Picture: The Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West Provincial Legislature, Freddy Sonakile
By OBAKENG MAJE
13 February 2025- The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West Provincial Legislature, conducted an unannounced oversight visit at Moreri Secondary School in Tseoge village, near Ganyesa. The committe’s visited the school to assess scholar transport operations as part of the Oversight Week that the North West Provincial Legislature is currently embarking on in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
During the engagement, the Chairperson of the Committee, Freddy Sonakile said they were informed of a tragic incident in October 2024, where a Grade 10 learner lost his life while attempting to board a scholar transport bus. Sonakile said the committee was concerned to learn that no psychological support had been provided to the school following the incident.
“Additionally, serious concerns were raised about passenger liability insurance as it was alleged that neither the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management (CoSaTMa) nor the Department of Education had provided any support to the learner’s family.
“Children remain the responsibility of the department, while commuting in scholar transport. When accidents occur, the department, as the custodian of the program, must take full responsibility,” he said.
Sonakile further said the committie will engage the North West MEC for the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, to revisit this case and assess the department’s response to similar incidents. He added that, a formal request will be made by the committee to solicit a comprehensive report on scholar transport compliance across the province, including proof of passenger liability insurance for all service providers, as this is a mandatory requirement for operating within the program.
“The committee has repeatedly urged the department to exercise due diligence in awarding scholar transport contracts. Service providers operating without the necessary documentation are a direct liability and the department will be held accountable.
“The era of placing learners’ lives at risk is over. We have extensively engaged the department on scholar transport issues and adopted clear resolutions. Any continued non-compliance, without consequence, signals complicity which will be treated as contempt of the Legislature and dealt with accordingly.” said Sonakile.
13 February 2025- A man (39) is expected to appear before the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court today, for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Tsholofelo Hati (31). The suspect was arrested on Wednesday evening, 12 February 2025, after a tip-off was received about his whereabouts in Jouberton Township, near Klerksdorp.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said, the reports suggest that, the police were summoned to a murder scene earlier on Monday, 10 February 2025, where Hati’s lifeless body was found in Extension 13. Myburgh said it is suspected that the victim was suffocated to death.
“She was declared dead on the scene by Emergency and Medical Rescue Services (EMRS),” she said.
Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, has once more requested couples to resolve their differences peacefully rather than resorting to violence and to seek professional assistance from social workers and other professionals to avoid sad situations like this one.
Picture: A missing man, Letlotlo Marothodi/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
13 February 2025- The police in Boitekong Township, near Rustenburg, request community assistance in locating a missing man, Letlotlo Marothodi (29), who is residing at Damonsville in Boitekong. According to information received, he was last seen by his aunt on 16 January 2025.
The North West police spokesperson, Captain Mpho Manyoba said, a search was conducted around Damonsville and surrounding areas and all leads were followed up, but to no avail. She said at the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a rainbow T-shirt (UZZI), Ellesse tracksuit pants and blue flip-flop shoes.
“He is dark in complexion, with tall and slender build and afro hair. Anyone who may have information regarding his whereabouts can contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Peter Mosete on 079 890 2340 or the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Stop number: 08600 10111.
“Anonymous tip-offs can be communicated via the MySAPS App from your smartphone,” said Manyoba.
13 Tlhakole 2025- Monna o latofadiwang ka go bolaya mme-mmagwe (76), Daniel Louw, o tla ya go tlhatlhobiwa tlhaloganyo ele go netefatsa fa a siametse go ka sekisiwa. Go begwa fa Louw, a ne a tsena kwa legaeng la moswi a shakgetse, mme a tshwere thipa le tshipi.
Go ya ka sebueledi sa bosekisi mo porofenseng ya Northern Cape, Mojalefa Senokoatsane, kgotlhatshekelo ya Kimberley, e utlwile fa mothaka o, a ile a fitlha a palama ntlo. Senokoatsane are, mothaka one a tsena mo ntlung, mme a fitlhela mme-mmagwe ga mmogo le morwae.
“Gobegwa fa mothaka o, o ile a fitlhela mme-mmagwe le ngwana wa gagwe ba ipaakanyetsa go isa marapo go beng. Go begwa fa monna o, a ile a laela mme-mmagwe gore a mo neele mmotshwana. Go begwa fa Louw a ne a ratha mme-mmagwe ka panga mo sefatlhegong.
“Ene ya re ngwana wa mothaka o go bona seo, one a sia.
One a siela kwa ntle go ya go kopa thuso. Go begwa fa mme-mmagwe a ne a bona dikgobala tse di masisi, mme a tlhokafala,” Senokoatsane wa tlhalosa.
Senokoatsane are kgetsi e buseditswe morago go fitlha di 27 Mopitlwe 2025, mme ba emetse diteko tsa tlhaloganyo le go netefatsa fa molatofadiwa a lekane go ka sekisiwa.
Picture: The Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Khusela Diko
By OBAKENG MAJE
13 February 2025– The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies said it has noted with serious concern ongoing governance challenges and allegations of maladministration at the State Information Technology Agency (SITA). The committee received an update on governance at SITA after the end of the contracted terms of the Board of Directors and the Acting Managing Director in January and February 2025 respectively.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Khusela Diko said the committee also considered its own oversight report developed following an emergency intervention oversight visit to SITA in December 2024.
