BY PHUMLANI SAUL

THE residents are being terrorised by an electric pole!

Residents of Khayelitsha near Kariega, Nelson Mandela Bay, said the electric pole had been hanging over their houses for weeks.

And while the wild wind the area is famous for keeps blowing hard, the residents believe tragedy can strike at any time if the pole on Makapa Street is not fixed soon.

Phindiwe Billy (46) told Daily Kasi News there was strong wind and rain on 6 October.

The blew the pole around. We reported it immediately to the municipality and the ward councillor. Municipal workers came later on the same day and promised to come back,” she said.

“But we haven’t seen them since. They never came to fix it.

“It is a ticking time bomb. We are worried about the safety of our kids and our houses.”

Her neighbour Monwabisi Nkone (47), said: “We don’t know what else we need to do for the municipality to fix the pole.

“I’ve switched off my fridge because I’m scared. When this pole falls down it is going to cause a lot of damage,” she said.

“We are living in fear of being killed by this pole.”

Nelson Mandela Bay municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said: “Residents should report the pole at 0800 2050 50 and get a reference number. As soon as they provide us with it we can investigate what happened.”

BY LOLWETHU LEEU

SA’s creme de la creme of music will take to the Dlepu Stadium Joza (Grahamstown) when the 1st annual Makana Music Festival will take place on 17th December.

Although This music festival’s main aim, economic development, job creation and local talent development are also top priorities.

Siyabulela Ivy Madyo festival Organiser told Daily Kasi News ” it was hoped the festival would generate more than 100 jobs. Vacancies for bartenders, electricians, cleaners, decorators, ushers, promoters, designers, and sound engineers will be advertised.”

“Madyo said this will also boost the local taxi industry because people living outside Makhanda in places such as Alicedale, Riebeeck East and Salem will need transportation to and from the stadium.”

“The events committee included a safety officer who would oversee disaster, traffic, and waste management plans. Madyo said organisers would work closely with Hi-Tec and all Makana safety structures, including the ambulance service, disaster management, the fire department, and the SAPS.

The music festival is supported by Castle Lite, the Makana Municipality, and the Sarah Baartmarn District.”

Artists include Big Zulu, DJ Lamiez, Mr Thela , Boohle, Butho Vuthela, And Nhunhuza.

The popular festival’s organisers and patrons will also usher in to the 24th December in style when Nomfundo Mho,Bethusile Mncinga, NaakMusqi, Zahara, Master KG, and Daliwonga take to the stage at Mamatyi Gidana stadium Port Alfred.

This festival bringing some of SA’s most-loved music stars to the shores of Port Alfred, giving the city’s tourism sector a boost and creating employment for the youth and local service providers.

The Organiser Madyo told DK news: ” “The festival attracts festinos from all over the country.”

” The Cawa music Festival forms part of the Ndlambe municipality’s annual summer season programme and is the only long-standing annual cultural flagship event in Ndlambe Municipality “

Tickets for the festival on December 17 cost R100 and VIP 350 for the Makana Music Festival.

Tickets can be bought on Webtickets or from Pick n Pay and Boxer stores. Protickt

BY PHUMLANI SAUL

WHENEVER residents leave money at their loved ones’ graves, it disappears after some time.

And residents of Khayamndi near Despatch, are accusing amapharaphara who hide in graveyards of stealing the money.

Zanele Solomon (47) from Khayamnandi said they have to burn impepho and then hide their money under the ashes.

“They take it if you leave it in the open. These boys have no respect at all,” she said.Speaking about the significance of leaving money at a grave, Zanele said it is a way of giving back to the ancestors.

“We burn impepho, pour umqombothi and leave some coins at the graveyard when we are giving back to our ancestors,” said Zanele.

“Our communication with our ancestors is a two-way street, we ask them to walk with us in everything we do. In return, we must also give them money, umqombothi and burn imphepo just to appreciate and connect with them,” said Zanele.

Another resident, Sakhumzi Jiyose (44), said his family left R35 in coins at their grandfather’s grave on 30 April, but it was gone when they went back on Sunday, 8 May.

“This is not the first time and we don’t know what to do because amapharaphara seem to know that families leave some money when they burn imphepo and do other rituals.

“They follow up and steal the money.“We are left with no option but to hide the money from amapharaphara, but it really feels like they are robbing our ancestors,” said Sakhumzi.

He said they have now devised new ways to hide the money in the tombstone.

Residents who run car washes along the graveyard said amaphara are always loitering around the graveyard.

“They take anything they see as valuable at the graveyard so when people say they take money we don’t doubt them,” said a car wash owner.

Sangoma Lonwabo Mqungwana (58) from Kwanobuhle outside Kariega said: “When When people perform traditional rituals at graveyards, they are communicating with their ancestors and they give them something as a way to thank them for what they are doing to them.“But these boys take what is meant for the ancestors, they bring curses on their lives because what they are doing amounts to robbery. You cannot do that.

