Picture: North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie
By OBAKENG MAJE
25 September 2025- Long serving employees in the North West Department of Social Development will be honoured for their dedication, loyalty, and contributions to service delivery on 26 September 2025. The departmental award ceremony which will be graced and officiated by the North West MEC for Social Development, Sussana Dantjie and aims at acknowledging employees who have served the department for 10 to 40 years in various disciplines.
The North West Social Development spokesperson, Petrus Siko said of strategic importance, the planned ceremony is meant to boost employee morale, increase productivity, and reinforce the values of integrity and excellence within the public service. Siko said the long service award ceremony is being held during public service month under the theme: “Professionalising the Public Service to Build Trust and Restore Confidence in Government” underscoring the urgent need to strengthen the capacity, integrity, and performance of the public service as a critical lever for improving service delivery and rebuilding citizen confidence in state capacity.
“More than 173 employees will receive long service awards at a ceremony scheduled for Friday, 26 September 2025 at the Mmabatho Convention Centre at 10 am,” he said.
25 September 2025 – Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality together with Mahikeng Local Municipality will be hosting a Media Engagement Session on Service Delivery, held under the theme: “Strengthening Collaboration for Improved Service Delivery through the District Development Model (DDM)”.
The Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality spokesperson, Lehlohonolo March said this important engagement will be a platform where municipalities within the district share progress, challenges and collaborative solutions in alignment with the District Development Model (DDM) approach, while engaging directly with the community through media and stakeholders. March said as part of Tourism Month celebrations, the municipality will take the media on a guided excursion to explore its must-visit attractions to experience the rich history, culture and adventure that define their district.
“The engagement will take place at Ottoshoop Caves on 30 September 2025 at 8am,” she said.
25 September 2025- The Minister of Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane and the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Oageng Molapisi, will issue 397 title deeds to the rightful owners at Mothutlung village, near Brits. Simelane spokesperson, Tsekiso Machike said the handover marks a significant step in the Department of Human Settlements’ ongoing commitment to eliminate the national title deed backlog, an initiative poised to unlock over R200 billion in asset value for fully subsidised government houses across the country.
Machike said the North West has for this financial year targeted to deliver 6718 title deeds across the province, contributing to the national goal of 80 000 deeds by 2029. He further said to accelerate this effort, Simelane and Molapisi, have re-launched the Title Deeds Fridays Campaign, a nationwide drive aimed at mobilising all stakeholders to support the title deeds restoration programme.
“The campaign seeks to restore dignity, strengthen tenure security, and promote economic empowerment for beneficiaries. The event will also be attended by the executive mayor of Bojanala District Municipality, Dikeledi Mthangeni and mayor of Madibeng Local Municipality, Douglas Maimane.
“We will start with door-to-door delivery of title deeds to three senior citizens in Extension 1 and 2 in Mothutlung at 10am. Then at 10:30am, we will have community engagement and title deeds handover at Mothutlung Community Hall,” added Machike.
25 September 2025 – The accused, Tshepiso Johannes Letselela (50) appeared before the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court today on six counts of fraud, following his arrest by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit. Letselela, a registered Personal Income Tax (PIT) payer, allegedly failed to submit his PIT returns to SARS for the period 2017 to 2022.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Sivenathi Gunya said despite several telephonic reminders from SARS on 23 October 2023, as well as written notices, he neglected to comply with his obligations. Gunya said his non-submission of tax returns and non-declaration of income caused SARS a financial prejudice exceeding R1.6 million.
“Letselela was granted bail of R10 000 under strict conditions. He is required to report to the Johannesburg Police Station once a month and must notify the investigating officer should he change his residential address in Centurion. The matter was postponed to 13 November 2025 for a regional court date,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, and the acting Hawks Head in the North West, Brigadier Georgia Moos, commended the collaborative efforts between the NPA, SARS, and the DPCI, which ensured the accused’s swift arrest and court appearance. Makhari said they stressed the importance of enforcing compliance with South Africa’s tax laws to safeguard public funds and uphold the rule of law.
25 September 2025 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, today expressed serious concerns regarding significant discrepancies in the case involving the arrest of suspects allegedly found in possession of high-calibre firearms in Cape Town earlier this week. Cameron said according to the initial report issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS), eight suspects were arrested during a raid on Monday.
