4 Phatwe 2025- Monna wa dingwaga di le 26 o solofetswe go dira kopo ya go gololwa ka beile kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Ganyesa mo letsatsing la gompieno. Molatofadiwa, John Motsoathebe, one a tshwarwa mabapi le ditatofatso tsa petelelo le polao.
Go begwa fa Motsoathebe a beteletse le go bolaya mosetsanyana wa dingwaga di le 6, Bokao Gaseimelwe, kwa motseng wa Tseoge, gaufi le Ganyesa ka 28 Phukwi 2025. Go begwa Gaseimelwe a ne a tsamaya le mmagwe ka Lamatlhatso fa sejanaga se ba neng ba se palame se ema kwa ntlung e rekisang nnotagi ya Hlokoloza.
Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo porofenseng ya Bokone Bophirima, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone are go begwa fa mmagwe ngwana a ile a lemoga fa mosetsanyana o a seo, mme ba tshimolola go batlana le ene. Mokgwabone are tiragalo e ke ya bosigo jwa 28 Phukwi 2025.
“Se, se bontsha fa go nnile le itlhokomoloso ya ngwana, mme sepodisi se tlile go samagana le kgetsi eo. Re ikuela go baagi go se itseele molao mo matsogo, mme mmelaelwa ene o tshwerwe ka Labobedi.
“O lebagane le tatofatso ya petelelo le polao. O tlile go tlhagelela kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Ganyesa mo letsatsing la gompieno. Dipatlisiso di a tswelela,” Mokgwabone wa tlhalosa.
Setopo sa ga Gaseimelwe se seneng se a apara ka bontlhabongwe, se bonwe kwa ntlwana boithusetso mo letsatsing le le latelang.
Setshwantsho: Molatofadiwa mo kgetsing ya polao, Vincent Kabelo Mogongwa
Ka KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
4 Phatwe 2025- Kgetsi ya polao kgatlhanong le monna wa dingwaga di le 47 wa kwa motseng wa Khibitswane, gaufi le Taung, e tla boela kwa kgotlhatshekelo mo letsatsing la gompieno. Go begwa fa molatofadiwa, Kabelo Vincent Mogongwa, a bolaile lekgarebe la gagwe, Tsholofelo Nde Emphukile (38), ka go mo thuntsha ka sethunya se laesense ya teng e e fitilweng ke nako.
Go begwa fa Mogongwa a ile a tshwarwa morago ga dipego tse. Go ya ka lephatha la bosekisi, Mogongwa o rerile loso la kgarebe ya gagwe pele ga a ka mo thuntsha. Go begwa fa lekawana le, le lekgarebe la gagwe, ba ne ba dula botlhe kwa phaphosing e e hirilweng kwa motseng wa Khibitswane, gaufi le Taung.
Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Mokaptein Aaftje Botma, yo ga jaana a rotseng tiro, moagisani wa monna o, o ile a tlhalosetsa sepodisi fa baratani ba, ba gorogile ka ura ya bongwe mo mosong, mme go ile ga tsoga kgakgauthano magareng ga bone.
“O kaile fa a utlwile modumo wa sethunya. Sepodisi se ile sa biletswa kwa lefelong la tiragalo, mme se ile sa fitlhela moswi mogare ga bophadiphadi jwa madi.
“Sepodisi se ile sa patelesega go ka shaga burglars, gore ba kgone go tsena mo ntlung. Molatofadiwa o ile a tshwarwa, mme one a ganelwa ka beile,” Botma wa tlhalosa.
Kgabagare, Magistrate Thabo Letsapa one a kaela Mogongwa fa mabaka a a ntshitseng mo ditheetsong tsa kopo ya beile ese a nonofileng, mme lekgotlha le mo ganela ka beile. Dipatlisiso di a tswelela mo kgetsing eno.
4 August 2025- The Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa said the decision by the United States to impose a 30% tariff on South African imports highlights the urgency with which they have to adapt to increasingly turbulent headwinds in international trade. Ramaphosa said the US is South Africa’s second largest trading partner by country and these measures will have a considerable impact on industries that rely heavily on exports to that country and on the workers they employ, as well as on fiscus.
