Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has praised 35-year-old Constable Refilwe Calphonia Rapelang, a dedicated investigator attached to the Kathu Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in the Northern Cape.

Constable Rapelang joined the police service in 2017 as a Constable. Her potential to investigate crimes against women and children was recognised while undergoing the Basic Police Development Learning Programme (BPDLP).

She received in-service training at the Postmasburg FCS Unit and was later permanently placed at the Kathu FCS Unit as an investigator.

Looking back at a career that stretches over nine years, Constable Rapelang says she wakes up every morning with a purpose, and that is to protect and serve the people of South Africa.

She has secured several successful convictions in court over the past few years.

A recent success includes the sentencing of 40-year-old Carlos Domingos by the Kathu Regional Court to two life imprisonment terms for raping two minor girls, aged seven and 10.

On Saturday, 11 October 2025, a concerned community member noticed Domingos with the two girls at a local dumping site and alerted their parents. The young victims then disclosed what had happened to them, and Domingos was arrested that same day.

Rapelang was assigned to investigate the case. Roping in the assistance of a forensic social worker, she meticulously pieced all the evidence together. Her quality investigation resulted in a water-tight case against the accused in court, who remained in custody until he was sentenced.

Beyond investigations, Rapelang actively participates in community awareness initiatives focused on preventing gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), child abuse and sexual offences.

Rapelang, a mother of two girls, balances her demanding career by prioritising her physical and mental wellbeing through her passion for long-distance running.

“As an investigator of crimes against women, children and other vulnerable persons, my duty goes beyond building cases; it is about giving victims a voice, pursuing justice with compassion and integrity, and ensuring that those who prey on the vulnerable are held accountable,” said Rapelang.

The police continue to celebrate women in blue like Constable Refilwe Calphonia Rapelang this Women’s Month.

They embody the SAPS’ commitment to advancing the Reset Agenda by strengthening public trust, upholding the rule of law and delivering professional, ethical and people-centred policing to build a safer South Africa where every woman and girl can live free from fear. – SAnews.gov.za

By Dr Zoleka Filander

One of the greatest challenges in scientific capacity development is not delivering programmes but measuring their long-term impact. Annual reports rightly celebrate the number of workshops delivered, early-career researchers trained, countries represented and certificates awarded. These metrics demonstrate that programmes reached their intended audiences and achieved their planned activities. However, they reveal little about whether those investments ultimately produce sustained scientific leadership.

This is not to diminish the value of training workshops, research cruises, exchange programmes or mentoring initiatives. These remain essential, particularly where opportunities are limited. The challenge is that participation is often treated as evidence of capacity development, when it is only the beginning of a much longer journey. Exposure creates opportunity; capacity development creates leaders.

Unlike infrastructure projects, investments in people rarely produce immediate, measurable returns. Human capacity develops gradually, often beyond the lifespan of funded projects. Early gains may be reflected only in increased confidence, stronger professional networks or improved technical skills; important outcomes that are difficult to quantify and therefore seldom feature prominently in programme evaluations.

The International Indian Ocean Expedition-2 (IIOE-2), undertaken in 2017 onboard the South African-flagged vessel – the R/V SA Agulhas II, provides a compelling illustration of this distinction. Established as a multinational scientific programme to advance understanding of the Indian Ocean while strengthening regional scientific capacity, the South African-led IIOE-2 invested in early-career researchers from Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Egypt, and Nigeria.

One such participant joined an IIOE-2 expedition as an early-career trainee, benefiting from what was, at the time, a relatively modest investment: a berth on a research vessel, mentorship from senior scientists and exposure to multinational oceanographic research.

 A decade later, that same individual returned to sea in her own region as co-cruise leader, responsible for coordinating an international research expedition. This is more than an inspiring career milestone. It demonstrates what successful capacity development looks like. The achievement lies not only in personal advancement but in the transition from trainee to mentor, from participant to leader, and from beneficiary to someone creating opportunities for others. The investment had come full circle.

