Shoot-out during Durban CBD business leaves three dead

Bavani Govender
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Shoot-out during Durban CBD business leaves three dead

Three people have been killed and three others wounded in a shoot-out between robbers and law enforcement agents during a business robbery in the Durban CBD.

Among those who died are two security officers and another person.

It’s believed unknown gunmen opened fire in an attempted robbery at a supermarket on Warwick Avenue, next to the market.

Advanced Life Support Paramedics Medical Services’ Garrith Jamieson says they arrived on the scene to find SAPS already in attendance.

“It’s alleged that a supermarket was in the process of being robbed when SAPS and private security vehicles arrived. A shootout ensued and unfortunately, multiple people had sustained gunshot wounds,” says Jamieson.

Paramedics from various ambulance services worked together to assist the victims.

Read also: Man shot dead after allegedly trying to rob a family on Umhlanga Beach

“Three people, including two security guards, were found with fatal gunshot wounds and despite Advanced Life Support Paramedics’ attempts to resuscitate them there was nothing more paramedics could do for them and they were declared deceased on the scene.

“Another three people, including a security guard, and a SAPS member sustained serious gunshot wounds and were stabilised on the scene by ALS Paramedics before being transported to a nearby Durban hospital for the further treatment that they required.”

SAPS are investigating events leading to the incident.

3-year-old mauled to death in second pitbull attack in a week in Free State

Thando Mlambo
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3-year-old mauled to death in second pitbull attack in a week in Free State

A three-year-old boy has been mauled to death by two pitbulls in Hennenman, Free State, reports SABC. The fatal pitbull attack comes just a week after another one in Bloemfontein.

Police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, says Keketso Saule was savaged by the dogs in his neighbour’s yard.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the boy has succumbed to severe head injuries.

The situation remains tense, with angry residents threatening violent action against the owner of the pitbull dogs.

Police have been deployed to monitor the situation.

The owner of the killer dogs has been whisked away by police for his own safety.

In the Bloemfontein dog attack, eight-year-old Olebogeng Mosime was fatally mauled by a neighbour’s pitbull.

Mosime’s death has reignited calls for the banning of pitbulls.

At least 49 pitbulls have been surrendered to various SPCA centres in the Free State following Mosime’s attack.

Calls for the banning the breed are expected to intensify following the latest attack.

7 dead in Isipingo crash involving truck, taxi and cars

Hlengiwe Mbedzi
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7 dead in Isipingo crash involving truck, taxi and cars

Emer-G-Med paramedics are currently in attendance of a multi-vehicle collision on the M35 in the Isipingo area south of Durban.

At this stage we can confirm that as many as seven fatalities have been reported from the scene.

Reports from the scene are that a minibus, a heavy duty vehicle and multiple light motor vehicles have been involved in the collision.

The necessary authorities are in attendance and will be conducting the necessary investigation accordingly.

This is a developing story.

Accused in Umhlanga pier shooting granted bail

Ben Johnson
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Accused in Umhlanga pier shooting granted bail

The man accused of fatally shooting another man known to him at uMhlanga Rocks beach pier on Tuesday has been granted bail of R3 000.

Xolani Ngcobo, 33, from KwaMashu, allegedly shot dead Ntuthuko Kubeka, believed to have been in his 30s, following an altercation.

Ngcobo appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and was granted bail – unopposed by the State.

It’s alleged that Ngcobo, a father of six minor children, was at the beach with his fiancée and 3-year-old daughter and had been carrying the child while on the pier.

Kubeka allegedly tried to attack Ngcobo from behind. It’s believed that Ngcobo then drew his firearm and shot Kubeka in the stomach.

More on this story
Man shot dead after allegedly trying to rob a family on Umhlanga Beach

He then called the police, was subsequently arrested and his firearm was confiscated by police.

Ngcobo pleaded not guilty to one count of murder.

The matter was adjourned to 20 January, 2023.

Two children, one adult die in separate KZN drowning incidents

Ben Johnson
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Two children, one adult die in separate KZN drowning incidents

Two children and an adult man drowned in two separate incidents in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal.

