Community News

By Waaqiah Jaffer Picture by Waaqiah Jaffer In commemorating Mandela Day, the Department of Roads and Public Works and the Independent Development Trust (IDT) fulfilled Tshepiso Nqgoko’s dream to establish Lukhanyo Autism Daycare Centre, named after her son Lukhanyo. MEC for Department of Roads and Public Works, Fufe Makatong, flanked by…

By Palesa Mofoti World Autistic Pride Day is commemorated on 18 June.  Many citizens take it for granted that certain members of the population have underlying illnesses that might result in life long struggles. According to Autism South Africa (ASA), Autism is a lifelong, highly complex condition that results from a genetic…

By Palesa Mofoti The United Nations declared 26 June as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit trafficking.  The theme for 2023 is “People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention” Many families in the country are battling the increasing scourge of drug use amongst the youth. Modiehi Mncananyana, a…

By Dwight Sekgoro Picture by:  Dwight Sekgoro Ritchie Young Fusion Organisation (RYFO) held its Third Annual Sports Day in July at the Rietvale Sports Ground. The day was made possible through generous funds donated by two private companies Raumix Aggregates and Ruwacon. The aim is to get the community to spend the day…

By Thato Mgoma Picture Sourced Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital, previously known as Kimberley Hospital, receives 200 burn cases annually. The number increases in winter with wounds varying from hot water, acid burn and open fire. According to Dr Maria Giaquinto-Cilliers, a Plastic Surgeon and Head of the Burn Unit, some of these wounds…

By Thato Mgoma Pictures by Thato Mgoma The Galeshewe Youth Network, in collaboration with Youth Support Programme, hosted a Youth Exhibition Indaba on 23 June at Bantu Hall, Kimberley. The purpose was to address social issues like gender-based violence, including mental health.  Also, empowering young people by providing information about…

By Lebogang  Mokae Picture by Tsholofelo Koope The Executive Mayor for Sol Plaatje Municipality, Kagisho Sonyoni, announced the R2.5 billion Bulk Funding for Infrastructure (BFI) allocated for Water Supply Intervention on 14 June. BFI is a national program aimed at funding Municipalities and Government entities for infrastructure-related…

By Dwight Sekgoro South Africa is brewing with excitement as it gears up to host the Netball World Cup. The National and Provincial Departments of Sports Arts and Culture afforded Northern Cape an opportunity to view the prestigious trophy. President of Netball South Africa, Cecilia Molokwane, accompanied by government officials, traveled…

By Lebogang Mokae Pictures by Tsholofelo Koope The message was clear “We are watching you”, from the Sobantu neighbourhood watch (SOB-NEI-WA) when they unveiled four warning boards placed around Sobantu on 16 June 2023.  Each family contributed towards purchasing the boards and other safety equipment, including torches and reflector vests.…

Story by: Lebogang Mokae Operation Fiela, in collaboration with Sol Plaatje Municipality, Frances Baard District Office, Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, including Home Affairs Department, launched the Tsoga Mocha (loosely translated – Wake you Young person) Campaign at Galeshewe Stadium on 17 June 2023. The objective is to bring…

Waaqiah Jaffer The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, in collaboration with the National Archives and Records Services of South Africa, held its Annual National Archives Awareness Week on 05 June to 09 June. On 6 June, digitization was the main topic at the Khotso Flatela Archives Repository in Kimberley. This year's theme was "Leave No…

By Waaqiah Jaffer Charné Maddocks, a young and ambitious Kimberley hockey player, continues to make big moves in the sports fraternity.  She recently traveled abroad to participate in the Four Nations Hockey Tournament in South Korea. During the hockey season, Charné played for a club in the Netherlands while preparing for national camps. …

Issued by the South African parliamentary communication services The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education concluded the Northern Cape leg of the public consultation process on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill in Kimberley yesterday, with residents of the greater Frances Baard District Municipality voicing contrasting views on the…

By Thato Mgoma & Palesa Mofoti The parliament of South Africa hosted a public participation hearing regarding the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill on 4 June at the Mayibuye Multipurpose Centre. The purpose of the session was to allow the public to voice their opinion and insight on whether they accept or reject the BELA Bill.…

The Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Boitumelo Moloi told employers that the Department has noted with concern that agricultural and mining sector employers are comfortable in employing undocumented foreign nationals. Moloi was delivering her keynote address to an Employers Session that was held at Kuruman Lodge, in Kuruman today, 25…

By Karabo Ntanzi Karabelo Dithebe, Support Officer from Grassroot Edge, said they are thrilled to be part of the Men Dialogue by assisting in trying to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, including other ailments. Grassroot Edge targets the youth, ages 14 to 24, through offering services ranging from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)…

