Mother’sfive-yearwait fordaughter’sremains
ZOLILE MENZELWA
ALL Andiswa Madakana wants, to find closure, is the return of her daughter's remains from the police so that she can bury her
The remains of Sisipho were found scattered a few days after she went missing from her Sangweni village She was 14 years old She went missing on April 9, 2020, and her remains were found on May 1 They were then taken in for a DNA analysis and were never returned to the family
"Her birthdays are a painful reminder of the tragic loss of my daughter We used to celebrate together, and the fact that we never buried her is most painful The pain is unbearable, and I became very sick I couldn't even cope at work as the family never got any form of counselling At work, I was given a three-month leave of absence to regroup," she said
Madakana said her mother, who had been living with Sisipho at the time, became so ill that she was in and out of hospitals
This, she said, led to her taking her mother from the village to Cape Town, where she works "Life became unbearable after Sisipho's death Her siblings are not coping, and this has affected us as parents and the entire family badly Her siblings always ask about when her funeral will be "
Madakana has serious ill feelings about how the police handled her daughter's case and treated her family
"The police neglected us in this case, and there are no two ways about it They played me for five full years, only to find out that the case was closed without informing the family All they did was make unfulfilled promises
"They would be annoyed every time we asked about the progress of the case They would say the Madakana case was not the only case they were working on," she said
Her inability to bury Sisipho, she said, is a constant pain in her life that leaves her defeated
"I wish the Gatyana police could feel my
pain as a parent whose child's remains are still kept by them five years on
There's nothing I can do without them; I am helpless I have been begging them; I begged them from the beginning, but my cries fall on deaf ears I feel like a defeated parent by how things have been unfolding up to now The only way I will ever get closure would be to get the remains of my child and bury them I'm appealing to authorities and anyone who can help to step in," said an emotional Madakana
Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, was approached for comment, but had not responded at the time of going to print on Tuesday
KSDMunicipalitymournsHR Managerbrutallyslainathome
son/organisation
THE King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality in Mthatha is saddened by the passing of one of its managers, Thobile Feni (50), who was attached to the Corporate Services Directorate
According to the statement issued by Municipal Manager of King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality, Ngamela Pakade, the deceased in question was a Human Resources manager in the Municipality and met his untimely death when he was brutally attacked at his home in the morning hours of Sunday, April 13, 2025
He said the Municipality is deeply shocked by his departure
"The South African Police Service (SAPS) is investigating the matter to ensure that the perpetrator(s) are brought to book The Municipality has further seriously noted that there is an individual on Facebook who has issued unauthorised statements about the Municipality Such behaviour and unlawful statements are strongly condemned by the Municipality, as this individual does not work for KSD Municipality and has not contacted the Municipality about the official standpoint of the institution regarding this heinous crime," said Pakade Pakade confirmed that the official Coat of Arms/logo is an important identity of the institution, which is solely used by the Municipality, not by any other per-
"It is unlawful to use the Municipality logo without authorisation from the Municipality, and as such this matter will be reported to Facebook and a criminal case opened as this individual will defraud members of the public pretending to be an official of the Municipality
"It is incorrect for the members of the public, including any staff member of the Municipality, to use the official logo or to issue any unauthorised statements about the Municipality to the media, as such statements can potentially tarnish the reputation of the Municipality, as is the case with this person (his identity is known by Express)
"We urge the members of the public to ignore or read and process such unlawful content with caution going forward, as indicated above that this individual is an imposter pretending to be a journalist and/or spokesperson of King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality " Police spokesperson, Captain Welile Matyolo, confirmed that Thobile Feni was found dead at his home in Fern Hill, New Homes in Mthatha, with stab wounds on his upper body
"He was alone at home as his wife left him still in bed, rushing for her private businesses, leaving door(s) unlocked, and it is alleged that suspect(s) used that opportunity as there was no forced entry No one has been arrested yet and the investigation is ongoing," said Matyolo
Andiswa Madakana. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
BABALWA NDLANYA
CareerexpoequipsEasternCapeyouthwithfutureskills
