Bulletin Newspaper 8 May 2020

8 May 2020

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Sick-herders?

Down the wrong hole The South African Breweries (SAB) have made an urgent call to government to allow them to transport 132m Litres of beer to their various distribution depots in order to prevent the destruction of the equavalent of 400 million bottles of the liquid gold. For more on this breaking news story, read page 3 inside.

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13 million litres of dop confiscated Personeel | Personnel Redakteur / Editor Joe Dreyer 072 930 1462 joe@bulletin.us.com Joernaliste / Journalists Roelof de Jonge 078 672 7306 roelof@bulletin.us.com Ontwerp / Design Tessa Thompson 079 653 6317 tessa@bulletin.us.com Deborah Varrie debz@bulletin.us.com

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■ Joe Dreyer Apparently home brewed beer in the township around Tzaneen has added to the police’s frustrations during the lock down. According to a recent report by a national radio station, the police have thus far confiscated 13 million litres of alcohol in the Limpopo province alone. According to the spokesperson for the department of transport and community safety, Matome Moremi, in Limpopo more than 15 000 people have already been arrested for contravention of the disaster management act since the start of the lock down on the 27th of March this year.

According to him, the department is also concerned

with the increase in the brewing of traditional alcohol in the townships and villages. He added that because of community members tipping off the authorities, these arrests were made possible.

In the meantime, the minister of police, Bheki Cele, has had to lash his own officers after 89 of them were arrested for the reselling of confiscated alcohol during this same period. A report published online on the 22nd of April quoted Cele at a media briefing in Kwazulu-Natal, “to date, we have arrested 131 members of the security forces, government officials and some public office bearers, specifically councillors. In the latest incident, two sergeants from Gauteng were arrested

Wonderboy and Phisang in custody ■ Jeff Jackson Police in Tzaneen received and acted upon intelligence they gathered regarding a planned ATM bombing at Lephepane village in Maake and arrested seven suspects. During the arrests, police confiscated a firearm, ammunition, explosives, blasting cartridges, balaclavas, gloves, a getaway vehicle, and an undisclosed amount of cash. The arrests were effected on the 4th of May. The Tzaneen Cluster Tracking Team allegedly received a tip-off about suspects driving in a silver Audi who were believed to have been planning to bomb an ATM in this area.

When the police spotted and approached the vehicle which was parked next to the specific ATM, the suspects drove off and managed to escape. The Police tracked the suspects to their hideout in Bokgoga Village.

The seven suspects aged between 24 and

43, appeared in the Lenyenye magistrate’s court on the 6th of May where they faced charges possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and conspiracy to commit an ATM blast. They were all denied bail and their cases were postponed to 13th of May for formal bail applications and to allow further Police investigations.

The suspects were identified as John Khethiwe Mahlangu (33), Maria Danny Mahlangu (43), Lepheni Patrick Mashego (40), Tebogo Lukas Molewa (34), Elias Dumisani Nkosi (41), Wonderboy Nsibane (40) and Randy Phisang Patsi (24).

Five suspected Lockdown robbers arrested hijacking ■ Jeff Jackson The five suspects thought to have been involved in the murder of a Burgersfort shop owner, were finally arrested on Tuesday. This comes after the Burgersfort Cluster crime intelligence unit and detectives followed up on leads received through the gathering intelligence over the course of a month after the murder. It is reported that the 43-year old shop owner and his assistant were overpowered on the 14th of April by the gang of robbers at their shop in Kgabutswane village in the Leboeng policing area outside Burgersfort.

The suspects serious wounded the shop assistant and murdered the owner afterwhich they escaped with an undisclosed amount of money and groceries.

The suspects, aged between 18 and 34, were arrested during an intelligence driven operation that was conducted following information received about their hideouts. They were all nabbed at different locations around the Tubatse policing area. During the arrests, the police confiscated three firearms and accompanying ammunition, cell phones, microwave ovens, laptops, speakers, amplifiers, a plasma television set, a sound mixer and a Nissan bakkie.

Further investigations were conducted which revealed that the suspects were involved in two other separate business robberies around the Leboeng policing area, a business burglary at Tubatse and a business robbery at Atok outside Driekop where the recovered Nissan bakkie was allegedly stolen.

The SAPS Provincial commissioner in Limpopo, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba, has applauded these members of the police for a well-coordinated operation that led to this breakthrough. He also thanked community members for providing valuable information which led to the apprehension of these suspects who have been terrorising members of the community for some time.

Further investigations are underway to establish their possible links to similar offences in this area and across the province.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Praktiseer magistrate’s court today (8 May) on charges of murder, attempted murder, business robbery, three counts of house robberies and possession of suspected stolen properties. They will also appear on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and burglary separately. The Police investigations are still continuing.

■ Jeff Jackson Five armed and dangerous suspects are being sought by Police in Ritavi outside Tzaneen following a hijacking which occurred on Monday evening in Nkowankowa Section C. A 36-year-old man who was privately selling his VW City Golf motor vehicle, allegedly received a phone call from a potential buyer and immediately drove to the area to meet with him. Upon arriving at the designated meeting place, he was met with two men who were supposedly the buyers of the vehicle. They started negotiations and while they were busy, three other men emerged from the darkness, one armed with a firearm. One of the suspects then fired several shots randomly while others grabbed the victim and took his car keys.

The suspects thereafter drove away and disappeared with the victim’s vehicle. The VW Citi Golf is blue in colour with registration numbers BHJ 594L valued at R40 000-00. Members of the community are once more advised and encouraged to avoid entering in such deals with unknown people to avoid these types of incidents from occurring.

Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects involved in this matter and recovery of the vehicle, may contact Captain Freddie Lubbe on 082 565 8265 or the crime stop number 0860010111 or the nearest police station. The Police investigations are continuing. **Comment: It is not clear to this reporter why the man had travelled outside of his home during the lockdown which prohibits movement in the evenings. It is also not certain whether the victim will be charged with contravening the disaster management act for doing so, considering that car dealerships are not allowed to operate at this time.

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for demanding a bribe from a businessman who had contravened the lockdown regulations. The officers promised him that they would destroy the docket if he paid them R12 000.”

According to the Fedora, the police members were arrested and faced a variety of charges relating to the prohibition of the selling of liquor during the lockdown. “Where some were caught drinking, some buying and selling liquor, some for corruption and defeating the ends of justice, some for organising gatherings in contravention of the regulations with some even going as far as allegedly staging break-ins in the Western Cape just to go and steal alcohol from closed liquor outlets,” he added.

