Village Talk (South Africa)
ANGRY AT GOVERNMENT INACTION
Dairy farmers in the Midlands are angry and frustrated at the government’s failure to help them battle the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Neil van Laun, who owns Fifehead Dairy in Lidgetton, described battling the virus without vaccines and...
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Village Talk
The Editor and staff of would like to wish our Christian readers a blessed and peaceful Christmas. We would also like to thank all those who contribute to the newspaper. Firstly, to our loyal advertisers, thank you for your continued support. We...
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MR X-HAUST MR TYRE MARKS MORE THAN FIVE DECADES OF TRUSTED SERVICE IN PIETERMARITZBURG
In an industry where technology evolves rapidly and customer expectations continue to rise, longevity is earned through consistency, competence and trust. For Krishansingh Raghnandan, owner and managing director of Mr Xhaust Mr Tyre Pietermaritzburg...
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BOREHOLE BRINGS JOY TO DARGLE RESIDENTS
For the first time in years, residents of Fly in the Dargle, will have access to clean drinking water — something many had almost given up hope on. For as long as most can remember, families in this small rural community, based at Brigadoon Farm, have...
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BRA-VO FOR BREAST CANCER
Bras collected at a breast cancer awareness tea in Hilton will be donated to those less fortunate during an outreach programme with Iloveboobies at the Hilton Town Hall last Friday. Founded in 2016, following a successful breast cancer awareness...
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PINK WARRIORS
The residents of Amberfield worked up a sweat as they did an exercise class to raise awareness that both women and men are at risk of contracting breast cancer. Run by Dot Penny, the session saw all the participants dress in various hues of pink,...
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INKOSI ZUMA DENIED BAIL IN COUNCILLOR MURDER CASE
AHowick Magistrate has denied bail to Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma, who is accused of the murder of umngeni Municipality DA councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu, sparking mixed reactions from political leaders and family members. Magistrate Donna Sindane ruled on...
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A TESTAMENT TO
Author and journalist, Jeff Wicks, had the audience enthralled as he spoke about his number one selling book, The Shadow State: Why Babita Deokaran Had to Die, at Howick High School on Saturday. The book covers the four-year investigation undertaken...
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RESSIES SHINE AT HOLLYWOOD-THEMED SHOW
Sunfield’s residents took family and friends on a red carpet trip through the land of showbiz - Hollywood - at a concert in the hall at their Howick presmises on Saturday morning. The performers sang, danced and played musical instruments as they...
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LOCAL TALENT
Residents in the Midlands are in for an fentertainment treat when the inaugural Hilton Heritage Fringe Festival gets underway at Mendola on Wednesday, September 24 (Heritage Day). Organised by Luke Holder, it will feature a mix of music, comedy,...
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FERNCLIFFE CHALLENGE AGAIN
The second year of the Arbor Month dig-athon showdown, hosted by Ferncliffe Forest Wilding and Husqvarna, saw returning champions Weston Agricultural School defend its title against three other schools last Thursday afternoon. Deep in Ferncliffe...
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Funda Nenja rabies campaign
Funda Nenja is extending the reach of its rabies clinics as funding becomes available. Last week the organisation vaccinated 110 dogs and cats in the outlying area of Haza. “Currently our funding does not stretch beyond rabies vaccinations, but we...
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SCHOOLS FALLING VICTIM TO CRIME
Schools in Kwazulu-natal’s rural and township areas are increasingly falling victim to brazen criminals, who are stripping them of vital resources such as information and communications technology (ICT). In the latest incident, Eminyezaneni Secondary...
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LOCAL NEED YOUR
Carrie Bennet and Kerry Rowlands, two passionate and dedicated rowers, are preparing to attend the World Masters Rowing Regatta in Banyoles, Spain, in September. Bennet is an art teacher and Rowlands is the agronomist for a well-known seed company....
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FAMILY APPEALS FOR HELP
ABack-a-buddy campaign is gaining momentum to help four-year-old Zeehan Pillay undergo a life-saving kidney transplant before the end of the year. Zeehan was diagnosed with stage five chronic kidney disease while still in the womb and has since...
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FMD RESPONSE MUST PROTECT COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS
Kwazulu-natal’s Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak is tightening its grip on the province’s livestock sector – impacting everyone from rural families selling a single animal to put food on the table, to established agribusinesses battling to keep...
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PHOTOS: ESTELLE SINKINS
Children helped pick up nearly 500 bags of rubbish from the banks of the Lion’s River at Lidgetton, and the verges of the R103 near the bridge, on Friday last week. The Mandela Day clean-up was organised by Russell Byrne, of Ray Byrne Builders in...
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LOCAL SAILOR’S SKILLS
Experienced sailor and Howick resident, Murray May, described his MSC Week as ‘challenging’. Sailing for the first time on one of the big boats based in Durban, May was an allrounder on the yacht, starting as bowman, moving into the middle as mast man...
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Checkers supports elderly
There were plenty of smiles when residents from Greendale House were treated with hot soup, fruits and croceines by Checkers in Howick last week. The store offers free cups of soup every Tuesday but they decided to bring soup to Greendale House...
