Maritzburg fever 1 oct 2014 by Maritzburg Fever

www.pmbfever.co.za

@maritzburgfever

Maritzburg Fever

YOUR AWARD WINNING LOCAL PIETERMARITZBURG NEWSPAPER

maritzburg

NISSAN NP200 1.6 8V Base R134 600 FEATURES INCLUDE:

• Power Steering • 15” Rims • 800kg Pay Load

6 year/ 150 000kms Warranty ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT | ALL PRICES EXCLUDE LICENCE, REGISTRATION AND DELIVERY

• Free Canopy • Free Bin Liner • Free CD Playerr

CMH DATCENTRE PMB

7 Armitage Rd, Bird Sanctuary www.datcentremaritzburg.co.za

TEL: 033 897 7400

FEVER Tel: 033 355 1111

FREE

October 1, 2014

ASH Bikes EXOTICS Wanted Urgently

Top Prices Paid For All New Model Bikes

Contact Ash 534 Church Street Pietermaritzburg 083 786 3377 Tel: 033 345 1971, 033 342 4717 www.ashcarsales.co.za

A steady flow of filth PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Shocking pollution found on the banks of the Duzi river.

A discarded pram and a dead goat.

>> Academics, ecologists find tons of rubbish dumped in Duzi River KHANYISANI DLOMO

SED condoms, dirty water-logged nappies, dead animals, an array of litter and other assorted objects are among the flotsam flowing down the Msunduzi River at Pietermaritzburg on any given day. Ahead of the World Rivers Day last Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal academics and river ecologists paddled over three kilometres through tons of rubbish dumped in the river from the LowLevel Bridge to Darvill Sewage Farm to assess the river last week. The river and its tributaries run through many areas that pollute it. Waste from industrial companies, sewage from informal settlements near the river and dumping from other areas are the main causes of the shocking levels of pollution. Plastic, scrapped cars, a discarded pram, light bulbs, plastic toilets and households appliances that have been dumped in the river are choking the water flow. Industries produce oil and chemical waste which are harmful to flora and organisms. In some cases heavy metals such as copper and mercury are added to the toxic mix in the river. The Dorpspruit, which runs through Jika Joe informal settlement, the Slangspruit above the Duzi River confluence, and Baynespruit, which runs through Sobantu Township, are the worst affected. Health concerns have been raised as communities use the filthy water in their households, cattle drink it and fishermen cast their lines among the tons of waste. Environmental field manager at Duzi-uMngeni Conservation Trust (Duct), Bart Fokkens, said the situation is indicative of communities having no respect for the environment. “The river is polluted horrendously. People lack respect for the law and the environment,” said Fokkens. “This is a matter of education and people need to take the responsibility to keep rivers clean.” He said it is also important to bear in mind that citizens bear a responsibility and cannot rely on the government to address this.

Dave Macleod of Gameplan Media said, “People’s perspective is that the river is clean, but in reality it’s horrific. Everyone should have enough pride that no litter lands in the river. Pietermaritzburg is choking to death because communities don’t take responsibility,” Macleod said. “We use this river in summer for canoeing. The Dusi Marathon happens during the rainy season so often there is more pollution being washed into the river. “The race was moved from January to February because there is too much rain [in January],withpollutionandsewagespillinginto the river.” Macleod slammed the municipality for not taking responsibility. “There is a dump next to the river and there is no proper plan to manage it.” UKZN environmental and pollution control laws Professor Michael Kidd said people mustchangethewaytheydispose of waste. “The quality of water is totally bad,” said Kidd. “People either are not aware that what they are doing is wrong or, more likely, people just don’t care … The problem with the water for human use is the pollution one doesn’t see - the pathogens in the water.” He said the municipality needs to keep its area clean, prevent or punish people littering and service those residential areas (formal and informal) near the rivers. The national Department of Water Affairs is doing very little to address this kind of problem, said Kidd. Msunduzi Municipality pollution control coordinator Clive Anthony said environmental health could carry out health education in the areas where the problems occur and disinfect the areas. “It is also important to establish where the waste was found and whether it was dumped into the water course or near a water course; also where the possible sources of the waste could be from. “If we cannot identify the culprits, then the security sub-unit and other peace officers [must] monitor the areas concerned.”

THE RIVER IS POLLUTED HORRENDOUSLY. PEOPLE LACK RESPECT FOR THE LAW AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Litter pollutes the Msunduzi River.

NEWS

The Publicity House has a fresh face

October 1, 2014

maritzburg

FEVER

Jika Joe shack dwellers finally get houses PHOTO:NQOBILE MTOLO

Last week some Jika Joe residents were offered accommodation in the newly built temporary housing structures. Pictured are (back) Zinhle (left), Khululiwe, (front, left) Nomzamo (7) and Nkanyiso Mchunu (3).

NQOBILE MTOLO

>>nqobile@pmbfever.co.za

BY Monday afternoon, Jika Joe residents who had moved into their new, temporary accommodation last week Thursday felt more at home. With their laundry sun-kissed and wind-blown by their new premises, sisters Zinhle and Khululiwe Mchunu are thrilled that there has been a light at the end of the tunnel. They are both grateful that they have found a place they can call home after enduring rain and chilly weather conditions at the temporary tents provided by the uMgungundlovu Municipality after their shacks were burnt down. Both sisters suffered a blow when their shacks were engulfed by fire about six months ago. At the time, their only form of accommodation was the municipal tents. However, Khululiwe preferred to rent a homebecauseoneofherchildrenhasTB.Ontheother hand, Zinhle did not like her stay in her tent. “When my shack was burnt in the middle of the night, all of my clothing was burnt and so were my other personal belongings, including my ID. I was only left with pajamas which I was wearing that night. I havesincereliedonhandoutsfromotherpeople,”said Zinhle. She said that staying in the tent was a nightmare. “On rainy days our clothing and blankets would get soaked and we would have flu for weeks,” said Zinhle. Currently, Jika Joe fire victims are being accommo-

dated in municipal tents at the Tatham Sports Ground. At the recent Executive Committee (Exco) meeting,actingmunicipalmanagerMosaMolaposaidthat all applicants who have passed the assessment for temporary housing in Jika Joe will be declared as indigent, and council would waiver the tariff application fees in respect to water and sanitation for the residents. Deputymunicipalmanagerforeconomicdevelopment Dr Ray Ngcobo said, “We are trying to pull people into the system because there is a lot of service theft such as water and electricity. Getting them into the system will allow us to stop wastage. There is a project which will be run by the CFO to try and get more people onto our indigent list because the numbers currently may seem to be low. That process is still underway,” said Ngcobo. Jika Joe community leader Thembinkosi Magagula said that the people who have been accommodated in the temporary houses are happy with their new homes. However, Magagula urged for construction of the other structures to go faster so that those who are still staying in the tents can be accommodated as well. “Asitwasrainingovertheweekend,thetentswere flooded. When it is hot a lot of those who stay in these tents are forced to sleep outside their tents because of the heat. We are a bit worried when it comes to the pace of the construction because more people continue to suffer in this respect,” he said.

PHOTO: NQOBILE MTOLO

The historic Publicity House building at the corner of Chief Albert Luthuli (Commercial) Street and Langalibalele (Longmarket) Street is currently being renovated. Illegal advertising has been scrapped off the building walls along Langalibalele Street and the front of the building has been freshly painted. The front of the building has ben paved with red bricks to compliment the red-brick paved part of Chief Albert Luthuli street. Publicity House was constructed in the 1800s and currently accommodates the Msunduzi Pietermaritzburg Tourism Association offices.

Let’s go swimming

Natal Co-operative Timbers responds

City swimming pools ready for the upcoming summer months.

NQOBILE MTOLO

NICOLE JOHN

>>nqobile@pmbfever.co.za

THE company which manages the Msunduzi Municipality forest, which is located on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg, Natal Co-operative Timbers (NCT), has come out to say that there has been a vast improvement on the management of the forest operations. NCT was responding to last week Wednesday’s Maritzburg Fever article “Municipal forest faces theft of timber”. The article highlighted some of the challenges on site which include wood theft and access control. NCT’s general manager, Jacob Kotze, said that the company has implemented various strategies to deal with timber stock in order to curb theft. Some of these procedures include updated data,

conducting depot stock-taking, weighing timber trucks and dying the logs green for timber identification. “Municipal security, as well as a private security company, patrol areas that are vulnerable to timber theft NCT has erected notice boards at main access points. However to completely restrict entrance at all points is costly and impractical,” stated Kotze. Since the Msunduzi forest came under NCT management in 1998, the plantation has been able togenerateacumulativeprofitofR15.7million,stated Kotze. He said that this excludes timber revaluation. “The 2013/14 financial year reflects a profit of R1.67 million which is R4.46 million including timber revaluation.TheMsunduziplantationissubjecttoannual external audits,” he stated.

