A year in review 2014
These stories made the front page of the ZO in 2014.
January
When a 14-month-old Richards Bay baby Sebastian Strecker was mauled by his family’s pit bull terrier, his father had to intervene and stab the dog to death to end the attack.
The baby was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and received 128 stitches. Sebastian has since made an astonishing recovery.
February
Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) lost hundreds of millions within a week after a municipal high voltage cable failed and cut electricity supply to the coal giant.
All shipping operations and coal train offloading activities at the world’s largest coal terminal had to be halted while the City of uMhlathuze tried to effect repairs.
The cable was fixed nine days after the power cut, but the crisis opened a can of worms as City Councillors fiercely debated the city’s competence in maintaining vital infrastructure for its key customers.
March
A week-old elephant at Thula Thula Private Game Reserve was separated from its herd and landed on owner Francoise Malby-Anthony’s stoep.
‘Baby Tom’ was fed and slept before being reunited with his family four hours later.
The touching story grabbed the attention of the world’s media, including the BBC, Los Angeles Times and New York Post.
April
Engen’s 2.5km oil pipeline burst at the Port of Richards Bay and leaked thousands of litres of oil into the harbour.
Environmentalists, government departments and port authorities jumped into action to clean up the heavy slick that threatened marine life and stained eight vessels moored at the port.
May
When thousands of worshippers descended on Richards Bay’s Birdswood suburb and camped on sidewalks in front of homes to attend a Shembe church event, residents were outraged.
To make space for the massive crowd at the church in Mpunza Hill bordering the neighbourhood, Shembe members cleared the protected forestry against the orders of KZN MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development, Dr Mechack Radebe.
Satellite images show the area is now home to a small informal settlement.
PHOTO: Angela Kelly
June
Zululanders were deeply saddened by the death of 12-year-old Ashley Sclanders who suddenly collapsed from an acute heart failure during a dance academy exam.
Hundreds of pupils, family and community members gathered for Ashley’s memorial service where the Felixton College Junior Choir sang a special tribute and her family released balloons in her honour.
July
After the notorious ‘cane fields’ serial killer is sentenced to life in prison, the brother of one of the murder victims, Mondli Ndlovu, finally finds closure placing flowers on his sister’s Zanele Ndlovu’s grave outside Empangeni.
The accused, Ntokozo Shumbuzo Mthimkhulu (36), was responsible for a reign of terror in 2010 when he lured unsuspecting women from the Empangeni taxi rank to nearby canefields where he raped, robbed and murdered his victims.
He was slammed with five life terms and an additional 42 years’ incarceration.
August
Four horses and four donkeys tragically died in a fire at Dayspring Farm. One of the victims was the famous ‘counting donkey’ Cleopatra, who could tap her hoof the same amount of times as a number pronounced.
Zululanders rallied to support owners Dave and Les Ervine and help rebuild the stables.
September
Richards Bay’s fresh water source, Lake Mzingazi, dropped to its lowest level in 50 years during the prevailing drought conditions.
Lake beds once covered in water revealed remnants of the old Royal Air Force station built for aircraft in 1944.
Among the war artefacts found were two World War II bombs detonated by the SAPS Explosives Unit for safety purposes.
A massive search operation by the unit ensured no more weapons were left which could pose a danger.
October
Tidal waves ate away huge chunks of Richards Bay’s fragile coastline.
More than five metres of sand barrier at Alkantstrand was eroded, leaving community members worried about what will be left of the beach.
Plans to save the Alkantstrand include rocks and ‘geofabric bags’ as a defensive wall to curb the advance of the ocean.
November
Four men were arrested for the brutal murder of elderly Meerensee couple Ernst and Lilo Boller, with the chief suspect being the couple’s gardener, Andile Phila Mbuyazi.
The Bollers were murdered and their home set alight in September.
All four men, between the ages 26 and 30, now face counts of murder, house robbery, arson and being in possession of stolen property.
December
Family members mourn the lives of three matriculants, Philani Gumede, Thobani Mkhize and Bongumusa Mathenja, who were stabbed to death at a ‘pens down’ party at Richards Bay’s Bay Hall.
Police have so far arrested one suspect, a 22-year-old Mtunzini man, who is charged with three cases of murder and two cases of attempted murder.
The youngsters’ principles, as well as City Mayor Elphas Mbatha and Head of Education, Nkosinathi Sishi, all condemned the violent act and police have since established security measures at the beach and Pelican Island areas where the incidents occurred.
