DA QUESTIONS LEGALITY OF RAMOTSHERE MOILOA’S LAND USE PLANNING FRAMEWORK ​

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

DA QUESTIONS LEGALITY OF RAMOTSHERE MOILOA’S LAND USE PLANNING FRAMEWORK

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ZEERUST , NORTH WEST – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally written to the Mayor and Municipal Manager of the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality (RMLM), raising critical concerns over the municipality’s compliance with national planning legislation and by-law procedures.

​The move follows a municipal invitation issued to local property owners and landlords to attend a stakeholder engagement on July 9, 2026. While the DA noted it supports efforts to engage local businesses, it warned that proceeding without a lawful planning framework exposes the municipality to severe legal risks and undermines investor confidence.

​

SPLUMA Violations and Legislative Failures

​At the center of the dispute is the municipality's alleged failure to comply with Section 20 of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA).

​Under SPLUMA, municipalities are legally mandated to review and update their Spatial Development Framework (SDF) at least once every five years. The DA cautions that Ramotshere Moiloa is operating on an outdated framework, which weakens planning certainty and threatens the validity of any new land-use decisions.

​This legislative oversight is compounded by historical administrative weaknesses: the Auditor-General’s 2023/24 audit report previously flagged significant shortcomings regarding the municipality's official planning documentation and record-keeping.

​Unpromulgated By-Laws Under Scrutiny

​The DA has also demanded immediate verification of the municipal by-laws referenced during the July 9 stakeholder engagement. Specifically, the party is questioning the legal status of:

​The Spatial Planning and Land Use Management By-law (2017)

​The Accommodation Establishments By-law (2015)

​The municipality has been asked to produce official proof that these regulations were properly promulgated in the Provincial Gazette. Without formal gazetting, municipal by-laws are not legally enforceable, meaning any attempts to penalize local businesses or enforce licensing under them could be unlawful.

​"Property owners and businesses must have confidence that municipal planning and land use processes are conducted in accordance with the law," the DA stated. "The government must lead by example by complying with the same legal requirements they expect residents and businesses to follow."

​Demands for Immediate Rectification

​To restore procedural fairness and transparency, the DA has requested that the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality immediately:

​Prove Gazetting: Provide definitive Provincial Gazette references for all active municipal by-laws.

​Ensure Public Access: Publish all approved by-laws on the official municipal website so they are easily accessible to property owners.

​Halt Pending Engagements: Postpone further licensing and rezoning stakeholder engagements until these foundational compliance issues are resolved.

​Enforce SPLUMA Alignment: Ensure all current rezoning, land use, and business licensing applications strictly align with SPLUMA and the Municipal Systems Act.

​The DA has committed to monitoring the municipality’s response, reiterating that a transparent, legally sound framework is non-negotiable for securing property rights and encouraging local economic growth.

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KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

 

DA IN KOPANONG DEMANDS URGENT REPAIRS FOR DANGEROUS R701 BETWEEN BLOEMFONTEIN AND JAGERSFONTEIN

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KOPANONG, FREE STATE – The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Kopanong has announced formal plans to escalate safety concerns regarding the deteriorating and hazardous condition of the R701 road between Bloemfontein and Jagersfontein. 

The party is demanding that provincial road authorities initiate immediate pothole repairs, execute a comprehensive safety inspection, and release a transparent, long-term maintenance strategy to safeguard motorists.

​A Crucial, Yet Neglected Economic Artery

​The R701 is a vital regional transit corridor connecting Bloemfontein, Jagersfontein, and several surrounding farming and rural communities. It is heavily relied upon by daily commuters, commercial transport logistics, local farmers, and emergency service providers.

​However, the current state of the road has degraded to an unacceptable level. Motorists are regularly forced to dodge deep, destructive potholes, creating high-risk situations that are particularly lethal at night, during heavy rains, or under low-visibility conditions.

​Selective Repairs Leave Motorists at Risk

​While localized roadworks have improved the entrance into Jagersfontein and patched portions of the route stretching from Trompsburg, the DA warns that "selective patching" is not a sustainable solution. Neglecting the extensive stretches of the R701 closer to Bloemfontein leaves commuters navigating a patchwork of safe zones interrupted by sudden, dangerous craters.

​This infrastructure failure has severe, measurable consequences for the local community:

• ​Financial Strain on Residents: Excessive wear-and-tear, punctured tires, and structural vehicle damage from unavoidable potholes.
• ​Economic Bottlenecks: Increased operational and transport costs for regional farmers and businesses moving fresh goods and materials to market.
• ​Weakened Investment: Sub-standard regional road networks actively deter commercial investment and choke local job creation.

​Demanding Transparency and Accountability

​The DA pointed out the hypocrisy of government officials frequently traveling these exact regional routes while allowing the critical infrastructure to decay under their watch.

​The opposition party is demanding immediate interventions, including:

1. ​Urgent Emergency Repairs: Targeted patching of the most severe, high-risk potholes on the R701.
2. ​Full Route Audit: A thorough safety and structural inspection of the entire Bloemfontein-to-Jagersfontein stretch.
3. ​A Transparent Maintenance Schedule: Clear, public timelines showing exactly when comprehensive road rehabilitations will begin and end.
4. ​Consequence Management: Direct accountability and oversight for the administrative negligence and poor planning that led to this systemic infrastructure failure.

