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Independent Namib
Tel: 064 200497
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Issue 177 - Thurs, 03 Dec 2015 to Wed, 09 Dec 2015
"We have put all possible measures in place and every officer is prepared to handle every situation. We stand ready to serve the community and holiday makers alike."
Diamond Arrow Winner Best Community Newspaper 2014
Seeing the smiles on these children’s faces makes all the hard work worth it. Group Corporate Social Investment Coordinator of Ohlthaver & List (O&L), Venessa Mwiya, on the Christmas Party held for orphans and vulnerable children at the coast.
Sergeant Eleni Shapumba, Community Affairs Officer of the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region, commenting on crime prevention during the upcoming festive season. See Page 1 & 3
See Page 8
Medical Aid Supplement
See Pages 9 - 11
Voting week-end attracts visitors to the coast. Whilst Friday's declared voting public holiday drew lower numbers than expected at the voting polls, the long week-end, coupled with pay day and some good beach weather, attracted droves of visitors to the coast where a good time was had by all. Pubs, restaurants, bottle stores, shops, hotels and B&B's did a roaring trade, as people soaked up a much needed early festive atmosphere. The Swakopmund Mole was also a hive of activity with the new Strand Hotel, where families hung out at the pavement cafes whilst, their children enjoyed the swings and playground activities. Pictured here three kiddies all the way from Katima Mulilo enjoying some fun in the sun. (Photo Donna Collins)
Welwitschia Hospital’s Stern warning at the
new theatre wing in operation Donna Collins The recently completed N$12-million hightech theatre wing of Welwitschia Hospital is up and running, and the brand new facilities have already been put to good use with a number of
operations successfully carried out. Filling the growing medical needs of Walvis Bay population, and the demands from the expanding industrial sector, Welwitschia Hospital has provided three world class operating theatres, as more
patients seek the care of medical specialists. Speaking to Gareth Smith (Hospital Manager), he claimed that building of this 650 sq metres theatre block started construction in June 2014, and that the expansion and advancement of medical facilities in the harbour town, couldn't have come at a better time.
"This new theatre wing will certainly allow us to take on bigger cases, with our next step to establish an ICU unit, which Walvis Bay currently does not have," said Smith mentioning that the facility will draw more surgeons to Walvis Bay and has already attracted a new paediatrician, general surgeon as well as GPs.
Continued on Page 3
onset of the festive season Niel Terblanche
With the holiday season at hand, the Namibian Police in the Erongo region has warned that an attitude of zero tolerance towards crime of any sort will prevail. Sergeant Eleni Shapumba, Community Affairs Officer, gave this stern warning on behalf of the top command structure of the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region. With incidents like the gruesome accident during the last holiday season
where seven people died on the outskirts of Henties Bay still fresh in the memory of every Namibian, and the surviving driver of one of the vehicles accused of murder, Sergeant Shapumba said residents of the coast and visitors should redouble their vigilance. “This time of the year always sees a rise in crimes like housebreaking and theft. Alcohol related crime also rises during this time. Abuse of alcohol leads to traffic accidents which almost always end in tragedy.” Continued on Page 3
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Contact Us
Thursday, 03 December 2015
Savva family donates big
Tel (+264 64) 200 497 Email info@namibindependent.com.na Sales Sharon Brooks 081 394 1235 sharon@namibindependent.com.na Rita Potgieter 081 150 5455 rita@namibindependent.com.na Gareth Amos 081 129 2157 gareth@namibindependent.com.na Editorial Niel Terblanche 081 776 7076 niel@namibindependent.com.na Design Maggie’s Attic Graphic Design sonya4maggiesattic@gmail.com 081 129 2158 Address 127 Theo Ben Gurirab Street (MVA Office Complex), PO Box 5085, Walvis Bay, Namibia Disclaimer: Namib Independent is published by Halfround Communications CC. All rights are reserved. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within, no liability can be accepted by the publishers or contributors for any errors, misstatements or omissions which may have occurred. The opinions expressed in the publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Also, the publishers accept no legal liability regarding copyright ownership for material which was supplied directly to the publishers by any of the advertisers or contributors.
The outgoing Mayor of Walvis Bay, Mrs. Uilika Nambahu, the principal of the Kuisebmond Secondary School and Mrs Roulla Savva during a hand over ceremony of money pledged towards the Mayoral Fund. The Savva family pledged and donated N$50 000 towards the fund as well as N$50 000 towards the construction of a new multipurpose hall at the school. Niel Terblanche A well-known business personality and hotelier in Walvis Bay has pledged to donate a large sum of money towards the Walvis Bay Mayoral Fund at a recent gala dinner held to swell its coffers.
Mr John Savva represented by his wife, Mrs Roulla Savva, handed a check of N$50 000 to the Mayor of Walvis Bay, Mrs. Uilika Nambahu, and said education of young people the key to the future. Mrs Savva said education is vital for Namibia to reach its development goals and said the current and the future mayor should
keep that idea in mind when donating from the Mayoral Fund. “The Savva Family believes in this principle and sees education as a priority. The Kuisebmond Secondary School needs a new all-purpose hall to accommodate an ever increasing number of learners each year.” In this regard the Savva family donated a further N$50 000 to the principal of the school to further strengthen the building fund of the new all-purpose hall currently being constructed at the school. The Mayor accepted the donation and said that she would donate N$15 000 from the Mayoral Fund towards the school. The donation will go to the feeding scheme running at the school when learners are not on holiday. “Being a teacher as well as one of the people involved with the school from its very beginning more than 30 years ago, the donation from the Savva family and other business personalities around the town of Walvis Bay makes me very happy. The business has always come to the aid of this project and others like it and it is good to know that the residents of the town still care enough for each other to make such projects tangible.” Mrs Nambahu said that the feeding scheme was created to assist learners from a very poor background to be able to concentrate properly when in school. “A hungry student is not able to concentrate in class and benefit from education if they are sitting in class. The money donated will assist learners to achieve their education goals. This project must grow along with the ever increasing number of students attending school and as the patron of the school I support it whole heartedly.” The principal of the Kuisebmond Secondary School, Mr. Sedekia Gotlieb said the construction of the hall is of vital importance. He said the hall is used to accommodate learners who need extra classes and also those that have to write external exams. “I am humbled by the gesture of both the Mayor and the Savva family. I know this school is not the only one the family has supported in this way and we as a community commend and thank you for your open hearts and open hands.” Mr Gotlieb said that, once completed, the hall will be able to accommodate 1 000 students and that it will not only be used to for assemblies. It will be an all-purpose centre which could be used for many different roles in education. He said construction has already started and that the total cost of the project would be around N$2 million once completed. “We still have a long way to go with the hall. It still needs a roof and floors and we will start plastering and painting the building soon. It also still needs windows and doors.” He said the hall has been constructed with funds solicited from the public and residents of Walvis Bay. He said that the Ministry of Education has not put the project down as a priority and ever since construction started the school only received 40 bags of cement from the Government. The Mayor said at the end of the ceremony that she is grateful for the assistance and that the handover of the funds might just be one of the very last official public duties she has to fulfil. She said she was grateful for the chance to serve as mayor because she learned a lot about the diversity of the people living in the various communities that form the larger society of Walvis Bay.
