Table of contents for 2021-05-07 in DFA News

Benida Phillips staff reporter A SHANTY owner in Scandal, Galeshewe, was lucky that he wasn’t at home when a car crashed into his shanty yesterday. The man is, however, devastated as many of his belongings were destroyed in the incident, while his shanty is also severely damaged. According to eyewitnesses, the driver of a silver Hyundai i30 apparently suffered an epileptic attack while driving and the car slammed into the shanty after he veered off the road. Residents in the area gathered around the shanty after the accident. The silver vehicle was “parked” in the middle of the shanty, which was badly “torn apart”. A bed, as well as some bedding, had been pushed out of the back of the shanty during the collision and a kitchen cupboard was…

staff writer BILL GATES has transferred $1.8-billion in stocks to his estranged wife Melinda Gates. The couple announced on Monday they are to divorce, and it has now been revealed the Microsoft co-founder gave Melinda shares in two companies on the same day. According to documents obtained by TMZ, Bill – who has an estimated net worth of more than $124-billion – transferred more than 14 million shares of Canadian National Railway Co., worth around $1.53-billion, and more than 2.9 million shares of AutoNation, worth around $310-million, via his investment firm, Cascade Investment. The pair – who have three children together, 21-year-old son Rory, and daughters Jennifer, 25, and Phoebe, 18 – announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage in a joint statement. It read: "After a great deal…

Zelda Venter Staff Writer THE GAUTENG High Court, Pretoria, is hearing arguments to review the 2018 Mining Charter, which several affected communities feel was developed without meaningfully engaging with them. The Centre for Applied Legal Studies and Lawyers for Human Rights are representing some of the communities. Several trade unions have also joined the fray. The review application was brought by the Minerals Council of South Africa (the former Chamber of Mines), against the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy. The National Union of Mineworkers has joined the proceedings as a friend of the court. The applicants and interested parties want a new Mining Charter that all stakeholders can support. Lawyers for Human Rights represents the communities of Bakgatla Ba Sefikile and Babina Phuthi Ba Ga-Makola, two large mining host…

Benida Phillips staff reporter THE UPINGTON Regional Court handed down a 20-year prison sentence to a man, Velile Swartz, who was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman. Upington police spokesperson Sergeant Omphile Masegela said the incident occurred in 2017. “On January 10, 2017, at about 10pm, the 18-year-old woman was on her way home from the squatter camp when she was attacked by Swartz. He pulled a knife on the victim and threatened her, and then dragged her to the nearby school premises where he raped her,” said Masegela. “Swartz was sentenced on Monday, May 3, 2021.” Masegela added that the investigating officer was commended for the arrest and for his part in securing the conviction and sentence. “The police management in the ZF Mgcawu District commended Captain Koos van…

Benida Phillips Staff Reporter THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Health has urged members of the public to contact law enforcement agencies and the department should they have any knowledge of persons soliciting payment for “bogus” employment at the department. Department spokesperson Lulu Mxekezo said yesterday that they have noticed fake employment advertisements on social media and individuals demanding cash in return for job interviews. “The department has noted with disappointment and dismay the fake employment advertisements that are circulating on social media platforms. The department is appealing to members of the public to come forward with the sources of such information so that law enforcement agencies can deal with such,” said Mxekezo. “It is even more sad as some individuals are even demanding cash from potential employees to pay for…

Mike Greenaway The Sharks have enjoyed the luxury of naming an unchanged side to play the Lions at Jonsson Kings Park tomorrow (4pm, kick-off), and coach Sean Everitt has restricted himself to tinkering a little on the bench. That means there were no serious injuries from the Durban team's away win over the Stormers in last week’s opening round of Rainbow Cup SA, and that there has also been no recovery from injury for the likes of first-choice players in Dylan Richardson (hooker/flank), centre Marius Louw and hooker Dan Jooste. Everitt has, however, made some interesting changes on the bench. At scrumhalf, he has brought in Jaden Hendrikse for Sanele Nohamba, while keeping Grant Williams in the starting 15. Hendrikse, the current Junior Bok scrumhalf, had been injured but now…

Mihlali Baleka and Herman Gibbs Hugo Broos was named as the new Bafana coach on Wednesday. Have the SA bosses made the right call? YES, says Mihlali Baleka The appointment of Hugo Broos as new Bafana Bafana coach was definitely a spot-on decision by the South African Football Association! Despite Broos spending the last three years in his native Belgium, where he held the role of Sporting Director at Jupiler Pro League side KV Oostende, his knowledge of African, international and inter-club football is vast. After all, he inspired the Cameroonian national team – the Indomitable Lions – to the Africa Cup of Nations crown four years ago by defeating the mighty Egypt in the final in Libreville, Gabon. Before his tenure in Cameroon, Broos coached club football in Algeria,…