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No more bottles of beer on the wall ■

Joe Dreyer

The online business-news site, Business Insider, reported this week that South African Breweries (SAB) may need to destroy the equivalent of 400 million bottles of beer if government does not allow them to transport the brew to their various depots.

In a statement, SAB who owns Hansa, Black Label and Castle, said that they have now surpassed the legal limit of the amount of alcohol they are permitted to store on their premises and wants government to grant them legal permission to move the bottled beer to its depots, or they may have to destroy the product. Since the start of the lock down on the 27th of March this year, SAB has not brewed or transported any of their brews. The brewer stopped brewing on the 23rd of March.

Currently, the transport of alcohol is illegal under South Africa’s lock down regulations unless it is for export purposes, and the sale of all alcohol is prohibited. Now, SAB is sitting on roughly 132 million litres of beer. This equates to roughly 400 million bottles of beer which is just sitting there in the tanks as it cannot be bottled due to the restrictions on alcohol capacity at its breweries.

SAB presented the argument to government stating that if they were not allowed to transport the beer within the next few days, they will lose R150 million in revenue if they have to destroy their inventory.

“As the movement of alcohol is not permissible – the beer would in this unique instance need to be destroyed,” the company said.

“Urgent action is needed to avoid material financial losses to both the government and SAB, as well as significant job losses,” the company said in the document.

According to Business Insider, if SAB has to destroy the 132 million litres of beer, the company would be forced to operate at about 50% capacity for four months. No bottling or distribution could take place, given that the beer is discarded. SAB would have to cut 2 000 jobs and government would in turn lose out on around R500 million in excise taxes. SAB warned that the longerterm lost tax revenue would be even greater, as it won’t be able to reach full capacity for at least four months – which could mean a loss of up to R2 billion in excise tax.

Disposing the beer would also be a massive challenge, SAB says, which could take at least 20 weeks. It warned that it could cause serious environmental risk. If granted permission to move the beer, SAB said that it will work with the police to secure the alcohol.

R30k bail for ciggie dealer FOLLOW UP

■

Joe Dreyer

Last week we reported on the arrest of 32-year old Ayaz Lunat at his home in Tzangeni security estates in Tzaneen. The police reacted on intelligence gathered and arrested Lunat on the 28th of May at his home in the upmarket estate and charged him with possession of illicit cigarettes, contravention of the medicine and related substances control act and selling of unregistered sexual enhancement medicine.

Lunat appeared in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s court on Thursday (yesterday, 7th of May) and was released on R30 000 bail with strict conditions which included that he handed in his passport and was not allowed to leave the magisterial area without the permission of the investigating officer.

The case was postponed to the 4th of June this year.

During the arrest, the police confiscated 84 large

boxes containing cartons of cigarettes and 1 319 sexual performance enhancing tablets. They also confiscated four vehicles including a Ford Ranger, an Audi, a Chrysler and a Hyundai Elantra worth more than R1.5 million.

We still do not have any confirmation that this case was linked to a similar arrest of two men in Kwazulu-Natal two days prior. The men were from Tzaneen and were stopped at a roadblock where they were allegedly found in possession of many boxes of the same brand of illicit cigarettes. The men then attempted to bribe the police officers and were subsequently arrested. In their possession they had two travel permits to allow them to attend a funeral in that province. Both the permits were allegedly signed and stamped by the Tzaneen Police station and it was reported to us by a source, that the men stated their work address as being in Tzangeni, Tzaneen. The police have not confirmed this either.

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Covid-19: could the numbers be wrong?

■ Joe Dreyer Bulletin has spent a total of 82 hours documenting the state of the lockdown in Tzaneen’s CBD and the towns around the area including Phalaborwa and Lesitele. We did this through the Daily Drive show with Joe and it was spectacularly popular reaching more than 2 million views and more than 500 000 reactions and just under 5 000 shares.

Through these Daily Drive shows we have documented large scores of people in the streets at specifically the major shopping centres, banks and the infamous Claude Wheatley taxi rank below the Tzaneng Mall. The number were shocking during the grant pay-out periods at the start of the month. Very few of the people standing in these very large groups were seemingly aware of the dangers of contracting the Covid-19 virus as very few of them wore facemasks, gloves or face shields. There were no social distancing protocols being followed and very seldom did we notice any form of police presence enforcing the lockdown regulations or controlling the crowds.

This led us to question the validity of the Limpopo Department of Health’s official statistics that claim there are currently only 40 confirmed cases, of which 27 have fully recovered and there have been two deaths. According to the department, Tzaneen had only one confirmed case which also made a full recovery leaving the whole of Mopani District with only one active case. Their spokesperson, Neil Shikwambane confirmed the numbers.

Will there be a massive spike in the infections rate in the two weeks to come? We don’t know, but judging by the very low infection rate currently – even after the first tsunami caused by the SASSA grants pay-outs a month ago – we find it difficult to believe. Could this perhaps be an indication that the Limpopo health department have botched their numbers, or could the numbers be correct and what we are in fact seeing, is proof that the best way forward could very well be in herd immunity?

Many have suggested that the department is not taking into account the percentage of people in the province that still need to be tested and that the screening teams are not actually conducting thorough enough screenings which would result in follow up testing. Be that as it may, stay connected to our social media platforms to stay updated on all the latest coronavirus information as it becomes available.

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Comrade-tiff over Covid 19 ■

Jeff Jackson

The closure of the offices of the Department of Home Affairs in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Western Cape has forced the Bendor Polokwane residing Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, to consider taking the Department of Labour (DOL) to court. The DOL closed the offices after complaints by labour unions of lack of Personal Protective Clothing (PPE) and protective glass partitions between clients and staff.

This follows the ushering in of level four of the lockdown in which people were allowed to return to work as of Monday this week, but at the Home Affairs offices in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Western Cape, things were different. The Public Servants Association (PSA) complained that there were no safety measures at the offices of the department while full staff compliment was instructed to return to work.

Though this resulted in the closure of some of the offices, Motsoaledi said that he did not accept the reasons for the closures and if he cannot rectify the matter on his own, he will certainly head to the courts. He said no home affairs office had such partitions and it would take months to install. He added that thus far, they had 5 000 face screens arrive on Wednesday this week, and the staff all wore masks and gloves as partitions were not necessary.

“The PSA could not allow employees to return to work

places that do not meet the requirements announced by various ministers to curb the spread of the virus,” read the statement. Motsoaledi said that he had contacted the department twice and they said that he should appeal but in an about turn they were finally told that there was no appeal. The DOL is led by SACP chairperson, Thulasizwe Nxesi.

