Table of contents for 2025-02-21 in DFA News

A PROPERTY owner, Brenda Booth, is claiming R120,000 from Sol Plaatje Municipality for failing to contain overflowing sewage, which has created a health and environmental disaster on her farm along the R31 road and at Kamfers Dam. The excess sewage has destroyed 700 out of 1,000 hectares of her land, significantly devaluing the property. Botulism is suspected to have caused the deaths of at least 136 birds that were collected along the Kamfers Dam pan in December. The Department of Water and Sanitation stated that criminal charges had been opened against Sol Plaatje Municipality due to the Homevale and Beaconsfield wastewater treatment plants not functioning. Booth’s legal representative, advocate Danie Olivier, stated that the municipality was in contempt of a March 2024 court order and had omitted to submit relevant…

A 45-YEAR-old woman from Steinkopf has been reunited with her family, two decades after her disappearance, thanks to the intervention of Nama Khoi Municipality, the police and the Heavenly Promise Safe House. Nama Khoi Municipality spokesperson Jason Milford said Lynette Cloete, 45, vanished without a trace after her father’s funeral 20 years ago. “Originally from Steinkopf, Lynette was suffering from memory loss and was reported to be living with a man in Arniston in the Western Cape. She refused to discuss the man, leading to suspicions that she may have been held against her will and was being abused,” he said. Milford added that the Arniston police contacted Lana O’Neill, the founder of the Heavenly Promise Safe House in Bredasdorp, as they were concerned for Cloete’s safety. “The safe house…

THE STATE of Phokwane Municipality’s garbage dump site has reached a critical level, raising serious environmental and public health concerns. The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) has condemned the municipality’s failure to properly maintain the site, citing numerous safety hazards, pollution, and allegations of illegal dumping by municipal authorities. One of the most pressing issues is the lack of fencing and maintenance at the landfill site. As a result, waste is being blown into nearby areas, including residential neighbourhoods in Nkandla. Even more alarming is the presence of a shack within the dump, where children are reportedly playing among the garbage, exposing them to severe health and safety risks. Fires at the site, allegedly started by scavengers burning wires to extract metals, have been sending thick, toxic smoke into the surrounding…

LAST weekend, Kimberley became the epicentre of intense competition as the Northern Cape Bowls (NCB) Under-30 Masters and Veterans Masters unfolded, showcasing the exceptional talent of the province’s top lawn bowlers. The event, which drew in a large and enthusiastic crowd, provided spectators with some of the most exciting matches seen in recent memory. The atmosphere was charged with excitement, with one player noting that the turnout and support from the crowd were unprecedented for an NCB play-off. As the players took to the greens, it was clear that this competition would be one of those exciting and memorable contests. Mathewson picks up where he left off When the competition got under way, CP Mathewson’s current winning streak continued as he triumphed in the Under-30 Masters final, following his strong…

Arthur Jantjies, the Northern Cape’s renowned long-distance athlete from Hopetown, defended his Kloppers Marathon title on Saturday, February 8, with a stunning performance. The Kgosi Galeshewe Athletics (KGA) club runner completed the 42.2km race in an impressive 2:23:00, beating his 2024 time by 10 minutes. Jantjies' remarkable improvement at the Kloppers Marathon is a testament to his unwavering dedication and rigorous training. Jantjies recently spoke to the DFA and reflected on this achievement. He admitted that he had initially not intended to push himself to such a fast time. “It was never the plan to run 2:23 at Kloppers. It was supposed to be just a training run to assess where I was ahead of the ASA Marathon Championships, which were my main goal the following week,” he said. To…

THE FAMILY of Relebogile Segami, who was raped and murdered in 2022, marked what would have been her 14th birthday on the same day that her killer, Itumeleng Bendow Machabe, was sentenced to two life terms plus an additional 44 years imprisonment on February 18. Machabe, 27, was also found guilty of using a fake Facebook profile to lure teenagers into exchanging compromising and explicit photos of themselves, which he then shared on social media. Relebogile, 11, was strangled to death and her body was discovered in the veld behind the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature on March 31, 2022. It was a bitter-sweet moment for the bereaved family, who are still struggling to come to terms with Relebogile’s cruel death. Machabe was a friend of Relebogile’s brother. Family spokesperson Jennifer…

HAS ANYONE else noticed how extremely difficult life has become of late, or is it just my small circle of friends and I who are battling with a constant bombardment of challenges? We shouldn’t complain, and should learn to be more thankful for small mercies, but as an example, how many times has it happened to you that you walked up to an elevator, even in a two-floor building, just to find that the elevator is NEVER on your floor? You ALWAYS have to wait, because someone else moved YOUR lift. “That’s not so bad,” I hear someone protest. So allow me to up the game. Has it ever happened to you that you fell madly, deeply, hopelessly in love with a product? You know, finally, the universe makes sense…