According to cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala, in one incident children aged 11 and 12 from Bombolo Primary School were swimming in the Msunduzi River on Tuesday.

Zikalala said a disaster management team from Nongoma municipality responded.

In another incident on the same day in Nongoma, a 21-year-old male drowned while trying to cross a river in Emona.

“As a department, we wish to convey our condolences to the families of the three victims who have suffered a tragic loss,” said Zikalala.

“We reiterate our call for our communities to be cautious around large bodies of water, and appeal to parents and teachers to warn children about the dangers of swimming in rivers and undesignated areas.”

He said the provincial disaster management centre would work closely with all disaster management teams to ensure adequate measures were taken to warn communities about the dangers of large bodies of water.

Man killed as truck crashes into broken down vehicle on N2 near KwaMashu highway

Devi Subremoney
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Man killed as truck crashes into broken down vehicle on N2 near KwaMashu highway

One person has been killed and several others injured following a crash between a truck and a broken-down vehicle on the N2 just before the KwaMashu highway in Durban.

It is believed that mechanics were trying to repair the vehicle in the emergency lane when a truck lost control and rammed into them.

Emer-G-Med spokesperson Kyle van Reneen says a male approximately forty years of age was found to have sustained fatal injuries and was declared dead on arrival of paramedics.

Read also: MF leader Thakur Rajbansi’s son and his fiancee amongst those killed in N3 horror crash

“On arrival on scene, it was established that a light delivery vehicle had broken down in the emergency lane and whilst mechanics were working on it, a heavy articulated vehicle ploughed into the scene. A male approximately forty years of age was found to have sustained fatal injuries and was declared dead on arrival of paramedics whilst at least four other men were treated for injuries ranging from minor to moderate and taken to nearby hospitals for further medical care.”

‘The Wife’ actress Lungelo Mpangase talks about playing ‘trigger happy’ Xoli

Hlengiwe Mbedzi
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‘The Wife’ actress Lungelo Mpangase talks about playing ‘trigger happy’ Xoli

The actress behind the fascinating character of Xoli on The Wife Lungelo Mpangase has shared how excited she is to be part of the loved telenovela, especially playing a trigger-happy, hot-headed girl.

When the season of Showmax’s telenovela made its debut last Thursday its fans were particularly impressed and intrigued by Xoli, who is Sambulo’s girl.

The gun-firing, no-boundary-having (judging by her dramatic entry into the mansion) edition to the family is nothing like the Zulu brothers’ wives.

Lungelo did a young Q&A to let fans into her world.

What attracted you to The Wife and made you say, ‘OK, I’m definitely hopping on to this?

I mean who wouldn’t hop on to The Wife?

The books were amazing; I read some of them when I was in high school. I love the writing style, the story and its characters. So I couldn’t miss it. It’s one of those projects you don’t want to miss. You want to be part of The Wife.

In my acting journey, I was hoping for something that would challenge me. Something that would take me out of my comfort zone because I was tired of playing the timid little girl from rural KZN.

Read also:

Then I read the bio of Xoli and thought, ‘Oh, God heard my prayer. This is the challenge I needed in my career.’

Tell us about the day you found out you were going to be cast on The Wife. Where were you, what were you doing and who was the first person you told?

I was having a lovely day at my house painting, sipping on some wine and listening to some music. My agent called me and said, ‘Listen, you got the role.’ I jumped up and screamed because I was so excited. I didn’t tell anyone at first as I wanted the news to first sink in and make sure I got a contract and all that. And then of course the first person I told was my mom.

Xoli is a crazy, sexy and wild character. What do you have in common with your character? Are there any big differences?

Oh yes, huge differences!

I’m such a soft girl. If there’s a fight, I will just cry or go home. I don’t want to be part of it. Yet Xoli gets excited if there’s drama. She’s very strong and I love how brave she is. She’s a trigger-happy type of person. She will go shoot before everybody says, ‘Let’s go shoot.’

