The Rep
Human Rights Commission inspects Van Coller Primary
The Human Rights Commission is set to write to the department of education after visiting Van Coller Primary School on Monday. The school’s pupils resumed classes on Monday after parents would not let children enter the school gates on opening day...
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Toilets horror awaits Van Coller Primary pupils next week
Van Coller Primary School in Mlungisi may not open on Wednesday due to the deplorable state of its ablution facilities, which have been in disrepair since 2006, according to sources. However, school principal Eddie Valashiya is calling for the...
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Annual Arrive Alive campaign lifts off with prayers
The Eastern Cape departments of transport and health, in partnership with the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) and Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM), officially launched the 2024 Festive Season Arrive Alive Campaign on Friday along the N6...
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Residents demand write-off of three-year-old debt
Residents from Mlungisi, Komani and Ezibeleni, led by Komani Progress Action, marched to the Chris Hani district municipality (CHDM) offices on Friday, to deliver a petition outlining their grievances with the municipality’s billing system. The...
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Komani joins march against GBV
Komani residents took to the streets last Friday in a powerful demonstration against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide as the Izibele Zoluntu Foundation, Nokulunga Mercy Victim Empowerment Centre, and the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality joined...
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Controversy dogs mayor’s car
Opposition party councillors of Enoch Mgijima local municipality (EMLM) are raising concerns about the mystery behind the mayor Madoda Papiyana’s “missing” R1.2 BMW X3, alleging it was involved in an accident and questioning its whereabouts. The car...
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Teacher accused of racism, harassment on special leave
A male teacher from Louis Rex Primary School is facing accusations of having sexually harassed grade 7 children and of racist name-calling of pupils. The teacher, who at this point cannot be named to protect the identities of the alleged minor...
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Queens Casino empowers schools with science kits
Education received a welcome boost in Komani this week, when Queens Casino, handed over maths and science kits to two local schools — Nkwanca High School and Lukhanji Primary School — as part of their corporate social responsibility programme, which...
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Class of ‘25 begin their final matric examinations
The matric class of 2025 began their final exams on Tuesday, with approximately 108,311 full-time and 13,719 part-time candidates registered across 1,086 examination centres in the Eastern Cape participating. Eastern Cape education MEC Fundile Gade...
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Villagers in shock after brutal killing of a man
Residents of Tambo Village near Whittlesea in the Chris Hani District woke up to shock and grief on the morning of September 26 this year, after the brutal murder of 35-year-old Bulelani Bhenayo, whose body was discovered in the veld. Family...
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Divisions and infighting in CPAs the issue, says minister
The department of rural development and land reform (DRDLR) has sounded the alarm on the dire state of communal property associations, with minister Mzwanele Nyhontso revealing that a staggering 90% of CPAs are not functioning effectively throughout...
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NHI plans ‘far-fetched’ when health system is falling apart
ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip has questioned the feasibility of implementing a national health insurance system when the public healthcare system is failing. Trollip was speaking after conducting an oversight visit to Whittlesea’s Hewu...
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Dispute erupts following electricity disconnections
A dispute has erupted in Nomzamo after Enoch Mgijima local municipality disconnected electricity connections to the houses of 13 residents, sparking allegations of political bias. A Nomzamo resident, Buzani Gcinisa, who is one of those affected by the...
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Families find closure as activists laid to rest
The minister of justice and constitutional development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, paid tribute to fallen heroes Mncekeleli Boskati, Madoda Michael Ralane, and Wantu Silinga, during the handover of their exhumed remains and subsequent reburial at Mzi Sikhweyiya...
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Municipality demolishes 30 Ekuphumleni homes
Scores of Ekuphumleni residents are up in arms with some having to sleep in the cold after they were forcibly removed from their homes on Tuesday. Thirty houses were demolished by the Enoch Mgijima local municipality due to what officials say is...
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No more inflating electricity prices by spazas
The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) has announced plans to remove electricity sales from spaza shops owned by foreign nationals who are accused of exploiting residents by charging higher prices. The municipality’s decision aims to protect...
