Klaserie Chronicle 20pt1 04-2012 by Klaserie Private Nature Reserve

April 2012 no. 20

KRONIEK/CHRONICLE

Lost, but not found Elephants move to higher ground before floods

SPECIAL REPORT

TROPICAL-CYCLONE-DANDOHITS-THE-LOWVELD...16-35

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photo: Noel Klopppers

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KLASERIE CHRONICLE / KRONIEK TEAM

Zani’s

KEYBOARD

e celebrate the twentieth edition of the Klaserie Chronicle, and another bumper one. Thank you to everyone who contributed since its inception, the advertisers for your support and the dedication of the KC team. Our front page features a flood survivor! Need I say more? This edition has been devoted to the 2012 flood and the survivors who share their stories and photos. Fortunately there were no casualties. It was humbling to experience the kindness, generosity and caring of the Hoedspruit and Klaserie community, friends, strangers, family and fellow survivors during and after the flood. Thank you to one and all; you gave us hope and courage to carry on. Anton, baie dankie vir jou ondersteuning, positiewe gesindheid en waardevolle bydraes teenoor Children’s Eco Training. Ons gaan jou mis hier in die Klaserie, maar sien uit na nog vele pittige stories om met die Klaserie Kroniek lesers te deel! Here’s to another twenty editions! Zani

The Klaserie Chronicle is published quarterly and distributed to KPNR owners, as well as CET donors, partners and Chronicle advertisers. If you would like to send a contribution, please forward to admin@ ecochildren.co.za or fax: 086 628 8733

Editor: Zani Kunz Advertising and articles: Laura Craig Proofing: Littcor and Anton Nel Layout and design: Lynette Strauss Contributors: Mike Anderson Colin Rowles, Janice Rowles, Cecile Bertram, Janus Roets, Keith Ndhlovu, Nikiwe Mnisi, Jason Fleischer, Paul Menssink, Zani Kunz, Kate Meares, Gustav Roux, Marnus van der Merwe, Karen Randall, Ivan Gillatt, Amy Clark, CJ McDonald, Noel Kloppers, James and Corlia Steyn, Bruce and Theresa McDonald, Lynette Strauss, Debbie Thompson, Anton Nel, Eric Manyike, Lee-Anne Detert, Sally Wiggil, Rhulani Mathonsi, Winky Mokgope, Gary Freeman, Zenta Nel, Antoinette Lerm, Judy Meeser

APOLOGY Our article “Cat on Hot Tin Roof” in the Dec chronicle refers. Our apologies for the incorrect information: the hanger referred to is on Henry Bernitz’ property, not on Mr OgilvyThompson’s. Thank you for the clarification Mr Bernitz. Lee-Anne Detert

ANTON AND ZENTA Mike Anderson on behalf of KPNR EXCO

adly Anton and Zenta are leaving the Reserve to live in Hoedspruit as it is too difficult to manage Anton’s health problems from Klaserie. In the short time they have been with us we have grown to know and love them both. Anton’s quiet and humble sense of humour when writing his wonderful articles for the Chronicle makes them the first thing most of us look for when receiving the latest publication. He has managed to streamline the accounts and administration of the Reserve into an efficient unit at Motlasedi, having taken over at a difficult time when Eric van Niekerk retired, and we had to centralise everything at the Reserve. With Zenta’s love of the wild and natural she found a home in Klaserie and her excitement at the advent of spring with the new lambs and budding flowers exudes a contagious enthusiasm. We are all going to miss you both and thank you for your contribution and commitment to the Reserve and for being two of the most kind, sincere and humble people. It has been a privilege working with you. Hopefully having been converted to Lowvelders and living in Hoedspruit as well as helping with the induction and workload of the new incumbent we will keep in touch. May God bless and keep you both.

