BY PHUMLANI SAUL

The All-White Heritage Day Picnic scheduled to take place on Sunday the 24th of September 2023 has been postponed to a later date.

This is due to extreme weather predictions from SA Weather Services and recommendations from the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Disaster Management office.

The South African Weather Services has issued two impact-based weather warnings Level 5 for disruptive rain and damaging winds over the period 24-09-2023 to 25 – 09 -2023. In the interest of the attendees the Nelson Mandela Bay Disaster Management office recommended that the event be postponed as the venue will not be conducive to patrons and structures under these weather conditions.

As the organizers of this prestigious event, artists, sponsors, media partners and all stake holders are saddened by this turn of events, which is beyond any one’s control, however, as much as all measures were in place to host a great event, the safety of our patrons is our main priority.

We would like to reassure and reiterate to our festinos that the All-White Heritage Day Picnic has not been cancelled, but postponed. A new date will be communicated to ticket holders in due course.

For more information & any queries email info@ebubelenifest.co.za or call 041 582 2553.

BY LUCKY SOLANI

THIS baby girl is just four months old, but she’s already come close to losing her life three times.

BUT COPS TOLD THE DAD THEY CAN DO NOTHING AS THE BABY HASN’T BEEN HARMED YET.

The baby’s latest brush with death came on Friday when she nearly suffocated in a hot, disconnected fridge.

The 38-year-old mum didn’t deny shutting her baby in the hot, disconnected fridge.

“I don’t want to kill my baby, but just get her father’s attention,” she told Daily Kasi News.

The mum and the 46-year-old dad can’t be named to protect their baby’s identity.

A neighbour told the DK News team she found the baby in the hot fridge in the couple’s shack in Zinyoka ,Kosovo squatter camp on Friday morning .

The baby had been there at least 10 minutes.

When the DkTeam went with the dad to the Dwesi police Station on Friday to report the incident the cops refused to open a case.

They said that unless the child was harmed there was nothing they could do.

But Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut said the father must lay a complaint with police station management.

“No one must be sent away without being helped. The father must go back to the police station to see the management and he will be helped. A complaint must be laid against the cop who refused to help, then we can take it up from there,” said Traut. The father said when his wife got angry she took out her frustrations on their baby.

He alleged that she put her baby’s life in danger twice ­before:

When the child was only six weeks old, the mum held her by her ankles, saying she didn’t care if the baby died.

The dad saved the child from freezing to death after her mum left her outside in a ­trolley.

Mum and dad have been ­married for more than 10 years and have two kids. He has four children from his first wife.

The dad said his wife got ­upset when he failed to buy their two children Christmas clothes but instead called his ex-wife before Christmas to ask how the four kids were.

The mum said: “It’s difficult to be the wife but not get the attention you deserve.

“Since my husband has been talking to his ex-wife things have been different.

“He doesn’t care about our children anymore.”

The dad said his wife put their baby in the fridge to “fix” him when he dialled her by mistake while trying to call his ex-wife.

“What kind of mother does that to her own child?” said the father.

“She is cruel. Things will get out of hand one day. I have made mistakes, but she shouldn’t take it out on our child.

BY NOMALUNGELO BOOI

LINDIWE MASINA (41) was walking to work last Wednesday when she suddenly found herself surrounded by a pack of evil dogs.

The dogs attacked . . . and soon she was dragged to the ground.

HER LIFELESS BODY LAY IN THE SUN, THE DOGS FEASTING ON HER BLEEDING FLESH.

The attack took place at about 7am last Wednesday morning in Zwide, nearGqeberha , Eastern Cape Her mother, Nothobile Masina, said what the dogs have done to her child is cruel.

She said the fact that the owners are denying that their dogs killed her daughter makes it even harder to accept.

“I sent family representatives to talk to the family but they said their dogs don’t eat raw meat,”

Nothobile said. Lindiwe’s father, David Masina, said the family is in shock after the incident.

“I want the owner of the dogs to bury my child. They are denying the allegations but the least they can do is bury her or refund us the money we have spent for the funeral.

We are pensioners. We don’t have money,” he said. The madala said he wants the dogs to Gqeberha SPCA Inspector Andrew Kekana said they have taken nine animals, five puppies and four full-grown dogs, from the family.

“We’ll go back for the others because some of them ran away when we came to fetch them,” he said. “We advise people not to have so many dogs because they are a threat to the community and to themselves.” Inspector Kekana gave these tips to dog owners:

People should not keep more dogs than they can maintain.

Dogs should be kept in properly fenced areas so they can’t run wild.

Owners should train their dogs. Dogs that are treated aggressively will be aggressive.

Dogs should not be chained up as this limits their movement and makes them angry.

Don’t keep many dogs in one constricted area.

