Geniet nog ‘n aflewering van “So is die Lewe” uit die pen van Marius Britz.
Ek was so bevoorreg om hierdie naweek hartsvriende saam met my te hê hier by my huisie in die karoo om my in my sestigerjare in te begelei. Vriende van Swellendam tot Emalahleni, van Hartebeespoort en Randburg, my seuns van Langebaan en De Doorns. Dat ek nie geweet het hulle kom nie, en die gemaskerde manne met pette en donkerbrille die een na die ander hier voor die huis stop en my soos ‘n baba laat huil het, is ‘n storie vir ‘n ander dag. Die hele naweek het ons ou paaie oopgetrap met ons stories, sover as 41 jaar terug. Om natuurlik nie te praat van die proteienvergiftiging van al die braaivleise wat ons deurgewerk het in minder as drie dae nie.
Marius en sy pêlle
Stories is ‘n manier van leef. Stories is ‘n reis wat jou laat ontdek wie jy is, waar jy vandaan kom. Wanneer alles voor jou donker lyk, is stories die manier wat, soos in Jesaja geskryf is, vir jou sê: “hier is die pad, loop hierlangs.” Tot laataand het die dorpie gedreun met stories, uitbundige gelag, terwyl Coenie de Villiers, Pink Floyd en musiek uit die sestiger- en sewentigerjare op die agtergrond speel. Elke lied het nog ‘n deur in ons koppe oopgemaak. Ons stories oor gister het ons verloopte lewens aan ons teruggegee, ons opnuut gegiet in ‘n esprit-de-corpse.
Daar is vele storievertellers in al die streke van ons land, mense wat nie noodwendig op televisie kom nie, maar aan wie se lippe gehang word as hulle iets vertel. By kerkbasaars, by vergaderings, by braaivleise, in die teekamer, waar ook al. Manne wat ‘n verhaal kan inkleur met smaak. Die waarheid is soms ‘n byproduk in hulle stories.
Daar was die een ou in Springs saam met wie ek as student nagskof gewerk het in die glasfabriek. Sy gunstelingstories was altyd oor die plaas. So vertel hy dat daar ‘n boom op sy oom se plaas was met so dik stam, dat tien manne hande vasgehou het as hulle hom omsingel, dan was daar nog nie genoeg mans nie. ‘n Reuse boom. Die boom het langs ‘n koringland gestaan, vertel hy.
Die probleem was dat elke keer as die koring ryp word, daar swerms voëls was wat die koringare kom vreet. As hulle die voëls verjaag, gaan sit hulle eenvoudig in die boom. Sy oom vererg hom toe bloedig en besluit om elke tak, takkie en blaar in daardie boom met gom te smeer, en as die voëls weer daar gaan sit as hulle verjaag word, het hulle, wat die voëls is, uiteraard ‘n probleem.
Sy oom maak ook toe so. Toe daar “derduisende” voëls vassit op die boom se takke, stap sy oom bakkie toe om die haelgeweer te gaan haal. Die voëls, synde nie onder ‘n kalkoen uitgebroei nie, sien toe deur die oom se bose plan met die geweer. Hulle begin toe gelyktydig hulle vlerkies klap, en toe gebeur ‘n onvergeetlike ding. Hulle trek daardie groot boom wortel en tak uit die grond uit, en vlieg weg met hom.
Daardie aand was daar ‘n hoofberig op die Tanzaniese televisie, vertel hy, oor die VVV wat daardie dag gesien is. Maar al die tyd was dit die vraatsige voëls met sy oom se groot boom wat Europa toe gevlieg het.
‘n Ander keer praat ons in die diep donker nagskofure oor duiweboerdery. ‘n Man praat diep dinge drieuur in die more, ook hier in die karoo langs ‘n vuur. Hy vertel van ‘n ou wat sy duiwe van Devon af gestuur het Kaapstad toe vir ‘n wedvlug. Die eerste prys was ‘n Peugeot 404. ‘n Ander jaloerse ou het egter die ou van Devon se duiwe se vlerkpenne geknip, sodat hulle glad nie kon terugvlieg nie.
En die Devonman sit op sy stoep en wag. Geen duif iewers nie. Al die ander duiweboere het al ingeklok, maar hierdie ou se duiwe is net weg. Pryswenner kampioenduiwe. Slím duiwe. So drie of vier maande na die wedvlug, sit die ou bedremmeld op sy stoep en treur oor sy duiwe. En wragtig, doer langs die teerpad, sien hy stoffies trek. Dit was toe sy duiwe wat al die pad teruggeloop het van Kaapstad af. Die enigste probleem was, vertel my nagskofkollega, dat daardie duiwe net súlke swere onder hulle pootjies gehad het. Hy beduie met sy hande iets so groot soos tennisballe.
