Daily Archives: November 25, 2025

Implementation of the North West Liquor Licensing Act to take effect

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Picture: The North West MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane

By AGISANANG SCUFF

25 November 2025- The North West MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane has confirmed the implementation of the North West Liquor Licensing Act, 2016 (Act No. 6 of 2016) for the 2025/26 financial year, following all legislative processes undertaken during the bill stage. Lenkopane said in line with the Act, her department, through the Liquor Regulations Unit, commenced the liquor licence renewal process on 14 November 2025, which will run until 26 February 2026.

She further said the new renewal fees payable for the 2025/26 financial year are now in full effect. Lenkopane added that the published schedule of fees applies to all liquor license holders and payments must be made strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

“The department has noted with great concern the recent statements circulating from a group of individuals claiming to represent license holders and encouraging them not to renew their licenses due to the increase in fees as per the new Provincial Act.

“At this stage, the department emphasizes that such statements do not reflect the position of the broader liquor industry and urges the traders to adhere to their license conditions by renewing for the 2025/26 financial year,” she said.

Lenkopane further said they have already assisted a significant number of license holders in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, who have complied with the legislation, while others are awaiting the unfolding of the renewal process. She added that there will be no consideration of any reduction in the fees.

“The current fees are a product of extensive and transparent consultations conducted during the legislative process and are therefore binding in law. Since the campaign’s inception on 14 November 2025, the department has managed to collect R496 000 from liquor traders operating within the municipalities under the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.

“This week, the campaign will be heading to the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture. All liquor traders in the area are urged to respond to the call to renew their licenses. The department further warns liquor traders of a concerning scam, in which fraudsters impersonate liquor officials and contact traders to solicit payments for license renewals through cash-send and e-wallet transactions,” said Lenkopane.

She said these actions are illegal and aimed at exploiting unsuspecting business owners. Lenkopane said liquor traders and members of the public are urged to exercise caution, remain vigilant and verify any communication related to license renewals directly with the department before making any payments.

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YIMOSA applauds SA for hosting successful G20 World Leaders Summit

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Picture: G20 leaders gathered under one roof

By BAKANG MOKOTO

25 November 2025- The Young Intelligent Minds of South Africa (YIMOSA) said the recent success by South Africa in holding a successful G20 World Leaders Summit and the resilience of other world leaders who showed up in South Africa to honour the invite is a great sign that the world is ready to move on without the so-called world super nations. YIMOSA said the boldness of the South African government in a manner in which it handled the situation must be commended with the highest of distinction.

YIMOSA spokesperson, Jeffrey Mabunda said from the setting up of the entire event, the delegation and the confidence shown by each delegate on South Africa hosting a first of its kind G20 of  the African continent it’s an indication that Africa is ready. Mabunda said the stance the government took in handling the US boycotting of the G20 Summit in South Africa and the refusal by the SA government to admit representatives from the US embassy to the event, was a true sign that President Cyril Ramaphosa has had enough of the Trump bullying tactics against South Africa.

“When the South African delegation led by Ramaphosa went to the White House to try and sever the relationship between the two countries, we all thought Trump was going to have a change of heart on South Africa.

“Despite the kneeling down by our delegates in the US and a special plea by Ramaphosa that Trump attend the G20 in November, Trump did the opposite. We have all known that Trump had no intentions to attend the G20 in South Africa as he has previously mentioned that his Deputy President JD Vance was going to attend,” he said.

Mabunda further said a few weeks later he announced on his Truth Social that no US Government official is going to the G20 in South Africa. He added that from the arrangement of arrivals of the guests and world leaders in various airports and at the expo centre in Nasrec, from the opening and welcoming speech by Ramaphosa and from him deliberately announcing live that there is an overwhelming majority on the adoption of the G20 Summit Declaration.

“One could see that our President has gone away from the US begging Trump. This will teach many countries to be bold and take a stand in whatever they resolve to do without fear or favour of being victimized. Ramaphosa’s bold move was an indication that small economy countries are shifting away from being reliant on major economic countries.

“As much as Trump is still going to retaliate against South Africa, he has seen that the world is slowly trying to move without the US commanding everything. Trump came back to the White House with revengeful intentions, which included dealing with South Africa,” said Mabunda.

He said his lack of knowledge, insight and lack of knowledge on the South African legal system and population dynamics is a result of the blow by blow South Africa continues to receive from the US President. Mabunda said his allegations that South Africa is committing genocide on white farmers are unfounded and remains unfounded.

“It’s big up to the South African Government for having flown the South African flag higher than anyone has anticipated. This is a clear indication that Africa is ready and the world is ready to move on without other countries.

“To those leaders who send their junior staff or leaders to our Summit we and they are still to talk so that in future they leave whatever they are doing to come and participate in world changing discussions rather than  hiding behind their junior staffers with the fear of Trump,” he said.

