The Rep 1 October 2021

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2 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 1 October 2021 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V EFirefighters ‘sleeping’ whileresidents left to battle blazesResponse only arrives 30 minutes after CPF chairperson's house burns down in SandringhamNTSIKELELO QOYOIn recent months, Komaniresidents have beenfrustrated by the firedepartment’s tardy response toemergency calls.Residents have reported thetruck arriving hours after beingcalled, and at times withoutbringing water.It seems unlikely thesituation will improve any timesoon.According to Enoch Mgijimaspokesperson Lonwabo Kowa,firefighters are no longer atmunicipal offices 24/7.He said the municipality nolonger paid overtime tofirefighters because of theinstitutions’s financialconstraints. They were now paidto be on standby from home.“This is due to themunicipality’s financial recoveryplan aimed at improving thefinancial status quo.“As it stands, overtime workfor firefighters and other sectionswas discontinued to decreasethe salary bill which themunicipality could no longerkeep up with.“Instead of overtime, astandby allowance is paid tofirefighters and when anincident is reported, they driveto the municipal office and thento the fire site,” said Kowa.Komani community policingforum (CPF) chair, MihleGogela, was the latest victim ofa fire that burnt his house downrecently in Sandringham.Though his house and itscontents were completelydestroyed, he said it was thanksto the efforts of neighbours andother CPF members that the firedid not spread to neighbouringhouses.Gogela said what troubledPORK RASHERS / STRIPSBEEF BRISKET FRESHMUTTON STEWTOMATO SAUSAGEPORKIE BANGERSCHICKEN FEETCHICKEN LIVERSHAKE NO 1 LOOSESUGAR HULETTS 5KGCHAMPION SAMP 2.5KGDRINK-O-POP 200MLGOLDEN APPLES 3KGSPINACH BUNCHR54.99 KGR79.99 KGR86.99 KGR46.99 KGR59.99 KGR26.99 KGR21.99 KGR41.99 KGR88.99 EAR21.99 EAR6.99 EAR31.99 EAR6.99 EAE&OE-WHILE STOCKS LAST - LIMITED QUANTITIES - WE RESERVETHE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW SPECIALS WITHOUT NOTICE.WE WILL BE CLOSED ON SUNDAY’S INDEFINITELY.SPECIALS ARE VALID FOR THE1ST & 2ND OF OCTOBER 2021.him most about the incident wasthat firefighters had arrived 30minutes after being called, whenthe fire was already out.“The first respondents wereCPF members and myneighbours,“ he said.“One of our members camewith a bakkie full of water to tryand help.“Firefighters came 30minutes later and if it had notbeen for the efforts of the CPFand my neighbours there wouldhave been a real catastrophe.”Late response by firefightershas become the norm in thetown with residents often leftalone to deal with blazes.In November last year, TheRep reported that Palmscaperesident, John Plaatjies, watchedhis two dogs and 43 livechickens die in a raging blazewhen the fire brigade did notshow up. ('Key to fire truckmissing', November 13 2020).In the incident, Plaatjies’relayed how he was told keys tothe fire truck were not at thestation and instead were with afirefighter who had gone home.On the same night,firefighters could not respond toanother fire in Ezibeleni where achurch house burnt down,nearly killing two men.Ire towards the fire brigadehas been further stoked byincidents of firefighters arrivingwithout water.In March, The Rep reportedhow firefighters were chasedaway in Aloevale after arrivinghours late to the scene withoutwater, ('Toddler dies in housefire', March 12 2021).In the same week, a toddlerwas burnt beyond recognitionwhile three other familymembers barely escaped.Residents were again left tobattle the flames themselves.WHAT AREYOU DOINGFO RKO M A N I ?Sendus yourstory viaWhatsAppon 073-025-2220and wewillpublishit.¿24 Prince Alfred Street, Komani PO Box 453, Komani, 5319 045 839 4040 / Fax: 045 839 4059 Chris van Heerden, vanheerdenc@arena.africaLuvuyo Mjekula, mjekulal@therep.co.zaCharodine Visagie, charodinev@therep.co.zawww.therep.co.za@RepKomaniNO HELP: The burnt contents of Komani community policing forum (CPF) chairperson Mihle Gogela’s house in Sandringham. Itburnt down last week and firefighters took 30 minutes to arrive at the scene Picture: SUPPLIEDMan accused of shooting businessman gets bailZINTLE BOBELOForty-six-year-old Mulatu Biru, who is facingcharges of attempted murder for allegedlyshooting local businessman Johnny Bowes,was granted R3,000 bail in the m a g i s t ra t e ' scourt in Komani on Wednesday.His court appearance follows anincident reported by The Rep ('Localbusiness owner shot,' September 17) that,according to a police report, Biru, who wasrenting adjacent premises from Bowes inCathcart Road, allegedly produced a 9mmpistol and shot Bowes in his double cabbakkie outside his Superbrake businesspremises. Biru was apprehended at thescene and charged.During his bail application, indicatingthat he intended to plead not guilty, the stateopposed his release based on theinvestigating officer's testimony that he wasa flight risk, he would evade trial and wo u l dinterfere with witnesses.The investigating officer also testifiedthat Biru would conceal evidence once outon bail as it was put before court that he hadThe Rep Komanithe_rep_komaniThe Rep subscribes to the Code of Ethics and Conduct for South African Print and OnlineMedia that prescribes news that is truthful, accurate, fair and balanced. If we don’t live upŽŚĞŽĚĞŝŚŝŶĚĂŽĨŚĞĚĂĞŽĨďůŝĐĂŽŶŽĨŚĞŵĂĞŝĂůůĞĂĞĐŽŶĂĐŚĞďůŝĐĚŽĐĂĞĂĨĂŽĐĂŶĂůŽĐŽŶĂĐŽĂĞĸĐĞŽŶŬŚĂŶŝŵΛŽŵďĚŵĂŶŽŐĂŽůŽĚŐĞĂĐŽŵůĂŝŶŽŶŽĞďŝĞĞĐŽŶĐŝůŽŐĂremoved and hidden a cartridge at the timeof the incident.