"I HELD MY MOTHER IN MY ARMS AS SHE TOOK HER LAST BREATH" - Scrolla.Africa

Thursday 25th February
                                       2021, 0145

Real News. Scrolla.Africa

“I HELD MY MOTHER IN MY ARMS AS
SHE TOOK HER LAST BREATH”
Everson Luhanga

When Sfiso Chakwane heard the deafening gunshots in their
crowded shack, he covered himself with his blanket, praying
that the bullets would not strike him or any of his family
members.

But later, after the robbers had gone, Sfiso checked on his
parents. What he found was as bad as he could ever have
imagined.

He said his father had been shot and was lying dead in the bed.

“My mom showed signs of life. She was soaked in blood. I took
her out of the bed and held her in my arms. I was hoping the

paramedics would find her still breathing and would save her,”
he said.

“But as I waited for the officials to arrive, my mother took her
last breath as I held her in my arms.”

Seventeen-year-old Sfiso told Scrolla.Africa from the one-
roomed shack in Alexandra, Joburg where his parents had died
in the early hours of Tuesday morning, that he was sleeping on
the ground when the robbers arrived earlier that night.

His mother, Yvonne Ndlovu, a domestic worker, and her
husband Zeph Ntebane, a painter, were sleeping on the bed
along with Sfiso’s siblings aged 14 and 10.

The robbers broke the burglar bars and rushed into the shack.
They shot Yvonne and fired three shots at her husband.

Then before leaving, the man who had pulled the trigger lifted
the blanket and spoke to Sfiso.

“After we’ve left, call the ambulance to save your parents,” he
said, then vanished with a plasma television set, three cell
phones and a laptop.

The teenager said he was shaking.

“I didn’t know what to do. I had no cell phone as they took
everything,” he said.

“I went to the neighbours to get them to call the cops and the
paramedics.”

That’s when Sfiso went back to find that his father had died, his
siblings were unhurt and his mother was alive but dying.

He said he can still hear the loud gunshots ringing in his ears
and the smell of gunpowder.

“Everything happened in that tiny space,” he said.

Sfiso’s aunt Precious Ndlovu said she doesn’t understand why
the robbers had to kill both her sister and her sister’s husband.

“If they wanted the television, they should just have taken it
and spared their lives. The children are orphans because of a
TV. I’m shattered,” she said.

Alexandra police spokesman Sergeant Simphiwe Mbatha said
police are investigating cases of double murder and robbery.

eThekwini flushes EIGHTY-SIX MILLION
down the drain
Lungani Zungu

                The ANC-run eThekwini Municipality has lost R86
                million due to wasteful and irregular expenditure
                since the Covid-19 lockdown last March.

This was revealed in a comprehensive internal city report
tabled during the executive meeting on Tuesday.

Sbu Zikode, leader of Abahlali baseMjondolo group who
represent shack dwellers called for the axing of Mayor Mxolisi
Kaunda.

“As a political head, he must take responsibility for this,” said
Zikode.

“This amount of money would have made a difference to the
lives of the people who do not have proper houses and don’t
have running water.”

Abahlali baseMjondolo has led many protests over proper
housing in big cities. Last week, Umlazi residents blocked the
Griffiths Mxenge Highway with burning tyres and logs over
proper housing.

Zikode said they would be protesting outside the city hall until
those responsible were arrested.

No mention of names or items were made in the report as the
investigations were still underway.

Mayor Kaunda called for the strengthening of internal control
measures.

He said that consequence management would be implemented
and said criminal charges would be opened against those
responsible.

He urged the investigators to fast-track the investigation into
Covid-19 expenditure and report back before the end of March.

Nala Mhlongo, the chairperson of the city audit committee,
said procurement and basic internal controls were not followed
during the procurement.

He blamed municipal officials for pushback, saying the internal
audit team experienced delays in getting information.

The list of ANC politicians who had been fingered in Covid-19
corruption includes Bandile Masuku and former President Cyril
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko.

Masuku was subsequently axed as MEC for Health in Gauteng,
while Diko was suspended.

This was after the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) found that
Masuku had failed to stop the contract that was awarded to
Royal Bhaca Project, a company owned by Thandisizwe Diko,
Khusela's husband, who died earlier this week.

Picture source: @EThekwiniM

Better wear undies if you are against
masks
Everson Luhanga

If you are about to be thrown out of a shop for
not wearing a mask, look down for solutions.

