Picture: The acting Minister of Police, Gwede Mantashe
By OBAKENG MAJE
15 July 2025- The Republic of South Africa (RSA), President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, as Acting Minister of Police with immediate effect. Ramaphosa said Mantashe will serve in this capacity until Prof Firoz Cachalia, who will retire from his position at the University of the Witwatersrand at the end of this month, assumes his position at the start of August.
“Mantashe will retain his responsibilities as Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources,” he said.
Picture: South African Police Service (SAPS) Deputy Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya
By OBAKENG MAJE
15 July 2025- The police crisis deepens as South African Police Service (SAPS) Deputy Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, is placed on leave. News this afternoon has been asked to take a leave of absence raises serious questions about governance and accountability in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Police, Ian Cameron, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) said in policing, placing someone on leave of absence instead of suspending them for a disciplinary transgression is highly irregular and highlights the growing crisis of executive oversight at the top of SAPS. Cameron said this distinction is not a technicality, it is fundamental.
“A leave of absence is typically voluntary and granted for personal reasons, such as medical or family needs. It carries no disciplinary implications and is not defined anywhere in the SAPS Discipline Regulations. A suspension, by contrast, is imposed by the employer, either as a precautionary or disciplinary measure where serious allegations arise.
“The SAPS Discipline Regulations explicitly empower the National Commissioner to suspend a member on full pay, if they are alleged to have committed misconduct and their presence could jeopardise an investigation or endanger safety or state property,” he said.
Cameron further said that standard clearly applies here. He added that Sibiya remains subject to the SAPS Discipline Regulations.
“Only the National Commissioner and the nine Provincial Commissioners are excluded from the disciplinary code. By asking him to take “leave of absence,” SAPS has sidestepped its own disciplinary framework, undermining both the integrity of the investigation and the credibility of the institution.
“The DA will submit urgent Parliamentary questions to establish what exactly the allegations against Sibiya are. Why was the proper suspension or transfer process bypassed? What safeguards exist to ensure a credible, interference-free investigation?
“Under normal circumstances, the Minister of Police would be expected to exercise oversight and provide legal and policy clarity on such a serious step. Yet South Africa has now gone almost 48 hours with no appointed Minister of Police,” said Cameron.
He said this leadership vacuum compounds the crisis and raises further doubts about whether the SAPS leadership is being held to account in line with the law and the public interest. Cameron said accountability, transparency and the rule of law demand immediate action.
15 July 2025- A taxi driver, Nkululeko Nkabinde (39) from Nellmapius Extension 6 was sentenced to life imprisonment for two counts of rape. This comes after Nkabinde raped a girl (12) on 29 November 2020.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said the court also ordered his inclusion on the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unfit to possess a firearm. Mahanjana said this will reinforce the NPA’s unwavering commitment to combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and protecting vulnerable children.
“On 29 November 2020, around 8pm, Nkabinde visited the victim’s home in Nellmapius Extension 12, where her mother was selling alcohol. After purchasing alcohol, he met the victim walking home from a shop.
“He lured her to his residence with a promise of R200. He drove with her and stopped his taxi at his gate, and insisted she enter his room for sexual intercourse. When she refused, Nkabinde raped her twice in the front seat of the taxi,” she said.
Mahanjana further said Nkabinde then drove her back, dropping her off near a bridge close to her home and threatened her not to tell anyone. She added that the victim, upon returning home, met her mother and friends who were searching for her and told them what had happened.
“The mother reported the incident to the South African Police Service, leading to Nkabinde’s arrest on 2 December 2020. Nkabinde pleaded not guilty, claiming the sexual intercourse was consensual and that he believed the victim was older,” said Mahanjana.
She said the state prosecutor, Advocate Corrine Maria Sam presented compelling evidence, including the victim’s testimony, facilitated through intermediary services to minimise trauma and the mother’s corroborating account. Mahanjana said Sam highlighted that the medical evidence confirmed the assault, noting the victim was a virgin at the time.
“The court rejected Nkabinde’s defence as implausible, finding the prosecution’s evidence credible and convicting him on both counts of rape. In mitigation, Nkabinde requested leniency, citing his responsibilities as a provider for his wife and two children.
“Sam opposed deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment under Section 51(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, arguing that Nkabinde committed a grave act of GBV against a child the same age as his daughter,” she said.
Sam said he took away the innocence of the child and exposed her to sexual acts, because at the time of the incident the victim was still virgin. Furthermore, Sam said Nkabinde showed no remorse for the offences, because even after being convicted he continued to lie to the court and said the child enjoyed it.
