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A COMMUNITY IN CRISIS: Incident of sexual violence leaves the Cala community reeling in shock
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A COMMUNITY IN CRISIS: Incident of sexual violence leaves the Cala community reeling in shock

By Sitha Maliwa Sexual violence incident in Cala Community in the Eastern Cape (Video: Facebook) The community of Cala, at the Sakhisizwe Municipality in the Eastern Cape, has been left devastated by a deeply disturbing act of sexual violence. Multiple reports have confirmed that men in the area were raped by other men; an incident that has shocked residents and forced a painful conversation into the open. This act, which many still struggle to comprehend, has torn through the silence surrounding male sexual violence and highlighted a growing crisis in a town once known for dignity, learning, and leadership. Cala was once hailed as a centre of education, producing some of South Africa’s most respected figures. Among them are Gwede Mantashe, current Chairperson of the ANC; ...
CROWNED IN LOVE: Anele Mdoda marries abaThembu prince Bonelela “Buzza” James
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CROWNED IN LOVE: Anele Mdoda marries abaThembu prince Bonelela “Buzza” James

By Sitha Maliwa Anele Mdoda and Bonelela ‘Buzza’ James, shining in love and tradition, as they begin their royal journey together (Image: Facebook) Just when Mzansi was still catching its breath after former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe, Zozi Tunzi, dropped wedding bombshells - another beloved queen has quietly said “yes” in a moment fit for history books. South Africa’s favourite media personality, Anele Mdoda, is officially off the market - and she didn’t just get married, she stepped into royalty. This past weekend, Anele tied the knot with Bonelela “Buzza” James, a respected lawyer and real-life Prince of the AbaThembu royal family, in a deeply traditional and culturally rich Xhosa wedding ceremony. Held in the Eastern Cape, the traditional wedding was a vibr...
TRASH, TURF AND TENSIONS: Inside the recycling wars of Turffontein
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TRASH, TURF AND TENSIONS: Inside the recycling wars of Turffontein

By Sitha Maliwa Waste pickers walking the street (Image: Facebook) On the dusty stretch of TuTurfontein Road in Johannesburg, trash isn’t just garbage - it’s gold. Amid the towering mounds of waste and the rhythmic clatter of trollies pushed by calloused hands, a silent war rages, driven by desperation, survival, and the promise of profit. What began as a simple hustle - sorting through discarded waste to find treasures worth selling - has ballooned into a booming, multi-million rands industry. At the heart of this growing business are the recyclers: men and women who transform trash into cash by collecting and selling items like copper, steel, batteries, and plastic to make a living. But the riches buried in the city’s refuse have come at a cost. Two rival groups - lar...
VARSITY ARREST: Man arrested for WSU shooting as varsity closes campus yet again
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VARSITY ARREST: Man arrested for WSU shooting as varsity closes campus yet again

By Mpumzi Mshweshwe (Image: Facebook) A 54-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder following a shooting that claimed the life of one student and injured two others at the Walter Sisulu University Mthatha Campus. The arrest came soon after the university decided to close the campus and conduct learning and teaching online. The closure only affected the Mthatha campus but not the other campuses of the university The police said the unnamed suspect is expected to appear in the Mthatha Magistrate’s court on 22 April. His named has not been revealed until he had appeared in court. “While this arrest is a critical step, the investigation remains active. No further details will be released at this time to preserve the integrity of the case. Upd...
BREAKING NEWS: One student killed, others injured as residence manager fires shots at WSU students
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BREAKING NEWS: One student killed, others injured as residence manager fires shots at WSU students

By Mpumzi Mshweshwe (Image: WSU Website) One student was killed and two others injured when a residence manager allegedly fired shots at protesting students in the early hours today at Water Sisulu University, Mthatha Campus. The two wounded students were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The manager allegedly attempted to come out to talk with the students who came to his residence within the campus, but the protesting students, who were outside his house, allegedly chased and attacked the manager. The residence manager, who stays within the institution with his family, was approached by the students at about 7 am. They confronted him to complain about the state of the residence and other grievances that the students had about their residences. The students we...
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Alleged killers of 18 Lusikisiki villagers appear in court, case postponed to 16 May

By Mpumzi Mshweshwe Six men who were charged with the murder of 18 people in Lusikisiki made their first appearance in the High Court Eastern Cape Division, Mthatha on Monday. The men are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The men appeared in court on the 14th of April and the case was postponed to 16 May 2025. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali, said the case was transferred from Lusikisiki Regional Court to the high court, where it was postponed to 16 May 2025 for the defence to indicate if they were ready to proceed with the trial. “They are charged with the shootings that occurred on 28 September 2024 at two neighbouring homesteads in Ngobozana Village near the town of Lusi...
PROPHET VS POLITICIAN: Prophet Bushiri claps back at Mbuyiseni Ndlozi in explosive Malawi showdown
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PROPHET VS POLITICIAN: Prophet Bushiri claps back at Mbuyiseni Ndlozi in explosive Malawi showdown

By Sitha Maliwa Politician Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Prophet Bushiri (Image: Facebook)  A heated war of words has erupted between Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and South African political firebrand Dr. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi after the latter delivered a bold critique during a public lecture in Malawi. While addressing an audience at the “People over politics” lecture in Lilongwe on April 12, Ndlozi made a pointed yet unnamed reference to Bushiri that quickly sent shockwaves across social media and into the corridors of both religious and political power. “There is someone in this country who is wanted in South Africa,” Ndlozi said to applause. “Whether you are a pastor or a politician, you don’t have the right to steal from the poor-not in the name of God, not in the name of our people.” ...
POWER STABILITY: Loadshedding remains stable as Eskom prepares for the winter season
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POWER STABILITY: Loadshedding remains stable as Eskom prepares for the winter season

By Mpumzi Mshweshwe (Image: Eskom website) The power systems of Eskom have remained stable, this being the reason why there has been no planned loadshedding across the country. The unplanned outages have decreased by 2.9% from the last year showing improvement in the management and maintenance of the Eskom systems. Eskom stated that “the high level of planned maintenance aims to enhance fleet reliability for the anticipated increased peak winter demand while also ensuring compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements. “Currently, 7,402MW of the generation capacity is under planned maintenance.” Last year, the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF), which is unplanned outage, stood at 31.35% and this year it stands at 28.50%, a positive decrease of 2.85%. Another ...
A DISASTER: Women for change holds demonstration against GBVF at union buildings
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A DISASTER: Women for change holds demonstration against GBVF at union buildings

By Mpumzi Mshweshwe Protestors (Image: Mpumzi Mshweshwe) The Women for Change Organisation held a demonstration at the union buildings on the 11th of April in their fight against Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). A petition released by Women for Change released a petition two months ago requested that President Cyril Ramaphosa should accept the petition and declare gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster. Strategic advisor for Women for Change, Ashmitha Singh, unveiled the details of the events pertaining to the demonstration.Singh said: “The reason why we want this to be a national disaster is because it allows us to deviate from the constitution for a three-month period, which allows for an immediate response to the issue. “Our petition reache...
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BRIEF: Congolese national linked to Zanzou case granted bail

By Mpumzi Mshweshwe A Congolese national was granted R10 000 bail in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. The man is facing 8 counts of sexual assault and 6 counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The man is one of 8 suspects linked to the graphic video that circulated online, where men were forced by the club bouncers to perform sexual acts. Some of the victims in the video were allegedly harassed and assaulted because of their failure to pay their tabs at the club. “The charges emanate from two case dockets opened against the accused. “It is alleged that in April 2022, the accused assaulted the two victims in the matter,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana. She said the accused asked to be released because...