It is no surprise that 37-year-old Megan von der Marwitz, a learnership student and teacher’s assistant at Cape Recife School in Gqeberha, is on cloud nine. She won two golds at her first-ever interntational event - the 13th WUKF World Championships in Malmö, Sweden. Von der Marwitz stood out among over 3,800 entries from 33 countries and 66 federations across various karate and Kobudo disciplines. Read more about her on page 8. Pictured are Megan von der Marwitz and her husband, Karl von der Marwitz
A NEW initiative aimed at creating meaningful employment for young people while helping restore critical local ecosystems will see 17 unemployed youth in structured, conservation-focused roles
Spearheaded by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber through its Risk Management Desk and funded by Hollard, the programme was launched in Nelson Mandela Bay on Monday, 4 August
The programme, in partnership with the Youth Employment Service (YES) and implementation partner Youth@Work, is set to bring together private and non-profit partners to create meaningful employment for young people while helping restore critical local ecosystems
Denise van Huyssteen, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, emphasised the importance of collaboration across sectors
“This programme reflects our commitment to integrated, long-term solutions that extend beyond job creation,” said van Huyssteen “It’s about building resilience - economically, so-
cially and environmentally Through our Risk Management Desk, we’ve focused on tackling the root causes of vulnerability in our region
This initiative brings that vision to life by empowering young people to become active participants in restoring ecosystems and shaping their futures ”
She further highlighted the initiative’s longterm focus
"We see this as a model for how business, civil society and development partners can collaborate to unlock potential, reduce risk and promote sustainable development ”
Participants will work with three established environmental organisations: Zwartkops Conservancy, Friends of Van Stadens, and the Sustainable Seas Trust (SST)
These placements will provide practical experience while supporting ecological resilience in the metro
At Zwartkops Conservancy, seven participants will serve as Environmental Field Assistants, focusing on pollution monitoring, clean-up campaigns, and public education around the Swartkops River - one of the East-
ern Cape’s most threatened water systems
Another seven youths will be placed with Friends of Van Stadens as Conservation Interns, where they will assist with indigenous plant conservation, ecological trail maintenance, and the removal of invasive alien species at the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve
The remaining three interns will work with the Sustainable Seas Trust, contributing to marine conservation efforts through public awareness campaigns, plastic waste education, and Clean Spot Operations aimed at reducing ocean-bound pollution
By merging youth development with ecological stewardship, the programme offers a practical approach to long-term risk mitigation and shared value creation
Deanne Bezuidenhout, Hollard’s Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), underlined the initiative’s strategic value
“Creating value for business and society shouldn’t be mutually exclusive, and this initiative proves it,” said Bezuidenhout “By investing in both young people and the environment, we’re addressing long-term risks while
Gqeberhaserialrapistsentencedtofourlifeterms
A SERIAL rapist convicted of luring unsuspecting women into a taxi to be kidnapped and raped has been sentenced to four life terms
Thembelani Mrwetyana (26), a taxi conductor, was sentenced in the Gqeberha High Court last week
The court handed down two life terms for rape, 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and six years for kidnapping
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, the sentences relate to two
separate incidents in which Mrwetyana, together with a co-perpetrator, used a taxi to lure unsuspecting women
In the first incident, on the morning of 8 October 2021, a woman was strangled and raped after the taxi driver and conductor refused to stop for her to disembark
"The driver threatened her with a sharp object while Mrwetyana held her down," Tyali explained "They drove to a remote location where the driver retrieved condoms from the dashboard
"Despite the complainant's desperate
pleas not to be harmed, the driver sliced her clothing with a knife and raped her
A month later, on 27 November 2021, the second complainant was on her way to work when she boarded a taxi in the rain
"Mrwetyana and the driver were the only other occupants Instead of heading to her destination, the driver took the freeway," Tyali explained "Mrwetyana jumped into the back seat, blindfolded her, and they both raped her "
He was linked to the two rapes committed in 2021 through DNA samples ob-
unlocking real opportunities for growth and resilience ”
Bezuidenhout also underscored the economic relevance of environmental investment
“Environmental health is a cornerstone of long-term economic resilience This initiative demonstrates how investing in nature and people can go hand in hand, aligning employment creation with ecological restoration in ways that are both practical and forward-looking ”
The initiative is guided by the national YES model, which facilitates quality one-year work experiences for unemployed youth
By combining YES’s proven framework with strong local implementation and environmental expertise, the programme is designed to deliver measurable outcomes - both for young people and the region’s ecosystems
As the programme unfolds, participants will develop both technical and workplace skills while gaining a deeper appreciation for their role in building a more inclusive and sustainable South Africa - one where opportunity, shared responsibility, and environmental stewardship go hand in hand