A maskless woman received applause from fellow shoppers in a
queue where she was about to pay for her groceries but was
told to put on a mask. After a heated argument with the
cashiers, security was called.

In full view of other shoppers, the woman, who was wearing a
dress, pulled down her underwear and pulled it over her face.

Behind her was another woman who was wearing her mask -
also apparently an anti-masker - who applauded the panty
stripper for what she did.

The second woman expressed the view that there would be
less bacteria on the knickers than on the mask.

We can only hope for the maskless women’s sake that this is
right and that the underwear was clean.

This woman would not be the first one to pull such a trick.
There have been videos on social media of people being
refused to get into taxis without a mask, but choosing their
socks instead.

Some use their shirts to get away with it.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of
wearing cloth masks for every citizen in order to beat the
Covid-19 pandemic.

We can only hope that the fact that the video has gone viral
does not set off a trend.

No-one wants guys in grocery stores undressing and wrapping
jockey skants around their faces.

Gang that terrorised Uber drivers in
New Brighton nabbed by cops
Joseph Chirume

                For the first time in two years, Boy Ncube will be
                able to pick up and drop off passengers in New
                Brighton, Port Elizabeth, after he was hijacked
and nearly killed in 2019.

Ncube is one of the Uber drivers who have been hijacked and
robbed by a gang of three criminals who terrorised e-hailing
drivers and foreign-owned businesses.

Ncube welcomed the news that the well-known gang of
criminals was arrested on Wednesday after they killed another
driver last week.

"I believe police have caught the right people because most of
the hijackings and robberies happened in New Brighton. I am
glad that I can drive without fearing for my safety,” he said.

The gang's latest victim was Garrison Snayers who was found
shot dead in his Suzuki in New Brighton on 17 February. Police

say Snayers operated as an e-hailing taxi service for the owner
of the vehicle.

Police spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu said a New
Brighton Task Team under Station Commander, Colonel
Vuyisiwe Tembani tracked down those responsible for the
senseless killing of the taxi driver on Wednesday.

She said Tembani set up the task team on Sunday, after the
memorial drive-by which took place at the site of Snayers’
death. Three suspects, aged between 25 and 28 were arrested.

Naidu said two of the suspects are wanted by police in
Motherwell and New Brighton for crimes ranging from murder,
illegal possession of a firearm and two cases of robbery. She
said the suspects are expected to appear in the New Brighton
Magistrate’s Court soon on a charge of murder.

Acting Mount Road Cluster Commander, Brigadier Thandiswa
Kupiso said the community are the eyes and ears of the police.

“The importance of a strong partnership between the police
and the community cannot be overemphasised," said Kupiso.

Ncube refused to have a photo taken of him or his car.

Picture source: @HeraldPE

Kenyan doctors warn that anal sex
increases risk of stillbirth

A Kenyan hospital has reported that it receives 120 cases of
stillbirth or birthing complications due to anal sex every month,
The Star in Kenya reports.

Midwives at a Lamu hospital told the publication that many of
the women who suffer from this issue say that they engage in
anal sex for fear that their husbands will leave if they don’t.

The serious birthing complications arise because anal sex
loosens the sensitive membrane which separates the rectum
and the vagina.

This means that during childbirth, instead of the baby’s head
descending through the mother’s vagina, her slackened rectum

will cause it to sink into the sacral region anterior to the
rectum.

One midwife explained that, therefore, “it takes longer than
necessary for the birthing process to complete.”

“Mostly, there are two consequences: either the baby will be
too exhausted at the time or asphyxiate (lack oxygen and blood
flow to the brain), which eventually could lead to brain damage
and to our second scenario, which is stillbirth.”

The midwives, who requested anonymity for fear of being
targeted or fired, report that this complication occurs in as
many as 23 per cent of all the hospital’s births in a month.

One stated that most pregnant women are forthright about
their practicing of anal sex, which enables them to prepare
efficiently for the birthing process.

"Once we realise that the baby is sinking into the rectum area,
we take a big chunk of cotton wool and insert it into the rectum
to give counter pressure of the foetus head and at the same
time align the birth canal, after which we now pull out the baby
safely."

If this fails, an emergency Caesarean-section (CS) has to be
performed on the mother to save the baby.

Several of the midwives who were interviewed said that they
noticed a pattern among pregnant women who engage in anal
sex.

Although many women enjoy it, many have also said that they
faced external pressure, either from their partner or elsewhere,
to consent to it.

