Mountain of Eskom debt blamed on consumers 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 3 May 2022 According to Ntekele, the electrical demand far exceeds the supply that the municipality is capable of providing. Amidst intermittent national load shedding, electrical outages and municipal load reduction, the community of Msukaligwa are gnawing on hard bones. According to Msukaligwa Local Municipality’s (MLM) director Ntekele, the load reduction is implemented as a last resort to avoid being completely switched off by Eskom for exceeding the notified maximum demand (NMD) set forth by the power utility. According to Ntekele, the electrical demand far exceeds the supply that the municipality is capable of providing. Ntekele claimed that Eskom has set forth an ultimatum that the municipality must manage the load to avoid exceeding the NMD, which, according to Eskom, will cause damage to transformers, cables and infrastructure. Ntekele has stated during a meeting that the current infrastructure isn’t rated to handle a higher electricity demand without suffering damage. According to the director, requesting a higher NMD from Eskom requires infrastructure upgrades, which the municipality simply does not have the fiscal capacity to provide. He also claims that Eskom charges an exorbitant amount to increase the NMD, and claims that Eskom does not have the appetite to supply a higher rating. Furthermore, the director claims that the agreement between Eskom and the municipality, which dates back to circa 1985, has not been sufficiently amended to provide adequate electrical supply to meet the demand of the rapidly expanding Ermelo and surroundings. The situation is of such a nature that even the Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken note, and wrote a letter to the COGTA MEC. “The DA finds it extremely concerning that during the recent load shedding, the residents and business owners of Ermelo have been forced to face 12 hours or more without electricity - as areas in Msukaligwa Local Municipality faced a combination of load shedding together with load reduction because the municipality goes over the Notified Maximum Demand from Eskom. In a number of municipalities across the province, situations like these not only place a strain on businesses in the area but it also can destroy household appliances due to fluctuating voltages and the potential surge when turning the power back on. It is shocking to note that if Msukaligwa Local Municipality was able to capitalize on reducing the exceptionally high electricity distribution loss of 45% as reported on in the 2019/ 2020 Auditor General’s report, the residents and businesses could have been saved from this prolonged darkness,” the DA’s Trudie Grové-Morgan said. To add insult to injury, Eskom has released a list of the top ten defaulting municipalities in Mpumalanga, which includes MLM. According to Eskom, the top ten owes a combined amount over R13 billion. eMalahleni is the biggest debt culprit, and owes Eskom nearly R6 billion in arrear payment. MLM is, as of 31 March 2022, R153 719 572 in arrears on their repayment agreement to Eskom. This, in turn also has an adverse effect on Eskom’s willingness to increase the NMD to MLM, seen as repayment is a clear hurdle. However, shortly after Eskom’s announcement, MLM was quick on the draw, releasing a statement claiming that consumers owe the municipality an amount of R909 557 309 for service delivery. However, residents have scoffed at the statement in derision. “If you skip one month of payments to the municipality, even if you pay late, you are swiftly disconnected by the municipality. How is it possible to have so many non-paying residents. That is a clear indication that the municipality’s finance department is not doing its work in collection of funds,” one resident stated. In addition to this, questions are also raised if this is an actual owed amount by residents. MLM has garnered a notorious reputation for wholly incorrect and exorbitant estimates of water and utlitly accounts, which are rarely corrected and updated on the crippled billing system. According to MLM, Ermelo owes nearly R220 million in service delivery fees, with Wesselton owing R191 million, Breyten owes R150 million, Lothair owes R93 million, Davel owes R56 million, Chrissiesmeer owes R44 million, Sheepmoor owes nearly R9 million, Warburton owes a mere R213 000. MLM further states that state departments owe nearly R22 million, the business sector owes R170 million, and farms owe nearly R47 million. It is unclear at this stage how farms were calculated, as the majority of farms are Eskom supplied. < Previous Article Next Article >

