Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio Attorneys attempting to perform routine administrative functions at the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Mthatha allege that court officials are soliciting bribes – some as high as R15,000 – to do tasks that should be part of their normal jobs The allegations were first detailed in an anonymous December 2024 letter to the Eastern Cape’s Acting Judge President Zamani Nhlangulela and then Acting Deputy Judge President Bantubonke Tokota. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Despite the seriousness of the allegations, neither judge responded to our requests for comment, which were first sent via email on 24 March It is unclear what their response to the December 2024 letter was Chief Justice Mandisa Maya was copied in our query and her spokesperson He said the “Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) has zero tolerance for fraud and corruption” and that it treats complaints pertaining to these “with seriousness what the Chief Justice was doing specifically in response to the complaint against officials from the Mthatha High Court “We depend on all stakeholders in the fight against fraud and corruption to act in a manner that safeguards the integrity of the processing of legitimate complaints,” he said Though the complaint letter was penned and sent anonymously, its contents suggest that the author has a working knowledge of the court’s processes and of specific staff in key administrative roles there. It was leaked to the reporters by a judge with knowledge of the matter. Its details have not been published before today.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads The letter alleges that Mthatha High Court officials demand cash bribes from attorneys for tasks that they are already paid to perform as part of their jobs Many of these tasks are fundamental to the legal process and withholding them has the potential to harm people who approach the courts for relief in cases as wide ranging as contractual wrangles unpaid child support or the need for a protection order in domestic abuse cases the duties being held ransom include: retrieving supposedly “missing” case files (at a cost of R2,000 per file) allocating court dates (at a cost of up to R15,000 per date) transcribing court orders (R5,000) and expediting the taxation of legal costs (R15,000) The letter named nine officials accused of extorting bribes These officials work in various departments and range from junior typists to senior managers One of the eight officials – a junior typist named alongside Sidima – has apparently resigned and could not be traced reporters sent WhatsApps and emails to the seven other officials and asked for their responses to the allegations and to being named in the letter Sidima acknowledged our queries. She called to say she and her colleagues were advised not to speak to us, and referred queries to the Office of the Chief Justice.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove adsadvertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads A legal practitioner outside the Mthatha High Court (Photo: Hoseya Jubase / Henry Nxumalo Foundation NPC) reporters with the SA | AJP approached and interviewed 21 attorneys and advocates with regular dealings with the Mthatha High Court where they represent clients in civil cases Each one in turn confirmed that they are aware of the alleged racket Everyone knows about it,” one attorney said Some attorneys told us that firms who likely pay bribes can be identified as those who regularly and quickly receive court dates will pay bribes to secure an advantage in getting cases enrolled This allegation is also contained in the letter of complaint to the Acting Judge President which claims that an official working in the court’s Case Flow Management office “will also favour certain firms over others based on their ability to pay them this money That is why certain firms usually dominate the trial A cursory examination of Mthatha court rolls suggests that some firms are indeed getting many more court dates than others.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads We spoke to some attorneys at these firms, but nobody would admit to paying bribes, though they acknowledged that they were aware of a bribery racket operating at the court. Like the letter writer, all the attorneys we spoke to insisted on anonymity. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads We understood the reticence of practitioners to be named for speaking out on the record on this issue is because of concerns they may be ostracised by their colleagues in the legal profession and even victimised by court officials with the power to withhold court dates in their matters or leave their files unattended rich details emerged from these interviews One Mthatha advocate who has represented high-profile clients told us that attorneys instructing him sometimes complain that they are unable to secure dates because officials are soliciting bribes from them “We were still not getting a date,” he said suspecting that the court official in charge of allocating these dates was holding out for more money Another advocate recalled the despair of a small-town attorney who was instructing him. When he informed this attorney that the case was not yet ready, and that they would need to seek out a later court date, the attorney became despondent. