tame TIMES BEDFORDVIEW - WITH THE COMMUNITY
AfriForum plants trees in Edenvale Tuesday Tel: 011Delivered 862 8500 Ievery www.tametimes.co.za
15 October Week 42Week 21 Volume 09,2019, 23 May 2017,
Tell: 011 862 8500 I Fax: 086 241 5648
simply an important part of the ecosystem or an essential natural resource – trees are symbolic of life,” says Kingsley.
The AfriForum branch in Edenvale recently planted three trees at M.W. de Wet Primary School as part of the civil rights organisation’s annual arbour month project. According to Peter Kingsley, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Edenvale branch, the organisation intends to plant more than 3 000 trees countrywide this year. “By planting indigenous trees we are not only preserving our environment and making it a more beautiful place to live in, but we are also showing that we have hope for the future. Trees are much more than
AfriForum annually focuses on both a tree species that occurs commonly and a scarce tree species. The common tree for 2019 is the marula (Sclerocarya birrea), while the scarce tree is the apple leaf (Philenoptera violacea). AfriForum encourages its members to plant indigenous trees that thrive in their environments. “Arbour month offers the perfect opportunity to make a lasting difference in our communities. However, trees are in need of continuous care to prosper to the benefit of everyone and M.W. de Wet Primary School undertakes to supply this care. It is symbolic of the fact that the trees are here to stay and have hope for the future,” Kingsley concludes. The branch encourages the community to become involved with the project and become part of a greener future.
EKURHULENI RAPID LAND RELEASE SET IN MOTION The City of Ekurhuleni is steaming ahead with its rapid land release programme. The City is releasing 56 farms at a value of R120 million to previously disadvantaged local smallholding and subsistence farmers to improve food security, increase tax and revenue base for the City, expand food exports and attract new investments into the City. The initiative will also enhance the quality of life for residents in the City and increase the number of job opportunities in the region. Over 1 000 hectares of land will be released to the beneficiaries in a programme that will generate about R200 million in revenue for the City, through medium-term leases in addition to other economic benefits. The City is in a process of finalising economic partnership agreements with private sector companies, government agencies, development finance institutions, industry bodies, farmers’ associations, research institutions and training organisations. The City’s agriculture development and support programme, of which the rapid land release is part thereof, covers five key elements that will transform and grow the agriculture and the agro-processing sector in Ekurhuleni, as farmers will be assisted with access to Council-owned land, technical support, skills development, access to funding, access to markets and off-take agreements. This collaboration will support the City’s intention to position Ekurhuleni as the preferred investment destination for urban agriculture and agro-processing, and facilitate the participation of small, social and emerging farmers in the mainstream activities of the sector. Executive Mayor Cllr Mzwandile Masina
for more information email us at: agriculture@ekurhuleni.gov.za
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15 October 2019
Condolences to Colonel Maluleke Catching up with The Christmas Cracker Team or boxes; so we have arranged for fabric Christmas bags to be printed,” said Lornette.
