Animals 101 – What to do if you found wildlife in your residential area or town.
At times, wild animals end up in our suburban areas. There are various reasons for this. When it happens, many people are concerned about them and want to help, but are unsure about how to handle the situation or who to contact. They can even put the animal’s life in danger by trying to help.
NEVER KEEP THE WILD ANIMAL as you might not be equipped to meet their needs and Google is not a veterinarian or wildlife expert. It is against the law to keep wild animals if you don’t have a permit, even if you plan to release them later. It is stressful for wild animals to be kept in a noisy environment where there are lots of unfamiliar smells. Stress is one of the biggest killers of rescued wildlife.
WHAT TO DO?
• If they are hurt, you should take them to your veterinarian. They should be able to address the emergency and if they are not equipped to treat the wildlife, they will have the right contacts to provide guidance. They are also not allowed to keep the animal indefinitely without a permit.
• If they are not injured or in danger, you can contact an animal welfare organisation or the SPCA, to advise you. Sometimes it could be best to just leave them.
• This is one of the situations where we refer to the SPCA as wildlife are rarely just euthanized and will be taken to a rehabilitation facility approved by the NSPCA or released back into the wild in a safe manner.
• If the local SPCA does not answer, try the NSPCA (011 907 3590/ nspca@nspca.co.za) directly. They will either contact the Wildlife unit or the local SPCA.
Some of their advice includes:
Prepare the container. This may differ depending on which animal you rescued.
Protect yourself. Wear gloves if necessary.
Cover the animal with a light towel or sheet.
Gently handle them in the correct manner. This differs for various animals!
Secure the container, but allow enough air holes.
Warm the animal if they are cold. Follow NPSCA guidelines.
Note the exact spot where the animal was found as this is important when the animal is released again.
Keep them in a quiet, safe, warm (depending on weather) dark place.
Keep your pets and children away from them.
Don’t bother them.
Don’t give food and water. This will obviously depend on how long the animal is with you and why it is important to get in contact with experts as soon as possible.
Contact a wildlife rescuer, the nature conservation department, your veterinarian, SPCA or other animal welfare organisations, as soon as possible.
Wash your hands and anything the animal was kept in or touched with.
Record any injuries you might have noticed and provide the rehabilitator with information about treatment you provided while they were in your care, especially if you have given them anything. Whether they have had any bowel movements is also an important note.
Never keep the animal with you any longer than necessary. You have a moral and legal obligation to hand them over to the right people. Many rescue animals and keep them, only to hand them over when they suddenly become sick. Then it might already be too late.
Note that animals like Egyptian geese lead their goslings to water a few days after hatching, often along busy streets. Do not “rescue” the goslings or any other little ones by separating them from their parents. You can rather escort the family through the traffic to the nearest pond.
Next week we will look at some tips on keeping your animals warm in the winter.
Mpumalanga Exco cites positive developments for the upliftment of the non-existent Section 139(1)(B) intervention.
Power disruptions as the order of the day, Sewer pump stations not working, Sewer spillages as the norm and spiralling debt is but a few of the municipality’s problems.
Add to this growing dissatisfaction with the current levels of service delivery. Protests started in Lebohang, eMbalenhle and Emzinoni because of the power disruptions as the main reason given.
While all of this is happening in Govan Mbeki Municipality the Mpumalanga Exco decided to uplift the intervention from the provincial legislature. This intervention was never acted upon since it was proclaimed by the MEC.
In a media statement dated 14 May 2021, the following was written:
UPLIFTMENT OF INTERVENTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH S139(1) (B) OF THE CONSTITUTION AT THE GOVAN MBEKI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY
The Executive Council received a progress report on the intervention at Govan Mbeki Local Municipality in accordance with section 139(1) (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,
In light of the positive developments at the Municipality, the Executive Council resolved to uplift the intervention and provide support to the Municipality in accordance with Sections 154(1) and Section 155(6) of the Constitution.