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Villagers up in arms over Chris Hani water crisis
Marino Walk Villagers claim they are being forced to drink contaminated water from a river infested with algae and nappies due to problems being experienced with Christ Hani municipality’s trucks that are supposed to provide water to local...
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CHDM commits itself to enhanced service delivery
The Chris Hani district municipality (CHDM) has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing service delivery and promoting economic growth when it comes to business dealings in the region. CHDM mayor Lusanda Sizani was speaking at the District Mayor’s...
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DA turns heat on SAPS with demands over rape
Atotal of 158 rapes were reported between April 2024 and March 2025 across the three police stations serving Komani, Ezibeleni and Mlungisi, according to a DA Enoch Mgijima report. These revelations has prompted the DA Enoch Mgijima branch to hand...
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Africa Forward hosts G20 roundtable in Komani
Africa Forward recently hosted a groundbreaking G20 roundtable in Komani, bringing together social entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, and local change-makers to drive inclusive development in Komani and throughout the Eastern Cape. The roundtable...
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Three suspects arrested after chief whip’s murder
The murder of Emalahleni local municipality’s chief whip, councillor Xoliseka Bathandwa Lali, has taken a dramatic turn following the arrest of three suspects — two men and one woman — in connection with the incident. A media statement by the office...
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Sizani’s SODA water projects to make waves
The Chris Hani district municipality’s (CHDM) planned R56m water projects for 2025/2026 include the Bushmanskrans water treatment works and Poplar Grove merino walk bulk water supply project in Enoch Mgijima, which are 17% complete. Each project has a...
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High-speed chase leads to arrests
Adrug-trafficking syndicate has been dealt a major blow after a high-speed chase on the N6 near Komani, ended in the arrest of three suspects, allegedly found in possession of abalone and crystal methamphetamine, (“tik”) with an estimated street value...
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EMLM promises appointments for departments in leadership limbo
The Enoch Mgijima local municipality (EMLM) says it is proceeding with permanent appointments in critical departments as suspension and resignations leave them without proper management function. The department which has become the focus of attention...
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Opposition parties show solidarity on Lesseyton
Opposition parties in Enoch Mgijima local municipality (EMLM) have joined forces to urge the municipality to implement recommendations made by public protector Kholeka Gcaleka in the Lesseyton Sports field report, pointing to the project flaws. The...
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Safety worries at psychiatric hospital after alleged murder
Atense situation is developing at Komani Psychiatric Hospital, where there are safety concerns for staff and those being treated at the facility, after a forensic patient is alleged to have murdered a fellow patient in a fight over a piece of...
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Gcaleka throws book at top municipal officials over Lesseyton stadium
Public protector advocate Kholeka Gcaleka has found that there was improper conduct and maladministration by Enoch Mgijima local municipality officials in the tender for the construction of the controversial Lesseyton sports field in Komani. Tabling...
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All systems go at ANC regional conference
The ANC Chris Hani region says it’s all systems go in the build-up to its ninth regional conference, which kicked off yesterday at Whittlesea multi-purpose hall and is scheduled to end tomorrow. The regional executive committee (REC) top five...
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Calls for Queen’s track to host national events
The Queen’s College tartan track is a worldclass facility that stands as a testament to sporting excellence in the region but the race is still on to attract national events to it, despite the important acquisition. Now stakeholders concerned about...
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Correctional services issues blanket denial
The local department of correctional services has refuted claims that prisoners’ blankets are being washed at a polluted spot near the Komani River close to an illegal dumpsite. A gardener who cleans a park on the far side of the bridge, says he saw...
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EMLM introduces sables De Lange nature reserve
The Enoch Mgijima local municipality (EMLM) is breathing new life into the Lawrence de Lange Nature Reserve in Komani. On Wednesday, six sable antelopes were introduced to the reserve, and heralded as a welcome addition to its diverse range of...
