Seventeen people were injured when a minibus taxi and a bakkie collided at an intersection in Hillcrest.

Durban – Seventeen people were injured on Friday afternoon when a minibus taxi and a bakkie collided at the Ridge and Springside roads intersection in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, paramedics said.

ER24 paramedics received the call shortly after 4pm, spokesman Russel Meiring said. On arrival, paramedics found a bakkie and a taxi “lying down a small embankment”.

“On assessment, paramedics found that 17 people had been injured in the collision, their injuries ranging from minor to moderate. The passenger of the bakkie was found lying trapped inside his vehicle, only sustaining moderate injuries.”

Rescue services had to use the jaws-of-life equipment to free the man from the vehicle.

Paramedics treated all the patients and transported them to the RK Khan and St Mary’s hospitals for further treatment.

“It is understood that the taxi turned in front of the bakkie, causing both vehicles to crash down the embankment,” Meiring said.

African News Agency

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About 4 000 anchovies that recently landed on Addington Beach have been given a new home at uShaka Marine World.

Durban - Some 4 000 specimens of the similarly small-sized species many would associate with fish-paste recently landed on Addington Beach, mixed up with sand from a dredging operation.

Now two weeks out of quarantine, they have a new home in a tank at uShaka Marine World.

There has been a sudden growth in the numbers off Durban's coast, at much the same time as the annual sardine run has been on the wane.

“Why we have suddenly had a big pulse of adults is very difficult to say,” Sean Fennessy, senior scientist at the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI), told The Independent on Saturday.

He said that although anchovieswere more common in colder waters, such as the Atlantic Ocean from where they feed the Western Cape’s fishing industry, they have always lived off KwaZulu-Natal but never known to have been in such numbers.

“We don’t get them in commercial quantities here at all. It’s not the prime habitat. They prefer cooler water,” he said.

Fennessy said the shoals of the species, Engraulis encrasicolus, had probably been the cause of big shadows in the sea between uMhlanga and Durban that were visible from the road.

In their new home in the uShaka Marine World tank they’re beginning to group into a shoal, in line with their natural behaviour to appear as a large body.

They share it with sharks and a brindle bass called Deon that rules the waters “with his attitude”, according to uShaka Marine World spokeswoman Ann Kunz. She believes the company the anchovies keep should not put them in any danger.

“It’s a misconception that a shark will eat anything in its way,” she said. “In any case they're fed enough not to be bothered with an anchovy.”

The anchovies are fed a blended mix of prawns and hake, in a liquid form, which they take in through filter feeding.

uShaka Marine World collected them from Addington Beach. Senior ORI aquarist Craig Smith said, much to the convenience of the aquarium, the anchovies had “caught themselves”, landing up in a well that had developed on the shore as a result of watery sand being pumped to widen the beach for the tourist season.

A river formed draining much of the water back into the ocean but an anchovy-filled well stayed behind and the fish were caught in nets.

The shoal among the sharks had Pretoria visitors John and Violet Rammutla in awe, standing in front of the tank waving their hands like composers before an orchestra.

“I’m trying to see if they’ll react,” he explained.

Independent on Saturday

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Three men have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 22-year-old Stephen Coetzee, who threw himself in front of a bullet meant for his father.

Durban - “I will never move on. There are so many things that remind me of my child.”

Those were the words of Stephen Coetzee sr on Friday at the Durban High Court after his son’s killers were sentenced to life behind bars.

The three accused Nkululeko Mkhize, Nhlakanipho Anele Sikhonde and Mxolisi Zwane were found guilty on Thursday of the murder of Stephen Coetzee jr, 22, as well as robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Read: Father weeps as son's killers found guilty

During sentencing proceedings on Friday, Acting Judge Madlala Xolo handed down life sentences, as well as 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances to all three accused.

Speaking outside the court, surrounded by family and friends, the eManzimtoti father recalled how his son threw himself in front of the bullet meant for him.

His head bowed with a pain clearly too great to bear, Coetzee said, “My son jumped in front of me and it was just a split second. I saw his face contort and then he fell.”

The tragic events unfolded on an early autumn evening in May 2012, when four heavily armed assailants entered the Coetzees’ property and tried to steal their car.

The young Coetzee was shot in the head, protecting his father and the suspects crashed the car they were trying to steal into a wall along the driveway. All they escaped with was a cellphone and R250.

“My son loved cars, especially his Beetle. He lived in a flat attached to the house and every morning when I went out, he would come and join me. It was our ritual every morning.

“Nearly four years have passed and sometimes when I go outside in the morning, I stop and wait. And then I remember he’s not here. I will never move on, there are so many things that remind me of my child. We had such a strong bond, much more than just father and son,” said Coetzee.

Family and friends who had gathered at the court described the younger Coetzee as a happy, outgoing person “who never had a bad word for anyone in his life”.

His dogs still run out of the house when they hear his much-loved Beetle being started up, thinking their master has come home.

His best friend from childhood, Jacques Nel, who was with the Coetzee family during the attack said, “Stephen and I were together every day. We were never just friends, we always said we were brothers. He taught me everything I know,” said Nel outside the court.

Once sentence had been handed down, defence attorneys for the accused, Vrema Mahabeer and Marshall Zulu both applied for leave to appeal, which was dismissed.

Independent on Saturday

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Leisurely late night showers may soon come to an end for eThekwini residents, as the council plans to restrict water flow for seven hours at night.

