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“We have adopted a zero tolerance towards unauthorized, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. We have turned down for condonation of the expenditure. We are demanding accountability where wasteful expenditure has occurred.” Msibi said. COGTA to probe municipal disarray Mandla Msibi, COGTA MEC. Mandla Msibi, COGTA MEC. 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 10 November 2020 “We have adopted a zero tolerance towards unauthorized, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. We have turned down for condonation of the expenditure. We are demanding accountability where wasteful expenditure has occurred.” Msibi said. Co-operative governance and traditional affairs (COGTA) chairperson, China Dodovu, and COGTA MEC Mandla Msibi, are probing the financial status of local municipalities, governance, audit outcomes and service delivery matters were among the key issues that the committee focused on during a visit to three embattled municipalities. More municipalities are under scrutiny, and will be announced in due course. Non-compliance to legislation, lack of consequence management and failure to adhere to payment plans are among the contributing factors that caused the troubled local municipalities, Govan Mbeki, Thaba Chweu and Dr JS Moroka to collapse, the oversight committee of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) announced. “We observed the tendency to ignore legislation in the municipality (Govan Mbeki). We also noted that it has failed to submit financial statements to the Auditor-General (AG). The Eskom debt escalated into millions of rands. This is a serious cause for concern. Where was the leadership when all of this occurred?” asked Dodovu during the sitting in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality. COGTA briefed the committee about the decision to invoke Section 106 of the Constitution as an intervention to deal with allegations of maladministration, and as a measure for clean governance in Govan Mbeki. Msibi told the committee about the steps being taken to address financial mismanagement in all municipalities. “We have adopted a zero tolerance towards unauthorized, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. We have turned down for condonation of the expenditure. We are demanding accountability where wasteful expenditure has occurred.” Msibi said. < 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 >

Msukaligwa Municipality washes their hands of the damages suffered due to the outages. 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 >

Al die leerders het hard gewerk en ekstra ure ingesit. Daar is onder andere eksamens gespeel, Unisa eksamens gespeel, en leerders het deelgeneem aan Con Spirito. EHS-Musieksentrum bied prysuitdeling aan 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 17 November 2020 Al die leerders het hard gewerk en ekstra ure ingesit. Daar is onder andere eksamens gespeel, Unisa eksamens gespeel, en leerders het deelgeneem aan Con Spirito. Ondanks die feit dat COVID-19 die hele jaar op sy kop gekeer het, het die Hoërskool Ermelo-Musieksentrum steeds uitstekend gefunksioneer. Al die leerders het hard gewerk en ekstra ure ingesit. Daar is onder andere eksamens gespeel, Unisa eksamens gespeel, en leerders het deelgeneem aan Con Spirito. Op 5 November het die EHS-Musieksentrum hulle prysuitdeling aangebied. Hier het elke leerder ‘n sertifikaat ontvang. Daar is ook spesiale- en eretoekennings gegee aan spesifieke leerders. Die volgende leerders het spesiale toekennings ontvang in die vorm van ‘n wisseltrofee vir die beste kandidaat in die onderskeie afdelings: Blokfluit Junior: Zanlie du Plessis; Houtblaas Junior: Talita Jansen van Rensburg (Dwarsfluit); Kitaar Junior: Megan Möller; Kitaar Senior: Jake Hoffeldt; Klavier Junior: Johandi Bezuidenhout; Klavier Senior: Tamar Randell; Klawerbord: Isabelle Moussier; Koperblaas Junior: Henroux Robberts (Trompet); Perkussie: ZJ Fourie; Sang Senior: Michelle van der Linde; Strykers Junior: Annemae Manders (Viool); Strykers Senior: DaniellAppelgryn (Viool); Ukulele: Lana Herholdt; Musiek teorie Junior:Yatteer du Toit en Musiek teorie Senior: Nikao du Toit. Ere-toekennings is ook by dié geleentheid aan sekere leerders gegee: Beste Unisa Prakties, Junior: Nikao du Toit en Beste Unisa Prakties, Senior: Tamar Randell. Op grond van die teorie-uitslae wat na verlede jaar se prysuitdeling eers ontvang is, is besluit om hierdie kinders ook erkenning te gee vir Unisa Teorie 2019: Beste prestasie Unisa teorie, Junior 2019: Nikao du Toit; Beste prestasie Unisa teorie, Senior 2019: Tamar Randell; Laerskool Dux Junior: Luan Odendaal; Laerskool Dux Senior: Kerené du Toit en Yatteer du Toit deel dié prys; Hoërskool Dux Junior: Nikao du Toit en Hoërskool Dux Senior: Tamar Randell. Tamar Randell ontvang ook die besonderse EHS-Kunssentrum-wisseltrofee vir die mees uitstaande bydrae tot die kunste. “Die personeel van die EHS-Kunste sentrum is met reg trots op elke leerder wat die ekstra myl gestap het in die jaar, om steeds die melodie van die lewe ‘n positiewe een te hou. Dankie vir elke leerder, ouer en onderwyser se harde werk.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Bethal hospital urgently needs direct power line 1/2 Share CONTENT SUPPLIED 15 September 2020 Although the Bethal hospital does make use of generators, which costs them approximately R755 000 per month, the hospital morgue and other departments are incurring significant damage due to the constant power outages and fluctuations. Media Statement - Sources at the Bethal hospital voiced their concerns about the frequent power outages that residents and the hospital have been experiencing over the last five months, and it must be resolved. The FF Plus is calling on the Govan Mbeki Municipality (Bethal, Charl Cilliers, Embalenhle, Evander, Kinross, Leandra, Secunda, Trichardt) and Eskom to stop punishing the hospital and paying Bethal residents by implementing load shedding that lasts up to eighteen hours on a daily basis. The municipality simply cannot make the responsible residents, who pay their accounts, suffer the detrimental effects of rotational municipal load shedding because the municipality owes Eskom R1,8 billion, a debt burden for which incompetent and irresponsible officials are to blame. Although the Bethal hospital does make use of generators, which costs them approximately R755 000 per month, the hospital morgue and other departments are incurring significant damage due to the constant power outages and fluctuations. The unnecessary costs of repairing fridges and other essential equipment, which are not directly related to the patients' health, are putting pressure on the hospital's finances, and the FF Plus fears that it might result in the needless loss of lives. The FF Plus will bring these issues to the attention of the MEC’s of the Departments of Health and Public Works, so that a solution to the problem may be found. < Previous Article Next Article >

