DFA Newsの 2026-01-23 の目次

AN INFORMAL business in Colville is allegedly selling “repurposed” headstones that were stolen from cemeteries across Kimberley. Local community crime-fighting organisation Operation Fiela inspected the business, operating from a shack, this week and questioned the owner, who allegedly admitted to removing inscriptions from the headstones using a grinder. He told Operation Fiela that he had been operating the business, which is not registered under any official name, since last year. Operation Fiela chairperson Thabiso Louw said they inspected the premises in Colville after receiving a tip-off. “We received various reports about graves that were vandalised, including at the ABC Cemetery, West End Cemetery and Phutanang Cemetery. Upon finding a number of headstones inside the shack, we reported the matter to the police. The business owner requested to meet with us…

A SOFT-spoken pensioner from Colesberg, Northern Cape, has become a multimillionaire overnight after scooping the R65 million Lotto jackpot – her winning ticket tucked away under her bed for a nerve-wracking few days. The ecstatic winner, who opted to remain anonymous, revealed she was playing her usual Lotto and PowerBall Quick Pick combo at her local outlet when luck struck on December 31, 2025 (draw 2607). “I cried and prayed … it took time to sink in,” she said, her voice still trembling with emotion. The first person she shared the news with? Her husband. “He was as shocked as I was!” she laughed. A visit to Ithuba’s offices sealed the deal, easing her into her new reality. A lifelong gardener with a passion for the land, the grandmother’s long-held…

WAIT a minute … wasn’t it the Festive Season just a day or two ago? Are you seriously trying to tell me that we’re almost at the end of January already? With the back-to-school rush behind us and the charge towards Valentine’s Day already gathering momentum, it may be too late to speak about resolutions. Not that I was ever really one for resolutions anyway. But as 2026 settles in over Kimberley, many of us, I suspect, arrive at this point carrying two things at once: hope that life can improve, and fatigue from fighting the same old battles for far too long. It’s easy to begin January with a list of what is wrong – what the municipality hasn’t done, what the government should have fixed, what irresponsible people…

THERE are moments in a rugby season when a crowd senses something shifting. A carry bends the defensive line. A tackle halts momentum. A try arrives not just on time, but exactly when belief is needed most. In 2025, those moments came to define Mnombo Zwelendaba’s rise at the Suzuki Griquas. He did not arrive in Kimberley with the fanfare of a marquee signing. Instead, he grew into the role, match by match, until his presence in the midfield became impossible to ignore. By the time the Currie Cup reached its climax, Zwelendaba was central to the Griquas’ identity, and instrumental in delivering the franchise’s first Currie Cup title in 55 years. Born on 21 February 2000, Zwelendaba’s rugby foundation was laid at Selborne College, where his natural strength, defensive…

THE VALSPAN Communal Interest Group embarked on a peaceful march to call for an end to alleged ghost and bogus projects that are being used to “milk” the finances of Phokwane Municipality. It was alleged that there was a “web of maladministration” where funds were diverted and officials were awarding tenders to their associates in order to enrich themselves. March convener Elliot Sebuzo said a failed R200,000 toilet project at the Jan Kempdorp graveyard produced a half-built structure without any ablution facilities. “A well-known contractor from Pampierstad, who was awarded a R1.7 million tender to upgrade the sewage plant in Felu, in Jan Kempdorp, was paid to remove sewage blockages. Equipment and resources needed to do the job were apparently supplied by Phokwane Municipality,” Sebuzo said. He believed the Ganspan…

The Messelaar family, together with the Griqua Royal House, recently celebrated the 106th birthday of Ma Griet Messelaar, born on January 1, 1920. She is the last surviving sibling and the second eldest of seven children born to Paul and Betty Visser. Ma Griet married Isak Babetjie Messelaar from Campbell in 1950 and has since built a remarkable family: nine children, 21 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. Captain Aaron Messelaar, senior member of the Griqua Royal House and author of several Griqua cultural books, highlighted his mother’s influence on his life. “She raised me according to the culture and customs of the Griqua people,” he said. “Apart from being a mother and matriarch, Ma Griet was a master seamstress. Sewing was more than a skill – it was her…

