By Phumlani Saul

RESIDENTS say corrupt housing officials and estate agents are running a scam and they’re targeting old people.

On Thursday, KwaNobuhle residents in Uitenhage clashed with the sheriff’s officials when they kicked a gogo out of her house.

The residents said the municipal housing officials and estate agents fraudulently sell the houses of the elderly and sick without their consent.

The old people got the four-roomed houses with big yards during the apartheid era.

Residents tried to stop the officials from removing gogo Nomathamsanqa Magwa (67) from her house but failed when cops arrived.

“I never put my house on sale,” the gogo told Daily Sun.

“But in September I got letters from the sheriff that I have to leave my house. I told the neighbours I didn’t put my house on sale and they advised me to stay in my house. They said they would protect me from the sheriff.”

She said the officials arrived and threw her clothes and furniture out of the house.

“Residents asked to see signed papers and the buyer of the house but when that didn’t happen they sent the officials away,” she said.

“But they came back with an army of cops and there was nothing the residents could do.”

Now gogo and her daughter are homeless.

“The officials said I sold my house for R150 000 but that’s a lie. I want to live here until I die. These evil officials robbed me of my house.”

An angry resident Nosamkelo Mehlwana (45) told Daily Sun that last year they sold the house of a 96-year-old madala.

“They lied and said it was him who put it on sale,” she said.

Nelson Mandela Bay spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said: “The community must talk to their ward councillor or the housing department to solve the problem.”

Gogo is temporarily living with neighbours.

By Phumlani Saul

IT’S a sad fact that Mzansi’s schools have become havens for drug pushers.

This was shown again yesterday when cops arrested a pupil at Uitenhage High School in KwaLanga.

Cops said the principal bust the pupil (17) who was found in possession of four dagga bompies.

The pupil, who was apparently about to go and write an Afrikaans test, is suspected of dealing in dagga at the school.

Lieutenant Gerda Swart, a police spokeswoman, told Daily kasi news the pupil was arrested at the school during school hours.

She said cops were called to the scene when the principal received a tip-off and bust the pupil.

“The suspect was caught with dagga bompies with an estimated street value of R8 each.

“The suspect was charged with dealing in dagga. He is expected to appear in court soon.”

Pupils confirmed there were drug dealers at the school.

Parent Nontuthuzelo Magcaka (41) told Daily kasi news: “We are sick and tired of these drug dealers. They are killing the future of our kids. Pupils who sell or use drugs must be punished.”

Nyathi Ntsiko, Uitenhage education district manager, said: “Our school safety unit is attending to drug problems at Uitenhage High School and has involved other relevant departments.

“We’re also waiting for a report from the education development officer in that area.”

By Phumlani Saul

“I WOULD rather live with my goats than be let down by people again.”

This is what Thozamile Dondashe (78) of KwaNobuhle in Uitenhage told DK news.

He said: “I lost my job 15 years ago. In 2007, my wife and three kids left me with a broken heart.

“In 2009, I decided to buy goats with my pension money.”

Thozamile said his RDP house with a shack extension was too big for him alone.

“I was lonely and depressed by all the bad things that have happened in my life. So I decided to have my goats move in to my house.

“People think I’m crazy but they don’t understand that when I’m with my goats, I’m at peace,” he said.

“My friends have also deserted me because wherever I go, I go with my goats. They say they can’t drink with me while I’m sitting with my goats.

“But I tell them to go to hell because no one can separate me from them,” he said.

The madala also spoils his friends. “On pay day, I make sure I buy them a pack of chips, ice-cream and mealies. Then I buy myself beer. But my goats also demand a glass of beer each. They won’t let me drink unless I give them a sip.”

By Daily Kasi News Reporter

Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a man was killed in a road accident on the R72 between East London and Port Alfred on Sunday.

The deputy director of provincial traffic Charles Bramwell reports that the victim was a passenger in a Ford Bantam bakkie which lost control and overturned near Wesley around 12 noon.

Bramwell says a tyre burst and the vehicle rolled.

The Bakkie was being driven by the deceased’s brother who was taken to Port Alfred Hospital with serious injuries.

Both men were thrown out of the bakkie and the deceased passed away on the scene.

The name of the victim has not yet been released.

By Phumlani Saul

A 16-year-old Uitenhage schoolgirl was killed after being trapped under the wheel of a bus.

Police spokesperson, Captain Gerda Swart, says the incident happened in Tamboville on Thursday afternoon.

She said the bus driver had been transporting a group of children home from school and had dropped off the teenager in Ritz Street in Tamboville.

Swart said after the learner alighted and the driver pulled away, she said he felt that he had driven “over something”.

