Table of contents for 2025-09-19 in DFA News

A 29-YEAR-old survivor from Upington has lost faith in law enforcement and the justice system after two police officers, who were convicted and sentenced for raping her, remain out on bail. The incident occurred in 2017 when the complainant asked the police officers for a lift to town. Instead, the officers, who were known to her, took her to their residence and raped her in turn. She said she was 19 years old at the time and questioned why the trial took eight years to conclude. “I fled from my home following the incident. My son, who was two years old at the time, had to grow up without me. The accused, who are attached to Upington police station and border police, only spent one hour in the holding cells…

THE SPORT-crazy city of Kimberley is once again buzzing with excitement as two of its schools prepare for the launch of the newly-named Wildeklawer Primary Schools T20 competition. Proudly presented by Staats Primary School and St Patrick’s CBC, the tournament has secured Wildeklawer as its headline sponsor, with additional backing from Point S and NTLO Embroidery to further strengthen the festival. This year marks a historic milestone as Staats and CBC join forces to host what promises to be the biggest and most inclusive tournament yet. For the first time, the event will feature both the Under-13 Boys T20 League, managed by Staats, and the Under-13 Girls T10 League, managed by CBC. The addition of the girls’ league marks a significant step towards equal opportunity in school cricket, giving both…

ACCUSED Justin Tier, Naledi Leburu and Mpho Leburu will remain in custody after being found guilty of murdering a woman in order to claim death benefits totalling R80,000. The victim, Ristelle Steenkamp, was the cousin of the Leburu sisters, while Tier was in a relationship with Naledi at the time of the offence. Her body was discovered in a water canal in Douglas on August 11, 2020. Two life insurance policies were later paid out following her murder. Tier admitted that on August 9 he had made Steenkamp drunk on wine and that they had also smoked dagga and tik. He confessed that he strangled her and disposed of her body in the canal. Delivering judgment recently, Northern Cape High Court Judge Cecile Williams noted that Naledi had nominated Mpho…

COMMUNITY members have questioned the “real motive” behind the decision of the DA and PA to abstain from voting during a special council meeting that was convened to address the thorny issue of Sol Plaatje municipal manager Thapelo Matlala. The doors to the gallery in the Sol Plaatje municipal council chambers were bolted shut when the precautionary suspension of the municipal manager was deliberated, and legal advisers were consulted in chambers on September 16. Shortly before takeaways were served to councillors for supper, community members were chased out of the foyer. They were left standing in the corridor or sitting on the floor in the dark, as some of the lights were not working. “We were treated like dogs and were not making any disturbances when we were told to…

Northern Cape archery is experiencing a golden chapter, with 2025 proving to be one of its most successful years yet. Building on the momentum of 2024, when Diamond Archery Club was crowned Best ABO Club of the Year and celebrated three National Champions, the region has continued to shine brightly on both the local and national stage. This year alone, 19 archers proudly earned their Northern Cape Colours, while eight achieved the prestigious honour of National Colours. These milestones speak volumes about the dedication of the athletes, as well as the challenging courses set up by Northern Cape 3Di to sharpen their skills. At the highest level of competition, local talent continues to make headlines. Junior Fourie and Odette Victor emerged as national stars after clinching the coveted Triple Crown…

A KIMBERLEY high school pupil was placed on precautionary suspension this week after he was arrested on charges of sexual assault and attempted rape of a fellow pupil at the school hostel on September 7. A family friend indicated that the victim sustained injuries, including a ruptured testicle, and required medical attention. “The doctor informed him that he will not be able to have children as a result of the injury,” the family friend claimed. The mother of the pupil, who resides in the Western Cape, requested the head of the Northern Cape Department of Education to intervene on September 11. She said her son and the alleged perpetrator were still expected to attend the same classes and reside in the same hostel following the alleged incident. traumatised and mocked…

AN 18-YEAR-old pedestrian was killed when he was reportedly run over by a mining truck in Postmasburg. SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the Postmasburg police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after an empty manganese truck reportedly collided with the teen “The accident occurred on the road near Jimbo’s in Postmasburg on September 10 at about 6.30pm. The male truck driver sustained no injuries, however, the pedestrian died on the scene,” Kock stated. He requested that anyone with information contact Detective Sergeant Maketa on 078 889 9663, call the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111, or use the MySAPS app. “All information will be treated confidentially. The investigation continues,” Kock added. EFF provincial chairperson Shadrack Tlhaole said this was the second fatality in the Tsantsabane area.…

