Setshwantsho: Sejanaga sa SASSA se amegile mo kotsing ya tsela/Facebook
Ka OBAKENG MAJE
28 Diphalane 2026 – Sepodisi sa Taung se batlisisa kgetsi ya polao ntle le maikaelelo morago ga go tlhokafala ga mosadimogolo wa dingwaga di le 79. Se, se tla morago ga gore sejanaga sa setlamo sa South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), se se neng se tsamaisa bagodi go ya kwa moletlong o neng o rulagantswe ke SASSA, se amege mo kotsing mo tseleng ya R372 e magareng ga Taung le Reivilo.
Go begwa fa kotsi e, e diragetse gaufi le motse wa Letlhapong mono Taung ka di 22 Diphalane 2026.
Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen, sejanaga seo sa SASSA, se ne se lebile kwa motseng wa Vaaltyn fa kotsi e ne e diragala. Van Rooyen are go begwa fa mokgweetsi wa sejanaga seo, a latlhegetswe ke taolo mme sa menoga.
“Mokgweetsi ga mmogo le bapagami, ba bone dikgobalo mme ba ile ba rwalelwa kwa bookelo jo bo gaufi. Fela ka maswabi, mopagami wa dingwaga di le 79 o ile a latlhegelwa ke botshelo. Dipatlisiso di tsweletse mabapi le go netefatsa se se tlhodileng kotsi e,” van Rooyen wa tlhalosa.
Setshwantsho: Sejanaga sa SASSA se amegile mo kotsing ya tsela/Facebook
Kgabagare, sebueledi sa SASSA mono porofeseng ya Bokone Bophirima, Nthabiseng Mosieleng are bapagami ba le 6 ba ile ba amogelwa kwa bookelong. Mosieleng are bagodi ba, ba ne ba isiwa kwa motseng wa Vaaltyn go ya go tsenela Outreach programme e e neng e rulagantswe ke SASSA.
“Sebakwa sa kotsi ga se itsiwe, mme e tla nna karolo ya dipatlisiso. SASSA e tla dirisana le sepodisi mo dipatlisisong tse di boloditsweng. Jaaka SASSA, re romela molaetsa wa matshidiso go ba malapa a botlhe ba ba amegileng, mme re eleletsa ba ba gobetseng pholo ya ka bonako. Go ba ba latlhegetsweng, ra re a Modimo a ba sedile maikutlo,” ga rialo Mosieleng.
28 October 2026 – The South African U15 Boys National team pulled off a great upset when they defeated log leaders France 3-2 in a pulsating final group stages match in the inaugural FIFA U15 Boys World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Monday. The result saw them climb up the Group A table and finish second and they will contest in Tier B against all the second-place finishers in the Tournament phase of the competition.
South Africa gave up a 2-0 lead when the French were awarded two penalties to level matters. When it almost seemed, the clash was destined for a draw, South Africa regained their advantage with a goal just a few minutes before the final whistle.
The South Africans finished on 10 points, one behind group winners Estonia, but level with France, with a better goal difference.
Under 15 coach, Selekedi Mogale said the chances they created, they really worked hard for their goals.
“You could see even our arrogance on the ball. How we kept the ball, rotated it and even our structure. You could see how dominant we were and we had done our homework on them. We felt like it was a good game and it’s been a test of tactical discipline as well as our technical ability and also showing that we can play on the world stage.
“Tuesday is a rest day in the tournament with action returning on Wednesday. In this phase, the tournament stage, South Africa will play in Tier B, against the teams that finished second across all the groups where in the end winners will face the winners, and losing teams lock horns with other losing nations for final positions,” he said.
Meanwhile, each team will play four to five games in this round, and there will be no extra time. A penalty shootout will be used to determine winners in the matches that are level at full time.
28 October 2026 – A man (30) was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mtubatuba Regional Court for raping his daughter on multiple occasions during 2025. The man pleaded guilty in terms of Section 112.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said the complainant told the court that her father had threatened her not to disclose what he was doing. Ramkisson-Kara said the offences came to light when she confided in her class teacher that her father had raped her on several occasions.
“Her mother and social workers were contacted, and the accused was subsequently arrested. In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor Phumlani Thembalethu Khoza handed in medical evidence and a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) compiled by the complainant with the assistance of Court Preparation Officer Sithembile Cebekhulu.
