North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi condemns school disruptions

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Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi

By AGISANANG SCUFF

27 July 2025- The North West Department of Education said it is deeply concerned about ongoing community protests in Tshunyane village, outside Mahikeng, that have blocked access to Seshupo Primary School and nearby schools. The department said it strongly condemns any actions that stop learners from attending school and interfere with their right to education.

The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said for months, her department has been working with the Tshunyane community to address urgent repairs at Seshupo Primary School, which was badly damaged in recent storms. Motsumi said a contractor has been appointed to carry out the repairs.

“The renovation update is that the appointed contractor has completed the assessment and inspections of the buildings to be renovated.  Major renovations are expected to begin within two weeks.

“The contractor has already built an ablution block at the school. Additionally, the department has provided a borehole to ensure the school does not face water shortages, as the village has limited water supply,” she said.

Motsumi further said, however, disagreements within the community have made the situation difficult. She added that some groups want a new school built instead of the approved repairs, causing tensions and unrest.

“Due to increasing violence from protesters outside the school, the school was temporarily closed from the opening of the third quarter to keep learners and teachers safe. We call for calm and unity. There is a need for stability for the whole community’s well being and progress.

 “It’s unacceptable for any group to use intimidation or violence to push their own agenda at the expense of children’s education. We urge everyone to come back to the negotiation table and work together for the benefit of our learners,” said Motsumi.

She said the department remains committed to improving education and school facilities in Tshunyane and asks community leaders to help restore peace so schools can reopen immediately.

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Tshela Ka Itekanelo campaign gains momentum

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

27 July 2025- The North West MEC for Health, Sello Lehari said they have concluded a successful two-day rollout of the Tshela Ka Itekanelo Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Campaign and the 1.1 Million Close the Gap Treatment Campaign in Dinokana village, Zeerust. Lehari said these initiatives form part of the province’s wide drive to promote healthy living, responsible behaviour among the youth, safe sexual practices and the fight against substance and alcohol abuse—while encouraging all citizens to know their HIV status.

Lehari led the 5km fun walk alongside councillors from the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality and Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality, traditional leaders from Bogosi boo-Rra Moiloa, the acting Deputy Director-General Mosela Mokhutswane-Kaudi, executive management teams, district managers, hospital boards and CEOs, as well as hundreds of community members from across the district.

The event kicked off with a 5km fun walk, followed by health education sessions and on-site services at the local sports ground. These included HIV testing and counselling, screenings for non-communicable diseases and general health consultations.

“The day also featured engaging physical activities such as aerobics, netball, and soccer matches. These campaigns are a collaborative effort involving various departments, municipalities, civil society organisations, key partners and communities.

“Part of the department’s flagship programmes, Tshela Ka Itekanelo, was launched in Moretele on 17 April 2025. It seeks to embed healthy lifestyle practices across communities and supports the national agenda to improve public health outcomes through five pillars such as promotion of good nutrition, regular physical activity, tobacco control, combating alcohol and substance abuse, including promotion of safe sexual practices,” he said.

Lehari said the campaign also focuses on reducing obesity and encouraging physical activity, especially among youth. He said the department aims to close the treatment gap by ensuring that 1.1 million people across the country are initiated or re-initiated on HIV treatment by December 2025.

“It also promotes testing and awareness of TB, hypertension, and diabetes. As a province, we are on the right track—we currently rank third in the country, and we are intensifying our efforts to close the treatment gap.

“I am pleased with the turnout and how people are embracing this important programme. Alcohol and substance abuse, excessive smoking, poor dietary habits, and unsafe sexual practices are behaviours we are urging communities to abandon,” said Lehari.

He further commended the participation of local residents, saying they have been to every district and they will intensify this campaign to ensure meaningful impact. Lehari added that they are grateful for the collaboration from their traditional leaders.

Chief Director for Strategic Health Programmes, Grace Tsele, who oversees both campaigns, expressed optimism about the province’s progress. Tsele said they are encouraged by the positive response from communities.

“Our goal is to find and support over 11,000 individuals who either do not know their status or have defaulted on treatment. These campaigns will continue to be rolled out across the province, with each district scaling up efforts to maximise reach and impact,” she said.

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Action SA calls for abolishment of deputy ministers

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

27 July 2025- Action SA has gazetted its Notice to introduce the Constitution Twenty-Second Amendment Bill which, if passed, would represent the most significant overhaul of the bloated Executive of 32 Ministers and 43 Deputy Ministers since the dawn of democracy in 1994.

