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Op Maandag, 12 Julie, ongeveer 10:00, het‘n botsing op die hoek van Kerk- en Oosthuise Strate plaasgevind. Die bestuurder van die voertuig het beheer verloor as gevolg van ‘n hoë spoed wat gery is. Die voertuig het tot stilstand gekom by die Ford handelaar, waar die motor binne in die tuin op geëindig het tussen al die beton balle, en tot op sy dak geland het. Die bestuurder van die voertuig is dadelik deur ER24 behandel en hospitaal toe geneem is vir mediese behandeling. Sy het erge kop, asook been beserings opgedoen tydens die botsing. Al die nood personeel was spoedig op die toneel, en het flinke werk gemaak van die opruiming. Voertuig land op dak tydens botsing Voertuig land op dak tydens botsing 1/6 Share SM HATTINGH 13 July 2021 Die bestuurder het erge kop, asook been beserings opgedoen tydens die botsing. Al die nood personeel was spoedig op die toneel, en het flinke werk gemaak van die opruiming. Op Maandag, 12 Julie, ongeveer 10:00, het‘n botsing op die hoek van Kerk- en Oosthuise Strate plaasgevind. Die bestuurder van die voertuig het beheer verloor as gevolg van ‘n hoë spoed wat gery is. Die voertuig het tot stilstand gekom by die Ford handelaar, waar die motor binne in die tuin op geëindig het tussen al die beton balle, en tot op sy dak geland het. Die bestuurder van die voertuig is dadelik deur ER24 behandel en hospitaal toe geneem is vir mediese behandeling. Sy het erge kop, asook been beserings opgedoen tydens die botsing. Al die nood personeel was spoedig op die toneel, en het flinke werk gemaak van die opruiming. < Previous Article Next Article >

NMW increase announced 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 16 February 2021 Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi, has announced that following a transitional phase, the farm worker sector has been aligned with the NMW rate of R21.69 per hour. Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi, has announced that following a transitional phase, the farm worker sector has been aligned with the NMW rate of R21.69 per hour. Furthermore, the National Minimum Wage (NMW) will increase to R21.69 per hour from 1 March 2021, translating to a 93c incremented increase. The domestic sector will be entitled to R19.09 per hour, and could be expected to be aligned with the NMW. In terms of the NMW Act of 2018, the policy framework is a floor level, below which no employee should be paid. According to the Act, it is illegal and an unfair labour practice for an employer to unilaterally alter hours of work or other conditions of employment in implementing the NMW. “The NMW is the amount payable for the ordinary hours of work, and does not include payment of allowances such as transport, tools, food or accommodation, payments in kind such as board or lodging, tips, bonuses and gifts. In considering the annual adjustment, the Commission considered factors which included inflation, the cost of living, and the need to retain the value of the minimum wage, gross domestic product, wage levels and collective bargaining outcomes, productivity, ability of employers to carry on their businesses successfully, the operation of small, medium or micro-enterprises and new enterprises, and the likely impact of the recommendation adjustment on employment or the creation of employment,” the Department of Employment and Labour stated. < Previous Article Next Article >

In a feeble attempt to sugarcoat the slew of outages, MLM claims that “load reduction will only commence once the system is strained.” 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 >

Mall construction still on the cards A 3-D render of the planned Merion Mall in Ermelo. A 3-D render of the planned Merion Mall in Ermelo. 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 22 September 2020 In January 2020, the Moolman Group was granted the go-ahead for the construction project. The Moolman Group has confirmed that the project is now codenamed Merino Mall, and planning have now been put in motion. In early 2015, residents learned with great excitement of a planned shopping center, Plateau Mall, which was to be built in Voortrekker Avenue, where the Showgrounds is currently located. The project would be managed by the Moolman Group, a well-known developer with many successful projects on their roster. This flagship construction project, touted as a 30,000m² development, would see a completion date of April 2020, and which would house many new chain stores, immediately made a big splash in the community. Unfortunately, over time, the excitement disappeared into the mist of