Author: Motlhaping Modise

Calls are mounting for the President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint a Commission of Inquiry into all aspects of what happened at the Buffelsfontein Gold mine in Stilfontein near Klerksdorp in the North West. This after the completion of a government sponsored rescue mission at the mine yesterday. Two hundred and forty-six (246) alive illegal miners were retrieved from shaft 11 while 78 of them were declared dead between Monday and Wednesday this week.Two of the parties in the Government of National Unity, GNU, the Democratic Alliance and GOOD Party are leading the campaign for the establishment of the commission. Congress…

North West EXCO members who conducted oversight visits at various schools across the province to check and assess their state of readiness for the first term of the 2025 academic year, have raised concerns about several challenges that they identified during their visits. Some of the recurring challenges that were noticed include but not limited to shortage of mathematics and science educators, lack of proper school infrastructure and substantial plan around the administration of the Grade R classes for the first time to some schools. The Chairperson of the North West Portfolio Committee on Education Priscilla Williams visited Onkgopotse Tiro Comprehensive School…

ActionSA’s newly appointed deputy president Dr. Mbahare Kekana has defended the decision to merge his party Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) with ActionSA a year before the much-anticipated local government elections in the country. Kekana was announced as ActionSA new second in charge during a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday, following an agreement reached with the leadership of ActionSA to “put together the two like-minded parties.”Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, Kekana said that the decision came after a series of meetings. “It was a marathon of talks between us and ActionSA including other parties.We started discussing early last year,…

The South African National Small Bus Operators Council (SANSBOC) in the North West has sought to reassure parents and legal guardians of hundreds of pupils who depend on scholar transport that their children will be taken to schools safely.The council’s comments come as the 2025 academic calendar gets underway across the country from today. SANSBOC Provincial Chairperson Final Kgodumo told YOU FM Newshour that they are ready to resume their duties, despite persistent challenges of late payments of their invoices by the Department of Transport Management in the province. “We are ready to transport learners as per agreement with the…

The community of Ward 7 & 8 in the town of Lichtenburg in Ditsobotla local Municipality in the North West has threatened another total Shut down due to erratic provision of Water and electricity services since early last month. Police were called and defused the situation yesterday when a group of protestors allegedly barricaded the R503 (Lichtenburg) and R503 (Hartbeesfontein) intersections and N14 road in Coligny outside Lichtenburg, due to apparent shortage of water in their area.The community leader Johanna Tlotleng told Newsnote that they are devising a plan on how to carry-out their shutdown. “We are sick and tired…

It was a moment of joy and celebration in Hammanskraal, a community in the northern Pretoria region, as residents welcomed the return of clean running water for the first time in twenty years. This significant milestone was marked this morning when the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Nasiphi Moya, took the inaugural sip from a tap in front of an enthusiastic crowd, signalling a new chapter for the community. “This marks the completion of the first phase of the Klipdrift Package Plant, which commenced in October last year. We have four modules that we need to roll out to cover all…

The ongoing sewerage crisis in Lichtenburg has reached a critical point, prompting Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motswaledi to call on local Mayors to take immediate action. This plea comes in the wake of flooding at the General Delarey Hospital which led to the emergency transfer of 33 patients to other health facilities in the province. Accompanying Motswaledi during his inspection were North West MEC for Health Sello Lehari, senior provincial officials, national representatives, and engineers. This team assessed the extent of damage caused by an unusually heavy rainfall that resulted in over 10% of Lichtenburg’s annual rainfall falling in a…

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has issued an urgent plea for a collaborative meeting involving key stakeholders, including the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), and ArcelorMittal South Africa, to avert a looming crisis that threatens to displace thousands of workers in Newcastle. The call follows ArcelorMittal’s alarming announcement that it intends to wind down its long steel mill operations this month, a decision that could result in 3,500 direct and indirect job losses. As sub-Saharan Africa’s largest steel producer, ArcelorMittal South Africa’s potential job cuts are a significant blow not…

The ongoing torrential rains that have lashed several areas of the North West Province over the weekend have necessitated urgent state intervention, particularly in healthcare facilities. In a proactive move, Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi is set to visit three hospitals impacted by the floods tomorrow. The South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 2 Warning due to the prediction of disruptive rainfall, which could lead to localised flooding and significant damage to vital infrastructure—including bridges and low-lying areas. These weather conditions have not only affected the North West but have also placed the neighbouring province of Limpopo…

The City of Tshwane’s Emergency Services Department has urged communities to remain alert following a Yellow Level 5 warning issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) for disruptive rain, forecast for today, Sunday, 05 January 2025. The disruptive rain is expected to persist until tomorrow, Monday, 06 January 2025. Acting Public Information and Liaison officer Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni says the City’s Emergency Services Department team is on standby to respond to any call. “The impact of disruptive rain, which may be accompanied by widespread showers and thundershowers may include elevated risk of localised flooding, especially of susceptible low-lying areas,…