Diamond Fields Advertiser
Community group marches over ‘bogus’ projects
THE VALSPAN Communal Interest Group embarked on a peaceful march to call for an end to alleged ghost and bogus projects that are being used to “milk” the finances of Phokwane Municipality. It was alleged that there was a “web of maladministration”...
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PUSH FOR DIRECT ESKOM POWER
An EFF student activist is petitioning for cash-strapped households in the Sol Plaatje municipal area to buy electricity directly from Eskom, arguing that soaring tariffs, failing services and water-quality concerns have made life increasingly...
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R167m housing project gathers more dust
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...
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Family pleads for truth after hit-and-run
A GRIEVING Galeshewe family has made an impassioned plea to the driver involved in a suspected hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of 18-year-old Cynthia Oliphant to come forward and take responsibility for her death. The family, who reside in...
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Farm murder case revived
THE FOUR young men charged with the brutal assault and murder of 81-year-old farmer Hendrik Venter on his farm Kameelaar, near Kuruman, will return to the Kuruman District Court next year. Venter also owned three other farms – Adams, Middelplaas and...
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HEALTH BOSS FACES ARREST OVER NO-SHOW
DURING Children’s Month – and amid renewed national outrage over gender-based violence (GBV) – a former Kuruman school bus driver has been convicted for the sexual assault of a seven-year-old pupil. As South Africans were preparing for today’s...
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Local short film captures struggle and strength of Roodepan youth
IN THE vibrant township of Roodepan, a powerful new short film is making waves. “Flats Rhythm” tells the story of Jerome, an 18-year-old street dancer with big dreams and a passion that could be his ticket out of poverty. But life has other plans, and...
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NC Cricket turmoil deepens
THE SUSPENDED CEO of Northern Cape Cricket (NCC), Thapelo January, and the Northern Cape Heat team manager, Mbulelo Bosman, have been advised to approach the Labour Court in a fresh bid to prevent their disciplinary hearings from proceeding. The pair...
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Barney booted from ‘his’ trial
THE SEAT occupied by George “Barney” Peters in the dock remained empty this week after he was instructed that his court case would continue in his absence due to his disruptive conduct. He declined an offer to return to his trial on Monday as court...
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Parents alarmed after camp fainting spells
PARENTS of children at a Kimberley primary school have pleaded with the Northern Cape Department of Education to intervene after their children began experiencing unexplained fainting spells following a camp near Barkly West from September 19 to 21. A...
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SOL BLASTED OVER SERVICE ‘COLLAPSE’
SOL PLAATJE municipal officials were lambasted by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for allowing the city to deteriorate into a state of neglect, where residents were left to “live like animals” in sewage and without access to clean...
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Councillors call for city clean-up ahead of marathon
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...
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A CURRIE CUP JOURNEY THROUGH A FAN’S LENS
IF YOU spend most of your life living in a small town, visiting a big city can be intimidating, even overwhelming. But according to DFA sports reporter Danie van der Lith, facing giants makes one realise that having a big, courageous heart gives you an...
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Two police officers out on bail after rape conviction
A 29-YEAR-OLD survivor from Upington has lost faith in law enforcement and the justice system after two police officers, who were convicted and sentenced for raping her, remain out on bail. The incident occurred in 2017 when the complainant asked the...
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Locals slam ‘piggy bank politics’
LOCAL businesses that were sidelined in favour of a contractor from outside the city to refurbish the Floors community hall have called for a forensic investigation into how the multimillion-rand tender was awarded. The managing director of the...
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Outcry as olive trees ‘reduced to stumps’
THE SEVERE cutting back of olive trees on the N12 near Oranje Toyota in Kimberley has sparked concern among residents, prompting many to voice their outrage on social media. The trees, which are a protected species in the Northern Cape, were cut back...
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City unites against crony tenders and political allies
CIVIC groups, political parties and trade unions are calling for the suspension of Sol Plaatje municipal manager Thapelo Matlala, after a media exposé linked him to allegations of undue influence and tenders for friends. According to the Public...
