Committee supports the Kruger National Park flood recovery

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By REGINALD KANYANE

14 February 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on Friday commended the South African National Parks (SANParks) for the sterling and well-coordinated rescue operations conducted during the recent devastating floods within the Kruger National Park. The committee noted the professionalism displayed during the crisis and further acknowledged SANParks’ efforts to rescue both humans and wildlife using its resources.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental, Nqabisa Gantsho said while the floods caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, staff villages, utilities, and tourist facilities, the committee appreciated that no lives were lost. Gantsho said preliminary assessments estimated the damage at hundreds of millions of rands.

“For the committee, whoever, the preservation of life remains the ultimate metric of success. The committee noted that the outcome was the result of a combination of functional early warning systems, swift evacuation protocols, and the tireless and heroic efforts of park management and emergency personnel.

“The committee acknowledges that these floods place a significant strain on the park’s operational capacity. These adverse weather events also highlight the need for increased budgetary allocations and investment in infrastructure as part of South Africa’s broader strategy to adapt to escalating climate risks,” she said.

Gantsho said the committee supports the establishment of the SANParks Kruger Recovery Fund. She applauds the proactive fundraising initiatives that are already underway.

“We also note the essential work of the SANParks Honorary Rangers through the Kruger Flood 2026 Fund and the significant contributions pledged by various national and international partners. The committee appealed for transparency and the correct allocation of resources.

“It also emphasised that these Funds are the only legitimate channels authorised to receive and manage donations. We encourage individuals, local communities and the private sector to contribute generously toward this cause,” said Gantsho.

She said the Kruger National Park is far more than a conservation area. Gantsho said it is a national heritage asset, a cornerstone of their biodiversity and the economic lifeline for the communities that border it.

“The recovery of the park is therefore a shared national responsibility. By contributing to these official fundraising efforts, the public plays a vital role in the rebuilding process. Our collective goal is to ensure that Kruger National Park not only recovers its former status but also emerges stronger, safer and better prepared for future climate challenges,” she said.

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Road to Brazil begins in earnest for Sasol Banyana

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Picture: Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis

By OBAKENG MAJE

14 February 2026 – Sasol Banyana Banyana’s road to the Brazil 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup begins in earnest when they participate in this year’s 2025 COSAFA Women’s Championship. A few days ago, Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis announced a 38-member squad in preparation for an alignment camp for the COSAFA Women’s Championship and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The team went into camp on 13 February 2026, in preparation for the two tournaments to be played this year. The WAFCON is scheduled to take place in Morocco from 17-3 April 2026, while the COSAFA Women’s Championship will be held in Polokwane, South Africa, from 18 February – 1 March 2026.

Ellis said she will use the regional tournament as part of her preparations for WAFCON and a squad made up of only local-based players will assemble for camp in Johannesburg on Friday before making their way to Limpopo on Sunday. She said the overseas-based contingent is expected to start arriving from 25 February 2026, in line with the FIFA calendar window.

“The squad will be trimmed down to the required number after the COSAFA Women’s Championship before they travel to North Africa. In the regional tournament, the South African senior women’s national team was drawn in Group A alongside Malawi, Lesotho and Angola.

“The 2022 African Champions will kick off the competition with a clash against the Scorchers of Malawi on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 at the Seshego Stadium. The action will move to the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in the next two matches where the South Africans will host Angola on 21 February 2026, followed by the last group stages game against Lesotho on 24 February 2026,” said Ellis.

Kickoff for all three fixtures is at 3pm. The semi-final clashes have been scheduled for 27 February 2026.

She further said there is a third-place play-off match on 1 March at midday, which will precede the final scheduled for 3pm on the same day at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. Ellis added that in the WAFCON, Banyana Banyana will face off against the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania.

“For the first time in the history of the competition, 16 nations will take part and the top four will qualify for the Brazil 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

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Monna o go begwang fa a timetse o fitlhetswe a tlhokafetse

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Setshwantsho: Moswi, Ofentse Daddy Puoeng/Facebook


Ka OBAKENG MAJE
12 Tlhakole 2026- Monna wa dingwaga di le 27 yo go begwang fa a ne a timetse, o fitlhetswe a tlhokafetse kwa molapong kwa Extension 5, mono Taung mo letsatsing la maabane. Go begwa fa moswi, Ofentse Daddy Puoeng a ne a begwa fa a timetse fa kgwedi eno ya Tlhakole e ne e tlhola matsatsi a le 10.

Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mono Bokone Bophirima, Colonel Adele Myburgh, rragwe moswi one a mo tlogela kwa lelapeng la bone fa kgwedi eno e ne e tlhola matsatsi a le 7, fela e ne ya re mo go boeng ga gagwe, o ile a fitlhela morwae a seo. Myburgh are rragwe moswi one a ya go bula kgetsi ya motho o timetseng ka Labobedi morago ga go lemoga gore morwae ga boela gae.

“Sepodisi se ile sa bolotsa letsholo-patlo mabapi le go timela ga ga Puoeng. Ka maswabi, setopo sa ga Puoeng se se neng se kokobetse mo godimo ga metsi, se ne sa bonwa ke mofeti ka tsela.

“Go ile ga itsisiwe sepodisi ga mmogo le ba thuso ya potlako. Setopo se ile sa ntshiwa mo metsing, mme gwa lemogiwa fa e le sa ga Puoeng,” Myburgh wa tlhalosa.

Myburgh are go fitlha ga jaana, sepodisi ga se belaele fa go ka tswa go nnile le letsogo la tshwene mo lesong la ga Puoeng. Myburgh are kgetsi ya morago ga loso e butswe, mme dipatlisiso di tsweletse.
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BCM leader lambasts ANC ahead of SONA

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Picture: BCM national leader, Kagiso Monyadiwa/Facebook

By REGINALD KANYANE

12 February 2026 – The Bophuthatswana Civic Movement (BCM) alleged that today is that time of the year when the rest of the country especially the poor, get to watch politicians who are living lavishly, parade their life of opulence through designer clothes, cars and other expensive materials. The movement said it is the day that reminds them of why they get so desperate for their electoral endorsement during each set of elections.

BCM national leader, Kagiso Monyadiwa said the display of a ‘middle finger’ to the weak, poor and those negatively affected by the high cost of living is what they can expect first and foremost when they step on that red carpet. Monyadiwa said today, the President of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) Cyril Ramaphosa will once again take to the podium to deliver a ‘hallucination’ for the State of the Nation (SONA).

“It is a fact that this calendar event means nothing to the masses on the ground, except for being uselessly ceremonial, where citizens are sold pipe-dreams and empty promises.

“In Bophuthatswana which they now call North West, there is a lie about (Better Life for All), which was sold to us since 1994,” he said.

Monyadiwa further said Batswana and those living in Bophuthatswana aka NW (Nothing Works) Province have since been waiting to realize what turned out to be a lie told over and over again, using different vocabulary just so they solicit electoral support. He added that the real SONA is the unemployment rate in the province with three ‘key economic drivers’ such as Mining, Agriculture and Tourism that have dwarfed the national average of 32% by a whopping 52%.

“It is an undisputed fact that Batswana are left in the periphery, reducing them to spectators of economic activities in their own backyard. The real SONA is that this country is run by a criminal syndicate operating from the Luthuli House.

“We learn this from the Arms Deal Probe, Zondo Commission and Madlanga Commission just to mention a few. The real SONA is that the ANC-led GNU coalition protects a criminal who broke his oath of office by sleeping on a mattress filled with money of foreign currency he never declared,” said Monyadiwa.

He said it is this GNU-mafia cliq that has excellently adopted a modus operandi of the corrupt and useless ANC, of abusing the parliamentary majority to protect a chief thug from facing the wrath of South African law. Monyadiwa said they remember former president, Jacob Zuma who enjoyed the same protection.

“The real SONA is Eskom’s tariffs that are way beyond affordable for over 70% of the population, thus prompting many households to by-pass meter boxes in order to ensure there is light.

“The real SONA is the price of data that is three times higher than that of other African Countries like Nigeria, who are using South African service providers,” he said.

Monyadiwa said the lack of appetite to develop legislation that properly regulates data pricing is evident. He said they must register that real SONA is the deliberate destruction of a legacy

of Tautona Kgosi Lucas Manyane Mangope, whom they are told by a “charlatan” ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula to forget about.

