GMM inwoners in groot waterverknorsing 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 24 November 2020 GMM skuld Rand Water 'n astronomiese bedrag van R314 miljoen, en het herhaaldelik versuim om betalingsooreenkomste na te kom. Die feit dat Govan Mbeki Munisipaliteit (GMM) inwoners totaal en al gefaal het ten opsigte van dienslewering sit dwars in die krop van alle inwoners en besighede onder die GMM-dienslewerings gebied. Watertoevoer na die GMM gebied is met bykans 60% gesny, nadat GMM weereens nie hul betalingsooreenkoms nagekom het aan Rand Water nie. Nadat inwoners grootskaalse amok gemaak het ten opsigte van GMM se swak diensleweing, beskuldig GMM nou vandale vir die beskadiging van verskillende pompstasies, wat die situasie glo vererger omdat water nie in en uit die waterreservoirs gepomp kan word nie. Inwoners en besighede val egter nie vir hierdie veskoning nie, aangesien die toevoer al vir ‘n aantal jare agteruit gegaan het, en tans op die drumpel van totale afsluiting is. GMM skuld Rand Water 'n astronomiese bedrag van R314 miljoen, en het herhaaldelik versuim om betalingsooreenkomste na te kom. Gebiede op hoë vlak word veral grootliks geraak. Die negatiewe verkleuring van water sal die gemeenskappe van eMbalenhle, Leandra, Kinross, Evander, Secunda, Trichardt, Bethal en eMzinoni beïnvloed, aangesien die waterdruk onvoldoende is. Rand Water het ook 'n terugbetalingsvoorstel wat op 24 Augustus ingedien is, van die hand gewys. < Previous Article Next Article >

Jabu Ndlovu obtains MPRE certification 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 4 May 2021 Jabu achieved the status of Master Practitioner in 2021 after completing his PDE 5 exams. Jabu Ndlovu, principal and owner of Candid Properties, a well-known and respected estate agency in Ermelo, has risen to new heights after obtaining Master Practitioner in Real Estate status. A Master Practitioner in Real Estate (MPRE) is a full-status professional estate agent, practicing as a Principal estate agent who has been issued with a valid fidelity fund certificate, as well as a certificate of professional recognition by the Estate Agency Affairs Board. The holder of such designation is accredited as being a knowledgeable, competent, and skillful principal estate agency practitioner, who is able to perform all estate agency activities, as defined in the Estate Agency Affairs Act, 112 of 1976, with the necessary degree of care and skill in the interest of protecting consumers of estate agency services. Jabu Ndlovu, a resident of Ermelo for more than 20 years, was born in Davel, grew up enjoying the farm life, attending high school at Lindile Secondary School. After completing his school career, Jabu started his upwards trajectory as estate agent at Remax Properties, and then moved to Vleissentraal, where he worked for five years. Candid Properties was established in 2010, with a branch in Ermelo. At first with association with RI Scholtz Estate Agency, but later spread his wings to find its feet in Ermelo. Jabu completed his NQF Levels 4-5 at UNISA, with the PDE 4 board exam following after that. Jabu achieved the status of Master Practitioner in 2021 after completing his PDE 5 exams. “My plans for the future is to create employment for as many aspiring practitioners as I can, and to build bridges to the future. My ultimate goal is to establish Candid Properties as a franchise, and become a household name in South Africa.” Candid Properties currently has branches in Ermelo, Secunda and Emalahleni, creating it’s footprint of real estate excellence.” Jabu would like to thank all his loyal clients for their support, and would like to invite all existing and new clients to contact him regarding their real estate needs on 079 134 2733, or info@candidproperties.net . < Previous Article Next Article >

