XPRESS TIMES

Minister Mchunu ponders Ilembe water challenges

The Minister of Water and Sanitation Honourable Senzo Mchunu held a meeting last week with the iLembe District Family of Municipalities where the Minister was engaged and briefed on the progress in the provision of water and sanitation within the ILembe District. The meeting was to seek Minister Mchunu's intervention on the challenges and bottlenecks currently experienced within the district.

ILembe district is one of the districts within the Province of KwaZulu-Natal that was severely affected by the April 2022 floods. The

prolonged load shedding is not assisting the situation. As a result, a number of infrastructure, including the water infrastructure were damaged by the raging storm.

The ILembe delegation was led by the Operation Sukuma Sakhe/District Development Model MEC

Champion Ms Neliswa

Peggy Nkonyeni who is the MEC for Finance KwaZuluNatal. Other leaders who attended the meeting were the ILembe District Mayor Councillor Thobani Shandu, representatives from uMgeni Water, Siza Water, Eskom and some of the key district's

stakeholders.

Minister Mchunu was taken through on the projects that are on the pipeline in order to address water challenges within the district. Upon listening to presentations, Minister Mchunu committed his department to intervene by deploying a technical team from his department to work with the district in isolating all challenges.

“We are pleased with the commitment that we are seeing from the political leadership within the district. This shows how serious you are as leaders to serve communities. We all know

that water is a basic human right, that cannot be negotiated and it does not depend on political affiliation. People have a right to have clean drinkable water and to have their sewage deposed, hence from today, we will be leaving a team of engineers from the Department of Water and Sanitation to work with the district,” said Minister Mchunu.

Minister Mchunu says their focus will be on isolating all infrastructure backlog and identifying all the priority projects based on the urgent need of each municipality within the district. He further said, working together with the district which is the water authority, they will then find the possible ways to fund the projects so that people will soon have water.

“This technical team must come with a clear plan indicating priority per each local municipality, funding model and this should be accompanied with timeframes demonstrating how long it would take to do the required work. We are aware that this will not be an easy exercise but it must be done and with speed,” Mchunu added.

A hearty Mother's Day celebration for SADAFTA

Pictured at the meeting venue in Ballito are (L to R) District Mayor Thobani Shandu, Minister Senzo Mchunu and Champion MEC Peggy Nkonyeni

CELEBRATION: Members of Stanger and District Association for the Aged (SADAFTA) gathered at Mozambik restaurant on Wednesday last week to enjoy a delicious Mother's Day lunch. The members were resplendent as they made merry in celebration of mothers. Pictured are some of the beautiful ladies of SADAFTA.

INCENSED: Mayor Lindile Nhaca says service delivery won't be disrupted by untested allegations

By Musa Mnyandu

Incensed KwaDukuza Mayor Lindile

Nhaca remains adamant that unverified

allegations by a faceless social media user will not be used to halt service delivery. This follows a bitter public feud between Nhaca and ActionSA leader Nel Sewraj, over the recent awarding of contracts for rebuilding of infrastructure damaged by floods. The tenders, awarded to over 20 panel of contractors on the municipality's database, are worth hundreds of millions of Rands, which money comes from the R1.2 billion allocated to KDM by National Treasury through the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC).

ActionSA has since issued a statement, in which it quotes an anonymous letter that implicates some of the contractors in allegations of large scale malfeasance.

ActionSA KwaDukuza Caucus Leader Nel Sewraj claims that, according to information contained in the anonymous letter, the owner of one of the companies on the panel owns (or has an interest in) more than one company on the panel. Sewraj goes on to accuse Mayor Nhaca of ignoring warnings about corrupt activities surrounding the contracts, after she recently officially handed over the contracts.

“ActionSA undertook an investigation of the panel of 25 contractors and discovered that registration numbers and dates for some companies could not be traced while others were deregistered or in the process of being deregistered.

“KwaDukuza Mayor, Cllr Lindi Nhaca went ahead with the hand-over ceremony for this panel of contractors on the 25th of April. Allocation of work to these accused contractors is already underway, and each company stands to benefit from awards amounting to between R10 million and R20 million.

