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Crisis looms due to drought ¢¢ LYNDLE HAAGNER

outh Africa is experiencing its worst drought in decades and farmers in the Potchefstroom area are suffering. Ac cording to Jannie Keet; Agri Potchefstroom Chairperson, this has been the fourth conse cutive dry year. The drought, he says, is affecting the farming community on all levels. The devas tating effects of this year’s drought are inten sified by its early onset. “In the past few years the drought occurred later in the planting season. With this early onset many farmers have been prevented from planting their crops, as the underground moisture is very low. “The farmers who have, however, already planted their crops are suffering due to the immense heat and are worried about their yield,” says Jannie. The worst hit in our area are livestock farmers. Pastures are dry and there is a major shortage of feed for the animals. The grass simply isn’t growing due to the drought and considerable heat we are experiencing. “Many farmers are forced to slaughter their livestock as they cannot supply them with feed,” ex plains Jannie. According to an article that appeared on eNCA on 13 November, the last national drought of this extent occurred in 1992 and cost 70 000 people in the agricultural industry, their jobs. The agricultural industry contri butes approximately 5% of SA’s GDP and all sectors of our economy, even if indirectly, are linked to the agricultural sector. “There are still five weeks remaining for farmers to plant their crops before it is too

late. We can only hope that the rain comes, and stays. We will need ongoing rain to harvest successful crops,” says Jannie. NWI also spoke to the CEO of the Agricul ture Business Chamber and General Manager of Grain SA, John Purchase. “The drought from the previous season is continuing into the new season, placing massive constraints on crops especially in the Eastern parts of the country. “The Western areas still have roughly a month to plant but the soil lacks serious mois ture. 100mm – 150mm of rain is needed and planting will be risky,” says John. He explained that if South Africa experien ces above average rainfall it will still be able to meet its maize demand. If there is only average rainfall, roughly a million tons of maize will need to be imported. In the event of the continuing drought, with only 70% of the expected rainfall - 4 million tons of maize will be needed. “In the worst-case scenario seeing South Africa experiencing a catastrophic drought with only 40% of the expected rainfall, well over 7 million tons of maize will have to be imported to ensure food security. This is a serious problem as our infrastructure (har bours and railways) cannot cope with this,” explains John. No decisions have yet been announced re garding water restrictions. However Jannie Keet says that none of the dams on his have water. “As far as I know most, if not all, dams on farms are also empty.” In the meantime residents of Potchefstroom are encouraged to use water sparingly. Take shorter showers. Fix leaks immediately. Don’t leave taps running.

If the current drought continues, South Africa will be forced to import millions of tons of maize to ensure food security in the country.

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North West Independent (NWI) het verlede naweek ‘n groot eerbewys ontvang toe hulle een van ses pryse losgeslaan het by die jaar likse media prysuitdeling. NWI het die prys gewen vir die publikasie wat die beste verbeter het die afgelope jaar. Capro staan vir “Country Central Advertising and Public Relations Office” en verteenwoor dig 254 onafhanklike koerante landswyd. Nadia Wiid, bestuurder van die koerant, was baie in haar skik. “Ons is so trots! Dit is net die ondersteuning van die gemeenskap en ons adverteerders wat dit moontlik gemaak het. En natuurlik Kreativmedia Hub wat die afgelope paar maande ons koerant skryf en uitlê. Ek wil vir elke lid van die gemeenskap en ook elke ad verteerder baie, baie dankie sê! Dit is so ‘n groot voorreg!” Hier ontvang Nadia Wiid, bestuurder van NWI, die toekenning van Alice McDonald, nasionale administratiewe bestuurder van Capro.

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Potchefstromers should take note that on Sunday 22 Novem ber as well as Sunday 29 November power cuts will affect the city. The Tlokwe City Council, Electricity Section has to shut the 66 KV overhead lines down in order to per form upgrading of the 66 000 Volt equipment. The expected shut down will happen between 08:00 and 17:00. Areas that will be affected include Promosa; Mohadin; Dassierand; Military Base; Dagbreek Hoe- wes; Sanitas Hoewes; Tuscany Ridge; Moo ivalleipark; Mooivallei Hoewes; Bult Area; CBD Area; Riverwalk Mall; Mooirivier Mall; South Town; Mieder park; the new Exten sions in Grimbeeck park – Lelie Street area, the new development in Watsonia Street, Herman Street and Arend Street, the new extensions in Bail liepark – the Rooibok Street area, Wilgeboom Hoewes and Eland sheuwel Hoewes. Please phone Thys Botha (018) 299 5537 for enquiries.

