Picture: Some of beneficiaries with Northern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Bentley Vass/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
15 September 2025- The Northern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Bentley Vass handed over 10 houses to some of the delighted beneficiaries of the Jacksonville 139 Housing Project, in Jacksonville, in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, in the Frances Baard District. The Jacksonville 139 Housing Project is part of the 1 Billion Rand Housing Project, launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul in January 2024.
Vass said trees were also planted at these new houses, signifying a new beginning for many of the beneficiaries and their families. He further said the approach of the department is to hand over houses to beneficiaries of the completed houses to avoid damage/vandalism and ensure security and comfort for these beneficiaries, whilst construction work continues on the remaining houses.
“In addition, title deeds were also handed out to the beneficiaries. A title deed provides legal ownership of property and can be used as leverage for other economic benefits. The department, working with all municipalities in the province, will be stepping up efforts to deliver available title deeds throughout the province.
“The title deeds restoration programme is prepared to ensure that the government reaches out to the communities and housing beneficiaries to dispatch title deeds accordingly,” added Vass.
15 Lwetse 2025- Sepodisi kwa motsesetoropong wa Utlwanang, gaufi le Christiana, se butse kgetsi ya morago ga loso. Se, se tla morago ga gore lesea la dikgwedi di le tharo le tlhokafale.
Go begwa fa lesea le, le tlhokafetse fa le ne le robetse le mmalone (24).
Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mono Bokone Bophirima, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, tiragalo e, ke ya di 9 Lwetse 2025. Mokgwabone are go ile ga bidiwa ba thuso ya potlako, mme ba ile ba netefatsa fa lesea leo le setse le ile boya batho.
Kgabagare, Mokgwabone o ganeditse dipego tsa gore lesea leo le bolailwe ke batsadi ba lone jaaka mafoko a ne a rebotswe ke bangwe ba baagi. Bangwe ba baagi ba ne ba bega fa mmagwe lesea le rralone, ba ile ba le bataganya mo fatshe go fitlhela le tlhokafala.
15 September 2025- Young girls in Gauteng face a bleak future as sexual assault and teenage pregnancy reach pandemic levels in the province. Meanwhile, many child rapists remain free due to a lack of reporting to the police and the failure to pursue criminal charges.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that the Education, Social Development, Health, and Community Safety departments empower health and social workers to report child and statutory rape to the police to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. The DA said over 23,691 cases of teenage pregnancies has been reported in Gauteng from January to December 2024.
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education and Member of Provincial Legislature in Gauteng, Sergio Isa Dos Santos said 521 babies were delivered by girls between the ages of 10 and 14 years in a facility, 23,170 babies were delivered by girls between the ages of 15 and 19 years, while 4,840 girls between the ages of 10 and 19 years underwent a Choice on Termination of Pregnancy. Dos Santos said this information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Health, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, in a written reply to the DA’s question in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).
“The high number of pregnancies in this age group is deeply concerning, as this is statutory rape. However, the data provided by the MEC reveals a low number of cases reported to the SAPS: 474 in the 2022/23 financial year, dropping to 257 in 2023/24, and only 242 reported between April and December 2024.
“The failure by those required by the Children’s Act to report cases and handle child rape and statutory rape inevitably results in this kind of criminal conduct being normalised and concealed. In fact, perpetrators frequently manage to sidestep accountability for their actions by offering monetary bribes to the affected families,” he said.
Dos Santos further said the ongoing backlog of DNA cases poses a significant obstacle to bringing these issues to light. He added that statutory rape is a serious violation and men who commit such a crime inflict lasting harm on a vulnerable individual.
“The failure by law enforcement agencies to take action against men who commit this offense is deeply troubling, as it compromises the principles of consent and respect, leaving young girls vulnerable to predatory individuals who have lost all sense of morality.
“The DA demands that the Social Development, Education, Health, and Community Safety Departments stop passing the buck and collaborate in empowering health workers, social workers, auxiliary, and caregivers to report child and statutory rape to the South African Police Service (SAPS) as per the Children’s Act of 2005,” said Dos Santos.
He said teenage girls must be educationally empowered to know that no one, not even a teacher or a parent, is allowed to force themselves upon them at any given time. Dos Santos said they have tabled questions to ascertain the measures in place to deal with this crisis, and the current statistics of teenage pregnancies, arrests and convictions of the perpetrators.
“We will also write to the MEC for Health seeking answers on reported cases of STIs, HIV amongst the group of ages mentioned above. Child rape is not only a legal issue; it is a social issue. We urge parents and society at large to be actively involved in protecting our children.
