Mariah Carey Beats Elvis Presley's Single Record

Mariah Carey has notched up her 18th US number one single overtaking the late Elvis Presley's chart success. The singers new song titled Touch my Body" which was released on the 31st of March has allegedly topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart putting her ahead of the late music legend.

Mariah is now only second to The Beatles who notched up an impressive 20 number one US Singles during their illustrious career. Mariah stated, "I can never really put myself in the category of people who have not only revolutionized music but have also changed the world. I'm feeling really happy and grateful."

Mariah who's father is of Afro Venezuelan descent and her mother of Irish roots explained that her success felt even more poignant because of her ethnicity and gender.

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Quiksilver Freak Pro Hopeful In Accident

In what can only be described as a freak accident, South Africa's, Dane Patterson suffered a serious neck injury whilst surfing at his beloved Dairy Beach on Sunday.

Patterson, a highly skilled and competitive surfer, hit a very shallow sandbank and suffered a displaced vertebra in his neck, a classic 'broken neck' injury. It was Patterson's good friend and top surfer, Dane Logie, who dragged him out of the water. "At first I wasn't sure if he had hit his head on his board or the sand," said Logie. "But it must have been the sandbank. The waves were only about three feet, but it was super shallow."

After realising the extent of the injury, Dane was airlifted to the hospital, where he was immediately placed in ICU. Dane had been working flat out on the upcoming Quiksilver Pro Durban surfing event. "He is in good spirits and not in too much pain," said Quiksilver South Africa's Greg Swart. "It is a serious injury, but he is expected to make a full recovery. He is in our prayers right now. There will obviously be a long road of rehab, and he will be out of the water for nine months to a year, but Dane is a strong and fit guy. "

Greg, who has been spending time with Dane in the hospital, got the low-down on Dane's upcoming surgery from the doctors.

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N2 South Bound A Hotspot For Crime

A man is in stable condition after being robbed and thrown onto coming traffic of the N2 freeway, earlier this week.

The man narrowly escaped near death after a truck was lucky enough to swerve out of the way but not before driving over his foot.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, they found the man lying in the emergency lane, in severe pain, upon closer examination they found the man's foot was in a pool of blood.

The victim was treated for a fractured foot and spinal injuries. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he is recovering from his injuries. It is believed that the man was on a back of a bakkie that had broken down on the freeway when about five suspects approached the vehicle and held them up at knifepoint. They demanded money from the occupants of the vehicle, not satisfied with what they had, they threw the man onto the busy freeway.

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A Little Piece Of Heaven - Vernon Crooks

If you are deliberating a little getaway for the long weekend which falls around Workers Day, but didn't budget for the exorbitant petrol price increase, here's a little suggestion that might be right up your alley.

Nestled in rolling hills, absolute serenity and all that natures' grandeur can offer, why not try a rustic holiday on the south coast. Vernon Crooks - to the mid South Coast, you'll find the Umdoni Region consisting of Scottburgh, Park Rynie, Kelso, Pennington, Bazley, Ifafa Beach, Elysium, Mtwalume, Umkomaas and the historic town of Umzinto.

Holiday accommodation and activities abound with the shoreline always in reach. Golf courses, beaches and interesting stores, everything needed for a truly memorable holiday. A historical trading post overlooking the rolling hills above Scottburgh, Park Rynie and Pennington. A place where the time has stood still and trading never ceased. Only a 10-minute drive out of uMzinto is the Vernon Crooks Nature Reserve, a wonderful outing in the Kwa-Zulu Natal bush. The reserve boasts 56 mammal species. These include zebra, blue wildebeest, bushbuck, blesbok, oribi, reedbuck, blue and grey duiker, black-backed jackal, vervet monkeys, rock hyrax, tree hyrax, caracal, slender mongoose, white tailed mongoose, Egyptian mongoose, banded mongoose and porcupine.

The abundant birdlife (some 300 confirmed species) includes a number of spectacular raptors like the Crowned and Martial eagle, which nests in the reserve, while an interesting variety of indigenous flora adds to the reserve's attractions, not least in spring when the veld is alive with colour.

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Cable Thieves Costing Government Millions To Replace

Brazen cable thieves are costing the city millions of rands and are crippling the rate of service delivery for eThekwini electricity.

In suburbs and industrial areas all around the city, electricity officials are battling to gain ground against a group of thieves who are fleecing the city of 3-5km of copper cables per day.

Sharing the modus operandi of these individuals, Ivan Worthington, an official in the department told of a band of criminals who execute their plan with military precision.

"They arrive on a street, normally very early in the morning. They normally have several ladders, they hoist them up and start cutting down cables." Worthington continued to say that in 20 minutes, these culprits could take down a kilometer of cable.

In this vain, the city's electricity department has taken a stand to stamp out this destruction of city property. "We are pleading with consumers to afford us some assistance with regards to this issue. We urge consumers to call Metro Police on 031 361 0000 if they suspect anything untoward," said Allan Spence, another electricity employee.

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