The Bulletin Newspaper - 10 January 2020

ISSUE 254 - FREE

10

JANUARY 2020

COMMUNITY NEWS. ORIGINAL - ACCURATE - FIRST

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Bulletin wins defamation case V

context dealing with animals. as something, not just anything, but as an insulting reference is made “From the above, it is found that there a useless object not meant to exist at about the size of his mind.” is nothing defamatory about the all. She hailed serious insults at him, “Ms. Geel proved to be an unreliable article. As a result, the plaintiff’s claim something that would have left the and evasive witness who shifted the ought not to succeed.” Judge Mali readers pondering whether Mr van blame to stress and forgetfulness.” concluded.

Huyssteen is in the right state of mind Judge Mali said.

Jenneth Geel vented her anger on social media after the publication APRIL of the article 2018 and made COMMUNITY NEWS. ORIGINAL - ACCURATE - FIRST defamatory 017 631 1903 / 017 631 1845 • admin@thebulletin.co.za • 1 Kiewiet Street, Secunda (Lake Umuzi) statements of her own regarding The Bulletin’s editor stating that he should have been flushed Community outraged by decision to shoot baboon down the drain “The National Council of SPCA is the team. The cage was immediately made before the cells largest animal welfare organisation available and could have arrived in in South Africa. It prevents cruelty, GMM within two hours. divided. The promotes kindness and alleviates the The pleas fell on deaf ears as the suffering of animals. Our objective order came from the SPCA to shoot social media is to serve and protect all animals, to the animal. Pressure from the public post makes uplift their welfare and to ensure that also did not deter Inspector Geel from the protection they have under South giving the order. It was witnessed that more remarks, African law is upheld and protected.”

Inspector Geel was listening to the including that In a bizarre twist of events, the protector conversations on the Zello channels of animal rights, turned into the hunter on more than one occasion. The the article when Jenneth Geel, Senior Inspector conversation was played to her by is a pack of of the Highveld Ridge SPCA gave the another reporter. order to shoot an escaped baboon.

Arguments were made that this animal lies, that it is In January the Bulletin reported the is stressed and threatened people.

When speaking to those that were defamatory and following: “A Brahman Bullock calf was shot in eMbahlenhle after causing involved in tracking down the animal it a counterclaim havoc and attacking several people. It became clear that this was a captured all started when the bullock somehow animal that came loose. Members of was lodged. found his way into the eMba Sasol club Stratconrisk were able to approach the This claim on the morning of 15 January.” animal and get as close as 5 meters As well as “We decided to rather put it from him before he bared his teeth. succeeded. down before it caused more damage” This cancels the argument that he was Judge Mali A baboon was sighted on the 4th unapproachable and that no one could of April in the Tugela street area as get close enough to dart him. said in her it vaulted a wall. First reactions of Animals that are cornered will warn everybody was that it was a very good people when they are getting too close. judgment: April fool’s joke. Social media then This is exactly what happened with the “Defences to came alive with reports of baboon baboon. sightings as well as offers to help Witnesses also spoke to the Bulletin and defamation capture the baboon. said that the baboon has his regular have been At the time of writing this article, 117 sleeping spot, just as baboons would 598 thousand people saw this post on do. The baboon has been observed in referred to the Bulletin’s Facebook page alone the trees for a while according to the (post reaches), it was shared 656 times same witnesses. If there was a pattern it above. Anger, and had received 863 comments. These could easily have been captured. forgetfulness figures do not include shares, reaches One of the people tracking the baboon and comments on other pages. The even called him by name and knew and stress shares even reached animal rights who the owner was, stating that the are not one groups countrywide. Groups such as baboon lived in the trees behind the Baboon matters and Prime crew. fire station. It could not be determined of them. The A number of people have offered if this baboon was the same baboon. reader of the assistance to capture the animal or Observations made by the Bulletin even dart the animal. Jenneth told the was not of a frightened, angry and Facebook Bulletin not to interfere and to leave the aggressive animal but more of an issue with them that actually know more escaped pet. At no time was anyone Bulletin News about these animals than the Bulletin. threatened nor did it show any would have “This animal is stressed out and needs aggressiveness towards people or to be shot,” said Jenneth, “someone animals. At one stage it jumped down thought little might be injured” from a tree and casually ran between of the Chief The Editor of the Bulletin himself barking dogs to the next yard. It is not offered his help in shooting the animal how a frightened, cornered animal Editor of The to GMM’s Fire department if the animal would behave.

Bulletin news. posed any risk to the public. After The order to shoot could have waited sighting the animal, it became clear that until all options have been exhausted.

Ms. Geel’s this animal was not stressed as said by This was surely not the case! inspector Geel. Therefore, no need to Once the animal was shot, Inspector words cannot put it down.

Geel tried to prevent the Bulletin from be turned The Bulletin has actually been in contact taking photos. She also tried to chase with several people to help capture the the Bulletin of the property. When told around to animal. We have contacted a group of that it is not her property she tried to mean anything people called “Saving the Survivors” get the owners to instruct the Bulletin from Pretoria that immediately arranged to leave the premises. Again this was except that Jenneth Geel, Senior Inspector of the Highveld Ridge SPCA. for a baboon trap as well as a darting refused.

Continued to page 3 she does not even see Mr van Huyssteen as a human being. She portrays him ISSUE 171 - FREE

ictory for The Bulletin in a R1,2M Defamation of Character case. The Bulletin was sued for an astronomical amount of R1,2M after an article was placed in April 2018 when a baboon was shot.

The Bulletin reported extensively on the handling of the matter, especially by the SPCA and their senior inspector at the time, Jenneth Geel.

There was a keen public interest in the matter and a huge public outcry at the eventual shooting of the baboon.

Senior Inspector Jenneth Geel, in her capacity, subsequently sued The Bulletin for R1.2m stating that the article was defamatory, premised on the following and accompanying sting: That the plaintiff (Jenneth Geel) is heartless, ruthless, careless, confrontational and without moral fibre and is, in fact, an enemy of animals contrary to her position as SPCA inspector.

