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.”

By Phumlani Saul

Eastern Cape Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba, has confirmed nine COVID19 cases in Nelson Mandela Bay.
She says they are also waiting for confirmation on two others.

The positive cases in the Metro are in Summerstrand, Walmer, Blue Water Bay, Motherwell and one in Uitenhage.

MEC Gomba says there is currently a patient in the ICU at Livingstone Hospital who tested positive for Covid19.

The patient will now be moved to the isolation ward.

As of Friday, there are 17 confirmed cases in the Eastern Cape, this includes two in East London, three in the Sarah Baartman District, one in the Chris Hani Municipality and one in the Amathole district.

Gomba says so far one patient in the Eastern Cape has recovered from Covid19.

By Mzwandile Bhefile

Lockdown meaningless in KwaLanga informal settlements

Joshua Matshidiso, 68, had both legs amputated due to an infection in 2010. On Monday 30 March, he joined other social grant beneficiaries who rose before sunrise to collect their grants at a nearby retailer pay point in KwaLanga, near Uitenhage.

The SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) had made provision to enable grant beneficiaries to access their funds during the nationwide lockdown to disrupt the spread of Covid-19.

Matshidiso arrived at the KwaLanga cash payout point at 9am and by 11:25am he had collected his grant and bought a few essential items – eggs, milk and mielie meal. He wheeled himself to his RDP house about two kilometres from the SASSA pay point. He says that with the pandemic around he wouldn’t dare risk asking someone to push his chair.

“I am trying to keep myself away from the crowds,” he said. He applauded the services at the SASSA payout point, saying the social distancing rule was observed throughout the process.

But outside, Daily kasi news saw many people queueing with no space between them. Some were waiting for their turn to buy essentials and some waiting to cash out their grants. Preference was being given to the elderly and the disabled.

In Uitenhage CBD, people queued closely together to get their social grants.

Sidney Tshibonza, 40, lives in eMahlabathini informal settlement opposite KwaLanga. He lost the use of both legs in 2016 after an accident at work and also uses a wheelchair. He arrived at SASSA grant payout point and was helped in 30 minutes. After buying essentials he wheeled himself back to his one-room shack.

In KwaLanga and surrounding informal settlements there were few taxis on the road, but when DKTeam visited, the streets were still full of residents.

Small groups of people were sharing a bottle of alcohol and also passing around a cigarette. Alcohol prices have shot up. A 750ml beer, which normally cost R22, was being sold for R35.

In eMahlabathini informal settlement, behind KwaLanga.

When DKTeam asked about Covid-19, some said they did not know what it was, though they had heard about the national lockdown from neighbours.

Here over 1,000 families use one communal tap and there are no toilets, according to community leader Keanetse Lesesa, who was washing her clothes at the tap. On the street.

Joshua Matshidiso, who collected his social grant in Uitenhage CBD on Wednesday, says the lockdown rules were obeyed inside the SASSA paypoint. Photo by Mzwandile Bhefile

By Mkhuseli Sizani

Police and soldiers impounded taxis in Enjoli Square taxi rank in KwaZakhele, Port Elizabeth, on Tuesday, after some taxi operators went on a wildcat strike. They were demanding compensation during the national lockdown to disrupt the spread of Covid-19. Hundreds of social grant beneficiaries and shoppers were left stranded.

As early as 5am, taxi drivers blocked roads with their vehicles. They chased informal taxis away, ordering them not to ferry people. The M17 to Motherwell, Daku Road, Enjoli Square, Enjoli and New Brighton roads were blocked.

Police used stun grenades and rubber bullets. The K9 dog unit was called to arrest the protesters. Soldiers and military police arrived in armoured cars and shut down the taxi rank. Taximen and taxi fare collectors were arrested.

Luwezo Fati, a passenger from Wells Estate, was hit by rubber bullets. “This is painful because I only came here to buy food,” he said.

Pensioners Lovey and Nomsa Pike were among many left stranded. Nomsa said, “I came all the way from KwaNoxolo Township to get my [social] grant at Shoprite in Emagaleni township. I arrived here at 6:30am and now is 11:30am, but I can’t go back home because there are no taxis.”

Nobuntu Vungayi, 73, who was left stranded at Kenako Mall, said, “Jikeleza taxi drivers are charging us R30 and R50 to take us to our homes, instead of a normal R11 taxi fee.”

