Table of contents for 2022-02-18 in DFA News

Sandi Kwon Hoo sandi.kwonhoo@inl.co.za A KIMBERLEY resident has been awarded R6.1 million in compensation after she was initially offered a settlement of R739 120.02 by the Road Accident Fund (RAF). Northern Cape High Court Judge Albert Sibongile Nxumalo ruled that Aletta Sauer, 85, from Pescodia, Kimberley, was entitled to compensation of R6.1 million after she was involved in a motor vehicle accident. Sauer is unemployed and was forced to retire from teaching following the accident. Nxumalo instructed the RAF to pay Sauer R5.4 million in addition to the R739 120.02 plus interest that was initially paid out. The accident took place on the N8 between Campbell and Kimberley on April 4, 2014, where Sauer was seated in the passenger seat when the vehicle collided with a kudu. Legal representative advocate…

Sandi Kwon Hoo sandi.kwonhoo@inl.co.za A R400 000 generator that was purchased in 2018 is standing unused at Saambou Plaasskool, which is situated between Upington and Olifantshoek, while the school and hostel struggle without any electricity. Parents of pupils at the school said that the generator was never installed, while there was no money for diesel to run the machine. “Not anyone can connect the generator but who will pay for the services of an electrician? “This is while the school and hostel are left in the dark as there is an outstanding bill with Eskom. It is extremely hot and there are no fans during the hot summer months, making it difficult for pupils to concentrate.” The parents also had numerous other complaints. They said that poisonous snakes were entering…

Sandi Kwon Hoo sandi.kwonhoo@inl.co.za CONTRACTORS and sub-contractors at the Kimberley Nursing College student accommodation construction site have been promised that they will receive their money today. Millions of rand are said to be owed to the contractor, where outstanding payments date back to November last year. Some of the sub-contractors resumed work after it was reported that Treasury had allocated funding for the overdue payments last week, although the Department of Health had not paid out what was due to the contractor. As of yesterday, sub-contractors said that they were still waiting for money to pay their workers. “The workers are hungry and are unable to feed their families.” Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson Lebogang Majaha said that payment had been effected last week. “The money should reflect in…

Sandi Kwon Hoo sandi.kwonhoo@inl.co.za THE ACTING headmaster of Floors High School, Tony Jacobs, appealed to old pupils to assist the school and strengthen the education of future pupils by expanding its infrastructure and academic initiatives through contributing to its Alma Mater fund, during a reunion dinner for the classes of 1970 and 1971 that was held on the weekend. The reunion had to be postponed twice due to Covid-19 restrictions. The function was attended by more than 50 former pupils, many of whom travelled from towns and cities throughout South Africa, as well as overseas, including the former Bishop of the Anglican Church’s Kimberley and Kuruman diocese, Reverend Oswald Swartz, the Bishop Emiratis of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, Reverend Bill Bowels, former Member of Parliament and senior…

Griquas find it ‘funny’ that WP would announce that Stefan Ungerer has to return to the Cape at the end of the season Neville Motlhabakwe neville.motlhabakwe@inl.co.za THE TAFEL Lager Griquas have dismissed DHL Western Province’s recall of flyhalf Stephan Ungerer back to the Western Cape as part of a mind game ahead of their crucial Carling Currie Cup encounter at Tafel Lager Park this evening. Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh said about the recall: “Yes, it's been known for a while that he (Stephan Ungerer) will return to the Cape at the end of the season. “It’s funny they announced it this week when we were playing them. They are playing mind games. Stephan is still with Griquas until the end of the season.” The mind games aside, Bergh said…

Neville Motlhabakwe Sports Reporter KATHU-based Hungry Lions FC will restart their National First Division campaign this Sunday at Tafel Lager Park when they play their 18th game in the Glad Africa League against Platinum City Rovers. Hungry Lions last played an official game last year on December 18 against Venda Football Academy FC who clobbered them 1-0 in Thohoyandou. Quite a climb down That last result shoved the Northern Cape side out of the top eight bracket of the league standings to position 10. This was quite a climb down as the team had at one time owned the topmost spot on the log. Hungry Lions spokesperson Denzil Baitumedi said the team had kept busy during the festive break, including being active on the transfer market. On this latter aspect…

Staff Reporter in Johannesburg The Springboks could be participating in the Six Nations as soon as 2025, if a new report out of the UK is to be believed. Multiple news sites reported this morning that the world champions will be joining the northern hemisphere's premier rugby tournament, replacing Italy in a restructured competition. It is believed, as posted by the Daily Mail, that private equity firm CVC – which has a 365m (about R7.4 billion) stake in the competition – is the driving force behind the incorporation of the Springboks into the Six Nations. On Wednesday, Sanzaar – the inter-union rugby governing body of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina – announced that the Springboks will participate in the Rugby Championship until at least 2025, which will bring…

