SEVERAL areas near Barkly West were left isolated and plunged into darkness as rising water levels continue to flood parts of the province following the opening of sluice gates at the Vaal and Bloemhof dams Moddergat and Stilwater said they have been without electricity since April 29 The power supply was restored in Longlands on Monday shortly after residents took to the street and burnt tyres on the N12.  According to a notice issued by Eskom on May 2 the power utility is aware of the outage affecting Barkly West It indicated that technicians are unable to cross overflowing rivers to repair compromised lines until water levels recede Areas around Barkly West flooded and plunged into darkness Residents in Longlands threatened to stage a protest on the N12 on Monday as they have been without electricity since last week A resident from Gong Gong said one of the electricity poles and a transformer had collapsed into the water “We may be without electricity for three weeks or longer There is no cellphone network and we are completely off the grid The church and houses up the hill are submerged A Longlands community member added that they were using fire to cook “All our meat and consumables have gone rotten because the fridges are off We rely on neighbours with generators or solar panels to charge our phones Who knows how long it will take before the water levels drop – we might be waiting weeks or even months.” Stilwater residents have been without electricity since April 29 residents in Ritchie protested outside the local water treatment plant on Friday burning tyres at the entrance after the water supply was not restored as promised on May 1 Community members alleged that the delays were intentional to benefit water tank and JoJo tank distributors.“Why did the distributors load one JoJo tank at a time and travel all the way from Kimberley to Ritchie?” asked one resident DA caucus chairperson and Sol Plaatje municipal councillor Elize Niemann said security guards were instructed to prevent them from entering the Ritchie water treatment plant on Friday “We needed to conduct an oversight visit to inform the community of the situation People were left without water for seven days.” She added that water was restored intermittently on Friday to allow time for the purification of water from the canal “The extraction pump is still out of order High water levels damaged an electrical cable connected to the abstraction pump that draws water from the Riet River The municipality worked throughout the weekend to construct a platform to raise the level of the pump.” Niemann stated that work had been delayed because the area where the pump needed to be installed was deemed too dangerous to access for the recovery and repair of the necessary components “DA councillor Willie Erasmus and I distributed borehole water to households in need were transporting only one tank at a time from Kimberley While the trucks made stops in Rietvale and Motswedimosa there was a shortage of supply for Ritchie and Modderrivier.” She added that she had cautioned the municipal manager and senior officials at the beginning of April that rising water levels could disrupt the municipal water supply high water levels damaged equipment at the Riverton waterworks leading to a dry Christmas season for Kimberley residents “The DA will refer the matter to the Municipal Public Accounts Committee for investigation and will request that officials be held liable for the expenditure incurred in ferrying water to selected community members.  It is unthinkable that gross municipal negligence leaves residents without water while the major rivers feeding our dams are bursting their banks.” Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said water supply in Ritchie was restored on May 2 from 5pm to 9pm “The water will be opened in the mornings from 4am to 10am and again from 4pm to 9pm to allow water levels at the plant to recover,” he added He noted that while the emergency canal is operational the inflow into the plant remains insufficient we were unable to restore the full tap water supply on May 1.” Mothibi confirmed that the electrical cable connected to the abstraction pump drawing raw water from the Oranje-Riet River was experiencing faults “The flooding of the river hindered efforts to recover the pump “Residents experiencing challenges with relief supply are encouraged to contact Mr Saul Maseng at 073 381 5218 or Mr Itumeleng Mokgobo at 066 111 9060,” he concluded Home | South Africa The family of the late Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro says they seeking justice as the culpable homicide trial of her partner began in the Barkly West Regional Court The Barkly West Regional Court in the Northern Cape has set aside three days this week for the trial of David Mmelesi Mmelesi was allegedly the driver of the vehicle that collided with a truck in April 2023 Justice Mokgoro died on 9 May last year says they are relieved the trial has begun “We have been seeking the truth for two years We are at a point where even though there is contestation for what the truth is we are finally getting the actual story of what really happened on that night – the minutes before she became unconscious.” Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio and when there was great sorrow in the land pitying the wants and difficulties of Mankind descended from Heaven with a huge basket filled with diamonds and dropping diamonds as it sped on; past Barkly West and Klipdam it flew along towards a place now called Kimberley.” The good words above apparently come from a local Tswana legend, quoted in The Romance and Reality of the Vaal Diamond Diggings, by TL Terpend and George Beet. To date, it’s the finest non-geological explanation for the origin of diamonds I have found.