Eastern Cape

Healthcare 'is improving'
Goqwana disputes PE doctor's claims By Marcus Hansson EAST LONDON -- People from previously disadvantaged communities are experiencing better healthcare than they did before 1994, Eastern Cape Health MEC Bevan Goqwana said yesterday. Goqwana wa...

Taxi war claims another victim
By Stan Mzimba UMTATA -- A taxi driver was shot and killed near Gxulu on the Umtata-Port St Johns road last night. A trail of glass splinters from the vehicle's shattered windows indicated that the attackers had followed the minibus for some dis...

7 die in EC road accidents
UMTATA-- Seven people died and six others were injured in three motor accidents in the Eastern Cape at the weekend. Transport spokesman Tshepo Machaea said five people were killed and three others injured when the driver of the bakkie they were t...

Feeling drained
Nellie Coetzee of the Quigney removes grass which blocked a storm drain in front of her house yesterday. She said the drain is cleaned by the municipality, but after every heavy fall of rain it blocks again. She also said the untrimmed trees ...

Mandela installs new mayor
ANC 'has raised standards of living' PORT ELIZABETH -- Former president Nelson Mandela called on all formerly disadvantaged people to respect the ANC as it was the only political party which had restored their dignity. Speaking at the installati...

Dangers of science dismissed
By Adrienne Carlisle GRAHAMSTOWN --Reliable scientific knowledge is "value and ethics-free" and many fears about genetics are "pure science fiction" generated by the media, says developmental biologist Lewis Wolpert. Speaking at the Sasol Scifes...

KwaKomani learners enjoy free outing to fest
By Adrienne Carlisle GRAHAMSTOWN -- Fifteen Grade 11 learners from the KwaKomani Comprehensive in Queenstown had a sizzling scifun day at Sasol Scifest here last week after one of their pupils, Tende Akhona, earned them a free trip to the festiva...

Welcome mat for top EC debater
By Aparna Jayachancran UMTATA -- A tired but happy Zwangendaba Ludidi was met by his parents, classmates, fellow SRC members and teachers at the airport here last week on his return from a two-week debating contest in New York. Zwangendaba, a Gr...

Bomb scare at inauguration
PORT ELIZABETH -- A bomb scare caused a moment of anxiety and panic at the inauguration of Nelson Mandela metro executive mayor Nceba Faku at Vista University at the weekend. Hours before the arrival of former president Nelson Mandela, bomb dispo...

Balfour honours EC sport achievers
By Mkhululi Titi QUEENSTOWN -- The agreement South Africa had entered into with Cuba recently could be a huge benefit to sports and recreation as Cuba was consistent and strong in these sectors, Sport and Recreation Minister Ngconde Balfour said ...

Mnquma targets growth areas
By Mkhululi Titi QUEENSTOWN -- The Mnquma municipality's interim Integrated Development Plan (IDP) has identified Butterworth as a hub with Nqamakwe and Centane as nodal development points. Mnquma municipal spokesperson Thobile Mlungwana said th...

Policeman held for alleged bribe
Crime Reporter EAST LONDON -- A Queenstown policeman was arrested on Friday by a special investigating team from the Umtata organised crime unit on charges of defeating the ends of justice and corruption, police said yesterday. The team, led by ...

Single mothers receive new homes
By Mphumzi Zuzile EAST LONDON -- The governor of Rotary District 9320 handed over 100 houses at the weekend to previously disadvantaged single mothers with dependent children at Sinebhongo Rainbow Village. Presenting a certificate of ownership t...

Identity of teacher shot in taxi released
UMTATA -- Police yesterday released the name of the teacher killed in an attack on a minibus on the Umtata-Ngqeleni road on Friday. Superintendent Nondumiso Jafta identified the teacher as Xolani Mbandezi. She said Mbandezi was among teachers who...

