prins albert middelpunt van splinternuwe fietsroeteoct 11, 2020 · prins albert middelpunt van...
TRANSCRIPT
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ie Wes-Kaapse premier, Alan Winde, en die
minister van finansies en ekonomiese geleenthede,
David Maynier, het die Karoo Crossing-fietsroete op
Woensdag 23 September in Prins Albert aangekondig. Dit is die vyfde roete binne die Cape Cycle Routes-netwerk
wat ’n inisiatief van die provinsiale regering is om die
Wes-Kaap as een van Afrika se top-fietsrybestemmings te
bemark.
Dit dek ’n afstand van 362 km tussen Calitzdorp en
Knysna – ’n roete wat op enige van dié twee plekke kan
begin of eindig. Die begin/eind-punt by Knysna bied ’n unieke ligging op die rand van ’n uitgestrekte monding van
’n rivier wat tussen twee reuse-sandsteenkoppe tot in die
Indiese Oseaan vloei. Dis ’n roete met ’n unieke bekoring, en elke padteken wat
’n fietsryer per teer- of grondpad deur ’n dorp lei, bied hulle die geleentheid om die Sentraal- en Klein-Karoo
volg op bl. 2/...
October/Oktober 2020 R15 Uitgawe/Issue 275
Prins Albert middelpunt van splinternuwe fietsroete Marlene Malan
Virtual Concert Livestreamed from The Showroom Theatre
Waldon Ewerts
ACT’s #us4us festival is the biggest series of
concerts Prince Albert, Klaarstroom and Leeu-Gamka has ever seen. The 2019 event was such a blast that
team PACT decided to grow it into a 4-day event for
September 2020. The plan was to kick-off with a braaidag
at the Family Park followed by a Battle of the DJs, then the ‘smallies’ entertaining the local crowd, performances by
guest artists and ending with the main concert. Suddenly, everything changed and the whole world went
into lockdown. So we had to be creative about how to
audition for the concerts. And we decided to do it online with artists sending in their performances via email,
WhatsApp, videos and selfie sticks. To motivate artists, co-ordinators Naaim Briesies and
Waldon Ewerts, livestreamed seven #us4us episodes every
Saturday. With different artists and over 30 videos from Prince Albert, Klaarstroom and Leeu Gamka, our cont on pg. 2/…
Elke man met ’n fiets was daar… Bokkie Botha op sy eBike,
gewone fietse en die beroemde Karoo Krawler. Foto: Linda Jaquet
The community that makes music together, stays
together… Slam Jam, Band of Brothers & Zig
Zag. Photo: FrameGrab
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Aanlyn Uitgawe Oktober 2020
..from pg. 1 #us4us Virtual Concert Facebook page registered 1,500 viewers. Then lockdown was extended and we had to rethink the entire plan. So
we came up with the idea of livestreaming the event from the Showroom
Theatre (with strict hygiene protocols) onto PACT’s Facebook page. And
also onto a TV screen at the POP Centre for a limited audience to watch. And it all happened just like that over the past Heritage long week-end.
The virtual concerts were put together by the local community with a focus on the youth of. And everyone came to the party. From
LAPKLANK, KNIPOOG Media, PACT, #us4us Art Facilitators and
PACT interns to the Showroom Theatre’s Marlize Vorster and Tobie Gous. The virtual concert showcased some great talent kicking off with very slick guest artists Congo Cowboys. Followed by bands, vocalists, dancers
and rappers including performances from local PA Vastrappers, She Earl,
Nadan Voetpad, SHHDC, Colin Bower and Marcque. The evening finished with a rousing combined performance from all three local bands
Slam Jam, Band of Brothers and Zig Zag. “The performing arts have the power to cut across differences and create
a community where people meet andshare”, said PACT’s Ingrid
Wolfaardt. “The livestreamed #us4us festival of 2020 connected the
communities of Prince Albert celebrating local talent with a global
audience. We believe this creates new platforms of opportunity for our
youth. We cannot wait for 2021!”
____________________ Our plan is now for a big concert from 6th – 9th May 2021 at the Family Park in
Rondomskrik, Prince Albert. So make a note of the dates and make sure you’re not
going anywhere!
.
...vanaf bl. 1 – fietsroete beter te leer ken. Die pad kronkel deur historiese dorpe met hul pragtige
Victoriaanse, Kaaps-Hollandse en Georgiaanse argitektuur, asook oor legendariese bergpasse. Fietsryers sal die Karoo-erfenis van rotskuns en
rotsgraverings, wat duisende jare oud is, kan beleef.
Wanneer die son oor die wye Karoo-landskap ondergaan, sal fietsryers
die naghemel met sy unieke sterreprag ervaar – en terselfdertyd ontdek
dat die Karoo snags ewe mooi is as bedags.
Só lyk die roete: Knysna – De Vlugt – Buffelsdriftweg – De Rust – Prins
Albert – Matjiesrivier – Calitzdorp (of omgekeerd). Karoo Crossing is deel van die Cape Cycle Routes-webblad, en fietsryers
sal die roete in verskillende formate kan aflaai. Op dié webblad word die vyf fietsroetes aangedui wat noukeurig beplan en ontwerp is en deur die
Wes-Kaap vertak om besoekers aan te moedig om sommige van die
kleiner dorpe en minder bekende toerismeaantreklikhede in die provinsie
te ontdek.
Vir meer inligting oor die Karoo Crossing en die vier ander fietsroetes
wat reeds ontwikkel is, besoek www.capecycleroutes.co.za.
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http://www.capecycleroutes.co.za/
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Update on Prince Albert’s CPF Gay van Hasselt – Chairperson CPF
t is the aim of the Community Police Forum (CPF)
to support the Prince Albert community in such a
way that we can understand exactly how the justice
system works. Starting from the time of reporting a
crime and laying a charge all the way through the
process to the case reaching its conclusion in court.
It has become evident that there are huge gaps in
communication between the relevant role-players
during this process. No matter whether the crime is one
of domestic violence, child abuse, drug peddling,
general violent crime, house breaking, etc.
We are currently focused on understanding how the
various cogs in the wheels of justice fit together. With
this knowledge the CPF (and the wider community)
will be better equipped to support the various official
police structures in order to be sure that justice is done.
We have invited SAPS, Dept of Justice, BADISA, PA
Hospital, Social Services and the public prosecutor to
a meeting on the 29 September. The purpose being to
get clarity on how cases need to be reported in order
for satisfactory outcomes to be reached. There are just
too many serious cases falling through the cracks.
Once we have the answers, we will inform the public,
via the Prince Albert Friend and various other means,
in a step by step manner of how to proceed, if one is
a victim of crime.
The elected members of the CPF in Prince Albert are
Gay van Hasselt, Sue-Anne Jansen, Henriette Koots,
Elise Senekal, Naaim Briesies, Elsabé Koen and Fadiel
Lodewyk. If you would like to share information or
concerns you are welcome to call me on 0825631465
or email me at [email protected].
mailto:[email protected]
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in the landscape. The big beefwood tree at Eerstewater also has (had) a few friends also occupying the riverbed, and they will also be taking their share of the water. In fact, if we
look at all the trees at Eerstewater, the patch of trees at the picnic place consists of three poplars, nine gum trees and one beefwood that is no longer with us. Further downstream there are 13 gum trees, six large pine trees and a large poplar. Of this group, nine gums, all the pines and the poplar are growing in the actual riverbed, and all will have tapped into the Dorps River, even if the roots had to stretch. Even further downstream there are two younger beefwood trees, probably offspring of the old tree, growing next to the river and also taking their share. A rough estimate of water consumption by all the trees in the Eerstewater area is about
30 kl/day. Again, this is minimal compared to what used to flow down the river, but would certainly contribute to increased flow in the Dorps River and ultimately to restoring the ecological reserve and the goods and services such as water purification, and fruits and seeds for birds that are supplied by the indigenous vegetation along the river. Prince Albert is a water-stressed town. The carrying capacity, in terms of water, was almost certainly reached some years ago. None-the-less, there seems to be no end to the line up of new houses being built (with swimming pools?) and any
improvement of the flow of the Dorps River means less of a probability that water restrictions will be imposed. There is only so much water available from the mountain – good rains up there and snow means more water, but it does not mean that water can be wasted on trees that are not part of the pre-settler tree community. ________________________________ PS. According to CapeNature, the scouring out of the river bed was
not part of the proposed and approved scope of work at
Eerstewater. The Environmental Control Officer reported in his
August report that 'Works within the watercourse done by the
Municipality was noted outside the footprint of the current remedial
works.’ The Municipality should be asked about this operation and
who recommended this to be done. Clearing of the boulders from
the river bed, and thereby increasing the speed of the flow, is totally
against any of the rules for controlling rivers, and the next big rain
on the mountain and severe runoff is likely to have devastating
effects downstream.
Casuarina equisitifolia felled at Eerstewater:
Photo Dr Sue Dean
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The Dorps River ‘canalised’ with large boulders shifted to one side. Photo: Dr Sue Dean
couple of local concerned citizens have contacted us to find out why the big old tree at Eerstewater has been cut down. Let us get the situation in perspective. First of all the big old tree is not a cypress, or an indigenous Clan William cedar, but a beefwood Casuarina equisitifolia, an alien species from Australia. It is unlikely that one of the
first European settlers in Prince Albert planted the tree as soon as they arrived, so the age of the tree is probably 200 years at most. Its most fortunate germination (or planted) site, next to the riverbed, meant that it had as much water as it needed to grow quickly into the giant that many of us have seen. We were informed by Colin Fordham of CapeNature (whom we thank for the information) that the tree was removed by the Department of Roads and Transport, who are in process of fixing the Swartberg Pass. They have obtained an emergency directive to do the work (which for the most part is reinstatement and return of the road to its pre-flood state).
