Table of contents for 2025-12-12 in DFA News

THE R167 million Hull Street Social Housing project in Kimberley has hit another snag, with the site once again abandoned and work grinding to a halt due to insufficient funding. The keys for the first 100 houses were scheduled to be handed over in August this year, while all 372 units were supposed to have been completed by October. However, this was not possible due to escalating costs and additional geotechnical remedial work that is required. Construction was previously placed on hold for eight months in 2024 due to administrative problems. In June, the MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Bentley Vass, indicated that the drainage problems – where the soil became flooded during heavy rainfall – had been resolved. Indefinite completion date Coghsta head of…

A NUMBER of South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) beneficiaries in Kimberley have been unable to withdraw their December social grants after their cards were reportedly blocked. A group of beneficiaries said they were directed by Sassa and Postbank to an agent operating from a Shoprite supermarket to process new Sassa cards. “We were assisted by a Postbank agent from Bloemfontein who continually told us that the system was offline. Some of our cards were swallowed by the ATM machines. After taking down our personal details, we noticed that life policies were taken out in our names and we do not know who the beneficiaries are,” they said. They added that R195 was being deducted from their social grants every month without their permission for the life policies. “Neither Sassa,…

AUSTWILLE Buffel’s rise from addiction to recovery is at the heart of Flats Rhythm, a new locally produced film shining a light on real-life stories from Roodepan. His journey – marked by hardship, resilience and a renewed purpose – has positioned him as one of the region’s most compelling voices for youth facing substance abuse and social struggle. Born and raised in the tight‑knit neighbourhood of Greenpoint, Austwille grew up under the watchful eye of a single mother who juggled multiple jobs to keep a roof over their heads. “I never knew my dad,” he recalls, “but my uncle André stepped in and became the father figure I needed.” Those early years at Greenpoint Primary School and later at William Pescod High School were filled with both love and hardship.…

MILNER Street has transformed into a festive showcase of fairy lights and Christmas decorations as residents embraced the spirit of the season in a friendly neighbourhood competition. Homeowners were invited to decorate their houses and gardens, turning one of Kimberley’s well-known historic residential streets into a vibrant display ahead of the holidays. Several homes drew attention for their creativity and attention to detail. After the final walk-through, the judges announced 48 Milner Street as the overall winner for its standout display of Christmas lights. The resident received a cash prize of R3,000 along with gift vouchers valued at R5,000. Organisers hope the Milner Street Christmas decoration contest will grow into an annual community event, encouraging more residents to take part in future years.…

THE DIAMOND City of Kimberley delivered a spectacular weekend of extreme sport as the 2025 Diamond and Dorings Kimberley Diamond Cup Skateboarding Championships wrapped up last Saturday night, leaving crowds buzzing with adrenaline, global culture, and impressive displays of skill on and off the ramps. The two-day festival transformed the Kimberley Skate Plaza into a vibrant melting pot of talent, drawing athletes from across South Africa, America, England, Austria, Portugal, Thailand, and neighbouring African nations. Spectators were treated to world class skateboarding, a high energy freestyle motocross (FMX) show, live entertainment, and a spirit of community that defined the event. From the moment skaters rolled in on Friday afternoon, the atmosphere was supercharged with excitement. Families, fans, and seasoned supporters packed the stands, cheering with every landing, fall, comeback, and…

THE STREETS of Kimberley came alive with the sound of jingling bells and festive laughter as Kimberley Harriers turned their annual Santa Time Trial into an unforgettable celebration of giving on Tuesday, December 9. Dressed in Santa hats, costumes, reindeer antlers, and filled with Christmas cheer, runners and walkers gathered at the corner of Voortrekker Street and Memorial Road in the late afternoon. Gifts generously donated From there, the merry group made their way to the Children’s Cancer and Surgical Wards at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, arms loaded with bags of toys, sweets, and gifts generously donated by the running community and their families. The moment the group stepped into the wards, the magic happened. Little faces lit up with pure excitement as each child received a personally chosen…

