Table of contents for 2021-07-02 in DFA News

Sandi Kwon Hoo chief reporter THE OFFICE of the Mayor has indicated that it had no other choice but to increase the electricity tariffs, as Sol Plaatje municipality is “cash strapped and facing serious cash flow challenges”. Spokesperson for the mayor’s office Persome Oliphant pointed out that the electricity prices were regulated and subjected to the tariff increase guidelines of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). “The municipality operates in a tough environment, influenced both by subjective and objective factors which make a zero tariff not possible. Simply put, Sol Plaatje is cash-strapped and cash flow remains a serious cause for concern.” She indicated that the executive mayor, members of the mayoral committee, acting municipal manager, acting chief financial officer and other senior managers held a virtual meeting…

Sandi Kwon Hoo CHIEF REPORTER MORE survivors of the 14 trialists who were sentenced to death row for the crowd killing of a municipal police officer Lucas “Jetta” Sethwala in Paballelo in 1985, will be removing their faces from the historical monument that was erected in their honour, tomorrow, July 2. The faces of the trialists are adorned on the monument, where one of the faces was blocked out and painted with black paint on Monday. There are only 13 remaining of the original “Upington 26” who were imprisoned. Fourteen of the accused were sentenced to death. They were later released after their sentences were overturned on appeal in 1991 following an international outcry. Ex-political prisoner Zonga Mokgatla on Tuesday stated that he was the last of the accused to…

IOL Reporter SOUTH Africans woke up on Monday morning to tighter Covid-19 regulations that place restrictions on dining, gymning and purchasing alcohol. After listening to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech on Sunday night when he moved the country to Alert Level 4, many assumed that the restrictions mostly affected the purchasing of alcohol. However, the regulations gazetted and published on Monday sees the closure of, gyms and fitness centres, flea markets, fêtes and bazaars, nightclubs, casinos, taverns, bars and shebeens. In addition, conferencing and exhibition centres will also be closed alongside, museums, libraries, archives and galleries. Visits to old age homes are also prohibited. How does alert level 4, 2021 compare to alert level 4, 2020? Alcohol sales Restricted under both years. Tobacco sales Restricted under 2020 but allowed in 2021…

Sandi Kwon Hoo chief reporter RESIDENTS queued for hours outside the civic centre as well as the municipal offices in Galeshewe yesterday to unblock their electricity accounts that was disconnected due to non-payment. Crowds gathered when the municipal offices opened at 7.30am yesterday morning. “There were only a few officials to assist us. Elderly residents had to stand for hours during one of the coldest days of the year, where social distancing was not observed. “We are afraid that the Delta variant of the Covid-19 pandemic will spread in Kimberley because we are supposed to observe level 4 restrictions. Crowds are not supposed to be congregating but we have no choice. This is while the massive accounts of government buildings and certain businesses are written off.” Residents added that they…

Dave Alexander Sports Reporter COMING off their great 31-10 win over the Cheetahs in their second round match of the Carling Currie Cup last Saturday, Griquas will face their old rivals, New Nation Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium today in a match kicking off at 4pm. Griqua coach Scott Mathie told the DFA that coming off their great win last last weekend they will be facing a few challenges on Friday. “Yes, so we are obviously making the trip up to the Pumas (but) it’s been a a bit of a disruptive week. One of the Cheetahs players was in close contact with us in the game, so we are missing some props for this weekend’s game as well as the hooker. “As you know this is not ideal but…

Benida Phillips staff repoter FIVE more suspects, aged between 32 and 59 years, were arrested in connection with R5 million GWK money laundering case. Hawks Provincial spokesperson, Nomthandazo Mnisi said the suspects were served with summonses in different provinces. “The suspects were served with court summonses on Wednesday (June 30, 2021) by the Kimberley Hawks Serious Corruption Investigations team in Mpumalanga, Free State and Northern Cape. This follows investigations that the suspects, who worked at Griekwaland-Wes Koperatief Beperk (GWK) colluded with an employee from AG Equipment Direct LLC (AG) and inflated prices when quoting for equipment. These incidents occurred between 2014 and 2016,” said Mnisi. She said the investigation teams established that an estimated amount of R5 million was defrauded from GWK. “Investigations by the Hawks established that the suspects…

