Table of contents for 2023-05-19 in DFA News

THE ANC in the Northern Cape has backtracked on a decision to employ a rape accused, Douglas Mthukwane (pictured), who is a researcher for the party. Staff employed at the Northern Cape provincial legislature indicated that Mthukwane has been regularly seen at the premises since April 1 and that they are concerned for their safety. Mthukwane is currently standing trial in the Northern Cape High Court for the rape of two women as well as a 14-year-old girl. The charges date back to 2016. The National Prosecuting Authority stated that Mthukwane was expected to reappear in the Northern Cape High Court on June 5. ANC provincial secretary Deshi Ngxanga explained that the party was not aware of any charges against Mthukwane. Ngxanga stated that rape was a "very serious" charge…

HORRIFIC details of the brutal murders of Danie, 83, Breggie, 73, and Elsabe Brand, 54, emerged in the Northern Cape High Court this week. The family members were assaulted on their smallholding near Hartswater on July 26, 2020 before they were abducted and murdered. Two of the bodies were abandoned in the veld near Takaneng village while the third body was concealed in a cave near a natural spring. The accused - Donald Seolesang, 22, Tshepo Visagie, 38, Kgomotso Mpumlwane, 45, and Tshepaone Melato, 21 - are facing charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice. Forensic pathologist Dr Lemaine Fouche indicated that the body that was retrieved from the cave had decomposed at a faster rate than the bodies that were found in…

Kimberley Golf Club results for the week of May 10-13 and what’s on next week’s programme. Results for the week of May 10-13 are: The Wednesday, May 10 Darsha sponsored 18-hole IPS was won by William Wepener with 44 pts. Second was Zayhied Sulliman with 40 pts and third was Phillip Maritz on 39 pts. The Thursday, May 11 May KWV sponsored 9-hole IPS with power play options was won by Pete van Zyl with the excellent score of 29. Second was Pat Ansley with 23 pts and 3rd Jock Robey on 21 pts. The Friday, May 12 Sun Flamingo Niner was won by Zayhied Sulliman with 22 pts. Second was Donald Witbooi with 19 pts on a count-out over Sadick Thomas also on 19 pts. Fourth was Neville Parker…

THE LOERIESFONTEIN community will be able access essential services through the opening of the Loeriesfontein Business Hub. The hub is envisaged to offer assistance to more than 500 community members, five days a week. The hub opened its doors to Sassa thanks to the sponsorship by Loeriesfontein and Khobab wind farms. The Loeriesfontein Business Hub supports entrepreneurs, small business owners and the broader Loeriesfontein community, including school pupils. It offers business registrations, Sars compliance, printing, internet and computer access and administrative support. The community saw this as a relief as they have previously received essential services from a sports hall. It has, however, been very challenging to offer adequate services for the service providers and the community lately due to the frequent power outages and poor signal availability. The hub…

LAST month, private electricity distributor Rural Maintenance had their urgent court application, to continue trying to alleviate rolling blackouts in the small Free State town of Frankfort with alternative power from a nearby private solar farm, dismissed. The day following that judgment Eskom was forced to implement Stage 6 load shedding due to power failures at several power stations. However, Rural Maintenance had to switch off portions of a solar farm after losing their case against the utility in the high court. Rural Maintenance had been fighting for the right to continue using alternative power to reduce the impact of rolling blackouts in the area, but Eskom won their case on a technicality, in that one of the applicants in the case – the Mafube Local Municipality – did not…

Trials under way ahead of national Under-18 basketball competition RECENTLY, young basketball enthusiasts gathered in their respective regions for the highly-anticipated Northern Cape Basketball Association Under-18 district trials. Though it was a cold morning last Saturday, this did not keep players from Frances Baard, John Taolo Gaetsewe, and the nearby districts from coming to showcase their skills and compete for a chance to represent their province. The trials were tough, with passionate players dribbling, shooting, and showing off their skills knowing that all their moves were being observed carefully, and notes taken, evaluating their performance. The provincial trials are scheduled to take place on June 10 at the SIVOS sports grounds in Kathu where the most promising players from each district will compete for a spot on the Northern Cape…

Battles and Brotherhood THE EAGERLY anticipated annual Classic Clashes between Diamantveld High School and Northern Cape High School (NCH) have always been more than just a date on the calendar; they were a spectacle that captured the attention and imagination of many. For 17 long years, these clashes served as a litmus test for each school’s prowess in hockey, netball, and rugby. Then, at this past weekend’s 2023 clashes, Diamantveld emerged as the dominant force, leaving no room for doubt. Their sporting prowess was unmatched, and the statistics spoke for themselves. In the netball section of the competition, Diamantveld won all five of their games. As for rugby, they secured four wins out of five, solidifying their dominance. Meanwhile, in the hockey section, NCH displayed their mettle, emerging as the…

THE ROTARY Club of Kimberley, under the leadership of president Mary-Anne Daubermann, recently organised an inspiring and productive “Youth Brainstorming” session. The event brought together a diverse group of 45 enthusiastic younsters who represented various local institutions, including the Interact clubs of Kimberley Girls' High, Northern Cape High and St Patrick’s CBC and the Sol Plaatje University Rotaract Club. The session commenced with a thought-provoking video presentation by Richard Jones, chair of the Satellite E-Club. The video shed light on a collaborative initiative called the “Menstrual Cup” programme, which is being undertaken in partnership with the Carrol Creek Rotary Club in the United States. The video served as an inspiring example of how Rotary clubs can address pertinent social issues, encouraging attendees to think creatively about potential projects in their…

SEVEN pupils from Carnarvon High School are flying the South African flag high as they represent the county at the ‘For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (First) Lego League’ robotics competition that is taking place in Morocco from May 18 to May 20. The group of Northern Cape pupils managed to come out on top during the national robotics competition that took place in November last year, where they had to face off against more than 60 schools from across the country. The head of department for Mathematics and Science at Carnarvon High School, Jeanine Mathison, explained that as part of the national competition, pupils had to create a robot that would be able to successfully complete different tasks. “The learners built their robot in two weeks. They…

THE ZEN Shotokan Karate Club recently returned from the 2023 Kanazawa Cup, held at the Tongaat Sports Centre in Durban. The tournament drew participants from various provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, the Northern Cape, the North West, Mphumalanga, the Free State, the Eastern Cape, and Botswana. The club brought all 35 of their dedicated students to the competition and they returned with a remarkable haul of 22 medals, earned through their exceptional performances in both Kata and Kumite. The students were proud to show the DFA their achievements, adorning themselves with eight gold, 12 silver, and four bronze medals – a testament to their commitment and relentless pursuit of excellence. Grateful for the opportunity to participate in the competition, Kyosih Sam Nkosi, the esteemed 7th dan black belt, acknowledged the indispensable support…

The DFA has been finding out more about this season’s Griquas players. This week Danie van der Lith speaks to Justin Forwood and Godfrey Muzanargwo. Pictures: Louis Botha Justin Forwood 29 years old, born in Pretoria plays at tighthead prop Previous Team: Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente Pro D2 • Who was the one person that motivated you as a young player: Gurthrö Steenkamp • Your biggest rugby hero: Pierre Spies • Your biggest sporting hero outside of rugby: Tiger Woods • Favourite book: Battlefield of the Mind – Joyce Meyer • Favourite movie: Taken • What type of music do you enjoy: I listen to a wide variety of music • Top three favourite songs: Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springsteen, Hurts so Good – John Cougar…