Table of contents for 2022-06-17 in DFA News

AS SOUTH Africa and the rest of the world observed World Blood Donor Day on 14 June, Kimberley blood stocks are low. The World Blood Donor Day is a drive to emphasise the need for a stable supply of healthy, safe blood and blood products. Khensani Mahlangu, SANBS communication officer stated in a media release that since this is a month long celebration it serves the purpose of thanking and encouraging people to commit to regular donations. “The event was established on 14 June 2004 whereby countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD). This was to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood. World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on the…

THE OFFICIAL opposition wants Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele and acting Public Service and Administration Minister Thulas Nxesi, to account for the protracted suspension of six provincial heads of departments. This comes after Gungubele revealed in a written response to parliamentary questions from DA MP Mimmy Gondwe, that R12 million was spent on heads of departments (HODs) while they were sitting idle at home. The suspended HODs are: •Northern Cape Sports, Arts and Culture’s R Palm who is on suspension since September 2020, facing fraud charges and paid R2,014,340 to date; •KwaZulu-Natal Public Works’ Gaster Sharpley, who is on precautionary suspension facing allegations of misconduct since November 2020 and received R2,346,238; •Free State Human Settlement’s N Mokhesi, on precautionary suspension since June 2020 facing charges relating to misconduct and…

SO THERE we were; the bus was idling on the tarmac in front of the Kimberley Tourist Centre, and the passenger I had brought had to scurry to get her bags weighed and tagged. No, it was not in this young lady’s DNA to be late, but this time she had been caught out. Why? Well, simply because the buses departing from the Kimberley Tourist Centre were NEVER on time. Usually passengers would find themselves waiting for between a half-hour to several hours for buses. And it’s not all the bus company’s fault. They are always doing their best to be on schedule. However, stop-go delays on the national roads and the state of some of the highways has been making it difficult for buses to stay punctual. The young…

While the residents of Soul City and Club 2000 in Galeshewe blame the Sol Plaatje Municipality for failure to find a permanent solution to raw sewage running down their streets, the municipality accused them of vandalism. The streets of Club 2000 have become a nightmare and residents are concerned about a possible health crisis. The pump station at the corner of Tebogo Kock and Forest View streets is not functioning most of the time. Raw sewage boils out of manholes in Soul City and is running through most of the streets in Club 2000, creating sewage pools. The sewage flows until Noka Street and then into the main water canal in Absolom Street. Although the pump station was fixed earlier this week, the sewage has not dried up and continues…

A 30-YEAR-old man, Elrico Coetzee, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by the Upington Regional Court for the murder of his 18-year-old girlfriend, Petronice Vilander. Upington police spokesperson, Sergeant Omphile Maegela, said Vilander died after she was stabbed by the accused. “On 1 July 2021 the couple were together when an argument broke out. The accused stabbed the deceased in the neck with a knife. The emergency services declared the deceased dead on the scene. The court also declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm.” Masegela added that the investigating officer was commended for the investigation. “The Acting Station Commander of Rietfontein, Warrant Officer Mthuthuzeli Block, commended Constable Sam Devenish for the meticulous investigation which led to the arrest and conviction of the accused,” said Masegela.…

NINE people were sentenced to six years’ imprisonment suspended for five years, for burning a councillor’s house 10 years ago. James Esau, Nicolaas Smous, Hendrick Boesak, Julian de Koker, Christo Titus, Shepherd Mienies, Elvis Duiker, Isaak Obuseng and Thabang Mienies were sentenced on Monday, at the Kuruman Regional Court in the Northern Cape. Northern Cape police spokesperson Captain Olebogeng Tawana said the group were arrested following service delivery protest in Olifantshoek in June 2012. “The accused were the ring leaders of the Olifantshoek community members that set alight the property of the then ward councillor in Olifantshoek. A house worth R1.1 million belonging to the then ward councillor including the house contents to the value of R590,000 and a motor vehicle were gutted in the blaze caused by…

