useful, objective, credible and reliable.
The family of Jerobejin Van Wyk is no closer to obtaining justiceayearafterhismurder, with the accused in the trial still on a waiting list for a mental evaluation
Fifty-sixyear-old Daniel Smit was arrested in February last year after 13-year-old Van Wyk's body parts were found in a drain on his property On Monday, February 27, 2023, the court heard that Smit is currently number 29 on the waiting list for a bed at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital, where he is due to undergo a medical evaluation
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PUBLISHER: GERHARD OLIVIER
ADVERTISING: KLEINTJIE KOEN
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MANAGER: FS/NW: LEBOHANG TLABA
MANAGER: NC/EC/WC: NTHABISENG MOHLAKOANA
DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER: CORNÉ VAN NOORDWYK
ONLINE MEDIA ASSISTANT: LINDIWE LUTHANI
SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANT: IRENE THAKELI
SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER: GIOVANNI VAN DEVENTER
SUBSCRIPTIONS: JUNITHA VOLSCHENK
Itwasinitiallyallegedthatthe teenager was killed after he andafriendstolemangoesoff atreeintheaccused'sgarden
Two days later, parts of the boy's body were found in a drain on the accused's property In December, more human remains, later identified as belonging to Van Wyk, were found in an oil drum on the accused's property The remains were foundbythenewownerwhile he was cleaning the property. The case has been postponed toMarch27.
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Hoërskool Vredendal se matriekklas en onderwysers van 2022 het uitstekende prestasiesindieNSS-eksamen behaal In Afrikaans Huistaal is HSV die toppresteerder in die Weskusdistrik met ‘n vakgemiddeld van 69,5%. Daar is ook 12 A-simbole in die vak behaal Dit plaas HSV dan ook sewende in die WesKaap vir Afrikaans Huistaal EngelsEersteAddisioneleTaal word tweede geplaas in die Weskus uit skole wat Engels EAT aanbied; aangesien 24 Asimbole en ‘n vakgemiddeld van 73,4% behaal is. HSV se Fisiese Wetenskap-leerders het die meeste A-simbole in dieWeskusdistrikbehaal.HSV het ook die grootste
persentasie matriekleerders (41%) gehad wat die vak geneem het. Lewensoriënteringhetookdie beste in die Weskusdistrik gevaar met ‘n vakgemiddeld van68,3% Rekeningkundeen Rekenaartoepassingstegnologi e was ook beide die toppresteerders in die Weskusdistrik. In Wiskunde was HSV se matriekgroep die toppresteerder in die Weskusdistrik met ook die meeste A-simbole (elf) wat in die distrik behaal is. Kring 5, waarvanHSV deelis, vaar ook diebesteindieWeskusdistrik. Wiskundige Geletterdheid is ook die toppresteerder in die Weskusdistrik, met Kring 5 watdiehoogsteuitslaebehaal
OpSaterdag,18Februarie,het
Laerskool Vredendal soos oudergewoonte 'n baie suksesvolle "Piekniek en Musiek"aandgehou Daarwas geeët, gespeel en gedans Dit
was 'n vrolike atmosfeer en almal het dit geniet. “Ons wil graag baie dankie sê vir almal wat die dag so suksesvol gemaakhet”
“Pleks daarvan dat die Eskom-raad ʼn forensiese oudit gebied in die lig van dít wat ʼn gerespekteerde uitvoerende hoof van ʼn onderneming sê, spring hulle op en af en beëindig sy kontrak Dit laat jou vra ‘hoekom?’” sê Ghaleb Cachalia, die DA se woordvoerder oor openbare ondernemings Hy sê
De Ruyter het die afgelope paar jaar met “een hand agter sy rug, indien nie albei hande nie”, sy bes gedoen om Eskom reg te ruk – en dat die onvermoë om die kragvoorsiener om te keer onlosmaaklik gekoppel is aan korrupsie en sabotasie. De Ruyter het as fluitjieblaser na vore getree, terwyl ander soos hy al vermoor is. “Hy is van verraad beskuldig; dat hy ʼn polisieman is … toe hy vergiftig is, het niemand in die regering by hom gestaan nie. Toe hy bedank het, wou niemand hierdie gifbeker oorneem nie. “Die ANC is onkant betrap en die raad kom nou tot die ANC se redding deur die uitvoerende hoof aan te val. Indien jy ernstig is daaroor om Eskom te herstel, sal jy hierdie aantygings ook ernstig opneem
