Table of contents for 2022-07-01 in DFA News

WHO WOULD have thought that a little boy from Roodepan in Kimberley would one day preside in court and be responsible for swinging the gavel? Well, that is exactly what happened to Bartholomew Ford. Ford was born and raised in Kimberley where he grew up in Pescodia, also affectionately called Roodepan by residents. He completed his schooling at Homevale Secondary School in the late 1980s and went on to commence his tertiary education at the University of the Western Cape, where he obtained a BA.HDE degree and qualified as a teacher. After a short teaching stint at Pescodia High School, Ford relocated to Johannesburg in the early 1990s where he took up employment in a wide range of corporate and non-profit organisations. It was during this period that Ford took…

FORMER councillor Phoebe Loffe, who runs a cleaning project in the city, has requested assistance for more cleaning projects so that she can provide more employment opportunities for youths in the city. She stated that she provided training and sourced funding for the provision of tools and uniforms while the workers received stipends. “We clean all areas including streets, parks and churchyards. Young people are committing suicide because they are desperate and are unable to find employment. The more cleaning projects we get, the more people I can employ. “There is a big need to keep the city clean and tidy. I employ 20 workers and have volunteers who are also involved in the project.” Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thoko Riet said Loffe was a registered non-profit organisation with a…

RECENTLY two videos have emerged and gone viral on the social media platform TikTok, showing drivers using a fuel pill that they say helps in saving petrol. With another petrol price hike on the cards, it is understandable that motorists have been looking for other ways to save on petrol. In one of the videos, you see a woman filling up her car at a petrol station when she explains that using this “petrol pill” will help with fuel consumption and boost performance. But is this a new invention? The fuel-saving pill entered the local market by a company called Fuel Freedom International (FFI) in the United States in 2005. According to the company, the tablet was safe to use in car engines and FFI had public liability insurance worth…

WORLD Cup places will be up for grabs at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Morocco tomorrow, with the top four finishers guaranteed a spot at the 2023 finals in Australia and New Zealand. Africa previously had three places at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, but with the field for the 2023 tournament expanded to 32 teams, there are now four automatic berths for the continent and the chance of two more places via a proposed 10-team play-off tournament. The four semi-finalists at Awcon will qualify for the World Cup and there will be play-off matches to determine places five and six, with those two teams taking part in the World Cup qualifying play-off tournament. The African championship, being hosted in Casablanca and Rabat,…

While 37-year-old Isner strode closer to Ivo Karlovic’s aces record of 13,728 on the ATP Tour, Murray made his earliest exit despite battling back from the brink by winning a third set tie-break. Murray had never previously lost to the American in eight meetings and cheers of ‘Let's go Andy, let’s go’ echoed around Centre Court before the roof came out and the hope faded along with the evening light. “I am most definitely not a better tennis player than Andy Murray, I might have just been a little better than him today,” said the 20th seed after the Scot had left the cheering court, waving as he went. “It was an incredible honour to play him on this court in front of this crowd. At the age I’m at…

THE PROCESS on how to share and upload information on Wikipedia will be conveyed during a workshop at the Kimberley Public Library today. The workshop is being organised by the Wikimedia South Africa Foundation and the Kimberley Book Club, a non-profit organisation (NPO) for readers in the city. The Director for WikiMedia SA, Bobby Shabangu, said the initiative is to convey free knowledge and also increase content on small towns, cities and cities in Africa. “We have hosted edit workshops around the country where we taught people how to edit and add information on Wikipedia. There is so much knowledge and content on the African continent but there is not sufficient information about the continent on Wikipedia. Many people read Wikipedia but do not contribute to the content of what…

WHILE the residents of Soul City and Club 2000 in Galeshewe blame the Sol Plaatje Municipality for failure to find a permanent solution to raw sewage running down their streets, the municipality has accused them of vandalism. The streets of Club 2000 have become a nightmare and residents are concerned about a possible health crisis. The pump station at the corner of Tebogo Kock and Forest View streets is not functioning most of the time. Raw sewage boils out of manholes in Soul City and is running through most of the streets in Club 2000, creating sewage pools. The sewage flows until Noka Street and then into the main water canal in Absolom Street. Although the pump station was fixed recently, the sewage has not dried up and continues to…

SEVERAL Kimberley residents have gone onto Facebook and complained about a large and dangerous pothole in Phakamile Mabija Road. The pothole is partially filled with water and any motorists who are not aware of the pothole will most definitely drive through it, causing substantial damage to their vehicles. One resident said that the pothole almost caused an accident involving a driver busy with her learner’s licence. He stated that another vehicle swerved out for the pothole, narrowly missing her while she was busy with her licence test. One of the business owners on the corner where the pothole is situated, stated that several vehicles have been damaged already. “I see motorists driving through that hole on a daily basis and their vehicles are badly damaged . . . this due…

