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The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Elderly man hacked in face during brutal Pretoria smallholding attack
An elderly man was hacked in the face with a panga during a brutal smallholding attack in Kameeldrift East in the early hours of Saturday morning, Pretoria Rekord reports. At around 02:00, a group of between three and six armed suspects stormed a smallholding on Plot 401, Karee Street in Pumulani, where an elderly couple resides. The attackers broke into the main house and began looting, assaulting the elderly man with a panga before fleeing with multiple stolen goods, including television sets. The victim was rushed to hospital with serious facial injuries. The suspects then targeted a second house on the property, where a woman was asleep alone. She was held at gunpoint, a shot was fired inside the home (believed to be a warning), and her walking aid was taken to prevent her from escaping. She is receiving trauma counselling. A gold Toyota Urban Cruiser was stolen, and a spent cartridge and matching bullet casing were recovered in the room. National police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the police are investigating a case of attempted murder and house robbery after a family was attacked by unknown suspects in their home in Karee Weg, Kameeldrift, this morning. 'According to information received, a husband and wife were sleeping when they were woken by a bang on the door. About five unknown men entered the house and the husband was struck with a sharp object on the face.' She furthermore added that the suspects fled the scene with the victim's Toyota Cruiser and some household items. Police request anyone who may have information that can assist in arresting the suspects to contact their nearest police station or the Crime Stop Line at 08600 10111. Police investigations continue. This is the third violent attack on rural residents in the Pretoria region in just over a week. June 20 – Mooiplaats Farm Attack Five suspects armed with pangas attacked a family on their property in Mooiplaats, Pretoria East. The residents sustained moderate injuries and were robbed of electronics and cell phones. It is believed one of the victim's Achilles tendons was severed with pangas. Echo-1 security teams responded rapidly. In a dramatic shootout near a nearby informal settlement, two suspects were shot — one killed, the other critically injured. Stolen property was recovered. June 25 – Kameeldrift Murder Tragically, Carolina Frederika Dicks was found murdered in her home on Ringduif Street, Kameeldrift. Her vehicle and several belongings were missing. The case is under investigation. Community leaders have urged residents to stay vigilant and connected, especially at night. Police could not yet confirm or provide more information on these two cases. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Missing Mbombela child (6) found raped and murdered
A six-year-old girl from Mbombela, Mpumalanga, who was reported missing has been found dead and allegedly raped. Her body was discovered in a graveyard yesterday, Mpumalanga News reports. According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, the child was last seen on Monday evening. 'It is said that her father left her and her four-year-old sister at their home in Mataffin at about 20:40 to buy items from a nearby tuck-shop. He reportedly instructed the children to lock the shack for safety. When he returned, he found the door unlocked. The younger child was alone inside, and her sister was missing,' said Mdhluli. He asked the younger girl where her sister was, but she said she did not know. A search was launched with the help of neighbours, but she was not found. The search continued the next day without success. The matter was reported to the police in Nelspruit, and a missing person's file was opened. Various police units were deployed to assist, but the girl remained missing. 'On the evening of June 27, police and paramedics received information about a child's body discovered in the bushes. On arrival, the child was declared dead. Preliminary investigations suggest she was raped before she was killed,' said Mdhluli. No arrests have been made. Police urge anyone with information that could assist in identifying the suspect(s) to contact the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or to use the My SAPS App. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Man jailed for 23 years after raping traditional healer in Mpumalanga
The Nelspruit Regional Court on Friday sentenced a 37-year-old man to 23 years' direct imprisonment for raping a traditional healer, Lowvelder reports. NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said the victim and the accused cannot be named to protect the identity of a minor child involved in the incident. According to reports, in early June, 2019, the accused went to the complainant's home in Zwelisha Trust outside Mbombela, carrying a firearm, and gained entry by pretending to need treatment. 'Once in the house, the accused locked the door and proceeded to rape the victim in the presence of her three-year-old son. He then threatened to kill her and her son should she report the rape to anyone. The victim confided in her sister and later reported the incident to the police,' said Nyuswa. The accused pleaded not guilty, claiming he was in a relationship with the victim. To prove the state's case beyond reasonable doubt, regional court prosecutor Leana Jones presented compelling evidence from the victim's sister, which was corroborated by the victim. It also emerged during the trial that the accused was known for being violent. 'Jones emphasised that women should not be reduced to mere objects and condemned to the persistent violence they face in South Africa. She added that the accused showed no remorse for his actions, describing them as a heinous violation of human dignity, and urged the court to impose a suitable sentence,' said Nyuswa. She added that the NPA calls on South Africans to unite against gender-based violence and to foster safe environments where women and children can thrive without fear. The NPA says it remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring justice for victims of gender-based violence. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Body of man (22) recovered at Bourke's Luck 60 days after going missing
