are prepped and ready for the 2024 World Championships for young dressage horses officially known as the WBFSH/FEI World Breeding Championships for young dressage horses. In its last year in Ermelo before the event rotates to Verden (GER) for a new three-year cycle the "WCYH" are the final major summer championship of what has been a more than action packed 2024 show year with the Olympics in a majestic Versailles as epic highlight There was an almost four week rest period between Paris and Ermelo enough the charge the mental batteries for another huge international dressage championship Braids in action at the trot-upThe WCYH began in Verden with a pilot in 1997 then took place in Arnheim for two years (1999-2000) and then became a fixture in Verden from 2001 till 2015 The WCYH developed into one of the most beloved Championships for dressage aficionados and breeders and when they moved to Ermelo in 2016 a certain kind of sadness was felt because tradition had been broken. But then Ermelo far exceeded all expectations and staged a bigger better and more fun WCYH than Verden ever did In 2021 there was a single-year-return to Verden and while the Hanoverian verband did its best it just couldn't live up to the magic Ermelo has been able to conjure Verden was also plagued by hideous rain through the show week and that didn't help the matter Now a same kind of sadness returns as we have to shift feelings and emotions again where the show has less of the championship feel with its ugly white tents red containers where the judges and technicians sit and little room for sense for nature and space Fifty shades of greenLast year Ermelo also had a very rainy edition but the weather forecast for this week is more optimistic although it drizzled a bit during the arena familiarisation today This year the WCYH start one day early as the programme is so packed with classes for 4-year olds alongside the official championships for 5 and 7-year olds and then there is a big tour CDI happening as well Two rings go simultaneously and there is so much to experience it's all about cherry picking in the next six days Today - Tuesday 3 September 2024 - the event kicked off with the horse inspection for 5-year olds All horses passed although it was quite a sensational trot-up with some breeding stallions on worst behaviour (two were rearing while other horses had to be chased forward by an official as they didn't want to shift a gear up into trot the 5-year olds were allowed to train in the warm-up and main ring Some riders took the opportunity to just walk their horses and others had a big training session in store to cook the youngsters to perfection for tomorrow Lithuania's Dalia Katinaite-Pranckeviciene trainingSo let's see what will happen Eurodressage is there to cover it all in detail with photos and article - Text and Photos © Eurodressage (this article expresses Eurodressage's' eye-witness account and opinion about the competition)   Stalls for Rent at Durondeau Dressage in Peer, Belgium Exceptionally Well Located Equestrian Facility in Wellington, Florida Well-built Equestrian Estate With Multiple Business Opportunities in Sweden Stable Units for Rent at Lotje Schoots' Equestrian Center in Houten (NED) For Rent: Several Apartments and Stable Wing at High-End Equestrian Facility Stable Wing Available at Reiterhof Wensing on Dutch/German border Real Estate: Well-Appointed Country House with Extensive Equestrian Facility in the U.K. Rémi Blot German & Dutch breeding excellence showcased in Ermelo (NED) it was a chestnut clean sweep and a showcase of the quality of Dutch and German breeding specifically at this year’s Longines FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses 2024 in Ermelo (NED) Photo – Bart Veeze (NED) riding Red Viper winner at the LONGINES Final for 5-year-old horses at the Longines FEI World Championship Young Dressage Horses – Ermelo 2024 Photos (© FEI/Leanjo de Koster – DigiShots) Among the top 15 horses—five in each age category—six were German-bred and five were Dutch-bred and 7-year-old winners were all chestnuts too; a distinct change from the dark bay Dressage horses the world has become accustomed to For those who follow this event every year there were plenty of familiar faces Dressage enthusiasts will recognize including a two-time world champion in Life Time FRH The 5-year-old test is always the most hotly-contested category and due to the focus on potential – rather than schooling – technicalities it tends to attract stud farms wanting to show off their top progeny Of the 46 five-year-olds in this year’s field The KWPN stallion Red Viper (Romanov x Sir Sinclair) led from start to finish with a win and 92% in the preliminary test and a convincing win in the finals yesterday Ridden by the Dutch jockey Bart Veeze and bred by Coen Kerbert he scored 93.800% for the win – the only score above 90 in the class – thanks to impressive marks of 9.4 for trot 9.2 for submission and 9.8 for perspective with the judging panel saying the trot displayed exceptional elasticity and shoulder freedom The second placed combination – Westfalen stallion Glamdale WP NRW (Glamourdale x Millennium) with Germany’s Stefanie Ahlert – were over 3% behind on 90.2% Jeanna Hogberg piloted the Swedish stallion Severucci HT (Secret x Rubinrot) to third on 90.000% Merita Hagren and Alkaline (Photo: © FEI/Leanjo de Koster – DigiShots) Valerie B won the Preliminary rest for 5-year-olds but was beaten out in the finals by Quinn G and Carl Hedin’s Instagram sensation Merita Hagren and Alkaline (Secret x Zalmiak Firfod) were one of the surprises during the final round clocking up a huge 92% with 9s and 9.5s across the board to finish with a second place Despite only placing in 6th during the preliminary test the chestnut stallion was described as “lovely We did have an argument about where to go with the marks and decided on a 9.5.” The pressure was on for the remaining few combinations as Alkaline was followed immediately into the ring by winners of the preliminary test Unable to replicate their preliminary performance the pair finished fourth in the final with 87.2% mistakes in the flying changes and canter cost her valuable points the chances of a podium finish looked excellent for Segantini 6 with Olympian Dorothee Schneider aboard but some small mistakes put them out of the placings too The penultimate combination of the day was Quinn G Having claimed a tied 4th pace in the preliminary final Fiona Bigwood rode a foot perfect test aboard the DWB mare by Quaterhit/Fassbinder The mare was destined to be a two-time champion including a perfect 10 for both the walk and the trot with very little for the judges to offer other than praise for an “overall lovely horse.” The KWPN mare Nice Touch W (Dettori/Florencio) took third place Charlotte