The executive mayor continually told members of the public as well as the council that the intervention is in accordance with section 139(1)(A) instead of 139(1)(B). There is a distinct difference between the two. In (A) there are directives and in (B) the relevant provincial executive may intervene by assuming responsibility for the relevant obligation in that municipality
The current council had no insight into the so called progress report tabled to the provincial exco.
The Bulletin received a statement from the Democratic Alliance (DA), the official opposition in GMM Municipal Council stating: The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality is shocked to learn from the Mpumalanga Provincial Government that the municipality’s administration in accordance with section 139(1)(b) is uplifted.
The DA has continually asked for the dissolvement of Govan Mbeki Municipal council.
“The DA will write to the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Busisiwe Shiba, requesting her to explain this decision,” Said DA Councillor James Masango, “The municipality was never effectively put under administration. The previous MEC of Cogta, Mr. Mandla Msibi, indicated to the DA that the administrator and the team would proceed at the end of February.”
DA Councillor James Masango
“Since then, an administrator never came into office. The DA subsequently wrote to the current MEC of Cogta, Busisiwe Shiba, and she indicated that she is waiting for the decision of the Executive,” said James, “According to the Provincial Government, the decision to uplift the administration is based on a positive report they received on the municipality.”
“It is not clear who wrote the report in the absence of the administrator. Even with a “report” on the table, the DA requests full details on what those positive indicators are in order to take such a decision.”
The municipality had been plagued with basic delivery problems. The Bulletin reported on some of them.
“For the last two to three weeks the municipality was experiencing water leaks all over the municipality. Sewerage spillages occur daily. Besides load-shedding, there have been so many power outages in Bethal, Trichardt and Secunda. While the temperature was at its lowest last week, many residents were without water,” James said to the Bulletin, “Last week, Leandra, Emzinoni, and eMbalenhle have seen community members took to a violent protest, burning tires on the road due to the lack of service delivery. The only option is for the bankrupt Govan Mbeki Municipality to be dissolved!”
All opposition parties were kept in the dark by the Mayor and his mayoral committee regarding the “positive” developments.
“The DA in Govan Mbeki Municipality will liaise with its counterpart in the Provincial Legislature to write a letter to the MEC of Cogta to explain the above-mentioned report and the decision to uplift section 139(1)(b),” concluded James, “The residents of Govan Mbeki Local Municipality need change for better service delivery. The DA will continue fighting for the residents of this municipality until they get what they deserve.”
The residents of Govan Mbeki Municipality continues to be served empty promises and no delivery on those promises. The Bulletin received a phone call, immediately after the broadcast where the mayor addressed the residents of Lebohang, from one of the opposition councillors stating that the Mayor mislead the people once again.
The protests flared up the very next day. When the Bulletin spoke to some residents we were told that “the Mayor spoke nonsense!”
During the upcoming elections the ANC will face the possibility of losing seats to opposition and independent candidates.
Secunda: Police at Secunda are concerned about the increase of fraud and theft cases reported at Secunda Police Station for investigation.
This came after numerous incidents which occurred at Secunda whereby victims were defrauded of amounts between Eleven thousand rand (R11000.00) and Thirteen thousand rand (R13000.00).
It is alleged that the perpetrators will offer the victims free SIM cards from Vodacom, MTN or Cell C and ask them to do a Sim swap.
Another modus operandi is that victims will receive an SMS, email or a telephone call from a bank official informing them of possible illicit transactions and then requesting the victim to confirm their personal banking details, after which the victim will receive a notification about money being withdrawn from their accounts. Do not respond to these calls, rather end the call, by saying that you will visit your branch. Another Modus Operandi is where an ATM would struggle to take the victim’s card, after which a person would offer assistance. This assistance would result in the swopping of the victim’s bank card. Withdrawals and purchases would then be made with these stolen cards.
The police therefore warns the community to not fall prey to such incidents.
Police encourage the community, more especially when using internet banking to:
Memorise the PIN and password, and do not write them down or share them with anyone including the bank official.
Make sure that your PIN and password cannot be seen when entering them during ATM transactions.
Change the PIN or password immediately once you think that the password or PIN has been compromised.
