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RepFr i d ay, 20 May 2022
THE
FREE!
The voice of Komani
Since 1859
WOMEN IN
A G R I C U LT U R E :
WA A
C E L E B R AT E S
90TH CIRCLE
CONFERENCE IN
DORDRECHT
PAGE 4
‘If you need our
help, work with us’
National
intervention to
ensure money
spent correctly,
says minister
NEW BEGINNINGS
ABONGILE
S O L U N D WA N A
Finance minister Enoch
Godongwana, who visited
Komani to introduce his
team who will lead the national
administration intervention to
assist Enoch Mgijima
Municipality (EMLM) to get
back on its feet and deliver
services, said financial problems
in municipalities were caused
by political interference more
than administration, an issue his
department was determined to
prevent from recurring.
Godongwana said: “To d ay
we brought government
representatives who will stand
in for the national government
in this municipality.
“They will work with Dr
Monde Tom, who is the national
cabinet representative, in
making sure the money is being
spent according to the correct
procedures for us to change the
budget in order to get services
delivered to the people.”
The minister added he was
overseeing the financial
performance of roughly 257
Turn to PAGE 3
Eastern Cape MEC for education, Fundile Gade, interacts with pupils at Ntsonkotha Senior Secondary School in Cacadu where the department of basic
education went to introduce a newly-appointed contractor for the reconstruction of a R180m boarding facility that was hit by severe weather in 2019. See
full story on Page 4 Picture: ZINTLE BOBELO
Spotlight shines on visually-impaired in Ezibeleni
ENTERTAINMENT: Local musicians perform for visuallyimpaired
residents at the Barrington Mndi Library in Ezibeleni
during an event to spread awareness and educate communities
on the abilities of visually-challenged people Picture: ENOCH
MGIJIMA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
CHUMA JONI
An awareness event was held at
the Barrington Mndi Library in
Ezibeleni on Wednesday to
promote the special services
offered for blind and sightimpaired
people.
As May is officially the
month of the blind, the
objective of the event was to
raise awareness of the special
services the library offers, the
audience heard.
The goal was to also sensitise
others to the challenges facing
people with these disabilities.
The event was held in
collaboration with the SA
Library for the Blind and the
department of sport, recreation,
arts and culture (Dsrac) as well
as the Enoch Mgijima Local
Municipality (EMLM).
“The Barrington Mndi
Library in Ezibeleni was abuzz
[on Wednesday]. Communities
came in numbers for an
awareness programme to
showcase the special services
offered for blind and visuallyimpaired
people. This campaign
is also aimed at educating
people on the abilities of
visually-challenged people and
help alleviate stereotypes and
wrong perceptions towards
t h e m ,” read a statement on the
EMLM Facebook page.
Dumisani Foldo, who is
visually-impaired, said: “Th i s
service is an encouragement
that we are able to do things on
our own. Communication will
be easier than before.
Previously, we relied a lot on
people to help us, but now life
will be easier.”
Another visually-impaired
resident, Phumla Mati, said: “It
has helped me a lot. At the
library we could not be helped.
We found that someone
assisting us was not sure how to
help blind people. Now that
there are devices like document
readers, it does not matter if a
person is busy, they can switch
on the document reader and
allow you to check what you
want to, whether it is a
newspaper or a magazine. It is
very important to get
information. Remember when
you are blind there won’t always
be someone to read for you. For
instance, you have seen or
heard an advert on something,
but when you come to the
library, you are able to get it.”
Pupils from various local
schools were also in attendance
and a local band provided
entertainment while the
visually-impaired also took part
in sporting games.
2 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 20 May 2022 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
Komani joins to voice EMLM failures
Public meeting packed to hilt
ABONGILE
S O L U N D WA N A
Electricity crises,
impassable roads, refuse
collection issues,
unavailable grass cutting
services, dysfunctional fire
services and licence
departments, and municipal
workers skipping work were
some of the problems Border
Kei Chamber of Business
(BKCB) and civic organisations
are set to present to the new
national cabinet representative.
Last Thursday, the Catholic
Cathedral Hall in Ebden Street
was packed to capacity when
members of BKCOB, the Black
Management Forum, ratepayers,
farmers’ and taxi associations,
and concerned Enoch Mgijima
residents came together to
discuss service delivery issues
affecting them.
BKCOB chairperson Mark
Wilson said Komani residents
had had enough and it was time
for them to take action against
the poor service delivery of
Enoch Mgijima Local
Municipality (EMLM).
“Our plan, going forward, is
to work with the administrator
or the treasury department
coming to Komani. We would
like to highlight all the issues we
have in Komani,” Wilson said.
Komani Civic Forum, Ikora,
and Newrest Forum
representatives were welcomed
to join the meeting with the new
cabinet representatives and
national treasury.
He added: “The most
obvious problems are electricity,
roads, refuse collection, the
dysfunctional licence
department.
“The fire department is
dysfunctional and municipal
workers not going to work but
get paid. Some of them sign in
in the morning, leave and come
back at 4pm to sign out.”
Revenue collection and
water issues were other serious
problems.
“Nothing is being done
about illegal connections. The
municipal officials refuse to take
advice from experts.
“We have had experts
coming to town and Ken Clark
bringing solutions to the
electricity issue in town and
they have disregarded that
c o m p l e t e l y.
“There is very little expertise
in the electrical department.”
Wilson said businesses and
ratepayers often paid for the
cables and the connections to
get the electricity reconnected.
He said businesses and
ratepayers also cut the grass in
the town and township areas.
“The officials overspend on
tenders. The Ezibeleni road is a
TAKING A STAND: Border Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB) and civic organisations at the
service delivery public meeting recently. From left, the farmers’ association’s and chamber
committee member Cobus Pieterse, Jacques van Zyl, BKC administrator Adre Bartis (partly
concealed), BKCOB chairperson Mark Wilson, Let’s Talk Komani chairperson Ken Clark, and
chamber committee member and head of stakeholder intervention, Titus Cetyayo
Picture: ABONGILE SOLNDWANA
prime example of that. They are
spending R90m on a road that
should cost R40 to R50m
maximum.
“With R40m you could put
up 150 RDP houses for the
people who are living in the
informal settlements. And 150
people do not have houses
because of some political
official putting the money in his
back pocket.”
The Lesseyton stadium was
another prime example.
He said tenders put out by
EMLM were being worded in a
way that many people could not
tender or qualify to be part of
the tendering process.
Let’s Talk Komani
chairperson and Twizza owner,
Ken Clark, said he was aware of
an electricity report and the
engineers who drew it up. “I
have consulted with them in the
past, and as a result of that I am
really hoping that by June the
Ebden Street substation will be
revamped. I heard it on
reasonable authority that it
should happen.”
He said the Chris Hani
sewage problem was a massive
issue in Komani.
“I have seen it leaking in
Mlungisi and in different other
places. There is an NGO that
has initiated a court case against
Chris Hani. I believe it is coming
up at the end of this month,”
Clark added.
Meanwhile, some residents
raised issues from the floor,
including the municipality’s
fleet, where no action was
taken, and R32,000 which had
been stolen. “The Rep reported
three vehicles of the four that
were bought had arrived. We
have not heard anything about
the fourth vehicle,” a resident
said.
Uncedo Taxi Association
branch secretary, Zama
Fetumane, threatened protest
action for experiencing
difficulty in using a road in
Mlungisi and Ezibeleni where
contractors had blocked roads.
“Passengers blame us for
dropping them far away from
their houses,” he said.
Another resident said no
report had been issued by the
administrator who was
deployed by the province.
Meanwhile, The
Independents’ treasurer, Tina
Nkepu, wanted the
rationalisation issue of Walter
Sisulu University to be put
f o r wa r d .
Nkepu suggested that the
municipal manager, Nokuthula
Zondani, and the CFO, Paul
Mahlasela, should be removed.
“The national intervention
would not be effective if it
operated with the same people
who led the municipality to its
dysfunctional state.”
EMLM spokesperson,
Lonwabo Kowa, said the claims
made were not a true reflection
of the municipality.
He urged people with
concrete evidence of employees
skipping work to report them to
the municipality.
He said the municipality was
rolling out the installation of
smart meters which would help
root out illegal connections.
“The municipality has used
technical advice from any
experts that come to assist the
municipality. Unfortunately, the
municipality cannot accept
proposals where the experts
bring advice that will amount to
unsolicited bids as supply chain
management regulations must
be complied with at all costs.”
Kowa added there was no
shortage of technical expertise
at the technical department.
He said the Fikile Gwadana
road tender was above board.
“Again, the contractor that
was appointed was a result of
compliant bid processes,” he
said.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT:
Traffic came to a near standstill at the busy
Cathcart Road - Griffiths Street intersection on
Wednesday morning as three vehicles, including
a loaded taxi, collided. According to an
eyewitness, some passengers of the taxi were
injured and rushed to hospital. Police were not
available to confirm the cause of the crash by
the time of going to print Picture: LUVUYO
MJEKULA
PORK LOIN CHOPS
R 54.99 KG
BEEF CHUCK FRESH
R 79.99 KG
GRANDMA BOEREWORS R 59.99 KG
CHICKEN THIGHS
R 39.99 KG
CHICKEN NECKS
R 24.99 KG
MAASBANKER FISH
R 29.99 KG
TURKEY DRUMSTICKS R 39.99 KG
BACON SHOULDER 1KG R 79.99 EA
MUTTON LIVER
R 29.99 KG
RISE GOLDEN PENNY 5KG R 49.99 EA
FIRST CHOICE MILK
10X500ML
R 79.99 EA
JABA AROMAT SHAKER
ORIGINAL & CHILLY 350G
R 21.99 EA
FROZEN SWEET CORN LOOSE R 24.99 EA
MUSHROOM DANNY PUNNET
250G
R 16.99 EA
VEG COMBO: Potatoes 10kg,
Carrots 3kg, Butternut 3kg, R 99.99
Apples Golden/Red Econo PER COMBO
Mix 1.5kg, Cabbage Half
E&OE-WHILE STOCKS LAST-LIMITED QUANTITIES-WE RESERVE
THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW SPECIALS WITHOUT NOTICE
NOTICE SPECIALS ARE VALID FOR THE
20TH & 21ST OF MAY
¿
24 Prince Alfred Street, Komani
PO Box 453, Komani, 5319
045 839 4040 / Fax: 045 839 4059
Chris van Heerden, vanheerdenc@arena.africa
Luvuyo Mjekula, mjekulal@therep.co.za
Charodine Visagie, charodinev@therep.co.za
www.therep.co.za
@RepKomani
WEEKLY NEWS IN BRIEF
The Rep Komani
the_rep_komani
The Rep subscribes to the Code of Ethics and Conduct for South African Print and Online
Media that prescribes news that is truthful, accurate, fair and balanced. If we don’t live up
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Duo in court for tampering with
government infrastructure
Two men appeared in the
Queenstown magistrate’s court this
week on charges of tampering with
government infrastructure. Siseko
Dukwana, 29, and Siyabulela Peter,
33, were allegedly caught in the act
trying to steal copper in Komani. They
were awaiting judgment on their bail
application.
