12 March 2026 – The police said the boy, Tshiamo Pitso (3), who was reported missing was found on a nearby farm on 11 March 2026, after he wandered off and could not find his way back home. He is currently at a local clinic for medical evaluation and treatment.
The North West police spokesperson, Sergeant Kelebogile Morake said Pitso was last seen by his mother on 8 March 2026, in Extension 3, in Itekeng, Biesiesvlei when he was playing with his siblings aged 8 and 13. Morake said the SAPS appreciated the communities’ assistance.
“Keep following our social media pages to stay informed,” she said.
Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi
By OBAKENG MAJE
12 March 2026- The embattled North West Department of Education is under scrutiny after the AG’s findings uncover a staff debt book of more than R100 million, which includes payments to individuals who had resigned, retired, or passed away. It is alleged that such payments have occurred because there was a continuous breakdown in payroll verification, HR controls, and supervisory oversight.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Education in North West, Wolfgang Wallhorn said these incidents are not isolated errors. Wallhorn said they represent a systemic governance collapse that placed public funds at serious risk.
“We are alarmed by the material irregularity uncovered by the Auditor General (AG) in the North West Department of Education’s payroll system, a major financial scandal that exposes deep-rooted failures in internal controls, financial oversight and consequence management.
“While the department has now introduced the Automated Leave and Termination Management System (ALTMS) to improve termination tracking and prevent future overpayments, the DA stresses that systems alone do not remediate accountability failures,” he said.
Wallhorn further said ALTMS will have to be taken through stringent live tests to assess effectiveness in practice to ensure similar incidents cannot occur again. He added that equally concerning is the continued lack of clarity around disciplinary and consequence management processes.
“The public deserves clarity as to who authorised these payments, who disregarded warning signs, and what actions have been taken against responsible officials. Without visible and credible disciplinary outcomes, any reform measures risk being meaningless.
“The DA therefore insists that the department submit regular, detailed progress reports to the Portfolio Committee covering investigations, recovery of funds, disciplinary proceedings, and system control improvements,” said Wallhorn.
He said these reports will determine the next oversight steps. Wallhorn said the residents of North West deserve assurance that public money is protected, that negligence is punished, and that this payroll scandal is resolved with full transparency and accountability.
“The DA will continue to pursue this matter until every responsible party is identified and every recoverable rand is accounted for,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Department spokesperson, Vuyo Mantshule said: “The department is aware of the Material Irregularity (MI) 01 of 2022/23, which was formally raised by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on 31 July 2023. This MI relates to the reported staff debts identified in the department’s financial statements.
“The Auditor-General’s Material Irregularity (MI) arises directly from disclosures made by the North West Department of Education in its 2022/23 annual financial statements. The department proactively reported staff debts as part of its statutory financial reporting obligations, demonstrating transparency and adherence to financial reporting requirements.”
Mantshule said the staff debts stem from delayed terminations and resignations that occurred shortly after salary runs. He said at the time, these processes were managed manually, which contributed to timing gaps and overpayments.
“The department acknowledges that these historical procedural limitations played a role in the accumulation of staff debts and steps have been taken to strengthen termination controls to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“The department emphasizes that these delayed terminations were isolated incidents, primarily resulting from the limitations of manual processes in place at the time,” said Mantshule.
He said these cases do not reflect systemic wrongdoing, but rather procedural shortcomings that have since been addressed through improvements and use of technology.
He said the department confirms that these incidents do not represent a systemic governance collapse. Mantshule said while the identified staff debts highlight areas where manual processes created vulnerabilities, they are isolated cases and do not reflect a broader failure in the department’s governance structures or oversight mechanism.
12 March 2026 – A man (36) was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Taung Regional Court for raping a girl (14). On 6 July 2024, in Mountain View, near Pampierstad, the victim visited her aunt, who was the girlfriend of the accused, Luburu Micheal Phama.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in North West, Sivenathi Gunya said on the day of the incident, the victim was sleeping in the bedroom with her aunt when Phama snuck in the room and raped her more than once, while the aunt was sleeping. Gunya said as a result, the victim fell pregnant.
“She did not report the assault instantly until she was told by her teacher that she was pregnant. After she told her teacher of what happened, a rape case was opened. The accused was arrested.
“During the trial, the accused pleaded guilty to the charge of rape. In aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Rebaona Mokgopa addressed the court that the victim is young and was subjected to sexual violence at a young age.
