Winter Fire Season draws to a close 1/3 Share GK CRONJE 9 November 2021 The globally recognized WOF Programme is also celebrating 18 years of its existence. The 2020/2021 Winter Fire Season officially drew to a close on 31 October 2021. However, the Department of Fisheries, Forestries and the Environments Working on Fire Programme’s firefighters remain on standby and ready to assist partners, Fire Protection Associations, and landowners in Integrated Fire Management Services. The season officially began on 1 June 2021, however, Working on Fire Mpumalanga’s 24 teams attended to fire suppression operations prior to the official opening. The teams, based in the Lowveld and Highveld, assisted in a total of 267 fires throughout the season. This is a decline from the previous season, where teams assisted in 288 fires. WOF Mpumalanga General Manager, Martin Bolton, gave acknowledgment to valued stakeholders, partners, management and especially the teams on a job well done, adding: “Well done to our firefighters and management for persevering through the season, while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Your tremendous support and work are noted and celebrated.” The WOF Programme shifts its attention and resources to the Western and Eastern Cape, where the Summer Fire Season begins on 1 December 2021. The provinces have been hard at work with preparations and have concluded their Yellow Card Training Assessment and Fire Safety Campaigns. The globally recognized WOF Programme is also celebrating 18 Years of its existence under the theme: “18 Years of Sustainability. The Programme continues to make a sustainable contribution to protecting the environment, saving lives, making a difference and restoring the dignity of South Africa’s disadvantaged youth by recruiting and training them in the specialized veld and forestry skills. < Previous Article Next Article >

Heavy rain impacts tomato price 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 20 April 2021 We've already seen a slight improvement and as the weeks go on, probably in the next two to three weeks, the situation should return to normal. ZZ2, the country's biggest supplier of tomatoes' marketing manager, Clive Garrett, has stated that heavy rainfall experienced in the country recently has caused a drop in the supply of tomatoes, a much-loved South African staple. “In dry conditions, tomatoes flourish as long as you have enough water or water rivers or dams but when you have excessive rains like we've had in January and February, generally tomatoes don't thrive. We've already seen a slight improvement and as the weeks go on, probably in the next two to three weeks, the situation should return to normal. In January and February we had more rain in those two months than we generally have in a year,” he said. Garrett added that when there is heavy rain, it brings on infestations of insects and damage to the plants and the fruit from the rain. All salad-type vegetables have been hit hard, as there have also been reports of a shortage of broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and potatoes due to the excessive rain. “Our prices in South Africa are determined by demand and supply. Still, the majority of our products happen to land up on the national fresh produce market. I think the supermarkets take their leads from what happens on the national fresh produce market. It happens all over the world when there is a shortage of goods the price goes up,” Garret concluded. < Previous Article Next Article >

Mandatory tax increase to fund new grant scheme 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 31 August 2021 The green paper also proposes creating a mandatory pension and insurance system called the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). This will be funded with payroll contributions ranging between 8% and 12% of earnings. The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, has published the Green Paper that proposes increasing income taxes to fund a Basic Income Grant (BIG) and mandatory contributions to a state-run pension scheme. According to Zulu, this is part of the Comprehensive Social Security and Retirement Reform plan. The Department of Social Development said a 10% increase on income taxes would be needed to raise R200 billion to fund the lowest level of its proposed universal basic income grant,. However, the 10% income tax hike would only fund the lowest level proposed for the Basic Income Grant, which is at the food poverty line. Depending on the government’s objectives, the green paper proposes the following options for the BIG: R585 per month, a grant value set near the food poverty line. R840 per month, a grant value set around the lower-bound poverty line. R1 268 per month, start the grant value at the upper-bound poverty line. The paper further states that basic income for all South Africans should be at least R7 500 per month, using a combination of the grant and labour. Ruffling even more feathers, in addition to the Basic Income Grant, the green paper also proposes creating a mandatory pension and insurance system called the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). This will be funded with payroll contributions ranging between 8% and 12% of earnings. Trade union Solidarity announced that it would fight the green paper. It warned it would result in legal action if the proposals in the paper are implemented in formal legislation. Solidarity stated that South African workers are already overtaxed, and tired of paying more taxes for fewer and fewer services. “Workers in South Africa are tired of seeing their hard-earned money being wasted by the state. At best, the state is just inefficient and clumsy, but more often, funds like this and the NHI is simply an excuse for looting and corruption. On top of that, tax money is still looted at a large scale,” said Dirk Hermann, chief executive officer of Solidarity. Apart from the new tax proposals, Hermann said the country’s tax rate is already high, and ordinary people have to incur expenses for which they are already taxed. The green paper is out for public comment on the government’s website, and submissions close 10 December 2021. < Previous Article Next Article >

