Latest news with #AndrewTrench
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: Suspect cleared in kidnapping case
Here's your daily news update for Saturday, 31 May 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. As police continue their search for a suspect wanted in connection with the kidnapping of women, another man was cleared of any wrongdoing on Saturday. The South African Police Service (Saps) confirmed that Fezile Ngubane, who was previously identified as a suspect in a syndicate targeting young women, has been cleared of any wrongdoing and released from police custody. In other news, the City of Tshwane has warned its residents that the city's water woes could worsen if they continue to consume water at the current rate. While Rand Water conducts its 107-hour planned major maintenance, which will affect parts of the City of Tshwane, the municipality has urged residents to conserve water to avoid further outages. Weather tomorrow: 01 June 2025 The weather service predicts fine and cool to warm conditions; however, it will be partly cloudy over the northeastern parts of South Africa as well as along the southwest coast, with possible damaging waves along the south coast. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. Fezile Ngubane is a victim, not suspect in kidnapping case, says Saps Ngubane was handed over to police by his father on Friday at the KwaMashu police station after reports emerged linking him to the ongoing Olorato murder case. Fezile Ngubane. Picture: Supplied/ Saps According to Saps, Ngubane earns a living washing cars and resides in the same neighbourhood as the deceased suspect Philangenkosi Makhanya. CONTINUE READING: Fezile Ngubane is a victim, not suspect in kidnapping case, says Saps Veteran journalist and editor Andrew Trench has died The media industry is mourning the death of veteran journalist and editor Andrew Trench. Veteran journalist and editor Andrew Trench. Picture: Facebook Trench, who worked for several major publications both in South Africa and abroad, died on Friday evening surrounded by family. He had been battling oesophageal cancer. CONTINUE READING: Veteran journalist and editor Andrew Trench has died Tshwane's water warning to residents City of Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba on Friday urged residents of Region 6 and some parts of regions 2 and 3 to urgently reduce their water consumption after levels at the city's reservoirs dropped significantly. Picture: Stock Bokaba said the continuation of high consumption was likely to put consumers in these regions at risk of having no water until the work is completed. CONTINUE READING: Tshwane's water warning to residents PODCAST: What closure of Nissan Rosslyn plant means for Mzansi The Nissan plant in Rosslyn outside Pretoria faces closure in the Japanese carmaker's desperate attempt to cut its global losses. Nissan will close seven of its current 17 factories by 2027, one reportedly being the Rosslyn Plant outside Pretoria. Photo by MATTHIAS BALK / DPA / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP The local factory is one of seven global assembly facilities on the chopping block as Nissan plans to reduce its plants from 17 to 10 by 2027. CONTINUE READING: PODCAST: What closure of Nissan Rosslyn plant means for Mzansi Truck driver found twenty times over the legal alcohol limit in KZN The Road Traffic Inspectorate, working with the South African Police Service (Saps), have arrested a truck driver for drinking and driving in Van Reenen along the N3 Freeway. Picture: Supplied According to Duma, another driver was caught driving a truck and blew 2.0mg/1000ml, which is twenty times more than the legal limit of 0.10mg /1000ml. CONTINUE READING: Truck driver found twenty times over the legal alcohol limit in KZN Here are five more news stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Trump's pastor: No white genocide | Spar bleeds billions| Mongale murder suspect shot dead
News24
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
‘He knew he was greatly loved': Ex-News24 editor Andrew Trench dies at 54
Investigative journalist and editor Andrew Trench has died at the age of 54. He was recently diagnosed with stage four oesophageal cancer. He was remembered for his tenacity and dedication to journalism. Andrew Trench, remembered for his courage and dedication to uncovering the truth as an investigative journalist and editor, has died at the age of 54. Trench, who was recently diagnosed with stage four oesophageal cancer, was with his family at the time of his passing in hospital on Friday night. His wife, Gill, said he was peaceful in his last few hours. 'We were in a quiet private room at Vincent Pallotti Hospital, decorated by [our daughter] Gem, with knick-knacks from home, including a painting she did for Andrew and his Robben Island crossing medal. 'He knew we were there and that he was greatly loved.' Trench was a veteran in the media industry, who served as editor of News24, the Daily Dispatch, The Witness, and The Times. He also served as editorial director of Tiso Blackstar. He was the Media24 investigations editor for three years and later became News24's first editor-in-chief. Current News24 editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson remembered Trench's invaluable contribution. 'Andrew played a pivotal role in setting up News24 for future success when he established a fully-fledged digital newsroom in 2015. People wanted to work with Andrew and he attracted some of the best journalistic talent to News24, many of whom are still on the title,' said Basson. 'I will remember his courage and tenacity as investigative journalist, editor and battling cancer in the last months of his life. Gill and Gemma are in our hearts and thoughts, and we will honour Andrew and his legacy appropriately.' Before visiting his doctor after complaining about feeling ill, Trench was an entrepreneur building his own business, enjoying fitness and health, looking to retire in 10 years. After being diagnosed, his medical costs were declined by his medical aid for a specific drug treatment as he didn't have the right product to activate coverage. He and Gill set up a BackaBuddy campaign to raise the R3.5 million he needed over two years of treatment in a worst-case scenario and were blown away by the support from loved ones and strangers alike. The latest total donated stood at R831 734. Through the Facebook campaign, called Andrew's Fighting Chance, individuals had also organised sports events locally and internationally to show support and raise further funds. Last month, Trench posted a photo of himself giving a thumbs up while receiving chemotherapy and the second round of his Keytruda treatment that was being funded by donations. Investigative journalist and author Jacques Pauw said Trench was a brilliant journalist and a dear friend. 'I had worked with him for several years and he was to a certain extent an 'old school' journalist who believed that you earn your stripes by never giving up, and to continue to dig until you have exposed the truth. 'And, when the job is done, you toast with a glass of chilled white wine. His passing is an immeasurable loss to the industry.' Journalism professor Anton Harber said: 'Andrew's dedication to his craft, and the changes it was going through, were exemplary. He didn't just move with the times, he led them.' Gill thanked everyone for their love and support, adding that there would be a memorial soon.
