Picture: Some of the suspects arrested during Operation Vala Umgodi/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
26 January 2025- Nine suspects aged between 28 and 44, were arrested for allegedly being in the country illegally during Operation Vala Umgodi. This comes after they allegedly failed to produce any documentation that allowed them to be in the country.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the police deployed at Operation Vala Umgodi allegedly received a tip-off from crime intelligence, regarding people who were involved in illegal mining activities at Nuttabooi Informal Settlement in Kleinzee, on Saturday, 25 January 2025, and are allegedly in the country illegally.
“The police, together with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) operationalised the information received at the identified informal settlement. The multi-disciplinary team proceeded and arrested two suspects, aged 40 and 42, for illegal mining.
“The police further issued two fines amounting to R1500 each to a man aged 23 and a woman (27), for selling liquor without a license. Equipment believed to be used in the commission of a crime and liquor were confiscated by the police,” he said.
Shemane further said the public is reminded that illegal mining is a criminal offence and urged to report illegal mining and other related crimes to the police crime stop number on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS App.
Picture: Some of the suspected stolen goods seized by the police/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
26 January 2025- Three suspects aged 20, 24 and 36, are expected to appear in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on 27 January 2025, for possession of suspected stolen goods. The suspects were arrested during a collaborative effort by the Brits Trio Task Team, Operational Coordination Centre (OCC) and Crime Intelligence.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said this comes after the alleged hijacked truck, trailer and goods worth more than R2 million, were recovered on Thursday evening, 23 January 2025. She said the success was achieved after the Bojanala District Crime Intelligence, followed up on a tip-off regarding activities of a group suspected of truck hijackings.
“The team observed a storage facility at Rietfontein, close to Hartbeespoortdam, for several days until a truck pulling a trailer and escorted by a Toyota bakkie, was spotted entering the premises on Thursday afternoon, 23 January 2025.
“Further observation led to the arrest of three suspects, who were found using a forklift to offload goods from the trailer. A search conducted around the place led to the discovery of a signal jammer,” said Myburgh.
She further said the determined police worked hard to locate the lawful owner of the trailer and goods after it was established that it was hijacked in Olievenhoutbosch, Gauteng Province, earlier this month.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, lauded the police for a sterling job, as well as continuous and collaborative efforts in the fight against crime.
26 January 2025- The Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Namane Dickson Masemola, undertook an accountability and assessment oversight meeting to Ngaka Modiri Molema District in the North West under the theme: “Every Municipality Must Work”. Masemola said this meeting stands as one of the important milestones in the work being done by CoGTA to turn around municipalities experiencing challenges.
Masemola further said the provincial leadership welcomed the visit as it is a catalyst that sets the tone for addressing head on the challenges facing the municipalities. He added that the engagement responded to the challenges raised by the state of local government report produced by DCoG and the local government audit outcomes report released by the auditor-general in August 2024, which painted a grim picture of the state of municipalities.
“This District Development Model (DDM), the Ministerial visits to priority Districts encourages an all-of-government and all-of-society approach to governance, emphasising the need for collaboration and coordination in an effort to ensure service delivery at the local level.
“The challenges identified from the presentations included, but not limited to corruption, which compromises effective governance in municipalities and ultimately service delivery. This includes poor leadership on various government programmes and contributes to challenges in service delivery.
“Hence, we called for strategic leadership in municipalities. The issue of skills was also raised looking at shortage of skills to work on various service delivery programmes of the government, including in supply chain management (SCM), this leading to delays in service delivery,” said Masemola.
He said the meeting urged that qualified people should be appointed to lead the work in municipalities. Masemola said the dilapidated infrastructure was also raised as one of the challenges, which inhibits effective service delivery challenges.
“Some prefer new infrastructure over maintaining existing one. The challenges with projects that are not completed suggest that there is no sufficient oversight, which might lead to delayed or no completion of projects which can assist in the delivery of service.
“The other key challenge that became clear from the discussions was poor financial management which can negatively affect service delivery. Mismanagement of finances has a ripple effect on the entire service delivery chain,” he said.
