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Lizelle Lee is a cricketing powerhouse 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 15 March 2022 Cricket is a simple sport at its core. A ball is delivered. Someone with a bat 20.12m away has to hit it... and few hit it harder than Lee. South Africa’s Proteas find themselves in an unfamiliar position heading into the 50-over World Cup in New Zealand. For the first time in 14 global tournaments, they harbour realistic ambitions of lifting the trophy. “We wouldn’t be going if we didn’t all believe we could actually do it,” says Lizelle Lee, the team’s destructive opening batter who was recently recognized as the best 50-over player in the world by the International Cricket Council (ICC). “We spoke about this in camp. We all agreed that there was no point in going if we didn’t intend to come back as champions. We know it’s never been done before, but we want to make history as the first South African team to win a World Cup.” South Africans have conquered the world before. The men’s Under-19 team, captained by Aiden Markram and coached by Ray Jennings, in 2014 became the first side to win a major final. But no senior squad has done it. This group is unburdened by a history of failing when it mattered. The South African women’s side, under-resourced in every metric compared with their male counterparts, have long fought for equality in the country’s third most popular sport. All too often they’ve been regarded as an afterthought, contesting untelevised games in near-empty stadiums. “When I was growing up, I didn’t even know there was a South African women’s team,” says Lee, who grew up in Ermelo, and will be turning 30-years-old in April. “It just wasn’t something I was conscious of and I know a lot of other girls will tell you the same thing. It wasn’t on TV. You didn’t see games advertised. I played because I loved the game. I didn’t play for fame or money or recognition.” The dial shifted in 2013 when insurance firm Momentum joined as a title sponsor and helped Cricket South Africa (CSA) fund full-time contracts for six players. That number increased over the years, there are currently 15 centrally contracted players with CSA, but changes in other facets have been slow. The team was constantly playing catch-up with the more advanced cricket ecosystems in Australia and England, which together have won 16 of the 18 global showpieces since 1973. “Those countries are so far ahead,” says Lee, who has been a mainstay in the Australian Women’s Big Bash League, and has played for Somerset and Surrey in England. “Women players are given a much bigger platform there. I’m more recognised when I walk around there than I am in South Africa. But it is changing.” Lee credits CSA for ‘promoting the women’s game’ but the players have advanced their own cause on the field. By the time the T20 World Cup in Australia came into focus in January 2020, Lee could look around a dressing room studded with match-winners. “It’s not that it happened all of a sudden, because we’d been working hard for a few years,” she says. “But now we have superstars all around, genuine world-class players.” By winning the ICC ODI’s Women’s Cricketer of the Year award for 2021, she joins an elite list that includes all-time greats Stefanie Taylor of the West Indies, England’s Sarah Taylor, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and Australian duo Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry. That’s easy enough to understand. Cricket is a simple sport at its core. A ball is delivered. Someone with a bat 20.12m away has to hit it... and few hit it harder than Lee. She’s officially the best woman in 50-over cricket. And if she can hit enough balls with enough force, she may also be a World Cup champion. - Daniel Gallan, New Frame < Previous Article Next Article >

