Latest news with #LetabaHerald
The Citizen
16-07-2025
- The Citizen
It felt like a war zone: Limpopo woman recalls gas cylinder explosion and forest fire
Rene Viljoen, the programme co-ordinator at Warriors Academy, will never forget how the sound of explosions jolted her awake and the mountain lit up in flames. Letaba Herald reports that in the early hours of this morning, Viljoen was awoken by what she described as the sound of an 'attack in a war zone', only to discover that a truck carrying gas cylinders had exploded above Magoebaskloof Ruskamp, triggering a forest fire and a string of thunderous blasts that rocked the area. Terrifyingly close to the scene, Viljoen described how the forest came 'alive with fire', each blast illuminating the darkness like a signal flare. With adrenaline surging and sleep impossible, she joined others in watching the inferno unfold. 'I was afraid of a forest fire that could get out of control,' she wrote in a Facebook post just hours later, still reeling from the chaos. The fear was not unfounded. The explosion closed the R71 and sent flames racing down the mountainside, dangerously close to Warriors Camp. 'I am not sure what happened, and I hope the driver escaped,' she added. Later information revealed that the driver had managed to get away without injury. Emergency services – Letaba Fire Protection Association, Tzaneen Fire Brigade, SARZA Limpopo, Disaster Management and the Tzaneen Emergency Support Team – descended on the area swiftly, battling both flames and treacherous terrain. By 04:30, teams were still working to contain the blaze, but accessing the actual site of the explosion remained too risky. Staff from Warriors Camp rushed towards the scene despite not knowing the extent of the danger. 'They ran to assist, not knowing what they were heading to,' Viljoen said. Others stayed back, preparing spray cans and water to defend their homes against the advancing fire. By morning, the flames had subsided, replaced by the blinking lights of emergency crews. But for Viljoen, the emotional fire still raged. 'I'm sure I'll crash and fall asleep this afternoon,' she said. 'Just too much adrenaline released. Survival instinct.' Local WhatsApp groups claim the driver lost control of the truck when the brakes failed. The R71 between Polokwane and Tzaneen has since officially reopened to motorists following the explosion. The Limpopo Department of Transport confirmed the road is safe for use after fire crews managed to contain and extinguish the blaze that spread through the forest near the Magoebaskloof Ruskamp. Watch the video: 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
24-06-2025
- The Citizen
Manhunt after 3 murder suspects escape custody in Limpopo
Manhunt after 3 murder suspects escape custody in Limpopo Police in Letsitele, near Tzaneen, have launched a manhunt after three awaiting-trial prisoners escaped in the early hours of this morning. According to Letaba Herald, Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says the escape occurred when the suspects — Patrick Mbombi, Thabo Moye Makgopa, and Javas Mongwe — overpowered officers on duty and fled the holding cells on foot. 'All three men are facing murder charges and are considered dangerous and possibly armed.' Police have urged anyone with information about the escapees' whereabouts to come forward. Detective commander Lieutenant Colonel Mavis Shilubane can be contacted on 082 469 0900. Alternatively, tip-offs can be shared via the Crime Stop number 08600 10111, the nearest police station, or the MySAPS app. All information received will be treated confidentially. Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the escape are ongoing. 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
14-06-2025
- Science
- The Citizen
Rare Blyde River Canyon gecko rediscovered after 33 years
Two Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) researchers have rediscovered a gecko species in the Blyde River Canyon that had not been seen for over 33 years. According to EWT communication manager Elenor Momberg, flat geckos (Afroedura) are known for their micro-endemism. 'This means that they occur only in one single, or a few localities.' Letaba Herald reports that the Blyde River flat gecko (Afroedura rondavelica) is known from only a single nearly inaccessible inselberg in the Blyde River Canyon. This species was first discovered by Dr Niels Jacobsen in December 1991, when he collected two males. The species was only formally described in 2014, and the two specimens collected by Jacobsen remained the only known representatives of this species for more than 33 years,' she says. She says that over the years, some debate has emerged regarding the taxonomic status of these specimens, with some experts surmising that they are merely juveniles of another species that occurs nearby. 