Editor’s note: End of the road for 2016

ANOTHER year draws to a close. One in which we saw tragedy in Northglen News’ area of coverage together with an array of heart-warming stories that once again prove, there is good in this world.

Our website, www.northglennews.co.za has grown in leaps and bounds to a point in which we amass more than 200 000 page views a month.

Without doubt the most tragic story we covered this year was the disappearance of Brenda Scriven who went missing in July when flash floods swept through the city. To date the 62-year-old has not been found. We watched as the community, police and local security company staff rallied together to try and find the woman who was a mother, wife and grandmother. We also saw the aftermath of the floods that left many homes in the Northglen News area of coverage submerged in water.

It was a year, nationally that was rocked by student protests and a vehement call for Jacob Zuma to step down.

Locally it was a year in which clean-ups occurred almost every weekend as the litter continued to pile up on some of the country’s most pristine beaches.

We read about a mange riddled dog that was rescued by a animal rehabilitation group and made a remarkable recovery.

Penny Sparrow kicked the year off with her racist comments and this trend seemed to persist as we saw that as late as October a man was found guilty for a racist rant.

On a happier note the Northglen community was called on to help a little boy and boy did they help.

In September, Shiraz Habbib introduced us to Siyathemba Hlope who lived in a tiny shack in the sprawling Blackburn Village Informal Settlement. The severely disabled 11-year-old boy lives with his mother where he slept on the floor with just two paltry blankets. We told his story, appealing for help and the help came pouring in.

Then the woman who gave birth in dentist’s room got Northglenners talking but none as much as the young La Lucia boy who rescued a woman during the 2016 July floods. Cameron White (17) saved the life of Shakila Singh whose car had become submerged by the flooding water under the M4 in La Lucia.

Then this month we heard the tragic news of the death of a young Mount Edgecombe travel blogger, Andy Carrie who died in a motor bike accident. Tributes for the 28-year-old continue to pour in for the man who many say lived an extraordinary life. And on that note the Northglen News wishes all its readers a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.