20 January 2026- The police said recent business robberies reported are alarming and concerning. The police said their preliminary investigations indicate that not sufficient safety precautionary measures are taken into consideration by business owners and managers.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Molefi Shemane said the police have detected that large amounts of cash is not banked or deposited on time into business drop safes or (depository safe). Shemane said the police in the province are making an urgent plea to all business owners to adhere and implement the following safety hints and measures to prevent businesses being targeted and becoming victims of robberies.
“Deposit money into the drop safe as quickly as possible to prevent planned internal theft. Avoid having large amounts of cash on the business premises, bank or drop it on regular time intervals. The police cannot overemphasize the importance of the installation of sufficient surveillance cameras on the business premises.
“Employ enough security personnel and always be vigilant when working with money. Do not use the same routes to bank daily cash. Avoid operating after hours and remain within the business hours. Avoid being alone in the business, especially at night and do not sleep on the premises,” he said.
Shemane further said business owners should not open for anyone after the business is closed. He added that they should always try to be two or three when opening and closing the business.
“Train your staff and share robbery prevention and response guidelines on how to act prior to or during business robberies,” said Shemane.
Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi
By OBAKENG MAJE
19 January 2026- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi has encouraged all parents and guardians who are still looking for space for their children to visit the Local Education Offices in their areas, where they reside. Motsumi said her department has established Education Hubs specifically to assist parents and guardians who did not get space for learners.
Motsumi further said the Education Hubs will assist with the placement of learners into different schools. She added that the issue of parents not getting their children to school has come to the attention of the department.
“The constitution of the Republic of South Africa emphasizes that every child has a right to education.
During the reopening of schools every learner should be in school.
“I take this time again to encourage parents and guardians to visit Education Hubs in the Local Education Offices (LEOs). I have instructed that these hubs should ensure that all learners are placed in schools,” said Motsumi.
She said she wants to caution parents and guardians that schools of choice cannot be provided at this time. Motsumi said now it is very late for parents to demand schools of choice.
“We are going to place learners where there is space not far from their place of stay. We are requesting cooperation from parents and guardians in order for teaching and learning to start on the first day of the reopening of schools.
“For more information on the placement of learners, parents and guardians should call the District Directors on various numbers. In Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, they can call the District Director, Mojakhumo Dithejane on 072 616 4368,” she said.
Motsumi said in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, they can call N. Seokolo on 082 884 6423, in Ngaka Modiri Molema District, they can call E. Lesetedi on 082 356 0503, while in Bojanala District, Dr L. Ntwape will be ready to receive their calls on 076 927 2667.
Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi
By BAKANG MOKOTO
12 January 2026- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said her department encourages all parents and guardians who are still looking for space for their children to visit the Local Education Offices (LEOs) in their areas where they reside. Motsumi said her department has established Education Hubs specifically to assist parents and guardians who did not get space for learners.
She further said the Education Hubs will assist with the placement of learners into different schools. Motsumi added that the issue of parents not getting their children to school has come to the attention of the department.
“The constitution of the Republic of South Africa emphasizes that every child has a right to education. During the reopening of schools every learner should be in school. I take this time again to encourage parents and guardians to visit Education Hubs in the Local Education Offices (LEOs).
“I have instructed that these hubs should ensure that all learners are placed in schools. Again, l wants to caution parents and guardians that schools of choice cannot be provided at this time. Now it is very late for parents to demand schools of choice,” she said.
Motsumi said they are going to place learners where there is space not far from their place of stay. She said they are requesting for co-operation from parents and guardians in order for teaching and learning to start on the first day of the reopening of schools.
“For more information on the placement of learners, parents and guardians should call the District Directors. In Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, they can call Mojakhumo Dithejane on 072 616 4368, N. Seokolo in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District on 082 884 6423, E. Lesetedi on 082 356 0503 in Ngaka Modiri Molema District.
“They can also call Dr L. Ntwape on 076 927 2667 in Bojanala District,” said Motsumi.
Picture: Grade 12 learner, Onalenna Booi who died at initiation school/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
29 December 2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said they were shocked and devastated to learn about the death of Onalenna Booi (19), a Grade 12 learner from Tiego Tawana Secondary School in Dithakong East Village, near Mahikeng. Motsumi alleged that Booi died after he was forcefully taken to an initiation school after finishing the writing of his matric examinations in late November 2025.
She further said it is reported that the family did not know about Booi’s whereabouts and they reported it to the police. Motsumi added that it was reported that the family found the deceased’s body on 26 December 2025.
“On behalf of the North West Department of Education, I hereby wish to convey my sincerest condolences to the entire family and the school community of Tiego Tawana Secondary School. It is really sad to receive such news while we, as a country, are waiting for the results of the Class of 2025.
