FrereHospitalwelcomes50 newhealthcareprofessionals
THEHealth MEC NtandokaziCapa officially welcomed 50 newly appointedhealthcare professionals at Frere Tertiary Hospital in East London last week, marking asignificant milestone in strengthening clinical and management capacity at one of theprovince's key tertiary hospitals.
Theappointments formpartofthe Department'sAnnual Recruitment Plan (ARP), which targets critical posts to address staffing shortages across the public health system Therecruitment drivewas funded through a combination of the National Tertiary Services Grant (NTSG)and Ministerialfunding, with Frere Tertiary Hospital achieving 100% appointment of all identified critical posts.
Thebreakdownofthenewlyappointedstaffis:
• OneSeniorManager: Medical Services
TwoHeads of Department
• TwoHeads of Clinical Units
• Four Clinical Specialists (two Paediatrics,one General Surgery and one Anaesthetics)
• 11 Medical Doctors
• 24 Nurses,including one Area Manager forOutpatient Departments
Six Allied Health Professionals (four Physiotherapists, one Speech Therapistand one Occupational Therapist)
In total, 50 healthcareprofessionals have
been appointed to reinforce service delivery, leadershipand specialist careatthe hospital. Frere Tertiary Hospital is aspecialist referralhospital serving the Central Region of the EasternCape, coveringthe districts of Amathole, Buffalo City, Chris Hani andJoe Gqabi, with adrainage population of approximately 3.2 million people. The hospital has 868 approvedbedsacross 35 active wards and attendstoanaverage of 23,000 outpatients and 20,000 inpatientsper month, amounting to morethan 100,000 patients per quarter. Despite facing staffing challenges,the hospital recorded abed utilisation rate of 73.4%, above the national normof63.9%, underscoringthe pressureplaced on clinical services and the urgency of strengthening human resources.
Speaking at the welcoming engagement, Capa saidthe appointments represent adecisive step towards stabilising and improving healthcaredeliveryatFrere and acrossthe province. “Theseappointmentsdemonstrate thedepartment’s commitment to rebuilding capacity, filling long-standing vacancies and ensuring that ourhospitals areadequately staffed to meet the healthcareneeds of our communities.The appointment of the Senior Manager:Medical Services is expected to further strengthen clinical governance and oversight at the institution.”
Formercourtofficialssentenced formaintenancefraud
BABALWA NDLANYA
THE EastLondon Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI), in close collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), has secured the conviction and sentencing of Cynthia Nompumelelo Nobangule (69), Vuyolwethu Mashologu (62) and Nomathemba Gwanqana (60), who are former Zwelitsha Magistrate’sCourtofficials.
According to Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, the accused were implicated in along-running and systematicfraud scheme involving the misappropriation of maintenance fundsatthe Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court. They were found guilty and sentenced by the Zwelitsha Regional Court on 30 January2026. They were convicted and sentenced on all three hundred counts of fraud, which were taken as one.
The courtsentenced each one of them to six years’ directimprisonment, wholly suspended for aperiod of five years, on condition that they arenot convicted of fraud or any offence involving dishonesty during the period of suspension. In addition, the court imposed acompensatory order directing each accused to repay R60,000 to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development over aperiod of 36 months. The courtfurther ruled thatany failure to comply with the conditions of the sentence would result in the suspended term of imprisonment being activated, and they weredeclared unfit to possess firearms.
“The trio were arrested by ajoint team in February 2014, appeared in court and werereleased on bail. The landmark outcomes follow an extensive forensic and financial investigationinitiated after the Department of Justice
and Constitutional Development detected material irregularities withinthe maintenance trust account of Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court, which had become substantially overdrawn. The anomalies raised immediateconcern regarding internal controls, fiduciary compliance, and the safeguarding of funds earmarked for vulnerable maintenance beneficiaries,”said Mhlakuvana.
He added that investigations conclusively established that during the period between April 2003 and July2004, the accused persons acted either individually or in concert with acommon criminal purpose, unlawfully and intentionally defrauding the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development through acalculated abuse of theirofficial positions of trust.
“The accused systematically manipulated maintenance payment schedules, fraudulently reflecting that lawful beneficiaries had received maintenance payments. In addition to the scheme, they appended theirsignatures in theirrespective official capacities as checking officers, cashiers, counter clerks and/or sub-accountants, thereby falsely certifying that the payments had been properly verified, approved and lawfully disbursed in the ordinary execution of theirduties. The beneficiaries were never paid, and the funds were deliberately diverted and misappropriated by theaccused.”
