BY LOLWETHU LUEE

The first annual Ikasi Experience Closing Music Festival is bringing a whole new experience to the community of Makhanda (Grahamstown).

Two distinct, and yet interwoven, elements will be hosted as part of it and are meant to benefit local musicians, the creative industry, township and tourism sector, the broader community of Sarabaartman District and Makana Municipality and the Eastern Cape – in particular youth and women.

The first segment is going to be National Arts Festival on the 22 June- 02 July.

Metro FM song of the year award winner Bethusile Mcinga will be performing his spiritual songs.

Following the first segment, the Music Festival will then take place on 01 July 2023.This second instalment will feature Bethusile Mcinga, Big Nuz, Mr Thela, Monde Fani and Luckeez Mfowethu.

Siyabulela Ivy Madyo event organizer told Daily Kasi News “Aim of the event is to boost the economy during the National Arts festival season, creating of jobs for Volunteers, Local Artists, Bar Tenders, food stalls, Security officers, etc.”

The Ikasi experience Closing Music Festival Marquee will be held on July 01 at Pholas Meat N Malt (Makhanda) Gates opens at 12:00 till Morning.

Tickets R90 Early Bird then R100 at the Gate before 9pm. After R120
VIP R400 and Cooler box R100.

Tickets available on the following Outlets

KFC- Shoprite Mall

Thabo J Customs

BY AZOLA TOM

RESIDENTS from Mandela Park squatter camp in KwaLanga woke up to the sad sight of a dead man in the street.

An unknown 23-year-old man was beaten to death.

He allegedly tried to steal a cellphone from someone who was coming back from work on Friday afternoon.

The person he was trying to rob screamed for help. This attracted a lot of other people who mercilessly beat the thug until he died.

Two other thugs that were with him escaped unharmed. Stones and a stick were used to kill the dead man. 

Sakhile Bona (25), a resident, said: “There was a wooden walking stick close to him and I suspect it was used to beat him.

“This area is dangerous. You can’t even go to the shops because these thieves are waiting to take your belongings. 

“People are tired and the only solution they have is to kill. We all work hard for our things to have them taken just like that.

“I don’t support the killing of people but I think community members are also fed up with crime.” 

Residents said they are sick and tired of thugs who are arrested today and released tomorrow and that’s why they punish people.

Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Trout said: “A 23-year-old man was beaten to death by unknown suspects who are yet to be arrested. The circumstances are being investigated and the motive is yet to be determined.”

BY NOMALUNGELO BOOI

A male student allegedly stabbed a female student to death at an on-campus residence at Nelson Mandela University’s George campus on Tuesday.

The alleged perpetrator was taken into police custody, the university said.

“Counselling and other psychosocial support mechanisms, including pastoral services, have been arranged for students and staff affected by this tragedy. 

“The university, specifically the George campus, has been unimaginably shaken by this incident, and will do whatever it can to co-operate with the relevant law enforcement agency in the quest for justice.

“As the university, especially affected students and staff, deals with the resultant emotions, we appeal for calm and sensitivity while the police investigation runs its course,” the university said.

BY Daily Kasi NEWS Correspondent

On Wednesday, the petrol price (both 93 and 95 unleaded) will be cut by 71c a litre, while diesel will be lowered by either 80c or 84c al litre depending on the sulphur content.

Illuminating paraffin will be 43c a litre cheaper

South African fuel prices are largely determined by international oil costs and the rand exchange rate, as oil is priced in dollars.

The rand took a large hit to a record low following US accusation that Russia received arms from South Africa. But the average Brent crude oil price fell from $82.20 to $75.90 a barrel.

In a statement, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said this was due to concerns about lower-than-expected economic growth in China, which will affect fuel demand. In addition, oil inventories grew faster than expected, while concerns about the US debt ceiling – which could have triggered a debt default and market chaos – also weighed on the oil price.

The latest change brings the price of a litre of 95 unleaded petrol to R22.63 in Gauteng, compared to R24.17 a year before – and a record price of R26.74 in July last year.

The wholesale diesel price is now R19.31 a litre in Gauteng. As recently as in November last year, diesel cost close to R25.50. Diesel is back to levels before the invasion of Ukraine caused a big spike in oil prices

BY NOMALUNGELO BOOI

Nelson Mandela Bay police had their hands full at the weekend with several arrests in separate incidents across the metro.

Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said three vehicle hijacking suspects were arrested on Friday after they allegedly robbed a jikeleza driver in New Brighton.

“At about 7.40pm, the complainant was driving in Norongo Street, New Brighton, when a man stopped him for a lift.

“Further down the road, another two men stopped him again and also requested a lift.

