FOR BLASTING ON THE N2 BETWEEN MOUNT FRERE AND MOUNT AYLIFF 24th March 2025: The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) would like to notify travellers that blasting is scheduled to take place on the N2 between Mount Frere and Mount Ayliff on the 26th of March 2025 at approximately 11h00 The road will be closed during the blast for a maximum of 30 Minutes The blasting will take place approximately 1,9 KM from Mount Frere when travelling towards Mount Ayliff Motorists travelling From Kokstad towards Mthatha may consider the following alternative routes:- Alternative route no 1 – N2 at Matatiele to Mount Fletcher route Lusikisiki to Port St Johns via the R61 and then re-join the N2 in Mthatha The shortest alternative route is 69 kilometres longer and may add approximately 50 minutes to your trip between Mthatha and Kokstad “Motorists are asked to plan their trips accordingly to consider alternative routes and to use caution when making use of the road,” said Andrew Van Gruting SANRAL’s Eastern Cape Acting Provincial Head SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused 15th April 2025: The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) would like to notify road users that blasting is scheduled to take place on the N2 national road between Mount Frere and Mount Ayliff on the 29th April 2025 at 12h00 The blasting will take place at approximately 2,9 KM from Mount Frere when travelling towards Mount Ayliff Motorists travelling From Kokstad towards Mthatha may consider the following alternative routes: – consider alternative routes and to use caution when making use of the road,” said Mbulelo Peterson Temporary road closure of up to 30 minutes expected as SANRAL schedules blasting for roadworks along key Eastern Cape route The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has announced that a scheduled blasting operation will take place on the N2 national road between Mount Frere and Mount Ayliff on Tuesday This is part of ongoing roadworks aimed at improving transport infrastructure in the Eastern Cape The blast will occur approximately 2.9 kilometres outside of Mount Frere the road will be closed for up to 30 minutes during the operation SANRAL recommends that drivers consider the following alternative routes: However, these detours may add up to 69 kilometres and around 50 minutes of additional travel time between Mthatha and Kokstad and to use caution when making use of the road,” said Mbulelo Peterson SANRAL has apologized for any inconvenience caused and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring road safety and minimizing traffic disruptions during maintenance activities For further information, members of the public may contact SANRAL via email at: pressoffice@nra.co.za 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 The boyfriend of a 32-year-old female nurse working at Rode Clinic in eMaxesibeni (formerly Mount Ayliff) in the Eastern Cape is suspected of shooting and killing her The incident happened on Sunday following what was reported to be an altercation between the couple The shooting took place at Mombeni Location The man allegedly shot the woman and then turned the gun on himself he survived the shooting and is receiving treatment at the hospital said a case of murder has been opened for investigation it is alleged that the police were summoned to a shooting incident yesterday,” said Mawisa they found the body of a 32-year-old female at the suspect’s homestead with bullet wounds “It has been identified that the suspect shot the deceased and then shot himself He was taken to the hospital and is in a critical condition.” an emergency management services client information officer was employed by the Eastern Cape department of health expressed shock and denounced the shooting on Monday Capa clarified that although both individuals were employed by the department “They were both off duty at the time of the incident and the man is in a critical condition in ICU [intensive care unit],” said Capa She also sent her condolences to the family of the deceased stating that they wanted the accused to heal so that he could be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law “We want to send our heartfelt condolences to the family of the professional nurse,” said Capa “We also wish the client information officer a speedy recovery so that if he is found to be guilty he will face the full might of the law.” the deceased nurse was dedicated to her work She said: “We are saddened by this unfortunate incident that has robbed us of a dedicated healthcare worker “We are more concerned that this act of alleged gender-based violence is happening during Women’s Month.” The MEC added that she has instructed the district management team to visit the family of the slain nurse Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Tel: +27 11 268 6300 Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms & conditions and privacy policy XJ Athletic Club Hosts First-Ever 5km and 10km Race Attracting Participants from Across the Region Mount Ayliff was alive with color and energy on Sunday as XJ Athletic Club hosted its inaugural 5km and 10km race drawing athletes from towns such as Mthatha which marked the first of its kind since the club’s establishment in 2018 was a vibrant celebration of fitness and community spirit and traffic officers