11 Motsheganong 2026 – Kgetsi ya polao kgatlhanong le balatofadiwa ba le supa eleng Flora Mogwera (66), Tshwaro Katong (53), Mosimanegape Gabonewe (55), Victor Maphasane (63), Tekoetsile Katong (63), Losilatau Charles Sakiele (58) ga mmogo le Mompati Mocumi (62), e solofetswe go boela kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno. Balatofadiwa ba, ba ile ba tshwarwa kwa motseng wa Manthe, gaufi le Taung, mabapi le ditatofatso tsa go bolaya monna wa kwa motseng wa Mothanthanyaneng, Robert Rapelang Molale morago ga go molatofatsa ka bogodu jwa leruo.
Go begwa fa Molale a ile a teketwa le go tsenngwa mo metsing kwa molapong ka kgwedi ya Sedimonthole 2025. Go begwa fa Molale a ile a tlhokafala morago ga moo.
Go dumelwa fa dinku tse di utswitsweng ele tsa molatofadiwa, Flora Mogwera (66).
Kgabagare, balatofadiwa botlhe ba neetswe beile ya R500 mongwe le mongwe.
Picture: A yellow CAT excavator and a case compressor and a water pump confiscated/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
11 May 2026 – The South African Police Service in Bojanala Sub-District 2 has dealt a significant blow to illegal mining activities following the arrest of two suspects aged 33 and 26 respectively, during a disruptive operation conducted at Tlhatlhaganyane (Ten Sisters) at Mabeskraal on Thursday evening. The operation formed part of ongoing efforts aimed at addressing illegal mining and related criminal activities in the area.
The North West police spokesperson, Col Anne Magakoe said during the operation, the police recovered mining equipment believed to have been used in illegal mining activities. Magakoe said the recovered equipment includes a yellow CAT excavator, a case compressor and a water pump.
“The police arrested a suspect (33) for illegal mining after he was allegedly found operating the excavator. According to information received, the suspect allegedly informed police that he was merely an employee and proceeded to contact the alleged owner of the machinery.
“It is further alleged that the owner subsequently arranged for a suspect (26) to approach the police officers with cash in an attempt to secure the release of both the suspect and the confiscated machinery,” she said.
Magakoe further said the second suspect was immediately arrested for bribery and the money was seized as evidence. She added that both suspects were detained at Mabeskraal Police Station.
“The first suspect is facing a charge of illegal mining, while the second suspect is facing a charge of bribery. Both suspects are expected to appear before the Mogwase Magistrate’s Court on 11 May 2026,” said Magakoe.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, commended members involved in the operation for their professionalism, integrity and commitment to fighting crime. Naidoo said the actions of their members demonstrate that SAPS remains committed to rooting out illegal mining and refusing any form of corruption.
“We will continue to intensify operations to ensure that those involved in criminal activities face the full might of the law. The police investigations continue,” he said.
Picture: Police conducting stop and search during Operation Shanela II/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
11 May 2026 – More than 20 undocumented persons were arrested for contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 in Mahikeng during the high-density operation brought together by the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit, Tactical Response Team (TRT), K9 Unit, FLASH and officials from Home Affairs. The police said the units worked together in a coordinated effort to stabilise the area and intensify crime-fighting operations.
The North West police spokesperson, Constable Thuto Bobelo said the police conducted focused stop-and-search operations and swept through identified priority zones targeting illegal firearms, drugs and other criminal activities. Bobelo said during the operation, two suspects were arrested for dealing in dagga, one suspect for dealing in drugs identified as crystal methamphetamine, one suspect for selling liquor without a licence and another for drunken driving.
“The intervention concluded with compliance inspections at liquor outlets and intensified patrols aimed at addressing emerging criminal activity and restoring order in Mahikeng,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo who led an unannounced Operation Shanela 2 said they targeted crime hotspots within the taxi rank and Central Business District (CBD). Naidoo commended all members and stakeholders involved for their dedication, bravery and commitment to combating crime.
“The police will continue to intensify operations to ensure safer communities across the province,” he said.
South African officials worked with speed to detect, contain and respond to the case of Hantavirus detected in the country.
