Table of contents for 2024-02-16 in DFA News

LOCAL business owners believe that the R2.2 million that has been allocated to the Diamonds and Dorings Music Festival is not sufficient to host a fully-fledged event. The Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will contribute R1.5 million through its flagship funding programme for the event, which will be held at Langley Pleasure Resort from March 31 to April 1. The cash-strapped Sol Plaatje Municipality will set aside R750 000 towards the event, despite council being advised last week that there would be no financial implications to reviving the event. The Northern Cape Arts and Culture Council this week invited businesses to submit proposals to host the event before the closing date on February 20. The bidding company will be required to self-fund the hosting costs and will…

THE MANAGER of local economic development at Sol Plaatje Municipality, Phetole Sithole, will apply for the chairperson of his disciplinary hearing to recuse himself, as he believes that he is biased. Sithole was charged for the alleged irregular appointment of the municipality’s tourism manager, Neo Poolo, in 2012, as well as for allegedly interfering with a witness in his disciplinary hearing. Sithole, who was the acting director of infrastructure and services at the time of his suspension in April 2023, refused to authorise a R4.2 million payment to a service provider for site establishment at the Roodepan pump station. The payment was processed by the municipal manager in May 2023. Cases were also lodged with the Hawks, the Public Protector and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) regarding a R25 million…

THE KGOSI Galeshewe Athletics club in Kimberley have polished another sporting gem. In a stunning display of prowess and determination, Arthur Jantjies, hailing from Hopetown and running for the Galeshewe club, has emerged as a dominant force in the South African marathon scene, with the young runner recently clinching victories at both the Meerkat Marathon in Kimberley and the Kloppers Marathon in Bloemfontein. Still basking in the glory of his recent successes, Jantjies spoke to the DFA and shared insights into his journey, training regimen, and future aspirations for both readers and aspiring athletes. Reflecting on his journey into the sport, Jantjies reminisced about his high school days, where he dabbled in track and field, albeit briefly. However, it wasn't until the establishment of the Hopetown Running Club in 2018…

11-YEAR-old city learner Kgakgamatso Nolene Jacobs aims to keep the Miss Pre-Teen Universe South Africa crown safe at home in the Northern Cape. Another young Kimberlite, Manqoba Vilakazi, was crowned Miss Pre-Teen Universe SA 2023 and Kgakgamatso is gearing up to defend the crown for the Northern Cape at the 2024 event at the Isibaya Casino in Durban on March 22 to 24. Kgakgamatso, a Grade 6 learner at Riva Academy of Learning, is excited about making it to the final of this year’s event. The proud 11-year-old describes her journey to the final as “a beautiful experience”. She points out that along her journey she learnt that modelling and pageantry are not just about beauty, but also an opportunity to empower young girls and to teach them the importance…

THE RESIDENTS of Vanderkloof in the Renosterberg Local Municipality in the Northern Cape have complained that a lack of emergency medical services (EMS) in the area has become very costly for patients, who have to travel to Kimberley for medical appointments at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital. The residents explained that patients are forced to travel to De Aar, which is about 115 kilometres from Vanderkloof. They then have to overnight in De Aar in order to be transported by the De Aar ambulance to Kimberley. They pointed out that they have to pay for the travel and accommodation expenses in De Aar, as well as for something to eat, from their own pockets. “Vanderkloof has been struggling with a lack of ambulance services for years. The community has been crying…

THE MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Bentley Vass, has indicated that the R1 billion that was allocated for housing projects in the Northern Cape would only see the construction of 600 housing units per year. At the sod-turning ceremony in Roodepan in January, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that 4 000 houses would be built across municipalities in the Province over the next 12 to 18 months. DA provincial chairperson Isak Fritz is meanwhile concerned that the funds that were sourced by the provincial government through a Human Settlements Development Grant and a R600 million loan facility from the National Treasury and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, would attract projected interest payments of R94 million. Members of the Central Northern Cape Business Forum marched to…

A 45-YEAR-old man, John Henry Meiring, was sentenced to eight years in prison by the De Aar Regional Court after he was found in possession of 773 pornographic images of children. Northern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Molefi Shemane said Meiring was arrested on February 22, 2022. “The SAPS Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI), a specialist unit within the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit in the Province, discovered that the accused (Meiring) was in possession of pornographic images of children,” said Shemane. “The accused’s cellphone and hard drives were seized for investigation purposes. During the analysis of the exhibits, 773 pornographic images of children were found on the device.” Shemane added that the investigating officer was commended for helping secure the conviction and sentencing of Meiring.…

