Issue 178 - FREE
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JUNE 2018
Community News. Original - accurate - first
017 631 1903 / 017 631 1845 • admin@thebulletin.co.za • 1 Kiewiet Street, Secunda (Lake Umuzi)
Angel’s ordeal A little girl’s ordeal has shed some much needed light on the healthcare situation in Govan Mbeki over the past week. Angel Nzimande suffered severe burns on Thursday 24 May when she grabbed a jug of hot water from the kitchen counter while her grandmother was cooking pap. The water spilled all over the little girl, who lives with her mother, grandmother and siblings in Leandra. On foot, her grandmother and her mother’s friend began to rush her to Lebohang Clinic, and, as luck would have it, were given a lift. At the clinic, a “white substance” was applied to the burn wounds and Angel was dressed with bandages. “I was at work at the time, and when they had dressed her, they sent her home where she couldn’t eat or sleep,” said Paulina Nzimande, Angel’s mother. “They also opened a file for her and the sister at the clinic gave the instruction that her bandages must be removed and she must be re-dressed every day.” The next day, however, another sister at the clinic told them that she could not be dressed on a daily basis, and Angel was sent back home with the same bandages and a bottle of Panado syrup. “By then she had not been able to sleep and eat at all,” Paulina said. “I took her to the clinic again on Sunday, and then they cleaned the wounds and dressed her with dry bandages without applying anything first,” she explained. “They said that there was no medicine available for the wounds”. The mother was then told to come back the next day but was advised by an employee of Sanitech to take her to Bethal Hospital. When asked why she was referred to Bethal instead of Evander Hospital, which is closer, Paulina explained that she was told she would receive better healthcare there. Government hospitals, however, are expected to
offer the same level of service, which should be decent and helpful. “When we got to the hospital on Monday, the doctor found that her wounds were infected, and applied large plaster-like bandages, which are meant to draw out the infection,” Paulina said. She was then told that these were not to be removed for seven days, during which she could not bathe her daughter. On Tuesday, Paulina said, representatives of Sanitech booked a doctor’s appointment for Angel at
Mediclinic in Trichardt. “They told me that what was done at the clinic was wrong from the start, and they caused more complications,” she said. “They mentioned that the help we got from Bethal Hospital definitely helped in slowing the infection.” Angel received prescription medication from Mediclinic, which Paulina said she was grateful for. As the breadwinner of her household, she also expressed gratitude for not having to pay for the consultation and prescription. “I don’t have that kind
of money, which is why Angel stays at home with my mother instead of going to creche,” she said. “So this was really helpful, I don’t know what would have happened without the help from Sanitech. They also bought diapers and yogurt for Angel to help her back onto the right track. Paulina believes that Angel is in good hands and has seen an improvement in her condition. “She can now sleep and eats soft foods, which gives me peace as a mother,” she smiled. - Rori Rathebe
PLEASE TAKE NOTE: There is graphic content on page 5 - Viewer discretion is advised! LET ASSEBLIEF OP: Daar is grafiese beeld materiaal op bl 5 - Nie vir sensitiewe lesers nie!
NEWS
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1 June 2018
Violence is the new norm “Just another robbery!” The words of an employee at Leandra Spar. This was in response to The Bulletin’s enquiry into the robbery that took place on 25 May. At about 19H45, an unknown number of men armed with rifles and 9mm pistols entered the Spar, shot the security guard and took off with an undisclosed amount of money. Witnesses (that asked to remain anonymous) stated that they could identify AK47 and R4 rifles. Witnesses also stated the security guard was looking into the shop when the armed men entered. One attacker
walked up to the back of the security guard and shot him in the back of the head. All the staff and customers were sent to the back of the shop where they were also robbed. One customer’s vehicle was hijacked when he arrived while the robbery was in progress. He was told to hand over his keys and then to join the others inside the shop. The robbers blew the safe open and made off with an undisclosed amount of money. Some robbers guarded the outside. All robbers escaped and no one has been arrested yet. Police are still investigating the incident. This robbery is iconic of what South Africans have to endure all over the country today. It is frequent that victims now say “it’s just another robbery.” The internet is full of video footage of cash-in-transit heists. The gruesome follow up pictures of robbers shot dead is not uncommon. South African society has grown
accustomed to violence. The Bulletin has continually reported on accidents in and around Govan Mbeki Municipality, hoping to bring awareness of the dangers on the road to our readers. We have spared the them the horrors of these violent deaths. Readers are truly more aware, but have the driving habits changed? Not really. The Bulletin has reported on missing
children. Some are found alive, others murdered or drowned. Do people still leave their children unattended? Residents of Govan Mbeki have grown accustomed to violence. Car accidents have great spectator value. Police divers draw big crowds when recovering people that drowned. A robbery takes place in a crowded store and the guard is senselessly killed and “It’s just another robbery!”
Expected increase in robberies Robberies will increase during the exam periods. According to Captain Zondo, Spokesperon of Secunda SAPS, the robbers know that there will be more irregular traffic of children from school to their homes. “Please limit the movement in the green strips during this time” said Captain Zondo, “the criminals are well aware that there will be more movement of children during this time.” “People should not ride their bicycles in secluded places or walk with their
earphones in their ears and look at their phones the whole time. Put your cellphones away and be attentive of your surroundings,” continued Captain Zondo.“ Avoid areas where you can be easily robbed unseen.” Captain Zondo also warned that the old CBD is showing signs of increased criminal activity. “Women should not place their handbags on top of their trollies,” Captain Zondo said, “there have been two incidents of handbags stolen in the past week in that area.” The Bulletin would like to urge shoppers to be vigilant at all times. Don’t make it easy for criminals. Here are some handy safety tips. 1. Do not leave purchased items visible in the car. Leave them in the trunk or cover them if in an SUV. 2. Shopping in the evenings may be less crowded, but there are also additional risks involved. Use parking lots that have adequate lighting and consider shopping with someone rather than going alone. 3. Make sure purses and wallets are secure on your person and you are aware of their location at all times. 4. Keep the amount of available cash you have at a minimum or separate it into different pockets or locations on or about your person. This way all of it is not lost if your purse or wallet is misplaced or stolen. 5. Credit cards offer convenience and
Evander robbery Four unknown men stormed into the Chestnut Park flats in Evander on the morning of Wednesday 23 May. A firearm was pointed at the only security guard at the gate and he was tied up with his own shoelaces. His cellphone was taken and he was ordered to lay down on the floor on his stomach before the criminals fled the scene with one of the tenants’ car. The security guard managed to see them loading some items in the car before they drove off.
