Driver’s license renewals extended to 2022 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 31 August 2021 Mbalula said that a total of 1.2 million expired licences still had to be renewed. The blame has been put on corrupt officials and faulty equipment for the backlog. All learner’s licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving permits that expired between 26 March 2020 and 31 August 2021 are deemed to be valid, and their validity periods are extended for a further grace period ending on 31 March 2022. Transport minister, Fikile Mbalula, has announced the extension in the Government Gazette. “To give motorists a fair opportunity to renew their licences, while we are rolling out a number of measures to improve efficiencies and resolve challenges, we have decided to extend further the grace period for the renewal of licences,” Mbalula stated. Due to the impact of the pandemic, road users have struggled with renewal appointments for their licence cards at license offices, which has led to a massive backlog of more than 50 000 applications. Mbalula said that a total of 1.2 million expired licences still had to be renewed. The blame has been put on corrupt officials and faulty equipment for the backlog. Mbabula’s announcement comes after calls from civil action organization, OUTA, to extend the grace period after it received complaints from many frustrated motorists about the booking process. OUTA welcomed the extension, but asked why the government had left the issue and until the last minute. In turn, the Democratic Alliance has made many proposals to fix the process, including scrapping the online booking system and allowing motorists to do walk-in renewals. < Previous Article Next Article >

MSV Holdings gives back to community 1/30 Share GK CRONJE 6 July 2021 MSV Holdings, a road marking contractor from Piet Retief, made a substantial donation to the learners of the school. As part of giving back to the community, Mr. Vusi Nkosi of MSV Holdings (Pty) Ltd, in partnership with the main contractor, VEA Roads, maintaining R35-1 & R35-2, recently donated various items to Sizakhele Primary School. MSV Holdings, a road marking contractor from Piet Retief, made a substantial donation to the learners of the school, which included 28 pairs of school shoes, 25 pairs of school jerseys and a blistering 2 759 sanitary pads to make the lives of various learners much easier. < Previous Article Next Article >

Mayor Mngomezulu, catalyst of service delivery hope 1/5 Share GK CRONJE 10 August 2022 A JoJo water tank was also donated to the KwaDela drop-in-centre. Gert Sibande District Municipality’s (GSDM) Executive Mayor, Cllr Walter Mngomezulu, has committed to elevate all the service delivery concerns by KwaDela (formerly Davel) residents to the GSDM District Development Model Forum for a speedy intervention. Cllr Mngomezulu made the commitment during the GSDM Mayoral Imbizo at the KwaDela sports grounds on Friday, 5 August 2022. He was responding to a myriad of basic service delivery challenges that the community raised during the Imbizo, which Councillor Mngomezulu led with the Executive Mayor of Msukaligwa Local Municipality, Councillor Mapulane Nkosi, joined by Executive Mayors from Lekwa, Chief Albert Luthuli, and Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme municipalities. The challenges raised by the residents included raw sewer spillages, lack of proper roads, lack of provision of services residential stands and poor electrical infrastructure. “I want to assure all of you, the residents of KwaDela and surrounding areas, that this Imbizo is not just a ticking of the box exercise, but that all the challenges you have raised will be addressed through the District Development Model,” said Cllr Mngomezulu to a round of applause from the packed sports grounds. He also commended the residents of KwaDela for coming out in large numbers and raising their issues with their elected leaders during the Imbizo. The programme of the day started with the official hand over the refurbished KwaDela water treatment plant, which was funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation, with GSDM as the implementing agent. Cllr Mngomezulu and delegation also visited the KwaDela Combined School, where they attended the prize giving ceremony and donated dignity packs to the pupils. A JoJo water tank was also donated to the KwaDela drop-in-centre before conducting a service delivery assessment of the area, and a door-to-door campaign to listen to the residents’ challenges with regards to service delivery in the area. Councillor Mngomezulu also led a donation of food parcels to seventy (70) impoverished families during the Imbizo, which he said this was only a temporary intervention. “We are actually working on moving away from these acts of donating food parcels, but to donating gardening tools and seedlings so to encourage our communities to start communal fruit and vegetable gardens for personal or business benefit,” concluded Cllr Mngomezulu. < Previous Article Next Article >

