Die Kwêvoël, Thabazimbi

All parents want their children to grow up in healthy, happy surrounds where they can safely visit friends and go to the park or the shops, but it has become increasingly difficult to find such an environment.

Indeed, says Martin Schultheiss, CEO of Harcourts Africa, many parents have been led to choose homes in security estates in the past few years in the belief that these are now the only places where their children can enjoy a “normal” childhood.

“However, homes in these enclaves are often beyond the financial reach of young families and in any case, recent reports of criminal activity within estates have emphasised the need to ensure that they are indeed child-safe in just the same way as one would evaluate ordinary suburbs.”

And there are measures prospective homebuyers can take to ensure that any area they are interested in is really family-friendly, he says.

“Of course you should look out for well-kept parks, streets and school yards, as well as youngsters walking or biking to and from school and mothers pushing prams to the shops, since these are good indicators that the residents feel safe.

“But you should also be sure to visit the neighbourhood at night and over weekends when any negative aspects are likely to be more visible. What if the main road becomes a hotrod track on Friday nights, or the local pizzeria morphs into an unruly action bar on Saturday afternoons? And you surely don’t want to live where groups of youths seem to have nothing better to do on a Sunday than spray graffiti on all the garden walls.”

It is also a good idea, says Schultheiss, to establish whether there are useful family amenities in the area, such as sports fields, a tennis club or a public pool, a library, a community centre and school after-care centres for smaller children.

“You should consult a good local estate agent to get these details, as well as information about all the local schools, the area’s crime rate and the activities of the local community policing forum. In addition, it’s bound to give you confidence if you find that the agent lives happily in the area with his or her own family.

Hennie Pauw

THABAZIMBI  – The MEC (Member of the Executive Committee) for the Department of Local Government and Housing visited the Thabazimbi Municipality last week on 21 July.
In a press release issued by the municipality the purpose of the visit was enunciated. The main purpose was to report on the five Key Performance Areas and cross cutting issues on Local Government Strategic Agendas.
The five Key Performance Areas are Institutional Development, Basic Services, Local Economic Development, Financial Viability and Good Governance and Public Participation.
It was agreed in the meeting that Thabazimbi Local Municipality (TLM) must speed up the filling of vacant Section 57 positions. It was reported to the MEC that interviews for the Chief Financial Officer and the Manager Community Services will be conducted on 29 July 2009.
According to the statement, “it was also emphasized in the meeting that as the municipality is doing well in terms of all Key Performance Areas, we need to improve on financial viability”.
Operation Clean Audit, which must be achieved in 2014, was also discussed, but  Limpopo Province has already started to work on the Operation. Thabazimbi Municipality is intending to get a qualified report for the 2008/2009 financial year.

