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IOL News
9 hours ago
- Climate
- IOL News
Community resilience and response: the aftermath of the Tongaat tornado
The tornado relief receiving and dispatch team. Image: Supplied Discover how the Tongaat community united in the wake of a devastating tornado, providing relief and support to thousands affected by the disaster. HAROLD MAISTRY highlights the resilience, coordination, and compassion displayed by local organisations and volunteers." 'WHAT counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others' - Nelson Mandela. These words of our beloved Madiba resonate with the resilience of a community devastated by the tornado and the magnanimity of individuals and organisations in responding to this disaster. On June 3, 2024, at approximately 4.25pm, a tornado left a wake of destruction, leaving more than 3 000 residents displaced, hundreds of homes destroyed, and 12 dead. The northern and coastal areas were most affected. It was described as a 'wedge' tornado because it was wider and larger rather than tall and reached wind speeds of between 225 and 260 kilometres per hour. 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. 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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 ✕ Within 30 minutes after it hit, the Disaster Relief Centre at Vishwaroop Temple Hall was operationalised. This centre was operational during the Covid-19 pandemic, the looting in July 2021 and the April 2022 floods. The Tongaat Disaster Relief team comprised representatives of the Tongaat Civic Association, the Tongaat Child and Family Welfare Society, the Tongaat Hindu Unity Forum, the Vishwaroop Temple and Dharmashala and the oThongathi Outreach Forum. The Vishwaroop Temple premises, with its large yard, hall and learning centre, was the ideal space for storing and distributing relief. Five shipping containers were also placed at the temple. We remain grateful to the patrons, management committee and devotees for availing this premises at no charge. The immediate need was rescue efforts, housing displaced victims and the provision of food, blankets and mattresses. Through co-ordinated efforts of the various role-players, the trapped victims were rescued, medical assistance was rendered and the roads were cleared. Warm meals and blankets were provided by the Tongaat Disaster Relief Centre and the displaced victims were temporarily housed at community halls, creches, etc. The Tongaat Disaster Relief team linked up with community leaders from the affected areas and set up regionalised joint operational centres (JOCs) to provide feedback, co-ordinate the disaster relief efforts and distribute items received. Approximately 15 000 meals were prepared at the Vishwaroop Temple premises with 40 tons of aid distributed by the Tongaat Disaster Relief Team. We had also established de-centralised cooking facilities. We had received an outpouring of support and aid from people and organisations outside of KwaZulu-Natal and the country from the moment the disaster hit social media and the news. It was overwhelming to experience the continuous streaming of aid. The strategy was in essence three-fold. Firstly, we immediately attended to shelter and food. Secondly, we facilitated the return of victims to their homes (which were salvageable) through the provision of tarps, food hampers, toiletries, blankets, clothes, etc. Thirdly, there was the rebuilding and repair works to uninsured houses. The Tongaat Disaster Relief Committee provided a range of services that included immediate, medium and long-term assistance. Psychosocial services, which is often overlooked, was also provided. Many victims still display post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and sudden weather changes trigger their traumatic experience. A technical team compromising engineers, project managers, accountants and volunteers was also established. These professionals had offered their services pro bono. The regionalised JOCs had played a pivotal role in identifying homes that met the criteria, that is, uninsured for repair work to be conducted. These homes were assessed by the technical team and a report for each affected house was provided. The repair work conducted by the Tongaat Disaster Relief Centre included the restoration of roofs, doors and windows. The technical team also provided assistance to the general community affected by the tornado. They worked closely with the eThekwini building inspectorate department. Plans were accessed with the owners' consent to ensure that the work undertaken had met the requisite standards and in compliance with relevant legislation and bylaws. The technical team also assisted in providing engineers' reports which was done free of charge. Eighty houses have been repaired to date by the Tongaat Disaster Relief technical team. This excludes the building material provided for the informal dwellings. The