Table of contents for 2023-07-21 in DFA News

ORION Minerals said this week that its R370 million funding from the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) and Triple Flag for its Prieska Copper-Zinc Project in the Northern Cape had now been finalised, materially clearing the way for drawdown to occur. Orion’s managing director and CEO, Errol Smart, said: “This marks another significant milestone as we systematically check the boxes towards the development of our two key base metal hubs in South Africa’s Northern Cape.” He said this would allow the firm to accelerate pre-development mine works, including trial mining in the upper levels of the mine and construction and commissioning of mine dewatering installations. “In combination, this multifaceted funding package puts Orion in a very strong position to execute our development strategy and prepare the company to…

MOST people would be aware that living on the extreme end of the introvert spectrum tends to leave one tongue-tied most of the time. However, not many know that it could also lead to one choosing pretty dodgy role-models. Allow me to explain; having been more than a little shy for my entire life, puberty snuck up on me with one massive, crushing complication … I wanted a girlfriend, but I was terrified of speaking to girls, especially those on which I had a crush. The bigger the crush, the fewer the words, the fewer the words, the more intense the blush – my nickname could have been ‘Ambu-Lance light’. So to help me with what I considered a disability, and so that I could have the tools on hand…

THE MINISTER of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, was joined by the Northern Cape MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Abraham Vosloo, to hand over a donation of 100 bulk packs of non-perishable foods and blankets to bring some relief to the community of Riemvasmaak on Mandela Day. De Lille’s visit to Riemvasmaak in the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality in the Northern Cape was part of Mandela Day activities. The community was part of the early 1970s forced removals by the apartheid government. Around 1,500 people were divided into three groups according to their racial classification and sent to either Welcome Wood in the Ciskei, Khorixas in northern Namibia or the nearby towns of Marchand, Augrabies and Keimoes. In 1994 the new democratic government returned the land to its original residents.…

YOUNG and passionate model Irisang Domingo, 12, hosted a successful “Mr and Miss Denim Fever 2023” beauty pageant at the Evangelizing United Church in Phutanang. The event, which was supported by various modelling agencies, was attended by the Vilakazi sisters, Unamandla and Manqoba, who were crowned Miss Teen Mundai and Miss Pre-Teen 2023 respectively. Jessica Julius, Mendy de Klerk and Brizodene Louw were the judges, while the pageant focused on five different categories. The pageant aimed to raise funds and raise the profile of Domingo, who is hoping to travel to Nepal, India, to participate in the Miss Tourism Teen and Queen of the World competitions in August this year. She was crowned 2nd Princess in Miss Tourism and 2nd Princess in Queen of the World in Pretoria. She is…

THE LEADERS of the Kimberley Action Group will meet to discuss their next move after Sol Plaatje Municipality defended the 15 percent electricity price increase that was introduced on July 1. They are also unimpressed by the comments made by Sol Plaatje executive mayor Kaghiso Sonyoni during a Morning Live interview last week, where he claimed that there were no service delivery challenges in the city, including potholes, sewage and water leaks. Boyce Makodi, from the Kimberley Action Group, said community meetings would follow soon. “There may also be a follow-up march as it appears as if the concerns of the community are being undermined,” said Makodi. In his reply to the memorandum that was handed over on July 7 when community members marched to the municipality demanding that Sonyoni…

An enthusiastic crowd of high-spirited individuals donning colourful costumes and beaming smiles gathered on Tuesday to support an event that would boost child welfare and Destiny House. Diamantveld High School and the Kimberley Harriers Running Club joined forces to host the much-anticipated Mandela Day 4-Kilometre Run and Fun Walk, and the streets of Kimberley came alive as participants, young and old, flooded the starting line, showcasing their commitment to improving the lives of children in their community. The air was charged with excitement as runners and walkers prepared to embark on this charitable endeavour. As advertised, the event commenced promptly at 5pm with the participants lining up, their vibrant outfits reflecting the spirit of unity and compassion that defined the occasion. Families, friends and members of the Kimberley community gathered…

TWO OFFICIALS from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism were dismissed for facilitating an irregular R90 million tender that was awarded for the events management and promotion of the Kumba skate park in Kimberley. The vert ramp at the skate plaza currently poses a danger to skaters as it has fallen into a state of disrepair, while the skate bowl was never completed. The contract of HRA Trading, who were appointed as the events managers for the Kumba Skate Plaza, came to an end in March 2022 when new bids were invited to present grand slam events for 2023-2026. A source close to the project indicated that the preferred bidder provided travel agency services. “The company only submitted a bid for the R90 million tender during the second round.”…

IN A DISPLAY of community spirit and dedication to environmental preservation, 117 learners from the Northern Cape High School (NCH) Rotary Interact club joined forces with Sol Plaatje University’s Employee Wellness Office and Sol Plaatje Municipality for a significant clean-up effort in the streets and veld surrounding their school. The joint initiative aimed to create a safer and cleaner environment for learners walking to and from school. The targeted clean-up areas were Meyer and Hayston streets, as well as the field situated between Technical High School and NCH. The latter, known to be a common route for learners commuting to both schools, had been overgrown with tall grass and bushes, posing potential hazards to the learners’ safety. Last week, Sol Plaatje Municipality took the lead in the preliminary phase of…