Some said that they consent to it only because their partner
requests it when they are menstruating, and they worry that if
they decline, he will look elsewhere for sex.

Colonial legacy dismantled in Eastern
Cape
Mkhuseli Sizani

It’s bad news for headline writers who are going to have to
exchange the brevity of PE for Gqeberha - and non-Xhosa
speakers who struggle with clicks and guttural Rs.

But most people will say it’s about time - despite the usual
moans that are heard when familiar things change.

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa approved the name
changes for airports and various Eastern Cape towns on
Monday in the Government Gazette.

Port Elizabeth International Airport - once named after the
architect of apartheid Hendrik Verwoerd - will now carry the
name of Khoi Chief David Stuurman.

Stuurman, who was born near the Gamtoos River in the Eastern
Cape in about 1773, was the Khoi chief and political activist

who fought against the Dutch and British colonial
administrations.

His active career as Khoi leader spanned 20 years and three
Xhosa Wars fell within this period.

The small Khoisan community has been fighting for years to
have the airport named after their Chief and also to be
recognised in the history of this country.

Khoisan activist Christian Martin told Scrolla.Africa: “It’s the
best news since the release of Nelson Mandela. Transformation
has truly arrived and the Khoi and San are part of it. A seed for
the rewriting of the true history of our country has been
planted. At last the almost forgotten people will be
remembered. Their role as the first to defend our country
against colonialism will be acknowledged.”

Gqeberha is a Xhosa name for the oldest township of Walmer.
It is also the Xhosa name for the Baakens River.

Elizabeth of Port Elizabeth was the wife of Sir Rufane Donkin,
the British Governor of the Cape Colony in 1820.

East London Airport, which was once named after Ben
Schoeman, a Nationalist Party Minister of Transport, is now
Chief Phalo Airport. Phalo was the Paramount Chief of the
Xhosa nation between 1836 and 1875.

Uitenhage has been renamed Kariega. Maclear is Nqanqaru and
King William’s Town is now Qonce. Most people will have to
google to find out where those names come from.

But here’s one tidbit: King William’s Town was named after the
British King William IV who reigned between 1830 and
1837. Not even the English remember him anymore.

Mpumalanga premier dumps MECs
from opposing faction
Dalphine Tagwireyi

                Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane
                has fired four MECs from her cabinet.

MECs Gillion Mashego, Gabisile Tshabalala, Petrus Ngomane
and Norah Mahlangu have been fired and replaced
immediately.

Allegations have been made that the fired quartet are David
Mabuza loyalists, and were part of the cartel that opposed
Tsipane and eventually led to her decision to withdraw from
the ANC chairperson race.

The reshuffle confirms that faction fights are intensifying in the
ANC in Mpumalanga, with some politicians opposing the
premier and understood to be working hard to throw Tsipane
out of office.

Last week after her withdrawal from the Mpumalanga
chairperson race, there were reports about Tsipane’s decision
to reshuffle her cabinet to silence her critics and members of
her cabinet who were applying pressure for her immediate
withdrawal from political ascendency in the party.

The premier nonetheless mentioned that the changes in
cabinet were in the spirit of optimising their effectiveness and
ensuring that better services are delivered to the people of
Mpumalanga.

When Scrolla.Africa asked Banele Masheleni, ANCYL Nkangala
region spokesperson about the premier’s withdrawal from the
ANC chairperson’s post, he said: “Unfortunately I am not in a

position to comment if she withdrew or not. Neither am I
supporting her to lead the Province as Chairperson of the ANC.”

He did, however, say that he supported her to lead the
government.

“I believe she has more experience in governance,”’ he said.

The new MECs are Busisiwe Shiba (Co-operative Governance),
Mohita Latchminarain (Public Works), Speedy Mashilo (Human
Settlements) and Mpumalanga’s deputy speaker, Vusi
Mkhatshwa (Provincial Treasury).

The reshuffle has seen Mandla Msibi moved to Agriculture,
Lindiwe Ntshalintshali is at Social Development, Vusi Shongwe
is placed at the Department of Community Safety and Thandi
Shongwe at the Department of Culture.

Coughing Tanzanian minister holds
press conference to prove he’s not dead
Arthur Greene

After a newspaper falsely reported that he had died, the
American writer Mark Twain famously responded, “the reports
of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

The Finance Minister of Tanzania summoned a press
conference on Wednesday to announce something similar after
rumours began to circulate that he had died of Covid-19 after
being hospitalised for several days.

