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Highlights inside: Page 2. Khayalitsha taxi drivers: from heroes to zeroes. Page 3. Kurdish fighters weld their own tanks on 'dozers and trucks.
Page 7. Top cheap smartphones. Email us on: letters@thedriver.co.za SMS us on 0730624674 The Driver subscribes to the SA Press Code that prescribes news that is truthful, accurate, fair and balanced. If we don’t live up to the code please contact the Press Ombudsman on 011-484 3512/8 or on ombudsman@presscouncil.org.za.
Nr 29, Feb/March 2015 Inspiring reading for professional drivers of all sizes throughout southern Africa
SA's transport needs 3,000 truckers STANDARD Bank is backing the transport industry to establish an academy for professional drivers. According to her estimates, transport industry in South Africa had a shortage of 3 000 drivers in 2014. It is a huge problem, but a massive employment opportunity if done right,” said Toni Fritz, head of Vehicle and Asset Finance at the Bank. She said most financial institutions are cautious about investing in the transport sector due to the risks. These risk tally up to an average of 43 road deaths each day (16 000 road deaths annually) and more than 100 000 people injured. While the transport industry suffers the most, it is also accused of being part of the problem. Ms Fritz says there is no
doubt that poorly developed and maintained driving skills in South Africa are at the heart of the problem. Due to the shortage of skills, many transport operators take the credentials presented by new recruits on face value without adequate verification of their skills. “While truck manufacturers as well as a handful of transport operators in South Africa have state-of-the-art driver training academies reinforced with driving simulators and even medical facilities, the number of graduates still falls short of industry needs,” said Ms Fritz. One of the most important industry responses to the crisis is the Road Management Transport System (RTMS), which has already been adopted by
Spot the difference between real and a game. This is a screen grab from Truck Simulator 2015, avaiable for free download on Google Play. While the game is limited, even this free app offers seven trucks to drive in several cities and landscapes, all ofwhich can help to train drivers.
major players and is fast catching on. Ms Fritz says a fleet that can demonstrate that it abides by a full set of operating standards ranging from vehicle maintenance, prevention of overloading, driver wellness and training, can acquire RTMS certification. Like an SABS stamp or
ISO accreditation, RTMS certification shows clients and the authorities that a fleet runs safely and efficiently. Despite the fact that RTMS is currently a voluntary standard, Ms Fritz says fleets are signing up fast, not least because of the significant efficiency savings that it brings. -DR.
Khayalitsha taxi drivers: from heroes to zeroes
A YEAR ago, suspended Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi hailed taxi drivers in Khayelitsha as crime fighting heroes. Since then, taxi drivers have causes millions of rands in damage and killed more than ten of their own. In February 2014, Vavi said the crime-victims in that Western Cape town hero-worshipped taxi drivers for killing dangerous criminals in their town. He was speaking at the Khyalitsha Commission, which was headed by retired Constitutional Court judge Kate O’Regan, to to probe accusations by civil society that police inaction was leading to an increase in mob justice killings. Vavi said people in Khayelitsha did not trust the police to act, citing the murder of his sister’s granddaughter, Busiswa Sizaba (25). “They [residents] fear the skollies [criminals]. They have no confidence in the police. They love the taxi drivers because they mete out the street justice to these guys who impose this reign of terror.” Vavi’s said his family Page 2, Feb/March 2015
Representatives from approximately 139 taxi associations across the province attended a pledge to Say No to Taxi Violence at the Vangate Public Transport Service Centre in Athlone in July last year. (Photo: Western Cape Government)
thought they had little police station ...It’s the alternative but to approach same story everywhere.” taxi drivers to help them. At the start of 2015, a year “You have to resort later, litte has changed. Taxi to either join these drivers are still the first against gangs. But taxi drivers and beat defence turf wars among rival taxi these guys up or you associations and their war fear them, full stop. on Golden Arrow busses There is no other are also still the norm, option,” Vavi said. despite a pledge of no “Police stations here, I can violence signed by 132 taxi tell you they reflect the associations. At that situations everywhere. function, Robin Carlisle, These police vans are not Minister ofTransport and working, the police are Public Works, had pledged absent, the policeman has R100k reward for info that just killed the wife, the would lead to the arrest of community has stoned the those involved in taxi
killings. Just over a month later, in September last year, the taxi drivers burns seven buses in Nyanga, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Philippi and stoned cars on the N2 highway. Golden Arrow Bus Services’ Bronwen Dyke said the damage amounted to R13million and several drivers had been assaulted. Mandla Mata, deputy chairman of the SA National Taxi Council in Western Cape, said drivers may have been angry about an increase in traffic fines. Two months ago, in December, more than 10 taxi drivers had been murdered by rival operators. Times Media reported One driver, Bulela Gulwa from Khayelitsha, escaped death when a bullet scraped his chest yesterday morning. He had stopped at red traffic lights in Strand Street in Bellville when gunmen opened fire. “I felt the bullet scrape past my chest. There were about 15 passengers... if something had happened to them I would have been broken.” Minister Carlisle reward for information on taxi killers is still unclaimed - DR.
