Table of contents for 2023-02-03 in DFA News

STATE-owned PetroSA has hit out at claims of charging Eskom inflated prices for diesel. The claims were made by energy expert Chris Yellend and consultancy group EE Business Intelligence (EEBI), who said in a report that Eskom has been forced to pay exorbitant prices for diesel it buys in bulk from PetroSA, the financially distressed state-owned entity which is its main diesel supplier, even as the utility battles to stave off worsening stages of load shedding. PetroSA responded to the claims made in the report authored by Yellend and Mariam Isa to clarify “misconceptions in the article". Diesel is needed to power Eskom’s open-cycle gas turbine (OCGT) plants, Gourikwa and Ankerlig, its emergency back-up generators that can mitigate against two stages of load shedding if running at their full 2…

ORION Minerals managing director and CEO Errol Smart said this week: “I believe Orion is now well on its way to achieving its goal of unlocking the incredible base metals potential in the Northern Cape.” In its quarterly update released on Tuesday, the group said it made significant progress in the quarter, finishing the year with a series of important funding. Key achievements during the December quarter included securing a funding package to progress pre-development activities at the Prieska copper-zinc project and the completion of permitting and early-stage funding for our second base metals hub at the Okiep Copper Project. These milestone funding arrangements also saw the introduction of the Industrial Development Corporation as a new development partner at Okiep, Smart said. “The combined pre-development funding being provided by Triple…

STUDENTS who benefit from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) are struggling to secure student accommodation and are worried that they will be left homeless when the new academic year starts at Sol Plaatje University (SPU) on February 20. Students were informed in December that preference would be given to first-year students, those with disabilities, student leaders and vulnerable students, while the rest would have to seek accommodation on off-campus accredited sites. Students said that the places were fully booked when they enquired or were told that rooms or units have already been earmarked for specific students. “The majority of second- to fourth-year students are struggling to find accommodation. It is difficult to search for a place if you do not stay in Kimberley. We want to attend in-person…

AFTER two of his students represented South Africa in Malawi last year and received their green and gold Protea blazers, the DFA had a brief conversation with David Kok, the president of the South African Taekwondo Federation and the owner of Shidokwon Academy in Roodepan. Kok explained that he began his taekwondo training at the age of nine and has been actively involved with it for the past 23 years. This extends beyond his involvement as an athlete to his current role as the national organisation’s current president. When asked how the journey all began for him, Kok said that he was highly engaged in sports from a young age. "Boxing was my first love, but I soon realised that I couldn't box since I didn't have long enough arms…

THE NATIONAL Association of Child Care Workers (NACCW) bid farewell to its provincial manager, Pat Maqina, who was lauded as their ‘Gravitas’ at a function at Bacumi Guest House in Galeshewe. Maqina, an eminent Kimberley resident who is well-known as ‘Sis Pat’, hung up her apron at the age of 77, after more than three decades of service to vulnerable children and youth and their families. She retired after serving as a qualified child and youth care worker and holding the positions of provincial Northern Cape NACCW manager and National Technical Consultant in the scale-up of the famous Isibindi model. Throughout the years of her service, Maqina has been recognised nationally and internationally as a key figure in the NACCW. The auspicious farewell event was graced by the presence…

The Interactor’s Club from St Patrick’s CBC got off to a flying start this year. Working under chairperson Ofentse Monyamane, they spent their time assisting the Kimberley SPCA recently. The Kimberley State Vet was scheduled to visit this week and the club assisted to clean all the cages that are used to catch animals that are runaways or lost. Many recycling items are donated to the SPCA and the group of interactors took on the task of sorting through boxes of recycling. They did a sterling job and Kimberley can be proud of these future leaders.…