NON-PROFIT organisation Kulimatci, with the assistance of the Insikayezwe Foundation, handed out soup and bread to members of the !Xuhn and Khwe community in Platfontein to celebrate Mandela Day on July 18. Ria Reen from Kulimatci NPO said that former president Nelson Mandela had visited Platfontein on three occasions and had secured the land at Platfontein for the settlement of the community and the construction of houses, a public school and a clinic. “Mandela officially opened Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre,” said Reen. She explained that Kulimatci stood for "not forgetting the past" and were the custodians of the culture of the San people, while the Insikayezwe Foundation was a charitable organisation mainly supported by the taxi industry and associations.…

THE ALLAN Gray Makers Programme is a South African initiative funded by Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy South Africa and has partnered with Future Managers to roll out an Entrepreneurship InterCollege Competition aimed at the TVET College Sector. The programme is supported by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and SACPO and aims to provide transferable entrepreneurial skills and support to youths who are pursuing or trained in a technical or vocational trade, encouraging them to choose entrepreneurship as a career option. One of the main objectives is to increase the number of responsible entrepreneurs who are dedicated to conceptualising and building sustainable, responsible businesses in various technical or vocational trades. The programme seeks to add value to society by creating more employment opportunities, providing value-adding products and…

COMMUNITY health workers (CHWs) demonstrated outside the Department of Employment and Labour offices in Kimberley, as well as the Dr Harry Surtie Hospital in Upington, this week to disrupt public hearings that were held to investigate their basic conditions of employment and wages in the public sector. The provincial organiser of the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw), Thapelo Thole, said they were objecting to the implementation of prescribed minimum wages and basic working conditions for CHWs. “The department intends to remove CHWs from the sectoral determination and place them back under non-governmental organisations, which means they will be in a less favourable financial position. This is expected to take place in 2025 after the national government elections,” said Thole. Nupsaw provincial organiser Andrew Diraditsele believed that…

COURT proceedings were held under tents outside the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court this week after a prohibition notice was issued due to a “threat of collapse”, where the Department of Employment and Labour advised that no person should occupy the premises. Spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Victor Mateame Phala, indicated that court services would temporarily be moved to Galeshewe police station (Witdam). “The department is working around the clock with relevant stakeholders to ensure that all structural defects in the prohibition notice are resolved as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience and reaffirm our commitment to providing justice for all.” Spokesperson for the Department of Employment and Labour, Teboho Thejane, said that following an inspection, the structural engineer found the situation at the court to…

KOPANELO Care Centre and Soup Kitchen in Kagisho, Galeshewe, has welcomed the donation of five prepaid cellphones from MTN, which will assist the centre to run its after-school programme and help with online programmes. The donation comes after the soup kitchen, under the leadership of Reverend Dennis Thole, made a request to MTN for tablets to assist in its after-school programme. Thole explained that their intention is to start a computer lab at the soup kitchen as part of its after-school programme and they sought donations of computers or tablets to help reach their goal. MTN trade and marketer Moey Mohapi said the cellphones are the proceeds from the annual MTN8 tournament, where funds were raised through the SMS lines during the tournament. She said MTN identified charities from the…

A REWARD of R10 000, which will be escalated, has been offered for anyone who comes forward with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects who were involved in an armed robbery at Pyramid Jewellers at the North Cape Mall in Kimberley. Pyramid Jewellers was robbed on Monday by five men who, while pretending to be shoppers, robbed the store of jewellery valued at a substantial amount. The store management said various jewellery pieces of different metals and precious stones were taken by the robbers. “We have lost a lot of jewellery. The robbers took branded watches, gold chains with precious stones, diamond rings, pendants and silver rings including earrings. We are still in the process of taking inventory and cannot at this stage state what was…

THE MOTHER of three young children is living in fear after her ex-boyfriend, who is a police officer, was released on bail for the second time after he allegedly brutally assaulted her. The accused, a constable, allegedly pinned her to a couch and banged her head against the wall for nearly six hours on October 13, 2022. Following his arrest and release on bail he allegedly assaulted her again in the presence of her 13-year-old son and a toddler in May this year. The accused is the father of two children - a two-year-old toddler and an 11-month-old baby. The complainant said that she did not know why he was released on bail following the second alleged assault. “I have not received any proper answers from the SAPS even after…

IN A GESTURE of dedication to environmental responsibility and community spirit, the Northern Cape Heat cricket team took it upon themselves to clean up the Diamond Oval Stadium and its surroundings on Tuesday, July 18, Mandela Day. The players as well as the managers united in a concerted effort to pick up trash, ensuring that the stadium and its precinct were left in pristine condition. Mandela Day, celebrated annually on the iconic leader’s birthday, encourages people around the world to engage in acts of service and make a positive impact in their communities. Recognising the importance of starting any good initiative at one’s own front door, the Northern Cape Heat cricket team wholeheartedly embraced this call to action, recognising the importance of maintaining a clean and sustainable environment for all.…

Kimberley Golf Club Results for the week of July 12-15 and news about next week’s programme. Results for the week of July 12-15 are: The Wednesday, July 12 Darsha-sponsored 18-hole IPS was won by Eugene Snyman on 39pts with Gavin van Zyl second on 38pts and Muzapher Allie third on 37pts. The Thursday, July 13 KWV-sponsored 9-hole IPS with power play options was won by Jock Robey with 24pts. Second was Shane Arthur on 23pts and third Johan Herselman on 20pts. The Friday, July 14 Flamingo Niner was won by Peter Raubenheimer on 25pts with Sharheem Richards second on 23pts. Donald Witbooi was third on 20pts on a count-out over Kareem Andersen fourth with the same pts. The Saturday, July 15 Beefmaster-sponsored 18-hole IPS was well supported and amazingly sponsored…