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The Rotary Club of Potch Mooi in conjunction with the local SPCA has embarked on a project to provide a secure area (a so-called “Paws Park”) in the immediate vicinity of the SPCA facility for the controlled exercise of the dogs in their care. The Paws Park project entails the closing-in of a suitably sized area and the provision of the requisite facilities within that area. Local businesses can support this initiative by pur chasing a 1,2m x 1m advertising board for R500 and display ing your company logo for the amount of R1 200. Support of this initiative will be clearly visible to all visitors to the SPCA. The purchase of this advertising space will entitle you to have your board displayed for a 12 month period. Contact Jolaine 083 627 9628 / jolaineh@gmail.com for more info.

Twee onlangse koerantberigte naas mekaar het nogal ’n storie vertel. Dis te sê as jy die konneksies kon maak, vertel Die Vrou Wat Weet. Die kort en lank is dat die einde van die Hattingh-dinastie in Noordwes aangebreek het.

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soos ‘n franchise geword. Die DA in Noordwes was volledig onder hulle beheer en dit het al hoe meer mense ongelukkig gemaak. As jy nie in die binnekring was nie, was jy nie in tel nie. Daar was ook die kwessie van die vorige provinsiale direkteur, ‘n Hat tingh-vertroueling, wat skielik weg is en in AgangSA beland het. Daardie storie is nooit vertel nie. Met die vorige provinsiale kongres van die DA, het Chris vrywillig uitgetree, maar my vriende in die DA (ja, die Vrou Wat Weet het vriende) vertel dat Chris uitgestem sou gewees het as hy gewaag het om weer te staan. Die getyd het gedraai. Chris se opponente het al die belangrike posisies gekry. So het Carin Visser, wat Chris voorheen onsuksesvol uitgedaag het om die leierskap, die voorsit terskap gekry. Met Chris uit die leierskap en Juanita geskors, het ‘n nuwe tydvak vir die DA in Noordwes aangebreek. Die Hattingh-era is verby en nou sal die nuwe leierskap hul merk moet maak. Die vakuum op Potch sal ook gevul moet word, want die ander Chris, Chris Landsberg, se tyd in die politiek raak seker korter. Ek dink hy is tans nog leier van die DA-koukus. Maar laat ons nie die positiewe energie vergeet wat die Hattinghs na die plaaslike politiek gebring het nie. Op hul beste was hulle ‘n aanwins vir die gemeenskap. Ongelukkig word die ou gesegde net weer bewys: alle politieke loopbane eindig of in die dood, of in teleurstelling.

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ie een berig vertel van Juanita Ter blanche, gebore Hattingh, se dreigende hofsaak teen die DA. Dit volg nadat sy intern skuldig bevind is aan verskeie oortre dings, onsuksesvol daarteen geappelleer het en toe uit die party geskop is. Daarmee het sy ook haar setel in die Parle ment verloor. Berig twee het gehandel oor haar pa, Chris Hattingh, wat na die Raad van Provinsies ontplooi is nadat hy as DA-leier in Noordwes uitgetree het en sy opvolger, Joe McGluwa, Hattingh se plek in die provinsiale wetgewer in Mafikeng ingeneem het. Dus: Chris se dominante rol in Noordwes is effektief verby. En sy dogter se loopbaan is verby, tensy haar appél in die hooggeregshof suksesvol is. Die Vrou Wat Weet verneem van regsken ners dat haar kanse om hierdie saak te wen maar skraal is. Die hof meng nie sommer in by politieke partye se interne sake nie. En al sou sy wen, gaan die DA haar bes moontlik (weer) uitgooi omdat sy vuil wasgoed in die openbaar gewas het. Dit gaan hier om vertroue, wat opsigtelik daarmee heen is. Alles is effens tragies. Chris is ‘n harde werker wat jare van toegewyde diens aan die DA gegee het. En Juanita het eers as stads raadslid en toe as parlementslid goeie werk gedoen. Maar iewers het iets skeef geloop. Die Hattinghs het te magtig geword. Kritiek was taboe en selfs ‘n eerlike vraag was gevaar lik, vertel my vriend se vriend. Die DA het

