By Phumlani Saul

Several house robbery suspects have been arrested in Kariega. 

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said four suspects, aged between 25 and 30, had been detained in two cases of house robbery.

In the first incident, on Thursday at about 2.20am, a 38-year-old complainant was awoken by a familiar voice calling her.

“Four males entered the house, and one male known to the complainant  pointed a firearm at her.

Two schoolbags, a primus stove and a jacket were taken by the suspects.

“The incident took place in Lawu Street in Greenshields 2 in Kamesh,” she said.

In the second incident, at about 4pm on the same day, another complainant, 36, and his wife were at their Tambo Street home in Mandela Village when five males entered the house through the front door.The suspects were armed with knives.

“A laptop charger, a spade, a hammer, a blue jacket and a cellphone were taken.

“When the complainant resisted, he was stabbed in his left shoulder.

“The complainant’s wife managed to flee.”

Following police investigations, four suspects were arrested at about 1.30am on Monday morning.
The suspects were arrested at separate houses in the Greenshields area.

The schoolbags and the primus stove were recovered.

The other suspects are still at large.

The arrested suspects are expected to appear in the Kariega magistrate’s court on Tuesday.

By Nomalungelo Booi

An unidentified man was found murdered in the bushes behind  Despatch at the weekend. 

Despatch detectives are urgently seeking help in tracing the murder suspects as well as the next of kin of the  man.

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the man was found near San Souci Road between Jagvlakte and the Logistics Park in Despatch.

She said that on Friday morning police were alerted to a body in an open field.

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“Preliminary investigation indicates that on Thursday evening at about 11pm, three unknown males were seen assaulting the man.

“He sustained multiple open wounds and bruises to his body as well as burns on both feet.

“The suspects then drove off in a red taxi.

BY Lawrence Armoed

Pregnant women are made to sleep on floors and chairs at Dora Nginza Hospital as they wait for a spot in theatre, with the waiting list for caesarean sections getting longer and longer.

Each night the pregnant women watch as nurses roll out thin mattresses which often have to be shared. 

Reclining armchairs have also been provided, but there are not enough to go around.

Mothers who have just given birth also sleep on the floor of the hospital’s maternity ward with their babies, using the mattress supplied by the hospital.

On average, doctors working in the maternity ward perform up to 25 C-sections a day.

But the backlog continues to grow as the beleaguered hospital also caters to women living outside Nelson Mandela Bay.

High-risk patients from Humansdorp, Cradock, Graaff-Reinet and Port Alfred are often admitted to the hospital.

Siyolise Davashe of Motherwell started to feel contractions on Wednesday and was rushed to the hospital.

When she arrived, Davashe said, a nurse told her she was close to giving birth and would need a bed.

However, other nurses told her it would not be possible and her name would be added to the waiting list.

It has been terrible. The nurses do provide mattresses for us to sleep on, but we have to share them even though we are all heavily pregnant,” she said.

She said each mattress was shared by at least two women.

“They said we must stay here but with how things are, giving birth at home might be better.”

A woman, whose daughter had just given birth, said even prisoners managed to get their own beds in jail.

I bet they have enough food and beds,” she said.

She said when they arrived at the hospital late on Wednesday night, several women were sleeping in the passageway.

“It is unacceptable that women in such critical condition must do this.”

Provincial health department spokesperson Yonela Dekeda said she was not aware of the issue.

“The matter has not been brought to our attention, but we will investigate the claims,” she said.

A healthcare worker in the maternity ward said there had also been an increase of pregnant women arriving at the hospital.

“The bed issue has been an ongoing problem, but the hospital tried to provide the women with mattresses to sleep on the floor and recliner chairs,” she said.

Another healthcare worker said the hospital often faced backlogs in performing C-sections.

He said the situation was made worse as there were not enough theatre sisters to assist the doctors who performed the operation.

“When a patient has a C-section, they usually spend three days in the hospital.

“This also makes the waiting list for a bed and a scheduled date even longer,” he said. 

He denied that expecting mothers were sleeping on mattresses on the floor.

“Shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the hospital bought about 10 recliners for each ward so that expectant mothers are somewhat comfortable while waiting for a bed to become available.

“They are monitored just like the other patients. Being in a recliner means that you are next in line for a bed,” he said.

But a reporter spoke to several pregnant women and mothers outside the hospital on Thursday after pictures were sent to Daily Kasi News. They all confirmed having to sleep on the floor with mattresses.

Many of the women were seen trying to get comfortable in plastic chairs.

Another pregnant woman, who had been at the hospital for three days, said she feared the cold floor would affect her baby’s health once born.

“It’s so cold at night and this must be a health risk for pregnant women,” she said.

Candice Cornelius said she spent eight days at the hospital, alternating between a recliner and mattresses on the floor.

