MODJADJISKLOOF – The police in Modjadjiskloof are urgently seeking public assistance to locate the family of a deceased homeless man believed to be between the ages of 50 and 55 was a familiar presence in the streets of Modjadjiskloof often seen around the Kloof and Spar shop areas the man was wearing a black Adidas tracksuit and a striped T-shirt He had reportedly mentioned being from Reterdam village during his lifetime His body is currently held at Kgapane Mortuary and the authorities are requesting immediate identification by any potential relatives or acquaintances Detective Constable Kgatla of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is leading the investigation to identify the deceased and connect with his family The police emphasize the urgency of this matter to ensure the man receives a dignified funeral and to bring closure to his loved ones If you have any information that could assist in identifying the deceased or locating his family please contact Detective Constable Kgatla at 076 346 8476 or the SAPS emergency number at 08600 10111 and website in this browser for the next time I comment We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio Following the airing of the Queen Modjadji show on Mzansi Magic Daily Maverick journalist Michelle Banda had the unusual opportunity to visit the Modjadji kraal in Modjadjiskloof sits at the foot of the escarpment and is home to the only queendom in southern Africa where the Khelobedu language is spoken by an estimated 2.4 million people advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads The visit this month coincided with a day of celebrations hosted by the Royal Balobedu House drawing notable figures such as Duma Ndlovu The event was also attended by cast members representatives from the channel (MultiChoice) the Greater Thaba Municipality and the Limpopo legislature The celebration was a vibrant showcase of Balobedu culture with the Royal Council and community embracing the show’s portrayal of their marginalised heritage cultural dance performances and conversations in Khelobedu took centre stage reflecting the residents’ pride in seeing their culture on national television Read more: Queen Modjadji series spotlights Unofficial Languages: A Call for Recognition and Preservation “The show has made us people among other people It has put us on the map even for generations to come to know who we are and where we come from,” said Mma Morongwa Modjadji Mosata wa ha Modjadji speaking on behalf of the regent King Ba Mosata Bakhoma Mpapatla Modjadji In Bolobedu culture, the king does not address a crowd directly, but through a representative. Mosata likened the show to a new bride bringing fresh dynamics to a familiar environment. She urged the production team and channel to continue exposing South Africa and the world to the Khelobedu language beyond the Queen Modjadji show.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads An old man blows a horn during a performance by the Royal Khekhapa group at the Royal Modjadji homestead pledging support to ensure the preservation of Khelobedu culture and language thank you for putting Khelobedu in the right context and involving us in the production process,” said Makhurupetje  She emphasised the importance of practising the values of a rainbow nation and ensuring that Khelobedu is recognised both locally and internationally Just as the Sarafina show has kept the memory of apartheid alive for new generations the Queen Modjadji show will do the same for Khelobedu culture.” Despite initial challenges, including a court interdict insiders reveal that the show is doing well and reaching a broad audience The Royal Khekhapa group performs at the Modjadji kraal Another cultural ambassador is Khutso Steven Kgatla, better known as King Monada, who took South Africa and the world by storm with his hit song Idibala (Malwedhe Challenge) in 2018 King Monada has helped to popularise the language especially with his earlier hit Ska Bhora Moreki loosely translated as “he who pays the piper decides the tunes” a South African indigenous language activist working with the Indigenous Languages Action Forum (ILAF) emphasised the importance of preserving indigenous languages The multi-award-winning Candy Tsa Mandebele actress and steadfast advocate for Khelobedu “Indigenous languages are crucial as the loss of any indigenous language means the loss of knowledge systems, history, culture and a specific perspective of the world that is unique to that culture,” Dlanga told Daily Maverick.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads She highlighted that the loss of an indigenous language affects the entire world as it diminishes the diversity of knowledge and perspectives “We take Ubuntu for granted, but it exists because of indigenous languages and cultures. It is now quoted in foreign countries,” Dlanga added.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads The ILAF works to promote all indigenous languages in South Africa, not only the official ones, by inviting activists from various language groups to share their work and amplify their voices.  “We encourage these voices to reach out to us as we promote this knowledge to our ever-growing community,” Dlanga concluded. DM ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Capricorn FM’s Phomelelo Ngoepe has more: Copyright © 2022Capricorn FM.All rights reserved You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security. Reaction Officers reported no injuries at the scene of a two (2) vehicle accident on the Inanda Road in Trenance Park - KZN this afternoon (Sunday). Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) received the call for assistance after a silver/grey Toyota Hilux bakkie rear-ended a black Haval H2. Time of This evening on the R33 Kambula Road, a devastating head on collision occurred. KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service responded to the scene and found an emotional and chaotic scene. Assessing the scene paramedics found 4 occupants that had sustained fatal injuries, and had sadly succumbed to their injuries Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy and the Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa express their condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in a fatal road crash on the R63 between Adelaide and Maqoma in the Eastern Cape on Saturday, May 3, 2025 Fifteen killed in a minibus A total of 15 people have died and five others sustained injuries in a head-on collision involving a fully loaded minibus taxi and a bakkie. The accident occurred on the R63 road between Adelaide and Maqoma (Fort Beaufort) at about midnight on Saturday *03 May 2025* It is alleged that a white Quantum, Phoenix, KZN – KZNVIP Emergency Control Center responded to a distressing incident this morning involving a 62 year old woman who was mauled by a dog while walking home after attending church on Baileybridge in Phoenix. Emergency medical teams arrived promptly on scene to find the elderly female A head-on collision occurred in Sunwhich Port in which several people have been injured. Med~Evac together with other emergency services are currently on scene. At least 24 people were killed when a bus and a taxi van collided in northwestern Limpopo province in South Africa Provincial spokesman Moatshe Ngoepe said on Monday that four others sustained serious injuries when the vehicles crashed head on in the town of Modjadjiskloof The victims were reportedly returning from youth day celebrations on Sunday Police investigated the cause of the crash and both drivers were charged with culpable homicide Authorities were still in the process of identifying those killed in the accident Road accidents are common in South Africa and many other African nations because of reckless driving and poor road and vehicle conditions South Africa battles with a high rate of road fatalities blamed mostly on speeding and a failure to use seat belts GA-SEKGOPO-Earlier today, a bus travelling from Giyani to Polokwane caught fire on the R81 Sekgopo road, just outside Modjadjiskloof. The incident occurred unexpectedly, causing a chaotic scene as passengers scrambled to safety. According to initial reports, the bus was en route to Polokwane when flames suddenly engulfed the vehicle. Fortunately, all passengers managed to escape without any injuries, but the situation quickly turned chaotic. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic as passengers were seen jumping from the burning bus to avoid the flames. Local emergency services were swift to respond to the incident. Firefighters worked diligently to extinguish the blaze, while paramedics were on hand to assist the passengers and ensure there were no hidden injuries or other health concerns. The rapid response of the emergency teams helped to manage the situation effectively, preventing any serious harm to the passengers. Survivors described the event as a harrowing experience. One passenger recounted, “We were just travelling as usual when we noticed smoke coming from the back of the bus. Within minutes, the entire bus was filled with smoke and flames. Everyone was in a state of panic.” Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Preliminary assessments suggest that a mechanical fault could be responsible, but a thorough investigation will provide more clarity. The bus company has pledged full cooperation with the authorities to ensure a comprehensive investigation. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Home | South Africa Motorists on the Branboontjies road between Giyani and Modjadjiskloof in Limpopo say the pothole-riddled road is negatively affecting their livelihoods The stretch of road that connects Mooketsi and Modjadjiskloof and Mooketsi and Giyani runs through several commercial areas that include farms Motorists say the business community has on numerous occasions patched the potholes Learners at Platland Primary School travel to the farm school between Maphalle and Modjadjiskloof They commute daily on the pothole-riddled stretch of road from their homes in Moeketsi says the road conditions make his job difficult “I ferry school kids from Mooketsi to Platland Primary School daily These potholes make it difficult for me to do my job sometimes they cause the bus to break down Sithole says his employer often has to pay large amounts of money to fix the bus due to damage caused by potholes “When the bus breaks down it is quite expensive to fix often we need to ask for lifts for the children because their parents don’t want them to miss school say the tar on the road needs to be completely removed and re-done as patches are no longer effective they could have made a plan to remove the tar road between the holes They keep filling the potholes but there is no difference and the situation remains the same.” The Limpopo Department of  Public Works spokesperson says they have set aside over R100 million to patch potholes on roads “We have set aside R135 million to ensure that we do at least 12% of our road network there is a shortfall of about R400 million that we need to ensure that our road network is pothole-less and Sanral is also coming on board to ensure that they rehabilitate roads that have lost their lifespan they have set aside R800 million for these roads.” residents continue to be hopeful that the current shortfall of over R400 million needed to patch all the potholes in the province will be covered LENYENYE : The Lenyenye Magistrate’s Court sentenced Nicky