LIMPOPO MIRROR
21 December 2012 13 By Tshifhiwa Mukwevho
New parking meter system for Makhado
Mr Ebrahim Lakhana shows the two identical receipts as proof of payment.
The Makhado Municipality has introduced a new parking meter system whereby motorists are required to pay a predetermined tariff to a parking attendant. The acting director of community services in the municipality, Mr Molatelo Kanwendo, said that the parking tariffs are meant to enhance responsibility among motorists and vehicle security within Makhado (Louis Trichardt). “With the parking meter system in operation, there will be less break-ins and thefts out of motor vehicles,” said Kanwendo. “We request motorists and community members to co-operate with the parking attendants.”
The parking system operates from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 17:00. Saturday operation starts at 08:00 and ends at 13:00. They are not operating on Sundays and public holidays. Tariffs are R3,00 (0-30 minutes), R8,00 (30-60 minutes) and R12,00 (60-90 minutes). Motorists are, however, advised to inform the operator about the parking duration they anticipate to spend in the parking bay and the meter would indicate the money for that period. “The operator must hand you a display ticket which should be placed on the dashboard of your vehicle,” explained Kanwendo. He adds that a non-payment ticket could be issued to motor-
ists who fail to pay and such a ticket might be between R50 and R750. According to Kanwendo, information leaflets are currently being distributed to educate the community on how the parking meter system operates. He said that the project aims to create employment for at least 70 youths in the next three years, who would work as parking attendants. Rirothe Trading and Investment is the service provider for the parking meter system. For more information, motorists and community members are advised to contact Robert at 076 624 8585 or visit the parking meter office in the Maranatha Building in Burger Street.
By Tshifhiwa Mukwevho
Man claims he paid same fine twice A resident of Makhado (Louis Trichardt), Mr Ebrahim Lakhana, feels as if he was robbed after he was forced to pay a single traffic fine twice. In his possession he holds two identical receipts which he received upon paying the same amount twice for a traffic fine issued by the provincial traffic department's office in town. Lakhana said his driver was stopped and given a R700 fine for worn tyres on 22 October. The fine was paid the same day for which a receipt was issued. However, on 27 November, Lakhana was arrested by the same traffic officer. “He said I had failed to pay the fine issued on 22 October,” said Lakhana. “I explained to him that I had paid the fine on the very day it was issued and that I had a receipt at my house as proof of payment, but it seemed he did not understand me.” Lakhana was escorted to the provincial traffic department’s office in town and detained from around 10:00 until after 14:00.
During his detention, he repeatedly informed the officers that he had paid the fine and asked if they would allow him to go fetch his receipt. They refused to allow him to do so. He was eventually allowed to leave when he again paid for the ticket. Afterwards he was told to write a letter to the department, asking for a refund since he said he was not satisfied with the whole process. “They said it might take about seven weeks before I could get my money back,” said Lakhana. The head of the Roads and Transport department's office in town, Ms Shumani Lavhengwa, declined giving any explanation as to why Lakhana was forced to apparently pay for the same ticket twice. She said the newspaper should contact the provincial office for any media inquiries regarding this case. When the Zoutpansberger contacted the provincial spokesperson for the Department of Roads and Transport, Mr Joshua Kwapa, he advised the paper to
send him an email explaining exactly what had happened. A detailed email was sent to him on 5 December and several telephonic follow-up calls were made to him after he had neither acknowledged nor responded to the email. Kwapa was informed that Lakhana needed to understand why he was not given the opportunity to collect his receipt as proof of payment and the reason why the system was not updated to reflect that the warrant was paid. Lakhana also feels that it would be unfair of him to try and recover the money of the duplicate payment at his own expense, because the traffic department is to blame and not him. After many attempts to elicit a response from the department, Kwapa said on Tuesday that he wouldn't be able to answer at that stage since he was sick. “I am not feeling well,” he said. “I am not going to the office. Send me your phone numbers and I will see what I can do,” Kwapa said.
