Police and family are searching for the missing De Aar woman MYSTERY surrounds the disappearance of 32-year-old Litwina Johnson who went missing after reportedly spending the night at her boyfriend’s house in Malaykamp According to Northern Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock Johnson was last seen on the evening of Saturday reportedly sleeping over at her boyfriend’s home Despite ongoing efforts by the Sunrise police there have been no breakthroughs in tracing her whereabouts Her sudden disappearance has left loved ones desperate for answers and sparked an appeal for any information that could help bring her home The police are urging anyone who may have seen Johnson or who has any knowledge about what happened that night to come forward Even the smallest detail could prove crucial to the investigation Detective Sergeant Ettiene Greef is leading the search and can be reached at 082 448 6226 tips can be reported via the SAPS Crime Stop line at 08600 10111 or through the MySAPS app All information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality Lieutenant-Colonel Kock also reminded the public that there is no waiting period to report a missing person Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio Encyclopaedias were the Google or Duck Duck Go of their times 350 bags of slaked lime and hundreds of wagonloads of willow wood went into the construction of this amazing place of worship sandy-toned cathedral still stands as a tribute to the men of the Order of St Francis de Sales who “There’s a lot of love in our lives here,” said Sister Therese-Henriette “We also go out and have fun from time to time.” Many people think the Northern Cape town of Pofadder is named after South Africa’s famously lazy (but very poisonous) puffadder breed of snake the town is said to have gotten its name from a local chief called Klaas Pofadder a livestock rustler who lived and died (in a hail of bullets) at this spot The Pofadder Hotel sign before the establishment was refurbished The place was called Theronsville but the name never stuck – so it reverted to Pofadder in honour of the most dramatic event to have taken place here The people at the Pofadder Hotel know all the local 4X4 and quad-biking routes which take you through the magnificent red dune fields of this part of the Kalahari the Pofadder region becomes the “front door” of Namaqualand’s northern reaches and the dry lands come alive with the annual splashes of daisies you went to De Aar by train or to see some trains in action especially the old steam locomotives that used to chug across the vast Karoo plains De Aar lay at the crossroads of travel in South Africa and held the second-biggest railway junction (Germiston in Gauteng being the largest) in the country Read more: A Steamy Affair – The locomotives of the Karoo and the men who stoked and drove them the particular lilt of a loco whistle would indicate the way the Karoo wind was blowing that night – and what kind of weather they could expect the next day Nearly everything in De Aar revolved around The Colossus some 22,000km of railroad tracks sang the praises of these huge metal dragons crisscrossing South Africa – and meeting in this Northern Cape town and the sight of a loco in full toot across the veld today is a very rare – and privatised – experience The late Oom Apie Ludwick was a stoker who worked with two drivers sausage and eggs on a spade – in the furnace a way of visually sifting beauty out of apparent desolation then Philipstown in the Northern Cape starts to sparkle you might just be overwhelmed by the many broken-down homes lining the streets But come here in November when they stage the Wire Car Grand Prix and you’ll find yourself caught up in the excitement and joy of Philipstown. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads As the racing kids sprint from the township areas to the centre of Philipstown, everyone comes out to cheer them on. There are prizes, there is feasting and there is even live country music on offer.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Early in the year, when the Lesser Kestrels fly in from over the Caucasus they come to roost in the towns from Cradock right up to Philipstown but return to their favourite gum tree in the early evening and quietly natter away until it’s time to sleep the joys of Philipstown are to be discovered on the surrounding farms Her sculptures are to be seen all over the farmstead and in Philipstown itself and she has recently produced a beautiful series of lithographs depicting the workers of Rooipoort is a tiny village in the Bokkeveld mountains of the Northern Cape a place internationally acknowledged as the bulb capital of the world The farms around Nieuwoudtville are ablaze with blooms in the spring In spring it’s all about the daisies, as vast carpets of colour arise from the disturbed ground. But the fynbos and the succulents of Nieuwoudtville are there all year.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads four ecosystems and dramatically different rainfalls happily collide – classic fynbos a dolerite sill richly larded with unique bulbs and geophytes This is where Sir David Attenborough came to film parts of his documentary Read more: Nieuwoudtville – A blooming marvel to behold in the springtime Neil took down all internal fences and opened the area to his livestock ate the dry residue and trampled the seeds He was rewarded with the flowering of an extraordinary biodiversity on his 6,500-hectare farm and his farm was later declared the Hantam National Botanical Gardens What better legacy could someone leave a town For more stories on the Karoo from Julienne du Toit and Chris Marais, try their Karoo Roads series of books The Karoo Quartet Special (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 be ordered from [email protected] escape the eyes and ears of the traveller bent on doing another 1000km day ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Independent power producer (IPP) Mulilo is stepping up its renewable energy projects in South Africa as the country gradually adds green energy sources to the national grid the company announced it had reached financial close on the Ukuqala Solar Project This is the sixth project for which Mulilo has raised finance in 2024 adding 75MWAC (105MWDC) to projects under financial close in the pipeline which derives the majority of its energy from fossil fuels the country is steadily adding renewable energy sources Mulilo announced the financial close on 260MW of private power purchase agreements with Sasol and Air Liquide Large Industries SA The projects will be connected to the Kestrel Main Transmission Substation a facility under development by Mulilo and TotalEnergies which will be handed over to Eskom upon completion Mulilo says it currently has 420MW of wind and solar projects in its portfolio Mulilo was acquired by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners a fund manager with greenfield renewable energy investments Last month, the IPP announced it raised R7 billion for three battery energy storage system projects. The company says the latest project is aptly named, with “ukuqala” meaning “the first” or “the beginning”. This is the first project that Mulilo delivers under its integrated business model, it notes. The firm’s multi-disciplinary team will manage construction and deliver asset management and operations and maintenance services, it explains. Ukuqala Solar is the first renewable energy project to power Air Product’s Air Separation Units across SA, with electricity delivered via wheeling to various locations, it adds. The project will be one of four others connected to the Kestrel Main Transmission Substation, currently under construction. Located strategically near other Mulilo facilities, the Ukuqala Solar Plant has 105MWDC installed capacity, with a 75MWAC maximum output, due to an optimised design featuring a high DC/AC ratio, says the company. It explains that this design enables the plant to reach its maximum output earlier in the day and sustain it for longer, contributing approximately 248GWh of power annually. Mulilo CEO Jan Fourie says the financial closing of Ukuqala Solar is the first project where Mulilo is the lead developer. “It demonstrates our ability to develop bespoke projects for the private sector and deliver on our integrated business model.” This project was financed by Nedbank, Standard Bank and Absa. TWO DEDICATED Northern Cape detectives have ensured that a dangerous predator will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Detective Sergeant Ilse Fan and Detective Constable Eric Ngcapayi, from the De Aar Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit, played a crucial role in securing the life imprisonment sentence handed down to 29-year-old rapist Bonani Singape, whose reign of terror in Colesberg was brought to an end through meticulous investigative