Latest news with #Gqeberha-born
The South African
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
New Orlando Pirates star takes number jersey 23
Orlando Pirates' new attack will feature Sinoxolo Kwayiba next season, a uniquely styled goal-scoring number 10 who plays very much like a number nine. After seven goals and one assist in 28 games, the 25-year-old Kwayiba has done enough to earn a move to the Sea Robbers. Meanwhile, the Gqeberha-born talent has been spotted wearing the number 23 jersey during a preseason friendly match in Spain. Kaizer Chiefs: Crisis in the wing positions? Sinoxolo Kwayiba in action for Bafana Bafana in the Cosafa Cup at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Image: @safanet/X Meanwhile, his former boss at Pretoria Callies, Moses Malada, has offered a sparkling review on the new Orlando Pirates attacker. According to Malada, Kwayiba epitomises discipline, a defining trait in footballers' careers in Mzansi. 'The boy (Kwayiba) is easy to guide, and it is fulfilling to see his progress, which a lot of others can learn from,' said Moses Malada via Kick Off . Orlando Pirates news: Emotional message and Venda number 10 'The top attribute about him is that he has the right attitude of an athlete. His discipline is a huge factor in all aspects of whatever he does both on and off the field, and that is important. If you keep the discipline in football, you will make it far, just like it is showing with Kwayiba, who is on the right track. He can even play overseas and that will be no surprise. 'I mention discipline about him because the boy was away from home while with us for a season, but he kept his discipline in place,' concluded Malada. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Maverick
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Dead robots, dirty Ubers and high hopes — getting to the rugby on time
While Gqeberha is known as the 10-minute city, this will almost certainly not hold true for Saturday's rugby. Getting to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on time might be tricky, to say the least. Getting to the rugby on time to see the Springboks take on Italy on Saturday might be difficult as spectators will have to navigate myriad dead traffic lights, road closures and potentially dodgy e-hailing vehicles. It has been four years since the last Springbok rugby game was hosted at the stadium, so for those who need it, a quick refresher on the rugby rules by Daron Mann can be found here. If you already know all there is to know, read Jon Cardinelli's preview of the clash. Kick-off time Kick-off time is at 5.10pm and the match ends at 7.30pm. Gqeberha-born Belinda Davids will sing the South African national anthem before the starting whistle. Gate times On Thursday, the municipality sent out a notice that several roads around Nelson Mandela Bay would be closed from 9am on Saturday and would reopen only from 11pm. According to information provided by the municipality, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will open its gates at 11am and close at 10pm. Robots None of the traffic lights near the stadium work. We drove from the Settlers Freeway and found that every traffic light between the arterial route and the stadium was out of order. Most traffic lights along Govan Mbeki Avenue were dead and functioned as four-way stops. Nelson Mandela Bay metro spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said that should the traffic lights be fixed on Friday, they would be vandalised by match day. On Thursday morning, contractors could be seen working on power lines along Gqeberha's main street; however, there was no indication whether these lines powered the traffic lights. The nearest functioning traffic lights to the stadium were at the intersection of Mount Road and Govan Mbeki Avenue, 1.5km away. However, the traffic lights on either side of the crossing were not operational. General power supply While the metro is fast becoming known for its power outages, the municipality sent out a statement saying that it had deployed the Rapid Response Task Team after a faulty electrical pole in Sydenham was identified. According to the statement, the pole 'posed a risk to the area's electricity supply'. 'In response, the Electricity and Energy Department acted promptly to repair the fault and restore stable power to the area. Their swift intervention ensured that the much-anticipated Castle Lager Incoming Series test match could proceed without disruption,' the statement said. Road closures Nelson Mandela Bay communications director Sithembiso Soyaya said the following roads would be closed on Saturday from 9am: Prince Alfred Road between Milner Avenue and Quick Street; Milner Avenue between Stebonheath Street and Sydenham Road; and Fettes Road between York Road and Stockelbach Street (stadium side) Traffic officials Forty traffic and metro police personnel will be deployed on the day, including 27 officers on point duty. The Metro Police will deploy 15 officers focused specifically on enforcing municipal by-laws and supporting crime prevention operations. In addition, a municipal tow truck will be on standby to immediately remove any illegally parked vehicles causing obstruction. 'Public safety is our top priority. We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming environment for both residents and the thousands of visitors expected in the city. Events like these boost our local economy and reinforce our reputation as a premier sporting destination,' Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe said. Tickets No tickets will be available at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium ticket office. Tickets are still available through the Ticketmaster website. By Thursday afternoon, there were 1,000 tickets left. Uber, or other e-hailing services Designated drop-off and pick-up zones for taxis, e-hailing services and buses will be located in North Street between Innes Street and Bagshaw Street, with the New Law Courts parking area serving as the official pick-up and drop-off point for Uber and metered taxis. Concerns have been raised, however, about the state of e-hailing vehicles in Nelson Mandela Bay. In a letter addressed to Uber, the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, Denise van Huyssteen, wrote: 'We have received numerous complaints from business people who have highlighted that there appears to be no quality control over the standard of Uber operators in Nelson Mandela Bay. 