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “Where will I get another R3,000 to pay for the allocating of the [new] date?” the advocate recalled the attorney asking A theme that emerged from our interviews is that attorneys are acutely aware of the power that corrupt officials can wield with potential negative impacts for the attorneys’ respective practices if they balk at paying the bribe or choose to report it why the author of the letter to the Judge President chose anonymity there have been instances in past years when attorneys have spoken up The December letter says the corruption has been happening “for some time now” but that it recently “spiralled out of control” Advocates and attorneys interviewed by the Southern Africa Accountability Journalism Project (SA | AJP) reporters said that some level of corruption and bribery has been part of Mthatha court processes almost for as long as they can remember: as far back as the mid-2000s at least said one attorney with a long history at the court That same attorney said his colleague had been solicited for a bribe just the week prior to being interviewed by a reporter He recalled a specific complaint from attorneys sent to the then-acting judge president in Mthatha the attorneys complained the then-registrar wanted gifts of Squadron Rum before doing crucial tasks that they were already employed to perform At least two other attorneys we spoke to recalled the complaints about the registrar’s “rum” bribes One also recalled a specific court official who had a penchant for stealing law books from the court’s library to sell to local attorneys at a discount on the retail price The other said the “selling” of trial dates at Mthatha High Court has a history reaching back at least two decades The reporters could find no public record of action against officials some of the attorneys we interviewed held out hope that the December letter and increased awareness about corruption at the court could see the tide turning “Please find a way to sensitise the public that the truth about corruption has been revealed,” a senior court official implored us during an interview “The perpetrators will soon face the music,” the official said Court papers on shelves in a corridor of the high court in Mthatha on 22 April 2025 Most of the cases being held hostage by allegedly corrupt officials at the Mthatha High Court relate to civil litigation: the letter referred to roles exclusively relevant to civil cases At Mthatha the load of such cases is particularly heavy compared to other high courts in the Eastern Cape It handles almost 40% – more than 5,000 such cases – of the province’s civil case load annually Mthatha High Court also serves the largest Eastern Cape district The civil cases brought to court by attorneys in Mthatha often involve litigants who are among the poorest or most vulnerable people in the province “The rot in the system affects members of the public the most their livelihoods depend on the orders a court must hand down,” said the advocate whose instructing attorney blamed his inability to secure trial dates on the solicitation of bribes An East London-based attorney agreed: “If one party can get a date so quickly within a couple of months when everybody else must wait for years to get a date … then that’s unfair then justice is not equitable for everybody.” Much of the court’s civil case load consists of Road Accident Fund claims These matters can clog up the court roll and create backlogs and long delays before new cases are given court dates The scarcity of court dates makes it perfect fodder for a corrupt trade “You have to pay bribes if you want to get your matters on the roll,” one attorney said adding that a trial date in 2025 is considered unattainable – unless you pay you see a document with a [trial] date in May implying that it could only be that a certain attorney had paid a bribe for that date Several people interviewed noted that junior attorneys are often used as go-betweens for bribes to shield senior lawyers from implicating themselves new firms are reportedly targeted more aggressively “They’re under pressure to build a reputation and finalise cases,” one attorney said Legal practitioners and clerks exit the main entrance of the Mthatha high court on 22 April 2025 spoke or sent queries via WhatsApp and email to eight of the nine officials implicated in the anonymous letter One of the nine had resigned and could not be traced Six of the eight did not respond to our emails or WhatsApp messages Registrar Babalwa Sidima called to say she and her colleagues were advised not to speak to us and referred queries to the Office of the Chief Justice Thozamile Semekazi – who was accused in the letter of soliciting bribes for filing documents in the court – initially promised to provide names of corrupt colleagues but failed to follow through I’m shocked… I didn’t even know there was an issue of bribes.” the spokesperson for the Office of the Chief Justice was invited last week to reconsider his original response to queries in which he failed to say anything specific about how the Office of the Chief Justice was dealing with the complaints against Mthatha High Court officials He responded: “Kindly make use (of) the response previously provided.” DM This investigation was produced by the SA | AJP a project of the Henry Nxumalo Foundation funded by the European Union This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union It boils down to an entrenched lack of conscience and of personal entitlement And on top of this (their real untaxed income) they got a 5.5% increase Remember the ANC big shot that remarked “I did not join the ANC to be poor” And then they claimed of 100 years of suffering to free the people!!! What’s even more deplorable and disgusting is the zero response from the Chief Justice’s office to whom it was reported and who is accountable for dealing with it It seems ill-gotten gains will always trump morals Africa doesnt function without a bribe somewhere Corruption is endemic in the justice system Any entity that is filled with ANC deployed cadres is corrupt to the core Corruption in the old Transkei was rampant when I was living in Umtata When asking for one extra telephone line in 1994 for our business employing over 800 people I was told that R15,000 would deliver the line I had four new lines one week later for R0.00 And what about the taxis on a Friday afternoon off to Jhb Cops checking for licenses and pocketing the notes handed over with the license ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries The R800m acquisition set the stage for an extensive R210m redevelopment strategy designed to improve flow This transformation is underpinned by a commitment to delivering long-term value to retailers shoppers and the broader Mthatha community A key aspect of the Mall of Mthatha’s transformation has been the expansion and diversification of its retail mix the mall’s vacancy rate has decreased dramatically from 18% to just 1.85% reflecting the strong demand for quality retail space in the region Notable new tenants include Dis-Chem (opening March 2025) Spur and News Café (both opening June 2025) and Shoprite and Shoprite Liquor (scheduled to open in August 2025) Recently