Latest news with #Sambo
The Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Hoërskool Vryburger wins Lions League Cup with perfect record
Hoërskool Vryburger High School has achieved a historic win in the Lions League Cup with a perfect record of 10 wins and no losses. After winning the Noordvaal Cup last year, they moved up to compete in Lions League 5A. This marks the second consecutive year they've won the league title. They secured this year's win without losing a game, playing evenly split between home (five games) and away (five games). ALSO READ: Simmer Rugby Club completes sweep against Edenvale Wasps This year Hoërskool Vryburger High School had three teams make it to the finals: the U15, U17, and the first team. The U15 and U17 teams didn't win their finals though. The U15 lost 15-0 to Afrikaanse Hoerskool, and the U17 lost 19-8 to Hoërskool Roodepoort. But the first team crushed it, winning their final against Die Wilge Hoërskool from Potchefstroom 37-7. Last year, Hoërskool Vryburger High School's junior rugby team made history by becoming the first school in Primrose to win the prestigious Noordvaal Cup. Despite facing big financial challenges, the team didn't just win the Lions League – they went on to win the Noordvaal Cup without losing a game. Meanwhile, the school's senior team won the Lions League, but they just missed out on making it to the Noordvaal League semi-finals in a home game. ALSO READ: Simmer Rugby sweeps Scorpions in triple win Coach Ruan de Lange said they'll be playing their first Noordvaal Cup match soon against the Pumas. 'The school's proud of the team,' said De Lange. 'All our teams made it to the finals, which is fantastic. 'Since we promoted the U15 team, we had a bunch of new players who'd never played rugby before. 'We had to start training them from scratch. Given that they reached the finals, it's amazing. 'The future of rugby at the school looks safe. We're slowly becoming a strong rugby school in the region and have proven ourselves in rugby. 'As a school, we've also started soccer with our first game of the season recently taking place,' said De Lange. Lionel Sambo, a first-team player, congratulated the team on winning the Lions League. 'We wanted to win the league from the start of the season, but we knew it wouldn't be an easy task. Realising the dream of actually winning the title is a dream come true,' said Sambo. 'Our opponents in the finals were physically challenging. During the half-time break, our coaches talked to us, which made us refocus on the game. 'When we started to play our game, they started to get frustrated,' said Sambo. ALSO READ: Elsburg Rugby Club recruits young players Sambo started playing rugby in Grade Eight after switching over from soccer. He was invited by friends to give rugby a try without planning to play it long-term, and pretty quickly he made his way up. He played one year in the junior team and got bumped up to the first team. Sambo's got some experience under his belt. He played in both the Lions League and Noordvaal Cup matches last year, making his name undeniable to the first-team coaches. Thapelo Kobane (16), in Grade 11, was part of the undefeated U15 team that won the Noordvaal Cup last year, but this year he was humbled by a defeat in the finals with the U17 team. Kobane said, 'We were used to being undefeated, so the loss was an awakening call. 'I'm now the vice-captain of the team, which makes me happy. 'We knew teamwork was going to be key to top what we achieved last year as a team. Though this year was going to be challenging, we're still happy with our performance. 'Our coaches were behind us 100%, gearing us to perform our level best. Rest assured, next time we're going to meet Roodepoort High, we're going to beat them.' Kobane said the journey has made them reflect, and most players are still eligible to play for the U17 and the first team next season. 'We enjoyed ourselves, played as a team, and lost as a team. I hope to make it to the first team next year. My leadership skills set me apart. 'Moving forward, we should take this as a chance to reflect and improve. This loss is a sign that we don't have everything figured out and should always be open-minded about the game.' Kobane started his rugby journey in Grade Nine with little to no knowledge of the game. He added that he started playing last year with the U15 team. 'I had to start from the lower division to develop. I later became part of the U15 team that was undefeated last season,' said Kobane.
The Citizen
03-08-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Four Mganduzweni primary schools prioritise learners well-being
Four schools in the White Hazy Circuit 2 showcased their dedication to positive learning environments by being part of the Randza Xikolo Xa Wena Campaign on Friday, July 25. Zamani, Mdumiseni, Mnganduzweni and Babhanani primary schools supported the initiative by cleaning their classrooms and the schoolyards, and painting the walls. According to the Mpumalanga Department of Education spokesperson, Gerald Sambo, the schools worked together to create safe learning environments that promote education, unity and community participation in the area. ALSO READ: Public works and Bushbuckridge municipality give back to Vuhlayiselo Disability Centre 'The campaign shows that the schools want every child to succeed and do well. We appreciate all learners, educators and stakeholders for their admirable efforts. Their hard work and collaborative spirit were evident throughout the campaign, contributing to its success,' Sambo said. Passion and dedication continue to light the way toward a brighter, more empowered future for schools. 'Together, we are shaping environments in which every child can thrive,' he said. ALSO READ: Bushbuckridge youngster wants to make an impact through her foundation The success of the campaign highlights the profound impact that dedicated individuals and united communities can have on the educational environment.
