By Phumlani Saul

Eastern Cape ambulance drivers and their assistants refused to work on Friday. They staged sit-ins at their places of work.

The affected regions are Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Amathole Municipality and Buffalo City Municipality. Ambulances remained parked the whole day outside the Emergency Medical Services provincial headquarters at Dora Nginza hospital in Port Elizabeth.

At issue is that the drivers have not received back-pay owed to them. Employees said they would only start working after the money is paid. They said they would keep presenting themselves at work but not perform any duties.

A worker who spoke on condition of anonymity said the health department had promised their excess allowances, a form of overtime pay, by 6 January but had failed to meet the commitment. The back-pay has accumulated since September last year, he said.

Another employee said some workers were sinking into debt. She said: “We had a black Christmas because we expected the department to meet its end of the deal. Schools are opening next week. Our children will struggle to have uniforms.”

Eastern Cape Department of Health spokesperson Siyanda Manana said his department has been assured by the provincial treasurer that payment would be made on 13 January.

Manana said that in the meanwhile the department has enlisted the services of private ambulances to deal with critical cases only. “We also encourage our patients to phone our call centre number for assistance which is 0800032364.”

By Joseph Chirume

The death of these children highlights government’s failure to deliver quality services to its citizens,” said primary school teacher Nomsa Faku. She was speaking at the funeral of five-year-old Alizwa Rhwayibana and his sister Asive aged 11.

Alizwa and Asive were two of four children who died last week after apparently eating toxic food from a nearby dump site in NU30 in Motherwell. The families say they are considering legal action against the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for failing to collect refuse regularly. The funeral of the other two children, Alunamda and Zintle Mqawu, was held on Friday. Another child, Asiphile Grootboom, 7, was briefly admitted to the clinic and discharged.

On Sunday, scores of relatives and community members paid their last respects to Alizwa and Asive who were buried at the KwaNoxolo cemetery.

Faku said the municipality was to blame for not regularly cleaning dump sites. She described Asive as a passionate learner with good leadership skills.

The children’s uncle Siphosethu said that Mayor Thsonono Buyeye and ward 54 councillor Morgan Tshaka had initially promised to assist the family with funeral costs. The family had not heard back from officials and no one from the municipality attended the funeral.

Family spokesperson Ayanda Poni said, “The cause of our children’s death was negligence on the part of the municipality. If the municipality had provided us with refuse bags or if the dumping site had been secured, this would not have happened. We will definitely seek legal advice on the case.”

Elufefeni Primary School Principal, Lumka Ntsumpa, also urged the community not to dispose of expired food in open places. “This is a wake up call to the community and the municipality.”

Calls and messages to councillor Tshaka had not been answered by the time of publication.

By Daily Kasi Reporter

The Eastern Cape recorded a matric pass rate of 76.5% in 2019 an improvement of 5.9% on 2018.

This was announced on Tuesday night by Basic Education Minister, who said the overall matric pass rate was 81.3%.

She said the Free State was the best performing province with a matric pass rate of 88.4% followed by Gauteng at 87.2% and North West Province rounding off the top three at 86.8%

The Western Cape recorded a pass rate of 82.3%, KwaZulu Natal 81.3%, and Mpumalanga at 80.3%

Limpopo was the worst-performing province at 73.2%

Democratic Alliance MPL, Yusuf Cassim, congratulated all the Eastern Cape Grade 12 learners who passed “and contributed to a massive increase in the province’s pass rate”.

However, he said the DA was still very concerned about the low learner-retention rate and high drop-out rates in the Eastern Cape.

Cassim said this number is set to grow as the Department of Basic Education “phases out the Multiple Examination Opportunity (MEO) to learners which artificially inflates the matric pass rate.”

By NOMATHAMSANQA MAGWA

Four children aged between three and 11 have died after consuming a toxic substance at a dumping site in Unit 30 in Motherwell, Port Elizabeth.

Police spokesperson, Captain Andre’ Beetge, said that a seven-year-old child survived.

He said staff at the Motherwell Health Centre had alerted police to the incident early on Sunday evening.

