Eastern Cape

Bisho committee misled by dept
By Lulamile Feni BISHO -- A teacher the Education Department said had been dismissed in March after he was found guilty of theft is still employed and is receiving his salary. The education standing committee discovered during an inspection that...

Absa may sue ECDC for R8,3m loan to Chong
By Eddie Botha Business Editor EAST LONDON --Hong Kong businessman Alan Chong, who is already being sought by the South African Revenue Service and various commercial banks for the alleged fraud of more than R10 million, is now involved in an R8,...

Teachers' relocation costs still not paid
By Justine Gerardy EAST LONDON -- Of an estimated 10000 redeployed teachers in the Eastern Cape, only 16 have been paid relocation costs by the Department of Education since the redeployment process began in 1998. The department was unable to st...

Public schools not ready for finals says committee
BISHO -- Most Eastern Cape public schools were not ready to write the final examinations, education standing committee member Alfred Metele (ANC) said yesterday. He was speaking during an education standing committee meeting with the department. ...

Sizani under fire from DP
BISHO -- The Democratic Party said the frequent legal action instituted against Education MEC Stone Sizani was an embarrassment and made the public lose confidence in the department. DP MPL Donald Smiles, addressing the legislature here yesterday...

Teach sexual control says Ugandan pastor
By Lulamile Feni BISHO -- All religions must be empowered through the government to preach against the moral decay of society and to call for the abstention from sex of those who are not married, said World Trumpet Mission leader Pastor John Muli...

ICD report to legislature highlights prisoner deaths
BISHO -- Almost 10 Eastern Cape prisoners die every month while in police custody or as a result of police action, Independent Complaints Directorate (IDC) regional director Alfredeen Jenneker said yesterday. Jenneker was reporting to the Eastern...

Trent: lethargy prevails
BISHO -- Eastern Cape Democratic Party leader Eddie Trent lashed out at African National Congress and United Democratic Movement members in the legislature after there was no quorum for yesterday's finance committee meeting. "I am appalled that a...

Bisho wants Haven operational
By Zama Mpondwana EAST LONDON-- The provincial government's "preferred option" was that Clive Berlyn remain at the Haven Hotel until a new operator was found, Economic Affairs MEC Enoch Godongwana said last night. Responding to yesterday's repor...

Landless fail to show up at crisis meeting
EAST LONDON -- Neither the United Democratic Hogsback Residents' Association (Udhar), which initiated a land invasion in Hogsback last week, nor the Hogsback local council attended a meeting here yesterday aimed at warding off the town's land cris...

Nombulelo plants trees to celebrate Arbor Day
GRAHAMSTOWN -- Nombulelo High School here celebrated Arbor Day with a tree planting ceremony in the schoolyard yesterday. About 20 pupils involved in the President's Award Youth Empowerment Organisation planted three trees. After some encouragem...

Sanco divided over election
By Zamuxolo Feni and Mkhululi Titi EAST LONDON -- South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) sub-regions in the province have voiced mixed responses to Eastern Cape Sanco's controversial decision to back independent candidates in the local...

For the record
Prince Langa Mavuso, a nominee for the vacancy in the provincial House of Traditional Leaders which was filled this week, is not a former United Democratic Movement regional member or current Contralesa executive member, as reported yesterda...

Tourism campaign gets off ground
By Mayibongwe Maqhina UMTATA -- The Eastern Cape Tourism Board (ECTB) will hold its Wild Coast regional launch of the "Welcome Campaign 2000" here tomorrow and on Saturday. Regional ECTB spokesman Wiseman Luma said yesterday the aim of the camp...

Sakhululeka suspends classes
By Denver Donian KING WILLIAM'S TOWN -- Sakhululeka Senior Secondary School in Fort Beaufort has suspended classes indefinitely after pupils ran amok last week when they learnt some parents would contribute R20 towards the annual prizegiving. Da...

NNP hearing postponed
BISHO -- The New National Party's federal council hearing involving Eastern Cape leader Manie Schoeman, which was initially scheduled for yesterday, will now be held on Tuesday in Cape Town. Schoeman is accused of criticising the NNP's decision t...

