Polokwane Observer
ANC revises its access control
:ith Must two months to go before the ANC’s provincial elective conference, the party has moved to centralise and tighten delegate accreditation processes, signalling heightened sensitivity around internal contestation and conference...
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Murder scene
0embers of the :estenburg police and forensic pathology services respond to the scene Zhere a man Zas reportedly stabbed to death in (nd 6treet Ivydale on Tuesday. The community apprehended a potential suspect believed to be a foreign national before...
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Renewed New Year spirit of hope, unity
Polokwane Observer spoke to readers about their vision, hopes, goals and resolutions for 2026. Some hope to grow personally while others try to focus on their professional career, while reflecting back on challenges of 2025 on which they can improve,...
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When kindness comes naturally
“I hope this moment will encourage people to help one another and not be so mean to each other. We are only human.” These are the words of 12-yearold Mila Geldenhuys, whose simple but powerful act of kindness has touched thousands of South Africans...
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BANKVAS agter Andru
‘Never Stop ’ Sy lees die foto op Andru van =yl (18) se WhatsApp-profiel, ‘n in-die-kol beskrywing vir hierdie jongman. Toe Andru hoor van ‘n gr. 8-skoolvriend wat kankerbehandeling moes kry, het hy besluit om sy tyd in Desember op te offer om...
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‘stronger action against GBVF’
/eading political parties in the province have called on the Mudiciar\, the National 3rosecuting Authorit\ N3A and the police to ensure a swift and significant reduction in crimes against women and children. The call follows 3resident &\ril...
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Patel GUILTY
The long running murder trial of PoloNwane businessman Ramee] Patel reached a critical turning point on Tuesday when the /impopo +igh &ourt found him guilty of the premeditated murder of his wife, )atima, committed in $pril at their home in...
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Miané se liefde vir plant, dier
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‘Jack’ pantomime charms audiences
“Fee-fi-fo-fum…” These famous words of a fairy tale giant roared to life in the city recently as Jack and the Beanstalk: The Musical Pantomime hit the stage at The Village Theatre. Top: Danica Nel (Jill) and Elein Venter on the stage. Left: Jazz...
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MEC joins commuters on bus ride
The MEC for Transport, Violet Mathye recently concluded Transport Month by taking a bus ride with commuters to Sebayeng village. The visit followed an oversight tour of the Kopano and Madodi Bus Service Depot last Friday, where Mathye was given a...
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Crackdown on unsafe buildings
City Mayor John Mpe has vowed firm action against non-compliant buildings across the municipality following the fatal collapse of the Student Supermarket in Mankweng last Wednesday. One worker was killed and another injured when part of the building...
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Power supply cuts at depts
The Polokwane Municipality has revealed that its debt book has ballooned to R2.1b, as of September 30, with government departments owing a combined R320.9m, the bulk of which is owed by the Department of Rural Development. The municipality on Thursday...
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Bus service’s R7M dispute
It remains to be seen whether the Polokwane Council will agree to settle the R7m it reportedly owes to taxi operators who partnered with the municipality to make the city’s bus service, Leeto La Polokwane (LLP), operational over the past four...
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Dressed to the nines at The Ranch High Tea
Mmabatho Senyatsi, Charmain Truter and Nhlamulo Mtileni have fun.
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Fears of gang culture revival after murder
The murder of a popular local grill outlet worker in Seshego has reignited fears that the long-buried culture of gang violence in the township is resurfacing among its youth. Nineteen-year-old George Machaba appeared in the Seshego Magistrate’s Court...
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Waste crisis worsens
AfriForum’s 2025 landfill site audit, released recently, shows South Africa is grappling with a deepening waste management crisis, with Polokwane Municipality once again featuring among the worst performers. This raises serious concerns for the city’s...
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Oom Jules se lewe gevier
Dié wat vir Jules Coetzer, beter bekend as Oom Jules geken het, weet hy was bekend vir sy sagte hart en vrygewige gees – ‘n man wat beslis ‘n onuitwisbare indruk gemaak het. In gesprek met sy vrou, Isabel, het sy gedeel watter dinge na aan sy hart...
