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WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2013 WWW.EXPRESSNEWS.CO.ZA
PROTESTORS appeared peaceful on the first day of the strike.
Strike peaceful for now
Photo: Boipelo Mere
Numsa members promise no intimidation of those on duty
} Boipelo Mere MEMBERS of the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (Numsa) have warned consumers to expect disruptions in the flow of petrol around the city. That is after less than 100 members turned up to join the national strike and were witnessed moving from one Retail Motor Industry- (RMI) owned petrol station within Kimberley to another in protest. Wearing their red T-shirts emblazoned with their demands, the members promised no intimidation towards those workers who
Northern Cape
were on duty. Although it was clear that the situation caused terror and concerns to the management, staff and car drivers at petrol stations were cautious whenever the protestors reached their stations. Waving placards with slogans including amongst others: “Wage increase with actuals”, “Shift allowance”, “R6 000 minimum wages in the industry”, “Move cashiers to grade five,” they also demand a R30 per hour increase across the board on actual rates of pay. The members include union members at component retailers,
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panel-beaters, car and spare parts dealers and fitment workshops. Some petrol attendants who could not afford to join the strike were wearing private clothes instead of their work uniforms in fear of intimidation. “We are on strike and are supposed to be only sitting here and not working, but I can really not afford to lose a single day away from work. I have three children and a pregnant wife at home and I am already taking home less than R2 000 after deductions. Then there is also my ailing mother and alcoholic father to look after. I cannot afford to lose
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a day’s pay,” said one Numsa member who prefers to remain anonymous. According to an article on News24, the Fuel Retailers’ Association and the Retail Motor Industry were given 48 hours’ notice of the strike after negotiations with employers, which began at the end of May, deadlocked in July. “This strike is for everybody to get involved, but that does not mean that anyone will be intimidated or forced not to report for duty. By picketing at their garages this way we are demanding for them to come to the party and come up with a better offer,” said
PO Box 1583 Kimberley 8300
Carlos Owen, a Numsa local shop steward. Owen revealed that Numsa members would be attending their regional march in Bloemfontein on Thursday. “We are still very disciplined and following rules. Although it is a no work no pay policy, it is a protected strike which means that no one will be dismissed at their work places for participating in the strike,” he added. He said that they would be continuing with their different daily programmes for the week such as picketing at the outlined garages.
Editor
Boipelo Mere
Sales Manager Johan Rossouw
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2013
You are what you eat } Boipelo Mere
RUTH MASEKOANE, CEO of Sawen, motivated the women to lose weight. Photos: Boipelo Mere
Alkantpan is a division of Armscor’s Research and Development (R&D) Department, located in the Northern Cape, 300km from Kimberley. It is an all-purpose ballistic test range in the central part of South Africa, involved in testing for example gun systems. Qualified personnel form a multidisciplinary team - a factor that contributes to the division’s success. The following positions now exist and applications are invited from persons who meet the qualification and experience requirements:
Test Manager
Paterson Grading: D3 • Ref. 9911925 The successful candidate will be responsible for the effective management of allocated ballistic testing (quotation, planning, execution, invoices, data and customer relations) for the SA defence industry, international defence industries, and the DoD. Responsibilities: • Plan projects (testing) • Conduct risk assessments and safety planning • Execute projects (testing) • Manage personnel and safety during projects • Prepare and obtain approval of Certificates of Service • Check and confirm all ballistic test-related data • Liaise with customers on requirements and test-related issues • Compile invoices for completed tests. Requirements: • A tertiary qualification, ie Mechanical or Electronics Engineering or T3/equivalent • 6-7 years’ relevant working experience in a ballistic testing environment • The ability to execute calculus and trigonometry • The ability to analyse specifications and translate into test plans • The ability to plan and execute test plans • The ability to manage people and equipment • Practical and technical knowledge of ballistic measurement systems • Management skills • Knowledge of weapons and ammunition systems (from artillery to small arms) • Basic computer skills (Word and Excel) • Good interpersonal skills, communication, planning and organising skills • Good leadership skills • A valid driver’s licence • The ability to write and speak English • Sound knowledge of ballistic testing methods and safety • The ability to liaise with national and international customers.