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Lost, but not found Colin Rowles

photo: Janice Rowles

very strange and remarkable thing happened at the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (KPNR) Head Quarters (HQ) towards the end of February. We assembled for work one morning, only to find a young buffalo cow carrying a radio telemetry collar, walking around within the confines of the HQ. She entered by passing under the temporary electric fence that we erected along the river front to keep the elephants out. The fence had been washed away by the floods. Initially I thought that she originated from the Kruger National

Park (KNP), and that the collar that she carried had been fitted as part of their TB research programme. Her lack of fear for humans was obvious, and knowing the symptoms of rabies, I was worried as she walked up to me. I placed a tree between her and me as she sniffed my hand, and allowed me to scratch her head. I made a few phone calls and traced her origin back to a buffalo breeding project some distance down the Casketts road, near Thorny Bush game reserve. She had escaped from the property due to flood damaged fences and progressively walked northwards, breaking through fences, arriving at the

HQ approximately five weeks later. Unfortunately the owner was not able to recover her due to veterinary regulations. My main concern was the safety of staff and visitors. So I led her out of the HQ complex gate on a few occasions, closing the gate behind her, only to have her break back into the HQ at night. After having her around for about four days, I led her out one morning, and closed the gate behind her as I had done before. That night, a herd of buffalo passed close to the HQ and we have not seen her since. I am assuming that she has joined this herd, and in time will learn to be a wild buffalo.

BUSH SNIPPETS

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REPTILES UP CLOSE

Photo: Janus Roets

he year 2012 brought me a very special blessing: I joined the CET team. A couple of months ago, a friend gave me the Klaserie Chronicle which I devoured. I went to the CET website and was impressed by the work done at the rural primary schools. The education of young people about our environment is a really important and vital challenge; they are our future. We decided to investigate the world of reptiles during the first term with the Grade 6 children and the creepy crawly creatures with the Grade 7 children. Why should we protect snakes, scorpions and spiders? How many bad stories have we heard about them? They are around because they have a job to do in the ecosystem. Donald Strydom of Khamai Reptile Park visited the two

schools with his very talented guide, named Given Ndlovu. At Seganyane, 91 kids and at Matakinya 130 attended. They first watched a slide show for 45 minutes in a classroom. It was an amazing experience. All these children, packed like sardines were all eyes and ears, fascinated, not saying a word until the time came for asking questions. Then the demonstration with the puff adder, black mamba, boomslang, cobra and python, as well as a baboon spider and a non-venomous scorpion took place. Again fascinated and amazed faces were listening. A few teachers and parents were present; all of them impressed by Donald and Given. Thank you very much to both of them. Let us hope these children will inform their families and friends about the importance of snakes in our habitats.

cile! Welcome Ce

photo: Karen Randall

Cecile Bertram

CET’s FIRST STUDENT

eith Ndhlovu lives in Acornhoek. He was raised by a single parent, his mother, who raised him to be where he is today. He has always been a dedicated student who received awards for best student even as far back as his primary school days in Ndabeni Higher Primary. Later in Shobiyane High he decided that mathematics and science were the subjects he wanted to do. Back then not many learners chose these subjects as they found them too difficult. Keith, however, worked hard and won the award for runner-up in his class. Since 2003, Keith attended every one of CET’s holiday workshops and every year became one of the winners. Once he became too old to attend the workshops he volunteered as an assistant to help facilitate the workshops. When he commenced his studies, CET sponsored him with a laptop necessary for his course, and keeps track of his progress. Currently he is studying computer systems in Pretoria, at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), with the following subjects; digital system, mathematics, programming, digital process control, computer skills, communication skills, electronics and electrical engineering. He plans to be a software developer/engineer or a computer engineer − the opportunities are unlimited. In his spare time he reads, plays games and soccer with friends, watches TV and does research. Dear CET I am writing this, to say I am very thankful for what you guys did for me. It seems whenever I lose hope and faith going forward, you restore all that. I’m very grateful. I also thank you for helping my mother; she also thanks you very much. I don’t know what I would do without you guys, you really mean a lot to me. I guess this is why I am delighted to be a part of your staff. Lots of love. Kind regards, Keith Ndhlovu

For account and delivery queries, please call us on (015) 793 0482 or e-mail us on fhoedspruit@pnp.co.za

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Ross female dies Jason Fleischer

his is to all of you who asked me to keep you informed about our injured lioness from the Ross pride, which was responsible for the death of their cubs. She must have broken her leg (probably killing a buffalo) in March 2011. In April she was still a young healthy lioness with a beautiful face, slightly lighter than normal and very pretty! She limped, but kept up with her pride and fed on their kills. As you all know, in early April I watched her eat Patchesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (lioness) third cub and the next day she feasted on another buffalo kill. From then on she became thinner and less healthy. There were times when she was missing for weeks, and then we would see her with the pride again. She