Visit us for all your Packaging Requirements Plastics Foam Trays Packets for • No 60 Chicken Small square and Meat • No 70 Now Regular long available in

• 6 x10 Flat bag Zipper Seal Bags • Kitchen Foil • 7 x12 • Plastic Cling Wrap bag • Baking Paper • Cake Boxes • Flat 9 x12 Cake board, Etc. • Assorted Sizes Flat bag Shop 4, 15 Thomas Street, • 25 x 38 Pietermaritzburg 3201 Butcher Bags

E&OE

Tel: 033 345 5535 Fax: 086 531 2182 Email:shirazdist@telkomsa.net

• Bread Bag on roll • Black Heavy-Duty Plastic Bin Bags

• No 71 Butcher tray • No 34 Rectangular large • No 79 Square large • No 48 and 50 Pizza tray Ideal for packaging Meat and Chicken pieces, pies, sausages, cakes, etc.

Butcher Knife

• Long Handle • Good Quality

R25,00 each Cleaver / Chopper

R22,00 each Fixwell Knives Now in Stock

Valid from 1 - 30 October 2014 or while stocks last

>>nicole@pmbfever.co.za

T has been a month since swimming season started and the municipal pools opened, and with the holidays coming up, pools will be packed with scholars. Thobeka Mafumbatha, Msunduzi Municipality spokesperson, said that all six swimming pools - Sobantu, Eastwood, Woodlands, Olympic, Alexandra and Buchannan - are operational and functional. “All swimming pools have life guards and additional relief life guards were employed,” she said. However according to Jay Jugwanth, chairman of the Concerned Swimming Fraternity (CSF), although all pools are open, the physical condition of the facilities is inexcusable stating that this is a perennial problem. Jugwanth explained that in October 2013, CSF assisted the Parks and Recreation Department by giving them a detailed list of all the areas of concern that needed repairs or replacement and a list of repairs is sent to the swimming pool manager at the end of each season. Unwar Rawat, another member of CSF and a swimming veteran based at the Olympic swimmingpool,saidthatithasbecomedifficult to get information on all the swimming pools. “They are all open but safety needs to be addressed. Open and functional yes in that

PHOTO:NICOLE JOHN

patrons are allowed in regardless of safety,” he said. Mafumbatha, in her response to the MaritzburgFever,didnotcommentonwhether the pools had or had not been renovated or repaired over the winter months, but confirmed that the pools were functional and open to the public. Two of the busier pools were closed a few weeks ago for repairs to be conducted. Rawat said that he was not sure of other facilities but cleaning of the area, washing of the pool and servicing the filters was undertaken during the winter months. “I believe that had repairs been undertaken at the pools, none would have been closed. The valve repair or replacement at Olympic [swimmingpool]shouldhavebeendoneduring winter and this would have avoided the facility being closed for the day,” said Rawat. Both Rawat and Jugwanth stated that as far as the CSF was concerned, most lifeguards redidtheBronzeTestandpassed,withonlyone failure from Sobantu Swimming Pool. “LifeguardsfromWoodlandsandBuchanan opted not to do the test, so together with the guy that failed three remain unqualified,” said Rawat. Members of the CSF raised the yearly concern of lifeguards obtaining the necessary qualifications to be holding these positions at the schools. Inresponse, Mafum-batha said that there have been lifeguards deployed to the six operational pools. “All swimming pools have lifeguardsandadditional relief lifeguards were also employed,” she said. When asked if the lifeguards had the necessary-to-date qualifications, she confirmed that all had the documentation.

Copper thieves target residential areas

October 1, 2014

maritzburg

FEVER

72 informal settlements in Msunduzi area

>> From 23 December 2013 to 31 July 2014, the electricity task team arrested 53 suspects NQOBILE MTOLO

>>nqobile@pmbfever.co.za

get copper. She said that the municipality spends a lot of money on replacing stolen cables. “It is not only a loss for the municipality, it is a loss for hospitals and the courts. It is indeed a national crisis,” she said. To respond to the copper theft emergency in Pietermaritzburg, last year December the Msunduzi Municipality established the electricity task team. Prior to the establishment of the municipal electricitytaskteam,vandenBerg said that six sub-stations had been hit by copper thieves. From 23 December last year to 31 July this year, the electricity task team arrested 53 suspects. Of the 53 arrested suspects, nine were Msunduzi Municipality employees. Van den Berg said that copper syndicates who have targeted the sub-stations are South African and foreign nationals. “We need the community to help us arrest this situation because copper theft compromises service delivery. Some community members know who these culprits are. We need them to help us with information so that the thieves can be stopped,” said van den Berg.

www.pmbfever.co.za

Competition -MSC Opera

Copper Development Association of South Africa centre director Evert Swanepoel said that copper is valuable because it is the best conductor of heat and electricity. He said the only notable copper production in South Africa is in Palabora in the north of the country. According to the 2013 global copper mine production, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia are large producers of copper in Africa, with 842 and 752 tonnes of manufactured copper respectively. Last year, South Africa was at number 27 with 74 tonnes of copper, which made up 0.4% of the total global production. “Large volumes of copper production will influence Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The copper tubing and cables used in South Africa are mostly produced by specialist companies, but we are constantly threatened by imports of sub-standard quality. Copper mining and use is increasing,” said Swanepoel. He said that in South Africa, copper theft is more prevalent in urban areas. “Very little copper is stolen in rural areas as there is no market.

THERE are 72 informal settlements in the Msunduzi area. This number came as a shock to some of the Executive Committee (Exco) members who have called for the Msunduzi Municipality to instill enforcement in dealing with this socio-economic outcome. Exco member Bill Lambert said that the figure is shocking. “What startles me is that we have 72 informal settlementsinMsunduzi.ThisisthefirsttimethatIhave ever heard that we have so many. It has never been put in any document that I have ever seen. This is alarming. Now we have to start focusing on what we are going to do,” he told Exco. Deputy municipal manager for economic development Dr Ray Ngcobo said that the national department of Human Settlement had appointed the service provider, Kayamandi, to undertake the assessment of informal settlements throughout the country. Ngcobo said that Msunduzi was chosen as one of the pilot areas. “They had done a comprehensive report which discovered among, other things, that there are about 72 informal settlements in Msunduzi. What we have done on the basis of that report is we are putting in place a strategy and a plan to eradicate or to upgrade some of the informal settlements that we have. “That report is going to come to Exco with specific recommendations. Some of the informal settlements needtobeeradicated,someofthemneedtobeupgraded and some of them may need people relocated to other housing projects that are on the pipeline. We are hoping that immediately after the report has been processed by the portfolio committee, that it will come to Exco,” explained Ngcobo. The rapid assessment for informal settlements in Msunduzi was completed in February this year. AfterviewingthecontentsoftheKayamandireport, the economic development business unit agreed to establish a multi-sector upgrading task team. This task team will comprise representatives from the water and sanitation business unit, roads and drainage unit, electricity, waste management, risk management, environmental health and area based management units.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

It is very difficult to identify how much copper is stolen in every major city as many scrap merchants move the scrap around to make it difficult for the authorities to identify. “The theft of copper is extremely detrimental to the South African economy. Copper scrap exports fuel the theft of copper and leads to destruction of the infrastructure, which includes electricity shortages, communication disruptions and train delays. Manufacturing companies are unable to purchase scrap at the correct price and this leads to the loss of production and ultimate retrenchments. The foundry industry has been closing down plants and more will follow,” Swanepoel explained. The report on world copper end use for 2012 shows that in the whole world, 7545 tonnes of copper goes towards building construction, 3679 tonnes go towards infrastructure and 13621isusedforequipmentmanufacture. South Africa uses 206 tonnes of copper for building construction, 59 tonnes for infrastructure and 158 tonnes of copper for equipment manufacture.

WANTED CARS

BEST DEALS FOR YOU! BRAND NEW NISSAN NP200

1.6 8V Base

R134 600

• Free Canopy • Free Bin Liner • Free CD Player

• • • •

AND

News

-Wakaberry Support PinkDrive -The art of being an HIV clinician -Create awareness about the rhino crisis in SA -Helping your kids with grade 10 subject choice -World Heart Day

Picture Galleries

-High Court Celebrations -#PMBClimateMarch -KFC mini cricket tour

Events

-Maritzburg Arts Market -Project Gateway AGM -Kevin Perkins comedy -80’s Rewind -Guitarists take Durbs by storm

Become a CITIZEN JOURNALIST

Submit YOUR stories and pictures on our homepage

@MaritzburgFever

BAKKIES *ANY MODEL *OLD OR NEW *QUICK CASH

TEL: AJAY ON 082 966 2384

FEATURES INCLUDE:

Power Steering 15” Rims 800kg Pay Load 6 year/150 000kms Warranty

BRAND NEW NISSAN SENTRA

R199 900

SAVE R30 000

FEATURES INCLUDE: • Electric Windows • Electric Power Steering • Isoﬁx Attachments • Air Conditioning • Central Locking • ABS, EBD, BA • Bluetooth Radio System • 3 years/90 000kms Service Plan • 3 years/100 000kms Warranty

ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT | ALL PRICES EXCLUDE LICENCE, REGISTRATION AND DELIVERY

CMH DATCENTRE PMB 7 Armitage Rd, Bird Sanctuary, PMB | www.datcentremaritzburg.co.za

033 940 1037

The theft of copper is extremely detrimental to the South African economy.