'Because the species had not been recorded for more than 10 years, it was classified as a 'lost' species by re:Wild. The general lack of information regarding the species, taxonomic uncertainty surrounding it, and the possibility that it may have gone extinct, resulted in this species being listed as data-deficient in the latest International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species assessment.' She says in April this year, two EWT researchers, Dr Darren Pietersen and John Davies, visited the area to determine whether the gecko still inhabited the same inselberg. Following a process of about two years to secure the required permits to visit the difficult-to-reach site in the Blyde River Canyon, the researchers were able to access it by helicopter. They confirmed not only that the species had survived, but also the morphological and therefore taxonomic distinctness of the species. She says the ecological and population data that they collected will allow this species' conservation status to be re-evaluated, moving it out of the data-deficient category. 'Tissue samples were collected to facilitate an in-depth genetic investigation as to the taxonomic placement of this species within the genus, and to confirm its status as a distinct species. What makes this rediscovery particularly significant is the fact that this gecko has not been seen since it was first discovered in 1991, and until recently, Jacobsen was the only person to ever see this species alive,' she says. 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
01-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Get ready for the Pears Monthly Tournament
TZANEEN – The Tzaneen Bowls Club will be playing its popular Pears Monthly Competition this Saturday, May 31, with sponsorship from the Letaba Herald. The Pears competition is a fun, engaging event that offers a monthly jackpot prize for the winners. If no one wins in a given month, the jackpot rolls over to the next competition. Each month's winners will receive a pair of exclusive Letaba Herald socks. However, players can only win the socks once. According to Ernst Swiglaar, president of the Tzaneen Bowls Club, there are specific rules surrounding the socks. 'If you win the socks, you must wear them in all future Pears games. If you fail to wear them, you'll be penalised R100, which will go directly into the Pears jackpot,' Swiglaar explained. 'If you win in consecutive months, you must wear the Herald socks to claim the jackpot. If you aren't wearing them, you forfeit the prize.' Swiglaar said that if a player wins a third consecutive month but did not wear the socks during the second win, that victory does not count as part of the consecutive wins. The player would then need to win again the following month while wearing the socks to continue towards the jackpot. For more on the competition, call 082 447 4524. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
17-05-2025
- The Citizen
Limpopo father sentenced for offering daughters to farm workers as ‘payment'
Two men were on Thursday convicted by the Limpopo High Court for rape, after horrid sexual abuse endured by one of the men's two daughters. They are aged nine and 11. According to Letaba Herald, the 39-year-old father and his 37-year-old friend each received life imprisonment for rape. The court heard proof of systematic abuse that occurred between 2022 and 2023. Following the separation of their parents, the children were left in the care of their father, who subjected them to severe physical abuse and facilitated their sexual exploitation. In a particularly disturbing pattern of behaviour, the father would beat the children brutally with a belt and, on occasions when he failed to pay his farm workers, would offer his daughters to be sexually abused as a form of 'payment'. 'In separate incidents, the father's friend would take the minors to a secluded area near a dam where he repeatedly raped them. Between August and November 2023 the ordeal came to light when a vigilant teacher noticed alarming behavioural changes in the youngsters. Following the disclosure of the abuse, the teacher immediately informed the appropriate parties, such as the police and social workers, which resulted in the children being taken away to a safe location,' says provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba. While the men were initially granted bail, the father's bail was later revoked after he was charged with witness intimidation. The father received a life sentence for count 1 of rape, three years for count 4 of assault, and five years for count 5 of assault. His friend received life imprisonment for count 9 of rape and another life sentence for count 10 of rape. Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the sentence and praised the Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit for their thorough inquiry, which resulted in the successful prosecution. 'This case represents one of the most horrific incidents of child abuse we have encountered in our province. It also demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting children and securing justice for victims of gender-based violence.' She extended gratitude to the teacher who reported the matter, the social workers who provided support to the victims, and the prosecution team for their roles in securing these convictions. 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!