Durban - Leisurely long showers late at night may soon come to an end for eThekwini residents, as the council plans to restrict water flow for seven hours at night.

And there are threats that water supply could be restricted during the day as well.

As dam levels continue to drop, the eThekwini Municipality announced its latest plans late on Friday afternoon, at the same time that other authorities made their plans known to root out people abusing water resources, and for plans to build more infrastructure to save water.

eThekwini Municipality aims to reduce water supply and demand in areas that are supplied by the Midmar Dam system, by limiting water supply from 9pm to 4am to allow the reservoirs to fill up for the next day.

Municipal spokesman, Thulani Mbatha said: “In this way we can ensure the water is available to everyone during the day.”

The municipality said it would engage with businesses and public facilities operators to ensure their operational plans are in line with the current water management plan. eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo said the municipality was confident that this intervention would achieve the required water saving.

“However, if we are not able to achieve this, an option of limiting water supply during the day will be considered,” said Nxumalo.

Other measures to encourage water conservation include water pressure reduction, installation of water meter restrictors, extensive communication, and fines and penalties for those with high water usage.

“The drought is a reality. However, together with the residents and businesses in

eThekwini, we can successfully reduce the impact of the drought by changing our behaviour every day,” Nxumalo said.

The municipality has installed water restrictor discs to more than 47 000 households in more than seven areas across the city.

Mandatory

Head of water and sanitation unit, Ednick Msweli, said for the roll-out of water restrictors, the city was targeting areas where the supply zone was not achieving the required 15 percent reduction of water consumption, which was mandatory for all consumers.

“We have continuous engagements with the community where water restrictor discs are being installed. The independent plumbing contractors on our roster are allocated a shift, and then rotated. This list is continually rolled over so that the work is shared fairly between all the certified plumbing contractors,” he said.

Msweli said all certified contract plumbers had eThekwini plumbing contractor identification cards.

“The water restricting disc is simply a tool to assist the community to reduce their consumption. However, residents are still required to use less water,” he said.

The latest proposed restrictions come as the provincial co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) department announced on Friday that a R3.4 billion municipal infrastructure grant (MIG) has been set aside to help KZN municipalities improve their service delivery on water, sanitation and infrastructure in the face of the drought.

“Cogta has been delivering municipal infrastructure as the province has been battling the worst drought in a generation. Additional water infrastructure, which includes new and refurbished boreholes as well as water storage facilities for the most drought affected municipalities, is being delivered in earnest,” said MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube.

Coupled with that, the national Department of Water and Sanitation also announced its tough stance on unregistered water users in a provincial briefing on Friday, urging residents and companies that access natural water resources, to register their use, to avoid a drain on the natural resource.

“We want people to use water wisely. Water is precious at present. Even operating a car wash is a sinful act as it wastes precious potable water that can be used for drinking,” said Jay Reddy, acting chief executive for the Pongola-Umzimkulu Proto catchment management agency.

Independent on Saturday

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A group of former Maritzburg College pupils have told of their terror when armed men invaded their student digs in Kloof.

Durban - A stocky young man woke up at 2am on Friday with a pillow over his face and a gun at his head.

Seconds earlier Matthew Muller imagined that mates in the Kloof commune he shares with old school friends from Maritzburg College were playing a prank on him.

Then he heard a voice say: “Make a noise and you’ll get shot.”

The next minute the newly qualified design engineer had his hands and legs tied. He managed to break free and made for an alarm button but was forced at gunpoint to join his friend, Codi Phippen, on the downstairs floor, covered in blankets.

“They asked me for the keys of the Toyota Hilux parked outside. I said I didn’t know where they were to help my mate (whose car it was),” said Muller.

Instead his own car, a VW Polo, was stolen.

Phippen had seen them enter the house from his upstairs room after Max, their cocker spaniel, alerted him and his partner Rayne Bek that something was not right.

“Two guys were walking in with what looked like AKs,” he said.

The five intruders also had a large, silver handgun.

“I locked the door and told Rayne to hide in the bathroom,” said Phippen.

Moments later he was pinned to the floor as his cupboards and drawers were searched for laptops, GPSes, cellphones and wallets.

Then Phippen was ordered downstairs.

Meanwhile, Bek, crouched behind a sink in the bathroom, clutching her two kittens.

“I was so scared,” said the student.

A commotion ensued upstairs as the robbers kicked open locked doors.

Muller, still being held captive downstairs, thought he was hearing shots go off.

In the fracas, Cameron Channing smacked a robber with the butt of a pellet gun, only to be ordered on to the floor at gunpoint, along with Gareth Phillips.

Daniel Grinwis, a photographer, also first thought his mates were up to a midnight prank. But then he saw a robber with a gun pointing at him about to enter his room. He shoved hard against a door to stop the robbers coming in.

As a resulty he was able to prevent his uninsured camera equipment from being stolen.

One of the eight housemates, Mark Wattrus, ended up at the right place at the right time when he chose to stay over at his parents’ home, also in Kloof, having just bought a new Toyota Hilux.

“I would have been destroyed if it was stolen,” he said.

The robbers then fled in Muller’s VW Polo. The housemates, aged between 20 and 23, gave chase but lost the Polo as it raced towards Pinetown. They were puzzled how all five intruders and their loot, including a large television screen, had fitted in.

The friends had lived in the commune since Christmas and were on the verge of moving out as their lease had ended.