Hier in die Noord-Kaap het ek wonderlike, wáár stories gehoor. Soos oom Willie, my buurman, wat op 95 nog alleen gewoon het, en vroegoggend al sy tuintjie geskoffel het, kierie in die een hand. Een van sy stories was oor die eerste keer wat hy as jong seun ‘n motorkar gesien het, vroeg in die vorige eeu. Hy en sy boetie was op ‘n afgeleë deel van die karoo besig om skaap bymekaar toe maak, toe hulle hierdie vreemde geluid hoor wat die stilte breek: doef-doef-doef.
“Wat is dit?”, het sy broer grootoog gevra. “Nee, ek weet glad nie”, het oom Willie geantwoord. “En toe”, vertel hy, “sien ons hierdie perdekar-ding sonder perde in die pad afkom. Die ding raas. Voorop het hy twee nèt sulke groot oë”, beduie hy waar die ligte gesit het. “Boetie, nou moet ons hol,” skreeu hy vir sy broer. “Dis die Antichris!” Hulle los die skaap net daar vir die Dier uit die aarde om te verslind.
Dan die ander twee vriende wat in die veld ry en stry kry oor wie die beste na sy diere kyk. Naderhand smoorkwaad vir mekaar. Die een besluit toe om dadelik sy jarelange boesemvriend by die opstal te gaan aflaai. Toe hulle die plaaswerf binnery, sê die een wat afgelaai word vir sy gewese vriend: “Kyk hoe lief is my hond vir my!” Hy skreeu toe vir die basterbrak: “Boelie!”, terwyl hy sê: “Kyk hoe bly is hy om my te sien!” Maar Boelie skreeu tjou-tjou-tjou, en hardloop om die hoek weg, stert tussen die bene.
Mag jy stories hoor wat jou laat besef hoe uniek jy is, hoe jy jou voetspore in mense se lewens gelos het, en wat die ongetrapte paaie van more vir jou duidelik wys.
Premature babies will leave parents shocked but stronger
Parents that have premature babies often are not prepared for the traumatic experience that they are facing. More often than not they are also not prepared for the financial impact that a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has.
My own grandchild was born at 31 weeks. It was a very scary time for all of us. We could not visit him at all. His father was restricted from visiting him as a result of the COVID pandemic. Our grandson was in the hospital for a total of 39 days.
But this story is not of him but rather of another little boy that needs help.
The Secunda community have rallied behind the Bulletin on several projects in the past and once again we are asking for your contribution.
But first, let us bring you the story of Ruhandre. It is a remarkable story of a will to live and a story of love and determination by his parents.
Ruhandre Opperman
I need to point out a few things first, you will read it in the story again though. Ruhandre weighed less than a loaf of bread at birth. He was also about as long as a school ruler.
Here is his story now as taken from the Arms of Mercy website.
The Secunda community have rallied behind the Bulletin on several projects in the past and once again we are asking for your contribution.
Ruhandre Opperman was born prematurely at 24 weeks on 4 November 2020 as a micro prem baby who weighed 684g and was 31.5cm tall. He was immediately taken to NICU where he was put on the ventilator for oxygen. The next day they tried to insert a feeding tube for his milk but it was not successful. Doctors then diagnosed him with Oesophageal Atresia – a defect where the oesophagus (swallowing tube) does not connect to the stomach. Because of this, Ruhandre received nutrition through a drip for the entire month and did not gain any weight.
They said he was going to have to be transferred to Alberton, where he would then undergo surgery to repair it. He was transferred to Clinton Netcare Hospital on the 3rd of December. When he got there his oxygen dropped drastically and they had to support him with artificial respiration. The Dr then determined that he was misdiagnosed and the same evening they managed to get the feeding tube into his stomach. The doctor took x-rays of his lungs and saw that it was very badly damaged and that Ruhandre also had an infection in the lungs.
Ruhandre was on the ventilator for the rest of December because he was diagnosed with chronic lungs and still weighed only 700g. They had to systematically stimulate his stomach so that it could get used to the milk. There were times they had to stop for up to 5 days because his stomach was aspirating and the milk was not being digested. Due to the fact that he did not get milk for the first 4 weeks, he did not grow anything and neither did his lungs.
With a lot of medication, blood transfusions and prayer he is weighing 1,176kg already after 9 weeks, and he receives 18ml of milk every 3 hours. His oxygen level is also much better and he is currently on the nasal cannula for oxygen, and completely off the ventilator.
Baby Ruhandre is truly an angel. He fights all the way and is getting better every day. His stay in the hospital is, unfortunately, going to be for a very long period because he is still so small and very ill.
With all the blood tests etc. his parents have received a few heavy bills that no one can pay at once. They are trying to negotiate at the moment but it is going to be difficult and they will accept any and all donations to help them financially.