“In her statement, the complainant said she had trusted her father, but he betrayed that trust by hurting her in such an awful way. The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment and declared unfit to possess a firearm. The court also ordered that his name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders and the Child Protection Register,” she said.
Ramkisson-Kara further said the NPA hopes that sentences of this nature will deter like-minded individuals. She added that the accused had been entrusted with the care and protection of his child, but instead abused that position of trust and exploited her vulnerability.
28 October 2026 – Students yet to apply for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for the 2027 academic year have until Saturday, 31 October 2026, to submit their applications.
Applications opened on 18 September 2026, with NSFAS recording 868,626 applications on its dashboard as of 19 October.
Of the applications received, 800,382 were from prospective university students, while 68,244 were submitted by applicants intending to study at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
The figures show that female applicants accounted for 616,558 (70.98%) of the total, compared with 252,068 (29.02%) male applicants.
The dashboard further indicated that 653,778 applicants were beneficiaries of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), while 214,848 were non-SASSA applicants.
Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has urged prospective students, particularly Grade 12 learners, to apply as soon as possible rather than waiting until the closing date.
“I want to take this opportunity to call on those, especially those who are doing Grade 12, to apply now, and not wait for the 31st of October when the applications close. Don’t pay anyone to apply for NSFAS,” said Manamela.
NSFAS has encouraged applicants to ensure that all information provided is accurate and complete, and that the required supporting documents are submitted.
The scheme has also cautioned prospective beneficiaries against fraudulent social media accounts and unauthorised individuals who demand payment for application assistance or falsely promise guaranteed funding.
Applicants are urged to use only official NSFAS platforms and to submit their applications before the deadline to avoid missing out on financial assistance for the 2027 academic year.
28 October 2026 – Akilesh Gupta appeared before the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder, contravention of the Immigration Act, driving without a valid driver’s licence and malicious damage to property. The murder charge follows the upgrading of the initial charge of culpable homicide.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Lindiwe Mabasa said it is alleged that on 19 October 2026, Gupta was captured on video footage driving over an on-duty police officer. Mabasa said the officer sustained injuries and subsequently died.
“It is further alleged that Gupta is an Indian national who does not possess valid documentation authorising him to remain in South Africa. He allegedly entered the country on a visitor’s visa in 2024, which has since expired. The matter was postponed to 6 November 2026, for the appointment of a Hindi interpreter and a possible bail application. Gupta remains in custody,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, emphasised that the NPA remains focused on working with its criminal justice partners to ensure that the law takes its course. Makhari said the NPA remains committed to vigorously prosecuting violent crime and ensuring that those who commit criminal offences are held accountable in accordance with the law.
Picture: The Municipal Manager of Mogalakwena Local Municipality, Morris Maluleke/Google
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
28 October 2026 – The Municipal Manager of Mogalakwena Local Municipality, Morris Maluleke (43) was denied bail by the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court in a R24 million fraud and corruption case. Maluleke appeared in court on 16 October 2026, for his formal bail application.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi said the application was opposed by the senior state advocates. Malabi said the state argued that Maluleke faces serious charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.
“It further submitted that he may interfere with witnesses and ongoing investigations and that his release on bail would not be in the interests of justice at this stage. The court upheld the state’s submissions and denied Maluleke bail. He failed to discharge on a balance of probabilities, the onus to show that he should be admitted to bail.
“Maluleke was arrested on 7 October 2026, together with his company, Bona Cord Vulstasie, in connection with allegations of fraud, corruption and money laundering arising from a municipal fleet management contract. The state alleges that Maluleke initially approved a fleet contract valued at approximately R4 million and later authorised payments totalling R24 million, allegedly resulting in substantial financial loss to the municipality,” she said.
Malabi said the state further alleges that in December 2022, Maluleke irregularly awarded a R24 million fleet tender to Fleetmove (Pty) Ltd without following the prescribed Supply Chain Management processes. She added that although payments allegedly began in January 2023, services were only rendered between April and May 2023, after the municipality’s Legal Division threatened to terminate the contract.
“The investigation also uncovered allegations that payments totalling R230 000, which the state believes were kickbacks, were made into an account linked to Maluleke through a company of which he is the sole director. The matter has been postponed to 3 November 2026, for further investigation. Maluleke remains in custody.
“The NPA welcomes the court’s decision and remains committed to ensuring accountability for corruption and the misuse of public funds,” said Malabi.
