Table of contents for 2025-11-21 in DFA News

DURING Children’s Month – and amid renewed national outrage over gender-based violence (GBV) – a former Kuruman school bus driver has been convicted for the sexual assault of a seven-year-old pupil. As South Africans were preparing for today’s nationwide “Turning Purple” economic shutdown – a mass protest calling for GBV to be declared a National State of Disaster – the Kuruman Regional Court has finalised another disturbing case highlighting the extreme vulnerability of children. A former school bus driver, Allan Charles Reed, 65, has been convicted and sentenced for sexually assaulting a primary school pupil in Seoding village, near Kuruman. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Northern Cape spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said that the incident occurred in 2014 when the then seven-year-old pupil boarded the school bus. “The driver invited her to…

ORGANISERS of the much-anticipated Diamond and Dorings Kimberley Big Hole Marathon, taking place on Saturday, November 22, have moved to reassure athletes and spectators that world-class safety measures will be in place throughout the event. The inaugural race has already attracted over 2,000 entrants and is officially recognised as a qualifier for both the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons – a major milestone for Kimberley’s running community. Organisers say safety remains the backbone of the event, supported by a robust security plan, strong police visibility and comprehensive monitoring along the entire marathon footprint. Their reassurances follow a social media post circulated this week showing burning tyres and claiming the marathon would not proceed until Sol Plaatje Municipality resolved certain employment-related grievances. The post alleged that some individuals have been building…

ALLEGED gang boss George “Barney” Peters has vehemently objected to being sent for mental observation, insisting that there is nothing wrong with him after announcing that he intends to represent himself in court. Peters emerged from the holding cells in the Northern Cape High Court to inform the court: “Ek wil my lawyer wegja” (“I am chasing my lawyer away”). He was ordered out of the courtroom three weeks ago due to his disruptive outbursts and has since declined repeated invitations to rejoin the proceedings. “I am not going to any psychiatrist – it will appear as if I am mad. I will die if I go there,” he told the court this week. Peters and his co-accused – Britney Arends, Stephanie McAnda, Simone Rose, Chinaaz Mentoor, Abigail van Wyk,…

MEET Cheran Semorne Clark, founder and visionary of The Cheran Make a Child Smile Foundation. Her journey is one of resilience, faith, and dedication to making a difference in the lives of Kimberley’s children. Cheran founded the foundation in 2021, driven by a deep personal struggle and a vision to bring joy to children growing up without food, love, or dignity. With no sponsors, team, or formal support, she relied on her own resources, creativity, and faith to plan events, package snacks, and lead initiatives with integrity and Kimberley pride. “As a mother myself, I understand the depth of love and responsibility it takes to raise a child. That’s why this foundation is so personal to me. It’s not just a project, it’s a legacy. I want every child we…

KIMBERLEY once again celebrated one of its finest sons when Lloyd Louw received special recognition at the recent Cricket Sports Legends Awards. The moment made even more meaningful as the honour was handed to him by Eugene Jacobs, a founding member of Diamond Park Cricket Club and one of the men who walked many steps of Kimberley sports history alongside him. For decades, Kimberley has produced outstanding sportsmen, women, and administrators whose commitment shaped both community and competition. Names such as Edwin Abrahams, Eric Gossman, JJ Mokwena, HC Rose, Aubrey Everson, AR Abass, Baby Richards, Jim Summers, Ebrahim Jinnah, and Dr. Amin Bhayat stand tall in the city's collective memory. Today, that lineage shines even brighter as the community paid tribute to another giant in sports service and leadership. Affectionately…

IT’S ALMOST as if Kimberley is becoming one of SA’s marathon destinations of choice. Here’s why I say that: In addition to this week’s Diamond’s and Dorings marathon, runners across the province can mark their calendars as one of Kimberley’s most anticipated road running events makes its return early next year. The Meerkat Marathon is officially set for Saturday, January 31, promising a bigger, bolder, and more energised edition than ever before. Hosted at Vermeulens on the N12 Cape Town road, the event continues to grow in stature and remains a favourite for both competitive athletes and social runners. This year’s race carries extra significance as it is once again an official qualifying event for two of South Africa’s most iconic long-distance races: the Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades…