This multiplier effect is perhaps the most overlooked outcome of capacity development. Programmes frequently assess their direct beneficiaries while overlooking the generations of scientists those beneficiaries later train, mentor and inspire. As the global scientific community increasingly embraces equitable partnerships, co-design and locally led research, our understanding of capacity development should evolve accordingly.

Participants should not be viewed as passive recipients of training, but as future leaders whose greatest contributions may emerge years after a project has ended.

Supporting one early-career scientist is therefore more than an investment in an individual; it is an investment in the future of ocean science. Some of the most valuable returns may only become visible long after project funding has concluded. This is not a weakness of capacity development; it is its greatest strength.

The most meaningful investments in people have always require patience. In other words, a tree planted today does not provide shade tomorrow. Likewise, an emerging researcher boarding a research vessel for the first time may not immediately transform ocean science. Given mentorship, opportunity and sustained support, however, that same individual may one day lead international expeditions, shape marine policy and inspire the next generation of scientists.

Perhaps the most important question is not how many people attended a workshop or completed a training course, but how many of today’s trainees become tomorrow’s scientific leaders.

Because exposure opens the door. Capacity development ensures someone eventually holds the key, and then opens that same door for those who follow.

*Filander is an Offshore Benthic Ecologist at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that the late Justice Fikile Eunice Mokgohloa will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2 on Saturday.

The funeral service will take place at 07h30 on Saturday at the Hillsong Church in Wonderboom, Pretoria.

Justice Mokgohloa passed away on 20 August 2026 at the age of 65, following a distinguished 20-year career in the judiciary. 

President Ramaphosa has extended his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late judge, recognising her service to the nation and the judiciary with distinction, integrity and dedication. 

Justice Mokgohloa had served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal since June 2019, having previously served as Deputy Judge President of the Limpopo Division of the High Court.

She also served as Acting Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Paying tribute to her contribution to the judiciary and jurisprudence, President Ramaphosa said Judge Mokgohloa had left the nation “at the pinnacle of her commitment to the rule of law and the administration of our courts.” 

“Her legacy is entrenched in the many landmark judgments she delivered and in her exceptional judicial leadership. May her soul rest in peace,” the President said. 

The Special Official Funeral Category 2 will include ceremonial elements provided by the South African Police Service.

President Ramaphosa has also directed that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at all flag stations until the evening of Saturday, 29 August. 

The funeral arrangements honour Justice Mokgohloa’s contribution to South Africa’s judiciary and her service to the administration of justice. – SAnews.gov.za 

Eskom has completed the independent legal assessment, diesel reconciliation and verification processes arising from its investigation into diesel procurement and storage contracts, which found no evidence that diesel paid for by Eskom is missing.

“The independent processes found no evidence that diesel paid for by Eskom is missing. The legal assessment did not sustain allegations that the procurement award process under Tender MWP2197GX was compromised.

“The investigation did, however, confirm instances of non-adherence to Eskom processes concerning payments made to certain suppliers. The substantiated findings relate principally to payments outside contractual terms, and emergency approvals that did not comply with Eskom’s Delegation of Authority,” the power utility said in a statement.

Eskom initiated the investigation in March 2025 following the monitoring of contract performance during operational emergencies that involved load shedding in early 2025, together with information received through established reporting and whistleblowing mechanisms. Eskom appointed independent forensic investigators and commissioned separate legal, reconciliation and verification reviews.

Eskom said it accepts the findings and is implementing corrective measures as required.

“This statement follows Eskom’s update of 31 July 2026, when the company advised that the investigation findings were undergoing internal corporate governance, legal review and quality assurance processes to ensure that any action met the required evidentiary and procedural standards.”

Tender MWP2197GX was issued by Eskom’s Generation Division in late 2023 for the supply, delivery, storage and handling of diesel and related fuels for Eskom’s Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) power stations. The contracts were structured on a five-year, as-and-when-required basis and covered fuel sourcing, transportation, storage, handling and bulk inventory management.

