Issue 174 - FREE
4 MAY 2018
Community News. Original - accurate - first
017 631 1903 / 017 631 1845 • admin@thebulletin.co.za • 1 Kiewiet Street, Secunda (Lake Umuzi)
Misty Waters 2018 goes “up in flames”, See pages 6 and 7 for more.
Land invaders impacts budget The EFF invaded land on the west side of Embalenhle during July/August 2017. The settlement has grown to a very large settlement. Residents told the Bulletin that they paid R150 to secure a stand. The R150 is split between R100 for the stand and R50 towards water supply. The invasion took place partly on government land and partly on Sasol Mining property. The Bulletin was informed that the area is undermined and prone to subsidence (motion of the surface) and therefore very unsafe to build on. No studies regarding any flood line have been done in the area and some of the dwellings are very close to Trichardspruit. Sasol mining cannot be held liable if something happens to the houses and
people while they are staying on the undermined area. This is according to unofficial statements by Sasol mining. There is no water supply and the water is tapped from existing lines. It is supplied illegally as communal taps. The EFF office supplies the pipes used for the water supply. The pipes were clearly visible inside the EFF office (shack). Electricity is tapped from electrical poles at the RDP section and is displayed openly. The supply cables are then run along the ground with open connections everywhere. Safety is not a concern for residents and is totally disregarded. Electrocution of one of the small children is a fact waiting to happen. When “applying” for a stand with the EFF, residents details are kept on record and a waiting list established.
No receipt is given for any monies received. Next step would be to build a house or buy one. These shacks are sold at
approximately R6000 and are sold by small business entrepreneurs that sell from the sides of the road. Continued to page 2
NEWS
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4 May 2018
Babies and the law Abandonment, neglect and concealment are some of the terms which have come to be associated with babies in the past month, and more commonly than we’d like to admit. In Secunda, Trichardt and Leandra, cases involving the death and/or abandonment of infants neatly follow each other in single file, which begs the question: why? On the quiet Tuesday night of April 24, three weeks after giving birth, Natacha Zducula left Evander Hospital without her healthy baby girl. Evander Police are now on the search for Natacha, but what is of more concern is what will
happen to her baby and many other abandoned infants like her. The general consensus surrounding Natacha’s disappearance is that “at least” she left her baby in a safe place, where she will most likely be taken care of. This, of course, is in comparison with the infant and fetus dumping that has swept over the TEKS area recently. In the past two months alone, the sad remains of babies have been found at a water treatment plant in Trichardt, a ditch in eMbalenhle, a sewage-filled river in Leandra, and a rubbish bin in Secunda. In South Africa, anonymous child abandonment has been criminalised, leaving mothers who are unable to take care of their children with minimal options for their welfare. In terms of the law, ‘baby safes’ are also illegal, but given the increase of abandonment, more of them are being opened all over the country. A baby safe is a metal box built into the outside wall of a safe house that has doors on either side of the wall. A person who does not want to – or cannot – keep their baby can come to the outer door of the safe house at any time, open the door to the safe and place their unwanted baby inside. The box is fitted with a small mattress
for the baby’s comfort. When the outer door is closed, it locks, preventing anyone else outside taking the baby. The weight of the baby triggers a censor which alerts the home’s staff via three programmed cellphone numbers. By opening the inner door, the baby would be fetched within three minutes and taken in for care. The mother dropping off her baby does not have to face anyone. The frequent use of these baby boxes indicates that there is a need for a safe place to leave a baby that cannot be taken care of, but due to the law and a lack of safe spaces in which to anonymously leave children, ‘baby dumping’ remains prevalent. For now, Natacha’s baby girl will remain in the care of Evander Hospital. Unfortunately, many abandoned children are believed to not even make it into the formal child protection system, as they are absorbed into communities through ‘informal adoption’, raising concerns around issues such as child trafficking. Lieutenant Colonel Jenny Albert expressed concern for the mother, too. “This is a vulnerable woman who needs to be located as soon as possible so she can be reunited with her baby girl,” she said.
Police are looking for missing Natacha Zducula who left her new born baby girl at Evander Hospital.