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NWU at a crossroads

hen the North-West University (NWU) council sits down to its two-day meeting on Thursday (today), it has the power to steer the institution in a new direction: Expect fireworks at the hotel in Sandton where the university’s go vernors will gather. Inside the meeting venue council members are poised to engage in verbal combat over whether the NWU should be organised along federal or unitary lines in the future. As part of the discussions the issue of Afrikaans will certainly come up. Outside supporters from the student organisation ReformPuk could protest. ReformPuk, a group that wants to address transformation, fees, financial exclu sions, the outsourcing of work and racism on campus, was initially invited to this week’s council meeting, but the invitation was with drawn, apparently on legal grounds. In a media statement, ReformPuk has at tacked the council for acting in bad faith and has called on its supporters to join the orga nisation in picketing or in protest at the council meeting on Friday, 20 November. No council can apply its mind in such circumstances and hopefully a compromise will be found before Friday. But back to the inside of the meeting chamber. Here one of the most important decisions that the council will have to take, is how the NWU should be organised in future. The institutional senate of the NWU, which consists of deans, school directors and aca demics of all three the campuses, has already supported the Vice-Chancellor Prof Dan Kgwadi’s suggestion that the university become more of a unitary organisation. This is an important endorsement: after all, the core task of a university is academic. In prac tice this would mean that there will not be campus rectors. Furthermore there will only be one dean of a faculty, instead of two or three across the three campuses. There will certainly be benefits in terms of costs and in terms of achieving greater equality in the qualifications conferred by Mafikeng, Potchef stroom and the Vaal Triangle. When the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (and its Vaal Triangle Campus) and the University of North-West (UNW) merged in 2004, the distances – and poor roads between the campuses necessitated a different kind of organisational model. It was believed that this model would allow each campus to develop its own, diverse,

EDITORIAL campus culture. For the Potchefstroom Campus this had the perceived benefit of keeping Afrikaans as its primary language of instruction. During the first ten years following the merger, this model worked well in terms of building the systems and bureaucracy to unite the PU for CHE and the UNW. It was present ed to the outside world – in particular to the education authorities - as a unitary multi-cam pus university. The word ‘federal’ was a pro fanity. The model has been at the receiving end of criticism. From the Minister of Educa tion to staff members have pointed out that the model prevents the NWU from develop ing a unified culture. Instead there is still a white (Afrikaans) Potch and a black (Setswa na) Mafikeng campus. Only the Vaal Triangle is a genuinely racially mixed campus. The model has not only been slated because it failed to integrate different campus cultures but it has academicallly undermined the per formance of the NWU, in particular at a post graduate level. If an expert in a subject area is on one campus you would want all your students to benefit from this knowledge. If the NWU could make changes towards a truly unitary research system it would strengthen the university and not only a particular campus. The council has been deeply divided over what kind of model the NWU should have in the next ten years. Those who oppose a change in the model are concerned, even fanatical, about the future of Afrikaans. In the process Kgwadi has become a target and has been publicly abused in extreme racial terms. The challenge the council faces is not to take decisions for only the here and now but to focus on future planning. These decisions are bound to be rooted in emotional politics of identity. But the council has to think ahead about the consequences if decisions are not taken for the sake of a strong future NWU. Ultimately Afrikaans will be the elephant in the room. The council will have to make a considered decision about the Potchefstroom campus which comes down to this: A stronger university, offering some of its lectures in Afrikaans (also through simultaneous inter preting) or an overwhelmingly Afrikaans campus which risks becoming an isolated and academically inferior institution.

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Three-legged chicken now three feet under Last week an employee at a poultry farm outside of Potchefstroom made quite a dis covery when he came across a three-legged chicken in one of the chicken houses. “In four decades of farming I have only seen this phe nomenon once,” said the farm owner about his unusual 16-week old Amberlink layer bird. NorthWest Independent consulted a vet who specialises in poultry, who said the third leg is caused by a genetic defect that could have been carried over by a built-in defect in the mother hen or from defective sperm. “This is not a common occurrence and 99% of the time this defect will result in death in the shell before hatching. Once in a blue moon the embryo will reach full development. I have only witnessed this twice in my career,” he said. Families who have felt a frisson of excite ment at this news, thinking that Sunday lunch fights over the drumstick may soon be ami cably solved, will be disappointed. “Chickens like this won’t live very long. Nature has a way of ensuring that the gene isn’t continued,” explained an expert who spoke to us from the Netherlands. His words were prophetic, because when

our reporter visited the chicken farm for a second time, we were greeted with the sad news of the three-legged hen’s, demise. “An agent from a Russian circus heard about her and offered her a lucrative contract,” says the farmer with a slightly confused look on his face. “I think the excitement was too much for her. After that the other hens became jealous and started picking on her.” One hen who preferred not to be named confirmed that three-legged chicken’s last days were not happy. “The chip on her shoul der became bigger and started resembling her third leg. She concocted a mad plan to escape inspired by the movie Chicken Run,” she chuckles. Driekie, as she insisted on being called, did manage to escape the chicken house, but when she tried to cross the busy farm road, she tripped over her third leg and was sadly run over by a tractor. “We had a small funeral and buried her three feet under the ground,” the farmer says. “On the up side we now have an answer to the question why the three-legged chicken crossed the road. But we still don’t know why other chickens would decide to cross the road.”

