The SAPS Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Investigation Unit arrested the last outstanding suspect involved in the Lusikisiki massacre on January 5 The arrest took place at approximately 4 PM at the King William’s Town bus station while the suspect was on a bus heading to Cape Town Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene expressed her relief at the arrest affirming that the police would not relent until all suspects were brought to justice Through diligent investigation and cooperation from the public law enforcement officials managed to corner the suspect Lieutenant General Mene commended the community for providing valuable information that facilitated the successful arrest of all individuals linked to the tragic shooting “I applaud our team for their tireless efforts to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” she stated The suspect will face serious charges related to the mass shooting and is expected to appear in Lusikisiki Magistrate Court shortly The community and police are hopeful that this arrest will bring a sense of closure and safety back to the region following such a distressing incident and website in this browser for the next time I comment Add me to your newsletter and keep me updated whenever you publish new blog posts Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" © 2025 Pondoland Times. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has welcomed the sentence imposed on an Eastern Cape VIP protection officer for killing a man who attacked him in 2017 said Sergeant Anthony Balfour was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years imprisonment for shooting a man in Qonce (formerly King Williams Town) who attacked him at an ATM was at the Capitec ATM in King William's Town when he was attacked and stabbed by Anathi Qabisisa “Sergeant Balfour then went to his car took out his firearm and started firing at Qabisisa who ran away but fell to the ground,” he said Shuping said Balfour then approached Qabisisa “and shot him on the neck while he was lying down and no longer posing any threat to him” The incident was reported to IPID for investigation and the docket was handed to the senior prosecutor who decided that Balfour should be prosecuted for murder “Eight years of his sentence were suspended for a period of five years He will effectively serve seven years in prison,” Shuping said 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 Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa has gazetted new names for Port Elizabeth and two airports in the Eastern Cape The Port Elizabeth Airport has been renamed to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport and Port Elizabeth will now be known as Gqeberha while the East London Airport is now known as the King Phalo Airport which saw residents and the Eastern Cape DA opposing the Port Elizabeth name change “The name defines who we are and it has been the name identifying our Friendly City to generations of people The majority of our people love the name of the City and do not find it offensive at all “Changing the names of the province and Port Elizabeth must be the last thing on Premier Mabuyane’s priority list,” said the party at the time This after Sanral pumped R16.8 billion into construction projects in the province as Premier Oscar Mabuyane plans to reverse apartheid spatial planning Mabuyane made the announcement at the Eastern Cape legislature in Bhisho while delivering the state of the province address (Sopa) The R16.8 billion investment is budgeted over the next two years with R4.6 billion awarded to 14 projects which have turned large parts of the province into construction sites He said contractors were currently on site building roads from Kareedouw to Humansdorp contractors are on site contributing to building the Eastern Cape we all want,” said Mabuyane Article: Caxton publication, The Citizen Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Vusumzi Mba and Mandisi Aplom are researchers for the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders When the military option of resisting white settler encroachment ultimately failed for the Xhosa after more than 100 years of wars of land dispossession it was suggested that an alternative strategy of resistance was needed to replace it one that would appropriate as a weapon the printed word When we read the Daily Dispatch of 8 May 2021 our eyes welled with tears at the prospect of the demolition of Victoria Grounds in Qonce (formerly King William’s Town) for commercial purposes — a shopping mall is proposed — despite its rich history and heritage; and of the imminent closure of the King William’s Town Golf Club thanks to lack of funding from both our government and private sector (we must also say that our newspapers have kept alive the tradition of good journalism that they were bequeathed by the founders of newspapers like Imvo Zabantsundu and Izwi Labantu established in 1884 and 1897 Victoria Grounds is a sports facility in King William’s Town that was built in the time of the liberal Kings Borough Council, and the first recorded cricket match was played there in February 1889 — a touring English team played two matches against the Cape Mounted Riflemen It was a sports hub for white people dominated by the Farrer Family who owned a sports shop and controlled sports in King William’s Town The liberal white council was warm towards black people despite racial segregation policies at the time the council allowed the funeral