By Phumlani Saul

Volkswagen Group South Africa has donated 150 beds to the isolation facility at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

The motor giant says this is in support of the local and provincial government’s efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the Metro.

The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality recently announced that the stadium would be used to isolate patients who had been infected with the coronavirus.

The facility will be managed by the Department of Health, with support from the Municipality.

VWSA was approached by the Department of Health to assist in equipping the facility to house more patients. Within the space of a week, the company answered this call and sourced the required 150 bed bases. These beds were delivered and handed over to the government by VWSA and the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.

“VWSA remains committed to supporting the Business Chamber and local government in their efforts to contain Covid-19 and save lives,” said Thomas Schaefer, Volkswagen Group South Africa Chairman and Managing Director.

Volkswagen main entrance in Uitenhage

By ANDREW Lloyd

Eastern Cape health MEC Sindiswa Gomba has apologised for the “wrong impression” created when she uttered the word andidikwe (I am fed up) after a zoom briefing with health minister Zweli Mkhize on Tuesday evening.

Gomba, together with other provincial health MECs, was giving an update on efforts to combat Covid-19.

The MEC said she had noted that it may have come across as though she was fed up with the briefing, however, that was not the case, adding that she was not heard saying ndiyatsha (I am getting hot) shortly thereafter.

“I understand the impression that was created when I said andidikwe’ ndiyatsha during the briefing.

“At the time of saying that I was moving away from the laptop and taking off the doek.

“I profusely apologise for the wrong impression that this created as I am committed in the fight against this pandemic,” she said.

Gomba said she had had a long day visiting hospitals in the Mthatha area during the rainy and cold weather on Tuesday.

She said exhaustion had got the better of her as she forgot to mute her microphone after the virtual media briefing when she expressed how uncomfortable she was, having worn warm attire since morning.

Eastern Cape health MEC Sindiswa Gomba apologises to health minister Zweli Mkhize for her ‘andidikwe’ blunder

By Nomathamsanqa Magwa

Umhlobo Wenene FM listeners have been plunged into mourning after the shock death of popular sports anchor and news producer Loyiso Sitsheke on Wednesday.

Stunned Umhlobo Wenene station manager Phumzile Mnci said he had not come to terms with the sudden death of the popular presenter.

“Where do I start?” he said.“We received the news of Loyd’s passing this afternoon (on Wednesday afternoon)….. we are shocked.

“It is with great shock and sadness…..”

Sitsheke was on air on Umhlobo Wenene FM on Tuesday and stunned listeners took to social media to communicate their shock after the news broke on Wednesday.

Mnci paid tribute to Sitsheke and said his death is a huge loss to the nation and not just to the radio station’s listeners.

He described him as an extremely talented presenter who is leaving behind a powerful legacy after he grew the listernership of all the station’s sports shows.

“It hurts, these news hurt so much, it is devastating actually,” he said.

“We want to send our condolences to the family, the fans and also the millions of listeners of Umhlobo Wenene FM.

“We are saying to them their loss is our loss, their loss is the nation’s loss.”

Details of his funeral arrangements will be communicated at a later stage.

The late Umhlobo Wenene FM popular sports presenter Loyiso Sitsheke.

By Phumlani Saul

Police in Uitenhage have launched a manhunt for an unknown gunman who shot and killed a 26-year-old man in Rosedale.

Spokesperson, Captain Gerda Swart, says the man was standing with a group of friends when they were approached by an unknown suspect who suddenly fired several shots at them, at the corners of Lanner Crescent and Kamesh Road, after midday on Thursday.

She says the man sustained multiple shots to his upper body and was rushed to a local hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Swart says while the motive for the murder is unclear at this stage his identity will only be revealed once his next of kin are informed of his death.

Police are urging anyone with information relating to the fatal shooting, to contact them as soon as possible.

By DK news Reporter

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation this evening on additional economic and social relief measures that form part of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The President’s address flows from recent deliberations at Cabinet, the National Coronavirus Command Council, the President’s Coordinating Council, and the National Economic Development and Labour Council, among others.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko says the Presidency will announce the time for the President’s address during the course of today.

The address will be broadcast on radio and television and will be streamed live.

By Phumlani Saul

Police are maintaining a strong presence in Kwanobuhle in Uitenhage after Jikeleza taxi drivers whose vehicles were impounded, protested outside the police station on Monday.

