Table of contents for 2023-10-20 in DFA News

WITH frustration boiling over due to the lack of employment opportunities, residents of Homelite in Kimberley barricaded the entry roads to the area this week to demonstrate their anger over the non-employment of locals on a paving project. Residents of Haddock Street, Homelite, took to the streets after they discovered that no one from their ward was employed on a local paving project that was supposed to start this week. According to the angry residents, the ward councillor had promised them that only people residing in the area would be employed on the project. “We all welcomed the paving project as that would mean our streets are maintained. We were very excited about the project. The councillor then told residents in this area that only local people would be working…

THE MAN accused of the rape and murder of 11-year-old Relebogile Segami appeared in the Northern Cape High Court in Kimberley earlier this week where he faces 19 charges. Itumeleng Bendow Machabe is facing charges of rape, fraud, crimen injuria, attempted extortion, child pornography, attempted murder and murder. The trial started on Wednesday following postponements on Monday and Tuesday due to the ill-health of the presiding judge. Machabe pleaded not guilty to all 19 charges. Forty witnesses are expected to testify during the trial. The court heard that the accused had been using the surname Bendow and only recently changed his surname to Machabe at the Department of Home Affairs due to a change in his mother’s marital status. Some of the cases that were either voluntarily withdrawn or scrapped…

NOT TOO long ago, I had the pleasure of being visited by someone who once had lived here but had not been to our ‘fair’ city for quite a number of years, and another who had never ever been to Kimberley. Over the course of the few weeks that we travelled in and around the city I listened to the comments about the city and its people. Recently, while corresponding with this couple, we discussed the possibility of them giving their honest opinions about our city; so here is an ‘insider-outsider’s’ perspective on the City that Sparkles. The writer, Karen Gamba calls the following opinion piece, ‘Rediscovering Kimberley: A Journey of Perspective and Renewal’ Karen writes: In the wake of the profound upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic, I embarked on…

THIS past week, I started seriously considering attaching a solid rail to my desk where I work … and maybe one to my office chair. You know, something like some guest houses have in their bathrooms so that their patrons can have something firm to hold on to if they feel themselves teetering off balance. Why? Well, it should be obvious. This week I realised that though we do not realise it, the rotation of the earth must have sped up, and probably by quite a bit. How many of our readers, I wonder, have noticed that instead of a day being 24 hours long as it used to be a few years ago, these days our days are more like eight and sometimes even as little as six hours…

TRICHA Richards, a 14-year-old gymnast from Kimberley's Rhythmia Gymnastics Club, has set the global gymnastics stage ablaze with her exceptional talent and unwavering dedication. Recently representing South Africa at the 2nd Junior World Championships in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, she secured a commendable 8th position worldwide. Tricha's journey to this prestigious event was marked by countless hours of practice and a resolute commitment to excellence, inspiring young athletes to pursue their dreams with passion and perseverance. During the “Prize of Julieta Shishmanova” competition in Burgas, Bulgaria, Tricha's outstanding abilities truly shone, highlighting her remarkable potential and skill. Her accomplishments transcend the boundaries of gymnastics, symbolising the spirit of dedication and excellence. Not only has she brought honour to her country, but she has also elevated the status of the esteemed Rhythmia Gymnastics…

WITH the aim of ensuring that the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination is concluded without any irregularities, Grade 12 learners in the Northern Cape will today undertake the matric exam pledge. Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said the pledge was instituted to ensure that all learners adhered to the rules and regulations of the final exams. “The provincial Department of Education continues to improve appropriate standards and strengthen initiatives to deepen the maturity of the examination assessment system. We have continued to identify and curb threats to mitigate the examination and assessment’s credibility,” said Van der Merwe. “The rationale for making the pledge is to promote ethics, ensure fairness, maintain credibility, encourage responsibility and foster trust in the 2023 NSC examinations. It serves as…