of Steven Bantu Biko to take place there even though Biko was an opponent of the white minority regime Future black Springboks from the nearby townships of Ginsberg Zwelitsha and Breidbach played their rugby at the same field and it played an important role in social cohesion The great Steve Biko once defined democracy as “a feedback session between those who develop policy and those who are to accept or reject that policy” So we have a right to reject that which is the antithesis of the sport development agenda It is no coincidence that the first minister of sport after 1994 the then Kings Borough Council bowed to political pressure and listened to the will of the people and gave permission for the funeral of Steve Biko to be held at the Victoria Grounds at the height of apartheid and racial segregation the people assembled at the very same Victoria Grounds and marched to Bhisho against the illegitimate and tyrannical leader of Ciskei As the people were approaching Bhisho they were confronted by Ciskei Defence Force soldiers armed with live ammunition and 29 people lost their lives and more than 200 were wounded. The people of South Africa will never forget that day or the mass funeral that followed — which was also held at the same Victoria Grounds.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads These two historic moments qualify Victoria Grounds to be a heritage precinct that ought to be protected and preserved at all costs for it contributed to the liberation struggle of our country (any developer will have to request a permit from the Heritage Management Authority as that space is protected through the Heritage Management Act and that process demands public participation and engagement) when a group of young social-political activists were doing social history research they learnt that during the dark days of apartheid and racial segregation in sport black rugby teams from the neighbouring communities such as Ginsberg Zwelitsha and Breidbach were allowed to use the Victoria Grounds — albeit in the evening — for their games These three communities are still inseparable and they share mutual memory and history Development is not only about tangible aspects — intangible aspects are equally important for they talk to the soul of the nation and value systems aimed at nurturing a morally and ethically sound society in preparation for the 20th anniversary of the Bhisho massacre a multistakeholder committee was established comprising the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works Buffalo City Municipality and the Department of Sports Recreation Arts and Culture The committee’s role was to provide content on concepts around the 20th anniversary event The project was headed by the provincial Department of Public Works The preparatory meetings agreed that for the anniversary to have more meaning and impact a Bhisho revitalisation concept was needed A pilot project anchored on the Bhisho massacre included the memorial precinct but the bigger picture was to preserve the Bhisho Heritage Trail that included the Bhisho Massacre Memorial Victoria Grounds and the cemetery in Ginsberg The Buffalo City Municipality committed to developing the corridor adjoining King William’s Town and Bhisho with business opportunities that were to boost the economy of the area and revive Bhisho the provincial government seat of the Eastern Cape Seemingly that vision was left to die, as the only thing that has happened around so-called development is the illegal issuing of a mining permit for a quarry without consultation of the suburban dwellers close by, and that community is up in arms as the quarry is devaluing their properties.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads It’s a pattern being repeated across the Eastern Cape — what happened to the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme The municipality kicked local sports out of Mdantsane’s Sisa Dukashe Stadium to make way for a professional team that does not have even a single player from our region and even gave them the lease on our own Absa Stadium despite cries from the veterans The destruction of Mthatha Stadium for a shopping mall literally killed football in our province and we are still licking our wounds after the Eastern Cape Glad Africa Bizana Pondo Chiefs had to relocate to KwaZulu-Natal as there were no proper amenities in our province except for those in Gqeberha The legacy of the current Eastern Cape-born World Cup rugby players is going to evaporate into thin air because we lack vision and fail dismally to make the best out of what we have Our country is founded on democratic principles and Robert Sobukwe made a clarion call “that we speak the truth before we die” So it is within our constitutional and democratic rights to vent our anger when our own government reneges on its obligations of consulting its citizenry Gone are the days when leaders think and do for the people The Bhisho Massacre Precinct adjacent to the Victoria Grounds the university and the provincial legislature present many opportunities for development that will fulfil the Bhisho revitalisation project Commercialisation should not be at the expense of our sports traditions “fight with the pen” and rally behind the sports veterans of Qonce and protect Victoria Grounds from being demolished under the guise of development that is likely to benefit only those who are in proximity to the powers that be Everyone knows the only solution is political – get rid of the ANC government ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Home | South Africa Eastern Cape Police have arrested three suspects in connection with a kidnapping of a Chinese national at Qonce last Saturday Police Spokesperson Siphokazi Mawisa says the victim was rescued by police in a house at Mooiplaas outside East London Mawisa says the kidnappers demanded a ransom of R350 000 which was paid by the victim’s brother who was also later kidnapped and has not yet been found or released Mawisa says the trio are facing charges of kidnapping possession of unlicensed firearm and several ammunition and will appear in the East London Magistrate’s court soon “Members attached to East London detectives K9 together with private security officials operationalized and followed the information that led them to a house of a taxi owner in Palana location and a Chinese national that was kidnapped at King Williams Town on Saturday 27/07 was found in the house unharmed.” Officers from the Huntsville Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are currently investigating a theft and are requesting the public’s assistance to identify suspect(s) an unknown male entered Pizzaville on King William Street in the Town of Huntsville The unknown male proceeded to steal a container containing an amount of money in it The suspect is a caucasian male wearing a white hooded sweatshirt +27 40 602 2011 info@ufh.ac.za The University of Fort Hare (UFH) is a vibrant institution with a rich historical legacy and a distinct presence across three campuses in South Africa offering students world-class education in a warm and inviting environment Our Alice campus has a heritage of academic excellence and is the main UFH campus our Bhisho campus prepares students and provides a gateway to public service The UFH campus in East London has an urban vibe with a strong focus on professionalism giving students the tools they need to excel in their future careers Each of our campuses offers a unique slice of university life with study options and experiences for everyone.  Nestled in the historic town of Alice in the Eastern Cape the Alice Campus is the heart of Fort Hare It’s a place where history meets vibrant academic life. This campus is renowned for its heritage and significant role in African education. Alice is the go-to place for those learning about Agriculture The campus combines historical architecture with modern facilities Alice Campus is known for its focus on community engagement reflecting its commitment to uplifting and empowering the surrounding communities If you’re passionate about making an impact in public administration or law the Bhisho Campus is your ideal destination Strategically located, it focuses on preparing students for public service roles The campus offers a unique opportunity to engage with government departments and gain valuable real-world experience Students here delve into Public Administration and Law enjoying internships and networking opportunities that are second to none and classroom learning translates into societal impact If you are keen on a more urban study environment then the East London Campus is where the action is it offers an exciting blend of modernity and professional education This campus is home to a melting pot of cultures and ideas You can explore fields like Management & Commerce Whether you’re aiming for a career in business East London provides the perfect launchpad the University of Fort Hare is where history It is renowned for its role in South Africa’s liberation movements. Rooted in a vibrant Xhosa-speaking community surrounded by rich agricultural landscapes the university empowers students from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds through sustainable farming and rural development programmes. With the nearby Amathole Mountains and Xhosa heritage sites Fort Hare is a gateway to South Africa’s cultural and historical legacy The University of Fort Hare is more than just an academic institution; it is a cornerstone of Africa’s intellectual and cultural heritage it became a beacon of hope and empowerment during the Apartheid years and dark times of oppression nurturing leaders who shaped the continent’s destiny. Fort Hare embodies the spirit of resilience and social justice as the alma mater of significant political figures. Its rich history intertwines with the struggles and triumphs of African identity making it a symbol of transformation and the enduring power of education to inspire change Community engagement at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) is deeply rooted in its legacy as a social transformation and empowerment catalyst cultivating a spirit of service and innovation. The university fosters meaningful partnerships with surrounding communities addressing pressing social issues through collaborative projects UFH actively bridges the gap between academia and society from supporting local economic development to promoting environmental sustainability and social justice. Students benefit from an education that extends beyond the classroom to create lasting The University of Fort Hare is renowned for its vibrant network of strategic partnerships that extend across local These collaborations enable the university to amplify its academic and community engagement initiatives. By working with leading institutions Fort Hare drives innovation in fields ranging from agricultural sciences to law and the humanities focusing on addressing socio-economic challenges in the Eastern Cape UFH