From page 1
Land invaders impacts budget
Regular meetings are held with residents and it is at these meetings that requests for more monies are made. It is small amounts and voluntary, with reasons sited that vary from maintaining the roads to water supply. The illegal tapping of water and illegal electricity connections are adding to the dire financial situation of Govan Mbeki Municipality. This compounded the problem, all the
electrical connections are openly made and the municipality cannot say that they do not know about the connections. With water losses running at approximately 35% and electricity losses at 50% GMM needs to address this situation as a matter of urgency. With over 500 dwellings build, and all are supplied illegally, there can only be a huge impact on the financial status of GMM. During the recent and ongoing IDP and Budget consultations, residents
of GMM were told about the financial abyss that GMM currently finds themselves in. Current financial problems were partly attributed to these losses. The Eskom debt is currently more than R500m and the outstanding Rand Water account is more than R130m. Adding the illegal land settlement to this will only help to hasten the spiralling debt problems of GMM. All of this while the EFF disregards the safety of the residents for their own gain. Political as well as financial.
NEWS
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Long weekend sees decline in road fatalities It seems that fewer accidents happened during the past week than what residents became used to. A few weeks ago, residents became accustomed to a number of accidents that were either fatal or had serious injuries. The Bulletin started to seriously report on the issue of accidents during the latter part of last year. Readers may recall that on the Heritage Day weekend, eleven people
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lost their lives on one day. The Bulletin, as well as a number of other organisations, are all trying to make people more aware of the dangers on the road. Arrive Alive campaigns have been launched and the Bulletin has reported on most of the serious accidents. Please read our back issues to find tips on what to do at accident scenes as well as information on a number of accidents.
The past weekend was no exception and a number of accidents occurred in GMM. An accident occurred in the early hours of Friday 27 April on Walter Sisulo road in front of Toyota dealership. A Toyota Tazz and a VW Polo collided when the Tazz apparently turned onto the road in front of the Polo. Three people were injured. One person was seriously
injured, one moderately and one light. Langamed transported two of the injured to Evander Hospital. Traffic was disrupted in Trichardt on Friday afternoon when a taxi bumped the back of a bakkie. Witnesses say that the taxi tried to overtake on the left-hand side of the bakkie. The angry driver of the bakkie confronted the taxi driver who in turn used the opportunity to gather public support and threaten the bakkie driver. SAPS were on the scene and defused the situation. On Sunday night a fatal accident occurred on the Charl Cilliers/ Standerton road when two vehicles collided head-on. Initial report (unconfirmed) indicate that one vehicle was towed and the towing vehicle left the scene. One person was fatally injured and declared dead at the scene. Four other persons were injured and transported to hospital by Langamed. Saturday morning an accident happened when two cars travelling in the opposite direction collided. One vehicle overturned. Fortunately, no one was injured in this accident.
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
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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
Jonah 2:6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, LORD my God, brought my life up from the pit.
4 May 2018