Their approved scope of work at Eerstewater is the following proposed remedial work: 1. Reinstate access – reinstate embankment with rock fill from
Dorps River and layer works from approved sources. 2. Restore to original condition - reinstate embankment with rock fill from Dorps River and layer works from approved sources. Reconstruct gabion structure at Eerstewater. 3. Improvements – construction of permanent retaining structure to protect toe of road prism against erosion. Remove beefwood tree at Eerstewater to improve hydraulic flow. We should also get the situation with big old trees and their removal in context. Big old trees need a lot of moisture to keep going. That means that that tree was probably taking as much
as two or three kilolitres of water from the Dorps River every day. So we can assume that without the tree, the Dorps River would have flowed a little stronger every day. And bear in mind that the tree would need its daily 2 kl, rain or shine, in the midst of a drought or feeble river flow, and regardless of the needs of the human population downstream. Trees in riverbeds will use more water than those on riverbanks and
where they can reach ground water. In both situations, with available water, they use more than trees growing elsewhere
Death of a Big Old Tree Drs Sue and Richard Dean
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’n Keur uit Rose se versamelbrokkies ’n Privaat nuusbrief oor geskiedenis uit die Karoo
Met die goedgunstige toestemming van Rose Willis Vertaling Cobus Buys
Ligbaken van die teater
Sommige mense redekawel oor die begin van die Afrikaanse teater, maar die meeste is dit eens dat dit Karoo-wortels het. Daar word algemeen aanvaar dat Hendrik Andries ‘Tokkies’ Hanekom die stigter was. Hy is in 1893
in Beaufort-Wes gebore en het sy akteurs loopbaan van stapel gestuur deur op veilings en konserte by verafgeleë kerke op te tree. Teen 1925 het hy 'n toonaangewende ligbaken in die Afrikaanse teater geword. Daarna het hy een van die land se eerste en suksesvolste teatergroepe in 1927 geloods. Hulle het deur die binneland getoer en baie vermaak vir mense in klein dorpies gebring. Hendrik het
daarna 'n teaterskool in Bloemfontein gestig en het 'n toer deur Europa beplan toe die Tweede Wêreldoorlog in 1939 uitbreek. Dit het sy internasionale ambisies belemmer; nietemin het sy teatergroep plaaslik van krag tot krag gegaan. Hendrik was die eerste persoon wat 'n medalje vir dramatiese kuns van die S A Akademie ontvang het. Die liefde in Hendrik se lewe was Mathilde, 'n Prins Albert-
meisie, maar dit is 'n ander verhaal. Dinge wat doef-doef in die nag
Vanmelewe se Suid-Afrikaanse hotelle was vol verrassings. ’n Kaap Berede skerpskutter, T J Lucas, wat voet aan wal in Port Elizabeth gesit het, beskryf dit as “ ’n dorre, verlate
plek aan ’n onherbergsame kus”. Nietemin, dit was 1850 en hy die ene entoesiasme. Hy het na hierdie “barbaarse Kolonie gekom om orde op die grens te help handhaaf”. ’n Paar ongewone ervarings het op arme TJ tydens sy eerste nag op Suid-Afrikaanse bodem gewag. Sy skip, “die Indië, ’n pragtige vaartuig van die “Steam Navigation Company”, kon nie vasmeer nie en dit was “’n saak van groot gevaar
om aan land te gaan”. Hy skryf in Kamplewe en Sport in Suid-Afrika dat “almal dit bedees aanvaar het”. Hy kon nie juis veel in die dorp aanbeveel nie maar het gou “ ’n baie gerieflike hotel met ’n rojale tafel” ontdek. Alles het goed verloop tot hy die nag tot ruste moes kom. “Die oomblik toe ek die lig uitdoof, het die rotte hul verskyning gemaak. Hulle het oral oor my bene geskarrel, dit was nogal ongemaklik. Dit was so ʼn kapperjol en lawaai, ek het
verskeie kere wakker geskrik onder die indruk dat iemand die meubels skuif.. Dit het my egter nie uit die slaap gehou nie want ek is ʼn ervare reisiger. Ek kan my net indink hoe onguur sulke slaapstoornisse vir ’n meer sensitiewe toeris moet wees. Toe ek die middel van die volgende dag in my
kamer kom, sit die rotte ewe gemaklik en nuuskierig op die vensterbank my persoonlike besittings sit en betrag. Hulle het toegang tot my kamer deur ʼn oop venster bo die stalle
gehad. Dit bevestig net die noodsaaklikheid daarvan om jou van die omgewing te vergewis alvorens jy jou in ’n vreemde
land tuismaak.” Beskermde nooi betree die verhoog… Op skool het hulle haar Mathilda genoem maar vir vriende en familie was sy Tilla. Die 'laatlammetjie' in die De Beer-familie, gebore op 29 Desember 1899 in Prins Albert, word 'n geliefde ster van die Afrikaanse teater. Saam met haar
man, die voormalige stadsklerk van Beaufort-Wes, 'Tokkies' Hanekom en sy teatergroep, het sy topklas vermaak na geïsoleerde gebiede van die platteland gebring. Tilla, wat gesterf het 'n dag nadat sy 80 geword het, het meer pret, avontuur en opwinding in haar lewe ingepak as die
meeste. Sy het altyd gesê sy kan haar eerste kennismaking met die teater nie onthou nie omdat sy te jonk was. Haar vader, 'n bekende sakeman van Prince Albert, Karel de Beer, was lief vir musiek en was 'n bekwame musikant. Op ʼn dag lees hy van die Christie Minstrels in Amerika. Hy besluit Prins Albert moet ’n soortgelyke verskeidenheidskonsert van banjo-spelers en jolige
musikante hê. Daar en dan begin hy organiseer. Hanekom se biograaf, Anna Minnaar-Vos, noem nie of Karel en sy drie seuns so ver gegaan het om hul gesigte swart te smeer nie, maar meld wel dat hulle soos swart Amerikaanse sangers aangetrek het en uitstekende vertonings op die dorp en sommige plase gelewer het. Sy dogters, Kitty en Miemie, het hulle op die klavier begelei. Mathilda is Kaapstad toe om winkelvensteruitstalling en uitrustingversiering te studeer. Sy het baie beskermd grootgeword. Aangesien geen verfynde jong dame van daardie tyd toegelaat is om alleen in ’n groot stad te bly nie, het haar ouers haar vergesel. Toe sy kwalifiseer en ’n werk
teen £1 per maand in Beaufort-Wes kry, het hulle haar weer vergesel en in die sorg van haar susters gelaat. Beide susters was toe reeds getroud en op die dorp woonagtig. Die Hanekomsusters het beurte met die klavierbegeleiding vir die stil rolprente gemaak. Dit was tydens een van hierdie vertonings dat Tilla vir Tokkies, die liefde van haar lewe,
ontmoet het.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________ Subscribe to the full Rose's Round-up in English (12 copies for just R120) by sending proof of payment together with your email address to [email protected] Bank Account: Rose Willis, Standard Bank Savings Acct No 041245075, Code 055534
mailto:[email protected]
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ctober has 31 days and the interval from full Moon to full Moon is about 29.5 days, so we will
have second full Moon on the 31st and this is
commonly referred to as a “Blue Moon” – not because it
turns blue, but because it doesn’t happen very often. These “Blue Moons” occur about seven times every 19 years,
which means that on average we can expect one every 2.7
years or so. The last one was on 31 March 2018.
At this time of year there are no major constellations
visible, other than Scorpius, setting in the west with
Antares shining brightly at its heart. To the north the Great Square of Pegasus stands out clearly with the Northern
Cross, Cygnus the Swan, visible to the left, west. Below
the Great Square and low above the horizon, Andromeda
can still be seen as a fuzzy blob; it is our Milky Way’s twin about 2.3 million light years away. Further left, west,
the bright star Vega can be seen low above the north-
western horizon. Fomalhaut shines brightly overhead;
locally known as Ntshune, the ‘kiss me’ star, its rising in midwinter indicated it was time for lovers to part before
parents found them! By midmonth, isiLimela (Pleiades)
can be seen rising in the east, and by 22h00 the mighty Orion makes a welcome return to our evening skies.
Between these two is the small open cluster of the Hyades,
the bright reddish star Aldebaran, the Eye of the Bull at
the lower right.
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To the south the Southern Cross and the Pointers are now getting low above the horizon. The group of stars is of
course generally not visible in Europe and to those living
in the southern hemisphere it is looked upon as ‘our’
special constellation: it features prominently on the flags of Australia and New Zealand. The Zulu sangoma,
Credo Mutwa, called it “our holiest” constellation. Low
in the southeast is the second brightest star in the sky, Canopus, also known as Naka, the Horn Star. For those
away from city lights, the two nearest galaxies to us, the
Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are visible high up
above the Southern Cross, looking like two fuzzy patches in the sky.
For early risers the unmistakable constellation of Orion
now dominates the morning sky, with Sirius, the Dog Star, to the upper right and Procyon, the little Dog to the
lower left, which together with the red supergiant star
Betelgeuse in Orion, form The Great Southern triangle
As seen by us in the southern hemisphere the name ‘Orion the Hunter’ is strange since he is standing on his
head and his ‘sword’ hangs upwards!
_________________________
Case Rijsdijk is a former president of the Astronomical
Society of Southern Africa (ASSA) and current editor of
the society’s Journal Monthly Notes of the ASSA
MNASSA.
Karoo Night Sky October Case Rijsdijk
This well-known cluster - also called the “Seven Sisters” or the “Pleiades” – is known in Tswana as “isiLimela” or the digging stars. Their first sighting before sunrise meant it was time to start preparing the ground for planting.