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E-hailing safety: Do’s and don’ts
Intense discussions on the safety of one of the most widely used modes of publicprivate transportation, e-hailing services, have resurfaced. This follows a growing number of incidents in Polokwane and beyond where both drivers and passengers have felt...
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VERWOESTENDE BRANDE
Die verwoestende veldbrande wat die Polokwane-omgewing en plase buite Dendron die afgelope naweek geteister het, het gemeenskappe saamgesnoer toe boere en vriende van heinde en ver met helpers, brandslaners, water en verversings opgedaag het om te help...
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2 rhinos die in safe sanctuary
Questions are raised after it was disclosed during the recent meeting of the Polokwane Municipal Council that two of the 10 white rhinos that have been safeguarded in a sanctuary outside Bela-Bela since May 2017, died within the span of three weeks in...
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Ons Tuiste hou basaar
Inwoners van Ons Tuiste, Ester Botha en Mariana van der Walt geniet varsgebakte pannekoek tydens die jaarlikse basaar wat Saterdag aangebied is. Lees meer op bladsy 6.
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‘n Dolfyndroom vir Anuska (14)
Anuska Deyzel (14) se droom om ‘n dolfyn te soen, word waar.
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‘PLAN BETTER’
Regular commuters on Nelson Mandela Drive have voiced concerns over what they describe as ineffective traffic measures since the start of a major two-month-long maintenance project. The Polokwane Municipality announced that from July 16 to September...
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Premier calls for reform
The Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba delivered a scathing critique of the province’s ongoing infrastructure challenges, calling on government officials to urgently address poor planning, stalled projects and the failure to uplift rural and marginalised...
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Site preserved in mega development
Preparatory work has started on the underground parking facility for the upcoming Green Arch Precinct, located next to The Greenery Shopping Centre. The development, which will be rolled out in phases, has recently drawn concerns from some residents...
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Concern: Shocking state of city’s electrical matters
Mini substations and meter boxes in the city are in a shocking state with open cabling left exposed for months and creating a lifethreatening situation for residents. A snap review of the pavements in the CBD, residential areas and the commercial area...
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‘Widen your horizons’
The Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba has acknowledged the importance of youth inclusion in political leadership but cautioned that such roles alone will not resolve the province’s widespread youth unemployment crisis. Speaking at the Youth Day rally held...
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FMD:‘No meat shortages’
Concern is mounting after recent cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) were reported among cloven-hoofed animals in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. On Friday, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen reassured producers and consumers, saying that the...
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‘Kidnaps linked to hitchhiking’
Kidnapping cases are increasingly emerging in the Capricorn district, with the Polokwane Community Policing Forum (CPF) warning that hitchhiking is a key driver behind the trend. Recent crime statistics released on Thursday by provincial police...
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Disputes, division at PM conference
The 10th ANC Peter Mokaba Regional Conference was last week hosted at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium, amid allegations of irregularities and internal disputes raised by a section of delegates and branch representatives. The Regional Executive Committee...
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Brutal assault in Dalmada
What appears to be a self-appointed and well-connected group, is apparently enforcing its own brand of justice in Dalmada in a trend that took a violent turn last week, with the brutal assault of local resident Nick Lourens (37), who now fears for his...
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ANC conference: Battle brews
The political landscape within the ANC’s Peter Mokaba Region remains tense, as the party’s elective conference, now twice postponed, is rescheduled once more for this coming weekend. The latest delay stemmed from unresolved branch disputes, notably...
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City’s new vehicles to cost R119m
The Polokwane Municipality has set aside R119.7m for the replacement of the bulk of its vehicle fleet over the next three financial years and additional funds will be sourced to cover the last two years of a proposed five years’ lease. According to a...
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Public Works boosts jobs, skills
Prof Derek Engelbrecht voices his opposition to the proposed eco-estate. The Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure has made significant strides in addressing unemployment through various infrastructure initiatives, according to MEC...