She’s also sexually free. I’m from a very strict family where when we talk about sex we have to be respectful. Xoli doesn’t. She will do it right here, right now. That’s how freaky she is!

What’s it like working with Sipho Ndlovu as your lover, Sambulo?

I’ve known Sipho for quite some time because we’re both from KZN. Then I saw Sambulo on the show, who’s completely different from Sipho. It was so great to see someone so dedicated to their character. I told myself: if he can transform into this person who’s completely different from him, then so can I. That kept me on my toes and inspired me to bring out my own character.

What’s working with the Zulu brothers like?

Working alongside the Zulu brothers has been amazing. They are very quick and you kinda have to adapt to them as well. They bring that masculinity. I’ve never worked with a lot of men so closely and I can feel it.

Security cameras installed in Durban taxis to improve passenger and driver safety

Anita Scholtz
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Security cameras installed in Durban taxis to improve passenger and driver safety

In an effort to increase passenger and driver safety, SANTACO – Durban, has installed security cameras in taxis plying the South Beach and North Beach routes.

The cameras enable taxi owners and managers to monitor via an App what’s happening in the taxi in real-time, the behaviour and driving patterns of the drivers. Taxi owners can communicate with passengers through the app, and more. Owners can even stop their taxis remotely if they detect a problem.

This past weekend 70 taxis were installed with these cameras, target is to have all South Beach and North Beach taxis installed with cameras this December.

Passenger safety has always been an issue with reports of women being attacked by drivers.

Two weeks ago, a 20-year-old woman shared the story of how she and another woman of around her age were assaulted and raped, allegedly by a taxi driver and his friend, in KwaDukuza, on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast.

The 20-year-old woman who cannot be named to protect her identity told Durban Sun that since the attack she has been wishing she was dead because her life has been hugely affected by what happened.

She said she was assaulted while the other woman she had only just met at the KwaDukuza taxi rank, was raped at an unknown place around KwaDukuza.

Read also: Four dead in minibus taxi and car head-on crash near Estcourt

She said she arrived at the taxi rank after 6 pm looking for a taxi to Durban but was told there weren’t any. She said she met the other woman who was also looking for a taxi to Durban.

While they were trying to figure out what they would do, a man who said he was a taxi driver approached them.

We told him we were looking for a taxi to Durban and he said there were no longer any available but he was returning to Durban himself and could take us with him. We were relieved and didn’t think much of it because he was at the taxi rank.

He took us to his taxi which had an ND registration. We waited less than five minutes before he drove out of the taxi rank.

She said that after about 20 minutes on the road, the driver picked up someone else who sat in the front seat and seemed to know the driver.

She said they later drove off the roads they were familiar with and that’s when they started panicking.

She said she asked where the taxi was going but was ignored. She told Durban Sun that she didn’t have a cell phone, so she asked the other woman to try to ask for help from someone.

“They stopped the car and that’s when I wondered if it was my day [for something terrible to happen].

“They came to us at the back and took the cell phone and our bags.

“The other guy chose this woman and went to where she was seated and I was taken out of the taxi by the driver.

“I started crying, and the other woman was screaming, asking the man not to hurt her. The driver said I was lucky because he wasn’t going to do much with me. Even though he didn’t rape me, he did a lot of damage,” said the young woman.

She said that the driver cut her neck, thighs and her breast with a sharp knife. She said the other woman was crying inside the taxi but the men didn’t seem to care.

She said that when they were done, they dropped them off on the main road and told them to report them if they wanted to but said they won’t be found.

I don’t know what happened after that, everything was blank and I was bleeding from my neck and thighs. I don’t know what happened to the other girl.

My family said I was helped by a man who said he found me alone on the road and took me home.

She said she opened a case at the KwaDukuza SAPS as well as the local taxi association.

She added that the taxi association said it is aware of her case and has started searching for the driver and the taxi.

This has created so much hate in me for men. I’ve been struggling to sleep or get over what has happened. I could only wonder how the other girl is doing because we couldn’t exchange numbers.