BY BULELWA VENA

RESIDENTS of KwaNobuhle in Kariega, Eastern Cape, only answer nature’s call when they are really desperate.

This is because they haven’t been able to flush their toilets for three months because there is no running water.

Resident Monde Plaatjies (62) said they were sometimes forced to use a bucket to relieve themselves.

“People can’t use the little water they have to flush the toilet because water tankers come after a day or two,” he said.

Another resident Nosipho Stofile (60) said: “We are a family of four and it is difficult to live without water. We used to get water between 2am and 5am before it was cut completely in February. We’re frustrated with this situation. We want the municipality to intervene and make sure that water tankers visit our areas regularly because they are no longer visiting us daily.” 

Nelson Mandela Bay spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said: “The metro is counting days before half of the city runs dry. If no significant rain falls in the catchment areas in the coming days, the city will be faced with an unprecedented water disaster. The areas that will be affected by the water outage constitute 40% of the city and include the western suburbs, Summerstrand, Blue Horizon Bay, KwaNobuhle and peri-urban areas such as Greenbushes and St Albans.”

Mniki urged residents to reduce their consumption to the lowest possible percentage.

He said they were aware some parts of the area have had no water for some time and they have been sending water tank trucks to help the community.

BY PHUMLANI SAUL

The highly anticipated Heritage Day: All White Picnic is set to return this September 24 at Victoria Park. Following its previous successful editions, this year’s event promises to be bigger, better, and more memorable than ever before.

All White Picnic has become a staple event on the city’s social calendar, attracting a diverse crowd of partygoers.

The annual daytime all-white themed picnic, in celebration of Heritage Day, is back again this year – featuring a diverse line-up, with big names such as Thandiswa Mazwai.

Since its inauguration last year, this live music event is a great addition to Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape’s events calendar. 

It will take place on Sunday, September 24, at Victoria Park.

The event’s main focus is music, but includes a number of other elements which make it unique against other offerings.

This lifestyle event is aimed at celebrating Heritage Day while creating employment opportunities for artists, SMMEs and PDI service providers, vendors/food trucks and local establishments, which will all benefit from visitors and locals who attend the event.

The event’s loyal festinos cannot wait for this date to show off their beautiful white-with-a-touch-of-tradition outfits, mostly designed by Eastern Cape’s talented designers, boasting the proudly South African cloths, beadwork and styles. 

The line-up this year boasts multi-award-winning singers, Bethusile Mcinga, Big Zulu, Lwah Ndlunkulu, Mandisi Dyantyis, Zain-SA, Luckeez Mfowethu, DJ Mleister, DJ Mthiza the Versatile and Andy Ndlazilwana. 

Amaza Ntshanga, Lusanda Mbane, Makaziwe Tsako and Slujah will be programme directors of this very hot line-up.

The second annual All White Heritage Day Picnic is made possible by Ebubeleni Festival and Sandla Black, in collaboration with the Department of Sport, Recreation. Arts and Culture, Mzansi Magic Music, Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, Umhlobo Wenene, Tru FM and Nkqubela FM.

Tickets to the event are available at Webtickets, Pick n Pay and Boxer Stores, and start from R355 for general, R1 200 for VIP, and cooler box admission tickets are R100. No tickets will be sold at the gate. 

The dress code is all white, with a touch of heritage/cultural. Gates open at 09:00 and the event starts at 11:00 until 18:00. No persons under 18 will be allowed.

BY AZOLA JANUARY

At least five people died in a mass shooting at a house in Gelvandale late Sunday night.

The deceased — three men and two women — were staying in the backyard of the main house in Koedoe Road.

The shooting occurred at about 11.30pm. 

One victim was found in the foyer of the dwelling while two were in the bedroom. The remaining two were in the bathroom.

When The Herald arrived at the scene just after 3am, three distraught men were attempting to reattach a broken gate. 

They said they were still making sense of the ordeal.

“A group of guys just entered the house and shot them dead … We are also seeking answers.”

From within the house, sorrowful cries and chants could be heard echoing loudly.

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu confirmed the shooting.

“I can confirm five people died in Koedoe street,” Naidu said.

‘[I] will issue a statement once I have all the details.”

Community activist, Pamela Mabini, who was at the scene, described the incident as “senseless”.

“It is an unfathomable tragedy that underscores the urgent need for comprehensive gun reform,” Mabini said.

“Thoughts and prayers alone will not bring an end to this senseless violence.

“It’s time for meaningful action to address the root causes of gun violence in our society. We must come together, regardless of our differences, to protect our communities and ensure a safer future for all work together with police.”

BY XOLA ANTONI

The Eastern Cape education department has condemned a brazen robbery at Nomathamsanqa Primary School in Khayamnandi, Despatch. 

The police have appealed to the community for assistance to track down five men who allegedly forced their way in during classes and held staff at gunpoint.