Protection Services recognises its crucial role in creating a safe student environment The unit endeavours to help and offer support to students and visitors and maintain the protection of buildings and other University Assets A secure environment is made possible through community involvement in crime prevention Community crime prevention aims to help you recognise your own vulnerability to crime and reduce your risk through preventive action & cooperation with Protection Services and in 80% of reported thefts and burglaries thieves enter the building without forced entry Report suspicious activities to one another & Protection Services and respect for fellow students drive our culture at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) UFH has a vibrant academic atmosphere where research and collaborative projects ignite critical thinking Social responsibility and community involvement foster a spirit of Ubuntu We care about students and encourage them to extend warmth and support to those around them Who says university life is just about learning societies and clubs add fun to your study years camaraderie and friendly competition are all part of a fulfilling academic journey The UFH campus culture is designed to bring this to life why not enrol at UFH to benefit from academic excellence and enjoy the unique and exciting culture for the best in learning and student life We regularly host open days and attend various career expos Sign up to receive alerts of our upcoming open day events or to be notified when we visit in your region.  Masithethe Counselling Services opened a new centre r in King William’s Town last week Thursday Masithethe director Jackie Orsmond said the main goal of the organisation is to see members of the community living happy “Our strengths at the centrer are volunteerism trauma debriefing and workplace debriefings,” she said Masithethe aims to reduce personal stress and emotional pain through readily available telephone and face-to-face counselling It provides professional and confidential services offered by well-trained disciplined lay counsellors and social workers “There is a growing need for our services in the KWT area as we are receiving many calls WhatsaApp messages and e-mails from the KWT and surrounding areas ”To facilitate this emotional wellness within individuals Masithethe contributes significantly to a comprehensive community programme that links HIV/Aids emotional distress and relationship difficulties,” said Orsmond She indicated counselling normally deals with emotional crisis Training and counselling services are available to all communities focusing on telephone and face-to-face counselling For an appointment for confidential and free counselling or 084-091-5410 or e-mail admin@masithethe.co.za Recaptcha Change Image Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" A CRIME Intelligence driven operation conducted with the King William’s Town Tracing Team and Ndevana police members have arrested three suspects aged between 28 and 56 on attempted murder and drug dealing charges Police spokesman Captain Siphokazi Mawisa said police had embarked on the operation as part of Operation Fiela focusing at addressing the root causes of crime and reclaiming the space occupied by criminals “Members followed up the information they received about a house that sells drugs at Oak Street in King William’s  Town.” On arrival police arrested 36-year-old male for being in possession of two (2) mandrax tablets half and three quarters of mandrax tablets and recovered one and a half envelope full of dagga Ndevana and arrested a 56-year-old female with 67 mandrax tablets and 10 bompies of dagga The street value for drugs is estimated at R6 000 Police also arrested a 28-year-old male for attempted murder after he allegedly shot a police member at Ginsberg in January 2018 The suspects are due to appear at Zwelitsha and King William’s Town Magistrate Courts on Monday The King William’s Town Cluster head thanked the community for sharing valuable information that led to the arrests and encouraged residents to keep on reporting any criminal activities that occurred in their areas Dr Sizwe Mxenge confirmed to DispatchLIVE on Thursday he had tested positive for the virus The popular King William’s Town doctor said he believes he may not have infected his patients with the illness “I have started with treatment and I hope I will become one of those who have recovered from this,” he said Talk of the Town is the weekly newspaper of record for the community of Ndlambe and serves readers in and around Port Alfred A security guard at the South Africa Social Services Agency (Sassa) office in King William’s Town The office has since been closed for decontamination and the security guard is currently in isolation “We felt that we had to take the necessary precautions that are set by the Department of Health so that we try and flatten the COVID- 19 curve and to ensure the safety of the staff we apologise for the inconvenience caused,” says Sassa Eastern Cape Spokesperson Luzuko Qhina Long queues on the first day of social grant payments  expressed satisfaction regarding the manner in which social grant beneficiaries have been conducting themselves on Monday Thousands of elderly and disabled recipients in Mthatha came in their numbers on the first day of social grant payments wearing masks and observing social distancing “There’s this virus that forces us to do whatever we are told to do by the authorities This one is