Die Kwêvoël, Thabazimbi

THABAZIMBI – Die inwoners van Thabazimbi en omgewing het heerlike reënweer gedurende die hittige Desembermaand ontvang. Ben Alberts Natuurreservaat het 240mm vir Desember tot Donderdag 12 Januarie 2012 ontvang terwyl Wachteenbietjesdraai sowat 220mm sterk staan. Thabazimbi dorp het tussen 150 tot 180mm op verskeie plekke gemeet terwyl Faan van Vreden van Obaro Thabazimbi-tak hul reënmeter op 144mm leeggemaak het. Volgens statistiek kry Thabazimbi hul meeste reën in Januarie maande met ‘n gemiddeld van 109mm.

Farmers and other community groups in the Lephalale area had mixed feelings when they received a leaked report from the Inspection Panel (IP) of the World Bank this week.

The IP report was expected in the first quarter of 2011, but was only just handed over to the World Bank Management.

According to Tristen Taylor, of Earth life Arica the report states quite a few critical points initiated by local community members.

The report states that the World Bank management failed to consider critical environmental Issues in approving a $3.75 Billion loan to Eskom to build one of the largest coal power plants in the World, Medupi, near Lephalale in Limpopo.

According to an expert’s summary of the Inspection Panel (IP) report, the report reveals significant environmental, social and climate impacts. The IP visited the area about 18 months ago at the request of concerned community groups. The report found that these impacts, including an estimated release of CO2 emissions of 26 million metric tones every year, were not adequately addressed by the World

Bank. It suggests that the Management may have been overly optimistic that their support for one of the largest coal power plant would, “enable the country to achieve a low carbon economy”. It notes that the emissions did not violate Bank policy only because the Bank did not have

a policy on greenhouse gas emissions.

The findings could not have come

at a worse time for the World Bank, where on the same South African soil, it is angling for a prized role in the $100 billion green climate fund (GCF).

The report also highlights the failure to consider impacts on water, sand mining, air quality, and the wider environmental impacts of the associated complex of coal-based economic activities (such as coal

mining) on the environment and human welfare in the region. Perhaps most worrisome are impacts on water in a region that struggles with existing water scarcity. Local community members have been challenging the illegal sand mining used for the construction of Medupi as it has affected the water flow from the local river.

“The report validates what we already know” says Niranjali Amerasinghe from CIEL. “The Bank failed to comply with its own policies by not adequately considering the very real costs associated with the project’s impacts on water, human health and the environment.”

Earth life Africa Jhb and groundWork met with community representatives on Monday and Tuesday to report back to them on the outcomes of the IP report. The communities are demanding that immediate action be taken to ensure that the negative impacts of Medupi are stopped. “We are of the opinion that the long overdue report of the Inspection Panel had a big impact on local people’s lives and human rights. Damage done to our

water supply, infrastructure and land could have been controlled and prevented were it not for the slow action taken by the World Bank,” says Susan Goosen of Mogol River Tax Payers Forum.

“We were always concerned that this project was flawed and undemocratic, and the IP investigation has proven our case. The World Bank must take urgent action and withdraw the loan as it contradicts the stated intention of the funding,” says Makoma Lekalakala, Programme Officer at

Earth life Africa Jhb.

As local groups demand redress, global civil society is arguing that the report is just the latest in a long line of destructive projects financed by the Bank. Given the World Bank’s role as interim trustee of

the Green Climate Fund, they are shining a spotlight on its destructive activities such as the funding of Medupi.

Projects like Medupi suggest they can’t be trusted to support the urgent need to move society towards a low carbon future,” says Justin Guay of Sierra Club, USA. “Their rhetoric, and reality are worlds apart.”

Whatever happens in Durban at COP 17, the World Bank’s core energy lending will continue. The next project in the pipeline is a new coal plant and strip mine in the tiny republic of Kosovo. Nezir Sinani, of the Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development, is using the lessons learned from Medupi to fight World Bank approval of the plant; “It is now evident that the World Bank has not learnt lessons from the debacle of Eskom, and thus we call on the Kosovo government and the World Bank in particular to stop pushing the coal power facility.” He visited the Lephalale area with a camera team to document the impacts of the construction of Medupi on a first hand basis.