Although called the Seven Sisters, only six stars are actually visible to the naked eye; it requires a very clear and dark sky to see the seventh! The image covers the size of the full Moon and it shows the stars embedded in clouds of gas and
dust. Photo: Raul Villaverde Fraile
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afgee. Moenie een probeer om ’n deel
daarvan vir jouself te hou nie. Dan sal
jy baie gou hoor, “eet maar klippe die
week of maand.”
As die bittereinde van die maand sy
kop uitsteek, dan weet ’n vrou
nogsteeds hoe om daai rand of sent om te draai. En hoe om met die
spreekwoordelike Bybelse vyf vissies
en broodjies die menigtes te voed. Dan
moet daai Weskus bokkom en brood met korrelkonfyt daarop sy ding doen.
Die pap en wors met ’n laaaang sous of
nog ’n keer die lewertjie smoor, gaan jy eet asof dit koningskos is.
Die ander dag hoor ek juis een van die
jongmense by ’n kursus kla-sê dat sy kwansuis allergies is van smoortjiekos
omdat hulle dit te veel op kosskool
gevoer was. Op die een sal ons
mammas jou gou vermaan en herinner dat die nie ’n hotel of gastehuis is nie.
Dat dit van smoortjiekos is dat jy so
lekker blink-uit vet en gesond is. So,
eet maar kinta of gaan kou klippe.
Nee wat, ek is vol vertroue dat ons die
harde tye wat voorlê met groot gemak sal oorkom met ons dapper mammas
aan die stuur van sake. Hulle ken van
plan, rande rek, die buurvrou vra vir
daai bietjie masala, rissie, ui of knoffelhuisie wat kortkom om daai
kerrie bredie sy perfekte smaak te gee.
En daai guns word terug bewys deur ’n
paar pasella vetkoeke of roosterbrood met ietsie lekker daarby wat sommer
aan die buurvrou te gee wat haar ’n hele
aandete se voorbereiding sal spaar.
Vroue mammas van Afrika ons voel veilig met julle aan die stuur van sake op
soveel fronte in hierdie bitter moeilike tye waarin ons leef. Dankie dat julle nooi. ___________________________________Andre Smith se lewensdoel is om ’n
brugbouer te wees tussen mense van
verskillende rasse, klasse,
geloofsoortuigings, oriëntasies en kulture.
esperate tye vra vir kreatiewe vindingryke planne.” So lui
die gesegde. Veral in die druk ekonomiese tye waarin ons tans
leef. Werk is maar skaars, geld maar min en party van ons wonder
waar die volgende maaltyd vandaan sal kom.
Maar as daar nou een persoon is wat ken van swaarkry-tye oorleef, dan is
dit ’n vrou of ma (ongeag kleur of stand) uit Afrika. Ek wil amper waag om
te sê – “moenie stres nie, ons mammas het dié een!” Het dit nog altyd gehad, maar die keer met ekstra wysheid van Bo, want dis wat hierdie uiters
uitdagende tye van hulle vereis. Die gedagte hieraan neem my sommer
terug na my kinderjare toe my ma ’n gesin van agt se monde gevoed moes
hou. Breed het ons dit beslis nie gehad nie, maar kan ek nou terugkyk en met trots ’n pluimpie na my ma swaai. Nooit was daar een dag of aand dat
ons sonder iets om te eet gaan slaap het nie.
Ek wonder nogsteeds hoe ons vroue (mammas) dit regkry. Hoe hulle met
die min tot hulle beskikking, klokslag ’n dis kan optower wat jou laat vra vir nog. Daai blikkies vis met iets daarby. Die kluitjies sop met
soetsuurdeeg brood en lekker uitgebraaide vark vet of kaaings daarop.
As jy ken van swaar grootword, dan sal jy saamstem dat daai hoender nekkies in ’n bredie sommer vorentoe gesmaak het. Vir die eenvoudige rede
– ’n moederhand het dit met liefde voorberei.
My absolute gunsteling van kindsbeen af en nogsteeds, sal maar altyd wees
- my ma se vaalkossie met witrys en soet pampoen daarby. En ’n meester sjef se dinges as sy die keer haar wildsvleis met kapokaartappels opdis.
Smaak huis-toe se ek jou! En of jy dit nou wil glo of nie, op ’n Sondag kon
ons selfs uitsien na gestoofde vrugte met warm vla daarby. Almal kon saam
geniet, want agter die ysterma staan ’n pa, ’n broer of suster wat godsdienstig elke einde van die week of maand daai pay pakkie moes kom
Hartsgoed wat saak maak Afrika mammas maak ’n plan
Andre Smith
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Swallow are all back from yonder, and the Little Swifts who occupy the church tower during summer chatter above us around sunrise and sunset. After previous years of practically dead stretches of veld and not a lark or pipit in sight, it was reassuring to see the return of the plains birds. A lovely surprise to see many Karoo Larks in the soft sandy areas around drainage lines on the plains, along with the adorable Scaly-feathered Finch who’ve moved back in. There is even an apparent abundance of Double-banded Courser and Kori Bustard, with plenty of sightings lately. Victorin’s Warbler, Cape Rock Jumper, Ground Woodpecker, Protea Canary (Seed-eater) and Cape Siskin occupy the recovering fynbos on the mountain once more. It’s nothing like I remember it from before the fires,
but wonderful nonetheless to know that there is hope in the recovery. Of all ten birding routes around town, the plains are currently most prolific. Set out at sunrise to make the most
of the morning jubilance as, especially on warm to hot days, the feathered ones settle down for a little siesta from
around 9am already. _________________________
Ed note: Contact Gita via email at [email protected]
or mobile 0810778694
he explosion of activity in town, not only in the streets, but around ponds, in the reeds and in trees, is invigorating. This is undoubtedly my favourite time of year, because our summer visitors are back for their South African holiday, and the skies are full of activity again.
Thankfully, borders were open for birds! Every year, around the first day of spring, a virtual army of African Reed Warbler descends on town gardens, and fill the
air with their scratchy jazz tunes. They’re here to breed, and in a few weeks, we’ll have youngsters hopping around in the branches after their flustered parents. Similarly, the swallows and swifts grace our cobalt skies again. Look out for the larger-than-life Alpine Swifts with their white bellies, swooping like toy planes through the air. If you can get close enough you can actually hear their feathers cutting through the wind Greater Striped Swallow, Barn Swallow, and White-throated Swallow are all back from yonder, and the Little Swifts who occupy the church tower during summer chatter above us around sunrise and sunset. After previous years of practically dead stretches of veld and not a lark or pipit in sight, it was reassuring to see the return of the plains birds. Greater Striped Swallow, Barn Swallow, and White-throated
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Spring-time Birding around Prince Albert Gita Claassen | Karoo Birding Safaris Nature Guide
Karoo Long-billed Lark
Scaly-
feathered Finch
Southern Masked
Weaver
Kori
Bustard
mailto:[email protected]
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Aanlyn Uitgawe Oktober 2020
illem (nie sy regte naam
nie) skryf dat Pieter ( ook nie sy regte naam nie)
volgens hom kontrakbreuk gepleeg
het.
Volgens Willem se brief het hy en
Pieter maande gelede ooreengekom
dat wanneer Pieter se huurders
laasgenoemde se huis ontruim, hy wat Willem is die huis kan huur. Tot sy verbasing sien Willem toe
onlangs dat die vorige huurders nie
meer daar woon nie en nou bewoon
’n ander gesin die huis . Willem het vir Pieter gaan konfronteer en volgens Willem het
Pieter die vorige gesprek nie ontken
nie, maar aangedui, “die ooreenkoms
was nie op skrif nie, so dit beteken niks”.
Nou wil Willem weet of Pieter se
stelling korrek is.
Vir partye om ’n geldige kontrak aan
te gaan moet daar
wilsooreenstemming wees. Met ander woorde, die partye moet
ooreenkom op die basiese bepalings
van die kontrak, dit wil sê: die aard van die kontrak, wie is die partye,
wat word verkoop/verhuur en wat is
die prys/huur, en as dit ’n huurooreenkoms is, die termyn of
die manier om die einde daarvan te
bepaal.
Indien julle op al hierdie bepalings
ooreengekom het, het daar ‘n
geldige ooreenkoms tussen julle
ontstaan, en nee, ’n huurkontrak hoef nie op skrif te wees nie,
behalwe wanneer die termyn
daarvan langer as 10 jaar is. Die mondelingse huurooreenkoms is net so geldig soos ’n skriftelike
huurooreenkoms.
Dit verg nie veel verbeelding om
jou in te dink hoe die partye se
vertolking van die bepalings van die
mondelingse ooreenkoms gaan verskil nie, en al die argumente wat
daaruit gaan volg. Let egter daarop dat in terme van ’n
wysiging van die Wet op
Huurbeheer (wat nog nie in werking getree het nie) gaan dit in die
toekoms nodig word om alle
huurkontrakte op skrif te plaas om
geldig te wees. Die Wysigingswet is baie swak
geskryf en mag dalk nie gou in
werking tree nie. Maar of dit nou
gou of glad nie in werking tree nie, wonder mens om watter rede
mense so traag is om ’n skriftelike
huurkontrak aan te gaan.
Die paar rand wat ’n mens moet
spandeer om ’n geldige kontrak te
laat opstel is ’n druppel in die emmer in vergelyking met
wanneer daar later litigeer word
oor onduidelikhede.
Om nie te praat van die
emosionele eise wat hand aan
hand gaan met litigasie nie.
So Willem, op die feite voorsien
het jy ’n geldige huurooreenkoms,
maar om dit af te dwing gaan
maande se litigasie en kostes meebring.