tame TIMES had the opportunity to meet The Christmas Cracker team on Saturday, 12 October. Five years ago three sisters; Lornette Joseph, Coral Bowler and Mandy Whitehead decided to give back to the elderly by giving them a gift for Christmas. In their first year of giving back to the elderly, the three sisters, along with their other family members bought 35 gifts for the Elandsvallei Old Age home in Primrose. After the first year, the sisters decided to include the Gerald Fitzpatrick Home for Ladies in their gift giving, and the number increased from 35 to 105 in just one year as they decided to open it up to friends and family to assist with the gift giving. Every year so far The Christmas Cracker has grown, with more people coming on board, and spreading joy to the elderly. In 2018, despite wanting to reach 400 elderly, the charity donated to just over 300 members in old age facilities. Part of the gift giving is the ability to spend a few precious moments with the people in the homes, sharing an ice cream and a laugh. “Some of people we speak to are just so grateful to spend time with us chatting; it is sad to see how many people have just been put in an old age home and their families have ‘forgotten’ about them,” said Mandy Whitehead. Because The Christmas Cracker has grown over the years, the sisters, along with friend Wendy McNally registered an NPO called TenderHeart Foundation, which has The Christmas Cracker as its registered project. “Some people don’t give us gifts, but prefer to deposit into our bank account. We did not feel that it was right not to be a registered NPO and protect those funds. We would like to grow the TenderHeart Foundation into other avenues which we will look at in the New Year,” explains Lornette. “All funds get put back into The Christmas Cracker project,” said Mandy. Not only does The Christmas Cracker have a number of drop-off points this year; but they also have amazing members of the community who help with the collection and co-ordination of the gifts. Shelley Hutton and Wendy McNally have based themselves in the Kensington area; Danielle Matthews does the Primrose Area, and Lyn Opie in the Lambton area; with the three sisters and their spouses doing all other areas. “We really couldn’t do the work we do without the help of these amazing people,” said Coral. “Our families and friends have become huge supporters of our cause.” Coral explains that while it is preferred that people give full bags; the organization is grateful for any donations towards completing a bag. “Anything that someone wishes to give will be fantastic because then it means we don’t have to buy that specific item; every little bit helps,” she said. People just have to place the needed items (listed below) into a normal plastic bag marked Male or Female; and the team of helpers place these items into printed fabric bags with our logo. “We really don’t want people to go to the extra expense or hassle of finding gift bags
This year The Christmas Cracker would like to reach more people and we request that anyone wishing to donate, please consider dropping a few items off at one of the designated drop off points. These points generally work Monday to Friday, normal working hours, with Majestic, Country Flowers and DeadBird Tattoo also being open on Saturday Mornings. A bin will be placed at all the locations where the team will collect. Members from The Christmas Cracker will also be present at the Majestic Nursery final night market for the year where they will collect either items needed or complete bags. The night market is on Friday, 29 November from 5:30pm. Some of the homes we have been given gifts to, include Elandsvallei, Shasona Lodge, Gerald Fitzpatrick, Cora Erasmus, SAVF, and Benoni Salvation Army
In a tragic double blow, the Head of our Detectives, Colonel Maluleke, first lost her son 2 months ago to illness and then last night her and her husband were hijacked at their home and her husband was shot and killed. Words cannot relieve her pain but we do offer our most sincere condolences to her and her family. Gavin Henry - CPF Chairman & CPF Exco. tame TIMES will be reporting on the full story in the next tame TIMES edition as we are awaiting information.
Untouched lunch deepens mystery of missing Germiston mom and her twins