News24
27-04-2025
- Health
- News24
Not alone: Beloved editor battling cancer humbled by R700k donations, some from strangers
In three short months, Andrew Trench's life was turned upside down by the shocking news that he had stage four oesophageal cancer. After his medical costs were declined by his insurer for a specific drug treatment, he resigned himself that he was going to die. But the kindness of friends and strangers, who helped him raise R700 000 against a R3.5-million target, made him realise he might have a fighting chance. It's not easy learning that you have a terminal disease. It's even more difficult when the news comes out of the blue, and when the cancer has already progressed to stage four. This was Andrew Trench's reality in January this year. A few weeks prior, on New Year's Eve, the well-known news editor had just completed an epic open water, 12km swim and had never felt greater. Fast forward a few weeks, and his world has completely changed. "The days can be so different. You can be horribly ill on one day and not be able to get out of bed, and the next day you can feel something close to being a normal person," he told News24 this week. "You really just have to roll with the punches, and today I feel not too bad." The diagnosis completely upended his life. Before visiting his doctor after complaining about feeling ill, he was an entrepreneur building his own business, enjoying fitness and health, looking to retire in 10 years. "You get this news out of the blue and it completely redefines what you do. So, just getting through each day becomes the complete centre of your universe." He used to do all the cooking in his home. Now chopping a tomato takes some effort, and so there is a knock-on effect on the family as well. 'I basically accepted that I was going to die, but then…' Andrew's survival chances could be greatly increased with a drug called Keytruda. It is, however, very expensive, and he was turned down by his insurer, as he didn't have the right product to activate coverage. OPINION | My life and death got corporatised, but the kindness of South Africans may change the odds Staring death in the face, like many in his position, he thought he didn't have much hope in raising the R3.5 million he needed over two years of treatment in a worst-case scenario. He decided to launch a BackaBuddy campaign anyway, and a Facebook campaign called Andrew's Fighting Chance. On the first day, it raised R244 000. "Up until the point where we launched the fundraiser, I basically accepted that I am going to die within a year at most, because without this treatment, the odds were not looking too good, and I couldn't see how we could raise enough money fast enough. "But after the first week, we were on half a million, and that initial amount was enough for me to start the treatment three weeks ago. I went from a place of complete despair and acceptance about the hand that's been dealt to me, to a point that maybe there's a chance." Scale of cancer matched by the help of strangers What Andrew was not expecting was the scale at which so many people would offer to help, how many of them would be strangers, and just how many of those people have been affected by cancer. "I've been completely blown away by that, myself and my wife. On the first day of trying to fundraise, my wife came from work and collapsed from tears. And this time not from grief or sadness, but overwhelmed by the generosity of people. It's been completely and utterly humbling. "We've had about over 600 individual donations. I know a lot of people but I don't know 600 who would give me donations. It's also incredible how many people who are helping are absolute strangers. I've never met them and will never meet them." One that stands out was another journalist in Sweden, who was moved by Andrew's story after reading about it on LinkedIn. "He said, 'I don't know you, I'm also a journalist and I hope you get better, here's R5 000.' How does a stranger from another part of the world give you R5 000? It's mind-blowing. In his view, around every second person who has been in touch with him has had their own cancer story to tell. It's this, Andrew believes, that has made his story so relatable, sparking a resilience in a community of people who have all stared down their own fates. "I actually had no idea that cancer was so prevalent. It's shocking how most people are being treated. It's almost become a battle for the middle class or the wealthy, because I don't know how, if you were poor in this country, you'd actually survive. "The only option is to reach out to your community, but here in South Africa', you're in for a surprise, because people will help." Ribbon Run, Swim Challenge and the bravery to tell your story Andrew's community is now pushing full steam to helping him reach the enormous R3.5-million target, following the initial R710 000 raised. There is still a way to go, but two events have been organised for him. The first is Andrew's Fighting Chance Swim Challenge. Based on the 12km swim he completed on New Year's Eve, he is challenging people to do the same swim. Some of the participants include Michelle Weber – a two-time open water Olympic swimmer. Another involves Andrew's running club, called the Ribbon Run. Runners in his neighbourhood of Pinelands in Cape Town are given a yellow ribbon in exchange for a donation which they can drop off at his home as they run past. All the ribbons collected will be placed on a tree in his front garden. The first run started this Friday. "That was the whole point of the campaign, rather than not just fade away, but it's an opportunity to make a difference in fighting this thing. So it's energised me, that this might be worth putting some sweat into because it could actually save your life." Supplied Andrew doesn't know what his future holds. The odds are still stacked against him and he still has a long way to go to raise the funds needed in the worst-case scenario. He can only take one day at a time, but reflecting on his situation, he had this to share with other South Africans who may need some encouragement in the face of darkness: "When you are confronted by something like this, you must never for one instance think that you're on your own. That's very much what I felt in the beginning. But the realisation is that you're not on your own. You must be brave enough to stand up and tell your story, be humble enough to ask for help, and be smart enough to learn the lessons that you will from this. "There's tons of hope as long as you throw yourself at the mercy of people who you ask for help, because they will, even if you think they won't." - Andrew Trench is a veteran journalist who has been editor of News24, the Daily Dispatch, The Witness and The Times in his career. The links to Andrew's Fighting Chance fundraising campaign are here and here.
