By Nomalungelo Booi

A Kirkwood ANC ward councillor was taken to hospital and is awaiting surgery after being shot in his home on Thursday night.

News of Ward 1 councillor Mandile Payi’s shooting was met with shock by his colleagues from the Sundays River Valley Municipality, and they have called on the police for a swift and thorough investigation.

Payi was shot by an unidentified assailant in his home in Moses Mabida at about 7.30pm. He was wounded in the lower abdomen and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Details around the shooting are still sketchy, though police are investigating a case of attempted murder.

“The shooting of Payi represents barbarism of the worst kind. We strongly condemn this incident, as it has no place in our democracy,” said Sarah Baartman district ANC regional secretary, Johannes Hobbs.

Hobbs also called for calm in the Moses Mabida community while the police conduct their investigation.

DA caucus leader in the Sundays River Valley, Karen Smith, said she was shocked to hear about the incident.

“Payi is a friend and colleague with his community’s best interests at heart. We are saddened and shocked by this incident and wish him a speedy recovery,” Smith said.

Several ANC councillors in the Nelson Mandela Bay region have been victims of gun violence this year. No arrests have been made to date for the spate of murders and attempted murders.
This is a developing story.

By Mkhuseli Sizani

Increasing numbers of cattle, goats or pigs are grazing in townships across Gqeberha. But farmers complain of theft of their stock and a lack of grazing space and say the municipality and police have failed to help.

The fines for keeping a cow go up to R2,000 and if the animal damages property, the owner of the property may also institute a civil claim against the farmer.

Township farmers say they sell their animals more cheaply than commercial farmers.

Xolisile Manisi, 70, from Govan Mbeki says farming has helped him provide for his family of six. “I bought five ewes for R1,600 and started farming in Veeplas township in 1983. But a few months after I bought my goats, they were stolen while I was out looking for jobs in town. Some goats also died, but I never gave up,” he said.

Manisi revived his farming dream in 1994 and has been farming at his home ever since. “People come to my home to buy goats for sangoma rituals, circumcision and other special family gatherings.” Manisi says he and his wife’s social pensions are not enough to support his family.

He says his goats are selling fast, especially the male ones which bring in more money. Manisi sells his goats for R2,500 to R4,000, depending on the animal’s size.

He currently has 19 goats, but had three of his livestock stolen in February.

He says members of the community and municipal officials have complained about him keeping goats in a residential area. “They say my goats are causing a smell and I must remove them. Instead of imposing strict bylaws, they must help me to get a farm. There are no jobs. With the money I generate, I’m able to take care of my unemployed daughter and her children,” he said.

Khaliphile Siyona, chairperson of the Missionvale Farmers Association in Gqeberha, owns 11 cattle. He was raised in Manxeba Village in Fort Beaufort where his grandfather was a farm worker.

Khaliphile says he started cattle farming in 2012 while working as a petrol attendant and grew his business from there. He lost his job in 2014 and now relies on his farming.

“I milk my cows every morning and sell a litre of milk for R9. This money helps me to buy bull calves. The males sell very fast because they are always in demand for traditional rituals like funerals and welcoming ceremonies,” he says. Cattle used in “send-off” ceremonies sell for between R10,000 and R14,000 while those sold for a “welcoming” ritual can be up to R22,000, he says.This year I sold four oxen. They were still young so I got about R30,000 for them all.”

Khaliphile says there are about 20 cattle and goat owners in the association who collectively have 200 cows. “We don’t have grazing fields and drinking water. Our animals graze next to the road, in open fields, school yards and in people’s yards. They also eat from the dump or drink sewage water.”

He says theft is a problem, echoing the concern of other farmers GroundUp spoke to.

Andre Beetge, spokesperson for Gqeberha police said: “We do have sporadic incidents of the stealing of goats, cattle and pigs in areas like Motherwell. In most cases when one pig or cow gets stolen, we open a normal case of theft. But when a person has more than 10 cows or goats stolen we open a case of stock theft.”

Mthubanzi Mniki, municipal spokesperson, promised to respond to GroundUp’s questions about bylaws and safety concerns over animal farming in townships. We sent him questions on Tuesday, and a reminder on Wednesday. When we contacted him again, he promised to respond by Friday but had not done so by the time of publication.

By Daily Kasi News Reporter

Seven schools in Nelson Mandela Bay will benefit from an online pilot programme which offers tutoring and support in mathematics.

Volkswagen Group SA’s (VWSA) three-year pilot project developed in partnership with Tuta-Me (an online learning platform by Optimi Workplace) and Odin Education (an ed-tech solution developed by Jendamark), is set to benefit 1,000 pupils in the Bay.

