October, a month of highs, lows and surprises
October brought a police manhunt to our doorstep, prestigious awards to schools in the area, and the new provincial hospital was still not completed, despite promises for the much-needed health facility to be fully functional this year.
Let’s look at these top stories for October :
Police launch manhunt for murder suspect – by Tiisetso Malunga.
In October, Mpumalanga Police intensified their manhunt for Nqubeko Bright Mchunu (41), a murder suspect who absconded bail.
Mr Mchunu (41) disappeared after he was released on bail for the alleged murder of Mr Tshepo Maseko (33) on August 17, 2022.
Mchunu is a suspect in the murder case during a protest incident at the Steve Tshwete Municipality in Middelburg that lasted for about three months. Mr Maseko was shot and killed during the protest.
We’re simply the best! – by Tiisetso Malunga.
On a brighter note, Ms Noori-Sha Seedat of Middelburg Mine Primary School received the prestigious National Teaching Award for Excellence in Primary School Teaching for 2023.
Middelburg Hoërskool secured the second position in the Best Performing Districts and Schools Award at the National Education Excellence Awards.
Loadshedding: But lights never go out – by Matthew Handley.
Despite load-shedding, the new provincial hospital, which is still under construction after almost four years, at a cost of R1.8 billion, always has all its lights on.
The Department of Public Works, when asked by the Middelburg Observer, explained that the contractor is responsible for property security and the electricity bill, creating an ironic contrast to an earlier power outage at the existing provincial hospital.
