As of October, Corridor Gazette sees a change in personnel, as the newspaper bids farewell to news editor Bridget Mpande and welcomes Blake Linder into this role.
Mpande has been with Corridor Gazette and Corridor Gazette Express for just under two years and has made an indelible mark on these newspapers and the Nkomazi/Onderberg region. She will be making a move within the Lowveld Media group, taking over the reins at Mpumalanga News and Lowvelder Express as the editor assistant.
“As I move to my new role within Lowveld Media, I would like to thank the Onderberg community for working with me in the past almost two years and allowing me the opportunity to tell your stories. A community newspaper cannot be what it is without the community. You all made it possible,” Mpande said.
“To Laerskool Malelane, Komatipoort Akademie, Riverview Preparatory School, Beacon College Malelane, DD Mabuza Comprehensive School and Sikhwahlane Secondary School, thank you, it was great working with all of you.”
Linder takes over the reins at Corridor Gazette, having joined the Lowveld Media team in March this year. He made the move to the Lowveld from Knysna, trading the ocean for the bushveld.
In the Southern Cape he worked as the news editor of the Knysna-Plett Herald from November 2022 until February this year, having previously worked as a journalist at the paper between May 2019 and October 2022.
Prior to that he worked at Roodepoort Northsider on the West Rand of Johannesburg, having started his media journey at Letaba Herald in Tzaneen where he grew up, attending Merensky High School. Linder spent his formative years in Musina, attending Messina Primary School, but before this he actually spent a few years in the Onderberg region.
He attended Kwetterness Kleuterskool in Komatipoort for a year, before going on to attend Laerskool Malelane for grades R and one. Although this was roughly two decades ago, Linder still has a deep affection for the area, and can’t wait to be a part of the community once again.
Linder is also an award-winning journalist, being named both the Journalist and Photographer of the Year at the 2022 Eden Sport Awards, and he also received the Best Sports Reporting Award at the 2022 FCJ Excellence Awards.
He will still carry out his duties as a senior journalist for Lowvelder, focusing primarily on sport, school and community news, which means he will remain based in Mbombela.
Should you have any questions or queries, or to submit a letter, Linder can be reached via email on blake@lowvelder.co.za.
