Table of contents for 2025-04-11 in DFA News

SOUTH African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier Mbubanzi Desmond Zwakala, who stands accused of the murder of Amogelang Assegaai, claimed that he fired a warning shot into the air after the Grade 12 Kimberley Boys’ High pupil “throttled, pushed and swore” at him outside his home in Impala Road. Zwakala and his co-accused, David Khangumbe, are standing trial on charges of murder and obstructing the course of justice. Testifying in the Northern Cape High Court recently, Zwakala denied threatening the deceased with a firearm. He stated that his son, Kamva Zwakala, was injured during an altercation at a matric valedictory party at Assegaai’s house on October 21, 2022, where he also lost his cellphone. Zwakala confronted Assegaai at his home on October 23, 2022, when he discovered that the SIM…

A FOUL stench hangs in the air in Greenpoint, where resident Susan Tlapane says her family is living a nightmare caused by raw sewage flowing into the veld behind her house. Standing in her backyard with her arms raised in frustration, Tlapane pointed toward the growing pool of sewage water seeping into the open land behind her home. She believes the problem started shortly after her neighbour moved into a newly constructed house next door. “About a month or two after the house was built and they moved in, raw sewage started flowing into the veld behind me,” Tlapane told the DFA. “I don’t know why, but something is not right.” When the DFA visited her home, the pungent smell of sewage was unmistakable – reaching noses even from the…

APPLICATIONS for online learner admissions for the 2026 academic year will open on April 14 at 9am and will close on May 23 at midnight for Grades R, 1, and 8. Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said that applications for these three grades must be completed online via the website: www.ncdoeadmissions.org. He added that parents and legal guardians must apply directly at schools for admissions and placements for all other grades. Van der Merwe explained that the following documents must be submitted within seven days of making an application: A copy of the parent/legal guardian's South African identity document or a sworn affidavit Proof of home address The child’s birth certificate Clinic card or proof of immunisation (for Grades R and 1) The most recent…

THREE rising soccer stars from the Northern Cape have earned national honours after being selected for the South African Under-15 squad heading to the prestigious African Schools Championship in Ghana later this month. Calib Markus (Steinkopf High School), Leonay Kock (SAFA High Performance Centre, Kimberley), and Rebalehohonolo Mocumi (Emang Mmogo Comprehensive School) impressed at a recent national training camp, earning their places in the team. The tournament will take place in Accra from April 25, where the squad will represent South Africa against top youth talent from across the continent. In a joint congratulatory message, the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture in the Northern Cape, Mangaliso Matika, along with the NC Football Association Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), commended the trio on their achievement. “This achievement is a testament to…

RESIDENTS of Hadison Park have expressed growing frustration and anger towards the Sol Plaatje Municipality after a burst pipe in Calidon Street was left unrepaired for four consecutive days, flooding pavements and roads with clean water while the city continues to suffer under nightly water cuts. The pipe, which had been gushing water since the beginning of the week, turned parts of the suburb into a soggy, pothole-ridden mess, sparking outrage among residents who say the municipality’s inaction is both negligent and insulting to paying ratepayers. “This is unacceptable,” said one visibly irritated resident. “We are told that water needs to be conserved, that our water levels are low, and every night we are cut off from 9pm to 4am. But then they let water run down the road like…

FOR YEARS, Kimberley residents have been plagued by ongoing water interruptions, leaving many frustrated by the lack of a clear timeline for when an uninterrupted water supply will become a reality. Despite repeated promises from Sol Plaatje Municipality to address the issue, locals are growing increasingly impatient as the situation continues without resolution. Now, with rumours circulating that the municipality is planning an extended water disruption in early May, residents are asking: when will it end? The municipality’s ongoing nightly water shutdown, currently running from 9pm to 4am, has become a daily inconvenience for city residents – especially those living in high-lying areas. While residents have grown accustomed to this as part of life in Kimberley, it’s the full water shutdowns that hit the hardest." The DFA spoke to municipal…