“The recent Khomani Primary School incident in Diepkloof, where learners were reportedly drugged at school and taken to another location where they were allegedly sexually assaulted, proves that some of these incidents of statutory rape are happening beyond the direct control of teachers or school authorities,” he said.
Dos Santos said a DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would ensure that health workers and Social Workers are trained and equipped to implement the provisions of the Child Protection Act in child and statutory rape cases. He said they would ensure that matters referred to the police are investigated and successfully prosecuted without delay.
“We would vet all teachers and staff and involve parents and community leaders to create safe environments for young girls. The DA will continue to put pressure on all relevant Gauteng departments to ensure that the children are protected in terms of the Children’s Act,” said Dos Santos.
11 September 20025 – The National Assembly at its plenary sitting today, passed the Immigration Amendment Bill, which was introduced in Parliament on 5 April 2024 by the Minister of Home Affairs. In 2017, the Constitutional Court ordered Parliament to amend the Immigration Act, as it was inconsistent with Sections 12(1) and 35(2)(d) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
The NA spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo said among other things, the Constitutional Court ruled that Section 34(1)(b) of the Immigration Act was unconstitutional, since it did not require an automatic judicial review of a detention before 30 calendar days expire. Mothapo said in addition, the Constitutional Court noted that Section 34(1) does not require that a detainee be informed of the rights set out in Section 35(2) of the Constitution, in particular, the right to legal representation by a lawyer of their own choice and to be assigned one at state expense if substantial injustice would otherwise result.
“In a supplementary judgment delivered on 30 October 2023, the Constitutional Court ordered that undocumented immigrants may only be detained if it is in the interests of justice and that detainees must be brought before a court within 48 hours.
“The Constitutional Court ordered the act to be amended within 24 months. Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs heard various oral submissions from civil society, as part of ensuring extensive public consultation on the bill,” he said.
Mothapo further said public hearings were conducted on 11 and 18 February 2025. He added that following deliberations on the bill on 6 and 20 May 2025 and on 3 June 2025, the committee instructed the Parliamentary Legal Services and the Office of the State Law Advisor to prepare a list of proposed amendments to the bill.
“The proposed amendments were presented to and approved by the committee on 10 June 2025. The committee subsequently conducted a clause-by-clause deliberation on the bill and adopted the report on the bill on 22 July 2025.
“The bill will be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence,” said Mothapo.
11 September 2025- The Northern Cape Provincial Tracking Team, acting on a request from Kleinzee SAPS, successfully traced and arrested a wanted robbery suspect, Stephen Nyamane (54) in Sasolburg. On 15 December 2021, the police in Kleinsee, received a complaint of a robbery in progress where firearms are involved at a local business establishment.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said on arrival, the police were told that the assailants took off with the complainant’s vehicle that was later tracked and found near Buffelsrivier with no occupants. Sam said due to police persistence, three of the assailants were traced and arrested along the Schaap and Buffelsrivier river banks.
“Four more were arrested in Springbok, with a getaway vehicle and firearms. The group of men were arrested and appeared in court. Bail was granted and Stephen Nyamane evaded court ever since.
“After an extensive intelligence-driven investigation, the Provincial Tracking Team, following leads provided by the public, traced and located him in Sasolburg on 10 September 2025, with other crimes committed at Orange farm and Zamdela,” he said.
Sam further said the suspect is expected to appear in court soon. He added that the SAPS reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that those who threaten the safety and security of communities are brought to justice.
“The public is urged to continue reporting criminal activities by contacting SAPS Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or by using the MySAPS App. All information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality,” said Sam.
11 September 2025- The accused, Itumeleng Mogwemang (37) and Neo Potlwane (33), were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Kimberley Regional Court for murder. On 9 April 2022, Mogwemang and Potlwane were on duty as security guards at a local supermarket when they caught the deceased, Willem van Der Westhuizen (51) for stealing in the store and assaulted him.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said Willem succumbed to his injuries enroute to Robert Mangaliso Sobukhwe Hospital. Sam said the duo were arrested and charged with murder.
“The court found both the accused guilty of murder and sentenced them to 15 years imprisonment and declared them unfit to possess firearms,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Thabo Mphuthi, and the provincial management commended the Roodepan General Investigation Unit for securing a sentence. Mphuthi praised the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Vincent Phiri from the Roodepan General Detectives, for his thorough investigative work, which ensured that justice was served for the victim of this contact crime.
“We commend the relentless efforts by detectives in the province, who remain committed and dedicated to ensuring that justice is served for victims of crime,” she said.
