28 July 2025- The police in Northern Cape said they have noted with concern several incidents involving motorists falling victim to crime in and around traffic intersections. The police said in response, the police urge the public to implement safety precautions to help ensure the safety of all road users.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said motorists should ensure that their vehicles are in a roadworthy condition before embarking on any journey. Sam said they should keep their fuel tank sufficiently filled at all times.
“Always lock your vehicle doors and keep windows closed. Never leave your vehicle unlocked, even for a short moment. Avoid stopping in isolated or remote areas. Park in well-lit, secure areas and if a stranger approaches while you’re in your vehicle, open your window only slightly (not more than 5cm) for communication.
“If you feel unsafe or suspicious of someone’s behaviour, avoid interaction and drive away. Minimise travel at night. If necessary, travel with someone. If possible, vary your travel route to and from work,” he said.
Sam further said if approached by a suspicious individual while in your car, drive off or sound your horn to attract attention. He added that, if you notice people loitering near your driveway, do not stop.
“Drive past and report it to your nearest police station if they linger. Be aware that hijackers may stage minor accidents to lure you out of your vehicle. If you are bumped from behind and feel unsafe, drive to the nearest police station instead of exiting your vehicle.
“Do not reach for valuables if confronted—leave them behind if forced out of your car. Your life is more valuable than your possessions. Do not resist if the perpetrator is armed,” said Sam.
He said motorists should surrender their vehicle without resistance and move away safely. Sam also encourages people to join a lift club where possible as it can reduce vulnerability to crime.
“Never offer lifts to strangers. Use a gear lock—it’s an affordable and effective anti-theft device. Install a mirror on your garage wall to monitor if someone is following you.
“Ensure your gates are closed before opening your garage doors. Victims are encouraged to report any suspicious or criminal activity to their nearest police station or call the SAPS Crime Stop number at 08600 10111, or use the MySAPS App,” he said.
Sam said all reports will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
28 July 2025- The Department of Water and Sanitation in North West will adopt Ntsweletsoku Primary School in Ntsweletsoku village, near Lehurutshe as part of its Water and Sanitation Education Program (WSEP) to address challenges of water wastage, proper management of toilet facilities, health and hygiene good practices in schools.
The Department, said through its WSEP, has initiated an Adopt-a-School intervention project that targets all schools to address their water and sanitation challenges.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa said Ntsweletsoku Primary School, based in Lehurutse was identified following its long-standing participation in Baswa Le Meetse competitions that are part of the WSEP. Mavasa said some of the activities of the Adopt-a-School initiative will include a clean-up of the school by the participating stakeholders, including parents and community members.
“The Department of Water and Sanitation will be in collaboration with Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality and different stakeholders at the event. The event will be held at Ntsweletsoku Primary School on Wednesday at 9am,” she said.
Setshwantsho: Monna o tshwerwe mabapi le kgetsi ya maiteko a petelelo
Ka KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
28 July 2025- Monna o latofadiwang ka maiteko a petelelo o tshwerwe ke lephata la sepodisi le le batlisisang babelaelwa ba ba tshabelang molao kwa porofenseng ya Kapa Bokone. Go begwa fa monna o wa dingwaga di le 25, a tshwerwe kwa toropong ya Bloemfontein kwa porofenseng ya Free State mo letsatsing la gompieno.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mono porofenseng ya Kapa Bokone, Sarasanta Timothy Sam are, mmelaelwa o kgale a ntse a tshabela sepodisi fa e sale ka ngwaga wa 2022. Sam are kgetsi ya maiteko a petelelo ene ya bulwa kwa Barkly West.
“Maloko a lephata la Provincial Tracking Team ba ile ba amogela tshedimosetso mabapi le gore monna o, o kae, mme ba e sala morago. Monna o, o na le dingwaga di le tharo a ntse a tshabela mapodisi, mme o ile a tshwarwa kwa Grassland, Bloemfontein.
“O solofetswe go tlhagelela kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Barkly West mo nakong e e sa fediseng pelo. Sepodisi mono Kapa Bokone se itlamile go neelana ka tshireletsego go baagi, mme se tla dira ka bojotlhe go tshwara bao ba tshabelang molao,” Sam wa tlhalosa.