Two weeks ago, intrudersentered through a sliding door that had been left open leaving the occupants of the commune more security conscious, but they did not believe they were scheduled for another “visit”.

Last weekend saw a home invasion in Waterfall where an air gun also came into the homeowner”s defence actions.

Steven Greenwood, who had been battling three intruders with cane knives called out to his wife for a gun, hoping it would scare his attackers. She handed him an air gun, which he pointed at them, at first scaring them away. However, they later ambushed him. One of them was armed.

Greenwood was badly beaten up and his wife, Lynette, was punched in the face.

Karen Baxter, head of the reaction unit for the neighbourhood watch in Waterfall Three said various zones in Waterfall as well as in Brackenhill, Crestholme and Forest Hills had seen a huge increase in home invasions.

“There is little or no police presence,” she said.

“People are working all day and staying awake at night, patrolling.”

She said neighbourhood watches had tried to set up meetings with the new leadership at Hillcrest police station but had no joy.

“There have been 27 home invasions that we know about since January last year,” she said.

Baxter added that criminals appeared to be watching properties and targeting elderly people.

“A couple of nights ago someone in her late eighties or nineties was targeted.”

Shaun Lyle, chairman of the Hillcrest Park Neighbourood Watch said there had been an alarming increase in crime, escalating violence and a major increase in home invasions despite very active neighbourhood watch anti-crime fighting initiatives.

“Our big problem is organised groups of 'career beggars' working shifts and thieving at night. We have had approximately nine arrests in the central area alone since the beginning of the year.”

He said most active neighbourhoods were containing the situation through proactive policies.

“Neighbourhood watches are increasingly working together and sharing resources to remain ahead of the curve.”

Corne Broodryk of the Kloof Community Policing Forum said the commune incident had happened at a time when patrols had brought about a reduction of crime in the area.

Independent on Saturday

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Five illegal miners have died after being trapped underground, when the 90m-deep Bosveld Mine in Pongola collapsed.

Five illegal miners have died after being trapped underground since Thursday evening, when the 90m-deep Bosveld Mine in Pongola, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, collapsed.

It is alleged that there were 13 illegal gold miners inside the isolated mine in the hilly and dusty village of Klipwal, when it caved in.

Of the 13 miners, three were arrested for illegal mining and are scheduled to appear in court on Monday, five fled, and the remaining five were trapped and subsequently died. It appears that the miners are from Lesotho.

It's believed that the miners who fled alerted people in the village about the trapped miners they had left behind.

After a search that took just over two hours yesterday, the rescue team led by Jack Haskins, that included K9 rescue services, a dog search unit squad and medical personnel, called off their search.

Haskins said it was too dangerous to continue with the search, as the mine was riddled with cracks and rockfalls: “I can’t put my team at risk.

”After the search, the rescue team concluded that all five miners trapped were dead, as there were no human responses from a distance of about 20m. Shortly after emerging from the mine, Haskins told Independent Media: “It’s a rest in peace for them now. We can’t do anything there.”

Previously, Haskins had said they could talk to the one miner from a distance, through a barricade of rocks.

A search team member who chose not to be named said that on Friday morning they could still talk to the trapped miner, although he responded with a “fainted voice”.

“He told us that the other miners were dead. And he pleaded for help, but we couldn’t get to him.

”When rescuers returned at midday on Saturday, no one responded, and it was concluded that all five were dead.

Haskins' team included rescuers from eMpangeni, Richards Bay, Pietermaritzburg and uLundi.

A security guard at the mine, who didn’t want to be named, said they have repeatedly warned the illegal miners, who are known as Zama-Zamas (hustlers), to stop their activities, because it was unsafe. But their warning fell on deaf ears.

“I’m sick and tired of the Zama-Zamas. Believe me, even after the deaths of these people, they will come back and mine again,” said the guard.

According to the locals, the illegal miners use hammers and chisels to do their mining activities, mostly at night.

It was unclear who their bosses are, but locals believe that there are powerful people working behind the scenes.

A steel door lies next to the entrance of the mine, and claims are that it was hacked off by the illegal miners, in order to gain access to the mine.

This is the latest in a series of such incidents.

There are still miners trapped underground - long presumed dead - at the Lily Mine near Barberton.

There were no relatives of the miners present during the search on Saturday.

A throng of local residents stood at the entrance to the mine, with some expressing their shock at the incident: “I always see these kinds of things on TV, but today it's happening right here,” said a resident, Sbusiso Khumalo.

The chief operation officer of the mine declined to comment.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of uPhongolo municipality, Herbert Ngcamphalala, issued a stern warning to people who continued to mine illegally, saying that the deaths of the five illegal miners must be seen as a grave lesson.

He said the municipality would deal harshly with people who defied the law.

Sunday Independent

A KZN girl died after she fell out of bed when the nurses were changing shift and her mother had been told to leave her bedside.

Durban -

A three-year-old has died at RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth after she fell out of bed when the nurses were changing shift and her mother had been told to leave her bedside while the ward was cleaned.

Her parents, Rahima and Ekrum Mohammed from Tongaat, have asked the police to investigate.

They say they want answers so that what they have endured never happens to anybody else.

They believe it was the fall that caused the death of their only child, Zuhaira, who Rahima, 27, found bleeding and crying on the floor next to her bed. Staff in the ward ignored the crying child on the floor, her distraught mother alleged.

The results of an autopsy have not yet been made known.

The Department of Health was alerted by the Sunday Tribune and was still investigating at the time of going to print.

