Ná21jaar Ná21jaa terugopdie stoeimat st
Die stoei-gogga het Danie Fourie (63) van Despatch ná ’n afwesigheid van 21 jaar weer gebyt. Hy is gereed om môre en Saterdag ’n terugkeer tot die mat te maak wanneer hy die Despatch-klub by die Suid-Afrikaanse kampioenskappe in Pretoria verteenwoordig. Lees meer op bladsy 8 FOTO: VERSKAF
LackofstreetlightscausingdarknessacrosNMB
SHANTI JAFTA
DARKNESS has descended across the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, but this isn't the natural kind that comes with sunset
Critical roads, including but not limited to the airport approach along Allister Miller Road, the bustling N2 corridor from John Tallant Road to Summerstrand, and key routes connecting Gqeberha to Kariega via the R75 and Old Cape Road, now lie shrouded in darkness that poses serious risks to thousands of daily commuters
From the R334 Uitenhage Farms to Daniel Pienaar Street, and from Old Uitenhage Road to Durban Street in Kariega, non-functional streetlights have trans-
formed essential infrastructure into hazardous obstacle courses where drivers navigate by high beam, gambling against unseen potholes and potential accidents
As residents and businesses grapple with heightened security concerns and motorists face increased collision risks, questions mount about the municipality's response to what appears to be a widespread infrastructure crisis affecting some of the metro's most vital roadways
A Kariega resident, Asemahle Gqubule, shared her views on the matter: "It's ridiculously dark in the metro, posing a safety hazard for road users When I have to leave early for work, I have to drive with my brights on as soon as I approach the Swartkops route to Gqeberha from Kariega
“Some people are selfish drivers who don't think to switch their brights off when an oncoming car approaches, which can cause accidents from having to swerve around potholes that you did not see because of the other vehicle blinding you with their lights "
Another Gqeberha resident, Lisa Gwanqa, said, "Going to Kariega from the Old Cape Road near the Rocklands side is a nightmare The lack of lighting promotes criminal activity "
She also added that the lack of lights can cause serious car accidents
"Since it is dark and that road has many potholes in it, it is hard to spot the pothole until it is too late, meaning you can either damage a tyre by driving into it, or swerving last minute, possibly hitting
an oncoming car or animals, because it is close to farms "
Jenna Thomas, a Gqeberha resident working in Despatch, said, "The R75 between Despatch and Gqeberha is not safe at night When we have night events at work, I always have to drive back home in the dark "
She added, "In some instances, my dad or brother drives to Despatch where I work, just so that we can convoy together back to Gqeberha so that I get home safely, which is wasteful Streetlights are a necessity that we need to make us feel safe "
The municipality was approached multiple times to provide a comment, but failed to respond at the time of going to print on Wednesday, July 9
Booshle G. PHOTO:
Kariegalocalsbandtogether torevampCaledonStreet
SHANTI JAFTA
A LOCAL team comprising N G Kerk Reverend Llewellyn Oliver, Ward 51 Councillor Roelf Basson, Ken and Nadine du Pisanie, and Ronnie Naudé, who currently runs Mould Empower Serve (MES) Port Elizabeth, along with concerned Kariega residents, came together to assist with a growing concern in Kariega CBD: homelessness
According to a team member in charge of marketing and raising awareness of the initiative, Ken du Pisanie, they seek help on Mandela Day as they will be partnering with the Kariega community to restore hope in the town
The coordinator of the initiative, Nadine du Pisanie, said, "Our focus is to clean Caledon Street, repair and plant in the middle islands of the street, and repair potholes and pavements We will also be handing out a meal to all volunteers and homeless people that assist on the day "
She added that although the goal is to launch a MES office in Kariega for future projects for the homeless in town, they will be registering homeless and poverty-stricken individ-
uals who have been given food and clothing vouchers to redeem on the day, which will help identify needs for future projects MES and the Kariega community invite companies and residents of the town to participate in their '67 Minutes to Give to Kariega' event to be held on Mandela Day, July 18
Participants can contribute to making Kariega town more beautiful and safer by signing up for 67-minute time slots between 09:00 and 17:00, with activities focused on revamping Caledon Street
Parties interested in joining the community initiative are encouraged to contact 076 113 8024 for more information and to book their preferred time slot
Ken said, "MES, established in 1986 in Johannesburg, is an organisation working among homeless people, creating temporary shelter for them It also rehabilitates and reintroduces these individuals into society through their various programmes so that they can become functional, contributing members of society, which they have done successfully In the past 40 years that they have been active, their success rate is just over 70% "
For more information about MES, visit their website at www mes org za
Takinghandstomakeanimpact
Express reporter, DANIELLE SAAYMAN, in collaboration with the Pay It Forward Community Foundation (PIFCF), has launched the Pay It Forward Community Fund.A shared dream between both parties will become a reality as Saayman embarks on a ruck (walking with weight on her back) from July14toJuly17,2025,toraisefundsforthePayItForwardCommunityFund.