government also provided relief packages for the repair and restoration of homes particularly in the informal settlements. This included the replacement of roofs, roof tiles, underpinning, replacement of doors and windows. The funding for the repair work undertaken was through private and corporate donations, which included cash and items like building materials, paint, etc. The technical team undertook its work within a constrained budget. The challenge they faced was with the houses with asbestos roofs. Asbestos is regarded as a hazardous substance and the removal required specialists in the field and this was an expensive exercise. These damaged asbestos roofs had to be removed at the same time for safe disposal. In terms of the municipal bylaws these damaged asbestos roofs had to be replaced with fibre cement sheets. Fibre cement sheets are expensive and an average assessed house requires between 24 and 30 sheets. Budget constraints had halted these efforts. However, the team is still attempting to access additional funding to complete these houses. Detailed records and inventory are kept of the monies and items received. The funds received by the Tongaat Disaster Relief Committee was collected by the Tongaat Child and Family Welfare Society and the Tongaat Hindu Unity Forum. Several organisations and business houses had also undertaken repair and restoration of houses damaged by the tornado. Their magnanimous contribution cannot be overstated and the community remains grateful to them. The sudden onset of extreme weather events experienced around South Africa, underscores the importance of understanding how tornadoes form and the potential impact of climate change on their frequency and intensity. In South Africa, warm, humid regions like KwaZulu-Natal could see more severe storms due to climate change, making tornadoes a more common threat. To reduce the impact and devastation of future tornadoes, mitigation strategies like improved weather monitoring with advanced technology, awareness campaigns with the general public in respect of disasters like the tornado, and review of building bylaws relating to the resilience of structures to catastrophic events like the tornado. Community emergency relief committees should be established, with training related to disaster relief and response. The creation of community disaster relief centres is paramount. Government departments must also improve their communication and co-ordinated efforts. They need to work with community organisations. Community organisations should also put aside their petty differences and be wary of the disastrous role of self-centered politicians and individuals. Key lessons learnt from the tornado relief efforts include that disaster relief has become a contest driven by egos, the relevance of various role-players and the lack of coordinated efforts in responding to the disaster. The silo mentality, particularly within the government departments, hampered work and the response was very slow or non-existent. Social media had become the battle ground spreading acrimony and the 'keyboard warriors' being the 'storm troopers.' As a community, we need lessons in humility. Before we rush to social media with unfounded allegations, let us pause, reflect and engage with facts rather than fiction. As civil society organisations, we may have our differences but we should remember that service to the community is what unites us. We need to engage with each other. Civil society was key in the disaster relief efforts and one would shudder to think what would have happened had it not been for their involvement. The Tongaat Disaster Relief committee had made several efforts to bring in all the role-players together. However, this was not very successful. We acknowledge and respect the work undertaken by all those involved in the relief efforts. As the Tongaat Disaster Committee, the utilisation of social media to publicise our work was not given much regard. For many of us, who were involved in the anti-apartheid struggle, publicising the work done was frowned upon. We need to evolve from 'shying away' from this and learn the importance of utilising the various media platforms. Social cohesion is critical and as civil society we need to be at the forefront of these efforts. The old adage, 'be guided by your heart but think with your head' was very relevant in our relief efforts. We also learnt that you can serve an individual's needs but never their greed. The tornado that ravaged the community of Tongaat is a stark reminder of the power of nature particularly the impact of global warming and the importance of preparedness and resilience. Harold Maistry Image: Supplied Harold Maistry is an anti-apartheid and community activist serving the community of Tongaat for over 40 years and is involved in the Tongaat Child Welfare, Tongaat Anti-Drug Forum, Tongaat Disaster Relief Committee and Tongaat Civic Association. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. THE POST