Masemola said the passing of unfunded budgets was described as the worst mistake, which will gradually move the municipality to being dysfunctional. He said the government has to ensure responsiveness in engaging communities on matters related to service delivery.
“Municipal officials can through their responsiveness lead to service delivery improvements. The discussions on the above and other perennial challenges, which frustrate service delivery and the effective and efficient functioning municipalities will contribute to an action plan that will be continually monitored for implementation.
“There is a need to move towards an ideal municipality anchored on the provisions of our constitution. We emphasise our through the implementation of Section 154 of the constitution,” said Masemola.
Meanwhile, the African National Congress (ANC) spokesperson in the North West, Tumelo Maruping said: “We warmly welcome the ministerial support and outreach led by Masemola, alongside North West Premier, Mr Lazarus Mokgosi, CoGHSTA MEC, Oageng Molapisi, Provincial Treasury MEC, Kenetswe Mosenogi and municipal leadership in Ngaka Modiri Molema District.
“This outreach comes as a result of ANC’s consultative engagement with various stakeholders, including ANC National Head Quarters regarding the persistent service delivery challenges particularly in Ditsobotla Local Municipality.”
Maruping said it also represents a crucial step in addressing the pressing developmental needs of the communities and enhancing service delivery in the district. He said the ANC applauds the government’s commitment to engaging with both executive and accountable authorities including community stakeholders to identify challenges and implement effective solutions.
“According to Section 154 of the constitution, this is a response to ongoing service delivery issues and demonstrates the government’s dedication to providing essential services that supports citizens’ well-being and development,” said Maruping.
26 Ferikgong 2025- Banna ba le babedi ba ba letseng ba tshwerwe ke sepodisi mabapi le polao ya ga Tumelo Seokame (22), ba golotswe ke sepodisi. Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mono Bokone Bophirima, Colonel Adele Myburgh, banna bao, ba letse ba tshotswe ke sepodisi sa Vryburg go ya go botsolodiwa mabapi le polao ya ga Seokame.
“Ke nnete, sepodisi se letse se tshotse banna ba le babedi go ya go ba tlhoma dipotso mabapi le polao ya ga Seokame, mme go fitlhetswe fa ele gore ga ba na kamano le go bolaiwa ga ga Seokame. Ka jalo, ba ile ba gololwa.
“Go fitlha ga jaana, ga gona ope o tshwerweng, mme dipatlisiso di tsweletse,” Myburgh wa tlhalosa.
Seokame one a thuntsiwa le go bolawa ke banna bangwe ba ba sa itsiweng kwa motseng wa Morokweng, gaufi le Ganyesa. Go begwa fa tiragalo e, e diragetse ka masa a letsatsi la Tshipi (19 Ferikgong 2025).
Go ya ka dipego, go bonwe sejanaga sa modiro wa VW Polo sa mmala o motala wa loapi ka nomoro plata ya porofense ya Gauteng, se se neng se kaila-kaila gaufi le legae la moswi eleng Tumelo Seokame. Go begwa fa ka nako eo, Seokame one a le kwa lefelong la boiketlo ga mmogo le lekgarebe la gagwe.
Go begwa fa Seokame ane a tsamaya le lekgarebe la gagwe go ya go robala. Go ya ka dipego, banna ba, ba ile ba ya go mo batla kwa gagabo, mme ba motlhoka.
Fela go begwa fa Seokame ya re a sentse a itheeditse kwa lelapeng la kgarebe ya gagwe, banna ba le bane ba ba sa itsiweng ba ne ba itelekela teng koo, mme ba kopa thuso mabapi le sejanaga sa bone se seneng se ba fa mathata.
Go begwa fa seo, ene ele tsela ya bone ya go gogela Seokame kwa ntle gore ba kgone go mo tlhasela. Go begwa fa lekgarebe la ga Seokame le ne la utlwa sethunya se gelebetega kwa ntle, mme moraganyana, one a bona Seokame oneng a phukga-phukga madi a tla a taboga le go siela mo ntlung.
