Picture: The executive mayor of Matlosana Local Municipality, Fikile Mahlope
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
9 June 2025- The North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts (SCOPA) has condemned the Matlosana Local Municipality for incurring unauthorised expenditure of R1.1 billion during the 2023/24 financial year. The criticism follows SCOPA’s public hearing on audit outcomes in line with the Municipal Finance Management Act.
The SCOPA Chairperson, Smuts Matshe said the municipality has regressed from an unqualified to a qualified audit opinion due to poor internal controls, over-reliance on consultants and irregularities in contract management, including on the provision of paraffin to communities.
Matshe said the municipality is currently under financial recovery intervention, but recorded irregular expenditure of R249 million, as well as fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R105 million with R1.1 billion in unauthorized expenditure.
“The committee also noted the high level of litigation initiated against the municipality. Even now Matlosana is sitting with a Municipal Manager and a Chief Financial Officer, who are alleged to have been arrested and are facing criminal charges that emanate from their responsibilities in the municipality.
“The council has failed to exercise oversight and enforce accountability, especially regarding post-audit action plans and Section 71 financial reports.
“Matlosana has failed to investigate duplicate payments. SCOPA has directed that a written report be submitted within seven days by the municipality to cover amongst others, progress in implementing post-audit action plans, funding strategies for unfunded budgets and investigation into material irregularities and UIF&W,” he said.
Matshe said this includes implementation of consequence management, functionality and effectiveness of oversight and audit committee.
Meanwhile, the executive mayor of Matlosana Local Municipality, Fikile Mahlope said: “Around R800 million of the unauthorised spending stems from non-cash debt impairments due to poor revenue collection.
“The municipality has introduced a UIF&W reduction strategy to address the issue.”
Picture: The acting North West Premier, Kenetswe Mosenogi
By REGINALD KANYANE
9 June 2025- The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Premier and Finance has expressed deep disappointment in the North West Provincial Government’s failure to ensure gender equity in senior appointments. This comes after the startling revelation that, of the 12 Heads of Department (HoDs) across the province, only one woman, Kgomotso Mahlobo (Human Settlements), has been appointed.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Nathan Oliphant said this emerged during an oversight meeting with the Office of the Premier on employment equity in senior management, particularly among Deputy Directors-General (DDGs) and HoDs.
“It is unacceptable that a government led by a majority female Executive Council—six women out of ten—has failed to reflect that same commitment in its top administrative appointments.
“Furthermore, of the 11 DDG posts who are not HODs in departments, 8 are filled, 6 by African men, 1 by an African woman, and 1 by an Indian man. Three positions remain vacant,” he said.
Oliphant further said this clearly fails to represent the demographics of the province and shows a disturbing lack of urgency in transforming public sector leadership. He added that the committee highlighted that these are the same vacancies where the Office of the Premier failed to adhere and comply with recruitment requirements, which emphasized prioritizing women and persons with disabilities.
“We warn that appointing more men would contradict both the South African Constitution and the province’s own equity commitments. This unlawful deviation from the advertised equity priorities would not only be a step backward, but a betrayal of efforts to redress historic imbalances.
“The committee has called for a full employment equity implementation report from all departments and urged the Office of the Premier to reconsider appointments that have not yet been finalized,” said Oliphant.
He said there’s a serious concern that transformation has stalled. Oliphant said transparency is appreciated, but action is now required to correct this imbalance.
“The committee will convene a special follow-up meeting once the requested reports are received,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Premier, Kenetswe Mosenogi acknowledged the disappointing report and noted that three HoD vacancies remain unfilled.
9 June 2025- The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee has lambasted the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management over illegal occupation of GD Monthioa Airport. The committee said there is a gross dereliction of duty.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Freddy Sonakile said the illegal occupation led to the revenue losses. Sonakile said it was revealed during a recent committee meeting that two aviation schools—Fly Paramount Aviation Academy and African Union Aviation Academy (AUAA)—had been operating at the airport without valid lease agreements.
“Despite being aware, the department failed to intervene. The previous airport operator had collected rent until 2023, when the matter was referred to the National Treasury for investigation.
“Although a new leasing process was initiated in 2024, no lease was ever finalized, and both schools continued operating unlawfully. Fly Paramount was only removed following an oversight visit by the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, while AUAA remains on-site under curatorship due to the illness of its director,” he said.
Sonakile further said this is a textbook case of failure to safeguard public assets. He added that millions in potential revenue were lost, while the department looked away.
“The failure to act has not only compromised state property, but also undermined trust in governance.
“During the meeting, the Director of Paramount Aviation confirmed her academy had tried repeatedly to finalize a lease since November 2024, with no response from the department,” said Sonakile.