Mawonga Johnson of Uncedo Taxi Association said, “This government treats us as fools. We are not consulted … Our working hours and number of passengers were reduced, why are we not being compensated for that? These taxis are still owned by banks and we have to pay their big instalments.”

“A 15-seater taxi is only allowed to carry seven passengers. A six-seater Avanza taxi has to carry three passengers. We cannot make a living with such a little income,” he said.

“Only the social grant earners are important to this government. Since yesterday our working hours were increased from 5am to 8pm to transport the SASSA beneficiaries. We decided not to work today in order for this government to see the need and importance of our services in this country. We will protest until our demands are met.”

But Kwayiyo Msustwana, spokesperson for Uncedo Taxi Association, distanced the organisation from the taxi drivers’ actions.

“On Wednesday last week a decision was taken and our chairperson, Zamani Rasmeni, ordered us to tell our members to suspend services after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the 21 days of the national lockdown last week.

“Since Friday, we suspended all our operations heeding the President’s call. We took that decision because we did not want our members to have their vehicles impounded. If someone has his vehicle impounded while we suspended our services it’s his own problem.”

“What happened today was a result of the members who did not receive our chairperson’s call that no Uncedo Taxi Association will operate up and until the President makes another call that we can operate again after the lockdown,” he said.

Msustwana said, “It would be better to be compensated during this lockdown … There is no way we can allow our taxis to transport one person from Motherwell for R12. We will be running our business at a loss.”

Songezo Mpanda, Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Bay Regional Council, which falls under the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), said, “Money is not more important than our lives. We should heed to the national lockdown. The lockdown is meant to protect us, the drivers, commuters and families.”

“SANTACO is handling this matter with Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula to get compensated,” he said.

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said he was awaiting final confirmation but about ten taxis were impounded and several arrests were made.

By Phumlani Saul
Community members in Rocklands farm near Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape made a citizen’s arrest on Tuesday following the death of five people in an alleged arson attack.

A police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci says a community member allegedly saw the 32-year-old suspect setting the fire.

The suspect’s 30-year-old girlfriend, her 46-year-old mother, her 24-year-old sister and her five-month-old nephew died in the fire, including a 34-year-old pastor who was in the house at the time.

Colonel Soci says the suspect was handed over to the police and he is expected to appear in the local Magistrates Court soon.

He will be charged with five counts of murder including arson.

Police would not speculate on the motive of the incident.

On Tuesday, a delegation from the provincial government, including two MEC’s and the mayors of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and Kwaduka Local Council, visited Rocklands farm on Tuesday.

Acting executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Tshonono Buyeye was part of the delegation urged communities to remain calm and stop abusing alcohol.

He said Government would not tolerate any violence targeting women, children and vulnerable groups during the national lockdown.

By Phumlani Saul

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Metro Police fired the first salvo to show that the transgression of regulations, imposed to curb the transmission of the novel coronavirus, will be enforced by fining a Central nightclub R 2500 for selling alcohol after 6pm.

Metro Police Chief Yolande Faro said the offense was penalised as part of law enforcement patrols focused on law enforcement on Friday night in Central.

The non-compliance fine is in accordance with regulation 8 as published in Government Gazette 43107 that limits the sale, dispensing or transportation of liquor stating:

8  (1). All on-consumption premises selling liquor, including taverns, restaurants and clubs, must be closed with immediate effect, or accommodate no more than 50 persons at any time…

    (4) All on-consumption premises selling liquor referred to in subregulation (1) must be closed –

      (i) between 18:00 and 09:00 the next morning on weekdays and Saturdays.

Shane Brown, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Director of Disaster Management, said this decisive action is indicative of the stern consequences facing individuals disregarding the regulations published as part of the national disaster proclamation.

“We would like to appeal to clergy and funeral directions and families to ensure that no more than 100 people are present at church or funeral services.

“We are working closely with the police to ensure that compliance is enforced. No exceptions will be tolerated,” Brown said.

By Daily Kasi News Reporter

Tough-talking health MEC Sindiswa Gomba, who held a press briefing with the SA Council of Churches on Monday morning, said patient one — who  allegedly claimed to be exercising her right to freedom of movement after testing positive for the virus following her trip from Germany — should not infringe on the rights of others.

The provincial government is scrambling to quarantine Eastern Cape’s Covid-19 patient zero, who has been roaming around East London in defiance of the state’s containment measures.

Gomba said: “[She] places people at unnecessary risk and as such, we want to call on law enforcement agencies to deal decisively with anyone found to be in contravention of the national state of disaster regulations that have been gazetted.