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Haar passie dryf Pienk Huis se soet sukses D ie eienaar van die Pienk Huis se hart likheid boul jou uit met die intrapslag. Net soos een van haar smullekker koeke jou onkant vang en onbeskaamd vir méér laat vra, kikker Jaqueline Marais se borrelende persoonlikheid jou summier op. Kort voor lank is jy net so opgewonde oor fyngebak. Dis ongelooflik om te dink dat die Pienk Huis nog nie eers twee jaar oop is nie, maar reeds ‘n instelling geword het in Potchef stroom. Jaqueline lyk self opreg oorbluf dat haar koffiewinkel in so ‘n kort tyd so ‘n gewilde kuierplek geword het. “Kry jou by die Pienk Huis,” is al amper ‘n standaard-uitdrukking in Potchefstroom. Met sy lieflike tuin en swembad het die Pienk Huis ‘n plek geword vir feesvier en luilekker samesyn. Studente maak ‘n punt daarvan om hul ouers na die Pienk Huis te bring wanneer hulle naweke kom kuier, vertel Jaqueline inge nome. Dis dié plek in Potch waar mense deesdae verjaarsdae of ander mylpale kom vier. Jaqueline se reputasie het tot gevolg dat daar volgende jaar in die tydskrif Leef ‘n uit gebreide Valentynsdag-artikel oor die Pienk Huis gaan wees – die filmspan het juis vroeër vandeesweek kom foto’s neem. Met ‘n breë glimlag wys Jaqueline na haar rondings as jy haar vra wat die geheim van haar sukses is. “Jy kan mos sien ek hou van lekker eet!” lag sy. “As jy nie self ‘n passie het vir lekkernye nie, kan jy mos nooit ander mense opgewonde maak daaroor nie!” Nadat die Pienk Huis drie maande gelede verskuif het na ‘n groter perseel in James Moroka-laan 97 gons dit van douvoordag tot sesuur saans wanneer hulle die deure toetrek. Die spyskaart het uitgebrei en mense kan nou afgesien van heerlike koeke en terte ook ontbyt en middagete geniet. Die Pienk Huis se spogfunksies het die tonge los en Jaqueline kry komplimente van heinde en ver vir haar dekadente skeppings en keurige onthale. Sy het geen formele opleiding as bakker nie, vertel Jaqueline. Sy het bloot haar stok perdjie in ‘n voltydse beroep omskep toe die gebak wat sy aanvanklik by die Life Market verkoop het soveel aftrek kry. Die naam Pienk Huis het ontstaan nadat besoekers sommer spontaan begin praat het van die “pienk huis” omdat die eerste huis pienk geverf was. “Ek vrek oor pienk, so ek het glad nie omgegee nie,” sê Jaqueline. Sy hoop om binnekort van die eienaar toestem ming te kry om die nuwe koffiewinkel, wat ‘n historiese gebou is, ook weer salmpienk te verf. Van ‘n aanvanklike personeel van twee staan Jaqueline nou aan die stuur van 15

Jaqueline Marais het in ‘n kort tyd die Pienk Huis omskep in Potch se gewildste kuierplek. Haar fyngebak trek nou ook landwyd aandag en binnekort gaan ‘n tweede Pienk Huis in Franschhoek in die Kaap open.