Addressing the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs after committee chairperson Bongani Bongo sought clarity on the matter, Motsoaledi said “I do not accept the reason. If we don`t get it right, we`ll certainly go to court. Chairperson, we are not taking any union to court. We are talking about the Department of Labour because the demand they made on us is outrageous.

But, already, twice we have contacted them, and they say we must appeal.”

“I am talking about the court of law because this has already happened to me.” He said the Department of labour had closed the Health department head offices and said they must appeal, but opened the offices when he threatened them with court action. “I am just experiencing de`ja` vu here that our offices are not working, on a demand that is outrageous and when we spoke to them collegially, as we are advising they simply said “No Appeal”.”

This seems to be an inside tussle in the ruling party because the Department of Labour was when Motsoaledi was at helm of Health, led by Nxesi.

Motsoaledi is one of the provincial and national office bearers of the SACP. This comes at the time a tweet by Finance Minister, Tito Mboweni, left many thinking and speculating that all was rosy at the Lithuli detachment house.

Mboweni, who is no stranger to social media, tweeted during the weekend after the furore involving the sale of cigarettes during lockdown, that he was out of politics and “free but not free”. He said he voluntarily returned to politics to be not free from collective decisions. People thought it was out of spite to those who were against him when he insinuated the soliciting of funds from international bodies such as the IMF and the World bank.

Dr Aaron Motsoaledi

Prisoners will walk to curb the spread ■

Jeff Jackson

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the placement on parole of selected categories of sentenced offenders as a measure to combat the spread of Covid-19 in prisons, which are considered high-risk areas for infection.

Ramaphosa has taken this step in response to a call by the United Nations to all countries to reduce prison populations so that social distancing and self-isolation conditions can be observed during this period. In South Africa, as in many other countries, correctional facilities have witnessed outbreaks of coronavirus infections among inmates and personnel. Many countries across the world have already heeded the call by the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights and have released a number of offenders in detention. The President has taken this deci-

sion in terms of Section 82(1)(a) of the Correctional Services Act of 1998 which empowers him to authorise at any time, the placement on correctional supervision or parole, of any sentenced prisoner, subject to conditions that may be recommended by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board.

The decision taken by Ramaphosa to combat the spread of Covid-19 in correctional centres could relieve the correctional services facilities of just under 19 000 inmates out of a population of 155 000. The parole dispensation will apply to low-risk inmates who have passed their minimum detention period or will approach this period in the coming five years.

This dispensation excludes inmates sentenced to life imprisonment or serving terms for specified other serious crimes, including sexual offences, murder and attempted

murder, gender-based violence and child abuse. Inmates that will be affected by this decision will be placed on parole instead of having their sentences remitted. They will therefore continue to serve their sentence under Community Corrections until they reach their respective sentence expiry dates.

Offenders may be arrested, and ultimately reincarcerated, if they violate their release conditions. The placement of qualifying sentenced offenders will take place over a 10-week period and will commence as soon as all Parole Board processes have been finalised and all relevant rehabilitation and pre-release programmes are attended.

Minister of Justice, Ronald Lamola, will in due course provide more details on the parole placement programme in a public briefing. Bulletin will keep our readers updated on this matter as information is released.

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Granny’s Grumbles - THE INSTANT LAWN DISASTER

I have been blessed with a talent for thinking up all sorts of ideas which I think are going to make me into a very wealthy lady. Most of them have fallen flat but one particular idea (in retrospect) was I suppose quite funny in spite of being a financial flop.

I had retired from the mine and was hoping to be able to open my own nursery, but whilst mulling over the pros and cons I had a fortunate phone call from a friend in Letsitele who told me she was going into the instant lawn business and since she needed somebody to pass the word around and knowing that I had a small backyard nursery thought I would be just the person.

I couldn’t believe my good luck. Only two days previously a young widow who was moving into a new flat on the 31st of December had asked if I

could sort out a garden for her before she moved in. The flat was part of a complex of four garden flats and although she could only move in at the end of December she had been even given the keys and told she could start moving some of her stuff and also start thinking about her garden.

Now I had seen the flat and it was one of those back-to-front places where you parked and walked in through the back door. She wanted the back area to be sorted instantly as she was expecting relatives from overseas in February. It was the 10th of December – I spoke to her about the lawn and she was ecstatic. I phoned Anne (the lawn lady) – told he I was going to measure up the next day and would be coming to collect the grass the day after that.

I organised two labourers with the necessary tools to level and rake the area, remove rocks and have everything ready. That same night I phoned Anne and told her I would be leaving home at five and hoped to be at her farm by 6.30. No problem – she would have the lawn cut and rolled for me. And having given her the measurements she said it would fit into my Mazda Rustler with no problem at all.

I was thrilled – I love it when a plan comes together. I arrived at her farm just after 6.30 and was informed that there was a slight problem… no labour. However she hastened to add …she would do the cutting and I could roll it and put it in the bakkie. She would show me how to pack it. By the time the job was finished I was covered in bits of grass and dirt so we agreed that I should go to the house for a clean-up and a cup of coffee. Just as I had my first sip the heavens opened up and the rain absolutely hosed down.

An hour later it was still pelting down and I said I had to go. Visions of my quote floated before my eyes - I had quoted for the actual lawn and labour - nothing else – had even forgotten about the petrol. Anne tried to dissuade me – said that by now the instant lawn would be so saturated

that the bakkie would probably have a problem – the weight would be double what it had originally been. I was sure she was exaggerating so I ran to the vehicle and took off – I slithered around on the dirt road that led from the farm and realised once I hit the main road that Anne had been right. Apart from the fact that I could barely see the road due to the non-stop torrent the bakkie was becoming more and more difficult to handle. As I approached Gravelotte there was a downhill slope and I heard what sounded like hundreds of litres of water sloshing around in the back. I knew I had to find shelter so pulled into a covered petrol station. I indicated to the petrol attendant that I didn’t need fuel but was sheltering from the rain.

“Eish madam – you have put a very heavy load on this small bakkie”. I tried to explain but with very little success – I ended up sheltering from the rain for more than two hours with the tailgate down.

