Bulletin Newspaper 19 May 2023

142 AMBULANCES GROUNDED

Photo: Joe Dreyer

Personeel | Personnel

More than 50% out of order

■ Joe Dreyer

Limpopo’s Health Department currently boasts 142 ambulances, 61 Planned Patient Transport (PPT) vehicles, 22 support, eight rescue and three response vehicles that are either non-functional or standing at a workshop somewhere waiting to be repaired or serviced. This means that these vehicles are not available for use by residents.

According to the Democratic Alliance in Limpopo, the large number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicles that are non-functional or out for repairs or maintenance is extremely concerning, and it is troubling that districts such as Mopani and Vhembe have more ambulances that are non-functional than those that are functional.

A response to a DA parliamentary question in November 2022 revealed that the Limpopo Department of Health only has 262 Ambulances for a population of about 6 million people, despite a required ratio of 1 ambulance per 10 000 people. This means the province is short of 348 ambulances.

The department has, however, indicated that they will be purchasing 500 ambulances but has not provided a timeline for the procurement of these new ambulances.

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“The Limpopo Department of Health needs to ensure that the EMS has better fleet management, time-efficient and well-run maintenance plans, and that areas with severe shortages are prioritised for new vehicles,” the DA spokesperson for Health, Risham Maharaj, said.

The DA already wrote to the South African Hu-

man Rights Commission (SAHRC) in December 2022, requesting an investigation into the access to EMS in the province due to a severe shortage of ambulances.

In the meantime, it has emerged that the Limpopo Department of Health was again unable to spend its conditional grant funding, and surrendered R71.3 million in conditional grants despite already having rollovers amounting to R4.447 billion.

The DA in Limpopo has written to Health MEC, Phophi Ramathuba to provide reasons why the department was unable to spend its conditional grant funding and what measures will be put in place to prevent this.

The conditional grant funding surrendered was from the following grants - Comprehensive HIV and AIDS grant – R45.5 million; HR capacitation grant – R22.5 million; National Tertiary Service Grant – R2. 176 million; and National Health insurance Grant – R 261 000.

These conditional grants are transfers to provincial governments that can only be used for a specific predetermined purpose, and these surrendered amounts will have a tremendous impact on the delivery of health services in the province.

“The DA has also written to Premier Stan Mathabatha to provide details of consequence management steps that will be taken against the officials responsible for failing to spend this conditional grant funding. It is Mathabatha’s duty to monitor spending in his departments and ensure there is accountability for the under-expenditure of grants.”

Pangolin dealer arrested

■ Joe Dreyer

A 59-year old man was arrested in Gravelotte this week after attempting to sell a Pangolin in Hoedspruit. A collaborative effort between the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, CIC National Security, D-Dass and Hoedspruit Farmwatch resulted in the arrest on the 17th of May.

The team received a tip-off about a suspect who was allegedly on his way to sell a Pangolin in Hoedspruit, and without wasting any time, the team followed up on the information and a suspicious vehicle was spotted in Gravelotte.

The vehicle was stopped and searched and the team found a Pangolin hidden in the boot inside a bag. The suspect failed to produce a permit for being in possession of a Pangolin and was immediately placed under arrest.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Namakgale Magistrate Court to face charges relating to the illegal dealing in endangered species.

Minisub Gang targets Aqua Park

■ Joe Dreyer

It would appear as though the, as yet unnamed, gang of vandals terrorizing the communities of Arbor Park, Premier Park and Flora Park, have turned their attention to Aqua Park as three instances of minisubs being vandalised were reported just this week.

On Saturday the minisub on the corner of Awie Wessels and Thys Marais Streets in Aqua Park was vandalized at approximately 01:00 in the morning during loadshedding. Residents had to wait until 11:00 that morning for the technical team from the GTM to arrive onsite, according to the residents who were without power for the ten hours prior to the team’s eventual arrival. The technicians arrived without the necessary equipment or tools to rectify the situation.

On Monday morning another minisub was completely destroyed during loadshedding in Koos Nel Street and later that day another minisub was vandalized in broad daylight in Van der Steen Street.

The ward councillor for the affected area, the DA’s René Pohl informed the mayor and the municipal manager about the situation but

had no response from either of them as they were in meetings. Pohl was told that criminal cases had to be opened at the police station for each of the instances. She was then told that the Municipal Manager was not the official responsible for laying the criminal charges and that Andrew Laubscher was handling the matter.

In the meantime there have been no arrests in any of the reported instances of vandalism in either Aqua Park or any of the other affected areas and this has led some residents to believe that the vandals are purposefully targeting the DA-run wards 14 and 15.

The newly elected Street Patrol Teams who were established in Flora Park and Talana by the Tzaneen Police in conjunction with the ward councillor, have not yet started their patrols as they await their training. The police have also not made any plans known to combat the vandalism or guard the minisubs in future.