THABAZIMBI – Die jaarlikse Thabazimbi Landbou en Nywerheidskou het reeds gister afgeskop en beloof nog heelwat vermaak vir oud en jonk.
Op die musikale front vermaak kunstenaars soos Nicholis Louw, Izak Davel en Jade Storm die jonger geslag terwyl die golden oldies van country, Lance James, Jody Wayne, Vangie Coker, Ken Mullen en Clive Bruce die gehoor vermaak net na die plaaslike Idols kompetisie.  Plaaslike kunstenaars wat ook gaan optree is Jessie Lange en Victor van Wyk wat vir die ou groottes gaan wys waar Thabazimbi op die kaart is asook Rainier le Roux (wenner van verlede jaar se Idols kompetisie), Tinus Venter, Lené Campher, Nelri Benadé en Ursula Viviers van Ellisras beloof om die voete te laat juk.
Die baba fotokompetisie vind op Saterdag 1 Augustus plaas, finaliste was reeds gepubliseer in 24 Julie se uitgawe van Die Kwêvoël. Vir die manne met harde baard is daar vanjaar twee mampoerstalletjies tydens die skou asook ‘n groot verskeidenheid biltong, kos, tuisgebak, versnapperings, industriële, plaas, nywerheid en ook die ander uitstallers wat ons jaarliks kom besoek.
Vanjaar is daar ook ‘n paar eerstes tydens die skou. Vir die eerste keer in ‘n lang tyd gaan die skou ‘n jaggeweer skyfskiet kompetisie aanbied op die Koos Cronje skietbaan op Saterdag 1 Augustus om 08:30. Die Skougenootskap is ook trots daarop dat daar vanjaar vir die eerste keer ‘n maraton aangebied word op Saterdag, 1 Augustus. Afstande waarin meegeding word is 5 km, 10 km en 21 km, so die langasems kan maar solank voorberei en fiks word.  Die organiseerders van die Vlakvark Fietswedren beloof ‘n ekstra groot fietswedren vanjaar, dit vind op Saterdag 1 Augustus plaas, wegspring om 06:30. Die Thabazimbiese weergawe van “So you think you can dance! sal menige kranige dansers na vore bring.  Die amptelike Mej. en Mnr. Thabazimbi word vanaand, Vrydagaand, aangebied.  Dié glansgeleentheid tesame met ‘n modeparade gaan aangebied word deur Izak Davel en Jade Storm met die tema “Wille Bosveld”. Deelnemers word gevra om volgens die tema aan te trek.  Inskrywingsvorms vir Mej en Mnr Thabazimbi asook die Idols kompetisie is beskikbaar by die skoukantoor.
Die Hagelssaal en die Yskorsaal word gereserveer vir die wild- en jagbedryf.  Pro-Bow Archery bied ‘n boogskiet kompetisie aan en bring ook alles wat nodig is vir boogjag, van toerusting tot gekamofleerde klere. Uhuru Taxidermie beloof ‘n uithaler uitstalling ook in die Hagelssaal.
Kompetisies wat ook op die terrein aangebied word sluit in sweepslaan, toutrek en beste stalletjie. Thabazimbi Ruiterklub gaan vanjaar ‘n volle program aanbied by hulle eie arena by die perdestalle.
Kontaknommers: Skoukantoor – 0145 777-1204, Helene Stevens 072-599-9609, Ursula Roux (Mej Tbz en Think you can dance) – 083-584-6061, Paul Dreyer (Idols) – 083-402-1896, Johan du Toit – 082-879-3067, Pro-Bow Archeries – Nico – 084-713-6603 & Hannetjie – 073-674-9956, Jan Trichardt 072-476-6745.

Hennie Pauw THABAZIMBI – An initiative has been launched by local police officers to collect toys for abused children. Insp Corney Myburgh from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit and Cst Karlien Greeff from Social Crime Prevention Unit in Thabazimbi requested assistance from the community for an initiative to collect toys and clothes for children aged between 7 and 12 years. These items will be utilised in cases where children were victims of sexual abuse to assist in creating a sense of belonging and self confidence when appearing before court and testifying against perpetrators. The toys will also be used to equip the newly established Victim Empowerment Centre at the Thabazimbi Police Station. In some cases abused children have never been in the fortunate position to possess their own toys or clothes, things which many more fortunate children take for granted. The police are appealing to the community to open their hearts and help the local police officers to make this project a success. Donated items can be dropped off at Thabazimbi Police Station. For more information Cst Greeff can be contacted on 014 777 3525/00.

