Search this site

Geslagsgeweld en vrouemoord wat vyf keer hoër as die wêreldwye gemiddeld is, is 'n ernstige en wydverspreide probleem in Mpumalanga en het 'n buitensporige traumatiese invloed op vroue en kinders in dié provinsie. Dit getuig van 'n kultuur van geweld en verkragting. Altesame 6.8% van alle vroue in Mpumalanga sê hulle is in hul leeftyd verkrag. Die VF Plus in Mpumalanga is van mening dat die syfers moontlik hoër kan wees omdat slagoffers van geweld dit nie geredelik aanmeld nie aangesien vonnisse onvoldoende is en howe vir seksuele oortredings slagoffers nie genoegsaam beskerm nie. Dié verkragtingskultuur word sodoende genormaliseer en plaas die blaam op vroue en kinders om hulself te beskerm, in stede daarvan om die oortreders vas te vat. Dit raak sodoende sistemies en diep verskans in instellings, kulture en word bykans as tradisie vir sommige beskou. Dit is een van die grootste skending van menseregte wat verreikende maatskaplike en ontwikkelingsgevolge het vir die slagoffers, hul families, gemeenskappe en die groter samelewing. Die polisie moet toesien dat daar voldoende verkragting-toetsstelle by polisiekantore in Mpumalanga is en dat polisielede opgelei moet word oor hoe om slagoffers met die nodige empatie by te staan. Dit sal die opeenhoping van agterstallige gevalle verhinder. Tans is daar 2 797 agterstallige geweldsmisdaad-verwante dossiere in die provinsie, waarvan slegs 46 tot 'n mate ondersoek is. Geen inhegtenisnemings is in verband met die dossiere gemaak nie. Geslagsmisdade bekommer VF Plus Geslagsmisdade bekommer VF Plus 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 7 July 2020 Tans is daar 2 797 agterstallige geweldsmisdaad-verwante dossiere in die provinsie, waarvan slegs 46 tot 'n mate ondersoek is. Geen inhegtenisnemings is in verband met die dossiere gemaak nie. Geslagsgeweld en vrouemoord wat vyf keer hoër as die wêreldwye gemiddeld is, is 'n ernstige en wydverspreide probleem in Mpumalanga en het 'n buitensporige traumatiese invloed op vroue en kinders in dié provinsie. Dit getuig van 'n kultuur van geweld en verkragting. Altesame 6.8% van alle vroue in Mpumalanga sê hulle is in hul leeftyd verkrag. Die VF Plus in Mpumalanga is van mening dat die syfers moontlik hoër kan wees omdat slagoffers van geweld dit nie geredelik aanmeld nie aangesien vonnisse onvoldoende is en howe vir seksuele oortredings slagoffers nie genoegsaam beskerm nie. Dié verkragtingskultuur word sodoende genormaliseer en plaas die blaam op vroue en kinders om hulself te beskerm, in stede daarvan om die oortreders vas te vat. Dit raak sodoende sistemies en diep verskans in instellings, kulture en word bykans as tradisie vir sommige beskou. Dit is een van die grootste skending van menseregte wat verreikende maatskaplike en ontwikkelingsgevolge het vir die slagoffers, hul families, gemeenskappe en die groter samelewing. Die polisie moet toesien dat daar voldoende verkragting-toetsstelle by polisiekantore in Mpumalanga is en dat polisielede opgelei moet word oor hoe om slagoffers met die nodige empatie by te staan. Dit sal die opeenhoping van agterstallige gevalle verhinder. Tans is daar 2 797 agterstallige geweldsmisdaad-verwante dossiere in die provinsie, waarvan slegs 46 tot 'n mate ondersoek is. Geen inhegtenisnemings is in verband met die dossiere gemaak nie. < Previous Article Next Article >

ESKOM to switch off overloaded networks during peak 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 7 July 2020 Illegal connections will result in communities staying for days without electricity, as parts and resources are not always available. The replacement of a 20 MVA power transformer costs anything between R100 000 and R7.3 million, which is untenable,’ Eskom stated. This after reporting a significant rise in network overloading as a result of illegal connections and bypassed meters, Eskom has decided to take drastic measures. Due to inability of municipalities to control illegal connections, provide equitable electricity to all residents in a safe manner, and honor payment agreements to the power utility, load reduction measures have been put in place. The power utility said in a that illegal activities on their network results in damage to the electricity infrastructure through explosions in overloaded transformers and mini-substations. In response to the problem, Eskom will switch off overloaded networks during peak periods, and power will be switched back on after the peak loading period. “Should Eskom’s infrastructure be damaged due to illegal connections, for the safety of the network and the public and its infrastructure, Eskom will only replace the transformer once the illegal connections have been removed and it is safe to energise the area. This will result in communities staying for days without electricity, as parts and resources are not always available. The replacement of a 20 MVA power transformer costs anything between R100 000 and R7.3 million, which is untenable,’ Eskom stated. Introduced in mid-May this year, load reduction is when power is switched off in neighborhoods where illegal connections cause overload and damage infrastructure. < Previous Article Next Article >

