Table of contents for 2024-03-08 in DFA News

A COLLABORATIVE action team has been established to assist the devastated residents of Gong-Gong near Barkly West who suffered extensive damage to their homes during a heavy rainstorm on March 4. The Northern Cape MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Bentley Vass, along with the MEC for Social Development, Nontobeko Vilakazi, district and local municipality officials, and the Red Cross, visited the area to assess the extent of the damage. Vass conceded that the situation in the area is dire and that urgent intervention is required to assist those affected. “The situation is bad. We are busy with assessments to get a sense of all the damages suffered. This unfortunate event has left the community devastated, with destroyed housing structures and damaged furniture. We will devise suitable…

MEMBERS of the Homevale Community Concerned action group are demanding that at least 500 people from Ward 3 be employed at Kamfersdam Diamond Mine in Roodepan. A march was held this week and a memorandum was handed over to the mine manager. A group of unemployed workers added that they waited outside the gates every day in the hope of getting work. They accused the ward councillor of only facilitating jobs for his family and friends. On community member, Cheryll Tsawe, said that she was involved in erecting the perimeter fence. “I am willing to do any sort of job at the mine. I recently finished matric and no one in my family is employed. We are desperate for work.” March convener Kevin Andrews pointed out that the mine was…

AS GONG-Gong residents are assessing the damages they suffered during a heavy rainstorm that hit the area on March 4, many indicated that they do not know how they will rebuild their homes that were destroyed during the storm. More than 50 houses and some shanties were destroyed during the heavy rainstorm that ripped through the town just after midday on Monday, causing havoc and destruction. Residents said that the entire episode was over within about 10 to 15 minutes, but the experience felt like it continued for many hours. One resident, Jana van Wyk, whose leg was cut when a window in her house was ripped out of the wall, said the town looked like something out of a Hollywood disaster movie after the storm had passed. “I was…

Suzuki Auto South Africa’s partnership with the Griqualand West Rugby Union (GWRU) marks a significant milestone in South African sports history. The signing ceremony, held at The Fire Restaurant in Kimberley on March 1st, introduced Suzuki as the naming sponsor for the team and their grounds, now known as the Suzuki Griquas and Suzuki Stadium. Teruo Katakawa, Managing Director of Suzuki Auto South Africa, emphasized the company’s passion for rugby and commitment to continuous improvement. Arni van Rooyen, CEO of the GWRU, welcomed Suzuki, highlighting the partnership’s dedication to community development. Founded in 1886, the Griqualand West Rugby Union has a rich legacy, hosting the inaugural Currie Cup in 1892. The newly named Suzuki Stadium will host soccer matches and community events, reflecting Suzuki’s commitment to community empowerment. Brendon Carpenter,…

Kimberley Golf Club results for the week of February 28 to March 1 and a look ahead to the period of March 1-10. Results for the week of February 28 to March 2 are The February 28 John Dorys sponsored 18-hole IPS was won by Wikus Kok with 39pts on a count-out over 2nd placed B and 3rd placed Pieter van Zyl both also on 39pts. The Thursday, February 29 KWV Niner was won by Keith Brown with 25pts with Johan Herselman 2nd on 25pts and Lionel Jacobs 3rd with 25pts. The Friday, March 1 Flamingo Niner was won by Donald Whitebooi with 19pts. Second was Sadick Thomas on 18 and 3rd Fareez Alexander on 17pts. Fourth was Bernie Turton. The NC Open 2024 Championship was contested over 36 holes…

A journey of compassion undertaken with courage and camaraderie A NICE, leisurely drive in your air-conditioned vehicle from Alberton in Gauteng to Cape Town in the Western Cape, via Kimberley in the Northern Cape could take around 15 hours to complete. That’s quite a trip, but with some good music on your car’s sound system and regular rest stops, and perhaps an overnight stay along the way, those 15 hours, travelling at around 90-120km/h can be quite pleasant. Now imagine travelling that distance, going at around 15-30km/h on a human-powered bicycle! This is exactly what has been happening every year since 2016 with a group of committed cyclists making this trek every year; but not only for the sake of exercise. No, they are driven by a more humanitarian mission.…

TRAFFIC Events Management, which was allegedly paid R1 million for hosting the ghost Umsobomvu Youth Festival, will be added to the charge sheet when fraud-accused officials from the Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) reappear in court later this month. The former acting head of DSAC, Ruth Palm, 61, the chief financial officer (CFO), Andrian Coleridge, 50, and the chief director of corporate services, Bonakele Jacobs, 55, were granted bail of R10 000 each in the Kimberley Magistrate's Court on March 6. They have been charged with contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), fraud and money laundering. The investigating officer in the matter, Sergeant Busie Lamoen from the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit, indicated that the money that was reflected in the company’s bank account…

