SERIAL MURDERER SENTENCED TO ANOTHER LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR KILLING OLD WOMEN
MPUMALANGA – Today, 5 August 2021, The High Court in Mbombela sentenced serial murderer, Shaun Oosthuizen (41) to an additional life imprisonment sentence plus 15 years on Thursday 5 August, for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
On 8 July 2018, the accused travelled from Gauteng to Nelspruit where he went to Macadamia Old Age Home to rob and kill Henrietta Catharina Potgieter (85). He was arrested and was later released on bail after his persistent applications.
While he was out on bail, the accused further committed another murder of an elderly resident, Barbara Esme Fenton (74) by strangling her to death on 1 September 2018 at her home in Alberton. The Hawks’ investigation led to the arrest of Oosthuizen immediately after the incident and he was further linked to another murder that occurred on 24 June 2018 where Engela Van Wyk (86) was killed and robbed at Rus n Bietjie Old Age Home in Springs.
The case was finalised where the accused was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for Van Wyk’s murder and 15 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances.
In December 2019, Oosthuizen was sentenced to life imprisonment for Fenton’s death and 20 years imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances. He will serve a total of three life sentences for killing three old women and 50 years for further robbing them.
The Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, Major General Zodwa Mokoena applauded the investigating team for securing life sentences. “We appreciate the collaboration between the investigators and judiciary for ensuring that the heartless criminal who tormented the elderly who could not fight for themselves is removed from the community,” she said.
Elzette Botes het by ‘n spog geleentheid haar skool en Secunda vaarwel geroep.
Elzette Botes
Die saal was spoggerig opgemaak en uitgenooide gaste kon die laaste funksie saam met haar deurbring.
Elzette Botes was vir 33 jaar verbonde aan Hoërskool Oosterland. In 2000 is sy as waarnemende hoof aangestel en 2002 as adjunkhoof. Vanaf 2005 het sy weer as waarnemende hoof diens gedoen en in 2008 is sy as hoof aangestel waar sy gedien het tot en met haar aftrede einde Julie vanjaar.
Hoërskool Oosterland het destyds as die tweede Afrikaanse Skool bekend gestaan.
Sy het in haar toespraak vertel hoe sy idees geleën het by ander skole, soos bv die Wiele skou en die “mascot” Kaptein. Elzette het self al ‘n paar keer die uitrusting aangetrek. Sy het ook baie lof aan haar “enjinkamer” gebring. Sonder hulle sou sy nie haar taak as hoof kon verrig nie het sy gesê.
Elzette het ook tydens haar toespraak haar geskiedenis in hoofstukke ingedeel en haar interesante geskiedenis met almal gedeel. Ky gerus na die volle toespraak hier onder.
Sy het die musiek sentrum in klasse omskep en gesorg dat die skool ‘n paveljoen kry. Onder haar leiding het die skool woonstelle vir die jong onderwysers gebou, ‘n Krieket akedemie begin en die orkes uitgebrei na ongeveer 80 lede.
Elzette Botes sal onthou word vir haar toewyding by die skool. Sy het op haar laaste dag gesorg dat sy haar klasse nog aanbied en het niks gemis nie.
Elzette en haar man, Antonie, verruil die Hoëveld vir hulle nuwe huis in Hartenbos.
Die Skool het haar ook onlangs vereer deur die splinternuwe meerdoel sentrum na haar te vernoem.
Elzette Botes was betrokke by al die aspekte van die skool en sal voorwaar gemis word.
Die Bulletin wens haar en Antonie alle voorspoed toe daar in Hartenbos. Mag julle die aftrede geniet en julle tone natmaak in die see.
Bethal SPCA recently held their Annual General Meeting (AGM).
A new committee was elected. Rina Naude will now be leading the committee with Marie van der Merwe stepping down as chairperson.
The meeting was held in good spirit and issues such as Finances, Food and the future of the SPCA (Bethal) were discussed. The Bethal SPCA are under tremendous pressure to try and keep operating.