Maria Schurmann and Life Time FRH (Photo: © FEI/Leanjo de Koster – DigiShots) It’s always wonderful to watch the progression from 5-year-old classes to 7-year-olds in terms of schooling 44 combinations took to the arena on the first day Charlott-Maria Schürmann of Germany dominated both the preliminary and final tests with her Hanoverian stallion Life Time FRH (by Livaldon x Fürstenball OLD) earned a score of 81.175% in the preliminary round with standout scores including a 9.5 for walk The judging panel said “we think you had a nice feeling on your horse today We had that feeling too” and immediately praised the stallion’s “beautiful frame and correct education.” riding the Hanoverian stallion Vitalos FRH (by Vitalis x De Niro) the silver medallist of the six-year-old horses in 2023 and the five-year-old horses in 2022 Vitalis FRH had placed fifth in the preliminary round but moved up to secure second place in the final with a score of 83.222% received a perfect 10 for trot in the final Hans Peter Minderhoud of the Netherlands retained his third-place position from the preliminary round in the final scoring 80.993% with the KWPN stallion Glock’s Massimo (by Glock’s Toto JR Chester Weber and his family transform [...] EQUIHEMP was founded with the mission of bringing the natural benefits of the hemp [...] Registered properties of HorsesDaily®Inc. 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Unless otherwise noted. ©1997 - 2025 horsesdaily.com and dressagedaily.com Enter your email address and we will send you a link to change your password a Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF) poised to usher in a new era of economic prosperity and spatial unity for Northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Mpumalanga “As part of our focus on developing Regional Spatial Development Frameworks I would like to provide specific details regarding the Vryheid Governed by Sections 18 and 19 of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act the corridor establishes a legal framework for coordinated development across its eight municipalities “This VENE Corridor has been declared with the status of a Regional Spatial Development Framework providing a legal framework for its development It will be managed in terms of Sections 18 and 19 of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act This legal process will enforce collaboration and commitment among the participating municipalities and stakeholders,” explained MEC Buthelezi MEC Buthelezi highlighted the corridor’s potential to catalyse growth in agriculture and industry while addressing regional disparities “By focusing on the VENE Corridor and other Regional Spatial Development Frameworks we are ensuring that our spatial planning efforts are aligned with national and provincial development objectives contributing to a more sustainable and prosperous KwaZulu-Natal.” Key initiatives include upgrading the R34 road Rural municipalities such as Nquthu and Dannhauser will benefit from improved water and electrification infrastructure Msukaligwa’s focus on logistics and energy projects positions Ermelo as a regional economic hub According to the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) the VENE Corridor project started on 1 April 2016 with the adoption of SPLUMA-compliant by-laws by municipalities including Abaqulusi as gazetted to enable coordinated planning as confirmed by the Department of Agriculture as outlined in KZN CoGTA’s 2024/25 Annual Performance Plan the project faces formidable challenges nearly a decade later Traditional Land Disputes (DALRRD): Resistance from traditional authorities in Abaqulusi and Nquthu over Ingonyama Trust land complicates land use planning. These disputes, unresolved since the project’s inception, have stalled integration of customary land into the RSDF, affecting 30% of planned agricultural zones [DALRRD, www.dalrrd.gov.za Municipal Capacity Constraints (KZN CoGTA): Staffing shortages and technical expertise gaps in rural municipalities like Nquthu and Dannhauser hinder SPLUMA compliance. Only 40% of required municipal planners are employed, delaying Spatial Development Frameworks [KZN COGTA, www.kzncogta.gov.za the KZN 2025/26 budget commits R500 million to R34 upgrades and Msukaligwa’s investments reflect commitment to the corridor’s goals Nearly a decade after its launch on 1 April 2016 the VENE Corridor’s full potential remains constrained by these obstacles as reported by KZN CoGTA and DALRRD on 25 April 2025 and 15 March 2016 the VENE Corridor holds the promise of transforming KZN and Mpumalanga by invigorating economic growth and fostering equitable development across urban and rural landscapes By aligning municipal efforts with national and provincial objectives stimulate industries such as agriculture and tourism paving the way for a more integrated and prosperous region despite ongoing challenges like funding shortages and land disputes as reaffirmed by KZN CoGTA on 25 April 2025 Share your views in the comment section below Let’s hope the red tape doesn’t 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many South Africans feel there is little to celebrate this Freedom Day as service delivery failures continue to plague communities The day is celebrated under the theme  “United in Resilience for the Defence of our Freedom and Democracy.” SABC reporter Natasha Phiri looks at the achievements of the last three decades of freedom and what is in store for South Africa as it enters the fourth decade of freedom Freedom Day | President Ramaphosa will address Freedom Day celebrations residents have voiced growing frustration over poor access to clean water A stream of raw sewage flows into the streets and local dam polluting the area’s water resources and leaving neighborhoods with an unbearable stench Community leader Julia Basson describes the dire conditions: “When we open our taps it looks like coffee coming directly from our tap yet up until today our water reticulated pump has not been upgraded.” “Our streets are full of water and sewer running in the streets we sat without water for 6 months,” adding “They don’t finish most of the project The situation is dire here in this municipality As South Africa marks Freedom Day with a national celebration at AJ Swanepoel Stadium in Ermelo some residents question the meaning of the day Service delivery challenges extend beyond Msukaligwa Municipality and are widespread across the Gert Sibande District District Mayor Walter Mngomezulu acknowledges the issues but points to financial constraints municipalities have 49 mandates as per the Constitution But if you look at the budget announced by the minister is not over 15% a total for the country we cannot afford many other mandates that are allocated to us and our community is not