Kathu Gazette

21/11/2025

Countrywide protest against Gender-Based Violence. SAPS Kathu Women's Network

21/11/2025

19/11/2025

Missing 9 year old girl from Kathu found
18 November 2025-
Members of the Kathu Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit have found missing 9 year old Mihlali Khanyiso Ludaba who went missing on Friday 14 November 2025.
According to Brigadier Mashay Gamieldien from the office of the SAPS Provincial Commissioner Northern Cape in Kimberley, the girl was released on 18 November 2025 by her relative who had allegedly collected her from school on Friday 14 November 2025. The 37 year old male was arrested in Kuruman on 18 November 2025 at approximately 20:00 and will be charged with kidnapping.
The SAPS management extends their gratitude and appreciation to the public for their support and assistance in the search of Mihlali.
Mhihlali was taken for medical assessment and reunited with her mother.
The suspect is expected to appear in court soon.
SAPS communication

19/11/2025

KATHU
Toekenningseremonie vereer leerders

Woensdag, 5 November 2025 was ’n aand wat gekenmerk is deur die viering van leerders se toewyding, deursettingsvermoë, harde werk en talent by Laerskool Kathu.
Die Toekenningseremonie vir graad 6 en 7 het op dié spesiale aand plaasgevind. By hierdie geleentheid is Charlton Duimpies en Megan Leipoldt as hoofseun en hoofdogter aangewys van die skool se VRL en Ignus Nortjé en Nicola Nysschen as onderhoofseun en onderhoofdogter.
Die sportvrou van die jaar is in numeriese orde, Abigail Coetzer, Mienke Pretorius en Chrisli Botha. Die sportman van die jaar is Kihan de Bruin, Angus Hattingh en Dylan Roux. Die veelsydigste sportpresteerder van die jaar is Kihan de Bruin, Abigail Coetzer en Angus Hattingh. Die veelsydigste leerder in Graad 7 is Mienke Pretorius, Mari Erwee en Hunter de Villiers en die Graad 7 Dux-leerder is Gianna Cloete.
Die skool is baie trots op elke leerder se prestasie.
Laerskool Kathu kommunikasie

Foto 1: Gianna Cloete is aangewys as die Dux-leerder in graad 7.
Foto 2: Kihan de Bruin is aangewys as sportman van die jaar asook die veelsydigste sportpresteerder van die jaar.
Foto 3: Die Hoofleiers vir 2026.

19/11/2025

MECWETSANENG
Mine donates electric wheelchair
Victor Mulangisi
Women in Mining, a wing of Kudumane Manganese Resources (KMR), handed over an electric wheelchair on October 30, 2025, to Amantle Matlhare at Mecwetsaneng village in the Joe Morolong constituency, after hearing there was a dire need for the 20 year old to become more mobile.
A team from the manganese producer visited Amantle’s parents' home with the generous gift. During an interview, the communications manager of the Joe Morolong municipality, Ms Lerato Kunou, said that the plight of Amantle was recognised during the municipality’s Mandela Month campaign, when she was identified as one of the persons living with disabilities who needed to be prioritised and assisted by the municipality through their Social Labour Plan (SLP). She said it was a unanimous decision to assist Amantle through the SLP.
The entire Matlhare family was excited and grateful when Amantle received the electronic wheelchair, because it will make performing her daily activities so much easier.
According to Ms Rudzani Bulanga, the executive of Women in Mining - KMR, “This gift represents more than mobility; it symbolises strength, independence and the power of women uplifting one another. May it serve as a reminder that no obstacle is too big when courage meets opportunity.”
On behalf of the municipality, the speaker, Councillor Violet Jordan, expressed her gratitude to KMR for their great support and assistance. She applauded Women in Mining for pushing past barriers and for getting involved in this project, because only women understand another woman's plight.
The handover ceremony was graced by the Ward 14 Councillor Segomotsi Choche, Mr Billy Lamberchts, project manager of the mine, other representatives from KMR, Women in Mining, ward committee members and members of the local traditional Council.

Amantle Matlhare received the wheelchair from Kudumane Manganese Resources.

19/11/2025

KATHU
ATKV bederf die jongspan met nuwe boeke

Die Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuur Vereniging (ATKV) se Kathu tak het die viering van Afrikaans se 100ste bestaansjaar asook die 95ste bestaansjaar van die ATKV voortgesit deur Afrikaanse boeke te skenk aan kleuterskole in Kathu.
“Die doel was om Afrikaans as taal op grondslagfase te vestig asook leesvaardighede en begrip te bevorder”, sê Abie Wiid, voorsitter van die ATKV Kathu-tak. “Toepaslike boeke van LAPA Uitgewers is aan die skole geskenk en ons vertrou dat dit die kinders sal aanmoedig om te lees.”
Skole wat besoek is sluit in BANA Ontwikkelingsentrum, Liefdes Lyfies Nasorgsentrum, Sishen Kleuterskool en Pikkie Pret Kleuterskool. Die onderwysers en kinders het hierdie wonderlike gebaar baie waardeer.
Abie sê die beplanning is om dit ‘n jaarlikse instelling te maak en sodoende by te dra tot die bevordering van Afrikaans onder jong lesers.
ATKV Kathu kommunikasie

Vlnr: Choné Mathee (Onderwyseres), Abie Wiid (ATKV Voorsitter Kathu Tak), Mecca Johnson (Onderwyseres) van Sishen Kleuterskool.

