Platinum Gazette

Burgersfort, Steelpoort, Ohrigstad

20 February 2015

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Fax

0832719151 (Editorial) 0835431676 (Advertisements)

0865549031 / 013 231 7147

email:

Again

Tuesday this week it was again the R37 between Burgersfort and Riba Cross (road to Polokwane) turn for a service delivery protest. The main issues were again electricity, water,
roads and jobs. Those not lucky enough to know the back roads, had to wait or turn around
and take the extended route via Steelpoort, where a mother of a traffic jam occurred. While
waiting, some of the spectators cheerfully waived at the newspapers photographer (right).

adverts@platinumgazette.com
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NEWS

Lowveld winners!

salm 113 New International Version (NIV)

1 Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise the Lord, you his servants;
praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised,
both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.

20 FEBRUARY 2015
Tubatse Build It in Burgersfort has
been announced the best Build It
store in the Lowveld region after
a recent regional competition.
The store will now take part in the
national competition in May this
year. In the photograph on the
left is the whole team, while the
management team (fltr), Llewellyn
Wolmarans, Fanie Morupane and
Suzette Geldenhuys proudly displays the trophy.

Did you
know?
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Gazette offers a clickable
advertisement service for the
e-mail version of the newspaper and a QR-Code service
for advertisements in the
print edition.
Try it out in the advertisement on page 3 (mouse over
the e-mail address or other
address at the bottom) and
click to communicate with
the advertiser!
Contact Beannla Celliers on
083 543 1676 if you are interested.

20 FEBRUARIE 2015
Behold the editors 5 litre shower experiment. Take one large canned fruit tin, whack
a couple of holes into the bottom (first open
the tin and eat the fruit), suspend the tin
from a washing pole and empty a container
with 2.5 litres of stored water into it. Make
sure you have your clothes off while doing
this and get wet all over quickly (the holes
must not be too many or big). Soap in, another 2.5 litres, rinse. Clean! (ja well ...)

NUUS
Platinum Gazette has been inundated with complaints about the water
supply in Burgersfort over the last few weeks and especially this last
week. (As we speak there is no water in many areas, including Ext. 5
and 10)Businesses are affected as well as households - no warnings
are ever given and complaints centre around no communication to inaccurate communication to residents and business owners. Everyone understands that maintenance and other problems might occur from time
to time, but as one complaint that the newspaper has received states
Lepelle is currently our story time service provider - every time we call
there is a different story but we almost never have water pressure or
proper supply over the last 3 weeks. This person is staying in the area
called Mooikloof, Burgersfort.
There has also been complaints that residents who are regular callers
to the Call Centre are simply being ignored. When they call from a different number, the calls are answered.
Businesses are losing money - e.g. one could not bake bread due to the
persistent and unexpected water interruptions.
Lepelles contract with SDM was renewed last year and they were
pressing for a long term agreement. Residents are currently not getting
the promised service they deserve.
Please be so kind as to forward us a formal explanation on:
1) What is the problem with the water supply in Burgersfort?
2) Why is it taking so long to sort out?
3) What steps are being taken to make sure that the fix that is being
implemented is permanent?
4) How is Lepelle communicating with residents about these problems?
E.g. sms, the newspapers, notices dropped off at residences and businesses etc.?
5) Why do the Call Centre not answer all calls received?
6) What steps should residents and business owners take to ensure that
they are either prepared for the interruptions or no service from Lepelle?
7) When will the current interruption be restored?
8) Why are there so many stories about what is wrong with the supply?
9) How can businesses protect themselves against the losses currently
being suffered due to Lepelles poor service/poor communication?
Please feel free to add anything that might give perspective or put the
situation in context.
Your urgent response in this matter will be appreciated as the newspaper plans to do an article on this problem for this week. A response by
08:00 tomorrow morning would be much appreciated.
Kind regards

Question
to Lepelle
Northern
Answer
By email from Lepelle:
Date: 19 February 2015 at 08:43
Thanks for your email and please be informed that this office is collating information from various sources to can respond
to your email. I will respond in due course
and thanks for raising issues pertaining to
communities on water shortage.

By SMS from Sekhukhune District

Municipality:
Goodmorning,kindly be informed, our
artisns are changing a pump at the
plant(burgersfort WTW) that supplies
water to reservoirs which distributes water
to Old town and there will be shortage of
water for a while, until further notice. . Hi,
this message is from Lepelle Northern
Water.