tained during the investigation in 2022
The State, represented by Senior State Advocate Ismat Cerfontein, and the defence entered into a plea and sentence agreement
Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo, welcomed the sentence "The use of DNA evidence in linking Mrwetyana to these horrific offences demonstrates the critical role forensic science continues to play in solving crimes and securing convictions," said Madolo
Bayhonoursslainprosecutor’slegacy
SHANTI JAFTA
IN a poignant memorial ceremony on Thursday in Gqeberha, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) officially honoured the life and career of Regional Court prosecutor, Tracy Brown, whose dedicated service was brutally cut short when she was assassinated outside her Gqeberha home in Young Park, on 31 July, in front of her partner and young daughter
Brown's colleague and friend, Riana Els, shared nothing but good things about Brown's life and her dedication to upholding the law She was described by Els as friendly, courageous, soft-spoken, funny, a fighter, a fantastic family-oriented individual, and one of the best prosecutors in Gqeberha
During his address, Eastern Cape's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Advocate Barry Madolo, condemned the killing of prosecutors and stated that he constantly loses
his best soldiers, noting that Brown was one of the best prosecutors he had
"We have lost once again one of our soldiers," he said "As the NPA, we will not be deterred from seeking justice; we will fight until the bitter end
In honour of Tracy Brown, we will intensify our fight against crime "
He added a message to current prosecutors that the fight must continue
"Stay strong in what you are doing Have faith in the Almighty, and your protection will come from above,"
Madolo said "In the next few days, we will catch the perpetrators who took Brown's life," stating that there is already a person of interest in the murder of the prosecutor "Hang in there, and let us fight the good fight," he said
The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Xolile Nqatha, said that the Eastern Cape is profoundly shocked by this cruel act against the prosecutor, which occurred the day before the commemoration of Wom-
en's Month
Speaking alongside the Minister of Justice, Mmamoloko Kubayi, he said, "As the province of Eastern Cape, we have three crime hotspots: Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Buffalo City Municipality, and O R Tambo Municipality In NMBM, Young Park [where the incident took place] is not part of the hotspots "
Reassuring Browns family, he said, "The police are doing everything they can to bring the perpetrator(s) to book, with a person of interest already identified We expect arrests regarding this matter soon "
Noting the recent violence against prosecutors, Nqatha said, "We want to warn criminals to stop the brutal killing of prosecutors, as the act will not make the cases the prosecutors have against them disappear We will continue to pursue the cases We suspect that prosecutors and law enforcement members are being murdered for upholding the rule of law and protecting their communities "
The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster – a government initiative that brings together various departments and law enforcement entities to work collaboratively on issues of justice, crime prevention, and security – is hitting the ground running in Nelson Mandela Bay to intensify the fight against crime
Reassuring the Minister, Nqatha said, "We have one of the most functional clusters in the country and work well together In an attempt to honour her, with the help of this cluster, we will ensure that justice is achieved and that those who commit crimes in our communities face the might of the law "
He added that as a cluster, they need to conduct an assessment of these cases against prosecutors so
that they can be proactive against these crimes
"Some cases put our prosecutors at risk, and therefore we should be proactive; prosecutors dealing with dangerous cases need to be protected so that none of them lose their lives for pursuing justice Law enforcement should collaborate to ensure that we protect each other "
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, who was present at the service, commended the work of Brown whilst urging law enforcement to intensify their efforts to protect prosecutors She said that the Justice family has been robbed of a dedicated prosecutor, a loyal public servant who prosecuted without fear or favour, which is rare to find "Death has robbed us of a warrior of justice," she said "Brown worked to ensure that gender-based and domestic violence perpetrators are brought to book and removed from society to prevent them
from inflicting further harm on their victims Her work in this role was so good that she was awarded a certificate of outstanding performance in recognition of her excellence," Kubayi said "Those who murdered her feared her and knew that she did her work too well They knew that she would never let injustice go unpunished " She said that Brown wanted to win all of her cases "Where crime is high in our country, a win for a prosecutor is a life saved, a child protected, and a woman's life changed for the better," something Kubayi said Brown lived by At the end of the memorial service, Chief Prosecutor Wilport Kankangu read out the names of the New Brighton prosecutors in a roll call, who responded with "Present " However, when Tracy Brown's name was read out, silence struck the hall, signifying her absence "I will now permanently close the file of Tracy Brown," he concluded
The memorial service of dedicated prosecutor, Tracy Brown, at the Feather Market Centre. PHOTOS: SHANTI JAFTA
Qiyaam Brown and Charmaine Terblanche, son and mother of Tracy Brown receiving Brown’s framed prosecutor’s uniform.