Vlnr: Jacobie Bauermeister (Skoolhoof van BANA Ontwikkelingsentrum), Janru Van Den Heever, Madelé De Waal, Livia Fourie, Ru Van Den Heever en Abie Wiid (Voorsitter ATKV Kathu Tak).

Vlnr: Susan Fouché en Jace Barlette van Liefdeslyfies Nasorgsentrum.

Vlnr: Abie Wiid (ATKV Voorsitter Kathu Tak) en Lizel Steyn (Skoolhoof Pikkie Pret Pre-primêre Skool).

19/11/2025

KATHU
Top gehalte kamp verryk Voortrekkers

70 Jeuglede asook 25 volwassenes van die Voortrekkers was bevoorreg om opleiding van hoogstaande gehalte te ontvang tydens die Noord-Kaap Gebiedskamp gehou te Barkly-Wes van 4 tot 11 Oktober 2025.
Die Graad Agt kamp was deel van dié landswye byeenkoms en is bygewoon deur 13 jeuglede en 4 offisiere van die Noord-Kaap, Centurion en Despatch. Behalwe die besoek van die Nasionale See Reddings Instituut (NSRI) om die lede te leer van waterveiligheid en hoe om drenkelinge te red, het die graad agt lede ook vier interessante dae op die plaas Wildeklawer deurgebring.
Drie deskundiges het ook hulle spesialis kennis met die groep kom deel. Coen Visser het hulle toespreek oor Geologie en Waterstudies, die botanis Annemarie van Heerden oor Plantkunde en Manie Pickard oor Waterbestuur in Landbou. Verskeie lewensvaardighede is ook aangeleer onder die Varswater -, Seremonies-, en Voetslaner spesialisasies.
Die kampprogram was propvol aksie en uitdagings. Hulle het ‘n kampterrein ingerig onder die sterre en op die oewer van die Vaalrivier geslaap, om die vuur gekuier en wag gestaan. Daar is ook boeresport gehou en in die rivier geswem.
Die graad agt lede wil graag hulle offisiere Dawid, Susan en Schalk van der Berg van Kathu en Jaco Perold van Centurion bedank, asook Mnr Louis de K**k, die eienaar van Wildeklawer en hul gasheer Mnr Manie Pickard wat baie moeite gedoen om seker te maak dat hulle gemaklik en veilig is.
Die Voortrekkers is ‘n toekomsgerigte kultuur organisasie wat Afrikanerkinders se karakter en lewensvaardighede ontwikkel gebaseer op Christelike beginsels. Die Voortrekkers gebruik ‘n kombinasie van kultuur, avontuur en natuur om waardegedrewe, diensbare leiers te ontwikkel. Belangstellendes kan Dawid van der Berg kontak by 084 701 0894 vir verdere inligting.
Voortrekkers kommunikasie

Foto: Die graad agt span van Kathu met hul offisier Dawid van der Berg (middel).
Foto: Die lede geniet boeresport in die modder.
Foto: Die kampterrein

