Anke mag maar dans 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 1 June 2021 “Ons is super trots op jou Anke. Ons skool hou jou dop en weet jy leef jou droom.” Anke Swart, ‘n leerling van Morgenzon Landbou Akademie, het gedans teen al die akrobate klubs in Mpumalanga en na 2 maande se harde werk, baie oefening en uithou het sy haar Mpumalanga kleure verwerf met 'n punt van 9.033 uit 9.8. Sy dring deur na die Interprovinsiale kampioenskappe, waar sy Mpumalanga gaan verteenwoordig en gaan dans vir 'n plek in die SA span. “Ons is super trots op jou Anke. Ons skool hou jou dop en weet jy leef jou droom.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Errie-atlete presteer tydens landloop byeenkoms 1/2 Share SM HATTINGH 31 August 2021 “Baie geluk aan bovermelde atlete, en baie sterkte met jul voorbereiding vir toekomstige byeenkomste. Die Erries hou julle flinke tred met groot belangstelling dop!” Op 18 Augustus het die Erries se landloop atlete aan 'n landloop byeenkoms te Hoërskool Hertzog deelgeneem. Daar was slegs een byeenkoms vir 2021, en die Erries het hul uitstekend van hul taak gekwyt. Die volgende atlete verdien besondere vermelding: BongmusaVilakazi eindig eerste (seuns o/16), Chester Mpahlele behaal derde plek (seuns o/16), Nicolas Steyn vierde plek (seuns o/14), Mia Steenkamp eerste plek (dogters o/16) en Zané du Plessis tweede plek in dieselfde ouderdomsgroep. Caylin Loock eindig eerste in die afdeling vir dogters o/17. “Baie geluk aan bovermelde atlete, en baie sterkte met jul voorbereiding vir toekomstige byeenkomste. Die Erries hou julle flinke tred met groot belangstelling dop!” < Previous Article Next Article >

Ongeluk eis 2 lewens Ongeluk eis 2 lewens 1/2 Share SH HATTINGH 24 November 2020 Die SAPD van Davel wil graag ‘n versoek doen op al die padverbruikers om die verkeersreëls te gehoorsaam, en veilig te wees op die paaie tydens die feesseisoen. Op Vrydag, 20 November, ongeveer 12:30 het daar ‘n grusame ongeluk plaasgevind op die N17 tussen Ermelo en Bethal. Tydens die ongeluk was daar drie voertuie betrokke, ‘n wit BMW, silver Isuzu bakkie en ‘n wit Chevrolet bakkie. Die pad was vir ongeveer 3 ure gesluit weens die terwyl nood- en opruimdienste rondgeskarrel het. Volgens Konstabel Portia van Davel SAPD is die oorsaak van die ongeluk weens die bestuurder van die BMW wat ander voertuie verby gesteek het op ‘n dubbel sperstreep, waarna hy beheer verloor het oor sy voertuig en met die Chevrolet gebots het. Twee persone is tydens die ongeluk op die toneel oorlede, waar een ernstig beseer is en na Trichardt Medi-Clinic geneem is vir mediese behandeling. Die SAPD van Davel wil graag ‘n versoek doen op al die padverbruikers om die verkeersreëls te gehoorsaam, en veilig te wees op die paaie tydens die feesseisoen. < Previous Article Next Article >

SAPS destroys nearly 25 000 firearms 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 20 July 2021 “A firearm is issued to an individual and cannot be dealt with like any other asset when the owner dies. The Act provides that in case of death, the family/executor must dispose of the firearm by deactivating it through a gunsmith, sell it to an accredited firearm dealer or individual or voluntarily surrender it to SAPS for destruction,” the SAPS concluded. The South African Police Service has revealed that 24 901 firearms, which included 3 610 rifles, 3 083 shotguns and 17 383 handguns. “The police have to continually detect and remove illegal firearms from circulation, as they are being used to commit serious and violent crimes.Melting these firearms therefore ensures that the proliferation of firearms is dealt a blow. The SAPS will continue to detect and remove illegal firearms and ammunition from the streets of South Africa, as they pose a threat to the safety and security of the inhabitants of this country,” the SAPS said in a statement. The destroyed firearms included firearms voluntarily handed over during the previous two firearm amnesty periods, as well as those that were either confiscated or surrendered to the State. The smelting took place at the Cape Gate Steel in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng. According to the police, approximately half of the firearms that have been destroyed were handed in during the 2019/2020 and the 2020/2021 Firearm Amnesty periods. These amnesty firearms were also subjected to IBIS testing and there were no positive hits nor firearm applications linked to them. The SAPS still encourages those that have to handle firearms of their deceased relatives to do so in line with the prescripts of the law. “A firearm is issued to an individual and cannot be dealt with like any other asset when the owner dies. The Act provides that in case of death, the family/executor must dispose of the firearm by deactivating it through a gunsmith, sell it to an accredited firearm dealer or individual or voluntarily surrender it to SAPS for destruction,” the SAPS concluded. < Previous Article Next Article >

