ANC councillor, wounded by a barrage of bullets, drives himself to clinic - Scrolla.Africa

Friday 30 April
                                             2021, 0426

Real News. Scrolla.Africa

ANC councillor, wounded by a barrage
of bullets, drives himself to clinic
Everson Luhanga

After a gunman pumped three bullets into him and left him for
dead, ANC ward councillor Zenzele Xhinela managed to drive
himself to hospital and has lived to tell the tale.

The ward 41 councillor, who’s from Seraleng Section near
Rustenburg in the North West province, said that on Tuesday
night a gunman fired five bullets, three of which landed on his
body while two missed him.

He thinks it was a politically motivated attempt on his life as
he's been endorsed to run for a second term as ward councillor.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Zenzele said the gunman
thought he was dead and ran away.

“I drove myself to a nearby clinic where I met a taxi driver I
knew and he drove me to the hospital. By that time, I was
bleeding heavily,” he said.

“I am lucky I survived. I’m not sure when I will be discharged.”

He said the incident happened at around 8 o’clock when he was
driving out of his gate to meet his ward committee members.

“I was busy talking to my sister with the driver’s door open
when the man dashed out and pulled the trigger,” he said.

“The people in my ward love me. I spend most of my time
helping people. During lockdown level five I helped many
desperate community members with food parcels and basic
needs,” he said.

Executive Mayor Councilor Mpho Khunou said they condemned
the attack.

“We almost lost one of our most dedicated councillors,” he
said.

“We have faith that the law enforcement agencies will bring
the perpetrators to book.”

Police spokesperson Captain Aafje Botma confirmed that an
attempted murder is being investigated after a 40-year-old
councillor was shot in the chest at his residence in Seraleng. No
arrests have yet been made.

Teen rapes shock Alex
Everson Luhanga

             Not only did the middle-aged man abduct and
             rape the 13-year-old girl, he went to her mother’s
             house and laughed at her. He told the mother
that he would never get caught.

Police have been to the door of the man well-known in Alex as
Gaddafi but they haven’t found him at home.

Alexandra police spokesperson Sergeant Simphiwe Mbatha told
Scrolla.Africa that there is a warrant of arrest for Gaddafi and
anyone with information about him should urgently contact the
police.

The mother of the child told Scrolla.Africa that her daughter
suffers from a mental disability and she is attending a special
school.

“She is always quiet and doesn’t speak much,” said the mother.

She said when she went to a funeral on 5 April her daughter
was taken hostage by the suspect and repeatedly raped during
the night.

“I was on my way to the police station to report the
disappearance of my daughter when I saw her walking home.

“I was relieved to see her but she told me a sad story about her
rape ordeal.”

In a separate incident, Alexandra police are investigating the
rape of a 13-year-old girl by two men aged 45 and 59.

The men were arrested after confessing to the parents that
they raped her on different occasions.

Sergeant Mbatha said police arrested the men and they
appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on 28 April.

“Why did they rape my daughter? Why didn’t they just rape
me?” asked the angry mother.

According to the mother of the second victim, her child was
pregnant but miscarried.

“I was called to the school by her teacher. When I got there,
she was bleeding heavily. She hid a miscarriage,” she said.

Zulu Regent Queen Mantfombi dies
Zukile Majova

The Zulu Royal Family has confirmed the
unexpected death of Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi
Dlamini Zulu, Regent of the Zulu Nation.

Queen Mantfombi is the first wife of the late Zulu Monarch
King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuZulu, who died on 12 March
2021.

Scrolla.Africa understands Queen Mantfombi has been unwell
since 2016 and has since undergone two major operations.

When King Zwelithini was battling diabetes, his wife, who is the
sister of Swati King Makhosetive Mswati III of Eswatini, was
receiving care at her maiden home in the Swati Royal Home.

After her husband’s funeral, Queen Mantfombi had another
operation planned, but the Royal Family has not confirmed the
circumstances of the Queen’s passing.

The news was conveyed by Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the
Traditional Prime Minister of the Zulu Monarch and Nation.

“It is with the deepest shock and distress that the Royal family
announces the unexpected passing of Her Majesty Queen
Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, Regent of the Zulu Nation.

“This has taken us by surprise and left us utterly bereft. On
behalf of the Royal Family, I wish to assure the nation that
while we are all rightly grief-stricken, there will be no
leadership vacuum in the Zulu Nation.”

The Queen passes before being able to complete her duty of
selecting a future King of the Zulu Nation, a task left to her by
her late husband.

