This year has been a very interesting one indeed. From Ekom’s power failure and the shameless mud-slinging in parliament, to Nkandla reports, and lack of accountability; the Oscar trial; and of course, thehrien Diwani trial… locally, we have had our fair-share of hair-raising moments, some which frustated, angered, and occasionally brought a smile to our faces. Here is our count-down of the most-read stories of the year.
1. Update & photos: Croc kills son of staff member in Kruger National Park
With over 30 000 pageviews, Lowvelder was the first to break the story of the young man who was killed by a crocodile in the Kruger National Park.
The 29-year-old Jacques van der Sandt had apparently been visiting his parents who reside in Skukuza on holiday when he was killed by a 3,9m long crocodile on the Skukuza Golf Course on Wednesday, December 3.
Read this story here.
2. Wilde jaagtog eindig tragies
Met 24 467 webblad-besoeke, skuif hierdie storie in die tweede posisie in van die mees-gelese stories van die jaar.
‘n Wilde jaagtog in die middernagtelike ure in Ferreirastraat – wat boonop op video vasgelê is – het tragies geëindig toe twee insittendes van die sportmotor dood is. Lees die volledige storie hier.
3. Rob crisis – bodies rot, total chaos
Angry readers took to social media to share their discontent at the state of Rob Ferreira Hospital. Our Facebook page Lowvelder/Laevelder and Twitter page LowveldMedia were buzzing after Lowvelder broke this story. With more than 22 231 page views, it quickly became one of national interest. The video discovery of a decomposing body and filthy wards at Rob Ferreira Hospital as the workers embarked on an ongoing protest action, made by made Lowveld Media journalists, shocked the nation. The original video clip was also used as an insert on ENCA’s Afrikaans news bulletin on kykNET. Read the comprehensive report here.
4. New video footage: Rage incident at Crossing Centre attracts attention
With 12, 647 page views, this story clocks in as the fourth most-read story of 2014.
A public spectacle erupted in Crossing’s parking lot on Friday, April 8, during which a well-known media consultant was assaulted with a car jack and a wheel spanner after he had accidentally nicked the side mirror of a woman’s expensive German car upon opening the door of his vehicle. Click here to read this story.
5. VIDEO: Eye-witness account of the massive car pile-up in Alberton N12
When news of the massive car-pile up on the N12 in Alberton made news headlines on October 14, the nation was silenced by absolute shock and disbelief. Three motorists were reported dead. Nine were reported to be in a critical condition and 47 other also sustained injuries. Moments later video footage of the aftermath and those who had survived revealed the reality of this astonishing ordeal. This story became Lowvelder’s fifth most-read editorial story of the year with 11 501 page views. Click here to watch the video which generated 323,792 hits on Youtube.
**Bonus: Madonsela came in like a wrecking ball
This parody video was in response to the unrelenting comments made by Gwede Mantashe about the Public Protector after she put heat on the the president to respond to the Nkandla report. Click here to read more.
To end things on a humorous note, watch the video below:
https://youtu.be/DO95OSKha-Q
