Table of contents for 2024-04-12 in DFA News

THE DIAMOND City is grappling with yet another water shutdown and with the taps remaining dry one week after the initial closure, it seems the city’s water woes are far from over. During an impromptu media briefing on day eight of what was supposed to be a five-day shutdown, the Sol Plaatje Municipality revealed yesterday that they have encountered challenges related to supplying water to high-lying areas. Municipal manager Thapelo Matlala said the water levels at Newton Reservoir are not satisfactory and are inadequate for residents’ needs. He explained, “The pressure is low on the 900mm diameter pipeline. We are not receiving sufficient water at the Newton Reservoir in order to distribute water to areas in the CBD and Kimberley suburbia. This has resulted in an interruption that will last…

THE PRESIDENT of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, voiced his shock and criticised the health system as ineffective. Meshoe made these remarks during his oversight visit to the Dr Winston Torres Clinic in Roodepan, Kimberley, on Wednesday. Accompanied by the party’s Member of Parliament, Marie Sukers, and the provincial leader and premier candidate, Jonathin Sukers, they hit the campaign trail over two days in the city. The visit also served to present the ACDP’s manifesto in preparation for the general elections in May. Their itinerary included home visits, meetings with business and traditional leaders, and a community meeting. Meshoe stated that their campaign is driven by a desire to enhance service delivery and to remind people that they are deserving of respect. He specifically highlighted the…

MOPPING-UP operations are under way across Kimberley and surrounding areas following a Level 6 alert of heavy rain and flooding that caused extensive damage to property over the weekend. Sol Plaatje Municipality confirmed that the storm caused flooding in Greenpoint, Roodepan, Club 2000 and Tlhageng. This resulted in the temporary closure of the Greenpoint, Hull Street and Kenilworth subways as well as the Greenpoint and Tlhageng stormwater channels. Informal settlements and homes close to the water channels were the worst affected by the flooding. Residents of Lethabo Park said on Wednesday that they were still concerned that they could be trapped inside their yards if it rains again. The roads are meanwhile too muddy to use, with several vehicles having already gotten stuck in the mud. The owner of the…

THE EFF mayor of Thembelihle Local Municipality, Leonard Makenna, who was removed through a motion of no confidence this week, has vowed that he will continue combating corruption in the municipality. Makenna was replaced as mayor by Siyathemba Community Movement councillor Marnus “Stan” Visser. The Northern Cape MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Bentley Vass, convened an urgent meeting for all councillors on April 9, the day following Makenna’s removal, to discuss “governance matters and service delivery imperatives”. Makenna warned that despite him no longer occupying the mayoral seat, the investigation into a R2.2 million electrification contract, where no work was completed, would still proceed. “I remain an ordinary councillor at the municipality and I will not stop exposing the rot. The Hawks are coming to…

RESIDENTS of Thagadipilajang have reported persistent waterflow interruptions in Hartswater due to ongoing excavations for a broken sewage pipe. They added that the road where the massive hole was dug, was paved just last year. “Now it is a gravel road again. There are no danger signs or safety tape and it is right outside Bankdrift High School. Children could fall in as the hole is very deep and residents are struggling to gain entry into their homes. There are also live cables and sewage water, so it is a dangerous combination,” they said. The residents said further that the area was flooded following heavy rains this week. Phokwane mayor Willem Harmse stated that a contractor was appointed to repair the sewage pipe. “The trench is seven metres deep and…

ALEXANDER Graham Bell’s journey from multiple failures to eventual success is encapsulated in his famous quote: “After innumerable failures I finally uncovered the principle for which I was searching, and I was astounded at its simplicity. “The principle I revealed not only proved beneficial in constructing a mechanical hearing aid but also served as well as means of sending the sound of the voice over a wire.” Bell’s dogged, stubborn, pioneering spirit made him a trailblazer in the telecommunications industry. Personally, I find myself wondering sometimes if it would not have been better if ‘Old Alex’ was a quitter. I always tend to wonder, though Bell may have contributed to making communication more efficient, did he help make it better? Some would say, “Yes, definitely” … But think about it;…

