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The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Elephant attack in North West: Injured tourist told ‘it was safe'
Lionel Budieu, the French tourist trampled by a female elephant on Sunday, has rejected claims about how the incident unfolded at Impodimo Game Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve in North West. In an exclusive telephonic interview with Caxton Network News, from his Johannesburg hospital bed, Budieu said he did not ignore alleged warnings given by a tour guide, contrary to a statement by Thomas Matlapeng of the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism. Family holiday turns into a nightmare Budieu, from Nice in the south of France, explained that he, his wife and their eight-year-old daughter visited the lodge at the start of their South African holiday. It is his second visit to the country. 'I do not know where they get this information,' he said, adding that various animals freely graze around the lodge due to a nearby dam. 'It is marvellous and very beautiful, that is why it has a good reputation.' Budieu said 'there is no fence'. 'So, sometimes from our balcony, we can see the elephants come in.' He said the main building has a restaurant, bar and offices, and bungalows are accessible via pathways from the building. 'We are not allowed to go off these pathways into the bush.' Moments before the attack After a morning safari that started at 06:00, the family returned to the main building at about 10:00. They planned to go for brunch, but first wanted to drop off their belongings at their bungalow. 'My daughter was ahead of me and she saw a huge elephant trumpeting,' Budieu recalled, imitating the sound. 'There was a huge herd of elephants at this time.' Some elephants were on the pathway, about 5m from his daughter. Budieu said they had been instructed by lodge staff to stay calm, not run away, and walk backwards quietly – advice, he said, they followed. 'I asked the elephants if they could go away, without moving, because this is what we were told to do. This worked well as the elephants walked in the other direction, but they were still on the pathway.' Guide's assurance Budieu said a guide then approached and told him it was safe to return to the bungalow. 'My wife asked the guide: 'Are you sure? We are not in a hurry. Maybe we can get a coffee to make sure the whole herd has left? We do not want to take any risk'.' Budieu said the guide replied, saying: 'No, no, it's okay, I know this place and the behaviour of the elephants, you can go, they have left.' However, as they walked, they encountered elephants on the pathway again. 'I told my wife and my daughter to go away. The guide hid herself near a bungalow and told me 'run away!', but she was already too late.' An elephant's trunk grazed his arm before they charged. 'I walked back, but fell over a root and onto a tree. It felt like an eternity for me being stomped on, but maybe it was only two or three minutes, I don't know.' Severe injuries and slow rescue Budieu's injuries included a hole in his right arm, a broken leg and difficulty breathing. 'I was sure I was going to die,' he said. A lodge staff member applied pressure to his arm to stem the bleeding. 'We waited two hours before the medic from the reserve came… then they called the [helicopter].' He said there was further delay as he was first required to prove he had medical aid before being airlifted. 'Completely rubbish' Budieu said his wife later showed him articles quoting the department's claim that he ignored warnings and was taking photos. 'It is completely rubbish.' Doctors told him they had to rebuild his arm because muscles had been severed. 'The hole is 1mm away from the central nerve – if it were closer, I would have lost my arm.' He now awaits repatriation to France, and hopes this will happen tomorrow or Sunday. Budieu said the lodge and reserve have been kind, helping his wife and daughter travel to Johannesburg to visit him. 'They gave a stuffed toy to my daughter… and the owner, with a guide from the lodge, came to visit me.' Lodge responds Impodimo Game Lodge MD Steve Tucker confirmed Budieu was injured by an elephant. 'We did everything we could and everything that was correct. We evacuated him and saved his life essentially. Without our intervention, he would not have survived.' Tucker said he could not comment on the guide's actions or the allegations against her. Although Matlapeng was approached for comment by Caxton Network News, no comment had been received at the time of publishing. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Alleged rhino-horn possession: Nelspruit court postpones case again