He further said domestic sectors such as agriculture, automotive and textiles have historically benefited from duty-free access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Ramaphosa added that their trade relations have historically been complementary in nature.
“South African exports do not compete with US producers and do not pose a threat to US industry. It remains our aspiration that this should continue. Largely, our exports are inputs into US industries and therefore support the United States’ industrial base.
“South Africa is also the biggest investor from the African Continent into the US, with 22 of our companies investing in a number of sectors including, mining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and the food chain. South African imports ultimately benefit US consumers in terms of both choice and cost. By way of example, citrus production is counter-seasonal and does not pose a threat to US production,” he said.
Ramaphosa said production by US companies has been on the decline for a number of years as the US sector grapples with low yields, a citrus greening disease and other factors unrelated to competition from imports. He said imports from South Africa, the world’s second largest citrus exporter, have filled a gap and contributed to stable supply and prices for US consumers.
“As government, we have been engaging the United States to enhance mutually beneficial trade and investment relations. All channels of communication remain open to engage with the US.
“Our foremost priority is protecting our export industries. We will continue to engage the US in an attempt to preserve market access for our products. We must also accelerate the diversification of our export markets, particularly by deepening intra-African trade,” said Ramaphosa.
He said with a view to helping their producers and exporters aggressively explore alternative markets, they have established an Export Support Desk to assist affected producers. Ramaphosa said they will in due course be announcing the modalities of a support package for companies, producers and workers that have been rendered vulnerable by the US tariffs.
“This intervention will also play a key role in guiding industries looking to expand into new markets in the rest of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and markets we already have trade agreements with. Strengthening regional value chains will be key to building resilience for our export markets in the longer term.
“Much as strengthening and establishing alternative value chains will take time, this moment presents us with an opportunity to push forward with the implementation and expansion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Reducing over-dependence on certain markets is a strategic imperative to build the resilience of our economy,” he said.
Ramaphosa said it will also enable them to expand the frontiers of opportunity for South African businesses, goods and services. He said in the coming months, they will be scaling up their trade missions into new markets in Africa and beyond, as well as the National Exporter Development Programme whose aim is to grow the pool of export-ready companies.
“It is important to understand that South Africa is not alone in facing high tariffs from the US. A number of export-reliant developed and developing economies, including several on the continent, are also grappling with these measures.
“The international trading system is changing. Complacency will not serve us, and building resilience is imperative. As a government we remain committed to ongoing engagement with the US and building trade resilience,” said Ramaphosa.
4 August 2025 – The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and the Minister in the Presidency, Rikus Badenhorst, welcomes the decisive and responsible actions taken by Minister Dean Macpherson and the newly appointed Board of the Independent Development Trust (IDT) in response to the findings of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) forensic investigation into the R800 million Pressure Swing Adsorption Oxygen Plant tender.
Badenhorst further said the suspension of IDT Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tebogo Malaka as reported in the media and affirmed by the IDT Board’s ongoing internal processes, signals a serious and long-overdue commitment to consequence management within this crucial public infrastructure entity. He added that the PwC report, which uncovered troubling allegations of procurement irregularities, South African Health Products Regulatory Authority non-compliance and the use of fraudulent documentation, makes it clear that urgent reform is not only necessary, it is non-negotiable.
“Macpherson must be commended for initiating the investigation in January, shortly after disturbing allegations first came to light. His commitment to transparency, accountability, and institutional renewal stands in sharp contrast to the culture of impunity that has plagued entities like the IDT for far too long.
“Equally, the new Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Ms Zimbini Hill, has demonstrated commendable resolve in handling this matter with the seriousness it demands. Their promise of a lawful, fair, and transparent response, in line with their fiduciary duties, is a critical first step towards rebuilding public trust and restoring the IDT’s operational credibility,” said Badenhorst.
He said the committee will continue to monitor developments closely. Badenhorst said they expect not only disciplinary action, but also a full review of internal controls and procurement systems to ensure such abuse of public funds can never happen again.
“This is how we begin to restore integrity to public infrastructure delivery. This is how we begin to turn South Africa into the construction site it deserves to be,” he said.
