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Residents express a willingness to vote As we draw closer to the polls, Bulletin took to the streets to see how willing Greater Tzaneen/Mopani is to vote for the national government on Wednesday. In a random approach, we asked residents two questions:
• Are you going to vote on 7 May? • Why? compiled by
Joy Mojela
joy@bulletin.us.com &
Arnold Mabunda
arnold@bulletin.us.com
Tlangelani Ngobeni (25) Definitely. I am surely going to make my cross and make it red.
Rachel Nkuna (35) Yes. The government is looking after us and providing for our children with social grants.
Lilly Mongwe (25) Truly, I will vote. I am tired of the ruling party. I need to make my cross and vote for change.
MJ Du Preez (29) Yes. Why not? One has to vote for change. Johannes Rababalale (33) Yep. I’m supposed to. It’s voting season.
Ngwako Malatji (40) Yes. Although it’s had its failures, the government’s achieved a lot of things since democracy. Road maintenance, no fees schools and the school feeding scheme are some of the things we currently enjoy. If we give them another chance, I believe they can do more.
Sarel Dutoit (29) Not at all. I didn’t register. All the parties seem to be saying the same thing. I’d struggle to choose a favourite.
David Poley (44) Yes. I’m hoping for a new government that will serve the people and the country.
Jeanette Nolte (55) Yes. I will vote for my party.
@laeveldbulletin
Citrus growers on edge over possible export ban Citrus growers in the Lowveld as well as the rest of South Africa are still holding their breath on the European Union’s attitude towards a possible ban on citrus exports due to the black spot (CBS) issue. They,however, believe in a positive outcome eventually. Last year a ban was placed on SA citrus to the EU due to 35 interventions of black spot, after an earlier ruling that only five interventions would be allowed. News about the EU’s decision on the matter was expected yesterday after a meeting by the European Commission, where a standing committee on plant health was expected to announce a decisive answer. The commission decided to postpone it’s findings because of need for members to spend more time on the issue. However, the Citrus Growers’ Association (CRA), indicated that, together with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, local growers had over the past year worked tirelessly to prevent citrus black spot in their orchards. Other measures were also taken and explained to the EU and its members, who reacted positively. Mr Deon Joubert, special envoy on market access and EU matters at the CGA, denied earlier reports that the ban was to be lifted on local citrus. He said the ban at the end
of last year’s season, because of 35 infected shipments, was “only symbolic and not practical”. This year’s discussions were on what set of rules SA would adopt for its exports. Joubert had also canvassed the preventative measures with Spanish growers and their department of agriculture. “They seemed to be impressed that it was scientifically sound and practical.” Mr Justin Chadwick, CEO of the CGA, said earlier more growers were able to withdraw produce from suspected orchards destined for the EU. “To date this year over 1 100 orchards had been withdrawn as a proactive step to reducing the likelihood of interceptions, compared to 102 orchards last year.” South Africa is one of the largest exporters of citrus to Europe and the United Kingdom, with an income of R4 billion. Citrus black spot is only present in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, while the producing areas in the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Province are not affected. *Bulletin attempted to reach Mr Pieter Vorster, the chairman of AgriLetaba, on Wednesday and Thursday to get AgriLetaba’s views on the matter. He was unfortunately not available for comment at the time.
Lim to take tough stance on Sadtu’s ‘sale’ of jobs
Anney Letsoalo (31) Nope, I won’t vote. I have my personal reasons, which I don’t think I want to disclose to anyone at the moment.
Piet Mkhari (34) Yes. For change, employment opportunities. Voting is power.
Ntsako Makhubela (34) Yes. It’s my responsibility to vote for the people I want to govern my country. Voting is my voice to speak for change.
Chantel Fourie (31) Indeed. I will exercise my right to vote.
uc d an prod r e gn ed esi prov d e ap siv SABS n te • Ex anges tr uc d o r
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Armand Nell (30) Of course. It’s my right, my country.
R4
Citrus ban
Bulletin
Limpopo’s Department of Education is ready to take actions against any official who would be found to have participated in a cash-for-jobs scheme by members of the SA Democratic Teachers Union. This follows last week’s alarming reports that teachers who wanted to get promoted to principals and deputy principals would have to pay R30 000. According to Limpopo Education Department spokesman, Mr Pitsi Maloba, the department is taking this matter very seriously and has launched an intensive investigation into the fraudulent and corrupt practice. He said they would be working closely with law enforcement agencies like the Police, Hawks and Special Investigation Unit (SIU). “Those found to have been involved in this scam would be brought to book,” Maloba said. He confirmed that ten posts of circuit managers, for which the shortlisting had been finalised and the recommendations
have been handed over to the department, have been blocked. Maloba explained that the MEC and the acting head of the department would not consider the list, because it seems that there were a number of discrepancies in the selections. “We would not consider the list which we received from the districts for the positions of the circuit managers. as we would like to apply a fair process,” he said. According to a well-placed source in the Mopani District, there are three circuit managers (whose names are known to the Bulletin) who have been doing this for years. The three allegedly make the schools ungovernable, while dissatisfied teachers embarked on a go-slow to express their concerns. One teacher who even struggled to get appointed to a junior post as a teacher said she took a long time to get a job, as she did not agree to paying a bribe to a certain circuit manager. — Michael Sakuneka michael@bulletin.us.com
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