That the plaintiff has gone against and failed to uphold her duty to protect animals following her position as SPCA inspector.

That the plaintiff cruelly executed an animal without exhausting other options.

Inferring that the plaintiff did not take the interests of the animal into consideration contrary to her position as SPCA inspector and that the plaintiff lied about the condition and circumstances of the animal and incident.

The matter was set down for trial in the Middelburg High Court on 26/27 August 2019.

In her judgment, High Court Judge Mali said: “The pertinent question to ask is what an ordinary reader of The Bulletin would have understood in reading the article. The readers would have understood that the SPCA failed to protect animal rights as expected.

Furthermore, Ms. Geel gave the order to shoot an escaped baboon. By virtue of her position as Senior Inspector at the SPCA, she is the face of the organisation. It is very correct and prudent that the article had to carry her photograph.”

At the time of publication, Jenneth Geel was contacted twice by Gwendie Venter, reporter at The Bulletin at the time, to verify the facts and to give her an opportunity to comment. Geel declined the opportunity.

The Bulletin used a sentence that said: “The protector of animal rights turned into the hunter”.

Judge Mali also found that the word “hunter” to be adequately utilised in a

13

SPCA - Friend or foe?

NEWS

2

Crime

snippets Quick response by police leads to arrest A quick response by police in Mpumalanga has led to the arrest of a 57-year-old woman, who was found in possession of drugs.

Reports revealed that on Sunday, 5 January, police in Mmamethlake were on duty patrolling as one of the relentless efforts in ensuring that the public is and feel safe under the theme “Zizojika Izinto - Turning the tide against crime”.

The police received information from members of the public about a woman who was selling drugs in the area, which she had allegedly purchased in Gauteng.

The members swiftly responded to the information and traced the suspect. They located the woman and found her alighting from a taxi carrying a handbag when they approached and stopped her. Police proceeded to search her and found her in possession of about 800 plastic sachets containing drugs suspected

to be nyaope and some were also wrapped in a doek.

The street value thereof is estimated to be about R24 000-00. The woman was immediately arrested and charged with possession of drugs as well as dealing in drugs. She appeared at Mbibana Magistrates Court on Monday, 6 January.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma, expressed his disappointment in the woman’s involvement in such a criminal act. “I strongly condemn this reckless act as we expect members of the community to assist the police and government in the fight against the scourge of substance abuse by not dealing in or support businesses that deal in drugs as this has proven to have a negative impact in many communities more so affecting the young ones”.

The General has further applauded members of the public for the valuable information that they provided to the police, which has led to the woman’s arrest. General Zuma also thanked the police for their swift response to the information.

MEC shocked by attacks on women over the last seven days Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Ms Gabisile Shabalala believes the new year started badly for the province particularly in the fight against genderbased violence following the recent attacks on women across various parts of the province.

Shabalala noted with great shock the recent incident where two people were killed in Pienaar by a 38-year-old police officer stationed at Kabokweni.

The third person sustained injuries while trying to intervene during the scuffle. The incident took place on Sunday, 29 December 2019, in Pienaar while the suspect was visiting a lady believed to be his girlfriend.

He has since been arrested and he has been charged with two counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

In another matter, a 28-year-old woman and her daughter believed to be only four years old were reportedly raped in Machadodorp. A man, 35, was nabbed by the police on Friday, 27 December 2019, in connection with the incident.

It is reported that the suspect initially went to visit the victims where

they stay. He later took out a knife, threatened the mother and daughter and directed them to one of the rooms, where he, allegedly, raped both of them.

Police were made aware of the incident by one of the community members who became suspicious after seeing the suspect fleeing from the house.

The police immediately rushed to the house and confirmed the details of the incident.

In another case, the lifeless body of a woman, 25, was found in Tweefontein near Zamani Primary in an open field after the community alerted the police.

The incident took place on Saturday, 28 December 2019, in the morning.

The police rushed to the scene and upon arrival, discovered the body of a woman with multiple stab wounds. No arrests have been made in this regard.

MEC Shabalala has further pleaded with the police to ensure that all these cases are thoroughly investigated so that the culprits are made to pay for the pain they have caused to the victims and their families.

She added that communities who may have any information regarding these and other cases of crime or abuse to report to the police so that the suspects are arrested and accordingly punished.

“We must report abuse to the police.

We want abusers to rot in jail so that women and children can walk and live freely without fear of being attacked.

Our courts should not grant these perverts bail and once convicted they should be given lengthy jail terms. We need our communities in the ongoing war against gender-based violence.

“Condemning these incidences only will not help but all stakeholders and communities must act and work together to win the war on GBV and other crimes,” Shabalala said.

The MEC went further by encouraging women to walk away from abusive boyfriends and partners and not wait until it is too late.

Shabalala has pleaded for more support to survivors of abuse by all stakeholders and communities so that they do not feel more victimised.

MEC Shabalala is meanwhile sending condolences to all the affected families of abuse across the province saying that government will continue to do all in its might to bring an end to the scourge of abuse in communities.

30 year old man shot and killed, suspect sought by police Police in Mpumalanga are looking for a suspect in connection with a case of murder in which a 30-year-old man, Dwyne Nguyuza, was murdered at Thulamahashe near Bushbuckridge.

The incident took place on 31 December 2019, at midnight.

Reports indicated that the 30-year-old man was celebrating New Year’s Eve with his wife and family at their home in Thulamahashe when an unknown man entered their yard with a firearm.

After entering, the suspect shot the man several times and then went on to shoot the wife before fleeing the scene.

The man and his wife were rushed to the nearby clinic for medical assistance. In the process, police were summoned to the scene as well, unfortunately, the man was certified dead on arrival at the clinic.

However, the woman was moved to hospital for medical treatment where she is recovering.