“The three-year-old Alunamda Mqawu, passed away on arrival at the health centre, while his sister, 10-year-old Zintle Mqawu, and another pair of siblings, five-year-old Alizwa Rhwayibana and his sister 11-year-old Asive Rhwayibana, all died while receiving treatment at the health centre,” he said.

Beetge said a seven-year-old boy, Asiphile Grootboom, was brought in later on Sunday afternoon with similar symptoms but survived.

“All the children were apparently playing close to their homes and ate some food that they found between the rubble,” Beetge said.

He said post mortem examinations will determine the exact cause of death.

Police opened an inquest docket but were also appealing to the public who may have information pertinent to the investigation to contact Motherwell police.

Beetge said police are appealing to the public not to consume anything found at rubbish dump sites.

By Phumlani Saul

20-year-old cable thief suspect was arrested in Port Elizabeth late on Tuesday when patrolling K9 unit members spotted him digging up cables on the M4 freeway (direction towards Central).

Colonel Priscilla Naidu says around 6pm, PE K9 members noticed the suspect and stopped.

As they crossed the fence, the suspect started running. After several calls to stop, police dog Jack was released.

The suspect kicked Jack in the face and managed to break free and run towards the rocks near the ocean.

Assistance from other K9 unit members arrived and an extensive search was conducted for the man who was eventually found hiding underneath the rocks in the water.

He was arrested and detained on charges of tampering, damage and theft of essential infrastructure under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act.

The estimated damages of the dug up cables is R20 000.

Colonel Naidu says the suspect will be appearing in court soon.

By Lolwethu Leeu

Port Elizabeth police have arrested 5 suspects between the ages of 22 and 29 in possession of 21 cellphones suspected to have been pick pocketed from spectators at a music festival on Sunday night.

According to police information, a music concert was held at the Nelson Mandela stadium on Sunday night into the early hours of Monday morning.

Colonel Priscilla Naidu reports that at around 2 am on Monday with the assistance of some of the festival goers, police arrested 5 suspects in the stadium with a total possession of 21 cellphones.

It is suspected that there were 3 separate groups of criminals operating near the ablution facilities.

Two of the suspects are from Pretoria while the others are from the Port Elizabeth area.

Two of the cellphones have since been claimed by their owners while ownership of 18 cellphones still need to be determined.

Anyone who may have lost cellphones at the concert to urgently contacted Detective Warrant Officer Ferreira on 082 442 8241 or SAPS 041 394 6316

By Nomathamsanqa Magwa

WHEN the DKTeam came across two men fighting like WWF wrestlers, they took pictures first and asked questions later.
They weren’t surprised to hear Zolile Kwanini (38) and Jacob Sizani (19) were fighting over a woman!
The woman, Zoleka Moni (30) from Gunguluza area 11 in Uitenhage, was honest about what was happening.

By Phumlani Saul

The 8th annual Ebubeleni Music Festival is from Friday December 27 to Sunday December 29.
Organisers have lined up top acts with the hopes of attracting more than 35,000 festival-goers over this weekend.

The event’s three-day run at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and Boardwalk ICC.

Organiser Marc Mahambehlala said The concept for the outdoor festival with its picnic feel was born from the idea that there was no flagship event in the metro over the festive season and the aim was to attract people to the Bay while entertaining them.

“Over the years, with the growth of the event, we filled up the Adcock Stadium in Korsten and had to find a new venue.
“With that growth, the festival is no longer a metro event but has become a provincial event and a national one because for the past two years we’ve seen ticket sales from all nine provinces,” Mahambehlala said.
More than 50 artists are due to participate over three days.

This Friday’s programme features the Urban Festival with national acts like AKA,Cassper Nyovest going to share the same stage.

Ebubeleni Comedy on Saturday December 28 at the Boardwalk ICC will include the likes of Siya Seya, Skhumba Hlophe and Trevor Gumbi
The main festival on Sunday will see Zonke Dikana, Vusi Nova, Msaki and Zero12 Finest on stage.

Mahambehlala organises the festival alongside his mother, Tembi Mahambehlala, who has been in the entertainment industry for 36-plus years.