Groups in South Africa are expressing their solidarity in what increasingly looks like the next controversial project in the World Bank pipeline.

“The World Bank has financed an incredibly destructive project here in South Africa,” says Siziwe Khanyile of groundWork. “It wasn’t the first, but we need to make it the last.”

“We call on negotiators at COP 17 to recognize the important role of agriculture in addressing climate change.  In particular, farmers are key to providing essential services needed for life, including: food, feed, fibre, energy and ecosystem services,” said Johannes Möller, president of Agri SA.

Möller added that farmers interact daily with the environment.  They are thus well placed to implement sustainable agricultural practices that can help to adapt to and mitigate climate change.

According to Möller, agriculture is different by nature and must be differentiated from other sectors.  Most of agriculture’s green house gas (GHG) emissions are directly linked to natural biological cycles.  Farmers cannot be held accountable for emissions resulting from natural biological processes, especially since the latter are required for food security.

It is also difficult to compete with other sectors in terms of cost efficiency in reducing GHG emissions, unless there are monetary incentives aimed at carbon sequestration and displacement potential along with energy efficiency improvements and supply of renewable energies peculiar to the agricultural sector.

Many studies acknowledge that GHG sequestration by agriculture is a quick and cost-effective means to mitigate emissions.  Significant benefits associated with soil organic carbon storage make sustainable land management a solution to the inter-related issues of poverty, resilience and sustainable development.

Rewarding farmers for carbon sequestration will enhance the carbon storage potential of the agricultural sector and economic incentives are needed to enable farmers to implement ‘climate smart agriculture’ practises.  There is a need to establish voluntary carbon credit systems to reward farmers for their contributions to climate mitigation through carbon sequestering activities and other agriculture emission reductions.

Securing GHG-savings and energy supply through sustainable bio-energy and other embedded renewable energy technologies should be included in the analysis of the agricultural sector.

“Given the peculiar position of the agricultural sector in relation to climate change, the following should be addressed as part of a future process,” said Möller.

Official recognition of agriculture as a sector that is adversely affected by the effects of climate change and, at the same time, as a sector with a huge potential to provide solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

A commitment for substantial increase in investments in and support for agriculture.  The sector must be prioritized in international and national policies and strategies as well as in budgets in order to increase agriculture’s resilience to climate change, while boosting economic growth.

Recognition of the specific characteristics and needs of agriculture in a future agreement in order to take full advantage of the mitigation and adaptation potential of the agricultural sector as the current Kyoto does not deal with this to the required extent.

Establishment of appropriate financial mechanisms to reward farmers for the carbon sequestration, ecosystem services and permanent reductions that mitigate climate change, providing them with the right financial incentives to adopt the most sustainable practices and to supply low-carbon services (energy and materials) alongside food, and fodder products.

Recognition of Farmers’ Organizations as partners linking farming communities and the international carbon market, and as a link to the international institutions.

Photo by Jakobus van der Merwe

THABAZIMBI – One of the many great tourist attractions for Thabazimbi, is the Marakele National Park, only a few kilometres from town.

A narrow tar road takes visitors up to the top of the Waterberg massif. Views and scenery are spectacular. One is also in the proximity of the vulture colony and these large birds will soar past at close quarters.

There is five special things to seek when visiting Marakele National Park: • Cape Vulture – the park hosts one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of this endangered species. While birds may be seen in the air catching thermals anywhere in the park, the drive up to the Sentech Towers is nearest to the colony and close encounters with these enormous birds will leave visitors breathless.  • African Elephant – while some elephant had been previously reintroduced into the park, it was the release of the Tuli elephants in 1999 that captured the public’s and media’s imagination. • Rhino – Marakele has a high density of both rhino species and most visitors should see these animals, particularly the more gregarious and diurnal white rhinoceros.  • Kudu – as browsers these antelope are in their element at Marakele. Look out for the bulls with their magnificent spiral horns. • The not-so-often-seen-elsewhere antelope species such as reedbuck, mountain reedbuck, eland and tsessebe can be found here.

Contact Marakele National Park for bookings on 0147776929.

Patience while the feeder passes the meat over the fence into the lion camp.

