Latest news with #Hlatshwayo
The South African
a day ago
- Sport
- The South African
Former Orlando Pirates defensive target now available for free!
Orlando Pirates are getting ready to usher in a new era at the club, ahead of the 2025/26 season. Pirates will be without coach Jose Riveiro for the first time in thee-years after the Spanish mentor joined Al Ahly. The Buccaneers are rumoured to have made at least five signings so far, with many more expected. In order to make way for these signings, it is expected that Pirates will have a mass clear out! Two players already out are Miguel Timm as well as captain Innocent Maela. The skipper will leave a gap in the defence and it now appears the club are moving quickly to fill it. Pirates will then be looking for defensive reinforcements, with Stellenbosch FC duo Thabo Moloisane and Fawaaz Basadien in the picture. Now before the club had those targets, they were reportedly interested in Sicelokuhle Hlatshwayo of Golden Arrows. According to FARPost , former Pirates target Hlatshwayo has now parted ways with Arrows. 'Golden Arrows have parted ways with defender Sicelokuhle Hlatshwayo following the end of the 2024/25 PSL season, FARPost has learnt. And in the recently concluded season, the former Jomo Cosmos man, Hlatshwayo, was completely excluded, not featuring in a single match. His sole appearance on the team list was as an unused substitute in a 0-0 Betway Premiership draw against Polokwane City FC. Looking to start a new chapter elsewhere, Hlatshwayo has departed Arrows, according to FARPost sources. It is understood that the player has been granted a clearance, making him available to clubs that could be interested in his services ahead of the 2025/26 season. Hlatshwayo, before his struggles for playing time, was heavily linked with Orlando Pirates in 2023, though the move ultimately didn't materialise.' Wrote the publication. Comfortable at both right-back and centre-back Hlatshwayo offers the versatility needed in the modern day. Pirates fans, would you sign him at 31? Let us know by clicking on the comment tab. Or by emailing info@ or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
The Herald
27-05-2025
- General
- The Herald
Heartbroken mom accepts daughter's posthumous diploma after mysterious death
On the day of her daughter's death, Hlatshwayo had left her with her siblings to attend an all-night church service. On her return in the morning, she found her daughter sleeping with one leg hanging off the side of the bed. Troubled by this, she went to check on her and found her 'ice cold'. 'I tried to move her but I realised she was gone. It is a day I will never forget. My only child in university was gone. She was my only hope and we were excited when she finished her studies. We were hoping she would get a job and our lives would change for the better. 'As we speak, her younger brother, who finished matric two years ago, is sitting at home. He was meant to study this year but he told me he was scared to go to university as he fears he might also come back to die. Sinenhlanhla's death is a mystery to us. We were not told what caused her death. We are finding it hard to heal,' she said. Hlatshwayo said as painful as it was to see her daughter's friends and peers graduating without her, attending the ceremony was something she had to do. 'It was the least I could do to honour my hardworking daughter, who was committed to her studies.' Hlatshwayo said it was important to take her daughter's qualification home to honour her and hopefully motivate her younger siblings to further their studies and work on improving their lives. DUT registrar Dr Maditsane Nkonoane conveyed his condolences to the family. TimesLIVE
IOL News
27-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
A mother's poignant graduation tribute
Mrs Thembisile Hlatshwayo at her daughter's Sinenhlanhla Hlatshwayo graduation at DUT. Image: DUT/Supplied They say that the worst pain is a mother burying her child. It must also be painful for a mother to attend a graduation and accept a posthumous qualification on behalf of her late daughter. This was the painful reality for Mrs Thembisile Hlatshwayo. In an emotionally charged moment, Hlatshwayo took to the stage at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) at the weekend —not as a graduate, but as a grieving mother honouring the memory of her daughter, Sinenhlanhla Hlatshwayo. With tears streaming down her face and unimaginable courage in her heart, Hlatshwayo accepted a posthumous Diploma in Information and Communications Technology (ICT): Applications Development on behalf of her daughter, who passed away just days after completing her final exams. The graduation ceremony was held at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban. The audience stood still as DUT Registrar, Dr Maditsane Nkonoane, extended heartfelt condolences to the Hlatshwayo family. A moment of silence was also observed to honour the young woman whose dream was cut short too soon. 'She left DUT on the 7th of November after completing her final exams. She was home for seven days, seemed fine, and then… she was gone,' Mrs Hlatshwayo said quietly after the ceremony. 