Go ya ka dipego, Seokame one a laela lekgarebe la gagwe go le botsa phokoje fa ene a ne a leka go thiba setswalo. Go begwa fa lekgarebe la gagwe le ile la betsega ka letlhaba-phefo, fela one a kopana le mongwe wa banna ba kwa ntle.
Go begwa fa ka lesego, monna owa a sa montsha dikgobalo. Go begwa fa mongwe wa banna ba, a ile a tswelela ka go raga setswalo, mme one a tsena le go thuntsa Seokame makgetlho a le supa.
Go ya ka dipego, Seokame o thuntsitswe mo tlhogong makgetlho ale mabedi, gangwe mo letsogong, le mo mokwatla. Bathuso ya potlako ba ne ba bidiwa le go netefatsa fa Seokame a ragile kika kwa lefelong la tiragalo.
Kgabagare, sepodisi sa mono Bokone Bophirima, ga ise se netefatse bonnete jwa kgang e.
26 January 2025- The North West High Court of South Africa sitting in Mahikeng heard an urgent application by ousted Ditsobotla Local Municipality mayor, Thabo Nkashe, who was removed through the motion of no confidence during the council sitting held on 17 January 2025.
The applicant sought a relief from the court to be reinstated as the mayor, as well as suspending the decisions of council sitting, which unanimously voted him out of office by majority of councillors following the motion of no confidence due to gross incompetence.
North West High Court Judge Reid found that the applicant failed to persuade the court to reinstate him as mayor thus duly ordered that application be struck off the roll due to lack of urgency with costs of the application to be paid by the applicant is his personal capacity.
Ditsobotla Local Municipality mayor, Mazwi Moruri said: “Key to the facts, the court found that the applicant never took the oath of office before the juristic officer of the court for a period of 18 months and of which is a legal requirement.
“We welcome the outcome of the court and called for a united action to best attempt to salvage what is left of the municipality henceforth. We want to spark a new sense of positivity.”
Moruri further said, a few days ago, they have attracted the North West Provincial Government’s attention in a positive way which resulted in the visit of the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi and North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Gaoage Molapisi on 21 January 2025.
He added that, they declared the support of the provincial government to assist in every effort to resuscitate the municipality to at least provide continual services such as water, electricity, refuse collection amongst others to the people.
“We convey the truth that it is possible to serve the people of Ditsobotla. It all starts with resetting the minds and attitude of employees towards serving the people.
“It would be very difficult to encourage a sense of positivity in the residents if the people who are supposed to serve them with devotion are not in good shape,” said Moruri.
He said the situation facing the municipality is revertable, despite daunting challenges and or problems. Moruri said they call on the stakeholders to join hands and make Ditsobotla Local Municipality work for its people.
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the North West said it has noted with a grave concern
the persistent political instability and poor service delivery in Ditsobotla Local Municipality. The party said since the municipal by-elections in 2022 to date, the councillors at Ditsobotla Local Municipality voted out both the speaker for municipal council and the municipal mayor for the third time, respectively.
The EFF provincial spokesperson, Fanon Moema said: “It follows inevitably, therefore, that the quality of life amongst most residents has not improved in the past years. The frustration of the residents concerned with lack of access to basic services such as water and electricity is picking up, and it manifests itself through service delivery protests.
“Reports on rampant corruption, maladministration and nepotism are proof enough that the municipality is faced with a critical leadership chaos and credibility crisis.”
Moema said it clearly appears that better life in Ditsobotla is exclusively enjoyed by the families,
friends, officials and staunch political allies of those who are tasked with allocating the scarce resources of the people. He said Mokgosi and Molapisi promised to speed up service delivery and uphold good governance for, among others, residents of Ditsobotla.
“However, it appears that the situation has moved from bad to worse with the provincial government failing to rescue the situation and there is nothing to prove or
corroborate the veracity of the promises.