THE DEPUTY Minister of Small Business Development, Dipuo Peters, handed over business equipment to 87 informal traders in Kimberley this week. The handover, which was specifically for informal traders in the Sol Plaatje municipal area, took place at the AFM Roepersfontein church in Pescodia. The initiative forms part of the department’s Informal Micro Enterprises Development Programme (IMEDP). The IMEDP is a 100% grant that seeks to grow informal and micro enterprises to their full potential by assisting in improving their competitiveness and sustainability. The programme targets SMMEs that are owned by women, youth and people with disabilities in townships and rural areas of South Africa. A total of 35 of the 87 informal traders that benefited from this week’s handover are from Pescodia. They had participated in a Small Enterprise…

SOL PLAATJE municipal manager Thapelo Matlala has assured city residents that the water supply will be stabilised within the next three to six months, as a result of emergency repairs that started this week. Taps ran dry in the city again on Wednesday as the temperature soared to 41 degrees Celsius, apparently due to low water levels. While Matlala apologised for the “frustrations and suffering” that residents had to endure due to the ongoing water interruptions, he said that the situation was not as bad as other cities that were left without water for days on end. “We are working around the clock to end the nightly shutdowns. For the first time, we will be able to repair leaks, without implementing a city-wide water shutdown, through the use of pipeline…

“WHY don’t we climb to that peak,” my brother-in-law said, pointing to the mountain that loomed over the village where we were staying on the breathtakingly beautiful island of Lantau, which is just a short splash by ferry from Hong Kong Island. By now I had learned that everything in Hong Kong was uphill, but walking up a mountain was a bit of a stretch. However, despite the protests of his wife, my sister, his brother-in-law and myself, he assured us that it was a great idea. What he failed to mention is that Lin Fa Shan on Lantau Island is the seventh highest mountain in Hong Kong, with a height of 766m over a gruelling 8km – that’s eight kilometres of unrelenting and steep ‘up’, and the walk to…

ONCE upon a time, in the quaint city of Sol Plaatje, water flowed like a sluggish stream of mud. The townsfolk, parched and desperate, clung to their empty water buckets, praying for a miracle. But alas, the only thing that flowed freely was the mayor’s eloquence during press conferences. Mayor H2O - yes, that was his actual name - stood before the podium, his tie slightly askew, and his hair glistening with the sweat of responsibility. The crowd leaned in, eager for answers. The mayor cleared his throat, adjusted his glasses, and began: “Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed citizens, and bewildered tourists, I stand before you today to address the water crisis that has plagued our fair city. Fear not, for we have a plan - a brilliant, groundbreaking, and utterly…

THERE'S nothing quite like hopping on a motorcycle, sliding on your gloves, popping your helmet on, and firing up the engine. The sweet tune of the finely-tuned exhaust pipe rumbling inside your helmet is like a solo act hitting all the right notes. Then, as you twist the throttle, you can hear each cylinder in the engine pushing those pistons, creating an explosion that sends shivers down your spine. If you are one of those people who understands the thrill of a motorcycle, then you need to get down to BMW Motorrad Kimberley tomorrow. BMW Motorrad Kimberley is set to unveil the much-anticipated BMW R 1300 GS motorcycle tomorrow at their showroom located in Long Street, starting at 9 am. With a lineage tracing back 43 years to the iconic…

Kimberley Golf Club results for the week of February 7 to 10 and a look ahead to the period of February 16 to 25. Results for the week of February 7 to 10 are: The February 7 KONICA MINOLTA sponsored 18-hole IPS was won by Harry Welham with 42pts. Second was Phillip Maritz on 39pts with Siewert Wiid 3rd on 38pts. Fourth was Gavin van Zyl with 37pts. The Thursday, February 8 KWV Niner was won by Neville Alexander with 26pts. Second was Braam Botes on 24pts and Ant Crozier 3rd with 21pts. The Friday, February 9 Flamingo Niner was won by Donald Whitebooi with 21pts on a count-out over Gavin Williams also with the same score. Ronnie Engelbrecht was third on 18pts also on a count-out over Ricky Joseph…

Following the success of last year’s groundbreaking Diamantveld Cricket Festival, the tournament is set for a bigger, bolder return. The cricket festival, a top-tier high school T20 cricket tournament that was the first-ever school cricket tournament to grace an international cricket field in South Africa was a resounding success and there is no doubt that it left cricket enthusiasts eager for more. And ‘more’ is on its way. This year, in a spirit of camaraderie and with a desire for competition, the Diamantveld Cricket Festival is set to return, and it promises an electrifying showcase of rising talent. Once again collaborating with the Northern Cape Cricket Union, the festival aims to build on the success of its inaugural year, where it captured the hearts of the players and cricket enthusiasts…