STORMERS coach John Dobson is a man on a mission to win the franchise’s first international trophy when they tackle the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium tomorrow at 7.30pm. Hosting the first ever URC final in the Mother City already brought smiles to the faces of Cape Town’s people – the Stormers’ main goal this term. But when they take the field against the team’s archrivals the Bulls tomorrow, they can create further history by winning a first international trophy at the franchise. he closest the Stormers came to winning gold as a franchise was the 2010 Super Rugby final against the same opponents in Soweto – the Bulls won that battle 25-17. But heading into tomorrow’s clash, it’s the Stormers who have won their last two matches against coach…

THE STATE of municipalities has continued to disappoint, with little being turned around, auditor-general Tsakani Maluleke has said. In her 2020-2021 auditor-general report, Maluleke has revealed a slight increase in the number of clean audits. She says 27 municipalities have maintained their clean audit status, and 14 have achieved a clean audit for the first time. Maluleke says that six municipalities have lost their clean audit status. “Over the previous administration, the submission of financial statements by August 31 for auditing worsened from 90 percent in 2016-17 to 82 percent in 2020-21. This delays not only the audit process but also the accountability processes," she said. She also said that by the date of the report, nine audits had not been completed because the municipal managers did not submit the…

EXPERTS and youth leaders feel that as the nation commemorates June 16, youth unemployment should be high on the national agenda, as it has a direct impact on society as young people continue to face the burden of economic exclusion. South Africa faces a glimpse of a dark future as the unemployment rate – which rose to 35.3% in 2022 – is expected to hit a record-breaking 40% by 2030, as per the projection by experts at PricewaterhouseCoopers. #FeesMustFall activist Mcebo Dlamini said that the high crime rate, violence, drug use, and the perpetual cycle of poverty were the result of the state’s inability to empower the youth. “The government has failed to create conducive conditions in order for young people to thrive; in fact, it has made it even…

THE IMPORTANCE of Youth Day will be highlighted during the annual Mbawula Youth Film Festival which will take place at the Northern Cape Theatre in Kimberley. The festival started yesterday and will continue until tomorrow. Film director Tshepo Tlhalogang said the festival aims to not only showcase the work of filmmakers, but also to educate the youth about the importance and true meaning behind the commemoration of Youth Day. “The commemoration of Youth Day is currently highlighted by people wearing school uniforms and going on drinking sprees. The meaning and importance of the day is blurred by these social-ills. What is heartbreaking is that many youngsters in 1976 died for the freedom we often and even daily take for granted. “There are many families who lost loved-ones on that day.…

The Bulls will have at least a few United Rugby Championship players to call on in today’s Currie Cup semi-final against the Windhoek Draught Griquas at Loftus Versfeld (7pm kick-off). Coach Gert Smal re-jigged his backline when he announced his team yesterday, which sees regular centre Stedman Gans shift out to left wing to accommodate Marco Jansen van Vuren at No.12 from the team that lost 35-5 to the Cheetahs last week. Jansen van Vuren will partner veteran Lionel Mapoe in midfield, while Gans’ skill-set will be valuable out wide, while also lending much-needed experience to the back-three alongside Richard Kriel and rookie Tharquinn Manuel. But it’s in the pack of forwards that Smal has introduced real beef in an effort to gain physical dominance over Griquas. Powerful hooker Jan-Hendrik…

International archery tournament to be held in Kimberley THERE is an old saying that Kimberlites have embraced; it has been circulating for years. We have all heard it, and sadly most of us are inclined to believe it. The saying goes: “nothing ever happens in Kimberley”. Well, Kimberley residents are in for a treat as there are only a few weeks left until the African Archery Federation Tournament, happening on the weekend of July 2-3 kicks off at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre in the Diamond City. This will be the first time that such an event will be held in Kimberley. Africa Genesis Archery (AGA) Northern Cape won the bid to host this prestigious event. The National Teams of AGA South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe will each be…