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Rooifontein mining plans spark alarm over wildlife and ecological threats
WILDLIFE club members, environmentalists and farmers are fiercely opposing a diamond mining application that threatens the future of Rooifontein. Experts have advised that mining activity will have a devastating impact on wildlife, fauna and flora,...
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Teacher suspended over ‘blackface’ incident
A DUINEVELD High School teacher who sparked outrage after a video surfaced of him at an apparent team-building event wearing a curly wig and with his face painted black has been placed on precautionary suspension. The incident follows an unrelated...
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Ex-pupil sues Education dept for millions over bathroom slip
IN A MULTIMILLION-RAND lawsuit against the Northern Cape Department of Education, the legal team representing 23-year-old Michael Links believes he is entitled to compensation, claiming that injuries he sustained from a fall on a slippery school floor...
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‘He died serving his country’
SOUTH African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier Private Xavier Raynard, who is believed to have been killed after being trampled by a herd of elephants in Limpopo, will receive a military funeral in Kimberley. SANDF spokesperson Rear Admiral...
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DEPUTY MINISTER BLASTS SOL
THE DEPUTY Minister of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Sello Seitlholo, has placed the blame for the environmental disaster at Kamfers Dam and the failing Homevale Wastewater Treatment Works (HWWTP) squarely on the shoulders of the Sol Plaatje...
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KAMFERS DAM FACES NEW ECO THREAT
AN EXPANDED Public Works Programme (EPWP) worker at the Sol Plaatje Municipality, whose employment was reportedly terminated after he posted a video on social media slamming the new water meters, intends to challenge his dismissal at the bargaining...
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Operation to recover two bodies from Roodepan pit
A SEARCH and rescue team that included the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Sol Plaatje emergency services conducted an operation on Wednesday after two unidentified bodies were discovered in a water-filled pit in Roodepan, Kimberley, earlier...
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Teen’s death sparks outrage as suspect walks free
THE DISTRAUGHT family of Grade 12 pupil Alizwa Ndlala, 17, is seeking justice following her death under mysterious circumstances in Richmond. Bereaved relatives in the small Northern Cape town are aggrieved that the person they believe is responsible...
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GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS RAISE EYEBROWS Mayonnaise death: Security guards stand trial
TWO SECURITY guards are standing trial for murder, following a shoplifting incident where a thief was caught red-handed stealing mayonnaise from a local supermarket. The accused, Itumeleng Mogwemang and Neo Potlawane, appeared in the Kimberley...
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Commuters queue for hours in dark and cold
COMMUTERS who travel between Ritchie and Kimberley are forced to wake up at the crack of dawn to get to work or school on time, after several subsidised buses were impounded two weeks ago. Commuters stated that the buses were unsafe and not...
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WHO GETS LEFT IN THE DARK?
ONCE a thriving hub of community engagement and scenic charm, the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Gardens in Kimberley had, for years, become a shadow of its former self, due to neglect and vandalism. But thanks to the vision and revitalisation efforts of...
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PREMIER PUTS THE ‘ME’ IN SMME
THOZAMILE Lovers Kula, a charismatic and dedicated young man from Tswelelang, Galeshewe, is making waves as a contestant for the prestigious Mr South Africa 2025 title. This year's competition promises to be an exciting one, with Thozamile vying for...
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DRUG SUSPECT DIES DURING RAID
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...
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Fury over ‘reckless taxis’ after pupil killed
A NINE-YEAR-OLD Kimberley boy was killed after he was reportedly knocked over by a taxi while on his way to school this week. SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the Galeshewe Serious and Violent Crimes Unit was investigating...
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Residents fed up with constant electricity outages
KIMBERLEY residents are reaching the end of their tether as persistent and unexplained power outages continue to disrupt life across the city – from Riviera to Hadison Park, Beaconsfield, Klisserville, Memorial, and beyond. While officials at Sol...
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Hope rises from ashes
A DEVASTATING fire ripped through the historic Nazareth House on the grounds of St Patrick’s CBC in Kimberley late on Monday night, May 5, destroying the boys’ and girls’ hostels and displacing 48 boarders and several staff members. The blaze broke...