security, however, keep track of all cards and keep receipts to compare to your monthly statement. 6. Remain aware of your surroundings and move to and from your vehicle with confidence and purpose. Do not look like an easy victim. Walk “tall,” head and eyes moving, watching for potential danger. Have keys ready before getting to your car so you do not have to search for them while standing near it. If accosted, fight for your life, scream, and utilize whatever you may have as a weapon (keys, umbrellas, kicks to the shins). Never give up. Never stop screaming. 7. Report suspicious people or activity to law enforcement immediately! You may save someone else from harm or a property crime. 8. Most importantly, use common sense to reduce your own vulnerability. 9. Do not ever believe it won’t or can’t happen to you. 10. If you are shopping with children, make a plan in case you are separated from each other. 11. Make sure your child has a contact number for you. If the children are too small to remember the contact number, pin a copy of the number (or write it) on the inside of their jackets. 12. Select a central meeting place. 13. Teach children to know they can ask mall personnel or store security employees if they need help. When police arrived, it was discovered that suspects climbed over the wall and lifted the electric fence to gain entry to the premises. A black Polo TSI with registration number CN44 CG GP was stolen from the parking lot and a tracking device was found discarded in the lot. The vehicle belongs to one of the tenants. No firearm was shot and no person was injured. At the time of going to press, Evander police spokesperson confirmed that the vehicle had been found in Gauteng, but that a full report was still being processed.
NEWS
1 June 2018
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Enough is enough! The women of the Community Against Woman and Child Abuse in eMbalenhle picketed in front of eMbalenhle Police Station on Friday 25 May to protest against alleged police complacency in cases affecting women and children. The women wore black and carried placards with messages like “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” and “STOP KILLING WOMEN AND CHILDREN” written across them. They marched from their homes all over eMbalenhle and sang songs in front of the station, which they intended to deliver a memorandum to.
Before presenting the memorandum to police, Pinky Nundza, one of the organisers of the march, explained to the Bulletin reporter that they were urging the police to “pull up their socks”. “When we want to report a child missing, we are told to wait 24 hours,” Nundza said. “After that 24 hours, the child is found dead. So we want our reports to be taken seriously the moment they are made, so that our children can come back safely and in one piece.” Their memorandum was addressed to the Station Commander of eMbalenhle
Furry superheroes Saturday, 26 May, “Paws in the park” took place at Lake Umuzi Kamp Oase. This event is an initia-tive of Lake Umuzi and Little Paws Big Hearts (LPBH) to raise funds for LPBH. This was the fifth Paws in the Park that was hosted by Lake Umuzi. The theme for this event was Super Heroes. Dog lovers dressed themselves and the dogs to impress and prizes were up for grabs. There was a Spiderman, Paw Patrol, Wonder Woman, Elsa from Frozen and many more characters. Some of the categories were “dogowner look-alike”, “biggest dog” and “smallest dog”. A Super Hero parade was held where the winners of each category was chosen by a panel of judges. Vouchers, dog food, wine and liqueurs are just some of the prizes that lucky winners could take home. After the parade all the dogs took their owners for a 2km walk around Lake Umuzi. LPBH is based in Secunda. They
have identified that the surrounding informal settlements are in desperate need of easily accessible primary and secondary veterinary treatment. LPBH provides free care for any animal in need and no animal is left behind: from food, costly veterinary treatments, sterilization, vaccinations to rehoming the fury friends. LPBH is a non-government funded NGO, for this reason they depend on fund raising events, donations and volunteers. Lake Umuzi and LPBH want to thank you each and every one that supported this great initiative. A big thanks to the following sponsors for making this event happen: The Bulletin, Fly Catcher, Spur, Panarottis, John Dory’s, Smooch Grooming, AfriFormun Youth, Sonja Liebenberg, Thys and Lynette Braack, Identipet, Montego, Afgri, Colour me Crazy, and all the LPBH volunteers. For more information on what LPBH do and for donations please visit their Facebook page. - Rolin Booysen
SAPS, and was received, responded to and signed by Lt-Col Mnguni. The memorandum said that “a declaration was taken by the community members of eMbalenhle to say enough is enough.” It further stated that “the women in eMbalenhle have taken a decision to say we are fed up [and] tired of the killings, abduction, raping and assaulting of people, especially women and children”. In addition to the complaint of being requested to wait 24 hours when reporting someone missing, the memorandum listed eight other concerns. These included the fact that when the community re-ports criminal activities, they are often told that there are no police vans available, so there is nothing that can be done. The protesters were heard shouting that the police officers use the vans for their own personal leisure, leaving the community vulnerable and helpless. The memorandum also highlighted that victims are not given privacy to report rape or assault cases, which makes many women ashamed to go and report their cases, for fear of being stigmatised. Lt-Colonel Mnguni responded to the memorandum by saying that the concerns of the women had been well received and noted. “I also want to commend you because in all my years in eMbalenhle, I have never seen women stand up for themselves like
this,” he said. “I know you could be at work or attending to the matters of your households, but you have spent time and energy to come here, and we appreciate that.” The officer also said that the suggestions presented in the memorandum would be carefully considered to find a way forward, and that he agreed that the issue of waiting 24 hours to make missing reports was problematic. In the memorandum, the women requested “a positive response within seven days”. - Rori Rathebe
WHAT’S UP/News
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So is die lewe
• 017 631 1903 • 017 631 1845 Wie is ons / Who are we: Redaksie / Editorial 017 631 1903
Encee van Huyssteen 082 554 7589 encee@thebulletin.co.za admin@thebulletin.co.za Rori Rathebe 084 481 6684 rorisang@thebulletin.co.za
Bemarking / Advertising 017 631 1845 Mariëtte Prinsloo 083 476 2860 mariette@thebulletin.co.za Elmarie van Huyssteen 017 634 8312 elmarie.vh@telkomsa.net
Produksie / Production Kerry Bird 017 631 1903 / 017 631 1845 artwork@thebulletin.co.za
Finansies / Finances Elmarie van Huyssteen 017 634 8312 elmarie.vh@telkomsa.net Bulletin word deur Paarl Coldset Printers gedruk in Johannesburg. Bulletin is printed by Paarl Coldset Printers in Johannesburg
Ds Marius Britz Hy sit in sy bakkie en kyk na die landskap van die Hexriviervallei wat uitgestrek voor hom lê: die blokke wingerde met die verskillende varitiëteite druiwe laat hom dink aan die lappieskomberse wat sy ouma altyd gehekel het toe hy ‘n klein seuntjie was. Hulle herfskleure is soos ‘n onwerklike skildery: sommige mosterdgeel, andere groen, andere rooi. En hy onthou skielik, vir die eerste keer sedert hoërskool, hoe die digter Boerneef dit beskryf het wanneer jy oor die pas kom, en die Hexrivier voor jou lê: “Slaan rem aan, hou jou asem in, en kyk, en kyk, lank en eerbiedig, soos mens na so herfs moet kyk. Laat dit inbrand in jou vir latenstyd, die warm geel en rooi, vir latenstyd.” “Is dit vandag latenstyd?”
