Picture: A missing Malawian man, Chikombi Kalimpinde/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
5 November 2025- The police in Koster request the community’s assistance in locating a missing Malawian man, Chikombi Kalimpinde (26), who is residing at Witrand Farm, near Koster. Kalimpinde was last seen by his wife on 28 September 2025, at around 7am when he left for work, but never returned home.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said a search was conducted around Oukasie village, extensive investigations were done and all leads were followed up with no success. Myburgh said it is not known what he was wearing at the time of his disappearance.
“He is dark in complexion, has an average built, is 1.8m tall, with black medium length hair, a short black moustache with a short beard.
“Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can contact the Investigating Officer, Seargeant Innocent Matuwane on Cell 082 338 9410, your local police station or Crime Stop on 08600 10111,” she said.
Myburgh further said anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via the MySAPS App from your smart phone. She added that extortion-related incidents can be reported on the Extortion hotline on 080 091 1011.
Picture: A missing man, Ephrahim Kgotlaetsile Tele/Supplied
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
5 November 2025 – The police in Brits request the community’s assistance in locating a missing man, Ephrahim Kgotlaitsile Tele (56), who is residing at Vuka Section in Oukasie, near Brits. Tele was last seen by his sister on 30 August 2025, at around 8am, when she went to work.
The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adéle Myburgh said when she returned after work at around 6pm, Tele was missing. Myburgh said a search was conducted around Oukasie village, extensive investigations were done and all leads were followed up with no success.
“At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a black skinny jean, black long sleeve t-shirt and black and red tekkies that looks like all-star tekkies. He is mentally disabled, dark in complexion, weighs 60kg, 1.6m tall, with a slender build. He has black, short hair, with a black moustache and short beard.
“Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can contact the Investigating Officer, Sgt Maiphitlo Lenard Thobaka on 071 674 8763. Alternatively, you can also contact your local police station or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Anonymous tip-offs can also be communicated via the MySAPS App from your smartphone,” she said.
Picture: The North West Public Works and Roads logo
By OBAKENG MAJE
5 November 2025- Two officials from the North West Department of Public Works and Roads have been suspended for alleged tender scam. This comes following allegations of their involvement in a fraudulent tender scheme targeting unsuspecting business people.
The North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Elizabeth Mokua said the officials are alleged to have misled members of the public by claiming that they were awarded a tender to install solar geysers, a function that does not fall within the jurisdiction or mandate of the department. Mokua said the department acted swiftly upon receiving information about the scam and has since opened a criminal case with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure that the matter is thoroughly investigated.
“We strongly condemn the alleged criminal conduct. Such acts undermine public trust and the integrity of the department. I condemn this criminal act in the strongest possible terms. It is shameful and unacceptable that officials entrusted with serving out people can use the name of the Department to defraud unsuspecting business people.
“The department does not tolerate any form of corruption or criminal behaviour. If found guilty, these officials must face the full might of the law. I have instructed the Head of Department (HoD) to act decisively and ensure that the investigation proceeds without any interference,” she said.
Mokua further cautions business people to remain vigilant and verify any procurement-related communication with the department before engaging in financial transactions or signing contracts. She added that all service providers should be cautious and contact the department directly through official channels, whenever they are approached about tenders or procurement opportunities.
“The department remains committed to transparency, accountability and ethical conduct in all its operations. The department reaffirms its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and pledges full cooperation with law enforcement authorities to ensure that justice is served,” said Mokua.
5 November 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said Johannesburg’s hope for growth and investment is being strangled by administrative failure. The party said the developments across the City are being delayed or abandoned because the City’s digital planning systems have become unreliable — crippling approvals, inspections, and investor confidence.
The DA Shadow MMC for Development Planning, Daniel Schay said this week, they visited a site in Linksfield North that has been stalled for over a year — a symptom of a wider crisis affecting every region of the City. Schay said the GIS (Geo-Informatics System) portal, which underpins mapping and zoning data, has been unusable for months.
“The CPMS (Construction Permit Management System), used to process building-plan applications and track approvals, goes down repeatedly, often for days at a time. When these systems fail, plan assessments stop, compliance inspections can’t be logged, and developers are left in limbo.