'She was not sick. She slept and never woke up. We still don't know what took her.' Sinenhlanhla passed away on November 14, 2024, leaving behind a devastated family and a heartbroken community in Mtubatuba, northern KwaZulu-Natal. The unexplained nature of her death continues to haunt her loved ones, with no cause yet confirmed. Hlatshwayo recounted the morning she returned home from an all-night church service, only to find her daughter cold and lifeless in bed. 'She was our hope,' she said, her voice trembling. 'She was the only one in university. We were all looking forward to the life she would build for herself and for us.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ What used to be a cause for celebration and hope turned into grief. Her younger son, who had been preparing to start university, is too afraid to follow in his sister's footsteps. 'He told me he's scared. Scared that he'll go and never come back, just like his sister,' said Hlatshwayo. Despite the pain, she made the brave choice to walk across that stage in her daughter's name. 'It was hard,' she said. 'But I needed to do it for her. She worked so hard. That diploma belongs to her, and it had to come home.' Cape Argus
IOL News
26-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
A mother's heartache: Accepting a posthumous diploma for her late daughter
They say that the worst pain is a mother burying her child. It must also be painful for a mother to attend a graduation and accept a posthumous qualification on behalf of her late daughter. This was the painful reality for Mrs Thembisile Hlatshwayo. In an emotionally charged moment, Mrs Hlatshwayo took to the stage at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) at the weekend —not as a graduate, but as a grieving mother honouring the memory of her daughter, Sinenhlanhla Hlatshwayo. With tears streaming down her face and unimaginable courage in her heart, Mrs Hlatshwayo accepted a posthumous Diploma in Information and Communications Technology (ICT): Applications Development on behalf of her daughter, who passed away just days after completing her final exams. The graduation ceremony was held at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban.
Daily Maverick
08-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Maverick
Roadkill crisis: South Africa's wildlife faces rising threats from fragmented habitats and climate change
South Africa's vast road network — more than 750,000km — is essential for transporting people and goods. But for wildlife, it's becoming a deadly barrier. As roadkill incidents rise, researchers warn that the true cost of our transport systems to biodiversity is still underestimated and under-researched in South Africa. We may wince as we speed past the carcass of a serval cat, porcupine or owl on the highway, but few of us pause to consider why roadkill is such a growing problem — or realise just how much it's on the rise across South Africa. It's not only about reckless driving. As Thabo Hlatshwayo, an ecological researcher and senior field officer for the Endangered Wildlife Trust's (EWT) Wildlife and Transport Project explains, the issue is rooted in roads cutting through once-connected wild spaces, shrinking habitats, and a changing climate — all of which force animals to move more often, putting them in harm's way. The EWT has been monitoring some of South Africa's roads since 2011, and has found that since 2012, more than 8,500 wildlife roadkill incidents have been recorded along just three major toll routes — the Bakwena N1/N4, TRAC N4 and the N3. And in 2024 alone, there was an increase, with 1,500 more incidents reported than in 2023. These roads run through some of South Africa's most ecologically sensitive regions, slicing across habitats and cutting off animals from the resources they need to survive. 'There's this poor ecological connectivity because the landscape has now been fragmented,' says Hlatshwayo. A neglected field While road ecology is well established in Europe and the US, South Africa lags behind. 'There's not so much work that is done on it in South Africa — or should I say in Africa — so we're still looking behind in terms of research,' says Hlatshwayo, who recently submitted his PhD at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His study focused on the N4 toll road and how road infrastructure affects animal movement across fragmented habitats. As part of the EWT's work, Hlatshwayo trains road patrol staff employed by toll concessionaires — companies like N3TC, TRAC and Bakwena contracted by Sanral (SA National Roads Agency) — to scientifically record roadkill incidents. 'They are always on the road during the day and at night; they know what's happening,' he says. That data is invaluable in identifying hotspots where animals frequently cross — but these are just three roads out of the country's 750,000km network. What's driving wildlife roadkill? One part of the problem lies in how roads are designed. 'We focus on connecting people to economic zones, which is good,' says Hlatshwayo. 'But in that aspect of ecology, that is lacking. There's a lack of consideration for what wildlife needs.' Roads cut through habitats, leaving animals with few safe options to move between areas — especially when they need to escape threats like fire or to find food during seasonal changes. Driver behaviour is another factor. 'There is quite a lack of awareness,' he said. 