By JN Reporter
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) CEO, Advocate Makhosini Msibi has been placed on precautionary suspension by the board of directors amid whistleblower allegations of financial misconduct, irregular expenditure, and governance failures.
Spokesperson for the Department of Transport Collen Msibi, in a statement released on Friday, confirmed Msibi’s suspension, saying that Refilwe Mongale has been appointed as interim CEO to ensure continuity.
According to the spokesperson, Msibi's precautionary suspension came into effect on 01 July 2025 after a board meeting held on June 13, and he was informed of the decision.
“The board had indicated it took this decision after whistle-blowing allegations of financial misconduct, irregular expenditure, and governance failures at the entity and that based on the seriousness of the allegations, the board has taken a decision to institute a forensic investigation into these allegations,” said Msibi.
He said the former Chairperson of the Free State Provincial Heritage Resources Authority (FSPHRA) will be on precautionary suspension for a period of 30 days, extendable to 60 days or any further period as may be reasonably necessary.
Msibi – who is the husband of the mayor of Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality, Conney Msibi – was previously accused of improperly increasing his package around 2016/17, which was reported to reach nearly R8 million, including a R3 million bonus.
In October 2019, the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) called for his resignation following a scathing report from the Public Protector. The report found irregularities in the hiring of Julia Manamela as an administration assistant in November 2014.
Allegations of a prior relationship between Msibi and Manamela were dismissed by Msibi.
By Abigail Visagie
All eyes are on President Cyril Ramaphosa as he prepares to address the nation this Sunday evening following explosive allegations made by the KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
The allegations, which have garnered widespread public attention and concern, pertain to matters of national importance, including the security and safety of South Africans.
Weighing in on the matter is political analyst Professor Matebesi, who believes that the president will not take drastic action against Mkhwanazi but should have called for the arrest of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, as Mkhwanazi is believed to have credible evidence to back his allegations.
“These are scathing allegations that have caused reputational damage to all parties involved, so at this point, no inquiry or commission will work. The president should allow the criminal and judiciary systems to run their course,” said Matebesi.
However, a resident from Heidedal, Bloemfontein, Rowan Harris, believes otherwise.
“We all know that CR17 will form a commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations. That process will take years, and millions will be spent,” said Harris.
Kgotso Polelo hopes that Ramaphosa will take a pro-citizen approach.
"Citizens suffer at the hands of organized crime and are powerless and defenseless against these unseen forces. I certainly hope that politics are set aside and the president prioritizes and enforces a criminal investigation. We hope that the citizen is prioritized for the first time in a long time in South Africa,” said Polelo.
Community activist Christopher Scott firmly believes that the president is going to protect his comrades before anyone.
We have learned over the past few decades that the ANC will go to great lengths to protect its comrades. Mchunu should have been placed on compulsory leave just after Mkhwanazi’s revelations for the matter to be investigated. However, I believe that a commission will be proposed,” said Scott.
Educator Lefa Litsoane cannot wait for Sunday’s family meeting. “I can’t wait for our family meeting on Sunday. Like many people, I’d like to see people getting fired with immediate effect. The president needs to show us he is serious about fixing the country,” said Litsoane.
“This moment is pivotal for the state’s credibility and Ramaphosa’s leadership, particularly given Mchunu’s close alliance with the President and the recent shift of SAPS Intelligence to the Presidency. With significant public outcry, Ramaphosa’s address will be a delicate balancing act to restore trust while navigating complex political dynamics,” said community activist Gregory Werner.
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The humble jock is taking it all in her stride as she continues to flourish
By: Lerato Mutlanyane
What started off as a hobby has now turned into a flourishing career that has spanned close to 15 years for Thokozile Mokgang, popularly known as DJ Zile. The 36-year-old- Bloemfontein DJ’s pure passion for deep soulful house has seen her beat the odds and prevail in the highly competitive DJing industry.
Now DJ Zile continues to grow in leaps and bounds, while leaving a trail of career milestones which continue to shape her stature. Her rise in DJ circles has seen her mixtapes being featured on prominent music platforms, including Hit Refresh on Vuzu TV and Tequila Gang mixes, which can be accessed on Spotify and YouTube.
