5 March 2025- The police in Kagisho are requesting assistance from the public to locate the missing Maureen Makhunga (57), who resides at 17760 Nobengula road in Vergenoeg, Galeshewe. It is alleged that on 15 December 2024, Makhunga went to the Kimberley Information Centre to book a bus ticket and indicated to her daughter that she was to visit her sister in-law in the Eastern Cape.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said, however, Makhunga’s phone remained switched off and her relatives indicated that she never arrived at her destination in the Eastern Cape. Shemane said anyone with information or who knows the whereabouts of Makhunga is urged to contact Detective Sergeant Alec Filander of Kagisho SAPS at 071 685 9625 or call SAPS Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS App.
“The public is reminded that there is no waiting period to report a person missing,” he said.
Picture: The Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre under construction
By OBAKENG MAJE
5 March 2025- A R28 million facelift project at Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre was marred by challenges. Now, the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), was forced to terminate the contractor after he allegedly failed to reach contractual obligations.
The centre is currently undergoing a major restructuring that would result in its expansion from its current capacity. In 2015, the then Department of Tourism (now the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism), embarked on the development and construction of the Taung Hotel School and Conference Centre Infrastructure Programme in efforts to improve the tourism infrastructure and skills development in the province.
According to the North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane, the main purpose of the infrastructure programme is to renovate and build additional infrastructure at the Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre in an attempt to convert the existing infrastructure to a Hotel School and Convention Centre into a State-of-art facilities.
Lenkopane said the resulting infrastructure is designed to provide a holistic educational and hospitality environment for beneficiary communities within the context of a Local Economic Development (LED), Rural Development and Community Development. She further said in the 2024/25 financial year, the department has allocated R28 million towards the renovation of the main hotel building and facilities.
“Many job opportunities will be created through the construction project of Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre. The ongoing project has created 78 jobs through local labourers and sub–contracting. This would continue to benefit the community for decades and would positively impact on the lives of many persons, who would in turn positively impact the lives of the community they reside in and the province as a whole.
“Yes, it is true we must close shops, we cannot be a construction site forever. Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre is a hotel and hotels must make money. We also have appointed new people who will complete the project. We told the IDT as implementing service that we are going to terminate its contract, if it does not deliver. So, it is true that they have terminated the contractor and the Head of Department briefed me that they have appointed the new one,” she said.
Lenkopane added that, once the hotel is up and running, they will hand it over.
Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management/Wessels Morweng/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
5 March 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng said the province has a general decrease in crime. Morweng, who released 2024/2025 Third Quarter Crime Statistics in Stilfontein on Wednesday, said the province has recorded a total of 26 999 cases, which are over 1100 cases less than for the corresponding period the previous year.
He further said this translates into a 3.9% decrease. Morweng added that, in total, the province had contributed 6.6% to the national crime total.
“Despite the reduction in crime generally, certain crime patterns were more prevalent in some areas. There are areas where we need to intensify our operations. Not surprisingly, one of these is in the area of illegal mining.
“As had been emphasised before, illegal mining is costing the economy of the country well over R70 billion annually in gold mining alone. Added to this, illegal mining has other causal ramifications with sinkholes the common immediate detriment,” he said.
According to Morweng, they are grateful for the successful operation in Stilfontein where though the problem is not completely over, it has been significantly stemmed. He said just as they were heaving a collective sigh of relief on the back of the Stilfontein operation success, another similar challenge reared its ugly head elsewhere in the province.
“The Vala Umgodi operation had recently arraigned 22 illegal mining suspects in the Bojanala District. Of particular interest is that the nationalities of the arrested are no longer just from Africa, but from Asia as well. Of those arrested previously, nationalities varied from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.
“Now added to those nationalities, we have some from Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Pakistan. For the reporting period, we had a 2.5% decrease on the contact crimes, 10.5% decrease on property related crimes and a 2.2% on other serious crimes category.