THABAZIMBI – Marakele Predator Centre - situated 9km outside Thabazimbi on the R511 road to Marakele National Park, is one of the latest tourist attractions in this part of the bushveld.

The magnificent animals you can see there include mainly White lions, Tawny Lions, Bengal tigers as well as a mini zoo with Pot Bellied pigs, Marmoset monkeys and Meerkats. The latest addition is three white lion cubs that were born on 4 December. So far, from the little bit that one can see of them, they seem well and healthy.

For the ultimate adrenalin rush – the lion mobile of Marakele Predator Centre is now ready. Join the lions on their own premises in the drive through camp. For as little as R50 for adults and R30 for children you can go into the lion camp with the mobile. For photography lovers this is your change of taking pictures up close and personal.

You are welcome to bring your own cooler with refreshments (no alcohol allowed), and spend some time there. Braai facilities as well as a jungle gym for the kiddies are available to visitors.

The centre is open daily from 09:00 to 16:00. The entrance fees are R75 for adults and R35 for kids under R12 years.

Feeding times are on Wednesdays and on Sundays at 12:00. Please book in advance for the lion mobile. Phone Emma on 071 597 7752.

DURBAN – The eThekwini municipality has given swimming at Durban’s beachfront the green light after heavy rains late last month prompted the city to issue a bathing ban.

The city issued the health warning last week after flooding of its sewerage system.

The city said the sewage posed a health risk because of high levels of bacteria, and advised people to avoid swimming at beaches near river mouths, in river water and in storm water drains.

However, on Sunday the acting head of the city’s health unit, Dr Ayo Olowolagba, said the weather had stabilised and no adverse results had been noticed through continuous efforts. “We are less worried about the risk,” he said.

Olowolagba said the city’s pipe-borne water was safe for drinking. However, he warned that using water from rivers or any other open source could not be considered safe for drinking unless such water was made safe by boiling and/or using bleach in the recommended measure.

“The municipality is continuously monitoring the situation,” he said.

Meanwhile, to accommodate the large volumes of waste generated during the Cop17 conference and the festive season, the municipality has put together a comprehensive cleaning programme.

Municipal spokesman, Thabo Mofokeng, said Durban Solid Waste (DSW) had increased the number of bins in all areas and had employed additional staff and extended the working hours to three shifts.

The programme would focus on areas from the inner city to the beachfront, operating a 24-hour service. “Street sweepers are deployed in all major routes and will be operating in the CBD and beachfront areas.

“In addition, high-pressure washers will be in operation during the night on the beachfront, CBD, Warwick Avenue and outlying areas,” he said.

There will also be quick response teams comprising a driver and six staff on standby to react to complaints that may be of a sensitive nature or require urgent attention.

-IOL.co.za

The South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) is urging South Africans to put recycling onto their holiday agenda. SANBWA technical manager, Charlotte Metcalf, says organisations such as Petco as well as SANBWA members – together with the South African public – have made considerable strides in recycling plastic products, but they must not rest on their laurels during the December holidays.

According to latest Plastics SA figures, of the 573 000 tons of plastic used in the country in 2009, some 165 772 tons – or 28.9% – was recycled. This is up from 19.7% in 2000 when 90 457 tons of a total 460 000 tons was recycled.

Even more impressive is the recycle rate for PET, the plastic used to make beverage bottles like those used by the bottled water industry. Petco’s latest figures highlight that 40% of all post-consumer PET bottles consumed in South Africa are recycled. The target for 2015 is 50%.

South Africa currently recycles three million bottles daily, and the recycling process of these bottles and other plastic manufacturing activities provide employment to more than 65 000 people.  South Africa also does not export its PET bottles for recycling (as is the case in many other countries), instead the bottles are mechanically recycled into fibre filling for duvets, pillows, fleece jackets, automotive parts, insulation, geotextiles and most, importantly back into food grade packaging, thereby closing the loop.

“Apart from creating jobs in waste management, recycling reduces the country’s dependence on importing raw materials for plastic manufacturing, shrinks the carbon footprint and ensures that used plastic bottles don’t end up in landfills,” said Metcalf.

