Table of contents for 2024-04-26 in DFA News

Rugby Under-13 Invitational teams Round-Robin Friday, April 26 VENUE: Laërskool Newton (10am): Pescodia Primary vs LS Black Rock (11am): Wildeklawer Academy vs Prieska Primére Skool (12 noon): LS Dutoitspan vs LS Aggeneys (2pm): Pescodia Primary vs Prieska Primére Skool (3pm): Wildeklawer Academy vs LS Aggeneys (4pm): LS Black Rock vs LS Dutoitspan Saturday, April 27 VENUE: Laërskool Newton (8am): Prieska Primére Skool vs LS Black Rock (9am): Wildeklawer Academy vs LS Dutoitspan (10am): Pescodia Primary vs LS Aggeneys Under-14 High School Tournament Round-Robin Thursday, May 2 VENUE: Kimberley Boys High B-Field (9.10am): Oakdale Landbou vs Durban High VENUE: Kimberley Boys High C-Field / Laërskool Staats (9.10am): Boland Landbou vs Helpmekaar Kollege (10.20am): Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Monument (11.30am): Garsfontein vs Stellenberg (12.40am): Diamantveld vs Marlow Landbou (1.50pm): Dr EG Jansen…

WARD committee members who believe they were unfairly dismissed, intend to take legal action against the Speaker and the manager in the Office of the Speaker at Sol Plaatje Municipality. Ward 3 committee members Wayne Doyle, David Marks, Joseph Jansen and Sue-Ellen Ahmed were charged with misconduct by the Speaker’s Office after being accused of being involved in a protest calling for the removal of the ward councillor, Derick Korkie, on April 22. The reason for the termination of their membership, in terms of the ward committee policy, was cited as “being involved with proven activities undermining council or the authority of the ward councillor”. Ward committee secretary Marlon Africa pointed out that it was every citizen’s democratic right to engage in protest action. “A separate set of rules applies…

FORTUNE favoured Mildred Nasasery, a matric pupil at William Pescod High School in Kimberley, who won a bursary from ATTI for the 2025 academic year via a lucky draw. Nasasery attended the Kimberley Academy of Excellence NPC’s 2024 career exhibition that took place at her school earlier this month. The bursary that she won will enable her to pursue any course of her choice in 2025, courtesy of ATTI Computer Education and Training. The career exhibition, held on April 13, was the second of its kind and attracted close to 350 matric pupils. Participating schools included William Pescod High School, Floors High School, Kimberley Girl’s High School, Homevale High School, Tlhwahalang Secondary School, Banksdrift High School, Reakantswe High School and Emmanuel Secondary School. Established in 2020, the Kimberley Academy of…

KUMBA Iron Ore said this week that its sales volumes during the quarter to the end of March were impacted by challenging operating conditions at the Saldanha Bay Port, with production for the period dipping by 2% to 9.3 million tons, despite providing support to Transnet, including rail and port maintenance. Freight rail and port bottlenecks have been afflicting South African exporters and importers and this has resulted in some operators scaling back operations. Industry players such as Kumba Iron Ore have joined hands to try to help find solutions to the operating challenges hobbling Transnet. “Kumba, as part of the Ore User's Forum, continues to support Transnet's logistics restoration programme (and) this included equipment maintenance on the rail and at the port,” it said. During the quarter period under…

CARMEN Louw, the seasoned leader of Diamantveld High School netball’s first-team, is gearing up to take on the challenge of being captain in the upcoming Absa Wildeklawer tournament. With a wealth of experience, having served as vice-captain on multiple occasions, Louw has stepped into her new role with determination and confidence. “We’ve put in the hard yards,” she told the DFA, highlighting their collective effort and synergy on the court. “When the going gets tough, I’ll remind my team that the game isn’t over until the final whistle blows,”she said. Louw’s optimism extends beyond mere encouragement and motivation for her team; she firmly believes in the squad’s potential to break into the top 10 rankings this year, which would signal an impressive improvement from their performance last season. As the…

Ricardo Fitzpatrick, the reigning African Bench Press Champion and current South African Champion, has been forced to withdraw from the South African Bench Press Team set to compete in the World Bench Press Championships in Austin, USA, slated for May 21-22, 2024. What is the reason behind this disappointing setback for the city’s own champion? Lack of funds. Fitzpatrick, a formidable force in the bench press arena, missed the registration deadline due to financial constraints, shattering his aspirations of competing on the global stage. Projections suggested that Fitzpatrick could have clinched silver or bronze at the championship, based on nominations positioning him second or third. Nevertheless, undeterred by this setback, the determined powerlifter has shifted his focus to the upcoming trio of international competitions to be held on home turf.…

