Banyana Banyana secured qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup through the positional play-offs, after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nigeria on Thursday evening at Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.
Goals from Thembi Kgatlana and Refiloe Jane were enough to book South Africa’s place at the global showpiece, despite their earlier exit from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
For Nigeria’s Super Falcons, the defeat signified the end of their World Cup ambitions. They failed to qualify for the tournament for the first time in their history. It also capped a disappointing WAFCON campaign, in which they failed to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
The opening half produced few clear-cut chances. Nigeria came closest, when Michelle Alozie’s effort from the edge of the area drifted wide of the target.
Banyana enjoyed the better share of possession and moved the ball confidently, but could not translate their dominance into meaningful attacking chances. Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was tested only by a handful of long-range efforts.
Nigeria emerged after the break with more intent. Veteran striker, Asisat Oshoala, found space on the right side of the penalty area, but her delivery was comfortably saved by Kaylin Swart, with teammates waiting in the box.
Swart then produced one of several crucial saves, when Oshoala was presented with a golden opportunity after the ball dropped inside the six-yard box. However, the Nigerian forward failed to make clean contact, and the chance went begging before she was substituted shortly afterwards.
South Africa broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. Linda Motlhalo threaded a perfectly weighted pass to Hilda Magaia, who burst down the left flank before catching Nigeria’s defence off guard with a low cross. Kgatlana arrived unmarked to tuck into the net, with Nnadozie getting a boot to the effort but unable to prevent it from crossing the line.
The goal took Kgatlana’s tally to four for the tournament and eight overall at WAFCON, since scoring four times in the 2018 edition.
Shortly afterwards, Nnadozie denied Kgatlana a second goal with an excellent low save. In contrast, Swart responded at the opposite end with another outstanding stop to keep out Uchenna Kanu’s powerful header.
That save proved decisive, as moments later, Nigeria partially cleared a corner and Jane reacted quickest. Her close-range effort took a deflection off Nnadozie before finding the back of the net to double South Africa’s advantage.
In the stroke of 90 minutes, Nigeria was rewarded with a penalty after Jane conspicuously handled the ball in the box, resulting in a red card for a second bookable offence.
Christy Ucheibe buried the 12-yard spot kick with poise to give Nigeria hope, but they could not force the equaliser. Banyana Banyana held on to seal qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Mangaung’s political stability has come under the spotlight, with a political analyst crediting the incumbent Executive Mayor and mayoral candidate Gregory Nthatisi for helping to steer the metro through a period of political uncertainty and factional tensions.
The analyst says Nthatisi’s leadership approach, political experience and ability to engage different political parties have contributed to creating a more stable political environment in the metro, particularly as the African National Congress (ANC) prepares for the upcoming local government elections.
The ruling party secured an outright majority in Mangaung during the 2021 local government elections, winning 51 of the 100 council seats after garnering 50.63% of the vote, down from 56.52% in 2016.
This was followed by what many described as one of the most chaotic periods in the metro’s history under then-mayor Mxolisi Siyonzana, who was later removed by the ANC’s interim provincial committee (IPC), led by current provincial chairperson Mxolisi Dukwana.
Siyonzana’s removal came months after the ANC expelled eight councillors for voting with opposition parties. Those expelled included then-Speaker Stefanie Lockman and Deputy Mayor Mapaseka Mothibi-Nkoane.
Speaking to Journal News on the sidelines of a community high-level seminar hosted by the Free State Legislature on Thursday, political analyst Professor Sethulego Matebesi of the University of the Free State attributed Nthatisi’s success in stabilising the municipality to his humility and political experience.
Matebesi said Nthatisi’s personal characteristics have been beneficial not only to Mangaung but also to the province, particularly because most councillors in the metro belong to the same political party as the mayor.
“Sometimes, to guide them, you need a political master. Perhaps it is his quiet diplomacy, which in itself is quite significant in terms of leadership, that has helped reduce conflict within the council and the party,” Matebesi said.
He said Nthatisi’s willingness to acknowledge the municipality’s shortcomings was another positive leadership quality.
“I have also noted that he is quick to accept when the municipality has done wrong. It is just that the nature of our municipality sometimes becomes so difficult, but we should also not accept that,” he said.
Matebesi acknowledged that Mangaung still faces service delivery challenges but said the metro also had notable positives.
“We have access to water. Yes, there are some communities without it, but we have access to water. Our robots are working most of the time. So there are a lot of positives. But I strongly believe that, as a municipality, we can do better,” he said.
The allegations of maladministration, corruption and irregular expenditure linked to two major infrastructure projects in the Northern Cape have prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to authorise the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate.
The investigations will focus on the construction of the new Kuruman Secondary School in Wrenchville/Kalahari and the rehabilitation of road MR938 between Hotazel and Kathu.
The road rehabilitation project was put out to tender in 2017, but the procurement process was later challenged in court, with the tender award set aside in 2020.
The Kuruman New English Medium Secondary School project was planned in response to a longstanding need for additional school infrastructure in the area. Concerns about school accommodation and learner capacity in Kuruman date back years, with the provincial government previously highlighting pressure on existing schools including Wrenchville Secondary School and Kalahari High School.
By 2023, the new Kuruman school had been identified as one of seven schools being built in the Northern Cape to address infrastructure challenges.
The province’s 2023/24 annual report recorded the project as still under construction, while its 2024/25 infrastructure evaluation listed it amongst projects affected by municipal approval challenges.
Under Proclamation 331 of 2026, the SIU will investigate the procurement of goods, works and services for the Kuruman Secondary School project in the Northern Cape Department of Education.
The investigation covers conduct between 8 December 2016 and 7 August 2026. It may also extend to conduct outside this period where it is relevant to the investigation and involves the same people, entities or contracts.