Sam are baagi ka kakaretso ba rotloediwa go dirisana le sepodisi le go neelana ka tshedimosetso e botlhokwa go ka reba bosenyi. Sam are baagi ba rotloediwa go letsetsa nomoro ya sepodisi ya 08600 10111, kgotsa go ka dirisa MyAPP go ka neelana ka tshedimosetso e botlhokwa mabapi le bosenyi bongwe le bongwe,” Sam wa tlhalosa.
Picture: Former ANCYL Secretary-General, Sindiso Magaqa
By REGINALD KANYANE
28 July 2025- The South African Police Service (SAPS) Political Killings Task Team has made another breakthrough in the former ANCYL Secretary-General, Sindiso Magaqa murder case with the arrest of the former Municipal Manager of the Umzimkhulu Local Municipality. A suspect (55), was re-arrested today in Malvern, Durban.
The police national spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said he was previously arrested in 2018, alongside the late mayor of the Umzimkhulu Local Municipality, a businessman, two former police officers and a hitman. Mathe said the hitman, Sbusiso Ncengwa, was convicted to 25 years imprisonment on 7 July 2025.
“The former Municipal Manager is expected to appear before the Umzimkhulu Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday,” she said.
28 July 2025- The Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria struck the application by Kishene Chetty and others off the roll with costs. This follows their application to consolidate their several cases of fraud, forgery, money laundering and other charges of dishonesty into one, as they argue that the charges in all the cases are similar.
However, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said Counsel for the NPA’s objected when the legal representatives of Chetty and others attempted to hand in four new lever arch files, which were not provided to the court and the state in preparation for the hearing. Mamothame said the State argued that in law, an applicant can file a supplementary only if they obtain leave to do so from a court, following a substantive application.
“The judge also questioned if it was correct for a criminal matter to be presided on by a civil court. This outcome will provide progress in the cases that Chetty and his co-accused are facing, as they have been postponed pending this ruling.
“Chetty and his co-accused, who include officials from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and private entities, are facing several corruption cases relating to tender fraud within the SAPS,” he said.
28 July 2025 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Zweli Mkhize, has welcomed an investigation into allegations that councillors and other politically connected individuals have been receiving inflated stipends under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State.
This follows the committee’s joint oversight visit to the Free State last week, where 23 municipalities appeared before the joint oversight delegation. The delegation also included some members from Parliament’s Standing Committees on Public Accounts and the Auditor-General, as well as the Free State Provincial Legislature.
Following the committee’s interrogation of the state of Matjhabeng’s finances, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, announced his decision to suspend EPWP funding to Matjhabeng Local Municipality.
Mkhize said the committee has been aware of the allegations and supports a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder investigation, which combines the efforts of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the Free State MECs for Finance and COGTA and the Office of the Premier of the Free State. He said during the oversight engagement with Matjhabeng Local Municipality, the committee learned that while the irregular payments involve a limited number of individuals, the complete suspension of EPWP funding will affect hundreds of poor EPWP workers receiving R2 600 per month, many of whom are not implicated in any wrongdoing.
“We have proposed that stipends be suspended only for the implicated individuals until the investigation is completed. We advised against cutting off funding to all EPWP workers, warning that most participants are vulnerable and depend on the small stipend to make ends meet.
“While any abuse of public funds must be met with swift and decisive action, it is critical that investigations are targeted and that innocent beneficiaries are not penalised,” he said.
Mkhize further said they cannot allow the poor to suffer for the misdeeds of a few. He added that those found guilty must face disciplinary and criminal consequences, but the programme itself must continue to serve its intended purpose – to provide short-term work opportunities to the unemployed.
“Although some of the allegations may be driven by politics or confusion about internal staffing, it’s important for the process to be transparent and based on clear evidence and not hearsay. We call for public participation and oversight at the municipal level to be strengthened, stating that communities must be engaged in the design and monitoring of public employment programmes.
“Mayors and municipal managers must regularly consult communities and account for their spending. Citizens must be given avenues to report concerns and submit evidence,” said Mkhize.
He said the committee will request a consolidated report from the minister, the MECs and the Provincial Treasury within three months. Mkhize said the report must include updates on disciplinary action taken, financial recovery efforts and measures to prevent recurrence.