A case of murder as well as attempted

10 January 2020 murder have been opened and the Detectives have already commenced with their investigation. The motive for the killing is unknown at this stage and there is no arrest made yet.

The police are appealing for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect to call Detective Captain Alfred Mashele on 0829684153 Members of the public can also call 10111 or send sms’s to 32211 for any crime-related information.

Alternatively, the public can download MYSAPSAPP to anonymously send valuable information to the police.

Double murder police constable remanded in custody A 38-year-old off duty Police Constable, stationed at Kabokweni who has been arrested for two counts of murder and attempted murder has been remanded in custody.

Constable Bonginkosi Malinga was not asked to plea during his first appearance but appeared again on Friday, 3 January, for a formal bail application.

The arrest of Malinga came after Sunday, 29 December 2019, when police received information about a shooting incident where three people were shot.

The information further indicated that the suspect involved is a police officer.

The police on duty went to investigate and discovered that the suspect involved was indeed a police officer who, in an actual fact, went to Pienaar to visit a lady friend, Goodness Mhaule (34) but found her in the company of another man, who was identified as Sibusiso Justice Khoza (31).

The report which was gathered at the scene suggested that the cause of the shooting was a result of a heated argument which ensued within the circle and subsequently, Malinga allegedly drew out his service firearm and shot at Khoza.

He then went on a shooting rampage where he fatally shot Mhaule as she was running towards her parents’ house for help as well as her brother, who was trying to intervene during the commotion.

Police and Medical personnel were summoned to the scene where both Mhaule and Khoza were certified dead.

The suspect was immediately arrested whilst the brother, who sustained injuries during the shooting was taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

Malinga appeared on 31 December 2019, at Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court facing two counts of murder and attempted murder.

The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma, has welcomed the remanding of the suspect in custody. He further mentioned that an internal disciplinary action against the member is underway meanwhile, IPID will proceed with the criminal investigation.

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NEWS

10 January 2020

3

Manana suspects out on bail The two suspects arrested in connection with the killing of Bethal Business owner, Bongani Manana have been released on bail.

Siswe Benedict Methule and Swangile Douglas Mashlangu appeared before the Bethal court on Thursday, 2 January on charges of murder.

Methule and Mashlangu applied for bail and were released on bail set at R5000 each.

During the bail application, more details emerged regarding the time when Bongani Manana was fatally

wounded in the chest.

It would appear that an argument erupted between Manana and Methule near Bethal Dam. Manana proceeded towards Upper Echelon where the argument continued. It is alleged that Manana phoned his brother, Mashlangu to assist in the matter.

It is further alleged that when Mashlangu arrived at the scene he found the argument in full swing.

Reports suggested that Methule directed his anger at Mashlangu and shots were exchanged between

Tsalanang Flats: a rubbish dump?

The rubbish keeps on piling up at Tsalanang Flats in eMbalenhle.

Residents informed The Bulletin that for years no refuse had been collected at Tsalanang Flats.

On Friday, 3 January, some residents decided to burn the rubbish that kept on piling up at the collection centres at the flats. Unfortunately, the nature of the building was not considered, and the building was gutted. People that own a car wash at the entrance also made no effort to extinguish the fire although they were using the fire hose at that time.

The Bulletin was told that Govan Mbeki Municipality only responded with a refuse truck once the residents of Tsalanang flats threatened to dump their refuse at the new rebuilt Municipal buildings. “The truck came once and did not return,” The

Bulletin was told: “only one truck is operational for the whole Emba, four others are grounded with no licences.”

The Bulletin has been reporting on the plight of the residents of Tsalanang Flats for a long time.

The situation has worsened since The Bulletin’s last visit in 2019. All the flats are now occupied and the strain on the failing infrastructure has increased, resulting in more sewer leakages and water spillages.

One such spillage has been running for months, spilling fresh drinking water into the streets.

No upgrading of the old buildings has been done and no infrastructure has been improved. The Bulletin will be visiting Tsalanang Flats again this year and will continue to report on the inhumane living conditions.

the two. 16 Shots were fired in total.

Once the gunfire subsided, Manana was found with a gunshot wound in his chest. He succumbed to the chest injury according to preliminary reports.

During the bail application, Methule’s lawyer argued that even though the statement from Mashlangu points fingers at Methule, no evidence links Methule to the death of Manana at this stage.

The affidavit from the investigating officer stated that the two accused’s firearms were confiscated and send for ballistic analyses. Both firearms were legally registered to the two accused.

Witnesses to the incident were not asked to testify at the bail application and none of the evidence was tested under cross-examination as the trial has not yet commenced. It became clear that the docket is not ready for trial and that the investigation is still ongoing.

The bail conditions include that there should be no contact with any of the witnesses.

The Judge said that the accused had no previous convictions, nor did they pose any threat to the community.

There are also no indications that they’ll commit another crime and that granting them bail will not disturb the peace.

He also mentioned that both accused had strong ties to Bethal and would not flee.

The case was postponed to early February.

Bongani Manana

NEWS

4

So is die lewe

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Ds Marius Britz “Ek wil teen twaalfuur die lêer, met jou aanbevelings daarop, op my lessenaar hê.” En dit op ‘n Maandagoggend, die eerste werksdag van die nuwe jaar. Januarie 2020 tref Piet van Heerden skielik met volle vaart. Hy strompel die groot kantoorblok se lang gang af, aktetas in die hand, en is vaagweg bewus van die baie kantoordeure weerskante van hom, wat vir hom voel soos blokkies in ‘n lang donker tonnel. Sy eie koninkryk is daar ver vorentoe iewers. Identiese houtdeure, genommerd, is die ingange tot vasgevangde mense se persoonlike professionele spasies, minimalisties eenders, waar berekeninge gedoen word, projekte bestuur word, begrotings opgestel word, personeelsake hanteer word, toekoms-scenarios uitgewerk word, nuwe probleme en onvoorsiene struikelblokke daagliks skynbaar meer en meer opstapel. Waar rekenaarskerms flits met statistieke en data en onopgeloste kwessies. Telefone wat oral lui, stemme wat gedemp en minder gedemp vraagstukke en oplossings beredeneer en soek. Die corpus van sy eksistensie, dink hy sinies.

