Table of contents for 2025-03-07 in DFA News

THE SPECIAL Investigating Unit (SIU) is probing allegations of irregular payments that were submitted for the Covid-19 Temporary Employee/Employer Relief Scheme (TERS) benefits that were claimed by Northern Cape Cricket (NCC) between March 1, 2020, and April 1, 2021. It is believed that the allegations include the receipt of TERS benefits of persons who were not entitled to these payments, as well as the submission of false, irregular, invalid or defective applications to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). This follows after Northern Cape Cricket (NCC) was temporarily dissolved and placed under administration. A court order was obtained on February 12 to disqualify and remove four board members as well as the NCC president. The SIU has requested NCC to provide bank statements, personnel files, salary slips, and financial statements by…

THE DOORS to a butchery in Nobengula Road in Galeshewe were welded shut by municipal health inspectors this week after it was found to be selling expired and unsafe meat. The owner of the butchery also sleeps on the premises and residents have reported the pungent smell of “rotting meat” in the area. CONDEMNED Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said inspectors found sheep or cow offal on the premises that had gone off and had a terrible smell. “The rotting meat was not labelled and no sell-by or expiry dates were displayed on the packaging. The rotten meat was condemned as it was deemed unfit for human consumption. The owner provided slips as proof of purchase from two abattoirs outside Kimberley,” said Mothibi. He added that the butchery was…

THE SOL PLAATJE University Gemmies will make the trip down to the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, near East London for the fourth round of their Varsity Cup campaign, in a game kicking off at 7pm on Friday evening. Their hosts, Walter Sisulu University (WSU) have not had the best start to the competition, enduring three losses in the first three rounds. And no doubt, they are out to turn things around against the new kids on the block. With this being SPU's first away match of their campaign, only time will tell how they perform without their ardent, vocal, adoring fans in the stands cheering them on. One of their challenges will definitely be to block out the noise, and focus on their game plan, trust the process and…

The Karoo was still cloaked in darkness on Wednesday morning as the Meals on Wheels Extreme Cycle for Hunger team set off from Oudtshoorn. The stars above lit their way as they embarked on a gruelling 176-kilometre journey to Barrydale. With clear skies and cool air, the team had no scheduled outreach for the day, but what lay ahead was a true test of endurance and determination – Huis Rivier Pass. With an elevation of 1,922 metres the monolith between Oudtshoorn to Barrydale stretches along eight agonising kilometres, the pass loomed ahead, daring the cyclists to conquer its relentless incline. For many, this was their first encounter with the legendary climb, and as they tackled its steep slopes, grit and perseverance were etched on their faces. The veterans of the…

THE DEFENCE for John-Ross Crossbery Henderson (pictured), 38, will approach the Supreme Court of Appeal after an appeal in the Northern Cape High Court to permit his release on bail was dismissed this week. Henderson is charged with the murder of Jayson Afrique and the attempted murder of Afrique’s wife, Micayla, after several bullets were fired at their vehicle as they drove into the driveway of their house in New Park on July 31, 2024. He has been in custody since his arrest on September 20, 2024, as two prior bail applications in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court were denied. Henderson submitted that he had to take care of his four minor children, who were financially dependent on him, while he was unable to operate his business or compensate 134 employees…

THE CHIEF financial officer (CFO) at the Department of Roads and Public Works, Bradley Slingers, has been dismissed after being found guilty of misconduct, insubordination, and bringing the department’s reputation into disrepute. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges, which stem from an incident where he was caught at a roadblock on the N12 on November 16, 2023. Slingers was unable to explain how he came into possession of R679,200 in cash, which was found stashed in the boot and under the driver’s seat of his vehicle. The BMW that he was driving had an expired licence disc and outdated registration number plate. The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in the Northern Cape granted a final forfeiture order against Slingers in November 2024. The chairperson of the internal disciplinary hearing,…

A WARRANT of arrest has been issued for former ANC provincial chairperson John Block after he, along with his attorney, failed to appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court this week. Block was supposed to appear on March 4 in connection with a R51 million tender that was awarded to Babereki Consulting Engineers CC by the Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works in 2003. He, along with the former head of department (HOD) at the Northern Cape Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works, Patience Mercia Mokhali, and the director of Babereki Consulting Engineers CC, Tshegolekae Motaung, has been charged with fraud, corruption, money laundering, contravention of the Engineering Professions Act and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act. The hospital linked to the case took more than 14 years…

A 59-YEAR-old visually impaired and diabetic patient died in transit while en route to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital (RMSH) after waiting two days for an ambulance to transport him from Kuruman to Kimberley. Elfrida Vogt-Hans described her husband’s harrowing last moments as he gasped for air. “He grabbed my hands as his mouth and tongue turned purple, while sweat poured down his face,” recalled Elfrida. “He wasn’t considered a medical emergency and staff at Kuruman Hospital became agitated when I pleaded for help. Patients are dying and are not receiving the treatment or empathy they deserve.” She stated that her husband, Bishop Ernest Hans, was blind and was recently diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. “We are still waiting for an autopsy to be conducted.” She said that her…

Galeshewe is gearing up for an exciting day of action as the city prepares to host the highly anticipated “ALL HUMAN, ALL EQUAL” Women’s Boxing Tournament. Set for Saturday, March 22, this event will celebrate Human Rights Day and is poised to showcase the talent of female boxers from across South Africa and beyond. Hosted by Moroke Boxing Promotion in collaboration with the Northern Cape Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture and Boxing South Africa (BSA), the tournament promises to put on display strength, skill, and determination. The tournament will feature a series of thrilling bouts, with boxers from the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Free State, and Northern Cape all vying for victory. The main event will see South Africa’s Nomusa Ngema, the reigning Junior Featherweight Champion, face off…