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads my wife Julienne and I ventured north of Kimberley with Dirk Potgieter a guide who harboured a deep passion for the diggings around the Vaal River we crossed the Vaal early one morning on a digger safari that started in the village of Windsorton; the river was clear and green The bedrock on the floor of the river had been laid bare over the decades by miners hungry for the diamond-bearing gravel we were confronted with the results of all that diamond fever The eastern Kalahari grasslands had been turned into a giant construction site replete with scores of earth movers crawling between mounds of upturned red ground Men had literally moved the Earth to get at the little carbon crystals so that women far away could wear them for baubles The 85-year-old digger named James Riet in 2005 The Windsorton Hotel used to be a rip-roaring spot where diggers gathered in all sorts of weather conditions. We drove up to the semi-deserted hotel and bought a cheap pair of takkies from the new tenant, a young trader. Julienne and I expressed our concern for the trader’s well-being.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “The digging community is very tight,” Dirk said which was called Klip Drift in the old days This was the colourful centre of South Africa’s next diamond rush when in the late 1860s thousands of hopeful men descended on the veld and soon there was a land dispute between the Griquas the Boers and the ruling British of the Cape Colony the diggers declared their very own Klip Drift Republic under a trader called Stafford Parker Klip Drift then assumed the name of Parkerton Cape Governor Sir Henry Barkly paid the settlement a quick visit dispensed some harsh words and had the place renamed after himself you solve the problem by giving it another name Would he like to take a turn at the diggings “I would love to dig,” he said. “It’s in my blood. But these days, you need a lot of money to move a lot of earth. The diamond fields are running out.”advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads What was it about a digger’s life he loved so much “The lure of vast wealth just a few handfuls of dirt away.” A huge flash left-hand-drive American imported Chevy truck roared past.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads The old toll bridge crossing the Vaal River The old Windsorton Hotel became a general dealer we came across the diamond buyers’ offices the buyers will sit and wait in these cubicles And then the diggers arrive with their stashes of sparklers and intense negotiations will take place I read from a tourist guide to the Frances Baard Municipality The dark side of the diggings: environmental mess and poverty that result from uncontrolled extractive mining Later, we drove on to Dirk’s home town, Delportshoop. Once, it carried the rather more magical name of Moonlight Rush. We were headed for the local township, Rooikoppies, to see an old digger called James Riet.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads James Riet was one of a rare breed of hand diggers he was relaxing at home because his beloved jig-sieve was in for repairs going out to the fields of Schmidtsdrift in the deepest winter breaking the ice on the barrel of water used to rinse the gravel “I only celebrate a little when I find a nice diamond,” he said He also came from a hardy gene pool: his father died at the indecently ripe old age of 103 James confided that whenever he was about to uncover a decent diamond “It’s a feeling I have in my sleep,” he said. “And I’ve been getting it over the past few nights. Once my jig comes back fixed, I’m going to find a big one.”advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Only the graveyards may not be dug up for diamonds Working the diamond diggings north of the Vaal River We drove on to Longlands and stopped next to a white pillar all that remained from the old Longlands Hotel “This is where the diggers used to really party,” said Dirk A digger who had found a decent stone threw a party in the bar and the diamond would be passed around for everyone to have a look at some digger got permission to mine the ground under the hotel flapping my Hawaiian drinking shirt at him to show my Big Fat Tourist credentials he strode back into the gloom of his little shop and he said the wild entrepreneurial spirit of yore had not been confined to diamond hunters “There was a professional hunter living near Barkly West,” he said “The man lost his licence after being caught selling ‘miniature kangaroo hunting safaris’ to naïve Americans “When you come from a country that sells postcards of jackalopes (rabbits with antelope horns) what happened to that kangaroo hunting fraudster?” This is a short chapter excerpt from Karoo Roads IV – In Faraway Places (360 pages, black and white photography, R350 including taxes and courier in South Africa) available from  September 2024. Anyone interested in pre-ordering a first edition, author-signed copy should please contact Julie at [email protected] for more details The Karoo Quartet (Karoo Roads 1 – 4) consists of more than 60 Karoo stories and hundreds of black and white photographs. Priced at R960 (including taxes and courier in South Africa), this Heritage Collection can also be ordered from [email protected]  ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " IN THE heart of Barkly West, a small Northern Cape town, a young woman with big dreams is making waves on an international scale. J-Dean Bridges, a 21-year-old with a passion for mental health advocacy, was recently crowned Miss Petite International South Africa at the Meropa Sun Casino in Polokwane, Limpopo. For J-Dean, pageantry is more than just a crown and sash - it is a platform for change. "As a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, I've discovered that pageantry offers a powerful platform