4 August 2025- As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen its national frameworks and regulatory mechanisms, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) said it will host workshops across the country on the Revised Compulsory National Water and Sanitation Services Norms and Standards, beginning with the national consultation to be held virtually on 5 August 2025. The DWS said the provincial consultations are scheduled to take place from 12 August to 10 September 2025.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa said these updated standards are designed to set clear minimum requirements for safe and reliable water supply and sanitation services aligned with public health, environmental sustainability and the constitutional rights of all South Africans. Mavasa said South Africa’s revised compulsory national water standards mandate that all Water Services Authorities (WSAs) provide basic water supply services to every household within their jurisdiction.
“This minimum standard includes delivering at least 6 kilolitres of safe drinking water per household each month, ensuring availability for at least 358 days annually, and maintaining a flow rate of no less than 10 litres per minute. Most importantly, indigent households should receive this allocation free of charge initially, with tariffs applied only for excess usage.
“WSAs must also maintain infrastructure up to the user connection point, while property owners are responsible only beyond this boundary. Special attention is also required for informal settlements, where WSAs are obligated to provide interim water supply services within 90 days of discovery,” she said.
Mavasa further said these services must include communal standpipes located no more than 200 meters from households and maintain the same minimum water quantity, flow rate and quality standards as formal settlements. She added that water quality must conform to the South African National Standard (SANS) 241, safeguarding public health consistently.
“In addition to supply, monitoring and management play pivotal roles. Water services must be metered accurately, with WSAs responsible for meter maintenance, repair, and replacement within set timeframes. Educational initiatives on water use, hygiene, and groundwater management are integral to service delivery.
“WSAs are also required to formally plan and submit their strategies for upgrading all households to basic services within two years of these regulations’ promulgation. The Water and Sanitation Norms and Standards were first gazetted in 2001, per the Water Services Act, Act 108 of 1997,” said Mavasa.
She said these regulations establish mandatory national standards and measures for water conservation, covering basic sanitation, water supply, service interruptions, potable water quality and leak repair, among many other water services-related matters. Mavasa said the regulation was reviewed in 2017, with published norms and standards based on the 1998 National Water Act (NWA), the 1997 Water Services Act (WSA), and the 2016 Sanitation Policy.
“The revised Norms and Standards were gazetted in 52814 of 6 June 2025, No 6292, for implementation. The rollout aims to ensure that the Norms and Standards are widely understood, accepted, and implemented. She adds that the workshops enable the WSAs to assess their ability to comply with the revised provisions.
“In instances where immediate compliance is not feasible, WSAs must develop and submit a progressive implementation plan detailing the steps and timelines for achieving full compliance,” she said.
Mavasa said this plan must be submitted to the Integrated Regulatory Information Management System (IRIS) for consideration and approval by the DWS within six (6) months of the publication of the regulations. She said accordingly, this national rollout programme by the DWS is intended to support and facilitate regulatory compliance by equipping WSAs with the necessary information, guidance and tools as prescribed in the revised Norms and Standards.
“Affected stakeholders, including government departments that may be impacted by the regulations’ outcomes, Chapter 9 institutions, Water Boards, Catchment Management Agencies, and professional bodies, will also have opportunities to engage on the Norms and Standards,” said Mavasa.
3 August 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs will, from 4 until August 2025, will hold public hearings on the Marriage Bill [B43-2023] in the Northern Cape. The committee urges the residents of the Northern Cape to take the opportunity to make contributions aimed at shaping the legislation rationalising marriage laws in South Africa. The Chairperson of the Committee, Mosa Chabane said the hearing in the Northern Cape follows similar consultations held in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and North West and most recently in the Free State.
“South Africa’s democratic society is anchored on consultation, hence the need for public participation in the work of Parliament and in law-making was enshrined in section 59 of the Constitution. The hearings represent a genuine platform to guarantee that the laws that Parliament passes incorporate the will and aspirations of the people.
“The committee has endeavoured to ensure that the process is inclusive and far-reaching and that a conducive platform is created for people to make meaningful submissions on the Bill. In this context, the committee resolved to hold nationwide hearings to garner views on the Bill, especially considering South Africa’s diverse cultural and religious background,” he said.
Chabane further said to ensure meaningful public engagement, Parliament, through its public education unit, has in each province undertaken an extensive public education process to ensure that participants make informed and qualitative submissions that will add value to the Bill. He added that the public education sessions have proved invaluable, with participants in different provinces raising province-specific views on the Bill.
