7 September 2026 – Residents in the Sol Plaatje Municipality in Kimberley have been urged to remain cautious as strong winds and rain continue to pose risks across the municipality this weekend.
The municipality’s Emergency Services responded to several weather-related incidents from Friday into Saturday morning, including eight reports of house rooftops being blown off by strong winds. The municipality said a shack fire was also reported in Santa, Galeshewe Township, in Kimberley while trees were uprooted and fell across roads.
The municipality warned that strong winds could cause further damage to structures, including rooftops and shack sheets being blown away.
The Sol Plaatjie Local Municipality spokesperson, Thabo Mothibi said failing trees as a result of strong winds could also disrupt electricity supply and create hazards for motorists and pedestrians. Mothibi said residents were further warned of possible localised flooding, with an 80% chance of rain forecast for Saturday.
“The municipality urged motorists to drive carefully on slippery roads with their headlights on and to avoid flooded subways and driving through water.
“The municipality also called on residents to exercise extreme caution when using heating methods to keep warm, particularly during the adverse weather conditions,” he said.
Mothibi added that residents who are in distress can contact Sol Plaatje Municipality Emergency Services for assistance.
Picture: A body of a local fisherman recovered at Tontonyane Dam
By AGISANANG SCUFF
4 September 2026 – The North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management has confirmed the recovery of the body of Lucas Lebelelang Kgosimore (34), who drowned at Tongtonyane Dam in Mahikeng on 28 August 2026. The department said at around midday, Kgosimore was reportedly fishing from a canoe when the canoe capsized.
The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Virginia Tlhapi said according to an eyewitness report provided to the South African Police Service (SAPS), he attempted to swim to the shore, but was unable to reach safety. Tlhapi said the police and officials from the Office of the MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management responded promptly to the scene.
“Due to the hazardous conditions at the dam, additional resources were requested to assist with the search and recovery operation. The Police Water and Dive Rescue Team arrived on the morning of Saturday, 29 August 2026, and successfully recovered Kgosimore’s body.
“We strongly condemn the practice of fishing without taking the necessary safety precautions. As we approach the autumn season, we may experience flooding and other dangerous weather conditions,” she said.
Tlhapi further said she therefore urge communities to look after one another, as flooding can result in loss of lives and other tragedies. She encouraged local fishers to wear properly fitted life jackets, avoid entering dams and water streams during windy or stormy conditions and refrain from fishing when water levels are rising or flooding occurs.
“Every life is valuable. We call on communities to act responsibly and to prioritise safety at all times when near dams, rivers and water streams. On behalf of the department, I extend my deepest condolences to the Kgosimore family during this difficult time.
“The department commends the Police Water and Dive Rescue Team, emergency personnels from fire and secure team and all other role players who participated in the search and recovery operation,” added Tlhapi.
Picture: Newly-elected Speaker of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, Fufe Makatong
By REGINALD KANYANE
3 September 2026 – The Northern Cape Provincial Legislature has elected Fufe Makatong, as the new speaker of the house. The election of the speaker was presided over by the Northern Cape High Court Judge President, Lazarus Pule Tlaletsi.
“This marks a significant moment for the 7th Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, as the house begins a new chapter of leadership and parliamentary business,” said Legislature.
Meanwhile, Makatong said: “Today, I begin a new chapter in my journey of public service. I am deeply humbled and grateful to have been elected as Speaker of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature.
“To the people of the Northern Cape, I want to simply say, thank you. Thank you for the privilege of serving you over the years and for allowing me to continue contributing, in different capacities, towards building a better province.”
She further said public service has taken her through different responsibilities, from serving as a Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) to serving in the Executive, and today, she return to the Legislature with a renewed sense of purpose and responsibility. Makatong added that she does not take this moment for granted.
“As I assume this responsibility, I remain mindful that the Legislature belongs to the people. Whether you are in Namakwa, John Taolo Gaetsewe, ZF Mgcawu, Frances Baard or Pixley ka Seme, your voice matters and your aspirations must find expression in the work of this institution.
“I accept this responsibility with humility, gratitude and an unwavering commitment to serve with integrity, fairness and dedication. This new chapter is not about me,” she said.
Makatong said it is about strengthening the democracy, bringing the Legislature closer to the communities and ensuring that the work they do contributes meaningfully towards improving the lives of the people of the Northern Cape.
3 September 2026 – The African National Congress (ANC) said it is contesting the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGEs) across the length and breadth of the country. The former liberation party said its candidates were nominated by their branches and communities, vetted and lodged with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and they intend to be on the ballot in every ward and every municipality.
The ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu said the movement did not miss the Commission’s deadline. Bhengu said all nine provinces completed the work allocated to them.
“Every provincial secretary, working with the provincial list committees and under the direction of the ANC Electoral Committee, uploaded the candidates nominated by our branches and regions onto the Commission’s Online Candidate Nomination System. That upload was 100% complete before 5pm on 28 August 2026.
“This was a collective undertaking of the whole movement, from the branch to the National Executive Committee (NEC) and it was carried out. What did not close was the system’s final electronic confirmation step on a portion of those lists,” she said.
Bhengu further said the difficulty emerged in the closing hours of the window and was reported to the Commission as it arose. The records of the affected candidates were already captured and held on the OCNS before 5pm. She added that they are addressing these system failures with the commission through the proper channels.
“This was not confined to one party or one municipality. The commission has itself reported that 2 274 candidates, across 45 political parties, were captured on its system, but not recorded as finally submitted.
“That is the measure of the matter. The ANC is not asking the commission to condone a late nomination. We seek to add no name that was not on the OCNS by 17h00, and no amendment or reordering of any list. We ask only that the commission recognise and process what its own system received and stored before the deadline, rather than treat it as never having been submitted because of technical failures prevented the final confirmation,” said Bhengu.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the ANC Electoral Committee, Kgalema Motlanthe, has declared the candidate nomination and submission process a resounding success and has expressed his confidence that a solution will be found — one that expands, and does not constrain, the participation of our people in this democracy. Mohlanthe said to their members, their supporters and to the voters of South Africa, be assured.
“The ANC is ready and our candidates are ready. We retain our confidence in the Electoral Commission and in its constitutional duty to deliver free, fair and credible elections, and we shall keep our people informed as this engagement proceeds,” he said.
Picture: The Northern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Limakatso Koloi
By BAKANG MOKOTO
2 September 2026 – The Northern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Limakatso Koloi, together with the Northern Cape MEC for Women, Children, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mirriam Kibi, will be joining the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola for the presentation and release of the crime statistics for the Northern Cape for the first Quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year.
The event will be held at the Northern Cape Office of the Premier, T&I Building, 69 Memorial Road, Kimberley on Friday at 8am.
Picture: The acting Chairperson of North West Provincial Legislature Joint Portfolio Committees on Premier and Finance and Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affair, Nathan Oliphant/Supplied
By AGISANANG SCUFF
2 September 2026 – The North West Provincial Legislature Joint Portfolio Committees on Premier and Finance and Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs has urged the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) to cautiously implement the Provincial Digital Transformation Strategy (PDTS), which include implementation of the Broadband connectivity infrastructure and SMARTGOV projects in the North West.
The committee said this is pursuant to a follow-up oversight meeting with the department together with State Information Technology Agency (SITA), Provincial Treasury, National Treasury – Accountant General, Auditor General South Africa on the questions raised during the meeting of the 31 August 2026, on the implementation of the strategy in provincial and local government including budgets involved.
The acting Chairperson of North West Provincial Legislature Joint Portfolio Committees on Premier and Finance and Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affair, Nathan Oliphant said during the previous meeting of the Joint Committees, several questions were raised which include the intended participation in the City of Erkurheleni broadband roll out tender as per Section 217 of the Constitution; source of funds for the overall Digital Transformation Strategy, allocation of R15 million allocated during the 2025/26 adjustment budget for ICT Infrastructure.
“We had asked the provincial government and the National Treasury to prepare progress reports on the approvals for the procurement of the financial systems on the SmartGov project and prepayments of the ICT service providers including those mentioned at Madlanga Commission of Inquiry,” he said.
Oliphant further said committee cautioned the Office of the Premier about the reputational risk of entering into a broadband roll-out contract that had the City Of Ekurhuleni and was already mentioned in the Madlanga Commission. He added that the committee raised persistent concerns in respect of possible prepayments made to service providers made to the value of approximately R35 million as well as contracting to participate in the broadband rollout without an available budget.
“The committee awaits signed contracts and submissions made to Extech, EXCO and the Provincial Treasury. Both departments must be cautious when implementing this project.
“This committee raises no objection with SMARTGOV and the rollout of broadband, however, we are seriously concerned by what appear to be significant SCM breaches in respect of both SMARTGOV and the rollout of broadband and, equally there should be no duplication in financial systems as National treasury reserves the authority to approve such systems and they already have certain modules which now appear to be a duplication like invoice tracking,” said Oliphant.
He said the committee is considering options in respect of further investigations on issues identified.
