Table of contents for 2024-08-02 in DFA News

A NORTHERN Cape businessman and chairperson of the Upington Youth Development Centre, Mxolisi Mazibu, has raised allegations of corruption relating to the distribution of grant fund allocations to business enterprises from the Youth, Women and Persons with Disabilities (YWPD) fund. The Mme Reka Thusa Trust Fund is the implementing agent for the fund under the auspices of the Department of Youth, Women, Children, Persons with Disabilities, Communications and e-Government. The patron of the fund, Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul, announced that R30 million would be allocated for enterprise funding during the launch in 2023. Mazibu claimed that beneficiaries only received meagre portions of what was promised to them or “nothing at all”. “The so-called successful recipients did not comply with the requirements, never applied or never existed, while one…

SOL PLAATJE Municipality has given notice for the closure of Bultfontein Road and York Street in Kimberley, which are being used by taxi operators to load passengers. Despite being advised to vacate Bultfontein Road last week, taxi operators stated that they would remain there until a new taxi rank was built for them. “We have proposed that we make use of the old Oppenheimer parking lot in Lennox Street as an alternative venue,” they stated. Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said they would give members of the public until August 26 to submit comments and objections on the proposed road closures. “We have given the public a full month from the date of issuing the notice to provide their input,” said Mothibi. He noted that they had to date…

The Battle of the Best Amateur Boxing Tournament, held at DuToitSpan Primary School, was a success, attracting top boxing clubs from the Free State and the Northern Cape. Elimthende Boxing Development Academy from Bethlehem, and Devils and Skhokho Boxing Clubs from Bloemfontein, showcased exceptional performances. Northern Cape participants included Tsantsabane Boxing Club from Postmasburg, and several clubs from Kimberley. The event was marked by impressive boxing talent and strong community support as spectators cheered enthusiastically, motivating the boxers. Mosa Ntlangula, director of Kharisma Projects, was impressed with the event saying, “I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude to each and every single individual that had a hand in the success of the tournament! A massive thank you to our sponsors. “We appreciate your continuous support in making a…

THIS past weekend at Beaconsfield Park Bowling Green Club, the Northern Cape Bowls team triumphed at the inaugural Quadrangular Champion of Champions tournament. Facing formidable teams from North West, Southern Free State, and Northern Free State, Northern Cape clinched the title of Central Districts champions. The tournament featured top players from each district battling it out in various categories, including singles, veteran singles, pairs, mixed pairs, and fours. Spectators were treated to displays of brilliant bowling skills as the fierce competition unfolded throughout the weekend. On Friday, Johan Beer from Southern Free State dominated the men’s singles, securing victories against all three of his opponents, while Marietjie vd Berg from the Northern Cape clinched the women’s singles title, adding to her previous year’s triumph in the triangular singles. In the…

NEHAWU, Denosa and Cosatu will stage a march to the Northern Cape Department of Health’s offices on Friday to highlight the poor state of health services in the Province. Nehawu provincial secretary Moleme Moleme said that around 1,000 members from the five districts of the Province would join in on the mass action. He called for the acting head of department (HOD), Mxolisi Mlatha, to step down. “The Department of Health is paying the salaries of two HODs. The current HOD, Dr Dion Theys, is still receiving the salary of an HOD although he was deployed to medical services.” Theys is appealing a R150,000 fine after he was convicted of contravening the Public Finance Management Act when leases were concluded for student nurses at the JP Hugo Trading premises between…

A LOCAL filmmaker, Eric R Kok, in collaboration with the Shidokwon Academy, recently hosted a highly successful community film screening initiative at the Roman Catholic Church Hall in Roodepan. The event showcased the premiere screening of the short film “Die Date”, produced by the Progressive Arts Network (PAN) crew and directed and written by Kok. The Progressive Arts Network, dedicated to fostering local talent and telling stories that matter through film and other media, aims to educate, entertain and empower communities across South Africa. By taking this initiative directly to the community, the organisers sought to raise awareness about the growing risks associated with social media and online dating, particularly in light of the alarming spike in kidnappings and human trafficking nationwide. The screening drew an impressive crowd, with approximately…