“Maar De Ruyter word ʼn verraaier genoem. Wat wil jy hê moet die man doen?” sê Cachalia. Wayne
Duvenage, hoof van die drukgroep
Outa, sê ook die ANC se reaksie op De Ruyter se bewerings is tekenend
“Hulle is op die verdediging; hulle weet hulle gaan onder verdenking geplaas word.” Hy meen ook ʼn
forensiese ondersoek – deeglik en onafhanklik – gaan bewyse van hoëvlakpolitici se aandadigheid by korrupsie blootlê en dat dit die ANC gaan “laat sleg lyk”. De Ruyter het die probleme en misdadigheid boonop deurlopend aangemeld en ingrypings ingestel om korrupsie en sabotasie te pak. “Indien goeie bestuur dan is dat jy ʼn ‘polisieman’ moet wees, dan is dit nou maar só,” sê Duvenage. “Want hy het beslis nie die steun van die regering hiervoor gehad nie.” Daar was reeds een vorige aanslag op De Ruyter se lewe – in Desember verlede jaar toe hy vermoedelik met ʼn sianiedkonkoksie vergiftig is – en twee speursersante is gestuur om ʼn verklaring hieroor by hom af te neem. Niemand is tot dusver in verband met die voorval aangekeer nie, en Bheki Cele, minister van polisie, sê daar word nog gewag vir die uitslag van forensiese toetse. “Daar was geen medelye of ʼn vergadering met die president of die minister van openbare ondernemings nie; geen samestelling van ʼn top- forensiese span om vas te stel wie De Ruyter probeer vermoor het nie,” sê Duvenage. “Indien mense op hoë vlak dus nie soos ander gewone mense op hierdie goed reageer nie, moet jy jouself afvra: Hoekom nie?” De Ruyter het vroeër gesê hy gaan met vakansie, wil tyd saam met sy gesin deurbring en gaan ʼn ruk in die buiteland tyd deurbring omdat dit waarskynlik goed vir sy gesondheid sal wees. Cachalia sê as De Ruyter “in die land bly, sal iemand hom waarskynlik vermoor”. ʼn Tussentydse hoof, Calib Cassim, is intussen by Eskom aangewys Cachalia bestempel hom as ʼn “goeie man”, maar sê hy is net as oppasser daar geplaas. “Die ANC gaan die een of ander marionet vir die pos vind wat doen wat hulle vereis En wat hulle wil hê, is korrupsie,” sê Cachalia
SENUWEE RAAKGEBOOR De Ruyter is die langsdienende Eskomhoof nog, en het ʼn instelling probeer red wat met “kleefband en rubberbandjies aanmekaargehou word”, sê Duvenage. “Die krisis waarin die land hom bevind, lê voor die deur van die president en die regerende party. Hulle het hierdie krisis geskep Nou probeer hulle die blaam verplaas
“Wanneer jy die man en nie die bal begin speel nie en persoonlike aanvalle begin doen, moet jy weet iemand is desperaat,” sê hy Cachalia sê die president het ʼn ramptoestand afgekondig om Eskom te red en ʼn einde aan beurtkrag te maak, maar wanneer die Eskom-hoof praat oor korrupsie wat nie gepak word nie en bydra tot die probleem, word sy termyn summier beëindig. “Die werkswyse van die ANC is vrot. Die oplossing, dat mense toegelaat moet word om ‘te eet’, is die ‘oplossing’ wat ons in die eerste plek in hierdie gemors gekry het. “Jy laat dus diefstal toe, solank as wat die keiser sy gedeelte kry Dit maak die hele situasie vrot Ons almal weet wat die oplossing is: forensiese oudits en privatisering, maar die ANC sal dit nie in werking stel nie. “Die enigste ander alternatief is om in die blêddie donkerte te sit tot ons in 2024 van die duisternis ontslae kan raak En wie het ons in die duisternis gedompel? Die satan – en die ANC is daardie satan.” Peter Attard Montalto, hoof van kapitaalmarkte by Intellidex, het die afgelope week aan Financial Times gesê die Eskom-raad se reaksie op die uitlatings was “vreemd”. “Dit lyk nogal vreemd dat ʼn raad ʼn uitvoerende hoof sal uitdwing ná ʼn onderhoud oor die wydbekende kwessies van gewinstrewende gedrag (rentseeking) tussen die regering en Eskom. “ʼn Senuwee is duidelik raakgeboor en die raad het geswig voor politieke druk om hom te verwyder,” sê Attard Montalto