Malonge to 10-year direct imprisonment last week This was after the Mozambican national was found with a Pangolin at the Modjadjiskloof in the Greater Letaba Municipality The 23 – year old has been in custody since his arrest on the 6th of October 2021 The accused was charged with contravention of section 41 of the Limpopo Environmental management act and the immigration act as well as cruelty to animals TZANEEN-Police are searching for s suspects after two male hitchhikers were robbed on Sunday evening January 21 along the R71 next to Tzaneen Lifestyle Centre Preliminary reports indicate that two men were hitchhiking to Modjadjiskloof when a white Nissan Almera with two male occupants offered them a lift While on their way the vehicle took the wrong direction and drove with them to the Merensky area and took all their money using the cell phone app It is alleged that the male passenger produced a firearm and pointed it at the victims The suspects then robbed the victims of their cellphones and transferred money into their accounts using the Banking App They also robbed them of an undisclosed amount of cash The suspects thereafter drove off and left the victims in the bushes The victims were eventually assisted by the community Police have opened two counts of armed robbery and anyone with information that can assist the police in arresting the suspects should contact Tzaneen Detectives or crime stop number 08600 10111 or nearest police station or MySAPSApp Growing up in a poverty-stricken family forced Benjamin Nkanyane to look to the land to assuage hunger and make a living is the founder of Davhuha Farming Enterprise a farming business he established in 2019 in Mooketsi farmlands He hails from Sebayeng township outside Polokwane and said he was inspired by his mother to get into crop farming “My mother used to work on the farms when I was young and she managed to provide food for us through her work as a farm worker,” Nkanyane said “Farming provides many families with food and jobs grows the economy and provides food security for the country my brother performed better than me in the agricultural test and that made me realise that I needed to pull up my socks and so I became more interested in farming,” he said He added that he started growing vegetables in the family garden and got inspired seeing the results of his hard work paying off but I started doing odd jobs to raise funds for two years “Later I managed to study for a BSc in Agriculture at Unisa in 2008 and four years later I got a learnership at Hygro Training College in Delmas This is when the college placed me at Qutom Farms in Bapsfontein to do my practical in agriculture “I learned a lot at the farm as I got skills to understand the processes of growing and producing tomatoes I applied for a job at the same farm as a general worker I was given the position of an assistant supervisor I was by then a production manager and a students’ mentor,” he said Nkanyane said he went back home after deciding to start his own farm it was a costly exercise as 1ha cost R40 000 and I didn’t have such money,” Nkanyane said who has a big farm in the Mooketsi farmlands I negotiated with him and he gave me a 26ha piece of land to use he donated money to the business and I also did my part by investing money in the farm the aim was to build this dream and I managed to invest in an irrigation drip system and the business started growing,” Nkanyane said Modjajiskloof and Polokwane as well as companies that are involved in school feeding schemes His business employs eight workers and he also mentors five students from Hygro Training College and one local youngster He said his next quest is to establish a bursary fund for youngsters who want to be in farming and agriculture “Having to spend two gap years without getting any funding to study further really troubled me and I want to create a platform for youngsters to continue with their ambitions to get to the top in farming,” he said 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 “Welcome to the very big tree,” says Mama Maria the gatekeeper as we arrive for sundowners at the world’s oldest dirt track after dodging potholes on our drive through the small collapsed town of Modjadjiskloof in Limpopo province in northern South Africa blue-green mountains and the legend of the ancient Rain Queen Modjadji who settled here four centuries ago with her rainmaking powers Mama Maria has smiley eyes and is wearing a housemaid’s uniform She insists we write in the visitors’ book after we have paid our R20 entrance fee to see the Sunland Baobab “Excellent,” wrote the person who had visited before us But most people left the comments column blank It’s hard to find words to describe this 75-feet tall and 150-feet wide tree that rises up out of the dry bushveld in a most outlandish way was that a kind local had warned us beforehand that they only serve cold drinks and beer there so we’d discreetly brought along our own picnic basket with red wine for Ruth and whisky for me widest baobab deserved something with more gravitas than beer We set up camp at one of the scruffy plastic tables alongside the tree and considered this surreal specimen The Sunland Baobab is estimated to be between 1,700 and 6,000 years old depending on the amount of alcohol the teller has consumed The essential experience here is climbing into the bar inside the tree’s hollow trunk (baobabs trunks get hollow when they are about a thousand years old) but the bar was really only a laminated pine counter with the odd drinking accessory and the words beer spelt out in brass letters on the wall A dank smell wafted from a milky liquid dripping from a gash in the tree trunk into a plastic bucket We returned to our table feeling