“As the EFF, we are calling for the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, Minister of COGTA, Velenkosini Hlabisa, Mokgosi and Molapisi to intervene to the service delivery crisis in Ditsobotla within the next seven days. Failure to respond, we will prepare the ground and wage a tireless fight on the ground,” said Moema.
25 Ferikgong 2025- Dipego tse di sa totobalang ke gore babelaelwa ba le ba bedi ba tshwerwe mabapi le polao ya ga Tumelo Seokame (22). Go begwa fa babelaelwa ba, ba ne ba tshwarwa ke sepodisi sa Vryburg kwa phitlhong ya ga Seokame teng kwa motseng wa Morokweng, gaufi le Ganyesa mo letsatsing la gompieno.
Se se tla morago ga gore Seokame a thuntsitswe le go bolawa ke banna bangwe ba ba sa itsiweng. Go begwa fa tiragalo e, e diragetse ka masa a letsatsi la Tshipi (19 Ferikgong 2025).
Go ya ka dipego, go bonwe sejanaga sa modiro wa VW Polo sa mmala o motala wa loapi ka nomoro plata ya porofense ya Gauteng, se se neng se kaila-kaila gaufi le legae la moswi eleng Tumelo Seokame. Go begwa fa ka nako eo, Seokame one a le kwa lefelong la boiketlo ga mmogo le lekgarebe la gagwe.
Go begwa fa Seokame ane a tsamaya le lekgarebe la gagwe go ya go robala. Go ya ka dipego, banna ba, ba ile ba ya go mo batla kwa gagabo, mme ba motlhoka.
Fela go begwa fa Seokame ya re a sentse a itheeditse kwa lelapeng la kgarebe ya gagwe, banna ba le bane ba ba sa itsiweng ba ne ba itelekela teng koo, mme ba kopa thuso mabapi le sejanaga sa bone se seneng se ba fa mathata.
Go begwa fa seo, ene ele tsela ya bone ya go gogela Seokame kwa ntle gore ba kgone go mo tlhasela. Go begwa fa lekgarebe la ga Seokame le ne la utlwa sethunya se gelebetega kwa ntle, mme moraganyana, one a bona Seokame oneng a phukga-phukga madi a tla a taboga le go siela mo ntlung.
Go ya ka dipego, Seokame one a laela lekgarebe la gagwe go le botsa phokoje fa ene a ne a leka go thiba setswalo. Go begwa fa lekgarebe la gagwe le ile la betsega ka letlhaba-phefo, fela one a kopana le mongwe wa banna ba kwa ntle.
Go begwa fa ka lesego, monna owa a sa montsha dikgobalo. Go begwa fa mongwe wa banna ba, a ile a tswelela ka go raga setswalo, mme one a tsena le go thuntsa Seokame makgetlho a le supa.
Go ya ka dipego, Seokame o thuntsitswe mo tlhogong makgetlho ale mabedi, gangwe mo letsogong, le mo mokwatla. Bathuso ya potlako ba ne ba bidiwa le go netefatsa fa Seokame a ragile kika kwa lefelong la tiragalo.
Kgabagare, sepodisi sa mono Bokone Bophirima, ga ise se netefatse bonnete jwa kgang e.
Picture: The wayward social media influencer, Musa Khawula/Google
By BAKANG MOKOTO
25 January 2025- An attempted murder case against wayward social media influencer, Musawenkosi Khawula (32), was postponed by the Fochville Magistrate’s Court until 5 February 2025. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana said Khawula is facing charges of attempted murder, alternatively reckless driving, as well as an additional charge of failing to render assistance and/or report an accident to the police. Mahanjana said these charges allegedly arise from an incident that took place on 20 February 2021, around 6pm, near Mponeng Mine.
“It is alleged that the complainant and his wife were driving home on a narrow road when they noticed a Volkswagen Polo parked along the roadway. The accused was standing next to the vehicle naked on his lower body.
“The couple approached the accused, informing him that he was trespassing on private property. Upon looking inside the vehicle, the complainant allegedly saw another man moving from the back seat to the front seat while getting dressed,” she said.
