Author Archives: The Guardian

DA slams SANDF disaster inaction

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Picture: SANDF soldier

By REGINALD KANYANE

18 June 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said the reports today reveal that disaster management authorities formally requested South African Air Force (SAAF) assistance for flood relief in the Eastern Cape, but no help was forthcoming until yesterday-more than a week after the floods began.

The DA spokesperson on Defence & Military Veterans, Chris Hattingh, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP), said according to African Defence Review Director Darren Olivier, the request was made fairly early, but the SAAF could not respond due to a lack of available aircraft and flight crews. Hattingh said the DA condemns this failure in the strongest terms.

“Over 90 lives have been lost and thousands displaced, yet the SANDF only managed to deploy a single Oryx helicopter, days too late and wholly inadequate for the scale of the disaster. This is not an isolated incident. It is the latest evidence of a deep and systemic collapse in the SANDF’s operational capability.

“The same dysfunction was exposed during the chaotic withdrawal from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. What was once a foreign policy failure has now become a domestic humanitarian crisis,” he said.

Hattingh further said the SAAF, once a critical first responder during floods, fires and natural disasters, is now near collapse. He added that most aircraft are unserviceable, maintenance budgets have been gutted and key personnel, especially flight engineers are leaving the force due to poor pay and conditions.

“This is not just a funding problem. It is a failure of leadership and political will. The DA calls on Defence Minister Angie Motshekga to appear urgently before Parliament to account for the delay in deploying aerial support, despite early requests from disaster authorities.

“To disclose how many flight engineers, serviceable aircraft, and qualified pilots are currently operational. Present an emergency plan to address the looming flight engineer shortage that could halt air operations entirely by December; and explain how her department intends to restore domestic disaster response capability,” said Hattingh.

He said the people of the Eastern Cape were not abandoned by chance—they were failed by a government that has allowed the SANDF to decay through years of budget cuts, mismanagement, and political indifference. Hattingh said the DA reiterates its call for a full parliamentary inquiry into the SANDF’s operational failures and demands that the President and Cabinet take immediate responsibility for the dangerous state of our national defence capabilities.

“It is time to treat the collapse of the SANDF as the national crisis it is,” he said.

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Minister of Higher Education must account on issue of panel members overseeing SETA appointments

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Picture: Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane

By OBAKENG MAJE

18 June 2025 – After reviewing the letter submitted by the Minister of Higher Education, the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has expressed concern that it was misled about the composition of the panel responsible for recommending appointments to the boards of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).
 
The Chairperson of the Committee, Tebogo Letsie said the members said the information provided in the letter does not reflect the independence initially claimed, which raises serious questions about the transparency and integrity of the appointment process. Letsie said the committee has recommended that the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, appear before it alongside her Deputy Ministers, the Director-General, and members of the independent panel to explain the process and respond to the committee’s concerns.

“The committee said the names submitted appear to be an extension of the ministry and not an independent panel, as previously claimed. Committee members believe they were misled by previous representations made regarding the independence of the panel and the integrity of the appointment process.

“In particular, the committee finds the redaction or censoring of some panel member names highly irregular and unacceptable. Furthermore, the committee is alarmed by the revelation in the Minister’s letter that the purported Chairperson of the panel did not attend any of its meetings, which raises further questions about who chaired the panel meetings and oversaw the selection of candidates for SETA boards,” he said.

Letsie further said the committee has therefore requested to be privileged with all minutes of the panel’s meetings. He added that they will write to the Minister to inform her of their intention to summon her before the committee to provide answers regarding the SETA board appointments.

“We are extremely disappointed by the list we have received, especially after having spent the entire day on 30 May 2025, interrogating the issue of the panel’s independence. It does not inspire confidence when officials appear before Parliament and misrepresent facts,” said Letsie.

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Police officials in court for corruption and defeating the ends of justice

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

18 JUNE 2025- A former acting Divisional Commissioner of Crime Intelligence, Major General Nicholas Lushaba and current Chief Financial Officer (CFO), together with three of his co-accused, Warrant Officer Jonny Mogashwa, Captain Glen Hudson and Colonel Eugene Pitout (retired), briefly appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption, perjury and defeating the administration of justice.

The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said their matter was postponed to 13 August 2025, for disclosure and the provision of an indictment. Mamothame said this was as a result of an extensive investigation conducted by the Investigating Directorates Against Corruption (IDAC) into allegations of state capture and corruption within law enforcement.  