This has caused ructions in the broader family with Prince
Buthelezi confirming last week that some of King Zwelithini’s
siblings were holding unofficial meetings without consulting the
regent who had been ill.

Buthelezi himself, who is also the leader of the Buthelezi clan,
was not privy to these discussions.

He said those who attended the meetings also refused to give
him the meeting minutes.

Prince Buthelezi said further announcements on Her Majesty’s
funeral and the necessary arrangements will be made in due
course.

Picture source: Pindula

Life begins at 40 for Alex’s older set
Everson Luhanga

Weak libido, crime, gender-based violence, and
countless other social issues are all up for debate
among the men and women who are part of the
discussion group, Alex's Life Begins at 40.

The group, which was formed in February this year, has become
popular among men and women in the township with ever-
increasing numbers joining.

Group founder Jimmy Masingi said the group caters for a
certain age group whose members often feel like they have
been neglected by society.

“Many people who are 40 years and above feel like all they
need is to concentrate on raising their families,” Jimmy told
Scrolla.Africa.

“They, at times, give up on an exciting journey of life as the
current generation takes over. We are saying to such people
that life begins at 40 and let us celebrate life in style.

Jimmy said it is not a secret that men usually don’t like
discussing their personal problems - erectile dysfunction,
economic status and romantic relationships can be sensitive
issues to talk about. But in the group meetings, many find that
they feel free to speak to other men of their age without
inhibition.

He said whenever they meet, the team selects a topic for the
day, and they will then reach out to a relevant expert to give
them professional advice on the subject.

“In our group, we are police officers, doctors, physiologists,
leaders of community based organisations and other
professionals,” he said.

He said women also talk about their relationships and if their
partners are abusive to them, they get the professional help
available on the day from experts and friends.

Jimmy said that before wrapping up the meeting, they drink,
play music of their generation and dance.

“We play hits of our times and just be merry,” Jimmy said.

Jackie Chauke, a member, said the group members are able to
teach each other about technology, which is a challenge for
many people in their age group.

“We also speak about how we can bring discipline in our
children’s lives. Yes, life begins at 40, and let us be happy!”

Ramaphosa says ANC has put state
capture behind it
Lungani Zungu

           President Cyril Ramaphosa’s testimony at the
           state capture commission was less exciting than
           the usual drama that has unfolded before Judge
Raymond Zondo.

But his testimony this week brought to the fore a litany of
wrongs committed by the ANC, and saw him try to position the
ruling party as running a clean-up job of the mess left by his
predecessor.

He also paid tribute to the journalists who had exposed state
capture and in his closing remarks said: “There are many people
who paid a great price for taking a principled stand [against]
state capture.”

Ramaphosa admitted that the ANC government, then led by
former president Jacob Zuma, dragged its feet in dealing with
the Guptas. Ramaphosa was deputy president at the time.

The president said there had been allegations that the Gupta
business family had a say in the Cabinet appointments as early
as 2011.

He told the commission that Fikile Mbalula had told the ANC
National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in 2011 about
Gupta’s secret dealings.

Even when the GuptaLeaks were thrust into the public spotlight
in 2017, Ramaphosa said his party turned a blind eye.

“The issue of state capture was hugely contested in the ANC,
and what should be done contributed to divisions in ANC
structures, including the NEC, the government and Parliament,
as well as other areas of society," he said.

The spotlight then turned to where he had got his campaign
money during the ANC conference in 2017.

Ramaphosa flatly denied that he bought votes but said the
money raised by his campaign team had helped to buy food,
airtime and T-shirts for his supporters.

Cadre deployment also came under scrutiny with Ramaphosa
admitting that it was flawed.

He said some individuals deployed to certain government
positions lacked the needed qualifications, skills and experience
to serve.

Ramaphosa said it only became apparent at a later stage that
some deployments were wrong.

He also admitted that the ANC's Deployment Committee was
not made aware of some appointments.

Picture source: @MYANC

Steve the angry peacock blocks
professor from getting to work
Arthur Greene

The last time you were late for work, you
probably didn’t say: “An aggressive peacock
called Steve blocked me from getting to my
office.”

Well, this is what Jim Daley, a research assistant professor at a
Texas university, had to tell his bosses after he came face to
face with a beautiful - and very stubborn - male peacock.

Jim is one of several San Antonio inhabitants who have spotted
a recent influx of peacocks. The majestic animals have all been
christened “Steve”.

The locals have enjoyed seeing the spectacular birds saunter
around the town and have even begun to track every Steve that
they spot on the Nextdoor app.