“This is an insult to the Batswana nation who will surely punish the ANC in the next Local Government Elections. Perhaps a counter-message should be that they forget about Tambo, Sisulu and even remove Mandela’s face from our currency, and just maybe, we might consider what Mbalula said (even though it is not possible).

“BCM anticipates SONA to be nothing, but an election campaign of the ANC and those unsuspecting GNU coalition partners will be caught with their pants down. We are expecting more lies to be told, cheap political point-scoring and generally for South Africans to be taken for fools (they are not),” said Monyadiwa.

He said they caution South Africans to brace themselves to hear little to nothing on geo-politics, economic growth, industrialization etc. purely because this is Local Government Elections year. Monyadiwa said Ramaphosa will focus his SONA on local government issues for obvious reasons.

“There will surely be nothing on the Bullet Train he dreamt about, no progress report on the construction of a university he promised to build in Ekhuruleni Metro Municipality, a promise made back in 2020.

“He will surely say nothing about the safety of communities living in and around mining areas, who are terrorized by illegal miners notoriously known as zama zamas. He won’t certainly touch on thuggery done through students’ accommodation, where students living in areas like Mahikeng where there is a university, are deliberately denied access to study closer to home because the thuggish business may suffer as a result,” he said.

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Mokua engages with Tsunyane Tribal Council over construction of D433 road

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Picture: North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Elizabeth Mokua and other delegates/Supplied 

By STAFF REPORTER

12 February 2026- The North West Department of Public Works and Roads wishes to inform the residents of Tshunyane village and surrounding areas that the department has committed to the upgrading of Road D433, situated south of the N18 and approximately 26km from Mahikeng CBD. The department said this commitment follows a constructive engagement between the North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Elizabeth Mokua and the Chief of Nadibe-A-Kubu, Kgosi Mosekaphofu Lekoma, where community concerns regarding the condition of the road were discussed.

Mokua said D433 road with a total length of 34.5km, is earmarked for upgrading from gravel to surfaced standard.  She further said due to the limited budget available in the current financial year, the department will commence with the upgrading of an initial 5km stretch during the upcoming financial year.

“In the interim, to improve trafficability, the department will continue with routine maintenance which includes regravelling and reblading. We would like to express appreciation to the community for their continued patience and constructive engagement.

“We wish to thank the community of Tshunyane for their patience and for engaging the department through proper channels. We remain committed to improving rural road infrastructure and ensuring that our people have safer and more reliable access roads,” added Mokua.

She said they will continue to prioritise the remaining sections as resources become available. Mokua said the department will continue to work closely with the traditional authority and community stakeholders as the project progresses.

“We will communicate further developments in due course,” she said.

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SONA grounded in core principles of participatory democracy

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Picture: RSA president, Cyril Ramaphosa

By BAKANG MOKOTO

12 February 2026- The ANC said today the Republic of South Africa president, President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at a defining moment in the life of the democracy. The party said this address is grounded in the core principles of participatory democracy, the expressed will of the people and a people-centred, people-driven model of governance and development.

The ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu said it is both a reflection and a commitment, a report to the nation and a vision for the future. Bhengu said as they mark 32 years of democratic governance, this State of the Nation Address reflects on the achievements of recent years, confronts the hurdles that continue to impede socio-economic transformation and charts a clear path forward.

“It builds on the programme articulated in the January 8 Statement, the outcomes of ANC and Cabinet makgotlas and consultations with a broad cross-section of South African society. South Africa enters this address on a trajectory of recovery and renewal.

“State-owned enterprises have shown measurable improvement, with Eskom stabilising operations and South African Airways recording profitability. Rail infrastructure is undergoing revitalisation,” she said.

Bhengu further said South Africa has been removed from the Financial Action Task Force grey list, restoring confidence in the financial system. She added that, the implementation of the National Minimum Wage continues to protect vulnerable workers, while reforms within SASSA and NSFAS are strengthening the integrity and efficiency of social support systems.

“Through the 10-Point Economic Action Plan, government has accelerated industrialisation, diversified trade partnerships, strengthened revenue collection, and stabilised the fiscus to ensure sustainable infrastructure investment and responsible management of competing national priorities.