Inwoners word genoop om aan te sluit by buurtwag groepe Ken Robertson, VF Plus. Ken Robertson, VF Plus. Ken Robertson, VF Plus. 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 8 September 2020 In ‘n voorval naby Bethal het rowers by ‘n kleinhoewe ‘n deur van mnr. Butch Goosen oopgeskop waarna ‘n skietery tussen mnr. Goosen en sy aanvallers plaasgevind het. Mnr Goosen is in die bors geskiet en is na ‘n hospitaal gebring. Die rowers is nog soek. Dit is van die grootste noodsaaklikheid vir mense wat in landelike gebiede woon om hul waaksaamheid te verskerp, om voor te berei teen misdaad en by buurtwag groepe en gemeenskapspolisiëringsforums (GPF's) aan te sluit. Dit word onderstreep deur die onlangse voorval waar mev. Erika Muller van Rietkol naby Sundra, wat alleen tuis was nadat haar man, Sampie, plaaswerkers gaan haal het, ’n aanval afgeweer het deur haar veiligheidshekke te sluit en op haar aanvallers te skiet. Daar bestaan geen twyfel nie dat gereedheid, goeie kommunikasie en die gemeenskaplike doelwit van buurtwaggroepe en samewerking met die polisie lei tot die voorkoming van meer plaasaanvalle in Rietkol en Sundra. Na die aanval op mev. Muller het goeie kommunikasie tussen die buurtwag en die polisie gelei tot die inhegtenisneming van twee verdagtes. ’n Derde verdagte is tydens ’n skietgeveg noodlottig gewond. In ‘n tweede voorval naby Bethal het rowers by ‘n kleinhoewe ‘n deur van mnr. Butch Goosen oopgeskop waarna ‘n skietery tussen mnr. Goosen en sy aanvallers plaasgevind het. Mnr Goosen is in die bors geskiet en is na ‘n hospitaal gebring. Die rowers is nog soek. Die VF Plus doen ʼn beroep op alle Suid-Afrikaners, en veral boere, om hul voor te berei vir die moontlikheid van misdaad en aanvalle en om binne die reg op te tree om hulself en hul eiendom te beskerm. < Previous Article Next Article >

Kreatiewe dames geniet verfklas 1/1 Share SH HATTINGH 14 July 2020 Al was die weer nie van die beste nie en die yskoue wind het om die hoeke gehuil buite, het die dames die dag terdeë geniet. Daar was heerlike koffie en tee bedien, asook smaaklike groentesop om die koue te trotseer. Op Saterdag,11 Julie, het Chalk Paint and Coffee Joint ‘n wonderlike kunsklas aangebied. Tydens die uiters interessante klas het die dames ‘n wasgoedmandjie geverf, en self versier met’n “waterslide” prent van hul eie keuse. Al was die weer nie van die beste nie en die yskoue wind het om die hoeke gehuil buite, het die dames die dag terdeë geniet. Daar was heerlike koffie en tee bedien, asook smaaklike groentesop om die koue te trotseer. < Previous Article Next Article >

The 88kV Line - Words akin to foul language 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 8 June 2021 "The municipality has since moved some of the kiosks from 88kV substation to the 11kV substation in order to try and ameliorate the situation at the 88kV." As residents sit and contemplate their fate in the darkness of yet another and endlessly ongoing electrical outage, tempers are starting to flare, and many sit in desperation. Scores of residents have been left, and still are, without electricity, as Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) flogs the 88kV line horse to tatters. According to the responses provided by the call centre and electrical support groups, alleged overloading of the electrical infrastructure is causing havoc on all fronts, leaving hundreds of residents in the cold and dark for days on end. Many have complained about damages suffered from electrical fluctuations, with droves of geysers, televisions and residential circuit breakers biting the dust as the electrical supply spikes repeatedly. The constant barrage of electrical flow being switched on and off have caused thousands or Rands worth of damage to residents, and even more to MLM, as substations, junction boxes and circuit breakers melt, catch fire, explode, or are irreparably damaged. As the municipality states that illegal connections are to blame, coupled with residents “drawing too much electricity” for the 88kV and 11kV lines to handle, many residents aren’t biting on the carrot presented by MLM. Rolling bouts of load reduction is the order of the day, with the electrical supply often failing to return after the scheduled times. Even more frustrating to residents is the fact that the apparent schedule issued by MLM is rarely followed, and load reduction is implemented without notice, and without consequence. The community must simply grin and bear the mounting issues. Speaking to Mr. Zwane, municipal spokesman, attempts at obtaining clarity regarding the rolling outages produced the following reply: “The municipality reiterates that there are two substations. The first one is called the 88kV substation, where Eskom is supplying the municipality with Notified Maximum Demand (NMD) of 14 MVA. The second substation is called 11kV sub station, where Eskom is supplying the municipality NMD of 27MVA. The municipality has since moved some of the kiosks from 88kV substation to the 11kV substation in order to try and ameliorate the situation at the 88kV. The NMDs for the four substations are informed by the electrical master plan, which is in line with the growth of the municipality. During the winter period there’s exponential increase on power demand causes load to exceed the licensed NDM per substation. Unfortunately, numerous informal settlements mushroom all over the municipal area, and started connecting illegally into municipal electrical grid. This then causes a spike on the power load demand. MLM tried in numerous accounts to cut off the illegal connections from our grid, with no luck. MLM went as far as hiring external service provider to eradicate this problem. MLM exceeded the licensed NMD, and incurring payable penalties. This precipitated the inclination in Eskom bills. Over the past five years, together with ESKOM, the ANC led government in Msukaligwa Local Municipality has facilitated the electrification of 1195 new households between 2016 and 2021. The percentage of households that are electrified increased from 44683 (87%) in 2016 to 45878 (90%) in June 2020. The electricity master plan for the entire Msukaligwa LM was developed in 2019. The master plan guided the development of technical reports for electricity infrastructure development and upgrades which are still under consideration by the Department of Energy. Public lighting has been provided to various communities, as thirty new high mast lights were installed throughout the municipality. The municipality has built a switch station /substation 88/11kV in Ermelo Extension 33, and further constructed the MV line and switching station at Extension 7 and refurbishment of switching station at Extension 6. Integrated national electrification programme (INEP) of R10 million, and another R10 million to replace the burnt transformer at 88kV late last year.” The Tribune ePaper has lodged a detailed enquiry with MLM regarding the plan to resolve the electrical crisis, with the response dated to be printed in next week’s publication. < Previous Article Next Article >

