Latest news with #Khayelitsha
The Herald
2 hours ago
- The Herald
Arrests after burnt bodies found in KwaNobuhle, climb to eight
The number of suspects arrested in connection with the two burnt bodies, believed to be those of two teenage girls, that were discovered in KwaNobuhle on Wednesday, has risen to eight. Police spokesperson Brig Nobuntu Gantana said the suspects, aged between 16 and 27, would appear before the KwaNobuhle magistrate's court on Monday. 'This follows the initial report indicating four suspects, but moments later, there was a detention of an additional four suspects, after an interrogation process.' The bodies of the two victims, believed to be aged between 17 and 19, were found by goat herders at about 7am, near the boundary of the Nyosi Wildlife Reserve and KwaNobuhle, adjacent to Fourth Avenue, Khayelitsha. The Herald
News24
2 days ago
- News24
Khayelitsha spaza shops reopen after extortionists agree not to increase fees
Foreign-owned spaza shops in Site C, Khayelitsha, reopened after extortionists agreed not to charged them increased protection fees. Shop owners say increased police visibility forced the extortionists to back off. The shop owners did not attend a Khayelitsha Community Policing Forum imbizo over the weekend. Increased police visibility in Khayelitsha has prompted extortionists to agree not to charge foreign-owned spaza shops increased protection fees, according to some shop owners. As a result, the spaza shops have reopened in Site C after a two-day shutdown. Police visibility was increased after the murder of three Somali nationals in Taiwan informal settlement last week. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the shop owners told News24 that they were forced to close their businesses after multiple extortion groups demanded increased protection fees. However, they said police visibility was increased in the area after the three murders, prompting the extortionists to agree not to increase their fees if the businesses reopened. 'The police were looking for them,' one shop owner told News24. 'So, the protection fee guys told us they'll decide who collects where and when. We cannot pay more than one group.' However, to add insult to injury, the shop owners pointed out that despite paying the fees, their safety wasn't guaranteed. 'Before, they used to help with unruly customers, robberies, even during community protests. Now, when there are robberies, they're nowhere to be found. If they really protected us, there wouldn't be so many gangs extorting us.' In an attempt to address the ongoing extortion crisis, the Khayelitsha Community Policing Forum (CPF) held an imbizo over the weekend. But none of the shop owners attended it, CPF chairperson Phindile George said. 'The community rather spoke about general crime, like robbery and gender-based violence. The shops had already reopened by then,' he said. Community activist Mbulelo Dwane also criticised the shopkeepers for not attending community safety meetings. 'They thought paying these 'boys' would keep them safe. Now the gangs have multiplied and spiralled out of control,' he added. Meanwhile, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie urged shop owners to speak up. 'We cannot act unless these crimes are reported,' he said. News24 previously reported that residents said the resurgence of extortion networks was linked to the death of alleged gangster and taxi boss Yanga 'Bara' Nyalara. After Nyalara was killed in a shootout with police in the Eastern Cape in February, gangsters who previously fled from the Western Cape began to return, sparking a new wave of violence. Some of those who fled reportedly ended up in Gqeberha, where they allegedly joined or formed gangs.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
South African safety fears force parents in Cape Town to seek former white-only schools
Fears of crime and gang violence in the notorious townships on the outskirts of South Africa's city of Cape Town are forcing some parents to make difficult decisions to send their children on long daily commutes to former white-only schools."Thugs would go into the school carrying guns threatening teachers, forcefully taking their laptops in front of the learners," Sibahle Mbasana told the BBC the about the school her sons used to attend in Khayelitsha, Cape Town's largest township."Imagine your child experiencing this regularly. There's hardly any security at the school and even if there is they are powerless to do anything about."It is more than three decades since the end of white-minority rule in South Africa, but there are still black students who have to endure the vast inequalities that were the bedrock of the racist system of Mbasana feels her three children are the inheritors of this legacy - particularly affecting her oldest son Lifalethu who was at a township school between the ages of six and of the apartheid era's main laws was the Bantu Education Act of 1953, which aimed to prevent black children from reaching their full potential. This created segregated schools with less funding and fewer resources for those in poor areas, which to this day are overcrowded and often suffer from the fallout of high crime, drug use and Mbasana, who grew up in Eastern Cape