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- A Stuijt
- Retired South African medical journalist, ex-Sunday Times of Johannesburg.
News updates January 18 2010
17:48 | 
Posted by
A Stuijt |
’Loud’ cricket-commentators ‘who aren’t Africans’ raise ire of veteran BBC-cricket commentator Geoff Boycott
January 18 2010 -- Frustrated UK radio/tv cricket-commentator and ex-England test match captain Geoff Boycott of the BBC stormed into the SABC Radio-2000 commentators’ on Saturday during the Proteas match -- complaining on the air that the two local radio-cricket commentators Michael Abrahamson and Craig Marais were ‘too loud’, writes the Afrikaans daily Beeld journalist Christo Buchner.
Boycott – an outspoken Yorkshireman -- earlier had complained behind the scenes to one of the SABC editors about the ‘overly-loud’ two commentators in the booth. When he was told that all commentators talk like that and that it is an African trait, he apparently started shouting at the producer and said: “But they are not Africans.” Boycott was then told that everybody born in Africa are indeed Africans.Boycott then stormed into the Radio 2000 commentary box and told Abrahamson and Marais to talk softer -- while they were on air. Marais in turn told Boycott to leave the area. “Who gives him the right to storm in here while we are doing our work,” Marais said later. “It’s not as if we even raised our voices unnecessarily. As a commentator he should know how you talk when broadcasting,” he said. “I always respect older people, but what he did was uncalled for and I could not stop myself from telling him to get lost.” Another commentator said that Boycott is the last person who should be entitled to say anything about talking loudly during commentary. “He did radio commentary during the third Test in Cape Town and was animated during those last few overs. To be honest, he shouted and carried on until the last ball was bowled and the Test ended in a draw. Not to mention how he packed out about South Africa’s appeal after the ball had struck Stuart Broad on the shoulder. For him to complain about anyone else is ridiculous.” http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Cricket/EnglandinSA/3513/c115d72123d9477db1adbd193eb3f652/17-01-2010-10-45/Boycott_throws_his_toys
Ex-rugby Bok Dale Santon badly burnt by petrol-bomb lobbed into Plumstead, Cape Town home 
South Africa Former Springbok rugby hooker Dale Santon – who now teaches rugby to underprivileged children -- was badly burnt when a petrol bomb was flung into his home in Plumstead, Cape Town. Ex-hooker Dale Santon, 40, was trying to shove a burning couch out of the house on Saturday morning when he sustained the injuries to his hands, forearms and face. Cops believe the occupants of a souped-up orange BMW may be behind the arson attack on the Plumstead house. Diep River police spokesman Keith Chandler tells the Daily Voice there were two occupants in the car.One is believed to have stood in front of the house for a few minutes before setting an object alight and flinging it at a window. "The police responded to the complaint at about 12.30am on Saturday," says Chandler. "The bomb broke the lounge window and set the couch alight." Chandler says the rugby legend told him he was clueless as to who would want to kill him. "He is a rugby coach for under-privileged children and he told the police he has no enemies," says Chandler. When the Daily Voice visited the house, the occupants refused to comment. Anyone who has information please contact Sergeant Chris Roman on 021 710 7359. - Daily Voice http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=iol1263808782386B221
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Disarming the criminals - 141 illegal firearms retrieved from pub patrons in two townships… very few AK47s
Photo by SAPS Insp Paul Magwaza.
The SAPS have launched another massive firearms amnesty drive – but besides asking the citizenry to hand in their illegal weapons voluntarily (again), teams of cops in some townships have also been going into local pubs, recovering firearms and other lethal weaponry from local pub-patrons.
In just two-days in two townships, a total of 141 illegal firearms were recovered from pub-patrons.
Disarming the criminals is the main aim of this pub-search exercise - and high time too! However it’s also noticeable from the published photographs of recovered firearms, that there were just a few of the most lethal weapons recovered: the high-powered attack carbines such as the millions of AK-47s which are widely available throughout southern Africa, dumped on the African market by the Chinese and East-European guns-manufacturers mostly.
There’s still a lot of work ahead before all the criminals are disarmed, meanwhile all the honest citizens are also being urged to register and/or reregister their firearms before April 11 2010 -- or hand them in as part of the current firearms amnesty.