Leer liewer hieruit en doen dit ’n volgende keer reg vanuit die
staanspoor. ________________________
Arno Botha is ’n afgetrede Prokureur en gekwalifiseerde
mediator wat in Prince Albert
woon. Hy skryf vir die Vriend oor
regsake, regte en verpligtinge.
10
Pieter het kontrakbreuk gepleeg Arno Botha
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FEATURES/ RUBRIEKE
11
The Road to the 2021 Local Government Elections The Difference between National Government & Local Government Elections
Melvin Dirkse
lections are the key building blocks of a democracy. The right and responsibility to vote in the upcoming local government elections is a vital obligation required of citizens in all communities. When you vote in the National
elections you are voting for a political party to represent you in the National Assembly in Parliament. When you
vote in the local government elections you are voting for a political party or ward councillor to represent your interest
at local level.
Local Government Elections
There are three different types of municipalities in South Africa (SA), each with somewhat different electoral systems.
1. Metropolitan Municipalities
These municipalities exist in the six biggest cities in SA. They are broken into wards. Half the councillors are
elected through a proportional representation ballot, where voters vote for a party. The other half are elected as ward councillors.
2. Local Municipalities
Areas that fall outside of the six metropolitan municipal areas are divided into local municipalities. The residents
in each ward are represented by a ward councillor. Voters in these municipalities also vote for district municipal
councils. Half the local councillors are elected through a proportional representation (PR) ballot, where voters vote for a party. The other half are elected as ward councillors. Prince Albert is a local municipality comprising the towns of Klaarstroom, Leeu-Gamka, Prince Albert Road, as
well as Prince Albert and a large swathe of agricultural and unused land. Four ward councillors and three PR
councillors serve on the Municipal Council. 3. District Municipalities
District municipalities are made up of a number of local municipalities that fall in one district. The district
municipality has to co-ordinate development and delivery in the whole district.
Know your Candidates
Before you cast your vote it is important to do some background research on the candidates standing for election. Their
work ethic and a track record of providing consistent, responsible and accountable service to their constituents should
be your guide as to whether they will be effective in serving the future needs of you and your community.
The Constitution states that candidates:
must live in the municipal area and must be a citizen who is entitled to vote in the area
may not have been declared bankrupt or of unsound mind by a court
may not stand if sentenced to more than 12 months in prison after the end of 1996 Contact details for ward councillors in the Prince Albert Municipality
Ward 1 Cllr Elsabé Maans cell: 060-847-2068 e: [email protected]
Ward 2 Cllr Linda Jaquet cell: 073- 213-3797 e: [email protected] / [email protected]
Ward 3 Cllr Goliat Lottering cell: 079- 444-7794 e: [email protected]
Ward 4 Cllr Margrieta Jaftha cell: 072-909-9183 / 072-548-5358 e: [email protected]
___________________________________________________
Melvin Dirkse is a Development Coach with a private practice in Psychology & Education and also an Advisory Board Member of
Department of Applied Legal Studies, Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Email: [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
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Aanlyn Uitgawe Oktober 2020
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FEATURES/ RUBRIEKE
A Voice from the past Dick Metcalf
13
n 1968 Murray and Stewart of Port
E lizabeth sent me to Swakop- mund, in the then South West
Africa. I was to begin by pre-casting
and pre-stressing the 154ft (46.9m) long beams for the bridge over the
Swakop River, designed by Chris
Thompson of Ninham Shand.
Sadly my understudy and foreman, Mr
‘Blackie’ Swart from Windhoek, had
died in his sleep one night. So, for me,
what was to be a 21-day stint became a 21-month tour of duty. This turned out
to be a most interesting and satisfying
experience.
The approximately 140 ton concrete
beams were cast in a purpose built
shed, away from the sea air and desert dust. They were trundled out on rails to
a stacking yard for storage, to await
completion of the piers. Pier No. 6 took
a long time as the footings were being blasted under diving conditions 75feet
(22.8m) below sea level, into rock
sloping at about 45º. The men only
worked one hour per day under compression.
Because of the depth of rock, the
centre span was longer than the module, with “drop-in” beams
supported at both ends by the
cantilevers of the “cast-in-situ” spans. A flood in the upper reaches of the
Kahn River cast doubts upon the
wisdom of supporting these spans on
river sand. The decision was made to precast the two spans in short sections,
manageable by our mobile crane.
This meant building some 276 pieces in all, with the ducting cast in to take
the prestress cables. These would be
threaded through when the units were in position on the support work.
Accuracy in positioning the ducting
was vital. To stop any “passing of the
buck”, one tradesman was assigned to each unit. Workmen on site were a
whole League of Nations, a common
feature of “country jobs”.
On inspection of unit No. 6, my man,
a carpenter from Upington, brought out his brand-new folding rule to
check his work. All figures tallied,
but on looking back from a short
distance, the proportions did not look right to me. Checking my notebook
with the Master Section, all was
correct.
On site again, all figures tallied but
the feeling persisted that all was not
kosher. My man not being present, I
enlisted the help of Sammy the Greek, carpenter from Unit No.7. He
brought along his tape and bingo! I
found a shrinkage of 2 inches (0.05m) over 6 feet (1.83m).
Inspection of the rule used by Mr.
No.6 revealed the name
VERKTUM—HULTAFORS. One side was in metres the other in
Verktum, which looked much like an
inch but the 2.54 bit did not tally with
the centimetres part.
Now where did he get this rule, still shiny new and with greased joints? “Daar bo in die dorp,” took me to the local hardware store where it was vehemently denied that any rules had been imported since before World
War One. A local ancient, who had come out to
South West as a carpenter in 1902 with the German Railway Battalion, was consulted and told me they used the German Foot. Still no answer to the puzzle, except that verk in Swedish was work, and tum was thumb. Time passed and in 2008, on a trip to
Sweden, I got in touch with Tomas Pohl, a Swedish colleague who had
worked with me in Swakopmund.
During the inevitable bragging about engineering feats, up came the subject
of verktum. Yes he knew it was an old
measure used by the foresters and in
fact when he was working in South West, pappa back in Sweden had sent
him a brand new rule like that but,
recognizing it for what it was, he threw
it away!
Swedish Foot = 29.69 cm.
English Foot =30.48 cm.
Danish =31.37 cm.
Norwegian =31.37 cm. German =31.39 cm.
Greek =30.8 cm.
Roman =29.5 cm.
Articulated span.
Photos: Dick Metcalf
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KAROO TOWNS/KAROO DORPE
14
aingsburg is situated on the N1 between Worcester and Beaufort West. It is more than just a small country town to hurry through. Stop and stay a while in this charming Karoo town and experience the extraordinary people whose
faith, perseverance and humour have carried them through drought and flood. Laingsburg was founded in 1880. 101 years later, on the 25
January 1981, it was devastated by a flood caused by abnormal rainfall in the catchment areas of the two rivers that come together in the town. A total of 184 homes were destroyed, only 21 homes were untouched, and 104 Laingsburg residents lost their lives. The flood is well documented and the information is available at the Flood Museum. The semi-desert environment of Laingsburg, with an annual rainfall of 175mm, poses a challenge to farmers who nonetheless produce top-quality Karoo lamb, fruit, olives, onion seed and lucerne. There are many hidden gems to be found in the surrounding areas, with places such as Anysberg
Nature Reserve and the Seweweekspoort - a short drive to the south and the world-renowned historic hamlet of Matjiesfontein, a mere 30km to the west. This leaves visitors with a multitude of things to see and reasons to explore in and around Laingsburg! Laingsburg is 676m above sea level, with an average temperature between 5ºC and 40ºC. The unpolluted air and
large areas of unspoilt nature make this an ideal place for stargazing and perfect to braai some succulent Karoo Lamb. The local cuisine is outstanding especially Tannie Poppie se
Roosterbrood and few drive through Laingsburg without stopping at Karoo Biltong for local delicacies. For those interested in history, architecture, geology or archaeology, Laingsburg also has a lot in store for you! If this isn’t enough, explore some of the many roads less travelled and get a taste of the true Karoo. These back-roads might lead
you to places with interesting names, such as the Floriskraal Dam, Hassiesvlei and Boschluiskloof. Bring your bike, explore by car, or if you prefer a slower pace, come hike some of the many wonderful trails in the area, but whatever you do don’t forget to eat the lamb!
_____________________________________ The Central Karoo District, also known as the Cape Karoo, is not only a
wonderful tourism destination but also an area with untapped economic
potential. The three main towns of Beaufort West, Laingsburg and Prince
Albert each have their own unique character and attractions. To help compile your wish list of places to visit when it’s safe to travel again, we’re
doing a feature on these and some of the lesser known surrounding
hamlets, such as Klaarstroom, Murraysburg and Merweville.
Getting to Know Your Neighbours
Never underestimate Laingsburg! Madré Walters & Sascha Klemm
Tannie Poppie with her famous roosterbrood.
Photo: Madré Walters
One of the many roads less travelled. Photo: Madré Walters
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KAROO TOWNS/KAROO DORPE
Spectacular Cycle Trails in the Klein Karoo Alan Tonkin
he Klein Karoo is an ideal region for cycling and in recent times this has become a major recreational
activity for many – both young and older. Due to their benefits, this and other healthy outdoor sports
activities is rapidly on the rise globally. The Cape Cycle Routes initiative by the Western Cape
Government and Wesgro recently added the Karoo
Crossing to its series. Launched in Prince Albert on 23rd September by Alan Winde, Western Cape Premier and
David Maynier, Finance and Economic Opportunities’
Minister, the route covers 358km from Prince Albert to
Knysna and can be tackled in a series of stages. For cyclists looking for a shorter but still challenging route the Klein Karoo Heritage Eco-trail (75km in total)
is the perfect option. Day 1 begins from De Rust with a
ride through the awesome Meiringspoort Gorge to
Klaarstroom at the other end of the poort and on to Prince Albert for a convenient overnight stop. Day 2 takes riders off tar onto gravel and over the
challenging Swartberg Pass. Descending on the southern
side, the day finishes at the world famous Cango Caves
(approx. 30km) where accommodation is available. From there, cyclists have a number of routes to choose
from for their return to De Rust, such as via the
Oudemuragie Valley gravel road (30 km) or via
Oudtshoorn all tar (approx. 70 km) or bypass Oudtshoorn by taking the Vergelegen gravel road off
the R328 from the Cango Caves to join the N12 at
Dysselsdorp – a reduction of 25 km.
