Picture: The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng
By BAKANG MOKOTO
21 August 2025- The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng said he has instructed the Mahikeng Police Station Commander to contact both the SABC News and the North West Department of Social Development, to get information on the alleged robbery committed against the elderly man (77). Asaneng said he did this immediately upon seeing a video footage on the SABC News about a destitute man living in squalor in a village, outside Mahikeng.
He further said the South African Police Service (SAPS), which has a constitutional and legal duty to prevent, combat and investigate crimes, views this information in a very serious light and would want to immediately investigate the alleged abuse, harassment and attack of a vulnerable and defenceless old man so that those involved are identified and arrested.
Asaneng added that the police are therefore, calling upon anyone who has information that could lead to the identification, arrest, and prosecution of the culprits, to call the SAPS Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or share information via MySAPS App.
“By remaining silent while knowing or being aware of this crime will only encourage those criminals to continue with their abhorrent deeds. Let us rise and work together to rid our communities of crime and criminals,” he said.
21 August 2025- The Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court postponed the case against Mervyn Casterns and seven others to 29 October 2025, for further investigations. Three of the accused, Daniel Nathan, Martha Rapetsoa and Kuben Moodley, have indicated their intention to file applications for their bail conditions to be relaxed.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henr Mamothame said bail proceedings will be heard on 9 September 2025. Mamothame said Zarina Prasadh (formerly Kellerman) was arrested on Monday and had appeared before the same court.
“The state opposed bail. After a formal bail hearing bail was set in the amount of R50 000 subject to strict conditions. Prasadh was expected to appear with the rest of the accused today. However, her attorney informed the court that she was admitted to hospital.
“A warrant for her arrest was issued, but the execution thereof stayed until 4 September 2025, when she is expected to appear before court,” he said.
Mamothame further said Mervyn Casterns, the CEO of the Alexkor RMC Pooling and Sharing Joint Venture (“PSJV”) together with Daniel Nathan, his company Alexander Bay Diamond Company (Pty) Ltd – formerly known as Scarlet Sky Investments (Pty) Ltd (“SSI”), Kubentheran Moodley, Martha Rapetsoa, Roslyn Crossingham, Raygen Phillips and Zarina Prasadh, are facing numerous charges of fraud and offences in terms of the Diamonds Act.
He added that the charges emanate from two diamond marketing tenders that were awarded to SSI in 2015 and again in 2016, which gave SSI exclusive right to market and sell all diamonds produced by the PSJV, a joint venture formed between Alexkor SOC and the Richtersveld Community.
“SSI allegedly acquired all unpolished diamonds produced by the PSJV and sold it on behalf of the PSJV. It is alleged that several individuals and affiliated entities did, through the marketing tenders, acquire unpolished diamonds from sales conducted by SSI for the PSJV over a period of more than five years.
“The Alexkor investigation conducted by the IDAC, emanates from findings of the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector Including organs of State,” said Mamothame.
21 August 2025- A man (33) was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the Pofadder Regional Court for rape. The accused was convicted and sentenced for serious sexual offences and related crimes committed against a minor victim (14).
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Captain Ivan Magerman said the offences occurred on 1 July 2023, when the accused abducted, assaulted, robbed, and repeatedly sexually assaulted the victim over a two-day period. Magerman said he was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for assault.
“The accused was sentenced to three years imprisonment for robbery, two years for kidnapping, 25 years imprisonment for rape on count 1 (5 years suspended) and another 25 years imprisonment for rape on count 2 (5 years suspended).
“The sentences will run concurrently. In addition, the name of the accused has been placed on the National Sex Offenders Register and he was declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of the Firearms Control Act (Act 60 of 2000),” he said.
Magerman further said the case was successfully prosecuted by advocate Basil Kock, with Detective Sergeant Rowen Nortje, leading the investigation. He added that their combined efforts ensured that justice was served.
Meanwhile, the Namakwa District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, commended the swift police response, the thorough investigation and the victim’s bravery in coming forward. Andrews said he reaffirmed the commitment of the police to protect the most vulnerable, particularly children and ensuring that perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) face the full might of the law.
Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
21 August 2025- More than 70 learners at Dingateng primary school near Setlagole village received school uniforms from the authorities to advance their studies. On Wednesday, the North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie took her outreach programme to Dingateng in collaboration with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to distribute school uniforms to learners facing undue hardship and whose parents cannot afford school uniforms and other important amenities.
