By: Lerato Mutlanyane
Legislature oversight visits boost morale, performance and accountability in Moses Kotane schools
Last Monday, North West Provincial Legislature Speaker Dr Desbo Mohono and her leadership team did more than simply walk school corridors — they embarked on a purposeful oversight mission. Armed not with criticism, but with curiosity and collaboration, the delegation spent four days, from 13 to 16 January 2026, engaging directly with schools in the Moses Kotane Local Municipality. The outcome was more than a compliance report. It produced a practical roadmap for improvement, energising educators and boosting learner engagement across the visited schools. In line with the Legislature’s constitutional mandate, the oversight visits assessed schools’ readiness for the 2026 academic year. The focus areas included learning conditions, learner welfare, infrastructure, governance, and overall academic performance in public schools across the North West province. Several no-fee schools were visited, including Gabonewe Secondary School, Bogatsu Primary School, Mojabeng Primary School, Morare Secondary School, Shadrack Zibi Secondary School and Khayakhulu Primary School. Despite operating in rural and semi-rural settings, many schools demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the face of ongoing challenges. Attendance levels among both educators and learners were reported to be encouraging. The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) continues to play a vital role, ensuring that learners receive nutritious meals that support wellbeing and academic concentration. Academic performance across the schools remained stable, with notable improvements recorded: • Gabonewe Secondary School reported only one learner failure in the previous academic year • Mojabeng Primary School achieved an estimated 95% pass rate • Morare Secondary School produced 84 matric passes in 2025 • Shadrack Zibi Secondary School improved its matric pass rate from 79% in 2024 to 87.5% in 2025 However, the visits also highlighted persistent infrastructure and security challenges. These include ageing buildings, damaged ceilings, shortages of furniture, sanitation risks and the absence of permanent security personnel at some schools. Pit toilets, vandalism, theft of infrastructure components and inadequate fencing continue to pose serious safety concerns. Administrative delays and limited parental involvement in learner discipline were identified as recurring obstacles. Learner welfare remains a priority, with schools maintaining close collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS), social workers and health authorities to address issues such as teenage pregnancy, school violence and related social challenges. Addressing learners directly, Dr Mohono urged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to their education. She emphasised that success is built on perseverance, self-belief and consistent effort. The Speaker reaffirmed the Legislature’s commitment to sustained oversight and strengthened collaboration with the Department of Education, traditional leaders and local communities. Dr Desbo Mohono’s school oversight week underscored the power of visible, engaged leadership. The insights gained are now driving a renewed collective effort to build safer, more supportive and dynamic learning environments across North West schools — marking not the conclusion of a report, but the beginning of a new chapter.
By: Matshediso Selebeleng
... Q&A with Matric 2025 Best National Achiever in Mathematics
Dedication, hard work, and perseverance best describe 17-year-old Bokang Mokubung, following his outstanding performance in the 2025 National Senior Certificate examinations. Journal News recently caught up with Mokubung on the sidelines of the Free State Provincial Government’s annual Matric Well-Done Function, hosted at the Central University of Technology (CUT), where the province honoured the top 100 achievers of the Class of 2025. Below is a conversation between Mokubung and Journal News reporter Matshidiso Selebeleng.
Congratulations on your achievement. Apart from what we have been hearing, please tell us: who is Bokang Mokubung and how did your academic journey begin? My name is Bokang Mokubung. I am 17 years old and I come from the dusty streets of Bluegumbosch in Qwaqwa. I started my academic journey at the age of five at Justice Lefuma Primary School, where I attended from Grade R to Grade 7, before transitioning to Bluegumbosch Secondary School. Let us start at the beginning. How was your primary school experience? My primary school days were fun. I had a lot of friends who made school enjoyable, and there was not much academic pressure because the workload was lighter. That is also where I developed a love for English, which became my favourite subject. Comparing that “fun” life with your secondary school experience, what changed and what caused that change? The transition from primary school to high school was tough. My marks dropped when I got to secondary school, and I had to dig deep to find my footing. Eventually, I adapted to the more serious and demanding academic environment. It was not a smooth journey, but I made the most of it and ensured that my schoolwork remained my top priority. Apart from the drop in marks and missing the fun, what were the biggest challenges you faced during high school? High school was never easy, but things became more difficult in Grade 12. I could not attend extra classes for Life Sciences and Geography like other learners until Grade 12 because they clashed with the extra classes I attended on weekends and during holidays at the Kutlwanong Centre for Maths, Science and Technology. At the centre, I focused on Mathematics and Physical Sciences, which meant I had to teach myself Life Sciences and Geography. That was extremely challenging and required a lot of discipline.
