Table of contents for 2024-05-24 in DFA News

DA FEDERAL leader John Steenhuisen assured Kimberley residents that it would not take “500 years” to rid the city of “filth and decay”. He promised that the party would end loadshedding and water cuts, during his closing rally in the city on Tuesday. Steenhuisen said that he was confident the DA would secure 40 percent of the votes in the Northern Cape and stated that a decision would be made on forming a coalition government based on the outcome of the national general elections. “In coalition with opposition parties who signed the multi-party charter, we hope to bring in a new government. We do not believe in bringing back a government with a failed history,” Steenhuisen said. “The people of the Northern Cape are ready to vote the ANC out…

Tshepaone Melato, one of the accused in the trial for the brutal murders of the Brand family near Hartswater in July 2020, has denied seeing any blood or bodies. Melato was charged with abduction and murder. Danie, 83, Breggie, 73, and Elsabe Brand, 54, were killed on July 26, 2020. Their bodies were left in the veld near Takaneng village and concealed in a cave near a natural spring. A red Nissan Micra and a silver Mazda CX5 were also taken from the family smallholding. The accused – Donald Seolesang, Tshepo Visagie, Kgomotso Mpumlwane, and Melato – are facing three charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice. Melato testified that he had never seen any blood on the vehicle that he, along with…

AN INVESTIGATION into the explosion that claimed the life of Sol Plaatje municipal electrical assistant Enrico Jose Convivious, 40, found that not all safety measures were followed. The substation was “live” when electrical workers entered the Herlear Street substation on May 14. Convivious, who died after sustaining severe burn injuries while attending to a cable fault at the time of the incident, will be buried on Saturday. The bereaved family has indicated that they intend pursuing legal action against the municipality. Meanwhile, South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) local chairperson Daily Semau stated that they were still awaiting delivery of the personal protective equipment (PPE) that was promised to workers last week. “Workers agreed to suspend strike action and will meet with the municipal manager next week,” Semau told the…

Wary Griquas expect Pumas to bring their A-game to SA Cup final KIMBERLEY’S Suzuki Park is set to be the hub of rugby excitement this weekend as the Suzuki Griquas prepare to host the Airlink Pumas in the SA Cup final. Griquas secured their home final with a commanding 39-17 victory over the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, while the Pumas cemented their place in the showdown by overwhelming the NovaVit Griffons 43-14 at the Mbombela Stadium. The Kimberley team finished the round-robin phase unbeaten, topping the log with 45 points. Their stellar form throughout the season has granted them the advantage of hosting the final, a fitting reward for their consistent and outstanding performances. Under the guidance of coach Pieter Bergh, the Peacock Blues have been a force to be…

IN A CAPTIVATING showcase of skill, camaraderie, and unwavering determination, the King Price Namibian National Bowls Championships unfolded this year from May 4th to 11th. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Namibia’s heartland, the tournament drew bowlers from across the region. Notably, a contingent of players from South Africa added an exciting layer of competition and charm to the event. Among the stars at the competition was Marietjie van den Berg, the dual-citizenship dynamo who calls Upington home but has strong roots in Namibia. Marietjie, who is celebrated as one of the top female bowlers in both South Africa and Namibia, continued her reign of dominance much to the delight of her fans on both sides of the border. After the tournament, the DFA interviewed Kimberlite Susan Nienhaber, a representative…

Northern Cape High School recently hosted a thrilling weekend of hockey and rugby against Upington’s Duineveld High School. The DFA’s Danie van der Lith was there to capture the action…

A 38-year-old man, Elrico Kaizer Kasper, was sentenced to five years imprisonment after he was found guilty on a cybercrime charge by the De Aar Regional Court. Kasper posted on social media that there were “some people” planning to kill President Cyril Ramaphosa during the President’s visit to the town. Northern Cape Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Nomthandao Mnisi, said Kasper was convicted on a charge of Cyber Fraud. “During March 2023, Kasper posted on his social media page that some people were intending to assassinate the President during his visit to commemorate Human Rights Day in De Aar. A disruptive operation consisting of the Hawks Serious Crime Investigation team was activated and the team located the accused,” Mnisi said. “The accused was taken in for questioning and he admitted that…