Diko said while the committee welcomes the Public Service Commission and the Public Protector’s investigations into board infighting, mismanagement and lapses in accountability and decision-making at SITA, it has also consulted with Parliamentary Legal Services to seek guidance on the desirability of implementing Section 227 (1) (c) of the National Assembly Rules to institute a parliamentary enquiry into SITA’s affairs.
“In line with Parliament’s full legal authority to conduct its own investigations and cognisant of the doctrine of separation of powers, such an enquiry would focus on the staff concerns.
“They have raised organised labour with the committee, the high staff turnover at executive level, and the governance and operational inefficiencies that have led some government departments to consider applying for exemption from using SITA as the government’s preferred partner for the delivery of information and technology solutions,” she said.
Diko further said the committee’s oversight report on SITA adopted on 12 February 2025, contains recommendations, which the Minister is expected to respond to and implement following the National Assembly’s adoption of the report. She added that these recommendations include, amongst other things, referring to the Cliff Decker Hofmeyr report on the Western Cape Education Department’s awarding of an allegedly irregular tender worth R1.2bn to the Special Investigating Unit.
“Other recommendations relate to developing interim measures to ensure there is no governance vacuum, while a new board and managing director is appointed and establishing whether it is desirable to pay fees to members of the board, who were relieved of their duties by Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technology Mr Mondli Gungubele when he was the department’s Minister, and who are thus of no service to the agency.
“We welcome the department’s assurances that the process of appointing a new Board is at an advanced stage, with the cabinet currently considering the appointment of an Interim Board.
Picture: Dagga worth R12 000 seized by the police/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
12 February 2025- The police said they are making a significant impact in curbing drugs sales in Namaqua District with ongoing disruptive actions, where dagga worth approximately R12 000 was seized. This comes after the Springbok Public Order Police C-Platoon executed vehicle patrols, stop and search actions and visits to hotspot areas in Springbok and Nababeep between 11 and 12 February 2025.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock said the police allegedly followed up on information and confiscated the dagga that was stashed next to the N7 road, near Springbok. Kock said no arrests were affected as yet, however, the investigation is continuing.
“The police will unabatedly continue with these actions and combat drug sales while leaving no stone unturned to ensure no impunity is granted to criminals in the Northern Cape province. Incidents of criminality can be reported to the police via the MySAPS App or 08600 10111,” he said.
Picture: The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
11 February 2025- The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi said they are bringing detailed key interventions aimed at improving the state of municipalities in general and enhancing service delivery in particular. Molapisi said they had a productive service delivery interventions workshop with the embattled Ditsobotla Local Municipality.
He further said there are challenges at the municipality and admitted that, it made headlines more than any other municipality in the province. Molapisi said the role of his department is succinctly as explained on Section 40 of Chapter 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
“The three spheres of government (national, provincial, and local sphere) are distinctive, interdependent, and interrelated. Section 41 explains principles of co-operative government and intergovernmental relations and the Constitution directs all spheres of government to exercise their powers and perform their functions in a manner that does not encroach on the geographical, functional, or institutional integrity of another sphere.
“The reason I am explaining this is for you members of the media to understand that local government is another sphere of government, governed by legislation, and sometimes, as either provincial or national government, we cannot impose some of the decisions on councils,” he said.
Molapisi said, however, they have an obligation in terms of Section 154 of the Constitution to support and strengthen the capacity of municipalities to manage their affairs, to exercise their powers, and to perform their functions. He said out of 22 municipalities, at least 8 are currently under mandatory intervention in terms of Section 139 (5) (a) and (c) of the Constitution read together with Section 139 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) due to poor financial management.
“The Provincial Treasury has appointed Provincial Executive Representatives for three years. These municipalities are Ditsobotla, Kgetlengrivier, Madibeng, Ramotshere Moiloa, Maquassi Hills, Tswaing, Naledi Local Municipalities and the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.
“Out of 22 municipalities (both local and district municipalities), only Bojanala Platinum District, Lekwa Teemane, Mamusa, and Tswaing do not have substantive Municipal Managers,” said Molapisi.
He said the department has however, seconded acting Municipal Managers at Kagisano Molopo, Mamusa, Tswaing Local Municipalities and Bojanala District Municipality as per the request of the respective councils. Molapisi said by law, the council can resolve to request the MEC of Local Government to second an acting Municipal Manager.
“We are implementing the Local Government Turnaround Strategy that focuses on four areas such as Leadership, Governance, and Administration, Financial Management, Service delivery and Fund Mobilization and Leveraging.
“As part of the Local Government Turn Around Strategy, we have developed an early warning system to improve service delivery in the form of a dashboard to monitor municipal performance and reporting,” he said.
Molapisi said they have also completed the skills audit for municipalities and the sole purpose was to assess the current competencies and capabilities of the municipal workforce across various units and to identify the skills gap.
