Latest news with #EasternCape
The Herald
2 hours ago
- The Herald
Reward offered for information about double murder at waste site
The family of the Gqeberha father and son who were shot dead during a robbery at a dump site earlier in 2025 have put up a reward for any information that may lead to an arrest and successful prosecution of the perpetrators. Heinrich Minnie, 47, and his son, Tiaan, 26, were killed at the Arlington Waste Facility in Victoria Drive on February 5. Since then, little progress has been made in the double murder investigation. On Thursday, the family announced that they were offering a reward of R6,000. Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said the case was being investigated by the Eastern Cape Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Investigation team. He also confirmed the reward being offered by the victims' family. 'A R6,000 reward is being offered by the family for information given to the police that may result in the successful arrest and prosecution of the perpetrator or perpetrators responsible for these murders,' Beetge said. 'Any person with information that could assist the police in their investigation is urged to contact Warrant Officer John Lourens on 071-352-4706, or Crime Stop on 08600-10111. Callers may opt to remain anonymous.' The father and son had been disposing of rubbish at the tip in Walmer when they were gunned down in broad daylight. Tiaan was shot dead while still seated inside the vehicle, while Heinrich's body was found next to the bakkie. According to the police at the time, the suspected motive was robbery. The Herald
CBC
9 hours ago
- Climate
- CBC
'There was nothing we could do,' says South African woman who watched floodwaters engulf her home
One moment, Zukiswa Mbuku and her husband were eating breakfast and having an ordinary Tuesday. The next, they were fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their backs as raging floodwaters swallowed their home. The elderly couple live near a river in Mthatha, a South African town in the coastal province of Eastern Cape, which is currently under a state of national disaster as people try to recover from last week's deadly floods. Mbuku says she and her husband had just finished eating when a neighbour ran in and warned them to run because the water from the river was rapidly approaching the houses. From the back window, they could already see their garden flooding. "Then we went out through the front door. When we looked down the road, the water was coming," Mbuku told As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal. The river water almost seemed to gallop towards them, she said, but soundlessly, like a silent, yet terrifying, horse. Within minutes, it had surrounded their house up to the windows. "We had to rush out without taking anything because everything happened so fast," she said. "There was nothing we could do." 'Unprecedented, catastrophic and unimaginable' An extreme weather front brought heavy rain, strong winds and snow to one of South Africa's poorest provinces last week, causing flooding that left 92 people dead and roads, houses, schools and other infrastructure damaged. Mthatha was the hardest hit. At least two school children who were washed away in a bus are among the unverified number of missing persons according to local media reports, while thousands have since been displaced. Authorities have appealed for residents to report missing people so rescuers could better understand how many people they were still looking for. "Since June 9, this province has been hit hard by unprecedented, catastrophic and unimaginable disasters," Zolile Williams, a member of the provincial legislature's executive council, said on Thursday during a memorial service in Mthatha for the victims. "Since that day, the Eastern Cape has not been the same." Struggle to rebuild what's been lost Life has certainly not been the same for Mbuku. She and her husband have since found refuge in a local bed and breakfast, she says, just five homes away from their flooded house. "We are at the curve of the river. So all the houses that are at the curve before the river straightens, they were affected," she said. "The other houses are on the upper side. The water never reached them." When the floodwaters receded, the couple went back to their house to assess the damage. "When my husband opened the front door, the water rushed like anything. It was forceful," she said. "The fridge was floating, chairs were floating, couches were floating." Some of her furniture, she said, had been broken apart and flung about the house. While the house is still standing, it's still too damp and water damaged to move back in, especially with Mbuku's asthma. "We are 70-something years old. It's quite traumatic," she said. "How do you gather and restore what you collected all these years? What do you do?" Community pulls together Declaring a national disaster allows the government to release funding for relief and rehabilitation. But Mbuku says she hasn't received much in the way of help from any government officials. A local councillor phoned them, she says, and "promised that they would do something because of our age." "We thought they would provide us with accommodation, but they didn't," she said. Instead, she says, it was her family who helped find them a place to stay. But she says her community — relatives, neighbours, and members of her church — have stepped up to offer what support they can. "We are assisting one another," she said.
News24
10 hours ago
- News24
Walter Sisulu University employee shot dead at campus gate
A staff member of Walter Sisulu University (WSU) was shot dead on the Mthatha campus on Thursday evening. Eastern Cape police said the employee was discovered inside a stationary vehicle, near the Nkululekweni entrance gate adjacent to the N2 highway, just before 18:00. 'Preliminary forensic analysis confirms the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds while seated in the driver's [seat]. The motive remains unknown,' said Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana. 'The identity of the deceased will be formally released once next-of-kin notification is complete, as per SAPS (South African Police Service) protocol. Forensic experts and detectives are actively processing the secured crime scene.' Mthatha residents were on Thursday participating in a day of mourning at the nearby King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College, following devastating floods last week that left at least 92 dead and over 4 000 households destroyed. READ | Walter Sisulu University student remembered as caring and protective at memorial service Acting provincial police commissioner Major General Thandiswa Kupiso said they had mobilised maximum resources to pursue all leads in the staff member's murder. 'Public speculation must be avoided to preserve the integrity of the investigation,' said Kupiso. This is the second reported shooting at the campus in recent months. On 15 April, WSU Bachelor of Education student Sisonke Mbolekwa was shot dead, allegedly by the university's residence manager, Manelisi Mampane. Mampane, who was arrested on charges including murder and attempted murder, is currently out on R10 000 bail.