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Thursday, 03 December 2015
3
Welwitschia Hospital’s new Stern warning at the
theatre wing in operation onset of the festive season
Continued from Page 1 In addition to attracting the medical fraternity, Welwitschia Hospital has also created new job opportunities through their new facility, including theatre nursing sisters, general admin staff and cleaners. "This new operating wing is a milestone for the medical world in Walvis Bay, which will enable us to perform other complex operations and more of them," he explained. "The size of the theatres themselves are much bigger, the equipment is more advanced with high-tech fitments specifications, elevating the hospital's capacity to a much higher standard." The new Welwitschia Hospital theatre block which adjoins the back wing of the existing hospital, comprises three new operating theatres with recovery area, reception area and rest facilities for doctors and staff plus a central
sterilising department. Added to the new general operating theatre and eye theatre, is the 'Laminar Flow' theatre, with its special ceiling ventilation ceiling system. This world standard facility is particularly useful to orthopaedic surgeons, gynaecologist and other specialists as it lowers the risk of infection whilst on the operating table, and meets the highest demands for hygienic and working conditions. All three operating theatres are fitted with state-of-the-art equipment, such as anaesthetic machines, monitoring and ventilation care systems, endoscopic (keyhole) surgery equipment and advanced operating lighting systems to mention some. "It was becoming evident that our two former facilities were too small for the growing demand of the public," said Smith, adding that they also have to keep abreast with the
Welwitschia Hospital the private facility in Walvis Bay has just completed a N$12-million multiple theatre wing
Continued from Page 1
Sergeant Eleni Shapumba, Community Affairs Officer of the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region. Gareth Smith (Welwitschia Hospital Manager) stands outside the new theatre block. (Photo Donna Collins) international equipment and technology for the advancing needs of specialised surgeries. "But we can't just stop there, and ultimately want our own ICU facility. If all goes according plan we will utilise the old theatre space for this purpose, whilst plans to build are in the pipeline." Smith also said that the hospital is well and truly geared for the onslaught of the upcoming holiday season, and will now be in a better position to deal with accident victims and other severe injuries. He said more surgeons can make use of the facilities so there won't be delays in assisting patients. As a result of providing these modern new surgical facilities, General Practitioners in town will have a wider scope of specialists to send their patients to, whilst general surgeons will also be able to make use of this new theatre block. "The hospital will be open 24-hours with our casualty department and doctors on call round the clock."
Sergeant Shapumba said crime of any kind should be reported to the Namibian Police without delay. “Members of the Police will not be able to combat crime effectively without the assistance of the general public. Without the public, officers will not able to respond quickly and effectively. It is the duty of every Namibian to ensure that everybody experiences a safe and secure holiday.” He was of the opinion that every member of the community should identify criminals and any criminal activity. He said it was equally important for the public to identify criminals without fear. “If criminals are not identified and reported to the police the holiday season might be spoiled for local residents and visitors alike. Every person that will have time off during the festive season would like to spend it with family and friends. If everyone does so responsibly, the region could be a safe haven to do so.” Sergeant Shapumba also warned against scams where people lose their hard earned cash through fraudulent schemes perpetrated by
criminals. “Fraudsters never sleep and they are able to adapt to any situation. They use old methods and everyday new methods are being detected by members of the public. This does not mean that fraudsters will only use the newest and most effective methods to solicit money from unsuspecting people. They use every method in their arsenal and people should be vigilant.” He said if it sounds too good to be true it usually is and that is when people become the victims of a scam. Sergeant Shapumba said the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region have prepared themselves for a busy holiday season. “We have put all possible measures in place and every officer is prepared to handle every situation. We stand ready to serve the community and holiday makers alike. People can be assured that the police will be there when ever needed.” He wished every coastal resident and visitor a happy holiday and a prosperous new year and warned that everybody should do the right thing without being told or warned to do so.
The Dome goes up in lights The Dome, Swakopmund, put the final adjustment in place this week, to reveal their new logo. The signage was produced in South Africa, and delivered to the team from Printworx who were appointed to carry out the installation on the front of the building. The Dome Management Team is thrilled with the final result and,
in the next few days, the finishing touches will be made to the walls and the electrical connections will be put in place and the sign will be lit for the first time. The new landmark building in Swakopmund will certainly make a statement this coming December, with lots of events in place to share the festive season with summertime visitors to this seaside holiday resort. (Photo Xenia Ivonoff-Erb)
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News
Thursday, 03 December 2015
Residents do it themselves
With limited funds and loads of determination one of Walvis Bay’s many public parks has undergone a beautification process over the past few weeks. The Lagoon Park, between Peter Dixon and Paul Vincent Street, is a public park that lies in the centre of a well-established residential area and is used by residents within the area as well as others, bringing their
children to the play park. “With the park being quite large and in need of some desperately needed tender loving care, we, as the community, saw the opportunity to work together to upgrade this park and make it an inclusive park for every individual. With the Municipality, sponsors, interested individuals and lots of hard work, this project finally became a reality
and with the number of children and adults currently visiting the park, the project is a sure success!” Said one of the residents working on the project. With limited funds being available, the onus was on the public and community to contribute towards making this project a success. At first hesitant, but then seeing progress in the park and
a slow, yet beautiful transformation happening, more sponsors came onboard to make the initial estimated improvement budget nearly double from N$42 000 to N$75 000. Public spaces play a vital role in the social and economic life of communities and provide opportunities for social interaction, social mixing and social inclusion, and can facilitate the development of community ties. By means of a scheduled volunteers’ day that happened on 28 November in the park, the aim was for young and old to come together and assist in finalising the finishing touches of the park. All preparation work was done upfront with painting and planting left for all. The weather was on our side and slowly the volunteers trickled in to get their hands dirty. The park now boasts an outdoor gym and stretching area, a variety of play equipment and a large picnic and outdoor sports area with built-in seating and shading as well as lighting during evening hours. Sufficient parking is available around the park. For those visiting the park, please take good care of the play equipment, plants and other items. We need to be proud of what we have and respect the hard work in making this a beautiful park, however it will not remain beautiful if we do not
appreciate and respect people’s efforts to beautify. Keep an eye on the park for future upgrades and events planned to ensure the park becomes feasible to maintain and is there to last! This project would not have happened at this grand scale, without dedicated sponsors and people who care. A special note of thanks needs to go to Erongo Red, who have been very forthcoming throughout the project. We only asked them to upgrade (paint) the substation, yet they took further initiative in sponsoring the new play equipment provided by Jungle Gym Junction as well as moving all street lights around the park, closer to the park with spotlights, ensuring the park is beautifully lit at night. “We cannot go without thanking all who made it possible including Namibia Fishmeal Processors, Ondengu Construction, Municipality of Walvis Bay and Wycliff our dedicated gardener, Family Louw, Family Muatunga, Family Borruso, Family de Witt, Members of the Lagoon Mansions, Skeleton Coast Marine, Andrea Leech Graphic Design, Super Sports, Telecom Namibia, Westcoast Joinery, Baart Transport, Plascon and Erongo Red.”
