Community News

Thato Mgoma The Department of Roads and Public Works celebrated 20 years of a nationwide government programme, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) at AR Abass Stadium yesterday. This programme was implemented in 2004 to alleviate poverty and reduce the unemployment rate of the country. It has proved to have been a success as there were…

Supplied The SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units in the Frances Baard District, accompanied by the SAPS Sector Policing, Community Police Forum, Social Crime Prevention and the Safety Participants from the Department of Transport Safety and Liaison, as well as Department of Social Development visited schools in…

Supplied Hundreds of security guards in the Northern Cape demand the government to employ them permanently. This comes after about 700 security guards were not paid their monthly salaries in April.  Some guards employed by Defensor security company who did not want to be named for fear of being victimized said they are working under appalling…

By Palesa Mofoti ‘I never want to see a child suffer, because that hurts me deeply seeing a child in that state’ words from Xolo Nicholas Ndayi affectionately known as Rre Ndayi, founder of Kitso Ke Bophelo a non-profit organization in Mokgeledi Street, Galeshewe. The Ndayi family house is a haven for the community.  Kitso Ke Bophelo offers…

Karabo Ntanzi It was an auspicious occasion for Masiza Primary School staff members, parents, and some members of the School Management Team as they bid farewell to two beloved teachers, Kedisaletse affectionately known as Sale Moheta and Mam Thandi Khonkhobe on Friday, 17 May. The intimate gathering was held at one of the old restaurants in…

Supplied A 44-year-old stepfather has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Galeshewe Regional Court after he was convicted on one count of rape as well as one count of attempted rape of his stepdaughter. In 2017, when the victim was 14 years old, and in Grade 8 the accused who was residing with the victim and her mother, began raping the…

Thato Mgoma The Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, launched a Labour Activation Programme at Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre last Friday.  Stake holders within the Labour department, government officials and community members attended. Labour Activation Programme (LAP) is a unit within the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF)…

MEDIA STATEMENT  It is with deep sadness that the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality (“SPLM”) announces the passing on of a colleague from the electrical department, Enrico Jose Convivious who succumbed to injuries stemming from severe burn wounds.  An explosion occurred whilst he and three colleagues were on-call at the Hercules Street Substation…

KARABO NTANZI "Women in the country will continue experiencing violence as long as the justice system fails them." These are the chilling words of a Warrenton woman who has become another statistic of gender-based violence. Thirty-one-year-old (31) Lesego Mere said she is lucky to be still alive after a trigger-happy police officer allegedly…

KARABO NTANZI The Northern Cape Department of Basic Education has called on the new School Governing Bodies (SGB) to prioritize learner support. The Department indicated the need for governing bodies that will be part of the solution. Five hundred and fifty-four (554) public schools in the Northern Cape successfully participated in the 2024…

By Palesa Mofoti The first handover of the Youth, Women, and Persons with Disability Fund (YWD) was held on 16 April 2024 in Kimberley. The YWD Fund is the initiative of the Northern Cape Ministry for Youth, Women, Persons with Disability and e-Commerce. Through this fund equipment and financial assistance to the tune of R8,9 million was…

Thato Mgoma Aggrey Klaaste Library, a state-of-the-art library was opened in Greenpoint next to Greenpoint Primary School on Friday. Greenpoint is one of the oldest townships in Kimberley. The historical moment was witnessed by Premier Zamani Saul and members of the provincial legislature, the Mayor of Sol Plaatje Municipality; Kagisho…

Supplied The Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU) in the Northern Cape says it will use its Shop Steward Council of clusters and Workers Day rally to consolidate its campaign for the ANC victory in the upcoming general elections on May 29. The trade union has organized a series of shop stewards councils in the Province's districts:…

Karabo Ntanzi Residents in several informal settlements in the Sol Plaatje Municipality have pleaded with the provincial government to accelerate the provision of housing. The plea comes from families in Roodepan who were displaced after their shacks were blown away during heavy rainfall and strong winds last weekend. An assessment by…

Karabo Ntanzi A battle involving the Sol Plaatje Municipality and Kimberley Local Taxi Association is looming over the usage of the Bultfontein Road. The reason for the scuffle comes after taxi operators affiliated with the association returned to park their minibus taxis on the road. Last year, the municipality closed a part of Bultfontein Road…

KARABO NTANZI The Northern Cape Education Department has confirmed placing its a Chief Director, who is facing criminal charges at the Kimberley Magistrate Court, on a precautionary suspension. His suspension comes after members of women's organisation,  Women Waging War Against GBVF and other community members burnt tyres outside the…

Palesa Mofoti The Roodepan Business Forum says the Department of Small Business Development's donation to local SMEs will go a long way in addressing joblessness in the area. The department led by Deputy Minister of Small Business Development Dipuo Peters donated business equipment to 87 SMMEs as part of the government's plan to assist…

