Tag Archives: Wessels Morweng

Two armed suspects who allegedly committed robbery assaulted by community members   

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Picture: Community members allegedly assaulted two armed suspects/Screengrab 

By AGISANANG SCUFF

16 December 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, together with the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, said they have noted with concern a viral video currently circulating on various social media platforms putting to show a traffic officer being attacked. Morweng said the alleged incident took place on Monday afternoon, 15 December 2025.

He further said the preliminary investigations indicate that the incident happened on the R503 road between Klerksdorp and Hartbeesfontein. Morweng added that this follows an alleged armed robbery that occurred shortly before the video was recorded.

“It is reported that two suspects aged 44 and 26, who are accused of having committed an armed robbery, were apprehended by members of the public. The traffic officer, who was on patrol duties, was stopped by community members and the suspects, who were being pursued, ran for cover in a traffic officer’s vehicle.

“Their pursuers then attacked them inside the traffic vehicle. The traffic officer called the police who responded quickly and the community members fled from the scene. The two suspects, who were severely beaten, were taken to the hospital under police guard. A firearm with ammunition, believed to have been used in the commission of the alleged armed robbery, was also handed over to the traffic officer,” he said.

Morweng said the suspects remain under police detention, while receiving medical treatment. He said the firearm and ammunition have been seized as part of the investigation.

Meanwhile, the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo said the duo will appear before the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on charges of armed robbery and for illegal possession of a firearm with ammunition as soon as they are discharged from the hospital. Naidoo said a suspect (26) will also be charged for the contravention of Section 49 of the Immigration Act, Act 13 of 2002.

“The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the events depicted in the video. Further action will be taken in line with the outcome of the investigations. The public is urged to allow police to conduct their investigations without interference and to refrain from the circulation of unverified information that may cause unnecessary alarm or misinformation.

“We strongly condemn acts of violence and vigilantism, and caution members of the public against taking the law into their own hands. While community cooperation in reporting crime is encouraged and appreciated, the apprehension and punishment of suspects remain the responsibility of law enforcement, including justice agencies,” he said.

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Morweng concerned about blatant disregard of basic traffic regulations

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By REGINALD KANYANE

10 December 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, said he is concerned about the blatant disregard of basic traffic regulations by road users. Morweng said this comes after the report for the first ten days of law enforcement operations indicated that most moving violations are what should be basic traffic regulations.

He further said the province’s weighbridges have also been at the peak. Morweng added that over 1200 heavy motor vehicles had been weighed so far.

“Of the 5107 vehicles that had been stopped at various operations throughout the province, almost half of the motorists have contravened one or more of the National Road Traffic Act statutes. Some of the violations include common offenses like excessive speeding, failing to obey traffic signs, seatbelt non-compliance and using of mobile phones while driving.

“In the last 10 days, 92 drivers did not have driving licenses, 11 were transporting passengers without Public Passenger Transport Permits, 240 were overloading passengers, 25 were driving unlicensed vehicles and 62 were not wearing seatbelts,” he said.

 Morweng said more drivers are still speeding excessively as 112 were caught by speed cameras since the beginning of December 2025. He said worryingly, 77 drivers were driving unroadworthy vehicles for which 54 fines were issued and two of those were discontinued whilst one was impounded.

 “In total, 829 contraventions were recorded of which either fines were issued or arrests effected. I have directed that there be visibility of law enforcement on all arterial routes coming to or going through the province including local routes which statistics indicate are prone for pedestrian accidents.

 “To ensure visibility is heightened, a 24-hour law enforcement operation on all major roads has been embarked upon. A friendly warning to all who will be traveling to or through the North West is that, we will be welcoming for all who obey the law, but you will find us inhospitable for all those who will be in contravention of any regulation,” said Morweng.

He said the department has purchased 37 new vehicles for traffic officers and will be used to specifically patrol N4, N12, N14, N18, R24, R30, R49, R503 and R510. Morweng said the last quarter of the year has also recorded an increased registration of vehicles.

