Table of contents for 2025-09-26 in DFA News

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, Griquas stunned the Lions 27–25 at Johannesburg’s Fidelity ADT Stadium to lift the Currie Cup for the first time since 1970. The victory ended a 55-year wait and set the stage for a homecoming that Kimberley will never forget. The DFA’s Danie van der Lith accompanied the team to and from the final in Joburg, sharing his first-hand impressions — including what the homecoming was like for the team. According to him, by Sunday morning the celebrations were still in full swing, even before the bus ride back to the Diamond City.” Danie takes up the story: “Morning, champions”, was the greeting at breakfast. It felt surreal. On the convoy’s ride back to Kimberley, the Currie Cup had its special perch with the players in…

THE DRIVER assigned to the Kgatelopele Municipality Speaker has been dismissed after he was involved in a crash while travelling between Kimberley and Danielskuil. It is believed the municipal vehicle collided with a truck and was damaged beyond repair. An unauthorised passenger was reportedly travelling in the car at the time. No serious injuries were confirmed. According to sources, the driver was often instructed to collect passengers. The municipality apparently only became aware that the vehicle had been removed from the premises after being alerted to the crash. Kgatelopele municipal manager Willie Blundin confirmed this week that the driver was dismissed with immediate effect. “The driver caused substantial damage to municipal property, and the vehicle has to be written off. Both airbags popped, and the driver will be held accountable…

TAKING a stand against crime, about 250 residents staged a peaceful march to the Galeshewe police station this week, calling for stronger and more visible action against criminals. Community leader Lawrence Mkhwanazi said children were being robbed on their way to school, while adults were frequently targeted as they travelled to and from work. He added that homes were repeatedly broken into and warned that the ongoing vandalism of street lights and other municipal infrastructure was creating dark, unsafe areas that fuelled criminal activity. Mkhwanazi also called for a ban on face masks, which he said were being used by criminals to conceal their identities. He criticised community policing forums, describing them as “political mouth organs” instead of effective anti-crime bodies. “Police vans are being used to go to Shoprite…

INSTRUCTIONS have been issued to “hunt down” the municipal official responsible for “flip-flopping” on a decision to sell the old DFA offices in Woodley Street two years ago. The dilapidated building has since become an eyesore and a haven for criminals and vagrants. Renewed plans have now been made to sell the building “as a matter of urgency”. It is believed that a potential buyer intends to renovate the premises into student accommodation. Petitions were previously submitted to have the building demolished, as it was reported to be in contravention of national building regulations and standards. A 2023 proposal to turn it into an artisanal and skills development training centre — in partnership with the Sol Plaatje Municipality and with a view to creating jobs for electricians, plumbers, mechanical fitters,…

Victories are fought for on the field of battle for everyone to witness, but what the victories mean to the men who achieved them is not often seen, as it is a private moment between comrades, hidden behind closed doors. In the Griquas’ locker room, the DFA’s sports reporter witnessed the raw emotion of a union reclaiming its place in rugby history. Danie van der Lith writes: When coach Pieter Bergh invited me to join the team in the locker room, my heart raced. This was sacred ground, where celebrations and emotions overflow. Few are offered this opportunity, and I was not going to miss it. Inside the room, bruised bodies became champions. Songs erupted. ‘Daar’s net een kwas, Griekwas, net een blou, pou blou,’ echoed off the walls. Players…

IF YOU spend most of your life living in a small town, visiting a big city can be intimidating, even overwhelming. But according to DFA sports reporter Danie van der Lith, facing giants makes one realise that having a big, courageous heart gives you an unexpected edge. Van der Lith visited the Fidelity ADT Stadium (Ellis Park) on the Griquas’ historic day of glory and shares his first impressions. Don’t be surprised at his use of the word “overwhelming” … it’s intentional! Arriving in Johannesburg, ahead of the 2025 Currie Cup final, we – the Griqua supporters – quickly checked into the hotel, changed, and prepared ourselves for the day. For me, during the trip and the ride to the stadium, the tension grew with every turn of the bus’s…

SOL PLAATJE municipal employees were granted special leave to attend the 2025 Southern Africa Inter-Municipal Sports Association (SAIMSA) Games, held this week in Maseru, Lesotho, from September 21–26, despite cost-containment measures and no budget allocation for the trip. At the time of their departure, it was unclear whether any subsistence and travel allowances had been paid. At the games, municipal employees compete in various sporting codes against teams from participating countries, including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa. During a recent council meeting, GOOD Party councillor Santa Johnson argued that the municipal games promoted the fitness and well-being of workers and contributed to happiness and improved productivity. “Councillors and workers need to enjoy their work environment and it will show the caring attitude of the municipality if they are…