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EMLM to spend R47m installing smart meters
The Enoch Mgijima local municipality (EMLM) is gearing up for a big infrastructure upgrade, with plans to install 35,000 smart meters across the region. The R47m project, funded by the National Treasury, aims to modernise the municipality’s...
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Minister and premier join CHDM on oversight visit
The Xonxa Dam project is nearing completion, with the sixth phase of the initiative to bring water to the people scheduled to conclude soon. The final, seventh phase, will focus on supplying water to Emalahleni villages around the Xonxa Dam and...
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Mayor under fire for purchase of R1.2m BMW
Enoch Mgijima local municipality (EMLM) mayor Madoda Papiyana is under fire for purchasing a BMW M3 sedan worth R1.2m. According to insiders, the purchase exceeds the R700,000 threshold and what makes it worse, is the fact that the municipality is...
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Slain hero left important legacy for all SA people
SA deputy president Paul Mashatile says Chris Hani ’ s legacy stands as a beacon of courage, selflessness, and service to the people. “A fearless soldier, a servant of the masses, and an intellectual strategist of the liberation movement, Chris Hani...
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Uproar over town hall fire damage court proceedings
The historic Komani Town Hall building has been fenced off to prevent public access, as the Enoch Mgijima local municipality gears up for a court battle with its insurance company over disputed fire damages claim. The former municipal building has...
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EMLM puts brakes on auctioning of trucks
Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) has announced that the planned auction of its four service delivery trucks will not proceed following a dispute between an employee and the municipality who has been ordered to compensate him following a conflict...
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Komani public has say on proposals in Marriage Bill
AMarriage Bill public hearing by a home affairs department portfolio committee from national parliament, at a special hearing at the Thobi Kula Indoor Sports Centre in Komani on Tuesday, addressed consistent calls for the age limit for legal marriages...
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WSU student protest over new learning policy turns violent
Nineteen Walter Sisulu University students who are facing charges of public violence, were released on warning after they appeared in the Komani Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday when chaos erupted during a protest over a new workintegrated learning...
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Municipalities’ interns left high and dry
Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) and Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) have taken steps to terminate the two-year South Africa Institute of Artisans (SAIFA) internship programme after some of the interns did not receive salaries for...
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Shopping centre sustains serious damage
With no access to water at the site, members of Queenstown Rapid Response Unit (QRRU) and Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality firefighting teams battled for hours to extinguish a raging fire at the Shoprite store at Ezibeleni Shopping Centre on Friday...
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Toddler drowns in trench filled with sewage
Tragedy struck at a cemetery in Mlungisi on Saturday afternoon when a three-year-old toddler from Nomzamo drowned in a trench filled with sewage. The child’s mother, a resident of Nomzamo, was visiting a relative who lives near the cemetery at the...
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Access to information sparks joy for visually impaired
The establishment of a fifth mini-library facility for the blind and visually impaired launched at Ashley Wyngaardt Library, Komani in the Chris Hani District is a game-changer for the visually impaired members of the community. The facility launched...
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Gift of the Givers drills boreholes at three schools
Gift of the Givers has stepped in to alleviate Komani’s water crisis by successfully drilling boreholes at three local schools. The boreholes at Nkwanca High School, Edlelweni Primary School in Mlungisi, and Sixishe Agricultural School in Ezibeleni,...
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EMLM wins court battle against LTK
Enoch Mgijima local municipality (EMLM) has emerged victorious in a court battle with Let’s Talk Komani (LTK), thwarting LTK’s bid to dissolve the municipality. Now LTK is consulting with its legal teams and constituencies to determine its next...
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Informal traders oppose relocation
Informal traders in Victoria Road and the Enoch Mgijima local municipality (EMLM) are on a collision course after they were removed from their business sites in the area. The hawkers are unhappy with the EMLM, claiming they were evicted from their...
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Gift of the Givers to the rescue in Komani’s major water crisis
As Komani’s water crisis tightens its grip on hard-hit communities, the Gift of the Givers have intervened just in time to bring some relief to disillusioned residents. Their timing could not have been more perfect after Chris Hani district...
