Table of contents for 2025-01-31 in DFA News

THREE of the accused who were convicted for the robbery and murder of prominent Kimberley businessman Piet Els, 86, have a string of previous convictions. The accused - Morapedi Rankali, Montlalentwa Qhautse, Lizbeth Ndlala, Themba Lawrence Maja, Oupa Jeffrey Mahomane, Samson Mbokane and Jabulani Zuma – were found guilty of various charges in the Northern Cape High Court this week. Qhautse, Ndlala, Maja, Mahomane, Mbokane and Zuma were found guilty of robbery with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Qhautse and Mahomane were also convicted of murder and sexual assault. Rankali, who was found guilty of theft, was the only accused permitted to remain on bail pending sentencing procedures. During the incident at Carters Ridge Farm on the Schmidtsdrift road, Els and his partner were brutally assaulted and…

A LITTLE while ago, I found myself in the fair Far East again at the post office in Mui Wo, a village near Hong Kong. The young man serving me from behind the counter went about his task in a businesslike fashion, that is until a colleague interrupted him. I assumed that she asked him to explain something to her, but my Chinese is terrible … seeing as there can be over 3,500 characters in the ‘alphabet’, and up to this point, I have learned zero! Before he turned to answer her, he looked at me and humbly said, “Sorry, sorry …” I was struck by this apology, here’s why: I was a foreigner and someone who, unlike him, didn’t have a heritage spanning thousands of years, yet he treated…

THE LOVE for running is one thing, but running for love is something truly special. So, local runners, get ready to lace up your running shoes and spread the love this February when the Kimberley Harriers Running Club hosts their Valentine’s Day four-kilometre Fun Run/Walk on Tuesday, February 11, in support of the Kimberley SPCA. This family-friendly event is an excellent opportunity for the community – not only runners – to come together, get active, and make a meaningful contribution to a truly worthy cause. The event kicks off at 5.30pm at Diamantveld High School in the city, and organisers are hoping for a good turnout. Participants of all ages and fitness levels are welcome to join the fun, whether they prefer to run or take a leisurely walk. To…

THE KIMBERLEY Sub-Districts Singles 2025 event, held over the past two weekends, proved to be a thrilling spectacle, packed with intense competition, surprise upsets, and top-tier performances from both seasoned players and rising stars. In the men’s competition, CP Mathewson emerged as the 2025 champion after a series of intense matchups,where he outplayed a tough field of competitors. Mathewson’s title was well-earned after navigating through the sectional play and the play-off rounds. Lappies Labuschagne, a formidable opponent throughout the tournament, claimed the runner-up spot after an impressive campaign pushing Mathewson to his limits in the final. Shaun Campher finished strongly in the battle for third place with consistent and precise bowling. Meanwhile, Driaan van Niekerk, who demonstrated excellent technique and strategy, claimed the fourth-place finish, and Freddy du Plessis rounded…

A KIMBERLEY parent is outraged at the Northern Cape Department of Education after her daughter did not receive her National Senior Certificate (NSC) in time to secure a place at university. According to the parent, her daughter enrolled to rewrite some of her Grade 12 subjects to improve her chances of being accepted into university. She said her child wrote her final exams at Vuyolwethu Secondary School in Galeshewe but was told that her results were not at the school when the final results were released. “My child wanted to improve her marks, so she decided to redo her Grade 12. The entire process proceeded smoothly, but the problems started when the results were released. She went to Vuyolwethu to collect her results, but was told they were at Perseverance…

A huge round of applause and congratulations are in order for Tailynne Tricam, an up and coming, rising star from Kimberley’s Rhythmia Gymnastics Club, who is currently doing her Grade 7 schooling at West End Primary School. The Rhythmia Gymnastics Club keeps churning out champions, and Tailynne’s dazzling gymnastic routines and unwavering determination led her to triumph at the Region 5 competition held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from December 8 to 13. Representing Gymnastics South Africa, Tailynne not only shone individually, securing a fantastic second place for her clubs routine and third place for her ribbon routine, but also clinched third place overall in the Junior Category. As if that wasn't enough, Tailynne and her teammates brought home the gold overall for SA– a truly spectacular achievement! Under the guidance of…

THE SUZUKI Griquas are going to have an extra quiver in their bow this season simply due to the fact that the ‘gees’ on the spirit of cheerleading shone brightly in Kimberley this past weekend as the Griqua Diamonds held their highly anticipated tryouts. The Saturday morning event saw a turnout of young athletes eager to put their skills on display, as well as their passion and teamwork in hopes of securing a coveted spot in the squad. The air buzzed with excitement as participants, varying in age and experience, demonstrated their tumbling, jumps, dance abilities, and coordination. Every routine brought cheers from supportive friends, creating an atmosphere of thrills on and beside the field. From early on it was clear that the judging panel had a tough task ahead…

THE SOUTH African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) and the Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysunie/South African Teachers Union (SAOU) in the Northern Cape embarked on a “work-to-rule” arrangement this week, where educators are only working the prescribed seven hours per day. Teachers stated that they were normally expected to work over weekends, as well as on school and public holidays, without any additional compensation. The School Governing Body Forum said it had handed over a memorandum to the Office of the Premier on Thursday in response to the “shambolic” state of education in the Frances Baard District. The labour unions stated that teachers would refuse to work any overtime, including offering extra-mural activities, marking papers, or class preparation, until their grievances were addressed. Sadtu members held pickets at the provincial office of the Department…

Jaco Dames has been appointed as the general manager of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union (BBRU). This marks a new chapter for the seasoned coach, who transitions from his role as head coach at Diamantveld High School to an administrative position with one of South Africa’s most prestigious rugby unions. Dames’ journey is a testament to his dedication to the sport. His contributions to amateur rugby as a coach, manager, and administrator have earned him high praise. “He brings with him a lot of expertise and experience as a coach, manager, and administrator,” said Willem Strauss, president of the BBRU. “I don’t doubt that he will add value to the BBRU brand, values, and standards.” Strauss highlighted Dames’ understanding of the challenges facing amateur rugby and his appreciation of the…

SA Cup 2025 THE SUZUKI Griquas sizzled during last year’s SA Cup, going through the competition unbeaten on their way to eventually snagging the title. But the Kimberley team will have to turn up the heat even more in 2025, due to the fact that the challenging teams have marked them as the team to beat. Speaking of heat, the team has been preparing for the competition in Kimberley’s unrelenting heatwave conditions over the past month. The searing temperatures have made things incredibly uncomfortable for players and coaches alike. Things will not be much cooler when the SA Cup competition starts on March 7, when the defending champions host the Leopards at Kimberley’s Suzuki Stadium in a match scheduled to kick off at 6.30pm. Mercifully though, the evening temperatures will…

ORLANDO Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are set to lock horns for the first time this season in a highly-anticipated Betway Premiership encounter at the FNB Stadium tomorrow. The giants of South African football are in mixed form, with both teams winning three and losing two of their last five league matches. However, the Sea Robbers have been the more consistent team and are second on the log table, behind Mamelodi Sundowns with 27 points after their 11 matches. Chiefs on the other hand are starting to pick up the pace after a slow start to the season. They are in fifth place with 21 points from 14 matches and looking to climb the table. Amakhosi's assistant coach, Khalil Ben Youssef, has expressed confidence in his team's ability to secure three…