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The Bed Shop kondig wenner aan 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 31 August 2021 Shantelle Meyer stap weg as die wenner van ‘n Dynamic Orthopaedic Premium Queen bed stel. Tydens ‘n opwindende kompetisie geloods deur The Bed Shop Ermelo en Hoërskool Ermelo, het Shantelle Meyer weg gestap as die wenner van ‘n Dynamic Orthopaedic Premium Queen bed stel. Die Errie raad het lootjies verkoop, waardeur mens kans gestaan het om die prys te wen. “Ons het die fondse ingesamel en aan EHS besorg om terug te ploeg in die gemeenskap. Dit is ‘n klein druppel wat ons vir die gemeenskap kon doen,” het Annatjie Burger, bestuurder, gesê. < Previous Article Next Article >

Ziyanda crowned as Miss Inspire SA 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 2 February 2021 Ziyanda is a guiding star during these trying times for many young women. Ziyanda Malope, a 20-year-old success story, was born and raised in Ermelo, and was also awarded the prestigious crown as Miss Inspire SA. Making her mark during her school career, her rise to inspiration came from a young age. Ziyanda boasts the title of school sports captain, and also received a youth camp certificate, awarding her as the best leader. The Miss Inspire SA National pageant places priority on community development, and making a difference in your own life, as well as the lives of others. The pageant is open to all young women across South Africa in various categories, irrespective of race, religion, creed size or shape. The pageant prides itself on having no physical requirements. Ziyanda is currently in her third year as BA in Community Development and Leadership at the University of Johannesburg. Crowned in October 2020 during a marked pageant, she now grows from strength to strength, and spearheads a community based organization called the Ziyanda Malope Foundation, which aims to focus on the empowerment of teenagers and women, running educational programmes for school learners and community projects. She is extremely passionate about community services and assistance, lending a helping hand where needed. “My vision is to shift focus to the positive, and to be a rolemodel for young women in rural areas. I also aim to assist young women in the rural areas to make the right life decisions, and to steer clear of substance abuse and teenage pregnancy. You can achieve anything in life through hard work and dedication.” she concluded. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has made everything in our daily lives a little bleaker, Ziyanda is a guiding star during these trying times for many young women. < Previous Article Next Article >

DWS besoek Rietspruit Crushers 1/2 Share SM HATTINGH 29 March 2022 Beide partye se regspanne is tans besig om te onderhandel. Na afloop van die Tribune se uitgawe van 22 Maart 2022, rakende die dispuut tussen Rietspruit Crushers en Oubaas de Jager Familie Trust, het dit gelyk of daar lig in die tonnel is. Die dispuut handel oor Rietspruit Crushers, wat vanaf 2017 geen vergoeding betaal het aan die Oubaas de Jager Familie Trust vir die area van die plaas wat hul tans gebruik nie, en dat daar ook tans geen huur ooreenkoms in plek is nie. Tydens ondersoeke is daar ondervind dat Rietspruit wel ‘n wettige myn lisensie het wat in 2025 verval, maar die groot vraag is... Sal die verhuurder weer die area aan die huurder verhuur, omdat Rietspruit Crushers reeds onder sakeredding geplaas is? In Junie 2021 het die huurooreenkoms reeds verval tussen die partye, waar daar nog nooit weer ‘n nuwe huur ooreenkoms in plek gesit is nie. Na ondersoeke is daar aan die Tribune gesê dat die Departement van Water en Sanitasie op Donderdag, 24 Maart 2022, hul verskyning in Ermelo gemaak het. Die lede van die Departement het ‘n besoek gaan aflê by Rietspruit Crushers, waar hul die water lisensie aangevra het. Tydens die besoek kon daar egter geen water lisensie gewys word aan die Departement nie, wat gelei het dat Rietspruit Crushers dadelik beveel is om alle myn aktiwiteite te staak. Nou lê die vraag weer, indien Rietspruit Crushers hul hekke sou moet sluit, hoe groot sal die ekonomiese impak in Ermelo en omliggende omgewing wees? Daar word tans die Merino Mall gebou, asook die infame “ring road” wat gebou gaan word... Waar gaan die verskeie instansies hul materiaal kan kry? Die arbitrasie saak wat tans tussen die partye is, is nou oorgeskakel na