Download the Vodacom Bulls app and you could win a jersey.
The Vodacom Bulls have taken another major step forward in building their digital brand with the development of the new Vodacom Bulls App, which will be launched on iOS and Android on 1 July.
Vodacom Bulls fans will now have all the pride and passion of their favourite team right at their fingertips, and a fan experience that will bring them even closer into the #BullsFamily.
The new App will include exclusive content featuring the players and coaching staff, from behind-the-scenes training videos to cooking lessons and the highly anticipates coach Jake’s Column.
Fans will also be kept up to date with all the latest Vodacom Bulls news and upcoming events – including upcoming fixtures, logs, results and team stats – and a link to all the team’s social feeds. And they’ll be able to purchase tickets through the App as well as merchandise from the Vodacom Bulls shop.
The new App will also keep pace with the phenomenal growth of digital technology and will offer three unique games for fans to play and win weekly prizes.
Download the App, like The Bulletin Facebook page and tag three friends on the Facebook Page in the next 4 weeks and you could stand a chance to win one of two Vodacom Bulls Jerseys.
The most passionate fans can dive into the full history of one of the most iconic rugby teams in the world and the history behind the Loftus Versfeld stadium.
The team’s sponsors will also have a valuable platform of fan engagement through the new App.
“We’ve all seen, through the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, the growth of digital media. Rugby is going to need new ways of connecting with the fans, and the new Vodacom Bulls App is part of our strategy to grow our digital presence and offer our fans an unrivalled experience both on and off the field,” said Vodacom Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone.
Michelle van Eyden, Executive Head of Sponsorship for Vodacom, said: “As a digitally-led company Vodacom always aims to find unique ways for fans to engage with their sports heroes. The new Vodacom Bulls App will provide just such an opportunity and will keep the fans connected to their favourite team, especially at a time such as this when they cannot be close in a stadium, but can still be together in the #BullsFamily.”
Nog ‘n “So is die lewe” rubriek vanuit die pen van Ds Marius Britz. Titel is “Die mense met wie ek ‘n dak gedeel het.”
Op die stoep van die Farmhouse-hotel in Langebaan het ek en vriend Koos ‘n dejá-vu oomblik gehad. Met die helder lug en die kobaltblou see, was dit inderdaad ‘n kwantumsprong in ruimte en tyd na die konsertinavleuels van Huis Mopanie op Tukkies waar ons 41 jaar terug inwonende eerstejaarstudente was. Die onthou het stuk-stuk oopgebreek. Meteens was dit duidelik dat, alhoewel ons mekaar vir baie jare min gesien het, ook min kontak gehad het, dat daar ‘n band was, onverbreekbaar.
Die geselskap het dadelik gevloei, en die tema van die jool 1979 het opgeduik: Esprit de Corpse. Eenheid in die gees. Dit was die sement na al die jare. Koos, synde self ‘n bekwame woordsmid en digter, het gesê ons moet dink aan ‘n storie om te skryf: Die mense met wie ons ‘n dak gedeel het.
Tref dit my Saterdagmiddag tussen Malmesbury en Hopefield. ‘n Ou bouval van ‘n plaasopstal, mure stewig en sterk bewaar deur al die jare. Maar reuse bloekombome groei tussen die mure, daar waar eens bal en klou meubels, outydse katels en Art Deco kombuiskaste gestaan het, en toring hoog bo die bouval uit waar daar eens ‘n dak was waaronder mense geleef het, gebid het, baklei en gehuil het, liefde gemaak en gelag het.
Dalk gebore is of gesterf het. Binne-in die oorblyfsel van ‘n lewe staan hierdie bome geplant soos onuitveebare herrineringe, die ode aan ander tye. So is die lewe, dink ek toe, watter ongelooflike metafoor van menslike bestaan. Hoe meer bouvallig jou liggaam word, hoe hoër groei die bome van jou onthou binne daardie liggaam. Al is die dakke waaronder jy gebly het, lank gelede afgewaai, of het van inwoners verwissel..
Natuurlik hardloop jou kop paaie. Kentsirkel, Springs. Die dak van jou kinderhuis. Onder hom het die vloeistroom van jou wese geleidelik rigting begin kry; koers gevat deur kabbelende rustigheid en turbulensie. Hier is ook geleef en beleef: dood en lewe, lag en huil, teleurstellings. Wat het oorgebly van daardie dak? Miskien alles. Miskien niks. In Springs sal ek waarskynlik nooit weer my voete sit nie.