The long-running case against Schalk Abraham 'AB' Steyn and Limpopo game farmer Dawie Groenewald, who face charges of illegal possession and transportation of rhino horns, has been postponed again. Lowvelder reports that the pair briefly appeared in the Nelspruit Regional Court yesterday, where the matter was set down for a pretrial conference on November 10. Steyn and Groenewald were arrested together on July 20, 2021, at a property in the Riverside area, in Mbombela, where 19 rhino horns were allegedly found. They were granted bail of R50 000 each shortly afterwards. Since their arrest, the case has seen multiple delays – from legal representation issues to the defence requesting further documentation from the state. The November hearing is expected to determine whether the matter will finally proceed to trial. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Man's body parts in plastic and maize meal bags: Woman to appear in Ermelo court
Man's body parts in plastic and maize meal bags: Woman to appear in Ermelo court A 33-year-old woman is expected to appear in the Ermelo Magistrate's Court today, after she was arrested following the discovery of a man's dismembered body parts on Monday. According to Mpumalanga News, police received information that a 37-year-old man was stabbed to death, allegedly by his female companion. 'The dispatched officers discovered some dismembered body parts inside a plastic bag, while other body parts were found inside a maize meal bag,' says Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli. He adds that preliminary investigations suggest the suspect and the victim were engaged in an argument when the man was stabbed with a knife. It is believed the woman dismembered the victim's body with the hope of hiding the body parts. The woman faces charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Accused Heidelberg lawyer disputes age of girl in human trafficking trial
The Heidelberg lawyer accused of buying a 13-year-old girl from her mother, who allegedly sold the sexual services of her underage girls on websites, is now disputing the girl's age. Boksburg Advertiser reports that Carel Schoeman and his co-accused, the mother, made another court appearance in a High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court. Schoeman faces 26 charges, while the mother faces 72. Both accused pleaded not guilty to all charges during an earlier court sitting. The charges include rape, sexual abuse of a minor, child trafficking and pointing a firearm. The alleged crimes took place between mid-2022 and early 2023 in areas across Gauteng, the Free State and KZN, including Boksburg, Heidelberg, Brakpan, Springs, Villiers, Amanzimtoti and Ramsgate. In his plea explanation, Schoeman claimed he believed the girl was 19 years old at the time of the alleged offences. During the court proceedings, Schoeman's advocate, Sita Kolbe SC, cross-examined former investigating officer Captain Veronica Banks. Kolbe questioned whether the complainant's age was medically verified. Banks said it was not necessary, as a copy of the girl's birth certificate was sufficient, and the mother also confirmed her age. Kolbe further asked Banks why the police did not accept an ID stating the girl was 18. Banks said this identity document was fake. She testified that the minor girl referred to a relationship she had with another man and said that she had undergone an abortion. Kolbe questioned why the other man had not been arrested. Banks responded that having a relationship with someone does not necessarily mean that sexual intercourse took place. According to Banks, there is a list of names showing payments made to the mother. This would be investigated separately. The mother's aunt also testified. During cross-examination, the witness mentioned a phone call from the eldest daughter, in which the child asked if she could stay with her. The trial continues. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Woman murdered with axe: Boyfriend arrested in Limpopo
The Mankweng police in Limpopo arrested a man (40) in connection with the brutal murder of his girlfriend (32) at his home in Thakgalang village, Nobody, on Monday night. Polokwane Review reports that, according to Limpopo police, the woman's body was found lying in a pool of blood in the house. She had multiple stab wounds. 'The victim was certified dead at the scene by paramedics. An axe, believed to have been used in the commission of the crime, was recovered,' says Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba. He adds that preliminary investigations revealed the suspect allegedly assaulted the victim before contacting her family. 'When the family arrived, they made the shocking discovery. The suspect later attempted suicide at home but failed and subsequently crashed his vehicle near Savannah Mall in Polokwane. He was taken to hospital under police guard. He has since been charged with murder and will soon appear in the Mankweng Magistrate's Court,' Ledwaba says. Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe condemned the incident and calls on communities to speak out and report abuse. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