WHAT’S UP Distribution: We pride ourselves in delivering a Bulletin to businesses in Secunda, Trichardt, Evander and Bethal and Kriel. We also distribute additional copies to several points of business in Kinross and eMbalenhle. Should you have a delivery enquiry or complaint, send us an email containing your name, contact details and home address to admin@thebulletin. co.za. 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
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
1 June 2018
Sasol Digi Mag Rugby Practice @ Sasol Club – Every Tuesday and Thursday @18:00 to 20:00. Contact Theuns Kruger Club Captain 0n 082 602 4035 29 Mei: Country aand met Christiaan Ras en Solidariteit Helpende Hand. Skenk ‘n warm winterkombers projek. John Dory’s Fish & Grill, 18:00 – 21:00 1 June: Old School meets New School @ 20h00 – 02h00, R50 pp at the door. No under 18s 1 June: Annual Wieleskou: 14h00 – 17h00 & 2 June: 10h00 – 17h00, R60 for adults, R40 for children under 12 years. 2 June: The Simphiwe Shembe Comedy Connection @ 20h00, @ the Moo Bar, Tickets at R150, No under 18s | Dress: Smart/Casual. 2 June: SPCA Bethal PancakeDay, 9:00-14:00 At Bethal Superspar 8 June Sasol Highveld Photography club meeting at Sasol Club 18:00 – 21:00 9 June: WOMZA National Rally Roaund 2 at Secunda 8:00-21:00 Contact Johan 0824145589 9 June: Danone Nations Cup Mpumalanga Provincial Finals 10:00-15:00 For more details contact Themba Tshabalala 011 4032844 27 Julie: Steve Hofmeyr @ 19h30, Kaartjies R150 by Computicket of die Winners Circle Toonbank.
wonder hy. Maar iewers, diep agter in sy brein, weet hy reeds wat die antwoord is. Die droogte het hom en sy bure die afgelope paar jaar diep geraak. Hy moes reeds al die seisoenale werkers laat gaan, die dagloners. Hulle rus soos ‘n klip op sy gewete. Hy sien deesdae baie van hulle doelloos rondstaan voor Shoprite. Andere sit en wag op die sypaadjies vir iemand wat dalk net ‘n “skroppie” vir die dag soek, ‘n tuinhulp, ‘n skoonmaakster. En diè wat heeltemal desperaat geword het, staan en bedel. Maar nou het dit tyd geword om dieper te snoei in sy werkerswingerd: die permanente werkers. Sommige van hulle woon en werk alreeds drie geslagte op die plaas. Hy het as seuntjie saam met hulle gespeel, kleilat gegooi by die dam. Hy homself is die sesde geslag De Villiers wat hier in die Hexriviervallei boer. Hy ken geen ander lewe nie, geen ander lewenssin nie, geen ander loopbaan nie. Maar sy stryd het verbete geraak. Teen dinge soos grondonteiening, arbeidswetgewing, verouderde implimente, koöperasieskuld, hoë rentekoerse, kan ‘n man dalk planne maak. Maar as die hemel dag na dag helderblou, oop en dróóg bo jou hang, sonder selfs met ‘n wolkie so groot soos ‘n man se hand, weet jy wat magteloosheid beteken. En hy, as druiweboer wat presies weet watter wingerde eerste uitgekap moet word om nuwes aan te plant, besef sy kennis en ervaring van uitkap is nie genoeg vir hièrdie snoeiproses nie. Willem, wat saam met hom grootgeword het, is een van sy
kundigste werkers. En sy vrou Mietjie het haar self bewys as ‘n uitstekende voorraadklerk in die stoor. Maar hulle het ‘n gestremde seun, wat baie spesiale aandag nodig het, wat baie gèld kos. Hy kan mos nie vir Willem.... En dan is daar Gert en sy vrou Truia. Ook sy kindertydvriend. Gert beheer die besproeiing op die plaas met noukeurigheid. En Truia is ‘n voorslag as hulle huishoudster. Hulle groot trots is hulle slimkopdogter wat op Maties studeer. Derde jaar wynboukunde. Sy droom om op die plaas te kom werk, met nuwe aanplantmetodes, nuwe visies. Hulle spaar elke ekstra sent om vir haar studies te betaal. Hy kan mos nie vir Gert..... Sy foon piep weer. Dis die hoeveelste sms vandag van ‘n skuldberader wat sy dienste aanbied. Hy wonder hoe op aarde hulle van hom gehoor het. Miskien was dit daardie laaste aansoek om ‘n lening wat afgekeur is, wat die skuldberaders nou op hom laat toesak soos aasvoëls om ‘n karkas. Hy kyk op na die Matroosberge, net so agter hom. Waar sal sy hulp vandaan kom? Die lug bo die berg is steeds helder en oop, dróóg. Hy dink aan sy vriend van Mpumalanga wat hom gisteraand gebel het. “Jong, dit reën nou al twee weke aanmekaar hier. Ons het 120 millimeter gehad die afgelope drie dae. Ons is nou al so gatvol vir al die reën.” Dit was sy woorde. Presies, net so. Hy dink aan sy ma wat op die weskus gaan aftree het. Gelukkig is sy, veteraanplaasvrou, gewoond
aan suinig werk met water. Maar sy kla dat haar rug so seer raak oor al die emmers gryswater wat sy moet dra om die toilette gespoel te kry. Stortwater word wasgoedwater, en word dan toiletwater. Water tot in die derde geslag, glimlag hy wrang. En hy dink aan die stadskindertjies wat vakansie hou saam met hulle ouers by die see daar in Langebaan. Tap hulle plastiekemmertjies vol met die tuinslang by die strandhuis, en loop dan vêr om dit in die dammetjie te gaan gooi wat hulle met hulle plastiekgrafies in die strand gegrawe het. Los die tuinslang net so oop met die water wat loop, die kosbare, smaaklose, lewensgewende vloeistof wat in die sand wegsyfer. Vloeistof wat lewe gee. Maar ook lewe neem. Hy dink aan sy lewe. Boerdery is ‘n saak van gesonde oordeel, nugter denke, verantwoordelike besluite. Jou hart gee jou die passie vir boer, maar jou verstand neem die besluite. Jy mag nie toelaat dat jou hart besluite begin neem nie. Dan is jy gedoem tot chaos. Hy dink aan PG du Plessis se verhaal in Koöperasietories oor die meisietjie wat die bome kon hoor huil as hulle afgekap word. Hièrdie keer gaan hy ‘n gehuilery hoor, dink hy. Maar dit gaan nie bome wees wat huil nie. Die oomblik het gekom. Uitstel is nie meer moontlik nie. Daar is nie genoeg geld oor om salarisse te betaal hierdie maand nie. Toe hy sy bakkie aanskakel en begin ry, sing Laurika Rauch op RSG: “My oom se oë is nou albei toe, in sy brief stuur hy groete aan Mannetjies Roux.”