“From September 2025, registered vehicles in the country stood at 13 646 029 vehicles. Of these, 684 000 were registered in the North West. Added to this, is the expected number of holidaymakers who will be visiting the province as ecotourists. 

“I have implored on all law enforcement officers to be disciplined at all times notwithstanding occasional provocations from some motorists. We are living in a world obsessed with and preoccupied by social media. Many people will be travelling determined to make content for their social media pages out of your behaviour,” he said.

Morweng said many will provoke law enforcement officers, record their conduct and their response to their provocation. He urged the law enforcement officers not to give them the satisfaction and treat everyone with utmost respect.

“During this period, we expect you to resist all kinds of temptations that will present itself to you. During this festive season, when the risks of impaired and reckless driving, speeding, moving violations and driver fatigue will be on the increase, vigilance and dedication and ultimate discipline from you will make a difference.

“We continue to admire your commitment to service, we appreciate your courage and implore on you to ensure South Africans Arrive Alive,” said Morweng.

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NTI appoints new Business Rescue Practitioner

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Picture: NTI transport

By BAKANG MOKOTO

14 April 2025- The North West Transport Investment (NTI) has appointed the new Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP). The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, has in November 2024, guided that an application be made to the Gauteng High Court sitting in Pretoria to remove the then BRP, Thomas Hendrick Samons.

Morweng said after experiencing financial challenges, the NTI had in July 2022, applied for a voluntary business rescue process in July 2022. He further said Samons was then appointed as the Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP).

“His primary responsibility was to turn the entity around to make it more sustainable and generate income to pay creditors primarily of who are the employees. To do this, the BRP was supposed to have developed a plan within 25 days of his appointment as stipulated by the Companies Act.

“The BRP has since failed to do all that including accounting for the money the Government has paid to the entity. Following the department’s successful application to remove him at Gauteng High Court, the BRP then applied for a leave to appeal the Gauteng High Court ruling,” said Morweng.

He said the department then lodged a Section 18 of the Superior Court Act application seeking an implementation of the initial order for his removal. Morweng said the purpose of this Section 18 is to ensure that the court ruling is enforced in spite of the BRP application for a leave to appeal.

“The judgement, which was handed down electronically on 27 March 2025, enforced the initial ruling that removed the BRP from NTI. It is following this judgement that the NTI has now appointed Mahomed Mahier Tayob as the new BRP. This, as the entity still needs to be rescued and be turned around to be profitable.

“Tayob is a senior business rescue practitioner with impressive qualifications obtained in South Africa and the UK. Among other entities Tayob has rescued include a state bus company in Gauteng and has also investigated a R2.6 billion investment scheme on behalf of the Hawks,” he said.

Morweng said Tayob will work closely with Dr Ntlhopeng Dikobe, who has been seconded by the department as the NTI acting CEO. He said Tayob is expected to present a turnaround plan and report regularly to the shareholder representative and ensure the NTI is restored to profitability. 

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Morweng visits the family of slain policeman in Ganyesa

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Picture: The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng/Supplied

By OBAKENG MAJE

9 April 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, has visited the family of the late Constable Eric Tekolo (41), in Ganyesa. Tekolo was allegedly stabbed last week Friday evening, while walking in the streets towards his sister’s house in Phohung Section in Ganyesa.

Three accused, Karabo Kunene Karabo (25), Taolo Sebolai (23) and Boikanyo Setlhabetsi (19), were arrested and charged with robbery. Their case was postponed by the Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court until 16 April 2025, for formal bail application.

“We send our heartfelt messages of condolences to the family and commended the police for the arrest of three suspects who appeared at Ganyesa Magistrate Court, after their arrest on Saturday.

“The off-duty police Constable was attacked on his way home after knocking off. He was taken to the local clinic after being found with stab wounds on the street at Phohung Section, Ganyesa village, outside Vryburg on Friday evening, 4 April 2025,” he said.

Morweng further said Tekolo later succumbed to his injuries.