We understand that you will be studying Actuarial Science at the University of Pretoria. Has that always been your dream? Growing up, I wanted to study teaching and eventually become a teacher. However, as time went on and I was exposed to different opportunities, my plans changed. Studying Actuarial Science only became a dream in Grade 12, after conducting research and reviewing the South African economy. I chose Actuarial Science because I am interested in business and plan to start several ventures in the future. I want my businesses to succeed, and I believe my strong mathematics skills, combined with this qualification, will help me achieve that. What is one high school moment that you will always carry with you? Being a Dux learner for two consecutive years is a memory I will always carry with me. It serves as a reminder of what I am capable of, especially during difficult times. Grade 12 was a challenging year. I struggled with procrastination and had to sacrifice my social life to stay focused. I lost touch with many friends and had no time for social media. I also helped many learners at my school by teaching them during extra classes. You have spoken extensively about challenges and sacrifices. Did you ever feel so exhausted that you considered giving up? No, I never thought of giving up. Although I sometimes felt exhausted, it was never to the point of throwing in the towel. I constantly reminded myself of my goals, which motivated me to keep going. When my energy was depleted, I pushed myself to study anyway — as we say in Sesotho, “ka nkane.” Academics took up 100% of my time, and I lived entirely in my books. My greatest accomplishment and a realization of my dream was passing matriculation with eight distinctions.
By: Abigail Visagie
Mercy Phetla’s prospects are increasingly becoming bleak as her fight-back strategy and support wane
Dark clouds seem to be gathering swiftly around the former City of Matlosana Local Municipality Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mercy Phetla, who is fighting tooth and nail to ward off several criminal charges she is currently facing. Phetla, who is entangled in two distinct criminal cases comprising alleged corruption, fraud, and money laundering, has her back against the wall as she faces imminent dismissal from her municipal role, while the legal net is also slowly but surely closing in on her. A council sitting that was convened yesterday, 22 January 2026, to deliberate on a scathing disciplinary report that recommended Phetla’s immediate dismissal degenerated into political theatre. The sitting failed to reach a quorum due to ANC council members staging walkouts, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) accused the City’s Executive Mayor and Speaker, Stella Mondlane-Ngwenya, of deliberately withholding the original report from the council’s agenda. Mondlane-Ngwenya stated that the postponement was crucial as the Municipal Manager was not present, and a legal team had to be available to reveal the findings against Phetla. There is some speculation, however, that the walkouts were staged to “shield” Phetla from being held to account for the allegations she is facing. This politically driven tactic came as a shock since the provincial chairperson of the party, Nono Maloyi, previously indicated that the ANC would act against councillors who fail to comply with the law - yet the exact opposite transpired in the council meeting. Maloyi was quoted as warning that adherence to the constitution and legislative framework remains the only legitimate basis for resolving municipal matters. He further stressed that any attempt to bypass or dilute these processes has the potential to weaken local government rather than strengthening it. This stance originally pleased the opposition party, the DA, and for a rare moment, it seemed that the two parties were in accordance. In another instance, the DA has already welcomed a significant decision taken at the Mahikeng High Court in September last year, to dismiss an urgent application brought by Phetla to halt disciplinary action against her. It is believed Phetla attempted to stop the hearings, claiming they were a political method used to weaponise the law and discard her. However, the disciplinary inquiry was finalised late last year, leading to the CFO being charged with gross misconduct, dishonesty, and dereliction of duty. Although Phetla pleaded not guilty to all five charges, she was found guilty on every count. Among the findings, Phetla was held responsible for an unauthorised payment of R2.9 million to a company called Variegated (Pty) Ltd for electrical materials that were ultimately never delivered. She was further pertinently charged with going beyond her delegated authority. While it is established that a municipal manager can only authorise up to R1.5 million, Phetla bypassed these regulations to authorise the R2.9 million payment. The third charge involved wasteful expenditure amounting to R528 000, which caused significant financial turmoil and loss to the Matlosana Municipality. Furthermore, Phetla was found to have received and accepted gratification in the form of a Volkswagen Amarok worth R1.4 million from a municipal service provider, GMHM Construction and Projects. This led to her being found guilty of bringing the municipality into disrepute. Although Phetla claimed she purchased the vehicle herself, she failed dismally to back this unsolicited claim with evidence. To add more fuel to the fire, it was alleged that the CFO’s bail was paid by the son of a director at GMHM. Besides this gift, Phetla has been linked to various other luxurious assets, such as a Porsche, a Range Rover, and a Maserati, allegedly bought with municipal funds. The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has already attained preservation orders for these vehicles, yet the embattled CFO continues to deny she owns them. AFU communications officer, Kelebogile Moleko, confirmed that the council has not yet sat to finalise the matter and could not comment further by the time of print.