“The findings will be tabled in Parliament for further scrutiny. We reiterate that the Matjhabeng case shows the need for constitutional oversight at all levels. If municipalities fail to perform, provinces must intervene.
“If provinces neglect their oversight duty, the national government must act. That is how the Constitution envisages cooperative governance,” he said.
Mkhize said Matjhabeng provides a chance to set a national example.
“We must act firmly against corruption but fairly. Our fight is not against the EPWP, but against its abuse, and we have to protect the integrity of the system while safeguarding the rights of those it was designed to serve,” he said.
Picture: The National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza
By BAKANG MOKOTO
28 July 2025- The Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, will from 28 to 31 July 2025, attend the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament and the 6th Conference of Speakers in Geneva, Switzerland. The summit is intended to bring together women in the highest parliamentary decision-making positions to shape the parliamentary agenda based on emerging political, economic, environmental, and social changes that require united and gender-responsive global governance solutions.
It offers a platform for women leaders to network and exchange views and experiences.
Didiza said the summit is taking place during a year of many milestones for the women and girls of the world. She further said the year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as the ten-year milestone of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The women, peace and security agenda is marking 25 years of existence and is needed even more today than when it was established. The summit will focus on the role of women Speakers in leading for inclusive and lasting peace.
“Meanwhile, the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in close collaboration with the United Nations, will take place from 29 to 31 July 2025 at the Palais des Nations (United Nations Office at Geneva),” added Didiza.
She said the conference aims to provide a unique forum for high-level engagement and dialogue among parliamentary leaders from around the world. Didiza said previous conferences, held every five years, have served as catalysts for shaping and strengthening the parliamentary dimension of global governance, thereby helping to bridge the democracy gap in international affairs.
“This occasion will mark the culmination of two years of work by a Preparatory Committee of approximately 20 Speakers of Parliament from all regions of the world, and it promises to be the largest-ever gathering of its kind.
“In keeping with the IPU’s inclusive approach, it will also feature prominent leaders from other international organizations, academia, civil society organizations, and the media,” she said.
Picture: North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
28 July 2025- The North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha said his department has committed R36.856 million to the Red Meat Industry Development and Enhancement Programme, a targeted intervention aimed at repositioning the province as a major player in South Africa’s red meat economy.
Sambatha made the announcement during his department’s Policy and Budget Speech at the North West Provincial Legislature on 23 July 2025.
“The programme is set to directly benefit 7242 farmers, including 4728 men, 2219 women, 252 youth, and 43 people living with disabilities, through structured production support, access to value chains, and market integration.
“The initiative will be implemented through the Beef Beneficiation Aggregation Model, a framework designed to enhance farmer coordination, improve processing capacity and establish sustainable linkages to commercial markets,” he said.
Sambatha further said the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District will be prioritised, given its concentration of beef farming operations and its strategic role in the provincial livestock value chain. He added that, in addition to supporting production, the programme is projected to generate 321 temporary and 87 permanent jobs, particularly in areas such as aggregation, logistics, technical extension, and feedlot operations.
“This aligns with the department’s broader goals of advancing rural development, increasing household incomes, and reducing unemployment in underserved communities.
“We have also declared the R36.8 million injection into the red meat industry a decisive turning point for the North West agricultural sector. This is more than just funding, but a bold statement of intent,” he said.
Sambatha said they are transforming the red meat value chain, unlocking opportunities for emerging farmers and positioning the province as a powerhouse in livestock production. He said this investment is a clear demonstration of their steadfast commitment to building a transformed, competitive and inclusive red meat industry in the province.
“Through this programme, we are not only empowering our farmers, but also driving economic growth, boosting job creation, and laying a solid foundation for long-term food security and agro-industrial development,” concluded Sambatha.
Meanwhile, the Red Meat Industry Development and Enhancement Programme forms part of NW-DARD’s strategy to broaden participation, enhance local beneficiation, and stimulate growth across rural economies, while contributing meaningfully to the provincial and national GDP.
28 July 2025- The Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa has a well-established auto manufacturing industry that is more than a century old. Ramaphosa said it has proven to be one of the most resilient sectors of our economy.
