For more than three decades, Dorah Begwa has been on a mission – trying to restore land that once belonged to the Begwa community. But the task may be more than what a single activist, without access to expensive lawyers and substantial funds, can achieve. For many, she represents the last hope for a people who have occupied the land for over a thousand years. Dorah fights on behalf of a clan that is part of the Vhangona people, who have lived in the northern part of the country for over a …
Government
Passport Crisis in Lesotho
People queue from before dawn at the Maseru passport office, though passport services have been officially suspended. The Lesotho Ministry of Home Affairs has suspended passport services, citing the need to clear a huge backlog. But crowds of people are still queuing at the Maseru passport office. Some are migrant workers who say that without a passport they may lose their jobs in South Africa. At the Maseru passport office on Tuesday, people began arriving before sunrise. By mid-morning, the …
We Support the Release of Tshwane’s Draft Fully Funded Budget for the 2026/27 Financial Year
GOOD Statement by Sarah Mabotsa, GOOD City of Tshwane Councillor: In October 2024, our multi-party coalition government promised the residents of Tshwane that financial sustainability was a priority. The draft budget for 2026/27, approved for public comment at Council on Thursday, 26 March 2026, demonstrates delivery on that promise. Tshwane has been paying off the multi-billion Rand debts that the previous DA-led administration owed to Eskom and Rand Water. Even while we’re still paying off …
Minister Sends Back “Completely Inadequate” Report on Police Headquarters Scandal
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has called off a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with MPs to discuss a report on the controversial police headquarters at Telkom Towers in Pretoria. Macpherson said the report was “completely inadequate”. Telkom Towers, purchased in 2016 for nearly R700-million as the headquarters for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Pretoria, was evacuated due to health and safety concerns in February 2024. The purchase was flagged by the …
Tshwane’s IDP is Ctrl A, Ctrl C, Ctrl V
The Tshwane Metro’s 2026/27 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is nothing more than a rehash of previous plans, reflecting three years of strategic decay and institutional paralysis. The report was tabled to the Council today. An analysis by the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) revealed that the Metro is ignoring critical infrastructure needs while acknowledging that new projects are no longer being funded. While the Metro dreams of a “smart city by 2055”, the reality is that power outages will …
Investigations Into Corruption Allegations of City of Tshwane Officials and Political Representatives
GOOD Statement by Sarah Mabotsa, GOOD City of Tshwane Councillor: As part of the multi-party coalition government in the City of Tshwane, the GOOD party has expressed concern about the allegations of corruption against city officials and some representatives of other political parties. The Commission, which was set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has, amongst others, been tasked with investigating whether criminal cartels have infiltrated the city. Evidence before the Judicial Commission of …
Water Shutdown Notice
The City of Tshwane wishes to inform customers in the supply areas of the Babelegi Reservoir and Tower about a planned shutdown of the water supply on Thursday, 26 March 2026. The shutdown, which is scheduled for 10 hours, from 07:00 to 17:00, is necessitated by the need to carry out the installation of an inlet and bypass system on the reservoir meter. The following areas will be affected: Kekana Refilwe Mandela Village Marokolong Ramotse Babelegi industries …
Evidence Before Madlanga Points to Possible Irregularities in Tshwane Tender
The evidence presented before the Madlanga Commission regarding allegations of political interference in a security tender in the Tshwane Metro is extremely concerning and details an issue that could have been avoided. While the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) was at the steer of the Community Safety portfolio, a technology-driven security model was followed which relied less on static guards and focused more on cost-effective solutions such as modern technology. This approach ensured effective …
Counting the People Who Sleep on the Streets of Mamelodi
On the weeked, about 70 volunteers went onto the streets of Tshwane to count and interview people living on the city’s streets and in homeless shelters. About 70 volunteers braved the cold and rainy weather over the weekend to count people living on the streets of Tshwane. Volunteers and members of the policing forum in Mamelodi went from street-to-street from about 6pm until 2am, interviewing and counting people sleeping rough. All participants were given a warm meal, vegetables and snacks. The …
Activists Demand Government Improve Maternal Health Care
Thando Lelo Nkhoma joined a protest at the weekend organised by the Obstetric Violence Coalition outside the National Department of Health in Pretoria to demand better maternity care. Thando Lelo Nkhoma says her experience of giving birth in a Johannesburg hospital nearly four years ago left her traumatised because of the way she was treated by staff. The experience inspired her to become an activist advocating for safe maternal health. “We deserve care in maternal wards,” says Nkhoma. On …