Community News

By Khumo Makame As part of the Back-to-School Campaign, the Northern Cape Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison conducted a road block along the busy R31 between Kimberley and Kuruman on 13 January. R31 is the corridor to the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Free State, mainly used for transporting minerals.  It is also the most accident-prone…

Story and pictures supplied The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Northern Cape remains resolute in its commitment to combat all forms of criminality through the implementation of Operation Shanela 2. Intensified, zero-tolerance, high-density operations were conducted from Monday, 29 December 2025 to Sunday, 04 January 2026 led by…

Story and pictures supplied The positive impact of Operation Shanela 2 continues to be felt across the Northern Cape following high-density operations conducted from Monday, 22 December to Sunday, 28 December 2025. The operations were led and coordinated by senior officers from the Provincial Office, District Commissioners and Station…

Khumo Makamu Christmas arrived early for more than 100 dogs and cats from Galeshewe, during the Pet Care Drive held on Friday, 12 December at Mayibuye Uprising Precinct in Royal Street, where they received free personal health care. The Pet Care Drive was initiated by Kasi Pet Health and Rescue, a non-profit organisation founded Sizwe…

Supplied The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Northern Cape and stakeholders conducted intelligence-driven and targeted Safer Festive Season operations under Operation Shanela II, resulting in the arrest of 360 suspects for various criminal offences. During the operations, SAPS members confiscated alcoholic beverages, ammunition,…

Khumo Makamu On Thursday, 11 December, Boitshoko Primary School in Galeshewe demonstrated remarkable community spirit by donating essentials to five families who were displaced after their homes were destroyed during the year. Four of the identified households were gutted by fire, while one was destroyed due to drug-related domestic…

Supplied It was on 8 December 1925 when missionary Bishop Herman Joseph Meysing and Father Anton Jager planted a seed on Corless Road, Kirstenhof, Kimberley. This seed would bloom later to become the giant that is today, the hundred year old St Boniface Roman Catholic Church. On Saturday, 13 December 2025, Catholics and many invited guests…

Through the implementation of Operation Shanela 2, law enforcement in the Northern Cape apprehended 258 perpetrators during intensified crime prevention operations from Monday 1 December 2025 until Sunday, 7 December 2025. The operations were led by senior management at both provincial and district levels, in collaboration with key stakeholders.…

Police in Petrusville were alerted on Monday, 26 May 2025, at approximately 10:00, by a passer-by to the body of a minor lying in a field next to the Kalkfontein gravel road. Upon arrival at the scene, police discovered the body of a 13-year-old boy in the veld, with a stab wound to the chest. The deceased was later identified as Dion Rudy…

The Kimberley Station Commander, Brigadier Nicholas Mtongana, led Operation Shanela 2 actions aimed at enhancing safety and security during the Safer Festive Season. The operation was conducted with members from Kimberley, Galeshewe and Kagisho SAPS, the Tactical Response Team, Flying Squad, District Office, Pro-Active Policing Unit, Sol Plaatje…

As the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign draws to a close, a series of build-up programmes are being rolled out in Kakamas to strengthen community involvement and awareness. On Monday, 8 December 2025, the “Sport is Your Future” youth tournament was hosted in Kakamas. The initiative, spearheaded by the…

By Boipelo Mere The hungry and dismissed workers of Ekapa mine marched to the Ekapa offices at York Street on Wednesday, 10 December, to hand over a memorandum, demanding reinstatement as stipulated in the layoff letter and for the company to get its house in order. Under SAPS supervision, the dismissed workers staged a peaceful picket before…

The Northern Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Vinus Blennies-Magage, tabled her medium-term budget at the Northern Cape Legislature on Wednesday, 03 December. The Northern Cape adjustment budget reflects an upward revision of R1.031 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, comprising a national rollover. The total…

Supplied A Galeshewe family has lost a one room shack after it was destroyed by fire in Mpitsang street on the afternoon of 9 December leaving behind only charred. The shack, was used as an additional bedroom by the family of eight, as some of them sleep in the newly erected RDP house in the same yard. According to the family, they used to…

By Palesa Mofoti The South African National Defence Force(SANDF) hosted their annual South African Air Defence Artillery (SAADA) Formation Gun Run which is a high-octane sport that brought together both SANDF teams and civilian groups. The Gun Run was a celebration of the force’s excellence week, which was hosted from 8th until 12th December…

By Palesa Mofoti Skaters from across 12 countries, including South Africa, won big as they walked away with cash prizes ranging between R500 and R50 000 during the recent Diamond and Dorings Kimberley Diamond Cup on Saturday, 6 December. The two-day event brought Kimberley to life as tourists flocked to the Skate Plaza to participate and…