“Even though there was a general decrease in crime, contact related crimes increased by 2.3%. Malicious damage to property contributed
most cases which are 1969 cases. This is 48 more cases compared to the previous year, which is a 2.5% increase. Bojanala continued to lead particularly with serious and violent crimes with Rustenburg appearing in the top 12 stations in the country. Dr Kenneth Kaunda District is a provincial hotspot for illegal mining, sexual offences and all assaults.
“The district has both operational and non-operational gold mines, which contributes to the problem of illegal mining and associated crimes. This district also has a challenge of gangs, which are often involved in crimes such as rape, robberies, murder, assaults and drugs particularly in the Klerksdorp,” said Morweng.
“This is the similar pattern in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, who also recorded sexual offences. For the total figure 26 999 cases reported in the province, 11 958 were in Bojanala, 6 580 in Dr KK, 5530 in Ngaka Modiri Molema and 2931 in Dr RSM District.
He said Ikageng Township, in Potchefstroom continuously reports assault cases and appears in the National top 30 stations for this crime. Morweng said reported crimes in Ngaka Modiri Molema, include assault and murder and stock theft.
“Although murder cases went down by 48,14% compared to the previous year, it is worth noting that Boitekong in Rustenburg, Mmabatho in Mahikeng and Kanana in Orkney had reported more cases. There had been ten multiple murder cases resulting in 24 deaths,” he said.
He said the Ngaka Modiri Molema recorded an increase in the number of murder cases. Morweng said the province has recorded 146 rape cases less than the previous reporting period, which is a decrease of 14.3%.
“Despite this decrease, Mmabatho has recorded more rape cases than the previous year for the same period. Dr Kenneth Kaunda, however, still remains the provincial hotspot for rape cases. There had been 679 cases less in property related crimes which decreased 10.5%.
“The stock theft remains a problem in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District with most reported in Taung, Pudumong and Ganyesa. In majority of the cases, livestock stolen in the province is sold in Gauteng. As we have indicated before, we are intentional in fighting Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and sexual offences,” he said.
Morweng said they are all well aware that crime fighting though primarily is the mandate of the police, however, successful crime fighting requires all to work together.
5 March 2025- Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has named a 37-member preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin this month. Broos’ charges host Lesotho at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo, on 21 March 2025 (kick off is at 18h00) and then travel to Côte d’Ivoire to face Benin on 25 March 2025.
The Beninese will host the South African men’s senior national team in Côte d’Ivoire after their home grounds were deemed unsuitable for international matches. The team will report for camp in Johannesburg on Monday 17 March 2025 and then travel to Polokwane on the same day.
After hosting Lesotho on 21 March, Broos and his charges will travel to Abidjan the next day on a charter flight to face Benin in the away match. They will return to South Africa on 26 March 2025. The preliminary squad will be trimmed to 23 players in the coming days when Broos announces his final list for the two matches.
SAFA president, Dr Danny Jordaan and CEO Lydia Monyepao, urged fans to continue to buy their tickets and ensure that the stadium is full when Bafana Bafana resume their World Cup campaign. They said tickets are on sale at TicketPro and they cost R70 for adults and R40 for children under the age of 12.
Meanwhile, the game will be broadcast live on SABC.
Access to the corporate/business 22-Seater Suite can be arranged withtsholot@polokwane.gov.za while SAFA, Southern Sun and Limpopo Tourism will release weekend accommodation packages in due course.
Picture: NWU political analyst and academic, Dr Snyman Motloung/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
5 March 2025- South Africa is at a breaking point, says North West University (NWU) political analyst and academic, Dr Snyman Motloung. According to Motloung, the political landscape is shifting, economic pressures are mounting, and trust in government is waning.
He further said he has spent years studying the nation’s fractures: how power is won, wielded, and too often squandered. Motloung added that his research spans electoral behaviour, constitutionalism, and the politics of water, an issue he argues is central to the country’s long-term stability.