Mahanjana further said after an exchange of words between the complainant and the accused, Khawula allegedly returned to his car, drove away, when he reached a dead-end he executed a U-turn. She added that he then allegedly bumped the complainant, who was standing beside the driver’s side of his vehicle, before fleeing the scene, leaving the complainant injured on the ground.
“A member of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) driving on the same road later found the injured complainant and alerted the police. The accused was arrested shortly thereafter at a nearby tavern at Mponeng Mine, making his first court appearance on 22 February 2021, where he was granted R1000 bail.
“However, after failing to appear in court on two occasions, a warrant for his arrest was authorised, and his bail was forfeited to the state on 17 June 2021,” said Mahanjana.
She said Khawula was re-arrested and appeared in court again on 16 January 2025. Mahanjana said the court has since added a charge of attempted murder, with reckless driving as an alternative, along with the charge of failing to render assistance and/or report the accident.
“The matter has been postponed to 5 February 2025, for a formal bail application. The accused is remanded in custody,” she said.
Picture: The embattled SAFA president, Dr Danny Jordaan
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
25 January 2025 – The South African Football Association (SAFA) said it held a very successful Ordinary NEC Meeting in Johannesburg on 24 January 2025. According to SAFA, the meeting was a continuation of the adjourned Ordinary NEC Meeting that was held in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, on 12 October 2024 and concluded on Friday night, wrapping up all the outstanding matters that were on the agenda.
SAFA president, embattled Dr Danny Jordaan said discussions were robust and engaging. Jordaan, who chaired the proceedings, said he was happy that the members engaged all the items passionately as they always do.
“Well, we have just concluded our meeting. We’ve dealt with about 20 items, and we are very happy. There were robust debates and questions, and we focused on football.
“We dealt with the question of our teams, and of course, with Bafana Bafana going into the Africa Cup of Nations draw in Morocco on Monday (27 January 2025) night,” he said.
Jordaan further said they will see what happens there, and they wish them all the best and hope that they will be able to perform. He added that all the teams, the national teams, have improved. “Morocco is quite good. It’s an improved team, and so is Nigeria, so is Senegal, and South Africa is there with them. We will want to see who we meet this time around.
“I am very happy that we dealt with many issues relating to the technical area, the coaches. We have now appointed a coach for Under-17, Under-20, as well as technical teams,” said Jordaan.
He said overall, he is happy. Jordaan said it was quite a successful meeting.
“We will focus now on moving forward. The NEC was also told about the massive progress that has been made in schools’ football,” he said.
Picture: The Democratic Alliance members during rally
By REGINALD KANYANE
25 January 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said seven months ago, South Africans were imbued with a ‘sense of hope’ when the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance signed a Statement of Intent, heralding a new era of power-sharing in South Africa.
The DA said the Statement of Intent was the basis upon which it agreed to vote President Cyril Ramaphosa into office on 14 June 2024.
The DA leader, John Steenhuisen said it was also the basis upon which they joined national government, in order to keep uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) out, whom he described as ‘destructive forces’ and contribute to building South Africa.
Steenhuisen said this came after the people of South Africa voiced their dismay with the ANC over chronic service delivery failures and corruption, by depriving that party of its majority for the first time in 30 years.
“Through their vote, the people signalled that they want parties to work together to build South Africa. This is a point worth emphasising. The Government of National Unity (GNU) is not a project of politicians.
“It gives expression to the will of the people, who clearly said they want parties to genuinely work together, in a spirit of mutual respect, to build South Africa. The DA continues to uphold our end of the bargain,” he said.
Steenhuisen further said the portfolios under DA control have done more to deliver progress in the past seven months than the ANC did in 30 years. He added that, every day, DA Ministers, Deputy Ministers, house chairpersons and portfolio committee chairs get out of bed to build South Africa up after decades of misrule and corruption broke it down.
