Mdantsane and South Africa’s lone WBC boxing champion,Siya Kuse, will make hismaiden mini-flyweight titledefence in Japan on 27 September againstunbeaten Ryusei Matsumoto.Kuse became the new championon16May when he defeatedMelvinJerusalemby aunanimous decision at Emperors Palace on the East Rand.With this historic victoryhebecamethe first boxerfrom the EasternCape to winthe WBC title. Readthe fullstory on page 8.
MANDLENKOSI MXENGI
THE Amathole District Municipality’s (ADM) financial-recoveryplan, implemented fouryears ago, hasyielded positiveresults following many yearsoffinancial instability, poor auditoutcomes and service delivery, challenges which doggedthe ruralmunicipality.
Thiswas announced recently by Amathole Executive Mayor AneleNtsangani at apacked MzwandileWilsonFanti Hall in Stutterheim, in the Amahlathi municipal area, where he delivered the municipality's State of the District Address (SoDA), the final one of thecurrent municipal administrative term, ahead of the November local-government elections.
He reflected on the municipality’s transformation from aperiodmarked by governance instability, financialdistress and service-delivery challenges to one characterised by strengthened governance, prudent financial management and renewed institutional stability.
Presented under the theme“Sustaining the Financial Viability of Amathole District Municipality for Effective Service Delivery”, Ntsangani's address highlighted AmatholeDistrict'sprogress in implementing the municipal financialrecovery plan while laying the foundation for long-term sustainability.
Akey achievement announcedwas the approval of abalanced and funded budget allocation amounting to R2,809 billion, comprising R2,116 billion in operating revenue and R693 million in capital grant funding,with azero-budgetdeficit.
This milestone positions themunicipality to movecloser to exitingfinancial recoveryand demonstrates arenewed commitment to fiscal discipline.
Ntsangani outlined the municipality's intentions to leverage its first fully funded 2026-’27 Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework(MTREF) budget in over seven yearstotranslate financial stability into enhanced andsustainable service delivery for residentsacross the Amatholedistrict.
He noted that the current municipal administration inheritedaninstitution
facing significantgovernanceand operational challenges, includingpoor audit outcomes, decliningrevenue collection, labourunrest,ageing infrastructure, escalating operational costs andpersistent watersupply interruptions.
“Over thepastfouryears, deliberate interventions have focused on restoring sound governance, strengthening financial controls, reducing expenditure, modernising financialsystems andimproving institutionalaccountability.”
Ntsanganisaidthese reforms have resulted in improved auditoutcomes, continued servicingofhistorical debt, strengthened organisational capacity and improvedoperational efficiency.
“The municipality hasalsomodernised its vehicle fleet,enhanced security at critical waterinfrastructureprojects and strengthened disaster management capability to improve servicedeliveryacross thedistrict.”
During the2026-’27 financialyearADM is expected to continue implementing major waterand sanitation infrastructure projects in all six local municipalities under its jurisdiction,including Amahlathi, Great Kei, Mbhashe, Mnquma, Ngqushwa andRaymond Mhlaba. Strategicinvestmentsthroughthe Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) andWaterServices Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) will supportthe expansion, refurbishment andprotection of criticalwater infrastructureprojects, while alsoaddressing sanitation backlogs in Amathole districtareas.
The Mayor alsourged communitymembers to safeguardand protect municipal infrastructureproperty,following acts of vandalism andtheftthatare rifeinthe Amathole district.
Lastmonth he unveiled theR81 million newly completedDutywa WaterSupply Schemeprojectatacommunityhandover ceremonyinDrayini village,Mbhashe Municipality. The multimillion-rand waterscheme will benefit fourvillages, including Drayini, Newtown,Lencaniand Ndakeni, whichhave been experiencing severeand long-standing water-supply challenges.
THEEastern Cape Provincial Government launched aweek-long Moral Regeneration Programme in Mbhashe LocalMunicipality as part of intensified efforts to curb violent faction fights among boys, strengthen socialcohesion and promote aculture of peace among young people.
Government spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said the campaign, which ran from27to 31 July, brought together government departments, law-enforcement agencies, local municipalities, traditional leaders and community stakeholders to engage learners, youth not in education or employment andcommunity stakeholders through empowerment sessions,
dialogues andadvocacy initiatives.
