Table of contents for 2025-08-08 in DFA News

MURDER accused Daniel Alberts, who is accused of fatally shooting two Kimberley Flying Squad members in August 2023 following a high-speed chase, has blamed his former legal representative for “not taking instructions”. He appeared in the Northern Cape High Court yesterday to arrange for new legal representation. At the time of the incident, Sergeant Kedimetse Masilo and Constable Okaetse Mandindi were trying to apprehend Alberts in connection with a suspected stolen vehicle that was en route from Bloemfontein, when he allegedly overpowered and shot them. Alberts was arrested later in Riverton and was allegedly found in possession of an R5 rifle, an unlicensed firearm, and drugs. His former legal representative, Advocate Obakeng Maroke, advised the court that there was a “conflict of interest” following various consultations with the accused. Alberts…

THE KIMBERLEY SAPS Serious and Violent Crimes unit is investigating a case of concealment of birth after a foetus was discovered in a blue shopping bag at the Kimberley municipal dumping site this week. This marks the third such incident reported at the site since May. SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the latest discovery was made by a community member at around 2:40pm on August 4. “Additionally, the police are requesting assistance as two other similar cases were reported on May 20 and June 23,” said Kock. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Constable Immanuel Jeffreys on 082 302 0407, the SAPS Crime Stop number on 08600 10111, or via the MySAPS app. All information will be treated confidentially. The investigation is ongoing.…

RAPE accused Douglas Mthukwane did not raise any objections regarding the fact that his newly appointed legal representative had previously worked under the State prosecutor currently leading the case against him. Mthukwane is on trial in the Northern Cape High Court on rape charges involving a 14-year-old girl and two women, dating back to 2016. He appeared in court this week after his former legal representative, Advocate Renier Pieterse, withdrew from the case on July 18, citing a “lack of trust” between himself and the accused. Mthukwane has had a number of legal representatives since the start of his trial in 2023. His latest counsel, Advocate Kgatwe, was appointed on August 5 under Legal Aid South Africa’s judicare programme. He informed the court that senior State Advocate Adele van Heerden,…

THE SUZUKI Griquas will be determined to continue their upward trend in the 2025 Currie Cup when they host a battered and bruised DHL Western Province team at Suzuki Park on Friday afternoon. Griquas have thus far been on an upward tick following their 49-28 first-round defeat to the Airlink Pumas. They started slow against the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers in round two, finding themselves 19-34 behind at half-time, before breaking the fetters and storming to a dominant 48-39 win in a free-flowing display at Suzuki Park in a breezy but pleasant Kimberley last Sunday. Now it will be important for Griquas to kick on when the third round of the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division kicks off on Friday at 3pm. Griquas will be fully aware that the ever dangerous…

Two young riders from the Kimberley Equestrian Centre (KEC) have done the Northern Cape proud with outstanding performances in national competitions during the month of July, showing that determination, skill and a strong bond with their horses can lead to greatness. Sian Snyman and Madison Kemp, both dedicated and talented equestrians, showcased their abilities in three different competitions held across the country, competing against the best riders South Africa has to offer, and delivering results that have firmly placed Kimberley on the national equestrian map. Snyman shines in Johannesburg First up, 16-year-old Sian Snyman, who, along with her thoroughbred Woza Silvano, travelled to Johannesburg to represent the Free State at the prestigious South African Youth Championships. Sian competed in both Dressage and Show Jumping disciplines. In Dressage, she was part…

WHILE the Kimberley SAPS Serious and Violent Crimes unit has opened an inquest docket after the body of a 29-year-old woman was found in the veld behind Beacon Primary School on August 4, the family of the deceased believes that she was murdered. Relatives stated that Shanay Solomons was last seen on Saturday. Her half-naked body was discovered by a six-year-old boy in the veld near the Department of Education’s provincial offices on Monday afternoon. “It cannot be a natural death, and whoever is responsible for her death must be brought to justice. It appeared as if soil was stuffed into her mouth. She did not deserve to die in this manner. She was well-known in the area and was also a drug user,” a family member said. They added…

IT’S AS if there’s tension all around these days. But I am not referring to the stress you feel when the cashier starts ringing up the items in your shopping cart and you start wondering if you can afford it. But speaking of that, where are prices going these days? And now with the United States slapping South Africa with a 30% tariff, and this set to come into play this week, “till tension” is going to be even greater. As a result of all of this, tensions between the US and Mzansi are pretty high. One wonders how long before something ridiculous happens, like either of these countries warning their citizens to be wary of travelling to the land of their “foe”. I suspect, and above that hope, that…

