The Current Affairs Sector

The month of October kicked off with plenty of joy in the current affairs department as the channel was blessed to be the home of the Vodacom Young Journalist of the Year award winner, Sinaye Ntsundu. Ntsundu has been a video journalist for the channel for over a year, her beat is human interest stories within the Eastern Cape. MPK TV’s sport reporter, Lingelethu Gcwabe who has been giving us the latest updates on the games happening in and around the province also bagged being the runner-up winner at the DSRAC sport awards for being the best sports presenter in the Eastern Cape. The very proud Head of News and Current affairs, Sandy Mccowen said “it shows that hard work and determination pays off, Sinaye and Linge are an inspiration for all young journalists to keeps striving and telling balanced stories.”

Speaking about stories, the news department has covered quite compelling stories this past month, the first being the infamous Lusikisiki Mass Murder funeral. This traumatic experience gathered the Eastern Cape’s political and traditional leaders to come and support the affected the family. The O.R Tambo municipality as well as various crime prevention organizations vowed to work together to eliminate such crimes in the area. MPK TV’s news reporter, Yamkela Mtshiyo was shocked by the experience as it is not common in the rural areas. “In my own personal experience, rural communities are known to be united, I don’t understand how 18 people could have been brutally murdered, this just kept playing this in my head. It was my first time experiencing such and seeing the faces during the memorial was just so heartbreaking.’

Asandile Njongi also covered quite an alarming story of an unemployed woman in Kariega who suffers from a disfiguring disease and is in desperate need of medical assistance to help her leg which has been swollen since 2017. Njongi also added that, that this story touched him,” I honestly wish that the community could get together to ensure that that the health of this 42-year-old could rescued so that she will be able to raise her children.

Another shocking experience was seen through the Nelson Mandela Bay floods of which our news reporter, Taron Wilem described this natural disaster as a true reality check because families have lost their belongings and even loved ones because of these floods. The floods occur just four months after the Nelson Mandela Bay was heavily impacted by the rains and then it all started again. Kariega, Missionvale and Motherwell were highly affected and this has devastated the whole NMB region. With all this being said, Wilem went on to express the high gratitude of support shown by the community at this difficult time. “It put things in perspective to see how communities, businesses, organisations and individuals come together to support eachother even though individuals have their own issues to deal with.”

On a lighter note, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium also had the opportunity to host the very exciting game of Bafana Bafana vs Congo. The people of Gqeberha came out in numbers to support their country as the stadium was packed with fans with high energies coming to cheer for their favourite players.

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