Blou Masjien Rugby - 19 spelers in Puma-spanne 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 25 May 2021 "What an accomplishment! As soon as rugby may commence, they will play against the Falcons and Limpopo after which the final teams will be announced." Alhoewel almal hartseer is oor skolesport wat vir eers uitgestel is, het 19 Liggies se harte trots geklop. Dié spelers is in die voorlopige Puma Hoërskole Spanne vir 2021 opgeneem. Sodra ons weer aan kontaksport mag deelneem, gaan die spanne wedstryde teen die Valke en Limpopo speel, waarna die onderskeie spanne (A/B) gefinaliseer sal word. “Baie geluk met julle prestasie!” 19 Ligbron rugby players received the good news that they have been included in the preliminary Puma High school teams for 2021. What an accomplishment! As soon as rugby may commence, they will play against the Falcons and Limpopo after which the final teams will be announced. “Congratulations - hard work was rewarded!” < Previous Article Next Article >

Nog 'n botsing op Breyten pad Nog 'n botsing op Breyten pad 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 3 August 2021 Tydens die botsing het die drie insittendes in die Volkswagen ligte beserings opgedoen, en is blitsvinnig na die Ermelo Provinsiale Hospitaal geneem vir mediese ondersoek. Op Maandag, 26 Julie, het daar 'n botsing tussen 'n Hyundai Elantra en 'n Volkswagen Chico plaasgevind op die Breyten pad. Volgens die bestuurder van die Hyundai was daar digte rook op die pad, waarna hy sy hoofligte aangeskakel het en begin stadiger ry het. Met al die digte rook het die Volkswagen in die Hyundai vas gery. Al die nooddienste, asook nood personeel was spoedig op die toneel. Tydens die botsing het die drie insittendes in die Volkswagen ligte beserings opgedoen, en is blitsvinnig na die Ermelo Provinsiale Hospitaal geneem vir mediese ondersoek. < Previous Article Next Article >

Ermelo clinic scores lowly on service efficiency The suggestion box at Ermelo Clinic. The filing system at Ermelo Clinic. The suggestion box at Ermelo Clinic. 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 6 July 2022 “Communities are continuously complaining that the healthcare workers are in the wrong or not doing their jobs." Ritshidze, a system that offers community-led clinic monitoring, has release their report of primary healthcare in Mpumalanga, which leaves much to be desired. The institution noted that many facilities in the province experience severe staff shortages, amongst other serious issues. Ritshidze stated that the average waiting time per patient was more than four hours, which is unacceptable in light of the sheer volume of patients that require care. The delays were caused by lost files, staff shortages and inefficiency from staff. In 2021, Ritshidze reported that only 7% of facility managers at clinics in Mpumalanga said they had enough staff. The number increased to an astounding 41% in 2022. There is still a massive human resources gap, despite other marginal improvements that had been made, the report states. A total of 74% of the facilities that Ritshidze monitored in 2021 had inadequate filing systems. In 2022, the number has improved to 38%. Ermelo Clinic, Amsterdam Community Health Care, Bethal Town Clinic and Embalenhle Community Health were amongst the bad apples that saw little to no improvement. The Democratic Alliance (DA) health spokesperson, Jane Sithole, stated that clinics and community healthcare centres are barely functioning due to long overdue maintenance, ranging from dysfunctional geysers and leaking roofs, to broken water pumps, which forced nurses to collect water in buckets to clean clinics. “Communities are continuously complaining that the healthcare workers are in the wrong or not doing their jobs. What the communities don’t know is that it is not their fault, but it’s actually the MEC and the officials in the department who are failing to deliver on the basics to ensure clinics have things such as medicine and rotational doctors. Departmental health officials don’t have to face patients and their families, but it is healthcare workers who must deal with angry family members and it is understandable why healthcare workers are negative at times towards patients.” Of the Mpumalanga Department of Health’s R16 billion budget for this financial year, R10 billion has been allocated to district health services, which clinics fall under. While tabling the 2022/2023 budget, MEC Sasekani Manzini stated that her department was determined to increase access to health services. “This is done through deploying mobile clinics to augment the 292 primary healthcare facilities, particularly in remote and rural areas. The department has 92 mobile clinics with 2 186 points that service these remote areas,” she said. < Previous Article Next Article >

