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SASCO steps in at GS College 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 20 April 2021 Students are also irked due to the fact that learning material allowances have not been allocated to some students, even though some have commenced with the 2021 academic year. Gert Sibande Ermelo Campus has seen its fair share of protests and unrest recently, while attempting to appease students who have not received their NSFAS grant payments, whilst others have only received partial payment. Students are also irked due to the fact that learning material allowances have not been allocated to some students, even though some have commenced with the 2021 academic year. The Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, addressed this issue, and said that NSFAS will only receiving it's first bulk of money from National Treasury in April 2021, from where they will start disbursing funds to institutions. However, the South African Students Congress (SASCO) is having none of this. SASCO has voiced its concern regarding the non-payment to TVET Colleges, and as a result many vulnerable students have been evicted from their residences. SASCO has written to the Chief Executive Officer, Andile Nongogo, requesting an urgent meeting to get a full report on the situation, and will further request to meet the DDG responsible for TVET Colleges. “We call upon all colleges affected to speedily share their registration templates with the National Financial Aid Scheme, in order to ensure that students are not unnecessarily disadvantaged due to negligence and incompetence. We will instruct our SRCs and SAVETSA to ensure that colleges are compliant and cooperating, to speedily resolve these issues. We wish to reiterate our call that TVET Colleges deserve better quality student accommodation of the same standard as universities. This move will ensure that TVET Colleges also accredit and protect the livelihood of college students, and shield them from further abuse by landlords,” SASCO said in a statement. At the time of publication, Gert Sibande College failed to respond to enquiries. < Previous Article Next Article >

Golfers brave wishy-washy weather 1/4 Share GK CRONJE 31 August 2021 On Saturday, 4 September 2021, the Evangelical Reformed Church will be hosting a fundraising golf day at Ermelo Golf Club, and can already be booked from 07:00. On Saturday, avid golfers of Ermelo braved the muddled weather to fit in a day of excitement and camaraderie. The players made swift work of the holes, and breezed through the game in record time. The newly revamped clubhouse provided a welcome refuge from the elements, as players grabbed something to eat, whilst others quenched their thirst with a well-deserved beverage. The clubhouse is almost unrecognizable, but in a good way, with suave interior decorations and exquisite furniture, benches and tables. The golf day was hosted in aid of the renovations to the bar, porch and lounge area of the club. Noeline Loubser from Ermelo Toyota, ladies members and other helpers have worked hard for the past 2 months, and further plan to undergo a transformation of the said part of the club building. Taking part in the event were 27 four-ballers (108 players) lined up to take part in the “4 Ball American Scramble” competition that was presented to celebrate the commissioning of the new facilities. The results of the day’s competition are as follows: 1 - Colin Odendaal, Christian Odendaal, Frikkie Odendaal and Stefan Pelser with 52 points net, 2 - Herman Swart, Niel Clifford, Fred Els and Bossie Bosman with 53 net counts, 3 - James Nkonde, Patrick Thomo, Charles Magagula and David Mashinini with 53 net counts, 4 - Marelize Potgieter, Annecke Fourie, Janice Swanepoel and Karen Cilliers with 55 points, 5 - Derek Fick, Johan Pie-naar, Phillip Steyn and André Steyn with 55 points , and 6 - Tollie Schoeman, Dirk Koch, Pierre Steyn, and Zach Smit only scored 55 points. On Saturday, 4 September 2021, the Evangelical Reformed Church will be hosting a fundraising golf day at Ermelo Golf Club, and can already be booked from 07:00. < 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 >

