Die Kwêvoël, Thabazimbi

Betree die eiendomsleer, maar moenie oorgretig wees nie.

Dit is die raad van Tjaart van der Walt, uitvoerende hoof van die RealNet-eiendomsgroep. “Hoewel verbruikersvertroue nou weer na vore tree en die eiendomsmark ‘n hupstoot gee, gaan volkome ekonomiese herstel ‘n rukkie neem,” sê hy, “en ons dink nie verbruikers behoort in 2010 waaghalsige beleggings te maak nie.

“Dit is wel ‘n goeie geleentheid – in terme van prys en bekostigbaarheid – om ‘n huis te koop, maar dit is beslis nie tyd om buitensporige groot of luukse eiendom te koop nie.”

Hy raai kopers aan om ‘n konserwatiewe begroting op te stel en seker te maak dat hulle steeds verbandbetalings sal kan bekostig indien rentekoerse met ‘n paar persentasiepunte styg en hulle inkomste vir die res van die jaar konstant bly.

“Sulke beplanning gee kopers gemoedsrus en stel hulle in staat om hulle nuwe huise te geniet eerder as om hulle oor hulle geldsake te bekommer – en straks te begin dink die eiendom is ‘n meulsteen om hulle nek of ‘n swak kopie. Behoorlike vooraf beplanning sal dit ook makliker maak om ‘n lening te bekom.”

Van der Walt sê die tendens om eenvoudiger en meer beskeie te leef het die afgelope jaar sterk na vore getree. Dit het onder meer daartoe gelei dat verbruikers besteding aan motors, meubels, energie en brandstof, uiteet en selfs kosaankope beperk het.

“En ons glo dat dié konserwatiewe benadering ook ten opsigte van huistransaksies gevolg behoort te word. Hoewel huisbesit een van die beste maniere is om welvaart te skep moet verbuikers onthou dat welvaart langsaam gebou word – en dat daar beter groeipotensiaal is as jy nie jou rieme so dun sny dat jy sukkel om jou maandelikse betalings by te bring nie.

“As jy byvoorbeeld ‘n bietjie los kontant het en dit benut om jou verband vinniger af te betaal, sal jy vinniger ekwiteit in die eiendom skep as wanneer jy bloot op ‘n styging in eiendomspryse staatmaak om die waarde van jou eiendom te laat groei.”

Uitgereik deur RealNet Holdings

Omgewingsvriendelike binnehuise versiering hoef nie duur te wees nie – daar is talle maniere om die ‘groen’ paadjie te loop, al is jou begroting beperk.

Dit is die mening van Berry Everitt, bestuurshoof van die Chas Everitt International-eiendomsgroep. Hy sê dis ‘n blink plan om jou bestaande besittings onder oë te neem en te besluit of jy dit beter kan benut as jou beursie dun is. “Besluit watter meubels en toebehore moontlik ‘n gedaanteverwisseling kan ondergaan voordat jy die winkels invaar.

“Daar is ook talle idees op die internet om meubels en ander artikels uit alledaagse materiaal wat andersins op die ashoop sou beland, te skep en so kan jy gebruik van nuwe hout, lym en verf  beperk en boonop die druk op jou plaaslike stortingsterrein verlig.”

‘n Nuwe laag verf is ook ‘n goeie plan aangesien dit een van die mees kostedoeltreffende maniere is om jou huis te verfraai en omgewingsvriendelike verf, onderlaag en seëlmiddels is nou wyd beskikbaar. “Harlequin Paints, BreatheCoat en ProNature is drie Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye wat nie-toksiese verf en muurbedekkings vervaardig terwyl Aqua Coat ook ‘n hele reeks omgewingsvriendelike vernis, metaalgrondverf, waterdigting, bindverf, vloerbedekkings, steenvernis, kraakvullers en swembadhars vervaardig.”

Everitt skryf in die nuusbrief, Property Signposts, dat jy kieskeurig behoort te wees indien jy wel iets vir jou opknappingsprojek aankoop. “As jy nuwe gordyne, vloerbedekkings of meubels moet koop, kan jy steeds sorg dat jou aankope omgewingsvriendelik is. Koop byvoorbeeld gordyne wat van natuurlike vesel gemaak is en kies ligte kleure wat sal help om jou huis in die somer koel te hou. Voerings sal weer help om jou huis in die winter warm te hou.