Register for the bank’s cellphone notification service and receive electronic messages relating to activities.
Inform the bank should your cellphone number change so that the cellphone notification contact number can be updated on its systems.
Notify the bank if reception on your phone is lost. Check what the problem could be as you could have been a victim of SIM swap on your number.
The following precautionary measures can be followed to prevent internet fraud.
Never do internet banking in public areas such as internet cafés. You never know what software is loaded that may compromise your transactions.
Make sure that no one has unauthorised access to your PC.
Be aware that that there are no security cameras trained on your PC and keyboard.
Make sure that the software loaded onto your PC is correctly licensed.
Update your operating system and browser with the latest patches.
prevent harmful software such as viruses, Spyware and Trojans from infecting your PC by having the latest anti-virus applications loaded on your PC which most banks provide this free of charge to their customers.
Remember to log off immediately when you have finished with your internet banking transaction on your PC.
In other incidents of fraud, victims will see items for sale on the internet or social media and they will contact the seller which they will convince them to make a deposit or full payment in order for the item to be delivered to them and after making the deposit or transferring the money, the perpetrators will disappear, making it difficult for the victims to communicate further with them.
The station commander of Secunda police station Colonel Herold Mashile further warns the community not to make any payment to anyone who has advertised an item or product including a motor vehicle on social media or the internet. The only time one can make a payment is after seeing or meeting with the person and is satisfied with the condition of the item or product. Furthermore, if one needs to buy a car, he/she must visit the nearest car dealership.
Police also encourage the community to report any form of crime or suspected criminal activities calling the crime stop number 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
8 SECURITY TIPS TO AVOID FALLING PREY TO SIM SWAP FRAUDS
With online banking gradually becoming a preferred choice of financial transaction for most, fraudsters have renewed their malicious efforts to target their victims. A relatively new type of fraud has come to light. It is known as SIM swap fraud. And we’re here to tell you how you can avoid it by following some simple security measures. What is SIM Swap Fraud? SIM swap fraud is malpractice where the perpetrators falsely acquire a SIM card in your name, issued with your mobile number. The primary aim behind this fraud is to have access to security alerts such as One Time Passwords (OTP) which you receive on your registered phone number to proceed with almost all kinds of financial transactions online.
How Do SIM Swap frauds Work? SIM swap is a second phase of an entire scam planned by an attacker. The first phase consists of gathering personal information about the targeted victim. In most cases, the attacker accomplishes this, with the help of a phishing attack.
The phishing attack is to gather personal and banking information about the victim. This may include name, address, date of birth, phone number, driving license number, net banking ID and password, ATM PIN, CVV number, etc. This attack may be launched in the following ways:
Phishing email – attacker sends a fake email to the victim containing a form or a link to a spoofed website to capture personal information.
Vishing (voice phishing) – attacker calls the victim, posing as a bank executive or an official of a reputed company.
SMiShing (SMS phishing) – attacker sends fake SMSs to the victim containing links to a fake website or malware that can steal user information.
Once the attacker has the all required user data, they approach the victim’s mobile service provider with forged identity documents. They get a new SIM card by reporting a loss of a mobile device or a damaged SIM card. This way, the phone number of the genuine customer gets deactivated. Using the stolen banking information, the attacker can then easily conduct illegal financial transactions, now that they have access to the OTP.
8 Security Tips to Avoid Falling Prey to SIM-Swap Frauds
1. The most important measure is to ensure that your phone’s connection is working normally. If your SIM gets deactivated without any known reason, then report it to your mobile operator immediately.
2. Never give away personal or financial information over emails, phones, SMSs, online chat platforms like WhatsApp, or any media for that matter.
3. Switching off your phone for a long period of time for reasons such as unwanted calls or SMSs could be dangerous. These calls could be a ploy of the attacker to trick you into turning off your phone so that you remain unaware of any connectivity issues.
4. If your bank offers SMS and email alerts for all your banking activities, then opt for both the options.
5. Check your bank statements regularly to ensure that there are no irregularities.
6. Most websites ask for your phone number among other information to let you use their services. In such scenarios, avoid giving away your real name, the actual date of birth, and your phone number which is registered with your bank.