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Taxi operators’ chaos in Klerksdorp caused by miscommunication

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Picture: The taxi operators blocked various roads in Klerksdorp/ Klerksdorp Community Marketing

By OBAKENG MAJE

18 March 2025- The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) in North West said they are happy after reaching a lasting solution with the North West Provincial Government (NWPG). This comes after SANTACO representatives had a consultative meeting with the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi and North West Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, regarding issuance of permits.

On Monday, various roads in Klerksdorp were closed down with burning tyres and debris as taxi operators embarked on strike. They demanded that, Permit Board issue the approved permits to them.

SANTACO provincial chairperson, Ebusang Tladi said the taxi industry has come a long way since the very first taxi was introduced more than half a century ago. Tladi said they had a fruitful consultative engagement with all stakeholders including the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi and North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng.

“As SANTACO, we raised an array of issues regarding the alleged circular handed out by Morweng that all permits that were approved by the Permit Board should be held. It was alleged that taxi owners must come and pay for them. So, this was the root of the problem.

However, in the meeting, Morweng denied ever sending out that kind of circular. He said he told the Permit Board not accept new applications anymore because the taxi industry is saturated as per our agreement. This will affect the business and I can say without any fear of contradiction that we are happy with our resolution,” he said.

Tladi further said they agreed to cease their protest and all roads are now trafficable. He added that they normally do not want to embark on a protest strike as this affects the livelihoods of their commuters.

Morweng said: “We had a consultative engagement with the taxi industry in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda region and listened to their grievances as they made it clear that they will only listen to the government, if the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi and I, are here.  

“Indeed, Mokgosi set everything aside and prioritise them as they are priority. We have engaged with them and agreed to expedite most of their issues raised. Other issues are operational and there has been a miscommunication between ourselves and them.”

Morweng said that is something they are going to strengthen because there was a message that says the Permit Board was instructed to stop the issuance of permits, which was an agreement between government and SANTACO.  He said the reason for this was, the industry is now bloated.

“Now, officials misinterpreted that communication to say we are halting the whole service altogether, which is something that cannot happen. Service is required on a daily basis. We are dealing with old permit applications, and we are not issuing any new permits thus far.

“This was an agreement that we have reached with them as per their memorandum that they have long submitted to us. Generally, there was an agreement and we will be able to move forward and improve on other things that they also raised,” said Morweng.

He said they are looking forward to improving the industry as the taxi operators are rendering service on the government’s behalf. Morweng said they must ensure that the environment and industry is conducive at all times so that taxi operators can thrive as they ferry commuters from one place to another.   

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MRM calls for a probe after nine NTI buses torched 

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Picture: Nine NTI buses torched/Supplied 

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

4 February 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, has called for in-depth investigations into the cause of a fire that broke out at the North West Transport Investment (NTI). The fire, which was discovered in the early hours of Monday morning at a sleeping ground in Moretele village, destroyed nine buses at a go.

Morweng said NTI management have opened a case with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and further investigations will determine the circumstances around the cause of the fire as well as the extent of the damage. He also expressed dismay at the unfortunate turn of events at the entity.

“We have recently turned a new leaf with our intervention at the entity by addressing the leadership instability experienced for some time now. We have also ensured that employees received their salaries as promised. 

“Therefore, we believe that we have made great effort to assist the entity in realising its full potential. This, however, is a set back and overall unfortunate incident,” said Morweng. 

He added that, at this point it is unclear whether this was an accident or an act of sabotage, and therefore they make a call to the authorities to deal with the matter decisively. Morweng said the NTI Acting Group CEO, Dr Dikobe and management at the entity has plans in place to limit the impact of services rendered to commuters in and around the Moretele. 

“At the same time, the department as a shareholder in the company, will continue to play a supportive role in order to ensure that service delivery is not compromised and that commuters are not left stranded,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Convenor of the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in North West, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele said: “The MRM expressed concern regarding the blaze. The civil society led movement promoting the Charter of Positive Values (CoPV), suggested that the incident that took place could be an atrocious and despicable act of economic sabotage.