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MEGA HOTEL INVESTMENT
The city will see a mega development nt t in progress when the construction of a seven-storey skyscraper will start before fo ore the end of the Polokwane Municipality’s t ty’s financial year-end on June 30. This was according to Mayor John Mpe during...
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Jaarlikse Day Jol ‘n treffer
Tannie Lulu Neethling-du Plessis (86) se droom om op ‘n motorfiets te ry, het die afgelope naweek waar geword toe Clayton Duffey haar vir ‘n rit op sy motorfiets geneem het. Die motorfietsgemeenskap het Saterdag by die Ons Tuiste Day Jol saam met die...
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No relief in municipal draft budget
Polokwane Mayor John Mpe tabled the municipality’s 2025/26 draft budget of income and expenditure, amounting to R6.445b, during a council meeting last Wednesday. The proposed municipal services tariffs offer little relief for the majority of already...
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UNHEALTHY, HEALTH DEPT
The South African Emergency Personnel’s Union (Saepu) has made serious accusations against the Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, alleging mismanagement during her tenure as the province’s Health MEC and continuing issues under the current health...
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DAWIE ROODT UNPACKS SOUTH AFRICA ECONOMY
Dawie Roodt, chief economist at the Efficient Group, has a unique way of breaking down complex economic concepts into simple terms that resonate with everyday people. During his recent visit to the AgriXpo 2025, held at The Ranch Resort last week, he...
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A TIME TO ‘PAWS’ AND REFLECT
From inserting the smallest feeding tube into a bird undergoing surgery to performing a caesarean section on a snake, local vet Dr Gavin Watson has seen and done it all. Gavin is the original owner of the Pietersburg Veterinary Clinic, established in...
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MATHYS BEDERF INWONERS
Hy het Lucas Maré se Droomvrou spesiaal vir ChristiaChristiaan en Monica, wat hulle 10de huweliksherdenking huweliksherde vier, g gesing.
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HEALTH MUM OVER MISSING R20M
Concerns are mounting within the Department of Health regarding the whereabouts of an estimated R20m budget that was previously allocated to refurbish public oral health facilities across the province. An internal report from the Pietersburg...
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ANDRÉ (51): ‘N LEWE VAN LIEFDE, PA-WEES EN TOEWYDING
Vandag neem geliefdes van André Fourie (51) vir die laaste keer afskeid van hom by die Logos Gemeenskapskerk. Hy is op 10 Februarie oorlede, nadat hy in April verlede jaar met kanker gediagnoseer is. André, ‘n passievolle gholfspeler, was op die...
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Heli crashes in Game Reserve; pilot killed
The 2004 Bell 206L-4 Long Ranger helicopter crashed in the Polokwane Game Reserve. Insert: Sebastian Nielson was killed in a helicopter accident last Wednesday morning. Read more on page 2.
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FATHER FIGHTS OFF KIDNAPPERS
A Polokwane businessman and his 21-year-old daughter narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt in Nirvana early Monday morning. The attack occurred around 05:00 as the businessman, a prominent member of the community, was on his routine morning walk with...
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PROPOSED INCREASE ON LIQUOR TAXES
The Transport Ministry’s proposal to increase taxes on liquor as a measure to curb the rising number of road fatalities over the festive season has received mixed reactions from local stakeholders. This debate follows ongoing discussions about...
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MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY ON TRACK
Construction at the new Netcare Akeso Polokwane mental health facility has resumed and is on par with planning despite inclement weather. According to Akeso’s infrastructure programme manager Matthew Scott, significant progress has been made on site...
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Water waar jy kyk
Met die son wat uiteindelik sy kop uitsteek, speel Emily Buitendag in een van die vele waterpoele in die stad. Daar het reeds 200mm in Januarie geval, dit was die tweede hoogste reënval in 20 jaar vir Januarie.
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Truck lands in ditch on N1 after tyre burst
A truck from a beverages company landed in a ditch on the N1 bypass near the Tweefontein intersection on Monday morning, seemingly after a tyre burst. The heavy truck was en route from Rosslyn in Pretoria to Thohoyandou when the incident occurred....