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Thursday, 03 December 2015
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Walvis Bay Stevedoring Happy holidays with raises the bar low fuel prices
A special hopper received by Walvis Bay Stevedoring is the first of its kind in the port of Walvis Bay. The hopper was designed by an in-house team and manufactured in South Africa. This innovative design is aimed at improving the efficiency of grain and other granular transfers from vessels to trucks and trains. The old hoppers that are used in Walvis Bay port still date from the 1970s and were very difficult and unsafe to manoeuvre. The new hopper design comprises a square funnel mounted on a push frame with enhanced safety features. Built to the tune of N$750,000, the hopper is the most modern of its kind in the port with a six meter by six meter wide intake funnel and additional outflow chutes that allow
for the flow of grains and other granular substances to a truck and train wagons simultaneously. The hopper sports walk ramps, safer and comfortable access for operators, and easier access to valves and improved flow control. "The most significant improvement on this hopper is the ease at which it can be handled and moved. The older hoppers were very cumbersome to move around and one had to use a number of forklifts and clever manoeuvring to get in place. This was a very time consuming process. With the new frame mounted hopper it’s like pushing a wheelbarrow. We use one 10 ton forklift to lift the one side and simply push it in position. Easy, and in no time at all," said Ian Foster, the WBS operations manager.
The hopper will be used for the current grain imports to transfer grain from ships' hulls to trucks and trains, and will greatly improve efficiency of this type of loading. "The hopper also comes with an extended mouth-frame to provide for a wider intake and less spillage. Apart from that, the chute for truck loading, is telescopic! Which means less spillage. It is by far the most advanced hopper we've seen to date, and proudly designed by Walvis Bay Stevedoring," added Ian. The hopper was shipped on the Macs vessel, Green Mountain. A few years ago Walvis Bay Stevedoring also acquired a much needed gooseneck, while its modern fleet of forklifts, cranes and other lifting equipment are highly sought after for rental purposes.
Holiday makers planning to travel to destinations far and wide over the festive season have gotten a little break from paying exorbitant prices for fuel, at least for the coming month. The Ministry of Mines and Energy announced that fuel pump prices for December 2015 will remain unchanged. The Average Freight Rate Assessment (AFRA) applicable to Namibia dropped by 5.23% as measured against the AFRA value of the preceding period. An AFRA decrease normally has a positive effect on the recoveries on the regulated prices of fuel products and a downward effect on the general fuel pump prices and vice versa. Unleaded Petrol 95 traded at an average price of US$57.914 per barrel for the preceeding period. This represents a decrease of 5.36% in the price for ULP 95. Furthermore, Diesel 500 ppm traded at an average of US$ 56.964 per barrel for the preceding period. This represents a decrease of 3.73% in the BBL price for Diesel 500 ppm. Moreover, Diesel 50 ppm traded at an average price of US$57.763/ BBL for the preceding period. This represents a decrease of 3.35% in the barrel price for Diesel 50 ppm. “The analysis indicates import
A GARDEN & AN EXTRA ROOM PERFECT FOR THE GRANDCHILDREN
price stability for refined hydrocarbons since barrel prices came down by very low margins. Therefore, the over recoveries recorded on all the products are too low to warrant any adjustments.” The pump prices for Walvis Bay will remain as follows: • 95 Octane Unleaded Petrol will sell at N$10.49 per liter, • Diesel 500ppm at N$10.42 per liter and • Diesel 50ppm will be sold at N$10.52 per liter. Petrol and diesel pump prices at various inland destinations countrywide will also remain unchanged.
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Thursday, 03 December 2015
Natural cereal plans to innovate Namibian food
Food for thought. Development Bank of Namibia Communication Manager Jerome Mutumba says recent runners-up in the 2015 Innovation Awards show that there is potential to innovate with local foodstuffs. Although Namibian foods are popular choices in homes and a growing number of restaurants, the range of off-theshelf manufactured foodstuffs is limited, with the exception of milled mahango. Although demand for local foodstuffs is clear, there is limited impetus in
developing locally manufactured foods. Oshuulo Trading Enterprises, a recipient of a Merit Certificate in the recent Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) Innovation awards, hopes to buck the trend with a range of canned black beans, known as Okalunya, and a canned beaned
relish known as Oshigali, which is eaten as a porridge, or as a relish for mahangu or maize porridge. BIA Investments, also a recipient of an Innovation Award Certificate of Merit, proposed a product in the food manufacturing category, a packaged, flavoured breakfast cereal manufactured from mahangu. Speaking about the projects, DBN Manager of Corporate Communication says the plans have sound potential development impact in terms of the national GrowthAt-Home Strategy. He says that greater demand for the locally grown beans and mahango will stimulate additional agricultural production, particularly in regions where they are traditional crops. Talking about sustainability of supply, Mutumba says that the initiatives are not expected to reduce supply in areas where they are staples or mainstay crops, but that they will stimulate additional horticultural activity. He points to the widespread uptake of existing packaged, milled mahango as proof. The new products, he says, will translate into additional income generation and seasonal employment in rural communal areas. Greater demand for Okalunya, he says, will enable rural communal horticulturalists to diversify their
Announcement DBN ceases lending to SMEs With effect from 1 November 2015, the Development Bank of Namibia Limited will not consider loan applications from enterprises or business projects with a turnover of less than N$10 million per annum or a staff complement of between 31 and 100 employees. The decision is prompted by growing capacity in the field of SME lending, particularly the emergence of the SME Bank. The Bank will now focus on larger enterprises particularly in the key sectors and strategic intervention areas which are aligned to the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP4) and Growth at Home Strategy. The SME Bank is now charged with the responsibility of financing and supporting SMEs. Current SME clients who have received finance from the Development Bank of Namibia will remain with the Bank.
incomes with attendant benefits for income security. Mutumba notes that the projects will fulfill the requirement of employment by employing a combination of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour alongside appropriate technology for producing high-quality manufactured foods. Talking about possible markets for the product Mutumba says that the project promoters have done their homework in identifying retail trade as well as government institutions, as probable sources of demand. Mutumba notes however that traditional Namibian foods need a different marketing approach. He says that many crops are either unique to a set of regions, or that food commodities are prepared in different manners unique to their regions. He says that because of entrenched preparation preferences, the most likely food marketing strategy has to balance its provision between marketing in an area where the dish is already well-known, and then target
migrant populations from those areas, before expecting spread to other consumers. This, Mutumba says, indicates that food manufacturers, should opt for low start-up investments, and a strategy that opts for steady growth. Mutumba adds that one of the major barriers to local food-manufacturing and marketing is the large local retailer who mitigates retail risk by stocking a range of imported products which are known to sell well, rather than assigning presence to local brands which may have a lower turnover at introduction, but that grow over time. In this regard, Mutumba says, commercially milled mahangu is a clear example that local staples can succeed in Namibian retail environments. Mutumba concludes by saying that there is definitely demand for the convenience of manufactured foodstuffs, and that demand will definitely be seen in retail, but that local manufacturers and retailers have to cooperate in a leap of faith to ensure that it has benefits for all.
