Volunteersunite torevampschool
PersistentwaterleaksinKariegaprioritised
SHANTI JAFTA
PERSISTENT water leaks across Kariega are not just wasting precious municipal resources, they are damaging roads, frustrating residents, and highlighting critical gaps in municipal service delivery, with Ward 49 alone recording 76 water-related reports and numerous unreported leaks in some areas of KwaNobuhle
According to the Ward 48 councillor, Franay van der Linde, as of 1 August, Kariega was left with just one water leak superintendent to service the entire town, a dramatic reduction from the municipal organogram's re-
quirement of five plumbers and three general workers, whilst currently operating with only one permanent plumber, one temporary plumber, and one superintendent
Whilst residents continue to watch daily water wastage from leaks reported months ago, the disconnect between reporting and resolution has become a costly cycle of patching potholes over underlying water damage, prompting this investigation into current reporting procedures, response timeframes, and municipal efforts to address these infrastructure challenges whilst providing residents with essential information on effective leak
reporting
According to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) spokesperson, Sithembiso Soyaya, the NMBM is committed to delivering effective services to the entire Metro community
"The municipality is fully clued in and acknowledges the concerns of Kariega residents, especially in Wards 48, 49, and 51, where persistent water leaks have become a major source of frustration "
Soyaya added that the diligence showcased by residents in reporting water leaks is valued, and the municipality encourages continuous collaboration in mitigating water wastage and unnecessary expenditure
"To ensure an effective response and to follow up on reported water leaks, residents are encouraged to contact our Operations Centre on 0800 20 5050 We are aware that some customers have experienced frustration when calling, hence we also encourage residents to use our email address: waterleaks@mandelametro co za," he said Soyaya added, "We have varying response times for different types of leaks For burst pipes, residents can expect repairs from 24 to 28 hours, and for minor leaks, our target timeframe is up to 10 working days "
When asked about the impact unattended water leaks have on the municipality's water expenditure, Soyaya said that the impact of water wastage due to leaks is complex and cannot be quantified, as the pipe diameter, water pressure, and duration all influence the amount of wastage
He added, "To ensure no water is wasted owing to leaks or unnecessary negligence, we urge residents to visit the Nelson
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TO give recognition to businesses with an excellent track record of providing good service, UD Express is running a competition where readers can win their share of R10,000 in cash
The winning businesses will receive bragging rights, having been chosen by their customers as the Trading Star
All readers have to do to stand a chance of winning weekly cash prizes of R500 each, is fill in a survey (which should not take longer than five minutes) where they nominate the business of their choice in various categories
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been
Mandela Bay Municipality website for water-saving tips By taking these simple steps, residents can contribute to preventing water wastage
"We have, however, had a significant improvement in responding to water leaks Out of 41 349 complaints, we have resolved 37 413 cases This leaves us with 3 936 outstanding water leak cases This progress reflects the municipality's commitment to addressing water leaks across the Metro," said Soyaya
To address the shortfalls in Kariega's municipal staff, Soyaya said, "The Water Distribution Division is in the process of filling vacancies, including promotions, and on average there is a 30% vacancy rate
“During the 2024/2025 financial year, about 15 positions have been filled that include plumb-
ers, supervisors, and general workers "
In filling multiple vacancies as per the municipal organogram, they aim to improve their response time to water leaks and enhance service delivery entirely, ensuring issues from 4 August 2025 raised by residents are addressed more effectively
"Furthermore, the matter regarding our regular water leak contractor has been resolved; residents can be assured that their water leak reports will be addressed " Soyaya concluded, "Recurring leaks in areas like Fairbridge Heights are usually caused by various factors including old infrastructure
Upgrading old infrastructure is a key priority, which is firmly built into our current and upcoming financial year plans "
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The water leak in Daly Street, Kariega CBD has allegedly
a recurring issue for months, with clean water coming out of a crack in the road. PHOTOS: SHANTI JAFTA
The unattended water leak in Daly Street created a hole in the street, prompting the closure of the street.
