Author: Malebogo Putu
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), working in partnership with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), effected a series of arrests across the North West, Western Cape, and Limpopo provinces this week, targeting suspects linked to fraud and corruption. In the North West, Tshiamo Justice Makwati (51), director of TJ Mampe Trading and Projects Close Corporation; Mosimaneapula Jonas Molefe (65), former Chief Financial Officer of the North West Housing Corporation; and Shanice Ditlhare Morubane (46), former secretary at Koikanyang Incorporated Attorneys, appeared before the Mmabatho Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. According to a joint statement by the Hawks…
Thirty-three students, comprising 14 women and 19 men, received Diplomas in Agriculture with a specialization in Irrigation during a prestigious graduation ceremony at Taung Agricultural College (TAC) on Friday. The event marked a significant milestone for the institution, the only one in South Africa offering a diploma focused specifically on irrigation agriculture, positioning its graduates to address sustainable farming needs in water-scarce regions. Delivering the keynote address, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in the North West Province, Madoda Sambatha, praised the graduates’ determination and urged them to drive transformation in the sector. “Today, we are not just celebrating academic…
On a sunlit morning at AJ Swanepoel Stadium in Ermelo, South Africa marked the 31st anniversary of its first democratic elections with a stirring address delivered by Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Commemorating Freedom Day, the speech celebrated the nation’s historic transition to democracy on April 27, 1994, while urging South Africans to resist division and recommit to reconciliation.“I greet you all on this glorious day as we celebrate our freedom,” Mantashe began, addressing a diverse gathering that included justices, premiers, parliamentarians, traditional and faith-based leaders, and ordinary citizens. Reflecting on…
As South Africa celebrated 31 years of democracy on Freedom Day, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe, speaking on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, acknowledged the nation’s progress while confronting the deep socio-economic challenges that continue to hinder its vision of equality. Addressing thousands at AJ Swanepoel Stadium in Ermelo, Mantashe outlined the Government of National Unity’s priorities to address poverty, unemployment, and inequality. “Our walk to freedom has been a long one and it is not yet complete,” Mantashe declared, reflecting on the legacy of colonialism and apartheid that continues to shape South Africa’s challenges. He described…
Today, South Africa commemorates the 31st anniversary of its first democratic elections on April 27, 1994, a historic moment that ushered in a new era of freedom and democracy. Celebrated as Freedom Day, this milestone coincides with the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, a visionary document that laid the foundation for a democratic South Africa and inspired parts of the country’s Constitution. As the nation reflects on its journey, voices from the African National Congress (ANC) and its Veterans League highlight both the triumphs and challenges in realizing the Charter’s aspirations. The 1994 elections marked a “political breakthrough,” as…
On the 31st anniversary of South Africa’s first democratic elections, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe, delivering Freedom Day remarks on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, announced the launch of an inclusive National Dialogue to chart the nation’s future. Speaking at AJ Swanepoel Stadium in Ermelo, Mantashe called for a participatory, society-wide process to address persistent challenges and reimagine South Africa’s democratic path. “This is a people-led, society-wide process to reflect on the state of our country and reimagine its future,” Mantashe told a diverse audience of justices, premiers, traditional leaders, and citizens. The National Dialogue, he explained,…
The African National Congress (ANC) in Rustenburg Local Municipality has stirred controversy with its abrupt decision to end its coalition with the Botho Community Movement and form a new partnership with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), further complicating the region’s fragile political landscape. The move, which follows the ANC’s loss of an outright majority in the 2016 local government elections, has drawn sharp criticism from former allies and opposition parties, while the EFF expresses hope for improved service delivery. The ANC has governed Rustenburg under coalition arrangements since 2016, having failed to regain a majority in the 2021 municipal elections.…
The Gauteng Department of Health has issued a stern condemnation of recent disruptions at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Atteridgeville, where community members have been obstructing patients from entering the facility, demanding they produce identity documentation at the gate. The unrest, which echoes a similar conflict two years ago, underscores ongoing tensions over access to healthcare services for foreign nationals in South Africa, pitting community groups against health authorities and unions. In a media statement released on April 25, 2025, the Gauteng Department of Health expressed “grave concern” over the “unruly behaviour” of some community members. “No community member or…
A series of intelligence-driven operations in South Africa’s North West Province has led to the arrest of eight suspects linked to two separate incidents involving kidnapping, robbery, and murder, authorities announced this week. The cases, which unfolded in Klerksdorp and Hartbeespoortdam, have exposed a disturbing pattern of violent crimes orchestrated by groups exploiting trust and vulnerability, often involving women luring victims into deadly traps. In Klerksdorp, a multidisciplinary team comprising the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit, Organised Crime Unit, Provincial Detectives, the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), and the Klerksdorp Tactical Response Team apprehended five suspects linked to the kidnapping, robbery,…
In yet another move to address systemic challenges plaguing local governance, North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Gaoage Oageng Molapisi, has positioned the Municipal MEC (MuniMEC) session as a cornerstone for fostering cooperative governance, intergovernmental collaboration, and the institutionalization of the District Development Model (DDM). The MuniMEC meeting, held recently in Mahikeng, brought together executive mayors, senior municipal managers, oversight institutions, strategic partners, and traditional authorities under the theme “Every Municipality Must Work.” Delivering the keynote address, MEC Molapisi emphasized that the session was more than a bureaucratic gathering—it was a clarion call for accountability,…