Mthatha Express North - E-Edition - 30 July 2026

DAcallsformulti-agencycollaborationtofightMthathacrime

BABALWA NDLANYA

EASTERN Cape provincial leader of theDemocraticAlliance(DA),AndrewWhitfield, conducted an oversight inspection at Mthatha Central Police Station in Mthatha, followinga visit he conducted two years ago.

Whitfield was accompanied by DA OR Tambo constituency leader and MemberofParliament,MlindiNhanha, and local councillors. He said Mthatha is ranked among themost dangerouscities in the country, and it is classified as atop murder and rape hotspot both provincially and nationally. Thedelegation metwith the SAPS to discuss the challenges androadblocks they face in performing their duties

“The crimestatistics across anumberofindicators have improved, butweneed an extended period of time to evaluate the impact of the interventionstheyset up.I was very impressed by some of the information theyprovided the level of multi-disciplinary operations that areunderway between the South African Police Serviceand other governmentdepartmentstoreally be proactive when dealing with crime. Murder has come down,but Mthatha remains one of the murder capitals of South Africa, whichisaconcern for us.

“Wespecifically tried to press them on the collaborationwith local law enforcement. They didtouch on it alittle bit, but if we aregoing to deal decisively with crime, it has to be in creatinganecosystem of collaboration between private security, communities, SAPS, themunicipality, lawenforcement,etc.,” said Whitfield. He added that thisneeds to be done in adisciplined manner.Ultimately, what they need to

do is to ensure that the policestrengthen their investigations.

“We were pleased to hear that, even if it is adelayedimplementation, there are cameras that have been installed by the KingSabatha Local Municipality. We will be watching this space very closely to ensurethatitisefficiently launched and integrated into the municipal law enforcement. But what does it do? Does it help the policetoprovide evidence to prosecutors, strengthening investigations and strengthening prosecutions so thatcriminals can be convicted?”

Whitfield said the number one deterrent, if someone wants to getcrimedown, is to ensure that criminals areconvicted and locked up.He said until that happens, criminals will continue to commit crimes because they do notfear theconsequences. “That was the purpose of our visit today

Hawksnab trustfund fugitiveagain

THE Mthatha-based SeriousCommercial Crime Investigation of the Hawks has re-arrestedKhayalethu Sakawuli, whoisaccused of orchestrating the unlawful misappropriation of more than R2.8 millionfrom afamily trust before allegedly abscondingfromthe judicial process

Hawks' spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, saidSakawuli facescharges of theftand money laundering. He saidhewas re-arrested in Cofimvaba following ameticulous, intelligence-driven operation.

“The case stems from acomplaint lodged by members of the Sakawuli Family Trust, which was established following the death of the siblings' father to preserve several commercial properties in Cofimvaba.Rental income generated from the properties was reportedly intended to be distributed equally amongall lawful beneficiaries. The reports revealedthat he allegedlyabused his fiduciary position by unlawfully removing his siblings as beneficiaries of the trust and replacing them with his biologicalchildren,” saidMhlakuvana.

According to him, this allegedly enabled him to assume exclusive control over the trust and its financial affairs. Furtherallegations revealed that between April andJune 2023, Sakawuli diverted rental income generated by

thetrust's commercial properties for his personal benefit, depriving the rightful beneficiaries of their inheritance.

The alleged financial prejudice suffered by thetrust exceeds R2.8 million.

“Followingthe complaint, acriminal case was registered andreferred to the Hawks team for intensive investigation. Rigorous investigation led to Sakawuli being arrested in August 2023; he was granted bail of R20,000 afterappearing in court. However,after making several court appearances over the years, he allegedly failed to appear before the Mthatha Specialised Commercial CrimeCourtonJune 11, 2026. The court subsequently issued awarrant for his arrest.”

Mhlakuvana added that the warrant wasexecuted on 17 July, resulting in his re-arrest in Cofimvaba. He confirmed that Sakawuli made abriefappearanceinthe Mthatha Specialised Commercial CrimeCourtonthe same day.

“The matter was postponed to September 15, 2026,for apre-trial inquiry, and Sakawuli was remanded in custody. The Provincial Head of theHawks in the Eastern Cape, Major General MboikiObed Ngwenya,commended the investigatingteam fortheir persistence in ensuring that the accused was brought back before court to face the charges.”