11 September 2025- The Public Order Police in Springbok has achieved significant successes during Operation Shanela II disruptive actions conducted between 10 and 11 September 2025. The police said the Delta relief members of Springbok Police Station, conducted targeted high-visibility patrols in the Greater Springbok and Nababeep policing precincts, including strategic deployments along the N7 and N14 National Roads.
The Namakwa District police spokesperson, Captain Ivan Magerman said the operation focused on proactive crime prevention through vehicle and foot patrols, targeted stop-and-searches, and visibility deployments at ATM locations. Magerman said a 52-year-old foreign national suspect was arrested for drug trafficking and dealing in drugs in Van Der Stel Street in Springbok, following intelligence-driven operations.
“The police members discovered two plastic bags containing suspected methamphetamine (Tik) concealed within a cereal box, with an estimated street value of R299 593. A second arrest involved a woman (21) in Brisson Street in Matjieskloof, following a lawful search conducted.
“The police recovered suspected stolen copper cables valued at R6 137-24, as well as suspected methamphetamine (tik) worth R5 784. Both suspects are expected to appear in court soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Namakwa District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, commended the ongoing commitment and relentless efforts of members to squeeze the space for criminals, especially drug dealers to operate. Andrews said these arrests represent their commitment to dismantling drug networks and recovering stolen property that impacts the economic infrastructure.
“The SAPS encourages community members to report suspicious activities through our tip-off hotline or local police stations,” he said.
11 September 2025- Two preservation applications and orders secured by the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) were served on members of two syndicates who are implicated in fraud and corruption at Tembisa Hospital. The investigation into this matter was precipitated by the receipt of a report from the late Babita Deokaran, who was assassinated on 23 August 2021, and who was the Chief Director: Financial Accounting at the Gauteng Department of Health.
The NPA regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Phindi Mjonondwane said her report detailed suspected procurement irregularities within Tembisa Hospital’s Supply Chain Management. Mjonondwane said the Specialised Audit Services Unit (SAS) of the National Treasury (NT) conducted a review of Tembisa Hospital’s Basic Accounting System payment data to determine all payments made to the companies that were identified by Deokaran as having benefited from the unlawful activities.
“It also conducted a review of the Tembisa Hospital’s Central Supplier Database and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission records of the implicated companies to verify the registration and directorships of the companies, to identify any additional related companies involved in the unlawful activities and to review payments made to those companies.
“The review covered the period between April 2016 and August 2022. The review by the SAS confirmed the possible large-scale corruption reported by Deokaran. The SAS established that 14 entities controlled by the Maumela syndicate apparently irregularly and unlawfully benefited from contracts from the Tembisa Hospital with a cumulative value in excess of R400 million,” she said.
Mjonondwane further said the SAS established that 18 entities controlled by the Mazibuko syndicate apparently irregularly and unlawfully benefited from contracts from the Tembisa Hospital with a cumulative value in excess of R300 million. She added that on 14 August 2025, the AFU was granted an order relating to property owned by members of the Maumela syndicate.
“The property, valued at approximately R326 million, includes high end residential property in affluent areas and luxury vehicles such as four Lamborghinis, a Bentley and a boat.
“On 27 August 2025, the AFU was granted an order relating to property owned by members of the Mazibuko syndicate. The property, valued at approximately R47 million, includes high end residential property in affluent areas and luxury vehicles such as three Mercedes Benz valued in total at R10 million and a Land Rover valued at R2 million,” she said.
Mjonondwane said the applications by the Asset Forfeiture Unit are premised on forensic investigations by firms appointed to assist in the investigation concerning allegations of procurement fraud and corruption that took place at the Tembisa Hospital during the period from January 2019 to August 2022.
She said forensic investigations revealed a multitude of irregularities in the procurement processes with a manipulation of the processes in the award of contracts for the supply of goods and/or services to Tembisa Hospital which favoured entities associated with the syndicates.
“In instances companies who supposedly submitted quotes in the bidding process denied having made any such submissions in the bidding process. In other instances, in cahoots with the syndicates, cover quoting companies were used to submit bids which always favoured the syndicate entities in the process.
“The analysis conducted of the flow of funds indicates that most of the funds received by the syndicate entities were used to purchase assets, to pay bribes to officials and covering bidders and by members of the syndicates for personal use/ to fund their extravagant lifestyles,” said Mjonondwane.
She said a very small percentage of the total amount received could possibly be ascribed to the purchase of supplies for delivery in terms of the contracts.