mediasie. Met die plasing in die vorige uitgawe van die Tribune, het verskeie mense kontak gemaak waar hulle kommer uitgespreek het rondom die situasie dat Rietspruit Crushers dalk sal moet toemaak. Verskeie maatskappye het ook laat hoor dat hul in die verlede ook skade gely het oor kontrakte wat in plek was, maar wat nie na gekom is soos ooreengekom was nie. Beide partye se regspanne is besig om te onderhandel, en te kyk of daar nie so spoedig as moontlik tot ‘n beslissing kan kom met die huurooreenkoms, asook al die uitstaande dokumentasie wat Rietspruit Crushers tans nie in hul besit het nie. Sou alles in plek val, sal Rietspruit Crushers steeds materiale kan produseer. Daar was ‘n koop ooreenkoms, asook ‘n huur ooreenkoms, wat stipuleer dat die Oubaas de Jager Familie Trust vergoed was, welke dan nie meer verder vergoed is vanaf 2017 nie, en dat daarna gewys word as verlies van inkomste. Die Oubaas de Jager Familie Trust oorweeg dit om moontlik die hele plaas te verkoop, omrede dit deel was van die koop ooreenkoms van 2013 vanaf die vorige eienaar, waarvan die geregistreerde huur ooreenkoms by die akte kantoor geregistreer was. Dié sou ‘n inkomste verseker vir die Oubaas de Jager Familie Trust. < Previous Article Next Article >

The results are in for the top five 1/3 Share GK CRONJE 3 November 2021 With an approximate 67% of the nationwide votes tallied, several results from local municipalities have been made available. South Africa's municipal elections were held on 1November 2021, to elect councils for all district, metropolitan and local municipalities in each of the country's nine provinces. With more than 23 000 voting stations that opened across the country on Monday, the 2021 local government elections have , however, not been without incident. More than 26 million South Africans were registered to vote in the elections, the majority of which were between the ages of 30 and 39 years. With an approximate 67% of the nationwide votes tallied, several results from local municipalities have been made available. The result for Msukaligwa Local Municipality, as published, marked the African National Congress as the party on top, with 43 167 valid ballots, or 59.79 % of valid votes. The Economic Freedom Fighters came in as runner up with 12 494 valid ballots (17.31 %). The Democratic Alliance placed third, with 7 950 valid ballots (11.01 %). The Freedom Front Plus placed fourth with 4 828 valid ballots (6.69 %) with Independent placing fifth with 1 253 (1.74 %). The remainder is filled by other parties, with a detailed layout being available on the IEC website. Ermelo saw a marked turnout of voters, and grandstanding of the various political parties involved, as the day was declared a public holiday by President Ramaphosa. The full available results for Gert Sibande District Municipality’s local municipalities will be available in Tuesday’s publication. < Previous Article Next Article >

Roelof Ferreira bids fond farewell to Laerskool Ermelo 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 25 May 2021 "If I had the chance to change anything in my life, I would have done everything all over again, because of the joy teaching gave me." “I was born on 6 March 1958 in Vereeniging, where I grew up. I also matriculated from Hoërskool Vereeniging. The decision to become a teacher was never planned, it was made in the spur of the moment during the last term of my matric year in 1976. I started my studies at the Potchefstroom Onderwyskollege in 1977. I completed my studies in 1980, and only applied for posts in Pretoria. I was appointed in a permanent departmental post at Laerskool Pretoria-Oos, but first had to complete my compulsory two-year military service, and was sent to Infantry School in Oudtshoorn, where at the end of 1981 I became a full Lieutenant. I wanted to complete my second year of Military Service in Pretoria, but the Military Force had other plans. I had to stay on at Infantry School in Oudtshoorn, a year that I really enjoyed, and in which grew fond of Oudtshoorn and its surrounding districts. In 1983 I started teaching at Laerskool Pretoria-Oos, a time that I really enjoyed. I soon decided that I wanted to be the principal of a big school one day. I then started applying for promotional posts, and was appointed Head of Department Educational Guidance at Laerskool Ermelo in 1989, where I stayed in the hostel of the school, Uitkomst Koshuis (now the