“Tourism has rebounded strongly, with 10.48 million recorded arrivals, reinforcing South Africa’s standing as a world-class destination. Economic indicators signal cautious optimism,” she said.

Bhengu said strengthening of the rand to R15.80 against the US dollar provides hope for interest rate relief. She said inflation remains moderated, with CPI at 3.6% in December 2025, among the lowest levels recorded in over two decades, positioning the country for further economic stabilisation and growth.

“In last year’s SONA, land reform was prioritised in line with our historic commitment to redress. The passage of the Expropriation Act marked significant progress in this regard. The establishment of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry reaffirmed our determination to confront corruption and crimedecisively. Gender-Based Violence and Femicide was declared a national crisis, demanding collective societal action.

“The introduction of lenacapavir, to be rolled out in April as a groundbreaking HIV prevention injection, underscores our commitment to safeguarding public health. Yet we are mindful of the challenges that persist,” said Bhengu.

She said the water crisis affecting communities requires urgent infrastructure investment to restore dignity and ensure reliable service delivery. Bhengu said stablisation and strengthening local government remain an urgent priority, as reaffirmed during their 114th anniversary commemoration in Moruleng.

“Decisive action is required to contain foot-and-mouth disease in the agricultural sector, a key pillar of economic activity and job creation. The fight against poverty, unemployment, crime, GBVF, and porous borders continues with renewed urgency.

“The State of the Nation Address outlines practical interventions to advance our developmental agenda and deepen inclusive growth. Globally, this address takes place amid shifting geopolitical and economic dynamics, renewed multilateralism, evolving trade arrangements including AGOA, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, CAEP. frameworks, and global trade tensions,” she said.

Bhengu said South Africa remains committed to progressive internationalism, inclusive multilateralism and strengthening bilateral relations with key partners including the European Union, China, the United States, Russia, and the African continent. She said the successful hosting of the G20 Summit positioned South Africa as a credible and influential global voice.

“At the same time, we remain vigilant against domestic forces that resist transformation and seek to undermine the vision of a united, non-racial, and equitable society championed by Tata Nelson Mandela, whose release from prison we commemorated just days ago.

“The President’s responsibilities demand careful balancing of competing needs, investing in infrastructure, expanding the social wage, strengthening local government, and accelerating economic transformation,” said Bhengu.

She said today’s State of the Nation Address reaffirms their collective determination to build a capable state, grow the economy, create jobs, empower SMMEs, develop skills, and invest in the youth. Bhengu said they call upon all South Africans to join hands in this national effort, to harness their creativity, resilience and shared purpose in shaping a future defined by dignity, opportunity, and inclusive prosperity for all.

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Lenkopane advances investment efforts for North West

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North West MEC DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

12 February 2026- The North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane said is advancing its investment attraction programme at the 2026 Investing in African Mining Indaba, where a series of bilateral engagements yielded tangible outcomes and culminated in the several strategic investment opportunities towards industrialization. Lenkopane said the province’s participation reflects a deliberate effort to chart a new path for investment that places communities at the centre of economic activity and ensures that local beneficiaries play an active and meaningful role in the provincial economy.

During the Indaba, Lenkopane and Head of Department (HOD), Relebohile Mofokane has been engaging industry leaders, investors and partners across the exhibition floor, usingevery interaction to profile the North West as a competitive and investment ready province. Lenkopane’s walkabout through the exhibition hall created opportunities for continuous dialogue with mining companies, technology innovators, financiers, and other role players, while also showcasing the depth of investment opportunities at the North West exhibition stall.

“These engagements highlighted district level strengths and emphasised the province’s

readiness to welcome transformative investment. We also held several strategic meetings with investors and partners.

“Day one included fruitful engagements with Glencore Empire Investment Bank, Shaanxi Non-Ferrous Metals Group, Valterra Platinum, Sibanye-Stillwater and Limpopo Provincial Government. Day two consisted of bilateral’s with Glencore, Free State Provincial Givernemnt and many others which are actively working with the department to advance economic interests,” she said.

Lenkopane further said the sessions

explored investment prospects in mineral beneficiation, manufacturing, renewable energy,

agro-processing, and community development initiatives. She added that through these engagements, she reinforced that the North West is land ready, infrastructure ready, SEZ ready and Special

Purpose Vehicle (SPV) ready, with a portfolio of opportunities geared toward job creation,economic diversification, and inclusive local growth.

