Table of contents for 2025-03-14 in DFA News

AN INVITATION has been extended to “embattled” Afrikaner farmers who do not want to uproot themselves and immigrate to America, to instead choose Orania in the Northern Cape as their new home. Orania Movement chief executive officer Joost Strydom stated that none of their residents intend to become American refugees in response to US President Donald Trump’s invitation. “We are grateful that the Afrikaner culture has received international recognition, but the Northern Cape is our home. There are problems all over the world and we have taken it upon ourselves to find a solution and ensure food security in the country,” said Strydom. He noted that white farmers felt marginalised, while young farmers were immigrating to secure better opportunities abroad. “South Africans are sought-after, as they are hardworking. However, the…

RAPE accused Douglas Mthukwane has been declared fit to stand trial, according to the findings of a psychiatric evaluation report. Mthukwane is charged with raping a 14-year-old girl and two other women between 2016 and 2019. He was sent for a 30-day psychiatric observation in August 2024 to determine if he could be held legally responsible for his actions. He appeared in the Northern Cape High Court this week. Senior State advocate Adele van Heerden indicated that the psychiatric evaluation found that Mthukwane had the capacity to follow court proceedings and that he was able to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions. Mthukwane’s legal representative, Renier Pieterse, stated that while the defence accepted the findings, his client was "unhappy with things mentioned in the report", whereupon the chief psychiatrist at…

At the recent Northern Cape Provincial All-Styles Development Karate Trials held in Kimberley, nine karateka from the Neko Ashi Dojo emerged as a force to be reckoned with, with an impressive haul of medals. The air was filled with anticipation at the trials as young warriors stepped onto the tatami, ready to prove their mettle. The trials, held on February 15, were designed to assess and prepare karatekas for the prestigious All-Styles National Development Championships scheduled for August. For the nine karateka representing Neko Ashi, this was more than just a competition – it was a chance to showcase the discipline, precision, and indomitable spirit that define their dojo. Under the watchful eye of Sensei Gilbert Isaka, a 4th Dan black belt and the driving force behind Neko Ashi Dojo,…

WHILE three out of the four accused will serve lengthy sentences for the brutal murders of the Brand family, it is cold comfort for the surviving family members, whose lives were left shattered. Danie Brand, 83, his wife Elizabeth “Breggie”, 73, and their daughter Elzabie, 54, sustained blunt and sharp force trauma to their heads, faces and bodies when they were tied up, assaulted and strangled. The deceased were transported from their smallholding near Hartswater in two vehicles stolen from the farm. The bodies of Danie and Elzabie were abandoned under different trees in the veld. Breggie was strangled to death and her body was concealed in a cave near a natural spring. Three of the accused – Donald Seoleseng, 25, Tshepo Visagie, 43, and Tshepaone Melato, 24 – were…

IT STARTED as a whisper – an uneasy murmur among residents who noticed garbage drifting along the Orange River’s current. Then came the undeniable evidence: plastic bags entangled in reeds, animal carcasses washing ashore, and the unmistakable stench of decay. For Northern Cape communities along the river, this wasn’t just an environmental issue – it was a crisis unfolding before their eyes. AfriForum has raised the alarm about the deteriorating state of landfills in several Northern Cape towns, including Kimberley, Upington, Prieska, Kamieskroon, Williston and Springbok. In an unsettling revelation, a municipal worker in Prieska allegedly admitted that the Siyathemba Municipality had ordered him to dump raw waste directly into the Orange River. “The waste flows downstream to other towns and eventually into the ocean. It’s an environmental catastrophe waiting…

ANY STUDENT will tell you that when faced with a required reading list for a course, or the requirements of an assignment, the first instinct is to run away – far away. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when facing a challenge that resembles a mountain. And when things get tough – let’s face it, we’re human – we try to find a way to avoid the obstacle in our path and find the easiest route to ease, comfort, a state of rest. However, in Japan, students follow a revolutionary approach to challenges. It’s called the Kaizen method of study. Kaizen encourages continuous improvement and problem-solving. It involves creating routines and habits, and establishing clear expectations. Students can establish routines and habits to help them overcome laziness and become more tenacious.…

THE PHRASE “If it ain't broke, don’t fix it” was first coined by Thomas Bertram Lance. And with a name like that, he must have been a really wise man. (Insert tongue in cheek) But what happens when something is broken, and instead of fixing it, you keep pretending it works? That’s where the ‘Dead Horse Theory’ comes in. According to the wisdom of the Dakota Indians, when you realise that you're riding a dead horse, the best thing to do is dismount. Simple, right? That’s wisdom. But the Dead Horse Theory goes in the other direction. People often do the opposite of just getting off the dead horsey. Instead of accepting the obvious, they try everything else – buying a new saddle, improving the horse’s diet, swapping the rider,…

The SA Cup, established in 2024 to bridge the gap between pre-season and the Carling Currie Cup Premier and First Division competitions, has already proven its worth as a high-intensity rugby tournament. The inaugural champions, Suzuki Griquas, set the tone for their title defence with a commanding 66-7 victory over the Leopards in their opening match. Griquas, who lifted the first-ever SA Cup trophy last season after an unbeaten run culminating in a 46-24 triumph over the Airlink Pumas in the final, are determined to maintain their dominance. They will face strong competition in 2025, with teams like the NovaVit Griffons, Toyota Cheetahs, Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, Valke, Leopards, Phangela SWD Eagles, Eastern Province, and Border Bulldogs all vying for a spot in the top four. The top four teams will…