Year in review: Captain’s murder, Zuma’s visit and festive cheer
Here is a summary of news that made our papers throughout 2014 (October to December):
October
* Bafana Bafana captain, Senzo Meyiwa, is shot dead in Vosloorus in a robbery. Meyiwa was, at the time, at the house of Kelly Khumalo, his girlfriend, when the shooting occurred.
* The Advertiser holds its first 5km Fun Walk on October 1. The starting and finish point was at the East Rand Mall. Among the many participants was Ekurhuleni mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele.
* Gunfire erupts outside the busy Boksburg Taxi Rank on October 2. The shooters sped off when the police arrived, with the high speed pursuit ending in a multi-vehicle accident crash that injures a driver of VW Polo and one of the accused shooters.
* Boksburg comes alive with a huge Spring Fiesta staged at Wild Waters, drawing thousands of party revellers. The following weekend it was the turn of H20.
* October is Breast Health Awareness, with numerous events taking place locally throughout October to celebrate this event and to raise awareness.
* Dozens of Reiger Park businesses gather at the Civic Centre to showcase their products and services at the Kasi Trade Exhibition. The three-day event served as an opportunity for local small-and medium enterprises (SMEs) to showcase and display their latest products.
* The super rock band, The Parlotones, rocks Parkrand Primary School.
* October is annually a time for the Ekurhuleni metro to pay homage to OR Tambo. As part of the celebrations, a memorial lecture, attended by deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, is held at the Birchwood Hotel, along with a wreath laying ceremony at the Tamboville cemetery.
* The Little Live Arts Theatre relaunches at the new venue – The Terminal Life and Style Centre.
November
* Five people are killed and two more injured after gunmen opens fire on taxi owners and passengers in Windmill Park. This was yet another taxi violence incident.
* President Jacob Zuma launches the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children in Reiger Park on November 25. Each year, South Africa marks the campaign that runs until December 10. The President launches the campaign themed ‘Count Me In: Together Moving a Non-Violent South Africa forward’.
* Thousands of Angelo informal settlement residents march through the streets of Boksburg in protest over the looming eviction of 10 000 people. Living Africa, the owner of the property on which Angelo is built, wants to enforce the eviction by the end of January, which has prompted residents to demand new land from the metro before they are forcefully removed. By the end of the year, uncertainty over the eviction remains.
* November is dubbed Movember month, during which men wear a moustache during the month to show support for men’s health. In Boksburg, numerous activities are held to celebrate Movember, such as the Snors for Cause Motorcade held at Harley-Davidson Gold Rand in Boksburg.
* St Dominic’s Saints Drum Majorettes retains the title as the 2014 South African Elite League Champion of Champions when they beat the best at the South African Majorette, and Cheerleading Association 2014 National Championships in Cape Town.
* A hailstorm destroys numerous homes in Jerusalem and Delmore informal settlements, leaving dozens of families homeless and children stranded.
December
* World Aids Day is celebrated on December 1. Numerous local organisations, like St Francis Care Centre, raises awareness regarding the pandemic, promoting all citizens to know their status.
* Ten matriculants from Ekurhuleni and their support team will from December 27, embark on an adventurous journey of a lifetime when they will be travelling 3 500km in tuk-tuks across the country to raise money for a hospice and also St Francis Care Centre. Their route will take them to small towns like Prince Albert, Hertzogville, Harrismith and large cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
* Tshediso Matona, CEO of Eskom, stresses that there is no crisis with Eskom, but the public can brace themselves for dark days ahead as load-shedding will intensify in February and March.
* Christmas is celebrated on December 25, bringing the curtain down on another year of highs and low, locally and nationally.