Sy vrou en kinders se foto op die lessenaar proklameer onteenseglik: Hierdie is Pieter se stukkie ruimte. Tydelik. Solank as wat hy ‘n produktiewe eenheid vir die maatskappy bly.

Net hierdie naweek het hulle teruggekom van Hartenbos. Twee weke se son en see en karavaan voel of dit nooit gebeur het nie.

Die euforie van massas mense wat ure lank op die spierwit strand lê, wat kersliedere sing in die donker terwyl hulle selfoonliggies op die maat daarvan beweeg, die reuk van houtvure waarop karootjops en wors gebraai word, die lag en gesels oral om die staanplekke, kinders wat ry op skaatsplanke en klein fietsies, tieners wat op die strand draf, ou mense wat twee-twee met wandelstokke

al turend oor die see teen die branderlyn afslenter, die vele stalletjies op die sypaadjies waar hulle ure verwyl het en gekyk het na draadolifante, strooihoedens, goedkoop Chinese donkerbrille, nagemaakte Nike-klere, Crocs en T-hemde met Afrikamotiewe, laphoedens waarop geskryf staan: Hou jou bek, hier braai ek. Draairoomyse in soel somersmiddae. Monopoly laataand saam met die kinders.

Rustige, tydsame daguitstappies na Knysna en Wildernis.

“Watter lewe is die waarheid, en watter een die werklikheid?” wonder hy as hy die bekende kantoor met sy oorbekende reuke instap. Verlede jaar se dokumente wat nog steeds wag om verwerk te word, antwoorde wat steeds uitstaande is, sy lessenaarstel wat hy vir 25 jaar getroue diens by die maatskappy gekry het, presies eweredig afgemeet op die lessenaar gerangskik, met die rooi en swart pen op aandag soos twee parate soldate in die Staatspresidentswag.

Daar is iewers iets nie meer pluis nie, besef hy as hy op sy lessenaarstoel gaan sit. Hy dink aan die lied van Andries Bezuidenhout wat hulle as gesin deur die karoo op die motorradio geluister het: Pasop vir die droom. Hy dink meteens anders oor die lied se woorde. “Pasop vir die droom, die loon van die droom is jou droom. My televisie kyk nou skeel, die radio verseg om te speel. Die stofsuier en die strykyster het elkeen ‘n greep om my keel.” Pasop vir die droom, dink hy. Die dinge waarom jou lewe draai, word uiteindelik maklik die dinge wat jou lewe totaal waardeloos maak. Jare lank het hy studeer, kursusse gedoen, oortyd gewerk, naweke by die huis deurgewerk, sodat hy hier, in hierdie spesifieke blokkiekoninkryk, kan opeindig. Hy het ‘n lessenaarstel met twee erekte penne om dit te wys. Met dank aan Pieter Stefanus van Heerden vir troue diens gelewer. “On behalf of the company. With gratitude for loyal service”. Hy trek die swart pen uit sy skede, maak sy handtekening op die 2020 lessenaaralmanak met die maatskappy se logo wat reinwit voor hom lê.

“Together to the future,” is hulle leuse. Sy lewe in ‘n goue raam.

“Gister hang soos ‘n landskap in ‘n goue raam. Jy is lewenslank in die bitter Transvaal. Hier is geen deurnagdiens vir ‘n man soos jy.

En dan wonder jy wanneer kom die Oubaas jou haal, is jou huur betaal? Kan jy vir altyd hier bly?” dreun Piet Botha in sy kop.

Hy trek die lêer nader, slaan dit oop. Hy het geen lus vandag vir geprojekteerde syfers van wins en verlies, van risikos vir die maatskappy, vir vatbaarheidstudies en moontlike omgewingsimpakte nie.

Hy besef daar is ‘n reuse gat in sy lewe, sy gemoed is grotendeels geamputeer van sinvolle lewenservarings. Hy dink aan die lang stuk pad op die N1 tussen Beaufort-Wes en Colesberg waar hulle vir ‘n ruk langs die Bloutrein gery het. Hy onthou dat daar ook blokkies was, kajuitvensters. Maar dit was anders. Mense wat by tafeltjies sit en by die trein se vensters uitkyk, KWV Cabernet Sauvignon drink en die karoolandskap indrink.

Die ylblou berge in die verte, die droë ongenaakbare veld, die

oneindige ruimte en stilte.

Weliswaar was hulle op vaste spore op pad, voortstomend na Pretoria of Johannesburg. Maar die eindbestemming was nie vir hulle belangrik nie. Die landskap, die rit, die omgewing, die samesyn is wat hulle gaan onthou van daardie rit. Die ervaring van leef. Ongeag wat hulle besigheid aan die ander kant gaan wees as hulle van die trein afklim.

Skielik dink Piet van Heerden anders oor sy lewe. Oor diè lewe. Van vandag af leef jy aspris, besluit hy net daar en dan. Jy is nou wel op hierdie voortsnellende trein genaamd lewe. Jy moet steeds die spertye haal, maar jy is bekwaam en ervare genoeg om dit te doen.

Maar jy gaan begin om by die venster uit te kyk. Sodat jy die lewenslandskap kan beleef, ruik, sien, ervaar.

Daardie aand 21:00 steek hy ‘n vuur aan, en haal ‘n pakkie wors uit die vrieskas. “Wat op aarde doen jy nou?” vra sy vrou. Dis Maandagaand, more is dit werk!

“Ons gaan nou lewe,” sê Piet.

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COPYRIGHT All rights of reproduction of all reports, photographs, drawings and other materials are hereby expressively reserved in terms of section 12 (7) of the Copyright Act No 96 of 1978 and any amendments thereof.

