Latest news with #Madondo
The Herald
18-05-2025
- The Herald
'They shot her and she fell at my feet': Umlazi mom tells of horror attack
Madondo said they were relocated to the transit camp in 2010 from the nearby Uganda informal settlements and were told they would be there for only six months. 'When we arrived here, my daughter was three years old and was 19 when she died last night.' She said after the incident they l did not feel safe in the residential units which were only meant to serve as temporary accommodation. 'Someone can kick down the sides of these houses and do whatever they want and leave. They can get in from anywhere, they don't need the door. We were outside the whole night after the incident. We were too scared to go inside or to sleep at all.' Ward 89 councillor Mbongeni Mjadu confirmed the residents were moved to the area from 2009, which was said to have been a temporary measure ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. He said the residents were still traumatised from the shooting. 'We will have to have a meeting because it looks like no one will sleep inside their houses because they don't feel safe since they don't know the motive or what happened. They don't know if they are going be the next victims. So if we can try to find possible motives then maybe we can calm them.' This is not the first mass shooting in the area. Mjadu said a similar incident happened not far from there in 2021 in which six people were killed. Another six people were killed in the nearby Uganda informal settlements, though it doesn't fall under this ward, in 2023. KwaZulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli said due to such incidents, the local community would not feel safe until the perpetrators were found and arrested. Ntuli, who also serves as the MEC for community safety and liaison in the province, visited the area on Saturday morning. He said he was worried by these incidents and that it was making communities feel unsafe. One problem in the area was the environmental design as there was inadequate lighting at night and the state of the roads made it difficult for police to access the area. 'One of the priorities is to see if something can be done to improve the lighting at night.' He called on residents to assist the police in their investigation into the shooting incident by sharing any information they might have, even if they do it anonymously using the 0800 10111 number. 'At the end of the day, the issue of mass shootings will not be ended if the community themselves do not stand together and point out the problematic individuals in their area. It's common cause that where there is much crime in an area, the criminals are known by the community (and) it's only the police who don't know [who the criminals are]' he said. 'So the issue of community policing is important. Each member of society must consider themselves as responsible for providing information to the police so they can act.' Ntuli noted that nothing could be ruled out in the investigation as some people in community safety structures had been found to be participating in crime. He said he was made aware of a metro police officer who was arrested while participating in the pre-funeral celebrations of the life of an alleged criminal in the area. 'There is someone who is alleged to have been actively involved in crime, aggressively, who was shot to death and the funeral will be tomorrow. So there has been air shooting the whole week and among those was the policeman which is very a very unfortunate thing.' He said the police force should not be tainted by the actions of a few 'rotten apples' and he was confident police were fighting aggressively against crime. TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
17-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
'They shot her and she fell at my feet': Umlazi mom tells of horror attack
Madondo said they were relocated to the transit camp in 2010 from the nearby Uganda informal settlements and were told they would be there for only six months. 'When we arrived here, my daughter was three years old and was 19 when she died last night.' She said after the incident they l did not feel safe in the residential units which were only meant to serve as temporary accommodation. 'Someone can kick down the sides of these houses and do whatever they want and leave. They can get in from anywhere, they don't need the door. We were outside the whole night after the incident. We were too scared to go inside or to sleep at all.' Ward 89 councillor Mbongeni Mjadu confirmed the residents were moved to the area from 2009, which was said to have been a temporary measure ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. He said the residents were still traumatised from the shooting. 'We will have to have a meeting because it looks like no one will sleep inside their houses because they don't feel safe since they don't know the motive or what happened. They don't know if they are going be the next victims. So if we can try to find possible motives then maybe we can calm them.' This is not the first mass shooting in the area. Mjadu said a similar incident happened not far from there in 2021 in which six people were killed. Another six people were killed in the nearby Uganda informal settlements, though it doesn't fall under this ward, in 2023. KwaZulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli said due to such incidents, the local community would not feel safe until the perpetrators were found and arrested. Ntuli, who also serves as the MEC for community safety and liaison in the province, visited the area on Saturday morning. He said he was worried by these incidents and that it was making communities feel unsafe. One problem in the area was the environmental design as there was inadequate lighting at night and the state of the roads made it difficult for police to access the area. 'One of the priorities is to see if something can be done to improve the lighting at night.' He called on residents to assist the police in their investigation into the shooting incident by sharing any information they might have, even if they do it anonymously using the 0800 10111 number. 'At the end of the day, the issue of mass shootings will not be ended if the community themselves do not stand together and point out the problematic individuals in their area. It's common cause that where there is much crime in an area, the criminals are known by the community (and) it's only the police who don't know [who the criminals are]' he said. 'So the issue of community policing is important. Each member of society must consider themselves as responsible for providing information to the police so they can act.' Ntuli noted that nothing could be ruled out in the investigation as some people in community safety structures had been found to be participating in crime. He said he was made aware of a metro police officer who was arrested while participating in the pre-funeral celebrations of the life of an alleged criminal in the area. 'There is someone who is alleged to have been actively involved in crime, aggressively, who was shot to death and the funeral will be tomorrow. So there has been air shooting the whole week and among those was the policeman which is very a very unfortunate thing.' He said the police force should not be tainted by the actions of a few 'rotten apples' and he was confident police were fighting aggressively against crime.
