Daily Archives: November 5, 2025

Maruping Lekwene resigns as Northern Cape MEC for Health and Member of Provincial Legislature

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Picture: Northern Cape MEC for Health and Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), Maruping Lekwene

By OBAKENG MAJE

5 November 2025- The African National Congress (ANC) in the Northern Cape announced the resignation of Maruping Lekwene as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Health and as a Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL). The party said Lekwene’s resignation follows the decision of the ANC to redeploy him to a new and strategic role as the ANC Head of Elections in the Northern Cape.

The ANC provincial spokesperson, Sandiseni Sithole said this deployment forms part of the ANC’s broader strategy to strengthen the organisation ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. Sithole said ANC wishes to express its deep appreciation to Lekwene for his unwavering commitment, discipline and contribution to the government and the people of the Northern Cape.

“Throughout his tenure in the Provincial Executive and in the Legislature, he has served with dedication and integrity. As he takes up this new responsibility, the ANC has full confidence that Lekwene will continue to play a vital role in advancing the organisation’s programmes and ensuring a strong, united, and well-prepared movement for the upcoming elections.

“The ANC also extends its appreciation to the Premier and the entire Provincial Executive Council for their continued teamwork and focus on improving service delivery,” he said.

Sithole further said the organisation values the collective leadership shown in promoting stability and progress across the province. He added that ANC remains committed to its mission of building unity, deepening democracy and accelerating service delivery.

“Redeployments within the movement are part of a continuous effort to strengthen governance and organisational effectiveness,” said Sithole.

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Police are looking for the missing Malawian man, Chikombi Kalimpinde

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Picture: A missing Malawian man, Chikombi Kalimpinde/Supplied

By BAKANG MOKOTO

5 November 2025- The police in Koster request the community’s assistance in locating a missing Malawian man, Chikombi Kalimpinde (26), who is residing at Witrand Farm, near Koster. Kalimpinde was last seen by his wife on 28 September 2025, at around 7am when he left for work, but never returned home.

The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said a search was conducted around Oukasie village, extensive investigations were done and all leads were followed up with no success. Myburgh said it is not known what he was wearing at the time of his disappearance.

“He is dark in complexion, has an average built, is 1.8m tall, with black medium length hair, a short black moustache with a short beard.

“Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can contact the Investigating Officer, Seargeant Innocent Matuwane on Cell 082 338 9410, your local police station or Crime Stop on 08600 10111,” she said.

Myburgh further said anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via the MySAPS App from your smart phone. She added that extortion-related incidents can be reported on the Extortion hotline on 080 091 1011.

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Police need your assistance in locating a missing man

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Picture: A missing man, Ephrahim Kgotlaetsile Tele/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

5 November 2025 – The police in Brits request the community’s assistance in locating a missing man, Ephrahim Kgotlaitsile Tele (56), who is residing at Vuka Section in Oukasie, near Brits. Tele was last seen by his sister on 30 August 2025, at around 8am, when she went to work.

The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adéle Myburgh said when she returned after work at around 6pm, Tele was missing. Myburgh said a search was conducted around Oukasie village, extensive investigations were done and all leads were followed up with no success.

“At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a black skinny jean, black long sleeve t-shirt and black and red tekkies that looks like all-star tekkies. He is mentally disabled, dark in complexion, weighs 60kg, 1.6m tall, with a slender build. He has black, short hair, with a black moustache and short beard.

“Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can contact the Investigating Officer, Sgt Maiphitlo Lenard Thobaka on 071 674 8763. Alternatively, you can also contact your local police station or Crime Stop on ‪08600 10111. Anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via the MySAPS App from your smartphone,” she said.

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Two officials from North West Public Works and Roads suspended amid tender scam allegations  

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Picture: The North West Public Works and Roads logo

By OBAKENG MAJE

5 November 2025- Two officials from the North West Department of Public Works and Roads have been suspended for alleged tender scam. This comes following allegations of their involvement in a fraudulent tender scheme targeting unsuspecting business people.

The North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Elizabeth Mokua said the officials are alleged to have misled members of the public by claiming that they were awarded a tender to install solar geysers, a function that does not fall within the jurisdiction or mandate of the department. Mokua said the department acted swiftly upon receiving information about the scam and has since opened a criminal case with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure that the matter is thoroughly investigated.