WARRENTON community members have threatened to close down the N12 and enforce a shutdown on the town if their service delivery frustrations are not taken seriously. The town continues to be deprived of a regular supply of water, despite millions of rand being spent on attempts to restore the water. Residents said the water purification plant was not functioning and that their taps remained bone dry. “It is even worse since the second contractor was appointed. Time frames have passed while the contractor remains on site. No concerted efforts are being made to end the water catastrophe,” they said. The residents believed that the water supply was being deliberately sabotaged to benefit water tanker distributors. “There is a lack of transparency and communication as to what the real causes are…

TAKE no prisoners, show no mercy, banish compassion! These were the anthems and attitudes that used to flow through the veins of the young people competing in sports, as well any type of competition when I was but a fresh-faced youngster. Though you’d see this sentiment rising when the kiddos played rugby, hockey and football, it was also present when we played hide and seek, and even chess, draughts or kennetjie … you name it, we took no prisoners! Passions ran high, tempers flared and noses were bloodied! But as edgy as the competition was all over the ‘recreational’ circuit, nowhere were the conflicts more keen than on the ‘kêrrim’ circuit! Technically, the game’s name is actually ‘carrom’, but not to us – kêrrim it was and kêrrim it will…

At a recent event where new sponsors were being introduced, Andre Markgraaff, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Griqualand West Rugby, expressed gratitude and a sense of anticipation for what lies ahead for the Union. He thanked the steadfast supporters and allies of Griquas, promising a brighter future ahead. Markgraaff began his address with a poignant tribute, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Heineken SA (Windhoek Draught) and Namibian Breweries for their steadfast belief and enduring support over six impactful years. With sincerity, he highlighted the remarkable contributions of Mr. Wessie van der Westhuizen, whose unwavering commitment has been instrumental in laying the foundation for rugby's growth in the Northern Cape, thus setting an indelible stage for future endeavours. As a testament to the collaborative spirit driving Griquas' journey, Markgraaff extended…

Ricardo Fitzpatrick, a well-known figure in Kimberley and celebrated as the city's Strongest Middleweight Bench Press Champion, once again demonstrated his resilience and skill at the South African Bench Press Championships in Gqeberha. Despite grappling with significant challenges due to an issue with his elbow, Fitzpatrick triumphed in the -83 kg master 1 division, securing his fifth South African Bench Press title. In an interview following the event, Fitzpatrick told the DFA of the unexpected hurdles he faced during the competition. “I remember warming up; I noticed my elbow wasn't straightening out, and this would give me problems in the competition. “So, I had to make my starter weight much lighter to be on the safe side," he disclosed. His concerns proved valid, as his first two attempts didn’t go…

CLASSES were disrupted at Sol Plaatje University (SPU) yesterday morning when students demanded the payment of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances and expressed concern over conditions at off-campus accommodation sites. The acting director of Institutional Advancement in the office of the vice-chancellor at SPU, Kashini Maistry, said the NSFAS approached the higher education sector earlier this year to assist with the payment of allowances for February and March 2024. “Resolving the issues around the service providers who were previously responsible for these payments has become a challenge because the information on the NSFAS portal is different from the list of funded students provided by NSFAS to higher education institutions,” said Maistry. She stated that some students did not qualify for funding. “At the Sol Plaatje University over 2…

WHILE the city’s water situation remains in a precarious state and repairs are under way, Sol Plaatje Municipality has advised that water interruptions are “inevitable”. Bigen Africa project engineer Rikus Rossouw estimated that emergency repair work would improve the water supply within the next 18 months. “Once emergency repairs are completed, the daily and nightly water interruptions will come to an end,” said Rossouw. He explained that a gasket in Midlands, which could burst at any moment, needed to be urgently replaced. “It will take at least three days to replace it during a planned shutdown. If it bursts before then, it will result in an emergency shutdown where the whole town will be without water for a couple of days.” Rossouw said that three contractors were working at the…

PUPILS and teachers at CW Kies Primary School in Bonita Park, Hartswater, are forced to relieve themselves in the veld as the school toilets are infested with worms. A parent stated that the toilets were not able to flush since last year. “The toilets are blocked and smelly. There are only ablution facilities for boys and girls and educators have to make use of the same bathrooms. It is not safe, especially for young girls to go to the veld,” said the concerned parent. “The school is not very well maintained and it is overgrown with long weeds and bushes.” Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe indicated this week that the ablution facilities at the school were in working order. “However, these facilities are not regularly…

The Griquas Rugby Union had its fair share of trials and triumphs during last year, and now, with the start of the 2024 beckoning on the not too distant horizon, the Griqua team’s head coach Pieter Bergh shared his insights on the team’s journey through all those challenges and outlined their aspirations for the upcoming season. “As we look forward to the start of the 2024 season, I just want to touch on the 2023 season,” Bergh said, speaking to the DFA. “It was a season filled with both highs and lows, characterised by our relentless pursuit of success." The coach said that last year, the rugby season commenced in March, with the Currie Cup competition serving as the focal point for Griquas. However, alterations in the competition structure by…