uncertainty, after no indication of any building process was visible. The community also abuzz with rumours of alleged political influence that played a role in the objections. However, the allegations could not be substantiated, and the dust settled over time. After the events, the planning was quietly swept under the rug by officials, hoping that the Plateau Mall would die a silent death. However, in 2019, a silent war still raged on the courtrooms between Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) and the Moolman Group. Hoping that the Moolman Group would abandon the construction, even though all legal channels and supporting documentation were in order, it turns out that the Moolman Group’s legal team still had a few aces up their sleeve. After an extensive court battle, the Moolman Group emerged victorious after obliterating the faux obstacles and reasons for the disapproval of the project from MLM. In January 2020, the Moolman Group was granted the go-ahead for the construction project. The Moolman Group has confirmed that the project is now codenamed Merino Mall, and planning have now been put in motion. They have made great strides in improving their relationship with MLM. At this point in time, with the information available, the construction is expected to commence in mid- to late 2021, and will take an approximate 18 month period to complete. As the only location lacking a regional mall within its immediate vicinity, Ermelo residents are sure to rejoice when the Merino Mall finally comes to pass. < Previous Article Next Article >

Residents are left to fend for themselves as the water shortages and outages continue. Breyten residents left high and dry 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 2 November 2021 Residents are left to fend for themselves as the water shortages and outages continue. Despite a successful complaint by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), the residents in Breyten and surrounding areas are still left without water for days on end, with little to nothing forthcoming from Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) in terms of a solution to the water woes. In the letter that the DA submitted to the SAHRC, the focus of the Commission was called to the provision of water in Breyten, but more notably Skaapruiz and Nyibe. A slew of residents in Breyten, Chrissiesmeer and surrounding areas have been sitting with bone dry taps, or sporadic water supply of a mere two hours per day. The water issues in Breyten have been escalating for more than 6 months, with nothing but golden promises and poor excuses forthcoming from the municipality. “For a week we have been without water here in Breyten. The water supply is restored from 03:00 - 05:00, and after that there are no water in the taps. How is it acceptable for us to live like this?” a resident of Breyten lamented to the Tribune ePaper. Despite the big hoopla that had been made by the National Government regarding the Greater Breyten Water Supply Scheme Project, which will be completed in 2024, residents still suffer on a daily basis, with the 2024 completion date being but a speck on the dry horizon. “I work at a mine near Breyten, and the useless municipality expects me to make do with no water for weeks on end. It is a struggle on a daily basis, and Msukaligwa Municipality just doesn’t care. They don’t answer their phones, they don’t respond to complaints. They simply ignore as as if we are rubbish,” another resident stated. A few good Samaritans have made their boreholes available for neighbors to utilize, but charity can only extend so far, as lack of service delivery from MLM takes its toll. The promised water tankers from MLM also rarely make their arrival. “If the tankers arrive to deliver water, it is during the day. We are all at work during daytime, a tanker arriving at a closed door helps bugger all. The municipality just talks a load of rubbish, and makes empty promises that they fail to fulfill,” an extremely irate resident told the Tribune ePaper. Another resident lamented the constant barrage of alleged lies and tomfoolery from MLM with the greatest of disgust. “I have an entire folder of screenshots from messages that the municipality sends, filled with poor excuses promises they never deliver on. They think that we’re idiots, that we can’t see that they are lying. The stories that they fabricate are nowhere near the same as the stories that our ward councillors tell us,” another resident explosively stated. “The call centre is just another useless part of the municipality. All they feed us are lies upon lies, and the stories they