Sandi Kwon Hoo sandi.kwonhoo@inl.co.za RESIDENTS intend to return to the Britstown Magistrate’s Court in their numbers next week when the accused who was arrested in connection with the murder of 17-year-old Marlene Riempies may apply for bail. A petition was handed over to the State prosecutor on February 14, as the community wants the accused to be kept in custody until the trial is finalised. Outrage has been expressed over the brutal murder, where residents claimed that the deceased could have been raped before she was killed. “Her half-naked body was found, where her underwear was removed and her shoes were lying a distance from her,” said the residents. “When they found her body, her one eye and mouth was open.” Residents indicated that the deceased and her twin sister…

Sandi Kwon Hoo sandi.kwonhoo@inl.co.za THE SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) intends to challenge the appointment of the new municipal manager at Sol Plaatje Municipality in court, as it believes that selection and recruitment processes are not being followed. Candidates are currently being interviewed for the municipal manager position, where the manager in the Speaker’s office, George Mosimane, is believed to be one of the front runners to replace Goolam Akharwaray. Akharwaray’s contract is being extended on a month-to-month basis until the position is filled. Mosimane was previously employed as manager in the office of the mayor and was the spokesperson for former executive mayor Mangaliso Matika, who is currently the ANC regional chairperson. Mosimane listed a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), postgraduate diploma in management and a senior education diploma…

Lance Fredericks AS OF TUESDAY last week, Kimberely has had to do with one less streptopelia capicola. Look, it was a terribly sad misunderstanding, a tragic miscalculation and a terrible misjudgment that led to the streptopelia capicola’s untimely demise. But it could have been avoided. The streptopelia capicola, also known as the Cape turtle dove, or as we used to call it the ‘Tottie’, is quite a common bird. In fact, they are so common that the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List classified this bird species as ‘Least Concern’. But I wonder if they will update this classification after Tuesday’s tragedy. Totties are not very bright; let’s just be honest. I have watched them bullying smaller birds away from the seed in our backyard, but they get…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za SENIOR government officials will receive salary increases of between R1,695 and just over R1,800, as well as adjustments of 1.5% backdated to April last year. According to the Public Servants Association (PSA), members of the senior management service (SMS) will receive a non-pensionable cash allowance of R1,695 for salary levels 13 to 15 while salary level 16 will get R1,818. Additionally, the top public servants' salary scales will be adjusted by 1.5% effective from April 2021, which the union said is in line with the SMS normal pay progression adjustment date. "The PSA believes that the salary adjustments and non-pensionable gratuity will not only assist the employees to mitigate price increases including fuel, food, electricity and the repo rate, but will also partially address the narrowing gap…

Voice Reporter PRINCE Andrew has paid his way out of his sex assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre, after the two reached an out of court settlement. In a letter submitted to court on Tuesday, Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies wrote jointly with the Duke of York’s lawyers to say the parties had “reached a settlement in principle”. The court documents reveal that Andrew – who has always denied the allegations – will make a “substantial donation to Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights”. Giuffre – formerly known as Virginia Roberts – had accused convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who took his own life in 2019, and his one-time girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell of arranging and forcing her into having sex with Andrew, 61, in 2001, when she was just 17.…

Smiso Msomi in Cape Town A spirited Banyana Banyana are putting the final touches on their preparations ahead of crunch battle against Algeria, as both sides look to seal qualification to Africa Women Cup of Nations (Awcon). Banyana might draw strength from their last encounter with the Tennecs – as Algeria are known, also a major tournament qualification sealing match that Banyana convincingly won 5-1 back in 2014. Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies goalkeeper Andile Dlamini believes her team is battle ready, and have enough in their camp to perform to the expected levels over two legs. Dlamini said: “We are mentally prepared for the game. The previous match against Zambia really opened our eyes to a lot of things that we may have been missing.” Algeria have lost just one of…

Ashfak Mohamed in Cape Town SANZAAR chairman Marcelo Rodriguez acknowledged the fact that there “has been much speculation about the future” of the Rugby Championship, and expressed his delight that the tournament has been confirmed until at least 2025. That is when the current broadcasting cycle will end, which has seen lots of conjecture about the Springboks joining the Six Nations – either as a replacement for the perennially under-performing Italy, or as an additional team to make it the Seven Nations. But what is the best outcome for the Boks and SA Rugby going forward? Should they remain in the Rugby Championship, or move over to the Six/Seven Nations? Well, on the surface, it’s clear that SA Rugby want to move into Europe boots and all. The four main…