Karabo Ntanzi More than 2,000 first-year students from Sol Plaatje University filled Mittah Seperepere Convention Center on 19 February for a formal welcoming ceremony, which is the last step of confirming that indeed they are Gemmies, as the Principal, Professor Andrew Crouch, enthusiastically informed them. This ceremony followed a vigorous…

Karabo Ntanzi The Kimberley Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit are seeking the assistance of the public in tracing three wanted suspects in connection with an alleged stock theft that took place on Saturday, 20 January 2024 in Campbell. The complaint alleges that at approximately 12:00, he was herding goats as a shepherd in the veld in…

Supplied The South African Police Service advice the public to adherence to the following precautions when socialising. GBVF and contact crimes remain a concern for SAPS, and we request you to adopt some essential safety tips to help you stay safe and prevent you from becoming a victim of crime: *Choose reputable venues with positive…

Correspondence The fraud case against parolee, former ANC chairperson and former Northern Cape MEC for Public Works John Block and two of his accused is postponed to 5th April 2024.  The postponement is for the defense team to finalise the payments for the case's legal documents. A relaxed Block who chatted with some of his supporters before…

  Karabo Ntanzi Kimberley's Humanitarian Organisation, Every Drop Counts, vows to assist Palestinians. The Non-Profit organization recently sold vetkoek and mince to help Palestinians with necessities, including food. A mural was also unveiled during the event to pay homage to the people of Palestine who died during the conflict.…

Karabo Ntanzi The Provincial Government through the Department of Sport; Arts and Culture intend to return the annual Diamonds and Dorings Music Festival, however, the festival is usually surrounded by controversies.  The media briefing organised by Sol Plaatje Municipality and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture was well attended by…

 Correspondence The Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr. Zamani Saul, says the Province is forging ahead to build more schools. Saul recently announced that the Province is building 13 State-of-the-art schools in various districts, reiterating the administration's commitment to improving the quality of education in all Province's schools across all…

Thato Mgoma Tuesday,  23 January 2024, the Northern Cape Provincial government launched the first phase of insourcing security guards into government departments in the province. The launch was attended by Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, Executive Mayor of Sol Plaatjie, Kagisho Sonyoni, MEC responsible for Transport, Safety, and Liaison, Nomandla…

By Palesa Mofoti The Department of Education hosted a matric awards ceremony at TD Church Tabernacle in Kimberley on Friday, 19 January. The ceremony was to acknowledge the top learners in the province and honor their achievements. The ceremony was attended the Premier of the province, Dr Zamani Saul, MEC for Education, Zolile Monakali and…

Supplied Six newly qualified Veterinarians have joined the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform’s Veterinary Services. The initiative is part of Government’s Compulsory Community Service (CCS) programme. The CCS programme offers the newly qualified veterinarians the opportunity, to…

Correspondent The Northern Cape MEC of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs Bentley Vass said the provincial government is concerned about the 'illegal occupation' of land in the province. Vass spoke with Roma Nna on the sidelines of President Cyril Ramaphosa's launch of a R1 billion housing project in Kimberley.…

Dwight Sekgoro Disgruntled members of Wards 12 and 4 camped outside the Kimberley Academy in Nyathi Highway, Galeshewe (the former Redirile Primary School), three days before the schools re-opened for the academic year. Law enforcement officers were stationed outside the academy to prevent potential escalations. The disgruntled members…

By Thato Mgoma Employees of Mme Re Ka Thusa Trust Fund (Mrkttf), a women empowerment organisation in Kimberley had a distasteful start to the new year as their office was broken into when they reopened on Monday, 8 January 2024. Gladys Matshele, Mrkttf Provincial Manager said all employees were shocked when they found the office in such a…

Kimberley-11 December 2023: The Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola hosted an early Christmas for the elderly in Galeshewe. The event was attended by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing, Major General Luntu Ngubelanga, Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, Major General…

Correspondent Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul said holding onto qualified personnel such as the candidates from the Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College was a big challenge for the province, he told an audience of friends and relatives of nursing graduates in Kimberley on Thursday. Saul was giving the keynote address at the annual…

By Thato Mgoma The Northern Cape provincial government launched a 90-minutes stage play named “Sekunjalo” as part of its observance of “16 Days of Activism against GBV” campaign at the Northern Cape Theatre on Monday. The anti-GBV campaign was launched with the theme: “Accelerating actions to end Gender-based violence and femicide; leave no…

Correspondent Dr Zamani Saul, the Premier of the Northern Cape, released the second quarter crime statistics report from the South African Police Services for the year to end September in Kimberley onThursday. Lt Gen Koliswa Otola delivered the final statistics to Premier Saul. Otola was accompanied by members of her top executive. The…

Kimberley - 30 November - The rapid response by the South African Police’s Tactical Response Team secured an arrest and prevented further damage to essential infrastructure. On Wednesday 29 November information was received and immediately operationalized regarding the theft and damage to municipal cables in Kimdustria in Kimberley. A SAPS…