make up doesn’t even remotely coincide with what the technicians and municipal speakers on the WhatsApp group tells us. They don’t even give us reference numbers, they don’t take our details. What is the use of a call centre, if they don’t answer the phones 99% of the time?” he barked angrily. Speaking to Msukaligwa Local Municipality on a previous occasion regarding the exact same issue, no tangible information had been forthcoming either. Apart from the copy and paste response that residents have come to expect by now, citing the usual scapegoats of lack of equipment, and the old faithful trump card stating lack of funds and a cut budget, to date, no concrete plan of action has been made available. In recent weeks, MLM claimed that vandalism of infrastructure, as well as equipment failure, amongst other issues, were to blame. However, there has been no action taken to actively remedy the situation in Breyten. Instead, the project from the DWS is being used a show horse to appease the residents, instead of immediate action being taken. “What is this nonsense about a water pipeline upgrade. We don’t care about upgrades. They just use it to pretend that they’re doing something for residents. We are struggling with water right now. Some of us have been without water for 5 months, and now the municipality comes with a story of water supply in 2024. What will that water help us in two years? Must we then live without water for two years until the municipality decides that it wants to care about residents? It is a joke.” a resident from KwaZanele told the Tribune ePaper. A large collective or residents have had absolutely no water since February 2021, and it’s not getting any better. Empty promises and tall tales from Msukaligwa Local Municipality further frustrates residents, and a complete lack of response from ward councillors further fan the flames. The Tribune ePaper lodged an enquiry with Msukaligwa Local Municipality, requesting a statement regarding the complaints with the SAHRC, and what Msukaligwa Local Municipality is doing to remedy the immediate situation to alleviate the plight of residents in Breyten and other areas. MLM replied with the following: “There's nothing untoward and/or unheard of in a constitutional democracy that a chapter nine institution, be it public protector or Human Rights Commission of South Africa, will from time to time intervene on behalf of the citizenry, and to issue out directives as and when they deem it necessary to any organ of state. This indicates the effectiveness of the chapter nine institutions.” Alas, residents are left to fend for themselves, as the water shortages and outages continue. < Previous Article Next Article >

“Baie geluk aan elke Liggie wat ‘n toekenning ontvang het. Die Liggies bedank ook graag vir TWK Agri, sowel as Ermelo Phoenix Rotary Klub, Top Carpets and Floors, Bernina, Mix and Match en ENA Boekwinkel wat die aand moontlik gemaak het.” Liggies vereer tydens prysuitdelingsfunksie Ammaarah Arbee, wat as die Dux Leerder vir Graad12 aangewys is met ‘n gemiddeld van 93.29%. Ammaarah Arbee, wat as die Dux Leerder vir Graad12 aangewys is met ‘n gemiddeld van 93.29%. 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 27 October 2020 “Baie geluk aan elke Liggie wat ‘n toekenning ontvang het. Die Liggies bedank ook graag vir TWK Agri, sowel as Ermelo Phoenix Rotary Klub, Top Carpets and Floors, Bernina, Mix and Match en ENA Boekwinkel wat die aand moontlik gemaak het.” Die leerders van Ligbron Akademie vir Tegnologie is Maandag, 19 Oktober, tydens die jaarlikse prysuitdelingsfunksie vereer vir hulle harde werk en getroue toewyding die afgelope jaar. Daar was baie pryse uitgedeel gedurende die funksie. Van die pryse sluit in die mees waardevolle senior krieketspeler: Ruben Herbst, grootste bydrae gelewer tot netbal in haar skool loopbaan: Jané Bosman, grootste bydrae gelewer tot hokkie in haar skool loopbaan en beste senior dogters hokkiespeler: Cara Bruwer, beste senior seuns hokkiespeler: Hardu Prinsloo en Siyabonga Willie, leierskap: Carla Barnard en Cristian Ortega, grootste bydrae gelewer op kulturele gebied gedurende skool loopbaan: Amor van der Walt, suiwer gebruik van Afrikaans, beste senior redenaar, beste Afrikaanse kreatiewe skrywer: Lelani Davel, top akademiese prestasie vir 2020 - Dux Leerder Graad 12, met ‘n gemiddeld van 93.29%, sowel as beste Engelse huistaal kreatiewe skrywer en tweetaligheid: Ammaarah Arbee. Ligbron Ambassadeurstoekenning – Cara Bruwer, beste senior netbalspeler: Siphosethu Mkwnazi en die beste bydrae gelewer tot bevordering van Afrikaans is skoolloopbaan is Schoeman Terblanche. “Baie geluk aan elke Liggie wat ‘n toekenning ontvang het. Die Liggies bedank ook graag vir TWK Agri, sowel as Ermelo Phoenix Rotary Klub, Top Carpets and Floors, Bernina, Mix and Match en ENA Boekwinkel wat die aand moontlik gemaak het.