BY PHUMLANI SAUL

Police have released the names of seven victims who died in a mass shooting during a birthday celebration at a house in Kwazakhele on Sunday night.

An eighth person, who also died as a result of wounds sustained when two armed gunmen opened fire at the Maqanda Street home, will be identified once his next of kin have been notified.

Homeowner Vusumzi Sishuba, who was celebrating his 50th birthday, died at the scene.

His older brother Andile, 52, was also killed.

The other deceased have been identified as Kholekile Frans, 54, Mbuyiseli Mboya, 64, Nomatamsanqa Mandla, 58, Liyema Poro, 20, and Nandipha Koliti, 42.

Of the three people who survived the massacre, one was discharged from hospital on Monday, while two others are still receiving medical attention.

The incident took place shortly after 5.15pm on Sunday when two men entered the yard where the party was being held and opened fire.

Police are investigating eight cases of murder and three of attempted murder.

No arrests have been made.

Police minister General Bheki Cele, accompanied by a delegation of high-ranking police officials, on Monday visited the family of the two deceased brothers at the scene where the shooting took place.

Cele promised that national and provincial resources would be brought in to assist in the matter, and called for calm from the community while the police conducted their investigation

BY PHUMLANI SAUL

Police minister General Bheki Cele and national commissioner General Fannie Masemola will on Monday morning lead a delegation of various experts within the organisation to the scene of Sunday’s mass shooting at a birthday party in Kwazakhele.

The death toll has risen to eight overnight and three other people were wounded when two gunmen stormed into a yard in Kwazakhele’s Maqanda Street and began shooting while friends celebrated..

Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects while an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack is under way. No arrests have been made at this stage.

The identity of the deceased and wounded are still to be established, the police said in a statement.

Provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene has condemned the killings.

She has ordered the team of investigators to speedily track and trace the perpetrators.

She also appealed to the community to come forward with any information, pleading with them not to harbour the criminals.

“These victims were killed by criminals and we will not rest until we find out what happened and who was responsible for these callous and cold blooded attack on these unsuspecting victims,” Mene said.

Anyone who can assist in identifying the victims or tracing their next of kin or any information relating to the suspects is asked to please contact the Provincial OCI, D/Capt Sitole on 082 457 2812 or Crime Stop on 086 00 10111.

BY PHUMLANI SAUL

Molly Blackburn High School is known for making headlines for all the wrong reasons, usually falling among the worst-performing schools in the Kariega district.

But with a 10% increase in its matric results and a hero’s welcome for their top pupil of 2022, the school in KwaNobuhle seeks to rewrite its history.SCHOOL HERO: Molly Blackburn High School’s top matric Bathiniwam Vusani, who achieved four distinctions, with his proud maths teacher Vuyiswa Hempe-Size

There was a buzz of excitement in the schoolyard as dozens of matrics lined up outside the designated classroom to receive their results.

One by one they exited — some with smiles, others with frowns.

Then suddenly a teacher came wading through the crowd, repeatedly shouting: “Make way! Top student coming through!”

The excited crowd erupted into deafening cheers as a shy boy, with his head bowed and his cap pulled over his eyes, was led to the front of the line to receive his results.

And as Bathiniwam Vusani walked through the crowd of classmates he received hugs, high fives and pats on the back as they all rallied behind the top achiever of their 2022 class.

When asked how it felt to be such an inspiration to his fellow pupils, he just shook his head.

“I never intended for anyone to look at me like this. I just wanted to study and get good grades so that I can pursue my law degree. That’s all,” Vusani said, with a shy smile on his face.

“But if some of my classmates take inspiration from me, and some of the younger children see me as an example they can follow, then I am happy for them and I encourage them to work hard for what they want to achieve.”

Vusani achieved distinctions for four of his seven subjects; maths literacy, geography, life orientation and isiXhosa home language.

For the remaining three subjects — life science, history and English first additional language — he achieved level 6 grades.


Molly Blackburn High School’s top matric Bathiniwam Vusani, who achieved four distinctions, with his proud maths teacher Vuyiswa Hempe-Size

SCHOOL HERO: Molly Blackburn High School’s top matric Bathiniwam Vusani, who achieved four distinctions, with his proud maths teacher Vuyiswa Hempe-Size

Molly Blackburn High School is known for making headlines for all the wrong reasons, usually falling among the worst-performing schools in the Kariega district.

But with a 10% increase in its matric results and a hero’s welcome for their top pupil of 2022, the school in KwaNobuhle seeks to rewrite its history.