Dantjie further said the learners both males and females received two sets of shoes, socks, trousers, vests, sport shirts, school bags, tunics and tracksuits to the value of more than R4000 per learner. She added that the government has developed programmes to provide for the needs of learners and adults alike in its intervention in the plight of learners.
“We call on officials to protect the children’s right to education and ensure that they have birth certificates and identity documents. Of the 235 registered learners, 25 of them do not have birth certificates or identity documents.
“About 208 learners receive social grants. In the next seven days, our social workers will profile needy learners and their families in this area. Based on their home circumstances report, we will intervene with our social relief of distress and Re thuse re go thuse programmes, which includes provision of food parcels, school uniform, sanitary towels and other amenities to our communities,” said Dantjie.
She vowed to bring her Re thuse re go thuse flagship to needy communities so that they access government services at their doorsteps.
21 Phatwe 2025- Setlamo se se tlamelang baagi ka motlakase sa Eskom, se kaile fa se tla bolotsa dipatlisiso mabapi le molelo o runtseng gaufi le seteishene-potlana sa motlakase kwa Taung. Eskom e kaile fa molelo o, o runtse kwa lefelong le go latlhelwang matlakala kwa go lone, gaufi le seteishene-potlana sa Eskom.
Motsamaisi wa Eskom mono Bokone Bophirima, Ezekiel Baruti are go pegwa fa molelo o, o tlhodilwe ke mongwe wa baagi. Baruti are se se monate ke gore molelo o, o ile wa thibiwa ke khuti e neng ele gaufi.
“Ga gona di tshenyegelo dipe kwa seteishene-potlana sa rona. Setlhopha sa rona sa tsibogo ya ka bonako (Emergency Response Team), ga mmogo le lefapha la go tima-molelo (Fire Emergency Department), le ile la tsiboga ka bonako.
“Re tla netefatsa fa motlakase o ile wa busediwa tirisong kwa Taung. Dipatlisiso tse di tseneletseng di tla tswelediwa go ka netefatsa se se tlhodileng molelo o ka botlalo,” Baruti wa tlhalosa.
Baruti are ba tlile go tlhatlhoba dithapo (cables) tsa motlakase, mme ba tla bega ka seemo sa mafaratlhatlha a tsone kwa tlase ga lefatshe. Baruti are ba lebogela tsibogo ya ka bonako ya setlhopha sa bone, mme tshedimosetso enngwe e tla neelwa baagi mo nakong e e sa fediseng pelo.
20 August 2025- Orlando Pirates got off the mark in the Betway Premiership this season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Stellenbosch at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night.
The three points earned on the night pulled the Soweto Giants out of unwanted territory in the bottom three of the standings, bringing them up within a point of the top eight. They avoided an unprecedented third straight defeat at the start of the league campaign in what was their first midweek outing at Orlando Stadium in the new season.
Having failed to open their account on two attempts prior to their clash with Stellies, the Buccaneers were quick to dominate proceedings in search of their first league points. Oswin Appollis struck the upright four minutes into his return to the starting line up when he was played through by Relebohile Mofokeng, with the duo combining well on the left flank.
They continued to pull the strings during the early exchanges, with Mofokeng and Deon Hotto both proving to be a menace in the attacking third. Neither could find the opener however, as the visitors’ defence proved equal to the task in the opening exchanges.
The resistance did not last for much longer as Kamogelo Sebelebele quickly made it two goals in as many starts in Bucs colours. The winger was heavily involved in a swift move upfield, initiating then finishing the attack with a cracking right-footed strike that went beyond the reach of a diving Sage Stephens to make it 1-0 with just 15 minutes played.
He could have been joined on the scoresheet by another recent signing in Sihle Nduli who nearly struck his first Bucs goal against his former side in the 23rd minute. The midfielder found himself in space just outside the penalty area and managed to draw a save from Stephens with a well-struck shot.
His effort was followed by one from a similar range by Sipho Mbule – brought in halfway through the first half to replace the injured Deano van Rooyen – with striker Evidence Makgopa following suit with a shot that landed off target as Pirates continued to dominate proceedings at home.
More attempts late in the first half failed to yield another strike for the home side, who went wide through Mofokeng before Thalente Mbatha was denied by Stephens three minutes from the break.
The Buccaneers took a slim lead into the second half, and quickly went about attempting to double their advantage with another early blitz which consisted of shots from Hotto, Mbule and Mofokeng inside the opening 10 minutes of the second period.