opened retail entrants include fast food outlet Burger King Sergeant Pepper Clothing Company and JAM Clothing Mr Price Cellular and Van Schaik Bookstore Sidestep and Skipper Bar further strengthen the mall’s retail offering These strategically selected Mall of Mthatha tenants further enhance the shopping experience for the community and bolster the mall’s status as Mthatha’s shopping and fashion hub The positive results of Mthatha Mall’s improved tenant mix are already evident in its trading performance Mall of Mthatha has recorded consistent growth culminating in a 9.7% turnover increase from January to December 2024 compared to the previous year Foot traffic has also shown double-digit growth in recent months Categories such as homeware and speciality foods have demonstrated remarkable sales performance The mall’s transformation goes beyond tenant mix – it extends to its design and finishes Substantial refurbishment and upgrades are well underway functional and enjoyable shopping environment The addition of a new mezzanine level and lobby are set for completion by the end of May Its new escalator installations will be completed outside Woolworths in March and outside Checkers by the end of May As part of its commitment to enhancing shopper convenience Mall of Mthatha has completed significant upgrades to the existing bathroom facilities as well as adding new bathrooms to the restaurant block Shoppers will have access to the modern mezzanine bathrooms from April with the newly refurbished bathrooms near Checkers Infrastructure investments as part of the project are ongoing and Occupational Health and Safety compliance a new 1.8MW solar installation is being implemented to support sustainability initiatives The collaboration between Flanagan & Gerard and Vukile Property Fund brings significant strategic advantages leveraging a shared vision and expertise in retail development The partnership was cemented long before this project first as co-owners of Thavhani Mall in Limpopo and then Springs Mall in Gauteng reinforcing a commitment to long-term value creation across their joint portfolio says of the mall’s transformation: “Our investment in Mall of Mthatha reflects our shared confidence in the economic potential of the region Through strategic upgrades and a strengthened retail mix the potential of this exceptional shopping destination is being unlocked to better serve the broader community adds: “We see Mall of Mthatha as a key asset within our portfolio By implementing targeted enhancements for the mall’s evolution the focus remains on delivering a best-in-class shopping environment that supports economic growth The mall’s upgrade project is set to be completed by September 2025 the mall’s new owners will continue to invest in and build on these strategic improvements which demonstrate a long-term vision of positioning the mall as the dominant retail hub in Mthatha and beyond Choose a topic below and thereafter view all articles on the topic using the "Next >" button or swiping left Choose a topic below and thereafter view all articles on the topic using the "Next >" button or the keyboard right arrow key Home | South Africa The Mthatha High Court has stopped evictions of Walter Sisulu University students from student residences. The Walter Sisulu University Student Representative Council (SRC) made an urgent application to stop the eviction of students from university residences. The ruling come after campus management instructed students to vacate the premises by 4 pm today (Friday). The eviction order comes in the wake of violent student protests that broke out on Tuesday morning, leading to the tragic death of a male student. The judge has resolved to interdict the university from evicting the students, but also issued an order interdicting the students from vandalising university property. MTHATHA - The Mthatha Magistrates Court has postponed the murder case of a young man killed at the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) to next month Sisonke Mbolekwa was shot and killed on campus last week during student protests allegedly by a residence manager at the institution The suspected employee Manelisi Mampane made his first court appearance at the local Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition ALSO READ: WSU students want accused who shot Sisonke Mbolekwa to be denied bail The court says due to the sensitivity of the matter members of the media have been prohibited from recording proceedings. Several media houses have brought an application to broadcast the proceedings, in this case, arguing it has an overwhelming public interest. And while the State in the case had no problem with the media covering the proceedings, the defence lawyer in the matter opposed the application, saying the matter is a domestic case. Mampane is a residence manager at the institution where Mbolekwa was killed. His charges were read out to him in court, and he stated his intention to apply for bail. Mbolekwa’s family says an autopsy report has revealed he was shot while running. Family spokesperson Ncedo Kolanisi has outlined the autopsy findings.  “The findings of the autopsy report were that the bullet hit the back through the tarsal, so it simply tells you that Sisonke Mbolekwa was retreating when he got shot.”  He has accused the suspect in the case of ill intension.  “So, this individual be that as it may as you heard the charges that are laid against him that it is an unlicensed firearm, his behaviour as well shows that he is not trained to handle a firearm - so he shot at the students whilst they were retreating.” The matter has now been postponed to 2 May 2025 for a formal bail application. Sections Mall of Mthatha (formerly BT Ngebs City) has undergone significant enhancements since its acquisition in May 2024 by Flanagan & Gerard and Vukile Property Fund the owners set out on a R210 million redevelopment strategy designed to improve flow A key aspect of its transformation has been the expansion and diversification of its retail mix with its vacancy rate having decreased from 18% to 1.85% under its new ownership with tenants to include Dis-Chem (opening in March 2025) and News Café (opening in June 2025) and Shoprite and Shoprite Liquor (opening in August 2025) Retailers who have recently opened at the mall include Burger King Sergeant