Table of contents for 2024-03-15 in DFA News

A FIVE-day water shutdown has been planned for after Easter to repair major leaks on the main pipeline that feeds water from the Riverton purification plant to the city. It was indicated that this will be one of many water shutdowns to address the city’s ageing infrastructure. The Bulk Facility for Infrastructure programme co-ordinator at Sol Plaatje Municipality, Lucky Moyahi, stated that the amount of water lost due to a leak on the 900-millimetre pipe at Midstation in Roodepan could fill the Newton Reservoir in two days. “We are losing gallons of water and it cannot be sustained. It cannot be repaired without a water shutdown and the gasket in the chamber could pop at any time. It has been problematic since December and needs urgent attention,” said Moyahi. “Work…

STUDENTS at Phatsimang College in Kimberley are being taught under the trees due to severely overcrowded classrooms. A parent meanwhile stated that she was struggling to register her daughter at any of the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges in the city for the first semester intake. “My daughter completed matric last year and is now sitting idle at home, sleeps till late afternoon and stays up all night. It feels as if she has lost purpose in life. I will try and enrol her for the second semester,” said the concerned parent. Students at Phatsimang College indicated that there were around 80 students crammed into a classroom. “We are divided into half, where around 40 students are taught outside. We sit on our school bags or on…

NORTHERN Cape High School was recently abuzz with excitement as 15-year-old Grade 10 learner and author, Mosimanegape Leeuw, unveiled his second literary creation, “Behind the Dark”. The event marked Mosimanegape’s poetic debut and drew a distinguished audience, including guests from Mosimanegape’s hometown of Camden, Kuruman. The book, a collection of evocative poems, owes its existence to the support of Unamadla Vilakazi, who fully funded the project through the Unamadla Foundation, with the support of her mother, Onnalena Vilakazi. The launch was attended by esteemed guests, including senior officials from the Northern Cape Department of Education; Yolanda Slade, the department’s Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign (QLTC) provincial co-ordinator; Portia Phuzi, chief director for examinations and assessments at the department; Unamandla Foundation queens and kings; the school collective led by principal Owen…

A NEW documentary by two University of Pretoria (UP) professors captures the diminishing expertise of traditional midwives amid the global shift towards Western medical practices. It is set to premiere in Springbok in the Northern Cape on March 23. Titled “Vroedvrou” (Midwife), the film was directed by Professor Siona O’Connell, a professor of African studies and a member of UP’s School of the Arts, and Professor Loretta Feris, UP Vice-Principal: Academic. Vroedvrou was born out of research by Feris, who had been approached by members of the Nama community in Namaqualand who were seeking support to preserve the knowledge of ageing midwives. The community was concerned that this invaluable expertise would be lost and the contributions of these midwives to community maternal health overlooked. O’Connell, who has made several impactful…

Kimberley Golf Club results for the week of March 6-9 and a look ahead to the period of March 15-29. Results for the week of March 6 to 9 are: The Wednesday, March 6 Konica Minolta sponsored 18-hole BBS was won by the team of Phillip Maritz and Doc Allie with 44pts. Second were Dee Kidson and Pieter van Zyl on 43 pts with Jacques Gouws and Stephan van Heerden 3rd on 42pts. Fourth was Gavin van Zyl and Siewert Wiid on 40pts. The Thursday, March 7 KWV Niner was won by Johan Herselman on 25pts with Willie Delport 2nd on 22pts and Keith Brown 3rd on 20pts. The Friday, March 7 Flamingo Niner was won by Bernie Turton with 20pts. Second was Sadick Thomas on 19pts with Gamiet Aysen…

Mason Langford, a 13-year-old dynamo hailing from Kimberley, is poised to make his mark in the world of blackball pool as he prepares for his inaugural appearance at a national championship. Mason’s progression from a recreational player to a serious contender underscores his exceptional skill and unwavering commitment to mastering the game. Mason, a Grade 7 student at Kimberley Junior School, has maintained a steadfast position within the top 10 of his grade for the past four years. However, it's his fervent dedication to blackball pool that distinguishes him. His journey commenced from the comfort of his home, where he first developed an interest in the game while watching pool matches on television. Inspired by what he saw, Mason eagerly sought to try his hand at the sport. Fortunately, his…

