Bulletin Newspaper 26 July 2021

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IN A MAJOR SCALE

After five years of pleading, 63 unanswered emails and millions of farmer-Rands spent on trying to find a way to solve the electricity crisis which has crippled the local economy, Agri Letaba successfully petitioned a parliamentary committee to step in and force the GTM to communicate their plans going forward. Page 4

SPORT

LETSITELE CRISIS HEARD IN PARLIAMENT

MOTORING

In a first for the region this week, the Tzaneen Lifestyle Centre in conjunction with Far North Bulletin unveiled a public piano at its main entrance. The piano will be a permanent fixture and free for any musician to play. Read the full story inside.

Photo: Joe Dreyer

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Premier plans “big mining indaba” ■ Billy Sibuyi

Personeel | Personnel Kantoor: 015 306 0198 Office: 064 650 7123 Redakteur / Editor Joe Dreyer 072 930 1462 joe@farnorthbulletin.co.za Joernaliste / Journalists Roelof de Jonge 078 672 7306 roelof@farnorthbulletin.co.za Billy Sibuyi 081 429 2040 billy@farnorthbulletin.co.za

Drukker/Printer: Novus Print Ontwerp / Design Tessa Thompson 079 653 6317 tessa@farnorthbulletin.co.za Bemarking / Marketing Chrizelle Dreyer 082 628 4181 chrizelle@farnorthbulletin.co.za Admin / Finance Jacqueline Allan admin@farnorthbulletin.co.za

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Billy Sibuyi

Tel: 015 306 0198 015 004 1130 072 930 1462 (Joe) E-posadresse/E-mail addresses: Agri-advertensies/Agri ads: chrizelle@farnorthbulletin.co.za Briewe/Letters: joe@farnorthbulletin.co.za Sport: roelof@farnorthbulletin.co.za Nuus & foto’s/News & photos: joe@farnorthbulletin.co.za Copyright © 2021 Far North Bulletin All rights reserved. No part of this publication (including editorial, artwork and layout) may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission by Far North Bulletin.

Visit our website at www.farnorthbulletin.co.za and read the latest news, as well as back copies.

■ Billy Sibuyi

The bushveld around Phalaborwa is fast being emptied of wildlife by the setting of illegal snares. These snares, which are made cheaply and quickly out of rope, bicycle brake cables, or fishing rope, are being set at an alarming rate and are devastating the populations of ground and tree dwelling animals in the area.

One poacher is able set hundreds of snares in a single day, and on the 26th of July, a Phalaborwa Natural Heritage Fund (PNHF) volunteer, André Prinsloo, went cycling through the bush to the West of Spekboom Road and discovered snares set along the paths which he fre-

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The South African National Parks (SANParks) chief executive officer, Fundisile Mketeni, who in May took a special leave following sexual assault and assault GBH allegations levelled against him by a 35-year-old woman, will now be going to trial.

Mketeni appeared in the Skukuza Magistrate court on Wednesday, 21st of July, following the allegations laid against him by a woman employed at the Shalati Lodge in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, and the case was postponed to the 4th of August for trial.

In a statement released by Mketeni’s legal team last month, Advocate Adriana Bevilacqua, said that the police were currently investigating allegations against the woman for allegedly targeting and blackmailing high-profile individuals in exchange for financial rewards. Bevilacqua also revealed to Bulletin that her client, Mketeni, was looking at lay-

quently cycles.

Prinsloo reported it to PNHF directors as he requested assistance in removing the snares, a total of 19, and three illegal fishing nets were also discovered and removed in a relatively small area.

“These snares were most likely set for small animals such as guineafowl, porcupine, hares, and duiker, but they are indiscriminate and will kill or maim anything that goes through it, even people’s pets,” stated Eugene Troskie of the PNHF. “Fortunately, no animals were caught in the snares this time around even though we had never swept through there, however, Prinsloo cycles there from time to time and he has never come

across them, so I reckon these are new snares that were set.”

■ Billy Sibuyi

SANParks will start strategic dehorning of their rhino in an effort to combat the escalation of this terrible crime. They have joined hands with security partners in the Greater Kruger Region and will be implementing a range of interventions as part of an “integrated wildlife management” approach to counter the effects of wildlife crime, in particular rhino poaching.

According to a statement released by SANParks on Wednesday morning, 28th of July, the integrated management actions include the strategic dehorning of rhino in certain core areas of the Kruger National Park (KNP). This is an effort to strengthen security measures by deploying more SANDF and SAPS patrols to conduct random stop and search operations within the KNP. They will also employ specialised radar, airborne and other detection technologies to even track poachers on foot, highly trained tracker dogs and hounds to track suspected poachers in the bush, and to continue to brief the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on the state of wildlife crime.

SANParks, Provincial Parks in Limpopo (LEDET) and Mpumalanga (MTPA) as well as other private reserves within the Greater Kruger area have also approved the initiative.

The Greater Kruger parties will evaluate the effect of the integrated management response on an ongoing basis and will use the results and outcomes to adapt management approaches to the poaching scourge.

Managing Executive of the KNP, Gareth Coleman, said that SANParks appreciated the tourists that have reported suspicious characters which has led to successful arrests and continues to encourage communities and other members of society to assist with information so that they may get on top of this criminality. Since July 2021, KNP has had 10 successful arrests with seven high calibre firearms confiscated making it clear that risks are increasing for poachers that dare to venture into the KNP. Source: www.dwa.gov.za Information updated: 26/07/2021

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ing charges of extortion.

Bevilacqua said that when her client appeared in court on the 2nd of June, the magistrate postponed the sexual assault and assault GBH case to consolidate the multitude of charges levelled against the 35-year-old, of which some were pending before this incident.

The charges for sexual assault against the CEO was withdrawn by the prosecution on the basis that there were no merits to the claims, thus only leaving the GBH assault, which Bevilacqua believed were going to be withdrawn when her client appeared again on the 21st of July. However, it was not so, as Mketeni did appear in the Skukuza magistrate court last week and his case was postponed to the 4th of August for trial of GBH assault. Two other individuals were accused alongside Mketeni for assault to cause grievous bodily harm, however Bulletin has learned that the third accused’s charges were withdrawn.

Sharp rise in snares

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Citizen Band

in October we will have a big mining Indaba. We cannot have big mines like this and the people around the mines are unemployed. But we also need to remember that unemployment is everywhere in the world and the Covid-19 has made it worse,” stated the premier.

Mketeni trial continues Rhino to be ■ dehorned

Kontak besonderhede Contact Details

Tzaneen

Limpopo Premier, Chupu Stanley Mathabatha, and his members of executive council visited both the Phalaborwa town and Namakgale to monitor peace and stability on Thursday, the 22nd of July.

Mathabatha made his way through several shops at the Namakgale Complex, greeting and interacting with the management following a resolution by the Special Executive Committee meeting as part of government’s intervention to ensure peace and stability in the province on the possible looting of businesses.

The visit was also aimed at monitoring compliance on the Covid -19 health and safety protocols.

With him, was the SAPS Provincial Management in Limpopo led by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Crime Detection, Maj Gen Samuel Manala, Mopani District Commissioner Maj Gen Maggy Mathebula, Ba-Phalaborwa Mayor, Merriam Malatjie, MEC of Transport and Community Safety, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, and the MEC for Social Development, Nkakareng Rakgoale.

