Latest news with #Lowvelder
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- Climate
- The Citizen
Here's when and where to see the rare strawberry moon in SA
If you miss out on today and tomorrow's spectacular in the sky, you will have to wait another 18 years to experience it. Lowvelder reports that tomorrow at 09:43, the strawberry moon will be the lowest in the sky in 19 years, and according to Project Nightfall's Facebook page, it will only be this low again in 2043. This means that tonight, the moon will be nearly full and will look spectacular as it rises. In the early morning hours of tomorrow, it will still be very full as it sets. When will it be visible? According to moonrise and moonset times, these are the best estimates for some of South Africa's cities and a town in KZN: Pretoria Moonrise: Approximately 16:29 SAST today (Look to the east after sunset for a beautiful view of the rising, nearly full moon.) Moonset: Approximately 06:58 SAST tomorrow (Look to the west before sunrise for the setting, still very full moon.) Durban Moonrise: Approximately 16:09 SAST today (Look to the east after sunset for a beautiful view of the rising, nearly full moon.) Moonset: Approximately 06:58 SAST tomorrow (Look to the west before sunrise for the setting, still very full moon.) Mbombela Moonrise: Approximately 16:21 SAST today (Look to the east after sunset for a beautiful view of the rising, nearly full moon.) Moonset: Approximately 06:44 SAST tomorrow (Look to the west before sunrise for the setting, still very full moon.) Richards Bay Moonrise: Approximately 16:08 SAST today (Look to the east after sunset for a beautiful view of the rising, nearly full moon.) Moonset: Approximately 06:51 SAST tomorrow (Look to the west before sunrise for the setting, still very full moon.) To get a more specific time for your area if it is not listed above, click here and update the location. What is a strawberry moon? The full strawberry moon will produce a stunning show as the fully lit disk of Earth's natural satellite rides low over the south-eastern horizon. According to the website a full moon occurs every month when the moon is positioned opposite the sun in Earth's sky. 'It allows the lunar disk to be fully lit from our perspective. June's full moon is commonly referred to as the strawberry moon in the United States, but the nickname isn't a reference to its colour, though there's a decent chance it will take on a yellow-orange hue when near the horizon due to the atmosphere's habit of scattering certain wavelengths of light. Rather, the evocative name is thought to have been coined by the Native American Algonquian tribes in reference to the short strawberry harvesting season that falls around this time of year, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Other cultures have dubbed the event the blooming moon, green corn moon, birth moon and hatching moon, to name a few,' according to
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
309 Lowvelders set to take on 2025 Comrades Marathon
So, your running friends seem to have gone missing. They're out late, they're eating and drinking less, and they seem to be even less sane than normal. Well if you guessed that it's Comrades Marathon time again, you'd be correct. As is Lowveld tradition, Nelspruit Marathon Club held their annual Comrades Breakfast Run on May 31. Runners enjoyed their choice of a 5km, 10km or 20km run out on the ring road, starting at Mbombela Stadium. No official winners are recorded and instead everyone runs together socially to enjoy a last run before the ultimate running test. This Sunday, tens of thousands of runners from around the world will flock to KZN to lace up their running shoes and take on the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon. The 2025 edition will be a down run, with the race starting in Pietermaritzburg and ending in Durban, an 89km route. It won't be any regular race this year either, as the 24 000 entrants who have put themselves down for the ultimate human race will make up the largest field for a down run in the history of the Comrades. This makes every participating Lowvelder a special part of Comrades history. Not only will every participating Lowvelder have a slice of the historical pie, but a good number will be aiming for personal milestones, too. Perhaps most significantly are Johannes Nyalunga of Ngodwana Marathon Club and Calvin Khoza of the Legogote Villagers who will both be running their 30th Comrades Marathon this year. There are also three runners, all from Nedbank LVCC Running Club, who are shooting for their green number. Adele Smit, Joshua Sibiya and Joseph Khoza will all be running their 10th Comrades Marathon come Sunday. Deon Cronje, also of Nedbank LVCC, is running his 25th Comrades while Chris Schutte is making his debut aiming for a silver sub-seven hour time. The Legogote Villagers' cohort will feature six novices this year, as well as Melusi and Delisiwe Mbatha who will face the ultimate test of their relationship – running the Comrades together. Johnson Mamba, who started running two years ago at the age of 60, will be making his Comrades debut as the only runner from KaNyamazane Marathon Club taking part. Bella's Athletics Club will have the largest field of Lowveld runners on Sunday as no fewer than 72 have entered the race. Of the 309 Lowvelders taking part, 216 are men and 93 are women. The largest age group is the men 40+ with 77 runners, and the largest women's age group is the senior group with 39. While the Comrades on any normal day is a serious test, this weekend will be exponentially tougher as some frigid temperatures are expected. According to Snow Report SA, there is snowfall possible in eight of the country's nine provinces this weekend. With snow expected in KZN from Monday, they predict Comrades Sunday will be very chilly indeed. Regardless, this event will bring out the best in all runners taking part, and Lowvelder wishes all the local runners the best in their pursuit of Comrades glory! > Photos: Blake Linder At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Businessman shot and killed in Hazyview