Zuhaira was admitted to the hospital after complaining of headaches last Friday and died on Saturday evening.

The Mohammeds say Zuhaira’s health deteriorated rapidly after the fall and that the previous night she had been playful and cheerful.

Zuhaira was checked for meningitis and had been given the all clear but was kept overnight for observation.

“My baby was okay that night. She played with me and then went to sleep. I was with her the entire night. Around 5.30am on Saturday the doctors woke all the mothers up and instructed us to leave the ward. I don’t even know why they did this,” said Rahima.

Rahima said shortly after she left, a doctor told her that the child was on the floor and that she must go into the ward and pick her up.

“I rushed into the ward and saw she had blood all over her face. She fell and nobody even bothered to help her.

“Her head was hurt but they just left her on the floor. I don’t even know how long she had been there,” Rahima said.

When she asked the nurses about what went wrong, she says they apologised and said they “were extremely busy”.

Rahima wiped the blood off her child and placed her back in the cot.

“I asked the doctor how could he leave my child on the floor, but he didn’t give me an answer. I was crying and called my husband to let him know what happened,” said Rahima.

Shortly afterwards Ekrum, 32, arrived at the hospital.

“He said I should go home and freshen up while he watched our daughter. In this time, her health went down. She started vomiting uncontrollably and again the nurses didn’t help. We asked one to change the bed sheet but instead of helping us a nurse flung the sheet on the bed and made us do it ourselves. Zuhaira went downhill from there. She was limp and pale and could barely move her body. We couldn’t stand to see her like that. She was dying right before our eyes,” said Rahima.

The child then went to sleep and wouldn’t wake up.

“The nurses tried to wake her and resuscitate her but it seems like she had lost consciousness. She was unresponsive. They immediately took her little body and said that they were going to do a CT scan to determine if the fall had caused any damage to her brain. I think my baby was already dead at this point.”

When Zuhaira was returned after doing the scan she was put on life support.

“We just stood there, praying for a miracle to happen. We were praying that our daughter would pull through this. While she was on the machine, the doctors continuously put pressure on us to pull the plug. They said that there was only one machine at the hospital and that we needed to make a decision quickly because others needed the machine too.

“The doctor eventually pulled the plug but, by then, she was already dead.”

“We can’t make sense of what happened. Our baby was our life. Judging by the massive turn-out at her funeral on Tuesday, we can tell that she was truly loved by everybody,” her father said.

nabeelah.shaikh@inl.co.za

Sunday Tribune

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal sent heartfelt condolences to the family of Zodwa Sibiya, who was shot dead at Glebelands Hostel.

Durban - The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal has sent heartfelt condolences to the family of African National Congress councillor Zodwa Sibiya, who was shot dead at Glebelands Hostel, Umlazi, Durban, on Saturday night.

“Sibiya was one of the dedicated councillors who stood firm on fighting corruption in the hostel and the whole of eThekwini,” DA KwaZulu-Natal leader Zwakele Mncwango said on Sunday.

“It is a sad day in eThekwini and the whole province when we lose someone who is steadfast on protecting good governance. As the official opposition, we wish to send our condolences to the governing party, the family, and friends of the late councillor. She will be sorely missed,” he said.

– African News Agency

When Nosipho Nguse went on stage to receive her post-graduate degree in education, little did she know about her boyfriend’s engagement plan.

Durban -

When Nosipho Nguse went on stage to receive her post-graduate degree in education, little did she know about her boyfriend’s engagement plan.

The crowd at a sports hall at UKZN’s Westville campus went into a frenzy on Saturday when Sanele Mhlungu went down on his knee to propose to Nguse who started to cry tears of joy.

A bystander, who did not want to be named, told The Sunday Tribune that Nguse had already collected her qualification and was walking back to her seat when the unexpected happened. On the red carpet Mhlungu went on one knee and proposed to the graduate, much to the crowd’s approval.

“She flinched and I saw tears streaming down her cheeks. It was so romantic. I have never seen anything like it.

“The crowd went mad, parents stood up and cheered the couple.

“They gave them a standing ovation,” she said.

“The proceedings were disturbed for, like a minute, but who cares. If something is beautiful it needs to be congratulated.

“It was so funny because every parent that he walked past as he went to his seat, shook his hand,” she said.

On the UKZN Facebook page followers congratulated the couple.

nkululeko.nene@inl.co.za

Sunday Tribune

A KZN schoolboy has been sentenced to seven years for shooting dead a 15-year-boy who he says was bullying him.

Durban - In sentencing a 17-year-old to seven years’ imprisonment, a Pietermaritzburg magistrate said on Friday that the court could not allow itself to be swayed by public opinion, and his rehabilitation needed special attention.

The ruling was met with disappointment from Portia Nakile, the mother of Akhona Nakile, 15, who was shot dead outside a high school in Copesville in November 2014.

The bullet exited his neck and hit another pupil in the cheek. For this, the accused was charged with attempted murder.

Magistrate Rose Magwera took it and the murder charge as one for sentencing.

The accused was from another school. He had pleaded guilty and had been in custody since December 2014. Magwera antedated the sentence to then.

The accused had said he was tired of being bullied by Nakile.

An emotional Portia Nakile said she was unhappy with the sentence. She had testified she wanted her only child’s killer to spend the rest of his life in jail.