DRLD farm allocation dream turns to corruption nightmare DRLD farm allocation dream turns to corruption nightmare 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 16 March 2021 The terms and conditions of the contract requires applicants to jump through endless hoops, and submit a mountain of paperwork to be approved, only to have the rug pulled from under them as their farms flourish. Much to the excitement of emerging farmers, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DLRD) launched a programme where individuals could apply for available agricultural state land, as part of the government contribution to the land reform programme. According to the DLRD, government issued notices of 896 farms, measuring 700 0000 hectares of underutilized or vacant state land in various provinces. The lease agreement signed between the state and the beneficiary will be a legally binding contractual agreement, and will be legally binding for 30 years. The lease obligates the beneficiary to maintain all the infrastructure and upkeep of the land allocated to him/her. Beneficiaries will pay a monthly or annual rental fee per hectare determined by the state, consistent with the value of the land in line with area valuation. A credit management system will be put in place to manage debt recovery and management. This sounds idyllic, and a dream come true for cash-strapped prospective agriculture boffins. Alas, the dream has turned to a corruption nightmare, as complaints from farmers are surfacing with troubling regularity. A large number of farmers across all provinces, who have contracts with the state, and who has made a great success of their farms, are being strong-armed off their farms by government officials in a spectacular display of contract breach. Some farmers have been given only 24 hours to vacate their property, as DLRD officials pounce on these successful farms. Close to home, Amersfort farmer Swazi Motha, producer of maize, soya and dry beans for over 10 years, is one of the farmers caught in the breach of contract by the state. Motha is the coordinator of the Mkhululi Agri Union, which has been established to oppose the eviction of farmers who have contracts. More than 30 affected farmers reside in Mpumalanga. Maize and cattle farmer in Ermelo, John Mabasa, have also been subjected to the contract breach from the state. Mabasa has been tending to his farm since 2013, where his father and grandfather also farmed. Allegations of corruption from the state and its officials have since been the centre of attention, as some successful farmers have allegedly been offered to be relocated to other farms. This raises several questions, as to the logic behind state officials reclaiming successful farms, and breaching contract. Affected farmers are extremely unhappy with the U-turn by the DLRD and its officials. The terms and conditions of the contract requires applicants to jump through endless hoops, and submit a mountain of paperwork to be approved, only to have the rug pulled from under them as their farms flourish. At this point in time, there is no feasible explanation as to the behaviour of the DLRD. The Tribune ePaper have attempted on several occasions to engage with the DLRD. The Ermelo branch simply smacked down the phone in the journalist’s ear, and has since not answered the telephone at all. Attempts to contact a DLRD spokesperson, one Gugu Nkosi, yielded no result. The DLRD did also not respond to correspondence at the time of going to print. < Previous Article Next Article >

EHS-kultuur kleur gemoedere in 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 10 August 2022 ’n Psigiater bevind haarself in ’n sielkundige inrigting om profiele saam te stel van die pasiënte. Die Erries se kultuurliefhebbers het op Donderdag, 28 Julie die eerste kultuuraand gehou en dié was ’n toonbeeld van die sukses wat EHS op kulturele gebied geniet. Die verrigtinge is op die gepaste wyse geopen deur die Kultuurvoorsitters, Aloné Arnoldi en Walter van der Walt. Die senior marimba-groep, onder leiding van meneer Phila Dladla, het eerste opgetree waarna ’n onvoorbereide debat tussen twee spanne plaasgevind het. Hierdie informele debat was aangebied met die doel om aan leerders wat nie bekend is daarmee nie, ’n voorbeeld te gee van wat debat behels. Alhoewel dit informeel was, was die debatsgesprek vurig, maar pret. Me Lizanne Dippenaar, debatsorganiseerder, het leiding geneem as voorsitter. EHS se ensemble-groep het die gehoor met melodieuse klanke bekoor, ook met meneer Phila Dladla aan stuur. Die groot opgewondenheid van die aand was EHS se drie toneelstukke wat opgevoer is ter voorbereiding van die ATKV-Tienertoneelkompetisie waaraan hulle gaan deelneem op Dinsdag 2 Augustus. Die eerste stuk, “Streng geheim,” se regie word behartig deur mnr Lourie du Plooy en mnr Ruben Fouché. Tieners wat as geheime agente optree om Suid-Afrika van ’n toerisme-aanval te red, staar menige uitdagings in die gesig. Die grootste daarvan is om hul eie identiteite ’n STRENG GEHEIM te hou. Die stuk met vele komiese gedeeltes het die gehoor laat skaterlag. Streng geheim is gevolg deur “Al wat ek wil hê” met me Zara Büchling as regisseur. Die komedie handel oor ’n meisie wat haar vorige kêrel om die bos lei nadat hy as gevolg van ’n rugbybesering aan geheueverlies ly. Haar planne en maniere om hom die “perfekte” kêrel te maak, het die gehoor behoorlik aan die lag gehad en vele eienskappe van tipiese tieners is te sien in dié stuk. Die aand is afgesluit deur “kameR-5” wat deur me Marli Murray en me Mariaan Rust afgerig word. Hierdie is ’n fiktiewe sielkundige riller wat afspeel in 2050. ’n Psigiater bevind haarself in ’n sielkundige inrigting om profiele saam te stel van die pasiënte. Sy weet egter nie dat die “Artificial Intelligence” haar misbruik vir ’n baie spesifieke doel nie. Geheimsinnig, onvoorspelbaar en boeiend is onder andere woorde wat hierdie stuk besonder goed opsom. EHS is trots op die talent wat die leerders op die verhoog ten toon stel en waardeer die disipline wat uitvoerende kunste vereis. EHS-kultuur is voorwaar aan die brand! Groot dank aan mnr Lourens Luyt vir die video-opname van die aand, asook mnr Anton Esterhuizen vir die besondere foto’s wat geneem is. Hoërskool Ermelo wens ook die geselskappe wat aan die ATKV-Tienertoneel-kompetisie gaan deelneem, alle sterkte toe. (EHS) < Previous Article Next Article >