THE DA has laid criminal charges against Sol Plaatje Municipality for the alleged mismanagement of funds while residents continue to experience water cuts and poor service delivery. DA councillor Ockie Fourie stated that residents were denied access to basic services. “The SAPS must investigate mismanagement of funds allocated for repairs and maintenance of bulk infrastructure in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act. R500 million was allocated in 2021, with an additional R1.9 billion allocated in 2023. But the situation is worsening rather than improving, raising questions about misappropriation and criminal misuse of money meant to deliver services,” said Fourie. He pointed out that at least 11 planned and emergency water shutdowns have been implemented in the city since November 2021, including five emergency shutdowns from October 2023 to January…

A 20-YEAR-old LGBTQI+ pupil, who is being accommodated at the Lerato Place of Safety, is expected to apply for bail in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court today after he was allegedly caught on camera sexually violating a 17-year-old boy. It was reported that the pupil was being transported to and from the Lerato Place of Safety to school every day by the Department of Social Development. Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the Galeshewe SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit was investigating a rape that allegedly occurred at a place of safety in Kimberley. “It is alleged that a 20-year-old suspect raped another 17-year-old boy at the place of safety on March 2. The suspect was subsequently arrested and is being held in custody at a correctional facility,”…

A MULTI-stakeholder engagement to address and find innovative solutions to the water and sanitation challenges being experienced in the Northern Cape was high on the agenda during the Water Research Commission (WRC) roadshow and workshop in Kimberley this week. The two-day workshop took place at Sol Plaatje University and was attended by various stakeholders, including provincial officials from the Department of Water and Sanitation, officials from Sol Plaatje University and the SA Local Government Association (Salga) and stakeholders in the mining industry. The CEO of the WRC, Dr Jennifer Molwantwa, said the roadshow is a follow-up to previous engagements that took place in 2023. “The Northern Cape has been prioritised by the WRC since it is one of the driest provinces in South Africa, with an average annual rainfall of…

COMMUNITY members are calling for the court to deny bail to a murder accused who allegedly stabbed a police officer to death with a piece of devil’s fork fence. The accused, Andile Kok, is expected to make a formal bail application in the Barkly West Magistrate’s Court on March 17. Angeline Wahutie from the ANC Women’s League claimed that the accused had wanted to reunite with the deceased, Pelonolo Phillipus, 27, who was his former girlfriend. “The community are not afraid of taking revenge if he is granted bail, as they do not feel safe. An innocent life has been brutally taken,” warned Wahutie. Delportshoop ward councillor Richard Springbok added that Phillipus had joined the police force three months ago. “She was stationed in Kuruman and was visiting her seven-year-old…

SOL PLAATJE University’s rugby team is making headlines this season with quite an impressive winning streak. But not only that, their upward trajectory has been bolstered by newfound local sponsorship and a fresh kit. The team is riding high after four consecutive victories, and unveiled their new sponsors and jerseys at a momentous event held on Tuesday. The Dean of Student Affairs, Nicole Morris, delivered an address with a resounding show of support for the SPU Rugby Team as they set their sights on qualification for the 2025 Varsity Shield. In her keynote address, she commended the team's camaraderie, resilience, and shared sense of purpose, crediting these qualities for their success on the field. Morris expressed gratitude to the sponsors – The Heights, NTLO Enterprises, and Braveheart Distillery – for…

The Kumgang Taekwondo Club recently hosted another of its highly-anticipated grading ceremonies at its stronghold on the Kimberley Big Hole Mine Museum grounds. The club, founded back in 1999, has served as a nurturing ground for martial arts enthusiasts, fostering a community of dedicated practitioners over the years. This year’s grading ceremony played host to the participation of 12 practitioners, each showcasing their skills and dedication to the art form. The atmosphere was intense as the club has become synonymous with excellence in the realm of Korean martial arts, and this grading event was a testament to this enduring legacy. Among the highlights of the ceremony were the promotions of two practitioners to the coveted rank of black belt, Joelle Anderson and Samuel de Clerk received the nod of approval,…