20 FEBRUARY 2015

NEWS

Samancor ECM
delivers Back to
School-smiles

The Samancor Eastern Chrome Mines

annual Golf Day
raise funds for community projects. The
2014 days funds
was used to distribute Back to School
gifts amongst grade
R and grade 1 children at Mangabane
Primary, Makgakantshe Primary and
Steelpoort Academy.
At Dithamaga Primary and Boerboomkraal, everybody
received a gifts.
ECM would like to
thank everyone who
made this project
possible. With this
kind of support, we
can only go from
good to great.

(Photographs &
Information: Samancor Eastern Chrome
Mines).

20 FEBRUARIE 2015

NUUS

Loving Tubatse Chrome

Club on Valentines Day
Tubatse Chrome
Club hosted a
Valentines Day
dinner with live
music by Doane
Smith. Couples
enjoyed the delicious three course
meal and regularly
stepped onto the
dance floor.

A festive Valentines
atmosphere was part
of the evening.

Showing love at Tubatse Chrome

Tubatse Chrome spread some love through
the Plant with some Valentines Day cookies
last week.
Employees were all smiles as they loved
their heart shaped cookies with a Valentines Day message.
(Photographs & Information: Tubatse
Chrome)

NEWS

20 FEBRUARY 2015

Your reaction to the 2015

Last week Thursday Parliaments opening
and the State of the Nation Address (SONA)
turned into chaos with the DA and the UDM
walking out of the proceedings after the EFF
were removed from Parliament by police
officers in plain clothes.
EFF leader Julius Malema insisted on asking
President Jacob Zuma when he will pay back
the money they believe he owe the taxpayers
for his home Nkandla. Malema and other
members of his party were forcefully removed when they refused to let the issue go.
The DA s parliamentary leader Mmusi
Maimane then asked the Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete whether it was Parliaments own security or police officers who
removed EFF members from the building.
When a clear answer could not be given the
DA members walked out of proceedings with
the UDM joining them. The DA is now set to
challenge the constitutionality of certain sections of legislation surrounding the powers
and privileges of Parliament in the Western
Cape High Court.
To add to the chaos at the SONA, the cell
phone signal in Parliament was jammed. This
infuriated journalists attending the event.
They were unable to tweet or make use of
the Internet to file their stories for their various media houses. The journalists chanted
Bring back the signal, bring back the signal
while waving their cellphones at a black box
which they believed was jamming the signal.
The signal was restored after the Speaker
asked the secretary to Parliament, Gengezi
Mgidlana to look into the matter. On Wednesday this week the State Security Department
announced that the problem with the signal
was due to an operational error of a device
in Parliament. They denied that there was political motivation for the signal jamming.
This week Parliament resumed a little more
peaceful with a debate on the Presidents
State of the Nation Address. Political parties
had sharp reaction on both what happened
last week at the opening of Parliament and
the speech itself. On Wednesday Maimane
criticized President Zumas reaction to the
chaos: You laughed. You laughed while the
people of South Africa cried for their beloved
country. By the time of going to press yesterday, President Jacob Zuma was due to give
his reaction to the debate and accusations in
a 60 minute response.
Platinum Gazette asked readers what they
think about the chaos surrounding the SONA
last week.

Mr. Doctor Masinga said: Everyone acted

wrong. The ANC wanted to hide things, that
is why there were signal problems. It was
wrong of the EFF not to listen to what the
President had to say. They should all have
listened and then engaged afterwards. Other
countries saw on TV what happened. We let
ourselves down.

Mr. Steve Makamu said: There is no respect. The EFF and the DA acted wrong. If
people can respect each other there will not
be scenes like this. We are going to be like
Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Mozambique if it
is going like this. Like it or not that is where
we are heading.

Mr. Promise Mmopane said: The people

dont show respect for Parliament. It will affect this government. All the parties just work
for themselves and not the people that is
why there is so much corruption and things
like this happens. The rest of the world will
now think bad of South Africa.

Mr. Russel Maahlo said: The parties like the

EFF were doing the right thing. It was totally
wrong to throw them out. The President
should simply have answered their question.
South Africa is now looking very bad to the
rest of the world.

Right: Mr. Collen Mojela said: Malema does

not have respect for Parliament. How can he
expect people to follow him when he disrupts the National Address? No matter the
weakness of the leaders, we should respect
them. He should not only be suspended
from Parliament, but banned from it. The DA
tried to support Malema that is why they
walked out. They planned it. I dont support
them. Zuma laughed at what was happening
because he is a good leader who is always
ready for action. They must investigate the
problem with the signal. People are worried if
things like this happen in Parliament. South
Africa have dignity, but things like this take us
down.