Mhlakuvana added that the total financial prejudice suffered amounted to R240,625, with the offences not only resulting in direct financial loss to the state but also inflicting profound socio-economic harm on maintenance beneficiaries who relied on thesefunds for basic subsistence. The accused made numerous court appearances until theirsentencing by the Zwelitsha Regional Court on 30 January 2026.
The Department of Health in theEasternCape appointed newstaff.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
WSUmedicalschoolofficiallylaunchedinLusikisiki
ZOLILE
MENZELWA
THE official launch of the Walter SisuluUniversity(WSU) RuralClinical School at St Elizabeth Regional Hospital in Lusikisikion February 4was impactful and powerful forthe EasternCapeprovince
Speaking at the launch, Health MECNtandokazi Capa saiditwas apractical intervention in one of the biggestchallenges facing the province, access to quality healthcareinrural communities. “Our burden of disease is high Our distances arelong. Our shortages of health professionalsare real.For many years,young doctorsweretrained far from the communities that needed them most and toofew returned to serve there. The Rural Clinical School changes that reality,” she said.
The school brought medicaltrainingdirectly into rural health facilities.Itplacedstudents wherethe need was greatest. “And it builds a workforce that understands rural healthcare
because theyare trained inside it. This is a strategicsolutionand WSU has always understood this responsibility,”Capasaid.
TheWSU FacultyofMedicine andHealthSciences wasnot newtoinnovation. The WSURural Clinical Schoolis: The first medical Faculty in SA to implement Community-Based Education;
• The firstFaculty of Health Sciences in SA to introduce an undergraduate degree in Health Promotion;
• The firsttoimplement Problem-Based Learning and Community-Based Education in medical training;
• The firsttooffer the Clinical AssociateProgramme; The first to placeall medical studentsindistricthospitalsfor extended continuous training; and
• The first to establish aCentre forGlobalHealthand Research.
TheRural Clinical School was fully operational, serving as an integrated platform connectedtofour additional hospitals, community health centres and primaryhealthcare facili-
ties across the region.
“This hub-and-spoke modelallows specialists, registrars and students to rotate across facilities, strengthening both service delivery and training at the same time,” Capa said.Academicactivities officially began on January 19. She said her department had committed to strengthening human resources,infrastructure and specialist capacity at St Elizabeth and surrounding hospitals.
In December 2024, WSU Faculty Executive Dean, Professor Wezile Chitha, was elected president of the Health Professionals Council of SA (HPCSA) for the 2025 –2030 term. The HPCSA regulates standards for all health professionals in the country.
“Having its national president come from WSUinthis provincespeaks to the credibility, governance and academic leadership that exists here. It places leadership from this province and thisuniversity at the centreofnational health profession governance,” shesaid. It reflected credibility, competence and trust
in the standards set at the university. Theprogramme, she said, will be replicated at FrontierHospital in Komani
“Tothe students heretoday, you arenot here by accident. You arepartofadeliberate effort to change how healthcareisdelivered in rural South Africa. Theexperience you gainhere will shape the kind of clinicians you become practical, adaptable and community-focused,” she said.
Theschool belonged to the people of Lusikisiki, and its success needed to translate to better services, shorter waiting times,stronger facilities and improved health outcomes
“That is the standardweare holding ourselves to. We areplacing doctors where they areneeded most. And we areproving that ruralhealthcarecan be aplace of excellence, training and leadership. TheEasternCape will continue to invest in practical solutions like this, solutionsthat bringcarecloser to our people and build skills within our communities,” Capa said.
ORTambospendsbulkofinfrastructuregrantsonwaterprojects
ZOLILE MENZELWA
OF its over abillion-rand infrastructure grants, the OR Tambo District Municipality will spend 81% on water infrastructure projects to ensure an uninterruptedwatersupply whilepermanent bulk water infrastructure is underconstruction
Municipal spokesperson,Ncebakazi Kolwane,saidthe interventions formed partofa long-term, funded programme to secure reliable and sustainable water provision for Mthathaand surrounding towns.
Kolwane said the municipality continues to invest in water infrastructureacross the district. “During the current financial year, there is R95 million allocated through theWa-
ter Services Infrastructure Grant for 11 water schemes, including new projects andthe refurbishment of existing infrastructure. There is R250million allocated throughthe Regional BulkInfrastructure Grant fornew bulk water infrastructure projects.
