Hadeda News - 10 February 2023

Surprise Surprise: Scores Of South Africans Are Heading Back

Who says life in SouthAfrica is all bad?The endless load shedding, increasing unemployment and deteriorating economic conditions in the country do not seem to be major obstacles to a number of SouthAfricans who have decided to return to home soil following stints abroad.

Property specialists are noticing increasing numbers of South African expats who have lived outside of the country for several years, now returning to SouthAfrica.

PREFERENCE FOR WESTERN CAPE

Anumber of these buyers are searching for Western Cape properties in estates, which offer tight security and superior living standards.According to secure estate specialists, StephanThomas and David Burger, of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty

in CapeTown’s Constantiaberg, the group has seen a marked rise in high-value property sales in regions of the Western Cape.

“Constantiaberg has always been a popular destination for foreign buyers who are attracted by the lifestyle, climate and host of world-class amenities, but during the past two years, there has been a surge in enquiries, especially in the estate market,” the group said.

WORLD EVENTS DRIVE INTERESTIN SA

The international world has been in a state of flux for the past couple of years, forcing many people to reconsider their life situations and reassess their needs. The impact of major events, such as Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, have led to many people re-evaluating their priorities and their perception about what defines quality of life.

“We first noticed an increase in enquiries from foreign investors after the Brexit vote and then again once pandemic restrictions had eased and the war in Ukraine had begun,” according to

Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty

ABILITYTO WORK REMOTELY

Since the onset of the pandemic, many employers have allowed large numbers of employees to work from home or remote locations. This arrangement has enabled many employees to relocate to places that offer higher standards of living at reduced costs while continuing with their locationindependent work.

“Sotheby’s International Realty research has shown that at least 40% of the global workforce is now ‘location independent’and we, therefore, expect current buying trends to continue if not grow,” the group said.

SNAPPING UPPREMIUM PROPERTIES

BusinessTech also reported that a number of SouthAfrican expats are returning to Mzansi and buying up properties in the Western Cape, priced between R10 million and R30 million.

Working abroad and earning foreign currency certainly makes property in SouthAfrica seem an attractive and affordable proposition.Aproperty in South Africa, priced at R10 million would equate to about £470 000.

There are also expats who have lived abroad for several years during which time they married and had children and are now returning to SouthAfrica with their families for lifestyle reasons, according to BusinessTech. - The South African

Waar kry ek storie-idees?

Wenke van Welbekende Gepubliseerde Skrywer - Annerle Barnard

Herskryf nou die idee in ‘n paragraaf.

Skep karakterbeskrywings.

Skep ‘n subplot of meer wat by jou oorspronklike idee aansluit.

Karakterontwikkeling: agt praktiese skryfwenke

Karakterontwikkeling: agt praktiese skryfwenke

Annerle Barnard

Droombord/visiebord

Gaan soek vir jou prentjies op die Internet van mense wat lyk soos die karakter in jou kop. Kry ook prentjies wat hulle persoonlikhede uitbeeld. Is jou protagonis ‘n sluipskutter, ‘n feë, ‘n sirkusnar? Wat doen hierdie mense? Hoe lyk hulle persoonlikhede?

daarop reageer. Het jy al daaraan gedink dat enige goeie storie vanuit die vraag ‘wat as?’kan onstaan?

Bekende voorbeelde:

Wat as ‘n meisie besluit om in haar suster se plek aan die Hunger Games deel te neem? (The Hunger Games)

Wat as sekere mense in ‘n samelewing as afwykend beskou word? (Divergent)

Wat as robotte in ‘n dodelike spel met die mensdom verwikkeld raak?

(Spel, goue wenner: Sanlam-prys vir Jeuglektuur, 2021)

Wat as ‘n tienerseun ontvoer word?

(Sweepslag, kortlys: Sanlam-prys vir Jeuglektuur, 2017)

Ek werk tans aan ‘n storie — ek is so min of meer in die helfte van ‘n roman, maar die storie dryf my in hierdie stadium na waansin. Die middel is tans ‘n mislukte pannekoek. So voel dit in elk geval vir my. Die ergste van als is, ek stoei al dae lank om dit reg te kry. Ek het vanoggend selfs oorweeg om die ‘delete’knoppie te druk. En toe tref ‘n idee my. Nou kan ek weer aangaan.

Waar kry ek storie-idees en hoe ontwikkel ‘n mens kreatiwiteit in skryfwerk?

Dikwels weet ‘n mens nie eens waar om enige storie-idee vandaan te kry nie, watwou begin skryf! Daar is egter maniere om jou brein aan die gang te skop. Hier volg ‘n paar voorstelle. Indien jy enige ander beproefde maniere het, laat weet asb.

Lees

Lees is (sover dit my aanbetref) die heel beste manier om kreatiwiteit te stimuleer. Dit help nogal om te sien hoe ‘n ander skrywer die wande van die boks afbreek en jou na ‘plekke’ en situasies te neem wat jy nie gedink het bestaan nie.

Internet

As jy regtig nie meer weet watter kant toe nie, kyk op die Internet. Op Pinterest enTumblr is daar heelwat storie-idees (prompts) wat moontlik kan help om jou breinselle te aktiveer

Waar kry ek storie-idees?

Karakterontwikkeling: agt praktiese skryfwenke

Onverwante woorde

Kies 3 na 5 onverwante woorde en kyk of jy dit in ‘n storie kan gebruik.

Poësie en musiek

‘n Interessante gedig of musiek (of selfs net ‘n klankgreep) skep soms interessante beelde of herinnerings.

Sintuiglike waarneming

Kyk na prente wat sintuiglike waarneming stimuleer of selfs beter: gaan stap in die natuur en neem waar. Span al jou sintuie in en gebruik hierdie waarnemings wanneer jy skryf.

Sneeuvlokkie-metode

Hierdie werk ook lekker as ‘n dinkskrum, veral in ‘n klaskamer

Skryf jou storie-idee in ‘n sin.

‘n Leser was so gaaf om vir sketse wat sy van my karakters geteken het, aan te stuur. Dis hoe sy hulle visualiseer

Milieu-droombord

Doen presies dieselfde betreffende jou milieu. Dit help om kreatiwiteit te stimuleer en help jou om nuwe moontlikhede te ontdek en te ontgin.

Karakterisering ‘n Gratis karakterkaart is hier beskikbaar

Vir addisionele hulp betreffende jou karakterisering, kliek hier

Pret!

Onthou dat enige kreatiewe proses pret moet wees. Dis ons eie vrees vir mislukking wat dikwels hierdie proses van enige pret ontneem.

Belangrik: ‘n mens kan enige geskrewe teks redigeer, maar ‘n leë bladsy is en bly presies net dit: ‘n leë bladsy

Visiebord

Skryfwenke: wat beteken tema?

5Tegnieke: boeiende stories!

Wat as?

Plaas jou karakters in moeilike omstandighede en kyk hoe hulle

Wat as ‘n tienerseun op onwettige goedere afkom? (Sindikaat, silwer wenner: Sanlam-prys vir Jeuglektuur, 2019)

‘Wat as’vrae in stories?

Dikwels is meer as een ‘wat as’ vraag op ‘n storie van toepassing. Wanneer ‘n mens na Spel kyk, dink ek onmiddellik aan die volgende:

Wat as die protagonis, Lukas, se broer ontvoer word?

Was as Lukas se ouers vermoor is?

Wat as hy sy broer moet gaan soek?

Wat as hy in hierdie vreemde omstandighede ‘n meisie ontmoet en verlief raak?

Wat as die transterrane besluit dat hulle hom nodig het? Waarvoor?

Wat as daar ‘n mol is wat op hom spioeneer?

Skep nou jou eie ‘wat as?’vrae:

Wat as jou klasmaat tydens Wiskunde in ‘n alien (buiteruimtelike wese) verander?

Wat as jy in ‘n woud stap en daar vlieg haaie tussen die bome deur?

Wat as jy verlief raak op die ou/meisie wat tydens skoolvakansies saam met jou by die kwekery werk?