“It is heartening to see the increase in recycling for plastic across the board,” she said “and all involved are to be congratulated. However, as an industry body, SANBWA is most interested in the PET plastic bottle recycling rate, and so we’d like to urge all South Africans who choose to drink bottled beverages on the beach, while travelling or hiking, in restaurants or at home, to make certain the empty bottle is discarded in the recycling bin.”

Asked to comment on the sustainability of bottled water production in South Africa, Metcalf said it is very water efficient business in that it has an extremely low ‘water usage’ factor compared to other food and beverages.

“The term ‘water usage’ refers to how much water by volume is used to make a finished product.  This measure – sometimes called ‘water footprint’ – includes both direct and indirect water usage. In the bottled water industry, that would be water for rinsing and sanitising bottles, plant and general cleaning and sanitation, vehicle washing, floor washing, toilets and so on, and includes water from boreholes and municipal source,” she said.

“The South African industry benchmark is 1.8:1, and there are plants that achieve ratios of as low as 1.3 – 1.4 by recycling their bottle rinse water. This industry average equates to 22.7 litres/second but, before you dismiss it as high, consider that a golf course uses 1 litre/second per hole or 18 litres/second for an 18-hole golf course, so the bottled water industry’s annual use is equivalent to that of one and a half golf courses.

“Water — in all its forms — is a vital component of the human diet, as well as the healthiest beverage option for societies plagued by diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Also, bottled water is the best packaged beverage option for the environment; it has the lightest environmental footprint of all packaged beverages — granted one that can be reduced immediately by 25% if consumers were to simply recycle the bottle.

“Give South Africa a Christmas present this year: don’t trash your PET plastic – recycle it!” said Metcalf.

Hennie Pauw

THABAZIMBI – Rolspelers en belangstellendes word uitgenooi na die Algemene Jaarvergadering van die Marakele Park Forum op Vrydag 25 November om 10:00 by die raadsaal van Marakele Nasionale Park se hoofhek.

Addisioneel tot die jaarvergadering sal ‘n voorlegging gedoen word deur Michelle Thorn. Sy is ‘n wetenskaplike by die Endangered Wildlife Trust en is tans besig met ‘n projek oor roofdiere in die Waterberge. Haar praatjie handel oor die konflik tussen boere en roofdiere en moontlike oplossings vir hierdie probleem.

Die Park Forum is in 2006 gestig met die doel om ‘n meganisme te skep waardeur die gemeenskap deel kan neem aan die bestuur van die Marakele Nasionale Park.

Die Forum skep dus ‘n  platform vir interaksie tussen rolspelers (soos bure, die plaaslike owerheid , boereverenigings en die SAP) en die park, die bevordering van gemeenskaplike belange en die ontwikkeling van samewerkingsgeleenthede.

Die Forum sou dus onder andere die kulturele en natuurlike belang van die Marakele Nasionale Park aktief help bevorder, sowel as die waarde daarvan as ekotoerisme-bestemming.

Sub-komitees op die Forum is geskep vir verskillende raakpunte met die gemeenskap. Hulle is landbou, biodiversiteit, kommunikasie, ekonomiese ontwikkeling en ekotoerisme. Die subkomitee vir Biodiversiteit sal byvoorbeeld samewerking met bewaarde gebiede aangrensend tot die park bevorder, asook kwessies van moontlike verdere uitbreidings.

Vir enige verdere navrae rakende die Marakele Park Forum kan dr Wilhelm Schack se kantoor op 087 802 1989 of hyself op 083 301 8119 geskakel word. ‘n E-pos kan ook gestuur word aan info@ekowild.co.za

'n Beroep op die gemeenskap word gedoen om aasvoëls te beskerm.

Walter Neser

THABAZIMBI – Die Krans Aasvoël is Suider-Afrika se enigste endemiese aasvoël spesie en alhoewel hierdie aasvoël spesie waarskynlik die mees bestudeerde aasvoël in Afrika is, daal hulle getalle nog steeds.