to make a meaningful difference," she shares. "Representing South Africa as Miss Petite International SA, I’m dedicated to promoting mental well-being, particularly among our youth." One of J-Dean’s most impactful initiatives is her school shoe donation project. She firmly believes that a child who feels comfortable and confident at school has a greater chance of thriving academically and emotionally. "By providing essential school shoes, I aim to help create a supportive environment that fosters growth, self-esteem, and a love for learning," she explains. With the international Miss Petite competition on the horizon, J-Dean is eager to take her message to the world. "It feels surreal, yet incredibly empowering. Coming from a small town with big dreams, this opportunity is only the beginning of an extraordinary journey". J-Dean’s journey into pageantry was unexpected and not something she initially envisioned. "Initially, I perceived pageantry as solely focused on physical beauty. However, as I delved deeper, I discovered the significant impact of philanthropy, which resonated deeply with me and fuelled my passion for this platform," she reflects. One of her most cherished moments during a recent pageant was the sense of sisterhood and camaraderie she experienced. "One of my favourite memories from the Miss Teen Universe SA pageant was the evening we all shared dinner and exchanged gifts. It was a moment of genuine connection and relaxation among fellow contestants." The path to success has not been without obstacles. "Throughout my journey, I faced numerous challenges, including self-doubt and financial stress," J-Dean admits.  However, her unwavering faith and resilience kept her going. "Mentally, I focused on building my confidence, and spending more time meditating on the word of God helped keep me sane and focused." J-Dean hopes her journey will inspire other young girls to pursue their dreams fearlessly. "Don't let your surroundings define your aspirations. You have the power to shape your destiny and create the life you desire," she encourages. Beyond the pageant world, J-Dean’s aspirations extend into psychology, a field she is deeply passionate about. "Mental health advocacy is at the core of everything I do, and I believe becoming a psychologist will allow me to make an even greater impact." Her journey would not have been possible without the support of her family and community. "I’m deeply grateful for the unwavering support of my family, community, and friends. Their contributions, whether financial, emotional, or through practical assistance, have been instrumental in my journey, and I'm thankful for their belief in me." J-Dean’s commitment to making a difference extends beyond pageantry. She founded One Step at a Time (OSAAT), a foundation aimed at empowering children and helping them create a brighter future.  "This year, I plan to expand this initiative, ensuring that more children receive the support and encouragement they need to succeed." As she prepares to represent South Africa on the international stage, J-Dean is seeking financial assistance, donations, and sponsors to support her journey. "Any contribution will help me fulfil this incredible opportunity and continue making a positive impact in the lives of our youth," she says. For further information or to support J-Dean’s journey, interested individuals can contact her at 072 953 3004. With her unwavering determination and compassionate heart, J-Dean Bridges is not just wearing a crown - she is carrying a cause, one step at a time. FOUR people lost their lives in a head-on collision between two light motor vehicles on the R31 road between Kimberley and Barkly West on February 1. Northern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam said the deceased were between the ages of 36 and 56. “The police are investigating the circumstances that led to this tragic accident, including the possibility of a tyre burst on one of the vehicles,” said Sam. “Two occupants, including a 12-year-old boy, were transported to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital [in Kimberley] for medical attention after sustaining serious injuries. “The police are appealing to road users to adhere to road safety rules and to do proper inspections on their vehicles before trips, as well as to stay alert on the roads,” he added. The Barkly West police arrested three men aged 24, 30 and 36 years old respectively for the alleged robbery of a business in Pniel near Barkly West on December 17. SAPS Northern Cape provincial spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam said the three suspects allegedly entered the shop and robbed the owner of a speed point machine. “They fled the scene in a maroon Toyota vehicle. The Barkly Crime Prevention Unit assisted by the Kimberley Flying Squad recovered the vehicle in Lerato Park, Roodepan. All three suspects were subsequently arrested with the stolen item.” He added that it was believed that the suspects were targeting tuckshops to steal speed points in order to utilise them in acts of criminality. “The suspects will appear in the Barkly West magistrates court soon,” Sam said. The Frances Baard district commissioner Major General Gabathata Makgari praised the team for the swift response and ensuring perpetrators of business related crimes were brought to book. A ROUTINE military transport operation turned tragic when a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) truck overturned on the R31 road between Koopmansfontein and Delportshoop leaving two soldiers dead and 17 others injured was en route from the Lohatla Army Base to Kimberley According to Northern Cape police spokesperson the truck overturned in rainy weather conditions Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find two soldiers - a male and a female - fatally injured