Latest news with #GiftoftheGivers
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
2 killed as deadly fire rips through Durban informal settlement
A devastating fire tore through Durban's Kennedy Road informal settlement in the early hours of Saturday, claiming the lives of a woman in her 30s and a one-year-old baby. The Witness reports that the deadly blaze comes barely a month after another inferno destroyed 40 shacks in the same settlement. At this stage, the cause of the fire that destroyed over 100 shacks remains unknown. Resident and community leader Vusi Doncabe said he was woken up by the noise from the neighbours and when he walked out to check what was happening, the fire was too close to his own shack to save his belongings. 'I'm left with nothing. I could not throw out any of my belongings because the fire was too close to my shack when I woke up,' said Doncabe. I was in a state of panic and in fact everyone was in that state because the fire was uncontrollable. When the fire fighters and emergency services arrived, the blaze had done the damage. He said the one-year-old baby belonged to another woman who had left her in the care of the friend for the night. 'People are saying the baby was left with the friend who died in the same shack they were sleeping in. It is not clear where the baby's mother was,' he said. Relief organisation, Gift of the Givers said they had responded and provided assistance to the affected residents. Community liaison officer Bilaal Jeewa said about 120 people, including children were left homeless. He said in the interim they provided the victims with beanies and blankets, and meals will be provided. 'The eThekwini disaster management is doing the assessment, and once all is done, we will see what further assistance we can provide for the affected families. Obviously other NGOs will also lend a hand to assist the affected.' 'We estimate about 80 to 100 shacks have burnt down. Thus far, we have provided the people with teabags, bread, peanut butter, the beanies etc, because it was cold. It was raining but now it's cold,' said Jeewa. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Citizens demand renewal of Mkhwanazi's contract to combat crime
Thousands of citizens gathered at Curries Fountain for a peaceful demonstration in support of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Image: Leon Lestrade THERE has been unwavering support for Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi since his explosive media briefing last Sunday. On Tuesday, thousands of people joined the group, Concerned Citizens of South Africa (CCSA) in a peaceful demonstration, '#Mkhwanazi is us & we are Mkhwanazi', at the Curries Fountain. Pastor Mervyn Reddy, a community activist, who coordinated the mobilisation of residents from Phoenix to attend the demonstration, said they were in full support of Mkhwanazi. He said residents also took to the streets in Phoenix on Monday night, to show their support. 'Phoenix has been plagued with criminal activities such as drug dealing, robberies, and hijackings, among crimes. Crime is eroding our community. If we as law abiding citizens don't stand with people like Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi who are taking a stand for truth and righteousness, then we must continue to stand in the corridors and complain that nothing is being done. 'As South Africans we must support a man, who has put himself at the frontline; his family and those close to him at risk in order to rid our communities of crime and corruption. We are now saying 'hands off Mkhwanazi', and calling for his contract to be renewed for another five years so that he can continue to clean up the province, before the rot grows to such an extent that we won't be able to control it,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the Gift of the Givers, also called on citizens to back Mkhwanazi. 'Leadership, bravery, courage, intelligence, pragmatism, fairness and justice appears in the form of Lieutenan- General Mkhwanazi; who challenges superiors, management, politicians, lawmakers and the system itself, in the interest of the citizens of our beloved country. 'The Gift of the Givers stands behind this honourable man. He represents everything that is right in the SAPS, confronting organised crime in the form of CIT heists, drug dealing, corrupt politicians and civil servants, tenderpreneurs, construction mafia, taxi gangsters, hijackers, and those defeating the ends of justice within all facets of the criminal justice system. 'Here is a servant of the law who inspires his own teams to be fearless, courageous and decisive in confronting everything that is rotten to the core in our society. We call on President Cyril Ramaphosa, to personally give this servant of the State a hearing on the current allegations, and on how to improve the crime fighting capability of the State and fully support him as the president has done so previously by calling for the establishment of a task team to deal with political killings so rife in KZN. "Given the current budgetary constraints, it is imperative that as patriotic citizens and corporations, we give our unrestricted support to Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi in the fight against crime, South Africa's number one enemy, which has a major influence on preventing economic growth and development,' he said. THE POST
Eyewitness News
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Gift of the Givers' Sooliman calls on South Africans to rally behind KZN top cop Mkhwanazi
JOHANNESBURG - Founder and chairperson of humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers, Imtiaz Sooliman, has called on South Africans to rally behind KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. This follows Mkhwanazi's explosive media briefing last week, where he made serious allegations implicating senior government officials, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. Mkhwanazi accused the officials of colluding with notorious figures, including alleged criminal kingpin Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala. READ: Mkhwanazi names man with alleged links to Mchunu as central to meddling in police cases Sooliman said the revelations should be seen as a turning point for rooting out corruption within law enforcement. "Now is an opportunity to stand by him, to support him, and to support SAPS in general, and to hold hands, to build trust, and get the SAPS members to eradicate those corrupt within themselves and corrupt within the justice system."