work. Northern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers detailed the chilling events that led to Singape’s conviction. On August 8, 2024, at approximately 5pm, a 20-year-old woman was approached by Singape while on her way to a local shop in Colesberg. Under the guise of selling her a laptop at a bargain price, he lured her into a secluded, bushy area. Once there, his true intentions became clear - he overpowered and raped her before robbing her of her cellphone and cash. Less than a month later, on September 1, 2024, at around 10.30pm, Singape struck again. This time, a 37-year-old woman fell prey to his deceitful tactics. He approached her, again pretending to sell a laptop. When she refused, he turned violent, threatening her with a knife and dragging her into a nearby veld where he raped her. When she tried to resist, he stabbed her in the arm before fleeing with her cellphone and clothing. Following an intensive investigation, Singape was arrested on September 12, 2024, and conclusively linked to both crimes. He remained in custody throughout the trial, leading up to his sentencing in the Colesberg Regional Court on Tuesday this week. He was convicted of rape, robbery, and aggravated robbery, earning him a life sentence behind bars. In addition to his sentencing, the court ruled that Singape is unfit to possess a firearm, and his name will be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. The Northern Cape SAPS provincial management commended Detective Sergeant Fan and Detective Constable Ngcapayi for their relentless pursuit of justice. Their commitment to ensuring that violent criminals are held accountable has brought a sense of relief to the community of Colesberg. “The detective’s tenacity and meticulous investigation ensured that the perpetrator of these heinous crimes is removed from society.” The authorities noted that the life sentence will serve as a firm reminder that crimes of this nature will not be tolerated, and justice will prevail for the victims of such heinous acts. South Africans are breathing a sigh of relief given the reprieve in perennial load shedding which has dogged Africa’s most industrialised economy condemning countless jobs and worsening the scourge of poverty particularly among the poor It has been a significant more than 210 days of no load shedding across South Africa and an upbeat Minister of Energy and Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa told journalists in Pretoria last week that this can also be attributed to the role of Independent Power Producers that have connected to the grid since 2011 Ramokgopa recently told the National Assembly that unlike previous years South Africa will likely have a festive season with no load shedding Apart from the Eskom generation fleet "showing more reliable performance going into summer of 2024” Ramokgopa told the Legislature that the fleet would also be assisted by new generation capacity in line with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) including the conversion of the open cycle gas turbines (OCGT) from diesel to gas South Africa is structurally shifting towards less reliance on burning diesel to power its electricity generation Journalists recently toured Longyuan South Africa’s trailblazing De Aar Maanhaarberg wind farm operating in the Emthanjeni Local Municipality in the Northern Cape - which is a US$273.2 million investment by China Longyuan Power Group Limited Longyuan Power is the largest wind power producer in China and Asia and the company is a partially owned subsidiary of the state-owned China Energy Investment Corporation headquartered in Beijing a wholly-owned subsidiary of the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) Longyuan Power Group has been at the forefront of renewable energy development in South Africa Longyuan South Africa was registered in South Africa in March 2011 constructed and operates two wind farms in South Africa with a total investment of approximately R5.18 billion and a combined installed capacity of 244.5MW The Chinese company focuses its efforts on development and operation of renewable energy projects Among its notable achievements is the completion and operation of the Longyuan De Aar Project which represents a significant milestone in Africa’s renewable energy landscape deputy general manager at Longyuan South Africa Renewables (Pty) Ltd said that the working turbines are equivalent to saving 215,800 tonnes of standard coal per year Sheng said each unit weighs 138 tonnes with the nacelle alone weighing 61 tonnes and each one of the three blades weighing 6.3 tonnes The nacelle is the outer cover which houses all of the generating components on the wind turbine It covers components including the generator the turbine nicknamed Goliath stands firm – 80 metres long and forming part of the formidable 163 similar giant turbines With his three blades hissing to the passing wind sending much-needed units of electricity to the mini substation Goliath symbolises the enormous scale and proportion of the ambition defining the Longyuan endeavour in South Africa “Regarding the wind turbine power generation the centre of the wind turbine hub is 80 metres above the ground,” Sheng narrated while showing visitors around the vast land farm The media tour of Longyuan South Africa Renewables’ project was also attended by South African media personalities including hip-hop/rap artist Mzayifani Mzondeleli Boltina Princess Mthombeni known by many as “Princy”; digital content creator Cynthia Matlaila; Cape Town-based digital content creator Devon “Devdondidit” Saunders; and digital content creator Zeus Feni Longyuan South Africa Renewables has been assisting local communities through corporate social investments which has seen millions of rand paid monthly towards the upkeep of the Mthuthuzeli daycare the Sonder Sorge Old Age Home and the Merino Park sports facility in the community the community in De Aar embraces Longyuan for the job creation opportunities in the far-flung community with very little to no employment opportunities Deswin Basson is the proud operations and maintenance officer at Longyuan in De Aar thanks to the generous scholarship he received from the Chinese company to study electrical engineering at Tshwane University of Technology “I have been with this company for almost five years now At this farm we convert wind energy into electrical energy We then transport that electricity to Eskom The electricity we produce here is then distributed into the homes of South African consumers by Eskom we power over 300,000 households,” said Basson He said working on the wind farm brings the most job satisfaction as he knows that his efforts contribute significantly in reducing load shedding “I became part of this project because I was part of the community I wanted to be part of the people that helps the community That was why I wanted to be part of this company,” Basson said “I studied electrical engineering at Tshwane University of Technology I have seen a lot of difference because of the positive impact and positive transformation that has happened because of the wind farm From sponsoring schools to sponsoring a mobile clinic getting young people off the streets by building the sports ground – those are some of the things they have dome in the community.” Longyuan Power Group Company Limited (Longyuan Power) was founded in 1993 It is the largest wind operator in the world and the first specialised firm that produces wind power in China is battling to secure adequate energy to cater for growing populations and ever-increasing industrialisation amidst loud lobbying and calls for the abandonment of coal coal has been the mainstay of the vast energy system in South Africa meeting around 70 percent of the African economic giant’s power generation capacity Sasol is a global chemicals and energy company We harness our knowledge and expertise to integrate sophisticated technologies and processes into world-scale operating facilities produce and market a range of high-quality products Sasol comprises three distinct market-focused businesses Our more focused portfolio is underpinned by a transition to a lower-carbon future and our 70-year track record demonstrates we have the capabilities and competencies to deliver sustainable value in these three core businesses Advancing chemical and energy solutions that contribute to a thriving planet Sasol's investors consist of both equity investors (those invested in the Sasol ordinary shares or the ADRs) and lenders/debt investors (banks and institutional investors lending to Sasol or investing in its issues of debt instruments such as local bonds loans and other credit facilities and convertible instruments) Supply Chain is the custodian of all external spend for the Sasol Group It is responsible for managing supply and demand so as to ensure cost-efficiency and maximise return on spend while at the same time ensuring effective logistics of a range of deliverables Explore existing opportunities to energise your career to the next level Whether you are seeking a Learnership or you are Student or Graduate or Experienced Hire Find out how you can add value to the Sasol Team Access media releases and view latest social media updates  South Africa – A consortium comprising TotalEnergies Renewables South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Reatile Renewables (Pty) Ltd (Reatile) has achieved Financial Close on an agreement to supply 260 MW of wind and solar PV energy to Sasol and Air Liquide at Sasol’s Secunda operations in South Africa Sasol and Air Liquide Large Industries South Africa signed two Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) with TotalEnergies and Mulilo in February 2023 for the decarbonisation of Sasol’s Secunda site where Air Liquide operates the world’s largest oxygen production plant.  