Mathabatha commended the residents of Limpopo for remaining calm when other parts of the country were in turmoil. Furthermore, he said that

the government appreciated the efforts of Taxi Associations, citizens, and other stakeholders that include Traditional Leaders, Faith Based Organisations, and Civil Society Movements for vigorously spreading the message of peace during the past week.

Mathabatha told Bulletin that he was elated at what he saw in Phalaborwa and that he noticed how much people in that community loved their town and their jobs hence they did not want to partake in the lootings. He also mentioned that the department would also be hosting a mining indaba to highlight unemployment issues in Phalaborwa as this was a concern according to him.

“We have met the mining houses, and somewhere

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New public piano installed at Lifestyle Rules don’t apply ■ Jeff Jackson This week the Tzaneen Lifestyle Centre became the first shopping centre in the region to install a permanent pillar of positivity within the community, known as a public piano. The concept is a simple one, a piano is permanently displayed in the shopping centre and any musician is free to play on it, provided they do not accept any financial reimbursement from the public. This concept has been wildly popular in shopping centres in Europe and the United States.

At Tzaneen Lifestyle centre, the public piano is an electronic one and is stationed in the entrance court inside the centre as you approach Checkers.

The concept was the brainchild of Alida Smit, General Manager of

the centre, and Joe Dreyer, owner and editor at Far North Bulletin.

“We brainstormed this idea about a year ago as a means of injecting some positivity into the community amidst this global pandemic.

We decided on an electronic instrument as it would not need to be regularly tuned, and the volume adjustments can accommodate all who visit the centre,” explained Smit. “We encourage all musicians to please share your talents with the rest of us whenever you feel like it.

Just come and sit down and play.”

There are however a few rules which include the mandatory sanitizing of the instrument and hands before and after playing, limiting your time on the piano to 30 minutes to allow other players the opportunity, no singing and no busking.

At the launch on Wednesday afternoon, local musician and radio presenter, Chris Mocke, was the first of the local musicians to grab the opportunity and perform to the local shopping crowd. He would later remark that the experience was an invigorating one. “As I was playing, I literally felt the shoppers from the centre gathering around.

There was an energy suddenly and I could see their smiles which made me play with even more gusto!”

The entire event was broadcast live over Bulletin’s Facebook page and the response from the local community was overwhelmingly positive.

So much so that Bulletin and Tzaneen Lifestyle Centre in conjunction with Katbok Studios will soon be launching a talent competition (details will be published in future editions and online).

“Remember that this is not a busking station.

It is a means to spread some positive energy into our community who desperately needs it and so we appeal to all musicians to join hands and support this initiative. It is free to play and free to listen and all are welcome,” concluded Dreyer.

The damaged fire hydrant, in Pusela Street, was caused by one of the water tankers which caused thousands of litres of water being wasted. Photo: Roelof de Jonge

■ Roelof de Jonge On the 4th of June, Bulletin reported on the issue of private water tankers drawing water from fire hydrants in Tzaneen. The agreement that was apparently reached between the Group of Private Water Tankers (GPWT) and the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) seems unenforceable though.

On Thursday afternoon the 22nd of July Bulletin visited a damaged fire hydrant, in Pusela Street, that was broken by one of these water tankers. Several residents witnessed the truck. The GTM sent out a team to cut off the water to the hydrant eventually.

GTM spokesperson, Neville Ndlala, said that an agreement between the GTM and the GPWT required the truckers to pay a council approved rate of R16.50 per kilolitre of water drawn, and that proof of payment must be presented. “The tankers will only be allowed to draw their water at an approved point which in this case is 21 Koedoe Street in the industrial area. No trucks can draw from any other point and the operators of these trucks will be liable for a hefty fine should they not honour the agreement.”

Bulletin regularly receives reports of tankers drawing water at hydrants across town. We still have had no luck in obtaining a list of registered water tankers or a plan to enforce the alleged agreement.

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Letsitele Electricity crisis makes it to parliament ■ Joe Dreyer The Letsitele farming community’s relentless fight to have a reliable electrical grid in their area has led to a petition brought before the Parliamentary committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA). The petition was drawn up by Agri Letaba and driven to the highest levels of parliament by DA Member of Parliament, Desiree van der Walt. The petition spoke to the severe electricity outages, power dips, low voltage and poor or no maintenance of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality’s electrical grid since 2016. It took more than a year, to finally have the grievances of the consumers heard by parliament.

The meeting was held virtually over the parliamentary streaming service and lasted three hours. It was attended by Agri Letaba representatives Pieter Vorster, Thabo Mavundza, Naomi Excell and Kobus van Wyk, GTM top management including Mayor Maripe Mangena, Municipal Manager Thapelo Matlala and a director at the electrical department, Sam Lelope. From parliament there were various representatives including the DA’s Cilliers Brink and Desiree van der Walt as well as the Minister of CoGTA Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and the Limpopo MEC Basikopo Makamu. A member of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), Ledile Sebati, was also present.

“When one goes through the petitioners’ presentation it appears to demonstrate that all local avenues related to the matter have been exhausted and that coming to parliament is a measure of last resort,” the CoGTA committee chairperson, Faith Muthambi stated.

What the petitioners said: Pieter Vorster, the chairperson of Agri Letaba said that as organized agriculture and concerned citizens, they took the initiative to do something after they realized that the electricity supply and maintenance at the GTM was not on a good path. He also highlighted that their approach from the start, was one of assist, rather than only criticize.

“Our electricity troubles started before 2015 already, but since 2016 the situation escalated to the point where consumers experienced equipment and income losses. Agri Letaba had a meeting with the GTM and warned them about the system that might collapse because of a lack of maintenance which we were seriously concerned about. In 2016 we contacted NERSA about the dilapidated network, the health and safety issues and the GTM’s obligation to have a distribution license. An energy forum was established with various stakeholders including the local business chamber, the municipality, Agri Letaba and NERSA and since then various organizations have been contacted to assist with the electricity crisis and numerous meetings were held to aid the municipality.”

A summary of all the meetings and correspondence was sent by Agri Letaba along with the petition documentation in 2020. In the time it took for the petition to be heard by the parliamentary committee, the GTM made work of revamping some sections of the infrastructure and replaced some transformers, isolators and auto-reclosers, installed security cameras and fenced off some transformers.

Thabo Mavundza, of Agri Letaba went on to say that whilst the agricultural committee acknowledges the work that the GTM have done, there are still major concerns regarding vegetation control and a very large section of the power grid that still needs to be repaired. “There are still major issues that must be dealt with including the quality of electricity supplied which is not in line with NERSA guidelines. Larger consumers were forced to depend on self-generation to ensure continuity of business which comes at an extremely high cost to the consumer.”

Mavundza continued to say that business interruptions in the area due to power failures and the unreliability of the distribution network has run into the tens-of-millions of Rands annually.

What the GTM said: The GTM Mayor, Maripe Mangena was surprised that the matter had escalated to parliament and said that the GTM has always had an open door to the farmers.

“We acknowledge that in the past

Desiree van der Walt

Maripe Mangena

we had ignored issues of maintenance, but we have awoken to the fact, and we are taking aggressive steps and spending millions towards maintenance and to ensure that our infrastructure is seriously maintained. We are trying our best that in the next 40 to 50 years we will have stable electricity, but we are dealing with serious backlogs.”