kelners en kombuispersoneel. Maar sy is ver sigtig om te vinnig uit te brei. “Ons kan meer stoele en tafels hier op die erf inpas, maar ek sal eerder vir 60 mense uitstekende diens lewer as wat ons 120 mense afskeep.” As jy nie kos met liefde kan voorberei nie, moet jy dit los, glo Jaqueline. “Ek dink nie ek sal ooit moeg raak vir my werk nie. Ek is lief vir mense en dis ‘n vreeslike kick as mense kom sê ‘sjoe, jou plek is mooi’ of ‘hierdie koek

is amazing’. Dit is vir my so lekker om te weet ander geniet ook wat ek geniet. As ek die dag pootuit is van werskaf in die kombuis, kom loop ek ‘n draai hier tussen die vrolike gaste in die tuin en besef opnuut DIS hoekom ek dit doen.” Al is sy ‘n bobaasbakker, is sy nie juis lief vir kook nie, bely Jaqueline. Dis hoekom sy haar pa betrek het, want hy geniet die voor berei van ontbyte, kaasborde en die maak van

disse soos lasagne en pasteie. Pa Dawid het ook ‘n piesangbrood toegevoeg tot die spys kaart en hy sorg vir tuisgemaakte gemmer bier, lemonade en ystee. Jaqueline is ver buite die grense van Potch bekend vir haar ongelooflike rooi fluweelkoek, maar haar eie gunsteling is die lemon meringue. “Oe, dis hemels!” sug sy. “En ek hou van gróót snye. Go big or go home!” skater sy behaaglik.

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m verf te verkoop is nie vir Louwrens Snyman en sy ma, Gerda du Preez, die alfa en die omega nie. Dié familiebe sigheid, Wohnen verwe, wat vanjaar hulle 25ste jaar in die bedryf vier, verkoop ‘n hele diens saam met die verf. Louwrens vertel dat sy ma en pa 25 jaar gelede die familie-onderneming op die Bult in Potchefstroom begin het. Daar was destyds nie veel verfwinkels wat kliënte ook advies oor tegniese aspekte rondom verf en kleur skakerings kon gee nie – sy ouers het hierop gefokus. Twee verhuisings na nuwe persele later, het die besigheid in 2002 ingetrek in hulle eie perseel waar die winkel tans steeds is. Louwrens vertel dat die eerste besendig verf ‘n reuse-vraghouer by die Bultwinkel aangekom het. Toe die vraghouer oopgemaak is, het hulle besef verskeie blikke verf het oopgegaan en omgeval. Die verf het by die vraghouer uitgeloop, die straat af. Wohnen het sy naam ontleen aan ‘n Duitse leefstyl-tydskrif wat letterlik “blyplek” beteken. Jy kry daardie warm gevoel van tuiskom in jou eie plekkie wanneer jy die winkel binnekom en die vriendelike personeel jou onmiddellik met raad en daad bystaan. Gerda, al vér verby die sogenaamde aftree datum vir vroue, is nog elke dag in die winkel en doen letterlik alles, soos Louwrens trots sê. “Van boeke doen, bestellings, administra siewerk, help met kliënte en sy kan selfs verf! Sy is ‘n ekspert met kleur en dekoratiewe verftegnieke is haar kos.” Sy is veral lief om verftegnieke op meubels te doen en haar huis staan vol dekoratiewe

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T Wohnen se verjaardagpartytjie is ondersteun deur OFM se span in hul “Hitmobiel”. Besoekers kon lekker kuier en ontspan saam met die stalletjie-eienaars.

stukke wat sy self aangepak het. Louwrens sê: “Dis ‘n absolute voorreg om saam met my ma te werk. Natuurlik sit ons vas, maar nooit vir lank nie.” Sy beste raad vir enige iemand wat in ‘n familiebesigheid werk is: “Hê respek vir mekaar, wees lief vir mekaar, glo in mekaar en sorg dat jy ‘n baie kort geheue het!” Louwrens en sy ma is egter nie die enigste familiebande in dié winkel nie. Louwrens se vrou, Alet, help met die boeke en ‘n boetie en sussiekombinasie werk ook al meer as agt jaar vir die winkel! Boonop is die meeste ander werknemers al jare by die winkel en almal is al soos familie. Anna Kgosane, wat al amper 20 jaar vir die besigheid werk het begin as skoonmaker maar

kan nou enige iets doen, voorraad dophou en slim raad aan kliënte is maar net deel van haar daaglikse take. Wohnen is ook bekend vir hulle betrokken heid by die gemeenskap, veral deur borg skappe aan skole en ander behoeftige orga nisasies. Dit is hulle manier van dankie sê aan die gemeenskap vir die ongelooflike onder steuning wat hulle deur die jare van Potchef stromers ontvang het. Wohnen het hulle 25ste jaar vroeg in No vember gevier deur gratis stalletjies rondom hul winkel beskikbaar te stel aan lede van die gemeenskap wat hulle hand- en kunswerke te koop kon aanbied. Dit was ‘n wonderlike dag en die lekkerste manier om verjaardag te vier: Nooi sommer die hele Potchefstroom.