IANS NEW YORK – A team of US researchers has developed face masks with biosensors that can be customised to detect pathogens such as the SARS-CoV2, virus causing Covid-19, and toxins and alert the user. The button-activated mask, developed by the researchers from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, gives results within 90 minutes at levels of accuracy comparable to standard nucleic acid-based diagnostic tests like polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The finding is reported in the journal Nature Biotechnology. "We have essentially shrunk an entire diagnostic laboratory down into a small, synthetic biology-based sensor that works with any face mask, and combines the high accuracy of PCR tests with the speed and low cost of antigen tests," said Peter Nguyen,…

Neville Motlhabakwe Sports Reporter POSTMASBURG’S Hungry Lions FC have won promotion to the National First Division (NFD) also known as the GladAfrica League after their 5-3 penalties win over Mangaung United at the ABC Motsepe League national play-offs which took place in Nelspruit (Mbombela) this week. This historic win for the Northern Cape side looked nowhere in sight on Monday when the Postmasburg based side suffered a morale-busting 2-1 defeat in their first game against hosts Sivutsa FC. On Wednesday morning, however, going into their second match, Hungry Lions capitalised on the 11am start and took the lead in their semi-final against Bloemfontein’s Mangaung United. The Free State side eventually bounced back with an equaliser and both teams went to score one more goal to end the game at…

Mike Greenaway in Durban The balance of the British and Irish Lions squad that did not get an airing against Japan last week will spring into action against the local Lions in Saturdays’ long-awaited tour opener at Ellis Park in Johannesburg (5pm kick-off). Coach Warren Gatland is being true to his world that he will keep an open mind on the selection of the match-23 for the first Test and that all the tourists will get a crack at proving their worth before he nails down his Test side. However you view it, this is an incredibly strong side and it should be way too much for the locals, especially given that each player has everything to play for in the fight for Test places. Next week, the Lions play…

Sandi Kwon Hoo chief repoter THE DA has questioned the actual funds sourced from the Covid-19 pandemic fund that would be diverted towards the R500 million that was set aside to fix the city’s service delivery challenges. DA constituency head at Sol Plaatje municipality Grantham Steenkamp said that according to the breakdown of where money was sourced for the project that was obtained through a Public Access to Information Act (Paia) application which said the R571 million allocated was made up from the Department of Roads and Public Works expanded public works (EPWP) programme and road infrastructure budget (R167 million), the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta’s) emergency housing grant (R71 million), its consolidated capital grant agreement (R144 million), its Human Settlements Development Grant…

Lance Fredericks I SIMPLY have to follow up on two columns I wrote two and three weeks ago. Back then I mentioned that a friend told me how his stress was relieved when he took to the road on his bicycle. I checked a few websites trying to see what a bike would cost, took a casual look, closed the web pages and carried on with my work. However, after that everywhere I looked, every web page or social media link I followed had a bicycle advert flashing and winking at me – there was nowhere I could hide. Eventually the algorithm made me believe I ‘needed’ a bike so I bought one. I thought that would be the end of it, but guess what … two days after purchasing…

Stuart Hess in Johannesburg Outside of the team bubble, there may be questions about the Proteas’ batting and how they can get more out of themselves, but within the group, there’s an awareness that building confidence is just as important. South Africa’s T20 record since Mark Boucher (pictured) became head coach is dreadful. Of the 16 matches played before the series in the Caribbean, they’d won just four, and lost every series. A change in captaincy earlier this year didn’t bring immediate success, because that captain, Temba Bavuma, was out injured against Pakistan. In fact a number of the top players were missing as South Africa lost a home series 1-3 to a resurgent Pakistan team, with Babar Azam starring. The West Indies with all their depth, power and experience…