Table of contents for 2023-06-09 in DFA News

THE HARTSWATER police are investigating after a man was mauled to death and another attacked by three Rottweiler dogs in Bonita Park, Hartswater. The police confirmed that they are investigating a case of negligently allowing/failure to prevent an animal to cause injury to another person following the incident on May 27. The dogs reportedly ran through an open gate and attacked the two victims, before dragging one of them, Lenard Klaas Julies, 78, into the yard where they “tore his body apart”. Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the incident happened at about 7pm. “It is alleged that two male pedestrians were attacked by three Rottweilers in Erasmus Street, Hartswater. The 78-year-old male died on the scene while the other adult male is still in hospital receiving medical treatment,” said…

WITH the aim of improving grass-root literacy, the John Taolo Gaetsewe Development Trust handed over a newly constructed preschool to the residents of Ellendale Village in the Joe Morolong Local Municipality. Boutlwile Preschool is equipped with three classrooms, two storerooms, ablution facilities, a kitchen, a staff room and a principal’s office, as well as a shade net. The CEO of the trust, Tumelo Mpolokeng, said the donation is to lay a sturdy foundation in literacy in the district. “It is imperative to get the foundation right, hence our immense contribution towards preschool in our district. We have built preschools in other areas like Kagung, Ntsweng, Segwaneng, Maphiniki and Churchill. Education takes the highest share of our budget, and together with the Northern Cape Department of Education we will continue to…

Santiago Jocker, a Grade 9 learner at Northern Cape High School; Vuyiswa Dikgetsi, a Grade 9 learner; and Tricha Richards, a Grade 8 learner, both from St Patrick’s CBC, have displayed skills and dedication and therefore have been selected to represent their club and country at the prestigious 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics International Pharaohs Cup. Santiago and Vuyiswa will be representing their club, while Tricia will be going one better and have the honour of representing her country. The competition in Egypt is set to captivate audiences from June 9-11. Cairo, with its rich history and vibrant culture, will serve as the backdrop for this highly anticipated event. The Rhythmia gymnasts, along with other elite athletes from around the world, will have the opportunity to face-off in competition and compete…

THE NORTHERN Cape Basketball Association is gearing up to host the highly-anticipated Under-18 Provincial Trials this weekend at the Sivos Sports Park in Kathu. The trials will serve as a platform for young basketball players to showcase their skills and vie for a spot on the Northern Cape Under-18 teams. Registration for the trials will begin promptly at 10am, and aspiring athletes from across the province are expected to converge at the Sivos Sports Park, eager to make their mark on the basketball court. Both girls and boys will have the opportunity to participate, as the association aims to field two well-rounded teams to represent the Northern Cape at the upcoming National Under-18 Championships scheduled to take place in Bloemfontein from July 2-7. The championships will bring together talented young…

RETIRED Kimberley magistrate Smit du Plessis has filed an application to have charges that have been brought against him by way of a private prosecution to be struck off the roll. Du Plessis appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court this week on charges of fraud, perjury and defeating the ends of justice. Du Plessis was the presiding officer in a case dating back to 1998 involving charges that were brought against Freddy Witbooi, the chairperson of the Northern Cape Civics Organisation Ross Henderson and Itumeleng Jack Moroka, relating to a stolen cheque. The private prosecution is being pursued by Moroka, who alleges that Du Plessis was not legally appointed by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development or a delegated official to preside over their trial during 2007 to 2009,…

THE VISSER family in Kimberley has been left shattered after the entire CV Houtwerke, a furniture manufacturing business, was destroyed during a fire that broke out during the early hours on May 23. It is believed that the fire broke out during a suspected burglary that went wrong. The family revealed that furniture worth about R600 000 was destroyed, as well as material and office equipment along with the building. The business was managed by the family, in which they all invested their hopes and dreams. Two workers were employed in the company after it was established by Conrad Visser back in 2008. The family said the business was not insured as the owner had to cancel the insurance in order to cover his medical costs. The daughter of the…

SOL PLAATJE Municipality councillors have recommended that only five percent of debts owed by White City residents in Roodepan and Ward 7 and Ward 17 property owners residing near Thlageng dam in Galeshewe should be deducted from the R5 million claim that will be paid out for damages caused to their homes by flooding and inadequate storm drainage. Residents lost belongings and their furniture was damaged during the floods in White City, while the properties of homeowners living near Tlhageng dam are continually submerged during heavy rains. It was initially proposed that a maximum of 50 percent of the outstanding debts owed to the municipality be deducted from the settlements paid out. Sol Plaatje executive mayor Kagisho Sonyoni pointed out that residents had been waiting for three years for compensation,…

