Shorné Bennie

2 months ago | witness.co.za | Nompilo Kunene |Shorné Bennie

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has reached Pietermaritzburg, with three cases confirmed to The Witness on Tuesday. This comes as confirmed cases in KwaZulu-Natal rose to 195, prompting primary schools to implement precautionary measures to curb the spread. The outbreak, which began in primary schools and crèches in Durban, has seen cases skyrocket over the weekend.

Jan 22, 2025 | witness.co.za | Nompilo Kunene |Shorné Bennie |Chris Ndaliso |Prashalan Govender

Msunduzi Municipality Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla has finally admitted to what residents have been complaining about for years: the city is falling apart. This week, he unveiled a masterplan to tackle the widespread issues, beginning with the launch of a war room at Church Street Mall. During a walkabout at the mall, Thebolla acknowledged the city’s dire state, saying: “It is evident that the city has regressed in key areas such as grass cutting, waste management, and overall cleanliness.

Jan 17, 2025 | witness.co.za | Shorné Bennie

An ML Sultan Secondary pupil represented Pietermaritzburg at the KZN Department of Education Top Achievers’ Awards held at the Durban ICC on Tuesday. Owen Nathan Pillay (18) received an award for achieving the highest percentage in the province for Mechanical Technology: Fitting and Turning. He was presented with a certificate and a laptop at the awards function in recognition of his achievement. Pillay said he had not expected the accolade and was shocked when he received the call from his school.

Jan 16, 2025 | witness.co.za | Shorné Bennie

A memorial was held for former uMgungundlovu mayor, ANC stalwart, and anti-apartheid activist Yusuf Bhamjee in Johannesburg on Thursday night. Speaking at the virtual memorial, activist Roshan Jainath said he had the incredible opportunity to spend time with Bhamjee, who always supported him. “He was an amazing soul, and he had the qualities of a truly special friend. He not only valued family and friends but also deeply appreciated the youth who worked with him.

Jan 16, 2025 | witness.co.za | Shorné Bennie

Van Reenen’s Pass has been closed on both lanes for the recovery of a dropped transformer. The N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) said in a statement that the total road enclosure affected all northbound lanes from the Tugela Plaza, while southbound traffic is being stopped at Van Reenen town (I.e. at the Caltex garage). “All vehicles will be stopped at the road closure points until the recovery is complete or the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) deems it safe to start releasing traffic.