province and moved to Khayelitsha when she was 18, decided she had no choice but to transfer Lifalethu, who is now 12, and her other son Anele, 11, to a state school some 40km (25 miles) away in Simon's Town, situated on a picturesque bay on the Cape Peninsula which is famously home to South Africa's boys have been joined by their seven-year-old sister Buhle at the school, which has better facilities and smaller class sizes."I told myself [that] Buhle was not going to that [local] school because I already endured so many things with the two boys when they were at that school," the 34-year-old clothes and her husband would love to move their family away from Khayelitsha completely."We don't want to live in the township, but we have to live here because we can't afford to move out," she said."Speak to anyone in the township and they'll tell you they would move out at the first opportunity if they could." There is no doubt that there are township schools, led by visionary principals and hard-working teachers, that have done wonders despite the obstacles of poor infrastructure and large class safety and security have proved insurmountable for some when, for example, gangs demand protection fees from GroundUp news website has reported that teachers at Zanemfundo Primary School in the Philippi East, close to Khayelitsha, were allegedly told to pay 10% of their salaries to the extortionists who seemed to operate with impunity."It is not safe at all. We are in extreme danger," one teacher told GroundUp."These gangs come to the school gun-wielding. Our lives are at risk. Teachers at the school are asking for transfers because they don't feel safe."According to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), a private security company is now to be stationed at the school and the police are patrolling similar incidents have reportedly taken place at five other schools in the surrounding areas of Nyanga, Philippi and Samora Machel. "My husband Sipho works in the navy in Simon's Town and he travels there so I thought it would be safer and more comfortable for my children to go to that school," said Mrs longer commutes, often by bus or minibus taxi, to safer schools come with their own dangers and stresses."My children get up at around 4.30am and leave at 5.50am when Sipho is transporting them. When they go by bus, because Sipho may be working elsewhere, they leave by 5.30 and they get home by 4.30 in the afternoon," said Mrs Mbasana."They are always tired and want to sleep. They are strong because they do their homework, but they sleep much earlier than other kids would."Lifalethu made national headlines last year when there was a frantic search for him after he was forced to walk home from Simon's Town to Khayelitsha as the bus he regularly takes refused him entry as he could not find his driver involved was subsequently suspended for contravening company policy, which requires employees to assist schoolchildren in uniform who have lost their darkness falling, it was Mrs Mbasana's worst nightmare when Anele called to say his elder brother had not been allowed a massive social media frenzy followed and by several strokes of good fortune he was found - at one stage the boy had been given a lift by a good Samaritan who dropped him off at a petrol station around 5km from his there he was accompanied on foot by a security guard who lived in his area before being picked up and taken home to his relieved family by police officers who had joined the search for him. His case highlighted the plight of thousands of pupils from townships some of whom do a round trip of up to 80km per day either on public transport or pre-arranged trips with minibus taxis to attend school in the city's suburban areas - which used to accept only white students in the apartheid residents of these suburbs often opt for a private education for their offspring, meaning that the state schools there tend to have spaces for those coming from further Williams, vice-principal of the state primary school in Observatory - a Bohemian area of the Cape Town, says about 85% of his school's intake of around 830 students come from the townships - many of whom are exhausted by their long days."Some parents work in the area while most spend lots of money on transport for their children to access schools with better infrastructure," he told the BBC."Sometimes they fall asleep in class."According to Amnesty International, South Africa has one of the most unequal school systems in the world - with a child's outcome very much dependent on their place of birth, wealth and colour of their skin."Children in the top 200 schools achieve more distinctions in mathematics than children in the next 6,600 schools combined. The playing field must be levelled," its 2020 report schools are subsidised, but parents still have to pay school fees, which in the Western Cape can range from between $60 (£45) and $4,500 (£3,350) the nearly 1,700 schools across the province, more than 100 are no-fee institutions as designated by the government for learners living in economically depressed province's education department explains that it often has to cover a shortfall in funding from the government - and schools in more middle-class areas turn to parents to cover the 