The driver immediately stopped and went to investigate, finding the “girl lying under the left front wheel of the bus”.

Swart said she was declared dead on the scene while the other children on the bus were taken to hospital for treatment for trauma.

“The schoolgirl’s name will be released after a formal identification is completed,” Swart said.

By Phumlani Saul

The Ebubeleni Music Festival marked itself as Nelson Mandela Bay’s flagship event of the year as more than 35,000 festival-goers attended the main festival on Sunday.
The 7th annual music festival was held at the NMB Stadium over three days and included an Urban Festival of hip-hop versus gqom, a night of comedy at the Boardwalk ICC and the Main Festival, which saw tickets sold out.

The eighth edition of the increasingly popular lifestyle festival is set for 27th to 29th December in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.

Ebubeleni Project Manager Marc Mahambehlala said: ” Tourist visitor numbers increase enormously in the Bay during the festive season especially around the festival dates,”

” Award-winning, top of the charts acts have been lined-up to ensure the sold-out sign remain hoisted high for Ebubeleni Festival.” He said.

Mahambehlala added : ” The Urban music leg of Ebubeleni will kick things off on December 27 with a trinity of hot music genres of Hip-Hop, Gqom and Amapiano. Even more blazing are artists on the line up including Cassper Nyovest, AKA, Kwesta, Sho Madjozi, Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, De Mthunda & Njelic, DJ Sumbody, Moonchild Sanelly, Prince Kaybee and adding a taste of naughty but niceness will be Zodwa Wabantu.”

Laughter will add to the healing effect of the friendliness of Nelson Mandela Bay the moment Comedy Night springs to action at the Boardwalk ICC on December 28th. Billed to make sure all are in stitches are Ntosh Madlingozi, Siya Seya, Trevor Gumbi, Nkosinathi Maki and Skhumba Hlophe.

Enraptured and fired up performances are scheduled for presentation at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on the 29th at the Main Event. More than eager to serve music patrons on the day are Zonke, Vusi Nova, Ami Faku, Tsepo Tshola, DJ Tira, Simmy, Zer012 Finest, Anathi, Msaki, O47 and Jaziel Brothers. Socialite, radio and television personality Somizi Mhlongo is set to ensure servings are smooth and at the right time as MC Umhlobo Wenene’s popular presenter, Mafa Bavuma.

By Phumlani Saul

Two Port Elizabeth men have been jailed for an effective 25 years for the murder of two-year-old Hakeem Baartman, who died after being caught in the crossfire of a shooting in Helenvale in 2017.

Marshall Thomas and Maxwell Muller were sentenced in the High Court on Monday.

A 17-year-old youth, who was the target of the shooting, was wounded in the neck when police said Thomas approached him outside a house in Hartebees Street and started shooting.

The teenage victim ran into the street while Thomas continued firing and little Hakeem who was playing in the street was fatally wounded in the head by a stray bullet.

Thomas was arrested in May 2018, while Muller, who was later identified as an accomplice, was arrested on 4 February 2019 while in custody for another murder and attempted murder case.

Eastern Cape police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga, welcomed the sentencing.

She said it was the “first Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit gang conviction and sentence achieved in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro”.

By Phumlani Saul

Two men are expected to appear in the Graaff Reinet Magistrates Court on Monday for the possession of suspected stolen sheep.

Spokesperson Captain Khaya Tonjeni says the two men, aged 35 and 52, were arrested on the N9 near Aberdeen on Sunday.

He says police who were patrolling the route between Graaff Reinet and Aberdeen saw a vehicle parked on the side of the road and stopped to investigate.

The owner told police that he had run out of petrol, but members became suspicious when they heard kicking noises coming from the boot.

Tonjeni says upon further investigation four sheep were found in the boot of the car.

Police confiscated the vehicle and arrested both men.

Meanwhile, police in Mthatha recovered 20 sheep and 19 lambs which were hidden at the Ethwa Forrest.

Tonjeni says the sheep were identified and returned to the rightful owner.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

By Daily Kasi News Reporter

Port Elizabeth Police have confiscated approximately R2 million worth of liquor during an eleven-hour operation in various parts of Walmer.

The sting operation which kicked-off at 4 pm on Tuesday was conducted alongside The Liquor Control Board to ascertain the legitimacy of taverns in the area.

Police spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu says the police held the operation in the G-West area with special focus on clamping down on shebeens and illegal taverns.

She says one shebeen was closed during the operation and liquor amounting close to 2 million rands was seized.

Naidoo says a woman in her 40’s has been arrested and charged for dealing in liquor.