Dumpsite now play area for kids

Community to benefit, thanks to day care owner’s efforts

SARAH KINGON

A FILTHY, illegal dumpsite in Woodstock Road, Parkside, has been transformed into a mini- astro turf benefitting the young children of the area.

After many phone calls to the Department of Solid Waste and the setting up of fundraisers, the owner of All Saints Daycare, Patricia Smith, adopted the land alongside her creche and created a sports area for children in the community. GO! & Express visited the site on Saturday, when All Saints Daycare was buzzing with families watching their young children graduate.

The day also marked the opening of the astro turf and a Christmas party for the children.

Enough of high tariffs

Residents march to City Hall over water and lights fees

SARAH KINGON and QHAMANI LINGANI

DESPITE rainy weather, a number of East London residents turned out to protest against  high   electricity  costs and a number of other issues on Saturday.

The protest march set off from the War Memorial to the city hall in Oxford Street.

After complaining about  high   electricity  tariffs in Buffalo City Metro (BCM), a petition was drawn up against the municipality, followed by a memorandum.

Diabetes SA says disease on the rise

Beachfront awareness walk on Saturday

SARAH KINGON

DIABETES is a growing burden for 415 million adults worldwide and numbers are rising at an alarming rate.

This month is Diabetes Month and November 14 is World Diabetes Day, with this year’s theme: “Eyes on Diabetes”. According to chairman of the East London branch of Diabetes South Africa Dinesh Vallabh, “The theme responds to the growing concerns about escalating health threats posed by diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputations.”

Vallabh said that screening for type 2 diabetes is important to modify its course and reduce the risk of complications, and screening for diabetes complications are an essential part of managing type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

“According to Statistics SA, diabetes is still a major cause of death in South Africa. A whopping 415 million people have diabetes in the world and by the year 2040, this figure will more than double. This year, approximately three million people in South Africa suffer from diabetes,” Vallabh said.

Chasing a dream

Chace Collett adds SA Miss Teen title to long list of achievements

ACCOMPLISHED dancer Chace Collett has proven she is no ‘one-trick pony’ by adding the title of Miss Teen South Africa to her list of achievements.

Only doing a bit of modelling on the side, Collett entered the Miss Teen SA competition not expecting much. “My mom found out about the competition and I thought I’d give it a try. I submitted photos including a head shot, swimwear and a full body photo and was surprised when I was called to the finals in Pretoria,” Collett said.

With a few tips from Deryn Vogel, Chace headed to the finals over the weekend, where she was assessed in a private interview, answered questions on stage and modelled a number of outfits.

EL’s Fritz to head SA body

New  Swimming  SA head seeks financial support to grow sport

SARAH KINGON

FOUNDER of the Piranhas Aquatic Club,  Alan   Fritz , has been announced as the new president of  Swimming   South   Africa (SSA).

The East London-born and raised administrator, who played a pivotal role in the development of  swimming  in our city, spoke to GO! & Express about his recent appointment and goals for the next four years.

“I am deeply touched by the level of confidence that the  swimming  fraternity has in my capability to lead our strong leadership team,” Fritz  said.

Pupils sent home

Poorly secured Parkside Primary shuts doors after thieves destroy facilities

SARAH KINGON

VANDALISM and theft has crippled Parkside Primary School, forcing it to close its doors to pupils last Friday until its damaged facilities are repaired.

The school has experienced a wave of disruption over the last few weeks as electrical wires were cut, toilets broken, fences destroyed and the principal’s laptop stolen.

Student governing body chair Thanduxolo Joseph Faku said: “The vandals are looking for copper which they sell to buy drugs and support their habit.

“It will cost us R30000 to repair the plumbing and R500000 to rewire the school with electricity over the next few weeks. Children came to school on Thursday [August 4] but we had to send them home on Friday [August 5] as a health and safety precaution.”

EL’s best hope of gold in Rio

•Marathon runner  Lusapho   April  is confident he can do it

SARAH KINGON

EAST LONDON- based marathon runner,  Lusapho   April , 34, is all set to represent South Africa at the Rio Olympics on August 21.

This is his second time aiming for gold at the Olympics, after an unfortunate fall during the London Olympics in 2012 caused him to limp home in 43rd place.

Still holding the record for the Hannover Marathon in 2013, winning it in two hours, eight minutes and 32 seconds, and winning the race again this year (2:11:27),  April  is confident he can win gold next month.

Fatal crash outrage

•Victim’s friends point fingers to tow truckers

SARAH KINGON

THE tragic death of East Londoner  Thorin   Mallinson , 24, in a collision involving a tow truck on the N6 to Stutterheim last Tuesday has sparked outrage on Facebook.

His parents, James and Sharon  Mallinson , said according to eyewitnesses at the scene, two tow trucks were allegedly involved. They claimed one of the tow trucks was allegedly overtaking the other, when it collided with their son’s Corsa bakkie. He died on the scene.

In a collective outcry,  Mallinson ’s friends have vented their feelings on social media towards the apparent lack of regulatory controls around tow truck drivers.

The Facebook page “Justice for Thorin” has received more than 4000 likes since the incident, with many followers sharing stories about other incidents involving alleged negligent tow truck drivers. The Facebook site administrators have chosen to remain anonymous out of fear of victimisation, as the campaign gains momentum – and the towing industry feels the pressure.  Thorin ’s father said he was pleased with the mature way in which the administrators have run the site, expressing his solidarity with the campaign.

Pupils make SA team

•Vukuhambe teens in U23 wheelchair basketball squad

SARAH KINGON

THREE athletes from  Vukuhambe  Special School have been selected for the South African U23 Wheelchair Basketball  team  which will head to the Men’s World Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Canada next year.

Yibanathi Xalisa, 17, Ayabonga Jim, 16, and Mava Mlomo, 16, are the only athletes selected from the Eastern Cape, following a legacy of outstanding players emerging from the school in Mdantsane.

Shark bites surfer

•Teenager keen to return to water despite needing 300 stitches to right leg

SARAH KINGON

YOUNG surfer  Dylan   Puttergill , 14, is surprisingly upbeat and eager to surf again after being bitten by a  shark  at The Haven in Transkei on June 16.

The Merrifield College Grade 9 pupil jumped into the ocean with his dad, Phillip, shortly after arriving at their beach house overlooking the ocean for the long weekend. After an hour of surfing, his dad headed back, and that was when  Dylan  encountered the  shark .

“I was sitting on my board in 2.5m deep water with my legs in the water. I felt an explosion below me that bolted me back and as I was launching out of the water it grabbed my leg,”  Dylan  said.