“We strongly condemn the alleged criminal conduct. Such acts undermine public trust and the integrity of the department. I condemn this criminal act in the strongest possible terms. It is shameful and unacceptable that officials entrusted with serving out people can use the name of the Department to defraud unsuspecting business people.

“The department does not tolerate any form of corruption or criminal behaviour. If found guilty, these officials must face the full might of the law. I have instructed the Head of Department (HoD) to act decisively and ensure that the investigation proceeds without any interference,” she said.

Mokua further cautions business people to remain vigilant and verify any procurement-related communication with the department before engaging in financial transactions or signing contracts. She added that all service providers should be cautious and contact the department directly through official channels, whenever they are approached about tenders or procurement opportunities.

“The department remains committed to transparency, accountability and ethical conduct in all its operations. The department reaffirms its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and pledges full cooperation with law enforcement authorities to ensure that justice is served,” said Mokua.

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DA urges urgent stabilisation and dedicated developer desk in Joburg

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Picture: The City of Johannesburg

By AGISANANG SCUFF

5 November 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said Johannesburg’s hope for growth and investment is being strangled by administrative failure. The party said the developments across the City are being delayed or abandoned because the City’s digital planning systems have become unreliable — crippling approvals, inspections, and investor confidence.

The DA Shadow MMC for Development Planning, Daniel Schay said this week, they visited a site in Linksfield North that has been stalled for over a year — a symptom of a wider crisis affecting every region of the City. Schay said the GIS (Geo-Informatics System) portal, which underpins mapping and zoning data, has been unusable for months.

“The CPMS (Construction Permit Management System), used to process building-plan applications and track approvals, goes down repeatedly, often for days at a time. When these systems fail, plan assessments stop, compliance inspections can’t be logged, and developers are left in limbo.

“Yet, while the City’s economic engine grinds to a halt, the acting mayor — who is also the ANC MMC for Development Planning — is spending her time doing street-sweeping photo-ops in Alexandra instead of fixing her department’s operational collapse,” he said.

Schay further said Johannesburg cannot grow when the very systems meant to support development are collapsing. He added that every stalled plan represents lost jobs, lost revenue, and lost faith in the City’s ability to function.

“The DA calls on the acting mayor and Development Planning Department to stabilise and maintain the GIS and CPMS systems with permanent technical oversight and full-time IT support. To establish a dedicated “Developer Desk” within the Development Planning Department to assist applicants affected by excessive delays and to help catch up on backlogged approvals.

“Implement internal performance tracking to ensure that once these systems are restored, delays are systematically reduced. Johannesburg needs leadership that can keep its core functions running — not one that prioritises optics over operations. The City’s developers, investors, and residents deserve competence, not chaos,” said Schay.

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Comprehensive strategy to deal with gangsterism urgently required     

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Picture: Police attending to a crime scene/Generic

By BAKANG MOKOTO

4 November 2025- The South African Union Council of Independent Churches (SAUCIC) on Tuesday called for a comprehensive strategy to deal with gangsterism and the proliferation of guns contributing to escalating senseless violence and loss of lives. This follows the killing of six people in a drive-by shooting that has left three injured over the weekend at Reiger Park near Benoni.

SAUCIC president, Cardinal Archbishop Dr Modiri Patrick Shole condemned in the strongest terms possible the monstrous incident that has left communities in the East Rand reeling with shock describing it as atrocious and barbaric. Shole said they welcome the deployment of an additional investigating team to tackle the ongoing violence and the backlog of violent crime cases that need to be cleared.   

“The effort to tackle the scourge of violent crime terrorising our communities must be bolstered and a strong partnership between law enforcement and our communities established in order to restore the rule of law as well as confidence in the criminal justice system.

“We convey our heartfelt condolences to bereaved families and wishing those injured a speedy recovery on behalf of affiliated Federations of Charismatic, Evangelical Outreach Mission Ministries and Pentecostal Churches. The culture of impunity that has emboldened heartless criminals must be confronted, if the trust deficit is to be replaced by effective and proactive policing that is responsive to the reign of terror that is supporting the drug trade,” he said.

Shole urged communities to draw the line in the sand and recommit themselves not to harbour criminals in their neighbourhoods. 

“None of our communities will be safer with armed heartless criminals responsible for such heinous acts roaming our streets and neighbourhoods. Law enforcement must saturate the area, throw the gauntlet at criminals and leave no stone left unturned until the marauding gang is put behind bars before more innocent lives are lost.

