Table of contents for 2025-05-30 in DFA News

THE PUBLIC Protector this week inspected numerous cracks, various structural defects and suspect electrical wiring at the Homevale satellite fire station as part of its investigation into the alleged mismanagement of public funds, maladministration and improper conduct. Public Protector Northern Cape representative Mlungisi Khanya noted that the building posed an occupational and health hazard as sections of the property could collapse at any time. "The walls are peeling and there are cracks in the walls and floors. An air conditioner was stolen and the main gate is not working. Sol Plaatje Municipality must appoint an engineer to assess whether the building can be repaired, taking into account the soil that is unsuitable for construction," said Khanya. He stated that the investigation was expected to be concluded by the end of…

THE DEMOCRATIC Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape has once again sounded the alarm over the continued water shortages affecting the communities of Ritchie, Modderrivier, Rietvale, and Motswedimosa, calling on the Sol Plaatje Municipality to show greater urgency in restoring a reliable water supply. This follows a severe disruption caused by flooding on April 26, which washed away the main pump in the Riet River, leaving residents without water for a week. A month later, the situation remains critical, with the community dependent on smaller back-up pumps that cannot meet the daily demand. Water shedding remains in place, allowing residents access to water for only a few hours a day. In response to media queries, Thabo Mothibi, manager of the Communications Unit at Sol Plaatje Municipality, confirmed that a contractor…

MORE than a hundred people gathered outside a residence in Homelite, Kimberley, this week after a dramatic police raid ended in the sudden death of 44-year-old Chad Jacobs – a suspected drug dealer who was well known in the community. The South African Police Service (SAPS) descended on the property just after midday on May 26, drawing a large crowd and a significant police presence to the area. Eyewitnesses described a tense and emotional scene that unfolded both inside and outside the house. In an exclusive interview with the DFA, a female eyewitness who was inside the home during the raid, claimed that the police operation was aggressive and left many in shock. “The police arrived at the house and asked Chad to open the gate. Chad told them, ‘If…

The Safa Frances Baard Hollywoodbets Regional League positional play-offs kick off this weekend with six tantalising football matches scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 31 2025 at the Ikhutseng Stadium in Warrenton. The action continues on Sunday, June 1 at the same venue with three games, featuring the League’s top teams from the three streams, scheduled for the day. In Sunday’s first game, kicking off at 9.30am, Dikgatlong’s Stream B top team Kgatelopele take on Steam A, Sol Plaatje’s Sol Plaatje University in what promises to be a cracker of a match. The winner of this match will face Magareng/Phokwane’s Stream C’s winner in the late game at 3pm. However, before this match, the loser of the opening game will have to face Skema Unite in a 12 noon…

A CORRECTIONAL Services official, employed in the education unit at the Tswelopele Correctional Centre in Kimberley, has been suspended for allegedly smuggling contraband substances into the facility. Northern Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the 53-year-old official was arrested after he was found in possession of mandrax tablets during a routine search at the correctional facility on May 21. “The suspect appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on May 23 and was granted bail of R1,000. The Kimberley SAPS are investigating a case of drug possession. He is expected to reappear in court on July 7. The investigation continues,” said Kock. Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed this week that the official had been suspended for allegedly smuggling prohibited items into the facility. This incident follows a…

THE GALESHEWE police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a 10-year-old boy was killed when he was run over by a police vehicle near the Sewende Laan informal settlement over the weekend. EFF provincial chairperson Shadrack Tlhaole has called for a full inquiry into the incident and for the immediate suspension of the officials involved. He stated that the child was playing under a tree in front of his home when SAPS members approached at high speed in the residential area. “We condemn the tragic and senseless killing of Lethabo. They brutally ran over the child with complete disregard for the lives they swore to protect. We stand in solidarity with the family of the deceased and the Galeshewe community,” said Tlhaole. He urged that there be full…

Kimberley’s Monstermob Raceway spins to a different beat SMOKE poured from screeching tyres, music shook the ground, and crowds roared as Kimberley’s Monstermob Raceway became the beating heart of South African spinning this past weekend. The House of Motorsport Spin & Music Festival turned the venue into a livewire showcase of power, precision and passion – and Kimberley delivered. For an entire thrilled-filled day, the festival buzzed with energy, as hundreds of spectators witnessed everything from tyre-popping stunts to live performances that pulsed through the Northern Cape air. Where motorsport meets culture This was more than just another car event, because here on the tar slabs spinning was an expression of a lifestyle rooted in community, mechanics and raw nerve. Long-time voices of the culture, Vic Pardal and Mr President,…

THE SOL Plaatje Municipality announced yesterday that the manager of the R2.5 billion Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) water upgrade project, Winston Lucky Moyahi, would take special leave with immediate effect following his appearance in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court this week. Moyahi appeared alongside his former co-directors of Babereki Consulting Engineers – Lourencia Crause and Louis Adriaan van Niekerk – as well as former heads of the Department of Public Works, Motlalepula Elias Selemela and Ruth Palm. The accused are facing charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering, and contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) in connection with the Kimberley Mental Health Hospital saga. The mental hospital, which became a symbol of government mismanagement, took 14 years to complete, with final costs ballooning to R2.1 billion. The accused were…

THE SUZUKI Griquas will turn their attention to the Currie Cup with renewed focus and a point to prove after falling short in their SA Cup title defence. Coach Pieter Bergh’s men came into the 2024 SA Cup final hoping to repeat last year’s triumph, but a red card early in the game saw their campaign unravel in a 39-14 defeat to the Airlink Pumas in Nelspruit. Now, as the squad regroups during a short break, attention shifts to the demands of South Africa’s premier domestic rugby competition. Bergh is clear-eyed about the setback – but determined to use it as fuel. “Playing with one player down will always tire you out in defence because now you have to work extra hard,” he said of the final. “But we’ve taken…