The PPAs include Northern Cape based Mulilo De Aar 2 South Wind Farm which will produce 140 MW and Paarde Valley Sasol has become South Africa’s largest private sector buyer of renewable energy With renewable energy being a cornerstone of Sasol’s strategy the company currently has 688 MW of RE projects under construction with Air Liquide comprising a large Free State based 97,5 MW solar project; the Impofu cluster consisting of three onshore wind projects totaling 330 MW of wind renewable energy; and now Paarde Valley PV2 Solar PV Farm and the Mulilo De Aar 2 South Wind Farm adding 120 MW and 140 MW respectively.  Sasol has two renewable energy plants in operation which include Sasol’s own 3 MW solar PV facility in Sasolburg which reached commercial operations in October 2024 Executive Vice President of Sasol’s Business Building “Sasol is committed to a responsible transition towards a sustainable future and this transaction is a further milestone in it progressing its renewable energy commitments and transition journey to a lower-carbon future.  Our plans to meet our target of 1 200 MW of renewable energy is moving at pace and in an advanced stage of development.  Once operational the projects will significantly contribute to Sasol achieving its 30% GHG reduction target by 2030.” With Sasol being South Africa’s largest private sector buyer of renewable energy the renewables procured by Sasol to date is expected to inject R18-20 billion of capital investment into SA economy The targeted commercial operations date for Paarde Valley and Mulilo De Aar 2 is expected at the end of 2026 Discover a wealth of content related to Sasol and our activities on our social media accounts as it moves towards development of SunCentral The announcement comes as power utility Eskom implemented stage six load-shedding over the weekend before reducing it to stage four as of this morning SolarAfrica reached financial close on the first 114MW component of the project alongside funding partners Investec and RMB SolarAfrica chief investment officer Charl Alheit says: “Reaching financial close on the first 114MW of our utility-scale wheeling development and main transmission substation (MTS) investment marks a milestone in our commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions for our customers in the commercial and industrial sectors.” SunCentral is a large-scale solar photovoltaic plant located between Hanover and De Aar in the Northern Cape The project will be developed in three phases will be delivered through a staged roll-out of three 114MW facilities and will deliver renewable energy to off-takers by wheeling it through SA’s power grid Phase two and three will increase SunCentral’s capacity to 1GW The project will offer wheeling on a one-to-many basis making it available to a wider pool of businesses in the country Wheeling of electricity is a common practice globally, and Eskom has approved third-party wheeling since 2008 for the physical export of energy onto the national grid by an independent power producer, and this facilitates open network access. It allows privately-generated power to be transmitted across the national grid to customers that need it, in a willing buyer/willing seller model, according to Eskom. Vodacom and Discovery Group, as well as the City of Cape Town, have introduced electricity wheeling projects, to help businesses circumvent load-shedding. SolarAfrica is part of the greater Starsight Energy Africa Group. It is backed by investors African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) and Helios Investment Partners. “The construction of SolarAfrica’s SunCentral is a critical step in our journey to expand clean energy adoption across Sub-Saharan Africa,” comments Paul van Zijl, group CEO of Starsight Energy Africa Group. “We are excited to move this project forward and continue delivering long-term value to our customers.” Thor Corry, investment director at AIIM, notes: “The modular approach to construct the MTS and plug in subsequent 114MW modules provides a superb platform for SolarAfrica to scale at pace to meet the needs of the C&I [commercial and industrial] customers in South Africa who want to secure price certainty and cost-efficiencies, while furthering South Africa’s Just Energy Transition. “With South Africa requiring up to 30GW of new capacity by 2030 to meet its climate commitments and energy needs, projects like this are crucial.” FOR ABOUT five years, Deswin Basson has proudly served as the operations and maintenance officer at Longyuan South Africa’s pioneering De Aar Maanhaarberg Wind Farm, situated in the Emthanjeni Local Municipality within the Pixley ka Seme District of the Northern Cape. Basson, originally from Prieska in the Northern Cape, credits a generous scholarship from the Chinese company for enabling him to study electrical engineering at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). He explained that his dream has always been to make a meaningful impact in his community, and working for Longyuan South Africa has broadened his horizons. Earlier this year, those horizons expanded even further when he had the chance to travel to the People’s Republic of China to attend the World Youth Development Forum. Basson, who has an intimate understanding of South Africa’s wind farm operations, said he was struck by the scale and sophistication of China's renewable energy infrastructure. “The Chinese wind farm was impressive on a whole new level. The turbines were massive, and seeing them up close during low tide was surreal. What really stood out was the scale and the advanced technology they use to monitor and maintain the turbines. The infrastructure was also highly developed, with efficient systems and easy access to the site,” he said. “In comparison, South Africa’s wind farms are still growing. While we have some excellent projects, they’re often smaller in scale and there can be more logistical challenges when it comes to the construction of renewable energy farms. China seems to have perfected a lot of the processes with their wind farms. “Overall, both countries are making great strides in renewable energy, but China’s wind farms felt like a step ahead in terms of size, technology, and efficiency.” The TUT alumni said that the technological marvels he witnessed in China were not limited to energy supply, but also crossed into transport. Basson described the trip as “a real eye-opener”, offering him a fresh perspective on innovation and sustainability. “I gained a deep appreciation for how technology and innovation are shaping the future. Visiting the offshore wind farm showed me the potential of renewable energy, and the AI factory at SANY made me realise how fast automation and robotics are advancing. I was also inspired by China’s efforts to transform challenges into opportunities, like reviving the desert with solar farms,” he said. “What stood out most was the balance between honouring tradition and embracing progress. The pride the Chinese people have in their heritage is inspiring, and it made me reflect on the importance of knowing our own roots. The fast trains and efficient infrastructure reminded me how much can be achieved with the right focus on innovation.” Overall, Basson said the trip showed him the power of collaboration, technology, and sustainability. “I’m excited to bring these lessons back to South Africa and think about how we can create similar progress here,” he said. South African media personality, hip-hop/rap artist Mzayifani Mzondeleli Boltina, better known as iFani, also recently toured China. “My visit to China was presidential. I was treated like a guest and spoilt with endless traditional food and visits to heritage sites to learn about Chinese culture. At the World Youth Development Forum, I met youth leaders from across the world who are making a difference in their communities, and I was inspired to play my part in the future of my country or province,” he said. iFani