Helderberg Gazette 15 Jan 2013 by Boland Gazette

Helderberg

Year 17 • Tuesday 15 January 2013 | Tel. 021 853 0211

Pass rate improves in Macassar NICOLE MCCAIN

The Macassar matriculants of 2012 have done their schools proud, with the Zandvliet High and Macassar Secondary schools raking in some of the top marks in the Helderberg.

Zandvliet High School principal Richard Basson with the school’s results. The school achieved a 88,5% matric pass rate. PHOTO: NICOLE MCCAIN

Zandvliet High had a pass rate of 88,5%, an 8% improvement on its pass rate of the previous year. “It’s quite satisfactory,” said Zandvliet principal Richard Basson. Macassar High principal Yusuf Abrahams was also pleased with his school’s results. “You’re always a bit nervous on the day. But I knew we would have over 75%.” However, he did not expect the pass rate to be 87,5% for his matrics. Both schools achieved a higher pass rate than the provincial average of 82,8%. This is despite Macassar schools having struggled financially since being grouped together with more affluent schools by the education department, on which the Gazette reported in June last year. Under this system, known as the quintile system, Macassar schools receive very low education subsidies, despite roughly 50% of parents being unemployed. Other top schools in the Helderberg include Parel Vallei High School and Hoërskool Valsbaai, which both achieved a 100% pass rate, Strand High with 98,5% and Hottentots Holland High with 93,3%.

Rusthof Secondary obtained a 79,5% pass rate, and Gordon High 74,8%. The Macassar principals say they hosted a series of extra classes to help their pupils do well in the exams. “We had winter and spring school, and tutors on Saturday from the Department of Education,” says Abrahams. However, says Abrahams, the extra classes only help pupils who are motivated. “The motivation must come from the learners. Some of them don’t attend extra classes.” Basson attributes the success of his pupils to a combined effort, commending the hard work of both teachers and pupils. And he says there is no secret ingredient. “It’s just hard work, right from the start of the year.” But Basson does believe supporting the pupils plays an important role. “You need to give the pupils constant motivation.” Not all schools in the Helderberg performed well. Strand Secondary and Simanyene High both achieved a pass rate of just over 64%, with Khanyolwethu High School slipping to 57%, placing it in the education department’s category of underperforming schools. Western Cape MEC of Education, Donald Grant, said, “In 2012 we saw the number of schools achieving less than 60% decrease from 30 schools to 26 schools with a number of these 26 schools only narrowly missing the mark.” Principal Eric Titipane of Khanyolwethu High was not available for comment at the time of going to print.

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Helderberg Gazette

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Festive flowers: Floral Trends will present a demonstration called ‘Christmas Leftovers’ in the Somerset West Library Hall on Saturday 19 January at 14:30. Tickets are R40 and can be purchased from Ilse Holroyd on 021 851 6123.

Colleen Pienaar works with between 10 and 30 animals a day, checking for ticks and cleaning their ears. PHOTOS: NICOLE MCCAIN

Colleen, seen here with one of the kittens she is taking care of, is desperate for funding to care for the many injured animals she sees, as well as to help owners put up fences to keep their pets safe.

Help Colleen to help the animals NICOLE MCCAIN

Walking through the village of Sir Lowry’s Pass with Colleen Pienaar, is being taken on a sightseeing tour of all the animals in the area. She stops at each home en route to her destination, sticking her head around doors to ask about the kittens, the puppies, the injured dogs and the cats that need to be spayed. It’s little wonder the locals refer to her as “the Auntie with the dogs” when she is their first stop whenever their pets are injured, sick or lost. Seventeen years ago, Colleen (41) started a soup kitchen. Little did she know that her love for animals would blossom at the same time. “The oupas used to bring the children, and the dogs used to trail behind. That’s how it all started – the dogs would come for some soup too.” Colleen has since started caring for the ani-

mals with which she comes into contact, and has become the only place where Sir Lowry’s Pass residents can take their dogs. Not a qualified vet, Colleen has taught herself everything she knows with the help of local vets and animal welfare services. However, whatever Colleen can do, is very limited. She attends to between 10 and 30 animals a day, checking them for ticks, cleaning their ears and dipping them. She puts up the funds for the dip herself, and does all the labour herself. She also puts up funds for many animals to be treated by Teva veterinary clinic in Somerset West, as well as for the animals to be put down. “If a dog has a broken leg, we have to put it down. There are just no funds to fix it.” But it’s not just funding that is needed. According to Colleen many residents also need help to erect a fence to keep their pets safe. Colleen is also able to have ten animals spayed a month, free of charge, at the Animal Rescue organisation, but at a few hundred

rand per procedure, Colleen can not afford to get the estimated 700 animals spayed in the village. It’s a gruelling job, with Colleen having to see animals that have been abused, neglected and badly injured by passing trains. Colleen’s whole family helps her take care of animals, with her 22-year-old daughter Tara taking in the kittens and her 20-year-old daughter Kristy looking after puppies that need to be bottle-fed. Colleen even sends some to her mother and sister on occasion. Despite all the hard work, Colleen would never dream of not helping, knowing how much the animals mean to their owners. “People often say they shouldn’t have pets if they can’t afford them. But for some people, these animals are the only reason they get out of bed in the morning.” For more information phone Colleen on 084 558 1150, or call Teva veterinary clinic on 021 851 3511 to make a donation towards Colleen’s selfless efforts.

