Kruger2Canyon Vol17.05 by Mark Bishop

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Hoedspruit

BOEREMARK Next Market on 2 Feb 2019 @ BOSVELD CENTRE 2.2KM out of town on R40

The paper that encourages dreams, supports people and builds the community! Vol 17 Issue 05, 11 January 2019, Kruger2Canyon News, Shop 12, Kamogelo Centre, Hoedspruit. Tel 015 793 2617 email: heidi.lee@mweb.co.za

70 000 Mosquito nets to be distributed

Full story on page 5...

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Hours are 07h30 to 16h00 weekdays Cell: 082 5600 248 email: info@hlokomela.org.za

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For the best info on where to stay and what to do in the Lowveld pop in @ Hoedspruit-info, Kamogelo Tourism Centre. You can also do all SANParks bookings and now also all FGASA registrations for 2019. Let us help you!

11 January 2019 Kruger2Canyon

LOCAL NEWS

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, Like many other residents in Hoedspruit I am extremely disappointed to note that an ugly industrial looking building is being erected in the main street of our lovely little town. Hoedspruit is the centre of a huge tourist area and is surrounded by game farms, as well as giving easy access to the Kruger National Park. Hence, it is important that we maintain the looks and character of our town with the aesthetics of the buildings being extremely important. Many jobs are dependent on

Klaserie Dam

R50 p/p/p/d R100 camping

Send us your letters to heidi.lee@mweb.co.za

Bookings: Tersia 073 463 3148

AFRICA UNLOCKED

Private Guided Safaris

078 819 1336 thepetbar@xpress.co.za www.thepetbar.co.za Next to Voltex, behind PnP Centre, Hoedspruit

Hoedspruit being the hub of the local tourist industry. The new building on the main street is, I am told, to be a tyre fitting shop. This is totally out of character with other buildings on the main road and aesthetically, it is, in my view, a disaster. My investigations so far have revealed that on 19 February 2016 the Maruleng Municipality approved an application to rezone Portion 3 of Erf 117 (where the building is being constructed) from Business 3 to Business 1. Plans were then approved for an attractive double story office building. These plans were approved in 2017 by the Maruleng Municipality. However, the then owner of this property sold it to another party who had to include some of the area from the property behind so as to create a larger area on which to build the tyre shop. It is not known what plans were submitted to the municipality, nor whether these comply with the requirements in terms of the zoning for Business 1. There are various conditions which need to be complied with, such as that the coverage of the building may not exceed 85% of the Erf, parking areas shall be paved, three parking bays are required per 100m2 of gross leasable area, and so on. In addition to this awful looking building literally blotting the landscape of our town, there will also be additional traffic issues that have not been taken into consideration. Not only does this building detract from the appearance of our town, but it will become a traffic hazard considering the number of vehicles entering

and exiting the building in between two major stop streets. It is situated directly next to the Doctors’ Rooms. I don’t think it will be very nice for the patients being subjected to the noise emanating from the tyre shop! I have met with the new Director of the planning, who is appreciative of my and the community's concerns regarding this industrial building being constructed on the main road of our town. Accordingly, another meeting is being arranged for later this week in an endeavour to resolve this issue. It is also disappointing that the municipality have for many months permitted building rubble and other waste to be left dumped on the pavement virtually in front of the building which is currently under construction. This must certainly be in contravention of municipal bylaws. This I am told will be immediately dealt with. I have spoken to a number of local residents of Hoedspruit who share my disgust that this industrial building that has been allowed to be erected in a non-industrial area. I trust that the community will support a petition against this business so as to send a message to any other developer not to destroy the looks of our town. Regards, Stuart Woodhead The above letter was emailed to the owner of the development on 9 January 2019. On recieving the letter, Danie Besselaar called Kruger2Canyon and said that he would ‘reserve his right to comment’.