‘Wat as?’kan jou ver bring. Lekker skryf!

NOORD KAAP TUINE

Beesvleis Bredie

1 kg heel skywe

beeskook van jou keuse (dikrib, brisket, chuck ens.)

2 groot uie, opgekap

2 groot aartappels –geskil en in kwart gesny

3 wortels, geskraap en opgekap in hap grootte

2 koppies gevriesde groenboontjies

2 eetlepels botter ½ teelepel tiemie swartpeper na smaak sout na smaak

1 eetlpele bruinasyn

3 teelepels bisto poeier aangemaak met bietjie koue water kookwater

Sit jou vleisstukke in ‘n medium kastrol, gooi net genoeg koue water oor om vleis mooi te bedek. Voeg eetlepel asyn by en bring tot kookpunt, kook stadig met deksel op tot al die water verdamp het en vleis begin potbraai, braai dan albei kante lekker bruin Plaas uie bo op , sprinkel met tiemie, gooi klein bietjie kookwater bo oor , plaas deksel op en laat weer afkook tot begin potbraai, voeg botter by en braai alles lekker saam tot bruin en geurig

Gooi genoeg kookwater op om alles weer te bedek, prut stadig vir halfuur, plaas aartappels, wortels en groenboontjies bo op en gooi net genoeg kookwater op om als te bedek, geur met sout en peper na smaak. Wanneer aartappels sag is, voeg aangemaakte bisto by, roer liggies deur, prut stadig vir 10 minute. Bedien met rys of stampmielies selfs lekker krummelpap. Bron: Facebook / Ek Is AfrikaansResepte vir Elkeen

To raise funds for the construction of our 551.95m fence surrounding our Multipurpose Centre we are hosting a Valentines Gala on the 14th of Feb. 2023

Date:

14 February 2023, 7pm - 10pm

Venue: Koda

Multipurpose Centre, 198 Leeukop Street, Rosedale, Upington

Price: R200 per ticket/ person

Theme: Black Tie: Red & Black

AE Switch het op Donderdag 2 Februarie sy e-beursiestelsel aanTariomix en Zircon Diamonds and Gold gestaak kragtens klousules 6 en 14 van sy kontrak wat spesifiek daarop fokus datAE Switch “nie kriminele aktiwiteite op sy platform kan toelaat nie.”

In ’n verklaring hetTiaan Lombard, uitvoerende hoof van AE Switch, gesê: “Louis Liebenberg het reeds honderde miljoene rande uit die platform gehaal oor die laaste tyd, en soos in sy eie woorde, het hy slegs ’n paar miljoen by ons gelos.”

Daar is volgensAE Switch “nie naastenby genoeg geld in enige van Liebenberg se rekeninge om enigsins die geld wat hy aan sy beleggers skuld te betaal nie. Hierdie bedrag loop etlike honderde miljoene.” “Ons interne ondersoeke toon baie

duidelik aan dat Koos se geld gevat is om Piet te betaal, en het nou ’n punt bereik waar sy “beleggers” net nie meer genoeg belê om die ontsaglike hoop geld wat nodig is om uit te betaal te regverdig nie. Daar is ’n baie duidelike rede hoekom Liebenberg daarop aandring dat sy ‘beleggers’belê voordat hy geld uit kan betaal,” verduidelik Lombard.

“AE Switch se kantore en sosiale media is die laaste weke erg aangeval omdat die publiek onder die indruk is dat die besluite om betalings te maak deurAE Switch gemaak word. Dit is en was nog nooit die geval nie. Ons is slegs ’n derdepartydiensverskaffer

“Enige van die lede wat geld in ons platform betaal het en nie in Liebenberg se ‘skema’nie, se fondse is absoluut veilig. Ons is tans besig met ’n oudit om toe te

sien dat fondse terugbetaal word aan diegene wat nie belê het nie, maar geld op die platform het. Ongelukkig sal diegene wat natuurlik by die skema gebaat het nie op hierdie stadium enige fondse kan onttrek nie en salAE Switch hierdie rekeninge met die Valke bespreek,” voeg Lombard by

082 493 4267 / 054 332 1183 hein@heinduvenhage.co.za

Die publiek is baie welkom om die Valke te kontak by 053 836 7037 vir verdere inligting. Elke lid van die ‘skema’sal ook ’n SMS ontvang vanafAE Switch met die nodige kontakbesonderhede van die Valke. - Afrinuus

Vrydag 10 Februarie 2023

Hytec SA Sponsors First Digital Library Through Collaboration With Mandela Day Library Project

Hytec SouthAfrica (Hytec SA) has again partnered with Participate for Good’s Mandela Day Library Project to deliver a digital library at Sishen Primary School in Kathu, Northern Cape.This marks the first digital library – and 11th library in total - that Hytec SAhas donated to SouthAfrican communities, as part of its commitment to socially uplift the country.

"We have been proud to sponsor the Mandela Day Library Project for over a decade now and are pleased to

support this inspiring community with this library –our first digital library and our first library being donated in the Northern Cape,” says Chris Riley, CEO, Bosch Rexroth SouthAfrica at the ribboncutting ceremony on 21 September 2022.

The library is fitted with SMART Technology and a SMART Board to connect over 1 000 children in the school with the wider world of digital learning by allowing them remote access to the web-based system through their own

tablets and smartphones, irrespective of their location.The software is one of the first to bring coding and robotics to the table, advancing digital age opportunities for the youth of this region.

To ensure that the pupils continue engaging with the technology, 11 teachers from the school received content training to integrate CAPS-aligned class lessons and remote learning across all subjects with the new software using Curiosity Stream, SMARTLearning Suite and Google Classroom.

Hytec SA’s initiative forms part of Participate for Good’s digital library project alongside Nelson Mandela Day International, the Soul Buddyz Club and Rotary International to improve digital literacy among over 9 000 children in poor communities.

“Hytec SAis committed to following the values of the late Nelson Mandela and uplifting the youth of SouthAfrica. We are excited to complete the new library and create a positive environment for children to learn,” stated Riley.Engineering News

'It Was A Bit Bad': Why Sex Worker Left Home For Alleged Brothel

Plucked from the diamondhustling dorpie of Springbok in the Northern Cape, Emma* moved to the bright lights of Cape Town, fully aware that the job she was heading for would involve sex for cash.

She had lost her job at the local Spar and was at a loose end, caught up in bitter arguments with her alcoholic mother. She used the street drugs tik and mandrax as the days rolled into one another in a town with few chances of finding another job.

"It was a bit bad," she said. She went to live with Leandra WilliamsAyuk, one of the accused in a sex trafficking trial in the Western Cape High Court, to get a break from her mother When WilliamsAyuk allegedly offered her a job as a prostitute, as Emma describes the job, she decided to take her up on the offer and moved to "die Kaap", as she calls CapeTown.

From a house off Koeberg Road, which joins the freeways spiralling out of the CBD, she would start an evening's work by smoking two rocks of crack cocaine to give her the jump-start she needed to walk up the road, past theYsterplaatAir Force Base's imposing brick wall to her right.

At the end of Piet Grobler Street, she would cross over and stand at a corner near the brightly painted building that doubles as a clothing shop, and a doctor's consulting room, and wait for clients to pull up in their cars. Sometimes she didn't "feel lus" (wasn't interested), and to bump up her energy, she would go and get another rock, on credit.

On a good day, she would make R500; on a not-so-good day, R300 a night.

However, this money would go

right back into the pockets of a man at the house who let her buy the R50 rocks on credit when she wasn't bringing in any customers. The money for the drugs came out of her takings at the end of the night.

In return, she got a roof over her head, a hearty plate of jollof rice "with just a little bit of chilli in it", and some underwear, some short dresses and some long dresses. Sometimes they would get R40 or R50 to go and buy their own food.

TheAyuks would buy her Shield deodorant, some "women's things" and her "period things".

Emma is testifying as a Section 204 witness to help the court make sense of the allegations levelled at the three.