revealed that he is not only a musician but he is also a qualified engineer who graduated from the University of Cape Town. “After visiting Longyuan’s Power Wind Farms and headquarters, it became clear to me that I needed to play my part in implementing renewable energy in our country,” he said. “This was my second visit to China. The first time I went to shoot a television series called 'Amah Knows Best' for SABC 3 and Discovery Asia, and it went on to win an award in the US. This time I am coming back with renewable energy solutions.” iFani has been using his influence on social media platforms to educate his legion of followers about the advantages of renewable energy and why South Africa should transition towards greener energy. “Jobs are constantly created and growth is encouraged with funding being made available. I have learnt this approach and hope to take it with me as I bring more intellectual minds together to deliver renewable energy solutions to our country,” he said. who is attached to the Kimberley Flying Squad was granted bail of R5,000 after making a brief appearance in the De Aar Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday He is accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in De Aar on August 26 Community members reported that the SAPS Public Order Police unit travelled from Kimberley to De Aar in the early hours of Wednesday morning resulting in a strong police presence in the town A family member of the complainant stated that while a picket had been scheduled to be held outside the court building Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said the De Aar police officer was arrested in the morning and later appeared in the De Aar Magistrate’s Court “He was released on bail of R5,000,” he added National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane stated that the accused was arrested by members of Ipid and brought to the De Aar Magistrate’s Court for a first court appearance on September 18 “Since the charge is one of rape of a minor of 15 years a formal bail application was heard where all evidence available was placed before the court,” said Senokoatsane He added that the court held that “exceptional circumstances existed” when bail of R5,000 was granted “Bail conditions include that he may not have any contact with the complainant or her mother The accused had to hand over his passport and firearm to the investigating officer.” He said that the matter was postponed until November 12 for further investigation and a decision by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions we won't be able to answer on a question regarding the transportation of suspects as it is the responsibility of the SAPS,” Senokoatsane stated You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience Chinese civil engineering company PowerChina has signed an engineering and construction (EPC) contract with developer SolarAfrica Energy for a 342 MW solar plant to be built in South Africa’s Northern Cape province PowerChina has signed an EPC contract with SolarAfrica Energy, a Pretoria-based PV developer, to build a 342 MW solar project in South Africa PowerChina said that the project in De Aar will be South Africa's largest single-unit solar power plant by total installed capacity The installation will supply energy to large data centers and other commercial and industrial users across the country In September, PowerChina switched on a 100 MW solar tower also located in South Africa’s Northern Cape province Earlier this year, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country has more than 22,500 MW of renewable energy products in the pipeline More articles from Patrick Jowett Please be mindful of our community standards and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. View our privacy policy. × The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this Close Image: Henk Kruger / African News Agency (ANA) IN A GROUNDBREAKING achievement, Mulilo has successfully reached financial close on the Du Plessis Dam Solar PV2 facility, a 105MW solar photovoltaic project near De Aar in the Northern Cape. This pioneering project is one of the first in South Africa to achieve financial close under an energy aggregator model, paving the way for a new era of energy trading and innovation. The facility, developed in partnership with H1 Capital and with Etana Energy as the offtaker, will generate approximately 248 GWh of electricity annually, significantly contributing to South Africa's renewable energy supply. Strategically located near several other Mulilo projects, the facility will be connected to the innovative Kestrel Main Transmission Substation, unlocking critical grid capacity in a key solar resource region. Mulilo CEO Jan Fourie hailed the project as a milestone in South Africa's clean energy transition. "This project represents a new era of energy trading and innovation in South Africa. By leveraging an aggregator model, we are pioneering a more dynamic and efficient energy market that will ultimately benefit businesses and consumers alike." The Du Plessis Dam Solar PV2 facility is the latest in a string of successful projects for Mulilo, which has closed 660MW of new renewable energy projects over the past year, adding to its existing operational portfolio of 420MW. THE FIRST-ever graduation ceremony of the DLO Skills Initiative Solar Panel Cleaning Programme took place at the De Aar Town Hall this week marking a major milestone in the empowerment of local youth the programme has trained 100 unemployed young people in De Aar equipping them with essential skills in solar panel cleaning and maintenance Designed to create opportunities for disadvantaged community members the comprehensive training included practical sessions and post-training support to help participants transition into careers in the renewable energy sector DLO Energy Resource Group launched this initiative to bridge the skills gap and create employment pathways in the growing green energy industry “China Longyuan has been an exceptional partner in funding this project placing their trust in us to develop a skills programme that is truly relevant,” said Linda Mabhena-Olagunju we would not have been able to achieve the reach we have today.” a subsidiary of China Energy Investment Corporation - the world’s largest wind power operator - has played a key role in advancing global renewable energy initiatives South Africa continues to grapple with a persistent load shedding crisis which has significantly impacted the economy Transitioning to renewable energy has been identified as a crucial step toward mitigating the crisis driving demand for skilled professionals in the field the company has invested approximately R5.18 billion in two wind farms located in the Northern Cape With a combined installed capacity of 244.5 MW these wind farms have already begun supplying electricity to the national grid contributing to the alleviation of South Africa’s energy crisis The wind farms generate approximately 760 million kWh of clean electricity every year benefiting around 300,000 local households and supporting South Africa's initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and promote energy stability Understanding that a skilled workforce is essential for the country’s renewable energy transition Longyuan has also taken proactive steps to equip young South Africans with industry-relevant skills Commitment to Skills Development and Community Support deputy general manager of Longyuan South Africa commended the skills initiative programme and reaffirmed Longyuan’s dedication to empowering local youth “This programme is a remarkable step forward and Longyuan is committed to ensuring that more young people are empowered with the skills and knowledge to contribute meaningfully to South Africa's energy future,” Sheng said The company has also made a broader impact on communities in the Northern Cape through various social initiatives investing around R15 million annually in community development projects that focus on health care Its scholarship programme has helped 390 university students while four early education centres and donated classrooms have provided learning opportunities for 469 children a mobile medical unit offers free services to over 9,000 community members annually ensuring better access to essential medical care highlighted the local impact of the new programme "The programme we have launched today (Tuesday) will contribute to the activities in the area The solar projects we are implementing will help create more jobs As the largest area hosting numerous solar and wind energy projects we are providing opportunities specifically for the people of Emthanjeni based on the skills they have acquired," Nkumbi stated The mayor also commended DLO Energy Group and Longyuan for their positive contributions to Emthanjeni Municipality "Their contributions to economic activities have