In a candid and unflinching conversation, Motloung dissects the nation’s biggest challenges, from coalition politics to economic distress, and presents a stark choice: reform or decline. His research is deeply rooted in interpretive qualitative methods, focusing on electoral behaviour and political development.
“My latest work has explored topics as diverse as the fragile state of constitutionalism, the impact of the 2024 elections on women in politics, and the often-fraught relationship between Members of Parliament (MPs) and their constituencies. My most recent publication in 2025, explores the impact of a lack of mentorship on the career progression of young black women, while his latest studies examine the politics of water in South Africa – an area he believes is critical to the country’s long-term stability.
“At the heart of my research is the fusion of classical political theory with contemporary policy issues. Understanding how governance works – or doesn’t work – is central to ensuring that democratic institutions serve the people,” said Motloung.
He said the most immediate political and economic challenge facing South Africa is the consolidation of its democracy in an era of coalition governance. Motloung said the country’s political landscape is shifting, with weakened opposition parties and a polarised civil society.
“The fragmentation has stifled efforts at national unity, he argues, and created space for interest groups such as AfriForum to push parochial agendas. Perhaps even more concerning is the growing loss of trust in government. People no longer believe in the political process. Declining voter turnout is a symptom of deeper discontent. If government performance does not improve and politicians cannot demonstrate that they are working in the public interest, the erosion of trust will accelerate.
“Beyond politics, economic distress is exacerbating instability. The soaring cost of living has placed even middle-class households under strain. Service backlogs are growing because many residents cannot afford municipal charges. This forces people to seek private alternatives, doubling their financial burden,” he said.
Motloung said then there is corruption, an entrenched force that breeds a “society of contempt”. He said from government tenders subverted for personal gain to the theft of electricity and water, these systemic failures weaken state legitimacy.
“Even residents who can afford municipal rates are refusing to pay. On the global stage, South Africa faces an increasingly polarised geopolitical environment. I believe the country must exercise assertive non-alignment, while safeguarding its sovereignty.
“BRICS offers South Africa a vital platform to challenge arrogant foreign policy practices,” he says. But while the country must maintain its partnerships, it cannot afford to neglect African geopolitics. South Africa must take its role on the continent seriously,” he argued.
Setshwantsho: Motaki, Oduetse Ditshwele le seopedi s ammino wa Setswana, Maausi Lekoma
Ka BAKANG MOKOTO
5 Mopitlwe 2025- Motaki wa kwa motse-setoropong wa Ipelegeng, gaufi le Schweizer Reneke, Oduetse Ditshwele, are o simolotse ka leeto la gagwe la botaki dingwaga di le dintsi tse di fetileng. Ditswele are le fa go se bonolo go nna motaki mo porofenseng ya Bokone Bophirima, o leka ka bojotlhe go ntsha maungo a namatshang.
“Ke gola ke le motho o neng a rata go taka ditshwantsho. Ka 2001, ke ile ka nna karolo ya setlhopa sa Amajub-jub Threatre Club teng mo Schweizer Reneke. Setlhopa seo, se ne se diragatsa, mme moeteledipele wa sone e ne ele motaki.
“Ke ile ka tsamaya tsela e ya botaki le ene, mme e ne ya re fa a tloga kwa lefatsheng la Schweizer Reneke go boela gagabo, ke ile ka tlogela. Fela ka 2009, ke ile ka ya kwa kholejeng go ka tsweletsa dithuto tsame. Ke ne ke dira dithuto tsa Human Resources Management, fela ga ke a kgona go di fetsa,” Ditshwele wa tlhalosa.
Ditshwele are ka ngwaga wa 2012, o ile a boela kwa gagabo kwa Schweizer Reneke, mme a simolola ka go taka dikipa ka ntlheng ya botlhoka-tiro. Ditshwele are, one a kopana le modiri wa Lefapha la Botaki, Metsameko le Botsweletsi mo Bokone Bophirima, Keabetswe Rakgwale, o a ileng a mo thusa go ka tokafatsa talente ya gagwe.
