The Rep 18 December 2020

6 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 18 December 2020 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
SOCIETY SNIPPETS
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Best wishes for very happy birthdays to Wayne Kretschmer
(December 18), Michelle Thompson, Anina Coetzee, Sidwell
Tachie and Louise Ruiters (December19), Trevor Knoetze,
Angie Oosthuizen, Rebecca Hayes and Brendan Henson
(December 20), Solly Ferreira, Jacques Landman, Zwai Ngondo,
Dean Lieberum, Gerrit Hattingh and Tyrique Brecht (December
21), Joan Turner, Johannes van Heerden, Tracy Roux, Dylan
Edwards, Patti Aylwin, Jalé Thomas and Ari Gregoriou
(December 22), Gail Strydom, Elza Verwey, Madelein du Plessis,
Brendan Raasch and Janet Birch (December 23), Dave Millar,
Patti da Cruz, Noel and Robert Williamson (December 24), Noel
Sahd, Mark McEwen, Burton de Wet and Lizl Pelser (December
25), Susan Hayes, Glendene Brody, Kruno Füzy and Jacques
Iveson (December 26), Pam Bester and Gayle Trollip (December
27), The Rep's Charodine Visagie, Adele Dowling, Sarah Botha
and Aaron Brody (December 28), Bradley Holland and Sanelle
Strydom (December 29), Lynne Minnie, Travis Jakins and
Michellene Williams (December 30), Robin Bowes, Carla
Beetge and Dieter Kleinsmith (December 31), Juliet Brody,
Veronia Barraud, Ann Benjamin and Lucy Goniwe (January 1),
Hein Maritz, Leroy Lee and Luvaine Kruger (January 2),
Madeleine de Wet, Leandri Kleynhans and Ryno Greyvenstein
(January 3), Bronwen Viedge, Murray Basset and Theo Hockey
(January 4), Hester Lemmer and Peet Greyling (January 5),
WEDDED BLISS: Nathan and Luchandra Douw
tied the knot at the Crouch Memorial Church at the
weekend Picture: MAXWELL LEVINE PHOTOGRAPHY
Murray Weakley (January 6), Jackie Smith (January 7), Bob
McKenzie, Melissa Stone, Vernon Putzier, Thandi Bashe, Celitha
Korf and Anel Eloff (January 8), Darryll Schwarz (January 9),
Theonique Brecht (January 10), George Marriot, Sandra
Rheeders and Inge Coetzee (January 11), Chrissie Snel, Amanda
McEwan, Riaan Oliphant and Lonwabo Nkuhlu (January 12),
David Miles, Lisa Miles and twins Gay Wormald and Bovs
Brown (January 13), Anthea Swingburn, Patrich Smith, Sheldon
King and Geraldine Thompson (January 14).
Belated birthday wishes to Riaan Naude (December 1), Rebecca
Naude (December 10), Tina Mentoor (December 15)
Congratulations on the wedding anniversary of Grant and
Cherie Webb, who celebrate on December 20, and Ashton and
Natalie Schnehage whose big day was December 16. Gavin and
Cynthia Schaefer have theirs to look forward to on January 6.
Th i s is the last issue of The Rep for 2020 and the Editor and staff
wish all advertisers, readers and friends a very happy, healthy
festive season with loved ones. Safe travels if you are taking to
the road and let us hope we all return healthy and refreshed to
meet a 2021 that is way better than 2020 was.
Condolences to the families and friends of Bulelwa Skweyiya,
Margaret Joubert, Mandlenkosi Yokwe, Nomagazi Bonani,
Ndabazandile Nkobololo, Euphonia Mafilika, Nomathamsanqa
Sonti, Nomajamani Betya, Thozama Nqayi, Nomayime Joni,
Sgingqi Mase, Nobazinto Bashe, Nozuko Ndabeni, Nolwandile
Yantolo and Nongazi Qoma.
What a
disastrous year
I am expected to wrap up the year
and write about the highs and lows
of it. As years go, this has been an
absolute disaster. Can we agree to
write it off?
As is the norm, many people sit at
the start of each year and make new
ye a r ’s resolutions like saving more,
joining a gym, losing weight, saving
to buy a car or a house, get married,
start a new course of study or finish
one and so on and so on.
The year started brilliantly and it
only got better when the worldrenowned
prophet Shepherd Bushiri
told us that he had been to 2020
already and could confidently
predict that 2020 was going to be a
“great year”.
Life is unforgiving to charlatans
and their foolish followers as 2020
has turned out to be anything but a
great year for the country and the
world as a whole. As if the universe
was showing off — Bushiri ended the
year behind bars facing corruption
and money laundering charges — a
small matter in the 2020 he had seen
that he totally missed. If anyone
needed proof that these are
charlatans, this was it.
In March we entered into a new
world — the last time anything like
this happened was in 1918 just after
another catastrophe, World War 1 or
The Great War as it is known.
We never thought a viral
infection that first surfaced in an
obscure city in China could, in less
than a year, engulf the world and
completely change the course of
history and disrupt life as we knew it.
Now that we are truly into the
second wave we can see that things
will get worse and we do not know
whether they could get any worse
anytime soon.
