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The Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
#BestofDurban2025: Caxton Durban announces the crème de la crème of Durban
THE votes are in, the winners are out, and yoh, the results speak volumes! The Best of Durban Readers' Choice Awards 2025 once again showed off the vibe, variety, and sheer local brilliance that make eThekwini shine. After months of piping-hot competition and voting that came in faster than a bunny chow at lunch, over 358 000 votes were dished out across nine sizzling categories. Durbanites pulled in strong, helping crown 224 top-tier businesses and service providers as the crème de la crème of the 031. From cafés that know your order before you say 'Usual, please', to mechanics who don't take you for a ride, doctors with bedside brilliance, and teachers raising the bar, Durban, you've got taste. Also read: Announcing KZN's best coffee spots Food & Drink came in flaming hot with 66 777 votes, no surprise there, followed by Professional Services, Medical, Education, and Shopping. Altogether, a whopping 5087 nominees made the cut across more than 224 sub-categories. Clearly, Durbanites know how to back their favourites. But this campaign wasn't just about likes and logos, it was about heart. With over 21 000 reader competition entries, it's clear locals care about uplifting the legends who keep our city ticking. These are the real MVPs — the hairstylist who's never had a bad hair day, the teacher always chalking up wins, or the cashier who greets you like family. Every winner and finalist is a standing ovation for hard work, heart, and hustle. The full results are live across our Caxton Durban titles; Northglen News, Berea Mail, Highway Mail, Queensburgh News — and all over our socials. So big up to everyone who voted, supported, or made the list. Durban's got talent, heart and hustle. We can't wait to see these champs shine even brighter next year. From all at Caxton Local Media Durban we say, thank you, dankie, ngiyabonga. To view the winners click here. For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
‘Detective' cons Pinetown pensioners out of R500K in elaborate bank card scam
An elderly couple from Pinetown, KZN, is left shattered after losing R500 000 to a woman posing as a police detective in an elaborate scam. Donald Bristol (87) told the Highway Mail he received a call from a woman introducing herself as Detective Mudalay from the SAPS. She claimed his bank cards had been cloned and needed to visit him personally. 'I notified security at my residential complex to allow her access. She arrived at my flat, presented herself professionally and explained the alleged card cloning issue in detail,' said Bristol. The woman told him the case was being handled in co-ordination with the Pinetown SAPS and requested his bank debit and cheque cards, including Pins, as well as his cellphone, saying it was needed for the investigation. 'I complied with her request but never gave her my Pin. I have never used any form of online banking before,' he said. Over the following days, the scammer contacted Bristol on his wife's phone, instructing him not to speak to anyone as it could compromise the investigation. On May 9, she asked him to meet her at a bank in Josiah Gumede Road to receive new bank cards and collect his cellphone. When the couple arrived, the woman called again, insisting they meet her outside but was nowhere to be found. Inside the bank, staff checked Bristol's account and discovered he had been defrauded, with multiple unauthorised transactions at grocery shops, liquor outlets and designer clothing stores. When the couple reported the scam at Pinetown SAPS, they provided CCTV footage of the impersonator entering their residential complex. More than two months later, they say they have received no assistance. 'We do not know how this woman got my contact details and address. We do not even have family in the country; my family is overseas,' said Bristol. Pinetown SAPS communications officer Jennifer Naidu confirmed a fraud case is under investigation. 'The investigating officer has obtained video footage and met the complainant to gather further information. Police are following leads,' said Naidu. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
‘She said she was a cop' – Pinetown pensioners scammed out of half a million rand
'She said she was a cop' – Pinetown pensioners scammed out of half a million rand AN elderly Pinetown couple is shattered after being scammed of their hard-earned savings of R500 000 by a woman posing as a police officer. Recalling the ordeal, Donald Bristol told the Highway Mail that he received a phone call from a woman who introduced herself as Detective Mudalay, claiming to represent the SAPS. The woman informed him that there was an ongoing issue involving the cloning of his bank cards and that she was investigating the matter. 'She stated that she needed to visit me personally to discuss the case. I notified the security at the gate of my residential complex to allow her access. The woman arrived at my flat, presented herself professionally, and explained the alleged card cloning issue in detail. Also read: BEWARE: Scammers target job seekers She mentioned that the case was being handled in co-ordination with the Pinetown SAPS. Her demeanor and presentation led me to trust her,' said the the 87-year-old Bristol. During the woman's visit, Bristol said the scammer requested his bank debit and cheque cards, including the PINs, and also took his cellphone, saying it was needed for the investigation. 'I complied with her request but I never gave her my pin number. I have never used any form of online banking prior to this incident.' Over the following days, the woman contacted Bristol on his wife's phone with a private number, instructing him not to speak to anyone about the case, as it could compromise the investigation. 