28 October 2026 – An accused, Vusumzi Ntsondolo (50) was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Mossel Bay Regional Court for murder of his former girlfriend, Nwabisa Baliso (43), and 15 years imprisonment for murder of his friend, Luvuyo Mgwevelana (45) whom he stabbed 16 times. During the trial, Ntsondolo pleaded guilty in terms of section 112(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977. In his plea explanation, Ntsondolo told the court that on the evening of 7 November 2025, he and Mgwevelana were drinking at a local tavern when Baliso arrived and called Mgwevelana outside.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Western Cape, Eric Ntabazalila said Ntsondolo attempted to follow them, but Baliso stopped him. Ntabazalila said Mgwevelana later returned and told Ntsondolo to leave Baliso alone, claiming that she was now his girlfriend.
“This resulted in an argument between the two men. Ntsondolo subsequently left the tavern and went home. The following morning, 8 November 2025, Mgwevelana arrived at Ntsondolo’s home after earlier sending him a voicenote inviting him to the tavern. An altercation ensued and Ntsondolo grabbed a knife from a table and stabbed Mgwevelana once in the chest, leaving him lying inside the house.
“Still armed with the knife, Ntsondolo then went looking for Baliso. He found her after asking her daughter (16) to call her. When Baliso returned with her daughter, she noticed blood on Ntsondolo’s shirt and asked him about it.
Ntsondolo then repeatedly stabbed Baliso in the presence of her daughter, despite the teenager’s attempts to intervene,” he said.
Ntabazalila further said Ntsondolo fled the scene while being pursued by community members and entered a colleague’s house, where he stabbed himself three times in the chest. He added that after leaving the house, community members caught up with him and assaulted him.
“Ntsondolo subsequently fled towards the local police station, flagged down a police vehicle and was taken to hospital. He was later arrested and charged with the two murders. In aggravation of sentence, state prosecutor, Makhi Cutshe, argued that there were no substantial and compelling circumstances justifying a departure from the prescribed minimum sentence.
“Cutshe argued that Ntsondolo’s conduct was not simply an impulsive act committed in the heat of the moment. After killing Mgwevelana, he did not stop or reconsider his actions. Instead, he armed himself with the knife, pursued Baliso and murdered her,” said Ntabazalila.
He said the prosecution submitted that this sequential course of violence demonstrated a deliberate intention to kill both victims. Ntabazalila said the state further argued that Baliso’s murder was a brutal manifestation of intimate-partner violence, male entitlement and an inability to accept the end of a relationship.
“The prosecution emphasised that former partners are not possessions and that romantic rejection can never justify violence. Particularly aggravating was the fact that Ntsondolo murdered Baliso in the presence of her daughter (16), who attempted to save her mother.
“The state argued that the psychological trauma inflicted on a child who witnessed her mother’s brutal murder significantly increased Ntsondolo’s moral blameworthiness. The court agreed with the prosecution’s submissions and imposed the life sentence,” he said.
Ntabazalila said the court also declared Ntsondolo unfit to possess a firearm and informed the victims’ families of their right to make representations to the Commissioner of Correctional Services should he be considered for parole, day parole or correctional supervision.
Meanwhile, the Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Adrian Mopp, welcomed the sentence and commended the investigating and prosecution teams, as well as all role players who contributed to securing justice for the victims and their families. Mopp said this sentence sends an unequivocal message that women are not the property of their partners or former partners.
“The end of a relationship, jealousy or rejection can never justify violence. The NPA will continue to vigorously prosecute perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide and advocate for sentences that reflect the seriousness of these crimes,” he said.
28 October 2026 – A man (31) was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Scottburgh Regional Court for killing his girlfriend (29) in Mandawe, on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. The man was also convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition following offences committed in March 2025.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, the accused and the deceased were in a relationship and had a child together. Ramkisson-Kara said On 30 March 2025, the accused went to the deceased’s cottage in Mandawe after she failed to answer his phone calls.
“When he found her, he accused her of communicating with strangers on her cellphone. The accused allegedly became angry and drew a firearm, prompting the deceased to scream. Her screams alerted neighbours, who warned him against committing any unlawful act.
“Despite their intervention, he shot her several times in the upper body. He then turned the firearm on himself and shot himself on the side of the head. He was taken to hospital, where he later recovered and was subsequently charged,” she said.