Pepper Clothing Company and JAM Clothing as well as Homechoice The positive results of Mthatha Mall’s improved tenant mix are evident in its trading performance culminating in a 9.7% turnover increase between January to December 2024 compared to the previous year Foot traffic has also shown double digit growth in recent months Categories including homeware and specialty foods have demonstrated remarkable sales performances Its redevelopment includes the addition of a new mezzanine level and lobby with new escalator installations outside of Woolworths and Checkers to be completed by the end of March and May 2025 Infrastructure investments are ongoing with enhancements in lighting a new 1.8MW solar installation is being implemented “Our investment in Mall of Mthatha reflects our shared confidence in the economic potential of the region its shoppers and retailers,” comments Paul Gerard Managing Director of Flanagan & Gerard “We see Mall of Mthatha as a key asset within our portfolio By implementing targeted enhancements for the mall’s evolution Managing Director: South Africa at Vukile Property Fund Mall of Mthatha’s upgrade is scheduled for completion by September 2025 AVBOB celebrates a milestone by rewarding its members on a large scale MTHATHA - Mthatha in the Eastern Cape was once known as the birthplace of black excellence Many prominent leaders hail from this area it's deteriorated and is a far cry from what it once was WATCH: Urban Decay | Holomisa calls for GNU to expand infrastructure in Mthatha Poor service delivery and a breakdown of systems has contributed to rampant crime And this is keeping tourists away from the town sorely in need of tourism rands The Mthatha High Court is hearing an urgent application over the eviction of students from Walter Sisulu University’s (WSU) Mthatha campus This follows a notice from campus management to the University Council on Wednesday evening instructing students to vacate the premises by 4 pm today (Friday) The eviction order comes in the wake of violent student protests that broke out on Tuesday morning leading to the tragic death of a male student Unrest at the NMD campus resulted in the death of one person and the injury of several others [LIVE NOW] The Mthatha High Court is currently sitting to hear a case involving the eviction of students from Walter Sisulu University in Eastern Cape. Tune in to SABC News Channel 404 or go to https://t.co/Pcfl4Rcee4 to get all updates as they happen. pic.twitter.com/eFdHbjWcBg — SABC News (@SABCNews) April 18, 2025 The Walter Sisulu University SRC’s legal team has approached the court to file an urgent application to halt the eviction of students at the university after the university resolved that the temporary closure of campuses was the only solution Both the Nelson Mandela Drive and Zamukulungisa Heights campuses will be temporarily closed SRC president Balungile Madikizela explains “Worried that there may be an all-time low academic performance we then decided to protect our constituency’s right we did indeed contact our legal team to assist us They then submitted an urgent court interdict to the judge The judge has since communicated back to us to say that today at 6 pm until the resolutions of that court sitting are communicated they do not expect the university or their deployed security personnel to forcefully evict any students from campus.” expressed disappointment over the breakdown in dialogue between students and the university leadership “It’s regrettable that both the students and the university failed to find one another halfway leading to the courts’ intervention,” said Mantashe Mall of Mthatha The single-level shopping centre in the Eastern Cape was acquired by Flanagan & Gerard and Vukile Property Fund in April 2024 MDS Architecture has reimagined the 60 000m2 shopping centre with construction anticipated for completion by June 2025 The asset is situated on top of a super basement and adjoins a hotel and a casino to the precinct with extensive structural and civil engineering works part of the project scope One of the standout features of the redevelopment is the introduction of sleek escalators that connect the basement carpark to the retail level the existing ablutions have been completely rebuilt an existing car showroom area has been replaced with a food offering of contemporary restaurants strengthening the mall’s connection with the adjacent Casino and Mayfair Hotel with external covered seating areas complemented by landscaping “This area has been designed as an urban square environment and seamless connections to the hotel and casino The buildings have been integrated into a cohesive precinct aimed at creating a vibrant destination in Mthatha where the community can relax shop and enjoy quality entertainment,”  says Paul Gerard Internal courts have been completely overhauled allowing for waterproofing and other necessary maintenance “We took the opportunity to create a new look and feel adding definition with bulkheads and using a new colour palette and paint techniques as well as new lighting and soft interiors Columns have been added and the natural light present in the shopping centre has been amplified The promotional courts are now in line with the high brand standards that are associated with Flanagan & Gerard shopping centres,” explains Pierre Lahaye The new ablutions will now better serve the needs of a shopping centre of this size The new facilities and the upgraded existing toilets now feature proper vanities The retail mix at Mall of Mthatha is also getting a boost with new retailers focusing on essential goods along with Dis-Chem and other shopping options to add to the lineup of stores It boasts several household names including Woolworths Pick n Pay and Checkers as well as a new Shoprite DURBAN - The family of slain Walter Sisulu University student has accused the Mthatha Magistrates Court of incompetence following yet another postponement in the case.On Friday charged with the murder of Mbolekwa and attempted murder of another student was due to apply for bail.But proceedings had to be postponed due to a power outage at the court The Mbolekwa family has blamed the court management for this, saying this was delaying their closure.READ: Mthatha Magistrates Court postpones case of student killed at WSUWhen proceedings resumed