Table of contents for 2024-11-22 in DFA News

THE FAMILY of Deon Mkhwanazi, 38, who was fatally shot at close range while in his bed at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley, are still struggling to find closure as no arrests have been made for the cold-blooded killing. A bullet was reported to have struck him below the eye and exited through his skull on September 25, 2020. A source close to the investigation alleged that Mkhwanazi was the “hired hitman” for the murder of Kgalalelo Funeral Parlour undertaker Wilco Motlhatledi. Motlhatledi died from a single gunshot wound to the forehead after responding to a fake call-out to collect a body in Lerato Park in 2014. The investigator stated that Mkhwanazi was instructed to kill Motlhatledi as he was regarded as a rival funeral undertaker. “Mkhwanazi apparently threatened…

Milestone reached! The Northern Cape Heat’s right-arm fast-medium bowler Hardus Viljoen has cemented his place in cricketing history by reaching the remarkable milestone: taking 500 first-class wickets. Born in Witbank on March 6, 1989, Viljoen’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a pillar of South African cricket is inspiring. From a young age, he knew he wanted to become a professional athlete and initially balanced his passion for rugby and cricket. His cricketing journey began in 2008 when he made his first-class debut for the Easterns at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. Recalling his early days, Viljoen said, “The excitement of waking up knowing you’re heading to training with legends like AB de Villiers, Morné Morkel, and Faf du Plessis was surreal. Sharing a dressing room with players you idolised was…

GALESHEWE is gearing up for an exciting and impactful day of soccer and health awareness as the Provincial Council on AIDS and Networking AIDS Community of Southern Africa (NACOSA) partners with the Sol Plaatje Masters Football League to host a soccer tournament tomorrow. The event, which will take place at the Galeshewe Stadium and Galeshewe Artificial Pitch, is more than just a thrilling eight-team soccer competition. It is part of a broader wellness programme aimed at encouraging men, particularly those aged between 40 and 54, to access critical health services. According to a report by the Human Science Research Council, men in this age group are among the least likely to seek health services, contributing to a rise in new HIV infections. With the tournament targeting the Sol Plaatje Masters…

THE ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) has called for the immediate suspension of ANC councillor Derick Korkie, 47, and ANC Youth League (ANCYL) regional task team convenor Kagisho Ntshinga, 27, following their arrest on assault charges. However, their supporters believe the accusations are politically motivated, targeting the duo for advocating for new leadership ahead of the hotly contested upcoming elective conferences. Korkie and Ntshinga were arrested and charged with assault GBH following allegations that a 31-year-old ANCYL branch member was assaulted during a branch general meeting at the Homevale community hall in Roodepan on October 30. Both accused were granted bail of R500 each this week in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court, where their case was postponed until March 17, 2025. Korkie’s legal representative, Chwaro Kgotlagomang, said his client would plead not…

INMATES have described the conditions behind bars at Kimberley Correctional Services as amounting to “human rights abuses”, claiming it is severely overcrowded and infested with lice. An offender pointed out that diseases could spread “like wildfire” in the overcrowded prison population. “Understandably, prisons are not supposed to be five-star hotels, but criminals also have rights. There are only supposed to be a maximum of 35 people in a cell, but there are now over 70 people crammed into a confined space,” he said. An inmate who was released on bail this week said that he was bitten by lice while incarcerated. “I saw the lice jumping around. I was bitten all over my body. The place needs to be fumigated. Some offenders try to burn them at night and there…

THE HEAT was unforgiving as the Northern Cape Pairs Championships rolled into action this past weekend at Sol Plaatje Bowls Club and Beaconsfield Park. Players faced more than just tough competition – they also battled the blazing sun, which tested their focus and stamina. But they pushed through, delivering exciting moments and close games that kept the crowd hooked until the very last end. The Men’s final brought together two skilled pairs: CP Mathewson and David Paulse from Beaconsfield Park, and Quinton Kock and Franscios van der Walt from Hanover. Quinton and Franscios started strong, quickly building a lead with accurate shots and clever teamwork. It looked like they might run away with the game. But CP and David, veterans of many battles on the green, weren’t about to give…

IN AN EFFORT to equip hundreds of learners in the Northern Cape with essential skills and knowledge for life beyond high school, Matla A Bokone Solar has successfully implemented a Career Guidance and Leadership Development initiative aimed at empowering young people through educational programmes. The community liaison officer for Matla A Bokone Solar, Lesego Mosiane, said the programme has provided these young individuals with the tools they need to confidently step into the future. “The programme was launched with a career expo attended by over 1,000 Grade 12 learners from 11 local high schools. Endorsed by the Department of Education, the expo introduced learners to a wide range of career paths and provided insights into tertiary education requirements. We want to prepare our learners for life after high school and…

AS PART of National Disability Rights Awareness Month, which runs from November 3 to December 3, the national Department of Social Development has conducted public hearings on the Draft Policy on Services for People Living with Disabilities in the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga. The hearings follow earlier engagements, during which province-specific inputs were received and highlighted. These inputs were collected as part of the public hearings into the Draft Policy on Social Development Services to Persons with Disabilities, which was approved by the Cabinet in 2023 for public consultation. The head of the Northern Cape Department of Social Development, Shouneez Wookey, said the report strongly advocates for government investment in education, capacity building, skills development, employment, and funding opportunities for persons with disabilities. Wookey also noted that the provincial department…