TWENTY vulture chicks born during the current breeding season at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape represent a major milestone for vulture conservation in South Africa
Facing an uphill battle for survival that goes far beyond human-induced threats like poisoning, powerline and wind turbine collisions, vultures are naturally slow to reproduce, creating a perfect storm for population collapse
"Vultures only lay one egg per year during breeding season, and that’s it,” explains Kerri Wolter, CEO of Vulpro
The chicks, born during the breeding season in July as part of Vulpro’s relocated Captive Breeding Programme, are proof that the translocated vultures are settling successfully into their purpose-built facility Cape Vultures only reach sexual maturity at approximately the age of seven, their cousins, White-Backed Vultures, a little earlier at five, and for Lappet-faced Vultures, it often takes longer than seven years
“With such low reproductive rates, we cannot sustain the current losses," Wolter shared
This breeding success comes a year after Vulpro completed the largest vulture relocation, transporting 160 birds across
In the face of devastating vulture population declines across Africa, Vulpro launched its Captive Breeding Programme in 2015.
1,042km from their facility in Hartebeespoort to bespoke enclosures at Shamwari
"It s important to note that when vultures are reduced to critical levels, they also stop breeding "
Wolter shared that the statistics are sobering "Even in ideal wild conditions, survival rates from egg to adult hover around just 5% When combined with human threats, the mathematics of extinction becomes stark ”
Vultures play a major role in the ecosystem, and a world without them would have significant ecological and health implications, she explained Disposing of carcasses quickly, they're able to prevent the spread of diseases like anthrax, botulism and rabies among wildlife and humans
World's largest African vulture Captive Breeding Programme
In the face of devastating vulture population declines across Africa, Vulpro launched its Captive Breeding Programme in 2015 at a time when no similar initiatives existed in South Africa
Today, they have around 300 individual birds in their care, making them the world's largest African vulture Captive Breeding Programme, pioneering innovative conservation methods and setting new standards for vulture recovery efforts globally
Non-releasablebirdssavingtheirwildcounterparts
What sets Vulpro's programme apart is its exclusive use of non-releasable birds for breeding, many of whom are victims of energy infrastructure collisions These birds, whilst unable to return to the wild due to injuries or disabilities, can still contribute to their species' survival through reproduction
"What s so special about our programme," says Wolter, "is that all our non-releasable disabled birds are still able to have value They're not just sitting in an enclosure being viewed or kept on an asset register with a price tag on their heads; they are used to contribute to their wild counterparts survival "
This approach eliminates the ethical concerns of removing healthy wild birds from
already fragile populations whilst providing a meaningful purpose for injured raptors that would otherwise require lifelong care
"The captive breeding of vultures was never formally recognised as a conservation tool in South Africa, prior to us launching our programme We spent years following the USA and European captive breeding initiatives, learning, refining and growing our work with the full understanding and knowledge that, should a crisis hit Africa, our breeding programme could become a lifeline in preventing some vulture species extinctions Fast-forward ten years, and the threat of extinction is on our doorstep with some species showing localised extinctions in South Africa," reveals Wolter
The delicate art of vulture breeding
Managing a successful Breeding Programme requires an intricate understanding of vulture behaviour and biology The birds are monogamous, with breeding pairs sharing responsibilities for nest
TechLeader’sthreelessonsforAfricaninnovation
NATASHA BEZUIDENHOUT
IN a compelling Women s Month address hosted by PSG Financial Services on 6 August, technology entrepreneur, Rapelang Rabana, delivered a masterclass on innovation, perspective, and the transformative power of technology
Currently serving as Co-Chief Digital Officer at Imagine Worldwide, she shared
Reflecting on her university days at UCT, she described the anxiety-inducing realisation that "actually the adults don't know what they're doing either, and absolutely everybody was winging it "
Rather than being paralysed by this discovery, she embraced it as liberation, "if nothing was written in stone," experimentation became possible
This perspective led to the creation of
of communication?" Rabana asked, leading her team to develop solutions that predated today's messaging platforms