Cango Caves to Calitzdorp gravel road for an
overnight stop (55 km)
The route to Calitzdorp (the Sweet Wine Capital of South Africa) is along a good gravel road with the Swartberg
Range on the right. There are a number of art studios and
settlements along the way with largely flat terrain. One
can then return to De Rust on the all tar R62, 84km.
Other than the Swartberg Pass section, which is relatively
challenging, the majority of the routes are level to
undulating and can be managed by even relative novices to mountain biking.
Accommodation Stays
A wide variety of accommodation is available in the area ranging from farm stays, bed and breakfasts to upmarket
lodges. Further information on De Rust and District is
available online on www.derustheritage.org.za as well as from the Oudtshoorn & De Rust Tourism Offices on
www.oudtshoorn.com.
Map of the Klein Karoo Heritage Eco-Trail
15
http://derustheritage.org.za/klein-karoo-heritage-eco-trail/http://www.derustheritage.org.za/http://www.oudtshoorn.com/
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GOOD READING/GOEIE LEESSTOF
Brand-new reads: forensics, feminism, politics, personal sacrifice
and the power of journalism Marlene Malan
16
espite lockdown, resulting in a dip in economies worldwide, 2020 has been a great year for authors with the publication of many excellent and topical books. Here are a few popular reads: Autopsy, Ryan Blumenthal. As a medical detective of the modern world, forensic pathologist Ryan Blumenthal’s chief goal is to bring perpetrators to justice. He has performed thousands of autopsies, which have helped bring numerous criminals to book. In Autopsy he covers the hard lessons learnt as a rookie pathologist, as well as some of the most unusual cases he’s encountered. Even though they cannot speak, the dead have a lot to say – and Blumenthal is there to listen. Jonathan Ball (R260). Seven Votes, Richard Steyn. If a mere seven more MPs had voted with Prime Minister JBM Hertzog in favour of neutrality, South Africa’s history would have been quite different. World War Two upended South Africa’s
politics, ruining attempts to forge white unity and galvanising opposition to segregation among African, Indian and coloured communities. It also sparked debates among nationalists, socialists, liberals and communists such as the country had never experienced. The book brings to life an extraordinary cast of characters, including wartime leader Jan Smuts, DF Malan, African nationalists from Anton Lembede and AB Xuma to Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela and the influential Indian activists Yusuf Dadoo and Monty Naicker. Jonathan Ball (R280).
Women don’t owe you pretty, Florence Given. This book tells you to: love sex, hate sexism, protect your energy, life is short and that you owe others nothing, least of all pretty. Florence Given's debut book explores all progressive corners of the feminist conversation; from insecurity projection and refusing to find comfort in other women’s flaws, whether to date or dump partners, all the way to unpacking the male gaze and how it shapes
our identity. Cassell (R310). Power and loss in South African Journalism, Glenda Daniels. This timely
collection of essays analyses the crisis of journalism in contemporary South Africa at a period when the media and their role are frequently at the centre
of public debate. The transition to digital news has been messy, random and unpredictable. The spread of news via
social media platforms has given rise to political propaganda and fake news.
Daniels points out the contribution of
investigative journalists to exposing
corruption and sees new opportunities to forge a model for the future of non-profit,
public-funded journalism. She argues for
the power of public interest journalism and the reflection of a diversity of voices in the
news. Wits University Press (R350).
My Mother, My Madness, Colleen Higgs.
A woman reluctantly takes on the
responsibility of putting her eccentric rebellious mother into a retirement home,
and managing her care. She has her own
daughter to raise and nurture, a marriage and a business to hold together, and her
own psychological troubles due in good
part to how she was mothered. My Mother,
My Madness is Colleen Higgs’s diary of her mother’s last ten years. It is a rich and
moving story which unfolds through its
characters like a novel. University of
KwaZulu-Natal Press (R180).
All these books and many others (new and
second-hand) are available at Boekhuis, 21 Meiring Street, Prince Albert. WhatsApp Marlene, 083 308 6305.
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Online Edition October 2020
GOOD READING/GOEIE LEESSTOF
parrow Beddoes, thin musician, inveterately happy and Marina, hippie, in spite of her years, are in an ancient VW Kombi,
Peregrinator, on a journey back from Cape Town just crossing the
railway line at Prince Albert Road and look into the whites of the eyes of
three hitchhikers. Sparrow is incapable of driving past any hitchhiker, especially when – as it is in this case – the hitchhikers bear evidence of
being musicians. (“We have to stop for them, Marina, it’s our way of
saying thank you to all those people who stopped for us all those years ago.”) Peregrinator wheezes to a halt and trembles on her suspension.
“Hey, howzit bru,” says Bongani (with saxophone case), “this is darem a
lekker old kumbi.” “Kombi,” says Ishmael (with bongo drums), “its
pronounced kombi.” “We’re heading for Middletown,” says Duke (with saxophone case). “He knows that Duke,” says Ishmael, “the road doesn’t
go anywhere else.” Sparrow has completely forgotten that Peregrinator is packed to the
gunwales with the building equipment he has bought to build his new
home. The three musicians scan the packed interior of the Kombi, and Ishmael says, “I see a problem, man.” “No problem,” says Sparrow and in
the 40-degree heat of early afternoon begins to re-arrange things. In the
interests of lubrication, Bongani takes a swig from a small hip flask. In the
interests of serenity, Ishmael pulls at a small zol. The three musicians manage to shoehorn themselves into Peregrinator, but only by the
stratagem of Ishmael holding his drums outside of one side window and
Bongani his sax case outside of the other. “What’s all this stuff for?” asks Bongani. “I’m going to build a house,”
says Sparrow. “No shit!” says Duke, “Just like that, you’re gonna build a house?” “Ja” says Sparrow. Silence. “I thought other people built houses,”
says Duke, illogically, and tries to repair the damage by adding, “I mean,
not the people who lived in them.” Longer silence. “Out of what you gonna
build it?” asks Ismael. “Wood,” says Sparrow. “No shit,” says Duke.
Still longer silence. “You ever done that before?” asks Ishmael. “No,” says
Sparrow. “Say, whaddya do for a
living?” asks Bongani. “I’m a muso,” says Sparrow. “No shit!” say Bongani,
Duke and Ishmael, “So are we.” “I
guessed so,” says Sparrow.
“Now, I’ve got a plan,” says Ishmael.
“My dad was a carpenter. He taught me
all about working with wood. Bongani
knows about electricity. Duke, well, he knows nothing except pentatonic
scales. We got no itinerary. Just
following the road. How about … now
listen to this for a cool idea … how about we help you build your house?
Then we can play our music together
every night after work.”
An hour later Peregrinator groans into
Middletown. Because it’s Peregrinator
no-one notices the musical instruments dangling out of the side windows. It
pulls up at the Sleepy Salamander.
“Double thicks,” said Marina. “Sounds
good,” said Duke. And so, as usual, the universe conspired to work in
Sparrow’s favour, and just because he
stopped to pick up three endlessly
argumentative hitch hikers, and even though he overlooked the fact that there
wasn’t space for them, he gained three
willing helpers and fellow musicians to help him build the wooden house he
and Marina dreamed of. Bongani
fortified his strawberry double thick
from his hip flask, Ishmael stepped outside to finish his zol, Duke paid the
bill, and so was born as unlikely a team
of house-builders as one might find,
and when they walked out of the Salamander just 90 minutes after they
had met, they were treating each other
as lifelong friends.
To be continued….
________________________ To catchup on earlier episodes drop an email to [email protected] with SONG in the subject line.
SONG OF THE LEIWATER A chronicle of life in the Karoo village of Middletown
Series 1: Episode 7 – Sparrow Makes New Friends Colin Bower
17
mailto:[email protected]
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GOOD READING/GOEIE LEESSTOF
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Property Section/Eiendomsblad
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Property Section/Eiendomsblad
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ARTS / KUNS
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Old Karoo Horror Story Revisited Dr J M Maguire - Palaeontologist
ou can still see the crumbling memorial marking
the spot if you take the gravel road from Prince
Albert to Leeu Gamka past Abrahamskraal. It’s on the third vlakte after Sandra se Draai, on the north side
of the Rietfontein hoogte. On the old maps of the district,
the empty flats are called Grafsteenvlakte – the plains of
the gravestone. A headstone stands erect and alone in a landscape so vast and empty that it commands full
attention. Only, this headstone does not mark a gravesite.
What event then, does this lonely structure record, here,
in this timeless place? The monument is made of cracking cement, its crumbling face carefully embellished with volkskuns of
moulded leafy vines and an angel in a circle. The text
reads:
“Een Gedenkteeken van M. A. De Beer vermoor op den 11 Januarie 1889.