“It is on record that even after allegedlyshooting the complainant, considering thathe was injured and there was blood in thecar, he followed him and still threatenedhim in his office.‘’That shows how violent the accused isor was, the resentment he has against thecomplainant, because he even forced himto sign whatever paper the accused had inhis possession when he saw he could notsign but was assisted by his employee,” saidstate prosecutor Pamela Piliso.Defence attorney Luzuko Mazaleni of LMazaleni Attorneys Inc argued that theinvestigating officer did not have any factualbasis for suggesting his client wouldinterfere with witnesses.“She admitted that the witnesses hadalready deposed to statements of which thedocket was in her control. It was impossiblehe would interfere with the evidence as itwas already in her possession. The cartridgethat was claimed to be picked up by myclient was never found in his possession, butPinzi was more than a doctorContinued from PAGE 1h e r. “That was our mother, sheknew our names, who we are. Sheknew the pain we went through andwhen she came to Life Hospital youwould see her smile.“She was never angry at us evenif we did not follow her orders.“She invested in us and shewould sit down with us and say Iwant to change your story. She hadan ability to change you and woulddo everything in her capacity tomake you bring that smile so thatyou deliver each and every babywith an open heart.” She created athe investigating officer testified that hepicked it up on the premises and neverl e f t .”The court found that the accused hadfamily ties and assets in Komani,suggesting he would not be a flight risk.“It is indefensible for every magistrateto assume that the fact an accused personis a foreign national or even that he or sheis an illegal immigrant does not justify bail.‘’Superior courts have granted bail toforeign nationals before, and theirnationality alone cannot be a basis fordenying bail. Our Constitution guardsagainst the arbitrary and unjustifieddeprivation of accused persons’ rights tof r e e d o m ,” said Mazaleni.‘’It is the duty and responsibility ofpresiding officers to ensure a thorough riskassessment is performed to prevent asustained violation of the right to liberty,justice and equality of foreign nationals.‘’Magistrate Vuyiseka Myoli granted bailwith certain conditions.The case was remanded until October22 for further investigation.happy atmosphere at both Life andat Frontier Hospital as a doctor.During her last days of life andafter being moved from theintensive care unit, she chose to bekept in the maternity ward.“It was time for us to nurse her,give her love. She trusted us.”When she heard the news ofP i n z i - M g u d l wa ’s passing, Dr RobynSpring shared this message:“Heaven gained an angel tonight.Love you, my friend and colleague,Dr Nopasika Pinzi. Rest easy, yourlegacy will remain.”Also see obituary and pictureson Page 14.
THE REPRESENTATIVE 1 October 2021 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 3Chance for businesswomen to reflectHealth, willsand financialsthe focusZINTLE BOBELOSelf-care was the coremessage of the day at theBorder-Kei Chamber ofBusiness (BKCB) women'sdevelopment breakfast lastTh u r s d ay.As attendees were serenadedby the sounds of local musicianLungiswa Songelwa's liveperformance at the Luxe MolenBoutique Hotel, guest speakersgave informative talks on healthand financials for women totake home.BKCB executive directorLizelle Maurice said womenfulfilled many roles, but failed totake care of themselves.“Women juggle so manythings and they usually putthemselves last. Attending thesewomen's networking events is atime out for introspection.“When you have greatspeakers like the ones we had,who remind us that we actuallyneed to take care of ourselves, itis a wake-up call for us to sitback and reflect so we do thingsd i f f e r e n t l y.“Such gatherings are also anopportunity to meet otherdynamic women because wecan all learn and find couragefrom one another,” she said.Maurice also encouragedWOMEN TO WOMEN: The Border-Kei Chamber of Business host a Women in Development breakfast on T h u r s d a y.From left, are Dr Lydia Jaceni, author Isebelle Blignaut, BKCB administrator Adre Bartis, BKCB executive director LizelleMaurice, Old Mutual area manager Violet Boucher and musician Lungiswa Songelwa Picture: ZINTLE BOBELOwomen to join associations thatwould empower them to avoidstruggling alone.“It is an encouragement tosee other women who haverisen above their struggle. Donot struggle where you are andon your own. You can learnfrom other women in business.”First speaker of the day,naturopath Dr Lydia Jaceni, whoowns the Komani Health Shop,spoke on mental health andunpacked aspects of mentalwellness. Author of I'm noquitter I'm a Lupus warrior,Isebelle Blignaut, who wasdiagnosed with Lupus in 2007,shared her journey as she foughtfor her life over the years.Old Mutual area managerViolet Boucher asked theattendees whether they had awill in place and shared theimportance of having one.“By the end of August wehad 78,000 lives lost due toCovid-19. Nobody speaks about❝ Do not strugglewhere you are and onyour own. You canlearn from otherwomen in business.Lizelle Mauricethe widows, widowers andorphans left behind - 95,000children were left orphans in thepast 12 months. The sad part istheir parents never spoke withone another regarding finances.“Can we put a will in placeto take care of our children inthe event of death? A will iscritical and solves a whole lot ofproblems.“As women, we are thehome- makers, the ones whoneed to ensure that peace reignsin the home,” she said.
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The Rep 1 October 2021

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