Maar Springs se voete is elke dag in my. Dikwels deesdae, terwyl ek die skottelgoedmasjien pak, dink ek aan my pa wat ook op ‘n vroeë ouderdom, soos ek, sy werk verloor het. Hoe die ritueel van skottelgoedmasjiene pak ‘n desperate grype en soeke was na ‘n lewe wat wel sin maak, wat ‘n verskil maak. Te danke aan my is die vuil skottelgoed nou weer skoon. Sien, ek beteken tog steeds iets.
Terwyl ek freneties die hoeveelhede van ‘n resep afmeet en afweeg as ek kos maak, dink ek aan my pa, in sy baadjie en das in die kombuis vervolmaak hy bobotie in die mikrogolf maak, as noukeurige ambagsman word hoeveelhede volgens die resep presies afgemeet, ‘n verlore stukkie van sy legkaart genaamd Die oorblyfsels van ’n lewe. Daardie dak bestaan nie meer nie, maar die bome van onthou is lewensgroot.
Die koshuis daarna was nuwe ‘n wêreld. As eerstejaar met ‘n nuwe tas vol nuwe klere betree jy die toekoms. Jy is omring van vreemde manne, net so onseker soos jy. Jy deel jou private ruimte, die badkamers, die sitkamer, met 15 ander. Julle dak word spoedig die gemeenskaplike faktor wat jou deel van ‘n nuwe groep maak, ‘n nuwe broederskap. Jy was oortuig dat dit die beste gang is, die beste mense wat jy ooit ontmoet het.
Dit word jou plek. Matriek en jou tuisadres raak klein in die truspieël. Jy leer nuwe dinge, hoor van onbekende plekke, leer selfs ‘n paar woorde wat jy nog nooit voorheen geken het nie. Selfs die grootste individualis konformeer volgens die groep. Vroegoggende marsjeer ons as ‘’ienks”(eerstejaars) kampus toe in ‘n peleton.
Een van die manne wat reeds sy weermagdiensplig voltooi het, marsjeer ons. Met sy kenmerkende Swartland-bry skreeu hy afgemete: “Links-Ghegs-links-ghegs!” As ons regoor Brooklynpolisiestasie kom, gee hy opdrag: “Kom peppies, sê morghe virghie oorghe!” Dan skreeu ons kliphard: “Morghe oorghe!”
Een-een het ons afstudeer, ons drome gelos en opgeskop, na ander gange getrek, weggeraak van die aardbol af, gesterf. Ook daardie dak bestaan nie meer nie. Maar die reuse bloekombome wat in gang D4-4 geplant is in 1979, word groter en groter, en groei maar aldeur aan.
Die dak van ‘n eeu-oue huis in Sunnyside, toe bekend as huis Kokkerot, was ‘n eiesoortige ervaring. Klomp ou skoolmaters wat saam plak, met lang hare en harde rockmusiek en baie braai het ons die begrip “”vryheid” leer ken. Geen skoolreëls, geen koshuisreëls nie, want ons was ons eie huiskomitee.
Daar was verrassings om elke hoek en draai, soos wanneer jy bemoeiende-met-jou-eie-sake een oggend in die gemeenskaplike stort staan en hare was, en ‘n soetlief Joolprinsesstemmetjie groet jou waar sy langs jou staan: “More!” En al wat jy kan uitwurg, is: ”Dag!” Terwyl jy sjampoebesmeerd met jou handdoek om jou kop gederapeer, weghardloop.
Onder daardie dak het daar veel meer as net fisiese mense gewoon. Sedert die dae van Paul Kruger het daardie dak en mure baie dinge beleef. Baie van hulle het nooit vertrek na hulle ewige bestemmings nie. Hulle het maar aangebly om in die vreugde en skandes van inwoners te deel.
Ek het self een Saterdagnag gesien hoe my gesluite deur oopgaan, en ‘n blekerige wese my aangluur. Miskien was dit ons motivering om die een jaar ‘n doodskis te bou en as spoke aan die jooloptog deel te neem.
Daardie dak bestaan dekades nie meer nie, maar daardie bloekombome van onthou groei sterk, en word elke jaar groter.
So sal jy seker vir baie bladsye kon uitwei oor die dakke van jou lewe. Die nagte wat jy gelê en staar het na ‘n militêre tent se dak. Die lang nagte van deurnagwerk by die Vlootstafkollege in Muizenberg toe daar min kans was om na die dak te staar. Die dak van die karoonag, toe julle as vriende na die miljoene sterre gekyk het. Die dak van die skip in Brugge, waar die somerson teen 23h30 nog nie gesak het nie.