been significant they still have a notable impact on the area "We see many people moving in and out for work and the area is faced with lots of young people that are unemployed so the programmes that are here address some of the challenges that we're facing," Nkumbi concluded Home | South Africa A Northern Cape police officer accused of allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl last month has been released on R5 000 bail after his arrest this morning The officer who is attached to the Kimberley Flying Squad appeared in the De Aar Magistrate’s Court The matter has been postponed to November 12 for further investigations The officer was also suspended by SAPS this week “The lieutenant was arrested earlier this morning and he has already appeared before the De Aar Magistrate’s Court where he was released on the bail of R 5000 with conditions attached to his bail and the case was postponed to the 12th of November for further investigations,” elaborates IPID spokesperson Organisations fighting against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in the Northern Cape have criticised police for allowing an officer arrested for the alleged rape of a teenage girl to return to work The policeman was accused of raping the 15-year-old girl in August Director of a Learning and Development Centre says police are failing the province’s communities unacceptable that SAPS in the Northern Cape has allowed the high-ranking officer who raped a 15 year old child in De Aar to work in the same space where he was supposed to protect the little girl I am not sure if we are safe in South Africa I am not sure if we are sane and in the right mind especially with the increase of GBV cases in this province.” Provincial Police spokesperson Cherelle Ehlers has confirmed that the officer has resumed duties pending an investigation “It is hereby confirmed that a Lieutenant Colonel accused of the alleged rape of a teenage girl in De Aar has resumed his duties The outcome of the SAPS Disciplinary Process is pending It is an internal matter and cannot be released in the public domain The criminal investigation is handled by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.” This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers Hive Hydrogen South Africa said it has received "successful" records of decision on the environmental impact assessment undertaken for its 1230MW Crossroads Green Energy Cluster The company said the group of nine "solar PV projects" is situated in a "very high yield" area in De Aar and will provide power to its Green Ammonia plant planned for the Coega Special Economic Zone Hive Hydrogen says it will now commence with the next stage of the "grid connection workstream." In a statement the company said; "This Giga scale solar project is the product of the co-development consortium made up of Hive Hydrogen which was sealed earlier this year and has been working towards this milestone for the past two years." said the Crossroads Green Energy team developed the project on time and within budget He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the team and Akuo Energy are co-developing a 6000 MW pipeline of solar energy and wind energy projects notably for the Coega Green Ammonia projects "The Crossroads Green Energy cluster is being developed for phase 1 of the Coega Green Ammonia Project while the remaining projects will be moving through a phased development to meet the future demand in Coega and potential other offtakes We are proud to be working together with Hive Energy to realise these strategic projects.'' Hive Energy says its "$5.8bn (R105bn) green ammonia project" will produce over 1 million tons a year and is a flagship investment project in South Africa tabled at the Presidential Investment Summit in Sandton in 2022 "The project will bring a significant economic boost to South Africa and the Eastern an exclusive podcast on the life of Vicki Terblanche Dive into the expansive world of motoring with Naresh Maharaj Join Mark Marshall as he shares his extraordinary encounters with everything from bees to reptiles i Police unions POPCRU and SAPU in the Northern Cape say they are concerned about the increasing numbers of police officers committing crime. Some officers in the province are under investigation while others are facing disciplinary procedures. In one case, it is alleged that police attempted to rob a mine worker of a diamond at a mine at Mazelfontein farm. In a different matter, another police member was arrested for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in De Aar in August. Provincial Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union secretary Mbabali Mkontwana, “As a trade union, we don’t condone any misconduct of any nature within the South African Police Service because once you misconduct in the South African Police Service, there is going to have a very serious repercussion.” “We have taken a stand as a union that we are not going to condone but condemn lawlessness wherever it rests its head now having taken that stand like that our concern is what we have realised as a union is that there is inconsistency with the employer SAPS.” Meanwhile, South African Police Service says over 2 000 officers were dismissed in the past five years nationally. National police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe says SAPS has dismissed 2 118 of these members found to have been on the wrong side of the law and found guilty of gross misconduct. “SAPS committed to ensure we uproot all those officers who are not on the right side of the law and they are dishonoring their oath of office.” De Aar Solar Power, recently put their support behind a local NGO’s gender equality campaign, which aims to help provide equal access to education for girls. The programme, ‘Pads for Girls’ campaign, helps teenage girls, who can’t afford to buy pads, get back to the classroom. It’s been reported that over 80% of South African girls miss three to five days of school a month, because they do not have access to sanitary pads. While the pressure is mounting on the government to provide free sanitary products to women and girls from poor communities, the solution has been left in the hands of NGO’s and corporate sponsors for now. “Young girls, often choose not to attend school, due to the discomfort, as they don’t have the means of buying suitable sanitary wear,” explained Hlengiwe Radebe, Economic Development Manager for De Aar Solar Power. De Aar Solar Power recently funded the purchase of over 2 000 packs of pads to assist the local campaign and distributed the care packs to High Schools situated in De Aar. Five schools were visited during a campaign drive on 27 July 2018, these include: Orion High School, St Johns Primary School, Emthanjeni Higher Primary School, Monwabisi Senior Public School and Veritas High School. AS SOUTH Africa grapples with ongoing energy challenges, SolarAfrica has announced a R1.8 billion investment to develop its flagship utility-scale solar project, SunCentral, in the Northern Cape. The investment comes as Eskom recently implemented Stage 6 load shedding, before scaling down to Stage 4 and eventually Stage 2 today. SolarAfrica has successfully secured funding and reached financial close on the first 114-megawatt (MW) phase of the project, in partnership with Investec and RMB. SunCentral is a large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plant located between Hanover and De Aar in the Northern Cape. The project is expected to be developed in three phases, with an ambitious goal of reaching 1 gigawatt (GW) capacity upon completion. The first phase of the project consists of 342MW, which will be delivered in a staged roll-out of three 114MW facilities. This phase will distribute renewable energy to various off-takers by wheeling it through South Africa’s power grid. Phases two and three will further expand SunCentral’s capacity, ultimately reaching 1GW - a significant contribution to the country’s renewable energy sector. One of SunCentral’s key benefits is its ability to offer wheeling on a one-to-many basis, making renewable energy accessible to a wider range of businesses across South Africa. Wheeling is the process of transporting electricity from an independent power producer (IPP) to an end-user via an existing transmission or distribution network, such as Eskom’s grid. This means that businesses and municipalities can purchase renewable energy from solar or wind farms located far from their operations, securing a cleaner and more reliable power supply. A prime example of wheeling in South Africa is Amazon’s deal with Eskom, where power from a solar farm in the Northern Cape is wheeled to Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centres. Charl Alheit, chief investment officer at SolarAfrica, highlighted the significance of this milestone: “Reaching financial close on the first 114MW of our utility-scale