Ikhagheng, Newcastle/Ulundi township’s policemen rounded up these weapons from local pub patrons over the past weekend – and from left to right, posing proudly after their extremely risky task, are Ikhageng inspectors Dumisani Mavuso, Zakhele Khumalo and Themba Mabuyakhulu, Constables Njabulo Mthembu, Senzo Mhlongo, Vusi Masondo, Zwelithini Khoza, Philani Thwala, and Silvester Mtshali. Also recovered was for instance a sword with a blade some 60 cm long, saps SAPS spokesman S P Magwaza. ‘ Imagine this type of weapon in the hands of someone under the influence of alcohol”, he writes.
The Newcastle and Ulundi police also recovered eleven firearms in their region over the same period. Only 141 illegal firearms were recovered in the two-day period in these two townships. (story based on report by Inspector Paul Magwaza, (031) 3256013, cell 0833288298 )http://www.sapsjournalonline.gov.za/dynamic/journal_dynamic.aspx?pageid=414&jid=18195
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Steven Peter “Seun’ Durandt, 35; dead with 28 stab-wounds, Bloemspruit air base
2010-01-18 -- Vicus Bürger Volksblad writes that after two Afrikaner friends -- Seun Durandt, 35 and Jasper Slabbert, 39 – had spent a few hours at a Bloemspruit air base pub to celebrate Seun’s 35th birthday, this soft-spoken, single Afrikaner man who loved to do carpentry and gardening, was found murdered with 28 stab-wounds in his body in a field near his house.
The men were attacked – probably followed – just after they left the pub. Slabbert survived the ordeal and told Bürger that a group of armed men followed them from the pub and the two Afrikaner men decided to run as fast as they could to get away. However the attackers caught up with them and stabbed them in their backs with knives. Slabbert said he was still shouting that he ‘didn’t have any cash’ on him when he felt a knife-blade being stabbed into his back. He fell and they searched his pockets, taking his cigarettes. He passed out for a while and then managed to struggle to the house of Air Force officer Danie Smith of the Bloemspruit airbase, where DuRandt also lived with his mother Joey, 66. Mrs Thea Smith phoned an ambulance and Slabbert was taken to Pelonomi hospital – while Mrs Smith had gone to the police station – and was asked to identify DuRandt’s body. “I went out of my head when I saw the terrible knifewounds and the other injuries,’ she said. Bloemspruit police quickly arrested two local black youths shortly after the murder. His mother Joey wept bitterly when speaking with Bürger about her murdered son: ‘she didn’t have the words to describe the way she felt about her child’s death,’ writes Bürger. DuRandt’s nephew, flight-sergeant Johan Croukamp,who is also stationed at Bloemspruit, issued a call for the return of the death sentence – and also said he hoped that the arrested men would get a lifetime in prison for their deed. His family described the murdered Afrikaner as a gentle, kind man who enjoyed working with his hands – doing carpentry and gardening. He was unwed and had no chldren. Police captain Elsa Gerber, confirmed that the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court would process the two murder-suspects’ remand-hearing the same day, when a date for their bail-application would be set and they could apply for a legal-aid counsel. - Volksblad http://www.volksblad.com/Content/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/2114/b42e2e6fed3c4f35b4e0d711261fd2db/18-01-2010-05-04/Aandjie_uit_eindig_in_%E2%80%99n_bloedbad
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White US migrant Lindy George tries to survive on the mean streets of the Cape Flats…
18 January 2010
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Six years ago United States citizen Lindy George jumped on a plane to start a new life with her girlfriend in Cape Town. Now she’s struggling to survive as a white lesbian woman having to live without any income or identity documents on South Africa’s meanest streets: Lindy says 'her white skin and American accent make her a target in the poor neighbourhood: “I am a sheep in a wolf’s territory. They see me as fresh meat and my life is at stake,’ she said… She already was raped twice because ‘men want to force the lesbianism" out of her and she also became addicted to tik. The 29-year-old's hard knocks started when she met her ex-lover Donna, a South African then living in Ohio. "Her (Donna's) visa expired and she asked me to come to South Africa with her," said Lindy. "I didn't really have family and Donna had rescued me from the ghetto. I grew up in boarding schools and foster homes because my family couldn't accept that I am a lesbian. She (Donna) introduced me into believing in myself." Lindy said her initial happiness at living in Cape Town soon came to an end when Donna started cheating on her. "I flipped out when I found out she was seeing someone behind my back," she said. "I felt I came from the streets so I might as well go back." Lindy said she became homeless and addicted to tik because she couldn't find work as a coffee barista - the only