Chances at goal were mainly concentrated at one end throughout the game’s opening hour, as Sebelebele had a chance to increase his tally around the half-hour mark, but only managed to fire inches wide with his left foot. Bucs keeper Sipho Chaine had to wait until the last half hour of the contest to make a real save, and he did so denying Langelihle Phili whose heavy first touch resulted in a fairly-comfortable stop for the shot-stopper.
An attempt from Khomotjo Lokoloane demanded more of Chaine in the 73rd minute, and he was again equal to the task. That turned out to be the last real attempt for the visitors, with the Buccaneers continuing to spark some bright moments at the other end, where replacement winger Tshepang Moremi and Mofokeng both had some close calls without really troubling Stephens.
The Bucs defence stood up well to a late onslaught by the men from the Cape Winelands, who desperately sought an equaliser in injury time. Their determined team effort pulled through in the end as they held on to their slim lead to walk off with all three points on offer, ending their four-match winless run in league matches against The Maroons.
20 August 2025- A man (58) from Mamelodi East in Gauteng convicted for two counts of rape of his neighbour’s son (13) and his nephew (9). On 12 April 2022, the man called his neighbour’s son on the street while playing with his friend under the pretence that he needed his help to fix his door at his place of residence in Mamelodi East.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said when both the boy and the man arrived inside the house, the man closed the door and proceeded to rape the boy. Mahanjana said he threatened him that if he screamed, he would kill him.
“After, the man instructed the boy to dress up and not to tell anyone about what had happened. The boy then left the man’s house and went back to play with his friend.
“Later, the same day, while the man and his nephew whom he stayed with were in the house he undressed the nephew and inserted his fingers in his buttocks resulting in him bleeding,” she said.
Mahanjana further said later in the evening, when the mother of the child who is a sister to the man returned home, the child told her what had happened. She added that the following day, the mother opened a case against her brother, and he was arrested.
“When the neighbour’s child heard about the arrest, he came forward and reported the matter to the police. Both victims were taken to Mamelodi Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), where they received medical, psychological, and legal assistance from the police and prosecutors.
“In court, the man pleaded not guilty, denying the rapes and alleging his sister fabricated the charges due to a family house dispute. However, state prosecutor, Andries Ntjana, presented compelling evidence from Dr Lukhozi, proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Mahanjana.
She said during sentencing, the accused, through his legal representative, sought leniency, citing his role as a family man with two children and a wife, arguing a lengthy sentence would separate him from them. Mahanjana said, however, Ntjana countered that the man was on parole for a 2008 rape conviction when he committed these offences, showing no remorse and blaming his sister.
“Moreover, Ntjana submitted Victim Impact Statements (VIS), facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Kgomotso Lodi, detailing the victims’ humiliation and lifelong scars, and the mothers’ shattered trust.
“Magistrate Lynn Pillay agreed with the state, agreed with the state that the man showed no remorse and that he committed this offence while on parole for the same offence,” she said.
Mahanjana said the man committed these offences against children, who were close to him and saw him as an uncle. She said Pillay emphasised rape’s degrading nature and the courts’ duty to protect communities, finding no compelling circumstances to deviate from the minimum sentence.
The acting Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Marika Jansen Van Vuuren, praised Ntjana and said: “This sentence sends a clear message: the NPA prioritises GBV cases targeting vulnerable children and will pursue justice relentlessly.
“Both victims received services from Mamelodi TCC, which provided them with ongoing support throughout the court process, reflecting its victim-centric approach.”
Meanwhile, Mahanjana said the NPA commends the mother’s vigilance and the TCCs’ ongoing support. She said this case encourages young boys to report abuse and urges families and communities to stay alert, report suspected cases, and support survivors through TCCs.
“The NPA calls on South Africans to unite against gender-based violence, ensuring safe environments where children’s rights to dignity and safety are upheld, and perpetrators face the full force of the law.
She said the court ordered his name entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders, declared him unfit to work with children, and declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
Picture: The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi convened a crucial parents meeting on Tuesday at Grenswag Hoërskool in Rustenburg, addressing the recent academic challenges faced by the school. Motsumi said a meeting was called in response to the disappointing performance of 126 out of 198 learners who passed during the second term of the 2025 academic year.
This engagement follows Motsumi’s recent provincial roadshow aimed at assessing Grade 12 performance across several schools. She further said the roadshow revealed that several schools, including Grenswag Hoërskool, fell short of the provincial target pass rate of 95%.
“We emphasized the importance of collective responsibility and active participation from both parents and learners as the school prepares for the upcoming preparatory examinations scheduled for the end of the month.