on Friday, the State was ready to proceed with the bail hearing, with investigating officer, Colonel Mandla Miya, ready to testify. But ongoing power outages at the courthouse brought proceedings to a halt.The court has been without power for three days now, causing delays in many cases. MTHATHA - Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa is calling on the government of national unity to prioritise the expansion of infrastructure in Mthatha He was speaking in his capacity as former general of Transkei Defence Force A scholar transport dispute is brewing in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape The Mthatha Taxi Owners Association has issued a warning against the operation of private scholar or staff transport in the area the taxi association instructed parents to visit their nearest taxi ranks where they will be assisted with transport to ferry their children The association is adamant that it is the job of its members and departmental supplied scholar transport The South Africa National Taxi Council (SANTACO) says it will investigate The Mthatha taxi owners’ association issued the letter five days before the schools re-open This has put a strain on parents in the area Parents demand that the safety of their children must come first “We are not okay with this because we knew our children were safe in vans Vans do not drop children on the main road but at the gate so my child won’t be able to go there so I decided to enroll her in a nearby public school whereas she was studying in town,” says a concerned parent “The problem with taxis is that they do not pick up children on time because they have to work at the rank There are children who are seven-years-old that will have to wait for a long time Parents will panic when their children are not back on time We know that vans wait for children outside school premises,” adds another parent E.Cape scholar transport challenges: Unathi Binqose: The Mthatha taxi owners’ association has explained why it doesn’t want vans to ferry learners Our aim is that the government can provide them with scholar transport like other children so that the government can intervene because they are not working You can be paying R600 while earning R2 000 how are you going to do groceries and pay for a private scholar transport We want government to enforce that a vehicle that must operate is a vehicle with an operating license,” says Washington Nomvembe Mthatha Taxi Owners Association Public Relations Officer “The letters that are alleged that they are from our taxi association that says vans are not allowed to carry learners it’s something that we are going to investigate because up to now we know nothing about that As I’m saying we will investigate that and promise that once we find out there is something like that we will intervene immediately,” says Mzwandile Nkewana The Department of Transport in the province is also conducting voluntary roadworthy testing for the scholar transport operators More than 3000 vehicles have already been tested were fatally shot after exchanging gunfire with police officers in Mthatha said police spokesperson Lieutenant Siphokazi Mawisa She said the police received information that the men were collecting protection money from businesses in Ngcengane, just outside Mthatha. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU) responded and spotted the suspects’ vehicle a Volkswagen Polo while approaching the village They forced it to stop and the suspects stepped out of the car and shot at the police The police recovered two unlicensed firearms and ammunition and an undisclosed amount of cash Mawisa said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate would investigate the incident “This sends a stern warning to the perpetrators that police are compressing crime and stamping the authority of the state.” Dalinzolo “Sakie” Mareke — a self-styled “traditional leader” from Mthatha West who had allegedly extorted protection money from schools in the area — and two of his companions were killed in a shootout with members of the NIU The following day, a man who shot at members of the NIU during a police operation was killed in Gqeberha. On 7 September, a member of the Mthatha NIU unit was ambushed by a man who fired shots at him while he was driving to work. The shooter was injured and arrested. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Read more: Police shoot dead Mthatha ‘traditional leader’ implicated in school extortion scheme National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said the “highly trained members [of the NIU] are also tasked with tracing dangerous and highly armed criminals who are involved in serious and violent crime including extortions “This is one of the SAPS units that leaves nothing to chance in ensuring the safety and security of all people living in South Africa the SAPS will mobilise all resources to stamp the authority of the state “We are not going to fold our arms and allow a situation where our dedicated and hardworking police officers who are entrusted with investigating and tracing hardened criminals are targeted “The fact that these criminals went as far as tailing our members to their base tells us that we are dealing with criminals who have no regard for the rule of law,” he said It is understood that Mareke’s house had been searched by the police earlier on 4 September. He was not at home, but later went to find members of the NIU at their base. It is alleged that he and his companions opened fire on the police and were killed in the ensuing gunfight.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads the same NIU member who was targeted at the base on Wednesday was also targeted again while on his way to work the member who was shot at was not injured “He fortunately managed to shoot back at the suspect We can confirm that the suspect is under police guard in hospital where he is receiving treatment for gunshot wounds that were sustained while trying to assassinate the NIU member “We will not tolerate attacks on our members who are doing all they can to stop extortion incidents. We continue to urge our members to act decisively when faced with danger. Our members have a duty to protect themselves and the communities that they serve,” he said.