Trudi celebrated as Batho Pele winner 1/2 Share SH HATTINGH 17 November 2020 Since 2015, Trudi has received a yearly award of service excellence. Trudi van der Bank, a well known resident in Ermelo, has been invited to the Batho Pele Excellence Awards Ceremony, and awarded as best operational employee of the year. The purpose of the National Batho Pele Excellence Awards is to entrench the professionalisation of the public service, to recognize, reward and acknowledge public servants who are performing beyond their call of duty, and to encourage excellence in the public service. The ceremony took place on 30 October at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg. Since 2015, Trudi has received a yearly award of service excellence. “Congratulations Trudi, we are very proud of you, and keep up the excellent work.” < Previous Article Next Article >

More malarkey at Standerton Hospital 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 30 March 2021 Enquiries to the Department of Health’s spokesperson, Dumisani Malamule, yielded no result. Shocking reports of healthcare workers carrying patients up and down staircases at Standerton Hospital have sent waves of shock through the community. Critically ill patients are forced to use the stairs, as the elevators have been out of order for four months. Healthcare workers have to carry patients on their backs, while others are carried in makeshift slings made of sheets. Further aggrivating the matter, is the fact that the operating theatre is on the second floor of the hospital, brining into question how emergency patients are taken to surgery, and how groggy and anaesthetized patients are transported from surgery back to their rooms. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has launched an investigation into the matter, and has also learned that the hospital has run out of theatre clothing. Patients are just wrapped with a cloth or a sheet, walking up and down the stairs naked. According to the DA, this is inhumane, and a complete violation of a patient's rights to privacy. The DA has therefore called upon the Provincial Government, particularly the Department of Health and Public Works, to urgently repair or replace the elevators at Standerton Hospital, and that the hospital must be provided with theatre clothing with immediate effect to restore patients’ dignity. The DA is pleased to announce that a tabled motion in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature on this particular matter has been adopted. This isn’t the first scandal faced by the embattled hospital. Serious complaints have been lodged against the hospital and it its management, including breaches of patient confidentiality, unattended patients falling and sustaining serious injuries, and the overall filthy and disheveled condition of the hospital itself. Enquiries to the Department of Health’s spokesperson, Dumisani Malamule, yielded no result. < Previous Article Next Article >

Mpumalanga SAPS is searching for a group of armed men who made away an undisclosed number of firearms from the Badplaas police station. According to information received, the men stormed the station, allegedly overpowered the officers and made off with the firearms. SAPS Brig. Leonard Hlathi stated that no arrests have yet been made: “A number of armed men entered the CAC in Badplaas police station and threatened the members on duty with their firearms. They managed to disarm to of the members of their service pistols, and forced them to open the safe in the community service centre, where they took one R5 rifle. The suspects fled the scene, no shots were fired and no injuries were reported.” Amidst contradicting reports stating that two pistols and an undisclosed amount of cash was also nabbed. The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has come forward, blaming the incident on understaffing and a lack of leadership. “There has not been much progress in ensuring that we deal with the uneven allocation of resources within police stations, and in ensuring that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is restructured to ensure that we get more manpower on the ground where crime is actually happening.” Richard Mamabolo, POPCRU spoksesperson, stated. Badplaas SAPS robbed at gunpoint Badplaas SAPS robbed at gunpoint An example of an R5 rifle, which the group made off with. Richard Mamabolo, POPCRU spoksesperson. An example of an R5 rifle, which the group made off with. 1/3 Share GK CRONJE 15 September 2020 The suspects fled the scene, no shots were fired and no injuries were reported.” Amidst contradicting reports stating that two pistols and an undisclosed amount of cash was also nabbed. The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has come forward, blaming the incident on understaffing and a lack of leadership. Mpumalanga SAPS is searching for a group of armed men who made away an undisclosed number of firearms from the Badplaas police station. According to information received, the men stormed the station, allegedly overpowered the officers and made off with the firearms. SAPS Brig. Leonard Hlathi stated that no arrests have yet been made: “A number of armed men entered the CAC in Badplaas police station and threatened the members on duty with their firearms. They managed to disarm to of the members of their service pistols, and forced them to open the safe in the community service centre, where they took one R5 rifle. The suspects fled the scene, no shots were fired and no injuries were reported.” Amidst contradicting reports stating that two pistols and an undisclosed amount of cash was also nabbed. The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has come forward, blaming the incident on understaffing and a lack of leadership. “There has not been much progress in ensuring that we deal with the uneven allocation of resources within police stations, and in ensuring that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is restructured to ensure that we get more manpower on the ground where crime is actually happening.” Richard Mamabolo, POPCRU spoksesperson, stated. < Previous Article Next Article >

