Witzenberg Herald - Vol.23 no.14 (Online no.3)

Volume 23 no. 14

Friday, April 17, 2020

ONLINE

4-Da g w eer voor uitsig 4-Dag weer eerv ooruitsig Donderdag 16 April

8° 23°

Vrydag 17 April

10° 25°

Saterdag 18 April

PROFESSIONAL CCTV AND ALARM SYSTEMS IN WITZENBERG

Sondag 19 April

14° 31°

10° 29°

Ceres Koekedouw dam

53.2%

Lesing: 2020/04/15

Witzenberg Herald vier vanjaar hul 23ste bestaansjaar Telephone: (023) 316-2021

Fax: (023) 316-2023

087 095 361 7 WWW.JPTEK.CO.ZA INFO@JPTEK.CO.ZA

Editor: 082-468-2649

nuus@witzenbergherald.com

www.witzenbergherald.com

Eerste geval aangemeld NA meer as twee weke van inperking, is die eerste positiewe COVID-19 geval in die Witzenbergstreek aangemeld.

Dit is Dinsdag uit talle bronne bevestig maar eers later die dag amptelik deur die Wes-Kaap departement van gesondheid bevestig. “ Die Wes-Kaap premier het in sy aankondiging oor die jongste gevalle die eerste positiewe geval van COVID-19 in die Witzenbergstreek gemeld. Daar is 30 bevestigde gevalle van mense wat positief getoets het vir Covid-19 in die Kaapse Wynlandstreek. Dié is ‘n geval wat in ‘n vorige kennisgewing onder die Bitou-omgewing gelys was, maar nou oorgedra is na die Witzenbergstreek toe die persoon se adres opgedateer is”.

Die vroulike pasiënt is werksaam by CFG. Sy is tans in die hospitaal in isolasie waar sy gemonitor word. Mense wat saam met haar op die erf woon moet in selfisolasie bly. Die ander wat nie kan selfisoleer nie, gaan in Dennebos in isolasie bly.

Die persone wat met haar in kontak was,

sal getoets word as hulle simptome toon.

Die vermoede bestaan dat die vrou ‘n week gelede ‘n begrafnis in Khayelitsha bygewoon het en moontlik dit daar opgedoen het. Khayelitsha het tans 19 amptelike gevalle.

Die Dennebosoord is paar weke gelede geoormerk om isolasiegevalle van Covid-19 te hanteer. Elke munisipaliteit moes ‘n isolasieplek identifiseer en daarom is Dennebos gekies. Die oord is naby Ceres provinsiale hospitaal.

CFG is eers Dinsdagoggend van die werker se toestand verwittig waarna die departement van gesondheid alle personeel aan siftingstoetse onderwerp het.

Statistieke Suid-Afrika het tans 2506 positiewe gevalle, meer as 410 het herstel en 34 mense het sedert 1 Maart gesterf.

In die Wes-Kaap is daar 657 gevalle waarvan 184 herstel het en 35 nog behandel word.

Meer as 2 miljoen mense in die wêreld het die virus onderlede. Amerika, Spanjé en Frankryk se daaglikse gevalle is byna soveel as Suid Afrika se totaal sedert 1 Maart.

Positief toets

“Wanneer iemand positief toets vir COVID19 of in kontak was met iemand wat positief getoets het, kan die persoon tuis of in ‘n gesondheidsfasiliteit afgesonder word. Tydens sifting (screening) vra gesondheidswerkers vrae aan individue oor hul gesondheid om te bepaal of dit nodig is vir die persoon om getoets te word vir COVID-19. Wanneer iemand getoets word, word monsters geneem van die vloeistof agter in sy/haar neus en keel. Dit is ‘n veilige prosedure”.

Sodra sifting en toetsing in spesifieke gemeenskappe in die Witzenberg begin, sal ‘n kennisgewing uitgereik word sodat inwoners op die uitkyk kan wees vir gesondheidwerkers wat in hul straat beweeg.

“Ons vra dat Witzenbergers steeds gehoor gee aan die nasionale inperking maatreëls om die verspreiding van COVID-19 te stuit.

Ons vra ook die gemeenskap om nie te spekuleer oor positiewe gevalle nie en pasiëntvertroulikheid te respekteer.

Volg die vyf goue reëls: Was jou hande gereeld en vir minstens 20 sekondes met seep en water Moenie aan jou gesig raak voordat jy jou ●

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hande gewas het nie Hoes of nies in jou elmboog of in ‘n sneesdoekie. Gooi dadelik die sneesdoekie weg.

