Latest news with #Limpopo
The Herald
19 hours ago
- The Herald
Elephants trample soldier to death near Zimbabwe border
A soldier on border patrol has been trampled to death by a herd of elephants in Limpopo near Zimbabwe. The incident happened on Sunday night near the banks of the Limpopo River in Musina, about 300m from the SANDF's Madimbo o perational base. Private Xavier Raynard was doing routine patrols on the Malala Drift road when he was killed. The SANDF went to collect his remains on Monday. SANDF spokesperson Prince Tshabalala said Raynard, a member of the 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment, who was deployed under Operation Corona, was found dead near the base. 'Early indications suggest that he may have been fatally trampled by a herd of elephants while conducting routine patrols in the area. His service weapon was recovered at the scene. 'The matter is under investigation by SANDF authorities in co-operation with environmental and wildlife officials to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. A formal board of inquiry has been initiated,' said Tshabalala. Tshabalala said Raynard's next of kin, from Kimberley, Northern Cape, have been formally notified, and psychosocial support is being provided to the family and his unit members. Operation Corona is a national border safeguarding initiative aimed at combating transnational crimes along the country's borders. Tshabalala said that soldiers deployed in these operations face harsh terrain, isolation and exposure to unpredictable natural conditions. Lauren Liebenberg from the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve said: 'At this time of year, the crisis with the elephant populations that roam the Limpopo River Valley intensifies. When elephant hunting starts in the dry season they come across the Limpopo River [into SA] in huge numbers,' she said, adding that the elephants needed a well-managed migration corridor. 'The problem extends along the whole length of the 200km strip between Mapungubwe and Kruger National Park. We become a massive human-wildlife conflict zone.' Liebenberg said a programme by the US Agency for International Development to manage the problem collapsed after the US administration cancelled it earlier this year. 'Through the programme, they trained elephant herders and provided all sorts of defence interventions.' 'Deaths still remain rare and at the extreme end of the human wildlife conflict interface, but the elephants do massive damage to crops, to infrastructure — especially fencing and water infrastructure, and to the natural vegetation in the nature reserves,' said Liebenberg. SowetanLIVE
News24
a day ago
- Climate
- News24
Tuesday's weather: Windy, isolated showers in Northern Cape, fine and cool elsewhere
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has forecast isolated showers and windy conditions in the Northern Cape, while it will be fine and cool but cold in most parts of the country. Gauteng: Fine and cool. Pretoria: 3°C — 18°C Johannesburg: 4°C — 18°C Vereeniging: 1°C — 18°C Mpumalanga: Fine and cool, but cold in places. Mbombela: 4°C — 18°C Ermelo: -2°C — 15°C Emalahleni: -4°C — 16°C Standerton: 0°C — 16°C Skukuza: 4°C — 23°C Limpopo: Fine and cold to cool. Polokwane: 1°C — 15°C Phalaborwa: 6°C — 21°C Tzaneen: 7°C — 18°C Musina: 6°C — 20°C Lephalale: 4°C — 22°C Mokopane: 3°C — 17°C North West: Fine and cool. Klerksdorp: 3°C — 19°C Potchefstroom: 4°C — 18°C Mahikeng: 7°C — 18°C Rustenburg: 6°C — 18°C Vryburg: 3°C — 19°C Free State: Fine and cool, but cold in the south-east. Bloemfontein: 2°C — 17°C Welkom: 4°C — 18°C Bethlehem: -4°C — 15°C Northern Cape: Cloudy along the coast, otherwise partly cloudy, windy, and cool to warm with isolated showers and thundershowers, except in the north-east. Hot conditions are expected in the extreme north-west. The coastal wind will be moderate to fresh north-westerly. Upington: 6°C — 23°C Kimberley: 2°C — 20°C De Aar: 4°C — 19°C Alexander Bay: 19°C — 29°C Springbok: 14°C — 24°C Calvinia: 12°C — 24°C Sutherland: 0°C — 18°C Weather outlook for Tuesday & Wednesday, 29 - 30 July 2025. Partly cloudy conditions are expected over the central & western parts of the country, with isolated to scattered showers & thundershowers. Otherwise, fine & cold to cool, but it will be warm in places in the south. — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 27, 2025 Western Cape: Cloudy in the west during the morning, followed by partly cloudy and warm weather. Evening fog patches are likely in the north-west. The coastal wind will be moderate to fresh northerly to north-westerly. Cape Town: 13°C — 25°C Vredendal: 10°C — 30°C Riversdale: 8°C — 29°C George: 7°C — 28°C Worcester: 12°C — 28°C Beaufort West: 5°C — 24°C Oudtshoorn: 4°C — 28°C Western half of the Eastern Cape: Fine and cool, but warm along the coast. The coastal wind will be moderate northerly to north-westerly. Eastern half of the Eastern Cape: Fine and cool, but warm in the south-west. The coastal wind will be moderate to fresh north-easterly. Gqeberha: 11°C — 25°C Makhanda: 6°C — 24°C Cradock: 2°C — 22°C Graaff-Reinet: 3°C — 24°C East London: 10°C — 25°C Port St Johns: 7°C — 22°C Mthatha: 2°C — 25°C Komani: 0°C — 19°C Qonce: 6°C — 26°C KwaZulu-Natal: Fine and cold. The coastal wind will be fresh to strong north-easterly. Show Comments ()
News24
2 days ago
- Business
- News24
How Makgotso went from being a jobless graduate to building a thriving baking business
