Hadeda News - 27 January 2023

N.Cape Crisis: ‘Help! Our Crops Are Dying’

“Our crops are dying,” warns an award-winning Northern Cape farmer, Gerhard Bruwer, amid nationwide outrage over Eskom’s ongoing power cuts. “They are dying in front of our eyes. Potatoes, corn, peanuts, everything is dying.”

Bruwer, of the Douglas-based Genadeshoop Boerdery, was among the producers, farmworkers, and frustrated residents from Douglas, Prieska, and Hopetown who took to the streets on Friday to raise awareness of the devastating impact of load shedding.The protest culminated at GWK’s offices in Douglas with many farmers arriving in tractors.

The formerToyota andAgri SA Young Farmer of theYear winner farms alongside his father in an irrigation area. For them, load shedding has become a nightmare, he says. “To irrigate, we have electricity for 14 hours of the day. For the [remaining] 10 hours, everything stands still because [there’s no] electricity.”

He emphasises that without proper irrigation, high

temperatures experienced in the region over the past few weeks, made matters worse.

Bruwer says farmers have made recommendations to Eskom in a desperate attempt to safeguard food production.

“We suggested that, for example, when it’s load shedding level 4, they instead give [farming areas] level 2 [during the growing season]. From May to July, they can give us level 4 and the rest of the country level 2 because by then we [only need to] harvest.”

According to Bruwer, they have not heard back from the crumbling power utility

Eskom meets withAgri SA, Grain SA

Earlier this week,Agri SAand Grain SAmet with Eskom chief operations officer Jan Oberholzer to discuss the impact of power cuts on farmers and also proposed several recommendations.

Oberholzer confirmed that load shedding would be a reality for

the unforeseeable future. Stage 4 will be implemented more frequently as a result of unforeseen breakages at various plants and planned maintenance work, according to a media release issued byAgri SAand Grain SA.

To this effect,Agri SAalso recommended a “trade-off on load shedding schedules.” It says, “Farmers in certain areas are willing to take higher stages of load shedding during the months ofApril, May, an June 2023 on condition that there is sufficient electricity available in the critical irrigation months between January andApril 2023.” Agri SAalso proposed an

alternative tariff structure to the current Ruraflex tariff to ensure that farmers are not unfairly burdened with paying higher electricity tariffs when irrigating during peak times.

“Currently, the winter peak tariff is costing R4 per unit more due to the penalty factor that is incorporated in the tariff,” explains Agri SA.

It also suggests allowing more offgrid and grid renewable electricity generation systems to feed surplus energy back into Eskom’s grid.This, however, must be accompanied with provisions to finalise buy-back tariffs, the farmers’organisation emphasises.

Inventory and working capital build was in evidence at South32’s SouthAfrican operations owing to logistical problems at the country’s ports operated by state-owned company,Transnet.

The Perth- and Johannesburglisted miner said in a second quarter and half-year production update today there had been a $100m build in working capital as a result of an increase in inventories, mostly from its South African operations.

“This impact is most acute in our aluminium value chain in southernAfrica due to ongoing shipping delays,” the firm said in notes to its production numbers published today.

Aluminium sales from South32’s Hillside aluminium smelter, located in KwaZulu-Natal, increased 8% in the December quarter, but inventory “remained above target levels as two shipments were delayed to January 2023 due to shipping

delays at Richards Bay,” South32 said.

Aluminium production from Hillside increased 1% quarter-onquarter despite “elevated loadshedding”. South32 said Hillside was on track for annual aluminium production of 720,000 tons in its 2023 financial year ended June 30.

The group also continued to truck manganese ore from its Northern Cape operations despite road transport being more expensive than rail.The weakness in the rand during the period helped offset the cost, however

Manganese ore production during the six months totalled just over one million tons, an increase of 4% year-on-year The operations were on target for full-year production of two million tons “subject to market conditions and our continued use of higher cost trucking,” South32 said.

Transnet has come in for stinging criticism following a decline in

volumes. In December, the Minerals Council called for the resignations of Portia Derby, the company’s CEO and divisional head ofTransnet Freight Rail, Sizekela Mzimela.

Transnet says it is under attrack from rampant crime and sabotage while a lack of spare parts amid an extended dispute with a supplier means that it has low availability of locomotives and rolling stock.The Minerals Council andTransnet subsequently agreed to cooperate to resolve the utility’s difficulties. South32 reported a 12% increase in group copper equivalent

production in the first half of the year following the purchase of the Sierra Gorda mine last year and an increase in its stake in Mozal Aluminium, its Mozambqiue operations.

“We continue to reshape our portfolio toward metals critical for a low carbon future, advancing construction work, studies and exploration at our high quality development options,” said Graham Kerr, CEO of South32 in comments to the production report.

Richards Bay

Waarom skryf jy?

prokureur, gaan jy enigsins nog ‘n kliënt sien, of is jy nou eers klaar?” Of sê: “Nee, noudat ek bloed gesweet het om ‘n boek geskryf en gepubliseer te kry, gaan ek ophou en my tone tel.” Ongelukkig is ek te ordentlik, maar dit is ‘n vreeslike dom vraag.

Skryf is nie maklik nie. Nie vir my nie, in elk geval.

Hoekom skryf ek?

Omdat ek ‘n storie het om te vertel, maar ook omdat ek van die uitdaging hou.

Indien jy slegs skryf om ryk en beroemd te word, sterkte!

Destyds, voordat ek vir ‘n slypskool ingeskryf het, het ek die boek Why We Write gelees waarin 20 bekende skrywers vertel hoe en waarom hulle skryf.

David Baldacci en tronke

Die bekende misdaadfiksieskrywer, David Baldacci was eens ‘n prokureur en het bedags sy beroep beoefen en tot laat saans geskryf.Al wat hy aanvanklik vir sy moeite kon wys, was afkeuring.

Alle Baldacci-aangangers weet dat Baldacci vandag uiters suksesvol is. Baldacci meen as

skryf onwettig was, sou hy in die tronk gewees het. Dis vir hom onmoontlik om nie te skryf nie. Wanneer dit met sy skryfwerk vlot verloop, is dit soos ‘n dwelm, maar die teendeel gebeur ook — en dit is juis my punt.

Skryf is ‘n werkwoord en indien dit vir jou sonder enige moeite gebeur, is ek bly. Van my verg dit egter ysere selfdissipline en harde werk. Ek is gelukkig selfgemotiveerd en ek voel nogal soos Baldacci — dankbaar dat skryf nie onwettig is nie — maar dit beteken nie dat ek nooit sukkel nie. Daar is dae wat ek wens ek die hele dag kon lees, of slaap, maar kleintyd het ek geleer dat ledigheid die duiwel se oorkussing is en daarom is ek altyd besig om aan iets te werk.

“Gaan jy weer ‘n nuwe boek begin? Of is jy nou eers klaar?” vra mense my dikwels. Ek moet bieg dat dit my eindeloos grief. In antwoord wil ek graag die volgende vra: “Meneer die

Dit maak nie regtig saak of ‘n mens skryf as ‘n beroep of stokperdjie bedryf nie, as jy eers begin het, is dit amper onmoontlik om op te hou. My oudste seun bind graag vlieë (vlieghengel). Sodra hy die geleentheid en materiaal het, begin hy vlieë bind. Gaan hy ooit ophou? Dalk wanneer sy oë op ‘n hoë ouderdom ingee.

Ek skryf omdat dit onmoontlik is om nie te skryf nie. Stories is my lewe. Ek skryf, want ek het ‘n storie om te vertel en ek geniet die kognitiewe uitdaging. Verder is skryf en lees my “sanity”.

Ek dink die moeilikste boek wat ek nog geskryf het, was Spel.Ek het so gestoei dat ek in ‘n stadium lus was om die “delete” knoppie te druk. Sweepslag was ook moeilik omdat dit my debuutroman was en ek onseker was oor baie dinge. Sindikaat het moontlik die lekkerste geskryf.

Jodi Picoult en orkane In Why we Write noem Jodi Picoult dat dit vir haar — nes Baldacci — onmoontlik is om nie te skryf nie. Vir haar voel skryf soms soos ‘n fietsrit teen ‘n afdraende, met die wind van agter — en ander kere soos ‘n worsteling deur dik modder nadat ‘n orkaan ‘n plek getref het. Al wat ek by jou probeer tuisbring

is dat selfs al is ‘n mens verslaaf aan skryf, voel geen skrywer altyd gemotiveerd nie en is dit vir baie op sekere tye moeiliker as ander Tydens ‘n onderhoud het ‘n bekendeAfrikaanse skrywer eendag genoem dat die proses om haar boek (absoluut puik, moet ek sê) te kry soos wat die uitgewer dit wou hê, was soos om bakstene te baar.