Over the course of four days, Saayman will walk 3 km per day while carrying a 40-kilogram sandbag
The ruck will commence in Kariega, move through Despatch and Gqeberha, and conclude in Jeffreys Bay Having worked closely with the community over the past few years and witnessed the need firsthand, Saayman and the PIFCF felt compelled to act Together, they launched the fund, which will provide assistance to those in need within local communities
“This fund will help people cover medical expenses, whether it’s surgery, cancer treatment, or offering support to families facing hunger Carrying a 40-kilogram sandbag for three kilometres a day over four days will be no easy task, but it’s about more than me carrying the sandbag
“It’s about what the sandbag symbolises The weight represents the pain, hurt, depression, loneliness, grief, and struggles people experience in their lives Everyone carries their own ‘weight’ on their shoulders,” Saayman explained She started rucking shortly after losing her mother to cancer in 2022
“On September 18, 2022, I received the worst phone call of my life while I was in the United States The voice on the other end said, ‘Danielle, she fought so hard until the end But it’s all over ’ My mother had passed away after a painful 11-month battle with kidney cancer Due to strict visa regulations, I couldn’t travel back to South Africa,” she shared
“I had to face the loss and grief alone, without any blood relatives by my side
“In the depths of that pain, I turned to many things to cope, including alcohol But it was in my darkest hour that God called me to do something I never, in a million years, thought I would do On August 19, 2023, I carried a 100-pound (45-kilogram) sandbag for three kilometres in honour of my late mother, Michelle, while also raising money for a CrossFit friend who was battling breast cancer at the time That day, God showed me my purpose And that’s why I’m rucking again this year for a purpose bigger than myself ” While the weight for Saayman symbolises the burden of grief after losing her mother to cancer, it can mean something
different to each individual
For some, it might symbolise abuse, miscarriage, divorce, financial struggles, loss of income, the loss of a child, family separation, or the death of a loved one
Sonja du Preez, the visionary of PIFCF, said she has always been driven to assist those in need and explained that easing someone else’s burden brings her immense joy
“I was born with an unrelenting spark that drives me to defy the ordinary always responding to the world’s ‘why’ with a bold ‘why not ’ And it’s that ‘why not’ that fuels my ‘why ’ May you find your ‘why’ and may it lead you to go out and make a difference,” Du Preez stated
To donate or for more information, contact Sonja du Preez on 064 537 4228 or visit www pifcf co za
Danielle Saayman holding her 40-kilogram sandbag PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The funeral service of the late DORA (93yrs)will take place on Saturday,
The funeral service of the late MARY (63yrs)will take place on Saturday, 12/07/2025 at 10am from the SPIRIT REIGN MINISTRIES, GREY STREET, VAN RIEBEECK HOOGTE, UTH Deeply mourned by her family and friends.
Passed away peacefully on 1 July 2025. Funeral will be held on Saturday, 12 July 2025 at THE MEDUNA HALL, MEDUNA STREET, UITENHAGE. Deeply mourned by her family and friends DOVES FUNERALS 041 992 1349
Notice term Deed the certifi Tran passe T COUNCIL M S NUMB an S NUMB w co each
Ná21jaarterugopdiestoeimat
HANNES SCHOEMAN
DIE stoei-gogga het Danie Fourie van Despatch ná ’n afwesigheid van 21 jaar weer gebyt
Môre en Saterdag (11 en 12 Julie) maak hy ’n merkwaardige terugkeer tot die mat wanneer hy die Despatch-klub by die Suid-Afrikaanse kampioenskappe in Pretoria verteenwoordig Fourie (63) se laaste geveg was in die ouderdom van 42 Hy het op alle vlakke in Suid-Afrika gestoei en ook in 2000 aan die wêreld-
kampioenskappe vir veterane in Duitsland deelgeneem Fourie sê hy is die laaste vier jaar weer betrokke by die klub waar hy ook die jong stoeiers die fynere kunsies van die sport leer “So het ek maar aangehou oefen en hard gewerk En tans voel ek baie goed Soos ek weer fikser en sterker geword het, het die ander beamptes by die klub my aangemoedig om weer aktief te stoei Nou gaan ons Pretoria toe en hoop vir die beste,” sê hy ’n Ander veteraan en skeidsregter, Danie Els, sê die klub is oorgehaal vir spogvertonings by die kampio-
INTHESCHOOLS’DEN:
enskappe vir o 17-, o 20-, senior en veteraan
Hy sê die span is goed voorbereid en gaan sonder twyfel ’n faktor wees om mee rekening te hou
Die span bestaan uit Els, Fourie, Jacques Strydom (afrigter), Haydri Strydom (vroue-afrigter), Mariette Els (vroue-afrigter), Akhazimla Peta (SA strandstoei-silwermedaljewenner), Nicholene Verwey (SA strandstoei-kampioen), Hanko Stander (SA strandstoei-kampioen), Danielle Jordan, Johan Ferreira (OP-hoofafrigter) en Ruan Pretorius (skeidsregter)
HENKSTEENKAMP EPsquadshinesagainatLSENWeek
THE LSEN Week was the highlight of Eastern Province’s solid showing at the various age-group rugby tournaments countrywide
For the second year in a row, EP was the best side at the week, which took place in Bethal, Mpumalanga, this year The EP side, which mostly consists of players from Bergsig in which started in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, on Monday
Although it was a brutal final match against WP, it was one-way traffic for EP in their other matches
They started with a 41-3 victory over Boland Uvern Adams (centre, Bergsig) was the man of the match EP reached 50 points in the second tries
The Griffons competed strongly in the first half in EP’s final match but the pressure was just too much for them in the end
EP scored four tries to one, with Keanu Linch (Grey) getting a brace
At the u/13 Craven Week in East London EP had a tough start when
RIGHT: Ryan McLaren qualified for provincial colours in mixed martial arts He also received a bronze medal in combat league light contact continuous, silver medal in combat league low kick light and bronze medal in MMA light at MASA National Championships.
ABOVE: Kenno Osborne made the U/13 EP Academy Rugby team.