He further said the police also seized six AK-47 rifles, eight pistols and ammunition. Cameron added that, however, it is alleged that the official docket only records six suspects, six rifles and six pistols.
“While the arrest of suspects for possession of illegal firearms is welcomed, particularly in the context of the alleged intended use of these weapons, it is deeply concerning that official information reflects only six suspects and six pistols. This is clearly inconsistent with the SAPS’s original report.
“We noted that information now shows that suspects have been released without clarity on who authorised the release or the status of the confiscated firearms. These developments undermine public confidence in the police, particularly in crime-affected areas such as the Cape Flats,” he said.
Cameron said it is unacceptable that SAPS initially announced the arrest of eight suspects and the seizure of eight pistols, yet two suspects and two pistols are now unaccounted for in the official record. He said this kind of discrepancy, or worse, possible tampering, raises serious questions about accountability and transparency within the SAPS.
“These raise concern about the regulation of security companies’ access to firearms amid allegations that rogue security companies arm criminals, including hitmen. We will urgently seek clarification from the SAPS on who authorised the release of the suspects?
“We need clarity on where the missing two pistols are, are all firearms from the operation accounted for? Also, what measures are being taken to ensure accurate, reliable and transparent reporting by SAPS? The Cape Flats continues to endure violent crime, gang-related killings and mass shootings,” said Cameron.
He said the public cannot be expected to place their confidence in law enforcement, if inconsistencies and a lack of follow-through mar such serious cases. Cameron reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency within SAPS and the broader Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster.
“The committee will also engage SAPS leadership to ensure this matter is addressed with the urgency it demands. Efforts to remove illegal firearms from our streets are critical, but those efforts must be undertaken with integrity.
“When discrepancies like this arise, they threaten to undo the very progress we aim to make,” he said.
Picture: A municipal vehicle, Nissan Navara 2025crashed by the Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe
By OBAKENG MAJE
25 September 2025- The ‘disgraced’ Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe has crashed a luxury municipal vehicle, Nissan Navara 2025 worth R560 000 during an accident in the early hours of Thursday morning, 25 September 2025. This has caused uproar amongst the public as this is the third municipal vehicle Gaoraelwe crashed.
In 2022, Gaoraelwe crashed municipality’s luxury BMW X3 worth R700 000 in an accident on N12 road between Schweizer Reneke and Wolmaranstad. He was also allegedly involved in an accident again on 30 June 2024.
Gaoraelwe crashed the municipal vehicle after allegedly being followed and shot at by unknown assailants. However, there are allegations that Gaoraelwe crashed the municipal vehicle during the day while drunk and later on, staged the attempted hijacking as a cover-up.
On 17 August 2025, Gaoraelwe damaged a newly-bought municipal bakkie in an accident. It is alleged that Gaoraelwe crashed the municipal vehicle after he plunged it into a tree at his residential area on 17 August 2025.
At the time, the Greater Taung Local Municipality spokesperson, Ricky Oliphant said the equipment damage report indicated that the vehicle was driven into a tree. Oliphant said the damages for this incident amounted to R120 000, which is going to be covered by the insurance.
Now, the Democratic Alliance councillor, Sam Nape said they are indeed thunderstruck by the situation the municipality found itself in under the stewardship of Gaoraelwe. Nape said this is a major setback and he is so disenchanted.
“I have lost count of how many accidents Gaoraelwe was involved in while driving municipal vehicles. This is a forlorn situation and I do not know how much embarrassment his political party, ANC, is willing to take before removing him from his position. Well, we call for his removal as always, however, if he continues to be protected by his party, then there is nothing that we can do.
“The challenge is that the ANC councillors are in majority at the municipal council and the opposition parties are outvoted even if they table a motion of no confidence against the mayor,” he said.
The ACDP councillor, Gaolatlhwe Tshipo shared the same sentiments.
Tshipo said: “We have seen a trend of negligence and misuse of the municipal properties by the mayor. Gaoraelwe was supposed to be the custodian, who leads by example and showing the public how municipal assets are protected.
“However, he is not protecting municipal assets, instead, he is misusing them. The BMW X3 worth over R700 000 was written off because of carelessness after he was involved in a car accident.”
