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⬇️ GET YOUR SOFT COPY NOW: JNN - LATEST EDITION - 11 SEPTEMBER 2026
Siwelele FC have appointed Godfrey Mosoetsa as interim coach, following the departure of head coach, Lehlohonolo Seema, and his assistant, Willem Jackson, as the Bloemfontein club looks to turn around a difficult run of results.
Siwelele chairman, Calvin LeJohn, confirmed the coaching changes on Monday, 7 September 2026, after the club endured a challenging spell in the new season.
Seema’s tenure at the club produced mixed results.
In Siwelele’s maiden season, he guided the team away from relegation with four matches remaining, while one of the most memorable fixtures under his leadership was the dramatic 7-4 defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Across 37 matches in all competitions, Seema recorded 8 victories, 15 draws, and 14 defeats.
In a statement, LeJohn stated that the club would continue assessing the senior team’s performances and technical programmes.
The coaching change comes in the aftermath of a disappointing run having recorded a winless streak of five matches consisting of four defeats and one draw.
LeJohn acknowledged the difficulties faced by the club, but backed the players and the project at Siwelele.
“This has been a challenging period for the club, and our supporters deserve better than what they have seen so far this season.
“Our belief in this team, in our players and in what we are building at Siwelele remains unchanged,” LeJohn said.
He called on supporters and stakeholders to remain united, patient, and committed as the club works to overcome its current struggles.
“The club will make a further announcement on the coaching approach for the remainder of the season once the review has been concluded. We will not be commenting further while that process is under way,” added LeJohn.
Allegations of serious maladministration, corruption, irregular expenditure and the improper loss of public funds at the North West Department of Public Works and Roads are set to come under scrutiny following the signing of Proclamation 340 of 2026 by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The proclamation authorises the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the procurement and contracting of goods, works and services linked to Bid Number PWR 89/13 for the special maintenance of Road P152/1 between Setlagole and Road P34/4 in Delareyville.
The project covers 58km, with Phase II involving 28km of the road. The tender was awarded at a reported value of R150 466 494.68.
The SIU will examine whether the procurement process, contracting and related payments were conducted fairly, competitively, transparently and cost-effectively, and whether they complied with applicable legislation and Treasury prescripts.
The investigation will also determine whether officials, employees, agents, service providers or other individuals or entities engaged in unlawful or improper conduct to secure an undue or corrupt benefit.
Allegations of fraud, as well as any unauthorised, irregular, fruitless or wasteful expenditure incurred by the department or the State, will also be investigated.
The probe will cover the period from 9 March 2021 to 28 August 2026, when the proclamation was published.
In terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996, the SIU may institute civil proceedings before the Special Tribunal or High Court and take steps to recover financial losses suffered by the State.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has welcomed the investigation and pledged its full cooperation.
DPWI Director-General Sifiso Mdakane has contacted the North West Head of Department to communicate the national department’s readiness to assist and requested access to all relevant documents and information.
The DPWI noted its previous involvement in the Section 100 intervention in the province, saying its focus was to restore normality, strengthen accountability and improve systems for the delivery of essential infrastructure.
The department reaffirmed its commitment to good governance, transparency and ensuring public infrastructure resources are managed in the best interests of communities.
Ongoing laboratory testing and ecological monitoring in Algoa Bay are shedding light on the mass sardine mortality event that swept onto Eastern Cape coastlines in late August 2026.
Researchers from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) are analysing the long-term ecological fallout of the pilchard herpesvirus detected in Gqeberha and Nelson Mandela Bay.
While initial testing confirmed the presence of viral genetic material, officials stress that infection alone may not explain the sheer scale of the wash-up.
“Scientists are examining whether the virus is the primary cause or whether it is infecting fish already weakened by environmental stressors, such as harmful algae, low oxygen, or unusual oceanographic conditions.”
Investigators are shifting their primary focus to these compound environmental factors while assessing the broader impact on the general marine ecosystem.
The long-term threat now also focuses on the region’s critically endangered African Penguin population, as marine biologists track the immediate impact on their foraging grounds.
“The DFFE recognises the concerns raised by conservation organisations regarding potential ecological impacts on species that rely on sardines, particularly the endangered African Penguin.”
Because sardines serve as a fundamental food source, the sudden crash in fish availability risks widespread starvation and severe weight loss across Algoa Bay colonies.
Monitoring efforts by the department further confirm that the virus poses no direct infection risk to bird health, confirming that the ongoing crisis remains strictly ecological. Field teams remain deployed along the coastline to assess fish stocks and monitor vulnerable penguin populations as laboratory assessments continue.
There was electricity in the crisp Karoo air on 31 August 2026 as the wooden deck of the Chargo River Lodge became the stage for a historic tourism revolution.
With Lake Gariep shimmering in the background, the Northern Cape, Free State, and Eastern Cape officially joined hands to launch the Tri-Provincial Tourism Month 2026.
Free State MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism in Ketso Makume, MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs in the Eastern Cape, Nonkqubela Pieters, and Northern Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Venus Blennies-Magage, came together alongside top tourism leaders under a soaring theme: One Destination, Three Provinces, a World of Possibilities!
The energetic launch officially kicked off a shared vision to dissolve old border lines and showcase the region’s hidden gems through digital innovation.
The landmark moment was sealed with the official signing of a Tri-Province Memorandum of Understanding by the visionary chief executive officers of the provincial tourism agencies.
The ceremonies kicked off with an uplifting opening prayer from Pastor Mabanga, setting a tone of unity and promise.