somehow held on until late October then began to spend time with another old lioness - she was in extremely poor condition. For days they would just lie under a tree together, not moving. I expected them both to die. She hit the jackpot, late afternoon on 22 November, 2011. She had hobbled all the way into the Timbavati (5km) and by chance and smell she came across a dead bull giraffe that had JUST died. She was the only lion in the area. That night I watched her trying to break through the skin for two hours, when another younger lioness suddenly appeared and helped her open the carcass. They feasted alone for two days, chasing away hyenas and sleeping nearby. Their pride arrived and shared the rotting meat. The next night the more powerful Giraffe pride (with white lioness) took over the kill,

and chased our lions away. Our injured but well fed lioness was badly mauled by the other pride and remained alone in that area for weeks trying to recover. I really took pity on her! Last week we found her with the pride about 8km from camp, but her condition was very poor. In December we found her lying alone under a bush near a small water pan about 6km from camp, breathing heavily with her ribs showing. She died that evening. On the next evening her carcass was still there untouched. Her strength and ability to survive for weeks without food has fascinated me. And how she walked such huge distances in such poor condition to find her pride, showed her courage and the survival strength of lions. A big thank you to Paul Menssink from Australia for the photograph.

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STEP-BY-STEP: working towards an Eco-creche

Janus Roets

hildren’s Eco Training decided to start the concept of an EcoCrèche. Teedi Crèche is located next to Seganyane Primary School, Greenvalley Trust, Acornhoek and was adopted by CET at the end of 2011.

In January 2012 the Step-by-Step curriculum was incorporated to provide the necessary guidelines and to ensure upliftment of teachers and learners alike. The main focus at the schools is environmental education, but it is impossible to ignore the basic needs such as education, health, safety and derelict infrastructure The crèche has 68 learners, aged between 0 – 5 years, and is not receiving any help from the government. The school fees paid by the parents are minimal considering normal educational costs. Maintenance at the crèche is an ongoing activity and CET will assist with the upkeep of facilities and the revamping of structures. Future projects (to name but a few) include:

CET would like to welcome new staff member, Janus Roets, Operational Manager, who will be overseeing our projects at the schools.

• • • • •

Building of another classroom Building of kitchen Painting the buildings Establishing outdoor play area Starting their own vegetable garden to be self-sustainable. They also have a wish list for: • Toys • Educational equipment • Storage cabinets • Lawn for the children to play on • Repairing of fence around school. In order for CET to assist with further developments at Teedi Creche a fairly substantial amount has to be raised. We’d like to thank the Burgess, Woodhead and Ruest families who have generously assisted us so far. We welcome donations from new donors who would like to help us with this very important and worthwhile project.

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flood survivor

Yankee Dam Kate Meares

ankee Dam is an artificial GroundHornbill nest situated on the Nplopfu property alongside a usually very dry river bed. Being one of the lower nests, I was deeply concerned about the developing chick while the rain kept falling on that day in January. If only nests came with goggle and snorkel accessoriesâ&#x20AC;Ś The chick in this particular nest would have been 50 days old and alone in the nest. By this age the chick has enough feathers to keep itself warm so the female no longer has to remain with the chick in the nest, but still gets frequent visits by the adults bringing food and leaves. I had to wait two weeks before access to this nest was possible. Crossing the river bed near the nest I

could see the height of debris in the trees, and thought the nest was certainly a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;gonerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Tracing the tree line my eyes fell on the large wooden structure still in its same place with debris reaching almost to the bottom of the nest! I smiled and shook my head in disbelief. The raging torrent of water was just a hand length below the nest! Was the chick inside still fine? Yes! Can you imagine the thunderous noise inside the nest of the flowing water underneath? Lucky chick to have made it. We ringed it just a few days later in the appropriate red, blue and white colours. It fledged at the end of February. All chicks from this season survived the flood. We were able to ring many of them, so keep an eye out for the youngsters if you do come across any groups.

Above left: Blair holding the chick while Kate attaches colour rings Above right: Weighing the chick before taking measurements Above middle: Yankee Dam nest with flood debris gathered underneath Right: Yankee Dam, first chick ringed for the season!

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Laaste woorde Gustav Roux

lle goeie dinge kom tot ‘n einde sê hulle, en hierdie is die einde van ‘n agt jaar lange hoofstuk. My heel eerste taak in die reservaat was eenvoudig. Dit was Januarie maand en baie warm toe my destydse werkgewer, Yuval Erlich en ek by hoofkwartier ingestap het, want hy wou met Colin in sy kantoor gaan gesels het. My taak is vinnig uitgewys − ek moes die ivoor uit die kluis dra, en dit skoonmaak. Dit is n tipiese studente taak, of iets om ‘labourers’ op reëndae mee besig te hou!