Die dak van die intensiewe afdeling van Unitas, waar jy bedraad, bedwelmd en bepyp luister na die eentonige gepiep van die hartlongmasjien. Die dak van jou kamer met al jou kinders laggend en stoeiend, jillend vrolik en opgewonde, saam met jou. Jou aftreeplek se dak, waar jy tienuur in die more dikbek lê en wonder wat de hel jy met jouself gaan aanvang op hierdie nog ‘n werklose, sinlose dag.
Topol in Fiddler on the roof sing: “Each of us is a fiddler on the roof, trying to scratch out as simple tune without making to much noise.” Die dakke is dalk weg. Die mense met wie ons hulle gedeel het, groei egter groter en groter, soos bloekombome in ‘n bouval.
Govan Mbeki Municipality is facing extensive financial difficulties. Electrical and water losses ads to the financial woes.
The Select Committee on Cogta conducted an oversight visit to Govan Mbeki Municipality on 15 September.
The chairperson of the committee Mr China Dodovu slammed the Mayor of Govan Mbeki Municipality on her poor leadership of the municipality.
Dodovu was visibly upset about the reception that the committee received during their visit. Mayor Thandiwe Ngxonono was late for the meeting with the committee.
The committee scolded the municipality regarding their continued financial woes. The also expressed their displeasure with the late submission of the Financial statements. Ngxonono offered an excuse that included the COVID-19 lockdown to which Dodovu replied that the statements should have been submitted last year already.
The committee lashed out at the bad leadership of the mayor and express their anticipation of the results of the investigation by COGTA into the municipality.
Opposition Leader, Democratic Alliance Caucus Leader Cllr Ciska Jordaan called on the resignation of Ngxonono.
“We call upon the Executive Mayor, Thandi Ngxonono, to do the right thing for the sake of the people of Govan Mbeki and step down from her position as political leader before having to face the Motion of No Confidence that the DA has submitted against her this month.” Said Ciska.
Ciska explained that the municipality is facing huge losses of its bulk purchases with no possible solutions in sight.
“The Govan Mbeki Municipality’s electricity and water losses have escalated to an all-time high during the month of August 2020, were it was losing 36.26% of the water that it purchased from Rand Water and 75.03% of the electricity purchased from Eskom.” Said Ciska, “These losses inevitably add to the municipality’s debt towards Eskom which is currently standing at a staggering R2.1 billion and over R300 million for Rand Water.”
The massive losses are attributed to a number of contributing factors:
· While Bethal, Emzinoni and Embalenhle have been load-shedded for months on end, the municipality has not been able to generate much revenue from the sales of electricity since they have not been able to sell any electricity at its offices or any of its usual vendors, but solely through online sales.
· Water pipe bursts and leaks, on the other hand, are the main contributor to the water losses.
Ciska said that the DA is appalled that most of the municipality’s income is lost to issues that are completely avoidable.
“However, instead of focusing on solutions, maintenance of infrastructure and generation of revenue; the ANC-led municipality has been keeping itself busy in recent days with appointing shoddy contractors which have exerted all their effort into replacing working electricity meters, spending millions on deviations because of continuously being in damage control mode and politically attempting to divert the attention away from the failures and infighting of the ANC.” Said Ciska.
She continued “The DA has been calling upon the MEC of CoGTA, Mandla Msibi, to place the Municipality under administration since July this year. In addition to this, the DA has at national level approached the Minister of CoGTA, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and the Office of the Deputy President, DD Mabuza requesting intervention. Yet we have not witnessed any political will or efforts into changing the status quo.”
“Meanwhile, it is the residents of Govan Mbeki who continue to suffer at the hands of the ANC, the municipality spiralling into debt. With these types of financial and material losses, it is unthinkable that the municipality continues about its day to day business without closing shop.”
The council is expected to sit again at the end of the month. It is expected that there will be a massive effort to remove the Mayor from her post.
Maak ‘n finansiële bydrae op 2 verskillende maniere: 1. Gee Aanlyn – Kruik Gemeente, ABSA, Tjek, 632005, Rek nr: 1510140016 2. Gee deur Zapper App – vind ons QR code in die diens aankondigings.
Kontak ons gerus op Kruik Gemeente se Facebook Messenger en Whatsapp lyn (0721336130) of besoek ons webtuiste by: https://www.kruik.co.za/.
Ons sal graag met jou gesels.
Geniet die diens saam met ons!
