2 February 2026- The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it welcomes the judgment handed down on 30 January 2026, by the Constitutional Court of Appeal, which ruled in favour of the state and dismissed the appeals brought by the accused in the Nulane matter. The IDAC said the court’s decision affirms the state’s position and allows the prosecution to proceed once it re-enrolls the matter as it makes tireless efforts to do so.
IDAC spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said the NPA views this judgment as an important affirmation of the rule of law and the principle that all persons are equal before the law.
Picture: The Chairperson of the Committee, Nathan Oliphant
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
2 February 2026- The North West Provincial Legislature’s (NWPL) Ad Hoc Committee established to investigate allegations of interference against the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi by the Naledi Local Municipality mayor, Clifton J Groep, has concluded the second round of its public hearings held at Sun City from 26 to 31 January 2026. The Ad Hoc Committee commenced its work in November 2025, during which it held the first round of hearings from 24 to 27 November 2025, and heard testimony from a number of witnesses as part of the initial phase of its mandate.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Nathan Oliphant said following the extension of the committee’s mandate by the Legislature until 31 March 2026, the committee resumed its work for the second round of hearings. Oliphant said during the second round of hearings this week, the Ad Hoc Committee heard testimony from Thabo Appolus, former Director: Corporate Services at the Naledi Local Municipality, Modisenyane Thompson Segapo, former Municipal Manager of the Naledi Local Municipality, Aobakwe Mathonsi, a member of the ANC’s Regional Executive Committee in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Region and Special Advisor to the Executive Mayor of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.
“This includes Doreen Mariri, a Community Liaison Officer at the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality and Dithole Hendrick Moate, Director: Capacity Building at the North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).
“North West Premier, Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi, appeared before the Ad Hoc Committee on Saturday and concluded his testimony for the current round of hearings, with Adv Pule Seleka SC leading evidence on behalf of the Committee,” he said.
Oliphant further said Mokgosi will, however, continue to engage with the Ad Hoc Committee on 13 February 2026 and 14 February 2026, as part of the continuation of the Committee’s proceedings. He added that the committee remains committed to executing its mandate independently, impartially and without fear or favour.
“The committee’s work is guided by the principles of fairness, transparency and natural justice, and that it will consider all evidence placed before it objectively, without prejudging any party or outcome.
“We will in due course, advise on the next phases of the committee’s work, in line with the committee’s mandate and the Standing Rules of the North West Provincial Legislature. Further communication regarding the continuation of the hearings and related arrangements will be issued in due course,” said Oliphant.
2 February 2026- The Department of Basic Education (DBE) said it wishes to correct misinformation and to firmly dispel claims that foreign learners are “overrunning” South African schools. The department said such assertions are patently false and are not supported by any credible evidence.
The Minister of Department of Basic Education (DBE), Siviwe Gwarube said any attempt to use the education sector as a platform for scapegoating, social division or political opportunism, must be unequivocally rejected as a deliberate attempt to sow division and cause unwarranted harm to otherwise peaceful relations within communities and schools and most importantly, to the wellbeing, dignity, and safety of all children. Gwarube said according to verified national enrolment data, foreign learners constitute only 1.8% of the total learner population in South Africa.
“This figure includes children of ambassadors, diplomatic missions, United Nations agencies and other international organisations who are lawfully present in the country and whom South Africa has a responsibility to host in line with its international obligations. Conversely, 98.2% of learners enrolled in public schools are South African citizens.
“The claim that foreign learners are placing undue pressure on the education system is therefore statistically incorrect, misleading, and irresponsible. The department understands the frustrations of parents in high demand zones, who are waiting for placement of their children,” she said.
Gwarube further said the national and provincial departments are working to finalize placements and progress is being made, for example, KZN has placed 100% of applications and other provinces continue to make progress. She added that the DBE is deeply concerned by exaggerated and sensationalised reporting on the presence of foreign learners in schools.