In his response to the petition, the GTM’s Municipal Manager, Thapelo Matlala, said that the GTM is one of the largest non-Eskom rural distributors of electricity in the country in terms of area. He stated that the municipality presently distributes power to an area of approximately 3 500km2 serving more than 14 000 customers and the distribution area does not correspond with the municipal jurisdiction area with the two main areas of difference being firstly, the townships of Nkowankowa, Lenyenye and the Southern most areas which are served by Eskom but fall under municipal jurisdiction.

“Secondly, Letsitele, Eiland and Gravelotte form part of the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality but are served by the GTM. NERSA conducted a compliance audit on GTM’s electrical infrastructure between 27 to 29 February 2012. During this audit, NERSA found that the latest electricity masterplan was compiled in 2006 was outdated and had to be reviewed to assist the municipality. NERSA recommended that GTM allocate sufficient funding for a reviewed masterplan in their 2013/2014 budget year. NERSA also observed that there was a lack of capitalization of the network electrical plan, in other words continuous replacement of existing electrical infrastructure as it reached the end of its useful life. That mainly referred to the main Tzaneen substation and the replacement of overhead power lines. Another compliance audit was conducted by NERSA in 2017 and out of that an electricity forum was established.”

Matlala acknowledged ageing infrastructure and electrical losses, both technical and non-technical as risks which they need to implement mitigating measures for. He said that failure to keep up with technological advances, infrastructure theft and theft of equipment like transformers were also serious concerns the municipality was addressing.

“We were able to successfully secure funding of R100 million, a loan of R90 million and an Infrastructure Investment Programme for South Africa (IIPSA) grant of R10 million to specifically address the electrical challenges.,” Matlala stated.

The GTM received the funding in segments. In 2018/2019 financial year they received R40 million, 2019/2020 financial year R20 Million as well as the IIPSA grant of R10 million and then finally in 2020/2021 R30 million was received. Matlala presented a slide show with a long list of projects which the municipality implemented since successfully receiving the funding. This list included replacement of 11kV cables, appropriation of prepaid meters, and the replacing of aged transformers.

He focussed on the two new main transformers installed in Tzaneen Main Substation which replaced the existing transformers that were installed in 1974. The new transformers have a lifespan of 50 years and have expanded the electricity capacity.

In concluding his 40-minute-long presentation, Matlala presented a break down of the GTM’s maintenance cost over the past four years.

2017/2018 showed that R14 124 672 was spent on maintenance, 2018/2019 they spent R20 426 931, 2019/2020 the maintenance bill rang up to R15 212 416 and so far, this financial year, that figure stands on R12 550 378 which brings the total cost of maintenance for the four-year period to R62 314 397.

The notoriously silent Electrical Director for the GTM, Sam Lelope, denied that his department suffers from a lack of capacity. “We don’t have issues with capacity to supply. Where we were foreseeing problems with capacity was in the Tzaneen sub-station, but in the Letsitele area we have no issues with capacity, we can supply any new connections.” **Ironic considering the daily power outages which have lasted more than five years.

“Eskom assisted us in terms of breakdowns affecting their customers. Eskom has said that if they want to continue a collaboration with us (the municipality) they will have to account for all the expenditure they incur when assisting the GTM. That is when they came up with the national active partnering initiative.”

He further denied that the GTM did not accept the assistance offered by farmers and said there have been several instances where farmers have assisted them in the rainy seasons. He said that when the GTM does refuse

Thapelo Matlala

acceptance, it is because farmers would want to offset the assistance against their municipal accounts.

Comments from attendees: MEC for CoGHSTA, Basikopo Makamu, indicated that after his department received the petition, they engaged the GTM to make sure that they respond to the challenges outlined by the petitioners. “Our team verified some of the work the municipality is trying to do, moreover the details of every farm that requires a bigger supply of electricity which showed their intention to grow their farms which in turn will create jobs in the community. As the department we are committed to supporting the municipality in refurbishing their substation to minimize the challenges facing electricity.”

Pieter Vorster denied the statement of an open and transparent communication channel and indicated that 80 letters and emails were sent by Agri Letaba to the GTM since 2016 containing grievances and of those, 63 remained unanswered. Vorster highlighted the various WhatsApp groups that were setup for quick communication between community and the GTM technicians. He said that in June this year alone, there were 756 power outages reported on just one of these groups. “So, everything we just heard from the municipal manager is very good on paper, but we need to see results.”

Vorster also said that farmers would be more than willing to assist on their own properties with line clearing duties but in some instances they were told that sub-contractors were employed for the job and so their assistance was not needed.

Thabo Mavundza requested that the GTM team share their compliance report. “It is very difficult for us to understand how they passed the NERSA compliance audit with the condition of the control room as it currently is.”

Kobus van Wyk echoed the sentiment of no communication. “The last communication we had with the GTM was a virtual conference we held on the 20th of May 2020 and after that we had no luck in communicating with them even as part of the energy forum and so all progress that was made, we were unaware of.”

What the DA had to say Van der Walt said that the time for talking has reached an end. “The Mayor needs to listen carefully because he is always hitting the people about democracy, but here we have a major stakeholder always willing to contribute to assisting the municipality, complaining about communication, despite him proclaiming the existence of open channels which has led to us arriving in parliament. I would like the municipal manager to speak about the meeting held with Eskom on the 4th of June. If we really know that our biggest stakeholder in our area has issues with electricity, and we know there is a meeting with Eskom, surely, we need to invite them to the meeting as well? There is an economy at stake and there are jobs at stake, this is a very serious matter and the electricity problems in this municipality has been going on for many, many years.”

Cilliers Brink said that when a petitioner reaches parliament it can’t be said it’s disingenuous, especially if a petitioner clearly stated that they have exhausted all other avenues. “If the mayor had an open door, we would not have had this meeting in parliament. It appears that the tenor of the responses by GTM is “why are we here as the problems have been solved” while in fact the details of when the problem will be fixed have not been provided. We need the paper promises to be converted into practical promises.”

In conclusion: The chairperson held the MEC Makamu to his word that his department would be stepping in to assist the GTM to meet their obligations. She also instructed SALGA to assess the matter and submit a report in the next sitting. “It is the role of the provincial departments to support their local municipalities. We always preach accountability and because of our commitment to make sure that the oath we as parliamentarians took to serve our people, I can assure you that we as the parliamentary portfolio committee will be looking into this matter on a quarterly basis and monitor the situation.”

Pieter Vorster

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Our billboard was legal

LET’S TALK REAL ESTATE

■ Joe Dreyer

Seeff Tzaneen wins once again!

The drive to remove illegal outdoor advertising from the pavements of Tzaneen has resulted in many advertisers losing money they paid for expensive billboards. The Greater Tzaneen Municipality photo-documented their project over Facebook last week. One of the photographs however, showed a Vodacom billboard which appeared to have been stripped of its signage. This was however not the case and the men seen in the image “removing” the signage were not actually GTM employees at all.

They were also not removing the signage, but were professional ropers employed by an advertising agency to erect the new billboard. We spoke to Celeste van Jaarsveld, of SmartOutAds, who sent us the GTM’s approval letter signed by municipal manager Thapelo Matlala on the 29th of April this year.

As for the rest of the billboards, we have received reports from most of the advertisers who said that they did in fact receive approval for the erection of their boards. We also received a phone call from the project manager for the Minitzani Park clean-up project, Zantelle Ras, who claimed that she was busy with processes to ensure that the signboards hanging from the palisade fence around the park would become compliant to the bylaws. At the time of going to print they were not compliant, and the spokesperson of the GTM, Neville Ndlala, indicated to Bulletin last week that these boards were illegal and would be taken down.

