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🗳️ Make sure you're registered to vote!🗳️

The IEC has announced a second voter registration weekend on 1–2 August 2026.

This is your opportunity to: ✅ Register as a voter. ✅ Update your residential address if you've moved. ✅ Check that your registration details are correct.

The IEC's online voter registration portal is now ZERO-RATED, so you can register or update your details without using mobile data.
🔗 https://zurl.co/vSHWF⁠�

Your vote starts with your registration. Don't miss out!

GOLDFIELDS ADS - BUSINESS DIRECTORY
_Provisional Listing_

*1. Spectrum Afslaers*
Auctioneers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19CjxngeDA/

*2. Oh Shirt Welkom*
Apparel / Printing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BXPEemD1C/

*3. Brendans Auction House*
Auction House
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BuiF7B764/

*Brendans Auction WhatsApp Group*
Join: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KQMaxlO7yTVBxliaqA9yoe?s=sw&p=a&mlu=0

*4. Uplift Media Group*
Media / Marketing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Bat86N8BL/

*5. BiltongBoss*
Food / Biltong
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*6. Cosy Carpets*
Flooring / Carpets
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Matjhabeng Municipality, under which Welkom falls, has seen its financial crisis deepen after National Treasury temporarily withheld the municipality's July 2026 equitable share allocation, making it one of 69 municipalities across South Africa affected by the measure. Treasury cited persistent financial management failures and non-compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act as the reasons for the intervention. For those who have watched Welkom transform from one of South Africa's proudest mining cities into a municipality battling failing infrastructure and declining services, the announcement is another painful reminder of how far the municipality has fallen.

The intervention is aimed at enforcing fiscal discipline and improving accountability. At the same time, Parliament has called for Matjhabeng to be held accountable over its ballooning debt, warning that the municipality's continued financial decline can no longer be ignored. One of the most alarming aspects of the crisis is that Matjhabeng owes nearly R9 billion to the Vaal Central Water Board, making it the utility's largest debtor and raising serious concerns about the sustainability of bulk water services in the region.

For the residents of Welkom and the other towns served by Matjhabeng, this is more than just another government announcement. It raises serious questions about the municipality's ability to maintain critical infrastructure, deliver reliable services, pay creditors and create an environment that attracts investment and jobs.

Welkom was once recognised as one of South Africa's leading mining and commercial centres, with well-maintained roads, public spaces and reliable municipal services. Today, many residents see a different reality—deteriorating infrastructure, recurring service delivery failures and growing uncertainty about the municipality's future.

The hope now is that this intervention marks the beginning of meaningful reform rather than another chapter in a long-running decline. Restoring sound financial management, enforcing accountability and rebuilding public confidence will be essential if Matjhabeng is to regain financial stability and provide residents with the quality of services they deserve.

💥PRAAT SAAM...

Nuwe Grondbesettingswette kan 'n Boete van R2 Miljoen of Selfs Tronkstraf in Suid-Afrika Beteken!

Groot veranderinge kan op pad wees vir Suid-Afrika se eiendomswette. Die Departement van Menslike Nedersettings het amptelik die tydperk vir openbare kommentaar op die voorgestelde PIE-wysigingswetsontwerp verleng, wat Suid-Afrikaners meer tyd gee om hul sê te sê.

Een van die grootste voorgestelde veranderinge is die bekendstelling van 'n nuwe kriminele oortreding vir enigiemand wat die onwettige besetting van grond aanhits of organiseer. Indien dit aangeneem word, kan oortreders die volgende in die gesig staar:

💰 'n Boete van tot R2 miljoen
⛓️ Tot 2 jaar tronkstraf
⚖️ Of albei

Die voorgestelde wet sal van toepassing wees ongeag of die grond aan 'n private eienaar, 'n munisipaliteit of die regering behoort.

Hier is 'n paar van die ander belangrike voorstelle:

Munisipaliteite kan vinniger optree om onwettige grondbesettings te stop, selfs al besit hulle nie die eiendom nie.
Howe kan gelas dat onwettige strukture gesloop of verwyder word na 'n uitsetting.
Bates of geld wat verkry word deur die organisering van onwettige besettings, kan gekonfiskeer word.

Howe sal steeds die diskresie hê om alternatiewe akkommodasie of grond vir onwettige okkupeerders in sekere gevalle te vereis.

Die regering sê hierdie veranderinge is nodig omdat onwettige grondbesettings meer algemeen geword het, wat lei tot duur hofstryde en onsekerheid vir beide grondeienaars en munisipaliteite.

Oorspronklik sou die wetsontwerp die Parlement teen Julie of Augustus 2026 bereik, maar die verlengde openbare kommentaartydperk beteken dat die tydlyn waarskynlik vertraag sal word.

Onthou, dit is steeds 'n voorgestelde wet en is nog nie aangeneem nie. Suid-Afrikaners het nou ekstra tyd om kommentaar in te dien voordat die wetsontwerp na die volgende fase beweeg.

D**k jy hierdie strenger strawwe sal help om onwettige grondbesettings te verminder, of moet die regering eers fokus op die oplossing van die behuisingskrisis...? 👇