News Updates

The South End Museum is continuing to keep the spirit of SA's original rainbow nation alive while seeking to broaden its focus. The little museum, situated in the 130-year old Seaman's Institute on Humewood Road in Gqeberha, is struggling to stay afloat in tough economic times. However, by staying anchored to its colourful past and at the same time engaging with current and future issues and trends, the hope is it will continue to sustain itself and welcome new visitors. That is the outlook of museum curator and board secretary Michael Barry, who said the aim was to use the past to look ahead. "The heritage we are protecting is not a static thing. "We are taking our cherished memories of old South End, and of people from different backgrounds getting on with each other, and focusing on the broader issues of displacement, migration and dispossession." He said these themes would be explored across all spheres from South End to Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay, the Eastern Cape, SA and the world. "We want the South End Museum to become an educational centre." Before black and coloured folk, Chinese and Indians were forced to move in the 1960s and 1970s to other areas in then Port Elizabeth, under the apartheid Group Areas Act, South End was famously cosmopolitan. The primary aim of the museum since it opened its doors in 2001 has been to keep the memory of this old South End alive. The goal has been to convey the brutality and sorrow that resulted from the forced removals, but also the vibrant nature of the community. Barry said there were multiple stories to be told and this was done through photographs, illustrations and architectural models, books and documents, and an audio room where visitors could listen to stories and descriptions of the way things were. He said among the prized documents donated only recently to the museum were the works on the Khoisan and Khoi Khoi by American-born South African historian Candy Malherbe. "South End Museum is not just about colonialism and apartheid and the other heavy stuff. "It's about family, faith - Christian, Muslim and Hindu -sports, clothes, games like skaloolie that the kids used to play in the streets, and food. "We're still trying to find a way to capture the smell of curry, which was a pervasive aroma of old South End." Barry said the intention was to use the understanding of this priceless time and place to communicate with the people of today, especially the youth. Sport was a big part of the old South End and one of the many nostalgic photographs hanging on the walls is of the Blackpool Football Club side. In the middle of the front row is manager Valentine Brink - who is chair of the museum board today. Barry, who is also an artist, teacher, cultural activist and renaissance man with a passion for history, said he and his small crew were currently preparing an exhibition on the nine frontier wars which racked the Eastern Cape between 1779 and 1879. The wars saw Xhosa, Khoisan, Dutch trekboers and British colonial forces battling over land, cattle and political dispossession. "Before, this was not our focus, but now we realise it should be, because these wars completely reshaped the Eastern Cape. Boundaries were redrawn and new people arrived on the scene. "One of those was my own ancestor, an English soldier who fought in the Eighth Frontier War, and subsequently stayed on and married an Mfengu woman. "So the fresh focus of the South End Museum incorporates our exposure of the ills of colonialism and the forced removals under apartheid but also that multiple truths can co-exist alongside. "It is about recognising everyone in the process." He said while the museum had received funding in the past from Lotto and the metro, both these sources had for now dried up. "Our funds for operations and staff are running very low so we're on a fund-raising drive and hoping that any individuals or companies might be able to assist." Barry said as part of the fund-raising drive the South End Museum would be hosting a jazz evening on September 19.

