9 April 2026 – The owner and former midwife of You and Me Midwife-led Maternity Care, Yolande Maritz Fouchee (48) from Murrayfield was found guilty of culpable homicide of 9 days-old Noah Von Kloeg, 6 counts of assault, fraud, employment of an unqualified person, and 5 counts of assault involving a legal duty by the Pretoria High Court. Between 2019 to 2020, Fouchee would administer functions as a midwife, such as running pregnancy check-ups for pregnant women and assisting them to give birth at Fouchee’s practice in Murrayfield.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said during the pregnancy and birthing process of those women, Fouchee would overlook pregnancy complications in respect of her patients and not refer them to the appropriate specialists. Mahanjana said Fouchee would also say to the pregnant women that she is capable of performing normal to low-risk birthing.
“During the birthing process, Fouchee would offer the pregnant mothers water mixed with Cytotec or Oxytocin in order to induce and augment their labour without their knowledge. On 3 April 2019, one of the victims’ labour was induced.
“She gave birth and 9 days later, her baby died due to the complications overlooked by Fouchee. In 2020, Fouchee was reported to the South African Nursing Council (SANC) by the victims and criminal cases against her were opened at Silverton police station. After an investigation by the police, Fouchee was arrested on 24 June 2024, at her place of residence,” she said.
Mahanjana further said in court, Fouchee pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against her and denied committing the offences. She added, however, the state prosecutor, Adv Jennifer Cronje, presented compelling evidence by Fouchee’s daughter, the victims and Professor Priya Soma-Pillay, as well as Professor Izelle Smuts, both experts from Steve Biko Academic Hospital who compiled detailed medical reports about ante-natal care, labour and delivery as well as neonatal emergency care proved the state’s case beyond reasonable doubt.
Meanwhile, the acting Director of Public Prosecutions in Gauteng, Advocate Marika Jansen Van Vuuren, commended Cronje for her work and said that such cases set precedence that medical officials are not above the law and that they too can be criminally prosecuted. Van Vuuren hopes that this judgement provides some justice and closure to the victims and their families.
“The matter has been postponed to 25 May 2026 for sentencing proceedings,” she said.
Picture: A driver and two learners died in a horrific accident/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
9 April 2026 – Two learners from Vryburg High School along with their driver (43), died in a horrific car accident. It is alleged that the accident happened in the early hours of Wednesday, 8 April 2026.
The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said it is reported that four girl learners and their driver, were travelling in their private transport from Delareyville to Vryburg to attend school as it was the reopening of schools for the second term. Motsumi said it is further reported that, approximately 20 kilometres from Vryburg, their vehicle collided with a truck.
“Unfortunately, the crash resulted in the immediate loss of three lives. Two learners and the driver were declared dead at the scene, while the two other learners sustained severe injuries. The deceased learners, Remofiloe Mtshengu (15) and Kitso Mathope (16), were in Grade 9 and 10 respectively, while the seriously injured learners are both in Grade 12.
“We are devastated by the tragic news of the accident. Immediately after receiving the news, I drove to Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital in Vryburg to offer my support to the families and wished learners a speedy recovery,” she said.
Motsumi further said on behalf of the entire department, she wishes to convey their heartfelt and deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved learners and also wish a speedy recovery to those who are still in hospital. She added that to the Vryburg High School community, pray that they remain strong during this difficult time.
“I further urge all drivers who are transporting learners to school, to be extremely cautious on the road. The death of one learner is too many. We cannot allow the lives of our learners to perish on the road like this. These learners were coming to school for the second quarter and we were having so many plans to ensure that they excel in their studies.
“The Wellness Unit from the District Office has already conducted trauma debriefing to the learners and the educators. Psycho social support will also be extended to the affected family members,” said Motsumi.
She said the memorial service and the funeral details of the deceased learners will be released once all the family members have been consulted.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng sent his deepest condolences to the families of two the deceased. Morweng said the occupants were traveling on N14 road from Delareyville to Vryburg on the first day of the second school quarter when the sedan in which they were traveling collided head on with a truck traveling the opposite direction.
“The truck driver (45), who was travelling alone, was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries. A case of culpable homicide is being investigated,” he said.
Picture: North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
8 April 2026 – The North West Provincial Government (NWPG) said it has implemented the Provincial Digital Transformation Strategy. The NWPG said this strategy is not merely a technology programme, it is a central pillar of its broader agenda to build a capable, ethical and developmental state, supported by modern systems, efficient processes, and strengthened accountability.
The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said it is about fundamentally transforming the way government works both internally and in how it serves citizens, businesses, and institutions across the province. Mokgosi said they welcome leadership from Microsoft South Africa and Boxfusion, who have supported the province in delivering key components of this digital transformation journey.
“We look forward to working closely with you in advancing digital transformation, innovation, enterprise development and inclusive economic participation within the North West.
“During the State of the Province Address (SOPA) in February 2026, we made a clear and deliberate commitment to the people of this province that we would modernise government systems, strengthen administrative capability, and transition towards a digitally enabled provincial administration,” he said.
Mokgosi further indicated that from 1 April 2026, key systems would transition into operation. He added that today, they can confirm that this commitment has been delivered.
“The systems that were announced are now live and operational and we have now entered the next critical phase, the adoption, onboarding and institutionalization phase, which will ensure that these systems are embedded into the daily functioning of government.