Several complaints have been lodged regarding the call centre at MLM, with operators allegedly claiming that the system is offline, and they are unable to provide complainants with reference numbers to their complaints. Choking on the smell of faeces 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 13 April 2021 Several complaints have been lodged regarding the call centre at MLM, with operators allegedly claiming that the system is offline, and they are unable to provide complainants with reference numbers to their complaints. Residents in De Bruin Park is once again getting the short en of the stick, as sewerage lines are blocked and overflowing, with no reprieve from Msukaligwa Local Municipality. Residents in Generaal Botha Road have are left with their hands in their hair, and their yards drenched in sewage as blocked lines makes life miserable for everyone in the area. In some cases, sewage has been constantly overflowing for more than a week, and complaints from residents to MLM fall on deaf ears. Speaking to the Tribune ePaper, a resident in Camden Avenue, living near the marshlands next to Nomndeni, also complained about the constant smell of sewage in the field, as well as the field between President Fouché Avenue and Tom Muller Street. “It is a nightmare living like this on a daily basis. You can literally hear the sewage bubbling the field, and the smell is always here, not matter which direction the wind blows in. It is especially bad at night and in the early morning, I don’t know why. I am out of options, the call centre always says they will send someone, but the problem is just always there, it is never solved.” he stated. Residents in President Fouché Avenue also suffers in the stench of sewage overflows, with pooling sewage baking in the sun on a daily basis. Despite the wholly unhygienic situation that residents are put in during a pandemic, the health risks associated with breathing in the overpowering particle-filled stench is a major cause for concern. Some residents in President Fouché Avenue have to drive through pools of raw sewage on a daily basis, and the overflow is further exacerbated by the fact that an education facility is in close proximity to the pools of raw sewage. Several complaints have been lodged regarding the call centre at MLM, with operators allegedly claiming that the system is offline, and they are unable to provide complainants with reference numbers to their complaints. In light of this, operators request residents to make a return call to find out if the issue has been tended to. This is not the first time that residents have complained about the call centre operators, and the feeble excuses that are provided to frustrated residents. Unsurprisingly, and mostly expected by residents, MLM failed to reply to enquiries submitted by the Tribune ePaper. < Previous Article Next Article >

Tribute to Johanisi Mandla Mahlangu 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 16 February 2021 Be assured, you will be missed. Hamba Kahle Johannes, ‘til we meet again. In the time of COVID-19 we hear about people falling ill, and people dying. Somehow, however, it remains a distant possibility, something that happens to other people. This is until a fateful morning when someone close to you confides that he is not feeling well. For Mandla Mahlangu’s colleagues at Willem Cilliers Attorneys, that date arrived on 3 February 2021. Despite Mandla immediately being sent for medical attention, his illness progressed steadily and led to his unfortunate demise on Friday, 12 February 2021. Though we are stunned by the suddenness and the finality of it all, we also have a heartfelt desire to honour Mandla as a loyal staff member and an invaluable cog in the machinery of our practice. Albert Einstein said: ‘The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.’ In one word, Mandla was a man who gave. He gave much to his work, he was loyal to his employer and loyal to our clients. That is why we would like to speak in celebration of his life. Here was a life that demanded notice, a life that inspired emulation, a life that burned so that others’ paths be lit. His neighbours in Wesselton will remember him as the guy with the Houghton house in Mabuza Street, the man with the dazzling garden who tried to uplift his community. A man strong of conviction and not shy to weigh in when needed. On a cold winter’s day, 11 July 1994, Mandla and I started a journey on an uncertain path. We started small with baby steps but with a firm belief that the future will be bright. Oh, what a journey it turned out to be, and along the way Mandla became a trusted friend. A journey that lasted for 28 years. The journey that ended to soon! The character of the life he lived might be summed up on a few words, he was sincere, he was earnest, he was loyal. The road without you beckons, Mandla, and it promises to be lonely. Be assured, you will be missed. Hamba Kahle Johannes, ‘til we meet again. - Contributed by Willem Cilliers. < Previous Article Next Article >