job she is trained to do. "I was sleeping under plastic bags on the streets or in drug houses," she says. Lindy said she was at her lowest point and was deeply depressed when she met her real true love, whose identity has been withheld, in Long Street. "I was coming out of a drug house and I hadn't showered or eaten for a week and the fact that she noticed me when I didn't even recognise myself made me think 'Wow'," she said. "I could tell that she was pregnant and we started talking and she told me she was interested in me. She boosted my self-esteem and we stayed up all night sitting in the street talking." "It was like lightning bolts and it was like we just fitted and I was completely in love with her." Lindy said she and her new love lived on the streets of Cape Town. "But it was hard for us and she was pregnant so she asked me to move to Manenberg with her," she said."If you love someone and that person makes you happy, then what's the problem? I do what my heart tells me to and it feels right that I love another woman." She said they moved in with her girlfriend's father and she believed that everything was fine. "Then one day my girlfriend told me that her dad didn't want me in the house anymore," said Lindy. "I wasn't prepared to lose my girlfriend and move out of the area so I ended up sleeping in tik houses and on the streets." It was during this time that she was raped. Lindy, who chose to reveal her identity despite the sex attack, said she was assaulted at knifepoint. "He said if I ‘sleep’ with him and take him as my boyfriend, my life would be fine. I told him to save it," she said. Lindy, whose passport has long since been stolen, has been living in Manenberg since November and scrabbles each day to survive. She said her white skin and American accent make her a target in the poor neighbourhood. "I'm a sheep in a wolf's territory. They see me as fresh meat and my life is at stake," she said. But Lindy's luck took a turn for the better when she found the Reach for Life organisation at the Manenberg People Centre. Director Lolita Marcelle has now offered Lindy a temporary place to stay. "She has nowhere else to go, so I'll have to take her in and try to help her," he said. - Daily Voice http://www.capetimes.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=iol1263808966605A562
Mandela ‘s presence needed with crucial security issues raised about WC2010 - soccer-icon Pele
South Africa. -- BOGOTA, Colombia. Speaking from the second-most violent country in the world, retired soccer-icon Pele feels that ANC-icon Nelson Mandela’s presence ‘would be crucial when dealing with certain security issues surrounding the World Cup 2010 in South Africa”. Pele reportedly made the remark to a Colombian journalist and also said he was worried about 91-year-old Mandela’s health – and that Mandela’s presence was crucial when dealing with the security issues which were raised about the WC2010 after the deadly attack against the Togo football team in Angola. “What happened to Togo effects the world cup. I hope things turn out well. People are worried about Mandela’s health. He is the man who has the support of all South Africans, he controls everything”. http://www.nuus24.com/Content/Sport/Sokker/1545/a0375321e7244c1c8f6c62e842eeb69b/18-01-2010-10-38/Mandela_nodig_vir_2010_se_sekuriteit
'If these Zimbabweans return, we'll braai them'
South Africa Two months since xenophobic attacks left the Cape community of De Doorns divided, the locals remain adamant that they will chase out the Zimbabweans again -should they ever try to return. http://www.capetimes.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20100118130405119C685454
Zuma bodyguard cleared of contempt of court – but still up on attempted murder charges for ‘bluelight bullying’
One of Jacob Zuma's bodyguards, who is charged with attempted murder relating to an alleged "blue light bullying" incident in Durban, has been cleared of a contempt of court charge for failing to arrive at court for his trial. Full Story...
Doctors put infant's heart 'back' in her chest
Doctors here were delighted yesterday after successfully completing surgery on nine-day-old baby Ashleigh Louw, who was born with part of her heart outside her chest in Cape Town.
Eskom hike to push illicit usage
2010-01-18 Eskom's proposed 35% tariff hike would lead to even more illegal connections because electricity users could not afford power, saysDu Toiet Grobler, president of the SA Institute of Electrical Engineerson Monday. "This tariff hike will have far-reaching implications. One of them will be the escalation of energy theft.” He testified at the NERSA hearings in Durban, organised by the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa).http://www.fin24.com/articles/default/display_article.aspx?ArticleId=1518-25_2567991 Of course this already is the biggest cause of ESKOM’s current cash-flow problems: many black consumers refuse to pay for electricity and have turned it into a political issue, with more than 80% of all Soweto counsumers, for instance, not paying for the electricity they consumed last year.