Their identities have not yet been released The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment The severity of their injuries has not been disclosed Authorities have launched a culpable homicide investigation to determine the cause of the crash While weather conditions may have played a role officials are looking into all possible factors surrounding the incident This latest accident adds to growing concerns over road safety in the region which has seen multiple crashes in recent years the SANDF truck accident comes just days after another deadly collision on the regional road four people lost their lives in a head-on collision between two light motor vehicles on the R31 between Kimberley and Barkly West Northern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam confirmed that the victims were between the ages of 36 and 56 “The police are investigating the circumstances that led to this tragic accident including the possibility of a tyre burst on one of the vehicles,” said Sam were rushed to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley with serious injuries ALSO READ: Four dead, two injured in R31 head-on collision MP – Constituency Head of Diamond South29 Nov 2023 in Press Statements The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested the Minister of Water and Sanitation to immediately provide details of the departments’ action plan to address the potentially lethal algae bloom detected in the Vaal River system This comes after the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) yesterday issued an urgent warning on water pollution in the Vaal River Windsorton and Warrenton area in Dikgatlong municipality not to drink raw water directly from the river The water crisis comes amidst extreme temperatures being experienced in the Northern Cape along with an increasing number of water shortages across municipalities in the province The DWS warning also comes two weeks after the DA called on Minister Mchunu to initiate an urgent response to the potentially deadly water crisis in Barkly-West whereby growing concern was raised by community members in respect of the smelly and discoloured water in their taps and the subsequent death of a person suffering from severe diarrhea believed to be caused by contaminated water Community members have expressed shock and concern at the state of the river While the algae appears to be moving downstream does not bode well for the rest of the Vaal river system nor does it mean that the underlying cause of pollution can be excused We are especially concerned by the DWS’s mere advice to the Dikgatlong municipality to tighten treatment and operational monitoring of treated drinking water quality to increase the chlorine dosage at the treatment plant and to frequently backwash the filters Infrastructure-related water problems have been coming on for months and the Dikgatlong municipality has been unable to address them The chances that it will suddenly have the capability to improve on water management and attend to the underlying causal factor of addressing the discharge of sewage to the river The DA has today referred the water crisis to the NCOP and we are insisting that water specialists be deployed to Dikgatlong municipality to assist with immediate remedial and safety measures to ensure that residents have a sustainable supply of safe drinking water We also expect a response on the water management strategy for the Vaal River to ensure continued fitness-for-use of the water resources along the Vaal River registered non profit organisation in South AfricaReg No: 011-895 NPO A storm has ripped through Gong-Gong near Barkley West in the Northern Cape Three people have been injured and taken to nearby hospitals Roofs and walls of some homes have been damaged Residents say they are heartbroken and some don’t have a place to sleep tonight They’ve called on the local Dikgatlong Municipality to assist them residents of Bloemfontein have been urged to be cautious on the roads and at their homes as the South African Weather Service has issued an impact-based level two warning for heavy rains with thunderstorms within the Mangaung metro jurisdiction until 11 pm Mangaung Municipal spokesperson Qondile Khedama says the conditions are favourable for severe thunderstorms He says possible strong damaging winds and hail is expected over the Northern Cape and Western parts of the Free State Khedama says all residents and roads users are requested to pay attention to alerts and warnings Residents in the Dikgatlong Municipality in Barkly West in the Northern Cape say they have been experiencing poor service delivery for years Smith’s Mine and Haak and Steek informal settlements are among the areas that have no basic services SABC News visited the communities to document the appalling living conditions residents of Smith’s Mine have had no proper sanitation They rely on dilapidated pit latrines and a nearby veld to relieve themselves Residents say they also have no running water – which forces them to get water from the same source as animals Especially the kids have diarrhea because of the dirty water,” expresses one resident “In reality we don’t have toilets The municipality is only providing movable toilets which trap germs inside We want the Department of Water and Sanitation to intervene in this matter,” says another frustrated resident In response to complaints by Smith’s Mine residents – Dikgatlong Acting Municipal Manager – Baki Tsinyane – previously defended the municipality we implemented a project where we provided the water purification package plant We are implementing phase two of dry santitation toilets which is a project that is approved by the Department of Water and Sanitation The department approved the funding for 200 units in the current financial year Smith’s Mine will be considered when we’re