“A notable feature of the first day was a high-level bilateral meeting with Glencore CEO,

Jappie Fullard. During this bilateral and others, parties reaffirmed their commitment tostrengthening collaboration, expanding the province’s investment pipeline, and advancing the development of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

“The discussions underscored a shared vision to promote local industrial participation and ensure that mining related investments and

post mining economic plans and environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria bring

direct benefits to communities across the province,” said Lenkopane.

She emphasised the significance of the province’s mission at the Indaba, noting that DEDECT is actively reshaping the investment landscape to open new opportunities for local stakeholders. Lenkopane highlighted that this platform creates unmatched opportunities for the province to foster strategic investment partnerships, drive local market expansion, beneficiation, explore post mining opportunities and secure long-term sustainable growth within the province.

“With over 1,400 mining companies, 1,300 investors, and more than 300 exhibitors, this is the

premier platform where deals are made and where both power and capital converge, creating

unmatched opportunities for strategic partnerships, market expansion, and long-term

sustainable growth.

“We further highlighted that the province is committed to building partnerships that drive

sustainable development and broaden economic participation,” she said.

Lenkopane said through deliberate investment, facilitation, the department is laying the groundwork for communities, cooperatives, SMMEs,

and local suppliers to participate more fully in the province’s economic value chains.

“As the Mining Indaba continues, the North West delegation remains focused on attracting investment, expanding opportunities, promoting local beneficiation and positioning the province as a destination where every investment opportunity translates into real, measurable

development on the ground,” she said.

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North West Legislature Portfolio Committee on Transport Management Concludes Two-Day Engagements on NTI Matters

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Picture: NTI buses at the depot

By REGINALD KANYANE

12 February 2026- The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West Provincial Legislature, chaired by Freddy Sonakile, has concluded its two-day engagements on matters relating to North West Transport Investment (NTI). Sonakile said the engagements focused on service providers who are signatories to the NTI Escrow Account, namely TansNat, Ziggy, and Triponza.

He further said these service providers appeared before the Committee to account for their role in the establishment and operation of the escrow account. Sonakile added that the Committee also received briefings from Mduduzi Sithole, a transport business owner from KwaZulu-Natal who made formal representations to the Committee, as well as Grace Sadiki, former Chief Executive Officer of NTI.

“All presenters shared information regarding their involvement with the entity and responded to issues and allegations previously raised.

“During the engagements, the three representatives provided detailed accounts outlining the sequence of events that led to the current situation at NTI,” he said.

Sonakile said following these presentations, the Committee resolved to request additional information to clarify outstanding matters. He said a final engagement session will be scheduled once this information has been received.

“In the interim, the Committee’s legal team has been instructed to begin compiling an interim report to guide further deliberations.

“The Committee also received an update on the payment of employee salaries and will continue to monitor developments in this regard,” said Sonakile.

He said furthermore, the Department of Labour briefed the Committee on the outcomes of its investigation, while the Hawks provided an update on the status of cases opened relating to NTI. Sonakile said in order to ensure a comprehensive and fair process, the Committee will convene an additional session to engage other stakeholders who have played a key role in the operations and future of the entity.

“As the Committee does not exercise direct oversight over the Gauteng Department, it will formally request the assistance of its Gauteng counterpart to ensure that the relevant authorities provide outstanding information and engage on subsidy and related matters.

“The Portfolio Committee remains committed to exercising rigorous oversight and ensuring accountability, transparency, and stability at NTI, in the interest of workers, service providers, and the broader public,” he said.

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Sepodisi se ikuela bakgweetsi go kgweetsa ka pabalasego

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Setshwantsho: Terekere e amegile mo kotsing ya sejanaga

Ka OBAKENG MAJE

12 Tlhakole 2026- Sepodisi mono Taung se ikuelela go ba kgweetsi go kgweetsa ka kelo-tlhoko mo di tseleng tse di farologaneng. Se, se tla morago ga gore terekere e thulane le sejanaga sa poraevete kwa makopanelong a ditsela gaufi le seteishene sa sepodisi ka Labotlhano bosigo.