Tumi Khukhele, the Under-19 rugby coach at Boy’s High School, anticipates a challenging journey in the upcoming Absa Wildeklawer Tournament. Despite acknowledging the tough competition ahead, Khukhele notes a positive shift in his team’s momentum. He highlights the significance of last year’s “Bok day” in identifying key players and structuring training sessions. However, staffing shortages pose a challenge to their training regimen. Nonetheless, Khukhele views the 2024 tournament as an opportunity to assess the team’s progress and refine their strategies for future development.…

KIMBERLEY Boy’s High School’s senior rugby team, led by captain Omaatla Mothata, is gearing up for the Absa Wildeklawer tournament. Despite challenges faced during the previous year’s rebuilding phase due to Covid-19 disruptions, resulting in three losses out of four games, this season brings renewed optimism. A successful tour in George, with victories in two out of three matches, and a competitive friendly against Diamantveld, have boosted the team’s morale. Mothata aims for at least two wins out of three matches in the upcoming tournament, aiming even higher against tough competition.…

THE PUBLIC Servants Association (PSA) has requested the Public Protector to investigate the appointment of 50 traffic wardens in the Northern Cape. PSA provincial manager Steve Ledibane stated that only 25 posts were advertised in September 2023. “The Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison appointed 50 wardens in January. The concern is how the other 25 traffic wardens were selected, as proper recruitment and selection procedures were not followed,” said Ledibane. He indicated that the candidates were interviewed telephonically. “This raises questions about the quality and integrity of the process. Security checks were circumvented as no proper vetting was done. Applicants with criminal records could have been appointed, while candidates were selected when they did not meet the requirements. Three family members from one household, political affiliates, friends and family…

FORTY-seven-year-old Andries Buffel will spend the next 22 years behind bars after he was convicted of killing his girlfriend after she informed him that she had aborted her baby. Buffel entered into a plea agreement in the Northern Cape High Court this week, where he confessed to stealing a 7.65mm FEG pistol and ammunition from his brother and assaulting and shooting his lover, Charlene Molokwane, in the head. Molokwane died on June 14, 2023, at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley. Buffel admitted that he did not have a licence to possess a firearm or ammunition. He told the court that he had contracted HIV and the deceased had denied infecting him. He was also aggrieved that she visited shebeens “until late at night”. “Our relationship was characterised by many…

YOU COULD bet on it with 100 percent certainty; dump a load of red soil or river sand in our neighbourhood, and within a very short space of time, you’d have burrowing, tunnelling, castle-building youngsters swarming all over the mound. Words cannot describe the pleasures of playing in a heap of sand – yes IN, not ON! The fact is, we did our best to dig our way into the heaps; it was as though we were mesmerised. But in the same breath, I have to say that no words can describe the pain that followed an afternoon session burrowing in the soil. Every single time it would happen that we would, somehow, forget that digging into sand or soil with one’s fingernails caused the ‘keratin cap’ to lift from…

RECOGNISING the importance of skills development that facilitates access to employment opportunities, Loeriesfontein community leaders collaborated with local wind farms to successfully implement a “Learner’s and Driving Licence Programme”. The initiative was a direct response to the community’s expressed need for assistance in obtaining learner’s and driving licences and it, in turn, sparked considerable interest among the local youth. Designed to empower the youth with vital skills and qualifications, the collaborative effort aims to equip them for success in various aspects of life. The first phase of the programme targeted 30 individuals from the community, with over 60% of the participants successfully obtaining their learner's licences, valid for two years. Partnering with a service provider based in the nearby town of Calvinia, the programme conducted comprehensive classroom sessions focused on…

THE DIAMANTVELD senior rugby team has enjoyed a remarkable ascent this season, and are currently sitting atop the standings in the fiercely contested Central Sport Series. The team’s success is due to a new vision and determination to succeed and is also thanks to the leadership of FJ de Vries, the stalwart captain of Diamantveld’s Under-19 first team. De Vries has been at the helm of his squad since the start of the season and the team has been on a steady upward tick under his inspired leadership, Speaking to the DFA, De Vries modestly attributes much of the team’s success to the astute guidance of the newly appointed coaching staff. “Our new coaches have truly transformed our game,” he told the DFA, acknowledging the coaching staff’s expertise and innovative…

KIMBERLEY Golf Club results for the week of April 17-20 and a look ahead to the period of April 26 to May 5. Results for the week of April 17 to 20 are: The Wednesday, April 17 KGC IPS was won by Phillip Maritz on 21pts with Barend Burger 2nd on 20pts and Nigel Page 3rd with 19pts. The Thursday, April 18 KWV Niner was won by André Williams on 19pts with Johan Herselman 2nd on a count-out also on 19pts. Third was Braam Botes on 18pts also on a count-out. NOCCI had a successful golf day on Friday April 19th. The Saturday, April 20 KGC IPS was won by Kevin Wakeford on 39pts with Ghaalid Norman 2nd on 37pts on a count-out over 3rd placed Johan Herselman also on…