God bewaar deze steen ten aan zien van allen”
A murder, then. Macabre in a way that not even an
Ambrose Bierce or a Roald Dahl could surpass - Karoo
macabre on a Karoo scale. Imagine this: a weary traveller, a road mender, and his two assistants returning
home across the sun-scorched wastes of the Koup* in a
creaking mule cart. Mathys ‘Thys’ de Beer, great-
grandson of Zacharias de Beer, the founder of Queeckvallei, later Prince Albert, was employed by the
District Council to undertake road maintenance. He had
been busy that hot January day shortly after New Year
digging open the mitre drains on what was then the main road between Prince Albert and Beaufort West. With him
were two young handlangers, Opraap and Piejan. With
only a few heavy-going steep pulls up the rutted track over the koppies between him and his first view of Prince
Albert, an altercation broke out between de Beer and a
Khoekhoen man called Willem Huisies. Willem Huisies enters this story without introduction,
rhyme or reason. As with so many old Karoo stories, details are often left unclear, and one is left with a few
bold strokes, but little detail. With a bold stroke, Thys
was attacked with an axe and gruesomely murdered. In
fact, his head was entirely severed from his body. Piejan and Opraap ran away. The perpetrator calmly
threw the mutilated body and gory head into the back of the cart amongst the picks and shovels. Pulling the reins
back over the mules’ heads, he slapped them on their
rumps, and the mules trotted obediently home to Prince Albert. Imagine the wife, a little anxious perhaps, after waiting longer than usual for her husband to come home, being
relieved to hear the cart clatter into the yard and anticipating
the arrival of her husband in the kitchen for a cup of coffee. He did not come. There was the cart in the backyard, and the
mules standing patiently waiting to be unharnessed, but
where was he? The ultimate horror of the ending of this story is too awful
to imagine. Thys de Beer’s remains lie buried in the family graveyard,
today known as the Lotz-de Beer Graveyard in Prince Albert (opposite Chris Hare’s hairdressing salon). His widow, the
well-known Tant Hannie of Prince Albert, outlived him for
many years, dying at 98. Family members erected the
memorial at the lonely place in the veld where the murder had taken place. The marker of this event is crumbling away and is in urgent
need of repair before it falls apart. Memories of the event are
also gradually crumbling away, and the story, like its
proponents, will in time also disappear into the immensity of the timeless Karoo. Stories like this one add to the layering of history, give meaning onto
the landscape and the memorial is worth preserving. Sources: Dick
Metcalfe, Mari du Toit, Helena Marincowitz, and Eeufees van die
Gemeente Prins Albert 1842 - 1942 by E Stockenström. A short
version of his tale was originally published by H. Marincowitz,
reworked by J M Maguire and published in an earlier issue of the
Friend.
___________________________________________ *Koup: The vast swathe of the Great Karoo between the
Nuweveldberge in the north and the Swartberg range in the south. It
is probably the most desolate and arid region in the Karoo. An area
of vast undulating plains bisected by the seldom flowing Buffels,
Dwyka and Gamka rivers is bathed in relentless sunlight, blisteringly
hot in the summer months and warm during the day in winter with
freezing cold nights.
The headstone standing erect and alone in the Grafsteenvlakte. Photo: John Kramer
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GOOD READS/ GOEIE LEES
Aanlyn Uitgawe Oktober 2020
hour, heads bent in prayer and taking leave of Oom Bertus. In the far distance the church bell of the Moederkerk is being rung in slow rhythm as is the custom during burials. Santie is holding my hand. She knows how much Oom Bertus meant to me. I even have his name, Albertus, my second name. He was closer to me than my
own father, although that doesn’t mean that my affection for my father is in any way less. I raise my eyes and look at the faces of my family and the friends who have gathered to take leave of a brave Afrikaner, one of their own, who was prepared to sacrifice his life for the
Republics in the north, even though he was from the Cape. The British imperialist army ravaging our land is to blame for this war for control over its natural wealth and why Oom Bertus is being laid in his final resting place. At the ‘Amen’, my Tant Kobie steps forward and places Oom Bertus’s rifle on his coffin, before it is lowered by the ropes into the ground. She is strong and not emotional, just pale and drawn. The coffin starts on its last journey, and my
pa steps forward and retrieves the rifle which any good Boer in the fight for his country would understand. It is part of our defence against the imperial power which wants our land, and our defence depends on our fire power.
_______________________ The full story of The Bugle will soon be
found in the Prince Albert Library on the
shelf for Local Authors..
oer leaders in the field would come together to hold what
was commonly called a
bosberaad. Those opportunities were few and far between since the
Boer patrols were scattered over a
vast area, and communication was,
of necessity, infrequent. But their sustained resistance caused the
British government, encouraged by
Lord Kitchener, to resort to policies
designed to break the spirit of Afrikanerdom. One of the
developments in the war was the
concentration camps, so-called
refugee camps, where the vast majority of inhabitants were women
and children. In fact they were
victims of the scorched earth policy of Kitchener, the burning down of
their farmhouses leaving families
without shelter or means of
livelihood. In the camps the British used a divisive strategy aided by the
use of privileges. They
differentiated between those who
were ‘hands-uppers’ and non-combatant civilians, and those
family members of burghers who
were still on commando. The
message was clear that ‘the women and children would suffer until you
lay down your arms’. The Boers drew strength from their
kinship and their faith that formed
the cornerstones of their national spirit, yet, according to their
dominees some were disobedient to
their religious ideals. Boers on commando did not separate politics
from religion, and it was not
uncommon for them to sing their
national anthems or other patriotic songs at religious services in the
field. They believed with simple
faith in the will of God, as Boer
diaries kept on commando testify, and they aligned themselves with
the chosen people of the Old
Testament, the Israelites.
Texts drawn from the Old
Testament also occurred in official
Boer telegrams, and Boer victories
were attributed to the presence of ‘the God of our fathers’. Discipline
in the field posed a problem as they
were individualists, or as the saying goes ‘baas op sy plaas’ and
unaccustomed to taking orders from
others. Yet they showed unity in
their strategies, masters at confusing the Khakis. Where a lack
of kinship was encountered, shops
and houses belonging to their own
who did not support the Boer cause were looted. Those who were
‘hands-uppers’ or ‘joiners’ were
regarded as traitors and could be
shot like stray dogs. The commandos were encouraged by their successes in sabotaging
railway lines and trains to hinder the
supply of food, ammunition,
clothing and blankets to the Khakis in the field. They were spurred on
by the sense of victory and their
ability to inflict damage on the
enemy. The element of surprise was part of their strategy, and the British
were forced to deploy troops to
guard the bridges and rail lines. The laager was the traditional name
given to a Boer encampment which of necessity was temporary,
providing a brief opportunity for
boeresport on non-combat days. Then tug-of-war, quoits, rugby,
athletics, boxing either with bare-
fists or playful sparring helped them
to forget the war and being parted from their loved-ones. Prizes could
include a pipeful of tobacco for
winners, or enough mealie coffee
for a mug or two. Each member of the tug-of-war team would possibly
receive a pinch of snuff. The dominee is in his stride and we have been standing here by the graveside in the hot sun for half an
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The Bugle Boerseun: Willem Lategan
3 of 3 excerpts from the book by Derek Thomas
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see if we could assist in getting the message across in a different way. The talks hadn’t helped, it seemed, and the
pamphlets were torn up by the very people for whom the
message was most critical. So, after much creative thinking and many discussions we
decided to add four special-white-background bins to our commemorative series. Onto each of them Clive painted
accurate reproductions of the graphics from the different
pamphlets. On completion with an extra layer of protection,
the bins were installed in prominent positions at the entrances to the Hospital precinct.
Hospital staff were very happy with the results. The bins
were passing on the important messages that the pamphlets apparently could not. And they certainly couldn’t be “torn
up”.
Stop Press: PA Municipality has just advised that it is
shelving the Dustbin Restoration project. ___________________ The Dustbin-Art installation came about in 2012 as part of the
town’s 250-year celebrations. Featuring 120 bins it runs down one
side of Church Street from Gay’s Dairy to the Thusong Centre and
up the other side. Great exercise, clean, fresh air and you will
certainly know more about the town’s history than you did before
starting out.
The Hospital Bins John McKenna
he current pressure on hospital staff being “first responders” to COVID infections, brings to mind
the challenges they experienced in mid 2011. At
that time the number of babies born with birth defects
was beginning to be noted with alarm. Studies done around the world, into what was becoming known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), pointed to
the fact that the cause was alcohol. That mothers who
drank during pregnancy were more at risk of giving
birth to babies with long-term disabilities and learning difficulties than those who didn’t touch a drop.
‘No amount of alcohol is safe to drink during
pregnancy’ was the message health workers were desperate to get across. But it was proving difficult and
costly, in both time and money. Hospital and clinic staff
shouldered extra caseloads, gave talks on the dangers of
alcohol and pamphlets warning of the long-term dangers of alcohol to the unborn child were produced.
All to no avail.
At that time Clive Heyne and myself were busy
preparing bins for the 250th birthday of the town. And
Linda Jaquet with local hospital staff approached us to
DUSTBIN-ART SERIES
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The four special-white-background hospital bins. Photos: John McKenna
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alent is flowering in the harsh veld of Leeu-Gamka, artistic talent nurtured and watered with care in the most unlikely way. At the beginning of 2019 a young man, Elcado Blom, was introduced to the Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT) as being gifted in the visual arts. Self-taught, Elcado was good but he was stuck, with very few prospects. Recognising his potential as an artist Heloise Vorster, of Leeu-Gamka, sent some of Elcado’s early pencil drawings of faces to PACT asking for help. The Trust immediately responded by making an appeal on social media for an artist who might be willing to offer mentoring and tutoring skills. Within minutes Louis Jansen van Vuuren (a South African painter based in
France) offered to teach Elcado via email, photos and WhatsApp. Which he did week in and week out until, in March this year, master and the student met for the first time, face to face, at the Woordfees arts festival in Stellenbosch. Elcado has sold many of his works… to local collectors in Prince Albert and further afield in Cape Town, Johannesburg and even as far as the Mississippi during COVID Lockdown. Mary Anne Botha, Prince Albert artist, has also been so kind as to offer a monthly master class in colour which has led to Elcado taking a big leap forward in the mastering of his chosen craft .