“We must work together to support our learners and create an environment that fosters success. Grenswag Hoërskool plays a critical role in the Rustenburg Local Education Office, and we are committed to providing all necessary support to improve its performance,” said Motsumi.
She added that, her department remains steadfast in its mission to uplift educational standards across the province. Motsumi’s visit underscores a commitment to addressing challenges head-on through community engagement and strategic support to schools.
Meanwhile, the school principal highlighted key issues contributing to the poor results. These include frequent learner absenteeism, especially during support classes, habitual lateness during weekend lessons, and learners attending exams unprepared without necessary textbooks or stationery.
The principal urged parents to play an active role in ensuring their children attend school regularly and come prepared for classes and examinations.
20 August 2025- The Northern Cape MEC for Land Reform, Agriculture and Nature Conservation and Environmental Affairs, Mase Manopole has successfully hosted the The Northern Cape Blended Finance Roadshow held at Flamingo View in Kimberley. Manopole said this was in collaboration with the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), the Land Bank, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), and Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), under the theme “Unlocking Inclusive Agricultural Development in the Northern Cape.”
She further said the event provided a platform to raise awareness of blended finance opportunities for farmers, improve access to affordable and sustainable finance, and foster meaningful engagement between policymakers, financiers and farmers to explore innovative financing mechanisms aimed at addressing persistent challenges in the agricultural sector.
Manopole added that, blended finance, combining concessional public funding with private sector investment, was a strategic tool to bridge the agricultural financing gap.
“We note that smallholder and emerging farmers often face barriers such as limited collateral, climate-related risks, and high production costs, making access to affordable credit difficult.
“In the past year, over 1000 producers received training, 1300 subsistence farmers were supported with garden establishment packs, agriculture contributed R11 billion to the provincial GDP in 2023 as reported by Stats SA,” she said.
Manopole said 13 000 new jobs were created in the Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 of 2024. She said looking ahead, her department aims to increase agriculture’s GDP contribution from 7% to 10%, support 60 land reform farms, train another 1000 producers and create 750 additional jobs in the sector.
“The road to agricultural prosperity is long, but it is not out of reach. When resilience meets opportunity, transformation follows.
“Through blended finance, we can unlock not only funding but the full potential of the Northern Cape’s agricultural sector,” said Manopole.
She said over 600 farmers from all five districts of the Northern Cape attended the roadshow, welcoming it with open arms as a gateway to unlocking financial opportunities. Manopole said the roadshow concluded with a strong call for partnership and accountability, reinforcing that blended finance is not a handout but a collaborative investment in sustainable agricultural growth and rural economic empowerment.
Picture: The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
19 August 2025- The North West Department of Human Settlements said it has targeted to deliver 6718 Title Deeds in the 2025-2026 financial year. The department said this number will add to the national target of delivering 80,000 by 2029.
The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi said the objective was recently announced during the relaunch of Title Deed Friday in Polokwane by the Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Semelane during her meeting with Human Settlements MECs from across the nine provinces.
Molapisi said his department will follow the band wagon and intensify the Title Deed campaign during the Thuntsha Lerole accelerated service delivery programme every Friday.
“The gesture will contribute more in restoring the dignity of the people in the province and further ensure ownership. For many families, a home is more than just shelter.
“It is a foundation for economic stability, a source of security for future generations, and a fulfilment of the promise of our democracy,” he said.
Molapisi further said that the department is going to roll-out a massive programme aimed at ensuring that title deeds reach beneficiaries in a timely fashion as move will assist in achieving the intended goal. He added that to accelerate the delivery of Title Deeds, he calls on all municipalities to adopt a door-to-door title deeds campaign to ensure that they are delivered to its rightful beneficiaries.
“This is an essential step in reducing backlogs and ensuringrightful ownership reaches our people without delay. We will also continue handing over tittle deeds during the Phase 5 of the upcoming Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery Programme.
“This approach will see an overall decrease in title deed backlogs and further reduce the delivery of title deeds to wrong beneficiaries,” said Molapisi.
He said handing over a title deed to a beneficiary does not only recognise a beneficiary as rightful owners of land and property, but also goes a long way in restoring their dignity. Molapisi said having irrefutable proof of ownership of a home, the members of the families gets to be assured that generations to come have a sense of dignity and pride, which stems from security and belonging.
“With every title deed, the department rests assured that a family has been empowered, an assert secured, and a sense of dignity restored,” he said.
The Guardian 