“Wat vloerbedekkings betref kan die nuwe gelamineerde houtvloere kostedoeltreffend wees. Dit is baie ‘groener’ as volvloermatte, wat nie net formaldehied vrystel nie, maar ook sowat elke sewe jaar vervang moet word.”

Laastens, sê hy, probeer om vrygewig te wees. “Skenk enige meubels, toebehore of snuitserye wat jy vervang aan ‘n welsynsorganisasie.

Sommige instansies sal selfs stukkende items aanvaar en dit herstel om self te benut of te verkoop vir broodnodige fondse. So kan jy ander mense help – en ook druk op stortingsterreine help verlig.”

Uitgereik deur Chas Everitt International.

Besoek www.everitt.co.za

THABAZIMBI – SAMWU (South African Municipal Workers Union) demands that the Municipal Manager, Mayor and Councilors of Thabazimbi Municipality must resign with immediate effect. These demands were set in a memorandum that was delivered to the Municipal offices following a protest march by members of Cosato and SAMWU on Thursday 14 January 2010.

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sicelo Shiceka, is also urged to intervene without delay and ensure that the communities of Limpopo receive basic services and the Thabazimbi Municipality be adequately capacitated, so that it may function above board as the state of the Thabazimbi Municipality is dangerously hampering service delivery in the area.

According to the memorandum R3.6 Million had gone missing from the Municipality’s account in March 2009 alone and to date nothing has been done to rectify or investigate the matter. It further states that recruitment policies are not followed in the Municipality. Councilors unashamedly interfere in the administrative duties of the Municipality, influencing the decision to appoint friends and brothers instead of suitable candidates who have the relevant qualifications and experience.

It is also of grave concern to SAMWU that even the water and sanitation in the area are not satisfactory. The state of the water and sanitation is a major concern and has to be attended to, as a matter of urgency.

SAMWU mentioned in the memorandum that they fully support the demands formulated by a COSATU local meeting held the previous week, with representation from SAMWU. The demands are as follows; that forensic investigations be done with regard to the missing R3.6 million, a forensic audit be conducted on processes that occurred unlawfully, that a case be opened against those who were responsible for embezzling funds out of the Municipality, councilors must immediately stop influencing appointments, the Municipality must with immediate effect involve all stakeholders within the Municipality, labour brokers should be done away with, houses should be built for those who are in need of it, roads must be fixed with immediate effect, water and sanitation, electricity and waste removal services must cover all the communities of the Thabazimbi Municipality, staff must be increased in all divisions and that investigations be done on issues of RDP housing.

The Municipality will be given 14 days to respond to the above mentioned demands at which stage they will also issue a press release regarding the memorandum.

In his response to the memorandum, Mr Jan Viljoen of the Thabazimbi Chairpersons Forum, said that the Forum endorses the concerns raised by SAMWU with regard to the situation which prevails in respect of service delivery within the Thabazimbi Municipal District. However not mentioned in the memorandum is the total disregard the Municipality has with regard to compliance to legislation concerning the business of local authorities. The dispute in place between the Forum and the Municipality is as a result of this.

The lack of the appointment of competent persons is a major concern to the Forum. He said that the lack of financial control which prevailed within the Municipality is due to this. This is manifested eventually in the fraud and corruption which takes place. The interference by Councilors, especially by the mayor, is a known fact, coming to the appointment of employees and can not be tolerated.

The Forum however does not support the request for an increase in the employment of persons, as indicated in the memorandum. Over the past years a culture has been entrenched within the municipality that having employment is a right, providing a service to the public is favour. Before considering any appointments, we have to remedy this situation. If not, we have more people believing that service provision to the public is a favour to the public. However, with due respect, a very limited number of municipal officials does not fall within this bracket, we as members of the Forum want to express our gratitude to those.

KOEDOESKOP – On 7 January 2010 at about 11:45 an armed robbery occurred at Koedoeskop General Dealers in Koedoeskop. Two (2) suspects, armed with a pistol and knife, entered the business, pointed the owner and demanded cash and cigarettes. The suspects took the items and fled on foot.