National police spokesperson, Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, said about 40 taxi drivers converged in front of the police station in Mkoko Street to demand the release of their vehicles.

He said about 60 taxis were impounded in various operations after they were found to be unroadworthy and the drivers were also fined for contravening the Disaster Management Act.

“Police were forced to use stun grenades to disperse the crowd that was burning tyres at the entrance of the station,” Naidoo said.

A 28-year-old man was arrested for public violence and will face an additional charge of contravening the Disaster Management Act.

“Currently, there is a strong police presence from other stations and specialised units to assist with patrols and enforce lockdown regulations,” Naidoo said.

Meanwhile, he said a case of public violence is under investigation after a group of people tried to loot a spaza shop in Helenvale, Port Elizabeth, also on Monday morning.

Naidoo said the crowd started throwing stones when they were requested to disperse.

He said Public Order Police Unit members used teargas rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

Nothing was taken from the spaza shop and no one was arrested.

Protesters in KwaNobuhle near Uitenhage burning tyres in front of Mkoko Police Station. Photo by Phumlani Saul

By Nomathamsanqa Magwa

A 15-year-old Port Elizabeth youth was arrested on Saturday for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm with the serial number filed off.

By Nomathamsanqa Magwa

Two teenagers appeared in the Port Elizabeth juvenile Court on Wednesday for allegedly robbing a blind woman in Central.
Spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg says the children, aged 16 and 17 allegedly robbed the elderly lady who was walking home from the shops.
The suspects robbed her of cash and cigarettes she had in her pockets.
Captain Janse van Rensburg says a police detective who was on his way to court, witnessed the incident taking place in Pearson street and requested back-up.
The teenagers were arrested and charged with robbery as well as contravening the lockdown regulations by not staying at home.
The 61-year-old victim, who uses a walking stick, was returning home from the shops when the incident occurred.
The children were released in the custody of their guardians and are expected to be back in court on the 8th of July.

By Phumlani Saul

Nelson Mandela Bay environmental health practitioners, led by deputy speaker of the Eastern Cape legislature, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, were out in full force at the Ziyabuya Shopping Centre And KwaNobuhle, KwaDwesi to sanitise public spaces.

The visit of the Eastern Cape delegation marks the second week into the 21-day lockdown implemented by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa from midnight on Thursday, 26 March to midnight 16 April.

The delegation said that the municipality had done well and pledged their unwavering support for all the efforts it had made thus far in the fight against the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Qoboshiyane also interacted with members of the public and emphasised the importance of social distancing and good hygiene practices.

“Now that the numbers of people in the streets have reduced, we felt that it would be proper to disinfect more and more public spaces,” the deputy speaker said.

“The Eastern Cape has launched testing and screening sites as one of the measures to contain the spread of the virus, and this will also be rolled out locally as of this week,” Qoboshiyane said.

Mxolisi Vena (23) told Daily kasi news ” This is the great initiative that government Is going he want us to be safe people must respect South African President Cyril Ramaphosa”he said

The Covid-19 death toll in South Africa has increased to 12 and the number of confirmed infections in the country to 1,686.

Nelson Mandela Bay municipality health workers spray the Ziyabuya Shopping Centre, KwaDwesi, during the lockdown, as part of its plan to sanitise public spaces in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic

By Phumlani Saul

The Eastern Cape Health Department Health Department has moved to assure all health workers that it will continue to distribute masks and protective clothing to frontline health workers.

This assurance followed a protest by staff at Dora Nginza Hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay on Monday.

In a statement, Department spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo, said hospital management has since corrected the situation and distributed protective clothing to staff.

“Even in this instance, we would like to reassure all health workers at Dora Nginza Hospital and across the province that their safety will not be compromised as they are in the front line in the fight against Covid-19,” he said.

Kupelo said their medical depots are also distributing protective gear to all health facilities across the Eastern Cape in line with a directive from the Head of Department, Dr Thobile Mbengashe for health workers to wear masks at all times.

“Over and above the masks that all workers have to wear, the department is ensuring that there are enough gloves, aprons, disposable gowns, and eye protection goggles.”

“The health of our staff is paramount as we need all hands on deck during this challenging period. The last thing we need is for workers, who are crucial in the fight against this pandemic, to start panicking,” Kupelo said.

“We are calling for calm and promise that workers will receive all the protective gear as directed by Dr Mbengashe.”