The fact is we just do not know
where we will be in the new year
and what kind of new year’s
resolutions we will make, if we are
still alive, that is. Judging by the
conduct I see from people, it is clear
IN TOUCH
Phumelele P Hlati
that some will not get the
opportunity to make New Year’s
resolutions, let alone fulfil them.
The struggle and the next goal
now is to get to 2021 in a reasonably
unscathed condition, something
which is definitely not guaranteed.
Of the people who are reading
this piece today, how many will be
getting ready to usher in the new
year and how many will be making
their esolutions?
Do you want to be a statistic and
go down in history as one of
thousands of Covid-19 victims
because you refused or were
unwilling to wash your hands
regularly, social distance or wear a
mask? Do you want to die
anonymously because you refused to
stay at home and only go out if it was
absolutely necessary? Do you want
to perish because you could not be
bothered to change your ways and
entertain yourself differently away
from crowded places?
I lost three members of my
immediate family this year from
different illnesses, so I know the pain
of losing loved ones. What about
you? Do you want your family to go
through that because you couldn’t be
bothered to change your ways?
It is all “in your hands” and that’s
where we will leave it. Be safe, be
healthy and let us see you in the new
year, unscathed.
Merry Christmas everyone.
KOMANI WEATHER
Komani is in for a cool, cloudy
weekend with a 60% chance of rain.
Fr i d ay ’s minimum temperature is
set to be 15°C and it will be overcast
and rainy with a light wind. The
maximum temperature is 28°C.
On Saturday expect a gentle
breeze, overcast and rainy weather.
The minimum temperature is 17°C,
reaching a maximum of 32°C.
It will be humid on Sunday with
a good chance of rain. Temperatures
will range between 16°C and 26°C.
- w w w. a c c u w e a t h e r. c o . z a
FACE 2 FACE with
an estate agent at RE/MAX
QWhat do you do?
AI make people’s dreams
[of owning a house]
come true at RE/MAX
Property Professionals
What is the best time to buy
a house, and why?
There is no time like the
present. Buying a home is
normally a long-term
investment, regardless of
when you buy, prices will
always increase over the
long term. So if you are
considering purchasing a
home, don’t leave it —
pursue your dream.
How has Covid-19 affected
prices in the local market?
In our small town, home
prices have not been
negatively affected, that is
due to demand exceeding
s u p p l y.
What are some of the hidden
costs people sometimes miss
when buying a house?
Always keep in mind that
there are transfer and bond
costs, bank charges and
initiation fees. You will also
need an electrical certificate
(compulsory) and, if
necessary, a gas certificate.
How are you planning to
spend the festive season this
ye a r ?
This year it is Komani’s turn
and our extended family will
be joining us here.
/Bruce Raasch,
YO U R VOICE opinions on the street
What do you think about…
NCUMISA
ZANTSI
It is hard to believe that the
festive season is upon us. It
has been an unprecedented
year. The Rep reporter,
Ntsikelelo Qoyo, went to ask
people in Komani what they
would be getting up to this
D e c e m b e r.
Ncumisa Zantsi
from Ezibeleni
I am not going anywhere.
I am staying with my family
at home. I do not think it is a
good time to be moving
around.
To me it seems foolhardy
to go to places and contract
the virus or put other people
OKUHLE
MAJUBA
M AT T H E W
GRIMBEEK
in danger because I might
not know whether I am a
carrier or not. Besides we do
not even have the finances
for a holiday, it’s just been
that sort of year.
Okuhle Majuba
from Ezibeleni
I am going home to the
villages. It has been a while
and I am looking forward to
seeing my family. We are
cautious about the virus and
my mum, being a health
worker, is strict on making
everyone stick to the
precautions as much as
possible.
What motivates you to keep
going in life?
My wife keeps me on my
toes and my awesome
RE/MAX family keep me
motivated and make me
want to get up in the
mornings and go to work.
What song currently playing
on radio do you think best
describes SA right now?
Jerusalema. It definitely
helped with the tough times
we went through this year.
Did you make some New
Ye a r ’s resolutions this year
and did you stick to them?
Yes, I did as always. I said I
would keep going to gym
and cycling and I have been
very loyal.
CLAUDE
VAN DYK
Matthew Grimbeek
from Top Town
I will be working for the
next 10 days and then it is off
to East London to visit family.
From there I will head down
to Cape Town.
We are scared of the
virus. I lost one of my
grandparents to it, but we are
trying to be careful while we
are going about life as
normally as possible.
Claude van Dyk
from Victoria Park
I have plans to visit
Hogsback. We had planned
to go to the beach but that, of
Most important lesson you
have learned this year?
Life is short, so keep it
simple. It is important to do
the things you enjoy and
spend time with family and
friends.
LAMELLA
H O T YA N A
course, has changed after the
president’s announcement
[that beaches in the Eastern
Cape and Garden Route
have been closed].
Lamella Hotyana
from Cala
I do not anticipate getting
up to much except staying
home with the family.
This year is not like the
others and we have not
acknowledged that.
Going out to crowded
places will not be safe and I
wish other people would
keep that in mind as they
enjoy the festive season.