The best of 2022 part 3: Big local news stories of the year
As the curtain is brought down on 2022, we remember the year that was in the last of our three-part series.
Which stories were the biggest newsmakers between September and today?
As 2022 draws to a close, Caxton Local Media revisits the most-read stories across our 62 news sites over the past four months.
The stories are ranked according to the amount of interest they attracted in their communities.
Owner of invaded Centurion farm loses R1m in crop, property damage
An Olievenhoutbosch farmer lost a large sum in property and crop damage, allegedly due to illegal land invasions that took place in the final weeks of October. The farmer says the illegal invaders tried to extort money from him, telling him he should pay a certain amount to stop more people from occupying the land.
A police case was opened, but days later closed without any arrests.
Read the full story here.
N4 highway closed following Pretoria cash-in-transit heist
Cash in transit heist on the N4 between Simon Vermooten road and Rossouw Street. Both lanes are closed. Use alternative routes. pic.twitter.com/IfkQ8cwhd8
— Pretoria Rekord (@RekordNewspaper) November 9, 2022
The N4 highway in Pretoria between Rossouw Street and Simon Vermooten Road was closed following a cash-in-transit heist on November 9.
Read the full story here.
Curro Thatchfield provides counselling to staff members and learners
The tragic death of Gr 1 learner Azania Madonsela shocked readers in October. She died after she was hit by a car, allegedly driven by a mom who dropped off her child at school.
A case of culpable homicide is still being investigated.
Read more here.
International singer cancels much-anticipated Durban concert
Thousands of Calum Scott fans were left in the lurch after the British-born singer cancelled his show in Durban in November. He wrote on a now deleted Instagram post that the cancellation was due to current weather complications.
A new date of March 31 has since been set for his return to Durban.
Read the full story.
Missing 10-year-old Centurion learner found in Randburg
The disappearance of 10-year-old Omphile Chauke shocked many in November. According to his mother Lesego, Omphile was on his way to a nearby Spar when he disappeared. He was found unharmed two days later.
Read the full story here.
NW schoolboy chases after another boy with gun, as dad watches
Police in the North West opened two cases of assault after a video of a learner holding a firearm and chasing after a boy in Wolmaransstad made the rounds on social media in September.
In the video, a learner and his father are seen hitting the boy. The father also held him by the collar and pinned him to a fence in full view of cheering learners.
Read the full story here.
G4S cash van targeted in Silverfields
An article about a cash-in-transit heist in Krugersdorp in November was well read by our readers. Three K9 officers who were in the vicinity responded to the scene and a shootout ensued.
Read the full story here.
Watch: Eight confirmed dead in horror gas tanker explosion in Plantation
The first story of a tanker transporting LP gas exploding in Boksburg had the death toll at eight but, tragically, this rose to 34, with people in a nearby hospital among the fatalities.
Read the full story here.
High drama at sea
A massive search operation unfolded on December 21 after two divers went missing about seven nautical miles off Ramsgate in KZN.
Father and son Mike and Alan Fraser were rescued and reunited after they spent hours in the ocean.
Read the full story here.
Roads to avoid in Alberton owing to flooding
Roads to avoid in Alberton due to flooding pic.twitter.com/0NWNB75ydW
— Alberton Record (@RecordAlberton) October 18, 2022
Masses of water wreaked havoc in parts of Gauteng in October. Among the worst hit was Krugersdorp, where roads became impassable.
Read the full story here.
Read original story on brakpanherald.co.za