I eventually arrived at the intended home of the lawn well after two o’clock to find the sun blazing down and two annoyed labourers who had anticipated that I would be ready to start the job just after eight. They should be happy – instead of one day’s pay they would now be working for another day. “Let’s get started – take the rolls of grass and lay them out” Unfortunately the rolls had been so beaten about by the non-stop rain that they were no longer in rolls but started breaking up as they were removed. It was like trying to sort out a jigsaw puzzle but the gardeners got the idea and we had managed to lay out about one third of the grass when I suddenly realised that it was close to their knock-off time and since it was very hot in Phalaborwa - no rain here -I would have to water the laid out lawn.

Where on earth was the garden tap – couldn’t find one anywhere so went to ask the maid. It turned out there was no outside tap – so how could anybody water their garden or clean their car? The maid suggested that I go and speak to the builder who was in charge of the construction site which was about 50 metres from the front of the flat complex. We had a rather heated exchange in which he pointed out that he had

not drawn up the plans – he was merely the builder – he even hauled the plans out for me to look over. Indeed there were no taps and he confessed that he had thought it rather odd himself. He offered to lend me a watering can and I spent half an hour going backwards and forwards to the kitchen to water the laid out grass.

That night I poured out my heart to my ever-loving spouse and said I thought I was going to make a large loss on this job, He had been an instructor in the army for years and his favourite saying was (and still is) ‘Preparation and Planning” so I didn’t get much sympathy from him.

I also phoned my widowed friend regarding my problems – seemed like she hadn’t noticed there was no outside tap. She told me I could buy a roll of hosepipe with accessories and attach it to her kitchen tap. I won’t bore anybody with the story of attaching a hosepipe to a kitchen tap – it came adrift and the kitchen was under water much to the maid’s horror. I turned to my builder and asked if I could once again borrow his watering can, plus a wheelbarrow and some river sand to fill in the gaps between what should have been a neat and orderly lawn. He smiled and told me with a grin that he had been told to put in a garden tap the following morning as his boss had not noticed the omission in the plans. I thanked him although I was already thinking that this would now mean I would have spent three days on a job for which I had quoted one day.

The maid and I had become quite friendly. The next day when I went to see if the outside tap had indeed been installed she told me confidentially that the widow was going on two weeks leave and only coming back after Christmas so the two of us would be seeing quite a lot of each other when I came to water the lawn. My friendly widow actually thought that I was going to water the lawn while she was sunning herself in Durbs.

And is there a happy ending to this story – I guess the happy ending is that the widow was thrilled with her lawn and Anne got orders from the other three flat owners. I made a serious loss but I did learn one big thing which was that contingency is a very important part of a quote.

“Not to brag, but I don’t even need alcohol to make bad decisions” -Anonymous

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Agri SA: Néé vir sentralisering van voedselhulp ■

Roelof de Jonge

Agri SA sê néé vir die sentralisering van voedselhulp deur enige staatsentiteit of politikus en toekenning van humanitêre en finansiële hulp op grond van ras.

Hierdie reaksie van Agri SA om teen hierdie besluit van die regering te skop is geen verrassing nie. Dit synde die regering se baanrekord wat aandui dat korrupsie en wanbestuur, selfs in hierdie tyd van die Covid-19 inbeperking en krises wat daarmee gepaard gaan, hooggety voer.

Die inperkings wat ingevolge die Wet op Rampbestuur deur die regering ingestel is, het werkloosheid en hongersnood die hoogte laat in skiet. Dit hou ‘n wesenlike gevaar vir sosiale stabiliteit en die veiligheid van alle landsburgers in.

Agri SA en sy 90 plus affiliasies skenk daarom daagliks tonne voedsel aan noodlydendes dwarsoor Suid-Afrika. Volgens Agri SA word groot sorg toegepas in die versameling en verspreiding van groente, vrugte en ander nie-bederfbare voedsel. Selfs die COVID-19 voorsorgmaatreëls word nougeset toegepas tydens elke noodhulpaksie, volgens Agri SA. In hierdie verband het individuele boere, landbouverenigings, provinsiale affiliasies, bedrywe, landboubesighede, kerke en nie-regeringsorganisasies spontaan gereageer op Agri SA se voedselhulpveldtog aan derduisende noodlydendes.

Hierdie aksies kan daarom nie aan bande gelê word deur burokratiese rompslomp en drakoniese maatreëls van die staat nie, het Agri SA driftig gereageer.

Inteendeel, Artikel 27 van die Grondwet bepaal dat elke persoon die reg het op voldoende voedsel en water. Die Wet op Voedsel, Grimering en Ontsmettingsmiddels van 1972 wat die vervaardiging, verkoop en invoer van voedsel reguleer is nie van toepassing op die regulering van skenkings van voedsel nie.

Dit geld ook vir die Wet op Landbouprodukstandaarde van 1990.

Dit handel met die verkoop van landbouprodukte en is ook nie van toepassing op produkte wat geskenk word sonder dat enige vergoeding daarvoor ontvang word nie.

Daar is dus geen nasionale verbod op die verlening van voedselhulp deur weldoeners nie en geen sodanige verbod is vervat in die Wet op Rampbestuur of die Covid-19 regulasies nie.

Dit is wel moontlik dat sekere plaaslike owerhede, ter wille van goeie orde en die toepassing van gesondheidstandaarde, mag vereis dat persone of instansies moet aansoek doen vir permitte om voedsel te versprei.

Dit maak sin vir weldoeners om die plaaslike owerheid te ken en ingelig te hou van sodanige optrede, het Agri SA gemaan.

Advies aan boere en organisasies wat voedsel wil versprei, is die volgende: • Verseker dat die voedsel veilig is vir menslike gebruik en dat basiese higiëniese standaarde gevolg word met die hantering en vervoer van die voedsel • Probeer vasstel of die plaaslike owerheid binne wie se jurisdiksie die gebied val waar die voedsel versprei gaan word, wel ‘n permitstelsel het • Gebruik verkieslik bekende welsynsorganisasies, kerke of

nie-regeringsorganisasies met ‘n goeie baanrekord en ‘n bestaande permit om die verspreiding te doen • Moet verkieslik nie self betrokke raak by die uitdeel van kospakkies nie, maar lewer dit eerder aan kerke, welsynsorganisasies of nie-regeringsorganisasies met ‘n goeie reputasie • Sorg dat almal betrokke maskers dra, higiëne voorsorgmaatreëls volg en die vereiste sosiale afstand van mekaar handhaaf.

Agri SA het aan sy lede en weldoeners in die algemeen gesê dat hulle moet egter nie toelaat dat raadslede, politici en munisipale amptenare skenkings kaap en burokratiseer vir politieke doeleindes nie.

