26 September 2025

This week’s edition of the Weekly Pulse brings together a wide range of stories - from international sporting triumphs to pressing local service delivery challenges, cultural celebrations, and moments of resilience across our communities. South Africa’s athletes and netball stars captured international attention, while in Potchefstroom, Ikageng, Klerksdorp, and Carletonville, residents continued to engage in the realities of municipal service, community projects, and grassroots achievements. StroomStories added its own layer of inspiration with a look at education that goes beyond the classroom.

National

Sports

Team South Africa at the 2025 World Athletics Championships

The World Athletics Championships in Tokyo became a showcase of South African grit. While the medal tally closed with just one bronze, the journey was filled with near misses, personal milestones, and hard-fought performances. Athletes demonstrated resilience, with the bronze breakthrough offering hope that South African athletics is regaining its international standing.

SPAR Baby Proteas at the Netball Youth Cup

South Africa’s U/21 team made history in Gibraltar. Opening with emphatic victories over Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago, they extended their dominance against Malawi and Fiji. Their consistent performances carried them into the quarterfinals, where they beat the Cook Islands 79–45 to secure a first-ever semi-final spot. The Baby Proteas’ progress has captured national pride, underscoring the growth of youth netball.

News

Understanding Eskom’s Load Reduction

While South Africans are long accustomed to load shedding, Eskom has drawn increasing attention to load reduction, a separate measure aimed at protecting local transformers from overloading. Though frustrating for paying customers, Eskom insists it is vital for preventing catastrophic infrastructure failures. Long-term goals include infrastructure upgrades and tackling theft, but until then, residents in high-risk areas should expect this measure to continue.

Read these stories and more here: https://www.thegotoguy.co.za/the-gazette/categories/the-gazette

PotchGazette

News

Student activism and community safety defined the week. A student march led by the EFF Youth Command drew 250–400 participants at NWU, combining speeches, chants, and a memorandum handover. Meanwhile, a student scam incident highlighted personal safety risks after a conman vanished with a victim’s belongings. Potch First Responders reported a busy week of incidents, from major road accidents to suspicious activity, alongside Heritage Day celebrations.

Beyond Potch, residents of Kokosi protested water shortages, blocking the N12 and R500. Separately, an NWU campus protest sparked national debate on freedom of expression after the controversial singing of “Kill the Boer.” The week concluded with a CBD and Bult power outage, affecting homes and businesses and again emphasizing infrastructure challenges.

Sports

The NWU Eagles netball team secured their first Varsity Netball final since 2019 with a commanding 55–28 win over UJ. They now face defending champions Kovsies in a much-anticipated clash. Ahead of the final, all eyes are also on the FNB Player of the Tournament award, which will honor the season’s standout performer. In football, heartbreak struck as NWU bowed out in the Varsity Football semi-final, losing 4–3 on penalties to UFS despite a strong home crowd.

Council

JB Marks Municipality reported on roads, infrastructure, and service milestones, while also issuing a planned water outage notice for the Ventersdorp Road Pump Station as part of upgrades. Yet, controversy erupted after revelations of a R17.9 million financial blunder, where idle funds in a call account generated below-market returns, costing ratepayers millions.

Community

Community spirit thrived. The Abraham Kriel Kinderhuis Heritage Day Braai combined cultural celebration with a fundraising mission, while the swimming towel drive invited residents to support children’s summer needs. In schools, Saints Christian School claimed the MooiRivier Mall Trivia title through strategy and teamwork.

The Week 38 diary captured the vibrancy of local life, from soccer derbies and fundraising spinathons to waffles and empowerment programs, while also launching the Matric Farewell Couple Competition 2025. Looking ahead, a “What’s On” guide spotlighted cultural and sporting events, and Paws Haven benefitted from community donations and outreach to support animal welfare.

Click here to view these full stories and more: https://www.thegotoguy.co.za/the-gazette/categories/potch-gazette

Ikageng Gazette

Sports

Ikageng celebrated grassroots football success as NW Signal won the Godfrey Moshodi Top 08 Tournament, showcasing penalty precision and consistency. Potchefstroom’s Sibanda United, Tiki Taka SA, and City Stars FC advanced to the Last 16 of the Katlego Mthembu Games, carrying community hopes into the next round. Women’s football also took the stage, with Future Ladies set to face Kayo Stars in a DR KK Women’s Regional League clash.

