Author: Motlhaping Modise
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has called for an urgency in addressing what he called “the hard reality” of the deteriorating performance of the country’s eight metropolitan municipalities. Hlabisa highlighted that the metros play a crucial role in improving the quality of life for communities, by promoting inclusive local economic development and providing vital services, including housing, electricity, water, sanitation, and waste removal. He has however painted a concerning picture of metros under strain from a combination of governance failures, financial mismanagement, and infrastructure decay. “As executive mayors of metropolitan municipalities, you lead the governance and economic…
The newly elected Mayor of Greater Taung Local Municipality in Taung in the North West, Itumeleng Maribe has vowed to turn the municipality around and deliver sustainable basic services to the people across the predominantly rural villages. Maribe was elected earlier this month, replacing Mayor Tumisang Gaoraelwe who was recalled by the ANC in 2025 and subsequently faced a motion of no confidence. Prior to his mayoral tenure, Maribe was the Member of Mayoral Committee responsible for Infrastructure Development at the municipality. Speaking during a special YOU FM Newshour broadcast, Maribe said that the municipality has recently held its…
North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi has committed a continued, strengthened support for traditional and Khoi-San leaders in the province, focusing on rural development, service delivery, and resolving leadership disputes. The promise was made on Thursday at the official opening of the Province’s House of Traditional and Khoi-San leaders in Mahikeng. Mokgosi was accompanied by the Provincial Chairperson of the House of Traditional and Khoi-San leaders Kgosi Thari Maotwe and his executive, the legislature speaker, Dr. Desbo Mohono, and members of the provincial executive. Mokgosi said that his administration will strengthen collaboration with Dikgosi and Khoisan leaders in the regulation of…
Twenty-three erven (portions of land) allocated to the Mahikeng Local Municipality in the North West, have been returned to the Municipality. The land was unlawfully transferred to a private developer unlawfully or without proper channels and the resolution of the council back in 2015. The official handover of the land, as well as unfinished residential blocks and building materials was made by the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Andy Mothibi, including Economic Development MEC Bitsa Lenkopane on behalf of the premier Lazarus Mokgosi and Mahikeng local Municipality, Executive Mayor, Tshepiso Mphehlo. This followed 11 years of legal challenges…
The African National Congress (ANC) top five in the North West is expected to meet on Wednesday, where it is anticipated that a report will be presented on the state of readiness for the upcoming provincial conference, which has been deferred to a later date. The Provincial General Council had resolved that an early provincial conference be held at the end of May. ANC provincial spokesperson, Tumelo Maruping, told YOU FM Newshour that plans are under way to ensure that party processes are followed. “We are still following the roadmap in terms of allowing the Branch General Meetings (BGMs) to…
The North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) is optimistic that the newly launched community-led clean-up initiative, #MatlakalaKeZaka, will create much-needed job opportunities and address environmental challenges such as illegal dumping, littering, the burning of waste, and poor waste management practices. The campaign was launched by MEC Bitsa Lenkopane, accompanied by the Mayor of Tswaing Local Municipality, Norah Mahlangu, in Sannieshof. Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, Lenkopane said that the campaign represents a turning point in how communities view and manage waste. “Through the Matlakala ke Zaka Campaign, the government aims to promote community-led climate action…
Twenty-five families and victims of apartheid-era crimes have expressed profound frustration and concern over President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to file his own affidavit and heads of argument in support of former Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma’s application seeking the recusal of Justice Sisi Khampepe, who chairs the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Inquiry. The families have accused Ramaphosa of actively advancing views that advocate for the demise of the very Commission he himself established. In a prepared statement read out on behalf of the families and survivors, Thembi Simelane, who is Nokuthula Simelane’s sister, said they are extremely concerned that…
A sense of jubilation filled the air as the community of Mikasa village outside Taung in the North West embraced their newly built Primary School Library. The impoverished Mukasa Primary school learners had limited access to reading resources and were allegedly required to travel approximately 16 kilometres to visit the nearest library. The library was donated to the school by AVBOB, South Africa’s largest mutual assurance society and a one-stop funeral service provider. Welcoming the donation on behalf of the Department, Education MEC Viola Motsumi stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in supporting the education sector. “Let me take this…
A suspect believed to be a hitman in the murder of Marius van der Merwe, known as “Witness D” at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, was arrested in Johannesburg on Saturday. The suspect was apprehended by a task team established to investigate cases arising from the commission. Van der Merwe was assassinated outside his home in Brakpan in December last year, in front of his family, after testifying at the commission about alleged corruption, torture and illegal mining involving police officials. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola had applauded the team “for moving with…
The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong has handed over 440 school shoes to pupils in about nine schools in the Greater Taung and Mamusa Local municipalities in the North-West province. Morolong returned to the schools after his January state of readiness visit for the school reopening for the 2026 academic year in the province. During the school shoes handover ceremony which was held in Schweizer-Reneke, Morolong said that he realised that some of the learners were without proper school shoes while others went to school barefoot. “I was reminded that the struggle for dignity in education remains incomplete. …