29 June 2025 – Sixteen men aged between 21 and 44 were arrested for Contravention of Immigration Laws. The suspects were nabbed during a coordinated operation by SAPS Vala Umgodi teams deployed in the Frances Baard District, in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs Immigration Unit.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Merapelo Pilane said following intelligence information received on 26 June 2025 regarding the alleged employment of undocumented foreign nationals at several construction sites in Kimberley, both proactive and combat teams were activated. Pilane said the tip-off was swiftly operationalised, leading to a tactical operation during which the suspects were apprehended and processed by immigration officials.
“In addition to the arrests, fines totalling R30 000 were issued to employers found to be unlawfully employing undocumented individuals.
“The suspects are expected to appear in court soon. Operation Vala Umgodi teams will continue to combat criminality in the Frances Baard and Namakwa Districts,” he said.
Picture: Former Ditsobotla Local Municipality mayor, Lengane Bogatsu appointed as North West Department of Education’s new Superintendent-General/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
29 June 2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said she is pleased to announce that Lengane Bogatsu, has been appointed as the new Superintendent-General (SG) following a rigorous selection process. Motsumi introduced Bogatsu to the Department’s senior management, corporate services personnel, school principals, and School Governing Bodies (SGBs), during a strategic engagement session held on 25 and 26 June 2025 at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng.
“Born and bred in Ganalaagte, in the Delareyville area, Bogatsu brings with him an impressive blend of vibrant leadership, grounded experience, and a visionary outlook for the future of education in the North West province.
“His deep understanding of public service and his passion for development make him a dynamic force as he takes the helm of the department at a critical time,” she said.
Motsumi further said Bogatsu holds two Master’s degrees, one in Public Management and another in Development and Management. She added that, Bogatsu also holds a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Natal, a Higher Diploma in Education, and a Primary Teacher’s Diploma from Phatsimang College of Education.
“With a career spanning nearly three decades across various spheres of public service, Bogatsu joins the North West Department of Education, after serving as Chief Director in the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, where he also held several acting roles including acting Chief Land Claims Commissioner.
“His roots in education run deep having served as a dedicated school principal at Kgoke Lesabe High School from 1997 to 2007. Bogatsu is also no stranger to political leadership, having been a mayor and a councillor of Ditsobotla Local Municipality from 1994 to 2000,” said Motsumi.
She expressed full confidence in Bogatsu’s capabilities, describing him as a “seasoned” leader with a servant heart and a track record of delivery. Motsumi said Bogatsu understands the pulse of the communities and the urgency of their mission.
“His professional acumen and passion for education make him the right person to lead our department into a new era of excellence. I plead with the team to grant him space to execute and excel.
“As department, we welcome him with great optimism and pledges its full support as he embarks on this important journey of educational transformation as of 1 July 2025,” she said.
Addressing team education, Bogatsu outlined his immediate focus areas for driving the department forward. He said these include accelerating school infrastructure projects, strengthening school safety, ensuring timely filling of vacant posts, revitalising school camps to support learner performance, forging partnerships with the business sector, and addressing the high failure rates in identified schools across the province.
“With 1463 schools under our care, we must remain agile, responsive and intentional in how we serve our learners. Learner results are a result of who you are and I am ready to work with all stakeholders to steer this department in the right direction,” he said.
Picture: The Democratic Alliance and ANC up in arms
By REGINALD KANYANE
29 June 2025- The African National Congress (ANC) said it has noted the public statement made by the Democratic Alliance (DA) regarding what it alleges to be violations by the Republic of South Africa (RSA), President Cyril Ramaphosa and certain members of the Executive, particularly in relation to the functioning of the Government of National Unity (GNU). The ANC said while they continue to engage constructively within the GNU framework, they are compelled to correct and rebut several misleading assertions made by the DA.
The ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu said foremost among these is the DA’s dismissive stance on the recently announced National Dialogue. Bhengu said it is rather surprising that the DA has chosen not to support the National Dialogue, not because they oppose its principles, but because a DA Deputy Minister was dismissed, not only for defying the president, but for also violating established rules.
“This response speaks volumes about the DA’s character. They are willing to undermine national interests in pursuit of their narrow partisan agenda. The ANC firmly believes that this dialogue is not merely an event, but it is a critical process in pursuit of social compacting, unity and national renewal.
“Ours is a nation built on dialogue, negotiation and consensus-seeking. From the founding of the ANC in 1912, to the 1955 Congress of the People in Kliptown that adopted the Freedom Charter, to the historic CODESA negotiations that ended apartheid, and culminating in our world-revered democratic Constitution of 1996. South Africa has time and again chosen the path of dialogue over division,” she said.
