1. pets
2. large animals

17 October 2014 Issue 34
Read our newspaper online at
www.gpsnews.co.za
Dave Kahts, representing “Wheelbarrow Patterson”, leads the street
parade to the opening ceremony of the South African Gold Panning
Championships in Pilgrim's Rest, followed by international gold
medallists Jane and Sonja Vermaak. See page 5.
GPS News
2
From the editor
On Saturday morning (11 October), I woke up just as
darkness subsided, with the insane chirping of a
small sparrow staying just outside our bedroom window.
The little bird sang its heart out as if it had received the biggest gift in life. Then the thought
dawned on me: the bird did in fact receive the biggest
gift – LIFE! We take every day for granted, forever
moaning and seeing only our hardships and problems.
Life is about being grateful for the small things.
Just the fact that we can get out of bed, that we even
had a bed to sleep in under a roof, should be enough
to let us rejoice like that little birdie. Did you eat last
night, or even this morning? There are millions that
do not have that privilege, children that had to sleep
in the streets with a rumbling tummy full of nothing.
If our human race could only replace our selfish
nature with an attitude of gratitude, we would live in
the paradise that God intended for us originally.
But... we would rather grumble about our struggles.
When GPS News staff pray together every morning
after reading Scripture, we always emphasise that we
are grateful for what we have.
Make Graskop
neat and clean
Open letter to Thaba Chweu municipal
manager
Wikipedia refers to Graskop as a tourist destination, with mention of God’s
Window, various beautiful waterfalls,
grassy hills and a rich history. Tourists
should be encouraged to visit the town.
Tourists bring in money, thereby stimulating the economy of Graskop, creating
employment, resulting in a better standard of living for all residents.
The only way we can encourage tourists to visit is to make sure that the town
and the surrounding areas are clean,
neat and attractive. At the moment,
Graskop is not clean, neat or attractive.
On the contrary, it is filthy, and this is
unacceptable.
I would like to give you a few quick
points that could help you help the town:
• Have the municipal workers pick up
all the rubbish, especially along the R532
passing God’s Window to Berlin Falls.
This is the most common tourist route,
where tourists sit in busses and look at
the rubbish at the side of the road.
• Fix the potholes, but get someone to
GPS News
Supported by
When I was a little girl, my mom used to sing:
“Count your blessings daily one by one, and in times
of trouble don’t forget what God has done.” When
dark times want to overcome in my life, I spontaneously start to sing the song, and amazingly, every
time I immediately feel better. You see, if we have an
attitude of gratitude, your whole demeanour and life
changes.
Don’t misunderstand me: everyone experiences
hardships and tribulations every day, and your circumstances and hurts are real, but it is how you respond that makes the difference. Happiness is a
choice. In life you have one of two choices: be bitter or
better. You would probably think to yourself now:
“She does not know what I am going through,” and
you are so right, but there is someone that knows exactly what you are going through. He understands
and is always there for you.
Seek solace and happiness in the small things in
life – the song of the birds, your partner’s laugh,
bright sunshine and soft mist, rain caressing your
skin. Look up if the blackness wants to overcome you,
and realise you are not alone.
I pray that each and everyone reading this editorial
teach your team how to do it. Rather do
it properly once than to keep patching
year after year. Best would be to down
dig deep below as a pothole is a result of
a failure with the subgrade. Therefore
you need to fill from the bottom up.
• Clean all the grass and rubbish out
the side drains so that the water can flow
in the drains when it rains and not in the
road. If it is overgrown and dirty the water will accumulate and add to your
pothole problems.
• Every morning, all the rubbish bins
seem to have been thrown over during
the night (could be dogs). A simple solution would be to erect two sturdy poles
and fasten the bins to the poles to prevent them from being tipped over. This
would solve much of the cleaning up issues every morning.
• The old Graskop “tourist resort/caravan park” looks terrible. It never used to be this way and while I
understand that budget constraints may
prevent major renovations, it can at least
be cleaned up. The chalets are now rented out to private residents as cheap accommodation, but it is looking worse and
worse by the day.
• The “Chinese” low-cost housing project, which was beautifully built to uplift
the community, has become nothing
more than a curse. Rumours of corrup-
GPS News Prints Business Cards
22 Main Road, Sabie
Tel: 01 3 764 31 27
Cell: 083 565 9458
Fax: 086 574 3454
Email: editor@gpsnews.co.za
www.gpsnews.co.za
Editorial:
Valerie Kemp, 083 565 9458
Advertising:
Magda Loubser, 084 580 9969
Sabie reporting:
Michele du Plessis, 072 797 1 487
Pilgrim’s reporting:
Frieda Paton, 072 41 9 8905
White River & Hazyview reporting:
Lianda Naudé, 072 1 97 81 34
Editing and layout:
Pedrie Roberts
Accounts & admin:
Antoinette Janse van Rensburg
Printing:
Shilleen van Niekerk
will, in a supernatural way, experience the love of
Jesus Christ and feel what contentment is by knowing that it is going to be OK!
tion are rife with houses even being
burnt down. This project needs a thorough investigation, with a person of integrity to manage the distribution of
these houses.
I know people may say why don’t you
get up and do something instead of writing letters. Well, I believe it is important
for community members to be involved. I
also believe that the municipal department must do its job. After all, the vision
and mission of Thaba Chweu Municipality is as follows:
Vision: Tourism home to the scenic
wonders of Africa.
Mission: To provide a tourism-based
developmental local government by rendering: world class quality service, socio
and economic development, a safe and
healthy environment, public participation and tourism enhancement.
The vision and mission are excellent.
Now it is time for action.
Opregte mense help nog
In die moeilike tye van vandag, is daar
altyd iemand wat iets nodig het, en daarom raak mense raak moeilik betrokke.
Ek wil egter almal in Sabie wat my in
my omstandighede gehelp het, uit die
diepte van my hart bedank. Ek wil nie
iemand uitsonder nie – julle almal weet
wie julle is.
Dis wonderlik om te weet dat daar in
vandag se tye nog mense met mooi, opregte harte is, en daarvoor is ons dankbaar.
Kiewiet Halvorsen
GPS is well-appreciated
It is a big honour to be writing to you.
GPS News truly inspires me with every
issue.
I normally pick up the newspaper, look
at the front page (before reading), then
page to “Letter from editor”, and read it
fully.
After that, I browse and read the
complete newspaper.
May the Lord bless you always!
Walter Bongani
Skaters ready and willing
On behalf of the roller skating group of
Sabie, a hearty thank you to everyone
that supports and encourages us.