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Elcado Blom: Leeu-Gamka Artist Going Places Ingrid Wolfaardt
Elcado, who is open for commissions, works mostly in acrylics and has begun to investigate oils. His subject matter is usually from things that catch his eye around the town of Leeu Gamka, ruins of buildings, abandoned cars in the veld, Karoo landscapes and flower studies. Louis continues to support him with advice and
art materials that are extremely expensive. Cape Town artist Linda Weaver also collected second hand canvasses for Elcado to use and practice on. From the sales of his paintings, Elcado has been able to buy a tablet which he uses to enlarge imagery and receive tutorials
from Louis. If you would like to support Elcado, who makes his living entirely from the proceeds of his work, contact him directly on 081-424-3504 or Azuke Ntapane at PACT on 079-409-1605.
Leeu-Gamka artist Elcado Blom.
Photo: Sharlton Groenewald, principal of
Leeu Gamka Primary School
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27
Die lewe is sy inspirasie Prins Alberter se debuutboek verskyn
Marlene Malan erek Hendriks lééf die lewe. Nie net deur prosa, poësie en musiek nie, maar veral deur te dink,
antwoorde te soek, stil te word en te luister wat die lewe vir hom sê. Maar, erken hy, die groot toets is om sy emosies te konfronteer
en sy gevoelens te verwerk. Dis dié perspektiewe wat vorm gekry het in sy debuutbundel gedigte en essays, oppe en affe, wat vroeg in September
verskyn het. “Ek pen my emosies neer, ek bepeins, ek doen introspeksie,” vertel hy. “In my lewe was ek al dikwels kwaad oor onreg.
Dan skryf ek neer hoe ek voel. Ek staan snags op en vat my pen en ’n skryfboek. Ek praat dikwels met die Vader. Ek stry en baklei met Hom. Ek soek waarhede. As dit lyk of niks regkom nie, gee ’n mens mos vir God die skuld.” Só ken hy die pyn, skryf hy, van werkloosheid, ’n gebroke huis, honger, armoede, moedeloosheid en depressie, verwerping deur mense wat hy vertrou het, van klere wat oor en oor gedra word. En hy vra in sy boek: “Wie is ek? Is ek mensgemaak?” Hy bepeins: “Is seerkry dan ’n móét?” Dit is so dat nagte soms die donkerste is, vertel hy open- hartig, met sy vrou en steunpilaar, Mariana, aan sy sy. “Daar is slapelose nagte, maar soggens sien jy altyd die lig. Dis dan
dat ek weet my lewe is uitgesorteer. Daar is nie net ‘affe’ in my lewe nie – dis ook vol ‘oppe’.” Soos sy woonomgewing, waar die Swartberg ’n reuse-inspirasie is. Sy orkes, Slam Jam, geniet toenemend erkenning. Derek het ’n ATKV-liriekkursus voltooi, waar hy aangewys is as een van die top-tien van sy groep. Hy
wen die een prys ná die ander vir sy skryfwerk op literatuurfeeste, soos die Prince Albert Leesfees en die Montagu Boekefees. Van sy gedigte is al aanvaar in die nasionale Avbob-poësiekompetisie. Tans is hy besig met die vervaardiging van sy debuut-cd, Liefling, en ’n musiekvideo. Daarby werk hy aan ’n draaiboek vir ’n Afrikaanse fliek, Ou Loekie. “Dis die verhaal van my ouma
se grootmaakkind wat al dood is. Loekie was ’n goeie ou wat die pad byster geraak het. Tog, in elkeen is daar iets goeds. Dís wat ek met dié storie sê.” Poësie en musiek is nóú vervleg, vertel Derek, want albei het te doen met ritme, “en Afrikaans bied my skryfwerk daardie ritme. Die ritme van my taal gryp my, gee my die geleentheid om my emosies uit te druk en hoop te bied. Afrikaans is deel van my weefsel – ek ken niks anders nie.” Derek vertel sy groot poësie-inspirasie is veral die digters A.G. Visser en Sheila Cussons, en op musiekgebied die
volg op bl. 28/..
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.
28
...vanaf bl. 27 – Derek Hendriks sangers Garth Taylor en Anna Davel. “Anna is bereid om my as kunstenaar verder op die pad te vat.” Noudat hy in die kunste betrokke geraak
het, kan Derek skaars glo daar was jare van
die uiterste frustrasie toe hy vir die
departement korrektiewe dienste gewerk
het, iets wat hom verveel, geïnhibeer en
rigtingloos laat voel het. “Mariana was my
inspirasie vyf jaar gelede om uit hierdie
lewe weg te breek en my passie te volg. Dit
was nie maklik nie.” Behalwe Mariana is sy ma, Annie Hendriks, sy ander dryfkrag – so ook die ontslape musikant Charlie Botes, die skilder Hekkie
Moos, sy mede-orkeslid Christy Carolissen, onderwysers wat in hom geglo het, Jules Saxon en Marta Majiet, Mathilda Mooneys en Ernie Mellet van die Amateurskrywersbond wat gehelp het dat oppe en affe die lig sien.
Sy volgende digbundel, Die gebroke diepte, neem reeds vorm aan. “Die tema is dat daar onder elke oppervlak gebrokenheid skuil, en dat dié seerkry op die een van ander manier gevul moet word.” ________________________
Oppe en affe: Uitgegee deur Ernie
Mellet/Amateurskrywersbond. Skryf aan
Derek, [email protected], of
beskikbaar by Boekhuis, Prins Albert. Prys:
R250.
Derek Hendriks en sy trotse vrou, Mariana,
met sy splinternuwe bundel gedigte en essays.
Foto: Marlene Malan
mailto:[email protected]
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Aanlyn Uitgawe Oktober 2020
30
Die Oliviers van Karoo Slaghuis kén van vleis Denise Ohlson
a, vir Das Olivier kan jy maar vra oor vleis. Hy staan nie verniet al 32 jaar agter die toonbank en die vleissaag van Karoo Slaghuis nie – van waar hy almal wat by die klapdeur inkom, gasvry aanpraat om nie so skaam te wees met die skaaptjoppie se vetjies nie, en sommer ook vinnig is om te waarsku dat te veel groente in die pot of die bredie “die
hele lotjie net bederf”. As plaaskind van die Sutherland-distrik het hy al goed geleer vleis eet en waardeer, en as dorpskind hier in Prins Albert op sy pa se dorpsplasie by 12 De Beerstraat, bly skape en bokke en hoenders deel van sy alledaagse lewe. Klaar met skool, is sy eerste werk by die plaaslike landdroskantoor. Maar dis nie lank nie, of hy word verplaas Venterstad toe. Hier moet hy bontstaan met Engels praat met die tonnelbouers van oorsee wat betrokke is by die bou van die dam wat vandag as die Gariep bekend staan. Die Engelspratery laat hom sommer gou bedank – om by Homes Trust Lewens in die
Kaap te gaan werk. In 1975 aanvaar hy ’n verplasing George toe, en deel van sy pligte is om as verteenwoordiger ook Prins Albert toe te kom. Hier trou hy In 1976 met sy “liefste skoolkys”, Frances Allers - en kort daarna vertrek die twee Uitenhage toe waar Das as
taksekretaris vir Metropolitan Life gaan werk. In 1980 kry hy die geleentheid om oom Antonie Steyl se tabakfabriek hier in Markstraat te koop, en vyf jaar lank word daar fluks gesmous met tabak, droëbone en saadprodukte. Die spoorwegbus ry die voorraad so ver as Prieska, Carnarvon en Montague. Tussendeur maak hy en Frances hul dogter Charlotte en hul seun Albert groot, en toe die fabriek verkoop word, breek die
volgende avontuur aan. Das word aangestel as hoof van Huis Kweekvallei, die dorp se ouetehuis, en vier jaar later, in 1988, sluit hy by Johan Fourie as vennoot aan by Karoo Slaghuis. Hier staan hy vas totdat die slaghuis in 2015 verkoop word aan Gideon Joubert, wat Das op vryskutbasis bly betrek. Toe Albert terugkeer uit Amerika waar hy vir ’n lusernmaatskappy gewerk het, word daar onderhandel, en Albert koop die slaghuis in 2018. Vanselfsprekend bly pa Das betrokke – hy is immers onmisbaar! En nou, twee jaar later, is Albert se suster Charlotte haar broer se vennoot. Haar sterk punt is die administrasie, maar met
haar vriendelike gesindheid is sy ook ’n groot hulp agter die toonbank. Sy en haar man Japie woon nog op Oudtshoorn, waar hul seun in die skool is, maar die plan is om Prins Albert toe te kom wanneer die tyd ryp is. Die twee jonges se leuse is: Goeie diens, goeie vleis. Hulle wegholverkopers bly lam, biltong en droëwors, terwyl hul
tuisgemaakte kouevleise al gewilder raak, veral die koedoesalami’s. Die Oliviers is baie dankbaar vir die ondersteuning van die plaaslike gemeenskap en ook vir die twee manne wat so getrou agter die skerms werk: Glen Sarels is al langer as
’n dekade getrou op sy pos, en Sampie Olivier twee jaar. Gelukkig kon die slaghuis as noodsaaklike diens oop bly tydens die grendeltyd en is daar fluks sake gedoen. Daar was ook tyd om bietjie op te gradeer, en noudat die gebou geverf is, is die volgende stap die vloere – en dan hoop Albert dat hulle ’n stoepie sal kan aanbou wat pas by die karakter van die dorp.
