Table of contents for 2024-05-17 in DFA News

SUPPORTERS of the #JusticeforMandy campaign will return to court in Kimberley tomorrow when murder accused Alberto Matthews is expected to apply for bail. Matthews allegedly shot his ex-wife, Mandy Bailey, 43, in the presence of her nine-year-old daughter at her home in Main Road, Beaconsfield, on December 27, 2023. He previously abandoned his right to apply for bail in January. Matthews appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court earlier this week where his bail application was postponed due to the unavailability of the investigating officer. Bailey was employed as a senior state accountant for salary administration at the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta). Bailey’s eldest daughter, Erin Cupido, stated that her family was living in fear. “I am angry and hurt over my mother’s death. Our…

THIS year marks the fifth anniversary of the REISA Business Incubation Hub in Kathu, a significant initiative that has become a cornerstone of the Gamagara business community. Launched in June 2019, the hub was established to foster local enterprise development and stimulate job creation in the region. In the span of five years, the hub has extended its support to 50 local businesses, with an emphasis on inclusivity, of which 50% of these businesses are owned by local youth and 56% by female entrepreneurs. This support has catalysed the creation of over 40 jobs and propelled the enterprises to report an almost 140% increase in gross profit. The statistics underscore the hub's pivotal role in cultivating a vibrant local business ecosystem and championing the development of small, medium, and micro-sized…

IT WAS the froth that proved to us that we were loved as children. Yes indeed, when the tea was served with froth, we knew people cared. I remember my granny, standing at the kitchen door pouring the tea from one cup to another to cool it. When she served the beverage it was just the right temperature … and lekker frothy! OK, for the record, I no longer drink tea, I cannot afford condensed milk and I don’t enjoy sugar any more, but the memories of that sweet, frothy, creamy tea still occupies a happy corner of my heart. And for those wondering, NO, I never cut out sugar because of any health concerns. One day, scrolling through Social Media, I stumbled across a “No Sugar Challenge” where you…

TOYOTA Kimberley has once again demonstrated its commitment to uplifting local institutions by handing over two essential transport vehicles to Eureka Primary School in a heartwarming display of community support. This gesture, part of Toyota’s long standing community involvement programme, signifies a deep-seated dedication to the betterment of education and youth development. Dewald Oberholzer, representing Toyota Kimberley, expressed the company’s enduring partnership with Eureka Primary, emphasising that this donation is not merely a one-off act of kindness but a continuation of their ongoing support. “Toyota decided to take hands with Eureka a long while ago,” he told the DFA, “And this is just another commitment to show our unwavering support for their noble endeavours.” The significance of Toyota’s contribution was echoed by Etienne Venter, the principal of Eureka Primary, who…

Griquas must not allow Cheetahs to spoil their SA Cup home final plans The SA Cup is approaching its decisive phase, and this evening will witness the top four teams on the competition log battling it out. The two finalists, along with the venue for the final, will emerge by day’s end. The Suzuki Griquas, currently leading the table, will face off against the fourth-placed Toyota Cheetahs. In a critical encounter, the Northern Cape team will travel to their Central Region neighbours. Despite not being able to reach the final themselves, the hosts aim to upset the top-ranked Griquas and, in the process, do the Airlink Pumas a significant favour. Should the Cheetahs win and deny Griquas any log points, the Pumas can still finish at the top of the…

A 48-YEAR-old Northern Cape mother, Sielja Konstabel, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment after she was convicted of stabbing her 12-year-old daughter. The incident occurred after the child ate her mother’s food. Northern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam said the incident occurred in Fraserburg on August 21, 2021. “The Fraserburg Regional Court heard how the accused, who is the victim’s mother, was furious that the child ate her food and stabbed the victim in the left shoulder. The victim fled and reported the incident to the local police. The accused was subsequently arrested,” said Sam. “The court imposed a seven-year prison sentence for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH), which was suspended for five years on condition that the accused does not commit a similar crime.…

ALMOST 50 000 online admission applications for Grade R, 1 and 8 were received by the Northern Cape Department of Education before the application process closed at midnight of May 15. Department spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said the department is satisfied with how the application process concluded. “This represents a total 23 453 unique learners who applied for schooling in Grade R, 1 and 8 for the 2025 school academic year. The department is satisfied with the manner in which our admission teams at the provincial office, district offices and walk-in centres were able to capture and record applications from the public,” said Van der Merwe. He added that the applications for Grade 8 placement for next year were lower than expected. “We are particularly concerned about the low…

GOOD Party Northern Cape representative Santa Johnson has accused the police of making a forced entry into her husband’s tavern in Roodepan and breaking open the safe and locks. Witnesses reported that a person suspected of dealing drugs was arrested at a residence adjacent to the tavern in Dassievoel Street, which was also subjected to a police raid, last week. “We allowed the police access and they left after making use of the restrooms,” said Johnson. Johnson stated that the police returned and they broke the lock and damaged the gate in order to gain access to the premises. “I advised them that it was impossible to hide drugs inside a speaker. The safe was also damaged.” She indicated that her husband was still waiting for a case number for…

IN A HEART-warming display of community support and philanthropy, Halsted Kimberley, in collaboration with the finalists for Mr and Miss Diamantveld High School, hosted a charity golf day at the Kimberley Golf Club on Wednesday. The event aimed to raise funds for the ‘Women to Women’ organisation, a beacon of hope for victims of gender-based violence and femicide in the Kimberley community. Holes at the prestigious golf club were sold for R2,000 each, allowing businesses to prominently display their logos and support for the cause. A total of 12 holes were snapped up by local businesses eager to contribute to this noble cause. The driving force behind this initiative were Corné Smith and Zoé-Lee Zondagh, finalists for Mr. and Miss Diamantveld. Their dedication to community service led them to select…