For now, residents wishing to renew their driver’s licenses need to take a day off work and be sure to be the early bird in line. Residents who have to renew their license discs may stand in line, or use a queuing service such as J&P Queuing Service, which handles renewals of license discs on your behalf, provided you supply the appropriate documentation. Frustration at the Ermelo licensing office 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 22 September 2020 For now, residents wishing to renew their driver’s licenses need to take a day off work and be sure to be the early bird in line. Residents who have to renew their license discs may stand in line, or use a queuing service such as J&P Queuing Service, which handles renewals of license discs on your behalf, provided you supply the appropriate documentation. Since the relaxation of the national lockdown, life as we know it is slowly returning to normal. However, since the re-opening of Ermelo’s licensing office, the institution has been inundated with license renewals and learner’s license applications. Reports have been received of residents queuing from 19:00 the previous evening, just to be one of the lucky few being assisted the next morning. According to the information at hand, a mere 50 residents are assisted per day, with COVID-19 regulations being put to blame. Desperate residents sleep in their vehicles at night to secure their spaces, and have even resorted to having a braai to alleviate the tension of standing in line for hours on end. Licensing office staff also allegedly close their booths early (before end of business) and also close their booths whilst on extended lunch and tea breaks. It is also alleged that the staff often never return to their booths, leaving residents in frustration and infuriated. Residents are now left high and dry, with a massive backlog of applications that needs to be processed, which could take weeks, if not months. The limited number of applicants being assisted per day also shows no positive effect, as this does little to reduce the backlog. Due to tighter regulations, residents are also now forced to stand in queue in Ermelo, as Breyten and Hendrina no longer accepts renewals and applications from Ermelo residents, and Morgenzon’s license office is bogged down with system issues and protest action. Speaking to Mr. Zwane, Msukaligwa Local Municipality’s spokesman, he stated that the municipality is aware of the issue, and is working on implementing a solution. “It is true that the licensing office assists a limited number of residents on a daily basis, due to the current lockdown. However, we are waiting for the new regulation after the President has announced that we are moving to level 1 of the lockdown. Management had also to consider the health and safety of both employees and residents, as the office has to be sanitized from time to time. It is also true that there is a huge backlog, due to ongoing lockdown, hence we are appealing to the community to bear with us in this trying times. It should be noted that learners licenses are only done Mondays, and not on Wednesdays as reported, and that the office have decreased the number applications to avoid further infections of the virus. As part of ameliorating the situation, government has appointed the South African Post Office to rendered services like MVL (motor vehicle licensing) renewal. Ermelo post office is one of the branches that will render such services in not too distance future. This will reduce the number of people visiting the license office by 20%.” For now, residents wishing to renew their driver’s licenses need to take a day off work and be sure to be the early bird in line. Residents who have to renew their license discs may stand in line, or use a queuing service such as J&P Queuing Service, which handles renewals of license discs on your behalf, provided you supply the appropriate documentation. For more information regarding their services, you may contact Janecka on 073 120 8312, or Pieter on 071 854 7915.Other than that, residents have little choice but to grin and bear the delay in service provision. < Previous Article Next Article >

