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Domkrag the tortoise

If you have ever wondered where Donkrag Dam in the Addo Elephant National Park got its name from, scoot closer and listen up.

The Domkrag Dam is named after a giant 45-year-old 60kg mountain tortoise which once roamed the park. “Domkrag” is the Afrikaans word for a “jack” (the thing you lift cars with), and this tortoise had a peculiar habit of walking underneath cars and trying to lift them up with enormous strength.

Domkrag came to a sad end when he fell into an aardvark hole and couldn’t get himself out. His shell is still on display in the Interpretive Centre.

– Mountain or Leopard Tortoise – The genus name Stigmochelys is a combination of the Greek words stigma meaning ‘marked’ and chelone meaning ‘tortoise’. The specific epithet pardalis is derived from the Greek word pardos meaning ‘spotted’, after the spotted shell.

This tortoise is the largest tortoise species in Southern Africa and is a grazing species that favours semiarid, thorny to grassland habitats. In both very hot and very cold weather, it may dwell in abandoned fox, jackal, or aardvark burrows. The leopard tortoise does not dig other than to make nests in which to lay eggs. Given its propensity for grassland habitats, it grazes extensively upon mixed grasses. It also favours succulents and thistles.

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Electricity Disconnections – Your Rights

Most of us have experienced that sinking feeling when we answer the doorbell only to be confronted with the spectacle of a man bearing a clipboard, some rubber gloves, a set of screwdrivers and a pair of pliers.

Often this official from the pit of hell will tell you that he has been sent to check the meter and then when you grant him access he then proceeds to cut your umbilical cord to electricity.

“If you have a tenant on your property who does not settle their electricity account, leaving you with a huge arrears and disconnection then you have a solution – install a Straton Prepaid Electricity Meter just downstream of your credit meter,” says Straton Prepaid.

The NRS 047-1:2022 Guidelines around Electricity Disconnections may also be your saving grace though.

The guidelines around disconnections to electricity supply authorities are as follows:

  1. no disconnections shall be effected until at least 14 days after the due date for payment stipulated on the account;
  2. commercial and industrial customers shall be given at least 24 hours notice of an impending disconnection;
  3. disconnections shall only be carried out up to 2 hours before normal closing time of the payment venue;
  4. disconnections shall not be carried out over weekends, public holidays or Fridays (unless normal payment and reconnection facilities are available on Saturday mornings), or on the day before a public holiday; and
  5. reconnections shall be effected as promptly as possible and no later than the first working day after the account has been settled satisfactorily and the reconnection fee has been paid.

The target average percentage success is at least 95 %.

Each Supply Authority is also encouraged to adhere to NRS 047-2:2001 and report on disconnections.

The National Rationalised Specifications (NRS) Association of South Africa guidelines outline the duties and conduct required of revenue protection personnel to ensure good revenue protection and, at the same time, maintain good customer relations and an acceptable service level.

These standards, developed by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and other stakeholders, cover various aspects of electricity supply, including quality of supply, grid interconnection of embedded generation, and high-voltage operating regulations.

Straton Prepaid supply (and install) Single and Three Phase Prepaid Electricity Meters.

Video: Electricity Disconnections – Your Rights

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South Africans and Zimbabweans Pray Together After Xenophobic Attacks

Zimbabwean and South African families in Valencia came together, releasing white balloons as a symbol of peace after the devastating xenophobic attacks in May.

  • Hundreds of residents of Valencia, Addo came together to pray for peace and order after recent xenophobic attacks.
  • There have still not been any arrests, almost a month after one South African and four immigrants were murdered.
  • Many of the displaced immigrant families have returned to Valencia.

Last month, the killing of a South African man in Valencia, Addo, spurred devastating xenophobic “revenge attacks”, killing at least four immigrants and injuring dozens. Hundreds of families were displaced from their homes.

On Sunday, to mark World Refugees Day, about 200 residents of Valencia, South Africans and immigrants, came together at the community hall. They prayed for peace and order in their community.

Candles were lit and 10 white balloons were released as a sign of peace. Half the balloons were released by the family members of Juane September, the South African man whose murder sparked the attacks. The other half were released by Zimbabweans.

Gerald September, Juane’s father, was at the event. “I don’t think I will ever recover from this tragic loss,” he said.

Zimbabwean pastor and Valencia resident of ten years Ngonidzashe Chikanya said the prayer session was also meant to help displaced immigrants reintegrate into the community.

He said those affected were still “dumbfounded” by the incident “as it happened within the blink of an eye”.

“People are still in shock.”

In the streets of Valencia, peace and calm seem to have returned. Many of the displaced families have returned. However, more than 100 Zimbabweans who were arrested by the Department Home Affairs while trying to seek shelter from the attacks, have opted to be voluntarily deported.

