Talk 20 October 2022

6 Advertising & Newsdesk: (046) 624-4356 Find us on Facebook 20 October 2022 TALK OF THE TOW N
EDITORIAL
OPINION
Crisis:
taps dry,
sewage
in river
Raw sewage, and who
knows what else, flowing
into the Bloukrans River
and on into the Kowie
River from Makhanda’s collapsed
sewage works is nothing new.
There are three amazing things
about the recent uproar over this –
which was confirmed in the
legislature by the Cogta MEC.
The first is that what comes
Port Alfred’s way from upstream
isn’t much worse; the second is
instead of addressing the problem,
Makana’s leadership has chosen
to shoot the messenger; and the
third is, Port Alfred hasn’t sent a
deputation to Makhanda to tell
them to get their house in order.
We are reassured Ndlambe
Municipality is conducting tests
on the water as it enters the
Kowie, and look forward to the
results being publicised and hope
the municipality will use its
muscle to put pressure on the
upstream neighbours.
Parts of town have had no
water or had intermittent supply
since the beginning of the month.
In a statement issued on
Monday, Ndlambe spokesperson
Cecil Mbolekwa said: “This is as a
result of the contractor [QFS] that
is appointed for the construction
and operation of the reverse
osmosis [RO] plant suspending
their operations.”
The suspension was a result of
a contractual dispute.
“The municipality is engaging
with the contractor to resolve
these issues ... ”
Port Alfred’s daily requirement
is 6ML. While the supply from the
Sarel Hayward reservoir had not
been interrupted, less water and
less pressure meant high-lying
areas were not receiving water.
The Thornhill junction water
tower will solve some of the
t ow n ’s water pressure problems
and was due for completion by
July, but the contractor,
Mamlambo Construction, went
into voluntary liquidation in May
and work came to a halt. In mid-
September, Ndlambe told Talk of
the Town it was anticipated work
would recommence that month
under a new contractor.
This week, we asked Ndlambe
whether a contractor had been
apppointed, when work would
resume, and would court action
be considered.
Ndlambe responded: “We are
in the process of terminating the
contract with Mamlambo. Once
[this has been] finalised, we will
be able to claim the guarantees
from the contract, which is 10%.
“It is only then a contractor
will be appointed. We are still in
discussions with QFS, [which will
determine] whether we will go to
court. Please note the issue of QFS
will still be discussed in council.”
POTJIE FUN
Port Alfred Ladies Circle made the winning dish of the day with their lamb potjie served
with pot bread. From left, are Sonja Kriedemann, Sunnette Kew, Gwen Schreiber
Scheepers, Nicole Riddin, Monique von Wielligh and Melissa Marais Pictures: SUPPLIED
Vital to be kind to your mind
October is World Mental
Health Awareness month,
with World Mental Health
Day having been celebrated on the
10th under the theme
#BeKindToYourMIND.
Stop for a moment and be honest
with yourself: How kind are you to
yo u r s e l f ?
Why do we need to be kind to our
mind?
If we go back a couple of years, in
2019, did anyone have a good year?
Then in 2020, from high hopes (the
year of plenty) we went to shock, fear,
lockdown and loss.
And 2021 was the year of fatigues
(Zoom, decision fatigue, burnout,
compassion fatigue).
And in 2022 there was a second
disruption, we just got used to working
from home and then to go back to the
office, with load-shedding affecting our
businesses, and a war having eruped in
the Ukraine which is affecting our
e c o n o my.
I think you would agree we have
really been through a very tough time.
Some days we are hopeful, other
days we feel angry and some days we
just feel sad. A bit of a fruit salad
r e a l l y.
Our minds have been pulled in a
million directions. I think you would
agree this is more reason to be kinder
to yourself and your mind.
Did you know one in three people
is struggling from either anxiety or
depression, and there is no nice way to
say this, because the sad part is that not
everybody is diagnosed.
That does not necessarily mean it is
full-on clinical depression. There is
situational depression, situational
anxiety, and t ra u m a .
Maybe you are not that one in three
but it might be someone you care
about.
The Siyakha Victim Support
Centre would like to thank
Kenton-on-Sea station
commander Tommy Parkinson
and Sergeant George Petzer.
I called them about a
mother of three whose house
burnt down and asked them to
MENTAL H E A LT H
RULEEN DE WITT
Why is your mind so precious?
Well, you only have one mind, you
cannot borrow one – it must last you
your whole life.