ORAPETSE Sehako, better known as Ntwana Ya Kasi, has built a story of survival, faith, and determination that reaches far beyond music. Today, he is releasing albums, running a clothing brand, and preparing for his second eye surgery — yet his journey began in the township of Pampierstad, where life forced him to grow up fast. “Being born in different locations has shaped me into something strong,” he says. “Growing up in the township is the hardest thing ever. You are forced to become a man at a very young age.” The move from his birth village, Thota Ya Tau in the North West, to Pampierstad in the early 1990s exposed him to the harsh realities of township life. “You are surrounded by fast life, danger, and bad influences,” he…

RUGBY careers do not always announce themselves with noise. Some are quietly shaped by routine, restraint, and being ready when the moment finally arrives. In 2025, Thomas Nel’s emergence at the Suzuki Griquas followed exactly that path. Not long before he pulled on the Peacock Blues jersey, Nel was still a student in Cape Town. His days were split between lectures and late afternoons on the training field at UCT, where he steadily grew into a trusted figure within the Ikey Tigers ranks. By the end of the year, he was a Currie Cup winner, having featured in three finals across three major competitions — a rare transition achieved in a single season. Raised in Johannesburg and educated at Michaelhouse, Nel’s rugby education was forged in an environment that demanded…

FORMER Patriotic Alliance (PA) ward candidate Fernando Visagie, 35, who is charged with the murder of his ex-partner and mother of his child, Cherolene Lawan, has abandoned his right to apply for bail in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court. Lawan, 35, was allegedly stabbed multiple times at her home in Homevale following an argument with the accused during the early hours of December 29. Kimberley Magistrate Benjamin September postponed the bail application on January 15 due to the absence of the investigating officer. The State opposed bail and indicated that Visagie was facing a Schedule 6 offence, in which an accused must prove exceptional circumstances to be released from custody. Visagie’s legal representative, Shan Davids, objected to the postponement, saying her client had been in custody for more than two weeks.…

AS THE newly crowned Miss Gay Face of Northern Cape, Danelle Vywers is already making waves in her community. The 29-year-old model, hairdresser, and designer from Douglas has hit the ground running, hosting a successful back-to-school hair drive that brought smiles to many young faces. However, Danelle’s impact extends beyond a single event – she’s on a mission to inspire others to be their authentic selves and promote acceptance and inclusivity. It’s no surprise, given her passionate response to the question of how she’d empower her LGBTQIA+ peers. “To empower the LGBTQIA+ community, as the Face of the Northern Cape, I will stand strong in my beliefs and promote self-love and acceptance,” she said. Danelle’s win was no fluke – she beat out four other talented contestants to take home…

THE OFFICE of the Namakwa Executive Mayor has called for a full-scale investigation into the accident that took place on the road between Soebatsfontein and Komaggas this week. Two pupils and the driver are receiving treatment at a medical facility in Springbok after a school bus overturned on January 19. The mayor, Mervin Cloete, said that they were “deeply shaken and heartbroken” to learn about the incident. “Reports of an unroadworthy bus and poor road conditions are extremely disturbing. The safety of our children is non-negotiable, and any form of negligence is unacceptable. Those entrusted with transporting our children have a sacred responsibility. No parent should fear for their child's safety,” he said. Cloete demanded full accountability and called for a thorough investigation into the incident. “Anyone found to have…

Let’s be clear, it takes a team effort to secure a trophy, and to that end, each Griqua player deserves a nod for their contributions during the 2025 season. But today, Danie van der Lith looks at just a handful of players that gave their team an extra boost during the recent Currie Cup campaign GRIQUAS Rugby has welcomed a proud moment as two of its standout performers, George Whitehead and Gurswin Wehr, have been nominated for the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year Award at the 2025 SA Rugby Awards. The SA Rugby Awards remain one of the most prestigious events on the local rugby calendar, honouring excellence across domestic and international competitions. Nominees are selected on performance, impact, and consistency over the course of the…