Diamantveld High School’s senior netball team is poised to surprise at the 2024 Absa Wildeklawer sports tournament, thanks to the arrival of new coach Bethany du Raan. With a fresh perspective and dynamic approach, Du Raan aims to nurture the team’s mindset and instil confidence in their abilities. Embracing new strategies and rigorous training, the team is enthusiastic and ready to showcase their talent on the court. Du Raan has set ambitious goals, aiming for a top-10 finish and she is confident that their hard work will pay off at Wildeklawer 2024.…

A KIMBERLEY magistrate has been reported to the Magistrate’s Commission for allegedly contravening the code of conduct after she purportedly displayed “shockingly vulgar, unbecoming and rude” behaviour. The matter was recently reported by the head of the legal unit and chairperson of the Northern Cape Civics Organisation, Ross Henderson, after an interim protection order was granted in August 2022 following complaints regarding offensive and insulting language and physical assault and threats directed at the magistrate’s neighbours. A criminal case was also lodged at the Kimberley police station. According to the claims, the incident took place on August 3, 2022, when a neighbour who was skipping in the garden was allegedly insulted and told that she was a "black p***”. She was also accused of being on "mental medication" and of…

THE ABSA Wildeklawer Schools Sport Tournament, a beacon of excellence in the world of school sports, is gearing up for its most monumental edition yet in 2024. What began as a modest gathering of a dozen rugby teams back in 2009 has turned into a global sensation over the past 14 years. The 2024 instalment of the tournament promises to be an event for the ages, with a staggering 192 teams set to compete across rugby, netball, and soccer. Representing 111 schools from diverse corners of the globe, this year's participation smashes all previous records, highlighting the tournament's unparalleled growth and significance. International line-up What sets this year apart is the Absa Wildeklawer Invitational Tournament's unwavering commitment to inclusivity. In a heartening move, 35 local teams from the Northern Cape…

THE SUZUKI Griquas and the Airlink Pumas showcased their dominance in the SA Cup by securing impressive away victories in the competition last weekend. At this stage of the competition, these two sides remain the only unbeaten teams, which sets up a potential tantalising top of the table clash down the line. The log leaders from Kimberley faced a formidable challenge from the Boland Cavaliers but dug deep and emerged victorious with a commendable 48-30 triumph in Wellington last Saturday. The enthralling encounter against the Cavaliers saw notable contributions from Griquas players, with tries scored by Carl Els (2), Janco Uys, Stephan Smit, Thomas Bursey, Cameron Hufke, and Niel Otto. Lubabalo Dobela and George Whitehead added conversions, while Dobela also slotted a penalty, further underscoring Griquas’ commanding performance on the…

DIAMANTVELD High School demonstrated their determination to excel on the rugby field with their recent appointment of Philip Molnar as the school’s new rugby coach. Molnar brings with him a decade of experience in guiding teams through the rigours of the Wildeklawer tournament. With a decade-long tenure at the Wildeklawer, Molnar's appointment signals a strategic move for Diamantveld, tapping into his wealth of knowledge and expertise in the sport. Expressing his aspirations for the season, Molnar acknowledges the added pressure of being the host school for this year’s tournament. “We’re aiming for two wins out of two matches,” he told the DFA, emphasising the team’s goal-oriented approach; something that has been their trademark since the outset of the season. Molnar commended the team for their diligence and resilience, particularly in…

Floors High School marks return to rugby with victory over old rivals FLOORS High School, after quite a few decades, made a triumphant return to the rugby field this past week as they took on old rivals Homevale High School in an intense, hard-fought friendly match hosted at the Kimberley Rugby Club field. The Floors team, sporting a renewed focus and determination along with their new kit, took the fight to their opponents and emerged 17-10 victors in a game against a determined Homevale team. Once a cornerstone of Floors High’s identity, rugby had slipped from prominence after the unification of sport in the late 1990s, but a fresh cohort of players now seek to reignite the sport’s flame at the school. Their inaugural challenge was no trifling matter; a…

BOY’S High School’s Under-19 soccer team has gained confidence from recent successes in George and Bloemfontein, providing valuable preparation for the upcoming 2024 Absa Wildeklawer sports festival. Coach Junior Leeuw, with four years of coaching experience and three years of Wildeklawer participation, aims to lead the team to the semi-finals. Leeuw notes significant growth in player skills and team unity, attributing it to improved gameplay and camaraderie fostered through regular training sessions and matches. As they face new challenges in the Wildeklawer, the team remains focused. on delivering their best performance, ready to adapt and showcase their talent.…

The senior soccer team at Boy’s High School is eagerly anticipating the Absa Wildeklawer tournament, led by captain Tumi Khukhele. Despite past disappointments, the team is determined and confident with a talented roster this year. Bongi emphasises the quality players and growing confidence as key factors in their preparation, highlighting the importance of resilience and unity. With ambitious goals set for the tournament, including securing two wins and at least one draw, the team is ready to showcase their talent and determination on the soccer pitch in the 2024 Wildeklawer.…