coming forward in terms of payment.” Ermelo in the Netherlands has been announced as the host of the 2025 European Para Dressage Championships and endorsement by the FEI Para Equestrian Technical Committee and the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) which is scheduled to take place from 3 to 7 September 2025 builds on Ermelo’s proven track record in hosting major equestrian events at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre including the FEI Dressage European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders in 2009 and national Dressage Championships Ermelo hosted the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors in 2021 and the FEI Endurance European Championship in 2023 The venue has also been the host of the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Dressage Horses for several years “We are delighted that the National Federation of the Netherlands has committed to hosting the Para Dressage European Championship,” said FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez who is also President of the Association of Paralympic Sports Organisations (APSO) “This will be the first time the FEI Para Dressage European Championship is hosted in Ermelo representing a major milestone for our sport We are looking forward to working closely with the organisers to deliver an exceptional sporting experience and know that the Dutch National Equestrian Centre’s world-class facilities will provide the perfect environment for this prestigious event “It was also important for the FEI to partner with a host who shares our vision of breaking down barriers for persons with disabilities in society The FEI is committed to working together to ensure the Championship fully embraces accessibility Based on the learnings and good practices of the FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN) and Pratoni (ITA) in 2022, the FEI Dressage and Para Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck in 2023, were the first to be organised in line with the requirements set out in the FEI Accessibility Handbook for Event Organisers which is the result of consultation and collaboration with accessibility experts individuals with disabilities and professionals in the equestrian industry accommodation and transportation among other areas of Event planning and delivery ‘’We are delighted that the FEI has put its trust in us to host the best para and equine athletes in Europe at the FEI Para Dressage European Championship in 2025,’’ said Iris Boelhouwer we will provide the requisite elite facilities for an elite competition and strive to foster the values of teamwork fairness and respect that define such an event in everything we do in preparing for this prestigious event we are committed to the highest standards of equine welfare accessibility and sustainability for our human and equine athletes We look forward to warmly welcoming them all to Ermelo.’’ The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to oversee and regulate global para sport alongside its able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage was integrated in 2006 This followed the creation of the FEI Para Equestrian Committee which was established when the governance of Para Equestrian sport transitioned from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to the FEI Para Equestrian sport has been increasingly integrated into the FEI’s governance and into its European and World Championship structures significantly raising the profile of Para Sport within the equestrian community These top-down initiatives have not only advanced the development of Para Equestrian sport within the FEI but have also contributed to more positive attitudes towards disability and inclusion within the equestrian world as a whole More Para news on Eurodressage Unconfirmed reports of a lion spotted in the Ermelo area in Mpumalanga have raised alarm among local farmers and residents as lions are not typically found in this region According to a voice note Highvelder received allegedly from local farmers in the Davel and Ermelo area tracks believed to belong to a lion were found in the direction of Ermelo The tracks were reportedly discovered shortly after recent rainfall which made them easier to spot in the terrain The voice note says that Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Agency (MPTA) officials from Nelspruit have been dispatched to investigate the situation Residents and farmers are asked to remain vigilant and report any further signs or sightings to local law enforcement or conservation authorities stated that in response to the lion sighting reports a team equipped with tracking dogs has been sent to the area “The team will investigate the tracks and trace them,” he explained Shungube also urged the public to report any sightings of the lion immediately to Louw Steyn at 083 626 6792 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 www.citizen.co.za Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources represented President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Freedom Day celebrations in Ermelo where he spoke out against racism and segregation in South Africa The 2025 national Freedom Day celebrations were held at the AJ Swanepoel Stadium in Ermelo Msukwaligwa Local Municipality within the Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga where Mantashe delivered the keynote address “The fact that we have a history of reconciliation over revenge It is our choice for reconciliation over revenge Right-wing fringes regard this gesture as cowardice rather than a noble one That is why you find some of the people talking of an Orania “They want to create it as some land that is independent If I would be president for more than three hours I would declare that people must go and build in Orania They (would) appreciate that hatred can never survive peace It is peace that builds a nation,” said Mantashe “Others go over to America and ask for their makhulu baas (President Donald) Trump to punish us Now they are told to go there and be refugees we are a sovereign country and we are not a province of the United States there is so much we still need to remember and celebrate there are people who seek to drive a wedge between us who seek to rekindle the embers of racial bitterness.” adding that history records how people of all races fought against oppression and injustice.  “On this day we honour those who sacrificed dreamed and believed in the promise of a better South Africa free of racial division It took individuals from across our country workers and ordinary citizens to guide our country to democracy,” he said noting that in a few days the country will commemorate 110 years since the birth of Beyers Naude an Afrikaner anti-apartheid activist.  “He was an Afrikaner clergyman whose father helped found the Broederbond the secretive society that orchestrated and perpetuated apartheid As a person who occupied a prominent position in apartheid society and who counted HF Verwoerd as among his university lecturers Oom Bey (Naude) would go on to play a significant role in fighting the unjust system from which he was a beneficiary." Cape Times aim to make the editorial mix such that readers get everything they need between pages first thing in the morning: news lifestyle and provocative commentary from leading columnists Read more Quinn G. (Quaterhit x Fassbinder) extended her hegemony today at the Longines FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo The DWB mare and her rider and owner Fiona Bigwood put a dazzling score of 95.0% on the scoreboard It left her 3% clear of Alkaline (Secret x Zalmiak Firfod) and Merita Hagren The bronze medal was claimed by Nice Touch W (Dettori x Florencio) and Charlotta Rogerson thanks to a score of 88.6% When Quinn and Fiona stepped foot on their last centerline making the chestnut mare trot even more enthusiastically “It looks like you were enjoying her just as much as we did” so happy and relaxed.” The jury gave a glowing review of the 2023 world champion of five-year-old horses bred by Stutteri G – Helene Geervliet and co-owned by Mette and Fiona Bigwood so she receives a 10.” Quinn’s walk was also unparalleled in the eyes of the jury Rider and owner Fiona Bigwood is over the moon with her double world champion she is so good my only task is to pilot her around the test I have never done anything like this and I have learned a lot the last few days because this is quite different from Grand Prix.” Fiona purchased the mare in the autumn of 2023 and last spring she was campaigned at the shows by Carl Hester She adores people and is so eager to please but she is simply amazing and has the best personality.” The combination placed just outside the top three in the qualification but now soared the rankings to the top position “It is a completely different way of riding compared to a ‘regular’ dressage test but we gave it our all and it all worked out.” The silver medal was awarded to another chestnut Danish combination bred by Annette Blangsted and owned by Helgstrand Dressage received a scoresheet full of 9s and even a 9.5 for canter and perspective He significantly improved his result compared to Thursday when the pair received 86.4% and placed sixth a scopey jump and already showed super and big changes for a 6-year-old horse” His rider Merita Hagen also lauds the DWB-bred stallion We performed a good test today and I felt very comfortable I was not nervous and did not feel any pressure Nice Touch W and Charlotta Rogerson are living proof that you can go far when you get back up after a fall but it did not stop her from securing the very first WC-medal for her home country ‘Nice Touch is a very special mare; she has a lot of quality and is very intelligent She is also a happy horse that likes to joke around She gave a cheerful buck during the warming-up and she is not very big so there is very little to hold on to” “I put a lot of pressure on myself since I was so eager to show everyone how good she is I just have to channel her energy and quality and she will do anything for me.” The black mare had already proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the qualification in which she also placed third elegant mare with exceptional qualities that made us very happy” “She was presented in a lovely manner and this performance makes us believe she has great potential.” Click here to check out the latest news and updates on the Iberian Showcase Mary Phelps is exceptionally qualified to assist you in selecting the ideal insurance coverage [...] Ermelo became the top selling foal in the sixth and last edition of the the 2024 Hanoverian Spring Online Foal Auction series A collection of 27 foals was on offer and they sold at an average price of 6,183 euro sold to a German bidder from Schleswig-Holstein for 19,000 euro He is a gift to the buyer's wife for her Golden Riding Badge The second most expensive foal was jumper colt Veith G&M (by Vatson Sitte) which sold for 12,000 euro Donna Summer (by Don Olympic x Sandro Hit) went for 9,000 euro ZaragozaFrench clients bought Zaragoza (by Zoom x Belantis)  for 9,000 euro Smilla (by Shu Fu x Floris Prince) for 6,250 euro Brits bought Dynamic of Hearts (by Damsey x Quaterback) for 8,250 euro Very Nice (by Venido x Don Crusador) for 4,750 euro and Shogun (by San to Alati x Spörcken) for 4,000 euro Vinted (by V-Power x Foundation) goes to Spain for 6,750 euro just like Faro (by Franziskus x Danone) for 5,250 euro and Vitano (by Vitalos x San Amour) for 4,250 euro A Swiss client got Everglow (by Escamillo x De Niro) for 5,250 euro More Auction News on Eurodressage A son of Glamourdale out of the full sister of World Champion Vamos Amigos the half-brother of the potential Olympic Champion Imothep Kyton's daughter Penny Lane who scored a remarkable five 9's in the IBOP and the Rastede Brilliant Ring mare Jovina van ’t Studutch (by Jovian) The auction will take place on Saturday in the main arena of the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Ermelo just before the final of the five-year-old dressage horses The atmosphere and ambiance of the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses is unique The best young dressage horses in the world come to Ermelo along with top riders from all over the globe “Everyone is present at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses people can also follow the auction from home and bid online,” explains Nico Witte one of the selectors of the auction horses U've Got Mail PPWould you like to view the foals or horses in person beforehand When you register, the KWPN Select Sale team will put you in touch with the owners. It is also possible to try out the dressage horses: salespromotion@kwpn.nl or +31 341-255 511 Don’t forget to register as a bidder and stay informed View the complete collection here Date: 7 September 2024Time: 1 PMLocation: Ermelo  Home | South Africa The Ermelo Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga has again postponed the case of nine suspects arrested in connection with the murder of police officer who was the Ermelo Vehicle Investigation Unit Commander Five of the suspects were arrested the following day while the other four were arrested last month The four suspects will appear again in the same court next week Their five co-accused will appear again in June Acting President Gwede Mantashe has used his Freedom Day address to call for unity among different races in the country Mantashe delivered the keynote address at the National Freedom Day commemorations in Ermelo This after he was announced as Acting President