BY NOMALUNGELO BOOI

Tension rises at Eastern Cape’s biggest prison after three wardens stabbed

Tension was running high at the St Albans Correctional Facility in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday after three warders were stabbed during breakfast.

Behaviour of this nature cannot go unpunished,” said Singabakho Nxumalo, the national spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, reacting to three wardens being stabbed at the Eastern Cape’s biggest prison on Wednesday morning.


Nxumalo confirmed that three warders were stabbed at the St Albans Medium B facility by two inmates. He said the men were treated at the prison hospital and later taken to outside hospitals for treatment.

Nxumalo added that the Department of Correctional Services would, “take action against the perpetrators. A full-scale investigation will be conducted internally and a criminal case is to be registered with theEmerantia Cupido from the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services said they had been informed of the stabbings and had “mandated an investigation into the incident”.

On average, Eastern Cape prisons are overcrowded by 63%, while St Albans Medium B, according to numbers released in July, was overcrowded by 44%.

Egon Oswald represented more than 200 prisoners alleged to have been violently beaten after the fatal stabbing of a warden at the same prison in 2005.

Oswald told this reporter: “There was a stabbing of a warden there two weeks ago. Often these stabbings are related to business disputes inside the prison and linked to corruption.”

On 13 October 2022, Justice Edwin Cameron, when presenting the annual report for the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services to the Portfolio Committee for Justice and Correctional Services, raised serious concerns about the national overcrowding rate — now 31.65% (vs the 2020/2021 rate of 23%).

The Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services’ annual report also showed sharp increases in hunger strikes, attempted suicides and suicides at SA prisons.

BY LAWRENCE ANTONI

“Group member disappears with thousands”

When they started the stokvel in January, they wanted to save money for Christmas.

But little did they know they were saving for someone else.

KC vs OP Social Club members will have a black Christmas because one of their members allegedly withdrew their money and fled with it.

They were supposed to share the money this month.

One of the members, Nancy Mabala (39), told Daily Kasi News “when we went to the bank, we were told the money had already withdrawn by one of the members.”

“They said he came with affidavits so that he could withdraw the money alone,” she said.

Nancy said they used the man’s details when they opened the account.

“There were three of us when we opened the account and we were told we must come together if we want to withdraw the money, but it is shocking that he was able to do it on his own,” she said.

The members said they lost about R120 000.

“That money was supposed to help us and now it’s all gone. We all had plans for it,” they said.

They said they’ve been trying to call the man, but his phone goes to voicemail most of the time.

“He told one of our members that he was in an accident, but we don’t believe him. All we want is for him to return the money,” said Nancy.

The members said they couldn’t open a case.

“We went to the police station and they said we don’t have enough documents to open a case,” she said.

The DK-NEWS tried to call the man many times, but his phone was off.

BY PHUMLANI SAUL

AT LAST THEY CAN SPEAK, EAT MEAT AND DRINK UMQOMBHOTHI WITH THE MEN.

ALL their lives they were treated like kwedini and had to eat meat with the women.

But all of that is in the past now as the two madalas have finally been to the mountain to be circumcised.

The madalas told Daily Kasi News that men who are not circumcised aren’t allowed to speak to the ancestors. They also said they can’t occupy a leading position in cultural activities. That is why the two madalas went to the bush to get circumcised.

“Before I was cut I was never honoured as a madala. Instead I was insulted as a boy,” said umkhulu Zwelinzima Makeleni of Khayelitsha near Kariega, in Nelson Mandela Metro.

“I have been in and out of prison for the last 28 years. I was selling dagga and I have served long sentences on three occasions.”

Umkhulu Zwelinzima said his family helped him to get the circumcision done.

“I followed all the protocols and I have been to the doctor,” he said.

“I am happy. I have taken back my power and I have the authority to speak to the ancestral spirits.”

Another madala, also from Rosedale, said: “I am a coloured man but my father is Xhosa. I decided to go back to my roots. I told my wife and she agreed to my plan

The two madalas were afraid of the operation because they were told old men take longer to heal, but they are recovering well in the bush near Kwanobuhle near Gunguluza, outside Kariega.

They said they were treated with respect in the bush by the other initiates. Other amakwetha called them mkhulu. After the operation they were called qabane, which means, my friend.

Ingcibi Zukile Bangani of Khayelitsha, who is known as “Snake”, said: “I didn’t do the circumcision. My friend did the work. I was told the one is 67 and the other is about 58.”

He said they treat older initiates differently.Older men can approach me even if they don’t have enough money. We will talk,” he said.

BY ZONWABELE JANUARY

A SEX worker has told Daily Kasi News she is tired of selling her body and keeping it a secret from her family.

“I don’t want to live a lie.

I’m scared all the time that one day my family will judge me for this bad work,” she said.

“I was introduced to sex work by a friend She told me to bath and wear smart clothes and we went to a club.”

She said this was in May after she lost her job at a fast-food outlet.