The local farmers from Koedoeskop assisted the SAPS with air and road support and one of the suspects was apprehended with an undisclosed amount of cash in his possession. The other suspect was still at large. While still in pursuit of the suspects, a bag containing some of the stolen items was recovered in the bushes which were used by the suspects for hiding. Later that evening, a local resident contacted the SAPS with
information that the other suspect was in the area. The police responded immediately and the information was followed up. This wanted suspect was also apprehended and an undisclosed amount of cash, as well as cellphone vouchers were also found in his possession. Both suspects are from Moruleng village, close to Mogwase in the North West Province. A case of armed robbery was opened and is being investigated by SAPS
Thabazimbi. The investigation revealed other cases pending from Mogwase against these suspects. The suspects will appear in court on 18 February 2010.

The festive season brought with it numerous other robberies in Koedoeskop. According to sources, two separate robberies took place at  Koedoeskop Bottle Store and a Mini-Supermarket on 4 December and 22 December 2009. Another robbery took place at Marula Bottlestore on Saturday 9 January 2010. No further information about these robberies were given by the SAPS at time of press.

REGOROGILE – The teachers and support staff of Mabogopedi High School met with some of the students’ parents on Saturday 16 January at Philmarie Guesthouse for an intensive strategic planning meeting.

This meeting was held after the poor matric pass rate of 38.5% in 2009, to refocus on the school’s core principles and stretch itself in areas where the status quo needed to be challenged. They resolute in improving the matric results and all over student results by committing themselves as educators to work together as a team, to ensure a safe, healthy and caring environment for the school community where excellent teaching and learning can therefore take place. The number of students for 2010 in each grade is as follows: Gr 8 – 229, Gr 9 – 215, Gr 10 – 223 and Gr 11 – 187, which amounts to 854 High School learners for Mabogopedi. For any enquiries, contact Mabogopedi High School on 014 772 3042.

Minstens R65 000 is op die spel vir vanjaar se top vroue-entrepreneur in die landbou. Maar aanspraakmakers sal vinnig hul inskrywings gereed moet kry – die sluitingsdatum is die einde van dié maand (31 Januarie).

Dié prys word deur Sanlam, in samewerking met Landbouweekblad, op die spel geplaas om erkenning te gee aan vroue-entrepreneurs wat hulle met hul innoverende sakebedrywighede op die platteland onderskei en deur bemagtiging in hul omgewings ‘n verskil te weeg bring.

Volgens Jan Steenkamp, uitvoerende hoof van Sanlam Cobalt-oplossings vir Besigheidseienaars, is tipiese entrepreneurs wat inskryf (of ingeskryf kan word) vroue wat ’n onbenutte geleentheid raakgesien het en dit gebruik het om lewensvatbare, volhoubare ondernemings op die platteland te skep.

“Dié vroue se entrepreneurskap – en dit wat hulle bereik het – moet kan dien as inspirasie vir ander vroue in soortgelyke omstandighede om iets van dié omvang en dieselfde trefkrag te doen,” sê hy.

Die wenner vir 2008/9 was Annalene du Toit van die plaas Kloovenburg buite Riebeeck-Kasteel in die Wes-Kaap wat onder meer ‘n imponerende voedselreeks en skoonheidsprodukte na Holland, Duitsland en Mauritius uitvoer.

Volle besonderhede oor die kompetisie en ‘n inskrywingsvorm verskyn op die webwerwe van Sanlam en Landbouweekblad (bv www.sanlam.co.za, klik op Meer, dan Borgskappe en Ander). Of bel Erna Wetzel by 021-947-4506 of stuur ‘n e-pos aan haar by agri@sanlam.co.za.

Hennie Pauw

THABAZIMBI – Sowat 270 kinders en volwassenes het op 9 Desember aan die Zipit-in-‘n-Zimbi Blik-gemeenskapsprojek in Thabazimbi deelgeneem.

Onder dié wat opgedaag het was ‘n groep onderwyseresse van die Laerskool Thabazimbi en amper 20 leerkragte van Hoërskool Frikkie Meyer.
Deelnemers is in groepe van sowat 10 elk ingedeel en swart sakke en ‘n roete aan elk toegesê. ‘n Gemiddeld van 20 swart sakke vol vullis is deur elke groep opgetel.