Hou ’n afstand van ten minste 1,5 meter van ander mense Bly by jou huis As jy siek voel As jy siek voel, skakel 0800-029-999 of (021) 928-4102 of stuur ‘n WhatsApp na 0600-123-456. *Inwoners word daaraan herinner om nie COVID-19 verwante boodskappe en stemposse soos tans in dié geval die rondte gedoen het, te versprei nie. Jy kan onder die noodrampbestuur wetgewing aangekla word. Maak seker dat die inligting wat jy aanstuur na ander, inligting is wat verkry is by www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus of op Facebook by @WCGHealth.

Sulke onbevestigde aanmeldings saai onnodige paniek en kommer. ●

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Die berig sal later aangepas word sodra amptelike syfers verander.

Bejaarde aangeval en beroof ‘n BEJAARDE inwoner van Ceres is verlede week tydens ‘n inbraak in sy huis oorval, erg aangerand en met drade vasgebind.

Volgens die polisie is André Guy Briscot (84) verlede Woensdagoggend deur ‘n buurvrou in sy huis aangetref waar hy hulpeloos gelê het. Sy hande was met draad vasgebind en hy was erg aangerand.

Briscot se hondjie het omstreeks 06:30 erg begin blaf waarna hy gaan ondersoek instel het. ‘n Inbreker het Briscot oorval en hom verskeie kere met ‘n pistool oor die kop geslaan. Sy polse is vasgebind en hy is ook met ‘n mes gedreig voordat hy in die gang afgesleep is. Die verdagte het geld geëis waarna Briscot vir hom R15 000 gegee het.

Die inbreker het daarna die geld en vuurwapen gevat en op die vlug geslaan.

Briscot het hom probeer loswikkel maar kon dit nie regkry nie en het later gekruip om ‘n paniekknoppie te druk. Hy was egter te swak om die knoppie te druk. ‘n Buurvrou gaan loer elke dag in om te hoor hoe dit met hom gaan. Dié betrokke oggend het sy weer gaan inloer,

toe tref sy hom in ‘n beseerde toestand in die huis aan.

Sy het haar seun gaan roep wat die oom se hande losgemaak het. Hy het egter geweier om hospitaal toe te gaan vir behandeling en is later deur ‘n hospitaalsuster in die huis behandel waar sy sy wonde skoongemaak en verbind het.

Hy herstel nou goed by die huis.

Inligting en beloning Die polisie volg tans inligting op maar niemand is nog in hegtenis geneem nie. Indien iemand oor enige verdere inligting beskik of weet wie die inbreker is, kan hulle s/ sers. Hamman skakel by (023) 316-8500. ‘n Beloning word uitgeloof.

Drie gearresteer Drie winkeleienaars op Wolseley is Maandag 13 April gearresteer nadat hulle nie-noodsaaklik goedere verkoop het. Hulle het ook sigarette aan die gemeenskap verkoop.

Die polisie het beslag gelê op die sigarette.

Die mans moet op 14 Julie in die Wolseley landdroshof verskyn.

ANDRÉ Guy Briscot (84).

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WITZENBERG HERALD

To all interested and Friends of Chain Chain Boland, the Animal Welfare Organization in the Witzenberg area will hold its annual general meeting on

Wednesday 22 April 2020

Further details will follow later.

Chain Boland intends to make a number of changes to the current constitution. We cordially invite you to read the proposed changes via the document on our website.

Please use the following link: http:// Dear friends of Chain chainboland.co.za/wp-content/uploads/ Due to the current situation 2020/02/Constitution-Chain-2020.pdf wechanges have decided to In short the are as follows: 2.1.1 Adding Op-die-Berg to the Witzenberg postpone our AGM towns as this was not mentioned; to a later moment.

2.1.3 Attempt to provide Free or Subsidised Please stay andinto AtSterilization etc. issafe changed tempt provide in to case youSubsidised need a Sterilization. Reason for this is that a donation companion for those lock towards vet costs is always asked; 3.5 down The required hasafter been that) added retimes text (and garding our PBO status which we do not hesitate reached at the 15th of November 2018; to contact us. is changed 4. Membership programme in “Friends of Chain” programme; Looking forward to 5.1 The management committee will be see you made up of notall lesssoon! than seven (7) will be changed to five (5). Reason for this is to always make sure we can obey to this rule in the constitution as getting volunteers on the committee stays a challenge; 5.4 As point 5.1 will be changed to five (5) the number of committee members present at a meeting and allowed to make decisions will be lowered to three (3); 9.3 As with the modern technology banking is not done via a withdrawal or cheque we plan to modernize this text into: all payments are done via online banking. Notification of any payment is received by the Chair AND ViceChair. The Treasurer has access to the banking account for control purposes and a final check is done via Sage and our Accountant.

