Picture: A bloody knife found at the crime scene/Generic
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
27 February 2026- A man (38) was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Potchefstroom Regional Court for several serious charges, including attempted murder, assault, housebreaking with intent to commit an offence, and contravention of the Domestic Violence Act. The accused, Gouws Galetlhobogwe’s conviction stems from a violent incident that occurred on 24 November 2024, at Matlwang village.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Sivenathi Gunya said the court heard that the accused and the complainant (34) had previously been in a relationship, which had ended three months prior to the incident. Gunya said in the early hours, Galetlhobogwe unlawfully broke into the complainant’s home, proceeded to her bedroom and stabbed her multiple times.
“When the complainant’s grandmother (90), attempted to intervene, the accused pushed her, causing her to fall to the ground. He continued stabbing the complainant until she went silent, before fleeing the scene. The accused was arrested two days later and remained in custody after being denied bail.
“During court proceedings, Galetlhobogwe pleaded guilty to all charges,” he said.
In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor Thandi Ntoyi, emphasised the gravity of the offences, particularly the attempted murder within a domestic relationship and the abuse of an elderly person, both of which involve vulnerable groups. Ntoyi urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentences, namely life imprisonment for attempted murder and five years imprisonment for the abuse of an older person.
“The court concurred and imposed the life sentence for attempted murder, two years imprisonment for Contravention of the Domestic Violence Act, four years imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to commit an offence and four years imprisonment for assault.
“All sentences are to run concurrently with the life sentence. The court further ordered that the accused’s name be entered into the Register for Abuse of Older Persons,” he said.
Welcoming the sentence, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, commended Ntoyi, the investigating officer, and all stakeholders involved in securing the conviction. Makhari said these sentences underscore the National Prosecuting Authority’s unwavering commitment to fighting crime, upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for victims of violent crime.
Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng
By REGINALD KANYANE
27 February 2026- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng said he would like to inform all scholar transport operators that the outstanding payments are being processed and payments are imminent. Morweng said his department also wishes to implore operators to ensure that their details are updated to avoid further delay in processing payments.
He further said his department has in the past experienced system delays and system failures due to factors such as outdated operator information, incomplete or not fully compliant with invoices and defunct tax details. Morweng added that this has inadvertently led to delays in processing payments, which not only adversely affect operators but also causes avoidable system congestion.
“To avoid delays, operators are hereby kindly requested to further ensure that their banking details are correct and tax directives are complied with. The department wishes to sincerely express gratitude to operators for continued cooperation in ensuring smooth and efficient provision of scholar transport in the province,” he said.
Picture: Police seized firearms during the raid/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
27 February 2026 – The police in Klipgat have demonstrated that dedication to service delivery contributes to safer communities. The police said in the early hours of 22 February 2026, a house robbery occurred in Madibeng Hills, near Klipgat.
The North West police spokesperson, Constable Thuto Bobelo said three unknown suspects armed with firearms, robbed a family of items valued at more than R190 000 before fleeing the scene. Bobelo said no injuries were reported during the incident.
“Items stolen during the robbery include amongst others a Polo TSI motor vehicle, a 9mm pistol with two magazines and several rounds of ammunition, a Wi-Fi router, sneakers (tekkies), and cell phones.
“The incident was reported to the police, and extensive investigations were launched, yielding positive results. Collaboration between Brits Crime Intelligence, Klipgat Detectives, and the Zondi Patrol Team led to the execution of a tactical operation in the early hours of Monday, 23 February 2026,” he said.
Bobelo further said during the operation, the location of individuals of interest was traced to Midas View, Mabopane. He added that upon arrival at the identified address, police did not find the suspects linked to the house robbery.
“Instead, they found a woman (29) in possession of two pistols including several rounds of ammunition, as well as a Wi-Fi router, wedding rings, and a pair of sneakers. She was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding ownership of the items.
“Further investigation revealed that one of the pistols had its serial number filed off, while the other was identified as the firearm stolen during the Klipgat house robbery,” he said.