The conference took place outside a hospital in the capital
Dodoma where minister Philip Mpango was being treated, and
footage of the event shows him coughing and spluttering his
way through the announcement.

Despite Mpango’s defense of the state of his health, the
minister was visibly ill. His voice trembled, he struggled to
speak, and at one point he erupted into a coughing fit.

He was reportedly taken off a ventilator so that he could make
this announcement.

To make matters worse, he and the two men sitting close
beside him were not wearing masks.

"I came to the hospital with my oxygen cylinder but in the last
three days I did not use it because my health has improved," he
said.

Mpango then sent his condolences to those in his country who
had recently died of “pneumonia” and “respiratory issues”.

However, the country’s opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, wasn’t
convinced, writing on Twitter “Has the intelligence of our
leaders reached this level? Who allowed this patient to cough
on people, instead of being in hospital for treatment or bed
rest?"

The Tanzanian government has come under fire for
downplaying the seriousness of the coronavirus. - and this
alarming clip makes it easy to see why.

The country’s president, John Magafuli, has previously insisted
that Tanzania has managed to steer clear of the virus, because
the country’s prayers have helped to eliminate it.

Video source: @KalekyeMoments

Nasty C goes global in Black and White
Sizwe Sibiya

After signing with the internationally respected
Def Jam Records, Nasty C’s fans have been
waiting for the artist to release something that
proves that he is truly international. And he has successfully
done it with his latest music video from the song ‘Black and
White’.

The 3:37-minute long song from his album ‘Zulu Man With
Some Power’ features Ari Lennox from Washington DC - the
first female artist to be signed by the rapper J Cole’s record
label Dreamville.

Even though Lennox of the hit ‘Shea Butter Baby’ is a skillful
singer and songwriter with smooth melodies, Nasty managed to
bring it home with clever verses and his undisputed unique
flow. This makes Black and White a colourful love song.

Directed by award winning Randburg based company Kyle
White TV which also directed the colourful ‘Whipped’ song by
Tellaman among many hits, it is probably the best music video
the artist has ever shot.

The video begins with a shot of Nasty C in a fancy Cape Town
apartment. The director helps the viewer distinguish between
the scenes of Ari Lennox which were shot in Washington DC,
US, and that of Nasty C by showing the time difference in one
frame.

The music video which only premiered a week ago on YouTube
has already had 1,8 million views - and counting.

Video source: YouTube

Mom’s three year battle to get her
baby’s body back
Judas Sekwela

                For almost three years Malebo Dikotla has been
                waiting for the remains of her infant who died
                shortly after birth.

In March 2018 18-year-old Malebo from Mamadimo Park
outside Polokwane, Limpopo started having abdominal pains.

Her mother, Esther took her to Mankweng Hospital where the
young woman was examined. She was told she wasn’t pregnant
and given an injection but later a different doctor realised she
was pregnant and prescribed medication.

“I gave birth to a boy that day at home and went back to the
hospital. Nurses checked the baby and told me he had died,”
she said.

Esther said they requested a postmortem as they suspected the
death might have been caused by the injection.

“The postmortem was only done in March 2019 by police. We
received results in January which said they could not say what
caused the death as the body was in an advanced stage of
decomposition,” said Esther.

Malebo’s father, David said they requested that the
Department of Health must perform a ritual and collect the
spirit of the baby at the hospital’s mortuary but they were
denied.

“We have a dark cloud hanging over us. We can’t attend
funerals, family gatherings and events because the baby has
not yet been buried. We have to bury and be cleansed,” said
David.

Malebo said she is suffering from depression which forced her
to quit school.

“Because I get flashbacks of the day I gave birth I sleep
at friends’ homes. Sometimes I dream of a child crying. If I can
bury my son, I can find peace,” she said.

Health spokesman Neil Shikwambana said the family got a
lawyer who alleged that the hospital was responsible for the
premature death due to the injection.

“The family disappeared and left the body at the mortuary for
months. They sent us letters of demand for financial
compensation through lawyers. We welcomed the lawyers
believing the court will be able to give us a platform to clear our
names,” said Shikwambana.

The remains of the little boy are still at the Government
Mortuary.

Chelsea lead Madrid after first leg
Menzi Magubane

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is hopeful that his lads
will overturn Chelsea’s 1-0 lead and win at Stamford Bridge on
17 March.

