FROM THE COURTS: A 69-year-old attorney has appeared in court for allegedly stealing R130 000 from a deceased client’s estate.

Barend Botha appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, facing charges of theft after he was arrested on the same day by the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit.

It is alleged that in June 2016, Botha, de Wet and Roodt law firm was appointed to assist with the estate of their deceased client. 

Over R130 000 was allegedly transferred from the deceased’s bank account into the trust account of the law firm, but Botha allgedly did not transfer the money to the beneficiary.

Botha was granted R5000 bail and the  matter was postponed to 30 September 2026 for an appearance at the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Klerksdorp.

NASIONAAL: Ten minste 14 onwettige mynwerkers (algemeen bekend as Zama-Zamas) is Maandagaand, 10 Augustus 2025 tragies dood toe die myn op hulle ineengestort het.

Die Provinsiale Kommissaris van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) in die Noordwes-provinsie, Luitenant-generaal Arthur Adams, het die dood van 14 onwettige mynwerkers by die Nkaneng-stortingsterrein in Bojanala Subdistrik 2 (Rustenburg) bevestig.

Die voorval is Maandag 10 Augustus 2026 omstreeks 21:00 by die polisie aangemeld.

“Voorlopige inligting dui daarop dat ‘n groep vermeende Zama-Zamas onwettige by ‘n stortingsterrein gemyn het. ‘n Permit is aan ‘n maatskappy toegestaan ​​om PGM (platinum-groep-metale) in die gebied te ontgin. Die groep Zama-Zamas was na bewering besig om met die hand te grawe toe die myn instort en hulle onder die puin vasvang.

“Nabygeleë myn-sekuriteit is deur ‘n Zama-Zama van die voorval in kennis gestel waarna hy verdwyn het. Volgens verslae is die meeste van die oorledenes Basotho-burgers,” het die SAPD gesê.

Agt mynwerkers wat gered is, is in ‘n plaaslike hospitaal opgeneem waar hulle mediese behandeling ontvang. Drie is kort na behandeling ontslaan en word aangehou vir oortreding van die Immigrasiewet. Die oorblywende vyf word steeds onder polisie bewaking in die hospitaal aangehou.

Owerhede gaan voort om die situasie dop te hou omdat daar moontlik nog onwettige mynwerkers steeds ondergronds vasgekeer kan wees.

Adams het die voorval beskryf as ‘n tragiese herinnering van die gevare wat met onwettige mynbou verband hou.

NATIONAL: At least 14 illegal miners (commonly known as Zama-Zamas) died tragically on Monday night, 10 August 2025 when the mine walls collapsed on them. 

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the North West Province, Lieutenant General Arthur Adams, has confirmed the deaths of 14 illegal miners at the Nkaneng dumping site in Bojanala Sub-District 2 (Rustenburg).

The incident was reported to the police at approximately 21h00 on Monday, 10 August 2026.

“Preliminary information indicates that a group of suspected zama-zamas was conducting an illegal mining operation at a dumping site. A permit had been granted to a company to extract PGM (Platinum Group Metals) in the area. The group of zama-zamas was allegedly manually digging in an excavated area when the walls caved in, trapping the illegal miners inside.

“Nearby mine security was informed of the incident by a fellow zama-zama who, after reporting the incident, disappeared. Most of the deceased are understood to be Basotho nationals,” said SAPS.

Eight people who were rescued have been admitted to a local hospital, where they are receiving medical treatment. Three were discharged shortly after receiving treatment and were detained for contravention of the Immigration Act. The remaining five are still being kept in hospital under police guard.

Authorities are continuing to assess the situation amid concerns that an unknown number of illegal miners may still be trapped underground. 

Adams described the incident as a tragic reminder of the dangers associated with illegal mining.