BABALWA NDLANYA
IN a drive to equip learners and unemployed individuals with career knowledge and opportunities, Imbizo Events Company hosted a dynamic Career Expo, aiming to guide young people toward future-ready career paths and entrepreneurship
The event was held at Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha last week
Project Manager Lizwi Gwaza said the event was organised to help learners understand various career options available to them as they move into tertiary education
"We have invited several stakeholders to provide information on careers that are in demand and relevant to the current job market Among the exhibitors were institutions such as the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), African Management Services Company (AMSCO), South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), and the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA)
“These organisations provided insights into both employment opportunities and entrepreneurship, encouraging learners to consider starting their own businesses as a means of combating the country's high unemployment rate," said Gwaza
by the Department of Higher Education and Training, SAIMI identifies skill gaps in the industry and partners with training institutions to fill those gaps
"We are not a training institution ourselves, but we facilitate access to skills training for youth and job seekers through our network "
To help learners explore maritime careers, SAIMI has launched a digital platform called Dive-Inn (available as an app and at www diveinn co za)
"Learners can find information about qualifications in Marine Engineering and Marine Science offered by institutions such as Nelson Mandela University (NMU), Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), and Durban University of Technology (DUT) "
Olwethu Ketse, Eastern Cape Project Manager for SAICA, educated learners on career paths in accounting She explained the three professional designations: Accounting Technician, Associate General Accountant and Chartered Accountant
He said that in the 21st century, problem-solving and critical thinking are essential "By opening their own companies, young people can contribute meaningfully to South Africa's economy "
The Career Expo also catered for unemployed individuals; as a result, the Department of Labour was present to register job seekers on their database
This initiative helps match individuals with internship and learnership opportunities based on their interests When companies seek candidates, they can easily connect with the department to find suitable people
level
Looking to the future, Gwaza announced plans for an E-Learning Programme set to take place in East London in August, in collaboration with the Department of Education at the provincial
The programme aims to broaden access to educational resources and career development tools Sector, Education and Training Coordinator, Sithembiso
Sojola, from the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), spoke about their role in the maritime sector Tasked
"Each level prepares learners with different skills and responsibilities," said Ketse "Accounting is fundamental to understanding business finances and can open the door to entrepreneurship "
The Career Expo successfully blended career education, practical advice, and opportunities for economic participation, creating a platform where learners and job seekers could gain the tools they need for a brighter future
Learners and stakeholders from different schools in Mthatha attended the Career Expo which was hosted by the Imbizo Events Company at the Nelson Mandela Museum
PHOTO:BABALWA NDLANYA
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Butterworthrefereeaimsforprofessionalcareer
ANELE RAZIYA
MESULI Njobende, from Butterworth, is determined to continue working diligently until he achieves his dream of becoming a professional football referee
This follows Njobende's recognition as referee of the tournament at the recent annual U/17 Nozulu Youth Legacy Cup, which was held at Walter Sisulu University in Bika campus near Butterworth town
For winning the referee of the tournament award, Njobende received a small, beautifully
crafted trophy, a stopwatch and a school bag as prizes
The award has provided significant motivation for Njobende, who aims to work exceptionally hard going forward until he reaches his dream of becoming a professional football referee
Speaking with Mthatha Express after receiving his award, Njobende expressed his delight and excitement at being named the best referee of the tournament in the Nozulu Youth Legacy Cup, noting that the award would serve as excellent motivation on his refereeing journey
"All I can say is I am very happy to be named
as the best referee of the tournament and to receive this award," said Njobende
He added that the award would give him greater confidence and motivate him to work harder towards becoming a professional referee in the near future
Furthermore, he mentioned that there are many professional referees from various small towns in the Eastern Cape who inspire him in officiating matches, and he hopes one day to follow in their footsteps
Among the match officials who inspire him are Luxolo Bad and Xola Sitela, both of whom come from small towns This in itself encour-