“At the corners of Ntshekisa and Norongo streets, one of the passengers took out a firearm and pointed it at the complainant.”

She said the driver headed towards the New Brighton police station and as he attempted to turn into the gates at the station, he lost control and collided with a lamp pole.

“SAPS New Brighton members working in the community service centre, on responding to the accident, found one suspect in the vehicle.

“The two other suspects fled on foot and were chased by the police members.

“One suspect was apprehended in Masangwana Street. A firearm was also recovered.

“The third suspect was arrested at a house in Funde Street.”

All three suspects, aged between 19 and 22, were detained on charges of carjacking.

It was later established that the firearm was a gas pistol.

In an unrelated incident, shortly after midnight on Saturday, members of the Nelson Mandela District Crime Combating unit were patrolling in Addo Road in Markman.

While at a petrol station, they noticed a suspect wanted for a murder committed in November 2022 in Motherwell.

“As police approached the vehicle, the suspect attempted to drive into the member and collided with the back of the SAPS vehicle,” Janse van Rensburg said.

“Two warning shots were fired at the tyres, causing the vehicle to collide into a petrol pump.”

The 30-year-old man was arrested on charges of attempted murder, reckless or negligent driving, malicious damage to property and for the murder case reported in November 2022

In another incident,  a 30-year-old was arrested in KwaNobuhle for the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend.

“It is alleged that on Saturday at about 12.30 in Kiva Street, KwaNobuhle, the deceased and his girlfriend were fighting.

“The female suspect [allegedly] stabbed the deceased, Lonwabo Nyike, 38,  once in the chest.

“A case of murder was opened and the suspect was arrested.”

The arrested suspects will all appear in court this week.

BY MISHECK MAKORA

SECURITY guards who work for the Chippa United boss, Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi’s security company are gatvol.

The group of about 30 security guards protested in front of the Cape Town train station claiming that they have gone for two months without pay.

They said Chippa only paid them two times in 2023, so they decided to stop working and demand their salaries.

Chippa blames PRASA for failing to pay him despite having invoiced them.

One of the protesters, Akhona Mlindazwe (33), said they are fed up with Chippa’s antics.

“We cannot continue working when we do not get paid. We do not feed our families with excuses from Chippa,” he said.

Another worker, Thobela Nkone, said the security guards that work for Mpengesi are over 200 but only a few managed to gather to protest. 

“Others do not even have money for transport to come to the protest because we haven’t been paid in a long time. He only paid us twice this year, in January and February,” he said. 

Thobela said they have been working in March and April with the hope that they will get paid but after Mpengesi failed to pay them, they decided to down their tools on 3 May and protest.

Chippa Training Academy (CTA) spokesman, Themba Yawa, confirmed that they haven’t paid workers but blamed it on Prasa. Among other issues, Yawa said since May 2018, Prasa has not provided CTA with a payment date from the submitted invoice. 

“Prasa has since in 2019 May failed to honor its contractual obligations in terms of the contract entered with CTA by not applying yearly increments on the invoice of the company,” said Yawa.  

He said PRASA has failed to abide by the 2019 High Court ruling by Hlophe JP that provided a security plan. He said the ruling stated that Prasa must not procure outside of those that were currently providing services at the time. 

“They have instead appointed a new service provider which is paid more than R5000 per guard as opposed to what they pay CTA,” Yawa said. 

PRASA spokesman, Andiswa Makanda, confirmed that the protest incident at Cape Town station however she said Prasa paid out.  

“PRASA is in no position to comment on the affairs of a third party. PRASA has made payments to the company according to the invoices submitted and other documentation that are required and in line with Judge Hlophe’s ruling. PRASA does so on a monthly basis. We would like to implore the company to communicate to its employees truthfully regarding non-payment of salaries,” said Makanda.

BY PHUMLANI SAUL

Chippa United and Golden Arrows played to a 0-0 stalemate in their final DStv Premiership match of the 2022/23 campaign, as the Chilli Boys made sure to secure their status in South Africa’s top flight.

In what was a slow start to the game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Chippa United settled early on the ball but struggled to make way inside the Golden Arrows half.

However, Abafana Bes’thende did not hold back and ventured forward with intent at every opportunity inside the first 10 minutes of the tie.

Arrows managed to get into the game as the 20th minute rolled on and began stringing precise passes together. In response, the Chilli Boys often did well to disrupt Arrows’ passing patterns and countered with intent. However, Chippa were let down by the final product as they searched for an opener.

With 45 minutes of football played, neither side created any notable goal scoring chances and headed into the break with the scores deadlocked at 0-0.

Similarly to that of the first half, the subsequent 45 commenced at a subdued pace. With 55 minutes on the clock, Arrows edged Chippa in the ball possession count and actively searched for an opener.