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Raees Tikly vaar besonder goed, en behaal ‘n lands wye tweede plek in sy afdeling. “Raees, die Erries is geweldig trots op jou! Hartlik geluk aan elke leerder wat deelgeneem en hul Godgegewe talente nog fyner kom slyp het. Hoërskool Ermelo is trots op ons agt Erries wat gewis nie op hul bekke geval is nie!” Agt Erries neem deel aan Oppie-Tong-Af se nasionale finaal Raees Tikly vaar besonder goed, en behaal ‘n lands wye tweede plek in sy afdeling. Raees Tikly vaar besonder goed, en behaal ‘n lands wye tweede plek in sy afdeling. 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 20 October 2020 Raees Tikly vaar besonder goed, en behaal ‘n lands wye tweede plek in sy afdeling. “Raees, die Erries is geweldig trots op jou! Hartlik geluk aan elke leerder wat deelgeneem en hul Godgegewe talente nog fyner kom slyp het. Hoërskool Ermelo is trots op ons agt Erries wat gewis nie op hul bekke geval is nie!” Verskeie Erries het die afgelope week aanlyn aan die nasionale finaal van die Oppie-Tong-Af-redenaars kompetisie deelgeneem. Caylin Loock, Carla Ferreira, Danielle Koçaj en Jenna Oosthuizen het in die Afrikaanse voorbereide span redenaars afdeling meegeding. Die individuele redenaars het in die volgende kategorieë meegeding: LeandriViviers (Afrikaanse voorbereide toespraak), Johnke Prinsloo (Engelse voorbereide toespraak), RaeesTikly (Engelse motiveringstoespraak) en Mienke Cloete (Goue Tong). In die Goue Tong-afdeling ontvang leerders ‘n onderwerp, en slegs 5 minute voorbereidingstyd, waarna hul ‘n toespraak van 5-7 minute moet lewer. Raees Tikly vaar besonder goed, en behaal ‘n lands wye tweede plek in sy afdeling. “Raees, die Erries is geweldig trots op jou! Hartlik geluk aan elke leerder wat deelgeneem en hul Godgegewe talente nog fyner kom slyp het. Hoërskool Ermelo is trots op ons agt Erries wat gewis nie op hul bekke geval is nie!” < Previous Article Next Article >

According to the AG, MLM incurred a staggering loss of R76 348 177 during the financial year 2019/2020, and also that the municipality’s current liabilities exceeded their current assets by R923 548 805. A local municipality is charged with providing basic services, including temporary services, to all residents, formal and informal. COGTA to be asked to intervene as MLM’s financial crisis deepens 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 27 July 2021 According to the AG, MLM incurred a staggering loss of R76 348 177 during the financial year 2019/2020, and also that the municipality’s current liabilities exceeded their current assets by R923 548 805. A local municipality is charged with providing basic services, including temporary services, to all residents, formal and informal. “A municipality which is in financial distress can never be in a position to deliver services to its residents. A letter will be written to the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Busisiwe Shiba, asking her to intervene and help these municipalities fix their dismal financial status so that they can be in a better state to provide proper services to residents.” Trudie Grovè-Morgan, MPL Democratic Alliance (DA) Spokesperson on COGTA expressed concern over the lack of service delivery from several Mpumalanga municipalities, with Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) and eMalahleni being in the spotlight. The 2019/2020 Auditor-General’s (AG) report of both municipalities of eMalahleni and Msukaligwa showed that they are facing deepening financial crises. This, in turn, makes it difficult for them to provide services to residents. “Since 2016, the DA has been requesting that they are placed under administration, to no avail. The Eskom debt in eMalahleni increased from R1 billion at the end of December 2016, to being the R5 billion it is today. This exponential increase can never be justified as deserving residents are robbed of basic services by interest which is generated on this overdue account,” Grovè-Morgan said. Closer to home, residents under the wing of MLM are also feeling the brunt, with service delivery being an extremely sore point, in Ermelo, Breyten, Chrissiesmeer, Wesselton, and Sun City. The financial issues faced by MLM has also not improved since the previous AG’s report. The report stated that several Mpumalanga municipalities showed blatant disregard of compliance with key