We would like the public to know that
our skaters are available and willing to
do a display at any corporate or tourist
function. To make a booking, please call
Lucky on 079 687 8915.
GPS News Prints Flyers
GPS News
3
Frustration leads to innovation
T
ile Direct, incorporating Top Carpets and Floors, in Lydenburg
and Burgersfort offers so much to
their customers. They offer from the kitchen sink to the dead policeman... ok, ok,
maybe not the dead policeman, but
everything else.
They sell ceramics, porcelain, wall and
floor tiles, mosaics, borders and listellos,
taps, mirrors and accessories, baths and
spa baths, shower roses and arms, basins
and vanities, toilets and seats, sinks and
prep bowls, trims and accessories, waste
fittings and... grout and adhesives, just
to name a few.
Co-owner Martin Pretorius manages
the Tile Direct section and Christiaan
Willemse the Top Carpets section. They
have been friends since schooldays. The
business was started when Christiaan
experienced tremendous frustrations as
a builder to get building material from
either Nelspruit or Witbank. The Lydenburg branch opened in September 2006
and the Burgersfort branch in 2011.
Natasha Smith has been the Lydenburg branch manager for the last five
years, and started working at the branch
with vast experience of the industry. The
manager of the Burgersfort branch,
Mtenjane Mduduzi, completed writing
his last paper for grade 12 and immediately started at the branch. After four
years he has managed to work himself
up to become manager of the branch.
At the Lydenburg branch, other key
The team of Tile Direct Lydenburg: Natasha Smith, Benjamin Lebombo, Maryke Pretorius and George Viljoen.
Inserts: Martin Pretorius (left) and Christiaan Willemse (right).
personnel are George Viljoen (four years
service) and Benjamin Lebombo (seven
years service), who is a pillar of strength
in the branch. He commenced his career
as a packer, was promoted to store man
and is currently a sales consultant.
Tile Direct Lydenburg offers their customers in the country the same quality
products, at exactly the same prices, as
in the city.
With the backing of 30 branches nationwide, Tile Direct Lydenburg under-
takes major projects with building specifications, processes plans and also conducts site visits to assist the customer
with the best possible option. They offer
a backup service and are known as the
“one stop shop”.
Martin says: “Our company slogan is:
Come make your house a home. Our experienced sales consultants are here to
assist you to make your shopping experience a joy.”
Christiaan, co-owner of the Top Car-
pets section inside Tile Direct, says this
business offers under-floor heating, carpets, wooden floors, as well as blinds.
Top Carpets and Floors is South
Africa’s only national flooring group,
with over 120 branches nationwide. The
network covers all major cities, as well
as a number of smaller towns.
Christiaan says: “We aim to offer our
clients a pleasant and carefree experience, combined with excellent prices and
a vast range of products.”
4
GPS News
GPS News Prints Carbonised Books
Social calendar
Sosiale kalender
1 5 October
Giant book display. Woodlands
School, Sabie. 09:30-1 4:30.
Hazyview residents march for conservation
Lianda Naudé
The International March for Elephants
and Rhinos was held on Saturday 4 October. As part of the global awareness
campaign, Elephant Whispers in Hazyview initiated a walk for the community
in support of the cause.
Approximately 40 locals participated
in the walk, which started from Perry’s
Bridge at 09:00. The group made their
way towards Hippo Hollow and then on
to Elephant Whispers. Here the group
was joined by six elephants from Elephant Whispers, and had the opportunity to interact with these giant
creatures.
During the march, a total of R2 500
was collected for SAB/Boucher Conservation. This conservation grouping, led
by AB Boucher, aims to stop poaching.
One of their focus points is the establishment of a database of these species.
For more information, contact Ronell
at 013 737 7876.
To view more photos of the event, go
to galleries at www.gpsnews.co.za.
Fight poaching, urges deputy minister
Yvonne Silaule
A
World Rhino event was held on
22 September at the Thulamahashe stadium in Bushbuckridge. It was led by Deputy Mister of
Environmental Affairs Barbara Thomson, together with SANParks, and in cooperation with Bushbuckridge Local
Municipality.
Thomson urged a firm stand against
rhino poaching.
Earlier, hundreds of Bushbuckridge
community members joined government
officials in a fun run through the streets
of Thulamahashe, and participated in a
march under the slogan “Not on our
watch” to the Thulamahashe police station.
Participants in the fun run and march
were conscious of the need to raise
awareness of and seek economic alternatives to poaching as the number of
rhino poached for their horns since the
start of the year climbed to 787. Since
January, 323 alleged poachers have been
arrested.
At the police station, marchers showed
their concern about rhino poaching, calling for more action by the police to address the scourge.
The memorandum carried stated: “As
representatives of the citizens of South
Africa we would like to pledge our support to you in this battle against rhino
poaching and wildlife crime in general.
We pledge to become the eyes and ears of
the SAPS to ensure that all those responsible for the wildlife crimes, particu-
3-27 October
Recent works by Rene Eloff will
be on exhibition at White River
Art Gallery, Casterbridge
shopping centre. Contact:
083 675 8833.
1 November
Ama Wheelies Gholf Day at
Sabie Country Club. Contact:
01 3 764 2782.
29 November
Noon2Moon cycle race. Start
and finish at Merry Pebbles,
Sabie. Organised by Lowveld
Chain Gang. Contact Sandy
Korb: 083 799 4458.
1 3-1 6 December
Sabie Xperience 4 Day
mountain. bike stage race. Visit
www.sabiexperience.co.za for
information and entries.
Deputy Mister of Environmental Affairs Barbara Thomson (seated right)
with Bushbuckridge dignitaries at the World Rhino event.
larly rhino poaching, are arrested.”
During her address, Thomson acknowledged that Bushbuckridge is an economically depressed area with high
levels of poverty and unemployment,
particularly among the youth. Thomson
referred to findings from the 2011 census
that more than half of the area’s economically active population are unemployed, with youth unemployment at
64%, while 80% of those employed earning an annual income of R38 000 or less.
She said that communities such as
Bushbuckridge were being exploited by
crime syndicates in their quest to secure
rhino horn. Amid the pressing social and
economic needs, it is important to save
the rhino from extinction for numerous
reasons, the deputy minister said.
“Without the rhino there will be no big
five – the reason millions of people from
all over the world travel to South Africa
and many of our neighboring countries
every year. In other words: if there is no
big five, there is no tourism. Without
tourism there will be no direct jobs in the
tourism industry for communities living
adjacent to conservation areas, or indirect jobs in industries and sectors that
support the tourism business.”