Magistrate Adrian Bekker agreed with the state that Nkabinde’s cruel violation of a vulnerable child, coupled with his lack of remorse, demands the severest penalty to protect society. Bekker said he finds no substantial or compelling circumstances to deviate from imposing life imprisonment.
Mahanjana said: “The NPA commends the courage of the victim, whose disclosure, supported by her mother and community, ensured accountability. Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Marika Jansen Van Vuuren praised Sam and the investigating officer for their meticulous work, stating.
“This life sentence sends a powerful message. The NPA will relentlessly pursue perpetrators of GBV ensuring justice restores dignity for victims.”
She said the NPA urges communities to remain vigilant, report abuse promptly, and support survivors through Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs,) which offer medical, psychological, and legal assistance. Mahanjana said this case underscores the critical role of families and communities in protecting children and empowering them to disclose abuse.
“The NPA calls on South Africans to unite against GBV, fostering safe environments where children’s constitutional rights to dignity and safety are upheld and predators’ face the full might of the law,” she said.
Picture: The North West MEC for COGHSTA, Oageng Molapisi
By BAKANG MOKOTO
15 July 2025- North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Oageng Molapisi said he has invoked Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act to investigate allegations of maladministration and malfeasance in Madibeng. Molapisi said he has appointed a law firm to conduct an investigation, which will amongst other things, focus on irregular appointment of municipal officials and service providers.
He further said this will include failure by council to convene statutory meetings as prescribed by legislation and rules of order of council. Molapisi added that the investigation follows a directive by the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, who had requested him to conduct an investigation in the municipality in terms of Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act.
“The investigation will be conducted in the next three months after which a report with clear recommendations will be presented to me. So, we appeal to the councillors of Madibeng Local Municipality to offer their support to ensure a successful investigation.
“The allegations are of a serious nature and we expect councillors and officials of the municipality to cooperate and assist in providing the necessary information that will assist the investigation,” he said.
15 July 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), together with the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), and other relevant parliamentary oversight committees, have committed to a coordinated approach to municipal oversight. This follows the alarming municipal audit outcomes that the Office of the Auditor-General (AG) reported to the committee earlier this year.
During the committee meeting this morning, the Chairperson of the Committee, Dr Zweli Mkhize has expressed deep concern at the lack of progress in municipal finances. Mkhize said the audit outcomes for local government for the 2023/24 financial year showed that only 16% of 257 municipalities achieved clean audits, while the rest either regressed or remained stagnant, with audit opinions ranging from qualified to disclaimers or non-submissions.
“When she presented the audit outcomes to the committee earlier this year, the AG noted that, despite having exercised all available remedial powers under the amended Public Audit Act, the audit outcomes remained largely unimproved.
“The committee will adopt a revised and more collaborative oversight model with a focus on intergovernmental accountability. Based on this new model, the committee will, with relevant oversight committees, conduct joint visits to provinces and municipalities, beginning with the Free State on 24 and 25 July,” he said.
Mkhize further said oversight visits to the North West and Eastern Cape will then follow. He added that the committee wants to avoid duplication, promote institutional coherence and ensure that every sphere of government accounts for its constitutional responsibilities through this collaboration.
“During these oversight visits, Members of Parliament (MPs) will engage with Premiers, Speakers of the Provincial Legislatures, Members of Executive Councils (MECs), municipal mayors, Speakers of municipal councils, and accounting officers.
“Provincial legislatures will also be involved in the process. The purpose of this is to evaluate the systemic causes behind repeat audit failures and to demand clear responses on what corrective actions have been taken and what measures are in place to prevent further regression,” he said.
Mkhize said the focus is on accountability and ensuring that there are consequences to prevent repeat offenders. He said this will help improve governance and ensure effective service delivery.
“The committees would pay particular attention to repeat disclaimer audit opinions, the poor quality of financial statements, overreliance on consultants without any tangible improvement, and persistent irregular expenditure.
“Unfunded budgets, non-functional internal audit units and poor contract management will also come under the spotlight. We can confirm that the committee sought legal clarity about coordinating oversight across spheres of government,” said Mkhize.
He said the committee solicited several legal opinions to ensure the planned oversight is rooted in the principles of cooperative governance with due regard for the autonomy of each sphere of government. Mkhize said the committee is satisfied that the oversight plan now aligns with constitutional provisions.