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FESTIVE SEASON GREETINGS
On December 25, people across the world will gather to celebrate Christmas. While people of all religions mark the Christmas season in their own way, it remains a holy time for Christians. It is a season of joy and celebration, of peace harmony and...
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DANGEROUS ROADS
Limpopo is home to four of South Africa’s 10 most dangerous roads, according to a study presented at a public-private partnership conference hosted at the Park Inn on Friday. This alarming statistic persists despite an 8.4% reduction in road...
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FEW PITCH FOR NERSA HEARING
The Electricity Sub-committee of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) hosted a public hearing on Eskom’s sixth multi-year price determination revenue application for the 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years at Jack Botes Hall...
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FESTIVE LIGHTS: ‘BOYCOTT EVENT’
Momentum is building for a potential boycott and protest against the city’s annual festive lights celebration, scheduled for December 6 at the Jack Botes Park. Residents, frustrated by ongoing water shortages, argue that money for the event should be...
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Long queues: Final rush for power meter conversions
Over the past week, many Eskom customers in the Capricorn district have faced long queues at the Hans van Rensburg Street branch in Polokwane. These customers, primarily from remote areas such as Moletjie, Mashashane, Mentz and Molepo, sought answers...
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‘TOT SIENS, LIEWE CHRISTIAANTJIE’
Daar was Maandagoggend ‘n skoolbank leeg in juffrou Liezel Erasmus se gr. 4-klas by Laerskool Piet Hugo. Daar waar Christiaan van Wyk (10) vroeër Vrydagoggend nog saam met sy klasmaats gelag en gesels het, sit niemand meer nie - die atmosfeer by die...
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LEERDERS GESTRAND
Tot amper 200 leerders wat tot vroeër vanjaar nog verbonde was aan CVO Kremetart, moes onlangs inderhaas in ander skole in die stad geakkommodeer word na dié instansie sy deure gesluit het. Bekommerde ouers van veral gr. 11-leerders, talle wat reeds...
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Truck bursts through Pietersburg Laerskool wall
Firefighters extinguish a fire at an electrical box on the corner of Dorp and Thabo Mbeki streets after a collision involving a truck and a bakkie. The collision resulted in the truck bursting through the wall of Pietersburg Laerskool shortly after the...
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WATER WOES SPILL OVER INTO COURT
Operations in the highest office of the judiciary in Limpopo drew a setback last week when business in the High Court building in the city was halted due to a shortage of water in the facility. Last Friday, Judge President of the Limpopo Division of...
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THE VICTIMS, WHOM KUTUMELA HAD INSURED AS THE SOLE BENEFICIARY:
• Sydney Noko Montja, murdered on October 21, 2019. • Joyce Tsela Malesa, murdered on July 5, 2020. • Navel Kutumela, murdered on April 6, 2021. • Maphari Ephraim Chosi, murdered on August 1, 2021. • Jacob Petrus Seakamela, murdered on September...
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VF+-LEIER SE DOOD RUK GEMEENSKAP
Die skielike afsterwe van Marcelle Maritz (59), provinsiale leier van die Vryheidsfront Plus in Limpopo en lid van die provinsiale wetgewer het die gemeenskap van die provinsie met skok vervul. Maritz is Vrydagaand in haar huis in Mokopane na ‘n...
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City mourns a great gentleman
Jack Dryden-Schofield, a beloved figure in the Polokwane community, passed away last Monday, leaving a lasting impact on those who loved and adored him. Born in Balfour in the Eastern Cape in 1938, he attended Queens College in Queenstown from the age...
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CRACKDOWN ON RESTAURANTS
Non-compliant employers in Polokwane’s hospitality sector, particularly restaurants, are facing serious consequences after a joint operation by the Department of Employment and Labour, the police, and Home Affairs officials led to the arrest of nine...
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Muni debt book hits R2bn record
Polokwane Municipality’s debt book has hit the R2bn mark towards the 2024/24 financial year which ended on 30 June 2024, and has recorded a substantial increase since the 2015/16 financial year when debtors owed the local authority around R781m. A...
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Workers want answers
Despite Desp several requests re for assistance, assista their pleas haveh gone unanswered. una
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