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Masemola said extortion was an underreported crime in the Eastern Cape because for police to ultimately win the war against these extortionists we are going to require community members to report these incidents by opening cases with the police We can only conduct a thorough investigation with the assistance of witnesses and victims of crime to put these perpetrators behind bars.” He said a police hotline in the Eastern Cape had received 38 reports of extortion in its first week On Wednesday this week, the SAPS Tactical Response Unit, acting on information that there were illegal firearms in a house in Keiskammahoek, cornered five suspects and killed four after they, according to a police report, tried to shoot their way out. The fifth suspect was wounded and taken to hospital under police guard.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Read more: Police kill four suspected kidnappers in Eastern Cape, Hawks investigating Transport and Community Safety MEC Xolile Nqatha said the suspects were kidnappers Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said: “SAPS members had responded to a tip-off on the alleged house that is being used for kidnappings. On police arrival in the house, the suspects started shooting, with police responding to the gunfire, leaving four suspects fatally wounded on the scene, with one injured and taken to hospital.”advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads He said the operation was a “testament to the effectiveness of our law enforcement agencies I strongly condemn the heinous kidnapping and torture activities that took place at a house in Keiskammahoek Our law enforcement agencies acted swiftly and I commend their bravery in responding to the suspects’ gunfire.” DM The Board of Directors of Universities South Africa has expressed deep concern over violent student protests at Walter Sisulu University’s Mthatha campus in the Eastern Cape This comes after a person was shot and killed during the unrest describes the incident as deeply unfortunate and calls for calm and proper engagement between students and university management “We acknowledge that the protest stemmed from concerns about living conditions and we commend the university council for acting swiftly in launching an inquiry,” Peterson says He further urges students to seek peaceful ways of resolving disputes we urge aggrieved students to follow proper channels in engagement Peaceful dialogue ensures that voices are heard and their safety is protected.”  The incident has sparked renewed calls for universities to strengthen student engagement and improve communication regarding grievances especially where student welfare and campus safety are concerned seven municipal law enforcement officers were doing their rounds in Mthatha when they were approached by a group of car washers who wanted to wash their vehicles In Mthatha, the seat of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, it is illegal to wash cars on the streets. In the past few months law enforcement officials have been patrolling the streets to enforce this by-law, and this morning they were busy with their duties as part of a campaign to clean up the city’s streets.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads In a strong defence of the officers on Friday morning Mayor Nyaniso Nelani has called for an urgent meeting with the police over the arrests saying that he believes it is part of a “pushback from individuals of influence and power” in the region The mayor said that the seven officials were conducting patrols to enforce the by-law prohibiting car washing on public streets The officers were then approached by a group of men with buckets who wanted to wash their cars When the officers made it clear that they were there for by-law enforcement and explained that it was illegal to wash cars in the streets One of the officers was stabbed in the chest but he was wearing a bulletproof vest and did not get hurt Nelani claimed that the officers retaliated by shooting at the men He pledged his backing to the officials and said they had returned to their jobs after being released on bail. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Mkholi confirmed that seven accused persons were released on bail of R1,000 each after they were charged for attempted murder assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and defeating the ends of justice “The seven accused persons were linked to the incident of shooting that occurred on 30 June 2024 in Mthatha Mthatha has been in the grips of gun violence for months now and on 4 September 2024 self-styled traditional leader for the Mthatha West area Sakhumzi Mareke (42) was gunned down by members of the National Intervention Unit after he and three men confronted them at their own police base in the city Mareke and his men arrived at the police base and started shooting at officers Two days later a warrant officer attached to the National Intervention Unit was shot at by a gunman who approached him on foot Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola visited the Mthatha area two weeks ago and said that more members of the National Intervention Unit would be sent there as the criminals in the area were “brazen and determined” and operated with “absolute arrogance” Mthatha appears to have descended into purgatory. It’s no wonder that many EC residents are “emigrating” to WC. This is almost unbelievable – car washers attacking police. Lawlessness has become a norm in this country. Its good that the officers are doing something about this. Just go to Durban’s Russel Street are in the evening. People sit on pavements drinking alcohol and Metro police drive-by as if there is nothing wrong. Have any of the originators of the violence been arrested? One of them attempted murder with a knife! If not, why not? Also , were any of the assailants shot? Why is the the report silent on this? MTHATHA - Three suspected extortionists have been killed in a shootout with police in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. It's understood one of the suspects is Dalinzolo Mareke from Mthatha West, who had recently denied extortion allegations at a school. For more details from the AbaThembu Royal Kingdom, eNCA spoke to Prince Zanothando Mtirara in the video above.  EASTERN CAPE - National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola is visiting Mthatha on Sunday.  