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More than 1250 suspects nabbed during Operation Shanela II

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

25 November 2025 – The police in the North West have during the weekly integrated and multidisciplinary Shanela 2/Safer Festive Season Operations, asserted the authority of the state through the apprehension of 1250 suspects for different crimes ranging from burglaries at residential and non-residential premises, aggravated robberies, murders, rapes, dealing in and possession of drugs to driving under the influence of liquor. The police said the operations, led by commissioned officers, were conducted between 17 and 23 November 2025. 

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said out of the 1250 arrested suspects, 423 were arrested by Detectives as those on the circulated wanted suspects’ lists. In addressing identified crime generators through compliance inspections to enforce the provisions of the Liquor and Second-Hand Goods Acts, 35 unlicensed liquor outlets (shebeens) were closed and large quantities of liquor confiscated. 

Mokgwabone said furthermore, the operations led to the confiscation of seven vehicles, five firearms, 95 rounds of ammunition, two wheelbarrows and housebreaking implements, among others.

“In Rustenburg and Phokeng in the Bojanala Sub-District 2, the Provincial Proactive Drugs Operation, Anti-Gang Unit, Rustenburg Crime Intelligence and Tactical Response Team (TRT), as well as Bafokeng Protective Services, arrested 10 suspects for possession of suspected illegal substances during operations conducted between 18 and 21 November 2025.

“The suspects included two South Africans, three Tanzanians and five Nigerians. The team confiscated cash amounting to R25 500,00 believed to be the proceeds of a crime as well as drugs such as crystal meth, khat, mandrax, heroin and nyaope with estimated street value of R670 000,” he said.

Mokgwabone added that in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, three multidisciplinary Inter-Provincial roadblocks between North West and Northern Cape were conducted on the N18, N12 and N14 roads on 18 November 2025. He said following the operations, 1221 vehicles were stopped and 15 road traffic fines were issued to motorists.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, welcomed the successes and indicated that the police, in collaboration with other JOINTS role players will continue with the high-density operations to stabilise hotspots and ensure public safety.

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DA to report Umkhonto weSizwe MP, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla to Ethics Committee over human trafficking allegations

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Picture: MKP Member of Parliament, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla

By REGINALD KANYANE

25 November 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for urgent action from Parliament and law-enforcement after new and very disturbing information came to light about how 17 young South African men were lured into travelling to Russia and then forced into the Ukraine war. The DA said these men were promised bodyguard or security training.

DA spokesperson on Defence & Military Veterans, Chris Hattingh who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) said but when they arrived, they were made to sign documents written in Russian, had their passports, phones and bank cards taken away. Hattingh said they were then moved to the Donetsk region, close to active fighting.

“Some were forced to carry weapons and ammunition, dig trenches and operate equipment under Russian control. They have been asking their families and government for help because they want to come home.

“This is a chilling case of the powerful preying on the vulnerable. The promise of a job was a death trap, and an MP stands accused of holding the door open. The DA will be filing a criminal case with the SAPS to investigate the roles of Zuma-Sambudla and others mentioned in media reports for misleading these young men and sending them into an active war zone,” he said.

He further said the matter has already been handed over to the Hawks. Hattingh added that they fully support the Hawks investigation and if the evidence shows that laws were broken – including trafficking, fraud or illegal foreign military activity – then the law must take its course and prosecution must follow.

“Provided that Zuma-Sambudla is a sitting Member of Parliament, I am also writing to the Acting Registrar of Parliament’s Ethics Committee to request an immediate ethics investigation. Allegations of this nature, involving an MP, cannot be ignored.

“If a public representative abused her position to recruit or mislead young South Africans into a foreign conflict, it would be a serious breach of her Oath of office and Parliament’s ethical rules. Parliament must treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves,” he said.

Hattingh said him and his DA counterpart on the Portfolio Committee for International Relations, Ryan Smith (MP), will both write to their respective Portfolio Committee Chairpersons to urge that their committees are urgently briefed on this concerning matter by the State Security Agency, Defence Intelligence, DIRCO, the Hawks and the Department of Defence. He said they need clarity on how this recruitment network operated inside South Africa, whether warning signs were missed and what the government is doing to bring the men home safely.

“South Africa cannot allow our young people to be tricked into fighting in foreign wars. We cannot allow political connections to be used to mislead vulnerable citizens. And we cannot allow Parliament to look the other way when one of its members faces allegations of this seriousness.

“The DA will continue pushing for full accountability, proper oversight and urgent action to protect our citizens and uphold the rule of law,” said Hattingh.

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Setopo se se senyegileng sa monna se bonwe kwa mmileng wa Vryburg

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Ka OBAKENG MAJE

25 Ngwanatsele 2025- Setopo sa monna se se neng se setse se senyegile se bonwe kwa mmileng kwa motsesetoropong wa Huhudi, gaufi le Vryburg mo letsatsing la maabane. Go begwa fa setopo seo, se le magareng ga dingwaga di le 20 le 30.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mono Bokone Bophirima, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone are go fitlha ga jaana, ga se go itsiwe gore setopo seo ke sa ga mang. Mokgwabone are ga gona ope yo o tshwerweng mabapi le kgang e, fela dipatlisiso di a tswelela.

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