“Yet, to date there has been no response from the Municipal Manager about investigations into the companies implicated, though these investigations were specifically requested by ActionSA at a Special Council meeting on 14 April 2023, and subsequently in writing on 02 May 2023,” ActionSA stated.

Mayor Nhaca remains unperturbed. She has since described as “nonsensical” the notion that service delivery could be halted on the basis of an ActionSA recommendation. She expressed confidence that all due processes were followed.

“Should this not be the case, reasonable steps would be pronounced by Council (at) the right time.

“I cannot reach a conclusion whether or not, a contractor is subjected to an investigation neither will I halt any development based on hearsay. If these allegations are indeed true, consequence management must follow and should this be the case for all issues that the Council feels warranted to pay attention to, the Council will need to express itself as and when the right time comes, Nhaca said.

Cheap politics

ActionSA says it has since written to the Municipal Manager, requesting him to direct the Internal Audit Committee (IAC) to investigate allegations of manipulation by some contractors on the panel; however at this stage no such investigation has been instituted by the municipality.

“ActionSA demands the blacklisting of any individuals, or family members of such individuals and companies found guilty of

abusing public procurement systems for personal gain,” the party says.

Nhaca, still seething with rage at ActionSA's decision to put out these matters on public platforms, had some strong words to counter with:

“There is no formal process that has been approved by Council in this regard. It would be foolish of me or any Mayor to be swayed by external narratives that (are based on controversial) evidence of faceless social media users. What (Cllr) Sewraj fails to appreciate is that service delivery would not be disrupted by cheap politics and I view these allegations as political interference,” Nhaca retorted.

Showcasing Ilembe at Africa Travel Indaba

Up or face darkness, warns KDM

Municipality wants money for supplementary generation units

By Musa Mnyandu

Installing a solar panel might seem a brilliant idea to counter the ghastly effects of loadshedding, amid the ongoing nationwide blackouts. While these devices certainly do not come cheap, KwaDukuza Municipality is also clearly not too thrilled with the idea of its customers simply electing to 'supplement' their source of energy, and wants payment.

In terms of the proposal tabled before Council, the municipality plans to impose a fixed network charge on devices classified as small scale energy generators (SSEGs) and medium scale energy generators (MSEGs).

North Coast. Pictured are officials of Enterprise Ilembe at the ATI.

India Fair underway in KwaDukuza

It's a galore. The India fair is currently underway at the Sabha Hall in KwaDukuza, at the corner of Mahatma Gandhi and Blaine streets, The stock clearance sale can mean savings of up to 60% on traditional

Indian garments such as Saree, Punjabi, Kurti, Men's Wear, Cosmetics and much more. The Fair has been running from the 5th of May and will be wrapped on the 21st of May 2023.

A fixed service fee, a variable energy charge and an export (feed-in) rates have also been proposed. This is all contained in the KwaDukuza Draft Energy Policy, which also looks at ultimately enabling the municipality to ultimately bring in independent power producers.

The policy has received support from the ANC, the DA and EFF, who together constitute an overwhelming majority in Council. DA Caucus Whip Cllr Privi Makhan said there was an urgent need to regulate the installation and continued use of such equipment. The DA also calls for the prioritization of applications for business consumers, and the fast-tracking of the supply study that will lead to the introduction of IPPs into the local grid.

However smaller opposition parties are not keen on the idea. Independent Alliance (IA) Chairperson Cllr Commie Nhleko said the municipality was attempting to punish consumers for reducing their reliance on the municipal network.

“With the economy still struggling to recover, it's unconscionable to even consider

the idea of adding an extra burden on consumers. We should all bear in mind that consumes have not failed to buy electricity from the municipality. It is the municipality that cannot supply consumers with the requited amount of electricity.

“While we accept regulating the installation of external devices, we reject the proposed tariff. It goes against national norms,” Cllr Nhleko stated.

Punishment

ActionSA has also come out very strongly against the proposed tariffs, accusing the municipality of seeking to depart from national government practices.

