Looking back at 2018 and forward to 2019

SLOWLY but surely, we are approaching the end of 2018. It now is time to look back at the ups and downs of 2018.

JANUARY

• Jarred Silverman was sentenced to five years in prison for attempted murder. On January 12, the professional boxer learnt of his fate at the Palmridge Magistrate’s Court. The sentencing came after a lengthy trial that came to pass after a shooting in 2014 at a music festival (Deep in the Woods) in Alberton. A friend of Silverman’s sneaked a firearm into the festival in her purse, and when an altercation arose between Silverman and Bradley Swartz, a member of the family with whom Silverman had a heated feud, drew a gun and chaos ensued. Three people were shot.

• Boy drowns, then a miracle happens. On January 11, Alberton resident Bianca Pretorius’ worst nightmare came true. Her two-year-old boy, Troy, drowned. Bianca shared the long, heart-moving story of how they managed to get Troy to breathe again and how he eventually made a full recovery afterwards.

FEBRUARY:

• Grand opening of second Charity Shop. Like the shop across Springbok Pharmacy in Alberton Mall, a second Charity Shop opened on February 17 at the Stats Building, Fore Street, New Redruth. It’s even bigger and better.

MARCH:

• Helicopter Crash. On March 13 a helicopter crashed with two people on board in a field off Swartkoppies Road in Brackendowns. Amazingly, the two people on board, the pilot and his passenger, were assessed on the scene and found to be only lightly injured and out of danger.

• Sarie Breytenbach word 102. Sarie Breytenbach het op 22 Maart ’n rekord gebreek en die fantastiese eer gehad om 102 jaar oud te word.

• Feral cats: Helping the helpless. There are hundreds of abandoned feral cats in all communities that must fend for themselves. Unfortunately, not all people have empathy for these animals and some even see them as vermin. Some of these cats are being cared for by some of the shopping centres, while others have taken measures to have these cats caught and put down. The South African Feral Foundation (SAFE) approached the RECORD to create awareness about the feral and abandoned cats’ struggle in the community, and how they can be helped.

• The accident of mommy Shanei who lost her baby. Shanei Norris, a former Albertonian and Hoërskool Dinamika learner’s life changed in a split second when she lost her one year-old girl, sustaining serious injuries in a car accident in Vanderbijl Park on March 23.

Her family and friends thanked everyone who had provided emotional and financial support to Shanei in her time of need. Shanei’s road to recovery is still long way. Her friends and family pray for a full recovery.

APRIL:

• Delivery man shot in the hand at Meyersdal Mall. Three armed men in a white Mercedes Benz with registration number YTL 642 GP tried to rob a man delivering cellphones to the mall. He was ambushed and tried to fight back, but ended up with a shot fired into his hand. Fox Security reacted swiftly.

MAY:

• Baby Eden kidnapped. Cleopatra Manjankozi, a domestic worker, Kholwani Nyathi, Amos Moyo, Manduna Nonkanyiso and Nelisini Gabela, were arrested on May 5 after they kidnapped Eden Laird. Manjankosi took Eden, tied up on her back, for a walk from the family’s house in Brackendowns on May 2 at about 8.45am and did not return. The suspects demanded a R6-million ransom for the baby’s safe return. Police set up a sting operation which led to Eden being found in Windmill Park near Boksburg and he was safely home in his parents’ arms on May 5.

• Kosie Wiese celebrates his 70th birthday. The famous welterweight boxer and Alberton resident Kosie Wiese celebrated his 70th birthday with family on May 19. Kosie is known for his impressive fight against Garvin Crouch which ended in only 26 seconds after Kosie knocked him out. Kosie still likes to spar even at his age.

• Hitzeroth “baseball bat” murder case. On May 19, Gert went out for drinks with three family members. The four of them later left with the suspect to his house for more drinks. This is where an altercation ensued before the accused retrieved a baseball bat and hit Hitzeroth over the head several times.

The male suspect, aged 39, was arrested on charges of murder. The female suspect, 37, was later arrested on charges of defeating the ends of justice which changed to a charge of murder. The suspects appeared in Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court for the third time on November 15. The trial has been withdrawn pending the DNA test results.

• Stephan Jacobs tragically loses his life in a stabbing incident. On May 28 police were called to the scene of a stabbing, where Stephan Jacobs was attacked with a knife on the corner of Gerrit Maritz and Fifth Avenue in Alberton North. The suspect, Romano Mitchel, gave himself over to police and the trial to determine whether he is guilty of murder or not is still ongoing.