“All accused were granted R3000 bail each with stringent conditions attached. Their court appearance emanates from an incident that started on 5 August 2022, up to and including 30 April 2024, wherein Lushaba reported a case of theft.

“It is alleged that he interfered with the investigation and falsely made statements about the incident with the assistance of his co-accused to avoid accountability for his conduct as a senior member of the South African Police Service (SAPS),” he said.

Mamothame further said the action of Lushaba with the assistance of his co-accused and their subsequent actions led to the closing of the docket in which he was a complainant. He added that this resulted in them being charged by IDAC on allegations of corruption, perjury and defeating the administration of justice.

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A woman nabbed for dealing in drugs

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Picture: Some of the drugs confiscated by the police/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

18 June 2025- A woman (37) nabbed by the Public Order Policing Unit d-Platoon in Sunrise, near De Aar, for allegedly dealing in drugs. On 17 June 2025 at around 2pm, the police raided the house and confiscated dagga and Tik worth approximately R11 000.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel, Sergio Kock said the police also confiscated cash believed to be the proceeds of drug dealing. Kock said the suspect was arrested for Contravention of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act 140 of 1992.

“She will appear in court soon. The police urge the public to share information regarding criminality to the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or utilize the MySaps app.

“All information will be treated confidentially. The police will continue to eradicate drug-related crimes in the province,” he said.

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Kgetsi ya polao ya kwa Manthe e boela kgotlhatshekelo

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Setshwantsho: Balatofadiwa ba polao, Bakang, Phenyo Katong le Katlego Mosimege

OBAKENG MAJE

18 Seetebosigo 2025 – Kgetsi ya polao kgatlhanong le banna ba le bane ba kwa motseng wa Manthe, gaufi le Taung, e tla boela kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno. Bakang Katong (32), yo o atlholetsweng dingwaga di le robedi kwa kgolegelong mo kgetsing ya petelelo, ga mmogo le balatofadiwa nae mo kgetsing ya polao, Thabang Lenyai (23), Katlego Mosimege (31) le Phenyo Katong (34), ba ne ba tshwarwa dingwaga di le tharo tse di fetileng morago ga go latofadiwa ka go bolaya Thabiso Mothibedi (35), setlhogo.

Go begwa fa ba ile ba mo teketa le go mo golegelela mo generateng. Seno se tla morago ga gore ba mo latofatse ka go ba utswetsa madi a seatleng a lekanyediwang go R20 000 le motsoko wa R600.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, mokaptein Sam Tselanyane, o ile a tlhalosetsa ba lekwalo-dikgang la The Guardian Newspaper gore dipatlisiso di shupa fa tiragalo e, ele ya di 29 Moranang 2022. Tselanyane are go ile ga begwa fa moswi a ile a siela kwa motseng wa Longaneng.

“Fela, go begwa fa balatofadiwa ba ile ba tswa letsholo le go mo latela. Go begwa fa go gorogeng ga bone kwa motseng wa Manthe, ba ile ba mo gokelela mo generateng, mme ba mo teketa go fitlhelela a tlhokafala.

“Go begwa fa balatofadiwa ba ile ba tabogisetsa moswi kwa kliniking ya selegae fa ba bona a neela mowa. Baoki ba ne ba tlhalosa fa go se sepe se ba ka se dirang go boloka botshelo jwa moswi, gonne one a setse a balelelwa le badimo,” Tselanyane wa tlhalosa.

Kgabagare, ka di 1 Motsheganong 2022, baagi ba ile ba bolotsa mogwanto kgatlhanong le balatofadiwa, mme ba fisa matlo a bone a le mararo mo tiragalong e. Gape, baagi ba ile ba thuba le go senya ntlo-maitiso ya balatofadiwa, mme ba itseela nnotagi.

Go begwa fa Katong a boleletse lekgotlha ka mokgwa wa tiriso ya lekwalo gore o ipona molato mo ditatofatso tsotlhe kgatlhanong le ene. Lenyai le ene go ne ga begwa fa a ipona molato mo ditatofatsong tsotlhe kgatlhanong le ene, fela one a fetoga mme a kopa lekgotlha fa a batla go fetola mmueledi wa gagwe.

Katong o tlhaloseditse lekgotlha fa Mosimege le mogoloe, Phenyo, ba ne ba sena seabe mo tiragalong e.