due to President Ramaphosa’s ill health Mantashe urged the people of South Africa to reject racial divisions as the country celebrates 31 years of democracy “We’ll not allow anyone to define us nobody must define us and tell us who and what we are or turn us against one another We must roundly reject all attempts to divide us on racial lines.” This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers Detectives in Komatipoort in Mpumalanga have made yet another breakthrough in the murder investigation of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi says a sixth suspect was arrested following a tip off the Unit Commander of the Ermelo Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit Police made swift arrests less than 24 hours after the murder and five people Lieutenant Colonel Nkosi says Mdluli was arrested in a clothing shop in Komatipoort on Saturday Four of the alleged killers have abandoned their bail except Valencia Skhosana whose bail hearing will continue next week Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane says Pretorius was driving an official vehicle when he was shot multiple times The suspects fled the scene in a white Sedan which was found torched in extension seven in Ermelo an exclusive podcast on the life of Vicki Terblanche Dive into the expansive world of motoring with Naresh Maharaj Join Mark Marshall as he shares his extraordinary encounters with everything from bees to reptiles i Police in Ermelo in Mpumalanga made a quick breakthrough in the murder investigation of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane says Pretorius was driving an official vehicle when he was shot multiple times by an unknown assailant He says the vehicle was riddled with bullet holes The suspect allegedly fled the scene in a white Sedan police arrested five suspects believed to be linked to the murder He says the vehicle allegedly used in the commission of the crime was found torched in extension seven in Ermelo Pretorius was a Commander of the Vehicle Identification Unit in Ermelo The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga has expressed his condolences to the Colonel's family Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Tel: +27 11 268 6300 Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms & conditions and privacy policy were arrested in Ermelo on Friday in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius (59) the commander of the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit Highvelder News reports that the four suspects: Vusi Shabalala (43) and Phetheni Samaria Duba (37) appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court today Their case was postponed to Thursday for a legal representative They were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition This brings the total number of accused in the case to 10 The latest arrests follow that of fugitive Prince Gift Mdluli who was apprehended in Komatipoort on March 8 when he will join co-accused Mthobisi Nkosi (40) Valencia Skhosana (35) is proceeding with her bail application Read original story on www.citizen.co.za The Hawks’ investigation into the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius has uncovered additional evidence that could link the accused to other criminal activities According to Highvelder News Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi revealed that a BMW belonging to one of the accused was stolen in eMalahleni (Witbank) in 2018 The stolen BMW matches the one found torched in Ermelo suspected to have been used as a getaway vehicle during Pretorius’ murder During a search of one of the accused’s residences investigators discovered three BMW vehicles one of which was confirmed to be the car stolen in 2018 “Investigation revealed that one of the vehicles found at the suspect’s residence was the same vehicle that was reportedly stolen in Witbank six years ago,” Nkosi said Preliminary investigations also found the vehicle identification numbers had been tampered with 50 licence discs and related documents were recovered at the property The BMW 325i and vehicle documents were seized and an inquiry has been registered for further investigation Mpumalanga Hawks head Major General Nico Gerber said the Ermelo murder case remains a top priority “The team could potentially uncover more evidence that would add possible further criminal charges against the accused The team will not relent and will vigorously pursue all leads and gather evidence as required,” Gerber stated including former police official Mthobisi Nkosi (40); Aubrey Xaba (35) appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court yesterday The case has been postponed to next Monday Read original story on www.citizen.co.za A manhunt is underway following the shooting of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius (59) in what appears to have been an ambush in Ermelo earlier today. who was the commander of the Vehicle Identification Unit in Ermelo was ambushed while driving an official vehicle around 14:00 Reports indicate that an assailant fired multiple shots at Pretorius leaving his vehicle riddled with bullet holes the suspect fled the scene in a white sedan Circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear and police are working to uncover details of the ambush A specialised investigative team has been assembled and a 72-hour activation plan has been implemented to ensure every effort is made to identify and apprehend the perpetrator(s) has appealed to the community for assistance in solving the case “Killing a police officer is a direct attack on the state and we are determined to bring the perpetrators to justice Lieutenant Colonel Pretorius was an asset to our community and we will not rest until those responsible are held accountable,” said Major General Mkhwanazi The SAPS is urging anyone with information to come forward Tip-offs can be provided anonymously by calling the Crime Stop hotline at 08600 10111 or using the MYSAPS app All information will be treated with strict confidentiality Mkhwanazi extended his heartfelt condolences to the family “This senseless murder is a loss not only to his loved ones but also to the community he served so diligently,” he added and further updates are expected as police pursue leads in this high-priority case The murder comes two days after Sergeant Fundiswa Motlhaoleng (45) was shot and killed while travelling to work in Klerksdorp on Tuesday Motlhaoleng was stationed with the Jouberton Visible Policing Unit Read original story on www.citizen.co.za The five suspects who were arrested yesterday in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius are expected to appear in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court soon According to an article published by Highvelder says the suspects