THE POLICE arrested three men in Kimberley after they were found in possession of suspected stolen government property. The incident unfolded when members of the Northern Cape Provincial Organised Crime Investigation unit, in collaboration with the Kimberley K9 unit, acted on information about a suspicious vehicle believed to be transporting stolen property. According to police spokesperson Sergeant Merapelo Pilane, the blue Volkswagen vehicle was spotted near the Kimberley Tourist Information Centre. Upon investigation, the officers found the three occupants unloading large blue bags from the vehicle. “Upon searching the bags, the police members found the ‘face value’ documents that are used for printing official [state] documents, including temporary driving licences, motor vehicle licences and vehicle registration certificates, as well as a printer and a scanner,” said Pilane. “The suspects could…

AT THE forefront of the fight against period poverty, Matla A Bokone’s “Girl Pride” initiative has positively impacted over 3 000 young girls attending schools in the Sol Plaatje municipal area since its inception in 2022. Beyond addressing health aspects, this outreach is committed to empowering and building the confidence of the schoolgirls it reaches, The initiative includes an Integrated School Health Programme and Life Orientation curriculum, which educates beneficiaries on matters related to menstrual hygiene, contributing to their holistic development. The initiative has furthermore driven socio-economic growth by partnering with a local young woman-owned business, creating job opportunities for three young people in the community, thereby enhancing youth employment and economic empowerment. The community liaison officer of Matla A Bokone, Lesego Mosiane, explained that ensuring access to sanitary towels…

IN A VIBRANT display of youthful enthusiasm and civic responsibility, pupils from various schools came together for a brainstorming session at the Kimberley Rotary Clubhouse,the session being organised by the Rotary Rotoractors and Interactors. The event saw an impressive turnout, with pupils and students from Kimberley Boys’ High School, CBC, Northern Cape High, Girls’ High School and Sol Plaatje University contributing their voices and ideas towards making a tangible difference in their community. Marry-Anne Daubermann, a prominent figure on the organising committee, expressed her delight at the level of engagement and commitment shown by the attending pupils. “It’s truly inspiring to witness such dedication and passion among our youth,” she remarked. Throughout the session, a myriad of innovative proposals were put forth, each aimed at addressing pressing issues within the…

I REMEMBER hearing a story about how an older woman once went into a butcher shop in New York where the store owner was talking with a customer in Russian. The owner saw the old woman walk in and told the customer (in Russian, of course), that he was just going to see what this “old hag” wanted and he’d be back soon. The old lady produced a roll of banknotes from her purse and, holding it in her trembling hand and with a quivering voice, started ordering – in English – some of the most expensive cuts of cold meats, insisting that she wanted it cut by hand. She ordered quite a substantial amount of cold cuts and had the proprietor wrap them up in neat bundles insisting that…

The Suzuki Griquas enjoyed an impressive run in their preparation for the SA Cup, clinching three consecutive wins in warm-up matches during the run-up to the newly-introduced provincial rugby competition. An impressive run in the warm-ups Most recently, on Tuesday, March 12, Griquas secured their third straight win in the warm-ups putting Central Region neighbours the Cheetahs to the sword in Jacobsdal. For the Cheetahs, it was their first outing without a lot of their star players such as Ruan Pienaar, Reinhardt Fortuin and Dan Kasende, just to name a few. A few weeks earlier, the Kimberley team had dismantled Boland 16-34 in Saldanha; this after crushing Western Province 17-36 just a few days earlier at the same venue. This past week’s encounter at Landboudal saw Griquas, fielding a formidable…

Blitzboks coach Sandile Ngcobo has fallen on his sword in response to the team’s poor run of form in the World Sevens Series. His assistant, Philip Snyman, steps up into the head coach role and will take the team to the Hong Kong Sevens in the first week of April. The Blitzboks have been really poor for some time, and a pale shadow of the side that won world titles under former coach Neil Powell. The heat has been cranked up on the coaching staff following lowly finishes in the Canada and USA legs of the Series, and Ngcobo has shouldered the blame. He returns to the role of coaching the next generation of sevens players at the SA Sevens Academy. The Blitzboks, who had finished in the top two…