BY STAFF REPORTER

A newly elected Ward 19 headman was among three people injured in a road traffic accident in Mathetshaneni Village earlier this week while travelling from a meeting linked to his installation.

The accident occurred on a sharp curve along a dusty road near Somathetshane Bridge, where villagers say poor visibility may have contributed to the collision.

According to witnesses, a bus travelling westwards had just passed through the area, leaving behind a thick cloud of dust. Moments later, another vehicle travelling behind the bus allegedly attempted to overtake despite the reduced visibility.

The overtaking vehicle reportedly collided with a blue pickup truck carrying the headman and two other occupants, who were travelling in the opposite direction.

Photographs taken after the accident show extensive damage to the front section of the pickup truck and the other vehicle.

Three people were injured in the crash. Villagers said one occupant sustained head injuries while others suffered cuts and bruises.

One of the injured men, believed to have been driving the pickup truck, remained admitted in hospital as of Wednesday. Community members said there were concerns he may have suffered a fracture, but further medical assessment was delayed after the local hospital reportedly experienced challenges with X-ray services, forcing him to seek additional examinations elsewhere.

The driver of the other vehicle is understood to have escaped with minor injuries.

Villagers who spoke to VicFallsLive described the accident site as a hazardous section of road where dust and poor visibility frequently create dangerous driving conditions, especially during the dry season.

Meanwhile, the traditional leadership succession process continued on Thursday at the Malindi homestead in Mathetshaneni Village.

Mlibazisi Malindi- Sibanda was formally installed as headman, succeeding his late father, Walter Malindi-Sibanda, who died during the Covid-19 period.

BY STAFF REPORTER 

What happens when a small piece of office equipment disappears?

For most people, a date stamp is little more than a tool used to mark documents. But for local authorities, it represents authenticity, accountability and public trust. In Nkayi, the disappearance of a single council date stamp has raised concerns about the potential misuse of official documents.

The Nkayi Rural District Council (RDC) has issued an urgent public notice after one of its official date stamps went missing during an outlicensing exercise in Nkayi’s downstores section.

In a notice released on five days ago , the council said it had lost the date stamp labelled “OUTLICENCING 2”

“Nkayi Rural District Council would like to advise the public that it lost one of its official date stamps ‘OUTLICENCING 2’ on 02nd June 2026, in Nkayi Downstores Section during an outlicencing exercise,” reads part of the notice.

While a missing stamp may appear insignificant, council officials say the risk lies in what could happen if it falls into the wrong hands. Date stamps are commonly used to validate applications, receipts, permits and other official records.

To prevent possible fraud, the council has declared any documents bearing the missing stamp invalid from June 3 onwards.

“The public is advised that as from the 03rd June 2026, no official council documents were stamped using this date stamp. Council will not recognize any documents stamped with this date stamp on and after the 03rd June 2026,” the notice states.

The warning effectively means that anyone presenting documents carrying the “OUTLICENCING 2” stamp after that date could face scrutiny, as council has distanced itself from any future use of the missing stamp.

The council has appealed to residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious use of the stamp.

“Should you pick up the date stamp kindly hand it over to Nkayi RDC Offices or ZRP Nkayi or any nearest police station. Please report anyone found using this date stamp purporting to be a council official,” the notice further reads.

BY STAFF REPORTER

A 29-year-old Nkayi man has been sentenced to an effective three years in prison after an 11-year-old boy drowned while attempting to retrieve a bucket from a deep well.

According to court proceedings reported by The Chronicle, Prosper Dube of Sivomo Village under Chief Madliwa was convicted of culpable homicide by Bulawayo regional magistrate Sibonginkosi Mkandla. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with two years suspended on condition of good behaviour.

The court heard that on April 16, Dube was fetching water when the bucket used to draw water fell into a well about 15 metres deep.

Prosecutor Tsungai Mutapi told the court that despite being warned by the child’s mother against attempting to retrieve the bucket because it was dangerous, Dube later enlisted 11-year-old Siyabonga Sibanda to help him recover it.

The boy was lowered into the well using a rope but fell into the water and drowned. His body was later retrieved and taken to Nkayi District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A post-mortem established the cause of death as mechanical asphyxia and drowning.

The matter was subsequently reported to police, leading to Dube’s arrest and prosecution.

VicFallsLive previously reported that the incident claimed two lives. After the child became trapped inside the well, a neighbour reportedly entered the shaft in an attempt to rescue him. The rescue effort ended in tragedy when the second victim also lost his life inside the well.

The deaths prompted an outpouring of grief in the community, with burial preparations drawing relatives, neighbours and local leaders as residents struggled to come to terms with the loss of the two lives.

The latest court ruling relates to the death of the 11-year-old boy whom Dube had initially sent into the well to retrieve the bucket.