“This new approach reflects Parliament’s commitment to proactively preventing dysfunction rather than reacting to failures. It is designed to hold not only municipalities accountable, but also provincial governments, which are constitutionally obligated under Section 154 of the Constitution to support and monitor local government.
“Premiers and MECs will therefore be asked to account for how they have fulfilled their oversight roles, particularly in cases where municipalities have consistently underperformed,” he said.
Mkhize said this joint oversight model is an institutional response to the Auditor-General’s earlier call for decisive intervention and her letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly. He said the Office of the Auditor-General should not be placed in a position, where it is compelled to perform administrative duties, such as correcting municipal submissions.
“The AG’s function is to provide independent audit outcomes, not to compensate for governance failures. We reiterate the importance of this new collaborative oversight approach and said it is an important shift from fragmented accountability to a much-needed collective responsibility.
“We intend for this model to serve not only as a corrective measure but also as a blueprint for systemic reform and to ensure that audit reports reflect tangible improvements in governance and service delivery at the municipal level,” said Mkhize.
15 July 2025- Two owners of the pitbull dogs that allegedly mauled a girl (13) in Vryburg are set to appear in Vryburg Magistrate’s Court today. It is alleged that the victim, Remoratile Maphike, was attacked by the dogs of the suspects, Anneme Bam-Smith (42) and Raynold Izak van Niekerk (46), after entering the yard, to get to the residence, where they rented a room with her family.
The Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen said, following the attack, Remoratile was taken to hospital for medical attention.
“The suspects were summoned and are attending court. The case was investigated, and then taken to prosecution for a decision, hence the suspects were summonsed.
“Their next court date is on 15 July 2025,” said van Rooyen.
Meanwhile, one of the residents, Mpho Mokgosi said the upcoming court case set for 17 June 2025, highlights the urgent need for accountability in cases of dog attacks, particularly those involving vulnerable individuals such as children. Mokgosi said this case has drawn attention to the responsibilities of dog owners under South African law.
“Both accused, believed to be the owners of the dogs involved in the incident, have been charged under Section 1 to 6 of the Animal Matters Amendment Act 42 of 1993.
“This legislation serves to protect the public from reckless and irresponsible pet ownership, emphasizing that owners must take necessary precautions to prevent their animals from causing harm,” he said.
Mokgosi further said the allegations against the accused reflect a serious disregard for these legal obligations. He added that, despite the charges, both individuals have been released on warning, raising concerns about the message this sends regarding the seriousness of dog attacks and the responsibilities of pet owners.
“The law clearly states that owners are liable for any injuries caused by their dogs, and it is imperative that we hold them accountable to ensure the safety of our communities.
“The young victim, whose identity is being protected, continues to suffer from the physical and emotional consequences of this attack. Her injuries have not only caused immense pain and suffering but have also resulted in significant financial burdens for her family,” said Mokgosi.
He said medical bills, ongoing treatment, and psychological support are just a few of the costs that her parents are now facing as they seek to help their daughter recover. Mokgosi said South African law provides a framework for addressing such incidents.
15 Phukwi 2025- Monna o neng a latofadiwa ka go betelela lekgarebe la dingwaga di le 16 la kwa motseng wa Lokgabeng, gaufi le Taung, o golotswe. Se, se tla morago ga gore bosekisi bo shupe fa bopaki kgatlhanong le monna o bo sa nonofela kgetsi.
Go begwa fa se, sebakilwe ke bopaki jo bo tlhakatlhakaneng go tswa go dipaki ga mmogo le lekgarebe le. Go begwa fa dipaki di boleletse mmatlisisi wa kgetsi fa ba ne ba na le motswasetlhabelo kwa ntlung fa ba ne ba iphanya ka nnotagi, mme ba bega fa ba ise ba tsamaye ba ye kwa ntlung e rekisang nnotagi kwa 2BOB.
Fela o mongwe wa dipaki go begwa fa a tlhalositse gore ke nnete ba ne ba ya kwa 2BOB, fela o bone motswasetlhabelo a na le monna mongwe o a sa itsiweng kwa morago ga tavern.
Kgetsi ya petelelo ene ya bulwa morago ga dipego tsa gore lekgarebe le ga mmogo le ditsala tsa gagwe, ba ne ba ya kwa lefelong le le rekisang bojalwa la 2BoB ka ura ya bo lesome bosigo ka Lamatlhatso. Go begwa fa ba ile ba fitlha ba iphanya ka nnotagi, fela e ne ya re lekgarebe le le utlwa ekare o bo tshetse go utlwala, one a kopa ditsala tsa gagwe gore ba tsamaye.