Banking details: The Bulletin Absa RBB Commercial Secunda Branch code: 637256 Account number: 408 499 2285 Checque /Current account

10 January 2020

Die boek word deur Human & Rousseau uitgegee

saam b. Spuit kolwyntjie pannetjies goed (gebruik diep kolwyntjie panne, nie gewone ‘vlakker’ ‘muffin’ panne nie.) c. Skep in diep kolwyntie panne d. Skakel oond na 180 °C e. Bak 12-15 minute tot mooi bruin Beste om te geniet saam met lekker vars botter; tuisgemaakte konfyt, vars room & gerasperde kaas

10 January 2020

SPORT NEWS

5

Water problems persist in Govan Mbeki Municipality Residents in Evander and Bethal are infuriated with the current water situation. Both towns have been struggling with either no water or poor pressure.

The problems in Evander started on 13 December when a pipe burst and the reservoir ran dry. Residents have been venting their frustrations on every platform possible. The group called “Evander/Secunda Wyk18” was particularly busy with tempers flaring.

One of the major problems is that some areas would be affected and others not. GMM struggled to get the reservoir to an acceptable level so that the water distribution could begin only to have pressure problems.

The problem was later identified and was reported as follows by DA Cllr Mariaan Chamberlain: “I think we have discovered why the reservoir was run dry. Currently, we don’t know who is to blame or which shift. A valve was not closed.

Thank you to a wake-up resident in Graz street area who heard this, took a video and reported it to the call centre. The video was taken at a stormwater drain.”

Mariaan posted another message a little later with the following content, “I have spoken to a qualified person now. Indeed, it is what they do. This valve is in a manhole. Which the team opens to release pressure in the pipeline so the work on the burst pipe can be done. Then they forget where they have opened the valves (In Secunda and think all over they also open fire hydrants). The low pressure in GRAZ street was reported not once...but many times.

Someone must get sjambok.”

A lot of blame was placed on GMM not paying Rand Water but even after the payment was received the

Oud hoof van LS Hoëveld oorlede

Mnr Frans Rossouw, oud hoof van Laerskool Hoëveld is op 26 Desember 2019 oorlede. Frans was hoof by die skool vanaf 1987 tot 2003.

Hy is gebore op 17 Mei 1946 en was 17 jaar verbonde aan die skool.

Die Bulletin wil ons innige simpatie en meedelye aan sy familie, vriende en kolegas oordra.

problem persisted. The valve was closed and the problem fixed.

Evander residents decided to do something about the situation and contacted Carte Blanch. One post to Carte Blanch read (Translation): “We have had enough! We have been sitting without water for days and the municipality is doing just what they want. No reasons why large sections of the town are without water. Can you help with an investigation?”

Residents commented on the post asking for help.

The problem in Bethal is a different story altogether. Certain areas have water and others not. It is the same as December 2018/ January 2019

when all the reservoirs ran dry and some residents didn’t have any supply for up to 26 days.

The Bulletin is engaging with various stakeholders to try and get to the root of the problem.

Here are some comments: “I hope that the resevior stay full now,,,Because off the rain ~ I really get tired off all the stories and explaining...When will the truth come to the point..Every week the some old story.....” and “My feedback from the official now was. ...bacause the reservoir was empty yesterday...they closed the outlet early yesterday and right through the night. Reservoir

currently at 50%, and they are pumping to the town.” as well as “Somehow we as Evander residents have to stand together even if it’s just by sending an email to draw attention to our problem” and “So for years the demand was same as the inflow? And the fact that some areas hav water ND others not is confusing, don’t we all use the same reservoir reserves?” and lastly “Sure all the residents will aggree at the moment gmm is a zero on n contract feel nothing for basic service delivery our constitutional right to have water”

NEWS

6

10 January 2020

Potholes increasing, Residents repair roads The past December saw a number of residents from various towns taking matters into their own hands and they decided to repair potholes.

Repairing a pothole is quite labour intensive.

In Secunda the Zello group, Secunda 911 was approached by a resident to help with the repair of the potholes. within a day the wheels were set in motion and bags of tar were purchased. Secunda 911 contacted Afriforum to assist and everyone was ready.

A few potholes were filled from the Sasol CBD Filling Station towards the Fire Station. The costs of repairing the potholes were about R200 per pothole.

If there are any other residents that have similar ideas, Roelof Gouws would be the person to contact. His phone number is 0725934052 Secunda 911 is a registered Non Profit Organisation In eMzinoni, ANC Youth members from ward 24 decided to repair damaged paving. The paved road in eMzinoni was damaged during the heavy rains at the beginning of December.

The youth repaired the road before Christmas.

Jabulani Masilela, Chairperson of the ANCYL (Ward 24) said: “We are trying to send a message to all the youth of Govan Mbeki Municipality that they should not always wait for the municipality but some things need the community to unify and meet the municipality halfway.�

10 January 2020

SPORT NEWS

7

South Africa has 12 public holidays in 2020 Here's what they are and where they came from 1 January - New Year’s Day New Year in South Africa is celebrated according to the Georgian calendar on its first date of January 1st.

21 March - Human Rights Day Commemorates the events of 21 March 1960 when demonstrators in Sharpeville were gunned down by police protesting the Native Laws Amendment Act of 1952 against the Pass laws. The day became known as Sharpeville Day and although not part of the official calendar of public holidays the event was commemorated among anti-apartheid movements.

March 21 also commemorates the establishment of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which was launched on 21 March 1996. The Bill of Rights is contained in the Constitution - a cornerstone of South African democracy.

10 April - Good Friday The dates on which Good Friday and Easter Sunday fall are determined according to the ecclesiastical moon. It varies each year, but they fall at some point between late March and late April.

13 April - Family Day (Follows Easter Sunday) Family Day follows the Monday after

Good Friday making it a long weekend known as "Easter Weekend". n 1995 it was renamed from Easter Monday.

27 April - Freedom Day Freedom Day commemorates the first democratic elections held in South Africa on 27 April 1994. Freedom Day celebrations.

