Political tensions and allegations of selfish interests have emerged as major stumbling blocks in the reconfiguration of municipal troikas in the Nala and Masilonyana local municipalities, threatening efforts to stabilise governance and improve service delivery.
What was expected to be a smooth lea...
The MEC for Finance, Economic Development, and Tourism, Ketso Makume, delivered his department’s budget vote succesfully on Tuesday, despite surviving a near fatal car accident two days prior.
The department confirmed in a statement that Makume and his protectors hit a kudu on the N5 road between Paul Roux and Senekal on their way back from the ANC Thabo Mofutsanyane Regional Conference in Bethlehem on Sunday night.
The spiral-horned antelope was hit unexpectedly when it attempted to cross the road under the dark skies, leaving the driver with little to no chance of avoiding the imminent collision.
Despite this near-fatal collision, Makume ascended the podium at Harry Gwala Sports Complex, in Sasolburg, and presented the 2026/2027 Departmental Budget Vote - although with a neck-brace for neck support.
While questions of where the kudu actually comes from remain unanswered, it is largely believed that it probably escaped from one of the game farms in the area.
It would also be safe to assume that the kudu was one of the resident wildlife population found at the nearby Holhoek Hiking Trail which is located just 18km from Paul Roux.
Meanwhile, road safety in the province remains a growing concern, with fatal animal-related accidents estimated to be roughly around 10 000 in South Africa each year.
While costs around Makume’s accident will be covered by the taxpayer, it is estimated that around R83 million is paid out annually in insurance claims, specifically for vehicle collisions with wild animals.
