Latest news with #SouthCoastHerald
The Citizen
12 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Human trafficking case: KZN mother refers to baby as a ‘dog'
A mother (30), who allegedly attempted to sell her baby, cried in court after her bail was denied. South Coast Herald reports that Magistrate Vuyokazi Diza handed down a judgment recently in the bail application of four people accused of trafficking a baby. At the first sitting of the bail application on May 12, the court heard how the four accused allegedly attempted to sell the newborn for financial gain. In statements from the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Michelle van Niekerk of Margate SAPS, the court heard how an offer of R25 000 was received for the child from a Nigerian national. It was the intervention of the police that resulted in the arrest of the four who allegedly tried to sell the baby for a better offer of R140 000. Van Niekerk opposed bail and believed they should remain in custody because if one of the four disappeared, it could jeopardise the case. Also, there was concern that they would interfere with state witnesses. 'The mother of the baby referred to the child as a dog and wanted nothing to do with it. She was no mother to the child,' read the detective's statement. Her 42-year-old boyfriend (accused three), who faces a schedule one offence, was granted bail of R3 000. The court heard he had a chronic illness and lived in a shack on a property he owned in Uvongo. He lived there without running water or electricity. Diza said accused three had indicated that he had ties to the area of jurisdiction, and it can be agreed that he can't just up and leave. His bail conditions are that he cannot interfere with state witnesses or police investigations. He must also report weekly to Margate Police Station. A husband (39) and wife (40), (accused one and two), who are believed to be the 'sellers' of the three-day-old baby were also denied bail. Accused one, two and four (the baby's mother) are facing a schedule six offence which carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment. In a strange twist, accused two arrived in court wearing a hijab over a longish pair of shorts. Her husband has been wearing a taqiyah (cap) since the start of the case. In a lengthy judgment, Diza gave various reasons for denying bail to the three accused. She said the court needed proof of residential addresses and employment, and this was not provided. Diza said there was mention of staying in Cape Town or Krugersdorp. 'Cape Town is far away and the police wouldn't know where to look for you, unlike accused three, who has ties to the area.' 'The court invited you to make this information available. It is something worth knowing and that's why I called for it (proof of residence) as 'something was lacking'.' Diza said so much could go wrong (if bail was granted), and they were unable to provide sufficient, significant details. She further said she cannot grant bail as it's not in the interest of justice, and she can't accept the exceptional circumstances. With regard to accused two's four children, Diza said the court has been informed that they are safe with relatives. The court heard how the mother of the baby (accused four) was going through a difficult time and needed help. Diza said the court questioned why, if accused four was staying with her mother, she couldn't have helped with the baby. Instead, the baby was handed over to accused one and two. * To protect the identity of the child, the four accused cannot be named. 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
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Sardine run reaches mid-South Coast with netting in Pennington
The sardines have arrived on the mid-South Coast, with successful netting in Pennington this morning. According to the South Coast Herald, there have been four nets so far, and it's just a matter of time before larger shoals reach the area. Netting was first observed on the South Coast in Port Edward on Saturday morning. There was also some netting in Port Shepstone yesterday. Several sharks were caught in the nets but were safely released. 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
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Citizen
Sardine Run 2025: Silver fish arrive in Pennington
The sardines have arrived on the mid-South Coast with successful netting in Pennington this morning (June 2). Reports indicate that there have been four nets so far, and that it's just a matter of time before bigger shoals arrive in the area. Netting was first seen on the South Coast in Port Edward on Saturday morning. There was also some netting in Port Shepstone yesterday. Several sharks were caught in the nets, but safely released. HAVE YOUR SAY Like the South Coast Herald's Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Pyjama fun at Hlanganani
Less than a minute South Coast Herald Less than a minute Hlanganani Preparatory School had a successful pyjama day last Friday. Also, it was a productive fundraising day. Raffle winners were Khwezi Ngcobo (Grade 6) who won first prize, Sqiniseko Duma (Grade 2) who won second prize, while Innocentia Hlophe (Grade 4) took home third prize. Hlanganani fielded two netball teams, two volleyball teams and two soccer teams at the winter sports day at Port Shepstone Senior Primary last Saturday, All teams performed well and played with gusto. HAVE YOUR SAY Like the South Coast Herald's Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists stunned after stumbling upon creature rarely seen in over a century: 'This raises a few questions'
Citizen scientists have made a rare and exciting discovery in Renishaw Hills, South Africa, according to the South Coast Herald. The group of locals identified a rare sable cruiser dragonfly. The phrase "citizen scientists" is used to describe community members who gather information on the local environment. In Renishaw Hills, 44 locals make up the group. Together, they created a project on the global iNaturalist platform, and for the past three years, they've been studying the wildlife and biodiversity in the Renishaw Coastal Precinct. "Citizen science opens the door to an advanced system where biodiversity observations may be made constantly across the globe and shared instantly via a vast network," citizen scientist Tim McClurg told the Herald. What makes the sighting of the sable cruiser dragonfly so impressive is the species' rarity. According to IOL, since its discovery in 1920, there have only been about 20 recorded sightings. By recording the sighting, the citizen scientists are documenting the species' geographic range. "The response was immediate and enthusiastic from our local group of experts, among them Peter Small, who confirmed it was a sable cruiser, which is incredibly rare, localised and vulnerable," McClurg added. The group has gathered a significant amount of data, making 13,863 observations spread across 1,796 species. With each new observation and recording, the group adds to its understanding of the region's biodiversity. The use of tools such as trail cameras can help document biodiversity and protect species. By learning more about the natural world through initiatives including citizen scientist projects, residents can better preserve the landscapes and wildlife of their areas. The sighting of the sable cruiser dragonfly sparked curiosity among fellow scientists and experts since it marked the southernmost location of the dragonfly. "This raises a few questions," McClurg said. "Has it always occurred here and simply been overlooked? Was it blown down in a storm? Is there a link with global warming? These are the questions that we may be able to answer with a vastly increased iNaturalist database." Moving forward, the citizen scientists are eager to learn more about the environment and contribute vital data that aids biologists across the globe. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