Bobelo said Rude Sithole (29) was immediately arrested and charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, possession of suspected stolen property, and contravention of the Immigration Act. He said she appeared before the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court on 24 February 2026, and was remanded in custody.
“The matter was postponed to 1 April 2026, for a formal bail application,” said Bobelo.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, commended the team for their exceptional execution of a high-risk operation, highlighting their professionalism and dedication to duty. Naidoo stated that their swift and decisive actions exemplify the highest standards of service and commitment to excellence.
27 February 2026 – The police together with other law enforcement agencies ensured the safety of all guests and attendees at the Northern Cape State of the Province (SOPA) held at the Bergsig Sports Grounds in Springbok on Thursday. The Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, his entourage and other distinguished guests, were formally welcomed by a procession consisting of the SAPS Provincial Band, the Drill Platoon and the Mounted Unit.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Brigadier Mashay Gamieldien said all Provincial Joints structures led by the SAPS were mobilised to heighten police visibility in order to prevent and combat any form of opportunistic crimes before, during and post the address. Gamieldien said the multi-disciplinary deployment of law enforcement and a zero-tolerance approach ensured the absence of any serious incidents and disruptions.
Picture: Two suspects nabbed for robberies/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
27 February 2026- The police in Mothibistad participated in the inter-provincial roadblock operation on 26 February 2026 from 8am until 10am. The police said during the roadblock, 224 motor vehicles and 310 persons were stopped and searched, including 10 trucks.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Captain Nomvuyo Makoloi said several fines were issued for traffic violations, amounting to R5000. Makoloi said at the roadblock, the police stopped and searched a silver VW Polo with two occupants.
“Upon searching the vehicle, the police discovered a bag containing multiple cell phones, a firearm and cash. The suspects failed to provide a valid explanation for being in possession of the cell phones and the firearm, which was later identified as a toy gun.
“Further information revealed that the suspects are allegedly linked to robberies committed on 25 February 2026, in Kathu, Kuruman, Mothibistad and Vryburg,” she said.
Makoloi further said the vehicle was circulated and confirmed to be a rental from AVIS. She added that the suspects were arrested for possession of suspected stolen cell phones, unlawful possession of a firearm and armed robbery.
“The arrested two suspects aged 30 and 29,” said Makoloi.
Meanwhile, the acting John Taolo Gaetswe District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Kenneth Baloyi, commended all members involved for their vigilance and commitment in ensuring safer communities.
Picture: The Chairperson of the Calvinia Youth Against Crime, Grayton Klaasten and the Secretary, Shannon Le Breton/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
27 February 2026 – Continuing its efforts to combat crime via the airwaves on the Namakwa District, the Chairperson of the Calvinia Youth Against Crime, Grayton Klaasten, and the Secretary, Shannon Le Breton, appeared on the Meet and Greet segment of the Midday Magic program, hosted by radio presenter, MJ on Radio Kaboesna.
They addressed the youth of Calvinia on a number of important issues, highlighting that the Youth Against Crime structure plays a vital role in minimising crime in Calvinia. The two guests also expressed their concern about the involvement of young people in drug activities.
The Namakwa District police spokesperson, Captain Ivan Magerman said they also spoke about their ongoing collaboration with the Calvinia police in making schools safer, and shared positive success stories that demonstrate the real impact of their work. Magerman said in addition, they extended an open invitation to the youth of Calvinia to join the Youth Against Crime structure and play their part in taking ownership of the current crime situation plaguing their communities.
Picture: North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
26 February 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said they have declared 2026 as a “Year of Decisive Action to Fix Local Government and Transform the Economy.” Mokgosi said as this year is earmarked for Local Government Elections, they fully commit to support the Electoral Commission to conduct free and fair elections.
He further said municipalities as often mentioned is the closest sphere of government within reach of ordinary people and affects their daily lives directly. Mokgosi added that it is also the practical location of enterprises, big or small, domestic or international.