Missing man sought by family 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 15 November 2022 Willem was last seen traveling from Morgenzon in his white Toyota Hilux Dakar bakkie, with registration number FBH 948 L. Family and friends of Willem Kruger (29) has launched a frantic search after the man never arrived at his destination in Groblersdal. On Sunday, Willem traveled from Morgenzon, and was supposed to arrive at his residence in Groblersdal later that day after leaving a bachelor party. He has since been reported as missing, and calls for assistance to find him have flooded social media. Willem was last seen traveling from Morgenzon in his white Toyota Hilux Dakar bakkie, with registration number FBH 948 L. The family appeals that no false information be relayed or shared on social media that could hamper the search. If you have tangible evidence that could assist in finding Willem, please contact the Groblersdal SAPS on 013 262 8371, or contact the family directly on 083 610 1030, 079 510 9042, or 082 542 8345. < Previous Article Next Article >

ACSU, die woord wat op almal se lippe hang. ACSU beheerkamer is op Maandag, 1 Junie, ongeveer 09:47 geskakel om te vra vir hulp van ‘n kliënt wat geroof is. ACSU se reaksie lede het blitsvinnig by die toneel opgedaag. Die eienaar van die besigheid wat geleë is in die industriële area het kontant, asook hout goedere vervoer in ‘n wit Nissan bakkie. Die eienaar was gestop langs die pad by die treinspoor in die industriële area, waar daar vier mans, waarvan een gewapen was, beveel het dat hy uit die voertuig moet klim. Die vier mans het binne in die bakkie gespring gevlug met die vrag, sowel as ‘n groot bedrag kontant. Niemand is beseer tydens die voorval nie, en geen verdagtes was teen tye van pers vasgtrek nie. ACSU reageer blitsvinnig ACSU reageer blitsvinnig 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 2 Junie 2020 ACSU se reaksie lede het blitsvinnig by die toneel opgedaag. Die eienaar van die besigheid wat geleë is in die industriële area het kontant, asook hout goedere vervoer in ‘n wit Nissan bakkie. Die eienaar was gestop langs die pad by die treinspoor in die industriële area, waar daar vier mans, waarvan een gewapen was, beveel het dat hy uit die voertuig moet klim. ACSU, die woord wat op almal se lippe hang. ACSU beheerkamer is op Maandag, 1 Junie, ongeveer 09:47 geskakel om te vra vir hulp van ‘n kliënt wat geroof is. ACSU se reaksie lede het blitsvinnig by die toneel opgedaag. Die eienaar van die besigheid wat geleë is in die industriële area het kontant, asook hout goedere vervoer in ‘n wit Nissan bakkie. Die eienaar was gestop langs die pad by die treinspoor in die industriële area, waar daar vier mans, waarvan een gewapen was, beveel het dat hy uit die voertuig moet klim. Die vier mans het binne in die bakkie gespring gevlug met die vrag, sowel as ‘n groot bedrag kontant. Niemand is beseer tydens die voorval nie, en geen verdagtes was teen tye van pers vasgtrek nie. < Previous Article Next Article >

Jansen Street drug den causes unease 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 12 January 2021 “I have phoned the SAPS on several occasions, as looters carry away stolen items from the property. On one specific day a looter brought his own wheelbarrow, and casually loaded the geyser looted from the property. I phoned the SAPS, but they took over an hour to arrive." What once was a beautifully maintained residence, has now regressed to a source of disconcertment to surrounding residents, most notably for its infamy as a known drug haven for addicts and all manner of vagrants. Reports of blatant prostitution within the husk of the residence has also surfaced, with no heed paid by authorities. The house, which is being systematically looted of all valuable items, which includes pipes, fittings, taps, window frames and doors, is now a source of concern, as well as a threat to the safety of surrounding residents. “We can not even leave our residence for more than a day, because the vagrants that squat in the abandoned house keeps and eye on our movements. I have resorted to adding extra security gates and burglar bars to our house, because the squatters steal items from our yard. I have caught several of them red-handed, where they carry items out of our yard during broad daylight. I don’t feel safe in my own home, and the constant stream of devious characters visiting this abandoned property gives me the shivers. They deal drugs in the open, and couldn’t care less about who sees them. Many of the vagrants who visit the property to get their fix, can barely walk straight when the exit the property. It is unacceptable, but nobody cares.” a nearby resident lamented. “I have phoned the SAPS on several occasions, as looters carry away stolen items from the property. On one specific day a looter brought his own wheelbarrow, and casually loaded the geyser looted from the property. I phoned the SAPS, but they took over an hour to arrive, and when they finally arrived, they just looked at the house and drove away without investigating. I am also very concerned about the long grass and shrubbery on this abandoned property, as it is an extreme fire hazard, especially during winter time. I just wish someone would take action, or the owner of the property would sell or demolish the house. I really stresses me out.” the resident concluded. < Previous Article Next Article >