Technical Officer: Electrical & Air-conditioning
Paterson Grading: C2 • Ref. 9911923
The successful candidate will provide a complete electrical and ammunition conditioning test support service, including maintenance of the high and 220-voltage power reticulation system at Alkantpan and the neighbouring Copperton town, under the guidance and supervision of the Senior Technician. Responsibilities: • Maintain the 11kV high-voltage power supply line • Maintain electrical equipment, ammunition conditioning chambers and power reticulation • Provide fixed and mobile power supply to designated areas • Perform electrical installations, upgrades and modifications as designated • Maintain mobile generators • Maintain air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment • Ensure storage of functional equipment • Perform calibration, repair and maintenance on designated electrical and conditioning equipment • Record electrical supply distribution data. Requirements: • A Grade 12/Technical or equivalent certificate • Qualifications and competence in the various systems and equipment • 3 years in a ballistic testing environment • Electrical maintenance skills • Proficiency in conditioning and refrigeration maintenance, as well as in the use of portable electrical equipment • The ability to identify and report risks • Ample knowledge of applicable equipment • Computer literacy • Good interpersonal, communication, planning and organising skills • A driver’s licence.
Assistant Technical Officer: Workshop Maintenance
Paterson Grading: B3 • Ref. 9911924
The successful candidate will provide assistance when preparing, operating, storing, transporting and maintaining workshop equipment and customer-furnished items. He/she will also be expected to provide support when fabricating target items and structures in accordance with specific procedures, regulatory requirements and customer specifications. Responsibilities: • Assist with preparing vehicles conveying dangerous goods by road • Operate material handling equipment (ie forklifts, mobilifts) • Assist with loading and offloading of workshop and customer-furnished material • Provide support with maintenance of vehicles, equipment, lifting equipment, infrastructure, buildings and heavy machinery • Provide support for preparation, fabricating and erecting test items • Operate smaller workshop equipment and tools safely • Safely operate a tyre machine for the repair of wheels • Clean the workshop and vehicles • Assist with rebooting vehicles with flat batteries • Conduct safety inspections • Assist customers with test requirements. Requirements: • A Grade 10 • 3-5 years’ relevant experience in a defence-related environment • Proficiency in operating material handling equipment • An understanding of safety rules in a fabricating environment and workshop • Willingness to work long hours. Short-listed candidates will be subjected to psychometric assessments, appropriate reference checks, verification of personal data and security clearance as part of the selection process. Please note that appointment is subject to obtaining/maintaining a positive security clearance. In line with Armscor’s commitment to compliance with the Employment Equity Act, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Please e-mail a detailed CV to careers@armscor.co.za to apply for one of these positions. Clearly state the reference number and the position for which you are applying. The closing date for applications is 13 September 2013. Late applications will not be considered. Correspondence will be limited to short-listed candidates. If you do not hear from us within a month of forwarding your CV, please consider your application unsuccessful. www.humanjobs.co.za
Human Communications 102331
DITHATO KOPELEDI allowed Kholeka Ntulelo to take her blood pressure.
MEMBERS of SAWEN in the Northern Cape were urged to change their eating habits and rather concentrate on their health in order for them to run successful businesses and avoid sudden deaths. The members were practically motivated during their recent wellness day event where a delegation from their national office was present. On the morning of the wellness day the women participated in a health walk, aerobics and health talks. According to Ruth Masekoane, the CEO of Sawen, the Northern Cape was the sixth province where they raised awareness for a healthy lifestyle. They planned the event to be a holistic intervention instead of just a health walk. As a result they invited the Department of Health to set up stalls where they would educate the members on health issues and do different tests like TB, diabetes and blood pressure. “We women tend to forget to take care of our health and concentrate on our businesses instead. I have also observed that most women tend to over-indulge when we go to events,” emphasised the CEO. Masekoane explained that the roadshow was due to the high rate of members passing away without reason. She added that a similar and better event would be held every year in August. “How will we as Sawen be able to create more jobs and empower our communities if our businesses fail due to deaths? Failing businesses also affect family members. We must take part in sports more in order to stimulate mind and spirit,” she said. “I promise you that I will not be this size when I return next year. We’ll also be hosting a bigger and better event where we will add Pap smears and mammograms as women are prone to cervical and breast cancer.” With regards to the status of the provincial branch Ruth Masekoane called on the Northern Cape branch to pull themselves together and for the PEC to work harder. Even though she said the membership level was average, she said that the number could improve, irrespective of the fact that they did not have an office in the province. “Women of today have the advantage of technology. The brave women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 did not have that, but they reached their goal successfully. Let us leave the culture of laziness behind and fight for our organisation,” concluded the CEO.