Waar is die laaste "do"? Vra jouself af waarom jy skryf? Wanneer jy minder gemotiveerd is, het jy ‘n manier om jouself weer aan die gang te kry?

Ek het eenkeer gelees dat Mozart soggens nie wou opstaan nie. Een van sy familielede het dan op die klavier “do, re, me fa, so , la, ti” gespeel, maar nie die laaste “do” nie. Dit het hom so geirriteer dat hy uit die bed gespring het om die laaste “do” te gaan druk en dan het hy sommer begin werk omdat hy reeds uit die bed uit was.

Ook het ek gelees van ‘n skrywer wat saans wanneer hy ophou skryf, sy laaste sin net halfpad voltooi sodat dit hom dwing om die sin die volgende dag te gaan voltooi en dan skryf hy outomaties verder

Ek is nie ‘n ‘plotter’nie, maar voordat ek my rekenaar afskakel, maak ek vir my ‘n nota oor wat moet volg sodat ek die volgende dag dadelik weet waarop ek wil fokus. Dit voel vir my dan of die berg effens platter is.

Indien jy enige advies het, deel dit asseblief met ons.

Lekker skryf.

NOORD KAAP TUINE

Wenke van Welbekende Gepubliseerde Skrywer - Annerle Barnard

Genoeg vir 4 - 6 persone met rys en slaai daarby 1 - 1½ kg tenderised steak in repies gesny of blokkies, nes jy wil 2 uie in ringe gesny 1 x 250g pak sampioene gekerf of 1 groot blik gekerfte sampioene

2 groot aartappels in dikkerige skywe gesny 4 groot wortels in repies of ringe gesny 1 kop gerasperde beleë kaas of cheddarkaas Gegeurde meel om steakrepies mee te bedek

SOUS 250ml 2% lae vet melk

250ml volroom of yoghurt (ongegeur)

2 hoogvol eetlepels

mayonaise

3e chutney

3e tamatiesous 1e fyngedrukte knoffel

2e worcestersous 3e mosterdsous ½ pakkie bruinuie soppoeier 1 pakkie "onion and bacon Potato bake” Suurlemoenpeper en Flippen Leka Spice na smaak of Steak en chops speserye na smaak. Meng al die sous bestanddele goed saam en hou eenkant.

SO MAAK JY Neem oondskottel, gooi klein bietjie olyfolie op die bodem en pak lae van die groente en steak daarin. (Gooi steakrepies in die

meel en skud oortollige meel af) Herhaal die lae tot al die groente en vleis gebruik is. Gooi nou die sous bo-oor Strooi nou die kaas bo-oor. Bak in vooraf verhitte oond of konveksie-oond op 160°C vir 'n uur en 15 minute of tot gaar WENK

Jy kan hierdie met gemak as 'n potjie in platboompan doen met kooltjies op die deksel. Jy kan die dis afwissel deur hoenderrepies of stukkies wors ook te gebruik ipv steak. Heerlik en vullend, bedien met rys of slaai.

Bron: Facebook Ouma Se Resepte/ Suidwesters Kan Lekker Kos Maak

'No Government Should Do This' - How Load Shedding Is Killing

Afurniture designer learns "ancient woodworking techniques" to bypass the need for electricity.Aconstruction business gets creative just to keep water pumping into its toilets.Aformerly packed conference centre becomes a "ghost town".

Entrepreneurs from all over the country responded to News24 to share their stories of how load shedding was scuppering their progress or, in some cases, catapulting them backwards.

Faced with exorbitant costs due to unprecedented power cuts, business owners are resorting to extreme measures just to keep their doors open. Still, many the risk of cutting jobs or closure.

'Economic suicide’

Some regret having decided to expand.

"This is economic suicide. No government should do this to its people," says Huzayfah Navlakhi, the owner of Grand Butcher Shoppe in Johannesburg.

"I opened a small store about seven years ago and expanded it to three shops during the last few years. Usually, expansion is a great thing for any business, but due to the impact of load shedding, I think in hindsight it seems to have been an error in judgement," says Navlakhi.

"Equipment breakdowns and stock losses in 2022 put me out of budget for close to R500 000, and I'm under huge pressure.The cost of alternative electricity options is also extremely pricy for us."

Power outages impact phone reception and internet accesstherefore, the ability to be in contact with clients, entrepreneurs said.

Amixed bag of load shedding and often faulty substations has forced Sajjaad Variawa to close his bakery in Mayfair, Johannesburg.

"I had a list of restaurants I used to supply, but because of the unreliable electricity, I could no longer do so and lost customers," says Variawa.

His remaining bakery in Northcliff is now also facing closure due to the high cost of running a generator

Rage against the machine

Owners of manufacturing businesses are losing up to 50% of their productivity due to the extent of load shedding and the impact on running their machines.

Warren Waterston is the owner of Robiq in Cullinan outside Pretoria. He manufactures various items for the security and dog markets.

"My business is on the brink of collapse after 33 years of success. How do you pay staff full wages when they [can only] work less than half the day? How do you pay rent and insurance when you turnover less than half you did five years ago?" asks Waterston. "Surely big industry should be putting more pressure on government to resolve the electricity issue?"

Lyndsay Cotton's business near Pretoria designs and manufactures roof trusses and employs 50 people onsite and about 100 subcontractors.

"Load shedding means that we need to find alternative methods to supply electricity to pump water for drinking, toilets, and operations, to keep machines running, servers running and, and keep the lights on. Without electricity, we must shut the business down," he says.

The R60 000 a month to run a generator is not sustainable for his business, he says.

The owner of a plastics manufacturing business in Pretoria explains that the machines take hours to heat up, so require a 24-hour operation, which is not feasible. Load shedding has reduced his productivity by 50% and increased the amount of scrap material he has to throw away

"I do not have the money to buy a big generator to supply the 150kva we need to keep running. Even if I did, the size

factory I am in has no space to place a generator, let alone the diesel required to run it," he says.

Even armament manufacturers are not spared.The owner of a small business in Gauteng involved in weapons manufacturing says load shedding has even impacted the ability of the relevant government department to issue the necessary permits to manufacturers.

Afurniture designer and manufacturer says he has now had to learn "ancient woodworking techniques" to move away from tools which require power. It now takes him more time, but he does not dare increase his prices.

Apanel beater writes that it now takes double as long to get a job done due to load shedding, leading to having to work weekends just to get things done.

Ghost town

Load shedding is taking its toll on the hospitality industry as well. Nhlanhla Mabaso of the Elizagrace River Lodge in the Tonga settlement of the Nkomazi Municipality in Mpumalanga started with just two rooms in 2008 and grew his guesthouse to 26 rooms, a conference hall, bar, music recording studio, and other amenities in just a few years.

"At that point, I felt like a responsible citizen who was not only creating wealth for myself and my family but also helping ten [employees] put bread on the table and their children through school," says Mabaso.

The guesthouse was popular with locals and visitors from Mozambique and Eswatini, especially over weekends when they came to enjoy the airconditioned thatched rooms.

"This is now a distant memory as my establishment is beginning to take the form of a ghost town thanks to load shedding," says Mabaso, who might be forced to sell his property

"It's merely pride that I will lose with the possible closure of the business, but it will be devastating for my employees with whom I have developed a great family bond.There's hardly anything I can do now," he says.

The owner of a small restaurant writes that, due to load shedding, they can only offer half their menu as their backup battery supply is only enough for 90 minutes.

"The financial model of restaurants has been under pressure for some time now. Load shedding is the death blow," he says.

Gone offline

Online businesses are also hard hit.

David Jesse is the owner of David Jesse Publishing based in Durban. He employs ten people and does copyright, editing and ghostwriting for the US and UK markets.

He is required to have a download speed of 30mb/sec and continuous electricity and wifi supply. Due to often having 10 to 12 hours of load shedding a day in his area, his overseas employers have repudiated his contracts, and he has had to close his business.

SA Govt Says Privately Owned Power Plants Will Help Ease Loadshedding By

The SouthAfrican government said it expected power outages to ease later this year once a raft of measures it intended to implement took effect, including building 9,000MW worth of privately-owned power plants.

Citing a presentation by the National Energy Crisis Committee, a body run by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Bloomberg News said that other measures included the implementation of emergency legislation to allow the faster approval and development of power plants, while 1,000MW would be imported from neighbouring nations.

