Table of contents for 2023-11-03 in DFA News

THE OCCUPANTS of RDP houses in Warrenvale are living in fear that they will be buried under the rubble of their own homes that are on the verge of collapsing. The residents said the 54 houses, known as the “vaalblok huise”, were allocated to them about 24 years ago. They claimed that the houses were “imposed on them” after they were rejected in Postmasburg. The residents said they were told that if they didn’t agree to he houses, they would never get a house. They said the houses started developing “serious cracks” five years later, but no one expected the situation to get as “extreme” as it is today, with the houses on the verge of collapse. They explained that they tried to minimise the damage by plastering the walls…

FILMMAKERS in the Northern Cape will showcase their skills and talents in how they put their big-screen productions together during the Mbawula Youth Film Festival. The main festival will be hosted at the William Humphreys Art Gallery (Whag) in Kimberley from November 29 until December 2, 2023. The film festival director, Tshepo Tlhalogang, said that several pop-up festivals will be hosted in smaller towns in the Province as a build-up to the main event. Tlhalogang added that the showcasing of local productions will not be the only focus of the event. “We will have a pop-up screening in Barkly West on November 3 and another one on November 19 in Kuruman. We will be screening some of the films at the pop-up events. Those screenings will, however, only be an…

THE 2023 EnergyDRIVE, a renewable energy educational initiative, has begun its journey in the Northern Cape, a region at the epicentre of South Africa’s renewable energy generation. The EnergyDRIVE truck commenced its journey in October with a visit to Aggeneys, a small town located in the Khâi-Ma Local Municipality in the Northern Cape. Learners from Aggeneys High School, Gariep High School and Prieska High School were the first to experience the EnergyDRIVE. Participants of this year’s programme included 22 primary and high schools from Golden Valley Wind Farm, Aggenneys Solar Farm and KonkoonsiesII Solar, Loeriesfontein Wind Farm and Khobab Wind Farm, Noblesfontein Wind Farm, Soetwater Wind Farm – Sutherland, Dorper Wind Farm, Nojoli and Gibson Bay Wind Farms, Perdekraal East Wind Farm, Karusa Wind Farm – Laingsburg, and Klipheuwel Wind…

THE NORTHERN Cape Heat came agonisingly close to clinching their first win of the CSA 4-day series when they put on a powerful display with ball, bat and out in the field against the visiting Eastern Storm. The game ultimately ended in a rain-induced draw, but it was a contest filled with remarkable performances, exciting moments, despite what the hosts would consider that unfortunate twist in the form of the weather. The NC Heat won the toss and chose to bat first, setting a solid foundation with a total of 315 runs. Grant Thomson contributed a solid 82 runs, while Christopher Britz weighed in with 50 runs of his own. The Eastern Storm’s Divan Posthumus was the outstanding spearhead of the attack, taking 4/38 in 22 overs. However, it was…

THE SOL Plaatje Municipality in Kimberley has indicated that it has developed an intensive turnaround plan in order to increase potable water production at the Riverton purification plant. The plan will also attempt to eliminate future water shutdowns and water losses in the city. In an exclusive interview with the DFA, Sol Plaatje municipal manager (MM) Thapelo Matlala said the turnaround plan will focus on three fundamentals, namely the optimal production of water at Riverton, how to reduce water losses and how to improve the water quality. Matlala said the municipality had embarked on this process in an attempt to permanently eliminate the historic challenges experienced at the purification plant. He said the majority of the problems experienced at the Riverton purification plant, which had an impact on the low…

Another of Kimberley’s sports icons of yesteryear passed away this week. Mr Alwie Aysen, husband to Ma’ada, father of Fuad, Shereen, Fatima, Sophia and Yassiem; grandfather of 13, and with eight grandchildren was a multi-talented sportsman who later excelled as a proficient sports administrator. On the sports field and among friends, Mr Aysen was commonly known as ‘Boeta Alwie Aysen’ and also affectionately referred to as Mr ‘A’. Unfortunately, in the realm of sports, he did not receive the recognition he undoubtedly deserved. His talents extended beyond rugby, earning him national recognition in cricket and provincial accolades in soccer. He captained Arabian College Rugby Football Club from 1961 to 1970 and played a total of 106 games for Griquas from 1958 to 1971. Mark Alexander, president of the South African…

RIGHT, so now what? After a harrowing and heroic campaign “we” have won the Rugby World Cup, so now where to from here? In his post-match interview, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi spoke about inspiring hope through what was achieved in Paris in that thrilling game on Saturday night. Kolisi spoke about how much the team appreciated the support of the Springbok fans. “The way that they have been behind us from the beginning,” he said, “There’s so much that’s going wrong with our country, we are basically the last line of defence …” I must admit that I don’t fully understand what the skipper means by a rugby team being a “last line of defence” for a country, but I am sure he spoke from the heart. He continued, “There…

THE STRAIN and frustration being experienced by businesses in South Circular Road in Kimberley due to taxis using the street as a parking area is expected to be a thing of the past by Monday. Traffic and business operations in South Circular Road were disrupted this week when taxis from the closed Bultfontein Taxi Rank used the street as a parking area after they refused to relocate to the Indian Centre following an agreement with the Sol Plaatje Municipality. Local businesses in the area said they had to cancel their deliveries to clients as it was impossible for vehicles to gain access to and from their premises as scores of taxis were parked in front of their businesses. They added that their clients had to park a block away and…

Kimberley Golf Club results for the week of October 25-28 and what’s happening next week. Results for the week of October 25-25 are: The Wednesday, October 25 John Dory’s sponsored 18-hole IPS competition was won by William Wepener with 38pts. Second was Gavin van Zyl on 36pts and 3rd Dee Kidson with 35pts on a count-out. The Thursday, October 26 KWV sponsored Niner with power play options was won by Andre Williams on 20pts with Keith Brown 2nd on 19pts. The Friday, October 27 Flamingo Niner was won by Andries Kori with 18pts. Second was Zayhied Suliman with 15pts on a count-out over 3rd placed Eugene Snyman also on 15pts and Donald Witbooi 4th with 12pts. The Saturday, October 28 Club sponsored 18-hole IPS and St Andrews Presbyterian Golf Day…