legislation, with no consequences from government. MLM, along with six other local municipalities were identified by the AG as in crisis. The AG further expressed concern that despite highlighting areas of concern and recommending action to remedy the situation on the two reports prior to the 2019/2020 report, municipalities did not investigate any unauthorized, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure. Therefore, the trend of wasteful expenditure while residents suffer still continue. According to the AG, MLM incurred a staggering loss of R76 348 177 during the financial year 2019/2020, and also that the municipality’s current liabilities exceeded their current assets by R923 548 805. A local municipality is charged with providing basic services, including temporary services, to all residents, formal and informal. However, there have been several reports and complaints from residents that fall under MLM, living in informal settlements, who, amongst other things, have to dig their own pit toilets or use the veld. The provision of basic electrical and sewerage infrastructure is also being neglected , or simply not provided. Refuse is not removed, and the dubious quality of the water supply is a major cause for concern. A myriad of raw sewage overflows in a multitude of areas further aggravate the situation. All of these factors endangers residents’ health, particularly during a pandemic. Residents and businesses in Ermelo and the surrounding areas buckle under the strain of daily electrical outages, where many areas are left without electricity for days on end. Damage to electronics and household appliances is a burden weighing heavily on residents withing MLM’s governance, with the municipality simply washing their hands of it. Furthermore, the political and administrative leadership in Mpumalanga local government is criticized for not demonstrating decisiveness in dealing with the deteriorating internal control environment, allowing unethical behavior, misconduct and a culture of no consequences in the process. The AG has noted concern that these circumstances may facilitate theft and fraud, while a number of financially distressed municipalities in the province can’t be resuscitated, even with assistance from the provincial task teams dispatched to implement financial recovery plans. The audit outcomes indicate that internal controls do not work effectively. According to the AG’s reports, employee cost across the municipalities averaged up to 45% of the total municipal budget. This, in turn, cuts into funds allocated for service delivery, hence the spectacular failure of service delivery from many municipalities, including Msukaligwa Local Municipality. It was also noted that the majority of the local municipalities, including Msukaligwa Local Municipality, failed to spend conditional grants for infrastructure development and maintenance from the national government. “The DA thus calls on the Mpumalanga provincial government to intervene and assist municipalities such as eMalahleni and Msukaligwa Local Municipality, as they are financially distressed, and not in a position to deliver the intended services to residents.” < Previous Article Next Article >

AfriForum water-uitslae laat wenkbroue lig 1/3 Share GK CRONJE 12 January 2022 “AfriForum se nasionale blou-en-groendruppelprojek fokus op die stand van dorpe se drinkwater- en rioolaanlegte." AfriForum het in 2021 verskeie dorpe in Mpumalanga se water getoets om die gehalte van dié dorpe se drink- (bloudruppelstatus) en rioolwater (groendruppelstatus) te bepaal. “Ons kon vasstel dat al die dorpe in die provinsie se drinkwater aan die minimum standaarde voldoen en geen skadelike bakterieë bevat nie. AfriForum sal die watergehalte deurlopend toets want inwoners het ’n grondwetlike reg tot skoon drinkwater,” sê Hennie Bekker, AfriForum se distrikskoördineerder vir Mpumalanga. In Ermelo is beide die drink- en rioolwater as “skoon” bepaal. Hierdie bepaling het altans verskeie inwoners hardop laat skater van die lag, aangesien verskeie dele van Ermelo en die omgewing se waterkwaliteit en toevoer laakbaar is, om die minste te sê. “AfriForum se nasionale blou-en-groendruppelprojek fokus op die stand van dorpe se drinkwater- en rioolaanlegte. Dié projekte fokus nie noodwendig op die toestand van die aanleg self nie, maar wel op die gehalte van die water wat ná die proses as eindproduk in die vorm van drinkwater en behandelde rioolwater gelewer word,” sluit Bekker af. AfriForum versoek elke jaar dat die Departement van Water en Sanitasie (DWS) weer ’n blou-en-groendruppelverslag bekend maak en verwelkom dus dat die Departement vroeër vanjaar bekend gemaak het dat hulle weer die blou-en-groen-druppelverslag gaan opstel om sowel die waterkwaliteit as infrastruktuurkwaliteit in die land te bepaal. As die bewaarder van water kom die DWS nie sy verpligtinge na deur wetgewing toe te pas wanneer munisipale owerhede die skuldige partye is nie. Dit is van kardinale belang dat ons nie ophou om die gehalte van ons drink- en rioolafvalwater toets nie. Ons moet dié lewensbelangrike bron beskerm. Die Tribune ePaper het navraag gerig aan AfriForum rakende die uitslae, en die bleek realiteit van die water in Ermelo. Tot hede is geen terugvoering ontvang nie. < Previous Article Next Article >