Aerobatics is in his blood Roland van Staden will be off to L.A. in the USA on Friday. In November 2017 Roland was selected to receive a scholarship for Upset Recovery, Spin Training and Introduction to Aerobatics from the Figure 1 Foundation in L.A, USA. Roland is the first international student selected for this scholarship and thus the first South African to be selected for
such training. Flight schools like this are not available in South Africa and this training is hard to come by. At the end of Roland’s Training he will be FAA spin certified and will have the opportunity to perform an Aerobatic Sequence for an International Aerobatic Club (IAC) judge to obtain an IAC Smooth Award. He will be receiving his Training
from Olmsted Aviation in Santa Paula, California in the Pitts S2-A aircraft. Olmsted Aviation is a Southern California flight school specializing in advanced pilot training, with an emphasis on upset recovery, aerobatic and tailwheel training. Roland van Staden is a Local Commercial Pilot from Secunda. He has been flying for nearly 10 years and has served as Vice Chair Person of the Secunda Flying Club from 2015 to 2017. He is also the Quality Manager at Aviation Junction, the local flying school situated at the Secunda Airfield. When Roland was first introduced to Aerobatic flying in 2011 at Swartkop Airforce base in the Harvard, he knew this was what he had to do. Harvards were used extensively in the SAAF (South African Air Force) for training purposes and many would remember the orange dayglo paint as they graced the air between Secunda and Dunnotter. Roland will depart for the USA on 1 June 2018. This trip was made possible by sponsors from Aviation Junction Flight School, Salaria Drones and TMB Acoustics.
1 June 2018
SPORT News
Swamp in the backyard Streams of water filled neighbouring yards in extension 10 of Leandra on Wednesday 23 May, giving the homes a swamp-like resemblance. The water comes from a pipe that residents claim has repeatedly burst over the course of two years after the municipality simply patches it up instead of replacing it. When The Bulletin arrived, it was only water that flooded the yards, but residents reported that it was common for raw sewage to burst through the pipe. Then, they said, even the simplest day-to-day activities become unpleasant. “The flooding started on Saturday and we reported it to the municipality on Monday (21 May),” said Goodness Mayise, one of the residents. “They promised that they would arrive the same day, but even now we are waiting for them,” She and her sisters have grown tired of the continuous battle to live a decent life. At the time of investigation, the water had seeped beneath the doors of their rooms and flooded them entirely. Random personal items could be seen floating around the rooms like little boats on a lake. “It’s been like this for two days and my biggest concern is that my furniture is getting ruined,” Goodness said. This furniture includes her bed, wardrobe and dressing table. The
Crime snippets Burglar shot An alleged burglar was shot on a farm between Kinross and Leandra on Sunday night. The man was fatally wounded and died on the scene. The police are currently investigating the incident.
Rapist sentenced Last week, the Nelspruit Regional Court sentenced Simon Innocent Magagula (31) to 15 years direct imprisonment after he was convicted of raping a 22 year old woman. The incident happened in 2009 in KaNyamazane where the accused raped the victim in her own home. The accused’s identity was unknown but was linked by DNA from the laboratory as he was arrested on another rape and robbery case and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2011. The accused was brought before court and was charged with rape that happened in 2009.
situation has also made sleeping difficult, as the family has to make arrangements for two extra people who usually sleep in rooms of their own. A visit to the Leandra municipal offices confirmed that the family had indeed reported the matter, but it was explained that there was a shortage of work vans, and the workers might not have been able to attend to the matter because of that. An employee at the municipal offices, who did not identify herself, said “we receive many waterrelated complaints in a day, and there’s only one van. It makes it difficult to attend to issues on time.” Mr Banele Nkabinde, councillor of the ward, said that he had also called the municipality for a follow up and received the same assurance that they would arrive shortly. At the time of publishing, Mr Nkabinde reported that the pipe had been joined but was not completely closed because a clamp was still needed. “We are hoping the repairs will be completed soon,” he said. Although the problem has been fixed, the Mayise family remained concerned that it was just another temporary solution. “We have been making the same complaint since 2016, and they always do the same thing. We need something permanent,” Goodness said.