There was a buzz of excitement in the schoolyard as dozens of matrics lined up outside the designated classroom to receive their results.

One by one they exited — some with smiles, others with frowns.

Then suddenly a teacher came wading through the crowd, repeatedly shouting: “Make way! Top student coming through!”

The excited crowd erupted into deafening cheers as a shy boy, with his head bowed and his cap pulled over his eyes, was led to the front of the line to receive his results.

And as Bathiniwam Vusani walked through the crowd of classmates he received hugs, high fives and pats on the back as they all rallied behind the top achiever of their 2022 class.

When asked how it felt to be such an inspiration to his fellow pupils, he just shook his head.

“I never intended for anyone to look at me like this. I just wanted to study and get good grades so that I can pursue my law degree. That’s all,” Vusani said, with a shy smile on his face.

“But if some of my classmates take inspiration from me, and some of the younger children see me as an example they can follow, then I am happy for them and I encourage them to work hard for what they want to achieve.”

Vusani achieved distinctions for four of his seven subjects; maths literacy, geography, life orientation and isiXhosa home language.

For the remaining three subjects — life science, history and English first additional language — he achieved level 6 grades.


“I am very happy about my results. For some of my subjects, I was very nervous and once I handed them in and knew my marks were in someone else’s hands, I became even more nervous.

“But now that I have my results, I can see that my hard work paid off, and I am satisfied with my performance.”

What made Vusani such a hero among his fellow pupils was the time he took to assist some of them to study, helping them with work they did not understand, and getting them ready ahead of the final exams.

Looking ahead, he hopes his marks are good enough to get him into university for his LLB degree.

If not, he plans to study at a nearby college to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to then pursue a career in legal studies.

Molly Blackburn principal Unathi Bhe said he was proud of Vusani and the pupils who put in the work to make 2022 a much improved year.

He thanked the district education office for assisting the school with additional tutors to help pupils with additional classes in a handful of subjects they identified as problem areas early in the year, and praised his staff for their dedication to their subjects and the pupils they taught.

“Every school strives for great results, and taking our circumstances and the school’s history, into account, an improvement from 55% to 65% is a huge achievement.

“We have already identified areas we need to improve on and the goal for this year’s matric class is an 80% pass rate,” Bhe said

BY Daily Kasi News Reporter

As per the official update, the matric results for learners in public schools are scheduled to be announced on 19 January 2023 and distributed by schools and exam centres on January 20.

Matric candidates will have until 3 February 2023 to request remarking or rechecking. A matriculation rewrite or improvement is available for those who wish to improve their scores in May/June 2023, according to the department.

To have your paper remarked, you would need to have failed 1 or more subjects in the National Senior Certificate/ABET Level 4 Examinations. However, if you passed, you may qualify after writing a letter of motivation.

Applications for remarking or rechecking close on 3 February 2023 for manual and online applications. No late applications will be accepted, and the applications MUST be done online at http://www.eservices.gov.zaThe cost for remarking is R110 a subject, re-checking is R27 a subject.

The fee for viewing is R212. Viewing of scripts may only be done after a re-mark or re-check of results. The closing date for applications is 7 days after release of re-mark or re-check results.

The Class of 2022 has clearly demonstrated that with all requisite support and intervention programmes, we can make it,” said Motshekga, adding that “we must prioritise our interventions on teaching and learning losses”.

In celebrating the great achievements of the class of 2022, Motshekga said it’s imperative to thank the principals, teachers, support staff, and parents.

“Schools are at the coalface of basic education delivery … what you do at the school level, is what matters the most … the future of our learners, and the prosperity of our nation, is in your hands … we applaud you for the great work you continue to do on a daily basis,” she said.

Exam watchdog Umalusi on Monday announced it has approved the release of the 2022 matric results, but was concerned over cheating allegations that emerged from some of the exam centres.

“Umalusi remains seriously concerned with reported cases of irregularities during the writing of the examinations. Different forms of cheating were uncovered in some centres during the examinations,” said Umalusi chief executive, Mafu Rakometsi.

“Based on the magnitude of the offences, different sanctions have been meted against the candidates involved such as the nullification of the results, barring the candidates from writing the examination for either 1 or 2 examination cycles,” said Rakometsi.In the meantime it was announced that the unsolvable question on the Grade 12 maths paper 2 exam was omitted from the marking process.

Department of Basic Education (DBE) spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the question paper was therefore marked out of 143. The mark was then upscaled to 150.