RosedaleClinicremainsclosed,servicescontinue
SHANTI JAFTA
RESIDENTS of Malgas Road in Rosedale came together to voice their concerns regarding the closure of the Rosedale Clinic in Kariega
The community engagement meeting was organised by ActionSA Kariega Sub-Regional Chairperson Sinclair Baatjies and Nelson Mandela Bay Regional Leader Sherwin Nel
The ActionSA officials brought Member of Parliament (MP) Dereleen James to hear the residents' concerns and relay their grievances to National Parliament
The meeting serves as a follow-up to the clinic s closure on 17 July, which was attributed to escalating gang-related gun violence in the area
Residents noted that the closure of the clinic has inconvenienced them greatly They shared their additional grievances fearfully, as they did not want to be named and targeted for speaking up
The residents' main concern is that if
the clinic remains closed, it would be detrimental to the community as looters will start stripping the premises of its assets
This is much like what happened to the Allanridge Community Hall, known as the Civic Centre, which was quickly stripped of every valuable piece of the building, from furniture to wires and even the roof
The Eastern Cape Department of Health spokesperson, Siyanda Manana, on Friday confirmed that the Department is aware of the closure of the Rosedale Clinic owing to gun violence in the area
"We are concerned about the violence in the area We are concerned about our patients
“The violence does affect the well-being of our patients," he said
"The patients were rerouted to surrounding clinics The clinic staff were also deployed to surrounding clinics We have engaged SAPS to help in dealing with the crime, we have a budget for security and we have also improved our security personnel," Manana added
Democratic Alliance Ward 49 Council-
lor Georgen Miggels shared in last week's edition that there will be alternative locations for all patients of the Rosedale Community Health Centre, which is confirmed by the Department of Health Manana confirmed that healthcare services will be operating from two locations: the Tambo Multipurpose Centre and V G K Hall located at the corner of Palm Drive and Bloekomboom Street in Gamble, both operating from 08:00 to 14:00 from Monday, 28 July
"From Wednesday, 23 July until Friday, 25 July, temporary operations took place at the Full Gospel Church situated at the corner of Cedar and Chestnut Streets, with the official starting date at the main centres being Thursday 24 July," Manana said
The available services include mental health services, antenatal care, psychol-
ogy services, X-ray facilities (which will be confirmed), mobile dental services scheduled twice per week, social worker services at Uitenhage Provincial Hospital Floor 1 (referrals and bookings only), and pre-packed medication (CCMDD) services Mobile dental services are scheduled twice per week, with the schedule to be made public soon
"Patients are reminded that tablet packets must accompany them when visiting any facility, and all chronic patients must bring their tablet packets when attending outreach sites," said Manana
Doctors will be available at either Park Centre or Tamboville Multipurpose Centre on a rotation basis
Patients should take note of these arrangements to ensure they receive the healthcare services they require at the appropriate locations and times
VWGAemployeesandtheirlovedoneslendahelpinghand
ON Saturday, 2 August, more than 150 Volkswagen Group Africa’s (VWGA) employees and their loved ones came together to restore and repair Swartkops Primary School in Gqeberha through an employee volunteerism programme
The Show of Hands programme allows employees and their loved ones to lend a helping hand in the communities which surround Plant Kariega Swartkops Primary School was identified after a detailed scoping exercise by the Volkswagen Community Trust
“Among five potential beneficiaries, it was clear that Swartkops Primary needed our support the most,” said Nonkqubela Maliza, VWGA Corporate and Government Affairs Director “Education is one of the key focus areas of the Volkswagen Community Trust and for us this was an oppor-
tunity to create a lasting impact,” Maliza added
Volunteers carried out essential work to improve the school’s infrastructure, from painting and general repairs to restoring ablution facilities, fixing broken windows and doors, and beautifying the grounds with murals and garden maintenance
The effort also included donating reading books and installing soccer and rugby poles, ensuring the children have both a safe and stimulating environment for learning and play VWGA invested over R750 000 in the refurbishment of the school
In addition to the physical improvements to the school, volunteers also packed over 3 000 nutritional meal parcels, a gesture made possible through a continued partnership with the SPAR Distribution Centre in Perseverance, which funded the food
required for the parcels
Each parcel will assist in feeding four family members These parcels will also be donated to local Non-Profit Organisations as well as Early Childhood Development Centres
Also in attendance was VWGA Managing Director and Chairperson Martina Biene, who never misses an opportunity to lend a helping hand “Our employees have chosen to give their time and energy, which, to me, is the most meaningful donation of all,” said Biene
Founded 108 years ago, Swartkops Primary School is a quintile three, no-fee public school that currently caters to 649 learners from Grade R to Grade 7
Originally established as a small community school, it has since grown into a vital educational institution serving children
from the broader Swartkops, Motherwell, KwaDwesi and KwaZakhele areas
Many of the learners come from financially challenged households, and the school operates under tight resource constraints Despite these challenges, the school continues to provide a safe and nurturing space for its learners
For Volkswagen Group Africa, supporting Swartkops Primary was not only about restoring infrastructure, but about investing in a school that plays a critical role in shaping the future of the community’s children
The VWGA Show of Hands programme, which started in 2011, has positively impacted 38 non-profit organisations and schools with over R8 million invested in an effort to uplift impoverished communities
The Rosedale Clinic closed its doors indefinitely since 17 July, owing to gun violence in the area.
