HeraldLIVE

It has been said: “Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.”

Today we chat with our own Kelly Kelz on her return to the ballet stage, and why this classy dance form sets her soul on fire.

We dive into her journey of resilience, rediscovery, and the transformative power of dance. HeraldLIVE

Gift of the Givers has once again come to the rescue of Nelson Mandela Bay residents, this time to provide aid in the aftermath of floods which left many families displaced this week.

Heavy rains on Monday and Tuesday left large parts of the Bay waterlogged, leaving close to 3,000 people destitute. 

At least three people also lost their lives.

In Behind The Herald Headlines with Daron Mann this week, we speak to Gift of the Givers founder Imtiaz Sooliman.

We also speaking to Bay mayor Gary van Niekerk. HeraldLIVE

Broken and dilapidated ceilings, an insufficient number of chairs and tables, a lack of electricity and leaking asbestos roof sheets.

These are just some of the conditions Nelson Mandela Bay pupils will have to put up with as they write their matric exams, starting on Monday.

The Herald reported this week how some schools in some of the Bay’s most impoverished areas were in dire straits — and the rush was on to find more desks, fix electricity problems and squeeze in extra study time.

The scramble for basic resources comes as scores of pupils prepare to write the most important exams of their lives in the dark, under dangling electrical wires and in classrooms with broken ceilings.

For many, there are also not even enough tables and chairs.

Teachers have also bemoaned the dismal state of ablution facilities at some schools.

In Behind The Herald Headlines with Daron Mann this week, we speak to National Professional Teachers Organisation of SA (Naptosa) executive director Basil Manuel and Federation of Governing Bodies of SA Schools (Fedsas) deputy CEO Riaan van der Bergh. HeraldLIVE

This week, a father found his daughter’s bloodied and bruised body after she was beaten to death, allegedly by her husband.

The man is believed to have taken his life shortly after.

In this week’s episode of Behind the Herald Headlines with Daron Mann, we speak to Lesley Ann Foster of Masimanyane Women’s Rights International about the scourge of gender-based violence and the tragedies that continue to haunt the country every day. HeraldLIVE

This week on S’wana Know, we dive deep into the world of gynaecological cancers with the insightful Dr Melissa Pietersen.

Discover the latest advancements in research and treatment options.

Tune in for valuable knowledge that could make a difference! HeraldLIVE

“It’s been a hard and rocky road, but if it wasn’t for The Herald, my boy wouldn’t have been in Cape Town now and receiving help and that’s the gospel truth and I can prove every word that I’m saying.”

Those were the words on Wednesday morning of an emotional Barry Glass whose grandson, Keanu, was taken to Cape Town on Tuesday night where he was to be admitted to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital for potentially life-changing treatment. 

Keanu, who is 18 months old, was diagnosed with a cyst on his brain and suffers from debilitating seizures.

On Monday, Glass, 63, stood on the side of the road in Gqeberha, begging for money that could help Keanu’s parents pay for accommodation near the hospital while they await a prognosis from specialists.

Speaking on Behind The Herald Headlines with Daron Mann on Wednesday morning, Glass wept as he described how a good Samaritan had paid R20,000 into his account.

“When I phoned him and I said, ‘you made a big mistake’, he said to me he didn’t make a mistake. He said if he could give me 10 times that amount he would give it to me because it’s for a child,” Barry said.   

Listen to what else Barry had to say: HeraldLIVE

Football in the Eastern Cape has been starved as far Bafana Bafana are concerned, but all that is set to change when the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium hosts the crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group K qualifier clash between the hosts and Congo Brazzaville in October.

The 2010 World Cup venue will stage its first Fifa international fixture since Bafana Bafana defeated Sao Tome and Principe in November 2020.

Safa initially wanted to host the match at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, but were forced to change to Gqeberha because of logistical challenges beyond their control in the Free State capital. 

In Behind The Herald Headlines with Daron Mann this week, we speak to Safa Nelson Mandela Bay president Simphiwe Mkhangelwa who expects people will come “in their numbers”.

Mkhangelwa also talks about what this means for the region. HeraldLIVE

Two awards ceremonies took place in the last two weeks and as is the case with most, the Emmys and VMAs always come with some drama. 

From Tyla being called an “uppity African” to The Bear sweeping awards in a comedy category, and of course, the best and worst red carpet looks, Annelisa and Kelly Kelz review the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards and television’s finest at the Emmy Awards in this week’s episode of The S’wana Know Podcast.  HeraldLIVE

The price of perlemoen increased exponentially post Covid-19 and — with that — came an increase in perlemoen poaching in Nelson Mandela Bay, particularly at the Swartkops Estuary.

This according to anti-poaching specialist group Dark Water Ops’ boss Nicky Erasmus, who says on a good night, “with perfect diving conditions, you’re looking at in excess of 20 rubber ducks chasing up and down Swartkops”.

“Then you’ve got your shore divers that dive from shore, say from Cape Recife area to Bushy Park area, there you’re looking at 300 or 400 poachers a night, so it’s a big problem at the moment.”

In Behind The Herald Headlines with Daron Mann this week, we speak to Erasmus.

We also speak to Zwartkops Conservancy operations manager Femke de Wet, who says the estuary urgently needs greater law enforcement to clamp down on the perlemoen poaching scourge. HeraldLIVE

Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Gary Van Niekerk has hit back at reports that he is refusing to resign, saying the media is conspiring — The Herald in particular — to paint him in a bad light.

In this week’s episode of Behind The Herald Headlines with Daron Mann, Van Niekerk lashes out, defending his tenure as mayor.

In the episode, The Herald editor Rochelle de Kock responds to Van Niekerk’s assertions. HeraldLIVE