2,407 teaching posts had been lost in the province as the government allocated only 64% of the cost of the nationally negotiated wage agreement with teachers, the WCED reduction in posts has meant that some contract teachers were not reappointed when their contracts ended in December, while some permanent teachers have been asked to move schools."We are in an impossible position, and it is not of our making, and the Western Cape is not the only province affected," the WCED added. The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) says the decision has been particularly devastating for schools in impoverished and crime-ridden areas."The schools that are feeling the real impact of this is your typical township school. They can't afford to replace those teachers with governing-body appointments, which is the case with the better-resourced schools where parents can afford to pay extra fees to cover the costs to employ additional teachers," Naptosa executive director Basil Manuel told the BBC."They feel the cut, they will have the bigger class sizes, they will have the teachers that are more stressed out."The children, especially those who are not too academically inclined, will slip through the cracks."Experts blame the continuing educational disparities on the debt the African National Congress (ANC) government of Nelson Mandela inherited in 1994 from the apartheid regime."The ANC had to confront the fact that it couldn't deliver in the way it said it would," Aslam Fataar, research professor in higher education transformation at Stellenbosch University, told the with fiscal austerity "poorer schools were never given a chance to develop a sustainable platform for teaching and learning", he said."The political interest in what happens in the township schools has been lost 20 years ago. When it comes to teacher expenditure and pupil-teacher ratios you can see how that sector has been neglected. The numbers of teachers in those schools continues to bear the brunt of cuts."Prof Fataar is equally bleak about the future: "I can't see, bar a miracle, how we can increase the finances for poor schools."Parents like the Mbasanas, stuck in the townships and often at the mercy of gangs, have run out of patience. You may also be interested in: Pictures of how Muslim worship helps quell South African ganglands'We are students thanks to South Africa's #FeesMustFall protests'South Africa's deadly love affair with gunsCape Town anger over slave quarter gentrificationThe white student braving racial politics in South Africa Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
News24
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Bravo Le Roux talks about his music career and fatherhood
Born Sinesipho Peter a.k.a Bravo Le Roux, a talented South African hip hop artist and music producer. Born and bred in the vibrant township of Khayelitsha - Cape Town, Bravo often times describes himself as a 'township bru,' reflecting his humble beginnings and the cultural influences that shape his art. The stage name 'Bravo Le Roux' originated from Bravo's early days as a young soccer enthusiast at Kleinmond Pimary School, where the nickname stuck and eventually became synonymous with his musical identity. With a unique sound that blends hip hop rhythms with authentic township storytelling that resonates with audiences, Bravo Le Roux has been making waves in the South African music scene with collaborations from well established artists. Read more | From Khayelitsha to international runways, Mzukisi Mbane on turning passion into award-winning success In an interview with DRUM, Bravo told us how his passion for music started and how he grew very fond of being a creative. 'I used to play soccer for the Football Foundation in Gansbaai, a development for Newcastle from Britain. I played for the national team, the under 13-14, and that's when I also had the opportunity to partake in the soccer world cup in 2010. However, as I grew older music kept on tightening its grip on me then I outgrew my love for soccer, and I eventually gave music a chance,' he said. Bravo described his creative process in songwriting as natural, saying he doesn't think much but just allows his heart to lead him. 'I don't write a lot of songs, most of my songs are freestyle. I believe ideas, information or archives, have been left for us by our ancestors, so everything is in the universe, you just need to catch it. So, when I'm creating music, I'm very present, I listen to the universe, I listen to myself, my deeper self, I try to gather memories from experiences. Try to think how something made me feel and I tell a story based on that then just build from it.' Read more | KwaMashu-born runner, Nate Ngcobo, beats paralysis odds in Comrades Marathon As Father's month is celebrated in June, Bravo shared his thoughts on what it means to be a father. For Bravo, being a father is about more than just providing; it's about being present and being a source of love and protection for his daughter. He emphasises the importance of keeping things real and authentic with his child. 