FLUITJIEBLASER Fikile Mbalula, sekretaris-generaal van die ANC, het vandeesweek klappe na De Ruyter uitgedeel en hom met regstappe gedreig oor bewerings dat senior politici by korrupsie betrokke is en dat hy dit onder die aandag van minstens een minister gebring het. Hy het De Ruyter as “regs” bestempel en gesê die ANC verwerp sy “ongelukkige, roekelose en ongegronde bewerings van politieke inmenging en korrupsie by die beleërde” instelling Mbalula sê ook De Ruyter moet met bewyse vorendag kom. Die strafregkenner Llewellyn Curlewis sê egter die ANC se kans op sukses met enige regstappe teen De Ruyter is skraal. “Waarheid in die openbare belang is ʼn verweer in die reg. Die stawing [vir ANC-betrokkenheid by korrupsie] is in die Zondo-kommissie se verslag,” sê Curlewis. De Ruyter het wél ʼn verpligting om enige inligting oor misdaad aan te meld – wat hy blykbaar tot dusver herhaaldelik en onsuksesvol probeer doen het. “Ek dink hy het die regte ding gedoen Hy behoort beskerming te geniet, eerder as om onder die bus gegooi te word,” sê Curlewis Hy meen ook De Ruyter word nou ʼn sondebok gemaak vir alles wat tot dusver skeefgeloop het by Eskom,
maar dat hy as fluitjieblaser en verantwoordelike uitvoerende hoof waarskynlik sy wetlike verpligtings behoorlik nagekom het. Dr. Dirk Hermann, bestuurshoof van Solidariteit, stem saam dat De Ruyter op ʼn baie hoë vlak ʼn fluitjieblaser-slagoffer is wat nou op verskeie fronte aangeval word. “Hy het gewerk in ʼn toksiese omgewing wat sistemies korrup is. Sistemiese korrupsie se probleem is dat dit deur die hele sisteem strek; van senior vlak, regdeur Verskeie besluitnemers is betrokke en hy het dit in die onderhoud uitgelig. “Nou raak dit ʼn dilemma. Jy moet sekere goed openbaar, maar jy is in die toksiese sisteem. ʼn Gewone fluitjieblaser sal dit dalk anoniem aan die media bekend maak, maar hy het dit onder sy eie naam gedoen, wat ʼn baie groot risiko vir ʼn fluitjieblaser is. “Dit is iets waarvoor ʼn mens hom moet loof Hy het homself baie blootgestel ter wille van die waarheid,” sê Hermann.
TALLE SAKE In die opspraakwekkende onderhoud verwys De Ruyter onder meer na ʼn aankoper wat namens Eskom kniebeskermers aangekoop het. By die plaaslike hardewarewinkel kos dit sowat R320, maar in Eskom se geval is R80 000 per item betaal. Die persoon is aangekeer net om die volgende dag weer vrygelaat te word – met geen aanklag teen hom ingedien nie – en glo in opdrag van ʼn senior polisiebeampte. “Ek dink dit is billik om te sê dat die polisie se reaksie tot dusver teleurstellend was,” sê De Ruyter in die onderhoud Hy verwys ook na die betrokkenheid van minstens vier georganiseerde misdaadsindikate in Mpumalanga wat in mafia-styl met hul bedrywighede by Eskom voortgaan en sê daar is ʼn welbekende verband tussen diefstal, sabotasie, verkrygingsongerymdhede en politiek Hy voer ook aan daar is gereeld moorde in Mpumalanga wat met dié misdadigheid verband hou. By die Tutuka-kragsentrale dra die stasiebestuurder ʼn koeëlvaste baadjie en vergesel gewapende wagte hom, sê De Ruyter En op Standerton is daar ʼn kabaal wat geld maak uit teëspoed by Tutuka: ʼn probleem word doelbewus veroorsaak en moet dan reggestel word – terwyl ʼn kontrakteur skep danksy instandhoudingswerk wat opsetlik veroorsaak is. Cele sê in hierdie stadium het die polisie al 86 mense in verband met misdadigheid aangekeer, terwyl die Valke 31 ander in hegtenis geneem het. Die polisieminister het in ʼn onderhoud met Newzroom Afrika ook gesê die polisie het vantevore gevra vir die name van hooggeplaastes wat glo by misdaad betrokke is, maar dit nog nie gekry nie. “Ons glo die naam van die politikus sal ook tussen daardie name wees; bring dit asseblief vir ons.”