Boipelo Mere Proud Authors from communities within the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality received their well-deserved toast when SIOC Community Development Trust (SIOC-CDT), in partnership with the Marang Career and Information Centre, successfully launched seven of their books at Kuruman Lodge on Saturday, 22 November 2025. More than 80 guests…

The Department of Roads and Public Works (DRPW), in partnership with the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA), has officially launched a 12-month Tyre and Suspension Learnership Programme at the Teachers Training Centre in Kimberley. This youth development initiative will benefit 100…

The MEC for Social Development in the Northern Cape, Ms Nontobeko Vilakazi, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to protecting the dignity, rights and wellbeing of older persons and persons living with disabilities, during the Older Persons Appreciation Programme held in Noupoort, Umsobomvu Local Municipality, in the Pixley Ka Isaka Seme…

SA News Agency Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has called on all South Africans to take personal responsibility for reducing crashes and fatalities on the country’s roads as the 2025/26 festive season begins. The Minister officially launched the 365-day Arrive Alive Road Safety Campaign in Kroonstad, in the Free State on Sunday, emphasising…

Supplied A domestic violence incident between two cousins resulted in a 5-month old boy being assaulted in Keimoes on Monday, 21 July 2025. It was reported that the accused and the mother of the victim were in an argument that escalated and became physical, while the mother was holding the infant. The accused kicked the boy on his head…

Supplied Members of Port Nolloth SAPS have reaffirmed their commitment in clamping down on crime during this festive season period and beyond. This was evident when members of B relief followed up on information provided regarding possible drug activities. The members operationalised the information which led them to the location of the…

Supplied The Kenhardt Magistrate Court recently convicted two males accused of malicious damage to property, that was committed on 30 March 2025. The duo was found removing the roof of a fixed structure by the owner when he arrived at his premises. The complainant reported the matter to the police and the case of Malicious Damage to Property was…

Supplied Kimberley – 2 December 2025: Police in Sunrise responded to a complaint in the early hours of Monday, 23 December 2024, regarding a suspicious person inside the Transnet yard carrying a large bag. Upon arrival, police found a man in possession of electronic and industrial equipment, including handcuffs. The items were positively…

SA News Agency It is said that a journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step and that single step can open doors to much-needed employment or the start of an entrepreneurial voyage. “For me the success of our sector is not in just skilling and training but in ensuring that we’re training and skilling for employability. That is where our…

Boipelo Mere Lethabo Park community members called for a Skip rubbish bin to be posted in the park, following complaints from residents living adjacent to what they refer to as an illegal dumping site. The residents made a plea for intervention from Sol Plaatje Municipality, stating that they no longer enjoy the freedom of their yards due to…

The Namakwa District Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, officially welcomed 45 of the 58 new constables who completed their training at different SAPS Training Academies in the country and were placed at various stations within the district. The parade was held at the Human Resource Development (HRD) offices in Springbok on 1 December.…

Supplied Through the implementation of Operation Shanela 2, law enforcement in the Northern Cape apprehended 258 perpetrators during intensified crime prevention operations from Monday 1 December 2025 until Sunday, 7 December 2025. The operations were led by senior management at both provincial and district levels, in collaboration with key…

Supplied The Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola together with the Frances Baard District Commissioner, Major General Charlotte Makgari led a crime blitz in the greater Kimberley today, 5 December 2025. As part of Safer Festive Season operations officers and members from Provincial Components, Stations and…

Following a successful Career Awareness Exhibition held at the Northern Cape urban TVET college on the 15 of October, The Auto Engage Youth Empowerment Programme (AEYEP), powered by merSETA in partnership with Barolong Ba Ratlou Consulting, held yet another successful career awareness exhibition at the Galaletsang Science High School in Kuruman…

The spotlight was on Vanderkloof Resort, which hosted the Northern Cape Economic Development, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (NCEDA)’s Provincial Tourism Summer Campaign aimed at boosting domestic travel on Friday, 28 November. Situated near Vanderkloof Dam from Hopetown on the N12, Vanderkloof Resort is mostly beneficial for the N1 and…

Supplied On 5 November 2025, an elderly woman in Ceres, Western Cape, scored a significant court victory after she obtained a Protection Order effectively evicting an abusive and violent son-in-law from her home. The son-in-law is married to the woman’s daughter and they all live together in the home. After both experiencing and observing constant…

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is urging all COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant (R370) applicants to use cell phone numbers that are registered under their names to do official application for the grant. In a statement on Thursday, the Agency said the cell phone number and banking details are crucial particulars for…

Water and Sanitation Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Sello Seitlhlolo will on Friday, 28 November 2025, release the findings of the independent investigation into the collapse of the Jagersfontein mine dam in the Free State. The Jagersfontein community suffered one of the worst disasters in its history when the mine’s tailings dam wall…