Hoërskool Ermelo stel nuwe adjunkhoof aan 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 2 March 2021 Sy het ‘n aansteeklike passie vir die Erries, en haar omgee hart is die groot dryfveer agter alles wat sy aanpak. Me Erna Schoeman is al vir langer as 25 jaar deel van Hoërskool Ermelo. Vandat sy in 1994 permanent as onderwyser aangestel is by EHS, het sy saam met die Erries gegroei, en op vele gebiede bygedra tot die vooruitgang van Hoërskool Ermelo. In 2016 word me Schoeman aangestel as departementshoof vir Engels. Haar liefde vir die vak, vir netbal en vir die leerders is duidelik te sien in haar toewyding wat sy ten toon stel. Me Schoeman is vanjaar aangestel as Akademiese-adjunkhoof van Hoërskool Ermelo. Sy het ‘n aansteeklike passie vir die Erries, en haar omgee hart is die groot dryfveer agter alles wat sy aanpak. < Previous Article Next Article >

Felons make off with R6 million worth of cables 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 7 September 2021 According to the spokesman, Vimtsire Protection Services were responsible for patrolling the grounds at the time of the incident. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available from MLM. Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) has suffered and estimated combined loss of R6 million after a burglary at two of their storage rooms. Speaking to the municipal spokesman, Mandla Zwane, the thieves gained access to the storage rooms after damaging the locks. “The cables were stolen from the two storage rooms, which are in close proximity to one another. The locks were damaged, despite rumors indicating otherwise. A case has been opened with the SAPS, and the Secunda Organized Crime Unit also investigated the incident.” At the time of publication, no further information could be gleaned from MLM. The spokesman stated that the incident is still under investigation, and additional information released could hamper the investigation. According to the spokesman, Vimtsire Protection Services were responsible for patrolling the grounds at the time of the incident. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available from MLM. < Previous Article Next Article >

Ligbron groet ‘n legendendariese onderwyseres 1/2 Share SH HATTINGH 6 April 2021 "Miss Aucamp will be sorely missed by her family, friends and the Liggie community." “Juffrou Ilze Aucamp het nie net reuse spore getrap in die Afrikaanse klas nie, maar ook op die atletiek- en hokkievelde van Ligbron. Hier het sy die ekstra myl met haar leerders en spelers geloop, en hulle baie meer geleer as net vakinhoud of vaardighede. Getrou aan haar aard wou sy, tot op die laaste, ‘nog net ‘n week’ in haar klas staan en met kinders werk. Die Liggies was bevoorreg om haar as ‘n kollega, vriendin, mentor, onderwyser en afrigter te kon ken. It is with deep sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and colleague, Miss. Ilze Aucamp, passed away due to cancer. Miss Aucamp will be sorely missed by her family, friends and the Liggie community. Our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.” < Previous Article Next Article >

