Latest news with #Mthatha
The Herald
a day ago
- Health
- The Herald
Mthatha athlete part of Comrades elite field
When thousands of runners line up for the Comrades Marathon in front of the Pietermaritzburg City Hall on Sunday morning, one of the elite runners at the front of the queue will be Eastern Cape-born athlete Musa Zweni. Zweni, 34, runs for Pan African Resources Club and is coached by John Hamlet, who has coached several of the illustrious championship-winning ultra marathon runners. He has been in the Comrades Marathon training camp in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga, preparing for 2025's race. Zweni said he joined the camp in 2025, and the plan for the upcoming race was about adjusting to the training approach of his new club. 'We have got a three-year plan that we are working on with my coach,' Zweni said. 'We will just tick off this year and see other years. 'But in my head, there is something else. But the coach said before I could get there, we need to get some things right,' Zweni said, adding he did not run the Two Oceans Marathon to prepare for the Comrades. Born in Tabase, Mthatha, Zweni's best Comrades time, which he ran in 2023 in the colours of Boxer Superstores Athletic Club, was 5 hrs 58 min 47 sec, which earned him the Wally Hayward medal. An injury cost him running his first comrades in 2018, but his time in the race has improved tremendously from his 2019 debut where he finished in position 2,831 in 08:56:57, earning himself a Bill Rowan medal, followed by a much-improved performance finishing in 73rd spot, earning his first silver medal in 2022 after running his race in 06:30:58. Zweni's first dream was to play professional football, but that was ended after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at a tournament in 2012 in Soweto, where he was preparing for trials with a PSL club. That forced surgery, with doctors saying he would never be able to run again. His running career started in 2017 in Cape Town and he has since attracted sponsorships from top global sport brands such as Puma, Maurten Gel and Future Life. 'After that injury, I started experiencing life in the sense that I started drinking, at that time I did not even have a girlfriend because my life was about football and nothing else. 'I started experimenting with a lot of things because I felt like I had given up so much for that moment. Everything happened so fast,' he said. Several injuries linked to his ACL injury forced Zweni to hang up his football boots at the age of 26. While the transition to elite running was not smooth sailing, Zweni's competitive streak kicked in when his friend, Siyabonga Madala, introduced him to running. He finished his first 10km run in 47 minutes, ran his first half marathon in 1:36:00, and his first Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in 4:00:00 from the F seeding. — WATCH: We are the Champions
The Herald
2 days ago
- General
- The Herald
Four Walter Sisulu University students arrested amid retaliatory protest
Eastern Cape police have confirmed that four students from Walter Sisulu University (WSU) have been arrested after protests relating to the bail granted to Manelisi Mampana. The Mthatha magistrate's court on Tuesday granted Mampana R10,000 bail with strict conditions. He is accused of murder, attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition after he allegedly shot WSU student Sisonke Mbolekwa in April during a protest. The police acknowledge the ongoing student protests at WSU's Mthatha campus concerning the court-ordered release of a murder suspect linked to the death of Sisonke Mbolekwa. Police spokesperson Brig Nobuntu Gantana said they condemned the acts of vandalism, arson, road blockades and intimidation by the students. 'We recognise the profound distress this case has caused in the university community. The suspect's release was directed by the court under standard legal procedures. SAPS has no authority over judicial decisions. The murder investigation remains active, prioritised and ongoing. We continue to collaborate closely with the National Prosecuting Authority to pursue justice through legal channels,' said Gantana.
The Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- The Herald
Woman thrives in farming after failing matric
'I noticed a lack of vegetables in supermarkets so I took the opportunity,' she told TimesLIVE. 'They were waiting for trucks that deliver once a week from other provinces and I thought they would order from me every day instead of waiting for the morning delivery truck. 'At first I thought it was an easy way of making quick cash. I was looking for a livelihood, then I started loving farming and understanding it.' With the help of her husband, Kwetana owns a 13ha farm in Mthatha specialising in seedling, poultry, piggery and crop farming. She supplies products to supermarkets, hotels, schools, restaurants and street vendors. 'He [husband] was funding me with his teaching salary. He believed in me and is my mentor.' The community gave her the land in exchange for creating jobs. 'The business has grown and I never thought it'd be this big. I have 28 permanent employees, 22 students doing in-service training, four interns and 12 casual workers.' As a young black woman in agriculture, Kwetana faced numerous challenges, including being undermined by supermarkets and government departments. She recalled being asked 'who sent you?' when seeking funding or help. Flooding in 2021 also swept her farm twice, but Kwetana persevered, believing in herself with her husband's support. 'Those things were hurtful. I reached a point where I was no longer looking for funding and did my own thing. I don't know how many times I fell and got back up by myself. Those challenges made me strong.'
News24
3 days ago
- Business
- News24
Is R3000 cheap for a wig? A deep dive into the business of Black hair
Wearing bad hair is just not an option,' says Lulama Ngxoli*, a personal assistant from Mthatha. The trend-conscious young lady frequently travels to see her boyfriend in Johannesburg and always leaves with a head of 100 percent Indian Remy human hair. Remy is considered the best quality, as all the strands lie the same direction. 'The last one I bought cost me R6 000,' she giggles. 'My boyfriend almost died, but he knows it's worth it and that it will last. He also doesn't want me walking around with a matted mess on my head!' Women like Lulama are in abundance these days: willing to skimp on treats because doing their hair is considered to be as necessary as paying the bills. A while back, even the most style-conscious girl was happy to buy synthetic hair from friends or from a 'suitcase supplier' who brought back a few packets from their travels to the East. According to a report by Investment Networks, South Africa's ethnic hair industry is worth an estimated R9.7 million a year and it's growing at an astronomical rate. It is also showing resilience against the economic downturn that has affected many global markets. So it's no surprise that global beauty houses have turned their attention to Africa in the hope of tapping into the wealth of a growing middle class with money to spend. Beauty giant L'Oréal reported a sales growth of just 5.2 percent in the U.S. and only 1.7 percent in Western Europe for the second quarter of the financial year, while new markets such as Latin America, the Middle East and Africa posted a 10.3 percent rise in like-for-like sales. Impressive extension - Yaki to Remy One of the fastest areas of growth has been seen in the hair extensions business. Thanks to celebrities such as Beyoncé, Bonang Matheba and the ladies of TV, weaves and wigs have become a hair staple for many Black SA women. From Yaki to Remy, sew-ins to micro bonding and even lace-front wigs, extensions are clearly here to stay and continue to contribute big profits to the economy. Once again, not surprisingly, it's the premium end of the market that seems to be drawing the most interest and investment. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bonang Matheba (@bonang_m) Clearly, many Black women, regardless of their financial standing, are willing to pay R3 000 or more for quality hair, and suppliers are tapping into this. Bucking the trend Hair-care company Mizani's story is a particularly interesting one. Traditional wisdom tells us that consumers with less money spend more on cheaper products; hence, many brands focus on the lower end of the market. However, as a premium product sitting in the L'Oréal professional product division, Mizani has become a key brand for the stable, despite its reliance on the hair salon industry as its primary distribution chain. The brand now has about 300 Mizani-affiliated salons across South Africa and is seeing continued sales growth in this market. 'Although we tend to focus on quality rather than trying to get into just any salon, I can say that the growth has been excellent – beyond expectation, in the double figures year on year,' says an elated Lindelwa Nkambule, a product manager at Mizani. With over 40 000 salons in the country, the significance of having a growing network of premium A-list salons is a definite indication of maturity for the industry. And, for any Black woman who's endured choosing her relaxer from buckets of mismatched product or washed her head hanging over a basin, just having the choice of better customer service is a big deal. READ MORE | From heat damage to flaky scalps: 6 hair blunders and how to fix them Mostly driven by the desperate need to increase professionalism in the black salon environment, most brands wanting to crack it in this growing market have had to invest in some way or another in development and training – something that has been a big win for stylists and clients alike. 