“Mokgopa said the victim will forever live with the trauma and that there are no substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. Mokgopa submitted the Victim Impact Statement (VIS), compiled by the victim with the assistance of the Court Preparation Officer Thembinkosi Madiba, which detailed the profound physical and psychological trauma she endured, including ongoing fear and distress,” he said.
Gunya further said in delivering the judgment, the court found that there were compelling reasons to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment under Section 51(1) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, citing the accused’s personal circumstances. He added that the court ordered that his name be included in the Register of Sexual Offenders and prohibited him from working with children.
“He was further declared unfit to possess a firearm,” said Gunya.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, commended both the prosecution and the investigative teams for their diligence and dedication. Makhari reaffirmed the NPA’s commitment to the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Picture: Police engaging community through Midday Magic programme on Radio Kaboesna/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
12 March 2026 – On Wednesday, the meet-and-greet segment continued on the Midday Magic programme on Radio Kaboesna, hosted by radio presenter Elridge, featuring Warrant Officer Anthony Swift from SAPS Calvinia, Pastor Matthys and Mr Booi Whites from the Spiritual Crime Prevention Desk in Calvinia. Whites provided background on his apostleship and how he became involved with the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and further explained how spiritual leaders offer valuable support to the community through counselling, spiritual assistance, and community projects.
The Namakwa District police spokesperson, Captain Ivan Magerman said strong emphasis was placed on encouraging community members to connect with spiritual leaders and churches, noting that through prayer for both the community and the police, a meaningful change can be brought about in working towards a crime-free town. Magerman said the Spiritual Crime Prevention Desk also highlighted its role in supporting community members during times of need, including trauma assistance.
“Discussion also covered the importance of community members feeling comfortable approaching SAPS, CPF leaders, spiritual leaders, and Community in Blue Patrollers. When asked whether prayer can stop crime, the answer was a definite yes — from which a proposal arose for spiritual leaders to gather and hold a day of prayer.
“Long-term plans between and the CPF, include providing emotional and physical support to both the community and SAPS members. A special word of thanks was extended to members of SAPS for their involvement, and the programme was concluded with a prayer for the community and SAPS members,” he said.
12 March 2026 – The Galeshewe Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit is requesting the public’s assistance in tracing a boy (12), who went missing on 9 February 2026. The police said the missing boy, Kago Sahid Mabeka from Sewendelaan Township, in Delportshoop, was last seen in the company of Zulu-speaking men in Delportshoop who allegedly indicated that they were taking him to Rooikoppies.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Litabe said Mabeka is approximately one metre tall, light in complexion and has black curly hair. Litabe said he speaks Setswana and Afrikaans.
“He is known to frequent Long Street in Delportshoop, as well as Barkly West town. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to contact Warrant Officer Jacob “Duppie” Du Plessis of the Galeshewe Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit on 082 495 4605 or 053 807 6161 or Captain Sabata Tsiu of the same unit can also be contacted on 082 874 4616.
“The public is reminded that there is no waiting period to report a person missing,” he said.
Picture: The Northern Cape MEC for COGHSTA, Bentley Vass
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
12 March 2026- The Northern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Bentley Vass, today convened a meeting with the Whips of political parties represented in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality Council after a special council sitting was unable to proceed due to disruptions. Vass, acting in terms of Section 154 of the Constitution which mandates that national and provincial governments support, strengthen and capacitate municipalities to manage their own affairs and perform their functions, expressed grave concern about the conduct of certain councillors, which led to the breakdown of the council meeting.
He further said the Whips presented challenges and proposed solutions to stabilise governance and the administrative leadership of the municipality. Vass added that the people of Sol Plaatje Local Municipality deserve a stable, functional and capable municipality that can deliver good quality services to our communities.
“Political differences must never come at the expense of the residents we serve. The council needs to find common ground and prioritise service delivery at both the administrative and council levels,” he said.
12 March 2026- The police in the Northern Cape urge business owners, employees and members of the public to work together in preventing shoplifting, that remains a prevalent property related crime that affects retail businesses, where clothing, groceries and other items are stolen. The police said it does not only lead to financial losses, but also threatens jobs and the sustainability of businesses.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Litabe said the police have noted with concern the occurrence of this type of crime across all the five districts of the province. Litabe said it is for this reason that the police encourage the implementation of safety hints to reduce incidents of shoplifting.