Her second lesson challenges the misconception that technology requires deep technical expertise Instead, she advocates for tech fluency, understanding technology as a tool for removing constraints rather than viewing it as an impenetrable "black box"
building, incubation, and chick rearing over a gruelling 54-day incubation period
"Sometimes they fight over who's breeding the chick or who's incubating the egg They fight for those responsibilities," observes Wolter "To me, that is quite cute Breeding always shows me how fragile and how gentle they are "
The programme employs sophisticated techniques, including double-clutching, where removing the first egg can stimulate birds to lay a second one, effectively doubling reproductive output Careful record-keeping ensures genetic lineages are maintained and chicks are returned to their biological parents after assisted hatching when necessary
"The importance of any Captive Breeding Programme is very, very stringent record keeping," emphasises Wolter "You know which egg, and which chick needs to go back to which pair "
Vulpro's approach draws crucial lessons from the Asian vulture crisis, where delayed action nearly resulted in complete extinction
Asian conservation efforts required capturing healthy wild birds for breeding programmes after populations had already crashed, a scenario that Vulpro aims to prevent in Africa
"If anything, what we learned from that Breeding Programme is that it is never too early to start a founding population of species before you have to take birds out of the wild," explains Wolter "The success of your Breeding Programme takes years to nurture "
Changing perceptions through gentle giants
Perhaps most importantly, the Breeding Programme offers a unique window into the gentler side of the often-misunderstood birds
"Watching massive vultures delicately incubate tiny eggs or tend to chicks that fit in your hand challenges preconceptions about these prehistoric-looking raptors," Wolter reflected
"They're so incredibly gentle, and to me, that is just a beautiful message as to how terrifying these birds can look and seem, and yet they are very gentle beings and peaceful beings "
scalable, it'll change the game for how education, development, and aid work " Rabana's third lesson focuses on personal mastery developing mental resilience and clarity in an age of artificial intelligence She emphasises the importance of "mastering your own mind so that you're more useful than a robot "
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The 20 vulture chicks is part of Vulpro’s relocated Captive Breeding Programme located at Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
Localstudentsshineindocumentaryfilmmakingawards
LOCAL students who studied documentary filmmaking have earned multiple awards for their work, demonstrating exceptional storytelling skills
Doc in the Bay, a documentary filmmaking training programme, presented nine awards to students, including six individual awards and three group awards
Among the standout students was Mariloe Booysen, who received an individual award for Best Director and two group awards for Best Film and Best Creative Direction for the documentary, Ma Anna Mnyumezeli Duru won an individual award for Best Camera Operator and two group awards for Best Film and Best Creative Direction, also for Ma Anna Sinethemba Mtanga received an individual award for Best Sound Operator and two group awards for Best Film and Best Creative Direction for the same documentary Hadrian van Sensie won an individual award for Best Editor and a group award for Best Technical Execution for the documentary, Artistic Voice of the Bay
Warda Mallick, the project manager, emphasised the importance of such initiatives, saying, “The training has addressed a gap in the local film industry
and empowered filmmakers with skills to secure funding, create high-quality content, and monetise their work, driving both industry growth and job creation ”
Doc in the Bay was a fourweek documentary training programme and part of the National Film and Video Foundation’s (NFVF) Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme
Mariloe Booysen, holding a Bachelor of Drama (BDram) degree from the University of Pretoria, participated in the training to network with other creatives in the industry She expressed how practical learning from facilitators had the greatest impact “I think learning about how stories are formed, and the for-
mula, changes the game for me
A highlight of the workshop was seeing the elements of a film come together and knowing I played a part in it as a filmmaker,” said Booysen, who lives in Greenshields, Gqeberha Booysen, passionate about writing, aims to build a career in the music and film industries
Ziyanda Tuswa, who won an
award for Best Producer, joined the programme to enhance her understanding of documentary filmmaking
