Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
20 May 2026 – The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi has convened all Independent Schools across the province at Laerskool Silwerrand in Rustenburg as part of ongoing interventions to assist the department to achieve a target of 95% in the 2026 academic year on 19 May 2026. The interactive engagement by Motsumi focused on the assessment of current functioning academic support programmes and strategies directed at boosting Grade 12 outcomes.
Motsumi said the session also afforded an opportunity to analyse the process of registering Independent Schools as examination centres, while assessing current hurdles and implementing non-negotiables within the schooling areas. She further said the management of Independent Schools have warmly welcomed and applauded her for creating interactive sessions as it creates a platform for information sharing, collaboration and collective accountability, mostly in improving the outcomes of learners.
“I highlighted the significance of tightening cooperation between independent schools and the provincial department. The province is more determined to attain a top position through a well-coordinated partnership and interventions.
“This interactive session indicates our collective responsibility and commitment towards improving learner performance and guaranteeing that all schools contribute purposefully towards the province’s academic goal,” she said.
Motsumi added that the platform for interaction session further afforded school managements an opportunity to engage with the management of the department directly on matters affecting their schools and all stakeholders in the meeting agreed on unity and collaboration in striving for improved Grade 12 results in the North West.
20 May 2026 – The acting Police National Commissioner, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane has directed the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Ryno Naidoo to ensure maximum resources are deployed to hunt down the killers of vocal Mahikeng-born crime activist and traditional healer, Thato Molosankwe. According to the police, Molosankwe was shot and killed after he was attacked at his home in Lomanyaneng village, near Mahikeng in the early hours of this morning.
Dimapane said he sustained multiple gunshot wounds. She further condemned the brutal murder and assured the community that no stone will be left unturned until those responsible are found and brought to book.
“Molosankwe has been described by local police as a community-minded individual, who played an important role in assisting police efforts aimed at strengthening relations between the SAPS and communities. The Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit has taken over investigations into the matter.
“The police are appealing to anyone with information that may assist investigations to contact the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or provide anonymous tip-offs via the MySAPS App,” she said.
Picture: Social activist, Thato Molosankwe/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE 20 May 2026- Mahikeng-based social activist, Thato Molosankwe allegedly shot dead at his home in Lomanyaneng village, near Mahikeng. It is alleged that Molosankwe was accosted by unknown individuals in the early hours of Wednesday, who shot him.
Details surrounding Molosankwe’s murder are still sketchy as the police are still at the crime scene.
The North West police spokesperson, Captain Majang Skalkie said: “The police confirmed the incident. The crime scene is still active will issue a media statement as soon as they are done.” taungdailynews@gmail.com
20 May 2026 – The North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi will lead the Executive Council of the provincial government in paying homage to the family of former North West Premier, the late Kaobitsa Bushy Maape. Maape passed away on 16 May 2026, in Johannesburg after a short illness.
Mokgosi said the entourage will compromise the political troika of both Naledi and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Municipalities, Heads of Departments as well as the Executive of the North West House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders. He said they will visit Maape’s family on Wednesday at 12pm in Vryburg.
The South African National Civic Association (SANCO) in the North West described Maape as a torch bearer, a transformation agent, a development activist and a visionary leader who sought to impact communities.
SANCO Provincial Interim Committee Convenor, Paul Sebegoe said that Maape will be remembered as a unifier, human rights advocate and a social justice activist whose passion was to serve and make a difference. Sebegoe conveyed condolences to the Maape family, comrades, business associates, friends as well as his members of his Provincial Executive Council, the African National Congress (ANC), ANC Veterans League, MK liberation Struggle Military Veterans Association, the Mass Democratic Movement, various constituencies and broader communities he had served across the province.
“Comrade Bushy has left an indelible mark in the sand of time as a forthright, assertive but humble leader whose tenure as Premier was defined by progress as well as remarkable milestones that include improved audit outcomes and rollout of the accelerated service delivery outreach programme aimed at responding to the plights of our communities.
“He had appreciated the enormity of the inherited infrastructure backlog, hence he pursued partnership with businesses such as Noordwes Koorperasie (NWK) to unlock the province’s economic potential,” he said.
Sebegoe further said Maape was goal driven hence he presided over the implementation of post Section 100 intervention action plans like a hawk hence he managed to stabilize governance. He added that as someone with experience as a businessman, he saw opportunities where others saw hurdles, hope where others saw hopelessness.
“He was neither a pessimist nor self-serving but a prisoner of hope, a true patriot who had dedicated his entire life to the liberation struggle and worked tirelessly for the betterment of the lives of those whose life experiences knew nothing but exclusion and deprivation.
“Maape had served with integrity and demonstrated total commitment to advance the vision of the Freedom Charter to create a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous and peaceful society,” said Sebegoe.
He said Maape leaves behind a proud legacy of selfless service as he strove to entrench good governance and financial accountability as the hallmark of his administration. Sebegoe said a befitting tribute would be to deepen transformation, ensure that the work that he started to rebuild trust in public institutions as part of the ANC’s renewal is sustained and that the bridges he built continue to work for the economic recovery, growth as well as development of the province.
“Maape had served as a Chief Director for Strategic Planning and Development Unit during the 1st Administration under then Premier Popo Molefe before venturing into consultancy through his Kgatelopele Institute that focused on municipal transformation and economic development.
“He had among others pioneered the establishment of the Ruth Mompati Foundation, led the Provincial Chapter of the ABSA Bantu Bonke Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Deal that focused on rural women entrepreneurs and young people in the province working alongside struggle veteran and businessman Tokyo Sexwale,” he said.
Meanwhile, Maape will be accorded a special provincial official funeral category one.
Picture: Somalian king inaugurated in Sandton/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
20 May 2026 – The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) calls for swift and decisive action to address the ongoing disrespect toward the traditional institutions and the people. This comes after allegations that Somalians inaugurated their own king in Sandton.
CONTRALESA secretary in Gauteng, Prince Mongezi Tom said it is an insult to the customs, sovereignty and authority of the traditional leadership of this country and this province that foreign nationals, including Somalians, are now being crowned here on South African soil. Tom said they are not in support of this practice.
“We view it as a direct affront and a disregard for the sovereignty of our traditional structures and the dignity of our people. If this situation is not arrested by the Premier and the leadership of CONTRALESA, we risk our people taking matters into their own hands.
“We cannot allow foreign nationals to come into our country and act as it pleases them, without regard for our laws, customs, and traditional order. CONTRALESA stands ready to engage with the Premier and relevant authorities at the earliest convenience to resolve this matter and restore order in line with the will of our people,” he said.
The Guardian 