7. Avoid making your phone number public on social media sites.
8. As phishing is used as the main weapon in this type of scams, consider having anti-phishing and anti-malware protection on your PC and smartphone.
It can be safely assumed that incidents of SIM swap frauds will increase with time and could become more advanced. Your safety depends on how vigilant and updated you are about the growing threats in the world of the Internet.
RAND WATER TO LAY CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE
Rand Water intends laying criminal charges against members of the public for using abusive language and insults to its employees during water shortages.
This follows a series of email correspondences received by Rand Water’s Customer Service
Centre (CSC), in which a members of the public uses profanities to express their frustrations.
The latest email was sent to the organisation’s CSC on 30 May 2021. Rand Water views the tone and the abusive language used in the email as unacceptable, undesirable and malicious to its brand.
The sender of the email implied that water shortages in his area were a result of the incompetence of Rand Water employees. These accusations are unfounded and baseless since the water supply is dependent on interlinkages with other service providers in the water value chain.
However, Rand Water acknowledges that sometimes it encounters challenges in the process of supplying water to its customers. When it happens the organisation always communicates the challenges it encounters to communities through traditional media and social media platforms until the problems are resolved.
Although Rand Water appreciates it when members of the public report water interruptions in their respective areas but it will not tolerate abusive language and insults meted against its employees.
Members of the public are urged to report water-related problems to the Rand Water Customer Service Centre: 0860 10 10 60 or customerservice@randwater.co.za.
AfriForum’s control room for Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga helps to curb crime
AfriForum’s control room Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga (the northern region) attended to more than 235 incidents in May 2021 and supported the organisation’s neighbourhood watches in these provinces. The purpose of the control room is to support AfriForum neighbourhood watches by ensuring that support and the necessary resources can be sent for faster.
Incidents that were attended to include among others 25 missing persons, a murder, four farm attacks and one ATM bombing. The AfriForum neighbourhood watches in these three provinces held more than a thousand patrols in May: 389 in Gauteng, 191 in Mpumalanga and 442 in Limpopo. About 1 030 people participated in these patrols.
“The control room offers overarching support to AfriForum neighbourhood watches. Neighbourhood watch members on ground level focus more on tactical aspects – problems that are experienced and solutions to these problems – whereas the control room functions on a more operational level to inform emergency services of the problems,” explains Llewellynn Hemmens, AfriForum’s Provincial Safety Coordinator for the northern region.
“A trend that increased significantly this month is vehicle theft. This meant that we had to adapt the patrols, because these types of crime put a lot of pressure on state institutions with limited resources. We thank every member who sacrifices their time day after day to make a difference.”
“AfriForum warns the public not to leave valuables in their vehicles and to ensure that they park their vehicles in a safe location,” Hemmens concludes.
Join your nearest AfriForum neighbourhood watch today and become part of the solution: SMS your town’s name to 45353 (R1).
Maskermense, ‘n titel wat mens onwillekeurig bietjie laat dink aan die huidige omstandighede in die land waar elkeen van ons maskers moet dra. Maar dit is nie noodwendig so nie, dra mens nie maar maskers om iets weg te bêre nie? Dalk bietjie seer, dalk bietjie skaam?
Hierdie boek bevat ‘n paar stories oor verskillende mense, lees dit gerus. Maskermense is by Alma Swart Tel no: 0836575411 beskikbaar of by Naledi uitgewers aanlyn. Kliek HIER om direk na die boek te gaan
More oggend bied Kobus Burger ‘n aanlyn Radiodramaslypskool aan. Hendie het juis nadat sy Kobus ontmoet het en ‘n rukkie na hom geluister het besluit om self haar hand aan ‘n Radiodrama te slaan. Dit het haar 3 maande geneem om haar eerste drama, Johanna se Elvis, te skryf. Die drama was een van die finaliste vir daardie jaar.
Sy het besluit op nog een. Dit het net twee weke geneem en het tweede geeindig in die RSG Sanlam Radiodrama kompetisie.
