Top stories which made north headlines in 2021

Once again, it’s that time of the year when we all look back and reflect on whether or not we achieved all we set out to at the beginning of 2021.

While that might be a rather daunting task – depending on the type of year you had – we compiled a list of the top stories which made headlines in and around the north of Pretoria this year.

Here’s a look back at the year that made news headlines:

– Picking up all the pieces after blaze

A family from The Orchards was left to rebuild their lives after they lost all their belongings when their home of more than a decade caught fire.

All of the family members were able to escape the blaze unharmed, but only with the clothes on their backs.

Appeared in the September 24 Rekord North newspaper

https://www.citizen.co.za/rekord/391737/north-family-picks-up-the-pieces-after-home-ravaged-by-fiery-blaze/

– Man (70) shot and killed for cellphone

A group of five robbers shot and killed the man at his Kameeldrift home, before taking his cellphone and fleeing the scene.

A case of house robbery and murder is being investigated.

https://www.citizen.co.za/rekord/392144/man-70-shot-and-killed-for-cellphone-on-north-smallholding/

– Woman escapes spike trap

A woman narrowly escaped a robbery after her tyre got a puncture when it was caught in a spike trap along the N1.

She escaped by grabbing her bag from her vehicle and running into moving traffic.

https://www.citizen.co.za/rekord/393210/woman-escapes-spike-robber-unharmed/

– Final goodbyes to heroic supercop

Following almost a week of mourning, Pretoria North’s beloved Warrant Officer Stoffel Holtzhausen’s emotional funeral service was held at a church in Theresapark.

Police performed their ceremonial duties while fellow bikers also showed up in their numbers to bid him farewell.

Holtzhausen died after crashing into a tree when he tried to avoid hitting a pedestrian.

He was riding his beloved motorbike at the time.

https://www.citizen.co.za/rekord/394453/pretoria-supercop-died-in-an-accident-on-friday-evening/

https://www.citizen.co.za/rekord/395181/pta-norths-heroic-supercop-to-be-laid-to-rest/

– Is local water a national disaster?

A report into the state of wastewater treatment works under the Tshwane metro’s jurisdiction found that either the creation of a national water care entity or declaration of a national disaster were some of the possible solutions to tackle the current crisis.

https://www.citizen.co.za/rekord/395909/water-care-entity-necessary-to-tackle-waste-water-treatment-plant-woes/

– Police tackle DNA backlog

During his announcement of the latest crime statistics, police minister Bheki Cele said police were making inroads in tackling the DNA backlog at their forensic laboratories.

The delays at these laboratories saw many cases face postponement due to a delay in receiving results from the laboratories after DNA samples were submitted for testing.

https://www.citizen.co.za/rekord/399296/cops-make-inroads-in-tackling-dna-backlog/

– Hundreds of cops probed over serious criminal offences

At least 459 police officers in the Gauteng province is currently being investigated for serious criminal offences.

According to community safety MEC Faith Mazibuko, the police officers were under investigation for charges which included corruption, extortion, common assault, contempt of court, carjacking and other crimes.

https://www.citizen.co.za/rekord/399247/hundreds-of-cops-probed-over-serious-criminal-offences/

– Little superhero loses cancer fight

Following a lengthy battle with neuroblastoma cancer, little superman Teagan van Wyk lost the battle against the disease on November 16.

Van Wyk had previously completed treatment, but when a setback was experienced last year, all treatment was stopped.

https://www.citizen.co.za/rekord/398169/little-superman-teagan-4-loses-fight-against-cancer/

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