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Number plate camera activated by municipality
umngeni Municipality’s ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) camera has gone live. This device is used to pick up stolen vehicles, cloned number plates and outstanding warrants. During roadblocks last Friday, 572 vehicles were scanned and 18 were...
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LEAVES FAMILY DEVASTATED
Afamily in the Karkloof has been left homeless after a fire destroyed their housein the Karkloof on Sunday, June 15. Sizwe Ngubane said his family had been living on the property for the past 30 years, with himself and his 73-year-old father, Miech,...
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FOR AN AMAZING DAY OF CRICKET
Scotty ‘Boom Boom’ Burge (85) led his Glen Eagles team to victory in the Big Bash cricket match held at Amberglen in Howick on Sunday. They scored 75 runs in their innings, retaining the trophy which the team won in the inaugural match held two years...
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TURNS TO TRAGEDY
What began as a routine cross-country training flight ended in heartbreak on the hills of Kwazulu-natal, where three young aspiring pilots died in a devastating crash near Mooi River on Sunday night. Despite warnings of severe weather that had been...
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Crowned Eagle shot in Winterskloof
Abeautiful Crowned Eagle is being cared for at Freeme Wildlife after she was shot and injured in Winterskloof. The bird is part of a breeding pair monitored by a group of residents in the area, as well as the University of Kwazulu-natal Urban Raptors...
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AGILITY IN THE MIDLANDS
The very best dogs and handlers will be competing for places in the South African team to compete at the FCI World Agility Championships during the SA Agility Championship at the ABSA Karkloof Country Club from June 13 to June 15. Approximately 90...
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Young Lives
Love Howick has been working closely with Nhlanhleni Primary School in Mpophomeni over the past year to enhance the quality of education through specialised teacher training in literacy, coding, entrepreneurship, and environmental studies. The...
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UMGENI TO INTRODUCE DISASTER, FIRE LEVIES
Increasingly frequent and severe weather events linked to climate change have prompted umngeni Municipality to increase spending on disaster response in its 2025/2026 draft Budget, which was presented last week. Delivering the draft budget, Mayor...
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RECYCLE, UMGENI RESIDENTS URGED
Residents of umngeni Municipality were urged to embrace recycling and play an active role in reducing waste during Global Recycling Day last Tuesday. The event was hosted at the municipality’s waste recycling depot, which has been popular among...
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FOOD GARDEN GURU COMES HOME TO GIVE A TALK
When author, filmmaker and food gardening guru Jane Griffiths comes to speak at Blackwoods, at the Avenues in Hilton, it won’t only be the city of her birth and upbringing she’ll be returning to from Johannesburg. “Some of my earliest memories include...
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Sassa/post Bank cards deadline
The deadline to replace the Sassa/postbank Gold Card has been extended to March 20, giving beneficiaries more time to transition to the Postbank Black Card. According to Postbank, the new black cards have enhanced security features and comply with...
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UMNGENI TARGETS ‘NON- COMPLIANT’ BUSINESSES
Three undocumented immigrants were arrested in Mpophomeni during a businesses compliance joint operation by umngeni Municipality with several government departments. The operation was supported by umgungundlovu District’s fire and environmental health...
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OF THE
The unveiling of the memorial, ‘Triumph of the Human Spirit’, is a testament to the long road travelled by indentured Indian labourers and their descendants in the KZN Midlands. Following the arrival, In 1860, of the first indentured Indian labourers...
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TO REMEMBER!
Dressed to impress and with happy smiles residents from Hilton, Howick, Mpophomeni and Kwamavana took to the red carpet for the second Night to Shine evening. Hosted at the Howick Community Church last Friday evening, this special prom night for...
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COUPLE’S SPECIAL CELEBRATION
For local octogenarian couple, celebrating 55 years of marriage was made even more special by a heartwarming surprise — a return to the very hotel where they spent their honeymoon, paying the same price they did all those years ago. Living on...
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Accused in DA councillor’s murderer denied bail
Howick Magistrate’s court denied bail application to Thobani Hlongwa (31) who is facing four charges related to the murder of DA councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu. Hlongwa, arrested in October 2023, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, murder,...
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JOIN THE FUN THIS WEEKEND
Have you got some cardboard, duct tape and plastic bottles lying around? Well, why not use them to build a float and enter the annual Love Notties Floatarama on Sunday, January 19. All boats entered for the event, which takes place at the Glensheiling...
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NOTTIES TRIO TAKE ON EPIC CHALLENGE
At 75, most people slow down, but not Iain Buchan. The founder of Brahman Hills in Nottingham Road, along with his daughter, Wallis Watt, and son-in-law, Ken Watt, both directors at the estate, recently tackled one of the world’s most extreme...
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FOR CHEER
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Merrivale, with the Etheringtons lighting up their home with Christmas lights. Gail and Peter Etherington have been lighting up their home and garden since 2005, adding to their festive display every...
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THEMBELIHLE PUPILS BRING
Thembelihle Primary School pupils brought smiles to the faces of those watching when they staged The Birth of Jesus Chris - An African Celebration. The nativity play, which included a marimba performance, was put together by Miss Makhathini and Miss...