During our annual general meeting, a vote will take place for approval, whereby at least 51% of those present must give their approval.

We look forward to see you at our Annual General Meeting in April.

Elise van Holten (Chair person.)

ED N O P POST

Friday, April 17, 2020

Hartseer dat mense so selfsugtig kan wees VERONIQUE Johnson skryf: EK was die afgelope week so hartseer dat opgevoede mense só selfsugtig kan wees.

Ons woon in ‘n plattelandse dorp. Baie mediese- en noodpersoneel werk skofte en ek verstaan dat hulle voorkeur moet kry in die lang rye by supermarkte.

Daar is egter ook kantoorpersoneel van staatsdepartemente wat tot 16:00 moet werk. Daar is ook baie, soos die fabriekpersoneel, wat eers 17:00 uitval. Dié mense moet almal na werk hul inkopies gaan doen en dan in lang rye staan.

Daar gaan beter beplanning moet wees. Voorstelle waarna gekyk moet word is dat diegene wat nie werk en by hul huise is, moet sekere tye in dag of week dorp toe gaan. Net plaaswerkers

moet Saterdae in die dorp kom en fabriekpersoneel op Vrydaemiddae. Net noodsaaklike werkers moet na 16:00 winkels toe kan gaan. Koop vir paar dae moenie elke dag winkel toe gaan nie.

Die gemeenskap moet gedurende die tyd meer bedagsaam en behulpsaam wees en geduld aan die dag lê. Dink aan dié werkers wat moet werk gedurende die COVID-19 krisis.

Dink ook daaraan dat hulle na ‘n lang dag ook net kos vir hulle gesinne wil gaan koop.

Die mense wat heeldag kla moet die verandering by hulself begin soek en begin werk daaraan om te verbeter. Die dorp is klein en as ons almal saamwerk kan ons dié krisis oorwin. Ons moet net almal tegemoetkomend wees en aan die noodmaatreëls voldoen.

Daar moet strenger opgetree word teen diegene wat maatreëls verontagsaam DIE afgelope week het talle inwoners hulle opinies op die Witzenberg Herald se Facebook-blad gelug oor die dorp wat baie besig is tydens die nasionale inperking. Dit lyk party dae of daar geen inperking heers nie en mense, veral die noodsaaklike werkers, se lewens word onnodig in gevaar gestel met die optredes. Die meeste het gevoel dat inwoners nie wil luister nie en dat daar strenger teen hulle opgetree moet word. Die ander het gevoel dat noodwerkers en personeel wat noodsaaklike dienste lewer, nie in die lang rye moet staan nie en net hulle permit moet wys om vinniger toegelaat te word.

Gevalle styg geleidelik TEEN 15 April is die tweede positiewe geval van die COVID-19 virus in die Witzenbergstreek aangemeld. Suid-Afrika het tans 2506 positiewe gevalle, meer as 410 het herstel en 34 mense het sedert 1 Maart gesterf.

CORONAVIRU S LOCKDOWN Die Witzenberg Herald sal vanaf 3 - 30 April slegs digitaal beskikbaar wees.

Community screening and testing began WESTERN Cape Government Health numbers to ensure our people are protected started community screening and test- against the spread of the COVID-19 disease,” says Dr. Nomafrench Mbombo, MEC ing for COVID-19 on 6 April.

This is in line with the President and Minister Mkhize’s announcement that fieldworkers will commence with an active community screening and testing programme.

With the number of positive COVID-19 cases spreading in communities, the risk to vulnerable communities is increasing. Government health services are actively trying to find people who might need help through talking to people (screening) and thus to determine whether they need to go for testing so we can refer them for treatment.

“We must ensure that our vulnerable communities are screened and tested in greater

for Health in Western Cape.

Screening and testing will be expanded to other vulnerable communities at high risk of Coronavirus spreading from person to person. Screening will be conducted door-todoor by trained field workers in these areas using simple verbal questions to identify people who may require testing.

Health workers will ask health questions aimed at screening for symptom (a sore throat, a cough or fever screening will either be done via community health workers visiting your home, or mobile units in your area (e.g. gazebos).

Fieldworkers will have ID tags and identifiable clothing. “We ask the public to please allow our workers to screen them”.

