TOTT 13 May 2021
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10 Advertising & Newsdesk: (046) 624-4356 Find us on Facebook 13 May 2021 TALK OF THE TOW N
N E I G H B O U R LY NOTES
E-mail Rob Knowles at knowlesr@tisoblackstar.co.za or fax (046) 624-2293
or drop in at 29 Miles Street from 8am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday
IT is now 412 days since the National
lockdown came into effect on March
27 2020. We are still months away
from an effective vaccine roll-out
programme and there are few doses of
vaccine actually available to South
Africans. Although it has been clearly
stated by the government and the
health department that no-one will be
forced to take the vaccine, the
introduction of vaccine passports has
been proposed whereby access to
certain facilities can only be gained if
you can prove you have had the jab.
Specifically, such passports are
intended make to international travel
safer, but many object to having to take
the vaccine for any reason.
CRIMINAL activity is increasing in the
suburbs and the incidents of house
robbery and theft have increased
substantially since the beginning of this
year. However, this week TotT was
flooded with reports of crime in the
area. Most of the crimes reported
involved break-ins at residential
premises and in many cases, the
residents were still at home. This
presents an existential problem in that
violence could accompany such
incidents.
At this time everyone needs to be
careful and vigilant and report all
suspicious activity to the SAPS and/or
your local security company. This
week’s front-page story illustrates the
high level of crime in the area. Make
sure all your windows are adequately
protected with burglar bars and that
doors are kept closed and locked and
alarms are set, even when you’re at
home.
On the other hand, we must not
become prisoners in our own homes,
afraid of strangers and constantly
looking for danger where none exists.
Fear is the criminals’ greatest weapon,
so we must be positive that criminals
will not win. If we stand together and
look out for one another, we can win
against the criminals.
THE Bathurst Fun Weekend is getting
closer. Although it will not be the full
Bathurst Agricultural Show as we have
come to know it, it will nevertheless
feature many of the events and
activities of a full show. For example,
the ride-on lawnmower races will be
held on the Saturday (May 29) and a
potjie competition will take place on
the Sunday (May 30). There will be
stalls, live entertainment and music all
day long as well as an opportunity to
see some antique tractors, vintage cars,
the ponies at the riding club on the
Saturday, belly dancers and line
dancing on Sunday and a whole lot
more. See the TotT and look on our
web pages, Facebook and Twitter, to
see more information.
THIS week we heard of another family
left bereft due to losing all their
personal possessions in a fire. There
could be a case for deliberate arson in
this one, but in many instances of this
nature fires are caused by lighting
poorly positioned gel stoves that fall
and spill the gel, leading to substantial
fires and potential loss of life. In 2021,
after 27 years of democracy, there
should be no-one without sufficient
water and electricity, thereby obviating
the need for gel stoves.
THE water crisis is ongoing and,
although many parts of Port Alfred now
have water, there are some areas that
h ave n ’t had water at their taps for
months. The latest water schedule
implemented by Ndlambe
Municipality in recent weeks was to
ration water, alternately switching off
one side of town for four days and then
the other in order to build capacity in
reservoirs. But this scheme was
abandoned last week after the
municipality admitted it was not
working. The municipality has decided
to leave the water flowing without
restriction for as long as it lasts, which
according to the municipality’s
consulting engineers, is just 25 days.
But by then they hope to have the
QFS seawater reverse osmosis plant up
and running to replace dwindling water
sources like the Sarel Hayward Dam.
Just bear in mind that, as the water
available to the town decreases, the
higher elevations will be first to be
affected and the lower elevations (such
as the Kowie Flats) will be the last.