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Local schools determined to make it a successful year
Though there were some hiccups experienced during the opening of the new school year on Wednesday, most schools signaled it was all systems go for pupils in the district. AS schools opened gates after the holidays, excitement and anxiety filled the...
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Social development MEC visits family of 12-year-old mother
Officials from the Eastern Cape social development department have visited the family of a 12year-old girl who gave birth at a Komani Hospital on New Year’s Day. This follows the arrest of a 17-year-old boy who has been charged with alleged rape after...
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Traditional school’s proud initiation season record
Embo Madoda Traditional Male Circumcision School is paving the way for safe and secure circumcision practices, with its proud record of zero deaths at its facility. This means the school is inundated with initiates signing up at its facility, with its...
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Call for proof of financial recovery
Let’s Talk Komani says recent claims by Cogta MEC Zolile Williams that Enoch Mgijima local municipality has achieved 50% implementation of its financial recovery plan (FRP) seem contradictory, given the ongoing power outages in parts of Komani that...
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Concerns raised regarding spaza shop registrations
By August 2023, Enoch Mgijima local municipality (EMLM) had registered 396 spaza shops in its 34 wards. Despite the municipality’s efforts to register spaza shops, some shop owners have not provided the required documentation. The National Economic...
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Chamber, municipality to tackle electricity crises
To address the electricity crisis in Komani, the joint working committee between Border-Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB) and Enoch Mgijima municipality has been established. The committee, which includes premier Oscar Mabuyane, co-operative governance...
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Security to be stepped up at psychiatric hospital
In response to security concerns raised by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) Komani branch, the department of health plans to enhance security measures at the Komani Psychiatric Hospital while conducting...
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Inmates encouraged to learn skills while in prison
The Eastern Cape region has the worst prison overcrowding in SA, largely due to its rural nature and high unemployment rate. During a visit to Komani to introduce a new management commissioner on Wednesday, Eastern Cape regional commissioner Lucky...
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Angry residents fed up with ambulance services
Disgruntled members of the Komani community are up in arms, claiming they are experiencing difficulties with sometimes a non-available ambulance service. Some members of the public are complaining about EMS lines being down, and allege that the...
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CHDM to host Burundi ambassador by the end of the year
Chris Hani district municipality (CHDM) and Chris Hani District Agency (CHDA) are expecting to host the head of trade and investment at the Burundi embassy, Robert Mugalula, by the end of the year. This follows a briefing session the CHDM and CHDA had...
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Teacher suspended pending probe into sexual allegations
Amale teacher at a prominent Komani high school, accused of “inappropriate conduct and advances” towards pupils, has been suspended by the school’s management after angry parents demanded drastic action be taken. The allegations that surfaced on...
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‘This is your time!’
The Eastern Cape department of education launched its ‘Last Push’ matric support programme at Titi Jonas community hall, Port Alfred on October 4. Speakers encouraged the grade 12 candidates to stay focused, and promised them the support they needed to...
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Mbalula praises ANC for driving building purchase
The ANC’s secretarygeneral, Fikile Mbalula, has praised the Chris Hani ANC Regional Executive Committee for being the driving force behind the purchase of new regional offices in Ebden Street, Komani. The state-of-the-art building - The Regional House...
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Plenty of work needed in districts after NCOP visit
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) undertook an oversight visit to the Chris Hani District Municipality, focusing on Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) and Intsika Yethu Local Municipality. The visit aimed to compile a report addressing...
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Road rehabilitation projects announced for EMLM
Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) has announced plans to invest more than R25m in various road rehabilitation projects, including the Klipplaat road rehabilitation block paving project in Komani Park and Lauridashwood Park worth R8m; the...
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CHDM gear up to promote Heritage Month, tourism
To celebrate Heritage Month and promote tourism in the region, the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) has organised a series of events in collaboration with local municipalities and various sector departments. During Heritage Month CHDM will host...
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