Mr. Michael Mnisi said: It was not right. We

have to respect Parliament. We know there
are problems with some of our leaders, but
we must respect the Presidents speech.
People have judged the President already.
The signal jamming? Technology is a devil
you cannot blame the lack of signal on
anyone. I dont think investors will be put off
by what happened last week.

Right: Mr. Joseph Mashaba said: We should

be embarrassed. People must respect Parliament.

Mr. Oupa Moela said: We were embarrassed

by what happened. The problem is the President. He was also late. Malema asked questions instead of listening so that was wrong.
The DA did the right thing because the police
has no place in Parliament.

Left: Mr. DJ Zwane said: The EFF did not

do right. They are even fighting amongst
themselves Ive seen that on TV this week.
I am worried about Parliament. There should
be peace so they can make good decisions
for us. They must respect Parliament. What
will other countries think of us?

20 FEBRUARIE 2015

NUUS

opening of parliament

Ms. Snowy Magabe and Ms. Phillies Selepe said: What happened at the SONA was not
good at all. The country had to listen to what the President has to say. The EFF was acting
irresponsible. They have to respect Zuma. I think the DA is angry with Zuma. They are angry
because of that expensive house he built - that Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal. We dont think it
will look too bad for the outside world.

Mnr. Frans du Plessis s: Dis nie n ding om

op trots te wees nie. Kyk meer na die mense
van Suid-Afrika se belange en minder na
politieke gewin. Dit was kommerwekkend dat
daar nie selfoonsein was nie.

Mr. Joseph Molopo said: It was wrong to

remove the EFF and it was bad that there
was no cellphone signal. It is good the DA
walked out. What happened in total is not
good and nobody should smile about it. It is
very bad they even brought police officers
into Parliament.

Mnr. Wim en Me. Bettie van Rensburg s:

Dis swak. Almal kyk na ons. Dis soos n kind
na sy ouers sal kyk, so kyk die land na die
leiers in die parlement en dan is dit hulle optrede. Hulle is veronderstel om n voorbeeld
te stel. Daar is kommer daaroor dat daar nie
selfoonsein was nie. Dis of hulle nie wou wys
wat gebeur nie.

Mr. Morris Riba said: As a country we should

be worried if it goes like that in Parliament.
Zuma should just have answered the question when will he pay back the money?
I dont think the EFF should have been
removed. The ANC used their power to rule
and organize everything the way they want.
We as a country should be embarrassed at
what the world thinks. Most investors will now
pull out of here.

Mr. James Sathakge said: They were right

to remove the EFF. That day was not the
right time to discuss the President paying
back the money. On 11 March theyll get their
turn to ask that question. People wanted to
listen to the President. The signal problem
in Parliament was just a network problem.
We are worried because there must be order
in Parliament. I also think that the DA and
the EFF met before the SONA to plan their
disruptions. The DA also did not want to eat
the food Parliament was preparing.
Left: Mr. William Malatji said: It is not good.
Parliament is a big thing. People must have
respect for it. Some of the EFF members
were being pushed and having the DA walk
out is not showing respect. Nobody should
have laughed it was a serious matter!

Mr. Samuel Masilo said: Parliament did not

handle the situation properly last week. The
EFF and others should respect Parliament. I
hope the order in Parliament will be improved
for the sake of South Africa.
Mr. Michael Mabela said: The guys who
walked out that was their right. Without
the EFF and the opposition in Parliament
South-Africa will not improve.
Mr. Lesley Ndou said: I think the ANC and
EFF were wrong. They both expected what
happened there. The EFF should not have
been allowed inside in the first place because
they were making threats of disruption. People are tired of their tactics. The DA and UDM
were supposed to stay. I find it wrong that
they walked out. Indirectly they supported the
EFF. Its not a good reflection of Parliament.
I am ashamed that the rest of the world saw
that. Shame on us, especially when we say
the economy has to grow.

Ms. Lesedi Mashego and Ms Sharon Mnisi said: We as South Africans should be ashamed.
We are playing with our freedom. We understand Malema must fight, but not that way. Many
people hate Zuma, but they dont hate the ANC. The signal cut was planned. The Speaker
was also too emotional. When she deals with the DA she is formal, but she is emotional with
the EFF. Zuma did not laugh at what happened there. He was embarrassed. It was really
bad.