The Heart Of Middelburg celebrates 10 years in operation Appearing on the photo (f.l.t.r): Jabu Mokwena, handyman, Allen Snyman, operations manager, Nelly Shabalala, receptionist, Mike Tammadge, general manager, Morgan-Lee van der Walt, marketing manager, and Dennis Mukoma, security manager. Appearing on the photo (f.l.t.r): Jabu Mokwena, handyman, Allen Snyman, operations manager, Nelly Shabalala, receptionist, Mike Tammadge, general manager, Morgan-Lee van der Walt, marketing manager, and Dennis Mukoma, security manager. 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 10 May 2022 Middelburg Mall offers a one-stop, family friendly shopping experience where convenience and safety are of utmost importance. Press release - 10 years of special Middelburg Moments shared with our shoppers, tenants, suppliers and contractors. When the Moolman Group and Flanagan & Gerard opened the mall in 2012, little did they know that it would evolve into a respected community landmark - a place of giving, coming together and creating countless memories. The heart of Middelburg! Creating countless job opportunities for the Middelburg community, the mall has become a valued asset in the Middelburg business community. More than 60 million shoppers have visited the mall since opening day, and hopes to see many, many more in the future. With over 140 retailers, free parking and a mini revamp in the pipeline, Middelburg Mall offers a one-stop, family friendly shopping experience where convenience and safety are of utmost importance. We would like to thank the community, our tenants & shoppers for their continued support. Here’s to the next 10 – may they be filled with countless Middelburg Mall Moments < Previous Article Next Article >

Ter nagedagtenis aan ‘n Ermelo legende 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 31 August 2021 Lourens Petrus Human - 13/10/1945 - 19/08/2021 (75 jaar) Lourens Petrus Human 13/10/1945 - 19/08/2021 (75 jaar) Dit is met groot hartseer dat ons afskeid neem van Leon Human (of Pyp, soos meeste hom geken het). Hy was ‘n gebore Ermeloër, en sy grootword wêreld was op die plase Vlakfontein en Holbank, waar sy voetspore diep lê. Hy het sy skoolloopbaan op Ermelo voltooi, waarna hy by die verkeersdepartment aangesluit het. In 1980 verhuis hy en sy gesin na Vereeniging, en deur die jare na Klerksdorp, Stilfontein, Kempton Park, Potgietersrus en weer terug na Ermelo gedurende 1994. Hy het toe mettertyd bedank by die verkeersdepartment, en sy eie besigheid, LP Granssnyerdienste, vanaf die huis begin. Hy was van 1967 tot 1986 getroud met Anet Human, en is 2 kinders uit die huwelik gebore (Jaco en Zandi Human). Hy was oupa van 4 kleinkinders (Dine, Ettienne, Jean, Zane). Hy was ‘n geliefde figuur in die dorp, altyd aan die rondry of van vroegdag by sy huis aan die werk. Oral waar hy gestop het, het hy tyd gehad om ‘n geselsie aan te knoop. Almal was ook altyd welkom om deur die dag by hom in te loer, en ‘n koffetjie te drink. Hy was ‘n man met ‘n groot, sagte hart, wat altyd bereid was om uit te help. Leon laat ‘n groot leemte in baie harte. “Mag jy nou vrede vind by Jesus se voete. Rus sag, Pyp.” < Previous Article Next Article >

VLU Amersfoort geniet spesiale dag 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 23 August 2022 Die tak bedank ook vir Anne-Marie, wat ‘n spesiale geskenk aan Carina oorhandig het. Amersfoort VLU Tambuki Streek het op Vrouedag, 9 Augustus 2022 hul vergadering gehou by die AGS kerksaal. Carina Bam, ‘n somatoloog van Platteland Aesthetics in Ermelo het vir die dames ‘n demonstrasie aangebied, en hul meer vertel van “needling”, sowel as vele ander vel prosedures. Martie Struwig was die gelukkige wenner van ‘n gratis velbehandeling sessie, en elke dame het op die dag ‘n geskenkpakkie ontvang. Amersfoort VLU bedank graag elkeen wat die dag geniet het saam hul, en sien uit na volgende maand se vergadering. Die tak bedank ook vir Anne-Marie, wat ‘n spesiale geskenk aan Carina oorhandig het. < Previous Article Next Article >