Crack cocaine and sex work are not legal in SouthAfrica, although SouthAfrica is hoping to decriminalise sex work with a proposed new bill.

WilliamsAyuk and theAyuk brothers have all pleaded not guilty in the human trafficking trial which is trying to tease out evidence to substantiate a long list of charges which range from kidnapping to debt bondage to assault, drugs and rape.They say they are being set up because they complained about a policeman who works out of the Milnerton police station up the road.

Some of the girls and women who testified have said they ended up being trapped, working for drugs, never having money of their own, never being able to make personal calls and not being able to leave. One said a relative pretended to be a customer to get her out.

Like Emma, they came with histories of being estranged from their family, and interrupted their formal education to make money

out of their street smarts instead. Most were already drug users and sex workers. Some were barely out of their early teens.

One of the women who was a teenager when she was offered work at the house said she worked for herself to buy nice things because her family was very poor. Her method was to circulate her phone number among potential customers while partying at clubs.

Their services allegedly included entertaining customers who came for the business' other service - a room to get high in.

How safe is your neighbourhood? Find out by using News24's CrimeCheck

Testifying confidently in very fast Afrikaans, a rare smile crossed her face at the translation to Pidgin for the word alcoholgogoro - the onomatopoeia delighting her as she appeared to recognise it.The Pidgin is for the benefit of theAyuk brothers, who hail from a part of Cameroon caught up in a decades-long border dispute with Nigeria.

The house itself is unrecognisable now after a major renovation by the new landlord who rents out rooms, with a spaza shop that sells the largest selection of Spookies chips flavours on that side of the Black River

If JudgeAlma de Wet finds Emma's testimony credible and helpful, she will be declared immune from prosecution, given that she has opened up on her own drug use and sex work while testifying.

During the lunch break, Emma sits on the cool granite steps outside the court, curling her legs into her tiny body as she rests against a pillar, sunning herself, all alone.

The trial will continue on Monday with the cross examination of Emma by the defence.

- News24

*Emma is a pseudonym to protect the witness' identity.

Yannick and Edward Ayuk at the in-loco inspection.

PHOTO: Jenni Evans, News24

For young people in the Northern Cape’s indigenous communities, tertiary education has long been an elusive dream. Now, their chances of accessing education and training have improved significantly, thanks to a R25 million donation towards the Sol Plaatje University’s (SPU) Lesedi LaAfrika Fund by AngloAmerican’s subsidiaries Kumba Iron Ore and De Beers Group.

The Lesedi LaAfrika Fund aims to raise R100 million in the next three years to support the university’s scholarships, infrastructure, social impact projects, and staff wellness programmes. Kumba Iron Ore has pledged R20 million towards the fund, and De Beers a further R5 million.

Qondakele Sompondo, Director for InstitutionalAdvancement at SPU, said the funding would make a significant impact on the lives of the youth of the Northern Cape.

“The plight of the youth in

indigenous communities (Nama, San, Khoi, and Griqua) and in the Northern Cape is something that needs our urgent attention. Through the fund, we want to do something bigger than normal: we will award scholarships to augment what NSFAS is doing by funding the poorest of the poor,” he said.

Kumba Iron Ore’s Executive Head of CorporateAffairs, Pranill Ramchander, said the company’s donation was ‘an investment into the future of the Northern Cape’. “Education is one of the key pillars in Kumba’s Sustainable Mining Plan aimed to improve the lives of young people, not only in our host communities but across the Northern Cape province,” he said.

De Beers Group production manager Sonja van Rooyen said the company’s R5 million donation was part of is ongoing commitment to the province and its people.

“Through this endowment, we

want to make a university education available to more youth of this province,” she said.

Speaking at a gala dinner hosted by SPU as part of its 10year celebrations, ViceChancellor and Principal ProfessorAndrew Crouch reflected on the significant progress the university has made in the nine years of its existence.

“Sol Plaatje University started humble, and built up to where it is today because of people wanting to bring change in the province and ultimately the country through the power of teaching and learning and producing graduates,” he said.

SPU has seen major growth in its enrolment figures and staff recruitment in recent years, with 60% of its academic staff having PhDs.

As part of its sustainable growth, the institution is committed to community engagement and scholarly activity. “The University

should be embedded in the community and society and contribute towards producing knowledgeable graduates who plough back to their communities,” said Prof Crouch.SA Good News

Anglo American- Pranill Ramchander – Head of Corporate Communications at Anglo American South Africa

Solar Is The New Black

Solar, it seems, is the new black. Which makes generators very last season.

Whereas the generators are far from quiet, generator owners are.

They seldom brag about the fact that they are producing enough kilowatts in their driveway to power a small city, or that they don’t need to keep checking the sky for clouds when their inverter is only at 60%.

etiquette is demanded from panel producers.

Whereas solar users might be annoying personality-wise, generator owners let their equipment do the talking. Which has resulted in more than one neighborly dispute.And is likely to result in many more.

The problem is that Solar owners are like vegans. No sooner have you met them, they will let you know that they have moved over, when they did, they did this, and what percentage off the grid they are, the writer says. Picture Henk Kruger/Cape Argus

It is a sad situation.Years ago, when you saw a group of men gathered excitedly around a shared cell phone, the likelihood was they were up to no good. Today there is a great chance that they are comparing electricity consumption and production based on the information from their solar app.

Whereas in the past, if men were to compare the size of their storage, the options were vast, today it is the size of their inverter that gets them most excited.

The debate about preferred back up power is set to continue to consume us.

With theANC’s Eskom becoming more unstable and less reliable, SouthAfricans have accepted that their power is in their own hands (see what I did there).

The problem is that Solar owners are like vegans. No sooner have you met them, they will let you know that they have moved over, when they did, they did this, and what percentage off the grid they are.

This varies from user to user with one vegan telling me that they are 167% independent of ESKOM.And that’s on a rainy day At night. With one panel tied behind their back.

They simply get on with it, continue to buy diesel (because ESKOM can’t) and relentlessly annoy the neighbors.

I saw a complaint on a street WhatsApp group recently Apparently, they writer was concerned about the sound of the motors running and the smell of diesel in the air The group responded with love and patience, commiserated with her but continued to feed the beasts, as so they should.

I happen to enjoy the sound of things working. Solar, to some extent is unnaturally silent (like electric cars). For me, the smell of burning diesel, the magnificence of the motor turning over fills me with joy

The difference between Solar and generator is that little

Some years ago, when we installed a generator in a home we no longer live in, I sent our neighbors flowers and a note saying, “please don’t hate us, hate Eskom.” Next week when the new generator is installed, there is little chance that anyone will even notice given the noise from their own backyard.

The power crises is unacceptable. It is infuriating because it is solvable.The government needs to remove all red tape, open the production of electricity to the independent producers and allow solar generation to be sold back into the grid.As is already the case in CapeTown.

In the interim, it is important that we remember that load shedding isn’t our neighbor’s fault.

That solar users are people too. And that deep down, all we are looking for is a little bit of light. -

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Kumba Iron Ore Gifts Learners New School Bags

Kumba Iron Ore’s Kolomela mine launched its annual backto-school campaign by donating school bags and stationery essentials to various primary schools in theTsantsabane municipal area.Through the provision of school essentials, the mine strives to improve the educational outcomes in the Tsantsabane municipal area. In January 2023, the Kolomela team visited various schools,

among others,Asmandia, HTT Bidi,Assmang and Postdene Primary and supplied Grade 1’s with stationery packs.The schoolbag filled with stationery essentials lifts a burden from parents and ensures that all Grade 1’s starts the new school year on an equal footing.

Education is one of the pillars of Kumba’s Sustainable Mining Plan and the mine seeks to

support the provision of inclusive, quality education for all children in host communities.

By 2025 Kumba envisages that all participating schools in host communities will perform within the top 30% of public schools nationally and by 2030 within the top 20% of the country’s public schools. Without a schoolbag, learners’

books are often carried in plastic bags and are exposed to extreme weather conditions.

Aproper schoolbag helps learners to maintain neatness and preserve their handbooks. The schoolbags encourage confidence amongst community children and contributes to a positive school experience.

