Three rapists sentenced to life THE Pietermaritzburg Regional Court sentenced three accused, Mduduzi Shabalala (29), Simphiwe Ngubane (33) and Mlungisi Kunene (35) to life imprisonment for rape. On June 2015 at 4.45am, a 45-year-old victim and her friends were returning from a party at Plessislaer when she met the three accused. They assaulted and forced her into the nearest house where they were in Plessislaer and gang-raped her. A case was opened at Plessislaer Police Station and was transferred to Plessislaer Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) for further investigation, which led to the arrest of the accused. The three made various court appearances before being convicted and sentenced. KZN Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa welcomed the sentence handed down and praised the detectives for their hard work in solving the case. “Violent men are not allowed to live in society. “We will make sure that those involved in crimes against women are sent to prison indefinitely. “We hope this sentence will serve as a warning to other would-be criminals,” he said.

Stroke Awareness Day hosted NETCARE St Anne’s and Royal Hospital, a physical rehab and sub-acute facility, held an awareness day to educate the public and staff about stroke. Stroke is the fourth most common cause of death and the leading cause of disability in South Africa. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA, 10 people suffer a stroke every hour in South Africa and 70 people die each day because of stroke. WHAT IS A STROKE? A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is disrupted. The affected area becomes starved of oxygen causing the brain cells to die. A stroke can damage the function of the brain, leading to disability or death. There are two main types of stroke - haemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. The first is caused by a haemorrhage in the blood vessels of the brain while the latter results from a cutting in the supply of blood to the brain as a result of thrombosis or an embolism. WHO IS AT RISK OF STROKE? While anyone can suffer a stroke, individuals over the age of 55 are at greater risk of developing stroke. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, genetic predisposition, family history of stroke, high cholesterol levels and smoking. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF STROKE? Symptoms can differ greatly depending on which part of the brain has been affected. However, there are a number of signs of stroke that are common to most people. Anyone who is experiencing or witnesses the sudden onset of any of the following symptoms in a person should contact an emergency medical service provider or Netcare 082 911 immediately. • Face drooping: the facial muscles are weak and one side of the face droops • Arm and leg weakness: the person may feel weak in one or more of their arms or legs and experience numbness down one side of their body • Speech difficulty: the patient may slur words, use words incorrectly or be unable to speak • A severe headache with no known cause or sudden blindness in one or both eyes Stroke is largely preventable. You can reduce your stroke risk by living a healthy lifestyle, controlling high blood pressure, not smoking and eating healthy. A diet should include low saturated and trans fats, being physically active and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Wheelchairs and walking sticks donated EVERY year Midmar Crushers, a company under the Midmar Group, serves its local community in some way. This year Midmar Crushers decided to focus on the elderly and disabled individuals of the Kwa-Chief, a community near its head offices. With some of the staff and community members, Midmar Crushers distributed much-needed wheelchairs and walking sticks to elderly and disabled community members.

Eyesibonelelo sikahulumeni izoholwa ngaphambi kwesikhathi esijwayelekile ISouth African Social Security Agency (SASSA) ihlele ukukhokhela abantu imali yesibonelelo sikahulumeni ngaphambi kwesikhathi esijwayelekile njengoba kuza isikhathi samaholidi. NgoMsombuluko i-SASSA ikhiphe isitatimende yazisa bonke abantu abahola imali yesibonelelo sikahulumeni ukuthi bazoqala ukuholelwa ngasekupheleni kwenyanga kaNovemba. “Umholo kaDisemba wemali yesibonelelo sikahulumeni uzoqala ukutholakala ngoNovemba 28 2017,” kusho isitatimende. Ngokusho kwe-SASSA, imali izobe isitholakala kuma-ATM nakuzo zonke ezinye izikhungo zokuhola ngomhlaka-28 kwephezulu. Lokhu kuzokwenzeka kuzona zonke izifundazwe ngaphandle kwaseWestern Cape, njengoba khona kuzoqala ngomhlaka-1 Disemba 2017. Isitatimende siphinde sathi imali izotholakala kuze kube uDisemba 22 kodwa kuzogcina ngomhlaka-15 Disemba 2017 ezikhungweni zakwa-SASSA. I-SASSA iphinde yakhumbuza abantu ukuba amakhadi abo kanye nama-PIN bakugcine kuphephile, bangakuniki omunye umuntu.

