Angels on the Mountain:  brave rescue saves two at Tafelkoppe

Thabazimbi/ Lephalale – In the early hours of Saturday, 29 March 2025, the quiet darkness of the Tafelkoppe mountains was pierced by the coordinated efforts of a brave rescue team working against the clock to save lives.

At 00:07, the Matlabas Control Centre received an urgent call from a Lephalale police officer already at the scene: two local community members were missing on the rugged slopes of the Tafelkoppe. Contact had been made with one of the individuals stranded. However, the second person remained unaccounted for — sparking immediate concern and action.

Matlabas Control Centre swiftly activated several of its area coordinators, who wasted no time responding to the scene. This operation came just three weeks after a similarly tense incident in the same area, where a previous search turned into a tragic recovery after a hiking accident on 9 March.

This time, however, the outcome was different — and heroic.

The two missing individuals were eventually located at the base of a steep cliff. One had sustained critical injuries. Emergency responders immediately administered medical aid and called in further backup. Key role players were summoned to the site, including:

• High-angle rescue teams from Mogalakwena and Bela-Bela,
• Provincial EMS,
• Additional members of the Lephalale SAPS,
• Matlabas Farm Watch coordinators and Proto Team members.

Due to the nature of the terrain and the severity of injuries, high-angle rope rescue techniques had to be employed to safely retrieve the critically injured person. The patient was then rushed to a hospital in Lephalale for urgent treatment.

Thanks to the tireless teamwork between the Matlabas Control Centre, local coordinators and responders, firefighters, SAPS, and EMS personnel, the rescue was a success — and two lives were saved.

The management of Matlabas Custodians expressed their deep gratitude to every individual involved in the operation:

“Your dedication to the community and the sacrifices you make to save others are deeply appreciated. You are the unsung heroes of our region.”

Photo: Skilled responders used high-angle techniques to reach the injured at the foot of the cliff. Life-saving teamwork in action!