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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

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MAASBANKER FISH

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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

ŽŚĞŽĚĞŝŚŝŶĚĂŽĨŚĞĚĂĞŽĨďůŝĐĂŽŶŽĨŚĞŵĂĞŝĂůůĞĂĞĐŽŶĂĐŚĞ

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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

Funeral Notices

Contact Nofisa Makaula on tel: (045) 839-4040 / fax: (045) 839-4059 / e-mail: makaulan@therep.co.za or charodinev@therep.co.za

1150

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1150

Funeral Notices

1150

Funeral Notices

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Funeral Notices

1150

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1150

Funeral Notices

1150

Funeral Notices

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

We connect you to your customers - in Print and Online

www.therep.co.za

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

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LAPHUMA ILANGA

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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

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5451

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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

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LEGALS

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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.

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