somewhat sorry for the tree A couple of thousand years gets you a bar in your tummy the tree’s aging limbs are being propped up by telephone poles and there’s a faintly derelict air to the whole set up: a few dead potted plants a tired collection of old railway paraphernalia a leaning postbox in front of the entrance Word on the street is that the Sunland Baobab farm owners are disheartened because their tree was passed up in a municipal tender for tourism development funding in favor of a new hotel next door owned by one of the African National Congress (ANC) ruling party elite in the province It’s especially galling since the baobab tree is the local tourism icon We sigh and pour ourselves another drink as the sun slips down the sky but wisdom is like a baobab tree,” says Ruth Join our newsletter to get exclusives on where our correspondents travel A Joburg native’s affectionate and honest guide to South Africa’s largest Cape Town’s multiethnic Rosa Choir is a fine place to consider the legacy of Nelson Mandela Among the vineyards and fruit farms of South Africa’s Western Cape the mysterious death of a farmworker reveals a violent history The traditional installation of Prince Lekukela Modjadji as the king of the Balobedu continued at Khetlhakoni Royal Palace in Modjadjiskloof outside Tzaneen in Limpopo The sacred traditional rites started last Friday night the Pretoria High Court dismissed an urgent application to interdict the installation ceremony The application was brought by ANC MP Mathole Motshekga who is the foster parent of Princess Masalanabo The royal council however announced last year that Prince Lekukela would take over Only indunas of the Balobedu royal house were allowed inside the private residence at Ketlhakoni in Modjadjiskloof outside Tzaneen for the installation of the  Prince Lekukela The spokesperson of the Modjadji royal council says the ritual ceremony is a family secret “It started last night indeed today this morning  we are rapping up,I’m already coming from the royal residence the people you see here,exclusively only the indunas will be allowed to go through the gate into  the royal residence,that’s where we are going formally wrap up the installation of his majesty king  elect Lekukela,”said Moroatshehla Some community members have expressed mixed reactions to the installation of the Balobedu’s king-elect Some residents say they welcome the installation while others still expect Princess Masalanabo to take over from her late mother “We expected Masalanabo to take over we had hopes that she will follow in the footsteps of her mother and be a queen as per our tradition,” “In the absence of Masalanabo we welcome the new king The Modjadji royal family says they will now wait for the coronation of the king-elect as the king of Balobedu Moroatshehla says they will be communicating with the Presidency and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs for them to determine the official day of coronation The Balobedu have for the past two centuries been ruled by queens who are known for their rain-making powers King-elect Lekukela and Princess Masalanabo You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security Reaction Officers reported no injuries at the scene of a two (2) vehicle accident on the Inanda Road in Trenance Park - KZN this afternoon (Sunday) Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) received the call for assistance after a silver/grey Toyota Hilux bakkie rear-ended a black Haval H2 KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service responded to the scene and found an emotional and chaotic scene Assessing the scene paramedics found 4 occupants that had sustained fatal injuries Barbara Creecy and the Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa express their condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in a fatal road crash on the R63 between Adelaide and Maqoma in the Eastern Cape on Saturday A total of 15 people have died and five others sustained injuries in a head-on collision involving a fully loaded minibus taxi and a bakkie The accident occurred on the R63 road between Adelaide and Maqoma (Fort Beaufort) at about midnight on Saturday *03 May 2025* It is alleged that a white Quantum KZN – KZNVIP Emergency Control Center responded to a distressing incident this morning involving a 62 year old woman who was mauled by a dog while walking home after attending church on Baileybridge in Phoenix Emergency medical teams arrived promptly on scene to find the elderly female A head-on collision occurred in Sunwhich Port in which several people have been injured Med~Evac together with other emergency services are currently on scene The battle for the Balobedu throne in Modjadjiskloof in Limpopo continues Some members of the royal family say they plan to crown Princess Masalanabo as queen Modjadji the VII in April next year This is despite this past weekend’s installation of her brother Prince Lekukela Modjadji as king elect. The Modjadji Royal Council under the leadership of the regent Bakhoma Mpapatla Modjadji, inagurated Prince Lekukela in a traditonal ceremony at Ketlhakoni outside Tzaneen. In 2021 the Modjadji Royal Council announced their decision to install a male heir on the throne that has for the past two centuries been occupied by women The council said the Balobedu were once ruled by kings and they were reverting back to that practice Some family members within the Modjadji royal house however want Princess Masalanabo to take over from her late mother Queen Makobo Modjajdi the VI They have since organised themselves under a group calling itself “Hands off Princess Masalanabo” Chairperson of the Balobedu Royal Council Phetule Mokoto says the installation of Prince Lekukela as the