Corrupt Home Affairs trio nabbed Corrupt Home Affairs trio nabbed 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 17 November 2021 The trio allegedly demanded money from foreign national shop owners in Ermelo, as from January 2021, claiming that they are illegally in the country. Two immigration officers and an assistant director from Department of Home Affairs in Ermelo were arrested on Tuesday, 9 November. The trio allegedly demanded money from foreign national shop owners in Ermelo, as from January 2021, claiming that they are illegally in the country. The complainant reported the matter to the SAPS, and an investigation was launched by the Anti Corruption Unit. An operation was conducted, where the three suspects were arrested after receiving trap money, and it was found in possession of the suspects. The three suspects made their first appearance before the Magistrate's Court in Ermelo on Wednesday, 11 November on the charge of corruption. The Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has been adamant that the SAPS will do everything in their power to root out corruption in the province. “No one is above the law. Anyone found to be in breach of the law will be arrested irrespective of the position he or she holds. Mpumalanga must be a crime free province;” she said, while applauded the sterling work by the SAPS. The three suspects, Khulekani Innocent Zulu (27), Yolande Pretty Ngomane (39) and Mavis Minah Mthetwa (48) appeared before the court, and the case had been postponed to 10 December 2021. The suspects were granted bail of R2500 each. < Previous Article Next Article >

SLP initiative relieves inventory strain Appearing on the photo (f.l.t.r): Gabriel Diedericks, chief safety officer, Eric Mosums, mine overseer, Aaron Tsotetsi, mine manager, Anatjie Meiring, finance manager, Gugu Buthelezi, municipal technical manager, and Nkitseni Moleki, planning and economic development. Appearing on the photo (f.l.t.r): Gabriel Diedericks, chief safety officer, Eric Mosums, mine overseer, Aaron Tsotetsi, mine manager, Anatjie Meiring, finance manager, Gugu Buthelezi, municipal technical manager, and Nkitseni Moleki, planning and economic development. 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 17 May 2022 The municipality requests the community to protect electrical cables from cable thieves. Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) recently received a delivery of electrical cable for the replacement of 1000 meters of MV cable (95mm² XLPE) valued at R1.4 million, from Mooiplaats Colliery. This was made possible through the Social and Labour Plan (SLP). This project was the third bout of cable delivery, which is aimed at stabilizing the electrical infrastructure within the municipality. The projects were supplied through the agreed SLP, which covered the period from 2018-2022. The total amount spent by the mine on these projects amount to R2.9 million. MLM covers a vast area, in which the infrastructure is aged and vulnerable, according to the municipality. The assistance from Mooiplaats Colliery has brought about stabilization to the areas that have been attended to, according to MLM’s technical manager, Gugu Buthelezi. “Furthermore, the assistance is highly appreciated, and the municipality certainly hopes that there will be more projects of this nature to help improve and ascertain its consumers of a more stable and reliable power supply.” Mooiplaats Colliery delivered on the cables as per the commitments made in 2020 with the municipality. It is however very sad to indicate that the mine has completely ceased to operate in December 2021 due to reaching end of life. “The municipality is thankful to the mine in honoring these commitments, even though they have stopped operating in the area. Additionally, the municipality requests the community to protect electrical cables from cable thieves.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Breast cancer is serious business 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 5 October 2021 Studies have shown that time to a cancer diagnosis may be influenced by several factors, including women's knowledge and awareness of cancer symptoms. The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) has launched a campaign to highlight the important role that women can play in taking ownership of their personal health during breast cancer awareness month, and that getting checked regularly and early, is vital. “We encourage women to focus on their breast health by being aware of any changes or irregularities, get to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and go for regular breast screenings. It’s always good to practise self care which includes making personal health a priority,” says Lorraine Govender, CANSA’s National Manager for Health Promotion. With 1.7 million women diagnosed each year, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In South Africa, according to the National Cancer Registry (2017), one in 26 women are at risk of developing breast cancer, and 16% of cancer deaths are attributed to it. There is growing concern that most women present with late stage cancers, which make for a difficult prognosis. “Studies have shown that time to a cancer diagnosis may be influenced by several factors, including women's knowledge and awareness of cancer symptoms, whether women see themselves as being at risk for breast cancer, barriers in the health system, knowledge and attitude of health providers, and psychological, and socio-cultural barriers to health care,” said Professor Jennifer Moodley, Director of the Cancer Research Initiative at UCT. If any women have breast cancer symptoms, it’s so important to present to health practitioners and get checked out sooner than later, as this can lead to an early-stage diagnosis that results in better breast cancer treatment and survival. So do those monthly breast self-examinations, annual medical check-ups and cancer screening for early detection, as symptoms don’t always present until cancer has spread. CANSA plays an active role in the promotion of early detection of breast cancer, and offers clinical breast examinations to detect breast lumps at CANSA Care Centres, with strict safety protocols in place to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Costs are kept to a minimum, and patients with medical aid benefits can claim from their medical aids once they have paid for the screening. Support for cancer patients is plentiful through support groups, online support resources, tele counselling and CANSA also supplies wigs and headwear, bras, and lymphoedema garments, in partnership with The M Store, at CANSA Care Centres. “We have our specialized online support programme called iSurvivor Metastatic Breast Cancer, which is aimed at assisting and helping mostly metastatic breast cancer patients with their experienced challenges. And we offer a variety of breast prostheses at affordable rates for those who had to undergo a mastectomy/lumpectomy and offer advice to help cope with the side effects of cancer treatment,” concludes Govender. In celebration of CANSA’s 90th birthday, Novartis is giving back and offering a total of 360 free Clinical Breast Examinations, until 8 October 2021, at selected CANSA Care Centres. Bookings must be made through info@cansa.org.za . Anyone can get involved and help CANSA during October, either by purchasing a ‘Doek with a Difference’ or a pair of earrings as part of the Pink Trees for Pauline campaign, or by hosting a virtual Cuppa For CANSA event with the CANSA SPAR Tea on 30 October 2021. Book a clinical breast screening, and encourage family and friends to do the same. You can also donate via CANSA’s secure, online platforms, and subscribe to the newsletter to stay informed about their various health campaigns and fundraising initiatives. < Previous Article Next Article >