Merger creates huge transport fleet The merger between transport giants, FP du Toit and Walvis Bay-based Wesbank Transport earlier this year created one of the biggest transport conglomerates in southern Africa, with combined annual revenue exceeding N$750 million. The former Wesbank Transport, now operating under the FP du Toit banner, is the only carrier that provides specialised transport for hazardous cargo destined to and from mining operations in the Erongo Region. Based in Walvis Bay and with depots in Windhoek, Johannesburg and Cape Town, the FP du Toit group of companies has gained international cyanide certification. The outfit is also registered with the National Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) as an approved carrier for radioactive materials. The carrier is subject to inspections by authorised personnel as well as the NRPA to ensure compliance with prescribed standards and safety procedures. With a combined staff compliment of 1000 employees, FP du Toit and Wesbank currently supply three of the large mining groups, transporting chemicals such as sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate and peroxide. According to Short Haul Manager, CornĂŠ Kruger, the merging of Wesbank and FP du Toit was a smooth transition since the operations of the two companies complement each other. "It's been three months since the new General Manager, Johan Coetzee's appointment," he said. Pneumatic tankers and trailers handled
by certified and specially trained operators ensure that hazardous material reaches its destination safely. In the event of a chemical spill, Wesbank Transport's fleet also has an emergency trailer equipped with specialised equipment. "The mere fact that 80% of the employees are working for 8 years and longer is an indication that they are the most valued asset of the company," Kruger said, adding that since Wesbank Transport was bought by FP du Toit Transport and is now part of the FP du Toit Group, operations have not been influenced at all except for branding changes that are currently in progress." "Wesbank Transport has grown its container volumes from 800 to about 3000 containers a month in the last five years with a market share of 62% in Walvis Bay alone." The company is also the only transport company permitted to transport uranium, Kruger said. The uranium price drop had a large influence as the volumes transported dropped tremendously. The arrival of other transport companies in Walvis Bay because of its proximity to the port also reduced volumes for a few months, Kruger added. "Since Wesbank Transport is now not just doing transport only, but consolidation, distribution, logistics and storage services, warehousing and material handling, companies realised that it's better doing business with companies who provide fast, reliable, efficient, cost-effective and quality service." he said.
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Thursday, 03 December 2015
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Thursday, 03 December 2015
Swakop Uranium donates school uniforms to Primary School Learners
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Eighty learners from two primary schools in Swakopmund recently received school uniforms donated by the Swakop Uranium Foundation. The uniforms which consisted of trousers, shirts and jerseys were purchased to the value of N$20,000 for approximately 80 learners from the Vrede Rede and Festus !Gonteb primary schools based in Swakopmund, as part of the ‘Back to School’ campaign. The Swakopmund Town Council contributed an additional N$5,000 towards the campaign. Handing over the donation Swakop Uranium Director: Business Support Yang Gang said: “It has come to our attention that there are a significant number of under-privileged children in Swakopmund whose parents often struggle to provide them with the necessary basic school essentials such as school uniforms. When the basic needs of a child are met, this allows the child to learn better without feeling uncomfortable or out of place,” he explained. Yang said the primary concern of these learners should be to study and pass their examinations so that they can have a better life in the future. Following consultations with officials from the Swakopmund Municipality, the Swakop Uranium Foundation decided to launch a ‘Back to School campaign’ to address these needs, he said. Explaining the process, he said the Municipality identified the most needy schools, Vrede Rede and Festus !Gonteb primary schools and met with the school principals to identify the students who needed assistance. Added Yang: “Some of the students are here today and I hope that they will start 2016 in their new gear with a more positive outlook on their future.” This donation falls under the pillar of Education and Childhood
Development, he said. At the event, Special Advisor to the Erongo Regional Governor, Adelheid Kandjala, on behalf of Governor Cleophas Mutjivikua, said the Office of the Erongo Regional Governor is committed to the upliftment of the people of the region and especially the provision of education which is the first step to success. “Through focused efforts, we resolve to support the education sector in setting high standards and maintaining education excellence in the region,” she said. Kandjala said the Namibian Government relies on the support of the private sector to address the country’s education needs as the key strategy to eradicate poverty is education and skills development. The Office of the Erongo Regional Governor thus appreciates the commitment by the Swakop Uranium Foundation in identifying areas of need and addressing these with the necessary resources, she added. “The donation you hand over today will lessen the financial burden on the parents of disadvantaged learners from our community,” she said. Speaking at the same occasion, Swakopmund Mayor, Nehemia Salomon, said Council warmheartedly embraced the partnership and is pleased to put a smile on the face of the learners of the two identified primary schools within the Swakopmund community. “Within our community, there are under privileged learners whose parents cannot afford to buy new school uniforms each year and as result, the learners wear uniforms that are torn and old year after year,” he said. He said a school uniform is a badge of pride, and creates an identity for schools, while it is an important part of being a school learner. “Uniforms give learners a sense of belonging to a particular school and create an identity for the school in the community," the Mayor said.
Medical Aid Supplement
Thursday, 03 December 2015
9
Medical Aid – can you take it or leave it? Most people believe that they are impervious to injury and that they are immortal. While you may disagree with this statement the statistics don’t lie. The majority of the population is severely underfunded for life risks such as critical illness, disability and premature death. Very few people skip through the journey of life without facing some kind of medical calamity. While we all know that a good medical aid should be non-negotiable, our income may not be able to sustain the premiums. In a perfect world, our risk portfolio would include medical aid, life cover, disability cover, income protection, critical illness cover and short term insurance. Add the total cost of premiums on this suite of products and we could easily be looking at a price tag of N$8500 –N$10, 000 per month. If we assume a marginal tax rate of 40%, then we would need to earn around N$16, 000 per month just to foot this bill. The million dollar question is - which product do you leave out if you can’t afford everything? There is no easy answer because we are faced with risks every day. A financial planner may be able to help you mitigate risks with limited resources, however the consensus is that a medical aid should take centre stage. Most people have no clue what medical care costs beyond the occasional bottle of cough mixture. Costs only become apparent when they are faced with an emergency. A broken arm can cost N$10,000 to fix, a femur, N$30,000 to N$50,000, and type 1 diabetes medication can cost N$750 – N$2500
per month. Should you need a heart bypass you will have to find N$300,000 and for a heart transplant you will need a cool N$ 1.7 million. Just one medical emergency can wipe out a lifetime of savings, or worse still, put an individual in severe debt. So you need a medical aid, the question is which one? There are a whole bunch of different products on the market and it is no wonder that we get confused. If you do not understand how these products work and the relevance to you as an individual, you may end up with a product that is not worth a band aid. Medical aid companies are well aware of the fact that if you are young and healthy, they will be collecting money for jam because you will rarely claim. You know this too, so you may decide to wait until your 30s or 40’s before you sign up. This is an expensive mistake. If you apply after the age of 35 you will be charged what the industry refers to as a “Late Joiner Fee”. This translates to a loading on your monthly premium each month, to make up for the fact that you have not contributed to the pool. These penalties can range from 5% of contributions to 75%. The fees are imposed at the discretion of the medical aid company and apply to all types of medical aid plans, including
hospital plans. To make a medical aid payment less annoying the good news is that you can reduce your premium by adopting certain behaviours. Most medical aid companies reward us if we look after ourselves. Your cigarette and whiskey habit is going to cost you. If you are a shark whisperer, Everest sharper, or bounty hunter expect to pay more than your desk bound peers. If you are young, healthy and
have no dependants, you do not require a full medical aid – a simple hospital plan will be sufficient. It will cover costs related to any injury or disease that would require hospitalisation. For out of hospital expenses it would be wise to set up a medical savings plan. A full medical aid is important as you get older or have dependants. Children’s runny noses and scrapes can cause your bills to do some running of their own. A
comprehensive medical aid covers costs such as medicine, doctor’s visits, dental work and optometry. Having all the facts at hand and asking the right questions will enable potential members to be better positioned to find the right healthcare cover that suits both their wallet and lifestyle, so do not be afraid to ask questions and compare the services of all the Medical Aid schemes to figure out which is best for you.
