The public service and the people need to work together

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Picture: The Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa

By REGINALD KANYANE

15 September 2025- The Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa said once a year in September, South Africa marks Public Service Month, a time to focus on the essential contribution that the country’s 1.7 million public servants make to meeting the needs of the people. Ramaphosa said it is through public servants that the government provides healthcare, education, policing, social services and countless other essential functions that touch every South African’s life.

He further said when their public service operates at its best, it is a powerful instrument for social and economic development. Ramaphosa added that when it falters, it is often their most vulnerable citizens who bear the brunt.

“There are many dedicated public servants who work tirelessly in service of our nation. We thank them for the work they do to improve the lives of South Africans. But our public service faces significant challenges. These include skills gaps, outdated systems and processes, inconsistent service delivery and corruption.

“In many parts of the state, the values of Batho Pele – putting people first – have been eroded. That is why we are strengthening the professional foundations of our public service. Through the reforms underway we are working to attract the right skills, implement rigorous performance management and create career pathways that reward merit and excellence,” he said.

Ramaphosa said through the National School of Government we are investing in training and development. He said as they work to build a more professional, accountable and capable public service, they need to bring the public service closer to the people they serve.

“We must challenge the idea that public servants are providers and citizens are mere beneficiaries of goods and services. The National Dialogue, which was launched in August, provides an opportunity to change the relationship between public servants and the public.

“Over the next few months, South Africans will be meeting as communities across the country. They will be discussing the issues that most concern them and will together be forging a vision to take the country forward. These conversations will culminate in a National Convention next year, which will finalise a social compact that outlines clear actions and responsibilities for all sectors of society,” said Ramaphosa.

He said the thousands of public dialogues taking place across the country will also provide an opportunity for communities to address the immediate challenges that they face where they live. Ramaphosa said these challenges may include anything from electricity cuts to overcrowded schools, a lack of water provision to poorly maintained roads, or an increase in violent crime or drug use.

“Through the National Dialogue process, each community is encouraged to work with all relevant stakeholders – ward councillors, municipal officials, civic bodies, community organisations and provincial and national departments – on a common plan to address these challenges.

“By working together in an integrated way, drawing together resources from within and outside the state, these stakeholders can find ways to solve local problems. Public servants have a vital role to play in working towards solutions alongside and in cooperation with communities,” he said.

Ramaphosa said this approach is closely aligned with the District Development Model (DDM), which is about bringing government closer to the people and ensuring that local needs inform service delivery priorities. He said it is about building a public service that listens to citizens, adapts to their needs and continuously improves its services.

“Such a public service requires the active participation of citizens as partners in development, growth and transformation. I call on every South African to hold the government accountable, to engage constructively with public institutions and to recognise the vital role that a professional public service plays in building the society we all want.

“Together, we can build a public service that serves with excellence and integrity and works with South Africans to realise the promise of a better life for all,” said Ramaphosa.

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CPF hosts worship and inspiration function

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Picture: Worship and inspiration function/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

15 September 2025- The police in Sutherland together with the local Community Policing Forum (CPF) successfully hosted a worship and inspiration function focusing on Women Empowerment and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) awareness. The event was held on 14 September 2025, brought together 160 women from local communities, including 14 female police officials and Public Sector Administration (PSA) women from the Karoohoogland area.

The Namakwa District police spokesperson, Captain Ivan Magerman said the programme featured worship and praise services led by the SAPS Chaplain Baard and Reverend Vlok, creating a supportive and inspirational atmosphere for attendees.  Magerman said the Chairperson of the Sutherland Community Policing Forum (CPF), delivered the welcome address and simultaneously provided important feedback to the community regarding CPF related matters.

“The central theme of the gathering focused on critical issues affecting women, specifically Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), with emphasis on empowering women to find their voice and encouraging them to be brave in speaking out against abuse and violence.

“This collaborative initiative between SAPS and the CPF demonstrates the ongoing commitment by presenting pivotal feedback to the community during engagements such as this,” he said.

Magerman further said the success highlighted the importance of community partnerships in addressing social challenges and supporting vulnerable members of society.