Jim’s encounter with Steve saw the bird perched in front of the
building’s entrance with its wings folded neatly behind it.

“Nobody wanted to approach the peacock because they’re
known to be sort of aggressive,” Jim told the San Antonio
Express News.

Male peacocks are indeed well known to be territorial during
mating season, and they possess sharp beaks and talons.

Jim decided not to disturb Steve, and eventually used a
different entrance to get to his lab.

“I eventually saw the peacock walk away on its own from my
lab window just before security arrived, so no major drama,” he
said.

Picture source: @jimdaley77

“You can beat up the bandits – just
don’t break the law”

The Zamfara state government in Northern Nigeria, scene of
recent horrific killings and kidnapping of students, has asked
residents to defend themselves against hoodlums but “please
don’t break the law”.

Premium Times reported last week that attacks by bandits in
Zamfara in recent weeks had left at least 83 people dead and
hundreds of others, including women and children, injured.

Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, a Zamfara state spokesperson, said on
Wednesday they understood why people were coming out en
masse to defend themselves against attacks from bandits.

Dosara urged people, however, to “employ due process” when
attacked by “groups of hoodlums.”

The Governor of the State Bello Matawalle last week warned
armed bandits to “repent or change base” and vowed to
demolish houses found to harbour informants and weapons
suppliers.

Dosara announced that the police have apprehended 35
criminals “comprising mostly kidnappers, informants and those
aiding and abetting banditry in the state.”

The criminals “have since been interrogated and have
confessed to their various crimes and have already been
transferred to Abuja for further action before prosecution.”

The statement added that some of the criminals arrested are
civil servants.

“The state government also strongly warns traditional rulers to
keep vigil eyes to landlords who give out their houses to people
with suspicious character within their domains, as government
will soon start to arrest any landlord found giving out his or her

property on rent to bandits, kidnappers, informants and dealers
of weapons for the bandits.

“Government will not hesitate to demolish any house given to
criminals.”

Meanwhile. Auwal Daudawa, the bandit leader in Katsina State
who shot to prominence after masterminding the abduction of
300 student, shas gone back to the forest, less than three
months after his much celebrated repentance.

Picture source: @channelstv

Don’t mess with Trevor: Mzansi unites
against a big bully
By Mmaditaba

               One thing the world should know, if you wage a
               social media war with a single South African, the
               whole nation will take it personally.

Like a family with siblings who fight, but always protect each
other when someone tries to attack any of them.

And that's what an American TikTok user, Doug Romeo, learned
this week when he made a video talking about how much he
hated South Africa's sweetheart, Trevor Noah. What made it
worse was when he claimed Trevor was "provided" with a
better life by America. He even took a jab at Mzansi saying he
wouldn't be proud of the country if he was from here either.

South Africans were very quick to introduce him to another
Mzansi favourite term, the word "VOETSEK". They also
corrected him and let everyone know how much Trevor had
worked to get where he is and that he was not handed
anything he didn't deserve.

Romeo was particularly mad at Trevor's commentary on US
police killing black people in America on his satirical TV show,
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.

“You've never struggled in this country. You're living in
mansions and taking it easy. What's your f****** struggle,” he
added.

Now he knows he should never set foot in Mzansi. Even people
from other African countries came in to defend Trev in putting
Romeo in his place.

A friendly warning to everyone out there, don't try that at
home.

Picture source: @dougromeo

Mzansi star Thuso Mbedu is shining
bright in Hollywood!
By Mmaditaba

While we were still waiting for her American TV
debut, Thuso Mbedu has bagged another role.

Thuso has made entertainment history by being the first South
African actress to play a leading role in a mainstream US series
in The Underground Railroad.

But this time she has stepped up another notch. She will be
working with Viola Davis who has won an Academy Award, an
Emmy Award, and two Tony Awards.

The two will star in a Tri-Star movie called The Woman King
directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood who recently directed the

critically acclaimed blockbuster, The Old Guard starring
Mzansi's Charlize Theron.

Thuso is a two-time Emmy Award nominee for Best Actress for
her role in the drama television series Is’thunzi.

It is clear that Thuso did not fly to the states to play.
Congratulations from Mzansi are already flooding in for The
Underground Railroad which premieres on 14 May.

Picture source: @ThusoMbedu & @violadavis

Pirates just scrape through to CAF
quarter finals
Menzi Magubane

The name of Orlando Pirates will feature in the
draw for the CAF Confederation Cup quarter
finals on Friday in Cairo, Egypt.