Ramkisson-Kara further said in court, the accused pleaded guilty to all charges in terms of Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act and was convicted accordingly. She added that during the sentencing proceedings, the state prosecutor, Thanusha Govender submitted the crime scene photo album, ballistic report and post-mortem report as evidence.
“Govender also presented a Victim Impact Statement compiled by the deceased’s mother, with assistance from Court Preparation Officer Nokukhanya Mkhize. In her statement, the deceased’s mother told the court that her daughter had been the family’s breadwinner and contributed financially towards various household expenses.
“She also described the trauma the murder had inflicted on the family. The court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment for murder, 15 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm and seven years imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition,” said Ramkisson-Kara.
She said the sentences were ordered to run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of life imprisonment. Ramkisson-Kara said he was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
She said the NPA welcomed the sentence as an appropriate reflection of the seriousness of the crime. Ramkisson-Kara said the NPA reiterates that Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) have no place in our society.
“Women have the right to safety and dignity, including within intimate relationships, and perpetrators who violate those rights must be held accountable. Combatting GBVF remained an organisational priority for the NPA.
“Working with our partners in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, we will continue to vigorously prosecute perpetrators of GBVF and ensure that victims and their families have access to justice,” she said.
28 October 2026 – The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Gauteng, has withdrawn the assault and extortion charges against Ismael Dawood after considering representations submitted on his behalf and reviewing the available evidence. The charges arose from an alleged incident in December 2023, when Dawood and the complainant allegedly met in Hillbrow, Johannesburg.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Magaboke Mohlatlole said it was alleged that Dawood assaulted the complainant and demanded money from him. Mohlatlole said the review included information that the complainant had allegedly involved other people in investment schemes that did not exist, leading to demands for repayment.
“The office found that the available evidence did not support the extortion charge and was insufficient to sustain the assault charge. The representations were therefore successful, and the charges have been withdrawn. The NPA remains committed to making prosecutorial decisions based on the evidence, the merits of each case and the applicable law.
“Every matter is assessed independently and objectively, in the interests of justice. The NPA reiterates its commitment to upholding the rule of law and carrying out its mandate without fear, favour or prejudice,” he said.
Picture: Dr Murendeni Ravele in the laboratory/Supplied
By STAFF REPORTER
27 October 2026 – What if the peel from a grapefruit could help clean polluted water? Research by Dr Murendeni Ravele, a researcher in the subject group Chemistry on the Mahikeng Campus from the North West University (NWU) said this shows that this common fruit waste could offer a cheaper, greener alternative to conventional methods for removing harmful substances from wastewater. Ravele said water pollution is a major concern in South Africa, as the recent water-linked diarrhoea outbreak in Tshwane and the recent identification of endocrine disrupting substances in tap water demonstrate.
She further said as towns and industries grow, more waste enters rivers and other water sources. Ravele added that some of these pollutants are recalcitrant and are very difficult to remove through normal water treatment methods.
“Thereby necessitating the need for more efficient methods of remediation. In this context, – explored how grapefruit peels could help remove suspended solids, toxic metals and traces of pharmaceutical contaminants from polluted water. The results of her study could help improve water treatment while reducing the use of harmful chemicals.
“The developed and tested two materials, coagulants from grapefruit peel extract and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles. The coagulant derived from grapefruit peel extract promoted the agglomeration of suspended particles in the water, facilitating their removal from water. The CuO nanoparticles absorb visible light from the sun to generate reactive radicals that mineralised the harmful substances,” she said.
Ravele further said the laboratory experiments showed that the grapefruit-based coagulant removed more than 97% of the turbidity from wastewater, while the CuO nanoparticles. She added that 98,5% of a highly toxic form of chromium into a less harmful form.
“Chromium is a metal used in some industrial processes and can pose serious health and environmental risks. The material also broke down 92% of the traces of ibuprofen, a common painkiller that can enter wastewater through human waste and has been categorized as one of the contaminants of emerging concern.
“The results of this study are promising because they show that materials often thrown away as waste could play an important role in treating polluted water and reduce our reliance on conventional chemicals. This contributes to waste valorisation and a circular economy,” said Ravele.
She said although she tested the two methods separately, the study suggests that they could complement each other. Ravele said one could remove turbidity and other suspensions, while the other could target pharmaceutical substances that remain in the water.
“However, further research is needed to determine how well they would work together in real wastewater treatment systems. The research highlights the value of turning agricultural waste into useful products. It also offers hope for developing cleaner, more affordable and environmentally friendly water treatment methods.
