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High water table proves problematic for MLM 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 18 October 2022 Thulatsepo General Trading was appointed as contractor for the project, with a completion date of 30 June 2023. Residents in De Bruin Park have been left baffled, after contractors excavated an extended portion of the main sewerage line between Camden Avenue and Roberts Street, at the Pet Dam. Residents were told by the said contractor that they were appointed to upgrade the sewerage line to alleviate spillage issues. However, they have done more harm than good. In President Fouché Avenue, near the Roberts Street intersection, raw sewage has been flowing for months into the field. The trenches dug by the alleged contractor merely exacerbated the issue, with several more spillage points being noted following excavation. In Mauritz Read Street, towards Camden Avenue, trenches had been excavated months ago, and stood as a white elephant since. Building materials, including concrete and PVC sewerage infrastructure pipes have been put on display in the field, along with heaps of sand and gravel. Residents have now alerted the Tribune to the fact that the trenches dug in this area are being filled up. The main concern here being that there has seemingly been absolutely no work done on the sewerage network. The trenches are filled with raw sewage, and are now simply filled with soil. Storm drains have been trampled and destroyed by heavy machinery, and are left as is. In one of the trenches, a storm drainage pipe can be noted, which is also damaged. To the point of where the trenches are filled, no sign of upgraded or replaced pipes can be noted. In an official response, Msukaligwa Local Municipality stated that BTMN Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd were appointed to undertake the feasibility study and detailed designs for the Upgrading of Ermelo Extension 32, 33 & 34 outfall sewer pipeline. Thulatsepo General Trading was appointed as contractor for the project, with a completion date of 30 June 2023. “The excavated sewer line trench was barricaded by the contractor, pending the engineer’s instruction of working along the areas with excessive water table. The engineer’s representative has reported that the contractor has started with backfilling the trench, in order to re-excavate and follow the engineer’s site instruction,” the statement from the municipality reads. “It is untrue that the contractor has left the site and trenched unattended. The contractor has been procuring materials required for working under high water-table areas like this one. Materials such as crusher run stones, geofabric biddim blanket and perforated subsoil drain pipes are required in order to follow the engineer’s instruction.” However, several residents have brought the train of thought by MLM and appointed contractors in question. “Surely, they should have taken the constant sewage the flows into the field, which is actually wetland, into account. It is only logical that the water table would be high, but it surely isn’t water,” one resident stated. “So, in reality, the entire exercise of months of digging, damaging infrastructure, pipes and stormdrains, have all been for nought? The trenches have been left for months to fill with raw sewage, only to be closed again because of shoddy planning... That is beyond a joke,” another told the Tribune. Concern has been raised as the summer rain season approaches, and the trenches and surrounding work area left with heaps of loose soil, which will prove problematic, seen as this specific area floods annually, due to the non-existent stormwater drainage infrastructure. Residents in this area should be prepared for more trenching in the near future, as the engineer’s orders are implemented. < Previous Article Next Article >