Boots on the ground in DALRRD farm corruption saga 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 6 April 2021 Explanations requested from Minister Thoko Didiza, one month ago, yielded no response. Enquiries sent by the Tribune ePaper to the DALRRD have been acknowledged, but no response had been received from the Department. Amidst a flurry of confusion and flying allegations of corruption and nepotism, harrowing tales have emerged from the affected farmers. Thabani Nxumalo of Klipplaatdrift farm stated that he had a three-year lease agreement on the Ultkyk farm from 2013. In 2019, he had to move to Klipplaatdrift farm because his farming operation was too big for Ultkyk farm. In 2020, he received an eviction order from the Department, despite making an undertaking to resign from his current job to meet the requirements for renewing the lease. The Department has since advertised the farm for new potential lessees to come and view the farm. John Mabasa of Goedehoop farm said that his family had been farming on their family land for over two centuries. When he submitted a land claim in 1998 to formalize his family’s land holdings, the Department claimed that they had no records of the claim. In 2013, after a Public Protector finding instructed the Department to allocate him a farm, he was given caretakership on a portion of land. The award came with the condition that he should farm as part of a co-op. When he refused to pay R25 000 to ensure that a proposed business plan was approved by the Department, his land was advertised for occupation for interested new leases. Swazi Motha of Rietspruit farm is part of a group of three farmers who, in 2013, were granted a lease to a farm. In 2019, when asked to apply for financial assistance, they were told to “pay something” to facilitate the signing of the contract. They refused to pay the bribe, and received a letter of termination in 2019. Mr. Nxumalo of Tweefontein farm started farming in 2009 after signing a three-year lease agreement. In 2018/2019, he signed a 30-year lease agreement, for which the Department did not give him a copy. He was given a strategic partner to work with for 5 years. Without notice, he was told that his lease agreement will not be renewed. Ms Nconwane of Steenwyk farm has been farming since 2016. In 2017, she drew up a business plan to access farmer support funding. Her application for financial support has not been granted. Instead, officials have told her that “everything she does is wrong”. Despite her efforts, she has never been given a lease agreement. Isaac Buthelezi of Dorpsplaas/Drinkwater farm had a three-year lease agreement since 2009, with an offer to purchase. When the lease lapsed, he renewed it again until 2017. Strangely, this time the Department removed the offer to purchase. After 2017, the Department refused to renew the lease completely. The Department sent notice of eviction in 2019 through WhatsApp. Sibusiso Parinengatua of Tarbert farm received a three-year lease in 2011, which was renewed for 5 years in 2014. He received an eviction letter in 2017, with the claim that he is behind on lease payments, and he must vacate the land. He left the farm in 2019 when his lease expired, and after he was told that his lease will not be renewed. To his knowledge, the farm is still vacant. Sisonke Farmers Group, represented by Isaac Muvhali of Tweefontein farm in Dipaliseng received a lease in 2009, which was renewed for 5 years in 2012. In 2019, they saw an advertisement stating that the farm was advertised for state lease. No one had informed them of this. They were asked to pay a bribe of R250 000 if they wanted the lease renewed, to which they refused. The Democratic Alliance (DA) already has boots on the ground with the affected farmers threatened by illegal eviction orders from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). Explanations requested from Minister Thoko Didiza, one month ago, yielded no response. Enquiries sent by the Tribune ePaper to the DALRRD have been acknowledged, but no response had been received from the Department. < Previous Article Next Article >