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Criminals targeting schools

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By AGISANANG SCUFF

15 September 2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said valuable teaching and learning resources were stolen at Reivilo High School, near Taung on 9 September 2025, during an armed robbery. Motsumi said items such as laptop movable cubit, 32 Acer laptops, 32 Acer chargers, 3 HP laptops, 1 Lenovo laptop and 2 external hard drives, were stolen during the robbery.

She further said on the same night, Tshepang Thuto Primary School in the same neighbourhood, also suffered a break-in, where groceries meant for the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) were stolen. Motsumi added that a police case has been opened and investigations are currently underway.

“We strongly condemned the incident. It is deeply concerning that criminals continue to target our schools, depriving learners of valuable educational resources and meals that form part of their daily learning experience.

“Acts like these undermine our collective efforts to create safe and conducive learning environments. We call upon community members to work closely with the police and school authorities to protect schools, which are important centres of hope, development, and opportunity,” she said.  

Motsumi said her department will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with police to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said: “We are aware of the incident.  It is alleged four unknown men accosted security officers, who were on duty at the school and tied their hands. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, 9 September 2025.

“It is alleged that the suspects forcefully gained entry into an office and managed to open the safe and stole various items that included laptops. A case of business robbery has been opened and is under investigation.  No one has been arrested.”

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Two suspects in court for double murder, five attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

15 September 2025 – Two suspects are expected to appear in the Zeerust Magistrate’s Court today on two counts of murder, five of attempted murder and one of defeating the ends of justice. The suspects, aged 29 and 33, were arrested and detained after they handed themselves to the police.

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said during the arrest, a 9mm pistol, a magazine and five rounds of ammunition were confiscated from the suspects. Mokgwabone said it is alleged that the police were on patrol when alerted of a shooting incident at around 3:30am on 12 September 2025.

“On arrival at the scene, two bodies of men were found with gunshot wounds inside a grey Ford Ranger on the R49 (Gaborone / Zeerust) road near Mokgola village. Three passengers in the Ford Ranger, two women and a man, were seriously injured while the other two survived the attack.

“The motive is unknown at this stage, but the possibility of linking the incident to illegal mining in Mmasebudule village, outside Zeerust, cannot be ruled out. Investigations into the matter continue,” he said.

Meanwhile, in reacting to the incident, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng said: “The lawlessness and in particular the mishandling and illegal use of firearms by registered Private Securities has spiralled out of control and the police working with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) will make sure that all rogue, non-compliant Private Security companies and individual officers are brought to book.

“It is unacceptable that those have been authorized to legally possess firearms are generators and perpetrators of serious crimes.”

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10 RDP houses handed over to beneficiaries

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Picture: Some of beneficiaries with Northern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Bentley Vass/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

15 September 2025- The Northern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Bentley Vass handed over 10 houses to some of the delighted beneficiaries of the Jacksonville 139 Housing Project, in Jacksonville, in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, in the Frances Baard District. The Jacksonville 139 Housing Project is part of the 1 Billion Rand Housing Project, launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul in January 2024.

Vass said trees were also planted at these new houses, signifying a new beginning for many of the beneficiaries and their families. He further said the approach of the department is to hand over houses to beneficiaries of the completed houses to avoid damage/vandalism and ensure security and comfort for these beneficiaries, whilst construction work continues on the remaining houses.

“In addition, title deeds were also handed out to the beneficiaries. A title deed provides legal ownership of property and can be used as leverage for other economic benefits. The department, working with all municipalities in the province, will be stepping up efforts to deliver available title deeds throughout the province.

“The title deeds restoration programme is prepared to ensure that the government reaches out to the communities and housing beneficiaries to dispatch title deeds accordingly,” added Vass.

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Lesea la dikgwedi di le tharo le tlhokofetse

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Ka REGINALD KANYANE

15 Lwetse 2025- Sepodisi kwa motsesetoropong wa Utlwanang, gaufi le Christiana, se butse kgetsi ya morago ga loso. Se, se tla morago ga gore lesea la dikgwedi di le tharo le tlhokafale.

Go begwa fa lesea le, le tlhokafetse fa le ne le robetse le mmalone (24).

Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mono Bokone Bophirima, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, tiragalo e, ke ya di 9 Lwetse 2025. Mokgwabone are go ile ga bidiwa ba thuso ya potlako, mme ba ile ba netefatsa fa lesea leo le setse le ile boya batho.

Kgabagare, Mokgwabone o ganeditse dipego tsa gore lesea leo le bolailwe ke batsadi ba lone jaaka mafoko a ne a rebotswe ke bangwe ba baagi. Bangwe ba baagi ba ne ba bega fa mmagwe lesea le rralone, ba ile ba le bataganya mo fatshe go fitlhela le tlhokafala.

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Sexual assault and teenage pregnancy reach pandemic levels

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By OBAKENG MAJE

15 September 2025- Young girls in Gauteng face a bleak future as sexual assault and teenage pregnancy reach pandemic levels in the province. Meanwhile, many child rapists remain free due to a lack of reporting to the police and the failure to pursue criminal charges.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that the Education, Social Development, Health, and Community Safety departments empower health and social workers to report child and statutory rape to the police to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. The DA said over 23,691 cases of teenage pregnancies has been reported in Gauteng from January to December 2024.

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education and Member of Provincial Legislature in Gauteng, Sergio Isa Dos Santos said 521 babies were delivered by girls between the ages of 10 and 14 years in a facility, 23,170 babies were delivered by girls between the ages of 15 and 19 years, while 4,840 girls between the ages of 10 and 19 years underwent a Choice on Termination of Pregnancy. Dos Santos said this information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Health, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, in a written reply to the DA’s question in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

“The high number of pregnancies in this age group is deeply concerning, as this is statutory rape. However, the data provided by the MEC reveals a low number of cases reported to the SAPS: 474 in the 2022/23 financial year, dropping to 257 in 2023/24, and only 242 reported between April and December 2024.

“The failure by those required by the Children’s Act to report cases and handle child rape and statutory rape inevitably results in this kind of criminal conduct being normalised and concealed. In fact, perpetrators frequently manage to sidestep accountability for their actions by offering monetary bribes to the affected families,” he said.

Dos Santos further said the ongoing backlog of DNA cases poses a significant obstacle to bringing these issues to light. He added that statutory rape is a serious violation and men who commit such a crime inflict lasting harm on a vulnerable individual.

“The failure by law enforcement agencies to take action against men who commit this offense is deeply troubling, as it compromises the principles of consent and respect, leaving young girls vulnerable to predatory individuals who have lost all sense of morality.

“The DA demands that the Social Development, Education, Health, and Community Safety Departments stop passing the buck and collaborate in empowering health workers, social workers, auxiliary, and caregivers to report child and statutory rape to the South African Police Service (SAPS) as per the Children’s Act of 2005,” said Dos Santos.

He said teenage girls must be educationally empowered to know that no one, not even a teacher or a parent, is allowed to force themselves upon them at any given time. Dos Santos said they have tabled questions to ascertain the measures in place to deal with this crisis, and the current statistics of teenage pregnancies, arrests and convictions of the perpetrators.

“We will also write to the MEC for Health seeking answers on reported cases of STIs, HIV amongst the group of ages mentioned above. Child rape is not only a legal issue; it is a social issue. We urge parents and society at large to be actively involved in protecting our children.

“The recent Khomani Primary School incident in Diepkloof, where learners were reportedly drugged at school and taken to another location where they were allegedly sexually assaulted, proves that some of these incidents of statutory rape are happening beyond the direct control of teachers or school authorities,” he said.

Dos Santos said a DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would ensure that health workers and Social Workers are trained and equipped to implement the provisions of the Child Protection Act in child and statutory rape cases. He said they would ensure that matters referred to the police are investigated and successfully prosecuted without delay.

“We would vet all teachers and staff and involve parents and community leaders to create safe environments for young girls. The DA will continue to put pressure on all relevant Gauteng departments to ensure that the children are protected in terms of the Children’s Act,” said Dos Santos.

