The Bulletin News – Page 197

The mysterious hand of God works in powerful ways

Community news

-

May 25, 2020

0

The mysterious hand of God works in powerful ways

It all started on the evening of 13 April for Sandra Hanekom when an old student, Wium Matfield, contacted her out of the blue. The powerful hand of God works in mysterious ways…

God works in mysterious ways says Sandra Hanekom — **Sandra Hanekom**

In the message he said that while he was busy with worship, he felt the need to contact her. He asked Sandra about spiritual gifts. He asked if she knows about it and sent her more information regarding the subject.

Not really thinking much about it, Sandra continued as per normal, unbeknownst to her that one message would put the wheels of fate into motion…

In the beginning of lockdown Mariëtte Botha sent out WhatsApp broadcast messages. These messages contained prayers and sermons from Reverend Bennie Marais from Charl Cilliers. He would send messages to his congregation members in the mornings and the evenings.

“My husband and I would listen to Reverend Bennie’s messages in the evenings and also to our own church’s broadcast messages,” said Sandra.

One day Reverend Bennie asked his congregation to each member to record a prayer and he will broadcast these prayers to everyone.

“I found a beautiful version of Psalm 121. I spoke to Mariëtte and told her that I am going to record Psalm 121 and send it to Reverend Bennie. That evening my recording was broadcasted with all the other recordings for people to enjoy.”

A few days later Sandra received a call from the Reverend himself. He said that her recording had touched so many hearts and asked her if she would write a prayer. Obliging, Sandra wrote a prayer based on one of the Psalms the Reverend mentioned in his sermon.

It was not long after that when Reverend Bennie contacted Sandra again. This time congregation members had asked if she would mind recording the poems the members sent to him.

From then, every time Sandra would come across something, she thought special, she would record herself reading the verse and send it to Reverend Bennie.

Time after time Sandra would receive a message from Reverend Bennie saying that when she sends him recordings, he is shocked that the theme of her recording would be the same as his theme for that evening. Neither knew what the other prepared nor recorded.

“I received a version of Habakkuk on a WhatsApp and recorded it. Reverend Bennie broadcasted it one evening. God’s hand was definitely at play here because the message found its way to Ria Krog. When her husband passed on, the late Reverend Du Bruin Krog, the same passage I recorded, was the same passage that she held onto and it is still incredibly special to her,” Sandra explained.

She continued: “When she heard the recording of Habakkuk, she could not believe it. She forwarded the recording to her friend Nicolette Steel. (Nicolette is a motivational speaker.) Nicolette contacted Ria to find out who the face behind the voice on the recording is because she would like to use it in one of her videos.”

The recording was translated into Sign Language by Melinda Botha, a teacher at the Transoranje School for the Deaf. Nicolette contacted Sandra and sent her the video of Melinda signing the Habakkuk passage.

Sandra reading Habakkuk

“I was comfortable doing the voice recordings and sending them to Nicolette to be translated into Sign Language by Melinda. The next thing I knew I was recording videos. The purpose behind the videos was so that the deaf community could also read my lips while Melinda is signing.”

“This was a big challenge for me!”

“For every one video there were about four retakes. Just as I would get into the flow, something would make a noise. If it were not a car driving past, it would be a leaf blower,” Sandra said while she laughed.

While she continued to explain how she overcame the challenges of recording herself, Sandra’s infectious laughter filled the room. I could not help but giggle with this Godfearing woman sitting opposite me.

She did not want to upload any of these videos on Facebook at first, but later decided to share one of the videos on her wall.

She later realised something that is so infinitesimal to her, means the world to others. She felt honoured to have had the opportunity to express the word of God in these challenging times.

It is strange how one thing can put the wheels of fate into motion: an old student asking her about spiritual gifts, recording the same message as Reverend Bennie and Ria Krog’s Habakkuk passage.

These are things one cannot explain but yet so hard to comprehend as to why everything fell into place. Why did everything fall into place like a well oiled machine?

It seems like it is exactly like Sandra said: “God had a hand in all of this!”

READ ALSO: Habakkuk

Two suspects arrested for possession of drugs worth millions

Crime

Ane Prinsloo

-

May 25, 2020

0

Two suspects arrested for possession of drugs worth millions

Two suspects aged 48 and 50 were arrested today, 25 May 2020, at Lebombo Border Post near Komatipoort for possession of suspected Crystal Meth and Heroine worth an estimated R10 million in street value.

According to the report, members of both the South African Revenue Services (Customs) and South African Police Service were conducting their normal duties when a white mini truck pulling a trailer, from Mozambique, made a stop at the border to be processed.