Ds Marius Britz Daar is vreeslik baie sepieaanhangers. 7de laan, Binnelanders, Getroud met Rugby. Wanneer mens na die programme kyk, (wat ek selde doen), is daar gewoonlik ‘n miernes van bedrywigheid: tonele in huise, kantore, restaurante, selfs hospitale. En oral is daar beweging, gelag en gesels. Ook soms ‘n gehuil. Intriges van menslike lewe speel hom aand na aand in talle voorhuise op televisieskerms af. En baie mense leef hulle in hierdie verhaal in: Die omgewing waarin dit afspeel, is so bekend. Agter teen die mure van die restaurante is daar prente en spyskaarte met “specials”. Alles so eg, so werklik. Baie kykers ken die karakters so goed soos eie familie, bespreek hulle asof hulle werklik bestaan. Maar wanneer mens die filmstel in die ateljees besoek, is jy teleurgesteld. Die akteurs is dan gewoonlik nie daar nie. Daar is doodse stilte en gedempte ligte. En al hierdie vertrekke is net kartonpanele. ‘n Dèkorstel wat net een dimensie het. Dit bestaan nie werklik nie. Agter die panele is daar niks. Dit is vooraansigpanele wat met stutte regop gehou word. So kan mens die mooiste panele op die verhoog staan maak. Maar wanneer jy by so ‘n skyngebou instap, ontdek jy dis nóg steen, nóg beton, maar bloot net geverfde karton. So is baie mense se lewens ook. Hulle lewe so maklik twee lewens. ‘n Private lewe waarvan slegs jy en die Here in jou diepste wese bewus is, en jou openbare lewe, jou masker wat jy aan die wêreld wys. Jou gesig wat sê: ek is reg. Ek is in beheer. Maar binnekant kan daar maklik ‘n warboel van emosies en begeertes en gedagtes wees wat totaal weersprekend is van die uiterlike beeld. As dit so is,
dan lewe mens gevaarlik. Dan hou jy die dekorstel van jou lewe met stutte orent. In Tekbasis in Voortrekkerhoogte het die weermag ‘n winkel met die naam van SAWI gehad. Een oggend was daar groot konsternasie: SAWI se een gedeelte het weggesak in ‘n sinkgat. Die kantoor en winkel met die brandkluis en al het verdwyn in ‘n diep gat. Geoloë het toe ‘n ondersoek gedoen en dit so verklaar: In tye van droogte, wanneer die watertafel laag is, kalwe ondergrondse strome die grond weg, die dolomietlae veroorsaak groot ondergrondse leegtes en dan sink die grond weg. Dit gebeur maklik wanneer daar ‘n groot gebou op die sinkgat gebou is. Die gebrek aan substansie onder die groteske uiterlike veroorsaak dat die hele spulletjie op een of ander stadium inmekaarsak. Net so kan baie mense se lewens word: dit raak topswaar. Na buite vertoon dit indrukwekkend, maar eintlik voel hulle binnekant asof hulle in ‘n bodemlose put gaan wegsak. En die rede is dikwels voor die hand liggend. Mense bou so hard aan die uiterlike, aan hulle beeld en hulle posisie en dit wat ander sien van hulle, kortweg, om te presteer, te vorder, uit te styg, dat die innerlike onder die oppervlakte leegloop. Dit wat mense sien is misleidend, adresse en motorkarre en besittings, dít is indrukwekkend, maar daar is geen stut wat die topswaar lewe bo kan hanteer nie. Die teoloog Tournier beweer dat ‘n moderne mens sy privaat lewe en openbare lewe so goed skei, dat dit gelei het tot die opvatting dat jou persoonlike lewe niemand aangaan nie. Ons sien dit dikwels aan die hoë mure rondom huise, die interkomstelsels ens. (Al het baie hiervan te doen met die veiligheidsituasie in ons dorpe en stede) Jou private lewe mag ook nie deurslag vind in jou professionele lewe nie. So gebeur dit dan dat ‘n mens wat ‘n onsedelike lewe lei, wette opstel vir gesinsbeskerming. ‘n Ander wat nie sy eie uitgawes kan beheer nie en oral in die moeilikheid is vanweë swak betaling, is in beheer van ‘n groot maatskappy of die staat
se begroting. ‘n Persoon wie se eie huwelik en gesin aan flarde is, doen dalk berading met ander mense oor hulle huwelike en gesinne. ‘n Staatsleier wat dissipline oor ‘n regering en weermag en land moet uitoefen, maak opslae oor sy verhoudings met jong meisies en nepotisme en korrupsie. So leef ons soms onbewustelik as sinkgatmense. Alle dèkorpanele ten spyte. So word dit ‘n uitdaging om die lewe, die brose lewe, reg te leef. Met ware inhoud en sin. Nie ‘n kompromis waarin ek myself voortdurend moet bewýs nie, maar ‘n lewe wat voluit geleef word. ‘n Lewe van vrede met jouself, met God, met jou omstandighede. Dan hoef jy nie fronte en skanse om jouself te bou nie. Dan sal jy liefhê en liefgehê word. ‘n Sagte hand teen jou wang beteken
meer as ‘n afslaandakmotor waarin jy alleen rondjaag. Sagwees kweek deernis. Deernislose lewens is skavotte van pyn vir jou huweliksmaat, jou gesin, jou kollegas. Sagte woorde is meer werd as ‘n goeie adres. Dit laat vir jou ‘n baie groter nalatenskap. Waar jy bly, gaan baie mense nie eens interesseer of raak nie. Maar hoe jy hulle laat voel, dít is die impak wat jy op hulle het. Jou woorde is meer werd as jou titel of posvlak of beleggingsportefeuljes. Woorde wat vergifnis spreek. Woorde wat seer besweer. Woorde wat wêrelde van heelmaak skep. Woorde wat andere laat voel: èk is ook iemand. Woorde wat jou menslikheid bevestig. Wat sê: jy is goed genoeg. Jy verryk my ervaring van menswees. En dan, slegs dan, is jou lewe nie dekorpanele nie. En ook nie gebou op sinkgate nie.