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the armed robbers took two laptops, five cellphones, a set of keys and an undisclosed amount of cash.

The incident happened on Tuesday last week.

“It is alleged that at about 12.45pm, the five suspects stormed into the staff room armed with guns, and robbed the staff. 

“Police are investigating a case of business robbery. 

“The community’s assistance is sought in tracing the suspects.” 

Any person with information is urged to contact detective Sergeant Ruan Nel on 082-441-7900, or the nearest police station. 

Education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima slammed the school robbery.

“We condemn attacks on schools by thugs who seek to make them soft targets,” he said.

“We are co-operating with the police and urge the community not to harbour these criminals. 

“Stealing and vandalising our schools is a setback to communities.   

“A school is a centre for community life and should always be protected, as it helps to change the economic and social standard of society.” 

Nomathamsanqa Primary is not the only school in Nelson Mandela Bay to fall victim to criminals over the past year. 

Armed robbers struck at Daniel’s Public Primary School in Zwide in November. 

This resulted in enraged residents staging a protest at the school, barring staff and pupils from entering.

Other schools such as Melisizwe Primary in Motherwell, Mzimhlophe Lower Primary, also in Zwide, and Inkqubela Primary in Kwazakhele have been targeted.

BY LUVUYO MEHLWANA

MUMMY, when are we going to school like other kids?

This was the question Nonqaba Ngcumbe’s kids asked her on Friday , 15 September as thousands of children returned to school.

But the 32-year-old mother of three from Gqeberha , Eastern Cape, can’t enrol her seven and six-year-old in school or apply for social grants as she is unable to get birth certificates for them.

“I’m unable to get birth certificates for my children because my mother refused to do the documentation so that I can have an ID.

Without birth certificates, I’m unable to enrol my kids in school or apply for social grants,” said Nonqaba.

She said she has been pleading with her mother for the past 13 years to sign the documents, but she refused.

“She told me she wants me to suffer like she suffered. On this basis Home Affairs refused to issue me an ID.

“Not having an ID means I won’t be able to register my children’s births and their future is doubtful. I have tried everything to get documentation, but my efforts have been in vain,” she said.

Without birth certificates, I’m unable to enrol my kids in school or apply for social grants,” said Nonqaba.

She said she has been pleading with her mother for the past 13 years to sign the documents, but she refused.

She told me she wants me to suffer like she suffered. On this basis Home Affairs refused to issue me an ID.

“Not having an ID means I won’t be able to register my children’s births and their future is doubtful. I have tried everything to get documentation, but my efforts have been in vain,” she said.

Nonqaba said she has missed a lot of opportunities and can’t even apply for a job or register for the Covid-19 social relief grant. 

“I survive on piece jobs,” she said.

Social Development provincial spokesman Mzukisi Solani said: “It is a very sad situation where you find children being prejudiced against because they don’t have documents. 

“The department will profile these children and their mother and liaise with the relevant departments. We want these children to benefit from what is their constitutional right to education.”

Daily Kasi’s attempts to get hold of Nonqaba’s mother were fruitless as her house was locked.

BY NOMALUNGELO BOOi

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has urged motorists to be cautious on the roads due to high tides flooding parking lots, the freeway, and neighbouring streets.

According to the SA Weather Service (SAWS), the flooding, due to a storm surge as a result of the spring high tide and high sea state in excess of 6m, was impacting Willows Mangold Pool, St Francis Bay, and Kings Beach.

Gqeberha SAWS meteorologist Lelo Kleinbooi said she expected the wave heights to continue to be between 6-9m along the Eastern Cape coastline.

“The waves will start subsiding at 4-5.5m on Monday morning and to below 4m from late afternoon on Monday.”

The storm surge, Kleinbooi said, was an abnormal volume of water accumulating against the coastline, manifesting as a raised sea level which can result in coastal flooding.

“This happens when you have a deep or intense low-pressure system passing through, and in our case an intense cold-front which passed south of the country.

“This results in a tight pressure gradient which causes strong winds that enhance the sea state. Additionally, if you have a new or full moon with this, you will have a good chance of a storm surge as expected waves will be enhanced even further during high tide.

“It’s called a spring tide, not because of the season, but because the water ‘springs’ higher and lower than when the sun and moon are at right angles to each other, causing less extreme tidal changes.”

She added that the storm surge could still potentially affect places along the coast between Plettenberg Bay and Fish River mouth.

“The potential occurrence will significantly lessen from [Sunday] midmorning.”

Kleinbooi said the possible impacts of a storm surge included damage to coastal infrastructure and potential modification of beaches and dunes including beach erosion, vessels at sea taking on water and potentially capsizing, and a general disruption of beachfront activities.

Bay Roads and transport boss Bradley Murray said motorists should drive with caution.

