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‘Concerns regarding quality of construction’

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Picture: A building collapsed

By OBAKENG MAJE

17 December 2025- The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson said the investigation found, among others, that there were concerns regarding the quality of construction, that the concrete used was friable and that no building plans were submitted to authorities. 

Macpherson said as investigations continue, his department and stakeholders will continue to support affected families and communities, ensure full accountability, and work to prevent similar tragedies. 

He further said they gathered today under deeply painful circumstances. Macpherson added that the collapse of a multi-storey building in Redcliffe, North of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday afternoon has caused immense heartbreak and tragedy, particularly at this time of year.

“As I said during my site visit on Saturday, on behalf of the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure, I wish to once again express my deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in the Redcliffe collapse.

“We will continue to work closely with all spheres of government and relevant stakeholders to support those who have been injured and all those affected by this tragedy,” he said.

Macpherson said he wants to pay tribute to their brave rescuers, emergency personnel and police officers who have worked bravely and understand dangerous conditions to free those who were trapped and return those who were deceased back to their families. He said he wanted to commend the Province of KwaZulu-Natal and eThekwini Municipality for the disaster management coordination shown in this tragedy.

“We also want to express our gratitude to the Western Cape Provincial Government for allocating resources to support the recovery effort.

“We must also acknowledge the trauma experienced by survivors, workers, congregants, and community members. We thank our teams for the professionalism, dedication, and compassion they have shown since last Friday,” said Macpherson.

He said at the time of the latest formal operational update provided to the government, five fatalities had been confirmed, with a number of additional people injured. Macpherson said they do not believe there are any further people trapped in the rubble of the collapse.

“We again extend our deepest condolences to the families affected, and we wish all those injured a speedy and full recovery.

“Preliminary findings at this stage, it is important to emphasise that the findings I am about to share are preliminary in nature and are based on an initial expert assessment conducted by the Council for the Built Environment, working alongside relevant provincial and municipal authorities,” he said.

Macpherson said the Council’s CEO, Dr Msizi Myeza, will later further unpack these preliminary findings and the legislative framework that the CBE operates under in moments such as this. He said based on the information available at this point, the structure involved was a reinforced concrete multi-storey building under construction, comprising concrete columns, flat slabs and masonry walls.

“The collapse occurred while concrete was being poured, with reports indicating that work was underway on the upper levels of the building at the time of the incident.

“Preliminary evidence, including available video footage, points to a sudden structural failure, most likely triggered by a formwork or shuttering failure during the pumping of wet concrete,” said Macpherson.

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North West educators jet-off to China

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Picture: Three North West educators/Supplied 

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

20 October 2025- Three educators from the North West are part of the Department of Basic Education contingent jetting off to the People’s Republic of China on a DBE-Chinese Embassy Partnership from 20 October to 13 November 2025. The partnership, among others, involves Mathematics and Information and Communication Technology E-learning educators who shall have emerged through the processes of the National Teaching Awards will take part in the learning exchange programme.

The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said one of the three educators is Dimakatso Sefora from Moremogolo Primary School in the Bojanala District. Motsumi said Sefora won the 2023 competition and obtained position 3 in the Technology-enhanced Teaching and Learning Category.

“She is also a SchoolNet winner due to her integration of ICT-centred teaching. Her passion for digital learning had in the past earned her the award of Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) Super Teacher of the Year and the EduWeek Africa ICT Implementer of the Year (2018).  

“Another educator is Itumeleng Komane, is a young and vibrant North West University alumni who has just been promoted to be the Departmental Head at Boitekong II Secondary School in the Bojanala District. He is the 2024 national winner of the ICT-enhanced teaching category,” she said.

Motsumi further said another educator, Mxolisi Tyobeka, is the E-learning specialist in the North West Department of Education and has played a role both as a Provincial Adjudicator and coach of the Technology-enhanced teaching and learning category. She added that Tyobeka is an ardent proponent of digital learning and integration of ICT in teaching and learning.

“We wish them a wonderful journey and a productive learning experience in their three-week stay in the People’s Republic of China. On behalf of the department, I wish our educators a very safe journey to the Republic of China.

“They should ensure that they learn everything they come across during their tour, so they can share their experiences with peers in our schools. Let’s grow the North West and South Africa together,” said Motsumi.

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1038 suspects nabbed for various crimes

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Picture: Police arresting one of the suspects during Operation Shanela/Generic

By AGISANANG SCUFF

23 September 2025- As part of stamping the authority of the state, the weekly High Density Operation Shanela conducted between 15 and 21 September 2025, resulted in the arrest of 1038 suspects for different transgressions across the North West province. The operation, among others, focused on stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle check points (VCPs), high-visibility patrols including foot patrols, the tracing of wanted suspects as well as visits to liquor outlets, taverns, and second-hand goods premises.

The North West police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said the suspects include 21 for murder, 10 for robbery, 43 for rape, 275 for assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH), 70 for common assault, 12 for burglary at business and residential premises and 19 for illegal possession of firearms. Myburgh said this includes 30 for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 76 for contravention of the Immigration Act, 24 for illegal dealing in liquor and 129 for possession of drugs.

“Out of the 1038 suspects, 489 were circulated wanted suspects and nabbed by the detectives after being linked to the committed crimes through forensic DNA and other leads.