He said the Director of Paramount Aviation, has since undertaken to submit all correspondence to the committee. Sonakile said the committee has now given the department seven days to submit a consequence management report on implicated officials, providing a detailed account of lost revenue, unpaid utilities and infrastructure damage.
“Present a revenue recovery plan and submit the National Treasury report and refer the matter to the SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit for investigation into any possible irregular or unauthorized payments.
“The committee also flagged the unresolved issue of two foreign nationals—identified only as William and Paul—previously claimed by the department to be instructors at Paramount,” he said.
Sonakile said the school’s Director denied any association, stating the individuals were linked to AUAA. He said the matter has been referred to Home Affairs and SAPS to verify their identities, legal status, and whereabouts.
“This was one of the most frustrating oversight visits we’ve endured. Had the department been transparent from the start, this matter would have long been resolved.
“This committee will not tolerate sleeping on duty,” he said.
9 June 2025- The Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa said this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter. Ramaphosa said they are reminded of its aspiration that the people shall share in the country’s wealth.
He further said the constitution reflects the promise they made to one another and to future generations to redress the injustices of the past and realise the full potential of the country. Ramaphosa added that, for this reason, they reaffirm that Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) is not just a policy choice but a constitutional imperative.
“In recent months, the world has entered what many now term a “poly-crisis” where global conflict, economic stagnation, mistrust in institutions and environmental degradation are challenging even the most resilient of nations. These are conditions affecting many countries and South Africa is no exception. It is now imperative that we use the lessons that we have learned over the past three decades to make our empowerment policies more meaningful.
“Now is not the time to abandon the measures that we have put in place to drive transformation. To the contrary, it is the time to move forward with greater purpose and raise our ambition. Since 1994 we have built a robust legislative framework to advance the transformation of our economy, anchored in the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act and the Employment Equity Act,” he said.
Ramphosa said the progress they have made is undeniable. He said they have seen real changes in ownership patterns, including more businesses owned by women.
“We have seen changes in management control, enterprise development and skills development. According to Statistics SA, between 2006 and 2023, black African households experienced real income growth of 46%, coloured households of 29% and Indian households of 19%. Despite this progress, the average income of white households is still nearly five times higher than that of black African households. This is the gulf we must close through deliberate and sustained efforts to expand opportunity.
“Transformation is not a favour. It is a necessity. The inequality of our past continues to shape the lives of millions of black South Africans. And yet many who continue to benefit from the legacy of exclusion continue to decry black economic empowerment and are even challenging it in our courts,” said Ramaphosa.
He said they must dispense with the false notion that they must make a choice between growth and transformation. Ramaphosa said economic growth without transformation entrenches exclusion and transformation without growth is unsustainable.
“We also need to challenge the notion that broad-based black economic empowerment is a cost to the economy. It is actually an investment in the economy. Our task is to ensure that we pursue both growth and transformation in concert, with more vigour and with greater effect. That is why we continue to strengthen initiatives like the Black Industrialists Programme, which is building successful, competitive, black-owned enterprises in manufacturing and other sectors.
“That is why we are establishing the Transformation Fund to support a new wave of emerging, innovative businesses that can create work opportunities for our people. We must open the levers of funding for black-owned businesses. There is a critical need for black-owned businesses to access funding on affordable terms,” he said.
Ramaphosa said, while much of this funding should come from the development finance institutions, it is the private banks that have the resources to make the greatest impact. He said they need to review their lending practices to unleash the potential of black business.
“Through mechanisms like the Public Procurement Act, we must ensure that businesses owned by women, young people and persons with disabilities enjoy expanding opportunities. We must ensure that transformation reaches into every sector, whether it is mining, construction, energy, IT or agriculture.
“The private sector should use their supply chains far more deliberately to empower many more black-owned businesses, not just to improve their BBBEE scorecard, but to grow and diversify their supplier base. As we develop our infrastructure, grow new industries like green hydrogen and electric vehicles, and drive localisation and reindustrialisation, we will continue to ensure that transformation is our guiding principle,” said Ramphosa.
He said the transformation they seek is not about ticking boxes. Ramaphosa said it is about building a resilient, just economy for generations to come.
“I call on all South Africans and in particular the private sector, to recommit to economic transformation. Let us move forward with greater urgency, unity and ambition, to build a South Africa where all can truly share in the country’s wealth,” he said.
9 Seetebosigo 2025- Kgetsi ya polao kgatlhanong le monna (35) wa kwa motseng wa Majaneng, gaufi le Taung, e buseditswe morago ke kgotlhatshekelo ya Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno. Se, se tla morago ga gore mosekisi mo kgetsi e, a se tlhagelele kwa kgotlhatshekelo ka ntlheng ya go lwala.