“Bethal SPCA has been in operation for over 25 years, serving the communities of Bethal, eMzoneni and Davel. Presently, we are also servicing Kriel, Standerton and as far afield as Ermelo. We have been in operation with no support from local government (Govan Mbeki municipality) and a little support from the local community.” Said Barbara Mitton, vice-chairperson at Bethal SPCA, “We are now in imminent danger of closing our doors due to lack of funds. There is no other animal welfare organisation operating in said areas and therefore it is vital to keep our doors open.”
“Municipalities are legally obligated to provide the community with a sustainable animal pound, to provide a safe environment for stray animals. However, we do not receive any funding for tirelessly providing this service and the municipality has failed to pay for these services,” she said.
FLTR: Carolina Darling (Committee member), Laurna Coetzer (Secretary and Operations Manager), Marie Van Der Merwe (Committee member), Andre Du Plessis (Treasurer), Barbara Mitton (Vice-Chairperson), Elmarie van Huyssteen (Committee member), Rina Naude (Chairperson)
Bethal SPCA has a small management committee that works hard at trying to raise funds, however, in these economic times, it is very difficult to sustain the service they provide for the community. “We are an essential service, attending to emergencies, cruelty complaints, routine facility inspections, collection of strays and unwanted animals as well as holding regular Outreach clinics, educating the public, arranging sterilisation and vaccination drives,” said Barbara, “If we no longer exist, what is going to happen to all of these functions, not to mention the abandoned, lost and abused animals?”
The running costs for Bethal SPCA are currently at R40 – R50000 per month. With 4 full-time staff and one part-time staff member, it is difficult to keep the SPCA afloat.
“Our staff are loyal, overworked, passionate and we cannot afford to lose them,” said Barbara when she spoke to The Bulletin, “We are grateful to the community that generously donate dog and cat food as well as diesel for our vehicles but to make Bethal SPCA sustainable, financial support is needed urgently. Please consider donating to our bank account or contact us regarding ways to help us.”
We at The Bulletin can attest to the hard work that this SPCA is doing. Please support them financially as well. Here are the banking details:
Banking details:
Acc name: SPCA Bethal
Acc number: 03 103 325 3
Type of acc: Current/cheque Bank:
STANDARD bank
Branch code: 05 25 44
The animals depend on YOU to keep the SPCA operational.
Fundraising has become their biggest source of income Lotto made donations in the past but is closed due to the lockdown and are not accepting any new applications currently.
Barbara explained to The Bulletin regarding ways that one can contribute, “We have an active Adopt a Kennel program in place and any donations can generate an 18a tax receipt.”
Regular donations are desperately needed. Big fundraising events are mostly cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. Fundraising should also be expanded to areas of operation such as Ermelo, Standerton and Kriel.
The past year saw several groups extending a hand to Bethal SPCA to help with the maintenance of the kennels. The walls have also been painted with beautiful murals during the past year, all in SPCA blue. Recently Lizma Swanepoel slept in the cages to raise awareness and funds for Bethal SPCA. Just over R5000 were collected for her effort.
The Bulletin would like to challenge businesses from all over GMM as well as Kriel, Standerton and Ermelo to consider monthly contributions to Bethal SPCA. Make a commitment for a year and make a difference in the lives of countless animals.
We, at The Bulletin, will compile an advert for the Bethal SPCA, on a monthly basis, that will contain info on every long-term commitment of R500 or more. Please contact us at 0664867141 or encee@thebulletin.co.za for more info on this.
“A big thank you to the public for all their contributions the past few years that assisted us to be able to continue our work. Without contributions from them, Bethal SPCA would not be able to exist. Everything depends on the availability of financial funds which are needed for salaries, fuel, maintenance of vehicles and our building, veterinarian costs, water & lights, telephone etc. to cover daily expenses.” Said Marie van der Merwe, outgoing Chairperson, in her Chairpersons report, “With the Covid virus it was impossible to host big fundraising events, even though we regularly held sales of boerewors rolls, hamburgers and sosaties, it was as the saying goes – only a penny in the jar.”