positioned to ensure a smooth and safe experience for participants The high level of professionalism and careful planning made the race enjoyable for all involved XJ Athletic Club was founded by a small group of individuals united by their passion for promoting healthy living in the rural community of Mount Ayliff (Emaxesibeni) gaining members both nationally and internationally The club also boasts a strong junior development wing which has shown promising results in various recent competitions Known affectionately as the “Pink Drive” for their signature pink and black uniforms senior runners of XJ Athletic Club have competed in prestigious races like the Comrades Marathon On the same Sunday as the Mount Ayliff event some team members represented the club at the Chicago Marathon proudly showcasing the club’s colors on an international stage The executive team of XJ Athletic Club expressed their gratitude to members and sponsors for their commitment and support Victorious runners did not leave empty-handed with prizes totaling R10,000 awarded across different categories Congratulations to all the participants 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers Five men were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in overturned on the N2 road near Betshwana in Mount Ayliff A spokesperson for the Department of Transport Unathi Bingqose says only one person survived the accident which took place just after 6 am on Monday He says it is not yet clear what lead to the accident and it will form part of the culpable homicide investigation Binqose says the man who survived the accident sustained serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital He says it is believed that the Nissan NP200 LMV was travelling from Kokstad towards Mt Ayliff when it lost control 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 Caption: Eastern Cape Transport and Community Safety MEC Xolile Nqatha addresseing stakeholders in Mthatha 20 November 2024 – The Eastern Cape MEC for Transport and Community Safety has urged the leadership and community of the Alfred Nzo District to safeguard the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) mega road construction project near KwaBhaca (formerly Mount Frere) MEC Nqatha hosted a stakeholder engagement session at Dan’s Country Lodge near Mthatha recently to address community grievances that threaten the construction of SANRAL’s R1.2 billion rehabilitation of the N2 section between KwaBhaca and Ngcweleni River The project commended in April 2024 and is due for completion in November 2026 The session was intended to resolve issues that have the potential to disrupt the implementation of the project which presents major socio-economic benefits for the Eastern Cape The meeting was attended by political and traditional leadership in the affected areas the contractor Rumdel Construction Cape (Pty) Ltd the Project Liaison Committee (PLC) and SANRAL Central to the dispute is the contractor’s commercial source of crushed material the employment of local labour and packages for small residents from Sugarbush village blockaded the N2 with rocks and burning tyres over the alleged sourcing of illegal materials on the basis that the mining permit used was invalid MEC Nqatha decried the stoppage as they have cost implications for the government “The matter is of great concern to all spheres of government as it is costly to government and the taxpayers themselves The matter is now in the courts and while there is a stoppage Construction manager for Rumdel Construction alleges that people from Bizana were bused to block the N2 despite the existence of a PLC that oversees the employment of local labour “We have employed more than 300 people on the project,” he said “When everyone from the villages wants to be employed More than 70 SMMEs are employed here with over R400 million set aside for them We will employ people for packages still to come as we are still in early project stages.” informed the meeting about the crucial meetings held with the contractor over a mining permit “The community has no problem with Rumdel and employment but the issue is over Rumdel and licence holder mining without consultation with the community We expect judgement on it soon,” said Ximbi He said the permit was invalid on the grounds that there was no consultation and the matter will come before the high court to adjudicate Nqatha noted that no developments should be stopped and they should unite communities rather than be a source of antagonism The parties should leave any dispute to the courts and the police will have to enforce an interdict when granted “It is the communities and workers alike who lose out whenever development is halted Rumdel needs to convene a meeting with business and Speakers of local municipalities to explain the available packages and benefits flowing to labour and targeted enterprises,” said Nqatha The session heard about complaints over damage to houses in villages closer to the quarry with the MEC pleading with the contractor not to distance itself from the queries while SANRAL as a government entity should supervise the process An audio clip with English sound is available here: https://we.tl/t-LMuISEvQSd SANRAL advises motorists to expect delays and consider detours on 26 March The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has issued