Landties blink uit op alle vlakke Op die foto staan (v.l.n.r): Me. Sune Wolmarans, Mejuffrou Landtie: Sharon Eggar, Meneer Landtie: Juan Zeelie en Me. Sonnike Lombard tydens die kroning van Mnr en Mej Landtie. Op die foto staan (v.l.n.r): Me. Sune Wolmarans, Mejuffrou Landtie: Sharon Eggar, Meneer Landtie: Juan Zeelie en Me. Sonnike Lombard tydens die kroning van Mnr en Mej Landtie. 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 2 March 2022 Dankie aan al die deelnemers vir julle betrokkenheid, oorspronklikheid, skoonheid en vermaak. Maandag, 14 Februarie. Die groot dag breek aan vir almal wat verlief, verlore en opsoek is. Hoeveel harte gebreek is en hoeveel harte na die dag ongeskonde gebly het sal ons net kan wonder. Maar nietemin was Landtieland verander in Wonderland. Heerlike eetgoed het honger magies volgemaak en al die oortollige energie is al dansend verbrand. Baie dankie aan al die ouers wat ons gehelp het, met donasies, borge, saaldekor en opmaak tot laat in die aande. Dankie aan elke Graad 11 en Graad 11-ouer wat gesorg het vir al die Valentyn items wat ons kon verkoop en dat julle dit met soveel entoesiasme gedoen het. Dis ‘n riem onder ons harte. Juffrou Nelanie, baie dankie vir al jou organisering. Dit was puik. Sonder jou was ons ‘n druppel in die emmer. “Sal jy my Valentyn wees?”, was egter nie die hoofvraag aan die orde van die dag nie. NEE! “Wie is meneer en mejuffrou Landtie?”, het koning gekraai. Na stresvolle onderhoude, opwindende fotosessies, modeparade loop, vrae beantwoord en wag vir uitslae - was die skrif aan die muur: Meneer Landtie: Juan Zeelie, Mejuffrou Landtie: Sharon Eggar, Eerste Prins: Ludwig Venter, Eerste Prinses: Melandri Meiring, Tweede Prins: Albert Smit, Tweede Prinses: Doné Smit, Meneer Persoonlikheid: Ludwig Venter, Mejuffrou Persoonlikheid: Sharon Eggar, Meneer Fotogenies: Ludwig Venter en Mejuffrou Fotogenies: Dominic Snyman. Baie dankie aan ons beoordeelaars vir julle tyd en opoffering. Mnr. Kobus Venter - Model en eienaar van Venter Konstruksie in Bethal, Me. Tanya Maartens - Eienaar van Jenesaisquoi Modelling Academy, Me. Sonnike Lombard - Oud Landtie en Mrs Mpumalanga finalis 2022 en Me. Sune Wolmarans - Oud Landtie en Mrs Mpumalanga finalis 2022. Dankie aan al die deelnemers vir julle betrokkenheid, oorspronklikheid, skoonheid en vermaak. Julle is almal wenners! En ‘n besondere dankie vir ons eregaste van die ouetehuis van die dorp wat ons kom ondersteun het en dat ons so aand saam met julle kon deel. - Soos ontvang vanaf skool < Previous Article Next Article >

Optimum Colliery tanks due to mismanagement 1/1 Share Supplied - DA Media Office 7 September 2022 Currently the mine is under business rescue and its issues are in courts Media Statement - The DA in Mpumalanga is concerned about the devastating economic effects in Hendrina left by the ANC government and the infamous Gupta brothers through the mismanagement and closure of Optimum Coal Mine. Optimum was leveraged out of Glencore’s hands by failing ANC officials straight into the hands of the Guptas’ Tegeta. Because of poor management, the mine which has been operating since 2002, was forced to shut down in 2018 and over 1000 employees and 500 contractors lost their jobs. On an oversight visit to the mine this week, the DA experienced first-hand, the devastating effect left by the closure of the mine on the communities of KwaZamokuhle Township and Pullens Hope. Majority of the people who live in Hendrina and surrounding areas depended one way or the other on a functional Optimum Mine, that is until Jacob Zuma’s ANC and the Guptas took over and brought the mine to its knees. Driving or walking around KwaZamokuhle Township, you meet young people who have lost hope and their livelihood. Many where employed by the mine – or had small businesses that supplied different resources to employees of the mine. There’s also a mushrooming new informal settlement of people who lost their houses when the mine closed down. As for Pullens Hope where the mine is located, it has become a Ghost Town and buildings or flats that accommodated mine employees – have been abandoned and left to ruins. There are also disturbing allegations that “ANC Forums” go around Hendrina, especially in KwaZamokuhle Township, charging desperate job seekers R1000 or R1500 to arrange employment for them on the nearby mines and the Hendrina Power Station. The ANC have failed the communities of Hendrina and surrounding areas. Their mismanagement of Optimum Coal Mine had crippling effects on our economy, our electricity supply and affecting ordinary coal workers who cannot afford to put food on their tables or books in their children’s school bags. Currently the mine is under business rescue and its issues are in courts. Through our counterparts in the National Assembly, the DA will approach the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to intervene and come up with urgent solutions so that mine can reopen and restore hope to the people of Hendrina. < Previous Article Next Article >