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. - Steve Jobs
T&Cs: Images can either be posted to: Victoria Greeff, N3TC 201 5 Photographic Competition, P O Box 671 66 Highveld Park, 01 69, or emailed to victoriag@n3tc.co.za subject: N3TC Photographic Competition. The competition closes on 31 July 201 5 and entries received after this date will not be accepted. Photographers can enter a maximum of two photographs per category: a. Culture; b. Sport and Recreation; c. Wildlife, Fauna and Flora; d. Landscape; e. Altered Images; and f. Scholar 1 2. The following prizes will be presented: a. Overall Winner : R5,000; b. Category Winner : R2,000; c. Category Runner-Up : R1 ,500; d. Scholar Winner : R1 ,000; e. Scholar Runner-Up : R500; f. Scholar winner's school: R5,000; and g. Merit awards - maximum of two per category awarded : R500. Winning photographs will be published in the 201 6 Calendar.
Kurdish fighters turn dozers and trucks into tanks SPARE a thought for drivers who operate the tank-trucks for the Kurdish forces in northern Syria. Welded in backyeard using every piece of metal available, these armoured vehicles are hot, slow and barely safer than a soft bodied truck. The Kurdish soldiers use the vehicles to slow and in a few rare instances, even beat the Islamic State Militants invading the area. The Daily Mail reported Kurdish fighters in Iraq said that although they had been promised equipment from the U.S. and European countries to aid them in their fight againnst radical Muslims, so far most of the shipments included food - something they need far less urgently
than weapons. A resident from the village of Kobane told the Independent: 'Don't send us food, we don't need food...we will eat mud if we have to. Send us weapons, send us peshmerga (soldiers who will fight to death).' But while they continue
S Welded in backyeard using every piece ofmetal available, these armoured vehicles are hot, slow and barely safer than a soft bodied truck (Photos: Daily Mail)
waiting for the Western weapons to materialise, the Kurdish forces are reliant more than ever on their makeshift armoured vehicles to protect their population from the murderous fanatics who pose such a threat to their existence.
In recent weeks hundreds of thousands of Syrian Kurds have been forced to flee across the border into Turkey, as over 31 000 Isis soldiers launched an onslaught into the autonomous Kurdish territory in northern Syria. - Driver Reporter.
Win with roadkill photo competition
DRIVERS can win prizes by three members of the public stopping to photograph and who accurately record and send GPS details of submit the most roadkill roadkills in South Africa. sightings before January 31, Recording roadkill sigh- 2015. tings is not just a way to The prizes include two help the Endangered Wild- Desert Fox five-litre fuel life Trust, there are also cells and two spotlight sets. prizes up for grabs for the To encourage reports from
Hyundai breaks the mould with Santu Cruz THE Santa Cruz couble cab coupĂŠ concept, shown by Hyundai at the recent Detroit Auto Show, will all bakkie drivers heart palpitations. It has central locking diffs to go anywhere and there are foud doors hidden in those sleek lines. The rear doors open from the C-pillar to make it easy for three passengers to get onto the rear bench. Tie-down cleats on the wheel arches, roof, and bed rails makes securing any type of load easy. The load bed also expands and can be easily reconfigured for longer cargo, using a unique drawer-like sliding function. Under the hood a 2,0-litre turbo diesel powertrain delivers good fuel economy, using an all-wheel drive system. While the concept looks big and menacing, its overall footprint is similar to a small cross-over vehicle, making it easy to park.
motorcyclists, who are more (preferably using GPS covulnerable to encounters ordinates, try to identify the with large animals on the species seen and record the roads, there are two Zeus ZS date on which it was seen 2100B helmets on offer, a and e-mail the info and set of off-road tyres and five photos to roads@ewt.org.za or upload it via the EWT’s tyre repair kits. Participants should specify Road Watch South Africa the location of the roadkill smartphone app.