Errie nommer een atleet in SA 1/1 Share INHOUD VERSKAF 18 Augustus 2020 Tyrone het beide die uitslae wat ingestuur is, behaal tydens die Noordheuwel Top 15-byeenkoms, waaraan hy op 5 Februarie 2020 deelgeneem het. Hoërskool Ermelo is met reg trots op Tyrone met dié uitsonderlike prestasie. Tyrone Berning, ‘n Graad 8 leerder van EHS, is aangewys as die nommer een seuns atleet in Suid-Afrika Skole Sport Sterre, in beide hoogspring en 300 meter hekkies, in die o/14-ouderdomsgroep. Hy spog met ‘n uitstekende tyd van 40.31 sekondes in die 300 meter hekkies, en met ‘n hoogte van 1.8 meter in hoogspring. Die plasings van die SA Skole Sport Sterre is bepaal deur die beste tye en/of afstande wat die atlete behaal het tydens 2020 se atletiek seisoen. Tyrone het beide die uitslae wat ingestuur is, behaal tydens die Noordheuwel Top 15-byeenkoms, waaraan hy op 5 Februarie 2020 deelgeneem het. Hoërskool Ermelo is met reg trots op Tyrone met dié uitsonderlike prestasie. “Dit dui op harde werk, deursettingsvermoë, genade en hope talent. Baie geluk, Tyrone!” < Previous Article Next Article >

JJ redenaars deelnemers debateer ‘n hond uit ‘n bos 1/3 Share SM HATTINGH 17 February 2022 Geluk aan elke leerder wat 'n puik voorlegging aangebied het. Die leerders van Laerskool JJ van der Merwe het elk verskeie onderwerpe gehad waaroor hulle kon debateer tydens die redenaarsbyeenkoms. Hier is die leerders van verskeie grade van die interne redenaarskompetisie - Graad 1 tot 3: agter (v.l.n.r): Kelcey Botes, Eddie Prinsloo, Janko Rautenbach, Luney Robberts, en voor (v.l.n.r): Amonette van Eck, Amjee Mentz en Genevieve Bell. Top 6 deelnemers van die interne redenaarskompetisie - Graad 4 en 5: agter, (v.l.n.r): Yuné Janse van Vuuren, Marizé Cilliers, en voor (v.l.n.r): Danieke van der Meulen, Lienke van der Walt, Marguerite de Jager en Ané Grobler. Graad 6 en 7 se top 6 deelnemers is agter (v.l.n.r): Adoné Burger, Michaél Ronquest, AJ van Niekerk, Kaeleigh Botes, en voor (v.l.n.r): Aletha Kloppers en Julie Uys. < Previous Article Next Article >