The Herald
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Gift of the Givers strongly backs 'honourable' Mkhwanazi
As tensions build up ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's address on Sunday evening, organisations and individuals are speaking out on the conflict involving KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and police minister Senzo Mchunu. Last Sunday Mkhwanazi made the shocking claim tha t the disbandment of the political killings task team was orchestrated to shield politically connected members of a criminal syndicate from prosecution, with the assistance of Mchunu. Now, as the country waits for Ramaphosa's promised response to the claims, voices are emerging, opinions are being aired and people are taking sides. One of these is the humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers, which has come out firmly in Mkhwanazi's corner. ' SAPS is so often vilified, insulted, demeaned, maligned, accused of corruption, inaction and inefficiency. Yes, there are those within the SAPS, as in every institution, that have failed to perform, but to generalise and paint an entire institution with the same negativity is disingenuous, demoralising, unjust and unfair to those men and women in blue who put their lives on the line, who strive to serve with distinction, in spite of being under-resourced, unprotected, outgunned and unmatched by sophisticated criminal networks with the most advanced technology at their behest,' Gift of the Givers stated on its social media. 'Leadership, bravery, courage, intelligence, pragmatism, fairness and justice appears in the form of Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who challenges superiors, management, politicians, lawmakers and the system itself, in the interest of the citizens of our beloved country.' 'Gift of the Givers stands behind this honourable man totally,' said the disaster relief group's founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman. 'He represents everything that is right in the SAPS confronting organised crime in the form of CIT heists, drug dealing, corrupt politicians and civil servants, tenderpreneurs, construction mafia, taxi gangsters, hijackers and those defeating the ends of justice within all facets of the criminal justice system,' said Sooliman. 'Here is a servant of the law who inspires his own teams to be fearless, courageous and decisive in confronting everything that is rotten to the core in our society. We call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to personally give this servant of the state a hearing on the allegations and on how to improve the crime-fighting capability of the state and fully support him as the president has done so previously by calling for the establishment of a task team to deal with political killings so rife in KZN.' R amaphosa was attending the Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last Sunday when Mkhwanazi made his astounding accusations. Mchunu has hit back, describing the claims as 'baseless' and 'wild allegations'. However, he later admitted to knowing one of the suspects named by Mkhwanazi, businessman Brown Mgotsi — dismissing their links as 'just a comrade'. Ramaphosa's office says he has 'been seized with this matter ... and will, following various consultations, take the nation into his confidence' at 7pm on Sunday'. TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
12-07-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Gift of the Givers strongly backs 'honourable' Mkhwanazi
As tensions build up ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's address on Sunday evening, organisations and individuals are speaking out on the conflict involving KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and police minister Senzo Mchunu. Last Sunday Mkhwanazi made the shocking claim that the disbandment of the political killings task team was orchestrated to shield politically connected members of a criminal syndicate from prosecution, with the assistance of Mchunu. Now, as the country waits for Ramaphosa's promised response to the claims, voices are emerging, opinions are being aired and people are taking sides. One of these is the humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers, which has come out firmly in Mkhwanazi's corner. 'SAPS is so often vilified, insulted, demeaned, maligned, accused of corruption, inaction and inefficiency. Yes, there are those within the SAPS, as in every institution, that have failed to perform, but to generalise and paint an entire institution with the same negativity is disingenuous, demoralising, unjust and unfair to those men and women in blue who put their lives on the line, who strive to serve with distinction, in spite of being under-resourced, unprotected, outgunned and unmatched by sophisticated criminal networks with the most advanced technology at their behest,' Gift of the Givers stated on its social media. 'Leadership, bravery, courage, intelligence, pragmatism, fairness and justice appears in the form of Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who challenges superiors, management, politicians, lawmakers and the system itself, in the interest of the citizens of our beloved country.' 'Gift of the Givers stands behind this honourable man totally,' said the disaster relief group's founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman. 'He represents everything that is right in the SAPS confronting organised crime in the form of CIT heists, drug dealing, corrupt politicians and civil servants, tenderpreneurs, construction mafia, taxi gangsters, hijackers and those defeating the ends of justice within all facets of the criminal justice system,' said Sooliman. 'Here is a servant of the law who inspires his own teams to be fearless, courageous and decisive in confronting everything that is rotten to the core in our society. We call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to personally give this servant of the state a hearing on the allegations and on how to improve the crime-fighting capability of the state and fully support him as the president has done so previously by calling for the establishment of a task team to deal with political killings so rife in KZN.' Ramaphosa was attending the Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last Sunday when Mkhwanazi made his astounding accusations. Mchunu has hit back, describing the claims as 'baseless' and 'wild allegations'. However, he later admitted to knowing one of the suspects named by Mkhwanazi, businessman Brown Mgotsi — dismissing their links as 'just a comrade'. Ramaphosa's office says he has 'been seized with this matter ... and will, following various consultations, take the nation into his confidence' at 7pm on Sunday'.