Twenty-five-year-old Makgotso Lekganyane from Flora Park in Polokwane, Limpopo, has transformed her passion for baking into a lucrative business opportunity. What started as a necessity – baking her birthday cake because she couldn't afford to buy one – has blossomed into her path to financial independence. The self-employed university graduate honed her skills by watching baking shows on television, and her dedication is now paying off. During a visit to her home, Makgotso told Drum magazine that she felt overwhelmed with happiness when her mother, family members, and friends complimented her delicious, mouth-watering cake. Read more | Limpopo woman Dineo Twala turns parents' home into disabled children's centre 'I decided to gather strength and courage to continue doing what I love most,' she said. Her entrepreneurial journey was born from the frustration of unsuccessful job hunting. Despite earning her Bachelor of Social Science degree from the University of Free State in 2019, after years of hard work and sleepless nights, 600km away from home, Makgotso struggled to find employment. Today, she specialises in cupcake bouquets featuring intricate floral details. 'I opted to make flowers from cupcakes after seeing the satisfaction customers get from eating my cupcakes and the excitement that comes with receiving flowers,' she explained. The self-taught baker believes baking is her inborn talent and gift. Read more | How Sivuyisa beat substance abuse to find redemption 'When I started baking cupcakes, I wanted something that looked beautiful and tasted good,' she said. Her admiration for flowers inspired this flourishing business idea. Initially, perfecting her cupcake flower designs took entire days of practice. Now, Makgotso has ambitious plans for the future. 'I intend to have my own confectionery or bakery business and create job opportunities for unemployed youth,' she said. Her passion for baking began in childhood. 'Growing up, when my friends and peers were playing in the street, I would sit indoors with my mother watching baking shows on television. I learned to bake scones and biscuits from these shows.' 'My mother continued to motivate me, and I was inspired to follow my heart and do what I love most,' Makgotso concluded.
The Herald
3 days ago
- The Herald
Limpopo man arrested for allegedly killing baby girl and injuring mother with pickup van
A 35-year-old Limpopo man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 13-month-old baby girl and the injury of her mother who were run over by a pickup van. Provincial police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba said the incident happened on Friday at about 8pm. He said the woman and the man — her ex-boyfriend — allegedly had a heated argument while she was waiting with her baby for a taxi to take them to Segopye village, outside Polokwane. 'A taxi arrived and she and her baby boarded. On the way, the taxi driver apparently informed her that a pickup van was following the taxi. 'They [mother and child] alighted at Marothi (Makwalaneng) and her ex-boyfriend allegedly drove over them at high speed,' Ledwaba said. The woman and child were taken to hospital where the little girl died. The mother sustained injuries to her legs. The man is expected to appear in the Makweng magistrate's court on Monday on charges of murder and attempted murder. SowetanLIVE
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Committee on Agriculture Commends Improved Performance of Agricultural Research Council (ARC), National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) and Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) in the Fourth Quarter of 2024/25
The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture welcomed the briefings it received yesterday from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), and the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) on their performance in the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year and commended their notable performance. In welcoming the briefings from the three entities of the Department of Agriculture, the Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Dina Pule, said the committee was happy about the progress that the entities reported to the committee. She said the committee notes the hard work the entities have demonstrated and called for more improvement in all the areas of work that included implementation of the Auditor General's recommendations on their last audit outcomes. The ARC reported that funding for building of the new Foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD) Vaccine Facility is still a challenge and that, efforts to obtain the required funding for the new facility remains a priority. The entity reported that field assessment of the FMD vaccine in Mpumalanga and Limpopo is ongoing and the study on vaccine safety in pregnant cows and young calves has been initiated. In appreciating the performance of the NAMC, the committee called on the entity to do more on finding market access for the small-scale farmers as markets are alfa and omega for their growth, survival and meaningful contribution to the South African economy and for national food security. The Chairperson told the Deputy Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Ms Zoleka Capa, who led the departmental delegation, that the committee notes with appreciation the accountability of both the Minister and his Deputy that they demonstrate to the committee. The Chairperson also said that accountability is a critical starting point for the success of the department. 'We deeply appreciate your availability to our meetings with the department. Your presence solidifies the accountability of the department to the committee and the oversight responsibility of the committee over the department,' emphasised the Chairperson. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