Two women nabbed with suspected
stolen firearm
Two women aged between 21 and 23
years were arrested at Joe Slovo
settlement in Cofimvaba during the
early hours of Monday morning and
charged with the possession of
suspected stolen property, including a
firearm. A provincial tracking team,
together with Chris Hani operational
command centre members and
Cofimvaba crime prevention
conducted operations in order to
decrease crime in the area. Both
suspects were expected to appear
before the Cofimvaba magistrate’s
court soon. Acting district
commissioner, brigadier Zuziwe
Magqashela commended the
members.
Wo m a n ’s body found near Galahedi
farm
Police have opened an inquest docket
after the body of an elderly woman
was found near Galahedi Farm on
Saturday, May 14. A missing persons
report was filed at the Mlungisi police
station and police issued a statement
asking for members of the
community’s help in locating 74-yearold
woman, Nocwaka Portia
Solundwana, after she reportedly left
her home in Nomzamo township,
allegedly to visit her sister in East
London on April 30. She was last seen
wearing a green floral dress; lime
green jersey and red sandals.
THE REPRESENTATIVE 20 May 2022 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 3
70% of issues
political, not
administrative
Continued from PAGE 1
municipalities of which 167
were in financial distress a few
months ago.
However, the number had
since increased to 175.
“We always thought the
problem was administrative but
we have come to the conclusion
that 70% of the problem in
municipalities is largely
political, throughout the
c o u n t r y,” he said.
Their main goal, he said, was
to make sure the administrative
processes would be followed
properly and the council would
support them in performing
those duties.
The minister warned that if
the council stood in the way of
the intervention, they would be
dealt with.
“If the political problems
which exist are not dealt with,
our goal to rectify them will not
be reached.
“I am nine months in this
position and there are two
municipalities that have
required me to intervene –
EMLM and Mangaung. If you
require support, work with us.
“However, if you choose the
confrontation route we will be
ready for it as well. I want to
help you restructure your
finances and to manage them.
He said Amahlathi Local
Municipality in Stutterheim was
one of the hotline municipalities
in the country.
“When you are given an
equitable share, you ask
yourself how much of that
should go to salaries.
“What percentage should go
to capital expenditure? The
average that should go to capital
expenditure should be 8%.
“If your capital expenditure
is below 8% there is something
wrong with your budget. It is not
limping, but it is in an ICU.
“These are the things Dr Tom
must help you to restructure in
order for you to give basic
s e r v i c e s .”
Some councilors had called
for a forensic audit, but the
minister said that could only be
done when Dr Tom, as the
cabinet representative,
identified a situation that
required an investigation.
National treasury directorgeneral,
Dondo Mogajane, said
they should not be in a position
where they had to impose a
section 139 intervention of any
kind. Especially when they had
a council that was elected and
the municipal officials
appointed for certain key
responsibilities that they must
NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION: The national team of the finance department addresses councillors at the Enoch Mgijima special
council meeting last Friday. From left, are national treasury director-general Dondo Mogajane, finance minister Enoch
Godongwana, EMLM mayor Thembeka Bunu and EMLM speaker, Noluthando Nqabisa Picture: ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA
perform, he said. “Our space is
to talk about what needs to be
done, in order to change the
lives of the ordinary people.
“The worst is when you get
to a town and in the middle of
the road you find potholes.
“Then you know there is
something fundamentally
wrong, because when I check
the transfers there are some
grants we are sending, some
rates and taxes that need to be
collected and, if they are not,
we have a problem.”
Mogajane said Dr Tom
understood the relationship
between funding, spending,
accountability and what needed
to be done.
“We are not coming to
impose ourselves, but we have
to work with you – the executive
mayor, the CFO, the chief whip,
and the opposition parties – to
deliver what we came here to
do.
“We do not like having to
implement the intervention,
which we do not have the
capacity for.
“I do not have 175 Dr Toms,
but this depends on the
commitment we make as
i n d iv i d u a l s .
“We are all throwing the
democratic gains we received in
1994 away.
“Apartheid was banned for
all of us, but we have thrown
that into the abyss, people are
suffering and we have potholes
all over.” He said it was sad to
see democratic gains going
down with people putting their
hands in the cookie jar.
Mogajane added that it was
easy for Dr Tom to know that
EMLM’s equitable share was not
enough.
“Make it easy for us to take
those decisions for additional
financial support where needed.
“Sometimes the support
comes as financial, sometimes
as human resource support. We
are not hostile at all and we are
not planning to be.
“We want to work with you
and improve the lives of
ordinary people.
“The level of unemployment
is high in this area. It is a
collective responsibility that we
should all have, to improve our
lives. It is possible that we can
turn Enoch Mgijima Local
Municipality around.”
EMLM mayor, Thembeka
Bunu, welcomed the
intervention, saying the
municipality had been
conducting draft IDP roadshows
without an unfunded budget.
This meant the municipality
was promising people service
delivery projects with money it
did not have. She added that the
institution’s reputation could
now be restored.
The councillors, including
from the opposition party,
welcomed the intervention and
pledged their support.
Power failure leaves
community in dark
ZINTLE BOBELO
A mini substation in Ncethezo
Street, Mlungisi, which caught
fire on Friday morning has left
several households in three
wards without power.
A frustrated group of
residents said reports were
made on Thursday evening after
smoke came out of the nowdamaged
substation before a
huge blaze, but no one had
attended to the matter.
Ward councillors from the
affected wards held a
community meeting on Monday
evening to engage community
members on a way forward.
Residents demanded that an
alternative plan be implemented
for power to be restored.
“The municipality was well
aware that this substation had
given problems for years. This is
not new, it was bound to
happen. There were so many
faults in this substation kiosk.
Municipal employees were
passing here daily and it was not
even covered or made safe. I
have damaged electrical
appliances because of these
p r o b l e m s ,” said one resident
who did not want to be named.
“We have to buy paraffin
with money we do not have.
Social grant dates have long
passed. We do not have a cent.
This problem is affecting
everyone, we have children
who have to go to school,” said
Nolubabalo Ngcwabe.
Some community members
have threatened to embark on
protest action for their voices to
be heard.
They claimed service
delivery in the area was nonexistent,
highlighting that there
were a number of issues
including water scarcity, power
outages and an illegal dump
site, which had never been
cleared for years.
A few day ago, the western
substation was also gutted by a
fire, causing widespread outage.
UNSAFE: Residents of Q section in Mlungisi holding an electrical cable connected to a damaged
substation, which caught fire on Friday. In the picture, from left, Luvuyo Mhobo, Lubabalo Raula
and Mncedisi Velem Picture: ZINTLE BOBELO
The Mlungisi residents who had
no hope that electricity would
be restored promptly suspected
that a live black electrical cable
connected to the substation
which goes over one of the
residents’ yards to a nearby mini
substation might have been the
cause of the fire.
Owner of the house,
Mncedisi Velem, said he was
not around when municipal
officials were present to make
the connections.
“They said it was just a
temporary situation, but it has
been three months that this
cable has been in this state.
They said it was best for it to be
in my yard because they feared
it would be stolen. Now I am
not safe, my children cannot
play in the yard and I cannot
keep a watchful eye because I
have other things to do,” said
Ve l e m .
“On top of that, they dug a
trench to reach a live wire and
left it without cordoning it off
with danger tape. We have so
many school children passing
through this area,” added
Luvuyo Mhobo.
Meanwhile, community
members at Silver Street,
Victoria Park, where a cable was
also installed and left exposed
on the ground demanded that
municipal employees dig a
trench to bury the cable
underground.
“When they came to attend
to the problem they came
without a cable. We had to
source a cable for the problem
to be fixed. On top of that, they
told me to find someone to dig a
trench for them to install the
cable. Whose responsibility is
that?” asked Rene Augustas
Municipal officials who
were on site indicated that they
did not have resources to dig a
trench on the concrete driveway
at the premises.
Concerned resident Edmon
Hardnick assisted in getting
someone to complete the job.
Enoch Mgijima Local
Municipality spokesperson
Lonwabo Kowa said the
municipality was still
investigating what caused the
fire.
“The areas are connected as
the municipality made a
connection using an alternative
line. Meanwhile, a procurement
process to purchase a new one
is underway.”
Kowa said the municipality
was going to dispatch a team to
investigate the cable in Mlungisi
this week. He added that a
temporary measure had been
made for Silver Street to be
connected. “The municipality
has begun a procurement
process for a new cable.”
Limit load-shedding by lowering winter electricity use
REP REPORTER
The onset of colder winter
weather will inevitably cause an
uptake in power consumption
that Eskom, SA’s already
struggling power utility, simply
cannot handle.
The latest StatsSA report
reveals that electricity
generation decreased by 1,1%
year-on-year in March 2022,
which does not bode well for
the coming winter months, real
estate company RE/MAX says in
a statement.
Adrian Goslett, regional
director and CEO of RE/MAX of
Southern Africa, says
homeowners can find ways to
reduce their household’s
electricity consumption and
help minimise the occurrence of
future load-shedding.
“Winter means darker and
colder days, which translates
into an increased consumption
of lighting and heating
solutions.
“This escalates further now
that many of us work from home
– instead of heating one
workspace for multiple people,
individuals working from home
now plug in their heaters across
multiple households,” he says.
Goslett encourages those
who work from home to limit
their reliance on heating
solutions by upgrading the
insulation of their home.
“Installing insulation is the
best way to prevent heat loss in
the winter and retain cool air in
the summer.
“Be sure to install the correct
insulation value to handle the
heating and cooling
requirements of your particular
climate zone.
“ Those in Johannesburg,
Pretoria, or the Western Cape,
for example, will need
insulation that is at least 135mm
t h i ck .
“This lowers to 100mm in a
humid climate such as
K wa Z u l u - N a t a l ,” Goslett says.
Beyond this, Goslett also
encourages homeowners to
conserve energy wherever they
can.
“Capitalise on any sunny
days by hanging the washing
out to dry so that you do not
have to make use of a tumble
d r i e r.”
For more real estate related
advice or ti get in touch with a
real estate professional from the
wo r l d ’s leading real estate
brand, visit www.remax.co.za.
4 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 20 May 2022 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
Rebuilding of R180m hostel to start
Boarding school destroyed by
storm, to house 712 pupils
ZINTLE BOBELO
Aboarding facility
destroyed by gale force
winds and hailstorms at
Ntsonkotha Senior Secondary in
Cacadu in 2019 will soon be
reconstructed with the
department of education set to
spend R180m on the project.
Eastern Cape MEC for
education, Fundile Gade,
visited the school on Tuesday to
introduce a newly-appointed
contractor and implementing
agent.
The project was expected to
start on June 1.
The building will house 712
pupils and is set to be
completed within 42 months.
Gade said the school had
called for financial intervention
but the project had to be halted
two years ago amid construction
due to what he had alluded to as
“financial over-commitment” in
the budget.
“This will allow us to put in
effect the school’s admission
policy and ways of revising the
curriculum progress tools so that
pupils learn for a particular
purpose.
“We will closely monitor this
project because we believe it
needs to go far beyond just
building the school.”
Gade stated that in an
agreement with the contractor, a
graduate in the construction
field would be provided with an
employment opportunity in the
project, and R1.3m would be
set aside for this purpose.
In-service training
opportunities would also be
granted. The programme would
also benefit SMMEs.