AN ARGUMENT between two friends in Upington turned deadly on August 10, 2024, when Lrikou Nomgojo fatally assaulted Lucky Dondolo with a pick handle. According to police, the two men were part of a small gathering when a disagreement escalated. Witnesses, including a third friend, attempted to intervene, but Dondolo sustained fatal injuries. Emergency services responded, but Dondolo, 36, was declared dead at the scene. Nomgojo, 34, was arrested shortly afterwards and remained in custody during the investigation. The Upington Regional Court recently sentenced him to 15 years’ imprisonment for murder. The swift response of law enforcement had led to Nomgojo's immediate arrest after the incident. ZF Mgcawu district commissioner Major-General Monica Sebili commended Sergeant Bahedile Nkwadipo of the Upington Detectives’ Serious and Violent Crimes unit for securing the conviction.…

Kimberley’s Lidené earns call-up to Springbok Women’s Sevens Training Squad It’s Women’s Month, and what more fitting way to acknowledge this than by celebrating one of our city’s women, who has taken a step – a huge step æ up? In an achievement that embodies strength, resilience and the power of opportunity, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) is beaming with pride as it celebrates the national call-up of one of its own, first-year student Lidené Kruger, to the Springbok Women’s Sevens Training Squad. Kruger, a Sport bursary recipient and high-performance sport recruit at SPU, has been selected to attend the upcoming national training camp in Cape Town, which will take place from August 3 to 15 2025 at the prestigious Stellenbosch Academy of Sport. The University, which supplied the information…

Last Sunday, as the Suzuki Griquas prepared to take the field against the Boland Cavaliers, something quietly powerful unfolded before the first whistle was even blown. A young boy, confined to a wheelchair, proudly led the team onto the pitch. That moment went beyond being merely symbolic; it actually served as a reminder of what sport truly represents. For many young boys and girls in the stands, the rugby field is more than just a patch of grass, because to them it’s a stage where heroes are born. To that child in the wheelchair, and to countless others watching from the sidelines or on their screens, the players on that field aren’t just athletes but models, living proof that dreams can be chased. Children don’t look up to players because…

IN A MULTIMILLION-rand lawsuit against the Northern Cape Department of Education, the legal team representing 23-year-old Michael Links believes he is entitled to compensation, claiming that injuries he sustained from a fall on a slippery school floor have crippled his future job prospects. The incident occurred in 2011 in the boys’ bathroom at Boegoeberg Brandboom Intermediary School near Upington, when Links was in Grade 3. He was nine years old at the time and suffered permanent brain injuries after slipping on the wet cement floor and hitting his head on the edge of a urinal. Judge Almé Stanton ruled in 2024 that the Department of Education was liable to pay damages. She concluded, based on uncontested evidence from neurosurgeon Dr Zayne Domingo, that Links did not suffer a stroke, but…

FROM the derelict remains of the once-bustling city centre to forgotten corners of neighbourhoods like Kimberley North, a creeping sense of neglect is taking root in the Diamond City. The deterioration of public spaces, buildings, and basic infrastructure has become more than just an eyesore — it’s fuelling rising crime, eroding community pride, and deepening residents’ mistrust in the authorities tasked with protecting them. In suburbs once known for their tranquillity, many residents now say they feel abandoned. The decline of Kimberley’s urban landscape is no longer limited to the city’s inner core. It’s spreading outwards, dragging with it all the symptoms of municipal failure: illegal dumping, non-functional streetlights, water leaks, overgrown public land, and an overwhelming sense of insecurity. One such example comes from Kimberley North, where residents have…

The Sasol Women’s League resumed this past weekend, after a brief hiatus, and the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) Ladies arrived with serious intent. In a powerful statement, the SPU Ladies got cracking with commanding, back-to-back victories that sent ripples through the league, and a clear message to those who will face them during the competition. Barkly West Brilliance The first clash of the weekend, on Saturday, August 2, saw the SPU Ladies take on Power Boys Ladies FC at the Mataleng Stadium in Barkly West. From the outset, the SPU team asserted their authority on the field, controlling the tempo of the game and executing fluid attacking sequences that left their opponents reeling. It was a clinical display, spearheaded by the in-form Patricia Mogapi, who proved unstoppable in front of…

Dwight Oliphant shares his inspiring Taekwondo journey At 26, Kimberley-born Dwight Oliphant has reached the rank of 3rd Dan black belt in Taekwondo, a milestone achieved by few. His path to this accomplishment began at age eight in the Northern Cape capital, originally to channel his youthful energy under his parents’ guidance. “My parents initially enrolled me for discipline, and because I was full of energy and always on the move,” Dwight recalls. “At the time, I didn’t fully understand what I was stepping into, but it quickly became something I looked forward to.” What started as a means to direct his restless energy soon grew into a deep passion. Taekwondo’s structure, challenge, and sense of purpose shaped not only his body but his mindset, turning a spirited boy into…