Dear Heidi, Since October 2018 I have had numerous discussions with the owner and Maruleng Municipality regarding the new building going up between the doctors’ rooms and the police station in the main street of Hoedspruit. The aim of these discussions was to determine whether all due procedures have been followed by both parties and whether in fact the building, with its proposed type of business, has been authorized to be built as such. I was only able to determine that permission was granted for an office building to be built, however, I was unable to acquire any evidence as proof thereof. The fact that the Maruleng Municipal offices were closed from 21 December 2018 to 7 January 2019 made it impossible for me to follow up the matter further with the Municipality. Concerned residents as well as visitors to the area were unhappy about the eyesore caused by the building rubble in front of the property. I asked the owner multiple times to remove the rubble but he said he would only do so once the building is complete. Sincerely, Cllr. Christine du Preez, Ward 1 Maruleng Municipality Left: This photograph of the site in front of the building was taken on 6 January 2019

LOCAL NEWS

11 January 2019 Kruger2Canyon

New lick of paint for Kamogelo HOEDSPRUIT - Kamogelo Tourism Centre is getting a new lease on life! Mary Wilson from Authentically Yours Studio in Kamogelo Centre has co-ordinated this project, and, whilst still running her business, has put in endless hours to ensure its success Together with her husband Ric, they painted the two pillars at the main entrance over the Christmas period. We were fortunate that two very talented arts teachers from Seeds of Light, Vanrooy Sondlane and Terrence Mabaso, volunteered their services to assist with the project of the two pillars at the Ferret Street entrance. Both Vanrooy and Terrence are very driven and inspirational in their passion for the creativity of art, using many mediums. The Kamogelo pillars painting was a challenge as the stencils were larger than themselves in height and the pillars plaster is very uneven.Â Their focus and abilityÂ to precisely paint the lines and colours has been inspirational. It also touched our hearts, seeing these artists sitting in the blazing heat, pouring their hearts into the painting on the pillars.

Above: Vanrooy Sondlane and Terrence Mabaso from Seeds of Light who have been volunteering their painting skills at Kamogelo. Below: Rick Wilson working away over the festive season, to make a difference to Kamogelo

On a very rainy day that prevented work on the pillars. After a quick brainstorming session between Mary, Ric and Vanrooy, it was decided to paint a mural of Africa in the corridor. Vanrooy completed this mural in just over a day. It is 1.8 metersÂ high and looks amazing.

11 January 2019 Kruger2Canyon

LOCAL’S LEKKER

The basket man CORRECTION

BobBob’s future looking bright

HOEDSPRUIT - Street vendors are an integral part of economies around the world, offering easy access to a wide range of goods and services in public spaces. They sell everything from fresh vegetables to prepared foods, from building materials to garments and crafts. Most street vendors provide the main source of income for their households, bringing food to their families and paying school fees for their children. Meet Sydney Chadi from Castel in Acornhoek who travels mostly every two weeks in a month to Hoedspruit to sell his products. Sydney sells picnic basket, dustbin basket, bread basket, and flower and fruit baskets made by his own hands. The price of most of the items that Sydney sells ranges from R30 to R350. Sydney told K2C News that he learnt how to make all these baskets from his father who used to make all these products. Sydney said ‘I started making baskets in 1991 after realizing that people can use their own hands to make a living rather than complain about not getting employed and loafing around the streets’. ‘I disagree when people say that there is no

BobBob UPDATE

work when we can use our hands and brain to support our families’ said Sydney. Sydney makes the best baskets that one can ever wish

for. People in the Hoedspruit area are welcomed to contact Sydney on 076 173 6436 for special orders of any baskets that he makes.

TZANEEN - In March of last year we brought you the amazing news that a global fundraiser had reached its target to pay for one corneal transplant for Bob Mashaba, Groundsman at Balule’s Campfire Academy. Bob has corneal scarring in both eyes and without a transplant will be completely blind within a few years. It’s been a trying time since then with his first eye specialist withdrawing from performing the operation due to issues with his import licence. A new doctor was found in Polokwane and after a threemonth wait for an appointment, Bob visited Doctor Andri Weyer late last year: Bob is now finally on the waiting list for a transplant which will likely take place early next year! Campfire Academy’s Brass Brassett, who started the campaign to save Bob from going blind, said, ‘It’s still a long road ahead for BobBob but at least we are now back on the road! We will forever be grateful to all the people, the world over, who donated to save this awesome man from going blind!”

