Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane has disclosed that over 200 housing projects across the country are currently stalled.
This follows Simelane’s responses to a series of parliamentary questions from MPs of the MK Party and the EFF, detailing the current housing crisis.
Asked by the MK ...
Former North West Health Department head Dr. Andrew Lekalakala has lost his bid in court to declare the province’s Powers, Privileges and Immunities Act unconstitutional. The challenge came after Lekalakala openly acknowledged allegations of corruption before the provincial legislature and immediately filed a motion claiming the legislature itself was unconstitutional—a move that escalated a routine corruption prosecution into a highstakes legal battle over the province’s legislative framework. The section under scrutiny criminalizes, as perjury, knowingly providing false information on a material matter before the legislature or its committees, once warned. It also outlines the powers, privileges, and immunities of the Provincial Legislature, including freedom of speech and debate, regulation of internal affairs, and oversight when acting as a court. Lekalakala, facing fraud and corruption charges in the North West High Court, argued that being compelled to testify before the legislature violated his constitutional right against self-incrimination and his right to a fair trial. The charges relate to a R180 million, three-year mobile primary healthcare contract with Gupta-linked company Mediosa, which the department terminated in 2018. Lekalakala was summoned to testify before a joint session of the North West Legislature following the contract’s cancellation. In his affidavit, Lekalakala described the legislative committee’s conduct as “inhuman and unfair,” adding: “I experienced the process as being domineering and threatening. I was constantly threatened with remarks such as ‘the police must be called’ and that I could be locked up immediately.” Afterward, a formal complaint was lodged, leading to his prosecution in the High Court for fraud, corruption, and contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act. The state presented evidence from Dr. Kgosi Motlabane, the former deputy director-general of the department, which Lekalakala argued was privileged and should not be admissible in criminal proceedings. In its judgment on December 19, the High Court emphasized that Section 22 of the Immunities Act protects the integrity, effectiveness, and credibility of legislative oversight. “It compels witnesses to provide dependable and truthful testimony, deterring dishonesty and ensuring public confidence in the legislative process,” the court held. The court clarified that Section 22 punishes only deliberate falsehoods, not silence, and cannot be interpreted to override rights such as protection against self-incrimination. It underscored the subsidiarity principle, stating that constitutional issues should be decided only when necessary to resolve the case: “Courts must decide no more than is required to dispose of the matter.” Lekalakala’s case, while initially a corruption trial, has now become a landmark test of the province’s judicial integrity—balancing the fight against graft with the principles of constitutional order. Its outcome is poised to influence not only this prosecution but the broader administration of justice in the North West.
Party set to use its 114th anniversary celebrations to win back lost votes
Lightning strike turns historic Mphebatho Festival deadly What began as a vibrant community celebration at the annual Mphebatho Troop Festival at Dertig Sports Ground near Mathibestad in the North West province turned tragic when a lightning strike injured several troopers and claimed two lives. On 3 January 2026, the Mphebatho Troop Festival hosted its annual event, held in honour of Sesotho culture in South Africa, promoting unity, celebration and camaraderie between the two countries. The festivities featured performances by local music groups and were attended by several dignitaries, including royalty. During the event, while troopers were seated under a tent, two lightning strikes occurred. Peter Selemela, a survivor and trooper from Sun Rise who participated in the festivities, said a sudden downpour accompanied by lightning caught them off guard. According to Selemela, the first strike was distant, but the second hit the tent directly, leaving people shocked and immobile. “Seconds later, people were on the floor. I couldn’t move as my left hand suddenly became numb. I noticed another trooper’s legs had stopped functioning, so I crawled towards him and pulled him closer to the tent,” he said. Selemela added that emergency services eventually assisted them at the Mphebatho Library. The North West Department of Health confirmed that 150 patients were taken to the Mathibestad Clinic. Thirteen were critically injured and transferred to Jubilee Hospital, while two patients were declared dead on arrival and awaited forensic services. Most patients