly later start than the traditional 5:30am start, in order for the runners to enjoy better light conditions in the early kilometres, notably on the descent of Polly Shortts hill.
“Both start groups still had 12 hours to finish the race. Another innovation in the 2025 race was a new street finish in Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, with a festive hospitality and club area next to the finish in People’s Park,” added Dalais.
Reflecting on a successful 98th edition of the race, he said, “We are really happy with the way the split start worked so well, with both Start Groups clearing the start line within six minutes.
“We’ve also received a lot of positive feedback about the new street finish, and we look forward to building on these aspects as we prepare for 2027. We treated this 2025 race as a dress rehearsal for the 100th edition, and while every race will have things that we can improve on, we are happy with the innovations introduced this year, and feel we are on track for an even better Down Run in 2027.”
Dalais said he would like to congratulate all the runners who took part in the race, from Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn to the final finishers in the last hour, from the novices tackling their first Comrades Marathon and those earning their Back-to-Back medals, to the Yellow Number Runners completing their 10th and earning their Green Numbers, and all the way to Louis Massyn, finishing his 50th and becoming the first athlete ever to reach this incredible Quintuple Green Number milestone.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sports, and Recreation spokesperson, Shuping Sebolecwe said: “We are organising a welcome ceremony for our winners led by the 98th Comrades Marathon Winner Morena Tete Dijana. The athletes will be travelling from Rustenburg on N4.
“Over the years, the North West has become a notable contributor to this national event, consistently producing top-performing long-distance athletes. These athletes not only showcase extraordinary physical prowess but also promote a sense of pride, resilience, and hope within their communities.”
The Guardian 