“While we believe there is a need to regulate the installation of such equipment to ensure safety for both the citizens and the electrical infrastructure in KwaDukuza, we also believe that such policies and by-laws must take lead from the directives of national government.

“ActionSA has therefore firmly opposed the policy on the basis that it seeks to punish residents rather than reward them for taking pragmatic steps to reduce their electrical demand and soften the heavy blow of the ANC-sponsored loadshedding,” stated ActionSA Caucus Whip, Cllr Sipho Zungu.

ActionSA has since called for the withdrawal of the proposed policy until adjustments are made to reduce the punitive measures (on consumers). The party is further advocating for the introduction of incentives to encourage consumers to embrace the idea of alternative energy sources, as the country continues to struggle to generate enough electricity to power the economy.

KwaDukuza Municipality, through media liaison officer Sipho Mkhize, has quashed the idea of using the policy to enhance revenue generation, at the expense of consumers. It says the policy seeks to promote safety, adding that some embedded generation installations may not be compliant with the law.

“The policy allows for all those that want to have an embedded generator system installed to be considered via an application process by the municipality where these will be checked for safety and the size of installation that is proposed,” Mkhize said.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to space constraints and the late arrival of the municipality's response, we will run a detailed response in our next edition, which will also clarify the issue of solar panel tax incentive for individuals.

PUNITIVE: ActionSA Caucus Whip, Cllr Sipho Zungu

Enterprise Ilembe has taken the message of Ilembe District's true potential as a travel destination to the Africa Travel Indaba, which took place at the Durban ICC last week. Enterprise Ilembe participated at the ATI by showcasing all the hidden gems that tourists could explore on the

ANC bigwigs descend on KwaDukuza

Message of unity reverberates as renewal project begins

By Xpress Reporter

The African National Congress (ANC) has embarked on a path of renewal amid rapidly dwindling electoral support for the ruling party.

This past weekend saw the

ruling party's National Working Committee (NWC) descending on KwaZuluNatal to meet with the party structures in the province in an attempt to regalvanize the party structures and deepen unity, in the run up to the elections next year and in 2026.

The ANC's Treasurer General, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, visited

KwaDukuza to meet with the party's structures in the General Gizenga Mpanza Region, in a meeting that took place on Saturday at the New Covenant Fellowship (NCF) Church in KwaDukuza. Dr Ramokgopa was accompanied by KZN Provincial Treasurer Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba, and the party's regional leadership led by Regional Chairperson Vusi Mthethwa.

Ramokgopa reminded the ANC structures of their importance in the value chain for renewal, as well as their role to root out foreign tendencies in the movement so that it can be one with the people again.

Branches and other structures of the ruling party were also given a platform voice their opinions on matters pertaining to the unity of the organization, as the country continues to face tough economic conditions, which have been made worse by debilitating energy shortages.

On Friday the

party's top national and provincial leadership, led by Secretary General Fikile Mbalula and KZN Provincial Chairperson Siboniso Duma paid a courtesy visit to AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini at a hotel in Ballito, to reinforce the party's recognition and respect for the institution of traditional leadership.

Mbalula had earlier moved swiftly to quash speculation about the NWC's visit, which had given rise to reports of a possible dissolution of the KZN Provincial Executive Committee (PEC). Mbalula however conceded that the party in the province was facing mounting internal divisions, which had an adverse impact on the ability of the provincial government to deliver basic services.

ANC national spokesperson Hlengiwe Bhengu said the party structures had raised concerns about service delivery challenges at government level, which was also seen as a catalyst for the decline in the party's support. She said the party would consider all the issue raised and formulate a new strategy to rebuild the people's confidence in the ruling party.

ANC Treasurer General Dr Gwen Ramokgopa is seen being welcomed by the leadership of the ANC General Gizenga Mpanza Region, upon arrival in KwaDukuza

Pictured during a meeting held in Ballito, is AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini (left) and ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula

I do have reasons for hope: our clever brains, the resilience of nature, the indomitable human spirit, and above all, the commitment of young people when they're empowered to take action.

