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ISSUE 16 – 2020 Email: olifants@papashamedia.co.za Tel: 010 023 1845 www.theolifants.co.za FB | Twitter | Insta | The Olifants
Booze cases clog hospitals
COVID-19 at Police Station
Soccer academy launched in Winnie Mandela
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COVID-19 cases at Thembisa schools G
auteng is now the top hotspot of COVID-19 after the number of cases increased exceeding that of the Western Cape which has been the epicentre for weeks. With 31,067 cases Ekurhuleni has the second highest number of cases in Gauteng. Johannesburg has 60,424 cases. Following the reopening of schools, the number of cases amongst school teachers and learners went up. Gauteng MEC Panyaza
Lesufi revealed that there were 188 Motshekga not to reopen the schools teachers who tested positive while a or at the least reopen after the peak total of 176 are affected by the virus. of the virus. The minister has also Amongst the schools affected is been under pressure from the South Rebonwe Primary School in Ivory African Democratic Teachers Union Park. According to a teacher who (SADTU) for reopening the schools. spoke to The Olifants News on SADTU says their members are condition of anonymity, two of the more likely to be suffer the harshest teachers at the school tested positive reality of this virus due to underlyfor COVID-19. ing conditions and age. This comes at the back of calls Ebony Park Primary School and by many interest groups for the Drake Koka are amongst the schools minister of Basic Education Angie that are also affected by the virus.
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Publishedby by Published PAPASHA MEDIA(PTY) (PTY)LTD LTD PAPASHA MEDIA Tel: 0861023 744 674 Tel: 010 1845 Fax: 086611 6114478 4478 Fax: 086
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Issue 16 | Friday, 17 July 2020
Issue 02 - 2018
Why senior citizens should be using digital Washing channels for safe and convenient banking shoes for cash W by Staff Writer
to bank easily and securely online. These include, monitoring the hile South African citidevice being used to ensure that it is zens are encouraged to verified and if not, only limited serEmail: theolifants@papashamedia.co.za m theolifants@papashamedia.co.za remain indoors and work vices will be available. Customers from their homes as a result of transacting via online banking will Publisher Publisher Saki Mabhele COVID-19, research around the also be required to authenticate the Saki Tel: 010Mabhele 023 1845 world also highlights that senior transaction on their banking App as Tel: 7444478 674 Fax:0861 086 611 citizens are among the most vulneran additional safety net. Fax: 086 611 4478 m saki@papashamedia.co.za Email: saki@papashamedia.co.za able to the pandemic. “We strive to ensure that all our This is one of the compelling digital banking channels are secure. Interviews Zandile Mankayi reasons for senior citizens to conIn addition, from a cost perspective, Journalist 010 023 1845 sider efficient ways of banking to the FNB App is zero-rated across Sibusiso Masango m zandilem@papashamedia.co.za Tel. 0861 744 674 minimise the risk of exposure to all major networks, you simply need Fax: 086 611 4478 COVID-19. The adoption of digital an active internet connection. Those layville – JobEmail: sibusisom@papashamedia.co.za Advertising Sales lessness is high banking channels over this period who use our banking App no longer Zandile Mankayi in South Africa empowers consumers of all ages pay for data when accessing ser010 023 1845 but for Dennis Vundla (29) m zandilem@papashamedia.co.za with tools to easily manage their vices,” he added. Advertising Sales this was not game over as money from anywhere and at any Banking digitally is as easy as Saki Mabhele Art Director he found a niche in his comtime; allowing them to protect their just logging onto the platform 0861 744 674 Liza Mijburgh munity and started a laundry Fax: 086 611 4478 health at the same time. online or via App and carrying out 010 023 1845 business to make a living. VundEmail: meth@papashamedia.co.za CEO of Premier Banking at FNB, the transaction using minimal steps. m info@papashamedia.co.za la, a resident of Clayville Ext 26, Kamal Kalian says, “As a bank for The bank was recently named South started his business in 2016. Layout / Graphic Designer all, we continue to scale our efforts Africa’s Best Digital Bank by the “I have always wanted to be an The Olifants subscribes RonaldNews George Wakulato the in educating our customers on the SITEisfaction report, with security, entrepreneur, I noticed that most South African Press Tel. 0861 744Code, 674 which ease and safety of using our digital user-friendliness and convenience people in Clayville are the workEmail: ronaldw@papashamedia.co.za prescribes news that is truthful, acplatforms. To those customers over citied as features that users appreciing class and don’t have time to curate, fair and balanced. the age of 55, we want to emphaate the most across the bank’s digido chores and their laundry, so I If we don’t live up to standards set started a laundry company and sise the endless benefits such as cost tal channels. Puleng Malete be able to feed my famout in the Code, please contact the merged it with house cleaning,” saving and convenience of digital “Our client’s safety and privacy The Olifants News subscribes to ily, said Kodibona. KodiPress Ombudsman at the Press said Vundla. Eyethu Hygiene is the South African Press Code, banking channels. In light of these are of paramount importance to Tembisa - Sethopane bona makes about R200 Council on: currently providing employment which prescribes news that challenging times, it has become us and we remain confident that Tel: 011 484 3612/8 Kodibona (33) from Tem- on a busy day which is is truthful, accurate, fair and to 3 people and has a monthly essential foranallunconvento fully embrace the the range of digital banking soluFax: 011 484 3619 bisa started on weekends mostly, he balanced. turnover of can about safe, R12 secure 000. and available 24/7 to tions and channels that we offer, www.presscouncil.org.za technological of services. Customers tional businessinnovations washing designed charges his range customers ac“The business can sustain itself, to offer of banking, con-to shoe easilysize view all their help you manage your money and cater for every customer’s banking If we don’t live up to standards set shoes forthem cash.ease Kodibona cording kidsand manage however I want it to grow even out in the Code, please contact the veniencehisandbusiness safety. in pay R10 and account remain in control”. needs while ensuring that they are started adultswith R25us, make more,” said Vundla. Eyethu HyPress Ombudsman at the Press 2017 yearsbanking of unemand all shoes are Ourafter digital channels are suedes payments, transfer funds between To put customers fears at ease, empowered to conveniently bank giene provides a number of serCouncil on: ployment. Employment R35.con“My clients are and the letvices built on the constructs of being accounts, someone know the bank utilises a number of secufrom anywhere and at anytime,” including Wash, Iron, FoldTel: 011 484 3612/8 isvenient hard toand findeasy in Tembisa police, to use withcommunity, a wide that younurses have paid ing them. all easy, rityEyethu’s features in order for customers concludes Kalian. andIt’s house cleaning. Fax: 011 484 3619 and the surrounding areas and everyone who would www.presscouncil.org.za clients range from businesses to and this affected the entire love to support my busihouseholds. Vundla’s long term household and it is what ness is welcome. Kodiplan is to see the company exDennis Vundla (29) drove Kodibona to start bona uses a big board panding and providing more owner of Laundry this type of a business to which he places by the employment opportunities. Services make a living. “No one main road to market his “I want to see my businesses is working at home, one business. “My wish is to growing with branches in other day I saw a guy washing see my business grow and areas which will in turn proshoes for cash I took the employ other people, who vide employment to the youth idea and started my own are unemployed like me, of South Africa,” said Vundla. kokuthi yi-From Desk said Of The zabo, wathi empeleni lena yindlela ngokweqile. Abantu okunomlando business so that The I can Kodibona by Dumisani Hlatswayo President. yokubasindisa ngokugcina ukuqhe- wesifo sikashukela emndenini wabo; cwaningo olushicilelwe Kuyimanje, cishe sebengu-4.5 lelana okufanele. abanamafutha ngokweqile emzimyiNational Institute for million abantu bakuleli abanesifo “Nanoma ubani angahaqeka beni; nomfutho wegazi ophezulu; Communicable Diseases, luqa- sikashukela. ngeCoronavirus, kodwa abantu ase- bonke basengcupheni yokuphagula ukuthi kwiziguli ezintathu “EWestern Cape kuphela, isifo bebadala yibona abasengozini yoku- thwa yisifo sikashukela. Abantu ezamukelwa esibhedlela ngenxa sikashukela yisona esiyimbangela gula kakhulu baze bafe,” kuxwayisa abanesifo sikashukela basengozini yeCovid-19, esisodwa sazo sisuke enkulu yokufa kwabantu ngenxa uRamaphosa. yokuhlaselwa yisifo senhliziyo, sinesifo sikashukela. yeCovid-19,” usho njalo. Ngokomnyango wezempilo, sifo isifo sohlangothi kanye nezinkinga Staff Writer Lokhu kuze kuphawulwe nangUbale nabantu asebebadala sikashukela sibangwa, phakathi zamehlo. Kubalulekile ukuthi sonke umongameli wezwe, UCyril abahlala ezikhungweni okuh- kokunye, wuhlobo lokudla olukh- sikukhuthalele ukuvakashela izik- High South Africa is one