Daily News 2025-03-25

THE court yesterday heard that missing child Joshlin Smith’s brother told the police that state witness Lourentia Lombaard only arrived at their home after their mother had left for work. Lombaard had previously told the Western Cape High Court, sitting in White City Multipurpose Centre, Diazville, Saldanha Bay, that she arrived at the shack before Racquel “Kelly” Smith left her home, hours before Joshlin went missing, and believed taken allegedly for her skin and eyes. Joshlin had been in the care of Smith’s boyfriend Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis when she went missing on February 19, 2024 – the child was six years old at the time. Steveno “Steffie” van Rhyn and Lombaard were arrested along with the couple, and they were all charged with kidnapping and human trafficking. Lombaard turned…

A LOTUS River mother took the witness stand at the Western Cape High Court to describe her teen son’s last moments after he was hot and killed by a firearm which the State contends was allegedly sold illegally by Anderson Padayachee. The Durban arms dealer returned to court yesterday where he faces more than 60 charges relating to the sale of firearms to Cape Flats gangs. According to the indictment, Padayachee was now facing eight murder charges and five attempted murder charges, where the firearms he allegedly supplied were used in gang wars. The cases which are spread across the Cape Flats include the murders of several men who were killed in gang shootings in various areas. The court papers allege that Padayachee assisted the Terrible Josters between August 2017…

Erin Lazarus said it was yet to sink in that she had landed the women’s singles title in the South African Blackball National Champions, which concluded on Saturday at the playTSOGO Globe at Suncoast Casino in Durban. Lazarus, 21, of Durban North, said the SA singles title was the most sought after title locally, and she was chuffed to have pocketed it in her hometown. She said she was hugely disappointed at losing in the semi-stage of this same competition two years ago, and that disappointment provided her with extra motivation going into the latest version of the competition, which attracted 82 entrants, all vying for the singles crown. “I rate this win as one of my best achievements on the pool table to date. It certainly ranks up there…

THE chorus of opposition against the ever-growing number of illegal foreigners streaming into the country was amplified during a well-attended march in Durban yesterday, where people and personalities from various walks of life gathered against the rising scourge. The march, attended by hundreds of people, and planned by Jacinta Zuma, an on-air personality at Vuma FM, based in Umhlanga, featured politicians, actors, Izinduna, and representatives from labour federations and community-based organisations. They braved the sweltering heat as they marched peacefully through Pixley KaIsaka Seme Street (West Street) to the Durban City Hall. During her rabble-rousing speech, Zuma said: “We are here to tell the government enough is enough. We have been quiet for too long. We are rising now. We want to reclaim our economy from illegal foreigners. These buildings…

AN OVERSIGHT visit to the Provincial Pharmaceutical Supply Depot gave the KwaZulu-Natal portfolio committee on health, led by chairperson Dr Imran Keeka, some of the answers they needed to understand about the province’s medicine shortages. Thursday’s oversight visit to the facility in Mobeni, Durban, was initiated due to public complaints and facility visits, days after a follow-up meeting with the KZN Health Department on progress in the medicine shortage issue. The meetings were previously held on February 18 and March 18. Keeka stated that the committee was duty-bound to conduct oversight and determine the truthfulness of statements made by Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane and her department. He said they found a well-run facility, which operated under difficult circumstances. “We understand that there are budgetary constraints both for the procurement of…

AS SEVERE weather conditions wreaks havoc across KwaZulu-Natal, questions are being raised about employers responsibilities to their staff when natural disasters strike. The Congress of South African Trade Unions’ (Cosatu) provincial secretary, Edwin Mkhize, said they had no approaches from employees about being forced to work during severe weather alerts or conditions. Mkhize said caring employers prioritised the safety of their employees, and when severe weather conditions like floods were expected, they often released their employees early and advised them against attending work until it was safe to do so. “It’s employers who are ruthless, who don’t think for employees,” Mkhize said. He said Cosatu was always ready to assist workers who are faced challenges and will investigate all available options to provide support. The KZN National Education, Health…