Rietspruit Farm finally allocated for housing The residents who invaded the farm in 2018, amidst corruption allegations within the DOHS. Rietspruit Farm was also the star of a dodgy deal saga, that involved the DOHS state security minister, one Bongani Bongo. Cllr. Mkhaliphi during the sod-turning ceremony. The residents who invaded the farm in 2018, amidst corruption allegations within the DOHS. 1/4 Share GK CRONJE 15 September 2020 Rietspruit Farm was also the star of a dodgy deal saga, that involved the DOHS state security minister, one Bongani Bongo. At the time, Bongo was the head of legal at Mpumalanga DOHS, where Rietspruit Farm was purchased by the department for a whopping R36 million. It came to light that the farm was actually valued at a mere R12 million. In a surprising turn of events, Rietspruit Farm near Ermelo (also known as Extension 44), has been allocated by the Department of Human Settlements (DOHS) to house nearly 5 000 housing units. This flagship project was recently officiated by Msukaligwa Local Municipality’s executive mayor, Cllr. Mkhaliphi, during a sod-turning ceremony. Gert Sibande District Municipality GSDM) regional planning unveiled that a reported 5 760 stands will be made available, with an estimated 4 000 mixed housing opportunities. Plans for more than 600 rental units were also mentioned. The project will be constructed on portion 6 of the site. Residential, retail and parks were touted as the main attraction, and water, sewage and roads infrastructure will be made available by DOHS. According to available information, DOHS purchased the land, and it was handed to MLM for the purpose of this development. DOHS will also appoint town planners to spearhead the development. This development did not come to pass without its fair share of woes and unrest from the community, who invaded the land in 2018. Thousands of residents flocked to the site to mark and measure out their stands, as word was passed around that development was planned at the site. Rietspruit Farm was also the star of a dodgy deal saga, that involved the DOHS state security minister, one Bongani Bongo. At the time, Bongo was the head of legal at Mpumalanga DOHS, where Rietspruit Farm was purchased by the department for a whopping R36 million. It came to light that the farm was actually valued at a mere R12 million, and the Hawks pounced with an extensive investigation. Bongo was later axed due to several reasons, which included failure to deliver on RDP housing and allegations of politicking. He has, however, been reintegrated into parliament, where he now faces charges of corruption and bribery involving Eskom and state capture. The Rietspruit Farm allocation has been a sleeper since 2011, and is seemingly finally been brought to potential by the DOHS. < Previous Article Next Article >