Ofthe R716.9millionMunicipal InfrastructureGrantallocation, R518.1 millionisdedicated to waterprojects, including pipelines and reservoirs linked to water treatment works.
“The remaining R198.8millionisallocated tosanitation projects. All projects are implemented in line with approved budgets andare subject toongoing technical and financial oversight.
“The Municipality remains committed to strengthening water security, managing
growth-related pressures and deliveringlongterm, sustainable water solutions for all communities within the district,” she said.
The implementation of along-term interventiontosecure and stabilisethe rawwater supply from the Mthatha Dam to the Thornhill and Highbury Water Treatment Works was underway. Thetwo water treatment works supply Mthatha andnearby areas
“This intervention includes the construction of nine pumpstations that will formasingle, integrated raw water supply system from the dam. Thecurrent civil works contract for the pumpstations has been awardedR49.8 million, with an additionalestimated R14millionallocated forthe pumps. While construction is underway, the Thornhill Water Treatment Works
continues to receive rawwater from Mthatha Dam through afully functional temporary siphon system,” Kolwane said.
Shesaidthat this system provides therequired volumestomeet operational demand and has no negative impact on water flow to the treatment works. It was in place to ensure continuity of supply while the permanent infrastructureiscompleted. “Once commissioned, the pump stations will provide apermanent, direct rawwater supply to both the Thornhill and HighburyWater Treatment Works. In addition, the system will serve as an alternative supply duringmajor breakdowns or planned maintenance, significantly improving system reliability and reducing the riskofprolonged disruptions,” shesaid.
Communitycallsforreopeningofruralschool
BABALWA NDLANYA
ONE of the young people from the Mnyameni locality in Centane has appealedtothe DepartmentofEducationtoreopen Dlulisa Senior SecondarySchool in the district. The school was shutdown by thedepartment in 2014due to conflict among parents
Cengimbo said he was alearner at the school when thedepartment madethe decision to close it.
“Some parents said the school should be moved to the Pali locality,whileothers wanted it to remain in Mnyameni. This led to some teachers leaving theschool, and we were left with only five teachers, if Iremembervery well. We are saying this school must be reopened because our parents are struggling,”said Cengimbo.
He said parents are now forcedtopay transport costs fortheir children, while some learners stay in cottages because they have to travel longdistancestoaccesseducation
“What is painfulisthat most community members here are unemployed and depend on socialgrants. It is hard forthembecause they have to use these grants to buyfood,” he said.
The traditional leader of thearea, Chief
Dumalitshona Dlulisa's mother,Nothembile Rhoyi, said she knew more about the problem.
Speaking to the Express, Rhoyisaid the school was closed because therewerevery few learners. According to her, in Grade12, there would sometimes be only one learner passing the final examination.
“This led the department to shut downthe school. Yes, Ican agree that therewerethose who wanted it moved to another area, butafterwesat down and came up with asolution, we are now on the same page and want it to be reopened. Our childrenare struggling
badlybecause we cannot relyonscholar transport,” saidRhoyi.
Sheaddedthat they even went to the Zwelitsha Education Provincial Office when the late MECfor the Department of Education, Mandla Makupula, was still alive to ask for intervention. “Evennow, Iampraying that it must be reopened because it is affecting us financially. We also want it to be atechnical school so that learnerscan gain skills. This could help increase the number of learners.”
The Department of Education spokesperson, Mali Mtima, saidthe school had only three Grade12learners, who were transferred to
Gobe Commercial School,which is 8to10km away, in 2014. He confirmed that declining enrolment was the main issue. “There are no chances that it will reopen, but research can be conducted to check itsviability, since parents are divided about the location of the school. The Pali area is almost 5kmfrom Gobe Commercial School,” said Mtima. He added that the process could take time because research would need to be conducted, especially since the existing infrastructurehas been vandalised and learners from the area currently use scholar transport to Gobe Commercial School
Schoolgirl(16)publishes butnovel
but does not receive enough supportfromher mother
Shesaidshe started writing the book in September 2024. One of the things that motivated her to write abook in isiXhosa was her desire to encourage her peerstolove and respect their language.
“Thisismyfirstbook, and Ihope many moreare coming. It is suitable for young people who want to accomplish their dreams.Beinganauthor is not an easy journey, but it is asuccessful one because being abook writer makes you morefocused, knowing that many people arelooking up to you,” she said Sheadded that her mentorsonthisjourney were her grandmother, Thandile Kaluza,and her mother,Aphiwe Kaluza. Shealsomentioned that her two teachers played amajor role in ensuringthat her dream came true.