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KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

MASSIVE POLICE CRACKDOWN: OVER 13,000 ARRESTED NATIONWIDE AS SAPS NETS WANTED UK FUGITIVE AND DESTROYS 11,859 WEAPONS

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PRETORIA – In one of the most high-impact policing weeks of the year, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested 13,020 suspects nationwide during its relentless Operation Shanela II sweeps conducted between 6 and 12 July 2026.

​The massive operation was punctuated by the dramatic arrest of an internationally wanted fugitive, major illegal mining shutdowns, multi-million rand counterfeit busts, and the symbolic destruction of nearly 12,000 illegal firearms.

​The Arrest of a Wanted UK Fugitive

​On Friday, 10 July 2026, a coordinated tactical strike in Kensington, Johannesburg, led to the apprehension of Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma.

​The operation—spearheaded by the SAPS INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Crime Intelligence, and the Organised Crime Investigation Unit—concluded a manhunt for Tshuma, who is wanted by British authorities for a horrific domestic tragedy. He stands accused of the murders of his wife, Nothabo Zandile Tshuma (42), and their two young daughters, Natalie (15) and Nala (5), whose bodies were discovered in their home near Bedford, United Kingdom.

​Turning Weapons to Scrap: 11,859 Firearms Destroyed

​To mark International Firearm Destruction Day (observed annually on 9 July), Deputy Minister of Police Dr. Polly Boshielo overseen the physical destruction of 11,859 firearms and firearm parts.

​The majority of these weapons were seized during active street-level policing operations like Operation Shanela, or voluntarily surrendered during recent national amnesty windows. Crucially, 157 of the destroyed firearms were linked to finalized court cases involving crimes against women and children, while three were tied directly to violent cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies.

​Crime Blitz: Weekly Arrests & Confiscations at a Glance

​Out of the 13,020 suspects processed, 1,886 were wanted profile suspects running from serious and violent offenses.

​Key Arrests

• ​Murder: 105 suspects (Eastern Cape: 28, Gauteng: 26).
• ​Rape: 138 suspects (KwaZulu-Natal: 32, Gauteng: 29).
• ​Drug Possession & Dealing: 1,986 suspects arrested.
• ​Immigration: 2,089 individuals detained for contravening the Immigration Act (including 801 in Gauteng).
• ​Drunk Driving: 523 motorists arrested.

​Seizures & Recoveries

• ​100 unlicensed firearms (including handguns, shotguns, and rifles) along with 1,752 rounds of ammunition taken off the streets.
• ​629 dangerous weapons confiscated.
• ​46 stolen or hijacked vehicles successfully recovered.

​Provincial Highlights and Tactical Breakthroughs

​Gauteng: Heavy Blow to Illegal Mining

• ​Westonaria: A massive joint operation (Operation Prosper) involving SAPS, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and private security at Losberg Kloof Mine resulted in the arrest of 217 illegal miners.
• ​Mohlakeng: A parallel SAPS-SANDF sweep in the West Rand netted another 120 illegal miners caught in possession of gold-bearing materials.

​Limpopo: R77.9 Million Counterfeit Bust

​A multi-agency raid across Tzaneen, Phalaborwa, and Mankweng led to the seizure of 162,072 counterfeit and illicit items valued at an estimated R77.9 million. The confiscated stockpile ranged from fake luxury clothing and cosmetics to hazardous unregistered pesticides and sub-standard automotive parts.

​Free State: R3.6 Million Illicit Cigarette Raid

​In the small town of Boshof, an intelligence-led raid on a supermarket and a nearby warehouse uncovered 339 master boxes and over 15,000 loose packets of counterfeit cigarettes. Three foreign nationals were arrested.

​Eastern Cape: Gang Unit Dismantles Drug Dens

​In Nelson Mandela Bay, the specialized Anti-Gang Unit raided Richmond Hill, seizing 2,797 Mandrax tablets, cocaine, and crystal meth (tik) valued at R115,000, alongside illegal ammunition discovered at a local Transnet depot.

​North West: Justice for Slain Community Activist

​SAPS Provincial Murder and Robbery investigators made a major breakthrough by arresting two suspects, aged 28 and 38, for the May 2026 assassination of Thato Molosankwe, a beloved local community leader who was widely known for actively speaking out against local gang syndicates and criminal networks.

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NIGERIA AND BRAZIL LAUNCH AGRO-TRADE DELIVERABLES, OPENING DOORS FOR HIBISCUS, SESAME, AND SHEA BUTTER EXPORTS

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

NIGERIA AND BRAZIL LAUNCH AGRO-TRADE DELIVERABLES, OPENING DOORS FOR HIBISCUS, SESAME, AND SHEA BUTTER EXPORTS

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ABUJA, NIGERIA – At a high-level bilateral meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima announced that the Nigeria–Brazil Agro-Trade Initiative has officially transitioned from policy discussions to active implementation.

