Table of contents for 2022-04-08 in DFA News

THE EFF in the Northern Cape has expressed its sadness and disappointment over the ANC attempting to turn a memorial service for Relebogile Segami, 11, into a “political rally”. A poster of ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa, ANC banners and regalia as well as a table cloth were used to decorate the venue while an EFF flag was draped over the podium. Community members felt that it was inappropriate to “politicise” the event and pointed out that the party flags and posters were much larger than the picture of Relebogile. Relebogile was raped and murdered and her body dumped in the veld behind the Northern Cape provincial legislature on March 31. Itumeleng Machabe, 24, was arrested in connection with the murder and is expected to reappear in the Galeshewe Magistrate’s Court…

THIS past week, while preparing for a teaching appointment, I was searching online for a suitable anecdote, a suitable story to kick off my presentation I was looking for something interesting, quirky, and something upon which I could build my lesson, but nothing seemed to grab me. I would scan over something, shrug and move on; find something else, sigh and continue searching. Then I came across an online article about the diet and exercise tips of Charles Eugster, and I spent some time reading it. You know something is interesting when it makes your brow lift and you go and do research to find out more about someone. In the online article dated April 22, 2016, Charles Eugster, who at the time was a world champion sprinter, bodybuilder, and…

IT IS STILL not clear as to how long the section of the R31 road between Koopmansfontein and Danielskuil will be closed for repairs. It is also not clear how long the repairs that are under way on the R31 between Kimberley and Barkly West will take. The Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works referred road users to their Facebook page for updates. The department had indicated that repairs on the road are taking longer due to the need to use additional material after the water levels adjacent to the road increased due to the recent rains. According to the department, continuous rainfall led to the demand for additional material, ongoing blading of the road and the pumping and draining of water on the affected road. The MEC…

MICK Schumacher’s legendary father Michael holds the lap record at Albert Park and he fondly remembers travelling to Melbourne as a child to watch his dad in action. Now a Formula One driver himself, the 23-year-old will follow in his footsteps when he races at the Australian Grand Prix for the first time this weekend. “I’m quite excited, I’m looking forward to getting to know the track and getting to know the city as well,” said the Haas driver. “I’ve been here with my dad and have watched him race in Melbourne, that was really cool, and I’m excited to drive here myself and make my own experiences of driving in Formula 1 in Australia.” Schumacher is fortunate to be in Melbourne after escaping uninjured from a horror crash in…

THERE was a sense of normalcy as spectators returned to the freshly renamed Windhoek Draught Park after a two-year break induced by the Covid-19 pandemic when the Windhoek Draught Griquas took on the Cell C Sharks in a Carling Currie Cup fixture in Kimberley on Wednesday evening. The Sharks took an early seven-point lead against the hosts and ended eventual 13-6 victors in a tightly contested match. A larger than usual crowd had pitched up for this midweek Currie Cup encounter between the Natalians and Griquas. At the main stand the usual suspects were seated in their numbers without the now familiar masks, as they shouted, cheered and made all kinds of general remarks about the proceedings on the pitch. The DFA spoke to some spectators, asking them how they…

YET ANOTHER energy company appears to be exploring for offshore oil and gas, this time in the Northern Cape, merely a few months after two seismic surveys were banned by the courts on the shores of the Eastern and Western Cape provinces. Privately owned energy company Tosaco Energy, based in Johannesburg, is alleged to have recently obtained authorisation to conduct a seismic survey in Block 1, which starts from Alexander Bay to Hondeklipbaai in the Northern Cape. However, fisherfolk and environmentalists have raised concerns that proper consultation processes with the communities were not followed. Green Connection’s community outreach co-ordinator, Neville van Rooy, said they were also seriously concerned about the impacts of the authorisation on affected communities. “It is unbelievable and shocking that Tosaco has now been given the green…

RITCHIE residents have dubbed a large dam of raw sewage that has accumulated at the back of the Ritchie wastewater treatment plant as “Mini-Kamfers Dam”. Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said yesterday that they would send a team to inspect the situation, although the department, he added, had not received any complaints. DA PR councillor Elize Niemann stated that the large dam started to form after Motswedimosa township was connected to the main sewage line. “The pumps are not always working and as a result the raw sewage is drained into the veld that is the property of a private farm - Jakkalspan. It has become a nesting place for birds and insects and resembles Kamfers Dam. This creates a massive health hazard and there is a…

THE PROTEAS Women’s team closed off an era yesterday when former captain Mignon du Preez called time on her ODI and Test career. Du Preez made her international debut back in 2007 as a 17-year-old when the women’s game was an altogether different sport than was recently witnessed at the Women's World Cup in New Zealand. The energetic right-hander closes off her 15-year ODI international career as the Proteas’ most-capped (154) and leading run-scorer (3,760). Du Preez also struck a Test century on debut against India in 2014 to make her one of only three South African women to score a Test century alongside Yvonne van Mentz (vs England, 1961) and Brenda Williams (vs New Zealand, 1972). Du Preez’s greatest contribution to South African women’ cricket is though overseeing the…

THE PRIESKA SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit is investigating a rape and assault case after a 72-year-old elderly woman was allegedly attacked and raped inside her home by her 61-year-old employee. Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the suspect was employed as a general worker at the victim’s house. “The incident occurred on March 26, 2022, at the victim's house. It is alleged that the general worker locked the door of the house and severely assaulted the victim with a knife and a brick and then later raped her. A family friend came to the house and saved the victim. The suspect was arrested the same day and the elderly woman was transported to hospital for medical treatment,” said Kock. He added that the suspect was…

A NEWLY constructed R105 million primary school was officially opened by Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul and MEC for Education Zolile Monakali in Douglas yesterday. The school will accommodate 60 Grade R pupils, 1 000 Grade 1 to 6 pupils and 22 teachers. Monakali said the school is equipped with facilities that will benefit the community as well as pupils. “This school received an award for the best parental participation in the 2021 school governing body (SGB) elections in the country, which is a clear indication that the school community is actively involved in the education of their children,” said Monakali. “The school is equipped with a wide range of facilities that will benefit the learners and the community. Some of these facilities include a science laboratory, computer rooms,…

PROTEAS women’s captain Dané van Niekerk slipped on the side of the pool, broke her ankle, and was ruled out of the World Cup. Fortunately, for the men’s team captain Dean Elgar’s recent mishap in the shower only resulted in an embarrassing cut to his forehead. “I had a bit of an accident in my room in my last night in Durban. I slipped in the shower and hit my head getting out. Obviously it’s not ideal. I have had a few stitches on my forehead,” Elgar said on the eve of the second Test against Bangladesh at St George’s Park. “It’s not my proudest moment, but these accidents happen. I seem to be okay. I batted today. It was a concern in terms of where my helmet rests. I…

MAMELODI Sundowns’ co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has reiterated that they play every game to win, and that’s why they’ll not leave any stone unturned when they host Summerfield Dynamos in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final tomorrow afternoon. The Brazilians have been on a roll this season. They have a real chance to claim a quadruple as they are at the top of the league table, in the Nedbank Cup and CAF Champions League quarter-finals, while they won the MTN8 late last year. Since returning from the Fifa window, Sundowns have recorded back-to-back wins in the Champions League and the league. They trounced Al Merrikh 3-0 at the FNB Stadium to end the group stage of the continental showpiece undefeated and the most points (16) across the four groups. They also extended their…