As kwesbaar geklassifiseer, met voortdurende bedreiging, soos vergiftiging, habitat verandering, landbou-praktyke, botsings en skok op elektriese drade wat bydra tot hierdie situasie. Meer onlangs het talle nuwe bedreigings vir aasvoëls na vore gekom in Suider-Afrika, soos die gebruik van aasvoël-dele om die Lotto nommers te voorspel, en elders in die wêreld, die katastrofiese ineenstorting in die voorheen volopste Indiese Wit-rug Aasvoël (Gyps bengalensis) bevolking en ander aasvoël spesie op die Indiese sub-kontinent (Status klassifikasie van ‘minste kommer’ verander na ‘krities bedreig’ in net 12 jaar). Die ineenstorting van die aasvoël bevolking in Asië het gedien as ‘n ernstige waarskuwing van die opkomende dreigement dat aasvoëls wêreldwyd nou in die gesig staar, naamlik veeartsenykundige chemikalieë / dwelm-residu’s wat in die karkasse wat nadelig mag wees vir die oorlewing van die aasvoëls. Die Asiatiese Aasvoël krisis het ook die effek beklemtoon wat die verwydering van ‘n spesie uit die omgewing op ander spesies en gemeenskappe se welsyn as ‘n geheel, soos die toename van verrottende karkasse in die omgewing met ‘n gevolglike toename in wilde honde en rot bevolkings, met gepaardgaande siekte-uitbrake.

Kaapse Aasvoëls is unieke roofvoëls in dat hulle sosiale voëls is, en vorm groot broei kolonies, mens kan tot 600 broeipare op ‘n enkele krans teë kom. Hierdie sosiale gedrag en gevolglike omgewing interaksie, plaas die voëls in hoë risiko van massa-vergiftiging deur middel van vergiftigde karkasse, waar meer as 300 voëls op ‘n slag kan eet. Daarbenewens het aasvoël restaurante gelei tot ‘n ongewone voël- en menslike interaksie waar dit moontlik is vir die onbedoelde gifstowwe soos diergeneesmiddels ook uiteindelik in die aasvoël voedselketting beland. Hierdie situasie kan ly tot die uitwissing van ‘n groot deel van die oorblywende voëls in ‘n kort tydperk, as dit nie versigtig bestuur word nie.

Die Aasvoël-Program (VulPro), gestig in 2007, is daarop gemik om die voortdurende agteruitgang van die Kaapse Aasvoël populasie te stop. Gefokus deur die hele Suider-Afrika, saam met die Kaapse Aasvoël Werk-groep van die Endangered Wildlife Trust en sy medewerkers, is VulPro se missie om die toonaangewende aasvoël bewarings program te wees vir die bevordering van kennis, bewustheid en innovasie in die bewaring van die Afrikaanse aasvoël bevolkings tot die voordeel en welstand van natuur en die samelewing.

Die Magaliesberge is die tuiste van die vierde grootste kolonie van Kaapse aasvoëls, wat 12% van die totale bevolking is. Die grootste kolonie is naby Thabazimbi op Kransberg in die Marakele Nasionale Park, en maak 20% van die bevolking op. Die tweede en derde grootste kolonies is in die Limpopo-provinsie in Blouberg Natuur Reservaat en Manoutsa naby Hoedspruit onderskeidelik. Na die 2011 tellings van al die kolonies in Suider Afrika, staan die bevolking op ongeveer 2400 broeipare, in vergelyking met die vorige jaar se raming van 2900 pare.

Elke jaar van November tot Februarie verlaat kuikens die gemak en veiligheid van hul neste en leer om op hul eie oor die weg te kom. As gevolg van hul gebrek aan ervaring, beland hul dikwels in gebiede waar die habitat deur die mens verander is tot  so mate dat dit gevaarlik is vir die jong voëls, soos buisings skemas, en ander ontwikkelde areas, waar daar heinings, kragdrade, honde en ander gevare is, wat hul ontydige dood of bloot uitputting lei. Tydens hierdie intense tyd van die jaar, wanneer die meeste mense hul jaarlikse verlof geniet, is VulPro hard aan die werk met die versamel van beseerde, vergiftigde, en uitgeputte aasvoëls regdeur die Noordwes, Gauteng en Limpopo provinsies vir rehabilitasie. Jong Krans Aasvoëls beland in mense se tuine, perde kampe en selfs die Hartbeespoortdam, so wel as botsing met kraglyne is maar net ? paar van die probleme wat die voëls in die gesig staar. Om hierdie rede doen VulPro ‘n beroep op elke lid van die publiek wat op ‘n aasvoël op die grond afkom, om hulle dringend te kontak vir hulp. Hier is jou kans om ‘n belangrike rol speel in die bewaring van die spesies en die beskerming van ons natuurlike erfenis.