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2013
NEWS
SELLO MOKOKO, head of the Treasury Department, and Mamikie Mooki, manager of Cooperative Services, handing over donated parcels to Jeanie Jacobs, a representative of one of the families of Soul City. Photo: Boipelo Mere
Food parcels bring relief to families } Boipelo Mere FEMALE STAFF of the Treasury Department handed over food parcels to Isibindi for six identified child-headed households in the Sol Plaatje area after the employees raised funds through donations to assist these families and handed them over at the Springbok Pub as a continuation of the Women’s Month celebrations. The hand-over was conducted by Sello Mokoko, the head of the department. “We are not a service delivery department, but we think that helping people makes a difference. Those
families must know that there is someone who cares out there. You know, poverty can make you a completely different person. Thus we saw the need to do projects like these, to ensure that they know that we care about them.” This event was also intended to honour and salute all the women of the Northern Cape Provincial Treasury for the significant contributions they make in the department by sharing ideas on how best to handle issues that affect them on a daily basis. They also discussed issues like abuse, stress and divorce. According to Mokoko,
they are hoping to improve such events next year by reaching out to families in other districts as well. He said that government had to create a platform for the private sector to come on board and also assist in the fight against poverty and unemployment. “The economy is sluggish; we have to play a role as government cannot beat it alone. Our economy is two-fold, thus we do not have the power to make decisions for the private sector, like the mining sector. We have already been making efforts through the EPWPs to create more jobs,” he concluded.
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2013
NEWS
Robbery, Kidnapping suspect in court } Andre Botha THE shooting incident that took place in Carrington Road, where a suspect was killed after he had tried to slit the throat of a police officer, did not even last five minutes. “At that moment you just think about your life, to think about someone else’s behaviour is impossible,” said deputy officer Cecil de la Rey when he testified in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court about the incident that shocked Kimberley. On that day, De la Rey and Sgt Lucas Jacobs met the two suspects, Hendrik Coetzee and Anthony Kruger and decided to take them in for questioning. On the way to the station, Coetzee slashed Jacobs’ neck. Jacobs was driving and his neck was slashed from behind with a knife. That resulted in the shooting and killing of Coetzee. Kruger is now facing charges of armed robbery and kidnapping after he and Coetzee had allegedly robbed Coleen Louw of jewellery and her cellphone, and threatened her with a knife at the Northern Cape Mall the day before the shooting incident. The jewellery was found in Coetzee’s pocket after he had been shot and killed. Jacobs testified that he and De la Rey were driving in the police’s double cab bakkie in Beaconsfield when they saw the two suspects
walking. Their description fit that of the two suspects described in the robbery of the Northern Cape Mall. The men kept on looking around as if they were looking for something. They followed them down Central Road to just before Carrington Road where they stopped them and asked them to accompany them to the police station for possible elimination as suspects. The men were searched and a knife and small mirror were found on Kruger. They then climbed into the bakkie to be taken to the police station. Coetzee, who was sitting behind Jacobs, made his move and jumped forward to slit Jacobs’ throat just after the vehicle had turned into Carrington Road in the direction of the Halfway House. De la Rey testified that he then aimed his service revolver at Coetzee and fired two shots. The revolver misfired twice. He then hit Coetzee with his fist. Kruger tried to take the revolver away from him. He testified that Kruger then broke the window and jumped out. He ran away. De la Rey chased him and caught him. Jacobs testified that Coetzee wanted to cut him again, that is when he jumped out and shot Coetzee. He was booked off for two
ANTHONY KRUGER with his lawyer on Wednesday in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court. months for severe stress after the incident. Barend Titus, for Kruger, told De la Rey that Kruger disagreed with his version, and
put several statements by Kruger to him. “(Kruger’s statements) are lies,” De la Rey replied. The trial will continue on 27
Photo: Lecrecia Prins
November. Elmar Steyn is the prosecutor and regional magistrate Danie Schneider is on the bench.