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We’re about you
10
Medical Aid Supplement
Thursday, 03 December 2015
How do medical schemes work? www.insurancefundi.co.za
Have you ever wondered if you are being overcharged by your medical aid scheme? I mean you pay and you pay, and it always seems as if you have to pay in, am I right? I thought it would be pretty cool to know how they calculate your cost and what you get in return. So let us dive right in, shall we? Medical aid plans or health insurance like any other form of insurance is a form of collectivism. “A form of what?” I hear you say. It sounds like Greek, but let me explain. It simply means people collectively pool their risk. In the case of medical aid schemes, we pool our risk against the very real likelihood of incurring medical expenses that we would otherwise find difficult to pay out of our own pocket (I have one client who’s stay in intensive care cost R16, 000 for the air mattress alone!) It is strength in numbers – that is the key in this formula. The premiums (money you contribute) for your healthcare plan each and every month gets pooled with all the other member contributions. Together this forms a gigantic cash pot from which the medical aid fund pays out claims. How do they know how much money is needed to cover healthcare expenses? It is like your company budget – what did we spend last year and what is the shortfall for this year?
To meet budget we must either sell more • Reduce our cost, or • Increase our prices
Here is how a medical aid scheme works the budget: Medical Aid schemes estimate the overall annual risk of its member’s healthcare expenses. They do this by looking at past history and expected increases in the cost of medical treatment moving forward. Then they set up a finance structure (your monthly premium) to ensure that sufficient money is available to pay for the healthcare benefits which they plan on selling to you. In simple terms they analyze how much their members claim, what they claim for, and the cost of the healthcare treatment. They then know what to charge members in terms of premiums for coverage. The higher level of coverage you require the more you pay. That makes sense because if you want access to a bigger part of the accumulated medical scheme cash pot, your contribution towards it needs to be bigger. If you are wanting access to a smaller part of the pot, your contribution needs to be smaller. That is also why you cannot upgrade during the year. Each year around the end of November they release their premium increases for the coming year. How the medical scheme was able to control expenses during the past year will determine how much
more they are going to charge the following year. Oh and do not forget another important factor which influences annual increases – How many members left and joined the scheme. If medical aid schemes are losing members, they either need to reduce benefits across the board or seriously hike up premiums. Are they allowed to make a profit? No. Every cent in the scheme must be accounted for by the board of trustees. They are essentially a non profit organisation (NPO) with no shareholders. Any profit must be carried over to the next year. The company handling the administration of the scheme is allowed to charge a fee for services rendered though. What does my contribution to the scheme pay? The bulk of the premium is used to cover hospitilization because this is the major risk area. More and more medical aids are going the route of splitting your contribution into a portion that pays for ‘in’ and ‘out’ of hospital medical costs. In hospital expenses would be any treatment you received while admitted into hospital. An out-of-hospital expense would be things like: • Doctors and dentists • Over the counter (OTC) medication from a pharmacy, and • a visit every now and again to
your optometrist. Most medical aids go the route of providing you with an MSA (Medical Savings Account) to fund your dayto-day or out-of-hospital expenses. A portion of your monthly premium is allocated to this and from which you then pay your expenses. You get to control this money yourself. Are any benefits limited? Yes. Some benefits are always limited because there is not an endless supply of money available within the scheme. The benefits and limits will be based on the medical aid plan type that you have chosen. Like I mentioned earlier, your coverage will be dependent on your contribution towards the scheme. The more comprehensive the medical aid plan the better the benefits, and the
more you are going to pay. The less comprehensive the plan type, the less you will pay and fewer benefits will be available to you. There are certain benefits that everyone claims for heavily on medical aid schemes and these benefits are almost always capped. Let us take dentistry for an example. Firstly it is an expensive medical procedure and every member wants healthy teeth. The medical aid scheme however cannot simply pay every claim that gets submitted for dentistry. They would simply go bankrupt. The scheme allocates a certain amount of money to dentistry based on the plan type you have chosen and limits the total spend on dentistry across the scheme annually.
MEDICAL AID COVER ARE YOU COVERED, HOW DOES IT WORK, WHAT ARE THE MONTHLY COSTS, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PAY CLAIMS, IS THE CLIENT SERVICE EFFICIENT, WHO REGULATES THE FUND, WHO ARE THE TRUSTEES WHO REPRESENT AND PROTECT MY INTERESTS AND AM I JUST ANOTHER NUMBER?
HERITAGE HEALTH MEDICAL AID FUND Heritage Health Medical Aid Fund has been established to address your healthcare needs in a unique and cost efficient manner AND are the FIRST and the ONLY medical aid fund to pay at 100% of the actual costs being charged. All the other Funds pay at an agreed tariff resulting in you to pay the difference between that which the Fund pays and what the healthcare provider charges and which is an additional cost to your monthly contribution. It also is the ONLY Fund with the only copayment being applicable to chronic medication and which is 15%. No co-payments on acute medication etcetera. Our monthly contributions are competitive. We have weekly payments of claims to healthcare providers whether in Namibia or in South Africa including to members. We provide you with access to your portfolio via our website to enable you to view your available benefits, payments of claims and all other relevant information. The Trustees are trained to take care of your interests and to ensure that all regulatory requirements are adhered to. The Fund is regulated by NAMFISA, duly established to protect the interests of the industry. We cover employees with employer groups, individuals and families. WHY not join Heritage Health Medical Aid Fund for 2016 - we CARE about YOU as your health is important to us.
Heritage Square, 100 Robert Mugabe Avenue Office 2, Ground Floor Box 23091, Windhoek, Namibia T: +264 61 230213 / 230226 F: +264 61 271287 www.heritagehealth-namibia.com
Thursday, 03 December 2015
NMC Increases Self-Medication Benefit By 20% The NMC Board of Trustees recently approved a 20% increase in self-medication benefits and daily limits for 2016. The benefits are reviewed every year to ensure not only that each of the options offered by NMC remain relevant and competitive, but also that the increases in the contributions for these options are kept as
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low as possible. Trustees discovered in a recent review of the operations of the Fund that expenditure on the self-medication benefit under the Benefit Booster had been increasing by almost 50% every year, even though the benefit had not changed. Upon further analysis, it was discovered that the increase was most likely the
result of a misuse of the benefit and not because of an increase in the need for the benefit. Trustees then decided that a change was required for two main reasons: Firstly, if the expenditure on self-medication under the Benefit Booster was allowed to continue increasing at this level, further substantial increases in member contributions would have been necessary, in excess of an additional 1% annual increase. Secondly, the higher
expenditure would have resulted in members not being able to utilise the Benefit Booster for other benefits (doctors’ visits, for example) as the full benefit would have been depleted on self-medication alone. In light of this, the Board of Trustees took a conscious decision to remove the selfmedication benefit from the benefit booster. The Trustees however acknowledge that other members used their selfmedication benefit responsibly
Medical Aid Supplement and rely on the additional cover provided by the Benefit Booster. So, in order to soften the impact of the change, it was decided that the selfmedication benefit limit, as well as the daily limit is to increase by 20%. It is important to note that the Benefit Booster limits were not reduced and therefore the cover provided to members has effectively increased for the other benefits available under the Benefit Booster.