She is also a radio DJ who once hosted her own show on Fridays called Ladies of Deep on City Radio, while having had her mixes being played on Metro FM’s Urban Beat, which was hosted by legendary DJ’s Vinny Da Vinci and DJ Christos – whom she draws much of her DJing inspiration from.
To add on to her list of milestones, DJ Zile further boasts being a deep house guest DJ at the Spring Music Explosion for six consecutive years and has served as a liaison official and panelist at the Dance Music Summit Conference hosted in Bloemfontein back in 2023.
Despite being a qualified sound engineer, who also dabbles in club and event hosting, DJ Zile has had to navigate through a series of challenges throughout her career. Rising to prominence in a male-dominated industry was not an easy feat, but she boldly declares that it molded her strong character.
“With this industry being male-dominated, I had to work hard to reach my peak and get recognition,” she tells Journal News.
DJ Zile’s career has been quite dynamic to say the least. One of her goals is to start her own all-female music academy to aid prospective female DJs someday. At this rate, she’s probably closer to that goal than many realise.
By: Lerato Mutlanyane
Feeding off the continuous growth of digital content creation in the country, Bloemfontein became the latest city to host the Digital Content Creator’s Colloquium (DCCC) by Taxi Rank Media Agency (TRMA).
On 30 June 2025, hundreds of emerging digital content creators descended on the iconic Naval Hill Planetarium for the skills development initiative, whose objective is to train and equip enthusiasts with all essential skills needed to thrive in the content creation landscape.
Designed for beginners and emerging talents within the content creation space, the programme’s main aim is to instil storytelling, digital marketing and multimedia production skills, that will subsequently help the content creators stand out in the crowded and rapidly evolving world of digital content creation.
This was confirmed by TRMA’s marketing manager, Tshiamo Tsikoe, who said participants will gain creative, technical and strategic expertise needed to stand and shape the future of media through hands-on training and targeted mentorship and skill development programmes such as the DCCC.
According to Tsikoe, the agency’s mission is to help content creators move from basic or intermediate content creation to more advanced levels. “At Taxi Rank Media Agency, we are on a mission to build sustainable avenues for creativity and innovation across the country. As we continue to build our presence in the digital landscape, we are excited to announce that the DCCC is just the beginning.
“We are committed to taking this platform to new heights, and new locations – and we cannot wait to reveal where our next stop will be. From bustling city centres to vibrant townships, we are determined to reach every corner of the province and beyond. The next one might be sooner than you think,” she adds.
Content creation has emerged as a powerful force for influence and expression, whilst also serving as an entrepreneurship avenue.
By Abigail Visagie
Despite policies mandating inclusive education, the future of many students with special needs grows increasingly uncertain.
Like 15-year-old Thapelo Mbalula, who hails from the small, impoverished town of Dealesville in the Free State, they are being systematically overlooked, denied the resources and support necessary to thrive academically and socially.
Thapelo had to drop out of school at the age of 13 after completing Grade 5, as he could not be promoted further to the next grade.
His unemployed mother Angelina Mbalula (42), who has two other children, said she had hoped her one and only son would someday become a manager or a teacher by profession, as means of elevating their living standards.
According to Mbalula, her son has even had to succumb to the stigma of being called a slow learner.
“The teachers discovered that he takes quite a long time to write from the board, and he shows no comprehension when he is given instructions, so they referred to him as a slow learner.”
She added that although formal examinations were conducted, her son was never placed in a special needs school.
“The doctors conducted formal examinations and even discovered that he has eyesight problems, yet nothing came from this. We were referred to social workers and submitted all the relevant documentation, yet no one reached out to us until this very day.”
Mbalula told Journal News that her desperation to have Thapelo placed in a classroom led her to approach the South African Police Service (SAPS) for intervention but was referred back to social workers.
She accused the Department of Education of having turned a blind eye to her son’s case after it was reported on numerous occasions.
“Dreams are being killed and stolen from these innocent minds. Our children resort to disrespecting us because there is nothing to keep them stimulated. That is why I want my son to go back to school so that his mentality will change and he will be more focused on his future.”
Efforts to get comment from the Department of Education spokesperson Howard Ndaba drew a blank.
However, the department announced last month that the construction of the new special needs school in Trompsburg in the Xhariep district was underway.
During the delivery of her department’s budget vote, MEC for Public Works Dibolelo Mance, revealed that the special needs school, which will accommodate around 1 000 pupils, was 35 percent complete.