gereageer nie. Janneman was een van die mans wat die ram-partytjie by Henbase Lodge bygewoon het waar Kruger daarna dood is. Die jong boer het verdwyn en sy bakkie, met sy oorskot in die voertuig, is diep onder die water in die Vaalrivier naby die lodge gevind. Terwyl voorlopige verslae die oorsaak van dood as verdrinking identifiseer, word daar nou onlangs aangevoer dat Kruger se dood moontlik beplan kon gewees het. Somige het ook uitgevaar oor Kruger se dood, en sommige mense het Janneman as 'n ‘potensiële verdagte’ geïdentifiseer met die polisie wat glo op sy bakkie beslag gelê het vir hulle
ondersoek. Mohlala het verduidelik daar is nie beslag gelê op die bakkie nie en sê Janneman het sy bakkie uit vrye wil aan hulle gegee vir hulle ondersoek. Die bakkie is vroeg in Februarie weer aan hom terug besorg. Maar, daar is toe later in die media berig dat Janneman 'n diefstal-klag by die polisie ingedien het oor 'n ring met ‘n waarde van sowat ‘n kwart-miljoen Rand, wat uit die bakkie verdwyn het, terwyl dit in die polisie se besit was. Mohlala het bevestig dat Janneman ’n diefstalklag gelê het, maar het geen kommentaar oor die aangeleentheid gelewer of verdure inligting verskaf aan die media nie
Een van die mans wat saam met Willem Kruger, die 29-jarige boer van Groblersdal, Limpopo, wat daardie noodlottige nag in November 2022 van ‘n partytjie wat hulle beide bygewoon het verdwyn het, is gedreig met arrestasie.Ander mediabronne berig dat 'n man wat geïdentifiseer is as 'n 'berugte polisiebeampte, een van die partytjiegangers, Janneman Uys, 'n taamlike ‘vreemde’ boodskap op Facebookgestuur het. Die boodskap (soos in foto gesien kan word) is aan Janneman en brigadier Selvy Mohlala, ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens
Mpumalanga-woordvoerder, gestuur, maar nie een van hulle het tot dusver daarop
Authentic Stones, the firm which made rapper AKA’s tombstone, has put an end to the speculation of theft or foul play regarding the disappearance of AKA’s tombstone from his grave last week. The rapper's tombstone, which
was unveiled at his grave on the day of his funeral, has since been removed. A Twitter user sparked panic after visiting the rapper’s grave to find that the tombstone was not there. This led to speculation from fans regarding the whereabouts of the tombstone. Authentic Stones operations manager Josh Kenp confirmed to the media that the tombstone was not stolen, but taken back by the stone mason because it could not be installed on the same day as the burial. He said the tombstone was removed to prevent it from sinking into the ground and the family was aware that the tombstone was removed after the burial. Kenp also explained that the tombstone was only at the funeral on
Saturday for unveiling purposes and was removed afterwards. “Once the burial is over, we still need to lay a concrete foundation, and then we install the tombstone on top of the concrete foundation. “Otherwise, if we had installed the tombstone on Saturday, the tombstone would have sunk,” said Kenp. He explained that tombstones were not always erected on the day of the funeral as cemeteries had rules that allowed for tombstones to be installed three to six months after the funeral. “The cemetery gave us special permission to install the tombstone of the late legend immediately, this is why we will install it back again, either this week or next week,” said Kenp.
• President Lincolnwasapproached bya womanafter apoliticalspeech… If you were my husband I would poison your tea. Lincoln replied...if you are my wife I’ll gladlydrink it.
• I wonder what my parents did to fight boredom before the internet. I asked my 17 brothersand sisters and they didn't know either.