“We agreed that we do not
want any trouble with the
SMMEs. We want construction
to proceed with local
beneficiation as defined in the
p o l i cy.
“It is crucial that community
members guard this project as
we all work together towards its
success.
“We need to ensure that the
local development strategy of
local municipalities is reflected
in the footprint in this process.”
Emalahleni Local
Municipality mayor
Ntombizanele Koni welcomed
the investment.
“We understand that this
was an extensive call for
intervention. We witnessed the
dire conditions that these pupils
had to live under.
“They had to sleep on beds
stacked on top of each other in
overcrowded rooms. We are a
small rural municipality with a
limited budget. The
municipality is happy that this
project will accommodate
SMMEs and reduce our
unemployment rate,” said Koni.
School governing body
NEW
STRUCTURE: The
basic education
department is set
to spend R180m
reconstructing a
boarding facility
damaged by
severe weather at
Ntsokotha Senior
Secondary School
in Cacadu, in 2019.
Eastern Cape MEC
for education,
Fundile Gade,
centre, visiting the
school on Tuesday
to introduce a
newly-appointed
contractor. With
him are, from left,
Ntsokotha
principal Lumka
Silosini-Siyeka and
Emalahleni
Municipality mayor
Ntombizanele
Koni Picture: ZINTLE
BOBELO
chairperson Toto Jaxa said the
school had a rich history and
delays in the work had sparked
some disappointment, but
indicated that they were in full
support of the project.
WAA celebrates 90th circle
conference in Dordrecht
REP REPORTER
The circle conference of the
Wo m e n ’s Agricultural
Association (WAA or VLV) was
held in Dordrecht recently.
The women’s organisation is
aimed at giving members the
opportunity for personal growth
and community service.
It encourages members to
work towards a healthy family
life, and assist the less fortunate.
The monthly meetings
include interesting talks and
debates on various topics,
demonstrations, exhibitions and
educational outings.
There are interest-free study
loans available to members’
children or grandchildren and
every year a well-known person
is honoured and thanked.
Past recipients include
singers Mimi Coertze and Rina
Hugo, writers Alba Bouwer and
Solly Ozrovech, nature
conservationists Anton Rupert
and Dave Pepler, paralympian
swimmer Natalie du Toit,
architects Gwen and Gawie
Fagan, radio and TV
personalities Freek Robinson
and Coenie de Villiers, heart
surgeon Susan Vosloo, chefs
Peter Veldsman and Herman
Lensing, and politician Helen
Zille.
About 40 members and
guests attended the conference.
Interesting talks were given
by sister Esme Singleton who
spoke on health topics, and
dietician André Husselman.
On the arty front, Irma Davel
explained different types of
singing voices.
Every year at conference, the
WAA honours and thanks two
people: One was Peter Cloete,
who was recognised for his
contribution to the community,
and Effie Jonker, a Dordrecht
member. Isabel du Toit of Lady
Grey also received a 50-year
membership award.
GESTURE OF GRATITUDE: Izak van Heerden, left, from
Sterkstroom, with Lenie Fourie at the Women’s Agricultural
Association (WAA) 90th circle conference that was held
recently Picture: SUPPLIED
HAPPY WINNERS: The winners at the Women’s Agricultural
Association (WAA) 90th circle conference held in Dordrecht
recently. Branch trophies went to Queenstown first,
Sterkstroom second, Lady Grey third, with Dordrecht fourth
Picture: SUPPLIED
The two cultures being
studied this year are Italy and
the Khoisan, the trees are the
pompom tree and African wattle
and the bird is the Cape gannet.
The members and branches
recognised this year are: Adele
Richardson (art), Antoinette van
Pletzen (word craft), Retha
Peens, Annemarie Mills and
Henna Botha (macrame), Irma
Davel (painting on wooden
tissue box), Lenie Fourie (A4
dotpaint), Tertia Cock (colouring
in), Marieke Baker (scrapbook),
Elize Erwee (flower arranging –
novice), Retha Peens (flower
arranging – advanced), Adele
Richardson (table decoration).
Megan Moorcroft (embroidery,
machine sewing, knitting,
variety section, baking, sweets,
crochet), Retha Peens (crochet),
Lenie Fourie (weaving, bottling),
Isabel du Toit (shadow
embroidery), Wanda Barnes
(knitting) and Lorraine Molony
(agriculture).
The prize for the most entries
went to Megan Moorcroft and
those for the most outstanding
articles to Megan Moorcroft,
Lorraine Molony, Retha Peens,
Marieke Baker and Irma Davel.
The branch trophies were
Queenstown first, Sterkstroom
second, third was Lady Grey,
with Dordrecht fourth.
Fed up residents taking ‘their’ land
ABONGILE
S O L U N D WA N A
Komani Civic Forum members
who are heading the Rathwick
land occupation are adamant
that within the next few weeks
there will be a new township in
Ko m a n i .
This time they are bringing
their own lawyers on board to
protect the residents if Enoch
Mgijima Local Municipality
(EMLM) prevents anyone from
settling on the land.
EMLM had threatened
obtaining a court interdict
against residents who occupied
the Rathwick land.
On Monday, Komani Civic
Forum member Axolile Masiza
told The Rep they were still busy
with the demarcation of sites for
residents.
At their recent meeting,
Mncedisi Mbengo, who is also a
civic forum member, said
residents from various
organisations of which the
Komani Civic Forum was
comprised, had taken a
decision at Mlungisi Stadium
where more than 3,000 people
had gathered to demand land.
“We have Rathwick as
vacant land which was given to
the people in 2011 by the
former Lukhanji Local
Municipality. The programme
started but was halted without
any explanation.
“People saw fit to claim the
land in these 28 years of
corruption, where they were not
benefitting at all. They have not
seen any development by those
they voted into power.”
He said the best option for
the people who felt sidelined by
the government was to at least
keep their land.
“Rathwick was identified as
land that should be used for
d e ve l o p m e n t .
“We are giving portions of
land to the residents whose
names are on the list, which we
will be taking to our lawyers.
“The list will also assist us
when the municipality attempts
to disrupt the people.”
He said they had met with
their lawyers so residents could
begin building their homes.
“We are certain that by next
week there will be a new
township in Komani.”
One of the residents, Ntuthu
Shenxane, said they had to take
the land by force as they had
been given empty promises for
years that never materialised.
Shenxane said they had a
right to claim the land by force
because it belonged to them.
“It is not the municipality’s. It
was given to us by human
settlements minister Lindiwe
Sisulu who said she was
opening land for us to occupy.
“Why is the municipality
withholding the land that was
given to us? We know what we
are doing. We are struggling;
this is what brought us here.
“There are 20 at our home
and how can we all be expected
to be crammed in and do
everything under one roof?
“We are not stealing the
land, we are not hiding what we
are doing, and we are doing it
openly. We are tired of empty
p r o m i s e s .”
“Shenxani informed me they
were occupying the land behind
Magxaki, from Nomzamo all
the way to Marikana. We are
still going to go to Top Town.”
She said they were not fazed
by EMLM’s threat of obtaining a
court interdict to prevent them
from occupying the land.
In response, EMLM
spokesperson Lonwabo Kowa
said the municipality would
take action against anybody
who moved onto the land.
STILL WAITING: Residents from Mlungisi and surrounding areas at their second meeting on
Friday at the Mlungisi Stadium. Komani Civic Forum member Axolile Masiza addresses the large
group of residents Picture: ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA
THE REPRESENTATIVE 20 May 2022 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 5
Feedback given on Ezibeleni projects
Draft IDP focus on roads, refuse
collection, electricity, housing
ABONGILE
S O L U N D WA N A
Street lights, the
community hall, exposed
live electricity wires
unattended to, stormwater
drainage, SMME support,
houses, title deeds and
employment issues were some
of the issues Ezibeleni residents
raised at the draft IDP roadshow
on Tuesday.
Enoch Mgijima Local
Municipality (EMLM) technical
services portfolio head,
Mhlangabezi Mangcotywa,
who gave feedback to the
residents about the projects the
municipality would prioritise for
Ezibeleni, said the institution
would focus on refuse
collection, electricity, roads and
housing.
A new council introduces its
five-year budget plan to
residents after taking over.
To address the
unemployment problem, he
said jobs would become
available through municipal
road construction projects
currently taking place in
Ezibeleni.
The IDP draft budget should
be approved by the end of May
for the budget to be ready for its
implementation at the start of
the new financial year in July.
The municipality has 34
wards but the focus was on
Ezibeleni.
There were other
government departments with a
mandate to bring services to the
people.
Human settlements portfolio
head, Ongama Adonis, said
Ezibeleni would be part of the
area to benefit from the 500
RDP houses set to be built in
EMLM.
Ezibeleni rehabilitation and
maintenance of roads and storm
water drainage phase one had
been allocated more than R11m
for the 2022/2023 financial year
which starts in July, he said.
R7m will be set aside for
2023/2024 and R7.5m for the
years 2024/2025.
The roads under scrutiny
were used for daily taxi
operations. There would be
paving to facilitate use, he said.
The Komani landfill site
would be upgraded and had
been allocated R2.5m for the
2022/2023 financial year, to
ensure cleanliness in the town.
He said Chris Hani District
Municipality had contributed
R46.5m for the water project in
EMLM for 2022/2022 and
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Ezibeleni resident Nobhotolo Ngemntu says she is tired of missing
out on community meetings because of councillors sharing information on Facebook, which did
not reach them Picture: ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA
R11m for sanitation for
2022/2023.
Concerning Fikile Gwadana
Road, which the transport
department was assisting EMLM
with construction, he said: “A
portion of the road will be tarred
and another will have paving.
“A lot of money has been
invested in the project.
“Close to R100m had been
set aside to ensure the road was
in good condition.”
Technical department civil
engineer, Luzuko Nqothola,
said the target was to upgrade
the gravel roads in Ezibeleni
with paving, which had its
advantages and disadvantages.
It was easier to manage, he
said, as the municipality was
struggling to maintain gravel
roads which were more costly.
“Gravel has a lot of challenges,
particularly in stormwater
drainage components.”
Nqothola said the roads
which formed part of phase one
included Nonyamezelo Drive,
which included Jaxa Avenue,
Matthews Street, Nxiweni Street
and Malcolm Avenue.
“There will be other phases
in the upcoming financial years.
The project is funded by the
municipal infrastructure grant
[MIG] as the municipality asked
for assistance with road repairs.
“In Fikile Gwadana Drive,
the former contractor did not do
what we wanted to repair
potholes.
“That is why we decided to
do the road from scratch and the
transport department came on
board to assist us to upgrade the
road from scratch because there
were projects such as the mall
being constructed.”
He said the road near the hill
would be repaired by Chris
Hani Development Agency,
assisting EMLM.
There were also
maintenance projects which
will be done in Ezibeleni, which
was established in 1974.
The infrastructure cannot
support the number of houses
that have increased over the
ye a r s .
He said the stormwater
drainage system also needed to
be addressed, as it affected
roads and houses.
“We are also doing our best
to get high-mast lights repaired
because it is winter and people
are being robbed because it gets
dark early.