“I wanted to upskill myself,” said Tuswa, who has previously attended several film production workshops
Dedicated to telling authentic African stories, she said, “I aim to produce impactful documentaries that spark discussions on social change issues and champion locally produced content ” Originally from Mthatha, Tuswa stayed in Algoa Park, Gqeberha, during the training For Tuswa, the most impactful lessons came during pre-production and production readiness
“I’ve learned a lot about the roles and responsibilities of a producer and director and gained a deeper understanding of story structure,” she said A highlight for her was the production week, where she discovered her and her teammates' strengths and weaknesses, while enjoying collaboration with interviewees and crew Clayton Thom, from Shoot 97 Productions, added: “We are delighted to have hosted the training programme with industry professionals We look forward to seeing how these students breathe new life into storytelling ”
will represent South Africa as the only participating school from the country at the upcoming Round Square International Junior Conference, hosted by Sunbeam School Lahartara in Varanasi, India, from 19 to 23 August 2025
This highly anticipated international gathering will bring together student delegates aged 12 to 14 from Round Square schools across the world to explore the organisation’s six foundational IDEALS: Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership and Service
These guiding principles will shape a dynamic week of workshops, cultural exchanges, collaborative learning, and personal growth for all participants
Representing Woodridge and South Africa are five outstanding young ambassadors: Austin Botes, Murray-John Boonzaier, Anita Krugel, Jasper Poultney and Gibran Hassim
Accompanying them on this journey are Garron Adlard (Head of Round Square at Woodridge Preparatory School) and Roslyn Pienaar (School Librarian and Head of the Eco-Committee)
Together, they will travel via Doha and Delhi to the sacred and historic city of Varanasi, where they will join peers from around the globe to celebrate unity, leadership and global understanding
In preparation for this experience, the team attended a pre-conference cultural immersion camp at the Gamtoos Ferry Hotel from
7 to 8 August, where they gained important insights into Indian culture
This included lessons on temple etiquette, traditional customs, and an understanding of the country’s multi-faith religious landscape ensuring they embark on the journey with empathy, respect and open-minded curiosity
Following the conference, the delegation will undertake a richly layered post-conference cultural and environmental tour that concludes on 29 August 2025
Highlights include a guided tour of the President’s House in Delhi, a visit to the Museum of Illusions, and an immersive exploration of Old Delhi through a rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk capped with a vibrant kite-flying session at a traditional haveli
Additionally, the group will spend a day at an organic farm outside Delhi, where they will learn sustainable farming techniques, explore methods to reduce carbon footprints, and gain insights into the ancient relationship between humans, animals, and nature
Activities will include an organic farm-style lunch, a practical workshop on urban terrace gardening, and recreational pursuits like pottery, knitting, and horse-riding, all promoting self-sufficiency and environmental awareness
The adventure continues with a journey aboard one of India’s fastest trains to Agra
There, the delegates will visit the monumental Agra Fort, experience the breathtaking Taj Mahal at sunset, and reflect on their journey during a peaceful yoga session overlooking the iconic landmark at dawn
A visit to Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur will allow them to enjoy cycling, a sketching workshop, and a deeper appreciation of one of the world’s renowned bird sanctuaries
This incredible opportunity follows Woodridge Preparatory School’s successful hosting of a
Round Square Conference in 2024, an event that brought together local and international schools to engage in meaningful dialogue, environmental action, adventure and leadership activities
“Opportunities like this further solidify why Woodridge is more than a school it’s an experience
“These global moments of connection, learning, and leadership reflect the school’s
commitment to nurturing compassionate, courageous and capable future leaders We are thrilled for our students to take part in this life-changing journey,” said Trevor von Berg, Headmaster of Woodridge Preparatory School
“They will represent not only our school and country with pride but also return with new perspectives, friendships, and the confidence to help shape a better world ”
Local filmmakers celebrate during the awards ceremony of the Doc in the Bay documentary filmmaking training programme in Gqeberha.
