Latest news with #Ntombela
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Local riders take on SA's best
TWELVE cyclists who are part of the Giba BMX Development Riders participated at the SA Cup in Pietermaritzburg recently. With many of them participating for the first time in such a large and competitive event, the riders handled it with determination and pride. Despite limited access to quality bikes and parts, they showed up with heart and delivered; as a team they won 15 medals. 'It was a huge achievement, and a powerful reminder of what young people can do when given a chance,' said coach Mvelo Ntombela, known as Cheeseboy. The development programme was launched in 2008 by BMX riders and coaches Jason Nicole and Tyrone Johns. Their vision was to give children from surrounding communities a chance to enter the world of BMX and build skills, discipline, and opportunities through sport. Also read: Step aboard Durban's maritime past at Port Natal Maritime Museum Johns went on to race and represent SA internationally. When the duo moved overseas, their legacy lived on through Ntombela who is now the coach. Ntombela began as a rider in the same programme, rose to the position of team captain, and today serves as head coach and manager of the Giba Development Team. Under his leadership, the programme has continued to grow and thrive, still backed by Giba Gorge Adventure Park, which has supported the team since day one. The coach said the riders come from areas surrounding Giba Gorge, such as Dassenhoek, Itshelimnyama, KwaNdengezi, and other nearby communities outside of Pinetown. 'These areas are often underserved and lack access to sporting opportunities, especially a niche sport like BMX. This programme gives children from these communities a positive outlet, and a chance to achieve something extraordinary. 'We currently support around 18 development riders, ranging from ages 11 to 25. Some have just started, while others like junior star Sanele Shozi have been training for several years and are now competing at national level,' said Ntombela. He added that they welcome aspiring riders, especially from local communities, to join the programme. 'Whether they've ridden a BMX before or not, we offer beginner sessions and coaching tailored to their level,' said the passionate coach, who was once a rising BMX athlete himself but put his racing career on pause in order to build and manage the team. For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Mpumalanga premier fires 2 MECs and an HOD
Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu reshuffled his Cabinet today, firing two MECs and terminating the contract of a senior departmental head with immediate effect. According to Mpumalanga News, Ndlovu removed MEC for Education Cathy Dlamini and MEC for Economic Development and Tourism Makhosazane Masilela. He also announced the termination of Godfrey Ntombela's contract as Head of the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation. Former Ehlanzeni Executive Mayor Jesta Sidell was appointed as the new MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, while Provincial Legislature Speaker Lindi Masina was named the new MEC for Education. Both were sworn in by Deputy Judge President Takalani Vincent Ratshibvumo and will assume their duties immediately. 'The removal of Dlamini and Masilela comes after the provincial government had made several assessments across the departments and realised we needed to make certain changes. This is aimed at strengthening the work of government to address service delivery as well as a number of other challenges that impede us from reaching the targets set for this administration,' Ndlovu said. On Ntombela's termination, Ndlovu said: 'It has also come to my attention that fraud has been committed, whereby former Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane's electronic signature was used for the extension of Ntombela's contract. There is also an alleged payment of R80 000, exchanged for the misuse of the former premier's electronic signature. This matter is viewed in a very serious light. As a result I have consulted the acting provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, to investigate the matter.' 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!