JJ se Graad 7's geniet Taalweek 1/4 Share SH HATTINGH 25 Augustus 2020 Gesegdes soos “kriel haantjie”, wat beteken dis ‘n manlike aggresiewe persoon wat gewoonlik klein van postuur is, “bakkie brakkie”, wat ‘n hond is wat oral saam ry, en “kattemaai”, om altyd plesierig te wees. Die leerders het dit vreeslik geniet. Die afgelope week het Laerskool JJ van der Merwe se Graad 7 leerders ‘n Taalweek aangebied. Die leerders is geleer van woorde wat nie alledaags bekend is nie, asook die betekenis rondom die woord. Gesegdes soos “kriel haantjie”, wat beteken dis ‘n manlike aggresiewe persoon wat gewoonlik klein van postuur is, “bakkie brakkie”, wat ‘n hond is wat oral saam ry, en “kattemaai”, om altyd plesierig te wees. Die leerders het dit vreeslik geniet. Die leerders kon ook op Vrydag, 21 Augustus, soos ‘n karakter uit ‘n storie boek aantrek. < Previous Article Next Article >

Errie kuns beste in Mpumalanga Voor (v.l.n.r) staan: Thobani Mbuli, Ilandri Nel en Gift Mthethwa.Agter (v.l.n.r) verskyn: Biance de Jager, Ancois van der Berg, Inge van der Walt en Me Carin van der Merwe. Voor (v.l.n.r) staan: Thobani Mbuli, Ilandri Nel en Gift Mthethwa.Agter (v.l.n.r) verskyn: Biance de Jager, Ancois van der Berg, Inge van der Walt en Me Carin van der Merwe. 1/1 Share Content Supplied 30 August 2022 Die tema was 'Sirkels' en leerders moes die tema op ’n kreatiewe manier interpreteer as ’n praktiese taak. Die Erries neem die afgelope agt jaar deel aan die Mpumalanga-kunskompetisie wat deur die Departement van Onderwys geloods word. Elke jaar behaal die Erries plekke op die top 10 en selfs’n tweede of derde plek. Vanjaar het die Erries egter die kompetisie oorheers en ’n eerste, tweede en derde plek behaal, asook algehele wenners van kuns as vak in Mpumalanga. Altesaam 300 inskrywings, wat Ontwerp en Visuele kuns insluit, was die meeste inskrywings nóg vir hierdie kompetisie. Die tema was 'Sirkels' en leerders moes die tema op ’n kreatiewe manier interpreteer as ’n praktiese taak. 168 visuele kuns leerders het in die provinsie ingeskryf waarvan nege leerders Erries was. Die kunswerke is deur drie kunstenaars van Mbombela en omgewing beoordeel. Ses Erries het plekke in die top 10 plekke behaal! Almal se kunswerke word in die Mbombela kunsgalery uitgestal waar die publiek dit kan besigtig. Die top 10 plekke is behaal deur: Inge van der Walt, Bianca de Jager, Ancois van der Berg (Graad 11-leerder), Thobani Mbuli, Ilandri Nel en Gift Mthethwa (Graad 12-leerders). Thobani Mbuli word as algehele wenner aangekondig, Ilandri Nel behaal ’n tweede plek en Gift Mthethwa ’n derde plek. Alle skole in Mpumalanga wat Visuele Kuns as vak aanbied, word verplig om aan dié kompetisie deel te neem en Hoërskool Ermelo is as wenner in Mpumalanga aangekondig vir die vak Visuele Kuns. Die Erries wat deel is van die top tien se werke word by die Mbombela-skou uitgestal. Hulle sal ook tydens ‘n prysuitdeling hulle kontantpryse, geborg deur die skou, ontvang. Baie geluk aan elkeen van hierdie leerders met jul pryse en uitsonderlike talent, asook aan me Carin van der Merwe wat as onderwyser die leerder lei om die sukses te kan behaal. EHS is trots op julle. - Inhoud en foto verskaf deur EHS < Previous Article Next Article >

Liggies tree uit as Noordvaal Kampioene 2022 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 10 August 2022 They make history as the first Ligbron boy's team to win this prestigious trophy. Geskiedenis is Saterdag gemaak - die eerste seunshokkiespan van Ligbron wat as Noordvaal Kampioene gekroon word! Ligbron wen 2-0 teen Potch Gimmies en lig die trofee met trots na bo. Dié span het met talent, uitstekende afrigting en baie harde werk n droomseisoen beleef. Hierdie prestasie sou ook nie moontlik gewees het sonder genade en seën van Bo nie! Die span het Monument (4-1), Dr. Malan (3-1) en Waterkloof (3-1) gewen om deur te dring na die finaal. Baie geluk aan die afrigtingspan: Vusi Nkosi en Gerhard Ebersõhn en elke speler wat slegs hul bes gegee het in elke wedstryd. Blou Masjiene! The first hockey team is the 2022 Noordvaal Champions! They make history as the first Ligbron boy's team to win this prestigious trophy. Through hard work, dedication, excellent coaching and blessings from above they've achieved greatness! Congratulations to coaches Vusi Nkosi, Gerhard Ebersõhn and every Blou Masjien in this team - the Ligbron community is so proud! Op die foto verskyn die Noordvaal Kampioene saam met Vusi Nkosi, Gerhard Ebersõhn saam met Mnr. Brand, hoof van Ligbron Akademie vir Tegnologie. (LB) < Previous Article Next Article >