Die volgende beskrywings kom van RSG se webblad af by www.rsg.co.za:
JOHANNA SE ELVIS
Johanna Apolis is ‘n voorslag as dit kom by die uithaal van blinklywe. Dis haar ambisie om gereken te word onder die vistermanne deur die heel grootste vis van almal te vang. Sou dit haar beskore wees? En teen watter prys? Jy hoor Simoné Benjamin as Johanna. Dann-Jacques Mouton van Noem my Skollie-faam maak sy buiging voor die radiomikrofoon as haar sagmoedige man, Gert. Zenobia Kloppers speel Mattie. Denver Vraagom is Jan Baartman. En jy hoor die stem van Neels Coetzee as Oumeneer. Johanna se Elvis was ‘n finalis in die RSG/Sanlam Radiodrama Skryfkompetisie van 2019.
Die drama het die tweede prys ingepalm in die RSG/SANLAM Radiodrama-skryfkompetisie van 2020. ‘n Student se ma vra hom om haar huis op te pas terwyl sy oorsee is met vakansie. Dis ‘n gulde geleentheid vir sy pêlle om die huis op horings te neem. Waarop hy egter nie gereken het nie is ‘n beeldskone, eksentrieke meisie se bekoring met die misterie vir die buitenste ruim. Dit lei daartoe dat hy ‘n klap van die heelal kry, en selfs met ‘n pratende kat sit… of is dit alles die uitwerking van eksperimentele daggarokery?! Die akteurs is Luan Jacobs, Claudia Jones, Donovan Pietersen en Christo Compion.
Op Hendie se Linkedin blad skryf sy die volgende: Believer in the ever-changing communication environment whilst embracing the basic fundamental need for clear and concise information. Love to influence change. Being fortunate to live close to the ocean, I write my stories and try to live in harmony with the environment while looking for opportunities to improve and be the change I want for the world.
Ons kort gesprek het vinnig langer en langer geword. Daar is soveel nog wat ek wou vra maar die tyd het ons ingehaal. Hendie sê ‘n paar slim dinge in haar gesprek met Die Bulletin. “Lees baie as jy wil skryf,” sê sy, “en as jy radiodrama wil skryf moet jy na baie luister.” Kweek ‘n liefde vir lees en luister. “Neem waar wat om jou aangaan en observeer,” sê Hendie, “hou ‘n notaboekie byderhand en maak altyd notas.”
En dan vir die heel belangrikste “begin skryf, gaan sit net en skryf!”
Katelyn het onlangs deelgeneem aan die Performing Arts International Stars 2021 se redenaars kompetisie.
Haar redenaars reis het begin toe sy in 2020 aan die Podiumpret kompetisie deelgeneem het en verskeie items se nasionale wennner vir haar graad was.
Katelyn was een van 11 Podiumpret deelnemers, wat gekwalifiseer het om deel te wees van Team SA. Daar was slegs twee laerskool deelnemers in die SA span.
Katelyn Shaw
Die kompetisie het aanlyn plaasgevind, waartydens verteenwoordigers uit 26 lande, onder andere die VSA, teen mekaar deelgeneem het. Katelyn het haar praatjie in Afrikaans gedoen en moes toe ‘n Engelse vertaling van die toespraak indien.
Katelyn het tydens die kompetisie, met ‘n brons medalje weggestap – voorwaar ‘n reuse prestasie! Katelyn sê sy het nooit gedink dat sy, toe sy haar eerste opname tydens 2020 se grendeltyd gemaak het, hierdie wonderlike ervaring sou hê nie.
Laerskool Kruinpark is baie trots op hierdie pragtige prestasie van Katelyn Shaw, ‘n Kruinpark Kekkelkous in murg en been!
Geniet nog ‘n aflewering van “So is die Lewe” uit die pen van Marius Britz.