The wheels have seemingly come off for the municipal fleet in Nelson Mandela Bay as more than 50 vehicles are sitting idle in depots across the metro due to a shortage of vital parts. The metro acknowledged concerns that the lack of essential fleet maintenance items was hampering municipal work and confirmed that 59 vehicles were awaiting tyres. This followed reports of how the situation was seriously impeding municipal work in Kariega. A reliable source told The Herald a number of vehicles in various departments including water, sanitation and electricity were grounded due to lack of replacement tyres, engine and hydraulic oil, and various parts. "It has been going on much of this year and it is the case even today, and it is impeding service delivery," the source said. "So, for instance, you'll have three technicians sharing a single vehicle as they move from job to job, instead of being able to spread out to tackle jobs simultaneously. "So, their capacity to get through work is cut by a third. "I know of at least one instance where a frustrated technician has used his own money to purchase tyres privately. "But it's not a sustainable situation." Municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said the procurement process was the problem. "The municipality notes concerns regarding the availability of essential fleet maintenance items, including oils and tyres, and the potential impact on municipal operations," he said. "Hydraulic oil, engine oil and gearbox oil are not maintained as standard stock items by fleet management services. "These items are procured as and when required in accordance with the municipality's supply chain management processes. "Delays can occur where procurement processes are required to be followed before orders can be placed." He said the metro's fleet management services division was finalising the revamping of its storeroom, including enhanced security measures. "This will enable the municipality to improve its stock management and facilitate the procurement of bulk quantities of essential maintenance items where appropriate." Soyaya said the municipality was aware of concerns regarding the availability of tyres, in particular. "Based on requests received from various directorates, approximately 59 vehicles are currently awaiting tyres. "Procurement processes are under way to acquire the required tyres. "In parallel, the municipality is applying to the National Treasury to participate in the relevant transversal contract, which will provide an additional procurement mechanism for tyres. "The municipality acknowledges that municipal vehicles are important enablers of service delivery, and delays in repairs, maintenance and availability of essential maintenance items can affect operational capacity. "However, these challenges must also be considered within broader supply chain management and the processes that the municipality is required to comply with when procuring goods and services." Soyaya said the metro was not aware of a reported incident where at least one municipal official had been forced to borrow hydraulic oil from a private supplier. He said the metro was implementing immediate measures to address outstanding fleet maintenance requirements, while also working on longer-term interventions to strengthen stock management and procurement arrangements. "The immediate measures are expected to address the most pressing requirements within seven to 14 days, subject to the applicable procurement processes." In May last year, an internal metro report detailing rampant corruption in the Bay vehicle fleet was leaked. According to the report, rogue officials were allegedly selling old tyres, installing old parts and obstructing efforts to fix vehicles. In May this year, it emerged that of the 22 vehicles allocated to the metro police, only four were operational, due to maintenance issues. And in June 2026, it emerged that of the Bay's 66 refuse compactor trucks, only 16 were operational, for the same reason.

A 16-year-old Grade 10 pupil has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly stabbing a fellow pupil to death during an altercation at a high school in Dimbaza, outside Qonce, on Tuesday. Eastern Cape police said the incident happened inside a classroom at about midday. Provincial police spokesperson Col Siphokazi Mawisa said the victim was sitting in class when the suspect, also a 16-year- old Grade 10 pupil, approached a classroom window with a group of friends and allegedly began mocking him. "According to reports, the suspect and his friends started mocking the deceased by calling him names. What initially appeared to be a joke escalated into an exchange of punches between the two learners," Mawisa said. She said the suspect then entered the classroom and claimed the victim had stabbed him with a pen. "The suspect allegedly asked one of his friends to hand him a pen, claiming he had been stabbed with one by the deceased. Instead, the friend allegedly handed him an Okapi knife, which the suspect allegedly used to stab the deceased in the chest," Mawisa said. After those present realised the injured pupil was bleeding, he was taken to the staff room before being rushed to the nearest clinic, where he was declared dead on arrival. Mawisa said both pupils were in Grade 10 and came from the same area in Dimbaza. Police opened a murder case and arrested the suspect shortly after the incident. The teenager is expected to appear in the Dimbaza magistrate's court on Wednesday on a charge of murder.