Sticking our heads in the sand about suicide doesn’t make it go away, in fact, it could be on the rise, as the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) reports receiving over 41 800 suicide calls a year. SADAG runs the only suicide crisis helpline in the country and receives hundredsof calls every day from people who feel that suicide is the only option they have. “From the calls we have received to the suicide helplines over the last eight months, the main contributing factors for someone feeling suicidal include relationship issues, financial problems and trauma. But still, the main contributing factor is undiagnosed and untreated depression,” says SADAG’s Operations Director, Cassey Chambers. The passing's of radiant young South African musician, Kathryn Swain, who died by suicide at the age of 25, local singer Nichume Siwundla, and Ian Visser, a Grade 12 boy who took his own life in Pretoria, are some of the well-known suicides we have seen in the news before. However, there are so many more people who die by suicide, who don’t make headlines. These suicides, as well as the alarming figures from the suicide helpline, highlights the urgent need to share information on suicide prevention.
A Taboo And Sometimes Ignored Topic: “Suicide is still a very taboo topic in our current society – no one wants to talk about, no one knows how to talk about it, and parents don’t want to talk to their children about it, in case it ‘plants ideas’. However, suicide is a very real issue in South Africa and we can see that by the increasing number of calls we are receiving every day to the suicide helpline from people all over the country,” says Chambers. Do You Know The Warning Signs? SADAG
urges families, parents, loved ones and colleagues to take every suicide mention, threat or attempt seriously.
“Over 75% of people who die by suicide tell someone first – it is so important to know the warning signs so you can identify when someone you care about needs urgent help,” says psychiatrist and psychologist Dr Frans Korb
Warning signs may include the following: Changes in eating and sleeping habits; Loss of interest in usual activities; Neglect of personal appearance or hygiene; Withdrawal from friends and family; Running away from home; Alcohol and substance abuse; Unnecessary risk-taking behaviour; Obsession with death and dying; Numerous physical complaints linked to emotional distress; and feelings of boredom, agitation, nervousness, sadness, loneliness or hopelessness. Every day people around the country get up and pretend everything is okay, yet inside they feel overwhelmed, are desperate and not coping. Many people have no access to mental health treatment or care, or don’t know where to even begin to get the help they need, besides the stigma that prevents people from speaking up and getting help, until it is too late. If you are suffering from depression and don’t know where to turn, please call the SADAG suicide helpline on 0800 567 567 for free telephone counselling, information, crisis intervention and referrals to resources countrywide. They are open and available seven days a week, 365 days a year. It’s never too late to seek help – there is always help! There is always hope!
Source: South African Depression and Anxiety Group & Teen Suicide Prevention Week
Despite Many People Fearing That Talking About It Will Plant Ideas In The Minds Of Vulnerable People, Suicide Is On The Rise
Ingredients:
6 Eskort Sweet BBQ Loin Steaks
½ C Chakalaka
2 C cheddar cheese
3 tomatoes cut into thick slices
2 Red onions chopped
4 eggs
2 C baby spinach
½ C mayo
4 large potatoes cooked
Oil for deep frying
For the bun:
560 ml cake flour
30 ml baking powder
190 ml maize meal
45 ml sugar
5 ml ground nutmeg
5 ml salt
45 ml butter
250 ml milk
canola oil for shallow frying
Method: Heat your oven to 200°C. Cook the steaks for 3 min per side in a frying pan over a high heat. Top the steaks with the Chakalaka and add the cheddar. Bake the steaks in the oven for about 5 min to melt the cheese. Cut the boiled potatoes into wedges and fry them in hot oil until golden. Method for buns: In a large mixing bowl mix together flour, baking powder, maize meal, sugar, nutmeg, and salt. Add butter. Make a well, add milk and knead dough for 30 seconds – 1 minute to form soft dough. Set aside for 10 mins to rest. Shape dough into an 80g buns and allow to rest for about 5 min. In a large saucepan, heat oil and fry the buns over medium heat until golden brown and cooked through (about 7 minutes). Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen towel.
Serve: Assemble the burgers by adding some mayo to the buns and then the baby spinach. Add the steaks and then the red onions with the tomato slices. Fry the eggs and top the burger with a sexy fried egg.