Elke jaar van November tot Februarie verlaat kuikens die gemak en veiligheid van hul neste en leer om op hul eie oor die weg te kom.

Deur VulPro se rehabilitasie pogings, sal elke aasvoël wat gesond genoeg word, terug in die natuur vrygelaat word. Hulle word gemonitor deur middel van nommerplaatjies op beide vlerke, en sommige word met behulp van GSM / GPS opsporingstelsels gevolg. VulPro bied die voëls die beste moontlike kans om ten volle te herstel en suksesvolle vrylating. Die voëls wat nie kan herstel nie, word dan ingesluit in VulPro se onderwys, navorsing en teelprogramme waardeur elke aasvoël wat by die sentrum gehuisves word, ‘n rol speel en op die manier ook ‘n bydrae tot die oorlewing van hul wilde broers en susters.

Die VulPro is op die oomblik die enigste goedgekeurde organisasie in staat om effektiewe aasvoël rehabilitasie in die Gauteng, Noordwes, Vrystaat, Noord-Kaap en Limpopo streke te beoefen, en het ‘n bewese rekord in die gebied van die aasvoël navorsing individueel en in samewerking met gerespekteerde kundiges en organisasies. Deur middel van ‘n breë benadering, beplan VulPro om die Kaapse Aasvoël bevolking te stabiliseer, te hervestig in plekke en lande waar hul vroeër vollop was en die publiek op te voed oor die belangrikheid van ons aasvoël spesies in ons ekosisteem wat elkeen van ons direk raak. Vir meer inligting, kontak kerri.wolter@gmail.com. Vir beseerde / siek voëls en noodgevalle skakel, Kerri by 082 808 5113 of Walter by 076 593 9849.

As ‘n nie-winsgewende organisasie, is VulPro baie dankbaar vir al hul borge, onder andere; Bioweb, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Computer Facilities, Hernic ferrochrome, Lomas Wildlife Protection Trust, Mazda Wildlife Fund, Natural Encounters Inc, Rand Merchant Bank, Stefanutti Stocks, Samancor, Tusk Trust, Wilderness Safaris en Eland Platinum Mines van Xstrata Alloys.

Een van die grootste kolonie Krans Aasvoëls is naby Thabazimbi op Kransberg in die Marakele Nasionale Park en maak 20% van die bevolking uit.

Louise en Wimpie van Zyl se tuinier, Azeleon, het hierdie monster van ‘n mamba op Dinsdag 8 November gevang.

Melanie en George Robertson woon vanaf 2009 naby die vliegveld en het op Sondag 6 November vir die eerste keer ‘n swart mamba in hul erf aangekeer.

THABAZIMBI – Verskeie inwoners van Thabazimbi het die afgelope week swart mambas in hul erf opgemerk.

Mambas (Dendroaspis spp)

Mambas is groot, daglewende slange met doodskisvormige koppe. Die swartmamba het in werklikheid ‘n vuilerige olyfkleur met ‘n ligter pens en kan met die minder giftige olyfkleurige grasslang verwar word. Wanneer dié slang bedreig word, lig hy die voorlyf, maak ‘n smal bak en sper die bek, wat binne swart is, oop om die giftande te ontbloot. Die slang gaan maklik oor tot pik indien die vyand nie blitsig padgee nie.

Die groenmamba is heldergroen en kan met ‘n boomslang, groenslang of waterslang verwar word. Dié slang is skugter en vlug gewoonlik as hy gesteur word. Mambas het ‘n kragtige, snelwerkende senugif wat vinnig noodlottige verlamming kan verooraak. Die swartmamba word as die gevaarlikste slang in Afrika beskou. Indien u ‘n slang in u erf gewaar, kontak Thabazimbi Krisis Beheer by 083 698 3401 of 083 433 2319, sodat hul ervare, opgeleide span die slang kan verwyder.

http://myfundi.co.za/a/Belangrike_giftige_slange_van_Suid-Afrika