Women across SA are lacing up their running shoes in honour of Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, the 38-year-old mother who was killed after going for a run in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park. Tsontso left her home last Wednesday for her usual evening run. Her 8-year-old daughter called her family when her mother did not return by 6.30 that evening. Days later, hope that she would be found alive faded when police confirmed they had discovered the body of a woman believed to be the same age. On Monday, Tsontso's family positively confirmed her body at the Germiston state mortuary. What started out as a search for missing Tsontso took a dark turn when police revealed this week that seven women had been found dead in and around the Kempton Park area in the last two months. Acting Gauteng police commissioner Maj-Gen Fred Kekana has urged women and young girls to take "additional precautions" when walking or running alone. "Where possible, walk and exercise in groups," he said. The advice may help minimise the risk of being targeted, but what are law enforcement agencies doing to ensure our communities are safe? What protocols were implemented when the second, then the third body was found in Kempton Park? Safety in numbers is not always a reality for everyone. Ask the person who leaves home early in the morning to catch a taxi or train to their place of work. Or the elderly woman who heads out at daybreak to queue at their local clinic. The Dispatch recently exposed how young girls were forced to move in groups because they were being targeted by rapists and killers in the rooms they rented. Living in fear or constantly having to look over your shoulder should not be the norm, but it is a sad reality for far too many. For women who run alone, safety is now part of every outing. They share their locations and remain alert to people and vehicles around them. Some only run in groups or during the day. These precautions are not a sign of weakness. They are evidence of how deeply gender-based violence and femicide have restricted women's freedom of movement. The victims in Kempton Park - and all those from across the country - aren't just crime statistics. Their deaths are a reminder of the devastating impact of violence against women on families and communities. Tsontso was a mother, an athlete, a beloved family member and friend. She should have returned from her run that night. Instead, an 8-year-old has to grow up without a mother. The message from those running in Tsonto's honour is simple- women must be able to run, walk and live without fear.

A steep rise in international petroleum product prices means motorists should brace for noticeably higher fuel costs in October, with the latest data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) showing significant under-recoveries across all fuel grades. Renewed tensions in the Middle East and resulting supply disruptions have pushed Brent crude above the $100-a-barrel mark, reaching $102.67 at the time of writing. While a relatively strong rand has helped cushion the impact, recent weakness against the US dollar is adding to pressure on local fuel prices. The CEF's latest daily snapshot, published on September 14, points to petrol price increases of about R2.29/l for 93-octane and R2.41/l for 95-octane. Diesel users face a substantial increase, with the wholesale price of 500ppm diesel projected to rise by R2.04/l and 50ppm diesel by R2.41/l. If current projections hold, 95-octane petrol is expected to cost R28.46/l at the coast, compared with the current R26.05/l. Inland, motorists can expect R29.05/l for 93-octane petrol, up from the current R26.76/l, and R29.33/l for 95-octane petrol, up from R26.92/l. The wholesale price of 500ppm diesel is expected to reach R31.15/l inland, up from R29.11/l, and R30.28/l at the coast, compared with the current R28.24/l. Meanwhile, 50ppm diesel is projected to reach R32.46/l inland, up from R30.05/l, and R31.20/l at the coast from R28.79/l. These projections remain subject to change before month-end as international prices and the rand exchange rate fluctuate. The final adjustment takes effect on October 7. -

