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Fear lessl y the tr uth 1 April 2016
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A major breakthrough in the development of the Koi fish industry in South Africa, generating millions of rands, will be spearheaded by the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (via GTEDA, the GTM’s development arm). The colourful Koi (Cyprynis carpio) will be produced on a large scale by a few selected local authorities in Limpopo and exported to Brazil and European countries, earning much needed foreign exchange for their treasuries. The current world market price is US$1 000 (more or less R14 500) for a Koi of 30 cm. The Koi is a karp and can reach the age of a hundred years. When commercially bred, the life span is between 20 and 35 years.
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Rural ares:FREE • Platteland: GRATIS
Tzaneen goes fishing • More details regarding the use of the municipal swimming bath for the new venture on page 6 Tzaneen was selected as the first of three municipalities in Limpopo, initiated by a consortium of German businessmen, to launch the international project in SA, due to our weather conditions. Confidential negotiations between the GTM’s parks division and the SA Koi Keepers Society (SAKKS) in Gauteng is well under way regarding the regulations and desired species for Koi farming, while at least two Koi specialists from Nishikigoi in Japan will be contracted to run the operation.
This opportunity came as a lifebuoy for the GTM to recover the R17 million expenditure wasted on the new unattended swimming bath, which will be used in the initial phase of the project. Researchers established that the size and depth of the bath will be ideal for the Koi venture. Full details of the development will be announced on 25 May during the National Koi Show, to be held at Val Bonne Country Estate in the Modderfontein Nature Reserve.
Metal Man saves a life
A Tzaneen man, affectionately known as “Koos Scrap” or “Sterk Kosie”, may very well have saved the life of a stranger on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred in the parking lot outside Adam’s Cafe’s outlet in the Old Industrial area in Tzaneen. According to witnesses, a courier vehicle stopped outside the café at around 16:30. When the driver exited the vehicle, he suddenly collapsed and hit his head on the tarmac. Koos van Niekerk, who was in the parking lot at the time, saw what happened and immediately rushed to his aid. “There was so much blood,” said Mina Kruger, Adam’s Café manager. “We know the driver very well as he is a regular here at our store. Such a friendly man too. We were horrified to see him like that and so we shouted for help. Koos happened to be in the shop at the time and he immediately rushed over to the man, picked him up and carried him onto the sidewalk in front of our store.” Van Niekerk held the man on his side so as to prevent him from chocking on his own blood, all the while shouting for someone to bring him water. “He was so gentle and calm with the man, and the whole time he held his head in his arms and poured water over
Hero of the day. Koos van Niekerk and his partner, Gerda, pose with their iconic motorbike.
his wound. He wiped the man’s face with a damp cloth and made sure he was comfortable until the paramedics arrived. “The rest of us, including myself, were panicking at the sight of all the blood, but Koos took control over the situation.” Kruger said
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Nog ‘n deurbraak by MediClinic Tzaneen
that she particularly remembers him applying pressure to the man’s chest because he said that he could no longer feel a heartbeat. Paramedics were soon on the scene, but Van Niekerk remained at the patient’s side until he was loaded into the ambulance.
“He is such a gentle soul and now, he appears to be a lifesaver too.” The following day, after the incident, Van Niekerk returned to Adam’s Café to find out how the man he had helped, was doing. Van Niekerk and his partner, Gerda, are well known in Tzaneen. Locals talk of the strong man who walks the streets with his engine-less motorbike, collecting scrap metal all over town and transporting it to scrap metal dealers in the industrial area. He doesn’t really talk to passersby and appears to live happily in the life that he has chosen. “I was just in the right place at the right time, and when I saw the man fall down and hurt himself, I couldn’t just stand there and let him bleed in the street,” said Van Niekerk. “The man needed help and I was nearest to him so I picked him up and helped as best I could. I just hope he is alright now.” It is not clear which hospital the man was transported to and at the time of going to print it was unclear whether the man had suffered a heart attack or an epileptic fit. The company he is employed by could not be reached for comment. — Joe Dreyer joe@bulltin.us.com
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Deep shock after traffic officer’s untimely death