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he demands of keeping a job, raising children and running a home are driving more working moms in SA to the brink of a nervous breakdown according to a just-re leased poll by a leading pharmaceutical firm specialising in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Wilmi Hudsonberg, spokesperson of Pharma Dynamics said the company conduc ted the survey to determine the extent to which additional burdens, such as career demands have on the mental well-being of working mothers in the country. “Being a mother is the hardest job you can have, but being a working mother, particu larly in today’s society, is that much harder. Between the stresses of work, traffic, job ad vancement and motherhood – keeping a house, preparing meals, taking care of children and sometimes elderly parents too – there is often no reserve left for mothers on the job,” she says. Pharma Dynamics’ survey, which polled 900 working moms in the country between the ages of 25 and 55 found that 38 % are frequently stretched to breaking point with many spending up to 80 hours a week on work and home responsibilities. Sixty percent have to regularly catch up on work at night or on weekends. While more than half of working moms (55%) indicated that their employers offered at least one family-friendly perk, such as flex ible scheduling, they said the following would make their lives significantly easier as a working parent. • An employer that focuses on being more output-based than having you sit behind a desk for eight hours (51 %) • Working from home on some days, which means you gain hours by not having to commute to and from work (40 %) • Better part-time or half day work oppor tunities (40 %) • More help with household chores (37 %) • More help with children (24 %) Hudsonberg points out that most jobs are made for people who have no caregiving re sponsibilities, which inevitably means that working moms do most of the accommodat ing. With the impossible schedules modern mothers manage, something inevitably has to give and the price they pay is often their health. Since becoming a working mom, most re spondents said they suffer from at least one health problem. Among these include head aches (56 %), chronic fatigue (47 %), unhealthy weight-loss or gain (47 %), anxiety (45 %), insomnia (34 %), being more prone to colds and flu (33 %) and depression (31 %). High ongoing stress levels have been linked to mental illness such as depression and anxiety and can also lead to substance abuse or becoming suicidal, which is what the pre vention-minded pharmaceutical wants to curb.

Medicross Potchefstroom c/o Peter Mokaba & James Maroka 018 297 0785

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Your God, my gods - and several in between... ¢¢ PAIGE TURNER

hatsapp has changed our commu nication habits. Chatting to friends and small groups of people has never been easier, nor as effective. One of the most important uses for the app, is that it has enabled communities to up their security, by establishing common groups who remain in constant touch with one another. Especially in farming communities, this has proved extremely useful: who knows how many lives have been saved because locals can circulate information and photographs of suspicious activity? Sadly, not everybody is social media savvy. Give them a mouthpiece and they’ll mouth off their piece ad infinitum, however inap propriate. And Jesus can sometimes be inap propriate. When you’re part of a group because you expect it to alert you to power cuts, farm attacks, theft and accidents, it is beyond dis concerting when the communication chain begins to resemble a prayer circle: on several levels. A friend tells me that he no longer

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wakes up with adrenaline pumping and senses alert when his Whatsapp notification sounds because he knows that the chances are now 5 to 1 that it won’t be a neighbour hood alarm: rather a morning prayer if it comes through at 5am, a ‘Thank-You-GodFor-The-Rain-You-Will-Send-This-Afternoon, at midday; and a ‘Lets pray harder tomorrow because we are clearly still sinning’ call, when said rain is not yet a droplet in the strato sphere, before he turns off the bedside light. “What’s wrong with spreading Christian good?” you ask. Apart from the reason above, said good or well-wishing becomes partisan and prescriptive. On two local Whatsapp groups this week, calls for prayer have been circulating WITH a script and performance instructions – “read this aloud NOW, what ever you are doing”. I guess they didn’t expect me to be using my phone on the toilet; (it seemed somewhat disrespectful to send mis sives to the Lord accompanied by inappro

priate sound effects). In the light of the Paris attacks, the ongoing ‘pogrums’ in Syria, Iraq, Israel, Nigeria…one would be wise to re-consider the evangelism that insists that only prayers to a single faith’s god, will be effective. One group issued a plea last week to pray harder in order to negate the ‘heathen’ effects of a sangoma association which was planning a rain dance that week. Perhaps the thought of a deity, other than the one found in their particular urban facebrick church, was too much to contemplate. Or perhaps it was the fear of opening their minds to the possibility that a world outside the narrow crevice of their chosen belief, exists? If it weren’t so tragic, I might have laughed. I’m certainly smiling about the fact that it is currently bucketing down in Johannesburg, where the sangoma event took place. A local farmer showed me a group where two particular members were vocal to the point of haranguing, about their Christianity.