Laurence Mokgakane of People and
Parks Community Forum urged South
Africans, especially the youth, to use the
opportunities they have to improve their
skills and lives so that they can contribute to the upliftment of their communities.
“As a country prepared to celebrate
Heritage Day on 24 September, it is important for South Africans to take a firm
stand against the threat of poaching to
the nation’s heritage,” said Mokgakane.
1 9-21 December
Sabie X-Trail Run. Contact
Odette van Staden: 082 678
3937.
GPS News Prints Funeral Letters
GPS News
5
Gold panning
championships ‘forge
new friendships’
Frieda Paton
T
Every morning, Johnny can be found catching up with the daily news on the
verandah of The Vine Restaurant.
Johnny, the legend of Pilgrim’s
Frieda Paton
Have you noticed that the roads leading
to Pilgrim’s Rest are in a better condition
than many of the other roads in the
area? This is the result of initiative
taken by Johnny Reinders, long time
resident of Pilgrim’s Rest and proprietor
of The Vine Restaurant and Johnny’s
Pub.
Before the Staffie Rally earlier this
year, Johnny obtained around 80 bags of
tar from the Department of Public
Works, Roads and Transport. Together
with his son, JT, they repaired the potholes from Crystal Springs to Graskop.
Johnny, a qualified mine surveyor,
originally came to Pilgrim’s Rest in 1970
while working for Murray & Roberts.
When the contract was completed, he
resigned in order to stay in the area
rather than to be transferred. After having been involved in various businesses,
he started The Vine in 1994. Since then,
the restaurant and pub have become a
central meeting place in the village, often asked for by name even by visitors
from overseas.
Over the years, Johnny has been in-
volved in various projects to advance Pilgrim’s Rest. In 1996, Johnny initiated
the Pilgrim’s Rest Mountain Bike Classic
which has been bringing visitors to the
area annually since then. He was involved in building the airfield at Barlow,
which has a tarred runway of 1,5 km and
meets all civil aviation requirements. A
number of years ago, he used sand recycled from an old mine dump to prepare
a large area for a sport complex for the
Pilgrim’s Rest youth. The project still
needs some capital input and it is
Johnny’s current ambition to see it completed.
Another project close to his heart is
the upgrading of the day-care centre for
local children. He recently negotiated a
donation of 40 chairs and is investigating
the possibility of felling and selling some
blue gum trees in the area to finance upgrades to the building.
When talking to Johnny, one finds
that he is reluctant about publicity for
his contributions to the village and the
community. He serves as an example to
all of how, with some thought and effort,
everyone can play a part in the betterment of society.
he value of activities like gold
panning, where children, young
people, men, women and the
elderly from different communities
compete together and forge new
friendships, was stressed by Norah
Mahlangu-Mabena, Mpumalanga’s
new MEC for Culture, Sports and Recreation, in her opening address at the
2014 South African National Gold
Panning Championships, that started
on Wednesday 5 October.
“These events provide exciting opportunities for us to learn about each
other and appreciate each other,” she
said, emphasising that it promotes social cohesion, which is one of the key
priorities of the country. According to
the MEC, the department is pleased to
partner with the South African Gold
Panning Association (SAGPA), and
will “continue supporting the organisation in its activities”.
The opening of the annual South
African Gold Panning Championships
in Pilgrim’s Rest is the highlight of the
year, missed by very few of the residents of the village. This year, it started
with a street parade, headed by a local
representing “Wheelbarrow Patter-
son”, who discovered the alluvial gold
in the Pilgrim’s Rest valley. Next in
line was the South African flag, carried by the panners who won gold
medals this year at the International
Gold Panning Championships in
Sweden.
There were teams representing different provinces in South Africa,
floats, a brass band, drum majorettes
and more in the parade, which converged on the packed gold panning site
for the official opening ceremony.
The audience was welcomed by IT
Moekoena, acting Executive Mayor of
Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, who
thanked SAGPA for the opportunity to
host the championships. There was
also an address by SAGPA chairperson
S. Mthuke.
The formal proceedings were interspersed with entertainment provided
by a line-up showcasing the talent
available in Thaba Chweu: the marching band of the St John’s Church in
Matibidi, the recently formed drum
majorettes corps of Pilgrim’s Rest, musicians Tomas Taljaard and Courtney
Gibson from Graskop, and the traditional Pilgrim’s Rest Cancan girls. A
party followed with music provided by
Rasta Jasper.
The brass band that took part in the street parade at the opening of the
South African National Gold Panning Championships.
GPS News
6
GPS News Prints Greeting Cards
Ehlanzeni assists with landfill sites
Michele du Plessis
E
hlanzeni District Municipality
was forced to assist Thaba
Chweu Local Municipality
(TCLM) in trying to rectify the horrendous state of the landfill sites in
Graskop, Sabie and Lydenburg.
According to Solly Selekane, municipal
unit manager in Sabie, an Ehlanzeni
representative visited Sabie to investigate what assistance the local municipality needed.
“At the moment, we are in the process
of restoring the landfill site,” Selekane
said. Asked about a new landfill site, he
said that they are struggling to find suitable land.
In a telephonic interview with GPS
News, DA councillor Farhad Essack of
Thaba Chweu, said: “It is a tragedy that
the municipality cannot fulfill its obligations. No company manages the landfill
site for Thaba Chweu.”
Essack said that he personally laid
two criminal charges against TCLM for
the mismanagement of the landfill sites,
but so far the SAPS “have failed to respond”.
“I urge them to respond urgently and
to provide us with feedback on the
Ehlanzeni
District
Municipality
assists Thaba
Chweu at the
Sabie landfill
site.
cases,” Essack said.
The company Eco Maré Waste Management, contracted from 2012 to manage the landfill sites for the municipality,
withdrew its services in August last year
due to non-payment for services
rendered.
According to the National Environmental Waste Management Act continuous disregard and lack of management of
landfill sites is criminal. Fires that start
on landfill sites might have adverse effects on the health of the surrounding
community, such as asthma attacks.
The lack of management of landfill
sites sometimes gives rise to outbreaks of
cholera and typhoid fever. Foul smells,
dust emissions, environmental nuisances, pollution of ground and surface
water, attraction of vermin and pests,
chemical instability on affected sites,
emission of methane gas and other green
house gases pose severe health risks to
human beings and animals.
