Mamelodi News

Pretoria, South Africa – Water tanker mafias are exacerbating South Africa’s water crisis, exploiting vulnerable townships like Hammanskraal, Mamelodi, Bronkhorstspruit, Ekangala, and Cullinan by sabotaging infrastructure and profiting from scarce water supplies.  These criminal syndicates vandalize pipelines and treatment facilities to create shortages, forcing communities to rely on tanker deliveries, which they control through corruption and intimidation, charging R600–R800 for a 5,000-liter tank. In Hammanskraal, a 20-year water crisis, marked by contaminated water from the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works and a 2023 cholera outbreak that killed 40, has left residents dependent on tankers. Despite the 2024 completion of the Magalies Klipdrift plant, many areas still lack clean tap water, enabling mafias to thrive. Similarly, Bronkhorstspruit and Ekangala face ongoing water shortages, with reports of deliberate pipe damage to sustain tanker demand. Cullinan, another affected t...

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) stands out among central banks globally due to its distinctive ownership model. Unlike most central banks, which are fully state-owned, the SARB is privately owned, with over 800 shareholders holding approximately two million shares. The SARB was established in 1921 under the Currency and Banking Act of 1920, modeled partly on the Bank of England’s structure at the time, which also had private shareholders.  Today, the SARB’s shareholder base includes a mix of South African and international entities, such as individuals, companies, and institutions. Notable South African shareholders include major financial institutions like Absa Bank, Discovery Limited, FirstRand Bank, and Standard Bank, each holding 10,000 shares.  International shareholders from countries such as Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Norway also hold stakes, reflecting the SARB’s global reach.To prevent concentrated control, the SARB imposes a cap...

The Fall of HM Pitje Stadium: A Tale of Neglect and Wasted Opportunity. In the heart of Mamelodi, Pretoria, once stood HM Pitje Stadium, a revered landmark named after Hezekiel Mothibe Pitje, the township’s first mayor. For decades, this multi-purpose venue, primarily a football stadium, was the spiritual home of Mamelodi Sundowns, one of South Africa’s most celebrated football clubs. With a capacity of approximately 25,000 and a grass pitch, it held the promise of uniting communities through sport. Yet, today, the site lies in ruins—a symbol of mismanagement, squandered funds, and unfulfilled potential. HM Pitje Stadium, located at 113 Kubone Drive, was a hub of activity until the early 2000s. However, by 2005, the stadium had fallen into disuse, its facilities crumbling under neglect. A 2009 renovation, costing the City of Tshwane over R140 million, aimed to restore its glory. The upgrades included modernized infrastructure to meet the standards of the South African Football Associat...

Meyerton Taxi Rank Shooting: A Failure of Public Safety in the Heart of Gauteng. On the morning of May 20, 2025, the Meyerton Taxi Rank, a bustling transport hub north of Vereeniging, Gauteng, became a battleground. A violent shootout involving rival taxi associations and private security companies left a learner from Hoërskool Dr. Malan and a security guard injured, disrupting daily life and exposing deep flaws in public safety infrastructure. The incident, marked by the recovery of 19 high-calibre firearms, including ten AK-47 rifles and nine 9mm pistols, has sparked outrage and raised urgent questions about the management of public spaces in Meyerton. The shooting erupted in Meyerton’s central business district, transforming the taxi rank into what police described as a “war zone.” According to reports, members of two rival security companies, allegedly hired by competing taxi associations, opened fire with high-calibre weapons, including AK-47s.  A learner walking to school was...

Ribane-Laka School: A Beacon of Innovation and Excellence in Mamelodi. In the heart of Mamelodi East, a revolution in education is unfolding. On May 7, 2025, the Ribane-Laka Maths, Science, and ICT School of Specialisation opened its doors as a beacon of innovation, unveiled after a R148 million transformation funded by the Gauteng government.  For the 1,600 students walking through its modern halls, Ribane-Laka is more than a school—it’s a promise of opportunity in a township hungry for change. Nestled at 19558 Maseko Street, Ribane-Laka has long been a pillar of academic excellence. Under Principal MZ Ngoma’s leadership, the school has posted remarkable matric pass rates: 92.1% in 2023, 95.3% in 2022/2023 with 162 bachelor passes, and a near-perfect 99% in 2016. This year, a 98% first-term pass rate underscores its consistency.  Students like Tebatso Raselapi, who earned seven distinctions in 2016, embody the school’s legacy of producing top performers in Mathematics, Scienc...

Trump Stunned as Afrikaner Refugees Arrive Sans Tractors: “Where’s the Farmer Vibe?” WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump was left scratching his head this week after the first 59 Afrikaner refugees, welcomed under his “Mission South Africa” initiative, touched down in Washington on May 12, 2025, looking more suited for city life than cornfields.  The program, trumpeted as a rescue for “persecuted white farmers” facing “land grabs” in South Africa, promised to bring grizzled agriculturalists to America’s heartland. Instead, the group includes urbanites who’ve never hoed a row. “They were supposed to be farmers. Big, strong farmers. John Deere-level stuff,” Trump reportedly grumbled while inspecting a Home Depot lawnmower display.  “These folks look like they’ve only planted hashtags.” Launched in February, “Mission South Africa” fast-tracked Afrikaners to Idaho and Iowa, despite South Africa’s government insisting no farmers are being chased off their land. Insiders wh...