“I am confident that the South African Police Service (SAPS) will be able to get to the bottom of this matter and that those responsible will be found and brought to justice. We will ensure that the family, learners and teachers are provided with psychosocial support during this difficult period,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Tiego Tawana Secondary School principal, Pogiso Tshipo highlighted that he was expecting a bachelor from this learner. Tshipo said as the school principal for this learner, he is extremely devastated by the sad news.
“I was expecting a bachelor pass from this learner because I know that he was one of the hard-working group of learners. I remember that I spoke to him around September 2025 and he promised to do well in his examinations.
“He was naughty just like all other learners, but when he started Grade 12, his behaviour drastically changed. You could see that this was a learner who was hungry and determined to perform well in his Grade 12 class,” he said.
Tshipo said they had 59 Grade 12 learners, now next year, he will be releasing the results to only 58 learners. He said he does not even know how they are going to handle this process as the school.
25 December 2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi has hailed Mokete Flatela (56), who is a Mathematics and Science teacher from Nkang Mahlale Secondary School in Jouberton Township, near Klerksdorp, for soliciting the sponsor of 400 desks for his school.
Motsumi said Flatela has been a teacher for 30 years and believes that one needs to be a solution to a problem rather than be an additional problem.
She further said when he worked at Lerothodi Secondary School in Bethanie village, he realised that the school needed infrastructural attention and wrote letters to the nearby mines. Motsumi added that, through Flatela’s intervention, the school was renovated to the tune of R3 million.
“Indeed, his contribution made a huge difference to the school. At the beginning of the 2025 academic year, Flatela was allocated a classroom that did not have adequate school furniture.
“Every time when learners had to change periods, teachers were frustrated because the learners did not have furniture in the classes they were moving to,” she said.
Motsumi said this situation necessitated Flatela to write letters to the private sector to request school furniture for his learners. She said the Harmony Gold Mine responded positively to his request for the 400 desks.
“We would like to praise Flatela for his heroism. I wish to thank him for the heroism he displayed at Nkang Mahlale Secondary School. His conviction and dedication did not allow him to limit himself to his position at the school.
“He believed that seeking help for their school is not the sole responsibility of the principal alone but for everyone in the school to take the responsibility,” said Motsumi.
She regards him as a hero in their schools and she believes that they need many more Flatelas in the education system. Motsumi said the government does not have all the resources to cover every need in all their schools.
“We encourage our community members to raise their hands like Flatela and make a difference from any space they are in. It is true that ‘It takes a village to raise a child.
“Ngwana ke sejo oa tlhakanelwa.’ The government alone cannot make it if the general society does not come to the party. On behalf of the entire department, l would like to thank and appreciate Harmony Gold Mine for their donation of desks to Nkang Mahlale Secondary School,” she said.
Motsumi said she takes this moment to challenge other companies to support schools across the province. She said the Harmony Gold Mine has already delivered 200 double desks and the other 200 is reported to be delivered soon.
Meanwhile, Flatela said: “After realising that my learners were struggling without the school furniture, I could not wait for the department to deliver but to take it upon myself. I did not even inform my school principal about my little project of soliciting furniture for the learners.
“They only knew when Harmony Gold Mine requested a school letterhead on the request letter. I was over the moon after I heard that my request had been approved.”
Flatela said he knew that these desks were going to change the quality of the African child education and he thanked Harmony Gold Mine for their positive response to his request.
“My passion for education is fully realised when l see learners able to acquire education in a conducive learning environment,” said Flatela.
Picture: Grade 12 learners during NSC final examinations/Generic
By AGISANANG SCUFF
25 December 2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi has appealed to parents and guardians to closely monitor the behaviour of learners who did not progress to the next grade in the 2025 academic year. Motsumi said schools across the province have issued progress reports to learners from Grade R to Grade 11.
She further said while many learners were promoted to the next grade, some did not meet the requirements for progression. Motsumi emphasised the importance of parental support and guidance during this festive period, noting that learners who did not pass may experience emotional distress, frustration or behavioural changes.
“I take this moment to plead with all parents and guardians of those learners, who did not progress to the next grade. I am pleading with them to closely monitor the behaviour of those children because some did not accept the outcome of the results.
“This denial of accepting the results sometimes leads to emotional depression. Sometimes such children tend to behave differently due to such pressure,” she added.
Motsumi advised parents and guardians, whenever they see an unusual behaviour, they should urgently seek help from faith‑based leaders and anyone who can help them. She is expected to release the matric results on 13 January 2026.