Asmandia, HTT Bidi, Assmang and Postdene Primary Grade 1’s with stationery packs and School Bags

NETBALKRISES: Die Noord Kaap Het Een Geakkrediteerde

Die opposisie het die departement van sport, kuns en kultuur versoek om dringend in te gryp in die huidige netbal verknorsing in die Noord-Kaap wat moontlik die agteruitgaan van jare se ontwikkeling in netbal in Namakwaland en Noord Kaap, kan veroorsaak. Die hele provinsie het tans net 'n enkele geakkrediteerde Suid-Afrikaanse Netbalgradeerder wat 'n geakkrediteerde skeidsregterskursus mag aanbied. Die provinsie is te groot, en afstande en paaie is in 'n te slegte toestand, vir net een persoon om kursusse regoor die provinsie te fasiliteer.As gevolg hiervan, hang 'n geakkrediteerde netbalskeidsregterskursus, wat

veronderstel is om op 25 Februarie in Springbok plaas te vind, in die weegskaal. Skeidsregterskursusse is hoog in aanvraag in die streek en ongeveer 20 skole, met tussen 80 en 100 deelnemers, het belangstelling in die komende kursus getoon.As die kursus nie voortgaan nie, sal dit verdere vordering in provinsiale netbal belemmer Weens ’n tekort aan gekwalifiseerde skeidsregters om wedstryde te blaas, tree onderwysers en ouers meeste van die tyd as skeidsregters op. Hulle het nie almal 'n duidelike begrip van die reëls nie. Dit kan lei tot verwarring en gevegte onder die skeidsregters,

onderwysers en afrigters. Dit het ook 'n algehele negatiewe uitwerking op vordering in die sport. Sport speel 'n waardevolle rol in die persoonlike ontwikkeling van jongmense. Netbal is ook een van die gewildste skoolmeisiedeelnamesportsoorte in SuidAfrika. Die departement, saam met die geassosieerde sportliggame, is dit dus aan leerders in Namakwaland verskuldig om die fluitjie te blaas oor die hindernisse wat sport in die Noord-Kaap verhinder om sy volle potensiaal te bereik. -Veronica van Dyk

Northern Cape Gender Based Violence (GBV) Again in the Spotlight

“We also have quite a pervasive rape culture within the country; how we feel about women and how we are treating women is very telling. So, rape culture is a major contributor to the attitudes that a lot of abusers and perpetrators have towards women and girl children.And then, of course, we have the usual suspects which are poverty and inequality and those are prevalent almost everywhere. And in SouthAfrica those have to be taken into context and with our history, the state of the world being right now and also the high levels of unemployment,” says POWALegal Manager, Naledi Kuali.

In Setlagole village, near Mahikeng, a 32-year-old mother of three, Refilwe Dithobiso was allegedly killed by her 58-year-old boyfriend, with whom she had a 20-month-old baby

“She was our unifier. She was our crazy one in the family and we accepted her the way she was. She was very handy Whenever we had family gatherings or funerals, she would be the one making sure that everything is running smoothly We miss her,” says the victim’s aunt, Dominah Dithobiso.

Years of convincing Refilwe to leave her boyfriend, whom the

family viewed as abusive were all in vain.

“We always told her to leave this man because he abuses her, and she would say there will be no one who will provide for her because she depended on him financially as she was unemployed,” Dominah Dithobiso adds.

Her partner, Fannie Moilwa is expected to make a second appearance at the Setlagole Magistrate’s Court onTuesday

In Mahikeng, the partially burnt body of a 29-year-old mother of one, Rorisang Baakwalanya from

Kuruman in the Northern Cape, was found dumped in Lokaleng village last week.

No arrests have been made yet. Naledi Kuali of Powa says low and slow rates of arrest also contribute to the increase in GBV cases.

“We also have a low rate of conviction and arrests for perpetrators of violence.This really speaks to capacity, but it also speaks to attitudes. So, the more likely you are to get away with something, the more likely you are to do it,” Kuali adds. Families of victims want justice for their loved ones.

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Northern Cape Health Department Still Without A Permanent Head As Suspended Officials Return

It may be business as usual in the Northern Cape Department of Health for the former acting head of health and the chief financial officer (CFO) who are back at work after their suspensions, but concerns remain over the impact of leadership instability on public healthcare services.

In March last year, the acting head of health, Dr DionTheys, and CFO Daniel Gaborone were suspended after being implicated in fraud and corruption relating to a R43-million personal protective equipment (PPE) tender

When Spotlight caught up with Theys this week, he was back at work after his yearlong suspension. He says that it will be business as usual and that there are “no hard feelings” from his side.

“I am excited to be back at work. My name has been cleared by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), as I indicated to you last year when we spoke. Right now, I am looking forward to going back to serving the people of the Northern Cape.”

So, that’sTheys in the clear – for now

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago told Spotlight that “with regard to the criminal matter, the SIU referred it to the National ProsecutingAuthority (NPA) and it is still ongoing. “With regard to the SIU’s disciplinary recommendation, the matter was referred to the Office of the Premier.”

NPAspokesperson in the Northern Cape Mojalefa Senokoatsane says the PPE tender case against both Theys and Gaborone was provisionally withdrawn on 8 December 2022.

Senokoatsane says it will be premature to fully disclose the reasons behind the decision to provisionally withdraw the case against the officials.

“What the NPAcan confirm is that the matter is still being investigated, as we believe that there is a case that needs to be answered by the accused. “To ensure that the investigations are carried out with the sensitivity they deserve, we will not be able to share any additional information regarding any additional charges or people involved in this matter at this stage.”

Senokoatsane added that should more evidence come to light, the case could be reinstated.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Northern Cape Department of Health, Lulu Mxekezo, confirmed to Spotlight that the two officials returned to work in January

“The internal human resources procedures have been followed,” she says.

Thirty months and still no permanent HOD

According to the Public ServiceAct, a vacant post must be filled within six months.Also, the position cannot be held in an acting capacity for more than a year. However, the provincial health department has been without a permanent head of department (HOD) for more than 30 months.

The department last had a permanent HOD in July 2020.That was Dr Steven Jonkers, who is now working as a deputy director-general in the Office of the Premier. Jonkers is also facing corruption charges.

Spotlight previously reported that the Hawks alleged Jonkers had fraudulently awarded a departmental security tender to Defensor Electronic Security Systems for more than R384-million betweenAugust and October 2017.

Read more in Daily Maverick: “Almost two years later, NC health department is still without a permanent head”

This week, Hawks spokesperson in the Northern Cape CaptainTebogo Thebe told Spotlight that Jonkers’ case is set down for trial in the Kimberley High Court from 6 to 21 March this year

According to the Director-General of the Northern Cape government, Justice Bekebeke, Jonkers has not been put on suspension because they are waiting on the outcome of the court case. “He couldn’t interfere with investigations or intimidate any witness. In the meantime, he has positively contributed [through] the execution of his duties in the Office of the Premier and the province,” she says. Bekebeke also says the premier evaluated the charges against Jonkers and didn’t deem it necessary to suspend him.

Meanwhile,Theys did not return to the acting HOD position, but is now back in his former position as provincial medical director

Gaborone returned to his CFO post.

Riaan Strydom has been acting as HOD sinceTheys was suspended in March 2021. Lulu Mxekezo told Spotlight that the recruitment and appointment of an HOD is the responsibility of the premier’s office. She would not be drawn on the progress being made, or lack of it, to recruit a permanent HOD. In March last year,Thomas-Adams told Spotlight the recruitment process for a new HOD was in its “final stages”. This week she said “the recruitment process for an HOD is under way and we expect a permanent head to be appointed in a month or two.

“The reason why it took so long is because we had to organise the right panels and ensure that everyone is available at the same time.”

Concerns mounting

Like other provinces, the Northern Cape Department of Health is beset with serious challenges, including staff shortages, public health infrastructure issues and problems with patient emergency transport services. Not having a permanent HOD in the most important health administration post in the province is not helping, according to organised labour and opposition parties in the province. “In the end, it will lead to the suffering of healthcare services,” saysAnthony Vassen, provincial secretary of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA(Denosa).