Tuesday 15 January 2013

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Helderberg Gazette

Macassar-brand ná vier dae geblus JAMEY THOMAS Helderberg-inwoners moes vir dae lank rookwalms verduur nadat ’n brand verlede Dinsdag (8 Januarie) by die watersuiweringsaanleg in Macassar ontstaan het. Volgens Theo Layne, woordvoerder vir die Stad Kaapstad se Brandbeheer- en Reddingsdiens, het 22 brandslaners Dinsdag om 13:00 die brand begin blus. “Die brand het vermoedelik ontstaan weens die spontane selfontbranding van groot hope gedroogde rioolmateriaal in een

van die riooldroogpanne, wat toe na omliggende plantegroei versprei het.” Rioolhope word in ’n droogpan uitgelê en gee, wanneer dit droog is, ’n hoeveelheid metaangas af. Die hope het van onder af verhit en spontaan aan die brand geslaan. Pogings om die brand te blus is bemoeilik weens die digtheid van die groter hope, wat verhoed het dat water die onderste laag bereik. “Laai- en skopgrawe moes gebruik word om die rioolhope op te breek sodat die brandende materiaal klam gemaak kon word terwyl dit verwyder word.” Layne meen dié arbeidsintensiewe en tydrowende proses was die oorsaak van die

rookwolk wat konstant in die lug gehang het. Die laaste brandweerwa het omstreeks 20:30 Vrydag (11 Januarie) die aanleg verlaat ná die vuur uiteindelik geblus is. Personeel van die rioolaanleg het die perseel met sand bedek as bykomende voorsorgmaatreël. Kylie Hatton, van die Stad se mediakantoor, het gesê die brand het nie die riool- of watersuiweringsaanleg geraak nie, maar eerder die plantegroei in die omgewing. Dit hou dus geen gesondheidsgevaar in nie. “Enigeen wat aan neweeffekte van rookinaseming ly, moet hul naaste kliniek of hul plaaslike geneesheer raadpleeg.”

Brandslaners het vir vier dae lank gesukkel om ’n vuur te blus wat Dinsdag by die watersuiweringsaanleg in Macassar ontstaan het.

Matriculants can try again

Bespaar meer water in die somer!

NICOLE MCCAIN Failing matric may come as a blow to hundreds of pupils in the Helderberg, but there are many options to allow pupils to complete their schooling and to study further. Matrics can apply for their papers to be remarked, and those who failed two subjects or fewer can apply for a supplementary exam. In the case of a re-mark, pupils must provide a motivation with their application. It costs R73 per subject. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will refund re-marking if the candidate passes the subject in which they initially failed. The closing date for applications is 21 January. Applications for supplementary exams close on the same day, with the exams written in February and March. Western Cape MEC of Education, Donald Grant, says, “A second chance to complete the National Senior Certificate requirements successfully should not be ignored.” Pupils can also redo matric. Those who do not see this as an option, have various ways to study further. Further Education and Training (FET) colleges accept pupils older than 16 with a Grade 9 certificate, and provides them with vocational training. Some colleges provide up to 300 different courses. Some other colleges also offer courses to students who have not completed matric. Sonia Magni, quality assurance manager of College SA, says it offers various such courses, and that many only require a Grade 10 certificate. This allows the student to begin studying at the National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 3 and then an NQF 4. “Once a student has completed the NQF level 4 qualification, he or she will have a qualification on the same level as somebody who has completed the traditional school matric.” For more information on re-marking or supplementary exams, contact the WCED exam helpline on 021 467 2300. Re-marking application forms can be requested from Nompumelelo.Kanase@westerncape.gov.za, Steve.Valentyne@westerncape.gov.za or Mercia.Buys@western cape.gov.za. For more information on FET colleges, phone 021 467 2614 or visit www.fetcolleges.co.za.