Upon noticing the truck, the formations (SAPS and SARS) conducted a routine search as per their responsibilities and discovered makeshift compartments in both the truck and trailer, stashed with suspected drugs as well as bottles of illegal liquor.

***Suspected Crystal Meth and Heroine worth an estimated R10 million in street value.***

Preliminary investigation indicates that the occupants, male and female, were planning to smuggle the drugs from Mozambique into the country before being intercepted by the said determined formations.

Various security agencies: SANDF, SAPS, SARS CUSTOMS as well as Traffic, have been hard at work, not only enforcing Lockdown regulations but also addressing all crimes in general. They have been very instrumental along the border line, SANDF in particular where large amounts of liquor have been recovered as well as a considerable number of people arrested thus far.

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma has applauded the law enforcement officers for their resilience and vigilance at the border which resulted in the arrest of the two suspects.

The General has cautioned those who think they can try their luck and traffic drugs, that the security agencies are equal to the task, not only focusing on enforcing Lockdown Regulations but also combating all criminal activities.

“I would also like to thank members of the public for their relentless efforts as they continue to provide information to the police which often led to many arrests, their work does not go unnoticed,” said General Zuma.

Meanwhile the two suspects will appear at the Komatipoort Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 26 May 2020, facing charges of possession of drugs and illicit liquor. Police cannot rule out possibility of charging the two with an additional charge of dealing in drugs.

COVID-19 screening in Bethal this chilly morning

Coronavirus News

Ane Prinsloo

-

May 25, 2020

0

COVID-19 screening in Bethal this chilly morning

This morning health workers are in Bethal in Sectors 3/5/6 conducting screening for COVID-19. The health workers are easily identifiable. You can identify them by their jackets, ID badges, gloves and masks.

They will screen you outside your gate or your house to ensure that you do not have COVID-19. The health worker will ask if you:

1. have travelled to a high risk country in the last 14 days

2. have had contact with anyone with confirmed COVID-19 in the last 14 days

3. have symptoms such as fever, cough and difficulty in breathing

You must be honest when you answer the questions to make sure you get the right help.

Should they suspect that you might have symptoms, you must self-quarantine. This means that you should stay at home for 14 days and monitor yourself for symptoms such as a dry cough, fever and difficulty breathing. Stay away from older people and people with a compromised immune system or underlying condition.

If the health worker think that you may have COVID-19 they will refer you to a health facility to be tested.

What happens if you have not travelled, have not been in contact with anyone with COVID-19 and do not have symptoms?

You will be allowed to go on home and must keep on doing things to protect yourself:

wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze
do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth
avoid close contact (1 meter) with people who are unwell
stay at home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell

There is a limited number of test kits in South Africa. To decide who should be tested, health workers will use a formula by looking at how serious your symptoms are and what high risk factors you have.

A second constable in as many days loses his life to unscrupulous criminals

Crime

Ane Prinsloo

-

May 24, 2020

0

The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Khehla John Sitole has had to convey his condolences to a second family this weekend after a Constable, Thabo Mdluli was killed last night in Kwaggafontein, Mpumalanga while attending to a hijacking in progress last night followed by the killing of a Constable in Kwa-Nyuswa in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal.

In the latest incident Const Mdluli and two colleagues, a Sergeant and another Constable were on routine patrol duties in the Kwaggafontein policing precinct. While driving along the R573 road in Vlaklaagte, they came across a Toyota Corolla on the side of the road with the hazard lights flashing.

As the three members approached the Corolla, it sped off. The policemen followed the car resulting in a high-speed chase for a few kilometres until it stopped. One of the suspects suddenly stopped, alighted from the car and without warning began shooting at the police. The police returned fire but Constable Ndluli was hit. While the other two uninjured members were attending to Constable Mdluli, the suspects fled the scene on foot.

A remaining occupant in the Toyota Corolla told police that the suspects that fled the scene were holding him hostage after they had hijacked his vehicle.

He alleged that three suspects in a white sedan that had a blue light. The sedan left as soon as they hijacked him.

However, before the suspects could drive off with him in the car the three police officers arrived.

The province has implemented the 72-Hour Activation Plan and all the necessary resources needed to investigate this incident have been mobilised.

The members that escaped the attack have been afforded the initial debriefing as prescribed by the Employee Health and Wellness.

The family of the deceased member will also be afforded the necessary bereavement support.

The National Commissioner has sent his condolences to the family and he has called on the team investigating this incident to make sure that they trace and arrest the perpetrators.

“We need to do everything possible to find these people masquerading as police officers and roaming around hijacking unsuspecting law-abiding citizens. These suspects must be arrested and made to face the full might of the law both for the killing of our colleague as well as for the hi-jacking,” said General Sitole.