Bekende plaaslike besigheid beroof Bekende plaaslike besigheid beroof 1/2 Share SM HATTINGH 10 August 2022 Die verdagtes het gevlug met ‘n onbekende bedrag kontant vanuit die kasregisters. Op Donderdag, 4 Augustus, ongeveer 17:15, het vier gewapende mans by ‘n besigheid ingestap. Hulle het rond gekyk in die winkel, vuurwapens uitgepluk, en het ‘n man (73) en sy vrou aangerand in die winkel. Die verdagtes het die slagoffers beveel om plat te lê op die vloer. Die man en die verdagtes het in ‘n struweling betrokke geraak, waarby die man kop beserings, asook beserings aan beide sy arms opgedoen het. Die man is Ermelo Medi-Clinic toe geneem vir mediese behandeling, waarby hy op Vrydag, 5 Augustus, na Medi-Clinic Trichardt geneem is vir verdere mediese behandeling. Tydens ‘n telefoon onderhoud met die eienaar van die winkel, het hy sy pa op Sondag, 7 Augsutus besoek, waarby hy gesê het dat sy pa vandag operasies sal ondergaan. Die verdagtes het gevlug met ‘n onbekende bedrag kontant vanuit die kasregisters. < Previous Article Next Article >

SAPO cuts down on waiting time 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 9 March 2021 Monday is reserved for 083 and 088, Tuesday 084 and 089, Wednesday 080 and 089, Thursday 081 and 086, and Friday is reserved for the 082 and 087. The South African Post Office (SAPO) has introduced a system to reduce the waiting time for beneficiaries collecting the R350 social relief of distress grant. The system, which has been introduced in the Free State, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, will also make it easier for beneficiaries to comply with COVID-19 social distancing requirements. “The first week of the month is reserved for paying grants to the elderly, disability and child grants. The Post Office has introduced separate queues at its branches to reduce waiting time and to ensure social distancing. One queue is reserved for beneficiaries of the R350 grant, while the other queue is for all other transactions. There will be queue walkers, who will check ID numbers to ensure that the system is implemented.” SAPO explained. In a statement, SAPO said that each day of the week is reserved for different beneficiaries, depending on the last three digits of their ID numbers. Monday is reserved for 083 and 088, Tuesday 084 and 089, Wednesday 080 and 089, Thursday 081 and 086, and Friday is reserved for the 082 and 087. For more information, clients are encouraged to call the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) on 0800 60 10 11 from 08:00-16:00, from Monday to Friday. Alternatively, visit the SASSA website on www.sassa.gov.za . < Previous Article Next Article >

News from ACSU’s office News from ACSU’s office 1/2 Share SH HATTINGH 8 September 2020 A delivery driver was threatened by 3 males, one of which was armed, and told they wanted to rob him. The driver managed to get to the safety of ACSU’s client, who in turn pressed the panic button. ACSU escorted the delivery vehicle to all further deliveries, and then safely to Bethal on the N17. 1 September 2020, 01h22 - An alarm was activated at a church in Thusi Village. The reaction team found that a tower on the premises had been vandalized, and all copper wire stolen. A power box belonging to the tower was recovered, and brought to ACSU office for safe keeping. The owner of the tower will be sending the repair team to tend to the damage at tower. 13h16 - A delivery driver was threatened by 3 males, one of which was armed, and told they wanted to rob him. The driver managed to get to the safety of ACSU’s client, who in turn pressed the panic button. ACSU escorted the delivery vehicle to all further deliveries, and then safely to Bethal on the N17. 2 September 2020 - 20h44 - In Wesselton Extension 7, an attempted burglary took place. The reaction team inspected premises, with the client finding that a window had been broken. Suspects were scared off by the alarm. 3 September 2020, 02h34 - A call from a client in Chris De Villiers Street stated that dogs were barking continuously. ACSU’s reaction team accompanied the client through the premises, and found that approximately 30 meters of cable had been stolen from pole in the yard. 03h20 - An attempted burglary was reported in Autumn Ridge. The suspect/s were scared off by the alarm, although the burglar bars were damaged. 4 September 2020, 02h35 - An attempted burglary was reported in Lelie Avenue. The gate was opened manually, a window pane was removed and burglar bars damaged. It was found that a television set was damaged, but not stolen. Suspect left behind a torch. 07h39 - A burglary was reported in Tienie Louw Street, with suspects making off with a television and two laptops. 6 September 2020, 03h26 - A burglary was reported in Autumn Ridge. Suspects made off with a laptop, television and cellular phone. 7 September 2020, 04h44 - A burglary was reported at a store selling sports equipment. One suspect was arrested, and one escaped. All the stolen items were recovered. < Previous Article Next Article >