The Bulletin also observed the lack of interest from the public in attending the AGM. Please support the Bethal SPCA.
Let us all stand together and help the Bethal SPCA with funds to continue serving the community.
Geniet nog ‘n aflewering van “So is die Lewe” uit die pen van Marius Britz.
Uitgestrekte wit strande is lekker, ja. Die hemelsblou see is ‘n belewenis, ja. Die seiljagte wat lui verbyvaar is mooi om te sien, ja. Die gekrys van seemeeue en die gedruis van die malgaskolonies op Dasseneiland is lekker om te hoor, ja. Nou, wat op aarde kan dan onaangenaam wees op ‘n plekkie soos Langebaan, behalwe die Swart Suidoos wat so kan waai?
Kom ek vertel jou: die buitelandse toeriste, soms. Hulle loop die sypaadjies en winkelgange vol, hulle eet die duurste geregte in die restourante vir spotgoedkoop as gevolg van die wisselkoers, hulle stamp jou uit die pad om eerste by die rakke uit te kom, hulle kwetter en kweel luidrugtig in onverstaanbare tale, en hulle kyk van die hoogte af neer op ons Suid Afrikaners. Hulle koop sakke en sakke vol houtolifante en draadboompies en skulphartjies, wat hulle dan onverstoord in die middel van die straat vir mekaar staan en wys, terwyl die karre maar moet maar wag.
Sou jy die vrymoedigheid neem om flussies op jou toeter te druk, kry jy so vuilerige, afwesige kyk. Daai kyk wat jy in die wildtuin vir die bobbejane gee as hulle jou piekniekkos wil steel. Regdeur die jaar is die strate vol toerbusse en word ons weskusdorpie ingeval deur die kamerabrigades. Word ons oorgelewer aan onverstaanbare tale en gewoontes.
Een manier om daarvan te ontsnap is om, sê maar, jou pille by die staatskliniek te gaan haal. Of om die daaglikse winskopies by Shoprite te gaan koop. Of eenvoudig te gaan brandstof ingooi by Mouton Motors. Want daar word jy werklik deel van jóu mense, mense wat die dorp en die land met jou deel, wat dieselfde erfenis as jy het, mense wat jy kan verstaan.
“More more!” sê die man wat met sy fiets en ‘n sleepwaentjie deur die dorp ry. “Hie is lekke samoesas vemore? Spesiaal met die kerrie net soes menee daavan hou…” By die vulstasie vra die pompjoggie: “Nou wane gaan menee daai poer-poer (motorfiets) aan my vekoep? Ek vyl al lankal my tanne vi hom!” Hy lag en vertel my oor ‘n buurman se kaskenades die naweek. “Daai klas wyn is nie vir ‘n man met ‘n dun kopvel nie. Hy wou toe baklei soes iemand wat op medical aid is! Is true my broe!”
In die tou by die kliniek sit ek en my huishulp skouer aan skouer. Om ons is mense wat praat oor hulle lewens. Covid en die dra van maskers. Inentings. Kos wat so duur geword het. Die moordsyfer in Kaapstad. Die munisipaliteit wat so onverbiddelik is oor onbetaalde rekeninge. Hoe mooi dit is as die Silwer Valke oor die dorp vlieg, en hoe trots ons almal opkyk na die lug as hulle so dreun en draai oor die Baai. Hoe bekommerd ons oor ons kinders is wat nie werk kry nie. Hulle vertel my hoe mooi Pastoor gepraat het by die kerk Sondag oor liefde en die naaste.
Ons is almal Suid Afrikaners. Ons voel dieselfde pyn oor misdaad, korrupsie, nepotisme, staatskaping en opruiende uitsprake. Maar ons kry almal trane in ons oë as die volkslied gesing word, en ons almal is oorstelp as iemand op die dorpsgroepie op facebook benoud vra dat almal moet help soek na hulle lieflinghondjie wat uitgekom het, en dan laat weet die hondjie is ongedeerd gekry.