1 May – Worker’s Day Worker’s Day, or International Workers' Day, or May Day, is celebrated globally.

The date commemorates the events of the Haymarket affair, which took place in Chicago,in the US, in 1886. It began as a peaceful rally in support of workers striking for an 8-hour work day but ended in tragedy, turning into a riot after someone threw a bomb at police.

In South Africa it likewise celebrates the historical struggles of workers and trade unions, according to SA History.

16 June - Youth Day In 1975 protests started in African schools after a directive from the then Bantu Education Department that Afrikaans had to be used on an equal basis with English as a language of instruction in secondary schools.

The Bantu education system was characterised by separate schools

and universities, poor facilities, overcrowded classrooms and inadequately trained teachers.

On 16 June 1976 more than 20,000 pupils from Soweto began a protest march. In the wake of clashes with the police, and the violence that ensued during the next few weeks, approximately 700 hundred people, many of them youths, were killed and property destroyed.

Youth Day was previously known as Soweto Day. 9 August - National Women's Day This day commemorates 9 August 1956 when 20,000 women participated in a national march to petition against pass laws.

Legislation required African persons to carry a document on them to 'prove' that they were allowed to enter a 'white area').

The march has been celebrated since 1995 to recognise the important role political activism by women played during the struggle for liberation against colonisation and apartheid.

24 September - Heritage Day Heritage Day is one of South Africa’s newer created public holidays.

South Africans support it as a day to celebrate their cultural heritage.

It is commonly referred to as ‘National

braai day’ because it happens to coincide with the first months of Spring, when the weather is warmer and when South Africans enjoy cooking their food on open outdoor braais.

16 December - Day of Reconciliation In apartheid South Africa 16 December was known as Day of the Vow, as the Voortrekkers, in preparation for the battle on 16 December against the Zulus, took a vow before God that they would build a church and that they and their descendants would observe the day as a day of thanksgiving should they be granted victory.

With the advent of democracy in South Africa, 16 December retained its status as a public holiday, however, this time with the purpose of fostering reconciliation and national unity.

25 December - Christmas Day Christmas Day is celebrated as a public holiday on December 25.

While it is a Christian holiday, it is also a time for South Africans to share with friends and family.

26 December - Day of Goodwill Prior to 1994, this holiday was known as Boxing Day. The Day of Goodwill is celebrated on December 26. - Jay Caboz , Business Insider SA

THE PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER CONCERNED ABOUT DRUNKEN DRIVING CASES The Provincial commissioner expressed his concern regarding the Nelspruit area. The Bulletin regularly reports on accidents in the Govan Mbeki Municipal area. In most cases the vehicles are littered with bottles of alcohol. This in itself does not say that the driver is under the influence but increases the possibility that it may be so.

Nelspruit - The Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma, has expressed his anxiety about the alarming drunken driving cases being opened against misbehaving drivers in the Nelspruit area during the festive season.

"In spite of fatal accidents occurring daily on the roads as well as the continuous call made by police and the government, for drivers to refrain from drinking and driving, this seems to be falling on deaf ears among some drivers." said General Zuma.

This has once again been noticed in the number of drivers that have just been nabbed only on Saturday 04 January 2020 wherein more than

Photo: Wheels24.co.za

20 drivers were put behind bars for driving under the influence of alcohol in a space of about eight hours in the Nelspruit area alone.

Meanwhile recently on 21 December 2019, the police reported that 28 people were arrested at Nelspruit for driving under the influence of liquor.

Drivers continue to ignore the call made by the authorities in order to make the roads safer for motorists and other road users. Police continue to appeal to citizens to exercise caution whenever they use the roads because failure to do that will only lead to fatalities and serious injuries on the roads.

The message was not only meant for the festive season period only but rather an instruction that should be adhered to at all times. Schools will reopen in a few days and police call on motorists to be sober when driving on the roads. Children will also be making use of the same roads used by motorists and hence a need to drive with consideration for other road users so as to prevent road accidents.

SCHOOL

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10 January 2020

SERVICES New Mayoral vehicle purchased TO ADVERTISE CALL: 017 631 1903 017 631 1845 ANNALIE 082 906 0546

This is similar to the new mayoral vehicle

The mayor has a new car! Despite all the efforts from opposition parties to block the purchase of a new vehicle a new mayoral car was purchased during December.

The BMW X3 is considerably cheaper than the X5 that she insisted on previously. The X5 was quoted at over R2m with extras such as tow bars and blue lights.

The Bulletin was told that the X3 will fall within the R700000 range that the minister once said in his speech.

Residents are expected to be outraged at the purchase as Govan Mbeki Municipality is under severe financial strain.

Rand Water and Eskom constitutes the bulk of the outstanding debt that is now well over R1,5b.

All the communities are affected by the non-payment of these suppliers. Bethal Rand is continually without water as a direct result of the non-payment of the Rand Water account. Water is restricted regularly to GMM and several areas are affected to the extent that there is no water supply.

Sources revealed to The Bulletin that the Mayoral car is indeed fitted with a tow bar. There is no need for a tow bar

on a mayoral vehicle. Official vehicles such as that should not be towing anything.

Opposition Leader DA Cllr Ciska Jordaan sent the following statement to The Bulletin: “The Democratic Alliance is appalled by the news that the Executive Mayor, Thandi Ngxonono and her mayoral committee has opted to purchase a new luxury vehicle with council funds despite the horrendous financial state of the Govan Mbeki Municipality.

The DA has highlighted its concern and condemnation of frivolous expenditure relating to the purchase of luxury vehicles numerously in the council but was repeatedly responded to by the ANC majority with quotations from the promulgated upper limits and benefits of executive mayors and the redundant reiteration of the high cost of rent of a vehicle that she was travelling with, since the prior mayoral vehicle is allegedly beyond repair.