king-elect is invalid Mokoto says all traditional rituals must take place at the sacred place of Maolwe where they have buried the late kings and queens He says the other family members do not have the power to install any person on the throne as they are not the custodians of the Maolwe ancestral tribe within the Balobedu Spokesperson of the Modjajdi Royal Council Ronny Mahasha says they will crown Princess Masalanabo as queen in April next year when she turns 18 A court application to challenge the installation of king-elect Lekukela Modjadji will be heard in the High Court in Pretoria next Monday The Balobedu have for the past two centuries been ruled by queens who are known for their rain-making powers The last queen Makobo Modjadji the VI passed away in 2005 who are now at loggerheads over the throne ‘Just before lockdown we started sending our son at university in Cape Town boxes of avocados, nuts and dried goods from the farm and around Limpopo,” says Susannah Cole-Hamilton from Boschoek Farm in Modjadjiskloof near Tzaneen “The word spread among his friends and colleagues that you could get really affordable avocados and fabulous homegrown stuff directly from Limpopo, and suddenly we had a demand.”advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Cole-Hamilton saw the online gap and started Fresh from the Farm ZA which couriers products directly from Boschoek and other local producers to customers It’s a farm-to-table approach and the products are fresher “The business wasn’t triggered by the pandemic,” says Cole-Hamilton It gave us insight into a new market and new ways of selling local produce dried mango and granadillas are just some of the items one can order online from Fresh from the Farm ZA appreciating the less-than-outwardly-perfect fruit and minimising packing materials.” Fresh from the Farm ZA offers a selection of things such as avocados You go online, make your selection, add the items to your cart and within a few days there’s delicious Limpopo at your front door.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “I knew on 24 March 2020, three days before lockdown was enforced, that my life had changed forever,” says Paul Paunde. He and his partner, Thabiso Sekhula, run a travel business called 1000 Limpopo Secrets falling pregnant and finally regrouping the family There was a lot of uncertainty about money and life but when Covid-19 came and lockdown meant being able to work from home Paunde drove to Gauteng to fetch his family and moved them all to Limpopo Read more in Daily Maverick: “The thoroughbred craft beer that conquered Africa” After seeing the impact of the provincial travel ban the pair spotted a gap for a business promoting the province to the province “We want to build local tourism in a sustainable way by getting local people to see what amazing things they can do in Limpopo.” run a Limpopo-based travel business called 1000 Limpopo Secrets Both Sekhula and Paunde have other jobs that pay the bills while they build their 1000 Limpopo Secrets brand They juggle being parents with full-time jobs and businesses during the week and travelling and networking on weekends to boost the travel business “But it’s the kind of busy we like,” says Sekhula. “We’ve been to so many amazing places, from Blouberg in Vhembe – the only place on Earth where the San, Khoi and Bapedi all have their ancient rock art on the mountains – to Baleni in Mopani, where women are keeping the 2000-year-plus tradition of salt mining on the banks of the Klein Letaba River.” Recently, 1000 Limpopo Secrets launched the #ModjadjiskloofRoute at the home of the Queen Modjadji royals. It happens to be the only place on Earth where the rare Modjadji cycad grows in large numbers It sounds counterintuitive to open a restaurant during a pandemic but that’s exactly what Tuwanda Muzeketwa and his brother After 12 years spent working the cuisine scene in Franschhoek they relocated to Hoedspruit and started the Kassava Cafe in April 2021 left the Western Cape after more than a decade in the restaurant business and opened their soulful Kassava Cafe in Hoedspruit in 2021 Masube is the chef and Muzeketwa does the management and front-of-house duties “We really wanted to showcase African cuisine to be healthy delicious and of an international standard,” says Masube Read more in Daily Maverick: “Van Life – the beauty of living and travelling South Africa in a mobile home” Their small café is the hippest new kid on the Hoedspruit restaurant block “All Good” is painted on the wall alongside their mascot and brand ambassador The name Kassava Cafe is a twist on the edible tuberous cassava which is fabulously rich in proteins and high in antioxidants and features on their menu in various delicious forms Kassava Cafe’s bush salad with cassava mash and dragon fruit They source locally for treasures such as foraged field mushrooms, and get their herbs from the nearby Hlokomela Herb & Garden Project, plus the occasional marijuana leaf for decoration.  advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Lockdown was especially tough for foodie Laaika Moosa She lost her father to Covid-19 and moved back to her hometown of Tzaneen to be with her mother and brother After more than a decade of living in Stellenbosch where she studied education and worked as a teacher and school principal Moosa decided to combine her love of teaching with her love of cooking pop-ups and bespoke food experiences in the surrounding mountains Side dishes at Laaika’s Middle Eastern-inspired pop-up food event in Magoebaskloof Moosa has introduced a delicious Indian and Middle Eastern culinary tradition to the Limpopo mix and added fire and spice to the local palate “but over the years I have done so many courses and classes Read more in Daily Maverick: “Legends of a grand old railway station in the Karoo – Putsonderwater Ghost Station” watching her mother and aunts in the kitchen for hours “I was always surrounded by passionate cooks and I learnt how to do mass catering for weddings and functions as well.”    