“Through the audit, municipalities were able to identify the current skills of their employees and the skills gap as it revealed that in some municipalities, employees in lower-level positions are overqualified, while managers in some municipalities do not possess the necessary qualifications and competencies relevant to their positions.
“The audit report recommended that municipalities must develop targeted education and training programs or recruitment strategies to ensure the entire workforce has the necessary capabilities to undertake their duties and impact positively in the provision of services,” he said.
Molapisi said municipalities such as Bojanala, have registered an improvement for 2023/2024 and 2022/2023 audit outcomes. He said Bojanala Platinum District Municipality moved from qualified to unqualified, Madibeng from adverse to qualified, and Naledi from adverse to qualified audit opinion.
“Two districts and one local municipality, namely Bojanala Platinum, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, and Moretele Local Municipality, received unqualified audit opinions. Twelve local and one district municipalities received qualified audit opinions, and they are Kgetlengrivier, Madibeng, Moses Kotane, Rustenburg, Matlosana, JB Marks, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Greater Taung, Naledi, Ngaka Modiri Molema, Mahikeng, Ramotshere Moiloa, and Tswaing.
“Maquassi Hills and Mamusa received adverse audit opinions whilst Ditsobotla, Ratlou, and Lekwa Teemane received disclaimer audit opinions. Ten municipalities, namely, Maquassi Hills, City of Matlosana, Madibeng, Kgetlengrivier, Ditsobotla, Lekwa Teemane, Naledi, Tswaing, Mamusa, and Ramotshere Moiloa, were assisted with the application to National Treasury to participate on the programme of Municipal Debt Relief in line with MFMA Circular 123 and 124,” said Molapisi.
He said the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) expenditure as of the end of December 2024 was 41% of the total allocation of R2,1 billion. Molapisi said six municipalities are performing beyond average and have passed the 60% mark of their allocation in terms of expenditure for the end of December 2024:
11 February 2025- The North West MEC for Economic Development Environment Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane said the Food Lovers Market is a popular grocery and vegetable outlet stationed at Mega City in Mahikeng. Lenkopane said the news of pending closure of this important food outlet, prompted her to intervene with the sole objective of preventing possible job losses and livelihoods.
Lenkopane further said, according to the outcome of the meeting with management of Food Lovers Market, the lease signed between the company and Mega City Management has come to an end and negotiations of renewal have failed. She added that other risk factors such as security concerns have contributed to the pending closure of Food Lovers Market.
“It is envisaged that another popular brand Boxer Superstore will occupy the space, where Food Lovers Market is situated at Mega City. However, I was able to negotiate the absorption of Food Lovers Market employees into Boxer Superstore.
“In another separate event, we received a call from the employees of another popular eatery in Mahikeng, Buffalo Lodge, which is also facing possible closure. Close to 20 staff members are likely to lose their jobs,” said Lenkopane.
She said she is currently negotiating with owners of Buffalo Lodge with the objective of allowing employees to be incubated into business management programs and continue to run the place. Lenkopane said the acting Head of Department, Relebohile Mofokane has addressed employees at the Golden Leopard Resort (GLR) amid challenges faced by the entity.
“The department has turned the tide at GLR, where the entity has been swimming in a sea of financial mismanagement and debts for the past three years. Employees had to go home empty handed for several months with the entity failing to pay their salaries and their third party deductions that include tax and provident funds amongst others.
“Many passed on and/or retired without any pay-outs. In the past six months, the department managed to settle all third party deductions and made provisions for salaries,” she said.
Lenkopane said she is confident that GLR will perform better in the new financial year.
11 February 2025- The Northern Cape Department of Education said it has obtained a court interdict against the Vaalharts SGB Forum for the alleged illegal closure of schools in the Phokwane and Magareng Municipalities. Over the past two days, members of the ‘unlawful’ group have been closing schools and removing staff from school premises.
The Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe said with the court interdict now in place, failure to comply with the order will result in those involved being charged with contempt of court, which is a criminal offence. Van der Merwe said it is crucial to ensure compliance in the best interest of the learners, as they are losing valuable learning time.
“The department encourages parents to fulfil their primary responsibility by sending their children to school. Our principals and educators are ready to continue teaching. A curriculum recovery plan will be implemented to make up for the school days lost at the affected schools,” he said.
11 February 2025- The police in Upington appeal to the community members to assist in resolving a murder case. This comes after a woman was allegedly stabbed by an unknown assailant between Pabalello and Dakotaweg Townships, near Upington on 26 December 2023.
The ZF Mgcawu District police spokesperson, Sergeant Omphile Masegela said a case of murder was registered for investigation by the police in Upington following an incident on 26 December 2023 at approximately 1am. Masegela said the deceased, Vennesa Witbooi, was allegedly stabbed between Pabalello and Dakotaweg by an unknown person.
“She ran into a yard in Dakota and collapsed without being able to state if she knew her attacker/s. The deceased was transported to the hospital by the driver of a bakkie, who was on his way to the hospital.
“Upon arrival at the hospital, she succumbed to her injuries. All leads were followed, and no arrests have been made at this point,” he said.
The Guardian 