Die Jesus ritmes…
Wat is dit wat Jesus doen en sê wanneer dit kom by ritmes in sy lewe?
Nuwe ritmes kweek nuwe gewoontes en nuwe gewoontes bring nuwe lewe – veral in ‘n tyd soos dié waar ons verseker moet besin oor nuwe gewoontes…
Eerste week het ons gesê, daar is dele in jou lewe wat weer gebore moet word, nie net jou hart nie, jy moet dit identifiseer en van voor af met daai goed werk.
Verlede week was ek en jy genooi om ons prentjies oor God/Jesus te verander… wanneer ons prentjies van God verander verander die ander prentjies ook ons lewe. Jesus nooi ons uit om prentjies te hê van God wat ‘n goeie Vader is, wat liefhet en wat gee.
Vanoggend ‘n ritme wat groot skuiwe in my lewe gemaak het… veral in ‘n besige lewe van jaag, van vol dagboeke en en vergadering na ‘n ander… een dag na ander.
Om iewers in jou dag of selfs week stil te word. Te fokus net op die Here vir half uur… 15 min… iemand het gesê om in te plug by die Here op spesifieke tyd en plek.
Hierdie was ‘n ritme wat Jesus dikwels gedoen het en as dit goed was vir Jesus moet dit goed wees vir ons.
Lukas 5:15-16 Tog het die nuus oor Hom nog verder versprei, en groot menigtes het saamgedrom om na Hom te luister en van hulle siektes genees te word. Maar Hy het Hom altyd weer in eensame plekke afgesonder om daar te bid.
Markus 1:35 Die môre vroeg, toe dit nog nag was, het Hy opgestaan en buitentoe gegaan na ‘n eensame plek en daar gebid.
Johannes 6:15-17 Toe Jesus merk dat hulle Hom met geweld wil kom koning maak, het Hy verder die berg op gegaan, Hy alleen. Toe dit aand word, het Jesus se dissipels na die see toe gegaan, in ‘n skuit geklim en weggevaar na Kapernaum toe, oorkant die see. Dit was al donker en Jesus was nog steeds nie by hulle terug nie.
Jesus het gaan in ‘plug’ by die Vader… hoekom slaan ons dit oor in ons eie lewens.
Om stil te word is een van die grootste ritmes wat ons in ons lewens nodig het… hierdie is ‘n ritme wat letterlik ons lewens kan verander.
Selfs in ons gebede… ek weet nie van jou nie maar ek vang myself baie dat my gebede net my woorde bevat… net my kant van die storie… Jesus dankie vir dit… help my met dit, vat dit asb uit die pad uit… beskerm my en leer daai ou ‘n les… Wanneer praat God in hierdie gebede?
Iemand het eendag gesê… gebed is… om te luister. Wanneer ek en God in gesprek is moet Hy mos eintlik die meeste praat of wat? Dit sal ten goede vir my lewe wees as God die meeste in my gebede praat. Vir dit… moet ek stil word… Sy disippels vra… leer ons bid… en voor Jesus hulle die Onse Vader gebed leer… sê Hy iets baie belangrik…
Matteus 6:6 Die Boodskap “As jy bid, gaan dan na ’n stil plek toe waar niemand jou kan sien nie. Trek die deur agter jou toe en praat daar eenkant opreg met jou hemelse Vader. Hy sal sorg dat jy jou hemelse beloning kry.
Matteus 6:6 The Message “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
Hierdie is ‘n uitnodiging van Jesus self… stilwees … stilplek.
Miskien is hierdie baie vreemd vir jou… miskien is jy nie ‘n ou vir sulke goed nie… miskien is dit vir jou ongemaklik… ek daag jou uit… doen dit net elke dag vir 15min… stil… eenkant en vra God om met jou te praat.
Hierdie ritme het my lewe drasties verander…Net soos my selfoon nodig het om te herlaai… het ek nodig om te herlaai… en Jesus het die nood gesien om te herlaai… eintlik is hierdie ‘n moet en nie net ‘n opsie nie.
Hierdie week was ek en Ruben op drie dae ‘n stil “retreat”… so belangrike ritme wat eintlik on-onderhandelbaar is… eintlik moet ek en jy een keer ‘n jaar genoeg tyd uitsit om stil te word oor ons jaar en ons lewe… Kan ons enigsens God hoor as ons nie stil word nie?
Tom Smith – Plugging in is an invitation to connect with our beautiful God that synchronizes us toward a closer engagement with God’s wild kingdom. We connect with the King in order to become active participants in His kingdom.