Contracts for the construction of plants that will produce 2,800MW of renewable energy for the grid have been signed and construction will soon begin.

“As these measures take effect, the supply of electricity will significantly improve,” said the committee known as Necom, said in a presentation sent to Bloomberg.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, SouthAfrica’s finance minister, Enoch Godongwana also expressed confidence in government’s ability to rein in loadshedding

which can see electricity supply cut for up to 12 hours a day currently

“Eventually in the next 12 to 18 months we will be able to say load-shedding is a thing of the past.That is the target,” Godongwana is quoted as saying in an article by BusinessLive.

Asked whether state-owned power utility Eskom could expect to be allocated more cash for diesel to help reduce the level of power cuts, Godongwana said: “I don’t think Eskom has a diesel problem, I think Eskom has got a

management problem.” Godongwana’s comments follow those of mineral resources & energy minister Gwede Mantashe last week.

Speaking on eNCA, Mantashe said: “It will take us six to 12 months to sort the issue if we pay attention to the issue.”

“In Eskom, we have 48,000MW connected to the grid but Eskom at best can give us 26,000MW There is 22,000MW that is idling but connected. It is not decommissioned and if there was a focus on servicing and maintaining those megawatts, we would not have load-shedding.” - Mining MX

Were Kakamas Heat Stroke Victims From Grape Farms?

The circumstances surrounding the heat exhaustion that claimed the lives of seven farm workers in the Northern Cape last week remain unclear but FreshPlaza has been able to confirm that the deceased were from four different grape farms in the Kakamas and Augrabies area.

Madalene Spangenberg of Groenheuwel Boerdery says that one female employee of Groenheuwel was taken to hospital where she passed away last week.They have been cooperating with the Department of Labour investigating the incident.

"There is no evidence that she passed away from heat exhaustion because no autopsy was done," she says, adding that other health problems had been present in the victim.

She reiterates that their employees in the vineyards (they are currently harvesting raisin grapes) have ample access to water and shade and start work early to avoid the hottest part of the day

FreshPlaza has attempted to contact some of the three other

farms.

The SouthAfrican Broadcasting Corporation last week reported that seven farmworkers on grape farms inAugrabies had died of heat exhaustion following a prolonged heatwave in the Northern Cape.Two are reportedly still in hospital.

The table grape harvest in the Orange River Valley already ended two weeks ago and 95% of seasonal workers have gone home.

"The Orange River area has for the past 12 days been caught up in extreme heatwave conditions," says a grape grower of the area. "Loadshedding [frequent power cuts] contributes to the discomfort because cooling systems and, most importantly, water supply is being hampered."

The SouthAfricanTable Grape Industry has said in a press release: “At present we are not in possession of the full details related to the said events, including whether impactedAgriworkers are from the table grape sector These are tragic circumstances and on behalf of the table grape industry, we

extend sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the Agri-workers who have been lost."

The industry body has reiterated its commitment to safe and humane working conditions for those employed in the table grape sector

On their Northern Cape grape farms, explains a table grape grower in the area, sending out picking teams when temperatures are over 34°C is, in fact, an offence for which a manager can be fired.

Table grape producers say that they had been giving extra attention to provide adequate water stations for employees, as well as sun hats and suncream.

On some Orange River grape farms the harvest starts at 4am until 11am or noon, and resume at sunset until 7pm or 8pm. On other farms, pickers with head lamps enter the vineyards at midnight and work until morning.

“We never work in the heat of the day You just can’t do it,” says another Kakamas grape grower.Fresh Plaza

Vineyards along the Orange River, Northern Cape

School Dropout Crisis In Northern Cape Only Half Make It

Department of Basic Education (DBE)’s “National policy pertaining to the programme and promotion requirements of the National Curriculum Statement” often pressures schools into promoting learners, even if they are not ready academically

According to the report, the norm in the community is that people do not feel the need to finish school. “[Children] don’t see school as the key to a good future,” the report read.

for as long as possible.And also that after they deliver, they remain engaged, re-enter school, and are able to continue their education.”

Nogoduka said, “Children don’t just drop out of the schooling system. It’s a process that often starts with disengagement and early warning signs.”

Only half the learners who start primary school make it to high school in the Northern Cape’s Joe Morolong Local Municipality And of the learners who make it to high school, just 15% matriculate.

These appalling statistics were revealed in a report released on Thursday by the Zero Dropout Campaign. The findings are based on data gathered by the Campaign, as well as in-depth interviews with school staff, learners, families of the learners and community members conducted in 2022.

The researchers, led by Dr Andrew Hartnack, looked at the causes of learner disengagement and dropout at two Northern Cape no-fee schools in particular, Kgoro Intermediate School and Dithaba High (the names of the schools were changed for the report).

Kgoro Intermediate has eight teachers for its 263 learners: 107 are in grade 7, 88 in grade 8, and 68 in grade 9. In 2022, at least 30 learners in the grade 7 class were repeating the year The school

was initially built to accommodate half the number of children they now admit.The classrooms are overcrowded.

The report stated that many learners at Kgoro have to leave by 2:30pm, often to go do household chores like herding livestock and gathering water

Meanwhile at Dithaba High, there are 24 teachers for 679 learners: 341 in grade 10, 178 in grade 11, and 160 in grade 12.The school is also overcrowded; one of the grades has 49 learners in one class.The recommended class size is 32.

The report says most learners at Dithaba High have already repeated grades. Despite struggling academically, many learners are pushed through the intermediary school and often arrive in grade 10 aged 18 or 19 with serious learning gaps. Only half those who start grade 10 at Dithaba typically matriculate, the report adds.

Researchers also noted that the

The major contributing factors to the high school dropout rates, according to the the report, are a lack of parental support, especially for children staying alone or with their grandparents as well as teenage pregnancy Other factors include unsafe journeys to school, pressure to earn an income, and taking risks to get noticed by better-resourced groups (from criminal gangs to sugar daddies).

Speaking at the virtual launch, Coceko Nogoduka, chief director of care and support in schools at the DBE, said that the pandemic had disrupted the already struggling schooling system, losing nearly two years of learning and development.

Nogoduka said there had been a significant rise in pregnancies of children aged between 10 and 14years-old. Pregnancy was one of the prominent reasons why learners dropout between grades 10 and 12.

She said the department’s policy, launched in 2021, “looks at how we can create a supportive environment for pregnant learners to ensure that they stay in school

She said the department and organisations working to mitigate dropouts, should focus on creating supportive environments within schools which would help to identify issues early

Nogoduka said the department had developed a “learner support agent” programme to assist struggling learners. “The vision is that the person will provide firstline kind of social support to the learner They will refer them to [for example] Social Development or NGOs in the area to help them remain in school,” she said.

Richard Masemola, principal at Emshukantambo Secondary in Soweto, said at the launch that in most cases teachers were unaware of the learners’ circumstances. “We don’t visit homes and we don’t know where these children come from. When they don’t show up to school, then we start to ask questions. But even then, it’s at the tail end.”

The Northern Cape education department did not respond to our requests for comment.

Spokesperson for the Northern Cape Department of Education Geoffrey van der Merwe promised to respond to GroundUp’s questions once he had received approval from the department.Ground Up

Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks

Matriek Geslaag In Postmasburg Wat Nou?

In die hoofstroom media asook verskeie sosiale mediaplatforms was die onlangse matriekuitslae trending news die afgelope week en vir ‘n paar dae gaan die land nog hande klap oor (fiktiewe) uitslae wat nou deur die DAbetwis word. Baie geluk aan die halwe klas van 2022 wat geslaag het, want die ander helfte het iewers langs die pad uitgeval. Niemand kan daaroor rekenskap gee nie. Hoe dan anders van ‘n regering wat oor niks kan rekenskap gee nie?

Ek was lank in die onderwys en het dit met passie gedoen. Dis inderdaad ‘n voorreg om met leerders te werk en hulle vir die lewe ná matriek gereed te kry Ongelukkig vir hulle tref die skok hul eers ná daai 12jaar, vir sommige selfs 15jaar. ”Wat gaan ek nou maak?”, is die vraag nou van duisende skoolverlaters in ‘n land waar alles besig is om te tuimel en gelei word deur ‘n party wat nog niks sinvol gebou het vir die mense van Suid-Afrika nie.Almal praat van die stygende werkloosheid onder veral jongmense ,maar niemand het ‘n werkbare plan nie. In Postmasburg wat omring word deur sowat 40 myne gaan dit nie veel beter nie.