“The developmental mandate of local government is derived from Section 153 of the Constitution which amongst others places an obligation on municipalities to promote the social and economic development of the community.
“The duty of the local government to correct and restore its administrative functionality is important both for meeting basic needs of the people and creating enabling conditions for businesses to operate and create jobs,” he said.
Mokgosi said there is therefore a positive correlation between a functioning local government and a growing economy that works for all the people. He said as a result, it is their duty to restore the administrative functionality of municipalities by improving provision of basic services such as water, electricity, refuse removal and road maintenance.
“We are not unfairly fixated on weaknesses in local municipalities whilst ignoring the provincial government. We recognise that a seamless eco system of good governance is critical for all spheres of government to build a mutually reinforcing order of cooperation and interdependence. Provincial government is following the example set by the National Government to improve governance by turning the tide of poor audit outcomes with nine out of eleven departments receiving unqualified and clean audit outcomes in the last audit cycle.
“We can confirm that all senior managers in all provincial departments have complied with submissions on financial disclosures. This is aimed at promoting good governance practices with emphasis on ethical leadership,” said Mokgosi.
He said but critically to avert incidents of conflict of interest by deterring any possibility of malfeasance. Mokgosi said all members of the executive council have signed agreements with him to measure their performance and where there is dereliction of duty, political consequence management will ensue.
“Moreover, several cases implicating government and municipal officials are being investigated by law enforcement agencies while others are before the courts. Progress in relation to these matters will be announced by relevant units at an appropriate time.
“In the last financial year, we spent 98% of our provincial allocation by the National Treasury. This upward trend is being witnessed in the current financial year as we do not expect any money to be returned to the national fiscus,” he said.
Mokgosi said from the beginning of the 2026/27 Financial Year, they will introduce a province-wide Smart-Gov Monitoring and Evaluation Dashboard. He said all his departments will be integrated into a single executive oversight platform that allows real-time tracking of performance, expenditure and service delivery outcomes.
“The stabilisation of the provincial government has enabled us to focus our energies on municipalities. The encouraging signs of recovery as reflected in audit outcomes bear testimony to the ongoing commitment of the government to support municipalities through financial recovery plans, administrative support, planning and budgeting.
“As a consequence, municipalities such as Moses Kotane, Taung and JB Marks have improved from qualified to unqualified audit opinion. We will be dedicating our ongoing efforts in assisting Bojanala Platinum and Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipalities as well as Moretele Local Municipality to move from unqualified to clean audit outcomes,” said Mokgosi.
He said they also note the decrease in Disclaimer Audit Outcomes from nine municipalities in 2020/21 to only one in 2024/25, which is Ditsobotla. Mokgosi said, however, they are satisfied with progress registered so far following the introduction of a National Cabinet Representative under Section 139 (7) of the Constitution.
“While endowed with sufficient private sector investments across critical industries like cement manufacturing, regional agricultural companies, poultry and more. This municipality is a textbook example of how bad governance and instability can lead to value destruction in the local economy, deprive a municipality of revenue and consequently poor service delivery accompanied by high levels of unemployment.
“We will be introducing Section 154 of the Constitution in identified municipalities to strengthen their capacity in areas such as waste management and road maintenance,” he said.
Mokgosi said the Departments of Public Works and Roads as well Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism will be seized with the responsibility to assist with the aforementioned. He said Ditsobotla and Matlosana Local Municipalities will be their starting point, where their cooperation will include working with SANRAL and Farmer’s organisations.
“Section 106 investigations into alleged acts of maladministration at City of Matlosana, Madibeng and Tswaing have been completed with remedial action plans being implemented. In relation to Matlosana, we are using other various legislative measures to stabilize the municipality.
“This is aimed at strengthening administrative stability and financial accounting. Further to this Eskom will assist municipalities grappling with load reduction with energy efficiency and demand management grants,” he said.
Mokgosi said the North West MEC, Oageng Molapisi will elaborate further on these intervention measures during the budget speech. He said through “Adopt a Municipality” initiative the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality has officially signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Infrastructure South Africa.