'In particular, it seems that there is no moderation over the quality of Uber vehicles, which are often in a poor state of repair, and not compliant with safety standards (lights not working, lack of seatbelts, dings and damage to vehicle etc). This not only reflects poorly on the image of Uber, but also that of our metro to domestic and international business visitors and tourists. Apart from the influx of rugby fans, Van Huyssteen also highlighted that the Naacam Show would be held in the Bay during the week of 11 August 2025, and SA Automotive Week would follow during the week of 29 September 2025, resulting in significantly increased use of Uber over this period by visitors who would come from around the country, and other parts of the world. She has not received a response. Neither has Daily Maverick. Daily Maverick journalist Nkosazana Ngwadla took a few Ubers from her home to the airport, the stadium and to Summerstrand. This is what she found: Uber 1: If you're going to request an Uber from around the Pinelands area, prepare for a long wait. And when you are finally connected to a driver, he might just ask where you're going before actually making his way to you. 'That's because you people who live in these apartments are too lazy to walk to the mall, now I must drive far just for a trip that is not even R30,' the driver explained. His Renault Kwid was in an acceptable state. Uber 2: When you're at the airport, you'll have many Ubers readily available for you – it's a hot spot, naturally. However, this driver was not very friendly, and his vehicle had dents and a windscreen that looked like it had taken too many of life's hard knocks. His boot, when he finally agreed to open it due to safety concerns, was filled with all kinds of personal belongings, including a 5-litre bottle with yellow liquid inside it. You decide for yourself what that might've been. This experience begs the question: given that he was picking me up from the airport, where would all my luggage go if I had any? Uber 3: Summerstrand is also an Uber hot spot, with an average two minutes' waiting time. This vehicle had a few forgiveable dents. The fuel light was on, but the driver said that it was not an issue – 'it happens all the time'. Uber 4: The final Uber was a pleasure. His driving was fine, the vehicle looked and smelled good, and the driver was very friendly and professional. He even had sweets and hand sanitiser on hand for his customers. Drunken driving and other shenanigans Metro Police Commissioner Andrew Moses said they were looking forward to an exciting weekend. 'We are ready for the engagements. We have been meeting with SA Rugby daily with regard to the safety protocols for the event. We take this event very seriously. We will be doing high preventative patrols outside the perimeter of the stadium. We will be dealing with crowds. We will also check on open fires and the illicit sale of tickets. 'We want our communities to be safe when arriving. If you are driving to the game, make sure your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition. Don't arrive drunk,' he said. 'Please do not consume alcohol and then leave the stadium. We will be out in full force. 'We do not want to arrest people for drinking and driving – but we will be there … to look after you and make sure you get home safely. We take safety very seriously. Do not do anything that will compromise the enjoyment of the game. Adhere to the by-laws of the city,' he said. DM
Daily Maverick
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
Bok Test — Gqeberha's Belinda Davids thrilled to sing national anthem at home for first time
After years of performing on global stages and singing the national anthem for the Springboks, Gqeberha-born powerhouse Belinda Davids will finally do it on home turf — when South Africa takes on Italy at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. For the singer, best known for her celebrated Whitney Houston tribute, it's more than a gig — it's a homecoming. This weekend, when the Boks take on Italy at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha-born singer Belinda Davids will be doing something she's never done before: perform Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika in the city where she grew up. While she has sung the anthem at other Test matches, this is the first time on home ground. 'You have no idea how exciting this is for me, because I get to do it at home, what an honour. And it's long overdue, to be honest. I can't wait!' Davids will not be the only Nelson Mandela Bay resident back home for the Saturday match. The Bay's connection to this team runs deep – captain Siya Kolisi is from Gqeberha and Rassie Erasmus, the coach who has been instrumental in shaping the team's recent dominance, is from Despatch. As the Boks prepare for kick-off, Davids is getting performance-ready in her own way. As with every performance, she's getting her voice ready in her tried-and-tested way — warming up her voice and sipping her signature tea blend. 'It's a mixture of ginger, lemon, cloves, all that good stuff,' she says. From Kudu Street, Gelvandale, in the Northern Areas of Gqeberha, Davids says she and her six siblings had a happy childhood. 'We really had a beautiful childhood, playing with parents in the streets and just being kids. I enjoyed it very much.' At 20, Davids moved to Dubai to expand her music career, later spending time in London and Hong Kong, performing in major hotels and clubs. 'We no longer have parents, but my siblings and I are still very close. I'm smack in the middle, chronologically, and I'm basically the 'mother' sibling.' Three of her siblings still live in Gqeberha and are excited about watching the game. 'More than seeing me singing, really, they don't care. To them, I'll always be their sister Linda or Lala.' Davids lives in Cape Town with her husband, Simone Romanato – an Italian musician, and let's just say, this weekend, they may not be all that aligned on who they want to win. 'Although rugby is not that big in Italy, he still hopes Italy will win. I know South Africa will win. We don't have any bets placed, but yeah, the mood is conflicted, haha!' And of course, with every iconic performance comes an extraordinary outfit. Davids is keeping those details under wraps — though she did drop a few hints. 'What I can say is that I'm wearing a local designer, but nothing custom-made. If I were to have something made, I'd choose Manila Von Teez as the designer.' Once the anthem has echoed through the stadium, Davids will turn her focus to centre stage — where she'll reprise her acclaimed Whitney Houston tribute, The Greatest Love of All, at the Joburg Civic Theatre from 22 to 24 August.