By Lerato Mutlanyane and Abigail Visagie
The newly elected leadership of the uMkhonto weSizwe Liberation War Veterans (MKLWV) has come out in defence of former president Thabo Mbeki’s controversial remarks about a so-called “counter-revolution”, dismissing criticism of his comments as coming from “expelled individuals or those facing disciplinary processes within the ANC”.
Speaking at the inaugural MKLWV conference in Bloemfontein over the weekend, Mbeki told delegates that counter-revolutionaries had deliberately misrepresented former president Jacob Zuma’s imprisonment and the July 2021 unrest as expressions of public anger. His remarks drew criticism from various quarters, with some accusing him of inflaming divisions in South African society.
“You have a mayhem that happened in 2021. It was said that people were angry with the ANC … because the ANC had allowed the Constitutional Court to sentence Jacob Zuma, and he was going to go to jail … that was a complete lie; it was the counter-revolutionary testing its strength to see if it could destabilise the country,” Mbeki said, adding that the narrative was “a lie, a complete lie”.
According to Mbeki, the unrest was a deliberate intervention by what he termed the “counter-revolution”, aimed at testing its capacity to destabilise and paralyse South Africa.
In response, MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela accused Mbeki of portraying MK Party support as illegitimate and externally engineered.
“This reckless language places lives at risk. The MK Party rejects, as politically reckless, socially dangerous and intellectually dishonest, the narrative advanced by former president Thabo Mbeki,” Ndhlela said.
He called on Mbeki to withdraw the statements unconditionally and apologise to the people of KwaZulu-Natal, hostel communities and MK Party supporters.
Defending Mbeki’s remarks in response to an enquiry from this publication, newly elected MKLWV chairperson Dan Hatto said the organisation fully concurred with the former president’s analysis.
“Reflections by President Mbeki have drawn responses from a political formation whose leadership includes individuals expelled or facing disciplinary processes within the ANC for conduct that undermined the organisation. Some among them have been criminally charged and convicted for cash-in-transit-related offences during the democratic period, yet continue to occupy seats in Parliament,” Hatto said.
He added that those who disputed Mbeki’s views had recourse to the courts.
“The MKLWV will not expend further organisational time responding to individuals or formations that rely on provocation rather than political substance. This statement closes our engagement on the matter,” Hatto said.
The Conference was also addressed by senior leadership of the African National Congress, including the Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, the Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, and the National Chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, among others.
President Cyril Ramaphosa plans to issue an instruction for the Department of Basic Education to find ways to make scholar transport safer.
This is on the back of a tragic accident in Vanderbijlpark earlier this week that claimed the lives of 12 learners.
It’s understood that a minibus scholar transport vehicle was attempting to overtake on a narrow road when it collided with a truck.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Basic Education Lekgotla in Boksburg on Wednesday, Ramaphosa stressed the urgent need to improve scholar transport safety.
The Gauteng government said the driver involved in the fatal scholar transport crash was operating with an expired Professional Driving Permit (PDP).
Dashcam footage shows the minibus driving on the oncoming section of a narrow road before attempting to move aside, but it was struck by a truck.
Ramaphosa said he is deeply pained by the loss of the children’s lives in what appears to be a case of negligent driving.
“I am going to be directing the minister [of basic education] and [the] transport [department] to look at how we can save the lives of our children. Our children are the future, and they are the most prized possession that we have as a nation.”
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old driver of the scholar transport has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide and negligent driving.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
Former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head Robert McBride said the Crime Intelligence slush fund has always been abused by the unit to control politicians and generals.
He said the multi-million-rand fund is used by Crime Intelligence to do anything from paying off politicians to paying for a particular criminal investigation to disappear.
McBride was providing evidence before the Parliament Ad Hoc Committee investigating police corruption on Wednesday before concluding his testimony.
McBride said the fight over the control of the Crime Intelligence slush fund millions is all about control.
He said at no point was the fund never not abused.
“The scramble is for control of that - you control people, you control other policemen, you control generals, you control politicians with that.”
He said the fund should not be used to buy properties and buildings, but rather to protect sources or to set up what he calls “blind companies”.
McBride was referring to how Crime Intelligence spent R22.7 million from secret funds on a boutique luxury hotel in Pretoria, sparking outrage.
“You also don’t buy buildings because what if your agent gets blown? What are you going to sell the whole building?”
But McBride said that he doesn’t have any evidence linking the current head of Crime Intelligence, Dumisani Khumalo, of abusing secret funds.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
