By: Matshidiso Selebeleng
A joint parliamentary delegation, comprising members of the portfolio committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), and the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General (SCOAG), along with the North West provincial legislature, completed its three-day oversight visit to underperforming municipalities on Wednesday.
Taung, Moretele, and Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipalities were among those that appeared before the delegation due to various governance challenges, including increasing debt, poor governance, and poor service delivery.
Dr. Zweli Mkhize, who led the delegation and chairs the COGTA portfolio committee, urged the North West provincial government to use its authority to prevent these municipalities from collapsing.
“You have the authority given to you by the Constitution, and we expect you to use it,” Mkhize stated. “The people of the North West are being denied basic services because of criminality and political dysfunction.”
“Municipalities cannot continue to function effectively without clean audits, effective financial management, and political stability. Residents deserve reliable services and accountable leadership, not dysfunction and neglect,” Mkhize asserted.
North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi was further advised to create an action plan to address all ongoing governance issues. Members of his executive (MECs) were also instructed to closely monitor council decisions, ensure that investigations into maladministration are completed, and intervene decisively where councils fail to act.
Additionally, the committees demanded that detailed reports - which must include timelines and measurable targets - be submitted to parliament and the provincial legislature. They warned that continued non-compliance would lead to further interventions.
The delegation also assured that it would monitor all developments related to the directives and committed to ensuring that consequence management would be enforced so that communities receive the services they are due and to generally restore stability.
By: Refilwe Mochoari
Factional battles and instability in the ANC's North West province were evident during a Regional General Council (RGC) special meeting held on Sunday, 31 August, at the Carousel Hotel in Rustenburg.
ANCYL Bojanala regional task team (RTT) strongly condemned the ill-disciplined behaviour displayed by members of the Moses Kotane sub-region, led by the region’s ANC Caucus Whip, during a meeting that undermined the leadership of the NEC, PEC, and REC, who were present.
According to eyewitnesses, the disruption started when a group of comrades from the Moses Kotane Sub-region entered the conference room, causing chaos during the meeting.
RTT coordinator, Pako Mokua, says the situation escalated when comrades booed ANC regional chairperson, Shiela Mabale-Huma, upon her arrival to welcome leadership and members.
He says the provincial secretary, Louis Diremelo, had to intervene, calling out the Whip for unruly behaviour.
Mokua expressed disappointment over the incident, saying it was disappointing to see comrades led by the Single Whip booing the regional chairperson.
“We are calling for immediate disciplinary processes to be initiated towards the Caucus Whip and other comrades who were rowdy during the interaction."
She says this was a staged, well-organised factional arrangement which undermines the ANC leadership's integrity and credibility.
“The task team believes that disciplinary processes will shape the conduct of comrades and affirm the renewal agenda undertaken by the ANC,” Mokua said.
RTT spokesperson, Thabiso Bodigelo, emphasised the need for the ANC to address organisational challenges, including a lack of support for the ANCYL RTT and Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), and the issue of ‘municipalised ANC’ affecting branch functionality.
Bodigelo says the RTT plans to request a meeting with the Bojanala REC to discuss steps taken to enforce discipline against deployees who undermine the organisation’s integrity.
“We have also said that the factions of the ANC in Bojanala are more organised than the organisation, because even transport coordination was centralised in the Single Whip’s offices, but certain branches were deliberately left behind.
“We have even used the famous quote of the ANCYL President Collen Malatji that the biggest challenge in the ANC is the integrity of the messenger, that if the integrity of the messenger is in question, the messenger is doubted, even when the message is true. The ANC must deal with the issue of the integrity of the messengers we send to the government.
“The ANC’s efforts to address ill-disciplined tendencies are crucial in maintaining its image and effectiveness as an organisation by promoting discipline and accountability, said Bodigelo.
June Steenkamp, the mother of murdered model Reeva Steenkamp, has suffered a stroke and requires funds to undergo rehabilitation, her family said.
June suffered a stroke earlier this week and is recovering in a public hospital.
Her family said she now faces a lengthy and difficult recovery process.
"She is facing a long road to recovery and in need of considerable rehabilitation."
To help ensure she receives the care she needs, her family and supporters have launched a dedicated rehabilitation fund.
According to the statement, the fund will be strictly managed, with 'all payments approved by two independent attorneys and audited' to maintain full transparency.
Should the money raised not be fully used for her recovery, the family has pledged that the remaining funds will be donated to the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation.
The foundation, established in memory of Reeva, is dedicated to tackling gender-based violence in South Africa, a cause June has long championed. The family said this commitment reflects June’s values and the work that has defined much of her life since her daughter’s death.
"We give thanks to all the angels out there who will keep June in their hearts and prayers and walk this journey with June," the family added.
Steenkamp has been a central public figure since the killing of her daughter Reeva in 2014. Reeva, a law graduate and model, was shot and killed by Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius at his Pretoria home on Valentine's Day. Pistorius, who claimed he mistook her for an intruder, was later convicted of murder and sentenced to prison.
Since then, the mother has spoken out on issues of violence against women and has continued to keep her daughter’s memory alive through the foundation. The organisation runs outreach and educational programmes aimed at preventing gender-based violence, supporting survivors, and advocating for systemic change.
