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Erries geniet Brangus Beesbeoordelingskursus 1/1 Share SM HATTINGH 216 March 2022 Die leerders moes self diere beoordeel, plaas en ‘n mondelinge eksamen aflê waarop elk punte verdien het Hoërskool Ermelo se Graad 12 Landbouleerders het op Woensdag, 9 Maart ‘n Brangus beesbeoordelingskursus bygewoon op mnr. Rian van Wyk se plaas. Die dag het afgeskop met ʼn lesing deur mnr. Urban Uys oor die belangrikste aspekte en eienskappe waarna ʼn beoordelaar of beeskeurder moet oplet. Mnr. Andre vd Merwe van die beestelersgenootskap het al die kursusgangers prakties gewys hoe om n dier te beoordeel sodat hulle die teoretiese kennis kan toepas in die praktyk. Daarna het Mnre Uys en Van Wyk die leerders verder touwys gemaak en verder opgelei deur praktiese demonstrasies op verskeie manlike en vroulike diere van verskillende ouderdomme. Die leerders moes self diere beoordeel, plaas en ‘n mondelinge eksamen aflê waarop elk punte verdien het. Hierdie punte sal deel uitmaak van hulle praktiese punt, wat deel van die vak landbou vorm. Baie dankie aan die Brangus telersgenootskap wat die dag vir die leerders moontlike gemaak het. Billy Te Water het ook by die Chrissiesmeer boeredag, tydens die Graad 10 Landbouleerders se praktiese dag, twee sakke saadmielies van Dekalb gewen. Die deelnemers moes raai hoeveel mieliepitte in n bottel was, waarna Billy die hoeveelheid reggeraai het. Billy gaan die mielies tydens die plantseisoen vir homself op hulle plaas plant. “Baie geluk en mag jy ń goeie oes ontvang, Billy!” < Previous Article Next Article >

Calstar Group truly cares 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 24 August 2021 The printer will go a long way in making the administrative duties of the school’s personnel much easier. In an act of true charity, the Calstar Group recently donated a printer to Ithafa Secondary School. The printer will go a long way in making the administrative duties of the school’s personnel much easier. Appearing on the photo (f.l.t.r): Sheila Maseko, Operation Manager at Debonairs Ermelo , Mrs Mabuya, Ithafa school principal, and Sweetness Mpofu, Manager at Debonairs Ermelo. < Previous Article Next Article >

MLA bied suksesvolle pretdraf aan 1/4 Share SM HATTINGH 2 November 2021 Tydens die dag is daar ook wyn opgeveil, wat van Simonsvlei af geskenk is vir die dag. Op Saterdag, 30 Oktober, het Morgenzon Landbou Akademie (MLA) hul Legend Familie Pretdraf dag aangebied saam met Legend Events. Die dag was bekroon met ‘n 5km of 10km pretdraf, wat ook hindernis bane ingesluit het. Die deelnemers het die dag terdeë geniet. Die hindernisse wat daar was was onder andere, deur modder kruip, onder deur pale seil en vele meer. Die groot aantreking was natuurlik Ferdinand Rabie, of beter bekend as Ferdi van Big Brother. Hy het al die pad van die Kaap af gekom om saam met die personeel van MLA die baan te kom uitlê, en seker gemaak elke deelnemer geniet die pretdraf. Hy was natuurlik oral te siene gewees, en het met die verskeie roetes die mense gaan inspireer. Voor die wegspring van die prefdraf was daar ook ‘n heerlike “colour festival” gewees, waar mense nie meer soos hulself lyk na al die verkillende kleure poeier wat deur die lug getrek het nie. Daar was verskeie uitstallers, onder andere PanSolutions, Twizza, King Price, Tribune ePaper en Ermelo Toyota. Tydens die dag is daar ook wyn opgeveil, wat van Simonsvlei af geskenk is vir die dag. Die personeel van Morgenzon Landbou Akademie wil graag vir elke borg, asook elke deelnemer en ondersteuner baie dankie sê vir hul getroue ondersteuning. Mnr. Alex Wehmeyer, hoof van Morgenzon Landbou Akademie, het tydens die dag bevestig dat die dag nie slegs in 2021 sal plaasvind nie, maar van nou af ‘n jaarlikse instelling sal word. < Previous Article Next Article >