“Riaan Strydom has embarked on various service delivery improvement programmes, together with the MEC, but all efforts could be of no relevance should a new HOD be appointed tomorrow,” says Vassen.

“The fact that there is no permanent HOD in the department of health is putting a strain on healthcare services.The department is running around like a headless chicken … it is uncertain whether a plan – good or bad – will be implemented should a new head be appointed. “The inconsistency of not having permanent senior managers has a bad influence on service delivery,” he says.

Vassen says Denosa is now working with the department on an organogram. “It is not only the HOD that is acting … there are many chief directors and senior managers that are in acting positions.These are the things that are delaying the process of appointing more staff members and improving the infrastructure of facilities,” he says.

As of September last year, there were 17 vacancies in key senior management positions in the provincial health department, according to a response to a written parliamentary question posed by DA MPMichéle Clarke.

Among the vacancies at the time were: Deputy Director-General; Chief Director, Office of the MEC; Chief Director Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital; Chief Director for Priority Programmes; Chief Director for District Health Services; Chief Director for Corporate Services; Chief Director for Provincial Hospital Services and EMS; Chief Director for Strategic Planning andAnalysis; Director in the Office of the DDG (DDG position also vacant); Director Facility Planning and Maintenance; Director QualityAssurance; Director Rehabilitation; Director Financial Accounting; Director Maternal, Child,Youth and Women’s Health and Nutrition; Director Communicable Diseases; Director Human Resources; and Director Legal Services.

By time of publication, Mxekezo had not responded to Spotlight’s queries

on which of these posts had since been filled.

According to Wynand Boshoff, provincial leader of the Freedom Front Plus, it is those who depend on public health services that suffer as a result of inadequate top management.

“There was joy when the previous HOD and CFO were arrested for corruption for the acquisition of PPE equipment during Covid.

“The acting HOD, Riaan Strydom, was generally well accepted and our sources within the department are praising his work ethic. However, acting in a position is always an impediment to doing great work,” says Boshoff.

The DA’s Northern Cape spokesperson for health, Isak Fritz, agrees that the department is in critical need of stability, which can only come with stable management and the decision-making powers that come with a fixed appointment.

“The fact that government continues to drag its feet in respect of this appointment is very concerning.The quality of health in the Northern Cape continues to decline,” said Fritz.

“Emergency medical services are hampered by a lack of operational ambulances and emergency practitioners; the province’s only tertiary facility – Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital – has a growing surgery and treatment backlog due to limited operational theatres because of serious nursing shortages, and the districts have severe staff shortages and shortages of life-saving equipment,” he says.

No consequences?

Meanwhile, opposition parties are concerned about the return ofTheys and Gaborone.

“The charges that these officials were facing relate to irregularities in PPE and are serious. What is disturbing is that the department does not seem to have instituted any further internal disciplinary procedures against them, other than their suspension with full pay,” says Fritz.

“Now they welcome them without any mention of internal investigations. Given the deepseated rot within this department, it is worrying that both DrTheys and Gaborone get to return to influential senior management positions as if nothing has happened.”

Although the department claims that HR processes were followed for the return ofTheys and Gaborone, Theys told Spotlight there were no internal processes against him.

Mxekezo did not respond to followup questions to clarify this. DM/MC

CSA Suspends N.Cape and KZN Cricketers after Altercation

Northern Cape Heat'sAndrew Rasemene and KwaZulu-Natal Inland's Malcolm Nofal have both been suspended for short periods from first-class cricket by CSA following a physical altercation during their One-Day Cup Division 2 match, played in Kimberley on December 8 last year

Video footage of the incident, accessed by ESPNcricinfo, shows Rasemene, the non-striker at the time, striding towards the celebratingTuskers players after the dismissal of GrantThompson. The umpires then rush towards Rasemene, and there appears to be a scuffle between Rasemene and some of the opposition players.

While the footage, taken from one static camera, doesn't provide more details, the umpires' report, also accessed by ESPNcricinfo, mentions that Rasemene "grabbed him [Nofal] by the throat".

ACSAstatement confirmed that the decision to suspend the two players was taken "as a result of a disciplinary report lodged by the umpires, Jurie Sadler and Roderick Ellis, for an alleged breach of clause 6.3.1 and clause 6.5.1 of the Code of Conduct, respectively". Clause 6.3.1, which relates to Nofal's offence, is for "inappropriate and deliberate physical contact between players in the course of play", while Rasemene's offence, 6.5.1, relates to "physical assault of another participant or spectator".

Nofal will now be ineligible for the upcoming 4-Day Series match against Eastern Cape Iinyathi, scheduled for February 9 to 12, and Rasemene will be ineligible for the forthcoming CSADivision 2 4-Day Series matches against Eastern Storm, from February 23 to 26, and against Garden Route Badgers, from March 2 to 5.

Hey Leah PRINT SIGNAGE DESIGN Hey Leah

Northern Cape Heat'sAndrew Rasemene and KwaZulu-Natal Inland's Malcolm Nofal

Chemical Evidence For Milk, Meat, And Marine Resource Processing In Later Stone Age Pots From Namaqualand, South Africa

Continues from last week

Previous organic residue analysis in SouthernAfrica

Early research using organic residue analysis attempting to identify herding and, by extension, the exploitation of milk products, in western SouthAfrica, comprises two published studies38,39,40. Neither yielded evidence for dairy processing although it should be noted both were very small studies. An early study by Patrick et al.38 analyzed charred material from the inner walls of potsherds from two sites: Kasteelberg B, a coastal herder site, and Die Hangen, an inland forager site (Fig. 1).The residue from one Kasteelberg B vessel contained marine lipids (thought to be seal, based on the large numbers of their bones at the site), whereas (a small number of) potsherds from De Hangen, revealed terrestrial animal fats, although these could not be attributed to source.

More recently, potsherds from putative specialised vessels known as ‘spouted ware’, found at Kasteelberg D east (Kasteelberg De) in contexts containing high proportions of sheep bones and thus thought to have been used for storing and pouring sheep’s milk, were analysed. However, these vessels, from part of the same herder site complex as Kasteelberg B39, were predominantly used to process marine-derived animal products, despite sheep bones being abundant at the site. In contrast, in the highlands of Lesotho, lipid analysis of huntergatherer pottery from the sites of Likoaeng and Sehonghong indicated that one-third of vessels were used to process dairy products40. Notably, compoundspecific lipid dating revealed these dated from the mid and late first millenniumAD, respectively

Consequently, as questions regarding the identification of herders and the exploitation of milk and milk products in western South Africa remain unresolved, here we carry out a large-scale study using organic residue analysis of potsherds from four archaeological sites located in Namaqualand to further investigate this issue. In recent decades, lipid residue analysis of archaeological pottery has become a core tool for exploring ancient diet.The use of gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and compound-specific stable carbon isotope analysis allows differentiation between carcass fats from ruminant and non-ruminant animals and, crucially, between ruminant dairy and carcass fats, due to biosynthetic differences between the major fatty acids41,42. Thus, combined chemical and isotopic evidence for dairy lipids in

Namaqualand pottery would unambiguously confirm the presence of domestic animals, and thus herders, even when their remains are absent or unidentifiable.

Namaqualand

Namaqualand, located in northwestern SouthAfrica (Fig. 1), covers some 50,000 km2. It is bounded by theAtlantic Ocean to the west, the Kamiesberg Mountains ~ 100 km to the east, the Oliphants River to the south and the Orange River to the north.