'I honestly don't want to be a musician to her. I don't want to be a superstar to her. I don't want to be Bravo Le Roux to her. I'd like her to figure out maybe 12 years later who her dad actually is. My primary role is to be her father and not a well-known figure. I want to instil or teach her values by being her dad, and one of those many values would be for her to know God, His kindness and grace, those are the values that really matter to me. I'd like her to get close to God and know that's actually our father. Lastly, I'd really like her to be a kind person, to extend kindness to others and to be very graceful,' Bravo said. He added that his approach to parenting is centered around giving his daughter the freedom to grow and develop into her own person. 'To be honest, I don't have any unrealistic expectations. It's my first daughter, it's my first time being a dad, and the moment I have expectations, I might get disappointed when they are not fulfilled. I am in her life to accompany her to become whatever she needs to become. It's not the other way around. I need to be there for her, to guide and support her.' Read more | Meet Lubelo Scott, a lawyer who grew up in prison and is now breaking barriers in court halls Addressing the current state of affairs in South Africa, particularly the GBV crisis and what measures can be taken, Bravo expressed a powerful viewpoint. 'GBV is really a crisis, and I don't think anyone should have to go through that, be it men or women, no one at all. And at home growing up I've experienced GBV in many layers, one of the reasons that made me not to want have kids as it really affected me. However, I think everything that needed to be done has been done. Women have done everything possible to keep themselves safe from violence. I believe now that there's nothing women can be told on keeping themselves safe as they've done it all already. And I'm raising a girl in this very vile world and society, and I'm forced to have such conversations with her but where do I even begin having a conversation with my child on protecting herself from being molested or abused? So, it really cuts deep and sad that we now must teach our sisters, daughters and mothers how to fight just to stay alive. Men just need to do better and stop abusing women,' he emphasised. Read more | Meet Xola Toto, the Gospel voice inspiring a new generation As Men's Mental Health Awareness is also observed in June, Bravo shared his thoughts on the importance of men prioritising their mental well-being. 'Men need to find safe spaces where they can be vulnerable. When you feel pain, you need to let it out so find a safe haven, even if it's in brotherhood, where you can meet every other day to just talk about stuff in an effort to not suffer alone. Also don't be sad or sulk about something forever, that causes your life to be stagnant which could lead to depression, if you want to be sad about something, do so but don't dwell or sulk about it for too long. Get back up, dust yourself and be happy for a new dawn, as worse as it is, someone out there has it worse than you,' he said. He concluded by saying he prioritises his mental health by not succumbing to the pressures of the industry. 'I prioritise my own mental health by not comparing myself to anyone. I make music because it makes me feel good, not because it makes me relevant or famous. So, if I release a song and it's not gaining traction as much, then it's okay I don't have to compare myself to anyone else, because the moment I do that, I'm no longer living authentically as I'll want to step up and be in that person's level - not that it's a bad thing being inspired but when it's done under pressure it costs you and I don't do that.'
News24
01-06-2025
- General
- News24
Meet the woman behind Ask A Mom, a safe, supportive space for mothers who need a community
She was merely sharing her real, raw journey about single motherhood on TikTok. From one video to the next, many mothers resonated with her story, and the next thing, the community of mothers called for a Whatsapp group chat which she started in February 2025. Before she knew it, the community turned into an initiative and selfless movement aimed to help out mothers in their struggles. Nobuhle Radebe, affectionately known as BheePosh tells Drum how activism found her and philanthropy followed naturally. 'I didn't set out with a clear plan to step into motherhood, activism, or philanthropy in the way that I have, but life has a way of calling you into purpose through experience. Motherhood came first, and with it, a complete shift in perspective. Activism found me when I started sharing my real, raw journey on TikTok. I wasn't trying to be anything other than honest. But the more I shared, the more I realised how many women felt the same: overwhelmed, isolated, and in need of community. One comment suggested I start a WhatsApp group, and philanthropy followed naturally. 'Once you start connecting with people's real needs, when you see someone crying because they received baby formula, or you witness moms donating breast pumps and nappies to one another, you can't turn away. Helping others became an extension of my motherhood journey and a reflection of the kind of world I want my children to grow up in,' she adds. Read more | From Khayelitsha to international runways, Mzukisi Mbane on turning passion into award-winning success Now, she's a proud founder of Ask A Mom, a community-based support initiative born to create a safe, non-judgmental space for mothers. Nobuhle has created a platform where women can ask questions, share their experiences, seek advice from each other and qualified professionals, and receive both emotional and practical support. 