Ermelo Rotary gives the love 1/3 Share GK CRONJE 23 March 2021 "What an awesome feeling to be able to make a difference in her & her families daily life.” On Wednesday, 17 March2021, Ermelo Phoenix Rotary Club visited Emmerentia Grové to gift her a wheelchair. At 94 years young, Emmerentia was in desperate need for a wheel chair after a tough year in 2020 medically. Club Secretary Lawrence Wood said “It is a pleasure & privilege to be able to assist with Emmerentia’s first wheel chair. What an awesome feeling to be able to make a difference in her & her families daily life.” He also thanks those who supports Phoenix Rotary to make this possible. While Emmerentia said she is “very, very thankful. Since November last year, it has been harder to see and move around, so will always treasure this gesture from Ermelo Phoenix Rotary.” - Information published as received from Ermelo Rotary . < Previous Article Next Article >

“Ons is super trots op jou Anke. Ons skool hou jou dop en weet jy leef jou droom.” 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 >

Kendall power plant up to be scrapped 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 9 June 2020 Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has already instructed Eskom to stop operations at least at one of two Kendal power station units found to be posing serious health risks to the surrounding communities. Kendal, built in 1982 is not on the list as Eskom began shutting down some of its old power stations in 2019. It shut three units at the Hendrina power. Grootvlei was scheduled to close this year, and Komati by 2021. Environmental activists are mounting on pressure for a complete shutdown of the 4116MW Kendal power plant, located 40km west of eMalahleni, on the grounds its toxic emissions were killing people. However, there are fears that a shutdown of Kendal power station in Mpumalanga would paralyze several small businesses and destroy livelihoods in the coal mining towns. “Poisonous coal power plants must be shut down sooner rather than later, in a fair process that fully involves all coal workers and communities, and urgently replaced with cleaner, cheaper renewable power,” said Timothy Lloyd, attorney at the Centre for Environmental Rights. Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has already instructed Eskom to stop operations at least at one of two Kendal power station units found to be posing serious health risks to the surrounding communities. Kendal, built in 1982 is not on the list as Eskom began shutting down some of its old power stations in 2019. It shut three units at the Hendrina power. Grootvlei was scheduled to close this year, and Komati by 2021. Arnot will be decommissioned by 2029. Concerned coal transporting businesses believe the move to decommission stations will put them out of business and leave coal mining towns with no economy. In a notice served on Eskom, Creecy said the power utility must stop operations at either unit one or unit five at Kendal within 30 days. Eskom submitted the units had been repaired, and their present problems were the result of poor coal quality, and due to poor quality of work on site. According to Eskom, it was crucial for the units to remain active for the utility to meet the country’s electricity demands and avoid or limit load shedding. However, Creecy found there was no merit in Eskom’s position, and that Eskom “misrepresented the facts” about the level of emissions from the units. “As an example, they claim that Unit 5 averaged less than 600mg/nM3 in February 2019. But according to the monthly Emissions Report for February 2019, the monthly average is estimated at 1227mg/nM3. It follows that the figure of 600mg/nM3 emanates from the fact that Eskom decided to add days in which the unit was switched off in determining the monthly average. Eskom is well aware that this is an unacceptable practice,” Creecy stated. The decision to force stoppage of one unit took into consideration the need to avoid load shedding, Creecy said. “In essence, the operation of units 1 and 5 should not be ceased simultaneously. In my view, this will allow (Eskom) an opportunity to carry out the required maintenance and remedial work on one unit at a time in order to bring the units in compliance with the requirements of the Atmospheric Emission Licence. I am mindful of the fact that the failure to take action to bring the power station back into compliance, among others, will continue to present serious environmental impacts and health threats to the affected communities,” she concluded. Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha stated that the station has been operating above the emission limits since the strike action late in 2018 left infrastructure vandalised and damaged. “During the strike the interior of the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) was vandalised and the functioning of the dust-handling plant compromised. To repair it, the ESPs of several generation units require long outages and the repairs on generation units can only be executed one after the other,” he said. Environmental NGO’s gave Creecy what they termed evidence that emissions from Kendal were responsible for as many as 274 deaths between November 2018 and October 2019. < Previous Article Next Article >