“Please report tangled wires
and those affected by
overgrown trees. We are rolling
out smart meters to curb illegal
c o n n e c t i o n s ,” Nqathola said.
Recovered addict Dj Taz
in Komani to give hope
ZINTLE BOBELO
Recovered drug addict, Dj Taz
Tarantino, who was hooked on
drugs for about 26 years, is
travelling across the country
helping people battling with
addiction.
In a period of four months,
more than 80 people from
various towns and cities around
the country have been booked
into different rehabilitation
centres in Johannesburg through
his foundation.
Tarantino was in Komani last
week after appeals were made
for him to reach out.
His destructive relationship
with alcohol and drugs began
from a young age.
He was about eight months
old when he lost both parents,
but music became his sanctuary,
he said.
“At the age of about 10, I
started taking ecstasy and
cocaine and it obviously
progressed.
“When I came back from the
United Kingdom after leaving to
study sound engineering at the
age of 18, the addiction
wo r s e n e d .
“I know what it feels like to
scratch in bins and smell foul
from a distance.
“I know the life of an addict,”
said Tarantino.
He was involved in a car
accident and was partially
paralysed for about eight
months and had ended up on
the streets.
“I was sleeping in the gutter
waiting on the next person to
hand me a plate of food.
“I started using crystal meth,
mandrax, heroin ... anything
that could suppress the pain ...
until I heard about a
rehabilitation centre.”
Tarantino said on visiting the
centre, he was acquainted with
the 12-step programme to
recovery for addiction.
“The first step is admitting
that you are an addict and,
secondly, believing in
something greater that can
restore you to sanity.
“Once I started believing in
these two things, everything
started to make sense.
“I followed the three-step
programme and I came out after
three months.
“My career as a Dj was
progressing and I signed with a
Spanish label, but there was still
a gap.”
He had not returned home
(East London) in 10 years and
had suddenly felt the urge to
return to his roots.
“When I arrived, I witnessed
so many people suffering,
addicts sleeping in corners – it
was a mess.
“I started researching the
number of rehabs available and
how much they cost.
“I thought putting a price tag
on someone’s life instead of
helping was not okay.
“I figured out that in every
family there is someone
suffering from addiction.
“That is when I went onto
social media, calling on anyone
seeking help to contact me.”
Tarantino was amazed at the
number of people who reached
out, later realising his vocation.
“My phone started blowing
up, receiving more than 50 calls
HELPING OTHERS: Recovered drug addict Taz Tarantino, left, who is on a mission to help
people battling with drug addition, visiting Komani. With him is The Independents’ c o u n c i l l o r,
Aloisius Alexander Picture: ZINTLE BOBELO
a day and I thought this was it. I
was still going to continue with
my music, but when someone
reached out for help I was going
to pack up right away and go.
“It could be that person’s last
minute.
“I do not make a salary out
of this, but I found a passion for
it because for me it is about
seeing someone else progress.
“Maybe all a person needs is
a bit of hope and, unfortunately,
for me, it did not happen that
way. I had to find it.”
Tarantino is working on
finding space to open a
rehabilitation centre in Komani
that will also accommodate
victims of gender-based
violence. He can be contacted
on 072-127 4262; or
a d d i c t s i n r e c ove r y 2 7
@gmail.com
Love of Art exhibit at Queens Hotel also a fundraiser for home
LEN’S NEWS
There is a real sense of
excitement among our local
artists and the wider
c o m m u n i t y.
The Love of Art exhibition is
back after the three-year Covid
break, at the Queens Hotel
conference hall.
Hats off to Heather
Moorcroft, the chairperson of
the organising committee, for
encouraging and securing artists
from the length and breadth of
the Eastern Cape to exhibit their
art here in Komani.
For those who want to brush
up on their practical and
photographic talents, there is a
framing and photography
workshop on Friday afternoon
with Philippa Hoffman and Gill
Mager, from 3 – 4pm, at the
same venue, for R50 per person.
Contact Christine MacLean on
074-418-8862 to book your
place.
The weekend exhibition
began with a preview and
cocktail party on Thursday
e ve n i n g .
This is an art exhibition with
a difference, with every picture
on display up for sale.
A percentage of the sale of
each picture goes to M a d e i ra
Home.
So make time on Friday or
Saturday to wander around the
exhibition – take a friend who
maybe needs an outing too.
You never know, you just
might find that perfect gift
yo u ’ve been looking for.
Bob McKenzie, the wellknown
ex-Komani artist now
living in Port Alfred, will be
around too. He has very
generously donated one of his
atmospheric pictures to be
raffled, with the funds going to
Madeira Home.
Some of the artists exhibiting
are Stella Wills (her picture of
aloes and water is outstanding),
Dian Buys, Juliet Greig, Brian
Rogers, our very own Gerda
Cloete, Maureen Schuur, Ceri
Parker, Bernadette Taylor, Helen
Wagenaar and Marissa
Po t g i e t e r.
The Love of Art committee
has thanked the numerous
individuals and businesses for
their generous and valued
support, especially as times are
so challenging.
Come and support local
talent.
It’s not often that we have art
of this calibre on show.
6 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 20 May 2022 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
EDITORIAL OPINION
Sport and
re c re a t i o n
facilities need
urgent attention,
EMLM
Sport is a big drawcard in
Komani and surrounding
areas, but the fact that
our facilities are not
maintained and our athletes,
coaches and managers are left to
their own devices, is
disappointing.
It was disheartening to watch
schoolchildren suffer injuries
during a recent schools athletics
competition at the Dumpy Adams
Sports Complex.
One boy dropped out of the
100m race just before the finish
line with blood spurting out of his
foot.
Mind you, most of the
children ran barefoot on the
gravel track.
That is just one aspect of the
whole crisis.
Athletes in the Sada area often
seek The Rep’s help in getting the
local municipality to provide a
grader to level the field at the
local stadium.
In Ezibeleni, local soccer
league managers have to use their
own resources to prepare their
stadium for tournaments,
including marking the field. It gets
wo r s e .
Who can forget the
controversial Lesseyton stadium,
said to be a state-of-the-art facility
worth R15m? That facility is now
being allowed to go to ruin, with
no maintenance.
One would think there was a
sport and recreation budget
somewhere out there!
Well, in its 2019 budget, the
national treasury detailed some of
its estimated national
expenditure, including that for
sport and recreation.
The plans were for three
financial years, also known as the
medium-term expenditure
framework (MTEF) period.
The 2019 MTEF period is from
2019-20 to 2021-22.
In the plan, there were
programs to ‘pursue the delivery
of sport infrastructure’.
Participation in sport and
recreation would be encouraged
by ‘advocating for municipalities
to deliver community gyms and
ch i l d r e n ’s play parks’.
The expectation was 10
community gyms and children’s
play parks across South Africa in
each year over the MTEF period
“to give community members
and athletes in disadvantaged
areas access to opportunities to
exercise and improve their health
and fitness”.
R12m would be allocated
over the medium term for the
provision of these facilities.
A total of R75.8m would be
transferred over the medium term
to provide 30 multipurpose sports
courts.
An allocation of R33.5m over
the MTEF period in the sport
infrastructure support programme
would enable the department to
strengthen oversight.
Furthermore, the department,
along with the department of
cooperative governance and
traditional affairs, the South
African Local Government
Association and municipalities,
would ensure that funds
earmarked for this in the
municipal infrastructure grant
were used.
Whether all of this is being
done is anyone’s guess.
Queenstown…
from riches to rags
(My long journey
in Queenstown)
R i ch e s – once the Rose of the Border, visited by British royalty,
at the Eastern entrance of Cathcart Road, internationally
known Sunken Gardens with its lush lawns and dams
occupied by swans. Cathcart Road, which housed five of its
seven huge hotels to accommodate visitors and tourists,
established businesses like Morum Brothers, OK Bazaars,
Guards Watchmakers and our historic town hall and post
office; our landmark fountain on the Hexagon; window
shopping in a crime-free CBD.
Nationally appreciated schools like Nkwanca High, Maria
Louw High, Queen’s College, Hangklip and Girls' High
School made Queenstown an educational centre of choice.
Professionals volunteered as mayors of our town and only
received a small fee for meetings attended. Town planners,
traffic chiefs and architects were knowledgeable individuals
and our last town clerk, Antonie de Klerk, was an
approachable, talented and hardworking servant of the
people. Municipal workers were overworked and underpaid
but professional and dedicated. Our parks and cemeteries
were well taken care of. We were a close knit community,
proud of our achievements and excelled on the sporting
fields, culturally and on the education front even in the face of
apartheid.
Rags – Queenstown is a ghost town with multiple water
and electricity shortages and outages. Potholes and trenches
are our streets where we have to drive on both sides and
pavements in the same direction. Traffic lights, four way stops
and traffic circles are death traps in the absence of officers.
The bloated, inexperienced, half - and unqualified for
positions workforce is well paid with benefits like car and cell
phone allowances, but ineffective, with smoke breaks the
better part of the working day.
Mayors, councillors, municipal managers are receiving
salaries of more than R1m per annum plus perks to die for.
Crime is rampant with the blatant disregard of municipal
bylaws. Our main road is a taxi rank from east to west. We
need to perform a forensic audit of all municipal departments
to uncover the rot and save our town for our children and
grandchildren and generations to come. Our underinsured
historic town hall building went up in flames. The post office
and the use thereof is a shame. Home Affairs facilities are a
disgrace and undignified for the users.
Is this the normal way of doing business and being treated?
To crown it all, the attitude of those in charge smacks of
arrogance and disrespect for they operate with impunity –
referring here to the state of our cemeteries and the classical
multimillion rand sports stadium in Lesseyton and 6km road
in Ezibeleni.
We are all suffering inhabitants of Queenstown – wh e r e
are our leaders and representatives in the municipal council?
I’m afraid most people will leave Queenstown to go
anywhere but here – most are already in Queenstown-by-thesea
(Gonubie), Cape Town, villages in the old Transkei and
Ciskei, Europe, Australasia, USA, Canada – or they are
heading there.
Still proudly Queenstown
FACE 2 FACE with /
Luvo Makasi, a lawyer
QQ: What do you like
about your job?
AA: Being a lawyer is
about being creative
and interpreting complex
legal problems and analysing
situations. That is what
makes law exciting for me.
Q: What is challenging
about your job?
A: The fact that you do not
have the same solution to
similar problems and thus
you have to be continually
i n n ova t ive .
Q: What is one of the most
important things you have
learnt in your career?
A: Work hard, but
understand that law is a
business and a lot relies on
your effort and ability to
understand the field of your
s p e c i a l i t y.
Q: What would you advise
anyone who aspires to be a
l aw ye r ?
A: Work hard and always
remember that law requires
patience to first develop as a
lawyer and subsequently
grow into the business and
practice of law.
Q: What impact do you
hope to make in your
lifetime?
A: Convert people to Christ.
Q: Where did you grow up
and what is your favourite
childhood memory?
A: I grew up in Sada and my
memory would be all the
times I spent with my sister
Noluvuyo and what we are
making out of life through
c o nve r s a t i o n s .
Q: The best gift you ever
re c e ive d ?
A: The best gift would be a
shirt and towels that were
given to me on my
ordination as bishop of my
ch u rch .
Q: A must-read book?