It is not clear at this stage why the practice of allegedly illegally erecting billboards and displaying them for close on decade had remained unnoticed by the municipality. It is also not clear why, after the new bylaws were promulgated by the GTM’s municipal manager, two years went by before any attempt was made to rectify the situation.

In an ever competing and uncertain market conditions, Seeff Tzaneen has done it again!

At the annual Seeff awards that was held on 2nd July 2021 Virtually, Seeff Tzaneen has walked away with numerous awards.

Seeff Tzaneen Sole Director and Principal, Nicola Strydom, was awarded with a long service award of 15 years and Selling Licensee for 2020. Seeff Tzaneen was also awarded the OOBA Award for most units sold in their division.

Seeff Tzaneen also received awards for Most Improved Licensee 2020 in their division as well as Finalist for Licensee of the Year.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our clients for their continuous support. Also we would like to thank our agents for their hard work and commitment to the brand.

Looking forward to servicing the public and making home buying and selling dreams come true.

Briewe • Letters

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015 307 1798 082 898 0468 Absolutely Water Verkoop en verhuur van watersuiweraars en dispensers.

Heelhuis filtrasie, water bars, industriele suiweraars ens.

Diens van alle suiweraars en waterversagters.

Danna 083 560 8636 Elsie 083 458 4746 www.farnorthbulletin.co.za

Legals & Notices Authorised dealer & Service centre 015 307 1849 contact@starspares.com www.starsparestzaneen.com

Te Koop For Sale MANGO BOME TE KOOP HOEDSPRUIT Tommy Atkins en Keitt Bome te koop vir R20.

Kwekery geregistreer

by Dept Landbou .

Kontak Tony: 082 387 2880 of Willem: 083 263 3321 Chester Kwekery Hoedspruit

IN THE MAGISTRATE COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF LETABA HELD AT GA-KGAPANE CASE NO. 58/2020 In the matter between: TAPERA BIKAUSARU EXECUTION CREDITOR AND CASPA ZIBIJLA EXECUTION DEBTOR NOTICE OF SALE IN EXECUTION In pursuance of a judgement by the honourable court on 28 NOVEMBER 2019 and subsequent to warrant of execution against property issued by this court, The following property will be sold on the 20 AUGUST 2021 at the Sheriff ’s office at No.10

MARSH STREET, MODJADJISKLOOF at 11H00.

DISCRIPTION: 1. 1 x 1 TOYOTA HILUX WITH REGISTRATION NUMBER: CNS 618 L, CONDITION OF SALE: 1. The items are offered for cash/bank guaranteed cheque to the highest bidder without warranty and/ or representation.

2. FICA legislation in respect of proof of identification and addresses particulars are required for the bidders.

3. Registration fee R100.00 refundable is required for the potential bidders.

Signature of plaintiff.

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Larries vier 100 jaar na nederige ontstaan T

S

■ Roelof de Jonge

“Ons Bou.” ‘n Meer gepaste leuse kon daar nie vir Laerskool Tzaneen gekies gewees het nie. Want waar eers net wilde bome, tamboekiegras en rooi ruigtes was, het ‘n pragtige skoolgebou met sportvelde verrys. Steen na steen is deur die jare opmekaar gestapel en stewig vasgebou deur die onselfsugtige dade van getroue leerkragte.

Op die 19de Julie 1921 open die eerste Laerskool op Tzaneen in ‘n twee-vertrek geboutjie bestaande uit sinkmure en ‘n grasdak. Meneer Carl van der Merwe was die eerste hoof met 20 leerlinge. Die leerlinge se ouderdomme het gewissel van 7 tot 19 jaar.

In Julie 1926 neem Mnr S le Roux Malan oor as hoof, ook alombekend as Oom Slêr. Hierdie pos het hy beklee tot die 31ste Maart 1952, naamlik ‘n periode van 26 jaar. Gedurende hierdie tyd moes hy ook harde bene kou. Hy moes selfs van sy eie kinders aan die gevreesde malaria afstaan, en tog het hy moed gehou.

Gaandeweg het die skool onder baie moeilike omstandighede gegroei en meer klaskamers moes aangebou word.

Op die 21ste Junie 1952 word Mnr. PJJ Joubert die nuwe skoolhoof. Die geboue en fasiliteite was ontoereikend. So was daar ondermeer geen water nie en elke leerling moes vir homself ‘n botteltjie water saambring.

Aanvanklik het die skool uit ongeveer drie morg grond bestaan. Gelukkig was die destydse dorpsraad die onderwys besonder goedgesind. Ses en twintig erwe word geskenk op voorwaarde dat ‘n volwaardige laerskool gebou sal word. Dit is die gedeelte wat tans gedeeltelik deur die koshuisgeboue in beslag geneem word, sowel as die gedeelte wat die huidige swembad, netbalvelde en rugbyvelde beslaan.

Vroeg in 1953 is die fondamente vir die huidige laerskool gegrawe. Vanselfsprekend was daar geen kantoor nie.

In klaskamer 1 was daar ‘n staalkas en hierin was al die administratiewe stukke gehuisves. Om kontrole onder sulke omstandigheide uit te oefen, was net onmoontlik. Dit was bykans net so ‘n onbegonne

ONS

U

BO

taak om selfs die gewone korrespondensie met die Transvaalse Onderwysdepartement of Skoolraad netjies en ordelik te organiseer.

Sportgronde was daar in hierdie jare glad nie. Die eerste groot projek wat die skool aangepak en uitgevoer het was die bou van die swembad, die eerste swembad in die Letaba Distrik. Omdat Laerskool Tzaneen nooit vir ander gewag het om ‘n saak aan te pak nie, het die skool op baie terreine die voortou geneem.

Na ‘n harde en getroue dienstydperk lê Mnr. PJJ Joubert die tuig op 31 Desember 1970 neer.

Op die 1ste Januarie 1971 word Mnr P Homan aangestel as hoof.

Hier was ‘n onderwysman wat sy kinders, medemens en kollegas werklik geken het. Ook onder sy bekwame leiding en toegewydheid is talle veranderinge en vernuwings aangebring.

Ongelukkig was sy dienstydperk hier in Tzaneen maar baie kort.

Hy is skielik en onverwags op die 18de Mei 1979 oorlede. Die kinders waarvoor hy so innig lief was, sou sy stem en mensliewendheid terdeë mis.

Mnr HCJ van Rensburg word op die 1ste Januarie 1980 die nuwe hoof. Die skool se eerste skoolbus word in 1981 aangekoop, voorwaar ‘n besonderse prestasie en geleentheid.

Laerskool Tzaneen spog daadwerklik met seker een van die mooiste skoolterreine in die streek.

Die akademiese en sportprestasies het die afgelope jare die hoogste hoogtes bereik. In hierdie tyd word daar veral gepoog om bestaande fasiliteite te verbeter en nuwes te skep, soos wat die behoefte bestaan het.

So is daar ondermeer ‘n veiligheidsheining reg rondom die skool en koshuis opgerig. Doeltreffende beheer oor toegang tot die terrein word gehou deur middel van goed opgeleide hekwagte wat op ‘n 24-uur basis diens doen. Verder beskik die

skool oor ‘n sisteem waarvolgens nooddienste van Burgerlike Beskerming dadelik geroep kan word.