Ramaphosaakmore encwadini yakheunemployment ayikh- laliswa in kuzo asebekhulile okun-of uphula amazinga kashukela emzim- hungo zezempilo ukuyohlolela ushthe major factors leading to an increase in crime rate. The beni, nokuholela ekukhuluphaleni ukela kanye nezinye izifo. ipha njalo ngoMsombuluko ebizwa gaselula ukuxhumana nezihlobo SAPS in Olifantsfontein have recently released a statement alerting residents of crimes that are happening in Oakmore. Community members are advised to stop walking alone in the late hours because they might be victims of armed robbery and rape. The SAPS says motorists are advised not to park at the old Pretoria road next to Oakmore, rather they park at the nearest garage to avid being victims of crime. According to Constable Mokete Serakwana Communication Officer Olifantsfontein SAPS Oakmore has become a crime hotspot for criminals, many crime cases have been reported that happened in that area so it is best to avoid it especially at night.“We are urging the community members to take our crime alerts into avoid be086consideration 000 10111to/ 112 ing victims of crime,” said Constable Serakwana.
Clayville Laundry Creates Employment for Youth
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ISifo sikashukela nezinye zinomthelela omkhulu ekufeni kwabantu kuleli
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SAPS Crime Alert for Oakmore
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035 474 0710
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Olifantsfontein SAPS South African 011 316 8022 8000
Police Service 086 000 10111 /112 Olifantsfontein Saps 011 316 8022
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012 395 8000
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074 080 8315
Friday, 17 July 2020 | Issue 16
www.theolifants.co.za | The Olifants News
Eqinisweni School shuts down
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qinisweni Secondary School is one of sealant is worn and water seepage through the schools in Thembisa that has been the expansion joints is damaging the concrete closed until further notice. This comes at expansion joint interfaces and cracks have after the school has been deemed unsafe for formed along the expansion joint concrete,” occupancy. Pictures of the school circulat- the report says. ing on social media show a part of the school The President of the Reprebuilding that has collapsed. sentative Council of Learners “Another wall can collapse any time. When (RCL), Mpho Soaratlhe has issued it is touched the building shakes. It was very a statement saying the Department close to falling on learners and teachers,” says of Basic Education in Johannesburg one of the teachers who requested to remain does not care about the lives of anonymous. black learners in Ivory Park. According to an assessment report addressed “The current state of my school is to the district director, the outer skin of the a true reality of why I am saying so. double brick wall collapsed one of the gables, The district only cares about marks this is a triangular portion of a wall between and attendance stats. We attended classes in the edges of intersecting roof pitches. decomposed, dangerously damaged con“Wall tiles to connect the gable to the inner tainers from 2013 up until we shut down the wall were not used. There are signs that the school in July last year,” he said. other gable walls will fall in the same way. The Department of Basic Education did not There are several portions with loose bricks, respond to numerous messages and calls to or some have fallen off. Expansion joint give The Olifants News a comment.
“Another wall can collapse any time.”
COVID-19 shoots up in Gauteng COVID-19 infections have increased by 43% in a day in Gauteng province. As of Tuesday, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 144 264. Of this Gauteng has recorded 36 895 cases and 180 deaths. The Gauteng Education Department reported last week that 176 schools had been affected with 58 learners and 188 teachers testing positive. “We are seeing a rapid rise in the cumulative number of positive COVID-19 cases indicating that, as we had expected, we are approaching a surge during the latter winter months of July and August,” said Minister
of Heath Zweli Mkhize . Within the coming days, Gauteng is expected to emerge with the highest COVID-19 numbers. “Factors contributing to this trend are inward migration; the large population (especially in metros like Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane); increased congregating which spurs cluster outbreaks; and the level to which people are able to adapt to new behaviours such as social distancing and the wearing of masks,” said the report issued by The Department of Health. We encourage our readers to be safe and always wear a mask.