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OUTCRY OVER ‘SEX PEST’ PASTOR
SOL PLAATJE Municipality executive mayor Martha Bartlett has admitted that she does not yet have an electricity smart meter installed at her residence. Addressing members of the Community Alliance South Africa (CASA) and other city residents who...
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No arrests in toddler’s hit-and-run death
A FAMILY has been left shocked and heartbroken, as no one has been held to account for the death of their three-year-old toddler – killed in an alleged hit-andrun accident in Warrenton. No arrests have been made yet in connection with the incident two...
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Soldier claims pupil ‘throttled, cursed’ him
SOUTH African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier Mbubanzi Desmond Zwakala, who stands accused of the murder of Amogelang Assegaai, claimed that he fired a warning shot into the air after the Grade 12 Kimberley Boys’ High pupil “throttled, pushed...
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Flood risk prompts venue change
KIMBERLEY is gearing up for the much-anticipated return of the Diamonds and Dorings Festival, set to take place on April 20. The festival, known for its rich cultural heritage and star-studded musical line-up, has been a highlight on the Northern...
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Sol municipality gets ultimatum to fix sewage plant
SOL PLAATJE Municipality has been instructed to submit a progress report by May 30 outlining steps taken to ensure that the Homevale Wastewater Treatment Plant (HWWTP) is fully functional and that unacceptably high sewage spillages around Kamfers Dam...
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‘Forget America, come to Orania’
AN INVITATION has been extended to “embattled” Afrikaner farmers who do not want to uproot themselves and immigrate to America, to instead choose Orania in the Northern Cape as their new home. Orania Movement chief executive officer Joost Strydom...
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Henderson takes bail battle to SCA
THE DEFENCE for John-ross Crossbery Henderson (pictured), 38, will approach the Supreme Court of Appeal after an appeal in the Northern Cape High Court to permit his release on bail was dismissed this week. Henderson is charged with the murder of...
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R2.5bn WATER PROJECT TAKES OFF pay double for power
RESIDENTS of Kimberley living in complexes are facing a significant discrepancy in electricity costs depending on their location, with some paying nearly double per unit compared to others. Despite raising concerns and seeking clarity from the Sol...
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JAILED
‘The almost 100-year sentence sends a strong message that such crimes will not be tolerated in our communities’
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Accused ‘rescued daughter from mortal danger’
THE NORTHERN Cape High Court is satisfied that murder accused Clive Ferris, 67, responded to his daughter, Advocate Celeste Nameka’s hysterical pleas to save her from “mortal danger” prior to a fatal shooting that took place at Minerva Gardens,...
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33 NC schools face closure
A TOTAL of 33 primary, intermediate and high schools in the Vaalharts cluster are on the brink of closure due to insufficient funding. The Vaalharts School Governing Body (SGB) Forum stated that they had given the Northern Cape Premier's Office and...
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Piet Els accused guilty
THREE of the accused who were convicted for the robbery and murder of prominent Kimberley businessman Piet Els, 86, have a string of previous convictions. The accused - Morapedi Rankali, Montlalentwa Qhautse, Lizbeth Ndlala, Themba Lawrence Maja, Oupa...
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Dog bite victim dies while waiting for ambulance
A ROODEPAN resident, who was attacked by a dog, died after reportedly waiting nearly nine hours for an ambulance to transport him for medical assistance. Ann Jooste said her grandfather, Isak Pakkies, was walking home along Woodpecker Street on...
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‘SHOOT THEM, DADDY . . . SHOOT THEM ALL’
MINERVA GARDENS MURDER: Community members submitted petitions urging that the Minerva Gardens murder accused be denied bail and not receive any preferential treatment. Magistrate Khumalo dismissed a media application to publish photographs of the...
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EMS UNDER FIRE FOR ASTHMA DEATH
THE EMERGENCY Medical Services (EMS) in Kimberley has come under fire again after a Bloemanda family alleged that their loved one died due to a lack of emergency assistance. Twenty-six-year-old Glenn Seekoei passed away on the night of Monday,...