In addition, several practical proposals have been made in the council by the DA to avoid hefty rental fees and the purchase of vehicles for political office bearers. With the GMMs ESKOM and Rand Water debt remaining yet at the

incredibly staggering amount of over R1.5bn it is absolutely a violation of the trust that residents have placed in members of the council to abuse funds that are meant to deliver services for the comfort of someone who should be acting as a civil servant. This proves that the ruling ANC repeatedly expresses its disdain for the best interest of Govan Mbeki.

Furthermore, it is clear as daylight that service delivery deteriorates under the financial constraint of the municipality by the day, with residents experiencing to an unreasonable extent this past December, since several towns were often left without water or otherwise electricity for days on end.

Executive Mayors in DA metros such as Cape Town and Tshwane has denied or sold off similar benefits in the past with the interest of the public they serve at heart. The residents of Govan Mbeki deserve a ruling party that will ensure that money meant for the people, is spent on the people.”

It would appear to the public that the purchase was timed to coincide with the holiday season as the vehicle was delivered during December according to our sources.

The Sale of Fireworks The past festive season were particularly hazardous for animals in the Govan Mbeki Municipal area.

Party goers had no regard for human comfort nor did they care about the animals despite the public outcry.

Illegal sellers had a field day with selling of fireworks to the public.

Here are some facts about the selling of fireworks.

Sale of Fireworks: This falls under the Explosives Act and conditions for sale are strict.

It is not possible for any informal sale of fireworks (hawkers, roadside or any open-air sellers) to conform with this Act. It is imperative that any informal displays of fireworks for sale or sellers of fireworks in the open air are reported to the SAPS as quickly as possible.

In addition to the principles and ethics involved, there is a real danger if fireworks are displayed, handled and sold in the open air.

Any seller of fireworks must be in possession of a current licence issued by the Chief Inspector of the Department of Explosives. This licence (often referred to as a permit) is not

transferable. That is, a shop with a permit to sell fireworks may not remove stock to a market or roadside and then claim “We have a permit.” The licence refers to the premises stated on this permit. Don’t be fooled.

Fireworks may not be displayed in a window or any other place where fireworks can be interfered with by the public. This means that fireworks in a licensed shop must be either under the counter or locked in a cabinet.

It is an offence to display or place fireworks where a shopper can pick them up or handle them in any way – including being able to put them into a shopping basket or trolley.

If you see fireworks displayed in a way that violates the law – report it!

There are strict regulations relating to signage (NO SMOKING, for example) and the necessity of having exits (preferably two) unlocked and unbolted whilst fireworks are on sale and that a clear passage must exist between counters holding fireworks and the exits. The Act states that if a firework dealer has only one exit, the fireworks must be placed at the rear (relative to the exit) of the building.

10 January 2020

SPORT SPORT/SCHOOL

9

Oosterland Leerlingraad ontvang hemde

Oosieraad 2020 met hulle hempies saam met Ripah en Altus van Safety Horizon Services.

Sulize Alberts en Eduan Naude. Hoofleiers van Oosterland ontvang hemde van Safety Horizon Services. Hier oorhandig Altus en Ripah die hemde.

Laerskool Krielpark laat die lyne sing by SA Kampioenskappe

Max Nel, Stephan Liebenberg en Lizanie van der Westhuizen en die O/13 B NOM span het ń 3e plek behaal by die Nasionale SA Hengelkampioenskappe

by Bloemhof dam.

Baie geluk aan Twané Venter en Lizanie van der Westhuizen het uitnodigings ontvang om te gaan proef vir SAVOF (Suid-Afrikaanse varswater oewerhengel Federasie). Alhoewel hulle nie hierdie jaar die uitnodiging gaan aanvaar nie is Laerskool Krielpark steeds baie trots op hierdie groot prestasies. Hierdie was Lizanie van der Westhuizen se eerste SA Kampioenskap en Twané was die jongste in haar span.

Happy New Year!

SPORT/SCHOOL

10

10 January 2020

Pandas - SA Chinese Eightball Champions The South African Chinese Eightball Championship was held at Wynberg military sports grounds in Cape Town from 17 - 21 Dec 2019.

Mpumalanga was represented by Jacobus Le Roux, Thabo Taljaard and Nathan Rupping, they all play for Pandas club in Secunda.

They participated against 18 teams from all different provinces including some national and international players. Mpumalanga managed to win the team event by winning 17 out

of 18 matches.

Nathan Rupping finished as the nr 1 ranked player in the team event with Jacobus and Thabo finishing 7th and 8th respectively.

This is the first time Mpumalanga managed to win a nationals in a team event.

Jacobus Le Roux also managed to finish 3rd in the singles event.

Nathan will represent South Africa in a team event in 2020 that will host 32 countries.

Right: Jacobus Le Roux, Nathan Rupping, Thabo Taljaard with the winning trophy.

Panda Darts Club AGM and 2020 opening

Panda Darts Club hosted their AGM recently and the following Executives were selected for 2020.

Chairperson - Nick Blake Vice Chairperson - Hendry Erasmus Secretary - Kim Blake Development Officer - Rees Naidoo

Tournament Co-ordinator - Karin Naidoo Pandas Darts opened the year with an open tournament. Sasol Darts club also attended and Panda Darts Club would like to express their gratitude towards them for attending.

The winners are: Women’s singles runner up: Wendy van Vuuren.

Champion: Esther.

Doubles runners up: Wendy and Jennifer van Vuuren.

Champions: Karen Anthony and Minette Oberholzer.

Mens singles runner up: Darron Pretorius.

Champion: Arthur Oberholzer.

Mens Doubles runners up: Wilfred and Frank Jonker.

Singles: Darron Pretorius - 180.

Wilfred highest close 103.

Laerskool Krielpark laat die lyne sing by SA Kampioenskappe Vervolg van bl. 10 TwanĂŠ Venter en die NOM Jonge Dames Span behaal 3e plek tydens die SA Hengel Kampioenskappe by Bloemhof dam.