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DONATE KENNELS TO Funda Nenja
The Howick High School Community Club has built kennels to donate to Funda Nenja, the Mpophomeni-based nonprofit organisation that promotes animal welfare. It’s the second year in succession that the club, which consists of boys and girls who have an...
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THE MIDLANDS SENIORS CLUB
The Midlands Seniors Club general meeting in October featured an extremely interesting presentation from the Hilton-based organisation, Singakwenza. The range of early childhood development toys and educational material that can be produced from waste...
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DO IT AGAIN!
Men and boys of all ages donned their purple speedos and braved Hilton and Nottingham Road's unique weather conditions last Friday to take part in the Hollard Daredevil Run. Started 15 years ago, the 5km run raises funds for the Cancer Association of...
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PUPPY MAGIC AT FUNDA NENJA
I’m not sure you’re going to see anything quite as cute as a wheelbarrow full of puppies this week. That’s the gorgeous sight which greeted the Funda Nenja team when a litter of five fur-babies was proudly pushed to the organisation’s weekly primary...
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GET YOUR ON FOR THE
The Karkloof Conservancy is planning to host its Karkloof Camino test run from October 31 to November 3. Using the theme 'Be here now’, this restorative walk offers participants the chance to escape from their busy lives and enjoy quiet time to gain...
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IS A SPELLING WHIZZ
Ntando Ndlovu, from the Lions River Primary School (pictured), aced the recent spelling bee hosted by the Michaelhouse Community Partnerships Trust, held at Michaelhouse in Balgowan. It was the first time that the school had taken part in the...
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HOWICK Babies
Nimble-fingered knitters from Amberglen have provided beanies, booties and vests for premature babies in a remote hospital in northern Kwazulu-natal. Mseleni, is a 220-bed district hospital, around 30km from Sodwana Bay. It was originally a mission...
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BONANZA!
Midlands' children will soon be whizzing around on bicycles, thanks to the generosity of people in Australia and Rotary International. On Friday last week, 560 bikes of varying shapes and sizes were brought to Howick in a container. There to welcome...
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THE SPIRIT OF
Residents in the Midlands showed the true spirit of Ubuntu when they donated food and blankets to motorists stranded on the N3, outside Howick, following one of the worst snow storms in recent history. Following an appeal by umngeni Municipality Mayor...
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TOWN UP OUR
Love Howick’s red army has become a familiar sight to residents and visitors as they pick up litter, mow grass, fix the paving and generally improve the look of the town. Making Howick and the areas around it clean and tidy is not, and should not, be...
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TRIBUTES PAID TO GREG KRUMBOCK
The DA’S national campaign manager, Greg Krumbock, who died last week, has been remembered as a visionary strategist and a stalwart of the party. Krumbock (64) had been battling a heart condition for some time. He had been with the DA for almost 40...
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Fire guts new shop
AMpophomeni hardware shop failed to open after it was set alight just weeks before it was due to open. The business owner, Sheyer Rasool, said they were devastated as they had lost money due to this fire. While they had not begun stocking products at...
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THANDOLWETHU KHANYILE NEEDS YOUR HELP
Thandolwethu Khanyile first participated in the Trashion Show when she was just seven years old in grade two at Shea O’connor Combined School in Nottingham Road. She has entered every year since then, and always won a prize. “My first dress used...
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ZEBBIES WALKERS RECALL
Agroup of local hikers completing the 2024 Sani CHOC walk recounted their fears of being trapped on the mountain as the veldfire that gutted Bushman's Nek Berg and Trout Resort raged nearby. An outpouring of grief has followed the devastating news of...
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Competes in Namibia
K’li Scott and Claudia Garella, from the Treverton Equestrian Centre in Mooi River, embarked on an equestrian journey to Windhoek in Namibia. Both represent South Africa. K’li is a rider on two horses in the South African Adult Shield Team, and...
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F1 CHAMPION’S
Howick residents were treated to the sight of current Formula 1 world champion, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull F1 2022 model car, at the Pick n Pay at the Fairways Centre in Howick from Wednesday to Sunday last week. Those who didn't know about the car...
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HOWICK SAPS ORDERED TO OPEN REPORT
The Howick Police Station has been ordered by the Pietermaritzburg High Court to open an accident report it failed to process in 2021. Akhona Tokwana was involved in a car accident on July 27, 2021, when she was hit by a taxi. As a result, she...
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Tragic loss for fire services
Firefighters at Working on Fire (WOF) – Kishuga have expressed their deep sadness at the loss of six fellow frontline staff, who lost their lives while fighting a blaze in the KZN Midlands on Sunday, July 14. Six employees of Famusa Contracting died...
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DESIGNERS
School of Fashion Pietermaritzburg student designer, Sineziwe Ndlozi from Howick with, her model, Sibu. Two Howick designers, Nonsiklelo Godlo and Sinesiwe Ndlozi, made the top 10 in this year's Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award. The...
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HOWICK’S PAVEMENTS ARE BEING UPGRADED
Visitors to the Howick CBD will have noticed that the pavements near the Main Street and Bell Street traffic lights have been transformed. The hard work has been undertaken by Love Howick as part of a project to improve all the pavements in the...
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