Go begwa fa sejanaga sa poraevete se se neng se tswa kwa ntlheng ya Mmabana Taung, se sa ema fa se ne se fitlha kwa makopanelong a ditsela, mme seo se ile sa dira gore mokgweetsi wa terekere a latlhegelwe ke taolo.

Sebueledi sa sepodisi mo sedikeng sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen are ga gona ope o boneng dikgobalo mo kotsing e.

“Kgetsi e ile ya bulwa, fela ke pego ya kotsi gonne ga gona ope o boneng dikgobalo. Sejanaga ga mmogo le terekere ke tsone tse di itemogetseng ditshenyegelo,” van Rooyen.

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Morweng to approach court in quest of cancelling R460m scholar transport contract  

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Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng

By OBAKENG MAJE

11 February 2026- The defiant North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng said given all the challenges of scholar transport, he is looking at legal provisions that will allow his department to cancel the contract and restart it where due diligence will be done to ensure operators are compliant. Morweng who briefed the media at North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management Offices in Mahikeng today, said they will call the media to announce that eventuality soon as they have completed all internal processes to terminate the current scholar transport contract.

Morweng’s media briefing comes after the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) launched an investigative inquiry regarding systemic scholar transport challenges at the North West Community Safety and Transport Management.

“In February 2025, the department received an invitation from the SAHRC to participate in their enquiry on the challenges facing scholar transport in the province. We engaged the Commission and gave reports required as well as answering all questions both verbal and written.

“On 19 January 2026, the Commission released a report which highlighted findings and remedial action directives. Let me start by first noting the report and commit that the department will abide by the findings and comply with all directives of the SAHRC,” he said.

Morweng further said he however hastened to indicate that some of the findings as highlighted in the report have already been identified by the department and corrective measures were being implemented even before the SAHRC began with the hearings. He added that the corrective measures they are referring to are taken immediately, especially where the safety of the learner is at risk.

“For instance, there was a tragic incident in July 2024 at Khunotswane village, outside Zeerust, where a learner from Motsaalore Secondary School unfortunately passed on. In this incident, it is alleged that several learners jumped out of a moving bus as the driver was driving recklessly.

“The operator whose bus was roadworthy was terminated immediately and the new operator was appointed. Another incident where a learner lost life involving a subsidised scholar transport occurred in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District bringing the number to two in the last two years,” said Morweng.

He said the scholar transport contract began in January 2024 with 449 operators. Morweng said over the period of exactly two years, they have terminated 90 operators for a variety of Service Level Agreement (SLA) contraventions.

“These contraventions include inconsistent service, abandoning the route, unroadworthy vehicles or any recklessness that may harm or put learner safety at risk. So far, we have terminated 31 operators in Bojanala, 23 in Ngaka Modiri Molema, 22 in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District and 14 in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District.

“We have as at August 2024, began a process of appointing a panel of operators as part of our troubleshooting measures. The panel has since been appointed in April 2025 and comprises 44 operators,” he said.

Morweng said these are operators who are already in the system and can be called at a short notice to transport learners in case an operator abandons the route or for whatever reason that may lead to learners not being transported. He said there are several causes that exacerbate the scholar transport challenges.

“These include new unplanned informal settlements creating a new need to transport learners who previously would not have needed transportation. The other challenge which is a causal factor to the one above is the budget shortfall.

“This results in depletion of the budget leading to starting a new financial year with accruals of the previous year. We have put measures in place such as establishing a War Room chaired by the HOD and comprising members from our department and the Department of Education,” said Morweng.

He said they meet regularly and are able to identify challenges and attend to them immediately. Morweng said they also have established a monitoring team to ensure that operators are in compliance with the prescripts of the SLA.

“To ensure that buses are roadworthy, we inspect the buses after every six months to ensure they are not putting learners’ safety at risk. Our traffic officers are also monitoring the buses and impounding them if need be, that is if they are not in compliance with both the National Land Transport Act and Road Traffic Act.

“We have engaged the Provincial Treasury to increase the scholar transport budget which currently stands at R 460 million. To ensure the service of scholar transport routes, we need at least R610 million to avoid beginning a new financial crisis with accumulations,” he said.

Morweng said their regular engagements with the Department of Education also helps with forward planning in the case of rationalised schools.

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