Young boy making a difference Lucky Rapitsi ACORNHOEK - A young boy is making a change in his community in the Acornhoek area. On 1 January 2019 a Facebook post by Modiane Jojo Modiane touched a lot of people’s hearts and went viral. He posted about a young boy trying to make a change in the community he stays in by asking donations on the road to fix the potholes in Acornhoek at the RDP houses. It appears that the roads at the RDP houses have a lot of potholes and the Bushbuckridge Municipality is not doing anything about the situation. Here is this story that Modiane Modiane posted on Facebook. ‘I met this young man by the name of Clarence Mnisi in the Arconhoek area at the RDP houses. ‘I was driving past him and he stopped me and said, ‘Sawubona Malume’ (Hi uncle).

Then he showed me his hands meaning he is begging for something. I stopped and asked him what the problem is. He said that he is asking for a donation. I couldn’t understand what he was asking for, but I looked into his eyes and I saw a young, fearless boy who stands his ground. I saw a bucket full of gravel next to him and I thought he was selling gravel. I was totally wrong. On New Year’s Day most of the kids his age would be singing, playing street soccer or even dancing. This young boy was busy filling up the potholes in one of the access roads to the neighbourhood. Because of poor service delivery this young boy was deprived of a carefree, joyful day. This really tore me apart. This young boy shows true leadership in his community and Modiane believes that he should be recognised.

Call: 013 752 6057

11 January 2019 Kruger2Canyon

LOCAL IS LEKKER

Mosquito nets to be distributed

Desiré Wright HOEDSPRUIT – More than a year after Goodbye Malaria donated mosquito nets to Hlokomela, Hoedspruit finally received them on 13 December 2018. A malaria committee, set up by a group of concerned residents, negotiated the donation in an effort to curb the spread of malaria in Hoedspruit. After being tied up in red tape at the Durban port for more than a year, the nets finally arrived in Hoedspruit. Packed in 50kg bales containing 100 nets each, it took some heavy lifting to get the bales off loaded and stored,

but local farms and residents came to Hlokomela’s rescue and made light work of the job. ‘So far we have distributed 9000 nets, mostly to farm workers and bus commuters’ says Christine du Preez, Director of Hlokomela. ‘We are planning a big campaign in February in order to distribute as many nets as possible during the summer months when there is a peak in malaria cases’ she added. ‘The nets are treated with insecticide so one needs to read the instructions carefully when first using them. We are also careful only to hand out one net per person,

as misuse of mosquito nets in other areas of the country have wreaked havoc on fish populations due to unwise fishing practices’ says Christine. ‘Thank you to everyone who helped to make this donation possible. May 2019 be the year that malaria claims no victims in our area!’ ends Christine. Hlokomela is a non-profit organization. For more information and to find out how you can help, please find us on Facebook or visit our website at www.hlokomela.org.za. Alternatively, give us a call on 082 560 0248.

11 January 2019 Kruger2Canyon

NEWS & VIEWS

HALO’s Canine Christmas Brass Brassett

HOEDSPRUIT - The 3rd annual HALO Christmas Drive has come to an end and our gratitude is global, with sponsors coming in from the United Kingdom, Austria, Canada, The Netherlands, Germany and, of course, the most sponsors coming from Hoedspruit! Having watched many owners struggling to bring their dogs into the outreach area, whilst others make collar and lead onesies from cable, scarves and plastic bags, our drive this year was to give

each dog a collar and lead, a bowl and some food. We are overwhelmed that 600kg of dog pellets, 45,785g of tinned food, 62 collars, 60 leads, 60 bowls, treats, biscuits and toys have been donated! This year we will be taking some Christmas cheer into GaMoraba, a district of California that falls just beyond Manoutsa, where we see an average of 130 dogs on outreach. Thanks to the Christmas Drive dog sponsors, and to the incredibly generous donation by a supporter in the UK, we will be able to give each of those dogs a collar, a lead and a bowl! A special mention to Hoedspruit Pick n Pay’s Debbie Wheldon and especially to Natasha Maguire for kindly running the HALO Christmas Drive in their store. Anyone wishing to help at this Christmas HALO outreach on Saturday, 12 January, should contact me on 072 818 6307. #TogetherWeCanMakeADifference