The draw will also include Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer
Chiefs who are waiting to see who will be their opponents in
the last eight.

Bucs almost took themselves out of contention on Wednesday
night by losing their last Group A match 1 - 0 to Enyimba in
Nigeria on Wednesday night, but ES Setif beating Al Ahly
Benghazi helped the Bucs to progress to the last eight.

Pirates will be unseeded in the draw together with Coton Sport
of Cameroon, Tunisian CS Sfaxien and Pyramids of Egypt.

They will be drawn against group winners who will be seeded
and those teams are Enyimba of Nigeria, JS Kabylie of Algeria,
ASC Jaraaf of Senegal and Raja Casablanca of Morocco.

The quarter finals first leg is scheduled for 15 and 16 May with
the return on 22 and 23 May. As for Bucs they will play at home
first with whoever they will be drawn with.

The quarter finals will be a familiar territory for the Buccaneers
who appeared for the first time in 2015, finishing as runners-up
after losing to Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia in the final.

Bucs turn their attention to the DStv Premiership crucial
encounter when they meet Sundowns at Orlando Stadium at
3pm on Sunday.

Picture source:@orlandopirates

Man City pip PSG in Paris
Timmy T Maranda

              Manchester City came from a goal behind to beat
              10-man PSG 2-1 and snatch a win in their 1st leg
              Champions League match over PSG at Parc des
Princes Stadium in Paris.

PSG have to win by two goals in the second leg in Manchester
in six days time at Etihad Stadium.

Marquinos opened the scoring with a header from an Angel Di
Maria corner kick.

PSG enjoyed the majority of ball possession in the first half with
Neymar and Mbappe constant threats to the City defence.

In the second half, Manchester City piled the pressure on PSG
and were duly rewarded with Kevin De Bruyne finding the back
of the net for the equaliser.

Two minutes later, City took the lead with a Riyad Mahrez free-
kick after Phil Foden was fouled in the edge of the box.

City took advantage of their numerical superiority following the
red card to Idrissi Gueye for a malicious tackle on Ilkay
Gundogan.

Coach Pep Guardiola said his teram was not aggressive enough
in the first half.

"First half was not that good but second half we were
excellent," Pep told BT Sport.

"We’re halfway there but there is still 90 minutes to go to the
final."

Picture source : @Riyadmahrez

Pregnant mother and son perish in fire
Doreen Mokgolo

A fight between a married couple ended with the mother, her
unborn child and her nine-year-old son dead in a shack fire.

The father, the sole survivor of the fire, fled the scene and has
not been seen since.

The son of a neighbouring family, also aged nine, sustained
injuries trying to save his friend from the flames.

The fire, which also burnt down neighbouring shacks, broke out
on Tuesday night in Duduza, Ekurhuleni.

In the aftermath, the heavily pregnant woman was rushed to
Pholosong Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. Her
son, meanwhile, had been burnt beyond recognition in the fire.

The source of the fire remains unclear, but it is alleged that the
couple had been fighting shortly before it broke out.

The couple, who are originally from Mozambique, are reported
to have fought so much of the time that their landlord had
given them notice to leave their rented shack.

Their neighbour, Sakina Langa, told Scrolla.Africa that her shack
was close to the couple’s and had also been burnt to the
ground.

She said that she was woken by the deceased's husband
screaming for help that their shack was on fire. She left the
house to investigate and saw that their shack was covered in
flames.

She immediately ran back inside her own shack to wake her
two children.

Sakina says she didn't pay attention to the couple’s fight that
night because it was nothing out of the ordinary; they always
fought and they always made up afterwards.

"An hour later, I heard the man calling for help to open the
door from outside because they were stuck. My nine-year-old
son, Musa tried to run into their shack to save his friend, he
sustained burn injuries on his hands and legs."

She added that she is grateful that her family survived the fire
even though they lost everything.

Duduza police confirmed an inquest case has been opened
following the incident.

"No one has been arrested and we are still trying to track down
the missing husband," he confirmed.

Mangane breaks out with Afro House
Linda Ximba

              Lockdown may turn out to be a blessing in
              disguise for Fana Dlamini of Ladysmith Black
              Mambazo.

Fana, or Mangane as he is known, said he will not be leaving
the band.

He said when Balck Mambazo were forced to cancel their
international tour and return home due to Covid-19, he
rediscovered his love for Afro House music.

“I grew up with Afro Soul. But I have fused the music with
house beats because I want my music to resonate with the
youth,” said Mangane.