Hennie Pauw THABAZIMBI – Alle lede en nie-lede van die Thabazimbi Brandbeskermingvereniging (TFPA of Thabazimbi Fire Protection Association) word versoek om die jaarvergadering by te woon op Woensdag 5 Augustus om 14:00 in die Bioskoopsaal. Goeie organisasie binne die TFPA, Rampbestuur en Working on Fire hang grootliks af van die samewerking van boere en grondeienaars wat in Thabazimbi se brandbskermingsgebied val en daarom word hulle ernstig deur die uitvoerende komitee van die TFPA versoek om moeite te doen om vanjaar se algemene jaarvergadering by te woon. Nie alleen word TFPA-lede goedkoper van dienste voorsien, soos dié van Working on Fire, nie, maar die nuttige inligting oor wetgewing en voorbereidings ten opsigte van die komende brandseisoen, word beskikbaar gestel. Daar word voorspel dat vanjaar weer groot brande kan oplewer, soos gesien is aan die einde van 2008. Onsekerheid oor die beskikbaarheid van Working on Fire (WoF) se span by Marakele is tydens die laaste TFPA-uitvoerende vergadering bespreek, asook by ‘n later vergadering by Marakele Nasionale Park. Dit blyk dat Marakele die eerste roepreg het op die WoF-span, maar dat boere hul hulp kan inroep in gevalle van nood en waar ‘n veldbrand nie deur die boer self onder beheer gebring kan word nie. Die kostes verbonde aan die uitroep is R16,40 per kilometer vir TFPA-lede, betaalbaar deur die grondeienaar. Indien die WoF-span vir langer as 8 uur op ‘n eiendom besig was, moet die uitroeper die onkoste dra vir ‘n maaltyd aan elke WoF-werker. Die spanne se grootte wissel tussen 9 en 22 persone – afhangend van die vuurgradering. Vir nie-TFPA lede is die kostes hoër. Boere wat self die WoF-span vervoer, kan hierdie kostes beperk. Die WoF-span is nou ook tydens naweke op bystand vir die tydperk 1 Julie tot 30 Oktober op tye wanneer die vuurindeks bo 55% styg. Die vuurindeks word bepaal deur faktore soos humiditeit en windteenwoordigheid en –sterkte. Vir die maak van blokbrande moet twee vorms deur die plaaseienaar ingevul word, naamlik ‘n “Aansoek om veld te brand” asook “Kennisgewing van Brand”. Hierdie vorms moet of by Dept van Landbou in Thabazimbi of Rampbestuur se kantoor ingehandig word. Die vorms is ook by hierdie twee kantore beskikbaar. Kennis van blokbrande word gegee aan satellietleiers van die TFPA sowel as aan bure. Goedkeuring kan binne ‘n paar dae gegee word. Satellietleiers van die TFPA gaan inspeksies op lede se plase doen. Daar sal onder andere gekyk word na toegang tot die plaas, of brandstroke voorberei is, en of brandtoerusting en beskermende klere beskikbaar is om vuur te beveg. Toerusting wat vereis word, sluit in vervoerbare watertenks en vuurplakke. Daar word seker gemaak werkers weet wat hulle te doen staan indien ‘n brand uitbreek en of brandslaners oorpakke, kopbedekking, stofmaskers en hitte-bestande skoene het. Kommunikasiemiddels soos radio’s word ook aanbeveel. In die geval waar die Working on Fire-span benodig word, of vir navrae oor die TFPA, kan Renette Lategan by Thabazimbi Rampbestuur geskakel word op 083-688-0319.

Political ideologies and political party slogans formed part of the municipal workers’ strike during the past week. This slogan was printed on the jacket of one of the union leaders in Thabazimbi.

Hennie Pauw

THABAZIMBI – The municipal union, SAMWU’s, strike the past week affected Thabazimbi the same way it did towns throughout South Africa. No municipal services were delivered and a lot of toy-toying took place. The streets of Thabazimbi’s CBD were deliberately covered in litter by marchers on Wednesday.
Two municipal unions were taking part in the strike, namely SAMWU (SA Municipal Workers’ Union) and IMATU (Independent Municipal Allied Traders Union). At Thabazimbi Municipality the majority of employees belong to SAMWU.
By Thursday SALGA (SA Local Government Association) and unions have not been able to resolve the dispute between them. SAMWU members were still on strike by Thursday, whereas IMATU members went back to work on Wednesday.
Managers of divisions, as well as emergency services, were not on strike. Some staff members, particularly those who do not belong to unions, worked around the clock to ensure that the town does not run out of water. Permanent supervision at the pump station is required. At night everything is checked two-hourly to ensure that the water supply is not interrupted.
Apart from rubbish removal that stopped and one or two blocked drains, no serious problems arose, said Technical Manager, Cornelius Booysen.
According to Booysen, it was hoped and prayed that the strike would come to an end on Thursday. Things were still under control by Wednesday afternoon, but a strike which lasts more than five days might develop into a crisis, he said.
On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday strikers assembled at the Technical Services offices where they were toy-toying. On Wednesday SAMWU members marched to the municipal offices where a memorandum with demands was handed to the municipal manager, Roger Nkhumise and speaker, Evodia Hlalele.
The march was peaceful, but rubbish was thrown in the streets. The police monitored the march. Local SAMWU branch secretary, Fred Mariri, warned that aggressive behaviour by the police would not be tolerated by the union. He referred to incidents which took place in Polokwane where strikers were shot with rubber bullets by the police, seemingly unprovoked.
Amidst speeches by union leaders, such as Richard Mahoa, local chairperson of COSATU, Joseph Mawe, chairman of SAMWU’s local branch and the Victor Monyepao, secretary of SAMWU’s Southern Branch from Lephalale and lots of amandla’s,  awetu’s and viva’s the memorandum was handed over.
The demands include a wage increase of 15% or R2 500 whichever is greater, a minimum wage of R5 000 (instead of the current R3 850) and complaints about high salaries of managers. They want negotiations to be valid for one year only and demanded that any services which were privatized, outsourced or sub-contracted be returned to the municipal fold. 
Victor Monyepao also said it was unacceptable that managers live in huge comfortable houses while workers could not afford decent houses. They therefore demanded that the housing allowance be increased to provide a 70% subsidy based on a housing bond of R300 000. They also demanded that vacant posts be filled by 1 January 2010.
In Thabazimbi the posts of, amongst others, Corporate Manager, Financial Manager and Social Services Manager have been vacant for some time.
Upon receiving the memorandum MM (municipal manager) Nkhumise explained that salaries were determined by SALGA and that he has often wished increases could be more evenly distributed. However, matters such as this are determined by SALGA and the Minister of Local Government.