THE ALLEGED leader of the Hollanders gang, George “Barney” Peters, will be sent for a 30-day psychiatric evaluation and is expected to be admitted with the January 12, 2026, intake. Barney and his co-accused – Britney Arends, Stephanie McAnda, Simone Rose, Chinaaz Mentoor, Abigail van Wyk, Chane Adams, Michael Peters, Clive Peters, Deon May, Pamerston Mentoor, Henry Blom, Vincent Rosen, Tshepo Malambi, Nico Hofuza and Shawn Smith – are facing 117 charges, including murder, attempted murder, gang activity, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area, public violence, money laundering, racketeering, defeating the ends of justice, assault, kidnapping, fraud and drug-dealing. Northern Cape High Court Judge Almé Stanton ordered that Peters be referred to a Kimberley hospital ward to be re-examined by a psychiatrist. She…

THE SOUTH African National Defence Force (SANDF) successfully hosted the annual South African Air Defence Artillery Formation (SAADA) Gun Run on December 10, uniting military and civilian teams in a demanding test of endurance and collaboration. Organised by the 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment based in Kimberley, the event kicked off at 9am at the Trim Park under clear, hot Diamond City skies. As part of a week-long celebration of excellence in the SA Army Air Defence Artillery Formation from December 8 to 12, the Gun Run highlighted the week's activities, which also included a Medal Parade, Memorial Service, and awards ceremony for exceptional members. Ten teams competed, each pulling a 23mm anti-aircraft gun across an estimated 7.2 kilometres of challenging terrain. Participants represented diverse groups, including the SANDF, South African Police…

THE DEPARTMENT of Employment and Labour has given the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture 60 days to comply with a contravention notice at the Mervin Erlank building in Kimberley, after bricks from the newly built Provincial Library Depot came crashing down. Staff took occupation of the building last year. Public Servants Association (PSA) provincial manager Steve Ledibane said that more than 200 officials employed at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) were being subjected to unsafe and unhealthy working conditions at the provincial office. “PSA shop stewards raised concerns regarding several critical issues, including leaking roofs throughout the building as there is no insulation between the roof and the ceiling; ventilation problems, including excruciating heat since the air conditioning is dysfunctional; and the uncontrolled collapse of the…

DISNEY'S “Unleash The Holidays” is lighting up Kimberley, featuring a towering Chari‑Tree at North Cape Mall and festive installations at Kimberley Airport that aim to bring holiday cheer to shoppers and travellers alike. This year, the Chari‑Tree tradition expands to a record‑breaking 21 malls across eight provinces – and for the first time, the enchanted trees are also greeting travellers at all nine provincial airports, hoping to turn every layover into a moment of wonder. The roll-out stretches from the highveld to the coast, and now reaches into the heart of the Northern Cape. Shoppers in Kimberley can marvel at the towering Disney Chari‑Tree at North Cape Mall, while passengers at Kimberley Airport are welcomed by a festive canopy of lights that wishes them a happy journey. And it’s not…

KIMBERLEY celebrated a milestone last Saturday, when Line Dance South Africa (LDSA) hosted the first qualifying line dance competition in the city. The 2025 to 2026 dance season event was held at NG Kimberley Vooruitsig and marked a significant moment for the local dance community, drawing 62 dancers from across South Africa. Participants travelled from as far as Nigel, Vereeniging, Strand, Durban, and Bloemfontein to compete in the qualifying round. The line dance season runs annually from September to August, with five official qualifiers taking place nationwide. These events lead dancers to the highly anticipated SA Masters Competition, which is set to take place in Durban in July 2026. Local talent shone brightly on the day. Emris Dance School from Kimberley entered 15 dancers and returned home with an impressive…

Club celebrates record turnout at 26th Magersfontein Memorial Race THE KIMBERLEY Harriers Running Club successfully hosted the 26th edition of the popular Magersfontein Memorial Race last week Saturday, with sponsorship from Idstone Farming and Jacobsdal Dairy. This year’s event saw a record number of participants tackle the challenging courses through the historic battlefield area outside Kimberley, in the Northern Cape. Runners had the choice of a demanding 25km route or a 10km distance, with separate walking categories also well supported. The tough, undulating terrain and warm summer conditions tested athletes yet produced some excellent performances, particularly from members of the host club. In fact, Kimberley Harriers dominated many of the age and club categories, underlining the strength of athletics in the Diamond City. Club members swept the men’s 25km podium…