My grootste uitdagings was die Engels, en die hitte! Na my eerste week in die geselskap van Engelse kollegas, het my kop gedraai van al die Engels, en ek het begin wonder of dit nie dalk die rede was vir die twee boere oorloë nie! Ek kon dit perfek verstaan, maar die praat was ’n ander storie. Toe ek destyds in die Klaserie met my loopbaan begin het, was daar steeds baie moontlikhede vir my toekoms. Ek was besig met ‘n Btech graad in Wildplaasbestuur, en moes besluit in watter rigting ek myself wou neem. Die tyd in Klaserie het my redelike wye blootstelling aan verskeie aspekte van natuurbewaring gegee, en ek het tot ‘n mate op die groter prentjie gefokus. As alles volgens plan verloop sal ek hierdie jaar my Mtech graad in Wildplaasbestuur voltooi. Ek het die geleentheid gekry om ’n groot wildsplaas in die Oos Vrystaat te bestuur, waar ek my kennis van natuurlewe bestuur verder wil ontwikkel. Die deel van die Vrystaat word deur sandsteen berge en oop vlaktes gekenmerk. Blykbaar is dit ook baie koud daar met sprake van sneeu! So, toe besluit ek om eerder te trou sodat ek iemand het om my lyf warm te hou, vir ingeval die stories van sneeu waar is. Dankie aan jou die eienaar wat lief is vir die bos, sommer net lief. Lief, want jy luister vir die naguiltjie; lief, want jy neem tyd om ander te wys; lief, want jy weet hoe lyk n groot buffel, en jy ken die reuk van ‘n rooibosvuur. Alhoewel Klaserie se veld mooi is, bied Suider Afrika asemrowende plekke. Dit het my agt jaar geneem om te verstaan dat die uniekheid van die KPNR nie sy mooi knoppiesdorings, droë riviere, getalle buffels, bateleurs of dwerg muishonde is nie, maar sy versameling mense en hul geskiedenis. Ek was saam met mense bly oor mooi goed wat hulle beleef het, en ek was saam met ander hartseer en kwaad oor die onreg of ongeluk wat oor hul lewens gekom het. Ek gaan die reservaat se mense en die veld baie mis. ‘n Vriend het in die begin vir my gesê dat die reservaat eintlik soos een groot “gemeente” is, dus kerkgemeente. Dit het op daardie stadium vir my sin gemaak, maar ek dink nou dat die dominee se voordeel is dat almal wat kerk toe kom meestal darem in dieselfde ding glo! So, daarom wil ek aan almal wat agterbly, die dominee en die gemeente, sê baie sterkte! Gustav Baie geluk met die groot stap, Gustav en Liza en met al die nuwe verwikkelinge en avonture wat op julle pad lê! Foto’s: Marnus van der Merwe

MAD News

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Mashudu Mutshaeni (Grade 11)

MAD Top Achiever:

Dikgetho Mametja (Grade 11)

o be the top achiever of Northern Region in the MAD programme is a remarkable achievement. There are only four regions in the country, namely Kwazulu Natal, Northern Region, Western Cape and Gauteng. There are only five awards; the four regions and the “Overall Top Achiever”. The criteria for being chosen top candidate in a region are as follows - 50% academics, 25 % sport and cultural, and 25% MAD criteria. As Grade 11 learner at Southern Cross Schools some of her achievements are: • First Netball team • Academic half colours • Top five achiever group She was born in 1995. From the age of 6, she lived with her aunt in Louis Trichardt where she attended Louis

ikgetho is doing very well, and according to peer evaluation her confidence has grown over the past few years.

•

2012 ACHIEVEMENTS: • 1st netball team • Half colours for athletics (800m, 400m and 1 500m. She made the U/17 team up to district level) • Serves on the House Committee of

photos: Karen Randall

Zandi Mathebula (Grade 8)

andi is a very wellbehaved girl to whom good manners are very important. She wants to excel in everything she does. 2012 ACHIEVEMENTS : • Came 2nd in high jump • U/15 netball team GOALS: • Achieve at least 80 per cent average • Be the best netball player.