THE HAWKS’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team arrested four people and charged three companies in connection with a multimillion-rand conference for young entrepreneurs in the Northern Cape, where no services were allegedly rendered. Hawks Northern Cape spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Tebogo Thebe said the accused – Kevin Darryl Christians, 61, Benton Sithebe, 40, Portia Louw, 46, and Irene Botlhoko, 60 – were arrested and made a brief appearance before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on September 16. He stated that the charges included fraud, theft and money laundering. “It is alleged that the Northern Cape Provincial Youth Chamber of Commerce and Industry approached the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism in June 2018 to request financial assistance to enable them to host a conference to develop young entrepreneurs in the province.”…

Determined Griquas face off against powerful Lions in David vs Goliath Currie Cup final The 2025 Currie Cup reaches its climax tomorrow when the Fidelity ADT Lions host Suzuki Griquas in the Premier Division final at Ellis Park. Both teams have fought hard and deserve to be in the final, and will turn up with a point to prove, and with history reminding them that finals rarely follow the script. Griquas chasing history For Kimberley’s Griquas, the occasion is another chance to end a 55-year wait for the trophy. They came close in 2022, losing at home to the Pumas, but coach Pieter Bergh insists his team knows how to test the Lions. “It’s a final, so you always stand a chance,” Bergh said. “The Lions folded under the pressure…

THE DEFENCE has attempted to shift the blame for the Umsobomvu “ghost” youth festival onto the then acting CEO of the Northern Cape Arts and Culture Council (NCACC), Phillip Speek. Traffic Events and Entertainment CC was awarded a R1.6 million tender by the Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) to organise the youth event in Colesberg on December 31, 2016, although the festival never took place. The former acting head of the department, Ruth Palm, the chief financial officer, Andrian Coleridge, the chief director of corporate services, Bonakele Jacobs, and the director of Traffic Events and Entertainment CC, Lesego Stephens Mphake, are facing several charges including contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), fraud, money laundering and contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. Mphake’s legal representative,…

BARNEY the Dinosaur was never very bright, so I’ve often wondered how he ended up with his own TV show. I once heard a story about him and two dinosaur friends stumbling across a magic lamp. They rubbed the lamp, and a genie appeared, offering each one a wish. Sammy the Spinosaurus asked for a big, juicy piece of meat, and instantly it appeared. Vernal the Velociraptor went bigger – he wanted a shower of meat, and soon giant chunks of it rained from the sky. Barney, the Tyrannosaurus rex, being the most carnivorous of them all, certainly did not want to be outdone. He thought for a moment before clapping his tiny T rex hands and excitedly exclaiming, “I want a MEATIER shower!” Now, for someone who caused the…

TWO SECURITY guards have each been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Kimberley Regional Court for the death of a shoplifter caught stealing mayonnaise from the Shoprite U-Save supermarket in Roodepan. The accused, Itumeleng Mogwemang, 37, and Neo Potlawane, 33, pleaded not guilty and claimed they had acted in self-defence during the incident on April 9, 2022. During the fight that broke out, one of the security officers sustained three stab wounds after being attacked by the shoplifter. Willem Westhuizen, 39, died on the way to the hospital. Post-mortem results indicated that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the chest and multiple fractured ribs. Westhuizen, who had grabbed a shopping trolley, allegedly swore at Mogwemang, pushed the trolley into him and stabbed him with a…

The Currie Cup is not just another rugby competition. Far from it; it is the oldest provincial rugby tournament in the world, and for over 130 years it has stood as a symbol of South Africa’s rugby heritage. Generations of players, from the Springbok legends to the unsung heroes who never earned international caps, have cut their teeth on this stage. For supporters, it remains a competition rooted in passion, community, and identity. But while the Currie Cup has endured wars, political change, and the rise of new competitions like the United Rugby Championship, it now faces a threat that undermines its very spirit. That threat comes from within: the way teams are allowed to chop and change their squads by parachuting in top URC players when it matters most.…