“Furthermore, police confiscated 18 firearms, 82 fireworks, three vehicles, 99 rounds of ammunition, three cellular phones, tablets, laptops, liquor and a variety of drugs and tobacco products,” she said.

Myburgh further said in Lomanyaneng village, a security guard at a school was overpowered by three men, wearing balaclavas in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, 17 September 2025. She added that the men allegedly pointed the victim with a firearm and tied him before gaining entry into the staff room, where they stole tablets and laptops.

“The security guard was only rescued the next morning by cleaners, while reporting for duty. Acting on a tip-off, the police proceeded to a house in Lomanyaneng on 18 September 2025, and arrested the accused, Mogomotsi Bennet Sebolaneng (37), and recovered three laptops, 15 tablets and a gas pistol, believed to have been used during the commission of the crime.

“Sebolaneng appeared before the Molopo Magistrate’s Court on 22 September 2025, on a charge of business robbery. He abandoned his bail application after it was established that he was out on bail for a similar offence and was remanded in custody until 30 October 2025,” said Myburgh.

She said in another separate incident, an intelligence driven operation conducted at Freedom Park, Phase 1, Phokeng on Thursday night, 18 September 2025, by Rustenburg Public Order Police (POP), led to the search, arrest of two men and recovered two firearms, ammunition, explosives as well as dye-stained money. Myburgh said Itu Monjane (33) and Nelson Lahlewe Huahwa (34), appeared before the Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court on 22 September 2025, on charges of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, explosives and dye-stained money.

“The pair was remanded in custody and will apply for bail at their next court appearance. Ongoing investigations by the Murder and Robbery Unit in Nietverdiend concerning the Masebudula incident, led to the recovery of a R1 and R5 Rifle with 25 rounds of ammunition on 20 September 2025. Investigations are continuing.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Dintletse Molefe, thanked all police officers and other role players for their continuous efforts to confiscate illegal firearms, which are used to commit violent and serious crimes.

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More than 771 suspects nabbed during Operation Shanela

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By REGINALD KANYANE

4 June 2025- The police in North West said as part of stamping the authority of the state, the weekly high density Operation Shanela conducted between 26 May to 1 June 2025, resulted in the arrest of 771 suspects for different transgressions across the province. The operation, among others, focused on stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle check points (VCPs), high-visibility patrols including foot patrols, the tracing of wanted suspects, the confiscation of illegal firearms, as well as visits to liquor outlets and taverns.

The North West police spokesperson, Captain Mpho Manyoba said the police have arrested suspects include 10 for murder, five for robbery aggravating, five for rape, 161 for assault with the intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and common. Manyoba said this includes 28 for burglary at business and residential premises, 25 for driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs and 69 for contravention of the Immigration Act, 41 for illegal dealing in liquor and 30 for possession of drugs.

“Out of the 833 suspects, 558 were circulated wanted suspects nabbed after being linked to the committed crimes through forensic DNA leads. Furthermore, police confiscated eight firearms, 20 fireworks, six television sets, 36 rounds of ammunition, four laptops, liquor and a variety of drugs,” she said.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, indicated that the police in the province are going to intensify their operations including the tracking and tracing of wanted suspects who are responsible for the high number of serious and violent crimes. Asaneng said crime intelligence, all detectives and the provincial tracking team, are as part of their weekly suspect tracing operations, instructed to prioritise long outstanding cases in which suspects were linked to crimes through forensic leads, especially recidivists who are linked to two or more serious crimes committed mostly with illegal firearms.

“There will be no place for criminals to hide and a stern warning is made also to those who knowingly harbour wanted criminals or are conduits or enablers of crime through buying stolen or robbed goods, as well as dealing in and peddling drugs that destroy the youth.

“All those who sell liquor without licenses or run shebeens, including those who organised or host events which are in violation of the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act, 2010, are not going to be spared as these have been identified as generators of serious contact crimes including assaults, murders, rapes and sexual assaults,” said Asaneng.

He said members of the public and law abiding community members are warned and advised not to visit these unlicensed or non-compliant events or places as they are risking their lives and property by frequenting such places where health and safety regulations are disregarded.

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Police urge community members to protest within the ambits of the law  

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Picture: Community members of Zeerust embark on protest/Screenshot

By REGINALD KANYANE 

13 March 2025 – The South African Police Service (SAPS) management in North West said it has noted with concern public violence inciting voicenotes doing the rounds on social media platforms. The voice notes, among others, allegedly notify the Zeerust and Lehurutshe community members about a march or shutdown on 14 March 2025, and warn taxi operators not to provide transport to commuters. 

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said this comes pending water restoration feedback following the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi’s address to the community seven days ago. Mokgwabone said the police would like to send a warning to members of the community that all citizens have rights enshrined in the constitution, including the right to peacefully picket and protest.

“Shutdowns, barricading of roads, damage to properties, and other unlawful actions are unconstitutional and cannot be tolerated. In the same breath, it is the responsibility of the police to ensure that law-abiding citizens’ rights are neither infringed upon nor denied by anyone. 

“As such, the police will not hesitate to take drastic steps against anyone who embarks on or incites violence, regardless of how legitimate their concerns or grievances are,” he said.

Mokgwabone further said members of the community are urged to work with the police through Community Police Forum (CPF) structures to report any acts of violence or lawlessness intended to undermine the authority of the state.

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