Hondsdolheid is ernstige sake Theo Schönfeldt en sy span tydens die hondsdolheid inentings op Maandag, 12 Oktober. Theo Schönfeldt en sy span tydens die hondsdolheid inentings op Maandag, 12 Oktober. Theo Schönfeldt en sy span tydens die hondsdolheid inentings op Maandag, 12 Oktober. 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 13 October 2020 Die inentings sal ook plaasvind in Wesselton op 13 en 14 Oktober 2020, en die nodige informasie sal met luidsprekers voorsien word. Theo nooi graag alle inwoners wat die inentings misgeloop het, om hul diere te neem na die Nooitgedacht Proefplaas op die N17, waar die diens ook gratis verkry kan word. Hondsdolheid is 'n aansteeklike virussiekte wat die brein en die rugmurg beskadig, en is dodelik. Dit raak beide diere en mense, en word veroorsaak deur die hondsdolheidsvirus. Twee biotipes hondsdolheidsvirus kom voor in Suider-Afrika: die tipe honde wat in huise en ander honde sirkuleer, en die soort lewende diere wat in mangoë sirkuleer. Hondsdolheid by honde is 'n voorkombare siekte. Hondsdolheid kan voorkom word deur diere teen hondsdolheid in te ent. Alle mak honde en katte moet ingeënt word teen hondsdolheid na drie maande ouderdom. Menslike infeksie met hondsdolheid na blootstelling aan hondsdolheid of vermoedelike hondsdolheid-besmette diere kan voorkom word deur onmiddellike toediening van hondsdolheid ná blootstelling aan profilakse (PEP). Persone wat in aanraking kom met besmette diere, gewoonlik honde, katte, mongoë, beeste of vlermuise, stel hulself in gevaar. Kinders het 'n hoër risiko, omdat hulle geneig is om met honde te speel, weerloos is, en meer geneig is om gebyt te word. Veeartse en laboratoriumwerkers loop ook 'n groter risiko as gevolg van blootstelling deur hul professie. Hondsdolheid kom duidelik meer voor by huishonde in KwaZulu-Natal, Oos-Kaap, Mpumalanga, Vrystaat en Limpopo. Menslike hondsdolheid word ook dus hoofsaaklik uit hierdie provinsies aangemeld. Hondsdol diere is geneig om vreemd op te tree, dikwels aggressief. Hulle ervaar ook spierverlamming, produseer baie speeksel en sukkel om te sluk. Wilde diere kan mensvrees verloor, en vreemd mak word. Dit lyk asof koeie en skape met hondsdolheid iets in hul keel "vassit". Hondsdolheid kom by mense voor in die vorm van "woedende" hondsdolheid of "stom" hondsdolheid. Aanvanklike simptome van hondsdolheid kan nie spesifiek wees nie en sluit algemene swakheid, ongemak, koors en hoofpyn in. Tinteling op die bytplek kan opgemerk word. Die siekte vorder vinnig na "woedende" hondsdolheid, wat as angs, verwarring en agitasie voorkom. Namate die siekte vorder, word die pasiënt misleidend, optree hy abnormaal, hallusineer en kan hy 'n verskeidenheid psigiatriese simptome hê voordat hy komaat word. Die "verlamde" of "stomme" vorm van hondsdolheid is klinies soortgelyk aan poliomiëlitis, maar kom voor met dalende verlamming, koma en dood. Die akute siekteperiode duur gewoonlik 2 tot 10 dae. Daar is geen toetse beskikbaar om hondsdolheid by mense te toets na blootstelling en voordat simptome ontwikkel nie, en geen behandeling is beskikbaar vir hondsdolheid by mense of diere nie. Theo Schönfeldt en sy span is vandeesweek beskikbaar vir gratis hondsdolheid inentings, en het gister (Maandag) die gratis diens aan die publiek voorsien by die munisipale parkeerarea. Die inentings sal ook plaasvind in Wesselton op 13 en 14 Oktober 2020, en die nodige informasie sal met luidsprekers voorsien word. Theo nooi graag alle inwoners wat die inentings misgeloop het, om hul diere te neem na die Nooitgedacht Proefplaas op die N17, waar die diens ook gratis verkry kan word. < Previous Article Next Article >

Air Liquide finalizes biggest oxygen production site in the world 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 29 June 2021 We are pleased to welcome the employees who are joining us from Sasol, and are looking forward to modernizing the site and implementing our decarbonization plan. Air Liquide has finalized the acquisition of Sasol’s 16 Air Separation Units (ASU) located in Secunda. Air Liquide will operate this site, which will be the biggest oxygen production site in the world, with a plan to reduce its CO2 emissions by 30% to 40% within the next ten years. As part of this operation, Air Liquide welcomes the more than 220 employees who will continue to operate these ASUs, joining the Air Liquide team in Secunda, where it already operates a 17th ASU. The initial investment is approximately 8 billion South African Rand (circa 480 million euros). The 16 ASUs will be operated by Air Liquide Large Industries South Africa (ALLISA) with a total installed capacity of 42,000 tonnes per day. Since 2018, Air Liquide has been operating a 17th ASU for Sasol on the Secunda site, with a total production capacity of 5,000 tonnes per day. The 16 ASUs taken over from Sasol will be integrated in Air Liquide’s accounts starting immediately. Air Liquide will bring to the site its expertise in implementing highly mastered operational practices, state of the art technologies, modernization investments and digital capabilities to optimize the operation of the ASUs and the energy consumption. In addition, Air Liquide and Sasol have launched a Request for Proposal (RFP) to pursue supply of 600MW of renewable energy to the operations in Secunda by 2025. This RFP is part of the joint commitment to pursue procurement of a total of up to 900MW of renewables by 2030. The implementation of all these solutions will allow Air Liquide to reduce by 30% to 40% the CO2 emissions linked to oxygen production within the next 10 years, in line with the group’s climate commitments. “The finalization of this deal is a key milestone in our ambition to work together with Sasol, our partner for 40 years, to combine operational efficiency and reduction of CO2 emissions while making a meaningful contribution to the economy of South Africa. We are pleased to welcome the employees who are joining us from Sasol, and are looking forward to modernizing the site and implementing our decarbonization plan. In line with our strategy, and with our commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, this operation demonstrates our resolve to act now in favor of the climate and local ecosystems,” Benoît Potier, Chairman and CEO of Air Liquide, said. < Previous Article Next Article >

Cricket stalwart Lizelle Lee announces retirement 1/1 Share Supplied Content 12 July 2022 Momentum Proteas batter, Lizelle Lee has announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect. Momentum Proteas batter, Lizelle Lee has announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket with immediate effect. This news comes ahead of the Proteas Women’s three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against England, getting underway from Monday, 11 July in Northampton. The Ermelo-born 30-year-old made her international bow for South Africa in 2013 during the inbound tour against Bangladesh, debuting in T20 International (T20I) cricket at her home ground in Potchefstroom before receiving her first cap in One-Day International (ODI) cricket a week later. In the 50-over game, the opening batter amassed 3 315 runs in 100 matches, including 23 half-centuries and three centuries with a career-best score of 132 not out against India in Lucknow in March last year. In the shorter format, Lee played 82 games for the green and gold, recording 1 896 runs, while notching up 13 fifties and one hundred against Thailand in 2020, which made her only the second South African woman to reach triple figures in T20Is. The Senwes Dragons star leaves the international stage in first place on the runs-scorer’s list in T20I cricket for South Africa, while she only comes second to the recently retired Mignon du Preez in the One-Day format. Lee’s statement is as follows: “It is with a lot of mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from international cricket. From a very young age, I have lived cricket and wanted to represent my country at the highest level. Over the past 8 years I was able to live that dream and I feel I have given everything I could to the Proteas. I feel that I am ready for the next phase in my career and will continue to play domestic T20 cricket around the world. It has been an incredible journey and it would not have been possible without everyone who has supported me during my international career. I want to thank my family, especially my wife Tanja for all the sacrifices they have made for me to live out my dream to represent my country. Thank you to CSA, SACA and all stakeholders involved for the opportunities and support you afforded me to make my dreams of playing for the Proteas come true. My fellow Proteas teammates, thank you for the wonderful memories we have made together. You have made this journey incredible, and I could not have done this without you. I will always be supporting you; we will always be rising together. Lastly to my fans, I am the person I am because of the love and support you have given me throughout my international career. I look forward to continuing this journey with you in the different leagues around the world,” she concluded. “It is with great sadness that