Table of contents for 2024-07-19 in DFA News

THE FAMILY of Ntobizonke Nkone, whose body was found in a water-filled ditch near Snake Park, are steadfastly refuting the recent autopsy results that point to a drowning. The Kagisho police opened an inquest after her body was retrieved by forensic pathologists on April 16 but found that no foul play was suspected. Family members stated that justice would not be served if Nkone’s partner was not called in for questioning. Siyabonga Nteta said that there were too many questionable circumstances shrouding his mother’s death. “We have overwhelming suspicions about who killed her. My mother’s partner usually visited her on a daily basis but was nowhere to be found following her death. He was seen wearing her jacket two weeks ago,” said Siyabonga. “My mother’s half-naked body was found with…

ANC PROVINCIAL secretary Deshi Ngxanga has knocked on the door of the SAPS provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, after being “publicly humiliated” in an extortion and defamation case that appeared to have reached a dead end. The charges arise from allegations made against him by an offender serving a life sentence for the murders of Danielskuil DA councillor Johannes Baaitjies and his business partner Jeffrey Nouse. The offender threatened to expose “ANC top dogs” who allegedly orchestrated the killings. Ngxanga expressed his dissatisfaction when he received no feedback after opening a case at the Kimberley police station in March. “No progress was reported. I went to the police station only to find out that the docket was with the brigadier. The investigating officer took me to the office of the…

GO ON, admit it, getting out of a warm bed on these icy winter mornings is not pleasant at all. Then let’s all agree that there’s nothing – NOTHING – better than comfort food, whatever that comfort may be. As for exercise, who wants to exercise in winter when all that makes sense is to cuddle up with that soft, fleecy blanky with lots of tasty delights – usually sweet, sticky or greasy – in a big bowl, and binge watch your favourite series? Having said that, a friend of mine told me that, be it summer, winter, springtime or autumn, he diligently does five sit-ups every morning. Yes, I know it doesn’t sound like much, but he also tells me that there’s only so many times that you can…

AS THE man convicted of murdering 29-year-old Ashwin Malan, who is also a former parolee, appealed to the Northern Cape High Court to avoid a potential life sentence, the victim’s mother testified that her son’s killer had effectively sentenced her to a life without parole. Stephanie Cloete provided testimony during the mitigation phase of the trial for the two men, Derrick Fyvers and Marlon Koopman, who were accused of murdering her son at her guest house on September 8, 2016. Fyvers was convicted as the shooter and also faces charges of illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Despite this, he maintains his innocence, claiming he did not kill the victim. His co-accused, Koopman, was convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances. Cloete emotionally…

Without their enthusiastic supporters in the stands, the match against the Lions in Johannesburg will take all the grit that Griquas can muster in a hostile environment THE THIRD round of the 2024 Carling Currie Cup kicks off this weekend with the Suzuki Griquas up in Johannesburg facing an unbeaten and confident Golden Lions team, bent on extending their winning streak. Griquas, for their part, have self-belief after they pulled off a brilliant come-from-behind win against a Springbok-boosted Sharks XV in Kimberley last week. The team knows they will need to dig deep again today against a youthful and confident Lions outfit. In a press briefing earlier this week, Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh emphasised the significance of their recent victory against the Hollywoodbets Sharks, describing it as a crucial…

A DRAMATIC and heroic rescue operation unfolded in Kimberley this week after a police horse fell into a deep water-filled hole in Carters Glen, capturing the hearts of the local community as they lauded the responders. The incident, which occurred at around 10am on Tuesday, saw the combined efforts of the Sol Plaatje Emergency Services and community volunteers, who worked tirelessly for over an hour and a half to save the horse. The horse, named ‘Moonlight’, slipped into a hole over two metres deep, which was also filled with water. The accident happened while members of the Kimberley Mounted Unit were conducting patrols in the Carters Glen area. According to police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers, the hole was not visible due to sand and grass covering it. “On the corner…

THE MEC for the Department of Roads and Public Works, Fufe Makatong, and the head of department, Dr Johnny MacKay, donated school shoes to pupils at Vlakfontein Primary School and laptops to teachers at Baitiredi Technical and Combined School as part of Mandela Day celebrations. She said that the teachers’ laptops were stolen during a break-in at the school earlier this year. The MEC also assisted at the home of a mother who was left homeless along with her two children after her house was destroyed by a fire in Gantathelang village. “The family lost their clothes, food and household furniture. The fire at the house, especially during winter, is really heartbreaking. Upon receiving the message, I instructed a team from the department to restore the dignity of the family.…

IN A HEART-warming display of community spirit, the Kimberley Harriers Running Club is gearing up to host a special 4.9-kilometre Mandela Day fun run and walk. The eagerly anticipated event is dedicated to supporting Yonder and individuals living with intellectual disabilities, embodying the true spirit of Mandela Day. Scheduled for tomorrow, the event will kick off at 3pm at the Yonder festive area. The organisers have put out a heartfelt plea to the community to join in and show their support. Entry to the event is uniquely structured around donations, inviting participants to contribute clothing, toiletries or cash, with every bit of the proceeds going directly to Yonder. Participants of all ages and fitness levels are welcome to join the fun run and walk, making it a family-friendly affair. The…