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 buseditswe morago go fitlha kgwedi ya Phukwi e tlhola matsatsi a le supa.
9 June 2025- A man (35) sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Victoria West Regional Court for house breaking and theft. This comes after the police in Victoria West, responded to house breaking incidents reported on 25 June and 13 July 2023, in Noorder Street, Victoria West.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said at the time, the identity of the suspect was unknown. Shemane said the members of the SAPS Local Criminal Record Centre attended the scenes and collected vital forensic evidence, which subsequently linked the accused, Ricardo Fritz to the crime scenes.
“Fritz, currently serving a sentence on an unrelated matter, was recently convicted and sentenced,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Pixley Ka Seme District Police Commissioner, Major General Nomana Mtukushe, commended Detective Sergeant Basil Abrahams from the Victoria West Detectives for his diligent investigation. Mtukushe also reassured the community that the South African Police Service remains committed to utilizing all available resources in the ongoing fight against crime.
9 June 2025- The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs said following the successful hosting of public hearings in Mpumalanga, it will now hold public hearings on the Marriage Bill [B43—2023] in the North West province this coming weekend. The Committee said the hearings in North West, is the fifth provincial public participation process following similar sessions in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Mosa Chabane said the public participation process is the cornerstone of South Africa’s constitutional democracy as enshrined in Section 59 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which compels the National Assembly to facilitate public involvement in the legislative and other processes of the Assembly and its committees. Chabane said the committee intends to ensure that the process is inclusive and far-reaching and that a conducive platform is created for people to make meaningful submissions on the Bill.
“To ensure meaningful public engagement, Parliament, through its public education unit, undertook an extensive public education process to ensure that participants make informed and qualitative submissions that will add value to the Bill.
“The Bill seeks to rationalise the marriage laws of various types of marriages and introduces a single marriage statute to replace the three existing marriage laws governing civil marriages, customary marriages and civil unions,” he said.
Chabane further said the Bill seeks to recognise all marriages irrespective of religion, custom, sexual orientation or other beliefs. He added that all marriages, concluded either following the tenets of any custom, religion or belief, will, therefore, be recognised.
“The Bill will further ensure that all marriages concluded before the commencement of the Bill continue to be recognised as marriages under South African law.
“Also, the Bill seeks to prohibit marriages involving children in line with South Africa’s obligations as it relates to international human rights instruments, as well as the protection of children,” said Chabane.
He said in this regard, the Bill introduces a requirement that both prospective spouses must be 18 years or older. Chabane said the Bill introduces offences and penalties for entering or concluding marriages with minors, as well as solemnising such marriages.
“The Bill will further ensure that the Minister of Home Affairs can designate marriage officers from all sectors of society, including traditional leadership, and sets out the requirements for designation as a marriage officer.
“In Mpumalanga, participants expressed their hope for the Bill and that the Bill will bring an end to the practice of Ukuthwala. The majority of participants suggested that a maximum of five years imprisonment for anyone who is forced to enter into a marriage that they do not freely consent to, will serve as a necessary deterrent against anyone inclined to the practice Ukuthwala,” he said.
Chabane said there was also a call that the Bill must include specific requirements and waiting time for any foreign national wishing to marry a South African. He said this argument was based on concerns that there is currently an increased abuse of the marriage provision for foreign nationals to regularise their stay in the country.
“The call for a defined timeline, according to participants, was necessary for the department to ascertain the bona fides of the marriage. There was also unanimous support for the proposal that the legal age to enter into marriage be increased.
“Despite this support, many proposed that the Bill increase the age limit to at least 21, which many viewed it as an adequate and mature age to enter into marriage and withstand the rigours of marriage,” said Chabane.
He said the engagements in North West allow the residents of the province to make their views heard on the Bill. Chabane said the committee would like to urge residents of the North West to come in their numbers to contribute to the Bill.
“The drafters of the Constitution envisioned laws that are reflective of the general views of all South Africans, and this is an incredible opportunity for the people to contribute to the Bill,” he said.
Details of the NW hearings are as follows:
DATE:2025
DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
Proposed venue
TIME
Friday 13 June
Bojanala Platinum District Municipality
Rustenburg Local Municipality Rustenburg
Civic Centre – City Hall
10:00 – 15:00
Saturday 14 June
Ngaka Modiri Molema District
Mahikeng Local Municipality (Mahikeng)
Auditorium at the NW Legislature
10:00 – 15:00
Sunday 15 June
Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District
Naledi Local Municipality (Vryburg)
Banquet Hall (will require 16 tables and VIP toilet)
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.
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.
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.
The Guardian 