Postmasburg het 3 hoërskole wat uit hul nate bars en aanteel met mobiele klaskamers wat nou jong volwassenes gelewer het wat hoop dat hulle iewers ‘n werkie sal kry, want sien…ons jongmense het mos nie die nodige kundigheid om deur plaaslike myne aangestel en ontwikkel te word nie. Verskeie beurse was die afgelope tyd adverteer deur enkele myne en selfs kontrakteursmaatskappye wat werklik wil terugploeg in ‘n dorp wat lankal ryp is vir ‘n tegniese skool of vaardigheidsentrum waar leerders alreeds ná Graad 9 ‘n nasionale sertifikaat kursus kan voltooi in een of ander tegniese rigting. Dis te vierkantig vir my rond brein om te aanvaar dat hierdie beurse slegs fokus op mynverwante rigtings en op graad 12 leerders, terwyl die grondslagfase wat die fondasie lê vir my kind vernalaat word. Dan wonder ek as voormalige pedagoog hoekom ‘n myngroep sowat R20 Miljoen allokeer het vir ‘n biblioteek in ‘n era waar tegnologie oorneem i.p.v om ‘n tegniese skool vir die dorp te bou of om die bestaande skole beter toe te rus. Ons gemeenskap is dankbaar vir die nuwe biblioteek, maar dis 20jaar te laat. Ook is ons dankbaar vir die duur tuinroete, maar ons kan nie gras en blare eet nie. Plant groente wat kan bydra tot voedselsekerheid om ons skoolkinders in ons plaaslike skole elke dag ‘n ordentlike maaltyd te gee. Dit, volgens my, is sustainable development! Mynhuise behandel die simptome, maar nie die werklike kwaal nie. Die dorp verval by die dag wat omring word deur amper 40 myne wat hoofsaaklik net fokus om wins te maak en geensins betrokke

is by plaaslike volhoubare ekonomiese ontwikkeling nie. Waag jy dit om hulle daaroor aan te vat is ‘n dringende hofaansoek of interdik jou voorland. Beslis ‘n boelie taktiek om jou mond stil te hou sodat ons mense stelselmatig verarm word met hierdie grootskaalse mynboubedywighede. Hulle vat jou hof toe met die wins van jou eie minerale rykdom. Intussen ploeter elke myn net aan en DMR is te pap om hulle tot order te roep.

Ek haal my hoed af vir twee plaaslike raadslede wat nie skroom om sosiale mediaplatforms te gebruik om mynmaatskappy uit te daag en op te staan teen die groeiende armoede in ‘n dorp wat soveel minerale het en tot ‘n juweel ontwikkel kan word as elke myn net hul wetlike verpligtinge wil nakom teenoor die mense van Postmasburg.

Skoolhoofde by Postmasburgse skole moet begin anders dink en hulself afvra of hulle werklik ons jongmense gereed kry vir ‘n veranderde wêreld, veral ‘n dorp wat omring word deur die meeste myne wat geensins ‘n behae toon om by onderwys betrokke te raak nie. Wanneer gaan ons ‘n punt bereik waar plaaslike skoolhoofde saamstaan met sakeforums om mynhuise wat lyf wegsteek in die bek te ruk? Dis seker net ongeletterde en onopgevoede mense wat bande brand en paaie blok, want sien… Mnr en Juf is te hoog geleerd om die movement te join en stap dan met ‘n glimlag verby die eens leerder en latere volwassene wat sukkel om werk te kry - hulle eie produkte wat hulle gevorm het oor ‘n tydperk van 12 jaar. Hoeveel skoolhoofde en onderwysers was laasjaar by die Mining Indaba???Toe, steek op julle hande! Maar julle leer ons kinders van mynbou en besigheidstudies in die klaskamer, en staan dan armpies gevou as plaaslike klein besigheidseienaars mynhuise aanvat om aan die einde van die dag werk vir ons jongmense en julle leerders te skep.

Mynmaatskappye glo as hulle ‘n rugsakkie, ‘n sonhoedjie en broodjie by ‘n loopbaanuitstalling uitdeel het hulle ‘n volhoubare impak gemaak op onderwys in Postmasburg. Gereeld hoor ons dat onderwys, gesondheid en infrastruktuurontwikkeling plaaslike myne en hernubare energieplase se fokus area is. Besoek jy egter enige skool in Postmasburg besef jy met trane in jou oë dat onnies nog wragtie met geel kryt skryf en leerders nie eens Internet toegang het nie terwyl die grootste sonplaas ‘n katspoegie ver opgerig word deur die wêreld se beste wetenskaplikes en ingenieurs wat in wêreldklas vergaderings met die beste tegnologie bespreek word. Vat jy dan hierdie mynreuse aan op sekere platforms praat jy met mense wat voorgee dat hulle

STANDPUNT

- Deur Edward Smit

onderwys of selfs entrepreneurs verstaan en so gefokus is op hulle interne prosesse wat vanuit Gauteng en oorsee bestuur word, terwyl óns minerale en rykdom elke dag gemyn word. Woorde soos local preferential procurement, supplier development, enterprise development werk net op papier terwyl die soveelste ingevoerde maatskappy met hul nuwe bakkies spog en trokke ons paaie en mense in hulle maai ry

Ons plaaslike myne moet ophou om mooi verslae te skryf aan die tandlose DMR van hoeveel geld in plaaslike skole investeer was. Mynmaatskappye moet intens betrokke raak by die kurrikulum vanaf Graad R tot 12 met volhoubare programme om jongmense te lewer wat ‘n betekenisvolle bydrae kan en wil maak in Postmasburg waar myne bestuur word deur mense van elders wat glad nie belangstel in onderwys nie of nie eens die basiese beginsels van onderrig en leer verstaan nie. Die tyd is lankal ryp dat al die myne, groot en klein, moet ronde tafel sit met skoolhoofde en onderwysers en ‘n werkbare plan opstel vir onderwys, onderrig en leer en volhoubare sigbare ontwikkeling vir skole in Postmasburg. Elke myn hardloop in hul eie baan, maar hulle werknemers se kinders gaan elke dag skooltoe met swaar rugsakke terwyl miljarde jaarliks onder ons oë met mooi beloftes gesteel word. Dit is vanselfsprekend dat ‘n land se ekonomie op sy onderwysstelsel rus. Dit leer my kind al in die laerskool, maar in Postmasburg rus ons skole se ontwikkeling op ‘n rugsakkie, sonhoedjie, pamflette en beurse wat hoofsaaklik die myn voed om hulle boeke te laat klop terwyl die meerderheid skoolverlaters nie eens daarvoor kwalifiseer nie.

Die Noord-Kaap onderwys departement het met trots aangekondig dat hulle skole gereed is vir die 2023 akademiese jaar, maar hoe lyk die prentjie werklik in Postmasburg waar ons verlede jaar met ‘n koppie koffie en ‘n broodjie hande geklap het by ‘n Mining Indaba waar ons mense en plaaslike klein besighede weereens mislei was. Steeds wag die munisipaliteit en raad vir al die myne se SLP’s ,’n openbare dokument wat beskikbaar moet wees in die plaaslike biblioteke. oekom kan DMR nie die myne tot orde bring?

Ons jongmense het geslaag en baie geluk aan julle harde werk en opofferings. Maar wat gebeur nou verder in Postmasburg waar mynmaatskappye telkens beloftes maak van hoe hulle die dorp gaan

ontwikkel en plaaslike klein besighede aan die hand sal neem? ’n Nuwe jaar en fase lê nou voor vir hierdie jongmense in Postmasburg waar ons opgewonde hande klap vir ‘n food parcel, cheap kombersies waterbotteljies en ‘n sonhoedjies.

My opregte dank en waardering aan die twee groot myne in Postmasburg wat die afgelope paar jare werklik sigbaar is in die breër Tsantsabane en enkele kontrakteursmaatskappye. Gaan terug na julle drawing boards en hoofkantore in Gauteng en maak skoolhoofde in 2023 intens betrokke by besluite wat hulle en hul leerders raak en kom terug met volhoubare planne wat werk (nie mobiele klaskamers) sodat ons skole uitvoerprodukte lewer wat alreeds vanaf die grondslagfase voorberei word vir ‘n veranderde wêreld en myndorp. Julle fokus is slegs op Graad 12 leerders en beurse wat julle sisteme voed, terwyl die basis van hierdie jongmense vernalaat word.

Ter afsluiting”Geluk aan julle jongmense wat geslaag het, maar die stelsel in sy geheel het julle alreeds in Graad 1 gefaal. Dis hartseer om te sien hoe my voormalige leerders op Facebook trots vertel dat hulle geslaag het en ek as onderwyser ‘n aandeel het in die verplettering van hul drome en ‘n voorstander was van ‘n stelsel wat grootliks bydrae tot werkloosheid in Suid-Afrika.

Aan Postmasburg se arrogante mynbestuurders wat ons gemeenskappe mos hof toe sleep, tandlose DMR en raadslede wat oor en weer stry in raadsvergaderings moet met nuwe oë kyk na Onderwys in Postmasburg. Ons is verby rugsakkies en food parcels wanneer die ou man op 18Julie verjaar, mooi speeches en press releases . Gee vir ons jongmense in Postmasburg hoop en iets om na uit te sien ná Graad 12, want nog ‘n groep jongmense gaan nou gefrustreerd tuis sit in ‘n dorp waar jy mos hof toe gevat word as jy die mynreuse aanvat wat glo hulle doen ons ‘n helse guns deur volhoubare projekte aan die agbare burgemeester te oorhandig wat uit Gauteng met ‘n ysterhand gedryf en gemanipuleer word en politicians en hul boeties wat agter baie kontrakte en aanstellings sit by myne in Postmasburg.Ja, selfs blindes sien dit raak.

Jou kind het sy matriek geslaag. Wat nou?

Hierdie stuk word ondersteun deur my grondwetlike reg tot Vryheid van spraak en uitdrukking. So, vat my hof toe!

Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge

VOTED BEST ACCOMMODATION

In the Kalahari & Northern Cape

Only 5km from the gate of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the Kgalagadi Lodge offers great value for money in accommodation, camping, a butchery, shop, bottle store and much more.. The Kgalagadi Lodge was built with style, comfort with a true Kalahari Experience .Your hosts, SJ and Denise Koortzen invite you to join them in making this a once in a lifetime experience!

From the moment we aririved, the staff welcome you, our chalet clean and the aircon having been switched on before we arrived to cool us down, the early morning shy hello’s from the team as they begin to service the chalets, Derrick smiling while he’s cleaning the fireplaces.The lodge is the best therapy we’ve felt in years, we will recommend you and be back for sure, what an awesome experience

- January 2023, Gerald and Robyn Du Preez, Gauteng

Jou -deur Andries Scholtz

Geestesgesondheid

Feite Oor Tienersselfmoord

Ek kon nie anders om hierdie te skryf, ek sien gereeld jong mense by die praktyk, soms dink ouers dit is sommer net nukke, maar na die tragedie wat ek op my fasebook blad geplaas het oor die dogter wat selfmoord gepleeg het die volgende.

Volgens die WGO vind 'n selfmoord elke 40 sekondes plaas en 'n poging word elke 3 sekondes aangewend

In Suid-Afrika is hang die mees

gebruikte metode van selfmoord, gevolg deur skiet, vergas en brand.

Risikofaktore vir selfmoord onder jongmense sluit in die teenwoordigheid van geestesongesteldheid – veral depressie, gedragsversteuring, alkohol- en dwelmmisbruik; vorige selfmoordpogings; en die beskikbaarheid van vuurwapens in die huis.

In Suid-Afrika is 60% van mense wat selfmoord pleeg depressief.

In Suid-Afrika is die gemiddelde selfmoord 17,2 per 100 000 (8% van alle sterftes). Dit het slegs betrekking op sterftes wat deur akademiese hospitale aangemeld is. Die werklike syfer is hoër. "Selfmoord behoort nie 'n geheim te wees nie.”

Wat is die 4 oorsake van adolessente depressie?

Skoolprestasie, sosiale status met maats, seksuele oriëntasie of gesinslewe kan elk 'n groot uitwerking hê op hoe 'n tiener

voel. Soms kan tienerdepressie die gevolg wees van omgewingstres.

Daar is hulp. Maak afspraak.

Vrae wat Pla ???

Jy kan nou al jou geestes gesondheid vrae vra. Stuur WhatsApp na 0722123204 METJOU VRAAG.”

Groetnis Andries Scholtz Spesialis berader

BA ,B.Th, M.Th. Practical Theologie (UOV)

Functional Therapy (Post Graduate UNISA), Fecilitative Leaderschip (US), Substance abuse (SANDRA)

Cert IV Veritas Colage (Perth Bible Collage)

Tel: 0722123204 - Upington

South African Defence Force Starts Receiving Applications For

The SouthAfrican National Defence Force (SANDF) has started taking applications for 2023/2024 and is seeking eligible members of the public to apply to their Military Skills Development System (MSDS).

The SANDF officially issues out application forms to members of the public who wish to join the Defence Force through the Military Skills Development System in theYear 2024.

Requirements

ASouthAfrican Citizen (No dual citizenship)

Age between 18 and 22 at the time of joining (Completed Grade 12 or N3 with 6 subjects including two languages) or not more than 26 if in possession of a 3 year tertiary qualification (Degree, National Diploma or N6 with N4 and N5 prescript)

Preferably single Comply with medical fitness requirements for appointment in

the SANDF

Currently in Grade 12 or completed Grade 12 or equivalent with subjects specific to a career selection Not be area bound

Must not have a criminal record Comply with medical fitness requirements for appointment in the SAND Comply with all other prescribed requirements for appointment in the SANDF

Must be willing to relocate and to participate in deployments both in SouthAfrica and abroad if required to do so Be recommended by a selection board.

HOW TOAPPLY

The SANDF recruitment process is free and no amount of money will be required from any person. For the ease of reference, application forms are issued at the following regional offices with indicated addresses:

Regional Office Free State Army Support Base Bloemfontein Recruitment Office, Pappa Brits Street,Tempe, Bloemfontein, 9300

Regional Office Western Cape

Castle of Good Hope Recruitment Office Block C, c/o Buiten and Strand Street, CapeTown, 8000 Regional Office Limpopo

Army Support Recruitment Office Building BuildingT143, Gate Way Road, Polokwane, 0699 Regional Office Kwa-Zulu Natal

Recruitment Office, Lords Ground Military Base, 186 Old Ford Road (K.E Masinga Road), Durban Regional Office Eastern Cape

Army Support Base Recruitment Office Willow Drive, Forest Hill, Porta Elizabeth, 6013

Regional Office Northern Cape Army Support Base Recruitment

Office, Kimberley, General Khan van der SpuyAvenue, Diskobolos, Kimberley Regional Office North West

Army Support Base Recruitment Office C/O Grobler Street (R53) and Eleazer Road, Potchefstroom, 2531 Regional Office Gauteng

Recruitment Office, C/O Visagie and Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria Central, 0001 Applicants residing in Mpumalanga will access forms at the following venues:

Army Support Base, 8 Spruit Street, Mbombela, 1201 4 SouthAfrican Infantry Battalion, C/O Dr Beyers Naude and Boncker Street, Middleburg, Mpumalanga, 1050

Opportunity Closing Date Tuesday, 31 January, 2023 –12:00

Thank You

Derrick & Bobby

Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge

“After our SUV got stuck in the sand at Kgalagadi Lodge these two guys went out of their way to get us out and up and running again, thank you Derrick & Bobby you two are stars...” -Colin and Sheryl-Ann Venter

Sipho van brakpan word genooi na 'n fancy dress party en vra sy vrou om vir hom 'n kostuum te gaan huur. Die aand kom hy by die huis en daar is 'n superman suit op die bed. Baie onsteld vertel hy sy vrou dat sy iets anders moet kry want superman was en is nog altyd 'n wit ou. Volgende aand kry hy 'n spiderman suit op die bed. Hy vertel sy vrou sy is stupid want spiderman en superman is wit ouens en hy is swart - hy soek 'n kostuum wat by 'n

swart man sal pas. Volgende aand kom hy by die huis en kry 'n klomp wit kolle, 'n wit belt en 'n wit stok op die bed. Hy roep sy vrou en vra wat is dit waarop sy antwoord: jy trek jouself kaal uit, plak die wit kolle op jou lyf en gaan as 'n domino blokkie !As jy dit nie laaik nie dan sit jy die wit belt om jou lyf en gaan as 'n oreo koekie !As jy dit nie laaik nie dan druk jy die wit stok in jou g@t op en gaan as 'n magnum roomys !

