3 August 2025- The Northern Cape MEC for Education, Abraham Vosloo said their Online Admission System continues to set the standard nationwide, serving as a benchmark for effective and efficient learner admissions. Vosloo said the application period for the 2026 academic year was open from 14 April until 23 May 2025, during which they received a total of 30 409 applications for Grades R, 1 and 8.
“The first round of the placement process for learners commenced on 31 July 2025 at 5pm. Parents and legal guardians have received SMS notifications informing them of the outcome of their child’s placement. The second round of placements will take place on 22 August 2025.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the admission teams at both Provincial and District offices for their unwavering commitment and hard work. Their dedication ensures that all placements will be concluded by the end of November 2025,” he said.
Picture: The police during Operation Basadi/Supplied
By AGISANANG SCUFF
3 August 2025- As part of the ongoing commitment to creating a safer South Africa, the police in the Northern Cape conducted intensified, high-density operations from 28 July until 3 August 2025, under the banner of Operation Shanela II. The police said these weekly operations focused on priority crimes across the province and aimed to assert the authority of the state.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said in line with Women’s Month and to honour the role of women in law enforcement, Operation Basadi was officially launched on 1 August 2025. Shemane said it forms part of the broader Operation Shanela framework and emphasizes the importance of female officers in frontline policing.
“The multi-disciplinary teams carried out a wide range of intelligence-driven and disruptive policing activities, including, high-visibility blue-light patrols, stop-and-search operations, roadblocks and vehicle checkpoints.
“Detective teams traced and arrested wanted suspects who had been evading the law. During these operations a total of
12 315 individuals and 6 803 vehicles were stopped and searched,” he said.
According to Shemane, 341 suspects were arrested for various offences, including murder, assault with intent to cause Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), drug dealing, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, illegal immigration, house-breaking and illicit mining. He further said several non-compliant liquor premises were also closed down.
“The police in collaboration with external stakeholders, conducted compliance inspections at various premises including, formal and informal businesses, scrapyards, liquor outlets, second-hand goods dealers, mines and farms.
“Numerous items were confiscated during the operations, such as a significant amount of alcohol, cash, counterfeit goods, dangerous weapons, illicit tobacco products, a firearm and drugs,” added Shemane.
He said furthermore, awareness campaigns were hosted in Kimberley by the Provincial Corporate Communication and Liaison in partnership with the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS). Shemane said these initiatives focused on educating the public on human trafficking, extortion and Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended the collaborative efforts between the police, community members and stakeholders. Otola expressed her appreciation for their continued support in prioritising community safety and upholding the law.
Picture: The Northern Cape MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
3 August 2025- The Northern Cape MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene said he welcomes the investigation report presented and officially handed over to the Department by the Health Onbudsman. Lekwene said following the official release of the investigation report, they are moving expeditiously with the immediate appointment of a Provincial Task Team, as outlined in the Health Ombudsman’s report to monitor the implementation of the recommendations that will improve the overall safety and quality of patient care.
He further said he will personally oversee the implementation of this comprehensive plan and provide regular updates to the Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, EXCO, Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and all statutory bodies on progress made since the release of the investigation report. Lekwene added that a dedicated task team will be appointed immediately to track progress against all defined actions and timelines.
“We will review monthly reports from NCMHH and RMSH CEOs and Provincial Department Head. Ensure timely financial reporting in accordance with the PFMA. Engage regularly with the OHSC and Mental Health Review Boards on compliance and patient outcomes.
“The officials that have findings against them will be sanctioned and disciplined in accordance with the report. This includes clinical staff at both the Mental Health and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe hospitals,” he said.
Lekwene said the actions to be taken, includes reporting them to their professional bodies such as the health professions council. He said the department is in the process of concluding its investigations into the specific transactions and procurement that the Ombudsman has found as suspect and include exaggerated costs.
“The department will indeed ensure that thorough review of the clinical governance guidelines and SOP’s are undertaken at both affected hospitals. It is important that all hospitals in the province take the lessons that are proffered by the Ombudsman.
“As the department, we remain committed to fully operationalizing the Mental Health Hospital and other facilities. We continue to do so, bearing in mind that the challenge of plenty of needs and limited resources is universal, especially in the health sector where the supply and demand is always asymmetrical,” said Lekwene.
He said they shall ensure that there are no gaps of accountability and below par performance in the commitments that they make to the people. Lekwene said they shall certainly ensure that they shape things up.
“We intend to realise the commitment to overhaul the administration for effective and efficient performance. Within the coming week, following the release of the final report we shall take decisive action against some of the officials named in the report including the referral to professional bodies.
“We will zoom into the plunder and mismanagement of public resources and them out. We will make a cogent case for adequate resourcing of health services in the department. The process of reviewing contracts that are deemed not beneficial to the department is moving forward apace as top priority,” he said.
Lekwene said it is for this reason that the department in consultation with Provincial Treasury, will look into the appointment of a forensic investigation team to lead the forensic investigation on all procurement processes at the hospital as concluded. He said they have an approved organisational structure, which is aligned to the new strategic plan, with a cogent and practical plan to recruit, develop and train the requisite human resources.
“It is important to note what the report highlights that financial austerity will be one of the factors that are listed as having contributed to the state of our facilities. The report also makes it patently clear that mismanagement and malfeasance is a factor.
“All of these are material in terms of health outcomes. We are hugely regretful for the lives lost under these circumstances, including the challenges experienced at the Mental Hospital,” said Lekwene.
He said these affected both patients and staff and one may include the general public. Lekwene said this includes long periods for which there was no power supply as a result of vandalism.
“The report of the Ombudsman opens further space for quality improvement and decisive action that will strengthen the citizens’ belief in the public health sector. This is imperative because we are the sole provider of health services for the majority of the citizens of our province.
“Our duty is to ensure that we serve them with dignity and a great deal of duty of care throughout the chain of levels within the health system,” he said.
3 August 2025- The Northern Cape Department of Education is proud to announce the official launch of its E-Recruitment System, GovRecruit. The department said this is a ground-breaking digital platform designed to modernise and streamline human resource management across the education sector.
The Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe said GovRecruit represents a major step forward in its digital transformation strategy. The system will automate and fast-track the recruitment process from job advertisements and applications to selection and appointment. Van der Merwe said it also promotes transparency, accountability and efficiency through audit trails, automated tracking and standardised procedures.
“This initiative forms part of the department’s broader commitment to embrace innovation and technology, to improve service delivery. By leveraging ICT and digital platforms, we aim to ensure wider access, improve candidate quality and foster a more efficient, transparent recruitment process.
“The official launch will take place at Kimberley Boys High School at 8am,” he said.
Picture: The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube
By OBAKENG MAJE
3 August 2025- The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube said she will deliver the keynote address at the 29th Annual International Education Law Conference, hosted by the South African Education Law Association (SAELA). Gwarube said this year’s conference is held under the theme: “Evolution and the Law: Empowering Change, Embracing the Future.”
“The theme reflects the conference’s focus on how education law can support meaningful transformation, safeguard rights and equip learners, educators, and leaders for a rapidly evolving world.
“Over the course of the event, participants will engage with thought-provoking presentations, panel discussions, and workshops exploring the shifting legal and policy terrain in education,” she said.
Gwarube further said they will speak to the power of education law in enabling transformation and justice in South Africa’s education system, and the importance of embracing innovation in a time of accelerated global change. She added that the event will take place at the Wilderness Hotel, Garden Route, Western Cape on Monday at 8am.
The Guardian 