EHS-Tennis skop af met vriendskaplike wedstryde 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 30 March 2021 Die Erries was uiters opgewonde, aangesien dit die eerste wedstryde was sedert die inperking in 2020. Die Eerste dogter span, asook die Eerste- en tweede seun span het op Vrydag, 19 Maart, oefen-tenniswedstryde teen Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg gespeel. Die Erries was uiters opgewonde, aangesien dit die eerste wedstryde was sedert die inperking in 2020. Die volgende leerders het hul enkel wedstryde gewen: Bongmusa Vilakazi (eerste seun span) wen met 7/6, Inge Greyling (eerste dogter span) wen met 8/5, Elizma Swart (eerste dogter span) met 7/6, Pieter Leibbrandt (tweede seun span) wen met 8/5 en Christiaan Wege (tweede seun span) wen met 10/3. Op die foto staan (v.l.n.r), Danel Olivier, Elilzma Swart, Inge Greyling, mnr Hennie Dippenaar, Wianke Cloete, Chrizanne Joubert, Mariska van Biljon en me Annemie Martins. < Previous Article Next Article >

Geen gesag aan verskeersreëls Geen gesag aan verskeersreëls 1/4 Share SH HATTINGH 1 September 2020 Verskeie bestuurders het doodluiters nie die verkeersreëls gehoorsaam nie, en kanse gevat het. Nooddienste het geskarrel van een toneel na die ander. Nooddienste het die afgelope week harde bene gekou met verskeie botsings wat plaasgevind het. Telkens het botsings plaasgevind waar die bestuurders doodluiters nie die verkeersreëls gehoorsaam nie, en kanse gevat het. Die SAPD, asook die verkeersdepartement, wil ‘n versoek rig aan die gemeenskap om altyd die verkeersreëls te gehoorsaam. < Previous Article Next Article >

Erries spog trots met nog ‘n suksesvolle EHS-Gholfdag 1/4 Share SH HATTINGH 16 March 2021 Daar was ‘n groot verskeidenheid pryse vir die 160 spelers wat ingeskryf was vir die gholfdag. Op Saterdag, 6 Maart, het Hoërskool Ermelo hulle jaarlikse gholfdag met groot sukses aangebied. Dit is elke jaar ‘n projek wat deur die Errieraad se ouers aangebied word, en die gemeenskap se betrokkenheid spreek boekdele oor die positiewe gesindheid teenoor EHS. Daar was ‘n groot verskeidenheid pryse vir die 160 spelers wat ingeskryf was vir die gholfdag. Vir die individuele wenners was daar spesifieke pryse: Naaste aan die pen, putjie 4: André Croeser, Naaste aan die pen, putjie 6: Derek Bouwer, Naaste aan die pen, putjie 14: DC Swart, Naaste aan die pen, putjie 16: Mamba Dumezane. Langste dryf, putjie 9: Chanté Boonstra, Langste dryf, putjie 18: Chanté Boonstra, Hoeveelheid gholfballe in houer, nommer 12: Bossie Bosman. Omdat die formaat van die gholfdag ‘n twee-bal-beter-bal was, was die pryse in stelle van twee elk, waaruit die wenners self kon kies. Daar is 24 plekke aangekondig, dus het 48 van die spelers pryse gekry. Die wenners van die dag is as volg: W. Dreyer en A. Croeser wen die dag met 49 punte. In die tweedeplek is F. du Plooy en P. van der Merwe met 47 punte. Op hulle hakke volg T. Leibbrandt en P. Leibbrandt ook met 47 punte. In die vierde plek is J. Nkondo en V. Simelane en E. Neveling en L. Velleman neem die vyfde plek in. “Hoërskool Ermelo bedank elke speler en borg wat bygedra het tot die sukses van 2021 se EHS-Gholfdag. Al die ondersteuning wat EHS onophoudelik ontvang is wat die Erries van krag tot krag laat groei. Baie geluk en dankie aan die Errieraad, en hul ouers met ‘n puik gereëlde funksie. Julle is die toonbeeld van waar toe die Erries in staat is.” < Previous Article Next Article >