Testing will be done if the questions indicate that you require a further test. The health worker will refer you to the closest testing centre. The test will be done by taking a swab from your nose and throat. This will either be done in a clinic or in a mobile parked in your area.

Test results will not be immediately available but patients will be followed up and advised of their status.

What individuals must do: Please welcome health workers when screening Answer the questions honestly Please co-operate fully and support family for testing

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REMEMBER the 5 Golden rules: Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, keep surfaces clean, do not touch your face, cough and sneeze in your elbow fold, keep 1,5m away from people and stay at home What communities should do: Please encourage people to be screened and tested Look out for health workers who have official dentification and branded clothing Please support our health workers and keep them safe Please help to keep communities clean and encourage good behaviour Don’t be afraid of testing or potential sick people Please support the elderly and children Where can I get help: National Hotline: 0800 029 999 Provincial hotline: (021) 928-4102 WhatsApp “hi” to 0600-123-456

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WITZENBERG HERALD

3

Friday, April 17, 2020

Motoriste beboet

Polisie soek na die twee mans

LEDE van die SAPD en verkeersdienste het tydens die inperking talle padblokkades in die streek beman.

Hier word 'n motoris beboet by 'n padblokkade buite Wolseley. * Sedert die begin van die nasionale inperking het die Wes-Kaap provinsie 76 478 voertuie getel wat die padnetwerk gebruik waarvan slegs 2982 publieke vervoer was. Die provinsie se padsterftes vir 27 Maart tot 13 April was 16. In die munisipalegebiede is vyf voetgangers en twee bestuurders dood en op die provinsiale paaie is een bestuurder en agt passasiers dood.

DAAR word steeds gesoek na twee mans ivm 'n motorkaping naby P.A. Hamlet. Die een man is ‘n polisielid van Ceres, Ntandazo Kuse (30). Kuse (links) word sedert Vrydag 6 Maart gesoek. Die SAPD wil met Kuse in aanraking kom aangesien hy ‘n persoon van belang is en moontlik oor inligting beskik van 'n motorkaping. Die ander man (regs) is Zukile Khuseko. Hy word ook deur die SAPD gesoek. Indien die gemeenskap oor inligting beskik waar Kuse of Khuseko hulle bevind, kan hulle s/sers.

Van Rooyen skakel by (023) 313-3133 of 079-8939-861 of Ceres speurders (023) 316-8500.

Eerste winterreën sak uit DIE eerste winterreën het oor ‘n wydverspreide gebied uitgesak en daar het selfs ‘n dun lagie sneeu op Matroosberg geval.

Die Ceres Koekedouwdam staan tans op 53.2%.

Reënvalsyfers vir 1 - 14 April 2020 is Woensdag deur Hortec Ceres bekendgemaak: Bokkeveld Noord (Tandfontein) 28mm Witzenberg (Sterkwater) 86mm Warm Bokkeveld 66mm Koue Bokkeveld (Bronaar) 38mm Swaarmoed (Lakenvlei) 29mm

PAASMAANDAG 13 April het twee Tulbagh inwoners dit goed gedink om ‘n worsrolletjie en ‘n paaseier aan plaaslike kinders van Witzenville woonbuurt uit te deel. Suster Everyhelda Smith en suster Pedro is die twee barmhartige samaritane wat uit hul pad gaan om gemeenskapswerk te doen.

FOTO: Peter Luitjies

Ceres

Bly by die huis. Ons sal jou bestellings aflewer.

4

WITZENBERG HERALD

Derde digitale uitgawe VANDAG se uitgawe is die derde een in digitale formaat en word so uitgegee weens die nasionale inperking na die uitbreek van die Covid-19 virus.

Dit is die eerste keer in 23 jaar dat die Witzenberg Herald nie in gedrukte formaat op kafees en supermarkte se winkelrakke beskikbaar is nie. ‘n Skakel word op Witzenberg Herald se Facebook-blad geplaas waar lesers die volgende paar weke van inperking, die koerant gratis kan lees. Lesers kan ook die Issuu toep (app) by Google Play aflaai om dit op foon te lees.

Die inperking het reeds ‘n geweldige impak op plaaslike besighede. Sakelui vra inwoners om gehoor te gee aan die maatreëls.

Jy kan vervolg word vir dié oortreding ENIGE persoon wat fopnuus oor Covid-19 versprei sal vervolg word. Dit sluit in vals inligting op sosiale media oor die siekte self, die siektetoestand van enige persoon of vals inligting oor die regering se optrede in die tyd.