The 88kV Line - Words akin to foul language 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 8 June 2021 "The municipality has since moved some of the kiosks from 88kV substation to the 11kV substation in order to try and ameliorate the situation at the 88kV." As residents sit and contemplate their fate in the darkness of yet another and endlessly ongoing electrical outage, tempers are starting to flare, and many sit in desperation. Scores of residents have been left, and still are, without electricity, as Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) flogs the 88kV line horse to tatters. According to the responses provided by the call centre and electrical support groups, alleged overloading of the electrical infrastructure is causing havoc on all fronts, leaving hundreds of residents in the cold and dark for days on end. Many have complained about damages suffered from electrical fluctuations, with droves of geysers, televisions and residential circuit breakers biting the dust as the electrical supply spikes repeatedly. The constant barrage of electrical flow being switched on and off have caused thousands or Rands worth of damage to residents, and even more to MLM, as substations, junction boxes and circuit breakers melt, catch fire, explode, or are irreparably damaged. As the municipality states that illegal connections are to blame, coupled with residents “drawing too much electricity” for the 88kV and 11kV lines to handle, many residents aren’t biting on the carrot presented by MLM. Rolling bouts of load reduction is the order of the day, with the electrical supply often failing to return after the scheduled times. Even more frustrating to residents is the fact that the apparent schedule issued by MLM is rarely followed, and load reduction is implemented without notice, and without consequence. The community must simply grin and bear the mounting issues. Speaking to Mr. Zwane, municipal spokesman, attempts at obtaining clarity regarding the rolling outages produced the following reply: “The municipality reiterates that there are two substations. The first one is called the 88kV substation, where Eskom is supplying the municipality with Notified Maximum Demand (NMD) of 14 MVA. The second substation is called 11kV sub station, where Eskom is supplying the municipality NMD of 27MVA. The municipality has since moved some of the kiosks from 88kV substation to the 11kV substation in order to try and ameliorate the situation at the 88kV. The NMDs for the four substations are informed by the electrical master plan, which is in line with the growth of the municipality. During the winter period there’s exponential increase on power demand causes load to exceed the licensed NDM per substation. Unfortunately, numerous informal settlements mushroom all over the municipal area, and started connecting illegally into municipal electrical grid. This then causes a spike on the power load demand. MLM tried in numerous accounts to cut off the illegal connections from our grid, with no luck. MLM went as far as hiring external service provider to eradicate this problem. MLM exceeded the licensed NMD, and incurring payable penalties. This precipitated the inclination in Eskom bills. Over the past five years, together with ESKOM, the ANC led government in Msukaligwa Local Municipality has facilitated the electrification of 1195 new households between 2016 and 2021. The percentage of households that are electrified increased from 44683 (87%) in 2016 to 45878 (90%) in June 2020. The electricity master plan for the entire Msukaligwa LM was developed in 2019. The master plan guided the development of technical reports for electricity infrastructure development and upgrades which are still under consideration by the Department of Energy. Public lighting has been provided to various communities, as thirty new high mast lights were installed throughout the municipality. The municipality has built a switch station /substation 88/11kV in Ermelo Extension 33, and further constructed the MV line and switching station at Extension 7 and refurbishment of switching station at Extension 6. Integrated national electrification programme (INEP) of R10 million, and another R10 million to replace the burnt transformer at 88kV late last year.” The Tribune ePaper has lodged a detailed enquiry with MLM regarding the plan to resolve the electrical crisis, with the response dated to be printed in next week’s publication. < Previous Article Next Article >

MLA tweede in Gert Sibande Distrik 1/5 Share SM HATTINGH 18 May 2021 “Namens die hoof en die skool, baie geluk aan die individue met hul besonderse prestasies. Dit het ons trots gemaak om 'n Landtie te wees by hierdie prestige geleentheid.” By 2020 se Prestige Awards byeenkoms waar skole, onderwysers en leerder beloon is vir uitstekende werk in Gert Sibande Distrik, het Morgenzon Landbou Akademie (MLA) met ‘n groot hoeveelheid van die pryse weg gestap. Msukaligwa 2, waarvan MLA een van die 6 skole is, het met 'n totale slaagsyfer van 89.7%, tweede plek behaal in Gert Sibande Distrik. Hier volg 'n uiteensetting van die pryse wat aan MLA by hierdie prestige geleentheid oor handig is - MLA is aangewys as skool met die hoogste persentasie Baccalaureus studente in Msukaligwa 2 kring, beste skool in Afrikaans Huistaal, asook beste skool in Lewensoriëntering (LO). Op vak gebied is die volgende onderwysers bekroon as die beste presterend in die kring, en ook 'n 100% slaagsyfer in sy of haar vakke: Rekeningkunde - Jeanine van Aarde, Afrikaans Huistaal - Nelanie du Plessis, Gasvryheid - Mariska Janse Van Rensburg, IGO - Wybrand Wondergom, Toerisme - Janine Rautenbach, Landbou Tegnologie - Ruan Jansen van Vuuren, LO - Marina van Eck en Lewenswetenskap - Nelanie du Plessis. Die volgende leerders het geraamde sertifikate, asook trofees ontvang vir uitstekende prestasies: Jan-Hendrik Zwarts - Afrikaans Huistaal, Jan-Hendrik Zwarts - English First Additional, Jan-Hendrik Zwarts - Lewenswetenskap, Lou Grobbelaar- Landbou Tegnologie en Lou Grobbelaar- Wiskunde Gelleterdheid. “Namens die hoof en die skool, baie geluk aan die individue met hul besonderse prestasies. Dit het ons trots gemaak om 'n Landtie te wees by hierdie prestige geleentheid.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Erries woon Provinsiale Landsdienskamp by Heel voor is Chané Oosthuizen links en Mary-Jane van der Merwe regs. Agter (v.l.n.r.): Carla Bronkhorst, Megan McDermid, Abigail Venter, Franco Gibbens, Isabelle Moussier, Madri van Niekerk, Talita Breytenbach, Mia Macaulay en Lisakhanya Sindi. Tharina Viljoen is afwesig tydens die neem van dié foto. (sy't eers op dag twee by die kamp aangesluit). Heel voor is Chané Oosthuizen links en Mary-Jane van der Merwe regs. Agter (v.l.n.r.): Carla Bronkhorst, Megan McDermid, Abigail Venter, Franco Gibbens, Isabelle Moussier, Madri van Niekerk, Talita Breytenbach, Mia Macaulay en Lisakhanya Sindi. Tharina Viljoen is afwesig tydens die neem van dié foto. (sy't eers op dag twee by die kamp aangesluit). 1/1 Share Supplied Content 19 July 2022 Hoërskool Ermelo is trots op elkeen en is vol vertroue dat die Erries se naam hoog gehou sal word. Hoërskool Ermelo spog vanjaar met 12 Erries wat gekies is om die provinsiale Landsdienskamp te Blyderivier Adventure Camp by te woon. Die kamp het geduur vanaf Woensdag, 29 Junie tot Sondag 3 Julie. Leerders van 14 hoërskole van regoor Mpumalanga het die kamp bygewoon. Die leerders is in 6 spanne ingedeel (A-F): groep A-C het bestaan uit gr. 8-9’s en groep D-F uit gr. 10-12’s. Waar nodig is die onderskeie groepe verder onderverdeel by die onderskeie aktiwiteite. Groeplede is geëvalueer by die volgende aktiwiteite: dam, arbeid, hindernisbaan/paintball, handvaardigheid, spele en dans. By die dam is daar ‘n individuele handroei-kompetisie gehou en elke span moes vyf opblaasbote opmekaar stapel met al die spanlede binne-in. Die arbeid het die uittrek van onkruid, die verskuiwing van hout en takke en die skoonmaak van gedeeltes van die tuin ingesluit. Elke span moes ‘n eie dans uitwerk vir Saterdagaand se danskompetisie en by spele moes die spanne benewens struktuurbou, krete uitwerk en balspel ook ‘n eie speletjie met reëls uitdink en aanbied. Die handvaardigheid het ‘n veelvoud aktiwiteite ingesluit van geskenkbokse toedraai en boeke bind, tot bandjies maak, proppe bedraad en papierkuns bemeester. Daar is darem nie net gewerk nie, maar ook lekker ontspan by die vlooimark waar leerders hul entrepreneursvaardighede ten toon kon stel en handgemaakte items teen R5 moes verkoop. Soggens en saans is daar Bybelstudie gehou en veral saans se koffiekuiers om die kampvuur sal nie gou vergeet word nie. ‘n Kamp sal natuurlik ook nie ‘n kamp wees sonder die impromptu-toneel, ‘n sokkie, samesang en lanternbekruip nie! Vir EHS was die hoogtepunt van die kamp toe ses Erries gekies is vir die nasionale kamp wat gedurende die Desembervakansie in die Wes-Kaap aangebied gaan word. Hartlik geluk aan die volgende leerders: Carla Bronkhorst, Franco Gibbens, Mary-Jané van der Merwe, Chané Oosthuizen, Megan McDermid en Tharina Viljoen. Hierdie leerders pluk nou die vrugte van hul goeie gedrag, harde werk en goeie spangees. Hoërskool Ermelo is trots op elkeen en is vol vertroue dat die Erries se naam hoog gehou sal word. Facta non verba! (EHS) < Previous Article Next Article >

NPSS welcome new educators 1/2 Share SH HATTINGH 21 March 2021 “Good luck with your journey, and good luck for the year.” NPSS would like to welcome four new educators to the school. NPSS is extremely proud to introduce (f.l.t.r) Thandeka Mashiloane, Mandisa Zondo, Zama Nkosi and Nomusa Mosala, to the community. “Good luck with your journey, and good luck for the year.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Ligbron matrikulante geniet sprokiesmooi matriekafskeid Lungelo en Sandile. Carla Barnard en WJ Vorster. Lungelo en Sandile. 1/2 Share SH HATTINGH 27 October 2020 Die sprokiesmooi funksie het by Kralinbergh plaasgevind. Die matrikulante het die aand terdeë geniet, en bedank elke onderwyser, ouer en mede-leerling wat bygedra het tot die onvergeetlike aand. Donderdagaand, 22 Oktober, was ‘n sprokiesmooi, glans-geleentheid vir Ligbron Akademie vir Tegnologie se matrikulante toe hulle hul matriekjaar op ‘n stylvolle wyse afgesluit het, met hulle asemrowende matriekafskeid. Die Liggie-matrikulante het elkeen pragtig gelyk en behoorlik geskitter soos net die Liggies kan. Die sprokiesmooi funksie het by Kralinbergh plaasgevind. Die matrikulante het die aand terdeë geniet, en bedank elke onderwyser, ouer en mede-leerling wat bygedra het tot die onvergeetlike aand. < Previous Article Next Article >

Rietspruit Farm finally allocated for housing The residents who invaded the farm in 2018, amidst corruption allegations within the DOHS. Rietspruit Farm was also the star of a dodgy deal saga, that involved the DOHS state security minister, one Bongani Bongo. Cllr. Mkhaliphi during the sod-turning ceremony. The residents who invaded the farm in 2018, amidst corruption allegations within the DOHS. 1/4 Share GK CRONJE 15 September 2020 Rietspruit Farm was also the star of a dodgy deal saga, that involved the DOHS state security minister, one Bongani Bongo. At the time, Bongo was the head of legal at Mpumalanga DOHS, where Rietspruit Farm was purchased by the department for a whopping R36 million. It came to light that the farm was actually valued at a mere R12 million. In a surprising turn of events, Rietspruit Farm near Ermelo (also known as Extension 44), has been allocated by the Department of Human Settlements (DOHS) to house nearly 5 000 housing units. This flagship project was recently officiated by Msukaligwa Local Municipality’s executive mayor, Cllr. Mkhaliphi, during a sod-turning ceremony. Gert Sibande District Municipality GSDM) regional planning unveiled that a reported 5 760 stands will be made available, with an estimated 4 000 mixed housing opportunities. Plans for more than 600 rental units were also mentioned. The project will be constructed on portion 6 of the site. Residential, retail and parks were touted as the main attraction, and water, sewage and roads infrastructure will be made available by DOHS. According to available information, DOHS purchased the land, and it was handed to MLM for the purpose of this development. DOHS will also appoint town planners to spearhead the development. This development did not come to pass without its fair share of woes and unrest from the community, who invaded the land in 2018. Thousands of residents flocked to the site to mark and measure out their stands, as word was passed around that development was planned at the site. Rietspruit Farm was also the star of a dodgy deal saga, that involved the DOHS state security minister, one Bongani Bongo. At the time, Bongo was the head of legal at Mpumalanga DOHS, where Rietspruit Farm was purchased by the department for a whopping R36 million. It came to light that the farm was actually valued at a mere R12 million, and the Hawks pounced with an extensive investigation. Bongo was later axed due to several reasons, which included failure to deliver on RDP housing and allegations of politicking. He has, however, been reintegrated into parliament, where he now faces charges of corruption and bribery involving Eskom and state capture. The Rietspruit Farm allocation has been a sleeper since 2011, and is seemingly finally been brought to potential by the DOHS. < 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 >

Hoërskool Ermelo verwelkom nuwe onderwysers 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 16 February 2021 Hoërskool Ermelo sien uit om die pad saam met julle te stap en wens julle alle voorspoed toe. Mag julle toekoms by EHS Errie-groen wees!” Hierdie jaar begin die Erries met ses nuwe onderwysers in hulle midde. Charné van Aswegen is ‘n oud-Errie wat in 2017 gematrikuleer het te EHS. Sy is tans ‘n tweede jaar student wat studeer deur die Universiteit van Potchefstroom. Haar studie rigting is BEd senior fase en VOO met Wiskunde en Ingenieurs-grafika en –ontwerp as hoofvakke. “Ek sien uit om na verlede jaar se proeftydperk by EHS amptelik deel van Hoërskool Ermelo se personeel te wees.” Hoogtepunte waarna Charné die meeste uitsien, is om deel te wees van die sport, asook om by Nelstehuis diens te doen. Anra Mentz het te EHS gematrikuleer in 2016. Sy het ook aan die Universiteit van Potchefstroom gestudeer en het haar Bsc.- graad in Fisiologie en Psigologie afgehandel met Mikro-biologie en Bio-chemie as byvakke. In die komende jaar gaan Anra haar NGOS doen terwyl sy Landbou bestuur en –wetenskap as vakke aanbied by die Erries. Dit is vir haar ‘n voorreg om deel van die Errie-familie te wees en iets aan haar Alma mater te kan terug gee vir die groot impak wat EHS op haar gehad het. Sy sê tereg met baie trots: “Die EHS is die skool vir my; daar is geen ander skool soos hy.” Another “oud-Errie”, Qiniso Habile, is now also officially part of the Errie’s teachers. Qiniso matriculated in 2016 and studied BEd Senior Phase and FET at the University of Pretoria. Although Qiniso had been part of the Erries by doing his practicals at EHS for the past three years, he is extremely excited to officially be a part of the Errie-team. Mostly he can’t wait to be a part of the learners’ lives and contributing to the learners’ development. Zara-Brezette Büchling het verlede jaar haar skoolloopbaan by die Erries afgesluit en gaan dié jaar voort op haar pad saam met Hoërskool Ermelo as student-onderwyser. Haar studie rigting is BThTeologie wat sy deur SATS studeer met die oog op NGOS wanneer haar Teologie graad afgehandel is. By die Erries is Zara hoofsaaklik betrokke by die gee van Afrikaans en Engels. Die opwinding daarvan om die lewe van Hoërskool Ermelo vanuit ‘n ander oogpunt as dié van ‘n leerder te beleef, is iets waarna Zara uitsien. Marli Luyt is nou ‘n derdejaar-student wat deur UNISA studeer. Sy studeer BEd senior fase, asook VOO met Afrikaans en Engels as haar hoofvakke. Dit is in dié vakke waarby sy betrokke gaan wees by Hoërskool Ermelo. Sy sien uit na een van die groot gedeeltes wat die Erries na aan die hart lê: EHS-Kultuur! Charmoné Prinsloo het verlede jaar haar studies in BEd senior fase en VOO voltooi aan die Universiteit van Potchefstroom. EHS is besonder trots op Charmoné wat haar studies Cum Laude geslaag het! Haar hoof vakke was Wiskunde en Biologie. By die Erries gaan sy Lewenswetenskappe as vak aanbied. “Ek was voor 2021 reeds baie nou betrokke by die EHS met onder andere proef-tydperke, maar sien uit om amptelik deel van die unieke Errie-familie te wees. Ek hóórt hier,” sê Charmoné met Errie-trots wat reeds deur haar are vloei. “Baie welkom aan elkeen van die nuwe onderwysers. Hoërskool Ermelo sien uit om die pad saam met julle te stap en wens julle alle voorspoed toe. Mag julle toekoms by EHS Errie-groen wees!” < 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 >

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 >

EHS Musical benefits from expert voice coach 1/2 Share SM HATTINGH 1 June 2021 At the end of his Grade 9 year, Phila joined the South African Youth Choir (SAYC) in Cape Town, where he was a member of the choir for one year, before finally returning home to Ermelo to finish Grade 11 and 12 at Hoërskool Ermelo. Phila Dladla, music teacher at Hoërskool Ermelo, started his musical career in Grade 4 when his mother signed him up for piano and musical theory lessons at the EHS music centre. The next year, she had him audition for the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir and once accepted, was where he would spend the next five years falling in love with choral music and performance. During his time at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School, he attended many international tours, including to the United States, Norway and South Korea. At the end of his Grade 9 year, Phila joined the South African Youth Choir (SAYC) in Cape Town, where he was a member of the choir for one year, before finally returning home to Ermelo to finish Grade 11 and 12 at Hoërskool Ermelo. He obtained a distinction for music as subject during his final matric exams. After matriculating, Phila returned to the Drakensberg Boys Choir School as a student (conductor) intern, and completed his Grade 7 UNISA grade in singing. In 2015, he became a member of the music staff at the Erries’ Music Centre, where he teaches classical singing and rock school drums. He also coaches the school's drumline, Marimba Band, and choir. He is currently busy completing an LLB degree through UNISA. Phila is extremely excited about the Rock musical that will be performed on DV 16 – 21 August. He is the proud musical director for this musical production. Hoërskool Ermelo is thankful and proud to have mr Dladla on the Errie-team. < Previous Article Next Article >