Jane Goodall

To be optimistic is to assume things will work out. To be hopeful is to realize things can work out if you work at them. Hope requires responsibility and agency; optimism relieves us of both. In rooting for your sports team, choose optimism. In rooting for democracy, choose hope.

Eric Liu

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.

Fred Rogers

Civilians killed in latest Israeli airstrikes

An estimated 13 civilians, including women and children, have been killed in the latest Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza cities of Rafah and Khan Yunis. The attacks happened on the 9th of May 2023, just a week after the death of Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan Muhammad Musa, who died on the 2nd of May 2023 while incarcerated in Israel's Ramle prison. He had been on a hunger strike for three months.

The airstrikes have drawn heavy criticism from the international community, including the South African government. In a statement, the Department of International Relations and

Cooperation (DIRCO) has described the attacks as a “reckless disregard” for Palestinian lives.

Western media reports suggested the attacks were targeting a top Jihad militant commander, however they resulted in heavy collateral damages, and fatalities.

“Accordingly, the South African Government supports the call made by the UN SecretaryGeneral, Antonio Guterres, for a transparent investigation into the death of Khader Adnan Muhammad Musa. Suggestions of medical neglect or the reckless disregard of Palestinian lives and rights could probably be best counter-acted through transparent investigation. There can be no real and lasting peace in the region in the absence of justice for Palestine and a just and equitable resolution to the Palestinian question for the

benefit of both Palestinians and Israelis,” DIRCO stated.

South Africa added that relentless acts of repression and brutality directed at Palestinians hindered efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the Region, and the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.

“Escalation not only threatens regional stability but risks further inflaming an already tense and hugely volatile situation on the ground. Accordingly, it must be regarded as unacceptable and South Africa therefore strongly implores de-escalation.

“The pattern of cyclical escalation must be broken. Our collective human duty to act cannot be avoided. As the international community we must proceed together with due regard to International Law, International Humanitarian Law, and International Resolutions,” DIRCO said.

Body of missing man found in river

By Xpress Reporter

The body of a 67-year-old man reported missing at Maphumulo about two weeks ago has been found floating in the Umvoti River near Daka Daka area in Glendale. IPSS Search and Rescue and SAPS

Search and Rescue recovered the body on Sunday and handed it over to Glendale SAPS, following a positive identification by the family.

The cause of the man's death has not been established, and police are investigating the matter.

Palestinian delegation meets with SA's governing party

(Director

Odatallah (PLO General Secretary of the International Campaign to Combat Israeli Occupation of Palestine and Nakba).

Civil

Cloudy with rain Sunny Cloudy with rain Sunny Sunny

A Palestinian man inspects his destroyed apartment, following the latest airstrikes by Israel

the African National Congress (ANC) at Luthuli House on Friday last week. The ANC delegation was led by the party's 1st Deputy Secretary General, Nomvula Mokonyane. The PLO delegation consisted of Ambassador Hanan Jarrar, Dr Faisi Aranki (PLO Executive Member | Head of Expatriate Affairs), Dr Qasem Awad General

Department of Human Rights and

Society) and Dr Ramzi

The body of a missing Maphumulo man has been found floating in Umvoti River

Dhlomo attends Youth Health outreach programme

Ilembe District Mayor

Cllr Thobani Shandu joined Deputy Health Minister Dr Sibongiseni

Dhlomo on Monday this week in leading the Youth Health outreach programme in Mandeni.

The programme kicked off with a visit to underprivileged families from the surrounding areas, during which the delegation led by Deputy Minister Dhlomo (who is also a National Service Delivery Champion for Ilembe District) engaged with local residents. The next stop was the inspection of facilities at the Sundumbili Clinic which now features a Youth Zone. Youth Zones are a deliberate plan by the Health Department to provide a conducive environment in which psychological and physical needs of young girls and young women are met.

Dhlomo also handed over Wi-Fi packages to two clinics, as part of the outreach programme.

Mayor Shandu urged young people to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them.