During the trial, Prosecutor Thulani Msibi presented evidence of the complainant, the evidence of the complainant’s sister and the DNA evidence and the accused was convicted as charged. During cross examination, the accused pleaded not guilty as he wanted to try his luck and hoped that the state will not be able to prove the DNA evidence. Magagula later admitted that the long arm of justice was underestimated and wished to apologise for the offence as he admitted that he did rape the complainant. The state further argued that as a second time offender the prescribed minimum sentence must be imposed and that there are no compelling and substantial reasons to deviate from it. Handing down the sentence, Magistrate Joubert, told court that the accused is clearly a danger to society as the attack took place in broad daylight at the sanctuary of the victim’s own home. The court found no reason to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence and imposed 15 years direct imprisonment. The magistrate further ordered that Magagula starts serving these 15 years after the expiration of the sentence he is currently serving. The NPA will continue to strive for justice for vulnerable women and children.
NIE VIR sensitiewe lesers nie!
Beeste geslag Beeste was die slagoffers in die nuutste misdaad tussen Leandra en Kinross. Twee beeste is geslag in die nag. Die diewe het die beeste in die kampe geslag en die vleis weggesteek in ‘n pyp onder die pad. Die boere het die booswigte voorgelê die volgende nag. Dit was nie lank of ‘n voertuig het twee mans afgelaai by die pyp. Die plaasboere het
toegeslaan maar die boewe het weggekom. ‘n Rukkie later het die voertuig teruggekom en die boere het die bestuurder gekonfronteer. Die SAPS is ontbied maar geen arrestasies is gemaak nie. Die slagting van beeste vir vleis sluit soms die stoetdiere in wat R50 000 en meer kan kos. Die plaasboere ly geweldige skade as hulle stoetkuddes geslag word.
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News
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1 June 2018
Manneontbyt met Dawie Spies A homeless man who received a blanket donation from the 50 Blankets for Winter charity event.
50 blankets for winter
On Saturday 26 May, Running Hearts hosted its first 50 Blankets For Winter charity event. The event came after its founder, Bongile Sixhanti, identified a gap in the lives of the needy, particularly in winter. “I had regularly been coming across a woman who lives in our area. When it was cold, she would wear a plastic bag to give her a bit of warmth. I also see a lot of homeless people on my way to work, and I know that if I am cold, they are feeling it on a more extreme level,” Bongile explained. After watching the plight of these people for some time, Bongile began organising and marketing the event to receive donations from the public. His target was to raise 50 blankets, but on Sunday 27 May, the day he had chosen for handing over the blankets, the event had garnered 64 blankets. On the Saturday of the event, Bongile, his friends and some local performers courageously placed themselves on a stage in the parking lot of Mall@ Emba. Curious passersby and shoppers stopped every so often to listen to the performances and the reason for such an uncommon sight. “The purpose of
this event is to raise awareness about what we are doing, and also to receive help from the community,” Bongile said. Essence Earthkwake, Ikati, Medy Kenels, KE Team and Mbongikazi were some of the performers present. “It’s not that big of a contribution, but even something small like this can make a difference in someone’s life. It doesn’t only give them a means of keeping warm, but also shows them that there are people who care because when you’re homeless, hundreds of people walk past you everyday without noticing you,” he said. Bongile also has plans of extending his charity service by including cooking for those in need, as well as offering weekend classes for students who cannot afford formal extra classes. “In the long term, I hope to build a centre where we will be able to shelter 50 children between the ages of 6 months and 20 years,” he said. His love for helping others also came from his own personal history. He said that he was not from a wealthy background, so he understood the need for assistance. “I am filled with happiness and gratitude,” Bongile told the Bulletin. “The best part for me was the involvement of the community and their willingness to assist where they could. Bongile extended his thanks to Mall@ Emba, Roaring Wheels, Kamadri Signs, his team (Thuto Mahlangu, Sibusiso Siteto, Tshepiso Selala and Lihle Qweleka), the community of eMbalenhle and surrounding areas, not forgetting the “special donor” that wanted to remain anonymous. The public is urged to contact Bongile on 071 391 4719 if they know of anyone who might benefit from the charity, as well as continue to make blanket donations throughout this chilly winter. - Rori Rathebe
Hoërskool Secunda het Saterdag ‘n baie suksesvolle Pa en Seun ontbyt aangebied in die Ark by die Rondekerk. Dawie Spies was die gasspreker. Renaldo het vir die gehoor twee liedjies gesing en dit was baie geniet deur almal. Pinnacle Auto het gehelp met die borg van die oggend asook Slingervel. Dawie het ‘n baie goeie praatjie gelewer en direk met die mans en hulle seuns gepraat. Die een boodskap wat hy uitgedra het is dat die ouer generasie nie geleer het om vir hulle seuns te sê dat hulle lief is vir hulle nie. “Mans hou mos nie hulle seuns vas nie, anders word hulle sissies.” Dawie het dit mooi verduidelik dat dit ok is om mekaar te druk. Pa’s moet hulle kinders seën en hulle toekoms oor hulle uitspreek. As dit in
God se woord gespreek is dan sal dit so wees. Dawie het vertel hoe groot mans, verligting getoon het as hulle die eerste keer hulle seuns ‘n drukkie gegee het. Hulle pa’s het nooit vir hulle gedruk of erkenning gegee nie. Die manne en hulle seuns het geleentheid gehad om mekaar in die oë te kyk en vir mekaar te sê dat hulle daar is vir mekaar. ‘n Paar trane het geval. Dit is wonderlik om te sien hoe mure afgebreek word as mens net die eerste tree wil gee. Symphonies het gesorg vir ‘n uitstekende boere-ontbyt en almal het weggelê aan die ontbyt. Die manne van Slingervel het kans gehad om van die gewere wat hulle aanhou aan die manne en seuns te toon en te wyte aan die belangstelling gaan daar binnekort ‘n paar skietlesse gegee moet word.