11
- Accessible Information / Downloads We encourage all members to download The Back-up Magazine from our website: www.nmcfund.com for detailed benefit adjustments and any other important 2016 documents, especially the updated Fund Rules. Should you be unable to open or download these documents, please send an e-mail to enquiries@ methealth.com.na and we will gladly e-mail the electronic files to you.
12
News
Thursday, 03 December 2015
O&L brings Xmas joy to Erongo House kiddies The year 2015 marks the seventh year of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group’s Coastal Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s Christmas Party. Children from the Erongo House of Safety, Swakopmund Tears of Hope, Promise Land Soup Kitchen, Promise Land Play School, Kids Haven, and Jonah Home were treated to a party filled with lots of games, delicious snacks and goodies as well as gifts from Santa Claus. Each year, the operating companies of the O&L Group namely Pick n Pay Namibia, Namibia Breweries Limited, Namibia Dairies, Broll Namibia, Dimension Data, O&L Energy, O&L Leisure, Hangana Seafood, Kraatz Marine, Kraatz Steel, Eros Air and Brandtribe support this initiative in line with the Group’s purpose of “Creating a future, enhancing life” to make this event a memorable experience for the children. Said Tanja Payne, a Hangana Seafood employee and member of the OVC Christmas Party committee, “Every
year we look forward to this event as it brings such joy, not only to the hearts and faces of the little ones, but also to us as employees. We try and accommodate all orphanages in the Erongo Region and also venture out to look for other vulnerable children within our community to spoil during the festive season.” External sponsors that contributed to making this year’s OVC Christmas party a reality include Guans Packaging, Salon Nailika, Omega Security, Afrox, Extreme, Party Kidz, Rent-A-Toilet, Chip & Dip, Susan Herridge, Fruit & Veg Walvis Bay, and The Abbotts. “Seeing the smiles on these children’s faces makes all the hard work worth it. I love being part of such priceless experiences, and being part of uplifting the lives of those less privileged. I also appreciate every single helping hand that made this event possible,” Group Corporate Social Investment Coordinator, Venessa Mwiya concluded.
Santa Claus brings a spark to the life to this little girl who made sure she gave her Christmas wish-list well in advance for the annual O&L OVC coastal Christmas party.
A pair of Scotsmen race to rescue
A resident of Edinburgh has taken part in a drive to help some of the world’s poorest communities. Donnie Campbell, 30, was one of two runners who crossed the Namib Desert from Luderitz to Walvis Bay in Namibia. Following the run, the team engaged in community work and the sharing of medical and athletic
equipment in places where the items are desperately needed. The duo also helped to provide education in the Kuiseb River region, working with Chief Kooitjie and the local Topnaar Tribe. The pair’s desert expedition crossed the highest sand dunes in the world and included the formidable Devil’s Workshop, which was taken on in punishing conditions as they completed more than 50km every single day. They covered just over 504km in total – almost entirely on demanding, heavy sand – and crossed the finish line on February 10 this year. Mr Campbell, who ran with Dr Andrew Murray, 34, a sport and exercise tutor at Edinburgh University, said it was a privilege to be able to assist vulnerable
communities. And he said the opportunity to take on the run made the experience even more memorable. He said, “Running 500-odd kilometres though the Namib Desert was extremely tough and we could not have done it without the expertise of our expedition leaders David Scott, Bert Jukes and the support and superb local knowledge from the team in Namibia. “Their route selection was incredible considering no-one has ever driven parts of the route, never mind ran it, so this was a huge effort to deliver Andrew and myself to Walvis Bay a bit battered, bruised and tired but still in one piece. “We even ran through abandoned diamond mines, although my fiancée
Children enjoying themselves at the “Fun Park” especially setup for them at the annual O&L OVC coastal Christmas party.
Rachael will be disappointed to learn I couldn’t find a big one ahead of our wedding.” The Namib stretches for more than 2000km along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia and South Africa. It extends southward from the Carunjamba River in Angola, through Namibia, and to the Olifants River in Western Cape, South Africa. The Namib’s northernmost portion, which extends 450km from the Angola-Namibia border, is known as Moçâmedes Desert, while its southern section approaches the neighbouring Kalahari Desert. Organiser David Scott paid tribute to the pair. He said: “As expedition organiser I was faced with huge logistical and safety concerns. “The physical demands we placed on the guys were immense and throughout the challenge we were never certain we would emerge successful. “Apart from seeing the guys cross over the finish line my lasting memory will surely be having the privilege of tackling terrain through special concession areas which had never been driven or run over before.” Source: www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com
Lifestyle
Thursday, 03 December 2015
13
Lifestyle
World AIDS Day: 10 facts about HIV/AIDS Despite major advances, HIV/AIDS remains one of the world's most significant public health challenges, particularly in low and middle income countries, with new diagnoses every year and young women in sub-Saharan Africa seen as being particularly at risk. World AIDS Day was held last Monday and the event in countries all over the wolrd is used to unite people in the fight against HIV, first identified in 1984, to show their support for people living with HIV and commemorate those who have died. The member countries of the United Nations agreed in September in a new set of global goals to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
Here are some facts about AIDS in 2015 with data from the World Health Organisation, the United Nations children's agency UNICEF, and UNAIDS: 1. Globally about 36.9 million people are living with HIV including 2.6 million children. 2. An estimated 2 million were infected in 2014. 3. An estimated 34 million people have died from HIV or AIDS, including 1.2 million in 2014. 4. The number of adolescent deaths from AIDS has tripled over the last 15 years. 5. AIDS is the number one cause of death among adolescents in Africa and the second among adolescents globally.