Slegs iemand wat totaal kop-in-die-sand leef, soos ‘n volstruis, sal op hierdie spesifieke tydstip van ons geskiedenis, voor ‘n komende belangrike verkiesing wat ons toekoms as Suid Afrikaners drasties kan beinvloed, nie weet dat dit maar turbulente tye is nie, dat ons daagliks voel asof ons in ‘n vliegtuig is wat opstyg in stormweer, Zumafikasie en Zondofrustrasie, stygende lewenskostes, politieke dreigemente oor die wysiging van Art 25 van die grondwet, voorgestelde wetgewing om wapens van wetttige eienaars weg te neem, leuens, onthullings oor astronomiese korrupsie, skelmstreke en sulke groot bedrae wat gesteel is, dat jy nie eens die bedrag kan uitspreek nie.
(Terloops, dit wek ‘n bietjie simpatie by my as ek dink aan ‘n vorige staatsleier wat dieselfde onvermoë as ek ervaar om ‘n massiewe klomp syfers korrek te kan lees. My banksaldo het boonop nog ‘n minus vooraan.)
Dit is asof daar daagliks nuwe onthullings en berigte oor baie sonde wat oor ons uitgestort word, soos ‘n dame wat verklaar dat as sy haar man se (geborgde) kredietkaart gebruik, is R30 000-00 nie geld nie. Sy is gewoond aan R300 000-00 vir een handsak. Almal lag en die drie manne uit die Ooste (nie wyse manne nie), betaal met goud, poste en drasakke vol geld. Diè goed besoedel mens se gemoed, soos wanneer jy ‘n emmer vuil water by die deur uitgooi en die onskuldige Woefie tref. Hy skud dan die water van sy lyf af, en gee jou ‘n vies kyk.
Vervaard soek baie mense na innerlike vrede, na orde en ‘n asiel teen die alledaagse geraas. Jou eie veilige plek, waar jy die rumoer in die wêreld weer in perspektief kan kry. Dit kry ek toe een aand laat in my studeerkamer.
Dit het alles begin toe ek my lyf rangskik op oupa se 100-jaar oue Art-Deco leunstoel, ‘n Jacques Brel-plaat op die Pioneer-hoëtroustel se draaitafel opsit, en ‘n boek oor Baruch Spinoza oopmaak, ‘n rasionalistiese filosoof wat sy denke neergepen het omtrent dieselfde tyd toe Jan van Riebeeck en sy makkers op die Rijger, die Tijger en die Titanic (Bron: Tolla van der Merwe) by die suidpunt van Afrika aangekom het om ‘n snoepwinkel oop te maak, en toe die Waterfront, die N1-stad winkelsentrum, die Metrotreine, die kabelkarretjie bo-op Tafelberg en die naglewe so geniet het, dat hulle dit sommer vir die Hollanders gevat het.
Baruch Spinoza
Met sy Duits-Joodse agtergrond het Baruch Spinoza ‘n logies-mistieke siening oor die heelal, en oor God. Sy denke oor parallelisme tref my: die musiek in hierdie wêreld is soos die punte van ‘n simfonieorkes se vioolstrykstokke: alhoewel hulle nie verbind is nie, beweeg hulle in harmonie om die mooiste melodieë te speel. Die harmonie word bepaal deur die Dirigent voor hulle wat hulle lei.
Ek besef dat my sensitiwiteit oor die kakofonie in Suid Afrika my gemoed laat reageer met ‘n opstandigheid, ‘n siniese pessismisme, selfs ‘n woede oor ‘n klomp dinge wat gesê en gedoen word. Die klanke in my gemoed moet gesinchroniseer word; die heelal en sy stormagtigheid met geherrangskik word tot ‘n harmoniese geheel. En net ek kan dit doen.
En so word dit ‘n ontdekkingsreis. Die plate en cd’s van Pink Floyd en Led Zeppelin, waarvan ek ‘n groot aanhanger is, sal nie deug nie. Dit sal net die gedruis groter maak. Terwyl Brel sing: “Ne me quitte pas”, haal ek ‘n Mozartplaat uit sy plastieksakkie uit. Sy konsert vir Klarinet in A-majeur, K 622, het dieselfde effek as wanneer die troepe uit pas raak op die paradegrond, en die korporaal gee die bevel: “Herstel!” Die strykstokke in my gemoed hou onmiddelik op om elkeen sy eie wysie uit te krys. Die klarinetmusiek voer my na Openbaring 21. So moet dit klink as jy in die hemel aankom. Verhewe en vredig.