A: The Bible
Q: What do you do when
you are not working?
A: I visit the congregation
and sometimes work on
projects for my other
businesses and commercial
interest.
KOMANI WEATHER
After the relatively balmy days we have been experiencing, the sudden
drop in temperatures on Friday might come as a bit of a shock.
The predicted minimum is 5°C, but the maximum of only 9°C will
be perceived as really chilly after we have become used to maximums
in the mid-20s. There is a very good chance of rain and the humidity
will be really high.
On Saturday the minimum temperature of 3°C will be even lower,
but the maximum will at least go up to 18°C. It will be mostly cloudy
with a slight chance of a little precipitation and the humidity will still
be high, although not quite as bad as it was on Friday.
S u n d ay ’s minimum temperature will be 4°C and the maximum
expected is 18°C. The humidity will be down somewhat and it will be
partly cloudy with perhaps a little drizzle. Next week temperatures will
return to levels we have become accustomed to at this time of the year -
- w w w. a c c u w e a t h e r. c o . z a
SOCIETY SNIPPETS
From birthdays to anniversaries to achievements to notices ... Share
your information with us:
mjekulal@arena.africa or fax (045) 839-4059
Happy birthday wishes to Rina Rooy (May 21), Pierre Jacobs, Jay de
Wet and Thandiwe Hanisi (May 22), Joe Makowem and Marc Bradley
(May 23), Belinda Dangerfield (May 25), Jacques Rossouw (May 27),
Erika Mostert (May 28), Karen Botha (May 30), Mary Ratsibe (June 1),
Peter Filmr, Samantha Pohlmann (June 2), Aubrey Ferreira (June 3) and
Alison Genade (June 4).
Condolences are extended to the families and friends of Merle Geyer,
Luvuyo Dastile, Nolifisi Mjavu, Eunice Qwemesha, Larry Peters,
Singathwa Feni, Eric Dlabazana, Shama Sabisa,Velile Ntabeni, Nqabile
Nzayo, Nomfundo Mnyengeza Momathenba Kula, Linda Mnxitama,
Nomthandazo Volana and Thembakazi Mani.
YO U R VOICE opinions on the street
What do you think about…
H L A K A N YA N A
K H ATA Z WA
The Komani story has been
one of doom and gloom in
recent times and The Rep has
decided to ask residents
whether there is light at the
end of the tunnel.
This is what they told
intern, Chuma Joni.
Hlakanyana Khatazwa from
Laurie Dashwood Park
The nicest thing to have
happened is to be on the
WhatsApp group of a
councillor. I have never been
there before. In the group we
inform about everything that
BONGANI
S I LWA N A
MINNA
SCHNEHAGE
is happening, as much as we
have electricity problems.
Bongani Silwana from
Whittlesea
Though there is no
electricity, people do go to
work and come to town and
get one or two things done,
which is good as they don’t
go home empty-handed.
Hospitals are also open
despite the c i rc u m s t a n c e s .
Minna Schnehage from Top
Tow n
When the substation was on
K AT H RY N
BRUNOTTE
fire, people took food and
cooldrinks for the people
who were working overnight
when there was a power
failure.
We do live in a wonderful
community, people do pull
together and they do help
other people.
Kathryn Brunotte from Port
A l f re d
What I love about Komani is
that people from other towns
come here with interest.
People are coming in
numbers in the hope of
CLIFF
PRINGLE
finding a job, meaning there
is hope here in this town.
There are a lot of sporting
opportunities for the youth
and that means less drug
addicts.
Cliff Pringle from Aloevale
It is the announcement that
the national government will
be intervening in our
municipality and hopefully
the administrator will be able
to get things right.
There are a few good
councillors who I have
interacted with.
THE REPRESENTATIVE 20 May 2022 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 7
#EntrepreneurshipIssues: The importance of
SMMEs knowing their core business/speciality
In my 10 years in business,
I’ve come across a few small
business owners who started
their SMMEs not knowing what
they wanted to offer to their
targeted consumers.
However, it does not end
there; some do not even know
their strength or speciality.
Young, aspirant business
owners need to figure this out
before going into business.
The danger of getting into
business and not being sure of
what you offer and what your
speciality is, is that you will
want to copy everything that
everyone else is doing.
There is nothing wrong with
checking what other people are
doing and what the market
needs, but it’s important to stick
to what you know you can
d e l ive r.
All of us have different gifts
and talents.
It’s important to nurture and
focus on what you decide is
your core business because it
helps you grow.
At school, I studied PR and
because of my 23 years’
experience in it, I decided to
start a business that provides this
speciality to my potential
clients.
This is because I am
Empower ment
Zone
Miranda Lusiba
confident about what I can
provide to clients with this
speciality I have honed in on in
more than two decades.
Because marketing, PR and
communications are
interlinked, it’s easy for people
outside our profession to
assume that these are the same
and that if you are in PR or
marketing, you should be able
to do both.
However, these are two
different specialities, and it’s
important to know what yours is
when you decide to start a
business.
Because marketing, brand,
eventing, advertising or even
graphic design are not my areas
of expertise, I usually am frank
with clients.
I tell them upfront that these
are not my specialities and
because I know people who are
good at these, I’d rather refer
clients to them instead of
wanting to take the work just to
make money.
Taking work in a specialised
area that you don’t understand
can compromise you because
it’s highly possible that you will
not be able to deliver according
to the clients’ needs.
The failure to deliver will be
due to it not being your area of
speciality in the first place.
I’ve also said that even
though there were industries
that were popular to SMMEs in
the past, such as construction or
mining, where many business
opportunities or tenders were
available, I was never interested
in pursuing them.
This is because construction
or mining requires a
background in either civil
engineering or quantity
surveying to be able to
understand its intricacies.
Because I’m a content
person and a writer at heart,
engineering is miles apart from
what I can deliver to clients.
The other danger of
chopping, changing, and
copying other people is that you
kill your credibility with clients,
especially when you don’t
deliver or if you provide substandard
work.
Sticking to what I know for
all these years has helped me
grow and master my craft.
Every time we finish a
client’s project, we do an
analysis report of how we’ve
performed.
In the report, we look at
highlights and challenges that
we might have faced during the
project and then develop some
recommendations/solutions for
future projects.
By doing this, we can
evaluate any shortcomings to
find solutions and not repeat the
same mistakes in the next
campaign.
I wouldn’t be able to focus
on my growth in my speciality if
I was looking at what everyone
else was doing and then chasing
what other businesses were
offering.
The other mistake I see being
made is people assuming they
will succeed if they c o py
another company that is doing
well.
It’s unfortunately not the
case; you need to remember
that the person you are trying to
compete with has probably
been in that business for a long
time.
They, therefore, would have
grown the business from the
ground up, made some mistakes
along the way, and failed a few
times, but learnt the tricks of
their trade.
You might copy them
because they are in their
winning season, but you would
not know what they went
through during their losing
seasons and how this helped
them grow.
There is no greater teacher
than failure – it forces one to
evaluate your position and
come up with ways to navigate
challenges so you don’t go
through the same thing again.
This growth phase helps
most businesses craft their secret
formulas in business.
Unfortunately, as a copycat,
you will not know these secrets,
and you won’t have that
hustler’s God-given gift.
So, my parting shot to
aspirant SMMEs – please figure
out your strengths and stick to
what you know to help s t ay
focused.
This will go a long way in
helping you grow and in
building your credibility with
clients.
Also, this will give clients
assurance that they are in good
hands, that you don’t only know
what you’re doing, but can also
deliver on your promises.
For more information,
contact me on: 068-029-8760
(voice-calls); 078-675-1297
(WhatsApp); email: miranda@
strangeconsulting.co.za or
O ra 4 1 1 7 @ g m a i l . c o m
- Miranda Lusiba is the
founding director of Strangé
Consulting – a boutique PR
agency specialising in
dommunication, media
relations, freelance writing,
reputation management and
media training.
#smallbusinessadvice
#womeninbusiness
- Disclaimer: Miranda Lusiba
& STRANGÉ CONSULTING
retain all title, ownership and
intellectual property (IP) rights
to these columns and
trademarks contained in all
other information and
supporting documents as well.
This is in accordance with the
SA: Copyright Act 98 of 1978
(amended) Intellectual Property
Laws Amendment Act 38 of
1997.
Blending multiple intelligencies
As teachers, we pride
ourselves on being
“purveyors of
k n ow l e d g e ” in our specific
subject area.
But in the modern age of the
technological revolution, we
would be fooling ourselves if we
thought we could compete with
such role players as the internet
and other forms of social media.
According to the great Steve
Jobs himself, knowledge is not
useful unless we can make the
connection between what we
know – join the dots between
the discrete pieces of
information already stored in
our brains, and be able to see,
not only their individual
relevance, but how they fit into
the “Gestalt” or bigger picture.
In essence, this is much like
the function of the various
neurotransmitters in the brain,
where sensory information
travels across synapses and
forms connective pathways.
In past times, it was
customary to measure
“intelligence” in a globular form
by means of standardised
intelligence tests (the wellknown
Stanford – Binet test).
Unfortunately, these tests did
not take account of two very
important facts.
1. They were largely based
on Western culture of
assimilated background
knowledge, hence prejudicing
children from different language
and cultural backgrounds.
2. They did not take into
account that “intelligence” is
actually made up of different
types of knowledge/intelligence:
1.1 Creative intelligence. 1.2
Emotional intelligence. 1. 3
Linguistic intelligence. 1.4
Logical/mathematical
intelligence. 1.5 Visual/spatial
intelligence. 1.6 Social
(intrapersonal) intelligence. 1.7.
Body/kinaesthetic intelligence.
1.8 Personal intelligence.
PROFOUND INSIGHTS:
Jenny Webb is a teacher at
Dunraven Special Needs
School, based in Komani
Picture: SUPPLIED
Let us examine some of
these different types of
intelligence more closely:
Creative intelligence: This
type of intelligence is that found
in artistic, entrepreneurial and
intuitive people, characterised
by the following traits: flexibility,
originality, intuition, innovation,
initiative, introspection, selfconfidence
and broadmindedness.
It does not exist on its own of
course, but comes to the fore
when it comes to such aspects
in life as decision-making,
problem-solving and
knowledge creation.
Emotional intelligence: This
involves a person’s ability to
manage themselves and their
own emotions, as well as being
intuitively aware of social
situations and how to manage
these effectively.
It requires maturity and
social responsibility, awareness
of the effect of one’s actions,
empathy and tolerance, as well
as management of social
i n t e ra c t i o n s .
This is one aspect of
personality deficiency or
malfunction when it comes to
dealing with children who have
autism. They cannot function
adequately or appropriately in
many different social situations,
and therefore require special
care and attention from teachers
and adults in whose care they
have been placed.
Linguistic intelligence: This
obviously applies to the ability
to acquire language and
vocabulary, communicate in
verbal and written form, read
and comprehend the written
word, and so on.
It is central to the transfer of
knowledge in school, and
applies largely to the language
of instruction.
It also requires an
understanding of sequence
(letters in words) and analysis
(decoding words), synthesis
(word building) and concept
formation.
This is an area in which
many of the learning difficulties
at school are to be found.
Unfortunately, it can also be
seriously affected by inadequate
instruction at home in the early
years of a child’s life.