“The Marriage Bill seeks to rationalise the marriage laws of various types of marriages and introduces a single marriage statute to replace the three existing marriage laws governing civil marriages, customary marriages and civil unions. The Bill further seeks to recognise all marriages irrespective of religion, custom, sexual orientation or other beliefs. All marriages, concluded either following the tenets of any custom, religion or belief, will, therefore, be recognised.
“The Bill will further ensure that all marriages concluded before the commencement of the Bill continue to be recognised as marriages under South African law. Also, the Bill seeks to prohibit marriages involving children in line with South Africa’s obligations as it relates to international human rights instruments, as well as the protection of children. In this regard, the Bill introduces a requirement that both prospective spouses must be 18 years and older. The Bill further introduces offences and penalties for entering or concluding marriages with minors, as well as solemnising such marriages,” said Chabane.
He said the Bill will further ensure that the Minister of Home Affairs can designate marriage officers from all sectors of society, including traditional leadership, and sets out the requirements for designation as a marriage officer.
Chabane said in the hearings held in the Free State, a majority of participants welcomed the intentions of the Bill but raised concerns with various aspects that the committee must consider when deliberating on the Bill.
“A major point raised was the need for stricter measures to regulate marriages between foreign nationals and South Africans to halt the increasing trend of marriages of convenience. Additionally, participants agreed to the increase in the legal age of marriage to align it with international human rights instruments.
“Participants suggested that the Bill increase the legal age of marriage to 21 years, as they were of the view that an 18-year-old is still not mature enough to make such a decision,” he said.
Details of the Northern Cape hearings are as follows:
3 August 2025 – The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng said he has just become aware of a video clip that is circulating, apparently showing a member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) at Stilfontein Police Station engaged in a verbal altercation with a member of the public. Asaneng is calling upon this individual who was at the police station to please come forward so that a formal investigation can be conducted to establish what led to the altercation.
“The exchange between this individual and a member of the police is unacceptable as it is expected of police officers and members of the public to work together and to respect one another. Therefore, it is important, if police community-relations are to be restored, that an investigation should be conducted to get to the veracity of this so that future incidents of this nature can be avoided,” he said.
3 August 2025 – A man (55) was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Bafokeng Regional Court in Tlhabane for kidnapping and raping his ex-girlfriend. The accused, Ben Sedireng Jacob kidnapped and raped his ex-girlfriend (24) in October 2023, at Bethel Section, Kanana village, outside Rustenburg.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the complainant was on her way to Covid View when Jacob approached and grabbed her from behind. Mokgwabone said Jacob, who accused the victim of rushing to her new boyfriend, assaulted her with fists and pushed her into the stream.
“He further strangled and beat her in the face. The accused forced the victim to go with him to his friend’s place, where he raped her. Upon being released the next day, the complainant went to Boitekong Police Station to register a case, which was investigated by the Rustenburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.
“The accused was arrested four days later. He made several court appearances until he was found guilty and sentenced to life for rape. He was also given an additional five years for kidnapping,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, thanked the Investigating Officer, Warrant Officer Phenyo Monchusi, the prosecution and all other role players for working together to secure the conviction. Asaneng said the sentence is a clear affirmation of the commitment and dedication of the police and prosecution to deal decisively with the pandemic of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in particular sexual violence against defenceless women whose rights are violated by heartless men who should be their protectors.
3 August 2025- In a continuous effort to eradicate illegal firearms, one of the three suspects arrested by Vala Umgodi teams is expected to make a second appearance before the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on 4 August 2025, after being arrested on 27 July 2025, for attempted murder, robbery and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The accused, Ndumiso Sithole initially appeared in court on 28 July 2025. According to information, the Vala Umgodi members in Stilfontein, followed up on information regarding an attempted murder and robbery suspect who was allegedly spotted in Khuma Township, near Stilfontein.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the suspect was ultimately found in possession of a CZ pistol firearm and five rounds of ammunition. Mokgwabone said the firearm was linked to a business burglary committed in December 2023, in Klerksdorp, where more than a hundred firearms were stolen.