Podiumpret semifinale Die Podiumpret Mpumalanga semifinaliste het op Woensdag 25 April by Laerskool Goedehoop plaasgevind. Die temas van die jaar se publieke sprekers kompetisie was ‘integriteit’, ‘hoop’ en ‘boer’. Die kompetisie was vir laerskool en hoërskoolleerders wat hul indrukwekkende praatvaardighede gewys het. Hierdie jaar se kompetisie het ook deelnemers toegelaat om hulle eie humor in hul toesprake te las. Die finale sal gehou word in Paarl, Wes Kaap op 15 September. “Dit is nie die soort kompetisie waar slegs die eerste en derde pryswenners na die eindronde gaan nie. Ons wil elke kind ‘n regverdige kans gee, want hulle is almal baie goeie sprekers, “het Carolina gesê. Diegene wat tot die eindronde deurdring, word Woensdag 2 Mei aangekondig en sal deelnemers van regoor Suid-Afrika insluit. Podiumpret is ‘n omvattende kompetisie wat nie net sprekers van verskillende ouderdomsgroepe insluit nie, maar ook verskeie soorte sprekende kategorieë. Die toesprake was dikwels lighartig en komies, maar ook waardevolle lesse vir die gehoor. Behalwe dat die drie hooftemas ingesluit is, het die deelnemers gepraat oor verskillende onderwerpe wat wissel
WHAT’S UP
van vriendskap, goeie ouerskap en selfs hoe klein meisies van klein seuntjies verskil. Alhoewel die toesprake moeiteloos lyk, het die studente wat deelgeneem het, deur middel van weke se opleiding en navorsing as voorbereiding, vir die kompetisie deurgegaan. Kinders het die waardevolle les geleer om navorsing op hul eie vlak en pas te doen. Na die ondersoek is daar van die leerders verwag om ‘n skriftelike opdrag aan te bied, met ‘n inleiding en slot, asook ‘n bibliografie. Die navorsings- en skryfvaardighede is in ‘n 3 weke siklus (een middag per week) of in een week (elke tweede middag) aangebied, met groepe van 15 tot 20 leerders. Praatvaardighede soos aantekeninge, stemprojeksie, lyftaal en oogkontak is ook geleer.
4 Mei - Laerskool Trichardt Gholf dag by Walkerpark Gholf Klub Evander. Kontak die skool by 017 638 0244 vir meer inligting. 5 Mei - NG Gemeente Trichardt Bazaar. 10:00 - 14:00. Kontak 017 638 0224. 5 Mei - Kruinpark Gholf dag. Walkerpark Gholf Klub Evander. 07:00 - 22:00
4 May 2018
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Sewer problems escalating Residents in both Embalenhle and Lebohang is up in arms about the sewer problems. In Embalenhle PR Cllr Annitah Mkwebane (DA) took the Bulletin to an area in Ext 12 where 8 houses were flooded with sewer pushing back from the main sewer line. The road is being repaired and somewhere in the construction area the sewer line was damaged according to residents. The road was flooded with the sewer. The owner of one of the houses told the Bulletin that the ward councillor, Cllr ME Motloung (ANC) came to visit the affected area and instructed the residents to block the connection point so that the sewer no longer flows into the street. That is now the reason for the sewer pushing back into the flush toilets. Once it pushes back and spills over the sewer flows back into the street anyway. The sewer pipe system is under tremendous pressure in both Embalenhle and Lebohang with more and more people moving into the areas as well as an ageing system. The lack of maintenance is also contributing largely to the sewer problems. PR Cllr Banele Nkabinde also spoke to the Bulletin regarding the problems in Lebohang. “There are four houses full of sewer” said Banele. He also said that they do not do any maintenance. Members of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) recently visited the areas to do oversight of some of the projects in GMM. One of the projects visited was the sewer plant in Lebohang. Sewer treatment has come to a complete standstill in Lebohang and the raw sewage is running freely into the river system. The sewer treatment plant is currently in an upgrading process and should be completed within the next three months. When MPAC visited the site, they found that the pumps have been removed a long time ago and that no one could tell them where the pumps were. The access road to the sewer plant is also in a very bad state. The Sewer plant in Embalenhle is working very well but the supply lines to the treatment works are not all functional. The sewer problems in Embalenhle is really large. The problems in GMM is not restricted to Lebohang and Embalenhle alone but the whole of GMM is affected by the lack of maintenance, ageing infrastructure and lack of political will to address the problem. All the polluted water is running into our river systems that ultimately flow into the Vaaldam. The cost of water
treatment has escalated over the past few years. This cost is then reverted back to the end users (GMM residents). The nett effect is that not only are we all
polluting the environment but we are also paying for the mistakes that GMM makes. The pressing financial situation of
Sasol air quality offset programme in eMbalenhle and Lebohang Sasol Secunda Synfuels Operations is implementing an offset plan as part of the regulatory compliance requirement of Sasol’s atmospheric emission licences (AELs), arising from postponements granted by the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO). The offset programme will focus on the reduction of particulate matter (PM) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) pollution in the communities of eMbalenhle and Lebohang. Specific activities of the offset plan include insulation of qualifying Reconstruction Development Programme (RDP)
houses with a stove swop of a coal stove to a four plates gas stove and a gas heater, air quality education and awareness campaign and feasibility study on the insulation of serviced informal houses and stove swop in the community of Lebohang. The offset programme is implemented in partnership with the Govan Mbeki Municipality with an Offset Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Further to this, Local Economic Development considerations such as local employment, Small Medium Micro
Enterprise (SMMEs) Development and skills development will form part of the programme implementation. Sasol remains committed to sustainably limiting the environmental impacts of its operations, including its impact on air quality, in the interest of all stakeholders and the communities in which we operate. Over R27 billion has been invested over the past 12 years on projects delivering significant environmental improvements, primarily focussed on air quality at our operations in South Africa.