“Handing over a small gift to some of the men and women in homes has brought us so much joy; and we couldn’t do it without the help of the public,” said Lornette Joseph. Items for Bags (Male or Female) • Face Cloth • Soap • Aqueous Cream / Vaseline • Toothpaste • Toothbrush • Powder • Deodorant • Yummies (Biscuits or soft sweets) • An item of clothes (Socks, gloves, scarves, etc) • A little gift, for example: • Playing cards • Puzzle books, Suduko • Adult colouring in book • Medicine organiser/pill box, • Memory journal and pen, • Broach, • Torch, • Fridge magnet photo frame, • Key finder, • Glasses holder, • Cell phone bag, • Sweetie jar, Drop Off Points: The following places have agreed to be our drop off points: Country Flowers – Kensington 150 Queen Street, Kensington Tame Times – Alberton 91 Michelle Ave & Sangiro Close, Randhart, Alberton, 1449 Caxton Newspaper – Primrose 25 Main Road Fishers’ Hill Germiston Majestic Nursery – Lambton Majestic Garden Centre, 90 Webber Rd, Lambton, Johannesburg, 1401 DeadBird Tattoo – Lambton Shop 4, Cedar Corner, Cnr 1st Ave and Webber Road, Lambton, Germiston 1401 FNB Conference & Learning Center – Sandown 114 Grayston Drive, Sandown. Closing Date: 10 December 2019 Contact Information: Lornette Joseph – 083 847 4510 Ccracker15@gmail.com www.thechristmascracker.co.za https://www.facebook.com/groups/ ccracker/
It has been two months since Nosisa Hlanjwa and her five-year-old twins, Mikhulu and Imibulelo, disappeared without a trace from their Germiston home According to TimesLIVE on Monday, Hlanjwa’s mother, Julia has had countless sleepless nights since her 36-year-old daughter and grandchildren went missing. “I have gone everywhere seeking help. I even went to sangomas, but have not had any luck. At this point, I don’t know what to think,” said Julia, her voice trembling as she fought back the tears. “When I return from work and I see children playing in the street, I sometimes think I will see my grandchildren running towards me, like they usually did,” said the heartbroken grandmother. The mystery surrounding the disappearance was fueled by the nature in which their house was found after they were last seen, she said. “At first I did not think they disappeared, even though it was unusual for her not be reachable by phone. But when we got to her [rented backroom], it was strange,” said Julia. “She had cooked. There were pots full of pap and chicken and a cold drink outside the fridge.” All of their clothes seemed to be in the home. Julia said she last spoke to Nosisa on August 13, and recalled how her daughter sounded downhearted. I spoke to her in the morning. She sounded down but I thought I would ask her about it later as I was rushing to work.
Little did I know that would be the last time I would speak to her,” she said. During that last phone call, they spoke about Hlanjwa’s grandchildren visiting her that weekend. The next day, however, Hlanjwa received the dreaded call. “Nosisa’s boyfriend called and said he could not find her and the children. This was after I had been calling her with no luck. He said he had received a call from the crèche, asking if the children would be attending school,” Julia said. According to Julia, a neighbour claimed to have seen Nosisa leaving with her twins on foot, with her purse in her hand. Desperate to find answers, a private investigator has been roped in but PI Wendy Pascoe’s revelations have brought more questions than answers. Pascoe told TimesLIVE that through her investigations, she had learnt that Nosisa was last seen in Germiston, where she was believed to have gone to see a sangoma. According to Pascoe, the sangoma was nowhere to be found. “This case is out of the ordinary because ever since a missing persons alert was put out, there has been no information. Normally, we get phone calls giving us clues, demanding ransom and even false alarms, but it isn’t case with this one,” said Pascoe. Julia said she remains hopeful the trio will be found safe. Each time her phone rings, her hopes are raised that the person on the other end will be bring news that her daughter and grandchildren have been found. “I have been receiving a lot of phone calls, people sympathising with me, saying I should be okay but how can I be okay when I don’t know where my child and grandchildren are, if they are okay or if they have eaten?” Julia said. Const Maxwell Mabunda of the Germiston police station confirmed that a case of missing persons had been opened and an investigation was under way. On social media, the Methodist Church where Nosisa was a congregant has circulated her and her children’s pictures, praying for their safe return.