As wil doen wat die Here van ons verwag en doen wat Hy vir ons lewe wil hê – gaan ons moet doen wat Hy sê… om te hoor wat Hy sê… gaan ons moet stil word.
Dink vir ‘n oomblik… waar is jou “secluded place”… identifiseer dit… en gaan word stil… wil jy weet wat die Here vir jou wil hê… gaan hoor…
Besprekingsvrae
Hoe dink jy kan stilte in jou dag/week verskil maak in jou lewe?
Dink jy hierdie ritme kan waarde toevoeg tot jou lewe?
Sasol South Africa is partnering with the Alliance to End Plastic Waste to extend its efforts to lessen the impact of litter on the environment. In celebration of World Clean-up Day 2020 on 19 September, Sasol will participate in the ALL TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEAN-UP, a global initiative to remove litter one piece at a time from the environment.
“We encourage our Sasol South Africa employees, partners and individuals to participate and spread the word about ALL TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEAN-UP. Our actions, bolstered by measurement over the two-week period, will help create positive change in the effort to rid the planet of litter,” said Thabiet Booley, Senior Vice President of Sasol’s Base Chemicals business.
“Litter in the environment is a global challenge with local solutions and we are committed to safely joining together to reduce waste in our communities. Through the ALL TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEAN-UP initiative participants may choose to clean up on their own, with a small group, or with family members. Whomever participants choose to participate with, everyone is encouraged to follow all local and regional COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safest experience possible.”
Beginning on Saturday, 19 September and extending for the ensuing two weeks, volunteers from the Alliance, employees of participating member and non-member companies, partners and individuals around the world will rally to discover, identify, collect and dispose of any litter they find.
Leveraging the global network of the Alliance’s nearly 50 members, the ALL TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEAN-UP expects to educate more than one million individuals about the importance of litter clean up. The two-week window to participate in the ALL TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEAN-UP gives participants the choice to take part when they are comfortable in doing so and physically distanced given their local communities’ COVID-19 safety guidance.
Litterati, winner of the Alliance and Plug and Play’s incubator program in the United States, developed the app that serves as the centrepiece to unite ALL TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEAN-UP participants.
The Litterati app allows for pickup efforts to be monitored with concrete data, which in turn makes it possible for changes of lasting impact—from behavioural shifts to corporate packaging changes and more.
Litterati uses artificial intelligence technology to identify the litter captured in geo-tagged photos. All participants will use the app to upload photos of each piece of litter collected in order to measure and track participation throughout the two-week campaign.
In addition to Sasol employees, partners such as Plastics SA – which represents all sectors of the South African plastics industry including polymer producers and importers, converters, machine suppliers, fabricators and recyclers – will support the Litterati campaign for all inland clean-ups scheduled until end October 2020.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the Inkwazi Isu project, which is a collaboration between Sasol and various stakeholders aiming to holistically address the pollution problem in the Amanzimtoti Catchment area, will utilise the app in support of clean up campaigns planned for World Clean-Up day on 19 September.
Sasol, as a member of the South African Initiative to End Plastic Waste which is aimed at value chain collaboration to end plastic waste in the environment will also be able to use the app.
Further supplementing these efforts, award-winning youth and education initiative TED-Ed has created virtual lesson plans and videos about the issue of litter in the environment. The video-based lessons will be available on TED-Ed’s free and award-winning educational platform and translated into several languages. Visit AllTogetherCleanup.org to access the TED-Ed lesson plans and videos.
“The scale of the global litter challenge can feel daunting, but growing participation in World Clean-up Day has demonstrated that individuals are eager to do their part,” said Jacob Duer, President and CEO, Alliance to End Plastic Waste.
“Through the ALL TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEAN-UP, the Alliance and our members are determined to further reduce litter in our mission to end plastic waste in the environment.”
Please visit the following links for more information about the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and the ALL TOGETHER GLOBAL CLEAN-UP.
About the Alliance to End Plastic Waste
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste is an international non-profit organisation partnering with government, environmental and economic development NGOs and communities around the world to address the challenge to end plastic waste in the environment.
Through programs and partnerships, the Alliance focuses on solutions in four strategic areas: infrastructure, innovation, education and engagement and clean up.
As of August 2020, the Alliance has nearly 50 member companies and supporters representing global companies and organisations across the plastic value chain. For more information, visit: www.endplasticwaste.org
About Litterati
Litterati is on a mission to eradicate litter. Now in 165 countries, the Litterati community identifies, maps and collects waste, resulting in an Open Litter Database – the largest of its kind. They are backed by the National Science Foundation and have been highlighted at TED.
