We look at some of the stories that made headlines in Centurion this year, and the following are some of the memorable and heart-breaking experiences some residents endured.
Owner of invaded Centurion Farm loses R1-million in crop, property damage
Hennie Henrico, is a local farmer who lost an estimated value of R1-million in crop and property damage.
Henrico was further stripped of his human rights and dignity when he was deprived the use of his property by land invaders.
The farmer said he knew he had lost his property when he found out that illegal invaders had ransacked his farm.
“When we sent someone to go and inspect the farmhouse, we found it stripped of electric equipment fittings, plugs, lights and the boards. The doors have been removed and some of the roof sheets have been removed,” he said.
Henrico also revealed that invaders tried to extort money from him and harassed him throughout the ordeal.
“I received a call from a guy named Rasta. He is staying in one of the shacks on my property. Rasta is asking for money to prevent people from occupying the house on the farm. He wanted R60 000 and when I said I didn’t have it, he then wanted R30 000 [now] and R30 000 later,” he said.
Olievenhoutbosch police station climbs to 31st in the province with a 3-star rating
The Olievenhoutbosch police station was among the worst-performers in the country, and criminals were having free reign in the area until Lieutenant-Colonel Gert Corbett was deployed at the station late last year.
Under the stewardship of Colonel Corbett, the station did significantly better in combating crime, an effort that resulted in the station moving from 94th position to 31st in just a year of his deployment.
Corbett told Rekord this achievement was made possible by police officers who dedicated their lives to fighting and combating crime in the area.
He said this meant that they were a few steps away from being one of the best in the province and the country.
Centurion likely to experience more sinkholes – expert
At least 38 people have died in sinkholes in the past 50 years countrywide. According to Council for Geoscience estimates, the cost of the damage caused by sinkholes to date is in excess of R1-billion nationally.
Rekord looked at what made Centurion prone to sinkholes.
We chatted with expert geologist at the council, Willem Meintjes, who told the publication that Centurion is underlain by a dolomitic rock susceptible to sinkholes.
“This typically covers greater Centurion-Irene, and most areas westward towards Valhalla and Laudium. These areas have the predisposition to the formation of sinkholes and subsidence when an appropriate sinkhole triggering mechanism is introduced,” Meintjies said.
Night dog walk collects 442kg of dog food
Nothing is as pure as the love of a dog, hence there’s a saying that “a dog is man’s best friend”.
The Pretoria Dog Rescue best understands that statement to an extent that it took a decision to treat dogs from time to time.
Irene Village Market has been hosting the annual dog walk in aid of animal shelter, Pretoria Dog Rescue, from 2008.
This year’s entrance fee for the event was a bag of dog food, and from this initiative, the shelter collected about 442kg of dog food.
Hennops River activist wins environmental prize
Tarryn Johnston and her team from Hennops Revival scooped a bronze award in the Eco Angel category of the Enviropaedia Eco-Logic awards in Cape Town.
The team scooped this award for its endless dedication to making sure that the Hennops River remains clean and free of pollution.
“It is such an honour to be recognised as game changers in the environmental crisis. These awards validate the work that we do within the community, planet and our water.
“While we don’t do any of this work for awards, it is wonderful that awards like this exist and help to increase the awareness of the significant actions by ordinary citizens for the sake of the earth, our home,” Johnston said.
Curro Thatchfield provides counselling to staff members and learners
A terrible tragedy hit the school on October 26 when Grade 1 learner Azania Madonsela died after she was struck by a car in the parking lot.
According to eyewitnesses, the deceased’s mother was still on the premises when the incident happened.
In bidding farewell to her, the school said it was shattered at Azania’s passing, adding that “it will forever shine her light and celebrate her at all times”.
Police have still to make an arrest more than a month after the incident.
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