This according to Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, who briefed Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health on Wednesday morning.
The Minister’s update followed the confirmation of Hantavirus in a critically ill British national in South Africa, and in a woman who collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport. She later died in South Africa. Her husband, a third patient, passed away in St Helena.
The three were passengers aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, which was sailing from Argentina to the Canary Islands via Cape Verde.
Motsoaledi explained that contact tracing continues, with 62 people already identified.
“The lady who arrived at OR Tambo flew in from St Helena… we needed to know the people who were there at the airport before she collapsed (sic). The third contact traces are healthcare workers in Kempton Park where the lady went.
“The fourth contact traces relate to the gentleman in a hospital in Sandton (and the ambulance crew). He was airlifted directly and didn’t come by commercial flight.
“The total number of people who were traced and who could have come in contact with them were 62. [Some] 42 of them have already been traced and they are being observed. The work is ongoing,” Motsoaledi said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is also conducting contact tracing internationally.
Addressing questions on how one of the patients had been allowed to come into OR Tambo International Airport, the Minister explained that the woman had not presented herself as ill to airline staff in St Helena, making it difficult to flag her in advance.
“On a routine basis, air staff are in touch with countries to report any person who might be sick in the aircraft to warn them…
“In this case, there was no warning coming in because even the staff did not pick up anything. When she arrived at the airport, she came in just like any traveller, not as a sick person. When people arrive, especially from international destinations, we have a temperature measuring [machine] but it does not mean that every human being who is sick [has a high] temperature.
“This lady went through the scan. It did not record anything from temperature (sic). It cannot be said that South Africa’s safety mechanisms were so lax that they just allowed people in without screening,” Motsoaledi said.
The other patient currently in hospital was medically evacuated from Ascension Island to a South African private health facility in Sandton.
Hantavirus
There are 38 strains of Hantavirus. The Andes strain, which is predominant in South America, is the strain which was the cause of the infection detected in the patients who died in South Africa.
“Person-to-person contact is very rare and it has happened under specific conditions, namely: there must be very close person-to-person contact for transmission to occur from one human to another. Not surprising [is] that the first persons who died are husband and wife.
“It happens to be the only strain out of the 38 that is known to cause human-to-human transmission. But… such transmission is very rare and only happens due to very close contact,” Motsoaledi told the committee.
The Minister explained that Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease transmitted from wild animals to humans and is endemic to the Americas.
“Whether South African rats carry this… as far as I know, I have never been told of any presence of Hantavirus on the African continent.
“From the information I have, South African rats do not carry Hantavirus because it’s a virus that is found in the Americas… Europe [and]… India,” he said.
South African response
At the same briefing, infectious diseases expert at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Professor Lucille Blumberg, told the committee that South African authorities had confirmed detection of the virus “within 24 hours of alert” from international colleagues about concerns about the cruise ship.
“On a ship, it’s not unusual for elderly people to travel… and deaths do occur. The first three cases are elder persons, all of whom have comorbidities. [A colleague] alerted me to patient 3, who was admitted to a hospital in Johannesburg as a pneumonia patient… Within 12 hours, we had an international call and we had a number of players discussing this. It is quite a remarkable effort to make that diagnosis of a most unusual pathogen in a most unusual setting in such a short time.
“As a country, we’ve done extremely well. Patients don’t come and say, ‘I’m part of [this]’ and it does take a bit of time to get all the facts. Within 24 hours, we knew what we were dealing with and we had a large amount of information,” Blumberg said.
Furthermore, contacts were identified and contact tracing began.
“All the names of people who were involved – at OR Tambo, those at the hospital close to the airport and all of those who either transported or admitted the patient – were put on a list and contact monitoring was started.
“It was started even before we knew what we were dealing with. That is in progress and is really working quite well. The incubation period is quite long… and they will have to be monitored. We will go back and identify who is a high risk and decide what we are going to do, and maybe intensify monitoring on those people,” Blumberg explained.
Collaboration with experts in other countries is also underway.
“We have had a number of consultations with counterparts in South America, who have a lot experience of Hantavirus. There’s been lab consultations. The international community have come together to support…in an extraordinary way and all of this has been coordinated through the WHO.