“Schools must remain spaces of learning, inclusion, dignity, social cohesion, and safety not arenas for the spread of intolerance, hate, disinformation, or fear. Every learner, regardless of nationality or background, must feel protected, respected, and secure within the school environment.
“South Africa’s Constitution and education legislation are unequivocal: every child within our borders has the right to basic education, irrespective of nationality or documentation status. The protection of children and the safeguarding of their right to learn in a safe and supportive environment are paramount and non-negotiable,” said Gwarube.
She said schools and educators are not responsible for immigration enforcement. Gwarube said immigration management is a function of border control and national immigration authorities, not of school principals or education officials.
“The real challenges confronting the education system such as infrastructure backlogs, overcrowding, funding constraints for the appointment of additional teachers, and broader resource limitations are systemic and structural in nature.
“These challenges cannot be simplistically, inaccurately, or dishonestly attributed to the small minority of foreign learners in our schools. Even in the absence of foreign learners, many schools would regrettably continue to face pressures linked to underfunding, infrastructure deficits, and historical inequality,” she said.
Gwarube said the department therefore calls on political leaders, community structures, civil society organisations and the media to exercise responsibility and principled leadership. She said in these circumstances, true leadership fosters unity and upholds the values of dignity, safety and inclusion as enshrined in the constitution.
“Public discourse must be guided by these values, facts, evidence, and proper context. We must actively reject xenophobia, fear mongering and misinformation. Education is a unifying force in society. Our schools must be places of safety, dignity, and inclusion for all children.
“They must protect the rights of every learner and strengthen social cohesion and never be used as tools for division,” said Gwarube.
Picture: The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Lesetja Senona
By OBAKENG MAJE
2 February 2026- The police in KwaZulu-Natal said they would like to set the record straight on reports that the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Lesetja Senona was kicked out of his office and had his electronic devices taken away from him. The police said Senona has a dedicated Senior Manager’s parking bay reserved for him on the Parking Level 1 of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial HeadQuarters building.
The KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the parking is available for him every day at any time. However, Netshiunda said on 31 January 2026, unusual events happened at the Provincial HeadQuarters of police in KwaZulu-Natal.
“Senona arrived at the building and chose to park on the street parking opposite the building, not at his dedicated parking inside the building. Moments later he was joined by another Colonel, also from the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal. The Colonel left his vehicle and joined Senona in his vehicle for approximately 45 minutes.
“Later on, Senona and his secretary entered the building through the main entrance. On weekends and after normal working hours, everybody who enters the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial HeadQuarters building, regardless of rank, must sign a register. Senona breached that security protocol by going through to his office without signing the register,” he said.
Netshiunda further said his secretary signed, but only for herself. The Colonel, who also entered the building, also failed to sign the register. He added that, the unusual events of Senona coming to work on a Saturday, the parking of his vehicle on the street and not at his parking bay inside the building, the unusual in-the-car meeting on the street with a Colonel, and the failure to sign the mandatory register raised security concerns.
“The South African Police Service (SAPS) has a responsibility to safeguard sensitive information from leakage, and with Senona’s testimony at the Madlanga Commission revealing that he once sent out police documents to a private person, the unusual events on the day compelled the security personnel on duty, especially those who were manning the camera system, to inform the KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, about the unusual activities which they observed.
“Mkhwanazi instructed the security personnel to go to Senona to ask him what he was doing in the office. Senona chose to leave the office, and wanted to take the state computer and other documents with him. He was then asked to leave all state property behind, except for his official cell phone. Senona voluntarily left the keys of his office,” said Netshiunda.
He said in respect of internal police protocol, Mkhwanazi informed the acting National Head of the Hawks of what happened and asked him to send someone to fetch office keys which Senona had left with the officer in charge of security officers. Netshiunda said the police in KwaZulu-Natal are focused on executing their mandate of protecting the residents of the province and their property.
“Any other boardroom matter will be ventilated at the correct platforms at the right time,” he said.
