Port Elizabeth - The United Democratic Movement has taken Ward 30 from the ANC in a by-election held in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. "Credit must go to our young man there who grew up in the UDM," party leader Bantu Holomisa told News24 on Thursday. "The message to our ward councillor is, he must at all times be a mere conveyor belt and take all the needs of the people straight to the municipality, and then [give] feedback, keep the people informed... He must humble … [Read more...] about UDM takes Ward 30 from ANC
Kings could give the Pumas a hard time
After the Golden Lions put them to the sword over the weekend, the Pumas will look to get their Currie Cup campaign back on track when they travel to Port Elizabeth where they will face the EP Kings on Friday (19:00 kick-off in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium). Pumas coach MJ Mentz admits it will not be an easy task against a Kings side that came close to upsetting the Sharks in Durban last weekend. The Kings turned in a gutsy performance against the KwaZulu-Natal side before going down … [Read more...] about Kings could give the Pumas a hard time
How long you will wait after phoning 10111?
For years I have been saying, tongue in cheek, to people that; "Port Elizabeth is a ten minute town, except when you require assistance from the Flying Squad, the Ambulance Service or Armed Response as they tend to take a bit longer than that!" SA Police Service spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo revealed that the latest national average and measured from the moment a complaint was received until attendance was just over 19 minutes. That's how long you'd have to wait for a police officer to arrive if … [Read more...] about How long you will wait after phoning 10111?
Flowers for Reeva on her birthday
Port Elizabeth - The Steenkamp family commemorated Reeva's birthday in a private ceremony in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday morning. Reeva would have turned 32. Reeva's parents Barry and June, her sister Simone and four other family members gathered at the Hobie Beach in Summerstrand where they placed flowers in the ocean. The model and law student was shot and killed by her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius on Valentine's Day of 2013. He claimed to have mistaken her for an intruder. At 10:30 … [Read more...] about Flowers for Reeva on her birthday
Three forward changes for Pumas side against Kings
The Pumas have made three changes to the side that will face the EP Kings in their Absa Currie Cup clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday. Prop Corne Fourie will start his first match of the season scrumming down at loosehead with Khwezi Mona shifting to tighthead in place of De-Jay Terblanche. Jason-Colin Fraser earns a starting berth at No 8 in place of Lambert Groenewald, while lock Rudi Matthee will feature in the run-on side for Giant Mtyanda, who shifts … [Read more...] about Three forward changes for Pumas side against Kings
The closest I have come to watching someone die
In Cape Town on Monday evening PE NSRI members Stephen Van Den Berg and Daniel Heimann received a bronze gallantry award from the NSRI for their efforts in saving St Francis Bay paddler, Clinton Hempel off Sardinia Bay on 1 November. Saving a hypothermic paddler from the ocean off Port Elizabeth was the closest he has come to watching someone die, Heiman on Monday. "Basically I was at the shops and I got a phone call saying someone had fallen off his paddle ski, so I dropped my kids at my … [Read more...] about The closest I have come to watching someone die
Municipality ‘surprised’ at PE protests
Port Elizabeth - The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has expressed surprise at the ongoing protest action in Walmer, saying they had already addressed the grievances with the community on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the EFF in the Eastern Cape said the current protest action in and around the Walmer township had its roots in corruption around reconstruction and development programme housing tenders. DA provincial spokesperson for safety and security Bobby Stevenson, in turn, blamed the violent … [Read more...] about Municipality ‘surprised’ at PE protests
Man stabbed at PE magistrate’s court
Port Elizabeth - A man was stabbed at the entrance of the Port Elizabeth Magistrate's Court on Thursday. The stabbing followed a heated exchange between a group of men in the court corridors. The quarrel, which began outside Court 27 where Christopher Panayiotou and co-accused Sizwezakhe Vumazonke were making a brief appearance, was believed to be gang-related. Outside the court room, a group of young men began arguing and, as tensions flared, court orderlies intervened and told the men … [Read more...] about Man stabbed at PE magistrate’s court
Panayiotou back in court today
Port Elizabeth - Christopher Panayiotou, accused of orchestrating his wife Jayde's murder, is expected to make a brief appearance in court on Thursday, a day after it emerged that his alleged accomplice had turned State witness. Panayiotou, 28, and his co-accused Sizwezakhe Vumazonke, 30, believed to be the hit man, will make a mandatory appearance in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate's Court. The case is expected to once again be postponed to allow the State time to conclude its … [Read more...] about Panayiotou back in court today
Panayiotou middleman turns State witness
The charges against Luthando Siyoli, the alleged middle man in the murder of Jayde Panayiotou, have been dropped and he will turn State witness. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed on Wednesday night the 31-year-old Siyoli would be working with the State. "I can confirm that, as the NPA, it is a fact that Siyoli is one of [the Section] 204 witnesses at the moment and we will be proceeding that way," spokesperson Tsepo Ndwalaza told News24. "I know for a fact tomorrow … [Read more...] about Panayiotou middleman turns State witness
Wells Estate fire claims 7
Port Elizabeth - Seven people, including a 10-month-old baby, were killed in a shack fire at Wells Estate in Port Elizabeth early on Wednesday morning. Motherwell police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said the fire had broken out between 03:00 and 03:30 and had burnt the shack to the ground. "We can confirm that all the occupants died in the fire," he said. Beetge said three women, aged 62, 25 and 19 had died, as well as two boys aged 7 and 3, a 6-year-old girl and a 10-month-old … [Read more...] about Wells Estate fire claims 7
Student beaten and left to die alone
Port Elizabeth - A Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University student has died from his injuries after a vicious attack during a house robbery over the weekend. Asadullah Ajimudin, 19, a second-year computer science and applied mathematics student, was found unconscious and severely beaten, with his body hidden and left for dead in his flatlet in Ben Viljoen Street, Summerstrand, during the early hours of Saturday morning. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Alwin Lebans confirmed that … [Read more...] about Student beaten and left to die alone
April Foreign tourist numbers drop
A comparison between the movements in April 2014 and April 2015 indicates that the volume of departures decreased for both South African residents and foreign travellers, according to the latest data released by Stats SA on Monday. While the volume of arrivals increased for South African residents they decreased for foreign travellers. In April 2015 there were 1 169 290 foreign arrivals to South Africa, according to the latest data released by Stats SA on Monday. A comparison between … [Read more...] about April Foreign tourist numbers drop
Hanekom says tourism can do well despite visa issues
The SA tourism and events industry must go ahead and do what it does well regardless of challenges like the new visa regulations, safety, affordability, ease of entry into the country and air access, Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom said on Monday. "I don't want to downplay the huge challenges you face, but it is imperative that you work together with us and do what you do and do it well, regardless of what happens around you," Hanekom said at the opening of the 29th congress of the … [Read more...] about Hanekom says tourism can do well despite visa issues
Annual Medical Aid Fraud could top R19.5 Billion
It is estimated that at least 7% of medical aid claims are fraudulent and the figure might be as high as 15%, according to Dr Hleli Nhlapo, deputy chair of the Healthcare Forensic Management Unit (HFMU) of the Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa (BHF). This places the estimates on the R130 Billion spent on medical aid per year at between R9.1 and R19.5 Billion of fraudulent claims per year. Healthcare provider fraud, along with waste and abuse, has a dramatic impact on the … [Read more...] about Annual Medical Aid Fraud could top R19.5 Billion