The Citizen
11-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
UKZN's youngest graduate is an alchemy of success
At just 19, Lusanda Madondo has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the youngest graduate of the 2025 UKZN autumn graduation ceremonies. She received a Bachelor of Social Science in Housing, completing her degree at an age when many are only beginning their university journey. 'My passion for human settlements drove me to pursue a degree in Housing,' Madondo said confidently. Originally from Pietermaritzburg, Madondo completed her high school education at Alexandra High School. Her academic interests span the built environment, housing policy, project management, urban and rural development, and community development. Also read: UKZN's autumn grad season gets underway with over 8000 graduands Demonstrating versatility beyond academics, Madondo competed in the 2024 Miss Teen Universe South Africa. She proudly placed in the top 80 out of 200 participants from across all provinces, a testament to her resilience, confidence, and strong work ethic. During her studies, Madondo successfully balanced theoretical learning with practical experience. She highlighted her understanding of how housing developments influence policy and community development, noting field trips as a particularly enriching aspect of her academic journey. 'A highlight of my experience was understanding how policy shapes housing developments — and the field trips were unforgettable,' she reflected. Madondo's story is a powerful example of what is possible when one embraces every challenge and opportunity. 'I am incredibly grateful for the love and support I have received,' she said. 'Completing my degree feels surreal — a dream come true, especially as a graduate at just 19 years old.' With her sights set on a bright future, Madondo is pursuing an Honours degree in Housing Development and aims to secure a role in the housing sector — further affirming her commitment to meaningful change in this vital field. For more from Berea 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!
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- IOL News
At 19, Lusanda Madondo becomes youngest graduate at UKZN autumn ceremonies
At just 19, Ms Lusanda Madondo has achieved a remarkable milestone—becoming the youngest graduate of the 2025 UKZN autumn graduation ceremonies Image: Siphosethu Dlamini Lusanda Madondo has etched her name into the annals of history as the youngest graduate of the 2025 autumn graduation ceremonies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). At just 19, she has successfully obtained a Bachelor of Social Science in Housing, achieving this significant milestone at an age where her peers are only just embarking on their university journeys. 'My passion for human settlements drove me to pursue a degree in Housing,' Madondo shared. The Pietermaritzburg resident and former Alexandra High School learner explained that her academic interests span the built environment, housing policy, project management, urban and rural development, and community development. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Madondo recently took part in the 2024 Miss Teen Universe South Africa competition, where she ultimately placed in the top 80 out of 200 participants. Throughout her university journey, Madondo balanced theoretical learning with real-world experiences. She expressed that her understanding of the intricate relationship between housing developments and policy, along with the enriching field trips, were some of the highlights of her academic journey.
The South African
02-05-2025
- Climate
- The South African
KZN floods wreak havoc, prompting 56 households to relocate
After homes collapsed due to heavy flooding in Umlazi's Section H, 56 households are urgently relocated to safer ground. The floods, which struck on 25 April 2025, left widespread destruction across the township. Several residents were rushed to hospitals and clinics. Tragically, one member of the Madondo family died after a house collapsed in P Section, according to the KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Armstrong Duma. Other areas include Chicago in the AA section, the J Section, and Ward 78 near KwaMgaga High School, where homes were destroyed, leaving residents homeless and vulnerable amid ongoing rain. The MEC announced plans to visit affected communities and offer condolences. In a statement issued by the Ethekwini Municipality on 2 May, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane and her team visited the area. She emphasised the need for a long-term solution, stating: 'Based on what I have seen, relocation of these households would be the best solution. 'Based on what I have seen, relocation of these households would be the best solution,' said Minister Simelane. While the assessment is conducted, the immediate task is to relocate about 56 families to Temporary Emergency Accommodation. The Ethekwini municipality further reported that affected households will be given permanent housing on land provided by the City and the Provincial Department of Human Settlements. In addition to evaluating house delivery, the leadership also went to the Thubalethu Informal Settlement Project in Mthonjaneni. To support recovery efforts, R19 million has been allocated for water infrastructure construction in the region, with an additional R61 million earmarked for bulk water services, according to the statement issued by Ethekwini Municipality. 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.