Go ya ka dipego, ditsala tsa gagwe di ile tsa gana, mme ba mo kaela fa ba setse ba itisitse. Go begwa fa lekgarebe le, le ne la ipeta pelo fela, mme la wela mo tseleng.
Go begwa fa le ne le tla le lebile kwa gagabo, le ne la kopana le mosadimogolo. Go begwa fa mosadimogolo o, a ile a mo botsa gore ke mang, mme gobaneng a tsamaya a le nosi bosigo?
Go begwa fa lekgarebe le, le ile la tlhalosetsa mosadimogolo fa ele setlogolo sa kwa ga Maine. Go begwa ga mosadimogolo a ile a mo tlhalosetsa fa rragwemogolo Maine ele ntsalae, mme a mo kopa gore a tsamaye le ene a ye go robala kwa gagagwe, gonne go le bosigo o ka tlogana a tlhaselwa ke dilalome.
Go begwa fa mosadimogolo o, a ile a tlhalosetsa lekgarebe le fa a sa bone tsela sentle, mme ba tsamaya go ya kwa legaeng la gagwe. Go begwa fa go fitlheng ga bone, mosadimogolo o ne a mo laela gore a robale mo phaphosing ya mmelaelwa wa dingwaga di le 33.
Go begwa fa ka nako eo, mmelaelwa a ne a seo, mme lekgarebe le, le ile la robala.
Go ya dipego, mmelaelwa o ile a fitlha moragonyana, mme a fitlhela lekgarebe le, le robetse mo bolaong jwa gagwe. Go begwa fa lekgarebe le le ile la tsoga magareng ga ura ya borobongwe le lesome mo mosong, mme a tsosiwa ke go utlwa gore go na le motho o mo betelelang.
Go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ile a botsa mongongoregi gore ele gore ene ke mang, ebile o fitlhile jang mo bolaong jwa gagwe. Go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ile a bolelela mongongoregi gore a se ise pelo mafisa, gonne ke mosadi wa gagwe.
Go begwa fa lekgarebe le, le ile la tlola mo godimo ga bolao, mme apara borokgwe jwa gagwe jwa mogare (panties) ga mmogo le borokgwe jwa gagwe jwa jeans, mme a se hopha selelo.
Go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ile a tswela kwa ntle, mme a itsise mosadimogolo fa lekgarebe le, le lela fela ga itse gore o lelela eng. Go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ile a latela lekgarebe le mo ntlung, mme a mo kopa gore a tsamaye le ene go ya go bolelela mosadimogolo gore o lelela eng.
Go begwa fa mosadimogolo a ile a laela mmelaela gore a ise lekgarebe le kwa gagabo, fela lekgarebe le ile la gana. Go begwa fa mosadimogolo a ile a neela lekgarebe le madi a kanang ka R100 gore a pagame tekesi go ya gae kgotsa a bone gore o tla dira eng ka madi ao.
Go begwa ka lekgarebe le, le ile la tsamaya ka bokukuntshwane kwa legaeng la mosadimogolo. Go ya ka dipego, lekgarebe le, le le neng le tlhapile ka dikeledi, le ile la kopana le mme mongwe mo tseleng.
Go begwa fa mme o, a ile a mo botsa gore o lelela eng, mme o ile a mo lotlegela ka se se mo diragaletseng. Mme o, go begwa fa a ile a leba kwa gagagwe le lekgarebe le, mme a fitlha a roma ngwana wa gagwe go ya go reka airtime gore motswasetlhabelo a letsetse batsadi ba gagwe.
Go begwa fa mme o, a ile a letsetsa mmagwe ngwana. Go begwa fa mmagwe ngwana a ile a ya go tsaya ngwana wa gagwe, mme kgetsi ya petelelo e ile ya bulwa.
Go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ile a tshwarwa ka Labobedi, mme o ile a tlhagelela kwa kgotlhatshekelo, mme kgetsi kgatlhanong le ene e ile ya tshololwa nakwana.
15 June 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation will on Wednesday launch the fourth leg of the People-Centred Oversight Mechanism in the Western Cape. The committee has previously launched this Oversight Mechanism in Mpumalanga, North West and Gauteng provinces.
The People-Centred Oversight Mechanism includes systems and processes that involve the public in monitoring and holding public institutions accountable, particularly in areas like foreign policy and service delivery. These mechanisms aim to ensure that ordinary citizens have a voice and play a meaningful role in shaping policies and practices that affect their lives.