Boipelo Mere staff reporter COMMUNITY members from Galeshewe protested peacefully in front of the local magistrate’s court yesterday to oppose bail for two 31-year-old accused who are facing charges related to gender-based violence (GBV). The residents, who are from Ward 18 and Ward 13, do not want the accused to be allowed back into the community as they fear for the safety of women in the community due to the nature of the charges that the accused are facing. One of the accused (Number One) appeared in court on charges of assault and attempted murder, while the other 31-year-old accused faces a murder charge in an unrelated case. Accused Number One’s bail appearance had previously been postponed from April 23, following his arrest on April 21 in connection with the…

Siyabonga Mkhwanazi STAFF WRITER PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has hit back at DA leader John Steenhuisen, who accused him of being caught up in ANC factional battles, while the country was facing challenges. Ramaphosa told Steenhuisen that what happens in the ANC was none of his business, as the DA was also having its own factional battles. He said the ANC never speaks out when the DA is involved in factional fights. “You were involved in your own factional battles in the DA and we said nothing. What is happening in the ANC is not your business, it is ANC business,” said Ramaphosa. This comes after the ANC suspended its secretary general Ace Magashule on Wednesday, after he refused to step aside. Magashule attempted to fight back on Wednesday night, claiming…

Siyavuya Mzantsi staff writer THE RISK of a new wave of infections in Africa remains high, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned after Africa-bound Covid-19 vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India were delayed for the foreseeable future, while new virus variants are making inroads. The organisation said delays and shortages of vaccine supplies were driving African countries to slip further behind the rest of the world in the vaccine roll-out. The continent now accounts for only 1% of the vaccines administered worldwide, down from 2% a few weeks ago. New variants also place Africa at risk of a third wave, said WHO. The B.1.617 variant, first found in India, has been reported in at least one African country. The B1.351 strain, first found in South Africa last…

Boipelo Mere staff reporter THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Education is investigating allegations regarding a lack of transparency around increasing Covid-19 cases among teachers at a Kimberley high school and the alleged failure to close the school for decontamination. This follows concerns that six teachers at the school have tested positive for Covid-19 since it reopened for the start of the second term this week. According to complaints received, one of the teachers, who rotates classes on a daily basis, was rushed to hospital after experiencing shortness of breath on Wednesday morning. It is also believed that an administrator was sent home after her sister tested positive for the coronavirus. Three pupils were meanwhile also apparently sent home due to being “suspected Covid cases”. Several teachers have raised concerns that…

Ashfak Mohamed Springbok stalwart Duane Vermeulen has recovered from a knee injury and will captain the Bulls against his former team, the Stormers, in tomorrow’s Rainbow Cup SA clash at the Cape Town Stadium (6.15pm kickoff). The 34-year-old No 8 had a “cleaning out” procedure to the knee after the Currie Cup, and missed the Preparation Series as a result. Bulls boss Jake White was cautious with the rehabilitation programme, and allowed Vermeulen to spend time at home in Cape Town as well. The Bok star also worked with national team physiotherapist René Naylor as well, and now he is ready to go again. “Things are going well with his knee now, and he is back and hoping to make an impact. He is obviously trying to work his way…

AFP BARCELONA - The Formula One circus pitches up in Barcelona this weekend for the Spanish Grand Prix with Red Bull's tantalising tilt at prising the spotlight away from showstoppers Mercedes topping the bill. Three races in and against pre-season predictions it is Lewis Hamilton who leads Max Verstappen by eight points arriving at the fourth leg of the championship. Wins last Sunday in Portugal and in the opener in Bahrain leave the seven-time champion in his customary habitat at the top of the F1 drivers' tree. Barcelona is a track the teams know intimately as the usual venue for pre-season testing, and with its reputation as a circuit where overtaking opportunities are few and far between the onus will be on Saturday's qualifying to command a prime front row…

Reuters Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said their Champions League final opponents Manchester City are the "benchmark" in Europe, but his team will head to the title clash in Istanbul equipped with the confidence that they can beat Pep Guardiola's side. Goals by Timo Werner and Mason Mount sent Chelsea into the title clash with City as they outclassed 13-times champions Real Madrid 2-0 in the semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday for a 3-1 aggregate triumph. Chelsea knocked City out of the FA Cup semi-final with a 1-0 win earlier in the season but Tuchel said that performance does not necessarily give his team the upper hand heading into the Champions League final. "But it gives us a good feeling, the confidence that we played that semi-final on…