Verder is die skool ook in radioverbinding met die SAW. Verskeie geboue wat tot voordeel van die leerlinge en tot vergemakliking van die opvoedings- en opleidingstaak van die personeel strek, is uit eie fondse opgerig. Van hierdie geboue is ondermeer die: Apparaatstoor op die sportgronde waar alle sporten sommige Liggaams Oefeninge (LO) apparaat geberg word ‘n Verversingsstalletjie Afkondigingsplatform Busloods Weervaste netbalbane Motorafdakke by die koshuis Heelwat aandag is gegee aan dreinering en afvoer van stormwater ‘n Pawiljoen by die swembad

‘n Afdak by die tennisbane asook verskeie klein pawiljoene Vergroting van die bestaande pawiljoen Kunsmis- en gifstoor Herbou van die hele atletiekbaan om voorsiening te maak vir goeie dreinering aangesien die skool in ‘n hoë reënvalgebied gevestig is Die aanbou van die musieksentrum.

Op die 1ste Januarie 1989 word Laerskool Tzaneen se nuwe administratiewe blok in gebruik geneem.

Die ou gebou is gesloop en die nuwe een is op dieselfde terrein opgerig. Ons dank gaan aan die destydse Transvaalse Onderwys Department (TOD) vir hierdie pragtige fasiliteit.

Ongelukkig was die beplanning so dat die mediasentrum ingerig is as ‘n personeelkamer met die gevolg dat die skool al vir meer as ‘n jaar nie die gebruik van ‘n mediasentrum het nie. Tenders is egter nou aanvaar vir die nuwe mediasentrum en bouwerk behoort eerdaags te begin.

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Laerskool Tzaneen Hoofde 1921 - 2021

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1921 – 19 26: Mnr. Carl van der M erwe 1926 – 19 5 2: Mnr. Slêr le Roux M alan 195 2 – 19 71: Mnr. Piet Joubert 1971 – 19 79: Mnr. Piet Homan 1980 – 19 94: Mnr. Henn ie van Ren sburg 1994 – 19 (waarnem 98 end) Mn r. Hennie Boshoff 1998- 20 19 Mnr. Vic R ijnen

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Willes bring hulde aan eeu-oue erfenis ■ Willes Steenkamp – Skoolhoof van Laerskool Tzaneen

Prinsipaal Mnr P.J.J Joubert 1952 - 1971

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“Wanneer jy ‘n eeu van voortreflikheid vier gaan dit beslis nie oor die 100ste jaar nie, maar die “legacy” van 99 + 1 jare.

Die feit is, in ‘n pandemie tydperk word die skool 100 jaar oud, dit is ‘n feit dat ons byna geen eeufeesviering kan aanbied nie, dit is ‘n gegewe, maar nie ‘n slag nie. Soos altyd pas ons aan en dink uit die boks … Larries 101. Hou hierdie spasie dop!”, het Willes Steenkamp, huidige hoof van

die Laerskool Tzaneen gesê.

“Nietemin! Soek jy na iets wat jou hart warm laat klop. Skryf jy ‘n storie, maar jou woorde raak op, kom vra net vir my, ek laat geen ander my lei, in my hart voel ek trots, my skool staan vas soos ‘n rots.”

“Ons drome is groot en ons toekoms is blink. God is deel van ons lewensverhaal. Hier staan ons op vir mekaar en is ons daar om mekaar op te tel.”

“Niks sal ons bangmaak en niks sal ons keer, vir altyd die maroon, vir altyd die blou en vir altyd die ougoud, sedert 1921.”

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Elke Larrie dag ‘n belewenis

■ JP Botha: Hoofseun

“Ek is nou nie 100 jaar oud soos Laerskool Tzaneen nie, maar wens ek was vir ‘n 100 jaar ‘n leerder van die pragtige skool. Elke dag is ‘n belewenis by hierdie skool”, het die 2021 hoofseun, JP Botha, van dié skool gesê in sy boodskap as hoofleier in die skool se eeufeesjaar.

“Ons word onderrig deur passievolle onder-

wysers en omring deur vriendelike en vrolike vriende.”

“Ons Bou”, is die skool se leuse, en dit is wat die Larrie gemeenskap al vir die afgelope 100 jaar doen. ‘n Voormalige hoof, mnr van Rensburg, het vertel hoe daar in 1980 skoongemaak is. Met 100 helpers, vragmotors, bakkies, grawe en bereidwilligheid was daar gewerk om die skool te begin.”

“Vandag word daar op die sportvelde groot drome gedroom, bloed gesweet, herinneringe gemaak en hegte vriendskappe gesluit. Die hoof het ook vertel hoe die swembad se gat deur leerders gegrawe was.”

“The most memorable moments that we will most likely remember for the rest of our lives, are those we experience in the class, the sport field and among our friends.”

“Here at Laerskool Tzaneen is where our footsteps will be filled by those who will follow.

Those who will be taught, for the next 100 years, values and skills that helped shape us into what we are today.”

“President Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Met ons 70 personeellede en krag van God word daar elke dag gebou aan ons 1400 leerders se toekoms.”

“Ek sluit my boodskap af met die paslike woorde van ons skoollied: Ons bou aan verstand en siel Ons bou aan ons skool se trots Ons bou aan ons land en volk op ‘n vloer van soliede rots.

Laerskool Tzaneen, my trots.”

Larries sal aanhou bou vir nog ‘n eeu

■ Amoré Duvenage: Hoofmeisie

“Wat ‘n voorreg om deel te kan wees van die Larries! Veral in hierdie baie besonderse jaar van eeufeesvieringe”, het Duvenage gesê “Ek kan amper nie glo dat ons skool al een honderd jaar oud is nie! Wanneer ek dink aan iemand wat 100 jaar oud is, is die eerste woorde wat by my opkom, genade en wysheid.”

“Deur die jare het so baie van ons, ons skoolloopbaan hier by Laerskool Tzaneen begin. Sommiges was bang en onseker terwyl ander weer nie kon wag om “grootskool” toe te gaan nie.”

“Maar deur Jesus se groot genade en die liefdevolle gr.1 juffrouens was daar elke jaar ‘n spesiale plekkie vir elkeen. Deur God se genade leer die gr.1 leerders hoe om te lees en somme te maak, die gr.4 leerders word geleer hoe om eksamen te skryf en die gr.7 leerlinge word voorberei om slaggereed vir die hoërskool te wees.”

“Deur elkeen van hierdie fases word ons gelei deur die wysheid van ons ongelooflike onderwysers en word ons ook gebou om ambassadeurs vir God te wees. Ons skool is werklik geseënd met personeel wat toegerus is met wonderlike vaardighede en wat werklik omgee vir elke leerder.”

“Vandag wil ek opreg dankie sê vir elke hoof, onderwyser, administratiewe personeellid, ouer, lede van die gemeenskap en natuurlik elke Larrie en oud-Larrie, vir elkeen se bydrae en betrokkenheid tot Laerskool Tzaneen oor die afgelope 100 jaar.”

“Laerskool Tzaneen, baie dankie dat ons met trots ons leuse kan uitroep. Ons Bou! Mag jy van krag tot krag gaan! Mag ons Hemelse Vader jou seën en mag jy ook ‘n seën vir ander wees!”

“Geluk k ige verjaarsdag!”

1961: Ja, Skoolopening het nog maar plaasgevind onder die blou lug daarbo.

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Larries Eeufeesfilm eersdaags op silwerdoek ■ Roelof de Jonge Die Laerskool Tzaneen se eeufeesjaarviering is effens gedemp met die huidige inperkingsmaatreëls wat tans van krag is. Maar dit het nie vir Simoné Smalberger van stryk laat bring om haar passie vir drama uit te leef nie.