Fraudster nabbed by Hawks Fraudster nabbed by Hawks 1/1 Share Supplied Content 26 August 2022 The alleged contract also stated that the investment shall be paid back to the investors with returns, as a lump sum of R302 370 on or before 30 September 2020. Mbhasobhi Amos Zulu (39) appeared before the Bethal Magistrate Court for fraud worth one million Rand on Tuesday, 23 August 2022. Zulu was, on 14 July 2022, served with summons by the Middelburg based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation to appear in court to face his fraud allegations. It is alleged that the suspect met with his victims, informed them about his business, and that they must invest in his company, Mbhasi Trading (PTY) LTD. The victims signed an investment agreement with the suspect on 28 August 2020. The contract was between the Mbhasa Trading PTY LTD, and the victims as investors, provided the contract holder with financial investment amount of R85 000, paid by electronic fund transfer (EFT). The alleged contract also stated that the investment shall be paid back to the investors with returns, as a lump sum of R302 370 on or before 30 September 2020. After the contract was signed, several EFTs were made to the victims between 4 September and the 7 October 2020, and the suspect allegedly received a total amount of R3 910 000. The suspect manufactured a fraudulent proof of payment from his account 8 August 2020, claiming that the total transfer amount of R3 910 000 did not all reflect on the receiving account, and the suspects suffered a total loss of R1 256 000. The suspect appeared before the Bethal Magistrate Court, and the case was transferred to Bethal Regional Court, where it was postponed to 30 August 2022 for further investigation. < Previous Article Next Article >

AfriForum help om buiteklaskamer op te rig Op die foto verskyn Bronwen Pretorius, Heinrich Jansen van Rensburg, Frikkie du Plessis, Marius Nel en Renier van Heerden. Op die foto verskyn Bronwen Pretorius, Heinrich Jansen van Rensburg, Frikkie du Plessis, Marius Nel en Renier van Heerden. 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 2 February 2021 Skole vir ons kinders, en eendag kleinkinders ook, is vir ons baie belangrik en lê ons na aan die hart. Die AfriForum-tak in Ermelo het in Desember en Januarie as deel van dié organisasie se Ons Dorp-projek gehelp om plaveisel ter waarde van R33 000 by die pre-primêre skool JJ van der Merwe te lê. Dié projek is aangepak om die skool te help om ’n buiteklaskamer vir die kleuters op te rig. Die tak het gehelp om die gedeelte waar die klaskamer is skoon te maak, en ’n kontrakteur is aangestel om die stene te lê. Die buiteklaskamer is ’n groot aanwins vir die kleuterskool, en buiteklasaktiwiteite en verjaarsdagvieringe kan daar plaasvind. “Skole vir ons kinders, en eendag kleinkinders ook, is vir ons baie belangrik en lê ons na aan die hart. Dit is vir ons as Ermelo-tak lekker om hoop te kan skep in ons skole,” sê Renier van Heerden, voorsitter van AfriForum se Ermelo-tak. Raak vandag nog deel van AfriForum se Ermelo-tak en word deel van die verskil: SMS “Ermelo” na 45350 (R1). Op die foto verskyn Bronwen Pretorius, Heinrich Jansen van Rensburg, Frikkie du Plessis, Marius Nel en Renier van Heerden. < Previous Article Next Article >

Moord en geweerskote skok inwoners Moord en geweerskote skok inwoners 1/2 Share SM HATTINGH 7 September 2021 Verdere ondersoek het die SAPS gelei na Ermelo Provinsiale Hospitaal, waar een verdagte met 'n skietwond in die buik, en nog 'n verdagte met 'n skietwond in die regter bobeen aangetref is. Ermelo SAPD ondersoek 1 klag van moord, 2 klagte van poging tot moord, en 1 klag van poging tot gewapende roof na aanleiding van 'n skietvoorval wat ongeveer 19:30 op Vrydag, 3 September, te Oosthuise Straat plaasgevind het. Na bewering het 'n groep verdagtes gepoog om twee vriende, wat oppad was na Wesselton, te beroof. Die groep het die twee mans omsingel, en een verdagte van die groep was gewapen met 'n mes. Een van die vriende het vier skote op die groep verdagtes, wat hul omsingel het, afgevuur. Een van die verdagtes is dood aan getref by naby geleë woonstelle, met ‘n noodlottige skietwond in die buik. Verdere ondersoek het die SAPS gelei na Ermelo Provinsiale Hospitaal, waar een verdagte met 'n skietwond in die buik, en nog 'n verdagte met 'n skietwond in die regter bobeen aangetref is. Die verdagte met die buikwond is ernstig beseer, en die persoon met die wond in die been is behandel en ontslaan. Die man wie die skote afgevuur het, het die voorval by Ermelo SAPD gaan aanmeld. Tydens latere navrae by die SAPD, het die verdagte wat in die hospitaal behandel was vir sy buikwond, ook beswyk. < Previous Article Next Article >