TED-Ed is TED’s youth and education initiative. TED-Ed’s mission is to spark and celebrate the ideas of teachers and students around the world. Everything we do supports learning — from producing a growing library of original animated videos, to providing an international platform for teachers to create their own interactive lessons, to helping curious students around the globe bring TED to their schools and gain presentation literacy skills, to celebrating innovative leadership within TED-Ed’s global network of over 600,000 teachers. TED-Ed has grown from an idea worth spreading into an award-winning education platform that serves millions of teachers and students around the world every week.
Nog ‘n “So is die lewe” rubriek vanuit die pen van Ds Marius Britz. Titel is Kamer.
Bykans ses dekades se reis oor verskeie landskappe heen laat mens uiteraard op die punt kom waar jy jouself moet afvra: “Quo Vadis? Wie is ek, waar kom ek vandaan, en waar gaan ek heen?”
Op ‘n dag is jou lus opgebruik vir verder die onbekende in reis, vir nuwe horisonne ontdek is daar eweneens nie moed nie, vir die lang verwagte uitstaande enigmas is daar nie meer hoop nie. Pyn, siekte, teleurstellings en foute deur jouself en andere gemaak ets die elastisiteit van jou wese in so ‘n mate dat jy eendag besluit om jou lewe in ‘n rugsak in te pak. Dit wat nie kan inpas nie, moet gaan.
Jy skep jou eie veilige plek, ontdaan van verwagtinge, bruisende ambisies en ‘n ontdekkersgees wat geen beperkings ken nie. Jy word jùis dan beperk tot die hier-en-nou, jou laaste uitspanning op die Groot Trek van jou leeftyd. Jou afsaalplek. Jou eie persoonlike Bloedrivier. Of Bloukrans. Of Waterloo. Jou lewenskamer word jou veilige plek, met vensters en deure dig verseël, met die lewe wat verbygaan net ‘n statiese blokkie so groot soos ‘n venster.
Amanda Strydom sing: ”Ek het lankal immigreer na ‘n kamer in my kop / Vandaar hou ek versigtig die wêreld om my dop / My kamer bied ‘n skuilte as die storms buite woed / My kamer ken geheime, my kamer ken my goed / Beskut my teen ‘n wêreld waar ek ongemaklik leef / Bevry my van bagasie en laat my rustig wees / Die wêreld is my woning nie, Totius sou verstaan / Ek reis al meer na binne / Tot dit tyd word om te gaan / My kamer het geen meubels, geen boek of skildery / Geen spinnerak of rommel om my aandag af te lei / My kamer het groot vensters, sonder luike of gordyn / Uitsig onbelemmerd, net die son wat helder skyn.”
Binne in hierdie kamer is die tyd ryp om al die kaggelbakkies wat jy versamel het op die vele paaie waar jou spore verspreid lê, uit te haal en af te stof. En om met groot waagmoed weg te gooi, dit wat eens op ‘n tyd vir jou so belangrik was, maar nou irrelevant geword het.
Die onthou-oomblikke van jou lewe moet geliasseer word. Of vernietig word. Die goeie en die slegte. Sol y sombra, skryf Uys Krige. Die knusheid van jou kamer gee aan jou die veiligheid om pretensieloos na jou versamelinkie lewe te kyk. Dit wat jy nog het, en dit wat jy verloor het. Jy leer die vermoë aan om onbetrokke, objektief na jou eie lewe te kyk.
Uiteraard kan jy niks doen aan dit wat jy verloor het nie. Mense langs die pad. Jou mense van jou bloed wat gesterf het. Vriende wat jou vooruitgegaan het na daardie Plek met die goue strate. Mense wat net oor die periferie van jou lewe verdwyn het. Van die dooies hoor jy, van die lewendes nooit weer nie. Liefdes verlore. Drome wat versteen het. Wonderlike fases van jou lewe wat net opgehou het, asof dit nooit gebeur het nie.
Die wonderervaring van drie klein kindertjies, skoongebad en met pajamas aan, wat op jou rug ry in die gang as julle perdjie-perdjie speel, word vervang deur iets anders: in die middernagtelike wakkerlê in die stilte, luisterend na tarentale wat roep en honde wat blaf en jakkalse wat tjank, kom staan die jaar 2020 voor jou soos die draak in Cervantes se verhaal oor Don Quichot de la Mancha.