Community supports Bianca An uplifting fundraiser took place at Secunda Mall on the evening of 24 May. Community members gathered outside Spur to raise funds for Bianca Fourie, who will be admitted to hospital for her scoliosis surgery at the end of May. The event was a collaboration between Hoërskool Oosterland, Oregon Spur, John Dory’s and Panarottis. PJ Pretorius provided entertainment as the audience enjoyed their meals (proceeds of which contributed to the fund for Bianca’s surgery) and the Teksa Radio Control Model Club held a raffle in which a
model airplane was up for grabs. Bianca is a 16-year-old student of Hoërskool Oosterland, but has not been able to attend school after the first term due to her condition. Scoliosis, which Bianca was diagnosed with in primary school, causes curvature of the spine, which in turn may cause the rib cage to press against the lungs and heart. This makes breathing difficult. Other fundraising efforts of the evening included the option to purchase balloons which could be popped and contained different prizes. Here, supporters lined up in their numbers and popped dozens of balloons to try their luck, with many of them purchasing more than one. There was also a candy floss stand and makeshift photobooth. Once more, the proceeds of these efforts went towards helping Bianca and her family. At the end of the evening, Johan van Vuuren of Teksa Radio Control Model Club handed over a cheque of R25000 for Bianca’s operation.
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C&C Pop Up Restaurant Tantalising aromas wafted through the van Dyk household on 26 May as the kitchen sizzled and clinked with the sounds of preparation. A cheerful team of four was hard at work cooking an array of food items for the evening’s dishes, with crispy onions frying over here, parsley being chopped over here, and creamy garlic soup being stirred over there. This is only a combination that made up the first dish of the latest installment of C&C Pop Up Restaurant. The innovative idea is a result of Cobus and Charlotte van Dyk’s love for food and entertaining guests. The couple hosts 12 guests on the last Saturday of every month in their warm Secunda home, serving a full course meal worthy of featuring in an episode of your favourite cooking show. “This is fun for me,” Charlotte said, as she explained her love for cooking. She and Cobus still keep their day jobs, but decided to open the ‘pop up restaurant’ as a means to offer something different, as well as to have a project they could take on together. “Initially, we thought that we would do this four times a year, but here we are, doing it every month,” Charlotte said. The couple has been opening their home to customers for about a year and a half, with the latest pop up
being their 14th so far. Guests bring their own wines and socialise in an impeccably decorated space that welcomes them with the strings of classical music playing in the background. The van Dyks know not only how to cook, but also how to set the ambience for an evening that is truly unforgettable. Upon arrival, customers were treated to a sparkling honey and lavender lemonade, and mini corndogs to snack on. They sat down to a caramelised onion and grilled garlic soup, which was followed by a starter of tempura prawns served on a bed of pumpkin gnocchi and tomato fondue. A grilled pineapple sorbet refreshed the palates of the guests before a main course of pork belly, mieliepap puree and citrus sauce was served. The night was rounded off with three sweet treats in the form of dessert, a post-meal drink and a post-meal chocolate. One cannot argue against the van Dyks’ love for food because an entire bookshelf in their home is stacked with
cookbooks, one of which Charlotte received from her mother when she was little. The passion that they have for what they do can be seen through the care they take to ensure that every little detail is perfected, down to the plating of the food, which Cobus
usually designs. The couple is assisted by Chris in the cooking and Roné in the serving. With such an excellent and spirited team, it’s no wonder that C&C Pop Up Restaurant is fully booked well into the next year! - Rori Rathebe
Centre of Hope needs your help The Centre of Hope is set on the serene and secluded edge of Secunda. It is a non-profit Christian organisation which was started by Apostle Beauty Tshabalala and her husband in 2015. The organisation began when the apostle received a generous donation from the owner of the land and building on which it operates, who gave the church permission to run outreach programs on the property. “They were in the process of demolishing the building, which is when I approached the owner and told him of my vision to help the needy. He’s a good-hearted man and wanted to assist, so he gave it to us at no charge,” Apostle Tshabalala said. Recently, however, Mrs Tshabalala was informed that the land was being sold to a new owner, and that they would have to move. They currently do not have a ‘plan B’, and the situation is proving difficult for the entire organisation. “We believe that this is the perfect space for what we do, and we really don’t know where to go because we have gathered a lot of equipment and furniture over the years, and we cannot find a place big enough to move all of those things to,” Tshabalala said. When the centre opened, it provided shelter for the homeless and people who had just been released from prison. “I have been in prison ministry
for the past 20 years,” Apostle Tshabalala said. “A lot of people, when they come out prison, don’t have anywhere else to go to. So, we provided shelter for them and also rehabilitated them, because without that, a lot of newly-released people go back to their old habits.” The Centre of Hope was also an option for community service for those who were released on parole. At present, the centre is a safe haven for women, who take part in programs such as sewing, attend church services and perform duties as part of their counselling. “We have a Bible school, church services, youth upliftment, feeding schemes and offer counselling for many different people, including those recovering from drug abuse,” the apostle said. Some women who have sought refuge at the centre now live on the premises, and they also do not have an alternative place to stay. It has become home for them.
“It is heartbreaking because so many lives have been transformed here, so many people have been reunited with their families, and we can’t continue with our God-given mandate without a place to operate,” Tshabalala said. The organisation also cannot afford to buy the entire plot of land and raised funds in an attempt to persuade the new owner to sell them the portion that they are using. This offer, Tshabalala said, has also been rejected. “We appeal to anyone who is willing and able to help us to continue this work. We want to carry on, but it seems as though the odds are against us,” she said. - Rori Rathebe
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1 June 2018
Boere Mall at Artisan Square This past Saturday, a Boere Mall was held at Artisan Square, Lake Umuzi. A variety of fresh produce, handmade arts and crafts and homemade food could be bought at the mall. The Lake Umuzi Brewing Company had their famous handcrafted beer available for all to enjoy. Carnival Square, the biggest jungle gym in Africa, was once again popular amongst the little ones, enabling parents to roam the market freely. Families were seen enjoying a round of mini golf at Rocky Waters. After all the fun, families were spoilt for choice and could enjoy lunch at any one of the 4 restaurants at Lake Umuzi. Organisers, Valerie van den Bergh and Anita Truter, were very impressed
with the suppliers and the people who supported the market. They feel positive about the growth of the mall and want to invite all home-based entrepreneurs that have homemade or handmade products to sell to contact them. They also invite all farmers in the surrounding areas to use this opportunity to sell directly to the public. Secunda is certainly not a farmers’ town but healthy, organic produce is in great demand. The next Boere Mall at Artisan Square will be on 23 June 2018. The Bulletin invites everyone to support this great initiative of people from the community giving back to the community. Suppliers can contact Valerie at 078 398 9188. – Rolin Booysen
Sasol encourages learners and community members with disabilities to participate in sports On Friday, 18 May 2018, Sasol Secunda Operations hosted its 11th Annual People with Disabilities Sports Day (PWD) at Sasol eMbalenhle Community Recreation Centre. PWD is a Sasol initiative aimed at unearthing talent and encouraging learners and community members with disabilities to actively participate in competitive sports. The event is open to LSEN schools and different municipalities across the provinces. The sports day programme catered for two categories – children from special schools and learners with disabilities; and adults living with disabilities represented by PWD non-governmental organisations (NGO) and municipalities across
Mpumalanga. The following sporting codes and activities were included in this event: • Schools’ soccer (juniors and seniors); • Municipality soccer (open); • Basketball and wheelchair basketball; • Netball, table tennis, goal ball; and • Indigenous games (morabaraba, intsuba, diketo, fingerboard and kgati) The highlight of PWD was the performance of junior and senior school soccer teams, municipality soccer and netball. The soccer teams that won were Thanduxolo Special School, which won in the netball category, and Msukaligwa Municipality. Masinakane Special School won the senior girl’s netball category.