Koos Nel Street

Van der Steen Street

Awie Wessels Street

In the estate of the late IAN COAD, Identity number 6812125061087, Master’s reference number 002370/2023, businessman, who was ordinarily resident at J12, Haenertsburg, Limpopo Province and, who died on 12 January 2022.

All persons having claims against the above estate are hereby called upon to file their claims with the undersigned within 30 days from the date of the publication hereof. Joubert & May Attorneys.

P O Box 35, Tzaneen Ref.: A E Rech/R15888

In the estate of the late PIETER

VAN ZYL BOOYSEN, Identity number 3506015012084, Masters’ reference number 002549/2023, widower, who was ordinarily resident at 23 Second Avenue, Tzaneen, Limpopo Prov-

ince and, who died on 10 November 2022.

All persons having claims against the above estate are hereby called upon to file their claims with the undersigned within 30 days from the date of the publication hereof. Joubert & May Attorneys.

P O Box 35, Tzaneen Ref.: A E Rech/R16161

In the estate of the late CLIFFORD PERCY WIGGILL, Identity number 6809135051082, Master’s reference number 002249/2023, businessman, married in community of property to INA CHRISTINA WIGGILL, identity number 6910090029087, who was ordinarily resident at 28 Hermanus Street, Tzaneen, Limpopo Province and, who died on the 25th of July 2022

All persons having claims against the above estate are hereby called upon to file

Legals & Notices

their claims with the undersigned within 30 days from the date of the publication hereof.

Joubert & May Attorneys.

P O Box 35, Tzaneen

Ref.: A E Rech/R16144

In the estate of the late MOIRAH BURRE, Identity number 7010230168082, Master’s reference number 002372/2023, married, who was ordinarily resident at A16.2, Haenertsburg, Limpopo Province and, who died on 27 October 2022.

All persons having claims against the above estate are hereby called upon to file their claims with the undersigned within 30 days from the date of the publication hereof.

Joubert & May Attorneys.

P O Box 35, Tzaneen

Ref.: A E Rech/R16160

In the estate of the late GIDEON

Smouskous | Classifieds

DAWID GOOSEN, Identity number 6903075188085, Masters’ reference number 008965/2022, married, businessman, who was ordinarily resident at 74 Farm Harmony, Gravelotte, Limpopo Province and, who died on the 15th of October 2022

All persons having claims against the above estate are hereby called upon to file their claims with the undersigned within 30 days from the date of the publication hereof.

Joubert & May Attor-

neys.

P O Box 35, Tzaneen Ref.: Elana Goosen/ LG086

In the estate of the late JEANETTE VALENTINE DEEKS, Identity Number 350214 0010 08 5, who resided at MACADAMIA VILLAGE, TZANEEN and died on the 21st of DECEMBER 2021, Estate Number 2174/2022.

Notice is hereby given that the Liquidation and Distribu-

tion Account in the above Estate will lie for inspection at the offices of the Master of the High Court in Polokwane and the Magistrate TZANEEN for a period of 21 (twenty one) days from date of publication of this notice.

STEWART MARITZ BASSON INC Attorneys for the Executor Lex Numeri. 3 2 Peace Street. P O Box 242, TZANEEN, 0850

All protocols observed, your worship EVENTS

The residents of Tzaneen flocked to the Tzaneen Primary School hall on Wednesday evening this week for their chance to have a face-to-face discussion with their mayor. More specifically they wanted the opportunity to ask direct questions related to loadshedding schedules – who compiles them, how are they scheduled, why do some areas have the worst time slots for weeks without end, are there any alternatives to work around them, and why do we have 12 hours instead of eight.

The meeting was arranged by the Freedom Front Plus PR Councillor, André Moss, who arranged the Mayor to meet with the residents. However, when residents entered the hall in anticipation of some direct answers at 17:00 that afternoon, it was not the mayor they saw upon the stage before them. The entire executive committee of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality were perched atop the ANC branded stage, with the opposition lining the front row before them (one of the opposition councillors arrived late even though the meeting was already 20 minutes behind schedule) and a projection screen slowly covering the entire panel moments before the start of the show.

The show was opened by a local pastor before the programme director took to the microphone and introduced each of the

exco members before giving the opposition a turn. The director then stated that only four topics would be discussed that evening namely issues related water, potholes, electricity and waste management.

It was then announced that certain representatives of certain groups within the community would express their concerns over issues which they would like answers to including the incomplete draft IDP and issues related to the budget. None of the above was communicated adequately to the residents ahead of the meeting which led to many of them walking out of the hall and returning home.

The meeting was planned to end by 19:00, but by 20:00 that evening there were less than 80 community members left in the hall, most of them residents from the Flora Park area. In fact, even one of the opposition councillors had left an hour before the conclusion of the meeting.

Suffice to say, the community was not pleased and left feeling disappointed in their leadership as they were never afforded the answers to the only issues they really wanted clarity on. The event had turned into yet another political game play with no real decisions taken on the evening except that the Mayor promised to give the two DA councillors for Ward 14 and 15 instruction to organize separate meetings exclusively dedicated to electrical concerns on dates still to be announced.

