This week, we look at the Advertiser’s March 24, 2006, edition.
• Off-road crash ends bright young life
The deputy head boy of sports at Springs Boys’ High School, Paul Christopher Marais, died in an off-road motorbike accident over the weekend.
Although it is not clear how the accident happened, it is believed that Paul (18) and another off-roader, Ronald Niemann (21), collided head-on on a dirt road next to Vogelstruitsbult Road in Struisbult on Friday at around 17:00.
Paul landed between pipes and died on the scene, while Ronald was taken to the Union Hospital with critical injuries.
His father, also Ronald Niemann, said his son is in a serious condition and by Monday had undergone two operations.
Paul’s sister, Cherie-Anne Dearden (23), said her brother was on his way to visit his best friend when the accident happened.
They are waiting for a postmortem to be completed.
Paul recently played his first match as this year’s captain of the first rugby team and was crowned man of the match.
“He excelled in everything,” said Dearden.
Paul was in the top 10 academic group, loved sports and participated in cross-country, fly-fishing and athletics, among others.
“He was a real gentleman. He was kind and caring and well-loved. He had so many friends,” added Dearden
A teacher at Paul’s school described him as a hero.
Paul leaves behind his parents, two sisters, Dearden and Tammy (20), and brother-in-law Michael Dearden.
His parents were too traumatised to speak to the media. A memorial service was held at the Springs Boys’ High School hall.
• A new liver for little Phoenix
Finally, Pheonix Potgieter will be able to run around like any other child his own age.
Born with a rare congenital liver disease called biliary atresia, 23-month-old Pheonix’s family waited in anticipation for a suitable donor.
According to his grandmother, Ann McCann who is a former Springsite but now lives in Benoni, little Pheonix is doing well at the Donald Gordon Institute in Johannesburg where he underwent a liver transplant on February 27.
“The operation lasted for eight-and-a-half hours and his body accepted the liver the minute it was connected. At the moment, he has a flu-infection, which the doctors are trying to clear. We hope he’ll be discharged shortly,” McCann explained.
“He can now walk on his own and the staples have been removed from the wound. He has shown no signs of rejection,” she added.
Pheonix was diagnosed with biliary atresia at four weeks old. His liver and spleen were swollen and as a result, his tummy became bigger.
His breathing was also affected by the defect.
McCann said the next three months are very critical in that they need to ensure that he doesn’t get any infections.
Pheonix is turning two on April 27. According to McCann, the donor is from Cape Town and eight of his organs were donated to four different people.
Pheonix was the first recipient.
• R100 for a life
How many children have to die before parents realise that they need to take the responsibility of strapping their children into a car seat?
A few weeks ago, the media published a picture of a wrecked car in which a one-month-old baby and her father were killed.
The father, who was travelling at high speed, slammed on the brakes and crashed into a street pole, crushing the baby between the mother and the dashboard.
This could have been prevented if the child was strapped into a car seat.
According to Zweli Dlamini, media spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni Metro, there is a fine of R100 for people who do not wear their seatbelts and the same fine for parents who do not strap their children in if they are under the age of 11.
Follow us on our social media platforms:
