MLM whittling down Eskom bill, no reprieve from NMD 1/3 Share GK CRONJE 21 September 2021 "On 16 August 2021, the municipality received a letter of appreciation and congratulation from the Mpumalanga Provincial Government: Head of Cooperative Governance And Traditional Affairs for its good performance in respect of the Eskom debt." Residents of Ermelo and the surroundings are, after years, still up in arms due to the constant struggles with electrical outages and fluctuating electrical supply from Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM). The myriad of exposed innards from coverless electrical kiosks, as well as unlocked substations adds to the rolling power outages. The thinly-spread municipal teams scramble to attend all issues reported by residents by means of limited resources, as stated by MLM. Complaints are also rife with regards to the call centre, which had been recently revamped and apparently operating at optimal capacity, yet phones are left unanswered, and complainants receive unsatisfactory feedback from the operators. Most frustratingly, many residents are left without electricity for days on end, and the sporadic outages add to the fury. Many residents have vented their frustration with the fact that MLM issues load reduction schedules on a weekly basis, yet rarely keep to the stated times on the timetable. Wards are often switched on and off at leisure, with no regard to the schedule. More often than not, load reduction is implemented earlier than scheduled by MLM itself, and electricity is subsequently to restored at the times stated. Call centre operators rarely provide accurate feedback in this regard, and revert to the standard response of “a cable fault” to appease public wrath. John Vorster Park struggles with fluctuating electricity supply on a daily basis, and both Netherland Park and De Bruin Park’s residents suffer extensively, shrouded in darkness. Fuming complaints on social media lamented the fact that the constant fluctuation of electricity had damaged electrical components, including DB boards, televisions, fridges and deep freezes. Residents are irked by the fact that MLM washes their hands of the damages suffered due to the outages. Residents in Cassim Park are also left with hands in the hair, as wards were left without electricity for hours, and even days, as technical teams struggle to keep up with reports and complaints. Residents in Wesselton and Sun City also lamented the fact that outages have been rolling and ongoing over the course of several days, much to the frustration of irrate complainants. It is known that Eskom has, out of necessity, reduced the Notified Maximum Demand (NMD) due to poor service of the Eskom account from MLM. MLM has, however, managed to whittle down the debt owed to Eskom, slowly but surely. While it is admirable to a certain degree, the issue of the reduced NMD still remains. While the MBCF and AfriForum champions for the reinstatement of adequate NMD, Eskom is having none of it, being once bitten, twice shy. Enquiries directed at MLM regarding the Eskom debt and the NMD, Mandla Zwane, municipal spokesman, shed light on the current situation. “As at 2 July 2020, the municipality was lawfully indebted to Eskom an amount R180 634 882.73. The municipality and Eskom entered into repayment plan agreement, which was signed on 2 July 2020. As of 17 September 2021, the balance is R135 000 000. The current account, as of August 2021, is R44 734 318.45. On 16 August 2021, the municipality received a letter of appreciation and congratulation from the Mpumalanga Provincial Government: Head of Cooperative Governance And Traditional Affairs for its good performance in respect of the Eskom debt. On 7 September 2020, the municipality applied/request for the Notified Maximum Demand (NMD) to be increased overa period of 10 years, from 14MVA to 30MVA, and 27MVA to 30MVA on the Ermelo 88Kv and 11Kv MD29 respectively. To date, Eskom has not responded on the above application. Also, on 7 September 2020, the municipality applied for the NMD to be increased over period of 10 years from 1.1 MVA to 7MVA on the Breyten – KwaZanele 11Kv MD29. Eskom has responded to the latter with a quotation to the municipality of R43 million.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Dark underbelly of Ermelo’s neglected infrastructure 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 10 February 2021 Msukaligwa Municipality washes their hands of the damages suffered due to the outages. The recent heavy downpours experienced in Ermelo has highlighted various issues within the infrastructure of Ermelo and its wards. During bouts of heavy rainfall, businesses and residences are repeatedly drenched as accumulated water flood houses and ill-prepared businesses, due to the fact that the majority of storm drains are blocked and of no use. Swelling water torrents sweep through the streets and pool in ditches and dips in the CBD and residential wards. The reality of the major pollution issue within Ermelo becomes apparent as the water subsided, and all manner of refuse, fast food containers and liquor bottles are left in the wake of the torrents. Several reports of water pipes have been reported, with a vast amount of water being wasted as the thinly-spread municipal teams scramble to attend all issues reported by residents. Complaints are mounting regarding the call centre, supposedly revamped and operating at optimal capacity, where phones are left unanswered. Complaints also included rude responses from operators, or the lines remaining engaged for hours on end. Most frustratingly, many residents have been left without electricity for days on end. Heavy rainfall, rainwater pooling around substations and electrical kiosks, as well as the myriad of exposed innards from coverless electrical kiosks added to the rolling power outages. Residents in John Vorster Park struggled with fluctuating electricity supply, Netherland Park’s wards have been shrouded in darkness, and De Bruin Park’s residents suffered extensively. Most notably, residents in Jansen Street had been left without electricity for over 3 days, as from Friday morning, with some residences still being without electricity supply on Monday morning. Oosthuisen Street and Havenga Road also bore a big brunt of the outages, as accumulated rainwater caused havoc on the poorly patched MV cables. Fuming complaints on social media lamented the fact that the constant fluctuation of electricity had damaged electrical components, including DB boards, televisions, fridges and deep freezes. Many complaints also included the fact that frozen foods have thawed and spoiled due to the constant outages, with Msukaligwa Municipality washing their hands of the damages suffered due to the outages. Residents in Cassim Park are left with their hands in their hair, as scores of wards were left without electricity for hours, and even days, as technical teams struggle to keep up with reports and complaints. Residents in Wesselton and Sun City also lamented the fact that outages have been rolling and ongoing over the course of several days, much to the frustration of irrate complainants, with technical teams from the municipality taking their sweet time to attend to outages in outlying areas. < Previous Article Next Article >

Ons mis jou, mamma 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 31 August 2021 Amoré (7) aan die Tribune gesê “Mamma, ek is baie lief vir mamma, ek mis mamma so baie en ek hoop mamma is veilig. Lief vir mamma.” Met baie trane in haar oë sê sy ook, “Tannie, ek wil nie bederf wees nie, ek wil net my mamma terug hê”. Riana Bester, (34) ‘n bekende in die dorp, is op Dinsdag, 24 Augustus, skielik oorlede. Riana was werksaam by Jack’s Konstruksie. Sy was baie geliefd by haar werk, asook in die gemeenskap. Wanneer mens verby haar gery het, kon jy altyd haar vrolike gesiggie sien met haar rooi lippe aan. Sy het altyd geglimlag, en was gereed om te groet in die verby ry. Die Tribune het bietjie op haar Facebook blad gaan kyk, en al die boodskappies wat haar vriende vir haar gelos het gesien, wat weer net wys sy was altyd daar wanneer enig persoon haar nodig gehad het. Tydens ‘n gesprek met haar kinders het Amoré (7) aan die Tribune gesê “Mamma, ek is baie lief vir mamma, ek mis mamma so baie en ek hoop mamma is veilig. Lief vir mamma.” Met baie trane in haar oë sê sy ook, “Tannie, ek wil nie bederf wees nie, ek wil net my mamma terug hê”. Stiaan (5) sê net, “Ek is lief vir jou mamma, ek mis mamma baie. Mamma is ‘n super mom,” met ‘n glimlag, maar ook ‘n verlangende hartseer in sy ogies. Johan Wolvaardt, haar kêrel, sit met trane in sy oë terwyl die kinders net goed oor hulle mamma praat en probeer baie hard sluk. Riana oorleef haar ouers, Surina en Hans Brits, haar suster, Majorie Brits, haar twee kinders, Amoré en Stiaan, en vir Johan. Johan se laaste boodskap aan sy lewensmaat ,vir wie hy ongelooflik baie lief was, lei as volg: “My engel, dankie vir wie jy was. Dankie vir jou oneindige liefde, dankie vir jou bystand as ek so ver weg gewerk het. Dankie dat jy Ami en Stiaan sulke mooi waardes van lewe geleer het, dankie dat jy my geleer het wat is ware liefde. Ek weet jy waak oor ons daar waar jy aan Jesus se sy is, jy het gesprankel orals waar jy gaan, soveel raad vir ander gegee, en na ander se behoeftes omgesien het. Jou legende lewe voort. Jy was my lewe, my alles. Lief jou vir ewig, my Senekal nooi. Saggies rus.” Riana se begrafnis sal vandag, Dinsdag, 31 Augustus plaasvind vanuit die AGS Kerk, om 11:00, op die hoek van 99 Sluiter en Oosthuise Strate plaasvind. Die begrafnis sal ook ge-“live stream” word vanaf Martin’s Funeral Ermelo se Facebook blad. “Rus sag Riana, ons mis jou alreeds te veel.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Surprise, surprise... Municipal load reduction is back 1/4 Share GK CRONJE 27 April 2021 In a feeble attempt to sugarcoat the slew of outages, MLM claims that “load reduction will only commence once the system is strained.” In a turn of events that is a shocking revelation to no resident of Ermelo, rotational load shedding, brought to you with compliments from Msukaligwa Local Municipality, has returned. With the air barely chilled, and winter peeking ever so slightly around the corner, Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) has issued their schedules for the rotational load reduction. It was to be expected, as of late Ermelo has seen yet another bout of power outages, attributed to the 88kVA line. The official party line purported by MLM claims that illegal connections are overloading the electrical grid, therefore necessitating rotational load reduction. Oddly, the claimed illegal connections had no impact on the grid for an extended period. More disturbing is the fact that Ermelo’s residents are in the exact same sinking boat as last year, and the year before, where MLM also implemented the rotational load reduction. Over this period, excuses have ranged from vandalism, illegal connections, reduction of supply from Eskom, and every other fathomable excuse in-between. Many residents question the load reduction, and the fact that it is an entire financial year later, and MLM has yet again failed to address the issue that residents face on a daily basis. In their announcement of the rotational load reduction, MLM urged all residents and businesses to switch off electrical appliances during times of outage, to avoid damage from electrical surges when the electricity is restored. In a feeble attempt to sugarcoat the slew of outages, MLM claims that “load reduction will only commence once the system is strained.” It should be noted that MLM has also indicated that technicians may enforce load reduction at any time “to protect the integrity of the grid”, a line leeched directly from Eskom statements, effectively rendering their own published schedule moot. < Previous Article Next Article >

Ermelo stortingsterrein behaal 'n treurige 8% gradering 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 26 July 2022 In 2022 het die munisipaliteit hulself oortref met ‘n gradering van slegs 8%. AfriForum het vanjaar 162 vullisterreine landwyd geoudit as deel van dié organisasie se nasionale projek om die gehalte van vullisterreine in Suid-Afrika te meet. Nie een van die 22 vullisterreine wat in Mpumalanga geoudit is, het aan nasionale standaarde voldoen nie. Kragtens toepaslike wetgewing en regulasies, waaronder die Wet op Nasionale Omgewingsbestuur: Vullis 59 van 2008, moet ’n vullisterrein aan bepaalde vereistes voldoen. Volgens Hennie Bekker, AfriForum se distrikskoördineerder vir die Hoëveld, is die vullisterreine in hierdie provinsie in ’n haglike toestand. “Dit is duidelik dat geen beheer toegepas word by hierdie terreine nie en dat dit net nog ’n voorbeeld is van die totale agteruitgang van munisipale dienste in ons land.” Die Ermelo-stortingsterrein is al jare lank 'n onderwerp van omstredenheid, met miljoene rande wat vermors is op kontrakteurs en onnodige rehabilitasies van die terrein, net sodat dit slegs maande ná rehabilitasie uit die genade val. In 2015 het Msukaligwa Plaaslike Munisipaliteit (MLM) 'n indrukwekkende 84% voldoeningsgradering behaal. Ongelukkig dit het van daar af na die honde gegaan. Volgens die oudit het dit in 2016 52% behaal, en 42% in 2017. In 2018 en 2020 is die munisipaliteit elke jaar 18% gegradeer. In 2019 het MLM egter in wese hul nakoming heeltemal misluk, met 'n gradering van 2%. In 2021 se oudit het die munisipaliteit 'n voldoeningsgradering van net 10% behaal, wat ver onder selfs die laagste van aanvaarbare standaarde is. Nietemin het die munisipaliteit hulself oortref met ‘n gradering van slegs 8%. Op hierdie trant sal die stortingsterrein geklassifiseer word as te gevaarlik, indien dit minder as 2% behaal. Bekker sê die mees algemene probleme wat AfriForum tydens die oudit opgemerk het, is die afwesigheid van afvalbestuurslisensies en ’n algehele wanbestuur van terreine. “Dit wil voorkom of daar geen doelwit of plan is om op munisipale vlak hierdie dringende probleem op te los nie, en sal ons as AfriForum dus met die relevante owerhede kontak maak om die probleem te probeer oplos, dit is ’n absolute skande om te sien hoe van die terreine lyk en dit is onaanvaarbaar dat daar niks aan die probleem gedoen word nie. Munisipale verval is aan die orde van die dag, en dit is ooglopend dat veral kleiner munisipaliteite onder grootskaalse wanbestuur gebuk gaan,” sê Arlo van Heerden, distrikskoördineerder vir die Laeveld. < 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 >

LUR, Vusi Shongwe, spreek SAPD lede toe 1/2 Share SM HATTINGH 10 August 2021 Hy het tydens sy toespraak gesê dat hulle alles in hulle vermoeë gaan en sal doen om Ermelo ‘n beter, asook veiliger plek te maak. Op Vrydag, 6 Augustus, was daar ‘n toespraak gelewer deur Vusi Shongwe, LUR vir die departement van veiligheid, gemeenskapsveiligheid en skakeling, om al die SAPD lede te inspireer, asook om hulle te bedank vir hulle harde werk. Tydens die toespraak het Shongwe die SAPD lede geinspireer, en gevra dat hulle saam met al die verskillende media huise moet werk, asook om saam met al die verskeie sekuriteits maatskappye. Hy het tydens sy toespraak gesê dat hulle alles in hulle vermoeë gaan en sal doen om Ermelo ‘n beter, asook veiliger plek te maak. Tydens die dag het die verskeie afdelings van die SAPD hulle parade gedoen en hulle respek getoon. Sien meer foto’s op ons Facebook blad, Tribune Ermelo. Op die foto verskyn Vusi Shongwe, LUR vir die departement van veiligheid, gemeenskapsveiligheid en skakeling, tydens sy toespraak. < Previous Article Next Article >

MLM Fire & Rescue clears the air MLM Fire & Rescue clears the air 1/6 Share GK CRONJE 10 August 2021 When in an emergency situation, please remember the following contact numbers: 112 for the ambulance service, 10111 for the SAPS, and 017 801 3400 for Fire & Rescue. On Saturday evening, two separate incidents of arson were reported. The first incident occurred when the field between Mauritz Read Street and President Fouché Avenue was set alight. Residents in this area chocked in bellows of thick smoke, and Msukaligwa Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS). In the second, unrelated incident, a yard where a house was demolished was set alight, and the fire quickly spread out of control. MFRS responded swiftly, and saved surrounding residents from certain damage, should the blaze have been left unchecked. MFRS battled the flames, which caused damage in three separate yards, and had the potential to cause much more damage than it did. The inferno was doused in record time, and despite just have fought a blaze, the firefighters were friendly and extremely well mannered. Authorities have, on several occasions, cautioned the public against acts of arson, as it is a crime. You may be liable to fine, prison sentence, or both if convicted. Culprits of arson may also be held liable for the costs incurred by rescue services. MFRS has subsequently voiced it’s concern and response to complaints and unwarranted criticism from the public. “Our firefighters had many times been accused of late arrival at the scenes of fire incidents. We’re well aware of such complaints. Fire fighters are generally accused of late arrival, even in developed countries. Reason is that fire service stations are not everywhere. That is why we are so much emphasizing on fire prevention. People should adhere strictly to fire safety rules by ensuring they avoid anything that can trigger fire outbreak. For the late arrival, mind you, our calculation of arrival time at fire scenes is different from that of victims of fire incident. We calculate arrival time from when we were alerted of the fire incident, not when the fire started burning. Our major challenge is always the distance between the fire station and where the fire outbreak occurred. Besides, we always tell the public that fire fighters are not the cause of the fire. We’re only coming to assist them in fighting the fire which they themselves caused. Considering the nature of the job and it urgency, people will never give right of way for the fire fighting trucks to pass even when they are hearing the sound of sirens. Rather than inform us immediately they noticed the fire, they would be running helter-skelter trying to quench the fire. They only remember to alert us when the fire gets out of hand. We are not spirits. We are only aware when we are informed. Another ugly experience we encounter, which ocassioned the allegation of late arrival is the periodic attacks on our officers and destruction of our equipment. One wonders what those who engage in this nefarious acts tend to achieve. We will continue to go on sensitizing the general public on the need to always assist Fire Service and stop the attack on Firefighters and fire trucks. If they end up destroying our trucks, what then are we going to fight the fire with?” When in an emergency situation, please remember the following contact numbers: 112 for the ambulance service, 10111 for the SAPS, and 017 801 3400 for Fire & Rescue. < Previous Article Next Article >

Mayor Mngomezulu, catalyst of service delivery hope 1/5 Share GK CRONJE 10 August 2022 A JoJo water tank was also donated to the KwaDela drop-in-centre. Gert Sibande District Municipality’s (GSDM) Executive Mayor, Cllr Walter Mngomezulu, has committed to elevate all the service delivery concerns by KwaDela (formerly Davel) residents to the GSDM District Development Model Forum for a speedy intervention. Cllr Mngomezulu made the commitment during the GSDM Mayoral Imbizo at the KwaDela sports grounds on Friday, 5 August 2022. He was responding to a myriad of basic service delivery challenges that the community raised during the Imbizo, which Councillor Mngomezulu led with the Executive Mayor of Msukaligwa Local Municipality, Councillor Mapulane Nkosi, joined by Executive Mayors from Lekwa, Chief Albert Luthuli, and Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme municipalities. The challenges raised by the residents included raw sewer spillages, lack of proper roads, lack of provision of services residential stands and poor electrical infrastructure. “I want to assure all of you, the residents of KwaDela and surrounding areas, that this Imbizo is not just a ticking of the box exercise, but that all the challenges you have raised will be addressed through the District Development Model,” said Cllr Mngomezulu to a round of applause from the packed sports grounds. He also commended the residents of KwaDela for coming out in large numbers and raising their issues with their elected leaders during the Imbizo. The programme of the day started with the official hand over the refurbished KwaDela water treatment plant, which was funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation, with GSDM as the implementing agent. Cllr Mngomezulu and delegation also visited the KwaDela Combined School, where they attended the prize giving ceremony and donated dignity packs to the pupils. A JoJo water tank was also donated to the KwaDela drop-in-centre before conducting a service delivery assessment of the area, and a door-to-door campaign to listen to the residents’ challenges with regards to service delivery in the area. Councillor Mngomezulu also led a donation of food parcels to seventy (70) impoverished families during the Imbizo, which he said this was only a temporary intervention. “We are actually working on moving away from these acts of donating food parcels, but to donating gardening tools and seedlings so to encourage our communities to start communal fruit and vegetable gardens for personal or business benefit,” concluded Cllr Mngomezulu. < Previous Article Next Article >

Rest in peace, Nipho 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 30 June 2020 Ligbron would like to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Nhlakanipho ( Nipho). It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Nhlakanipho Starbulberg, a fellow Liggie, due to a vehicle accident. Ligbron would like to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Nhlakanipho ( Nipho). May loving memories ease your loss and bring you comfort. < Previous Article Next Article >

Rus sag, Eckart 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 23 February 2021 Die Hoffmann gesin bedank graag die gemeenskap vir al hul gebede gedurende sy ongesteldheid. Die huldeblyk word gerig aan wyle Eckart Hoffmann, gebore op 4 Julie 1970, met afsterwe op 21 Februarie 2021. Die Hoffmann gesin bedank graag die gemeenskap vir al hul gebede gedurende sy ongesteldheid. This tribute is to the late Eckart Hoffmann, born on 4 July 1970, who passed away on 21 February 2021. The Hoffmann family would like to thank the community for all their prayers during his illness. < Previous Article Next Article >

Staat lewer vals getuienis, Dirkiesdorp boere uit op borg Staat lewer vals getuienis, Dirkiesdorp boere uit op borg 1/2 Share SM HATTINGH 4 May 2021 Die videos bewys dat die staat nie slegs oor enkele aspekte gelieg het nie, maar dat hulle oor alles gelieg het. Hulle het nie net feite uit hulle duim gesuig nie, maar ‘n omvattende vals narratief geskep. Die vier boere en plaasvoorman van Dirkiesdorp, Daniel Cornelis Malan (38), Cornelius Lourens Greyling (25), Othard Johann Klingenberg (53), Ignatius Michael Steynberg (31) en Zenzele Yende (48) wat op 9 April 2021 gearresteer is op aanklagtes van moord, poging tot moord, ontvoering en regsverydeling, het onlangs weer hul verskyning in die hof gemaak. Die boere het reeds op 12 April hul eerste verskyning in die hof gemaak, waarna die saak ‘n paar keer uitgestel vir verdere ondersoeke, waar die boere ook borgtog geweier is. Op Maandag, 26 April, was daar ‘n video gewys, waar die boere se regspan aangevoer het dat die Staat se getuies lieg, en dat borg daarom geregverdig is. Nadat die videos gekyk is, het die staat nogsteeds die troefkaart gebruik om te sê dat daar aan die video materiaal gepeuter is, maar soos ons weet, video materiaal kan nie lieg nie. Nadat die video materiaal gekyk is, het A.O Nhlapo wel in die hof gesê dat sy getuies wel gelieg het in hulle verklarings oor wat op 9 April op plaas Pampoenkraal gebeur het. Die video wys die boere se weergawe wat op die plaas gebeur het: Die boere en hul plaaswerkers het kalm en rustig voorgekom, en het nie wapens of koeëlvaste baadjies gedra nie. Adjudant Offisier Nhlapo het dit erken. Die boere het niemand aangerand nie, waar A.O Nhlapo dit ook erken het. Zenzele Coka, wat vir Potgieter gewerk het, het saam met Greyling asook ander plaaswerkers opgedaag by die toneel. Hy was nie deel van die betogers nie. Die videos wys dat Amos Coka in ‘n klein wit motor opgedaag het, gevolg deur ‘n bakkie met drie insittendes. Zenzele het toe na die hek van die plaas gehardloop, en ‘n lang struweling het gevolg tussen Zenzele en sy broer, Amos. Zenzele het later daarin geslaag om sy broer Amos van die plaas af te verwilder. Die Staat gaan steeds aan dat die boere vir beide Zenzele en Amos met voorbedagte rade vermoor het. Nou, die groot vraag wat op almal se lippe lê, hoekom sou die boere vir Zenzele wou skiet, as Zenzele aan hulle kant was, en vir een van die boere gewerk het? Die video wys ook hoe vier “werksoekers” met stokke by Pampoenkraal opgedaag het om bestaande werkers te intimideer. Die video wys voorts dat minstens agt bestaande werkers wat in die stoor besig was om te werk, dan hul goed bymekaar maak en weg van die stoor af beweeg. Die video wys hoe Steynberg die plaas verlaat om te gaan kyk wat se meganiese toerusting gebreek het nadat sy werkers hom gebel het en gevra het vir hulp. Hy het eers weer later saam met die SAPS opdaag by die toneel. Die voorval waar Zenzele geskiet is, was ongelukkig nie op die video vasgelê nie. Klingenberg se weergawe is egter dat hy Amos Coka geskiet het uit selfverdediging, nadat Amos wild begin geskiet het, en in die proses sy eie broer, Zenzele, geskiet het. Drie Dirkiesdorp boere, Werner Potgieter, Danie Malan en Hansie Moolman, was uiters geweldadig deur die sogenoemde werksoekers aangerand. Hansie Moolman het skedelbreuk opgedoen, maar die SAPD het op 9 April ‘n eensydige ondersoek op die toneel gedoen. Die boere en die “werksoekers” het in twee groepe weerskante van die grondpad gestaan, en die SAPS het die boere gearresteer soos die “werksoekers” hulle name uitgeroep het. Ondersoek beampte, Adjudant Offisier Nhlapo, het reeds in die borgaansoek erken dat hy slegs die weergawe van die “werksoekers” bekom het. Geen “werksoekers” was gearresteer nie en hulle stokke wat hulle by hulle gehad het was ook nie geneem tydens die arrestasies nie, ten spyte van die feit dat twee boere gehospitaliseer was weens hulle beserings, en Danie Malan se oogbank in die tronkselle deur ‘n private dokter toegewerk was. Die videos bewys dat die staat nie slegs oor enkele aspekte gelieg het nie, maar dat hulle oor alles gelieg het. Hulle het nie net feite uit hulle duim gesuig nie, maar ‘n omvattende vals narratief geskep. Borg is uiteindelik toegestaan op Vrydag, 30 April, waar die vier boere en die plaasvoorman, elk R 10 000 moes opdok. Die saak is uitgestel na Woensdag, 30 Junie 2021, vir verdere ondersoek. Op die foto verskyn die vier boere en plaasvoorman. Op die tweede verskyn Robert Molokoane, wat aanvoer dat daar met die video gepeuter is. < Previous Article Next Article >