“That is what we are in government for, and that is what we are delivering. Precisely because we have heard the cry of the people for constructive cooperation, the DA also treats our colleagues from other parties in the GNU with respect, making constructive suggestions aimed at resolving disagreements rather than inflaming them.
“As a result, the first green shoots have started appearing in the economy and in employment statistics. The rand strengthened and international analysts hailed the formation of the GNU as South Africa’s most significant political development since 1994,” said Steenhuisen.
He said the recent World Economics’ Forum in Davos reflected this positive attitude of the world towards this significant political development. Steenhuisen said every day since 14 June 2025, his party has made a concerted effort to ensure the success of the GNU.
“We have negotiated and compromised where needed because, as veterans of coalition politics, we understand that if you don’t get over 50% of the vote, you cannot have everything your own way.
“At the same time, we made it clear from the start that we were in the GNU to share power, not merely to make up numbers for ANC to continue rolling out its policies,” he said.
Steenhuisen said any coalition agreement is premised on the acknowledgement that the larger party should be prepared to negotiate and compromise when required – because all parties in the GNU, including the ANC, only represent the interests of a minority. He said, however, after a promising start whereby Ramaphosa delayed the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act to enable negotiations, recent weeks have made it increasingly clear that the ANC has lost interest in honouring its side of the relationship.
“Unfortunately, the ANC in the GNU has taken to openly disrespecting partners and undermining the trust upon which any coalition government is built. In his statement at the ANC’s January 8 anniversary, Ramaphosa was quoted as saying that although the ANC failed to secure 50% plus one in the elections the ANC is still in charge.
“Just today, Ramaphosa opened the ANC Lekgotla saying that the GNU exists to implement the NDR. Not only is such a statement immature, but it does not accord with either the letter or the spirit of the Statement of Intent,” said Steenhuisen.
He said unfortunately, it does accord with how the ANC is behaving. Steenhuisen said in recent days, the Ramaphosa not only disregarded the serious constitutional objections raised by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean MacPherson over the Expropriation Bill, but he failed to even inform him about when he intended to sign the bill into force.
“Similarly, a few weeks ago, I personally wrote to the President about the contentious National Health Insurance Act. I made a number of constructive proposals for consideration, and asked for a meeting to engage further ahead of the upcoming Cabinet Lekgotla to prevent a repeat of the events from the previous Lekgotla when the DA vehemently objected to the inclusion of NHI targets.
“Amazingly, the President refused to even meet with the Leader of his biggest coalition partner to discuss NHI – the single most critical issue for the future of the GNU, and for the future of South Africa,” he said.
Steenhuisen said, instead of engaging respectfully and maturely to find solutions, the ANC Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, declared war on the GNU in front of the world at Davos. He said Motsoaledi told world leaders assembled at the World Economic Forum that he is fighting a “war” against the people of South Africa who do not want their private medical aids expropriated, who do not want higher taxes to fund a new looting scheme, and who do not want the health system destroyed.
“This is not how mature colleagues behave. It is arrogant and disrespectful. It is a symptom of a lack of respect accorded to coalition partners and the founding agreement. And it is not how healthy coalitions work.
“Whether the ANC likes it or not, the stability of this government as well as the security of the President’s own position, depends entirely on the relationship between the two biggest partners inside the GNU,” said Steenhuisen.
25 January 2024 – A policewoman (32) died in a car accident on N4 road in Majakaneng village, near Mooinooi. It is alleged that the accident took place at around 2:30am, where two police officers who were driving in a state motor vehicle (Toyota Hilux), were on the way back to Mooinooi Police Station after attending to a complaint, wherein four victims of an alleged hijacking reported earlier were left abandoned next to the road in the Bapong area.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said the reports suggest that, the state vehicle overturned after a tyre burst. A constable, who was the driving, was declared dead on the scene by Emergency and Medical Rescue Services (EMRS). Myburgh said her crew, another police constable, was admitted to a local hospital and released with minor injuries, while four other passengers were injured and taken to various local hospitals for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased member and wishes all those who sustained injuries, a speedy recovery.
The Guardian 