“In the next 24 months the municipality will be working hand in glove with ISA to roll-out various projects to fast-track infrastructure development, enhance technical capacity, revenue collection, and address maintenance backlogs.
“The Provincial Local Government Kgotha-Kgothe resolutions are going to inform our Programme of Action for the 2026/27 Financial Year. This will be done through the establishment of monitoring mechanisms to promote and oversee the effective implementation of all our action plans,” said Mokgosi.
He said they have developed a performance dashboard to track the implementation of key deliverables in the form of various infrastructure projects. Mokgosi said in this regard, they are already making progress with the construction and completion of various water projects in our communities.
“We have recently introduced a contractor in Seweding village in Mahikeng to deal with challenges of sewer spillages in the area. We take this opportunity to profusely apologise to our residents for this setback, which equally has been as a result of various acts of vandalism and criminality.
“We have since reported the matter to the South African Police Service to follow all leads in arresting the perpetrators of this heinous crime. The upgraded Bulk Water Supply Scheme in Rustenburg Local Municipality, will increase provision of water services in the villages of Bethanie, Modikoe, Berseba and Makolokwe,” he said.
Picture: The Junior District Commissioner, Junior Visible Policing (Vispol) Coordinator and Junior District Operational Commander/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
26 February 2026- The Pixley ka Seme District Commissioner, Major General Nomana Mtukushe, hosted the Junior Commissioner Project on 24 February 2026, at the De Aar Town Hall. Relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Education, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Old Mutual and Standard Bank, officiated a public speaking competition in which 20 learners delivered impromptu speeches addressing Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) and its impact on society.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said during their presentations, learners committed themselves to eradicating bullying in schools and tackling issues that contribute to crimes against women and children. Ehlers said following the presentations and a thorough adjudication process, 4 Junior Commissioners were elected, including the Junior District Commissioner, Junior Visible Policing (Vispol) Coordinator and Junior District Operational Commander.
“These young leaders will serve as ambassadors for the organisation and will actively promote safety and security within their respective schools and communities,” she said.
26 February 2026.- Detectives from Galeshewe Serious and Violent Crimes are seeking the whereabouts of Motlogelwa George Fincan (33) of Galeshewe, as they believe he can assist with the investigation of a murder case. It is alleged that on 21 February 2026, at approximately 5:15pm in 7de Laan in Galeshewe Township, Kimberley a man (31) was fatally stabbed. It is believed that the suspect entered the shack and stabbed the deceased before fleeing the scene.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Detective Warrant Officer Matsobane Motladi at 082 469 0546. Ehlers said information may also be provided via the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or via the MySAPS app and all information received will be handled with confidentiality.
26 February 2026- Professional Artists and Advocacy Network proudly celebrates the legendary Johnny Mokhali in partnership with Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sport Foundation (MACSF), and the Department for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation (ACSR). Mokhali is still alive, still vibrant and still an icon of Setswana musical heritage.
The Mmabana Foundation spokesperson, Kgalalelo Molotsi said the timeless maestro has gifted the world with unforgettable compositions that continue to echo across generations. Molotsi said his classics, Mpule, Lerato Ka Mogala, Ba Nkutlwisa Botlhoko and many others – remain deeply rooted in Setswana, carrying the soul of their people and the stories of their elders.
“A time when modern music trends lean heavily toward English. Johnny Mokhali remains unwavering. He held fast to his cultural identity, making Setswana not only relevant but fashionable, dignified and musically powerful. His work stands as a testament to artistic integrity and cultural pride.
“Kindly join us at Mmabana Theatre as we honour this extra-ordinary legend. Come be part of a heartfelt tribute to a man whose music shaped memories, uplift communities and preserve the beauty of Setswana for future generations,” she said.
Molotsi further said the media is invited to this amazing iconic event to come join them as they celebrate Johnny Mokhali, their unique and irreplaceable legend.
The Guardian 