The Deputy National Director of the National Prosecuting Authority responsible for the Asset Forfeiture Unit, Advocate Ouma Rabaji-Rasethaba, commented that the fight for justice for the people of our country continues and again stressed that ordinary South Africans are victims of crime and corruption every time they face water shortages, load shedding or empty hospital shelves.
“When there is no water, when there is no electricity, no textbooks, no medication, no hospitals, we are all suffering. Denying South Africans health care including medication in hospitals is a travesty of justice,” she said.
Meanwhile, advocate Rabaji-Rasethaba also commended the contribution of NT and the intensive investigations conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the support rendered by the NT and the SIU to the AFU in its attention to this matter. She said the outcome demonstrates the impact of collaborative efforts by government agencies working together in the fight for justice.
11 September 2025- The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) Youth Desk in Ngaka Modiri Molema District said it condemns the ‘barbaric’ treatment of the learners at Thuto Boswa Primary School in Makhubung village, near Mahikeng. This comes after learners allegedly being subjected to the highest form of human rights violation.
SANCOYD coordinator, Katlego Mogale said they were summoned by the community of Makhubung to intervene in the matter as they have on multiple occasions confronted the management of the school without foundation. Mogale said ablution facilities are not in good condition.
“Toilets are blocked and they cannot flush. Faeces are exposed and this propagates a bad odour that in return causes serious health risks to learners. It Has been two weeks since this is happening and this kind of exposure causes pathogens to spread into the air, leading to gastrointestinal illnesses like diarrhoea, cholera, malnutrition etc.
“This is an act of human rights violation. It highlights the poor management and maladministration happening in the school. According to the Constitution of South
Africa, Chapter 2: Bill of Rights, Section 24(a) which states: “Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being.”
“Section 28(1) (c) states that: “Every child has the right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation”. So, learners are subjected to this and their rights are being exploited and violated. Therefore, we call for intervention from all relevant stakeholders such as the Department of Education and South African Human Rights
Commission (SAHRC),” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Vuyo Matshule said: “The department is aware of the situation at Thuto Boswa Primary School and the matter is receiving attention. The borehole water level has gone down as a result the water is not enough.
“Learners have also thrown stones into the pipes that are at the back of the toilets, blocking the flow system to the septic tank. The challenge has just started on 8 September 2025, and it is receiving attention.”
Matshule further said the situation does expose learners to health hazards but not all the toilets were blocked. He added that the precast toilets were used as an alternative.
“The school has called the parents meeting today to inform them about the challenges that they are facing such as shortage of water, learner discipline and vandalism at the school.
“So, the school is in the meantime buying water from the suppliers. The school has also hired a plumber to try resolving the problem. At the moment, the septic tank has been drained and the school has escalated this matter to the relevant infrastructure division within the department,” said Matshule.
He said the inspector has also visited the school to assess the condition. Matshule said the principal and the School Governing Body (SGB) are working around the clock to repair the toilets.
“The plumber is on site repairing. The school has to buy material, using 10% of Section 21 allocated for minor repairs,” he said.
10 September 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has welcomed the swift intervention by the Minister of Higher Education, Buti Manamela, following a briefing from the College of Cape Town (CCT) on the state of governance at the institution.
During the engagement, the committee was alarmed to learn of persistent tensions among senior managers, which have resulted in weak governance, low staff morale and disruptions to academic programmes.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Tebogo Letsie said according to the college principal, divisions within management escalated after his appointment, following unsuccessful bids for the position by two deputy principals. Letsie said he explained that this outcome sparked a prolonged power struggle, which continues to destabilise the institution.
“We welcome the department’s interventions under Section 46 of the Continuing Education and Training Act, 16 of 2006, which empowers the Minister to act where a public college is mismanaged or unable to perform its functions effectively.
“We welcome the decisiveness on this matter, as it was evident that the principal regarded this institution as his own until we called him to order. Such attitudes have no place in government institutions that are funded by the taxpayers of this country,” he said.
Letsie further said as the committee, they are hopeful that the Minister will remain firm in his decision and report back within two months on the progress and outcomes of the stabilisation team, as promised. He added that the Director-General of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Dr Nkosinathi Sishi, clarified that the principal is facing 21 charges, not 300 as alleged.
“The DHET’s attempts at consequence management have been frustrated, as the principal is often unavailable to respond when required.
“The committee reiterated its position that the ongoing instability at CCT cannot be allowed to compromise the academic success of students and called for urgent steps to restore stability, good governance and accountability at the institution,” said Letsie.
The Guardian 