Allegations of abuse surface at Expropriation Bill public hearing 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 20 April 2021 The claims of ill treatment of farm dwellers and farm workers dominated the committee’s public hearings in Ermelo, and participants expressed their support to the bill, as farm dwellers told the committee about their severe living conditions on the farms. On Saturday, the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure hosted a public hearing at the Ella de Bruin Hall in Ermelo in light of the implementation of the Expropriation Bill. The Expropriation Bill repeals the existing Expropriation Act of 1975 to provide a common framework in line with the Constitution, to guide the processes and procedures for the expropriation of property by organs of state, and to provide for certain instances where expropriation with nil compensation may be appropriate in the public interest. The meeting in Ermelo also shifted focus to allegations of human rights abuse against farm dwellers, which will be referred to the relevant committees in Parliament. The claims of ill treatment of farm dwellers and farm workers dominated the committee’s public hearings in Ermelo, and participants expressed their support to the bill, as farm dwellers told the committee about their severe living conditions on the farms. They added that they hoped the legislation will rescue them from aleged abuse by land owners. The public hearing in Ermelo formed part of a four-day consultation programme in Mpumalanga. . < Previous Article Next Article >

New bank card suggested by the SARB 1/1 Share GK CRONJE 16 March 2021 This should allow for cheaper transactions than those offered by institutions such as Visa and Mastercard. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) stated that it will conduct an assessment on the feasibility of establishing a domestic card scheme. The central bank said that the assessment will look at creating ‘white-label’ banking cards that can only be used in South Africa or neighbouring countries, which should allow for cheaper transactions than those offered by institutions such as Visa and Mastercard. “In South Africa, Visa and Mastercard have dominated the card scheme market. In 2019, approximately 48.8 million cards were in circulation in South Africa, and 5.6 billion transactions to the value of R2.1 trillion were processed,” the SARB said. “This is an increase in volume of 16.2% and in value of 15.6% compared to 2018. A card scheme is therefore a key component of the NPS.” The SARB said that most of unbanked South Africans have no immediate need for a card that can be used overseas. “This raises the question regarding the scope for developing white-label or locally branded cards as cheaper alternatives to the brands of the major card schemes, especially for consumers who do not enter into global internet transactions or use cards beyond the borders of South Africa or beyond the Southern African Development Community (SADC). SARB said. The Reserve Bank said that the success of a sustainable domestic card scheme would depend on the collective effort and support of card issuers, retailers, consumers, regulators, policymakers, and government departments. < Previous Article Next Article >

Ermelo Rotary gives the love 1/3 Share GK CRONJE 23 March 2021 "What an awesome feeling to be able to make a difference in her & her families daily life.” On Wednesday, 17 March2021, Ermelo Phoenix Rotary Club visited Emmerentia Grové to gift her a wheelchair. At 94 years young, Emmerentia was in desperate need for a wheel chair after a tough year in 2020 medically. Club Secretary Lawrence Wood said “It is a pleasure & privilege to be able to assist with Emmerentia’s first wheel chair. What an awesome feeling to be able to make a difference in her & her families daily life.” He also thanks those who supports Phoenix Rotary to make this possible. While Emmerentia said she is “very, very thankful. Since November last year, it has been harder to see and move around, so will always treasure this gesture from Ermelo Phoenix Rotary.” - Information published as received from Ermelo Rotary . < Previous Article Next Article >

World Alzheimer’s Month: Understand the warning signs and symptoms of dementia 1/2 Share GK CRONJE 8 September 2020 Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of dementia, a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are warning signs and symptoms, but every individual may experience one or more of these signs to a different degree. One of the most common signs of dementia, especially in the early stage, is forgetting recently learned information. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and this September, for World Alzheimer’s Month, Livewell aims to encourage understanding, reduce stigma, and raise awareness around this common, yet devastating disease. Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of dementia, a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are warning signs and symptoms, but every individual may experience one or more of these signs to a different degree. One of the most common signs of dementia, especially in the early stage, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking for the same information over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. People with dementia often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes they may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game. People with dementia can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of dementia. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance, and determining colour or contrast, which may cause problems with driving. People with dementia may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand clock.”) A person with dementia may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time. People with dementia may experience changes in judgment or decision making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. A person with dementia may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favourite sports team or remembering how to complete a favourite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced. The mood and personalities of people with dementia can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. If you, or someone you care about is experiencing any of these warning signs, please consult with a medical professional. Early diagnosis gives you a chance to seek treatment and plan for your future. < Previous Article Next Article >