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15 October 2019
MATRICS: THE 3 TIMES ANXIETY CAN CREEP UP DURING FINAL EXAM PREP
The next few weeks are going to be a whirlwind for South Africa’s Matric Class of 2019, as they cram in their final exam prep while trying to remain calm, collected and focused ahead of each assessment. This is a tall order given the mountains of work they need to conquer, while also juggling the admin of ensuring they don’t drop the ball on any of their subjects. “It goes without saying that you should now be revising as best you can, to ensure you perform as well as possible when final assessment time rolls around,” says Sifiso Mnisi, Head of Programme: Faculty of Humanities at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education institution. “However all the preparation in the world will count for little if you are in a state of mental disarray, and don’t have a handle on doubts and anxieties that may creep in,” he says. Mnisi says there are specifically three times when fear and panic may take hold during coming weeks, and each of these situations should be identified, faced and dealt with so that equilibrium can be restored in the minds of learners: 1) In the weeks and days before exams, as time to revise runs out, 2) During exams when it can be hard to determine where attention should be focused, and, 3) In the actual exam room. “Firstly, we advise parents and learners to always, always, keep a sense of perspective, and for learners to keep doing their best knowing that no matter what happens, there will always be options. So don’t at this stage waste valuable emotional energy thinking about the ‘what ifs’. Banish these concerns from your mind, and resolve to cross future bridges when you get to them. “Your focus should now be squarely on revision and preparing to sit for exams, not concerns about the future,” he says. CHALLENGE 1: KEEPING CALM AS EXAMS DRAW CLOSER AND TIME TO REVISE RUNS OUT The upcoming exams is a culmination of 12 years of hard work, and it can feel daunting to reflect on the fact that it all comes down to how you are going to perform in a few weeks’ time. Until now, you may have felt that even if you are behind, tomorrow is another day. However with the tomorrows running out fast and furiously, many learners may start feeling concerned and even a little panicky. “When you start getting worried, remember that the best antidote to anxiety is action. Don’t forget how much work you have already put in, and trust the process. If you are having particular concerns about a certain subject, make time to com-
plete another past paper, or chat through your concerns with your teacher. “And don’t let your fear turn into procrastination because you can’t face the mountain of work you still want to get through. Use your time productively, ensure you get enough exercise and sleep, and push all other thoughts aside. Resolve to address your worries – if they still exist – after the exams, and throw all your energy into doing the work, rather than thinking about the work that you still need to do,” Mnisi says. CHALLENGE 2: KEEPING CALM DURING EXAMS, BETWEEN PAPERS Once the big day arrives when you sit for your first paper, the whirlwind will intensify. There will be almost no time left for deep revision, and you’ll have to make a call on what to study with the limited time you have, and also how to study. Past papers? Reading through all the work again? Going back to your notes and diagrams? “The key here is to stay the course and stick to what has worked for you until now. Don’t get distracted by your friends swotting up on a certain subject in a certain way. You know where more attention is needed, and what method of study works best for you. “It is also very important not to dwell on what lies behind you. If things didn’t go well when you wrote a paper this morning, and you have to prepare for your next paper tomorrow, apply your focus and energy where it can still make a difference, on that which lies ahead. Again, shelve away the worry until later, to deal with only if your concerns actually turn out to have been valid. “Equally, don’t let a good performance on one paper make you sit back and relax. Work for each and every point, as even marginal improvements in performance can have a major impact on your postMatric options.” CHALLENGE 3: KEEPING CALM IN THE EXAM ROOM Even with the best preparation, the realities of the exam room mean that some learners may experience a mid-exam meltdown. These are not unusual, and is often the result of burnout, lack of sleep and the buildup of stress over the past few months. Key to dealing with panic in the exam room, is to know what is happening. “If you feel yourself starting to breathe rapidly, become light-headed or like you are out of your depth and can’t do this, recognise what is going on and take back control. Understand that you are panicking, and regain your focus. Then resolve to do as well as possible on this paper and to do what you can. Again, action is the antidote to anxiety. “Read through the paper and start on those questions that you are able to answer, then go back to those ones which are more challenging. Do as much as you can with the time you have available, and keep perspective while keeping calm.” Mnisi says the final exams are not only a test of knowledge, but also of mettle under pressure. “A calm and focused mind is one of your strongest weapons. By keeping the big picture in mind while at the same time ensuring you are as well prepared as possible, you will be able to perform to the best of your ability. “And keeping the big picture in mind means that you understand your exam performance, while important, is not the last word on your future. Regardless of what happens, whether you perform above expectations or not as well as expected, there are countless roads that lead to success.”