This week ONLINE

Maritzburg Fever

NQOBILE MTOLO

N a new spate of copper theft in Pietermaritzburg, copper thieves are now targeting homes. The robbers prey on people’s premisesduringtheearlyhoursof the morning in order to steal copper taps and copper pipes. These reports have become a norm in the Pietermaritzburg townships, as complaints have flooded from appalled residents who are crying foul that copper theft has caused unnecessary water losses at their homes. A resident from Imbali Unit 13, who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of victimization, said that the thieves target homes around 2 and 3am. “On two occasions, these thieves have jumped over the fence and sheared the taps and copper pipes from the wall while the whole family was sleeping. When I heard the sound of gushing water coming from outside, I woke up to realize that the copper pipes supplying water totheentirehousehadbeencutoff the wall,” said the worried resident. The resident added that the fact that the thieves could steal the pipes and taps in a short space of time indicates that they have done their homework. She said that she has now replaced the stolen copper pipes and taps with plastic ones, which are not as resilient. Msunduzi Municipality’s legal advisor Lelani van den Berg said that the copper thieves are also targeting the municipality’s sub-stations. Shesaidthatthesyndicatesare desperate and will do anything to

NEWS

October 1, 2014

maritzburg

FEVER

Sunflower Fund race day

Manager bids mall farewell

Umi Khan, the outgoing Liberty Midlands Mall centre manager. PHOTO: JONATHAN BURTON

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Join The Sunflower Fund on Sunday, 23 November at Scottsville Race Course. It promises to be a day filled with fun and excitement. It can also be used as a corporate Christmas event for the year to do something different. Private tickets are R195 per person or R1 755 for a table of 10. This includes a buffet lunch and soft drinks. A cash bar will be available. Corporate bookings start from R5650 up to R9000 per table. This includes a buffet lunch and soft drinks for a table of 10 and sponsorship of a race. For more information, or to book, contact Kenwyn Geyser at 083 632 3224 or kenwyn@sunflowerfund.org.za. The booking deadline is 10 October. All funds raised will be used to assist with tissue-typing of potential bone marrow stem cell donors to give hope to patients living with leukaemia.

Cyclists in eerie giraffe stand-off at Bisley Reserve

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

The towering figure of the giraffe that blocked the path of cyclists in the Bisley Nature Reserve.

Prices valid until 5 October 2014 or while stocks last. Price excludes delivery. T&C apply.

AMIL UMRAW THE cyclist and the road - an energetic bond where once those pedals get moving, the road becomes an escape from the stresses of everyday life. When those wheels start turning the only thing that can get in your way is … a giraffe? About 15 cyclists who were usingtheroadthroughtheBisley Nature Reserve were involved in a stand-off this week with a “towering and intimidating” giraffe. CraigBotha,whowasfollowing the cyclists on his motorbike, said that as the morning mist cleared, the huge figure of the giraffe materialised menacingly in front of them. According to Botha, the giraffe “just stood in the middle of the road without moving, stopping [them] from getting past for over 15 minutes”. Luckily, wardens from the nature reserve managed to move the animal by clapping their hands and shouting. The

giraffe followed the wardens before disappearing into the bushes. “I’ve never come across something like this before. Our presence didn’t even bother the giraffe. It wasn’t intimidated by us,” Botha said. Another cyclist said that a similar incident occurred during the Hill-to-Hill Race. In 2008, Pietermaritzburg residents were puzzled at the case of a man thought to have been killed by a giraffe in the same area. At the time, frequent visitors to the reserve gave accountsofanaggressivegiraffe that was prone to attacking humans. But, said Botha, the giraffe they saw “didn’t seem aggressive at all. It just decided to block our way.” The giraffe has also been involved in a stand-off with a motorcyclist who was roadblocked while on the way to work. He reported being told by passers-by that the giraffe ruled the road there.

THOBANI NGQULUNGA THELibertyMidlandsMallcentremanager, Umi Khan, bids farewell after two years at the helm of Pietermaritzburg’s biggest mall. She only had positive things to say about the city and its potential to grow when interviewed on her last day in office. Khan, who comes from humble beginnings in Mhlathuzana outside Durban, will be going back home as a director at an NGO. She said she was proud to have achieved all that she set herself to achieve in her time as the centre manager. Khan said she was blessed to have parents who sent her to a private Muslim school. “My parents paid R500 a year in those days, but that shaped me into what I was to become later in life.” She said she was definitely not born with a silver spoon in the mouth. “As a child I wanted to be a lawyer, but there were no funds to further educate me.” She literally had to walk the streets of Durban looking for a job. “I finally found temporary work as a PA, which opened a lot of doors for me,” she said. Khan then applied for a position as a clerk at Sanlam in the Embassy Building, followed by a position as a receptionist as Sanlam Properties. From here her career followed into property development. She completed various accounting diplomas in the past 18 years, including management, property development courses and Wom-which she studied at en in Leadership,UCT in 2012. “I met dynamic women in leadership roles and it was awesome,” she said. Khan thinks the countryhascomealong way in transforming women’s roles in property development. “I remember when I first started in 1996, where white males would not want to deal with me,” she said. Nowadays corporates have given a lot of women a chance to grow and have embraced women in leadership, she said. A single mother to an 11-year-old daughter, Khan said she aims to live a balanced life to ensure that her success complements her life as a mother, “which has not always been easy”. She said her mother and daughter have been her pillars of strength. Khan has worked for Sanlam, Old Mutual and Liberty Properties.

LETTERS

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must be received by Thursday evening, 3pm, in order to be included in the Wednesday edition of the paper. Letters should be addressed to The Editor and emailed to editorial@pmbfever.co.za or faxed to 033 355 1164. Letters must be a maximum of 400 words long and must relate to the topic at hand. While pseudonyms are allowed, writers must still include their full names and contact details (which will not be printed) or letters will not be published. The Editor reserves the right to not run letters or to alter letters so that they are legible.

October 1, 2014

maritzburg

I can do nice

FEVER

Where logic and reason fail

AM a self-proclaimed advocate of science, but as I have learned over the years, mine is a stupid venture. Science is a body of knowledge that is applied by people we call scientists to understand the physical world using experimentation and reasoning to come to conclusions. It is also very important thatadvocatesofscience,such as myself, drive in their own lanes and realise that science cannot solve, know, or understand everything. This is a very humbling fact, one that needs to be accepted as is, on account of the existence of opinions and the growing tendency to let logic and reason take a backseat in a world ruled by counter-knowledge. Now, I have been told, and have subsequently read many a literature on the internet, telling me that there are some things that science cannot know and can never explain. That statement can seem very flat-worldly, but such an analysis would be unfair to the advocate of the supernatural. How can we differentiate between established facts and counter-knowledge? Well, the western world has come up with a few useful tools for the physical world: experimentation and Ockham’s razor sums up most of these tools. When researchers are faced with a natural phenomenon that is not yet understood, they use experimentation to determine the mechanism driving the phenomenon. Where experimentation fails or not is possible (such as a historical event), it is useful to ‘cut the crap’. This is where Ockham’s razor comes in; it looks at the many explanations presented andcuttingthebull@#t,settles for the simplest one. In other words, where there is a perfectly natural

Sibusiso Biyela

@astrosibs

I HAVE BEEN TOLD ALSO, THAT MIRACLES CANNOT BE EXPLAINED BY SCIENCE BECAUSE THEY OPERATE OUTSIDE THE LAWS OF PHYSICS. explanation for a phenomenon, the supernatural is frowned upon – that is until testable and reliable evidence supports it. Itisimportantthatthemost established theories of nature encounter the most rigorous and revealing episodes of scientists trying to prove it wrong. The most accepted are only so because they withstand the plethora of attempts to disprove them. Such is for the physical world, though, whilst the supernatural has a different set of rules outside the realms of science. And out there, pretty much anything goes. This reminds me of the old slogan of The Church of Scientology: “if it’s a fact for you, it’s a fact.” Let us

consider a man of God who claims that the Holy Spirit resides within him. This is a fact that cannot be tested, and therefore resides outside science. If, however, the ambitious man of God claims that he can use the Holy Spirit to heal the injured, cure AIDS and cancer throughprayer,hethenbrings aspects of the supernatural world to our physical reality, and at this point allows scientific testing of these claims. Nooccurrenceoffaithhealing working has been recorded or peer-reviewed. A more physically viable explanation would be that he who claims to be healed by a faith healer through nothing more than prayer, is telling an untruth. Whilst this may break the credibility of the witness, it keeps intact the laws of physics by cutting the crap, in otherwords,weuseOckham’s razor. Whilst this fact means faith healing does not work in the physical world, it says nothing of the supernatural, which as I said earlier, anything goes. This place where anything goes is called by Collin Campbell the cultic milieu; which is the cesspool of all that is unbelievable and where those that forego reason, logic and choose to ignore all manner of established evidence, reside. I have been told also, that miracles cannot be explained by science because they operate outside the laws of physics. This is a face-palmworthy statement at face value, but then I remember how science cannot explain “everything.” When it comes to so-called miracles and the hocus pocus that plagues the cultic milieu, the phenomena of this supernatural world are only as strong as those who believe in it, the advocates. And this is where science (which encapsulates logic and reason), differs: it works whether you believe in it or not. So, what do you believe in?