The South African
25-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
New Orlando Pirates star tipped for Europe
Orlando Pirates are due to announce Sinoxolo Kwayiba from Betway Premiership club Chippa United, a uniquely styled goal-scoring number 10 who plays very much like a number nine. After seven goals and one assist in 28 games, the 25-year-old Kwayiba has done enough to earn a move to the Sea Robbers. According to iDiski Times ' Sinethemba Makonco, Chippa United and Orlando Pirates have reached a club-to-club agreement, subject to an official announcement after 30 June. Orlando Pirates legend questions the boss Sinoxolo Kwayiba in action for Bafana Bafana in the Cosafa Cup at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Image: @safanet/X According to Moses Malada, Kwayiba's former chairman at Pretoria Callies, the Gqeberha-born player epitomises discipline, which is a defining trait in the careers of footballers in Mzansi. Kaizer Chiefs starting 11 with new midfielder from England 'The boy (Kwayiba) is easy to guide, and it is fulfilling to see his progress, which a lot of others can learn from,' said Moses Malada via Kick Off . 'The top attribute about him is that he has the right attitude of an athlete. 'His discipline is a huge factor in all aspects of whatever he does both on and off the field, and that is important. If you keep the discipline in football, you will make it far, just like it is showing with Kwayiba, who is on the right track. He can even play overseas and that will be no surprise. 'I mention discipline about him because the boy was away from home while with us for a season, but he kept his discipline in place,' concluded Malada. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Ruché Moodley hopes low-key return puts him in good stead
Moto3 star rides through the pain at British Grand Prix after undergoing arm operation. Teenage Moto3 sensation Ruché Moodley hopes to bounce back strongly in Aragon next weekend after a rather low-key return from injury at the British Grand Prix. The 18-year-old BOE Motorsport rider suffered a fractured radius in his right arm during practice ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix last month. He had to undergo an operation which included a titanium plate and half a dozen screws. He watched the French MotoGP on television before getting the green flag to race at Silverstone last weekend. Moodley kept a low profile at the end of the field at Silverstone. He was still regaining his fitness and served two long-lap penalties for causing the collision at Jerez which caused his injury. He qualified in 21st place and rode through the pain to finish 20th. ALSO READ: Binder: Sleeping at home and racing at Kyalami will be 'sick' Ruché Moodley plays it safe 'We made a decision that I would stay out of trouble on the opening laps. If I crashed or was taken out, my penalty laps would be carried over to the next race. So I took it easy at the start and dropped a few positions on the opening lap,' Moodley told Double Apex. 'I took my penalty laps early in the race, on lap two and three, as I figured the field would be most bunched up then. I struggled later on because I lost a lot of feeling in my arm. It started to feel numb so it was difficult to feel what the bike was doing. 'I don't have the strength that I had before to muscle the bike around, since I could only start moving my arm in the week leading up to the race. It lost strength after being immobilised for three weeks.' ALSO READ: Who is Ruché Moodley? Meet South Africa's new Moto3 sensation The Gqeberha-born Moodley made a sensational start to his Moto3 career by finishing 11th in his first race in Thailand to earn five points. He went on to finish in the points in three of his first four races before missing the fifth and sixth rounds of the season. He is 23rd in the championship on nine points and is confident he can fight for points again at the Aragon Grand Prix. 'The plan now is to build up the strength in my hand,' he continued. 'I will be much stronger in two weeks when we get to Aragon. I am looking forward to riding that incredible circuit.'
