Rhulani Claims First Bucs Win Thanks To Mabasa’s Brace

By Phumlani Saul

Bucs caretaker coach Rhulani Mokwena, made three changes from their stalemate with Golden Arrows, giving French goalkeeper Joris Delle his debut, while Tshegofatso Mabaso and Thembinkosi Lorch started in the attack. The hosts took the initiative to attack in the opening exchanges and managed to hold the Chilli Boys in their own half but they lacked the final product as Patrick Tignyemb was largely untested. The combination of former Maritzburg United duo Fortune Makaringe and Siphesihle Ndlovu nearly resulted in the opener for Pirates three minutes before the half-hour mark after the former setup the latter with a chance on a volley, but the pint-sized midfielder’s effort sailed over the bar. Clinton Larsen’s troops were growing in the game towards the end of the first stanza, but they too lacked the cutting edge in the final third as Pirates ‘ new shot-stopper enjoyed a quiet opening 45 minutes. Mokwena’s charges came back from the break playing with more purpose going forward and they finally broke the deadlock 11 minutes inside the second stanza thanks to Mabasa, who scored with a low left-footed shot after he was sent through on goal by Augustine Mulega. Mabasa quickly gave Pirates a two-goal lead five minutes later after using his imposing figure to turn inside the box before firing into the bottom corner from six-yards out to complete his brace. Mabasa did not have an opportunity to get a hat-trick as he was withdrawn with 18 minutes remaining and replaced by Zakhele Lepasa, while Larsen made a tactical change in the same moment by bringing on Rhulani Manzini in place of Mzikayise Mashaba. Manzini made an instant impact as he took a swerving free-kick for Chippa with 11 minutes remaining that was spilled by Delle, which saw Lerato Manzini  poke home from six-yards out. The Chilli Boys were threatening to find the equaliser in the closing stages but Pirates managed to hold on to all the three points while Chippa remain without a win this season.

By Phumlani Saul

A group of around 400 men and women marched from the North End Stadium in East London to City Hall on Friday in one of a number of protests against gender-based violence.

The East London event was orchestrated by a group of men who said they’d be marching under the banner – men rising against femicide.

One of the posters on display was of champion female boxer Leighandre ‘Baby Lee’ Jegels, who was shot and killed by her boyfriend last month.

He later died in a car accident while fleeing police.

The march was peaceful and memorandum was presented to a representative from the Buffalo City Mayor’s office.

Meanwhile, a similar march is being planned for Nelson Mandela Bay on Saturday.

It scheduled to start at Kings Beach at noon and proceed to City Hall.

March co-ordinator, Zaahidah Meyer, said the nation should hang its head in shame for the ongoing violence against women and children.

The latest crime statistics released on Thursday show that 2 271 women were murdered in the last financial year which is a decrease of only 159 cases compared to the year before.

By Phumlani Saul

Two robbery suspects have been arrested by members of the police’s K9-unit following an ATM robbery in Algoa Park, Port Elizabeth.

Spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu says the members were patrolling near the Kenako mall on Saturday afternoon when they heard a woman screaming.

The woman in her 50’s informed them that she was just robbed at an ATM of her cash and bank card and that three suspects fled in a white VW Polo.

Naidu says it wasn’t long before the vehicle was spotted in Daku Street, Kwazakele.

She says when the suspects noticed the police, the front passenger exited and ran off, and when the driver made a dash for freedom after ignoring several warnings to stop, the police dog, Jack was released and apprehended him.

The back seated passenger also exited and started running, but Jack was soon on his heels and he too, was arrested.

The complainant’s cash and bank card was found in the possession of one of the suspects.

The suspects, aged 28 and 29, are being detained on a charge of robbery and are expected to appear in the New Brighton magistrates’ court on Monday.

The third suspect is still at large.

By Phumlani Saul

Police divers and the dog unit are conducting an extensive search for an 11-year-old boy who went missing in the Swartkops River mouth in Port Elizabeth at around 7 pm on Saturday evening.

NSRI spokesperson, Craig Lambinon says NSRI Port Elizabeth, Coastal Water Rescue, Bluewater Bay lifeguards, police and emergency services responded to the scene, following reports of a drowning in progress.

“NSRI launched a sea rescue craft to join in the search, and despite an extensive search, no sign of the child could be found”, he said.

Lambinon said the search would continue today (Sunday) .

By Phumlani Saul

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality said on Friday that it would be investigating the apparent lack of security at City Hall after the walls and pillars of the building were spray-painted with anti-gender-based violence images.

Officials arrived at City Hall on Friday morning to find the walls and columns adorned with various images, including that of slain UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana.

Municipality spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki said that while they were sympathetic, the overnight action amounted to vandalism.