Your mind creates everything. If you
are in a good mood, it puts this kind of
sheen on everything, and when you are
unhappy or angry, it puts a different
kind of cloud on everything.
The mind is a powerful thing, use it
to your advantage.
We all face some form of strain and
have to look after ourselves and our
minds.
How do we do this?
Be kind to your mind. Maybe you
have heard about your mental diet, it is
a sea of language.
A fish is in a sea of water – but does
not know it.
We, as humans, are immersed in a
sea of language – are we aware of this
language in our own head.
It’s the language in our own head,
and that’s probably the most important,
and also language entering our mind
from all over.
If you look at social media, and I
am not for or against it – is it good or
bad?
It definitely has a role to play in
society, however, there are other times
help through the Siyakha
Victim Support Centre.
They did not hesitate to
help, mobilising the Kenton/
Bushmans and surounding
c o m m u n i t y.
Build It and SPAR in
particular stepped up. They
donated clothing, shoes,
blankets, food and building
materials for Vuyokazi Antoni
and her family.
They don’t do it only for
being known, but to save our
community members.
The Siyakha Victim,
when you just spend time scrolling
through a sea of words and images.
Two hours can pass in the blink of an
eye with a result that is not very
pleasing.
Some days what we see and
experience on social media can make
us unhappy, angry or anxious and
sometimes we feel “why are they
having so much fun and I am not”.
So first of all, keep an eye on your
internal narrative.
If you become aware of how it
makes you feel, you need to know it’s
time to put the device down and do
something practical.
So is social media helpful or not? If
not, take a break.
The news, do you watch it and how
does it make you feel?
Personally, I don’t watch the news,
because I don’t have the capacity for it
at this point. If something important is
happening I am sure someone will tell
me.
I stopped watching the news in
2020 as I was very aware of how it
made me feel. The impact wasn’t very
helpful and kind to me.
Gossip is another issue that can add
to being unkind to yourself.
I always ask myself, is it kind, is it
necessary and is it the truth? If it is
necessary, is it true? Especially in the
area of mental health.
If you know someone is going
through a difficult time, are you
discussing what is necessary to help
and support this person, or are you
being judgmental.
If you are kind to yourself, you can
be kind to other people.
The most important question is: Is
self-care selfish? The answer is no.
It is not narcissistic, it’s about your
mental attitude.
If you say to yourself “I don’t
matter”, it is self-neglect. Where we
Support Centre, founded and
registered in 2019, operates
without funding. It is about
giving help to people who are
in need, including those
affected by gender-based
violence and substance abuse.
The organisation does not
really need to be is in the middle. “I
matter and I need to be kind to myself
and practise self-care.”
This is because if I cannot look after
myself, I cannot look after others.
You cannot give what you don’t
have, you cannot pour from an empty
cup.
When faced with difficult
situations, our minds may venture to
negative thoughts that keep us from
finding solutions or moving through
tough circumstances towards better
times.
Maintain healthy perspectives,
thinking about difficulties in a more
balanced and realistic way.
Reflect on how you feel, and
remember self-care is not selfish.
Accept change and focus on the
things you can change and accept the
things you can’t.
We deserve to be able to feel the
sun, to think relatively clearly, and to
get out of bed without a long, painful,
mental battle.
It’s not OK if depression is stealing
your energy and ability to sleep.
It’s not OK if anxiety is trapping us
in our home.
It’s not OK if we’re unable to do
things we enjoy because our poor
mental health creates issues that feel
impossible to overcome.
It’s not OK to be in a crisis day after
d ay.
It’s not OK to feel worthless and
hopeless or a constant burden.
You deserve all the help, care,
support, love and listening ears you
need to help you feel OK again.
You are not alone. Reach out today
and get the help and support you need.
Sadag (SA Depression and Anxiety
Group) is Africa’s largest mental health
organisation. You can call them free of
charge at tollfree number 0800-456-
789 or trauma helpline 0800-205-026.
HAVE YOUR SAY Letters to PO Box 2871, Port Alfred — or e-mail to h o u ze t j @ ta l kof t h e tow n .co. za
PRO TOUCH:
Port Alfred
Butchery’s
Robbie
Alberts
cooked
giraffe tail
and kudu
steak in his
potjie, served
with rice.
Thanks Kenton SAPS, retailers, for helping destitute family
discriminate when it comes to
politics, race or gender.
Thank you for the ubuntu
of those who have helped so
far, especially the Kenton
Police Station.
Mike Konaha, manager: Siyakha
Victim Support Centre
TideGuide
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