She adds: “It’s all just taken off – the master classes The positive side of being in a small town is that word spreads fast but I think people are really tired of pizzas and burgers and are looking for something new.”    For mother-and-daughter duo Magriet Daniels and Jesse Scates, who run a bakery called Magriet’s Fine Foods in Haenertsburg village in Magoebaskloof “We had to be really creative and think on our feet,” says Scates “With the booze ban there was a huge demand for sugar in the form of chocolates and sometimes we were doing more than 40 extra cakes a week.”   Magriet’s Fine Foods operates out of a house-cum-bakery and employs 14 women as well as Scates’s husband “Without the amazing team spirit here we would never have pulled it off,” says Scates Everything here really is handmade with love “We also took a decision to go to a four-day week so everyone had more flexibility and we retrained so that more people knew how to do more things so it’s not a crisis if someone is off sick.” Magriet’s Fine Foods has consolidated a reputation for its amazingly creative cake designs You want dinosaur or mermaid fantasy cakes Maletsholo Modiba is a member of the dedicated team at Magriet’s Fine Foods Magriet’s Fine Foods slowed down on personal deliveries and started using more courier services for its countrywide orders of personalised biscuits It also supplies these locally to farm stalls “We have also found that tourists and weekenders to the area are now more inclined to buy local produce than ever before,” says Scates Sometimes being told “no” can lead to a great big “yes” started brewing beer in buckets in their garage at home during the booze ban in lockdown “Beer is something we’ve always loved and always wanted to make,” says David “We had time to experiment and we were amazed at how good our beer was Our friends also started raving about it and so we decided to go commercial and open a small brewery.” assemble everything and get it to the point of brewing 300 litres a weekend Both David and Corene still work at the dental lab but they spend their weekends brewing and now produce light lager They have opened End Street Brewery at the Old Packhouse Distillery in Modjadjiskloof It’s named after the road in which they live in Tzaneen They had no plan for where they would set up but when they went to register their company with a local lawyer he suggested they approach his other clients a bar and event space and a distillery made perfect sense “United in soul food and a jol at the end of Cheerio Road, a humble market is a celebration of diversity” “Limpopo: Smiles, hope, tradition, perseverance and wildlife” “Basically we’re now doing something we love and offering people delicious and affordable craft beer and the chance to connect with each other,” says David “It’s the real craft beer ethos and we’re staying away from plastics too so our beer comes in a cardboard box of four and a bigger box of 24.” surviving the pandemic has been a lesson in flexibility This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history but it is no longer accessible to visitors is a one stop shop for finishing off a bucket list the giant tree ranks at the top of many lists It is one of the largest baobabs in South Africa and at a whopping 72 feet high and 155 feet around the baobab is also one of the oldest trees on Earth While there is some controversy regarding the age carbon dating has placed the tree easily past the millennium mark putting Sunland Baobab among the ranks of California's legendary sequoias Baobabs naturally hollow out after 1,000 years Sunland may have passed that mark generations ago and as such has hollowed to such a point that the owners of the land the rustic bar has 13-foot high ceilings and can comfortably fit 15 people van Heerden even claimed to have once put 40 full-size adults inside for a party Visitors wishing to grab a pint inside Sunland can even spend the night in one of five local Jungalows on the property to complete the full safari party experience Update: The giant tree trunk split and a third of it collapsed in April It is unclear whether the section with the bar was effected by the collapse.  though it’s run-down and in rather rough shape From Johannesburg take the N1 to Polokwane and just before Polokwane take the R71 to Tzaneen At the T-junction at the foot of the Magoebaskloof Pass turn left onto the R36 to Modjadjiskloof and from the town follow the signs to Sunland Baobab This giant wooden treehouse within a sprawling garden has its own eatery Dine amidst exotic plants at this former royal greenhouse geothermal energy keeps tomatoes warm and growing this sequoia was planted as a symbol of the connection between Visalia and its neighboring national park The last remnant of a tree that helped prove to the world that sequoias are real—and they're spectacular a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is made out of living branches The bamboo that helped Thomas Edison develop a longlasting lightbulb former reserve bank governor and labour and finance minister has been described as a great loss by President Cyril Ramaphosa “He conducted himself with expert rigour while maintaining the personable touch that made him a social media star and ambassador for Modjadjiskloof’s culinary traditions,” Ramaphosa said in a statement on X after news of Mboweni’s passing broke last night Mboweni’s family released a statement to announce his passing last night “The