By Noxolo Zeyo

An unknown man who got his hands on a coffin caused a social media stir when a photograph of him pulling it along Commercial Road in Gqeberha went viral on Monday

Daily Kasi News reached out to police to verify the unusual sight, when officers were tasked to scout cemeteries in the area.

Spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge says as the photo went viral a case was opened at the Algoa Park police station.

He says the man realised he was getting unwanted attention and abandoned the coffin and his trolley before fleeing the scene.

Captain Beetge says the coffin was confiscated by SAPS at about 1 pm.

He says the coffin has for now been booked in as a “found property”.

Beetge says although it is still a mystery as to where the coffin came from, the investigation continues.

When asked if there could have been a body inside, police declined to comment and said it would form part of their investigation.

No arrests have been made.

BY Phumlani Saul

The driver of the minibus was declared dead on the scene, while a 15-year-old boy died in hospital.

Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide following a fatal accident between a minibus taxi and a train which claimed the life of the taxi driver and a learner (15).

Twenty school learners were injured in the accident which happened yesterday afternoon in the Addo region in the Eastern Cape.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu, police were called to the scene at about 15:45 police where the taxi, transporting learners from Samnkelwe Senior Secondary School back home, had collided with a train transporting Manganese near the railway crossing in Nomathamsanqa.

“The driver of the minibus was declared dead at the scene, while 20 passengers from the minibus were rushed to hospital. One of the victims, a 15-year-old boy, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a hospital in Gqeberha,” says Naidu.

Unfortunately the boy succumbed to his injuries mere hours after being airlifted to Livingston Hospital.

EMS assisted with immediate assistance on the scene, while medical personnel in Addo and Kirkwood assisted the injured.

This very busy and dangerous crossing is the only legal entry into the Nomathamsanqa informal settlement. Community members and family of the learners gathered here when they were eventually allowed on the scene.

This accident adds to the current crisis with regard to the status of learner transport in the province.

The investigation is ongoing

By Phumlani Saul

MANY izangoma usually consult clients from their indumba.

But sangoma Fresh Molambo from Zimbabwe is easy to find and is always ready to help clients.

He is known as the drive through sangoma as he operates from a busy road in Gqeberha ,where he sells imbiza and helps couples with their problems.

The 57-year-old said he’s been a sangoma for 35 years, and working from the road was a good idea.

He struggled to get clients when he worked from home, so he tried to sell imbiza from the roadside and the response was positive.

He said his customers included cops, taxi and truck drivers, teachers and other motorists.

“I don’t only sell imbiza, but I talk to those who want to consult,” he said

Sangoma Fresh said he sold his imbiza in two-litre bottles and said his muthi has helped many people.

This isn’t only for men. Even women can drink it and it makes magic in the bedroom,” he said.

“It also helps men who have a problem with erection and low libido. Women struggling to fall pregnant can also drink it.”

One of sangoma Fresh’s customers, Brian Nkabi (56), said: “My wife was cheating on me because I wasn’t that active in bed.

“A friend of mine told me about this imbiza and the roadside sangoma. Ever since I knew about it, I’ve never been the same,” he said.

Another customer, Cecilia Jobo (30) had thought she was barren.

“I thought I couldn’t have kids, but didn’t want to give up. I tried this muthi and I now have three kids.”

By Phumlani Saul

Dora Nginza Hospital is in ailing health, with its power supply still cut off and staff having to rely on generators for the fourth day in a row.

Health spokesperson Dr Sizwe Kupelo said the hospital was in an emergency.

The generators are all running,” he said.

“When it comes to diesel, we have enough until about 1pm on [Sunday].

“We have arranged with Livingstone for further collection of diesel.”

Kupelo said the plan was to switch off the generators for an hour each to rest the machines and top up on gas.

“That will lead to one machine running at a time. We shared the schedule with unit managers.”

He said the bulk medical oxygen tank had been connected to a generator.

“We will also try to do the same for one of the kitchen fridges,” he said.

“C [Block] only had temporary repairs. It is holding.

“We will do the other repairs if needed during the rest period.”

The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality said earlier yesterday that the power outage affecting Dora Nginza, which started on Thursday, was due to vandalised metering and protection equipment which caused the nearby substation to trip.

Municipal spokesperson Kupido Baron said on Sunday afternoon officials were still at the hospital and working hard to reinstate the power supply.

“Work is ongoing,” he said.

“We stepped in beyond our call of duty to assist the hospital following the power outage caused by cable theft, as the hospital’s service provider had difficulty  restoring supply.

“[This resulted] in the hospital using emergency generators to continue treating patients unabated.