'We just drive recklessly, we don't observe. At night there's poor visibility — you can easily hit an animal.' Most roadkill involves small to medium-sized vertebrates. Climate change driving increased movement The challenge of wildlife-vehicle collisions in South Africa extends beyond reckless driving. Climate change, combined with habitat loss and shrinking biodiversity, is forcing many animal species to travel more frequently and over greater distances. This increased movement often brings them into conflict with vehicles, especially since many of the country's major highways intersect critical biodiversity corridors, creating dangerous crossing points for wildlife. 'The climate is changing, and so are the ecological resources animals depend on,' said Hlatshwayo. Changes in rainfall patterns mean that grasses no longer grow as abundantly or consistently as before, pushing animals to seek out greener pastures and reliable water sources farther afield. 'Animals have to travel longer distances to find palatable grasses closer to wet areas,' he said. As streams dry up and food becomes scarcer, animals are compelled to move more frequently, increasing their exposure to roads. 'The more the environment changes, the more animals stretch their range to find suitable resources,' Hlatshwayo noted. This extended movement heightened the risk of fatal encounters with vehicles. Scientific studies showed that climate change altered habitat quality and resource availability, forcing many mammals to move more frequently and over longer distances. 'So the more this environment keeps on changing, the more animals stretch longer to find the suitable resources that they need,' said Hlatshwayo. Who suffers most? Small to medium-sized mammals such as serval cats, Cape clawless otters, honey badgers, African wild dogs, and various antelope species are among the most frequently killed. Reptiles like pythons, puff adders, and tortoises also suffer high mortality rates. Even birds of prey, including several owl species, are affected because they hunt near roads. Some of these species are already under threat. Servals are being reassessed for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List, while African wild dogs are critically endangered. 'Their population is quite narrow, it's limited. But increasing threats are also affecting them,' Hlatshwayo said. And the impact wasn't limited to animals. Roadkill could have serious consequences for people, too. 'I remember one which occurred on the R71, where two parties collided with an elephant — quite a number of people were hospitalised,' he said. Other incidents involving hippos and buffalo have caused major vehicle damage and injuries. What can be done? One of the more surprising findings from Hlatshwayo's PhD was that while national transport strategies like the Green Transport Strategy and the White Paper on National Transport Policy focus on climate change, they pay little attention to biodiversity. 'There's quite a lot of attention given towards climate change, with less attention given to biodiversity, which is surprising,' he said. Most roads were still built without considering how animals moved through the landscape. But simple design changes, like larger culverts or canopy bridges, could offer safe passage across roads. 'If you could have roads with enough connectivity structures that allow animals passage while also having vehicles on top, it would make it better.' Solutions in the works The Endangered Wildlife T is working with toll companies to trial a range of interventions: Wildlife underpasses and fencing: Temporary mesh fencing guides animals toward safer crossings like culverts and underpasses. Camera traps have captured servals, reedbuck, otters, honey badgers and warthogs using them. Raptor perches: Perch poles placed 100 metres from roads give owls and other birds of prey safer places to hunt — keeping them off road signs and out of danger. RoadWatch app: Developed by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and launched in 2013, the RoadWatch app allows members of the public to log wildlife roadkill sightings across South Africa. With nearly 30,000 records submitted to date, the data helps identify roadkill hotspots, inform conservation efforts, and guide road safety improvements. The RoadWatch app is available as a free download on both Google Play and the Apple App Store. Training patrol teams: Road staff are trained to document roadkill scientifically, helping build one of the country's most detailed roadkill datasets. Policy advocacy: EWT has supported research to develop a DPSIR framework (Drivers — Pressure — State — Impact — Response) that could guide greener infrastructure planning. And in all of this, there are sad scenarios that turn into something good. 'Although we are dealing with dead animals, sometimes we get emotional because you're passionate about nature. But sometimes we have some sad stories that turn out to be good,' said Hlatshway. He recalls patrol staff calling him about injured animals on the road — owls, antelope — and connecting them with rescue centres like the SPCA and Owl Rescue. 'After three weeks, you get feedback: 'We were able to save that owl.' I mean, it's so amazing.' What's more, he says the patrol staff are growing into wildlife advocates. 'You get somebody telling you, 'When I joined here, I did not know anything about animals.' But now the way they see them has changed. They weren't contracted to do this — but they're excited to help. It's something amazing.' DM