THIS past week has been mathematically challenging for me. I have been trying to figure out how old I will be in May 2524 and wondering – if I can manage to impress my bosses just enough – how many salary cheques will I receive between now and then. For the record, I am pleased to report that, with around 6,000 salary cheques coming my way between now and then, I am quite looking forward to spending my millions in the newly revamped, restored Diamond City. After all, if I understood the news reports from last week correctly, our esteemed leader gauged that it could take 500 years to fix this city’s infrastructure. At least he was brave enough to give us a timeline, speaking on national television, nogal. I…

IN A HEARTWARMING display of compassion and community spirit, two of the finalists for Mr. and Miss Diamantveld High School, Morgyn Geyer and FJ de Vries, recently hosted a glow-in-the-dark charity event at Rooifontein Farm. The event featured a 5-kilometre fun run/walk and 30- and 60-kilometre cycle routes, attracting participants from near and far to support a noble cause. The DFA had the opportunity to speak with Geyer and de Vries about their motivation for organising the event. They revealed that they were inspired to help after hearing about a young boy named Wico Vlok from Prieska. Wico, a seven-year-old boy, was born in Upington in 2016. His condition means that he requires leg braces and a nerve stimulator, with total costs amounting to around R 100,000. He was diagnosed…

THE SASOL Women’s Provincial Soccer League has kicked off its first round with high energy and competitive spirit, and fans are already on the edge of their seats. The league, which started in April, has seen five of its eight scheduled games played, and the competition is heating up. On Saturday, the Vuyolwethu High School grounds were abuzz as the two leading teams, Diamond Ladies and Royal Wizards, clashed in a highly-anticipated match. The game lived up to its billing, showcasing skill, determination, and sportsmanship. Diamond Ladies struck first, taking the lead in the first half with a beautifully executed free kick. However, Royal Wizards, undeterred, mounted a strong comeback in the second half, equalising with a penalty goal. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, a fair reflection of…

What was expected to be a sombre event, turned out to be an event filled with song and laughter as friends, family members, acquaintances and the Kimberley community bid farewell to Judge Yvonne Mokgoro during a memorial service. The memorial service was hosted at the St Boniface Catholic Church in Kimberley where the late judge completed her schooling career. Judge Mokgoro died on May 9, 2024 following an accident involving a truck on the road between Warrenton and Kimberley in 2023. She sustained serious injuries which impacted her health and she had to withdraw from public obligations. Friends lovingly remembered her as a diligent, meticulous, hard-working, barrier breaker, soft-spoken, music lover and a humble person with a very naughty streak which those in her close circle got to see and…

SEVERAL Sol Plaatje University (SPU) students were left stranded this week following their eviction from their residences due to the non-payment of rent. On Wednesday, students tried to camp outside the Moroko Hall at the main campus, as well as the Luka Jantjie House, with their suitcases and blankets. “We have nowhere to go and were threatened that they would call the police to remove us even though we have been sitting here peacefully,” said one of the students who spoke to the DFA. “We are supposed to be funded by the Thusa Moithuti fund but they have not paid the rent and now we are on the streets. The landlord kept some of our belongings because of the debt. We were told that we are personally responsible for the…

THE FREEDOM Boxing Club in Kimberley is gearing up to cross the Northern Cape borders for a major competition in the Free State taking place tomorrow (Saturday). The club is headed to the Inter-Provincial Tournament in Bethlehem, marking a significant milestone for the team. Boxing coach Joseph Magugwana shared his insights with the DFA, explaining the need for the club to embark on this journey. “We have eight clubs in Kimberley, but for some reason, they don’t want to compete with us. We really need the clubs to compete against each other, but getting that to happen has proved very difficult. “So currently, our boxers can’t get enough practice in and gain experience; that is why we need to travel now.” To ensure their readiness, the club has been conducting…

KIMBERLEY Golf Club results for the week of May 15 to 18 and a look ahead to the period of May 29 to June 1. Results for the week of May 15 to 18 are: Wednesday, May 15 was the Halsted / Mr and Mrs Diamantveld Golf Day. The Thursday, May 16 KWV sponsored Niner with power play options was won by Eugene Snyman on 20 pts with Chris Gordon 2nd with 20 pts and Braam Botes 3rd on 19 pts. The Friday, May 17 Flamingo Casino sponsored Niner was won by Shane Arthur on 21 Pts with Sadick Thomas 2nd on 19 pts over 3rd placed Wilson Sophazi on 19 pts and Neil Langley with 19 pts in 4th. The Saturday, May 18 Club sponsored 18-hole Individual Stableford competition…