Conference at Rhodes draws 250
GRAHAMSTOWN -- Delegates from 25 African countries and IT experts from the United States and Europe will descend on Grahamstown on Monday for the fourth five-day Highway Africa 2000 conference. The increase in the number of African journalists at...

Jazzman alleges death threat
EAST LONDON -- A charge relating to an alleged death threat has been laid with the police here by local businessman Albert Spaargaren. Captain Sibongile Ndyoko yesterday confirmed that charges of crimen injuria and assault against Danny Mongo wer...

Death of boy baffles family
By Mphumzi Zuzile, Crime Reporter EAST LONDON -- A family member of the 17-year-old youth who was stabbed to death at the Miss Border Technikon Pageant on Saturday night said the family was still mystified by the circumstances surrounding his dea...

Mother's balcony jump foiled
GRAHAMSTOWN -- A 24-year-old mother of two young children yesterday tried to jump off a first-floor balcony at the Pastoral Institute and Conference Centre in Bathurst Street here. The woman was rescued by Peter van den Bergh, who lives in the ne...

US gifts to pre-primary schools
By Ncedo Kumbaca EAST LONDON -- Equipment worth nearly R40000 was donated to the Mdantsane and Newlands pre-primary schools near here by United States benefactors yesterday. The equipment was donated by the community affairs department in Rushin...

HEARTFELT
John Bisseker High School Grade 12 pupil Davina Nonoh takes part in the East London annual Inter-High School Public Speaking Contest held at Clarendon Girls' High. In the prepared speech category, Zoya Mabuto of Clarendon came first, with Dian...

Murder trial told of missing knife
By Sam Ngwenya Court Reporter EAST LONDON -- The trial of three men from Mdantsane accused of murdering Morgan Bay widow Tiny Randall, who died after being attacked and tied up, continued in the high court here this week. Masibulele Booi, 24, Ph...

Newell, Kwakomani top choirs
By Denver Donian KING WILLIAM'S TOWN -- The provincial finals of the Telkom Schools' Choir Competition held in Butterworth saw Newell High School from Port Elizabeth and Kwakomani Senior Secondary School from Queenstown walk off with top honours....

Former EL deputy mayor dies aged 70
EAST LONDON -- Former deputy mayor and South African Defence Force officer Desmond Terence "Ted" Brassell was cremated here on Tuesday. Brassell's son, Zane, said his father had died on his 70th birthday a week ago after a heart attack. He was a...

Eight arrested after four shot
UMTATA -- Police arrested eight suspects after an attack on four people at James locality near Umzimkulu recently. Captain Mzukisi Fatyela said police had confiscated two pistols and a revolver believed to have been used in the attack. The four ...

Teaching 'an essential service'
EAST LONDON -- Deputy President Jacob Zuma has called on Congress of South African Trade Unions to regard education as a national essential service. Speaking here at the weekend, Zuma said the standard of education had declined a lot in black com...

Escapee, 19, rearrested in Idutywa
QUEENSTOWN -- A 19-year-old awaiting-trial prisoner who escaped near the Butterworth Magistrate's Court on Tuesday was rearrested in Idutywa yesterday, police said. Superintendent Bathandwa Dada said Vuyani Maliwa, who was being held on charges o...

Man sought by police dies in shoot-out
UMTATA -- A man sought on charges of mugging and attempting to rape a 22-year-old United States tourist in Port St Johns a fortnight ago died in a shoot-out with police this week. Police said the 28-year-old man was cornered by the police and sta...

3 arrested on dagga charge
QUEENSTOWN -- Three men, including a truck driver, were arrested yesterday in Idutywa after police seized six bags of dagga worth over R75000. Superintendent Bathandwa Dada said a truck was stopped by crime prevention unit members at a roadblock ...

Anti-crime cyclist in EL
EAST LONDON -- Crime victims need counselling and guidance, a Durban anti-crime campaigner said here this week. Charles de Vos, 51, has embarked on a countrywide anti-crime cycling trip. He passed through the Eastern Cape this week and handed ove...

Mkani elected to national tourism post
By Lucas Mati EAST LONDON -- Local councillor Sam Mkani has been elected vice-chairman of the national Community Tourism Association (CTA). He was elected on Tuesday at a conference taking place in Boksburg. Two other Eastern Cape representativ...