Bodyguard shot and killed MHLABUNZIMA Mngoma, a bodyguard of Msunduzi council Speaker, Jabulisile Ngubo, was fatally gunned in an attack in Caluza on Wednesday morning. According to KZN SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, Mngoma was attacked by two unknown men at around 10 am who fired multiple gunshots at the 30-year-old before fleeing the scene. Mbhele said: “It is alleged that the deceased was inside a municipal vehicle in Mazambane Road when he was accosted by unknown armed males who fired multiple gunshots at him before fleeing the scene. The deceased was taken to hospital with multiple gunshot wounds where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The motive of the killing is being investigated as an intensive investigation is conducted. A case of murder was opened at Plessislaer police station and a docket will be investigated by the Provincial Task Team.” Msunduzi municipal spokesperson, Thobeka Mafumbatha said the mayor, Themba Njilo, and the municipality's council would like to extend their condolences to Mngoma's family and friends. "Msunduzi Municipality is saddened by the sudden passing of Mhlabunzima Bruce Mngoma, one of its employees," Mafumbatha said. She described Mngoma as a dedicated bodyguard and professional employee who will always be remembered. "At this moment of hardship for his family and kin, we convey our prayers. We would like to appeal to the public to remain calm," Mafumbatha said. She said events leading to Mngoma's death are unknown at the moment and the municipality would allow police to conduct their investigation. "We would like to appeal to the public to work with the police and offer any information they might have that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators. We call upon the people of Pietermaritzburg to pray and support the family and his friends during this period," Mafumbatha said.

Traffic officers arrested for alleged corruption Two traffic officers from the Msunduzi Municipality were arrested on Tuesday, November 7, for alleged corruption. The two, Welani Zondi (32) and Siphesihle Zulu (26) were arrested by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigations members after being accused of soliciting a bribe from a motorist in the Pietermaritzburg area. It is alleged the motorist resisted their attempts, however, his vehicle was impounded by the two officers and they demanded a bribe for its release. An undercover operation was conducted and the two were arrested after taking money from the complainant. They were then charged with corruption. They appeared briefly in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on Wednesday, November 8, and they were granted R1000.00 bail each. The case was postponed to 13 December 2017.

Kuyimele kahle imbokodo kwi-Safa UMHLANGANO we-South African Football Association (Safa) oyisipesheli ngempelasonto edlule utshengise izinkomba eziqinile zokuthi kungenzeka ukuphathwa kwebhola kube nokushintsha okusha. Ngesikathi zonke izicukuthwane nezikhulu eziphezulu ze-Safa zihlangene kulenqunquthela eyisipesheli (special congress) nebekubukeka iwumhlahlandlela kweyangonyaka ozayo nalapho kobe kukhethwa izikhundla, kuvele ngokusobala ukuthi lenhlangano kazwelonke eyengamele ibhola laseMzansi isikulungele ukunika abesifazane ithuba lokuphatha. Ngesikhathi kungunuzwa futhi kucutshungulwa imininingwane eminingi mayelana nokukhethwa kwezikhundla kucace bha ukuthi yiningi imbokodo (abesifazane phela) abangathola izikhundla eziphakeme, ikakhulukazi zokuba isekela lika Mongameli we-Safa (vice-presidents). Kuvele kwasobala nokuthi u-Safa uyakuthakasela noma-ke uzokhetha amasekela kaMongameli amane (four vice-presidents) nokuyoletha ushintsho olukhulu nokwenza umlando omusha eMzansi. Amanye amagama avelayo ezinzwakazi ezikade zalibamba igeja lishisa ebholeni laseMzansi afana no Anastasia Tsichlas, Ria Ledwaba kanye noNomsa Mahlangu nababukeka befanelwe noma bangakhethelwa kulezikhundla. Isikhulu esikhulu se-Safa nesiyi-CEO uDennis Mumble uthe zikhona izinto ezimbalwa eziwumhlahlandlela nezinqumo ezamukelwe yilenhlangano ngesikhathi kunomhlangano oyisiphesheli. “Ezinye zezinto ezizoba wushintsho ezamekeliwe noma zavunywa wukuthi kukhethwe amasekela kaMongameli amane nekufanelwe isihlalo esisodwa sivulele owesifazane kanti esinye nangokujwaye siyekelwe uSihlalo we-PSL. Lezike ezinye ezimbili seziyokhethwa yikomiti eliphezulu likazwelonke (National Executive Committee) le-Safa,” kusho uMumble. Lezizathu noma lomhlahlandlela uthathwa njengezinkomba ezethembisayo zokuthuthukisa nokubhekelela imbokodo. Njengamanje ekomitini leSafa kunabesimame abane kodwa bathathu kuphela abavunyelwa usomqulu noma umthetho wokuthi bangathatha ezinye izikhundla ezithe xaxa. Osabambe kwiPSL njengeCEO nothathwa njengeNkosazane enamandla yaKwaZulu-Natal uMato Madlala yena akakwazi noma umthetho awumvumeli ukuthatha esinye isikhundla ku-Safa futhi ubengakhethwanga kwabesifazane ababhekeke ukuthi mhlawumbe baphathe kulenhlangano. Ngendlela izinto ezime ngazo okwamanje kuyacacisa ukuthi abasethubeni lokuthi baqokelwe lesikhundla esibalulekile o-Anastasia Tsichlas, Ria Ledwaba kanye Nomsa Mahlangu. Kuzokhumbuleka ukuthi okwamanje u-Safa unamasekela kaMongameli amathathu, nokunguSihlalo we-PSL Irvin Khoza, u-Elvis Shishana kanye no Lucas Nhlapho.