Woodridge Preparatory learners Austin Botes, Murray-John Boonzaier, Anita Krugel, Jasper Poultney, and Gibran Hassim will be accompanied on their journey to India by Garron Adlard (Head of Round Square at Woodridge Preparatory School) and Roslyn Pienaar (School Librarian and Head of the Eco-Committee). PHOTO: SUPPLIED
TwogoldsforGqeberhastarinSweden
HANNES SCHOEMAN
WINNING a gold medal at your very first international event is a remarkable achievement, but to win two golds is something thousands of athletes across the globe can only dream of
Therefore, it is no surprise that 37-year-old Megan von der Marwitz, a learnership student and teacher’s
assistant at Cape Recife School in Gqeberha, is on cloud nine
She was the toast of the South African team at the 13th WUKF World Championships in Malmö, Sweden
Von der Marwitz proved to be a superstar, standing out among over 3,800 entries from 33 countries and 66 federations across various karate and Kobudo disciplines
“I thoroughly enjoyed my preparation process leading up to the
tournament and was in a positive and grateful headspace But nobody goes to their first-ever world championship expecting to win; I just tried to be realistic and give it my best shot I was nervous, as one would be, but I managed to keep it under control
“The sentimental moment of realising that I had won was when I stood on the podium holding the South African flag, and our nation-
Alastinglovespanningsevendecades
NATASHA BEZUIDENHOUT
FOR retired Bay pastor, Terry Brinded, and his wife Eileen, who
celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last month, it was love at first sight Vividly recalling the evening
they met as teenagers in Lincolnshire, England, Eileen shares how their paths first crossed "It was the evening of 21 March 1953 and I was window shopping with a
al anthem played I got quite teary as the realisation hit me that I had made the WUKF South African team proud,” she said
Von der Marwitz, who holds a 5th Dan in karate and a 3rd Dan in Kobudo (weapons), has been practising karate for the past 26 years
“I fell in love with the sport when I was only three years old because of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles At the age of 11, I started train-
ing seriously, and from then on, I enjoyed every moment So it is all glory to God; it’s mission complete,” she said Now that she is a double world champion, Von der Marwitz will likely become even stronger and more formidable in future world championships
The South African team returned home with 31 medals: 9 gold, 11 silver, and 11 bronze
Gqeberha Central Men's Shed: Meet every Monday from 10:00 to 12:00 at Caritas 16 West Street Newton Park A men s shed is a space where men can relax, get together to talk, work together, have a cup of coffee, and create friends A 3
D m a
DIARY|DAGBOEK
Wilmot at 068 802 1518 or jaysqh@iafrioca com or Alan at amontgomery@aerosat co za Genealogical Society of SA (East Cape Branch): The next Family History meeting will be on Thursday, 21 August, at 14:30 for 15:00 in the
RELIGIOUS: Put the Attention on Jesus: Hosted by Thix'Unathi, it will feature Hope City Dancers, Que Fela, Diego Alexander, Tian Goduka and Fl3sh RSA
on the line-up at Penuel Fellowship in Zwide on 6 September Doors open at 15:30 and the show starts at 16:30 For more information, contact 081 561 2833
INTHESADDLE:HENKSTEENKAMP
Bumperline-upexpectedatnewseasonstart
IT is time to bring out the big guns!