Breyten residents left weeks without water 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 16 February 2021 The circulating reason for the outage seems to point towards a broken reservoir pump, which has allegedly been run into oblivion due to lack of maintenance and acts of sabotage and vandalism. Residents in Breyten are having a hard time with the lack of service delivery from Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM), as a myriad of households have been sitting with dry taps for extended periods of time. Complaints have flooded in regarding this issue, with residents stating that some areas have been left without water for four weeks, with no action from MLM. The circulating reason for the outage seems to point towards a broken reservoir pump, which has allegedly been run into oblivion due to lack of maintenance and acts of sabotage and vandalism. The call centre is of no use, with residents stating that the phone simply remains unanswered. Further aggravating the outage is the fact that the water tankers from MLM fails to deliver potable water to households in need, allegedly only supplying one street at a time, and calling it a day, leaving the rest high and dry. Complaints have also been received regarding the attitude of water tanker operators, who seem to feel nothing for the plight of residents. Many residents have also stated that MLM has, to date, failed to deliver on their promise of water tankers, as declared on 1 February 2021. Relayed messages from officials state that the pump is indeed out of commission, and that a lack of funds prevents MLM from repairing the pump and filling the reservoirs. Allegations have also surfaced that the main pump ha been replaced with a smaller pump, incapable of sufficient pressure to fill the reservoir. When asked about this allegation, the MLM spokesman claimed that he would enquire from the technical team. At the time of press, no response on this matter had been received. Upon enquiry, MLM supplied the Tribune with an update on the reservoir levels. However, the levels have come under scrutiny, as this exact same message had been forwarded to other residents days prior, with the levels of the reservoirs being identical. MLM claims that the reservoir in Breyten has a level of 60%, yet a large amount of households are still left without running water. Serious concerns have also been raised as schools opened yesterday (Monday, 15 February 2021), with no running water in large parts of Breyten.. As hygiene is paramount during the pandemic, this is a serious cause for concerns, especially with the washing of hands and toilets that needs to be flushed. Residents alleges that the municipality is blatantly lying to them, with each official singing a different tune as to the reason for the interruption and water outage. MLM has said that residents can contact CDW Mandla Manana on 060 502 7459, Ward Councillor Dhludhlu on 082 935 1257, or the contact centre on 080 001 4903 with complaints and queries. MLM has issued and update regarding the water outage in Breyten, stating the following: “Torbenite pump room update - At the Breyten water plant, there was no flow from the pump room, due to vandalized infrastructure as per the video. The situation was exacerbated by the load shedding over the past few days. Water has been restored in many part of Breyten and Chrissiesmeer, however the high lying areas are still experiencing low pressure or no water at all. Both maintenance team are on site for the repairs. The restoration time not provided. MLM apologize to the affected community for the inconvenience caused by the interruptions.” The video of the pump room can be viewed on our Facebook page, Tribune Ermelo. This update, provided by MLM on Monday (yesterday), is of little comfort to affected residents, who received the same update during the course of last week, and are still without running water at this point in time. It has, however, come to the attention of the Tribune that the alleged vandalism of the pump had taken place between 2 and 4 February 2021, with it being nearly two weeks since the incident, with MLM simply not being able to deliver water to the community. The discrepancy in the timeline of events, as well as conflicting reports from officials have raised serious concerns from residents, as an evident lack of transparency from MLM seriously brings into question what the situation is at the Breyten pump station. MLM has wholly dodged the enquiries and addressing the main concerns of residents, and had failed to respond to enquiries as to the date when the video was taken, and when the reservoir levels were last checked. Also, no indication has been provided as to the reason for the outage, as the MLM spokesman claimed to have been waiting for feedback from the technical department. The Tribune requested a statement from MLM, which had not received. At the time of press, there had been no clarity from MLM regarding the situation in Breyten, the steps being taken to remedy the outage, nor the supply of water tankers. The operating condition and level of efficiency of the pump is also unknown at this time. < Previous Article Next Article >