Jou nou-volwasse kinders leef vannag in moeilike tye van inperking, werkloosheid, onsekerheid, misdaad en korrupsie. Jy kan nie meer hulle al drie onder een kombersie toemaak nie. Die enigste sekerheid wat jy dan het, is dat jy knus omsingel word deur vier mure en ‘n dak. Soos Strydom sing: “ek het lankal geimmigreer na ‘n kamer in my kop.” Jy kan nie meer voorsien en beskerm nie, jy kan nou net bid. Voor God jou vrese en magteloosheid uitstort.
Jou behoeftes verander. Advertensies oor Mercedesse maak jou nie meer opgewonde nie. Jou motorfiets waarvoor jy gewag het sedert standerd agt staan stofbedek in die motorhuis met ‘n pap battery. Dit raak ‘n ekspedisie om Kaapstad toe te ry. Jy, wat altyd roekeloos vinnig gery het in Pretoria se spitsverkeer om betyds by al jou vergaderings oor die hele stad te wees, raak verbouereerd en senuweeagtig as motors jou omsingel.
Elke robotverkoopspersoon met ‘n sakkie piesangs of selfoonlaaiers of goedkoop donkerbrille is vir jou ‘n bedreiging. Jy wat in ‘n turbulente tyd van jou loopbaan nagtelank in Kathlehong agterop ‘n Samil gery het saam met gewapende troepe om lyke op te tel. Prediker 3 maak vir jou meer en meer sin. Vir alles onder die son is daar ‘n tyd. Jou persoonlike “in-hokkie” het nie eintlik meer enige iets in nie. Jou “uit-hokkie” is leeg, jou taak is afgehandel, jou werk is voltooi.
Die kamer in jou kop het nie plek vir uitspattighede en onnodige bagasie nie. Onvervulde drome moet soos ‘n opgeblaasde ballon met spelde geprik word indien dit nie meer fisies en materieel haalbaar is nie. Hou op droom om Europa plat te toer met ‘n motorfiets en tweemantent as jy sukkel om in die oggende jou slaapklere uit te trek en jou tande te borsel.
Jy belas jouself net met nuwe bagasie. Hou op kwaad te wees oor dinge wat lank terug gebeur het. Die mense betrokke is óf al lankal dood, óf kan nie eers onthou nie. Hou op om skuldig te voel oor alles wat jy verkeerd gedoen het, of nie gedoen het nie. Kyk deur jou venster; die lewe gaan aan. Met of sonder jou.
Jy het net die basiese dinge nodig hier in jou afsonderingskamer. Oorvloed liefde. Om te gee en te ontvang. Deernis. Sagtheid. Begrip as jy dieselfde storie of grappie dalk vir die derde of vierde keer vertel. En om lekker te kan lag. Uit jou maag uit. Om omring te wees deur mense vir wie jy saakmaak. Mense wat jou waardeer. Mense van jou asem, soos Steve Hofmeyr skryf. Iemand wat vir jou sê: “Ek is lief vir jou” voordat jy aan die slaap raak.
Is it Wednesday already? Time sure flies when you’re having fun! This is the first article of L & A’s Wicked Wednesdays! What’s Wicked Wednesday you may wonder – it is our lifestyle edition, where you can expect to find articles about anything and everything lifestyle related.
Wicked Wednesday’s can include topics about DIY hair masks to changing a tyre, how to live a greener lifestyle to the best hangover cures – anything goes with Wicked Wednesdays!
Our first Wicked Wednesday article is going to assist our readers in living a greener lifestyle by giving you six tips.
Living a cleaner, more eco-friendly lifestyle does not have to mean changing your whole way of life. It can be incredibly simple and easy. The fact that you have decided to make a change means you have crossed the most difficult step.
Start by focusing on smaller changes you can make easily before you tackle the more difficult steps of your eco-friendly resolution.
Here are some easy and small changes you can make in your everyday life to help you live an eco-friendlier lifestyle:
Eat Less Meat
This sounds like a huge sacrifice, but it does not require you to cut meat out completely, simply eating less.
Cutting back on your consumption of meat can make an enormous difference in the environment.
More than 30 percent of the Earth’s surface is being used to raise and support livestock. Cutting back on your meat consumption is a crucial step in reducing the overall emission of GWP gases.
Less livestock also means more land we can enjoy and use for recreation. Consider replacing some of your meat-heavy meals with vegetables or eating more seafood!
Consider replacing some of your meat-heavy meals with vegetables or eating more seafood!
Borrow, Don’t Buy
It is easy to waste money on things that you can easily borrow.