Ncokazi saidthat when she started writing the book, she was in Grade 10 and was able to balance her schoolworkand writing at the same time.
“I managed to do this because Ihad people whosupportedme. All Ican say to my peers is that they should focusonpositive things and stop giving in to peer pressure.”
Akahlulwa Ncokazi from J.S. SkenjanaSenior Secondary School in Dutywapublished herfirst book.
Sport
Titleraceheatsupwith eightroundsremaining
ANELERAZIYA
WITH fewer than eight rounds of leaguefixturesremaining in both ABCMotsepe League streams, thetitle race between fourtop teams is becomingtight.
In the ABC Motsepe League Coastal Stream, OldGrey FC and FC Buffalo City Relatives are theteams that currently seem to be in serious contention forthe topspot.
Gqeberha United FC,who occupy third spot, also have achance to overtake these two top teamsinthe Coastal Stream log standingsif they drop points.
Currently, the log leaders,Old GreyFC, are tied with FC Buffalo City Relatives with 26 points each in the log standings after playing 12 matches. But Old Grey FC are enjoying a better goal difference comparedtoFCBuffalo City Relatives.
Gqeberha United FC occupy third position with 22 points in 12 matches, whichmeans anyteaminthe top three can still finishatthe topofthe log standings if othersdropmore points in the remaining six leaguefixtures in the Coastal Stream.
Meanwhile, in the ABC Motsepe League In-
land Stream, SA SpearOfthe NationFCand FC Ravens are currently the only teams that seem to be in serious competition for the top spot. SASpear Of the Nation FC is leading the InlandStream logstandingswith 31 points in 12matches, followed by FC Ravens with 27 points in 10 games.
Though games in hand do not guarantee points,ifFCRavens win those fixtures, they will automatically replace the logleaders at the topofthe log standings. Sinceboth streams are approaching theirfinal fixtures, all top teams areexpected to put in agreat effort in every single game.
On Saturday, 14 February, in important ABC Motsepe League Inland Stream fixtures, FC Ravens will host mid-table side Matta Milan FC, SA SpearOfthe Nation FC will visit FastEleven FC,Bizana Pondo Chiefs will hostSinenkani FC, FC Battalion will entertain Bush BucksFC, and Amaxesibe FC will visit Mighty Eagles FC
In Coastal Stream fixtures on Friday afternoon,Gqeberha United FC will host Seven Stars FC; then on Saturdayafternoon, Old Grey FC will visit AmavararaFC, while FC BuffaloCityRelatives will entertain Komani United FC.
BushBucksshinedespitemanagerialchange
HOSEYAJUBASE
DESPITE losing their head coach last week, Bush Bucks FC have managedtocollect two crucial points in two leaguegames
Immediately after parting wayswithcoach Siyabulela Gwambi, Imbabala managed to play a0:0 draw againstMattaMilan FC last Tuesday (3 February 2026), and again they playeda1:1 draw against SinenkaniFCaway at MafumbathaStadium under the new technical team ledbycoach Glenn Minnie. With only six matches left, theBushBucks will need to avoid defeatsinorder tosurvive
Themost troubled team is Mighty Eagles FC, whoare sitting at the bottom of theEC
ABC Motsepe League inland stream with only 6points. Next to them are FC Battalion and Bush Bucks FC,both with 11 points. Also, in positions14and 13, areFast Eleven FC and Sinenkani FC,both with 12 points.
This past Saturday, Mighty Eagles FC suffered a2-1 defeat against theirMthatha rivals FC Battalion during the Mthatha derby held at Rotary Stadium. Despitebeing the newcomers in thisleague, FC Battalion have shown hunger and determination.
As thingsstand,one of the Mthatha teams, among FC Battalion, Mighty Eagles FC and Bush BucksFC, will be relegated unless things change in the remaining 6games. But Mighty Eagles FC is in averydangerous position comparedtoother teams.
BMFC,Musketeersmaintainperfectrecords
ANELE RAZIYA
BM FC from Mbhashe and MusketeersFC from Mnquma are the only teams that have still maintained their hundred percent winning record in their streams since thestart of theSAFAAmathole Hollywoodbets Regional League last year.