“Go nnile le dithuto-katiso tse ke ileng ka di tsenela. Morago ga moo, ke ile ka dira le lefapha go taka matshwao a farologaneng kwa dikolo go ralala porofense. Ga jaana, ke tsweletse go ka dira ditiro tsa go taka, le fa go le thata.
“Go bua nnete ditiro di dintsi, fela batho ba bo rona ba gana go ntsha madi. Batho ba tshwanetse ba itse, ga go bonolo go bona dilwana tse re di dirisang go taka. Re di fitlhelela kgakala, gonne re dirisa mefuta e farologaneng ya dipente,” Ditshwele wa tlhalosa.
Ditshwele are tlhoba-boroko enngwe ke gore bone jaaka bataki mo porofenseng, ga ba tsewe tsia. Ditshwele are fa gona le meletlo e farologaneng jaaka Mahika Mahikeng Cultural Music Festival le Taung Cultural Calabash, ga gona mo ba tsayang karolo teng.
“Jaanong, re sentse re ipotsa gore gobaneng re lebetswe. Ke takile ditshwantsho tsa batho ba le bantsi ba ba itsegeng jaaka motlatsa-tona kwa kantorong ya ga mopresidente, Kenny Morolong ga mmogo le seopedi se se diphatsa sa mmino wa Setswana, Maausi Lekoma,” Ditshwele wa tlhalosa.
5 March 2025- A pastor (34) of the New Babillon Apostolic Church in Evaton West, briefly appeared at the Sebokeng Regional Court. He is accused of raping a girl (14), who is a member of his church multiple times. It is alleged that on 16 August 2024, the child, her parents and the pastor, were returning from a spiritual ritual in Clearence, Free State.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana said when they stopped at a filling station to allow the victim to use the restroom, the pastor allegedly followed her to the restroom and raped her, while her parents waited in the car unaware of the incident. Mahanjana said following this, it is alleged that the pastor asked the victim’s mother to bring the girl to church for prayer sessions.
“On several occasions between August 2024 and January 2025, it is alleged that the pastor would rape the girl during the sessions, while her mother waited outside. The abuse came to light after the victim developed infections and confided in her sister, who informed their parents.
“The mother confronted the pastor and reported the matter to the police. The pastor was arrested on 2 March 2025, and made his first court appearance the following day. The case was postponed to 13 March 2025, for a formal bail application, which the state intends to oppose,” she said.
Mahanjana said the NPA remains dedicated to pursuing justice for victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and ensuring accountability for such crimes.
5 March 2025- The accused, Sarathamoney Devi Sigamoney (69) was sentenced to a cumulative 10 years imprisonment by the Pretoria North Regional Court for perjury, fraud and theft. This is after Sigamoney defrauded the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pension payouts, while being the sole director of a company that was awarded tenders worth millions from the South African Police Service (SAPS) to supply office furniture.
The Investigating Directive Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said she has applied for leave to appeal and the court postponed the matter to 12 March 2025, for arguments. Mamothame said in his sentencing remarks, Magistrate Pieter Nel, highlighted the need to convey a strong message to potential perpetrators, on the seriousness of such offences.
“The court previously granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit a confiscation order against her, stipulating that an amount of R138 593.00 with interest calculated at 11.25% per annum, calculated from the date of this order, be paid back to SASSA.
“Sigamoney’s conviction is as a result of an occurrence of 13 April 2017, wherein she applied for an old age grant with SASSA, attaching a supporting affidavit wherein she stated that she has never worked for a period of 20 years,” he said.
Mamothame further said, on 18 April, SASSA provided Sigamoney with a letter of approval, which she signed for as received. He added that she is alleged to have received grant money from SASSA amounting to approximately R123 000, from July 2017 to July 2022.
“Subsequent to charges being registered against her, she continued to receive the grant for a further 16 months. Although she is listed as the director of KJP Traders Pty and Matthew Pillay (her son), KJP is alleged to have conducted business with the state as early as 2012, preceding her application to SASSA.