Pet Dam water siphoned into tanker labeled for consumption 1/3 Share GK CRONJE 18 August 2021 Washing or swimming in contaminated water causes rashes, pink eye, respiratory infections and hepatitis. Concerns have been raised by residents regarding a trio of water tankers that siphon water from the Pet Dam on a daily basis, usually in the early mornings. While one of the tankers is clearly a construction tanker, and the water presumably utilized for such purposes, the remaining two is a darker shade of worry. Most concerning is the fact that one of the tankers that siphon water from the Pet Dam is labeled as “drinking water”. While it is, at this stage, unclear whether the water is actually implemented for providing potable water to the community, is unclear. The municipal spokesman has stated that if the tankers are not branded with Msukaligwa Local Municipality emblems, they do not fall under the municipal framework. The Pet Dam has been a sight for sore eyes, as well as a major health hazard for the community, fauna and flora for the past decade. Constant sewage pollution due to the municipality’s lack of addressing key overflow issues have only exacerbated the issue faced. The Pet Dam is notorious for its foul smelling water, and has also come under the spotlight due to a large-scale fish kill that took place. To date, the municipality has failed to provide the results of the water tests that were supposedly conducted at the time in order to determine the cause of the fish kill. Additionally, the Pet Dam faces a constant flow of raw sewage into the body of water, which has been ongoing since circa 2009. The collapsed sewerage network along President Fouché Avenue, as far up as Camden Avenue, sees kiloliters of rew sewage flowing towards the Pet Dam on a weekly basis. Collapsed and inadequate sewerage lines in these areas, as well as in the field between both Presient Fouché Avenue, Mauritz Read and Wes Streets also causes raw sewage to contaminate the dam. A large overflow of sewage near Autumn Ridge also flows down towards the Pet Dam. Consumption of sewage contaminated water can lead to a range of illnesses and defects to both humans and animals. Drinking fecal-contaminated water can expose you to E. coli, resulting in fever, watery or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. It can also cause gastroenteritis, more commonly known as the stomach flu. This infection causes fever, watery diarrhea, headaches, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. Waterborne pathogens, in the form of disease-causing bacteria and viruses from human and animal waste, are a major cause of illness from contaminated drinking water. Diseases spread by unsafe water also include cholera, giardia, and typhoid. Annually, thousands of people struck by Legionnaires’ disease, which is a severe form of pneumonia contracted from contaminated water. This disease is potentially fatal if left untreated. Washing or swimming in contaminated water causes rashes, pink eye, respiratory infections and hepatitis. The community is urged to refrain from accepting water from any tankers that are not officially employed and commissioned by the municipality, in order to avoid receiving contaminated water that is unfit for consumption. < Previous Article Next Article >

Tribune Newspaper migrates to digital publication 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 23 February 2021 The Tribune ePaper will impress its footprint in the form of weekly e-mail updates of the top stories to subscribed readers and businesses. After careful deliberation and extensive consultation with clients and stakeholders, we are proud to announce the migration of our publication to fully digital format. Thus, this publication will be the final printed version of the newspaper, which will then be fully integrated in digital format as from 2 March 2021. In an constantly evolving landscape of information and technology, the Tribune ePaper will impress its footprint in the form of weekly e-mail updates of the top stories to subscribed readers and businesses, which will redirect then to a fully interactive web page. From there, the entire publication will be easily readable and accessible, free of subscription charges, on both mobile and desktop solutions. When visiting the interactive site, readers, clients and advertisers will be able to easily enquire and respond to advertisements in our e-publication, by simply clicking on the relevant advertisement of interest. Once clicked, an auto-completed e-mail will open in your preferred e-mail client, from where you can fill in your enquiry and send it to the advertiser in question, with minimal hassle. From there, the recipient of the e-mail will be able to easily and readily reply to the client’s enquiry, be it pricing enquiries, or simply needing more information regarding products and services. Interested advertisers may also book one of four spaces that are available on the weekly e-mail, which will reach more than 5 000 individuals at startup, with the subscriber base expanding as contact addresses are submitted. If you would like to receive your weekly Tribune ePaper, simply send a blank e-mail to tribuneinteractive@highveldtribune.com . You will then be added to the database to receive your weekly E-Paper. You may also send a WhatsApp, simply containing your e-mail address, to either 071 885 2505 or 082 542 9592, to have your address added to the mailing list. We heartily thank all our readers and advertisers for their support, and we look forward to continuing our journey together in the digital realm. Should you have any enquiries regarding advertising space, do not hesitate to contact Lynette Hattingh on 082 542 9592, send an e-mail to lynette@highveldtribune.com , or contact Sue-Marie Hattingh on 082 734 0867. If you would like to report a news event or place a municipal service delivery complaint, you may send a WhatsApp to Garth Cronje on 071 885 2505, or send an e-mail to editor@highveldtribune.com . < Previous Article Next Article >