The Director General in the Office of the Premier, Paul Mogotlhe said as part of the implementation of the digital transformation strategy and resolving broadband infrastructure challenges, the provincial government together with SITA has embarked on a benchmarking exercise across the country to establish best practices on rolling out broadband infrastructure.
“Our findings revealed that the City of Ekurhuleni had the best implementation systems that matched our standards as their infrastructure connects public spaces such as schools, clinics and municipalities but their contract with appointed service providers was ending, we never participated on it.
“The North West Provincial Digital Transformation Strategy that was approved by EXCO in October 2025 and serves as the province’s overarching framework for leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to modernize government, improve public service delivery and strengthen governance,” he said.
Mogotlhe said the strategy will be implemented in planned phases from the current financial year of 2026/27 at a cost of two-three percent of the ICT budget in the entire provincial government which involves roll-out of the broadband infrastructure. He said that the SMARTGOV Programme is the province’s flagship digital transformation initiative aimed at modernizing government administration through the automation of business processes and the implementation of integrated digital services.
“Phase 1 implementation focuses on high-impact business processes, including electronic submissions, e-leave, e-recruitment, invoice tracking, contract management and quotation management,” said Mogotlhe.
Head of Department at Provincial Treasury, Ndlela Kunene said the earmarked funds for ICT Transformation programme inclusive of SMARTGOV allocation for 2026, MTEF amount to R135 million for 2026/27, R140 million in 2027/28 and R92,7 million in 2028/29 financial years.
2 September 2026 – The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in the North West said it is deeply concerned about the reported incident at Batlhaping Secondary School in Taung involving a learner allegedly directing insulting and disrespectful language towards an educator. SADTU said it is seriously disturbed by the escalating levels of learner indiscipline and the growing incidents of verbal abuse, threats, intimidation and physical attacks against educators in schools.
SADTU provincial secretary, George Themba said they cannot accept a situation where educators report for duty every day uncertain about whether they will be safe in the classroom. Themba said educators cannot be expected to perform their professional responsibilities effectively while being subjected to threats, insults, intimidation or violence.
“The safety and dignity of educators must be treated as a fundamental condition for quality education. We are particularly concerned that incidents of serious learner misconduct are sometimes allowed to continue without decisive intervention.
“Where an educator is assaulted or threatened, there must be an immediate and appropriate response. Violence against educators must never be normalised or treated as merely a disciplinary matter,” he said.
Themba further said where criminal conduct has occurred, the relevant law- enforcement agencies must be involved. He added that SADTU therefore calls on the North West Department of Education and the North West MEC for Education, Dr Desbo Mohono to urgently strengthen measures aimed at protecting educators and restoring discipline in schools.
“We demand stronger implementation of school safety and learner-discipline policies, with clear consequences for serious misconduct. Immediate intervention in cases involving threats, intimidation or physical attacks against educators.
“Proper support for principals and School Governing Bodies (SGBs) to manage serious disciplinary cases. Improved collaboration between schools, parents, the Department of Education, South African Police Services (SAPS) and other relevant stakeholders,” said Themba.
He said appropriate psychosocial and professional support for educators who experience violence or trauma in the workplace. Themba said the monitoring of schools where serious disciplinary and safety challenges have been identified.
“Greater accountability for parents and guardians who fail to support reasonable disciplinary measures or who themselves threaten and intimidate educators. A comprehensive review of measures aimed at preventing weapons, drugs and other dangerous substances from entering school premises.
“We emphasise that SADTU does not advocate for the violation of learners’ rights. Learners have rights, but rights come with responsibilities. The protection of learners cannot be interpreted in a manner that leaves educators exposed to abuse, intimidation or violence,” he said.
Themba said a balanced approach must protect everyone in the school community. He said parents also have a critical role to play.
“Schools cannot carry the responsibility for discipline alone. Parents and guardians must reinforce respect, responsibility and acceptable behaviour among learners.
“Equally, educators must continue to uphold professional standards and exercise their authority responsibly. The crisis of learner indiscipline must also be understood within the broader challenges facing education, including overcrowding, social problems, substance abuse, inadequate psychosocial services and pressure on educators,” said Themba.
He said these challenges require a whole-of-society response, rather than placing the entire burden on teachers. Themba said SADTU North West remains committed to defending the rights and interests of educators, while championing a public education system that is safe, disciplined and conducive to effective teaching and learning.
“Teaching cannot be an attractive and respected profession when educators are expected to work in unsafe environments. An attack on an educator is not only an attack on an individual—it is an attack on the teaching profession and the right of every learner to quality education.