​The announcement, made alongside Brazilian Minister of Agriculture and Livestock André Carlos Alves de Paula Filho, marks a major step forward for agricultural trade between the two nations, opening up immediate opportunities for private-sector operators.

​1. Key Market Openings for Nigerian Exports

​The most immediate outcome of the updated trade framework is Brazil’s commitment to open its domestic market to three primary Nigerian agricultural products:

• ​Hibiscus
• ​Sesame
• ​Shea Butter

​Phytosanitary Certificates: The technical staff of Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is currently finalizing the required phytosanitary (plant health) certificate proposals to formally clear these products for shipping. Once finalized, Brazil will facilitate direct B2B contacts to connect Nigerian exporters with verified Brazilian buyers.




​2. Active Technical Working Groups

​To move past high-level diplomatic agreements, the Joint Agriculture and Livestock Technical Working Group is now fully operational under the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM). It features four highly focused sub-groups working on technical exchange:

• ​Dairy & Livestock Genetics: Transferring critical genetics to boost local dairy yields.
• ​Soybean Productivity: Utilizing Brazilian agronomic expertise to scale up Nigerian soy farming.
• ​Agricultural Policy: Aligning regulatory and administrative standards to reduce trade friction.
• ​Agro-Climatic Risk Zoning: Sharing meteorological and soil modeling techniques to help farmers mitigate weather-related risks.

​3. Institutional Alignment & Key Backing

• ​Jigawa State’s Role: Governor Malam Umar Namadi highlighted that Jigawa State currently accounts for 75% of Nigeria's total non-oil exports. He pledged the state’s full cooperation to act as a major supply hub for the sesame and hibiscus pipelines heading to South America.
• ​EMBRAPA Engagement: Brazil has established a permanent agricultural attaché in Abuja and significantly increased local collaboration via EMBRAPA (the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), helping fast-track technical and agronomic exchanges directly on the ground.

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RAMAPHOSA CALLS FOR BOLD SYSTEM-WIDE REFORM AT GLOBAL EDUCATION SUMMIT IN PARIS

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

RAMAPHOSA CALLS FOR BOLD SYSTEM-WIDE REFORM AT GLOBAL EDUCATION SUMMIT IN PARIS

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PARIS, FRANCE – Delivering a keynote address at the UNESCO Headquarters, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on global leaders to pivot from policy promises to aggressive implementation as the international community reviews its progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).

Speaking at the Transforming Education Summit (TES Plus 4), Ramaphosa emphasized that with the 2030 global education deadline rapidly approaching, the time for incremental adjustments has passed.

Global Success Stories and South Africa's Milestones

Ramaphosa anchored his address by invoking the words of democratic South Africa’s founding father, Nelson Mandela, who famously declared education the most powerful weapon to change the world. To illustrate this transformative capacity, the President highlighted major developmental leaps across several nations:

• Rwanda: Rapidly shifting into one of Africa’s fastest-growing knowledge economies through targeted education investment.

• China: Moving from a predominantly agrarian society to the world’s second-largest economy, lifting over 800 million citizens out of poverty.

• India: Generating a world-class, highly sought-after technological and digital workforce.

Reflecting on South Africa, Ramaphosa celebrated the country's recent achievement of the highest school-leaving certificate (Matric) pass rate in its democratic history. Notably, the majority of learners qualifying for university admission came from impoverished communities, gaining access to free higher education at universities and TVET colleges—opportunities entirely denied to previous generations under apartheid.

Confronting Systemic Vulnerabilities

Despite post-pandemic recovery efforts since the initial 2022 summit, the President warned that global educational infrastructure remains highly vulnerable to tightening fiscal constraints, conflict, and climate shocks. He noted that a transparent assessment of country commitments reveals where progress has stalled, demanding that nations confront uncomfortable truths rather than rely on noble rhetoric.

A Vision for Adaptive Education: "Resilience means building education systems that are not fragile branches bending in the wind, but sturdy forests with deep roots and the capacity to regenerate." — President Cyril Ramaphosa

Core Pillars of the Transformation Agenda

Ramaphosa outlined key systemic shifts that must occur to achieve genuine, resilient transformation:

• Elevating the Teaching Profession: Real reform is impossible without directly addressing inadequate teacher compensation, excessive classroom sizes, poor professional development, and the escalating mental health pressures impacting both educators and students.

• Prioritizing Equity and Inclusion: Policy interventions must actively include female learners, individuals living with disabilities, and marginalized rural or poor communities to prevent reforms from simply replicating historical inequalities.

• Harnessing Future Skills: Systems must adapt instantly to the unfolding technological revolution to ensure young people are equipped for a fast-changing global marketplace.

A Call for Global Accountability

Reflecting on South Africa's leadership, Ramaphosa encouraged global delegates to align TES Plus 4 objectives with the foundational literacy and cross-border skills recognition frameworks championed during South Africa's G20 Presidency.

Closing his address, the President issued a direct challenge to the international community to move decisively from statements to accountability, stating that every dollar spent on quality education returns exponentially in social stability, human dignity, and economic growth.

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