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Petrol bomb attack on SAPS superintendent Lunto Ngubelanga’s Brackenfell house
December 28 2009 By Bronwynne Jooste A police superintendent says his family is living in fear after their Brackenfell home was petrol-bombed in a suspected racially motivated attack.Superintendent Luntu Ngubelanga said he had been woken by a sharp knock at his door at about 4am on Sunday morning. His neighbour had told him the front of his house was on fire. Closer inspection revealed that a petrol bomb had been thrown against the double garage.Ngubelanga works at the Kraaifontein police station as a commander in one of the detective sub-sections. "I don't know whether this is revenge, hatred or racism," he said.
Brackenfell still is a primarily white-Afrikaans speaking suburb in the Tygerberg region near Cape Town. No further information about the results of any enquiries have been published since December 28 2009. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20091228122926896C883613
UK detectives in SA: seek Dumo Sibanda as suspect in murder of 6-year-old UK-girl
Sought by UK police: George Champion Sithole
Two detectives of the Sussex Police's Major Crime Branch travelled to South Africa on 10 January to try and find the prime suspect in a murder enquiry.
Six-year-old Dumo Sibanda – a South African of Malawian tribal origin - died on 26 October 2004 following a house fire at her home in Crawley, West Sussex, England. Members of her family managed to escape the blaze but Dumo was found inside. She was taken to hospital where she was later pronounced dead.Detective Chief Inspector Steve Johns and Detective Inspector Trevor Bates are working with officers in Johannesburg to try and locate George Champion Sithole, left, who is the prime suspect in the case.
It is believed he fled to the African continent shortly after the fire. The Police released details of Mr Sithole when the initial investigation was launched, but enquiries both in England and South Africa failed to locate him. The case has remained open and now, following a standard review of the enquiry, DCI Johns and DI Bates are visiting South Africa to re-appeal for information in a bid to locate him. DCI Johns said: "Despite the case now being over five years old, it has never been closed and we are determined to bring the offender to justice for both Dumo and her family.We are very keen to speak to Mr Sithole when we are in South Africa as we believe he could have vital information about this incident which will significantly assist us with our enquiries. Despite repeated appeals at the time, he has not come forward and we have been unable to locate him.Working with our counterparts in Johannesburg, we hope publicity about the case will encourage someone to tell us the whereabouts of Mr Sithole or for him to speak to us directly.
"A little girl died in this fire - she was just six years of age at the time and her family, understandably, are still devastated by her untimely death. They need to have some closure to enable them to move on with their lives and I encourage anyone with information to contact us as soon as possible on 00 44 7785 578511 " Information can also be given anonymously via the Crime Line sms service (32211) or go to www.crimeline.co.za Y. Abramjee Cellphone: 082 4414 203 http://www.sapsjournalonline.gov.za/dynamic/journal_dynamic.aspx?pageid=414&jid=18151
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- Edendale Pietermaritzburg: Teenager hit by taxi 18 January 2010 8:55 SAPA
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Hiker finds dead man on Table Mountain
British tourist Michael Woodhouse was hiking down Platteklip Gorge on Table Mountain when the sound of falling rocks diverted his attention. Full Story...
Three held after shooting Altaf Ally, 12
Three men have been arrested in connection with the shooting of 12-year-old Altaf Ally. The child was shot dead with a single shot to the head after he’d just stepped from his house. Full
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News from Brits, Magalies, Madibeng Jan 18 2010
Springbok wrestler Ockert van Schalkwyk, 26, dies 35 days after being forced off the road by a wrong-side police vehicle
Charity concert for Ockert van Schalkwyk on 30 Jan 2010 in Melodie by popular artist-friends
Brits. 26-year-old Springbok wrestler and rugby-player Ockert van Schalkwyk died 35 days after a police vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road had forced him off the Van der Hoff Road in Brits – causing him to crash on December 6 2009. The father of two small girls died in the intensive care unit of Muelmed hospital in Pretoria. He will be buried on Thursday, writes Madibeng News editor Cynthia Dreyer.
