Table of contents for 2024-06-28 in DFA News

A MAN and woman who were arrested in Galeshewe while allegedly attempting to sell explosives to an undercover police officer have been denied bail. Khangelani Gxokwana, 36, and his female co-accused, Nelisa Mpondo, also 36, found themselves cornered in Seleke Street, Galeshewe, on June 5 and arrested for the possession of explosives. Following their arrest, they faced a bail application hearing. However, their request for bail was denied by the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court. The investigating officer (IO) presented compelling reasons for opposing bail. According to the IO, both accused displayed dishonesty. The IO told the court that the duo were originally from Bucwa in the Eastern Cape. The court heard that Mpondo was the alleged mastermind behind the explosive scheme. She allegedly facilitated the connection between the buyer and Gxokwana.…

NORTHERN Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul has reduced his provincial executive and taken the decision to merge some of the government departments in the Province. Saul said the decision, unveiled during a press conference yesterday, was taken to reduce the provincial executive members from 10 to only seven members. He explained that several government departments will undergo consolidation to streamline operations and improve service delivery. Saul noted that the provincial departments of Health, Education and Roads and Public Works would remain stand-alone entities. "We have taken some departments and placed them under one MEC. The departments will remain as they are, but will only have one political head. The Department of Coghsta (Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs) will be merged with the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison.…

DATING apps have now turned into hazardous spaces filled with scammers, swindlers, and criminals. Apps like Tinder, Badoo and Grindr are no longer safe havens for people to connect, socialise and form relationships. Tinder is widely known as one of the best dating apps, but many users do not talk about its dark side. Former users allege that the app is rife with fake profiles, with people arranging meet ups to steal belongings. Refilwe Molapo, a student in Pretoria, shared her bad experience with a Tinder meet up. “I went on a date with a guy I met on Tinder. He looked exactly like his pictures, so I didn’t think he was catfishing me. “After we finished eating at a restaurant, he said he needed to charge his phone at…

Proteas leg spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has revealed why the side have at last managed to go where none of South Africa’s former talented teams have managed to go before IT’S ONE small step for South Africa and one giant leap for Proteas Men’s teams in Cricket World Cups, and spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has revealed why the side have at last gone where none of their predecessors have managed to go before since 1992. South Africa were at their ruthless best in their T20 World Cup semi-final against Afghanistan in Tarouba on Thursday morning SA time, first rolling them for 56 before knocking off the small total with nine wickets remaining in 8.5 overs. Ahead of the clash, it was no secret that an SA men’s team had never made it…

SIGNIFICANT progress has been made in addressing the bulk water infrastructure challenges in Kimberley through the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) fund, including the cessation of nightly water shutdowns over the past few months. This is according to the Sol Plaatje Municipality which recently provided a progress report on the R2.5 billion BFI funding that aims to repair and refurbish the city’s bulk water supply and address maintenance issues. Sol Plaatje executive mayor Kagisho Sonyoni reported that substantial interventions and progress had been made since the water interruption in April this year. He pointed out that the municipality had managed to eliminate the nightly water interruptions plaguing the city. “We had a water interruption in Kimberley from April 4 until April 8, 2024. During that time we were battling with…

IN A RECENT communication to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has outlined the party's revised stance on cabinet positions in the GNU coalition government. This development follows a public outcry over a leaked letter from DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille detailing the party's initial demands. According to Steenhuisen, the DA has been offered six cabinet portfolios: Home Affairs; Basic Education; Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC); Public Works and Infrastructure; Communications and Digital Technologies; and Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Additionally, the party has been offered deputy ministerial positions in Finance (with full cabinet committee rights), Energy and Electricity, Small Business Development, and one other to be determined. The DA’s Richard Newton and several other sources confirmed that the letter to Ramaphosa was authentic. Steenhuisen expressed…

THE SOUTH African National Defence Union (SANDU) said members of the South African military deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo will continue to suffer deadly attacks unless authorities intervene decisively, with financial and air support. Earlier this week it was reported that two members of the SA African National Defence Force (SANDF) were killed in a mortar attack on South Africa’s base in Sake, in the Eastern DRC. SANDF confirmed the tragic incident on Wednesday. “The SANDF confirms the mortar attack on one of our bases in Sake, in the Eastern DRC on June 25, which resulted in two fatalities and 20 injured,” said SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini. “Four members who were critically injured have been hospitalised, whilst the rest who suffered minor injuries are expected to be discharged…

THIRTEEN-year-old Irisang Domingo, a talented local model, is gearing up to host her second annual beauty pageant, Mr and Miss Denim Fever, with the aim of raising funds for her participation in the prestigious 2024 International Teen Supermodel SA competition. The event promises to be a dazzling affair, combining fashion, entertainment and philanthropy. Irisang’s journey to the international stage has been marked by determination and hard work. With the 2024 International Teen Supermodel SA finals scheduled for September 27 and 28, she is leaving no stone unturned. The Denim Fever pageant serves as a rallying point, bringing together the community to support her aspirations. Irisang’s passion and commitment have already been demonstrated when she hosted the first Denim Fever pageant at the Evangelizing United Church in Phutanang back in June…

