I never imagined that a seemingly ordinary day in the Eastern Cape would turn into an extraordinary tale of cosmic discovery. But that’s exactly what happened when a rare meteorite, now known as the “Nqweba Meteorite,” came hurtling through the atmosphere, sparking a whirlwind of scientific excitement.
On the evening of 25 August 2024, residents across the Garden Route, the Karoo, and the provinces of the Western Cape and Free State witnessed something extraordinary. A brilliant blue-white and orange streak of light lit up the sky, followed by loud explosions and vibrations that rattled windows and hearts alike. But the real magic happened in the quiet town of Nqweba, where nine-year-old Eli-zé du Toit was sitting on her grandparents’ porch, probably wondering what snack she’d have next, when a dark rock fell from the sky and landed near a Wild Fig tree in the garden.
Now, Eli-zé didn’t just gawk at this strange object. She picked it up—a black, shiny rock with a light grey, concrete-like interior that was still warm to the touch. Little did she know, she was holding a piece of space history.Soon enough, this cosmic curiosity caught the attention of some of South Africa’s top scientific minds. Rhodes University, Nelson Mandela University, and Wits University quickly teamed up to investigate the origins and significance of the Nqweba Meteorite. And trust me, they weren’t going to let this rock slip through their fingers—quite literally.
Dr Carla Dodd from Nelson Mandela University was quick off the mark, securing the sample from Eli-zé and recognising its rarity. I mean, it’s not every day a meteorite drops into your garden, right? Meanwhile, Rhodes University’s Dr Deon van Niekerk wasted no time in getting a permit from the Eastern Cape Provincial Heritage Resources Authority to recover all fragments of the meteorite for scientific analysis.Wits University’s Professor Roger Gibson, who might secretly be part astronaut given his enthusiasm, stressed the importance of collecting these fragments quickly.
According to him, “Events such as these are incredible and are very exciting, both for the public who witness these falls and the scientists who gain invaluable information from studying the bolides and rocks.” And who can argue with that? It’s not every day you get to explain to people that the thing that just shook their town was a natural event from outer space.Now, let’s get to the nitty-gritty. The Nqweba Meteorite is believed to be an achondritic meteorite, specifically a rare type within the Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite (HED) group.
For us non-scientists, that means it’s a real gem, providing invaluable insights into the processes that shaped not only this rock but possibly our own planet. It weighs less than 90g, which is just about the weight of a small chocolate bar; although definitely less tasty.
Dr Dodd, with the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store, expressed her gratitude, saying, “We are grateful that Eli-zé’s family immediately thought to contact us at Mandela University’s Geosciences Department upon making this rare find, effectively setting off this collaborative effort to study the meteorite and preserve it as part of the Eastern Cape heritage.”As the scientific community delves into this cosmic treasure, I can’t help but feel a sense of wonder.
This little meteorite, which started its journey who-knows-where in space, has now become a part of our story here in South Africa. It’s a reminder that the universe is full of surprises, and sometimes, the stars really do fall right into your backyard.