more dangerous than the diseases we’ve heard about We do as we are told because we want to protect our lives,” some of the grant beneficiaries said “The South African Social Security Agency is very happy with how our elderly and the disabled beneficiaries that are today receiving their social grant the manner in which they have complied with the COVID-19 regulations They all have put on their masks and they are keeping their social distance We want to remind them that they don’t have to withdraw all of their money today and their money is safe in the cards They can always withdraw it at any given time,” says Regional Director Reverend Luzuko Qina Law enforcement officers and OR Tambo Municipality officials were also had their hands full ensuring that the regulations were being observed Some streets were closed to ensure the smooth running of the payment process Sassa in Eastern Cape pleased with Level-4 regulations compliance Despite Sassa making it clear that today is for the elderly and disabled beneficiaries They were joined by OR Tambo Mayor Thokozile Sokhanyile “Many people are here to get their grant even these people who are getting the child support grant Hence we are making queues for them for the social distance to be observed And when it comes to money the people they simple forget about coronavirus and the regulations attached hence you are seeing us in-between the people,” says Sokhanyile Child support and foster care grant beneficiaries will be receiving their money from Wednesday King William’s Town police station was closed on Saturday after a 28-year-old female constable tested positive for Covid-19 According to a statement released by national police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo the community service centre would operate from the hall He said that police were waiting for the municipality to provide a community hall and expected something in place Monday Naidoo said that the station could be reached through the 10111 emergency police or by contacting the station commander on 082 446 3915 as the usual numbers were not available The police station will undergo decontamination and the community will be informed as soon as the station is ready to be operational again Hundreds of Breidbach residents have blocked the N2 near King William’s Town in protest over service delivery grievances including the provision of houses Acting BCM mayor Helen Neale-May has requested the residents to call off the protest however the crowd shouted “No” they also want Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle and President Jacob Zuma to address them the N2 near the Berlin turn-off has been closed off KWT GP’s breathing ‘getting better’ in isolation ward King William’s Town is the latest town to be hit by the novel coronavirus with popular general practitioner Dr Sizwe Mxenge recently testing positive The 47-year-old doctor had been in ICU at an East London private hospital “I’m gradually improving and my breathing is better “I didn’t display the classic symptoms of the disease,” said Mxenge and said his wife and children had been tested Mxenge said he had felt unwell and had difficulty breathing The DispatchLIVE had reported recently that Mxenge self-isolated before being admitted to hospital especially among patients who aren’t wearing any protective gear such as a mask,” he said “It should be made mandatory that people wear masks “This is a difficult disease to detect and one needs to look at the patient thoroughly.” News of Mxenge’s infection surfaced through a message doing the rounds on social media written by National Healthcare Practitioners Association national treasurer Dr Nombasa Mayeko “He [Mxenge] was communicating with us as colleagues and was concerned about the wellness of everyone “I sent the notice last night so that we may take the necessary precautions as this disease can attack anyone,” Mayeko said Mxenge has been out of ICU since last Saturday Mxenge is recovering at home in self isolation Four of his eight staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic and in self isolation Patients seen between March 27 and April 9 have been contacted for testing Twelve excited students from the Shotokan Circle of Karate graduated at the Dale Junior Hall in Albert Road in King William’s Town on Friday October 05 Instructor Sensei Renier Roets said: “The spirit amongst the students was high with a little bit of nerves settling in beforehand Each student had to carry out the selected Kata Kihon and Kumite to illustrate competence before progressing to the next belt.” Shotokan is a style of karate developed from various martial arts and it is the most widely practised style in the world the karate club has seen a steady increase in new members “Opening up a dojo in King Williams Town was long overdue and it showed I was inundated with phone calls and messages from parents who wanted to enroll their kids and some wanting more information on training times and costs involved “We are growing and training is done with enthusiasm The older members are eager to assist and help new members adjust and understand the different techniques and training requirements,” said Sensei Renier The club was thrilled by the feedback that was received from Head Sensei Sean ‘O Connell that the grading that was of these karatekas was of good quality “We are very happy and we’re now eagerly looking forward to our forthcoming event in Queenstown on the 20th of this month and the next one planned for the 27th and 28th