He further said since the first assembly plants were established in the Eastern Cape in the 1920s, the auto industry has grown to become the largest manufacturing sector in the country. Ramaphosa added that South Africa’s role in global vehicle manufacturing has expanded and grown.
“Auto companies like Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have plants here in our country that produce vehicles for the local market and for export to many other countries in the world. A number of these companies continue to expand their investments in our country. The sector currently supports more than 115,000 direct manufacturing jobs and more than 500,000 across the value chain.
“It contributes approximately 5.3% to GDP. However, the industry is under growing pressure. The introduction of stricter vehicle emissions regulations in leading export destinations such as the European Union, as well as new tariffs from the United States, are expected to have a significant impact on the sector,” he said.
Ramaphosa said with exports currently accounting for approximately two-thirds of local vehicle production, it is critical that we strengthen the sector to not only overcome current headwinds, but to ensure its long-term sustainability. He said last week, he attended the launch of BMW’s new X3 plug-in hybrid at the company’s Rosslyn plant in Tshwane. South Africa is the exclusive global production site for this model.
“The shift from internal combustion engines (ICE) towards hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) in a number of markets means that green mobility is becoming increasingly important for automotive manufacturers. The latest investment by BMW following their pledge at our South Africa Investment Conference in 2023 is a welcome signal to investors that South Africa remains a favourable place to do business.
“As government, we are working to ensure there is an enabling regulatory and policy environment to support the growth of this burgeoning industrial activity. Our five South Africa Investment Conferences, where we invited companies to make investment pledges that are translated into actual investments, is an important platform for companies to declare their investment intention to South Africa and demonstrate that South Africa is an investable market,” said Ramaphosa.
He said government support to the car manufacturing industry through the Automotive Production and Development Programme will position South Africa as a key global manufacturing base for vehicles of the future. Ramaphosa said this is not just critical to the sustainability of the sector, but to growing the workforce and skills of the future.
“BMW, for example, has a training academy that focuses on competencies like EV assembly and robotics. The company is also a founding partner of the Youth Employment Service (YES), which was established between the government and the private sector to create work experience opportunities for young people.
“This initiative introduces young people into the world of work for a year of experience and training. Often if they meet the standards of the participating company they stand a good chance of being absorbed as employees of the company. BMW’s participation in this programme has supported more than 3,500 young people with training and work placements across all nine provinces.
“We have invited more companies to participate in the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme as broadly as BMW has done. We are working to ensure that more production takes place locally, creating more employment. To do this, we must upskill our workforce and facilitate the creation of new companies across the value chain. As such, we welcome initiatives by the sector to support skills development through initiatives such as the Centre of Excellence at the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone,” he said.
Ramaphosa said this centre has an artisan training academy, an incubation hub and a science, technology, engineering and mathematics programme for high school learners. He said there are also a number of industry-driven training initiatives focusing on technical and artisanal skills, and deepening collaboration between government departments, vocational colleges and companies to grow a new skills pipeline.
“Protecting existing jobs in the sector is paramount, particularly in the light of the looming US tariffs. The need to diversify our export base has become all the greater. We are committed to working with the sector to expand its continental footprint, building on the already strong growth of exports to the SADC region and leveraging the trade relationships that exist.
“Amid these challenges, South Africa’s auto industry is making the investments needed to build resilience, protect jobs and lead the way into a new era of green mobility,” said Ramaphosa.
28 Phukwi 2025- Sepodisi sa kwa Morokweng, gaufi le Ganyesa, se butse kgetsi ya polao morago ga dipego tsa gore mosetsanyana wa dingwaga di le 6 o beteletswe le go bolawa kwa motseng wa Tseoge. Go begwa fa moswi a ne a tsamaya le mmagwe ka Lamatlhatso fa sejanaga se ba neng ba se palame se ema kwa ntlung e rekisang nnotagi.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, o tlhalositse fa mmagwe ngwana a ile a lemoga fa mosetsanyana o a seo, mme ba tshimolola go batlana le ene. Tryphosa are ga gwa nna le nko e tswang lemina, mme setopo sa mosetsanyana o, se ile sa bonwa ka letsatsi la Tshipi.
“Ga gona ope o tshwerweng go fitlha ga jaana, fela dipatlisiso di tsweletse,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.
The Guardian 