On Tuesday Atletico were stunned by Chelsea in the UEFA
Champions League first leg.

The tie was meant to be played in Madrid but, due to travel
restrictions, it was played in Bucharest. Olivier Giroud got the
only goal of the game to give Chelsea a precious advantage
heading into the return leg.

“We'll be playing an opponent with speed and we will need to
be able to stop it and deal with forwards like Giroud and other
powerful players,” said the coach.

Atletico players were a no-show in this match and Chelsea took
advantage of it. Simeone understands what he and his players
need to do to beat Chelsea at their own turf.

"We need to have more of the ball and position ourselves
better in attack. I trust the team,” he said.

Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel praised Giroud for his acrobatic
overhead goal kick.

"If you see him every day, you won’t be surprised. He’s
physicality at top level. He enjoys being a professional soccer
player every day. He trains like a 24-year-old," said Tuchel.

Meanwhile in Italy, reigning champions Bayern Munich took a
giant step towards the quarter-final when they humiliated Lazio
by beating them 4-1 on their own turf and making things easy
for them in the return leg in Germany on 17 March.

It was a landmark night for Bayern. Jamal Musiala, at 17,
became the youngest English goalscorer in Champions League
history.

Then Robert Lewandowski, who opened the scoring, became
the Champions League’s third top scorer of all time with 72
goals. Cristiano Ronaldo is leading the records with 134 goals
while Lionel Messi is second with 119.

Picture source: @ChelseaFC

“Lucky to be alive” Tiger Woods
conscious in hospital after surgery
Lucky Mdluli

               Tiger Woods has survived a high speed accident
               after his Genesis GV80 SUV rolled many times

and ended up in the bushes near Rancho Palos Verdes, Los
Angeles.

He was taken to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center where he is
being treated for serious injuries. While he is awake and talking
to people, he has had metal rods inserted into his shattered
right leg and has screws and pins in his ankle.

Woods was found trapped in the car by Deputy Carlos
Gonzalez, who was first at the scene after a nearby resident
alerted cops of the crash.

Gonzalez said: "He told me his name was Tiger, and at that
point I recognised him. He seemed lucid and calm."

“He is lucky to be alive,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex
Villanueva, who said the front end and bumper of Woods'
vehicle were totally destroyed but the interior was more or less
intact.

“Otherwise it would have been a fatal crash," he said.

Villanueva said Woods was travelling at what he called “a
greater speed than normal" in an area that has many accidents,
reported the UK’s Daily Mail Online.

It appears the vehicle jumped the middle island and was
travelling on the wrong side of the road before the crash.

Fire Chief Daryl Osby said they found no signs of narcotics,
alcohol or other substances.

“But that would be subject to an investigation,” said the chief.

The golfer was on his way at 7.15am on Tuesday to play golf
with two NFL stars when the accident happened.

Hunt faces sanction over bribery
comments
Menzi Magubane

             Coach Gavin Hunt could find himself in hot water
             with CAF after comments he made when Kaizer
             Chiefs were held to a goalless draw by Horoya SC
on Tuesday night.

“The CAF agenda is clear. You pay, you get results. You don't
pay, you don't get results," Hunt told the media after Amakhosi

began their CAF Champions League campaign at home on
Tuesday.

"We have five or six continents around the globe but this one is
the worst," Hunt told the media after the match. Botswana
referee Joshua Bodo denied Chiefs two goals by Samir Nurkovic
judging them as offside.

This comment may easily see the former Bidvest Wits coach
sanctioned by CAF.

"If I’m to be banned for these comments it's okay,” he said.

“When I did my Fifa pro licence I was told that a coach depends
on his tactics and not to buy officials or manipulate matches.”

He said they dominated and they scored two disallowed goals.

“It is one of the disappointing organisations in football. It is a
poor standard."

On Thursday Amakhosi are expected to travel to Burkina Faso
to meet Moroccan powerhouse Wydad Casablanca in the
second Group C match. This match will be held at the 4 August
Stadium in Ouagadougou on Sunday at 6pm.

The match was initially scheduled to take place in Morocco two
weeks ago but due to travel restrictions in Morocco it was
postponed until CAF forced Wydad to find a neutral venue.

Burkina Faso don’t have tight restrictions and were happy to
help out. Chiefs are heading to this match with points in the
bag while Wydad have three after they won against Angolan
club Petro de Luanda on Tuesday.

Horoya are top of Group C with four points.

Picture source: @thebeautifulgame