• •

Trichardt Primary School till Grade 4. She went to live with her mom at The Oaks and continued her primary schooling at Drakensig Primary School. She became a part of the MAD organisation in 2008 when she started high school. MAD made it possible for her to be in Southern Cross Schools, and she is really appreciative of the fact that she has been given this opportunity. She likes music, reading and doing fun outdoor activities, and she is a keen netball player. Her favourite subject is mathematics. She finds it challenging, for there is usually just one right answer! Mashudu wants to become a doctor, and her favourite TV programme is E.R. the Boarding Establishment representing Grade 11s. She achieved 81 per cent for Geography. GOALS: Half colours for academics. To become a Crux Leader at the end of the year

Sam Mahlalela (Grade 7)

am with his amazing musical talent had quite a rewarding year with his TV performance being the highlight of the year.

2012 ACHIEVEMENTS: • Captain of the soccer team • Leader of the senior drumming team • Tone drummer for junior drumming • Drummed for Top Billing • Boarding House leader for the junior boys.

Of BABOONS and a wounded LEOPARD? Ivan Gillatt

take you back to a July winter morning in the 1950s at Northampton. Pat Garland and I decided to drive downstream to where the private Dover camp crossing was later made. Nearby there were some big Jackalberry trees where baboons sometimes roosted for the night. We disembarked, and the van left to go upstream to meet up with us later. Ned Mahlagwan, our then camp ranger, and Dabula Mbele, my Zulu general factotum were with us and we set off walking upstream. The trees were in the morning sun and there was a large troop of baboons sunning themselves and eating berries. They were completely oblivious to our presence until we were nearly underneath them. Suddenly pandemonium broke loose. The troop got such a fright that they let loose with everything, and their bowels emptied and their excreta rained down. Had we been underneath we would have copped it in good measure, and a good shower would have been necessary to clean up! The baboons literally fell out of the trees like soccer balls falling to the ground and bounded off looking over their shoulders as only baboons can do. They were soon out of sight over a low ridge and then there was screaming. The young look-out must have got the hiding of his life for not raising

the alarm and probably bore scars for years. We continued on our walk going past Dover rock (which is visible from the AGM site). From the rock we could look down on

a favoured drinking spot downstream from the present AGM site. The two pictures of the impala and zebra drinking show what the area looked like before the HQ development disturbed the area. Just upstream we were walking

along the river bank when we came upon leopard spoor with a blood trail. What now, a wounded leopard? It was unthinkable, but possible as the occupiers of the old camp on Charloscar were known to be inveterate poachers (We had had some trouble from them). We were suitably armed, as we usually were when on a walk in the bush, so we decided to follow the tracks. This took us across the river more or less where the Wardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crossing was later to be built, and then up into the rocky outcrop just upstream. We were on high alert, adrenalin pumping strongly. We proceeded to the top of the rocky outcrop still no sign of the leopard. When we reached the top it was to find a comfortable lookout site and there was the evidence, much to our relief. Guess what? The remains of a cane rat. The leopard had carried it up to enjoy from where he could see all around for any sign of approaching danger. It was a good walk with plenty of excitement enough to last us for a few days. (Ed: Our apologies for the incorrect spelling of Ivanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surname in the last two issues.)

photo Simon Roberts

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Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 20 |11

Elephants move to higher ground before floods

WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING SOME VERY INTERESTING DATA IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS FROM THE COLLARED ELEPHANTS, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE TIME OF THE FLOODS IN JANUARY. AFTER PLOTTING THEIR MOVEMENTS FROM A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE FLOOD UP UNTIL A FEW DAYS AFTER, WE FOUND THAT MANY OF THE COLLARED ELEPHANTS WITHIN THE APNR MOVED TO HIGHER GROUND AND AWAY FROM RIVERS BEFORE IT HAD EVEN STARTED RAINING. ONLY RETURNING TO RIVERS ONCE THEY STARTED SUBSIDING. Amy Clark

he collared elephants we have been tracking from Pafuri have given us great data since December. Zingi a collared female travelled all the way from the Luvuvhu River into Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe and has remained there for the past three months. Nwambi and Bvekenya have also stayed within what seems to be now, their chosen area of residence in the Limpopo Transfrontier Park in Mozambique. Nwankwimbi has also ventured into the Limpopo Transfrontier Park for a short time over the past couple of months only returning to the Pafuri area recently. Joan has been spending time away from the Phalaborwa Mining Company lately, utilising Klaserie PNR and Kruger NP. Lapajuma also stayed in these areas whilst the remainder of our collared females stayed within Umbabat PNR and Timbavati PNR. 50 per cent of our collared bulls were within Klaserie PNR in December. After the floods on 18th January, all our collared elephants left this area moving east after which time the majority of the bulls stayed in Umbabat and Timbavati PNR’s.