'On Thursday, May 8, I received another call, allegedly from the bank, stating that the cards would only be ready by Monday, May 12, but I now believed this was also the impersonator. On Friday, May 9, she called again and instructed me to meet her at the bank in Josiah Gumede Road, Pinetown, to receive my new bank cards and have my cellphone returned.' On Monday, May 12, the couple went to the branch. While inside the bank, Bristol said he received another call from the same woman, again insisting he say nothing to anyone and asked me to meet her outside the bank. Also read: Don't fall for romance scams in this month of love 'We went outside but could not find her. We returned inside and spoke with a bank employee. After checking my account, we discovered I had been a victim of fraud and that multiple unauthorised transactions had occurred. 'The bank staff printed out the list of fraudulent transactions for us.' The statements show a number of transactions at various grocery shops, liquor outlets and clothing stores, which includes sophisticated shops which sell designer brands. When they realised it was a scam, they proceeded to Pinetown SAPS and opened a criminal case. The couple has a CCTV footage of the impersonator entering the residential complex. The devastated Pinetown residents said it has been over two months and they have not received any assistance. 'We do not know how this woman got hold of my contact details and my address. We do not even have family in the country, my family is overseas.' Pinetown SAPS communications officer Jennifer Naidu said a case of fraud is being investigated. 'The investigating officer has obtained video footage and held a meeting with the complainant to gather further information. Police are following leads,' said Naidu. For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- The Citizen
Cellphone thief who attempted to extort R5000 arrested
AN 18-year-old man was arrested by the Westville SAPS crime prevention team after being found in possession of a cellphone which had been reported as stolen. Westville SAPS spokesperson, Captain Elizabeth Squires, said the suspect was arrested on Saturday, July 12, in the South Beach, Point area, after he was searched and found in possession of the cellphone, a S24 Samsung, and the personal belongings of a complainant who had reported these as stolen from the Pavilion Shopping Centre. Also read: Court to address accused rapist's alleged bail condition violation 'A woman was robbed of her cellphone which contained her driver's licence, identity card and bank card at the back of the cellphone pouch. Members then set out to the last GPS co-ordinates that were last updated at 16:00 when the phone had been switched off after the suspect demanded R5000 when the victim called her cellphone. 'Members tactically kept observation on the set location in the South Beach, Point area for two hours which resulted in swiftly apprehending one male who tried to run,' said Squires, who added that another cellphone, 'which was not accounted for', was found in the suspect's possession. Squires said the suspect was charged with robbery and detained at the Westville SAPS 'for further investigation'. The victim, who asked not to be named, said she was overwhelmed with the service she received from the Westville SAPS members. 'It was through their commitment, tireless effort that led to the recovery of all my goods,' she said. She added that her faith in the police has been restored thanks to their 'professionalism' and 'humanity'. 'This served as a reminder of the honour and integrity the SAPS stand for and I will forever be grateful to the members for their outstanding service,' she said and went on to applaud the shopping centre's management and security staff for the way they handled the situation and assisted with providing the description of the suspect. For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
14-07-2025
- The Citizen
Pinetown court to hear bail violation claims against rape suspect
The allegation that a 29-year-old man accused of raping an eight-year-old girl in Clermont, Durban, violated his bail conditions will be addressed by the Pinetown Magistrate's Court today. According to Highway Mail, the man was re-arrested in the passageway of the court precinct while waiting for his appearance on Friday – an act met with visible disatisfaction from people who had gathered in support of the child and her mother, who was allegedly sworn at by the accused. The presiding officer said the rape suspect had been re-arrested and placed in the holding cells because the investigating officer was informed that he allegedly violated bail by being in Clermont instead of KwaDabeka, and by allegedly confronting the child's mother. The man was kept in custody. A person close to the child's family, who asked not to be named, said the child is healing but is triggered by the sight of the suspect and his sibling. The matter has united community members, some of who belong to different political organisations, to rally behind the child and her mother. After proceedings on Friday, the co-ordinator of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party Women's League in the Archie Gumede zone, Lethiwe Ngcobo, thanked supporters outside court for their presence. In previous weeks, demonstrators in ANC regalia protested outside court over concerns that the case may not be successfully prosecuted due to being bungled. One of the league's leaders, Nonhlanhla Khoza, had previously said: 'We are here to complain as mothers that a person who raped an eight-year-old child, how did they get bail? And once they have been granted bail, there are no follow-ups, nothing is being done about the allegations that the child's mother is being sworn at by the suspect.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
