Table of contents for 2025-04-25 in DFA News

THE HOMEVALE community in Kimberley is raising red flags over the dire state of the local library situated on 3rd Street – a once-vital centre of learning that now stands as a shell of its former self. When the DFA visited the premises, it was hard to tell the building had ever been a library. There was no visible signage, no welcoming entrance, and nothing that whispered – let alone invited – “come in and learn.” Instead, a small, weary-looking structure greeted us, its windows covered in metal sheeting and its perimeter fence lined with broken and missing devil’s fork panels. It offered more a sense of abandonment than education. One concerned community member spoke to the DFA and described a slow but steady decay. “This place has been a…

opinion WHAT’S going on? Time is flying, the days seem to be shorter than ever before, and yet getting through to the end of the month – and by that I mean payday – seems to take an eternity. And that’s just for those with regular incomes – spare a thought for pensioners and those hustling odd jobs to scrape by. It’s already tough out there, and we haven’t even hit the VAT increase coming on May 1 – International Workers' Day, nogal! At this rate, they should rename it ‘International Sukkeling Workers’ Day’. All I am suggesting is that they say sitting in a draft can make you sick – well, soon many of us might be sitting in an overdraft, and that’ll definitely make you feel under the…

Aztec Masters celebrate 40th anniversary with Easter triumph The 2025 edition of the Sol Plaatje Masters Football League Easter Tournament reaffirmed its status as a cornerstone of community football in Kimberley and beyond. Over four action-packed days at the SANDF Diskobolos Sports Grounds, a record 41 teams competed for the coveted silverware, drawing thousands of spectators armed with flags, cooler boxes, and unwavering loyalty. From the opening whistle to the last penalty, the tournament was a celebration of footballing passion and community spirit. The final between Aztec Masters and Young Pirates of Greenpoint will be remembered as one of the most emotionally charged and respectful showdowns in recent memory. But before that, the third-place play-off between Saints Masters and Riverton Masters set the tone. Saints, determined to finish strong, delivered…

The ANC in the Northern Cape is regrouping after a drop in voter support after the last elections. However, with the Top 5 provincial leaders re-elected uncontested this week, the move has been hailed as a sign of unity ahead of the 2026 local government elections. Provincial chairperson Dr Zamani Saul blamed loadshedding for low voter turnout in last year’s elections and said the party is working to win back its base. Former ANC provincial chairperson Manne Dipico, meanwhile, reminded members that they were “servants of the people”. He added that the 49 percent support received by the ANC in the national general elections served as a “wake up call” to not become complacent. “Where did we go wrong? We need to go back to basics. If we do…

THE THUMP of bass finally faded at 4am on Monday, ending a marathon Diamonds & Dorings Festival that for the first time unfolded inside the Kimberley Diamond Oval cricket stadium. Forced from its traditional Vaal‑side home at Langley Resort by flooding, the 26‑year‑old music showcase swapped river views for floodlights – and discovered the joys and jolts of life in a suburb. A packed Oval, a quiet street Organisers confirm that 8,000 tickets were scanned at the gates. “Attendance was substantially higher than last year’s post‑Covid comeback,” said Shantelle Engelbrecht, head of marketing for Exilite Holdings, the festival licence holder. Security, she added, “was exceptionally tight with a visible SAPS presence, private guards, traffic officials and marshals”, resulting in an incident‑free event and no serious medical call‑outs. A late‑night drive‑by…

PRETORIA’S SA All Stars proved unstoppable at the 2025 Easter Sevens Rugby Tournament, capping a flawless campaign with a 21-12 victory over Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in a thrilling final at the Kimberley Rugby Club. Played over two days of sun-soaked action and passionate support, the final pitted two of the tournament’s most dominant teams against each other in front of a buzzing crowd. SPU matched the All Stars stride for stride in a tense opening phase, but the Pretoria outfit — blending pace, power, and precision — broke clear in the closing minutes to seal the title. Their unbeaten run, including a 50-0 demolition of the Bomb Squad in the semi-finals and a commanding 33-19 win over SPU in the group stages, confirmed their status as the tournament’s class…

Shock and outrage have gripped the Galeshewe community after the body of a woman – allegedly murdered on Good Friday – was discovered three days later, hidden inside a shack in Stone Street. Residents say the victim, who was the partner of a local correctional services official, was only removed by forensic services on Sunday afternoon. Police arrested a suspect the following day. It is believed the victim was stabbed and violently assaulted. Shocked residents added that the couple had moved into the shanty – an outbuilding situated on the premises – three days before the alleged incident. “We did not suspect anything untoward and never heard any fighting or screaming.” They indicated that the suspect contacted the caretaker on Monday to request keys to access his residence. “He claimed…

EFF PROVINCIAL chairperson Shadrack Tlhaole who intends to relocate along with his family to Orania, expressed his “love for white people” during a march to the Premier’s Office this week. “We are a rainbow nation. We don’t hate whites, we love them, we even worked as slaves for them, ” he stated. EFF members who joined the march however said they while they were interested in the land, they were not too eager to live in Orania. Tlhaole condemned the exclusion of black South Africans from the Afrikaner enclave and believed that it should be dissolved. “This is not a culture, it is a modern-day apartheid. Cultural identity cannot be used to justify racial exclusion. We envision a Northern Cape where a black farmer and a white artisan can live…

A new era is dawning for the Northern Cape Heat cricket team with the appointment of Mduduzi Mbatha as the new head coach – a move hailed as a bold and strategic step by the province’s cricket leadership. Announced this week by Northern Cape Cricket, Mbatha’s arrival signals more than just a change in coaching personnel. It represents a fresh commitment to performance, player development, and long-term success as the team gears up for the upcoming season. Mbatha’s cricket journey is as rich as it is impressive. A former SA Schools representative, he began his coaching career within the Northerns Cricket Union, guiding young talent through age-group structures. From there, his rise was steady and purposeful – leading the Titans Academy, serving as assistant coach of the Northerns semi-pro team,…