Localteamsinvitedtomemorialtournament
ANELE RAZIYA
LOCAL football and netball teams in Mnquma and surrounding areas are invited to participate in the annual Xolani "Rooney" Mqushulu memorial tournament, scheduled to take place at Ndabankulu sports ground in Ndabakazi village this weekend
The primary aim of the event is to commemorate the life of the late Xolani "Rooney" Mqushulu and his contribution to local football during his time as a player A further objective of the event is to
contribute to the development of sport, particularly in rural areas like Ndabakazi village and its surroundings, whilst also steering young people away from drugs and alcohol misuse
During the tournament, all local teams from Mnquma and beyond are welcome to participate in the event
The event is expected to run for three days, from April 26 to April 28 Teams interested in taking part will need to pay a R600 entry fee for football and R500 for netball
Teams that perform well during the
PSLlegendssetforECBIG8Tournament
HOSEYA JUBASE
PSL legends, including Bafana Bafana icon, Siyabonga Nomvethe, are expected to arrive in Mthatha this coming Saturday to attend one of the Eastern Cape's major tournaments, known as the BIG 8 Tournament
The BIG 8 Tournament comprises eight teams from five different tournaments These five tournaments take place annually in various towns across the Eastern Cape province, with the top two from each tournament qualifying for the BIG 8 Tournament
The five tournaments that constitute the BIG 8 include Ngqutura Tournament (Ngcobo town), Mjulelwa Tournament (Tabase near Mthatha), Mpendulo Stoyile Tournament (Mqanduli Town), Khiwa Media Tournament (Ngqeleni Tournament) and Sabelo Mgotywa Foundation Tournament (Ntabankulu town)
This year's BIG 8 Tournament overall winner in football will receive R50 000, a gold medal and a trophy, whilst the runners-up will take home R25 000 and a silver medal In netball, the champions will be awarded R25 000, a kit and trophy, with the second position receiving R10
000, a kit and a trophy
Some of the players participating in this tournament are former PSL players, current ABC Motsepe League and NFD League, now known as the Motsepe Championship
This year, the Big 8 Tournament celebrates its 5th anniversary It will be held at Rotary stadium in Ngangelizwe location, Mthatha, on Saturday, April 26 from 07:00
BIG8Tournamentparticipatingteams: NgquturaSportTournament,Ngcobo:
• Football:FlamingoFCandEasternCapeStarsFC
• Netball:SharksNetballClubandHungriesNetballClub
MjulelwaTournament,Mthatha:
• Football:YoungKillersFCandRoyalAMSportingClub
• Netball:KokstadJaguarsNCandLeedsNC
MpenduloStoyileTournament,Mqanduli:
• Football:McoyileFCandAmazionFC
• Netball:QokolweniNCandKokstadHashtagNC KhiwasMediaTournament,Ngqeleni:
• Football:MthathaPhotographersFC
• Netball:DrakensbergNC SabeloGotywaFoundationTournament,Ntabankulu:
• Football:VobiStarsFC
• Netball:FlagstaffRosesNC
event in both sporting codes will be rewarded with substantial prizes
Champions in football will receive R8 000 as first prize, plus a brand-new football kit, trophy and gold medals
Second prize will be R5 000 plus a brandnew football kit and silver medals, whilst the netball first prize will be R5 000, a netball kit, gold medals and a trophy
Second prize in netball will be R3 000 plus silver medals All teams interested in competing should contact one of the organisers, Aphiwe Mtyhali, on 066 447 9933 for more information about the tournament
ages and motivates Njobende, who believes that one day he will put Butterworth town on the map when he becomes a professional referee
Currently, Njobende is officiating matches in the Mnquma Local Football Association (Mnquma LFA) In this division, as amateur officials, they are guided by former referees who share refereeing knowledge to enhance their skills in match officiating Njobende also congratulated Linamandla Mpama, who was named best assistant referee of the tournament and who also received a small trophy, a stopwatch and a school bag
The tournament will also feature individual awards, such as player of the tournament, top goal scorer and other accolades, all of which come with monetary rewards Additionally, in both sporting codes, all teams reaching the semi-finals will receive brand new kits
The tournament is set to begin at 08:00 in the morning at Ndabankulu sports grounds this Saturday Football and netball supporters are encouraged to attend in large numbers to support the event Note that dangerous weapons are not permitted inside the venue
1.The Western Cape Department of Social Development , Guguletu local o�ice,is requesting anyone who knows the whereabouts of Sivuyile Jelashe, last seen in the Eastern Cape, in Cofimvaba, to please contact the Social Worker: Mrs B Vakele on 021 831 5936.
2 The Western Cape Department of Social Development ,Guguletu local o�ice,is requesting anyone who knows the whereabouts of Siyabonga, last seen in the Eastern Cape, in Cofimvaba, to please contact the Social Worker: Mrs B Vakele on 021 831 5936.
NM10008799-TE240425
Mesuli Njobende (blue tracksuit) holding his best referee of the tournament award and next to him, Linamandla Mpama holding her best assistant referee of the tournament award during the Nozulu Youth Legacy Cup at Walter Sisulu University recently
PHOTO: ANELE RAZIYA