“The investigation will determine whether procurement processes were conducted fairly, competitively, transparently and cost-effectively, and whether any irregular expenditure was incurred,” said Selby Makgotho, SIU Spokesperson.
Makgotho said that the SIU will also examine any irregular, unlawful or improper conduct by officials, employees, individuals or entities linked to the project.
Meanwhile, Proclamation 333 of 2026 empowers the SIU to investigate the rehabilitation of road MR938 between Hotazel and Kathu under Tender DRPW 039/2017.
The investigation period runs from 8 December 2017 to 7 August 2026. The SIU can also investigate related conduct outside this period where necessary.
The investigation follows allegations of maladministration, irregular procurement and wasteful expenditure in connection with the project.
Makgotho also stated that the SIU will investigate the conduct of officials, service providers and other entities implicated in the allegations, including whether procurement and related processes complied with the law.
“The investigations form part of the SIU’s broader mandate to identify wrongdoing, recover financial losses suffered by the State and address systemic weaknesses that may contribute to future losses,” he added.
Where evidence of criminal conduct is uncovered, the SIU will refer the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority for possible further action.
He stated that the SIU may also institute civil proceedings in the High Court or Special Tribunal to recover losses or address wrongdoing arising from corruption, fraud or maladministration.
The latest SIU investigations come as the Northern Cape government faces growing questions about accountability and the management of public funds.
The Roads and Public Works department has recently been under the spotlight following the resignation of MEC Fufe Makatong.
Makatong resigned after raising concerns about changes being made in the department without proper consultation and communication.
The developments also come as Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul pushes for lifestyle audits of government officials. Saul has called for officials to account for their wealth and assets as part of efforts to improve accountability in the provincial government.
The SIU has been conducting lifestyle audits across the province, with Saul previously stating that more than 60% of the required audits had been completed.
The recent provincial executive reshuffle by North West Premier and ANC provincial deputy chairperson, Lazarus Mokgosi, is believed to be a veiled strategy to consolidate political power, rather than a means of realigning governance and service delivery strategy.
Political observers believe the rearrangement forms part and parcel of the ANC’s factional battles in the province, with Mokgosi believed to be setting himself up to challenge incumbent provincial chairperson, Nono Maloyi, at the party’s next provincial elective conference expected in early 2027 after the local government elections this November.
The removal of Viola Motsumi - Mokgosi’s political detractor - from the MEC for Education portfolio and ultimately from the provincial cabinet is believed to be a political power play by the premier. Motsumi was replaced by former provincial legislature Speaker, Dr Desbo Mohono, who is believed to be Mokgosi factional ally.
Meanwhile, MEC’s Virginia Tlhapi and Wessels Morweng simply switched roles with the former being moved from Sports Arts and Culture to lead the Community Safety and Transport Management portfolio, while the latter moved in the opposite direction. All the other provincial executive members remain in their positions.
The ANC in the North West remains divided between two major factions termed N12 and M26 respectively. The N12 faction is alleged to be led by Maloyi, while the M26 grouping is believed to be led by Mokgosi himself.
Within the ANC provincial top five officials the N12 faction maintains a clear majority through Maloyi, provincial secretary, Louis Diremelo, and deputy provincial secretary, Motsumi.
Mokgosi serves as the sole M26 representative within the top five, while provincial treasurer, Sello Lehari, is believed to be non-aligned – at least not yet.
While the ANC maintains strict discretion regarding internal leadership contestation, the N12 and M26 rivalry reflects broader factional alignments with the party’s national sphere factions. The N12 faction is supposedly linked to ANC Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, while M26 is believed to be Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula.
Mashatile and Mbalula are expected to prospectively contest for the ANC presidency at the party’s national elective conference in 2027.
Political analyst and Local Governance and Public Leadership Research Fellow from University of the Free State, Dr. Harlan Cloete, highlighted that Premiers can reshuffle their executives on both governance and political grounds.
“It could be that there's underperformance in a department … that could be the reason. Secondly, there could be a tension between the head of department and the member.
“Thirdly, there could be factional reasons why he or she needs to reward people that have fallen out of favour with him,” Cloete added.
Additionally, Cloete said that the latest changes could also be viewed against the backdrop of the upcoming local government elections.
He suggests that Mokgosi could be seeking to strengthen his executive and improve government delivery ahead of the polls.
“It could also be local government elections coming. Maybe there is somebody else he wants to appoint as MEC of local government, to make sure that the resources are used to ensure a continuation,” he said.
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As the weather continues to deteriorate across the country, the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Saki Mokoena, urges the public to avoid traveling to snow-affected areas for recreational purposes and to limit unnecessary travel until conditions improve.
This follows the South African Weather Service's issuance of a Yellow Level 2 warning, with approximately 4 to 10 centimeters of snow expected today, which may result in icy roads, localized traffic disruptions, and temporary closures of some non-major mountain passes.
They have indicated that disruptive snowfall is expected along the Lesotho border and may extend to the north-eastern parts of the Free State.
“Snow may look beautiful, but these conditions can change very quickly and place lives at risk. We therefore appeal to our communities not to go out into the snow simply for fun and to avoid unnecessary travel at all costs,” said Mokoena.
He says the provincial disaster management teams have been deployed across affected areas and are working with municipalities, emergency services and other disaster management structures to monitor conditions and assist affected communities.
“The Thabo Mofutsanyana District Disaster Management Centre and Maluti-a-Phofung Fire and Rescue Services are closely monitoring the situation from Harrismith.
“This is because snowfall has been reported in mountainous areas around Tsheseng, with no reports of snowfall in residential areas, he said.