District Office). Here I met my wonderful wife, Sarah, and her son. We got married on 29 March 1991, on Good Friday. On 27 May 2004, I was appointed as Principal, P3 of Laerskool Ermelo. The biggest challenge I had at that stage was to get discipline and performance of educators and learners up to a high standard, and to start improving the school’s sports and overall facilities. It started with the palisades, all staff and learner bathrooms, many other projects, and ended with the most beautiful staff room. The high point of my career at Laerskool Ermelo was when other schools started to recognize our sports teams as competitors to be reckoned with. On the academic side, we also did our best, and kept a very high standard of education. Discipline was, and remains of utmost importance to me, because without discipline you cannot achieve good results. Another memorable part of my career as Principal was all the different School Governing Bodies who shared my vision for the school. I want to thank each and every member of all the School Governing Bodies for trusting my ideas and capabilities, and for always having the best interest of the school at heart. My dream of becoming a principal of a big school eventually became true when I was appointed as Principal P4 of Laerskool Ermelo in January 2019. I want to place all that I achieved in the hands of our Lord Jesus, as he guided and protected me in every aspect of my teaching career. I wish to thank the community of Ermelo for all the support Laerskool Ermelo received from them, it is much appreciated. To all the parents, thank you for the support the educators and I got from you for the last 17 years, much appreciated. The learners, you are education! Thank you for respecting me as your principal. It was an honour to serve you. Thank you for all the good wishes, hugs (before COVID-19) and compliments I received from you. One compliment I will always remember, was a little girl in the Foundation Phase who gave me a hug and said to me: “Sir, I love you because you are always neat.” If I had the chance to change anything in my life, I would have done everything all over again, because of the joy teaching gave me. To all members of staff, teaching and non-teaching, I wish to thank you for the respect and support I received from you. You are a great team and the hardest part of retiring is leaving you behind. I truly hope that my successor will realise what a wonderful staff you are! I wish you and Laerskool Ermelo all the best for the future. May God bless you with all the best blessings. After 40 years and 5 months in Education, I think it is just fair that my wife and I may return to Oudtshoorn for a well-deserved retirement. And I promise you, God-willing, we are not planning to sit down and wait for old age. We plan to tour the parts of our country we have not yet seen, as well as Namibia. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for a wonderful career in Education, and thank you to my wife who supported me over the 32 years that I have been at Laerskool Ermelo. We greet the community, learners and teachers. May God bless you!” Roelof Ferreira - Principal < Previous Article Next Article >

Dispuut tussen twee besighede lei tot onsekerheid in gemeenskap 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 22 March 2022 Daar is tans ‘n arbitrasie saak tussen die twee partye. Rietspruit Crushers, ‘n bekende besigheid in Ermelo, wat deur wyle Malcom Wishart geopen is en vanaf 2017 deur sy seun, Grant Wishart, bestuur word, is al vir die afgelope vyf jaar in ‘n dispuut met Oubaas de Jager Familie Trust. Op Dinsdag, 1 Maart 2022, het ‘n werknemer van Rietspruit Crushers gesien dat die pad wat vir die afgelope veertig jaar gebruik word, afgespêr was deur ‘n hek en slot, en dat daar ook bemanning by die hek is en gereguleer het wie die perseel mag ingaan, en wie nie. Dadelik is die bestuur van Rietspruit Crushers ingelig oor die situasie wat ontvou het, en daar was dadelik stappe geneem om te verseker dat Rietspruit Crushers steeds kon besigheid doen. Op Maandag, 7 Maart 2022, toe mnr. Wishart van die alternatiewe pad gebruik maak, was dié pad ook toe, waar hy ook sy personeel bussie sien wat nie deur die hek mag gaan nie. Tydens hierdie dag het daar ‘n dispuut tussen die huurder en die verhuurder ontstaan, waar daar gevra is om ‘n vergadering met mnr. Wishart te hê. Die vergadering is voorgelê by Rietspruit Crushers, waar