MURDER accused John-Ross Crossbery Henderson allegedly threatened to “deal with” the deceased and is believed to have swapped motor vehicles before the fatal shooting of Kimberley businessman Jayson Afrique and the attempted murder of his wife, Micayla Afrique. Ten shots were fired at Jayson and his wife as they approached the driveway of their house in Black Street, New Park, on July 31, 2024. Henderson is facing charges of murder, attempted murder, attempting to make a false report to the police, and defeating or obstructing the course of justice. A witness, Mariam Rajah, who is employed at Kimberley Pharmacy, testified in the Northern Cape High Court that Henderson swapped cars with her colleague, Shaylon Tobias, prior to the murder. She added that Tobias was friends with the accused. “Henderson visited…

THE SOUTH African Inclusive Economy Indaba, representing civic movements, students, tenants and community organisations, marched to the Premier’s Office in Kimberley this week, calling for economic emancipation, decisive action against corruption in government and an end to the exploitation of residents through uncontrolled rates, taxes and rentals. The march on November 17 was supported by Justice4All, Women Waging War Against GBVF, Poverty and Inequality, and the Abahambe National Civic Movement. The movement called for basic foodstuffs and hygiene products to be exempted from VAT, as well as for a 180-day freeze on the price of fuel, municipal rates and housing rentals. It further recommended that any official with a criminal record or who has been implicated by a commission of inquiry should be removed from office. “Anyone who has accepted…

IN THE heart of the Northern Cape, a hopeful young artist is hoping to make waves with a voice that carries more than melody; it carries hope, healing, redemption, and love. Oratile ZA, a vocalist, music director, and creative artist, has become a rising talent in the local music scene in the province, captivating audiences with performances that resonate far beyond the stage. Oratile’s journey began in 2014 at the age of 14, when a simple invitation to join his church choir revealed a hidden talent. “People noticed something special about me,” he recalls. “Even though I was new to music, I picked up reading notes quickly. Singing a acapella with friends at school was fun, and that’s when I thought, ‘Maybe I can do music!’” By 2015, he had…

A WARRANT of arrest was issued for the acting head of the Northern Cape Department of Health after officials failed to appear before the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) this week. The Chapter 9 institution was in Kimberley to investigate the alarming rate of school drop-outs as a result of teenage pregnancies in the province. SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson Sergeant Molefi Shemane confirmed that the Kimberley Detective Unit was investigating a case of contravention to comply with a notice issued in terms of the Commission for Gender Equality Act. “A case was registered at the Kimberley police station after an official from a department allegedly failed to appear before the Commission on November 17. The investigation is continuing,” he said. CGE deputy chairperson Prabashni Subrayan-Naidoo said the Department of Health…

THE UNDER-15 Norman Community Cup 2025 brought excitement, talent, and community spirit to the Floranville Sports Stadium on November 16, as young footballers battled it out in a highly competitive tournament. The day kicked off at 10am with eight teams vying for honours in a thrilling series of matches. In the opening round, Norman Football Club defeated Kimberley Bucks Development 2-0, with goals from Jordan Pockpas and Cassidy Pailman. Academy of Sparks followed with a 3-0 win over Kimberley City, courtesy of strikes from Hughvern van Heerden and Lincoln Steenkamp. Motherwells continued their strong form, beating Forever United 3-0, with goals by Shanevan Staden, Duwanye Joubert, and Junaid Griekwa. The fourth match between Tswarangano All Stars and Jokers FC ended 2-2 in regulation time, before Tswarangano triumphed 5-3 in a…