Tegnologie vir die toekoms 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 4 May 2021 He’s the co-founder of “The Deep Learning Indaba”, an organisation whose mission is to strengthen Machine Learning & Artificial intelligence in Africa. Ulrich Paquet, oud- Ermeloër, het ‘n baie insiggewende gesprek met die Graad 11' s en 12's gehad oor sy interessante vakgebied, en wenke met hulle gedeel wat hulle kan help op hul pad na sukses. Ulrich Paquet is a South African Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning veteran, with over 10 years experience and service. He took some time to talk to the Grade 11 and 12 learners about his interesting area of expertise. He’s the co-founder of “The Deep Learning Indaba”, an organisation whose mission is to strengthen Machine Learning & Artificial intelligence in Africa. Ulrich holds a PhD in Machine Learning from the University of Cambridge’s Computer Laboratory, and had worked at several tech companies such as Microsoft, where he developed the core of Microsoft recommender system, managed a team at VocallQ which was later acquired by Apple, and recommender team for XBOX (a definite highlight; the XBOX One launch). He is now a research scientist at Deepmind, the world’s leading centre for research in artificial intelligence. < Previous Article Next Article >

Calls for provincial hospital CEO’s head to roll 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 16 August 2022 One resident stated that patients fear to visit the hospital, as many patients who visit allegedly succumb to unknown reasons. On Monday, 15 August 2022, a group of distraught employees of the Ermelo Provincial Hospital, joined by community and union members, staged a demonstration at the gate of the hospital. The group called for the removal of the CEO, who allegedly runs the hospital into the ground with rampant mismanagement and staff shortages. “There are no surgeon available, meaning that no operations can be performed. There has been no surgeon for the past three months, which is unacceptable. There is a serious lack of management structure withing the hospital. The pharmacy does not have a manager, and therefore cannot operate efficiently. There are so many vacancies available, but they remain unfilled. The mortuary is in a state of decay. Residents have an uphill battle to claim, or even find their beloved deceased. It’s a travesty,” one said. The issue of the mortuary has long since been an issue, that seemingly goes unresolved, despite statements from authorities claiming otherwise. The absolutely grisly state of the hospital has on various occasions bore tales of shock and horror. One resident stated that patients fear to visit the hospital, as many patients who visit allegedly succumb to unknown reasons. “If you go the Ermelo Provincial Hospital, you are called a ‘braai pakkie’ by the community members. The reason for this being that you are admitted, and soon after placed lifeless in the fridge, ready for cremation or the grave. We would rather visit clinics that the hospital, as it is a building of death and horror,” he stated with distraught seriousness. Despite the serious concerns raised by the public and various experts, and the fact that the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill has yet to be passed through Parliament, the deputy director-general for the Department of Health, Nicholas Crisp, revealed that 44 positions would be advertised for the NHI Scheme in August. Government has approved this travesty at a cost of R30 million, and plans to allocate more resources to in 2023/24 to fund a staff of 120 people. This is nothing but a travesty, as the state of provincial hospitals are dire, and instead of government allocating funds to improve the situation, millions, if not billions, are blown on irrelevant projects, cadre employment and unfinished constructions. At the time of publication, the hospital management was unavailable for comment. < Previous Article Next Article >

EHS-gholf behaal weer eerste plek 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 25 May 2021 “Baie geluk aan dié seuns met uitstekende tellings en pragtige gholf. EHS is trots op elkeen.” Op Vrydag, 21 Mei, het een van die Erries se gholfspanne die volgende rondte liga gaan speel op Volksrust. As gevolg van die COVID-regulasies, kon daar net een span aan dié liga-rondte deelneem. EHS se A-span verteenwoordig egter die Erries uitstekend, en stap as wenners van die baan af. Dié span is goed op dreef om die liga te wen, met net nog een rondte om te speel. Die tellings van die spelers is as volg: Tobie Leibbrandt behaal15 punte, Wian Swart behaal 14 punte, Liam Kitchenmaster 13 punte en Pieter Leibbrandt 11 punte. “Baie geluk aan dié seuns met uitstekende tellings en pragtige gholf. EHS is trots op elkeen.” < Previous Article Next Article >