Limpopo Current Affairs

17/09/2025

LIEUTENANT GENERAL NHLANHLA MKHWANAZI SUES PAUL O’SULLIVAN

Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, is reportedly suing forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan for defamation of character.

This comes after O’Sullivan allegedly accused Mkhwanazi of overstepping his authority and even suggesting that the police chief was threatening a possible coup.

Mkhwanazi has denied the claims and maintains that O’Sullivan’s remarks have damaged his reputation and integrity as a senior law enforcement officer.

Legal proceedings are said to be underway as Mkhwanazi seeks to clear his name.

16/09/2025

R2m drug bust lands two in hot water in Limpopo

Two foreign nationals have been hauled before the Thabazimbi Magistrate’s Court after they were allegedly caught with dagga and cough syrups valued at more than R2 million.

Cuthbert Derera, 30, and Wishborn Fufa, 39, were bust on Saturday when police and private security intercepted a truck on the R510 road to Lephalale.

Cops from Northam and Thabazimbi SAPS, working with Zimbi Security, pounced after receiving a tip-off about a truck ferrying dagga and bottles of codeine-based cough syrup to the Groblersbrug border.

A search uncovered 40 bales of Swazi dagga worth R1.5m, along with bottles of Benylin, Bronclear and Astra Pain syrup valued at R500,000.

The suspects, who could not explain the origin of the stash, were immediately arrested and detained. They appeared in court on Monday and their case was postponed to September 22 for a formal bail application.

Police investigations are still ongoing.

16/09/2025

Unlicensed taxi driver behind Impendle scholar crash arrested

A minibus taxi driver who fled the scene after a horrific scholar transport accident that left 20 learners injured in Impendle has been arrested.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, confirmed on Tuesday that the driver had no driver’s licence, no Professional Driving Permit (PrDP), and was only in possession of a learner’s licence.

“The driver violated the National Land Transport Act by transporting learners without a PrDP. We want to remove from our road networks reckless drivers who are behind the spike of private scholar transport accidents and many other accidents that have destroyed families and cut short the lives of innocent people,” Duma said.

The driver allegedly lost control of his unroadworthy minibus taxi before it plunged off KwaKhetha Bridge on P127 on Monday morning. About 20 learners sustained injuries, with some treated and discharged, while others remain under medical care.

Duma said the Road Traffic Inspectorate would intensify operations in collaboration with Impendle Local Municipality and other traffic departments to clamp down on unroadworthy taxis and illegal operators.

He also announced that his department is partnering with the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA) to root out vehicles without valid roadworthy certificates and to clamp down on fraudulent issuing of certificates.

“As we count down to October, which is Transport Month, we will announce our collaboration with the VTA to strengthen legislation governing the taxi and scholar transport industry, enforce stricter compliance, and require biannual certificates of roadworthiness for all heavy passenger vehicles,” Duma added.

KwaZulu-Natal MECs for Health and Education, Nomagugu Simelane and Sipho Hlomuka, together with local government leaders, have joined Duma in responding to the Impendle tragedy.

16/09/2025

BREAKING NEWS: Infant Tragedy in Ecaleni Section, Tembisa

The Ecaleni community was left reeling in shock in the early hours of Monday morning after a tragic incident involving an infant.

At around 04:00 AM, a local patrolling team reportedly caught a woman attempting to dispose of her baby on Bongolo Street, near a bottle store. The infant had already been killed.

Police were immediately called to the scene, and the mother was taken into custody. She was placed in the back of a police van while officers began gathering information about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Residents in the area expressed deep sadness and disbelief, saying they were struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

Authorities have confirmed that investigations are ongoing.

16/09/2025

[JUST IN]Phalaborwa United Fc has appointed former Kaizer Chiefs player, Mr Tefu Mashamaite as their new head Coach with immediate effect.

16/09/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲

The Freedom Square community in Tembisa is in mourning after a shack fire claimed the lives of three siblings in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The victims, Lebo (15), Lethabo (13), and Kgothatso (7), were trapped inside their shack when the blaze started. Their mother had allegedly locked the children inside while she went to visit her boyfriend at a nearby hostel. She has since been arrested and is facing charges of negligence.