Fill what is empty. Empty what is full. Scratch where it itches. - Alice Roosevelt Longworth
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Train your brain to be smarter and faster
DOING routine things differently is the best way to exercise your brain and these five more tricks will help your mind to be faster and sharper. 1 . Change hands
Using the opposite side of your brain can quickly expand the parts of the brain that control how you use your hands. How: Brush, and don't forget to open the tube and apply toothpaste in reverse, too. 2 Do things blind Your hands will probably notice varied textures of your own body you don't “see,” and will send messages back to your brain. How: Try using just your tactile senses (although, use common sense to avoid burn or injury). Locate the taps solely by feel, and adjust the temperature. Then wash, shave, and so on with your eyes shut. 3 Change routines Brain imaging studies show
Brake out ofhabits and routines to make yourselfthink faster and smarter.
that novel tasks exercise large areas of the cortex, indicating increased levels of brain activity in several distinct areas. This activity declines when the task becomes routine and automatic. How: Get dressed after breakfast, walk the dog on a new route, or change your
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TV or news station. Even listening to new programme for example, may arouse the brain to notice how much of what you take for granted is explored in depth by children. 4. Switch seats At work, on the bus or in church, most people have “their” seat. Changing your
seat will give you a new perspective and create new neural pathways. How: Explain to a coworker why you want to switch seats and then prepare to broaden your mind. 5. Use your nose The tongue can only taste sweet, salt, bitter and sour, but the nose can smell hundreds of odours. The brain uses these smells to unlock memories and start new thoughts. You can use the smell to entrench good habits by smelling coffee when you wake up, rubbing vanilla lotion on your hands before you fall asleep, and even sniffing your smelly socks when you got a fine. Do it a few times and you will fall asleep easily, wake up bright, and avoid speeding. How: Rub Vicks onto your throat before you fall asleep for a week. Apart from helping to open your airways, the smell will soon help you sleep deeper.
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Life is not fair. Get used to it. - Bill Gates
Taxi-author writing his fourth book
CYRIL James, a metered taxi driver in Durban is already working on fourth book, despite having only a primary school education. James, from Wentworth, is a cab driver by day, but by night he retreats to a completely different world – writing his books. He launched his first two books, 'Many a Cold Night' and 'Give Me Shelter From The Storm with the help of the eThekwini municipality. They were published by UK publishing house Xlibris Publishing. The first book is his own life story, by hand while working in Zambia. The second is based on a woman’s battle in a abusive relationship. James (68) started writing his first book by hand some six years ago. At the time James was working in Zambia as a material controller. When he returned, he bought an old PC from a pawnshop to type on. When he is not writing, he and his brother Leslie operate two cabs in Durban.
Cab driver and author, Cyril James
Hino helps deliver learning and joy
A FOUR-ton Hino 300-Series 81 4 truck fitted with a Praga van body has been on loan from Hino SA to the Touch Africa charitable organisation since 201 0. The trusty workhorse still plays a vital role in a number of Touch Africa’s outreach programmes, many of which target schools. “The truck now has 53 852km on its odometer and is proving an incredible tool for allowing us to perform amazing work in our quest of ‘Making School a Better Place’”, commented Mike Glover, director of Touch Africa, who operates out of Port Elizabeth. Among the projects where the Hino has been used during the past year were the building of seven libraries, the delivery of books and mattresses to the Step by Step crèche in the Transkei and the erection of a jungle gym at Lion Park. The libraries are made of a 40ft container with 2 500 books each with the increase of literacy the main benchmark. The truck was used to move the verandas and stock of books. Touch Africa has installed 1 5 container libraries into 1 5 schools in SA over the past two years. Only 8% of schools in SA have libraries - DR.
No surprises as bigg-ass BelAz wins Swedish prize The BelAz is biggest truck in the world operating in more than 20 mines in Australia, China, Russia, Serbia, South Africa and Venezuela. It can be operated in temperatures down to -60C and at almost 5 000 meters above sea level, making it ideal for Siberia's frozen stepps and Chile's high open pit mines.
THE BelAz, that we reported on in December went on to win the 2014 Swedish prize for best use of steel. No surprises there, as the BelAz 75710 is the world's biggest lorrrie and it uses a lot of high strength steel and wear plate. The truck is almost 10 metre wide, over 20-metre long and eight metres high dump truck built Siemens for the Belarus trucking company.