Katlego still missing
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n January, The Olifants News published a story of a missing woman, Katlego Pearl Makgatso. She has been missing since the 29th November 2019 till today. “We haven’t found her; she is still missing. We have opened a case of a missing person at Rabasuthu police station. The police and her brother checked the government mortuary, but they couldn’t find her,” says her sister Portia. “It is hard,” she says. “She used to live at her boyShe was last seen leaving her friend’s house with her children home at 8.00 pm with an inten- who are 3 and 1 years old. It’s tion of handing over some money painful when her older child asks to someone. Her family started to us, when is Mama coming back?” panic when hours passed without Katlego was reported missKatlego coming back. ing to the police on the 2nd of She was wearing Adidas slip- December. If you know about pers, blue jeans and she had her her whereabouts, please contact weave on, her sister Portia said. Portia on 071 752 6348.
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Booze cases clog hospitals P
resident Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on recently following Bandile Masuku says the the upsurge of COVID-19 cases Gauteng government welcomes in Gauteng and Eastern Cape the decision of the National provinces. Coronavirus Command Council “The storm is upon us. More (NCCC) to immediately suspend than a quarter of a million South the sale of alcohol. Africans have been infected with “It is going to give us great coronavirus, and we know that relief on our trauma cases and it many more infections have gone will play a role in reducing the undetected. numbers, as well as relieving As of this evening, there are the stress and the pressure at our 276,242 confirmed cases in the facilities,” Masuku says. country. We are now recording Soon after alcohol sales were over 12,000 new cases every day,” allowed across the country, hosRamaphosa said. pitals and healthcare workers saw “The surge of infections that a sharp spike in patients admitted our experts and scientists pre- to emergency wards for trauma dicted over 3 months ago has now injuries. arrived. It started in the Western The total number of confirmed Cape and is now underway in COVID-19 cases in Gauteng as at the Eastern Cape and Gauteng. 12 July 2020 sits at 75 015, with Gauteng is fast approaching 23 804 recoveries and 478 deaths. 100,000 confirmed cases,” the Ekurhuleni has the secpresident continued. ond highest record of about Gauteng Health MEC Dr 16 626 cases.
Olifantsfontein police station closed down as staff member tests positive for COVID-19
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he Olifantsfontein police station closed down temporarily for urgent decontamination following confirmation that one of its officers had tested positive for COVID-19. “All communities serviced by Olifantsfontein police station are advised that the police station has been temporarily closed for decontamination after one of its members tested positive for COVID-19,” announced the statement. “The Community Service Center will be operating at Municipality Paypoint situated at the yard of Olifantsfontein Library. The Community is advised to call 10111 for all complaints and emergencies that needs to be attended by Olifantsfontein police station. The telephone lines at
Olifantsfontein police station Community Service Center will not be accessible for the duration of the closure. The building will be undergoing decontamination and the community will be informed when the station will be operational again. The SAPS management apologise for any inconvenience that may arise from this,” the statement continued. The police station has been decontaminated over the weekend and opened again. It was for the second time that a staff member in this police station has tested positive. Meanwhile, the South African Police Union has accused the government of not doing enough to protect officers from the coronavirus. This follows the closure of many police stations across the country.