INVITATION TO TENDER for Long term lease of Sindyane Bush Camp Tenders are herewith invited for: • The long term lease of accommodation for 9 guests and 1 guide from 1 June 2019 at Sindyane Bush Camp in the Big Five Jejane Private Nature Reserve, 10 km north of Hoedspruit in the Balule Nature Reserve and part of Greater Kruger. and/or • Two game drives per day for a total of 6 hours on 2 700 hectares in Big Five nature reserves in Greater Kruger for a maximum of 9 guests and 1 FGASA qualified guide in your own game viewing vehicle. Interested parties are welcome to email jejaneboard@ rawifi.co.za for further information with regard to the above or to submit a tender. The invitation to tender closes at midnight on 31 January 2019. Late submissions will not be accepted for consideration. Jejane Private Nature Reserve is not compelled to accept any of the tenders submitted to them, and does not have to provide any reasons for the non-acceptance of any tender.

Correction to previous Africa SAFE-T article Africa SAFE-T - In our last publication, we stated that the Africa SAFE-T advanced life support ambulance service which is based in Hoedspruit includes the capacity of an air ambulance which will be used in the event that a patient urgently needs to be moved to Johannesburg for specialised care. There seems to be some confusion regarding the physical location of the air ambulance and the time to reach Johannesburg. The aircraft is a King Air 200 is based in Johannesburg. From the time that the air ambulance is activated by the emergency service personnel, it will take approximately 2 hours to arrive in Hoedspruit. The aircraft is fully kitted out with full Intensive care unit capabilities and staffed by a doctor and paramedics. Once it has arrived in Hoedspruit and loaded the patient on board the flying time to Johannesburg is approximately 60 minutes, and transfer on landing to the appropriate facility would take another 30 to 40 minutes. In essence, once the plane is activated from Johannesburg, you can be safely transferred to the best care facility within about 3 hours 40 minutes. Africa SAFE-T also has a strategic partnership with one of the largest helicopter emergency medical services in the country to assist with air evacuations should the fixed wing be unavailable. These are essential resources especially when cardiologists, surgeons or other specialists are on leave and not available in Nelspruit or Tzaneen, or the hospitals are at maximum capacity.

CROCODILE PRINTERS info@crocprint.co.za

013 752 6057

11 January 2019

LOCAL IS LEKKER

Kruger2Canyon

The magic of rain HOEDSPRUIT - The recent drought and accompanying heat of the past few months has once again highlighted the value of one of the resources we take most for granted. With the fall in the level of the Blyde Dam to 40% and no sign of rain on the horizon and the water level dropping at a steady 3% per week, with unforgiving temperatures in the 40’s the prospect looked bleak. 128mm of rain fell in the Blyde catchment area on 3 January 2019, brining a sigh of relief and hopes of the dam filling up. The inflow rose to 3.6 cumec (3600 liters per second) and the rain since has raised the inflow to about 10 000 cumec with

a constant out flow of 3000 cumec this tallies 7000 cumec being added to the dam per second. As at the time of going to print the dam was standing at 61% full. According to Jurie van Vuuren ‘this could change at any stage depending on the rainfall, and good rain is expected next week’ he says. ‘The dam capacity is 54 million cubic meters of water, at the current inflow this will take about a month to fill,’ Jurie told Kruger2Canyon. ‘But with the predicted rain it is expected that the dam will overflow before month end. 2012 floods inflow was over 300 cumec (300 000 litres per second)

Klaserie waterfall photographed by Stefan du Toit stefan_duT / sdu_toit Fun rain gauge figures