Buks Beukes gedenkdiens 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 23 Junie 2020 Weens die COVID-19 pandemie mag daar net ‘n sekere aantal persone bymekaar wees, so kontak gerus vir Antoinette op 082 920 9645 om te bevestig vir die diens. Wyle Buks Beukes, wat op 21 Mei oorlede is, se gedenkdiens sal op Vrydag, 26 Junie, om 11:00 plaasvind. Die diens sal vanuit die Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk op die hoek van McDonalds en De Jager straat wees. Weens die COVID-19 pandemie mag daar net ‘n sekere aantal persone bymekaar wees, so kontak gerus vir Antoinette op 082 920 9645 om te bevestig vir die diens. “Rus sag, Buksie”. < Previous Article Next Article >

Brace for year of increased load shedding 1/1 Share Content Supplied 15 November 2022 Generating units at Grootvlei, Hendrina and Camden power stations will also be taken offline over the next five years. Starting over the next few weeks, Eskom will embark on some major capital investment projects and major repairs that carry significant risk and that will serve to further increase the implementation of loadshedding. These risk factors will remove more than 2 300MW of generating capacity from the system. Eskom cautions the public to anticipate the increased risk of loadshedding until these problems are resolved over the next six to 12 months. Of serious concern is the high levels of unplanned outages, which contributed to the 155 days of loadshedding experienced since January. To limit the stages of loadshedding, Eskom had to heavily rely on the extensive use of open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs), burning millions of litres of diesel. “Due to the vulnerability and unpredictability of the power system, coupled with the major capital projects, maintenance and major repairs to be executed starting during the next few months, the risk of continued loadshedding remains quite high,” said Jan Oberholzer, Eskom Group Chief Operating Officer. On 08 December 2022 Unit 1 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, which has enjoyed 384 days of uninterrupted supply today, will be shut down for normal maintenance and refuelling, and the replacement of the three Steam Generators (SGR) as part of the long-term operation to extend the operating life of Africa’s only nuclear power station. The most reliable of Eskom’s generation machines, the unit is anticipated to return to service during June 2023. This will remove 920MW of generation capacity from the national grid during this time. Koeberg Unit 2 was returned to service after a forced shutdown to remedy the control rod slippage issue and has been operating for 51 days today. The 23 October 2022 duct (chimney) structural collapse that has shut down Unit 1 of the Kusile Power Station; and the decision to delay the return to service of Units 2 and 3 as a precautionary measure, has inflicted another serious blow to Eskom’s efforts to improve the availability of electricity generation capacity and to reduce the implementation of loadshedding. This loss of the Kusile units has added additional strain to an already constrained generation system. Unit 4 is the only one currently on load at Kusile. The extent of the damage to the Kusile duct system will be established over the next few weeks as investigations into the structural failure pick up speed. The investigations into the duct failure will also establish whether there is any risk to Unit 3 of Kusile, whose chimney is also housed in the same stack as the other two units. This will determine whether it can be returned to service. Unit 3 was online at the time of the duct failure and continued generating at a steady pace for a week. What can be said with certainty at this point is that returning the Kusile units to service is still at least a few months away. “This is the reality of operating a shrunken generation system bereft of any reserve margin - every single breakdown pushes the whole system to