Latest news with #Pietermaritzburg
News24
5 days ago
- Business
- News24
ECD centres still in crisis as KZN education fails to fully pay court-ordered subsidies
More than a month has passed since the Pietermaritzburg High Court ordered the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education to pay all outstanding subsidies to three Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres — yet the centres say they remain in financial limbo. Anelisa Khubeka/News24 Be among those who shape the future with knowledge. Uncover exclusive stories that captivate your mind and heart with our FREE 14-day subscription trial. Dive into a world of inspiration, learning, and empowerment. You can only trial once. Start your FREE trial now Show Comments ()
News24
6 days ago
- News24
KZN police lunch manhunt for 12 gunmen after CIT van blown up, robbed
A gang of 12 gunmen used explosives to blow up a cash-in-transit (CIT) vehicle in Pietermaritzburg. One of their getaway vehicles was also torched, presumably to destroy evidence. A shootout between the suspects and dRK Tactical Unit officers left one guard wounded. A massive manhunt is under way for 12 people who blew up a cash-in-transit (CIT) vehicle in Murray Road, Pietermaritzburg, on Wednesday night. According to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a security guard sustained multiple gunshot wounds during the incident and was taken to a hospital. The gunmen reportedly made off with two firearms and ammunition, according to police. Private security company, dRK Tactical Response, said one of its units was returning to base via Murray and Oribi Road when the team came across a CIT robbery in progress. It said the scene was chaotic and that multiple gunshots were fired. 'In response, the tactical unit returned fire in self-defence and immediately called for backup,' it said. 'One CIT security guard sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, while the second occupant was found disoriented and traumatised. Both individuals were stabilised on the scene and later transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment,' dRK Tactical Response said. The private security company said preliminary investigations, conducted in coordination with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other role players, revealed that the suspects were believed to be travelling in three to four vehicles and were heavily armed, including with AK-47 rifles. It said explosives were used to blow up the cash-in-transit vehicle to access the money inside, as well as one of the gunmen's getaway vehicles, presumably to destroy evidence. Further alerts led officers to a reported shooting at Sleungspurt Car Wash. However, by the time police units arrived there, the gunmen had already fled in the direction of the R56, after making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
News24
6 days ago
- General
- News24
Mandela Day 2025: Eight initiatives you can join to help fight our food crisis
South Africa faces a food crisis, with 63% of households food insecure and 10 million tonnes of food wasted annually. This Mandela Day, citizens are urged to tackle hunger through impactful initiatives like soup drives, food parcel packing, and feeding schemes. You can join efforts like Chefs with Compassion, FoodForward SA, and others to fight food insecurity and honour Mandela's legacy. As South Africa grapples with a deepening food crisis, this year's Mandela Day theme, 'It's still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity,' urges citizens to take meaningful action. From warehouse volunteering to stadium-scale soup feeding schemes, these are eight impactful food-focused initiatives to support on Mandela Day, observed on 18 July. According to the latest SERI Food (In)Security Report, 63% of households face food insecurity, while 23.1% experience severe hunger. At the same time, 10 million tonnes of food are wasted annually, and nearly one in three children under five is stunted due to chronic malnutrition. The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) is a non-profit human rights organisation focused on challenging inequality and realising socio-economic rights in South Africa and beyond. According to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group's latest affordability index, the average cost of a Household Food Basket in June 2025 is R5 443.12. With millions going hungry while edible food is discarded, fighting for food justice remains one of the clearest, most direct ways to honour Mandela's legacy. These eight Mandela Day initiatives use food as resistance and relief on the International Day of Observance. #67000litres: Cooking at scale Now in its sixth year, Chefs with Compassion returns with its national #67000litres Challenge, a campaign to cook and distribute soup to vulnerable communities using surplus food. Launched during the 2020 hard lockdown, the initiative brings together professional chefs, culinary schools, and community kitchens to create meals from food that would otherwise go to landfill. Last year, the campaign cooked 104,360 litres of soup. In 2025, the target is over 100 000 litres, enough to feed an estimated 400 000 people. Participants include hospitality academies like Capsicum Culinary Studio and HTA School of Culinary Art, with support from corporate partners such as Marriott International. Chefs With Compassion FoodForward SA, the country's largest food redistribution NGO, will host volunteer sessions at its national warehouse sites on 18 July. Since its inception, the organisation has recovered and redistributed more than 40 million kilograms of food, an intervention that feeds people and diverts waste from landfills. Volunteers can spend their 67 minutes helping pack food parcels at Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Gqeberha, and Rustenburg locations. These parcels support a network of more than 2 750 beneficiary organisations, including early childhood centres, old-age homes, and community kitchens. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FoodForward SA (@foodforwardsa) Helping hands in District Six: Service Dining Rooms provides meals and essential support In Cape Town's District Six neighbourhood, the Service Dining Rooms will host volunteers to help serve lunch at 11:30 to more than 250 clients. Every weekday, the organisation prepares nourishing meals for around 300 people who visit their site at 82 Canterbury St. The organisation functions as a depot for donations, accepting food, clothing, toiletries, and other goods to distribute to clients in need. Additionally, they are launching a drive to collect new underwear, an often-overlooked item despite the significant demand among vulnerable people. They also extend their reach by providing food parcels and cooked meals to off-site beneficiaries, including Mosadie Gives Back and Solomon's Haven in Mitchell's Plain, The Athlone Foundation in Hanover Park, Youth Solutions in Salt River, and the Masejonge Children's Feeding Scheme in Khayelitsha. SA Harvest: Feeding matrics, fighting inequality SA Harvest will use Mandela Day to highlight the link between hunger and academic performance. Their Buckets of Nutrition for Matriculants campaign provides essential food, hygiene products, and stationery to high school learners in underserved areas, framing nutrition as a building block of education. On Mandela Day, the public can attend bucket-packing events at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg and the Pavilion Mall in Durban. Each R500 bucket can feed a family of four for up to three weeks. During the pandemic, SA Harvest found that over 400 000 children went hungry, while millions of tonnes of food went to waste. The campaign is supported by partners like Rhodes Food Group, H&M, and the Road Freight Association, and aims to make food justice part of education equity. Ladles of Love: Stadium-scale activations At the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Gauteng and DHL Stadium in Cape Town, Ladles of Love will host over 10 000 volunteers in two-hour sessions focused on food preparation and early childhood support. Participants pay R250, which the organisation says sponsors two healthy meals daily for one child monthly. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ladles Of Love South Africa (@ladlesoflove) Mustadafin Foundation: R12 a meal to feed a belly The Mustadafin Foundation is asking South Africans to sponsor one hot meal for R12 for those wanting a direct, no-frills way to contribute. The Cape Town-based organisation operates in areas with high poverty and food insecurity rates. In addition to daily feeding schemes, Mustadafin supports early education, youth interventions, and healthcare programmes. Donations can be made online using the reference #MandelaDay, or larger partnerships can be arranged directly through their office. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mustadafin Foundation (@mustadafin_foundation) From 14 to 18 July, customers on the Checkers Sixty60 app or web platform can donate non-perishable food items to Meals on Wheels South Africa, an NGO operating 173 kitchens across all nine provinces, providing over 200 000 meals daily. OPINION | A state that feeds itself while the youth go hungry 'Previous contributions have kept some branches running for up to a year,' says Gershon Naidoo, the programme director for Meals on Wheels. Checkers will match every donation and refund the delivery fee. Since 2020, this partnership has generated food donations valued at R2.7 million. Delivery is as simple as entering 'Meals on Wheels Plumstead', 'Gillitts', or 'Yeoville' into the app's address bar and shopping from the 'Deliver Kindness' section. Supplied/Shoprite Holdings Several local initiatives also aim to use Mandela Day to replenish pantries and school meal programmes. In Gauteng, Kids Haven is building a food pyramid made entirely of non-perishables, calling on companies, schools, and families to collect staples such as beans, lentils, pilchards, jam, peanut butter, and rice. The Mbizana Soup Kitchen is a non-profit organisation that serves one meal three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) to the struggling and unemployed community in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Meals are provided at Manyanani Peace Park Hall, Qondani Street, with hopes of expanding to five days a week. For Mandela Day, the organisation has launched a blanket drive to provide physical warmth and emotional comfort, fostering dignity and belonging within the community.
The Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Durban City confirm Gavin Hunt as new coach
City chair Farook Kadodia said he is confident Hunt will give his club the sort of results they desire after bouncing back to the elite league from their relegation at the end of 2023-2024 while still known as Maritzburg United and based in Pietermaritzburg. 'We're thrilled to welcome Gavin to Durban City. His record speaks for itself and we believe he is the right person to lead our team in this exciting new era,' Kadodia said. 'His professionalism, football knowledge and winning mentality are what the club needs as we strive to compete at the highest level.' Former SuperSport head coach Kaitano Tembo, who once worked with Hunt, has been linked with the assistant's position at City while former Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp is reported to be joining the club as a technical director. Tembo and Middendorp were, however, not announced with Hunt on Wednesday. Two former Bafana Bafana players, Thulani Hlatshwayo and goalkeeper Darren Keet, have also been linked with joining Hunt at City, but Kadodia is yet to reveal the full complement of his club's squad.
The Herald
08-07-2025
- The Herald
Hitman jailed for murder of ANC youth leader Sindiso Magaqa
The self-confessed killer of former ANCYL secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa was sentenced to an effective 25 years' imprisonment by the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday. Sibusiso Ncengwa was convicted after he pleaded guilty to murdering Magaqa in 2017. He was sentenced to 25 years for conspiracy to commit murder, 25 years for murder, 15 years for three counts of attempted murder, nine years for malicious damage to property, 10 years for unlawful possession of a firearm and one year for possession of unlicensed ammunition. The sentences are to run concurrently. Ncengwa is already serving 95 years in prison for armed robbery convictions. His defence lawyer, advocate Andrew Matlamela, had pleaded with the court to hand down a lenient sentence, saying his client had shown remorse by pleading guilty. However, the prosecutor, advocate Elvis Gcweka, told the court Magaqa's family is battling to come to terms with their loss and his mother breaks down in tears when her son's death is brought up. Three other co-accused —Sbonelo Myeza, Mbulelo Mpofana and Mlungisi Ncalane — were charged with conspiracy to murder, murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and malicious damage to property. Ncalane has been declared unfit to stand trial after two psychiatric reports revealed he was mentally ill. He is a patient at Napier Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. The trial for the other two suspects is scheduled for October. TimesLIVE