'Whether you're navigating the early days of motherhood or balancing the demands of parenting, Ask A Mom exists to ensure that no mother feels alone at any point of their motherhood journey. We are proud to have a qualified social worker and midwife as part of our community, offering credible, compassionate guidance when it's needed most. At its core, Ask A Mom is about empowering mothers through connection, compassion, and community, regardless of their background or circumstances,' the mother of two says. Though she's no longer single, her heart has grown fond of the mothers that felt seen and heard by her. Currently, the Whatsapp group chat has over 170 moms who actively participate and support one another every day. 'For safety and to protect the integrity of the space especially since we discuss sensitive topics and offer personal support each new member is required to complete a vetting questionnaire to confirm that they are indeed a mom or a mom to be. This step ensures that the space remains trusted, secure, and genuine.' From all the stories and journeys, she's had a front-row seat to through her initiative, she says the one that stands out the most for her is one of a first-time mom who had virtually no support besides her partner. 'The moms in the group came together and created a heartfelt video filled with realistic, honest tips to support her through the early stages of motherhood. It was such a genuine act of community. 'There was also a young mom who didn't have the essentials to prepare for her baby's arrival. Without hesitation, other moms stepped in and put together a package of essentials, from nappies and baby clothes to toiletries and more. What's even more inspiring is that group members often go out of their way to deliver these items personally, breast pumps, baby clothes, nappies you name it. It's that kind of real-world action and sisterhood that keeps me going. It's proof that when women come together, incredible things happen,' she beams with pride. Under Ask A Mom, the 30-year-old houses a few programmes that include the following; - Commerce and Career Wednesdays (Ongoing) This bi-weekly digital series is dedicated to helping mothers reclaim or elevate their careers. Whether returning to work after maternity leave or exploring new professional paths, Commerce and Career Wednesdays provides practical tools like CV building, LinkedIn optimisation, interview tips, and entrepreneurial guidance. We've featured expert guests and real success stories. - Virtual Birth Class (April 2025) In response to the overwhelming need for accessible and reliable birth education, we hosted a free virtual birth class facilitated by healthcare professionals. The session covered crucial topics like labour preparation, creating birth plans, postpartum recovery, and mental well-being. - Winter Drive (Current) ' Our Winter Drive is one of our most heartfelt initiatives. As temperatures drop, we are collecting and intend to distribute warm clothing, blankets, baby supplies, and food to moms and families in need. Some moms not only donate but also volunteer to collect and deliver items to others in their area. It's a real-life reflection of the Ask A Mom spirit: no mother left behind. This drive reminds us that even the smallest act of kindness like a warm jacket or a pack of nappies can bring dignity and comfort to another family.' 'Each of these programmes is born from real needs expressed by our community. Whether it's emotional support, professional development, birth education, or physical resources, Ask A Mom strives to show up for mothers in tangible, life-changing ways.' Read more | Lawrence Maleka gets real about fame and hosting Friends of Amstel With the winter drive, the goal is to keep at least 100 families warm with winter packages, with basic items such as clothes, non-perishable food, and blankets. All the items collected will be donated to the Frida Hartley Women's Shelter in Yeoville, Johannesburg during Mandela month (July). While motherhood has taught her endurance, emotional depth, and vulnerability with all the sleepless nights and financial stress, helping other mothers has given her life purpose and meaning beyond words. If anything, it's been a constant reminder that healing can happen through community. 'In the next 5–10 years, I see Ask A Mom growing into a national network of physical and digital support hubs. I envision resource centres in every major city where mothers can get help, attend workshops, and simply connect. We hope to be a recognised voice in maternal wellbeing and advocacy, driving policy and social change,' she confidently tells Drum. Nobuhle is also the founder of Fempire Afrika, a digital solutions marketing agency that helps brands grow through strategic content and online visibility, a full-time content creator, and she also runs Luna Boheme ZA, a gold non-tarnish jewellery line that celebrates elegance, individuality, and everyday luxury.