Leon de Jager, chairman of Afriforum’s Lydenburg branch, said that “the
only option left” is to get an urgent court
order against the government of
Mpumalanga to properly manage the
landfill sites. According to De Jager, the
landfill site in Sabie is not being rehabilitated by Ehlanzeni District Municipality.
“Rehabilitation is not the correct word
to use for the work being done now at the
Sabie landfill site. At the moment they
are only trying to extinguish the fire and
to repair the site for further dumping.
There is no proper plan for action to
manage the landfill site.”
A contact at Ehlanzeni requested that
people must try to hold back their garden
refuse until the landfill site is functioning again and not to dump their refuse
next to the road or on unoccupied land.
The healing power of herbs
Lianda Naudé
Herbs are ancient remedies that are
used for a variety of ailments. These
remedies are mostly not practised today
due to the extensive use of chemical
medicines.
Antoinette Pienaar is well-known for
her knowledge of herbs and she talks
regularly on RSG about their medicinal
uses. These are South African herbs
and are therefore relatively easy to
source. Here are some of the herbs she
recommends for the treatment of
various health problems:
• Bitterbos is a liver detox and can be
used successfully by people who have
cancer of the liver, hepatitis and other
liver ailments.
• Dasbos and balderjan literally
“sweat” out a cold.
• Vlakgrashout is a quick but strong
way to get rid of a cold.
• Bergpatat assists with weight loss
because it stimulates metabolism.
• Dasbos and karmedip assist with
bladder infection and other bladder
conditions, as well as prostate problems
as they ensure that the bladder is
completely emptied when urinating.
They detoxify the body and assist with
kidney problems because they regulate
water balance in the body.
• Kankerbossie and karmedip relieve
the symptoms of cancers of the bladder,
prostate and pancreas.
• Gifbolblare speeds up the healing of
wounds and sores.
• Dawidjie-wortel helps with
memory.
Antoinette also recommends the
following herb mixture when treating
bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema:
“Take four branches of wildeals, length
Kankerbossie, used for relieving the symptoms of some cancers.
from the wrist to the index finger, and
one branch of wynruit, also from wrist
to index finger. Take nieshout, scrape
one teaspoon’s worth of splinters with a
knife. Place everything in one litre
water, add 1 and a half cups of sugar
and boil on medium heat for 45
minutes. Once the syrup mix has cooled
off, pour into a glass bottle and keep in
the fridge. Drink a tot three times a
day. Wildeals and wynruit can be grown
in your garden and are available at
some nurseries. Use the mixture as
necessary.”
Antoinette can be contacted only
between 17:00 and 19:00 on weekdays
on 023 416 1659 or 083 273 9659. You
can also listen to her on RSG’s “Kruie
kraai koning” on Tjailatyd, Fridays at
16:20.
For more information you can visit
www.kruiekraaikoning.co.za/.
GPS News Prints Wedding Invitations
GPS News
7
KNP arrests suspected poachers
Six suspected poachers were arrested in
Kruger National Park (KNP) on Tuesday
7October.
According to SANParks the first three
suspects were spotted by patrolling
rangers in Kingfisherspruit area. The
rangers immediately called for backup
and a police helicopter was despatched.
The Special Operations Unit of the SANParks Rangers Corps also responded.
The suspects were apprehended and
found to be in possession of a 458 rifle,
ammunition and an axe.
Then, in a second incident, rangers in
the Crocodile Bridge Section made con-
tact with another three suspected poachers. The rangers followed the spoor of the
suspects while calling for helicopter support. The suspects were arrested and
were found to be in possession of a 375
hunting rifle, ammunition and an axe.
SANParks Commanding Officer, Major
General (ret.) Johan Jooste, said: “Every
individual we arrest, and all the
weaponry we confiscate from the suspects give us more energy and hope that
one day we will be able to contain and
start rolling back this onslaught.”
GPS News wishes to congratulate the
KNP staff on their continued and determined effort in addressing rhino
poaching in the park.
You vision will
become clear only
when you look
in your heart.
– Carl Jung
Die dood maak die held
Volgens my is helde dooie mense wat ’n
heldedaad verrig het en toe net daarna
saggies gesterf het. Soos Dick King se
perd en Racheltjie de Beer, wat vir ’n
boeremeisie redelik skaamteloos opgetree het om haar boetie te red. Helde is
onselfsugtige mense wat hul eie lewe sal
opoffer om iemand te red. Gewone
mense.
Nou verstaan ek dat allerhande popsterretjies en akteurs ook mos helde is.
Moenie vergeet van die atlete, rugbyspelers, swemmers en sokkerspelers nie. So,
nou verstaan ek nie meer nie. As juffrou
in die klas vra die kinders moet skryf oor
hulle helde, is dit gewoonlik iemand wat
nog lewe en nie iemand gered het nie.
Kyk nou maar net na tienermeisies.
Hulle faint as jy net die naam Justin
“Bibber” noem. Oooh, hy’s my held en
dan die gilletjie – eeeeek – en dan val
hulle flou. Menige Victoriaanse dame sou
wat wou gee om so te kon flou val.
Oor vakansies skiet FHM se verkope
die hoogte in en ma’s kan nie waag om in
hulle kamers in te gaan nie, want die
skoonhede sit onbeskaamd op die mure.
So tussen die rugbyspelers se posters
wat die eintlike helde is. Want rugby-
Alternatiewe Anna
spelers het sulke meisies aan die arm en
hulle wil ook sulke helde wees. Eendag.
Die gevolge is ekstra wasgoed.
Onstabiele jong meisies wil ook vleiskleertjies hê soos die Gaga-meisietjie.
Hulle wil nie besef dat dit deur honde
van hulle lywe afgevreet gaan word of
deur straatkinders gesteel gaan word vir
lunch nie. En dan nog die hitte! ’n Goeie
rump steak kan nie in die son gelaat
word nie. Dit vrot.
Volgens my is heldeverering nie reg
nie. Nie eens as jou held Sponsgat is nie.
Ons kan nie vir ons kinders sê wie hulle
helde of vriende moet wees nie. Maar, ek
kan verduidelik dat helde gewoonlik
dooie mense is wat onbaatsugtige goed
gedoen het. Hulle sal moet wag dat die
belangrikes eendag dood gaan voordat
hulle kan helde wees. Teen daardie tyd
behoort die jongelinge oud genoeg te
wees om te kan onderskei. Maklik, né!
8
GPS News
GPS News Prints Portfolios
Help volunteers help the elderly
Michele du Plessis
Do elephants
have twins?