“Good luck with your journey, and good luck for the year.” 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 >

Take a stand against poor service delivery 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 23 February 2021 This will assist the MB&CF’s legal team in bringing the municipality to penance. The Msukaligwa Business & Community Forum (MB&CF) has launched an initiative to get the public involved in bringing Msukaligwa Local Municipality to fulfil their service delivery obligations towards tax paying residents within its jurisdiction. Residents are requested to download the GPS Camera Map on their mobile phones, available from all app stores. Once installed, this application will allow the user to take photos of any and all service delivery issues, be it potholes, electrical issues, refuse, street lights, or any other service delivery related issues. The GPS Camera Application automatically overlays the exact coordinates of the photo, along with other essential information, which will assist the MB&CF’s legal team in bringing the municipality to penance. The MB&CF requests that all residents play their part in this by sending photographs via WhatsApp to 072 401 1449, or by sending an e-mail with the photo attached to mbc@myermelo.co.za . All received photographs will be presented as evidence in upcoming court cases. < Previous Article Next Article >

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

Madumane hitmaker 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 21 September 2021 Jaded is thoughtful and considered in his responses when we sit down to talk about his music and how he plans to carry this momentum to drive a meaningful and long-lasting career. Thabang Fortune Nhlapho, who is professionally known as Jaded Gluck, was born in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, the son of Gcebile Nhlapho (his late mother) and was raised by his grandmother Nomvula Soko. Jaded Gluck has six siblings, Thembelihle (his sister), Mashaba (his sister), Nomcebo (his sister), Calvin (his brother) and Lucky (his brother). He attended Cebisa Secondary School, where he was an athlete and partook in various sports. 2021 is set to be a particularly special year for Jaded Gluck. In the 4 years since he decided to devote himself to his music, the South African artist has managed to consistently ship out hit after hit along with, while staying in tune with a cult-like fanbase that has driven the rapid growth of both his music and his credibility. He explains that his connection to the people who support him comes from a deeply personal place of understanding what it’s like to be them.“First and foremost, I know what it feels like to be a fan. With that knowledge, my approach to how I treat people comes from what I wish was treated like,” he shares candidly. Jaded is thoughtful and considered in his responses when we sit down to talk about his music and how he plans to carry this momentum to drive a meaningful and long-lasting career. The he 21-year-old decided to move in Johannesburg in July 2021, and after 2 weeks he recorded a hit single with Mayestra (friend and roomate), called Madumane. He explains that if he had any chance of making it in the music industry, it was not going to take off for him in Ermelo. “Joburg is where it’s at, man. The fact that people are now starting to hear more of my music and what I can do, is a direct result of me deciding to stay over here”. Jaded Gluck lets us in on the fact that as of now, he is making beats and recording every single day. His breakout hit for 2021 was ushered in with the release of Madumane, a AmaPiano-fueled, heavy log drum, that flung him into the spotlight in a matter of days. < Previous Article Next Article >