There has been a rise in extortion gangs terrorising communities and businesses in the area READ: EXCLUSIVE: Extortion mafia in Tshwane  Last week police killed four suspected ring leaders of an extortion gang Fed up residents are expected to march on Monday.   eNCA Reporter Ronald Masinda has more details.  A multi-disciplinary road and safety operation was conducted in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape today It’s part of the continuous effort by the province to make its roads safer and create a safe environment for tourism to flourish in Police Commissioner in the OR Tambo Region Major General Norman Modishana says today’s operation was also looking at the issue of crime prevention “This operation that we are doing right now we are looking at suspected stolen vehicles We are also looking at possession of unlicensed firearms We know this road is one of the roads contributing to accidents.” The King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality has also intensified its safety and security measures in the Mthatha Central Business District Thee Municipality’s Community Safety manager “People staying in Mthatha are protected when they are shopping or at their homes They feel safe when they are enjoying themselves We have deployed our law enforcement officers to ensure that they do not get robbed when they go there We want to convey a message that we have doubled and redoubled our efforts to ensure that people are safe in King Sabatha Dalindyebo.” who had been implicated in the alleged extortion of protection money for schools in the area to remain open were killed in a shootout with members of the police’s National Intervention Unit (NIU) on Wednesday afternoon It is understood that Dalinzolo “Sakie” Mareke’s house was searched by the police earlier on Wednesday, 4 September 2024. He was not at home, but on Wednesday afternoon he allegedly went with two armed men to confront police officers at the NIU base in Mthatha.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads While the exact circumstances are still unclear it is understood from police sources that Mareke and the two men went to confront members of the NIU at their base Mareke and his men took out their firearms and began shooting at the police Mareke and his companions were killed in the ensuing shootout senior police officers and members of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate were still on the scene Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed that three armed suspects were fatally shot and one police officer was injured in the shootout She said the incident happened at about 4.30pm AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo suggested Mareke was involved in an extortion scheme involving the proceeds of a cellphone network tower at Laphum’ikhwezi Primary School Mareke in turn held a meeting to raise money to sue the king for defamation.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads A report from the school district didn’t name Mareke but stated that the problem began when the “local chief” and a group of men stormed into the school and demanded that proceeds from the tower on the school premises should be deposited into their bank accounts This group allegedly enquired about funds schools received from the towers they allegedly temporarily confiscated the school hall keys the group allegedly assaulted the Laphum’ikhwezi Primary School principal in front of his staff and learners when he refused to adhere to the demand This led to teachers leaving the school as they believed the environment appeared to be life-threatening The teachers reported to the district office for five days while the school was closed Read more: Police and business turn the screws on extortion mafia terrorising all corners of SA Eastern Cape education spokesperson Mali Mtima said the OR Tambo education district intervened by establishing a task team The team’s terms of reference included meeting the AbaThembu king to seek his intervention “[Education] MEC [Fundile] Gade commended the king for his intervention, as such since this morning, August 21st, 2024, schooling at Laphum’ikhwezi has resumed, teaching and learning is taking place,” Mtima said at the time.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Read more: Police Minister Senzo Mchunu declares war against ‘armies of murderous parasites’ Dalindyebo remained resolute and unapologetic on Wednesday evening. He said Mareke was not a recognised chief of the Mthatha West area. “All other criminal elements have been dealt with and will continue to be dealt with by law enforcement agencies,” he said. “We call upon all other individuals masquerading as chiefs and/or traditional leaders in the area enabling their criminal enterprise as extortionists to immediately desist from such criminal behaviour,” Dalindyebo’s spokesperson Prince Zanothando Mtirara said in a statement issued on behalf of the king. DM Well dome SAPS! The correct and appropriate response for attacking police officers. I like this new way of policing. 6 here. 4 there. 18 over there. We might get somewhere now More parasites bite the dust. Well done, SAPS. Why is the tax payer funding these racist extrotionist traditional leaders. Cos tax payer can and with state permission! For years these criminals got away with lawlessness. It’s about time police dealt with them decisively to discourage those who wanted to follow suit and demand protection fees from the communities. Well done to the police. No room for criminals anymore. It’s becoming the Wild West! Not that I mind in the least. Amazing how we are all now uniting in encouraging the police to take the criminals out in Wild West type shoot-outs. Our president has locked the Zondo report away and refuses to allow its contents to be made public despite accepting some R2 billion of tax payer’s money to fund it. Good work SAPS! “Our president has locked the Zondo report away and refuses to allow its contents to be made public” Zondo report is public, you can Google it. Maybe you meant that action(inaction) on its findings, which is little(if at all) One doesn’t often get feel-good stories in the news. If this guy was so arrogant as to go and confront the police, then he must have enjoyed serious political