(015) 793 2617

1mm of rain equals 1 litre of water per square metre. Therefore 25mm on 1000 square metre equals 25tons of water. 80mm of rain on 1000 hectare equates to 800 tons times 1000 hectare. An astounding 800000 tons of water. Using a 10 ton water truck for 10 loads daily for 365days it will take 21,9 years to move that amount of water.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Advertise in Kruger2Canyon to get a FREE listing on our Business Directory ACCOMMODATION Fleur de Lys guest farm 079 505 3665 Marula Camp/ Tshukudu Safaris 015 001 7084 BUSINESS / SHOPS / SERVICES ABC Information Technologies 015 793 0851 ABC Information Technologies 079 875 8888 u eli a er roofi 082 780 3610 ri o 082 888 0520 Barefoot Dance Academy 083 785 5354 lac ird u i e er ice 082 552 6594 Boek & Pen 015 793 0859 Bureu de Change 015 793 1368 a o a 082 774 5809 rocodile ri er 087 802 8307 Cudo Point 084 657 5031 el ec olar 015 793 2448 Darkie Design Interiors 079 503 0151 colo ic e rea er 089 525 9210 Fruitful Living 015 793 3703 Gabriella’s Décor & Events Hire 074 140 6069 arde o e 062 278 2724 oddi oddi a colodi 079 432 3505 a u z 082 440 8514 Hi-Q Hoedspruit 015 793 1580 Hobby Box 015 793 0043 owzi 082 304 9131 Hoedspruit Paws 078 431 3161 oed ildli e ar ac 015 793 1427 InterAfrica Money Exchange 015 793 1368 o ur li e 015 793 0093 Khaki Fever 015 793 0943 ru er a o ew 015 793 2617 arule u ici ali 015 793 2409 edia io rai i 083 253 3675 oo o o e i a 078 778 9014 ic e lea i er ice 083 233 9852 Pet Bar 078 819 1336 ic a oed rui 015 793 0482 ou d a e d ecure ora e 083 263 7433 i l ewi 072 210 7411 oed rui 015 793 2305 o 015 793 2069 o o o lea i 073 722 7913 ale cia a ric el rui 013 752 7005 Vehicle License Department 015 793 0838 Woodenways Luxury Furniture 013 590 5018 CONSTRUCTION & INDUSTRIAL 015 793 0560 Coastal Hire 015 793 0971 Drain Surgeon 015 793 1484 ai ool 015 590 3993 1st Class Electrical 071 657 5305 o a ac i 015 793 1530 LED Electrical and Pumps 083 501 8979 Midrand Aircon Hoedspruit 015 793 3337 Pool & Spa specialists 015 793 0166 Rudamans Hoedspruit 015 793 0137 Talisman 015 793 0560 rellidor 013 752 4022 ildli e a c 015 793 0792 SCHOOLS & EDUCATION Drakensig Laerskool 015 793 3756 ra e i re ri er 015 793 2401 er ec i e rai i olle e 082 787 4471 oed rui ri ia c ool 015 793 2067 Lowveld Academy 015 793 3750 arie o aer ool 079 529 6071 arie o re ri er 082 880 7069 Southern Cross Schools 015 793 0590

Shop 5 Leadwood Corner

EMERGENCY – HELP LINES After Hours Emergency Doctors 084 770 1741 ir orce a e oed rui 015 799 2911 ula ce 015 799 2065 Ambulance Hoedspruit 015 793 1581 Ambulance Tintswalo 101 77 ar wa c laa wa 072 310 0032 ire ri ade 015 799 2172 Fire Brigade Maruleng 015 793 0536 oed rui edical e cue o i al 015 799 2065 Hospital Tintswalo 013 795 5000 Police Hoedspruit 015 799 4000 ro rac 015 793 2585 MEDICAL & VETERINARY SERVICES elli o elle ou er 082 787 4471 a ede e i 015 793 1876 er er uller e i 015 793 1894 lo o ela 072 698 6538 oed rui li ic 015 793 2342 oed ildli e ar ac 015 793 1427 oe zee li ical c olo i arlie a d a e li ic 082 803 0369 ed e re e i 015 793 0845 ed e re er e c o 079 102 9192 ProVet Veterinary Hospital 015 793 0797 ou

REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY e ur 015 793 1534 i e ou r 083 377 6622 a oldi 015 793 2712 ildfi ar e 083 977 9678 RESTAURANTS & CATERING e o o lu a 079 286 5600 e era e ou ewi e 015 793 0820 Silverwings Spur 015 793 0559 Sleepers Railway Restaurant 015 793 1014 ree rid e 079 912 9416

ell i o lo o ela.or .za Hours are 07h30 to 16h00 weekdays

SPA’S & SALONS African Summer Spa 015 793 1895 Africology Spa 076 339 1035 oddi oddi a 082 808 9203 Hooked on Hair 015 793 0475 li i air eau 015 793 2944 TOURISM & THINGS TO DO e . ou ld il ar rica loc ed Tourism Specialists 082 745 0522 Amurala Lapa 015 781 7766 o ru er u le 015 793 2617 Blyde Canyon Adventure 015 795 5961 Cheetah Paw 079 563 4463 a ari ildli e r a a e 082 656 2969 Eastgate Airport 015 793 3681 oddi oddi 082 808 9203 oed rui i o 015 793 2167 Hds Endangered Species Centre 015 793 1633 a ula i le a erac io 015 7931265 a ai e ile ar 087 806 2093 la irie a er ia 073 463 3148 ru er ar u le 072 667 2231 o olo olo e a e re 082 907 5984 Roots of Rythms 083 785 5354 Sun Catchers o ir alloo i 087 806 2079 Sky-Way Trails 013 737 8374 VEHICLES. SPARES & REPAIRS Cronje Vervoer 079 695 5444 el ec a erie oed rui 015 793 2448 i re 082 804 2502 Laeveld Trekkers 087 806 5616

Electrical & Wholesale Services Cell: 071 657 5305 nick@firstclasselectrical.co.za

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dupainttoolhoedspruit dupainttool

Huilboerboom Street, Hoedspruit (Next to HiQ) Number: 015 590 3993

New MTB track from town to 3 Bridges

Patrick Green

HOEDSPRUIT - One of the more popular family or group activities that doesn’t offer residents or visitors much in the way of options are mountain bike (MTB) trails. Having been a resident for nearly three years now, I decided I am gatvol of the amount of tar that I need to ride on with my lekker full suspension MTB. Being a bit of an explorer and aspirant trail builder, I started opening up trails in Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, but the Home Owners Association has reeled me in and instructed me to cease the development of new trails on the estate. So, almost immediately I reverted to my vision for a tar-free trail for outrides rom the estate that I wanted to start a couple of years ago.. A popular MTB route is the Three Bridges ride along the railway service road. When I first rode the route, it included a 2km tar ride from the R40/ R527 intersection to the service road access gate north of town. A friend showed me an alternate route which

OFFICE: 015 793 1484/5 Main Street Hoedspruit

“No job too deep, too dark or too dirty”

followed the railway tracks and included a 300m section where one rode on the railway ballast alongside the sleepers and tracks, a bit of a balancing act. This led one to and from the railway bridge near the intersection above which required climbing up and down the banks of the railway bridge near the intersection above portaging one’s bicycle. I prefer riding my bicycle, thank you! The first trail I have opened up starts near the fire station and includes a bridge that I built to cross a storm water drain and leads the riders along the HWE fence line behind the stables to the quad track. Once inside the quad track grounds, one takes a left to follow the perimeter trail to the North west corner of the property where riders exit to pass beneath the Air Force base road bridge over the railway line leading to Phalaborwa mines. This leads one towards the town’s (unused) water tower, with riders turning off at the nearest level crossing to head north on the Tzaneen line. The trail

leads to the Drakensig road bridge over the R40, and into the newly created single track just beyond the bridge. The single track exits at the southern end of the railway service road which riders can take all the way to Three Bridges.The round trip is about 50km and includes the new 3km off road trail described above With thanks to Silver Wings Spur, Djuma Game Reserve, Stuart Woodhead, Tony Patten, Patrick Green and Frazer Small for donations and materials received to date My vision is to open sustainable trails to various points of interest in the region including Jessica Hippo, 24° South, Blyde River Poort Dam, Mariepskop Timbavati Headquarters Museum etc. The trails will require regular maintenance and signage. I hope to raise funds through sponsorships and possibly a trust scheme with a pay-perride fee. Funds will be used for development, maintenance and clean ups. We will make use of local labour and hopefully we will be able to create permanent jobs.

EMERGENCY: 083 307 9258 www.facebook.com/drainsurgeonhoedspruit

“Quick As A Wink”

OFFICE: 015 793 0792

Chris Dreyer: 0835735920

Main Street Hoedspruit