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Mpumalanga premier fires two MECs and a HOD
The Mpumalanga premier, Mandla Ndlovu, reshuffled his cabinet and fired two MECs on Tuesday, July 15. He removed the MEC for education, Cathy Dlamini, and the MEC for economic development and tourism, Makhosazane Masilela. He also announced the termination of Godfrey Ntombela's contract as the head of the Department for Culture, Sports and Recreation with immediate effect. He appointed the former Ehlanzeni executive mayor, Jesta Sidell, as the new MEC for economic development and tourism. Lindi Masina, the speaker of the Provincial Legislature, was appointed as the new education MEC. They are expected to start their duties with immediate effect after being sworn in by Deputy Judge President Takalani Vincent Ratshibvumo. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga premier releases investigation report on R2m laptops 'The removal of Dlamini and Masilela comes after the provincial government had made several assessments across the departments and realised we needed to make certain changes. This is aimed at strengthening the work of government to address service delivery as well as a number of other challenges that impede us from reaching the targets set for this administration,' Ndlovu said. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga education department's laptop scandal investigated He also said when he took over the office he had made a promise to the people of Mpumalanga that he wanted to lead a government that would deliver to the people of this province and he is determined to do that. Regarding Ntombela's termination, Ndlovu said: 'It has also come to my attention that fraud has been committed, whereby former premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane's electronic signature was used for the extension of Ntombela's contract. There is also an alleged payment of R80 000, exchanged for the misuse of the former premier's electronic signature. This matter is viewed in a very serious light. As a result I have consulted the acting provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, to investigate the matter.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How podcasts and partnerships can enhance government to communicate effectively
Sithembile Ntombela, the general manager for marketing at Brand South Africa, speaking at the Social Media Summit for Government at the University of Johannesburg. Image: Supplied Government communicators have been urged to partner with trusted voices in the podcasting space to make government messaging and communications more effective, accessible and relevant to younger audiences. These were some of the recommendations given to communicators during the second day of the Social Media Summit for Government, held at the University of Johannesburg's Business School in Auckland Park. During a panel discussion on Podcasting and Government Communications, Sithembile Ntombela, the general manager for marketing at Brand South Africa, said it was important for government communicators and their principals to realise there was a vacuum and there was a trust barrier, urging communicators to foster meaningful collaborations. 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 ✕ Ad Loading 'We need to use the trusted audience, and that is the business voice, civil society and ordinary South Africans. I think that as the public sector, we have to elevate, adopt and adapt to the changing norms. 'Look at the Covid era, we knew exactly the number of vaccines, infections and all those statistics, that should be the case for everything in South Africa. 'Podcasts can play a crucial role in building trust with the public sector; they can measure what we say and what we do,' she said. Ntombela said it was important for the government to be like a commercial brand. 'Podcasts are the new ways of building brands… we need to coordinate, collaborate and co-create, and be that intertwining of strategies and deliverables,' she said. Podcaster Urusula Mariani speaking at the Social Media Summit for Government at the University of Johannesburg. Image: Supplied Podcaster Ursula Mariani, the founder and host of The Conversation Capital, said it was important for the government to co-create with personalities who were kings and queens in the art of conversation, who understood their audience, had strong values and quality content which was packaged authentically. She said in the podcast sphere, attention was the currency and the commodity, and that the number of views had a direct relationship with the amount of money podcasters made. She warned that some people were willing to do anything for views, but warned that brands had to be careful who and what they aligned with, not only looking at the numbers for alignment with audiences. 'If you are a fan of Black Mirror, we are in an episode of Black Mirror. Everybody is starting a podcast, and everyone has a voice. There are people listening to this content, that's why they have the numbers, yet everyone will say they don't like gossip, but when you look at the gossip podcast numbers that's where they are,' she said. Ntombela said brand positioning, or vision, was important. 'We are married to quality conversation that matters, that brings impact to the ordinary South Africans, ours is not to look at the numbers, it is to look at the depth and the substance, that is important,' she said, adding that podcasts were tools to humanise brands. Mariani said government brands needed to use skilled podcasters with communities to walk through complex conversations, saying co-creation and collaboration was the way to go. 'This is a skill and an art, if Frank from finance can do it, I guess let him do it… Do not downplay the skill that it takes to carry the conversation,' she said. Ntombela said when partnering with podcasts, they had helped in challenging the norms, shifting the paradigm. 'Podcasts are a great tool for crisis communications. Like the US-SA saga. Because of podcasts, we had to be agile and respond to bridge the gap between the truth and the lies. 'It is important to be agile, be brilliant at the basics, co-create and collaboration, those are strategic relationships give you footprint and access,' she said. IOL
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
DA demands tabling of forensic report into corruption at Endumeni Municipality
The resignation of Endumeni Municipal Manager Sithembiso Ntombela has intensified calls for transparency following a CoGTA report that revealed security tender corruption dating back to 2023. Ntombela stepped down amid a Section 106 forensic investigation. The probe reportedly found that FBL Security was appointed without following supply chain protocols; however, its findings have yet to be presented to the council. The report was finalised last year, but only presented to the Endumeni council in March of this year. The Courier has a copy of the report, and its findings were published last month. In it, the investigators recommend that two senior officials be charged, including Ntombela. DA caucus leader, Cllr Saleem Abdool, urged Speaker Andile Nsibande to present the report immediately and for councillors to act on its recommendations. 'Accountability must not be sacrificed for political expediency,' said a DA spokesperson. The party insists that due process be followed and that anyone implicated be held responsible. 'Throughout this term, the DA has pushed for clean governance and financial accountability. 'With public scrutiny at its peak, the party vows to continue advocating for a municipality that serves residents, not hidden agendas.' HAVE YOUR SAY: Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram or email us at Add us on WhatsApp 071 277 1394. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
