Table of contents for 2025-09-05 in DFA News

THE SEVERE cutting back of olive trees on the N12 near Oranje Toyota in Kimberley has sparked concern among residents, prompting many to voice their outrage on social media. The trees, which are a protected species in the Northern Cape, were cut back drastically, leaving only thick stumps in the ground. As Arbour Week is currently in full swing, and people are being encouraged to plant trees, the DFA reached out to Oranje Toyota following the public outcry. General manager Dewald Oberholzer responded to the concerns. According to Oberholzer, the decision to cut back the trees followed a call from the municipality. “We were phoned a while ago by the municipality stating that the treetops are growing into the municipal overhead line, and we must ensure that this is corrected,”…

THE OFFENDERS sentenced for the murder and robbery of well-known Kimberley businessman Piet Els and the assault on his partner at his farm in January 2018 will remain behind bars after their appeals were recently dismissed in the Northern Cape High Court. The convicted offenders – Morapedi Rankali, 32, Motlalentwa Qhautse, 42, Lizbeth Ndlala, 61, Themba Lawrence Maja, 63, Oupa Jeffrey Mahomane, 49, Samson “Sam” Mbokane, 68, and Jabulani Wilson Zuma – were sentenced in connection with the offence in March. Qhautse was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery with aggravating circumstances, sexual assault, and murder. Ndlala, Maja and Mbokane were each sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Zuma was convicted on the same…

COMMUNITY members are in uproar after Sol Plaatje municipal manager Thapelo Matlala was given another seven days to respond to allegations during a special council meeting yesterday. This came despite a scathing attack from civic organisations, which alleged that he was being shielded while “question marks” hung over his head, including claims of dubious tenders and appointments secured under his watch. Community members toyi-toyied in the corridors of the municipality, chanting “voetsek, voetsek, Matlala must go!” and threatened to physically remove him from the premises this week. They said the municipal leadership was “dragging their feet” when it came to suspending Matlala and called for all councillors to step down for being “complicit in wrongdoing”. Members of the gallery were told to leave chambers when Khuza Bogacwi was appointed acting…

THE POLICE and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) believes that Daniel Alberts, who is accused of fatally shooting two Kimberley SAPS Flying Squad members in August 2023, should personally cover the costs of hiring the services of a private psychiatrist. At the time of the incident, Sergeant Kedimetse Masilo and Constable Okaetse Mandindi were trying to apprehend Alberts in connection with a suspected stolen vehicle in Bloemfontein, when he allegedly overpowered and shot them. Alberts was arrested later in Riverton and was allegedly found in possession of an R5 rifle, an unlicensed firearm, and drugs. He underwent a 30-day evaluation by state-appointed psychiatrists at the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital in March 2024. It was noted during a previous court appearance that Alberts had been admitted as a patient to…

NOBODY took the time to properly explain the concept of “school” to me. Maybe it’s not their fault; we don’t usually explain things we consider obvious. Take homework, for example. How was I to know that once your parents – those beings you loved and trusted (note the past tense) – sold you into schooling slavery, that was the end of your fun forever? I mean, come on … is it not enough to be hauled out of a comfy bed at an ungodly hour and marched into incarceration for endless hours? Why would anyone, any rational person, still want to prolong the torture with little mathematics assignments from prison, especially when there was so much fun to be had in those few precious hours of freedom? Besides, I reasoned…

THE RACE for the 2025 Carling Currie Cup semi-finals comes down to the final round this weekend, with five teams fighting for four places and just five log points separating them. For the Suzuki Griquas, the focus is clear: beat the Fidelity ADT Lions in Johannesburg tomorrow evening and a home semi-final is secured, with all the Suzuki Park ‘gees’ that brings in its wake. The Kimberley side have been in outstanding form, stringing together five consecutive victories since their opening-round defeat, including notable wins over the Bulls and Cheetahs. Sitting on top of the log, they hold their fate firmly in their own hands. A win will ensure a semi-final in Kimberley; a loss without bonus points could see them slip as low as fourth if other results go…

THE NORTHERN Cape High Court has recommended that disciplinary steps be taken against police officers implicated in an apparent DNA bungle, where a bag of forensic evidence went missing from the SAPS forensic laboratory. Despite crucial evidence not being collected from a blood-stained stone, the accused, Butiki Maitshobogo, was this week found guilty of murdering his partner, Mardly Nero, in Ikhutseng, Warrenton. The incident occurred in February 2024, when Nero suffered blunt force injuries to her head and body. The court heard that the couple had argued at a tavern in Ikhutseng on February 26, 2024. Witnesses testified that they later heard the two fighting at their residence, where Nero was heard screaming for help. A neighbour, Obakeng Modise, testified that he heard the accused call Nero a “whore whom…

THE DEMOCRATIC Alliance (DA) in Phokwane has urged the Frances Baard District Municipality (FBDM) to expedite the process of making the newly built fire station in Jan Kempdorp operational, following a fire incident that exposed the community’s vulnerability. The call follows a fire over the weekend in which a lucerne truck caught alight near a petrol station in Jan Kempdorp. Although the blaze was contained, concerns were raised about the potential risk to nearby infrastructure. Firefighting assistance could not be summoned as the area has no operational fire station. According to the DA, Phokwane has never had a functional fire station. In the past, it relied on the South African National Defence Force and local farmers who developed their own firefighting systems. More recently, responsibility for disaster response fell to…

South African supporters will have plenty to follow this weekend as three of the country’s national teams take centre stage – the Springboks against New Zealand in the Rugby Championship at the intimidating Eden Park venue, the Springbok Women at the Rugby World Cup, and the Proteas at the Ageas Bowl, in Southampton in the third, and final ODI against England. Eden Park epic on the cards Tomorrow, all eyes turn to Auckland where the Springboks face the All Blacks at Eden Park in their third Rugby Championship clash. The world champions are chasing a fifth straight win over New Zealand and aiming to end a drought at the ground stretching back to 1937. The Freedom Cup and the Championship standings are both at stake. Coach Rassie Erasmus has made…