This initiative aims to involve ordinary South Africans in the country’s foreign policy agenda and ensure that international relations are not solely the domain of elites. The launch will take place at Cape Sun Hotel, in Cape Town from 8:30 until 2pm.
Pictures: Dr Matodzi Rathumbu attains Doctor of Philosophy/Facebook
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
15 July 2025- Limpopo Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba said is filled with joy and pride as she congratulates Dr Matodzi Rathumbu on attaining his Doctor of Philosophy, officially conferred by the University of Witwatersrand on 14 July 2025. Ramathuba said as the Head of the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) since 2024, Rathumbu has proven himself as a dedicated leader committed to the advancement of our province.
“It is truly uplifting to witness our departmental leaders enhancing their expertise by achieving significant qualifications. Rathumbu’s PhD aligns perfectly with our goals for inclusive growth and job creation in Limpopo.
“His research addresses key issues such as trade and tariffs, which are crucial in navigating the complexities of the global economy,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rathumbu’s thesis, titled ‘The Effects of Trade Barriers on Southern Africa Development Community Regional Integration,’ offers valuable insights into how domestic policies impact trade throughout the region. With Limpopo strengthening its economic relationships with neighbouring countries like Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia, the findings of this research hold great potential for fostering regional collaboration and economic resilience.
Ramathuba further said Rathumbu balanced the responsibilities of his role, while pursuing such an impactful academic goal. She added that this is a moment of pride for her province.
“I eagerly anticipate the implementation of his insights so that their benefits can be enjoyed in our lifetime,” said Ramathuba.
Picture: Stings vs Crinums: Stings and Crinums in action during the Telkom Netball League Power Week 3 played at Durban ICC on Monday/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
15 July 2025- The Telkom Netball League (TNL) kicked off Power Week 3 at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC), with intense matches that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. The Golden Fireballs showcased their dominance in an electrifying match, outperforming the Aloes in all aspects of the game.
After a closely contested first quarter (13-13), the Fireballs took control, with coach, Dr Elsje Jordaan making crucial changes that paid off. The team’s impressive performance sealed a convincing 64-40 win. Standout performances came from Jeante Strydom, who had a stellar game with impressive interceptions, and Owethu Ngubane made a notable impact and was awarded the player of the match accolade.
The Fireballs’ execution proved to be a winning formula, and they remain undefeated.
“We have got a good vibe in the camp at the moment. Confidence is good. We trust each other when we’re out there. But we take it game by game,” said Jordaan.
Reigning 2025 USSA champion coach and Fireballs assistant coach Bongi Msomi added: “We know that the big playoffs are coming, and we want to make sure that we end the pool games well, so that by semi-final time, we’re as sharp as possible.”
Meanwhile, the Aloes’ coach, Sameisha Esau, reflected on her team’s performance: “I think my girls really had a good start, but we could not sustain that performance throughout the whole match. We weren’t clinical in our play, and having to work twice for our centre passes is a concern. We’ll go back and look at how we can capitalise on our centre passes.”
The Stings and Crinums clashed in the last match of the day, with the Stings initially taking a one-goal lead in the first quarter, 12-11. However, the Crinums regained control and dominated the match after impactful changes in the third quarter, including Zandre Smit’s introduction at GS. The Crinums’ strong performance paid off, securing a convincing 9-goal win, 44-53.
Stings coach Dr Freda Kemp said: “Obviously, I’m not happy with the loss… We can’t afford to make any mistakes. We turned the ball, and then we lost possession down the court. So that’s really something we have to clean up going forward.”
Crinums coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm said: “We struggled in our shooting circle, but I’m happy with the intensity and how hard we fought for each ball. Team effort pulled us through today.”
Division 2 wrap-up
The Tornados had a fantastic day on the court, securing two impressive victories. In a nail-biting encounter, they edged out the Kingdom Queens by a single goal, winning 42-41. The Tornados then went on to dominate the Lillies, winning 57-27 in a commanding display of dexterity. The Tornados’ wins secured their position at the summit of the Division 2 log.
Tshukudu continued their winning streak with a convincing 43-37 victory over the Diamonds, demonstrating their strength and consistency in the league and the likelihood of booking their spot in the playoffs.
The TNL is shaping up to be an exciting competition, with teams battling it out for top spots. The action continues tomorrow, with more exciting matches expected.
The Guardian 