What everyone should
know about HIV Are HIV and AIDS the same thing? No. When someone is described as living with HIV, they have the HIV virus in their body. A person is considered to have developed AIDS when the immune system is so weak it can no longer fight off a range of diseases with which it would normally cope. Who has HIV? Anyone can get HIV if they are sexually active, regardless of whether you are gay or straight or where you come from — but HIV rates are higher among gay and bisexual men and African communities. Everyone should ensure they take steps to protect themselves and others from HIV infection by using a condom during sex. Do young people learn about HIV and how to protect themselves at school? Comprehensive sex and relationships education (SRE), which includes information about HIV, is not compulsory in all schools, so many young people are not being given the information they need to protect themselves from HIV infection and other STIs. How is HIV passed on? HIV is passed on through infected bodily fluids such as semen, vaginal fluids, blood, breast milk and rectal secretions. The most common ways HIV is transmitted are through sex without a condom and through sharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment. You cannot get HIV through casual day-to-day contact, or kissing, spitting or sharing a cup or plate. Can you get HIV from oral sex? The risk of HIV transmission from performing oral sex is low but it can still happen. It is best to avoid giving oral sex if you have cuts or sores in your mouth or bleeding gums, as this increases the risk of HIV entering your body. How can I protect myself and others from HIV infection? Always use a condom when having vaginal or anal sex. You may also want to use a condom or dental dam during oral sex although the risk of transmission of HIV is much lower. Never share needles, syringes or any other injecting equipment. Myth: Condoms are not effective in preventing HIV transmission The most common way to be infected
with HIV is through unprotected sex without a condom. When used properly and appropriately, condoms are extremely effective at protecting against HIV transmission. It is important to ensure you always use a condom when having sex, particularly if you have more than one partner or if you have not had a sexual health check up recently. If you are using lubricant as well as a condom ensure it is water-based. Myth: If you get HIV you will die soon Although there is not a cure for HIV, treatment is so advanced that it is no longer considered a death sentence. People diagnosed with HIV today can have a near-normal life expectancy and live healthy and active lives. Early diagnosis is particularly important as the longer HIV goes undiagnosed the more damage it can do to the body. Myth: It takes months before you can have a test and get the results to find out if you have HIV Testing for HIV has rapidly advanced in recent years but you often read incorrectly that you have to wait 3, 6 or even 12 months to get a reliable HIV test result. In fact you can now get an HIV test with accurate results from 4 weeks after potential infection. A result can be returned between 20 minutes and 2 weeks, depending on the test type. If you think you have exposed yourself to the risk of HIV, do not wait or do nothing – it is important to seek advice from your local clinic or doctor as soon as possible. Myth: You can not have a baby if you or your partner is HIV positive If someone living with HIV decides to have a baby, there are options available and steps they can take to ensure HIV is not passed on to their partner during conception (if the partner is HIV negative) or to their child. Today there is less than a 1% chance of an HIV positive mother passing HIV on to her child if the right steps are taken. Myth: Only gay men get HIV It is true that gay men are particularly affected by HIV as a group but HIV can still affect anyone and there are many heterosexuals, while approximately a third of people with HIV are women. Anyone who has sex without a condom or shares needles when injecting drugs is at risk of HIV. Source: www.hivaware.org.uk
6.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest prevalence, girls account for 7 in 10 new infections among those aged 15-19. 7. At start of 2015, 15 million people were receiving antiretroviral therapy compared to 1 million in 2001. 8. Despite widespread availability of HIV testing, only an estimated 51% of people with HIV know their status. 9. The global response to HIV has averted 30 million new HIV infections and nearly 8 million deaths since 2000. 10. In 2015, Cuba was the first country declared to have eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Worldwide
Worldwide
14
Thursday, 03 December 2015
China searches for aliens? China will attempt to search for extra-terrestrial life in 2016 with a radio telescope the size of 30 football fields. The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, known as FAST for short, will detect radio signals tens of billions of light years away. FAST chief scientist Nan Rendong told The Telegraph the telescope also has the capacity to scan for signs of life and renewable energy like natural hydrogen. “A radio telescope is like a sensitive ear, listening for meaningful radio messages from white noise in the universe.” FAST is near complete. This week, scientists were installing 33-foot long triangular “retina” panels. Li Di, a chief scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences told China Daily, "So far, one
of the most important steps has been completed. We will finish installing all the panels by June 2016, and strive to debug the whole system by the end of September.” Di explained FAST is basically a mega-TV antenna. “With a larger signal receiving area and more flexibility, FAST will be able to scan two times more sky area than Arecibo, with three to five times higher sensitivity.” Di is referring to the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, home of the world’s now ex-largest radio telescope. FAST is 500m in diameter and is made up of 4,500 triangular 11m long panels that create a parabolic reflector which will collect signals from the entire universe. Most of the panels can be controlled to move up or down, which means the hemispherical reflector can
reshape. University of Western Australia Astronomer Lister Staveley-Smith wrote an email to China Daily saying he believes the power of the radio telescope will “allow an extremely comprehensive study of thousands of galaxies in different environments in the local universe.” The project began construction in 2011 and is on track to be completed in September 2016. FAST is housed in southwest China’s Pingtang County located in the Guizhou Province. Built in a rock basin, the world’s largest radio telescope will stay protected from weather elements. The remote location provides “radio silence.” When NASA discovered Kepler-42b earlier this year, the prospect of finding life on an earth-
like planet became more of a reality. Located 1,400 light years away, it would take modern spacecraft 26 million years to reach the far-distant exoplanet. China is on a fast-track to be named king of the space race. Leaders in the U.S., Russia, and across the globe fear China’s space intentions may be misguided. But politics aside, when FAST is finished it will be one of the most powerful tools the world has to explore the possibility of life in outer space. Source: www.idigitaltimes.com
Ghostly ships filled with bodies arrive on Japan's shores An unsettling mystery has washed up on Japan's shores. Over the past two months, at least 12 wooden boats have been found in the Sea of Japan on or near the coast, carrying a chilling cargo -- the decaying bodies of 22 people, police and Japan's coast guard said. All the bodies were "partially skeletonized" -- two were found without heads -- and one boat contained six skulls, the coast guard said. The first boat was found in October, then a series of boats were found in November. Coast guard officials are trying to unravel the riddle of where these ghostly boats came from and what happened to those on board.
Their best guess so far is that the ships are from North Korea. One clue pointing that direction is Korean lettering on the hull of a boat containing 10 decomposing bodies, one of three boats that were found adrift off the city of Wajima on the west coast of Japan on November 20. The writing said "Korean People's Army," the name of North Korea's military defence forces, the coast guard said. Another clue could come from a tattered scrap of cloth found on one of the boats, which looks like it could be from a North Korean national flag, Japan's biggest broadcaster NHK reported. "There is no doubt that these boats are North Korean," John Nilsson-Wright, head of the Asia program at the Chatham House policy institute, told CNN after looking at pictures of the boats. Wright said the lettering on the boats he looked at is Korean or Hangul text and the "primitive" boats and reference to the Korean People's Army makes it "very logical" to assume the boats are from North Korea. Yoshihiko Yamada, a maritime expert, told NHK the vessels bear a "striking resemblance" to those used by defectors from North Korea. He gave a possible explanation for the fleet and its deathly crew arriving on Japan's shores: "The boats are made of wood and are old and heavy. They cannot travel very fast and the engines are not powerful enough to
turn the ships against the currents." Some in the Japanese media, including NHK, have also speculated the vessels could be fishing boats that strayed off course. Wright believes it is more likely to be people trying to flee the regime, although he said it is impossible to be sure with the limited information available. "What we do know is that for those people living outside of North Korean capital Pyongyang ... life remains extraordinarily hard, and it may be an economic necessity as much as a desire for political freedom that is encouraging some people in the North to try and leave the country." He added that defectors could be taking the more dangerous route across the Sea of Japan because traditional routes, like crossing the border into China, are now policed and could be harder to use. Source: www.cnn.com
Motoring
Spoilt for choice at M&Z ride and drive Donna Collins
One thing about M&Z Motors - they spoil you for choice with their range of multi faceted vehicles, representing some of the most coveted motor cars, 4x4s, bakkies and SUVs in the business. This was the opinion from the public who attended Saturday's annual 'Ride and Drive' in and around Swakopmund, who were like 'kids in a candy store', when facing the open air line-up of vehicles brought out for the day. The outing came hot on the heels of the International launch of the Mercedes Benz range of SUV vehicles, held recently in the dunes behind Swakopmund, and was hosted by M&Z Motors Walvis Bay. The public were offered the opportunity to get up close and personal with models such as the facelifted Merc GLE, and the all new GLC. They were joined by a sales team from the Windhoek M&Z dealerships, including brand representation for Mercedes Benz, Jeep, Mitsubishi and Fiat, of which many of the vehicles were driven down from Windhoek for the occasion. In fact, the Fiat is M&Z's latest addition to their multi branded dealership, having taken over this Italian model just recently, adding another flavour to the already impressive M&Z line-up. A total of ten different model ranges were available for a test drive, including the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, the iconic Jeep Wrangler, the new Jeep Renegade and the Fiat500x to mention some, which were parked at the Desert Explorers.