News from the collared elephants from the APNR and Central Kruger National Park Mac stayed consistent in his movements, not venturing far from his area of choice south of the Shingwedzi River. Tussle, although spending most of the past few month within the APNR, travelled a great distance in February moving into Central Kruger. Matambu made his way slowly from Klaserie PNR into Central Kruger utilising the area south of Letaba River, further west of Wessa’s preferred area. SAVE THE ELEPHANTS: We bring you a brief update of the movements of 24 collared elephants in the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR), Kruger National Park (KNP) and the Limpopo Transfrontier Park (LTP) in Mozambique.

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December workshop a huge success CJ McDonald

J McDonald, Holiday Workshop facilitator, had a record number of 260 children who attended the CET workshop in December. Noeleen Mullett of Eco-act Environment Awareness Programme created three different, age appropriate, workbooks using the theme, “It’s a wonderful world out there”. The introduction to this theme hinted at the amazing environment we live in right here in Klaserie. We have a remarkable variety of animal and plant life that surrounds us and we regularly take these for granted. Living in the bush is NOT just about the Big-5. Believe it or not, South Africa has 5.8 per cent of the world’s mammal species, eight per cent of the world’s bird species, 4.6 per cent of the world’s reptile species, 16 per cent of marine fish species and 5.5 per cent of the world’s recorded

insect species. A great deal of this right on our doorstep! With this privilege comes the responsibility of looking after our surroundings. Children were told about what the constitution of South Africa says about a safe and secure environment as well as preserving what we have for future generations. Facilitators led a discussion on what would happen to our immediate environment as well as our world, if we failed to look after it. After this detailed introduction the children were required to mark out a metre-by-metre square plot and observe and record everything they saw. Apart from the obvious grasses,

p orkshos! wonder

trees and ants, most groups also saw the brightly coloured velvet mite, as well as a very interesting “prickly” grasshopper. The older learners were amazed at how much they saw when they sat quietly and ‘looked’! Many things that were not immediately visible later came into sight. After this exercise it was back to HQ for a much needed cooldrink. Anyone who had ever visited CET before, would know that when Zani shouted, “Line, line, line!” they were going to eat or drink something. Children are also expected to say thank you for their refreshments in four different languages and one can hear them chant: “Dankie, inkomu, thank you, kealeboga, mwah!” (A kiss for the cook). Groups then began work on their booklets. As mentioned before, each age group had their own book and children were kept busy doing crosswords about animal homes, warthog dot-to-dot, yellow-billed oxpecker maze, food chain picture sequencing and making and painting a perching bird.

DECEMBER WORKSHOP AND SANTA SHOEBOX These book-related activities were interspersed with more energetic activities like “Hit the deck” and “The Lion and Jackal” game.

Santa’s Shoebox After lunch it was time for prize giving and Santa’s Shoebox – the excitement was tangible! Many of the children attend religiously and work hard throughout the year, and by so doing accumulate points in order to win a prize as the best in their age group. Although the winners are too many to mention here we would like to congratulate the 2011 winners and encourage those who were not winners to try even harder this year. With the call of “Ho, ho, ho,” children knew that Santa had arrived. What an excitement for all. The children’s faces when they opened their boxes were priceless. It was very hard to keep the tears away. Children who attend the workshops regularly also received a Kit-a-Kid voucher, an attendance

certificate and a CET backpack sponsored by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund. When Zani returned from the December holidays, there was a huge pile of thank you letters from the children. Unfortunately they were all lost in the floods. CET would like to thank our very dedicated facilitators (Catherine, Thabo, Ruben, Rasta, Keith, Elvis and Trico) for their hard work and commitment during the year as well as their employees for allowing them to attend the trainings. As a token of appreciation for their hard work and commitment, each facilitator received a Fuji digital camera, which they can now use to take pictures of interesting phenomena in the bush and share with the children. Scholars from the neighbouring schools assisted with the workshops: Robyn McDonald, Saber Meeser, Kayla Wheeldon, Amber Jacobs and Lloyd Frampton. They were a great help, and CET appreciates it.