LAST week 2700 bags of apples were handed out to underprivileged people in Greyton, Villiersdorp, Botriver and Grabouw. Two-a-Day and Ceres Fruit Growers will continue to do this for the coming weeks ahead. FLTR: Ashley Strauss (Forklift Driver), Denwill Philander (Packhouse Manager), Chantal Oosthuizen (packer), Jolandy Davids (packer), Caman Jones (packer), Sarel Ras (production line manager) at Two-a-Day.

Additional measures to protect staff LEADING fruit processor, Two-a-Day, one of the shareholders of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, the largest exporter of South African apples and pears, has implemented a number of additional measures to protect staff from Covid-19.

According to Dimitri Jacobs, Two-a-Day Director of Human Resources, Two-a-Day has implemented additional measures to those required by legislation.

“We want to make sure our employees feel safe whilst at work but also help government in its efforts to flatten the curve and stop the spread of Covid-19,” he says.

Jacobs adds that Two-a-Day has decided to pay employees on a Thursday instead of a Friday to reduce the impact on shops in town as most businesses pay their employees on Fridays and people have to queue which creates social distance problems. “We have also arranged with our commercial bank for two mobile ATMs on-site at Two-aDay which means that our employees do not have to stand in long lines at the local banks in town. What is also great about this initiative is that even though they are ABSA ATMs, there are no transaction fees for employees should they be registered with another bank.”

“We have bought masks for all our employees which they can re-use after cleaning in line with the guidelines we communicated with them and we have procured flu injections for all employees who want them at no charge to them,” he says.

Jacobs explains that at Two-a-Day they have significantly reduced the number of employees on duty and in some cases to less than half of the Packhouse’s maximum staff compliment. “This was a major decision for us as we needed to balance our operational requirements, the food security requirement of government and keeping our employees safe. We ultimately made the decision to reduce the headcount in our packhouses because we fundamentally believe that by creating more physical distance between employees, we will significantly reduce any rapid potential spread of the virus. And, even though our employees will now work less time, they will still receive a wage and with the help of the Unemployment Insurance Fund we will help them claim for the short-time worked.”

Jacobs says that Two-a-Day is also donating a few tons of apples on a weekly basis during the lockdown period and working with the local municipality to try and alleviate some of the adverse effects of Covid-19 on the community.

“We have implemented many more initiatives but these are some of the stand-out ones which have been positively received by our employees and the community. As a business that is heavily reliant on our employees, we are grateful to all who are helping us,

and the country, get through this very difficult time. It is in crisis times such as these when Two-a-Day asks of ourselves that we relook our social and corporate initiatives. We recognise that we have a much larger role to play in the communities in which we operate.”

Jacobs ends.

Ceres Fruit Growers Christo Janse van Rensburg, Human Resources Manager at Ceres Fruit Growers, one of the largest employers in the region, and the other shareholder of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, says they too have met all government regulations and more.

“We have implemented all the requirements as stipulated in the regulations in terms of sanitising and distancing in packhouses.

In addition at Ceres Fruit Growers we have negotiated with our providers of funeral, risk and responsible short-term loan providers, to allow for a payment holiday on pay roll for workers for the month of April 2020. We will reassess after April.

“Our workers are also getting paid a day earlier per week to alleviate the pressure on Fridays in town and we have organised additional transport for all workers on day and night shifts to ensure safety in terms of numbers in the busses and taxis”, he says adding: “CFG is involved with churches, NGO’s and other packhouses in the region compiling hampers for homes for the aged”.

“Our MD, Francois Malan has initiated a donation to all workers of fruit on a weekly basis, but in addition to also donate extra bags of fruit for workers’ neighbours who are currently not working. We are calling it ‘Back a Neighbour/ Buddy initiative.’’

Janse van Rensburg says that due to the huge shortage of available masks, he could only recently order 4000 washable face masks, two for each of the team and recently distributed.

“In the instances where not all our staff are required on certain packing lines, we have implemented a rotational roster to try and ensure that the maximum number of workers get a chance to earn an income while at the same time maintaining social distancing.

If contracts have to be terminated because of a significant drop in orders as a result of Covid-19, we will apply to UIF on behalf of workers and provide other safety nets in line with government’s support of the industry.

And, finally, we have an isolation room cordoned off adjacent to our on-site clinic with all emergency protocols in place.”

Tru-Cape Managing Director, Roelf Pienaar, says it is business unusual now but everyone at Tru-Cape is working towards the same goal. “We applaud the leadership shown by our shareholders Ceres Fruit Growers and Two-a-Day in this regard.”

Friday, April 17, 2020