From a Zimbabwean prophet spending big in Pretoria to Tom Cruise flying high in KZN, 2022 has been a year of riveting news.

As December 31 approaches, Caxton Local Media looks at the stories that dominated our 62 news sites around the country.

Part one deals with January to April and stories are ranked according to how well read they were.

Zimbabwean prophet behind R1.3m bar bill at Pretoria club

Zimbabwean prophet Passion Java grabbed the headlines when it was confirmed he spent more than R1.3m on drinks at a Pretoria club in January. Java hosted a birthday party for Passion Java Records country manager Denford Saunyama. Videos of partygoers pouring litres and litres of expensive champagne over Saunyama and on the floor while dancing in the puddles of fizz went viral.

Elephant overturns vehicle at iSimangaliso Wetland Park

In January, a lone elephant on the eastern shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KZN was captured on video as it rolled a car onto its roof and swivelled it around before calmly walking off. The occupants were lucky to escape without sustaining any injuries.

Tshwane confirms typhoid fever cases

Cases of typhoid fever, which is a bacterial disease that spreads through contaminated food, water or close contact, were confirmed in Gauteng in February, sending readers into panic mode.

Teen stabbed to death days before her birthday

In a tragic incident in Benoni, beauty student Amanda Lightfoot’s life was cut short when she was stabbed to death in what was suspected to have been an opportunistic crime. Lightfoot was killed on April 14 as she waited in a parked vehicle outside her boyfriend’s workplace.

No end to negligence at Daspoort tunnel in Pretoria West

There seems to be no light at the end of this tunnel. In April, Pretoria west residents said the Daspoort tunnel had become a hotspot area for crime and was a danger to drive through, especially at night, due to non-working streetlights. Metro spokesperson Sipho Stuurman said that the infrastructure at the tunnel could not be repaired due to budget constraints.

Killed by electrocution on first day of work

Another tragic incident made the headlines when Cole Tyreeke Maharaj (21) was electrocuted on his first day at work. The young trainee employee from Chatsworth in KZN sustained extensive burns and passed away in hospital.

Tom Cruise flies high on KZN South Coast

Excitement was in the air in February when news broke on Twitter that one of Hollywood’s best action stars, Tom Cruise, was flying over Oribi Gorge.

📹 Tom Cruise is flying in his own helicopter over Oribi Gorge here near me (KZN south coast). He’s in the area for a few days to explore the location. Mission Impossible 8 should be filmed here. Tom Cruise flying his own chopper over Oribi… https://t.co/AvaTgzYaQA

— Mission: Impossible Updates (@imfupdates) February 10, 2022

School in Seshego closed after ‘strange’ behaviour by learners

In March, a video circulated on social media platforms in which Makgofe Secondary School learners can be seen passed out on the school’s premises. The school, situated in Seshego outside Polokwane, was temporarily closed and an investigation was launched.

KNP managing executive leaves Kruger

The final story in the first part of our series on news that made the national headlines in 2022 comes from the Kruger National Park (KNP). SANParks in February announced the departure of the managing executive of the KNP, Gareth Coleman, after he completed his two-year term.