HAPPY birthday greetings and every
good wish for the year ahead to
everyone celebrating a birthday in the
coming week, especially Natalie
Hanstein, Jakkie Westraadt, Angus
Schlemmer, Almarie Garner, Malcolm
Noel, Carmantha Barkhuizen, Terry
Brickhill, Nan Robinson, Thelma du
Preez, Annetjie Schoeman, Wayne du
Plessis, Kristin Waters, Kelly Fella, Zoe
Koch, Jenny Pincente, Carla de la Mare,
Caitlin Barnard, John Lardiner-Burke,
Gavin Deenik, Rose Bartlett, Linda
Gibson, Roy McLean, Gail Turner, Kay
Hartzenberg, Paul Haywood, Lal
Purdon, Darren de Bruin, Cuan
Macgregor, Risha Faca, Karen Hecht,
Taylor du Plessis, Joan Dyson, Bev
Scoble, Andrew Goetsch, Travis Jacobs,
Ann Meyer.
BRIGHT FUTURE: Endinako Kate
from El Shaddai Christian Academy
was one of 15 participants in the
Port Alfred Golf Development
Foundation who played at the
Kleinemonde Mashie Club on
Saturday. With him is Mike Ryan of
the Mashie Club who was mentoring
the young golfers Picture: ADELE
STECK
TO all business and community
organisations who are enjoying another
a n n ive r s a r y , we extend our sincere
congratulations and may you have
continued success in the future to
Ocean Basket, Leach Pharmacy,
Kingston Farm and Restaurant
(Bathurst), The Sandbar Floating
Restaurant (Bushman’s), First Port
Alfred Cubs and Scouts, the Bathurst
Methodist Church.
THE internal fracture within the ANC
has serious implications for South
Africans, specifically on the economic
front. The fact that politicians are
refusing to obey their own party or
even the law (and, in the case of former
president Jacob Zuma, both, as well as
failing to present himself at a statefunded
inquiry that he established)
does not bode well if we are to build
the confidence of investors. When the
Covid 19 pandemic is contained, SA
will be faced with an even bigger
challenge if it is to claw itself back to
prosperity. An unstable government
will not help in this regard and will
further retard our recovery. At the time
of going to press the rand was trading at
R14.00 to the dollar (R18.20), R19.78
to the pound (R22.50) and R16.98 to
the Euro (R19.74). Gold was trading at
$1,833.64 per fine ounce ($1,704.17),
platinum at $1,241.00 per ounce
($773.00) with Brent crude oil at
$68.55 per barrel ($30.60).
WEDDING anniversary greetings and
congratulations for many more to
everyone celebrating this special
occasion in the week ahead, especially
Hector and Kathy MacDonald, John
and Karen Kew, Gordon and Muriel
Gill.
APOLOGIES to Rosemary Hare-
Bowers whose name was provided to
me for last week’s Neighbourlies photo.
The photograph was actually of Tisha
Marshall. Rosemary has still a way to
go before she even reaches 90 and is a
long way off from Tisha’s 102 years.
THOUGHT for the week: “Happiness
is when what you think, what you say,
and what you do are in harmony”.
BEST regards as always,
The Team
SUDOKU - WHARF STREET FRUIT & VEG
Complete this Sudoku and be in line to win a R50 voucher
from Wharf Street Fruit & Veg in Wharf Street.Entries must be
in by 3:30pm on Tuesday at the TotT office - 29 Miles St. Winner
to please collect voucher (must show ID) from TotT offices
before attempting to redeem prize. Last weeks’ winner: Sue
Soroczynski.
Wharf Street
Name:...................................................................................................
Tel No:...................................................................................................
WIN A VOUCHER FROM - PAPER NAUTILUS RESTAURANT
SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S SUDOKU
Name:.........................................................................................................................
Address:....................................................Tel No:......................................................
Entries must be
submitted by
3:30pm on Tuesday
at the TotT Office -
29 Miles St.
Winner of previous
weeks’ crosswords:
Royal St Andrews
CSpa Wellness By
Camelot –
Colleen Pedrocelli
Winner to please
collect voucher
(must show ID)
from TotT offices
before attempting
to redeem prize.