FOR THE past few weeks I have been dutifully working remotely for the DFA, well to be perfectly honest I am working very remotely – in fact I am working so remotely that I am six time zones and, as it turns out, three worlds ahead of my fellow Kimberlites. You see, when an opportunity recently arose for me to visit Hong Kong I jumped at the opportunity – after all, who wouldn’t? OK, maybe there are a few people who wouldn’t jump because, before I left, if I mentioned the trip I was about to undertake, some family, friends and acquaintances – out of genuine concern, I must add – started cautioning me about the dangers of visiting the Far East. “Have you heard how out of control the…

AT A VERY young age, two learners from Homevale’s Emmanuel Secondary School excelled in their chosen sport in a way that far too many others would regrettably never manage. After representing South Africa in a competition in Malawi, Grade 10 learners Donica Tafel and Jaydean Kaars received their green and gold Proteas blazers after they were awarded their Springbok colours in Taekwondo. Emmanuel’s principal, Sebastian van Rooyen, greeted all the roleplayers in attendance during the formal handover ceremony that was held at their school recently. "Today we can see the fruits of two learners who showed discipline and dedication," said van Rooyen. David Kok, the president of the South African Taekwondo Federation, entered the room to thunderous applause and stated that it was an honour to be able to present…

KUMBA Iron Ore in the Northern Cape yesterday warned that 2022 profit could have slumped by as much as 44% due to weaker iron ore prices and rail logistics problems in the Province. Kumba said it expects headline earnings per share (HEPS) - the main profit measure used in South Africa - of between R58.29 and R64.49 in the full year to December 2022, compared to R103.65 the previous year. The Anglo American unit, which exports iron ore mainly to China, Japan, South Korea, Europe and the Middle East, produced 37.7 million tonnes of the key steel ingredient in 2022, down from 40.9 million tonnes the previous year. Sales were 9% lower at 36.6 million tonnes, as rail problems impacted Kumba's capacity to move iron ore to port. Transnet is…

A FORFEITURE order was obtained to seize R1.3 million in cash as well as assets that were bought with the proceeds of a fraudulent online dating site after two women based in Kimberley and Cape Town were scammed out of their life savings. The accused, Pius Emokpe and his wife Piliswa Emokpe, allegedly unduly enriched themselves with R6.2 million that was paid to them by the two women. Pius Emokpe, who is in custody, has also been linked to 419 scams relating to fraudulent internet dating scams in the Western Cape. His co-accused, Lulama Dilimini, 33, Shafwaan Fakier, 47, Nomcebo Agrineth Sibisi, and Juany Michaels, 24, were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Cape Town on January 25. They appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court for…

EVERY dark cloud, it is said, has a silver lining. This adage is used to express optimism even in the face of gloomy or seemingly hopeless circumstances. That ominous shadow hovered over the Kimberley Diamond Oval on Wednesday night after England prevented South Africa from sweeping the One Day International series. Losing the last game of the series meant that South Africa did not automatically qualify for the 2023 World Cup, which was a difficult pill to swallow. And the Proteas fans certainly felt that disappointment on Wednesday afternoon. The silver lining, though not for the beaten Proteas team, was nonetheless pretty dazzling as it shone a spotlight on the venue and the spectators who had turned up for the ODI. Enthusiastic cheering, music, trumpet blasts and tunes could be…

Results for the week of January 23-28 THE Wednesday, January 25 John Dory’s sponsored 18-hole IPS was won by Andries Kori on 43 pts (net of 65!) with Jacques Gouws 2nd on 40 pts and Zayhied Suliman 3rd on 39 pts. The Thursday, January 26 KWV sponsored 9-hole IPS with power play options was won by Zayhied Suliman on 31 pts (a new KWV record) with Eddie Barkhuizen 2nd on 26 pts and Shane Arthur 3rd on 24 pts. The Friday, January 27 Flamingo Sun 9-hole IPS was won by Eugene Snyman on 22 pts with Donald Witbooi 2nd on 21pts on a count-out over Sadick Thomas 3rd also on 21 pts. The Saturday, January 28 first round of the Windhoek Pairs was won by Nigel Page and Allan…