the edge,” said Oberholzer. “This loss of capacity, temporary as it is, will make for a very challenging summer season, particularly as this is our peak planned maintenance period where a number of units at various power stations have to be shut down to conduct much needed maintenance.” While Eskom works on returning these large units to service, we will have to continue limping along to meet demand for electricity, particularly over the next six to 12 months, said Oberholzer. This means Eskom continues to experience a tough period in terms of its generation operations, especially on the coal generation side of the business, with the year-to-date energy availability factor (EAF) falling to the current 58.53%. The high levels of planned maintenance, impacted by a high rate of breakdowns, contributed to the low EAF. There has, however, been some notable progress and sustained good performance on several aspects of the business. Coal stock levels are healthy at an average of 35 days, excluding Medupi. Including Medupi, this doubles the coal stock-days to just under 70. Rain Readiness plans have proven to be resilient and have ably withstood the unusually high summer rainfall season last year, which included heavy storms that caused considerable damage in some parts of the country with critical generation infrastructure. The plans are in place for the current rainy season. “All coal-fired power stations plans have been stress-tested to ensure they are again able to withstand the high rainfall period,” said Thomas Conradie, the Acting Managing Director for Generation. The Transmission and Distribution divisions are performing to expectation. However, increased equipment failure, theft and vandalism on the transmission and distribution networks negatively impact operations, safety, and reliability. Electricity theft and non-payment continues to manifest as both operational and financial risk. Kusile Unit 4 achieved commercial operation on 01 June 2022, ahead of the expected target date of January 2023, and is currently producing the maximum 720MW. This brings the capacity brought to the national grid through the New Build Programme since 2005 to a total of 15 533MW. A fire during commissioning in the Gas Air Heater of Kusile Unit 5 on 17 September 2022 has delayed the commercial operation of this unit by an estimated 12 months. The unit was scheduled to be synchronised to the grid early 2023 and contribute to the grid during capability tests prior to commercial operation, which was planned for the middle of 2023. Some of the existing generation capacity must be taken offline as the older power stations reach retirement age and the end of their licenced operating lives. The last unit of Komati Power Station was taken offline in October. Generating units at Grootvlei, Hendrina and Camden power stations must also be taken offline over the next five years as they will reach the end of their licenced operating lives. Within its own scope of influence, Eskom has led initiatives that will result in four independent power producers to invest at least R40 billion in new renewable plants on land leased at four of its power stations. This will produce at least 2 000MW in new generation capacity on approximately 6 200hectares of land over the next few years years. This is the first phase of the land lease programe, which will raise hundreds of billions in renewable energy investment without any underwriting recourse to Eskom and the taxpayer. To contribute to closing the supply gap, Eskom will repurpose these power stations and take advantage of the existing Transmission infrastructure in these facilities and convert these coal-fired power stations to renewable sources. This not only allows Eskom to continue generating much-needed electricity in these and other areas, but also to continue extending economic opportunities to the host communities under its Just Energy Transition programme. < Previous Article Next Article >