SUSPECT SHOT AT FRIEND AFTER FUNERAL, RESULTING IN THE LATTER’S DEATH IN HOSPITAL.
NELSPRUIT – A 31-year-old man is expected to appear before the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, Monday, 22 February 2021, after he allegedly shot at his 24-year-old friend who later succumbed to the gunshot wound in hospital.
This incident happened yesterday, 20 February 2021, at approximately 14:00, at Clewer near Witbank, where the pair had attended a funeral. It was reported that after the said funeral, the duo is alleged to have had a hair-raising argument that led to the fatal shooting. Immediately after the incident, the suspect is said to have transported the victim in his vehicle and then handed him over to the paramedics who were in the vicinity of a shopping complex in the area, then vanished thereafter.
Today, 21 February 2021, the suspect handed himself over to the police and also brought with him the firearm believed to have been used in the murder. The firearm was then booked in as an exhibit.
Illustration only
Spiralling from the funeral of the suspect’s friend, the police have since gathered that certain community members behaved unrulily, thus conflicting with the Lockdown Regulations by conducting an after tears event, spinning cars and not wearing masks, nor practised social distancing. The community also did not want to heed the call by police when they were urged to stop with their activities and this is a worrying factor as their conduct was depicting a degree of lawlessness and danger.
A police officer who tried to engage with the community regarding their actions was manhandled around and vulgar words used against him for carrying out his duties. As if that was not obscene enough, some police vehicles were also pelted with beer bottles at the same event.
Police in Mpumalanga warn the community to abide by the prescripts of the law as at this level, no one is permitted to conduct an after tears event nor parties. The community is further warned not to obstruct police from doing their work. The same point is driven home to Liquor outlets owners to strictly adhere to the Lockdown Regulations.
Find all your SAPS Mpumalanga contact details HERE
33 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4 Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.
10 And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
11 Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.
14 Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
16 And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.
17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only.
18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.
19 His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sins, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.
20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
21 Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
23 And humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
24 And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.
25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.
Eskom notes and respects the order by the High Court on the tariff adjustment for FY 2021/22
Eskom notes and respects the order made today by the. This order will result in an average price increase of approximately 15% in the electricity tariff for standard tariff customers starting on 1 April 2021. This court decision allows Eskom to recover efficiently incurred costs for the production of electricity.
It also contributes to the “user-pay” principle and is likely to lessen the financial burden of supporting Eskom on the Government, releasing the government to focus on other priorities. Implementation of the order will allow Eskom to move towards addressing some of the revenue shortfalls and enable Eskom to recover prudently incurred costs for the production of electricity, which will help to improve Eskom’s financial sustainability.
The Eskom Chief Financial Officer, Calib Cassim welcomed the decision and stressed that poor residential customers will continue to be supported through the free basic electricity programme, as well as affordability subsidies provided for in the NERSA tariff decision.
Identified vulnerable industrial sectors will be considered by NERSA in terms of the short-term and long-term negotiated pricing agreements promulgated recently by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.
This order is in response to Eskom requesting the execution of a High Court decision that allowed the recovery of incorrectly deducted Government equity support for the FY 2021/22.
Since Eskom made this urgent application to the High Court, The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) had made additional decisions related to the recovery of efficient costs from previous years.
The High Court order allows a further 5.44c/kWh increase.
MAN SLAPPED WITH TWO LIFE SENTENCES FOR RAPE OFFENCES
NELSPRUIT – Police in Mpumalanga celebrate a landslide victory in a serial rapist’s court case that has been going on for a period of three consecutive years, which has seen another rapist removed from the society. The rapist, a 26-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the minors he also raped, was slapped with two life terms by the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court which was sitting at Graskop.
The court heard how the accused sadistically and violently subjected women to a terrific life in society. He is said to have been operating in the Sabie area where he preyed on his victims aged between 15 and 51, in May as well as June 2018. In his operation, the unapologetic rapist allegedly did not consider the pain and agony that his young and innocent victims were going through, let alone tarnishing their future.
He carried out his evil mission, raping defenceless women and children armed with a knife. Seven cases of rape were registered by the police against his name. After the increasing outcry and mounting of rape cases in the area, the police conducted their probe and launched an intensive search for the suspect.
During their investigation, they discovered that the suspect would normally drag his victims from the streets and then take them to the nearby bushes against their will, where he raped them. When carrying out these evil acts, he used to blindfold his victims with a cloth and instructed them not to look at him. He would also make sure that he had covered his face with a balaclava throughout the whole drama.
In February 2019, police made a breakthrough in their investigation when they arrested him for the offences he had committed. The matter went to court where he was finally sentenced on 12 February 2021, for the seven cases of rape, hence his sentencing as follows :
On the count of raping the minors, the accused was sentenced to two life sentences.