Hijackedmunicipalvehiclerecovered

ZOLILE MENZELWA

EASTERN Cape police and OR TamboDistrict Municipality have both confirmed that amunicipal vehicle thatwas hijackedtowards the endofJune was recovered in theQumbu policing area on Friday, 17 July Municipal spokesperson, NcebakaziKolwane, said the vehicle, awhiteToyota Hilux bakkie, was hijacked at the Ncambedlana WaterReservoironJune 20. Responding to questions from Mthatha Express,Kolwane said, “The vehicle was recovered in aprivate yard in Qumbu. It had been stripped of several partsand was found in badly damagedcondition.Noperson was injured duringthe incident.The driver wasadvised to seek support through the municipality's EmployeeWellness Unit followingthe traumatic incident.” In astatement released to themedia,she said thedistrict authority commended the police fortheir swift and professional response. This recovery is encouraging,she said, but it also highlights apainful truth that every attack on amunicipal asset is an attack on the communityitserves.

“Ahijacked vehicle, avandalised water scheme,stolen electrical cables or astripped pump stationdoes not punish the municipality. It delays water reaching households, disruptsessential services and diverts scarce public funds fromdevelopment to replacing what criminals havedestroyed.”

Kolwane said municipalinfrastructure belongedtothe people. Protecting it meantprotectingaccess to water. “Protecting infrastructure is protecting your community's progress and the future we are all working to build Protectour assets. Protect our services. Protect our future,” she said.

OR Tambopolice spokesperson, Captain Welile Matyholo, confirmed the recoveryofthe vehicle in the Qumbu policing area by the policeTactical Response Team. “The vehicle wasrecoveredbythe Tactical Response Team afterpolice followed up on information they received. The vehicle wasfound abandoned in the garage of arented house with no one claiming ownership. It is still in good running condition and wasconfiscated by policewhile furtherinvestigations continue. No arrests have been made,” Matyholo said.

Mlindi Nhanha (Democratic Alliance, OR Tambo Constituency Leader of Parliament)and Andrew Whitfield (EasternCape Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance)on oversight inspectionat Mthatha Central Police Station.

to do an oversight visit and engage the police. They have givenusacouple of things that need to be addressed in termsofpersonnel,vehicles, and also the environmental issues within the municipality, like poor road conditions which deny access to visiting police and community response teams, lighting issues,electricity, etc. Also,the vandalism of infrastructure remains the main problem. Yet the municipality has not allocated cameras to the municipal infrastructure, and Idonot know why. Ithink they must do that very quickly to protect the public infrastructure that serves the public.”

Mayoral spokesperson for KingSabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality (KSDLM), Olwethu Mabovula,saidthe DA visitedKing Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality to conductanoversight of some of the cameras the municipality has.

“Asyou know, as amunicipality, we have

166 cameras that areinstalled in 37 locations to fight crimeand also monitor other activities around town to ensurethe safety of people. That is what they were heretodo, but unfortunately, at this moment we cannot show them the control room as aresult of them not being officially launched. We will communicate the date of the launch,” saidMabovula.

Acting Station Commander at Central Police Station, Colonel Phathisile Majaja, said they will need assistance, with abelief that together they will win the battle against crimeinthis area.

“Our OR Tambo Districtiscomposed of 19 police stations. Talking now about Mthatha Central Police Station, it is composed of 45 locations with nine administrative areas.

PHOTO: BABALWA NDLANYA NEWS TIPS? Sendanemail to mthathaexpress@novusmedia.co.za. ADVERTISINGorCLASSIFIEDS? ContactBubeleTyani at Bubele.Tyani@novusmedia.co.za

“You cited the issue of detectives. On aweekly basis, we embarkonoperations.Teaming up, for instance, with law enforcement from KSDLM, traffic officers, etc.,wedonot work alone,”saidMajaja.

He saidthey arefocusing on weekends because that is when the high rate of crimetakes place. “We team up with other departments. Majajaconfirmed that they aretryingtopull themselves away from the so-called capital town of murders.

“Even though we aretryingbyall means to fight crime, our resources arenot enough. We areinneed of vehicles so that at leastwecan be visible enough among our clients on a24-hour basis, for both visible policing and detectives We feel that our environmental designisnot yet conducive in terms of preventing crime. If you can go around in ourlocalities, especially during thenight,itisdark. By mentioning this,I am trying to show you the challenge that we arefacing.”

Governmentpromotesruraleconomicdevelopment

ZOLILE MENZELWA

MBHASHE Local Municipality and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment had an engagement session on carbon dioxide removal and rural development initiatives with the aim of promoting rural economic development, strengthening climate resilience, attracting green investment, and creating sustainable employment opportunities.