Kgabagare, bosekisi le bone bo tlhalositse fa boitekanetse go ka tswelela ka tsheko, mme bo shupa fa bona le kgetsi e kwenneng kgatlhanong le banna ba, ba le bane.

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SANDF soldiers return from DRC

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18 June 2025- The first group of South African troops who were deployed to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) are expected to arrive in Bloemfontein on Friday.

According to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the troops will be welcomed by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, accompanied by the members of the Military Command Council.

The soldiers will arrive at Air Force Base Bloemspruit. 

The withdrawal of the soldiers was announced by the Minister in May following a “high level consultation with several role-players in the peacekeeping efforts within the eastern DRC”.

Earlier this year, 14 troop members lost their lives and others sustained injuries at the hands of the M23 as fighting in the Goma region escalated.

The rebel group fought intensely against the Congolese armed forces, resulting in the deaths of soldiers from 23 to 27 January 2025 during M23’s advance on Sake and Goma. 

These soldiers were part of the SAMIDRC, which aims to help restore peace, security, and stability in Africa’s second-largest country.

The Minister will address members of the media after she has received and welcomed the troops. – SAnews.gov.za

Spaza shop sa kwa Manthe se kgothositswe

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Setshwantsho-papiso: Spaza shop se kgothositswe

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

17 Seetebosigo 2025- Sepodisi sa Taung se tlhalositse fa se batlisisa kgetsi ya kgothoso. Se, se tla morago ga gore go nne le kgothoso kwa Boipelo spaza shop kwa kgaolong ya Dube kwa motseng wa Manthe, gaufi le Taung ka Labotlhano.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mono Bokone Bophirima, Mokaptein Mpho Manyoba are, go begwa fa motho mongwe a ile a itelekela kwa spaza shop seo, mme a dira jaaka e kare o ile go reka. Manyoba are motho o, go begwa fa a dirisitse crowbar go roba burglars tsa spaza shop, mme a tsaya motsoko le madi a seatleng.

“Go begwa fa dilo tseo tsotlhe di lekanyediwa go R5640. Tiragalo e, e diragetse ka di 13 Seetebosigo 2025, ka ura ya 5:40pm.

“Go fitlha ga jaana, ga gona ope o tshwerweng. Fela dipatlisiso di tsweletse,” Manyoba wa tlhalosa.

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Kgetsi ya maiteko a kgothoso e butswe

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Setshwantsho-papiso: Banna ba ba sa itsiweng ba lekile go kgothosa baratani

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

17 Seetebosigo 2025- Sepodisi sa Taung se batlisisa kgetsi ya maiteko a kgothoso. Se, se tla morago ga gore banna ba le bararo ba ba sa itsiweng, mme ba rwele dithiba-matlho (balaclava), ba leke go tsenelela monna mongwe le lekgarebe la gagwe kwa motseng wa Lokaleng, gaufi le Taung ka ura ya bobedi mo mosong.     

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mono Bokone Bophirima, Mokaptein Mpho Manyoba are tiragalo e, ke ya letsatsi la Mosupologo fa masigo asa. Manyoba are lekau le lekgarebe la gagwe, ba utlwile batho ba tsamaya-tsamaya mo jarateng, mme ba okomela ka letlhaba-phefo.

“Go begwa fa banna ba, ba ile ba leka go roba burglars ya kgoro ya bone. Fela, lekgarebe le, le ile la kua mokgosi. Mogolowe lekau le, o a neng a robetse kwa phaphosing e kwa ntle, o ile a tsoga le go ya go lekola seemo.

“Go begwa fa banna ba, ba ile ba inaya naga ka nngobo e sa fotlhwa. Sepodisi se butse kgetsi mabapi le maiteko a go kgothosa. Fela ga gona ope o tshwerweng go fitlha ga jaana,” Manyoba wa tlhalosa.