sustained mild lightning-related burns, with 34 still awaiting medical assessment at the time of reporting. The remaining patients were treated and discharged. North West Health MEC Sello Lehari said he was pleased that Mathibestad Community Health Centre was fully operational during the tragedy. He confirmed that both day and night staff were on duty. “The health professionals on site included two doctors, four professional nurses and three enrolled nurses, bringing the total staff complement to nine,” said Lehari. “EMS support was strengthened through the deployment of two North West EMS ambulances, two Gauteng EMS ambulances and Planned Patient Transport.” Speaking on behalf of Premier Lazarus Mokgosi, Social Development MEC Sussana Dantjie conveyed condolences to the affected families and confirmed that the festival would continue next year. “We expect all stakeholders to work together to ensure the smooth hosting of the next festival,” she said. Dantjie acknowledged concerns from some attendees who believe the fatalities could have been prevented with quicker emergency response, but noted that “death ultimately remains in the hands of God”. Moretele Local Municipality Mayor George Manyike visited the Mashishi family in Lefatlheng, who lost their daughter Kenoshi (35), a teacher at Tlhaloganyo Primary School and a mother to a 10-year-old son. He also visited the Shekwambane family in Itsoseng Section, Dertig, Ward 18, who lost their daughter Koketso (28). By: Abigail Visagie By: Mogomotsi Selebi By: Abigail Visagie Party set to use its 114th anniversary celebrations to win back lost votes T he African National Congress (ANC) has embarked on a charm offensive in the North West province as it seeks to win back support ahead of this year’s local government elections. Through mass rallies, community visits and door-to-door campaigns, the party is pushing a message of renewal and unity—despite growing criticism over deteriorating infrastructure, failing services and public frustration. As thousands of supporters are expected to descend on Moruleng Stadium outside Rustenburg tomorrow for the ANC’s biggest annual birthday celebration, the festivities unfold against a backdrop of mounting service delivery failures across the province. Communities grappling with pothole-ridden roads, unreliable water supply and struggling municipalities are questioning whether the ruling party’s renewed promises will translate into tangible change on the ground. However, according to ANC North West provincial spokesperson Tumelo Maruping, the party’s renewal project centres on restoring public trust through improved service delivery. “We do accept as the ANC that we have serious challenges, and that we are unable to address all the issues confronting our communities at once. However, we are working hard to attend to service delivery challenges,” Maruping said. The celebrations began last week with a series of activities, including door-to-door campaigns, memorial lectures and community engagements. First on the programme was a visit by ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa to Kgosi Pilane of the Bakgatla ba Kgafela Royal Family in Moruleng Village. The mass rally is expected to attract more than 50,000 ANC members. Ramaphosa is also expected to outline the party’s priorities for the year ahead, with a focus on renewal, unity and tackling pressing socio-economic challenges. Poor infrastructure development, unemployment and high crime levels remain among the most pressing service delivery challenges facing the ANC, with the North West flagged as home to some of the country’s worst-performing municipalities. Last year, Journal News reported that 14 of the province’s 19 municipalities were placed under intense scrutiny for allegedly violating residents’ basic human rights following complaints from individuals, civic organisations and political parties. A damning report by the South African Human Rights Commission found widespread failures in the provision of essential services, including water, electricity, sanitation, refuse removal and road maintenance—shortcomings that collectively infringe on residents’ constitutional rights. Municipalities implicated include the City of Matlosana, JB Marks, Maquassi Hills, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, Lekwa-Teemane, Ditsobotla, Moses Kotane, Madibeng, Moretele, Rustenburg and Mahikeng local municipalities. The commission warned that the service delivery crisis in the North West is persistent and requires urgent intervention.
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Gregory Nthatisi has drawn a firm line against municipal neglect, calling for unity, accountability, and renewed civic responsibility.
Speaking to Journal News on the sidelines of the commemoration of the historic Waaihoek Wesleyan Mission Church — the birthplace of the ruling party — in Bloemfontein on Thursday, under the theme “Our Heritage, Our History,” Nthatisi said democracy belongs to the people and can only be sustained through collective action.