31 January 2026- The corruption case against Dr Malusi Gigaba together with Anoj Singh, the former Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO), Brian Molefe, the former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Transnet, Siyabonga Gama, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Thamsanqa Jiyane who was the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) was postponed to 19 February 2026, for the matter to be enrolled and heard in the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said the state confirmed on record the service of the notice of trial and indictments on the accused. Mamothame said the indictments served on the accused relate to the period in which Transnet engaged in the process of acquiring locomotives to expand and modernise the country’s rail infrastructure, during which the tender processes were flouted and three contracts were irregularly awarded to provide Transnet with 95 100 and 1064 locomotives in three different contracts, resulting in a loss of billions of rands for Transnet.
30 January 2026- The North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) said the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi will appear before its Ad Hoc Committee on Saturday. The Ad Hoc Committee was established to investigate allegations of interference levelled against Mokgosi by the Naledi Local Municipality mayor, Clifton J Groep.
The Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee, Nathan Oliphant said Dithole Hendrick Moate, Director: Capacity Building at the North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), will conclude his testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee today. Oliphant said the hearings will thereafter adjourn until tomorrow morning.
“Mokgosi, who was scheduled to appear before the Ad Hoc Committee today, will now appear on 31 January 2026, at 8am. The proceedings will be streamed live on the North West Provincial Legislature’s official Facebook account,” he said.
30 January 2026- While Europe is in the icy grip of winter, athletes are sharpening their form in Potchefstroom, drawn by the altitude, climate and a high-performance sport hub that has quietly become a base for Olympic gold medallists. Members of the Netherlands’ Olympic gold-winning 4x400m mixed relay team, including Femke Bol, Lieke Klaver and Isaya Klein Ikkink, are among the international athletes currently training at the North West University’s (NWU’s) High-Performance Institute (HPI).
Senior Lecturer and Sport Scientist at the NWU’ School for Human Movement Sciences, Dr Adele Broodryk said the group is using the integrated facility as a pre-season camp ahead of the 2026 athletics season, combining training venues, recovery services and athlete support in one precinct. Broodryk said historically, elite visitors to Potchefstroom have included legendary figures such as Gabriela Szabo of Romania, an Olympic champion in the 5000m and Olympic bronze medallist in the 1500m, Kelly Holmes of Great Britain, an Olympic gold and bronze medallist in middle-distance running and Jan Železný of the Czech Republic, a triple Olympic javelin champion (1992, 1996 and 2000).
“All these stars trained in Potchefstroom during their careers as part of their preparations in optimal conditions abroad. In addition to these historic athletics engagements, the institute continues to host notable international trainees, such as Indian javelin thrower DP Manu, who has utilised the NWU facilities for focused training.
“Potchefstroom’s sporting profile on the world stage was further enhanced during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when the Spain national football team, who went on to win the tournament, chose the city as their base camp for training and preparation, taking advantage of the altitude and excellent amenities provided by the university’s sports village and high performance centre,” she said.
Broodryk further said beyond infrastructure, Potchefstroom’s elevation of about 1350 metres above sea level remains central to its appeal for elite conditioning. She added that moderate altitude environments create physiological conditions that enhance endurance and performance without compromising training quality.
“At altitude, the body experiences reduced oxygen availability, known as hypoxia, which triggers key adaptations. This includes increased red blood cell production, improved oxygen transport and better muscle efficiency in aerobic metabolism. These changes allow athletes to return to sea-level competition with stronger endurance capacity, faster recovery and the ability to sustain higher intensities.
“Potchefstroom, while not considered a high-altitude zone, offers what I describe as an optimal training threshold. At around 1350 metres, oxygen pressure is reduced enough to stimulate adaptation without being so extreme that athletes struggle to maintain speed, power and intensity,” said Broodryk.
She said at very high altitudes, training quality often drops. Broodryk said here, athletes gain the benefits of hypoxic exposure while still performing high-intensity sessions.