“At the centre of this transformation is the SmartGov platform, which now lives across the North West Provincial Government as a centralised digital service led by the Office of the Premier.
SmartGov represents a fundamental shift from fragmented, manual and paper-based processes towards a standardized, integrated and automated administrative environment across all departments,” said Mokgosi.
He said during the month of April, all departments are undergoing a structured onboarding programme, which includes a comprehensive training of officials across CFO environments and operational units as well as alignment and configuration of departmental processes within the platform. Mokgosi said this includes a managed transition from manual workflows to digital processes.
“This phased and structured approach ensures that the transition is controlled, supported and sustainable, without disrupting provision of services.
“As departments complete onboarding, they will progressively transition into full utilisation of the platform, and manual processes will be systematically discontinued,” he said.
Mokgosi said the SmartGov platform will automate key administrative and procurement processes, which among others include, e-submissions, quotation and procurement workflows, internal approval processes, invoice tracking and payment visibility as well as contract management and compliance monitoring. He said the implementation of SmartGov will result in improved efficiency and standardisation across government processes, enhanced transparency in procurement and financial management, reduced delays and faster turnaround times, accountability and auditability of transactions and a more accessible and predictable system for businesses.
“For businesses particularly small, medium and emerging enterprises this represents a significant step towards creating a fair, transparent and equitable environment for participation in government opportunities.
“This is not just a system going live, it is a transition towards a new way of working in government. In parallel to administrative automation, we have also operationalised the Monitoring and Evaluation capability within the Office of the Premier, implemented through the SmartGov platform,” said Mokgosi.
He said this capability will enable the province to progressively integrate reporting across to all twelve provincial departments, six state owned entities and all twelve municipalities. Mokgosi said through this system, the Office of the Premier will increasingly have access to real-time performance data through interactive dashboards, covering strategic programmes and service delivery initiatives across the province.
“This will enable continuous monitoring of strategic projects, strengthened oversight across all spheres within the province, early identification of risks and underperformance data-driven decision-making as well as improved coordination of interventions where required.
“This marks a fundamental shift from traditional reporting to real-time, integrated and proactive governance.
Programme Director, this transformation is built on a fundamental shift in the province’s digital foundation, a decisive move away from outdated legacy systems towards a modern, secure and future-ready digital environment,” he said.
Mokgosi said they have successfully migrated from the legacy GroupWise platform to Microsoft 365, ushering in a new era of a connected, collaborative and mobile digital workplace. He said their public servants are now equipped with tools that enable them to work more efficiently and respond more effectively to the needs of our people.
“In parallel, we have transitioned our infrastructure to the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, positioning the province on a scalable, resilient and high-performance digital backbone capable of supporting both current demands and future growth.
“At the same time, we have strengthened our cybersecurity posture through the deployment of advanced endpoint security capabilities, ensuring that government systems, data and digital services are protected against evolving cyber threats,” said Mokgosi.
He said together, these initiatives mark a clear departure from legacy constraints and establish a secure, modern and future-ready digital government environment for the North West. Mokgosi said they are no longer operating on legacy systems, they are now operating on a modern digital foundation built for the future.
“Of critical importance is to emphasize that all these initiatives have been implemented through State Information Technology Agency (SITA) framework agreements, ensuring full compliance with national ICT governance, procurement and regulatory frameworks.
“Beyond systems and infrastructure, this transformation is also about people, skills development and economic opportunity. Through our partnership with Microsoft, the province will unlock structured training programmes for government employees, enterprise development opportunities for local ICT businesses and SMMEs, digital skills development programmes for young people across the province,” he said.
Mokgosi said these initiatives will be delivered through Microsoft’s Corporate Social Investment and partner development programmes and will be provided at no cost to the province. He said this ensures that their digital transformation agenda contributes directly to economic inclusion, innovation and participation in the digital economy.
“As we consolidate these digital capabilities within government, the next phase of this transformation will focus on the expansion of broadband infrastructure across the province that has been concluded and will soon be rolled out.
“This is a critical component of our broader vision to build a Smart Province, where digital services, connectivity and innovation are accessible to all,” said Mokgosi.
He said the province will be implementing a provincial broadband programme, which will provide a unified and integrated connectivity network across different spheres of government and public institutions such as schools, healthcare facilities and Thusong Centres. Mokgosi said through this, they are extending digital transformation beyond government systems and into communities, households and businesses across the province.
“If systems are the engine of digital government, then broadband is the network that connects our people to that engine. What we are announcing today is not simply the rollout of systems. We are announcing the establishment of a North West Digital Government Platform, as a foundational step towards building a Smart Province and a digitally enabled economy,”
“An ecosystem that integrates infrastructure, systems, data, connectivity and security into a single, coherent environment. This platform enables a government that will be efficient in its operations, accountable in its delivery and responsive to the needs of our people,” he said.
Mokgosi said in conclusion, he would like to acknowledge the leadership of the Office of the Premier, particularly the Office of the GITO, as well as our partners Microsoft and Boxfusion, for their contribution to this milestone. He said the North West Provincial Government is not only envisioning a digital future, they are actively building it, they are implementing it and they are delivering it.
“We are building a government that works smarter, that moves faster, and that serves its people better. And in doing so, we are laying the foundation for a Smart Province, a province that is connected, that is inclusive, and ready for the digital economy,” said Mokgosi.
The Guardian 