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Heroic Japanese down Scotland to set up Springbok quarter-final showdown
The Brave Blossoms hit top gear on Sunday as the hosts beat Scotland 2821 in a barnstorming Rugby World Cup clash to create history by being the first Asian nation to reach the quarter-finals. Rampaging wingers Kotaro Matsushima and Kenki Fukuoka did the damage for Japan, who survived a late fightback in Yokohama to advance as Pool A winners along with Ireland. The Brave Blossoms will face two-time world champions South Africa in Tokyo
next weekend after making it a perfect four wins out of four, roared on by a crowd of 67 000. Fukuoka, scorer of Japan’s try in their 1912 upset over Ireland, grabbed two more in Yokohama with Matsushima notching his fifth of the tournament for the rampant Japanese. After a war of words between the rival coaches in the build-up, the teams observed a moment’s silence for the victims of the violent typhoon that swept through Japan on Saturday, killing at
least 26 and forcing organisers to scrap three pool games. The needle between the sides quickly resurfaced in the typhoon-threatened decider, as both teams put in some monstrous early tackles. “For my team, the whole World Cup, we’ve prepared really, really well. They’ve put their bodies on the line every weekend,” said Japan coach Jamie Joseph, who has compared his players to Ferrari’s. “But tonight they went another level I felt. They obviously wanted that game as much as the Scottish team did. They gave everything they possibly could. “Everyone that entered the game, from our most experienced to our least experienced, gave 150 percent and that’s what it takes to win big Test matches.” Scotland needed to win while preventing Japan from securing a defensive bonus point - and they got off to a flying start. Early pressure told as flyhalf Finn Russell broke through to give them the lead after just seven minutes. But the Japanese hit back quickly with Matsushima latching onto a superb, onehanded offload from Fukuoka to score his fifth try of the tournament. Even better was to come from the hosts with a dazzling move straight out of a basketball playbook, quick hands be-
tween Shota Horie and William Tupou releasing loosehead prop Keita Inagaki to crash over. On the stroke of half-time, the jet-heeled Fukuoka plucked a high-bouncing Timothy Lafaele grubber kick out of the air to leave Scotland with a mountain to climb. Fukuoka then produced a moment of solo brilliance moments into the second half, stripping the ball from Chris Harris before accelerating clear. Scotland, who had bounced back from a 27-3 drubbing by Ireland to smash Samoa 34-0 and Russia 61-0, looked out of it. When WP Nel and Zander Fagerson bulldozed over in the space of five minutes, suddenly the Japanese were creaking. But they stood firm in the face of a late barrage to avenge a 45-10 defeat by Scotland that cost them a place in the knockout stages of the 2015 World Cup. That team, led by Eddie Jones, won three matches, including a breathless 34-32 victory over South Africa in their opening game. Japan’s current vintage thrashed Russia 30-10 and Samoa 38-19 either side of their massive win over Ireland and coach Jamie Joseph will relish the chance to have another crack at the Springboks.
Remarkable Matteo peddles to mountain bike glory
By Paola Damilano
Reddam Bedfordview student Matteo Damilano achieved a clean sweep at the 2019 Spur MTB League by winning six out of six races in the Junior Men’s category, four wins in the Gauteng South Series and two wins at the finals. At time of going to press the Spur MTB League organisers could not confirm whether this had ever happened before in the League’s history that a Junior Man had ever won both races at finals and if a Junior Man had ever won six out of six races. A total of 19 200 riders from across
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South Africa took part in the SPUR MTB League Series in 2019. After four races in each province, the top riders and schools were invited to finals. A total of 536 riders from 87 schools, across 11 provinces and regions including Zambia and Namibia competed in the interschools’ competition at Wagpos HS in Brits on 27 and 28 September. Reddam House, Bedfordview was the first Reddam House school to qualify for the finals. Matteo, a Grade 11 learner, is the captain of Gauteng South’s Provincial Dream Team. Team Red-
dam was represented by Matteo Damilano, Adrian Stark, Caitlin Capon, Tiana Xenia Do Rego and Cameron Capon. For winning the Junior Men’s category at the Inter-school race, Matteo received a cheque of R10 000 for Reddam House, Bedfordview. Matteo also received the most prestigious award of Best Junior Male rider for 2019. This award doubles up as the best male rider for 2019 at school level. A truly mance!
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