Opedag lok toekomstige Vossies

■

Roelof de Jonge

‘n Groot aantal Graad 7 leerders vanuit Tzaneen asook omliggende laerskole wie beplan om toekomstig hul skoolloopbaan by die Hoërskool Ben Vorster voort te sit en af te sluit, het verlede week besoek aan die Buffelkraal se jaarlikse Opedag geleentheid afgelê.

Die hoof van die skool, Jan van Staden en die beheerligaamvoorsitter, Eddie Vorster, tesame met die bestuur en personeel van die Vossies asook met die hulp van die Studente Raad, het reggestaan om die toekomstige nuwelinge te verwelkom.

Hullehetdiebesoekersondermeerrondgewys op die Buffelkraal se ter-rein en touwys gemaak van al die spogtoekennings wat die skool op die akademiese, kultuur, sport en kuns behaal het.

Ben Vorster se personeel en leerders het behoorlik uitgehang met die verskeidenheid van spoggerige en inligtingsvolle uitstallings en het ondermeer die verskeie vakkeuses sowel as verskeidenheid van sportsoorte uitgebeeld wat die Vossies aanbied. Nie eens om van te praat van al die spog fasiliteite wat die skool bied nie.

Die Opedag geleentheid was oor twee dae gehou, Donderdag die 11de en Vrydag die 12de Mei. Die eerste dag se geleentheid was vir Engelssprekende leerders en die tweede dag het die toekomstige Afrikaanse leerders in Vossie-kontrei kom kuier.

Afgesien van die welkome gesindheid en wenkultuur van die Vossies, het die besoekende leerders gou geleer dat so tussen die akademie en sport word daar ook tyd gemaak vir pret en plesier.

Na hul wandeling deur die Buffelkraal se terrein en besigtiging van al die fasiliteite wat op op die rugbyveld vertoon was, het hulle die besoek op ‘n prettige noot afgesluit deur op die opgeblaasde waterglybaan in ‘n poel water te plons en af te koel.

Die skool se snoepie is allermins te versmaai en tientalle van die besoekers het hier vasgehaak om van die smullekker eetgoed te koop. Wat terloops deesdae deur Tzaneen se gewilde Adam’s Café bedryf word en steeds dieselfde smullighede te koop aanbied, vir ‘n winskoop.

As al die uitnemende fasiliteite sowel as die bestuur, personeel en al die leerders van Ben Vorster nie genoeg is om die nuwelinge te oortuig om volgende jaar hul skoolloopbaan by die ‘Stry tot Oorwinning’-kultuur voort te sit nie, dan was die snoepie met sy aanloklikke smullighede dalk die laaste die kersie op die koek om hulle te oortuig.

Ritmiese Ilé huppel goud los

■ Roelof de Jonge

Die gimnaste van Infinite Gymnastics onder die bekwame afrigting van Ezri Hugo het Saterdag die 13de Mei na weke se voorbereiding hul vernuftigheid gewys toe hulle aan ‘n ritmiese-kompetisie deelgeneem het.

Hierdie meisies gimnaste het nie net vir dowe neute vir hierdie kompetisie opgetooi en met fraai grimeerde gesiggies rondgehuppel nie. Dit was inteendeel ernstige sake vir die Infinite gimnaste.

Dié geleentheid was immers ‘n kans om vir die opkomende Limpopo Ritmiese Kampioenskap later vanjaar te kwalifiseer. Hulle het die toets met vlieënde vaandels geslaag.

Limpopo boxing has been the unrecognized stepchild of the sporting codes in the province for more than three decades. But that all changed a year ago when two former pro-boxers took hands and started a journey that would see the tiny agricultural town of Tzaneen win the bid to host the 2023 SANABO National Boxing Championships for Youth

SPORT OF THE KINGS

ROCKS PHALAHOLLYWOOD

first “Sport of Kings” tournament in Phalaborwa over the weekend.

Both men are former boxers turned coaches and both are heavily involved in the development of the sport in the province. Both also serve as coaches and mentors to the boxers in the Limpopo team, and both have worked exceptionally hard to ensure that their province and the talent hidden within

the last punch thrown just after 20:30 that evening, just ahead of the scheduled loadshedding. The event was also streamed live to boxing fans across the country. Perhaps most remarkable was the boxers’ dedication to their sport which saw them physically constructing and deconstructing the boxing ring after the final fight, and loading it back on the trailer to be returned to its home in Tzaneen.

“We had a fantastic tournament, and it was inspiring to the boxers, some of whom had their very first fight of their ment with which the crowds cheered them on,” said Maswanganyi. “If you look at how the sport has taken off over the past year, and you see the dedication

ing teams, there can be no doubt that the Nationals will be a massive success when it hits Tzaneen in

■ Joe Dreyer