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GMM faces water shortages due to non-payment

Residents to suffer yet again with water restrictions looming

Residents will once again carry the brunt of Govan Mbeki Municipality’s (GMM) inability to bring their spiralling debtors under control.

National Media Houses have reported on Rand Water’s intended restrictions. GMM is currently being restricted with a 40% reduction on water flow. This restriction has already affected several households throughout GMM. Higher lying areas bearing most of the restrictions. 

Rand Water spokesperson, Justice Mohale said that Rand Water has formally notified three of its municipal customers of its intention to reduce water pressure. This does not mean that the water pressure has been reduced by 60% yet.

The Govan Mbeki Municipality had an overdue amount owed to Rand Water of R47 million as arranged with the municipality. The municipality had been informed that its failure to pay the amount due would compel Rand Water to further reduce the flow of water supply by 20 percent on Monday. This was in addition to the 40 percent water reduction currently being implemented. The total amount owed to Rand Water by the municipality was R245,890,637 according to IOL.

The GMM council took note of a standing item on their agenda regarding Rand Water for the month of January 2020 a total amount of R59 444 514 was paid towards the municipality’s Rand Water Account and that a total amount of R218 432 429.44 remains outstanding.

This is different from the Rand Water statement, but this can be contributed to different dates of reporting.

The Bulletin visited the Rand Water website to verify some facts. The Rand Water website stated the following: “Municipal customers account for 95% of total demand, with direct supply to mines making up most of the balance.”

Rand Water’s Customers:

Metropolitan Municipal Councils:

  • City of Joburg,
  • City of Ekurhuleni,
  • City of Tshwane.

13 Municipalities:

  • Emfuleni,
  • Govan Mbeki,
  • Lesedi, Madibeng,
  • Merafong,
  • Metsimaholo, 
  • Midvaal, 
  • Mogale City,
  • Ngwathe, 
  • Randwest, 
  • Rustenburg, 
  • Thembisile Hani, 
  • Victor Khanye,
  • Royal Bafokeng Administration.

40 Mines and 926 industries and direct customers.

GMM logo

“The defaulting municipalities are aware that the offices of the Minister for Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, the respective provincial MECs for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, as well the National Treasury, have been informed of the intended implementation of the credit-control measures,” Mohale said.

GMM has tabled several Turn Around strategies but has now shifted the blame to the non-functionality of the previous financial system. 

GMM is also not adhering to current legislation as written in the Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003. This act, under section 65(e), states that all money owing by the municipality be paid within 30 days of receiving the relevant invoice or statement unless prescribed otherwise for certain categories of expenditure.

Previous non-payments of bulk services that affected residents resulted in large scale violence in which the Emba Mall suffered huge losses due to the partial burning of the mall by angry residents. 

Let us hope this issue will be resolved soon and GMM can meet their obligations.

Lizani Visser, Top Model – Body of the year.

Young, tall, energetic and definitely beautiful are some of the words to describe Lizani Visser, Top Model Body of the year winner 2020. This beautiful young mother contributes her success to hard work and determination.

Top Model – Body of the Year!

Lizani spoke to The Bulletin about her path to winning the coveted title of Top Model, Body of the year.

Lizani posted some of her photographs on Facebook. She was very sceptical when she received a phone call from someone claiming to be a scout for the Top Model competition. “There are a lot of people out there that will try and mislead you,” said Lizani “I have received some funny requests from people claiming to be scouts!”

The moment of truth!

She did the right thing and researched the so-called scout. Lizani found the scouts name on the Top Model website and wrote to them confirming the scout’s participation. Only then was she satisfied that this was really a scout for Top Model.

She entered the competition as a wild card in the beginning of this year, even though the competition already started in 2019. The road was not plain sailing though, there were workshops to attend in Pretoria. “I am very lucky to have a husband that fully supported my journey,” Lizani said to The Bulletin. “He would stand in with my duties as a mother when I couldn’t.” They have a lovely daughter of four years.

The entrants had to assemble in Pretoria at Menlyn Maine, Time Square Sun Arena, a few days before the competition. This was the most gruelling part. The whole show had to be rehearsed and memorised in about two days.

The Big day finally arrived. It started early on Thursday morning (27 February) with makeup and hair to be done. “The day went past so quickly.”

“I was very nervous when the show actually started,” said Lizani. “We couldn’t make any mistakes!”

When the winner for the category “Body of the Year” was called, Lizani couldn’t believe her ears. She believed that was a mistake at first but then reality sunk in.