Read more: Mom wants son's teen killer jailed 'for ever'

Magwera said detention had to be the last resort when sentencing a child offender. A child had to be detained for the shortest period possible.

“The court must have appreciation that a child’s best interest is more important than anything else.”

Magwera said the element of mercy required children to be treated in a caring, compassionate manner during sentencing. She said the sentence should allow him to rehabilitate. However, the nature of the offence should not be lost sight of. She said this case required rehabilitation in a confined environment.

Magwera said that after hearing about the various programmes the teenager would be exposed to while incarcerated, it gave her hope that rehabilitation of young offenders could become a reality.

Also read: ‘I knew the bully would die’

She said a correctional officer said the teenager had a normal upbringing, although his father was absent in his early life. He had not displayed social, deviant or violent behaviour before the incident.

A clinical psychologist said there was no reason to believe the teenager was destined to a life of crime.

The magistrate added it was unchallenged that he had been bullied. This had caused him to act in the manner he did.

The teenager was sentenced to five years for being in possession of an unlawful firearm and three for ammunition. The sentences would run concurrently with the seven-year sentence.

sharika.regchand@inl.co.za

The Mercury

Vulnerable residents of the violence-torn Glebelands Hostel in Umlazi are furious afetr yet another brutal murder.

Durban - Vulnerable residents of the violence-torn Glebelands Hostel in Umlazi are furious about how they have suffered at the hands of the government and are now begging international organisations to intervene.

This follows yet another brutal murder - on Saturday night - of a resident, Zodwa Sibiya, a PR councillor in the area and who was set to contest the local government elections.

Police spokesman Thulani Zwane said that at about 9.40pm the 47-year-old woman was shot in her room at the hostel. The motive was not known, but a murder case had been opened.

On Sunday, residents addressed the media and civil society organisations at the hostel. The men, who feared naming themselves and being photographed, said they were living in constant fear, and every morning they had no guarantee they would return to their beds. They were adamant the killings were orchestrated and stemmed from tribalism and political violence.

Also read: Glebelands: a hostel of horrors

Vanessa Burger, a human rights activist who has been working with the hostel dwellers, said there had been more than 60 murders at the hostel and no successful convictions. Twelve people had been tortured and more than 1 000 tenants had been violently evicted, displaced, and left destitute.

One resident said: “We plan to appeal to organisations like the AU and the UN to come to our rescue. This is no different from genocide - 62 people have died and we know there is a list of people to be killed. Seven people from that list have already been killed, and we have reported this to relevant authorities, but nothing has been done.”

The men said they were dismayed at reports that the murdered residents had been fighting with their killers over beds.

“There is a group of people who are against the unity that was formed in this hostel. We previously had tribalism fights, and when we united against that there are those who continued. They now pursue anyone who condemns the violence they commit,” one hostel dweller said.

They said they were now even scared to visit their families, because the hit men had previously gone to kill hostel dwellers at their homes.

Mayor James Nxumalo said the city had been robbed of a leader when the country was working hard to redress gender imbalances.

“Such cowardly acts must be condemned in the strongest way possible. Councillor Sibiya has been a brave leader who continued to serve in the face of the brutalities and loss of lives in her ward,” he said.

The eThekwini council Speaker, Logie Naidoo, said the “senseless” killing of Sibiya had come as a shock to him and fellow councillors.

“We are devastated that the life of a dedicated and hard-working person like Sibiya has been ended so senselessly. We convey our condolences to the family, her colleagues and friends, and hope the police move swiftly to arrest those responsible for this dastardly deed,” he said.

Community Safety and Liaison MEC Willies Mchunu said Sibiya’s murder was “a real setback”.

“Just last week the KZN executive council directed that a special task team, made out of a number of departments, assembled to work with hostel inmates, police, eThekwini metro and the Department of Community Safety and Liaison to bring an end to this conflict,” he said.

sphelele.ngubane@inl.co.za

@sphengubane

The Mercury

A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars for raping his 16-year-old sister and making her pregnant.

Durban – A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars for raping his sister, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Monday.

The Pinetown regional court heard that his sister was 16 years old at the time.

Police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane said the teenager fell pregnant, and when the mother questioned her about it, she told her she had been raped by her brother and that he was the father.

“She further told her mother that her brother threatened to kill her if she reported the matter. A case of rape was immediately opened at Hillcrest police station for further investigation,” Zwane said.

KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the sentence: “I also commend the parents of the victim who stood up and reported such abuse in the family. The victim was raped by her brother and the family did not hide this and the matter was immediately reported to the police. This will serve as a warning to other family members who abuse children and think that they will get away with it.”

African News Agency

Three people died when an alleged drunk driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to plunge into a Pietermaritzburg river.

Durban - Three people died early on Sunday when an allegedly drunk driver lost control of their vehicle, causing it to plunge into a river in Pietermaritzburg.

ER 24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said the car left the road and landed in the river, off Greyling Street.

“Paramedics arrived on the scene and found a light motor vehicle lying in a small river. Paramedics found two people seated outside the vehicle. Both were assessed and found to have sustained minor to moderate injuries.”

He added that paramedics were later told that three other occupants had been in the vehicle at the time of the collision.

The area was searched by paramedics and the bodies of three people, a woman and two men, were later found in the river.

“Unfortunately all three people had succumbed to their multiple injuries. They were declared dead on scene.”

He added that two patients were treated and taken to Northdale Hospital for further treatment.