HOU AAN WATER BESPAAR Meld watervermorsing en oortreding van verordeninge aan by

0860 103 089

of stuur ‘n sms met volle besonderhede aan 31373

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Helderberg Gazette

Lourensford-stakers in hof NICOLE MCCAIN Een-en-twintig mense is verlede Woensdag (9 Januarie) tydens plaaswerkerstakings in Somerset-Wes in hegtenis geneem. Konst. Suzan Jantjies, polisiewoordvoerder, sê sowat 200 betogers het dié dag omstreeks 08:30 op die Lourensford-landgoed saamgetrek, ten spyte van ’n ooreenkoms oor loonverhogings wat verlede jaar tussen die bestuur en werknemers bereik is. Betogers het klippe na die polisie op die toneel begin gooi, waarop die inhegtenisnemings gevolg het. Jantjies sê die aanklagte was onregmatige betreding, asook die oortreding van ’n hofinterdik. Dié interdik bepaal plaaswerkers mag nie deelneem aan enige onwettige byeenkomste op die Lourensford-landgoed of Lourensford-eiendom beskadig nie. Die oortreders het Vrydag in die SomersetWes-landdroshof verskyn. Hulle is vrygelaat met ’n waarskuwing om op 26 Maart weer in die hof te wees. Die Gazette het op 15 Desember verlede jaar berig dat ’n ooreenkoms op Lourensford bereik is. Paul Mokwana, wat namens die plaaswer-

kers gepraat het, het gesê dié ooreenkoms het ’n verhoging van R10 per dag behels van R72,50 af op. Phillip du Plessis, uitvoerende hoof van die Lourensford-landgoed, het gesê ’n bedrag kan nie genoem word nie, omdat werkers op ’n glyskaal betaal word. Hy het wel vroeër gesê werkers wat R70 verdien, is aan die onderpunt van die skaal met ’n hoë persentasie werkers wat meer as dit verdien. Betogings het op 9 Januarie vanjaar daar voortgegaan toe werkers elders in die provinsie ook weer begin staak het. Hulle eis ’n minimumloonvasstelling van R150 per dag. Du Plessis kon nie teen druktyd vir kommentaar bereik word nie oor die nuwe ronde betogings wat, ten spyte van skynbaar suksesvolle loononderhandelings, by die landgoed plaasvind. Die departement van arbeid en ander rolspelers is tans besig met ’n sektorale vasstellingsproses wat ’n nuwe minimumloon vir die landboubedryf sal vasstel. Enige nuwe loon sal op 1 April in werking kan tree. Maar terwyl werkers eis dat ’n hoër minimumloon dadelik van krag moet wees, duur stakings onbepaald voort.

KENNISGEWING VAN SUBRAADSVERGADERINGS JANUARIE 2013

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Meeste drank in H’berg Die grootste hoeveelheid alkohol in die Stad Kaapstad se jurisdiksiegebied is verlede jaar in die Helderberg-distrik gekonfiskeer, aldus raadslid JP Smith, burgemeesterskomiteelid vir veiligheid en sekuriteit. Van die 5 120 F alkohol wat in die hele munisipale gebied gekonfiskeer is, kom 38% uit die oostelike distrik waarbinne die Helderberg se strande val. Terwyl ’n totaal van 2 372 eenhede alkohol verlede jaar in die Helderberg gekonfiskeer is, is dit minder as die sowat 3 000 eenhede wat in 2011 gekonfiskeer is. Alkohol word by strande en openbare swembaddens deur die wet verbied.

Die Stad se burgemeesterskomiteelid vir gemeenskapsdienste, Tandeka Gqada, sê hulle gaan veral in die somerseisoen die wet streng toepas aangesien alkoholgebruik op strande dikwels tot verdrinkings lei. Smith het gesê hulle sal aanhou om ’n zeroverdraagsaamheidbeleid toe te pas teen dié wat onwettig drink en sodoende hulleself en medeinwoners in gevaar stel. “Drinkery op strande en voor jy bestuur is onaanvaarbaar en ons wil die mense wat hulle skuldig maak aan dié onwettige en onverantwoordelike aktiwiteite waarsku dat dit vir ons ’n prioriteit bly.” Nadat alkohol gekonfiskeer is, word dit vir drie maande gehou om die eienaar kans te gee om dit opte eis. Daarna word dit vernietig.

Helderberg-strande veilig Geen verdrinkings het vanjaar op die Helderberg se strande plaasgevind nie, sê die Nasionale Seereddingsinstituut (NSRI). Volgens Nigel Pepperell, stasiebevelvoerder van die Gordonsbaaise NSRI-stasie, is dit danksy ’n kombinasie van goeie weer en ’n beter ingeligte publiek. Hy sê verhoogde ondersteuning deur lewensredders op strande, asook wetstoepassing, het ook ’n groot rol ge-

speel. “Beter afdwinging deur die lewensredders en wetstoepassing op die strande het gelei tot die laagste aantal voorvalle wat die NSRI in baie jare gesien het,” sê Pepperell. Daar was die vorige somerseisoen vyf verdrinkings in die Helderberg, aldus raadslid Tandeka Gqada, burgemeesterskomiteelid vir gemeenskapsdienste by die Stad Kaapstad.

Hiermee word kennis gegee van die 24 (vier-en-twintig) subrade van die Stad Kaapstad se vergaderinge wat op die tye en plekke wat in die tabel hieronder aangedui word, sal plaasvind. Subraad Plek

Datum Tyd

Raadsaal, Royal Ascot, Milnerton