By: Khumo Makame The inaugural Diamonds and Dorings Kimberley Big Hole Marathon, held on 21 November 2025 in the historic city of Kimberley in the Northern Cape, delivered a vibrant and memorable showcase, attracting more than 3,000 runners across its 42.2km, 21km, 10km and 5km races. The race started at 5am making it possible for the…

By Palesa Mofoti Recreation hall in Galeshewe was filled with an echo of jubilation and screams of excited parents as it hosted the Grade R annual graduation ceremony of Olympic Primary school on Thursday the 20th November 2025. Phones were on full swing capturing mode as elated parents witnessed their little one’s excited and beaming faces…

By Palesa Mofoti and Khumo Makame The hungry and frustrated workers of Ekapa Mine expressed concerns around the silence by the Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul about what they described as the ongoing bullying by their employer. The workers, represented by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa(Numsa) is making progress in…

Boipele Mere Sol Plaatje University’s (SPU) Department of Institutional Advancement (DIA) brought home 5 awards from the MACE Excellence Awards in Johannesburg, in recognition of excellence in marketing, advancement and communication. The prestigious gala dinner was held on 13 November 2025 under the theme “The Human Touch: Marketing,…

Boipelo Mere Sol Plaatje University’s (SPU) Department of Institutional Advancement (DIA) brought home 5 awards from the MACE Excellence Awards in Johannesburg, in recognition of excellence in marketing, advancement and communication. The prestigious gala dinner held on 13 November 2025 under the theme “The Human Touch: Marketing, Advancement…

By Palesa Mofoti and Khumo Makame The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa is mobilizing with all progressive parties for a mass strike against Ekapa Mine in Kimberley, after workers were served lay-off notices without pay and later faced disciplinary action for embarking on strike action. The hungry workers embarked on a strike…

Supplied Kathu Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit is requesting assistance from the public in locating 9-year-old Mihlali Khanyiso Ludaba, who went missing on Friday, 14 November 2025. According to her mother, she last saw her daughter on Friday morning when she got Mhihlali ready for school. However, when she…

By Palesa Mofoti The South African Police Service held its Annual Provincial Excellence Awards at the Madiba Hall on 13 November 2025. To pay homage and recognise the tireless efforts, bravery and selflessness of police officers who strive to make an impact in their communities. MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Limakatso Koloi and…

Supplied Five incidents of theft and vandalism were reported to the Sol Plaatje Municipality Electrical Department over the weekend. The overall asset loss still has to be established. One incident resulted in an outage. Power supply was restored in Roodepan in the early hours of this morning amid the vandalism of a mini-substation at…

The Kimberley Serious and Violent Crimes Unit is investigating a culpable homicide case following a fatal crash that claimed 2 Galeshewe friends Boitumelo ‘Tots’ Pheleu (36), and Dwight Galileo Sekgoro (35), on Sunday 09 November on the R31. Three more male friends, believed to be from Galeshewe, remain hospitalised with serious…

By Palesa Mofoti     The emotional farewell celebration of Nontobeko Ngobeni, which was held over the course of two days at Masiza Primary School and Batsumi Guest House, was nothing short of amazing. The festivity included energetic cultural performances from her learners, with guests draped in their beautiful traditional attire,…

By Khumo Makame The Hlohlolo family was left with only the clothes on their backs after a devastating fire destroyed their two-roomed shack at 2 pm in Agisanang Informal Settlement, behind the Archives building, Galeshewe, on Monday, 26 October. The family was also left without shelter following the blaze, which started shortly after 2:15 pm,…

Supplied As the festive season approaches, the South African Police Service urges community members to remain vigilant and avoid situations that could lead to violent crime. The SAPS will continue implementing proactive policing measures to ensure that all citizens enjoy a safe and crime-free festive period. In view of this, the Frances Baard…

Law enforcement agencies took decisive action against criminality through the implementation of Operation Phakisa across the coastal areas of the Namakwa District from Wednesday, 22 October 2025 until Sunday, 26 October 2025. Focused disruptive actions were conducted in Port Nolloth, Kleinzee, Hondeklip Bay, Groenrivier, and Alexander Bay.…

Danielskuil police are investigating the deaths of three men between the ages of 23 and 34 years between Danielskuil and Kuruman, after they perished in a helicopter crash on Sunday, 26 October 2025. Police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers said the incident happened at approximately 12:00. "The police are investigating  inquest dockets…

The MEC for the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) in the Northern Cape, Bentley Vass handed over 15 houses to some of the beneficiaries of the Calvinia 200 Housing Project, in the Hantam Local Municipality Namakwa District earlier this week. The Calvinia 200 Housing Project is part of the 1…