“In a separate arrest on 1 August 2025, the team operationalised information regarding a man who was in possession of a firearm, also in Khuma Township. During this operation, a Lesotho national (34), was found in possession of a 9mm pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition.
“He was immediately arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Preliminary investigations revealed that the firearm was reported stolen in Welkom, Free State Province in November 2016. The suspect is facing an additional charge of contravention of section 49(1)(a) of the Immigration Act, 2002,” he said.
Mokgwabone further said the suspect is due to appear in the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on 4 August 2025. He added that, in Skeerpoort, near Hartbeespoortdam, another Vala Umgodi team arrested a suspect for possession of a CZ 9mm pistol and two rounds of ammunition during a crime combating operation on 1 August 2025. He added that the suspect (29) is expected to appear in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on 4 August 2025, on charges of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
“The police also confiscated a water pump, drill bits, a spade and four hammers,” said Mokgwabone.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, indicated that the arrests and recovery of illegal firearms in the possession of dangerous criminals, who continue to commit serious and violent crimes such as murders and aggravated robberies especially in the illegal mining space, is testament to the effectiveness of Operation Vala Umgodi in combating not only illegal mining, but also the threat posed by the proliferation of illegal firearms.
3 August 2025- In a significant progress in this case, the fourth person linked to business robbery and kidnapping in Moruleng village, near Rustenburg, was nabbed in Randburg, Gauteng Province on 30 July 2025. The accused briefly appeared in the Mogwase Magistrate’s Court on 1 August 2025 and remanded in custody until 6 August 2025.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane said three suspects accused of business robbery and kidnapping in Moruleng village, near Rustenburg, appeared before the Mogwase Magistrates’ Court on 15 July 2025. Tselanyane said the trio’s court appearance stems from their arrest in Soweto Township, near Johannesburg on 12 July 2025.
“It is alleged that on 10 July 2025, at around 8am, a victim (36), was with his employees at his business premises in Moruleng village, when two vehicles arrived, a white Kia sedan and a white VW Jetta.
“The Kia vehicle was used to block the entrance of the business premises, while the VW Jetta occupants entered the premises, all armed with firearms. Both vehicles had four male occupants each,” he said.
Tselanyane further said they then proceeded to rob the victim of a cell phone, took cash from the till and forced him into their vehicle before driving away. He added that, following this incident, a multi-disciplinary team consisting of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit, Mogwase and Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 2 (Rustenburg) Detectives, Provincial and National Crime Intelligence, Anti-Gang Investigation Unit, Tactical Response Team (TRT), Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) as well as the Hostage Negotiator was established. Furthermore, on 12 July 2025, the team managed to identify the two vehicles used in the commission of crime and an intelligence led operation was conducted to intercept a white Jetta with the assistance of Gauteng Police and security officers at Protea Glen Mall, Soweto wherein one suspect was apprehended.
“The suspect led the team to a place, where the victim was allegedly kept at Mogono Section, Luka village, near Phokeng. Upon arrival at the premises, the victim was not found, but the place was thoroughly searched and forensic evidence obtained.
“Thereafter, the team received information that the victim was released and is safely back at his business premises. Upon interviewing the victim, he mentioned that the suspects demanded ransom for his release,” said Tselanyane.
He said later the same evening, the team proceeded back to Gauteng Province to trace outstanding suspects. Tselanyane said the team proceeded to a certain house in Molapo, Soweto, and managed to arrest another suspect and in the process also confiscated a white Kia vehicle.
“The second suspect led the team to his parental home as well as to a family member’s house, where firearms were hidden. Upon arrival at the premises, the family member was found in possession of two unlicensed firearms, a Lorcin 9mm and another pistol.
“The family member was immediately arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and appeared in Soweto. The vehicles and firearms were confiscated,” he said.
Tselanyane said three accused, Joseph Thabang Makgala (52), Lemmy Elias Nku (47) and Sello Gift Khasu (34), briefly appeared in Mogwase Magistrate’s Court and were remanded in custody until 6 August 2025, for a formal bail application. He said investigation into the matter continues.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng said: “These arrests is a strong warning and message to criminals that no matter where they are, they will be tracked down relentlessly and they will not be afforded the time and space to enjoy and benefit from their criminal ventures.”
The Guardian 