Siemens developed the electric motors on each of the axles, each motor putting out 1,200kW. The electricity is made by two 16 cylinder diesel engines, each of which make 1,700kW. Because the diesels are tuned to turn at speed (measured in Watts) as opposed to make torque (measured in Newton metres) it does not work under load and uses little diesel. It
The only thing you can give and still keep, is your word. - Unknown
carries a payload of over 500 metric tons (450 tonnes) and has a total weight of 810 tons Steering the behomoth is actually easier than driving a road train, as both axles turn with hydraulic steering. In fact, boredom is the biggest danger with the big rigs, for while it can do 64km/h empty, speeds are strictly controlled and set routes are maintained. -DR. Page 5, Feb/March 2015
Know your rights as a money borrower THE Credit Act was created to help over-indebted consumers to restructure their debt so that they can get out of the debt trap. The Act provides for consumers, who are unable to service their monthly repayments on their credit agreements, to be assisted by Debt Counsellors to rearrange their monthly repayments with their credit providers. The Act also aims to prevent overindebtedness of consumers and to encourage responsible lending by credit providers. The Act specifies that you can pay loans of less than R250 000 at any time and that no penalty fee is payable for such early settlement of a small or intermediate agreement. If the consumer wants to settle a loan over R250 000, the settlement amount may include an early settlement charge which is not allowed to be more than three months interest, and less if
'The Moneylender and his Wife' was painted in 1514 by Quentin Matsys, showing your money problems are at least 501 years old.
the consumer provides notice of his / her intention to settle early. In the case of a notice given by the consumer it will reduce the three month interest early
A man walks into the spares shops and says he wants a 12-inch low profile tyre for his Foton. The guy behind the counter nods and says: "We don't usually take vehicle, but its sounds like a fair swop, "
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settlement charge by the notice period. The Act regulates the following credit agreements: - Mortgage bonds - Credit facilities like store
cards, bank overdrafts, credit cards, garage cards, personal loans, instalment sales, leases, pawn and discount transactions. - Developmental credit - Incidental credit - Credit guarantees. Agreements which are not covered by the Act: - Agreements where the credit provider and the consumer are related, for example where a husband lends money to his wife; - Agreements where a member of a stokvel borrows money from the stokvel; - Agreements where the director of a company lends money to his company; - Agreements where a government institution lends or borrows money from any source. For example if a bank borrows money from the South African Reserve Bank, this transaction is not covered by the Act
Word hunt hints in Afrikaans, English, Sesotho, Zulu. SMS any three words to 073 062 4674 for a chance to win. Indicator, flik****, p***shi, in***jika Ho***r, toeter, ph***, i***
You are never lost. You are just finding a new way there. Alwyn Viljoen
3D-printed Cobra car and local lawnmower
YOUR childrens children will not buy the cookie-cutter cars that we buy. Instead, they will match a roll cage to a drivetrain and then glue, bolt or tie whatever shape panels onto the cage that they fancy. Like today's race cars, a lot of these panels will be fiber glass, but many will be 3D-printed. This sci-fi future is already happening. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the U.S. last month showed their 3D printed Shelbey Cobra at the Detroit Auto Show. It took them only six weeks from conception to finished product. And in Kempton Park, former F1 areodynamicist, engineer and inventor Hans Fouche Also, printed the world's first lawnmower, just to test his 1 cube meter 3D printer. It took him nine hours to extrude the lawnmower, and he has already used it. He said can print a car this month, given the funds.
Hans Fouche (inset) 3D-printed the world's first lawnmower in Kemptonpark.
Five smart budget phones options
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THE Sony Xperia E1. Not only does The Driver’s editor use one because the battery lasts a day and most of the night, but it has the fastest processor of this selection. Its software upgrade will keeps it that way. The 3 megapixel camera produces excellent pictures, without any of the arguments Blacberry is famous for. The tiny screen will not crack in a pocket, although this also means typing with big fingers can be a chore. Vodaphone's Smart 4 Mini has the same 4-inch display and 480×800 resolution as the Sony Xperia E1. Its Jelly Bean operating system is not the latest, but is enough for the selected list of functions the phone offers. For those used to faster, the 1GHz Mediatek processor will be too slow to use heavy sites like facebook and the memory of 512MB RAM is tight. But if you just intend to make calls and use Google maps once in a while to find a street, this is your budget buy. If you can still find one, the MTN Steppa 1 offers the most functions for the least money. But the first 200,000 sold out in not time and there is a new Steppa 2 for more Vodacom Smart 4 Mini. If you can get a Steppa 1, you will want to download a new launcher, because it’s small screen is made even smaller by MTN’s banner ad, which takes up a fifth of the screen and rotates between eight adverts. The Steppa 1 comes with 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, FM Radio and GPS, but its ’s 1,300mAh battery will out last all
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Competition 2/201 5
Expand your languages
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THERE are two words written in four languages in this word hunt. The same words appear in Zulu, Sesotho, English and Afrikaans. Hint: this month’s words focus on vehicles. For a change to win this model Iveco truck memory stick, SMS any three of the 8 words you’ve found to 073 062 4674 or email letters@thedriver.co.za. Like easy-peasy, lemon squeezy, yes. And for a BONUS chance to win the model MAN truck you see here at year end, send an entry from each month’s Word Hunts. (Answers appear elsewhere in this edition)
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T&Cs - Only one entry per cell number! - Each monhtly winner will be notified by SMS and the memory stick will be mailed by to a post office of the winner’s choice. - Winners will be asked to send a selfie for publication in The Driver.