WITH only two backline players and six forwards on the bench for the Springboks in the first Test against Wales at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow at 5.05pm, Kwagga Smith says he will wing it if necessary. Veteran Willie le Roux, who covers flyhalf, fullback and wing and scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies are the only backline players on the bench for the clash. With starting fullback Damian Willemse also covering the midfield, the Boks should have cover in all positions. But in a pinch, Smith is reg for coach Jacques Nienaber to druk op his nommer. With Nienaber hinting earlier in the week that Smith could be a last resort on the wing, the former Blitzbok will embrace the challenge if the call comes. He explains: “I played a lot of Sevens tournaments…

THE BILL that is being footed by the Northern Cape Department of Health for the legal fees of the former HOD of the department, Dr Dion Theys, amounts to around R1 million so far. The Specialised Commercial Crimes Court dismissed an application to discharge Theys of the charges relating to three leases that were concluded for nurses’ accommodation at the JP Hugo hostels amounting to R96 million. During a press briefing last week, the MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, said that the total amount of the legal fees would depend on how long it would take for the matter to be finalised. “There is no allocated budget for court cases at the department. We do have money set aside for such matters. We also do not know who might sue…

THE DISTRIBUTION of 10 toilets in Samaria settlement this week has been branded a “political stunt” to win votes in the upcoming by-election that will take place in Ward 21. The ward will be up for grabs after the DA ward councillor, Morné McDillon, resigned. DA provincial leader Harold McGluwa said they became aware that McDillion was found guilty of a criminal offence on April 24. “The party verified the information and informed McDillon that his membership had ceased in terms of the party’s federal constitution. He was afforded an opportunity to re-apply for membership of the party but did not do so,” said McGluwa. He added that the DA would contest Ward 21 in the by-election. “We will announce our candidate in due course.” EFF councillor Pontsho Mocwana said…

PATIENTS at the casualty section at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley have to lie on the floor due to a shortage of beds. Patients indicated that they were informed that this was due to an influx of patients. The stretchers from the ambulances were used to assist patients to alleviate the problem this week. However, this meant that there was only one ambulance available to collect patients in Kimberley and surrounding areas and one ambulance to provide services in the Ritchie area. The wheelchairs have also been taken out of the ambulances to be used inside the hospital. Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson Lulu Mxekezo confirmed that Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital had been inundated with patients who needed tertiary health-care services. “This is as a result of primary…

Wales coach Wayne Pivac has picked a brand new openside flank in Tommy Reffell for tomorrowy’s first Test against the Springboks in Pretoria, while British and Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones will play off the bench. Reffell has been on Pivac’s radar for some time after captaining Wales at Under-18 and Under-20 levels and now he gets his first opportunity on the senior international stage. Back in the team is veteran Dan Lydiate, who starts at blind-side flanker, his first international appearance since the match against Ireland in the 2021 Six Nations. Taulupe Faletau (No.8) completes the back row. George North also features for the first time since 2021, his last outing for Wales being the fixture against France in the final round of that Championship. He pairs up…

ONE YEAR on from a painful crash, Max Verstappen returns to Silverstone as clear favourite to register his first British Grand Prix win and increase his lead in the title race. The 24-year-old Dutchman and his Red Bull team are on the crest of a wave after six consecutive victories; one from teammate Sergio Perez in Monaco and the rest by the world champion. But he may be wary of home hero and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton mounting more of a challenge at the open and high-speed track in central England. After 10 races without a win, the 37-year-old Mercedes driver is seeking to avoid the longest winless sequence in his Formula One career. Despite the shortcomings of his capricious bouncing Mercedes, Hamilton finished third in Canada two weekends ago.…

THE FREE State XV Under-16 side brought down the curtain on a thrilling Grant Khomo Week, beating the Sharks 37-18 in the final match of the tournament played at Kimberley’s Windhoek Draught Park on Wednesday. The Free State youngsters had taken the match by the scruff of the neck early on in the first quarter with a 15-6 lead and from that point never looked back. By the time the half-time break came around Free State had established a commanding nine-point lead. Free State returned to the park after the break and set about relentlessly rushing the Sharks chalk line, edging ahead with a penalty kick. Free State XV scrumhalf Phillip McLaren added another try to his side’s tally but the try was not converted. However, three of his teammates…