The programme was launched last week, with some pupils given tablets, while others can access the programme with their smartphones.

The targeted group is grade 10, 11 and 12 pupils at seven schools and is aimed at increasing the number of pupils who achieve a university pass in maths at matric level, and expanding the impact of VWSA’s educational initiatives in the Eastern Cape.

The participating schools are Newell High in New Brighton and Nkululeko Public Secondary, Phaphani High, Solomon Mahlangu Senior Secondary, Tinarha Secondary and VM Kwinana Senior Secondary schools in KwaNobuhle, as well as Uitenhage High School.

Client manager of Tuta-Me at Optimi Workplace, Phemelo Segoe, said the programme was a dynamic and accessible offering that assisted high school pupils to reach their potential through dedicated online and face-to-face tutoring options.

“First established in 2015, corporates across the country have partnered with us to ensure that high school learners have access to quality tutoring to achieve the results needed for postgraduate studies,” Segoe said.

Of the 1,000 pupils to benefit from the programme, 200 will be given access to the platform through the Omang device, a secure e-learning tablet supplied by Odin Education, while the other 800 will use their own mobile devices to access the offering.

Jendamark’s head of Odin Education, Ajit Gopalakrishnan, said the company had applied t its core tech capabilities to the most critical area of need in SA.

“So the opportunity to work with like-minded corporate partners to extend our reach, and support the learning and teaching of STEM subjects, is an exciting one,” Gopalakrishnan said. 
The director for corporate and government affairs at VWSA, Nonkqubela Maliza, said empowering the youth through access to strong, consistent education was a critical priority.

She said the pilot project was an ambitious expansion of the company’s investment in education and the communities in which VWSA operated and the communities where employees lived.

“We hope this project will go a long way towards helping the learners achieve good mathematics results which will give them the opportunity to pursue their studies at tertiary institutions,” Maliza said. 

The project will provide supplementary online learning support including a weekly live online tutoring session by qualified maths teachers and a 24-hour Ask-a-Tutor service, as well as access to online resources such as lesson material, guides, quizzes and past exam papers.

The teachers and tutors involved in the project were also trained by Optimi Workplace.

By Phumlani Saul

Police in Kwanobuhle were alerted to an open field on the corners of Ponana Tini Street and Mondile Street, Kwanobuhle where the body of a small foetus (boy) was discovered at 10:00 yesterday, May 30.

According to Captain André Beetge, police spokesperson, the open field is regularly used by persons in the area as an illegal dump site.

An inquest docket was opened at Kwanobuhle SAPS and the body taken to Gelvandale mortuary where a post mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

“Police are looking for witnesses and information on who the mother of the unborn baby is in order to determine the circumstances under which the unborn baby ended up where it was found,” Beetge said.

Any person that could assist police with this investigation, can contact SAPS Kwanobuhle, Detective Captain Tommy Whitebooi on 082 441 8129 or alternatively contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111.

By Phumlani Saul

A 44-year-old pastor was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for rape at the Motherwell Regional Court, in Gqeberha on Thursday.

The pastor was last week found guilty of raping a 22-year-old man in 2013. The man is now 31 years old. The pastor was 35 years old at the time of the rape.

“The victim became acquainted with the accused, Luthando Matodlana via a social networking app-Mixit in January 2013. The victim visited Matodlana at his house between February and March 2013, during which time he was raped.

“After sharing his experience on social media in 2020, the victim was advised to open a case. In October 2020, Matodlana was arrested and subsequently released on bail,” said Eastern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu.

Acting Nelson Mandela district commissioner, Brigadier Thandiswa Kupiso applauded the prowess of the Motherwell Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for ensuring a prison sentence for the accused.

“Such sentencing brings hope to victims of sexual abuse and that justice will prevail no matter how long it takes, making sure that perverted predators cannot hide behind a façade. We encourage victims of gender-based violence to speak out against any form of abuse and to expose those responsible for such demeaning criminal acts,” Brigadier Kupiso said.

By Nomalungelo Booi

Eastern Cape Black Fishers’ Association chair Xola Ngcangca was shot dead outside his KwaDwesi home on Wednesday night.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu, residents heard gunshots at about 7.15pm in Mkwenkwe Street.

When they went out to investigate, they found a man lying a few metres from his car which was parked outside his gate. He was shot in the head.

“It is alleged that before the shooting, the deceased was at a local tavern.”

