Die Kwêvoël, Thabazimbi

Joshua Motsomane

MEC for CoGHSTA, Soviet Lekganyane addressing the audience while the CEO of Anglo Platinum, Mr Neville Francis Nicolau and Minister Tokyo Sexwale listen attentively.

NORTHAM – A Sod turning event for the first phase of the Each-One-Settle-One Project was held on Monday 28 November 2011.

The National Department of Human Settlements (NDOHS) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Anglo-American Platinum. The MOU was signed in December 2008 with the aim of facilitating the process of creating enabling environment for both NDOHS and AAP to build 20 000 housing units, 12 000 in North-West and 8 000 in Limpopo Province.

The 20 000 housing units will be built over a period of ten years within proximity of Anglo American Platinum’s mining operations. The housing units are targeted towards Anglo Platinum employees as part of its housing strategy and Departmental Each-One-Settle-One concept.

“We are indeed to also have in our midst a renowned individual and a stalwart against the Apartheid Regime. He is none other than the Minister for Human Settlement, Honourable Minister Tokyo Sekwale,” said Mayor Patricia Mosito in her welcome address. “From the onset I wish to indicate that a house is synonymous with dignity, respect and self-esteem.

“I wish to take this opportunity to commend the government and the Minister for the sterling work they do in terms of providing houses and invariably re-instating the dignity, respect and self-esteem of our people. The provision of a house becomes a home, a far cry from the mere brick, sand and cement structure. It becomes a place of warmth and security.”

She further commended the Minister and his department for changing the department from the Department of Housing to the Department of Human Settlement. “This holistic approach to human settlement development adds a human touch.

We are indeed proud that in our quest to meet the housing needs we have a company that has far exceeded expectations in the provision of houses in our area.”

Anglo American Platinum mine is in the forefront of companies embracing the aptly coined “Each-One–Settle-One” campaign launched by the Department of Human Settlement.

The campaign is to mobilise the top 200 companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), stakeholders, private sector institutions and donor agencies to help the department provide people with adequate housing.

“Each-One-Settle-One concept was launch to lobby and mobilize stakeholders, private sectors institutions, donor agencies and ordinary citizens to assist the Department in reducing the backlog of human settlements,” said Minister Sexwale. The minister also said that government alone cannot meet the demand in housing. He further made an appeal to all private sectors to join hands in addressing housing needs to the community.

Earlier on the day the Minister made a sod turning where the new Waste Water Treatment Works will be erected in Northam which Anglo American and the Municipality will fund. He further opened show houses on site at Northam extension 6.

The event was also attended by the MEC for CoGHSTA, Mr Soviet Lekganyane, CEO of Anglo American Platinum mines, Executives from Anglo American Platinum Mines, councillors and officials both Thabazimbi and Waterberg municipalities, officials from NDOHS, CoGHSTA and Anglo American Platinum mines as well as mine workers.

Tannie Babs het pas haar 88ste verjaarsdag saam met familie en vriende gevier.

KROMDRAAI – Verjaarsdag koors loop hoog op Kromdraai. Tannie Babs Stapelberg het haar agt en tagtigste verjaarsdag saam met vriende by die woning van Johann en Mabel Niemand gevier.

Vriende van heinde en ver het kom opskop en lekker verjaarsdag gehou saam met tannie Babs.

Tannie Babs Stapelberg is woonagtig te Kromdraai vanaf 1968 en het al hulle kinders daar groot gemaak. Haar eggenoot, wyle Oom Piet Stapelberg, was ‘n baie bekende in die kontrei en het onder andere gedien as die lokale vrederegter.

“Ons wens Tannie Babs ‘n baie gelukkige verjaarsdag toe. Bly altyd so voorbeeldig en wees altyd ‘n moedertjie vir ons almal hier op Kromdraai.”

EGIPTE – Hendrik du Plessis het as 14 jarige Hoërskool leerling in die Senior Suid-Afrikaanse .22 skyfskietspan deelgeneem aan die Afrika Kampioenskappe in Kairo Egipte wat 14 tot 25 Oktober 2011 plaasgevind het.  Hy wen ‘n Bronsmedalje in die 3P afdeling tussen 39 ander deelnemers wat van oral uit Afrika kom.