a traffic advisory announcing that a blasting operation will take place on the N2 between Mount Frere and Mount Ayliff on Wednesday The operation will necessitate a temporary closure of the N2 for up to 30 minutes to ensure public safety during the blast The affected area is approximately 1.9 km from Mount Frere Motorists travelling between Kokstad and Mthatha are advised to consider alternative routes: The shortest alternative route is approximately 69 kilometres longer than the direct path and may result in travel delays of around 50 minutes SANRAL’s Acting Provincial Head for the Eastern Cape SANRAL apologised for any inconvenience caused and urged the public to stay informed about road conditions For further information or media queries, contact SANRAL at pressoffice@nra.co.za The blasting is set to take place on Tuesday approximately 2.9 kilometres outside of Mount Frere when travelling in the direction of Mount Ayliff the road will be closed for a maximum of 30 minutes during the operation Motorists travelling between Kokstad and Mthatha are encouraged to consider alternative routes to avoid delays Recommended detours include exiting the N2 at Matatiele to Mount Fletcher or rerouting via Flagstaff and Lusikisiki to Port St Johns using the R61 motorists travelling in the opposite direction—from Mthatha towards Kokstad—can follow the same alternatives in reverse the shortest alternative route is approximately 69 kilometres longer and may add up to 50 minutes to the overall travel time between Mthatha and Kokstad SANRAL has apologised for any inconvenience caused and has assured the public that the blasting forms part of essential roadworks aimed at improving travel conditions and road safety along this section of the N2 Home | South Africa Motorists travelling on the R394 road in the Phepheni area of Mount Ayliff have been urged to seek alternative routes due to an ongoing protest Provincial Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose says protesting residents have dug a trench next to the Gxwaleni turn-off He says the protest is believed to be related to municipal demarcation issues the road linking the N2 with Magusheni on the way to Bizana is completely unacceptable That people will literally go and dig trenches in the middle of the road and roll down rocks that can possibly harm motorists is something that has to be condemned but most importantly those who are behind these criminal acts have got to be held accountable for their acts.” Home | Business Emerging business people and the taxi industry at EmaXesibeni, formerly known as Mount Ayliff, hope that the Small Town Revitalization project will provide good returns for local Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMMEs) and the transport industry The multi-million-rand project is part of the Small-Town Revitalisation programme initiated by the Office of the Premier in the Eastern Cape It seeks to attract potential investors and uplift socio-economic activities in the area Street vendors are expected to benefit more from this much-needed programme Informal trading contributes immensely to local economic development in the Eastern Cape It’s a significant catalyst to fight poverty and unemployment in the countryside It’s expected that this business hub will boost economic growth and motivate more informal traders in rural areas And it’s a dream come true for hawkers “We are extremely happy about this initiative ECDC and Umzimvubu have done well and because we have been trading under harsh weather conditions for son many years all is well now and we are happy for the recognition.” we’ve been crying for a nice place to market our businesses its joy for everyone and its going to change so many lives.” Dozens of emerging entrepreneurs stand a chance to take their businesses to another level “This project is aiming to create job opportunities and grow the local economy of this area About 25 million rand that has been set aside for it.” The strategic business hub is seen as a game changer for small businesses in the region “We want to change the economic outlook of the small town of Mount Ayliff The aim is to fight poverty and unemployment This is a way to go as we are changing the lives of the people.” Street vendors hope more local economic development infrastructure will continue to be prioritized Police have confirmed that a rape case has been opened against a doctor from the EmaXesibeni hospital in Mount Ayliff in the Eastern Cape The provincial Health Department has suspended the doctor It is alleged that the 39-year-old doctor locked a 24-year-old woman in the consulting room before raping her It’s not clear when the alleged incident took place But the department says the woman regularly receives services from the hospital Police spokesperson Tembinkosi Kinana says the suspect is still at large “The police are currently investigating a case of rape No arrest has been made at this stage as the suspect is still at large Anyone with the information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect is kindly requested to please make contact with the Mount Ayliff police station or call the Crime Stop number 08600 10111.” In August 2022, a Kimberly-based bogus doctor was accused of raping a teenage girl It is alleged that he raped the teenager during a medical consultation Doctor accused of rape faces