But the draw dropping Mercedes Benz C63 AMG which goes for N$1.4mil and powered by a 6.3-litre bi-turbo engine and takes off like a rocket, was the star of the show. This low slung luxury item put a whole new meaning to "G-Forces", when the foot went down on the accelerator and the low profiles gripped the tar mac. Other crowd pullers were the new facelift GLE and the GLE coupe, which appealed to a wide audience, as well the brand new mid-sized GLC which comes in at an affordable N$600 000, all of which have four-wheel drive capabilities. A team of driving boffins from the Advanced Driving Academy accompanied the public on test drives in and around Swakopmund, which also included desert drives in the Jeep Wrangler and Mitsubishi Pajero, whilst putting their 4x4 skills to the test. Conrad Britz (Branch Manager M&Z Motors Walvis Bay), said on the day, "We had a good turnout with many people interested in the Mercedes C63 AMG, for which we have had numerous requests for orders. "Days like this are important for us to showcase to our clients and the public, our latest offerings and the extensive range of new vehicles M&Z has available, as we don't carry the entire stock at our showroom, and we have a lot to offer,� he said. "We try and do something like this at least twice a year, and pull out all the stops with advanced drivers putting our vehicles through their paces and let public feel what it is like to be spoilt for choice."
Conrad Britz (Sales Manager M&Z Motors Walvis Bay) with sales executive Kakonda Naftali.
15
Motoring
Thursday, 03 December 2015
The Mercedes Benz C63 AMG bi-turbo rocket was the star of the show
M&Z Motors brought out their full range of vehicles for an open air test drive. (Photos Donna Collins)
M+Z Motors Coastal Tel: 064 20 3792
Walvis Bay, Henties Bay & Swakopmund View our quality pre-owned vehicles now! M&Z Motors Jeep and Mitsubishi sales team with the guys from the Advanced Driving Academy.
New regulations for drivers crossing SA borders The South African Police Service (SAPS) has implemented new regulations that require drivers of cars with South African-registered plates to carry certified documents proving ownership. This new requirement will be implemented at all South African border posts, according to Vishnu Naidoo, SAPS Head of Media Communications. The certified documents should include a certified copy of vehicle registration/vehicle license papers which must be
presented at the border posts. This must be accompanied by a letter from the bank giving authorisation to take the vehicle across the border and must indicate dates of travel. Both the bank letter and license papers should be signed by a Commissioner of Oaths. If the driver of the vehicle is not the owner of the vehicle, an affidavit from the police giving authorisation from the financial institution/owner to take the vehicle abroad is required. If the car is rented, the driver must have a letter from the rental company giving permission to take the vehicle out of the country. Regulations do change, and a customs officer advises SA travellers to check with the SA Auto Club on border regulation updates. Source: www.tam.co.za
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COASTLINE PROPERTY CENTRE
NOBODY IN THE WORLD SELLS MORE REAL ESTATE THAN RE/MAX
S EX OLE MA CLUS & ND IV AT E E!
P.A.M TREE VILLAS KUISEBMUND SOLE & EXCLUSIVE MANDATE! * Choose your own house! Free-Standing * Watch your investment grow! 2 - 3 bed houses, * Provide only your guarantee now! each with own erf. * Register / completion in 18-24 months!
From N$ 615 000-00 ea.
Central Kuisebmund
28 x 2 Bedroom Units / Parking Area @ N$ 595 000 each 4 x 1 Bedroom Units/ Parking Area @ N$ 495 000 each 5 x Office / Shops @ N$ 768 000 each 2 x ATMS @ N$ 180 000 each
Claudia 0811696227 pa@remaxcoastline.com
Upmarket Townhouses to Let @ N$ 12 500-00 p/m excl W & E. Stylish, Modern & Luxurious 3 bed, 2 full bath Double Storey Townhouses with Designer open plan Kitchen, Lounge/ Dining Area, BIC,
Claudia 081 169 6227
* Completion / Registration December 2016 * N$ 10 000-00 non-refundable deposit * Provision for optional extras
Indoor Bbq & Double Garage
WALVIS BAY - MEERSIG
WALVIS BAY SOLE MANDATE
Emily 081 293 0335
Spacious double storey 160m² 3 bed, 2 bath townhouses with open plan kitchen, enclosed courtyard, outside bbq & garage. A rare find at N$ 855 000-00 each! Levies +- N$ 750-00 & possible rental income of N$ 5 700-00p/m Claudia 0811696227 / pa@remaxcoastline.com
SOLE & EXCLUSIVE MANDATE! pa@remaxcoastline.com
178 - 250m² units selling from N$ 1 505 000-00 & to let at N$ 60-00 per m² exclusive of VAT, W & E.
INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSES WALVIS BAY
Claudia CC Registered 0811277783
TO RENT
Talitha 081 337 3669
PRICE REDUCED!!
WALVIS BAY
NEW WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENT WALVIS BAY SECURE COMPLEX
Brand new offices & flats - Central Exclusive of VAT, 2 bed flats starting from W & E. N$ 5 000-00 p/m Don’t d Phone elay! 3 bed flats starting from today! N$ 7 000-00 p/m 66 – 140m² corner shops with private parking Starting from Yolanda 081 158 3463 N$ 150-00 per m².
Modern finishes in safe & secure complex. Selling from N$ 1 575 000 - 00 each. Approx. rental income of N$ 50-00 p/m²
12 x 170-220m² Sectional Title Warehouse Units SOLE MANDATE
Claudia 081 169 6227
pa@remaxcoastline.com
Karibib Extension 2 - New Housing Development
Coming Soon
127 Freestanding 2 - 3 bed houses with or without garage!
SOLE & EXCLUSIVE MANDATE from N$ 450 000-00 Claudia 081 169 6227
Walvis Bay +264 64 212 440 Ongwediva +264 65 238 342 Swakopmund +264 64 464 033 www.remax.na 0811696227 pa@remaxcoastline.com
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