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 >

Ex-Liggie graduates 1/2 Share SH HATTINGH 12 January 2021 Raeesa graduated as a Dentist in 2020 with the highest distinction, summa cum laude. Raeesa Seedat, an ex-Liggie, graduated as a Dentist in 2020 with the highest distinction, summa cum laude. Raeesa is currently the community service dentist at the Ermelo Provincial Hospital. “Congratulations, we are very proud of you.” < Previous Article Next Article >

Danie het jou hulp nodig 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 20 April 2021 Danie ry daagliks ongeveer 4 kilometer met sy rolstoel om te gaan werk. Danie Geel (40) ‘n bekende in die gemeenskap het jou hulp nodig. Hy het aan die einde van 2005 gekla oor rug pyn, en is hospitaal toe, waar hy net n inspuiting ontvang het vir pyn. Die volgende oggend het hy wakker geword om te gaan werk, waar hy geen gevoel gehad in sy bene nie. Hy is per ambulans na die hospitaal geneem, en hulle het hom later die dag oorgeplaas na Pretoria waar hul nog dieselfde aand ‘n rug operasie gedoen het. Na die operasie het die dokters hom ingelig dat hy nie weer sal kan loop nie. “Laas jaar het ons as gesin Dr. Nel van die Zuid Afrikaans Hospitaal geskakel om ‘n opvolg konsultasie te reël vir Danie, omdat ons gehoop het dalk sal daar iets wees wat die dokter kon doen, of dalk kon sê of daar ‘n kans kan wees vir hom om weer te kan loop, omdat hy so nou en dan gevoel kry in sy bene. Ons kon daarin slaag om Dr. Nel op 12 April 2021 te sien, en ongelukkig is daar geen hoop vir Danie om weer te kan loop nie. Omdat hy nie medies het wat die kostes kan dek nie, wil ons graag vra vir hulp om die rekening te kan vereffen van die MRI skandering wat gedoen is. Die familie wil ook die gemeenskap vra om vir Danie te kan help met ‘n donasie, sodat hulle vir Danie ‘n ordentlike rolstoel kan koop. Danie ry daagliks ongeveer 4 kilometer met sy rolstoel om te gaan werk. Daar is ‘n Trust rekening gestig by PAS Prokureurs. Pieter StoffbergIngelyf Trust, Trust Rekening, FNB, Ermelo, Takkode: 270344, Rekening Nommer: 62092150326, Verwysing: Dan39/1. < Previous Article Next Article >

Burlec celebrates landmark victory 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 30 March 2021 "We look forward to our clients experiencing a new Wessels Road, free of potholes and dust.” “The plight of business owners in Wessels Road has extended over a period of more than 7 years with several meetings and empty promises since 2014. During this period of time meetings were held with 5 different Msukaligwa Municipal Managers and various senior municipal staff members and councillors. Help was requested from GertS ibande District Council, Public Works and AfriForum to no avail. The matter was then referred to the Public Protector and after much correspondence and frustration, the outcome of the investigation was totally unsatisfactory and we were referred to COGTA. It was decided not to waste time and energy with COGTA as we did with Msukaligwa Municipality, Gert Sibande District Municipality and the Public Protector, and our case was handed to our legal team, i.e. Conrad Botha of Dr.TC Botha Incorporated and Adv. JA Venter. Initial costs were paid partly by Bhyats Mica and Burlec, but by Burlec through to the end of this high court case extended over two years. Burlec Electrical won the case against Msukaligwa Municipality in March 2019, eventually and finally the tender was awarded to a reputable company Mopani Civils during February 2021, and at last construction has commenced in March 2021. Burlec will be easily accessible during the construction of the road. We must take the opportunity to commend our legal team for their services and excellence. Lessons taught is that things happen in God’s time through prayer, faith, perseverance and determination and that to quit is not an option. As the saying goes, never say never! We rejoice in the Lord for answered prayers. Once again, Natie, Carol and staff of Burlec Electrical would like to thank their clients for their loyal support during these challenging circumstances. We look forward to our clients experiencing a new Wessels Road, free of potholes and dust.” < Previous Article Next Article >

More malarkey at Standerton Hospital 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 30 March 2021 Enquiries to the Department of Health’s spokesperson, Dumisani Malamule, yielded no result. Shocking reports of healthcare workers carrying patients up and down staircases at Standerton Hospital have sent waves of shock through the community. Critically ill patients are forced to use the stairs, as the elevators have been out of order for four months. Healthcare workers have to carry patients on their backs, while others are carried in makeshift slings made of sheets. Further aggrivating the matter, is the fact that the operating theatre is on the second floor of the hospital, brining into question how emergency patients are taken to surgery, and how groggy and anaesthetized patients are transported from surgery back to their rooms. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has launched an investigation into the matter, and has also learned that the hospital has run out of theatre clothing. Patients are just wrapped with a cloth or a sheet, walking up and down the stairs naked. According to the DA, this is inhumane, and a complete violation of a patient's rights to privacy. The DA has therefore called upon the Provincial Government, particularly the Department of Health and Public Works, to urgently repair or replace the elevators at Standerton Hospital, and that the hospital must be provided with theatre clothing with immediate effect to restore patients’ dignity. The DA is pleased to announce that a tabled motion in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature on this particular matter has been adopted. This isn’t the first scandal faced by the embattled hospital. Serious complaints have been lodged against the hospital and it its management, including breaches of patient confidentiality, unattended patients falling and sustaining serious injuries, and the overall filthy and disheveled condition of the hospital itself. Enquiries to the Department of Health’s spokesperson, Dumisani Malamule, yielded no result. < Previous Article Next Article >