“This is quite an extraordinary response to what was an unknown, unusual virus in an unusual setting,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
Picture: Winners of the Provincial SAYWP competition from ZM Seatlholo Secondary school, Boitumelo Platjies and Neo Mokgapi/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
6 May 2026 – As part of the provincial adjudication of the South African Youth Water Prize (SAYWP) competition, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in North West hosted the 2026 Provincial adjudications in Vryburg, Klerksdorp, Makapanstad and Mahikeng from 21 to 24 April 2026, respectively. The SAYWP is one of the projects that the DWS is implementing in its water and sanitation education programme (WSEP) where winners of the provincial adjudication proceed to compete with their counterparts nationally.
DWS Project Manager of WSEP in the North West, Motlagomang Moreosele said the winners of the Provincial adjudication stand a chance to win bursaries to study towards water and sanitation related careers while nationally they compete with other provinces. Moreosele said after that, they stand a chance to join the internationally community at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize in Sweden, where they test their abilities against winners from 35 countries.
“As a result, fourteen schools namely Thuto Tsebo Secondary School, Hoerskool Orkney, Tigane Secondary School from Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality and Setswakgosing Secondary School, Pinagare High School from Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality entered the SAYWP competitions.
“The other schools included Matlaisane Secondary School, Mmankala Technical and Commercial High School, Molebatsi Secondary School, Mmanotshe Moduane Secondary School from Bojanala Platinum District, Ramotshere High School, Kgosi Kebalepile Secondary School, Tirisano High School and ZM Seatlholo Secondary School from Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality,” she said.
Moreosele further said the schools were each represented by one to two learners who competed in one of the two categories, namely Awareness and Innovation. She added that in the awareness category, learners present ideas on how to solve water and sanitation challenges in their communities, schools or households.
“On the innovation category they follow the same approach but come up with a model to solve the challenges. I would like to congratulate the winners of our Provincial SAYWP competition and wish them all the best in their endeavours. We are proud of their outstanding achievements.
“Their talent, hard work and dedication have truly set them apart from their peers,” said Moreosele.
This year’s Provincial SAYWP competition winners are as follows:
1ST POSITION—ZM Seatlholo Secondary School (Invention)-cash prize R11 000 and will represent the North West Province at this year’s national competition from 28-29 May 2026 in Gauteng Province.
6 May 2026 – As the Northern Cape province braces itself for severe weather conditions expected, the police are appealing to residents to implement the following safety measures during this period and also to be vigilant and alert during extreme cold and wet weather. The police said ice and snow have been observed in the Pixley Ka Seme District, specifically along the N1 and N10 routes.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution. Ehlers said regarding road safety, motorists should reduce speed and increase following distance to allow for adequate reaction time in case of sudden stops or changing road conditions.
“Use headlights at all times to enhance visibility and ensure your vehicle is visible to others. Ensure windshield wipers are functioning properly to maintain clear visibility. Avoid puddles and standing water, which may conceal potholes.
“Be cautious of large vehicles that may reduce your visibility due to spray. Stay alert and avoid distractions while driving. If necessary, pull over safely,” she said.
Ehlers further said residents should ensure that all fires in fireplaces are extinguished and heaters are switched off before going to bed. She added that they should never sleep with burning candles and refrain from using “Umbolas” inside their houses.
“Leave a door or window partially open when using a fuel fired heater to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Install smoke alarms and test whether they are in a working condition. Take extra care when cooking, especially with gas and open fires.
“Do not overload multi-plugs and wall sockets with heating appliances. Switch off electric blankets at night and rather opt for extra warm blankets during winter. Do not splash water on oil or grease that caught fire in your cooking pan as this spreads the fire. Rather, use a fire extinguisher,” said Ehlers.
She said they should keep matches, lighters and other flammable liquids out of the reach of children. Ehlers said when cooking, keep flammable items like curtains, oven gloves and paper towels far away from burners and stoves.
“Use portable air conditioners safely and with extra care. If your residence catches fire, get out, stay out, call for help, and never re-enter your burning house for pets or personal belongings. Keep heaters away from flammable or combustible materials.