19/11/2025

KATHU
Afrikaanse kunstefees hier om te bly
Erika Viljoen

Op 7 en 8 November 2025 was die SIVOS sportterein in Kathu ‘n miernes van bedrywighede toe inwoners van Kathu en omgewing met groot entoesiasme die Kalahari Kuier in Afrikaans Kunstefees (KKAK), bygewoon het.
Jonk en oud het hulle vellies en hoed nader getrek om hierdie, eerste in sy soort, Afrikaanse fees te besoek. Vir twee dae is daar met oorgawe geëet, gespeel, gesing en gedans in Afrikaans.
‘n Verskeidenheid kos stalletjies het gesorg vir watertand tradisionele disse soos pap en kaiings, boereworsrolle en pannekoek en die feesgangers kon na hartelus Kersfees geskenke begin aankoop by die interessante en unieke kuns stalletjies. Die musiekprogram was gelaai met optredes van plaaslike talent, asook meer bekende name in die vermaaklikheidsbedryf soos Early B, Christia Visser en Droomsindroom.
Ouers kon met ‘n geruste hart hul kinders by die vriendelike oppassers van Kinderland afgee waar springkastele, mini-treinritte en vele ander aktiwiteite die jongspan besig gehou het. Meganiese bulritte en ‘n kuiertent het die meer avontuurlustige feesgangers vermaak.
Ds Joha-Lize Uys, leraar van die Hervormde kerke Kathu, Postmasburg en Kuruman (genoem die Kombinasie-kerk) en hoof-organiseerder van die KKAK sê die gedagte agter die fees is om fondse in te samel vir die bou en versterking van geestelike en sosiale ondersteuningsnetwerke in die gemeenskap. “Die idee is om ‘n platform te skep vir kerke en nie-winsgewende organisasies waar hulle ‘n ekstra inkomste kan verdien om sodoende finansieel volhoubaar te bly en hulle barmhartigheidswerk in die gemeenskap voort te sit.”
Die feeskomitee is klaar gereed om uit te brei op die jaar se uiters suksesvolle byeenkoms en ook skole en organisasies bemoeid met kuns en kultuur te betrek by 2026 se KKAK. “Ons wil so gou as moontlik begin met die reëlings vir volgende jaar se fees. Behalwe dat hierdie byeenkoms ons help om ons roeping uit te leef, bied dit ‘n platform vir plaaslike musikante en entrepeneurs om hul talente ten toon te stel. Verder verskaf dit veilige en gesonde vermaak vir oud en jonk. Ons is opgewonde oor die toekoms van KKAK.”
Vir enige verdere inligting of navrae, besoek gerus die webtuiste by kkak.org.za.

19/11/2025

POSTMASBURG
Kumba supports matrics during final exams

The National Senior Certificate examinations are a momentous occasion in the lives of grade 12 learners.
Scheduled annually from October to December, this assessment period carries the hopes and dreams of many young people regarding their higher learning aspirations.
To support learners during this sensitive academic interval, Kumba Iron Ore sponsored an initiative led by three high schools in the Tsantsabane Local Municipality, to create safe and study conducive environments for the learners to focus on their exam preparations.
As part of the initiative, 215 grade 12 learners from Postmasburg High School, Blinkklip High School and Ratang Thuto High School, will be accommodated and supervised in dedicated hostels for the duration of the assessment period. Students will receive meals and guidance from educators as part of their stay.
Project Lead, Chloe Roux, the Socio Economic Development Officer at Kumba Iron Ore, highlighted the importance of the sponsorship. “One of the key areas of focus in the Anglo American Sustainable Mining Plan is education. Our aim is to drive systemic and long-term gains by supporting students in our communities.
Through this initiative, we want to help the grade 12 learners achieve their academic goals. We trust that the students will take full advantage of this opportunity and be a source of inspiration for the class of 2026.”
Expressing gratitude about the support received, Mr LS Balston Principal at Blinkklip High School shared his sentiments on the impact the initiative will have on the learners during the examination period. “Kumba’s support has provided these learners with a safe, stable and conducive environment to prepare for their final examinations – a critical time that determines their future. Many of our learners face difficult circumstances and this initiative has lifted a tremendous burden, ensuring that they can fully focus on their academic success.
Kumba Iron Ore’s contribution reflects a deep commitment to the advancement of education and the empowerment of young people within our community. We are honoured to have Kumba as a trusted partner in education.”
Kumba Iron Ore communication

Photo: Chloe Roux addressing stakeholders at the launch of the initiative.
Photo: Grade 12 learners taking a pledge at the launch of the initiative.

19/11/2025

MARUPING
Soccer club makes a difference in local communities.
The Rau Rau soccer club is a well-known and beloved football club in Maruping, Lenganeng Section.
Since 2023 the members started to plough back into their community mainly by donating food parcels to people in need in and around Maruping. They also assisted local preschools and donated a much needed water tank to a crèche in the Lenganeng section. The club also assisted Kgatelopele pre-school in the Tsago section by donating 16 roof sheets.
On 01 November 2025, the club donated food parcels to three households in Galotolo (Mondera) village as well as to three families in Gamopedi village. These villages received assistance because some of the players reside there.
On 03 November 2025, the club paid tribute to one of their late players, Gapenyane Mampe (Dampi), by erecting a fence around his grave. They also handed over one food parcel in the Itireleng section, one in the Remmogo section, three at Batlharos, two at the Kgatelopele Pre-school and also blessed Katlego preschool in Maruping with two food parcels.
Mr Thatayaone Osekeng, the local coordinator, thanked the Rau Rau soccer club as well as other sport teams in the JTG district that are dedicated to help disadvantaged individuals in their region.
For more information or details regarding donations, please contact Mr T Osekeng at 071 5012 425.
Rau Rau Soccer Club communication

Photo: Members of the Rau Rau soccer club donating food parcels to members of the community and a water tank to a creche.