Four staff members of NPSS have been announced as Heads of Department. Heads of Department announced at NPSS 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 2 March 2021 Four staff members of NPSS have been announced as Heads of Department. Four staff members of NPSS have been announced as Heads of Department, (f.l.t.r) Ms Yolandi Bezuidenhout (Afrikaans and GET phase), Ms Anje Breedt (Computer Applications Technology), Mr Sudeep Surendran (Mathematics and Science) and Ms Polile Malaza (HOD of English and FET phase). “Congratulations, and good luck with the new journey.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Die Top Tien vir 2020 se Graad 12-groep is vanaf nommer een tot nommer tien, Vosjan Grey, Zara Büchling, Simoné Beyer, Alana Leibbrandt, Dané du Toit, Jana Nel, Anja Wege, Elizia van Heerden, André Strauss en Kerry-Ann Botha. EHS bied prag Graad 12-Lourierfunksie aan Zara Büchling tydens die Graad 12-Lourierfunksie. Zara Büchling tydens die Graad 12-Lourierfunksie. 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 27 October 2020 Die Top Tien vir 2020 se Graad 12-groep is vanaf nommer een tot nommer tien, Vosjan Grey, Zara Büchling, Simoné Beyer, Alana Leibbrandt, Dané du Toit, Jana Nel, Anja Wege, Elizia van Heerden, André Strauss en Kerry-Ann Botha. Op Maandag, 19 Oktober 2020, was hierdie jaar se Graad 12’s beloon vir hul harde werk tydens ‘n spog-prysuitdeling. Die Top Tien vir 2020 se Graad 12-groep is vanaf nommer een tot nommer tien, Vosjan Grey, Zara Büchling, Simoné Beyer, Alana Leibbrandt, Dané du Toit, Jana Nel, Anja Wege, Elizia van Heerden, André Strauss en Kerry-Ann Botha. Zara Büchling ontvang die Hoëveld Tribune Wisseltrofee vir die beste kreatiewe skrywer in Afrikaans Huistaal. She also receives the Highveld Tribune Floating Trophy for the best creative writer in English First Additional Language. Van die spesiale pryse wat toegeken is, is die ware heer en ware dame wat onderskeidelik aan Chad Coetzee en Ania Snyman toegeken is. Vosjan Grey en Yané Broekman ontvang die prys vir Kameradie en Luyanda Mabuza en Mandisa Dube vir Companionship. Die volgende Graad 12-leerders ontvang “Onthou-medaljes” wat deur TWK geborg is: Yané Broekman, Zara Büchling, Vosjan Grey, Amy Greyling, Alana Leibbrandt, Precious Matshaya, Jana Nel, Bonke Sambo en GJ Swart. Die boek pryse vir beste tweetaligheid is toegeken aan Zara Büchling (Afrikaans Huistaal en Engels Eerste Addisionele Taal) en Ania Snyman (English Home Language en Afrikaans Eerste Addisionele Taal). Vosjan Grey word aangewys as die Dux-leerder vir 2020. Hy ontvang drie toekennings wat ook deur TWK geborg is: ‘n kontant bedrag, silwer skinkbord en die Fairbairn-medalje. EHS bedank die hoofborg, TWK, asook elke ander borg wat bygedra het om 2020 se prysuitdeling ‘n sukses te maak. “Baie geluk aan elke leerder wat ‘n toekenning ontvang het, en dankie aan elke Graad 12 leerder wat, ten spyte van ‘n moeilike jaar, die ekstra myl gestap het om hul laaste jaar as Erries goed af te sluit. Hoërskool Ermelo is trots op elkeen wat op verskeie gebiede die EHS se naam steeds hoog hou.” < Previous Article Next Article >

SANParks free access week coming soon 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 15 September 2020 Every year SANParks aims to increase the number of locals that are granted free access to national parks during this time. Since the programme’s inception in 2006, 551 393 South Africans have been afforded the opportunity to enter national parks. SANParks has highlighted the growing need for national parks to be relevant, particularly to young people and communities living adjacent to parks. All South Africans in Mpumalanga have an opportunity to visit the world-renowned Kruger National Park during Free Access Week. South African National Parks (SANParks), together with Total South Africa and FNB, will be hosting the 15th annual SA National Parks Week, from 16-20 November 2020. The Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. The park was established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, and covers nearly two million hectares. The Kruger National Park is unrivaled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies. “SANParks postponed the free access week, which is traditionally held in September, to November, due to the COVID-19 regulations, which restrict the number of persons allowed within public spaces. Additionally, we have implemented extra visitor management procedures in the parks to manage visitor volumes in line with regulations, to further mitigate the risk of the spread of the virus during this time.” SANParks chief executive officer, Fundisile Mketeni, said. SA National Parks Week is an annual campaign that gives all citizens the opportunity to enter most of the parks managed by SANParks for free, with the exclusion of Namaqua National Park and Boulders section at Table Mountain National Park. It should be noted that the free access to parks does not include free access to accommodation facilities and other tourist activities. Every year SANParks aims to increase the number of locals that are granted free access to national parks during this time. Since the programme’s inception in 2006, 551 393 South Africans have been afforded the opportunity to enter national parks. SANParks has highlighted the growing need for national parks to be relevant, particularly to young people and communities living adjacent to parks. < Previous Article Next Article >