20 FEBRUARY 2015

NEWS

Atlete sweet by Laerskool Burgersfort

Atlete van Laerskool Burgersfort, Laerskool Ohrigstad, Laerskool
Atokia en Steelpoort Akademie het verlede Saterdagoggend by
Laerskool Burgersfort aan n vriendskaplike atletiekbyeenkoms
deelgeneem. Die dag was besonder warm, maar dit het nie kinders
afgesit nie. Hulle het hul bes gegee in beide veld- en baanitems.
Daar het selfs
n rekord of wat
gespat. Die skool
het hulle borge wat
gehelp het om die
dag moontlik te
maak bedank. Hulle
bedank ook elke
ouer, onderwyser en
atleet wat deelgeneem, gewerk of
kom ondersteun
het. Di jaarlikse
byeenkoms is reeds
n hoogtepunt op die
plaaslike skole-atletiek kalender en
die skool hoop om
dit selfs nog beter te
maak in die toekoms.

Die top presteerders het elkeen n

medalje ontvang. Die borge het dit
help oorhandig terwyl die kinders n
beurt in die kalklig gekry het.

20 FEBRUARIE 2015

NUUS

Atlete presteer op Burgersfort

Vanaf bladsy 8...
Laerskool Burgersfort se jaarlikse Vriendskaplike Atletiekbyeenkoms was weereens n groot sukses.
Die atlete het in goeie gees deelgeneem en die dag
sommer baie geniet.
Baie ouers het op die dag hul kinders kom ondersteun,
dit het as goeie motivering vir die meeste atlete gedien.

10

20 FEBRUARY 2015

Platinum Gazette

Klein Advertensies Smalls

Place your small advertisement via e-mail or fax or contact Bennla Celliers on 083 543 1676 or 083 271 9151. E-mail: adverts@platinumgazette.com Fax: 086 554 9031

Adverteer/Advertise
hier/here:
1.Sport Klubs /Sport
Clubs
2.Betrekking/Vacancy
3.Dienste/Services
4. Oornag Akkommodasie/Overnight
accommodation
5. Troeteldiere/Pets
6. Persoonlik/Personal
7. Allerlei/Miscellaneous
8. Finansies/Financial
9. Te Huur/To Rent
10. Te Koop/For sale

4. Oornag Akkommodasie/
Overnight Accommodation
MONTHLY OR DAILY
ACCOMMODATION
IN BURGERSFORT
Khadimas Lodge
now open. 171
Nyala Street, Ext. 5,
Burgersfort. Opposite
Department of Labour.
Contact:
076 666 1100/013 231
8609
2 Bedroom Flat to let
in Burgersfort
Reasonable rates.
Contact:
076 666 1100

9. Te Huur/
For Rent
Lang en kort termyn
verblyf beskikbaar
op plaas 10km buite
Burgersfort op Lydenburg pad. Kontak
Miena op 082-9603689 of (013) 2317899.
Twee slaapkamer
woonstel te huur in
Burgersfort naby Tubatse Crossing Mall.
Skakel: 082 357
1954 / 083 244 6005

Betrekking/
Vacancy

Platinum Gazette

WANTED
Reaction officer,
controllers and
technicians needed
at Khadimas Security
Services.
Contact:
Riaz Abdullah on
072 471 7545/
072 684 6438

Bennla Celliers will see to

it that your
advertisement in
Platinum Gazette meets the
highest standards with
regard to design and
reproduction.

Remember to
book your
advertisement
before or on a
Tuesday every
week. Call 013
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Platinum Gazette

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To advertise contact Bennla

Celliers on 013 231 7147 or
083 543 1676.

Call 013 231 7147 or 083 271 9151 with your news and events. You can also
fax to 013 231 7147 or e-mail to: editorial@platinumgazette.com

For Sale
Shop equipment:
Shelving, Fridges,
Freezers, Checkouts and
more for only R60 000.
Contact: 083 543 6793

Get your hard

copy of the
newspaper
here:
Boxer Burgersfort
Tubatse
SUPERSPAR
Choppies
CTM
Greater Tubatse
Municipality
Burgersfort Toyota
GMC Debt Solutions Burgersfort
Tubatse Build It
A1 Fisheries Twin
City
A1 Fisheries
Wholesale
Supa Save
Magaba Filling
Station
Dr Lornas Medical Centre
Supa Quick Burgersfort
Temba Garage

SAPS Burgersfort
OK Minimark
Hendriks
Panelbeaters
Lebowa
Panelbeaters
Cheap Cheap#2
Dr Fouch se
Spreekkamer
Modikwa Platinum
Mine
Twickenham
Platinum Mine
Mototolo
Dwarsrivier Mine
Sedimans Tuckshop Kalkfontein
Kubu Tavern
Kutullo
Dilokong Mine
Praktiseer SAPS
Ohirgstad SAPS
Burgersfort SAPS