LAST weekend marked the beginning of an opportunity for aspiring football players to showcase their skills and vie for a spot in the prestigious ABC Motsepe League. De Beer’s Stadium was abuzz with excitement as Falcon City Football Club hosted soccer trials that attracted over 100 aspiring footballers from around Kimberley. The trials will conclude this coming weekend – tomorrow and Sunday, July 20 and 21 – at the Galeshewe Artificial Ground. Sessions will run from 9am to 1pm each day. The goal is to select the best players who will represent Falcon City in the ABC Motsepe League that kicks off in August. Lucas Shaka Motsemme, the chairman of Falcon City Football Club, expressed his satisfaction with the talent on display at the trials. “The talent that took part…

LOTS of eyebrows were raised when the Springboks picked four scrumhalves and just two recognised hookers for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. That decision seemed to backfire when Malcolm Marx’s tournament ended prematurely with a season-ending knee injury. But instead of calling up another hooker, the Boks called up flyhalf Handre Pollard into the squad. The rest, as we know, is history, as Pollard kicked the Springboks to World Cup glory while veteran flank Deon Fourie put in one of the great performances off the bench in a World Cup final at hooker with only one properly functioning shoulder. Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus likes players who can thrive in multiple positions on a rugby field. It’s why some of the four scrumhalves featured at flyhalf and wing during the World…

KIMBERLEY’S own powerlifting powerhouse, Ricardo Fitzpatrick, has added another gold medal to his collection at the recently concluded second Asia/Pacific/Africa Classic and Equipped Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships. Held from July 4-13, this prestigious event saw participation from 11 countries, with a total of 151 competitors showcasing their strength and determination. The championships, sanctioned by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), featured four main events: the classic and equipped bench press and the classic and equipped powerlifting. To ensure the legitimacy of any records set, international referees and a three-person jury, also comprising international referees, oversaw the competition. Ricardo competed in the 83 kilogramme division, where he not only secured a gold medal but was also declared the third-best in his division’s Master 1 class. His outstanding performance earned him the…

KIMBERLEY'S own Nosipho Khumari, a student at Sol Plaatje University, recently represented South Africa with distinction at the Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association (CUCSA) Region V Games. The football tournament took place at the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria as part of the CUCSA Games that ran from July 8 to 12. Nosipho's performance was nothing short of spectacular, as she played a crucial role in the national university squad's success. In the finals against Botswana, she managed to score two pivotal goals, one of which was a remarkable header. Her contribution was instrumental in securing a 3-0 victory for her team, bringing pride not only to her university but also to her hometown of Kimberley. Reflecting on her achievement, Nosipho told the DFA, “It only started…

AS BUSINESSES and Kimberley residents rolled up their sleeves to make a difference in the lives of the less privileged on Mandela Day, many echoed the fact that it takes more than 67 minutes to make a difference. This is according to Lou van Reenen, the Executive Chairman of Beefmaster Holdings in Kimberley who donated more than 300 “jars of hope” to the Aldersgate Feeding Scheme in Floors. Van Reenen said through the assistance of the feeding scheme they have managed to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of people. “Mandela Day is only one day, but there are so many organisations who make a difference in the lives of the less privileged on a daily basis. We have noticed that there are so many people who are…

TAXI operators have vowed to continue making use of the Bultfontein taxi rank in Kimberley, despite renewed warnings of soil erosion and cracks that were observed near the Big Hole fence and on Bultfontein Road. As a precautionary measure, De Beers will construct a permanent water control wall around the danger zone next month. Sol Plaatje Municipality has meanwhile advised taxi associations to start vacating the area from next week. Taxi drivers indicated that they would only relocate on condition that they were provided with an alternative venue near the Big Hole. “The taxi rank at the Indian centre is too far, overcrowded and is not conducive to loading passengers. We are spending too much on fuel to travel to the Indian centre and it is not a central venue,”…

I WAS AT the Suzuki Stadium last Friday when the Suzuki Griquas took on the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the second round of the Carling Currie Cup, and what a game it was! Griquas pulled off an incredible 34-31 comeback victory against a Springbok-laden Sharks XV, and witnessing it live made it even more thrilling. It’s still early days in the competition, yet I think this comeback will go down as one of the best in the 2024 Currie Cup season – at least as far as I am concerned. I have to admit that after the first 30 minutes of the game, I thought that the Griquas were doomed. I mean, with all those Springboks in that Sharks team, added to the fact that the scoreboard wasn't looking really good…

A buoyant Lewis Hamilton heads into this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix on the crest of a wave, seeking a record-increasing ninth Hungaroring victory and Mercedes’ third consecutive win of the season. After two years of struggles, Hamilton ended his long winless run at the British Grand Prix with a record ninth home triumph at Silverstone and hopes to repeat that feat in forecast intense heat at the track where last year he secured his most recent pole position. Following his emotional success in front of an adoring crowd in the English rain, Hamilton said he felt excited at the prospect of returning to a track where he has scored several memorable victories in his career. “I love Hungary,” he said. “And so I am definitely looking forward to going there.…