GMM with regards to Eskom and Rand water as well as the spiralling debtors book (R1,2B outstanding) will not help to address the sewer problem.
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4 May 2018
Misty Waters 2018 kick The Misty Waters Festival kicked off on Friday, 27 April, to sounds never heard at Lake Umuzi before. On Thursday afternoon an eerie quiet descended upon Kamp Oase around the stage as if nature knew what awaited it for the next three days. All that was needed was the sound system. Friday morning became abuzz with activity as final preparations were done for the afternoons kick off. The sound system was up and with only a few minutes to go it was all systems go. The atmosphere reached fever point as all waited for the first act to start. Then the sounds of electric guitars filled the air as the Capitals opened the show. The bass drums amplified through the subs made everyone gasp at air as the air was alive with sound. The artists, each with its own style, continued to bring cheers from the crowd. People were swaying, dancing or jumping to the rhythms coming from the stage. The sounds continued late into Friday and Saturday night. Sunday saw a more laid back atmosphere to start but ended on a high note as Jan Blohm ended in true Jan Blohm fashion. Highlights of the weekend included Koos Kombuis, Tidal Waves, Black Cat
Bones, Albert Frost, Sannie fox and Dan Patlansky, Piet Botha Gunshot blue and Jan Blohm. Our readers can go view short interviews on the Bulletin’s Facebook page with some of these amazing artists. The line-up was excellent, the drinks and food were enough and the music was out of this world. One of the highlights was certainly the burning of the Misty Waters sign during Dan Patlansky’s
perform Next yea and bigg The orga everyon a succes compan Jelani, E Curamus Photo’s Huysstee
4 May 2018
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kicks off on a high note
nd ot blue go etin’s ese
rinks and c was hlights Misty ky’s
performance. Next year’s festival promises to be better and bigger. Don’t miss it. The organisers would like to thank everyone involved in making the Festival a success and especially the following companies/people for their efforts. Jelani, ER24, SAPS, CPF, Stratcon and Curamus. Photo’s supplied by Encee van Huyssteen, Pierre Jordaan, Piet Potgieter.
NEWS
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SERVICES
To advertisE call: 017 631 1903 017 631 1845 or Mariëtte 083 476 2860 Mari 084 483 0280
4 May 2018
eMba residents denied certification Residents of eMbalenhle were struck with surprise when they were denied certification at Secunda Police Station on Monday 23 April. Nandipha Ntshauzana went to the station to certify copies of her personal documentation when she allegedly witnessed a warrant officer telling the people that if they were from eMbalenhle, they would not be helped. “He said that he was tired of people from eMbalenhle flooding the police station and that we must go to our own station,” Ntshauzana said. The warrant officer allegedly began to help those who were behind the people in line whom he assumed were from eMbalenhle. People began to question how he could possibly know who was from which town, and what these assumptions were based on. “We don’t know who to report to, and to avoid humiliation, they should just give us formal notice if there really are new rules about who can get their documents certified at certain police
stations,” Ntshauzana said. South African Police Services resources, however, state that “you can have copies of original documents certified at any police station, at any time.” As it stands, there is no such policy. Warrant Officer Victor Putsane allegedly went on to say that they could put a complaint in the suggestion box and that he did not care. Other residents have made similar complaints. Ndhuma Ritshuri recounts an incident in February concerning a woman at the same police station. “The practice of sending people away based on where they reside is very inconsiderate and is a sign of laziness or unwillingness to assist by SAPS officials,” he said. Warrant Officer Putsane remained unavailable for comment at the time of going to press. Even so, what can be confirmed is that residents are allowed to go to all South African police stations for the certification of documents.
