COGTA MEC Xolile Nqatha has revealed that all traditional initiation monitoring teams have been put on high alert to respond rapidly on illegal initiation schools in the Province. This is to enforce the decision of the Executive Council to suspend ulwaluko during the winter season in line with Covid 19 regulations. MEC Nqatha commended the good work done by the police and members of the District Initiation forums in closing down illegal traditional initiation schools. He said the opening and operating of initiation schools during the national lockdown is illegal and in contravention of the regulations of the Disaster Managemnt…
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Good rain fell over the past 48 hours over most of the Eastern Cape, reports Garth Sampson of the South African Weather Service’s Port Elizabeth office. Nelson Mandela Bay received 57mm at the Airport and 82mm at the 3rd Avenue Dip weather station. The Langkloof – the main catchment for Nelson Mandela Bay – had 36mm at Joubertina and 69mm at Kareedouw. Snow had been reported on the mountains around Graaff-Reinet and Barkly East and along the escarpment up to Maclear, Sampson said. Reports of snow had also been received from Hogsback, the Tsitsikamma , Kouga and Swartberg Mountains. Notable minimum…
The South African Police Service has capacitated its National Service Complaints Centre to receive and process allegations of police brutality or cruel, inhumane and/or degrading treatment and/or punishment, reported by the public. SAPS Eastern Cape spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said this is in response to the judgment handed down on Friday 15 May 2020, by Judge Hans Fabricius in the North Gauteng (Pretoria) High Court in the matter of Collins Khosa, Collins Khosa, his neighbour and members of their families were viciously beaten by soldiers over the Easter weekend at their home in Alexandra township, Gauteng, for alleged infringements of lockdown…
Makana Traffic Chief Coenraad Hanekom has confirmed that their office will re-open 1 June 2020, in line with level 3 lockdown regulations; however driver’s and learner’s licence bookings will be accepted only two weeks later, from 15 June. Applications for Professional Driving Permits and the renewal of expired and lost driver’s licence cards would be prioritised during June. “This is in line with the directive from the Department of Transport and to address the backlog,” Hanekom said. “All licence applicants (learner’s and driver’s) who already have confirmed bookings and were affected by the lockdown are hereby encouraged to visit the office…
Sunnyside weather watcher Gill Maylam reported 1.9mm rain last night and west of Makhanda on the Highlands road, Edward Gaybba reported less than 1mm. The South African Weather service reported 1.4mm rain for Makhanda last night. However, most of the coastal belt and adjacent interior received between 10mm and 30mm. The Nelson Mandela Bay catchment, the the Langkloof, received between 10mm and 20mm. The wind reached a true gale force strength overnight with winds of 60km/h gusting 90km/h, said the Weather Service’s Garth Sampson. “These cloudy, cold and wet conditions are expected to continue until Wednesday.” Nelson Mandela Bay AWOS Port…
The South Africa Weather Service has warned of damaging winds for the country’s coastal areas in its online alert system. On https://www.weathersa.co.za/home/warnings it says gale-force westerly/northwesterly winds of at least 62km/h aere expected over Dr Beyers Naude, Blue Crane Route, Inxuba Yethemba, Enoch Mgijima, Walter Sisulu, Senqu and Emalahleni local municipalities, from 2pm to 8pm Monday 25 May. In Makhanda, there is a 60% chance of rain tonight with today’s warm 25C dropping to a 12C maximum tomorrow (minimum 6C) as snow falls on mountains in the province, including the Sneeuberg in the Cradock area. The first cold wet weather…
The coronavirus pandemic in South Africa is going to get much worse before it gets better…the duration, scale and impact of the pandemic depends on our actions as a society and on our behaviour as individuals. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday 24 May announced the easing of lockdown restrictions to level 3 from 1 June 2020, but warned that the risk of a massive increase in infections in South Africa was now greater than ever. Among other factors, the risk of transmission in public transport would increase as 8 million people return to work. Level 3 will involve the return…
All communities being serviced by the Fort Beaufort police station are advised that this police station is currently closed due to one of its members having tested positive for the Covid-19 Corona Virus. The community Service Centre will now be operating from the new premises used as contingency and located at Army Base (Police barracks), No 03 Grey Street, turn right after Fort Beaufort Primary. The old police contact details are not working but the station can be reached at the following numbers – Lt Col Sango-+27714751760. The old building is currently undergoing decontamination and the community will be informed…
The police have asked for help in finding the relatives of a Makhanda man known as “Tshotsho”, who died earlier this year. Spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said Tshotsho, an immigrant, arrived in Makhanda a few years ago with a construction company and remained here when the company left after completing their contract. “On 22 March, Tshotsho was found under the bridge in Raglan Road where he lived,” Govender said. “The post mortem which was conducted indicated that he died of natural causes. An inquest docket was opened for investigation.” Police estimate Tshotsho to be between his late 40s and early 50s.…
Visitors to the National Arts Festival know that the experience is as much about the heavy hitters and much-anticipated shows as it is about the undiscovered gems and sheer entertainment of the Fringe. In the move to being an online Festival in 2020, audiences will be able to follow a similar adventure, the Festival said in a media release this week. The Festival decided to stage a virtual event this year in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. They explained the digital format and answered questions about it in a webinar recently. “Your Virtual Festival ride may not involve chats in…