“Thecampaign was specifically targeted at all learners from Grade7upwards andwas scheduled outside critical examination periods to maximise participation. This was an ongoing programmewhich started at Centane in May 2026, and, during this phase, the intervention focused on the Dutywa area, with similar programmesplanned for Willowvale andXhora later in the financial year.
“Theprogramme followed concerns aboutrecurringincidents of faction fights in parts of Amathole District Municipality. In response, theOffice of the Premier consulted stakeholders to developa coordinated response.”
She added that awide rangeofprovincial
departments and institutions participated in the intervention. These included Community Safety, SAPS, the Department of Education, and others.
Rantjie said together they delivered crime-prevention education, psychosocial support, anti-violenceadvocacy, skills-development opportunities and community-mobilisation initiatives.
“The intervention formed partofthe ProvincialMoral Regeneration (PMR) andGender-Based Violence and Femicide Response Programme, coordinated through the PMR Forum. It focused on strengthening community safety, family preservation, social tolerance, ethics and integrity, communication support
BABALWA NDLANYA
OFFICIALS from the Department of Water andSanitationinthe Eastern Capehosted andconsulted stakeholders in thewatersector concerning the proposed RawWaterTariffs for2027/28,2028/29 and 2029/30, at the Savoy HotelinMthatha recently.
The director responsible for Operationsand MaintenanceofGovernment WaterSchemes in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, Fikiswa Gobhoza, said they came to consult their stakeholders who use water, as mandated by the National Water Act, sections 56 to 60, which says that each year whentheyare goingtopropose increases or anychange in charges, they must go and talk to thepeople first.
Shesaid they must consult themand tell them,inthe two years to come,whether tariffs will remain the same or willgoup.
“We areforced to come to thepeople who usewater andconsult them —e.g. municipalities, irrigators and forestry—toanswer and saywhether theyagree with us andwhether we canincrease tariffs or whetherwemust not. They must give us the reasonsthatsupport theirdecisions.Inthis consultation,we have come with different views.
“There are those who are sayingthey agreewith us. These charges aredivided into two: there are charges for the Mzimvubu-Tsitsikamma Catchment Management Agency (MTCMA) and charges for theinfrastructure,”she said
Shesaidthis agency manages how water resources are handled in this province, and
watches those who use water illegally, making sure thatwater resources are in good condition
Sheadded that infrastructure charges are those thatare used to managedams like Mthatha Dam, which is here in Mthatha,aswell as Corana,Mabheleni and Nqadu. They are registered dams.
“Inthis consultation, they are the ones who were giving comments that they do notagree withthese charges because they affect them financially.Inthe MTCMA, chargesare the ones thatgoup. People who use water voiced that they were nothappy about these changes.
“Weare going to collate comments from users,thenour officewill consolidate those comments andsubmit them to the regulatory officerat head office, where they will look at the comments made by these users thatwehave consulted. After that, there will be sector-specific consultations this month (August), where we will consult sectorsseparately.”
She said after this consultation therewill be anational consultation where they will combine all thesectors that use water.
“Therecommendation will come from the ESR after they have looked at the comments made by these people. Then we will submit it to theMinister of our department, Pemmy Majodina; she is the one who will decide what should be done. The implementationwill be gazetted from April 2027.”
One of the farmers fromNtlaza Administrative Area in Libode, Mongezi Bezana (56), said that as afarmer, they were used to the traditional wayoffarming,where there were no means of improving their farming in terms of
INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN (IDP),BUDGET&PMS REPFORUM
Noticeisherebygivenintermsofsection34oftheMunicipalSystemsActof2000that theMbhasheLocalMunicipalityisonaconsultativeprogrammeandinvitesmembersof thepublic, registeredstakeholders within Mbhashe LocalMunicipality,Government Institutions,Private Sector,Civil SocietyOrganisations, Community Development Workers and Ward Committeestoa meetingwhere the2026/27 IDP/Budget/PMS processplanandthe2025/26AnnualPerformanceforMbhasheLocalMunicipalitywill betabledasfollows:
Forfurtherenquiries,pleasecontacttheSeniorManagerOperations-MsM.Mpahlwaat 0474895864oremailmpahlwam@mbhashemun gov.za
ISSUEDBY:
Mr M. NAKO MUNICIPALMANAGER
irrigation, etc.