Agri SA het gesê daar is geen regulasie of wet wat die sentralisering van voedselhulp deur middel van staatspakhuise vereis nie. Dit is ook onaanvaarbaar en immoreel om voedselhulp of enige ander hulp op grond van ras toe te ken, volgens Agri SA.

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Legals NOTICE : LOST OR DESTROYED DEED Notice is hereby given in terms of Regulation 68 of the Deeds Registries Act, 1937, of the intention to apply for the issue of a certified copy of Title Deed T72149/2007 passed by in favour of ROGEEMA KENNY, Identity Number: 801016 0091 08 9, in respect of Erf 122 Leydsdorp Township, Registration Division L.T., Limpopo Province which has been lost or destroyed.

All interested persons having objection to the issue of such copy are hereby required to lodge the same

in writing with the Register of Deeds Limpopo at Polokwane within two weeks from the date of publication of this notice.

Dated at Tzaneen on this the 7TH day May 2020.

Applicant: Joubert & May Attorneys Address: 50 Boundary Street, Tzaneen, 0850 Tel no: 015 307-3660 Email address: fransie@ joubertmay.co.za Ref: Fransie/FK143 May201__________________________

NOTICE : LOST OR DESTROYED DEED Notice is hereby given in terms of Regulation 68 of

the Deeds Registries Act, 1937, of the intention to apply for the issue of a certified copy of Title Deed T11092/1990 passed by The Executor in the Estate of the late MAGDALENA MARIA BORCHERDS, No. 5205/1989 in favour of HANSFONTEIN BOERDERY CC, Registration Number 1989/017704/23 in respect of certain Remaining Extent of Portion 11 of the Farm Hansfontein 456, Registration Division L.T., Limpopo Province, which has been lost or destroyed.

All interested persons having objection to the issue of such copy are hereby

required to lodge the same in writing with the Register of Deeds Limpopo at Polokwane within two weeks from the date of publication of this notice.

Dated at Tzaneen on this the 9th day of January 2020.

Applicant: Joubert & May Attorneys Address: 50 Boundary street, Tzaneen, 0850 Tel no: 015 307-3660 Email address: fransie@ joubertmay.co.za Ref: Fransie/FH140 May202__________________________

NOTICE : LOST OR DESTROYED DEED Notice is hereby given in

terms of Regulation 68 of the Deeds Registries Act, 1937, of the intention to apply for the issue of a certified copy of Title Deed T26162/1989 passed by in favour of FANIE VENTER EN SEUNS BOERDERY (EIENDOMS) BEPERK, Registration Number: 1988/003607/07, in respect of Portion 7 of the Farm Paardedood 186, Registration Division L.T., Limpopo Province which has been lost or destroyed.

All interested persons having objection to the issue of such copy are hereby required to lodge the same in writing with the Reg-

ister of Deeds Limpopo at Polokwane within two weeks from the date of publication of this notice.

Dated at Tzaneen on this the 7TH day May 2020.

Applicant: Joubert & May Attorneys Address: 50 Boundary Street, Tzaneen, 0850 Tel no: 015 307-3660 Email address: fransie@joubertmay.co.za Ref: Fransie/FF086 May203__________________________

NOTICE : LOST OR DESTROYED DEED Notice is hereby given in terms of Regulation 68 of the Deeds Registries Act,

1937, of the intention to apply for the issue of a certified copy of Title Deed T26162/1989 passed by in favour of FANIE VENTER EN SEUNS BOERDERY (EIENDOMS) BEPERK, Registration Number: 1988/003607/07, in respect of Portion 18 of the Farm Paardedood 186, Registration Division L.T., Limpopo Province which has been lost or destroyed.

All interested persons having objection to the issue of such copy are hereby required to lodge the same in writing with the Register of Deeds Limpopo at Polokwane within two

weeks from the date of publication of this notice.

Dated at Tzaneen on this the 7TH day May 2020.

Applicant: Joubert & May Attorneys Address: 50 Boundary street, Tzaneen, 0850 Tel no: 015 307-3660 Email address: fransie@joubertmay.co.za Ref: Fransie/FF086 May204__________________________

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8 May 2020

9

Ford steps up Covid fight ■

Roelof de Jonge

Ford dealers in South Africa have stepped up to support the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa’s initiative to produce COVID-19 face shields by contributing R1-million to the project from the Ford National Dealer Council.

Additionally, Ford suppliers and business partners have donated over R900 000 to the project, which includes a substantial R600 000 from Absa, with which Ford has a joint venture in Ford Credit.

To date, 100 000 face shields have been produced at Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, primarily for donation to the Department of Health’s centralised distribution centre in Centurion.

“We are exceptionally grateful to the Ford National Dealer Council for joining this initiative and matching our contribution,” says Neale Hill, managing director of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA).

“The coronavirus has had a dramatic impact on the country as a whole, and has severely affected the local motor industry.

However, the Ford dealers recognise the need to stand together with all South Africans in fighting this common enemy, and we are committed to assisting Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa’s face shields project with the R1-million contribution on behalf of all Ford dealers in South Africa”, said Ward Huxtable, chairman of the Ford National Dealer Council.

“Absa’s donation of R600 000 is greatly appreciated, as it will help fund thousands of face shields for the crucial health and essential services workers. Several of our other suppliers and business partners have also backed the project, contributing R300 000 thus far,

which helps us expand our efforts to assist the South African government in limiting the spread of COVID-19”, said Huxtable.

Sazini Mojapelo, Head of Citizenship, Absa Group Limited said they are pleased to extend a hand in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 and to assist in protecting our health care professionals on the front line.

“This is one of our key prorities at Absa as we battle this disease to ensure that those performing essential services including our own frontline staff, who are our heroes, continue to provide services to our customers during this difficult period”, said Mojapelo.

A total of 85 Ford employees and supplier company volunteers are involved in the production of the face shields, with Ford covering the cost of the labour for assembling the kits and the packaging process. All the money that is raised are used to purchase the face shield materials.

The teams work according to strict COVID-19 health and personal hygiene guidelines The face shields are manufactured to global health standards, using a clear polyethylene sheet, polyurethane foam padding and a headThe teams work according to strict COVID-19 health and personband so that it wraps around the user’s face, providing protection al hygiene guidelines, and are screened regularly for coronavirus for the eyes, nose and mouth against the spread of the corona- symptoms. They are required to wear latex gloves, face masks and virus. the face shields, and maintain appropriate social distancing at all Clear instructions are provided on how to wear the shield cor- times. rectly, along with cleaning and storage guidelines. They are deAny queries regarding making donations can be e-mailed to sosigned to be reusable, and sanitized after each use. cialme@ford.com, using the reference: Ford SA COVID-19.