It was believed that the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to crash off the road. Police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane confirmed that a case of culpable homicide and drunken driving had been opened.

The 26-year-old driver was arrested and will appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Zwane added that the bodies had not been identified by their next of kin and so their names could not be released.

sharika.regchand@inl.co.za

The Mercury

Lifeguards came to the rescue of a woman who tried to commit suicide at Durban's North Beach this weekend.

Durban - Lifeguards came to the rescue of a woman who tried to commit suicide at Durban’s North Beach this weekend.

A witness, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was at the beach with his son when the incident happened.

Before she tried killing herself, he said the woman had been to the police station and left her handbag there and told the police she wanted to kill herself.

She then went to the beach.

When he saw the woman she ran past him and was crying.

He said the woman went to the pier and jumped into the water.

“She was 20m away from the pier, when lifeguards who realised what was happening, rushed to her rescue.”

He said about three lifeguards went to her aid. One of the lifeguards was on a rescue board, the other jumped off the pier to get to her.

“She was floating when the lifeguards reached her. But it was not smooth sailing for the guards. She seemed to be resisting,” he said.

But the guards were able to get her on to the rescue boards and get her back to shore, where they talked to her. She appeared grateful, he said.

Soon after the incident the police arrived, bringing counsellors to attend to the woman.

“Lifeguards did a fantastic job. I was touched at how they handled the situation” he said.

A police officer, who was not able to speak to the media, confirmed the incident. He said the woman was about 52-years-old and appeared to be in a much better way after the ordeal.

Daily News

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Residents in New Germany are reportedly protesting about jobs, food vouchers and a ward secretary who has allegedly been disrespectful to the community.

Durban - Residents in New Germany and surrounding areas woke to protests along Otto Volek Road, Shepstone Road and Dinkelman Road, where protesters were burning tyres and rubble on Monday.

ANC Ward 21 secretary Mfana Qwabe said the protest is “for jobs, food vouchers and a wanted councillor”.

According to SAPS in Pinetown, ratepayers were unhappy with the councillor and service delivery. “For now things have died down, protesters are still there and things could get heated again at any minute.”

Mathews Buthelezi, cChairperson of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) in the area said he had been on scene since 5am Monday morning. However, the protests began at 4am.

According to him, residents are protesting against the Ward 21 secretary who has been disrespectful to the community and at one point had sworn at them.

Authorities are on the scene and one woman has been arrested for public violence while a few were taken to KwaDabeka Clinic for treatment after police resorted to rubber bullets to control the situation.

For now the situation is calm as the protesters are waiting to be addressed by the office of the mayor of eThekwini.

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Chartered accountants have volunteered to help governing bodies of KZN schools to improve their financial managment skills.

Durban - Chartered accountant volunteers will roll up their sleeves to help the governing bodies of 80 public schools in the province improve their financial management skills.

The intervention, by the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants, comes as a spotlight has been shone on the handling of school funds after news that former Glenwood High School principal Trevor Kershaw was being investigated for alleged fraud to the tune of R5 million.

The Department of Education had requested assistance from the institute after it had piloted the programme at Gauteng schools over the past two years.

KZN has more than 3 800 chartered accountants and those who volunteered their services would work with the 80 identified schools in Pinetown, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Port Shepstone and uMlazi.

Karen Iten, the institute’s marketing and communications head, said they would help SGBs raise their financial management and reporting skills.

“One of the reasons for this is that SGBs lack the basic financial management skills needed to recognise the mismanagement of funds and properly oversee their school’s financial affairs,” she said.

Iten said the Gauteng pilot saw the institute work with 15 schools, but in KZN, they would be assisting 80 schools.

“The SGBs at these schools (were upskilled) with the requisite skills to strengthen their governance of schools.

“The focus was to ensure that the piloted school SGBs were empowered to operate within a financially sound, efficient and effective accounting framework, with emphasis on compliance with the SA School Act and the norms and standards for school funding; ensure an improved and efficient system for financial management and governance; assist in establishing a functioning SGB finance committee,” she said.

The institute’s Lethukuthula Mkhize, who heads the KZN project, said: “This project aims to empower SGBs and ensure that there is clear financial sound practices within schools. If funds are managed correctly, through the necessary and relevant financial controls, this ensures that efficient and effective governance and management of schools take place,” he said.

An induction programme took place this weekend.

Education spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi, welcomed the initiative.

“SGBs have people that are elected from the community and we want them to have a positive impact, that is why we welcome the assistance of the institute. Together we can do more, with their expertise we can build a formidable team,” he said.

Meanwhile, commenting on the case against Kershaw, Mahlambi said the department would withhold his pension fund until the state had concluded its investigation.

The Glenwood Old Boys Association also commented on Kershaw’s investigation.

Association head, Graham Olberholzer, said the SGB at Glenwood had their full support, but they were concerned.

“The feedback that I have received is that our old boys are naturally concerned but are fully supportive of the school and the SGB in its effort to resolve this matter and in the measures taken to ensure such irregularities do not occur in the future.

“The Old Boys will be supporting the school and the SGB to ensure that this matter is resolved in the best manner possible and that Glenwood High School continues to go from strength to strength as a provider of an excellent holistic education.”

Daily News

Glebelands hostel residents in Umlazi are calling for the intervention by King Goodwill Zwelithini and the United Nations.

Durban - Residents of the Glebelands hostel in Umlazi are calling for the United Nations to intervene as more than 60 people have been killed since the violent started in 2014.