@jazmasta The person that named the eggplant probably isn’t allowed to name things anymore. @GrumpyCatTalkin I wake up everyday planning to be productive and then a voice in my head says “Ha ha, good one” and we laugh and laugh and take a nap. @RuthePhoenix Really worried about my parrot. He keeps saying “I can’t go on. I hate my life.” My roommate is too selﬁsh to notice. Always busy crying. @brianmawdsley He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is ﬁlled with falsehoods and errors. @noog Mankind has survived ice ages, traveled to the moon, explored other planets, and someday we will understand how a four-way intersection works. @Trevornoah Scotland reminded us that if you really want attention in your relationship, just threaten to leave. @J_Illunninati The guy who made my sandwiches told me to “have fun” as he handed them to me. Not sure what he thinks I was gonna do with them. @Sentletse KZN wants a nude beach. They call it a “naturist” beach. Let’s hope Khulubuse is not a naturist. @ohtumblrposts Do you ever leave your phone for like an hour and expect to come back to 60 texts but you get none? Yeah, same here. @Fact If you aren’t happy single, you won’t be happy taken. Happiness comes from within, not from a relationship.

@Maritzburg Fever For Affordable Hearing Care

• Hearing Tests (FREE Screening Test) • Hearing aids (All leading international brands) • Medical Aid rates – we claim. • FREE trial period on all hearing aids • Hearing Aid batteries R24,95 (pack of 6)

pmbfever. co.za

HEARING AID ACOUSTICIANS

Laurie Butlin

082 444 5426

Kate-Marie Butlin 082 067 7698

By appointment at these Pharmacies: Hayfields • Wembley • Hilton • Howick Tel: 033 330 3404 www.butlinhearing.co.za

maritzburg

FEVER

MOIRA SMITH

GRUMPY OLD BAG

I’mjustbackfromCapeTown.Afewweeks ago, a porta loo suddenly appeared in the park opposite my daughter’s Pinelands house. My granddaughter guessed it was probably there for people whose “daddy takes too much time in the toilet.” All became clear when, coming home that night, we saw flashing lights along the main road, alerting drivers to the presence of council workers cleaning and trimming the grass verges and the park areas when the roads were quiet. The porta loo was for them. Fantastic municipal planning, and amazing to see the rates revenue being used so efficiently. I can honestly, and sadly, say in all the time I have been away, I cannot see any evidence of the much vaunted “municipal clean-up” that this newspaper has tried so hard to encourage (Bridget, I read the Fever online, where ever I am) Maybe because I now have time to watch some TV, I am getting increasingly grumpy about adverts being louder than the programme I’m watching. Don’t advertisers realise that flighting their ads louder than the programmes only makes viewers grab the remote and mute the damn thing until the ad has finished? Totally counter productive. And I’m really upset by idiots on our roads. The driver of the Fortuna which did a U turn in Roberts Road on 3 September and nearly killed my husband and my dog, then smiled and waved as he drove off. The driver of the Lafarge concrete mixer who drove straight through a red light on Victoria Road. Amazingly he didn’t hit anything, they wouldn’t have stood a cat in hell’s chance. I reported it to the company, no response. If you must use your cell phone while driving, don’t drive a vehicle with your companylogosplashedalloverit.Notonly is it illegal, it’s bad for business. We have long memories and think more than twice about using your services. Nobody wants to do business with an irresponsible company. Shame on the driver of the Lancet Laboratories car parked in the disabled bay outside Victoria Road Medical Centre one Tuesday at 10.45am. Ok, grumps over. One big thank you this month - to the kind lady at the Hayfields Mall pet shop. I left my credit card in the shop and she took the trouble to track me down and phone me before I realised I’d lost it, saving me a huge panic. Oh, and the calamari salad at Parklane Coffee Shop is delicious and great value for money. AndTrevortheTelkomtechnicianisatreasure. See, I can do nice, too.

Get back to basics, Msunduzi AT the recent Cogta summit, the president impressedonmayors,speakers,whips,municipal managers and CFOs the need to go back to basics in addressing the increased service-delivery protests we are experiencing. Msunduzi was fully represented and one hopes that the advice and words of caution did not fall on deaf ears. The plea was for councils to get the basics right, with regard to repairing street lights, cutting overgrown verges, picking up refuse, fixing water leaks, addressing potholes,gettingtrafficlightsworking,amongother issues of concern. Councils must engage with communities and ensure that service delivery is prioritised. Recent land invasions, service-delivery protests, the financial support of R36 million to a

football club, and R1 million for a jazz festival while our council’s debt sits at R1,5 billion, are not moves in the direction of going back to basics. Msunduzi isn’t alone - Nelson Mandela Bay splurged about R30 million on a football club and Tshwane spent R65 million on a cancelled festival. The DA has been driving these maladies throughParliamentandthemedia,andissatisfied that the president is now heeding our call. One prays that it isn’t too little too late. Get back to basics, Msunduzi, and focus on your core business: service delivery. MERGAN K. CHETTY MP Democratic Alliance

The Fasting Month of Purtassi

HE month of Purtassi is usually the period from 17 September to 17 October, and is dedicated to the worship of Maha Vishnu, the preserver. During this period, worshippers observe strict abstinence from any meat products. Only vegetarian dishes are permitted. This month of Purtassi has a profound religious

THE South African constitution clearly states that every person has a right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and this also includes the oxygen we breath. Recently, a non-governmental organization, after doing extensive tests, stated that our air quality was being compromised and not properly monitored by government. Officials are paid exorbitant salaries to execute their jobs according to their job descriptions. When officials lack capacity or are incompetent in their jobs, the ordinary citizen bears the repercussions of their incompetence. There has to be a balancing act between industries who provide employment and the Department of Environmental Affairs who have to monitor air pollution. Companies cannot continue to rape our country of its resources, whereby their financial statements show astronomical profits yet show

significance which helps in purification of mind, body and soul. Prayers are held on each Saturday of the month, when a variety of vegetable dishes are offered to Lord Vishnu. The preferable times for the prayers is late afternoon. The men and children have a V shape made with a special white chalk and a red line drawn in the middle on the foreheads. The women have a red dot made

on their forehead. At the end of the prayer ceremony, the members chantloudlythreetimes “Govinda, Govinda, Govinda” in honour of Lord Vishnu. Now allow me to introduce the comical, humorous laughable commercial twist added on to the festival of Purtassi. I might also add that this is a common feature of commercial opportunism evident at Deepavali, Christmas, Easter and Eid festivals. The twist for

G N I N N I W TTER LE > >

A moral obligation

scant disregard to air pollution. They have a moral obligation to make sure that precautions are in place to limit the impact of air pollution. The World Health Organization showed that in 2012, about seven

million people died of air pollution globally. This figure more than doubles previous estimates with the indication that air pollution is accepted as the worlds largest single environmental health risk.

THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCING ACT BETWEEN INDUSTRIES WHO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS WHO HAVE TO MONITOR AIR POLLUTION

Purtassi is the emergence of exotically named foods all made from soya beans, a pure vegetable belonging to the legume family. But hey presto, the tantalising, titilating, deceptive food items have scintillating names such as hot dogs, sausages schnitzel, soya fish, prawns and chicken, braai sausages, traditional burgers, chicken strips, polony soya mince and, glory be to God, Soya eggs! I must confess, and this is not gobbledygook, that the humble soya beans have transformed into many shapes, forms, sizes and names. Happy fasting to all Tamil and Telugu speaking Hindus. R MUNISAMY Via email

In areas such as Merebank, where petroleum companies are next to the residential area, there has been a direct link between cancer, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, strokes, skin diseases and other ailments. A reduction of air pollution will save millions of lives. The municipality boasts 15 air quality monitoring stations located in the South Durban basin. However without checks and balances and effective air quality management, these stations will prove worthless. Every citizen and all stakeholders have a role to play in ensuring the air they breath does not deteriorate. It is only the citizens who can hold government and officials accountable. We must demand the effective implementation of the National Environmental Management Air Quality Act which ensures a healthy environment for all families. VIJAY SURUJPAL Via email

October 1, 2014

maritzburg

FEVER

LETTERS

Heritage Day HERITAGE Day isn’t just another public holiday added to the calendar; it’s an important day thatreflectsourRainbowNation in multiple colours, with the immense diversity surrounding us. Regardless of our culture, gender, race, religion or status, we should empathise with, honour and respect one another.SouthAfricahasevolvedover thepast20years,andforthatwe are truly grateful. Here’s to patriotism! SADIYYA KHAN Richmond

Speak English MORE word rage: “going to” and “want to” changed to “gonna” and “wanna”. Isn’t English taught in schools now? Is it too difficult to say two words instead of one? I suppose that’s what Twitter and texting does to you, as well as the American rappersphere. Another word, “you”, always ends up as “chew” in songs. For example: “am gonna wanna lurve chew”. And “conscientise”. Huh? That definitely didn’t come from the rappersphere. What’s happening to my beloved language? I ask in despair. A.C.Q. VALENTINE Hilton

Life on my last R4.33 STEPH MCLENNAN fevercolumns@gmail.com

PEOPLE often ask others what they would do with their last day on earth. The answer is typically something thoroughly un-thought-out, like spending the time in Paris. If the pre-warned were to stop and consider their answer more carefully, they would realise the unpleasantness of spending 19 of their last 24 hours in airports, and squashed next to that obligatory obese man with halitosis who seems to be on every aircraft I have ever boarded. Last weekend, I was faced with a different question, albeit one just as

difficult. Being at the tail end of my first month of being paid on the last day of the month, rather than the 25th, my purse strings are shorter than ever, and frayed to the point of decay. So, armed with my R4.33, I debated how to spend my weekend and what to do with these last few hardearned cents. I put in a call to my bank manager to seek his advice, but he merely laughed and reminded me of the prudence of frugal living. I told him it was a little late for that, and we parted ways on our usual frosty terms. My next move was to use some of my last remaining data to take to

Whatsapp and Facebook and find out what my posse were planning for the weekend. It pays to have friends wealthier and better connected than oneself, and this bout of messaging scored me afreetickettoFridaynight’slocalrendition of “Whose Line is it Anyway”, which has been aptly renamed “What Kind”, for its Durban audience. As a thank you to my friends over at the Catalina, I must pause here to tell you that the place is awesome. Before you begin your next tirade about how boring Durban is and how thecityisaculturalvacuum,checkout the Catalina’s offering online at catalinatheatre.com. The “What Kind” show, held once

Use Duzi to put out dump fire I WOULD like to know why the municipality removing the methane gas from the dump and cannot get a pipeline connected to a large using this for its vehicles, as was done in the pump on the Duzi River (which happens to run past? This would also help prevent fires as the past the dump) and use that water to extinguish the fire faster than it is doing at the methane gas is probably seeping up and fuelling the current fire. moment. STEVE HEARDER Maybe a pipeline could be run around the Lincoln Meade dump and have connection points for hoses. I am very concerned as my son has chest problems and this is making it worse. I feel that if the municipality does ISAAC not sort it out, then WE ARE STILL AT SELGRO CENTRE. SUNDAY SPECIAL the public should YOU WILL FIND US FIRST SHOP Siyagunda/Haircuts start claiming from R15 ON THE LEFT AS YOU ENTER it for the mounting Now with THE PARKING LOT THROUGH Internet Cafe medical bills that THE CAR ENTRANCE. Shop 1 Selgro Centre, Boshoff Street. | Tel: 082 863 0220 some people might already have. Still Maritzburg’s cheapest. 287 Church Street, Opposite Also, why doesn’t Shop No. 6 in Polly Shortts Shopping Shop 9, Cnr Retief and the municipality Centre, Mkondeni • Tel: 033 396 6815 the Library • Tel: 033 345 2821 Pietermaritz streets (1st Floor) revive the system of

Appeal

a month, is produced by local independent producer, Sandy Bigara, who, in my opinion, is as awesome at directing as she is at sporting pink hair. The show is held in the Catalina’s trademark late-night slot, starting at 10pm, on the last Friday of every month. This slot, by the way, is open on other nights to any production accepted by the Catalina team, so I implore all directors and playwrights to help make Durban a more happening place. My plans to spend the rest of the weekend on the beach, using my R4.33 to tip car guards, were well and truly scuppered by the rain, which,

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE In different ways and different times we will all eventually come to recognize that together with our physical and emotional selves, we are true spiritual and emotional beings. Healing acts on the whole person each of us is restoring balance, opening our hearts, bringing love, calm.

while much-needed, would have been scheduled to begin on Monday morning if I was any kind of deity. On Saturday night, I attended a friend’s James-Bond-themed birthday party, and there devised a brilliant plan to avoid further weekends of month-end destitution. I am going to develop, in the words of the awful Lady Gaga, a “poker face” so formidable that a night at a card table can add zeroes to my bank balance. Luckily for me, the best things in life, such as friendships, sleep, and the neighbour’s wifi, remain free. As long as I have those, and a box of month-end Salticrax, I will survive to see another payday.

hear it!... SCREEN TESTS SCREEN TESTS

AWARENESS PROMOTION OPEN MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8:00 TO 17:00 SATURDAY 8:30 TO 12:00

For an appointment: Let Papa help you find peace and love, let him help you live the best life you can possibly live. No more suffering. Just sweet bliss and abundance.

PAPA SPECIALISES IN THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: HELP WITH LOVE: Are you struggling to get back an old lover and do you want them to fall in love with you again? HELP FOR POWER: Do you need respect? Or is it success you are seeking in your business? Are you living in constant fear and feeling desperate? Are you surrounded by negativity? With Papa’s help you will have the power to overcome any obstacle. HELP FOR MARRIAGE: Are your enemies using negative powers to harm you, your family or your business? Are you moving from one disaster and problem to another? HELP FOR MONEY: There are many ways to get rich, some work for it, some inherit it and some win their money.

Call Japhal: 073 257 8680 Scottsville Airport Road, Globe Road, off Washington Road.

033 346 0511

We in theinproduction of acrylic We specialise specialise the production moulds, servicing, adjusting and manufacture of acrylic moulds, servicing, of most major hearing aid brands, and all adjusting andON SITE, manufacture of this is done in our newly renovated most major laboratory. hearing aid brands,

and all this is done in our ON SITE, newly renovated laboratory.

TEST YOUR HEARING NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!

PMB PARKLANE CENTRE ABOVE POST OFFICE 033 342 5054

ENTERTAINMENT

Boxer rewards customers

October 1, 2014

maritzburg

FEVER

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

One of the share winners Nomvula Mhlophe (L) and Boxer employee Nokthula Khumalo at the Howick branch in the midlands.

The always popular Beer Pong Championships remain a feature at this year’s Pecanwood Oktoberfest.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

All systems go for Pecanwood are limited, so anybody wishing to enter into the Beer Pong Championships should do so as soon as possible on www.oktoberfestkzn.co.za. Simply click on the Beer Pong link, fill in the details and bring your printed out form to the gate as your ticket in to the premises on October 4. Those wishing to take part in the Beer Pong Championships and the MTB race need only register for the Beer Pong. They will then need to forward their proof of payment to ROAG, who will sign them up for the ride. 4X4 For the 4x4 enthusiasts, the Land Rover owners club and Killarney have designed and built a 4x4 course especially for Pecanwood Oktoberfest. The team will be demonstrating their 4x4 skills while offering to take festival goers along for a ride. Definitely one for the petrol heads. CAMPING All festival goers are given the option of free camping when purchasing their ticket. The farm is spacious, and Pecanwood Oktoberfest does not want anybody to drive home after having a few beverages. FOOD AND BEVERAGES There will be over 22 different types of beer on offer from various breweries as well as the full range of Distell’s brands and beverages for those of you who don’t drink beer. As always, traditional German cuisine will be on offer throughout the day but there will also be loads of other food options. OTHER ACTIVITIES There really is something for everybody at this year’s Pecanwood Oktoberfest. Dodge ball, human foosball, a mechanical bull, a bungee trampoline, prizes including free weekend giveaways and the Pecanwood Oktoberfest craft village will all form part of what is sure to be an unforgettable experience. The Springbok game against the All Blacks will be televised at 5.05pm and the atmosphere for that is sure to be electric. Also look out for the 12 2014 Pecanwood OkPASSWORDS part three...A good password is made up of a number of toberfest calendar girls, who will be different characteristics. For instance, it should be at least eight charachosting the evening. ters long and should include at least two uppercase letters, lowercase lettersandnumbers.Asmentioned,itshouldn’tbeobvious. Userandom characters. The more random the sequence of characters, the more secure the password will be. An example of a secure password would be something like this: Hgs3@4j55nKX!sl LAW CORNER IS SPONSORED BY In order to create a strong password, we recommend a password must be at least eight characters long, passwords may not contain your usernameoranypartofyourfullname,passwordsmustcontaincharactersfromatleastthreeofthefourclasscharacteristics,whicharecombinations of upper case, lower case numerals and non-alphanumeric (punctuation marks and other symbols) Always remember, having a secure password is meaningless if you ESTABLISHED 1921 write it down and leave it where anybody could find it. However, if you have difficulty remembering a random password, then you can use a common word like “password,” for example, but add three of the four class characteristics to it to make it more secure, such as “paSSw0rd.” ATTORNEYS, CONVEYANCERS AND NOTARIES PUBLIC We hope you enjoyed the three articles on passwords, for more information go to our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/computerFor all your legal advice contact worldkzn for these and other interesting articles.