The Independent Examinations Board (IEB), which administered private school exams, released its national results on Wednesday.

BY NOMALUNGELO BOOI

It seems ‘Gqeberha: The Empire’ was a miss on Monday with some viewers saying there’s overacting and they are not sure yet. Thoughts?

First episode on the 16 January, was the season premiere of Mzansi Magic’s long awaited telenovela Gqeberha: The Empire and it seems the show did not enjoy great reviews from the viewers on Twitter.

Viewers are saying the show looks like an amateur production and the acting is not up to standard but some have disputed this and said that the show will definitely get better, it was only the first episode.

Gqeberha: The Empire premiered on Monday 16 January on Mzansi Magic, channel 161 at 21:00 and viewerswere treated to a one-hour special.

The show opened up with a beautiful ocean view of Gqeberha, the man that stirs the ship Luzuko Mxenge (played by Mbulelo Grootboom) is immediately introduced and from the onset viewers can tell that the men surrounding Luzuko must be heavily loaded, judging from the fleet of cars that were shown.Luzuko called his friends and right hand son Thulani to announce his latest business venture and that is, he has bought a ship and will be in business with the Chinese.

Just as they toast to the good news, two boats are approaching the lighthouse they are in from a distance and Thulani spots them while he is sight seeing with his binoculars. Guns are cocked and the action starts. Gunshots and kicks are everywhere and from the looks of things, the 11 men in black are after Luzuko as he was the only one shot.Luzuko is rushed to the hospital and his three wives, Bulelwa (Zikhona Sodlaka), Zimkhita (Zandile Msutwana) and Nozuko (Kamvelihle Bikitsha) are then introduced. The second and third wives are not best friends with the obvious quarelling and the first wife is the one who calls them to order.Back at the hospital, Luzoko asks to see Thulani and yes, they want to get to the bottom of the shooting. Who could want to kill him when he has done so much for the City of Gqeberha, well, that’s according to Luzuko.

Thulani reassures his father that he will find the culprits. On the other side of the town, the culprits are quarrelling and telling each other off because “the mission was not supposed to go like this. Sifiso is dead, Luzuko is alive and will be looking for us,”, within seconds of this conversation, the leader of the gang kills all of them.Well, plot twist, the second wife Zimkhitha is the one who ordered the hit on her husband Luzuko and Thulani who is the son of the first wife, Bulelwa. Of course she was not working alone, she is in cahoots with Luzuko’s best friend and they are also having an affair.

More drama, it seems Thulani and his father have been taken by the beauty of one lady, Lunathi, from the villages who is trying to make ends meet and is working at a restaurant as a chef.Thulani is clearly interested in her but so is his father who did nothing but throw money at her. It seems, Luzuko will want to take her as the fourth wife but what is Thulani going to do?

Watch Gqeberha: The Empire on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161), Monday – Friday at 21:00

BY PHUMLANI SAUL

The Real Housewives of Gqeberha is the fifth instalment of the global franchise in South Africa and joins Real Housewives of Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

“Since its debut in 2017, the local Real Housewives universe has been a hit with our audiences, bringing drama, wit and glamour to our screens,” says Shirley Adonisi, Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net.

In addition to the five housewives below, the channel says more cast members will be announced in due course.

Meet the cast:

UNATHI FAKU

Self-proclaimed Gqeberha royalty, Unathi is no shrinking violet. As a successful salon owner and the wife of the city’s former mayor, she is comfortable in the public eye and having her every move watched. A gym lover whose social media pages are peppered with fitness snaps, she’s also a dedicated and doting mother.

Norma Nicol

Buli G Ngomane

Ashleigh Mather

Liz

BY ANDILE ANDRIES

KwaNobuhle was rocked by another fatal shooting on Sunday.

Siyabulela Dwane, 40, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene in Laurence Vinqi Road.

Dwane lived a few blocks away on Gxiya Street and had headed out into the area during the day.

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said residents

flagged down a police patrol unit in the area at about 6.30pm.

When the officers arrived at the scene of the shooting, they cordoned off the area and began combing the scene for evidence.

“He was shot numerous times in a parking area near Kulati tavern,” Beetge said.

“There is no evidence which suggests the killing emanated from a fight inside the tavern.”

He said it was the latest deadly shooting to rock the community.

Mamiya Ntshanyana, 20, was shot dead inside a taxi in Laurence Vinqi Road on March 12 2019, with numerous other incidents reported over the past year.

Beetge said the identity of the shooter was still unknown.