we have to bid farewell to a titan of South African cricket at a relatively young age, however we wholeheartedly respect the individual’s decision and her desire to move onto the next chapter of her playing career. Lizelle has given this nation countless memorable moments on the field of play, most notably in 2021 when she was leading from the front with the bat towards being named the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in an effort to help South Africa soar to second place on the ICC ODI Rankings. We wish her and her young family nothing but the best from here onwards,” the Director of Cricket, Enoch Nkwe, commented. Pholetsi Moseki, Cricket South Africa (CSA) Chief Executive Officer said: “On behalf of Cricket South Africa (CSA), I’d like to thank Lizelle for her more than eight years of service for the Proteas and wish her all the very best for all her future endeavours, including her ongoing domestic career at home and all around the world. Her explosive batting and her all-round talents at the highest level of the game will be sorely missed by all in the international cricketing fraternity and by the South African public. The legacy she has left behind will be felt for many a year yet,” Moseki concluded. - Cricket South Africa Corporate Communications < Previous Article Next Article >

Klarissa se ligaam gevind 1/3 Share GK CRONJE 26 January 2021 Sy is deur die rivier se stroom meegesleur. Haar vriende het verbete probeer om by haar uit te kom, maar sy het te ver gedryf. Klarissa Joubert, die 19-jarige student wat sedert Donderdagaand in die Oranjerivier vermis is, se liggaam is naby aan die punt waar die fratsongeluk gebeur het gevind. Orania Veiligheidsdienste, die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie en amptelike dorpsverteenwoordigers is op die toneel om die reuse operasie wat oor etlike dae gestrek het af te handel. Tydens die soektog het Orania se amptelike veiligheidsgroepe, OraniaMED24, die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie, boere uit die omgewing, en 100de vrywilligers dag en nag saamgewerk om Klarissa te vind. Die Orania-gemeenskap, die omliggende boere en amptelike strukture se samewerking is ‘n duidelike bewys van die vermoë wat ontsluit kan word as ‘n gemeenskap saamwerk na ‘n gemeenskaplike doel, selfs in ‘n baie traumatiese tyd. Tydens die soektog is daar ‘n wye ondersteunersnetwerk gevorm, wat alles van kos en brandstof tot gebede en ondersteuning omvat het. Die familie het opregte dank aan die gemeenskap van Orania, die vrywilligers, hulle vriende van Ermelo, die SAPD en elke helper uitgespreek. Die familie het ‘n ernstige beroep gedoen dat media en ander persone hulle privaatheid respekteer, hulle nie skakel nie en alle navrae deur die amptelike woordvoerder doen. Die grootskaalse soektog oor etlike na Klarissa, het die hele Suid Afrika se harte geraak, met gebede, hulp en donasies wat ingestroom om die meisie op te spoor. Die Orania Veiligheidsdienste, veiligheidspanne, die polisie van Kimberley se soektog- en reddingspan, vrywilligers, vlieëniers van ‘n mikroligte vliegtuie en hommeltuie, stapspanne, bootspanne, asook boere in die omgewing het hande gevat in die soektog. Joost Strydom, voorsitter van die Orania Beweging, het drie helikopters beskikbaar gestel om die roete en oewers te fynkam. Klarissa, ‘n sielkundestudent, het Donderdagmiddag saam met vriende op binnebande op die rivier gedryf, toe sy afgeval het. Sy is deur die rivier se stroom meegesleur. Haar vriende het verbete probeer om by haar uit te kom, maar sy het te ver gedryf. Hulle het hulp ontbied, en sodoende was die soektog afgeskop. Klarissa Joubert Onskuldige reis as jong vrou, Het sy die silwerblink water vetrou. Gedans op die ritmiese golf-rivier, en geskaterlag in die somerplesier. Maar binne sekondes, Klaris Was die golwe sterk en seer. Die nimmereindigende storm het bly woed- Al het ons probeer keer. Mismoedige hart, en soekende gees: Bid tot God, al spreek die vrees. Wankelede bene en rou gemoed: Smeek om hulp teen die storm wat woed. Nou Soekend, worstelend en vraend- Langs die Oranje-massa se spoel- Kniel ‘n gemeenskap en sing, dat hemelse-musiek jou huis toe sal bring. Jesus-lied strek oor die waters heen, En vra vir nóg n kans geleen. Sodat ons sonskyn-kind weer kan dans- In onse arms: haar Lewegewende kans. - Elmé Strauss < Previous Article Next Article >