Sisonke Mlamla STAFF WRITER GUN CRIME specialists in South Africa said illegal guns are they main culprits of gun violence in the country. They were part of nearly 500 participants from 100 countries that gathered virtually for the 5th Interpol Firearm Forensics Symposium to focus on preventive crime and gun strategies. The three-day symposium which ended yesterday, had been organised in co-operation with Ultra Electronics Forensic Technology, with ballistic experts, forensic scientists, law enforcement professionals, policy makers and public safety officials addressing the latest challenges facing law enforcement in firearm-related crime. Interpol’s director of Operational Support and Analysis, Cyril Gout said each firearm, each cartridge case and each bullet could become the precious asset that generated investigative leads in cases that would otherwise go undetected. Through interactive sessions, participants explored…

Siyabonga Mkhwanazi staff writer PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa says the National Coronavirus Command Council will meet soon to discuss whether to impose a travel ban on people coming from India. This followed a second wave in that country that has cost thousands of lives. Ramaphosa, who was responding to questions from MPs, said they were looking at the issue of the travel ban, but it must be informed by science. This was after IFP MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa had put the question to him. Ramaphosa said the matter was being attended to. “The variant that is experienced in India is most worrying because it is engulfing the entire country. We are watching that and we are not only watching this we are taking steps. The NCCC was meant to meet on Wednesday,…

Piet Mahasha Rampedi and Baldwin Ndaba DEFIANT ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has rejected his temporary axing by the ANC, saying the move is unconstitutional, factional and flawed because the suspension letter was signed by his deputy Jessie Duarte who had no powers to do so. Magashule said on Wednesday night he had since suspended President Cyril Ramaphosa as ANC leader in terms of resolution 8.2 of the party’s 54th national conference held at Nasrec in 2017. He urged ANC members not to “bow” to illegal and unconstitutional actions. Magashule’s rejection of the decision of the ANC’s national working committee (NWC), the party’s operational arm, is likely to deepen tensions and trigger a political crisis in the governing party. Insisting that he was issuing the statement “in my capacity as secretary-general…

Benida Phillips Staff reporter THE SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) has assured Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant beneficiaries who have been approved but have not yet received payment prior to the deadline, that they will still receive the money owed to them. Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said that payment to approved recipients will be done as soon as possible. “Sassa has noticed that some unpaid but approved applicants are panicking and as a result tend to gather at post offices requesting payment. All such applicants of the special Covid-19 SRD grant, who have been approved but not yet paid, can rest assured that they will be paid as soon as possible,” said Letsatsi. “The agency confirms that payment will be made for all approved grants as soon as…

Herman Gibbs Just hours after Hugo Broos (pictured) was appointed the head coach of Bafana Bafana, the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) announced that the CAF qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 have been moved out from June to September 2021. This postponement of fixtures will come as a welcome break for the Belgian-born Broos who would have had three weeks to prepare for the upcoming qualifier against Zimbabwe at the start of June. He will now have three months to prepare for his debut. Broos will arrive in South Africa next week and will start official duties. In a short media address on Wednesday, he said: “First of all, we will try to qualify for the 2022 World Cup." The statement from CAF yesterday read: “The CAF…

Morgan Bolton JOHANNESBURG – A handful of injuries has forced Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen to make a couple of changes for the team's clash against the Sharks tomorrow in Durban (kick-off 4pm) in Round 2 of the Rainbow Cup South Africa. Wing Stean Pienaar will not play in the match due to pulling a hamstring during training on Thursday, but his i njury will pave the way for the exciting Rabz Maxwane. The former Cheetahs player was the 2019 ProRugby top try scorer, and has oodles of pace to burn. Together with Springbok Courtnall Skosan, the two outbacks will make up a breathless combination, although the Lions might miss the compact power of Pienaar. As expected, EW Viljoen will continue as fullback after the long-term injury to Tiaan Swanepoel…

Neville Motlhabakwe THIS weekend will mark the first time that almost all divisions of the South African Football Association (Safa) affiliates will be in action in the Northern Cape since the onset of Covid-19. The Sol Plaatje Local Football Association (SPLFA) kicked off a month ago at three venues in Kimberley. LFA chairperson, Seabata Makhele, at the time, announced that the association had endorsed Galeshewe’s artificial turf, the West End Club and the Kutlwanong stadium to host games under the Covid regulations. LFA treasurer, Cecil Thebe, confirmed that clubs will see action at all three venues tomorrow. This weekend the provincial ABC Motsepe League enters its tenth week of the first leg season games. Safa provincial secretary, Willem Coetzee, confirmed that fourteen matches will be played tomorrow, Sunday and on…