“Furthermore, the company is estimated to have cashed in approximately R88 million from the SAPS contracts, to which the last payment was in 2022,” said Mamothame.
Picture: The shooting taking place at Ditsobotla Local Municipality/Screengrab
By OBAKENG MAJE
5 March 2025- Situation continues to be volatile at the embattled Ditsobotla Local Municipality in Lichtenburg. This comes after two municipal employees were shot in an alleged standoff between the suspended Municipal Manager, Olaotswe Bojosinyane’s bouncers and municipal employees.
It is alleged that, on Tuesday, Bojosinyane who won his labour case against the municipality, arrived at the municipality premises and forced entry. However, the situation was triggered as a group of municipal employees denied him access.
The cagey Ditsobotla Local Municipality mayor, Mazwi Moruri confirmed that, indeed there was a shoot-out and two municipal employees were hospitalised.
“The version of the event that you have is correct. The situation was triggered by the alleged forceful entry into the municipal offices executed by the suspended Municipal Manager, Olaotswe Bojosinyane. It is true that the municipality has appealed the verdict on Monday.
“Two municipal employees were shot in the process and they were both hospitalised. As we speak, one has been admitted at Mafikeng Provincial Hospital, while the other is admitted at the General Delarey Hospital in Lichtenburg,” he said.
However, Bojosinyane came guns blazing and refuted the allegations. According to Bojosinyane, he was not anywhere nearer the Ditsobotla Local Municipality when the shooting took place.
“How can I comment on that because I was even anywhere near municipality premises when that happened?”
The Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) in North West, Chris Steyl said they have written to the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi, North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng and the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, requesting the immediate permanent deployment of the public order police unit at the municipality to restore order. Steyl alleged that, despite the unlawful decision by the ANC-led Ditsobotla Council to remove Bojosinyane from his position on 30 January 2025, the municipality is appealing the Labour Court judgement.
“The DA is on record that the Ditsobotla Local Municipality must be placed under Section 139 (7) national government administration to address the systemic issues plaguing the administration. Today’s events at the Ditsobotla municipal offices support our position that municipal workers have been politicised, creating a mafia-like state.
“This is the result of three decades of ANC cadre deployment and the politicisation of the municipal administration along ANC factional lines. Until the Minister of COGTA, Velenkosini Hlabisa, declares the national government’s intervention in Ditsobotla under Section 139(7), there is very little hope of any success to restore order and improve service delivery to residents,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said: “From start of business on Tuesday, various groupings formed at Ditsobotla Local Municipal offices with the view to continue with disruptive actions and to prevent the normal day to day running of the municipality and to prevent advocate Bojosinyane to return to office and to resume duties.
“The municipality also beefed-up security of the office and the contracted security officials generally referred to as “Bouncers”, deployed additional personnel and prepared for crowd management by arming the personnel with riot gear.”
Myburgh said during the course of the morning, various alterations occurred between the groupings demanding entry into the municipal offices and the deployed security personnel. She said the participating groupings pelted the security personnel and municipal offices with stones, resulting in the situation turning violent and the security official allegedly firing several shots.
“A case of attempted murder was opened after the victim sustained a gunshot wound in his upper body, outside the municipal offices. He received medical treatment and was transferred to hospital. Another victim sustained a gunshot wound on his right lower foot. No case docket is registered as yet,” she said.
Myburgh said an intervention was held at Lichtenburg SAPS Boardroom on Tuesday, by the Lichtenburg SAPS Station Commander, Mahikeng Public Order Policing and Ditsobotla Local Municipality Management.
She said during this intervention, an agreement was reached that Bojosinyane will not currently return to office as an appeal was made against the Labour Court judgement by Ditsobotla Local Municipality and that feedback is awaited from this appeal process.
“The participants dispersed peacefully. However, the situation is currently very tense,” she said.