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Dipatlisiso ditsweletse morago ga go tlhokafala ga lesea

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Setshwantsho-papiso: Lesea le tlhokofetse

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

17 Seetebosigo 2025- Sepodisi sa Taung se tlhalositse fa se boloditse dipatlisiso morago ga go tlhokafala ga lesea kwa motseng wa Nommer 1, gaufi le Taung. Go begwa fa lesea le la dikgwedi di le pedi, le ile la tabogisetswa kwa kliniking morago ga go itemogela mathata a go hema, fela la fitisetswa kwa Taung District Hospital ka ntlheng ya go gatelelwa.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mono porofenseng ya Bokone Bophirima, Mokaptein Mpho Manyoba, o a leng bohitlha ka kgang e, ebile a sa neelanang ka ditlha tse di feletseng are, lesea leo, le tsetswe ka di 2 Motsheganong 2025. Manyoba are lesea le, le ile la isiwa kwa bookelong go bona thuso ya potlako.

“Dipatlisiso di tsweletse, fela ga gona ope o tshwerweng go fitlha ga jaana,” Manyoba wa tlhalosa.

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Committee had fruitful engagement with DoJ over APP

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

17 June 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development said it held a “fruitful and insightful” engagement on the Annual Performance Plan and Budget of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ&CD), including that of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for 2025/26. The committee said the engagement was robust at times.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Xola Nqola said it was however fruitful, engaging and insightful. Nqola said this can only assist the department in doing better.

“The DOJ&CD informed that committee that the strategic focus for the seventh administration is a culmination and build-up of progress made on key priorities achieved in the previous administration.

“The department moved the needle in terms of its performance and was able to meet Medium-Term Strategic Framework targets. The committee heard that the department’s strategic focus for the next five years will be on contributing to the developmental state through an ethical and capable workforce,” he said.

Nqola further said this includes to ensure that it reforms the South African criminal justice system to become accessible, modern and with integrated IT. He added that the department should also support the state with quality legal advisory services, review and replace all identified justice-related colonial and Apartheid-era legislation and increase awareness of departmental services in various communities.

“Regarding the key risks facing the department, the committee heard that it currently has dysfunctional security equipment and infrastructure (walk-through metal detectors/X-ray machines), insufficient allocated funds and inadequate security contract management, which leads to delays in fulfilling contractual obligations by the supplier.

“All this leads to incidents of attacks on court officials, the judiciary, prosecutors, legal practitioners, witnesses and members of the public on the court’s premises. To mitigate these risks, the department has implemented security measures based on physical security appraisal/ assessment,” said Nqola.

He said this includes identified service points for the installation of electronic security measures to enhance overall safety and security. Nqola said to address the risk of fraud and corruption in the department, it has introduced, among other things, lifestyle reviews.

“The committee heard that the 2025/26 budget allocations are under significant pressure, with several competing priorities requiring urgent attention. The department is actively exploring various measures to manage these pressures effectively.

“Key cost drivers include the ongoing digitisation and modernisation agenda, which aims to improve service delivery and operational efficiency. This initiative requires substantial investment in both local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) upgrades, the replacement and refreshing of ICT equipment, and the development of supporting infrastructure to digitise critical services,” he said.

Nqola said these include the records of the Master’s Offices, State Attorney and courts. He said in addition, the department must make provision for the capacitation and operationalisation of key statutory mandates.

“These include the establishment of the Sexual Offences Register and the implementation of the Traditional Courts Act, both of which have resource and infrastructure implications.

“To mitigate budget constraints towards the end of the 2024/25 financial year, the department reprioritized available funds. Savings and virements were applied across programmes to address shortfalls and ensure continuity of essential services,” said Nqola.

He said the department assured the committee that it remains committed to working within the available fiscal framework while pursuing efficiencies and reforms that strengthen justice service delivery. Nqola said the committee heard that since the department lost R2 billion in budget two financial years ago, it has not managed to recover financially.

“This directly affected the quality of personnel that the department could recruit and also meant that the department had to remove several posts from its structure. The committee will monitor all the targets set by the department to ensure it reaches its targets, as this will be an indicator of service delivery.

“The committee acknowledges the department’s challenges. The department must use its capacity to sort out the challenges our people are experiencing regarding the justice system in the country,” he said.

Nqola said the committee feels that the appointment of the Chief Master and that of the Solicitor-General should be fast tracked. He said it is their strong belief that these two institutions have serious problems and it’s important to stabilise those institutions.

“Appointing the heads of these institutions would bring back stability. I would like to reiterate the committee’s concerns regarding the use of the State Information Technology Agency and it is having a negative impact on the department’s work.

“We also note the commencement of Truth and Reconciliation Commission inquiries, like the Craddock 4 and the Griffiths Mxenge. We will follow these matters closely,” said Nqola.

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