"We are the ones losing clients and business, yet we have to dig into our wallets to assist the municipality." Havenga Road gone to hell in a handbasket 1/6 Share GK CRONJE 11 January 2022 "We are the ones losing clients and business, yet we have to dig into our wallets to assist the municipality." Scores of residents, along with heavy vehicle drivers, have lamented the shoddy state of Havenga Road. Motorists are forced to drive on the sidewalk to avoid the ghastly sinkholes and potholes. Some of the sinkholes measure up to 50 centimeters in depth, and some of these sinkholes cause the mud flaps and belly plates from heavy vehicles to scrape on what remains of the road. The road conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that various heavy vehicle drivers have a had close calls being bogged down by their load, and all drivers have an amazingly stressful time navigating the maze of sinkholes. The road surface virtually nonexistent, with motorists having to take detours, or face the offroad track that is Havenga Road. Recent rainfall has highlighted the utter lack of maintenance and upkeep from Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) of this designated heavy vehicle route. Msukaligwa Local Municipality's spokesman, Mandla Zwane, has stated in December 2021 that the municipality had plans on making the road traversable with the assistance of local businesses. Alas, the roadway is currently in an exponentially worse condition due to the rainfall experienced. Several local businesses have, however, expressed their dissatisfaction at the fact that MLM comes crawling tail between the legs for assistance when service delivery situations get financially too hot to handle. “It is funny that the municipality only acknowledges big roleplayers in the Ermelo business and mining sectors when they are in need of assistance. We have been nagging at the municipality to take action with regards to Havenga Road, to maintain the surface and to make repairs before the road surface is too far gone;” a local business owner, who chooses to remain anonymous, lamented. “We have had several meetings with the officials at the municipality to avoid Havenga Road becoming a second Wessels Road lawsuit. However, nobody paid any heed, and all we as business owners were offered were half-hearted heaps of soil ditched in the sinkholes. The municipality did not even care enough to compact the soil. Months later, and now business owners and mining businesses are requested to assist with materials and machinery. To what end? It is clear that we, as business sector, are being misused. We are the ones losing clients and business, yet we have to dig into our wallets to assist the municipality, who is already pocketing and clearly wasting our rates and taxes, along with skyhigh water and electricity bills that we have to fork out every month. They are getting to the end of their rope and I don’t even feel a tinge of remorse for refusing to assist them in any way.” Road users are warned to the fact that smaller, deceptively deep potholes may be waterlogged, and pose a danger to unaware motorists further aggravates the situation. The shocking state of Havenga Road. You may view more photos and videos on our Facebook page, Tribune Ermelo. < Previous Article Next Article >

New bank card suggested by the SARB 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 16 March 2021 This should allow for cheaper transactions than those offered by institutions such as Visa and Mastercard. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) stated that it will conduct an assessment on the feasibility of establishing a domestic card scheme. The central bank said that the assessment will look at creating ‘white-label’ banking cards that can only be used in South Africa or neighbouring countries, which should allow for cheaper transactions than those offered by institutions such as Visa and Mastercard. “In South Africa, Visa and Mastercard have dominated the card scheme market. In 2019, approximately 48.8 million cards were in circulation in South Africa, and 5.6 billion transactions to the value of R2.1 trillion were processed,” the SARB said. “This is an increase in volume of 16.2% and in value of 15.6% compared to 2018. A card scheme is therefore a key component of the NPS.” The SARB said that most of unbanked South Africans have no immediate need for a card that can be used overseas. “This raises the question regarding the scope for developing white-label or locally branded cards as cheaper alternatives to the brands of the major card schemes, especially for consumers who do not enter into global internet transactions or use cards beyond the borders of South Africa or beyond the Southern African Development Community (SADC). SARB said. The Reserve Bank said that the success of a sustainable domestic card scheme would depend on the collective effort and support of card issuers, retailers, consumers, regulators, policymakers, and government departments. < Previous Article Next Article >