Issue 16 | Friday, 17 July 2020
“It is my father’s house, not his sister’s!” by Staff Writer
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lizabeth Mkhize currently lives in her mother’s house with her 3 children, aged 11, 7 years and 8 months. According to Mkhize her mother is married to another man. “I need your help with my father’s place in Thembisa. My father left me his place and his sisters sold the place without telling me. My father passed away in 2015, and before he passed on, he told me that he will leave the place for me as I’m his only child. After he died, I didn’t follow up on the house. I thought my aunts would bring up the subject, but they never did,” Mkhize told The Olifants News. She said her father passed away
while he was still living with his girlfriend in Thembisa. But once he got gravely ill, he moved to live with his sister in Diepsloot. She is not sure if the girlfriend stayed behind or had moved out as well. She said at times she was busy sorting out some documents for her father’s UIF. She was later told that all things in her father’s place were taken away. “To this day they haven’t told me what happened to the place. I’m not sure who is currently using the place, or if it was even sold. If so, by who. No one is telling me anything. My aunts don’t want to discuss this issue with me,” said Mkhize.
“I’d appreciate it if you can connect me with an estate agent or a property expert who can advise me on the next step to take,” she said. Mkhize’s father, had two sisters and a brother. “The house was sold,” Mkhize’s aunt Mathapelo revealed. “The reason why the place was sold was because her father had it registered to a last born child from his previous relationship. The last born child’s name is Noluthando. When we tried to get it, we found out it was registered under Nothando’s name. So, the mother of this child who sold it. There was no running water or even electricity there,” Mathapelo said.
Friday, 17 July 2020 | Issue 16
www.theolifants.co.za | The Olifants News
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Mall of Thembisa opens up to small traders by Dumisani Hlatswayo
“Remember the entire Thembisa will be shopping here once the mall t’s 12:00 pm in the afternoon, is opened,” he continues. I am exactly not sure about when I it’s lunch time. Workers are It’s rare that small businesses are started working here but it was just buzzing outside the site of the given an opportunity to operate before lockdown,” she says. mall to buy food. Whether it’s tra- their businesses while a mall is still “My plan is to continue sellditional food or chips, thanks to the in construction. One of the traders ing even after the mall has been traders they now can find it. there is, Agreement Mthethwa. She built. I am selling from Monday to “Mall of Thembisa is still in the says she started selling at the Mall Saturday. I have the other business, construction phase but already just before lockdown. but it is the same as this one. We small businesses are benefiting,” “We were given an opportunity to cook home meals such as pap, skop, says Baphiwe Sibangela, spokes- go there and sell. So, I was inter- mogodu, hard chicken, manqina, person for Clayville Development ested in that. So, I went and applied and all the other traditional food Community (CDC). and started working immediately. that black people like,” she reveals.
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Issue 16 | Friday, 17 July 2020
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Not just a carpenter but one with a hardware by Dumisani Hlatswayo
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arpenters are in constant demand in Tembisa, whether working on construction sites or building kitchen cabinets in a workshop. Thomson Phalanndwa (41) chose this career 17 years ago. Today he runs a thriving business in Tswelopele, Thembisa. “We are based at 63 Botswana street Tswelopele, but our entrance is on Olifants road,” he tells The Olifants News. Phalanndwa received his training at a FET college in Sibasa, Venda. “I did my N1’s and my practicals there,” he recalls. “I have been doing ceilings, kitchen cabinets and so on for years. So, I am a carpenter by profession. Right now, I am on the next
chapter of my business. We are runHe says the outbreak of the ning hardware in Tswelopele.” He COVID-19 has affected his business. says people can come to his hard- “The outbreak of this COVID-19 ware and buy tools and other car- coincided with the launch of our pentry accessories. hardware store. It is not easy “We also offer cutting and edging. because it is not like going out to see And we manufacture furniture for customers.” He says a challenge for our clients,” he says. him is that customers need to come “I have been self-employed for a to his store to buy. This means his long time. Since high school I was employees are exposed to the risks running small businesses. Like of contracting COVID-19. everyone else I tried to find a job, Phalandwa uses Facebook, his but it didn’t work out,” Phalandwa company website, and business recalls. cards to market his business. “My Business employs four people even though sometimes we employ His services include: more, depending on the amount • Cutting and shaping timber; of work that we have. Sometimes • Making and fitting kitchens we do installations for cabinets, so and assembling structures that’s when we hire more people,” like staircases; he reveals. • Building entire interiors;
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• Designing and building items like floorboards and doors; and • And others.