He emphasised the importance of residents paying rates and taxes, protecting public infrastructure, and ensuring that undisciplined officials are held accountable for poor performance.
Accompanied by the Free State Premier, MaQueen Letsoha Mathae – the mayor hosted members of the provincial religious community, bringing together leaders from faith-based organisations, traditional leadership and civil society.
“The people of Mangaung and ANC supporters must understand that this democracy belongs to them. They must join hands to ensure services are delivered. To sustain these services, residents must pay their rates and taxes. There must also be greater awareness that littering undermines cleanliness, and people should refrain from damaging municipal property,” said Nthatisi.
“We are committed to improving this institution to better serve its people. We will not tolerate officials who are undisciplined and fail to perform their duties. The days of the municipality neglecting its residents are over.”
The ANC, the oldest liberation movement in Africa, was founded on 8 January 1912 in Bloemfontein by John Langalibalele Dube, Pixley ka Isaka Seme, Solomon Plaatjie and Walter Rubusana. The organisation was established to unite South Africans against colonialism and racial oppression, later leading the struggle against apartheid and governing the country since the advent of democracy in 1994.
He said the gathering in Waaihoek reaffirmed a fundamental truth: that democracy emerges from unity in diversity and can only be renewed in the same manner.
“Let us unite, gather and walk this liberation path together — not as separate entities, but as co-authors of a freedom that remains incomplete,” Nthatisi said.
Nthatisi described the occasion as a celebration for all South Africans.
“Thanks to the leadership of the ANC, which convened in this area to establish an organisation that paved the way for the democratic society we enjoy today, this site has been declared a heritage site rich in history.
“Together with religious denominations, social organisations, civic structures and democratic formations, we have chosen to converge here to start the year by reminding ourselves where South Africa comes from.
“We are reflecting on our origins, the roots of our democracy, and how we can move forward united — holding each other’s hands and celebrating our journey together,” he said.
Nthatisi said the Waaihoek gathering served as a reminder of the ANC’s historical role in shaping South Africa’s democracy and the responsibility shared by government and citizens to safeguard it. He called on communities, faith-based organisations and civil society to work together in renewing the country’s democratic foundations and advancing service delivery for all.
As academic pressures, social challenges, and demands from home life continue to mount, experts are increasingly sounding the alarm over school-related stress among children and adolescents.
Notably, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that around one in seven of these young individuals worldwide is affected by a diagnosable mental health condition, with local estimates suggesting that the actual rates may be even higher in certain regions.
A substantial number of these difficulties stem from issues linked to school pressure, bullying, exam stress, and unstable home environments.
The toll of stress is felt by both younger children and teenagers, although the signs are frequently overlooked or misinterpreted as typical growing pains. Murray Hewlett, the CEO of Affinity Health, highlights the critical need for adults to remain vigilant.
“Children don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling,” Hewlett says. “Adults need to watch for changes in behaviour, mood, or routine, as these are often the earliest signs that a child is struggling.”
Behavioural shifts are often the initial indicators of stress, with manifestations varying by age. For instance, younger children may exhibit sudden clinginess or develop anxiety when separated from their carers.
He says they might also express a reluctance to attend school, display increased irritability, throw frequent tantrums, or lose interest in previously enjoyed activities. Conversely, teens may withdraw from family and friends, experience a sudden decline in motivation, skip classes, or isolate themselves in their rooms, often spending excessive time online.
Stress can also present as physical symptoms, particularly in children who may find it challenging to articulate their emotions. Signs like frequent stomachaches, headaches, sleep disturbances, nightmares, and persistent fatigue can indicate underlying anxiety.
Hewlett details that they might observe that their child feels unwell on school mornings yet appears healthy over weekends, hinting that the issue may be stress-related rather than illness.