“Yet, while the City’s economic engine grinds to a halt, the acting mayor — who is also the ANC MMC for Development Planning — is spending her time doing street-sweeping photo-ops in Alexandra instead of fixing her department’s operational collapse,” he said.
Schay further said Johannesburg cannot grow when the very systems meant to support development are collapsing. He added that every stalled plan represents lost jobs, lost revenue, and lost faith in the City’s ability to function.
“The DA calls on the acting mayor and Development Planning Department to stabilise and maintain the GIS and CPMS systems with permanent technical oversight and full-time IT support. To establish a dedicated “Developer Desk” within the Development Planning Department to assist applicants affected by excessive delays and to help catch up on backlogged approvals.
“Implement internal performance tracking to ensure that once these systems are restored, delays are systematically reduced. Johannesburg needs leadership that can keep its core functions running — not one that prioritises optics over operations. The City’s developers, investors, and residents deserve competence, not chaos,” said Schay.
Picture: Police attending to a crime scene/Generic
By BAKANG MOKOTO
4 November 2025- The South African Union Council of Independent Churches (SAUCIC) on Tuesday called for a comprehensive strategy to deal with gangsterism and the proliferation of guns contributing to escalating senseless violence and loss of lives. This follows the killing of six people in a drive-by shooting that has left three injured over the weekend at Reiger Park near Benoni.
SAUCIC president, Cardinal Archbishop Dr Modiri Patrick Shole condemned in the strongest terms possible the monstrous incident that has left communities in the East Rand reeling with shock describing it as atrocious and barbaric. Shole said they welcome the deployment of an additional investigating team to tackle the ongoing violence and the backlog of violent crime cases that need to be cleared.
“The effort to tackle the scourge of violent crime terrorising our communities must be bolstered and a strong partnership between law enforcement and our communities established in order to restore the rule of law as well as confidence in the criminal justice system.
“We convey our heartfelt condolences to bereaved families and wishing those injured a speedy recovery on behalf of affiliated Federations of Charismatic, Evangelical Outreach Mission Ministries and Pentecostal Churches. The culture of impunity that has emboldened heartless criminals must be confronted, if the trust deficit is to be replaced by effective and proactive policing that is responsive to the reign of terror that is supporting the drug trade,” he said.
Shole urged communities to draw the line in the sand and recommit themselves not to harbour criminals in their neighbourhoods.
“None of our communities will be safer with armed heartless criminals responsible for such heinous acts roaming our streets and neighbourhoods. Law enforcement must saturate the area, throw the gauntlet at criminals and leave no stone left unturned until the marauding gang is put behind bars before more innocent lives are lost.
“We appeal to communities to unite in action in order to rid themselves of organised criminal syndicates holding them hostage to terror and hopelessness.
The church must be at the forefront of reclaiming civil activism and redouble its effort to support crime prevention structures including democratic, accountable community policing,” he said.
5 November 2025- The cross border collaboration between police in the Northern Cape and Western Cape led to the apprehension and arrest of five men. This comes after an armed robbery and assault incident that occurred at the Kareebos Wind Farm in the early hours of Tuesday morning, 4 November 2025.
The Namakwa District police spokesperson, Captain Ivan Magerman said it is believed that at approximately 2:30am, the security guards were on duty when three unknown men approached the guardhouse and threatened them with firearms. Magerman said the assailants allegedly assaulted the security personnel and forced them to the site office, where they broke a window and stole radios, diesel and cell phones belonging to the complainant.
“The suspects fled the scene in a truck, which was later spotted by the security transport vehicle. The police in the Western Cape were alerted, while the truck was being followed by another security vehicle who alerted the authorities. With the assistance of Laingsburg SAPS, the truck was intercepted in the Touwsrivier area.
“The members of Touwsrivier SAPS arrested five suspects aged between 29 and 44 respectively. They confiscated toy guns used by the suspects in the robbery. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Namakwa District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, commended the police for the collaboration between the two provinces for their swift reaction and arrests of the fleeing suspects.