Pick n Pay Steelpoort

Winterveld Village
Tubatse Village
Morenas Tavern
Glencore Eastern
Limb Training
Centre
Laerskool Burgersfort
Laerskool Ohrigstad
Bronrich Slaghuis
Department of Education Burgersfort Circuit Office
Vyfster Slaghuis
Total Steelpoort
Sasol Steelpoort
Tingeling Kleuterskool
Burgersfort Pharmacy

Doing
business
without
advertising
is like winking at a girl
in the dark.
You know
what you
are doing
but nobody
else does

Mashifane Park,
R37 Road Burgersfort/Polokwane
* Cell: 076 848 3936
* Tel: 013 007 0836 * Burgersfort

Now
stripping BMW

Fenders Bonnets Grills Bumpers Head & Tail

Lights CV Joints Brake Pads Aircon Fans and
much more available! Re-build engines for sale!

Toyota Baby Camry

Mercedes Benz - For Sale!

Golf

- Stuart
Henderson
Corsa Lite

Isuzu

Toyota Tazz

20 FEBRUARIE 2015

11

NUUS

Steelpoort atlete neem deel aan atletiek op Lydenburg

Steelpoort Akademie se atlete
het Maandag hierdie week op
Lydenburg n vriendskaplike
atletiekbyeenkoms gaan deelneem.
Die kinders het aan verskillende
baan en velditems deelgeneem en baie goed gevaar.
Ander skole wat aan die dag se
kompetisie deelgeneem het is
Laerskool Sabie en Laerskool
Lydenburg.
(Fotos en inligting: Steelpoort
Akademie).

Steelies hou Valentynsokkie

Steelpoort Akademie het verlede

week n Valentynsokkie by die skool
gehou.
Die saal was vol
harte versier en
die leerlinge het
lekker gedans en
kuier.

(Fotos en inligting:
Steelpoort Akademie).

VW up! launched in Burgersfort

Last week Saturday at 10:00 things were on the up!-side at Tubatse
Crossing Mall. The new Volkswagen up! was launched at the centre.
Excited shoppers gathered for the big reveal at 10:00 on Valentines
morning and they were not disappointed. Many immediately fell in
love with this little vehicle. The team from Highlands Volkswagen was
ready to assist
prospective buyers
with all the information they needed.
The dealership also
displayed other
vehicles in their
range. So those
looking for something a little bigger
than the up! could
have a look at the
bigger options in
the VW family.
The up! is making
the most of space
and design - both
on the inside and
out. The vehicle
scored a 6-star
Euro NCAP safety
rating and the
55kW engine will
take you as fast
as most cars when
you are stuck in
traffic.

12

20 FEBRUARY 2015
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Platinum Gazette

SPORT
BOLS se
bote nou reg
Boot-toetsdag vir booteienaars
Die Burgersfort, Ohrigstad, Lydenburg en
Steelpoort Hengelklub (BOLS) het verlede
naweek seker gemaak dat lede se bote reg is
vir om die grotes te gaan vang.
n Boot-toetsdag is Saterdag verlede week
gehou by die PLM vliegveld gehou. Lede van
die klub wat bote besit het bymekaar gekom
en daar is seker gemaak dat die bote heelte-

mal seevaardig is. Dinge soos fakkels se

vervaldatum en die toestand van lewensreddingsbaadjies word nagegaan.
Pret met n vervalde fakkel en n braai na die
tyd het vir n ligter noot gesorg.
Hengelaars wat graag by die klub wil aansluit
kan vir Liezl kontak vir meer besonderhede.
Haar nommer is: 082 355 8658.

Golfing information
to remember
Golf players can look forward to participate in the Joshua Generation Golf Day at Tubatse Chrome Club this weekend. This day
aims to raise funds for the school with a campus in Steelpoort and
one in Burgersfort.
On 28 February it will be the Kruppel Buffel Golf Day. This day is
in aid of the older rugby players of the area. It is also one of those
days that is well known for the fun atmosphere on the course.
Tubatse Chrome Golf Club members are encourage to also
register for the Captains Cup and Better Ball Club for 2015. In
the Captains Cup players enter and play singles games against
each other. This is a knock out format and the winner goes through
to the next round. The Better Ball Cup is played in pairs and two
players play against another team. This is also a knock out format
and the winners go through to the next round. The competition fee
is R130 per person. If you play in both competitions the amount of
R260 is to be paid.
The Chrome Club Championships will take place on 14 and 15
March. Tee off time will be 07:00. There are A, B and C Divisions
for Ladies and gentlemen. Medal (A&B) and IPS (C) competition.
Entry fee is: R270 and this includes the halfway house on both
days. The tee off on Sunday will be according to ranking. For more
information contact Martin van Rooyen on 072 564 2811.