wheeling development and Main Transmission Substation (MTS) investment marks a significant milestone in our commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions for our customers in the commercial and industrial sectors.” Alheit further emphasised that SunCentral’s large-scale capacity will provide businesses with cheaper, greener power across South Africa. “We are excited to see this project move forward as we continue contributing to the energy transition while delivering long-term value to our customers,” he said. SolarAfrica is part of the broader Starsight Energy Africa Group, which is backed by major investors African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) and Helios Investment Partners. The success of SunCentral will serve as a blueprint for similar off-site generation projects in other key African markets where Starsight Energy Africa operates. Paul van Zijl, Group CEO of Starsight Energy Africa Group, emphasised the broader impact of this development: “The construction of SolarAfrica’s SunCentral is a critical step in our journey to expand clean energy adoption across Sub-Saharan Africa. We are excited to move this project forward and continue delivering long-term value to our customers.” Thor Corry, investment director at AIIM, also praised the modular approach of the project: “The modular approach to construct the MTS and plug in subsequent 114MW modules provides a superb platform for SolarAfrica to scale at pace to meet the needs of the C&I [commercial and industrial] customers in South Africa who want to secure price certainty and cost-efficiencies, while furthering South Africa’s Just Energy Transition.” Corry pointed out that with South Africa needing up to 30GW of new capacity by 2030 to meet its climate commitments and energy demands, projects like SunCentral are critical in addressing the country’s energy crisis while accelerating the transition to cleaner power. With load shedding continuing to disrupt daily life, initiatives like SunCentral provide hope for a more stable, energy-secure future. BAIL has been denied for a 29-year-old Northern Cape man accused of beating his stepson to death for wetting the bed. Jeremy Bosman appeared in the De Aar District Court, where the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) successfully opposed his bail. "Bosman faces a serious charge of murder in connection with the tragic death of his three-year-old stepson, Charvandre Kieran Everson, along with a charge of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) against the child’s mother, 29-year-old Charmelle Thys," said the NPA’s spokesperson in the Northern Cape, Mojalefa Senokoatsane. According to Senokoatsane, on October 19, Charvandre wet the bed and Bosman allegedly responded by repeatedly striking the child on the head with his hands and a broom. Bosman also allegedly slammed the child’s head against a wall, causing severe injuries. Preliminary investigations and witness testimonies indicate that Charvandre’s injuries left him unable to eat or open his mouth. It is further alleged that when the child wet the bed a second time, he was assaulted again. "There was blood in the child's mouth and he lost control of his bodily functions. He was unable to move his legs and was weak," Senokoatsane said. “Before Thys took her son to the De Aar Hospital, Bosman allegedly told her not to disclose details of the incidents. Unfortunately, upon arrival, medical personnel confirmed that Charvandre had already succumbed to his injuries.” Medical staff reportedly found multiple bruises on the little boy’s body during their examination, prompting them to alert the police. Senokoatsane said that following a thorough investigation, the police charged Bosman with murder and assault GBH. Bosman appeared in court to apply for bail, but the prosecution opposed it. "The prosecution opposed bail under Schedule 6, citing the severe nature of the charges and the risk posed by the accused to vulnerable individuals, particularly children. The court agreed, remanding Bosman in custody until his next court appearance on December 5," Senokoatsane said. registered non profit organisation in South AfricaReg No: 011-895 NPO Catherine’s goal of diversifying her cattle farming business activity to include crop farming has come to fruition over the three years that she has been supported by De Aar Solar Power’s enterprise development programme This tenacious farmer is now successfully cultivating lucerne to feed her cattle and as well as to derive income from sales to other farmers in the community She is one of three farming enterprises who has benefited from mentoring and funding as part of this stimulus programme “Despite not having any formal qualifications Catherine’s business plan was selected for its vision the strong red meat market demand as well as her dedication during the mentoring process which demonstrated her passion and unwavering hard work  We support her long term vision to become a ‘strong black commercial farmer’ and to expand her farming to include greenhouse vegetable production Economic Development Specialist for De Aar Solar Power In addition to the standard business programme support Catherine received funding to install a solar-powered water pump and water tanks to save her vulnerable cattle and continue to harvest and sell crops with the essential services certificate that was obtained for her “Catherine is a hard worker who will not wait for things to happen but makes things happen She has shown a lot of zeal and commitment to her dream so much so that even when things didn’t go well due to lack of water she and her husband had to find a way to get water to their farm whilst waiting for assistance from us From the revenue derived from the sale of lucerne she has been able to purchase calves to swell her livestock herd,” concluded Ndlela De Aar Solar Power’s Enterprise Development Programme provides training and support that helps create viable small businesses and assist budding entrepreneurs and creating employment opportunities in the Pixley Ka Seme district’s rural towns of Britstown Issued by:            Tina Meier/ tina@tmcommunictions.co.za Aisling Philips / media@tmcommunications.co.za South Africa's state-owned power utility Eskom has given its approval to the German developer Soventix for the construction of the first phase (342 MW) of a 1 GW solar project in the town of De Aar the single-axis solar tracker technology project was divided into three stages with Soventix being in charge of their development and with South African operator Solar Africa having the rights to the first phase of the project (to either resell the completed project or generate green electricity certificates) The construction of the first 342 MW phase is expected to being in the first quarter of 2024 The project is being developed under the South African Renewable Energy IPP Procurement (REIPPP) programme of South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy being one of the first projects of such magnitude to be connected to Eskom’s transmission network solar (6.3 GW) accounted for 10% of South Africa's installed capacity (65 GW Enerdata has developed a market research service to screen monitor and analyse the development of power generation assets Power Plant Tracker offers an interactive database and a powerful search engine covering power plants worldwide – including both installed and planned capacities for renewables and fossil fuels Register now to subscribe to our informative monthly Concerns about possibly dangerous situations caused by unused and potentially unstable military ammunition stored at 97 Ammunition Depot in De Aar The sprawling depot covers an area of 29 rugby fields and has its own 49 km rail network to move ordnance It also houses the SA Army’s School of Ammunition according to information in the public domain and is in the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality if there were to be an untoward incident at the depot a Democratic Alliance (DA) member of the Northern Cape provincial legislature the party’s shadow defence and military veterans minister levels of compliance as regards storage and management of ammunition in use by the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) At her request Marais will ask Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to investigate and establish levels of compliance with health and occupational safety regulations on large scale ammunition handling and storage “There are protocols and processes that must be observed at all times to be proper safeguards for people close to the depot,” she said adding it was necessary to know – in the interests of public health and safety – there is full compliance “This is essential when it comes to management of older ammunition that is no longer stable We need an investigation to satisfy us transport and storage of ammunition in this state is