“Post something from another belief system”, I egged. We found a meme with a rain blessing from the Buddha. Beautiful words and deeply meaningful. The reaction was instant and vitriolic, laced with inferences of pending satanic disaster based on deep-rooted fear. ‘How dare anyone have alternate beliefs?’ was the implication The administrator in charge quickly nipped a potential apocalypse in the bud, while privately messaging thanks for having awoken the community to the need to be less ‘preachy’ and a lot more focused on the actual purpose of the group. Human nature being what it is, I can only assume that we all need to tap into the Divine inside and outside of ourselves with varying frequency: either through prayer, quiet con templation, meditation, singing, dancing or meaningful action. The power of communal will and desire can never be underestimated. But while we are doing it, let’s step aside and make space for those who invoke that good, in different ways from ourselves. And why not bless them while they’re at it? Jesus may well smile.

Bly tuis en gebruik jou muis met Bestelnet D anksy die voorsienigheid van ‘n paar slim sakemanne sal Potchefstromers nou nie meer nodig hê om kar toe te sukkel met sakke vol vervelige kruideniers ware wat jy elke maand moet koop nie. Weg is die gestoei met groot sakke hondekos, toi letpapier, suiker, meel en blikkieskos. Jy kan jou kosbare tyd gebruik vir die waarlik interes sante inkopies. Potch het nou sy eie aanlyn kruideniers aankoopdiens: www.bestelnet.co.za. Boonop is die aflewering in Potchefstroom dorps gebied absoluut gratis. Jy hoef dus ook nie meer te sukkel met parkering naby ‘n winkel nie. Aankope moet ‘n minimum van R300 vir dié gratis diens wees. “Gerieflik, goedkoper en gratis aflewer,” is die wagwoorde met die diens wat hule wil lewer, sê Jan Weideman, die meesterbrein

agter dié slim manier van koop. “Ons het besef die diens is eintlik net beskikbaar in groot dorpe en stede waar kettingwinkels goed gerat is om hierdie diens aan te bied. Met navorsing wat ons toe self in Potchef stroom gedoen het, het ons agtergekom dat daar wel ‘n groot behoefte vir so diens bestaan. Ons het dus ons sake in plek gekry en almal wat daarna uitgesien het, kan nou met die kliek van hulle muis inkopies doen. “Behalwe dat dit so gerieflik gaan wees, sal jou mandjie aankope baie goedkoper wees as wat jy dit by ‘n gewone supermark sal kry,” belowe Jan voorts. “Ons sal nie noodwendig meeding met die spesiale aanbiedings wat supermarkte soms het nie, maar jou totale aankope sal verseker heelwat goedkoper wees as by enige ander supermark.” Die rede hier voor is dat Bestelnet nie duur winkelruimte

het nie en ook nie soos gewone supermarkte by een verskaffer hoef aankope te maak nie. Hulle kan by enige verskaffers koop wat die goedkoopste produkte op ‘n spesifieke tyd bied. Die proses om te bestel is baie eenvoudig. Jy registreer, besluit wat jy wil koop, boek jou mandjie inkope aanlyn uit, betaal en twee dae later word dit by jou afgelewer. Jy moet slegs voor 11:00 op ‘n spesifieke dag bestel om jou inkopies twee dae later te ontvang. Boonop sal daar 24 uur iemand aanlyn beskikbaar wees om jou te help indien jy gedurende die proses met iets vasbrand. Nog is dit die einde nie. Indien jy groot aankope moet doen vir ‘n partytjie of ‘n gaste huis of hotel het, sal jy kan baat by die groot maataankoopafdeling (“wholesale”) wat ook deel uitmaak van Bestelnet.

Boonop sal Bestelnet ook gereeld spesiale aanbiedings hê en getroue ondersteuners sal geskenkbewyse kry om hul aankope nóg goedkoper te maak. In die stadium word nie-bederfbare produkte aangebied, maar Bestelnet voorsien dat bederfbare produkte en ook skryfbehoeftes binnekort bygevoeg sal word. Jan is ‘n bekende in krieket- en rugbykringe in Potchefstroom. Hy is ‘n voormalige onder wyser en reeds verskeie jare bedrywig as sakeman. Sy vennoot is Oubaas Oosthuizen, ‘n prokureur van Groblersdal, wat drie jaar gelede Potchefstroom toe getrek het. Hulle doen jare reeds saam besigheid en is baie opgewonde oor hulle nuwe onderneming. Hoekom wag? Trek daai muis nader en bly net daar in jou bed. Jou inkopies is op pad!