THE stage is set for the fifth Pecanwood Oktoberfest - a day of music, activities and entertainment that over the years has turned into one of the most anticipated dates on the midlands events calendar. MUSIC Set on the picturesque Pecanwood farm just outside Pietermaritzburg and an hour from Durban, this year’s Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 4 will be headlined by versatile folk artist Jeremy Loops. Known for his ability to move across a host of genres, Loops has fast become one of the most respected artists on the South African circuit. With a love for music being a common theme of Pecanwood Oktoberfest every year, Loops will be supported by Veranda Panda, Amigo Santana, Chris Wigens, Oompah, Red Light Stereo, Angus amongst others. MTB A new addition to this year’s programme is the inclusion of the ROAG-affiliated Pecanwood Oktoberfest 20/40km MTB challenge - a scenic ride that will take you through the surrounding pine forests before finishing back on the farm. Registration for the MTB ride can be done on www.roag.co.zaandthiswillalsoincludeaticketfortherest of the day’s festivities. BEER PONG The always popular Beer Pong Championships remain a feature at this year’s Pecanwood Oktoberfest. Once again, the winners of the tournament will win a trip for two to next year’s Munich Oktoberfest - flights, accommodation and food all courtesy of Student Flights and Busabout. Spaces

TECH TALK

J Leslie Smith & Company Inc.

J Leslie Smith & Co. Inc. on Tel: +27 (0)33 845 9700 or visit www.jlesliesmith.com

This column is sponsored by Computer World, open at the Park Lane Centre, 12 Albert Luthuli Street. Inquiries: 033 342 3235.

Look out for Law Corner in Maritzburg Fever on the first Wednesday of every month

A TOTAL of 208 Boxer customers across the country have received their share of half a million rand between June and early September this year. This was possible through Boxer’sBirthdayDealscampaign/ competition which was both unusual and rewarding. Inapressrelease,thestoresaid that over their birthday promotion period, Boxer leaflets offered customers low prices and fantastic ‘royal pairs’ and ‘diamond deals’ in keeping which their theme. All customers had to do was purchase any two ‘diamond deal’ products and follow the easy prompts to enter the competition. “Four customers were randomly drawn throughout the promotional period daily. Each winning customer was personally

contacted, congratulated and told to collect their share of R500 000 from their closest Boxer store. The competition was effortless for customers to enter which attracted more repeat purchases and thus more chances to win,” said the store management. Boxer Birthday Deals raked in a huge number of entries. “As with all our competitions, we like setting a numeric target for the number of valid entries we receive over the specified period. AndwiththeBoxerBirthdayDeals competition, I can proudly boast that we surpassed our target by leaps and bounds. “We are ecstatic about the results and even more pleased with the warm reception it received amongst our shoppers.” said Prenella Ragavan, Boxer’s public relations officer.

LAW

CORNER Land claims WARREN SMITH WITH the re-opening of the land claimprocessintermsoftheRestitution of Land Rights Act, the period for lodging land claims has been re-opened for a further five years until 30 June, 2019. The initial period for lodging land claims closed on 31 December 1998, at which point thousands of claims were lodged and, 16 years later, there are still approximately 7000 claims which have not been finalised. In order to give individuals or communities who missed the initial cut-off date an opportunity to lodge their claims, the amendment to the Act has resulted in the re-opening of the process which will obviously result in a further period of investigation and publication of such claims. Whereas there was some level of certainty as to whether or not a claim had been lodged, there is, once again, complete uncertainty with regard to whether or not one’s property may or may not be claimed and, even after the five year period, it will take some time for the investigation and publication process to be finalised before alandownerwillbecomeawareof a potential land claim. The most significant complication is claims which have already been lodged, published and either subject to pending litigation, alternatively already finalised. New claims will obviously impact on those claims if there is

part one any overlap on the same property orproperties.Thereisaparticular concern with regard to matters which are pending before the Land Claims Court as the court requires the Land Claims Commission to produce a certificate that there are no competing claims prior to the matter being adjudicated finally. It seems likely that all pending matters may well be placed on hold until there is certainty with regard to any potential competing claims. This process will take significantly longer than the five year period to finalise as only claims which the Commission considers to be valid are supposed to be published. This is supposed to occur after a validation process has been undertaken. The publication of a “valid” claim takes place in the Government Gazette at which point a landowner’s rights are immediately affected in that the Act requires a landowner to give the Land Claims Commission one month’s prior written notice in the event that the landowner intends to sell, exchange, donate, lease, sub-divide, re-zone or develop any portion of the property. The Act does not require the consent of the Land Claims Commission to proceed with any of those steps, however it is a pre-requisite that such written notification be provided to the Commission. Part two of this article will be printed on 5 November, 2014.

October 1, 2014

maritzburg

FEVER

SCHOOL SCENE

Creative posters for Itemba

Spring singing at Woodgrove

SCHOOLS

Heritage celebrations

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

The Wykeham Collegiate computer club has made and donated educational posters for iThemba Projects Asidlale program. Ithemba projects are running an early education program in 11 crèches in the Sweetwaters area, amongst many other projects. The Wykeham Collegiate girls have created bright and colourful posters for the crèches, such as animals types, number charts, weather charts and alphabet charts. The girls have given of their time during “Compufun Club” which is run as an extra-curricular activity at the school by Jane Dyer. The iThemba team, lead by Sam Walker, were delighted with the posters and said they will be very useful to the teachers in the crèches. Pictured at the handover of posters to iThemba staff members are (from left) Wendy Shelembe (field worker for the Asidlale program), Noxolo Ndlela (field worker for the Asidlale program), Cailin Harries (Grade 10) and Charné Glanz (Grade 10).

St John’s exchange students

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

St John’s are delighted to be hosting exchange pupils from Tara Anglican School for Girls in North Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. The St John’s Grade 10 girls went across for the first half of this term and the Tara girls are here for the second half (from left) Marie Mjacu and Cayleigh Rice (both St John’s D.S.G.) and Zora Holz and Laura Mallett (both Tara Anglican School for Girls).

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

To celebrate Spring Day, the Cordwalles Preparatory School music department (senior choir, orchestra and guitar group) were invited to perform at Woodgrove Retirement Village. Amongst the residents was one particular person very special to Cordwalles - Roy Gathorne - who not only was a pupil of Cordwalles between 1928 and 1934 but was also head boy in 1934. This year is therefore a milestone for Gathorne who left Cordwalles 80 years ago. Gathorne has been a faithful supporter of the school over many years and it was a privilege and a pleasure for the boys to meet and perform in front of him and many of the residents of Woodgrove. Gathorne is pictured singing along with the boys while sharing Thoba Buthelezi’s choir sheet.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

St Nicholas held its Heritage Day celebrations recently and many pupils arrived in traditional costume looking very colourful such as Athabile Dlamini (L) and Lwazi Nonkelela.

Schools form midlands chess team

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

The following schools played a Swiss tournament to form a midlands chess team - Maritzburg College, St Charles College, Alexandra High School, Maritzburg Christian School, Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School and Carter High School. After grueling duels, an A and a B team were formed and pictured are the teams (back, from left) Nduduzo Chonco (MC), Khethokuhle Xaba (MC), Greg Hall (SCC), Greg Hardman (SCC), Darrion Singh (MCS) (front, from left) Siyanda Ndlangamandla (Alex), Manqoba Ziqubu (College), Thandu Mbambo (College), Kyle Goosen (SCC) and Knowledge Muchaonyerwa (MCS).

Two generations connecting

Literacy day PHOTO: SUPPLIED

The boys and girls at Cowan House are always encouraged to pick up a good book. Pictured in the school library on International Literacy Day is Grade 5 pupil, Duncan de Klerk.