Namaqualand falls within the winter rainfall zone (WRZ) of southwestern Africa, which stretches from southwestern Namibia to Cape Agulhas and extends inland to the western margin of the Great Escarpment43.The WRZ receives more than 65% of its annual rainfall during the austral winter, but precipitation varies between 50 and 350 mm per year44. In Namaqualand the average annual rainfall ranges from 150 mm in the south to less than 50 mm near the Orange River45.This rainfall pattern is caused by the cold Benguela current and the upwelling of cold water from theAtlantic Ocean46. Due to this, Namaqualand is classified as a cold desert with a mean annual temperature of 16.8 °C47 but there are marked seasonal and diurnal extremes which may range from − 6 to 35 °C45. Palaeoclimatic records suggest some climatic fluctuations over the last 2000 years, particularly during the Medieval Warm Epoch (900 to 1300AD) and the Little IceAge (1300 to 1850 AD)48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57.

The unique flora of Namaqualand is characterized by remarkable plant diversity58, particularly among leaf succulent species45, which form the dominant component of vegetation cover (i.e. erect succulent shrubs). Whilst C3 plant species dominate in the region, CrassulaceanAcid Metabolism (CAM) is widespread among leaf succulent species in Namaqualand, particularly within the dominant Mesembryanthemaceae59,60.

Location and description of archaeological sites used in the current study

To help unravel the economic choices of LSAherders and foragers, we selected four sites from Namaqualand, two containing domesticate remains (Jakkalsberg K, Jakkalsberg M)61,62 and a further two absent of domesticate remains but yielding pottery (SK2005/057A, SK2006/026)61,63,64,65, generally regarded as a proxy for herders15,23,66,67.These latter two sites fall within the right time period for sheep to be on the landscape and together the four sites span in time from the early first

millenniumAD (JKB M) to the later second millenniumAD (JKB K, SK2005/057A, SK2006/026).

Notably, both SK sites are located on theAtlantic coast whereas the two JKB sites are further inland (Fig. 1), situated along the south bank of the Orange River, South Africa’s largest river

Inland sites

JKB M is part of the Jakkalsberg complex of archaeological sites located near the Orange (Gariep) River62. It is an open-air site located by the Bloubos River, a tributary ~ 200 m from the Orange River (28°10′50.5″S, 16°53′13.0″E, Fig. 1).The site lies in a deep deflation hollow with the base being ~ 2 m below the surrounding eroded silt deposits62. JKB M has a poorly preserved faunal assemblage including hares and small/medium and small bovids62, as well as two sheep limb bones and one caprine tooth (Table 1)61. Radiocarbon analysis of ostrich eggshell from squares L32, L33, and M33 yielded a date of 1740 ± 75 years BP(GX-32760)61 that calibrates to between 137 and 534AD at 2σ (Table 1). Orton61 considers this date to be too old for the presence of lugs12,14, which more often date to the second millenniaAD, however, the small size of the ostrich eggshell beads is consistent with the date.

Table 1 Sites, radiocarbon dating material, radiocarbon dates (BPand calAD), details of faunal assemblage, and references. Full size table JKB K, an open-air site located on the south bank of the Orange River (28°10′56.1″S, 16°52′55.9″E; Fig. 1), lies in a small, deflated area on the inland side of a vegetated riverine dune cordon62.The faunal assemblage consists primarily of fish62 with poorly preserved mammal remains including small and medium sized bovids and two faunal limb bones identified as ‘probable sheep’61. Such undiagnostic sheep elements are difficult to differentiate from other bovids of the same size7,17 and to our knowledge their attributions have not been confirmed by aDNA or Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS).Although the fish remains at this site have not been identified, Orton and Halkett68 note that Labeobarbus aeneus (smallmouth yellowfish), Labeo capensis (Orange River mudfish), Clarias gariepinus (sharptooth catfish), Labeobarbus kimberleyensis (largemouth yellowfish), and Labeo umbratus (mud mullet) are the most economically valuable in this area69 and are thus likely species in LSAfaunal assemblages along the lower Orange River Radiocarbon analysis of steenbok bone from square K60 yielded a date of 358 ± 26 years BP(OxA-

24528)61, calibrated to 1487AD and 1643AD at 2σ (Table 1).

Coastal sites

SK2005/057Ais a single occupation open-air site, situated on top of a prominent vegetated sand dune 1.8 km south of the Buffels River estuary and 780 m from theAtlantic Ocean (29°41′19.0″S, 17°03′48.7″E; Fig. 1).Although a small part of the site was disturbed, the majority was in pristine condition beneath 30 cm of sterile dune sand61.The faunal assemblage includes fish, shellfish, micromammal, snake, tortoise, Jasus lalandii (Cape rock lobster), Felis libyca (wild cat), small-medium canid (fox or jackal), Ictonyx striatus (striped polecat), Cynictis penicillata (yellow mongoose), Raphicerus campestris (steenbok), Bos taurus (domestic cattle), and unidentified small through large sized bovids (Table 1)61,63. Radiocarbon analysis of charcoal yielded a date of 400 ± 22 years BP(OxA22981)61 that calibrates to between 1456 and 1625AD at 2σ (Table 1).

SK2006/026 is a single occupation, springbok mass-kill site located 1.0 km south of the Buffels River estuary and 800 m from theAtlantic Ocean (29.6825°S, 17.06302778°E, Fig. 1).Atotal of 51.25 m2 was excavated stratigraphically down to sterile sand, with three archaeological layers (Surface, Lower, and Lower 2) and one sterile lens identified65.The faunal assemblage includes numerous highly fragmentedAntidorcas marsupialis (springbok), as well as anArctocephalus pusillus (cape fur seal), small/medium mammals, fish, shellfish, Cape rock lobster, Chersina angulata (angulate tortoise), snakes, and small birds (Table 1)65. Radiocarbon analyses of springbok bone from the surface and base layers yielded dates of 370 ± 45 years BP(Pta-9124), 420 ± 45 years BP(Pta-9105), and 430 ± 45 years BP(Pta-9099) respectively64,65.The radiocarbon dates have been calibrated to between 1460–1642AD, 1446–1629AD, and 1439–1628AD at 2σ (Table 1).

Radiocarbon dates were calibrated using OxCal 4.470 and the ShCal2025 curve.

Results

Lipid analysis and interpretations were performed using established protocols described in detail in earlier publications41,71.Atotal of 106 potsherds and one surface or ‘burnt-on’residue, were analysed from the four sites (Tables 2 and 3) with 78 yielding interpretable lipid profiles.The recovery rate was excellent at 74% overall, but varied between sites, being particularly high at JKB M at 91% (Table 2).The overall mean lipid concentration from the sherds was 1.5 mg g−1,

Previous organic residue analysis in SouthernAfrica

Early research using organic residue analysis attempting to identify herding and, by extension, the exploitation of milk products, in western SouthAfrica, comprises two published studies38,39,40. Neither yielded evidence for dairy processing although it should be noted both were very small studies.

An early study by Patrick et al.38 analyzed charred material from the inner walls of potsherds from two sites: Kasteelberg B, a coastal herder site, and Die Hangen, an inland forager site (Fig. 1).The residue from one Kasteelberg B vessel contained marine lipids (thought to be seal, based on the large numbers of their bones at the site), whereas (a small number of) potsherds from De Hangen, revealed terrestrial animal fats, although these could not be attributed to source.

More recently, potsherds from putative specialised vessels known as ‘spouted ware’, found at Kasteelberg D east (Kasteelberg De) in contexts containing high proportions of sheep bones and thus thought to have been used for storing and pouring sheep’s milk, were analysed. However, these vessels, from part of the same herder site complex as Kasteelberg B39, were predominantly used to process marine-derived animal products, despite sheep bones being abundant at the site. In contrast, in the highlands of Lesotho, lipid analysis of huntergatherer pottery from the sites of Likoaeng and Sehonghong indicated that one-third of vessels were used to process dairy products40. Notably, compound-specific lipid dating revealed these dated from the mid and late first millenniumAD, respectively

Consequently, as questions regarding the identification of herders and the exploitation of milk and milk products in western South Africa remain unresolved, here we carry out a large-scale study using organic residue analysis of potsherds from four archaeological sites located in Namaqualand to further investigate this issue. In recent decades, lipid residue analysis of archaeological pottery has become a core tool for exploring ancient diet.The use of gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and compound-specific stable carbon isotope analysis allows differentiation between carcass fats from ruminant and nonruminant animals and, crucially, between ruminant dairy and carcass fats, due to biosynthetic differences between the major fatty acids41,42. Thus, combined chemical and isotopic evidence for dairy lipids in Namaqualand pottery would unambiguously confirm the presence of domestic animals, and thus herders, even when their remains are absent or unidentifiable.