The Mighty Reds Football Club has clinched the title of the Frances Baard Hollywood Bets Men’s Regional League champions for the 2023/24 season. This marks their second consecutive league victory for the club, formed in 2018 and based in Warrenton, solidifying their position as a dominant force in regional football. Last Sunday the team was crowned champions after their 3-1 play-off victory over Falcon City at Vaal Rivier School in Barkly. Club Chairman Mothusimang Letsholo expressed pride and gratitude, emphasising the team’s sacrifice, discipline, and consistency after the Frances Baard branch of the South African Football Association crowned Mighty Reds. “This victory is not just about the final score,” said Letsholo. “It’s about the journey and the memories we’ve created along the way.” Mighty Reds’ rise began in 2018, leading…

Kimberley Golf Club results for the week of May 8-11 and a look ahead to the period of May 22 to 25. Results for the week of May 8-11 2024 are: The Wednesday, May 8 Darsha sponsored 18-hole IPS competition was won by Phillip Maritz on 37 pts. Second was Stephan V Heerden with 37 pts over 3rd placed Jacques Gouws on 34 pts. The Thursday, May 9 KWV sponsored Niner with power play options was won by Braam Botes on 22 pts with Johan Herselman 2nd with 22 pts counting out 3rd placed Faried Richards on 22 pts. The Saturday, May 11 Beefmaster Club Championships sponsored 36-hole competition was won by Bradley De Beer in the A-Divison with 144 Gross, Peter Salo in the B-Division with 161 gross…

THE PREMIER of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, has come under fire for being “dismissive” of the city’s endless infrastructure and service delivery problems during a recent interview with Carte Blanche. During the interview, Saul remarked that “you could even need 500 years” to upgrade the city’s ailing infrastructure - where sewage is overflowing in the streets, including the street outside his home. He added that the smell of sewage that permeated the air was the price paid for connecting previously disadvantaged communities to bulk infrastructure services. “The sewerage pipeline was designed in 1947 for 16 000 white households. Provincial government is currently providing decent sanitation and clean running water to 72 000 coloured and black households in Kimberley,” said Saul. “This is a problem confronted by all metro…

OPERATION Fiela will host another community imbizo at the Phuthanang soccer grounds on May 24 in an effort to rally support for its programmes. This is after the crime-fighting organisation hosted what they regarded as a successful community imbizo earlier this month. The imbizo targets the communities of Phuthanang, Snake Park and Promise Land, which are wards 15, 16 and 32. Reverend Thabiso Louw said the imbizo will be held in partnership with the Consumer Protection Authority. He said they have also extended an invitation to the SAPS as its involvement is crucial. According to Louw, Operation Fiela is a community-established crime-fighting group that was established in 2021 as a non-governmental organisation (NGO). It voluntarily tackles issues of drug trafficking, illegal foreigners and illegal foreign-owned businesses within communities.…

AN EDUCATOR who was dismissed from Homevale High School in 2017 is seeking millions in compensation from the Department of Education. Legal representative, advocate Albert Eillert, said Rentia McGalty was claiming past damages of R1.5 million for loss of income and employment as well as future losses amounting to R10 million. McGalty testified in the Northern Cape High Court earlier this week that there were no prospects of being employed by the state following her dismissal. “I was informed that my South African Council of Education (SACE) registration is no longer valid and that I was removed from the roll of educators.” She added that the Educators Labour Relations Council (ELRC) had found grounds that she had been unfairly dismissed. McGalty stated that the chief director of operations at the…

THE FAMILY of Sol Plaatje Municipality electrical assistant Enrico Jose Convivious, 40, who died after sustaining severe burn injuries when the Hercules Street sub-station exploded, believes that he might have survived if he had been provided with the proper safety gear. Convivious and three colleagues were attending to a cable fault at the sub-station in Herlear at the time of the incident on Monday. Sol Plaatje Municipality electrician Faiek Adams was also fatally injured after sustaining severe burn injuries while working at the Aviva mini sub-station in Hillcrest, which caught fire in 2022. South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) members staged a protest at the council yard on Wednesday this week over the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), where they indicated that workers were being exposed to dangerous working…

NEWTON Primary School recently brought the curtain down on their rugby season after, this year, solidifying their reputation as the premier sporting primary school in the Northern Cape. The team’s outstanding performance throughout the season was marked by impressive scores and exceptional teamwork, showcasing the skill and dedication of both the players and coaching staff. This year, Newton Primary’s rugby team demonstrated their prowess on the field, consistently outplaying their opponents with a combination of strategic gameplay and athletic excellence. The hard work and discipline of the players were evident in every match, reflecting the school’s commitment to fostering a strong sporting culture. The season’s success is a testament to the robust sports programmes at Newton Primary, which emphasise not only physical fitness but also teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. The…

The Blade Health and Wellness Lupus Classic Cycling event, held recently in Kimberley, not only drew attention to the challenges faced by those living with Lupus but also celebrated the spirit of community and support among cyclists from near and far. The event kicked off early last Saturday morning at the Flamingo Casino, where approximately 200 cyclists took on either the 40- or 90-kilometre challenges. The DFA spoke to Rudy van der Schyff, a cyclist all the way from Cape Town. Van der Schyff expressed his admiration for the event, emphasising the warmth of the Kimberley community. “One of the members in the club from Kimberley invited me to come up, so I decided to attend and also bring the wife along, and we made a weekend of it. “The…