Rent movies, borrow books from libraries and buy second-hand goods when possible.
By purchasing and using pre-owned items, you reduce those items that need to be kept in a landfill and save yourself money.
Purchase pre-owned items
Reduce Your Water Waste
Enhance your eco-friendly lifestyle by using less water and cutting back on your bottled water purchases.
Take a shorter shower in the morning or install a low-flow shower head.
Cutting back on bottled water purchases is easy.
Buy yourself a stainless steel bottle and a water filter for your tap water.
Buy yourself a stainless steel bottle and a water filter for your tap water.
Use Less Paper
The world we live in today is much more reliant on computers and digital technology.
It is easy to go a day without using a notebook or even a piece of paper.
The less paper you use, the less paper needs to be produced and the more trees that get to fill our forests.
The less paper you use, the less paper needs to be produced and the more trees that get to fill our forests.
Turn it off!
Energy conservation is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint.
If you are not home, do not leave lights on unnecessarily.
Leaving your electrical items on standby needlessly uses up energy – hit the off switch and you could see huge improvements, most noticeably in your energy bills.
Do not leave lights on unnecessarily.
Grow Your Green Finger
This point is two-fold: grow your own veggies, this will not only save you money, but it is also a wonderful way to cut down your carbon footprint and be eco-friendly and plant some trees while you are at it!
Ecological sustainability is especially important when it comes to eco-friendly living.
Without a stable ecosystem, things start to fall apart.
Insist on planting more native trees, this will help to protect the environment and improve air quality.
Sasol has become the first raw material supplier to the South African plastics industry to become a signatory of Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) – an international stewardship programme designed to prevent resin pellet, flake and powder loss and help keep this material out of the marine environment.
Source: www.sasol.com
This is aligned to Sasol’s commitment to providing chemicals and energy in a responsible way and respecting the environment by continually improving performance to minimise and avoid adverse impacts.
Plastics|SA is the licensee and project coordinator for OCS in South Africa’s plastics industry. As a signatory of the “Joint declaration for solutions to the problem of marine litter” which took place during the 5th International Conference on Marine Debris, held in Honolulu in 2011, it joined the international plastics community’s commitment to address the issue of plastics in the marine environment.
Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director at Plastics|SA said spilled pellets, flakes and powder can make their way into local waterways and ultimately estuaries and the ocean.
“This isn’t just an eyesore and a litter issue. Pellets, flakes and powder can be mistaken for food by birds or marine animals, and could harm them if ingested,” he explained.
As part of their plan of action to implement OCS in South Africa, Plastics |SA has developed a detailed toolkit and a manual that contains guidelines to help plastics industry operations managers reduce the accidental loss of pellets, flakes and powder from the manufacturing facility into the environment.
To date, more than 9 local companies, as well as the PRO’s (Producer Responsibility Organisations) such as PETCO, Polyco, the Southern African Vinyls Association and Polystyrene Association of SA have taken the OCS pledge on behalf of their members and agreed to the following six commitments in order to establish / demonstrable environmentally responsible processes:
Improving worksite set-up to prevent and address spills
Creating and publishing internal procedures to achieve zero operations plastic material loss
Providing employee training and accountability for spill prevention, containment, clean-up and disposal
Auditing performance regularly
Complying with all applicable state and local regulations governing operations plastics waste containment and management
Encouraging value chain partners (contractors, transporters, distributors, etc.) to pursue the same goals.
Sasol, as a responsible polymer producer, aims to join other companies along the plastics value chain in ensuring that polymer pellets are manufactured, transported and stored responsibly until it is converted into the final product, said Bernard Klingenberg, Executive Director of Sasol.
“Through OCS Sasol will further minimise our environmental footprint by ensuring that our polymer is managed responsibly throughout the manufacturing life cycle stages to prevent any release into the environment,” Klingenberg explained.
“We have conducted internal assessments at our South African production sites and implemented improvements which include reinforcing good housekeeping practices, employee awareness, and implementation of screens on drains. In addition, Sasol is in the process of engaging with supply chain partners to assist them where necessary in adopting these important practices.”
Leading up to the signing of the OCS Pledge Sasol undertook various activities towards becoming an OS member which include education and awareness sessions, production facility audits and conducted self-assessments questionnaires along Sasol’s supply chain.
Plastics|SA is highly appreciative of these results and the commitment shown by Sasol to OCS to prevent resin pellet, flake, and powder loss and help keep this material out of the marine environment and welcomes Sasol as the first raw material supplier as a signatory of OCS in South Africa.