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Ex-Nelson Mandela bodyguard Andre Lincoln dies at 63
Lincoln passed away on Friday at the age of 63 after a long illness. Late former Nelson Mandela's bodyguard and anti-gang unit boss Major-General Andre Lincoln has been remembered for his tenacity in fighting crime. Lincoln passed away on Friday at the age of 63 after a long illness. Condolences Western Cape police oversight and community safety MEC Anroux Marais sent her condolences to the family of Lincoln and also to the law enforcement fraternity. Marais described Lincoln as a dedicated public servant whose contribution to policing would leave a lasting legacy. 'Major-General Lincoln's contribution to improving safety in the Western Cape will continue to form part of the legacy he leaves behind. My thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.' ALSO READ: Police officer accidentally shoots and kills colleague during KZN operation 'Strong and resilient' Lincoln's daughter Nikki expressed profound love for her dad. 'A part of me thought you would live forever. You were always so strong and so resilient, imagining life without you was so impossible, I let myself believe in the impossible. Rest in peace, daddy. 'I don't know how be a person without a father, I don't know how to navigate life without your wisdom. I love you forever. You took a piece of my heart with you, but I know a piece of yours will stay here with me,' Nikki said. Biography As a committed combatant in uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) during the liberation struggle, Lincoln operated as an intelligence officer working to dismantle apartheid's machinery of oppression. Lincoln was appointed by Nelson Mandela to head the Presidential Investigation Task Unit a key agency formed to fight organised crime and corruption. It was during this period that Lincoln's valour saved the life of Mandela, foiling an assassination attempt. Lincoln was appointed head of the anti-gang unit in 2018. Misconduct The top cop and besieged police Crime Intelligence (CI) boss Peter Jacobs were embroiled with former police boss Jeremey Veary in allegations of misconduct in an internal investigation centred on the murder of Anti-Gang Unit detective Charl Kinnear. The probe relates to what Jacobs did, or failed to do, when police received a warning of a threat on Kinnear's life. Kinnear was gunned down on 18 September, two weeks after police received credible information that his phone was being illegally tracked, with fears that the surveillance was a precursor to an attack. Malicious prosecution In 2020, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) threw out Lincoln's malicious prosecution claim against the state. In 1998, Lincoln, then the commander of the Presidential Investigative Task Unit, was brought up on a string of charges, including theft and fraud. Among the accusations was that known Sicilian mob boss Vito Palazzolo paid Lincoln's expenses on a trip to Angola. Lincoln was convicted on 17 of 47 counts and sentenced to nine years in prison. Both the conviction and sentence were overturned on appeal and Lincoln launched a civil suit against the police, claiming R15 million. The case was initially dismissed, but again he took it on appeal and was successful, with the majority judgment of a full bench of the Western Cape High Court finding no 'reasonable or probable cause to set the law in motion for the prosecution'. Retirement He retired in 2021. Lincoln is survived by his wife, Shereen, and their children. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. NOW READ: WATCH: How Olorato Mongale murder suspect 'confessed' [VIDEO]
News24
2 days ago
- General
- News24
Ex-Mandela bodyguard and Anti-Gang Unit boss Andre Lincoln dies
Former top cop and late president Nelson Mandela's former bodyguard, Major-General Andre Lincoln, died on Friday morning. Lincoln has been remembered for his service in fighting crime. He was the head of the Anti-Gang Unit before his 2021 retirement. Former Anti-Gang Unit boss Major-General Andre Lincoln died on Friday morning. Lincoln was one of late former president Nelson Mandela's bodyguards and was appointed as the Head of the Presidential Investigation Task Unit in 1996. He also served as a Cluster Commander and later as Head of the Anti-Gang Unit, where he contributed to police efforts to tackle the scourge of gang violence in the Western Cape. Provincial MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, sent her condolences to the family, friends and the law enforcement fraternity. Marais said: 'Major-General Lincoln's contribution to improving safety in the Western Cape will continue to form part of the legacy he leaves behind after serving in the SAPS for over 39 years. My thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.' Lincoln retired in 2021. He was made head of the Anti-Gang Unit in 2018 after a career of ups and downs. Former police boss Jeremy Vearey said Lincoln's death had been a shock. 