Kleuterskole het ook deelgeneem en Thaba Park help versier deur plantjies te plant wat deur die Munisipaliteit voorsien is.

Na afloop van die rommeloptellery is daar waatlemoen en worsbroodjies genuttig en watersport in die reën gespeel.

THABAZIMBI – Met die gebruiklike Provinsiale Toekenningsfunksie te Polokwane op 15 Januarie 2010 is die volgende toekennings gemaak: Sanlie van den Brink behaal die 4de plek in die Limpopo Provinsie met ’n gemiddeld van 94.4%. Sanlie behaal ook die toekenning as die beste leerder in die Provinsie vir Afrikaans Huistaal  [96%] asook vir Inligtingstegnologie [98%]. Arno Snydert is die beste leerder in die Provinsie vir Ekonomie [98%]. Hoërskool Frikkie Meyer het 5 kandidate onder die top 30 leerlinge in die Provinsie opgelewer naamlik Sanlie van den Brink, Arno Snydert, Robynn Hearne, Annaré Erasmus en Chantal White.

Hoërskool Frikkie Meyer ontvang ook drie toekennings by hierdie geleentheid, naamlik: Die beste skool in die Waterberg Distrik, Een van die top 40 skole in die Limpopo Provinsie en Klub 50 toekenning vir Wiskunde en Wetenskap [ Meer as 50 leerders het Wiskunde en Wetenskap gesamentlik geslaag].

THABAZIMBI – Die tweede amptelike Kumba Marakele Marathon word op Saterdag 6 Maart 2010 deur die Thabazimbi Marathonklub aangebied.
Die vier afstande sluit in 42.2km standaard marathon wat ook dien as ‘n amptelike kwalifiseerder vir die Comrades Marathon, die 21.1km half marathon, ‘n 10km en ‘n 5km pretwedloop.

Volgens die organiseerders het hul reeds inskrywings van heinde en verre ontvang. Al vier die wedlope se wegspring is by die Marakele Nasionale Park hoofingang en roetes word geheel en al binne die park se grense gehardloop.

Thabazimbi Marathon Klub is vir die sukses van hierdie wedloop afhanklik van die ondersteuning van plaaslike besighede en nooi graag die besighede en klubs in die Thabazimbi omgewing uit om deel te word van een van die omgewing se spog geleenthede. Behalwe vir ‘n wonderlike, gesonde dag in die buitelug, word hierdie geleentheid ook gebruik om fondse in te samel vir die Marakele Bewaringsfonds. Die nuwe plaveisel by die hoofingang is reeds getuienis van waar die vorige jaar se fondse aangewend is.

Al vier wedlope begin op een punt, vanaf 06:00 die oggend en het dieselfde uit-en-terug roete. Dit beteken dus dat die nader waterpunt heelwat meer atlete help en meer blootstelling kry. Die volgende waterpunte is beskikbaar teen vier verskillende donasies aan die Marakele Bewaringsfonds: Die 2.5km wat 8-12 vrywilligers benodig is teen ‘n koste van R1000 beskikbaar terwyl die 5km wat 6-8 vrywilligers benodig teen R750 beskikbaar is. Die 8km en 10.55km afstande is teen R500 beskikbaar en benodig elk 6–8 persone. Die 12km, 15km, 18km en 21.1km afstande se waterpunte beloop R350 elk en benodig slegs 4-6 vrywilligers.

Borge moet vervoer na die punt, vrywilligers, eie musiek, eie advertensies en gasbraaitoerusting voorsien, geen oop vure word toegelaat nie. Thabazimbi Marathon Klub sal tafels, water, koeldrank, glasies en dies meer voorsien.

Volgens Iwalda Bezuidenhout, organiseerder, is hierdie die perfekte geleentheid vir spanbou, advertensie en ‘n unieke, onvergeetlike oggend in Marakele Nasionale Park se ongerepte natuur.

Vir deelname en verdere inligting, kontak voor of teen 1 Februarie 2010 vir Iwalda Bezuidenhout by 014 772 2841 of 083 410 1378.