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National Assembly passes Immigration Amendment Bill

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By OBAKENG MAJE  

11 September 20025 – The National Assembly at its plenary sitting today, passed the Immigration Amendment Bill, which was introduced in Parliament on 5 April 2024 by the Minister of Home Affairs. In 2017, the Constitutional Court ordered Parliament to amend the Immigration Act, as it was inconsistent with Sections 12(1) and 35(2)(d) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.

The NA spokesperson, Moloto Mothapo said among other things, the Constitutional Court ruled that Section 34(1)(b) of the Immigration Act was unconstitutional, since it did not require an automatic judicial review of a detention before 30 calendar days expire. Mothapo said in addition, the Constitutional Court noted that Section 34(1) does not require that a detainee be informed of the rights set out in Section 35(2) of the Constitution, in particular, the right to legal representation by a lawyer of their own choice and to be assigned one at state expense if substantial injustice would otherwise result.

“In a supplementary judgment delivered on 30 October 2023, the Constitutional Court ordered that undocumented immigrants may only be detained if it is in the interests of justice and that detainees must be brought before a court within 48 hours.

“The Constitutional Court ordered the act to be amended within 24 months. Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs heard various oral submissions from civil society, as part of ensuring extensive public consultation on the bill,” he said.

Mothapo further said public hearings were conducted on 11 and 18 February 2025. He added that following deliberations on the bill on 6 and 20 May 2025 and on 3 June 2025, the committee instructed the Parliamentary Legal Services and the Office of the State Law Advisor to prepare a list of proposed amendments to the bill.

“The proposed amendments were presented to and approved by the committee on 10 June 2025. The committee subsequently conducted a clause-by-clause deliberation on the bill and adopted the report on the bill on 22 July 2025.

“The bill will be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence,” said Mothapo.

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A robbery suspect nabbed

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Picture: A robbery suspect nabbed/Supplied  

By AGISANANG SCUFF

11 September 2025- The Northern Cape Provincial Tracking Team, acting on a request from Kleinzee SAPS, successfully traced and arrested a wanted robbery suspect, Stephen Nyamane (54) in Sasolburg. On 15 December 2021, the police in Kleinsee, received a complaint of a robbery in progress where firearms are involved at a local business establishment.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said on arrival, the police were told that the assailants took off with the complainant’s vehicle that was later tracked and found near Buffelsrivier with no occupants. Sam said due to police persistence, three of the assailants were traced and arrested along the Schaap and Buffelsrivier river banks.

“Four more were arrested in Springbok, with a getaway vehicle and firearms. The group of men were arrested and appeared in court. Bail was granted and Stephen Nyamane evaded court ever since.

“After an extensive intelligence-driven investigation, the Provincial Tracking Team, following leads provided by the public, traced and located him in Sasolburg on 10 September 2025, with other crimes committed at Orange farm and Zamdela,” he said.

Sam further said the suspect is expected to appear in court soon. He added that the SAPS reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that those who threaten the safety and security of communities are brought to justice.

“The public is urged to continue reporting criminal activities by contacting SAPS Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or by using the MySAPS App. All information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality,” said Sam.

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Two security guards jailed for beating a ‘thief’ to death

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

11 September 2025- The accused, Itumeleng Mogwemang (37) and Neo Potlwane (33), were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Kimberley Regional Court for murder. On 9 April 2022, Mogwemang and Potlwane were on duty as security guards at a local supermarket when they caught the deceased, Willem van Der Westhuizen (51) for stealing in the store and assaulted him.

The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Timothy Sam said Willem succumbed to his injuries enroute to Robert Mangaliso Sobukhwe Hospital. Sam said the duo were arrested and charged with murder.

“The court found both the accused guilty of murder and sentenced them to 15 years imprisonment and declared them unfit to possess firearms,” he said.

Meanwhile, the acting Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Thabo Mphuthi, and the provincial management commended the Roodepan General Investigation Unit for securing a sentence. Mphuthi praised the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Vincent Phiri from the Roodepan General Detectives, for his thorough investigative work, which ensured that justice was served for the victim of this contact crime.

“We commend the relentless efforts by detectives in the province, who remain committed and dedicated to ensuring that justice is served for victims of crime,” she said.

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