“We are just using the traditional way of farming, but due to innovations and the growth of farming that is being commercialisedona greater scale, Icamehere to getinformation in order to improve the standard of our farming. We want to movefrombeing subsistence farm-
and advocacy, while addressing the underlying causes of faction-related violence.”
Rantjie saidthe Provincial Government called on parents, traditional leaders, faithbased organisations, educators, community leaders and young people to participate actively in the campaign and work together to end faction violence. Sustainable peace could be achieved only through collective responsibility, strengthened family values and active community involvement.
Sheadded that the EasternCape Provincial Government remained committed to protectingthe lives of young people, promoting peaceful communities and ensuringthat everychild could learn and grow in asafe environment.
erstobecoming commercial farmers,” said Bezana. He added that what struck himmostwas the information aboutthe irrigation scheme— how they can improve in terms of having boreholes for small-scale farming and for large-scale farming.
THE president of the 1756 Umtata Mission Central Circuit in Mthatha, Reverend Thulani Sonamzi, confirmed that they collaborated with the Department of Education (DoE) and the Department of Employment and Labour in the Eastern Cape to host arecent Career Expo with theaim of assisting learners in making the right choices for their careers
“It is very painful when youask someone abouttheir life andfind thatthey are educated butnot employed.
“Whenwedid ourstatistics,wesaw that the rate of people who are unemployed is increasing,”saidSonamzi
He addedthat theytold the management of the Department of Employment andLabour that they (the church) were thinkingofhostingaCareerExpo, which they agreed to be part of. He said they also engagedthe DoE about this event.
“The Department of Employment and Labour came with its mobile bus with the aimof assisting those who want to register on their database and to be assisted in different ways,” said Sonamzi.
He added that the schoolsthat were invited were fromthe OR TamboInland. He encouraged learners to focusontheir studiesasthey are abouttowrite their finalexaminations.
ActingProvincialHead forthe Department of Employment and Labour in the Eastern Cape, Pathiswa Mbongwana, said, “Since the department has asection called PublicEmployment Services that deals with career expos and registers people who arelooking for job opportunities, this section gives guidance to young people who still want to work or those whoare still at school. They asked us to comeand collaborate with them and to speak with young people and learners.”
She said that, as the department, they are not looking only at the issues of blue cards, etc.,but they havethis section which explains more to young people and givescareer guidance so thatthey know what they candoat tertiary level.
“Weare here to give guidance and give unemployment counselling to young people who are unemployed and arehere. There are also learners who arehere to listen to our advice We are providing employment services, and as aresult we came with our bus to assist the currentlyunemployed youth, so that they can
register on our database calledthe Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA), where we register those who arejob seekers. We also havearesponsibility to help theminlooking for job opportunities and placethem where they qualify to be.Evenhere in thedepartment, we do the same,” she said She confirmed that when they have opportunities, they consider people whoare registered on their database. Mbongwanasaidthis programme continues and people visit their offices to register and some to askfor career guidance. She said they were givena mandate to promote job creation; thatiswhy they are now the Department of Employment andLabour.
“Registration is alwaysavailable —aperson can come to our offices with their particulars and register on our database. Our job as the department is to assist you.”
Deputy Chief Education Specialistfromthe Department of Education, Given Khahlela, said,“You will remember that schools belong to the Department of Education. Now this event is very important to us as thedepartment because it helps them to make the right choices when they go to Grade 10 —they must choose subjects that are right for their
careers. This will alsohelpthose whoare in secondaryschools,when they go to university or to anyinstitutionofhigher learning,to make theright choices.”
BABALWA NDLANYA
PROVINCIAL Chief Executive Officerofthe National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA)Loyiso Mbinda has condemneda recent alleged assault on a male educator (49) by aGrade 11 femalelearner at AV Plaatjie Senior Secondary School in Mthatha and expressed concern about thesafety and regard of educators. He said according to reports received the edu-
cator was slapped in the face by the learner in aschool-related incident.
“We strongly condemn any act of violence, intimidation or disrespectdirected at educators, whohavethe constitutional responsibility of teaching and nurturing learners in asafeand orderly school environment. While NAPTOSA EC recognises that schools must remainspaces thatprotect the rights and dignity of all learners it mustbeequally emphasised educators are also entitled to protection, respect and
safety in the execution of their professional duties.”