Correspondent Residents of the greater Sol Plaatje municipality woke up on Thursday to yet another water crisis announcement as the local authority battled with a massive leak from a major water artery located in the Phomolong/Kutlwanong areas of Galeshewe. Thabo Mothibi, the newly appointed municipal spokesperson, on Thursday morning…

- UPDATE, TUESDAY. 28 NOV 2023, 10:30: DAYTIME WATER SUPPLY & NIGHTLY INTERRUPTIONS FROM TODAY, TUESDAY 28 NOV 2023 TO SATURDAY, 02 DEC 2023 The Sol Plaatje Municipality wishes to inform all residents of the water supply interruptions that will be effected from today, 28 November 2023 until Saturday, 02 December 2023; set timeframe -…

By Karabo Ntanzi Two water leakages on the major water pipes feeding into Kimberley and its surrounds lead to a shutdown later in the week which in turn raised the ire of some residents. On Tuesday this week the Sol Plaatje Municipality discovered two major water leaks on the 900mm diameter pipeline at Sunset Manor as well as the…

By Palesa Mofoti The Sol Plaatje municipality on Tuesday opened yet another small business operator’s centre made up of refurbished cargo containers at the Galeshewe Open Air Arena in a ceremony which was presided over by executive mayor Kagiso Sonyoni. Mpho Mojakwe, Marigold Moalahi, Letlhogonolo Veronica Leshobane, Tshiamo Modise and Mariah…

Own correspondent Tsoga Mocha, a voluntary nonprofit organisation on Thursday launched a canvas shoe wash project in Galeshewe as a self-empowerment initiative to help reforming youth drug addicts kick the habit and reconnect with their families and society. The group, Tsoga Mocha, is an offshoot of the erstwhile "Operation Fiela," which was a…

By Thato Mgoma Tsoga Mocha, a youth organisation in Kimberley held a reunion prayer session for reforming drug addicts at the Seochwareng circle in Galeshewe a fortnight ago in a bid to reconcile them with their parents and society. The prayer session was held under the theme: “‘A journey of forgiveness and healing”’. In attendance were many…

Reservoir Road (Reservoir up until Birbeck Avenue) and Waterworks Road (Virgin Active to corner of Reservoir Road). In terms of Road Ordinance 19 of 1976, the Sol Plaatje Municipality hereby serves notice on behalf of Sol Plaatje University Luka Jantjie House (North Campus), Private Bag X5008, of intent to temporary close Reservoir Road…

By Palesa Mofoti Service delivery demonstrations this week rocked Jacksonville near Roodepan township outside Kimberley as residents vented about their appalling living conditions. In protests that ran over a two-day period the residents demonstrated along the Midlands Road leading into the Jacksonville-Roodepan area. They closed the road off…

Sol Plaatje Municipality NOTICE ROAD CLOSURE: Portion of Knight Street In terms of Road Ordinance 19 of 1976, the Sol Plaatje Municipality hereby serves notice on behalf of Squeezas Tavern, 04 Knight Street, of intent to close a portion of Knight Street between the intersections of Barrister Street, Stead Street and Carr Street for a public…

By Waaqiah Jaffer Community members, medical doctors and medical aid schemes took part in the public hearing organised by the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature last month to discuss implications of the National Health Insurance (NHI) bill at the Bantu Hall in Galeshewe. Gift van Staden. Member of the \Northern Cape legislature and chairperson…

Story supplied by the Premiers Office Pictures sourced  The Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr. Zamani Saul, expressed sadness at the news of the devastating fire that broke out on the 6th of October 2023 at the South African Army Combat Training Centre (CTC) at Lohatla in Postmansburg leading to the tragic passing of six people, Staff Sergeant…

Story by: Thato Mgoma Pictures by: Thato Mgoma Teenage pregnancies have taken a toll in Northern Cape, but ‘Pathways to Change’ and its partners have stepped in with solutions focused on avoiding the emergence of such occurrences. Pathways to Change is a non-profit organization led by women. It focuses solely on strengthening health…

By Palesa Mofoti Partially blind Maria Motale (67) was overjoyed to finally have a brick and mortar house of her own in the twilight of her years in the village of Ntswelengwe in Kuruman. Ronald Lamola, the Minister for Justice and Correctional Services handed over the newly built and fully furnished house to an excited Motale. The house…

Story Supplied The South African Police’s (SAPS) anti crime drive “Operation Shanela” a multi-disciplinary, high density exercise has yielded positive results and will be retained for some time to stabilize crime. Police said the special operation’s positive spinoffs were evident in the operational successes achieved during intensified…

Story supplied Pictures supplied PMG Mining in Postmansburg took the opportunity to contribute towards food security by donating seeds to the community. The noble act was in commemoration of Arbor Week. The mine also appeals to all South Africans to plant native trees to sustain the environment. This initiative, spearheaded by…