Author: Motlhaping Modise
The family of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo says it has confidence in the police’s newly established multidisciplinary task team investigating the deaths of five women in the Kempton Park and Olifantsfontein areas over the past two months. Moselakgomo, a resident of Rhodesfield, went missing last Wednesday after leaving home for her usual evening run. Her body was discovered badly beaten on York Street on Saturday night. Days later, the body of a fifth woman was found in nearby Olifantsfontein on Monday morning. Police said Moselakgomo’s eight-year-old daughter contacted relatives after her mother failed to return home, prompting the family to report…
The Moses Kotane Local Municipality (MKLM) has scooped two prestigious awards at the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) North West Provincial Municipal Awards. The accolades recognise the municipality’s sustained improvements in financial management, good governance and public service delivery. MKLM was also recognised for its outstanding leadership in localising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating how global targets can be translated into meaningful local action. The municipality’s Mayor, Cllr Nketu Nkotswe, congratulated her administration and welcomed the role played by SALGA North West in creating a platform that recognises excellence and sustained improvement across local government. “We…
The number of independent schools in Gauteng has increased by 122 to 1,083 in the past five years, educating more than 379,000 pupils across the province. Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, Gauteng MEC for Education Lebogang Maile stated that 279 of the schools are subsidised by the government, while 804 are non-subsidised. Maile provided an overview of the growth and performance of independent schools in the province, including government subsidies, registration and accountability requirements. “In 2021, there were 961 independent schools in the province, which increased to 987 in 2022, 1,010 in 2023, 1,047 in 2024, 1,068 in…
South Africa has repatriated 250 foreign nationals to Zimbabwe and Nigeria as authorities continue large-scale voluntary repatriation and deportation operations amid renewed migration-related tensions and safety concerns in KwaZulu-Natal. The coordinated operation was carried out on Thursday, September 10, 2026, in cooperation with the relevant foreign diplomatic missions. It followed reports of displaced and stranded foreign nationals seeking urgent humanitarian assistance outside their respective diplomatic offices. According to government officials, the operation was conducted in accordance with South Africa’s immigration laws and established international humanitarian procedures, with authorities seeking to ensure an orderly, safe and humane process. Deputy Government Spokesperson…
The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West has formally welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate North West Transport Investments (NTI). Committee Chairperson Freddy Sonakile stated that the independent forensic probe is a crucial step towards bringing accountability to the embattled provincial transport entity and its subsidiaries. He affirmed that the proclamation will cover allegations of serious maladministration, unlawful or improper conduct, irregular expenditure and transactions, possible corruption, and losses suffered by the State. “Importantly, it also empowers the SIU to pursue the recovery of losses suffered by…
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo is confident that withholding monthly equitable share allocations from municipalities owing Water Boards can assist in addressing this growing challenge in the country. Mahlobo called for a “whole-of-society approach” to address the growing municipal debt owed to the boards, as well as the broader challenges affecting the sustainability of the water sector. The Deputy Minister revealed this during a webinar convened by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which discussed the growing municipal debt burden, its impact on the sustainability of the boards, and the implications for the constitutional right of access…
The North West Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) is set to formally request that the national government classify the province as a disaster area. This follows a catastrophic weekend storm characterised by destructive winds, heavy rain and severe hail, which tore through the four districts of the province, leaving a trail of destruction. Preliminary assessments reveal that more than 60 schools, clinics, strategic roads, and several public and private buildings have been severely damaged or destroyed. Speaking about the extent of the crisis on YOU FM Newshour, the Head of the North West PDMC, Tebogo Gaolaolwe, confirmed that provincial teams…
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has called for thorough investigations into a suspected case of “aiding and abetting” dangerous offender Edward Madiba’s escape from the Rooigrond Maximum Correctional Centre near Mahikeng in the North West. Madiba escaped from one of the country’s maximum-security correctional facilities on Sunday, not for the first time, but for the second time in less than a year. According to the Department, Madiba escaped from the same maximum-security facility in 2022 and was only re-arrested late last year. Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, committee Chairperson Kgomotso Ramolobeng called for harsher action against officials who may…
The family of anti-apartheid struggle stalwart and student activist Nokuthula Simelane has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pledge to stand by them until the truth about the 23-year-old’s disappearance is uncovered, her remains are found and those responsible are held to account. Ramaphosa delivered the inaugural Nokuthula Simelane Memorial Lecture at the University of Mpumalanga on Thursday afternoon. Nokuthula was abducted, tortured and forcibly disappeared by members of the Security Branch of the South African Police in 1983. “To the Simelane family, our pledge remains: we will not abandon the search for the truth and what happened to Nokuthula. “We will…
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has commended the province’s 22 municipalities for successfully meeting the 31 August statutory deadline to submit their 2025/26 Annual Financial Statements (AFS) to the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA). During the ceremonial handover of the AFS, Auditor-General officials and Finance MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi described the submissions as an important foundation for accountability to the people of North West. Speaking on YOU FM’s Newshour, SCOPA Chairperson Motlalepula Rosho said the AFS provides a formal account of each municipality’s financial position and performance for the financial year ended 30 June 2026.…