Residents described the incident as heartbreaking and gathered outside the burnt shack to comfort the family and grieve the loss. Many say the tragedy highlights the harsh conditions faced by families in informal settlements, where fires remain a constant danger.

16/09/2025

Hospital visits exceed population numbers

By Power Ernest Marakalala

It has been reported that the number of people visiting public hospitals and clinics in some provinces is far higher than the actual population figures.

In KwaZulu-Natal, hospitals record around 29 million visits, while the province’s population is only 12.9 million.

In Limpopo, clinics record 14.9 million visits per year, even though the population is 6.4 million.

In Gauteng, with 15.9 million residents, clinics receive about 19.6 million visits annually.

These figures do not include patients who go to private hospitals, raising questions about where the extra numbers are coming from.

16/09/2025

More than 50 families left homeless after Mokgoloboto demolitions

By Power Ernest Marakalala

More than 50 families were left homeless on Monday morning after the Greater Tzaneen Municipality demolished houses at Mokgoloboto village.

The demolitions followed a Polokwane High Court order, which allowed the municipality to remove structures built illegally on municipal land.

Municipal spokesperson Neville Ndlala said the land belongs to the municipality and that a township development plan has already been approved.

One affected resident broke down in tears after his ten-room house was demolished within minutes, leaving him devastated.

15/09/2025

15/09/2025

Former CFO and Payroll Clerk Arrested for Alleged Fraud

The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team in Potchefstroom has arrested a 35-year-old former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Ratlou Local Municipality in Madibogo and a 53-year-old payroll clerk on Monday, 15 September 2025.

The arrests follow allegations of fraud dating back to 2022. Reports indicate that in March 2022, the CFO appointed the payroll clerk as an acting expenditure manager without approval from the municipal manager. Investigations later revealed that in November 2022, the CFO allegedly authorised payment of more than R49,000 to her for an acting allowance, despite her not performing any duties related to the acting position.

Both suspects were charged with fraud and are expected to appear in the Setlagole Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 16 September 2025.

15/09/2025

Seshego Security Officer Stabbed to Death on Duty

A 36 year-old security officer was fatally stabbed while on duty at a fast-food outlet in Sengatane Village, Seshego, on Saturday morning.

Police say the officer was working when he got into an argument with a male customer. The suspect allegedly pulled out a sharp object and stabbed him before fleeing the scene.

The officer was rushed to a local hospital and later transferred to the Provincial Hospital, but sadly died from his injuries around 14:30.

The suspect, who remains at large, was reportedly driving a white Toyota Avanza without registration plates. The vehicle had a black sticker on the bonnet with the word “London” on it.

Limpopo’s Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, condemned the attack, saying: This is a senseless act of violence. We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the suspect is traced and brought to justice. Attacks on law enforcement officers will not be tolerated.”

Police have since launched a manhunt to apprehend the suspect.

15/09/2025

Two Dead, One Injured in Shooting at Burgersfort Police Station

Limpopo police are investigating a tragic shooting that left two people dead and one injured at the Burgersfort Police Station in Sekhukhune District early on Sunday morning, 14 September 2025.

The incident occurred around 02:35 when on-duty officers reportedly heard gunshots within the station’s yard. Responding to the scene, they discovered a 28-year-old woman with gunshot wounds lying next to two vehicles. Her husband, a 31-year-old man, was found dead from gunshot injuries nearby. A third victim, a 39-year-old woman, was also found with gunshot wounds.

Paramedics confirmed the deaths of the 31-year-old man and the 39-year-old woman at the scene, while the 28-year-old woman was rushed to hospital and is receiving medical treatment.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the deceased man and the injured woman were married. Police suspect the man may have shot himself, but the circumstances surrounding the presence of the 39-year-old woman are still under investigation.

A firearm with ammunition and spent cartridges were recovered at the scene. Police have opened cases of murder, attempted murder, and an inquest as part of the ongoing investigation.

Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, expressed deep shock at the incident and has instructed that urgent investigations be prioritised to determine the full circumstances.

Investigations are ongoing.