Body of man (22) recovered at Bourke's Luck 60 days after going missing They refused to let the river keep him. For 60 days, members of the Ehlanzeni Police Diving Unit navigated some of Mpumalanga's most rugged and remote terrain in search of 22-year-old Agreement Hove – a young man who disappeared beneath the waters of the Blyde River near Bourke's Luck in mid-April. Hove vanished on the same day that three-year-old Aqhama Mnconywa went missing in the Crocodile River near Schagen. For families and first responders alike, it was a harrowing day that launched two separate and extensive search operations in different river systems, Lowvelder reports. While the rescue efforts for Aqhama continued further south, police divers turned their attention north to the Blyde River Canyon – a region as breathtaking as it is unforgiving. According to police diver Captain Pottie Potgieter, the team never gave up hope, even as the weeks dragged on. 'We brought in a chopper, scoured remote drop zones and instructed locals to keep an eye out,' he said. 'Eventually, after two months, someone spotted him.' Hove's body was recovered on Tuesday. Potgieter described the recovery operation as one of the most physically demanding they've faced. 'It was in a very inaccessible area. We had to be dropped off by helicopter, then hike a long distance through thick bush just to reach the riverbank,' he said. Despite the difficult terrain and the passage of time, the diving team remained committed to bringing Hove home. One factor that worked in their favour, Potgieter added, was the season. 'Crocodiles aren't as active in winter because their metabolism slows. That gave us a better chance of finding the body intact.' It is believed that Hove was attempting to cross the river on April 14 with three others while allegedly smuggling khat – also known as 'Bushman's tea' – into the reserve. The river, swollen by autumn rains and known for its dangerous currents, proved fatal. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Youth Weeks: What you need to know as provincial rugby fever grips SA
Youth Weeks: What you need to know as provincial rugby fever grips SA The FNB Youth Weeks have never been just tournaments. They are platforms where dreams take shape and potential is given a path. These are the words of SA Rugby president Mark Alexander, who spoke to Caxton Local Media ahead of the start of the series of rugby tournaments. 'From the FNB U18 Craven Week through to the FNB U16 Grant Khomo and Academy weeks, they have served as engines of opportunity and inclusion, developing talent while also contributing to nation-building. These gatherings offer young athletes exposure, mentorship and competition, but more than that, they cultivate character, discipline and a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves.' Here's what you need to know about the tournaments, which kick off on Monday. FNB U16 and U18 Girls Weeks Venue: Queens High School in Bezuidenhout Valley, Johannesburg Hosts: Golden Lions Rugby Union Alexander says the evolution of these girls' weeks has been nothing short of nation-shifting. 'They are instruments of progress, opening rugby's gates wider than ever before. Girls now have structured, high-profile avenues to express and elevate their talent – platforms that were unimaginable not long ago. This isn't just about athletic development; it's about transforming perceptions and normalising girls' rugby as a proud, powerful part of our national sporting fabric,' he adds. According to Bedfordview and Edenvale News, Queens High School is expected to be a hive of excitement as families, learners and supporters gather to back the rising stars of the game. Fixtures: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caxton Network News (@caxtonnetworknews) FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week Venue: St. Alban's College in Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria Hosts: Blue Bulls Rugby Union (BBRU) BBRU president Willem Strauss tells Caxton that it is an honour to be hosting the FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week. 'It is part of the pipeline and ecosystem of our rugby. It starts at the U13 Craven Week, then Grant Khomo and the U18 [youth weeks] before eventually senior rugby. It is, therefore, an important part of our pipeline and we look forward to great rugby at St Alban's.' According to Pretoria Rekord, this year marks only the second time in the tournament's 22-year history that it will be hosted in Pretoria. The previous time was in 2014, when it was hosted at the Tshwane University of Technology sports grounds in Pretoria West. View the programme here. The newspaper states that St Alban's College has already produced two Springboks: Double Rugby World Cup winner Bongi Mbonambi and former Bulls lock Jason Jenkins, who currently plays for the Sharks. In addition to other first-class facilities that suit a tournament like this perfectly, the school boasts two well-maintained rugby fields, on which the tournament's matches will be played. Fixtures: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caxton Network News (@caxtonnetworknews) Academy Week Venue: Middelburg Hoërskool (MHS) in Middelburg, Mpumalanga Hosts: Pumas Rugby Union According to the Middelburg Observer, MHS received confirmation last August that it would be the host, and preparations have been underway ever since. To ensure the fields are in top condition, MHS has employed additional workers to maintain them, with the A field – where some of the Academy Week's fixtures will be played on the final day (July 11) – being covered nightly to protect it from frost. The school has completed several upgrades, including improvements to the dressing rooms, ablution facilities, hostels, gymnasium and pavilion. A new cafeteria has been constructed to cater to the influx of players and supporters, and a new scoreboard has been installed on the B field. Fixtures: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caxton Network News (@caxtonnetworknews) FNB U18 Craven Week Venue: Middelburg Hoërskool (MHS) in Middelburg, Mpumalanga Hosts: Pumas Rugby Union Middelburg Observer reports that MHS, affectionately known as Middies, will be hosting the FNB U18 Craven Week for the second time in the school's history. 'It's a big honour and achievement to be selected to host Craven Week. It places Middelburg Hoërskool on the map as an institution that holds itself to a high standard in sport and organisation,' says vice-principal Dave Osborn. He adds that the investments made in preparation for both Craven Week and Academy Week will have lasting benefits for the school's sporting infrastructure and overall development. 'The school's learners will benefit from the valuable exposure to top-level rugby, which serves as motivation for younger players to work harder and strive towards becoming part of future teams.' Fixtures: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caxton Network News (@caxtonnetworknews) Remember that all the action from the abovementioned tournaments can be watched live on SuperSport Schools. Youth Weeks Two other notable Youth Weeks: The U18 LSEN [Learners with Special Education Needs] Week and the U13 Craven Week will also be played. The LSEN Week will be held at Hoërskool Hoogenhout in Bethal, Mpumalanga, from tomorrow, while the U13 Craven Week takes place at Selborne College in East London from Monday. Alexander says that by investing in these tournaments, SA Rugby is not just growing a sport, it's rewriting a narrative. 'One that says rugby excellence knows no gender and that the next icon of the game could just as easily emerge from a girls' scrum on a windswept pitch in Gqeberha as from any traditional stronghold. It's a cultural shift that will echo into classrooms, homes, communities and, eventually, into packed stadiums both here and abroad. 'We still have work ahead. But these FNB Youth Weeks, especially for young girls, are a bold and necessary step toward a future where rugby reflects the full spirit of our nation – diverse, determined and united.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