No respite from stray cattle 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 14 July 2020 On previous occasions, MLM stated that residents should contact the call centre to report such incidents. However, the inefficiency of the call centre, coupled with the lackluster response time from municipal departments have made this statement all but redundant. Over the course of several years, cattle owners have systematically circumvented the by-laws of Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) with regards to the care, control and branding of cattle and other stray animals. These individuals have also taken advantage of MLM’s lax attitude and have erected pens and makeshift shelters for farm animals in several wards. Despite the municipality’s by-laws stating that no person may keep farm animals in an enclosure or stable within 15 meters of any boundary of any land, dwelling, building or any structure used for human habitation, or 50 meters of any water resource or water supply intended or used for human consumption, transgressors live their best lives without consequence. Although it is mandated by the Animal Identification Act, Act 6 of 2000, a large percentage of the stray animals roaming the CBD, roadways, wards and surrounding areas are unmarked and unbranded. The fact that there are no longer pounding services offered by local companies makes life extremely difficult for residents and road users alike. Stray animals and cattle impede the flow of traffic, and have been the cause of many an accident in the vicinity of Ermelo. The inherent danger of stray cattle is especially notable on the N11 Ermelo-Hendrina road, where several serious collisions have been caused by these nuisance strays. Stray cattle and animals within wards demolish gardens, tear open refuse bags and unnecessarily rile up neighborhood dogs. On previous occasions, MLM stated that residents should contact the call centre to report such incidents. However, the inefficiency of the call centre, coupled with the lackluster response time from municipal departments have made this statement all but redundant. Although the municipal by-laws grants the municipality the power to rapidly fill their coffers by impounding and selling stray animals if they are not collected by their owners, the motivation seems to be lacking for unknown reasons. MLM ignored the enquiry submitted by the Tribune regarding this matter. < Previous Article Next Article >

AfriForum patches roads in Bethal 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 7 July 2020 “We had to make a decision on which roads need to be maintained and patched up as soon as possible, unfortunately not all the roads can be repaired. We can’t maintain all the roads, it is impossible, and funding is also a problem. We try to patch as many holes as possible, but there is just no way that some can again be repaired, because the roads are in poor condition,” Bekker stated. AfriForum is back in action in Bethal as lockdown restrictions ease, and Hennie Bekker, District Coordinator stated that they are hoping to fill another 300 potholes with a new latex tar mixture, which is said to be just as effective as the normal cold premix. Work done would not have been possible without the financial assistance from the community and business association, and sadly many roads in Bethal needs to be resurfaced. “We had to make a decision on which roads need to be maintained and patched up as soon as possible, unfortunately not all the roads can be repaired. We can’t maintain all the roads, it is impossible, and funding is also a problem. We try to patch as many holes as possible, but there is just no way that some can again be repaired, because the roads are in poor condition,” Bekker stated. According to him, roads maintenance is a massive issue due to the heavy motor vehicles that continuously traverse the CBD and residential area. If you would like to be involved, or offer assistance with community projects, you may contact Hennie Bekker on 081 217 6091. < Previous Article Next Article >

ErrieUnie gee terug aan die Erries 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 24 August 2021 Daar is besluit om die skrummasjien na voormalige onderwyser en afrigter by die Erries, Jimmy Stonehouse, te vernoem omdat hy 'n reuse impak gehad het by die skool se rugby jare gelede. Die ErrieUnie streef daarna om die EHS te ondersteun op enige gebied waar nodig. Nadat 'n behoefte geïdentifiseer is, het die ErrieUnie die inisiatief geneem om 'n nuwe skrummasjien vir die hoërskool te laat bou. Die STONEHOUSE skrummasjien is op dieselfde wyse gebou as die een wat die Pumas en Springbokke huidiglik gebruik. Daar is besluit om die skrummasjien na voormalige onderwyser en afrigter by die Erries, Jimmy Stonehouse, te vernoem omdat hy 'n reuse impak gehad het by die skool se rugby jare gelede. Hy was ook die skakel tussen die ErrieUnie en MES (Mobile Engineering Services) wat die masjien gebou het. Dit sal definitief 'n aanwins wees vir die rugby vir nog baie jare. “Baie dankie aan al die ErrieUnie lede, wie se bydraes projekte soos hierdie moontlik maak.” < Previous Article Next Article >