Lianda Naudé
Elephants can give birth to twins, but it
is extremely rare. There are a few records of such births in the Kruger National Park and Addo Elephant National
Park. The last set of twins born in Addo
was in 2005. There is a possibility that
more sets of twins are born in the wild,
especially in herds that do not come into
regular contact with humans.
However, the reality is that both twins
seldom survive. Elephant calves weigh
approximately 120 kg when born, and
twins would therefore require large
amounts of milk. As the mother may not
be able to provide the additional milk to
rear twins, the competition between the
youngsters would be intense. There is a
good chance that the weaker of the twins
will not reach the age of six months.
There is also the constant threat to
young elephants from predators such as
lion and hyena, especially if the calves
become separated from the heard.
A pair of elephant twins was recorded
in Amboseli National Park in Kenya
during the 1970s. It also occurs in Asia:
in 2009, twin elephants were born in
Chitwan National Park, Nepal, and in
Thailand in 2010.
An African elephant cow can conceive
from the age of 9 to 11 years and can
give birth until they are around 50 years
old. Their gestation period is 22 months
and birth rates peak during the rainy
season when conditions are most favourable for the new calf.
What does it take to make Christmas
special for someone? For some it might
be diamonds or perfume; for others a
meal will be perfect – especially for the
elderly and sometimes forgotten people
in society.
The volunteer organisation Guardian
Angels in Sabie visits and cares for local
elderly people.
“The motto of the Guardian Angels is
to guard over the elderly and sick,” says
volunteer Annette Bester. “Not only do
we help when they are sick or needy, but
we try to make festive days, like Christmas, extra special for them. And to be
able to do this, we need all the help we
can get.”
Special events provide entertainment.
With Christmas around the corner, the
Guardian Angels are starting early to try
and make the day memorable for the
elderly. They say: “Please make our load
lighter and consider sponsoring any of
the items on our Christmas wish list.”
For enquiries, contact Elize Potgieter
on 079 573 6038.
The Guardian Angels wish list
Hamper for each elderly person: Face
cloth, soap, Lip Ice and hand cream.
Dried fruit in a small basket with any
nuts, biltong etc.
Knee blankets.
Box of shortbread biscuits.
Bottle of nice jam with a jam spoon.
Venue to hold the Christmas function.
Sponsorship towards the meal, crackers, serviettes and flowers for the tables.
Wysheid van
die grysheid
Deon Potgieter van Potgieter Prokureurs in Sabie het onlangs 70
jaar geword. Deon, welbekend in
Sabie, eggenoot van Ria en pa van
Jaco en Liesl, sê: “Ons is nog geseënd om al twee ons kinders in die
huis te hê.” Deon, wat al ’n hartvatomleiding gehad het, sê: “Ek sal
maar werk totdat my gesondheid
dit nie meer toelaat nie. Ek geniet
my werk en sal nie graag ophou
nie. Dis ’n voorreg om op ’n plek
soos Sabie te woon.”
GPS News Prints Certificates
GPS News
A shot of life
with your coffee
Quadriplegic an inspiration to all
Lianda Naudé
Lianda Naudé
The Good Work Foundation (GWF) in
Hazyview has launched an innovative
campaign to raise funds for education.
The concept is in conjunction with vida e
caffè espresso bars, which will afford
their customers the opportunity to add
“A Shot of Life” (R5) to their bill. This R5
donation will be utilised for GWF’s Open
Learning Academy model.
The initiative will run until 22 March
next year on a national basis.
“We are so excited to be able to partner
with vida e caffè,” says Kate Groch, GWF
CEO. “Both organisations have a vision
that the rural children we help today,
will one day be stepping off an African
street into a bustling coffee shop. They’ll
be ordering a cappuccino, checking mail,
and interacting with the world online. If
we use technology strategically, we can
change the lives of an entire generation.
“More and more rural students are being left behind because they can’t navigate the digital world. Our model of ‘hub
and satellite’ addresses this problem.
Rural schools are able to plug into an independent, established centre of digital
expertise where – instead of 50 students
per teacher – we have a ratio of one student to one tablet.”
The Open Learning Academy model
provides an opportunity whereby five
public-sector schools and up to 6 000
children can plug-in to a single centre.
9
A pupil enjoying the benefits of
digital learning.
Each centre will provide the following
services: digital literacy with facilities,
teacher training and support, lessons delivered in the cloud, a full-time digital
facilitator for each satellite school, and
guidance with the school’s digital curriculum.
• For more information, contact Ryan
James on 083 382 3618 or at ryan@goodworkfoundation.org.
People living with disabilities face enormous challenges in their daily lives,
yet GPS News discovered
a man who lives his life to
the fullest despite his disability.
Barry Botes is a quadriplegic who is paralysed
from his neck down. Barry
is an inspiration not only
to other disabled people,
but also to those blessed to
be able to walk and talk
without any obstacles.
In 1994, Barry’s life was Barry Botes, an inspirational human being, and his
changed in an instant and son Anton.
irrevocably so. He was hijacked at gun point and during the incid- “The Timbavati Secrets”, which was
written under his pseudonym of Andries
ent the robber panicked and shot Barry.
Botes. The novel explores the Pedi dynIt took just one bullet to put Barry in a
asty, which is one of Africa’s lesserwheelchair for the rest of his life.
known kingdoms.
What is astonishing, is that this trauIt is also about the mysterious events
matic event did not turn him into a bitter, angry and frustrated person. Instead that took place 180 years ago in the Timbavati half-moon area and how this afhe retained his sense of humour and actfected subsequent events there. The book
ively continues to fill his life with nuexplores the mysterious appearance of
merous activities.
the Timbavati white lions, which were
His love for wildlife has led him to
only discovered 30 years ago. It further
study wild plants and participate in field
questions the Rain Princess, her meteortrips. He also paints with a brush he poologist knowledge and her unquestioned
sitions in his mouth.
ceremonies, which she claims cleanses
Barry is extensively involved in
the sky.
Amawheelies, a charity that is both a
For more information, contact Barry
home and rehabilitation centre for indion 079 875 5040 or mail him at
viduals with spinal injuries.
barry@amawheelies.co.za.
He recently published his first book,
GPS News
10
GPS News Prints Woodlands Directory
Volunteers and sponsors
take pride in their town
Sabie Pride is a project that was
initiated in 2011 by the Sabie Chamber
of Commerce & Tourism.
Joy Comley is currently in charge of
the operation. Joy has been involved
with the chamber for many years, and
decided to take over the Pride project.
Her aim is to step-by-step clean and
beautify the town.