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SPORT News/schools
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MinQuiz Olympiad inspires Secondary Schools The Osizweni Science Centre was filled with the presence of Mathematics and Science when it hosted the annual Minquiz Olympiad on 17 May 2018. 22 Schools competed in this year’s Olympiad. Schools in the Highveld region of Mpumalanga have competed in Minquiz since 2010, making this year the ninth Olympiad. MinQuiz, an initiative of Mintek, seeks to stimulate interest in careers involving Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Innovation (STEMI), especially in minerals and metallurgy, as well as to promote an awareness of the importance of minerals and metallurgy to South Africa. The event is also used as an opportunity to inform learners of the various opportunities and bursaries offered by Mintek while representatives of Mintek and Osizweni motivate learners through inspiring addresses focusing on building them as individuals and giving guidance to them in regards to their tertiary studies. Each school enters a team of three Grade 12 top Mathematics and Science learners. Learners compete as individuals through a written test while the top five schools in each category, Gold and Platinum, progress to the oral round of the quiz based on the team’s aggregate written test score. This year’s Platinum category winners are KI Twala Secondary School with
Jeff Baloyi (Mintek) with Jenna Lewis (Hoërskool Ermelo) who was awarded for best learner (Gold category) in the writtten test, Carika van Dyk (Teacher) and Themba Kubheka (Osizweni representative)
Jeff Baloyi (Mintek) with Rose Jerry Thanjan (Evander High) who was awarded for best learner (Platinum category) in the writtten test, Anelia Fourie (Teacher) and Themba Kubheka (Osizweni representative)
Evander High School placing second and Zendelings Post placing third. In the Gold category, Thistle Grove Secondary School were the victors with Hoërskool Ermelo placing second and Jandrell Secondary School placing third. The two learners from each category who achieve the highest results in the written test will represent Osizweni at the National MinQuiz Olympiad to be hosted on 18 and 19 July 2018. This year ‘s team is Ngqulunga Samkelo (Jandrell
Secondary School), Dlamini Wiseman (Thobelani Secondary School),Jennah Lewis (Hoërskool Emerlo) and Rose Jerry Thanjan ( Evander High). “We have been a part of the MinQuiz Olympiad for nine years now. Each year we continue to see the excitement and exposure that this Olympiad gives to our schools. We thank Mintek for their efforts that inspire learners to follow careers that our country has a shortage in,” said Angela Stratford, Osizweni Marketing and PR Practitioner. Osizweni is a Sasol initiative that aims to support and uplift Mathematics and Science Education.
Jeff Baloyi (Mintek) with learners who will be representing the province or centre at the MinQuiz Nationals: Rose Jerry Thanjan, Jenna Lewis, Wiseman Dlamini, Samkelo Ngqulunga and Themba Kubheka (Osizweni representative)
Nkosinathi Mhalaba en Thabang Mkonza van Hoërskool Evander is verkies tot die O/16 Puma Platteland span. Die span gaan gedurende Junie 2018 op toer.
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Hoërskool Secunda sportlui presteer
Baie geluk aan Warren Moolman en Eben Windt wat opgeneem is in die SA Rhinos 7’s rugbyspan wat eersdaags in Texas, VSA gaan deelneem!
Netbal Streekswenners Secunda, Mpumalanga – Hoërskool Secunda het die afgelope netbalseisoen skoonskip gemaak en verskeie van ons spanne is streekswenners en naaswenners. Al
hierdie spanne dring ook deur na die Mpumalanga kampioenskappe. Die volgende spanne is Gert Sibande Streekswenners: O/14A + O/14B, O/15A + O/15B, O17A Eerstespan (Foto hierbo)
Nicholien Janse van Rensburg - Beste bouler in die Senior Damesspan Beste O/19 kolwer tydens O/19 Nasionale week asook speler van die toernooi
Hoërskool Secunda het verskeie seuns en dogters wat in die Mpumalanga hokkiespan opgeneem is vir die 2018 seisoen, hier volg die name van die
Marko Langden - Beste O/13B kolwer van die toernooi.