done in a stabilising way that protects the public “It is important for the national defence force to liaise with municipal officials on relevant municipal concerns including water provision and sanitation,” she said pointing out the ammunition depot was a national key point which made oversight limited does not preclude the SANDF from complying with set municipal standards “Public health and safety can never be regarded as classified,” Rhoda said The depot consists of 186 magazines housing different types of ammunition and is secured by a high voltage fence Estimates are there were 78 000 tons of obsolete and unserviceable ammunition at three ammunition depots with 23 000 tons at De Aar 14 years ago The other major SANDF ammunition depots are at Jan Kempdorp outside Kimberley in Northern Cape and Mookgophong “The percentage of unserviceable or obsolete ammunition and serviceable or usable ammunition are respectively 67% and 33% The guaranteed shelf life for shells and pyrotechnics are 10 years and for small arms ammunition 20 years Ninety percent of SANDF ammunition was said at that time to be older than 20 years.” The De Aar depot is 7 km from the town and 400 metres from a farm fence raising noise pollution safety and health concerns a Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) report on a Defence Portfolio Committee visit to one of the two Northern Cape ammunition depots said Editorial Enquiries: [email protected] Sales Enquiries: [email protected] Home | South Africa | Human Rights Day 2023 Residents of De Aar in the Northern Cape say they have nothing to commemorate on Human Rights Day as they are still subjected to human rights violations the ever escalating numbers of statistics of unemployment among others Residents shared their sentiments on the eve of Human Rights commemoration which will be led by President Cyril Ramaphosa at De Aar West stadium today Residents in some parts of De Aar have been complaining about the dysfunctionality of SAPS’ 10111 number and slow response rate of emergency services a local teenager assisted a pregnant woman to give birth after an ambulance allegedly failed to arrive on time They also complain about lack of proper housing and unattended incident of Gender-Based Violence “They must get jobs opportunities so (that) life (can) go on that is how it must be,” says one of the residents gender-based (violence) … there is a lot,” says another resident Resident’s challenges are compounded by poor water supply and lack of housing One of them says she is sceptical about the president’s address and doubts it will change their lives “We sit without water for three days up to a week the Human Rights Commission in the Northern Cape admits that several communities have challenges of accessing basic services The commission’s acting provincial manager Anthony Wyngaard has acknowledge that access to basic services is a problem water and sanitation and the Department of Human Settlement to see whether we can bring interim relieve to communities.” On the issue of ambulances and reports of dysfunctional SAPS 1011 Wyngaard says there is a need to improve services by employing enough and well-trained staff members He says police members in the province need to be resourced “We don’t have sufficient ambulances; we don’t have sufficient trained personnel to man those ambulances; we don’t have a situation where we have double shifts for people to work on those shifts to assist people We need to improve level of service; we need to attract suitable qualified people who can man these ambulances and services,” says Wyngaard This year’s Human Rights Day theme is Consolidating and Sustaining Human Rights Culture into the Future The main event that will be addressed by President Cyril Ramaphosa will take place at De Aar West Stadium South Africa celebrates Human Rights Day on Tuesday: The prospect of new solar and wind farms to supplement the businesses of struggling farmers in the area means that the businesses in the De Aar area are keeping a keen eye on their future De Aar used to be the second largest railway junction in the country the ailing economy and declining effectiveness of the railway as the ultimate mode of transport have had a negative effect on this historic Karoo town with its approximately 42 000 people “We are thankful for any developments in our region to stimulate the economy even if these developments are by nature just sporadic like the introduction of more solar and wind farms we do business as well as circumstances allow us with COVID-19 also a serious threat to normality,” says Hentie van der Merwe “The drought in most parts of the Karoo has been with us for a long time and with a negative impact on the agricultural sector which form a huge part of the economy in De Aar and the surrounding towns and communities “The establishment of large solar and wind farms has a positive effect on the region that also benefits us but the traditional agricultural sector has had a bumpy ride need to service towns in the region as far as Prieska Richmond and a few others in the Karoo,” Hentie tells Dealerfloor still a farming community and as such their bakkie ranges remain popular sellers especially the smaller NP200 and the NP300 represent excellent value especially as we must remember customers are price sensitive in these challenging times “We see it on the Renault side: the lower priced models like the Triber We also have the Datsun brand that is a serious player on the entry-level side of the new vehicle market We are looking forward to the addition of new models like the new Nissan Navara bakkie and new additions from Datsun and Renault during the year,” he says which has been an institution in the town for many decades Hentie says it has a rich history that stretches back as far as 1942 with Willem Verburg the founder and first owner Verburg used to transport patients for the local hospital The current owners bought it from Mr Jannie Venter expanded and modernised to the different manufacturers’ requirements and is serviced by a Caltex filling station over the years The Nissan/Datsun and the Renault dealerships have their own customer entrances and showrooms He ended on a positive note that the introduction of new models will be a highlight notwithstanding the damage the drought a struggling economy and the COVID-19 pandemic and that they are as ready as ever to do business Hentie and the Fourie family are the owners of the business and have been petrol heads for a long time “The Fourie family is involved in the insurance and auditing fields and I was part of the local government up till 2013 when I decided to join the world of new vehicle retailing,” he says The 15th edition of the Simola Hillclimb was characterised by difficult emotions mixed with brave competition at the highest level during the King of the Hill challenge but the latest generation of Chinese bakkies is here to stay The dubious first generation bakkies from China did not draw a lot of attention from the South African car-buying consumer either as a leisure or commercial alternative Well-known South African racing driver and competitor at the annual Simola Hillclimb died this weekend when his Lotus left the road You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do The transition from a career in the OEM environment to the business at dealership level was like chalk and cheese Audi Centre Sandton was named 2024 Dealer of the Year while Hatfield Motor Group walked away with the coveted 2024 Dealer Group of the Year prize during Audi South Africa’s annual Vorsprung Awards For a dealership to make an 180-degree U-turn within two years and then went on to win the overall Volkswagen Dealer of the Year award This dealer-focussed innovation is made possible with the support and endorsement of Absa Vehicle and Asset Finance All content copyright of Panthera Media Pty Ltd 2020 We use cookies to personalise content and ads and to analyse our traffic and improve our service You consent to cookies if you continue to use our website In Emthanjeni Local Municipality in the Northern Cape something unusual happened between the 2016 and 2021 local government elections Nationally, the ANC’s support between those two municipal polls dropped from 53.91% in 2016 to 45.59% five years later.