When the people of Goutrou in Victoria West talk about heroes, they don’t speak of celebrities or sports stars. They speak of two ordinary men: Jan Swarts and Heinrich Fiellies, who climbed onto bicycles – despite neither ever riding more than 100km before – and pedalled more than 1,600km from Parys to Bloubergstrand. They did it for one purpose: to bring light into the darkest corners of their community. But the story didn’t begin on the road. It began with a dream. A dream that refused to leave In the first dream, Heinrich saw a child sitting alone in a pitch-dark home, a thick, suffocating darkness that “you can feel pressing on your skin.” Days later, the same dream returned – but this time he saw himself handing the child…

HERMAN du Toit, 63, who confessed to the murder of his older sister at the Newton Court flats in New Park, Kimberley, was sentenced to an effective four years’ imprisonment by the Northern Cape High Court this week. He was arrested in Mossel Bay in July 2025, nearly five years after the brutal assault, during a joint operation involving the Da Gamaskop and Mossel Bay SAPS, the Western Cape Sea Border Unit, and Northern Cape tracking specialists. The post-mortem results indicated that his sister died after choking on her blood as well as from blunt force trauma. His legal representative, Heinrich Steynburg, indicated that his client was remorseful and never intended to kill his sister, Ellen Lorraine Botha, on February 16, 2020. He added that Du Toit handed himself over…

FAMILY members of Mandy Bailey believe they can now begin their journey towards healing after her ex-husband, Alberto Matthews, was found guilty of her murder in the Northern Cape High Court on Thursday. Bailey died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body in her bedroom on December 27, 2023, while her nine-year-old daughter was lying on the bed. Ronel Booysen said she believed justice had been served for her sister and hoped Matthews would be handed a harsh sentence. “The family is relieved that the judgment has brought a measure of closure. The accused has not shown any remorse and has yet to ask us for forgiveness. We are not monsters, but until he is ready to genuinely apologise for his actions, we will not be able to…

I AM SURE that everyone has noticed how much the world has changed since the “Great Covid Catastrophe” of 2020. When the lockdowns hit, companies went into survival mode – slashing jobs, cutting costs, closing offices, and trimming operations to the bone. Many never fully recovered. My colleagues and I certainly felt it. Friends in government, the private sector and education all sing the same tired song: the work has doubled, but the people to do it have halved. So we push through – griping, groaning, but surviving. We’ve learned to rely on one another, to pull together as teams where everyone carries their weight. Now imagine what would happen if, in your already stretched workplace, a few colleagues decided to take it easy, coast through the day? Obviously, the…

JUST over three years ago, Kimberley residents woke up to the news that police were investigating another senseless murder in the city. The headlines are usually alarming, but this murder hit home. For one thing, a woman was brutally and senselessly killed, and for another, this murder occurred on August 18, 2022, right in the middle of Women’s Month. Chareen Augustine’s body was found at her home in Stamford Street on a Saturday afternoon by a family member. I had known Chareen from before school days, and then we attended the same primary school, and I am friends with her family. So news of her death, and the more graphic details that came to light over time, left one feeling raw. At the time, the then spokesperson for the Department…

THE BOVUA Holdings 2nd Annual Community Cup recently delivered an unforgettable weekend of thrilling football, netball, passion, and pure community pride, cementing its place as one of the favourite sporting events in the region. Organised by Johannesburg-based Bovua Holdings, a company proudly rooted in Barkly West through its director and management, the tournament has quickly become much more than just a competition, as it has developed into a powerful vehicle for youth development, combining sporting excellence with education, bursaries, and long-term empowerment. “This year’s tournament has been described as a historical moment for the municipality,” said local community builder Frances Pidiwe. “We needed to revive community sports activities in Dikgatlong, and Bovua Holdings is doing exactly that, steadily and surely. The energy, passion, and unity made this year’s tournament unforgettable.…

THE COPPER Masters soccer team has received a sponsored team kit from a local business, Schweppes Tavern. Public relations officer Christopher Phiri said the generous sponsorship follows in the wake of last year’s strong performance of the team, which was established in 2024, in the Sol Plaatje Masters League. “The team is now in a good position to finish the league either in third or fourth place, depending on the results in the last two upcoming matches. “We appreciate the confidence our sponsor has placed in us and their investment in the game,” said Phiri.…