The young widow Adéle told Madibeng News that a charity-concert also is being held for the popular Brits resident to help pay for the medical- and funeral costs, with known artists such as his good friend Dozi, Taboe, Jaco van Wyk, Tolbos and others offering their talents for free on Saturday, 30 January in Melodie. Anyone wishing to attend may contact Rassie at telephone 082-086-6189.
The funeral service will take place Thursday-morning from 11am at the Hervormde Church Schoemansdal in Marais Street, Hartbeespoort. http://www.madibengpulse.co.za/?Task=system&CategoryID=29644&HeadingText=Community+180110+ockert#ockert
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Three of 4 brutal killers who caused bloody havoc in Brits streets in 2007 get life
Brits/Magalies -- Monday 18 January 2010 by Dolf Dreyer Madibeng Pulse newspaper -
Three of the four-member murder-gang who had left a trail of blood and murder in Brits on the afternoon of Friday 14 September 2007 while escaping from Brits Magistrate’s Court, each received a life term. Three years later, acting Judge Joop Labuschagne sentenced them in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday 11 December 2010.
As they were guarded by heavily armed guards, Judge Labuschagne told Paulos Mashapa, 28, Siphiwe Matlala, 29, and Joseph Mdluli, 30, that he considered them incapable of being rehabilitated, but he advised them, for their own sakes, to cooperate with rehabilitation programmes in jail, writes Dolf Dreyer, editor of the Madibeng Pulse newspaper.
Picture: at the time the SAPS issued these photographs of Stephen Botha (29, left, and Paulos Mashapa (25) and appealed for information from the public on their whereabouts. Three of the accused were arrested after an anonymous tip-off and Botha was shot dead by the police while trying to make a getaway.
The men were sentenced to the life sentences plus an additional 18 years each for an array of crimes. The three men who were already serving life sentences for murdering a policeman, appeared before Judge Labuschagne on charges of escape from custody, attempted murder, hijackings and murder after they escaped from the court’s holding cells. READ THE ENTIRE STORY ON THE NEWSPAPER WEBSITE: http://www.madibengpulse.co.za/?Task=system&CategoryID=29416&HeadingText=News+180110+killers#killers
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Hartbeespoort sewage treatment plant broken: taxpayers threaten to withhold rates; declare a municipal dispute…
“Get used to it and live with it…’ say municipal officials…
Monday 18 January 2010 -- By Dolf Dryer – The Hartbeespoort Community Forum through its chairman, Mr Pieter Rautenbach, say the ratepayers are outraged by the colossal spillage of sewage into Hartbeespoort Dam because pumps are out of order. And to add insult to injury, taxpayers also are arrogantly being told by Madibeng officials “to get used to it and live with it”. Despite rates and taxes being paid for this purpose, the officials claim that there’s no money to buy new pumps or even to repair the existing equipment.
Raw sewage is pouring unhindered into the Hartbeespoort Dam behind the De Nice-, Melodie Waters-, Thatchhaven- and Magaliesberg security complexes, writes Dreyer.
“ In a letter addressed to the Executive Mayor and the Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Rautenbach bluntly gives the municipality three days’ notice to come up with solutions or face charges under the National Water Act as well as environmental legislation. A Madibeng official bluntly told Mr Rautenbach in exasperation: “The residents will just have to get used to it and live with it because there is no money to buy pumps or even repair the existing pumps.” A Brits Councillor, Clr Eddie Barlow (DA Ward 23), filed criminal charges at the end of last year against the municipal manager and the responsible senior official for chronic and massive pollution of the Crocodile River as well as the streets of Brits because of similar problems at the Brits sewage works.
Mr Rautenbach included two articles (reprinted below in Afrikaans) from Beeld with his letter, which indicating that the Department of Water Affairs and the Green Scorpions have lost patience with municipalities who continuously pollute the environment and endanger the health of their residents with their cavalier treatment of infectious sewage.
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Letter from Hartbeespoort Community Forum to Madibeng municipality -
15 January 2010 Brits - SEWAGE POLLUTION – HARTBEESPOORT DAM: PUMPS NOT WORKING
Local police officers brought serious sewage spillage into Hartbeespoort Dam to the attention of the HCF. We visited the area of the reported spillage behind the Melodie Waters-; the Da Nice-, the Thatchhaven– and the Magaliesberg security villages. The extent of the pollution was shocking! Streams of sewage are flowing into the Dam and the whole area behind these villages is polluted. This is indeed an environmental disaster.