She was booked for a C-section on March 16 and was told to arrive early at the hospital on the day.

“I got to the hospital and there were rows of women sitting on chairs.

“When I asked the doctor on duty, he told me they were all waiting for the same operation,” she said.

She was told the C-section would be done when a bed was free in the maternity ward.

“It was hell for me. I cried so much. I was 40 weeks’ pregnant, and nothing was being done.

“Then every day they told us after 10pm we must not eat [due to the possibility of the operation taking place],” she said.

She said there was no communication and she had to always ask nurses for food.

“Visitors were not allowed inside. I was in pain and had to walk outside to get food from my family.

“Some days I would just sit there and not collect the food.”

Cornelius said the C-section was done on March 22. She was discharged on March 25.

“What I went through I don’t wish upon my worst enemy.”

Another woman, who did not want to be named, said she was admitted on March 17.

She said she was told they were expected to share a mattress.

“I didn’t sleep at all after that as I then had a bad back.

“I was in the hospital for 10 days and had bad experiences with the nurses who think they own that place,” she said

By Phumlani Saul

“Divas concert because we also want to highlight our contribution to the fight against gender-based violencewhich has now been declared the second pandemic in our country.”

The annual cultural flagship picnic themed Ebubeleni Festival is BACK EARLY. The event forms part of the Ebubeleni Festival’s Concert Series as a build-up to the main events in December.

Gqeberha Divas Concert — A Tribute to Women —  is a live music concert dedicated to celebrating, uniting, supporting and empowering women.

Mahambehlala Communications chief executive and event organiser Marc Mahambehlala said:

“this was part of reviving the city’s arts sector and economy after it was severely knocked down by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown for two years.The past two years of the pandemic have drastically impacted negatively on the arts, culture and events industry, but we’ve continued to keep the fires burning by creating some form of employment, providing a platform for local artist and contributing to the economy of Nelson Mandela Bay,” Mahambehlala said.

Now we are working towards rebuilding the industry.”

The concert will be headlined by Gqeberha-born and bred musician, performer and songwriter Ami Faku, supported by afro-soul singer Thoko Makamba, and vibrant and popular Bay DJs Lorna Targaryen and DJ Zazmoney.

The concert will be hosted by radio and TV presenter Sima Fiyo.

The Gqeberha Divas Concert will be held at The Gallery on Produce on April 29.

Music lovers are encouraged to dress up for the show and enjoy live music in honour of women.

The organisers believe artists will appreciate having some form of activity in the city while also earning a bit of income through the event series, especially as the country is starting afresh and working towards regaining its lost economy.

“We are kicking off the concert series with the Divas concert because we also want to highlight our contribution to the fight against gender-based violence, which has now been declared the second pandemic in our country.

“Women should be celebrated and appreciated every day, not only during the set-aside date in August,” Mahambehlala said. 

For the first time in 2021, the countdown to the city’s biggest festival began in April with the inaugural Ebubeleni Fashion Show, where 10 Eastern Cape designers showed their work  alongside several student designers from Nelson Mandela University. 

Usually held in the last week of December, last year’s four-day festival was held early in the month as SA had anticipated a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections that could potentially have led to harsher lockdown restrictions at the time.

Mahambehlala said the Gqeberha Divas concert was a partnership between Mahambehlala Communications, the National Arts Council of SA, the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency and Nkqubela FM.

Tickets cost R200 for general seats, and R300 for VIP, on Webtickets and at Pick n Pay stores.

Doors will open at 6pm.

By Nomalungelo Booi

A Motherwell teen was struck dead by lightning during the sudden storm that broke in Gqeberha on Tuesday afternoon.

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said Athinkosi Nofeliti, 17, died instantly when he was struck by lightning in NU29 while returning home after soccer practice in NU30.

Beetge said Nofeliti was struck at about 5.30pm while walking across an open space close to Sisulu Street in NU29.

“He passed away on the scene — he was on his way home to NU29 after a soccer practice.”  

Beetge said Motherwell SAPS had opened an inquest docket.

By Phumlani Saul

Moments after allegedly murdering his elderly mother, a man died after being knocked over by a car in KwaNobuhle in the early hours of Monday..

Siya Tshem, 26, allegedly assaulted his 72-year-old mother, Nozipho, with a hammer and left her for dead about two hours before he himself was found dead in the street where he had been hit by a car

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the mother and son had travelled from Cape Town for the funeral of Nozipho’s daughter earlier in February.

They were staying at the daughter’s Mondile Street home while in town, and early on Monday an argument between the two allegedly turned violent.

According to police information, it is alleged that at about 2am Nozipho Tshem was sleeping in the living room of her deceased daughter’s house when her son entered the room.

“It is further alleged there was a commotion between the two of them.