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Historic motorsport from Ford Performance ■

Roelof de Jonge

Racing is in Ford’s DNA and it all started with company founder Henry Ford whose only ever race, and victory thereof led to the subsequent formation of the Ford Motor Company.

Ford has turned to racing to prove its products and technologies against the best in the world.

Ford’s podium lockout during the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race with the GT40 has been described by company executive chairman Bill Ford as “the defining moment in Ford’s race history”.

The Ford Capri Perana V8 was at a stage South Africa’s fastest locally produced road car and was unbeatable on the track in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Ford’s remarkable upset victory over Alexander Winton, then considered America’s greatest racer, came during the 1901 Sweepstakes Race at Grosse Point in Michigan.

The win brought investors, inspired by Ford’s ability to engineer and build a more superior car than his experienced rivals. In 1903, eighteen months after the race, Henry founded the Ford Motor Company and put his dream of making a mass-produced automobile into action.

At last count, the company has 176 Formula One, 676 NASCAR, 91 World Rally and 330 V8 Supercar wins to its name, and countless other victories and podium results at grass roots, national and international level racing.

Here are a few highlights and some unforgettable moments from South Africa’s own unique racing heritage. It will bring back some nostalgic memories for motorsport fans and petrol heads alike.

Ford and the making of the NASCAR Mustang: Ford has had a long association with NASCAR. In fact, a Ford piloted by Red Byron and run by Raymond Parks, won the very first NASCAR race at Daytona Beach and Road Course in 1948.

The following year, the first Strictly Stock Division race, the category which went on to become the premier NASCAR Cup Series, was won by Jim Roper at the Charlotte Speedway in North Carolina in June 1949. Roper drove his Lincoln, Ford’s premium brand, straight off the showroom floor to North Carolina to compete and claim the famous victory.

Ford announced in 2018 that the Ford Mustang would compete at NASCAR’s highest level for the first time, starting in the 2019 season.

Ford at Le Mans: Ford’s podium lockout during the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race, where Ford finished first, second and third in the same race with the GT40, has been described by company executive chairman Bill Ford as “the defining moment in Ford’s race history”.

Half a century later, the company returned to France to attempt victory again, this time with the Ford GT. The Ford Escort: The iconic Ford Escort is loved by motorsport fans worldwide, chiefly through its association with rallying and names like Björn Waldegård, Ari Vatanen, Roger Clark, Carlos Sainz, Didier Auriol, Marcus Grönholm and Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The Escort’s rallying legacy shines equally bright in South African motorsport, especially in the hands of Sarel van der Merwe and co-pilot Franz Boshoff.

The Escort MkII BDA went on a consecutive championship winning streak from 1979 to 1982.

Sarel came close to championship glory in 1992 and 1993, this time driving an all-wheel drive Ford Laser. The Ford Laser won its fair share of races, eventually ending runner-up in both seasons.

The Ford Laser also opened the door for a young

The Perana V8

The V8-powered Ford Ranger has been a front-runner in the South African Cross Country Series (SACCS) for several years

South African rally superstar named Enzo Kuun who went on to become a multiple champion.

Ford and the World Rally Championship: In January 2020, Ford’s partners in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), M-Sport celebrated its 250th consecutive points finish. The record started with Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae in 2002, and since then 22 drivers and 28 co-drivers have contributed to the achievement which includes seven world titles, 50 victories and 185 podiums.

Ford Mustang wins Australian Supercars: Kiwi-driver Scott McLaughlin dominated the 2019 Australian Supercars Championship in his DJR Team Penske Racing Mustang. McLaughlin won 18 of the season’s 36 races, including the iconic Bathurst 1000, to hand the Mustang its maiden championship.

Ford Sierra XR8 was a homegrown hero: The Sierra XR8 was locally developed by Ford’s Motorsport department using the Mustang’s carburettor-fed 5.0-litre V8.

In order to qualify for the championship’s rules, around 200 production versions needed to be built and just like that the fastest production Sierra in the world was instantly born, right here in South Africa in the early 1980s.

The car was raced in the 1985 Group 1 championship by John Gibb and Serge Damseaux, and later a wilder version known as “The Animal” was raced by Willie Hepburn in the Modified Saloons series.

Ford Capri Perana: Johannesburg businessman and SA Hall of Fame inductee Basil Green is synonymous with modifications to Fords and his meticulous work was enough to have them approved and sold through Ford’s countrywide dealer network with a full factory warranty.

Of all his creations, everyone comes back to the iconic Ford Capri Perana V8, which was SA’s fastest locally produced road car and was unbeatable on the track in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

The Perana V8, which was raced locally with its distinctive orange Gunston livery and driven by Bobby Olthoff in the Group 5 category, won 13 of the 14 races in the 1970 season.

With a lightweight V8 from the Mustang it was capable of over 270km/h on the old Kyalami circuit’s long main straight and topped the saloon car lap records at every one of South Africa’s tracks.

Around 500 of these Perana’s were built by Basil Green Motors, and their rarity is catapulting their value both on home soil and abroad. They also produced a variety of other fast Fords, including the Escort and Cortina.

Ranger hits top gear in South African Cross Country Series The V8-powered Ford Ranger has been a front-runner in the South African Cross Country Series (SACCS) for several years, winning on its debut in 2013 with the young Lance Woolridge behind the wheel, along with co-driver Ward Huxtable.

Numerous race victories followed over the ensuing years, culminating in Woolridge and Huxtable scoring back-to-back Class T Production Vehicle titles for the Ford Castrol Cross Country Team in 2018 and 2019.

Last year, the team, which is run by Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM), won six of the season’s seven races in Class T, including an impressive overall victory in Heat Two of the Toyota 1000

Sarel van der Merwe leads Chris Aberdein, Terry Moss and Ben Morgenhood

Botswana Desert Race.

Earlier this year it was announced that the team would campaign the race-prepared Ford Ranger in the premier FIA-class of the SACCS. NWM made the jump to the top-tier with its current V8-powered Ford Ranger, but an all-new Ranger powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 petrol engine is currently being built. It is due to make its debut in the second half of the year.

Sarel and the ‘Stang: In the early 1990’s Sarel van der Merwe or SuperVan as motorsport fans use to call him, joined forces with Ford for South Africa’s most powerful, loosely regulated era of WesBank Modifieds.