God is landuit, moeg vir al die strooi, ons net so gelos, en kon nie Sy beloftes oor ons land nakom nie. Wie kan Hom kwalik neem? Hy het al soveel keer gewaarsku dat ons moes terugdraai maar ons wou nie, ons hou aan in ons afvalligheid en sondes en dryf dag vir dag verder weg. Nou het Hy groener weivelde gaan soek. Waarheen Hy is weet ek nie! Dis natuurlik glad nie waar nie, maar ek gaan BAIE BAIE eerlik met jou wees, daar is dae wat ek presies so voel, en lank terug word ek gekonfronteer met hierdie vraag toe ek kyk na 'n insetsel op TV van Louie Giglio, toehy gevra word of daar nog hoop is vir SuidAfrika. Ek kom toemet 'n skok agter dat hy meer hoop het vir ons land as ek, want as buitestaander sien hy dinge wat ek miskyk en hy noem dinge wat my verstom laat staan. Jy sien, ek laat te veel toedat die dag tot dag dinge in die land my negatief stem en ek wil wil hoop verloor. Maar God sien die prentjie totaal anders, en sy mening is vir seker heeltemal anders as myne, want Hy is in beheer, en al lyk of voel dit nie so, Hy kan die land herstel.
Ek dink egter steeds dat die sleutel hiertoe in ons eie hande lê:
"As My volk oor wie My naam uitgeroep is, berou toonen bid, en vra na My wil en terugdraai van hulle bose weë af, sal Ek luister uit die hemel en hulle sonde vergewe, en hulle land herstel." (2 Kron 7:14)
Dit vraag wat ek myself afvra, is wanneer gaan ek hiermee begin?
Ek het geen te kort aan drama in my eie lewe nie, maar jy kry nou mos daai meisies wat drama tot 'n hele nuwe vlak toe vat Alles is beter en groter en jy is convinced dis Chuck Norris se sussie want alles wat jy doen het sy natuurlik beter gedoen Totdat sy dit actually moet begin doen dan brand die huisie vinniger af as wat Zuma geld aan nog 'n Nkandla kan bestee. En dan is dit mos nou jou skuld want dis te klein of dat te min Maar dis nie die storie wat agterna die rondte in die dorp doen nie Sy's die victim, geslag soos'n gesteelde bees en die stukke daar gelos om deur die aasvoëls stuk vir stuk opgepik te word Mandela is nie 'n match vir haar long walk for freedom nie Kry tog asseblief net vir Ellen of Oprah op die lyn oor alles wat sy moes deurmaak...
Klitsie het nuus vir jou Mense gaan luister en saam gesels maar nadat die laaste dop gesluk is, gaan jy nog steeds die een wees wat weer van vooraf jou idee van hoe wonderlik jy is moet verkoop
Kom ons hoop daar is nog 'n sucker wat jou 'n kans gaan gee
Tot volgende week
Colour is what most people are drawn to in a garden and should be tactfully incorporated into your design for maximum impact. For glorious, instant gratification - nothing beats bedding plants; and just a few trays of seedlings will transform your garden into a kaleidoscope of brilliant colour. Colour will also enhance the visibility of your business and bold floral plantings can be changed seasonally to continually attract attention. Colour will also add value to your home if you are hoping to sell, and can be used to effectively brighten up a dull garden for special occasions like weddings or other functions. If strategically placed where they will have the most impact, pots will transform any area of your garden; and many bedding plants grow beautifully in containers. A few groupings of flowering pots and hanging baskets will instantly add a warm and welcoming touch to entrances, patios and other areas. Because February can be a very hot month in most regions of the country, and the weather unpredictable, most gardeners don’t even think about their winter garden until it’s almost too late to sow and plant. Some gardeners may even wonder if it’s worth the effort and expense of planting a winter garden; but this need not be expensive; and to get the most out of your plants and your budget, you need to plan and prepare for winter now. If you need colour right now to take you through to autumn; visit
Advertorial:
your garden centre to select some instant colour seedling bags. As your summer garden slowly starts to fade, keep on watering and deadheading your summer flowers and perennials to keep them neat and blooming for longer, but slowly start making space and preparing your beds, borders or pots for winter plants. Most bedding plants need well drained soil to thrive and thorough soil preparation is vital; so start by digging the bed over thoroughly. Add generous quantities of compost or other organic matter and a handful of bone meal to each square meter of bed. Leave the beds fallow until planting time in March or April. For pots, use a very well drained potting mixture and add some bone meal. If you are planting a mixture of various varieties, remember to group plants together which have the same watering requirements. Water newly planted seedlings regularly until they become established; and don’t forget to water those growing in the shade of trees because they compete with the tree roots for both water and nutrients. Dense trees also prevent a lot of rainwater from actually reaching the ground. Once the soil temperatures have dropped significantly you can start to sow or plant out your trays of seedlings. Remember to water the beds and the trays of seedlings thoroughly the day before planting or sowing. Always plant in the cool of the afternoon; and to avoid damaging the seedlings, gently coax them out of their trays by pushing them out from below. Another common mistake gardeners make is to plant their seedlings too deep; never bury the stems of seedlings or cover their crowns with soil as this can cause them to rot. Water well after transplanting and keep the soil moist but not soggy until they are established. Some winter seedlings are hardier to frost and cold temperatures than others; and some are more suited to humid climates than others, so ensure that you select those perfect for your region and buy your seedlings from a reputable garden centre.