“We appeal to communities to unite in action in order to rid themselves of organised criminal syndicates holding them hostage to terror and hopelessness.

The church must be at the forefront of reclaiming civil activism and redouble its effort to support crime prevention structures including democratic, accountable community policing,” he said.

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Five men nabbed for armed robbery  

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Picture: Five men arrested for robbery/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

5 November 2025- The cross border collaboration between police in the Northern Cape and Western Cape led to the apprehension and arrest of five men. This comes after an armed robbery and assault incident that occurred at the Kareebos Wind Farm in the early hours of Tuesday morning, 4 November 2025.

The Namakwa District police spokesperson, Captain Ivan Magerman said it is believed that at approximately 2:30am, the security guards were on duty when three unknown men approached the guardhouse and threatened them with firearms. Magerman said the assailants allegedly assaulted the security personnel and forced them to the site office, where they broke a window and stole radios, diesel and cell phones belonging to the complainant.

“The suspects fled the scene in a truck, which was later spotted by the security transport vehicle. The police in the Western Cape were alerted, while the truck was being followed by another security vehicle who alerted the authorities. With the assistance of Laingsburg SAPS, the truck was intercepted in the Touwsrivier area.

“The members of Touwsrivier SAPS arrested five suspects aged between 29 and 44 respectively. They confiscated toy guns used by the suspects in the robbery. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Namakwa District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, commended the police for the collaboration between the two provinces for their swift reaction and arrests of the fleeing suspects.

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Suspect arrested for possession of drugs

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Picture: The drugs seized by the police during raid/Supplied

By REGINALD KANYANE

4 November 2025- A multi-disciplinary SAPS team in Noupoort successfully intercepted and removed drugs before they could reach the streets of the town. The police acted on intelligence regarding a man travelling from George to Noupoort, who was suspected to be in possession of drugs.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said in the early hours of Monday, 3 November 2025, at approximately 2:30am, the police spotted a man (31) matching the description disembarking from a bus. Shemane said a thorough search was conducted, which led to the discovery of mandrax tablets and tik concealed in the suspect’s luggage.

“He was arrested for possession of drugs with an estimated street value of R20 000. The suspect will appear in court soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Pixley Ka Seme District Police Commissioner, Major General Nomana Mtukushe, commended the collaborative efforts of the team in preventing the distribution of drugs. Mtukushe reaffirmed that the police in Pixley Ka Seme remain steadfast in their commitment to eradicating drug-related crimes within communities during and beyond the festive season.

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Partnership between NCPG and Kumba Iron Ore signifies culmination of extensive engagements  

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Picture: the attendees at the handing over ceremony/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

5 November 2025- The Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul said they met with the CEO of Kumba Iron Ore, Mpumi Zikalala for the ceremonial handover of the land parcel for the Kathu Industrial Park Development. Saul said the land parcel is 91ha estimated at R62 Million.

He further said the ceremonial handover comes after the signing of the land donation agreement, which marked the formal initiation of the transfer process, a critical step in unlocking the next phase of the Kathu Industrial Park’s Development. Saul added that it represents a landmark moment in the province’s industrialisation and economic diversification journey.

“This milestone signifies the culmination of extensive engagements between Kumba Iron Ore, NCEDA, and the Northern Cape Provincial Government, aimed at establishing a dedicated industrial hub to service the region’s mining and beneficiation ecosystem. As part of this process, Kumba Iron Ore has made strategically located land available towards the development of the Industrial Park.

“The initiative aligns directly with the Northern Cape Industrial Corridor Development Framework, which positions the Kathu node as a strategic centre for value addition, mineral beneficiation, and supply chain integration in support of mining operations across the broader corridor,” he said.

Saul said Kumba Iron Ore Company remains a strategic anchor partner, whose leadership in facilitating the land donation demonstrates a shared vision for inclusive and sustainable growth. He said their contribution will serve as an enabler for further investment from both public and private sector partners, ensuring that the park evolves into a multi-industry ecosystem built on innovation, beneficiation, and shared prosperity.

“The project also positions the Northern Cape Provincial Government through the Northern Cape Economic Development, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (NCEDA) to leverage additional partnerships with other key role players.

“The Northern Cape Provincial Government remains committed to working with the Private Sector to ensure that we create jobs for the people of the province,” said Saul.

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