The first feature races of the new East Cape season will form part of the exciting meeting this coming Friday at the Fairview track in Greenbushes Some of the best horses in the province will be in action in the R175 000 Memorial Mile and the R150 000 Jockey Club Stakes for fillies and mares over 2000
The new local season is now well under way, and the third Fairview meeting was held yesterday on the poly surface
In the process, a familiar face made his return to Gqeberha Jockey Wayne Agrella is back at Fairview, and straight away he showed he means business Agrella was the first of the locally based jockeys to find the winners’ enclosure at Fairview this season
He rode a great race to win with the fouryear-old Bright Future, trained by Lunga Gila, at last Friday’s Poly meeting
“I am back and my weight is down from 64kgs to 55 I feel at this riding weight I could be competitive,” Agrella said
A motivated Agrella could challenge for the East Cape local jockey championship won by Eldin Webber last season
Webber will be back in the saddle soon after he has recovered from a broken leg He missed the last two months of the 2024/’25 season, but did enough before that to claim the title
Webber returned from Ireland at the start of last season and wanted to prove he is capable of winning the title
“My goal was to win the Championship I put my head down and worked hard
“Piece by piece, things fell in place and I achieved my goal,” Webber explained his suc-
INTHESCHOOLS’DEN:
cess
Webber rode 15 winners, but it could have been a lot more with a little bit of luck He had 22 second places and 25 thirds
“You win some, you lose some That is the name of the game If you don’t make the right move at the right time you lose ”
Webber is delighted that there is a championship for the local jockeys to aim for
“We feel we are worth something Being the local champion means a lot to me; it is something that I can put on my CV when I want to go riding overseas ”
Now he can’t wait to start defending his title
“I guess I will have to kick-start my season This season I want to do even better I want to at least double my number of winners ”
The local racing fraternity will follow proceedings at the Equus Awards, which take place in Durban tomorrow night, with huge interest
The prestigious Awards evening is the national awards for the past season Cereus, trained by Alan Greeff, was the last East Cape horse honoured in 2002 at these Awards Golden Palm, also from the Greeff stable, should be named as the Champion Two-YearOld Filly of the season
Schoolrugbyteamsampedupforlastgamesoftheseason
HENK STEENKAMP
TIME is starting to run out!
This year’s school rugby season in Nelson Mandela Bay is coming to an exciting end
At this stage of the season, it is especially the matrics who are all geared up to produce a massive performance
There are not many opportunities left for them to play the match of their life for their respective schools
For some of the matrics, their last match will be the end of what has been a very long career of school rugby, stretching over many years, going back to primary school
Although the season is drawing to a close,
SELBY MADIKANE
FansenjoyNMDLSanlamSuperCupgames
DESPITE the chilly weather conditions, spectators came in droves to watch Nelson Mandela Departments League Sanlam Super Cup games last week Wednesday
Soccer games: Nelson Mandela Bay Ports put up a good fight in their 3-2 loss to Uitenhage
SAPS at Humerail Grounds in Humewood Port of Entry Police registered an easy 3-0 victory over Zwide SADTU at Diaz Club Grounds in Newton Park In a gruelling encounter, Bethelsdorp SAPS shared a 1-1 draw with POPS at Finnis Street Fields in Bethelsdorp
TPT Pioneers inflicted a huge 3-0 defeat on St Albans Correctional Services in St Albans Department of Public Works went down 2-0 to the Department of Labour at Westbourne Oval Stadium KwaZakhele SADTU earned a hardfought 2-1 triumph over Eastcape Midlands College at Veeplaas Turf Stadium
Nelson Mandela Metro Police defeated Livingstone Hospital 2-1 at Bridgemeade Grounds PE College succumbed 3-1 to Motherwell SADTU at Motherwell NU 6 Community Grounds
New Brighton SADTU lost 2-1 to TPT Crusaders at Humerail Grounds Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) let their supporters down in a 3-1 loss to Motherwell SADTU at Motherwell NU 6 Community Grounds
Netball games at NMU North Campus: PRASA were outplayed 15-0 by the hosts, NMU TPT Pioneers beat POPS 14-7 Motherwell SADTU
there are still plenty of massive mouth-watering contests remaining
There will be loads of action this coming Saturday on the fields in Gqeberha, after it was somewhat on the quiet side this past weekend
Two sides that have been involved in real nail-biters recently might produce yet another thriller