Dirkie van Staden palm pryse in 1/2 Share SM HATTINGH 4 May 2021 EHS is besonder trots op meneer Dirkie van Staden, wat twee pryse ingepalm het by die toekenningsgeleentheid van die South African Independent Artist Awards wat op Woensdag, 28 April 2021 plaasgevind het. EHS is besonder trots op meneer Dirkie van Staden, wat twee pryse ingepalm het by die toekenningsgeleentheid van die South African Independent Artist Awards wat op Woensdag, 28 April 2021 plaasgevind het. Na aanleiding van die pryse waarvoor twee van meneer van Staden se duo-groepe genomineer is, het albei die onderskeie groepe pryse ingepalm: STRINGS ON FIRE wen die prys vir die Best Instrumental Album. WORLD@SOUTH word die prys vir Award of Appreciation for Best Instrumental Single toegeken. Meneer van Staden is deel van die EHS-musiek departement waar hy onderrig gee in verskeie instrumente, onder andere klassieke en moderne ghitaar, ukulele, saksofoon, franse horing, trompet en tromboon. “Baie geluk aan meneer Van Staden. Hoërskool Ermelo is besonder trots op hierdie prestasie. Dis voorwaar iets om op trots te wees.” < Previous Article Next Article >

WOF Mpumalanga teams prove their mettle 1/3 Share GK CRONJE 21 September 2021 The Working on Fire Programme will also be celebrating another milestone of having been in existence for 18 years this month. The Programme is celebrating this milestone under the theme: 18 Years of Sustainability, an objective that has been fulfilled. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environments’ Working on Fire Programme teams and the Forest Support Programme (FSP) teams assisted partners in combating numerous fires since the beginning of the Winter Fire Season. A few teams were also dispatched prior to the official beginning of the season, as veld fires raged throughout the province. The Working on Fire Mpumalanga Injaka FSP team was the busiest team prior to the season, and was dispatched numerous times to the fire line to assist the Lowveld Escarpment Fire Protection Association (LEFPA) in suppression operations. The WOF Lefpa team has also been dispatched numerous times to assist the FPA, in what has been a season with a high Fire Danger Index. The WOF Warburton team follows closely and has been called out to assist the Umpiluzi Fire Protection Association (UFPA) in the Highveld region. “Records indicate teams have assisted in a total of 176 fires up to the end of August, since February. These fires have been recorded in both the Highveld and Lowveld region, and no injuries have been reported,” WOF Mpumalanga Communication Officer, Amanda Mthembu, said. Mthembu added: “We are approaching the peak of the Winter Fire Season and there have been 22 fires recorded in just September thus far. Our teams remain on high alert and are on standby to assist valued partners and stakeholders in Integrated Fire Management activities.” The Winter Fire Season officially began on 1 June, and teams are also hard at work conducting other Integrated Fire Management Services (IFMS) while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. These include PrescribeSd Burns and raising awareness in their communities with Fire Awareness educational workshops and door-to-door campaigns. The Working on Fire Programme will also be celebrating another milestone of having been in existence for 18 years this month. The Programme is celebrating this milestone under the theme: 18 Years of Sustainability, an objective that has been fulfilled. The WOF Programme is part of the Government’s Expanded Public Works Programme and recruits unemployed youth from disadvantaged communities and arms them with specialized firefighting skills. < Previous Article Next Article >