“Die Erries is sommer baie trots op hierdie drie spanne wat nasionaal hul debat stempel deeglik afgedruk het." Drie Errie debatspanne presteer nasionaal Op die foto voor staan (v.l.n.r) Mariska van Biljon, Bea Niemand, Chrizanne Joubert en Mienke Cloete en agter staan (v.l.n.r): Johan Strauss, JF Möller, Zané du Plessis en Isabella Burgers. Op die foto voor staan (v.l.n.r) Mariska van Biljon, Bea Niemand, Chrizanne Joubert en Mienke Cloete en agter staan (v.l.n.r): Johan Strauss, JF Möller, Zané du Plessis en Isabella Burgers. 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 3 November 2021 “Die Erries is sommer baie trots op hierdie drie spanne wat nasionaal hul debat stempel deeglik afgedruk het." Op Vrydag, 22 Oktober, het die Con Spirito Debatkompetisie se nasionale semifinaal plaasgevind te Hoërskool Marais Viljoen in Alberton. Die deelnemende skole was as volg: Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool, Hoërskool Durbanville, Hoërskool Ermelo, Hoërskool Garsfontein, Helpmekaar Kollege, Hoërskool Linden, Hoërskool Nelspruit, Hoërskool Oos-Moot, Hoërskool Outeniqua, Hoër Meisieskool Paarl en Hoërskool Transvalia. Sestien spanne (agt voorstander- en agt teenstanderspanne) het in sowel die junior- (Graad 8-9) as die senior kategorie (Graad 10-12) teen mekaar kragte gemeet. Mienke Cloete, Zané du Plessis, Johan Strauss, Isabella Burgers (seniors) en Chrizanne Joubert, Mariska van Biljon, Bea Niemand en JF Möller (juniors) het Hoërskool Ermelo by die kompetisie verteenwoordig. Die sestien spanne is uitgedun na die top 10 junior- en top 10 seniorspanne wat op Saterdag, 23 Oktober teen mekaar te staan gekom het. Van die vier EHS-spanne dring drie na die top 10 deur. Die spanne se uitslae was as volg: Johan & Isabella wen hul debat teen Hoërskool Outeniqua, en eindig algeheel sewende (seniors). Mariska van Biljon en Chrizanne Joubert val ongelukkig vas teen Helpmekaar Kollege, en eindig negende (juniors). JF Möller en Bea Niemand wen hul debat teen Hoërskool Durbanville, en eindig met ‘n pragtige vyfde plek. “Die Erries is sommer baie trots op hierdie drie spanne wat nasionaal hul debat stempel deeglik afgedruk het. Ons sien met verwagting uit na 2022 en dank ons Hemelse Vader vir hierdie mooi uitslae.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Hulle het vir 'n begin die 10km gery, en tot verbasing uitstekende uitslae gelewer. Landties fietsryers vaar uitstekend 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 16 March 2021 Hulle het vir 'n begin die 10km gery, en tot verbasing uitstekende uitslae gelewer. Morgenzon Landbou Akademie het hierdie jaar ook begin met fietsry as 'n sport. Die leerders oefen al vir 'n wyle baie hard. Op Sondag, 14 Maart 2021, het die leerders aan hul eerste kompetisie deelgeneem in Alberton. Hulle het vir 'n begin die 10km gery, en tot verbasing uitstekende uitslae gelewer. Ruan Lombard en Juan Zeelie het onderskeidlik 2de en 3de plekke behaal uit 'n groep van 90 deelnemers in die 10km. < Previous Article Next Article >

The link to the petition can be obtained on by contacting the MBCF. Sign the service delivery petition 1/13 Share GK CRONJE 20 September 2022 The link to the petition can be obtained on by contacting the MBCF. On 10 August 2022, the Msukaligwa Business & Community Forum (MBCF), spearheaded by the chairperson, Janice Conradie, hosted a meeting with the residents and businesses of Ermelo. The aim of the meeting was to discuss and plan a way forward amidst the lack of service delivery provided by Msukaligwa Local Municipality. One of the larger issues that the community and business sector faces is the non-functional billing system of the municipality. This, coupled with the wholly illegal practice of the municipality’s departments billing consumers according to shockingly inaccurate estimations, have put more and more pressure on the community to finally take a stand against Msukaligwa Local Municipality. Despite the MBCF’s roundabout of meetings with various roleplayers and government officials, including Gert Sibande District Municipality, no amicable solution could be found. Conradie has now launched a petition in order to exert pressure on the municipality to provide services to the community. The petition will then be used by the Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister for Small Business Development, Henro Kruger, in his presentation before parliament. The petition closes 24 October 2022, and all community members are urged to sign the petition. The link to the petition can be obtained by clicking here - https://forms.gle/dFn7vSStBTb6K33i8, or by contacting the MBCF on the number below. A public meeting at the Ermelo Inn will be held on 26 September 2022 at 18:00, where additional information will be provided. The MBCF urges all interested parties, irrespective of individual or business, to join the MBCF. This will strengthen the hand in dealing with these service delivery issues, and various other issues. For more information, or for the petition link, contact Janice Conradie on 072 401 1449. < Previous Article Next Article >