Framesby will be hosting Marlow Landbou, who will be making the trip from Nxuba Matches between Framesby and Marlow are usually fiercely contested and entertaining Both sides produced outstanding rugby at times during the season but were poor at other times They will be looking to put in a
suffered a huge 13-7 loss to Livingstone Hospital Port of Entry Police registered a 10-4 victory over Eastcape Midlands College
IFA-NMB Sanlam League: Title contender trio registeradraw
THREE league title contenders faced tough opponents after they dropped two points each during the Industrial Football Association-Nelson Mandela Bay (IFA-NMB) Sanlam League on Sunday At Union Grounds: The league title contenders Continental Tyres were held to a goalless draw against the much-improved Famous Brands Fresenius-Kabi won hands down by 6-1 against the once-title contenders, Aspen AtDespatchRugbyStadium: The reigning champions and table leaders, Tenneco Ride Control SA (Pty) Ltd, shared a 1-1 draw with another title contender, Auto-X Willard during their uphill battle Borbet SA (Pty) Ltd had to work hard when they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Heineken Distell
At Shatterprufe Struandale Grounds: The hosts' supporters could not swallow the bitter pill after they saw their side, Shatterprufe Struandale, suffer a huge 5-2 defeat to Forvia Uitenhage Key-Pak fought tooth and nail to register a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Adient PPC in their exciting clash Sasko failed to turn up for their game against Purem by Eberspacher, who were awarded the points
At Dana Fields: To the dismay of the spectators, Hi-Tech Auto lost by walkover to Dana
big performance this time
Marlow will be hoping for some luck after two narrow misses They just lost out on victory at home against Pearson, and then this past Saturday, they had to settle for a close defeat again
Bergsig beat Marlow 17-14 in Kariega in an exciting affair Bergsig is having a very busy year with good results
They will be meeting Otto du Plessis in Gqeberha in what should be another interesting contest
Otto achieved a solid 24-7 against Alexander Road Captain Jeandre Swanepoel played his 50th match for the Otto first XV He will be hoping to inspire his side to another victory
Spicer as they failed to turn up for their game
Kanu cruised to a comfortable 3-1 victory over Volpes Lumotech earned an easy 3-1 victory over Volpes The Dairy Group did not play as they had a bye
10:30: Forvia Port Elizabeth vs Tenneco Ride Control SA (Pty) Ltd
12:00: Aspen vs Sasko
AtShatterprufeStruandaleGrounds:
09:00: Rehau vs Dairy Group
10:30: Hi-Tech Auto vs Famous Brands
12:00: Shatterprufe Struandale vs Forvia Uitenhage
AtDanaField:
10:00: Lumotech vs Heineken-Distell
MightyHeroesFCdropfourpoints
TITLE contenders, Mighty Heroes FC, dropped four league points during their double header over the weekend in their bid to cement their position at the top of the Zwide Football Association (ZWIFA) First Division league table Heroes failed to score goals in their two draws when they faced Shining Stars FC Re-
Zane Jubber van die Hoërskool Framesby het onlangs in Oos-Londen aan die Tweekampkampioenskappe (swem en hardloop) vir meisies o.19 deelgeneem. Sy het ‘n eerste plek behaal en in die proses ook gekwalifiseer om op 5 Oktober in Nelspruit aan die SA Kampioenskappe te kan deelneem. FOTO: VERSKAF
Grey High will make the trip from Gqeberha to East London to tackle Selborne College Selborne went down to Dale College in a close one (19-15) and will be eager to bounce back DF Malherbe will try to use home ground advantage to beat Andrew Rabie - another very interesting Gqeberha battle Andrew Rabie will be full of confidence after a huge victory of 62-14 against Victoria Park
It was anybody’s game in Humansdorp, but Die Brandwag came away with a 19-12 victory against Nico Malan
This coming Saturday, Die Brandwag and Daniel Pienaar will clash in a Kariega Derby, always a huge occasion
serves and Mwalimu All Stars FC Reserves at Zwide Celtics Grounds on Saturday and Sunday, respectively Gal City FC, who have collected 42 league points, are at the top of the league table whilst Heroes are in second position on the league table with 40 points City managed to collect six points in their two games after claiming a 2-1 victory over the hosts Zwide Celtics and a 2-0 win over Shining Stars FC Reserves, at Zwide Celtics Grounds on Saturday and Sunday, respectively
Young Romans FC accumulated four league points Romans fought hard in their narrow 2-1 triumph over Everton FC and in their 1-1 draw with Real Crusaders FC Reserves at Zwide Celtics Grounds over the weekend Romans also have 40 points in third position on the league table Stars Reserves draw with Heroes and loss to Gal City dropped them to fourth position, and they share 40 points with fifth-placed Celtics The race for the league title is still tight in the ZWIFA First Division