Picture: The drugs seized by the police during raid/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
4 November 2025- A multi-disciplinary SAPS team in Noupoort successfully intercepted and removed drugs before they could reach the streets of the town. The police acted on intelligence regarding a man travelling from George to Noupoort, who was suspected to be in possession of drugs.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Molefi Shemane said in the early hours of Monday, 3 November 2025, at approximately 2:30am, the police spotted a man (31) matching the description disembarking from a bus. Shemane said a thorough search was conducted, which led to the discovery of mandrax tablets and tik concealed in the suspect’s luggage.
“He was arrested for possession of drugs with an estimated street value of R20 000. The suspect will appear in court soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Pixley Ka Seme District Police Commissioner, Major General Nomana Mtukushe, commended the collaborative efforts of the team in preventing the distribution of drugs. Mtukushe reaffirmed that the police in Pixley Ka Seme remain steadfast in their commitment to eradicating drug-related crimes within communities during and beyond the festive season.
Picture: the attendees at the handing over ceremony/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
5 November 2025- The Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul said they met with the CEO of Kumba Iron Ore, Mpumi Zikalala for the ceremonial handover of the land parcel for the Kathu Industrial Park Development. Saul said the land parcel is 91ha estimated at R62 Million.
He further said the ceremonial handover comes after the signing of the land donation agreement, which marked the formal initiation of the transfer process, a critical step in unlocking the next phase of the Kathu Industrial Park’s Development. Saul added that it represents a landmark moment in the province’s industrialisation and economic diversification journey.
“This milestone signifies the culmination of extensive engagements between Kumba Iron Ore, NCEDA, and the Northern Cape Provincial Government, aimed at establishing a dedicated industrial hub to service the region’s mining and beneficiation ecosystem. As part of this process, Kumba Iron Ore has made strategically located land available towards the development of the Industrial Park.
“The initiative aligns directly with the Northern Cape Industrial Corridor Development Framework, which positions the Kathu node as a strategic centre for value addition, mineral beneficiation, and supply chain integration in support of mining operations across the broader corridor,” he said.
Saul said Kumba Iron Ore Company remains a strategic anchor partner, whose leadership in facilitating the land donation demonstrates a shared vision for inclusive and sustainable growth. He said their contribution will serve as an enabler for further investment from both public and private sector partners, ensuring that the park evolves into a multi-industry ecosystem built on innovation, beneficiation, and shared prosperity.
“The project also positions the Northern Cape Provincial Government through the Northern Cape Economic Development, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (NCEDA) to leverage additional partnerships with other key role players.
“The Northern Cape Provincial Government remains committed to working with the Private Sector to ensure that we create jobs for the people of the province,” said Saul.
4 November 2025- The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, has directed officials to launch an urgent investigation into reports that participants in the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in the Bojanala District Municipality were allegedly forced to perform domestic chores for a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) and pressured to pay political party membership fees for her party.
Macpherson said the allegations first published in the Sunday Times, are deeply disturbing and contrary to the very purpose of the EPWP, which was intended to be a programme intended to create dignified, skills-based work opportunities for unemployed South Africans.
“If these claims are true, they represent a serious abuse of power and a betrayal of public trust. The EPWP was created to empower communities, not to serve anyone’s personal or political interests, which is why I have requested departmental officials to work with their provincial counterparts in the North West, as well as the Bojanala District Municipality, to verify the allegations and determine whether national EPWP funds were misused and if the recruitment policy was abused.
“Any individual found to have benefited improperly would face swift and appropriate action, including possible criminal referral. There will be zero tolerance for any misuse of this programme. Public money must never be used to advance private gain, and I look forward to soon communicating with the public on the outcome of the investigation,” he said.
Macpherson further said it is because of allegations such as those levelled in Bojanala District Municipality that he launched a nationwide EPWP listening tour over the past year to listen to the concerns of the community as he works to reform the programme. He added that he is committed to removing corruption and abuse from EPWP to ensure that it meaningfully empowers participants through skills transfers to ensure that they find permanent employment.