PESCODIA Primary School in Kimberley is marking its 50th anniversary with two special events. A Thanksgiving service will be held on September 26 at 5pm at Pescodia High School, followed by a formal gala dinner on September 27. A colourful history The school first opened its doors in 1975 to serve the growing Roodepan community in Kimberley’s north-west. That same year, the city-centre state-supported St Francis Xavier closed, and most of its teachers moved to the new school. Other educators came from Homevale and Venus primary schools. Although teaching began in 1975, the school was officially opened on February 24, 1978, by Reverend A Hendrickse. Mr Peter Alexander Du Toit served as the first principal, with Mr McGulty, a prominent local figure, as the first school committee chairperson. Built for…

SEVERAL well-known local individuals whose names appear on a list of provincial executive officials for Floyd Shivambu’s newly formed Afrika Mayibuye Movement have denied that they are members of the organisation or that they were elected to its Northern Cape structure. They said they had never provided their biographies or identity numbers to the party and believed their personal details were being used without consent in a fraudulent attempt to attract potential voters. One of the affected parties, former Thembelihle Municipality Speaker Danny Jonas (Pictured), said he informed the Afrika Mayibuye Movement that he did not wish to serve on its provincial or any other structure when approached. “To my surprise, somebody sent me a Facebook post with a list where my name is reflected as a deputy organiser. “I…

THERE'S a quote that goes: “We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand – and melting like a snowflake.” This must have been in the back of DFA sports reporter and photographer, Danie van der Lith’s head when he was invited to accompany underdogs, the Suzuki Griquas, to the 2025 Currie Cup final against a formidable URC-dense Fidelity ADT Lions team. Van der Lith made the trip, and shared his experiences of rubbing shoulders with the team, hoping to give Kimberley readers a glimpse, a taste, a moment of experiencing this historic final for themselves. He writes … Opportunities do not come every day. Most of the time, we miss them. Sometimes it is fear of the unknown, sometimes the…

AS THE trial of John-Ross Crossbery Henderson is scheduled to start in the Northern Cape High Court next month, the murder accused intends to apply for bail based on new facts that emerged during the investigation. He was denied bail twice previously in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court. Henderson, who appeared in the Northern Cape High Court this week, is charged with the murder of Jayson Afrique, the attempted murder of his wife, Micayla Afrique, and defeating the ends of justice. Jayson was fatally wounded after several bullets were fired at the vehicle in which the couple were travelling as they approached the driveway of their New Park home on July 31, 2024. The murder weapon has yet to be found. State advocate Theunis Barnard said the State was still waiting…

HAVE you ever been lost? I once got lost in a mall in Pretoria; many years ago, before Kimberley had any malls of its own, and way before I knew that mega malls have multiple levels and many, many access points. I parked my car, walked in, and several hours later couldn’t remember which exit to take to get back to my car. I spent a good chunk of my life wandering on shiny ceramic tiled floors, past neon signs and merchandise-laden shop windows, all the time wondering if I would ever see my family again. Now, sadly, having the unfortunate dual condition of being both an introvert and not being very bright, I didn’t want to ask someone to help me. What would I say? I didn’t take note…

JUST days before South Africans gathered to celebrate Heritage Day this week, two men were arrested on a dusty roadside in the Northern Cape with a bakkie full of endangered plants. At 3.20am on Monday, police on night patrol spotted a white Toyota Hilux along the R382 near Port Nolloth. Beneath the canopy was a haul of illegal flora, carefully stashed and destined for the black market. The men, foreign nationals aged 36 and 42, were arrested on the scene. The value of the confiscated plants hasn’t been confirmed, but in this trade, the numbers are often staggering. A single plant can fetch thousands of rand overseas. In recent cases, busts have netted street values as high as R30 million. The real tragedy, however, isn't the monetary cost. It's the…

THE THISTLE Rugby-Football Club, a cornerstone of the historical Beaconsfield community in Kimberley, is preparing to restart after years of inactivity, reigniting a tradition that stretches back 117 years. Founded in 1908 by the late Charles Kester and the late Bill Walker, Thistle RFC quickly established itself as something more than just a sports club, as it became a hub for leadership, talent, and resilience in a closely-knit community. In its early days, legend has it, membership was not simply open to anyone. Prospective players had to present their pedigree and prove their rugby skills before being accepted. Thankfully, that exclusivity was soon abolished, paving the way for Thistles to become a truly inclusive club where race, colour, and creed were no barriers to participation. Today, as Thistle prepares to…