ONLY
PER WEEK (PLACED IN 100 NEWSPAPERS ACROSS SA)
The Second-generation Volkswagen Amarok is nearly here, with VWSA having confirmed that the highly anticipated bakkie range will officially go on sale on March 18. But the carmaker has revealed local pricing ahead of launch, with the 10-model range priced between R599, 000 for the basespec double cab and R1, 105,000 for the range-topping Aventura V6. The single cab derivatives are set to be launched during the second quarter of this year, with pricing to follow at a later date. The Volkswagen Amarok is now based on the Ford Ranger and built right here at the Silverton plant in Gauteng, but it’s not just a badge engineering exercise as the German carmaker has differentiated the exterior styling, with the front end having been completely redesigned, and the cabin has also been given its own unique touches. The Volkswagen has however been positioned more upmarket than its Blue Oval cousin, which is somewhat more affordable with the diesel double cab Rangers priced between R486,000 and R953,500. The move to a Ford platform
was a sensible one. Although the previous Amarok was a class act in its own right, global sales volumes were too low to justify the development of a new model and hence the partnership with Ford has made it possible. The change in architecture has also resulted in a somewhat bigger bakkie, with the new Volkswagen Amarok being 96mm longer than its predecessor, with 173mm of that going into the wheelbase to procure more cabin space. The vehicle can also now handle a load of 1.16 tons while the braked towing capacity is listed at 3.0 tons. The new Amarok engine line-up mimics the Ranger offerings, although the 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel engine is available in two states of tune, with buyers able to choose between 110kW/350Nm and 125kW/405Nm variants. At the upper end of the range we get a 2.0 BiTDI twinturbo diesel with 154kW and 500Nm on tap, as well as the new 3.0 TDI V6 turbodiesel, with 184kW and 600Nm.
The Base double cab model ships with a 10.0-inch (25.4cm) touchscreen infotainment system with wireless AppConnect, as well as a multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, rear park distance control, LED headlights and all-terrain tyres. The Amarok Life gains 17-inch Cumbra alloy wheels, carpet floor covering, electronic parking brake, leather-covered steering wheel, front Park Distance Control and a power tailgate lock. The 154kW bi-turbo Life variants gain 18-inch alloys as well as seat heating. Next up we have the Amarok Style, which boasts 18-inch Amadora alloys, side steps and a sport bar, and if you order the Comfort Package you’ll also get 20-inch Bendigo alloy wheels as well as a load bed liner, tonneau cover and cargo management system. Standard interior features in the Style variant include Savona leather seats, 12.0-inch (30.4cm) infotainment system, pushbutton start, inductive phone charging, ambient lighting, 230V power socket inverter and additional driver assist features such as autonomous emergency braking, lane assist and tyre pressure monitor. Over and above all that, the Amarok PanAmericana also has IQ.LightLED headlights as well as LED taillamps, black sport bar, silver roof rails, metal underbody protection, load box bed liner and upgraded suspension. Additional cabin features include ‘Cricket’ leather seats as well as a Harmon Kardon audio system, Discover Media infotainment centre with satnav, Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Jam Assist, Area View 360degree camera, Evasive Steering, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The Amarok
Aventura flagship model ups the ante even further with 12-inch Varberg alloy wheels, chrome treatment for the mirrors, door handles and side steps, body colour sports bar, electric roller cover and premium carpet floor mats. Specification levels across the range are generous, to say the least, as is the after-sales back-up. Whereas Ranger buyers need to pay extra for a service plan, the Volkswagen Amarok comes standard with a five-year or 100,000km maintenance plan, in addition to the usual four-year or 120,000km warranty.
Let’s take a closer look at the trim grades available…
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