The woman said on her first gig as umagosha, she was paid R300 for the night.

She said she was operating in the Gqeberha Central CBD and sometimes in Motherwell.

“At first, I was shy but then I became a professional,” she said.

“I regret becoming umagosha and am tired of having sex with different men every day.”

She said she never did drugs but was always drunk.

She said she told her family she was now working in retail.

“It’s bad out there. Some clients pay R1 000 a night without a condom or R500 per night with a condom,” she said.

“As a magosha, sometimes you get raped by evil men.”

She said she wasn’t ready to live with a man as she’s looking for a job.

Her message to young women is that they must stay away from such a trade because there are consequences.

“The consequences that come with sex work include being raped, undermined by the community and chances of being a victim of human trafficking are high,” she warned.

The sad woman said she needed help to start a new life.

“I’m ready to give my life to Christ,” she said

BY LOLWETHU LEEU

THE annual Ebubeleni music Festival is finally back!

The festival had to be suspended in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Organisers managed to keep the brand alive,hosting small monthly events which were a build-up towards the main event in December.

This year the artist line-up boasts the country’s creme de la creme of music the annual Ebubeleni Music Festival returns to its original date on December 30 after two years of lockdown restrictions.Artists include Gqeberha-born Zonke Dikana, Ami Faku, Vusi Nova and Phinda, Makhadzi, Msaki, Mandisi Dyantyis, Nomfundo Mho, Musa Keys, K.O and 10 other locals.

Ebubeleni music Festival Organisers will also usher in the 2023 in style on January 1 when Sjava, Berita, Samthing Soweto and Simmy take to the stage at Victoria Park for New Year’s Day in The Park

“The positioning of this event at the end of the year provides homecoming entertainment to all those who work and study far away in big cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban,” Mahambehlala Communications managing director of marketing and publicity Tembi Mahambehlala said.

“The festival attracts festinos from all over the country.”

In December 2020, the festival took to the small screen for the first time when it struck a partnership with Channel O to have a pre-recorded version of it air on the channel.

The event was recorded under strict Covid-19 regulations at the Boardwalk Hotel over two days and aired on December 30, with Nelson Mandela Bay artists and famous faces including Somizi, Kamo Mphela, Sao Matrix, Zain SA and Nomcebo Zikode entertaining viewers.

Over the 10 years of Ebubeleni’s existence, the festival can pride itself for contributing immensely to the economy of the city and province through visitors attending the event increasing tourism numbers, creating temporary jobs and the use of event service providers, providing a platform for local artists to showcase their talents and earn some money while bringing entertainment to the people of the Bay during the festive season,” Mahambehlala said. .

“The Ebubeleni Festival forms part of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality’s annual summer season programme and is the only long-standing annual cultural flagship event in Nelson Mandela Bay.”

Tickets for the festival on December 30 cost R250 and R200 for the New Year’s in The Park.

Tickets can be bought on Webtickets or from Pick n Pay and Boxer stores.

Tickets to GQ Socials-New Year’s Day in the Park are available at Webticket, Pick n Pay and Boxer. There is special offer of R200 which is extended until the 10th of December thereafter tickets will sell at R300 for general ticket, Cooler Box ticket is R100 and R1000 for VIP.
Gates open at 10:00am and will end at 7:00pm.

BY YOLANDA PALEZWENI

Police in Gqeberha are investigating a case of robbery after Kwazakhele Assembly of God congregants attending a church service were robbed at gunpoint by five unknown men on Friday night.

Police in Gqeberha are investigating a case of robbery after Kwazakhele Assembly of God congregants were robbed at gunpoint by five unknown men on Friday night.

It is alleged that at about 11.40pm, the congregants were attending a church service in Marele Street when five unknown men walked into the building carrying two firearms.According to police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge, the suspects demanded cellphones and money from the congregants.

“The suspects made off with five cellphones and a little bit of cash before fleeing in an Avanza, however, no-one was injured,” he said.

Beegte said no arrests had been made but police were still investigating.

Police have urged anyone with information that could lead to the arrests of the suspects to contact their nearest police station.The information may also be shared via Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

All information is strictly confidential and callers have the right to remain anonymous

BY NOMALUNGELO BOOI

Gelvandale detectives have appealed to the community for assistance in identifying a murdered man whose body was found in Schauderville, in Gqeberha’s northern areas, at the weekend.

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said a bush dweller had been rummaging in the bushes looking for scrap next to a school in Grundling Street at about 9am on Saturday when he noticed a big cream bag lying behind a tree.He opened the bag and found the decomposing body,

The victim had a belt around his neck, his hands were tied behind his back with another belt and his feet were bound with tape. The bag was also tied up.

The man immediately alerted the community before running away.

The deceased was wearing a white T-shirt and blue denim jeans. He was big in stature.Anyone with any information on the identity of the victim or the murder should contact Sergeant Landiswa Sokanyile on 073-448-5539, Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or the nearest police station.

All information is confidential and callers may remain anonymous.