Josephine Sebolayi, program director of the Sport for All project with some of the orphans and vulnerable children who participate in the sporting items.

REGOROGILE – Josephine Sebolayi, program director of the Sport for All initiative in Regorogile would like to extend their gratitude to all the business sponsors in Thabazimbi who took it upon themselves to give these orphans and vulnerable children the chance to take part in these sport items by donating equipment as well as clothes for them. Jet stores, by name Petrie, manager and Sebastiaan from head quarters donated a container full of equipment in 2008 which gave these children the opportunity to practice these sports. Community members who would like to sponsor this project, can contact Josephine at 076 181 1307.

Elana Greyling Veldvleis, beesvleis natuurlik vanaf die veld geproduseer, was weereens onder bespreking tydens die RPO se provinsiale Kongres op Baltimore. Produsente het gedebateer oor die markaandeel wat so ‘n oënskynlike nismark kan belê. Almal was dit eens dat daar beslis ‘n behoefte bestaan, maar dis onseker hoeveel die verbruiker werklik bereid is om te betaal vir vleis wat sonder groeihormone en antibiotika geproduseer word. Die kwessie van wit versus geel vet is ook bespreek. Boere in die Thabazimbi-omgewing het reeds vroeër vanjaar hierdie kwessie onder die loep geneem. Volgens dr Pieter de Kock, bekende teler en beesboer, bied veldvleis die gesonde opsie vir die verbruiker en die mees ekonomiese vir die produsent. Die voordeel vir produsent en verbruiker blyk soms in konflik te wees as dit kom by effektiewe, bekostigbare kwaliteit. Met die produksie van veldvleis wil dit egter voorkom dat almal aan die wenkant kan wees. ‘n Inligtingsdag vir beesvleisprodusente is onlangs gehou by Trekpad Safaris van dr Pieter de Kock naby Thabazimbi. Byna ‘n honderd mense waaronder tien Afrikaner stoettelers het die dag kom bywoon. Brahman, Bonsmara, Nguni en Boran stoettelers, sakemanne, ‘n groot hoeveelheid kommersiële telers, asook ‘n afvaardiging van Spar se voedselafdeling van vleisaankope, BKB, Vleissentraal afslaers, gesondheidsberoepsverteenwoordigers, UOVS biokinetici en slagters het byna die totale voedselketting verteenwoordig. Daar is gesels oor die redes vir die finansiële dilemma van voerkrale en waarom daar reeds drie voerkrale in die Thabazimbi-Rustenburgstreek gesluit is. Prof Frikkie Neser het ‘n lesing aangebied wat aan boere ‘n alternatief bied. Volgens Neser kan ‘n boer steeds geskikte beeste voorsien aan die voerkrale, maar moet bedag daarop wees dat hierdie mark mag opdroog. Dit kan dus ‘n beter opsie wees om inheemse rasse in vleisbeeskuddes in te voer sodat ‘n boer sy eie bemarker oor die volgende paar jaar kan word. Inheemse rasse behoort ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse kudde te oorheers en Europese en Britse rasse behoort minder prominent gebruik te word. Die wêreld vra sagte beesvleis, ‘n eienskap wat op wetenskaplike wyse al bewys is in rasse soos die Afrikaner, Boran en Nguni. Dr Pieter de Kock het ‘n gesondheidsanalise gedoen waar voerkraalvleis en veldvleis met mekaar vergelyk is. Hierdie vergelyking bewys onomwonde dat veldvleis op elke moontlike gesondheidsvlak superieur is tot voerkraalvleis. Toetse het bewys dat wanneer veldvleis, voerkraalvleis, hoender, vis en kalkoen vergelyk word, veldvleis steeds die minste slegte cholesterol bevat, die minste versadigde vette bevat en dus minder kilojoules per gram bevat as enige ander vleissoort. Hugo Penshorn het die bevinding beaam deur te sê dat C-graad veldkoeie vier tot ses weke in ‘n koelkamer kan verouder maar dat voerkraal afgeronde Super A3-karkasse binne twee weke begin bederf. Obie du Plessis het in ‘n lesing die Afrikanerbees as uitstekende kandidaat uitgewys vir die voorsiening van veldvleis: Afrikaner besit geneties ‘n dubbelgeen vir vleissagtheid; rond af op gras op 24 maande met ‘n karkasgewig van 200-230 kg AB2-gradering; het ongeveer 50% minder vet per karkas as die voerkraal karkas(karkasse is vertoon); grasgevoerde Afrikaners besit die goedaardige HDL cholesterol en nie die kwaadaardige LDL cholesterol van voerkraalbeeste nie; die Afrikaner is’n veldbees bestand teen snotsiekte, witoogsiekte, met dikvel, korthaar, stap ver, kalf maklik sterker kalwers van 30-32 kg – die ideale vleisbees. Hierdie feite is behoorlik prakties bekyk deur karkasse te vergelyk. Die Afrikaner as beesras ideaal vir die produksie van veldvleis is prakties bespreek by die beeskraal. Diere word binnekort geslag in die projek vir bemarking onder die Veldvleis brandmerk.

