Another one bites the dust. Soon, we will all say goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020 and what a year 2019 has been.
Let’s look back at the ups and downs of the year.
January
• Bertie, the miracle dog, was welcomed into his new home by his new family on December 18, 2018. He was picked up by a kind-hearted man who drove past him in the Germiston area on December 3. He was adopted by ER24 paramedic Bianca Castleman Peens who cared for him with love. On August 10, 2019, he was put to rest “to go over the rainbow bridge” as Bianca would describe it due to illness.
READ STORY: UPDATE: WATCH – Bertie’s adopted and loved
• Chad Gifford (47), a former Albertonian, is a swimming coach and daredevil open water swimmer who perhaps could have been a comedian in another life. He’s experienced tragedy the average person cannot comprehend, losing his legs in a motor vehicle accident as a young man. Yet now he lives his life in such an adventurous fashion that it would embarrass most couch potatoes. His latest mission was to be part of the Midmar 16 Mile at this year’s event, having already secured his Midmar 8 Mile Club permanent number.
READ STORY: Former Albertonian Chad Gifford needs a little help to complete his Midmar mission
• Athol Nuttley (63) was brutally attacked at his house in Albermarle in the early hours of January 17. He went to take out his dustbin as he does every Thursday morning. This Thursday was his unlucky day when more than one criminal entered his premises and assaulted him. Athol went to his home doctor who provided him with the needed medical attention as he temporarily lost his voice due to the strangulation. He also sustained bruises and lesions over various parts of his body.
READ STORY: GALLERY: Man (63) brutally assaulted at his house in Albermarle
• A Mother (49) and daughter (28) was arrested for reckless and negligent driving and interfering with officers on January 14. The arrest took place between 12.30pm and 2.30pm while officers were enforcing speed limits on Swartkoppies Road, in the vicinity of Hennie Alberts Street. At 12.25pm Speed Enforcement Unit members stopped a white BMW 1 series for clocking 107km/h in a 70 km/h zone, driven by a 28-year old female.
READ STORY: Mother and daughter arrested for reckless and negligent driving and interfering with officers
• Tersia Burger, a woman who is known to the Alberton community for starting Stepping Stone Hospice & Care Services, lost her only child, Vicky, at the age of 39 after a 10-year horrific battle with osteogenesis imperfecta. “Six years after the death of my dear child, I have made the decision to finally start a support group for parents who have lost a child. The loss of a child is the most devastating experience a parent can face, and missing the child never goes away. A piece of yourself is lost and your future is forever changed. The NotAlone Support Group was established by Burger for parents all over Gauteng still grieving the death of their child.
READ STORY: Changing pain into something good
• On January 31, Chris Nel from the Stepping Stone Hospice’s Charity shop helped a mother who gave birth on the pavement in front of their shop in Fore Street in New Redruth. Nel jumped into action when he saw the mother struggling to walk and as he explains “while I was watching her, the baby just seemed to drop out”. His experience as a first aider Level 3 came in handy as he aided the mother, Felda Ngubeni, and helped the baby to start breathing. The mother and newborn baby were taken to the Clinton Hospital where they were stabilised and transferred to Natalspruit Hospital.
READ STORY: BREAKING NEWS: Woman gives birth on pavement in Fore Street, New Redruth
February
• Catharine Atkins (42) from Alberton is a director at Co-Arc International Architects, the company responsible for the design and completion of The Leonardo. The Leonardo is the new skyscraper in Sandton. Catharine is the principal consultant on site for The Leonardo project.
Link: https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/199414/albertons-own-part-of-the-tallest-building-in-africa/
• Alberton se eie braai wenspan, die Brafia, het vir die eerste keer hul verskyning op die kassie met die eerste episode van Ultimate Braai Master op 3 Februarie, gemaak. Corné ‘Borries’ Borman en Kagiso ‘Mr K’ Mpinda het familie en vriende genooi om die eerste uitsending saam met hulle te geniet. Corné en Kagiso het hul ervarings tydens die kompetisie, wat oor 60 dae geskiet is, met die RECORD gedeel.
Link:https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/200338/brafia-braai-n-storm-los/
• Peter Olivier (22), a gentle giant living in Alberton North, has been plagued by epilepsy his whole life. His form of epilepsy is drug resistant, and thus medicine given to treat his condition stops working after a few weeks. The dosages of the drugs he has to take keep increasing, bringing with them severe side effects, which includes depression, severe fatigue and damage to his organs.