THE BIG HOLE Oval Dirt Track roared to life recently, with an electrifying night of speed, skill, and spectacle captivating motorsport enthusiasts from all over the country. The event saw 57 drivers across nine different classes showcase their prowess on the gravel, leaving spectators on the edge of their seats as they witnessed racing of the highest calibre. Besides the local boys, competitors hailed from various regions, including Bloemfontein, Kathu, Newcastle, Rustenburg, and Kroonstad. The racers converged at the Kenilworth race track for a night where the smell of high-octane fuel filled the air and engines revved with fervour. The competition featured a variety of classes with rookies, stockrods, 1660 modifieds, hotrods, 2.1s, midgets, kids, Lexus V8s, and AMS all in action. The event unfolded with drivers taking to the…

SIXTEEN talented dancers from the Noleen Andrews School of Dance proudly represented the Northern Cape at the prestigious South African Sport Aerobics, Fitness, and Hip Hop Federation’S Hip Hop Unite South African Championships. This exciting event took place in Cape Town from June 14-16 and served as the qualifying round for the World Championships, which will be held in Portugal this October. Kimberley’s Fusion, Outlaws, and Culture crews showcased their impressive skills in both the junior and adult divisions. Notably, Team Culture achieved outstanding success by qualifying to represent South Africa at the Hip Hop Unite World Championships for the third consecutive year. The dedication and talent of these dancers have not only brought pride to their school and community but have also highlighted the Northern Cape’s growing presence in…

“I WILL be taking up my boxing gloves in exchange for my rifle and will fight for the betterment of my community and our youth”. These are some of the retirement plans of the Regional Works Unit Northern Cape Officer Commanding, Colonel Odwa Mdleleni. Mdleleni, affectionately known as “Old Bones” in the boxing fraternity, is a former national boxing champion who hung up his gloves in the ’90s to join the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). A true fighter in skill and rank, Mdleleni said he would no longer fight with bullets and a rifle but instead promote sport as a means of a better future for the youth. The SANDF in Kimberley hosted a farewell parade for Mdleleni at a send-off at Diskobolos on June 28. Mdleleni said…

THE SOUTH African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) has unveiled two routine road maintenance (RRM) contracts in the Northern Cape that promise to create numerous opportunities for subcontracting and local labour. These projects are set to make a significant impact in the John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG) District of the Province over a period of five years, said Sanral. The road agency said in a statement this week that it is currently in the process of evaluating tenders submitted for these contracts and aims to finalise contractor appointments later this year. At a recent stakeholder engagement session in Mothibistad, just outside Kuruman, Sanral project manager Rudi Joubert highlighted the substantial benefits associated with these large-scale projects. Joubert noted that the potential for job creation, skills development, training and enterprise development…

PUNCTUALITY has always been a thing with me. If I am not at least 10-15 minutes early, I consider myself late for an appointment. Often I find myself arriving right on time, and wondering at the confused looks on faces as I apologise for being “late”. Of course, sometimes on the way somewhere, life throws different delays at you and you cannot help being late. But as far as I am concerned, that should be the exception rather than the rule. Yet let’s be fair, as I said, delays do happen. I mean who hasn't driven behind someone crawling along at snail’s pace using their cellphone, blissfully unaware of the fact that there are cars behind them. That can keep one from getting to a venue in good time. However,…

THE NORTHERN Cape Bowls Open Masters Championships recently concluded with thrilling finales that captivated the audience and showcased the remarkable skills of the participants. In the Men’s final, CP Mathewson once again demonstrated why he is considered a formidable force on the NC bowls scene after clinching the title, but not without a hard-fought battle against Barry Minopetros. Mathewson started strong, quickly building a comfortable lead. However, Minopetros would not allow the early setback to rattle him, gradually narrowing the gap, and eventually overtaking Mathewson to take a 17-14 lead. Yet, despite the pressure, Mathewson maintained his composure and managed to close out the game, securing his victory. The final was a spectacular display of talent and determination from both players, leaving spectators on the edge of their seats. On…

The highlight of Romario Phiri’s career thus far was his appointment to officiate the Nedbank Cup final THE PRIDE of Postmasburg, Romario Clarence Phiri, recently reached a significant milestone in his already impressive career by becoming the first referee in the province to receive a distinguished award. Phiri, an assistant referee who officiates in both the DStv Premiership and the Motsepe Foundation Championship on the National Panel, has been lauded for his exceptional contributions to soccer. Phiri’s journey in refereeing began in 2012, while he was still in high school. Initially a talented soccer player, he represented the province at the Under-21 level. However, after some convincing, he decided to join the refereeing fraternity, setting the stage for what would become a remarkable career. His dedication and talent quickly became…

thriller GRIQUAS bounced back on the fourth day of the Under-18 Craven Week being held in Krugersdorp after they were thumped 52-17 by Western province on day two of the competition. Yesterday, however, the Griquas had gone back to the drawing board and rugby enthusiasts were treated to an electrifying game when they beat with the in-form Limpopo Blue Bulls 53-37. The highly-anticipated match delivered a spectacle of intense rugby, showcasing both teams’ tenacity and skill, but it was the Griquas’ formidable scrum that posed significant challenges for the Bulls in this game. Griquas wasted no time in making their mark against the Bulls, seizing the initiative right from the start. Six minutes into the game, they executed a brilliant play, moving the ball fluidly to the winger, who crossed…