We have established that this spillage is due to several non-functional pumps. These pumps have reportedly been out of commission for more than 2 months. Officials apparently brought this to your attention but were told that the Council’s budget is not making provision for either the repairs or replacement of these faulty pumps. True or false, this situation is totally unacceptable in terms of any civilised norms, as well as criminally actionable in terms of the Water Act and environmental legislation.
We intend bringing this contamination to the attention of the World Health Organisation (who just this week invited South Africans through their local liaison officer to report such incidents), the Green Scorpions and the media.
According to the National Water Act the non-attendance to this kind of pollution is a criminal offence and we are considering opening a criminal case at the local police station. See the attached articles that appeared in “Beeld”. Senior officials of Welkom were charged in their personal capacity after they neglected to act when similar sewage leaks were brought to their attention. The excuse that the situation was caused by a lack of funds, was rejected by the court.
We are requesting an acceptable action plan before Wednesday 20 January 2010. This plan should include a timetable of how you are going to solve this problem.
“We will declare a dispute; withhold our rates; and use the funds to appoint contractors…’
“If no reply is received we shall continue taking the necessary action, which may entail declaring a dispute with your municipality followed by the withholding of our rates. Such funds could then be used to appoint contractors to do the repairs. Several towns have declared disputes successfully and have done their own repairs. Pieter Rautenbach Chairperson “
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BEELD
8 munisipale hoës aangekla oor waterwet
Aug 19 2009 01:07:12:907AM - (SA)
Marisa Phillips Bloemfontein. – Agt voormalige munisipale bestuurders en waarnemende munisipale bestuurders van die Matjhabeng-munisipaliteit het gister in die hof op Welkom verskyn op aanklagte van die oortreding van die Waterwet. Dit is die eerste saak in sy soort wat in Suid-Afrika in die hof draai. Adv. Antoinette Ferreira van die Groen Skerpioene kla aan. Dit volg nadat twee klagte by die polisie ingedien is oor die besoedeling van water omdat die rioolaanlegte van dié munisipaliteit feitlik heeltemal buite werking is. Die DA het in April ook ’n klag daaroor by die polisie ingedien. Me. Maria Tshabangu van Nelspruit, mnre. Selle Nanisa van Thabong, Johannes Motseki van Pretoria, dr. Benjamin Malakoane van Kroonstad, mnre. Vusi Adonis van Welkom, Nkrumah Pitso van Roodepoort, die Matjhabeng-munisipaliteit wat deur mnr. Thabo Pietersen, huidige munisipale bestuurder, verteenwoordig word en dr. Dimakatso Moorosi van Bloemfontein is gewaarsku om op 29 September weer in die hof te verskyn. Tshabangu en Moorosi was nie gister by die hof nie en het doktersbriewe ingedien. Malakoane en Moorosi is raadslede van Bloemwater. Me. Mathabo Leeto, uitvoerende burgemeester van Matjhabeng, en amptenare en raadslede van die munisipaliteit het gister ook die hofverrigtinge bygewoon. Leeto het ná die tyd op ’n mediakonferensie gesê die munisipaliteit kon weens ’n gebrek aan geld nie die rioolsuiweringsaanleg in en om Welkom in stand hou nie. “ ’n Aksieplan is in Maart opgestel waarvolgens ons dié probleem nou gaan aanpak. ’n Totaal van R65 miljoen, waarvan R26 miljoen deur die departement van waterwese en omgewingsake beskikbaar gestel is, gaan nou gebruik word om Witpan, Odendaalsrus, Theronia en Hani-park se rioolaanleg op te knap. Dit behoort teen Mei volgende jaar voltooi te wees.” Leeto het gesê as inwoners hul dienstegeld betaal, kan dinge soos rioolsuiweringsaanlegte in stand gehou word. Op ’n vraag waarom raadslede wat etlike duisende rande aan dienstegeld skuld, nie vasgevat word nie, het sy gesê almal word oor dieselfde kam geskeer. Mnr. Peter Frewen, DA-woordvoerder oor plaaslike regering en behuising, het vroeër gesê die rioolaanleg by Odendaalsrus werk al bykans twee jaar glad nie, Witpan in Welkom staan al ’n jaar lank stil en riool loop al langer as ’n jaar by Virginia in die Sandrivier in.