Ons luister lekker saam hoe iemand vertel hoe hulle gelag het vir ‘n soveelste heruitsending van ‘n Leon Schuster-fliek, en ons lag hartlik as een vrou vertel hoe haar ma haar tande in die branders verloor het, en toe sy gaan vra by die lewensredders se kantore of iemand nie dalk haar tande daar ingegee het nie, toe trek hulle ‘n groot laai vol tande oop, en sy moet maar soek. Ons lag, ons huil, ons filosofeer, ons terg, ons betoon meegevoel, ons verstaan. Want ons deel een erfenis, een land. Ons het ‘n groot gemeenskaplike snypunt.
Ek loop daarna deur my huis, peinsend oor hierdie erfenis-ding. Ek sien soveel dinge wat wys wie ek is, waar ek vandaan kom. My erfenis. Ons erfenis. Myne en almal daar by die kliniek en by Shoprite. Ouma se gehekelde doilies (in my man-cave weggesteek.) Die ballerinapop met haar uitstaanrok wat bo-oor die ekstra toiletrol op die toiletbak gesit word. (In die garage in ‘n houer.) Die tapeserie van die Voortrekkermonument wat ouma gemaak het (in die karoohuis opgehang.)
Die Supersonic-radio langs my bed wat Saterdagaande U eie Keuse op RSG speel. Buurman wat malvas uithaal, en op die heining neersit as ek dit dalk wil plant. Breyten Breytenbach en Andrè P Brink. Ingrid Jonker en Herman Charles Bosman. Dana Snyman en Deon Meyer. Van Wyk Louw, Nadine Gordimer en JM Coetzee.
Eensklaps besef ek hoe ryk ek geërf het. Nie aan geld nie, maar aan hartsdinge, omring deur hartsmense wat dieselfde as ek dink, oor dieselfde dinge as ek lag. Mense wat soms, op die mees onverwagte oomblik, met ‘n skreeusnaakse opmerking kan kom. Wat vir die lastige buitelandse toeriste agterna skreeu: “Moenie soe wiesie man…!”
Die dinge wat ek sê het ‘n groot invloed op wat in ons eie lewens sowel as ander mense se lewens gebeur. Dit dra groot krag, so hoe werk ons met hierdie krag?
Wat gee die bybel ons as gereedskap tot hierdie lewe.
Storm ravage Visser flats in Trichardt finaly gets the roof replaced
A hefty storm early in October 2020 destroyed the roof of two of the low-cost housing units known as the Visser Flats on the edge of Trichardt. Elderly residents of these flats hastily attempted to save their belongings from water streaming in through the roof with plastic that was supplied by a community organization.
The municipality allegedly showed up a day or so later to assess the damage but never made an insurance claim with their insurer for repairs to the damaged buildings. In December 2020, residents of the flats, still with the plastic covering part of their living room, emotionally shared with the Democratic Alliance how Christmas is only going to be a sad story for them since their houses have not yet been repaired. A hole in the roof was obvious with water damage to the ceiling being visible.
Thanks to consistent pressure from the DA, by January 2021 the Govan Mbeki Municipality finally submitted a claim for the repairs of the roofs of the two flats that were affected by the storm. However, these claims took an eternity to be finalised and required constant follow-ups with the finance department and the council to finally focus the attention of the municipality on the pleas of the residents.
Finally, in August 2021, the municipality cleared up the claim and the zinc roofs of the flats were repaired.
“The DA is of the opinion that it is inhumane that the ANC-led municipality must forever be pushed and shoved before delivering services such as seeing to the safety of elderly residents in buildings that are owned by the municipality,” said Ciska Jordaan, ward 25 Councillor Govan Mbeki and Deputy chairperson of the DA Mpumalanga, “Despite the new roof, the Visser flats are in general in a sad state. Windows and carpets must be replaced in some of the flats, walls must be painted and electrical wiring is a problem.”