implementing phase three of the project,” says the municipal manager Other residents that feel let down by the Dikgatlong Municipality are in the Phelindaba Township For more than 10 years – the community of about 50 households has been getting water from one tap which is situated kilometres from their homes The residents say not having access to tap water in their homes is a struggle “We have to travel a long distance to come get water we don’t have a choice and er are elderly people” “The municipality and councillors must provide water to the people and not lie to us The only know people when they want votes” Regarding the demands of Phelindaba residents – the Dikgatlong Municipality insisted that it is on top of the issue “The residents were informed that the municipality has a plan to install additional aps in the area once material is delivered we have made no provisions for household connections” Months later – residents say this has not materialised Northern Cape Township waits over 10 years for household taps: Haak and Steek informal settlement is another area in the Dikgatlong Municipality with no running water The roads in the area are also in a poor state “Ambulances can’t go in because there are no proper roads in place to fetch our people when they are sick Another issue is the potholes and people can’t get inside the community because they have to manoeuvre around the potholes” says a concerned resident The Dikgatlong Municipality failed to respond to queries about how they will help the Haak and Steek community residents of these three areas are clear that they are tired of false promises from the Municipality They are all hoping for their cries to be heard this year Basic services still a challenge for Dikgatlong residents: Residents of the Haak and Steek informal settlements in Barkly West have slammed the Dikgatlong Municipality for failing to provide services Residents maintain that the municipality has promised to formalise the informal settlement by providing running water Haak and Steek informal settlement residents have been waiting for the Dikgatlong Municipality to provide basic services They say their only source of water is a leaking pipe and they rely on pit latrines to relieve themselves we can’t walk at night because it is dark.” Poor roads make access to the informal settlement almost impossible Residents say it’s a nightmare for emergency services and police Another issue is the potholes and people can’t get inside the community because they have to manoeuvre around the potholes there.” Attempts to get a response from the Dikgatlong Municipality were unsuccessful Residents maintain this is the attitude they have been receiving for years They say they are now pinning their hopes on Good Samaritans who can assist them Meanwhile, residents of Phelindaba Township in Stillwater, near Barkly West in the Northern Cape, criticised the Dikgatlong Municipality last month for failing to install water taps in their homes. For more than ten years, the community of about fifty households has been getting water from one tap which is placed several kilometres away from their homes. THE BARKLY West police have opened an inquest docket following the death of a 10-year-old boy who is believed to have drowned in the Vaal River near Barkly West The boy’s body was retrieved by the Kimberley SAPS Search and Rescue team on October 20 at about 11am Police spokesperson Captain Olebogeng Tawana said no foul play was suspected at this stage “The police investigation continues,” said Tawana Home | [GRAPHIC] Family of murdered 74-year-old in Limpopo demands answers Residents of Gong Gong, near Barkly West in the Northern Cape, say primary healthcare services are in a bad state is run by one nurse and only opens on Tuesdays and Thursdays Residents in need of medical attention at other times are forced to travel around 15 kilometres from Gong Gong to Barkly West to access healthcare Eighty-two-year-old Margaret Heyns who takes medication for low blood pressure says only receiving medical attention on certain days is a problem.” Heyns says that as a pensioner it’s costly to have to travel to Barkly West when the clinic is closed “We are not okay about this because we get sick during the night and during the day but there is no clinic; it can open during the whole week because sickness comes anytime.” The elderly and those in need of medical attention are only helped on Tuesdays Children and pregnant women are scheduled for Thursdays Resident Muriel Job says the community had no access to health services when the clinic was closed for the December holidays. “Sometimes when you get sick on Thursdays and can’t come, you have to wait for the next Tuesday to come to our clinic because they won’t help you on that Thursday. When the sister is on leave, the clinic will be closed the whole month; they don’t open.” The community of Gong Gong uses borehole water stored in water tanks for their water supply. When there is no electricity, water cannot be pumped from the borehole. Therefore, the clinic is frequently without water. These residents voiced their unhappiness at the situation. John Carvella says, “It’s a big crisis; they’re failing everybody here; they’re failing us.” Matthews Phokoje, another resident says, “Some medications need to be refrigerated, and there is no electricity here. For the community, it’s very painful because people are getting sick; there is no time or date for that.” Provincial health department spokesperson, Lulu Mxekezo, says nurses alternate between various satellite clinics on other days of the week. Mxekezo maintains the department is in the process of getting another nurse and repairing additional infrastructure. “Towards the end of last year, one nurse retired, hence the challenge of servicing the clinics in the area. The department is in