The Leading Conference Venue in Kimberley

CapeTown - Rocklands Mitchells Plain-born academic and founder ofThe SmallThings Fund, Dr Rhoda Malgas, has encouraged young and old to not allow a lack of funds to stand in their way of reaching their academic goals.

Dr Malgas urged them to get varsity-ready through working towards excellence as well as finding what options or help are available for them.

Malgas has been a lecturer in conservation ecology and etymology in the Stellenbosch University Faculty of AgriSciences since 2009.

She pursued tertiary education at the University of CapeTown, double majoring in archaeology and environmental and geographical sciences.

“I started it (fund) in March 2015 and the reason I started it was because I was sitting in my house one day and thinking what can I do to help other prospective students who want to get into university and who have a love for learning like I did and who come from a similar context that I come from,” Malgas said.

After putting some information

online, Malgas found that people did not have money for registration fees, books and other small “things”. On Mandela Day, they baked lemon meringue pies and would sell this for R67, with people willing to pay a lot more after hearing about the cause.

“I realised people would be willing to crowdfund for something that they felt was of value and then I swung this idea past a colleague who happens to now be one of the Board members, Monika Basson, and she said: ‘If you start something, I’m going to put my weight behind it’.”

They managed to raise R2 500 for the first bursary, and thus the fund was born.

The crowdfunding initiative offers first line support to first generation tertiary education students that aids academic success.

Malgas said it took a village to help her achieve her goals and this in acknowledgement and thanks to the village, by paying it forward.

“We help only with small amounts and if funds allow, up to R3 500 a student.The need is very big and our pool is small, but we keep it up because we know it makes a difference. “We

encourage young people if they really want to, especially targeting young people who are resource poor, who come from resource poor families, and who really have a passion for learning, who have the inclination for academic things, then there are ways to do that and it is better to try than to just give up,” he said.

Malgas was conferred a PhD in Conservation Ecology from SU on December 6.

Her research focused primarily on areas of Genadendal in the Overberg, Harlem in Langkloof, Suid Bokkeveld in the Northern Cape, and Wupperthal in the Cederberg.

“Those are the regions where there are small-scale farmers involved in either honeybush or rooibos production,” Malgas said.

“I’ve always worked with smallscale farmers and in small rural towns. I really enjoy that kind of work and so the idea with the PhD is just to answer the question about sustainability, like how is it possible to sustain production in small-scale farming systems with people’s local knowledge of the environment included in that practice in a way that is ecologically, socially, and economically viable.” - IOL

SU lecturer Dr Rhoda Malgas, founder of the Small Things Fund (in red), received her doctorate in conservation ecology from Stellenbosch University. With her are friends and supporters of the Fund, Oluwegbenga Ajila, Siphosethu Magqupu, Monika Basson (a director of the Fund) and Mpho Molapo. Siphosethu Magqupu received her MSc in Animal Sciences at the same ceremony. Photo: Otshepeng Pooe

Jood Intends To Grow Beyond South Africa

Jood’s 33-year-old company specializes in strategic leadership and operational direction, as well as the development of acquisition and retention programs in the mining, construction, and manufacturing industries.

PJood states that his company’s objective is to seek more investors in order to compete outside local markets.The company’s larger objective is to acquire entry to the Southern African Development Community and international markets.

Jood, a native of the Northern Cape, founded the organization in 2013.After receiving “innovation awards” at a young age, he says he was inspired to start his own firm. His organization is located in Kuruman’s JohnTaolo Gaetsewe District. Its primary operations in the Northern Cape are in iron ore and manganese at Kuruman and Kathu.

In 2007, Jood was awarded the bronze prize at the Eskom National Science Expo.At the time, he was in high school. He then became the second finalist of the MTN Big Break Legacy in 2013. He claims that after achieving his goal, his zeal compelled him to pursue

possibilities and use his Godgiven talent to leave a legacy for himself and others.

“I felt compelled to convert my ideas into sustainable monetary worth and produce the required socioeconomic impact in our local communities. We operate within a 150-kilometer radius of the iron-ore and manganese belt in the Northern Cape. “We realized that the passion we had to build this company to the best of our ability did wonders for ourselves as a result of our vision to take the Sedika Group to greater heights,” Jood explains.

In addition, he notes that building his firm was not a breeze, as he encountered obstacles and misfortunes on his route to the top. “However, I remained adamant about building this business, and I also take a risk. As you are aware, fear kills more dreams than failure ever could, so I decided to be courageous, and the results were positive,” he says.

Jood stated that entrance hurdles in industrial areas such as mining are significant and administratively and financially difficult.

“The market’s confidence and

hunger for local black youth business ownership is low, which means that, as a black youthowned company, you must be exceptional to enter some of these highly competitive areas.

As a youth-focused black business, you must come up with innovations and ideas to demonstrate your talent in reversing the industry’s fortunes and bringing viable and profitable business to your clientele.

“Inclusive economic policies have made it possible for more black players to enter markets that were previously dominated by a small number of players.”

Jood argues that economic stability and a more robust and intentional policy to build and capacitate innovative black

youth-owned businesses to compete in the mainstream economy are important, as is the creation of a second layer of corporate leadership in the marketplace.

“Because of my ideas and positioning, I was able to secure loan money from reputable local entrepreneurs and my own family. Jood expresses gratitude for having participated in the supplier and company development programs of Zimele under theAnglo-American Kumba Iron Ore andAssmang Black Rock Mine Operations.

“Both entities assisted the group, not only by providing soft loan funding, but also by providing intangible services such as labour relations, accounting, procurement links, and operational matters.”

The company currently employs over 90 individuals, including young engineers, quantity surveyors, artists, and general laborers.

The business, according to Jood, has decided to launch a graduate programme in 2023 that “will absorb young engineers and craftsmen into our operations, helping them to develop and also positioning our group in the market.”

“As a small to medium-sized business, addressing the high youth unemployment rate and alleviating poverty makes me feel good.”

The company provides civil engineering services, mining, tailings maintenance, and earthworks to major corporations such asAnglo-American Kumba Iron Ore,Assmang Black Rock Mine Operations, Mokala Manganese Mine, andTransnet.

Lebo Jood is the creator of Sedika Group, a business that provides crucial services to the mining industry

Dinsdag

Politieke Leiers Kom Byeen in Okiep

Politieke leiers het die 23 Januarie 2023 op Okiep byeengekom.

Tydens hierdie byeenkoms was daar 'n oorsig gegee oor die huidige behuisingsprojek op die dorp. Die departement het uitdagings met die projek ervaar, maar dit duur steeds voort.

Die Burgermeester, Dr Gustav Bock was die motiveringspreker by die heropening van Hoërskool Namakwaland vir 2023. Die waarnemende skoolbestuurder, Me.

Jdat Dr Bock hierdie skool seA-student was in die jaar 2003. Die Burgemeester het leerders aangemoedig om konsekwent te wees in om ’n sukses van hul skoolloopbaan te

Hey Leah PRINT SIGNAGE DESIGN Hey Leah

Vlnr: Raadslid Josua Losper (Wyk 6), mnr. Bafedile Lenkoe (Hoof van die departement Coghsta), Raadslid Mervin Cloete (Uitvoerende Burgemeester Namakwa Distriksmunisipaliteit), LUR Bently Vass (Coghsta) en Burgemeester van die Nama Khoi Munisipaliteit, Dr Gustav Bock.

Van Wyk het in haar verwelkoming gespog

maak.

Oudleerling Dr. Gustav Bock Burgermeester

By Hoerskool Namakwaland 2023 Opening

Verskaffers vir

Jaar

Eerste vir STAAL

Upington Lions het Saterdag 21 Januarie 2023 in hulle 1ste wedstryd van die ZFMT20 liga vir 2023 gespeel teen Upington College. Dit was 'n mooi bewolkte oggend vir krieket met paar druppels wat by tye geval het.

Upington Lions wen die loot en besluit om 1ste te boul en verdwerk te doen. Die wedstryd was verseker nie die begin wat Upington Lions in die ZFMT20 liga sou wou gehad het nie, met verbroude vang kanse en swak veldwerk kon Upington Lions nie vir College beperk tot 'n lae totaal nie en teken College 158/5 aan in 20 beurte. Boulers wat goed gedoen het en paaltjies kon kry was Marius Goussard 2 beurte5 lopies - 2 paaltjies,Chris Voges 4 beurte - 33 lopies - 2 paaltjies, Rohan Malan 2 beurte - 28 loipes - 1 paaltjie ,Jaco Beukes 4 beurte - 16 lopies - 0 paaltjies en SJ Becker 4 beurte - 27 lopies - 0 Paaltjies.