Currently,BMFCare topping the SAFA Amathole Hollywoodbets RegionalLeague Stream FinMbhashe with12points after they won all four of their opening matches in the division. In arecent victory, BM FC defeated bottom side Matshotshisa FC at home 1-0 to remainat the top of the logstandings
Excell Boys FC are currently working hard tryingtoreshuffle the log leaders as theyoccupy second spot with 9points after fourgames. Last weekend, Excell Boys FC defeatedShiningStars FC at homeby1-0 to keep thethreepointgap between them and thelog leaders
Another team that is showingsome signs of fighting forthe top spot position is Bashee Eagles FC,who arecurrently sitting on third spot with sixpointsafter threematches
Recently,BasheeEagles FC punished Mm CombinationFCby2-0 at hometoclaimtheir secondvictory of this season.
Now, Stream Fteams will be lookingtocontinue fighting for top spot this Saturdaywhen thelog leaderswill be hosting mid-table side Abahlobo FC, Bashee Eagles FC will face ExcellBoys FC in ahighly anticipated league clash, andMatshotshisa FC will visit Mm CombinationFC.
KhiwaTournamentsets registrationrecord
HOSEYAJUBASE
KHIWAMedia Tournament made historyinfootball by registering 32 teams within 30 minutes for the upcoming 2026 tournament, which is expected to be held in August 2026.
Last year, the tournament took only 24 hourstoregister allthe teams, but this year, they broke therecord to 30 minutes.
“It’srecord-breaking; it’s thefastest registrationof32teams in just less than 30 minutes. Thank you to all theteams that have registered. Khiwa Media Tournament continues to grow yearly; we see this by the eagernessorwillingness to be part of thismassive tournament Thank you, South Africa,” said the founder, Bulelani Mancotywa.
Among the teams that are going to participate are those fromoutside theEasternCapeprovince, such as Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal.
Khiwa Media is regarded as one of the best tournaments in the Eastern Cape province, as it attracts even business people andPSL scouts.
For the first time this year, thetournament will include the U14 tournament, which will focus more on thedevelopment of football, andthose kidshave the chanceofbeing scouted by PSL and other academycoaches who are expected to attend the tournament.
Mancotywa told Express that his intentionofincluding U14 is to open doors for these kids at ayoung age.
“I will invite more coaches, scouts from development teams to assess the rural talent, and Iwouldbevery happy if one of the development players one daysigns for abig institution. Yes,
there are discussions that Iamhaving with big teams in terms of how to assist thekids in rural areas, and Iamalso in theprocess of opening adevelopment institution in thenear future,” added Mancotywa.
The tournament this year will include 32 teams for thesenior team, netballand 32 teams for U14development
U14teams:
FC
Nomcamba
Model FC
OverburgFC
PSGFarm FC
McoyileFC
Young LionAcademyFC
NotinsilaBlack TigersFC
AchieversFC
Mafini FC
Tiger Boys FC
PeaceMakersFC
Ghetto Rovers
Eleven Attackers
OldBunting FC
Mdumazulu Investors
Mandileni United
Twofor Joy
MubsFC
IlithaHotspurs FC
PSGAcademyFC
ViedgisvilleFC
Young HeartsFC
Tornado FC
SkyCoastal FC
Ugie Junior Chiefs FC
MorningStarsFC
Abafanathe Boys FC
Mercy Academy FC
Black Pool FC
FightersFC
SiyavanaFC
BellvilleFC
Meanwhile, in the SAFA Amathole Hollywoodbets RegionalLeague StreamEinMnquma, Musketeers FC are currently cruising nicely, leading the log standingswith 15 points after five matches.
Over the weekend, Centane-based teamMusketeersFC registered another important victory tomake it five wins in arow, when they defeated bottom side Wongama FC by 2-1 at home to remain on top of the logstandings.
Ngqamakhwe City FC are currently working hard, trying to putpressure on the logleaders as theyoccupy second position with 12 points in five games.
This follows Ngqamakhwe City FC registering another important victory recently when they beat Amakotamane FC by 1-0athome to remain in second position in the log standings.
Zeny Sports Clubare another team thatis working hard to compete for the topposition as theyoccupy third spot with 9points after they lost 4-2 awayagainst FC Tshabalalaina recent league game.
ThisSaturday, allteams in StreamEwill aim tocontinue improving their log standings when thelog leaders, Musketeers FC,will host Amakotamane FC, Young Stars United FC will visit Zeny Sports Club, Inter City Sport Club will hostNgqamakhwe United FC, NgqamakhweCityFCwill playagainst FC Tshabalala away, Ezikaxhamela FC will host WSUButterworth FC, and Ndabankulu SSS FC will face Wongama FC in abottom-of-the-table battle.
These fixtures will be played on Saturday afternoon indifferent venues in Mnquma.