Hy is deel van die Senior Suid-Afrikaanse Span en word afgerig deur Martin Senore by die Eagle Eye Shooting Centre.  Hy het sy liefde vir skiet ontwikkel op skoolvlak toe daar vir hom die geleentheid gegee is om aan liggeweer deel te neem en hy skiet nou die .22 van September 2010 af.

Dit is so ‘n uitsonderlike prestasie omdat hy so jonk is en die persone wat tweede en eerste gekom het albei bo 38 jaar is. Die Egiptenare was verstom oor die jong mannetjie wat so  goed kan skiet.

Die Afrika Kampioenskappe was ‘n kwalifiserende rondte vir die 2012 Olimpiese spele.

Hendrik du Plessis het as 14 jarige Hoërskool leerling van Frikkie Meyer in die Senior Suid-Afrikaanse .22 skyfskietspan deelgeneem aan die Afrika Kampioenskappe in Kairo, Egipte wat 14 tot 25 Oktober 2011 plaasgevind het. Hy wen ‘n Bronsmedalje in die 3P afdeling.

A favourable wage agreement, reached between the trade union Solidarity and Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde Mine near Thabazimbi, diffused a drawn-out wage dispute and brought renewed hope for the Christmas Season among Solidarity members, the trade union, Solidarity, today said. As part of a two-year wage agreement, Solidarity’s members at the mine will receive a wage increase of 9% backdated to 1 July, and next year, employees will receive an increase equivalent to the consumer price index (CPI) or 9%, whichever is the higher.

According to Solidarity Spokesperson, Louis Pretorius, category 9 employees at the Zondereinde Mine will receive a further 0,5% increase for years of service in addition to the  9% increase.

“The living-out allowance for employees will also increase by 9%, while a separate forum will consider further increases to this allowance in line with market related housing costs, given that mine housing is not sufficient anymore,” Pretorius said. Meanwhile, the employer also increased the three shift rotation allowance from 3% to 4,5% while surface artisans’ annual leave was increased from 28 days to 30 days. “As part of the agreement, employees will for the first time now also be entitled to 2 days’ family responsibility leave”.

Solidarity represents 500 miners, artisans and staff who have scarce skills, and this wage agreement comes as a welcome Christmas gift after tough, drawn-out wage negotiations over the past five months.

“During the previous round, the employer offered an increase of only 6,6% for 2011 and 6,8% for 2012. The agreement that was finally signed brings renewed hope to Solidarity members and shows that the mining company indeed values scarce skills. Moreover, Northam has also rewarded its employees for their perseverance,” Pretorius stated.

Meredith Neeff en Kelly Spence van Onderstepoort saam met “Skollie” by die bydrae aan TAR.

Onderstepoort borg TAR

THABAZIMBI – Thabazimbi Animal Rescue het ‘n ruim bydrae by Onderstepoort, Pretoria ontvang in die vorm van 500kg hondekos sowel as ontwurmmiddel.

Hierdie projek is deel van die “Vet nurses month fundraiser”.

THABAZIMBI – Tannie Anna (81) en oom Jan Venter (86) van Bosveldoord, vier op 15 Desember hul 62ste huweliksherdenking.

Tannie Anna was in 1941 een van die ses leerlinge van die skool op Sentrum, soos hulle dit daardie tyd genoem het, “die gif goed geëet het”. Die kinders was besig om tuinwerk te doen en het op ‘n vreemde plant afgekom. Hulle het daaraan begin eet, maar tannie Anna het geproe dat dit ‘n vreemde smaak het en dit uitgespoeg. Drie leerlinge is oorlede en tannie Anna en nog twee maatjies is deurgehaal.

Hulle vertel graag die staaltjie van hul huweliksdag in 1949, hoe hulle gesukkel het om ‘n predikant te kry om hulle in die huwelik te bevestig, aangesien dit die dag was wat die Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria ingehuldig is en al wat ‘n leraar na Pretoria opgeruk het vir hierdie geskiedkundige oomblik.

Uit hul huwelik is ses kinders, drie seuns en drie dogters, asook 13 kleinkinders en sover een agterkleinkind gebore.

Die egpaar bedank hul Skepper vir Sy genade wat hulle elke dag ervaar.