the process of replacing the retired nurse so that communities can be serviced, as before her retirement, the service provider was currently on site doing repairs on the electricity as well as the water. Repair work is also done to the medicine room.” Meanwhile, the community maintains that the clinic should be open five days a week to ensure they have proper access to health care. THE NORTHERN Cape MEC for Co-operative Governance said that more than 30 houses in Gong-Gong were damaged during Monday’s rainstorm along with officials from the Department of Social Development the local municipality and other role-players assessed the situation on Tuesday We have opened a soup kitchen in order for residents to have access to food We are also working around the clock to address other challenges that residents are facing in order to give the necessary support to the affected families The situation is very bad and needs our urgent intervention,” said Vass With mostly clear skies predicted for the Barkly West area for Tuesday and Wednesday local residents expressed hope that the weather would remain stable unlike the sudden change experienced on Monday “Most of us have lost so much due to the sudden strong winds and rain we experienced The roofs of our homes were ripped off and the walls of some houses were even blown over Many of us have been left without shelter and have had to squat with friends family and people who opened their doors to us Many of us do not know how we will pay to repair our homes but not when it brings destruction,” they said The affected residents added that they are now reliant on other residents for the basics “It is amazing how fast one’s living conditions can change There are many people who are now hospitalised because they were injured during the rainstorm Just yesterday we had access to food and water Lots of our property is damaged and we are now faced with new financial expenses in order to replace the damaged property,” they said Residents of Phelindaba Township in Stillwater near Barkly West in the Northern Cape have criticised the Dikgatlong Municipality for its failure to provide them with water taps in their homes. The community insists that this is a sign of poor governance by the Dikgatlong Municipality. Phelindaba residents say they are bearing the brunt of years of little to no service delivery. Residents have been waiting for almost 10 years for tap water in their homes: Seventy-three-year-old Maria Sello still has to travel a long distance to get water from the only tap in the area. Sello says “We would like to see changes in our area. It would be nice to get drinking water from taps in our homes.” Residents maintain that not having access to tap water in their homes is a daily struggle. They say the Dikgatlong Municipality only delivered a water storage tank more than a year ago and it now stands empty. Another Phelindaba resident says, “We have to travel a long distance to come get water. Even when it is dark, we don’t have a choice and we are elderly people.” A third resident says, “The municipality and councillors must provide water to the people and not lie to us. They only know people when they want votes.” The municipality insists that it has no money to install taps in every house and can only increase the number of communal taps in the area. Acting Municipal Manager Baki Tsinyane says, “We have made an assessment in Phelindaba and have procured materials for installation of standpipes in the area. We are awaiting delivery of water materials to increase a number of standpipes. The residents were informed that the municipality has a plan to install additional taps in the area once material is delivered. In the current financial year, we have made no provision for household connections.” Phelindaba residents are hoping that these promises by the municipality will materialise soon and not take many more years. Until then, they will have to continue with their long walk just to access a basic human right. SOME Northern Cape residents are using the opportunity to fish in their gardens as rising waters are flowing past their doorsteps after 12 dam sluice gates were opened this week as the water pipes were damaged by the rushing water Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said several drownings were reported in the Province following recent torrential rains and the floodgates that were opened “The SAPS Search and Rescue units are currently still searching for three adult males who recently went missing in rivers near Warrenton He cautioned the public to take extra care when passing through Riet and Modder rivers and to supervise children in water-logged areas Agri-Northern Cape president Nicol Jansen indicated that farmers stood to suffer extensive damages due to the flooding especially at the confluence of the Vaal and Orange rivers pecan nuts and citrus fruit crops have not been harvested yet Farmers suffered losses of R150 million during floods that occurred in January 2022 and the water is at a much higher level this year While R1.3 billion was allocated to repair infrastructure it could not be completed after the funds that ran out,” said Jansen Workers at Riverton Pleasure Resort took out their fishing rods to catch barbels while they said snakes had also washed up onto the river banks All the contents of houses including the doors at the Northern Cape Aquatic Club and those situated on the river bank had to be removed Deep pools of water surrounded the entrances to Langley Pleasure Resort which has not been opened to the public since the festive season following flooding last year Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thoko Riet said there was no danger of the pipes flooding at the Riverton water purification plant “The water is being purified and tested regularly as it is muddier due to the