Attendees were treated to dynamic promotional videos showcasing the monumental spots, wildlife, and sweeping landscapes each province boasts.
Northern Cape Economic Development Agency (NCEDA) Chief Executive Officer, Shawn Modise, took the podium, instantly captivating the crowd by asking them to imagine a future where boundaries vanish.
He urged everyone to look at tourism as a journey where the three provinces become the ultimate connectors.
As the host MEC, Blennies-Magage emphasised the direct impact of the pact during her address.
“Our presence here represents our commitment to collaboration, developing joint tourism offerings, and cross-selling our destinations, ensuring a visitor entering one province has every reason to discover the other two,” she stated.
Pieters, on the other hand, reminded attendees about the true nature of travel.
“Provincial boundaries matter for administration but should never limit our imagination because tourists don’t plan their memories around border signs.
“They follow landscapes, stories, food, culture, wildlife, and adventure,” she said.
Makume drove the point home by declaring that tourism must become the engine of regional growth.
“If South Africa is serious about inclusive economic growth, job creation, and rural development, then tourism must be placed firmly at the centre of our economic strategy.
“Our provinces must stop competing where we can collaborate,” said Makume.
The crowd’s enthusiasm peaked as local tourism entrepreneurs openly celebrated what this means for grassroots businesses.
SaKhisizwe Tours founder, Mbulelo Kafi, highlighted how the new agreement unlocks immediate potential for operators.
“As a tour guide, this tour of the Gariep is the one I have always been craving because it challenges me to tailor incredible new itineraries that flow right through the Free State, Eastern Cape, and Northern Cape.
“So far I have already developed some because there are a lot of hidden gems in the Karoo, like this one and its sister lodge, the Chargo Boutique Lodge,” added Kafi.
With prominent leaders present, the message leaving Colesberg was clear, unified, and packed with momentum. Tourism Month 2026 has officially arrived, and the Karoo has never looked more inviting.
The North West is facing growing concerns over the safety of its schools after three school fires were reported within just two weeks, with the latest blaze destroying a mobile classroom at Phakisang Primary School in Ottoshoop, near Mahikeng.
The fire broke out on Saturday, 29 August, prompting renewed calls for communities to protect public school infrastructure as authorities investigate whether the latest incident was deliberately started.
According to the North West Department of Education, the school’s General Assistant received a call on Saturday afternoon alerting him to the fire. When he arrived, he found books burning inside one of the mobile classrooms.
A tyre and plastic hosepipes were also found burning underneath two other mobile classrooms, raising further concerns about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and Fire Department were called to the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze before it could spread.
However, the fire damaged the classroom floor, learners’ workbooks, educators’ files, important documents and the classroom chalkboard.
North West MEC for Education, Dr Desbo Mohono, expressed anger and concern over the incident, particularly as it follows two other school fires in the province.
“Schools are public property. They belong to the communities in which they are situated, and communities must take pride in protecting and preserving their schools,” said Mohono.
She warned that the fires were occurring at a critical point in the academic year, as learners prepare for examinations and Grade 12 learners sit for their preliminary examinations.
The Department said the circumstances surrounding the Phakisang fire raised concerns that it may have been deliberately started, although this has not yet been confirmed.
Mohono said deliberate destruction of school infrastructure, if confirmed, would undermine the Department’s efforts to provide learners with safe and conducive learning environments.
The latest incident follows two serious fires reported earlier in August.
On Sunday, 23 August, Sewagodimo Technical School in Pella Village was hit by a fire that destroyed a block containing five workshops and a separate storeroom.
The school had been hosting a camp for matric learners. Classes ended at about 2pm, followed by a parents’ meeting that concluded at approximately 4pm, while educators left the premises around 5pm.
At 5:53pm, school management was alerted to the fire and immediately contacted SAPS and firefighters. By the time emergency services arrived, the blaze was reportedly in its final stages.
All five workshops, each consisting of a storeroom and classroom, were destroyed, along with a separate storeroom outside the main block.
The cause remains unknown and is subject to investigation.
“I strongly condemn the burning of Sewagodimo Technical School. The burning of school properties is robbing our future generations of valuable educational resources,” said Mohono, urging community members to provide any information to police that could help identify those responsible.
Just two days earlier, on Friday, 21 August, Matlhare Mokautu Secondary School in Monakato Township also suffered extensive fire damage after its school hall was destroyed.
The blaze occurred after school hours, with the cause yet to be established. A case of arson has been opened with police.
The fire damaged the hall’s ceiling and roof, kitchen shelves, eight toilet sets, a urinal basin, four basins, books, two fire extinguishers, a hydrant hosepipe, five window frames, eight wooden-glass doors and seven internal doors.
The Department estimates the damage at more than R5 million.
Mohono said the destruction was particularly troubling because the province is already grappling with a backlog in school construction and renovations.
She said the Department was being forced to divert scarce resources towards repairing schools that had previously been in good condition, instead of using the funds to address existing infrastructure needs.
Department officials and the MEC visited affected schools on Monday, 24 August, to assess the damage and identify measures to ensure teaching and learning continues.
The Department said it would continue working with SAPS to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
It has also appealed to communities to report suspicious activities, vandalism and other information that could help authorities prevent further acts of arson and destruction.
With three school fires in two weeks, the incidents have intensified concerns over the protection of educational infrastructure in the North West, placing additional pressure on a Department already struggling to address longstanding infrastructure backlogs.