Shooting the Breeze CAN I really give up my passion as a local veteran sports journalist, community activist and founder of the annual Ward 34 Community Sports Day and let it fade away? These are questions I ask myself when I think that this year things are looking tight or impossible to stage our annual sports event that started more than 10 years ago. What is more heartbreaking is that over the years this event has become a uniting community project. To see children from the nearby underprivileged communities spending hours playing sport is very encouraging and it puts me at peace. We must remember that a child in sport and in God is a child away from crime or a police cell. Sport is the easiest, simple and right way of uniting communities from different backgrounds, religion, race or culture. Over the years the Ward 34 Sports Day has not only also attracted children or teams from our area, but also from Imbali, Edendale, Maqonqo, Copesville, Glenwood and Elandskop. Our venue where we normally host the event - Panorama School - has no goalposts and without partners or sponsors, things are looking impossible for us to stage the event. Can we let our event, which began many years ago, fade away? Can I this year tell these children and their teams I won’t be able to bring them together for their annual fun day? Can I tell them that around Ward 34 or in our city there is not even one businessman­ that can save our annual sports day? It is also stressing to take calls from children and teams telling them that things are not looking good and the event might not take place. However, there are community members who encourage me to keep going and to continue to appeal for help, asking partners and sponsors to come on board and assist. With this in mind, I once again ask Good Samaritans to look in our direction­ and save our annual Ward 34 Sports Day. I can be contacted via WhatsApp on 083 521 9553, via email - jerryb.barnes228 @gmail.com or on Facebook.

Reunion Island agricultural students teach Sobantu pupils REUNION Island college students studying agricultural development visited Russell Junior Primary in Sobantu to help pupils to start a vegetable garden. Student Maya Moupondo said the purpose of their visit is to teach Grade 4 pupils the basics about soil, preparing a garden, planting and harvesting. The students will spend seven days in SA, during which they will teach the Sobantu community about maintaining a garden. Moupondo said the 101 pupils will be separated into groups for the duration. The school’s head of department, Anita Samuel, said the produce from the garden will be sold to the contractor that supplies the school with food for its nutrition programme, teachers and the public. “The garden will help to sustain the school’s nutrition programme and with the knowledge, pupils gain they can start gardens at home. A family of six can be sustained by a garden the size of a door,” Samuel said. This is not the students’ first visit to the country and to the Pietermaritzburg area. Professor of Agriculture on the island, Didier Ramay, who planted the seed of this initiative with Marianne Le Tiec, said this project started six years ago and through its various local organisations has been assisted with establishing vegetable gardens, including a crèche in the France area, which looks after orphaned children.