debris that is entering the dams,” said Riet The acting municipal manager of Magareng Municipality said the local authority was currently experiencing difficulties in providing potable water to Warrenton “Since this morning we have distributed about five megalitres of potable water not a single drop of this water has reached the main pump station in town for distribution to households “We suspect that our 500 millimetre main supply pipeline that connects the water treatment plant on the western side of the Vaal River and the water supply areas on the eastern side has burst open or it was fractured by an object in the middle of the Vaal River crossing point,” said Thage He explained that high river flow velocity and water levels of up to five metres had prevented maintenance teams from tracing and fixing the leaks “All efforts are being exhausted to find alternative ways of distributing water to households at this very difficult time.” Thage said residents with access to transport could collect water at the water treatment plant “Alternative accommodation such as a community hall will be made available in the event that homes become flooded.” said he was unable to operate his business while the river was flooded “I moved my sheep to the house as their grazing land is under water I caught a 16.3 kilogram carp in my yard earlier this week It is quite stressful and I wake up a few times each night to check whether the water is reaching my house tree branches and logs floating around in the water.” He added that the low-level bridge in Warrenton was completely submerged by the water Linda Kotze was also fishing in her yard in Douglas this week and she believes that houses could be flooded if more water is released over the weekend “People are making use of boats as a mode of transport.” The Soul City community near Kimberley is in shock after an accident claimed eight lives A bakkie allegedly rear-ended an overloaded car collided on the R31 between Kimberley and Barkley West on Friday night This is the third fatal crash claiming multiple lives in the Northern Cape this week 8 Killed Outside Kimberley in Car Crash – SAPS Investigating Culpable Homicide Shortlink for this post: https://www.kimberley.org.za/?p=16538 Tagged with: Privacy Policy An accident took place at the end of MacDougall street just passed .. Kimberley – The shocking discovery of the bodies of two missing young .. Depo 25 Bonus 25 Depo 25 Bonus 25 Eight People were killed when two vehicles collided on the Barkley West road outside of Kimberley on Friday evening The accident between a passenger car (a Toyota Corolla),  and a Toyota Land Cruiser occurred shortly after 8pm on Friday 6 October 2017 on the Barkley Road just outside of Kimberley.  The passenger car was rear ended by the Land Cruiser Emergency medical services was at the scene at around 8:30 pm Eight of the occupants of the passenger car died in the accident while the car’s driver sustained serious injuries The occupant of the Land Cruizer was treated for injuries a the Gariep Hospital News sources report that there were 12 occupants in the passenger car Scroll down for links to media coverage of this story SABC VIDEO – Accident claims 8 lives Outside Kimberley [urlpreviewbox url=”https://www.dfa.co.za/news/8-family-members-killed-in-horror-crash/”/] Arrive Alive – Eight killed in collision on Barkley West road near Kimberley Shortlink for this post: https://www.kimberley.org.za/?p=16499 Tagged with: A family in Barkly West near Kimberley in the Northern Cape has allegedly fallen prey to a suspected Post Office syndicate. The syndicate is said to swindle unsuspecting victims out of their hard-earned money. The family says they were shocked to discover that more than R100 000 of their savings had been withdrawn at a number of stores and locations. Their bank statements in possession of SABC NEWS, indicate that the money was withdrawn from inside the main Post Office building in Kimberley and also swiped in stores around Kimberley and in the North West province. “Around the beginning of November, that’s where I went to Post Office in Barkley West that’s where I found that my money is missing in the account. There were transactions that I don’t know. So, I started a journey of opening a case at Post Office in Kimberley for internal investigation. I also went to Kimberley police station,” says victim Olehile Sehako. The family say they are disappointed with police investigations, six months after their nightmare began. “Indeed during the time, I reported the matter throughout they discovered that some of their employees are the ones who used to log into my account and possibly withdraw the money that is missing in the account,” Sehako explains. The ordeal has affected the family’s livelihood. “We are heartbroken about what happened. We can’t even pay school fees for one of our children. The money was supposed to be used for school fees and necessities in the house. My car needs repairing,” says another victim Phatshimo Sehako. Northern Cape police say they are investigating a number of fraud cases including missing R350 social relief of distress grants. Concerning the allegations raised by the Sehako family, the South African Post Office says it is not in a position to comment at the moment but will investigate. are in a critical condition at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital following an accident this morning that claimed the lives of two people were rushed to hospital by Emer-G-Med following the collision between a taxi and a bakkie on Barkly Road were declared dead on the scene by emergency medical personnel Emergency workers had to use the jaws of life to free the passengers trapped in the taxi Bystanders said it took an hour to free the victims from the wreckage and the road was closed to traffic for around 90 minutes