Picture: North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha and NWU delegates/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
4 March 2025- The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), in strategic partnership with the North West University (Mahikeng campus), officially launched the Agri-Hub at the North West University’s Molelwane Farm on Monday. The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said this is a ground-breaking initiative aimed to address food security challenges, while strengthening agricultural resilience within North West communities.
Mokgosi said the Agri-Hub will serve as a key platform for emerging farmers, equipping them with the technical expertise and business acumen needed to establish sustainable and competitive agricultural enterprises. He further said through hands-on training and exposure to modern farming techniques, young agri-preneurs will be better positioned to integrate into the broader agricultural value chain.
“I am indeed privileged and honoured to be part of this important initiative, which forms part and parcel of our ongoing efforts to give much specialised attention to the agricultural industry and fight the scourge of unemployment and poverty afflicting our communities.
“The North West Agricultural contribution to the province’s GDP is at 3,0%, with African and black farmers playing a minimal role in this regard. It is further indicated that North West ranks between 1 and 5 on production of soya beans, beef, chevon, sorghum, lucerne and groundnuts,” said Mokgosi.
He added that these statistics are important in the planning and development of an improved agricultural sector within the province. Mokgosi said it is therefore upon the Agri-Hub to turnaround this scenario.
“The execution of this initiative correlates with the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS), which has placed a stronger focus on agriculture, to drive economic growth, alleviate poverty and create jobs. The launch of this Agri-Hub is primarily centred on the second priority of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP-2025-2030), which is to fight poverty and high costs of living.
“As I indicated in our policy statement, the launch of this flagship programme further seeks to contribute to the province’s sustainable economic growth, and today marks the beginning of the realization of that promise. This Agri-hub will serve as a centre of excellence in the enhancement of livestock and crop value chains, support to our farmers through research, technology development, skills development and capacity building,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NWU principal and vice chancellor, Professor Bismark Tyobeka said: “Today marks a historic moment, as we gather to witness the realization of a transformative initiative aimed at addressing food security, economic development, and agricultural sustainability in our province. We must ensure that this noble initiative succeeds and contributes to our country’s economic development growth and job creation while simultaneously contributing to the United Nations Development Goals.
“The agricultural sector remains one of the crucial sectors that have the potential to grow our country’s economy, create more employment opportunities, and improve the living conditions of South Africans, especially rural communities. According to the latest available data, the South African agricultural sector contributes approximately 2.5% to the country’s GDP. We can all agree that the sector can contribute more than this.”
Tyobeka said recently Stats SA announced that the official unemployment rate decreased by 0,2% point to 31,9% in Q4:2024 compared to Q3:2024. He said regrettably, employment increased in all sectors between Q3:2024 and Q4:2024, except in agriculture which decreased by 11 000 jobs.
“The North West Agricultural Hub is more than just a facility. It is a dynamic ecosystem designed to integrate research, capacity building, and commercialization.
“Through strategic collaboration between the government, North-West University, and private enterprises such as EKIM Wildlife, we are pioneering an innovative model that will transform agricultural production, processing, and market accessibility,” said Tyobeka.
He said, therefore, this initiative must be seen as a contribution to the Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plan which is a social compact between labour, government, civil society, and industry, and seeks to promote inclusive growth, competitiveness, transformation, employment, and food security. Tyobeka said at its core, the Hub is about adding value to farmers, to students, to researchers, and to the broader economy.
“The focus on crop production, beef and dairy beneficiation, and goat commercialization will unlock immense economic potential. In March 2020, Statistics South Africa released the Census of Commercial Agriculture 2017 report, which indicated that the total income for the commercial agriculture industry in 2017 was R332,8 billion, which was higher than the R85,9 billion recorded for 2007.
“In 2017, the major contributor to total income was livestock farming (R120,8 billion or 36,2%), followed by mixed farming (R95,0 billion or 28,6%). In terms of employment, the provinces with the lowest number of commercial agriculture employees were Gauteng (36 517 or 4,8%) and North West (57 758 or 7,6%),” he said.
The Guardian 