Action SA said this Amendment follows a series of governance failures. 

Action SA Parliamentary Leader and Member of Parliament (MP), Athol Trollip said the latest being President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to place the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu on “special leave” amid allegations of interference in police investigations and ties to criminal elements. Trollip said in response, Ramaphosa announced that Prof Firoz Cachalia, currently a non-MP and non-Minister, would be appointed as acting Minister of Police. 

“Thus surpassing the two current police Deputy Ministers. However, until Cachalia is formally sworn in under Sections 91(3) and 95 of the Constitution, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe is presiding over the police portfolio in an acting capacity.

“This is in addition to other questionable ministerial appointments, such as that of Thembi Simelane, who was implicated in the VBS corruption scandal and yet was appointed as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development before a late-night portfolio swap with Mmamoloko Kubayi, then Minister of Human Settlements,” said he said.

Trollip said they have called lid criminal charges against Simelane. He said this exposes serious structural flaws in the current constitutional framework. 

“Firstly, Deputy Ministers are not constitutionally empowered to act in the absence of their Ministers, rendering them useless in moments of executive disruption. If Deputy Ministers cannot step in during a crisis, what purpose do they serve beyond being instruments of cadre deployment and financial waste?

“Secondly, the President’s unfettered prerogative to appoint and dismiss ministers without any form of parliamentary oversight results in questionable appointments that escape proper scrutiny,” said Trollip.

He said given that Ministers occupy positions of significant power and influence within the Republic, a higher standard of accountability and transparency must necessarily be applied to their selection with the ability of parliament to also dismiss them.

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DA concerned about illegal racing

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By REGINALD KANYANE

27 July 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said innocent lives in Johannesburg’s suburbs, including Rosebank, Fourways, and Midrand, are put at risk due to the reckless and illegal practice of street racing. DA said these dangerous races often occur in the early morning, transforming quiet suburban streets into hazardous racetracks.

DA Gauteng spokesperson for Community Safety and Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), Michael Sun said they have been inundated with complaints from concerned residents and they demand that Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, urgently intervene and halt this alarming trend. Sun said a tragic incident recently occurred at approximately 5:30am on 12 July 2025 on Jan Smuts Avenue in Rosebank.

“Reports indicate that three vehicles were racing on the wrong side of the road when they collided. One of the racers died at the scene. Tragically, an innocent Uber driver was also struck head-on and lost his life.

“The occupants of the other two racing vehicles fled the scene, leaving behind a devastating aftermath. This is not an isolated incident. Every weekend morning, residents along Cedar Road in Fourways are jolted awake by the deafening roar of modified engines and motorbikes speeding through their neighbourhood,” he said.

Sun further said on 13 July 2025, yet another incident was reported on Allandale Road in Midrand. He added that at approximately 8:50am, ward councillor Annette Deppe, witnessed a group of six or seven high-powered vehicles racing down the public road as if it were a private speedway.

“Despite ongoing incidents, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the South African Police Service (SAPS), appear unable to apprehend illegal racers. This sheer lack of service delivery is particularly concerning, as reckless driving is a criminal offence under the National Road Traffic Act.

“Penalties for this offence can range from fines and imprisonment to the suspension or revocation of a driver’s license in severe cases. The DA Gauteng has engaged the Chief of JMPD and relevant SAPS Station Commanders to demand urgent intervention,” said Sun.

He said the communities cannot become battlegrounds for ego-fuelled speed chases. Sun said they will be tabling questions to Lesufi in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to ascertain how many illegal racing incidents were reported in the past five years, how many people were killed, and whether gangs or drugs were involved.

“A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would ensure that both the JMPD and SAPS fully exercise their constitutionally guaranteed powers to curb the scourge of illegal racing.

“We would also explore the creation or support of safe, regulated facilities where motor enthusiasts can enjoy their sport without endangering the lives of others. The DA will continue to fight against this deadly trend and ensure it is halted before more lives are lost,” he said.

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‘We just have to pick ourselves up’

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Picture: Banyana Banyana players

By OBAKENG MAJE

27 July 2025 – Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis has admitted that it was not their day after the South African senior women’s national team suffered defeat to Ghana in a CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 third and fourth place play-off match played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, on Friday night.

The South Africans went down 4-3 on penalties after both sides were tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation time. Ghana finished third to claim a bronze medal, while Banyana Banyana returned home with a fourth-place finish.