One would assume that the stream of vacancies advertised by MLM for horticulturists, groundskeepers and other positions relating to parks and grounds maintenance, Ermelo would be a beacon of neatness. This is, however, not the case. Kindling for zealous arsonists 1/5 Share GK CRONJE 15 March 2022 One would assume that the stream of vacancies advertised by MLM for horticulturists, groundskeepers and other positions relating to parks and grounds maintenance, Ermelo would be a beacon of neatness. This is, however, not the case. The neglected state of Msukaligwa Local Municipality’s council grounds have long been a topic of discussion, with residents learning to deal with the repercussions as best they can. A prime example is the sordid state of the open fields and crossings within the municipal jurisdiction. With the dry season approaching, it is but a matter of time before the annual cases of arson rears its fiery head. Despite several enquiries directed to MLM as to why the grounds are left to their own devices, no answer has been provided. One would assume that the stream of vacancies advertised by MLM for horticulturists, groundskeepers and other positions relating to parks and grounds maintenance, Ermelo would be a beacon of neatness. This is, however, not the case. Motorists and pedestrians have to crane their necks at intersections within the wards to see past the grass taller than a vehicle’s roof, stray cattle leap from the shrubbery into oncoming traffic, and opportunistic criminals have convenient camouflage from the eyes of law enforcement and neighborhood watch. Once these fields are set alight, the thick bellows of smoke is a whole other kettle of fish, with road users and pedestrians being in equal danger due to the poor visibility that comes with the smoldering grass. Moreover, embers being carried during these field fires pose a danger to residences within the wards, which could easily catch fire during dry season. While MLM departments simply mow the field corners of selected intersections to make it easier to sport oncoming traffic, this is but wool over the eyes of ongoing service delivery failure issues. Unfortunately for wards already facing electrical infrastructure collapse, a large amount of electrical kiosks are shrouded in the tall grass. When this kindling lures a arsonists with an itchy finger, scores of residents are left in the dark as the kiosks are damaged beyond repair. In turn, this causes extensive expenditures on MLM’s books... And so the cycle of financial infeasibility continues. < Previous Article Next Article >

Thulatsepo General Trading was appointed as contractor for the project, with a completion date of 30 June 2023. 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 >

GSDM hosts inaugural council meeting 1/5 Share GK CRONJE 30 November 2021 The council is comprised of the majority seats held by the ANC (28), followed by the official opposition party, EFF (10), the DA (8) and lastly, the VF Plus (2). The Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM) successfully convened its inaugural council meeting on Thursday, 25 November. Attendance was limited due to COVID-19 regulations, but the meeting could be observed via the live stream. The meeting was, however, not with out strife, as security was beefed up due to threats of residents who planned on disrupting the meeting. This council sitting marks the sixth administration for the GSDM offices in Ermelo. The council is comprised of the majority seats held by the ANC (28), followed by the official opposition party, EFF (10), the DA (8) and lastly, the VF Plus (2). During the sitting, Cllr Busisiwe Sekhonde was elected as Speaker of Council, Cllr Walter Mngomezulu was elected Executive Mayor, replacing honorable Cllr Chirwa, Cllr Trevor Nkosi was elected Whip of Council, and Cllr Noliqwa Nhlapo being elected as Chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee. < Previous Article Next Article >