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Support for the ruling party actually grew: from 57.82% in 2016 to 60.21% in 2021 Votes for the opposition decreased over the same period Read more in Daily Maverick: Elections 2024 – All your questions answered Walking the streets of the largest town in the municipality it is hard to understand why this would be the case fields of shiny solar panels attest to the boom in renewable energy developments in this sun- and wind-rich area But there is little evidence that these projects have yet translated into meaningful betterment for the residents of De Aar Signs of poverty and aimlessness are everywhere An intersection in De Aar shows a poorly tarred pothole-riddled road and non-functioning traffic lights “We are jobless,” said 29-year-old Siyamthanda Gwegwe “People are not happy,” he said, shaking his head. Water supply in De Aar remains a perennial problem. “[On voting day] I will make a change.”advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads The ANC’s offices for the Pixley ka Seme region stood a few hundred meters up the road identifiable by the yellowing posters in the window an ANC official welcomed us into his office for a chat He needed to remain anonymous because he wasn’t cleared to talk to the media and authorities are strict about such things as elections approach we are still on track,” he declared confidently “The provincial government has been able to deliver The narrative of the ANC is being bought.”   (Residents dispute this.) Gravel roads were being upgraded He acknowledged that the private renewable energy projects mushrooming around the area had yet to bring the hoped-for economic dividends for residents Twenty-nine-year-old De Aar resident Siyamthanda Gwegwe has been unemployed for several years Entirely bullish about the May 29 polls, the official nonetheless saw two parties as particular local irritants: “The PA [Patriotic Alliance] and EFF [Economic Freedom Fighters] want to wipe out 30 years of progress,” he said.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Insistent that we hear more about these 30 years of progress, he walked us down the street to the municipal offices and negotiated a drop-in on Emthanjeni municipal manager Disang Molaole, a tracksuit-clad bureaucrat with a disarming smile and a warm handshake.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Emthanjeni is the municipality with the highest underspending in South Africa and according to Auditor-General reports it has been in a concerning financial position for at least the last five years he grinned without a shred of defensiveness we are average,” he said – adding that he had only been in the job for nine months given the municipality’s documented underspending habits Molaole pointed to inadequate funding for local municipalities as complicating service delivery Then there was the ageing De Aar infrastructure: “The water pipes date back to 1943” Molaole was convinced that the good times were around the corner when it came to the solar boom “The economic spin-offs will be there,” he said “We are polluted by only one party: the red ones.” The red ones did not respond to Daily Maverick’s request for comment. But this week, Emthanjeni recorded a by-election result which may have given the sunny ANC and municipal officials pause for thought.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads the municipal manager of Emthanjeni Local Municipality Although the ANC held on to Ward 3 in Emthanjeni with a thunderous 79%, that result is a significant decline from its previous 92% for the ward. The EFF, meanwhile, grew from 6% in 2021 to 21%.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “It may look benign, but this is a pretty scary result for the ANC in the context of the NC [Northern Cape] provincial election coming up,” analyst Dawie Scholtz wrote on X Scholtz added: “EFF inroads in the NC black electorate is potentially fatal for ANC in NC.” a young politician called Shepherd Mines was leading a group of campaign volunteers in a prayer Around 25 people stood in a semicircle in front of Mines They had met up in the yard of Mines’ modest home in the village of Olifantshoek: a house instantly recognisable by the campaign banner featuring Mines’ face draped on its fence In a community which has lost faith with politics as normal, Mines – a charismatic 39-year-old with a slight resemblance to the comedian Trevor Noah – is their great hope.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads the provincial secretary of new political outfit the Northern Cape Communities Movement As we followed him door-to-door around a dusty township a 62-year-old called Katrina testified to his local reputation “Shepherd is ’n goeie man met ’n goeie hart [Shepherd is a good man with a good heart],” she said “Hy het voor my groot geword [He grew up in front of me].” Even the local “blankes” [white residents] supported Shepherd Maar die ANC het ons opgemors [We were all ANC supporters here Mines had told us what brought him to this point He is currently a proportional representation (PR) councillor for this area and previously worked with a local organisation called the Gamagara Community Forum That group held consultations with other community bodies and decided to contest the elections together they will be on the ballot under the banner of the Northern Cape Communities Movement (NCCM) None of the existing parties was doing enough for the people of Olifantshoek “What makes it difficult in the ANC is that the national structures decide policy then that has to be implemented locally,” he said Mines would know: he previously held the posts of treasurer of the ANC Youth League and deputy ANC chair in the region You are bound by the mandate of the regional secretary.” DA councillors in the area had been “too quiet” One of the tipping points leading to the formation of the NCCM was the healthcare situation in the area you must phone Kuruman [100km away],” he said “You don’t wait shorter than three hours for an ambulance people get discharged on the basis of ‘Wena you’ll survive Leading his group of volunteers through Olifantshoek Mines reminded them: “Elke vote tel [Every vote counts].” Their mission on this particular Friday was to educate people about special votes and to help prospective voters who lacked IDs The NCCM’s Shepherd Mines speaks to an Olifantshoek resident on 12 April 2024 “There have been people here for 15 years without basic services,” Mines said as we walked “The ANC ward councillor lives in a house they call Nkandla.” The NCMM’s calculations suggested that the Northern Cape could be governed by coalitions after the elections Their biggest concern: to prevent the EFF and the ANC together getting past the 50% threshold for the sake of the people of the Northern Cape.” Mines was raised by his grandparents in this village but left in adulthood to live and work in Pretoria and Cape Town he decided he had to enter the local political fray to try to improve things Mines believes that change could be in the air They’re not just going to vote for the love they have for Mandela,” he said Read our report about the Joe Morolong municipality here: A tale of two contrasting towns in Northern Cape’s Joe Morolong municipality  We are very isolated from the economic hubs of Johannesburg and Cape Town We are in a desolate and harsh climatic zone that doesn’t suit many people so attracting people here is a challenge as for investment… not much I can say there We’re seeing more locals taking responsibility and initiative by standing up for the NC and our communities I think we should start a provincial political party aimed at taking control of our legislature by ousting the ANC and sending the EFF back to Limpopo Our mines are generating billions that never gets invested back into maintaining our province We’ve given diamonds and gold to the world reliable and efficient services and better schooling That’s peanuts for the likes of de Beers and co We need to take control of our province and its assets The New National Party was able to stand by us so it’s possible The Northern Cape is resource rich and much of those mineral riches are not reinvested into the province thus we see severe under devevopment and poverty and high levels of inequality The key to the province and a party taking it is the coloured population which forms the majority (the latest census statistics is horribly inaccurate by a lightyear) The ANC manages to harvest the coloured vote through scaremongering and promises which are always unfulfilled after an election has passed The major reason why coloured people in the NC votes for the ANC is mostly based on their daily experiences in an agricultural province where racist ideologies still survives and often refered to as the last bastion of Apartheid adherents The older generation with old wounds perpetually vote ANC while the younger ones are just disinterested from a sense of hopelessness The Northern Cape is fertile for a new kind of party with geniune broad support who fronts the central issue of the political destiny of coloured people in the North who always had a unique and distinctive cultural and ancestral history unique amongst the so called coloured catagory Let’s vote for the party that will be people centered There is only one choice that will make a real difference to peoples’ lives It defeats how people still just don’t see it after so many years It is time to put race away and work together and empower us all to live first world lives