On the other five counts of rape, he was lashed with 15 years to languish in prison for each count, adding up to a total of 75 years imprisonment.
The court has ordered that for the purpose of sentence, the 75 years jail term will run concurrently with the two life sentences and the accused was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. Furthermore his name will be entered into the register of sexual offenders.
The Provincial Commissioner of South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma, is elated about this hefty sentence that has been imposed upon the man. The General has also applauded the sterling work done by the team of Detectives, the Prosecution team and the Judiciary.
“Our efforts in the fight against criminal acts committed to women and children is surely yielding positive results. We are hopeful that this sentence will reassure women in the society of our endeavours to harshly deal with violence perpetrated by evil men who disregard women and treat them as objects to be punished,” said the General.
Find all your SAPS Mpumalanga contact details HERE
Irene and Dries Minnie passed away in January and February of this year
Reporting on stories is what newspapers do most of the time. As a reporter, I always hope that I do not have to report on people close to me or people that I know well.
It has happened that I knew some of the people that I reported on and in the past few months several people that I knew passed away. I am sure that you the reader will also attest to knowing someone that passed away the past few months.
Today I bring you the sad news of Dries and Irene Minnie. This year on 6 February they would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, due to illness, both Irene and Dries passed away before the big celebration. Irene passed away on the 22nd of January 2021 and Andries (Dries) passed away on the 3rd of February 2021.
Irene and Dries Minnie
They leave behind three daughters, Adelaine, Jackie and Deidre. Their two sons-in-law’s, Gawie and Justin, and their grandchildren, Juan, Cameron, Ruben and Amy-Leigh. They were also fondly known as “Mom” and “Dad” to a few extra children (friends) and “Ouma” and “Oupa” to a few more.
I asked Jackie to write down a short history of Dries and Irene. Thank you to Jackie, Adelaine and Deidre for the story.
We would also like to extend our condolences to them all for the loss of both parents in such a short time.
Although I already used some of their story in the intro, I place the rest here:
Written by Deidre
37 years ago, Dries and Irene Minnie along with their three daughters moved to Secunda. Both started working at Sasol and for several years Irene also worked for two audit companies in town.
Irene loved people and visiting with friends and family meant so much to her. She could talk for hours and hours. Her incredible memory for detail was shared with every story she told. Irene loved telling stories and all the children in the family have fond memories of these times spent with her.
Irene Minnie
She was a bubbly person always filled with laughter. Irene was described as such an incredible lady, so full of joy and always ready with a smile and an open door. Anyone was welcome in the house, and often a room was shared for months with whoever needed it and there was always another cup of coffee or plate of food to be had.
Many thought of her as their second mom, the mother hen looking after all her chicks. Her kindness, empathy, and caring will be missed. Irene’s love for cooking, inspired by Master Chef, ensured that we shared many tasty meals around her table. Her grandchildren fondly remember how her house had no rules except when Master Chef or Tour De France was on.
She loved books and loved to cuddle with her grandchildren reading to them.
Where Irene is remembered as the mother and storyteller, Dries is remembered as the worker. He took great pride in his work in the Mines and always ensured the work was done properly and safely. Safety was so important to him and he spent many years on the Mine’s Proto Teams looking out for others.
Dries Minnie
He worked for his friends. If anyone had a broken car, needed welding, electrical or anything else fixed Dries was there. He did not hesitate to help a friend in need no matter what day or time it was. He was not only passionate about his work but with the time he spent with his daughters and grandchildren, talking, playing board games or building things.
He loved his garden, photography and his painting and found much peace in his hobbies. After all the years of walking on the mines, he enjoyed his park walks and his tenacity was seen there too as he would clear away branches that would be on the path to make it easier for all the runners and walkers.
Their love and caring for others were also seen in servitude through their work with the church and the various charities they helped. The house was always full of things to be donated, and they spent many hours driving all over to ensure that these were distributed to those in need. When times called for it, they would take from their cupboard to give to those who needed it more. Irene would serve teas and Dries would be doing repairs at the church.
Irene and Dries both loved deeply and treasured every moment they spent with their family and friends. We know that heaven has become a lot noisier as Irene catches up with all her friends, and Dries is walking around checking to make sure everything is fine and in working order. We know you were always a team and could not be kept apart.
Mom and Dad, you are deeply loved and missed every day. You filled a big space in our lives and hearts, and now we are filling those spaces with our special memories of you.
Read more about SA’s fight against COVID on the Department of Health’s website HERE
14 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.
2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.
4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.
6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.
8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b]
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.
15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.
16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.
21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[c]
Footnotes
Romans 14:10 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verses 13, 15 and 21.