in Grahamstown “Our hope is to enable the students to defend themselves when the need arises With the crime rate and petty crimes being on the rise having karate is good backing as it can assist you if you find yourself in a tight situation “Our intake is from the ages of five and upwards I believe you are never too young or old to defend yourself.” Shotokan and self defence classes take place every Tuesdays and Friday evening from 5 to 6 o’clock in the evening at the Dale Junior Hall in Albert Road Anyone interested can contact Renier Roets on 083 321 3522 During the course of the ‘Shitty Tour’ of broken sewage infrastructure across South Africa it is clear that South Africa faces nothing less than a national health crisis The fact that over 46% of our groundwater is now contaminated by sewage demonstrates the quantum of the problem and the scale at which municipalities are failing to manage sewage infrastructure The 2022 Green Drop Report published by the Department of Water and Sanitation revealed that a staggering 71% of wastewater treatment facilities are in critical condition requiring urgent intervention The consequence of this failure was evident at every turn of the ‘Shitty Tour’ with visuals of raw untreated sewage flowing out of treatment plants that were not operational and into the water courses This pollution has directly impacted on agriculture and irrigation systems pollutes drinking water and reduces our ocean water quality and associated tourism industry There is absolutely no question that South Africans face a national health crisis as a direct consequence of sewage infrastructure failure At every point of the ‘Shitty Tour’ communities and interest groups confirmed that people are getting sick at an increasing rate and this problem looks certain to get worse as more communities start to experience the consequence of sewage infrastructure collapse From a tourism perspective Cape Town and eThekwini stand to lose the most with the latter already suffering a decline in tourist numbers from 7.9 million in 2015 to just 800 000 in 2023 because of its closed beaches Cape Town appears to be heading in the same direction as closed beaches become a more frequent occurrence arising from the marine outfalls close to the beaches The quality of capital project management remains a massive concern as witnessed at the non-operational Zwelitsha Wastewater facility between King William’s Town and East London The facility was built in 2018 at the cost of hundreds of millions of rands and yet it is not operating and no person could be found on site as all of its untreated sewage was being directed into the river system Municipal dysfunctionality remains at the heart of the crisis featuring as the common factor behind sewage infrastructure failure witnessed on the ‘Shitty Tour’ The recalcitrant attitude of the City of Cape Town towards protestations of communities and the impact of its breach of the terms of the permits issued to it and environmental legislation remains a problem In Makhanda in the Eastern Cape the municipality has been under administration and infrastructure collapse has occurred across all categories presided over by a Municipal Manager that was the former Mayor In Buffalo City 12 of the 15 wastewater treatment facilities are dysfunctional causing East London and King Williams Town to drown in untreated Failures of Provincial Government to address broken municipalities is another key reason for the sewage crisis that faces many South Africans ActionSA’s engagements with the community of Bazil Reid near Hannenman in the Free State revealed the most broken of municipalities owes ESKOM in excess of R5 billion and has had its entire service delivery fleet attached by the courts for non-payment to its creditors into the homes and even out of the toilets of residents because the nearby treatment plant has been shut down and directives from the National Council of Provinces the Free State Provincial Government has not placed this municipality under administration Infrastructure theft and vandalism is a major part of the problem with our access to sites being far too easy given the strategic importance these sites represent to our national water security At the Pots Dam wastewater treatment facility outside Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape armed criminals held up a security guard and dug up all of the cables leaving the facility non-operational This site sits above the Bridle Drift Dam that feeds the whole of East London where water quality readings are detecting record levels of eColi ActionSA appears as the only party driving the issue of infrastructure collapse in this election despite the reality that this problem is driving the disruption of basic services and constitutional rights across South Africa impacting an increasing number of communities ActionSA presents the following solutions to address the failing sewage infrastructure through our Infrastructure Master Plan: – Zero-based budgeting that locks down required funding for sewage infrastructure renewal repairs and maintenance before budgets can look to fund less pressing priorities – Public Private Partnerships that leverage the balance sheets of the private sector for initial capital outlays required to expand and renew wastewater treatment facilities – Municipal Oversight to ensure that minimum prescribed levels of spend on sewage infrastructure are required alongside accountability mechanisms for return on investment – Declare states of