The Hazyview police in Mpumalanga are in search of a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of a businessman at Sand River Trust on Wednesday. According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, the SAPS responded to reports of a shooting at a popular eatery in the area. Lowvelder reports that when SAPS arrived, they found the victim, Eddie Khoza, lying motionless on the ground and covered with a blanket. 'Police investigations have indicated that a man entered the premises posing as a customer. The suspect suddenly drew a firearm and shot the victim at point-blank range. The victim is said to have attempted to get help but collapsed in the street and was further shot by his assailant, who then fled the scene on foot. Emergency medical services later declared him dead at the scene,' Ndubane says. She says multiple shell casings were recovered at the scene. The police are appealing to the public for assistance in locating the suspect. Anyone with information that could aid the investigation is urged to contact Detective Captain Eddie Raphakgadi on 082 449 0231. Alternatively, call Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or share information via the MySAPS app. 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 At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Update: More details emerge on fatal shooting near White River Rugby Club
The White River community in Mpumalanga is reeling after a tragic shooting outside White River Rugby Club in the early hours this morning. Lowvelder reports that police are continuing their investigation into the shooting, which resulted in the death of Pieter Burger (21) and left two others, Arno van Niekerk and Marco Schalekamp, critically injured. According to multiple trusted sources, the incident reportedly stemmed from an altercation between Van Niekerk and Schalekamp, prompting Burger to intervene. The situation escalated near the main road (Danie Joubert), where gunfire erupted. While the exact circumstances remain unclear as there are various versions of what transpired, Lowvelder is in the process of gathering the facts. Emergency responders of ER24 and Emer-G-Med attended the scene. ER24 paramedic Kim Habib confirmed that Burger was declared dead on arrival, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. ER24 transported Van Niekerk to Rob Ferreira Hospital, stabilising him on scene and en route. He sustained gunshot wounds to the abdomen, chest, back, left shoulder and the left side of his head. Emer-G-Med's Martin Jeffrey confirmed that Schalekamp was also transported to Rob Ferreira Hospital in a critical condition. He suffered gunshot wounds to both cheeks, with the bullet entering one side and exiting the other, impacting his cheekbone, as well as injuries to his shoulders and neck. He was later transferred to Mediclinic Nelspruit for further treatment. The first responder, Willem Burger of ACS Spartan, described finding Van Niekerk injured near a utility vehicle. According to Jeffrey, Schalekamp was seated in his vehicle, bleeding heavily. ACS Spartan's John Meintjes reported that his young son and dog were inside the vehicle but were unharmed. A family friend later arrived to take the child and pet to safety. Meintjes also described an intense moment when Burger's father arrived at the scene, visibly distraught. Authorities have recovered firearms and several spent cartridges, which will form part of the investigation. Tributes for Burger are already pouring in, with the White River Rugby Club describing him as 'a true dynamite, a warrior through and through'. The club expressed deep sorrow over the loss of 'one of their own' and extended condolences to his family and loved ones. In honour of his memory, a gathering has been planned at the White River Rugby Club tonight at 17:30, where friends, family and members of the community will come together to celebrate Burger's life. Lowvelder attempted to reach out to Burger's family but was unable to make contact. Investigations remain ongoing, and the police urge anyone with information to come forward. 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 At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Man killed, 2 others injured in early morning Mpumalanga shooting
White River, Mpumalanga, police are investigating a shooting that occurred earlier today, resulting in the death of a well-known young man believed to be in his 20s. Lowvelder reports that, in addition, two others were injured in an altercation on Danie Joubert Street, apparently near the entrance to the White River Rugby Club. According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, officers responded to a report from the 10111 emergency number just before 01:00 regarding a shooting on Danie Joubert Street, near the White River Rugby Club. 'When police arrived at the scene, they discovered the body of a man with gunshot wounds,' Mdhluli confirms. According to Mdhluli, two other men who had sustained gunshot wounds were transported to Rob Ferreira Hospital for medical treatment. Authorities recovered two firearms and several spent cartridges at the scene, which will be analysed as part of the investigation. Members of the provincial Murder and Robbery Unit visited the crime scene to collect evidence earlier today. The identity of the deceased is being withheld at this stage, as contact with the family has not been established. No further information was available 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 At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
