Author: Motlhaping Modise

Eskom senior management has been commended for stabilising the power utility following a series of breakdowns that rocked the entity leading to rolling blackouts in the country. This after Eskom announced that Unit 4 of the Medupi Power Station has been successfully returned to service, adding 800MW to the national grid. The station, located in Lephalale in Limpopo, holds the distinction of being one of the world’s largest dry-cooled, coal-fired power plants. “This milestone strengthens South Africa’s energy security and enhances the stability of its electricity supply,” said Energy analyst Ruse Moleshe, who was speaking on YOU FM Newshour. In…

The North West Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (PICC) has rescued a group of 25 boys who were found at an illegal initiation school near Lonely Park village in Mahikeng. The boys were reported missing by their parents two weeks ago. The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Media Relations Officer, Thebeetsile Keameditse, told Newsnote that the boys were found following a deepened overnight search by various stakeholders. “The PICC has roped in the South African Police Service, with the use of a K9 unit and other stakeholders to help track and rescue the young boys who have been missing…

The Department of Water and Sanitation in the North West said there’s a slight marginal drop in water levels at 28 dams in the North West province.According to the department Provincial Head, Luxolo Mditshane, this is because of several reasons including a change in weather patterns although still high and steady.Mditshane was reacting to the latest statement released by the department that the water levels in the North West have slightly decreased this week although most of them are still at a satisfactory full supply capacity.Speaking to Newsnote, Mditshane said that the department is cautiously monitoring the performance of each…

The North West Department of Education said it is pleased that the annual Winter Camps Programme for the Grade 12 learners in the province are proceeding smoothly across the 124 camps with 31 159 matriculants.MEC Viola Motsumi, has reaffirmed the department’s commitment to improving the final matric outcomes.“Winter camps are more than just revision. They are a critical intervention to ensure that no learner is left behind. We do this with the door purpose of closing learning gaps and building confidence before year-end exams. We applaud all our educators and support teams who are working tirelessly during the winter break,”…

The Correctional Services Minister Dr. Pieter Groenewald’s suggestion that corporal punishment be revisited to alleviate overcrowding in prisons by those who cannot afford to pay the minimum amount of bail has caused a lot of controversy.This particularly from those who believe a better strategy should be employed rather than resorting to ‘apartheid tactics’ to resolve 2025 challenges.Groenewald suggested during the presentation of his departmental budget vote in the National Assembly on Tuesday, arguing that “overcrowding remains a challenge, exacerbated by those who can’t afford to pay small amounts of bail.”He told the house that over 60 000 accused persons are…

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in the City of Tshwane has vowed not to back down on its initial 2021/2022 request for the increase of salaries to its members by 3.5% and 5.4% respectively at the metro. This after the two parties failed to find each other during two meetings held under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on June 10 and June 23, 2025. SAMWU’s Tshwane Regional Secretary Donald Monakisi told YOU FM Newshour listeners that the City of Tshwane doesn’t even want to negotiate the 3.5% that was agreed on with…

A Boitekong-based political party, Botho Community Movement (BCM) in Rustenburg has become the latest smaller political party to merge with ActionSA through its “growing Green Umbrella initiative” following Forum4Service Delivery and others across the country.This after BCM leader Ofentse Kombe signed a merge agreement with ActionSA which was represented by party leader, Herman Mashaba, in Rustenburg on Monday. Mashaba told councillors and party members who attended the signing ceremony in Rustenburg that ActionSA’s Green Umbrella Initiative is a movement that is not just about growing the party, but about transforming South Africa for every citizen, in every community.“ActionSA, which is…

Phillip Vilakazi has been elected as the president of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) at the union’s 18th National Congress held at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg. Vilakazi, who has served as the deputy president of the union for over six years, was contesting the leadership position with former president Dan Balepile. Balepile was elected during the 17th congress in 2022 and only served one term at the helm of the union. Over 700 voting and non-voting NUM delegates gathered at a three-day congress that was touted to serve as a critical platform to debate the challenges confronting…

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) has threatened a court action against the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). NEHAWU is accusing the commission of violating the rights of its employees and part-time workers to affiliate with the union of their choice and refusing to grant it an organisational right and recognizing it as a registered union at the institution. The union alleges that the CCMA management has refused to recognise it despite having undergone all the relevant processes including verification of its membership.NEHAWU’s spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi told YOU FM Newshour listeners that they have recruited…

A long-standing issue of professionalisation of administration at all spheres of government has been raised again as a possible solution to persisting challenges of failing service delivery and other challenges facing government in the country. This is according to the North West Provincial Chairperson of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the Executive Mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Khumalo Molefe, who believes that professionalisation will help attract people with required skill and knowledge to run public service affairs. Molefe, who was speaking on YOU FM Newshour, didn’t mince his words when addressing the persisting failure of…