“Despite the obvious existing structural challenges, the ANC-led government has made

Classifieds

ACCOMMODATION

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HOUSE FOR SALE

Secure, 3 bedroom with built-in cupboards together with 3 apartments on premises on Manor Drive. Can be viewed after 3pm. Contact 072 765 9009.

Classifieds deadlines:

Monday 12pm

Community Notice

Weekly satsangs are held on Mondays from 6:30pm - 7:30 pm.

Shree Hanuman Temple, 19 Rose Road, Stanger Manor. Transport, contact us on 073 152 8910 or WhatsApp us.

substantial inroads in the provision of opportunities for youth to thrive in their preferred endeavours. I urge you to take advantage of all these opportunities ranging from free education, sexual reproductive health and services offered in municipal youth centres, to mention but a few,” Shandu said.

Glenhills Primary School

of which section the floor area, according to the said sectional plan is 182 (One Hundred and Eighty Two) square metres in extent; and

b.An undivided share in the common property in the scheme apportioned to the said section in accordance with the participation quota as endorsed on the said sectional plan HELD BY Deed of Transfer Number ST38868/2021 has been lost or destroyed.

All persons having objection to the issue of such copy are hereby required to lodge the same in writing with the Registrar of Deeds at Pietermaritzburg within two weeks after the date of the publication of this notice.

Dated at BALLITO this

Applicant:

c/o DE WET LEITCH HANDS INC, Sec 3 Salmon Bay House Sandra Road, Ballito, 4420 fiona@dlh.co.za tel: 032-9460299

Ref: Ray Walpole/fm/OLI21/0003

Stanger Manor Secondary

STANGER MANOR SECONDARY

1 School Road Stanger Manor

Tel : 032 551 3416/551 3409

Fax

Email : principalsms@telkomsa.net

-Sales

-Must be highly motivated and driven.

-Commission based, so unlimited earning potential.

P.O BOX 952 STANGER 4450

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO GRADE 8 IN 2023 IS NOW OPEN

Applications forms are available at school to Parent’s or legal Guardians with a valid Identity Document. Please take note of the following

Collection

12 May 2022 to Wednesday 18 May 2022 (Excluding Sat, Sun) Collection times: 08:30 to 11 :30 Closing date for submission : 27 May 2022

supporting documents must be accompanied with the applicatioform Both successful and n .

Please ensure that the minimum requirements stipulated on the application form are adhered too. All unsuccessful applicants will be communicated with telephonically. Late applications and applications via fax or email will not be accepted. The filling of an application form does not guarantee admission into the Grade.

For enquiries please contact:

Principal : Mr H. Naidoo

Receptionist : Mrs D.H Mthethwa Telephone : 032 551 3416 032 551 3409

TO LET PRIME CBD SHOPS & OFFICES

A Dynamic New Security Company is looking for the following staff:

VACANCY Security Guard

Xtreme Defence is looking for well-rounded, passionate security guards male and female that will be stationed at our contracted guarding sites.

The ideal candidate must have the following skills/certifications:

• Guarding

• Effective Communication Skills

• Ability to work under pressure

• Availability for shift work

• PSIRA Grade C certification

• 1+ Years Guarding Experience with traceable references.

• Good customer service skills

• Attention to detail

Job Type: Full-time

Apply now - Email or Drop off your CV at jobs@xtremedefence.co.za

VACANCY

A Dynamic New Security Company is recruiting Staff as per below:

Guarding with Motorbike

Requirements

• Must be in possession of Grade C PSIRA Qualification

• Must have a Motorbike license (Code A /A1) .

• Must be willing to relocate.

• Must have completed matric.

• Must have work experience minimum one year with traceable references.

• This position will be suitable for someone who is willing to work day shift or night shift rotation.

Duties

• Visible site patrols on Motorbike and reporting to control room.

Only candidates who have Motorbike license (Code A /A1) will be considered, Do not apply if you do not have Motorbike license (Code A /A1)

If you meet the above requirements

Apply now - Email or Drop off your CV at jobs@xtremedefence.co.za

VACANCY

A Dynamic New Security Company is looking for the following staff:

Alarm Controller/ Control Room Operator

* Must be able to work under pressure and have good telephone etiquette.