the phones on this list if you don’t use these functions extensively. Then this phone will meet the need of most truckers without emptying the wallet. MTN’s Steppa 2 is more expensive than the rival Vodacom Smart. Nokia’s Lumia 520 at one point even outsold the iPhone 5, thanks to Windows operating system which makes this phone very easy to use for anyone who has computers. This smartphone is already a year old but still competes with phones that have just entered the market. Windows don't have as many apps as Android, but most of us won't miss any of it. Also rans: Cell C’s new HiSense for R900 offers good capacity for the price. The 2013 Alcatel OneTouch’s Pixi 2 can still compete with the Steppa 2. The LG G Pro Lite costs the most on this list, but its 5.5 inch screen works well in day light, big fingers can type easy, websites display well and it packs the biggest battery in this group.
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The only source ofknowledge is experience - Albert Einstein
Page 7, Feb/March 2015
When softly, softly the tiredness steals over your eyes
LONDON, England Research done at Loughborough University in England has revealed that people falling asleep at the wheel are responsible for one in five deaths on motorways and main roads", reports Arrive Alive. Professor Jim Horne, head of the university's Sleep Research Laboratory, said: "Those most at risk are young people, who tend to stay up late, sleep too little and drive at night. "Other lifestyle groups at risk include shift-workers, emergency services and nurses in whose hands we often place our own lives, long-distance truckers, coach drivers and even driving instructors." Horne added: "Previous research has identified that coffee can help but, as there are too many variables in the quality and preparation of coffee, advising drivers to drink coffee as a stimulant can give them a false sense of security." The sleep lab investigated the effects of caffeine-rich energy drinks on tired drivers as an alternative to coffee. Page 8, Feb/March 2015
the sleepy errors were "virtually eliminated for 90 minutes and substantially reduced for the rest of the drive". The Sleep Research Laboratory reported that its results were encouraging, especially considering the growing number of drowsy drivers. In Australia, Matthew Beechey, Director of R&R Corporate Health advises drivers the only way to restore energy and 'Ifyou don’t give your body enough sleep, it will catch you later. wakefullness after missing Photo: Visordown. com a night sleep is to get two periods of 8-hours sleep Groups of 12 volunteers they were given "energy drinks" with neither the with only doing nothing in were chosen from, the driver nor the tester between. university claims, the knowing the exact formula He writes on Prime population most at risk, of each. Mover: "The ideal scenario young adults, especially The active ingredients is for a driver to seek two men younger than 30. quality eight hour sleeps in Participants were tested in (caffeine, taurine and a row, drink plenty of a car simulator replicating glucuronolactone) were freeway driving conditions, removed from the control water, go for walks, get into drink to provide only the the garden, jog, swim or bends, hard shoulders, ride, sit in a park or on a rumble strips, lane-drifting taste of the drink. Half an hour after the river bank, enjoy home and monotonous dual ingestion of the energy cooked veggies, load up on carriageways. drink (250ml) there was a fruit and most importantly, Volunteers verbally spend quality ‘clean' time reported their fatigue levels marked decline in the with wives, partners, at set intervals through a number of incidents associated with sleepiness; children or friends. nine-point scale from "extremely alert" to "very the improvement lasted for "That's rest and restoration 90 minutes. in a nutshell". sleepy". (Source: Arrive Alive) After a prolonged period When 500ml was drunk Don't let the Lord guide your footsteps ifyou re not willing to move your feet. Anon
Tricks of the trade
Editor’s comment: Having spent my fair share on the N1 , N3 and N4 highways of South Africa, I've learned a thing or two about staying awake behind the wheel. Energy drinks does as it says on the side of the can, but as the boffins in England also found out, the effect is not lasting. A 20-minute spike at midnight is not enough if you have to make Cape Town before dawn! The cheapest energy drink is a Coke, but the trick is just to sip it, almost like you are dripping the energy boost into your system. If you gulp it down, the sugar will first spike your energy, then dump you into a tiredness worse than the drowsiness you felt. Fast-food is another big AIKONA. Those buns and patties are high in calories, which is another quick source of energy that causes unstable sugar levels. Low sugar means slow decisionmaking and reactions. Snack apples, peanuts and carrots while you drive, drink lots of water and get six hours sleep every 24-hours. No load is worth your and other road users’ life.