Griquas need to be focused as they brace for dangerous Eastern Province Elephants THE SUZUKI Griquas have established themselves as the team to beat in the SA Cup, maintaining an unbeaten run that now stretches to the very start of the competition. But while their impressive record remains spotless on paper, head coach Pieter Bergh is the first to admit that last weekend’s clash against the Boland Kavaliers was a wake-up call. The Kimberley-based side were pushed to the limit in that contest, and many would agree they were lucky to escape with the win. Boland brought intensity, structure, and physicality, exposing some vulnerabilities in the Griquas’ game – particularly at scrum time. “We were really under pressure, and there were a lot of learnings that took place from…

Absa Wildeklawer set to bring the heat to Kimberley Kimberley is gearing up to host some of South Africa’s most talented young athletes at the 2025 Absa Wildeklawer Sports Tournament – one of the country’s premier school sports events. The action kicks off on April 23, with junior fixtures hosted at Newton Primary School, running until April 26. The tournament then resumes from May 1 to 4, when high school teams take to the field for rugby and netball at Diamantveld High School and Kimberley Boys’ High School, while hockey matches will be played at Northern Cape High School and Hoërskool Diamantveld. Widely regarded as a showcase of South Africa’s top school sports talent, the Absa Wildeklawer tournament will feature more than 2,000 learners from elite schools across the country,…

KIMBERLEY’S beloved Diamonds and Dorings Festival will go ahead this year, but not in its usual setting at Langleg Resort. Due to rising water levels caused by increased outflow from the Vaal and Bloemhof dams, the Langleg area has become waterlogged and unsuitable for hosting a large-scale event. Organisers, in collaboration with the Sol Plaatje Municipality, acted swiftly and selected the Kimberley Diamond Oval as the new venue. While the move has ensured the festival's survival for 2025, it hasn’t come without its share of controversy. Local residents living near the Oval in Cassandra have voiced concerns about the potential disruptions the festival may bring right to their doorsteps. Residents Voice Their Concerns When the DFA visited the area this week, it became clear that while some residents are willing…

THE DOG that viciously attacked 10-year-old Reatlegile Pitsoemang in Galeshewe has been euthanised, while several pit bulls have been handed over to the SPCA following the incident. Community members are calling for all pit bull dogs to be removed from neighbourhoods in the city, after the young girl sustained extensive injuries during the attack, including the loss of an eye and severe facial trauma. A neighbour who witnessed the incident said the girl had accompanied another child to fetch a chair from the back of a house in Phutane Street, Galeshewe, on April 2. “She was assured that there were no dogs when she entered the yard and never noticed the pit bull until it pounced on her,” said the neighbour. “I ran to fetch a spade to frighten off…

THERE are some places from childhood that don’t just stick in your memory — they cling, like the scent of old aftershave in a barbershop. For me, one such place was Mac’s Barbershop on Barkly Road. It sits right at the top of my memory list. Yes, a few decades ago, I had hair. Lots of it. So much, in fact, my parents probably feared I’d end up looking like Cousin Itt from The Addams Family if they kept me from Mac’s for too long. I loved those visits. Not the buzzing clippers, mind you — you learned early to sit very still, unless you wanted a crooked “hap” on the back of your head. No, it was the walls that fascinated me: yellowed calendars, dusty photographs, and wooden plaques…

Seven determined learners from William Pescod High School have brought pride to their school by claiming first place in the St. John District First Aid Competition, held on March 28-29. This impressive achievement not only qualifies them for the regional round in Bloemfontein, set for June or July, but also comes with a major bonus – a full year of free training for the entire school’s First Aid team. Even more remarkable is the fact that this was the school’s debut in the competition, and that its First Aid team was only formed just over a year ago. The journey began in January 2025 when the St. John Kimberley branch reached out to the school with an offer to train a small group of learners. The vision was simple yet…

As school rugby kicks off across South Africa and the Wildeklawer Schools Tournament approaches, concerns about head injuries are once again in the spotlight. Rugby, while thrilling and physically demanding, carries a real risk of concussion and more severe brain trauma, prompting calls for increased vigilance around player safety. Understanding the Risks Dr. Hofmeyr Viljoen, a radiologist at SCP Radiology, says concussions are the most common head injuries in rugby, typically caused by impact or sudden movement of the brain within the skull. “Symptoms like dizziness, confusion, headaches, and memory issues must be taken seriously. Players showing these signs should be removed immediately,” he warns. CT scans are used to rule out severe injuries like fractures or bleeding. For ongoing symptoms, advanced MRI techniques such as Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)…