Na die breuk het Uington LIons gaan kolf, Jaco Beukes 23(17) & AdeelAzam 15 (19) open die beurt. Upington Lions begin die lopie afslaan goed en was na 5

beurte 33/1 maar dan na het die bus se wiele afgeval en dit nooit gelyk of Upington Lions dit gaan maak nie. Enigste ander kolwer wat die manne in die veld biejtie kon rondjaag wasAnthony Grobler 19* (18) nie uit nie.

Upington Lions kon slegs 100/10 aanteken in 17.2 beurte en verloor ongelukkig met 58 lopies.

Dit is nie die begin wat Upington Lions wou hê nie, maar soos die mense se, Upington Lions gaan le nooit en baklei tot die einde.

Dit was die 1ste wedstryd van die liga en daar is nog 7 oor, ons sal sterket en beter terug kom.

Dit was soos altyd tussen die 2 klubs 'n baie lekker wedstryd gewees. Die naweek 28 Januarie 2023 ry ons uit om teen Kenhardt in Kenhardt te speel en Keimoes Tigers in Keimoes.

Upington Lions Krieket Klub se beste kolwers:

1.Jaco Beukes 23(17)

2.Anthony Grobler 19(18) *

3.AdeelAzam 15 (19)

Upington Lions Krieket Klub se beste boulers:

1.Marius Goussard 2 beurte - 5 lopies - 2 paaltjies

KOMPETISIE COMPETITION

2.Chris Voges 4 beurte - 33 lopies - 2 paaljties

3.Rohan Malan 2 beurte - 28 lopies - 1 paaltjie

4.Jaco Beukes 4 beurte - 16 lopies - 0 paaltjies

5.SJ Becker 4 beurte - 27 lopies0 paaltjies

Upington Lions Krieket Klub man van die wedstryd: Kolwer: Jaco Beukes 23(17) Bouler: Marius Goussard 2

beurte - 5 lopies - 2 paaltjies

Baie geluk manne en bou so voort seisoen het nou eers begin.

Wedstyde om na uit te sien van Upington Lions Cricket Club 28 Januarie 2023

9 uur: Kenhardt vs Lions op Kenhardt

2 uur: KeimoesTigers vs Lions op Keimoes

Banks Still Charge Up To R50 For

In 2006,Absa, FNB and Capitec banded together to pioneer immediate interbank payments –meaning you could transfer money between two competing banks and have the funds reflect instantly

Immediate payments have multiple uses but are particularly important to limit the risks of carrying cash, and to avoid scams when waiting three days for funds to clear via regular EFT isn't an option.

From the outset, most banks saw this as a premium offering with inherent risks and then transferred this as a cost to the client.And at least one of the founding members still charges up to R49 for the privilege.

Although the service is now 17 years old, banks still charge more for this transaction than almost any other transactions, and most don't include any free immediate payments in monthly transaction bundles.

Despite this, interest in this form of payment is higher than ever before – and it's growing rapidly

The PaymentsAssociation of SouthAfrica (PASA) says RTC volumes increased by 66% in 2021 "due to the increased demand for lower-value smaller transactions cleared in realtime".

Statistics also show that RTC transactions of R3,000 or lower increased from 60% in 2018 to over 80% in 2021.

The amount of money flowing through this channel is also significant.According to BankservAfrica, SouthAfricans transferred more than R105 billion using immediate payments in 2021 – an increase of R25 billion from the previous year

Given most banks don't include these fees in monthly transaction bundles, they receive payment

Payments – Collectively Costing South Africans Millions

for every RTC transaction.

The potential revenue from these transactions is not insignificant, either

PASApreviously said banks process as many as 49 million RTC payments in a calendar year At the low-end average across SouthAfrica's big five banks in 2023, this would put the money received by all banks in RTC fees at R439 million for the year. Banks would receive about R1.6 billion per year in RTC fees at the high-end average.

Banks have previously denied that these fees exist to make money They claim they are forced to charge premium rates for immediate transactions due to operational requirements and fraud prevention measures.

However, none can seem to agree on how much these operational requirements should cost the customer

Banks are 'forced' to charge premium rates for RTC

Historically, Capitec offered the cheapest RTC services in South Africa at R7.50.ACapitec spokesperson previously said they decided to keep these fees low to remove risks associated with carrying cash.

"We also believe we have a role to play in the furthering of the country's digital economy through this affordable fee, which makes it an accessible payment option for millions of South Africans," the spokesperson said.

Absa, which charges R10 for RTC payments under R1,000, and R49 for those above, is still the most restrictive and expensive of the big five banks.

In 2021, anAbsa spokesperson told Business Insider SAthat immediate inter-bank payment fees "cover the costs associated with inter-bank real-time

Here's how SouthAfrican banks stack up on immediate payment fees in 2023:

clearing, as well as the additional fraud prevention measures we have implemented on this transaction type."

Some banks also argued that although they charge a premium for RTC payments, they have introduced alternative real-time payment options at lower costs. Yet the surge in popularity of immediate payments suggests they're more popular than other methods or solutions.

Immediate payment fee changes in 2023

Most SouthAfrican banks haven't changed their fee structures for immediate payments in 2023.

The most significant policy change comes from FNB, which has adopted a flat rate fee of R7. Previously, FNB's RTC fee varied between R8 and R45, depending on the customer's account type.

FNB's drop is now 50c cheaper than Capitec's R7.50 – 2021's lowest RTC fee – and is in line

withTymeBank's flat R7 fee.

Discovery Bank also offers a flat fee, which varies according to the bank account. Its entry-level savings account requires customers to pay R35 for this transaction, while mid-tier transaction accounts charge R10. Premium Discovery Bank accounts include these transactions free in bundles.

African Bank charges R10 for an immediate transfer - a number not tracked when Business Insider SAfirst conducted this research in 2021.

Absa, Standard Bank, and Nedbank have not changed their immediate payment fees since 2021 and still charge a premium for these transactions.

Standard Bank has, however, lowered the limit for their premium rate – customers now pay R50 for immediate payments above R2,000, whereas previously, this rate applied for transactions above R3,000.Business Insider

Matric Award Ceremony Of The Class Of 2022

TOPQUINTILE 1TO 3 SCHOOLS INTHE PROVINCE:

In the third place, from Namakwa we have Kharkhams high School.

In the second place, from Pixley Ka Seme we have Monwabisi School.

The top Quintile 1 to 3 school for 2022 in the province is from John Toalo Gaetsewe Nametsegang School.

TOPACADEMIC SCHOOLS IN THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS:

The Namakwa District: In the third place, we have Concordia High School. In the second place, we have Namakwaland High School.And the topAcademic school for 2022 in the Namakwa District is Calvinia High School.

The JohnTaolo Gaetsewe District:

In the third place, we have Hotazel Primary School. In the second place, we have Nametsegang High School. And the topAcademic school for 2022 in the JohnTaolo Gaetsewe District is Kalahari High School.

The Pixley Ka Seme District: In the third place, we have Prieska High School. In the second place, we have Douglas High School. And the top Academic school for 2022 in the Pixley Ka Seme District is Hopetown High School.

The ZF Mgcawu District: In the third place, we have Postmasbrug High School. In the second place, we have Duineveld High School. And the topAcademic school for 2022 in the ZF Mgcawu District is Upington High School.

The Frances Baard District: In the third place, we have Vaalharts High School. In the second place, we have Diamantveld School.And the top

Academic school for 2022 in the Frances Baard District is Kimberley Girls' High School.

The overallTOP3 PUBLIC SCHOOLS INTHE PROVINCE: In the third place, from Frances Baard District we have Kimberley Girls' High School.

In the second place, from Pixley Ka Seme District we have Douglas High School.

The top academic school for 2022 in the province is from Pixley Ka Seme DistrictHopetown High School.

Annually schools which excel in Mathematics and Physical Sciences are also honoured. These schools should have had an increase in the overall pass rate in the subject as well as an increase in the total number of learners who participated and were successful in the subject.

This year's award for EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS goes to Hopetown High School. This year's award for EXCELLENCE IN PHYSICAL SCIENCES goes to Hopetown High School.

The MOSTIMPROVED SCHOOLINTHE PROVINCE: The award goes to from the Pixley Ka Seme District Richmond High School.

Profile ofTopAchiever

Academic excellence is synonym to the 2022 top achiever as this candidate consistently was recognised for best annual academic achievement throughout Grade 8 to Grade 12.