WILLIAM van Wyk, the oldest World War 2 veteran in South Africa, and last member of the World War 2 Veteran of South African Coloured Cape Corps Ex-Servicemen’s Legion of the Royal Commonwealth Wealth Ex-Serviceman League, celebrated his 99th birthday on Thursday, 9 June 2022. As usual, Van Wyk, ranked Lieutenant General, celebrated his birthday in the company of his family as well as some of his fellow surviving veterans in the Northern Cape, who went to wish him well at his small Colville home. The 99 year-old is still going strong for his age. He can still walk, chase his great great grandchildren around, work in his small garden, and keeps himself busy as a handyman in the yard. He can still see regardless of losing one of his…

THE NORTHERN Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul led a delegation of members of the Executive Council and the mayor of the Siyathemba Municipality to meet with Thyssenkrupp Group in Essen, Germany, to solidify the R9.7 billion Prieska Power Reserve (PPR) project. The Thyssenkrupp Group is an international leader in Green Hydrogen and Ammonia technology. Thyssenkrupp is the technology partner for CENEC, Mahlako and the IDC, who will be building the PPR Industrial Complex in Prieska, Siyathemba Municipal area. The PPR is anticipated to create 22,000 jobs directly and indirectly for the duration of the project. It is lauded for having the potential to allocate 27.5% and 35% of the total number of jobs to the youth and women respectively. The initiative promises a boost to local SMMEs with a…

A total of 431 clinical posts, including clinical programme coordinators, allied health workers, dieticians, environmental health, medical officers and occupational therapists, have been filled by the Northern Cape Department of Health between January and May this year. Spokesperson for the department, Lebogang Majaha, said the appointments are part of the turnaround strategy of the department which is aimed at bringing stability in the provincial health sector. He said MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, will during his 2022/2023 budget speech elaborate the challenges the department has experienced and measures implemented to meet those challenges. “The 2022/2023 budget of the department is premised on the realities and experiences of our people as witnessed during the MEC Lekwene’s broad stakeholder consultations that presented the department with an opportunity to be more innovative and…

SO I JUST got back from the filling station after I had R1,000 petrol pumped into my vehicle’s tank. I looked at the reading on the pump and saw that I still had room for another 11 litres before my car was actually full. No . . . I didn’t do that. I couldn’t. So I just dropped my head, shook it and asked, “Lord, when is this going to end?” He then answered me through the attendant. “Klink my hy gaan weer op next month,” he said. At that point I felt vulnerable, scared and worried, because if it doesn't end soon, I fear that many of us will be doomed, scraping the bottom of the pot. So if you were thinking that we would get a break from…

IN AN ATTEMPT to promote and preserve a culture of reading in the Northern Cape, the Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has announced that more than R193 million have been allocated towards the maintenance and upgrading of library and archive services in the Province. MEC Desery Fienies tabled her 2022/2023 budget speech in Bergsig in Springbok earlier this week. Fienies said libraries and archives is the biggest programme in the department and the bulk of the programme’s funding is received from the Community Libraries Conditional Grant. “The focus of the fund is on the transfers to municipalities to improve library services to our communities, the procurement of library materials, the provision of infrastructure and free internet services and the implementation of outreach and promotional services to promote…

COACH Hawies Fourie (pictured) and his table-topping Cheetahs will look to book a home final in this year’s Currie Cup, by beating the Pumas in their Bloemfontein semi-final tomorrow at 1.30pm. However, the Cheetahs team will go into the semi-final with the knowledge that one of their two defeats this season were against the self-same team from Mpumalanga, less than two weeks ago, when the Pumas won by 29-28 in Bloemfontein. And with big gun Frans Steyn out injured with a hamstring ailment, they will have to be at their best to reverse that result. The Cheetahs return to form against the Bulls, after hitting a rocky patch in the competition, would have put a smile on Hawies Fourie’s face for the first time in weeks. But the Cheetahs coach…

Northern Cape Hockey’s boys and girls junior squads are preparing to take part in Inter-provincial tournaments set to take place in Stellenbosch and Pietermaritzburg. The Under-12 girls and boys will be participating in Pietermaritzburg from June 26-30, and the Under-13 teams will be in action from July 3-6 in the Western Cape. The Northern Cape schools hockey secretary and squad co-ordinator Sharon Martin confirmed that the association will honour invitations to the two junior hockey tournaments. She also released the team lists for the boys and girls squads that will go to the two tournaments.…