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2013
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2013
NEWS
Tourism Month starts with a tour } Lerato Sebe
TOURISM MONTH was launched at the Flamingo Casino where the Lilizela Awards ceremony also took place. This was followed by a four-day media itinerary during which tourist attraction points like the Landzicht Wine Cellars in Douglas, the Broadwaters Private River Estate and the Vanderkloof Dam were visited. Built in 1968, the Landzicht Wine Cellars was established in Douglas after the floods. The company falls under the dynamic agricultural business in the Northern Cape, GWK. According to the owner, Hein Janse van Rensburg, the decision to estab-
lish the company here was a great initiative since it is said that vineyards need wet lands in order to produce grapes. During that time, the company could produce about 8 000 tons of wine per season whereas presently they only produce 6 000 tons. “Profitability is not good at the moment,” said Janse van Rensburg, who is also a wine farmer at the Landzicht farm. “We do not get much rain these days, which is not good for us.” The farm produces 90% white grapes and 10% red grapes. To produce wine from these grapes, it has to undergo different processes. White wine is stored for 12 to 14 days in the roto tanks before being packaged, and
red wine for only six to seven days. “The input of making wine has skyrocketed in the past ten years, making it difficult for us to make enough profit,” Janse van Rensburg added. “Wine is a struggling business.” The trip continued to the Broadwaters River Estate, a private river estate which is nestled on the banks of the Vaal River near Douglas in the Northern Cape. It harbours a houseboat named DARiva, which is ideal for day and sunset cruises. It has a fully equipped kitchen and a spacious top deck with barbeque facilities. This boat can be hired for parties, private functions and vocational purposes.
The two days of 5 and 6 October marks the annual Ghalt River Xtreme festival which will include swimming, cycling, canoe racing, golf challenges, as well as the newly introduced raft racing. These rafts must be made from recycled bottles to promote the use of recycled rubbish. There will be performances from various artists to entertain the crowds and all the funds will be donated to NGOs and local charities. ) Be on the lookout for more stories relating to tourism in the NC Express newspaper. Also go to www.expressnews.co.za for more pictures on the tour.
EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE , WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2013
NEWS
Secretaries spoiled } Lecrecia Prins THE Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nocci) recently spoiled secretaries during their annual secretary event in Kimberley. The singer David Fourie entertained the guests as they enjoyed their breakfast. He also invited some of the women to share the stage with him in dance. The women were massaged while they listened to speakers on how to take care of their health. There was a relaxed atmosphere in the room and amongst the women. Robyn Ansley, the secretary of Bruce Phillips, the school principal of the St Patrick’s College (CBC), was awarded the secretary of the year. Ansley said she was not aware that she had
been nominated for the award. She said she nearly stayed at the office as she had a lot of work for that day. “It is an honour to win. It is on days like these that we realise that what we put in does not go unnoticed.” Ansley said she was proud of her chair and that she was going to share it with her colleagues as they also deserved it. Marieta Hibbert of Astra Travel was the runner-up. She said her boss, Cecil Daniëls, would have forgotten to nominate her if she had not reminded him. “The chair that I have won, comes in handy, because the one I’m using is broken. I am the only one with a Cecil Nurse chair and am proud of my chair.”
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FLATTERED: Mandisa Booi of Nedbank was among the lucky women to be serenaded by David Fourie. Photo: Lecrecia Prins
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EXPRESS NORTHERN CAPE, WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2013
Visser wants to take Leopards to the top } Sidwell Guduka
For more news and photos go to our website at www.express-news.co.za
DINO VISSER has vowed to help his new club, the Black Leopards, to win promotion to the Elite League. The former Bloemfontein Celtic gloveman joined the National First Division side on a one-year loan deal, after the frustration of playing second fiddle to Patrick Tignyemb at Celtic. He made his Leopards debut against Roses United in a match that ended goalless in Botshabelo. “The reason I decided to join the Leopards was to get more game time. I was getting frustrated at Celtic because I always sat on the bench. I thought I was not given a fair chance to fight for the number one jersey, hence I asked the club to loan me out. Game time is very crucial for a goalkeeper,” Visser told Express. “Initially, I was meant to go back to ADAMANT: Dino Visser is determined to help the Black Leopards Platinum Stars as to bounce back to the PSL. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/Backpagepix they were planning to sell one of their keepers. Unfortunately the belt. Keeping a clean sheet on my debut was a cherry on top. My primary goal at the club deal didn’t go through. “I wanted to remain in the PSL, however, is to help them bounce back to the Premiership there weren’t any teams looking for a keeper where they belong. The Leopards don’t deserve to play in the lower league.” who will fight for the number one jersey. Visser said it was nice working with such an “Coming to the Leopards was not a bad choice for me. I’m originally from Polokwane, experienced coach like Costa Papic at his new club. so I settled in quite nicely.” “It has been good working with Coach Costa. Visser said he was happy to have kept a clean He’s a very good mentor. I hope I’ll get as much sheet in his first game of the season. “I was excited to get the first game under my game time as possible.”
“I was excited to get the first game under my belt. Keeping a clean sheet on my de but was a cherry on top. My primary goal at the club is to help them bounce back to the Pre miership where they belong. The Leopards don’t deserve to play in the lower league.” – Dino Visser
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