The taxi belongs to the Barkly West Taxi Association and both the driver and the owner live in Delportshoop Picture: Danie van der LithInitial reports suggest that the taxi driver was on his daily route and had just dropped off passengers from Delportshoop he collided with the bakkie that was travelling towards Kimberley at the time said the Kimberley police were investigating a case of culpable homicide after the white Toyota bakkie and white minibus -taxi collided Kock said the accident happened around 9am on Tuesday He confirmed that the male taxi driver and one female passenger were transported to the hospital for medical attention SAVED FROM FURTHER DESTRUCTION BY MINING COMPANY A final court order has been granted to the McGregor Museum in the Northern Cape High Court today that prevents unlawful mining operations on the National Heritage Site of Canteen Kopje a historical and archaeological key point at Barkly West in the Northern Cape The law firm, Norton Rose Fulbright, acted for the Museum on a pro bono basis. The University of the Witwatersrand provided support and advice to the legal team and the McGregor Museum as Canteen Kopje has been a vitally important excavation site for archaeologists from the University’s School of Geography A second legal process is now underway where the Museum as well as Wits and Sol Plaatje Universities are requesting a review of the decisions made by the Department of Mineral Resources to grant a mining permit over a heritage site Canteen Kopje is the country’s oldest dated archaeological site Together with the heritage of communities still living in the area it boasts a Stone Age history stretching back some 2.3 million years Alluvial diamond mining began there on 18 March 2016 but was almost immediately halted by urgent legal action instituted by the McGregor Museum with assistance from Sol Plaatje and Wits University The interim interdict granted on 19 March 2016 against the mining company the South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) and the South African Police Services were co-respondents with the mining company but decided to abide by the decision of the High Court and to not oppose the Museum’s application for a final court order The mining that was allowed to go ahead left a gaping hole in the middle of the site with artefacts strewn across the damaged surface The national and international archaeological fraternity rallied quickly and addressed letters to the Department of Arts and Culture and South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) calling for the mining to be stopped Sol Plaatje University and the University of the Witwatersrand added their voices as did the South African San Council and the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) Media coverage started the day that mining commenced and spread rapidly via social media Professor David Morris, Head of Archaeology at the McGregor Museum says: “This is a victory not just for Canteen Kopje This interdict upholds the provisions of the National Heritage Resources Act and the procedures it requires We came perilously close to a discrediting of authorities and laws which would have set a dangerous precedent for South African heritage as a whole.” It remains to be understood how the provisions of minerals and heritage legislation had failed to protect the declared heritage site in the first place That application is aimed at securing the protection of such cultural and historical sites into the future and ensuring that administrative agencies abide by the legislative requirements to protect our heritage” MEDIA RELEASE issued by WITS UNIVERSITY Shortlink for this post: https://www.kimberley.org.za/?p=8731 Klipdrift (Barkly West) declared the short-lived Diggers Republic ACCORDING to the Department of Water and Sanitation eight of the Vaal Dam's 60 sluice gates have been opened after the watershed areas experienced massive water inflows as a result of the ongoing heavy rains Department spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said on Tuesday that the sluice gates at the Bloemhof and Hartebeespoort dams will also need to be opened due to the significant recent rainfall opening the sluice gates will help safeguard the infrastructure amid the rising water levels Releases have also been implemented at Bloemhof Dam and Hartebeespoort Dam Communities living in the Vaal's catchment area have been warned about potential localised floods "All communities downstream of the Vaal Dam need to be extremely vigilant including those near the Bloemhof Dam and those beyond the Bloemhof Dam.This means that those communities will be impacted all the way past Christiana toward the confluence of the Vaal and the Orange rivers as well as communities beyond the confluence toward Namibia,” said Ratau the owner of Barkly's Nest Private Fishing Estate in Barkly West said that the water level started rising on Sunday night "I'll be knee-deep in my home by Thursday night with Bloemhof dumping 2,200 cubic metres of water per second at 4pm today I’ve removed everything from my home in Barkly … All of my pumps and sprayers have also been taken away," Classen said on Tuesday He added that they have only recently recovered from two previous floods we completed all the necessary repairs and painting We believed that the flooding was over for the year after removing all of the muck We must now retrace our steps and start from scratch.” Residents in Ritchie have also started preparing to evacuate their river homes as the water level has increased sharply Ritchie resident Linda Kotze said that the water began to rise swiftly on Tuesday morning "Furniture removal from residences along the river has already begun and farmers have already taken their pumps out of the water,” said Kotze other than watch and see how far the water will push up further."