Mamelodi News

By [Mamelodi News Team], June 9, 2025. South Africa is mourning the loss of Presley Chweneyagae, a towering figure in the nation’s film and television industry, whose unforgettable performances left an indelible mark on audiences worldwide. In a heartfelt tribute, DStv and Showmax have announced a special screening of Tsotsi, the Academy Award-winning film that catapulted Chweneyagae to global acclaim, alongside the Cobrizi finale and a curated showcase of his most celebrated works.  As fans and industry peers reflect on his legacy, we celebrate the profound impact of a talent gone too soon.Chweneyagae’s defining moment came in 2006 when Tsotsi, directed by Gavin Hood and adapted from Athol Fugard’s novel, won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (now Best International Feature Film). The poignant story follows a young Johannesburg street thug whose life transforms after discovering a baby in a stolen car. Chweneyagae’s raw, soul-stirring portrayal of the titular charac...

By [Mamelodi News Team], June 9, 2025. South African businessman Nzuzo Njilo and reality TV star Faith Nketsi are navigating a highly publicized marital dispute, with allegations of infidelity, financial difficulties, and co-parenting challenges coming to light. The couple, who tied the knot in April 2022, announced their divorce proceedings in November 2023, but recent claims have reignited public interest in their troubled relationship. According to sources close to Nzuzo Njilo, the couple’s issues escalated when his businesses faced significant financial setbacks. Njilo, who has been embroiled in multiple fraud cases, including a R1.5 million truck sale scam and other allegations totaling over R900,000, reportedly struggled to maintain financial stability.  These difficulties allegedly strained their marriage, with Njilo claiming that Nketsi threatened to leave him for another partner who could better provide for her. He further alleges that Nketsi engaged in infidelity, though ...

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...