Table of contents for 2022-08-12 in DFA News

LABOUR federation members went on a trolley dash at the Diamond Pavilion Mall on Women's Day to highlight the “poor working conditions” of workers. Cosatu provincial secretary Orapeleng Moraladi explained to police officials who asked them if they had permission to be there, that they were only doing their shopping Moraladi stated that workers who were employed at shopping malls did not have any job security. “We are standing in solidarity with casual workers who have been employed for over 10 years without being hired permanently. They are not being paid the minimum wage, they have no benefits and are exposed to health and safety risks.” He said that companies had an obligation to provide safe and reliable transport for workers who had to work early and late shifts and…

THE REGIONAL chairperson of the ANC Youth League in the Pixley ka Seme district, Andile Phololo, has voluntarily stepped down following his arrest for allegedly assaulting a woman at a tavern in Colesberg on August 6. ANC members were in Colesberg to attend the provincial Women’s Day celebrations when an argument apparently erupted between an ANC PEC member and the complainant over access to seats at the tavern. Phololo intervened by allegedly throwing a glass filled with alcohol in the complainant’s face. Community members said they were shocked by the “brutal attack on a vulnerable young lady”. “We call upon residents and women in the community to stand up and support the woman who was the victim of gender-based violence,” they said. The secretary of the Umsobomvu Residents Association (URA),…

THE NIGHTMARE of driving on the R31 could soon be a thing of the past as the road is in the advanced stage of being handed over to the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) by the Northern Cape Department Roads and Public Works. This was confirmed by Sanral this week, during the launch of the provincial leg of the national pothole repair programme ‘Operation Vala Zonke’, where Sanral is one of the stakeholders. Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul, together with the MEC for Roads and Public Works, Fufe Makatong, launched the provincial programme on the R357 near Barkly West on Monday as part of the national programme being rolled out by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula. On that day, Sanral also launched a new pothole management app for the public…

NORTHERN Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul is leading a two-day provincial interfaith summit at the Full Gospel Church in Jan de Klerk Road, Upington from August 11-12. The spokesperson for the Office of the Premier, Bronwyn Thomas-Abrahams, said that 200 faith-based leaders would be consulted in developing long-term and effective resolutions to combat tuberculosis (TB), HIV/Aids and sexually-transmitted diseases. “The summit is also a response to the call for collaboration made by Deputy President David Mabuza to the religious sector earlier this year, as part of the national World TB Day that was held in Barkly West,” said Thomas-Abrahams. She added that the South African National Aids Council (Sanac), the interfaith community and the Moral Regeneration Movement in the Province would also participate in the summit.…

CHILDREN, the elderly, the sick and pregnant women are travelling by boat from Waldeck’s Plant so that they can attend school, work or access medical care in Barkly West. EFF councillor at Dikgatlong Municipality, Lefa Leeuw said that children had to leave by boat at around 6am in the morning to catch a bus in Gong Gong so that they could attend school in Barkly West. “Community members pay R10 per trip and have to contend with the heat, cold and rain. EFF provincial secretary Shadrack Thlaole and myself experienced first-hand the inhumane and treacherous trip that residents have to endure daily,” said Leeuw. He added that the boat leaked and was not a safe mode of transport. “There is no insurance to cover any accident or injury, while there…

I AM SURE that after almost three years of being deprived of entertainment due to Covid-19, the Yonder Hartsfees is going to be a breath of fresh air and something that everybody will be able to enjoy. As humans, socialising with others is part of our DNA, and Covid-19 robbed us of that. It also took away the livelihood of many of our artists locally and around the country, depriving them of any income; however, hopes are high that this year's Yonder Hartsfees will definitely have a positive impact on them. Bigger and better with fun for the entire family is what you can expect if you decide to attend the Yonder Hartsfees, and – by the way – if you ever wanted to ride a camel, well then you…

Richie Mo'unga is one of four changes the All Blacks have made to their starting XV for the Rugby Championship Test against Springboks at Ellis Park tomorrow. Mo’unga replaces Beauden Barrett, who is fit enough to take his place on the bench after his nasty collision mid-air with Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse in Nelspruit last week. The other three changes are in the forward pack. Props Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax, and blindside flank Shannon Frizell have all been named to start. Uncapped tighthead prop Fletcher Newell has been named in the reserves. “Belief and confidence remain high in our group, which is working incredibly hard this week,” said under-fire All Black coach Ian Foster. “Playing at Ellis Park is always a special occasion for any All Black team,…

THE PREMIER of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, together with the MEC for Roads and Public Works, Fufe Makatong, and relevant road construction stakeholders recently launched the provincial leg of Operation Vala Zonke, aimed at fixing roads in the Province. The launch took place on the R357 near Barkly West earlier this week as part of the national programme rolled out by Minister Fikile Mbalula. The Department of Transport is supporting district municipalities with road infrastructure planning through the Rural Road Asset Management Systems Grant (RRAMSG). The department has been hard at work intensifying interventions aimed at addressing challenges relating to road infrastructure. This includes a comprehensive plan to address the issue of potholes, with the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) leading the labour-intensive project. The operation comes…

CITY resident Boyce Makodi has been trying to secure an appointment with Sol Plaatje executive mayor Kagiso Sonyoni to present a proposal to install solar panels and energy storage batteries in all households in the Sol Plaatje municipal area. Makodi said that this would ensure that residents would be taken off the Eskom grid within the next three to five years. “Each household will pay R100 per month for a five-kilowatt system and storage battery that can provide power for up to two days, depending on the rate of consumption,” explained Makodi. He estimated that it would cost the municipality around R250 million per annum for the installation and upkeep of the project. “Funds can be sourced through decreasing the wage bill, interim salary reductions and fund-raising initiatives. “The premier,…

I ONCE heard the story of a couple that moved into a new neighbourhood. The day after they moved in while eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbour hanging her washing out to dry. “That laundry is not very clean,” she said to her husband. “She doesn’t know how to wash correctly,” she added. Her husband turned, looked at the neighbour in the yard next door, but remained silent. It became a regular occurrence; every time her neighbour hung her washing out to dry, the young woman criticised the dirty laundry. One morning, however, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line. She said to her husband: “Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?” The husband peered…

New Zealanders want to stop Springbok kick-chasers … legally THE All Blacks will go all out to nullify the Springboks’ aerial threat when the two teams lock horns in the second Rugby Championship match at Ellis Park tomorrow (5.05pm). Visitors New Zealand were second best under the high ball in the first Test in Mbombela last week, and ultimately lost the match 26-10. It was also during one of these high-ball challenges that All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett thought the had broken his neck, with Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse copping a four-week ban for his role in the collision. Big collision Barrett, who will play off the bench tomorrow with coach Ian Foster opting to start Richie Mo’Unga at flyhalf as one of four changes to his team, recalls: “It…

RETIRED batsman Ross Taylor has revealed he was offended by race-based remarks in New Zealand dressing rooms and said the country’s cricket board could do more to add Polynesian talent into the sport. Taylor, who has Samoan heritage on his mother’s side, described in his book “Ross Taylor: Black and White” how he and other teammates endured insensitive “banter” from white players. Taylor, who played his last international match in April, says: “A teammate used to tell me, ‘You’re half a good guy, Ross, but which half is good? You don’t know what I’m referring to’. “I was pretty sure I did. Other players also had to put up with comments that dwelt on their ethnicity. “In all probability, a Pakeha [white New Zealander] listening to those sorts of comments…