disaster in worst impacted regions to unlock disaster management support to address both the health and infrastructure aspects of the crisis – Prosecutions of Municipal Officials by the NPA to ensure people go to jail for criminal pollution of water courses and coastlines ending the era of charges pled down to fines paid with public money – Protecting wastewater treatment facilities by declaring them national key points strategic to our national interests establishing a specialised infrastructure unit in the SAPS bolstered by military deployment to protect these instillations ActionSA would amend criminal legislation to declare infrastructure theft or vandalism as a crime of sabotage carrying a mandatory life sentence The final leg of the Shitty Tour finished on a strong footing at the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant which has been the origin of the Hammanskraal Water Crisis for nearly 20 years Affected communities here have suffered from undrinkable water outbreaks of cholera and the collapse of surrounding agriculture even within our coalition government in Tshwane including championing the fight for investigations against officials who awarded the tender to Edwin Sodi and withholding our support for budgets that did not adequately budget for this project briefed South Africans on the impending resolution of this crisis Of particular importance is the appointing the Development Bank of South Africa to implement the project after the removal of Edwin Sodi’s joint venture the commitment to deliver clean water to Hammanskraal by September 2024 and plans to implement water testing by December 2024 This represents the first progress on this issue over the past nearly 20 years and ActionSA applauds Dr Moya’s work on this vital issue ActionSA’s Shitty Tour has exposed the national crisis we face with untreated sewage in our country and it has laid down a clear plan to address this crisis We do so as a party with a track record in government that has very recently proven that Only ActionSA Will Fix South Africa The Eastern Cape Veterinary Services has now intervened and launched an investigation into the mysterious death of birds in parts of the Province Department of Rural Development and Agrarian reform director, Dr Cebisa Mnqeta says he’s concerned about the high number of birds dying in the Qonce/King William’s Town and East London areas He says he has indicated to organizations to give anyone who finds a dead bird his contact number so he can send an officer to collect the carcass for testing Residents are still urged to avoid touching any dead birds and if they must they have been advised to use a mask and surgical gloves Dead birds have now been found in Qonce (King Williams Town) Bird carcasses were sent to labs in both Komani and Pretoria for testing last week and the results are still outstanding as there was also a delay because of the Easter Weekend The King William’s Town Cricket Academy has ended its season on a high with a closing function held at Central Primary School at the weekend Some of the activities included the issuing of certificates to players along with a donation of vests and hats for all players from SGT Construction Founding member and coach Mandla Bontsi explained to the audience why he decided to start the academy Department of social development MEC Siphokazi Lusiti assisted with the presentation of certificates Bontsi said it was frustrating for him as a cricket player and coach at the school to see that his players are not able to fully reach the levels he believes they are capable of “One hour of practising at school was just not enough “I shared the idea with Border Cricket player Papama Fojela who is also staying in my village at Masingata and he immediately agreed to come on board to help “We started with 10 boys and after sharing the idea on the parents’ WhatsApp group the numbers increased to the 31 players we have today.” Bontsi took the opportunity to thank the parents for their involvement as well as the local Shoprite branch for their sponsorship of golf shirts and caps in September Lusiti commended the programme as it encouraged children and helped push them in the right direction TICKETS are selling fast for the much-anticipated Tsepiso and Friends Comedy Night that will be held at the King Club in King Williams Town tomorrow Tsepiso Nzayo is from Grahamstown but has made himself at home in Zwelitsha He is promising the King William’s Town audience an evening of laughter “Basically it is just me and my friends doing what we do best and that is making people laugh We are slowly growing the Comedy Night and we plan to move it around the province,” Nzayo said The show will be hosted by TruFM’s Buck Matyila and will feature seven other local comedians: King Beema the comedy night will be at the Drill Hall in Grahamstown where Nzayo will be sharing the stage with 12 other comedians The show kicks off at 7pm and tickets cost R50 for the King William’s Town show and R70 for Grahamstown A portion of the ticket sales goes to the #HireAGraduate Foundation “I will be donating a portion of the ticket sales to the #HireAGraduate Foundation because that is a cause s very close to my heart I know first-hand what it feels like to be an unemployed graduate as do the other comedians whom I will be performing with This is to support them and let them know that their fight is our fight.” Human remains were found underneath a foundation of an abandoned house at Maqanyeni locality Sibangweni