News24
11 hours ago
- News24
Four arrested in connection with murder of 2 teenage girls in KwaNobuhle
Four people have been arrested in connection with the murder of two teenage girls whose burnt bodies were found in KwaNobuhle, the Eastern Cape, on Wednesday. The men, aged between 16 and 23, were arrested on Thursday. The bodies, believed to be those of girls aged 17 and 19, were found in a bush by a cattle herder. Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the murders were continuing. 'Further details regarding the suspects and the charges they face will be communicated in due course as the legal process unfolds,' she added. The murders have sparked concern and outrage in the community, with locals on Wednesday calling for the blood of those involved. Acting Eastern Cape police commissioner Major General Thandiswa Kupiso assured the public the police were treating the case with the utmost seriousness. The police have urged anyone with additional information about the case to come forward and assist with the investigation.
News24
13 hours ago
- Climate
- News24
11 hours in a tree: Woman's harrowing survival story as Mthatha floods claim family members
Devastating floods ravaged the Eastern Cape's Mthatha region, killing at least 92 people and leaving multiple families grieving for lost loved ones, with several victims still missing. Infrastructure damage is estimated at R4 billion, including 4 229 destroyed households, 413 damaged schools affecting over 48 341 pupils. Survivors like Talita Qhinga, Asongezwa Ntlabathi and Phumeza Papana have shared heartbreaking stories of watching family members swept away by sudden floodwaters. The Eastern Cape's day of mourning for the deadly Mthatha floods offered a step toward closure for some grieving families, while others remained uncertain as their loved ones are still missing and presumed dead. The provincial government held a solemn day of mourning for victims of the devastating floods that ravaged the Mthatha region, with at least 92 people dead. One of the survivors is a young woman, Talita Qhinga, 22, from Slovo Park near Mthatha. Speaking to News24, Qhinga broke down several times while trying to narrate a story of how she tried in vain to save her family members, four of whom were swept away by a raging current. The current swept Qhinga all the way from Slovo Park to near Highbury Primary School, about 4km from her homestead. She was stranded in a tree in the Mthatha River for close to 11 hours, hungry and cold. The bodies of her mother Nomthandazo, 50, her cousin Nonkoliseko, 40, and niece Esethu, 14, were recovered. Her nephew Lukhanyo, 7, is still missing. 'I was helpless when the incident happened and could not save them. That's the most painful thing for me. The incident happened around 05:00 last Tuesday. It was still dark as it is winter. I took out my phone and switched on its light. The water was raging. Suddenly our bed was floating in water. My niece went to the bedroom of her parents to wake them up,' Qhinga said. In just a few moments, they were overwhelmed by the water. 'I went to save our mother who was struggling. It was in that process that the water swept us away. They all drowned and disappeared in front of me. I stayed on top of the tree, in the cold and in fear, until I was rescued by divers around 16:00 (about 11 hours from the time of the incident),' Qhinga said. She was eventually saved by police divers and taken to hospital for medical observation. Qhinga said Esethu had dreams of going to medical school after high school. 'This is very sad for me. The only closure for me would be the discovery of my nephew (Lukhanyo).' Asongezwa Ntlabathi, 25, from hard-hit Decoligny village, lost five family members – her mother, grandmother and two nephews aged 6 and 8. Her 11-year-old nephew is still missing. Ntlabathi said: We really don't know how we are going to bury them yet, there is one still missing. I don't know how many times I have been in the state mortuary to look for my nephew. In the morning, I am in the morgue and in the afternoon, still the same thing, on a daily basis. Phumeza Papana, from Slovo Park, lost her last-born daughter Neliswa aged 23. 'I was part of the search that discovered her body. I screamed when her lifeless body was later discovered. What was so painful for me is the fact that my daughter died crying for help to be saved.' Finance MEC Mlungisi Mvoko, who was the acting premier as Oscar Mabuyane did not attend the mourning service, said the deadly deluge affected thousands of people, mostly in Mthatha. 'The number of destroyed households is 4 229 with 1 963 households with partial roof damage. The number of schools damaged is 413, with 1 471 classrooms damaged. The number of affected learners in those schools totals 48 341. We have not listed damaged roads, bridges, hospitals and water infrastructure but for now we estimate the damage at R4 billion,' said Mvoko. He said land would be made available for communities whose houses were built close to river banks but who now wanted to be moved.
