Table of contents for 2022-11-18 in DFA News

TWO MONTHS after 11-year-old Onkarabetse Thole drowned in an uncovered stormwater canal between Gogga pump station and Riemvasmaak in Galeshewe, the treacherous pit, which is still filled with water, has not been cordoned off yet. Onkarabetse had accompanied his older brother and a group of friends to gather wood when he decided to cool off in the water on September 11. His brother, Mosimanegape Mocholo, tried to save him, but Onkarabetse apparently pushed him away to prevent him from also drowning. Onkarabetse’s father, Thapelo Thole, stated that they were seeking damages amounting to R10 million due to the “negligence” of Sol Plaatje Municipality. “The hole is still leaking and it cannot be attributed to rainwater. Up until today, there are no danger signs to warn the community. How many more…

RESIDENTS in Mokwang Street in Ritchie said pigs were wading in pools of smelly raw sewage that was leaking into their yards. Willie Makumane stated that the stench was “severe”. “All the raw sewage from the area is coming out here and the pigs come every day to play in the raw sewage. We were informed that the pump is out of order.” Spokesperson for Sol Plaatje Municipality, Thoko Riet, said they had just installed a bypass pump. “Unfortunately we were unable to test it because of load shedding. The cause of the current problem is foreign objects that are being deposited in the sump. We will be cleaning the sump as soon as the bypass pump is operational. “Then we will install the pump station’s pumps. It should be…

EVER since I learned that to fry an egg you first have to remove it from its shell, I have been virtually unstoppable in the kitchen. I enjoy cooking the occasional meal; it’s almost like therapy … and thanks to the onions, you even get to cry a bit just as you do in real therapy. My cooking mantra is simple. I have a hierarchy of steps that I follow religiously as I prepare my meals … I call it my 4H hierarchy. Before I cook I have to be in a good mood. Preparing meals when you are grumpy makes it either salty, bland, too spicy or mushy. So my first H is for ‘happiness’. If there’s no grin, there’s no grub! The second H is for hygiene. When…

FOUR professionals in Kimberley have not allowed their sudden disability to wear them down and hinder them from living an active and full “normal” life. As Disability Awareness Month is globally observed in November, many disabled people have broken the stereotype that they are using their disability as a “crutch”. Four disabled professionals - the head of radiology at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, a qualified town planner, a qualified paramedic and an administration clerk at the Galeshewe Day Hospital - all indicated their disabilities have given them the strength to keep forging on. Doctor Ambrose Swartbooi, who is a quadriplegic following a car accident, said his disability has given him the fighting spirit to become a specialist in radiology. “In 2006, during my second year of internship I was…

A STATE prosecutor attached to the Upington cluster has been charged with rape and sexual assault. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the accused appeared in the Upington District Court on November 15. “The incident took place on November 13 in Paballelo, near Upington, when the prosecutor allegedly assaulted, raped and sexually assaulted his 29-year-old partner, who is a member of the South African Police Service, in front of their two-year-old daughter,” said Senokoatsane. He added that the accused is facing two charges of rape, one charge of sexual assault and a charge of contravention of 17(1)(a) of the Domestic Violence Act of 1998 (protection order), as well as a charge of compelling or causing a child to witness sexual offences. “The matter has been adjourned until…

The results from the Kimberley Golf Club for the week of November 9-12 are as follows: The Wednesday Konica Minolta sponsored 18 hole BBS winners were J Gous and H Stander on 47 pts with S Wiid and G van Zyl 2nd on 46 pts. Third were G van Zyl and Quentin Schaefer on 45 pts. The Thursday KWV Niner was won by Braam Botes with 28 pts with Dries Mostert 2nd on 21 pts and Neville Alexander 3rd on 20 pts. The Friday Bakenskop NGK hosted BBS competition was won by team Gail Aysen with 57pts. The Saturday Beefmaster hosted 18 hole IPS was won by Zugdi with 40 pts with Susanne Ferreira 2nd on 37 pts and H Gouws 3rd on 35 pts. The Saturday Charlies outing was…

The pride of Africa are out to show the world what they’re made of AFRICAN teams will be looking to dream big at the World Cup in Qatar. The continent’s Big Five – Morocco, Ghana, Tunisia, Cameroon and champions Senegal – face huge odds as football’s super powers look to tighten their grip on the game’s biggest prize. No African nation has ever gone past the quarter-final stage, with Cameroon (1990) Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) all hoping to go one better than their past glories. With a strong Morocco side and fellow north Africans Tunisia also repping Caf, let’s take a look at who has the best chance of going even deeper into the competition. Morocco Key players: Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri Group F fixtures: Croatia (November…

THE OVERFLOWING water along the R31 to Barkly West will be diverted into the Vaal River as a “long-term solution” to the problem. The road was closed after it became submerged as a result of leaks from Gogga pump station and fresh water leaks from the Riverton mainline. A R32-million construction project was undertaken over several months to elevate the road by 1.5 metres. The MEC for Roads and Public Works, Fufe Makatong, during a site visit to the R31 this week, told the acting public protector, advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, that the water would be drained into the Vaal River. “The Department of Water and Sanitation is satisfied that there is no contamination of the water,” said Makatong. She stated that the process would take six months to complete. Gcaleka…

THE WATER levels of the Orange River are gradually rising and, as a result, Augrabies Falls National Park’s waterfalls will be spectacular for the third time this year. This is because water from the Orange River's three dams - Bloemhof, Gariep, and Vanderkloof - has been released. SANParks Arid Region's regional general manager, Lucius Moolman, expressed excitement this week about welcoming tourists to see this natural beauty while they are in the area. “In the upcoming seven to 14 days we are anticipating a dramatic increase from the regular levels," said Moolman. Before crashing over the 56-metre-high waterfall, the Orange River separates into multiple channels as it reaches Augrabies Falls. The river then travels another 18 kilometres into a gorge. The sight and sound of the water erupting from the…