A Zimbabwean man who recently returned to Valencia said while he was away his home was robbed of all his belongings. “No one wants to account for that,” he said. This has put him back 10 years and he has had to borrow money to pay rent and purchase essentials, he said.

Morne Serome, deputy chairman of a newly formed group of South African and Zimbabwean church leaders, said they will visit local schools soon to educate children about the importance of living peacefully with immigrants.

“It’s time for the church to play a pivotal role in bringing people together,” Serome said.

Grade seven learner Lihle Kula, 16, said she was heartbroken to witness immigrants being killed and beaten by people who had lived with them for several years.

“I was powerless and at the same time fearing for my life. I could do nothing because the mob was angry and violent. It is very disturbing that a person leaves his country to look for opportunities in a foreign country, only to return home in a coffin after being murdered in cold blood.”

Shelton Ciyangwa, Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network, said two of the deceased Zimbabweans had been repatriated to Zimbabwe. Another deceased, from Malawi, has also been repatriated. The network is still raising funds to repatriate a third deceased, from Zimbabwe. And a fourth man is yet to be identified by family or next of kin.

There have still not been any arrests of perpetrators of the violence, police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said.

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Activists are increasingly focusing on mental health awareness and support in communities.

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Source: MyZA.co.za.

Kirkwood: From Green to Decayed

Kirkwood, once a thriving and welcoming town, is now plagued by service delivery issues getting residents hot under the collar.

In 2023/24, this town, along with Addo and Paterson in the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality, was named the greenest municipality in the Eastern Cape and awarded a cash prize of R50 000.

Nowadays, Kirkwood is better known for its uncollected refuse, crumbling roads, clogged stormwater systems, overgrown public spaces and damaged infrastructure.

The Municipality’s failure to perform routine maintenance not only affects the town’s appearance, but also has a negative impact on overall morale, public health, and the safety of residents and visitors.

Despite repeated requests from concerned residents and community leaders, there is little to no visible effort from the Municipality’s side to restore the town’s honour.

There is no routine cleaning, repair work or long-term maintenance strategies to speak of.

This constant dereliction of duty undermines public trust, and creates the impression that the administration is indifferent to the needs and rights of the people the Municipality is meant to serve.

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) demands that the Municipality:

  • Acknowledge the current state of decay in Kirkwood with the necessary transparency and urgency.
  • Conduct a comprehensive audit of municipal maintenance backlogs and service delivery failures.
  • Implement a visible action plan to address pressing problems and prevent further decay.

The people of Kirkwood deserve to live in a town characterised by civic pride, functionality and dignity.

FF+ Manifesto on Property rights: Protecting private property rights.

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Source: MyZA.co.za.

Fourth Man Dies After Xenophobic Attacks in Addo

Apology Mandiudza was one of four immigrants killed by a violent mob on 25 May.

Apology Mandiudza, a 24-year-old man from Zimbabwe, died in hospital last Tuesday, nine days after he was attacked by a mob in Valencia, Addo.

He was the fourth immigrant killed in xenophobic revenge attacks on 25 May, triggered by the murder of Jaune September, a 22-year-old South African man. (GroundUp previously reported that four immigrants were killed. This was incorrect. It was previously three people.)

The identities of the other three people are still unknown, but GroundUp has learned that two of them are Zimbabwean and one is Malawian.

There have still not been any arrests of September’s killer(s) or the mob that sought to avenge him.

Originally from Zimbabwe, Mandiudza had been working on a citrus farm – his first job. He had a long-term relationship with a South African woman. His niece, Pauline Mhlolo, told GroundUp that the relationship was destined for marriage.

Mhlolo described him as a quiet and gentle young man. Despite not being anywhere near the tavern where September was killed, he was bludgeoned with a sharp object and sustained fatal injuries to his head. His home was raided and most of his belongings were stolen.

“I saw him lying helplessly in his bed at Livingstone Hospital. He was not responding to our voices,” said Mhlolo.

During the attacks, dozens of immigrant men were beaten and taken to hospital. Hundreds of women and children were forced to flee their homes.

The displaced families sought shelter at Addo Police Station and at a church hall in Gqeberha. On 1 June, these shelters were inspected by immigration officers from the Department of Home Affairs. Hundreds were arrested and 127 people opted for voluntary deportation.

Jaune September was laid to rest on Saturday. GroundUp attended the funeral. It was peaceful and well attended. Ward councillor Xolani Jonas urged the immigrant community to return to their homes.

Chris Mapingure, chairman of the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network, told GroundUp that there are challenges in repatriating the three murdered Zimbabweans.