are aged between 29 and 40 A multi-disciplinary team established by the acting provincial commissioner intelligence members and a security company tracked and traced the suspects in Nelspruit A vehicle believed to have been used in the commission of crime was found torched next to Ext 7 in Ermelo today Highvelder will publish more information as it becomes available Read original story on www.citizen.co.za sought in connection with the murder of a senior police officer in Mpumalanga and multiple cash-in-transit robberies According to an article published by The Witness the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) is calling on the public to help locate Prince Gift Mdluli Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Philani Nkosi confirmed that a warrant of arrest has been issued for Mdluli. He is implicated in the murder of Lieutenant-Colonel Piet Pretorius, who was gunned down on January 16 Pretorius (59) was the commander of the vehicle identification unit in Ermelo have been arrested in connection with Pretorius’ murder and Valencia Skhosana abandoned their bail application in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court this week Skhakhane and Mujovo were remanded in custody with their next court date scheduled for April 10 Skhosana proceeded with her bail application and was also remanded in custody “Her bail application is set to continue [tomorrow],” says Nkosi Nkosi warned residents not to approach Mdluli if spotted we urge community members to inform their local authorities We believe that he is dangerous and is armed,” says Nkosi He also cautioned against spreading false information on social media A recent post claimed Mdluli had been arrested in the Richmond area while others alleged he ‘kills people in every house he visits’ while posing as a potential tenant which is why we are using it to try and locate the suspect such as claims that he has been apprehended Those spreading false information could face serious consequences,” says Nkosi The Hawks urge anyone with information on Mdluli’s whereabouts to contact their local authorities immediately Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel Read original story on witness.co.za The four additional suspects linked to the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius commander of the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Friday Highvelder News reports that during this third court appearance Phetheni Samaria Duba (37) was granted R10 000 bail Pretorius (59) was killed during a shooting on January 16 Duba’s bail conditions include reporting to the Ermelo Police Station twice a week and not leaving the Gert Sibande District without the investigating officer’s authorisation Read original story on www.citizen.co.za The Ermelo Magistrate’s Court proceedings in the case involving the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius have been postponed to next Monday Magistrate Catherine Hugo announced the postponement to allow for the gathering of profiles and legal representation for one of the suspects the commander of the Ermelo Vehicle Investigation Unit They — four men and one woman aged between 29 and 40 — were arrested in Mbombela within 12 hours of the murder Highvelder News reports profiles are being compiled to provide a detailed background on the accused a process often used to inform legal proceedings Four of the five suspects have secured legal representation Conflicting reports about the date and time of the arrest were raised in court The accused allege they were arrested on January 16 at 22:00 while the arresting officer and docket record the arrest as occurring on January 17 at 01:25 need to be addressed before a bail date can be set The state requested a postponement until next Wednesday The courtroom was filled with members of the community including provincial head Major General Nico Gerber Journalist René Joubert of the Highvelder attended the proceedings after receiving court approval though the application to take photographs inside the courtroom was denied members of the South African Communist Party held a protest displaying placards and calling for the suspects to be denied bail The street leading to the court was cordoned off for safety and order with a strong police presence ensuring control Read original story on www.citizen.co.za A storm – suspected by residents to be a tornado – caused major damage in isolated areas in Cassim Park A journalist from Highvelder recorded video footage of the damage: South African Weather Service forecaster Celeste Fourie said the possibility of severe thunderstorms had been predicted for the area but she was unable to confirm ‘if a tornado did touch down’ According to Highvelder reports and short video clips shared online by residents show intense winds and flying debris but lack clear indicators typically associated with a tornado it is difficult to determine if the brief footage captures the start complicating efforts to verify its specifics The publication states that a journalist who visited the affected locations found widespread destruction Read original story on www.citizen.co.za The ten people accused of the murder of Ermelo Vehicle Investigation Unit commander, Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court today The accused are former police official Mthobisi Nkosi (40) Njabulo Zwane (26),Percy Duba (30) and Phetheni Duba (37) Highvelder reports that nine of the accused were remanded in custody and the case was postponed to June 25 for further investigation To date, Phetheni Duba (37) is the only accused who is out on bail Zwane (26) and Percy Duba (30) will reappear in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on April 17 for their bail application the provincial head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the case “The postponement will allow the investigating team to consolidate all necessary information so that justice is served for the fallen hero,” he says Read original story on www.citizen.co.za Gladstone Events  |  Contact Us Gladstone Events Contact By US Equestrian Communications Department Endurance Team finished in fifth place at the 2021 FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors in Ermelo marking the program’s best finish since 2015 The team combinations of Charlene Dugan (Muncy Pa.) and Dude Free Gold each completed the 120km ride The team was led by Chef d’Equipe Lisanne Dorion and included 15 crew members and an additional eight dedicated support staff In the only major international championship of the year for U.S the 2021 FEI Endurance World Championship was a welcomed opportunity for talented and upcoming youth athletes from the U.S to test their horsemanship skills against other international youth athletes in a competitive championship environment