* Min 2 years experience and Grade C certificate.

* Knowledge of Watchmanager software and preferably knowledge of guarding operation.

* Job Type: Full-time

Apply now - Email or Drop off your CV at

jobs@xtremedefence.co.za

VACANCY

A Dynamic New Security Company is looking for the following staff:

Armed Response Officers

Duties:

• Respond to domestic and commercial alarm activations.

• Report all incidents and any suspicious observations on sites immediately to the control room.

• Report complaints to the operations manager.

Requirements:

• PSIRA Grade C with Response Module

• Drivers License

• Handgun Competency for Business Purposes

• Work Experience with traceable references

,Responding to Alarms (minimum 2 years experience)

• Job placement KwaDukuza

• Ability to commute/relocate: Kwadukuza, KwaZuluNatal: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work

• Minimum 2 years experience in Armed Response

• Language: English

• PSIRA Registered and Grade C certificate Compliant

• Drivers License

• Response Training Certificate

• Handgun Competency Certificate

• Handgun training for business purposes certificate

• Available for Day Shift / Night Shift Rotation

• All applicants will undergo fitness, driving and shooting evaluation.

• One successful candidate will be considered.

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Apply now - Email or Drop off your CV at jobs@xtremedefence.co.za

Deputy Health Minister Sibongiseni Dhlomo and District Mayor Thobani Shandu are seen leading an aerobics session at KwaNgcedomhlophe Ground, as part of the youth health outreach programme on Monday

Open Letter to KwaDukuza Mayor, Lindile Nhaca

Loadshedding is very unfair to Stangerites. Much has been written and discussed around the frustrating issue of power cuts that citizens are forced to endure, up to a point of frustration, but I will add my two bits worth just for the sake of this once beautiful town in which I was born and raised.

The daily burden of punishing the country's citizens with electricity cuts is insanely out of control. It's reasonably acceptable to interrupt power supply for a while in order to affect urgent maintenance and replacement of overused equipment. But to continue unabated on a daily basis, and be without power for 3 to 4 times daily is hugely damaging to our economy.

From the time that this punishment began, the damaged parts could have been replaced and new power stations could have been built.

In Stanger we are being treated very unfairly with up to eight hours n certain days. Why is this so? Have we done something so unforgivable that we are being punished to severely? Places close by, like Ntshawini, Thembeni, Shakaskraal and Tongaat are having minimal loadshedding.

You, Madam Mayor, as the First Citizen must intercede on our behalf, and get things corrected for us. It's your paid responsibility and you must have our interest at heart. We are pleading with you to remove this unnecessary punishment for the sake of our economy in Stanger. Please tell us why we are being punished, and why you are not reacting and if the plan is to close down the mainly Indian-owned businesses which contribute to the local fiscus.

The sad reality is that the South African populace is powerless against the ruling party and has been rapidly conditioned into accepting this untenable situation. The electorate must wise up and replace the current rulers with honest, diligent, hardworking people who have the country's best interests at heart.

My view is that, come the next elections, the voting masse must refuse t-shirts, caps and food hampers from the ruling party and vote with reason and not passion. The money that is squandered could be used for establishing much needed infrastructure to bring back South Africa as it was once famously known as a clean, progressive and modern country.

By the way, you look very good each time you appear in all the local tabloids, Madam Mayor.

Team Olympic complete Tour Durban

KSST scoops bronze at SAMVA opening tournament

KSST ladies proved yet again that coming from a small town brings out big stars. These ladies wowed the crowd and kept them on their feet as the crowd cheered them on. They proved to be a forced to be reckoned with on the court.

KSST ladies, coached by the dynamic Levan Moodley showed that his training is really proving effective.

These ladies left it all on the court to impress and played their hearts out. These ladies not only play hard but they also give back

to the community. They adopted a school and are trying their level best to get the sport instilled in the school. They are as well as trying to help coach the youth. This is a very commendable team. All the best to these ladies for future tournaments.