Bhengu further said the ANC reiterates that the National Dialogue is rooted in this proud tradition. She added that it seeks to bring all sectors of society together to address the pressing socio-economic challenges confronting the country including poverty, inequality and economic exclusion, through inclusive engagement and joint commitment to solutions.
“We have also taken note of the DA’s threat not to support key budget votes, including those for the Ministries of Human Settlements and Higher Education. Such actions are not only disruptive but undermine the very spirit and functioning of the GNU, to which the DA has committed itself.
“These ministries are critical for improving the lives of South Africans, particularly the poor and working class. At this juncture, it is imperative for the DA to clarify its stance: is it a genuine and principled partner in the GNU, or is it positioning itself as a quasi-opposition within the Executive?” asked Bhengu.
She said South Africans deserve clarity and leadership guided by national interest, not short-term political expediency. Bhengu said the ANC remains committed to the success of the Government of National Unity and will continue to work with all willing partners in advancing the values of the constitution, deepening transformation, and building a better life for all.
Meanwhile, the DA leader, John Steenhuisen said: “A year ago, the formation of the multiparty coalition known as the Government of National Unity (GNU) filled our country with hope. It followed the decision by the people of South Africa to remove the outright majority that the African National Congress had held since the dawn of our democracy in 1994.
“In last year’s election, the people sent a clear message that they no longer wanted the ANC to do as they pleased, regardless of the consequences for our country. The people said, loudly and clearly, that they were tired of corruption, of unemployment, and of an economy that had not grown meaningfully for more than a decade.”
Steenhuisen said instead of the same old one-party domination, the people wanted multi-party collaboration. He said in short, South Africans voted for things to change.
“It is based on this mandate, of change, that the Democratic Alliance joined the GNU. However, instead of upholding the wishes of the people by working in a respectful and collaborative manner with all partners inside the GNU, the ANC has repeatedly undermined these principles.
“Time after time, it has slapped away the hand of substantive cooperation and co-creation, in favour of arrogant and narrow political self-interest. Right from the start, Ramaphosa violated the Statement of Intent signed by all members of the GNU, by appointing a bloated executive without consulting the DA, in order to give the ANC more influence than the voters wanted it to have,” said Steenhuisen.
He said Ramaphosa signed destructive pieces of legislation into law without even having the decency to inform his partners. Steenhuisen said he presided over a disastrous budget process, where he failed to take seriously the views of parties who were opposed to the ANC’s proposed 2% VAT increase.
“Ramaphosa refused to enable meaningful power-sharing to drive collaborative and urgent reform of the economy to create jobs. This past week, without any forewarning or meaningful consultation, he concocted an excuse to remove a DA Deputy Minister out of the blue, because of his own failure to respond to a request for travel permission.
“The hypocrisy of this conduct is even more galling because in 2020, the same Ramaphosa issued a mere reprimand and salary docking to former Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula when she flew an ANC delegation to Zimbabwe in a military plane,” he said.
Steenhuisen said to make matters worse, Ramaphosa has now also defied the 48-hour ultimatum issued to him by his largest coalition partner to act against corruption in his own ranks. He said this was a clear opportunity to demonstrate that action will be taken consistently and fairly.
“By doing so, he has actively chosen to protect Thembi Simelane for her alleged role in VBS looting, he has chosen to protect Nobuhle Nkabane after she actively misled Parliament, and he continues to shield a whole cast of looters implicated in state capture.
“Just this morning, instead of taking action against state capture, the ANC cleared Malusi Gigaba, David Mahlobo, Zizi Kodwa and Cedric Frolick of all charges against them. Despite this pattern of double standards and abuse of power, DA members of the executive have remained focused on delivering for the people of South Africa,” said Steenhuisen.
He said the strides they have made in portfolios like Agriculture, Home Affairs, Public Works and Infrastructure, Communications and Digital Technologies, as well as Environment – and through hardworking Deputy Ministers like Andrew Whitfield – has set a new standard of excellence for governance at national level. Steenhuisen said in some cases, the DA literally achieved more in twelve months than the ANC did in thirty years.
“But perhaps this is the real source of the ANC’s double-standard towards the DA. They know the DA is succeeding. They know that the performance of DA Ministers puts their party to shame.
“And they know that the opportunities for looting and corruption are shrinking wherever DA reforms are implemented. The flagrant double-standard that protects the likes of Simelane and Nkabane, but acts against Whitfield, proves that in the ANC’s universe the only things you dare not be, are competent, honest, and hard-working,” said Steenhuisen.
He said this is not about an isolated incident. Steenhuisen said it is about a pattern of disrespect, arrogance and double-standards.
The Guardian 