Naiud said the motive for the killing was unknown. The suspects were also unknown at this stage.

Meanwhile, shots were fired at the house of a former ANC councillor on Monday, just before midnight.

“A 38-year-old man was at his home in Galela Street in KwaNobuhle when shots were fired at his house,” Naidu said.

“No-one was injured in the incident.”

A case of attempted murder is under investigation.

By Nomalungelo Booi

A popular Motherwell entrepreneur died in Livingstone Hospital on Monday night after he was shot a few blocks from his restaurant.

Ulundi Mpulu, 23, a carpenter and owner of popular eatery and tavern The Pallet Doctor, was shot while driving in a car with friends at about 6pm.

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said the friends were driving down Tyityaba Street in Motherwell when another vehicle drove up behind them and allegedly started shooting at their car.

“The driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a container on the side of the road, after which the suspects continued to shoot at the vehicle before driving off,” Beetge said.

The driver, Siyabulela Olayi, 29, and Mpulu were rushed to a nearby clinic where Olayi succumbed to several gunshot wounds.

Mpulu was taken to Livingstone Hospital where he later succumbed to a single gunshot wound to the upper body.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Mpulu’s grandfather, Amos, said they were shocked and devastated by the loss.

He was a hard worker and a well-liked guy.

“He has so many ideas and he was the one that had the potential to take this family into the future,” Amos said.

The police are investigating a double murder and called on the community to come forward with any information that could assist with the investigation.

By Phumlani Saul

The Healing Gospel & Afro Soul Explosion, at Sun Boardwalk, on 4 June 2022 

The past two years of inactivity, confined to our homes and unable to fully function in the arts industry thanks to Covid-19, were the hardest to endure.

Not only were they a litmus test of artists’ their character, but they’ve made artists stronger in prayer. They worship God in the only best way they know, song and dance. With the entire country firmly behind them in prayer, they thank God for all the lives that were spared.

One way or another, everyone has been affected by covid-19.  That’s why it’s befitting for Eastern Cape to put the pandemic nightmare behind them, observe the safety protocols and embrace the start of the “new normal” phase. Let the healing journey begin……

The concert is a cultural event that’s meant to unite, heal and strengthen people as we continue to fight to gain stability in our lives. It’s critical to grab this opportunity and make an effort and put a lot of effort into rebuilding the events industry as well as our economy. This concert is the second event to be part of the Ebubeleni Festival Series. It’s in partnership with Sandla Black, an aspiring youth owned events company in Gqberha. They are one of the many up and coming events organisers to be mentored by Ebubeleni through a series of concerts.

The objective is to create a platform, develop and generate income for local, marginalized musicians and service providers in Nelson Mandela Bay as well as the Eastern Cape.  

Sandla Black is one of the fortunate artists from Gqeberha to be funded by the National Department of Sport, Arts & Culture through their Mzansi Golden Economy grant programme.

Headlining the concert, is singer, actress and entrepreneur who has since been honoured as the ‘Vocal Highness’, Kelly Khumalo; Multi-Award winning and platinum selling Afro-Pop duo, Jaziel Brothers; Singer, Farmer, Businessman and Multi-Award-winning gospel artist, Butho Vuthela; young powerful voices from Gqeberha, Legato SA an acapella group will curtain raise this beautiful line-up.

Fans are encouraged to come out in numbers, turn up to the favourite songs and sing along. The event promises to be a night to remember.

The series of these events are a build-up towards the main events of Ebubeleni Festival in December.

For a night of high praise please get your tickets for R300 at www.webtickets.co.za, Pick n Pay and Boxer stores. Doors open at 7pm, the show starts at 8pm.

The Healing Gospel & Afro Soul Explosion Concert is brought to you by the Department of Sport, Arts & Culture, Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency, iNkqubela FM, The Sun Boardwalk, Mahambehlala Communications and Sandla Black.

By Phumlani Saul

The National Arts Festival has announced exciting new additions to its 2022 programme with one night only concerts from Amanda Black,Ringo Madlingozi and Bongisizwe Mabandla. The programme, already a feast of theatre, dance, music, jazz, visual art, comedy and more, is now live and open for booking at www.nationalartsfestival.co.za. The countdown to the NAF’s return to live stages and its home town of Makhanda is well underway with the eleven day festival kicking off on 23 June 2022 and running until 3 July.After two years of offering the country’s oldest and most diverse arts festival online, the arts community is looking forward to a real life reunion and the annual winter pilgrimage to the Eastern Cape. CEO Monica Newton says the Festival is looking forward to welcoming the return of the artists and visitors, as is the town of Makhanda, which has missed the R90 million annual boost the Festival has brought to its economy in years gone by. 

