Community Newspapers initiative

24/03/2022

Police are searching for the criminal who assaulted world renowned Ndebele artist Esther Mahlangu during an armed robbery at her home.

Mpumalanga Premier, Hon Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, MEC of the Department of Community Safety and Liason, Hon Vusi Shongwe, MEC of Culture, Sports and Recreation, Hon Thandi Shongwe and MEC of Human Settlement, Hon Speedy Mashilo gathered with the Executive Mayor, Cllr Nomsa Mtsweni, Executive Mayor of Nkangala District, Cllr Leah Mabuza and councillors at the residence of the Ndebele iconic artist Esther Mahlangu to show support following a case of robbery in which she was attacked over the weekend.

The delegation led by the Premier expressed their concern to ensure that Esther Mahlangu is timid and doing well after the incident.

Photo credit: ANC Nkangala Region

26/02/2022

The deadline for the Eskom Expo Video Competition has been extended to 6 March 2022. This is to allow young scientists more time to perfect their video submissions.

Eskom Expo for Young Scientists launched a video competition in December 2021 to help prepare learners for the school, district and regional science expos in 2022 – where they’ll be required to present their projects to judges, in person.

The video competition is an opportunity for learners who participated in an Eskom Expo provincial fair in 2021 to present their Expo research projects in video format in a fun, exciting way, to clearly communicate their research.

Learners must record a video that is 3 to 5 minutes long, and enter either by uploading to YouTube and emailing the link to [email protected] or sending the video via WhatsApp to: +27 67 638 3496.

Very important: in your email/WhatsApp, include your name and surname, school, grade and province.

Prizes:

A laptop, tablet computer and 3 Bluetooth headsets are up for grabs!

The top 5 best videos will be selected by judges.
Judges will award the best video entrant with a laptop.

The rest of the 4 will proceed to a Twitter poll where Eskom Expo followers will vote for their favourite video.

The winner of the poll will be awarded a tablet computer, and the rest will receive Bluetooth headsets.

29/07/2021

22/03/2021

Skeletal remains of murdered cop stolen in Mpumalanga

Police in Mpumalanga are investigating a case of theft after human skeletal remains being kept as evidence for a murder case were stolen at a state mortuary in Standerton.

Spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said police discovered on Friday that the human remains were missing. The skeleton was the subject of a police investigation in a murder case in which a 62-year-old former police officer was murdered.

"The victim was reported missing by his family in October 2020. Police launched a search for him then, without any success until Friday, 12 March 2021, when 26-year-old Mr Sanele Msimang handed himself over to the Harrismith police station in the Free State province," said Hlathi.

Msimang informed the Free State police that he had killed his employer in Standerton last year and buried his remains in a shallow grave. He was then detained at Harrismith police station, before being brought to Standerton to face murder charges.

Hlathi said Msimang arrived in Mpumalanga on Monday and showed police where he had buried his employer's body. The remains were exhumed and sent for forensic tests.

"A murder case was then opened, and Msimang was charged and appeared at the Standerton Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 18 March 2021, where he was remanded in custody until Tuesday, 23 March. While busy investigating the murder case, police received disturbing news that the seized skeletal remains were missing."

Police appealed to anyone with information regarding the stolen skeletal remains to contact Detective Constable Lefa Tsotetsi on 066 019 8487 or call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.

20/03/2021

Congratulations on the new library, because it isn't just a library. It is a space ship that will take you to the farthest reaches of the Universe, a time machine that will take you to the far past and the far future, a teacher that knows more than any human being, a friend that will amuse you and console you and most of all, a gateway, to a better and happier and more useful life.

06/03/2021

Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane and the Speaker of Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature Makhosazana Masilela are ushered into the chamber shortly after the Candlelight ceremony in honour of those who have succumbed to COVID-19.

02/03/2021

New Executive Mayor for Steve Tshwete was sworn in

Days of anticipation and anxiety from the community of Steve Tshwete Municipality are over.

On Monday, 01 March 2021 the Council convened and elected the new Executive Mayor, a process in line with the Municipal Structures Act of 1998.

The position became vacant when the late Executive Mayor, Bagudi Jonathan Tolo succumbed to COVID-19 related complications on 02 February 2021.

The proceedings took place from the Sydney Choma Banquet Hall and the new Executive Mayor, Diphala Joseph Motsepe was announced immediately after the voting process was finalized.

Congratulations to the new Executive Mayor, Diphala Joseph Motsepe.

21/02/2021

Here are the results for Mr Mpumalanga Top 5!

Congratulations to the candidates Fisokuhle Magagula, Tumelo Sedibe, Mndeni Lushaba, Bonginkosi Mkhaba and Assurance Siyabonga Mokoena for making it this far.

Best wishes on your journey to the Official announcement for the Top 16

16/02/2021

Former Steve Tshwete Local Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Mike Masina’s car was stolen outside the Middelburg Provincial Hospital yesterday (Wednesday).

The car thieves made off with his Ford Ranger HHT 185 MP, while he was inside the hospital.

He was in the hospital for two hours and when he went to the parking area at about 12:00 his car was gone.

Mr Masina told Middleburg Observer that the vehicle had a tracking device. A theft of a vehicle case was opened at the Middelburg Police.

Anyone who has information that might assist the police please contact: 072 198 0139 or 074 670 7951.

16/02/2021

Cost of rain damages in Mpumalanga escalates to over a billion rand

Mpumalanga Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Mandla Msibi, says the cost of the damage caused by rains in the province has escalated to over a billion rand.

Bridges, roads, and water infrastructure are among the valuable properties damaged by persistent rains.

Msibi says water tankers have been dispatched to affected communities.

“Currently, the figure is over a billion from the three district from the Nkangala District; almost R200 million in Gert Sibande; and Ehlanzeni which is the most affected. It’s more than R600 million. But currently, the premier has instructed us to look into our savings. So, we will start rolling out our action plan while waiting a declaration of the national disaster,” he says.

The floods have left a trail of destruction in different parts of the province. The City of Mbombela is the hardest hit, with roads and bridges having been damaged.

At least 13 people were washed away in the rains. Some were swept away by flood waters while trying to cross streams, while others’ houses were washed away by the floods.

Eight of the flood victims have been found and around five others remain missing. A search for them continues.

Rita Mzimela, from Kanyamazane, has a relative who is yet to be found.

“As the family, we are heartbroken. They say he has been seen, but they are unable to recover him. Some are being found while he has not been found. We don’t know what to do,” says Mzimela.

The Nkomazi Local Municipality, Bushbuckridge, Thaba Chweu and Mkhondo are some of the affected areas.

Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane said on Wednesday the province will approach the national government for financial support.

16/02/2021

Mpumalanga court interpreter arrested on fraud, theft charges

A court interpreter in the Northern Cape, Joseph Moroka, has been arrested - at work - for corruption and theft.

The arrest was made by the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation Unit, following a tip-off reported to the unit's office.

Hawks spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi confirmed Moroka's arrest.

“[A] Pampierstad court interpreter [has been] arrested on three counts of corruption and theft," said Mnisi.

It's alleged that between June 2016 and October 2017 Mororka the sister of a stock theft suspect and demanded R2500 to release the man.

In a separate but related incidents, the Hawks said, Moroka allegedly demanded R1000 from the mother of a man arrested on drug-related charges.

The suspect appeared in court in Hartswater on Tuesday and was granted R3000 bail.

His case was postponed to 16 March.

What’s your take about corruption in this country?