“Not only did it take nearly a year for the Govan Mbeki municipality to repair the roof while residents live with holes in their roof throughout the winter, but also do residents of the Davieshof housing struggle often to have geysers replaced and for general maintenance to take place.” she continued, “It is only a change in who has their hands on the Govan Mbeki Municipality’s pathetic money matters, that would bring a change in the services that are delivered.”
“I urge residents of Govan Mbeki to use their power in the coming Local Government Election to vote for a party that cares – the DA.” said Ciska Jordaan
Read more on the Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga HERE
Sasol enhances existing preventative workplace COVID-19 controls for its upcoming annual Secunda Operations shutdown
The news that Sasol had a huge Vaccination rollout where they will endeavour to vaccinate around 20000 people before the shutdown at the end of August had mixed reactions. Some welcomed the opportunity to vaccinate while others are unhappy about the apparent bullying (as they put it) by Sasol in forcing people to vaccinate. Solidarity had discussions with Sasol and another group will engage with Sasol during next week.
The Bulletin asked Sasol for their response on these reactions from the workers.
This was their response:
From 30 August till the end of September 2021, the Sasol Secunda Operations plant will undergo a major facility shutdown for statutory maintenance to critical infrastructure and equipment.
The shutdown will entail the execution of more than 90 000 activities over 23 days. During this period, the size of the workforce on site will increase substantially to nearly 20 000 people, comprising Sasol employees and those of service providers. Further, a significant number of the workforce will be service provider employees who will be converging in Secunda from different geographical areas to augment the need for critical skills and they will have to adjust to Sasol’s shutdown-specific workplace safety protocols.
“Sasol is acutely aware of the obligations imposed on it by the Occupational Health and Safety Act to provide and maintain, as far as is reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of its employees and others present at its premises.” said Matebello Motloung, Senior Specialist: Media Relations at Sasol, “Sasol also fully appreciates the gravity of this considering the abovementioned vastness of the shutdown activities to be undertaken by a large workforce and amid the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. This requires adherence to various other regulatory requirements, which we remain committed to complying with as well.”
For these reasons, although Sasol believes that its current Covid-19 workplace prevention measures and protocols are adequate and effective to protect employees under normal working conditions, we view the upcoming shutdown as a particularly high-risk event due to the possible spread of COVID-19 as South Africa is in the middle of the pandemic. This is also based on our updated workplace risk assessment, which considers the specific circumstances of the shutdown. It is therefore critical that we fulfil our workplace safety obligations by managing the shutdown as a potential super-spreader event as part of our COVID-19 workplace mitigation plan.
Sasol supports the view that the implementation of mitigation measures, including vaccinations in times of pandemics, is primarily in the interest of public health and safety and for the greater good of society.
Sasol further regards vaccination of the workforce involved in activities on-site during the shutdown period as a necessary and effective measure to mitigate the increased workplace exposure to the COVID-19 and the risk of it spreading. We do this while recognising that it remains an individual’s choice to be vaccinated, which choice is to be exercised with due consideration to individual rights and without any fear of discrimination or retaliation. This is underpinned by Sasol’s Human Rights Policy.
It is for this reason that employees that will be participating in activities on-site during the shutdown period are expected to submit either proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test (an antigen test will be accepted) result not older than 7 days prior to commencement of the shutdown activities, and to be repeated during the shutdown period every 7 days. This, in our view, is also in the interest of the health of the public, given the prevailing pandemic. Sasol is working with the National and provincial authorities on protocols for vaccination and other pandemic related response interventions.
Sasol is currently assessing the costs associated with the testing and exploring viable means of providing enabling support. Sasol continues its engagements with the workforce and other interested and affected parties for the above purposes, including the rendering support to enable the abovementioned objectives.