Smalberger, ‘n gr.7 leerkrag by dié skool, is die skrywer en regisseur vir die film wat ter viering is van Laerskool Tzaneen se eeufeesjaar. Vir mense wat dink wat weet ‘n onnie van die verfilming van rolprente af, sal egter verras wees. Sy het aanvanklik eers drama gaan studeer waar sy haar graad verwerf het. Sy het haar daarna op die onderwys toegespits en nog ‘n jaar opgeoffer om as ‘n leerkrag te kan kwalifiseer.

Die film het sy aanvanklik geskryf wat vir die kleuterskool, Larrieland, se opedag verlede jaar geoogmerk was. Die streng inperkings met die eerste vlaag van infeksies het egter ‘n stokkie daarvoor gesteek en die film moes vir eers op die rak geplaas word. Dit totdat die volgende opedag van Larrieland hierdie jaar sou plaasvind.

Intussen het die skool se hoof, Willes Steenkamp, haar verlede jaar genader, om te hoor of sy sou belangstel om vir die skool ‘n film te skep wat gemik is op die skool se 100ste bestaansjaarvieringe vir hierdie jaar.

“Die oorspronklike film van Larrieland het ek gebruik as die fondasie vir die eeufeesrolprent, dus het ek feitlik die hele Desember verder aan die rolprent se tonele geskryf om by die oorspronklike film ingewerk te word. Alhoewel dit ‘n uitdagende projek was, het ek dit terdeë geniet. Ek het gemik om ‘n kinderlike tema vir die rolprent te skep”, het Smalberger gesê.

“Die skool se waardes is hoofsaaklik van die nuwe tonele wat ek by die oorspronklike film ingewerk het. Die film is gegrond op ‘n ontdekkingsreis met Lardus die Leeu, Laerskool Tzaneen se ‘mascot’ (gelukbringer), wat van Larrieland af reis na die laerskool toe. Op die ontdekkingstog word daar aan al die skool se waardes geraak.”

“Die rolprent wat ons tans nog besig is om te verfilm, bestaan uit sowat 30 mense wat in rolle speel. Die laaste twee tonele gaan die grootste van die rolprent wees en tussen 50 tot 60 mense gaan betrokke wees. Die film gaan uit 11 tonele bestaan waarvan nege van die tonele reeds afgehandel is, dus is dit nog net die twee groot tonele wat vir ons wag.”

Die leerkrag was egter verras met die dramatalent van sommige van die personeel en leerders wat rolle moes vervul. Sy sê van die personeel was aanvanklik bietjie senuweeagtig vir die affêre, maar hulle het gou gesout geraak en weliswaar hulle goed van hul taak gekwyt.

Smalberger sê selfs die skool se

verskeie sportspanne wat vir tonele verfilm moes word, het uitstekend gevaar.

“Dis egter verstommend die gewone mense wat rolle moes vertolk het, hoe goed hulle dit werklik gedoen het.

En hoe die personeel, leerders en Tzaneen se gemeenskap gewillig ingeklim het om te help om hierdie film ‘n werklikheid te laat word. Dit wys my Tzaneen se gemeenskap en besighede lewe met die waardes van Die Larrie Way.” Smalberger is ook vol lof vir Christo Potgieter van DG TV wie die verfilming van die rolprent behartig. Smalberger het gesê Potgieter weet beslis wat hy doen en werk bitter hard om te help sorg dat hierdie film ‘n reuse sukses gaan wees.

Henkus Steenkamp (hoofrolspeler) en Simoné Smalberger (skrywer en regisseur van rolprent) klink ‘n glasie op die twee laaste tonele vir die rolprent “Vir nou het ons vir eers wat nog afgehandel moet word. besluit op ‘Die Larrie Way’ as die titel vir die rolprent, maar dit is onderworpe aan verandering. Maar vir nou is dit Die Larrie Way. Ons beplanning is om teen met my geskeer. Uiteindelik het dit toe gebeur dat ek gevra is of ek die einde van Augustus klaar te wees met die verfilming van die rol- nie sou belangstel om ‘n rol in die film te speel nie, wat toe die hoofrol prent.” was.”

Daar gaan beslis ‘n voorsmakie (teaser) van die rolprent beskikbaar Steenkamp vertel dat sy eintlike belangstelling in sport lê, maar dat wees voor die amptelike bekendstelling. Smalberger het gesê hulle is hy die hoofrol van die man in die deftige pak klere as ‘n nuwe uitdadruk besig om aan die beplanning vir die voorsmakie en die amptelike ging gesien het en ongelooflik geniet het om die wêreld van toneelbekendstelling te werk. spel te ervaar.

Die hoofrol word deur een van die skool se onderwysers, Henkus “Ek was aanvanklik baie skaam, veral toe ons begin het om die stemSteenkamp, vertolk. Steenkamp het vertel hoe hy die hoofrol gekry het. opnames vir die die karater in die film op te neem. Deur die loop van “Simoné en ander kollegas was besig in die personeelkamer waar die tyd het my selfvertroue die oorhand begin kry wat dit natuurlik hulle besig was om die beplanning vir die rolprent te bespreek. Ek het makliker gemaak het om tonele te verfilm.” hulle gevra waarmee hulle besig was, en ek het gegrap deur te vra of “Ek geniet die rol regtig baie, maar dis veral wanneer Tzaneen ‘n lekek ook ‘n rol kan speel.” ker warm dag beleef dat ek behoorlik sweet in die deftige pak klere.

“My kollegas het terug gekap deur te sê dat daar nie vir my ‘n rol in Andersins is dit ‘n ervaring wat ek nooit sal vergeet nie. Die ervaring die film is nie, maar inderwaarheid het hulle net die gek was iets nuuts vir my, al is ek meer op sport ingestel.”

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Hino launch diesel-electric hybrid truck for 2022 Dakar Rally ■ Roelof de Jonge Hino Motors, a regular competitor in the gruelling Dakar Rally since 1991, made a dramatic announcement recently in that it intends to race a diesel-electric hybrid truck in the 2022 event.

This means that Hino will be challenging the so-called “monster trucks,” with engines of more than 10-litre capacity, for outright victory in the category with a truck fitted with a hybrid power unit producing 794kW. This is a big leap from the 550kW that was available from the 9-litre turbocharged diesel engine fitted to the Hino 500-Series 4x4 for the 2020 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.

The hybrid power train has been fitted to the bonneted version of the Hino 500-Series, known as the Hino 600-Series and sold only in the United States. One of these models took part in the 2020 Dakar Rally with a regular diesel engine but had to retire with a damaged roll-over bar after a crash.

The high-tech 2022 project is being driven by long-time Dakar entrant, Hino Team Sugawara, with its leader, Teruhito Sugawara, being the person who will be behind the wheel of the hybrid truck in the Dakar Rally, which will take place in Saudi Arabia from the 2nd until the 14th of January 2022.

The development and test programme are already well advanced as Hino prepares for its 31st Dakar Rally.

“Up until now our hybrid truck has been built and developed by a well-qualified and experienced team of engineers and technicians, under a cloak of secrecy and will only debut on the 2022 Dakar Rally,” explained Teruhito Sugawara who has competed in the past 22 Dakar Rallies.