Mahambehlala urged people to book at Computicket to avoid buying fraudulent tickets.

Tickets for the comedy on Saturday December 28 cost R200.
The Main Music Festival on Sunday December 29 costs R275 for general and R1000 for VIP. Cooler box tickets are R80, with patrons then allowed to bring in refreshments.

By Lolwethu Leeu and Phumlani Saul

PARTYGOERS were left disappointed on Saturday when the eMandulo and Cultural Music Festival was suddenly cancelled.

This came after the event, which was meant to take place at Lower Drostdy Central Stadium in Uitenhage , Eastern Cape, had previously been postponed once.

The gates to the eMandulo Cultural and Music Festival at the Central Fields in Uitenhage were open on Saturday afternoon, but after hours of waiting patrons realised the much anticipated concert was not going to happen

The festival was supposed to feature local and international artists like Dr Rebecca Malope, Sjava, Lady Zamar,Ami Faku and Mshunqisi.

Music fans were left disappointed at the weekend after yet another failed festival in Nelson Mandela Bay.

People who bought tickets for the eMandulo Cultural and Music Festival are demanding refunds for the cancelled Uitenhage show.

Event organiser Mvuzo Mtyhobile told DK Team: “The artists who were meant to perform only after 8pm on Saturday that the event had been cancelled.

However, on Sunday, he promised those who had bought tickets that they would be refunded.

“People who bought tickets can go to Shoprite and get a full refund for the tickets they bought,” Mtyhobile said.

By 21.30pm on Saturday there was still no stage or sound equipment for the festival, which was meant to have started at 2pm, at the Uitenhage Central Fields.

By then, cars lined Lower Drostdy Street and patrons already inside had started singing struggle songs as there was no music to keep them entertained.

On Saturday, concertgoers were not the only ones kept in the dark about  whether the festival would go ahead or not.

Just hours before the event, Professor was seen at the Endaweni Lounge in KwaNobuhle, while Mshunqisi was detailing  his journey to Uitenhage on his Instagram.

Mshunqisi’s manager, Samkelo Mpisane, said Mtyhobile had told them the show had been sabotaged, which was why they could not perform.

“When we arrived at our accommodation, I kept on calling him and asking what’s going on and he said he’d get back to me.

“Our performance time was 10pm and, when the time came, he said the event was no longer carrying on because it was being sabotaged,” Mpisane said.

Mvezo claims the show was Sabotage

“I received a WhatsApp message from someone telling me that they had been told tickets for the show had been sold out,” he said.

“I immediately phoned Computicket and was told tickets were still available.

“This supported my assertion that this was sabotage.

“Someone I know also gave me a call and told me that I had been blacklisted and that people did not want my show to succeed.

“When I asked what he meant by blacklisted, he did not give me an answer,” Mtyhobile said.

He added the sound and stage equipment had arrived only after 8pm.its obviously that this was a sabotage the stage supposed to arrive day before not only after 8pm,”

Zama Dick told Daily Kasi ” I’m so disappointed about what happened I was looking forward to spend the night with my girlfriend who is coming all the way from East London. ” I want my money back” said Dick

Zimkhitha Nqatha (25) said: ” Voetsek They must just refund us. I arrive around 13:00 look now it’s 21:00pm non of them come and informed us about is happening.

” Instead they brought us Hi-Fi to listen to that kak in the stadium, I should have seated in my house and play my Hi-Fi not at the stadium”said Zimkhitha

By Mzwandile Bhefile

Uitenhage police have opened an inquest docket after a family perished in a shack fire in the Moeggesukkel informal settlement.

Police spokesperson, Captain Gerda Swart, said that a couple, both in their thirties, and their five-year-old child died in Tuesday night’s blaze.

She said the police and the local Fire Department received a report after 10 pm that houses were on fire in the informal settlement.

“Upon arrival, two informal houses were burning and the fire was extinguished by the Fire Department.  The bodies of the three victims were discovered in the debris,” Swart said.

She said their names will be released after formal identification was done and next-of-kin notified.  

“The cause of the fire is not known at this stage,” said Swart.