“The failed equipment malfunctioned due to the vandalism, and we replaced the damaged cable and are still on site in an effort to help the hospital.”

Bay safety and security boss Stag Mitchell said a singular device remained inoperable due to burnout.

“The electricity directorate is at the hospital, diligently working to normalise the situation and ensure the full restoration of all services,” he said.

According to an internal health report, seen by The Herald, there were by the time of publication no fatalities attributable to the blackout.

The report also states that the casualty unit operated at full capacity without any reported incidents.

“Patients [are] given meals according to a schedule drawn up by the food service manager working closely with Livingstone Hospital,” the report reads.

The mortuary [is] functional and emergency calls are made to private undertakers when there is a need to evacuate.”

According to insiders, the municipality inadvertently connected the medical wards and residences in an incorrect sequence by linking three live cables in the wrong order, causing damage to the switches.

As a result, the hospital is relying on standby generators.

“We are trying to get the correct sequence, then the blown unit will be replaced, which is just a plug-in unit, and then we will set the correct sequence,” an insider said.

By Xolani Ncikazi

​SIX YEARS ago when Thamsanqa left his wife for his horny nyatsi he thought he was in heaven.

But these days he’s not so sure. 

HE NO LONGER KNOWS IF HE’S THE HOT SHOT LOVER OR JUST AN ABUSED SEX SLAVE! 

The details of 45-year-old Thamsanqa Mciya’s life between a rock and a hard place unfolded on Wednesday in eBongweni, Kirkwood when the DKTeam spotted him being chased down a kasi street by his angry nyatsi.

It appears that Thamsanqa’s lover, Elsie (50), soon started whipping him with a sjambok if she didn’t like what he was doing – like if he had too much to drink. She also sees nothing wrong in locking him in the room and using him as a sex slave.

And if Thamsanqa thought his customary wife of 23 years was ever going to take him back, he was wrong. When he pleaded to be taken back, she said: no thanks.

“I left my family six years ago when I met Elsie,” Thamsanqa told Daily Kasi News.

“I was taken in by the new love but now my nyatsi has turned abusive and sjamboks me. I want to go back to my family, but my wife is taken.”

He said he won’t report Elsie to the cops.

“I know the cops will laugh at me,” he said.

While the DKTeam was talking to Thamsanqa, Elsie interrupted.

“I’m not abusive but I am very protective,” she said.

“We’ve been together for six years and it’s been good. I love him and I won’t lose him.”

Then she became impatient.  Grabbing him by his jacket she yelled: “We are going home and you are coming with me. No one will have you except me!” 

His former wife, Katrina Moholo (46) said she has moved on and has a new man in her life.

“He got what he wanted after he left us,” she said. 

“I’m very happy in my new relationship. He chose that woman and he should stand by her.”

“He will be helped,” said Marope, with a serious face

Police spokesman Captain Chaka Marope said Thamsanqa can report the matter to any police station.

By Dk news reportor

MILLIONS of pupils are expected to flock back to schools on Wednesday morning as the 2024 school year commences.

The Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga paid a visit to several schools in the Madibeng area this morning starting at the Hebron Technical High school.

Basic Education spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga said the minister will end her visit to the Madibeng area by engaging with education stakeholders at the Letlhabile Community Hall to hear about educational successes and challenges in the area.

On Tuesday, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said the department would be welcoming over 133 000 children starting school for the first-time.

The department has been facing a major problem in placing the high number of pupils that have not been placed for the 2018 academic year.
According to Lesufi, at least 28 000 pupils are still waiting to be placed in various Gauteng schools

By Malungelo Booi

SIMPHIWE Malobola thought his daughter Emily would be safe staying with her stepsisters while she was pregnant.

“We thought they could alert us if she had any complications,” Simphiwe said.

After Emily (21) had a baby girl she and the baby continued staying with the daughters of Simphiwe’s wife Johanna Sesana in Zwide near Gqeberha.

But apparently Johanna’s elder sister didn’t like the arrangement. When Simphiwe called Emily to check how she was last Monday, he was shocked.

“Emily told me her step aunt had taken her and the baby to the maternal grandmother’s place, telling her she was not her sister’s child,” said Simphiwe. 

“Emily said her step aunt threatened to beat her up or shoot someone if she ever set her foot in her sisters’ house again.”

Simphiwe said he and Johanna took Emily and the baby back to Zwide and spoke to the step aunt.

Next thing, he got a call to say the step aunt was sjambokking Emily and her baby.

“We rushed back and found the baby bleeding from her head.” 

On Monday night, Emily and her seven-week-old baby were taken to Livingston Hospital.