A/A in Libode The bones were covered with a blanket and buried in a shallow grave The bones which resemble human bones were found by the community while they were assisting police with information about a 34-year-old woman who went missing in September 2016 A case of a missing person was opened after her disappearance The bones will be sent to the laboratory for testing to determine whether they belong to the missing woman Police have called on anyone with information to contact D/Captain Zwakala on 0829211003 or may call Crime Stop on 0860010111 Read original story on citizen.co.za Three people have died while five others sustained injuries in two separate crashes in the Eastern Cape Provincial Transport Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said in the first accident two vehicles – an Audi and a truck –  collided head-on on the N2 road near Peddie towards Qonce Binqose said a female passenger from the car was declared dead on the scene while the deceased’s husband and child He said the crash took place around 11 am on Saturday morning In a separate accident around 3 pm on the same day two people lost their lives following another head-on collision that took place between three vehicles on the R346 road in Qonce towards Stutterheim He said a Nissan 1400 bakkie travelling from Stutterheim collided head-on with an oncoming Toyota hatchback Binqose said the driver of the Nissan and his passenger were declared dead on the scene while the driver in the Etios was rushed to Frere Hospital with serious injuries.  The truck driver was not injured in the accident Binqose said it’s alleged that reckless and negligent driving as well as possible alcohol was the main contributing factor to these accidents Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide (This article has been updated with new information after an error was detected- we apologise for the incorrect info in our original story) YESTERDAY at about 12.30pm detectives investigating the missing person’s case of Carmelitta Baatjies found her dead body buried under the bed at her home in Breidbach Baatjies was reported on Sunday (September 3) in King William’s Town by her husband “During the interview police noticed loose soil under the bed The police asked about the soil and requested the husband lift the bed up When asked to dig the soil the husband ran away,” said Mawisa “The deceased’s body was found lying underneath the bed At the moment it is not clear as to how she was killed as there was no blood on the body FRIDAY the 13th is considered an unlucky day in Western superstition but this was not the case for Hoërskool De Vos Malan pupils in King William’s Town last week Hundreds of pupils were rewarded for their excellence perseverance and outstanding performances in sport arts and culture during a special awards ceremony held in the school hall The ceremony was well attended by parents and pupils They were issued with certificates as token of appreciation by school principal Riana Mostert and members of her school’s management team De Vos Malan educator Japie Naude congratulated and commended all those who received awards and thanked the parents for their overwhelming support throughout the year He also thanked his school for hosting the event that motivates and encourages pupils who are going the extra mile for their institution Head girl Rianè Mostert will pursue a career in teaching next year and received certificates for the most consistent field athlete and best female athlete of the year She represented her school at provincial level in discuss and shot put walked away with accolades for the first-team netball captain and best attacking player “This was the goal I set at the end of last year and I have no words to describe how I feel about the achievement,” Seekoei said “I see myself in the next 10 years playing netball for my country where everyone will watch and follow me on national television.” Khakalethu Bobhi excelled in athletics and rugby and was rewarded with three certificates for his efforts The awards are for the most consistent track athlete best male track athlete and best back line rugby player Bobhi represented his school in 200m and 400m at provincial level and played at centre position for the rugby first team and attributed his success to the hard work dedication and commitment his coach Brian Felix has instilled in him February is the month of love and this was demonstrated through a loving act of generosity from two businesses who donated groceries towards the Calvary Way Ministries soup kitchen operated in King William’s Town at the weekend Kwa Kokoyi Supersave and Ekhaya Build each gave R1,000 for groceries and handed it to Calvary Way Ministries leader John Brown and his wife Linda Brown said Ekhaya Build owner Johan Holl told him how he wanted to become involved in changing the lives of children by contributing to their church’s soup kitchen “Holl said that he is aware how we strive in helping children and wanted to assist in making them happy,” Brown said Kwa Kokoyi owner Errol Durrheim shared Holl’s sentiments and said the project forms part of his business’ social responsibility programme Brown said the contribution will assist their soup kitchen tremendously and told the GO they will expand the project to other communities “The church has decided to run their soup kitchen on Saturday afternoons in Breidbach but will also now rotate it to areas such as Sweetwaters and Ginsberg.” He thanked the two businesses for the contribution