Education
FabLab gives communities a boost Have you ever thought about taking discarded cool drink cans and car hubcaps and engineering a fashionable and functional coffee table or lampshade? With the Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) at the University of Limpopo's Science Education Centre (ULSEC), the line between imagination and reality is being blurred. This can lead to the betterment of local communities, as innovations go from being formed in the mind to being held in the hands. At a time when news headlines about education and economics in South Africa are often discouraging, the ULSEC is tackling the challenges around education and the economy head-on with its FabLab. The Science Education Centre is proud to have one of the seven FabLabs in the country. A FabLab is a group of off-theshelf, industrial-grade fabrication and electronic tools, wrapped in open software and programs. This small-scale version of a production factory can be used by entrepreneurs and community
members to create prototypes ranging from arts and crafts, to engineering and architectural models. The cross-cutting nature of the fabrication technologies lends itself to basic science, engineering and technology (SET) education, needed to make science and technology both accessible and stimulating among the youth, especially those who have had limited exposure and opportunities with regard to SET. The impact of the FabLab in sparking interest in SET among young people is significant. At the 32nd Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, 760 finalists from 26 regions in SA, as well as learners from Namibia, Mexico, Lesotho, Kenya and Nigeria, competed. Limpopo Province received eight medals, five of which were awarded to school learners coached and assisted by the FabLab. Access to the UL-FabLab also gives any community a head start in basic engineering and design technologies, and an opportunity to experiment and learn from others, all while
being creative and innovative. FabLabs enable grassroots inventions by providing a platform through which communities can have access to advanced tools that can help people create products that enrich lives. The ULSEC FabLab recently made presentations of its programme to Polokwane and Lebowakgomo senior education managers and teachers from the surrounding schools. It also hosted the Department of Science and Technology FabLab implementation unit’s mobile lab for two weeks. During this time there was a tour and demonstrations to teachers in the Mankweng circuit to establish strategically beneficial relationships. The strength of the FabLab initiative is that users get to complete the concept, design and fabrication process, resulting in products that add tangible value to communities. The fully ‘hands-on’ experience created in the FabLab is that of peer-to-peer learning, which enables anyone to learn, experiment, and bring their imagination to life.
Makhado Municipality´ acting director of community services, Mr Molatelo Kanwendo (right) is photographed with the parking marshalls. Health
PhalaPhala and Musina join HIV fight Phalaphala FM and Musina ery sector of our municipality, to reverse the trends we are seeMunicipality have joined hands there are individuals and groups ing in the health profile of our in the war against HIV and who have worked tirelessly to people. Now is not the time to Aids. educate, advocate, care, treat, lament. It is the time to act deThis occurred during the live prevent and to break the stigma cisively and to act together. Our broadcast that was held at the that still surrounds the epidemic. message is simple: We have to Musina show grounds a fort- Today, we wish to acknowledge stop the spread of HIV. We must night ago. The activities also their dedicated efforts.” reduce the rate of new infections. included voluntary testing and She said the government had Prevention is our most powerful counselling. put in place various strategies to weapon against the epidemic.” Mayor Carol Phiri said the mu- deal with HIV and Aids, tuberShe said all South Africans nicipality had decided to join the culosis and sexually transmitted should take steps to ensure that multitude who had determined infections comprehensively. they do not become infected, that the Aids epidemic could not “Working with other sectors that they do not infect others and be overcome without a concerted through the South African Na- that they know their status. “Each and coordinated effort. “We join tional AIDS Council, we have individual must take responsibilmillions who understand that the managed to harness unity in ity for protection against HIV. To epidemic is not merely a health confronting this scourge. The the youth I say: the future belongs challenge. It is a challenge with number of resources dedicated to you. Be responsible and do not profound social, cultural and to prevention, treatment and care expose yourself to risks. Parents economic consequences. It is an has increased with each succes- and heads of households must epidemic that affects entire na- sive year. But it is not enough. be open with their children and tions. Yet it touches on matters Much more needs to be done. educate them about HIV and how that are intensely personal and We need extraordinary measures to prevent it.” private.” She said that, unlike many other social problems, HIV and Aids could not be overcome simply by improving the quality of drinking water or eradicating mosquitoes or mass immunisation. “It can only be overcome by individuals' taking responsibility for their own lives and the lives of those around them. As a municipality, we have done much to tackle Mayor Carol Phiri (front, third from left) photographed with Phalaphala HIV and Aids. In ev- FM presenters during the HIV/Aids campaign in Musina.
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