AFRIFORUM'S Kathu branch intervened, at the request of the Gamagara emergency service in the town, to set up a radio tower at the station's control room. This follows devastating fires that damaged the tower, which is essential for radio communication among emergency services in the area. Fires in this area have also destroyed thousands of hectares of grassland and caused millions of rand in damage in the past few months. The local fire brigade called on AfriForum for help when it became clear that radio communication had seriously weakened since the fires and the range of the radios had become extremely limited. The communication tower originally stood at the entrance of the Kathu golf course. Johan Snyman, chairperson of the Kathu branch, and Werner Strauss, AfriForum's co-ordinator for the Northern…

A KIMBERLEY couple almost lost the roof over their heads after they were apparently scammed out of thousands of rand by two employees at a muti shop in the city. According to the woman, she and her husband had to sell their Nissan bakkie and parted with several thousands of rand in cash, amounting to about R30 000, after apparently being promised by the muti shop employees that their wealth would increase. The woman said she fell victim to the promises that her money could be doubled or even tripled after she went to the muti shop to consult about a problem she was experiencing. “I had a problem and thought the people at the muti shop could assist me with solving my problem. I found two foreign national men…

The KGC’s new operations manager envisions creating a holistic golfing experience Amidst the serene landscape of the Northern Cape, the Kimberley Golf Club welcomes a new operations manager, Melvin Geldenhuys. Hailing from Bloemfontein, Melvin's path to this prestigious role is steeped in a rich history of family tradition and an unwavering dedication to the sport of golf. In an exclusive interview with the DFA, Melvin opened up about his personal journey, his aspirations for the Kimberley Golf Club, and his strong ties to the local community. Melvin's golfing journey finds its origin in the legacy of his grandfather, Mel Haddad, the esteemed captain of the Dewetsdorp Golf Club for over 50 years. Introduced to the sport at the tender age of 2, Melvin's affection for golf flourished amid the well-tended…

A POLICE reservist and a municipal employee were arrested for extortion and impersonating a police officer in Postmasburg. Northern Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit (ACIU) arrested the reservist, who was stationed at the Postmasburg police station, and a Tsantsabane municipal employee on October 17 for fraud, extortion and impersonating a police officer. The two men allegedly extorted an undisclosed amount of money from a business owner in Postmasburg in July 2021. "The suspects allegedly posed as police detectives investigating a case of sexual harassment against the complainant and extorted the money from him by promising him to have the case docket disappear," Kock said. “The pair are expected to appear in the Postmasburg Magistrate's Court soon. The police investigation continues.” Kock added that…

NORTHERN Cape man who accidentally hit a six-month-old baby with a stone on the head was sentenced to four years imprisonment for attempted murder. Basie Mock, 39, was trying to intervene in a fight between his neighbours on January 14. He picked up a stone and threw it towards the couple, but the stone struck the couple’s six-month-old baby on the head. "The infant suffered a life-threatening traumatic brain injury. The accused was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment for attempted murder,” said Northern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Molefi Shemane.…

With the conclusion of the 2023 archery season, Africa Genesis Archery – Northern Cape (AGA-NC) took time to reflect on a year of progress and triumph in the Province’s archery landscape. The club’s burgeoning community has witnessed a surge in interest and success, as local archers left their mark at the AGA-SA National Tournament. The national competition saw archers from the Northern Cape demonstrate remarkable skill and determination, considering their relative lack of experience on the national stage. Of the 32 archers representing Northern Cape teams this year, a total of 13 medals were brought home, a remarkable feat that showcases the dedication and talent of these athletes. Lilly Heuwel (Gr.5) stood out, securing the gold in the Gr.5 Female Bull's Eye Category, while Òtniël van Wyk (Gr.6) impressed with…

ON SEPTEMBER 2 1882, Kimberley became the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to install electric street lighting, in what must have been a beacon of hope for many at the time. Now, just over 140 years on, a new light is shining brightly in the city, this time in the world of sports and community development. This bright light is the Rusty Gloves Combat Academy. This establishment has quickly become a source of inspiration and hope in the city as well as further reaches of the province. The DFA recently had the privilege of sitting down with Russell Bindeman, the academy's boxing coach and co-owner, to delve into their mission, programs, and future ambitions of the academy. Nestled within Kimberley’s vibrant sports community and situated at the Boys High…