Mbhashe Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Dr Samkelo Janda, said collaborationinbringing about meaningful change was important “We can turn rural land into acatalystfor economic growth, job creation and environmental sustainability by collaborating with the government, traditional leadership and ourcommunities,” Jandasaid.

The event brought together officials from AmatholeDistrictMunicipality, Mnquma Local Municipality, Amahlathi Local Municipality and various national and provincialgovernment departmentsalongsidetraditionalleadership.

The Department of Forestry,Fisheries and the Environment was strengthening its partnership with Traditional Authorities through symbolic tree-planting ceremonies as part of effortstosupport carbon dioxide removal and promote environmental sustainability in the Eastern Cape As partofthe initiative,750 trees had been donated by the department to the community.

Delivering her keynote address, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy Minister, Bernice Swarts, said

RAFtrainsyoungdrivers

BABALWA NDLANYA

SENIOR Manager for Road Safety at the Road Accident Fund (RAF), Siphamandla Gumbi, confirmed that the RAF is calling on young people to play an active role in improving road safety and reducing road crashesin their communities nationwide

He said young people remain among the most vulnerable road users, accounting for 50.1% of all road fatalities. They are often affected by risky behaviour such as reckless driving, speeding, distracted driving, drinking and driving and unsafe pedestrianhabits. Empoweringthem with knowledgeand skills cansignificantlycontribute to buildinga safer culture of road use.

“By focusing on youths' vulnerability during road use, the RAFalso seeks to highlight the significant financial burden that road accident injuries and fatalities impose on the Fund. This year also marks an important milestone as the RAFushers in the thirdyear of the Youth Driver Development Programme, an initiative that continues to empowerunemployed youth who have completed matric with professional driving skills and road safety education. It is hoped that the driving licences they receive may also improvetheir chancesofaccessing employment or businessopportunitieswithin the transport sector,” he said.

He added that the RAF introduced the Youth Driver Development Programme in 2024/25 and has engaged 760 young people aged 23 to 34 to date. An additional 360will be enrolled this financial year. According

tohim, selected youthare identified from high-accident areasbytheir respective municipalities in partnership withtheirYouth Development Departments.

Theprogramme gives them the opportunity to obtain aCode10or14 learner's licence, adriving licence and aprofessional driving permit.

“Youthare notonly road usersbut also influential agents of changewho can shapesaferbehaviour among peers,families and communities. The futureofroad safety rests in the hands of youngpeople. By equipping youth with drivingskills, road safety education andopportunities for economic participation, the Fund is investing in safer roads and stronger communities ”

Oneofthe beneficiaries, Yanga Ndovela (26) from Xholobeni locality in Mbizana, said that at the moment he is doinga learnership at the Department of Transport.

“I obtained my Code 10, and Iam very happy becausethis will open more opportunities for me. Iamsure now Iwill be able toget ajob because Iwas struggling to get something becauseI did not have adriver's licence,”said Ndovela.

Another beneficiary, Lusanda Dimane (27) from Ntlakwe locality in Mbizana, said thiswill grant her many opportunities as she is still looking for ajob. “I just finished my in-service trainingatWinnie Madikizela Mandela Local Municipality here in Mbizana. NowI will be able to apply for any job that comes up. Ithank the management at the RAF for giving us this opportunity; it means alot to us,” said Dimane.

environmental directionand active community participation in protecting the country’s natural resources were important. “The success of our green future begins in our communities. Proper waste management is not only about keeping our surroundings clean; it is about protecting our environment, safeguarding public health and creating economic opportunities through recycling, environmental awareness and responsible resource management,” Swarts said

The engagement brought together government, traditional leadership and key stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in unlocking the economic potential of rural land, creating sustainable jobs, building climate resilienceand advancing South Africa’s transition to alow-carbon, inclusive economy

Teen author challenges the past

BABALWA NDLANYA

YOUNGauthor, Mabutho Jodo (17), explores memory, identity, history and the transformative power of storytelling,with the aim of preserving South Africa's history and helping future generations learn moreabout the country

Besides being an author,Jodo is an independent researcher and founder of Varity Axis, based in Mthatha.HeisinGrade 10 at Mpindweni Senior Secondary School in Mthatha. Hiswriting has appeared in literary and youth publications, and he is the author of several ongoing projectsspanning poetry, fiction, memoir and interdisciplinary research.