“It cannot be a coincidence that we are losing valuable assets and infrastructure across the province to fires. We therefore call on law enforcement agencies not to leave any stone unturned until those responsible are behind bars.” 

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Nine NTI buses set on fire

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Picture: Nine NTI buses set on fire/Supplied

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

3 February 2025- The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, has called for in depth investigations into the cause of a fire that broke out at the North West Transport Investment (NTI). The fire which was discovered in the early hours of Monday morning at a sleeping ground in Moretele village, destroyed nine buses at a go.

Morweng said NTI management, have opened a case with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and further investigations will determine the circumstances around the cause of the fire as well as the extent of the damage. He also expressed dismay at the unfortunate turn of events at the entity.

“We have recently turned a new leaf with our intervention at the entity by addressing the leadership instability experienced for some time now. We have also ensured that employees received their salaries as promised. Therefore, we believe that we have made great effort to assist the entity in realising its full potential.

“This however is a set back and overall unfortunate incident. At this point it is unclear whether this was an accident or an act of sabotage, and therefore we make a call to the authorities to deal with the matter decisively,” said Morweng.

He further said the NTI Acting Group CEO, Dr Dikobe and management at the entity has plans in place to limit the impact of services rendered to commuters in and around the Moretele. Morweng said at the meantime, the department as a shareholder in the company, will continue to play a supportive role in order to ensure that service delivery is not compromised and that commuters are not left stranded.

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Morweng chairs Stilfontein rescue team    

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Picture: The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng during a meeting/Supplied 

By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

16 November 2024- North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, hit the ground running by convening a meeting with relevant stakeholders that forms part of the rescue team established by the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu. This comes after Mchunu appointed Morweng to chair the rescue team, which is to be responsible for developing a comprehensive rescue plan to assist in bringing the illegal miners to the surface.

On Friday, Mchunu, Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale, North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, Morweng embarked on an oversight visit to the Stilfontein shaft, where more than 1000 illegal miners have been rescued. In the meeting, Morweng requested the mine owners and rescue specialists to work on conducting the assessment, which will inform the operational plan to rescue those underground.

“We all agree that we want to rescue those people and we need the community to come on board for us to succeed in this operation. The mine owners indicated that there is a need to clear the site before any resource can be deployed on site, which they committed to implement immediately when the community members have vacated the area.

“We then made a plea to the community leaders who are part of the rescue team to start communicating with the members on site about the intentions of the government and those underground if they are able to. We need to allow the technical rescue team to make the proper risk assessment that will inform this operational plan,” he said.

Morweng further said their common ground here is to rescue those people. He added that the earlier they talk to community members on site and allow the mine owners and technical rescue team to clear the site and deploy relevant machinery to do the risk assessment, the better.

“They need to start to operationalise the plan. The rescue team led by me, composed of SAPS, District Mayor and Local Mayor, community leaders, mine owners, mine rescue technical team and government departments,” said Morweng.

Meanwhile, there was allegedly an impasse between government departments in terms of who would foot the bill as the rescue team demanded answers before they could commence with their duty.  

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North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng to address challenges raised by SANSBOC

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Picture: The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng along with SANSBOC delegates/Supplied 

By REGINALD KANYANE

The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, today met with the Provincial South African Small Bus Operator Council (SANSBOC) officials as part of an introductory meeting. Morweng said the aim was to get first-hand information as to what are the challenges, as well as their plans to take the department forward in line with their mandate. 

“We welcomed the engagement with the hope that it should be the start of more interaction with the organisation, so as to build a working relationship, but also to find each other on issues that are beneficial to all stakeholders.

“Furthermore, SANSBOC requested me to form a task team that will resolve some of the challenges that they have encountered and also come up with remedial actions,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of SANSBOC, Final Kgodumo raised issues that he feels Morweng needed to take note of and intervene.

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