Celebrating Arbour Day PHOTO: SUPPLIED

St Nicholas recently celebrated Arbour Day and planted a Natal Lavendar. Sim Ngidi had great fun helping to plant it. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Half a century has passed since many of them left high school, but in midAugust almost 200 grandparents, and even a 96-year-old great-grandparent, spent the morning at St Anne’s Diocesan College. Over the years, the annual grandparent’s morning has become an exceptionally popular event in the school calendar. A record number of grannies and grandpas turned up to enjoy a beautiful spring morning. Felicity Noge is pictured with her grandmother, Jongiwe Noge.

SPORT

Equestrian FEVER champ October 1, 2014

maritzburg

classifieds

FEVER

VINGOLD

PAINTING AND HOME RENOVATIONS For all your home improvements > Painting (Plascon) > Ceilings > Plumbing > Electrical > Carpentry > Renovations to existing buildings, etc. All workmanship covers a minimum of 6 months guarantee. Rubble removal and tree felling FREE QUOTES (I will beat the lowest written quote)

Contact: Ben 082 326 8992

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Chelsea Kilian, a Grade five pupil at Laddsworth Primary School, and her pony Tonto have been selected for the KwaZulu-Natal schools equestrian A show jumping team. Kilian will be representing KZN at the national equestrian championships in Gauteng in October.

PRO JUMAH Helps the following problems: • Lost lover same day • All family problems • Financial Problems • Men’s manhood (power) • Evil spirits solve 2 days • Woman Problems 1 day • Lotto and Casino same day. etc

MCS athletics day

Find him at:

47 Reservoir Road Northdale next to Regina Primary School 071 722 0830 / 073 953 3999

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Maritzburg Christian School held their annual inter-house athletics championships for Grades four to 12 recently. Hawks won, scoring 171 points ahead of Falcons (154 points) and Eagles (134 points). Pictured are Charlize Greyling (L) and Kaylin Naidoo (R), Hawks' house captains, with guest of honour Ina Greyling.

Young TWC rider

SELLING ANYTHING

UNDER R500?

Advertise it for FREE at www.olx.co.za

Are you living a life of misfortune, hardships, trouble, tears and endless suffering? Boost your luck. Lighten your fortune and relationships (love), pregnancy problems, financial problems, manhood (power/size), divorce, salary increase, court cases. We can solve all problems.

Call Papa Rama: 033 818 9274 or 083 962 2316 Find Papa Rama in PMB and DBN.

>> Crossword Solution Across 1 Foot the bill, 9 Inhuman, 10 Acute, 11 Gory, 12 Locked up, 14 Rooted, 16 Outrun, 18 Ratified, 19 Zany, 22 Nerve, 23 Avocado, 24 Toes the line.

Down 2Other,3Tame,4Hangon,5Blackout, 6 Launder, 7 Fingerprint, 8 Keep an eye on, 13 Selfless, 15 Ontario, 17 Detach, 20 Again, 21 Foil.

CROSSWORD

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Wykeham Collegiate Grade 11 pupil, Yasmin Rousset, representing KwaZulu-Natal in the Young Rider show jumping team took part in the national championship in Gauteng recently. There she was crowned the national champion and victrix ludorum in the 1,1 m class.

Across

Down

1 Candidate (9) 8 Lift with great effort (5) 9 Sinful (7) 10 Regain consciousness (4, 2) 11 Battle (6) 12 Insane (8) 15 Off guard (8) 18 Impudent (6) 20 Major road (6) 22 Intersect (5) 23 Clumsy (3-6)

2 Caused by terror (5) 3 Pay brief visit (4, 2) 4 Kitchen strainer (8) 5 Sovereign power (8) 6 Grandeur (7) 7 Subordinate (9) 11 Certainty (9) 13 Naughtiness (8) 14 Splinter group (7) 16 Once more (6) 17 Exceptional ability (6) 19 Jack in cards (5)

Health and Beauty

IF you are serious about loosing weight and changing your life forever. Join us in our 12 week program. Change your attitude and change your lifestyle. Sms your name a n d c h a n g e i n 061 148 1971

Loans and Investments

BRIDGING Cash! While waiting for Pension/ package payout (lumpsum only). PMB 074 137 3355

Business 108 Opportunities A 12 weeks program for people who are serious about changing their lives, start a new business now, be a part time or full time d i s t r i b u to r. Sms you r name and distributor in 061 148 1971

129

Outbuildings

NEWHOLMES: 2 room and kitchen with light and water. Call 079 754 0698

Taking the new Ford Mustang from sketch to production

Toyota’s stunning new SUV TOYOTA has released images of a stunning concept car that provides the first hint of a type of vehicle the company would like to bring to the small SUV market. The radical Toyota C-HR concept, which will have its world premiere next week at the Paris Motor Show, presents a bold new dynamic design language. The striking blue C-HR concept introduces an expressive new “diamond architecture” styling theme to the segment and features a hybrid powertrain. Below its compact, sensual cabin profile, the lower bodywork has been sculpted to represent the faceted surfaces of a highly-durable, precision-cut gemstone. The front view debuts new styling themes that hint at a fu-

October 1, 2014

maritzburg

FEVER

MOTORING

ture design direction for Toyota vehicles - a further development of the company’s “under priority” and “keen look” design identity. From the side, the highly-faceted lower body, aggressively angular rear shoulders and muscular wheel arches are contrasted with an exceptionally sleek cabin profile. Highly-distinctive, aero-inspired, floating rear light clusters further enhance the broad shoulders of the concept car’s lower bodywork.

>> The design of the 2015 Mustang is all-new yet unmistakably Mustang

The new Toyota SUV. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

A sketch of new Ford Mustang. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

OR a car designer, the chance to reimag- lersspentcountlesshoursrefiningthelinesand ine an icon like Ford Mustang is always surfacesthatcreatethethreedimensionalbody exciting. Doing this for the famous Ford side and the powerful hunches as well as the performance car’s 50th anniversary, is the long-sculpted hood with a forward leaning opportunity of a lifetime. nose that give the 2015 Mustang its unique look As Ford’s performance leader, the basic and personality. parameters of Mustang were obvious: rearDetailssuchastheshapeandsizeofthegrille wheel drive combined with the sound and and headlamps were refined and the rear track performanceofaV8enginetocreatetheviscer- was widened by 70 millimetres, giving the new al experience that Mustang drivers expect. car an even more aggressive stance. Part of the appeal of Mustang over the years The elimination of the front and rear bumphas been the way it combines style, perform- er shelves and the use of unified side glass with ance and everyday usability thanks to its four- the B-pillar hidden behind the rear quarter seat cabin and sizable trunk. windowscontributetothenewMustang’smore These attributes had contemporary shape. DESIGNERS, CLAY SCULPTORS AND to be part of the new On the interior, the design. With these basic DIGITAL MODELLERS SPENT COUNT- team paid close attenparameters, Ford tion to the relationships designers established a LESS HOURS REFINING THE LINES AND of the various elements, footprint to work with SURFACES THAT CREATE THE THREE and designed them in a roughly the same as the way to achieve optiDIMENSIONAL BODY SIDE AND THE fifth generation model. mum fit and finish. POWERFUL HUNCHES AS WELL AS From a design standThe final theme was point, the challenge was inspired by the wing of THE LONG-SCULPTED HOOD WITH A how to design a car that an airplane, with the was contemporary, but FORWARD LEANING NOSE THAT GIVE double brow carved out unmistakably Mustang. THE 2015 MUSTANG ITS UNIQUE LOOK of the wing.All the gauThe goal was to create a ges, registers, toggle AND PERSONALITY Mustang with a bold, agswitches and other degressive face, with chissign elements are elled detailing on the body and a more athletic placed into the wing. Everything is where it stance on its tires. needs to be for usability, just like the cockpit of Several hundred sketches were submitted an airplane. The toggle switches are a highlight in early 2010 incorporating many of the prima- of the modern centre stack. ry Mustang DNA cues to varying degrees. The The designers have also taken advantage of longbonnet,shortdeck,boldgrille,shark-front modern lighting technology at both ends of the nose, fastback profile, side hockey stick con- car. Indirect LEDs illuminate the blade style tritour and rear tri-bar tail lamps were reinter- bar tail lamps with a uniform glow. LEDs are preted in dozens of different ways. also used for the three gills mounted inboard Similarly, sketches of the interior featured of the high-intensity discharge headlamps, the distinctive symmetrical instrument panel recalling the gills moulded into the headlamp with a double brow design and large analogue buckets of the original 1965 Mustang. gauges. Throughout 2011, hundreds of initial Alongtheway,theshapeofthenewMustang sketches were narrowed down to a handful of underwent twice as much aerodynamic testing proposalsthatwouldbetransformedintoanin- as any previous generation. itial batch of clay models for evaluation in three The final production design of the all-new dimensions. After further development, three sixth-generation Ford Mustang was revealed themes went into the final selection phase in to the world on December 5, 2013 and it will early 2012. be go on sale in the US later this year. This is By the summer of 2012 - as with all previous also the first generation of the Mustang that will generations - the main Dearborn, Michigan, be sold across the world, including South studio took the lead on developing the Mustang Africa, Australia, and the UK. The all-new into a production car. Mustang, with V8 and EcoBoost® engines will Designers, clay sculptors and digital model- go on sale in South Africa late 2015.