Sandi Kwon Hoo CHARGES relating to a criminal investigation into funds that went missing from the bank account of Homelite Play Centre crèche have been withdrawn, although a board member is believed to have acknowledged guilt for his involvement during a departmental investigation. The person in question consequently resigned from the board of trustees at the daycare centre, while no money appears to have been recovered. Sources at the crèche indicated that they had difficulty raising funds and attracting donors following the incident where R200 000 was “recklessly gambled away”. “The centre became non-compliant due to this incident and lost all its sources of income including financial assistance from the Department of Social Development.” Police spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam confirmed that a case of theft was registered at the Roodepan…

Sandi Kwon Hoo ORANJE-Oewer Intermediate School in Upington has been without Grade R teachers since the start of the new school year. Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said yesterday that “irregularities and manipulation” were detected during the appointment of four Grade R practitioners at Oranje-Oewer Intermediate School. “The process of the appointment of Grade R practitioners was stopped immediately and our district office is busy engaging the principal and school governing body to finalise this matter,” said Van der Merwe. He added that education assistants had been assigned in the interim to supervise the Grade R classes until the process was concluded. “We regret the situation, but as a department we need to ensure that the correct procedures were all followed to the letter in…

Baldwin Ndaba and Kamogelo Moichela Political Bureau EFF leader Julius Malema has vowed that his party will continue to defend Struggle songs. Addressing party supporters outside the Equality Court sitting in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, Malema said: “We are here to defend the Struggle and revolutionary songs because it has never been about hatred.” Earlier, he had also said that Struggle songs represent a particular course against the apartheid system and to declare them as hate speech meant that the Struggle endured by many during the apartheid-era was futile. Inside the court – in a litigation lodged against him by AFriForum – Malema denied that he had previously sung “Kill the Boer”, and instead maintained he had sung “Kiss the Boer”. AfriForum argued in its court application that…

Ntombi Nkosi and Siyabonga Mkhwanazi Political Bureau PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed concern regarding the escalating public spats between Police Minister Bheki Cele and national police commissioner Khehla Sitole. “The reason why we flighted the notion that there will be changes is precisely to address some of these challenges that we have seen, that are apparent,” Ramaphosa said, commenting on the matter during a media briefing in Cape Town. He added: "It also speaks to what you call the spats between some of the key people, for instance in the police. That too is a manifestation of some of the problems that we have in the police, particularly where people who are supposed to occupy positions are seen to be at odds." According to Ramaphosa, the initiatives that would be adopted…

Crispin Adriaanse Crispin.Adriaanse@africannewsagency.com THE Automobile Association of South Africa says it will not be surprised to see another huge fuel price increase in March, while the East Cape Fuels has projected an above R1 fuel price increase for next month. East Cape Fuels – an Engen sales and distribution company that provides mid-month price estimates – has revealed a predicted increase from R1.23 per litre of fuel. It's projections show the price of fuel will increase as follows: Diesel 50ppm – R1.37 per litre increase Unleaded petrol (ULP) 95 – R1.24 p/l increase Unleaded petrol (ULP) 93 – R1.23 p/l increase Paraffin – R1.31 p/l increase The result could mean a litre of diesel rising to just under R19.50, ULP 93 to more than R21.10 and ULP 95 to just…

Ashfak Mohamed in Cape Town Early last year, David Meihuizen was on Scotland’s ‘South African watch’, as he was already qualified through his mother and grandfather. He would’ve joined an increasing lengthening list of local players who would make their way to Edinburgh and play Test rugby, but he opted to remain at Western Province. It was a real pity, then, when an ankle injury against Griquas in Kimberley last August kept him out of action until recently – and Province lost 46-25 on that day too. A different outcome So, Meihuizen hopes for a different outcome upon his return to the Northern Cape capital for tomorrow’s Currie Cup encounter (7pm kick-off). “I actually made my Currie Cup debut up there three years ago, and it’s always a challenge to…

EDWARD Mothibi gasped in disbelief and Gift Kelehe voiced his disappointment at what he felt was a “downgrading” of the Comrades Marathon as the greatest ultramarathon following the announcement yesterday that the prize money for winning this year’s race will be R260,000. Mothibi, who banked a cool R500,000 for his victory in the last normal running of the event termed the Ultimate Human Race, could not hide his surprise at hearing that he would be paid nearly half of that to “defend” his title. Kelehe, a champion in 2015, questioned the logic behind the Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) decision to cut down the prize money while incredibly asking athletes to pay 100% more than they did in registering for the 2020 race that had to be cancelled due to the…

Stuart Hess in Johannesburg The Proteas had no other option but to look ahead to ‘tomorrow’, the sun rising and hopefully better fortunes for them in the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch. Day one couldn’t have gone much worse – so there’s no point in mulling over it. “Tomorrow is another day. We are still in the game, there’s so much cricket to be played,” Duanne Oliver remarked after play yesterday. It was a phrase he would repeat more than once over the course of his eight minute press conference. And it’s understandable. South Africa would rather leave day one on day one and get on with what they have to do Friday to repair the mess created on day one. Lungi Ngidi missed out because of an…