Note:
Even before this problem reached crisis proportions, two readers wrote emails on the same subject:
Dis glo modder
Nov 18 2008 10:03:21:353PM - (SA)
Elise Tempelhoff
Die departement van waterwese en bosbou het met regstappe teen die Emfuleni-plaaslike owerheid begin. Dit ná 12 jaar van talle mislukte pogings tot samewerking om dié plaaslike owerheid se probleme met rioolinfrastruktuur reg te ruk. Die “drastiese stap” kom nadat duisende liter onverwerkte rioolafval nou al etlike weke onverpoosd oor ’n gesogte gholfbaan en verby restaurante in Vereeniging tot in die Vaalrivier loop. Volgens mnr. Marius Keet, adjunk-direkteur van watergehaltebestuur by dié departement, is Emfuleni die eerste plaaslike owerheid waarteen die departement optree, nadat me. Lindiwe Hendricks, minister van waterwese en bosbou, onlangs by ’n munisipale indaba in Boksburg aan die Oos-Rand gesê het regstappe gaan volg teen oortreders van die Waterwet. ’n Direktief is glo Vrydag tydens ’n noodvergadering aan mnr. Warden Moetji, waarnemende munisipale bestuurder, oorhandig. Dié plaaslike owerheid het tot 1 Desember om te werk aan sy rioolprobleme. Hierna kan Moetji en sy amptenare massiewe boetes (meer as R1 miljoen) of tronkstraf opgelê word. Die Gautengse departement van plaaslike owerheid gaan Emfuleni na verneem word nou geldelik, sowel as met kundigheid, ondersteun. Beeld verneem dié departement het al glo sowat R150 miljoen beloof om dié rioolprobleme, wat besig is om Emfuleni “te oorweldig”, te help oplos. Intussen het ’n Beeld-leser, mnr. Dries van Tonder, Vrydagoggend afgekom op ’n tenkwa van Metsi-a-Lekoa wat “rioolafval” in ’n stormwatersloot op die hoeke van Rhodes- en Edwardlaan gepomp het. Hy het foto’s van die voorval met sy selfoon geneem en dit aan Beeld gestuur. ’n Metsi-a-Lekoa-woordvoerder het aanvanklik ontken dat die tenkwa aan hulle behoort, maar nadat Beeld hom die foto’s gewys het, het hy erken dit behoort wel aan hulle. Die water wat uitgepomp is, was modderwater, het hy gesê. Van Tonder het gesê hy is oortuig dit was onverwerkte rioolafval. “Dit het so gestink, mense in kantore in die stad het dit drie blokke verder weg geruik. Gewone modderwater ruik nie so nie.” Mnr. Mojalefa Radebe, woordvoerder van Metsi-a-Lekoa, het gesê hy meen die reuk “kleef” aan die tenkwa omdat dit gewoonlik rioolafval opsuig en verwyder. Volgens mnr. Paseka Rakota is daar wel ’n ondersoek na die voorval aan die gang. “Ons sal uitvind wie die tenkwa bestuur het en wie beveel het dat die vloeistof in die stad gestort word.” Mnr. Thomas du Toit, woordvoerder van Save Our Vaal Environment (Save), het ná ’n besoek Sondag aan die Sharpeville-dam naby die R59 en ’n slagpale op onverwerkte rioolafval afgekom wat op die water dryf en teen die kant vasspoel. Hy en ’n Beeld-leser het talle foto’s daarvan geneem. Save is oorweeg ook regstappe teen Emfuleni en maak foto’s bymekaar om as moontlike bewysstukke in die hof te gebruik, het hy gesê.
BEELD
‘Hou op rioolafval inpomp!’