We are appealing to anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects to send crime tip-offs on the MySAPSApp or to contact the SAPS Crime Stop number ‪086 00 10111. All information received will be treated with strictest confidence.

Lockdown Level 3 from 1 June

Goverment

Ane Prinsloo

-

May 24, 2020

0

Tonight, President Ramaphosa addressed the nation and announced that as of 1 June the country will move to level 3 of lockdown.

It has been 10 weeks since a national state of disaster was declared. Since then, the amount of COVID-19 cases has escalated. The country’s numbers currently are: 22,583 confirmed cases of which at least half have recovered and 429 people have died. That means that there are just over 11,000 active coronavirus cases: 842 patients are in hospital and 128 of these are in intensive care.

The President announced that over 580,000 coronavirus tests and more than 12 million screenings have been conducted. 60 000 Community health workers have been going door-to-door.

“Government is supporting and funding several research projects, including a plan to locally manufacture coronavirus vaccines as soon as candidates are available. We will use the skills, expertise, infrastructure and organisations within the vaccines industry to produce and distribute the vaccine,” the President said.

He continued: “We have argued that should a vaccine be developed anywhere in the world it should be made freely and equitably available to citizens of all countries.”

Changes from Level 4 to Level 3:

People will also be able to leave their homes to buy goods or obtain services including medical care.
People will also be able to exercise at any time during the day, provided this is not done in groups.
The curfew on the movement of people will be lifted.
Alcohol may be sold for home consumption only under strict conditions, on specified days and for limited hours.
Announcements in this regard will be made once we have concluded discussions with the sector on the various conditions.
The sale of tobacco products will remain prohibited in alert level 3 due to the health risks associated with smoking.
All gatherings will remain prohibited, except for funerals with no more than 50 people or meetings in the workplace for work purposes.
Any place open to the public where cultural, sporting, entertainment, recreational, exhibition, organisational or similar activities may take place will remain closed.

The President said that meetings with “leaders of the interfaith religious community on their proposals for the partial opening of spiritual worship and counselling services subject to certain norms and standards.”

Businesses that may open must be vigilant in complying with the COVID-19 protocols the government has put in place. Before opening, a workplace plan must be developed. These plans must include the sanitisation of the business and social distancing between staff and customers. These sector protocols will include screen workers on arrival each day, quarantine those who may be infected and arrange for the employees to be tested.

The President suggested that all staff who are older than 60 years of age and those who suffer from underlying conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer should ideally stay at home and if you can work from home to do so.

He continued: “…all manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, professional and business services, information technology, communications, government services and media services will commence full reopening from 1 June.”

The wholesale and retail trade will be fully opened, these include stores, spaza shops and informal traders. E-commerce will continue to remain open.

“Other sectors that opened previously, such as agriculture and forestry, utilities, medical services, food production and manufacture of hygiene products, will remain fully opened.”

Certain activities will remain prohibited:

Restaurants, bars and taverns, except for delivery or collection of food.
Accommodation and domestic air travel, except for business travel, which will be phased in on dates to be announced.
Conferences, events, entertainment and sporting activities.
Personal care services, including hairdressing and beauty services.

Mask will stay compulsory especially for those who make use of public transport.

The President also spoke about the phasing back in of schools.

“Strict infection control measures and, where necessary, additional water and sanitation infrastructure are being put in place to enable social distancing, regular hand washing and learner safety.”

He also said that the 2020 school calendar year will be revised.

No more than a third of university students will be allowed to return to campuses.

It seems that the President’s precautionary measures are falling in to place and that South Africa is fighting this disease together.

Brazen Thief stole trees

Crime

Encee van Huyssteen

-

May 24, 2020

0

A brazen thief stole trees from house front

Shock and disbelief are what met Mrs Leandra Cole on Saturday morning as she saw the damage outside her gate.

Leandra planted ornamental trees outside her entrance to beautify the gate. She added a pot and a steel sign on the wall.

On Saturday morning the trees were missing. Someone stole the plants just after midnight (Friday/Saturday).

**A brazen thief stole trees from house front**

The thief stole the first tree a week before and Leandra thought that it might be a prank or similar. Unfortunately, the thief thought that one tree was not enough and returned a week later to steal more.

**Soil marks where the thief dragged the trees**

The thief was caught on camera where he drove past in a white Corsa bakkie only to return a few seconds later to continue his devious acts of removing and stealing the trees.

Corsa used in Tree theft

It took considerable effort to pull the trees out and the thief left a trail of soil as he pulled the trees across the lawn.

(function () { var c = document.body.className; c = c.replace(/woocommerce-no-js/, 'woocommerce-js'); document.body.className = c; })();