“There are never finances to run a
project like this, and it relies on
volunteers and sponsorship,” says Joy.
However, businesses and private
individuals with the same vision and aim
assist Pride. As a rule, GPS News does
not allow sponsors to be individually
named, but in this case it is permitted
because everyone benefits by it. Thomson
Building & General in Sabie also offered
paint at cost to any business that would
like to participate by beautifying the
exterior of its premises.
Joy, on behalf of the chamber, would
like to extend her gratitude to the people
involved.
Another current chamber project is the
P
R
I
i cki n g
up
e s to ri n g
n ve s ti n g
D
oi n g
o u r ru b b i s h
o u r b e a u ty
in
o u r fu tu re
i t to g e th e r
E
Thank you to:
n j o yi n g
th e
C a l te x – Ke i th
th e
b ru s h
P ri d e
re s u l ts
Cog h i l l
cu tte rs
an d
fo r th e
p e tro l
s to ra g e
tro l l e y.
C o n wa y – Th a t i n i ti a l l y d o n a te d
b l o we r a n d
s e rvi ce s
H l a ti n i
on
an d
we e d s
Th e
b ru s h
th e m
l oan
on
l og o
an d
th e
th e
th a t a l s o
o f ch a rg e .
Dam :
ro u n d - u p
o f s p ra y m a ch i n e
p a ve m e n ts
S u ppl y Co.
Za k Ze l
cu tte rs
fre e
– D i x va n
J o u b e rt fo r th e
an d
fo r
o f th e
an d
poi s-
fo r th e
ro a d s .
Ru g g e d we a r – G e rt
Sabi e
P ri d e
E m b ro i d e rs :
e m b ro i d e re d
on
th e
Roy Mohlala and Siphiwe Chiloane, who help keep Sabie town centre clean,
with Joy Comley of the Sabie Chamber.
u n i fo rm ,
D ri e s ,
fo r th e
u n i fo rm .
painting of traffic sign poles all over
town. To date, the chamber has spent
R11 000 on this initiative. Another big
project recently completed is the Pride
Park opposite African Elephant restaurant under the guidance of Debbie Möller,
while Antoinette Kopp Park also
received a clean-up and fences were
erected.
The chamber committed R30 000 to
fixing potholes in the centre of Sabie.
The chamber is always open to
suggestions on how to enhance Sabie to
its former beauty. Anyone interested in
assisting, either with sponsorship or
helping hands, can email Joy at
sabiepride@gmail.com.
Jermaine se teken kom uit sy hart
Michele du Plessis
Ouma Mamsie en Jermaine Willis.
Jermaine Marvin Wallis is ’n tienjarige
seun van Harmony Hill, Sabie, met
hope talent as ’n ontluikende jong
kunstenaar.
Sy ouma Mamsie Willis sê Jermaine
het sy talent by sy oupa en sy oom
Marvin kry. “Die talent in ons familie
loop in die bloed, en Jermaine, wat na
sy oom Marvin genoem is, is baie
talentvol,” sê sy.
Jermaine, ’n leerling aan Laerskool
Sabie is, sê sy onderwyser Alta Rossouw
help hom baie met teken. Volgens hom
wil hy ’n kunstenaar word as hy groot
is.
Ouma Mamsie sê hulle het sy talent
ontdek het toe hy sewe jaar oud was.
“Hy het op die mure en deure geteken.
Net daar waar hy plek kon kry, het hy
geteken. Ek het elke dag met hom
geraas, maar sy geteken het nie
opgehou nie. Dis toe dat ek vir sy ma,
Welma, gesê het hy moet ’n boek kry om
in te teken.”
Volgens Jermaine teken hy in die
klas as hy verveeld is. “Ek teken uit my
kop uit, maar ek kan van ’n prentjie af
ook teken. Ek teken mense en diere en
karre. Dit is baie maklik om Michael
Jackson só te teken. En as my skets
goed genoeg is, kleur ek dit in.”
Tydens GPS Nuus se onderhoud het
Jermaine sommer vinnig in sy nuwe
sketsboek – ’n geskenk van GPS Nuus
se redakteur – vir Michael Jackson en
’n leeu geteken.
Nie net is hy ’n talentvolle
kunstenaar nie, maar ook ’n kranige
rugby- en krieketspeler. Hy het tydens
die atletiekseisoen eerste in verspring
gekom in die junior liga.
Jermaine het al ’n prys gewen vir sy
sketse.
“Toe ek in gr. 2 was, het ek die beste
prent in my graad geteken. Ek het ’n
sjokolade en R50 gewen. Ons moes ’n
sport teken waar mense beweeg. Ek het
’n surfer geteken wat beweeg.”
GPS News
GPS News Prints Stickers
11
Petro Geyer en Izak Earle het op
27 September getrou. Die egpaar
woon in Sabie.
Value the company in your life
As we travel on life’s journey, we meet
different people. Some make a mark on
our lives for a little while and then move
on. Some are meant to journey with us
for a long time. Some are to be avoided at
all costs.
At times, we don’t see the ones who
have an important role to play for a little
while. We don’t learn as much as we can
whilst we have them. We don’t appreciate our friendship until they are gone.
When Jesus arose from the dead, He
met up with some disciples along the
way and had a conversation with them.
They did not know who He was though
He was telling them what the Word says
about His death and resurrection. They
only realised that after they had invited
Him to stay over. At supper, after He
had broken bread and gave it to them,
He disappeared, and then they knew it
had been Jesus. Luke 24:13-35.
Don’t we sometimes miss some people
and wish we have a little more time with
them? When they are gone, you realise
that they had a big role to play in your
life.
As you journey along, recognise the
people that ought to make an impact in
your life and bring them closer. Do not
miss an opportunity to empower yourself
through interaction with others.
There is also an end to some relationships. Let them go – they were there for
a season. If you don’t let them go you
may end up feeling resentment as you
begin to think that they are no longer interested in you, and you think they have
abandoned you.
Value your company; learn as much as
you can as you don’t know how long you
have with them.
Groentesoorte
12
GPS News
GPS News Prints Labels
Ice bucket challenge helps promote ALS awarenes
Denise van Wyk
Morne Basson and Ockie
Brits, both from J&M
Security, take on the
challenge.
The Ice Bucket Challenge involves the
dumping of a bucket of ice water on
someone’s head to promote awareness of
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or
more commonly known as motor neuron
disease (MND) in South Africa.
J&M Security accepted the challenge,
and nominated three other companies:
Hi-Tech Security, ADT Security and Full
Circle Security. On Friday 10 October,
the challenge took place at Bagdad
Centre, White River.