Beeskop op sypaaitjie Die Bulletin het vanoggend gaan ondersoek instel by “Ons Winkel” Solidariteit Helpende Hand se winkel na ‘n klagte van ‘n karkas of ten minste ‘n kop wat geplaas was. “Ons Winkel is afhanklik van skenkings vanuit die gemeenskap. Wins vanuit die winkel word aangewend om Studiefondse te skep vir behoeftige studente.” By nadere ondersoek het dit geblyk dat dit nie ‘n hele karkas is nie maar
dit wil voorkom of iemand die afval gekoop het, dit skoon ge-eet het sovêr hulle kon en toe buite gaan plaas het vir verwydering. Dit is natuurlik nie ‘n aanvaarbare praktyk nie aangesien die afval vreeslik gou vrot kan word en sodoende siektes veroorsaak. Daar is ook by-wette wat sodanige stortings reguleer en boetes kan opgelê word vir die stort van karkasse ens. Gelukkig het die munisipaliteit se vullis afdeling die afval verwyder.
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4 May 2018
SPORT NEWS
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Coffee with Kes The adoration that Kesegie Moodley has for writing is clear in the way she speaks. She relaxes in a cosy armchair and hugs a steaming cup of coffee as she divulges her journey as an author. Having last published a book in 2016, Kesegie is in the patient and gleeful process of having her next work, Worthy of Love 2, edited. As is evident in most of her book titles, the author has somewhat of a fixation with the concept of love. “I want my readers to believe that love exists”, she says. “And I don’t just focus on romantic love; I look at parental and filial love, friendship and love between siblings.” Worthy of Love 2 is not exactly a sequel, but what Kesegie calls a “next generation novel”. It is centred on the daughter of the preceding novel’s main characters. Through this book, the author explores yet another field of love. Kesegie has loved reading for as long as she can remember, fondly referring to herself as a “bookworm”. She reaches down memory lane to uproot a recollection of the day she discovered romance as a genre. “I was crazy about reading, from the backs of cereal boxes to newspapers,” she chuckles. “My dad brought home a box of books, I think someone was throwing them away and I’m not sure he realised what was really in there”. From then on, Kesegie has been rolling through the tides of being a romance enthusiast.
While she waits for Worthy of Love 2 to develop, Kesegie notes the importance of remaining relevant. “People forget about writers, which is why I continue writing short stories in the years between my novels,” she explains. This is where she feels the full weight and importance of the online sphere, where most of these short stories are published. Currently, she is working on a series titled Office Snitch, which was minisculely inspired by her own role in an office environment. She lovingly refers to the series as her “latest baby”. With her written works as close to her heart as children, one could consider Kesegie a mother to many. And just like biological motherhood, the journey isn’t always so simple. She has been through a series of challenges that only authors could face, from troubling cases of writer’s block to daunting publishing ordeals. Her love and authenticity, however, remain the backbone of her writing career. “It’s never been about the money,” Kesegie says. “I just love writing and that’s why I do it.” With a publishing company running, a chain of writing projects in the pipeline, a day job and a family life in its entirety, this writer has a lot on her plate. Yet she maintains an air of serenity as she sips her coffee in that hollow armchair. Seemingly content with a life of what looks to be effortless multitasking, Kesegie is nothing short of an inspiration.
Winter birding The advent of winter normally means cold mornings and sunsets. It is also a time for excuses not to go outdoors. But therein lays the opportunity for birding. The cold weather should not spell the end of birding. The misty mornings and sometimes rainy weather that we experience here on the highveld might be just the thing you need for good birding and photography in particular. The early mornings will not go away, as early mornings is always a good time to go birding. There is nothing like sipping on a nice cup of coffee, waiting for the sun to finally show its face. Hearing the bird sounds around you and waiting for the sun to warm our feathered friends so that the action can begin. Duck species, in particular, appear to celebrate inclement weather – dams are sprinkled with floating rafts of busy birds. The Yellowbilled duck of the southern half of our country breeds during wet Cape winters, as do redbilled teals of the southwestern Cape and the southern pochard, to name but a few. The hamerkop also breeds in winter, from July through to summer. It’s hard to miss this strange chocolatebrown, long-legged, hammer-headed bird about the size of a domestic fowl as you wander the inland waterways across South Africa (check out temporary roadside pools too). They forage by wading in or around shallow water, probing with their beaks and sometimes stirring mud with an extended foot. They feed mainly on frogs and tadpoles as well as the odd fish or invertebrate and an occasional small, luckless mammal. Spoonbills will start foraging the waters very early and will offer good photographic opportunities as they gracefully glide in for a landing. South Africa’s most common weaver species, the southern masked weaver, also begins to breed in July. Rounded nests of bright green bounce under the weight of fanning wings as rasping sounds fill the air in a cacophony of sex. Find an intrepid birder-friend and discover South Africa anew this winter. Some parts will be dry, as that
is the way of our country’s diverse ecosystems, complex landscapes and differing weather patterns, and other parts will be green and wet. But you can be sure a chilly change of season will do little to prevent the majestic fecundity of the natural world. Go out there and celebrate a winter of birds. Some of the information in this article was sourced from Birdlife South Africa. Please visit www.birdlife.org.za for more information. South Africa is a very dry country. Water is singularly our most precious natural resource. Protecting Southern Africa’s wild birds and their habitats will indirectly conserve sensitive watercatchment areas in grassland and mountain regions and by observing wild birds living near dams, lakes and rivers scientists will be able to monitor water quality. The message is clear: save our environment by saving water through saving wild birds.