Member of Parliament, Dereleen James engaging with residents of Malgas Road, Rosedale regarding the closure of the Rosedale Clinic and escalating gun violence in the area. PHOTOS: SHANTI JAFTA
Ontvang‘genadeopgenade’bydamesoggendopDespatch
DANIELLE SAAYMAN
DIE Pay It Forward Community Foundation (PIFCF) hou vanjaar hul sesde damesoggend op 30 Augustus 2025 by die Lighuis Sentrum op Despatch Die gasspreker vir die geleentheid is Vasti Burger, dogter van die bekende prediker en skrywer, dr Isak Burger
Vasti is ‘n vrou met ‘n aangrypende getuienis wat harte aanraak Dames kan hul dus regmaak vir ‘n oggend van inspirasie, geloof, hoop, genesing, en om ‘genade op genade’ te ontvang
Sonja du Preez, visionêr van die organisasie, sê vroue ervaar daagliks geweldige druk en plaas ook baie druk op hulself, hetsy dit in hul
persoonlike lewens of professionele loopbane is, en daarom is dit juis so belangrik dat hulle vanjaar ‘n boodskap van genade hoor “Ons lewe in ‘n wêreld waar ons samelewing op die punt gekom het waar ons so hard op onsself geraak het En waar ons half genadeloos is teenoor onsself en daardeur vir onsself rêrig onhaalbare doelwitte stel, en dit laat ons baie dae soos mislukkings voel God se genade is groter, want ons stel groter eise aan onsself as wat Hy aan ons stel,” sê Du Preez
Die organisasie wil vanjaar ook werklik hul naam gestand doen deur terug te gee aan die dames wat die oggend bywoon “Nie net deur die bemoediging wat hulle ontvang daai dag nie maar deur die bederfpakkies wat ons vir elkeen gaan gee en dan ook die
groot geskenke wat ons wil ‘pay it forward’ daai dag,” vertel Du Preez Lizé Saunders, medestigterslid van PIFCF, vertel dat die vorige jaar se damesoggend ‘n lewensveranderende ervaring was, met talle vroue wat genesing ontvang het En daarom nooi sy alle dames hartlik uit om die jaar se damesoggend by te woon, want sy glo dat daar vir elke vrou ‘n persoonlike boodskap wag Verder glo sy dat die jaar ‘n nog groter geestelike impak gaan hê, as gevolg van formidabele gasspreker, Vasti Burger “Vasti is ongelooflik lief vir die Here Daar is ‘n diepte omtrent haar wat jy nie kan beskryf nie Sy het ‘n verhouding met die Here wat ek dink ‘n mens nie sommer in woorde kan sit nie Jy voel dit net ”
Die damesoggend begin om 09:00 Kaartjies kos R150 per persoon (verversings ingesluit)
Vasti Burger, gasspreker by vanjaar se PIFCF damesoggend. FOTO: VERSKAF
Brandwagkrywéérmeer as100punteinrugby
HANNES SCHOEMAN
DIE eerste rugbyspan van die Hoërskool
Brandwag het vir die tweede keer in sy bestaan honderd punte in ’n wedstryd aangeteken
Die span van Kariega het op sy tuisveld met 109-0 teen DF Malherbe gewen
Brandwag het ook ’n paar jaar gelede meer as honderd punte teen Otto du Plessis aangeteken Dit was uit die staanspoor eenrigtingverkeer
Brandwag was rustyd 34-0 voor, maar toe die spanne vir die tweede helfte op die veld verskyn het die damwal gebars toe Brandwag ’n verstommende 75 punte bygevoeg het Die span speel die hele jaar kookwaterrugby en is ook beloon met vier spelers wat die OP se Cravenweekspanne gehaal het
Damian le Roux en Zandré van der Mescht het die senior span gehaal, terwyl Wendall Uithaler en Angelo Davids in die Akade-
miespan ingesluit is Brandwag se afrigter, Wikus Viljoen, het rede om vandag breë bors rond te loop Hy het beslis ’n span waarop hy trots kan wees