A 28-YEAR-old man, Anthony Harris Samson, was sentenced to 17 years’ direct imprisonment by the Northern Cape High Court for beating his partner to death with a bicycle chain. Samson, who was out on parole at the time, brutally killed his 27-year-old life partner, Natasha Goeieman, on April 6 this year in Strydenburg by assaulting her with his fists, a bicycle chain and a spade. The horrific incident happened after the couple, who have two children together, went on a drinking spree and ended up in an argument. Goeieman died on the scene and Samson fled. He was arrested three days later by the police, with the assistance of the community. The case was referred to the Northern Cape High Court after the community expressed outrage and threatened to march…

I AM SURE that most pupils and yes, teachers as well, are eager to wrap up the academic year, with the 2022 school year coming to a conclusion and examinations starting or already under way this week. But first, Roodepan Primary School highlighted some of the outstanding work that some of its pupils had accomplished. The school awarded its top achievers and a number of pupils could be seen clutching trophies. I could see the satisfaction on their faces as a year's worth of effort finally paid off. Why not brag just before the school year closes and the holiday season begins? It is not every day that a pupil can boast with a huge trophy.…

THE SPRINGBOKS enter tomorrow’s Test against Italy at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa at 3pm, knowing they can lose the game against a team ranked seven places below them on the world rankings. Such has been the giant-killing form of 11th-placed Italy, and by contrast the poor form of Jacques Nienaber’s world champions Boks, that the rugby world would not be totally shocked if the hosts bag the glory in front of their home fans. Buoyed by a surprise 28-27 win over Australia last weekend, while the Boks are coming off back-to-back defeats to Ireland (19-16) and France (30-26), Italy are smelling blood. South Africa have won the last two matches against the Azzurri quite easily – 49-3 at the World Cup in Japan in 2019 and 35-6 in…

ACTING Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka instructed Sol Plaatje municipal workers to spend their spare time cleaning up the littered area around the Gogga pump station after they were caught illegally dumping this week. Gcaleka was conducting a site inspection of where 11-year-old Onkarabetse Thole drowned in a stormwater canal between Gogga pump station and Riemvasmaak in Galeshewe on September 11. The MEC for Roads and Public Works, Fufe Makatong, scolded the municipal workers and remarked that they “should have known better”. Makatong pointed out that while they were supposed to uphold the by-laws of the city, they would instead encourage residents to follow their bad example. “We expect more from you,” she added. Makatong questioned the workers as to who had given them permission to dump there and offered to…

SEVERAL families were displaced following severe thunderstorms and heavy rain that wreaked havoc in the Ga Segonyana municipal area near Kuruman earlier this week. The most affected areas include Batlharos, Mothibistad, 7 Miles, Magojaneng and Kagung. Roofs of houses were ripped off, walls collapsed, furniture was damaged and the supply of electricity was disrupted after power lines collapsed during the storm on Tuesday. Shacks were also blown away by severe winds while trees were uprooted and several vehicles were damaged. It is reported that the storm erupted on Monday night and carried on until Tuesday morning. It is not known how many houses were destroyed during the storm. The Magojaneng Community Hall was opened as a shelter for those without homes while the municipality continues to work on assisting the…

SO, IT SEEMS as if the lake on the R31 is finally going to be drained. However, the solution being presented does not fill me with enthusiasm. Here’s why … On August 20 last year, this newspaper published a story on its website titled Dept says R31 road is ‘safe’. In that story, the NC’s Department of Roads and Public Works declared the R31 between Kimberley and Barkly West safe for driving purposes but advised motorists to drive with caution in the area. The reason for this is because just a few days earlier an accident had taken place and a 31-year-old truck driver had to be rescued “from drowning in sewage”. Back then, in the same article, the spokesperson for the MEC for Roads and Public Works, Bongani…

A number of traffic officials and SAPS personnel have expressed concern that, in the absence of blood alcohol testing kits, motorists driving under the influence of alcohol in Kimberley and on the Province’s roads might not face any sanction. "We haven't received any blood alcohol testing kits in a number of months and we are not sure why. We can’t use any of the kits that are in the storeroom as they have all expired,” one local traffic official said this week. Another official pointed out that since they lack the necessary equipment, they are unable to perform their duties effectively. "The holiday season is quickly approaching and with it, drinking, partying and drunk driving are all too typical. Since many accidents during this period are caused by drunk drivers,…

EVAN Roos has waited so long for a second Springbok cap that he even packed down in a new position in training ahead of tomorrow’s Test against Italy in Genoa (3pm kick-off). “I can cover at No.7, and if needed at six – and I even scrummed at lock today! I’m a bit short, but if they need me there, I’ll scrum – they must give me 21-inch studs and I’m there … I am trying to focus on eight as my main role, and seven secondary,” the Stormers star said this week. The 22-year-old Roos was one of the stand-out players in the Cape side’s journey to the United Rugby Championship title, and many rugby pundits clamoured for him to go straight into the Bok starting line-up against Wales…

Lewis Hamilton is not dwelling on what happened in the past LEWIS Hamilton returns to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, 11 months on from one of the most rancorous days in Formula One history, insisting he has put the past behind him. His bid for an unprecedented eighth drivers’ world title at the Yas Marina circuit last December was thwarted by a combination of incorrect decisions by race officials, wretched bad luck and the opportunism of Max Verstappen. As a result, while his Mercedes team triumphed in the constructors’ title race for an eighth consecutive season, he was left to digest the outcome of a sporting injustice which has reverberated ever since. But Hamilton, who will be 38 in January, and whose act of congratulating his Dutch rival…