THE VENUE is the same, the teams are the same, and the stakes are similarly high as last year’s Currie Cup final. What we are saying is that the shootout between Griquas and the Pumas this afternoon is a knock-out game in all but name. Griquas, who were outstanding against a DHL Western Province team packed with URC players, will be in the top four if they win, while a Pumas win with a bonus point will be enough to make sure of third spot, and any win – because it will knock out Griquas’ chances – will be enough for the Pumas to at least make the top four. So the stage is set for an exhilarating clash at Windhoek Draught Park, and Griquas, following their impressive victory over…

IT TAKES a special kind of passion, many people would call it ‘madness’, to run almost 90 kilometres in a single day. But in a remarkable display of dedication and determination, 17 talented runners from Kimberley Harriers Running Club are preparing to do just that when they participate in the historic 96th edition of the Comrades Marathon on Sunday, June 11th. The Kimberley club’s athletes have trained hard and, more importantly, have mentally prepared themselves for this, the ultimate test of endurance. The Comrades Marathon, an iconic ultra-marathon held annually in South Africa, will start at Pietermaritzburg City Hall and conclude at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. The official distance of this year’s race is 87.701 kilometres. The Comrades has a rich history dating back to 1921. The race demands both…

THE FRANCES Baard District Department of Education has launched an investigation into an incident where an education care and support assistant at Thabane High School in Kimberley was allegedly assaulted by the principal and his two deputies. The education assistant, Keotshepile Kowa, opened criminal charges against the school officials after he stated that he was forcefully removed from the school and accused of trespassing. He said he is also in possession of video footage of the incident. Kowa stated that he had to undergo a disciplinary hearing on June 2, where he handed in a letter explaining why the matter could not proceed. He alleged that when he left the principal's office he was assaulted by the principal and his two deputies. He stated that the principal had given him…

SIYANCUMA municipal officials Sonja Morolong and Boitumelo Sehako are expected to be sentenced in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on June 15 after they lost an appeal against their convictions this week. The matter was postponed in the special commercial crimes court yesterday after acting Northern Cape High Court Judge Sieberhagen dismissed an application to appeal their convictions. Morolong was appointed as a salary clerk but had requested to be moved to the human resources department, while Sehako was her immediate supervisor. They are still in the employment of the municipality. They were charged with fraud and money laundering in the regional court on November 11, 2018. Morolong was found guilty of corruption, while both accused were convicted on 23 charges of fraud. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges. Morolong…

I MAY have mentioned it before but my desk, in my home office, is a disaster area. Every now and again – every month or so, that is – I look at the clutter and anarchy on the desk and I decide to tidy it up. It takes a while, but finding things like my lost floss and missing tin of Zam-Buk makes it a worthwhile exercise. I always find myself wondering why I didn’t just return the floss to my toiletry bag and trying to remember if I actually sat in front of my workstation flossing. Yuck! The floss question is still a mystery; that along with what the Zam-Buck was for. However, I hasten to add, that in all the chaos, I know exactly where everything is on…

A TOP of the table clash is on the cards when the Kimberley Rugby Club (KRC) gears up for the big showdown against Douglas Rugby Club at the Kimberley Rugby Club’s home ground in West End tomorrow (Saturday). With just one point separating the two teams in the league standings, this battle promises to be nothing short of brutal, with the outcome of the game determining where the final will be played; adding an extra layer of significance to the encounter. Should KRC emerge victorious, the final will be hosted at their home ground, Kimberley. However, if Douglas manages to secure a win, KRC will have to hit the road and travel to Douglas for the League final. KRC currently sits atop the league with an impressive 46 points, closely…

FOLLOWING on the success of the last 3Di archery event held at the Big Hole driving range in April, another sanctioned national 3Di archery event has been granted by the African Bowhunting Organization (ABO). The event will be held at the scenic game farm Tarentaalrand Safari Lodge on August 26 and 27 and promises to be a real treat for competing archers, with a great venue well suited for the sport. Tarentaalrand Safari Lodge is situated just 20 kilometres from Kimberley on the Boshof Road. A wonderful venue with a petting zoo for children and a lion feeding tour, as well as all the amenities such as a pool, a restaurant with a pub, and accommodation for those wishing to spend a night or two in the silence of nature.…