The contracts were awarded in late November 2024, and Eskom had at the time achieved 310 consecutive days without load shedding, reflecting the benefits of the Generation Recovery Plan.

Consistent with Eskom’s 2024/25 Summer Outlook, the expectation at the time was that load shedding would not be required and that any residual risk would generally be limited to Stage 1 or, in a worst-case scenario, Stage 2.

“From January to March 2025, a combination of extensive generation unit breakdowns, delayed unit returns from maintenance and constrained pumped-storage reserves placed a constrained power system under severe pressure. These conditions significantly increased reliance on Open Cycle Gas Turbines and strategic reserves to maintain security of supply and limit the severity and duration of load shedding.”

Eskom’s Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, said the period between January and March 2025 placed significant demands on the power system and required rapid operational responses and difficult decisions by employees and executives to maintain security of supply and protect grid stability.

“Independent verification processes have confirmed that all diesel paid for was delivered and/or accounted for within Eskom’s supply chain or contractual terms. While the investigation identified procedural and governance shortcomings, Eskom began implementing corrective measures as these issues were identified, including strengthening probity and oversight controls that were suspended in October 2022, enhancing contract management processes, and initiating accountability measures where warranted,” Marokane explained.

The power utility said it will continue to act on the investigation’s findings, including implementing consequence management where non-compliance with governance processes has been identified.

“Eskom is addressing the substantiated findings through consequence management and strengthening its controls to reduce the risk of recurrence. The power system is now in a materially different position from the conditions experienced in early 2025. Improved generation performance and reduced dependence on diesel-fired generation have enabled OCGTs to return largely to their intended role as strategic peaking and reserve resources.”

The utility said it will continue to build a resilient and sustainable business capable of reliably serving South Africa, while safeguarding public resources and holding employees, suppliers and other parties accountable where substantiated evidence supports action. –SAnews.gov.za

Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane says the police service needs women who will challenge unethical behaviour, strengthen consequence management, mentor younger members and help restore public confidence in the service.

“The future of policing requires women who are not only visible, but influential, not only represented, but empowered, not only promoted, but prepared to lead,” Dimpane said.

Speaking at the Operation Basadi Parade held in Rosslyn, north of Pretoria on Friday, the Acting Commissioner said policewomen serve in high-pressure environments, encounter trauma, work irregular hours, respond to victims of violence and, in many instances, carry significant responsibilities beyond the workplace.

“But leadership is not only about occupying positions. Leadership is about accountability, competence, ethical conduct and the ability to deliver results,” she said, adding that the SAPS expectation is that every woman who assumes responsibility within the police must use that position to develop others, challenge complacency and contribute meaningfully to safer communities.

She said communities judge the police not only by “what we say, but by what we do.”

“Every interaction with a victim, every investigation conducted, every arrest made, every operational decision taken and every service rendered contributes to the credibility of the SAPS.”

With Women’s Month drawing to close, the Dimpane said the SAPS must continue to strengthen the response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) both outside and within its own ranks.

“There can be no credibility in protecting communities from violence while tolerating misconduct, abuse or unethical behaviour within the organisation. The SAPS must hold itself to the highest standards and ensure that allegations of misconduct are addressed decisively, fairly and without fear or favour.

“To the women on parade today: you are more than symbols of representation. You are an operational force. Your presence demonstrates what is possible when professionalism meets opportunity, when courage is matched by competence, and when leadership is exercised with integrity.

“I challenge every woman here to see Operation Basadi not as a moment, but as a platform. Use it to demonstrate excellence. Use it to inspire those coming behind you. Use your positions to open doors for other capable women. And, above all, use the authority entrusted to you to serve the people of South Africa with integrity and distinction,” she said.

The Acting Commissioner said every woman in blue matters.

“Your leadership matters, your wellbeing matters and your contribution to the safety of South Africa matters. Let us build a South African Police Service in which women do not merely participate in policing, but they shape its future,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za