Dogters Geane Engelbrecht (O/14A) Johannè Fourie (O/18B) Andine Bouwer (O/18B) Aphiwe Bengu (O/16C) Sanilisiwe Simelane (O/16B)
Goedehoop leerders presteer ook op die sportveld
Netbal Gert Sibande o11B wenners Voor: Alexis Brits, Priscilla Pretorius, Juandri Fourie, Charlinke Jacobs Agter: Danika Burger, Me. Janetta Meyer (Afrigter), Me. Inge Adam (Afrigter), Abigaile Kroucamp, Annélie Steyn, Mia du Toit
Landloop Aflos te HS Menlopark Voor: Hancke van Heerden, Elri Kruger, Mia du Toit, Christiaan Naudé, Luan Greyling. Agter: Liam Olivier, Roxy-Lee Fick, Ané Botha, Tiffany Phillipson, Liané Parkes, Johnke Prinsloo, Tharina Viljoen
1 June 2018
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Sun Carousel rally done and dusted
Photo Susan Vacy-Lyle
The third leg of the National Championship was completed over the weekend. Theuns Joubert / Chris Brand took honours as the overall winners in the open class. Guy Botterill / Simon VacyLyle took first in the R2N class with AC Potgieter / Nico Swartz taking second followed by Chris Coertse / Greg Godrich in third. The new venue at Sun Carousel saw very different conditions to the York rally just a few weeks ago where there was mud, rain and very slippery conditions. The conditions at
AC Potgieter / Nico Swartz (2nd), Guy Botterill / Simon Vacy-Lyle (1st), Chris Coertse / Greg Godrich (3rd)
Sun Carousel were dry, flat and very dusty. Traction was difficult at first but the drivers managed to sort it out. Friday saw only four stages completed, two dirt and two on the tarmac. The opening stage nearly ended for Mathew Vacy-Lyle / Rikus Fourie when they hit a small earth mound and nearly overturned their car. Fortunately they managed to save the car and continued only to retire in stage 6 with a blown engine. AC Potgieter / Nico Swartz hit a curb on one of the night stages
and seriously damaged their rear axle. They managed to replace the damaged parts and continued competing. Day two also produced its fair share of drama as George Smalberger/Carolyn Swan rolled in Stage 5. Both are reported to be fine. Early rally leaders Wilro Dippenaar/ Riaan van der Westhuizen are out after suffering a technical problem with the steering rack on their Toyota Auris. Guy Botterill / Simon Vacy-Lyle suffered gearbox problems but their support team managed to replace the
gearbox in less than 30 minutes. It was a tough rally where the cars took a real beating driving at high speeds on the dirt roads but everyone enjoyed the weekend. The next rally is on the 6th & 7th of July in Port Elizabeth, then off to Gauteng on the 17th and 18th of August in Bronkhorstspruit before the Secunda rally in their new calendar slot. The Secunda rally is always a hot favourite and will take place on the 28th and 29th of September. Diarize it now and don’t miss out on all the action.
Mpumalanga Mental Health Services fundraising day Graceland Country Club hosted the fund raising day for the Mpumalanga Mental Health Service. 74 Players teed off on a sunny, warm and windless day in a better ball scramble drive competition to raise money for the mentally and physically disabled people in their care. The format was better ball with two scores to count on all holes. All four players in the team tee off from the tee and then all play their next stroke from the best drive. Although the course looked a bit brown, it was still in very good condition with the greens looking slick and fast. The rough also looked to be not too severe, except for the wayward shots. The scores showed that the competition was tough for some teams but not for R Burger, F Posthumus, D van Zyl and J Kotze who completed the round in 112 better ball points, 8 clear of the rest of the field. (D van Zyl and J Kotze were not present at the prize giving and is not in the photo of the winners) Novelty prizes for nearest to the pin were won by Fanus Du Toit on hole number 6, Pine Pienaar on hole number 15 and Martin Smalberger nearest to the pin in two strokes on hole number 18. A number of items and memorabilia
Partners looking in awe as Quientin tees off were auctioned during the prize giving to raise further funds for the MMHS and over R12000 were raised.
Karen Asia of MMHS thanked Graceland for the use of the venue, all the sponsors and especially each
player who participated in the day to make it the huge success it turned out to be. Report and photos by Jan Ferreira
1 JUNE
2018
Bulletin
Sasol Digi Mag wins again
Deon Jonker (Wolf) storming forwards
Sasol Digi Mag Rugby beat Nelspruit 48-29 in a tough game. The game started with Sasol Digi Mag struggling to make the most of their home ground advantage. The first half was won by Nelspruit. Poor defence from Sasol Digi Mag allowed Nelspruit to successfully attack the backline of Sasol Digi Mag. Nelspruit were able to create overlaps on a number of occasions and the wings could run good attacking lines. The Nelspruit attacks near the scrum created havoc and pulled in a lot of defenders as Nelspruit were able to break through a lot of first tackles. The ball handling was also not really on par and Sasol Digi Mag put themselves under a lot of pressure. The first half ended in Nelspruit’s favour with the scoreboard on 17-12. There was a lot of positive talk around the field about the second half. Spectators kept saying that Sasol Digi Mag would find their rhythm shortly. And they didn’t disappoint. It wasn’t the most spectacular game of the season but it kept the crowds on the edge of their seats. The gameplan started to fall into place. Sasol Digi Mag started to attack with more vigour and broke through the defence of Nelspruit regularly. Turnover balls started to come more often and slowly but surely the tide started to turn. The most notable play came when Sasol Digi Mag kicked a penalty, only
for the ball to land on the cross bar and bounce back into play. Calvin Clack caught the ball and scored. This can be seen as the turning point in the game. The real genius here was the follow up from the kick, one should always follow up on kicks to the poles. It was brilliantly done and resulted in a try. Sasol Digi Mag scored 8 tries to Nelspruit’s 5 tries. The lineouts of Sasol Digi Mag looked a little problematic with fewer clean balls caught than in the past. It was not always well executed. The scrums were a good contest but the Sasol Digi Mag scrum looked stronger and pushed Nelspruit’s scrum back a few times. A tighthead was also hooked by the hooker in the second half. The time that Nelspruit did manage to stand their ground in the scrum normally resulted in Sasol Digi Mag scrumming the Nelspruit front row upwards. There were not a lot of long drives by the front packs but both teams managed to score from drives close to their opponent’s try line. A point of concern should be the number of first tackles missed compared to the previous games that Sasol Digi Mag played this year. The impenetrable defences that were so evident in the previous games were strangely lacking in this one. Cross defences were poor and resulted in at least one try by the team
from Nelspruit. The strange new game roster of alternating weekends between playing and off weekends are surely having an impact on the quality of the game. The Puma administration has now decided that one game on and then one game off should be the format for this year. Could this not be detrimental to Sasol Digi Mag’s game in the long run? It is evident that the off periods before this game did not do Sasol Digi Mag any favours. Are the off weeks an idea to increase
spectators at the Puma games? If so, it’s not going to work. Nelspruit is too far to really muster all the support that they want from here. None of the home games will be played on the Highveld, they will only be played in Nelspruit. This bizzare way of determining the fixtures cannot improve the quality of Mpumalanga rugby in the long run. Congratulations to Sasol Digi Mag Rugby for showing that sheer determination and discipline can achieve results. Congratulations on winning a tough game!
Willa Martin falls over the try line for one of Sasol Digi Mag’s tries.