'Our paths started together long before we joined the police,' he said. Both had worked together in the armed struggle, and Lincoln had supported Vearey after his release from Robben Island in the 1990s. 'Andre was there when I was released from Robben Island. Some of us, as political prisoners, needed protection. Comrades like Lincoln were there for us,' Vearey recalls. The two had worked together guarding Mandela, and Vearey recalled Lincoln's excellent evasive driving skills that had kept Mandela safe on numerous occasions. 'We were soldiers on the ground, defending our movements. I know him from battle, from blood, as a comrade for whom I would lay my life down,' he said. He described Lincoln as a 'humble man' who had a 'core strength' and demonstrated a 'zen-like calm' that was likely born of many years of practising martial arts. He also had a love for bonsai. 'Andre had a bonsai, which produced a micro pomegranate. It's one thing to look after your bonsai; it's another thing to have the patience to get it to bear fruit. That is understanding, a relationship with nature, that is almost spiritual.' In an outpouring of tributes on social media, Lincoln was described as a 'soldier' who lived a 'life of serving'. 'Thank you for putting your life at risk for us, the general public. Your dedication in the line of duty is beyond the call of duty, and we are immeasurably indebted to you,' said one social media user. My sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of late Major General Andre Lincoln on the tragic passing of such a... Posted by Ezra October on Thursday, May 29, 2025 His daughter, Nikki, posted: 'A part of me thought you would live forever. You were always so strong and so resilient. Imagining life without you was so impossible I let myself believe in the impossible. Rest in peace, Daddy. I don't know how to be a person without a father. I don't know how to navigate life without your wisdom. I love you forever. You took a piece of my heart with you, but I know a piece of yours will stay here with me.' A part of me thought you would live forever. You were always so strong and so resilient, imagining life without you was... Posted by Nikki Lincoln on Thursday, May 29, 2025 Lincoln and former Crime Intelligence chief Peter Jacobs were embroiled, with Vearey, in allegations of misconduct in one of the most recent controversies. One of the allegations against Lincoln and Jacobs was whether they responded appropriately to an informant who warned that AGU detective Charl Kinnear's life was in danger. Kinnear was murdered outside his house on 18 September 2020. Lincoln had previously faced 47 criminal charges and was convicted of 17 of these in 2003. He then appealed the conviction and was acquitted on all the charges, according to a previous News24 report. Lincoln was also among a number of senior police officers whose phone location was tracked, allegedly by former rugby player Zane Kilian, who is among those charged, along with Nafiz Modack, for the murder of Kinnear.
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
SANDF reaffirms commitment to peacekeeping efforts across the continent
Highlighting the history of peacekeeping and its importance, he said South Africa's involvement in peacekeeping began in earnest in 1994, inspired by the country's founding president Nelson Mandela. In 1999, he said Mandela played a crucial role in peacekeeping efforts during the First Congolese War. Between 2001 and 2006, the SANDF was involved in Burundi's transition to peace, and was also involved in the Central African Republic from 2006 to 2015. Tshabalala said South Africa has also played a key role in Sudan, Lesotho and Mozambique. He said these missions have reinforced the country's legacy as a contributor to peace and security on the continent. 'Our legacy speaks for itself,' said Tshabalala. More recently, from 2021 to 2023, SA participated in the Sadc Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), countering insurgency in Cabo Delgado. Tshabalala said peacekeeping reflects SA's constitutional values. 'We are a living embodiment of the South African constitution and foreign policy values is human rights, regional integration, solidarity, and African-led solutions for African problems,' he said. He said the impact of these missions has been significant. Tshabalala emphasised that SA remains committed to the conflict mediation process and supporting any effort that ensures human rights and peace for fellow Africans. TimesLIVE
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Seventy years of standing up and standing tall: Black Sash turns 70