Advertise in our New Weekly

Motoring section

40 000 copies

delivered every Wednesday to homes around Pietermaritzburg.

Contact

Franco Kruger 033 355 1243 or 083 300 5321 franco.kruger@witness.co.za or

maritzburg

FEVER

maritzburg FEVER NATAL C.V. JOINTS

Over 100 000 local residents between the ages of 15 – 49 read the Maritzburg Fever. To advertise in Pietermaritzburg’s award winning local newspaper,

Contact

Franco Kruger 033 355 1243 • 083 300 5321 franco.kruger@witness.co.za

maritzburg

FEVER Gandhi Peace Walk NICOLE JOHN

>>nicole@pmbfever.co.za

THE annual Gandhi Peace Walk will take place on 5 October, to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi and in remembrance of his 145th birthday and 20 years of South African Democracy. In its third year after its inception, the Gandhi Memorial Committee has intentions of increasing this number significantly, making it an annual event not to be missed. The walk has the sole objective of promoting the philosophy of Gandhi - peace, unity and diversity. The Peace walk will begin at 1.30pm at the Freedom square and will proceed to the Gandhi Statue in Church Street and then continue to the Pietermaritzburg Railway Station. At the Railway Station, various diverse cultural items will be staged on the platform. Speeches will be presented on Gandhi and Mandela’s ideology and relevance to South African democracy celebrations and to continue building our Rainbow South African Nation. Participants and supporters will be allowed to be dropped off in the vicinity of the City Library up to noon and cars can be parked at the railway station. The formal function will be held inside the station hall on the railway platform. For any more information, contactPaddyMaharajat083324 9370 or email on paddy.maharaj@gmail.com or Mary-Ann at 076 190 4177.

SPORT October 1, 2014

January - March 2014: 39879

PAGE 12

FREE CHECK AND QUOTE, ALSO SPECIALISING IN FRONT SUSPENSION REPAIRS AND WHEEL BEARINGS

PHONE: 033 345 5610/345 5611 290 HOOSEN HAFFEJEE (BERG) STREET

Oppenheimer Week delight

PHOTO:SMUGSHOTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Maritzburg College's ace leg-spinner Sohail Mahmoud will be looking to strike early at Oppenheimer Week.

JONATHAN COOK

HE weather forecast suggests sunny days for the duration of Maritzburg College’s Oppenheimer Cricket Week, which takes place from Saturday to next Tuesday, and both participants and supporters are in for an absolute feastofeverythingthatisgoodabout the game. The matches to be played by the 18 teams take place in PietermaritzburgaswellasRichmondandEston, and sees top cricket schools in action, with the Gauteng contingent featuring the Johannesburg quartet King Edward VII School (KES), St Johns College, St Davids Marist, Inanda and Jeppe, as well as the Pretoria trio of St Albans College,

PretoriaBoys’High(PBHS)andAfrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies). Of great interest is the inclusion this year of Westlake Boys’ High of New Zealand. The teams from the Eastern Cape areHudsonParkofEastLondonand St Andrews College of Grahamstown while those from KZN are Maritzburg College, St Charles College, Michaelhouse, Durban High School (DHS), Kearsney College, Glenwood, Northwood and a KZN Development XI. Now in its 55th year, and hosted as always by Maritzburg College, this festival has players to watch out for in SA U19 cricketers Andile Phehlukwayo (Glenwood), Grant Roelofsen (KES), Ndumiso Mvelase (St Johns) and Lwandiswa Zuma

(Maritzburg College), while other players with much talent in the College line-up include Sohail Mahmoud, captain Bryce Tullis, James Martin, Bradley Hope, David Small, Shaun Wormington and allrounder Jean de Wet. St Charles College, who won’t be at full-strength each day due to exams, have much quality that includescaptainBrentKennedyand fellow top four batters Eric de Rauville, Zac Koutsouris and Mark Ortmann while opening bowlers William Squires, who took five wickets against Northwood two Saturdays ago, and the highly promising Kylan Naidoo are sure to troubletheiropponents’ top-order. For those wanting to pop in for an hour or two to watch their favourite

KZN boys take gold

school team, please note the hours of play - Session 1: 9h30 to 11h00; Morning tea: 11h00 to 11h15; Session 2: 11h15 to 12h45; Lunch: 12h45 to 13h45; Session 3: 13h45 to 15h15; Afternoon tea: 15h15 to 15h30; Session 4: 15h30 to end of prescribed overs. ALL THE FIXTURES Saturday (50-over): DHS vs King Edward VII School (Eston), Glenwood vs Pretoria Boys’ High School (Richmond), Kearsney vs St Davids Marist, Inanda (Collegians), KZN Development XI vs St Albans (PMB Oval), Maritzburg College vs Affies (Goldstones), Michaelhouse vs St Andrews, Grahamstown (Barns), Northwood vs St Johns (Varsity Oval), St Charles College vs Hudson Park (St Charles Oval), Westlake vs Jeppe (Varsity 2). Sunday (50-over): DHS vs Affies (Collegians), Glenwood vs St Johns (Varsity2),KearsneyvsKES(Varsity Oval), KZN Development XI vs Hudson Park (Barns), Maritzburg CollegevsJeppe(Goldstones),Michaelhouse vs St Davids (Eston), Northwood vs St Andrews (Pmb Oval),StCharlesCollegevsStAlbans (Richmond), Westlake vs PBHS (St Charles Oval). Monday (50-over): DHS vs St Andrews (Varsity 2), Glenwood vs KES (Collegians), Kearsney vs St Johns (Eston), KZN Development XI vs Jeppe (Pmb Oval), Maritzburg College vs Hudson Park (Goldstones), Michaelhouse vs St Albans (Varsity Oval), Northwood vs PBHS (Barns), St Charles College vs St Davids (St Charles Oval), Westlake vs Affies (Richmond). Tuesday (T20): DHS vs St Johns (Goldstones), Glenwood vs Hudson Park (Eston), Kearsney vs Affies (Barns), KZN Development XI vs PBHS (Collegians), Maritzburg College vs St Andrews (Richmond), Michaelhouse vs KES (Pmb Oval), Northwood vs St Albans (Varsity 2), St Charles College vs Jeppe (St Charles Oval), Westlake vs St Davids (Varsity Oval).

Champion canoeist

KHANYISANI DLOMO A GROUP of KwaZulu-Natal canoeists have shown their mettle representing South Africa at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Oklahoma City at the weekend. Maritzburg College pupil Louis Hattingh bagged two medals to seal his successful year. Hattingh won plenty of admirers with a courageous second-half fightback in the Under-18 Boys K1 race that saw him claiming a bronze medal. The 18-year-old capped his thrilling performance with a gold medal in the double K2 race with a 15-year-old Michaelhouse sprinter Jean van der Westhuizen. Van der Westhuizen had earlier secured the first world title for team South Africa in an adventurous Under-18 Boys K2 race. The duo were a dominant force

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Jean van der Westhuizen of Michaelhouse (left) and Louis Hattingh of Maritzburg College excelled at the Canoe World Championships getting bronze medals apiece and shared a gold medal in Oklahoma City.

Louis Hattingh and Jean van der Westhuizen delight at their win.

throughout the race, and regularly asserted themselves on the portages. They led out of the last portage and raced away, cruising to the victory. Hattingh, a nominee in the Junior Sportsman of the Year Award category at the KwaZulu-Natal Sports Awards in Durban this weekend, said their victory is the result an extensive training. “Itfeelsgreattobringbacksomemedalsfortheclubandthecoach.Itwasafirst

of his young guns. “Seventy percent of Team SA come from my team and going overseas and gettingmedalsisamazing,”Mustardsaid. “They are extremely excited. Hattingh has been the most consistent junior paddler in the country and to end the year with another medals is something to be desired. He is focused and doesn’t get caught up or easily distracted.”

time to win a gold medal. I worked hard and I am very proud,” Hattingh said. He said the style and dynamics of the race are different compared to home. “The bronze race was hard for me because I was chasing the front group. The double K2 race was better because it was a relaxed pace and we did not have to chase. My mother was watching through live streaming, I am sure she is proud.” Coach Craig Mustard said he is proud

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Pietermaritzburg Girl’s High pupil, Julia Trodd, recently participated in the World Canoe Marathon Championships representing South Africa. She came tenth in the junior women’s’ singles event and fourth in the junior women’s’ doubles event. Trodd and her Dusi partner placed second in the junior girls’ category at this year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon and she was also U18 victrix ludorum at the SA Schools’ Sprint Championship.