Die eerste gelukkige trekking in die Jana Reinecke Eiendomme rooibok-kompetisie het op Woensdag 29 Julie geskied. Die trekking is gedoen deur ‘n onafhanklike party wat slegs ‘n enkele wenner uit die amper 100-inskrywings moes trek. Renette Ferreira van Nylstroom stap weg met die eerste rooibok in hierdie kompetisie. Wees op die uitkyk vir die volgende kompetisie, skakel Jana Reinecke Eiendomme by 014 777 2220 vir verdere navrae.

Emily Malebye, skoolhoof van Thabakhibidu Primary in Rooiberg, staan hier by die 30 leerders in haar skool wat van warm klere voorsien is deur die NGK Vrouediens in Rooiberg.

Hennie Pauw

ROOIBERG – Te midde van ‘n koue winterseisoen het die Rooiberg NG Kerk Vrouediens daarin geslaag om warmte te versprei deur warm skoolklere aan 30 laerskool weeskinders en 13 hoërskoolleerders in Rooiberg te verskaf aan die begin van die derde skoolkwartaal. Dertig weeskinders, wat ‘n tekort aan warm skoolklere het, in Thabakhibidu Primary School is deur hul skoolhoof, Emily Malebye, geïdentifiseer. Daar is besluit om warm sweetpakke in dieselfde kleur as hul skoolklere aan hierdie kinders te voorsien. Die sweetpak is beide dienlik en aanvaarbaar vir die skool. Die 30 leerders se groottes is geneem en op Maandag 20 Julie is ‘n sweetpak aan elkeen van die 30 leerders in sy of haar grootte oorhandig. By die Secondary School Iterileng in Rooiberg is 13 kinders uitgewys wie behoefte aan warm klere het. Aan hierdie leerders is elk ‘n langbroek, hemp en trui geskenk. Die dames van die Rooiberg NG Kerk Vrouediens het fondse ingesamel deur verkopings en môremarkte aan te bied. Die fondse wat op hierdie manier ingesamel is, was genoeg om die warm skoolklere aan die leerders in die twee skole in Rooiberg te voorsien. Volgens Philip Nel, tesourier van die NGK Vrouediens in Rooiberg, is hulle dankbaar teenoor die Here dat die nood onder hul aandag gekom het en dat dit moontlik was om ‘n tasbare bydrae te maak.