Black Sash standing near the Parliamentary precinct where members frequently held silent protests to put an end to apartheid, a stop to unlawful imprisonment of anti-apartheid dissidents, the banning of activists, military conscription, and the breaking up of families. Image: UCT Special Collections – Black Sash Seventy years ago, a handful of principled women stood on a street corner, draped in black sashes, their silence cutting through the noise of apartheid's rising tide. They were not politicians. They held no official power. Yet in that moment, they birthed a movement that would become one of South Africa's most enduring voices of conscience. It was 1955. Parliament was moving to tear Coloured voters from the roll. The Constitution was under siege. And in a society that expected women to host tea parties and keep quiet, these women chose to stand instead—silent, unwavering, unafraid. What began as a quiet protest on the streets of Cape Town would ignite a movement. That black sash—meant to mourn the death of justice—became a symbol of defiance, dignity, and fierce moral clarity. With each vigil, each march, each brave act of bearing witness, they stitched a new kind of resistance into the fabric of South African history. Black Sash was born—not in shouts or slogans, but in silence. And that silence roared. Nelson Mandela once called Black Sash 'the conscience of white South Africa'—the moral compass, the truth-teller, the ethical anchor in an era of silence. And now, in 2025, that iconic sash turns 70. Thanks to a small group of white women appalled by the erosion of constitutional democracy in South Africa - particularly the National Party's attempt to strip Coloured voters of their right to vote in the Cape Province. These women—wives, mothers, professionals—stood in silent protest, daring to dissent in a world where women were expected to keep quiet. They were dismissed at the time— "tea ladies with too much time" as one politician once said. But history had other plans. From vigils outside Parliament to standing against bannings, detentions, pass laws, forced removals, and the horrors of apartheid's legal machinery, Black Sash found its voice—and made sure the voiceless were heard too. One of their most revolutionary acts wasn't loud. It was practical. The founding of Advice Offices—quiet, tireless spaces that helped Black South Africans navigate the oppressive nightmare of apartheid bureaucracy. 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. 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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 ✕ They helped people get their ID books, pensions, housing rights, and freedom of movement. It was resistance dressed in paperwork. Bureaucratic sabotage with compassion. That work continues today, still vital, still grounded in human dignity. These women shared conspiratorial winks during protests, hid illegal pamphlets under diaper bags, and smuggled information in Christmas pudding tins. They were fierce and funny. If you were lucky enough to attend a Black Sash conference, you'd know to expect sharp political debate and homemade lemon squares. How could we forget women like Molly Blackburn, who fearlessly investigated police brutality and died tragically young in a car accident. Or Sheena Duncan, whose quiet authority and deep Christian conviction made her a moral compass in dark times. Or Mary Burton, who carried her activism from Black Sash to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. These weren't just activists. They were architects of conscience. Seventy years on, South Africa may no longer be in the grip of formal apartheid, but for millions, injustice has simply changed its uniform. It no longer wears jackboots—it hides behind malfunctioning grant systems, broken service delivery, and indifferent bureaucracy. And once again, the Black Sash is there—watching, warning, working. Today, Black Sash is on the frontlines of economic justice, fighting for the soul of the Constitution where it matters most: at community level. There's #HandsOffOurGrants, one of the most significant post-apartheid human rights campaigns in recent memory. When grant recipients—primarily women—were being illegally debited, exploited by financial service providers, and denied full access to their social protection, it was the Black Sash who stepped in. Who held government and private corporations accountable. Who reminded us that the right to social security is not charity—it is justice. Through its Community-Based Monitoring programme, Black Sash trains and supports local human rights monitors who collect evidence and raise alarms on failing clinics, inaccessible Home Affairs offices, overcrowded SASSA centres, and the daily indignities that poor and working-class South Africans endure. These aren't abstract reports—they're living, breathing testimonies from the ground. In the face of growing inequality and joblessness, the organisation's Basic Income Support(BIS) campaign is a moral call to action. The Sash is unapologetically demanding a permanent, universal basic income grant for those aged 18 to 59—because dignity should not depend on employment in an economy that has none to offer.