Emotional changes offer another important warning sign. Children feeling overwhelmed by stress can experience emotions they struggle to comprehend or express, manifesting as heightened worry, unexpected crying spells, low self-esteem, negative self-talk, or a sense of being swamped by schoolwork.
Teens often exhibit stress through frustration or irritability, utilising statements such as “I can’t do this” or “School is too hard,” which should never be dismissed, as they often point to deeper struggles.
Academic performance can be seriously impacted as well. Children suffering from stress may find it difficult to concentrate, remember information, or meet assignment deadlines. They might procrastinate, fall behind, or even lose interest in subjects they once found engaging.
Hewlett reveals that a sudden decline in marks should not automatically be attributed to laziness; rather, it is often a reflection of mental overload due to excessive school demands.
It is explained that social pressures further exacerbate these issues. Bullying, peer pressure, and concerns over fitting in can render the school experience overwhelming. Signs that a child is struggling socially may include avoiding discussions about friends, resisting participation in group activities, or displaying reluctance to attend school altogether.
Of particular concern is the rising prevalence of online bullying, especially among teenagers, which can be challenging for parents to detect unless they notice sudden changes in behaviour.
Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other charges at a defiant appearance in a New York court on Monday, two days after being snatched by US forces in a stunning raid on his home in Caracas.
Maduro, 63, told a federal judge in Manhattan, "I'm innocent. I'm not guilty."
Smiling as he entered the courtroom and wearing an orange shirt with beige trousers, Maduro spoke softly.
"I'm president of the Republic of Venezuela and I'm here kidnapped since January 3, Saturday," Maduro told the court, speaking in Spanish through an interpreter. "I was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela."
Maduro's wife Cilia Flores likewise pleaded not guilty. The judge ordered both to remain behind bars and set a new hearing date of March 17.
The presidential couple were forcibly taken by US commandos in the early hours of Saturday in airstrikes on the Venezuelan capital backed by warplanes and a heavy naval deployment.
Thousands of people marched through Caracas in support of Maduro as his former deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, was sworn in as interim president.
Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado slammed Rodriguez, saying she was "rejected" by the Venezeulan people and calling her "one of the main architects of torture, persecution, corruption, narcotrafficking."
Speaking from an undisclosed location to broadcaster Sean Hannity on Fox News in her first public comments since the weekend, Machado added that she plans to return to Venezuela "as soon as possible" after leaving under cover last month to accept her Nobel Peace Prize.
After the raid, Trump declared that the United States was "in charge" in Venezuela and intends to take control of the country's huge but decrepit oil industry.
The 79-year-old president also dismissed the idea of Caracas having new elections in the next month.
"We have to fix the country first. You can't have an election. There's no way the people could even vote," Trump told broadcaster NBC News in an interview aired Monday.
However, US House Speaker and Trump ally Mike Johnson said he thinks an election "should happen in short order" in Venezuela.
'Access to oil'
Maduro became president in 2013, taking over from his equally hardline socialist predecessor Hugo Chavez.
The United States and European Union say he stayed in power by rigging elections - most recently in 2024 - and imprisoning opponents, while overseeing rampant corruption.
The crisis after a quarter century of leftist rule now leaves Venezuela's approximately 30 million people - and the world's largest proven oil reserves - facing uncertainty.
Trump has said he wants to work with Rodriguez and the rest of Maduro's former team - provided that they submit to US demands on oil.
And after an initially hostile response, Rodriguez said she is ready for "cooperation."
Brian Naranjo, a former US diplomat in Venezuela before he was expelled by Maduro in 2018, said that he has "not been so worried about the future of Venezuela, ever."
"There's a very real possibility that things are going to get much, much worse in Venezuela before they get better," he told AFP.
The deputy head of the US mission to Caracas from 2014-2018 pointed at two men who could try and usurp power from Rodriguez: Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, and her own brother, Jorge Rodriguez, president of Venezuela's legislature.
"Delcy had better be sleeping with one eye open right now because right behind her are two men who would be more than happy to cut her throat and take control themselves," Naranjo said.