“Never dry wet or damp clothes or fabrics on an electric heater. Be responsible and safe at all times,” she said.
Picture: A firearm confiscated by the police/Generic
By OBAKENG MAJE
Breaking News: Three ATM bombing suspects allegedly being shot dead in a confrontation with the police at Magogoe village, near Mahikeng. It is alleged that the police cornered the suspects in a house, where the shooting took place.
Picture: the esteemed South African cultural icon, Kgotlaetsile Henderson Pule/Supplied
By STAFF REPORTER
6 May 2026 – The North West University (NWU) said it will proudly confer an honorary doctorate on the esteemed South African cultural icon, Kgotlaetsile Henderson Pule, in recognition of his remarkable and lifelong dedication to the preservation and advancement of South African choral music. The university said this momentous event will take place during the autumn graduation ceremony in the Great Hall at the Mahikeng Campus on 8 May 2026 at 10am, when the NWU will be celebrating academic excellence alongside cultural distinction.
The NWU (Mafikeng campus) Communication Manager, Oscar Mosiane said the honorary degree will be awarded during the university’s graduation ceremony at its Mahikeng Campus. Mosiane said Pule obtained a BA Degree in Linguistics and Setswana from University of South Africa in 1984.
“Over a distinguished career spanning four decades, he has served as a dedicated educator in schools across Lehurutshe, while simultaneously building a formidable legacy as one of South Africa’s leading choral music composers. Widely respected as a cultural educationalist and composer, his work has played a critical role in preserving and promoting the Setswana language through music.
“His compositions are regularly prescribed for school and church choirs, as well as national choral festivals, and continue to be performed and celebrated across the country. Pule has devoted more than 60 years to choral music, serving in various leadership roles, including conducting school and church choirs and the acclaimed Lehurutshe Community Choir, all of which have achieved notable excellence,” he said.
Mosiane further said in 2024, he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Buang Moloto Choral Festival, recognising his role in fostering choral excellence, promoting South African musical heritage and strengthening Afrocentric values within communities. He added that his relationship with the NWU continues to grow, following a public lecture he delivered at the university in 2023 on indigenous languages and global cultural shifts.
“During this visit, he also donated 27 academic books to the Mahikeng Campus library. In honouring Pule, the NWU celebrates not only his musical excellence but also his enduring contribution to the development and preservation of the Setswana language, ensuring its continued relevance for future generations,” said Mosiane.
5 May 2026 – A stepfather (46) from Olievenhoutbosch appeared briefly at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court for his first appearance. He is facing two counts of rape for allegedly raping his stepdaughter (16).
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said on two separate occasions, on 31 January 2026 and 18 April 2026, the stepfather raped his stepdaughter at their place of residence in Olievenhoutbosch when the mother was not around, and the victim was left in his care. Mahanjana said after the second incident, the victim reported the matter to the aunt, who in turn told the mother.
“The mother then reported the matter to the police, and the stepfather was arrested on 03 May 2026 and is remanded in custody. The matter has been postponed to 12 May 2026 for bail investigations. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) intends to oppose his release on bail,” she said.
5 May 2026 – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirms that Ponatsego Anna Ngwenya (45), from Soshanguve, a former General Manager at Royal Funerals, appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud exceeding R500 000. Ngwenya was granted bail of R30 000.
The NPA regional spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana said it is alleged that during her employment at Royal Funerals, Ngwenya defrauded the company by instructing clients to make funeral policy payments directly into her personal bank account. Mahanjana said in some instances, she allegedly collected cash payments from clients, claiming that the company’s payment system was offline.
“The alleged fraud came to light when the company identified that several client policies had lapsed. Upon contacting affected clients to address the lapses, the company was informed that payments had been made directly to Ngwenya.
“The matter was subsequently reported to the police, and following an investigation, Ngwenya was arrested on 15 April 2026. During her court appearance, the State did not oppose bail, as she was not considered a flight risk. The case has been postponed to 9 June 2026 for further investigations,” she said.
Mahanjana further said the NPA remains committed to prosecuting fraud and protecting the public from financial exploitation.
The Guardian 