MbindasaidNAPTOSA, thesecond-largest educator tradeunion in South Africa, called on the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE), in collaboration with theschool governing body (SGB) of AV Plaatjie, to institute appropriate disciplinary processes, in accordance with the SouthAfrican Schools Act and applicable departmental policies,immediately
“The learner involved must notbepermitted to disrupt the teaching andlearning envi-
ucators cannot be expected to perform their duties effectivelyinenvironmentswhere they are vulnerabletoassaultand humiliation.
“We also callonparents, communities and alleducation stakeholders to work together in restoring aculture of respect, responsibility and accountability among learners. NAPTOSA acknowledges theintervention by moral-regeneration stakeholders, including theDirector of theKhulaCommunityDevelopment Project, PetrosMajola, and supports initiatives aimed at restoring ethical values within schools. However, moral regeneration
THE Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) is set to establish aregional school rugby league in Qumrha, also known as Komga, in the Great Kei Municipality,in honour of former SA u-18 rugby international player,the late Luqobo "Bibo" Makwedini
This was announced by the provincial Sports MEC, Sibulele Ngongo, at the funeralservice of Makwedini held in his smallhometown,Qumrha, on Saturday 1August.
Affectionately knownas“Bibo” in rugby circles, the 20-year-old died of asuspected cardiac arrest after collapsing during atrainingsession with his Frenchclub, AS BéziersHérault,lastmonth
Born in the small town of Qumrha near KuGompo City, he earneda scholarship to WynbergBoys’ HighSchool in Cape Town, wherehis performances inthe frontrow won himnational recognition at SA u-18level.
He went on to sign athree-year contract with Béziers and was on the verge of realising his dream of professional senior rugbyahead of the club's 2026–27 Pro D2 campaign.
Bibo joined the Béziers academy ahead of the 2025-’26 seasonand had reportedly been in line for promotion to the Frenchbasedclub’sseniorsquad this season.
Ngongo strongly believesthatthe establishment of aschool rugby league within theGreat Kei municipal region inhonour of the legacy of Makwediniwillinspire other young rugby players in the province
“The greatest honour we canbestow upon Bibo is not only to remember him, but to ensurethat his legacy lives on by creating opportunities for youngboys
andgirlstopursuetheirsportingdreams from an early age.
“I therefore call on ourschools, rugby structures andcommunitieswithinthe
Great Kei regiontoworktogether in establishing aschool rugby league that will nurture talent and produce future stars. Letthis become aplatform whereBibo's
passion for rugby continues to inspire generations,” said MEC Ngongo. Ngongo pledged that her department will engage relevant stakeholders in exploring sustainableways of supporting theGreat Kei schools rugby league initiative, while also encouraging municipalities, theeducation sector and therugby fraternitytomakethe school league an enduring annual feature on thesporting calendar.
“May every young player who steps ontothe field in theGreat Kei school rugby league be reminded that dreams can be achieved, that talent must be nurtured from an early age, and that Bibo's legacy will forever live on in thegame he loved,”concluded Ngongo.
DeputyMinister of Sports, Artsand Culture Peace Mabe joined theMakwedini family, therugby fraternityand the Qumrha communitytopay their final respects to Bibo.
“We honour ayoung life that inspired many through sport and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and loved ones. Lala kahle Bibo, you will never be forgotten,”added Mabe.
Bibo’s father, Mawethu, was also described as agood rugby player who had played over 100 rugby games for Border and theLeopards.
Bibo played in the2023 FNB u-18Craven Week for theWestern Province XV and ayear later was selected for boththe SA Schoolsand u-18Asquads. He was in thesame SA u-18A squad as abig group of current Junior Springbok players, including Luan Giliomee, Hendré Schoeman, Alzeadon Felix,Samuel Badenhorst, Risima Khosa, Liam van Wyk,Jordan Jooste and Oliver Reid. SA Rugby president Mark Alexander paid tributetoBibo, describing him as adedicated and talented player who had clear potential for higher honours.
UNITED FC from Mthatha has securedpromotion to the Eastern CapeABC Motsepe League followingthe Hollywoodbets Regional League Provincial Playoffs held in KuGompo this past weekend.
United FC earned promotion alongside PridesAFC from KuGompo.
United head coach Odwa Robson Mpukuzela described the achievement as significant.