 

“A lot has changed in the years since our last live Festival in 2019 and we are mindful that the economic situation in the country may have an impact on the number of visitors to this year’s Festival. We are heartened by the enthusiasm for the live Festival and bookings are starting to come in fast. One of the realities we, along with the performing arts community, face is the 50% capacity rule in our venues. This will mean fewer seats and fewer tickets as well as less revenue for artists and the Festival. It’s going to take a while for us all to get back to ‘normal’ but we are making a strong start,” says Newton.

In addition to the 50% capacity COVID-19 legislation, the Festival has been designed to allow for more time between shows to ensure mask wearing and sanitising protocols are followed precisely. For the first time, ticketing will be paperless and all tickets bought on the Festival’s online ticket platform can be displayed on a phone or tablet to gain entry. 

 

Festival favourites like the Village Green will be a lively meet-up space with plenty of crafters and food stalls, the popular free Sundowner Concerts will be a daily fixture.

The Monument will be abuzz with shows, concerts and exhibitions as well as restaurants and kiosks. The recent upgrades, supported by the National Arts Council administered Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme, have transformed the Power Station venue into a permanent home for creatives and performers. During the Festival, a selection of exhibitions will be happening at the new creative and entrepreneurial hub. 

 

In 2020 and 202, the Festival found a new online audience who supported from around the world. Those who won’t be making the trip this year will still be able to enjoy an online programme again with some of our shows live streamed from Makhanda as well as online shows created for virtual audiences to enjoy. 


For more information about what to expect, what to see and how to book for the 48th National Arts Festival, visit www.nationalartsfestival.co.za

By Zamandulo Malonde

Family, friends, colleagues pay tribute to ‘friendly, fearless and disciplined man’ who was gunned down outside home

He was a selfless leader, a friendly neighbour, a sports fanatic and a visionary.

This was how friends, family and colleagues described murdered Nelson Mandela Bay ANC councillor and regional SA National Taxi Council general secretary Andile “Mayete” Andries when he was laid to rest in Kariega on Saturday. 

Andries’s funeral service was held at a packed Babs Madlakane Hall in KwaNobuhle before the congregation proceeded to the Matanzima Cemetery where he was buried. 

The emotionally charged morning saw those who surrounded him throughout several stages of his life pay tribute to the Ward 43 councillor who was gunned down outside his home last week.Andries was also the taxi council’s Nelson Mandela Bay chair and its national deputy secretary.

Mayor Eugene Johnson said Andries had been a fearless, friendly and disciplined man and ANC regional secretary Luyolo Nqakula said his death was untimely as the ANC, his family and Santaco had all still been looking forward to more of his work. 

Andries was shot dead alongside his acting branch secretary, Lubabalo Kes,o at midday on May 2.

An eyewitness said the two ANC members had been working on a car when a white minibus taxi stopped and one or more of the occupants opened fire.

Police are investigating two murder cases.

Nqakula said he believed that both the ANC and Santaco — organisations that Andries was actively involved in — had no space for criminals. 

“One reflects and asks oneself many questions, but we must also reiterate that between ourselves as comrades and the leadership of the [taxi] association, I am sure both organisations have no place for violence.

“Criminals must be treated like criminals. Criminals must be jailed,” Nqakula said. 

Santaco provincial secretary Mthuthuzeli Madwarha vowed that Andries would be the last chair to be gunned down without the association responding. 

“We will not take the law into our own hands  [though] nothing is stopping us.

“However, what we will not accept from here on is another murder of our chairmen.

 “This is the last murder of one of our own that we will stomach without responding.

“I promise you, none of our people will die [in this fashion] without a mess in this metro,” Madwarha said. 

Madwarha said Andries had been peaceful and loving and protective of those closest to him, but also short-tempered. 

Speaking on behalf of the Qhagqiwe Football Association, Andile Funani challenged the ANC government to honour Andries’s legacy by supporting local sports. 

Andries was an active leader and supporter of soccer and karate in Kariega.

He was one of the founders of the Qhagqiwe Football Association. 

“If the ANC says it respects [Andries], it must create a legacy for him,” Funani said.

“He was a big supporter of a lot of sporting codes who depended on him.

“Who will they depend on now?

“Build a stadium in his honour and name it the Andile Austin Andries Stadium, so that even when his family cry they can be comforted when they see that he did not die in vain.”

Andries and Keso were the latest in a string of killings of ANC councillors in the metro in 2022.