“Nozipho was allegedly assaulted with a hammer and suffered multiple wounds to her head.She succumbed to her injuries on the scene while her son fled the house.”

A family member reported the incident.

The motive for the attack was still unknown and a case of murder was under investigation, Naidu said.

While police were at the murder scene, the driver of a Volkswagen Polo arrived at the police station at about 4.30am to report that he had hit a pedestrian with his car in Matanzima Street.

On arrival at the scene, officers found a man lying in the road.

“He was later identified as Siya Tshem, the suspect in the murder of Nozipho Tshem,” Naidu said.

A case of culpable homicide is under investigation with regard to Siya’s death.

By Phumlani Saul

The School Governing Body (SGB) made the decision following a meeting with parents to address the issue at 07h30 on Wednesday morning.

This left the school’s more than 1400 learners and their teachers locked outside the gates of the building in Dower Avenue.

The SGB is believed to be disgruntled due to the shortage of four Heads of Department’s (HOD’s) and five post-level one vacancies.

Acting Principal, William Human, said mostly grade eight and nine learners were affected.

“Certain grade eight and nine classes have been affected with no teaching in some subjects since the beginning of the academic year,” he said.

Human said they need HOD’s for Social Sciences, Commercial Sciences, English, and isiXhosa.

There are also post-level one vacancies for isiXhosa, Afrikaans, Technology, Natural and Social Sciences.

“All these subjects, except Xhosa, then need to be taught in both English and Afrikaans,” he said.

Human said this is a long-running issue that the department has been aware of since last year.

According to the SGB they previously emailed the department to highlight their concerns and to set up a meeting with the Education District Officer (EDO) on Monday.

This meeting, however, was not honoured due to the EDO’s prior commitments. 

The SGB and other concerned parents marched to the town’s district education office after closing the school and obtaining permission from the police to do so.

By Nomalungelo Booi

Kariega teenager who was allegedly accosted and raped on Sunday has identified a man with several injuries, allegedly due to mob justice, as one of the perpetrators.   

As detectives placed the 25-year-old suspect under arrest while he lay in a hospital bed, photographs of a mob justice incident surfaced on social mediaHowever, police said they were still unable to link the two incidents on Tuesday.

In videos widely distributed on Facebook and other social media platforms, a large crowd gathered in what is said to be Rosedale on Monday.As a man lies on the ground, an angry mob surrounds him as they punch and kick him.

On social media, speculation was rife that the man under attack was the alleged rapist.

Another photograph shows three badly beaten men lying on the ground, seemingly unconscious.One of the men is completely naked and the others are naked from the waist down.

Two of the men had their feet bound with rope.

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said a 17-year-old girl opened a case of rape at the Kamesh police station on Sunday.
The girl alleges that she was on her way home when she was accosted by four men in Rosedale.

Beetge said that according to the complainant, only one of the four men had raped her.

On Tuesday, a Kariega Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit investigating officer discovered a suspect in  Provincial Hospital.

“According to the suspect, he was assaulted by community members in Rosedale, but he did not open a case of assault.
The suspect has been implicated by the 17-year-old victim as the man who raped her,” Beetge said.

The man will appear in the  magistrate’s court in Kariega as soon as he is released from hospital.  

He was still in hospital under police guard on Tuesday night. 

“The police do not have any documentation that assault cases had been opened by anyone pertaining to the alleged mob justice incident,” Beetge said

By Lawrence Armoed

KwaDwesi police have asked the public’s assistance in tracing the next of kin of a man whose body was found in an open field in Govan Mbeki on Monday.

Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said local residents discovered the body in Shope Street and notified the police at about 12.48pm.

“Upon further investigation, the members noticed the deceased had sustained multiple injuries on his body,” Janse van Rensburg said.

A case of murder is under investigation

The deceased is estimated to be between the ages of 20 and 25, and was wearing blue jeans with a grey short-sleeve T-shirt and a striped jersey under his T-shirt.”

Anyone with any information about his death, or who can assist in tracing his family or someone that may be able to identify him, can contact SAPS KwaDwesi on 082-442-0964 or their nearest police station. Information can also be shared via the MySAPSAPP.

All information received will be treated as confidential and callers may remain anonymous.

By Nomalungelo Booi

No stranger to the mic, Umhlobo Wenene presenter Putco Mafani is our guest on Behind The Herald Headlines with Daron Mann this week.

The popular broadcast personality was suspended — or “unscheduled” — after a video of him dancing on a table, apparently inside SABC studios, surfaced

Mafani talks about doing the #UmlandoChallenge, a new craze popular on Tik Tok, where participants shake their hips from side to side and up and down.

A self-confessed “jolly good fellow”, Mafani believes that happiness is a way of life and brings results — and that was what inspired his tabletop dance

But, he admits, he could have handled his excitement in the studio a bit better.