Sasol staff will not be forced to pay for COVID-19 testing, Solidariteit announced today
Thursday | 05 August | 2021
Solidarity today announced that staff at Sasol’s Secunda plant would no longer be forced to pay for Covid-19 tests themselves. This comes after Solidarity and Sasol earlier today had a meeting about the matter.
“We are pleased that after robust negotiations Sasol agreed to carry the costs of all Sasol staff members’ Covid-19 testing,” Riaan Visser, Solidarity’s deputy general secretary for mining, agriculture and the chemical industry said.
According to Solidarity, many people are still unsure about vaccination and this uncertainty must be respected.
“Discrimination is unacceptable as far as vaccination is concerned and it will add to the hesitation that exists about it. At the same time it will also reduce the effectiveness of any vaccination programme,” Visser stated.
Solidarity further contends that it cannot be expected of employees to bear the brunt of the state’s inefficiency with the vaccination programme.
“Although some people are still not sure about their decision regarding vaccination, there are also many who would like to be vaccinated, but simply cannot do so because of the slow progress of the government’s vaccination programme. Obviously, they should not pay the price for a government that has dragged its feet with the vaccination process,” Visser said.
Solidarity also emphasised its support for vaccinations and explained that although it should be every person’s own decision, the organisation still recommends that those who can, should be vaccinated.
“Research, including that of Solidarity’s Research Institute, shows that vaccinations are effective and safe. Therefore, we encourage vaccination. However, this must always be done on a voluntary basis and employers cannot attempt to impose unreasonable negative requirements on their employees if they decide against it or have not yet had the opportunity to be vaccinated,” Visser concluded.
MEC for Human Settlements, Speedy Mashilo, visited Lebohang today.
Mashilo addressed a small gathering at the taxi rank and brief the residents on the developments regarding land allocation for stands to build houses on.
Govan Mbeki Municipality faced violent protests during June that saw the municipal building gutted.
MEC Mashilo told the group that they had to look at the availability of land and Anglo Ashanti donated about 170 hectares for the project. Other sections of land would also be purchased soon.
Speedy Mashilo Portfolio: MEC for Human Settlements
A service provider has already been appointed by the office of the MEC and would start with the township establishment very soon. It is expected that the first contractors will be on-site on Tuesday.
He eluded that such establishments take time. It would take approximately 18 months but MEC Mashilo said that it should be finalised in eight months.
The Bulletin spoke to Speedy Mashilo Portfolio: MEC for Human Settlements as well as Nhlakanipo Zuma, Executive Mayor of GMM
The funds for the development would be made available from the Department of Human Settlement as GMM would not be able to carry such a financial burden at this time.
They are contemplating providing all the infrastructure needed in the area.
The executive Mayor of GMM, Cllr Zuma said that the intervention by the MEC is “very desired and could not come at a better time.”
Executive Mayor, Cllr Zuma
The MEC promised to keep monitoring this project with his whole team.
The Mayor said that they expected to make more than 10000 stands available with this project.
During the MEC’s address at the taxi rank, the feelings were mixed but those that the Bulletin spoke to said that they will wait and see if anything would happen.
The community threatened with protest action in the days before the MEC came to Leandra but have since quieted down in anticipation of the start of the project.
Here is the message that did the rounds on social media:
On 2021-07-29 a meeting was held at the old taxi rank in Leslie. The meeting was called by Mafika Shabalala @ Mshengu. The meeting was about the official visit by Mpumalanga MEC for Human settlement and Cogta as well as the GMM mayor in Leslie on the previously raised concerns ( Land for human settlement, taxi conflict over route and building of additional school in Leslie).
The community were made to believe that the MEC and entourage would come back to Leslie for a feedback as promised regarding a way forward on the above issues. Mshengu alleges that the community was not given feedback and when they tried to communicate with the offices of the mayor in GMM and also that of the MEC they are told that they would be given feedback SOON, which they believe the officials are trying to avoid them. The community at Leslie have now decided to it 7days after which if addressed accordingly with feedback they will resume Protest Actions. The possible date to resume protest actions is Thursday 2021-08-05