BY NOMALUNGELO BOOI

Commuters were left stranded at the weekend as a confrontation between Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) drivers and the Spectrum Alert board reached boiling point, leading to armed security closing down the depot in Cleary Park on Friday.

On Monday, drivers protested outside the depot while burning tyres after the board allegedly tried to get new drivers in to have the system up and running for the week.

The fight between the directors and the employees emanates from December bonuses which are yet to be paid out.

According to the drivers, talks collapsed when they were told last week that the bonuses would no longer be paid despite a commitment to do so earlier in the month.

“What must we do now?

“We come to work but at the end of the month there is no payment,” one of the drivers, Tyran Markman, said.

We have no money for school fees, shoes, and our families are suffering.

“I do not understand what they want us to do.

“Must we come here and burn buses or kill someone?

“Really, they need to tell us what we must do.”

The workers were adamant the depot would remain shut and no new drivers would be allowed in.

“They must be grateful for us as workers,” another worker, Jerome Stuurman, said.As things stand, they are forcing us to do this.

“We just want them to give us what belongs to us.”

Numsa shop steward Jerome Krisjans said talks broke down after the board members reneged on commitments made by the previous board.

“At the beginning of the year, we had a meeting with HR and management and they committed to the bonuses being paid on January 4.

“That did not materialise and instead the new board members came to the depot and told the workers there would be no bonuses,” Krisjans said.

After the stalemate on Thursday, Krisjans said private security was brought in to shut the depot down on Friday.

In addition to the bonus woes, workers alleged that there were also repeated problems with late salary payments and failure to pay provident fund contributions despite monthly deductions.

On Monday, safety and security political head Lawrence Troon called a stakeholder meeting at the City Hall at which both the new and old board members, along with the employees, were supposed to discuss all the issues.

The meeting, however, failed to materialise when none of the board members showed up.

The IPTS Cleary Park route is operated by Spectrum Alert, founded by the Northern Areas Taxi Operators’ Association (Natoa) and Algoa Taxi Association (Ata) in 2017An impasse at an annual general meeting in October led to a battle over who is in charge of the board.

Songezo Mpanda, chair of the new board, declined to comment, saying they were in talks with the municipality about the matter.

BY PHUMLANI SAUL

Despatch Police are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing two wanted suspects.

Dumisa Christian Blouw (21), also known as Kweylar, was arrested after being positively linked to several cases of housebreaking and theft.

According to Captain Gerda Swart Cell, Blouw appeared in the Kariega Magistrates Court on 13 June and was released on bail.

“The case was postponed to 19 August, but Blouw failed to attend court. A warrant for his arrest was issued,” Cell said in a statement.She added that cops had also launched a manhunt for Thabiso Smith, who was arrested on 31 March on a charge of possession of suspected stolen property (copper cables) and was later linked to a theft case in Despatch.The 24-year-old appeared in the Kariega Magistrates Court on 4 April, and the case was postponed to 23 May.

“Smith failed to attend court and has been on the run ever since. A warrant for his arrest was also issued,” Cell added.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects is urged to contact Detective Warrant Officer Mario Jonck on 084 810 9078 or Despatch SAPS on 041 933 8000

BY LOLWETHU LEEU

NO rain will stop groovists from having fun this December.

While those who didn’t budget for festive are happy that this rain is contributing to events being postponed, others said they won’t let rain ruin their plans for this December.

To prove this, photo of groovists who were spotted this past weekend taking their cooler boxes and heading to groove while the rain poured down were trending on social media.

Kholekile Maliza (34) told Daily Kasi News “No rain would stop me from having fun.”

He said he had plans this past weekend and no rain would have stopped him from going out.

“My mum said alcohol and stubbornness won’t take me anywhere and I told her that I’m not trying to go anywhere as I left with my cooler box,” said Kholekile.

Miranda Mangedi (44) said these muddy groove pictures made her happy because they showed how determined Makana people were when they put their minds in something.

“I have no choice but to admire their determination. They should put these on their CVs,” said Miranda.

Calistus Sebenza said no rain should stop anyone from doing anything and no one should judge these groovists for their determination.

“As long as rain water is not hot then let’s groove on!” said Calistus.

Sisanda Ndoni said if she saw her boyfriend getting muddy in the name of “rain is temporary and groove is forever”, she’d be dumping him. “We can’t be dealing with toddlers who want to go jump up and down inn the rain and then deal with grown men who play in the mud. It’s ridiculous,” said Sisanda.