Daily Archives: July 26, 2025

Learners left stranded after their scholar transport buses ‘hijacked’ by protestors

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Picture: Learners transported to various camps/Generic

By BAKANG MOKOTO

26 July 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng appeals to the communities not to use scholar transport as a bargaining tool during service delivery protests. This comes after disruptions at several schools in Ganyesa, where scholar transport buses were ‘hijacked and forced to transport’ protesting community members leaving learners stranded.

Morweng alleged that protesting community members forced both teachers and learners of Kgononyane Secondary School in Southey village, near Ganyesa to vacate school premises. He further said almost 2000 learners from five schools were affected and majority of these learners are beneficiaries of the scholar transport provided by the department.

“We beg communities to use alternative avenues to raise concerns rather than to deny learners opportunity to attend classes. The situation is reported to have calmed down and no disruptions were reported on Friday morning.

“The Head of Department, Dr Hans Kekana has appealed to bus operators, parents and schools’ management to inform the department at once should there be any challenges faced by learners who rely on scholar transport,” added Morweng.

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Motsumi commits to support school principals at all cost

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Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi with SAPA delegation/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

26 July 2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi attended the North West province South African Principals Association (SAPA) conference held at Banquet Hall in Vryburg on 25 July 2025. SAPA conference is attended by school principals and deputy principals whose schools are affiliated with the structure.

Motsumi urged the school principals to be united.

“One of the most important principles that will help us to improve the results is unity. We should strive to be united and be able to share good practices with top-performing schools.

“Our principals work under severe pressure. As a department, we should learn to engage with them to understand what they are going through. They are the ones who operate on the frontline of service delivery,” she said.

Motsumi further said the status quo needs to change. She added that, as a department, they should support the principals at all costs.

“I further instructed the Superintendent-General of the department to provide Information and Communication Technology gadgets to all principals,” said Motsumi.

The outgoing SAPA president and the School Principal at Runatang Primary in Rustenburg, Lesiba Pila, emphasized that the departmental support is extremely essential in achieving their goals. Pila has worked for the Department of Education for 44 years.

“The SAPA was formed in 1995 in the Western Cape to deal with issues affecting principals. The South African Principals Association (SAPA) is a professional organization that focuses on empowering school leaders in South Africa. It provides a platform for principals to engage in professional development, exchange best practices, and advocate for policies that improve education.

“As school principals, we appreciate the support that the department is giving to us. I believe that even after I have left this position, the new leadership will make an even greater impact on our communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, the SAPA conference will end on 26 July 2025.

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Police probe allegations of existing Lesotho Military Camps in SA

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Picture: Lesotho Military during training/Generic

By REGINALD KANYANE

26 July 2025- The National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola has met with all nine provincial commissioners for each province during a scheduled Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting to discuss crime combatting efforts in the country. The BOC is the highest decision making body of the SAPS inclusive of all Provincial Commissioners, Divisional Commissioners and the Acting National Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation(DPCI).

During the meeting, Masemola highlighted his satisfaction that organised crime syndicates in the country are being dismantled, dislodged, displaced and arrested. The comments made by the Lesotho Police Chief, Advocate Borotho Matsoso were high on the agenda.

“A preliminary report from the crime intelligence division was discussed in which intelligence structures have highlighted that they have heightened their operations to investigate allegations made and where necessary, track down and takedown such illegal activities.

“The DPCI also known as the HAWKS Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit has also been roped in to investigate. Various searches have been undertaken by CATS at various identified farms and no such evidence has been found to date,” he said.

Masemola further reached out to the Lesotho Police Chief, where the two commissioners discussed the allegations made by Matsoso. He added that, commissioners agreed that both law enforcement agencies intelligence structures are on the ground to investigate the existence of such camps.

“We assure all people living in South Africa that the safety and security of the people of SA is of paramount importance and anyone who is found to be in the country committing illegal acts will face the full might of the law.

“To this effect, intelligence structures and operatives are on the ground to establish facts. South Africans are urged not to panic or worry as police from both countries remain on high alert,” said Masemola.

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Banyana suffer defeat to Ghana in bronze medal match as they bow out of WAFCON

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Picture: Banyana Banyana players

By OBAKENG MAJE

26 July 2025 – Banyana Banyana’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign ended on a disappointing note after they were beaten 4-3 on penalties by Ghana in the bronze medal match at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, on Friday night.

The two teams had finished regulation time level at 1-1 after the first half opening strike from Nonhlanhla Mthandi on the stroke of half-time, and Ghana’s equalizer by Alice Kusi in the 68th minute.

It was then left up to the lottery of the penalty shootout to decide this 3rd/4th place playoff match and settle the destiny of the bronze medal. Linda Motlhalo, Bambanani Mbane and Jermaine Seoposenwe converted their spot kicks for South Africa, while Sibulele Holweni and Hildah Magaia were denied. Ghana converted their kicks through Kusi, Josephine Bonsu, Jennifer Cudjoe and Nancy Amoh while Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah’s shot was saved by South Africa’s Andile Dlamini.

The two goalkeepers – Dlamini and Ghana counterpart Cynthia Konlan – were in excellent form during the shootout, but it was the West Africans who eventually held their nerve to win the match. The result means that Seoposenwe will exit the international stage without the medal she had hope she would claim with the South African senior women’s national team on her final match.

The South Africans will return on Monday, 28 July 2025.

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