JUNE

• Eden Park Police Station robbed. At about 12.30am two unknown individuals robbed the Client Service Centre at Eden Park Police Station on June 7. Four female police officers were on duty at the time. The safe was robbed and a R-5 rifle was found to be missing. At the time the police spokesperson would only confirm that the weapon used in the robbery was not a firearm.

• SA Mixed Pairs Bowls tournament held in Alberton. Alberton Bowling Club hosted the prestigious Bowls South Africa Mixed Pairs Tournament from June 20 to June 23. The top team at the tournament was Northern Cape Bowls followed by Boland Bowls. Home team Ekurhuleni Bowls was placed sixth in their section.

JULY

• Bianca Ackhurst overcame a rare disease. Tragically, Brackenhurst resident Bianca Ackhurst (22) was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre disease at the beginning of July. Only one in around 100 000 people get this disease.

Through to the donation-based crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy, Bianca’s treatment has been made possible, thanks to many generous monetary contributions from community members. Miraculously, she has made a wonderful recovery.

AUGUST:

*Ex-attorney to be sentenced for fraud. Janald Scholtemeyer, ex-attorney who operated from Limpopo and had clients from Alberton, pleaded guilty of fraud on August 24 this year at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. . The sentencing of Scholtemeyer, which was set for December 11, has been remanded until January 22. The RECORD will keep readers updated on this trial.

SEPTEMBER:

*Barbara Esme Fenton murdered in her home. Elderly Alberton Resident Barbara Esme Fenton (74) was found dead in her home on September 1. Two suspects, Johnny du Plooy and Shaun Oosthuizenwere, arrested in connection with the murder. The two suspects have been linked to various other murders on older people that took place in some parts of the country. The trial is still ongoing in Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court with the pair expected to appear again in February 2019.

• Fatal motorbike accident on R59 near Swartkoppies. A motorbike accident claimed the life of a biker on September 14. The rider collided with a truck and he died on impact.

• Krank’d Up festival raised the roof again. The annual Krank’d Up metal music festival which took place at the Sundowners venue on September 29, was possible the loudest party Alberton has seen all year. This year, two international bands headlined US-based Miss May I and UK-based SikTh, were featured. The RECORD interviewed both groups.

Happy and carefree memories were definitely being made at this event, along with some dangerously fun-looking mosh pits.

• Body found in Joan Road, Kliprivier. A body was found on the side of Joan Road, Kliprivier, on August 7. According to Lt-Col JJ Landman from Kliprivier SAPS, the man was wearing a blue sweater, black track pants and navy Lacoste sneakers. “He also had a wound on the left side of his head,” he said.

OCTOBER:

• Murder charges against Daniel Olivier withdrawn. Daniel Olivier attacked Ludi Vink on February 21, in 2017, after Vink tried to stop a fight between Olivier and the owner of Mitzy’s Pub. Vink died at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg. He reappeared in court on October 22 where all the charges against him, were withdrawn due to the lack of evidence.

• Amcare starts their new journey. Amcare officially relaunched their brand and new website on October 23. This move, according to marketing manager Nadine Mason, was to make the brand more accessible to prospective donors. The new brand is a start of a journey to continue to help the most vulnerable in Alberton and the surrounds.

NOVEMBER:

• South Crest man shot in Benrose on-ramp. A shoot-out ensued between him and robbers on the Benrose on-ramp near Johannesburg, heading east at about 10.25am on November 12. As Kenny Jeacocks got onto the ramp, his vehicle was bumped from the left by another vehicle while the vehicle in front of him slammed on the brakes and reversed into him. The next moment he was surrounded by six males who opened fire with AK47 rifles and 9mm pistols. He realised it was an armed robbery and drew his weapon. During the shoot-out, he managed to get out of his vehicle and return fire. Unfortunately, he had to retreat while firing as the armed men tried to surround him. He then hid behind a vehicle caught up in the traffic when he took two bullets in the arm.

• President Cyril Ramaphosa visits Alberton. As part of the taking the Parliament to the people programme of the National Council of Provinces, Ramaphosa addressed people in the Alberton Civic Centre on November 22. The president addressed concerns raised by community members about the matters that affect them most.

DECEMBER:

• Kidnappers to remain in custody. Cleopatra Manjankozi (domestic worker), Kholwani Nyathi, Amos Moyo, Manduna Nonkanyiso and Nelisini Gabela were arrested on May 5 after the kidnapping of Eden Laird. The five kidnappers will remain in custody and also spent their first Christmas in jail. The case has been postponed for further investigation.

For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.

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