Logical/mathematical
intelligence: A very important
area of this form of intelligence
is a child’s exposure to concrete
aspects of mathematical
concepts “before” the abstract
ideas are introduced.
Once again, the value of
understanding sequencing is
essential for proper
comprehension of
mathematical operations to be
executed correctly.
Many children lack the
powers of logic because they
have not explored the
characteristics of such nebulous
concepts as volume, mass and
density, to name but a few.
This is an area of intelligence
which requires experiential
knowledge: it seldom exists in
isolation.
● See more in next week’s
edition.
The blundering Nathi
Mthethwa should go
Our minister of sport,
arts and culture,
Nathi Mthethwa, has
woken from his slumber with
a bang – he has announced
that R22m will be spent on a
giant flag project to be erected
at Freedom Park in Pretoria.
This is what he said: “Th e
issue of the monumental flag
must be understood from a
broader context of deepening
social cohesion in our
c o u n t r y.”
To further deepen the
confusion and lunacy, he tried
to justify this by saying: “In the
sense that it is not an isolated
flag, some years ago the
department did research and
the findings were that the
majority of people in South
Africa were not familiar with
national symbols.”
This is South Africa. No
sooner was this
announcement made, when
all hell broke loose on social
media.
Almost everyone who had
data and a social media
account came for the minister
and told him exactly what
they thought of his giant flag
project.
My worry in all this is that
no-one in his entire ministry
raised a red flag and told him
that this was a giant blooper.
Not so long ago, many
artists were up in arms about
the Covid relief fund that was
mismanaged by his
department and the
distribution agency they
appointed.
The people in his
department were complaining
IN TOUCH
Phumelele P Hlati
and are still complaining
about the debilitating
spectator restrictions affecting
the sports and entertainment
sectors.
Long after the levels were
lowered, the nonsensical
2,000 spectators restriction
remained until recently, which
made no scientific and logical
sense.
Throughout this period, his
ministry remained mum and
gave no direction.
Today we hear in the news
about artists losing their
homes because, for a long
time, they could not make a
living because of the
restrictions on fans and paying
patrons.
Of all the things he could
have done, he chose to erect a
giant flag which many have
correctly characterised as
nothing but a vanity project.
The fact that yesterday
morning he sent out a
statement that said: “In
upholding these ethos and the
inalienable rights of citizens to
be heard, the minister of sport,
art and culture has directed his
department to review the
process related to the
monumental flag in its
t o t a l i t y,” doesn’t absolve him.
The fact that he even saw it
fit to defend this nonsense
until the end does him no
f avo u r s .
He has displayed breathtaking
arrogance and total
disconnection with the
realities of the country his
party is governing.
If no-one objected he
would have continued to
squander R22m of taxpayers’
money despite the dire need
in all the sectors under his
ministry which have been
battered by Covid -19
restrictions.
In a normal democracy,
this guy would have long ago
been fired as he has
demonstrated how out of
touch he has been with his
portfolio.
The giant flag nonsense
should be the straw that breaks
the camel’s back.
Mthethwa should go, as in
ye s t e r d ay.
The ANC should avoid this
sort of embarrassment by not
viewing this ministry as a
dumping ground for failed
cadres but see it as a very
important ministry that is
responsible for much more
than it seems to think it is.
This ministry is responsible
for the heart, soul, spirit and
the general mood of the
c o u n t r y.
Something this important
should never be given to
blundering people like these.
8 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 20 May 2022 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
1
DOMESTIC
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1150
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1150
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NEL
VALMAÉ
Fondly known
as “Pink”
Late of Mountain
Glen Farm, Komani
District passed away
peacefully on
Saturday
14th May 2022
at the age of 88 years.
Sadly missed and
deeply mourned by
her loving children
Glenn & Marianne,
Toy, Vinette, Daryl &
Sylvia, grandchildren,
great grandchildren,
nieces, nephews,
extended family and
friends.
A memorial service
will take place at the
Wesley Methodist
Church, Ebden Street,
Komani on Thursday
19th May 2022
at 11am.
The cremation will
take place privately in
East London. Friends
kindly accept the
following intimation.
Russell and Son
Funeral Directors
RUSSELL & SON
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Tel. 045 839 4012
KELEKU
MELIKHAYA
WELCOME
Late of 186 Zone 2,
Ezibeleni, Komani
Born: 14.06.1977
Died: 11.05.2022
Funeral;
Saturday
21.05.2022
Starting at home
at 10:00
(African Native
Mission Church)
Thence to the
Komani Cemetery,
for the Interment
at 12:30
LALA NGOXOLO
MGCINA
TYHOPHO
XHAMELA
NOKWINDLA
RUSSELL & SON
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Tel. 045 839 4012
DINISO
POLISI
NOMBULELO
Late of
1634 Matshoba Street,
Bede, Mlungisi,
Komani
Born: 01.03.1959
Died: 07.05.2022
Funeral;
Saturday 21.05.2022
Starting at home at
09:00
(Ilisomzi Apostolic)
Thence to the Komani
Cemetery,
for the Interment at
12:00
LALA NGOXOLO
MAMGIQWA
RUSSELL AND SON
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Tel. 045 839 4012
PHAMA
VUMANI
CECIL
late of
Nkwanca,
Machibini,
Lady Frere District
Born: 28.02.1957
Died: 07.05.2022
Funeral:
Saturday 21.05.2022
Starting at home at
10am
(Faith Mission)
Thence to the
Nkwanca Cemetery,
Machibini, for the
Interment at 12 noon
LALA NGOXOLO
MQADI NCWINA
MPHANKOMO
RUSSELL AND SON
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Tel. 045 839 4012
GXALABA
THANDO
late of
T104 Masabalala
Street,
White City,
Mlungisi,
Komani
Born: 20.02.2000
Died: 09.05.2022
Funeral:
Friday 20.05.2022
Thence to the Komani
Cemetery, for an early
burial at 08:30am,
followed by a
service at
home at 10am
LALA NGOXOLO
MKHUMBENI BHAYI
KHETSHA
RUSSELL AND SON
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Tel. 045 839 4012
STOFILE
NOMBOLOZA
Late of Gwatyu
Farm, Cofimvaba
District
Born: 03.03.1928
Died: 06.05.2022
Funeral;
Saturday
21.05.2022
Starting at home at
9am (Site Joseph
Apostolic Church)
Thence to the
Gwatyu Farm
Cemetery,
Cofimvaba for the
Interment at
12 noon
LALA NGOXOLO
MAMGCINA
TYHOPHO
XHAMELA
NOKWINDLA
RUSSELL & SON
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Tel. 045 839 4012
MOLELEKOA
ZITHULELE
late of
R407 Yekani Street,
White City, Mlungisi,
Komani
Born: 31.05.1962
Died: 13.05.2022
Funeral:
Saturday 21.05.2022
Starting at St Andrews
Hall, Mlungisi at 10:00
(Ilisolomzi Apostolic)
Thence to the Komani
Cemetery, for the
Interment at 12:00
LALA NGOXOLO
MPINGA MAWAWA
RUSSELL AND SON
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Tel. 045 839 4012
MQWALASELI
MZUKISI
DAVID
Late of
Emmangweni,
Tsembeyi,
Lady Frere
Born: 05.06.1968
Died: 04.05.2022
Funeral:
Saturday 21.05.2022
Thence to the
Emmangweni
Cemetery,
Tsembeyi, for an early
burial at 9am,
followed by a service
at home at 10am
LALA NGOXOLO
MNTLANE
RUSSELL AND SON
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Tel. 045 839 4012
Contact Charodine or Mavis on 045 839 4040
MZAMO
ZIMTA
DOREEN
Late of
Upper Zangqokwe,
Whittlesea District
Born: 05.08.1944
Died: 06.05.2022
Funeral;
Saturday
21.05.2022
Starting at home
at 10am
Thence to the
Upper Zangqokwe
Cemetery,
Whittlesea for
he Interment at
12 noon
LALA NGOXOLO
MAMTHETHWA
NYAMBOSE
RUSSELL & SON
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Tel. 045 839 4012
DLOVA
NOKWENDA
Late of
Kwa Blangwe,
Ediphini,
Qoqodala,
Lady Frere District
Born: 03.03.1942
Died: 08.05.2022
Funeral;
Saturday 21.05.2022
Thence to the Ediphini
Cemetery,
Qoqodala, for an early
burial at 9:15am,
followed by a service
at home at 10am
LALA NGOXOLO
MAMQWATHI
DIKELA NONI
NTSWAYIBANA
RUSSELL AND SON
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Tel. 045 839 4012
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PILINGANA
NONKUKU
BORN:
1966-06-03
DIED:
2022-05-09
FUNERAL:
2022-05-21
VENUE:
Funeral service
will be held at home
at KwaQithi location
Nkolonga A/A
Cacadu district at
09H00am
Cemetery:
KwaQithi
TIME:
12:00 am
KOMANI AVBOB
FUNERAL SERVICES
29 ROBINSON ROAD
QUEENSTOWN
Tel: 045 838 2771
Cell: 083 503 8057
SOMI
SITHEMBELE
EDWIN
BORN: 1962-03-24
DIED: 2022-05-08
FUNERAL: 2022-05-21
VENUE: Funeral service
will be held at home at
S147 Phahlanane Street,
Mlungisi Komani
at 09:00 am
Cemetery: Komani
TIME: 12:00 am
KOMANI AVBOB
FUNERAL SERVICES
29 ROBINSON ROAD
QUEENSTOWN
Tel: 045 838 2771
Cell: 083 503 8057
The Rep Komani
MBONTSI
XOLISWA
JOYCE
BORN: 1942-04-03
DIED: 2022-05-07
FUNERAL:
2022-05-21
VENUE:
Funeral service will be
held at home at Trustini
location Rhodana
A/A Cacadu district at
09:00am
Cemetery:
Rhodana
TIME:
12:00 am
KOMANI AVBOB
FUNERAL SERVICES
29 ROBINSON ROAD
QUEENSTOWN
Tel: 045 838 2771
Cell: 083 503 8057
NQAI
MNCEDISI
LESLEY
BORN: 1951-05-06
DIED: 2022-05-10
FUNERAL:
2022-05-21
VENUE:
Funeral service will be
held at home at 9474
Tennyson street Newvale
location Komani
at 09:00 am
Cemetery:
Komani Town
TIME:
12:00 am
KOMANI AVBOB
FUNERAL SERVICES
29 ROBINSON ROAD
QUEENSTOWN
Tel: 045 838 2771
Cell: 083 503 8057
For all your advertising
needs call 045 839 4040.
the_rep_komani
NCETEZO
XOLANI
BORN:
1992-03-19
DIED:
2022-05-09
FUNERAL:
2022-05-20
VENUE:
Funeral service
will be held at home at
T12 Pono street
Mlungisi location
Komani
at 09:00 am
Cemetery:
Komani Town
TIME:
12:00 am
KOMANI AVBOB
FUNERAL SERVICES
29 ROBINSON ROAD
QUEENSTOWN
Tel: 045 838 2771
Cell: 083 503 8057
YAWA
MKETHI
BORN: 1961-01-01
DIED: 2022-05-15
FUNERAL:
2022-05-21
VENUE:
Funeral service will be
held at home at 1370
Maplangeni location
Ilinge Township Komani
at 09:00 am
Cemetery:
Ilinge
TIME:
12:00 am
KOMANI AVBOB
FUNERAL SERVICES
29 ROBINSON ROAD
QUEENSTOWN
Tel: 045 838 2771
Cell: 083 503 8057
@RepKomani
THE REPRESENTATIVE 20 May 2022 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 9
1150
Funeral Notices
ALAM
BABALWA
VIRGINIA
BORN: 1981-10-11
DIED: 2022-05-11
FUNERAL:
2022-05-21
VENUE:
Funeral service will
be held at home at No.