To get their hands on a competitive car they contacted Jack Rousch who was campaigning a Ford Mustang in IMSA and NASCAR in the US, even winning the IMSA GT Championship in 1993. In his book “Supervan and I”, Sarel remem-

bers buying the car for R500 000, ‘a bargain’ he described back then.

The Mustang arrived in Port Elizabeth for the last round of the 1993 championship and in 1994 the Mustang with its 450kW 6.0-litre V8 and spaceframe chassis, as well as Sarel at the wheel, won the championship. It was just the beginning of Sarel’s glorious relationship with the ‘Stang.

In 2000 and 2001 he raced the Mustang alongside the ever-popular Gugu Zulu as a mentorship programme. Sarel picked up the championship silverware in both those years as Gugu Zulu adapted to the raw power of the V8 Mustang.

Sarel re-emerged from retirement in a Mustang for the inaugural 2009 Simola Hillclimb event, piloting a widebody silhouetted ‘Stang produced

by Owen Ashley. The car demonstrated profound agility and speed on the narrow 1.9km course and was unbeatable with ‘Supervan’ behind the wheel, taking the overall victory on debut.

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8 May 2020

11

Jaguar Land Rover pushes tech boundaries ■

Roelof de Jonge

As part of an on-going transformation in connected services capability, every new Jaguar and Land Rover model available in South Africa now has Software-over-the-air capability (SOTA) as standard.

This gives every customer the ability to conveniently receive future software updates to their vehicle without having to visit their dealer, including the latest level Touch Pro and Touch Pro Duo infotainment systems, both of which now feature a Smartphone Pack with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard and with no subscription fees.

Jaguar Land Rover is also offering the SOTA capability and Touch Pro and Touch Pro Duo infotainment upgrades, including Smartphone Pack, to existing customers in South Africa. These complimentary updates are compatible with most vehicles made from the 2016 model year onwards*.

Aside from the Smartphone Pack, which enables customers to use compatible apps on their smartphones, such as music streaming, navigation and text message dictation, via the vehicle’s touchscreen, the very latest versions of the Touch Pro and Touch Pro Duo system software makes operation quicker, easier, and more intuitive.

The possibilities for future improvements of user interfaces and software capabilities are near endless and will continue to be rolled out as upgrades are developed and made available.

In some of the most recent updates items such as Bluetooth connectivity, on-board media players and climate control screens have been upgraded as part of the SOTA functionality.

Compatible Jaguars and Land Rovers have added a skip function within their media players, allowing users to move forward ‘+15’ seconds and back ‘-15’ seconds while listening to podcasts.

Improvements have been made to the way Bluetooth devices are paired, and icons in the climate screens, such as digital buttons for Air Ionisation activation have been changed to different designs - much like app icons in smartphone updates.

Customers with SOTA-enabled vehicles will be able to quickly and

easily download new software themselves via a micro SIM card in the vehicle, or through a WiFi connection. Via the touch screen, customers can turn software updates on or off enabling them to activate the download at times which are most convenient to them.

As updates become available, vehicles will display a pop-up notification within the infotainment system and users will be able to accept the prompt in much the same way as smartphone software updates. Another message on the screen will notify of successful installation completions.

The complimentary upgrade is available on vehicles built with Touch Pro and Touch Pro Duo infotainment from 2016 model year onwards,

and include Jaguar XE, XF, XJ, E-PACE, F-PACE, I-PACE and F-TYPE, as well as Land Rover Discovery and Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Velar and Evoque.

Customers with 2019-2020 Model Year vehicles will already have SOTA functionality integrated into their infotainment systems. * Subject to vehicle specifications

Next generation Volvo cars to be self-driving ■

Roelof de Jonge

Volvo Cars, a global leader in automotive safety, is setting new safety and technology standards by partnering with tech firm Luminar to provide their industry-leading LiDAR and perception technology for Volvo’s next generation cars.

The partnership will deliver Volvo’s first fully self-driving technology for highways and paves the way for future active safety developments.

Volvo Cars’ next generation SPA 2 modular vehicle architecture will be available as hardware-ready for autonomous driving with production to start in 2022.

The Luminar LiDAR seamlessly integrated into the roof.

Cars based on SPA 2 will be updated with software over the air and if customers decide to opt for it, the

Highway Pilot feature that enables fully autonomous highway driving will be activated once it is verified to be safe for individual geographic locations and conditions.“Autonomous drive has the potential to be one of the most lifesaving technologies in history, if introduced responsibly and safely,” said Henrik Green, chief technology officer at Volvo Cars.

“Providing our future cars with the vision they require to make safe decisions is an important step in that direction.”

In addition to the Highway Pilot feature, Volvo Cars and Luminar are also exploring LiDAR’s role in improving future advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), with the potential for equipping all future SPA2-based cars with a LiDAR sensor as standard.

Luminar’s technology is based on its high-performance LiDAR sensors, which emit millions of pulses of laser light to accurately detect where objects are by scanning the environment in 3D, creating a temporary, real-time map without requiring internet connectivity.

LiDAR is key in creating cars that can navigate safely in autonomous mode, providing them with the reliable vision and perception that cameras and radar alone cannot provide. LiDAR is the ideal basis for safe decision-making in complex environments at high speeds.

To enable the Highway Pilot feature, Luminar’s perception technology will be combined with autonomous drive software and the cameras, ra-

dars and back-up systems for functions such as steering, braking and battery power installed on forthcoming Volvo cars equipped for self-driving.

Put together, this gives Volvo users who want it access to a safe, fully self-driving feature for use on highways.

“Soon, your Volvo will be able to drive autonomously on highways when the car determines it is safe to do so,” said Green.

“At that point, your Volvo takes responsibility for the driving and you can relax, take your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel. Over time, updates over the air will expand the areas in which the car can drive itself. For us, a safe introduction of autonomy is a gradual introduction.”

“We know that the question on the lips of South Africans is whether or not this technology will be available to use on South African roads,” commented Greg Maruszewski, Volvo Car South Africa’s Managing Director.

“The cars will be produced ‘hardware-ready’ for autonomous drive. This means that the car can become autonomous when legislation in South Africa is ready. The Luminar technology will be integrated from production start in 2022 as an option and we expect to see these cars available for purchase in South Africa sometime thereafter.”

As part of the announcement, Volvo Cars and Luminar are deepening their collaboration to jointly ensure robust industrialisation and validation of Luminar’s LiDAR technology for series production. Volvo Cars has also signed an agreement to possibly increase its minority stake in Luminar.