“As aself-directed scholar, Iam developing Metaphorical Quantum Mechanics (MQM), an interdisciplinary frameworkthat bringstogether history, philosophy and theoretical concepts to explore human experience and social transformation. Through my poetry, essays and long-form writing, Ichallenge inherited narratives and encourage critical reflection on the world around us,” he said. He added that his work is driven by acommitment to truth-seeking, intellectualcuriosity and the belief that stories can inspire both personal and collective change.

“Growing up in South Africa, I realised thathistory is toooften treated as something deadand buried in textbooks. Yet the truth

is that thepastactively shapes the present, deeply affecting young people who never lived through those historical events.

“It influences our opportunities, our social standing and how we understand ourselves.I started writing becauseIwanted to help decide how it impacts our modern realities, usingliteracy and storytelling to reclaimour narratives, heal unseen wounds and encourage critical thinking among the youth. That passioneventually led me towards both authorship and independent research.”

Jodo said there were times when he felt that the structureofschool did not fully accommodate his creativity and research interests.

While he valued education, he often foundhimself exploringideas beyond thecurriculum, which motivated himtodevelop as awriter and independent thinker. Hisresearch journey eventually led him to develop MQM, through which he explores the relationshipbetween history,consciousness, human experience and social reality.

“Being an author and independent researcher helps me understand theworld beyond what is written in textbooks. Through writing, Iexplore how history, society and human experiences shape our lives today. It has strengthened my critical thinking, creativity and communication skills, while alsogivingmea platform to encourage literacy and

meaningful dialogue among young people.”

Jodo believes that young people gainadeeper understanding of themselves and the world around them through hiswork. He wants to show them that their stories matter,that literacy is atool for empowerment, and that understanding the pastcan help them navigate the present and build a better future

“South Africacontinues to deal with the effects of its historical past. Through MQM, Ihope to provide anew way of examining how history,memoryand human experience shape our society. By encouraging critical thinking and self-reflection,Ibelieve it can help young people and communities better understand themselves, engage with social issues and become active participants in shapingabetter future.”

He confirmed that he is still in the early stages of hispublishing journey.

Jodo has published three poems on Funza, titled Blood andInk, The Rebel's Lens and The Failure of theDiamond He is alsoworking on several book projects,including hiscompleted poetrycollection, The Lens of My Heart,and other works in progresssuch as Fractured, The ArtofFalling, The Hidden Curriculum of Reality, The Orphan's Legacy,IAma Rebel and The Hollow Skull Poetry Collection

Sport

ChippaUnitedFCwinspre-season

HOSEYAJUBASE

CHIPPA United head coach, Brandon Truter, said his team are looking sharpahead of theirBetway Premiershipmatch against Golden Arrows FC this coming Saturday

Speaking afterChippaUnited were crowned champions of the EC Pre-Season Tournament in Mthatha, Coach Brandon Truter expressed his satisfaction with how theteam performed in the two-daytournament.

“It's agood start for us. We really appreciate everyonewho came to supportus. All the teams gave us good games. Onpenalties,Iknew that Stanley Nwabaliwould save onepenalty. Iamvery happy with the performance of all the players, andI wish all the players allthe best going into the league,” he said.

The pre-season tournamentwas heldat Mthatha Stadium and Chippa United won 4-2 on penaltiesagainst Highbury FC after the match ended 1-1.

Chippa captain Stanley Nwabali, who just returned to Chippa, has applauded the organisers of thetournamentfor putting together suchaneventfor the EasternCape province.“The supportershavebeenamaz-

ingsinceyesterday (Saturday). Thewin will boost our confidence going into the openingmatch of the league,”saidNwabali

“It's my first time being here in Mthatha, andIenjoyed it. The supporterswere overwhelming, and Iwishthe organisers all the best going forward,”saidthe Chippa United goalkeeper,Nwabali. Chippa United FC are expected to openthe Betway Premiership againstGolden Arrows FC this coming Saturday at thePrincess Magogo Stadium.

Meanwhile, HighburyFChead coach, Vusumuzi “Kanu” Vilakazi, said he is very proud of his troops despite the loss on penalties. “We played five games in this tournament, and we only lost on penalties againstateam that is aboveus, which is Chippa, playing in the Betway Premiership This performance willencourage us going forward,” saidcoach Kanu Vilakazi.

ChippaUnited forward, AzolaMatrose, wasvotedPlayer of the Eastern Cape Pre-Season Tournament while HighburyFC striker, Tsepo Cetywayo, was voted the top goalscorer.The EC Pre-Season Tournament was organised by McoyiFCand Highbury FC.One of theorganisers, Wanda Mcoyile, has thanked all the teamsand peoplewho supported the event and helped make the tournament asuccess