Table of contents for 2023-12-14 in DFA News

RAPE accused Douglas Mthukwane claimed that remaining in prison would prove to be “fatal” as he could be poisoned or “beaten to a pulp”. Mthukwane, a former spokesperson for the Northern Cape Department of Education and freelance journalist, was detained after he allegedly raped a 26-year-old traditional healer whom he had apparently asked to consult him at his flat on November 24. Appearing in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on December 11, Mthukwane terminated the services of his legal representative from Legal Aid SA for “not taking instructions” and proceeded to cross-examine a witness himself. He informed the court that he would have to consult with his partner and family to decide whether he would seek alternative legal representation or continue to defend himself at his bail hearing on December 21.…

According to Randall Cable, the manager of the Sanral Western Region, which includes the Northern Cape and Western Cape, the agency is working in collaboration with the provincial departments to ensure that all road users are safe on the roads during this time. “To accommodate increased holiday traffic volumes, all conventional construction work will cease on Thursday, December 14, until the second week in January 2024. The RRM teams will, however, remain on standby throughout the holiday period as they are part of the first responders in the event of any incidents on the national road network,” said Cable. “Through the Road Incident Management System (RIMS), our RRM teams will be working throughout the festive season to respond to any incident on the roads, assist with road closures and the…

THE PROTEAS will be out to wrap up the T20 Freedom Series with a win against India at the Wanderers today at 5pm. Leading 1-0 heading into the final match of the three-match series, opener Reeza Hendricks will once again be looking to put up his hand for inclusion in the “real” starting XI when all the big guns such as Temba Bavuma, who is being rested, and Quinton de Kock, who is playing in Australia’s Big Bash currently, are back. As they gear up to next year’s T20 World Cup, Hendricks will be fighting those two for a spot at the top of South Africa’s batting order. On Tuesday, Hendricks again proved his pedigree. Due to rain, only 34.3 overs were bowled at St George’s Park and for the…

Kimberley Golf Club results for the week of December 6 to 9 and a look ahead to the week of for the period of December 12 to 17. Results for the week of December 6 - 9 2023: The Wednesday, December 6 Hussar Grill sponsored 18-hole IPS competition was won by Barend V Zyl on 38 pts. Second was Connor Mcnamara with 34 pts over 3rd placed Barend Burger on 33 pts. The Thursday, December 16 KWV sponsored Niner with power play options was won by Eddie Barkhuizen on 27 pts with Anthony Crozier 2nd with 26 pts and Willie Delport 3rd on 20 pts. The Friday, December 17 Flamingo Casino sponsored Niner was won by Susan Alexander on 19 pts with Neville Alexander 2nd with 19 pts, Jade Paton…

WHILE millions of rand have been directed towards the Northern Cape Solar Business Incubator (Nocsobi) situated in Old De Beers Road over the past two years, the centre is still not fully functional. According to financial records, a transfer payment of over R1.3 million was made by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism towards the running costs of the centre, which amount to around R268 600 per month. Some of the expenses include the rental of the premises (R69 000), cleaning services (R54 000), security (R135 000), project management (R116 600) and training of SMMEs (R21 446). Transfers of R63 million and R9.4 million were allocated to the project during the financial year ending March 2023. The chairperson of the Northern Cape Civics Organisation, Ross Henderson, believes that no…

THE BAD news for a corrupt Northern Cape traffic official shortly before Christmas is that his earlier R10 000 fine for bribing a speeding motorist, who was taking his wife who was in labour to hospital, is that he now has to pay a fine of R60 000 after the State appealed his lenient sentence. The Director of Public Prosecutions in the Northern Cape turned to the Kimberley High Court to appeal the sentence meted out to two traffic officers – Oscar Bongela and Lebogang Tosa – who solicited a bribe from a speeding motorist. The lower court sentenced the pair in September 2020. The magistrate ordered them to pay a R10 000 fine, which could be paid in instalments. Both officials were traffic officers in Upington when they were…

A COLLABORATION between Kathu Solar Park (KSP) and the Sishen Iron Ore Company-Community Development Trust (SIOC-CDT) saw the successful completion of the Babatas Water Project, which is set to improve the lives of about 600 households in Kathu. The project has brought the gift of safe, clean water to the Babatas community, making their daily lives easier and more secure with access to drinking water for both personal and agricultural use. The project, which launched three years ago on October 28, 2020, in collaboration with the Gamagara Local Municipality and the Babatas Community Property Association, is a testament to the positive change that can occur when communities, businesses and trusts work together towards a shared goal. The children and staff at Maiteko Day Care in Babatas are a perfect example…

RETIRED SAPS Lieutenant-Colonel and Hawks Organised Crime Unit detective Dolf Lourens has slammed the “shoddy provision of police services” in the Northern Cape, where he intends to obtain an urgent court order against the provincial commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, this week. This follows a housebreaking incident at his home in Southridge during the early hours of December 3, where several items including his collector’s item of liquor, a grinder, welder, drill valued at around R6 000 and a a supersonic music box were stolen. In one of several strongly-worded e-mails addressed to Otola this week, Lourens described police services as “appalling”. “Good day, Lieutenant-General Otola. You totally ignore my e-mails. Your service delivery as the head of the police in the Province is shocking. I am instructing…

THE OTHER day, I went to a supermarket to pick up a few basic necessities. It wasn't a full-fledged shopping trip; I was just planning to pop in and out without even taking a plastic bag at the checkout. What I did not realise is that this is the Christmas shopping period, and as I stood there with four measly items in my hands I blushed as I noticed shopping carts all around me overflowing with all types of goodies. It made me wonder what Xmas shopping was going to be like this year; are people going to pinch their pennies or are we going to splurge and let tomorrow take care of itself? I stood there looking at the store’s decorations, wondering, is this Xmas going to be about…

This has been a bumper sporting year worldwide, and on the local front, there were some amazing achievements that we can celebrate. Here, the DFA sports desk pages through the files on a trip through this past year. This week, we look at highlights from July to December. July Bradley jets off to Florida July kicked off with the news that Kimberley’s Bradley Pillay, was headed to Kissimmee, Florida, in the United States of America, to take part in the Dart Players of Florida League from August 17-20. Bradley (28) took up darts at a young age, while accompanying his father and brother to the De Beers Stadium, where they would engage in friendly dart competitions. The young champion has impressed on the local scene, and was looking forward to…