181 Crionnil Street
Mlungisi location
Komani
at 09:00 am
Cemetery:
Komani Town
TIME:
11:00 am
SERVICES & SALES
GUIDE
5490
Livestock & Poultry
LAPHUMA ILANGA
EAT WHITE MEAT
POULTRY AND PIGGERY
LIVE OR FRESH CUT CLEANED CHICKEN BROILERS
SIKHULISA IINKUKHU NEEHAGU ZOKUTHENGISA / PIGS
TO ORDER, CONTACT 066 386 8326 / 073 927 3619 /
072 342 0985 Dooren Drift, Amberdale No.1, Komani
For Sale
5
5451
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GUIDE
5490
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5
5451
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5490
Livestock & Poultry
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EMPLOYMENT
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EMPLOYMENT
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EMPLOYMENT
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Employment Offered
KOMANI AVBOB
FUNERAL SERVICES
29 ROBINSON ROAD
QUEENSTOWN
Tel: 045 838 2771
Cell: 083 503 8057
MACOLI
NQABA
CHRISTOPHER
BORN: 1972-04-08
DIED: 2022-05-11
FUNERAL:
2022-05-21
VENUE:
Funeral service
will be held
at home at
Q43 Pelem Road
Mlungisi location
Komani
at 09:00 am
Cemetery:
Komani Town
TIME:
11:00 am
KOMANI AVBOB
FUNERAL SERVICES
29 ROBINSON ROAD
QUEENSTOWN
Tel: 045 838 2771
Cell: 083 503 8057
MAVITYO
NOMVUYO
Born: 01.12.1958
Died: 16.05.2022
Funeral:
21.05.2022
Venue: Support
Centre, Mlungisi.
Interment:
Mlungisi Cemetery
Time: 10am
REST IN PEACE
MAMAJOLA
11
LEGALS
11010
Legal Notices
11
LEGALS
11010
Legal Notices
FORM JJJ
LOST OR DESTROYED DEED
Notice is hereby given in terms of Regulation
13(1) of Proclamation R293 of 1962, of the
intention to apply for the issue of a certified
copy of Deed of Grant Number TG610/2000
passed by the Member of Executive Council
for Housing and Local Government of the
Province of the Eastern Cape in favour of DAISY
PETELO, Identity Number: 290517 0131 088,
unmarried in respect of ERF 1354 EZIBELENI,
ENOCH MGIJIMA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY,
DISTRICT OF CACADU, PROVINCE OF THE
EASTERN CAPE, which has been lost or
destroyed.
All interested persons having objection to the
issue of such copy are hereby required to
lodge the same in writing with the Registrar of
Deeds at MTHATHA within two weeks from the
date of the publication of this notice.
Dated at Queenstown this 16 th day of May 2022.
Authorized Agent
MICHELLE BAXTER
De Wet Shaw & Baxter Attorneys
45 Grey Street
P.O Box 1305
Queenstown, 5320
Tel: 045 838 2520
11
LEGALS
11030
Estate Notices
In the estate of the late
OXFORD DALIWONGA
MAGANGXA
(Identity No.
660917 5752 080)
Date of Birth:
1966-09-17
Of Zwart Water
Administrative Area,
Lady Frere, Eastern
Cape Province
Estate Number:
001023/2022
Date of death:
12-01-2022
Creditors and Debtors
In the Estate are
hereby required to
lodge their claims with
and pay their debts to
the undersigned within
30 (Thirty) days of the
publication hereof.
THABOADAM
THABO ADAM
ATTORNEYS INC.,
3A Douglas Street
Queenstown
5319 Admln@
tadamattorneysinc.
co.za 0732205832
THABO ADAM
ATTORNEYS INC.
Contact Charodine or Mavis on 045 839 4040
We connect you to your customers - in Print and Online
www.therep.co.za
The Rep Komani
NOTICE NO.IPED 05/05/2022
DP/BUDGET / PMS REPRESENTATIVE FORUM
Notice is hereby given in terms of Chapter 4 and Chapter
5 (IDP) OF Local Government Municipal Systems Act
(No 32 of 2000 as ammended) that Enoch Mgijima
Local Municipality will convene an IDP / Budget / PMS
representative forum . The Executive Mayor invites
all stakeholders and members of this forum to this
meeting.
The meeting is scheduled as follows. :
the_rep_komani
@RepKomani
DATE: 24 MAY 2022
VENUE: THOBI KULA INDOOR SPORT CENTER
TIME: 10H00
For all your advertising
needs call 045 839 4040.
For more details kindly contact Ms Z. Jamjam in the
Office of the Municipal Manager during office hours
(8:00 - 4:30) at this number 045 807 2701 or email:
ZJamjam@enochmgijima.gov.za
N C ZONDANI
MUNICIPAL MANAGER
TOWN HALL
CATHCART ROAD
KOMANI
10 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 20 May 2022 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
SPORT SCENE
graphic © liudmyla pushnova / 123RF.com
Schools battle it out in new inspiring league
Continued from PAGE 12
initiative is to increase the chances of
pupils from townships to pursue
careers in sport.
The schools participating in the
five-week league are Maria Louw,
Luvuyo Lerumo, John Noah,
Nkwanca and KwaKomani
Comprehensive School.
Last week, the teams also received
full kit comprising dresses, warm-up
T-shirts, position bibs and a ball each
from the National Lotteries
Commission.
Handing out the kit, PH Sports
director Phumelele Hlati said the
demise of sport in the last five to 10
years in the former disadvantaged
schools, propelled them to start the
league.
“This has led to a lot of social
problems because children have too
much time on their hands.
“We want to improve the chances
of the disadvantaged pupils making
sport a career.”
This week’s results are:
Netball: Maria Louw vs KwaKomani 18-
17; John Noah vs Luvuyo Lerumo 8-6;
Nkwanca vs Maria Louw 8-14;
KwaKomani vs John Noah 23-14;
Luvuyo Lerumo vs Nkwanca 11-5.
Rugby: Maria Louw vs KwaKomani 5-
17; Nkwanca vs Maria Louw 10-8;
KwaKomani vs John Noah 39-5.
Soccer: Maria Louw vs KwaKomani 0-3;
John Noah vs Luvuyo Lerumo 0-2.
COMPETITIVE PLAY: KwaKomani Comprehensive players (in pink and blue stripes) clash with Maria Louw High School pupils in the first match of the day at
John Noah High School on Wednesday. Maria Louw pipped KwaKomani 18-17 Picture: LUVUYO MJEKULA
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST NOTICE
RBX RMSC JV on behalf of SANRAL hereby invites electrical Contractors to register their interest for installation of streetlights
for the project.
The project is located on the R67 Section 5 from Swart Kei River (km 14.90) to Queenstown at (km 32.91). The length of the
project is approximately 18km and it covers upgrading of the route from the Swart Kei River and it continuous in a northerly
direction and ends at the three legged traffic circle just South of Queenstown. R67 section 5 is a national route located in the
Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, situated within the Chris Hani District in the central part of the Eastern Cape Province.
DESCRIPTION
NRA R.067–050–2016/1F: Construction and installation of Street lighting
CIDB contractor grading designation
Grade 1EP to 4EP (Electrical Works) Contractors
Targeted Area
Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality
Specialised and experienced Contractors are invited to submit the required documents for the Expression of interest
as described above. Preference will be given to Contractors within the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality.
The following required returnable documents shall be attached.
Company profile
B-BBEE certificate
CIDB certificate
PROOF OF CSD REGISTRATION
COIDA certificate
SARS tax clearance certificate
Previous Experience for those with Electrical experience.
The documentation required must be submitted by 24 th May 2022 via email to r67swartkeitenders@gmail.com.
Submission closing date and time: 24th May 2022 at 16H00
All submissions to have the following subject line. “Subcontract NRA EOI: R.067-050-2016/1F”.
No late entries will be accepted.
SUBMISSION ADDRESS
RBX RMSC JV site office
Christiaans Private Primary School
Melton Gardens
Queenstown, 5320
ALL ENQUIRIES:
Mr Lubabalo Jonas OR Kholekile Hallom
Email: r67swartkeitenders@gmail.com
Contact number: 076 622 1825 / 068 326 9253
Interior wall
colours that sell
homes
REP REPORTER
Using colour throughout a home
can be an expressive way to
personalise a space. However, high
levels of personalisation and the
bold use of colour might stand
against the homeowner when it
comes time to sell the home.
“Colour can have an exceptional
impact on buyers,” explains Adrian
Goslett, regional director and CEO
of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.
“Understanding the costly and
labour-intensive effort it would take
to repaint a home, most buyers
simply choose not to look passed
the fact that a home is not painted
according to their taste.”
Homeowners preparing a
property to sell will need to look
past their own emotional
connection to the space and instead
focus on what can elevate their
home’s overall aesthetic appeal to as
broad a range of buyers as possible,
as this will help their chances of
selling at full value. When it comes
to the home’s interior paint colours,
consider what shades serve best as a
visual template for prospective
buyers to picture themselves living
in the space.
For those who are unsure how to
achieve this, RE/MAX of Southern
Africa shares some tips on how to
choose sellable colours for the
interior of the home:
Avoid bright shades
Neutral shades will always have
the broadest appeal when it comes
time to sell.
Use colour to your advantage
In tight spaces, being strategic
with accent walls and colours can
create the illusion of more space.
Play into colour trends
Pale yellow, for example, used to
be a very popular neutral colour
choice in its day, but in today’s
terms, shades of light grey tend to be
a more modern replacement.
Consider your furniture
Before selecting a shade of paint,
consider if the colour will either
match or clash with the colour of
your furniture.
Buyers might struggle to picture
how they would furnish and
decorate the home if the current
configuration doesn’t feel
comfortable or inviting.
Before applying new paint to the
walls, Goslett recommends that
homeowners test the colour on a
wall in the room to make sure it is
the best shade for the space.
“The painted area should be
allowed to dry for 24 hours, as paint
often looks different after it has
dried. Check this test strip in the
morning, noon, and evening, as the
colour might appear slightly
different depending on the time of
d ay,” he recommends.
Those who are still unsure of
what colour to pick for the interior
of their home, could contact a real
estate advisor to find out what are
the most popular colour choices
among buyers in that area.
“This can help sellers make an
informed decision before they add a
new coat of paint to the walls,”
Goslett concludes.