Johannesburg Woman Allegedly Staged Kidnapping to Extort Parents, Now Claims She Was Victim. Johannesburg, South Africa – A bizarre case has unfolded in Sandton, where a woman, Tebogo Mokhanda, is at the center of a complex kidnapping saga that has taken an unexpected turn. Initially accused of orchestrating her own abduction to extort R500,000 from her parents, Mokhanda now claims she was genuinely kidnapped and has filed charges against her boyfriend, including allegations of sexual assault. According to reports from the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Sandton, Mokhanda allegedly conspired with her boyfriend to stage a kidnapping. The plan reportedly involved demanding a R500,000 ransom from her parents, with the scheme lasting five days. Sandton SAPS acted swiftly, apprehending the boyfriend during the ransom drop-off, disrupting the alleged plot. However, in a dramatic twist, Mokhanda has since claimed she was not a willing participant in the kidnapping. She alleges that her...

The R94 Million Mamelodi Magistrate Court: A Stalled Promise of Justice. In the heart of Mamelodi, a township northeast of Pretoria with nearly 400,000 residents, a R94 million dream stands incomplete. The Mamelodi Magistrate Court, envisioned as a beacon of justice for the community, has been mired in delays, disruptions, and allegations of interference since its inception in 2009. As of May 2025, the project remains a symbol of both ambition and frustration, highlighting systemic challenges in South Africa’s infrastructure development. The Mamelodi Magistrate Court was designed to address the township’s growing need for accessible legal services. Intended to house a High Court, Regional Court, and Family Court, the facility promised to bring justice closer to residents who often face long journeys to central Pretoria for legal proceedings. With a budget of R94 million, the project was a significant investment in Mamelodi, a community grappling with high crime rates, including robbery...

Teen Scientist Bohlale Mphahlele Takes on Gender-Based Violence. At 16, Bohlale Mphahlele, a grade 11 student from SJ van der Merwe Technical High School in Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, South Africa, is making headlines with her invention, the “Alerting Earpiece.”  Designed to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and human trafficking, this earring-like device captures photos of perpetrators and sends alerts to family or authorities, offering a discreet way to enhance safety. Inspired by South Africa’s high GBV rates—five times the global average—Bohlale channeled her passion for engineering into a solution.  Her prototype, developed for the 2020 Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, won a bronze medal in the engineering-electronics category. Limpopo’s Education MEC, Polly Boshielo, praised its potential to address local challenges, highlighting the power of technical education. Featured in POWER 98.7’s documentary Bohlale is a Rural Girl, her story resonated widely, with X users celebratin...

49 Afrikaners Depart South Africa for US Under Trump's Refugee Program. A group of 49 Afrikaners left South Africa for the United States on Sunday, May 11, 2025, under a refugee program initiated by US President Donald Trump's administration. The program, established through an executive order in February 2025, offers resettlement to Afrikaners who claim to face government-sponsored race-based discrimination. The group departed from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, bound for Washington Dulles International Airport. Their departure has sparked controversy, with the South African government labeling the program "politically motivated" and questioning the legitimacy of Afrikaner claims of persecution. The Trump administration's decision to offer refugee status to Afrikaners has been met with criticism. Critics argue that Afrikaners, historically one of South Africa's wealthiest and most privileged communities, do not meet international criteria for...

Suspects in Journalist Aserie Ndlovu and Partner’s Kidnapping Case Face Court as Police Hunt for MoreSamuel Mogongwe (41) and Michael Lucky Skhosana (40) are set to appear in the KwaMhlanga Magistrate’s Court on Monday, May 12, 2025, facing kidnapping charges linked to the disappearance of Tshwane journalist Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Mdhluli.  The couple was reportedly abducted from their home on February 18, 2025, in a crime allegedly driven by drug addicts searching for money, according to crime expert Calvin Rafadi from the University of Johannesburg, who assisted in the investigation. A breakthrough came when one of five arrested suspects confessed to the couple’s murder, leading police to skeletal remains in bushes near Rust De Winter, Limpopo, on May 8, 2025. DNA tests are pending to confirm the remains belong to Ndlovu and Mdhluli, with potential murder charges to follow.  Mogongwe, identified as the alleged mastermind and a driver for the Mdhluli family, was ...

Nomcebo Zikode Faces Setback in Legal Battle Over "Jerusalema" Royalties, Continues to Shine with New MusicSouth African songstress Nomcebo Zikode, renowned for her soul-stirring vocals on the global anthem "Jerusalema," has hit a roadblock in her ongoing legal dispute with Open Mic Productions.  On May 9, 2025, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled against Zikode, dismissing her claims for unpaid royalties from the 2019 hit that captivated the world. The court ordered her to deliver two commercially viable albums to fulfill her contract before parting ways with the label, a decision that has left the Grammy-nominated artist disheartened. Zikode, who has spent a staggering R1.8 million on legal fees since the dispute began in 2022, expressed her frustration in a heartfelt statement: “A song that gave the world hope has broken me… I haven’t seen a cent.” Undeterred, she announced plans to appeal the ruling, signaling that her fight for justice is far from over. Th...

77 Days and Counting: The Ongoing Search for Missing South African Journalist and Partner. Pretoria, South Africa – It has been 77 days since community radio journalist Aserie Sibusiso Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli, vanished without a trace, leaving their families, colleagues, and the South African media community grappling for answers. The couple, last seen on February 18, 2025, has been the focus of an intense investigation that has now evolved into a kidnapping and car hijacking case, with four suspects in custody as of May 5, 2025. Aserie Ndlovu, the founder of Capital Live SA 99.0 FM, a community radio station based at Denlyn Mall in Mamelodi, was last seen leaving his workplace around 6:00 p.m. on February 18. He was wearing blue jeans, a white long-sleeved shirt, and Nike sneakers. On the same day, Mdhluli was last seen at their home in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga. The couple was believed to have been traveling in a white Volkswagen Citi Golf, which remains missing. ...