He has only finished out of the top 15 overall twice in the 17 years he

has been a driver, after previously navigating a Hino driven by his father. events in this country. The Dakar will start in Ha’il on the 2nd of January Hino has already won the truck category in the Dakar Rally outright, and finish in Jeddah on the 14th of January, with a rest day in Riyadh on but this was way back in 1997 when the 8 015km route in Africa went the 8th of January. from Dakar, in Senegal, to Agadez, in Niger, and then back to the finish in Dakar.

Three Hino 500-Series took first, second and third places overall in this event, a feat that was only equalled by Kamaz in 2011 and repeated by the same Russian truck in 2013.

At least one Hino has finished every Dakar the brand has contested since 1991, building up an amazing 30-year record for durability and reliability in the process.

Hino is still the only Japanese truck manufacturer to tackle the Dakar Rally on a regular basis, always facing a strong field of Western and European trucks.

The 2022 Dakar Rally will mark the 44th edition of this gruelling cross-country endurance event, and it will be the third time it will take place in Saudi Arabia. The organisers say that 80% of the route will be different from previous The hybrid power train has been fitted to the bonneted version of the Hino 500-Series, known as the Hino 600-Series and sold only in the United States.

Michelin tries to (air)splain ■ Jeff Jackson Michelin has been developing new ways for vehicles to move since 2005 when they first started releasing their spacy-looking airless tyres, though none of their many designs have ever been made available to the mass market.

According to various sources in the motoring world however, that will change in 2024 (two years from now) which is when Michelin and GM aim to introduce a version of their ‘Uptis’ tyre (unique puncture-proof tyre system) that sufficiently replicates the characteristics of a normal, air-filled tyre.

Michelin said in a press statement that the Up-

tis tyre, which is made from composite rubber and resin-embedded fibreglass, can “bear a car’s weight at road-going speeds” thanks to material and structure improvements. Previous iterations of airless tyre could not support as much weight, or travel at highenough speeds.

The benefits of a tyre without air in it are many and varied. GM and Michelin say the risk of punctures and blow-outs will be totally eliminated, as will excessive, life-shortening wear caused by under- or over-inflation.

All that, means tyres can be replaced much less often, so fewer can be produced which in turn means a saving on the raw materials, energy and emissions required to do so. Michelin claims some 200 million tyres are prematurely scrapped every year because of damage.

Airless tyres will also be good for autonomous cars, which will demand near-zero maintenance from the tyre to maximise their operating capabilities. Later this year the companies will start real-world testing airless tyres on a fleet of Chevrolet Bolt EVs.

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Audi set to ‘shock’ Dakar Rally fraternity ■ Roelof de Jonge Audi Sport is at it again. Since the launch of the quattro all-wheeldrive system and all the innovations that have followed suit by Audi, Audi have blown the opposition away, whether in the World Rally Championship, Sports Car Racing or Touring Cars. Audi have always been a surprise package. Now they are on project Dakar Rally.

Clear the stage for Audi’s electrifying high-tech test laboratory. Just under a year after the initial concept idea, Audi Sport has started testing the new Audi RS Q e-tron, with which Audi will take on one of the greatest challenges there is in international racing in January 2022.

The Dakar Rally.

What makes this project so unique is that Audi wants to be the first car manufacturer to use an electrified drivetrain in combination with an efficient energy converter to compete for overall victory against conventionally powered competitors.

“The quattro was a gamechanger for the World Rally Championship.

Audi was the first brand to win the Le Mans 24 Hours with an electrified drivetrain. Now, we want to usher in a new era at the Dakar Rally, while testing and further developing our e-tron technology under extreme conditions,” said Julius Seebach, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH and responsible for motorsport at Audi.

The characteristics of the Dakar Rally present the engineers with special challenges. The marathon event lasts two weeks and the daily stages are up to 800 kilometers in length.

Because there are no charging opportunities in the desert, Audi has chosen an innovative charging concept.

On board of the Audi RS Q e-tron, there is a highly efficient TFSI engine from the DTM (German Touring Car championship). It is part of an energy converter that charges the high-voltage battery while driving.

Since the combustion engine is operated in the particularly efficient range of between 4 500 and 6 000rpm, the specific consumption is well below 200 grams per kWh. The drivetrain of the Audi RS Q e-tron is electric.

The front and rear axles are both fitted with a motor-generator unit (MGU) from the current Audi e-tron FE07 Formula E car which has been developed by Audi Sport for the 2021 season. Only minor modifications had to be made to use the MGU in the Dakar Rally.

A third MGU, of identical design, is part of the energy converter and serves to recharge the high-voltage battery while driving. In addition, energy is recuperated during braking. The battery weighs about 370 kilograms and has a capaciRETAIL ty of around 50kWh. Lengwalo la tsebiso ya laesense

ya go rekisa Tsebiso mabapi le kgopelo ya laesense go ya melao ya tsweletso ya peterole (Act 120 ya 1977)

Tsebiso ke ya go tsebisa bao banang le kgahlego gob aba amengang gore EVUNDILE INVESTMENTS (PTY) LTD, bjalo ka bakgopedi bao ba dirileng kgopelo ya go rekisa tsweletso yo petrole.

Nomoro ya kgopelo ke F2021/07/27/0001.

The Audi RS Q e-tron only needs one forward gear. The front and rear axles are not mechanically connected.

The maximum system power of the e-drivetrain is 500kW. How much of this may be used during the Dakar Rally is still being finalized by the organizers. The electric drivetrain offers many advantages. The electric motors can be controlled with extreme precision and can thus ensure good drivability. In addition, braking energy can be recovered.

The Audi RS Q e-tron only needs one forward gear. The front and rear axles are not mechanically connected. The software developed by Audi takes over the torque distribution between the axles and thus creates a virtual and freely configurable center differential, which has the positive side effect of being able to save the weight and space that would have been required by prop shafts and a mechanical differential.

Ranger goes cross country

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The Ford Ranger Raptor is ready to scout routes for the SA Cross Country Series.

■ Roelof de Jonge Ford’s legendary high-performance off-road pickup, the Ranger Raptor, will be used as the official route scouting vehicle for the second half of the 2021 SA Cross Country Series (SACCS).

The Ranger Raptor with its true-blue Ford Performance DNA with specially developed FOX shock absorbers, reinforced chassis, 283mm ground clearance, 150mm wider track, various drive modes including Baja mode makes it an ideal vehicle for SACCS. The Raptor will be used by the multiple SA cross country champion and SACCS route director, Evan Hutchison, for race route plotting, marking and pre-running to achieve more realistic recce speeds and more accurately identified caution areas for competitors.

The drivetrain of the Audi RS Q e-tron is electric

Visually, the Audi RS Q e-tron also differs significantly from conventionally powered Dakar prototypes. The Dakar Rally entry is being run in conjunction with Q Motorsport.

“Audi has always chosen new and bold paths in racing, but I think this is one of the most complex cars that I have ever seen,” says team principal Sven Quandt. “The electric drivetrain means that a lot of different systems have to communicate with each other. Besides reliability, which is paramount in the Dakar Rally, that’s our biggest challenge in the coming months.”

Quandt compares Audi’s Dakar project to the first moon landing.

“Back then, the engineers didn’t really know what was coming. It’s similar with us. If we finish the first Dakar event, that already will be a success.”

The prototype of the Audi RS Q e-tron had its first roll-out in Neuburg at the beginning of July. An intensive test program and the first test entries at cross-country rallies are on the agenda from now until the end of the year.

License deadline looms

■ Roelof de Jonge

Motorists are urged by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to renew their license before the grace period deadline at the end of August 2021. Licensing centres were forced to close their doors last year because of the national lock down that was imposed by the South African Government. This however caused a backlog of expired licenses.