Story Supplied The Kimberley Harriers Running Club, in partnership with Meals on Wheels Community Services – Northern Cape, is hosting a Saturday run to celebrate World Hunger Day on May 27 from 07: 00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The run will start at the Engen Garage, Oliver Road, Kimberley. Community members are invited to join this initiative by…

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Deputy Minister of Social Development, Mme Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, commemorated the International Day of Families in Platfontein, a San community in Francis Baard District. This also demonstrated the government's commitment to providing essential social development services to local…

By Lebogang Mokae Africa Beyond Fourth Industrial Revolution (AB4IR) in partnership with Goethe Institute, an organisation from Germany, held a graduation ceremony after an intense two weeks course in theory and practical training on drones. Twenty three young women from Kimberley, who happen to be the first group in the province obtained…

By Karabo Ntanzi Mayibuye Cultural centre was hyped up last Friday when Pathways for Change facilitated a men’s dialogue in partnership with Grassroots, Operation Fiela, Galeshewe Community Policing Forum, National Prosecuting Authority and other related stakeholders. Seithati Maboi, a Social Worker from Pathways for Change, said the…

Story supplied by Sol Plaatje University Picture supplied by Sol Plaatje University Graduation day is a significant event, marking the culmination of years of effort and commitment. On 6 May 2023, joyful celebrations took place at Sol Plaatje University’s 8th Graduation Ceremony, held at Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre, with proud…

Story supplied Pictures sourced As part of the Informal and Micro Enterprise Development Programme (IMEDP), Deputy Minister for Small Business Development Dipuo Peters and handed over equipment to 63 small businesses owned by women, youth and people with disabilities at Phokwane Local Municipality. The programme supports small businesses…

By Karabo Ntanzi Picture supplied Twenty-two young women from Kimberley get to the forefront of technology through the Drone Diva project.Africa Beyond 4th Industrial Revolution (AB4IR), a digital innovation hub based in Pretoria, is changing lives for women by training to use drones, a flying robots used for surveillance. CEO and founder…

By Karabo Ntanzi In commemorating International Nurses Day, the Northern Cape Department of Health and the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) Sr Huibrecht “Tokkie” Fourie was nominated to represent the Province for the Marilyn Lahana Caring Awards. International Nurses Day was attended by 300 hundred nurses from all…

By Karabo Ntanzi Pictures by:  Rebaone Prophy Community members from Galeshewe joined Operation Fiela in its quest to restore dignity to the Indian Centre by cleaning the premise. Twenty people accompanied by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and traffic officials marched from Kemo Hotel to the Indian Centre last Friday. The…

By Karabo Ntanzi Government Information and Communications Systems (GCIS) hosted their annual National Intersectoral Meeting in Kimberley to benchmark the effectiveness of the Thusong Centres. The one-stop government service centres were established in 1999 to redress the imbalances of the past by bringing services and information closer to…

Picture:  Supplied Story from Parliament The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy held the first public hearing on the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development (UPRD) Bill in Northern Cape, at Frances Baart District at the Recreational Hall in Galeshewe, in Kimberly, on Friday 14 April. Followed by John Taolo…

Story supplied The Northern Cape provincial government has partnered with manufacturing and Engineering and related services (merSETA). The deal worth R210 million will provide the youth with training, bursaries and employment. Over 2000 young people in the province will benefit from the project. Premier Dr. Zamani Saul said he is happy that…

Story supplied Picture sourced The Media Development & Diversity Agency (MDDA) is pleased to welcome Ms Nomkhosi Peter as the new caretaker Chief Executive Officer. Ms Peter has been seconded from the shareholder department of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS where she is the Chief Director: Strategic Planning,…

Story supplied by the Department of Employment and Labour The Supported Employment Enterprises (SEE) has the potential to employ 3 000 People with Disabilities (PwD) in their factories as they transition into the labour market. SEE Chief Executive Sibusiso Phakathi said the entity was a key pillar in helping transition PwD into the labour…

Sol Plaatje Municipality is conducting a widespread prepaid electricity meter audit to ensure that all STS meter key revision numbers are changed to the required 2-part reset key before the November 2024 deadline for the Token Identifier (TID) roll-over programme. Consumers using STS meters can still purchase electricity. On November 2024, the…

By Karabo Ntanzi The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an entity of the Department of Arts, Sports and Culture, held a road show for the Presidential Employment Stimulus Project (PESP). PESP was introduced four years ago during COVID. The purpose of PESP was to assist artists in invigorating the industry and to create jobs…

By: Siphiwe Ngcongco  The Premier’s Mme Re Ka Thuso trust fund this week hosted a three-day workshop in Magareng for small business enterprises at the Warrenton cultural resort. The small business colloquium was held in collaboration with the Magareng local municipality and other stakeholders. The purpose of the event was to pave a way for…