Picture: Learners overloaded in a minibus taxi/Screegrab
By REGINALD KANYANE
12 November 2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said she condemns in strongest terms the overloading of learners in the minibus taxis when learners are ferried to and back to school. Motsumi’s reaction comes after the traffic officers have impounded a 15-seater minibus taxi which was transporting 29 learners to school in Mahikeng on Tuesday.
She further reiterated the words of the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, who implored all the public transport to adhere to the regulators. Motsumi added that they are appealing to all public transport operators who are transporting learners to comply with the rules of the road.
“We further appeal to all parents whose children are using the public transport to check their transport before leaving for school. They must monitor if it’s not overloaded or not, if so they should look for an alternative transport. Our learners are currently writing examinations and we request our public transport operators to be extremely cautious on the road during this period.
“The department is requesting School Governing Bodies (SGBs) and principals to play an active role in verifying all means of transport that learners use and report unsafe practices immediately to relevant authorities,” she said.
Picture: Learners posing on beds with no matresses/Facebook
By REGINALD KANYANE
29 October 2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said it is disheartened and shocked to learn that some learners, when they arrived at an incubation camp, posed on beds without mattresses to mislead the public as if the department had not provided the mattresses to the learners at a camp held at Itereleng Skills Training Centre in Vaal Reefs on 26 October 2025. Motsumi said her department learnt about this irresponsible act posed by learners from the social media platforms.
She further said the learners were shown sleeping on beds directly without mattresses. Motsumi added that her department in its efforts of improving the matric results organized an incubation camp at Vaal Reefs and Itereleng for three schools, Kanana Secondary School, Mathlaleng Secondary School and Mmonkeng Secondary Schools.
“The department has always hosted the incubation camps at the same venue since 2019. We condemn the posing of learners on beds without mattresses. On behalf of the entire department, I am extremely disappointed by the irresponsible act committed by some learners who attended the incubation camp at Vaal Reefs.
“This venue has more than enough mattresses to accommodate all learners from the three schools. I believe this act was aimed at causing a sensation to create fear and anxiety in the parents. As we speak now, all learners have slept very well without any inconvenience. I want to sincerely assure parents that their children are safe and well taken care of,” she said.
Motsumi said parents should not panic at all because the department is taking good care of their children. She highlighted that these camps assist learners to avoid distraction which they sometimes experience when they study at home.
“Learners are expected to be at the incubation camp until they finish writing all their subjects. Teachers and Subject Specialists of different subjects will be available to assist learners,” she said.
Picture: The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi
By AGISANANG SCUFF
23 October 2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi expressed satisfaction with the third day of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) final examinations, commencing with the learners writing English Paper 3. Motsumi today went to motivate learners and monitor examinations at MpheBana Secondary in Koster, where 189 matric candidates sat for examination.
Following the examination monitoring, Motsumi called a meeting with the School Management Team (SMT) and School Governing Body (SGB) to deliberate on the proposed strategy for the incubation of all candidates. She further said the incubation process is arranged to start on 26 October 2025.
“During this examination period, the North West will station subject advisors to assist the school with the incubation programme to support all candidates, as they have consistently performed below 80% throughout the year.
“The school must work closely with the parents during the incubation camp for teachers to be able to concentrate on the curriculum. The incubation camp will allow teachers to give more time to curriculum delivery, while parents partner with the school to foster a conducive environment for learners,” said Motsumi.
She added that they remain committed to supporting every candidate and will continue to monitor examination processes until the last paper is written. Motsumi said candidates are scheduled to write a three-hour examination, Afrikaans Paper 3 on 24 October 2025.
Picture: North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi
By OBAKENG MAJE
23 October 2025- The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi has called a special meeting on 21 October 2025, with the district officials and curriculum directorate. Motsumi said the main objective of this meeting was to analyse the Grade 12 Term 3 preliminary examination results.
She further said in the meeting, she emphasized the importance of collective effort in obtaining the set target of 95%. Motsumi added that there has been a minimal increase of 10.1% in comparison to the 2024 cohort and a 9.1% increase compared to 2023.
“The province currently, after analysing these results, is achieving an 84% pass rate, with only 4,115 out of 41,924 matric candidates remaining to meet the targeted percentage. I was very pleased with the outcomes presented before me.
“I further appeal to communities to desist from disruptive activities of protests as this can deny learners access routes to schools, which could avert candidates from writing their examinations,” she said.
Motsumi said they are within reach of their 95% target though they cannot be complacent. She said every learner matters and calls on parents, teachers, district officials and community leaders to work with them to ensure uninterrupted access to schools and protect examination schedules from disruptive protests.
“The departmental officials highlighted that targeted interventions such as incubation camps will continue in schools and districts where candidates still require more support,” said Motsumi.
The Guardian 