'Historically, stylists have not been trained. You became a hairdresser as an escape route. But [these days] you're seeing more and more stylists who are hungry for development and education,' says Lindelwa. The result has been cleaner salons, better service to clients and a greater diversity of products as well as price points. Back to my roots On the flipside of the weave and wigs trend, there has been a movement towards wearing natural hair. From TV personalities Pearl Thusi and her giant 'fro to Claire Mawisa's locs, South African women are falling back in love with their own locks. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pearl Thusi (@pearlthusi) Women also have far more products to choose from these days. Mizani's Nkambule says: 'The brand recently launched a non-chemical straightening product, Mizani ThermaSmooth. The four-step hair relaxation system makes untreated hair easier to manage.' Unlike sodium hydroxide, which is found in Lye relaxers, the product doesn't have a permanent effect. Though hair won't be straight as an arrow, it does offer an option for those wanting a short-term straight look, as hair reverts to its natural style after a wash. Off the back of a growing African-American natural hair movement, and with access to global trends via YouTube tutorials, Pinterest boards and Instagram's robust hair community, more and more South African women are plugged into the latest global trends. They are even using social media to connect with their favourite brands. 'The consumers are on social media, are travelling and Googling. By the time a product is launched, they can't wait to try it,' says Lindelwa. READ MORE | Why tribal braids are this winter's go-to hairstyle With Black women being better informed, many are demanding not just better salon services and retail experiences but are also wanting more control, choices and information about what stylists are putting on their scalp. 'The industry is largely unregulated and, while laws exist, they are not enforced. How often have you had a relaxer burn and done nothing about it?' asks publicist Farah Fortune. The show is one of a handful of local expos that cater to ethnic beauty and trends. It also hopes to encourage both legally and morally sound practices in the ethnic hair industry. That a woman's hair is her crowning glory cannot be emphasised enough. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Claire B. Mawisa (@clairemawisa) Hair for the Black woman, in times when we had little opportunity to showcase our creativity, was an outlet; our way of making a statement. Even today Black women, as consumers, essentially hold the cards. It's time that our hair, and the industry that caters for it, made a new statement – that professional practices and healthy hair come first. *Names have been changed
The Herald
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald
KZN health officials visit family of late doctor amid probe into tragic death
Mazwi, from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, was diagnosed with diabetes 10 months ago. According to allegations, he had informed his supervisor of his deteriorating health but was reportedly still required to report for duty. He collapsed on his way to work the day before his death, raising serious concerns about working conditions and staff welfare in public hospitals. His mother, Thabisa Maqoqa, a single parent, expressed deep gratitude for the government's visit while pleading for answers and justice. 'All I want is closure. My son showed no signs of illness or distress and I just want to understand what happened. I raised him on my own and it means a lot to have you here today,' she said. During the visit, Msimango spoke to the grieving family, offering both compassion and assurances of transparency. 'We are here today not just to mourn, but to stand with you as a family. On behalf of the KwaZulu-Natal government and KZN department of health, we pledge to offer you all the support you need. An all-encompassing investigation has been launched and we will ensure that you are informed of the findings once the process is complete,' she said. Msimango also commended the Mnquma local municipality for the assistance and support it has provided to the Mazwi family during this difficult time. Dr Fikile Ndlovu added the provincial government's voice to the call for a thorough investigation. 'We are committed to ensuring this matter is handled with urgency, sensitivity, and transparency,' said Ndlovu. The KwaZulu-Natal health department has launched a formal investigation, while national health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has requested the health ombud to conduct an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mazwi's death. Mazwi will be laid to rest on Thursday, May 29, in Gcuwa. TimesLIVE