For more real estate advice or to
get in touch with your nearest
RE/MAX Office, visit
w w w. r e m a x . c o . z a
THE REPRESENTATIVE 20 May 2022 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 11
SPORT SCENE
graphic © liudmyla pushnova / 123RF.com
Alarm bells, bad
starts for Komani
teams in leagues
Breakers and Shining Stars at bottom of logs
MAXWELL LEVINE
It has not been the best of starts for the two
Komani teams in the Border top leagues, with
both Breakers and Shining Stars winless and at
the bottom of the super and premier leagues
r e s p e c t ive l y.
Breakers suffered a second consecutive defeat
at the hands of Border champions, Swallows, after
going down 34-10 at the Thobi Kula Stadium.
This after losing 16-8 against Ncerha Leopards
the previous weekend.
Things have started on the wrong foot for the
Mlungisi kings, after their first match against Black
Eagles at home was abruptly ended due to issues
with safety and an incomplete trauma board,
meaning chances are they will lose those points.
They are currently bottom of the log on zero
points with the stats not looking good.
Alarm bells must be ringing for Shining Stars,
who are having a torrid time in the premier
league.
They suffered a thumping 31-6 defeat against
United Brothers at home at the Army Base field.
This after they couldn’t field a team in their first
match of the season against Busy Boys at home.
They are rooted at the bottom with no points.
Ncerha Leopards continue their fine form this
season after beating Ntlaza Lions 38-32 away, to
cement their spot at the top of the super league.
They have won all three of their matches and
top the standings on 14 points.
After starting with a win over Police, Lions
have now suffered back-to-back defeats and are
sixth on the log on seven points.
S wa l l ow s ’ win over Breakers propelled them
to second on the log on 10 points with their
second consecutive win.
WSU All Blacks got their campaign up and
running with a hard-fought 17-3 win over UFH
Blues in the battle of the universities.
Fort Hare is still winless in two matches and
are a far cry from the team that won the Varsity
Shield.
Old Selbornians bounced back from last
week’s loss against Swallows to defeat Black
Eagles 17-12.
Old Boys are fourth on the log on eight points.
Black Eagles are still winless on zero points but
have the chance to gain five points for their match
against Breakers that was abandoned.
Police got the better of Buffaloes in the East
London derby, with a convincing 34-16 win.
Police are fifth on the log on seven points with
Buffs at eighth on five points.
The match between Young Leopards and
Berlin Tigers was postponed.
Moonlight lead the table in the premier league
after defeating Cambridge 26-0 to maintain their
perfect start to the season.
The rookies are unbeaten after three rounds
with 13 points. Cambridge are second from
bottom, winless, on zero points.
United Brothers’ 31-6 win over Shining Stars
moved them to fourth on the log on nine points.
Winter Rose are also unbeaten with three wins
after their tight 21-19 win over Africans.
They are currently second on the log on 12
points. It was Africans’ first match of the season
after both their opening matches were postponed.
WSU Eagles got the better of Ocean
Sweepers, beating them 15-8.
They are currently sixth on the log on five
points, with Ocean Sweepers occupying eighth
spot with three points after three defeats.
Wallabies got their first win after beating
Evergreens 20-10. Wallabies are fifth on six points
and Evergreens seventh on four.
Locally, Old Collegians defeated Tarkastad
Stars 64-0 in a pre-season friendly in Tarkastad.
NO LOVE LOST: Brothers BA Siyobi of Brea kers with his brother, Tseke Siyobi of Swallows, on
opposite sides after playing each other last Saturday Picture: SUPPLIED
Top selectors pick Rayjene
EXCITING RACE: Members of Old Mutual Athletics Club from
Komani and East London who took part in the third annual
OMAC-EL race recently. Racers in the three distances –
21.1km, 10km and 5km – started and finished at the Hamiltons
Sports Club in Selborne Picture: SUPPLIED
CHAMPIONS: Karen Bassett,
left, came first in the 24km
Madeira mountain challenge
which took place on Saturday.
With Bassett is Shameem
Farooq, who was first to
complete the 16km walk
Picture: SUPPLIED
WINNING SCHOOL: Lukhanji (pictured) and Mpendulo primary schools won their U15 soccer
sections of the schools winter games held at the Dumpy Adams Sports Complex on Saturday.
Schools from four education circuits in the Chris Hani West district took part in the competition.
The winning schools will feature in the district games in Cacadu this weekend. U17 teams for
both boys and girls were also selected at the games Picture: LUVUYO MJEKULA
ZINTLE BOBELO
Eighteen-year-old Rayjene
Bosman, who is described as a
naturally talented hockey
player, has been selected by
school tour specialists, Travel
and Sport, to head to the
Netherlands in October.
The former Hangklip
Primary School pupil is in G ra d e
12 at Hoerskool Grens in East
London and was hand-picked
by a panel of selectors based on
her performance at the Elsie
Coetzer school tournament in
Bloemfontein in April.
Her proud mother, Janice
Bosman, from Komani, said her
whole family was excited at the
news and hoped Good
Samaritans would help fund
R ay j e n e ’s trip.
She said her daughter was
passionate about hockey, which
she began playing at the age of
11.
“We are all excited about
this trip. It is all we talk about at
home.
“We are also considering
having fundraising events
because R45,000 is required to
cover the costs and we are also
appealing to anyone who can
support her with anything small
just to make her dream come
t r u e ,” she said.
SKILLFUL STAR: Rayjene
Bosman, in green, is set to
travel to the Netherlands with
a team of selected players
Picture: SUPPLIED
“Words cannot express how
proud I am of her.
“I am proud of the person
she has become and how she
has grown to love the sport.
“Hockey is her life. Two
years back the doctor told us she
had to stop playing for a while.
“She was depressed, but
because of Covid-19 sport was
put on hold during that time, so
she did not miss out on much.
“She is anaemic and the
doctor wanted her to take a
break, but she is fine now.”
Coach Earl Jones said he met
R ay j e n e when she started at the
school five years ago.
“I spotted her as one of the
skilful players and since then I
have been her coach.
“She is one of the best at the
m o m e n t ,” said Jones.
She is set to join a team of
other players who will travel to
the Netherlands to compete in
matches and attend training
clinics.
Rayjene, who is captain of
her school’s first hockey team,
recently joined one of the top
clubs in East London, Pa r k s i d e
Hockey Club.
“Any coach or selector
watching her will immediately
pick up her skill on the ball. She
is a good listener.
“What I like is that whenever
I coach her and we decide on
tactics, she does not deviate
from the plan. She knows how
to score a goal,” enthused Jones.
“It is always a good feeling
for any coach when your player
has been spotted in this way.
“It means that, as a coach, all
your hard work has paid off.
“I am just as excited as she is
and I am surely going to miss
her as this is her last year at the
school. I looked upon her as my
own daughter. I wish her all the
best in her future endeavours.”
THE Rep
SPORT
CONTACT
Friday 20 M ay, 202 2
US WITH SPORTS NEWS:
m j e k u l a l @ t h e re p.co. za
(deadline: noon Tuesdays)
GHS girls set to defend
title in hockey challenge
Ten teams finally get to contend in regional leg in Komani, with winners off to provincial finals
REP REPORTER
The Queenstown Girls’ High
School (GHS) hockey team will
defend their title in the East
London inland leg of the SPAR Eastern
Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge in
Ko m a n i on Sunday, May 22.
The tournament has not been held
for two years because of Covid-19.
Tournament newcomers, Umtata
High School, will join nine other teams
in the fifth and final regional leg of the
annual competition, with the
champions receiving the prize
of qualifying for the provincial
finals in Gqeberha on August 13 and
14.
DSG (PE inland), Collegiate (PE
coastal), Outeniqua (Southern Cape)
and Clarendon (EL coastal) have
already secured their places in the
grand finale.
Umtata coach Sihle Nadame said
there was an air of excitement among
the squad members.
“Because we don’t have any other
hockey teams to play against in and
around Mthatha, we are affiliated
to the Amathole Sports Association
and have to travel considerable
distances to play teams such as
Stutterheim, George Randell and
B e r l i n ,” he explained.
“When I heard about the
Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge,
I thought it was a great chance
to give the girls some further exposure.”
He added that he knew they would
face a stiff challenge in Komani, where
hosts GHS will be attempting to retain
their title.
“We have a very young side, with
most of the players in the U16 category,
but we are up for the challenge,” said
Ndamane.
“Our aim is to go out there and
make the most of this opportunity.”
Tournament director Bev Forword
said it was encouraging to see new
faces at the event, which covers all four
corners of the Eastern and Southern
Cape regions.
“This tournament is about creating
opportunities for all schools to play
competitive hockey and that’s why it is
so good to welcome Umtata High on
board this year.
“We have a bumper entry of 10
teams divided into two round-robin
s e c t i o n s ,” she said.
With Covid causing a disruption,
the event was last held in 2019 when
GHS ended the Kingsridge run of
triumphs after edging them 1-0 in a
penalty shootout.
Those two teams will again head
the pools, but should face spirited
competition from the rest.
The respective pool winners will
contest the final.
Alan Stapleton, who oversees SPAR
EC’s sponsorships and events portfolio,
explained that one important element
of the tournament was to expose
schools to opposition in different
regions.
“On the other hand, it is about
competing in a fun environment that is
conducive to fostering camaraderie and
new friendships.”
Matches will be played over 20
minutes, one way, and streamed on the
SuperSport schools platform.
Te a m s :
Pool A: Kingsridge, Aliwal North,
Hangklip, Templeton, St Christopher’s.
Pool B: Queenstown Girls’ High,
Stutterheim, Burgersdorp, De Vos
Malan, Umtata High.
ROLE MODEL
DEFENDING CHAMPS: The Queenstown Girls' High hockey team are the reigning champions of the East London inland leg of the SPAR Eastern Cape
Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge Picture: SUPPLIED
Splash Series sees plenty action and excitement
LUVUYO MJEKULA
The new Komani Schools Netball
Splash Series league, launched on
Wednesday last week, continued this
week with a bumper fixture list of
netball, rugby and soccer matches.
All matches took place on
Wednesday afternoon, with netball
and rugby matches played at a packed
John Noah High School, while the
Dumpy Adams Sports Complex
hosted soccer matches.
Organisers told The Rep that some
soccer games could not be played on
Wednesday and would be played on
Th u r s d ay.
The new league, funded by Lotto
and born out of a partnership between
Phulutho Activities and PH Sports,
was officially launched last week at
Luvuyo Lerumo High School.
One of the objectives of the
Turn to PAGE 10
IN FLIGHT: Hosts John Noah High School players, backed by a vocal crowd, face off against Luvuyo Lerumo High
School pupils Picture: LUVUYO MJEKULA
Matthew van Staden, left, who is in
the Queen’s Junior U11 rugby team
met his hero, Springbok captain Siya
Kolisi, at the Grey High School
reunion in Gqeberha last
weekend Picture: SUPPLIED
Parkrunner
achieves 100
milestone
Last Saturday, 43 people ran, jogged
and walked the course of the Komani
parkrun at the Queenstown Golf Club,
in cool weather conditions.
Four happy regular parkrunners
recorded personal best times, while
some visitors from Kwazulu-Natal and
Gauteng enjoyed their first Komani
parkrun.
Marie van der Merwe became a
member of the elite 100 Milestone Club
by completing 100 parkruns, while
Johnny de Villiers recorded his 25th
duty as a volunteer.