Link: https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/200686/help-peter-live-a-normal-life-with-a-vns-implant/
• Nico Lombaard (40), a resident of Florentia, celebrated his 10th year of being at the forefront of training the new generations of chefs at Capsicum, a leading culinary school in South Africa. He has held the position of principal of Capsicum’s Boksburg campus, where he has a hand in teaching the art of cooking to students of all different ages. “I’ve always been interested in cooking,” said Lombaard about the origins of his career. His first experiences with cooking involved helping his mother in the kitchen. “I would stand on a chair and stir the pots.”
Link: https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/201207/albertonian-guides-the-future-culinary-artists/
March
• Bikers Against Road Carnage (BARC) took a stand against road negligence. With their slogan, ‘Enough is Enough’, Bikers Against Road Carnage (BARC) was established after the sad death of a dear and special friend, TC Frankenberg. The group of Albertonian bikers went out and spray painted potholes to create awareness. Internationally bikers are spraying potholes and open manholes with bright paint – marking them with words like ‘I kill’ or ‘fix me’ to make others aware.
BARC is all about awareness, hence the reason for the spray on the roads, pointing out potholes, manhole covers without lids and poor road maintenance.
Link: https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/202443/barc-takes-a-stand-against-road-negligence/
• The double murder case of Vinenzo Pietropaolo (63) continued in the Johannesburg High Court. Pietropaolo is accused of murdering his estranged wife, Mannie and firing nine shots at her home in Iris Street, Brackenhurst in 2017. He is also accused of murdering his father, Pasqualino. He appeared in court on February 22 and 27 and again on March 4.
Link: https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/202417/murder-case-postponed-2/
• Learning and classes at Glenview Primary School in Brackenhurst have been disrupted owing to several teachers not reporting for duty. According to the Department of Education spokesperson, Steve Mabona, 20 teachers at Glenview have been absent since March 6. The 20 staff members, who include 13 department employees and seven employed by the school governing body (SGB), have reportedly not gone to work due to being ill. The employees attribute the illness to stress and 10 of the employees have reportedly submitted medical certificates. “The principal himself had been booked off sick until March 15 owing to stress and depression,” says Mabona in a response to the RECORD regarding the absent teachers. The teachers who were absent have been asked to write audi letters. Audi letters, according to the department, are letters requiring the perpetrators to explain in detail why they should not be charged or expelled.
Link: https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/202967/absent-teachers-at-glenview-cause-for-concern/
• Die Camacho-gesin het alles wat hulle besit in ’n huisbrand verloor. Dié gesin van drie, wat op die ou Vereeniging pad bly, het op 16 Maart om 5.25vm wakker geskrik en gesien dat hulle huis besig is om te brand.
Tyron Camacho (50) het spoedig sy ma, Sparky (81), en suster, Veronica (50), tot veiligheid gebring voordat hy die 30 honde en 25 katte gehelp het.
Link: https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/203681/gesin-het-dringend-hulp-nodig/
• A man in his early 30’s died after a truck that he tried to stop from moving drove over him. This happened on March 19 in Paul Kruger Street in South Crest. According to the owner of the truck, who wishes to remain anonymous, the truck was being washed across the street at Tulisa Park when it started rolling forward.
Link: https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/203843/truck-driver-dies/
April
• The MADsters of MAD2Adventure officially kicked off their long journey to Cape Town on April 12. MAD2Adventure consists of 55 ordinary South Africans who are taking the journey from Alberton down to Cape Town using only the power of their muscles. All of this is done in support of the MAD Leadership Foundation. The official start of their journey was at Meyersdal Superspar. In support of the MAD cause, Superspar Meyersdal and Meyersdal Mall each pledged R10 000 towards the foundation before the adventure even started.
Link: https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/206337/the-mad-adventure-to-cape-town-begins/
• A possible solution that could mean the end of Glenview Primary’s concerns was given by education MEC Panyaza Lesufi on April 2. Following extensive meetings at Glenview with the principal, Tommie Stoltz, the staff and the SGB, Lesufi addressed parents to tell them about the decisions that were taken to overcome the problems the school has been experiencing. This includes the incident where more than 20 teachers were absent from the school. “All of us agree there is a crisis in this school,” said Lesufi to the parents. “It can’t be normal that 20-odd teachers take sick leave at the same time.” Lesufi also pointed out that there is a divided SGB, various accusations against the principal and teachers being scared is not normal.