family is devastated by Governor Mboweni’s passing after a short illness He passed away in hospital in Johannesburg on Saturday night surrounded by his loved ones.” Mboweni was the first Minister of Labour from 1994 to 1999 in the democratic South Africa in the Cabinet of President Nelson Mandela He then served as the Governor of the South African Reserve Bank for 10 years from 1999 onward Mboweni returned to politics when he served as the Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2021 before he retired He was followed by many on social media where he regularly posted images and videos of his cooking He described himself as the The Duke of the Duchy of Makgobaskloof on his X page where he shared many photos and snippets of his life in Magoebaskloof A beautiful Makgobaskloof afternoon. A view from the @magoebaskloof mountain lodge. Visit us. ⁦@golimpopo⁩ pic.twitter.com/W5zs8hIuBP — Tito Mboweni (@tito_mboweni) May 1, 2023 “Given his sense of vitality and energetic and affable engagement with fellow South Africans Dr Mboweni’s passing at 65 comes as a shock “We have lost a leader and compatriot who has served our nation as an activist economic policy innovator and champion of labour rights,” Ramaphosa says Mboweni had a sharp focus on fiscal discipline and economic transformation “Tito Mboweni distinguished himself in different strategic roles in the private sector and was a flag bearer in global forums for our economy and developing economies more broadly “He conducted himself with expert rigour while maintaining the personable touch that made him a social media star and ambassador for Modjadjiskloof’s culinary traditions.” Ramaphosa says Mboweni’s passing is a great loss I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the late Comrade Tito Mboweni. His passing is a profound loss for South Africa, as he was a dedicated public servant who played a crucial role in shaping the country’s economic policies. As the former… pic.twitter.com/80dgL15QHd — ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) October 12, 2024 Nothing could have prepared us for this immense loss. My heart aches for the family and loved ones of our dear comrade @tito_mboweni. His absence leaves a void that can never be filled. Tito’s legacy will inspire us forever. Rest in power, comrade. You will be deeply missed. pic.twitter.com/PpVaLNOs3S — Minister: International Relations and Cooperation (@RonaldLamola) October 12, 2024 The only gov official I honestly believed in May your soul rest in eternal peace.🕊️💔 #RipTito #RIPTitoMboweni pic.twitter.com/oNxSxTTigH — Brandon Khambule (@brandonkhambule) October 12, 2024 I still cannot believe that our Twitter Chef May his soul rest in eternal peace. 🕊️🕊️#RIPTitoMboweni pic.twitter.com/qoJ01VvopB — P_MAX (@DDT_PM) October 12, 2024 How he showed us his cooking skills here on twitter, it felt as if we were all family . Death do not be proud.. Rest in Peace former finance minister 💔 #RIPTitoMboweni pic.twitter.com/JzACLhx08d — Tshilidzi (@CeciliaMunyai) October 12, 2024 President Cyril Ramaphosa is deeply saddened by the passing of former Governor of the South African Reserve Bank and Labour and Finance Minister Dr Tito Mboweni at the age of 65 President Ramaphosa offers his condolences to the family and friends of Dr Mboweni who has passed… pic.twitter.com/71PWCdO4a6 — South African Government (@GovernmentZA) October 12, 2024 Read original story on www.citizen.co.za has appeared before the Modjadjiskloof Periodical Court after he was arrested by the Musina-based Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Khoza was arrested by the elite crime-busting unit’s serious organised crime investigation division members for possession of a suspected stolen vehicle “Members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Limpopo province have been investigating the smuggling of suspected stolen vehicles from South Africa into the neighbouring countries through Beitbridge port of entry,” Hawks Limpopo spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke narrated “During September 2023, Modjadjiskloof police were conducting a stop and search operation when they saw a suspicious vehicle, a Toyota (Hilux) GD6 bakkie The driver of the vehicle reportedly sped off a high-speed pursuit ensued until the person driving the Toyota bakkie abandoned the vehicle on the R81 Road near Mooketsi it was established that the vehicle was stolen in Brooklyn “Through the Hawks’ meticulous investigation and he is believed to be part of the syndicate(s) responsible for smuggling stolen vehicles After a warrant of arrest was authorised against the accused he was arrested at Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court where he was appearing for being in possession of a vehicle jamming device,” said Maluleke “It is believed that the recovered stolen vehicle was meant to be smuggled to Zimbabwe through the Beitbridge port of entry.” his case was rolled over to Wednesday for further investigation said Shane Mthombeni was sentenced to six years of direct imprisonment without the option to pay a fine “The court heard that the South African citizen Shane Mthombeni was intercepted by police while driving a silver motor vehicle at Nyl Toll Plaza along the N1 Highway on Monday New Zimbabwe.com Tweets by NewZimbabweCom NewZimbabwe.com – The Zimbabwe News You Trust is Zimbabwe’s leading online newspaper and published by New Zimbabwe Media Ltd The platform brings you the latest breaking News Diaspora and gives you everything you’ve come to expect and love Our Forums are vibrant and gives everyone a chance to be heard tablet smart phone or on our App its quick easy and free access all the news you love NewZimbabwe.com is updated continually with the latest news to help