By Karabo Siyoko  The Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) last week held its annual stakeholder forum on the work done for small enterprises in the last financial (2021/22) year at the Kalahari Lodge. The event had about 40 attendees including the SEDA stakeholders along with their respective partners from the Small Enterprise Finance…

By: Siphiwe Ngcongco The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and members of the South African Democratic Students Movement (SADESMO) conducted a door-to-door prelaunch campaign in the Northern Cape last weekend. Petros Ngubane, the Umzinyathi district mayor in KwaZulu Natal, led the IFP delegation to Kimberley. On Saturday last week, Ngubane…

Sixty eight young, unemployed agriculture candidates on Thursday graduated from the Northern Cape’s Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform’s two-year on-the-job training programme. The programme was supported by the Northern Cape government to the tune of R7.2 million. MEC Mase |Manopole gave the…

By: Siphiwe Ngcongco The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has paid out almost half a billion rands to 114 000 beneficiaries in the Northern Cape according to Commissioner Teboho Maruping who visited Kimberley this week to brief on the fund’s priorities for the current year. Maruping, together with officials from the national Department of…

By: Siphiwe Ngcongco The national strike by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU) continued unabated this week as the union protested against a 3% salary increase and austerity measure introduced by the Government. The union’s Northern Cape chapter also joined in the strike by picketing outside gates of the Robert…

Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Commissioner Teboho Maruping has joined forensic auditors knocking on the doors of employers who benefited from the Covid-19 TERS Relief Scheme in Cape Town as part of Phase Two of the "follow the money" Project. During a visit to Rickard Air Diffusion in Lansdowne, Cape Town, yesterday, the Commissioner had…

By: Siphiwe Ngcongco Local artists will subsequently have the luxury of recording their music here at home, thanks to a sponsorship by the Northern Cape Government which unveiled a state-of-the-art recording studio in Kimberley on 27 February. Premier Dr. Zamani Saul presided over the unveiling of the new studio along with MEC for Sport, Arts…

By: Siphiwe Ngcongco The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has paid out almost half a billion rands to 114 000 beneficiaries in the Northern Cape according to Commissioner Teboho Maruping who visited Kimberley this week to brief on the fund’s priorities for the current year. Maruping, together with officials from the national Department of…

By: Siphiwe Ngcongco  Last Thursday, the Department of Health in the Northern Cape hosted a “Move for Health and Human Papilloma virus” mass mobilisation campaign in Roodepan, Kimberley, to advocate for healthy lifestyles in society. The Roodepan community came out in numbers, from young to old and eagerly participated in aerobics exercises…

The budget in a nutshell as tabled by Minister Enoch Godongwana on 22 February 2023 in Cape Town. Economic outlook  Global : Since the 2022 Budget global growth estimates for 2023 have been revised lower. The International Monetary Fund projects global growth to slow from an estimated 3.4 per cent in 2022 to 2.9 per cent in 2023. Domestic…

By: Siphiwe Ngcongco The Sol Plaatje University (SPU) and the Students Representative Council (SRC) have agreed to find accommodation for registered students and to a new start date for the academic year. This agreement follows student protests at the SPU’s central campus last week related to dissatisfaction with the lack of accommodation,…

By the Department of Employment and Labour Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi, has raised the minimum wage of farmworkers and domestic workers by a whopping 9.6%. The increase will take effect from March 01. The increase will also cover workers employed in the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), Learnership allowances, the…

09 February 2023 The Frances Baard District stations namely Galeshewe, Kagisho and Kimberley and Crime Intelligence in conjunction with the Northern Cape Gambling Board and Home Affairs, executed an intelligence driven operation in the Solplatjie local municipal area on Wednesday , 08 February 2023. The team led by Brigadier Charlotte Makgari…

By: Siphiwe Ngcongco The Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) hosted the inaugural provincial arts indaba at the Horseshoe Inn last week in Kimberley to identify challenges and resolve issues such as policy and advocacy, funding, skills development and training including community art centres. Hundred and fifty…

By the Dept of Health Pregnancy Awareness Week is commemorated in February this year from 10-19. The aim is to strengthen pregnancy education, highlighting important issues that will promote a healthy pregnancy, safe motherhood and early booking at a health facility. The theme for this year is: “Equalise to Eliminate Sexually Transmitted…

Picture: Karabo Siyoko By Karabo Siyoko Retlameleng Special School situated in Galeshewe, is a school for learners with physical disabilities, visual and hearing impairments was erected in 1993 with funds donated by the Lions Club, an organisation for people with physical disabilities. The school can accommodate 200 leaners with…

Picture: Supplied By: Siphiwe Ngcongco The 12th edition of World Radio Day (WRD) was celebrated on 13 February under the theme: "Radio and Peace." According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the objective of WRD is to promote the importance of radio and inspire those in positions of…