Participants either accepted the challenge of having a bucket filled with water and ice thrown over them or they
made a donation to one of the ALS or
MND charities.
GPS News spotted Dr. Toerien and his
wife from Mega Holdings and CTU College at the event. Some companies both
took on the challenge and donated to the
cause. A total of 41 companies registered
and/or made donations.
ALS is characterised by muscle spasticity – rapidly progressive weakness due
to muscle wasting. This results in difficulty speaking, swallowing, and breathing. The disease usually starts around
the age of 60, except in cases that are
directly inherited, when the usual age of
onset is around 50.
About 5% to 10% of cases are directly
inherited from a person’s parents. ALS is
the most common of the five types of motor neuron disease.
Former Springbok rugby player Joost
van der Westhuizen suffers from this
disease.
Christians pray for protection of rhinos
Lianda Naudé
A spiritual gathering was held in the Kruger National Park (KNP) for the protection of the rhino species
on Saturday 11 October. KNP and various church denominations from the surrounding communities
joined hands at the Skukuza soccer field to pray for
the survival of this vulnerable species.
“We came here to ask for God’s intervention in this
war and to appreciate the Christians’ efforts and
contribution in the fight against the torture that our
rhino face,” said William Mbasa, KNP’s General
Manager: Marketing and Communications.
“With continuous co-operation from all levels of society, the success in catching the criminals will soar
and we may ultimately win the fight against these
criminals. We appreciate this religious contribution
because it brings about that heavenly power, which
only God can descend upon rhino poachers.”
Prayers were also conducted for the protection of
the anti-poaching teams, the security forces and the
KNP management and staff.
The first of these prayer gathering took place in
2012 at Shingwedzi Rest Camp. It has now become
an annual event where Christians come together to
declare war against rhino poachers.
Christians connect in the KNP as they pray for
the protection of rhinoceros.
GPS News Prints Posters
GPS News
New touch for
both classrooms
and grounds
Teachers awarded for excellence
Gerda van den Bos
Gerda van den Bos
A new season has dawned for Panorama Secondary School in Graskop. The
school has a new vice-principal, Council Lebjane, and a new head of department for science, Nomsa Monana, who
is contributing renewed efforts to ensure that the school achieves even better results in mathematics and science.
While these teachers are doing their
part inside the class rooms, the school
grounds are being transformed into a
haven of colourful flowers, indigenous
plants and vegetables. Niven Rowe recently joined the team as caretaker responsible for all the maintenance at
the school and the gardens.
He teamed up with Eco Schools, and
with the help of the students of the
Graskop Environmental Awareness
13
Niven Rowe, new caretaker at
Panorama Secondary School.
Group they are now eradicating the
alien vegetation at the school, replacing it with indigenous plants they
found at an old mining settlement.
Niven said: “You can’t just take out
the alien plants without rehabilitating
the ground and replacing them with
indigenous plants.”
Panorama principal Rachel Jacobs
said she is proud of the Graskop Environmental Awareness Group as most
of these students had matriculated at
Panorama Secondary School.
The Department of Basic Education
annually awards teachers for their
good service and dedication with the
national teachers awards. Teachers
can enter in various categories on regional level, from where they can go
through to the provincial and national
awards. The regional awards ceremony
for the Bohlabela District was held on
18 September.
Nomsa Monana from Panorama Secondary School in Graskop obtained a
certificate for third finalist in the Excellence in Secondary School Teaching
category. Nomsa was recently appointed as the new head of department for
science at the school. She says her goal
is to ensure that all the learners pass
mathematics and science as she thinks
“without maths you cannot get on”.
Panorama’s new vice-principal,
Council Lebjane, was awarded with
the first finalist certificate for Excellence in Science Teaching. He cur-
Nomsa Monana, Rachel Jacobs
and Council Lebjane.
rently teaches physical science for the
grade 11 and 12 classes, as well as
mathematics for the grade 11s. He
says: “We are going to uplift the results of Panorama School in maths and
science. It is our passion.”
Panorama principal Rachel Jacobs
was awarded first finalist position in
the Lifetime Achievement category.
She and Council have now qualified for
the Mpumalanga Teachers Awards,
that will be awarded soon.
GPS News
14
Sasol invests in Memezile High
Elize Potgieter
oorhandig die
prys vir die
langste dryfhou
en naaste aan
die putjie aan
Marcilda Vogel.
As part of its Sasol Rally 2014 corporate
social responsibility (CSR) initiatives,
the Southern Africa Energy business of
Sasol invested over R300 000 in a project
to refurbish facilities at Memezile High
School in Simile, Sabie.
The refurbishment included the upgrading of 12 ablution facilities at the
school, as well as replacing broken windows and ceilings and electrifying
classrooms.
Zolile Ntukwana, Sasol SAE’s Senior
Manager: Marketing and Public Affairs,
said: “Our aim is to empower and contribute to the social upliftment of the
community, focusing on education and
Pienk gholfdag help bejaardes
Michele du Plessis
Guardian Angels, ’n vrywilligergroep wat
bejaardes bystaan, het op 27 September
’n gholfdag by Sabie Country Club gehou.
Die organiseerders, gholfspelers, helpers en selfs die pryse was vrolik in alle
skakerings van pienk getooi.
Al die harde werk vir die gholfdag
deur Elize Potgieter, voorsitter, Annette
Bester en ander lede van Guardian
Angels Sabie was met die doel om geld in
te samel om aan bejaardes van Sabie en
Harmony Hill ’n feestelike Kersfees te
gee.
“ ’n Hotel het ’n Kersete vir die bejaardes geborg en ons gaan die dag so spesiaal moontlik vir hulle probeer maak. Al
die geld wat ons insamel, word gebruik
om bejaardes te help,” sê Elize.
GPS News Does Lamination
Guardian Angels help bejaardes op
verskeie maniere, soos om hulle dokter
toe te vat of om inkopies te gaan doen.
Dit is onbaatsugtige werk wat met baie
liefde en respek gedoen word.
Riaan Stander en Sunnyboy Sehlabela
het die gholfkompetisie gewen. Dick
Claunch en Sunnyboy Sehlabela tweede,
met Les Lithgow en Mike Lyall derde en
Fanie Bam en Johan Venter in die vierde
plek. Vusi Nkosi het die prys gekry vir
die langste dryfhou en Thys Kemp die
prys vir naaste aan die putjie.