Residents are now living in fear that they could be killed at any time after ANC councillor Zodwa Sibiya of Ward 66 was gunned down on Saturday by unknown men. She was shot six times.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Thulani Zwane says: “A murder case has been opened in Umlazi and that police have been stationed in the area. At the moment there are no leads”.

Spokesperson for Hostel residents in Durban and Surrounds Mthembiseni Thusi says: “We cannot wait for the findings of Thuli Mandonsela as she was here a few months ago. The reason we are calling for the United Nations to intervene is that there has been too much bloodshed in the area. We also plead for the intervention of King Goodwill Zwelithini to talk to his people about resolving issues that they have.”

The other issue is unemployment, Mthembiseni Thusi, spokesperson for hostel residents in Durban and surrounds, claims that the reason there is so much violence in hostels is the fact that people aged 21-30 are unemployed and look to crime to improve their lifestyles. “The children living in the hostel have been greatly affected by the violence with some not attending school due to having no breadwinners.”

Thusi also adds that when police intervene and ask people to help with murder cases they fear being victimized by perpetrators. “It is not easy for residents to tell the police where people hide or which rooms they have firearms in, as the police tell the people who told on them. Our only hope is that Thuli Madonsela intervenes and helps our residents.”

eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo has condemned the killing of Sibiya at Glebelands saying, “We are devastated that a life of a dedicated and hardworking person, like Councillor Sibiya, has been ended so senselessly. We convey our condolences to the family, her work colleagues and friends and hope that police will move swiftly to arrest those responsible for this dastardly deed.”

The ANC in KwaZulu–Natal have expressed their condolences to Councillor Zodwa Sibiya’s family and say that they have put safety measures in place and are working with different government departments like Community Safety and Liasons, SAPS, Human Settlements and the eThekwini Municipality to help the residents of the hostel.

About 11 380 tenants have been registered at Gleblands residential unit, 9 blocks have been upgraded with lighting to endure visibility at night. Phase 1 of CCTV cameras have been installed and Perimeter Fencing will be completed in two months.

IOL MOJO

eThekwini’s municipal manager has told the private sector that cutting waste and public spending are top priorities for the city.

Durban – eThekwini’s municipal manager has told the private sector it won’t be ‘business as usual’ when managing the economy, and that cutting waste and public spending are top priorities.

Sibusiso Sithole was speaking at the Draft 2016/2017 budget/IDP business breakfast at the International Convention Centre on Monday, where business leaders, captains of industry, and interfaith leaders gathered for the first consultative process on the proposed budget.

Sithole said the record 41.6 billion budget had to be managed within the context of sluggish growth at a global level and South Africa’s 0.7 percent projected growth, interest rates of about seven percent, job losses, and an unemployment rate of 24.9 percent.

Local challenges included service delivery protests, the ongoing drought, backlogs due to industrialisation, and a reduction in or lack of increase on some grants.

“The message is that it can’t be business as usual in the way in which we are managing the economy,” said Sithole.

He said potential partnerships had been looked at “across the spectrum” to ensure that the city was generating growth, particularly in relation to infrastructure and development.

Sithole said the municipality would embark on a cost cutting exercise and would identify and tackle areas of waste. The city would also control red-tape when and where it could.

Borrowing would be done “prudently”, he said, with an emphasis on return on investment.

“The economy can’t be consumption based, we must re-industrialise where opportunities are found,” he said.

Speaking about proposed tariff increases, Sithole said that rates would rise by 6.9 percent, domestic water by 12.5 percent, business water by 15.9 percent, electricity by 7.64 percent, sanitation by 9.9 percent and refuse removal by 7.9 percent.

He said the proposed 9.9 percent increase for sanitation “should actually be 15 percent to balance the budget” and refuse removal should be at nine percent.

Sithole said the increases were needed “because of the adverse impact of the current economic climate, coupled with unfavourable external financial pressures on services and increases in bulk charges above CPI”.

“Thus tariff increases higher than CPI levels are inevitable,” he said.

“The city is losing about R200 million per year due to energy saving initiatives.”

Sithole said bulk water also remained a “major issue” for the municipality and that a “drought surcharge” would be implemented and flow restricting discs installed in households “depending on how the drought pans out”. He said water loss in distribution was still high, at around 38 percent to 40 percent.

“New dams still need to be commissioned and we are still paying for the Mooi River scheme,” he said, adding that three per cent of the budget’s water allocation would go to commissioning of new dams.

“We must make provision for the future so that we don’t have an Eskom like scenario.”

Dams that supply the city are still not at their optimal fill, with Hazelmere at 35.5 percent, Inanda at 80 percent, Albert Falls at 37 percent, Midmar at 46 percent and Spring Grove at 78 percent. Restrictions of 15 percent are currently in place.

“The city knows we must cut our costs and live within our means,” he said, adding that no new vehicles had been purchased within the last two years.

Plant machinery was being monitored and hiring as opposed to buying was to be put in place, while posts that had been vacant for two years or more were to be frozen.

He said that while the city spends R3.3 bln on issues related to indigent support, they have been told that this is unsustainable, “therefore we must improve employment and encourage self sufficiently”.

Sithole said low income households would continue to receive rates’ relief, with pensioners, child-headed households, disability grantees and the medically boarded being exempt from paying rates on the first R460,000 of their property value.

Residential properties valued up to R 185 000 will be exempt from paying rates. All other properties valued above R 185,000, the first R 120 000 will see no rates charged.