He said he will release his singles Oskhotheni, Imali and
Angiyindawo next month.

“I have my own studio at home and I worked with underground
artists who provided beats for me. I am sure the music lovers
will embrace my sound because I put in so much effort. The
messages in the songs have meaning,” said Mangane.

He said he has the blessings of the Black Mambazo who want
him to spread his wings. Being part of the five-time Grammy
winners is a blessing to this Port Shepstone-born artist who
sings alto in the group.

“I was discovered by Thami Shabalala, one of Baba Joseph
Shabalala’s sons who was putting together a group. He roped
me into the group because he felt I could add value. I have
learnt a lot from the group through travelling all over Europe,”
he said.

Picture source: Facebook

Revised Rainbow Cup kicks off this
weekend
Timmy T Maranda

              After months of negotiations the PRO14 Rainbow
              Cup has been downscaled to a series of local
              derbies involving SA franchises.

What was supposed to be a competition between teams from
Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales and from South Africa, but Covid-
19 travel restrictions has put an end to that.

The revised schedule sees SA franchise teams in action, starting
this weekend with encounters in Cape Town and Pretoria.

SA Rugby and PRO14 Rugby announced the amended fixtures
and kick-off times for the PR014 Rainbow Cup SA and
confirmed the matches will be live on Supersport TV.

The opening match sees the DHL Stormers playing the Cell C
Sharks at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon. This is
followed by a Jukskei Derby between the Vodacom Bulls and
the Emirates Lions at Loftus Versfeld in the evening.

"It's a pity we could not have the competition as we first
envisaged it,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.

“But to see these four teams slug it out over seven weeks is
sure to bring out the best in South African rugby."

Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, who had seen the Rainbow
Cup as an opportunity to prepare for the British and Irish Lions
tour, said it would have been good to see the South African
teams take on the might of European club rugby.

"But in the meantime we've got a tough competition that will
hopefully prepare the players for a massive series against the
British and Irish Lions," he said.

Picture source: SA Rugby

Angry Swallows coach remains
optimistic
Sphiwe Masilela

After a frustrating string of stalemates, Swallows coach
Brandon Truter is running out of patience.

“I am not happy with the way things are going,” said Truter
after Swallows were held to yet another draw, finishing 1-1 to
Supersport United in their DStv Premiership clash.

Despite his team’s 15 draws Truter is still adamant to finish in
the top three and qualify for CAF club competition next season.

“It’s our first season and we’re safe from relegation, but if we
win one or two of the remaining six, we can qualify for Africa.
We are organized but one lapse of concentration from an
individual and we get punished,” said Truter.

Truter added that he needs to give a frank but yet stern
warning to his backline which includes experienced Wandisile
Letlabika and much-wanted Njabulo Ngcobo.

“I am disappointed that we had three centre-backs on the field
and still allowed Sipho Mbule to score,” he said.

The Birds are currently three points behind third-placed
Lamontville Golden Arrows and third place will get them to the
continental tournament.

Swallows have dropped 21 points from winning position this
season, having led in the 18 of their 24 games, but only
managed to go on and win eight of those.

On Friday, Swallows play Maritzburg United who are
desperately in need of maximum points to move away from the
relegation zone.

Picture source: @SuperSport

Young coach scores a big job
Menzi Magubane

At age 33, Julian Nagelsmann is two years younger than the
club captain, yet he has been appointed to coach Bayern
Munich, one of the biggest clubs in the world.

As head coach he will be dishing out instructions to some of the
best players in the world, such as national team captain Manuel
Neuer, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski.

Nagelsmann will join the club on 1 July from RB Leipzig, earning
R435 million. He will also be the youngest coach to ever coach
the reigning Bundesliga and last season's European champions.
His five year contract is also a record for Bayern.

He replaces Hansi Flick, who is set to lead the national team to
the upcoming UEFA European Championship.

Bayern president Herbert Hainer said: "Julian Nagelsmann
stands for a new generation of trainers. Despite his young age,
we are convinced that with Julian Nagelsmann we will build on
the great successes of the past few years."

Nagelsmann's recent accomplishments make him an ideal
replacement for Flick. Last season he took unknown RB Leipzig
to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, making him the
youngest coach to ever do so.

Nicknamed 'Baby Mourinho', Nagelsmann was also linked to
the vacant coaching post at Tottenham Hotspur.

Meanwhile in Spain, Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by
Chelsea in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-
final on Tuesday night. The return leg is set for Stamford Bridge
next Wednesday.

Picture source:@brfootball