I wonder every day how she is holding up because she endured more pain than me and I wish I had her contact number so I could at least comfort her and we’d go through this together. I have searched for her on Facebook but I haven’t been lucky.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Constable Thenjiwe Ngcobo, said a case of sexual assault was opened at KwaDukuza police station for investigation and the docket was transferred to the KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit (FCS).

Spokesperson for the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), Sifiso Shangase, said they do not tolerate such acts in the taxi industry.

The taxi council is investigating the matter because we can’t have criminals in the industry. We need to find them. Rank managers need to also ensure the drivers are not criminals and all taxis are permitted to operate, including drivers.

Sinikiwe Biyela from Life Line has advised women to be more vigilant and prioritise their safety, especially when they are alone in public transport or feel unsafe.

Man shot dead after allegedly trying to rob a family on Umhlanga Beach

Sirisha Pillay
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Man shot dead after allegedly trying to rob a family on Umhlanga Beach

A man has been shot dead after he allegedly tried to rob another man who was with his wife and child on the Umhlanga Beach Whale-bone Pier, north of Durban.

Medi Response paramedics responded to a report of a shooting at the iconic site at about 10h45 on Tuesday.

“It was reported that a man was standing with his wife and child watching the beach when a male arrived and attempted to attack him,” said Medi Response.

It’s alleged that the man drew out a gun and shot the attacker in the stomach.

Read also: Three suspects killed during a shootout with police in KZN South Coast

The alleged shooter was apprehended by private security officers.

Paramedics initiated advanced life support resuscitation on the victim, but after extensive attempts, the man was declared dead on the scene, Medi Response said, adding that police are investigating.

SAPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Durban Film Studio construction starting soon

Hayley Jacobs
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Durban Film Studio construction starting soon

Construction of the Durban Film Studio will start soon after having been put on hold for several years.

The multi-billion rand project is expected to change the face of the province and turn the eThekwini metro into the heart of the creative industry. It is estimated to cost R7.5-billion.

But Durban filmmaker Mathew Nkosi said it had been a long wait for the film studio to take off, and its resuscitation had come as a relief to artists in KwaZulu-Natal.

“The project was proposed 10 years ago, and nothing has materialised. If done right, this will be a game changer for us as emerging filmmakers who must go to Johannesburg for our work to be recognised.

“Durban is an international city, and a project of this magnitude is long overdue. But we are beginning to see signs of hope because we have productions such as Uzalo and Imbewu, which are produced on our shores,” said Nkosi.

The film studio is situated on a prime beach-front site, surrounded by the Sun Coast Casino, People Park, the Moses Mabhida Stadium and the beach in the north.

The spokesperson for eThekwini Metro, Msawakhe Mayisela, told Durban Sun that although the project had been delayed it would “get off the ground soon”, saying it was a key catalyst project for the city.

“The project is envisaged to be a world-class film studio complemented by tourism and leisure elements. The sod turning of this much-awaited development supporting the film and tourism industry is expected to occur soon,” he said.

Read also: Top 10 tourist attraction places in Durban

Mayisela said the first phase of the project would consist of a motion picture, media, resort, and entertainment precinct with the potential to create about 4 000 to 5 000 permanent jobs and attract international filmmakers. It is the brainchild of renowned Durban-born film director Anant Singh.

The 21ha land was sold by the city for R15 million, but the deal was legally challenged by the late businessman Sunny Gayadin, who argued that the land was worth R71 million.

He lost his court bid.

The site in question was formerly the headquarters of the SA Army’s Natal Command and was later occupied by the Joint Operations Division of the South African Defence Force (SANDF).

It had been leased from the metro for the army by the department of public works.

The SANDF themselves lodged a court application, saying the land should not be sold because they had plans for it. The matter was dismissed, and the green light was given for the land to be transferred to the municipality.

About R725 million is expected to be pumped into the city’s economy. This includes more than R140 million annually, which will be collected through rates and other charges.

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