Households with property values under R250 000 would receive their first nine kilolitres of water free, while the first 50 kilowatts of electricity would be free for residents using less than 150kwh per month in Eskom reticulated areas.

In areas using eThekwini reticulation, the first 65kwh of electricity would be free for residents using less than 150kwh per month.

The first 9kl of effluent disposal is exempt for all properties with values under R 250 000.

Residential property valued up to R 250 000 was exempt from the domestic refuse removal tariff. A free basic refuse removal service is also available to indigent consumer units living in rural, informal settlements and non-kerbside residents.

The top five items in terms of expenses in the draft budget are bulk purchases (31.3 percent), salaries and allowances (27 percent), repairs and maintenance (9.8 percent), depreciation (5.7 percent) and interest on loans (2.9 percent).

African News Agency

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At least 16 people were arrested during a housing protest at Copesville, in Pietermaritzburg, after they allegedly torched the office of their councillor.

Pietermaritzburg – At least 16 people were arrested on Monday during a protest for houses at Copesville, a Pietermaritzburg suburb, after they allegedly torched the office of their councillor Thandi Ndlovu whom they want removed.

Police said that about 5 000 protestors began gathering at 03:00 on Monday morning at the intersection of New Greytown and Aquarius roads and removed the metal barriers on the side of the roads to use them as barricades.

Police said protesters blocked access to Copesville. They barricaded streets with burning tyres and other objects.

Owing to the violent nature of the protests schools in the area remained closed.

Police spokeswoman Captain Gay Ebrahim said a mob went to Ndlovu’s house, but she was not there so they went to her office, which they allegedly set alight.

Ndlovu, an African National Congress (ANC) member, is the councillor for ward 35.

“We have waited for houses to be provided, but it has been years of waiting in vain. We are tired of her failures,” complained a community member, who asked to remain anonymous.

School pupils, who could not attend school, said they had to miss tests because of the protests.

Scelo Khuzwayo, the spokesperson for Education MEC Peggy Nkonyeni, said: “Community protests that result in the disruption of schooling are a major concern for the department. We have, on a number of occasions, been pleading with communities to prioritise education and make sure that when there are protests schools are not affected”.

Captain Ebrahim said 16 people had been arrested in the protests.

African News Agency

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A Durban doctor has been served with an interdict stopping him from assaulting the man he accuses of breaking up his marriage.

Durban - A Durban doctor has been served with an interdict stopping him from threatening and assaulting the man he has accused of breaking up his marriage and who he has already allegedly assaulted twice, the second time in the emergency room of the hospital where he works.

But the doctor, Yusuf Asmal, who has yet to file his opposing papers, told The Mercury that Jamaine Roach befriended him under the pretence of wanting to learn more about Islam.

He sent a photograph to The Mercury purporting to prove a romantic relationship between his now ex-wife and Roach, saying: “What would you do if you saw your wife in a car with another man at 4.30 in the morning?”

“I suspected an affair from mid-March. I asked them both at the same time to avoid contact with each other because our marriage was at stake,” he said.

The urgent Durban High Court application was launched by Windermere Road cafe employee Roach, his sister Candice and his mother, Jayaleela, against Addington Hospital doctor Asmal.

An order was taken by consent “but without any admission of the allegations”, and Asmal has until the end of this month to file opposing papers.

Roach, in his affidavit which came before Judge Shyam Gyanda, said he met Asmal and his now ex-wife, Nusrat Aboo, last year and they became friends, socialising at the cafe and at the couple’s home.

“Because he (Asmal) worked shifts, he was at times not able to join us, but Nusrat would accompany our group of friends. Sometimes he would ask me to take her to social engagements if he was not available.

“And then a month ago he became suspicious of us. He tried to stop her from communicating with me, but she refused to comply,” Roach said.

He said one evening in late March Asmal came to the cafe when Aboo was there. An argument ensued and Asmal accused them of having an affair.

The following day, in the early hours, Aboo contacted him and asked him to fetch her from her parents’ home.

He was dropping off staff, so he took a company car, fetched her and then drove around, dropping off the staff.

When they went back to work to return the car and fetch his own, he saw Asmal in his car near the entrance to the venue.

He said as Aboo did not want an altercation he drove off in the company car.

“He followed me and as I turned into Venice Road he rammed me at high speed.

“I drove on and he continuously rammed into me until I hit a lamp-post.”

At that point, Roach alleged, Asmal got out of his car, punched and shattered the windscreen and the driver’s window with a pair of knuckle dusters “and proceeded to punch me on the head and face with the knuckle dusters and his clenched fists”.

Asmal then drove off and Roach was taken by ambulance to Addington Hospital. There, while he was being treated, Asmal “stormed into the trauma unit and again physically attacked me”.

“He was restrained by hospital personnel and removed. As he left he said: This is not over and I will only rest when you are dead.”

He said since his discharge from hospital he had not been back home and his mother and sister, with whom he lived, were terrified to go out.

“I was hoping Aslam and Nusrat would reconcile and this would put an end to his vendetta, but I have subsequently heard they have become divorced through Islamic rites.”

Both Roach and Aboo have made statements to the police.

The provincial Department of Health had not responded to questions at the time of publishing, but Roach’s attorney, Tapiwa Nyika, said his client had received a message from the hospital’s ombudsman saying the management was investigating.

tania.broughton@inl.co.za

The Mercury

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