Intruder shot by farmer at Kidds Beach
Crime Reporter EAST LONDON -- A 20-year-old man was shot and seriously wounded on Saturday morning when he allegedly broke into a Kidds Beach farmhouse, police said yesterday. Superintendent Eddie Watson said Selwyn Hewson, of Joycedale farm, wa...

Mocked man kills youth
UMTATA -- A 16-year-old youth was beaten to death by a mentally disturbed man in Madeira Street here yesterday, police said. Police said the youth and others allegedly made fun of the man outside a takeaway. The man chased them with an iron rod a...

Anti-crime activist laid to rest
UMTATA -- Hundreds of mourners gathered at the weekend at the Ngangelizwe home for the funeral of anti-crime forum activist Ntsikelelo Msindweni. Msindweni was shot dead when he and his colleagues were investigating a housebreaking case. It is a...

Lone gunman kills man, 70, at his home
UMTATA -- A 70-year-old man was shot dead at Mbalane near Port St Johns at the weekend, police said yesterday. Superintendent Nondumiso Jafta said Mathula Gqazimbana was asleep in his home when a man knocked at the door. When he opened the door...

Reveller drowns in municipal pool
UMTATA -- What was supposed to have been a jovial night for revellers ended tragically when an unidentified man drowned in the municipal pool here on Friday night. An official said a company hired the swimming pool to promote its new brand of liq...

Health Dept pays workers money owing
EAST LONDON -- The Department of Health has started paying backpay for rank promotions to some former Ciskei health workers, Health MEC Bevan Goqwana confirmed last week. Goqwana said that employees at the SS Gida hospital in Keiskammahoek and t...

Guard bundled into car during robbery
EAST LONDON --A security guard at Kevin Walker Car Sales in Amalinda was tied up in a vehicle during a robbery yesterday morning, police said. The guard was overpowered by three men wearing balaclavas who removed two wheels from a car before lea...

Cradock school damaged by fire
CRADOCK -- An administrative block of the Michausdal Primary School here was gutted by fire, SABC radio news reported at the weekend. Police are investigating arson. They believe intruders who broke into the school caused the fire when they appa...

Three stabbed to death
By Mphumzi Zuzile, Crime Reporter EAST LONDON -- Three people were killed in incidents of violence at the weekend, police said yesterday. Superintendent Eddie Watson said Thembisile Lugogolo, 33, and his girlfriend quarrelled while drinking at t...

5 suspected of cheque fraud
QUEENSTOWN -- Five people were arrested here at the weekend on fraud-related charges. Sergeant Namhla Mdleleni said the suspects were arrested while trying to cash a number of cheques worth R52 000, believed to have been stolen from a company in...

Eastern Cape to be well marketed
By Lew Elias BISHO -- The Eastern Cape is to mount a huge stand at this year's travel Indaba in Durban next month, says Eastern Cape Tourism Board chief executive Nomkhita Mona. The province is to have a stand with between 24 and 28 tourism prod...

EC stand at travel fair a huge success
Report and picture by Lew Elias BISHO -- The Eastern Cape stand at the international travel fair in Berlin earlier this month was a huge success as far as attracting people and marketing the province was concerned, Eastern Cape Tourism Board chie...

Health centre for Engcobo
ENGCOBO-- Former president Nelson Mandela officially opened the Engcobo Community Health Care Centre on Saturday. The centre was funded by Aspen Pharmacare. Stephen Saad, group chief executive of the company, said Mandela had played a significan...

Tambo statue planned
PORT ST JOHNS -- The municipalities of Ingquza and Port St Johns in the ORTambo local authority have agreed to erect a statue here in honour of former ANC president Oliver Reginald Tambo to attract tourists. The proposal was announced by Ingquza ...

Eastern Cape Legislature Diary
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Seen at the weekend...
CUTTING CORNERS: Ebrahim Khan of East London takes the corner during the 100 stock car race during the second leg of the Eastern Cape and Border Formula K championships held at the Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix circuit on Saturday. Picture by TIRSA E...