protection. All this cheer leading reveals how easily us saffers can be fooled. Effective policing isn’t measured by how many criminals are shot. One always wonders what the real story is ! Well, if one walks into a police station with two armed henchman, and yourself armed and then you pull out your firearm, the real story is expect to receive a response. If one’s innocent, then don’t come armed and start a shootout. How can someone ‘claim’ to be a traditional leader, surely there must be some rules to become one? And don’t the community know who is and who is not such a person? Anyway good riddens to seemingly common criminals, made the schools a safer place. Why attack schools in the first place There are a great many of them and it’s a lucrative gig by all accounts. I’m sure the competition is fierce. He was not a recognised traditional leader, neither by the state nor by the community, and received no government stipend. Had no authority preside over tribal courts, nor to sanction any traditional custom. Well done king! It takes courage to stand up for justice. He was sentenced to 12 years in jail for for kidnapping, assault and arson. He’s not my idea of a poster boy for justice. How long will it take us to shed this feudal concept of unelected kings, queens, chiefs, etc? The roles are NOT just ceremonial! These people preside over 4.5 million hectares of tribal trust land. (Two Kruger Parks) They decide who gets to live and farm which 10 acre plot. With democracy you need to satisfy everyone not just majority. So if enough want kings/traditional leaders then we need to provide it. Just because does not sit well with our morality does not make it wrong (even though i strongly believe it wrong) Three more dead bodies for “alleged extortion”. I must say I am not happy about the police killing everybody at every confrontation. No arrests. No trial. This does not bode well for justice in SA. Cops know how to shoot well. Don’t get into a gunfight with cops. Sadly that’s untrue for the overwhelming majority. Standards of firearms handling, much less actual shooting amongst SAPS is low. Incidents I’ve seen on ranges where their members have been training were terrifying and would have a civilian shooter at a competition disqualified and/or banned. My comment has not been approved for more than 24 hours. Dalindyebo is a convicted criminal, sentenced to 15 years for violent crimes in 2015, who was paroled in 2019. His word should not be taken at face value. Jip, quoting a person who lead an assault from which someone died and for which he was convicted along with arson and kidnapping without mentioning it in the piece reflects badly on the writer. Same for the people cheer leading for him. Even though i might applaud police killing criminals it is important that it is investigated by an impartial body to prevent abuses. but the victim’s family insists he was enrolled as an education student And while there are conflicting reports about whether Mbolekwa was a student at the campus his family says they are devastated about his passing   After getting a report at the hospital where he died the family visited the residence in question on campus    Family spokesperson Ncedo Kolanisi said “The university was being malicious because these are the very same people led by Irene who went and visited the family yesterday and did say to the mother of the student that he is indeed a student.”  The family said it wants accountability on the brutal murder of their child calling for the immediate arrest of the perpetrator [WATCH] Student leader Balungile Madikizela tells protesting students that family of the deceased wants to see where their child was brutally killed. #WSUprotest @_NMabaso pic.twitter.com/yEHZsmgVaj Kelso has been an Edgars Fashion brand since the early 90’s and continues to be popular for those women seeking fashion at affordable prices The brand has always offered a diverse range that included casual wear The offerings are designed with the local customer in mind maintaining the trendy colours and stylish designs that appeal to the fashion-conscious consumer “We have been amazed by the strong uptake of our Kelso brand by South Africans across the country,” comments Norman Drieselmann “that is why strategically we need to broaden access of this fashion brand by opening in new markets.” “We believe the best way to bring Kelso to more customers is for Retailability to open a standalone Kelso store The first store will open in Mthatha Circus Triangle on 27 November 2024 and the second will be in Galliera Mall “The extensive range of ladies apparel footwear and accessories on offer at the Kelso store will deliver the cornerstones of quality fashion and price that the South African market has been looking for but in a highly tailored in store experience” comments Drieselmann constantly updating its offerings to stay relevant and to maintain its appeal to consumer preferences In the face of economic fluctuations and changing consumer behaviour the brand has worked hard to innovate This new standalone concept will enhance the customers omnichannel shopping experience “We are looking forward to the opening of the new store,” says Craig Charter property development executive for Retailability “and we hope that this leads to further opportunities in similar environments The stand-alone store gives us a degree of flexibility in placing suitable merchandise targeted at the relevant audience in the most appropriate node.” “The expansion will help penetrate the smaller shopping centres or strip malls that can accommodate stores that are from 250-350m2,” adds Charter Kelso will remain a part of the Edgars brand portfolio; however the intention is to expand the Kelso reach to meet the growing demand for accessible fashion MTHATHA - Residents of Mthatha are set to march in protest against the rise in extortion crimes The march follows a visit by National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola to the Eastern Cape town.  WATCH: Crime in SA | Discussion | How can extortion be halted? He gave an update on how police are trying to tackle extortion gangs that are preying on communities and businesses Speaking to the National Assembly last week KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape and Eastern Cape carry 73 percent of crime levels in South Africa.