beide partye teenwoordig was, asook ander besigheids forums. Tydens navrae en ondersoek aan bewyse oor die koop van die plaas, en die huurooreenkoms tussen Rietspruit Crusher en Oubaas de Jager Familie Trust, is daar in die aankoop ooreenkoms saamgestem dat daar ‘n maandelikse inkomste vanaf Rietspruit Crushers aan die grondeienaar, Oubaas de Jager Familie Trust, betaal moet word. Die ooreenkoms is vanaf 2014 tot 2017 nagekom, waarna daar vanaf 2017 tot hede nog geen verdere betaling gedoen is nie. Die huurooreenkoms, wat tesame met die koop transaksie van die plaas ooreenkoms geteken was, het reeds in Augustus 2021 verval, en is daar tot op hede nog nie ‘n nuwe ooreenkoms nie. Rietspruit Crushers het ‘n geldige myn lisensie wat binnekort verval, waar hul binne ‘n sekere tyd die lisensie moet hernu. In 2008, tydens die ooreenkoms, is daar binne die kontrak gestipuleer dat die verhuurder vergoeding moet ontvang vanaf die huurder, waar die vergoeding begin het met R1.45 per ton, en dat die bedrag jaarliks met 10% sal eskaleer. Tydens ‘n onderhoud met die Oubaas de Jager Familie Trust, oorweeg hul dit baie sterk om eerder die plaas te verkoop, waar daar myn materiaal beskikbaar is, ‘n boerdery, asook ‘n pragtige trou lokaal. Die Tribune het op Donderdag, 17 Maart 2022, ‘n onderhoud met mnr. Wishart gehad rondom die situasie by Rietspruit Crushers, en die dispuut tussen die Oubaas de Jager Familie Trust. Mnr. Wishart het aan die Tribune gesê dat in Oktober 2012 het alle ou myn lisensies verander na die nuwe lisensies, dat alle tantieme aan die staat betaalbaar is, en nie meer aan die plaaseienaar nie. Hy het wel gesê dat die Oubaas de Jager Familie Trust steeds hul vergoeding ontvang het. Vanaf 2017, het Rietspruit Crushers nie meer enige vergoeding aan die Oubaas de Jager Trust betaal nie, maar wel aan die staat, soos die nuwe wet bepaal. Mnr. Wishart het ook tydens die onderhoud gesê dat daar tans geen grond gebruiksooreenkoms tussen Rietspruit Crushers en Oubaas de Jager Familie Trust is nie. Rietspruit Crushers het ook sekere kontrakte verloor, waar maatskappy net hul kontrakte beëindig het weens finansiële redes, waar Rietspruit begin het om swaar te kry want hul was afhanklik van al die groot kontrakte. In Februarie 2022 het mnr. Wishart dit goed gedink om Rietspruit Crushers weens die finansiële negatiewe impak onder sakeredding te bring. Daar is tans ‘n arbitrasie saak tussen die twee partye. Die grootste kommer wat besigheidseienaars in en om Ermelo in die oë staar, is dat die sluiting van Rietspruit Crushers ‘n groot ekonomiese impak op Ermelo sal hê. Daar word gehoop dat voor die situasie op daardie punt kom, dat daar eerder ‘n ooreenkoms kan onstaan waar beide partye geken word, en beide partye vergoeding kry. < Previous Article Next Article >

Water wastage in Mpumalanga raises eyebrows 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 6 April 2021 Albert Luthuli Local Municipality’s water loss increased from 15% to a whopping 51% in the 2018/19 financial year. For several years, Mpumalanga’s municipalities have been affected by old and dilapidated water infrastructure, which in turn affects the provision of water, as is the case in Lekwa and Thaba Chweu local municipalities. The Democratic Alliance (DA) have written to the Premier, asking her to ensure that the 2% which is ringfenced from all of the Department's budgets for maintenance of existing infrastructure, is used to deal with the issues of old and dilapidated water infrastructure in municipalities. Having access to a stable water supply plays a pivotal role in our daily lives. Having stable access to a water source drives the agricultural sectors, abattoirs, food processing plants and supports heavy industries in our province. The distribution of water in Mpumalanga is also hampered further by debt which is owed to external entities such as Rand Water. Rand Water, in turn, implement water throttling and water pressure reductions for outstanding amounts. In Lekwa Local Municipality, the inability to provide a stable water source affected companies such as Astral Foods. In the case of Astral Foods, the shortage of water cost the company close to R100 million, and threatens the job security of the workers. Water losses through leaks and old dilapidated infrastructure caused Lekwa Local Municipality to lose 83% of the total water that was purchased in the 2018/19 financial year. Thaba Chweu Local Municipality’s water losses increased from 66% in 2017/18, to 69% in the 2018/19 financial year. Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Municipality increased from losing 29% of the total water purchased in 2017/18, to a worrying 61% in the 2018/19 financial year, and Albert Luthuli Local Municipality’s water loss increased from 15% in the 2017/18 financial year, to a whopping 51% in the 2018/19 financial year. The DA’s COGTA representative will also investigate water outages and wastage in Msukaligwa Local Municipality. Residents in Ermelo, Breyten, Chrissiesmeer and surroundings are urged to report their water issues, be it wastage or water outages, by sending a WhatsApp to 071 885 2505, or by sending an e-mail to editor@highveldtribune.com . If possible, these reports may include photos, and an exact address or area where the issue is experienced must be included. < 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 >

Chaos in Havenga Road as trailer snaps 1/4 Share GK CRONJE 1 November 2022 The entire community is getting the short end of the stick. On Friday morning, 28 October 2022, a heavy vehicle suffered a serious breakdown down due to the shoddy conditions of Havenga Road. The enormous potholes on this road caused a section of the vehicle’s trailer to snap clean off, as the trailers weren’t designed to withstand the strain of bending in the opposite direction while traversing these massive potholes. The roadway was in utter chaos for an extended period of time as services rendered assistance, while one lane was completely obstructed. Road users suffer damage to their vehicles on a daily basis, not to mention the negative impact the road conditions has on surrounding businesses. As the rain season kicks off, the outlook is bleak for motorists musing this road on a daily basis, as the roadway erodes at an alarming rate. At the start of 2022, SG Coal Breyten, PC’s Sand, MAN Truck and Bus and Van Wettens Towing had enough of the shoddy roadway, and repaired the road surface to make it easier for road users to traverse. MAN Truck and Bus supplied food and cold drinks to the teams on site, and Van Wettens towing services supplied the diesel. However, the lack of maintenance from Msukaligwa Local Municipality has made the initiative all for nought, as road users are now back to square one. The lack of service delivery from the municipality has many motorists hot under the collar. “The municipality has become so lax and complacent, used to the private sector doing their work for them. It is unacceptable that they are not held accountable for incidents like this. Everyone just goes with the flow, and nobody takes a stand against the municipality” one passing road user lamented. Frustrated motorists are now calling for Msukaligwa Local Municipality to finally take full accountability for their dismal neglect of Havenga Road, which is the only route available for heavy vehicles. “When will we say that enough is enough? The municipal officials parade on social media with their supposed service delivery projects, but we don't see any service delivery or change. I have to drive this road every day to work, and the damage I have suffered to my vehicle and tyres is immeasurable. I hope that the municipal council gets slapped with a lawsuit. Maybe then we will finally see some change," a frustrated driver on scene told the Tribune. While fuming residents are still waiting with bated breath for the apparent “road reconstruction” promised by Msukaligwa Local Municipality more than two years ago, damage is suffered by all on a daily basis. The entire community is getting the short end of the stick, including businesses in this area, with no reprieve from the municipality. View more photos and videos on our Facebook page, Tribune Ermelo. < 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 >