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MORE ABOUT THE SANTA SHOEBOX PROJECT

ring joy to a child during the festive season, and participate in the 2012 Santa Shoebox Project, a non-profit organization, which has been collecting Christmas gifts for thousands of underprivileged children since 2006. The target for 2012 is 100 000 shoeboxes, to be dispatched to more than 600 children’s homes, orphanages and other child care institutions across the country - with emphasis this year on extending to small towns and farming communities in the country, who are in desperate need of assistance. The heart-warming Santa Shoebox Project is an initiative of the Kidz2Kidz Trust, a registered Public Benefit Organization (PBO number 930031301 Public Benefits Organization Kidz2Kidz Trust), that offers assistance to children in need. The project was recently granted a Section 18A tax status. With ‘teach your child the joy of giving’ as the essence of the project, the Santa Shoebox Project is instrumental in involving people from all walks of life, especially children together with their parents, in giving to children from a distinctly vulnerable social background who may never have received a Christmas gift before. Parents are encouraged to involve their kids who then personally choose and fill the gift boxes, and then decorate and label each with the recipient’s name.

HOW IT WORKS To participate in this heart-warming project, simply register online, where an easy step-by-step procedure will guide you through the process. Donors need to: • Register NOW on line as a donor at www. santashoebox.co.za. • Pledge a box when the website goes live with the recipient names -available around the 1st of September every year. • Select the name of a recipient of your choice (or more than one), as well as your most convenient drop-off point. • Decorate and fill an individualised gift box according to the specified guidelines. • Label the box with the recipient’s name. • Deliver the Santa Shoebox to the selected, pre-determined drop-off points on specified dates, from where the organisers dispatch the Santa Shoeboxes to the various homes and centres.

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CET INITIATES ECO-VILLAGE Janus Roets

new CET initiative has been born − Eco-Villages. The Eco-Village concept was established at Matikinya and Seganyane Primary Schools with great enthusiasm. On the day learners (Gr. 6 and Gr. 7), parents, teachers and CET staff started the first Eco-Villages. All the boys got in line and started to dig the holes for the fence. It was erected in no time at all, while the girls continued with the preparation of the Keyhole Gardens. The parents jumped in by moving the compost heap to a new area and cleaning the Eco-Village of old

plant material. As the day progressed you could see the joy and enthusiasm on everyone’s faces. The headmaster arranged with the kitchen staff to supply everyone of us with a delicious meal, which was welcomed after a very hot and exhausting morning. After the lunch break everyone was so inspired by the new gardening project that they started with a cleanup of the school grounds and fixing the existing gardens. After the visit by Khamai Reptile Centre, it was a joy to see the children call the adults when they saw a snake. There were five snakes and none were killed.

MAD donates to Support-a-school

or the past few years MAD has donated an annual amount towards the CET projects as a whole. This year they decided to canalise the donation and support a specific project, namely Support-a-School. This project encompasses and Eco Classroom and the Eco Village. MAD’s donation of R268 000 will be utilised in developing the Eco Village into a sustainable learning and feeding “zone”, and a classroom will be converted into an eco learning and research centre. We want to thank MAD for continuous support – it is a privilege to be partners. Linda Geldenhuys, General Manager of MAD, at Seganyane Primary School.

CET IS SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL LOTTERY DISTRIBUTION TRUST FUND

Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 20 |15

HALALA, WATER, HALALA T Janus Roets

his was the sound reverberating in the air at Seganyane and Matikinya Primary Schools during National Water Week. On 20 and 22 March the Gr. 6 and 7 learners from these schools entertained guests, school staff, CET staff and fellow learners with song, poetry and drama, portraying the importance of water, why not to pollute water, and to save water. The celebrations were well planned and executed. Mr Frederick Ngobeni from the Department Water Affairs, Acornhoek Municipality, gave a very detailed and interesting speech on the need for water to survive, water pollution, water purification and the water cycle.

People let’s save water, Because water is a source of life. We cannot live without water, Everyone will be dead. Some people waste water doing things that are not important, Without knowing that they can’t live without it. If we save water, We must know that we save our future. If we don’t save water, We can get different diseases. Water is a key for everyone - Nyiko Nyathi

16 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 20

KPNR flood survivors would like to thank all who donated and assisted during and after the floods. -----------------Almal in die KPNR wat deur die vloed geraak is bedank graag diegene wat bydraes gemaak het en gehelp het tydens en na die vloede.

view from the helicopter