Cuba, Greenland next?
Trump, who has shocked many Americans with his unprecedented moves to accumulate domestic power, also now appears increasingly emboldened in foreign policy.
On Sunday, he said communist Cuba was "ready to fall", and he repeated that Greenland, which is part of US ally Denmark, should be controlled by the United States.
Brian Finucane, of the International Crisis Group, told AFP that Trump "seems to be disregarding international law altogether" in Venezuela and added that US domestic law also appeared to have been broken.
Details of the US operation in Caracas were still emerging on Monday, with Havana saying 32 Cubans were killed in the attack.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that nearly 200 personnel went into Caracas on the surprise raid. Some injuries and no deaths were reported by US officials.
KWAZULU-NATAL ANC members have warned the party against a proposal to look beyond the organisation for people to deploy into government roles, saying the move could trigger tensions at branch level. Some members demanded that, if pushed through, every leader of the party—from local government to national parliament—should be subjected to this rule.
The members, speaking on condition of anonymity as they are not authorised to speak to the media, were reacting to reports that the party is considering individuals from outside its membership for deployment to leadership positions. It was reported that, among the proposed changes, mayors of metros would no longer need to be drawn from regional leadership structures.
However, other party members said they believe the proposal could reignite excellence within the organisation. They argue the move is not controversial and is nothing new, as the party has done this previously.
In a recent interview, ANC Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane said the party has already started the process of looking beyond just members of its national, provincial, regional, and branch executive committees for public representatives.
“So we’re looking at everything, [and] going broader than just [considering] those who are the chair of the province, or the chair of the region, or the branch chair and branch secretary becoming the ward councillor. We have to look at what is required for this particular metro or this particular municipality,” Mokonyane stated.
She mentioned that the party would widen its search for mayoral candidates to include business leaders, strategic leaders from different sectors, women, and young people. She conceded this would not be an easy task, given that ANC members are also looking to fill the roles.
“The process will require objectivity and commitment to the voters, instead of just party members," according to the report.
An ANC member in the Midlands expressed discomfort with the proposal, saying, “We have not been canvassed on such a view; even at the national general council, I do not remember hearing that it was discussed there.
The first I saw of this was on social media. I believe that such action would be disruptive and cause tension in branches because we need someone who is part of the organisation and understands it to lead. If they apply this, it must apply to everyone, not just the leaders at lower levels; even the president must be subjected to this.
“We must be able to look outside; they cannot turn around and demand that the president of the party must come only from the ANC.”
Another ANC member was sceptical, stating, “I think we must stick to guidelines, not to people's perspectives. I don't think we should give general solutions to specific problems.”
An ANC leader in Durban expressed that this could be what the party needs to rebuild its performance and credibility.
“The people that will be deployed here will not be just anyone; they will be ANC members, even though they might be coming from outside the established structures,” said the leader, who acknowledged that the proposals might be very hard to sell to top members at branch level.
“The ANC is lacking an academic complement; that is what we are aiming to address with this move. It will not be the first time; the party has done this before and brought in people from outside who have performed outstandingly. This is something that we have to do if we are to get the municipalities to work again,” the leader added.
“Furthermore, this does not mean the leadership and branches will be frozen out; if they qualify for positions in the party, they will be appointed.”
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has tried this approach before. In the eThekwini Metro, the last two mayors were brought in from outside the regional leadership structures.
After the party decided to remove then-leader Zandile Gumede, she was replaced by Mxolisi Kaunda, who at the time was a member of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) and MEC for Transport. Kaunda was later replaced by Cyril Xaba, who also came from outside the regional structure.
In Msunduzi, the party appointed an outsider, Themba Njilo, a successful businessman and philanthropist. However, the experiment did not work in this case, and Njilo was eventually removed as mayor.
In a recent interview with The Mercury, Njilo described his time serving as mayor of Msunduzi as among the worst and most unproductive periods of his life.