Save more with Shoprite MVNO 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 30 March 2021 Airtime, data bundles and rewards only expire after 60 days, rather than the more common 30-day expiry. The Shoprite Group has announced its own mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) called K’nect mobile. The service will go online in April. Shoprite said that K’nect mobile’s key differentiator is its simplicity, with flat call and data rates, and no complicated tiers. The service piggybacks off the mobile network infrastructure of Cell C, whose roaming partnership with MTN provides coverage. The group said that airtime, data bundles and rewards only expire after 60 days, rather than the more common 30-day expiry. In addition, K’nect mobile will offer 100MB free data for three months. The group said that its call and data rates are among the most competitive in the country, with 50c per minute all day K’nect to K’nect calls, 99c per minute all day calls to other networks, and 15c per megabyte for any size data bundle, up to 1GB. K’nect mobile also offers 10% free on recharge, 10% Xtra for Xtra Savings cardholders, 5% Xtra when recharging via Money Market Account, and double airtime rewards on Xtra Savings airtime deals. Shoprite said that other rewards include early access to Computicket events and tickets, and 100MB free for three months, subject to in-store RICA and activation. “Importantly, customers using a K’nect mobile SIM card will also benefit from zero-rated data on selected Shoprite and Checkers websites and apps, including the Money Market Account, Computicket website and the Group’s jobs portal, all without incurring any data charges.” At the same time, the move will help the Shoprite Group streamline communication and drastically reduce its internal data costs, it said. Shoprite said its 141,000 employees are now able to receive communications directly on the group’s internal app, called SiyaRinga, without the need to reverse data costs. The network forms part of the group’s financial services offering, which enables customers to conveniently pay bills, buy cell phones, make money transfers, buy airtime and data, lotto tickets, electricity and even funeral insurance in partnership with OUTsurance. “K’nect mobile is part of our ever-growing suite of fintech products designed to better serve our customers,” said Jean Olivier, general manager of Financial Services. “We’ve spent a lot of time understanding how a mobile network can add value to our customers’ lives, and our solution is an easy to understand network that offers straightforward call and data rates as well as tangible rewards.” < Previous Article Next Article >

The Bed Shop Ermelo aan die brand 1/2 Share SH HATTINGH 16 June 2020 Die nodige personeel was spoedig op die toneel, en het daarin geslaag om die brand blitsvinnig te stuit voor die res van die winkel ook kon vlam vat. Op Woensdag, 10 Junie, het The Bed Shop in Joubert Straat aan die brand geslaan. Die vuur het ontstaan in die stoorkamer, maar die oorasaak van die brand is steeds onbekend. Die nodige personeel was spoedig op die toneel, en het daarin geslaag om die brand blitsvinnig te stuit voor die res van die winkel ook kon vlam vat. < Previous Article Next Article >

Op Maandag, 26 Julie, het daar 'n botsing tussen 'n Hyundai Elantra en 'n Volkswagen Chico plaasgevind op die Breyten pad. Volgens die bestuurder van die Hyundai was daar digte rook op die pad, waarna hy sy hoofligte aangeskakel het en begin stadiger ry het. Met al die digte rook het die Volkswagen in die Hyundai vas gery. Al die nooddienste, asook nood personeel was spoedig op die toneel. Tydens die botsing het die drie insittendes in die Volkswagen ligte beserings opgedoen, en is blitsvinnig na die Ermelo Provinsiale Hospitaal geneem vir mediese ondersoek. Nog 'n botsing op Breyten pad Nog 'n botsing op Breyten pad 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 3 August 2021 Tydens die botsing het die drie insittendes in die Volkswagen ligte beserings opgedoen, en is blitsvinnig na die Ermelo Provinsiale Hospitaal geneem vir mediese ondersoek. Op Maandag, 26 Julie, het daar 'n botsing tussen 'n Hyundai Elantra en 'n Volkswagen Chico plaasgevind op die Breyten pad. Volgens die bestuurder van die Hyundai was daar digte rook op die pad, waarna hy sy hoofligte aangeskakel het en begin stadiger ry het. Met al die digte rook het die Volkswagen in die Hyundai vas gery. Al die nooddienste, asook nood personeel was spoedig op die toneel. Tydens die botsing het die drie insittendes in die Volkswagen ligte beserings opgedoen, en is blitsvinnig na die Ermelo Provinsiale Hospitaal geneem vir mediese ondersoek. < Previous Article Next Article >