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Pupil’s shooting planned – witness
AN EYEWITNESS who accompanied SANDF soldier Mbubanzi Zwakala when he allegedly shot Kimberley Boys' High matric pupil Amogelang Assegaai outside his home in Impala Road, Kimberley, believes the incident was a premeditated murder. Both Zwakala and his...
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DEFENCE CLAIMS MURDER SCENE CONTAMINATED
THE DEFENCE in the murder trial of the man accused of shooting Kimberley businessman Jayson Afrique argued that the crime scene was contaminated following the fatal shooting of Afrique and the attempted murder of his wife, Micayla. A bail application...
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Hospital killing still a mystery
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...
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Child allegedly finds tablet in biscuit packet
THE GALESHEWE police have opened an enquiry after a child allegedly discovered a white tablet in a biscuit packet that was purchased at a spaza shop in Bloemanda, Kimberley, this week. Community members raised concerns that drugs were being sold to...
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DOWNGRADED TO A GRADE 4 MUNICIPALITY
WHILE Sol Plaatje’s debt to Eskom has risen to over R1 billion, councillors have expressed concern that it has been downgraded to a Grade 4 municipality. This reclassification requires a downscale of salaries for all officials and councillors. The...
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Police probe ANCYL branch meeting ‘scuffle’ DFA’S longest-serving editor signs off
THE ROODEPAN police are investigating a case of common assault after a commotion broke out during an ANC Youth League (ANCYL) branch general meeting at the Homevale community hall in Roodepan this week. A branch member, Laura Ezem, stated that she and...
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UPROAR OVER 4-YEAR-OLD’S DEATH
GALESHEWE community members are in an uproar over the death of a fouryear-old girl and the hospitalisation of her uncle, both of whom allegedly consumed contaminated food. Meetings were held throughout the week outside a tuck shop in Seleke Street,...
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SHOCK SPARKS OUTRAGE
THE BODY of a 13-year-old boy from Bonita Park in Hartswater was retrieved yesterday after he drowned in the Vaalharts main canal earlier this week. Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) spokesperson Wisane Mavasa said the boy drowned on October...
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Acid attack: Victim’s cousin arrested
A GALESHEWE resident counts herself “lucky to be alive” after suffering severe burn injuries when drain acid was thrown in her face. Her husband, Joseph Voss, expressed concern for his wife, Dora Bergman, who continues to experience vision loss and...
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‘Barney trial’ accused pleads for bail
THE NORTHERN Cape High Court this week heard an appeal from Vincent Rosen, one of the accused in the high-profile “Barney trial” involving alleged members of the “Hollanders gang”. Rosen is challenging the trial court’s decision to deny him...
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MAN ACCUSED OF BIKER’S MURDER WANTS BAIL
JOHN-ROSS Henderson, 38, who was charged with the murder of well-known businessman and CC Riders member Jayson Afrique, 28, and the attempted murder of his 27-year-old wife, made a formal bail application in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court...
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CITY BRACES FOR SHUTDOWN
COMMUNITY members are preparing to stage a shutdown after feeling snubbed by Sol Plaatje executive mayor Kagisho Sonyoni and municipal officials. A date for the shutdown has not been determined yet, as the Kimberley Action Group will meet with taxi...
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MEGA MALL PROJECT HANXGXSXXINXBHAELXAXNCE
SOL PLAATJE Municipality councillors have slammed what they describe as “underhanded tactics” by certain ANC councillors who are allegedly trying to delay a mega shopping complex development in Memorial Road, Kimberley, due to apparent “personal...
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SHOP OWNER ‘ON THE RUN’
A TUCK shop owner has yet to be apprehended after he allegedly fatally struck a 29-year-old customer over the head with a hockey stick in Stanley Batyashe Street in Galeshewe. Community members were concerned that the suspect was a flight risk as he...
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PROBE INTO DEATHS AT CITY HOSPITAL
THE MENTAL Health Review Board is probing the deaths of three patients at the Kimberley mental health hospital, which occurred when the facility was experiencing power outages due to rampant cable theft. This week, Dr Henk Boshoff, a commissioner with...
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