The 2021 FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors saw more than 20 countries comprised of 74 total combinations contest the ride with 38 pairs ultimately passing the final horse inspection to complete the ride Each horse was required to pass a mandatory veterinary inspection focused on soundness and metabolic recovery rate at the conclusion of each loop to continue forward with the ride with two checks occurring before combinations set off on their final loop Providing a pathway to future senior championships Endurance Team finished all three team combinations with Shampoe earning 14th place as the highest-placed American and finishing the ride in 6:23:44 with Promissin Gold a 2013 Arabian mare owned by Valerie Kanavy a 2012 gelding owned by Sally Jellison and Dessia Miller completing their fourth and final loop at 7:27:40 a 2008 Arabian gelding owned by Valerie Kanavy “It is a privilege and delight to see how these Young Riders and their equine partners rise to the occasion and the thoughtful support of family who all made this outing to the World Championship an experience to treasure and remember,” said Chef d’Equipe Dorion “A huge thank you to everyone who has helped these Young Riders achieve their goal of competing here.” This was the first international championship for both Dugan and Wert and the second for Shampoe with the team producing one of the top results within the program to date and marking an impressive accomplishment for all three athletes who have worked to qualify for the championship since the 2018 competition season “My experience at this championship was better than I could have imagined starters we knew we all needed to finish to achieve a team completion we all had our own hopes for individual speeds and placing They allowed us to focus on riding our horses while USEF and our crew managed everything else,” said Shampoe “The course was much more challenging than I expected and the competition was very well organized Training the three horses together and riding with Charlie and Megan this summer made the team completion icing on the cake.” Team ResultsIndividual Results – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athlete-and-horse combinations that will represent the U.S at the 2024 FEI Endurance World Championship for Seniors By US Equestrian Communications Department US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athlete/horse combinations that will represent the United States at the 2022 FEI Endurance World Championship By US Equestrian Communications Department Lexington Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the athlete-and-horse combinations that will represent the United States at the 2021 FEI Endurance World Championship for Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce plans for the 2021 North American Endurance Championships (NAEC) and USEF Endurance National Championships The USET Foundation would like to thank its competition partners for their support of our mission and our U.S United States Equestrian Team FoundationP.O Copyright © 2025 The United States Equestrian Team Foundation Receive international competition schedules I would like to receive emails from USET Foundation Four additional suspects — three men and one woman — have been arrested in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius and are scheduled to appear in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court today Highvelder News reports this follows the January 16 shooting that claimed the life of Pretorius (59) Five suspects were previously arrested in Mbombela The five previously arrested suspects are former police official Mthobisi Nkosi (40) Read original story on www.citizen.co.za Five suspects, including a former police official, are expected to appear in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court today in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius According to an article published by Highvelder were arrested within 12 hours of the fatal shooting of Pretorius A petition urging the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court to deny bail is circulating within the Ermelo community Highvelder will attend the court appearance and will update readers as more information becomes available Read original story on www.citizen.co.za The five people accused of the murder of a police officer in Ermelo The five were arrested after police Lieutenant-Colonel Piet Pretorius was shot and killed in Ermelo last week Pretorius was ambushed by gunmen while on duty and the state vehicle he was travelling-in was riddled with bullets The matter has been postponed to Monday next week for the profiling of the accused Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Mangoseni Nkosi says the motive behind the brutal killing of the officer is yet to be established “The team managed to get information together where they tracked the vehicle or tracked the suspects down in Nelspruit some few hours later we have four guys one of the guys is a former police officer and the fifth suspect is a lady who appeared today Four suspects have legal representatives and the fifth suspect doesn’t have a legal representative The case has been postponed for him to access the legal representative.” The four men and one woman accused of the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius again appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Monday The case was postponed to February 18 for their formal bail applications The accused Nyiko Mujovo (30) and Valencia Skhosana (36) Pretorius was ambushed and killed on January 16 established by the acting provincial police commissioner where they were arrested the day after the murder The five accused first appeared in court on January 20 Read original story on www.citizen.co.za Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio In a bid to curb infrastructure-related crimes the Ermelo Regional Court sentenced 28-year-old Batsheleni Dladla to 15 years’ direct imprisonment for damaging Msukaligwa Municipality’s essential infrastructure disrupting operations in the Ermelo Industrial area for eight hours while repairs were under way claiming he had been attempting to steal from a location 10 metres away from the substation State Prosecutor Chané Rothman presented compelling evidence including eyewitness testimony and photographic documentation of the damage Magistrate Eben Jonker rejected Dladla’s testimony and found him guilty and emphasised the prevalence and severity of infrastructure-related crimes, which crippled essential infrastructure and strained municipal resources. Magistrate Jonker sentenced Dladla to 15 years’ direct imprisonment.