Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-10-03 i DFA News

WITH less than 50 days to go before the Diamond and Dorings Kimberley Big Hole Marathon — where 3,000 athletes are expected to participate — Sol Plaatje Municipality councillors have called for a thorough clean-up of the city. ANC councillors recommended that all potholes and illegal dumping sites be addressed before athletes arrive on November 22. They added that they would wake up at 3am on race day to remove any bottles and other litter left around drinking spots the night before. Speaker Dipuo Peters said it was necessary to inculcate a culture of cleanliness. “Every time an area is cleaned up, people see it as an opportunity to dump and litter and deliberately make the city dirty. Let us abide by the by-laws before thousands of people flock to…

COMMUNITY activists in Club 2000 are petitioning for "drug lords" to leave the area after residents say they were terrorised by a group of about 25 people believed to be linked to a local drug kingpin. Community leader Thabiso Louw said he was among those injured when residents were attacked with pangas and knobkerries. He explained that residents had decided to take matters into their own hands after the police allegedly failed to honour a commitment to assist them last week. “Homes are regularly broken into and items are stolen. Most of the affected residents are elderly grandmothers and women-headed households,” said Louw. “Eight televisions were recently stolen from residents while they were asleep. Community members decided to search the home of a suspected drug lord in Boichoko Street, Galeshewe,…

Kimberley’s Blade Shotokan KArate Club made its national debut at the 41st IFFSK National Championship, representing the Northern Cape for the first time, and what an unforgettable debut it turned out to be. Twenty-one students from the club competed in the championship held in Durban under IFFSK President Hanshi Eric Governder, demonstrating the discipline, focus, and respect that karate demands and proving their province could match SA’s top competitors. The results exceeded all expectations. Blade Shotokan returned home with 25 medals, securing fifth place in the national Top 10 rankings. The haul included nine gold, nine silver, and seven bronze medals, reflecting the squad’s skill, consistency, and competitive spirit across multiple events. What is not seen, is that behind the scenes, away from the glare of a handover ceremony, each…

EXPANDED Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers have vowed to bring service delivery in Kimberley to a standstill if they are not permanently absorbed by the Sol Plaatje Municipality. Rubble, bricks and burning tyres were strewn across the entrance of the Ashburnham council yard this week. Municipal vehicles may not be able to refuel if the gates remain closed. The workers said yesterday that their protest action would continue until their demands were met. “We are the ones doing the dirty work — cleaning the streets, parks and graveyards. Without us, no work will be done — we will see who collects the refuse. The city will be turned into a pigsty,” they said. Workers also staged a sit-in in the middle of the road to stop traffic. “We will continue…

THE NORTHERN Cape Civics Organisation has described it as a “disgrace” that the newly appointed acting municipal manager of the Sol Plaatje Municipality, Busisiwe Magagula, has a criminal record. Members of the public were again instructed to leave the gallery when Magagula’s appointment was discussed during a special council meeting on October 1. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Nelspruit Regional Court granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) a confiscation order against Magagula in March this year after she was convicted of fraud. She entered into a plea agreement and was ordered to repay R780,000 defrauded from the Mpumalanga Department of Finance while she was employed as the senior manager of the provincial fiscal discipline unit between 2011 and 2013. Magagula had been reimbursed more than R500,000 by…

I CAN’T remember when exactly, but I used to visit a friend who lived around the corner from us, and every time I got to his place, I’d find his grandmother deeply engrossed in her Bible. Finally, one day, my curiosity got the better of me and I had to ask: “Why do you think your grandmother reads the Bible so much?” “I’m not sure,” my buddy replied, “but I think she’s cramming for her final exams.” Now, though I am not cramming, I have found great value in immersing myself in the Good Book; it makes for interesting reading and for fascinating study. I even have 12 copies I have acquired over the years, but that’s only my physical copies. I sometimes go online comparing the more traditional versions…

A LAND grab was temporarily halted in Danielskuil after concerned citizens objected to about 300 stands and a large shanty settlement being erected near a residential area recently. A spokesperson for the Concerned Citizens of the Danielskuil Landbou Erwe, Karel Bezuidenhout, said they were prepared to pursue legal action to stop the occupation. Bezuidenhout warned that the land occupiers could return, as no decisive measures had been taken to prevent further illegal settlement after the first attempt three weeks ago. “Since the start of the ‘invasion’, we have experienced an increase in crime as well as trespassing on private property. We are aware of the current housing crisis in Danielskuil, but we do not see this move as sustainable or feasible,” he said. He noted that the land was unsuitable…

Kimberley's newly-established Warriors Tug of War Club has officially received their sponsored team clothing, marking the beginning of an exciting journey for the local athletes. With Safire Insurance stepping in as the main sponsor, the Warriors proudly showcased their new kits this week at Elizabeth Conradie School, where the club is based. The club hopes to create opportunities for the school’s learners to get involved in tug of war, offering them a platform to discover the sport, build confidence, and enjoy being part of a competitive but family-like team environment. The club was formed to grow the sport of tug of war in the Northern Cape and provide equal opportunities for all athletes. Head coach Kobus Louw, an international trainer, says the vision is to build a united club where…

THE KIMBERLEY branch of AfriForum undertook a major clean-up project at West End Cemetery this week, focusing on the graves of war veterans. The initiative forms part of the civil rights group’s ongoing campaign to protect South Africa’s heritage and address the growing neglect of cemeteries across the country. This initiative will also benefit the wider Kimberley community, as graves surrounding those of the veterans have been cleared and pathways restored, improving access for all visitors. Local residents say West End Cemetery has deteriorated significantly over the years. Overgrown grass, scattered litter, and crumbling infrastructure not only pose a safety risk to visitors but also disrespect the dignity of those laid to rest. Many community members have voiced concern about their personal safety, citing minimal security and poor visibility at…