The remarkable academic achievement of the 2022 top achiever is manifested in numerous accolades which include:

First place during the Free State Northern Cape Mathematics

Second place for the National Mathematics inAction Programme

Second LevelAward for the

SAMO MathematicsTournament

Coupled with the extraordinary academic achievements, the top achiever also excels in cocurricular activities which include netball, athletics and cycling. The 2022 top achiever therefore was selected to form part of the 2022AcademicAchieversTour to the USA2022 (Travel & Sport)

The 2022 top achiever furthermore has an inherent love for the environment and support projects geared towards safeguarding our natural resources for future generations. This exceptional individual thus worked during holidays at various animal clinics like the KimberleyAnimal Clinic, Belgravia Vet Clinic as well as the Kimberley SPCA.

TheTopAchiever of the Northern Cape for 2022 is… Lize-Mari Loots.

Potent goal-getter Nthabiseng Majiya, from Philippolis, has been rewarded with a tour to England for her impressive performance in the South African women’s football league.

She is among five players selected to tour England and fortify their football skills by learning from the Brentford FC women’s team based in West London.

The other players partaking are Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Andisiwe Mgcoyi, Bambanani Mbane and Regirl Ngobeni.The players are expected back in the country on Friday (20/01).

The week-long tour serves as acknowledgement of

performance at their respective clubs in the league competition.

The players won top awards in the 2021 and 2022 season of the Hollywood Super League.

Influential Nthabiseng (18) scooped the young player of the season award for both seasons. Currently playing for Richmond Ladies FC, based in DeAar in the Northern Cape, she was also in the running for the prestigious Golden Boot award, presented to the player who scores most goals in the league.

Nthabiseng finished as the second top goal-scorer with 20 goals in her maiden season of 2021, and 18 this just-ended season of 2022. She was an

Welcome to Affordable Luxury Accommodation KIMBERLEY When In Kimberley.....

influential member of the senior women’s team Banyana Banyana when achieving the historic win in the 2022 Women’sAfrican Cup of Nations (Wafcon), staged in Morocco. She showed her prowess when she scored on her debut for the team during their match against Botswana in the continental competition.

Now in Gr. 12, Nthabiseng has also been part of the country’s U20 national women’s team since 2020. Her contribution has also ensured that Banyana Banyana qualifies for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup, to be hosted jointly byAustralia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August.

The global competition will see the tournament expanded from

24 to 32 teams.

Richmond coach, Edwin Lisene, is delighted about Nthabiseng’s steady rise and contribution, as well as the once-in-a-lifetime chances she is receiving to improve her football career

“Considering her background, current team and the country, it is a great motivation to her teammates and girls aspiring to play football. Obviously, education comes first because it is lifelong, something she must never compromise,” said Lisene.

Nthabiseng’s contribution helped her team, Richmond, finish in seventh position on 48 points in the last season – the highest ever in the club’s history -

Nthabiseng Majiya. Photo: Supplied

Comments on an article I wrote last October about reclaiming ignored or despised varieties, especially colombard, got sidetracked into discussion of quality claims about the Orange River Cellars (ORC) versions of that variety. I had to confess that I didn’t know them and got accused of unacceptable ignorance and also “elitist paternalism” – but, to help me overcome the former at least, the producer kindly sent me a small parcel of bottles, and I’ve finally got round to some sort of report.

First, though, a few partly digressive generalities about co-op wineries – which are not co-ops anymore and should be called producer cellars. ORC, apparently better known in many circles by its Afrikaans acronym, OWK, is one of these wineries that together produce the overwhelming share of SouthAfrican wine. It’s a particularly large one, in fact, with something like 600 shareholders (accounts vary, but maybe it’s hard to keep track) farming vast, sunny and irrigated lands along the Orange River in the Northern Cape, and with a handful of separate production cellars.

SouthAfrica’s co-ops mostly emerged in the middle of the last century and thrived within the national wine strategy, as dictated by KWV, of producing quantity rather than quality, particularly favouring hot areas where plentiful water was available from new or enlarged dams (while production quotas were denied to cooler areas).Though forced to shift from the cooperative model to more commercially standard business practices, they’ve largely shown themselves unable – perhaps unwilling – to shift their focus from overcropping and bulk production. Hence what seems like a race to the bottom, and the perfectly justified cheapness of the great majority of SouthAfrican wine on

the international market.

The larger part of co-op wine is sold off in bulk to, mostly, the big merchants or international customers, with a probably increasing, and more lucrative, range of generally inexpensive, often decent-enough and good value own-label wines. For some decades now, though, they’ve been supplementing these by trying their hands at crafting (as they’d no doubt refer to it on the back labels) a few more ambitious and expensive wines – probably directed at raising their general profile.

On the whole, the trouble is that most haven’t done this convincingly, thinking that ultra-ripeness, heavy extraction for intensity of flavour, and an excess of expensive oak character will do the trick. Reliance on established cellar techniques (additives of various kinds, especially) rather than improving viticulture and lowering yields seems also to have been irresistible.There are undoubtedly some good top-end wines made by large producers in this style, of course – it’s a bit invidious to mention a few, but I could instance the top Windmeul pinotages and the Rex Equus and a few others from Perdeberg.As well as a raft of middle-range wines where the whites are usually better than the reds.

The last decade’s rise to fashionable prominence of old vines seems to be having a further beneficial effect on the co-ops, however. It must have been very frustrating for them on occasion to have seen the soaring prices and reputations for new-wave singlevineyard wines made from grapes that had previously disappeared into their own vast blending tanks. Some co-ops initially fought back hard, effectively preventing their members from selling off their best

grapes and cooperating with the new wave producers in managing the vineyards.

André Morgenthal of the Old Vine Project tells me, however, that they have become “more amenable to the cause” in recent years. He points out that 85% of the Cape’s old vines are tied up in the co-ops, so that’s immensely relevant.The OVPwebsite now lists at least nine co-ops as members, and a number of them are making wines proudly bearing the OVPsticker Again, a few of these wines inevitably do little more than prove that old vines are not sufficient for making fine wine. Morgenthal says that he usually advises the producers to consult about viticultural and winemaking practices with one of the “rockstars” with experience in bringing out the strengths of a fine vineyard… but this advice is certainly not always taken up. Some exciting things are happening though – Riebeek Wine Valley Co, for example, is showing real determination and intelligence in learning new ways. Overall this development is undoubtedly commendable, and progress will continue – and will hopefully even have an effect on the whole co-op model, which is arguably failing the country badly

Three examples of Colombard from Orange River Cellars. The ORC colombards I tasted are not off old vineyards, though mature ones – and high-yielding.The Hedgehog 2022 is the widely available one, at under R60. Nice enough, well balanced to be only just off-dry, tropical-fruity and ordinary The other two are more ambitious, and only available from the cellar Tellingly, the attractive, modern labels avoid mention of Orange River Cellars except in giving the website.They’re in Afrikaans – “Wyn van die groen Kalahari” would sound as good in English as “Wine from the green

Kalahari”, I suppose, and is a very pleasing and descriptive slogan. Both 2021 wines are oaked, though restrainedly so – I have to differ from the Platter taster who found otherwise (tasting back in June or thereabouts) and gave both of these what seem to me disagreeably ungenerous ratings. What is notable (though unmentioned by the Platter taster), given my earlier remarks about the generality of most ambitious co-op wines, is that both have modest alcohol levels: 11.5% for Omstaan, 12% for Regopstaan (though the website says 12.7%); and in fact both do show some not unpleasing green freshness. Both are properly dry. Regopstaan is the fruitier (tropical, cape gooseberry, etc), though not egregiously so, with some elegance to its fresh charm. I slightly preferred the Omstaan, which is spicier and more savoury, with the dusty oak somewhat apparent as well as a delicate florality

Very decent, drinkable wines, I thought, though, frankly, not to be compared in terms of inherent fruit quality and character with the best of the new wave colombards from further south (as mentioned by me and a commenter in the original article).And I should also mention that I tasted two other OWC wines. The Shiraz-Petit Verdot 2020 had smartly handled tannins, but I didn’t much care for the flavours (herbaldominated) or the awkwardly adjusted acidity. Omstaan Wit Muskadel XI (the best barrels from 11 vintages) is unusually fresh and light-feeling, uncloying and with plenty of pretty restrained charm.

Tim James is one of SouthAfrica’s leading wine commentators, contributing to various local and international wine publications. He is a taster (and associate editor) for Platter’s. His book Wines of South Africa –Tradition and Revolution appeared in 2013. - Winemag