Viljoen sê Brandwag het tot dusver vanjaar 16 wedstryde gespeel waarvan hy 13 gewen het Sy span se taak is egter nog nie afgehandel nie omdat drie moeilike wedstryde nog voorlê Brandwag se laaste teenstanders vir die jaar is die omgekrapte vyftiental van Nico Malan, Daniel Pienaar en Pearson
Dieuitslaeis:
Rugby (Brandwag eerste): 1ste wen 109-0; 2de wen
51-12; 3de wen 76-0; o16A wen 92-0; o16B wen 68-0; o15A wen 24-0; o15B wen 24-0; o14A wen 51-14; o14B klop Bonzai o15A 43-21
Netbal:o19A wen 43-19; o19B wen 29-8; o16A wen 308; o16B wen 29-3; o15A wen 35-13; o15B gelykop 13-13 Hokkie: 1ste gelykop 1-1; 2de gelykop 1-1; o16A verloor 0-1; o16B wen 2-0; o16C verloor 0-4 teen o14B; o14A gelykop 1-1
Zandré van
SusannahFourievs. InnesInter-schools
Susannah Fourie Primary hosted the first annual interschools event vs Innes Primary this past weekend Two sports and culture funfilled days were experienced by the learners from these local schools On Friday, 1 August, learners participated in cultural activities including choir, dance, and poetry performances. There were also chess and tennis matches to kick off the sporting activities On Saturday, 2 August, the main events were rugby and netball matches in which learners from the two schools could challenge one another Making friends and building relationships was the main aim of the event, and it was a great success. Pictured with netball players from the two competing schools are the principals of Innes Primary and Susannah Fourie Primary In front are Savannah Rose Schoeman, Mia Plaatjies, Carle-nay Lewis and Amahle Sume At the back are Luana Bester (principal of Innes Primary) and Daelina Grobler (principal of Susannah Fourie Primary). PHOTO: SUPPLIED
DespatchersoppadnaWêreldbeker-toernooi
HANNES SCHOEMAN
DRIE Despatchers is gekies om Suid-Afrika by internasionale bofbaltoernooie te verteenwoordig Al drie is lede van die Red Sox-klub op die dorp Derono Potgieter is lid van die SA o 18-span wat van 5 tot 14 September in Okinawa in Japan aan die Wêreldbeker-toernooi sal deelneem, terwyl Danie Coetzer een van die span se afrigters is
Die nasionale span vertrek op 2 September na die buiteland
Klein Luke Bailes is tans in Taiwan waar hy tot 3 Augustus aan die Wêreldbeker-toernooi vir o 12-spelers deelneem Potgieter en Coetzer is albei besig om groot opgang in die sport op nasionale vlak te maak
Hulle was in Januarie in dieselfde hoedanigheid lede van die SA span wat in Boksburg aan die kwalifiserende Afrika-toernooi deelgeneem het Daar het
Suid-Afrika sy vermoë duidelik onderstreep deur Zimbabwe met 19-1 (twee keer) en daarna met 24-2 en 22-0 uit te skakel
Potgieter het met ’n uitstaande vertoning seker gemaak dat hy die lang pad Japan toe aandurf, terwyl Coetzer met sy jarelange ervaring self sy merk gemaak het Potgieter is duidelik vir hoër louere bestem vorentoe
Coetzer het self ’n groot toekoms en kan eerder vroeër as later by die SA senior span betrokke raak Coetzer sê daar word nou oortyd gewerk om die nodige fondse te bekom vir die skouspel in Japan
Dit is ook hoogtyd dat spanne wat Suid-Afrika verteenwoordig die nodige finansiële ondersteuning kry Plaaslik begin die nuwe seisoen einde Oktober waar die klubs weer in aksie sal wees
sal vanaf 17:00 beskikbaar
Danie Coetzer
FOTO’S: VERSKAF
Derono Potgieter.
Luke Bailes
der Mescht sny deur ’n gaping.