THE FAMILY of slain 19-year-old Kimberley Boys’ High pupil Amogelang Assegaai, who was gunned down outside his home in Verwoerdpark on October 1, 2022, have expressed disappointment over delays in the murder trial, which has been transferred to the Northern Cape High Court. The accused, Mbubanzi Zwakala, who is a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) warrant officer attached to the military base at Diskobolos in Kimberley, and his co-accused, David Khangumbe, made a court appearance this week. Zwakala is out on bail of R10,000 while Khangumbe is still in custody. The case was postponed as the defence team is only available to present arguments during the first week of December. A spokesperson for the bereaved family, Bhuti Thabo Ramabina, said they were hoping for a speedy trial so that…

THE INTERNATIONAL darts tournament, organised by former South African professional champion Devon Petersen and African Continental Tours, took place over the past weekend and, after the last dart was thrown, was declared a massive success. The event kicked off on Friday evening with a social competition organised by the Dragon’s Franchise in Kimberley. Donavon Pillay from the Dragons shared his excitement about the turnout and the quality of the competition. “The competition was really good, with lots of darts thrown throughout the night until we eventually reached the finals,” Pillay told the DFA. “Tyrone Shackelton from George and myself were declared winners of the doubles competition on Friday. We won R5,000 as a doubles team – something to reward us for the hard work that was put in,” he added.…

AFTER a break from competition of almost a decade, Kimberley’s Emris Dance School was back with a bang – or perhaps I should say a slide, a shuffle and shake – when the school’s dancers made a triumphant return to the national stage at the 17th SA Masters competition. The competition, held in Bloemfontein on July 5 and 6, saw Emris Dance School representing the Northern Cape and Kimberley in the discipline of line dancing after an extended break. The Emris competitive team showed that they hadn’t missed a step though, bringing home an impressive haul of seven gold medals, one silver, two bronze, and a fourth-place finish. The success of the Emris team at the SA Masters is a testament to their hard work and dedication. Competing against some…

“USE THE little you got to make a change in the world.” This was the advice shared by Constitutional Court judge and human rights activist Justice Albie Sachs during an exclusive interview on the Constitutional Court Art Collection (CCAC) exhibition that is taking place at the William Humphreys Art Gallery (WHAG) in Kimberley. The CCAC travelling exhibition, which is held under the title “A luta Continua: Reflecting on 30 years of democracy”, made its first stop in Kimberley after it was showcased in Makhanda in Grahamstown during the National Arts Festival. More than 100 art pieces, including various mediums such as tapestry, print and sculpture, are on display during the exhibition. Sachs said each of the art pieces captured the spirit of South Africa as it moved from racist oppression…

A 50-YEAR lease that was signed for the construction of a shopping complex in Kuruman, on municipal land owned by the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality, has been reported for investigation by the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit. According to the agreement, the lease that was concluded on July 1, 2018, for a period of 30 years, would automatically be renewed for a further 20 years on the expiry date. The monthly rental for the three-hectare piece of land in Kuruman was set at R120,000 per annum (R10,000 per month). The chairperson and head of the legal unit of the Northern Cape Civics Organisation, Ross Henderson, said the company that was awarded the long-term lease was a copy shop based in Kuruman. “It did not have the financial capacity or expertise needed to…

DFA Sports Reporter Danie van der Lith takes a break from the usual reports, results, and the excitement of various sporting events in and around our city to simply appreciate sport for what it truly is: a vehicle that fosters unity, discipline, and physical and mental well-being. PIGEON racing might sound like an odd pastime to some, but to those in the know, it’s a fascinating blend of strategy, training, and a deep bond with these remarkable birds. I’ve always seen pigeons fly around in the mornings when I drop my kids off at school, and I have been curious about the mechanics of it all – how do these pigeons find their way home, especially from hundreds of kilometres away? What’s the secret behind their training and conditioning? So,…

Diamantveld High School hosted Hoërskool Kalahari and Landboudal this past weekend for what turned out to be an exciting series of rugby, netball, and hockey matches. Demonstrating their skill, the hosts emerged victorious in nearly all their encounters across the various sports. Yet, despite the fierce competition, the highlight of the event was the exceptional sportsmanship displayed by all the schools involved. The players and teams conducted themselves with utmost respect both on and off the field, creating a commendable atmosphere of camaraderie and fair play. The weekend also marked a poignant farewell for Diamantveld’s Pom Pom girls and the Under-19 rugby team. The Pom Pom girls graced the field with their final performance, while the Under-19 rugby boys played their last match representing Diamantveld. These farewells were bittersweet, filled…