another sexual assault charge:  The Eastern Cape government has strongly condemned a fight between two groups of men from Mpheni and Nokhatshile villages in Mount Ayliff It is alleged that 10 men from Mpheni village attacked another group of men in Nokhatshile village Factional disputes between local taxi associations are believed to be the cause of the fight has appealed to the people of the two villages and any person who might have information about the fight to contact the police “Members of the SAPS have been dispatched to the scene to conduct investigation so that they can get to the bottom of this crime The Eastern Cape provincial government appeals to the people of the two villages to any person who may have information about this fight to the report it to the police to help with investigation disputes between violence is crime it does solve anything groups.” The family of two women who were burnt to death at Ngonyameni village in EmaXesibeni formerly known as Mt Ayliff in the Eastern Cape The women were accused of practicing witchcraft While 53-year old Nothethisa Ntshamba and her 33-year old sister their children managed to flee when a mob vandalised and torched their homestead Mpilo Ntshamba says he watched helplessly as his wife was beaten and set alight “They came in and beat us and I heard gunshots We ran and went next door to hide at my neighbours place From there I could see them burning my wife in the garden after they had beaten her up They took her sister up the village and burnt her near a school My wife and her sister were killed – and I couldn’t even come and save her but I could hear she was getting beaten before she was set alight.” Spokesperson Zilungile Nkamba has called on communities to consult their traditional leaders when they have differences “According to the reports that the police received the two women were accused of witchcraft which is not acceptable in the community If the people are having differences they must sit down talk to each other and solve their problems.” Authorities Warn Motorists of Unaccessible Roads as Protests Turn Violent service delivery protests erupted in the Phepheni area of Mt Ayliff resulting in road closures and escalating tensions The situation has been described as serious and violent prompting authorities to take swift action to restore order and ensure public safety Highway Patrol Members and Community Safety Committee (CSC) members went to the scene working diligently to remove obstacles placed by protesters Stones and guardrails were found near the Govalele SPS at Phepheni area while a significant trench was discovered along the R394 near the Gxwaleni turnoff These obstructions have rendered the road completely inaccessible prompting authorities to advise motorists to seek alternative routes Mbizana Traffic and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have issued a warning to motorists urging them to avoid utilizing the R394 due to unresolved issues related to demarcation The safety of motorists remains a top priority as authorities work to address the root causes of the protests and restore normalcy to the affected areas The situation in Mt Ayliff serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by communities in the Alfred Nzo District and underscores the importance of constructive dialogue and peaceful resolution of grievances Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and are calling for calm as efforts to address the underlying issues remain ongoing A collision on the N2 at Mt Ayliff in the Eastern Cape claimed two lives on Saturday A mini bus with one passenger collided with a bakkie with 14 occupants leaving five others critically and nine injured says it was the second fatal head-on collision in the province since Friday In a separate crash on Friday, two people have died in a head-on collision on Friday on the N2 near Rhayi location at Qonce in the Eastern Cape. A sedan collided with a bakkie and caught fire “It is disturbing to learn that it is another head in collision that has resulted to the death of innocent road users It is for that reason that MEC Xolile Nqatha is constantly calling on road users motorists in particular not to overtake when or where it is not safe to do so because that often result in these head on collision that take people’s lives.” one person has been injured after two vehicles collided and overturned on the M17 west bound after the Bellville road in Pinetown west of Durban The eThekwini Metro Fire and Emergency Department had to cut the wreckage to free the trapped driver Advacnced Life Support Paramedic spokesperson was found trapped in the wreckage and the Durban Fire Department together with the Netcare 911 rescue team worked to cut and free while the life advance support paramedics worked on the man to stabilise him Once free the man was then carried up to the awaiting ambulance The patient was then transported to hospital The second driver sustained no injuries and chose not to go to the hospital At this stage the cause of the accident is unknown however SAPS and metro police are in attendance and will be investigating further.” -Additional reporting Vusi Makhosini Finally, the Eastern Cape Department of Health has intervened and changed the unpleasant situation that patients at Mt Ayliff Hospital have been facing for weeks This follows after patients