Jun 02 2009 10:23:21:723PM - (SA)
Elise Tempelhoff
Die nie-regeringsorganisasie (NRO) Save our Vaal Environment (SAVE) het gister ’n vyfde interdik in minder as ’n jaar teen die Emfuleni-plaaslike owerheid gekry om onmiddellik op te hou om rioolafval in die Vaalrivier te pomp. Adv. Lötter Wepener, voorsitter van Save, het gister ná die hofuitspraak gesê dit is die “laaste keer” dat die NRO “dié soort optrede” deur Emfuleni gaan duld. “Volgende keer gaan ons vra dat die amptenare (wat vorige interdikte geïgnoreer het) in die tronk gegooi word,” het Wepener gesê. Die hofaansoeke kos belastingbetalers in Emfuleni al byna R200 000 omdat die plaaslike owerheid al vir vier uit die vyf aansoeke moes opdok. Regter John Horn het ook beveel Emfuleni moet betaal vir Save se watertoetse wat die NRO voortaan gaan doen. Mnr. Paseka Rakosa, Emfuleni se woordvoerder, het gister bevestig dié plaaslike owerheid het weer eens die saak verloor. Daar was volgens hom egter ’n pyp by die Leeuwkuilrioolaanleg wat (verlede week) in die nag gebars het. Rioolafval het toe in die Vaalrivier geloop, het hy gesê. Wepener het voorts gesê mnr. Thomas du Toit, ’n Save-verteenwoordiger, het een nag verlede week gesien hoe rioolafval uit die Leeuwkuilrioolaanleg in die Vaalrivier gepomp word. Wepener het gesê dié ooggetuieverslag het Save gemotiveer om weer eens hof toe te gaan.
Luidens die hofuitspraak moet Emfuleni sorg dat geen rioolafval in die Vaalrivier gestort word nie. Wepener het Emfuleni se gedrag as “afstootlik” bestempel en gesê dis onaanvaarbaar dat die plaaslike owerheid probeer skuil agter ’n tegniese probleem met ’n pyp wat lek. Volgens Rakosa het dit later aan die lig gekom die afval wat die Vaalrivier bereik het, was halfgesuiwerde riool. Wepener het egter hierop gesê Save het die volgende dag watertoetse laat doen en só vasgestel dat die afvalwater se Escherichia coli-telling die departement van waterwese en omgewingsake se perke “ver” oorskry het. Wepener het gesê Save is ook moeg vir die departement van waterwese en omgewingsake se laksheid en die feit dat dié NRO die departement “gedurig moet smeek” om hul werk behoorlik te doen. Hy het gedreig Save gaan die departement ook hof toe vat om hom te dwing om sy werk behoorlik te doen. • Byna 15 ton vis het verlede jaar weens besoedeling in die Vaalrivier gevrek.
Waarom ek op Orania sal gaan bly - veldtog
Waarom ek op Orania sal gaan bly…
Na aanleiding van die nuwe debat wat Beeld oor die volkstaat-idee ontketen het, het die Orania Beweging besluit om ‘n veldtog te begin waardeur mense kan vertel waarom hulle bereid sal wees om op Orania te gaan woon.
Bestaande inwoners kan ook hul stories en foto’s van die lewe op Orania met lesers deel.
Meer as 6000, oftewel 56% van deelnemers aan Beeld koerant se peiling op http://www.facebook.com/l/e8b18;Beeld.com het vroeër hierdie week gestem dat hulle bereid sal wees om in ‘n volkstaat te woon.
- Sowat 17% het aangedui dat hulle dit moontlik sal oorweeg.
In reaksie daarop het die Beeld-joernalis, Pieter du Toit, ‘n oningeligte reaksie gelewer in sy artikel ‘Volkstaat hou g’n heil in’ wat Woensdag in Beeld gepubliseer is. In dié artikel lewer hy totaal oningeligte kommentaar en maak vals beweringe oor die lewe op Orania.
Vandag het daar talle pro-Orania briewe in Beeld verskyn en het honderde mense positief teenoor Orania op Beeld se webblad gereageer.
Om hierdie rede het ons besluit om ‘n bladsy op Facebook te stig waar mense kan gaan vertel waarom hulle op Orania sal gaan bly. Ons het ook ‘n e-posadres en sms-lyn beskikbaar gestel vir bydraes. Bydraes sal ook op Orania se webblad gepubliseer word by http://www.facebook.com/l/e8b18;www.orania.co.za.
Wat vra ons van jou?
- Gaan sluit vandag nog aan by die Facebook-groep; skryf jou storie en laai jou foto's. Laat weet soveel as moontlik mense van die groep.
Stuur ook stories en foto’s na veldtog@orania.co.za. Stuur sms-boodskappe na 35933.
Groete
Frans de Klerk
Uitvoerende Hoof
Die Orania Beweging
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Volg die skakel hieronder, om op hierdie boodskap te reageer:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?inbox%2Freadmessage.php&t=1264574856125&mid=1be048eG3d35e136G1412404G0