Namaqualand

Namaqualand, located in northwestern SouthAfrica (Fig. 1), covers some 50,000 km2. It is bounded by theAtlantic Ocean to the west, the Kamiesberg Mountains ~ 100 km to the east, the Oliphants River to the south and the Orange River to the north. Namaqualand falls within the winter rainfall zone (WRZ) of southwesternAfrica, which stretches from southwestern Namibia to Cape Agulhas and extends inland to the western margin of the Great Escarpment43.The WRZ receives more than 65% of its annual rainfall during the austral winter, but precipitation varies between 50 and 350 mm per year44. In Namaqualand the average annual rainfall ranges from 150 mm in the south to less than 50 mm near the Orange River45.This rainfall pattern is caused by the cold Benguela current and the upwelling of cold water from theAtlantic Ocean46. Due to this, Namaqualand is classified as a cold desert with a mean annual temperature of 16.8 °C47 but there are marked seasonal and diurnal extremes which may range from − 6 to 35 °C45. Palaeoclimatic records suggest some climatic fluctuations over the last 2000 years, particularly during the Medieval Warm Epoch (900 to 1300AD) and the Little IceAge (1300 to 1850 AD)48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57.

The unique flora of Namaqualand is characterized by remarkable plant diversity58, particularly among leaf succulent species45, which form the dominant component of vegetation cover (i.e. erect succulent shrubs). Whilst C3 plant species dominate in the region, CrassulaceanAcid Metabolism (CAM) is widespread among leaf succulent species in Namaqualand, particularly within the dominant Mesembryanthemaceae59,60.

Location and description of archaeological sites used in the current study

To help unravel the economic choices of LSAherders and foragers, we selected four sites from Namaqualand, two containing domesticate remains (Jakkalsberg K, Jakkalsberg M)61,62 and a further two absent of domesticate remains but yielding pottery (SK2005/057A, SK2006/026)61,63,64,65, generally regarded as a proxy for herders15,23,66,67.These latter two sites fall within the right time period for sheep to be on the landscape and together the four sites span in time from the early first millenniumAD (JKB M) to the later second millenniumAD (JKB K, SK2005/057A, SK2006/026).

Notably, both SK sites are located on theAtlantic coast whereas the two JKB sites are further inland (Fig. 1), situated along the south bank of the Orange River, SouthAfrica’s largest river

Inland sites

JKB M is part of the Jakkalsberg complex of archaeological sites

located near the Orange (Gariep) River62. It is an open-air site located by the Bloubos River, a tributary ~ 200 m from the Orange River (28°10′50.5″S, 16°53′13.0″E, Fig. 1).The site lies in a deep deflation hollow with the base being ~ 2 m below the surrounding eroded silt deposits62. JKB M has a poorly preserved faunal assemblage including hares and small/medium and small bovids62, as well as two sheep limb bones and one caprine tooth (Table 1)61. Radiocarbon analysis of ostrich eggshell from squares L32, L33, and M33 yielded a date of 1740 ± 75 years BP(GX32760)61 that calibrates to between 137 and 534AD at 2σ (Table 1). Orton61 considers this date to be too old for the presence of lugs12,14, which more often date to the second millenniaAD, however, the small size of the ostrich eggshell beads is consistent with the date.

Table 1 Sites, radiocarbon dating material, radiocarbon dates (BPand calAD), details of faunal assemblage, and references. Full size table JKB K, an open-air site located on the south bank of the Orange River (28°10′56.1″S, 16°52′55.9″E; Fig. 1), lies in a small, deflated area on the inland side of a vegetated riverine dune cordon62.The faunal assemblage consists primarily of fish62 with poorly preserved mammal remains including small and medium sized bovids and two faunal limb bones identified as ‘probable sheep’61. Such undiagnostic sheep elements are difficult to differentiate from other bovids of the same size7,17 and to our knowledge their attributions have not been confirmed by aDNA or Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS).Although the fish remains at this site have not been identified, Orton and Halkett68 note that Labeobarbus aeneus (smallmouth yellowfish), Labeo capensis (Orange River mudfish), Clarias gariepinus (sharptooth catfish), Labeobarbus kimberleyensis (largemouth yellowfish), and Labeo umbratus (mud mullet) are the most economically valuable in this area69 and are thus likely species in LSA faunal assemblages along the lower Orange River. Radiocarbon analysis of steenbok bone from square K60 yielded a date of 358 ± 26 years BP (OxA-24528)61, calibrated to 1487 AD and 1643AD at 2σ (Table 1).

Coastal sites

SK2005/057Ais a single occupation open-air site, situated on top of a prominent vegetated sand dune 1.8 km south of the Buffels River estuary and 780 m from theAtlantic Ocean (29°41′19.0″S, 17°03′48.7″E; Fig. 1).Although a small part of the site was disturbed, the majority was in pristine condition beneath 30 cm of sterile dune sand61.The faunal assemblage includes fish, shellfish, micromammal, snake, tortoise, Jasus lalandii (Cape rock lobster), Felis libyca (wild cat), small-medium canid (fox or jackal), Ictonyx striatus (striped polecat), Cynictis penicillata

(yellow mongoose), Raphicerus campestris (steenbok), Bos taurus (domestic cattle), and unidentified small through large sized bovids (Table 1)61,63. Radiocarbon analysis of charcoal yielded a date of 400 ± 22 years BP(OxA22981)61 that calibrates to between 1456 and 1625AD at 2σ (Table 1).

SK2006/026 is a single occupation, springbok mass-kill site located 1.0 km south of the Buffels River estuary and 800 m from theAtlantic Ocean (29.6825°S, 17.06302778°E, Fig. 1).Atotal of 51.25 m2 was excavated stratigraphically down to sterile sand, with three archaeological layers (Surface, Lower, and Lower 2) and one sterile lens identified65.The faunal assemblage includes numerous highly fragmentedAntidorcas marsupialis (springbok), as well as anArctocephalus pusillus (cape fur seal), small/medium mammals, fish, shellfish, Cape rock lobster, Chersina angulata (angulate tortoise), snakes, and small birds (Table 1)65. Radiocarbon analyses of springbok bone from the surface and base layers yielded dates of 370 ± 45 years BP(Pta-9124), 420 ± 45 years BP(Pta-9105), and 430 ± 45 years BP(Pta-9099) respectively64,65.The radiocarbon dates have been calibrated to between 1460–1642AD, 1446–1629 AD, and 1439–1628AD at 2σ (Table 1).

JRadiocarbon dates were calibrated using OxCal 4.470 and the ShCal2025 curve.

Results

Lipid analysis and interpretations were performed using established protocols described in detail in earlier publications41,71.Atotal of 106 potsherds and one surface or ‘burnt-on’residue, were analysed from the four sites (Tables 2 and 3) with 78 yielding interpretable lipid profiles.The recovery rate was excellent at 74% overall, but varied between sites, being particularly high at JKB M at 91% (Table 2).The overall mean lipid concentration from the sherds was 1.5 mg g−1, with a maximum lipid concentration of 13.3 mg g−1 for sherd NAM77 (Table 3). Several of the potsherds contained very high concentrations of lipids (e.g., NAM41, 4.3 mg g−1; NAM75B, 10.7 mg g−1; NAM103A, 7.0 mg g−1 and NAM103B, 10.1 mg g−1) demonstrating excellent preservation (Table 3) and suggesting sustained use of these vessels in processing high lipidyielding commodities.

Analysis of the total lipid extracts (n = 78) from the four sites, using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), demonstrated they were dominated by the free fatty acids, palmitic (C16) and stearic (C18) acids, typical of a degraded animal fat 72,73.