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4 May 2018
10 ways to protect your house Over the past few weeks, the quiet towns of Secunda and Evander have seen a soaring number of housebreakings, with a number of dog poisoning incidents to boot. While it may not be possible
to pack up and move to safer surroundings, there are things you can do to improve the security of your home. The Bulletin has put together a handy list of tips and tricks to make your house a more difficult target for criminal activity. 1. Eliminate hiding spots - Trim your hedges and trees, the last thing you want is for your yard to be a wonderland for a criminal in search of places to hide. 2. Stow expensive items out of sight Put braai stands, cars, bicycles and garden tools in the garage and/or shed. Leaving these valuables outside, especially overnight, is attractive to thieves. 3. Install motion sensor lighting - Consider putting motion detectors around entrances and dark corners, in particular, to shine a spotlight on potential intruders. 4. Get to know your neighbours - Sounds strange, but building relationships with your neighbours means that you are all likely to look out for each other, and members of your neighbourhood can easily spot strangers. Neighbours can alert each other to suspicious activity and offer extra eyes when you’re not around. 5. Install large reflective numbers on your house - This ensures that police can easily identify your home in the case of an emergency. Burglars prefer dark houses that are difficult to identify because it buys them time.
6. Don’t hide keys outside - Rather than leaving keys outside for your family members when you’re away, make spare keys for everyone to keep on them, or leave keys with a trusted neighbour. 7. Talk to a trusted neighbour about creating a “lived-in” look - When you’re away for a few days, ask them to help make your home look occupied. They can use your outdoor trash cans and collect your mail and newspapers. Stacked up mail and empty trash cans can be an indicator that you’re away and be gone a while. 8. Put timers on lights - This is also helpful for when you’re on holiday. You can time lights to switch on and off at certain times, to give the illusion that someone is home 9. Don’t advertise your trip - We love social media and often post so much about our personal lives. Avoid the urge to post about upcoming vacations; the more people who know your house will be empty, the more you open yourself up to a break-in. 10. Add door and window alarms Burglars hate noises. So after keeping doors and windows locked, your next line of defence is adding wireless alarms that are triggered when the doors/windows are opened.
Crime snippets Secunda ATM fraud Police have noted an increase in reports of ATM fraud in the Secunda area. Victims report money being withdrawn from their accounts after they have used ATMs in which they have struggled to insert their bank cards. “If you go to an ATM and experience difficulty when trying to insert your card, do not force the card to go in,” Captain Zondo (Secunda SAPS) warns. In the past week alone, there had been three cases of similar experiences reported. Captain Zondo also issued a warning against asking anyone for assistance at an ATM, unless one is absolutely certain that the assistant is an employee of the bank itself. With the month-end bustle in full swing, criminals are having a field day in the banking sphere. Theft out of vehicles A rise in theft out of vehicles has warranted the concern of police in Secunda, who say that there is a new
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There are new reports of dog poisonings in the Sunset Park area, especially in Lanzerac street. Two houses were targeted again over the weekend. Unfortunately, the dogs did not survive. Please be on the lookout for any suspicious persons in the area. Call your security company if you suspect anything or call the SAPS and CPF to assist. Get dog poisoning rescue kits from Little Paws Big Hearts (Louis Kempen 082 777 6671) to help with the emergency treatment. But most importantly, be aware of what is going on in your neighbourhood and street. If possible please keep your dogs inside at night, and take a walk outside in the mornings to check for any poison that might be in your yard. The vets can be contacted during office hours for help at the following numbers: Dr Talitha Oliver 062 824 2458 Dr Louis Bosch 017 631 1564 Evander Dierekliniek 017 632 2654 Syrmia 017 631 2580 case reported each week. As a means of preventing further incidents, they have issued the following precautions: Criminals use “jammers” to block the signal from your remote when you attempt to lock your car. Before walking away, always double-check that your doors have indeed locked. Do not leave any valuables in plain sight, even if the car is locked, the visibility of these items acts as attractive bait for thieves. Although most areas have car guards during the day, many knock off and go home after a certain time. As such, do not park your vehicle in an isolated area, as this makes it easier for thieves to break into your car without detection. Evander drug bust A man was arrest on 24 April in Evander CBD after police found him in possession of dagga worth over R800. The Secunda K9 teams found a plastic bag of marijuana in the man’s car when he was stopped and searched. Police operations have been intensified in Evander. Evander station commander, Lieutenant Colonel Jenny Albert, said that SAPS members had been deployed in the well-known hotspots. “We are hoping that everybody will behave and we warn those who engage in criminal activities that we’re out there for them,” she said.