“Retailers should ensure that shops are well lit and neatly arranged to eliminate blind spots. Install visible CCTV cameras and warning signage to deter criminal activity. Train employees to be vigilant and to identify suspicious behaviour. Limit the number of customers inside the store during peak hours where possible. Secure high-value items in locked display cabinets or behind counters.
“Conduct regular stock counts to quickly identify losses. Encourage staff to greet customers, as visibility discourages criminal intent. Employees should remain alert at all times and avoid distractions such as excessive cell phone use. Do not confront suspects aggressively; rather report suspicious activity to management or security. Immediately report shoplifting incidents to the police,” he said.
He further said the public should not support or participate in shoplifting in any form. Litabe added that they should report suspicious behaviour to store personnel or the police.
“Parents and guardians are urged to educate children about the legal consequences of shoplifting. SAPS calls on communities, business owners and consumers to form partnerships aimed at protecting businesses and promoting lawful behaviour. Anyone with information related to shoplifting incidents is encouraged to report it to their nearest police station or anonymously via the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or alternatively via the MySAPS App.
“Together, we can create safer shopping environments for all,” said Litabe.
12 March 2026 – A man (25) was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the Victoria West Regional Court for robbery with aggravating circumstances. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on 13 August 2025, when the accused robbed a victim (12) of R200, while the child was on his way to a supermarket in Victoria West to purchase groceries.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Litabe said it is reported that the accused approached the victim and demanded money. Litabe said when the victim indicated that he did not have any money, the accused produced an Okapi knife and pressed it against the victim’s chest.
“The accused then searched the victim and took the R200 note that was intended for groceries. After committing the robbery, he instructed the victim to run and not look back. The victim complied with the instruction, but managed to observe a distinctive tattoo on the side of the suspect’s neck, which later proved to be a crucial detail in tracing the suspect.
“Upon arriving at home, the victim reported the incident to his guardian, who subsequently informed the police. A case of robbery with aggravating circumstances was registered at Victoria West Police Station and assigned to Detective Sergeant Mojalefa Mokitimi for investigation,” he said.
Litabe further said through meticulous investigative work, the detective successfully traced and arrested the suspect. He added that the accused appeared in court on several occasions until the case was finalised on 10 March 2026, when he was convicted and sentenced.
“In addition to the sentence, the accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm,” said Litabe.
Meanwhile, the Pixley ka Seme District Police Commissioner, Major General Nomana Mtukushe, welcomed the sentence and commended Mokitimi for his dedication and commitment in ensuring that the accused was held accountable for his criminal actions.
Picture: The police confiscated some items during raids/Supplied
By AGISANANG SCUFF
12 March 2026 – High-density disruptive actions under Operation Vala Umgodi, focusing on hotspot areas linked to illegal mining activities in Kimberley, continue to intensify. As part of these efforts, a multi-disciplinary team arrested seven suspects aged between 29 and 73 on 11 March 2026.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Molefi Shemane said the suspects were apprehended for illegal mining, trespassing and contravention of the Immigration Act during ongoing police operations aimed at curbing illegal mining activities in the Frances Baard District. Shemane said during the operation conducted at a mining site in Kimberley, the police discovered that the suspects did not possess valid mining permits to operate and had not been granted permission by the owner to conduct mining activities on the property.
“The suspects were subsequently arrested. The police officers attached to Operation Vala Umgodi also confiscated various tools and equipment believed to have been used in the commission of illegal mining activities. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
“Multi-disciplinary operations targeting illicit mining will continue, with increased police visibility aimed at stabilising and normalising affected areas, as well as reclaiming communities from illegal mining activities,” he said.
12 March 2026 – A man (22) from Dithakong village, near Kuruman was arrested by the police in Bothitong on Tuesday, for the alleged brutal murder of elderly women aged 61 and 92. The police were informed of the incident that took place at approximately 12:00 on the same day.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Litabe said upon arrival at the scene, the police found both of the victims lying in a pool of blood with open wounds to the head and face respectively. Litabe said the 61-year-old female was declared deceased at the scene, while the elderly victim was taken to hospital, where she later succumbed due to the injuries sustained during the attack.
“The suspect is charged for two counts of murder and is expected to appear in court soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, the acting John Taolo Gaetsewe District Police Commissioner, Brigadier Kenneth Baloyi, condemned this gruesome murder and commended the members for the swift arrest of the suspect. Baloyi said such acts of violence against women in the communities must be condemned by society and will not be tolerated in JTG and perpetrators thereof will be dealt with decisively.
The Guardian 