THE ACTING CEO of the Northern Cape Arts and Culture Council (NCACC), Phillip Speek, testified in the Special Commercial Crimes Court in Kimberley this week that he was “not in a position to refuse” when he received instructions to process a R1.6 million payment for the so-called Umsobomvu “ghost” youth festival. Traffic Events and Entertainment CC was awarded a R1.6 million tender by the Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) to organise the youth event in Colesberg on December 31, 2016, but the festival never took place. The former acting head of the department, Ruth Palm; the chief financial officer, Andrian Coleridge; the chief director of corporate services, Bonakele Jacobs; and the director of Traffic Events and Entertainment CC, Lesego Stephens Mphake, are facing several charges, including…

THE PROVISION of health services at Galeshewe Day Hospital (GDH) over the festive season hangs in the balance as staff members contemplate strike action in objection to what they describe as “unbearable” working conditions. The Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (Hospersa), the South African Medical Association Trade Union (Samatu), the Democratic Nurses Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) and the Public Servants Association (PSA) held a meeting at the hospital on December 11 after receiving an “unsatisfactory” response from the Northern Cape Department of Health regarding a range of grievances. Patients reported delays in collecting their medication and accessing medical services since last week. “There is a shortage of nurses and doctors to attend to all the patients. The current staff were only sufficient for the…

WEIRD. That’s probably the best way to describe my taste in music. I never quite fit in socially, and I suppose my music taste followed suit. One time I was travelling with a group of friends, and we decided that on the long road trip, each one of us would get to play one side of their favourite mix-tape, and then we’d rotate until we reached our destination. The first few miles went well as jazz, rock, soul and blues brought head-bobs and easy conversation. Then my tape slipped into the deck. Suddenly, the pee breaks became more frequent – and far longer. Oddly, everyone climbed out whether their bladders were full or not. And they left my tape running, doors and windows shut tight, as though they didn’t want…

A fiercely contested showdown at Galeshewe Stadium on Sunday saw Aztec Masters crowned champions of the 2025 Sol Plaatje Masters Football League after a nail-biting penalty shootout against longtime rivals Young Pirates. The clash between the leaders of streams A and B lived up to its billing, with both sides showcasing skill and determination in a thrilling spectacle for the supporters. Aztec Masters drew first blood in the opening half, only for Young Pirates to respond with a well-taken equaliser, leaving the sides level at the break. With neither team able to break the deadlock in the second half, the match went to penalties for the first time in the history of the league’s finals. This year, being so closely contested, the winner could not be decided by the away-goal…

THE VISITING Flexbrands Knights won the toss and decided to bat on day one of the CSA 4-Day Series match against their hosts, the Northern Cape Heat, at the Kimberley Diamond Oval yesterday. Riding high after sweeping aside opposition in their earlier matches, the Knights are coming off two commanding wins at the Mangaung Oval – first an eight-wicket victory over the Eastern Storm, then an innings-and-99-run demolition of the Limpopo Impalas. Confidence must be high. Though the Heat have endured a bruising 4-Day Series so far, they are known to be a handful at home. The Knights have history on their side, having already beaten the Heat by 93 runs in Kimberley this season during the T20 Knockout’s opening round. But now the format is different, the stakes are…

ATHLETES from Zanshin Shito Ryu Karate Do Academy in Kimberley delivered a standout performance at the Frances Baard Karate Federation Regional Trials, securing an impressive total of 41 medals as they prepare for the 2026 season. The academy took a large group of newcomers to the tournament, many of whom were competing for the first time. Their courage and composure paid off as the dojo achieved a combined tally of 21 gold, 13 silver, and seven bronze medals across individual and unison categories. Shihan Peter Stegmann praised the dedication shown by the athletes, especially the first-timers who stepped onto the tatami with determination. “I want to congratulate each one who competed in the trials. Stepping on the tatami is never an easy thing because there are a lot of nerves…