“We started very slowly, got into the game and got a goal when we pressed. But they came out guns blazing for most of the second half, especially that first 15 minutes. We couldn’t get our foot on the ball to slow the game down, and to take control.

“They were just better than us in the second half and eventually went to penalties, we always knew that we had a chance. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the penalty shootout this time around, so congratulations to Ghana. We live on, and we’ll then start preparing for what’s forward,” she said.

Ellis further said in the six matches that the South Africans have played in this tournament. She added that they managed two wins in open play – defeating Ghana (2-0) and Mali (4-0).

“They drew against Tanzania (1-1), beat Senegal on penalties in the quarterfinals before going down 1-2 to Nigeria in the semi-finals.

“I think some of the games took a lot out of us, but we always knew either getting to the final or getting to the third and 4th place playoff we still had another game. We had five substitutes really because we’ve also picked up some injuries along the way, but that’s not an excuse,” said Ellis.

She said they just have to pick themselves up, these things happen in football. Elliss said one got to give credit to the opponents, in most situations they were better than them and she was not going to sugar-coat that.

“You’ve got to give credit where it’s due,” she said.

Ellis made five changes to the team that lost to Nigeria – bringing on Sibulele Holweni, Regina Mogolola, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Noxolo Cesane and Hilda Magaia in place of Karabo Dhlamini, Tiisetso Makhubela, Fikile Magama, Refiloe Jane and Gabriela Salgado.

“We dust ourselves off and move on. We can’t look back too much. Yes, it was not a great campaign, but we got into the semi-finals and came very close to getting to the final, so we’ll just move on.

“Like every team that comes to a tournament, we had ambitions of winning it, but we didn’t get there. Unfortunately, we did not do well today,” said Ellis.

She said Mbane is the only player that played every second of every match in the tournament. Ellis said this was also the final appearance for South African forward Jermaine Seoposenwe in the national team colours as she announced her retirement before the start of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the South Africans will fly out of Morocco on Sunday and are expected to land in South Africa on Monday evening.

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Learners left stranded after their scholar transport buses ‘hijacked’ by protestors

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Picture: Learners transported to various camps/Generic

By BAKANG MOKOTO

26 July 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng appeals to the communities not to use scholar transport as a bargaining tool during service delivery protests. This comes after disruptions at several schools in Ganyesa, where scholar transport buses were ‘hijacked and forced to transport’ protesting community members leaving learners stranded.

Morweng alleged that protesting community members forced both teachers and learners of Kgononyane Secondary School in Southey village, near Ganyesa to vacate school premises. He further said almost 2000 learners from five schools were affected and majority of these learners are beneficiaries of the scholar transport provided by the department.

“We beg communities to use alternative avenues to raise concerns rather than to deny learners opportunity to attend classes. The situation is reported to have calmed down and no disruptions were reported on Friday morning.

“The Head of Department, Dr Hans Kekana has appealed to bus operators, parents and schools’ management to inform the department at once should there be any challenges faced by learners who rely on scholar transport,” added Morweng.

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Motsumi commits to support school principals at all cost

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Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi with SAPA delegation/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

26 July 2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi attended the North West province South African Principals Association (SAPA) conference held at Banquet Hall in Vryburg on 25 July 2025. SAPA conference is attended by school principals and deputy principals whose schools are affiliated with the structure.

Motsumi urged the school principals to be united.

“One of the most important principles that will help us to improve the results is unity. We should strive to be united and be able to share good practices with top-performing schools.

“Our principals work under severe pressure. As a department, we should learn to engage with them to understand what they are going through. They are the ones who operate on the frontline of service delivery,” she said.

Motsumi further said the status quo needs to change. She added that, as a department, they should support the principals at all costs.

“I further instructed the Superintendent-General of the department to provide Information and Communication Technology gadgets to all principals,” said Motsumi.

The outgoing SAPA president and the School Principal at Runatang Primary in Rustenburg, Lesiba Pila, emphasized that the departmental support is extremely essential in achieving their goals. Pila has worked for the Department of Education for 44 years.

“The SAPA was formed in 1995 in the Western Cape to deal with issues affecting principals. The South African Principals Association (SAPA) is a professional organization that focuses on empowering school leaders in South Africa. It provides a platform for principals to engage in professional development, exchange best practices, and advocate for policies that improve education.