complained of negligence at the hospital stating that when there’s load-shedding they don’t get the medical attention that they seek Patients had to be transported to nearby hospitals when there was an emergency during load-shedding A patient that was rushed to Mt Ayliff hospital says she was told to wait until power returns by a nurse upon her arrival The patient says nurses couldn’t even open a file for her medical history as the whole hospital was dark.” My son was in so much pain that time A nurse that asked to be kept anonymous says this problem has been going on for months and the management has been made aware of it She says it is very hard for them to work under these circumstances as some machines need electricity to operate The Department of Health spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase says after receiving complaints the department officials acted promptly to resolve the problem as they rely on National Treasury which is responsible to contract companies that will supply diesel to hospitals Stop Discount Furniture Store in Mount Ayliff burnt to ashes on Monday night. Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio as well as several people who worked in a grocery store and others who had been out shopping were killed late Wednesday afternoon when the taxi they were travelling in was involved in a head-on collision with a truck The accident happened between Mount Frere and Mount Ayliff in the Eastern Cape at around 4.30pm It occurred shortly after 11 minibus taxis were turned around at a checkpoint between Graaff-Reinet and Aberdeen after police found that passengers had fake permits to attend a funeral.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Among the disaster regulations announced by the government were restrictions on not only movement but also the number of people allowed in a taxi at any one time Spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Transport said in general taxi drivers were complying with lockdown regulations She said they were investigating the cause of the accident adding that when the taxi was stopped at the checkpoint it had been carrying the legal number of people (10) in terms of the regulations “When the vehicle crashed it was in clear violation of the passenger regulations as the taxi had 15 people on board,” she said “It had the right allocation when it passed the checkpoint but the driver may have picked up hitchhikers along the way,” she added “Some of those who died were essential workers but others were just coming home after a trip to the shops,” she said Binqose said on Sunday a total of 11 taxis, carrying more than the stipulated number of passengers, were sent back to the Western Cape for not complying with regulations.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “Some passengers clearly had fraudulent permits,” she said “They were all fined for violating traffic laws and lockdown regulations in terms of passenger numbers.” a gross contravention of the 70% passenger regulation in line with the national state of disaster,” she said including the driver – died at the scene after the taxi they were travelling in collided head-on with a truck were rushed to hospital with serious injuries.” She described the accident as a major setback to a province that had just recorded an unprecedented low of eight fatalities over the entire Easter period “Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families during this difficult time are permitted to use our roads during this lockdown period to continue being cautious and adhere to the rules of the road at all times,” she said “It is very disturbing that at a time when the number of Covid-19 cases is climbing on a daily basis there are still those who have no regard for the regulations in place The 70% passenger limit had been widely communicated and is known by everyone It is this complete disregard for the rule of law that has led us to where we are today,” she added The cause of the accident is unclear at this stage.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove adsadvertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads spokesperson for the Alfred Nzo District Municipality said that the accident happened near Sugarbush on the N2 between Kwa Bhaca and EmaXesibeni ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Home | Politics The African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape has expressed words of condolences following the passing of Provincial Executive Committee member and Alfred Nzo District Municipality Speaker Kulu has been described as a selfless cadre who was at all times ready to serve his people with utmost dedication and commitment He died in a car crash on Monday on the N2 between Kokstad and Mount Ayliff The Alfred Nzo district municipality has expressed shock at the sudden death of its council Speaker, Simthembile Kulu. He passed away in a car accident yesterday afternoon between Kokstad and EmaXesibeni. #sabcnews — Radio 2000 (@Radio2000_ZA) December 21, 2021 “He remained an outspoken advocate for the renewal administration of the values and integrity of the movement he served all his life We mourn the loss of this gentle giant whose life was one of service of excellence We extend our deepest condolences to comrade Kulu’s family ANC caucus of Alfred Nzo district and everyone who held him dear