‘n Legende lê sy voorskoot neer Wyle André van Staden. Wyle André van Staden. 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 2 Junie 2020 André wat baie lief was vir kos maak, saam met sy vriende te kuier en ook nuwe mense te ontmoet, gaan baie gemis word in die gemeenskap. Hy het altyd ‘n glimlag op sy gesig gehad, en het gereed gestaan om vinnig ietsie te drink, en om ‘n geselsie aan te knoop. André van Staden, ‘n baie bekende in Ermelo, is onlangs skielik oorlede. André wat baie lief was vir kos maak, saam met sy vriende te kuier en ook nuwe mense te ontmoet, gaan baie gemis word in die gemeenskap. Hy het altyd ‘n glimlag op sy gesig gehad, en het gereed gestaan om vinnig ietsie te drink, en om ‘n geselsie aan te knoop. Hy het gelewe om vir mense kos te maak, en hy het seker gemaak dat hy altyd iets nuuts probeer. André gaan baie gemis word in die gemeenskap, en laat ‘n reuse leemte. Hy word oorleef deur sy moeder, Kyle, sy personeel by Makou, asook al sy vriende en vriendinne van die gemeenskap. “Rus sag André, ons mis jou reeds baie.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Die afgelope week was daar verskeie ongelukke op verskillende paaie. Die meeste van die ongelukke word veroorsaak deur padverbruikers wat nie die verkeersreëls gehoorsaam nie. Wanneer jy ‘n probleem ondervind met jou voertuig, moet nie in die middel van die pad tot stilstand kom nie, probeer om van die pad te gaan. Indien jy nie kan nie, sit jou voertuig se gevaar waarskuwingsligte aan, en sit jou rooi driehoek uit. Jou rigting aanwysers is daar om ander padverbruikers te wys dat jy wel links of regs gaan draai, so gebruik dit. Die eerste ongeluk het op Donderdag, 7 Januarie gebeur op die Hendrina pad. Die Kia het uit geswaai vir ‘n motor wat stil gestaan het in die middel van die pad, en het tot stilstand teen ‘n boom gekom. Die voertuig het aan die brand geslaan. Die bestuurder is na die hospitaal geneem vir mediese behandeling. Op Sondag, 10 Januarie, was daar ‘n grusame ongeluk op die Piet Retief pad tussen ‘n motor en ‘n vragmotor. Tydens die botsing is drie passasiers wat in die motor was oorlede, terwyl die bestuurder en nog ‘n passasier ernstige beserings opgedoen het, en is na ‘n hospitaal in Piet Retief geneem vir mediese behandeling. Die bestuurder van die vragmotor het ligte beserings opgedoen. Wees versigtig wanneer jy die openbare paaie gebruik, en gehoorsaam die verkeersreëls. Gehoorsaam die verkeersreëls Gehoorsaam die verkeersreëls 1/4 Share SH HATTINGH 12 January 2021 Wanneer jy ‘n probleem ondervind met jou voertuig, moet nie in die middel van die pad tot stilstand kom nie, probeer om van die pad te gaan. Indien jy nie kan nie, sit jou voertuig se gevaar waarskuwingsligte aan, en sit jou rooi driehoek uit. Die afgelope week was daar verskeie ongelukke op verskillende paaie. Die meeste van die ongelukke word veroorsaak deur padverbruikers wat nie die verkeersreëls gehoorsaam nie. Wanneer jy ‘n probleem ondervind met jou voertuig, moet nie in die middel van die pad tot stilstand kom nie, probeer om van die pad te gaan. Indien jy nie kan nie, sit jou voertuig se gevaar waarskuwingsligte aan, en sit jou rooi driehoek uit. Jou rigting aanwysers is daar om ander padverbruikers te wys dat jy wel links of regs gaan draai, so gebruik dit. Die eerste ongeluk het op Donderdag, 7 Januarie gebeur op die Hendrina pad. Die Kia het uit geswaai vir ‘n motor wat stil gestaan het in die middel van die pad, en het tot stilstand teen ‘n boom gekom. Die voertuig het aan die brand geslaan. Die bestuurder is na die hospitaal geneem vir mediese behandeling. Op Sondag, 10 Januarie, was daar ‘n grusame ongeluk op die Piet Retief pad tussen ‘n motor en ‘n vragmotor. Tydens die botsing is drie passasiers wat in die motor was oorlede, terwyl die bestuurder en nog ‘n passasier ernstige beserings opgedoen het, en is na ‘n hospitaal in Piet Retief geneem vir mediese behandeling. Die bestuurder van die vragmotor het ligte beserings opgedoen. Wees versigtig wanneer jy die openbare paaie gebruik, en gehoorsaam die verkeersreëls. < Previous Article Next Article >