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads stating that it “remains committed to ensuring that those convicted of infrastructure-related crimes face severe consequences Such offences hinder service delivery and deprive communities of essential services warranting strict prosecution and harsh sentencing.” Notably, this is not the first time the court has had to rule against this type of crime. On 19 July 2024, the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court found Witness Sibanda guilty of damaging and stealing essential infrastructure as well as contravening South Africa’s Immigration Act This came after his arrest on 8 February 2023 at Camden Power Station after CCTV operators detected suspicious activity Security personnel responded and found Sibanda in a restricted area and in possession of stolen copper cable Investigation also revealed that he had gained unauthorised access by cutting through the perimeter fence The growing trend of infrastructure damage is alarming. Last year alone, Mail & Guardian reported estimated annual losses of about R187-billion Read more: Western Cape town ‘held to ransom’ by cable theft syndicate counts health, economic costs of blackouts The devastating impact is felt across provinces where relentless attacks on critical infrastructure have become the new norm a surge in theft and destruction of traffic signals resulted in a R30-million loss They are selling this cable to a scrap metal dealer Until these are sorted out this cable theft will continue So good to see a magistrate with the balls to actually fight these criminals So many of our magistrates countrywide do untold harm to infrastructures and communities by handing out meaningless sentences of minimal severity or using technical argument to release criminals on bail ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " The five accused in the murder case of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius (59) appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court today8 for their bail application hearing the suspects — former police official Mthobisi Nkosi (40) and Valencia Skhosana (36) — were previously remanded in custody following their initial court appearance illegal possession of a semi-automatic firearm and Mujovo abandoned their bail applications and will remain in custody until their trial or further legal proceedings Skhosana’s bail application was postponed to next Thursday the courtroom was packed with members of the public and law enforcement officials as proceedings awaited the arrival of an attorney the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) submitted an application to take photos during the court session arguing that images of the accused could compromise their privacy and lead to public bias if shared on social media Prosecutor Charles Lloyd did not oppose the application stating that the Hawks has its own media liaison and that court proceedings should remain transparent Hugo granted permission for the Hawks to take photos Mpumalanga Hawks head Major General Nico Gerber commended investigators for their dedication and assured the public that no stone would be left unturned in building a watertight case Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp Channel Read original story on www.citizen.co.za NATIONAL NEWS - A storm – suspected by residents to be a tornado – caused major damage in isolated areas in Cassim Park but she was unable to confirm ‘if a tornado did touch down’ complicating efforts to verify its specifics.  A journalist from Highvelder recorded video footage of the damage Damage at Cassim Park at Tilly Passenger Services Photo: Wayne van der Walt/Highvelder  Article: Caxton publication, Caxton Network News ‘We bring you the latest Garden Route The United States Equestrian Federation has announced that one rider Emily Miles will represent the U.S.A with two horses at the 2019 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Ermelo Emily (Wagner) represented the US in 2010 with the Stallion Wakeup She is based in Verdun in preparation for the competition Multiple winner with multiple horses since the inception of the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championships Miles is headed for the toughest competition of her career as the sole representative for the US Based on the scores achieved in the young horse classes in the U.S.A one rider qualified and agreed to make the trip across the Atlantic to Ermelo the 5- and 6-year-old horses must have earned a minimum score of 8.2 in at least two FEI Preliminary Tests and two FEI Final Tests the horse must have earned the minimum scores of 75% for the Technical Component and 82% in the quality marking component in at least two FEI Preliminary Tests and two FEI Final Tests Only two combinations fully met the selection criteria and will represent the U.S.A Mary O'Neal is our "Go To Girl" Ocala Realtor for buying With twenty years in "The Horse Capital of the World" she's the starting point for all searches Renee and Emily Genther wanted a show safe and easy way to help their horses "want" to hydrate and to help them with muscle recovery post-workout by adding electrolytes to their sugar treats Police have confirmed the arrest of Prince Gift Mdluli in Komatipoort this morning Highvelder News reports that Mdluli who was sought in connection with the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius was taken into custody during a police operation the commander of the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit in Ermelo The Witness reported in February that Mdluli was also wanted by the Hawks for multiple cash-in-transit robberies and may have been hiding near Pietermaritzburg Highvelder News reports that a joint media statement by the Hawks and the Mpumalanga provincial commissioner of SAPS has been issued with more details of his arrest in one of the clothing shops while wearing dirty and worn-out clothes followed a tip-off from community members at about 08:00 Mdluli will now join his five co-accused: Former police official Mthobisi Nkosi (40) Four of the accused abandoned their bail applications in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on February 18 and are set to reappear on April 10 proceeded with her bail application but was also remanded in custody after appearing in court on February 18 and 27 She will continue her bail application on Wednesday Mpumalanga Hawks head Major General Nico Gerber thanked the community and external stakeholders for their proactive response in the search for Mdluli He said several sightings had been reported and every lead thoroughly pursued and other divisions worked tirelessly to track down Mdluli as this clearly shows that communities are standing behind law enforcement and are themselves tired of criminality,” said Gerber He commended the dedication of law enforcement officers involved in the case Read original story on www.citizen.co.za