Transporting one body to Zimbabwe costs about R32,000. Mapingure has been sourcing funds from Zimbabwean communities across the Eastern Cape, but says: “We still have a long way to go.”

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The #EndRuralPoverty campaign addresses poverty in rural areas and promotes sustainable development.

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Source: MyZA.co.za.

They Escaped With Their Lives. Now They’ve Been Arrested

Hundreds of immigrants were displaced in Addo following xenophobic attacks.

More than 100 Zimbabweans seeking shelter after xenophobic attacks in Addo were arrested on Sunday.

Some had been evacuated to a safe space in Gqeberha and others were camping out at Addo police station when they were arrested by Home Affairs officials for violating immigration laws.

The attacks in Addo last weekend left at least four people dead and more than ten injured. Hundreds of families fled their homes.

According to the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network (ZiMSN) chairperson Chris Mapingure, 127 people have now opted for voluntary repatriation after appearing in the Kirkwood Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The Zimbabwean consulate is arranging transport back to Zimbabwe.

Mapingure condemned the arrests coming so soon after the xenophobic attacks. “People had lost loved ones and some lost their property. Most lost their travel documents and will need time and money to replace the documents. This is unfair and unfortunate. People were supposed to be given an opportunity to collect their belongings and time to mourn and bury the dead.”

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge told GroundUp that the arrests were conducted by immigration officers from the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service only provided the holding cells.

The deadly xenophobic attacks last weekend are under investigation by police. There have been no arrests.

Warrant officer Majola Nkohli told GroundUp charges of intimidation and conspiracy to commit crime had been added to the docket. “There is information coming out, some in the form of voice notes, which have been elements of intimidation and conspiracy to commit crime during the unrest,” Nkohli said.

The leader of the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the Sundays River Valley, Patrick Bayeni, said the situation in Addo has calmed down and it is safe for the remaining Zimbabwean families to return.

“We have members on the ground there to monitor the situation and assure whoever wants to return to come back without any fear,” he said.

He said the father of the South African man whose murder triggered the violent “revenge” attacks has also urged the community not to harm immigrant community members.

GroundUp sent questions to the Department of Home Affairs and Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber but had received no response at the time of publication.

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Farm attacks: Violence and theft targeting farmers and agricultural communities.

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Source: MyZA.co.za.

What is a “Dagga Boy”?

What is a “Dagga boy” and where does the term come from?

‘Dagga boys’ is a term used to describe old and usually solitary buffalo bulls who have been forced out of the herd by young virile bulls, or have fallen behind the herd due to their need for softer vegetation. But it’s wise not to be fooled by their condition. These monoliths are known for putting up a great fight when spooked, injured or trapped, even chasing down potential danger, like lions, by themselves. They were also known to kill hunters in the old hunting days and were notoriously hard to take down, hence their inclusion in the ‘Big Five’ (along with elephant, lion, leopard, and rhino).

These males have adopted the nickname of ‘dagga boys’, which mainly refers to the thick black clay that coats their skin; ‘dagga’ being another word for mud

They tend to move from one wallow to the next, preferring these swampy areas as they not only guarantee fresh, soft grass for their worn teeth to feed on, but also a constant supply of oozy slush in which they can loll. It is believed the reason for the love of these mud baths is that the sludgy silt actually acts as a barrier between the sun’s harsh rays and the older buffalo’s hairless rumps.

📸 filolisadileo – This old “duggaboy” was alone on the Arizona road area in a small mud pond

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New Play Challenges Xenophobia

Graveland is running at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg until Sunday, 1 June. The play challenges audiences to examine their personal biases and highlights systemic failures fuelling xenophobia in South Africa for nearly two decades.

  • A new production is tackling one of the most pressing issues in South Africa – xenophobia.
  • Graveland is running at the Market Theatre until Sunday, 1 June.
  • It challenges audiences to examine their personal biases and highlights the systemic failures that allowed xenophobia to remain unchecked for nearly two decades.
  • The timing of the play coincides with the recent xenophobic violence in Addo in the Eastern Cape this week.

A new production staged at Johannesburg’s Market Theatre tackles one of the most pressing issues in South Africa – xenophobia.

Graveland runs until Sunday, 1 June. It follows the journey of Butana, an immigrant in pursuit of a better life which ends in a tragic xenophobic attack. The story is told through his brother’s eyes, when the family travels to South Africa to reclaim Butana’s spirit. The family tries to retrace Butana’s steps, revealing his struggles, including encounters with corrupt officials in South Africa.

This story challenges audiences to examine their personal biases and highlights systemic failures that fuel xenophobia.

In 2008, more than 60 people were killed and nearly 2,000 injured. The violence displaced tens of thousands of immigrants in South Africa.