Marcilda Vogel het die langste dryfhou
deur ’n vrou geslaan en was ook naaste
aan die putjie. Zelna Esterhuizen het die
prys ontvang as die besgeklede vrou en
Obed Mashego as die besgeklede man.
’n Lang lys borge het die geleentheid
se sukses verseker.
Colour for a
bike at Spur
Good news for the younger generation of Hazyview: Running Brave
Spur has launched its next colouring competition. Children can colour in a picture and stand a chance
to win two bicycles – for a boy and a
girl. It’s easy – just colour in the
picture, fill in your details and
place it in the entry box. The winner
will be drawn on 21 October at
18:30. The winner must be present to
claim the prize. Here are Gabriel
Dube, Thandeka Manzini and
Nkosinath Zikhali with the bicycles
that are up for grabs.
the environment. We believe that this
project will promote long-term sustainability, which is important for Sasol.”
Sasol SAE has also invested in an environmental awareness programme,
which will run in ten Mpumalanga
schools, including Memezile High School.
The programme objective is to create
awareness of environmental sustainability in schools and the surrounding communities.
“The Sasol Rally is a long standing
event in the region for the past 23 years
and as such we have identified these
CSR initiatives as legacy projects,”
Ntukwana said.
GPS News Prints Old Exam Papers
GPS News
WHEELS @ GPS NEWS
15
The definitive car buying guide: part 4
manufacturer’s guarantee or warranty. Make sure you
also understand what the amount of cover of this
guarantee or warranty entails.
Motor plans need to be looked at very carefully as they
vary with the amount of cover, the cover period, and the
cost to extend such plans.
They can normally be divided into three categories:
full motor plans, maintenance plans and service plans –
or any combination of the above.
A full motor plan covers the vehicle for any servicing,
repair or maintenance costs for the entire covered
period. The only expense to the owner will normally
only be fuel and tyres.
A maintenance plan refers to the normal
maintenance that is carried out on a vehicle during the
covered period, but with a customer share, or pro rata
payment, which will normally have to be paid by the
customer on any work undertaken by the servicing
dealer.
As a general rule, a service plan is also included in
the maintenance plan and works on a customer-share
basis as well.
A service plan only caters for the normal or scheduled
servicing of the vehicle over the cover period of cover.
Should there be any other maintenance or repairs to the
vehicle, the owner of the vehicle will have to foot the
bill.
Ask the salesperson or service advisor of the dealer to
explain in detail to you the extent and exact period of
cover of the particular motor plan that accompanies
your vehicle.
There are many vehicles that are sold without a
motor or service plan, and then the only cover is the
This is usually the last event in the conclusion of a
vehicle purchase, and the options for your financing,
interest rate and add-on products are almost endless.
Take the time to apply for finance at more than one
finance house and secure the best deal. Also negotiate
the best interest rate in order to save a lot of money
over the agreed finance period.
Try and steer clear of balloon or residual payments,
as this type of financing method is used to buy a much
more expensive car than the buyer can afford and only
pays an instalment on a percentage of the actual
purchase price of the vehicle, whilst the remaining
percentage of the outstanding capital only gets financed
again after the first percentage or part of the finance
agreement has been paid off.
Note that the residual amount gains interest over the
initial finance period, resulting in a balloon payment at
the end of the agreement term that is much more than
the initial residual amount you did not finance in the
beginning.
Try to buy what you can afford and do not finance a
vehicle with a residual option.
Rather look at a normal hire-purchase agreement
(full ownership), where you pay off the entire amount
over a set period of time without any residual left.
Another option is a normal lease agreement, mostly
for those with a car allowance or business owners, but it
is still a full ownership agreement, also without any
residual or balloon payments.
Look at add-ons, like “top-up cover” and “credit life”.
The “top-up” product from the finance house covers your
vehicle in the case of it being stolen or being written off
by the insurance company. It will pay the difference or
shortfall between the settlement amount owed to the
bank and the actual value paid to you by the insurance
company.
A “credit life” product will settle the outstanding
amount owed to the finance house in the event of your
death, and will therefore not burden your family with
financial difficulties.
Ask the dealer consultant or the finance house
representative to explain the financial packages so that
you can structure a deal that fits your personal needs.
GPS News
16
GPS News Prints Tickets
Anne at the top
in the Lowveld
Anne Coetzee from Sabie won a silver medal in the
Lowveld open single bowls championship that was held
in Nelspruit on 4 and 5 October. Anne was one of 18
players that entered the competition. The others were
from Bungalows, White River, Malelane, Barberton,
Nelspruit and Lowveld Country Club, while Anne was
the only female player from Sabie.
The competition was played in a single format with
the winner
being first
player who
reaches 21
points.
Anne
played Martie
Janse van
Vuuren in the
finals who
was finally
unbeaten.
Lawn bowls
is an old
game that is
played the
world over.
The object of
the game is to
get your
Anne Coetzee, second place at
bowls – that
Lowveld open.
are biased so
that they roll in a curve – closer to the jack (a small,
white ball) than those of your opponent. Your team receives one point for each bowl closer to the jack than
your opponent’s closest bowl.
There are many variations of the game, with singles
or teams of two to four players.
Skuts\
skiet
hul
‘moeg’ op
kompetisie
Michele du Plessis
D
ie nasionale sportskietkompetisie van die Laeveldse Jagtersvereniging is op 6 September by
Sabie gehou.
Dit is die eerste keer in die bestaan van die Platorandse tak van die vereniging dat die kompetisie aangebied word. Die “driewapen”-kompetisie bestaan uit drie
dissiplines: pistool, haelgeweer en koeëlgeweer, wat almal semi-outomaties is.
Altesame 76 skuts het in die kategorieë junior, mans,
vroue en veterane deelgeneem. Daar was twee haelgeweer-, twee pistool- en twee geweerbane waaraan almal
moes deelneem om te kwalifiseer.
Spanne van Piet Retief, Ermelo, Gauteng, Lebombo,
Nelspruit en Sabie het meegeding.
Die beste skut was ’n deelnemer van Ermelo, die beste veteraanskut een vanf Nelspruit, die beste junior van
Gauteng en die beste vroueskut was Lesley Döhne van
Sabie. Die beste span was een van Lebombo gewees.
Volgens Piet Coetser van die Platorand-tak het die
skuts hul “moeg geskiet”, maar dit duidelik baie geniet.
“Baie dankie aan al borge en almal wat gehelp het om
dit ’n sukses te maak,” het Piet gesê.
• Vir inligting oor die vereniging, kontak Piet by
082 466 5239.