Department of Finance Invitation to Bid Bids are hereby invited for: Bid Number

Bid Description

Bid Document Amount

NWP 178/15

Transversal Contract: Personnel recruitment and bid advertising for the North West Government for a period of two years

R200.00 per document (nonrefundable)

NWP905/15

Transversal contract for the supply and delivery of paper towels, serviettes, disposal diapers and incontinence pads (hospital utilities) to North West Government for a period of 2 years

R200.00 per document (nonrefundable)

NWP906/15

Supply and delivery of toilet paper R200.00 per document (nonand lockable stainless steel dispensers refundable) to the North West Provincial Government for a period of 2 years

Compulsory Briefing Session 25 November 2015 at 09:00 at the Department of Finance, Provincial Supply Chain Management Office, 1st Floor, Sedibeng Building, University Drive, Mmabatho 25 November 2015 at 10:30 at the Department of Finance, Provincial Supply Chain Management Office, 1st Floor, Sedibeng Building, University Drive, Mmabatho 26 November 2015 at 09:00 at the Department of Finance, Provincial Supply Chain Management Office, 1st Floor, Sedibeng Building, University Drive, Mmabatho

Closing Date 10 December 2015 at 11:00

11 December 2015 at 11:00

JIM GOLD COIN AND DIAMOND EXCHANGE WE BUY DOLLARS, POUNDS AND EURO. WE PAY ACCORDING TO THE EXCHANGE RATES.

14 December 2015 at 11:00

WE PAY CASH FOR ANY ITEM IN GOLD (EVEN IF DAMAGED OR BROKEN)

Enquiries: Ms PP Gwamanda, tel;. (018) 388-4676 or Mr GJ Tong, tel. (018) 388-4223 Additional Information Bid documents can be collected as from 16 November 2015 at Provincial Supply Chain Management, 1st Floor, Sedibeng Water Building, University Drive, Mmabatho and on www.etenders.gov.za Prospective bidders are encouraged to buy bid documents before the compulsory briefing session in order to prepare questions and/or comments for the briefing day. All documents accompanying this invitation to bid must be completed in detail, signed and sealed in an envelope clearly marked with the bid number as reference, be addressed to Provincial Supply Chain Management, Sedibeng Water Building, University Drive, Mmabatho and placed in the bid box situated at the main entrance of the Sedibeng Water Building, University Drive, Mmabatho before the closing date and time. Faxed, e-mailed or late bids will not be accepted. The North West Provincial Government does not bind itself to award the bid as a whole or in part.

OPEN Monday - Friday - 08:00am - 6:00pm Saturdays - 8:30am - 3:00pm Shop next to Correctional Service Opposite Inspectacar Motors James Moroka Street, Potchefstroom

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Vir Span inskrywings kontak Lizandre SMS: 074 329 2819 |Email: lizandre@gmail.com

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Potchefstromers word uitgenooi na ‘n krieket naweek soos min! Dit word op 5 en 6 Desem ber gehou op Boys High se velde en die hele gesin is welkom. Dit word genoem “Six on a Side” en is ‘n sosiale kriekettoernooi. Vrouespanne is ook welkom en die organiseerders hoop dat juis vrouespanne in groot getalle sal inskryf. Almal word uitgenooi om hul braaivleis of piekniekmandjie te pak en die geleentheid as ‘n familiedag te kom deurbring. Vir meer inligting kontak Christo 079 494 5015.

Little fighter shines F

ranco van Niekerk (10) competed at the World Kickboxing Association’s Unified World Championships that took place earlier this month in Benidorm, Spain. This is Franco’s second time com peting at this prestigious competition – he also attended the 2013 championships in Italy. This year he formed part of the South African Kickboxing Association’s 14fighter team. Franco competed in three fighting-style events: Semi Contact Point Fighting, Light Contact – Continuous Fighting and Low Kick. Franco did South Africa proud and placed second in all three his fights. Franco, a pupil of Mooirivier Laerskool, started kickboxing when he was in Grade 1. He follows an intensive training program along with a strict diet in order to maintain the correct weight. He cur rently trains with the Warrior Sports Club under the leadership of coach Stefan Brown and is already excited for the next championships. “This sport is my life. I won’t give it up for anything,” says young Franco van Niekerk won three silver medals at the 2015 Kickboxing World Championships. Franco.

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