*This article was published by IOL News
South Africans are likely to see their medical aid contributions increase in 2026, with the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) recommending a guideline increase of 3.3%.
In its guidelines published on Monday, CMS explained that the recommended increase is aligned with expected inflation and aims to keep medical aid costs affordable despite rising living expenses.
CMS also highlighted that medical aid contributions have been rising faster than consumer inflation, adding pressure on already stretched household budgets facing steep increases in electricity and food costs.
"To ease the financial strain on members of medical schemes and the risk of losing health insurance, the CMS hereby recommends that the contribution increase and cost assumptions for tariff increases for the 2026 benefit year be limited to 3.3% plus reasonable utilisation estimates," CMS said.
"The recommendation is in line with the Reserve Bank's 2026 CPI forecast, as outlined in the July Monetary Policy Committee statement. The CMS uses salary inflation as a proxy measure for the affordability of annual contribution increases".
However, CMS also noted that some medical schemes might require contribution increases higher than the recommended 3.3%.
"In such cases, the Trustees must provide the Registrar with a comprehensive business plan with clear financial and actuarial justification.
"The business plan must fully comply with the stringent requirements of the Advisory Practice Note (APN303) on the adequacy of contribution increases, as prescribed by the Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA)".
The Council also recommended that increases in non-healthcare expenditure, such as administration and managed care fees, be limited to 3.3% in line with inflation.
*This article was published by IOL News
Activist and grandson of Nelson Mandela, Mandla Mandela, has expressed pride in being part of the largest civilian flotilla to date to break Israel's siege on Gaza, along with nine other South Africans.
The first boats in the Global Sumud Flotilla officially set sail on Sunday and will bring together more than 50 vessels from at least 44 nations in the Mediterranean by Thursday.
From there, the flotilla, which activist Greta Thunberg will be bound for Gaza to break the siege and deliver much-needed aid to Palestinians.
"Comrades, we are proud to say that we have over 40 boats that we have been able to mobilise with 44 countries that have come together. Ours (mission) is to end the blockade and break the siege on Gaza," Mandela told the Middle East Eye on Sunday.
He went on to say that a million Palestinians are being starved to death.
"Who is the one who is perpetuating the violence? Who is the one that is a threat, not only to Palestinians but to you and me and the entire global population? Apartheid Israel."
Ahead of the flotilla launch, Thunberg called out Israel and the world for dehumanising Palestinians.
"Palestinians have been dehumanised to such an extent that they are only spoken of in terms of numbers and United Nations (UN) resolutions," she said.
She pointed out that it is not antisemitic to say that people should not be bombed, that individuals should not be living under occupation, that everyone should have the right to live in freedom and dignity, regardless of who they are.
Amnesty International concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza in December of 2024, along with numerous other humanitarian organisations.
"Israel has carried out acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention, with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. These acts include killings, causing serious bodily or mental harm, and deliberately inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction.
"Month after month, Israel has treated Palestinians in Gaza as a subhuman group unworthy of human rights and dignity, demonstrating its intent to physically destroy them," said Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
*This article was published by IOL News
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has moved to assure the public that no arms or combat systems were stolen during a break-in at the Bloemspruit Air Force Base in Bloemfontein last month.
This follows media reports suggesting that ammunition had allegedly been stolen from the facility — prompting the Democratic Alliance (DA) to demand urgent answers from Defence Minister Angie Motshekga.
In a response, SANDF national spokesperson Rear Admiral Prince Tshabalala confirmed that a case of housebreaking and theft was reported at the base on 13 August and is now under investigation by the Military Police.
“For operational security reasons, further specifics cannot be disclosed at this stage,” Tshabalala added.
The SANDF also distanced the incident from a separate case reported earlier this year involving the theft of a bus engine.
“The SANDF strongly refutes attempts to link this incident with the unrelated matter concerning a bus engine previously reported,” said Tshabalala.
“The SANDF wishes to place on record that no arms or combat weapon systems were stolen, contrary to the claims published in some media reports,” said Tshabalala.
“Such reporting is misleading, irresponsible, and has the potential to cause unnecessary alarm.”
He explained that the items interfered with were of “limited tactical value” and did not compromise national security or public safety.
“The said engine was old and earmarked for auction. The engine was allegedly stolen on 6 May 2025. These are separate incidents, and any suggestion of a connection is both inaccurate and unfounded.”
Tshabalala said security at the base has since been reinforced and investigations are ongoing.
“The SANDF reassures the public that the integrity of South Africa’s defence capability remains intact, and the organisation remains resolute in safeguarding the nation and its citizens,” he said.
Earlier this week, IOL reported that DA spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans Chris Hattingh condemned the latest break-in as “not an isolated incident” but the “predictable result of rotten perimeter security, dead alarms, unmonitored CCTV and broken lighting.”
He said the theft, which went unnoticed by roving guards, occurred while ammunition was being stored in a hangar because the main ammunition store was considered insecure.
Hattingh added that the party has formally requested the chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence to summon Motshekga, the Chief of the SANDF, the SANDF Chief of Logistics, and the Chief of the Air Force.
The party is demanding that, within seven days, the officials table “a dated, costed and funded base-security recovery plan with named responsible officers, deadlines and deliverables,” along with outstanding reports ordered by the committee on 28 May 2025.
*This article was published by IOL News
