Lowvelder’s most-read news headline of 2020
#Festive2020 It is no secret that the year 2020 has been like no other. When Covid-19 struck, a new work-from-home reality became the norm for millions of people across the country.
This resulted in growth of almost two million page views from last year’s eight million on Lowvelder‘s website.
In total, 10 158 467 readers clicked on the variety of stories available on www.lowvelder.co.za.
Here’s a look at the top 5 news stories of 2020:
1. Our most-read story of the year was an incident that occurred in the Kruger National Park (KNP) on September 27. On this date, vehicles were seen driving into the veld close to Shingwedzi to obtain a better view of a leopard kill being dragged under a bush. The sighting caught numerous guests’ attention, which also meant they were witnesses to the transgression. The story attracted 148 848 page views.
2. Three KNP staff members who were arrested for the possession of rhino horn in October were the second-most read story with 141 779 page views. The trio, two security guards and an employee working with the technical services team, was arrested following an intelligence-driven operation by SANParks, the SAPS crime intelligence unit, Sabi Sands and Skukuza SAPS stock theft unit.
Arriving in the world only five minutes apart, identical twins Annette Swart and Lynette Barnes passed away in April with only five hours left between them. Swart worked at Rudamans and Barnes at Gemden in Mbombela. They were the youngest daughters of Fred (96) and the late Daphne Naudé. More than 112 000 people were touched by this unusual and heartbreaking story.
3. In what their son called the spirit of ubuntu, an elderly couple was exceptionally assisted in the KNP after they had lost control of their vehicle. On August 24, Fawzia (65) and her husband, Hoosen Vawda (72), were about five kilometres from Satara Rest Camp when they heard a loud snapping sound from underneath their car, followed by a scraping noise against the tar.
After hitting a tree, the vehicle continued on with the Vawdas terrified. It eventually came to a standstill after hitting a thicket, leaving both occupants dazed. Within minutes, more than 40 other guests (of different age and race groups) stopped out of concern concern and offered to help. A total of 109 903 people shared this spirit of ubuntu on Lowvelder‘s website.
4. “Onooglike huis staan steeds, eienaar is nêrens te vinde” het meer as 105 000 lesers se aandag getrek. ‘n Inwoner van 15 jaar het gemor dat dié woning vervalle en ‘n absolute oogseer vir inwoners is, en daartoe bydra dat die waarde van eiendom in die straat drasties verlaag.
Laevelder het vroeër berig dat die raaiselagtige huis aan Rina Charles, ‘n voormalige hoof van die provinsiale gesondheidsdepartement, behoort. Sy het destyds (1999/2000) die kasarm met die drie verdiepings begin bou, maar het die bouery later gestaak toe sy finansiële uitdagings ondervind het.
The KNP has more than 900 heritage sites. But, a particular one – the grave of respected leader, Chief Nyongane Shikuvati Mkhabela – has attracted the attention of 100 585 readers since the article was published in November.
5. En ten slotte, toe welbekende Laevelder en boer by Joubert en Seuns, Francois Joubert jnr. in November ernstig in ‘n motorongeluk beseer is, het die berig 100 476 lesers bereik.
Francois is die mede-eienaar van dié familieplaas, Kobus, se seun. Hoewel die presiese omstandighede rondom die voorval nog nie bekend is nie, het Francois se ma, Mariëtte laat weet dat sy toestand drasties verbeter het en dat behalwe vir ‘n ribbesering, hy volkome herstel het.