“We are determined to make the EPWP programme transparent, accountable, and focused squarely on improving people’s lives because we are committed to ensuring that every rand allocated to the EPWP benefits those it was meant for, creating work, building skills, and restoring dignity,” said Macpherson.
4 November 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng said the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has thrown its weight behind Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi following its tabling of a motion of no confidence against Lesufi, shockingly labelling him as a “beacon of decisive leadership.” The DA said this demonstrates that the trade union has taken sides, seemingly prioritising the protection of politicians over thousands of unemployed Gauteng residents whose circumstances have worsened because of Lesufi’s poor job creation programmes and failure to deal with corruption.
Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Solly Msimanga said they call on COSATU to reconsider its stance, as history will hold it accountable for choosing political loyalty over the needs of the people. Msimanga said in its statement, COSATU notes that the Public Protector (PP) did not find Lesufi guilty of financial mismanagement or corruption.
“Instead, the findings centre on the Department of Community Safety acting inconsistently with Sections 41(1)(h) and (g) of the Constitution. The problem with this statement is that it is driven by a desire to nitpick. The DA’s motion focuses not only on the PP’s revelations on Amapanyaza but also on a broad range of other issues, including the Premier’s failure to release all the forensic investigative reports, address corruption in the Tembisa hospital corruption saga and hold those implicated accountable.
“COSATU further suggests that the PP has already prescribed remedial action and expects the Premier to use his constitutional powers under Section 125 to ensure that “option 3” of the TC report is implemented within 180 days. While this is a reasonable expectation, the trade union should remember that the Premier is known for ignoring investigative reports and failing to implement their recommendations,” he said.
Msimanga further said it took years to release the 2018 BDO and Bowmans reports on mismanagement in the Gauteng Department of Social Development, and the recommendations have still not been implemented. He added that what leads COSATU to believe that the PP’s recommendations on Amapanyaza will be any different?
“Furthermore, COSATU’s statement is misleading in claiming that Lesufi pursues policies that address the province’s most pressing challenges, from combating unemployment to rooting out corruption and spearheading innovative infrastructure projects.
“The reality is that we are sitting with a failed project, Amapanyaza, which has brought more pain than relief to unemployed citizens. This failure significantly undermines COSATU’s claim. Surely, a progressive leader should be able to assess, or at least anticipate, whether a project will yield a lasting positive impact before implementing it. Moreover, a leader genuinely committed to addressing unemployment would not have prioritised a gimmick like Amapanyaza without proper consultation. Nor would they have ignored warnings from the then Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, that the programme was illegal, or the DA’s questions regarding its source of funding,” said Msimanga.
He said the DA challenges COSATU to cite even a few innovative infrastructure projects successfully spearheaded by Lesufi, as they currently have over 40 abandoned projects that have cost Gauteng billions of rand and have not been completed within budget or on time. Msimanga said these are not just projects.
“They are homes for over 1 million Gauteng residents, some of whom have been waiting for housing since 1996. It is also worth asking why the so-called champion of progressive policies is refusing to implement the Hostel Redevelopment Plan, which would enable the upgrading of all 65 Gauteng hostels.
“COSATU should stop being selective in its judgment, as this approach only serves to confuse other political parties, trade unions, faith-based organisations, and the Gauteng citizenry. Lesufi has insisted on Amapanyaza, a project doomed from its inception, and must be held accountable for his actions,” he said.
Msimanga said Lesufi has not addressed corruption in the province, despite whistle-blowers presenting credible information that required action from him. People have died both because of his ill-conceived Amapanyaza project and his failure to address corruption exposed under his watch. He said a self-respecting trade union that understands its mandate would put politics aside and support this motion for the benefit of their people, who are in desperate need of jobs and improved service delivery hampered by corruption and impunity.
“There is nothing frivolous about a motion aimed at freeing Gauteng from a leader who has overseen a period of severe corruption and failed to work collaboratively with businesses to create jobs.
“The DA in Gauteng stands in solidarity with residents and everyone who believes that the disruption of people’s lives by Lesufi’s choices was unjustified and motivated solely by a desire for political gain. History will undoubtedly hold accountable those who chose to turn a blind eye to protect him,” said Msimanga.
The Guardian 