Ermelo to see construction of 360 social housing units 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 25 February 2022 While the concept is sound, the additional burden that these units will place on the already dilapidated sewerage and electrical infrastructure of Ermelo has raised red flags with residents and businesses alike. It has been announced that Ermelo will form part of an extensive housing construction project that will see social housing units being constructed, promising over 1000 employment opportunities. Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, revealed the projects that will roll out over the next two years, starting in the financial year 2022/23. The Ermelo project has been dubbed as Willow Creek development, and will, according to the department, be situated in the CBD. Additionally, 492 units are planned to be rolled out in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality. Social housing units (SHU) is a rental or co-operative housing option for households earning between R1 501 - R15 000 per month. SHU projects require management by an institution, which should be an accredited Social Housing Institution, and projects are developed within areas that contribute to spatial, economic and social development. Through this subsidized programme, individuals can gain access to a rental house or apartment. Government funding is provided to SHU institutions to manage the rental units. Occupants are expected to pay a reduced rental amount, based on their household income, to the appointed institution. “Social housing is financed with a combination of government funding, debt and equity, making this sub-sector more dynamic and attractive for public-private partnership. These developments aim to increase the supply of rental housing in central locations for low- to middle-income earners,” said Kubayi-Ngubane. According to the minister, SHU solutions are government’s most promising programme that will help to disrupt the apartheid spatial development and make cities more inclusive. The Willow Creek moniker has been scurried around various developer’s hands since 2015, and if this project is related to the same as above, the housing development would be situated in the wetland between Wes Street and President Fouché Avenue. This is, however, conjecture. The Tribune ePaper repeatedly attempted to contact the Department of Human Settlements to clarify the project’s details, but were referred from person to person, and from department to department, each representative claiming that “it’s not their department” and that they could not provide any information regarding the project. Feedback had been awaited from Charlotte Porter from the department, who would refer the right representative for the department. She, however, failed to reply with the requested information. Additional enquiries lodged with the department’s Paul Mnisi, which had promised to provide a full scope of project as soon as possible. While the concept is sound, the additional burden that these units will place on the already dilapidated sewerage and electrical infrastructure of Ermelo has raised red flags with residents and businesses alike. Updates on the project will be provided as and when information is received from the department. < Previous Article Next Article >

Geliefde hoof verloor COVID-19 stryd 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 23 March 2021 Onlangs het Morné 'n lewenslange doel bereik deur hoof van Laerskool Marietjie van Niekerk te word. Dit is met diepe hartseer dat ons die afsterwe van Morné Scholtz (49) van Bethal aankondig. Morné is op 16 Maart 2021 in die Milpark-hospitaal, Johannesburg, vreedsaam oorlede na 'n geveg met COVID-19. Morné is gebore aan Jacob Salmon en Christina Caterina (Botes) Scholtz op 23 Februarie 1972, in Sasolburg. Hy het sy skoolopleiding in Secunda aan die Laerskool Secunda en Hoërskool Secunda voltooi, en was hoofseun by albei instellings. Nadat hy in die weermag diens gedoen het, het hy 'n graad aan die Onderwyskollege in Pretoria voltooi. Hy het later 'n meestersgraad in onderwys aan die Universiteit van Noordwes voltooi. Gedurende sy onderwysloopbaan het Morné die lewens van baie studente, ouers, kollegas en lede van die gemeenskap aangeraak. Deur sy passie, humor, ondersteuning, omgee, leiding en leierskap het hy lewens positief beïnvloed oral waar hy gegaan het. Onlangs het Morné 'n lewenslange doel bereik deur hoof van Laerskool Marietjie van Niekerk te word. Onderwys, en om lewens te verryk, was vir hom van die allergrootste belang, en sy trots op sy werk was duidelik vir almal wat hom ontmoet het. Morné het diep spore in baie mense se lewens getrap. Morné laat twee seuns, MJ en Franco agter, asook drie broers Jacques, Bennie en Marius. As gevolg van die huidige pandemie, sal 'n klein en intieme gedenk diens gehou word om die herinnering van 'n man, wie se liefd geen perke geken het nie, te vier. - Inligting verskaf deur Laerskool Marietjie van Niekerk < Previous Article Next Article >