Feeble excuses such as suspiciously incessant alleged cable faults on the 88kVA line, random system overloads, illegal connections and a myriad of other nonsensical explanations for inefficient service delivery on the part of the municipality only elongates the noose that MLM hands itself. MLM rotational load shedding frustrates residents 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 2 June 2020 Feeble excuses such as suspiciously incessant alleged cable faults on the 88kVA line, random system overloads, illegal connections and a myriad of other nonsensical explanations for inefficient service delivery on the part of the municipality only elongates the noose that MLM hands itself. Infuriated residents are left in the dark on a daily basis, since Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) resorted to rotational municipal load shedding. MLM stated that the load shedding is due to the high demand of electricity from residents, and the load shedding is to avoid complete blackout and damage to substations and equipment. While this is all good and well, the fact that electricity is not restored in a timeous manner is the thorn in the side of residents affected. Aggravating the situation even more is the fact that several wards and areas in and around Ermelo has been without water for nearly 48 hours, with no solution or information forthcoming from MLM. The call centre displays their usual sterling inefficiency, and residents are left pondering their fate in darkness. Complaints from residents also includes the fact the schedule posted by MLM are changed without informing the residents, and that the electricity supply is interrupted randomly and in conflict with the scheduled times. The largest influx of complaints are from De Bruin Park residents, where the rotational load shedding has been implemented for more than two weeks in succession, and often during peak times when children needs to bathed, and the time that any normal household would cook food for their families. Several residents have reported being left without electricity for more than 72 hours, and residents of Thusiville bears a large brunt of the outages. Claims have also surfaced that residents who purchase electricity directly from Eskom experience no load shedding at all. Adding fuel to the fire is that the load shedding has been implemented by MLM, with no information or turnaround plan released to the residents affected. Residents in John Vorster Park are left hands in their hair with the daily electricity interruptions, often being left without electricity for up to six hours at a time. Several residents have also stated that wards that experienced no electricity issues for several years are suddenly bearing the brunt of the outages, despite no significant residential development in the area. While MLM blames illegal connections, ageing infrastructure and demand that is too high, the question on everyone’s mind is how long residents will sit without electricity once Eskom implements load shedding on a national scale. Residents in Ermelo and the surrounding areas lament the fact that MLM fails consistently to provide the service that they are paid for providing. One resident highlighted the fact that MLM is quick to disconnect electricity supply to your residence or business should you fall behind on payments, but does not reciprocate by providing basic service delivery. The situation currently experienced by residents in Ermelo is slated as unacceptable, to say the least. At the end of the day, it would seem that MLM plays the blame game instead of accepting responsibility for their poor service delivery. Feeble excuses such as suspiciously incessant alleged cable faults on the 88kVA line, random system overloads, illegal connections and a myriad of other nonsensical explanations for inefficient service delivery on the part of the municipality only elongates the noose that MLM hands itself. The Tribune will submit enquiries to MLM, various political parties and the Ermelo Business Association regarding the issues experienced. Read the various responses in next week’s newspaper. < Previous Article Next Article >

Local scrapyard suffers extensive wind damage 1/4 Share GK CRONJE 16 September 2020 Several residents have also reported damage to their property and vehicles with the freak wind speeds today, which included corrugated iron roofing coming undone and temporary structures being damaged by the velocity. A local scrapyard in Wessels Road suffered immense damage from the high wind speed in Ermelo approximately an hour ago, with two sections of their perimeter wall collapsing. Management and damage control teams are scurrying to temporarily block off damaged sections. According to the information at hand, management will use large metal containers as barricades until rebuilding of the walls will commence. < Previous Article Next Article >