As the game reached the 75th minute mark, Arrows bossed proceedings while Chippa had no answer to the travelling outfit’s attacking thrusts. Abafana Bes’Thende found space in wide areas of the pitch and frequently played crosses into the danger zone.

The Chilli Boys were happy to see out the game without making their way up the pitch and took the pragmatic approach in an attempt to secure the point. That said, the referee called time on proceedings at the Nelson Bay Stadium as the Gqeberha outfit survived the drop.

BY PHUMLANI SAUL

Residents of Kwanobuhle in Kariega were in the dark for the entire weekend, and not just due to load shedding.

Executive mayor, Retief Odendaal, said cable theft on the 66kv San Souci line has left the entire area without power.

“This is a massive repair job and it is likely that supply may only be restored by Monday evening,” he said.

Odendaal, who conducted a site inspection on Saturday, said a specialised team has been dispatched from Gauteng to “assist with the complicated repair work.”

He only a small section of the cables were removed “at a very strategic place- done in such a way to cause 7 Wards in the KwaNobuhle cluster to be left without electricity for an extended period of time.”

“There is a strong suspicion that this was an act of sabotage and by no means just an act of theft.”

Odendaal said he would laying a criminal charge of theft and sabotage at SAPS Kwanobuhle on Sunday so that the matter will be investigated. 

“My office will also be making available a reward in the amount of R20000 to anyone that can provide us with information that will lead to the arrest of these criminals,” he said.

BY PHUMLANI SAUL

KwaLanga man has been caught allegedly stealing flowers from graves which he sold to bereaved families at a cemetery, then reselling them.

Kariega Crime Watch said on its Facebook page that the man was arrested at Jubilee Park Cemetery by security companies after his alleged victims reported him on its WhatsApp group.

kariega Crime Watch said he allegedly waits for families to leave, then steals the flowers and returns them to buckets for resale.

“It is alleged the man reports ‘very little sales’ to his boss and pockets the day’s takings.

“Families have reported other items of value been stolen from graves,” said kariega Crime Watch.

It is understood that none of the families have laid charges against the man.

Facebook users were outraged.

One said: “No respect for the dead any more in this insanely crazy world or for the bereaved family members. It just shows how low people will go to feed their criminal minds.”

Another wrote: “I don’t understand some people, that’s a last place you should think of.

“How bad is it to steal from the dead?”

BY AKHONA WILLIAMS

Chippa United are staring straight down the barrel of possible automatic DStv Premiership relegation after a crushing and embarrassing loss to TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

The 4-0 drubbing has allowed the relegation zone to strengthen its grip on the Chilli Boys, who are now tied with last-placed Maritzburg on 29 points and occupy 15th position thanks only to a narrow one-goal difference.

Marumo Gallants are also on 29 points in 14th spot, but they have a much better goal-difference advantage.

While Chippa capitulated in Mpumalanga, Maritzburg used home-ground advantage to secure a fighting 1-0 victory over Stellenbosch to draw level with Chippa on the log standings.

The win was not enough to pull The Team of Choice out of the automatic relegation spot, but has most definitely now made that berth a race between themselves and Chippa.

In Chippa’s favour is that Maritzburg must play their final fixture against champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday, due to the Brazilians’ Champions League participation.

Maritzburg will be hoping for at least a point to push them ahead of Chippa, who host Golden Arrows at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, while Gallants travel to face Swallows on the same day.

Coach Lehlohonolo Seema’s team will now be chasing nothing less than a win against Arrows.

Anything less and they run the real risk of some type of relegation threat if Marumo manage to win.

It was a brace from Kamogelo Sebelebele (33rd and 52nd minute) that put Sead Ramovic’s side in the driver’s seat before Masilake Phohlongo and Nkosikhona Radebe got their names on the scoresheet late against Chippa to secure the Rockets’ top-flight status with one game remaining.

It was a first win in six matches for Galaxy and took them six points clear of the relegation zone and they are now just two shy of the top eight in 10th position, with Stellenbosch (sixth), Sekhukhune United (seventh), Arrows (eighth) and Swallows (ninth) all tied on 37 points.

Meanwhile, Maritzburg chair Farouk Kadodia has expressed disappointment that the PSL declined their request to postpone their crunch clash against Sundowns

“We are disappointed that the league has turned down our request to move the fixtures to a date where all the relegation matches will be played at the same time,” Kadodia said. 

“We played on Saturday against Stellenbosch and it was a very high-intensity game and we have no time to recover because we are playing again on Tuesday.” 

Inasmuch as it is tight at the bottom half of the log, the final day of the season will see Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United going all out to seal the last Champions League spot.