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- The Citizen
Mpumalanga education opens housing allowance fraud case against two officials
The Mpumalanga Department of Education (DoE) formally opened a case of fraud with the SAPS against two officials from the Ehlanzeni School District on June 29. This follows an internal investigation into allegations of fraud and corruption related to the irregular processing of housing allowances. According to the DoE's spokesperson, Gerald Sambo, the investigation found that the two officials had unlawfully manipulated the payment system by processing housing allowances outside their authorised Persal distribution code – an internal payroll system code that links public servants to their specific department and cost centre. These actions were carried out without the necessary approvals. The transactions, which occurred between July and November 2024, led to educators and other officials from various districts unduly benefitting from housing allowance payments. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga Department of Education suspends principal over sexual harassment claims 'These payments were processed without compliance to established administrative procedures. The department has suspended the implicated officials to allow the investigation to proceed without interference,' Sambo said. He added that the department would conduct an internal disciplinary hearing and reiterated its zero-tolerance approach to fraud, corruption and unethical conduct. ALSO READ: New Covid-19 variant: Public urged to remain calm 'Public servants are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and operate strictly within the bounds of the law. Any deviation will be met with the full might of the law. The department will not release the names of the implicated officials to safeguard the integrity of ongoing legal and disciplinary processes,' Sambo said. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
02-07-2025
- The Citizen
Mpumalanga Department of Education suspends principal over sexual harassment claims
The Mpumalanga Department of Education (DoE) has placed the principal of a secondary school in Acornhoek, in the Bohlabela District, on precautionary suspension following allegations of sexual harassment. Mpumalanga News reports that in a statement dated June 26, the DoE's spokesperson, Gerald Sambo, said this action has been taken to enable an investigation into the matter and to safeguard the best interests of learners. 'The department treats all allegations of sexual misconduct with the utmost seriousness, and acts in strict accordance with the Employment of Educators Act No 76 of 1998. 'In particular, Section 17 provides for the mandatory dismissal of any educator found guilty of serious misconduct, including: committing an act of sexual assault against a learner; engaging in a sexual relationship with a learner and encouraging or coercing a learner to participate in sexual acts,' he said. Sambo added that Section 18 of the Act outlines other forms of misconduct that may warrant disciplinary action, including sexual harassment. He said such cases are handled through formal disciplinary processes to ensure fairness, accountability and legal compliance. 'The department will also refer this matter to the South African Council for Educators, which holds the authority to deregister educators found guilty of sexual misconduct, thereby prohibiting their re-employment in any educational institution within the country.' Sambo said educators are entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding learners and are regarded as in loco parentis while learners are in their care. 'Any violation of this trust, especially through inappropriate relationships or misconduct, is not only unethical, but also a serious breach of professional and legal obligations. The department is therefore deeply disturbed by allegations of this nature and wishes to assure the public that it will take decisive disciplinary action against any educator found to have acted inappropriately,' explained Sambo. He said the DoE remains committed to fostering a safe, supportive and enabling learning environment for all learners. He called on parents, learners and members of the school community to continue to report any suspected incidents of sexual misconduct by educators – or any other person – to law enforcement institutions, including the SAPS and the DoE. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
03-06-2025
- The Citizen
Mpumalanga man accused of killing nurse girlfriend denied bail
A man accused of killing his girlfriend, Nomvula Octavia Happy Sambo (57), on Thursday was denied bail by the Masoyi Periodical Court in Mpumalanga, yesterday. According to Mpumalanga News, Louis Masuku (50) will again appear in court on July 10 on a charge of murder. Masoyi Police Station spokesperson Sergeant Nanikie Nonyane said Masuku had an argument with Sambo. She was shot and killed, allegedly by him. She was a nurse at the Manzini Clinic. According to reports, Masuku believed his girlfriend, with who he lived, was having an affair with another man. 'Sambo ran out of the house into the neighbour's house. Masuku followed her and allegedly fired several shots. One hit her in the head and she was confirmed dead at the scene,' Nonyane said. The acting Mpumalanga police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, has welcomed the arrest and condemned the continued violence against women. 'We cannot allow this to become normal. Women should feel safe, especially in their own homes and relationships. I urge anyone facing difficulties in their relationships to seek help from professionals or relevant support structures before it ends in tragedy,' said Mkhwanazi. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