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SPORT

10 January 2020

11

Dakar 2020 Saudi Arabia Kicked off

Giniel de Villiers (ZA) and Alex Haro Bravo (Esp), Toyota Hilux, Toyota Gazoo Racing Auto, action during stage1 of the Dakar 2020 between Jeddah and Al Wajh, 752km – 319km, in Saudi Arabia on Jan 5, 2020 Photo Charly Lopez.

(Dakar.com) Dakar 2020: Saudi Arabia Having moved from South America to Saudi Arabia, the world’s most gruelling cross-country rally, the Dakar Rally, kicked-off its 42nd event from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. This is the ultimate test for man and machine against the elements of nature that traditionally takes place in harsh desert terrain.

This year the race will be run over 12 stages with a well-deserved rest day halfway through. Competitors will cover a total distance of 7900 kilometres from 5 January 2020 to 17 January 2020. The racing distance is 5000km that will be run at maximum speeds. The organisers believe the race will be faster this year, like the old events in Africa, as the terrain allows for higher speeds and they expect an average speed of 105km/h on the special stages for the front runners.

From Jeddah the race will head north along the Red Sea and then turn East towards the capital Riyadh.

After the rest day, teams will head South through the Arabian Desert before they pass the most southern point at Shubaytah at the end of Stage 10. After the final two stages the race ends in Qiddiya which is further North West. With ten South Africans competing in the race and the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team hailing from South Africa the local interest

has grown tremendously. A total of 351 vehicles consisting of 147 Bikes, 23 Quads, 89 Cars, 47 Side-by-sides and 45 Trucks participate in the event. Former Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso (#310) from Spain will be racing one of the South African built Toyotas, with Nasser Al-Attiyah from Qatar (#300), the defending Dakar champion, out to win his second title in a row and former Dakar winner, South Africa’s Giniel de Villiers (#304), in an identical Toyota. Bernard Ten Brinke from the Netherlands (#307) who boasts several Dakar trophies, complete the very strong Toyota Gazoo Racing team. Multidiscipline winner and the man who carries the title of Mr. Dakar, Stephane Peterhansel from France and former World Rally Champion, Carlos Sainz Sr. from Spain, will pose a major threat for the Toyota team in their X-Raid Minis.

Many of the former Dakar Factory Minis are raced by private teams and they will be in the mix to get an overall Mini win in Qiddiya. A very interesting entry in the factory teams is former bike winner, Nani Roma from Spain, who drives a Borgward for the first time in this event.

Amongst the bikes, KTM will be the team to beat with Australia’s Toby Price the favourite and defending champion. Sam Sunderland from the UK, 2017 winner and 2018 winner,

Austrian, Matthias Walkner, will put up a great fight with their KTM teammates.

There is a wide range of manufacturers amongst the bikes with KTM, Honda, Husqvarna, Yamaha, Gas Gas and Kawasaki represented.

With the Petronas De Rooy Iveco Team from the Netherlands having changed almost their entire crew, the door was left wide open for the Russian Kamaz team to take their 17th overall win in the truck category.

Stage 1 – 5 January 2020 – Jeddah to Al Wajh - Special Stage 319km, Liaison 433km, Total 752km Romain Dumas and his co-driver Alexandre Winocq from France, who competed in numerous Dakar Rallies, had to look on as their car burnt out during the stage. Competitors found the first stage of the race extremely tough with the Toyota Gazoo Team suffering 11 punctures amongst their four cars, especially in the rocky sections towards the end of the stage. As a result, Nasser Al Attiyah had to settle for fourth place after he led most of the stage. A surprise win goes to Lithuanian, Vaidotas Zala (#319), in a Mini who kept it together ahead of Mini works drivers Stephane Peterhansel and Carlos Sainz Sr. who also suffered punctures in the rocks.

Bernhard Ten Brinke finished 5th with Fernando Alonso in 11th place and

Giniel de Villiers bringing the fourth Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota home in 14th position. The Borgwart of Nani Roma is currently in 16th place.

Toby Price continued his 2019 dominance and finished ahead of Honda rider Ricky Brabec from the USA and his KTM team-mate Matthias Walkner in the bike category.

Chilean, Ignacio Casale, an old hand and very competitive rider, won the quad race, while maiden SxS racer, Poland’s, Aron Domzala won the stage in the Side-by-Side competition.

As predicted, Kamaz had a great day with Russian, Anton Shibalov and his team, finishing first in truck #516 of the KAMAZ-Master team followed by the Maz-Sportauto team’s #503 with Siarhei Viazovich from Belorussia just over a minute slower. The Dutch Petronas De Rooy Iveco #505 finished 1’33” later in the hands of Janus van Kasteren.

Stage 2 – 6 January 2020 – Al Wajh to Neom - Special Stage 367km, Liaison 26km, Total 393km As a first “Super Marathon” stage for the bikes and quads, where the time allowed to work on their machines is limited, this will be a very tough stage.

Navigation on the stage is critical and the teams will learn about the different Saudi landmarks compared to those in South America.

- Coen van Zyl

10 JANUARY

2020

Bulletin

Pleasant Sailing during December for HSC

The Highveld Sailing Club (HSC) is an active sailing club with their base at Trichardtsfontein dam.

They boast that they have the cleanest water in all South Africa and they most probably do. A last fun sail event for 2019 was held on Saturday, 21 December and HSC tried to get as many as possible boats on the water.

It was quite a spectacle with the colourful sails filling the waters.

The event was put on hold for a few minutes due to thunder, but the bad weather subsided and made for good sailing.

Access to the grounds is well controlled and members can practice their hobby in safety.

Club Spokesperson, Pieter Blaauw spoke to The Bulletin: “We invite every one that is interested in sailing to contact us. It is a sport which the whole family can participate in.”

“We would like to get the youth more involved in the sport,” Pieter said: “we do have some young people in our club but I believe that more young people can enjoy the sport.”

Anyone that is interested in joining the club or would like some more information can contact Pieter: 0826506529