But it was the shocking images of Emmanuel Sithole’s murder in Alexandra in 2015 that stuck with Thembeni Joni, one of the writers and directors of Graveland.

“I was thinking about what it means for his family. His spirit will remain here. So what will happen to the family if they want to come to collect his spirit when they don’t have documents themselves? That made me start thinking deeper about all of these issues,” he explained.

The timing of the play this week couldn’t be more poignant after four people were killed, a dozen were injured, and hundreds, including women and children, were displaced in xenophobic attacks earlier this week in Addo, in the Eastern Cape. The attacks were triggered by the killing of a South African man in a tavern, allegedly by an immigrant. It’s also on the back of Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, earlier this month, demanding that immigrant employees of the Market Theatre be dismissed.

During the production, audiences are confronted with the difficult questions: Who belongs? Who is being excluded? And are we building a society without empathy?

Actor Mirembe Namayanja, who plays one of the corrupt officials in the play and is herself originally from Uganda, said that when she first told friends and family that she was moving to South Africa, they all expressed concerns for her safety.

“The continental perception about South Africa is quite narrow… A lot of them were like ‘is it going to be safe?’. But the reality is that I experience micro-aggressions more than the pronounced violence that we’ve seen over the past decade or so. But it’s not a common thing that I am discriminated against,” she said.

Actor Lunga Khuhlane plays a character who believes in Pan Africanism, holds anti-xenophobic beliefs and tries to help immigrants.

Speaking to GroundUp after the production’s first showing on Thursday to a full audience of high school learners, Namayanja emphasised the important role such productions play in society. Especially in breaking down some of the stereotypes that drive xenophobic rhetoric and violence.

“I don’t think anyone is born a xenophobe,” she said.

“No one is born prejudiced; it is something that is taught, and one of the most effective ways of teaching a child is through art and performance. You sing them a song or show them a picture. So I do think that art and theatre is quite effective in moulding society and changing perceptions.”

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Mental health issues: High rates of mental health problems.

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Source: MyZA.co.za.

No Arrests After Xenophobic Attacks in Addo

Anyway and Everyjoy Hlungani and their child. Anyway was beaten up by a group of South African men on Sunday.

There have not yet been any arrests after xenophobic attacks in Valencia, Addo, forced hundreds of immigrant families to evacuate on Sunday.

The “revenge attacks” by a group of men were triggered by the murder of a South African man on the weekend, allegedly by an immigrant. The mob went from house to house on Sunday, kicking immigrant families out of their homes.

At least 30 Zimbabweans were injured during the attacks and 17 are still in hospital, according to the Embassy of Zimbabwe. Four men have died, says the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The SAPS Serious and Violent Crimes Unit is investigating, said police spokesperson Majola Nkohli on Thursday.

“The situation in Addo is still tense. Police are continuing to maintain high visibility patrols in the area,” said Nkohli.

Some families have been staying at the Addo police station, too afraid to return to their homes. Hundreds of others have been evacuated to a church hall in Gqeberha. The church has requested not to be named for safety concerns.

Dennis Makolo arrived there on Thursday morning after being discharged from hospital. But he was still disoriented when we spoke to him and could not remember the hospital he was in or how he ended up at the church hall.

He said he was beaten by a “violent mob” and now wants to find work outside of Addo. “I have bad memories of the area.”

Anyway Hlungwani, who was beaten up with crowbars, is still in immense pain. His face is still swollen, his head wound stitched up, and he has sores all over his body.

“The truth is that I don’t want to hear anything about Valencia. I was beaten for nothing … Had it not been for my wife, who bravely intervened, I could be dead by now,” he said.

Hlungwani’s wife, Everjoy Chipangura, said that if they had enough money, they would have boarded the next bus to Zimbabwe. “I don’t want my child to grow up in a hostile environment. We have to start a new life again, but elsewhere,” she said.

But others staying in the hall said they cannot return to Zimbabwe and want to go back home to Valencia.

“This is the first such incident in the area,” said one man. “I have worked on several farms in the Sundays River Valley area for nearly 20 years, but I haven’t experienced this type of threat.”

“The reason why we are all here is the economic turmoil of Zimbabwe. There are no jobs. I will go back to Valencia once the police tell us that the situation has improved.”

Chairman of the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network, Chris Mapingure, said that donations of food, clothing and toiletries are urgently needed.

“We’re glad to have received amazing support from individuals, Gift of the Givers, businesses and government departments.”

The Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network can be contacted at +27 81 080 0548 for donations. GroundUp has no affiliation with the organisation and takes no responsibility for donations.

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The life of an activist in South Africa is often fraught with danger, as they stand up against corruption and injustice.

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Source: MyZA.co.za.