Table of contents for 2026-02-27 in DFA News

AS MEMBERS of the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and the Independent Municipal and Allied Workers Union (Imatu) embarked on mass action to force the absorption of the second phase of casual workers this week, a circular issued by Sol Plaatje Municipality warned that employees had embarked on an unprotected strike and would be subjected to the “no work, no pay” principle. It was pointed out that industrial action on February 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 23 and 24 had “significantly disrupted” essential services and negatively impacted communities in Kimberley. A total of 125 absorption letters were handed to casual workers on February 12. Labour unions are placing pressure on the municipality for the permanent employment of the remaining 372 casual workers. Council has yet to be informed where…

EMPLOYEES were escorted out of the Du Toitspan mine in Kimberley by private security after operations were abruptly halted this week, following Ekapa Resources and Ekapa Minerals’ decision to apply to court for liquidation. More than 1,000 workers are facing bleak futures after the Du Toitspan mine was officially closed on February 25. Employees were reportedly issued with pay slips but did not receive their February salaries. Workers indicated that after years of service and risking their lives underground, they were told to take their belongings and leave. Families still waiting Meanwhile, relatives said they had not received further updates regarding the retrieval of the five miners who remain unaccounted for 890 metres underground following the underground water flood and mud rush at the Du Toitspan Joint Shaft on February…

A community's heritage and sport under threat THE ONCE-PROUD AR Abass Stadium, long a cornerstone of sport and identity within Kimberley’s Coloured community, now stands overgrown with thorns, stripped by vandals and starved of maintenance funding. Where generations of rugby players once built their reputations, no competitive matches have been played for years. Established under the ownership of the Griqualand West Rugby Football Union in 1958, AR Abass served as a stronghold of non-racial rugby during a divided era in South African sport. Clubs such as Thistles and Universals forged proud traditions there, while Arabian College, Collegians and Perseverance College of Education regularly competed on its fields. William Pescod and Floors High staged Thursday derbies, with primary schools playing midweek fixtures. Today, the grounds are barely recognisable. “The priority was…

THE KIMBERLEY Action Group has opened a complaint at the Kimberley police station against Sol Plaatje Municipality executive officials over the alleged unauthorised use of public funds without council approval. It is understood that the legal costs associated with repeated appeals in the Northern Cape High Court against judgments permitting municipal manager Thapelo Matlala to return to office are estimated at approximately R4.8 million. This figure reportedly includes two personal cost orders granted against Speaker Dipuo Peters and executive mayor Martha Bartlett. Although Matlala’s suspension on January 8 was declared null and void by the court, he has not fully resumed his duties amid ongoing legal proceedings and related court processes. He was initially placed on precautionary suspension on September 16 last year, following an investigation into allegations of misconduct,…

IF YOU haven’t witnessed it first-hand, I don’t think you’d be able to even begin to imagine what a big deal Chinese New Year is in the Far East. In a recent DFA article, we learned that on this day, which happened about two weeks ago, people don't sweep or take out the trash, as it's believed to push good luck out of the house. They refuse to wash their hair, fearing it may wash away good fortune. Also, arguments are avoided, with the focus placed firmly on calmness and positive energy. Reading about it online, however, and witnessing it first-hand are worlds apart. The fire horse brought a broom This year, 2026, saw China usher in the Lunar Year of the Fire Horse, and the build-up to the celebrations…

BURSARY recipients have reportedly been blocked from accessing Sol Plaatje University and have been left “to starve” as their study fees have remained outstanding since last year. Patriotic Youth Alliance regional chairperson D’Artainian Lucas said 154 first-, second- and third-year students from across the Northern Cape could potentially lose out on their 2026 studies. “The students were supposed to receive sports bursaries in 2025, however, they were informed that they would be held personally responsible for the fees. They cannot register this year until the outstanding payments are settled. The students do not have access to R120,000 to pay the debts,” he said. He added that students’ access cards had been blocked and that they were not receiving meals as they had not received their allowances. “The students have been…

KIMBERLEY'S own Olympic skater, Boipelo Awuah, recently hosted the first 053 Fantasie Girls Skateboarding Workshop of the year at the Kimberley Skate Plaza, bringing together young girls for a day of empowerment, learning and fun. Although only 45 girls attended this session, the smaller number did little to dampen the energy at the skate park. The plaza buzzed with excitement as smiling faces reflected both joy and determination. For some, there was a hint of fear as they stepped onto a skateboard for the very first time, but supportive coaches were on hand every step of the way. The workshop focused on teaching beginners the basics, from how to stand and balance on the board to turning and positioning their feet correctly. Laughter echoed across the park as the girls…

RESIDENTS from Lerato Park, Roodepan, Kanana, Lethabo Park, Home Valley, Homelite, Jacksonville, Ward 2 and Ward 29 say they have been forced to turn to community crime-fighting groups to protect their neighbourhoods, citing what they describe as ongoing service delivery failures at the Roodepan police station. Frustrated community members recently marched to the Roodepan police station, where they handed over a memorandum giving the South African Police Service (SAPS) 14 days to respond to their grievances. Their demands include improved response times, the appointment of competent staff, and the removal or restructuring of the station’s management. According to the memorandum, a shortage of police vehicles has resulted in delayed responses – and in some cases, no response at all – to emergency call-outs. Residents claim that when crimes are reported,…

A WRITING workshop in Ritchie, facilitated by The Write to Rise, has empowered women, youth, and people with disabilities in this small Northern Cape town to share their stories and speak out against social issues. The workshop, funded by the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PESP 6) through the National Arts Council, aimed to help participants see the value in their life stories and use writing as a tool to address serious social issues. "We gathered to show that everyone's memory is like a book that deserves to be read. By teaching how to structure a story and use descriptive details, we give people the tools to speak out against social problems like gender-based violence and unfairness through their writing," said Godwin Taweni, project facilitator and published author. Over the course of…

A SAPS member attached to the Delportshoop police station is facing an internal disciplinary hearing after he was arrested for allegedly stealing a cellphone valued at about R25,000 from an accident scene on the R31. The Samsung S25+ cellphone belonged to Jacob Cloete, who was declared dead at the scene following a motor vehicle accident near Longlands on January 25. It is alleged that Constable Macdonald Mosekimang Mampe attended to the culpable homicide case and was later seen using a cellphone matching the description of the missing device. He was detained at the Barkly West police cells after he was unable to explain how he came into possession of the cellphone. SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers confirmed that a constable attached to the Delportshoop police station was arrested…

TWO OF the Northern Cape’s strongest athletes delivered commanding performances at the South African Bench Press Championships held in Gqeberha on 21 February, proudly flying the provincial flag as its only representatives. Ricardo Fitzpatrick and Tommie de Nysshen competed in the highly competitive 83kg division, and both walked away with gold medals in their respective age categories, underlining the strength of powerlifting talent emerging from the province. Fitzpatrick dominated the Master 1 category, securing gold in both the classic and equipped bench press events. He lifted 145kg in the classic division and an impressive 180kg in the equipped competition, once again affirming his status among the country’s elite bench press athletes. De Nysshen matched the momentum in the Master 3 division, claiming gold with a 135kg lift in the classic…