Tshipo further said they call on the ANC to act against Gaoraelwe as its deployee. He added that they are going to lobby other opposition parties and call for his removal.
“Gaoraelwe is a disgrace to the people of Taung. We are not going to allow this kind of lawlessness. Actually, this is a theft of taxpayers’ money. Gaoraelwe is not fit to be called the mayor of the Greater Taung Local Municipality,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) spokesperson, Ricky Oliphant said: “Yes, the municipality is aware of the recent accident. The mayor was driving to his house in the early morning of Thursday, 25 September 2025, when he lost control of a vehicle, while swerving to avoid a collision with a donkey.
“The mayor was alone in the vehicle at the time of the accident. The concern is not limited to the municipal assets, but also about the safety of the mayor, its councillors and employees,” he said.
25 September 2025- The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in the North West said is deeply concerned and outraged by the growing number of burglaries in schools across the province. SADTU said these criminal acts have led to theft of valuable learner support materials, including laptops, tablets and other essential resources meant to improve the quality of teaching and learning.
SADTU provincial secretary, George Themba said they view these incidents not only as criminal activities, but also as direct attacks on the future of the learners and the progress of the education system. Themba said the theft of these critical tools deprives learners—especially those from poor and working-class backgrounds—of opportunities to access modern learning resources and widens the gap in education equity.
“We condemn these acts in the strongest terms and call for increased school security. The North West Department of Education must urgently strengthen security measures in schools, including employing trained security personnel, installing alarm systems and ensuring rapid response to reported incidents.
“Communities must play an active role in safeguarding schools as valuable public assets. Schools belong to communities and it is the duty of all citizens to protect them from vandalism and theft. We urge the South African Police Service (SAPS) to prioritise investigations into these burglaries, arrest the perpetrators, and dismantle criminal syndicates that target schools,” he said.
Themba further said the government must ensure that stolen learning materials are urgently replaced so that learners are not disadvantaged in their academic development. He added that SADTU remains committed to fighting for quality public education and protecting the right of every learner to access resources that enable effective teaching and learning.
“We will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the scourge of school burglaries and ensure that education is defended as a societal priority,” said Themba.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi shared the same sentiments. Motsumi said they condemn in strongest terms the barbaric acts of burglary happening in different schools within the province.
“This follows a series of burglary incidents that have been reported from Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Districts, wherein these incidents happened amid the Preparatory Examination period.
“In Ngaka Modiri Molema District an incident of burglary was reported at Setumo Secondary School. On 17 September 2015, in the early hours, there was a burglary incident at the school. The school security personnel was held at gunpoint by two suspects, who tightened him with a rope in the guard room then proceeded to break into the staffroom, three offices were broken into as well as the strong room.
“Items such as 3 laptops and 28 tablets were stolen. The school opened a case of theft at Lomanyaneng Police Station. In the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, an incident of burglary was reported at Reivilo Secondary School. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, there was a burglary incident at the school,” she said.
Motsumi said items such as laptop movable cubit, 32 Acer laptops, 32 Acer laptop chargers, 3 HP laptops, 1 Lenovo laptop and 2 external hard drives were stolen. She said the school opened a case of burglary at the local police station.
Setshwantsho: Mmelaelwa o tlhagelela lwa kgotlhatshekelo mabapi le polao
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
25 Lwetse 2025- Monna wa kwa motseng wa Dryharts, gaufi le Taung, o solofetswe go tlhagelelwa kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Taung morago ga gore a tshwarwe mabapi le polao. Go begwa fa monna o, a ile a tlhaba banna ba le babedi ka thipa ka Labobedi morago ga kgakgauthano.
Go begwa fa mmelaelwa a tlhabile le go bolaya Tlotlego Mangwekea le go gobatsa Maswe Maqandela. Go begwa fa mmelaelwa a latofatsa moswi, Mangwekea le Maqandela ka go mo utswetsa ditlhako tsa carvela ga mmogo le hubbly. Go begwa fa ntwa magareng ga banna ba le mmelaelwa e ne ya diragala kwa lebenkeleng la batswa-kwa.
Go begwa fa mmelaelwa a ile a tshwarwa ke batlhankela ba sepodisi morago ga tiragalo. Maqandela o ile a amogelwa kwa bookelong jwa Taung ka dikgobalo tse di masisi.
The Guardian 