Die warm vinielklanke van die plaat vloei soos soet, goue stroop wat ‘n gevoel van welgeluksaligheid deur jou laat vloei. Dit moet ‘n plaat wees, opgeneem van meesters soos die Berlynse Filharmoniese orkes, nie ‘n ghetto-blaster met ‘n sintetiese orkes nie. ‘n Snaakse ding kan dan met jou gebeur. Die groot, wrede wêreld daarbuite krimp tot die knus ligkring om jou, gevul met hemelse musiek. Een na die ander plaat laat die strykstokke van jou harts- en kopmusiek volmaak begin harmonieer.
Die duet “In hierdie heilige tempel”uit die Pêrelvissers van Bizet transformeer jou binneste tot ‘n gesuiwerde Umwelt, ‘n bestaansruimte tydelik afgesonder van die lewe buite die venster. Jy raak bewus van die Dirigent bý jou, vóór jou, ín jou. Jou eie, persoonlike, heilige tempel. Die wanklanke van pyn, van alleen, van stres en berou, vervaag. Dit het dieselfde effek as die pyninspuiting wat die verpleegster na ‘n operasie direk in jou aar inspuit. ‘n Welgeluksaligheid verlam jou, vloei deur jou hele lyf. Hier-en-nou word getransendeer tot ‘n ander bestaan, ‘n hoër modus van leef.
Mimi Coertze versterk die effek: “My hart verlang na die stilte / van die wye, wuiwende veld / ek is moeg van die rustelose lewe, van mense wat kom en gaan.” Beethoven se sesde simfonie, die pastoraal, in F-majeur, se laaste gedeelte demp finaal die onrustigheid in jou, gee aan jou asiel teen die lewe se verniel. Die doel van die hele ervaring raak duidelik. Die geraas in die wêreld is onteenseglik daar. Ek en jy het nie beheer oor andere se uitsprake en korrupsie en geweld nie.
Ons kan nie man-alleen die sinloosheid in die wêreld omkeer, of die trane van ‘n menigte huilendes afvee nie. Maar ons kan ons eie perspektiewe, dat daar veel meer in die lewe is as wat ons dink, ons vrede, in stand hou. Ons kan ons eie binneste orden, deur eenvoudige opsies. Soos om die vals note in ons gemoed te harmonieer, vredig te lewe. Deur te kyk na die Dirigent voor ons.
En soos Edith Piaf kan ons luidkeels sing: “Non, je ne regrette rien.” Ek is oor niks spyt nie. Nie die goed of die sleg nie.
Confusion is everywhere when it comes to the current vaccinations against COVID.
The Bulletin spoke to Me Madala Ndlovu, CEO of Evander hospital, to see if we could obtain more clarity on the matter.
The current vaccinations are aimed at people over 60. You don’t even need to register, the very capable staff at the vaccination centres will be able to do for you but registering will take less time at the centre.
Ms Nanana G Hlatshwayo, Chief Director, Gert Sibande health District (In green) with Me Madala Ndlovu, CEO Evander Hospital. Ms Hlatshwayo thanked the people for receiving their vaccinations
All you need to do is to go to the vaccination centre and follow the queue. Bring your ID to prove that you are 60 and older.
The line of people waiting for their vaccinations moves at a fast pace. When we visited the centre at Lilian Ngoyi (Secunda) today we waited for about 20 minutes to have a colleague vaccinated. While we were outside some came out and said that they only took 10 minutes to complete the process.
DA Councilor Mariaan Chamberlain received her vaccination today. Standing behind her is Sister Mercy Masilela
“No reference number is required,” said Ndlovu, “any communication to show that you registered will do. If you did not manage to complete the process you can come to the centre and we will assist you.” There are computers at the centre manned by competent staff to assist.