He said the Municipality condemned it because it’s criminal.

“It’s also unacceptable for people to do such a thing on a municipal structure or any other structure for that matter. The question of where the security was when this happened is going to be followed up and an internal investigation will be done,” Mniki added.

Mrwetyana has become a significant symbol in campaigns against the prevalent scourge of violence against women and children in the country after she was raped and murdered inside the Claremont Post Office in Cape Town last month.

 A 42-year-old Post Office employee has already confessed to murdering the 19-year-old film and media student.

The latest crime statistics released on Thursday show that 2 271 women were murdered in the last financial year which is a decrease of only 159 cases compared to the year before.

Several protests marches against gender-based violence were scheduled for Johannesburg and East London on Friday.

A 47-year-old businessman was shot dead in Mossel Bay last night.

Police spokesperson, sergeant Kappie Kapp says the incident happened at around 20:45 in Gubayo Street, KwaNonqaba.

Kapp said eyewitnesses told police that the victim was at his business premises when two men approached him and made enquiries about trailer repairs.

He said the suspects then pulled out firearms and fired several shots at the victim.

The man was taken to a Mossel Bay hospital where he passed away a short while later.

His identity is being withheld until his next of kin have been informed.

PE taxi driver killed in early morning shooting

By Phumlani Saul

Port Elizabeth police are investigating the murder of a man in Helenvale early on Friday morning.

Police spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu, said that 31-year-old Jayden Pillay was standing on the balcony of a house in Chamois Street when he was shot just before 6 am.

She said Pillay, who was a taxi driver, was fatally wounded in the head when a shot was fired from below.

The motive for the shooting is not known and the suspect is also unknown at this stage.

“The incident is not gang-related and SAPS Gelvandale is investigating a case of murder,” Naidu said.

A 27-year-old care-taker at a school in Whittlesea in the Eastern Cape is behind bars for allegedly raping a 7-year-old girl.

Police spokesperson, Captain Namhla Mdleleni, said that the man was arrested on Tuesday by members from Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit.

She said the little girl was afraid to go to school on Monday and told her mother that the alleged rapes started last year.

Mdleleni said suspect will appear in court on Friday on a charge of rape

By Phumlani Saul

An Eastern Cape farmer accused of clobbering to death a farm labourer was arrested on Saturday, two weeks after the incident.

Sithembele Ngene, 45, was assaulted with a knobkerrie on the head on August 25 in Haga Haga and died the following day in hospital.

There are allegations of an altercation between the employer and his employee.

Grant Reckless Miles appeared in the Komga magistrate’s court on Monday before his case was postponed to September 18 for a formal bail application.

The Ngene family and activists say police had arbitrarily decided the farmer had killed Ngene in self-defence. They say police caved in to community pressure and arrested the man on Saturday.

Ngene’s widow, Nonkumbuzo Siphikeleni-Ngene, said police kept on telling them they were still investigating.

He told the cops he only beat him once on the head.

“I saw his body at Frere Hospital. We took pictures. He was badly beaten up.

“He was not breathing at the hospital and could not speak.

“He has been working for him since 2016. Sithembele was the only breadwinner in the house. His mother, I and our son, who is nine, depended on him,” the grieving wife said.

“Police have not given us a single update [until Tuesday], and they told me they could only meet me this coming Thursday and in town.”

Police spokesperson Captain Mluleki Mbi confirmed the incident and said: “A 48-year-old man was arrested on Saturday, September 7 and is charged with murder.

“He appeared before the Komga magistrate’s court on Monday, September 9. He has been remanded in custody pending his bail application on September 18 at Kei Mouth.

“The last time I heard the story was that the dead man walked in drunk in the property. He was chased away, and returned with a knife,” said Mbi. “He was beaten with a knobkerrie on the head.”

Siphikeleni-Ngene said the family did not know why it took two weeks to arrest Miles.

Great Kei youth council chair, Zuko Patluko, said they had marched to the local police from Thursday to Saturday demanding Miles’ arrest.

“Police said they were told that it was self-defence. We asked them if it was not for the courts to determine that.”

Kei Mouth councillor Moureen Kantshashe said there had been relentless protests calling for the arrest of the farmer. She said she had heard about the killing from the ward committee.

Independent forensic investigator Leon Nel said he had received a phone call from Kantshashe, who asked him to look into the matter. Nel said there were indications that it was not only one knock to the head that led to Ngene’s death.

Mbi denied claims that Miles was protected by the police.

“The senior public prosecutor was consulted because there were claims of self-defence and the farmer had opened a case of burglary. The prosecutor had instructed the investigating officer to do further investigations and he will make a decision whether to charge or not,” said Mbi.