An extension for these expired licenses was announced by the minister of transport, Fikile Mbalula.

The RTMC stated that all learner licenses, driving license cards, temporary licenses and professional driving licenses that expired between the 26th of March 2020 and the 31st of December 2020 were made valid for a grace period. This grace period will come to an end on the 31st of August 2021.

The public is therefore encouraged to take advantage of the extended operating hours at various licensing centres to renew their license before the deadline. Motorists should have the following documents ready when applying for their driver’s license: original ID and a copy, old driver’s license card or valid South African passport, four black and white ID photographs, proof of residence and the license renewal fee.

The RTMC advised licensed drivers not to wait until the expiration date before considering renewing your vehicle or driver’s license. Drivers are encouraged to allow at least four weeks lead time from the date of the application for delivery of a license card. According to the RTMC motorists should also apply for driver’s licenses early, to avoid having to apply for a provisional license and incur unnecessary costs.

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F A R

Stanford learners receive top SANGO honours ■ Roelof de Jonge The South African National Geography Olympiad (SANGO) was recently held, with two learners from Stanford Lake College who did exceptionally well, bagging two awards in the process.

Alistair Howarth who is in Gr.12 entered for the Antarctica section and came in the top 5% in the country to receive a Gold Award. Fellow matriculant Jason Freestone achieved a place in the top 10% for the main section of this competition and he received a Silver Award.

Round one of the 2021 SANGO consisted out of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ) which took place on the 18th of May and the second round consisted out of a written task which was held on the 23rd of June.

Including the two award winners, a total of 29 Stanford Lake College pupils in Gr.11 and Gr.12 took part in the SANGO. The Olympiad was comprised of two parts, the main exam and an optional add-on part about Antarctica.

SANGO is operated in partnership with the Society of South African Geographers (SSAG), the Southern African Geography Teachers’ Association (SAGTA) and the Royal Geographical Society (RGS).

The Southern African Geography Teachers’ Association (SAGTA) and the Society of South African Geographers (SSAG) have been hosting the South African National Geography Olympiad since 2017.

As SANGO evolve, its management is full of hope to have learners to represent South Africa at the International Geography Olympiad, called the GeoOlympiad, from 2024.

N O R T H

M E D I A

30 July 2021

15

ATKV ballers hou aan rol

■ Roelof de Jonge

Die ATKV Eiland Spa Rolbalklub se spelers het die afgelope twee weke te midde van die bibberende koue, flink rolbal gespeel om die winterweer help te verdyf.

Op Saterdag die 24ste Julie het Miami Canners sy tweede borgdag van die jaar aangebied waar elke speler ‘n klein geskenkpakkie ontvang het. Dis afgesien van die Miami produkte wat as pryse vir die wenspanne geskenk was.

Die spelers was wel bewus van die inhoud van die pryse, en dit het die spelers aangepor om hul beste te gee op die baan om so ‘n kans te staan om ‘n geskenkpak huistoe te neem.

Die span wat die Miami Canners rolbalkompetisie gewen het, het uit Manie Engelbrecht, Eric Kruger en Sonja Hartman bestaan. Die tweedeplek was aan die span van Pieter Botha, Linda Pieters en Elize Malan oorhandig. Robby Strachan, Hennie Beukes en Sonja Malan was die spelers wie se span derde geëindig het. Pieta Visser, die vise-president

van die ATKV Rolbalklub, het die pryse aan die wenners oorhandig.

Volgens Karen Kruger, skakelbeampte van die ATKV Eiland Spa Rolbalklub, is die jaarlikse Sitrus Toernooi wat in Augustus so plaasvind gekanseleer weens die huidige Covid-19 wetgewings.

Op Saterdag die 17de Julie het dié klub se spelers aan die Van Heerdens Apteek Tzaneen se borgdag meegeding. Die spanne se spelers wie die eerste twee plekke ingeneem het, het elk geskenkpakkies ontvang en die span wat in die derdeplek geëindig het, was met T-hemde beloon.

Die vise-president van die rolbalklub, Pieta Visser, het weereens die pryse namens die borg aan die wenspanne oorhandig.

Die rolbalspan bestaande uit Robby Strachan, Kallie Swanepoel en Alta Van Dyk het as die wenners uit die stryd getree. In die tweedeplek was die span van Elsa van Tonder, Vincent van Tonder en Elize Malan. Jonel Hudson, Johan de Bruyn en Suzette Bester was die span se spelers wie in die derdeplek geëindig het.

Robby Strachan, Kallie Swanepoel en Alta Van Dyk was die wenners van die onlangse Van Heerdens Apteek rolbalkompetisie.

Die rolbalspan bestaande uit Elsa Van Tonder, Vincent Van Tonder en Elize Malan het die tweedeplek in die Van Heerdens Apteek kompetisie geneem.

Alistair Howarth

Jason Freestone

READY FOR THE

BIG REVEAL? Coming soon!

Die span wat in die derdeplek vir die Van Heerdens Apteek kompetisie geëindig het, se spelers was Jonel Hudson, Johan de Bruyn en Suzette Bester.

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Sport 30 July 2021

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Club rugby back, schools must wait ■ Roelof de Jonge

SA Rugby announced on Tuesday, the 27th of July, that all amateur and club rugby, currently suspended across the country due to the Covid-19 regulations, will be permitted to resume on the 2nd of August following detailed reviews by the various provincial unions. This will be subject to whether teams have implemented the return to play safety guidelines.

Aside from players missing valuable time in their wait for permission to play again, a thought must be spared for rugby clubs with bar facilities that lost Rugby players like Johnny Blaauw from Letaba Rugby Club’s first team will be eager to get back on the pitch for some game time.

Photo: Roelof de Jonge

revenue due to the recent and frequent prohibition of alcohol sales.

Attie Buitendag, the manager of amateur and club rugby at the Limpopo Blue Bulls Rugby Union, said he was aware that clubs suffered during the ban of alcohol sales on site. He said clubs generated an extra bit of income from such facilities and

the fact that they are allowed to resume operation again will certainly help.

“In regard with the play and practicing of rugby, clubs can start to practice on Monday, the 2nd of August after we got the go ahead from SA Rugby. We still have to decide when club matches will resume, and this will likely be either late August, or in the first week of September,” Buitendag explained.

“As soon as we deemed it safe to play, we will give the clubs the go-ahead. We would like

to prevent club rugby from becoming a “super spreader” of the corona virus. The reason for this decision to delay matches for now, is because the spread and infection of the virus differs from region to region where the clubs are situated, and that we cannot control. We would rather wait until it is a bit more normalized than taking risks.”

According to Jurie Roux, (CEO) of SA Rugby, all the provincial unions will be allowed to decide on the best course of action in their own areas of jurisdiction, following the amended Level 3 lockdown regulations that were announced on Sunday evening the 25th of July.

“All of this is subject to SA Rugby’s return to train and play guidelines, as well as any other regulations published in the Government Gazette,” said Roux. “All amateur and club rugby was put on hold until the end of the month, but the provinces will be allowed to move to a return-to-play should they deem it safe to do so, considering a review of the status of Covid-19 in their regions,” he said. “The national regulations relating to the national curfew will have to be adhered to, while no spectators will be allowed at matches.”

All amateur and club teams are encouraged to engage with their unions to establish what the safety protocols involve.

School rugby falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Basic Education and is still suspended.