Team Olympic members complete the Tour Durban Cycling race

This past Sunday local cyclists from Team Olympic participated in the gruelling 110km Tour Durban Cycle race in Durban. The team

enjoyed an exciting and adventurous event and all members completed the race in excellent form.

Man City on brink of title after Arsenal rocked by Brighton

Manchester City are on the brink of winning the Premier League title after Arsenal crashed to a shock 3-0 defeat against Brighton on Sunday. Mikel Arteta's side were rocked by second half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan at the Emirates Stadium.

Second placed Arsenal trail City by four points and a defeat for the Gunners at Nottingham Forest on Saturday would hand Pep Guardiola's men their fifth title in six years.

Fired by Ilkay Gundogan's brace and Erling Haaland's latest goal, City's 3-0 win at Everton earlier on Sunday had moved them within

touching distance of the title and Arsenal's loss makes the silverware almost certain to remain in Manchester.

Even if Arsenal beat Forest, City will be champions for a third successive season if they defeat Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in their next game on 21 May. City have three games to play, with the Chelsea clash followed by trips to Brighton and Brentford, while Arsenal have just a home match against Wolves after their trip to Forest.

While battle-tested City are powering towards the finish line, Arsenal's young team have choked away their bid to win a first title since 2004.

Arsenal's recent four-game winless run, including a 4-1 thrashing at City, allowed their rivals to seize top spot, an opportunity they have exploited in ruthless fashion.

Although Arsenal's unexpected title challenge seems destined to fall short, it has still been a hugely encouraging season for the north Londoners after over a decade of underachievement.

Thrashed 5-1 at home by struggling Everton on Monday, Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton bounced back with a dynamic display that prayed on the anxiety

coursing through Arsenal's players and fans. Brighton threatened on the counter early on as Aaron Ramsdale's superb save repelled Enciso's rising strike.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard had scored five goals in his last five games and he went close to a sixth with a stinging shot that whistled just wide. The Gunners suffered a blow when Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli was forced off with an injury sustained after a tackle from Moises Caicedo. Gabriel Jesus's shot from a tight

angle was turned away by Jason Steele, while Leandro Trossard almost netted against his old club when the Arsenal forward's effort clipped the top of the bar.

Arsenal had scored three or more goals in each of their last six home league games, but they failed to make any headway against well-drilled Brighton.

Bukayo Saka and Odegaard went close late in the first half with a powerful drives that flashed narrowly wide. Brighton landed their knockout blow in the 51st minute as Enciso made the

breakthrough. Estupinan's initial cross was blocked but he knocked the rebound towards Enciso and he headed home while Arsenal appealed in vain for a foul on Jakub Kiwior.

But Undav bagged Brighton's second goal in the 86th minute as Trossard carelessly lost possession, allowing the forward to lift a deft lob over Ramsdale. Estupinan sent Arsenal fans streaming to the exits deep into stoppage-time when he slotted home after Undav's shot was parried by Ramsdale.

KDAC Athlete excels at the 'Peace in Africa

Discovery Vitality Series' 21km Marathon

KwaDukuza Athletic Club (KDAC) athlete, Miriam Hoosen, displayed a brilliant performance at the 'Peace in Africa' 21km marathon this past Saturday at the Kings Park Athletics Stadium in Durban. The scenic marathon route was designed to showcase the natural beauty of the region, as well as promote peace, unity, and co-operation among all South Africans, regardless of their race or ethnicity.

The beautiful route coupled with favorable weather conditions and

Miriam's high levels of endurance resulted in Miriam completing the race in a commendable time of 2h,26min. Miriam is an inspiration to existing and potential KDAC members. The Club President, Yathin Narothum, encourages the community to focus on fitness and health and to join KDAC as membership is still open. Those wishing to join KDAC may contact Yathin Narothum (Lighty Barbers Salon), on 0837893476.

KSST ladies impress at the SAMVA tournament

Miriam Hoosen excels