They were discharged on Tuesday. But the next morning Emily woke up to find her baby dead and her nose full of blood.

An upset Johanna said: “This situation had nothing to do with my sister. 

“But she should have told me if she had a problem instead of beating these children.”

Johanna reported the sjambokking to zwide police.

Captain Rheineth Motlana said a suspect was arrested on charges of assault and murder. 

“She will appear in court soon.”

The baby will be buried at Motherwell Cemetery on Friday.

By Phumlani Saul

A nine-year-old boy from Peace Village in Kwanobuhle nearly wiped out his entire family, including his ninety-year-old grandmother and two visiting family friends, when he served them tea laced with the notorious “Gabose”or Rat poison last week.

The little boy apparently wanted to get back at his father and grandmother for scolding and beating him for stealing money from the house. 

The boy from Peace Village later confessed to his mother to having served poisoned tea to his father, grandmother and two of his father’s friends.

A distraught Simon Nyamana (62) said he could not come to grips with the fact that his son had tried to poison him.

Nyamana said the near tragic incident happened when his wife Maria (38) instructed their son to make tea for them. Nyamana said a few minutes after drinking the tea his mother, Rinkie, complained of stomach cramps and started vomiting. When she passed out they realised something was seriously wrong.

Minutes later Nyamana and his two friends, Abel Tsoku (65) and Jacob Molani (64), started to vomit. Nyamana managed to call the police from his cell phone before passing out, only to wake up at the Provincial hospital hours later.

“I was surprised when the doctor told us we had been poisoned. I initially suspected my wife; I never thought it would be my son.” 

The truth hit home when they heard that the boy had confessed to the police and his mother that he took the poison from the top of the wardrobe where it was hidden and poured it into their tea. He could not explain the reasons for his action. 

His mother said she could not make any sense of his actions either as the family has a good relationship with the boy.

police spokesperson, Joseph Gokane, said a case of attempted murder had not been opened against the minor as they had referred him to social workers for observation and are waiting for a report to establish the cause of the boy’s actions.

The boy has since been taken in by his maternal grandmother in Pietensie. The local social welfare department spokesperson, Nono Khambule, confirmed the case has been referred to them.

By Lindiwe Ndiki

AFTER residents saw a chicken behaving strangely, they called the cops who found dagga in the chicken run!

Phumeza Mzinzi (36) from Dwesi extension Kasi in the Eastern Cape said they were shocked to see the chicken standing on one leg in the middle of the road with its eyes closed on Sunday afternoon.
“Before we could take out our cellphones to record the strange behavior, the chicken ran back to its home,” said Phumeza.

“I was surprised to see the police at the chicken run, but then they came out with bags of dagga, and the woman living there was arrested.”

Thobani Soze (23) said: “We can now see why the poor chicken was acting strangely. It was high on dagga.”
Police spokesman, Captain Malebo Khosana confirmed the arrest and said the chicken was found inside a shelter where dagga was hidden.
“A 44-year-old woman who claimed the place belonged to her sister in the Eastern Cape was arrested after the dagga was found in the chicken run.”

“Our members went on to search her bedroom and found a plastic basin containing loose dagga and envelopes filled with dagga. 
“The dagga weighed about 1,6kg in total and its believed to have a street value of around R1 664. 

The woman will appear in the Kariga Magistrates Court soon.”

Kemish Police Station Colonel Paul Solo said the arrest indicated members were willing to act on any information received by law-abiding residents.

“This will assist us and the community in reducing the space there is for criminals and their evil activities,” he said.

By Nomalungelo Booi

ALL they want is to work, have families and enjoy their lives.

But the Maxhenge brothers from Klipplat near Jansenville in Sarah Baartman District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, who are both addicted to nyaope, first need help with rehabilitation. They have been smoking for years, and believe they are cursed.

Samuel (41) said Lasi (37) started smoking first

“He started in 2018 and I told him to stop,” he said, not knowing that he would also join him.

“I found myself trapped in the evil drug in 2019. We were both introduced to it by friends.” 

Samuel said before he got addicted, he consulted a sangoma as he was worried about his brother

“I was told we are cursed and I would join him. I didn’t take that seriously, but I can now see that our lives are a mess.”

He said they sold their late mother’s house for R3 000 in 2020 after being manipulated, and were now living in their late gogo’s one-bedroomed house. 

Traditional healer Dineo Sibanyoni said: “Their family from the father’s side didn’t do things right, so ancestors are angry.

A ritual must be done where they ask for forgiveness. They can get a white candle, red cloths and snuff, and ask a family member to go to the bush with them and do the ritual. They must do it for three days.