“Residents should be careful on the roads as we are experiencing extreme weather conditions,” Murray said, adding that no casualties had been reported.

“We have seen footage and photos of the N2 filled with rocks and debris. We are sending out teams to assess.”

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said its emergency services responded to Mangolds Pool Resort on Saturday afternoon where a number of caravans and structures were comprised by the high tides.

“A number of people [and animals] were safely evacuated — one dog, a bird, two women, two children, and three men,” NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said.

“No injuries were reported.”

In the Western Cape, areas such as Gordon’s Bay, Three Anchor Bay, Sandy Bay, and Still Bay, were also affected on Saturday.

Lambinon said at Sandy Bay, the NSRI swiftly acted upon reports from eyewitnesses regarding a teenager on a bodyboard being trapped in rip currents.

Before their arrival, the teen successfully extricated himself from the water without any issues.

At Three Anchor Bay, a 25-year-old man, from Johannesburg, found himself caught in rip currents but managed to rescue himself.

Meanwhile, in Table Bay, a man was rushed to hospital due to hypothermia, but is expected to make a full recovery.

BY SITHANDIWE VELAPHI

Daily Dispatch senior reporter Mkhuseli Sizani has died.

Sizani, 42, died in hospital in Kariega (formerly Uitenhage) on Tuesday evening.Born in the Eastern Cape farming town of Alexandria, Sizani grew up in Gqeberha.

Before joining the Dispatch in May, Sizani wrote for the Daily Sun and GroundUp.

Sizani, who loved covering people’s stories and socioeconomic issues, covered the Nelson Mandela Bay area while working  with the Daily Sun.

Later, at GroundUp, he travelled to the former Transkei to cover stories.

At the Daily Dispatch, Sizani continued to cover socioeconomic issues.

In May, he wrote a story about homeless mothers battling to make ends meet for their children.

In July, Sizani wrote a story about 23 villages in ward 10 in Dikeni (formerly Alice) under the Raymond Mhlaba municipality who were forced to share water with animals because the Amathole District Municipality failed to supply them with water..

His family as well as colleagues, past and present, expressed shock following Sizani’s death.

Journalist Luvuyo Mehlwana, who worked closely with Sizani at the Daily Sun in Gqeberha, said: “I don’t have words to describe how I feel.

“Mkhuseli took me under his supervision.

He roped me in and everything that I can talk of about journalism is because of Mkhuseli.

“He would offer constructive criticism if he was not happy with a certain story.

“Mkhuseli educated me about how important it is for a journalist to have a unique writing style.

“He loved to share his knowledge,” Mehlwana said

Sizani’s brother, Fundile, said: “He loved offering advice and encouraging people.

“He would share his knowledge when one encountered problems. He loved interacting with people.

“We are still shocked. It’s difficult to process the news of his death,” Fundile said.

Dispatch senior journalist Vuyolwethu Sangotsha, who previously worked with Sizani at the Daily Sun, said Sizani was a workaholic who was passionate about giving a voice to the voiceless.

“Our paths first crossed when we were both young reporters freelancing for the Daily Sun,”  Sangotsha said.

“I remember how he used to highlight the plight of the poor through his work and the powers-that-be would react by improving the bad conditions faced by communities he had exposed.”

He said Sizani was a down-to-earth person, always willing to assist his colleagues.

“When we reunited at the Dispatch this year, he told me about his ambition of becoming part of management one day in the media industry, probably manning the desk and eventually becoming an editor.

“He believed that with his invaluable experience, he was destined for bigger responsibilities.

“It’s a very sad day for South African journalism.” 

Dispatch editor Cheri-Ann James said Sizani had already made a name for himself, not only in journalistic circles but in many communities in the Eastern Cape, “as a journalist who used the power of the word to help bring positive change to residents who had been neglected and ignored by authorities”.

When Mkhuseli joined our newsroom, his first words to me were: ‘I want to be out there, telling the stories of our people’.

“Mkhuseli was determined to put the voice of those who had long been silenced front and centre; a principle he instilled in our young interns, who he took under his wing as a mentor.   

“We have lost a passionate and fine journalist who still had so much to give.

“We have been fortunate as a team to have had an opportunity to work alongside Mkhuseli and to learn from him. We pray for his family during this difficult time,” James said. 

GroundUp editor Nathan Geffen said Sizani was a prolific journalist.

We are devastated that Mkhuseli is no longer with us.

“He started writing for GroundUp in 2019 as a freelancer and then joined our staff.

“The over 280 articles he wrote for us unrelentingly held the Eastern Cape government to account and put forward the concerns of the people of the province.

“We will miss Mkhuseli dearly. Our deepest condolences to his wife, Noxolo, his children, his family and his colleagues at the Daily Dispatch,” Geffen said.

Sizani is survived by his two children, wife, parents and three brothers. He will be buried in Despatch on September 23.