KIMBERLEY, a city steeped in history and culture, is gearing up to welcome a thrilling new sports craze. Padel, a unique blend of tennis and squash, is taking the recreational scene by storm in Kimberley thanks to the arrival of AP Padel Courts. This exciting addition to the city's sports landscape guarantees excitement, camaraderie, and boundless enjoyment for sports lovers of every age and skill level. But what exactly is padel? Padel, also known as padel tennis, is a fast-paced racket sport that emphasises strategy over power. Played in doubles on a smaller court enclosed by glass and mesh, it offers a unique and enjoyable experience for players of all skill levels. Originating in Acapulco in 1969, Padel was created by Enrique Corcuera as a solution to space constraints for…

meet your Proteas team THE PROTEAS need to take matters into their own hands when they host Sri Lanka in the second One Day International (ODI) at Kimberley’s Diamond Oval tomorrow. On Tuesday, Tazmin Brits showcased her batting prowess with her second career hundred for the Proteas Women as the first ICC Women’s Championship (2022-25) ODI against Sri Lanka was abandoned due to persistent rain in East London on Tuesday. Brits led the charge with a commanding 116 off 128 balls, including 12 fours, guiding South Africa to 270/6 after 50 overs before rain intervened in the seventh over of Sri Lanka’s innings, resulting in a no-result. Despite their deflating loss in the T20I series against the tourists, Proteas Women’s captain Laura Wolvaardt was optimistic her side could rebound strongly…

KIMBERLEY DJ and radio presenter KG Smallz has been nominated in the prestigious 'Song of the Year' category for the renowned Metro FM Music Awards. His nomination is for his latest song "Yes God", which was released in November 2023 and has been making waves in the music industry. The song is a collaboration with Oscar Mbo and Dearson. KG Smallz (real name Kgotso Potsane), who has been a part of the music industry for over two decades, is competing against nine other prominent artists in the awards category. He expressed immense pride and optimism about the nomination. The Metro FM Music Awards nominations feature singles and albums released between February 28, 2023, and February 28, 2024. This year, the station received over 1 700 entries across various categories. KG…

FORMER ANC provincial chairperson John Block advised the court that he was not in a position to pay for a “truckload of evidence”, where the defence in the Kimberley Mental Health Hospital case has been made to foot the bill for a room full of boxes. A request was made during a recent court appearance that representations be made to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in order for the boxes of documents to be provided to Block free of charge. The charges in the case include fraud, corruption, money laundering, and contravention of the Engineering Professions Act and the Public Finance Management Act. Block was the MEC for Transport, Roads and Public Works at the time when a R51 million tender was awarded to Babereki Consulting Engineers CC for…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa recently issued a proclamation directing the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe electrification tenders awarded by Sol Plaatje Municipality. The SIU, in May 2023, noted that complaints were registered regarding payments made by Sol Plaatje Municipality for an infrastructure and electrification project in Lerato Park. The municipality allocated R33 million in its 2021/22 capital budget to electrify 1,500 households in Lerato Park and R20 million for electricity provision to 1,100 households in Lethabo Park. However, residents of Lethabo Park, who were connected to the grid in March during the second phase of the electrification project, experienced numerous delays. They claimed to have been waiting for power for five years. The SIU has been tasked to investigate serious maladministration, unlawful expenditure of public money, improper or unlawful conduct…

Kimberley Golf Club results for the week of April 3-6 and a look ahead to the period of April 12-21. Results for the week of April 3-6 are: The Wednesday, April 3 Konica Minolta BBS was won by the team of Harry Welham and Nigel Page with 46pts. Second were Barend Burger and Jade Paton on 44pts followed by 3rd placed Jacques Gouws and Stephan van Heerden on 42. They beat 4th placed Dee Kidson and Jason Barnes on a count-out with the same score. The Thursday, April 4 KWV Niner was won by Eugene Snyman with an excellent score of 30. Second was Sharheem Richards on 25pts beating 3rd placed Johan Herselman on a count-out. The Friday, April 5 Flamingo Niner was won by Ghaalid Norman with 20pts. Second…