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The hunter-gatherers who populated SouthAfrica before the arrival of colonists dined on crayfish and springbok, often drank sheep milk, and carried medicines in bespoke containers.

These are some of the discoveries by two teams of scientists who have just reported the outcome of their investigations within a day of each other

Pottery from two coastal sites in Namaqualand, occupied between the early part of the first millennium AD and late in the second millennium, point to “intensive and/or specialised processing of marine products in many vessels”, says a team led by Canadian archaeologist and biological anthropologist

Courtneay Hopper

Other fragments from two inland sites on the Orange River suggest sheep and springbok were cooked in the pots, and “most notably, evidence for dairy processing is present at both sites”, Hopper and her co-authors say in the journal Scientific Reports. “[This] provides the first direct chemical evidence for people processing milk and/or milk products in ceramic pottery in western SouthAfrica during the Later StoneAge.”

At the coastal sites, near Kleinsee, the dominance of shellfish and Cape rock lobster remains found during archaeological excavations suggests most of the pottery

vessels found there were used to process the delicacies, says the paper

Archeologists document first use of maize as food in Mesoamerica: study

And if any early SouthAfrican felt unwell after their seafood platter, evidence that medical help was available comes from a team led by Prof Justin Bradfield at the University of Johannesburg.The team's paper reports the discovery of a 500-year-old cattle-horn medicine container, complete with contents, in a rock shelter in the Langkloof mountains between Uniondale and Plettenberg Bay

Plant ingredients in the hornbelieved to be the oldest medicine container found in southernAfricacan control blood sugar and cholesterol, treat fevers, inflammation and infections, and act as an aphrodisiac, Bradfield says in the SouthAfrican Journal of Science.The two teams have added scientific evidence to support anecdotal accounts about the pastoralists encountered by European ships that rounded the Cape of Good Hope from the 15th century onwards.

In 1654, for example, two years after he landed inTable Bay and set up a Dutch command post, Jan van Riebeeck wrote in his journal that he had observed Khoekhoe using pottery to render whale

KOMPETISIE COMPETITION

blubber And over the next 250 years, several explorers reported seeing milk being used in cooking. Until now there was no proof, but pottery from the two Orange River sites has provided it. “Our results bear out the ethnohistoric accounts, which suggest milk was usually stored in organic containers but that pots were occasionally used to cook milk, often together with other foodstuffs,” says Hopper’s paper

High concentrations of dairy fats in two pots mean it is unlikely they were used to cook other foodstuffs, and were reserved for boiling milk, says the paper The cattle horn also had a single purpose, and it was to store a liquid or gelatinous substance, say Bradfield and colleagues at UJ, Wits University and iThemba LABS.

When it was found by chance in 2020 after being dug up by an animal, it was capped with a rawhide lid and wrapped in a bundle of grass and leaves from the century plant (Boophone disticha), which was used by hunter-gatherers as a source of poison for their arrow tips. Up to 30 paintings on the shelter’s overhang depict humans with hunting equipment, an eland and other unidentified animals, and there are several handprints - “typical of the hunter-gatherer [San] rock art in the area”, says Bradfield

The only damage to the horn was

caused by beetles and Bradfied says Boophane leaves’antiseptic properties might have protected it. Radiocarbon dating found it originated between 1461 and 1630, but efforts to date the contents failed.

Analysis of the sticky mass was more successful and showed the main organic compound it contained was inositol, a sugar found in many plants that can control diabetes, treat high cholesterol and help with mood disorders by stimulating the production of serotonin and dopamine.The other compound in the substance was lupeol, which occurs in fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants, and has antiinflammatory and antimicrobial properties. One of the plants that contains lupeol is used by Pedi people to treat rheumatism, gout and jaundice, and as an aphrodisiac.

Bradfield and his team say plants in the area that could have produced the medicine in the horn include sierkooltjie, liquorice and horse gram.

“We do not know whether the medicine was intended to be ingested or used topically, but based on the pharmacological literature it could have been used both ways,” says Bradfield.Business Insider

Jana Grobbelaar, redakteur van FiND iTNuus, sê Desember was ‘n rekordmaand, met dié twee mediahuise wat meer as 10 miljoen bladlese bereik het. Gedurende Januarie het dié syfer konstant gebly

Hein Boshoff, redakteur van AfriNUUS, is net so opgewonde. “Ons het gesien dat tussen dié twee mediahuise, ons gesamentlike syfers slegs op Facebook, ook met omtrent 80% gegroei het. Dit beteken ons bladsye saam het ’n reikwydte van 20 miljoen gehad. Dis ongelooflik!”

Grobbelaar sê die idee agter die samewerkingsooreenkoms is om vir Suid-Afrikaners nuus vanuit ‘n breë spektrum te verskaf, gratis. “FiND iTNuus enAfriNUUS het twee verskillende markte. Deur dit saam te span, kan ons die lesers ’n groter verskeidenheid nuus verskaf, alles op die een plek waar jy verkies om dit te lees.”

Boshoff sê dat dit ideaal is omdat die mediahuise gesamentlik ‘n verskeidenheid van lekkerleesstories aan dieAfrikaanse mark bied. OpAfriNUUS en FiND iT kan jy brekende nuus, oorspronklike onderhoude, misdaadnuus, artikels oor verhoudings en ouerskap, resepte, finansiële stories en vele meer, lees.

Die twee mediahuise se uitgangspunte rondom nuus verskil van tyd tot tyd, maar stem saam daar is ’n gemaklike vloei tussen die twee twee spanne.

“Kyk, dit hou ons besig! Van ons skrywers staan al saam met die hoenders op, hulle begin al vroegoggend skryf en van ons skrywers gaan slaap hopeloos te laat,” lag Grobbelaar

“Dit beteken daar is hééltyd ’n span aanlyn wat nuus opdateer soos wat dit deurkom. Soms gaan dit maar rof, maar sover was daar nog nie veel onenigheid nie. Ons moet eerder keer dat hulle nie meer doen as wat van hulle verwag word nie!”

Boshoff sê om in nuus betrokke te wees, verg ’n baie vinnige pas en dit neem ’n spesiale tipe persoon om dit vol te hou. “Jy moet dit lééf. Nuus is nie iets wat jy aanleer nie. Dis of in jou of nie. En as dit in jou is, dan gáán jy daarvoor. Jou foon is op jou, ons almal – beide spanne – kan op al die toepassings werk, vanaf ’n telefoon of rekenaar.”

Oor kommentare stem die twee saam – dis harde werk om die lesers in toom te hou as hulle sterk voel oor ’n saak.

“Ons glo in vryheid van spraak, maar ons moedig ons lesers aan om eerder opbouend te wees, in plaas van afbrekend. Party dae moet ons bontstaan om kommentare onder beheer te kry, wat die werk van die skrywers bemoeilik en kosbare tyd wegneem van eerder vir jou kwaliteitnuus te bring. Ons hoop om meer en meer opbouende kommentaar aan te bemoedig en minder negatiewe/afbrekende en bakleierige kommentaar onder beheer te moet bring.”

Wat hou die toekoms in?

Dié twee redakteurs reik na die sterre. “Ons wil die grootste onafhanklikste nuusbronne van Suid-Afrika wees. Ons glo ons is reeds daar As jy kyk na hoeveel Suid-AfrikanersAfrikaans praat, is ons redelik oortuig amper die heleAfrikaanse mark is óf op FiND iTóf opAfriNUUS óf op Moya – aan wie FiND iT Afrikaanse nuus verskaf. Die samewerkingsooreenkoms het al ons verwagtinge oortref en ons

gaan die nuwe jaar in met groot opwinding,” stem hulle saam.

Vir diegene wat intydse boodskappe met brekende nuusstories wil lees, kan hulle hier volg:

FiND iTNuus Facebook

AfriNUUS Facebook

FiND iTNuusTelegram

AfriNUUSTelegram

Jana Grobbelaar, redakteur van FiND iT Nuus

Hein Boshoff, redakteur van AfriNUUS

find the source of problems/malfunctions and rectify the same;

exceeded