“SADTU calls upon the Department of Education to act decisively, urgently and consistently. The time has come to move beyond statements of concern towards concrete interventions that restore discipline, protect educators and reclaim schools as safe spaces for teaching and learning,” he said.
2 September 2026 – A man (61) was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for five counts of burglary of a residential house. The accused, Rapula Edwin Moatlhodi was linked to the offences through forensic evidence.
The Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 2 Warrant Officer Ofentse Mokgadi said investigations established that Moatlhodi would travel from Rustenburg to Mabeskraal, break into residential properties and steal household items, which he would subsequently sell around the Rustenburg taxi rank. Mokgadi said Moatlhodi was arrested on 22 May 2026, in Bapong after he was found breaking into a house.
“He was subsequently linked through fingerprints to four additional housebreaking cases in Mabeskraal. The investigation further revealed that the accused had violated his parole conditions and had been sought by Correctional Services.
“On 28 August 2026, the Mogwase Magistrate’s Court sentenced Moatlhodi to eight years imprisonment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 2 District Commissioner, Brigadier Mamotsamai Ntoagae, applauded Detective Sergeant Unathi Tiem for the thorough investigation and effective use of forensic evidence which successfully linked the accused to multiple housebreaking cases. Ntoagae commended the detective for ensuring that the accused was brought before court and ultimately sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
2 September 2026 – A man (37) was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment or alternative fine of R100 000 by the Mogwase Regional Court for attempted murder. On 7 April 2024, at Tweelagte, the accused, Henry Tsamai and the victim, were drinking with other people.
The Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 2 spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ofentse Mokgadi said an argument ensued when Tsamai stated that the victim had assaulted him in 2015. Mokgadi said the court heard evidence that the accused attacked the victim and later returned from a house armed with an axe and a tonfa.
“During the altercation, the victim struck the accused with a beer bottle. The accused then got into his vehicle, started the vehicle and deliberately drove over the victim. The victim sustained serious injuries, including a fractured left leg, broken ribs and an eye injury.
“The court further made no order in terms of Section 103(1) of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act 60 of 2000). The accused was fined R100 000, or alternatively to 10 years imprisonment with half of the sentence suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of assault or attempted murder committed during the period of suspension,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 2 District Commissioner, Brigadier Mamotsamai Ntoagae, commended Detective Sergeant Modise Sehunoe and all the role players involved in the investigation and prosecution of the matter for their dedication and commitment in ensuring that the accused was brought to justice. Ntoagae welcomed the sentence and reaffirmed SAPS’ commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of violent crimes are held accountable.
2 September 2026 – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the sentencing of a man (28) from Sesalong village to an effective 20 years imprisonment for the rape of a woman (95). The Limpopo High Court sitting in Polokwane sentenced the accused to 20 years imprisonment for rape and a further eight years imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rape.
The NPA regional spokesperson in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi said the court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 20 years imprisonment. Malabi said in addition, the court ordered that the accused’s name be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders and that his identity be withheld to protect the victim and prevent secondary victimisation.
“The accused pleaded guilty in terms of Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act and admitted that he knew the victim as the grandmother of his friend. The court heard that on 4 October 2025, the accused went to the victim’s homestead in Sesalong village looking for his friend.
“After finding the doors unlocked, he entered the house where the elderly woman was alone. He informed the victim that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her. When she refused, he overpowered and raped her twice before fleeing the scene,” she said.
Malabi further said the accused was apprehended by community members the following day and handed over to the police. She added that the DNA evidence subsequently linked him positively to the offence.
In aggravation of sentence, state prosecutor advocate Lerato Mohlaka, handed in a Victim Impact Statement facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Morongwe Moifo. Mohlaka said the statement revealed the profound emotional impact of the crime on the victim.
“The victim felt humiliated, disgraced and deeply disrespected, particularly because she regarded the accused as a great-grandchild. During consultations with the prosecution team, the victim expressed that the attack had profoundly affected her outlook on life and dignity.
“The state argued that the accused’s reliance on intoxication, youthfulness and remorse should not be regarded as substantial and compelling circumstances. The prosecution urged the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment, emphasising that elderly persons are among the most vulnerable members of society and deserve the full protection of the law,” she said.
Welcoming the sentence, the Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, Advocate Ivy Thenga said this sentence affirms the NPA’s unwavering commitment to securing justice for victims of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), particularly the most vulnerable members of our society. Thenga said crimes of this nature violate the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of victims and cannot be tolerated.
“We would like to commend Mohlaka, the investigating officer and all stakeholders involved in the successful prosecution of the matter. The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to combating Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions,” she said.