Link:https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/205281/mec-lesufi-makes-changes-at-glenview/
• Parents and community members protested outside Opel Weg Primary for four days. The school was closed and no children attended classes. The protesters blocked access to the school and the road in front of it with burning tyres. The parents are dissatisfied with how the Gauteng Department of Education has been handling problems at Opel Weg Primary and surrounding schools.
Link:https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/206100/parents-protest-sake-eden-park-schools/
• Learners from Brackenhurst Primary school have taken it upon themselves to make a difference in the lives of people who need help the most. Some working together as community group affectionately named the MAD (Make a Difference) Club, taking their own initiative to collect money, goods or to give their time to assist people who are in need. The RECORD spoke to some of the children about their initiatives.
Link: https://albertonrecord.staging.lnn.caxton.cloud/206248/babies-behind-bars-initiative-takes-off/
• Alberton’s very own Braai Mafia was named the Ultimate Braai Masters. Corné Borman and Kagiso Mpinda took part in the grueling braai competition, which saw them braai against some of the top teams in South Africa and taking their titles as winners.
May
• Antoinette Venter from Alberton was bestowed the honour as Lions Club International District 410 Citizen of the Year 2019. The Lions nominated her a non-Lion individual as Citizen of the Year for exceptional service in their community to enhance the quality of life for less fortunate people around them.
• Albertonians joined the rest of South Africa in making in voting in the national election. On May 8 they took part and were able to say #imademymark for a better south Africa.
• Doxa Deo held a street store at Alberton Dam.
The street store gave those in need on the streets the oppurtunity to pick and choose their very own cloths. The aim of the day was to allow them to experience a day of dignity with the people helping them on the day not only giving them clothes, but listening to their stories.
• Bianca van der Schyf who is blind had the experience of practicing her tai chi in Thailand.
A moment of true happiness and accomplishment for Bianca was the visit to a temple in Thailand. To visit the temple a huge flight of stairs had to be climbed as the lift was out of order. With her trainer Craig Boden in front of her and a guide behind her Bianca managed to climb the 386 steps to the top.
June
• Proposed low-cost housing near Mayberry Park was put on hold after a meeting with the MMC. MC of Human Settlements Lesiba Mpya agreed to halt the process in a meeting with the residents of the affected ward in a packed Bracken Park Hall.
• A tiny miracle, Esmi Boucher, finally left the Clinton Hospital after a long stay in the neonatal ward.
Esmi spent 101 days in the neonatal ward after she was born weighing just just 590g. “The happiest part for us is that we are now truly going to be parents,” says Ester Boucher, Esmi’s mother.
WATCH: Esmi the miracle baby leaves the Clinton Hospital after 101 days
• Police unearthed a clandestine pharmaceuticals manufacturing facility on 2 Esserman Street in Brackenhurst on June 18. According to Hawks national spokesperson Brig Hangwani Mulauzi the products being manufactured are mainly male enhancement products and weight loss products, but there are also other pharmaceuticals being made at the site.
BREAKING NEWS: Police bust drug manufacturing plant in Brackenhurst
July
• A fire at the Alberton North informal settlement near the train station destroyed 39 informal structures. The fire left more than 130 people with nothing. Community members came together to support the displaced residents providing them with food and relief.
• Alberton residents celebrated Mandela Day by giving back to the community. Projects included collecting groceries, visiting the police station, spending the day in a wheelchair and supporting the various charity organisations in Alberton.
• Little Maleke Pieters was born with rare congenital melanocytic nevus which affected the skin on her back.
Her parents, Marochelle Foxcroft and Corné Pieters from Brackendowns, decided the time is right to raise awareness about her skin condition.
Brackendowns couple raises awareness about their 10-month-old baby’s rare skin condition
August
• Laerskool Randhart welcomed their new principal Marlene Gerber. Marlene started her journey with the school with a dream to build on which is already good at the school and together make Randhart the school of first choice in Alberton.
• Sasha-Lee Olivier, an Alberton resident, was named runner-up in the Miss SA 2019 pageant. Sasha-Lee was born in Eden Park. “My mother could never have suspected that I would start working as a model,” said Sasha-Lee.
• Boys from Bracken High school stood up against violence against women and children. In a vow that went viral the boys stated: “We will be men women run to, not run away from.” The inspiration for their pledge came from Wayne Tewson, a teacher at the school.
WATCH: ‘We will be the men women run to, not run from’ – Bracken High boys