Met die groetslag kry Das die laaste woord in: “Die tweetjies moet net nie dink hulle kan my wegjaag nie – ek sal self
besluit as ek die dag wil loop,” en hy lag gelukkig daar agter die toonbank van die Oliviers se egte plattelandse slaghuis.
Olivier familie slagtery (vlnr) Albert Olivier, Charlotte Bothma,
Das Olivier, Glen Joubert, Sarie Olivier en Sampie Olivier.
Foto: Sandy Farmer
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Lente nuus Elsabé Koen
ns is alreeds in die derde kwartaal van die jaar en Prince Albert Dieresorg (PADS) is steeds besig om onverpoosd ’n toegewyde diens te lewer aan die minderbevoorregte troeteldiere in ons gemeenskap. Ons klein groepie vrywilligers is voltyds besig om kundige raad en verpleeg-hulp te gee waar dit nodig is. Ten spyte van die inperking het ons steeds die afgelope paar maande daarin geslaag om drie uitreike te doen (twee deur dr Annelize Roos en een deur die staatsveearts), waar ons ongeveer 150 troeteldiere gesteriliseer het. Nog ’n uitreik word beplan vir 29 en 30 September saam met die staatsveearts. Hierdie uitreike word gratis gedoen vir die minderbevoorregte troeteldiere. PADS, in samewerking met die Dierebeskermingsvereniging (DBV) in Beaufort-Wes, voer tweeweeklikse inspeksies uit om dieremishandeling en verwaarlosing op te spoor en genadedood toe te pas waar nodig. Onlangs is ’n erg verwaarloosde en ondervoede hond weggeneem van haar onverskillige eienaar en na ’n goeie huis in Beaufort-Wes geneem. Hierdie saak is op die 7de Augustus by PADS aangemeld. Gelukkig was die DBV daardie dag in die dorp. Toe PADS vrywilligers Irma Nefdt en Elizma Botes saam met Jaco du Plessis van die DBV daar aankom, was die hond vasgemaak aan ’n kort ketting met geen kos of water en geen teken van die babahondjies wat sy onlangs gehad het nie. Ons dink almal is dood. Dit is onmoontlik dat
’n mamma-hond haar kleintjies kan versorg as sy self so erg verwaarloos is. Sy is feitlik onmiddellik aangeneem nadat sy die nodige behandeling by die DBV gekry het. Foto’s wys die groot verbetering in haar toestand, wat die ongelooflike verandering wys wanneer daar liefde, kos en water is. PADS het ’n goed toegeruste “container” kliniek op die veilige gronde van die Thusong Sentrum. Gewone kliniek ure
op die oomblik is 9.00 -13.00 elke weeksdag. Vanuit die kliniek is ons in staat om ontwurming te doen en troeteldiere te
dip, en om kos te voorsien (R5 vir ’n sakkie babahond- en hondekos en R8 vir katkos). Ons doen ook inentings, gee medikasie vir verskeie siektes, doen wondbehandeling, voorsien hardloop-kettings , en doen ook basiese troeteldiersorg-opleiding vir kinders en volwassenes.
Ons diens is daarop gemik om minderbevooregte diere en hul eienaars by te staan. Met ons huidige bronne en vrywilligers kan ons op hierdie stadium nie meer as dit doen nie. Ons bedank Prins Albert se inwoners in alle areas van die dorp uit die diepte van ons harte vir hul wonderlike ondersteuning en belangstelling. En ook
graag al die kosdonateurs bedank wat gereeld in die houer by Spar kos los vir minderbevoorregte diere. Donasies in ons rekening is welkom: Prince Albert Animal Welfare, ABSA, Spaarrekening: 930 700 5754. Verw. Jou Naam.
Voor en na foto's wys die verbetering in dié hond se
toestand. Foto’s: PADS
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Aanlyn Uitgawe Oktober 2020
Leeu-Gamka herdenk INTERNASIONALE FASA dag! Christel Botes: Projekkoördineerder, Prince Albert
Die simboliek van hierdie knope is as volg:
Die tou waarvan die knoop gemaak is, simboliseer die naelstring waardeur die baba voeding (nie alkohol nie) van die moeder kry;
Die sirkel simboliseer die baarmoeder (uterus) van die swanger vrou wat die veilige ruimte – sonder alkohol - is, waarin die baba kan groei en ontwikkel;
Die los, uitgerafelde punte van die tou, simboliseer die skade (insluitend breinskade of skade aan enige ander orgaan) wat die baba kan kry a.g.v. voorgeboortelike blootstelling aan alkohol;
Die knoop word op ’n baie spesifieke manier gemaak en is baie sterk. Indien ons aan die punte van die tou sou trek, sal dit die knoop net nog stewiger vastrek. Dit simboliseer die sterk ondersteuningsnetwerk wat ons, as familie, vriende en ’n gemeenskap, veronderstel is om aan ’n swanger vrou te bied, sodat sy nie alkohol gebruik terwyl sy swanger is nie. Wat is die FASA?
Fetale Alkohol Spektrum Afwykings (FASA) is die sambreel term vir baie
verskillende tipes skade wat ’n persoon kan hê as gevolg van voorgeboortelike blootstelling aan alkohol, terwyl Fetale Alkohol Sindroom (FAS) die ergste vorm van hierdie skade is. Dit is die mees algemene en permanente vorm van breinskade wat 100% voorkombaar is.
Volgens die Wêreld Gesondheidsorganisasie is die voorkoms van FASA in die wêreld ongeveer 1.5%, terwyl die voorkomssyfer in Suid-Afrika volg op bl. 33/...
September 2020 was Internasionale Fetale Alkohol Spektrum Afwyking (FASA) dag en in Leeu-Gamka het die FARR (Foundation for Alcohol Related Research) Projekspan van Leeu-Gamka en Prince Albert en ’n klompie gemeenskapslede die bewusmakingsveldtog behoorlik geniet! “Waar kom die dag vandaan en waaroor gaan dit nou eintlik?” mag u dalk wonder. In 1999 het ’n groep biologiese- en pleegouers (uit
New Zeeland, Australië en Kanada), wat bekommerd was oor die gebrek aan inligting oor FASA en Fetale Alkoholsindroom (FAS), besluit om ’n online ondersteuningsgroep te stig. Die groep se werksaamhede het
uiteindelik gelei tot die ontstaan van
‘Internasionale Fetale Alkohol Spektrum Afwyking’ dag wat jaarliks ‘Internasionale
Fetale Alkohol Spektrum Afwyking’ dag wat jaarliks op die 9de van die 9de maand aangebied word – simbolies van die aantal maande wat ’n vrou normaalweg swanger is.
Vanjaar was dus Internasionale FASA dag se mondigwording! Woensdag, 9 September 2020 het FARR se
gemeenskapswerkers, Moira Prins en Muschke Hendriks en projekkoördineerder, Christel Botes, asook ’n aantal gemeenskapslede, insluitend ’n onderwyseres, me. Nerina le Grange en nege skoliere van Leeu-Gamka Primêr, buite die munisipale kantoor op Leeu-Gamka vergader. FASA-bewusmakingsknope is aan alle deelnemers, belangstellendes en
toehoorders uitgedeel en om 9h00 het Moira Prins die verrigtinge amptelik begin deur die agtergrond van die dag en ’n kort FASA voorkomingsboodskap te deel. Daarna is een minuut stilte gehou om te dink aan almal wat op die een of ander manier deur FASA geaffekteer word en 9h09 is die stilte verbreek
deur ’n klok te lui en ons bewusmakingsstaptog deur die strate af te skop. Vroeër die week het ons die gewillige, bekwame en flukse hande van ’n paar Ouma’s/versorgers van kleuters en kinders,
in die gemeenskap , ingespan om ons te help met die maak van FASA-bewusmakingsknope wat oral langs ons staproete aan gemeenskapslede uitgedeel is.
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(vlnr) Natasha Dickens, Bridget Baardman, Abigail La-hoë en haar dogter en
’n paar leerders van Leeu-Gamka Primêr Foto: Christel Botes
Die FASknoop
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..vanaf bl. 32 FARR..
wissel tussen 2% en 28% met ’n geskatte gemiddeld van minstens 6%. FASA word veroorsaak wanneer die ongebore baba (fetus) aan alkohol blootgestel is. Alles wat ’n swanger vrou eet of drink bereik haar baba deur die naelstring. Die brein is die mees weerbare orgaan en om hierdie rede het alle kinders met FASA ’n vorm van permanente breinskade. Dit kan gesien word in ontwikkelings-leer en gedragsprobleme. FASA kan nie genees word deur enige medisyne nie en het dus ’n lewenslange effek op die geaffekteerde persoon, die
familie en die breër gemeenskap. FASA kom voor in alle kultuur-, geloofs- en sosio-
ekonomiese groepe. Dit is ’n mite dat ’n vrou ’n alkoholis
moet wees om ’n baba met FASA te hê. Navorsing het bewys dat selfs ligte of matige gebruik van alkohol die
potensiaal het om skade aan die ongebore baba te
veroorsaak. Juis daarom is dit so belangrik dat almal wat
die FASA Voorkomingsboodskap is
“GEEN ALKOHOL IS VEILIG TYDENS
SWANGERSKAP NIE”.
Die FARR Projekspan in Prince Albert/Leeu Gamka rig
’n spesiale woord van dank aan almal wat op die een of
ander manier betrokke was by die bewusmakingsveldtog, insluitend me Annaleen Vorster
die Munisipale Bestuurder, Prince Albert, SAPD op
Leeu-Gamk