“As school principals, we appreciate the support that the department is giving to us. I believe that even after I have left this position, the new leadership will make an even greater impact on our communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, the SAPA conference will end on 26 July 2025.

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Police probe allegations of existing Lesotho Military Camps in SA

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Picture: Lesotho Military during training/Generic

By REGINALD KANYANE

26 July 2025- The National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola has met with all nine provincial commissioners for each province during a scheduled Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting to discuss crime combatting efforts in the country. The BOC is the highest decision making body of the SAPS inclusive of all Provincial Commissioners, Divisional Commissioners and the Acting National Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation(DPCI).

During the meeting, Masemola highlighted his satisfaction that organised crime syndicates in the country are being dismantled, dislodged, displaced and arrested. The comments made by the Lesotho Police Chief, Advocate Borotho Matsoso were high on the agenda.

“A preliminary report from the crime intelligence division was discussed in which intelligence structures have highlighted that they have heightened their operations to investigate allegations made and where necessary, track down and takedown such illegal activities.

“The DPCI also known as the HAWKS Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit has also been roped in to investigate. Various searches have been undertaken by CATS at various identified farms and no such evidence has been found to date,” he said.

Masemola further reached out to the Lesotho Police Chief, where the two commissioners discussed the allegations made by Matsoso. He added that, commissioners agreed that both law enforcement agencies intelligence structures are on the ground to investigate the existence of such camps.

“We assure all people living in South Africa that the safety and security of the people of SA is of paramount importance and anyone who is found to be in the country committing illegal acts will face the full might of the law.

“To this effect, intelligence structures and operatives are on the ground to establish facts. South Africans are urged not to panic or worry as police from both countries remain on high alert,” said Masemola.

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Banyana suffer defeat to Ghana in bronze medal match as they bow out of WAFCON

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Picture: Banyana Banyana players

By OBAKENG MAJE

26 July 2025 – Banyana Banyana’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign ended on a disappointing note after they were beaten 4-3 on penalties by Ghana in the bronze medal match at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, on Friday night.

The two teams had finished regulation time level at 1-1 after the first half opening strike from Nonhlanhla Mthandi on the stroke of half-time, and Ghana’s equalizer by Alice Kusi in the 68th minute.

It was then left up to the lottery of the penalty shootout to decide this 3rd/4th place playoff match and settle the destiny of the bronze medal. Linda Motlhalo, Bambanani Mbane and Jermaine Seoposenwe converted their spot kicks for South Africa, while Sibulele Holweni and Hildah Magaia were denied. Ghana converted their kicks through Kusi, Josephine Bonsu, Jennifer Cudjoe and Nancy Amoh while Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah’s shot was saved by South Africa’s Andile Dlamini.

The two goalkeepers – Dlamini and Ghana counterpart Cynthia Konlan – were in excellent form during the shootout, but it was the West Africans who eventually held their nerve to win the match. The result means that Seoposenwe will exit the international stage without the medal she had hope she would claim with the South African senior women’s national team on her final match.

The South Africans will return on Monday, 28 July 2025.

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Committee receives a brief from ARC

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By AGISANANG SCUFF

25 July 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture welcomed the briefings it received yesterday from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), and the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) on their performance in the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year and commended their notable performance.

In welcoming the briefings from the three entities of the Department of Agriculture, the Chairperson of the Committee, Dina Pule, said the committee was happy about the progress that the entities reported to the committee. Pule said the committee notes the hard work the entities have demonstrated and called for more improvement in all the areas of work that included implementation of the Auditor General’s recommendations on their last audit outcomes.

“The ARC reported that funding for building of the new Foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD) Vaccine Facility is still a challenge and that, efforts to obtain the required funding for the new facility remains a priority.

“The entity reported that field assessment of the FMD vaccine in Mpumalanga and Limpopo is ongoing and the study on vaccine safety in pregnant cows and young calves has been initiated,” she said.

Pule further said in appreciating the performance of the NAMC, the committee called on the entity to do more on finding market access for the small-scale farmers as markets are alfa and omega for their growth, survival and meaningful contribution to the South African economy and for national food security.

She added that the Deputy Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Zoleka Capa, who led the departmental delegation, that the committee notes with appreciation the accountability of both the Minister and his Deputy that they demonstrate to the committee.

“Accountability is a critical starting point for the success of the department. We deeply appreciate your availability to our meetings with the department. Your presence solidifies the accountability of the department to the committee and the oversight responsibility of the committee over the department.

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