Picture: Former employee of Home Affairs, Dawn Celeste Pieterson/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
30 January 2026 – Former Home Affairs employee, Dawn Celeste Pieterson (46), was sentenced to five years imprisonment for fraud by the Calvinia Specialised Commercial Crime Court. This comes after Pieterson was found guilty on all nine counts of fraud, read with the provisions of section 99, 103, and 224 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977, as well as two counts of Contravention of Section 31 (1) (d) of Birth and Death Registration Act 51 of 1992.
The Hawks in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said Pieterson’s misdeeds took place between February 2019 and September 2022, when the accused person was an employee of the Department of Home Affairs based in Calvinia. Thebe said as part of her duties, she had access to the national population register.
“Pieterson took funeral covers from reputable insurance companies and nominated herself as a beneficiary. To benefit, she manipulated the national population register by falsely issuing BI-1663 forms (notice of death form) to reflect the fictitious death of the victims. The system registered the affected persons as deceased, resulting in a plethora of problems in the victims’ day-to-day lives.
“Four insurance companies suffered a combined loss of R334 634 as a result of unlawful funeral claims. On charges of fraud, the accused was sentenced to five years direct imprisonment. On contravention of the Birth and Death Registration Act taken together for sentencing, the accused was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment wholly suspended for five years,” he said.
Thebe said the accused was further declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Steven Mabuela, commended the great effort of the investigation and prosecution team.
30 January 2026- Former Municipal Manager of Phokwane Local Municipality, Advocate Matshidiso Cordelia (53), was found guilty for fraud by the Kimberley Serious Commercial Crimes Court. Cordelia was found guilty on charges of fraud and Contravention of Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2023.
The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said during 2018, Cordelia while serving as the Municipal Manager of Phokwane Local Municipality, she issued instructions to the Municipal Payroll Accountant for payment of car and travel allowance to 13 employees without following the applicable procedures. Thebe said Cordelia disregarded the moratorium of the municipal council that was in place at that time with her unlawful instruction.
“In addition, she unlawfully increased her remuneration package and implemented a 4% rural allowance without informing council or obtaining authorization from the Northern Cape MEC of COGSTA as required.
“All increases were backdated to July 2017, resulting in the municipality suffering substantial losses. The matter is postponed to 8 April 2026, for pre- sentencing report and sentencing,” he said.
Picture: The Namakwa District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews visits Radio Kaboesna/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
30 January 2026- The Namakwa District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews rolled out his “Meet and Greet” programme utilizing local community radio stations as a mouthpiece to reach communities, especially those situated in rural and far reaching areas. This week, Andrews visited Radio Kaboesna, which is based in Calvinia.
He was accompanied by the Namakwa District police spokesperson, Captain Ivan Magerman and the Vispol Station Commander, Warrant Officer Hantie Hawksley. Adrews further said it was their first visit and one of many regular engagements on the community radio station’s airwaves, marking a new chapter in community police relations in the Boberg area of Namakwa District.
“Henceforth, SAPS will broadcast every Thursday at 6pm, utilizing the platform to educate communities, combat crime through public awareness, and enhance the corporate image of SAPS in the Namakwa region. A key feature of this initiative is the establishment of the Kaboesna-SAPS Helpdesk, which will provide community members with a confidential channel to report complaints and crime anonymously.
“The help desk underscores the police’s commitment to accessible, transparent and responsive policing. During the broadcast, Brigadier Andrews expressed his gratitude to Radio Kaboesna Station Management for providing this valuable airtime and opportunity to be part of the partnership policing strategy allowing media to assist and participate in crime fighting using the media platform,” he added.
Andrews also urged Calvinia residents and communities covered in the broadcasting range, to actively participate in the fight against crime by joining Community Policing Forum (CPF) structures, the Youth Against Crime initiative and the Community in Blue Patrollers structures. He cited that, it is one of his best practices to bring the community closer to the SAPS and being able to address complaints immediately, provide feedback to complainants and solve the crime in a short time period if possible, following all the processes.
The Guardian 