you feed your addiction with stories & photos from Zimbabwe and many more Jump to comments Immigrants say they fear for their future in Ga-Rapitsi Police said to have been given an ultimatum by local group to evict all undocumented Zimbabweans After a number of Zimbabwean nationals came under attack in February in Ga-Rapitsi scores of immigrants say they fear for their future in this village outside Modjadjiskloof On the night of Saturday 16 February some Zimbabweans’ homes were invaded by a group of youngsters from the village They accused the Zimbabweans of criminal activity and told them they must leave the area immediately a Zimbabwean national who works as a security guard at a store in Ga-Rapitsi described the incident: “They came in demanding that me They started taking our clothes and furniture outside but our landlord came to our rescue and told them to leave.” He said the intruders also took R1,500 he had hidden under his television Captain Kgetha Ramphele confirmed that a Zimbabwean woman had sought shelter that night at Kgapane Police Station The village has over 10,000 residents spread over six areas are hired by locals to plough fields; some work at a local brick company who has been living in the area for almost 10 years especially the ones without jobs and without legal documents to stay in the country … I don’t have a problem going back home to my country I have a South African-born wife with two children … If I leave because I work and I’m working for my family.” Tarusarira suspects the trouble started when youngsters hanging out at the bottle store asked for money to buy beer and he told them he wouldn’t give them any money because they were too lazy to work Ramphele said a community meeting had been held after the February incident Villagers had been told not to take the law into their own hands “As the police our job is to protect the community … South African or not.” He said the police would arrest anyone who committed a crime and they would also arrest anyone who was undocumented and not legally in the country About three weeks after the February incident three children and six men for being undocumented Chava was working night shift and was not at home Chava no longer feels safe and he wants to leave the village A South African resident told GroundUp that the police had been given an ultimatum to evict all undocumented Zimbabweans otherwise the community will act against the Zimbabweans The group targeting Zimbabweans insist some are involved in crime and blame them for the theft of money from a school feeding scheme at Khubudi High School GroundUp’s informant also said the group had no issue with other immigrants such as Ethiopians and Pakistanis living in the area Interested in advertising? Advertise with us Partner with us now SAPeople.com is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd Reproduction without permission prohibited Home » Trunk Breaks on South Africa’s World Famous Big Baobab Tree The owners of Sunland Farm in South Africa home to one of the world’s most famous baobab trees have a very pragmatic approach to the “breaking” news that one-third of their gentle giant’s trunk has crashed to the ground Heather van Heerden says it’s simply “nature’s way of renovating” Here’s the famous Sunland Baobab – […] According to the newspaper Heather and her husband Doug have decided to leave the trunk exactly where it fell so that it can be reshaped by nature naturally On Facebook Heather wrote: “It’s just nature taking its course.” About a year ago one of the branches from the tree – which is at least 1,700 years old – broke off after rain Heather’s daughter Holly explained to SAPeople that rain had fallen into a hull in the top of the tree and rotted off a section The legendary 22-metre-high tree holds the record for being the widest of its species; so wide in fact It was created by the Van Heerdens in 1993 when they cleared out the hollow centre of the tree’s massive trunk During the clearing-out process the couple found evidence of both Bushmen and Voortrekkers Wilma Paulsen revealed on SAPeople’s Facebook page that the farm once belonged to her grandmother’s family “Mom says [the tree] was used as a storeroom when she was a child Grandmother’s grave is there,” she wrote In 2009 an expert task team from overseas estimated the age of the Big Baobab to be around 6,000 years but due to various factors this can’t be absolutely verified The baobab’s more recent history is estimated with radio carbon dating to be at least 1,700 years old Unfortunately it’s probably its old age and the natural phenomenon of this species to hollow out their trunks as they get older Nonetheless it’s still a beautiful tree with a very special aura around it… and the damage reminds one that nothing stays the same “When you’re sitting underneath that tree it feels like holy ground… especially if you put it into perspective that it could be older than the pyramids of Giza…” The May 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants may face delays this week due to targeted verification procedures currently underway by the agency Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi insists that taking a strong position on illegal immigration should not be misinterpreted or misrepresented South Africans could soon apply for passports and smart ID cards directly through their banking apps Kelly Smith’s mother has publicly criticised her daughter for failing to reveal the whereabouts of her missing granddaughter Cape Town residents in certain areas should brace for a 12-hour water outage on Wednesday as the City carries out essential maintenance work The proposed ceasefire remains uncertain as South Africa pushes for peace talks and Ukraine dismisses Russia’s offer