WHILE his client is “not old, nor frail”, the defence for accused John-Ross Crossbery Henderson, 38, has argued that, like murder-accused Clive Ferris, 67, he should also be released from custody, as their cases share similarities. Henderson has been charged with the murder of Kimberley businessman Jayson Afrique, 28, and the attempted murder of his wife, Micayla. Ten shots were fired from the passenger side of their vehicle by a shooter who was standing in the driveway of their home in New Park on July 31, 2024. Henderson was denied bail on two occasions in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court. Ferris was released on bail of R10,000 following an appeal to the Northern Cape High Court on February 7. He stands accused of the murder of Charmaine Anthony and the attempted…

The FNB Varsity Shield 2025 kicked off in fine fashion last week, and the first round produced unforgettable thrillers even at this early stage of the competition. One round into the marathon, and Sol Plaatje University’s opponents this week, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), find themselves at the top of the competition log with a healthy points difference of 31. However, three other teams also have five points: Varsity College (points difference 26), UWC (17), and Kimberley’s own SPU (4). Sol Plaatje University (SPU), after their exciting win over UKZN find themselves in that mix, thanks to the Gemmies team digging deep when it mattered most. Meanwhile, Varsity College enjoyed a successful tournament opener against the Madibaz, while UWC and CPUT, both from Cape Town, secured wins at…

The team delivered a well-rounded performance, excelling with both bat and ball to claim a convincing six-wicket victory in Bloemfontein. Winning the toss and electing to field first, Diamantveld’s bowlers executed their plans with precision, restricting Grey College to a modest total of 134 runs in their 20 overs. Waldo Steenkamp and Danie van der Merwe led the bowling attack with disciplined spells, each claiming two wickets to keep the opposition batters from opening their shoulders. Though Grey College were reined in quite a bit by the DHS bowlers and fielders in their innings, a target of 134 in T20 cricket is no walk in the park, and can be a competitive total to chase, but Diamantveld’s batsmen stepped up to the challenge. Benjamin Potgieter delivered a match-winning innings, scoring…

TWO PATIENTS sustained serious injuries when an ambulance transporting them from Springbok to Kleinzee was involved in an accident. It is believed that the vehicle rolled after experiencing a tyre burst. The ambulance was reported to be unlicensed and not roadworthy. Northern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said the Komaggas police were investigating a case of reckless and negligent driving after an ambulance overturned approximately five kilometres outside Komaggas at around 3.40pm on February 14. “It is believed that the driver was travelling with three patients in the ambulance from Springbok when the accident occurred. The driver and a patient sustained minor injuries. However, two other patients sustained serious injuries,” said Ehlers. She added that the cause of the accident was still under investigation. The Northern Cape Department of…

AS FINANCIAL strain tightens its grip on Northern Cape schools, a heated political showdown has erupted over who is to blame. With the Democratic Alliance (DA) raising concerns about financial mismanagement and the Northern Cape Department of Education pushing back against claims of fiscal recklessness, the real question remains – how will this funding battle affect the province’s learners? The DA has welcomed the commitment by the MEC for Finance, Venus Blennies, and the MEC for Education, Abraham Vosloo, to provide regular updates to the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature on the financial constraints schools are facing. However, the party remains critical of what it describes as a history of poor financial decision-making by the department. According to the DA, the provincial Department of Education has admitted to short-term cash flow…

Tensions are running high in Hollywoodbets Soccer League following the expulsion of Lethabo United FC. The decision has sparked criticism from the club’s management, who believe the punishment is unfairly harsh. The controversy stems from an on-field altercation that took place last year during a match between Lethabo United and Kimberley United. The heated encounter escalated when the captains of both teams engaged in a physical altercation. Referee intervention saw both captains receive red cards, leading to the match being provisionally stopped for tempers to cool off. However, what followed ultimately led to severe disciplinary consequences for the Lethabo United club. According to Lethabo United’s team manager, Benedict Soul, some of the club’s supporters reacted angrily, throwing bottles onto the field and even overturning a goalpost. The chaos forced officials…

The ‘gentleman’s game’ at Northern Cape High School has received a significant boost with coach Zandre Swartz achieving his Level 3 cricket coaching qualification. This does not only mark a new chapter in his coaching journey but also promises to elevate the standard of cricket in the region. Swartz’s love for the game has been the driving force behind his coaching career. For the past 13 years, he has dedicated himself to developing young cricketers at Northern Cape High School, guiding them to improve their skills and strive for professional careers. Reflecting on his coaching highlights, Swartz recalls memorable victories against some of the top cricketing schools in the country, including Paul Roos, SACS, and Paarl Boys’ High. Another standout moment in his career was working with Patrick Kruger, who…