The Rep 06 May 2022

THE REPRESENTATIVE 6May 2022 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 3
1965 Ride team thank Komani
Group cycle from Jozi to raise funds for pupils
JAN PHELAN
It was a very buoyant group of
15 cyclists and support crew,
with Mark the medic who set off
on April 13, with Harley
Davidson motorbikes keeping
us safe through the traffic, writes
team member Jan Phelan.
We could hardly believe we
were actually on our way.
What an experience to
explore our beautiful country
from “behind bars” with this
incredible bunch of like-minded
South Africans.
Our diversity could not have
been bigger, but the focus on
the goal and purpose of raising
funds for education could not
have been more united and
strong.
There were seven girls
among the cyclists and only
Tony (Frost) was older than I am.
The requirements to do the ride
were to:
● Raise R30,000 for education
bursaries.
● Be prepared to ride 850km
in eight-and-a-half days from
Jozi to Komani.
Yes, there were challenges of
riding in the cold and wet,
horrendous potholes in
sections, load-shedding messing
with the time schedule, a
number of punctures and blown
tyres to be repaired along the
way, but with each challenge so
the spirit and vibe of the group
grew and nothing could
dampen it.
The stronger guys helped by
pushing cyclists who were not
so strong on the long hills, and
we moved as a group – most of
the time.
When road surface and very
low traffic volume allowed,
there were a few sorties of
“assault” and some fast riding,
drafting behind each other and
getting rid of excess energy for a
few kilometres and then the
“parlatone” would settle back
happily to moving along
t o g e t h e r.
We stayed at comfortable B
& Bs along the way.
Our support crew of Bill
Brown and Pete Koller worked
hard with having refreshments
ready at the planned 25km stops
along each day’s route and we
ate and rehydrated really well.
But it was the coming on to
the field at the Rec with some
3,000 pupils lining the track,
waving, cheering, clapping and
doing high-fives that was the
most emotional moment and
culmination of the whole ride.
We all knew why we were
there, why we had done the
ride, but we will never forget the
faces of those children and the
words of Nelson Mandela, that
the best you can do for a person
is to give them a good
education, were strongly in our
minds. Thank you, Komani, for
your unbelievable warm
welcome and reception, the
dinner and the camaraderie
with the other cyclists, and to all
those involved with the
Queenstown Education
Fo u n d a t i o n .
A huge thank you to all the
officials – police and traffic
police, the Harleys and the
“sirens of note” in Aliwal North
who ensured safe passage and
to all the sponsors of the 1965
Ride, without whom it would
not be possible.
The cyclists felt enriched
through sharing those nine days
with the other special people in
STRONG TEAM:
These seven
determined
women, in front,
cycled from
Johannesburg to
Komani in the 1965
Ride to raise funds
for education. They
are, from left, Jen
Wilson, Ashley
Truscott, Jan
Phelan, Xabiso
Lombo, Kubashna
Naidoo, Tabisa
Konjashe and
Corina Andrew. At
the back is driver
An-Marie Loots
Picture: SUPPLIED
the team.
All I can say is that it is the
most amazing experience, and I
have already put my name
down for next year!
Tony, this is something big
you have started, with Jen at
your side.
Blue skies, crowds
abuzz at the airfield
LUVUYO MJEKULA AND ZINTLE BOBELO
The Tiger Moth 90th anniversary event at the
Komani airfield last weekend was a colourful
exhibition of vintage aeroplanes and cars and
drew a large crowd of spectators.
“I love this event. I can’t believe all the
different things we see – all the old planes, the
new planes, fast planes, helicopters and cars.
“It’s a wonderful event. Queenstown is
b u z z i n g ,” said an excited Juanita Kruger from the
South African Gyro Pilots Association (Sagpa), an
aviation recreation organisation representing
gyroplane pilots and enthusiasts in Southern
Africa.
Kruger and other pilots from various parts of
the country had made a fly-in at the local airfield
for refuelling on their way to Gariep Dam for a
North-meet-South event.
“On this little trip, we have been stopping over
for refueling in different places and today it’s just a
bonus.
“We came [to the Komani airfield] for fuel and
we’ve got all these beautiful planes and this
beautiful fly-in,” Kruger enthused.
Hosted by the Queenstown Flying and
Automobile Club, the Tiger Moth anniversary ran
from April 30 to May 1, with a collection of
vintage aircraft and cars dating back from the
1930s, on show.
The event had been scheduled to take place
last year, but had to be postponed due to Covid-
19 restrictions.
The Tiger Moth vintage aircraft, which was
developed in the early 1930s, is famous for being
a primary pilot trainer for World War 2 and for
many air forces throughout the world.
Local businessman and co-organiser of the
event, Mark Sahd, had said if weather conditions
favoured them, they were anticipating about 10
Tiger Moths from different parts of the country.
There were certainly more than 10 aircraft on
show at the event, from Tiger Moths and
gyroplanes to helicopters and many other smaller
planes.
Beautiful old cars such as Beetles, Sunbeam
and stunners including Ferraris as well as
motorbikes featured too.
It was a fun event for both young and old
spectators, with food and drinks also on offer.
The Rep caught up with a group of six
gyrocopter flyers from various parts of the country
who comprised the fly-in on Saturday.
Kruger explained that gyrocopters were ve r y
economical little planes that used normal aircraft
fuel.
“We fly quite fast at 90 miles [145km] per
hour or more depending on what the wind is.”
One gyrocopter pilot from Pretoria said:
“Normally, once a year, we come to Gariep, we
join for a yearly function. We all know each other.
Most are flying directly from Pretoria, Cape Town
and Durban, but this time we decided to go via the
coast – Margate, Port St John’s, East London – and
we came up this side today, filling up and we are
going to Gariep,” he said.
Commenting on how light the aircraft is, he
explained that it can take up to about 250kg, the
weight of two people.
After five years of not hosting the event, Sahd
was delighted to see people coming from far and
wide to support the occasion.
“Unfortunately we did not have the expected
turnout of the Tiger Moths because of the strong
winds on Friday.”
VINTAGE PLANES: Some of the aircraft on display at the Tiger Moth 90th anniversary event
that was held at the Komani airfield from April 30 to May 1 Picture: LUVUYO MJEKULA
PUBLIC NOTICE (1)
ADOPTION OF OVERSIGHT REPORT AND APPROVAL OF
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE 20/21 FINANCIAL YEAR
Notice is hereby given in terms of the LG Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003,
s129(1),(3) read in conjunction with section 21 (a) of the local government:
Systems Act 32 of 2000 (MSA), that the council of Chris Hani District Municipality has
considered tabling of Annual Report, adopted the Oversight Report, and approved the
2020/2021 Consolidated Annual Report of the Municipality and of its entity in its council
meeting held on the 30th of March 2022 in terms of the provisions of the MFMA.
Copies of theses documents will be made available on our website which is
www.chrishanidm.gov.za or alternatively visit the Municipal Manager
office, 15 Bells Road, Komani
All enquiries be directed to Mrs. Noxolo Ncede/ Mr. Malusi Gatyeni
on 0458084616 or email nncede@chrishanidm.gov.za / mgatyeni@
chrishanidm.gov.za
ISSUED BY
MUNICIPAL MANAGER MR G MASHIYI