A squadron of 20 small businesses in Buffalo City have taken off on a 10-week journey aimed at strengthening their operations, sharpening their business models and unlocking new growth opportunities. The "Entrepreneur 2026: Buffalo City Edition" is an incubation programme targeting SMMES that have been operating for at least 12 months, with the focus on taking them to the next level and expanding their growth potential. The launch of the intiative -- a partnership between the Border-Kei Chamber of Business, the Airports Company SA (ACSA) and the iLembe Chamber of Commerce, based in Ballito, KZN - took place in June, when small businesses across the region were invited to apply for the business acceleration initiative, as the Dispatch reported on June 12 ("SMMEs Invited to Leap to Next Level"). Last week the 20 lucky finalists were strapped in and buckled down ready for take-off in an orientation day packed with new information as they met their mentors and absorbed the shape of the 10-week programme. Border-Kei Chamber CEO Lizelle Maurice set the tone by declaring: "Flight 408 has officially taken off!" iLembe Chamber representative Cobus Roelofse outlined the practical training, expert-led workshops, mentorship and business development support that forms the programme. Building on the challenge he set them in June to examine their own assumptions, Oelofse said the programme was designed to move participants up, out and beyond by identifying new opportunities for themselves. "The programme takes people through a discovery journey of understanding their own daily operations and challenging some of their own assumptions around their business model, including who their customers are," Oelofse said. "I think that's probably the most important thing." For his part, mental conditioning coach Matt Francis challenged the 20 participants to keep reflecting on key questions as they progress through the programme. Entrepreneurs will not only receive professional mentorship, business planning support, marketing collateral and access to business development opportunities. They will also have an opportunity to showcase their businesses at an Entrepreneur 2026 Exhibition planned for later in the year. When the programme was launched at King Phalo Airport in June, organisers described entrepreneurship as increasingly important to SA's economy, especially in light of a jobs crisis that has the Eastern Cape reporting some of the worst employment figures in the world. At the time, BCM's head of Local Economic Development, Xolelwa Mbete, highlighted the importance of SMMEs to the local economy, saying programmes such as "Entrepreneur 2026" could help businesses grow and create jobs. Acsa wants municipalities to see airports as portals to prosperity. The national airport managing firm, a key driver of the initiative, has partnered with business chambers in several cities where it has second-tier airports, with the idea being to position them as gateways to a range of economic benefits for the region, said Acsa representative Bulelani Veto. With the 20 businesses now officially on board, the focus shifts from recruitment to implementation as the 10-week journey towards stronger and more sustainable enterprises takes off, Oelofse added. The Border-Kei Chamber said it was proud and thrilled to be on the programme with Acsa and the iLembe Chamber.

The greatest threat facing Nelson Mandela Bay's upcoming local government elections is not a political party. It is voter apathy. The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu once warned South Africans against taking their vote for granted, saying: "Think! Don't vote mindlessly. Don't be voting cattle. Remember, it will decide what quality of life you will have for the next five years." Frustrated by slow progress and the persistent challenges confronting their communities, many now question whether participating in elections can still make a difference. But disengaging from the democratic process does not solve our problems. It simply weakens the ability of communities to shape the future they want to see. That is why encouraging voter participation can no longer rest with the Electoral Commission alone. While voter education rightly falls within its constitutional mandate, building an informed electorate requires a much broader societal effort. Voter education is about far more than explaining how or where to vote. It is about helping citizens understand the powers and responsibilities of local government, how municipal decisions affect their daily lives and why informed choices matter. An informed voter is an empowered citizen. Democracy is strongest not simply when people vote, but when they make thoughtful decisions based on facts, careful consideration and a genuine understanding of the issues affecting their communities. Building that kind of electorate cannot be left to institutions alone. It requires a movement driven by communities themselves. Every church, school, university, business, sports club, neighbourhood association, labour organisation, civic movement, non-profit organisation and community leader has a role to play.

The defence's attempt to use photographs taken just hours before court proceedings could resume, to illustrate the scene in the attempted murder of taxi boss Joe "Ferrari" Sibanyoni, was rejected by the Johannesburg high court on Wednesday. This was after Judge Cassim Moosa found that the same authenticity concerns previously raised against the state now applied to the defence. The ruling came during the third day of cross-examination of state witness Bethwell Cele, a Bidvest Protea Coin security officer who was on duty at Centurion Golf Estate when Sibanyoni was ambushed on August 10, 2022. Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala, Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama are facing 25 charges that include the attempted murder of actor Tebogo Thobejane and Sibanyoni. Before introducing the photographs, Mabusela's lawyer, advocate Nardus Grove questioned Cele about his recollection of the scene, including when he first noticed the white BMW allegedly carrying the gunmen.

Having shared the stage with gospel music legends including US star CeCe Winans and award-winning Lebo Sekgobela, Nelson Mandela Bay's Sesethu Maneli is stepping into the spotlight with two newly released singles and an album due later this year. Signed by The Voice Lounge's launched record label, which debuted on March 19, Maneli is preparing to release her debut album later in 2026.

https://music.apple.com/za/album/righteous-redeemer-single-ep/6784703548