Latest from The Herald
The Herald
7 hours ago
- The Herald
Man suspected of double murder was a cop
The man suspected of shooting dead two young women at a flat in Central before turning the gun on himself on Friday morning was a police officer. 'Police can confirm that the [dead man] found on the scene was a 32-year-old off-duty police constable who was stationed at Algoa Park,' police spokesperson Lt-Col Siphokazi Mawisa said. An inquest docket and double murder case have been opened. Mawisa said Humewood detectives had responded to the scene at Gordon Terrace at about 9.30am. 'On arrival, they found the bodies of two women and a man with gunshot wounds. 'The motive for the double murder is unclear, however, a police investigation is under way. 'Information regarding the deceased will only be released once their next-of-kin have been informed.' According to bystanders, the two women worked as waitresses at a popular Gqeberha beachfront bar. The Herald
The Herald
7 hours ago
- General
- The Herald
J-Bay hosts community lunch to spark year of nourishment and hope
While the world's top surfers took on Supertubes in the J-Bay Open, something equally powerful was stirring on land this Mandela Day; a mass gathering around shared tables, cooked with love and served with dignity. More than 1,500 residents of Jeffreys Bay and Pellsrus came together at Pellsrus Primary School for the first-ever J-Bay Community Lunch, where a hot meal carried the weight of a much bigger dream: to feed 200 people every week for a year. Organised during the WSL J Bay Open by The House of Mandela, the Faulkner Family Trust, and a growing coalition of local churches, artists, surf leaders, and residents, the lunch was a call to action, and a grassroots tribute to Madiba's spirit of ubuntu: 'I am because we are.' Rooted in the philosophy of umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu — a person is a person through other people, the gathering emphasised that true strength lies in community. 'Food grown, cooked, and shared by communities builds lasting bonds more than anything else,' said Kweku Mandela-Amuah, event director and grandson of Nelson Mandela. 'Here, we honour the mothers' recipes, the farmers' soil, and the shared responsibility to care for one another, as we always have.' At the heart of the experience was home-grown flavour and soul: local gogos who cooked alongside guest chef Hardy McQueen; schoolchildren performed and shared stories; and artists like YoungstaCPT, DJ Doowap, and Don Delicious brought the music. The lunch was just a start. In a province where one in four households face food insecurity, plans are already in motion to transform the moment into a sustainable feeding programme (at just R5 a meal) powered by local kitchens, rotating chefs, and a growing volunteer network — all fuelled by the values of ubuntu. 'When we break bread together, we break barriers too. This is not charity, it's reciprocal care,' said professional surfer and organiser Joshe Faulkner.
The Herald
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Would Mandela be proud of the progress South Africa has made?
July 18 marks the annual global celebration of the life and legacy of former president Nelson Mandela. Over the years, millions of people have dedicated at least 67 minutes of their time to give back, reflecting the 67 years Mandela spent in service to the people as well as recognising his values and contribution to the struggle for democracy. However, South Africans have mixed feelings about the progress the country has made since the end of apartheid. While South Africa has made significant strides in human rights, concerns have been raised about high levels of poverty, unemployment, inequality and crime, with little progress made in these areas. As we reflect on Mandela's legacy, do you think Madiba would look back and be proud of the state of the country or is he turning in his grave?
The Herald
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald
Online bookings and 5-week pledge: South Africans abroad get home affairs upgrade
South African citizens needing to register child births and renew passports while abroad can benefit from service centres being rolled out in several countries. The promise is to cut turnaround times to five weeks. Home affairs minister Leon Schreiber said some people had waited between 12 to 18 months to obtain a new passport. He launched the first two service centres in Australia this week, in Sydney and Melbourne, with another due to open in Perth by the end of September. Two centres went live this week in Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand. This is in addition to the service centre in London, which is operational. Over the coming months, the department of home affairs will open service centres in the United Arab Emirates and China, followed by France, Germany and the Netherlands later this year and North America in the new year. The service centres abroad will offer: application intake and processing for adult and minor passports, for new passports and renewals, ending the need to travel or wait indefinitely for consular appointments; birth registration applications; a new online appointment booking system that brings predictability, structure and transparency to planning, while also accommodating walk-ins; and e-mail support and SMS-based application tracking so clients are kept informed every step of the way. Opening hours are from Monday to Friday from 9am to noon and 1pm to 5pm. The department is also working to upgrade the eHomeAffairs live capture platform which will enable the centres to offer smart ID services and eliminate the use of paper forms. An announcement will be made when the project is completed. TimesLIVE
The Herald
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Beware of fake Mkhwanazi profiles and using his face during protest marches, police warn
Police said Mkhwanazi also asked the public to stop using his photo during politically aligned marches, especially those against the president. 'Though the provincial commissioner appreciates the support people have showed towards the work of the KZN police, the use of his photograph and name on posters and banners during marches has the potential of sending unintended messages to government, government officials and the international community. The commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal is against crime and criminals, not leaders in government.' Throughout the week political parties, NGOs, civic organisations, security companies and religious groups were among hundreds who took to the streets as part of the #handsoffMkhwanazi campaign. At a media briefing on July 6, Mkhwanazi alleged political interference in police investigations. He said a criminal syndicate has infiltrated law enforcement and intelligence and implicated police minister Senzo Mchunu and senior officers. TimesLIVE