Community

Cultural expression shone at BA Seobi Secondary School’s Talent Show, themed “Heritage in Fashion,” with learners performing across dance, music, poetry, and fashion. K9 Lifestyle’s Birthday Bash brought families together for free music and celebration, while the Street Dance Battle invited performers to express individuality in a high-energy showdown. The Open Air Farmers Market at CSA Show Grounds promised entertainment headlined by Mlindo the Vocalist, and the Mr & Mrs Sarafina Secondary Pageant combined elegance, talent, and culture, leaving a strong impression on attendees.

Council

Residents were notified of a Ventersdorp Road Pump Station water outage, scheduled for 23 September as part of electrical upgrades, a shared concern across the municipality.

Click here to view these full stories and more: https://www.thegotoguy.co.za/the-gazette/categories/ikageng-gazette

Klerksdorp Gazette

Sports

Technical High School Klerksdorp (THS) capped an impressive campaign at the Prodigy Super Cup, with their U/17s crowned champions and U/15s earning bronze. In rugby, four KHS alumni represented the North West Platteland side in a clash against Limpopo, carrying local pride onto the provincial stage.

Council / News

The City of Matlosana highlighted multiple initiatives: the Thuntsha Lerole service delivery programme, the Military Veterans Housing Project, and a hospitality training day to empower small businesses. Environmental sustainability was also emphasized through the Botle Ke Botle tree-planting campaign. Residents were kept informed through EasyPay updates for bill payments and refuse collection notices, while fraud alerts warned against scammers posing as municipal officials.

Community

The Fresh Produce Market partnership at Khayalethu Primary promoted healthy living and family-school collaboration, while the Klerksdorp Museum outreach combined heritage learning with sustainability at Bosworth Primary. Celebrations continued with the Star Raceway’s fifth birthday bash, offering free entertainment, and residents were reminded of safety concerns after an armed gang confrontation in Meiringspark. On a larger scale, Mr Price Group’s 3 000-store milestone was commemorated at Mutual Mall, marking a significant corporate achievement with roots in Klerksdorp.

Click here to view these full stories and more: https://www.thegotoguy.co.za/the-gazette/categories/klerksdorp-gazette

Carletonville Gazette

News / Council

Amid growing water concerns, the Merafong Municipality and Carletonville Hospital both issued statements reassuring residents that healthcare services remain operational despite reduced water pressure. Following a Fochville protest, the municipality and provincial government received a memorandum of demands, with promises of an action plan to restore consistent supply. Meanwhile, Arbor Day celebrations intertwined with Heritage Day, as Merafong City planted trees to promote environmental awareness and unity, while addressing misinformation on social media.

Community

Frustrations escalated as Kokosi residents planned and executed shutdown protests, blocking highways and disrupting traffic at the N12 and R500. The demonstrations underscored the urgency of the water crisis and the demand for accountability.

Sports

Carletonville found a positive note in youth sports as Hoërskool Carletonville’s U/19 chess team ended their season with silver in the D2 League and gained provincial experience at the Gauteng Top Schools Championship, positioning themselves for future success.

Click here to view these full stories and more: https://www.thegotoguy.co.za/the-gazette/categories/carletonville

StroomStories

Education & Community

This week’s StroomStory spotlighted Skoolkompas with Henriette Steyn, focusing on the unique extracurricular activities in their homeschool program. From sports to creative expression, the initiative highlighted how learners can thrive beyond the classroom, gaining balance, confidence, and opportunities for growth.

Closing Note

The week of 26 September 2025 reflected a South Africa in motion, from international podium finishes and youth netball breakthroughs to pressing local service challenges and the ongoing resilience of communities. Potchefstroom, Ikageng, Klerksdorp, and Carletonville all offered stories of struggle and hope, reminding us that progress is often uneven but always worth pursuing. As we head into the new week, the Weekly Pulse will continue to track the headlines, highlight local heroes, and share the stories that matter most.

Until next time, stay engaged, supportive, and inspired.

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