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Meet the side hustler from Thembisa
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pumelelo Booi was born camping. We also do indoor activiand raised in Thembisa. ties but only on request,” he says. He faced adversities Mpumelelo was inspired to start a in childhood which includes los- business of this nature when he and ing both his parents when he was his friend were invited to go hiking. only 9. “Soccer was the one thing “I could say it was something totally that kept me focused not to worry different. It was my first time going about my issues at home,” he says. hiking. And we were not told what Upon completing his matric at to bring and what to expect,” he Masiqhakaze Secondary School, recalls. Mpumelelo says when you he got a scholarship and pursued a invite people to go hiking for the career in IT. He currently works as first time it is essential to prepare field technician at Fidelity. them mentally about what they “I am also an aspiring entrepre- should expect. neur; my company Selfie Moments “I’m one of the people who is is an outdoor agency that offers out- always looking for opportunities door activities such as hiking and and I also know that being a leader
doesn’t mean you know everything. As much as you are willing to take advice you need to take criticism as well,” he says. He says during lockdown he kept himself busy by enhancing his photography skills with Shaw Academy. “It is not something I’d want to make a career out of,” he says. He also read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Connect with Mpumelelo
A Twitter @Mpumelelo511 V Instagram @booidavid05 B Facebook David Booi
Friday, 17 July 2020 | Issue 16
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Rainwater harvesting saves municipal water supply
A soccer academy launched in Winnie Mandela
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arrison Mahanyele has launched a football academy called Everton Football. His academy is set to attract top football talent from across Thembisa and other townships. Based in Winnie Mandela Zone 11, the academy has been training young players as early as 2016. Mahanyele says he is currently busy building a senior team for his academy. “I have been talking to some professional soccer teams such as Highlands Park, Jomo Cosmos and Baroka,” Mahanyele tells The Olifants News. Mahanyele says he was inspired to start a football academy after
noticing that players from the town- the soccer trails,” he continues. ship struggle to go to senior teams. Thanks to the simple brilliant idea His academy is dedicated to help- of this young man, there is a player ing young footballers achieve their who is about to sign a professional dreams of playing professionally. contract. “There is a promise to sign “I was once a soccer player even one of our players to a senior soccer though I didn’t make it to PSL. So I team. Highlands Park is in the prothought since I’ll be retiring maybe cess of signing one of our players as let me start a football academy and well,” Mahanyele says. help our community,” he says. Mahanyele says he is grateful He says he is managing some of that none of his players have tested the players. “The kind of help that I positive to COVID-19. “We manam currently looking for is publicity aged to communicate with the staso that soccer teams can know about tion commander from Thembisa so what I am doing,” he says. that we can train in the mornings,” “The ages of the players range Mahanyele says. If not running a from under 13, under 15 and 21. I soccer academy Mahanyele offers have already been taking some of his services as an architect.
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he city of Ekurhuleni is encouraging its residents to consider rainwater harvesting as a backup system to complement the supply of water into their homes. Prior to harvesting systems and the current technology devices, rainwater was the only source of water supply. Rainwater is free. Whereas water from the municipal supply is not. You are billed for what you use. By using your stored rainwater in and outside the house to flush the toilet, clean the house, water the garden, and clean the car, you will not be using municipal water and will see a steep drop in your monthly
water bill. Rainwater is valued for its purity and softness. It has a nearly neutral pH, and is free from disinfection by-products, salts, minerals, and other natural and man-made contaminants. The main benefit for using stored rainwater is evident with plants, as they thrive under irrigation with stored rainwater. A basic rainwater collection system includes a roof, gutters or roof drains, and a piping system to convey the water to and from a storage tank or cistern. Storage tanks can be inside or outside, above or below ground, or partially above and partially below ground.
The advantages and benefits of rainwater harvesting: The water is free; the only cost is for collection and use. The end use of harvested water is located close to the source, eliminating the need for complex and costly distribution systems. Rainwater provides a water source when groundwater is unacceptable or unavailable, or it can augment limited groundwater supplies. Rainwater is sodium-free; important for persons on low-sodium diets. Rainwater harvesting reduces flow to storm water drains and also reduces non-point source pollution. Rainwater harvesting helps utilities reduce the summer demand peak and delay expansion of existing water treatment plants. Rainwater harvesting reduces consumers’ utility bills.
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