“This promotion means alot to me as a coach.Ithas not been an easy journey,” he said.“Ihave coached United FC for two sea-
sons. In ourfirst seasonwereached the NedbankCup regional preliminary decider where we lostinLusikisiki. To achievepromotion in such ashort space of time means alot
“Workingtogether as ateam was key. At those playoffs we were the underdogs.No-one expected muchfromus, and we surprised a lot of people.”
Thepromotionmeans Mthatha will once again have three teams competing in the ABC MotsepeLeague.
Theother representatives fromthe city will be Bush Bucks FC and FC Battalion. Mighty EaglesFC, Mthatha'sfourth representative, was relegated last season.
HANNES SCHOEMAN
MDANTSANE and South Africa's lone WBC boxing champion, Siya Kuse,will make hismaiden mini-flyweight title defence in Japan on 27 September against unbeaten Ryusei Matsumoto.
This couldbea tough encounterfor the recently crowned world champion, as it is nevereasy to win abroad. Therefore it is strange that his managementdid not settle forahome title defence first before sending him into unknownterritory.
Kuse became thenew champion on 16 Maywhen he defeated Melvin Jerusalem by aunanimous decisionatEmperors Palace on the East Rand.Withthis historic victory he becamethe first boxer from theEastern Cape to winthe WBC title.
This was Jerusalem's fourth defeat in 29 fights.
FIRST Touch Ladies FC head coach SandileMphitshini says his team is ready for the AlfredNzo Regional Women'sLeague decider games
The regional decider will be heldon 16 August and will feature three teams: First Touch Ladies FC, MtAyliff Girls FC and Ingwe Ladies FC.
The winner will go on to represent the region at the provincial playoffs in November.
Mphitshini, who joined the team as head coach in 2018, said the clubbegan as acommunity team in 2013.
“The team has been participating in the leaguesince then. In 2016 it reached the provincial playoffs. Ijoinedonly in 2018. At that time women's football teams were not consistent due to alackofsupport. Even nowteamsare still struggling
“Since Ijoined in 2018 we have always finishedtop of our stream. In 2020 we qualifiedfor the provincial playoffs in Mthatha, but were eliminated because the majority of our players did not have IDs or passports.”
Regarding preparations for the upcoming decider, the coach saidthe squad was ready.
“I respect all the teams that we'llplay against, and there is also astrong team thatcan give us problems in these decider games, which is Ingwe College Ladies FC.
“We are hoping to come out victorious in the decider and represent our district at the provincialplayoffs in November if we win.”
Kuse's Japan ventureforms part of a historicoccasion featuring two SA boxerscontesting for WBCtitlesonone card
Ricardo Malajikawill also be vying for thegreen and goldbeltagainst Japan'sTomoya Tsuboi forthe vacantjunior-bantamweight trinket GoldenGlovesPromotions, headed by
ANELE RAZIYA
ABOUT16local teams around theMnquma areaare gearing up to compete against each other in an annual Ndenxe Champions Trophy tournament,which will be hosted at Ndenxe village in Ngqamakhwe this Saturday.
Themain aim of hostingthe event,organisers indicated, is to contributetothe development of football in Ngqamakhwe, asignificantway of keeping youth away from drug and alcohol abuse.
MthathaExpress spoke with one of the eventorganisers, Aseza Dlulane, about final preparations for thetournament
He said that everything hadgone well and theevent would be hostedthis weekend.
“Our soccer tournamentwill start on 8-10 August, and ourgames will be played at Ndenxe sports ground, located nexttoJongabantuSSS in Ngqamakhwe.”
He said 16 teams were already registered for theupcoming event, each having paid R400 to join.
Then on 7August tournament organisers are expected to host adraw (toss) for teams, and theevent will be playedinaknockout format.
Furthermore, theorganisers had also prepared great prizes forteams whoperform well, Dlulane said,and there will be individual awards forplayers.
The first prize of thetournament will be a trophy, goldmedals, abrand-new soccer kit, asheep and R2 500 prize money.
The second prize will be silvermedals, a ball and R2 000 prize money.
Forindividual awardsevent organisers had prepared trophies fortop player, goalkeeper, topgoal scorer and coach of thetournament
The event wasestablished in 2015 with the aim of keeping theyouthawayfrom drugs, alcohol abuse and crime, and every year the tournament plays ameaningful role in the communityinterms of assisting in thedevelopment of sport
Formore information, teams shouldcontact Dlulane on 078022 2287.