For Silicon Valley-based Luminar, partnering with Volvo Cars represents the company’s first delivery of its technology into series production. This is a key step to achieving the economies of scale that are required to bring the technology to the wider automotive industry.

Sport 8 May 2020

Haaitenk wink vir Renzo in Durban ■

Renzo du Plessis, kaptein van die Hoërskool Ben Vorster se eerste-rugbyspan, teken opgewonde sy kontrak met die Cell C Sharks vir volgende jaar in Durban wat ‘n studiebeurs insluit. Foto: Verskaf

Roelof de Jonge

Die uithaler flank van die Hoërskool Ben Vorster se eerste rugbyspan, Renzo du Plessis, wie veral tydens verlede jaar se o.18 Cravenweek landswye opslae gemaak het met sy 103m wegholdrie vir die Limpopo Blou Bulle, is oppad na die Cell C Sharks.

Du Plessis het verlede Donderdag ‘n professionele rugby kontrak met die Cell C Sharks Rugbyunie onderteken.

Bulletin het vroeër die week met du Plessis gesels oor hierdie opwindende rugbyloopbaan wat vir hom voorlê in Durban. Hy het ook vertel hoe hy onder die Covid-19 grendeltydperk hom by sy skoolwerk bepaal en wat hy doen om fiks te bly.

“Die Covid-19 was ‘n groot verrassing vir ons almal, en dit is jammer dat hierdie inperkings, veral vir ons matrikulante, van soveel geleenthede hierdie jaar ontneem aangesien dit ons laaste jaar op skool is. Om nou reeds ‘n kontrak te kon onderteken met die Cell C Sharks was vir my ‘n groter verrassing te midde van hierdie omstandighede wat almal hulle nou in bevind”, het du Plessis gesê.

Du Plessis het as kaptein van sy skool se eerstespan gesê dit is veral teleurstellend om nie Ben Vorster se VersekerBeker-kroon hierdie jaar te kon vededig nie.

“Dit was ons droom en mikpunt om die VersekerBeker titel weer te kon lig. Nou is dit neusie verby en ons gaan moet vorentoe kyk. Ek het ook uitgesien om by vanjaar se o.18 Cravenweek te gaan speel, maar die toernooi is ook afgestel”, het ‘n teleurgestelde du Plessis gesê.

Du Plessis het vertel dat hy meer tyd aan sy studies spandeer aangesien daar met die inperkingsreëls nie veel tyd vir sport is nie.

“Dit gaan baie goed met die skoolwerk. Die internetklasse help my baie en my doelwit is om so goed as moontlik te presteer deur goeie punte te verwerf. En ek werk regtig hard daaraan om my punte deurgaans te verbeter, daarom dat ek nou meer tyd spandeer op my skoolwerk”, het du Plessis gesê.

So gepraat van studies, volgens du Plessis beplan hy om vir ‘n B.Com graad in

Besigheidsbestuur te gaan studeer sodra hy volgende jaar by die Cell C Sharks aansluit.

“Ek en my pa, Renso, sal sodra dit moontlik is na Durban toe vlieg vir ‘n ontmoeting met die Sharks Rugby-unie.

Deel van die ooreenkoms met die Haaie is date ek moet studeer om in aanmerking te kom vir hierdie kontrak.

Hierdie kontrak sluit ‘n studiebeurs van R20 000 in. Sodra ons met die Sharks vergader het, sal ons dan eers weet waar presies in Durban ek gaan studeer”, het du Plessis gesê.

Du Plessis sê hy het ook ondermeer aanbiedings van die Blou Bulle en Goue Leeus Rugby-unies ontvang, maar het gevind dat die Haaitenk uiteindelik vir hom die beste opsie sou wees.

“Ek is ook baie bekend met die kondisionering-afriger, Phiwe Nomlomo, by die Sharks. Nomlomo was juis verlede jaar by die Sharks aangestel as ‘n vaardigheids-afrigter. Hy was een van die afrigters van die SA-skole spanne verlede jaar waarvoor ek gespeel het. Die o.21span van die Sharks is tans die huidige kampioene en is deurgaans een van die top o.21-spanne in Suid-Afrika.

Daarom is dit een van die redes waarom ek besluit het om ‘n professionele rugbyloopbaan by die Sharks te begin”, het du Plessis gesê.

Du Plessis is nie net ‘n uithaler rugspeler nie, maar is ook ‘n uitblinker op die atletiekbaan. Hy het gesê dat hy ondermeer vir Limpopo as ‘n o.15-hekkies-atleet aan die Suid-Afrikaanse skolekampioenskap deelgeneem het.

Volgens du Plessis help atletiek baie om sy spoed op die rugbyveld te bevorder. Ten spyte van die grendeltydperk, het du Plessis vertel dat hy nog steeds hard werk om fiks te bly deur daagliks oefensessies so tussen die skoolwerk in te ruim.

“Dit is my droom om vir die Springbokke te speel, my grootste droom sal bewaarheid wees as ek moontlik vir my land in die 2023 IRB se Rugby Wêreldbeker kan speel” het du Plessis oor sy toekomsdrome gesê.

Du Plessis het sy ouers, Renso en Elana, uitgesonder vir die manier waarop hulle hom deurgaans ondersteun en aangemoedig.

“Ek wil vir my pa en ma baie dankie sê dat hulle altyd daar is langs die sportvelde om my te ondersteun, my ma wat altyd bereid is om my na oefeninge en wedstryde toe te neem. My pa veral was die dryfkrag agter my sukses.”

“Veral toe ek jonger was, dan het hy my geneem om rugby te oefen oor naweke. Ek was soms nie lus om te gaan oefen nie, want hoekom moet net ek oefen en my maats het vrye teuls. Vandag besef ek die waarde van al daardie opofferings, en dit was beslis die moeite werd”, het du Plessis gesê.

“Maar dit was nie net op die sportveld waar my ouers ‘n invloed op my lewe gehad het nie. Ek is hulle innig dankbaar vir die wyse hoe hulle my groot gemaak het deur die regte waardes aan te leer. Ek dra ook al die eer van my suksesse aan my Skepper”, het du Plessis gesê.

“Aan my mede-matriekulante, ek weet dit is ‘n baie moeilike tyd waarin ons nou is, maar onthou, wat jy insit (harde werk) sal jy die vrugte van pluk. Byt vas, want dit gaan nie altyd so wees nie. Dis ons laaste jaar van skool, kom ons maak die beste daarvan en studeer hard”, was du Plessis as hoofseun van die Hoërskool Ben Vorster se boodskap aan dié skool se gr.12 leerders.