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4 May 2018
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Victory Taekwondo Martial Arts fundraiser The Victory Taekwondo Martial Arts School held a fundraiser in association with Oregon Spur on the evening of 24 April. 10 percent of the night’s proceedings went towards funding the school’s upcoming trip to America. The team will be taking part in the International Championships from 2-17 July in Little Rock, Arkansas, where Erika Vorster of the Victory Taekwondo School says “millions participate”. Throughout the evening, students of
the school demonstrated their martial arts skills, impressing passersby over the fast-paced music that blared through their large multi-coloured speakers. The group of students was made up of a combination of all ages, with different sets of skills and strength. “Taekwondo isn’t age-bound,” Erika explained. “Our youngest student is three years old, and the oldest master we know of in South Africa is 96. So, it really is for everyone.”
Taekwondo is also inclusive of those with special needs, and in South Africa, there are incorporated programs for those with physical disabilities. A total of 38 students from all of the dojos in South Africa will be participating in the championships, including members from Evander, Johannesburg, Middelburg, Witbank, Bloemfontein and Polokwane. Having taken over the Secunda dojo in 2014, Erika and her husband, JP
Vorster, are immensely proud and elated at the opportunity to be able to take their team to Little Rock. “What I love about Taekwondo is that it instills discipline without being painfully militaristic,” Erika said. “It’s also not really about religion, as most people believe. We accept people from all walks of life.” It is this same discipline and openness that the Victory Taekwondo wishes to carry on their shoulders throughout the international championships.
Panda Cue Sport turns one Mnr. en Mej. Kruinpark Panda Cue Sport celebrated their 1st birthday over the weekend. here is Timothy Tyron Vermeulen and Hendry Erasmus at Panda’s Cue Sport at Lake Umuzi. “Thank you to every one’s support” said Hendry, “without our supporters it would not have been possible”.
Laerskool Kruinpark het Maandag 23 April hulle jaarlikse Mnr. en Mej. Kruinpark-skouspel by die Graceland Arena aangebied. Ouers en ondersteuners het na die lokaal gestroom, waar flikkerende liggies, vrolike musiek en lawwe grappies die aand gevul het. Die deelnemers het hul beste uitrustings gedra om te kompeteer met mekaar in styl en persoonlikheid, terwyl die vriendelike skare hulle aangemoedig het. Aan die einde van die aand het CarlHugo Kleynhans en Elri Putter die titels van Mnr. en Mej. Kruinpark gewen. Johandré van Rooyen is
gekroon as Mnr. Persoonlikheid, en Liané Watermeyer is 2018 se Mej. Persoonlikheid. Jason Simich en Chereas Ferreira is Mnr. en Mej. Fotogenies. Henrico Strecker en Tlotlo Mongale is die eerste Prins en Prinses, en die tweede Prins en Prinses is Morné du Plessis en Anzel Niewenhuis.
4 MAY
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Bulletin
Foto: Encee van Huyssteen
Landbouskou beindruk Die afgelope lanbouskou het weereens verras met die gehalte perde op skou. Ongeveer 70 inskrywings is ontvang. Dit was die tweede jaar dat die skou suksesvol aangebied was. Daar was verskeie afdelings waaraan deelnemers kon deelneem oa, In hand, Plesier perd, Enkel tuig, Dubbel tuig en Tandem. Daar was die tradisionele sowel as universele klas en elke klas het ook sy eie kleredrag gehad. Daar was selfs ‘n “Dames in rokke” item waar die dames in deftige rokke kon deelneem. Die afgelope naweek het daar Friesperde, Boerperde, Arabier perde asook ‘n Percheron deelgeneem. Deelnemers het van heinde en verre gekom om met hulle prag perde te spog. Armand, die singende cowboy het Vrydag opgetree en almal het dit terdee geniet. Daar was ‘n verskeidenheid van stalletjies wat gewissel het van tuisgebak tot handgemaak, van heerlike kos tot nuttige braaiers. Die volgende skou word vir September beplan maar die datum sal eers later bevestig word.
Foto: Liesel Kuhn Photography