She was the “Top Model, Body of the Year,” winner. There were no runners up, only a winner and that was our very own, Lizani Visser.

The Bulletin would also like to express our congratulations to Lizani. The Year of Reign will now start and it is unfamiliar territory for Lizani but she is confident that she will be able to cope.

Lizani’s advice to young girls? “Believe in yourself, accept your flaws and live healthily.”

Advice on Facebook? “Remember that your Facebook will paint a picture for scouts. It is also a reflection of your life to other people.”

But most of all: Go for it!

Lizani Visser, Top Model – Body of the year.

Young, tall, energetic and definitely beautiful are some of the words to describe Lizani Visser, Top Model Body of the year winner 2020. This beautiful young mother contributes her success to hard work and determination.

Top Model – Body of the Year!

Lizani spoke to The Bulletin about her path to winning the coveted title of Top Model, Body of the year.

Lizani posted some of her photographs on Facebook. She was very sceptical when she received a phone call from someone claiming to be a scout for the Top Model competition. “There are a lot of people out there that will try and mislead you,” said Lizani “I have received some funny requests from people claiming to be scouts!”

The moment of truth!

She did the right thing and researched the so-called scout. Lizani found the scouts name on the Top Model website and wrote to them confirming the scout’s participation. Only then was she satisfied that this was really a scout for Top Model.

She entered the competition as a wild card in the beginning of this year, even though the competition already started in 2019. The road was not plain sailing though, there were workshops to attend in Pretoria. “I am very lucky to have a husband that fully supported my journey,” Lizani said to The Bulletin. “He would stand in with my duties as a mother when I couldn’t.” They have a lovely daughter of four years.

The entrants had to assemble in Pretoria at Menlyn Maine, Time Square Sun Arena, a few days before the competition. This was the most gruelling part. The whole show had to be rehearsed and memorised in about two days.

The Big day finally arrived. It started early on Thursday morning (27 February) with makeup and hair to be done. “The day went past so quickly.”

“I was very nervous when the show actually started,” said Lizani. “We couldn’t make any mistakes!”

When the winner for the category “Body of the Year” was called, Lizani couldn’t believe her ears. She believed that was a mistake at first but then reality sunk in.

She was the “Top Model, Body of the Year,” winner. There were no runners up, only a winner and that was our very own, Lizani Visser.

The Bulletin would also like to express our congratulations to Lizani. The Year of Reign will now start and it is unfamiliar territory for Lizani but she is confident that she will be able to cope.

Lizani’s advice to young girls? “Believe in yourself, accept your flaws and live healthily.”

Advice on Facebook? “Remember that your Facebook will paint a picture for scouts. It is also a reflection of your life to other people.”

But most of all: Go for it!

First outbreak of Coronavirus confirmed in SA

Last week on one of the radio stations the presenters were joking about the Coronavirus. They were saying that there were only 2 confirmed cases on the African continent. Little did they know that this week there would be a confirmed case in South Africa.

The World Health Organisation explains the virus as follows: Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. 

https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-updates.html

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. 

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. 

https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-issues/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. (https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus)

https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2020/03/04/why-hand-washing-more-important-wearing-mask

This morning, 5 March, the first confirmed case of the Coronavirus was confirmed in South Africa by the Minister of Health, Minister Zweli Mkhize.

The Minister tweeted the following on his official account:This morning, Thursday, March 5, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed that a suspected case of COVID-19 has tested positive. The patient is a 38-year-old male, who travelled to Italy with his wife. They were part of a group of 10 people and they arrived back in South Africa on 1 March 2020.”

This announcement was made on Twitter moments before a Parliamentary debate on South Africa’s readiness to deal with Coronavirus (COVD-19).

The patient consulted a private general practitioner on Tuesday, 3 March, with symptoms of fever, headache, malaise, a sore throat and a cough according to the Minster. The practice nurse took swabs and delivered it to the lab. The patient has been self-isolating since 3 March. The couple has two children.

“The tracer team has been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal with epidemiologists and clinicians from NICD. The doctor has been self-isolating as well. The Emergency Operating Centre (EOC) has identified the contacts by interviewing the patient and doctor,” said Minister Mkhize.

Minister Zweli Mkhize

A media briefing will be held after the Parliamentary debate by the Minister to ensure that the public is kept up to date.

“A press briefing will be held later after the parliamentary debate this evening to shed more light on this issue,” said Mkhize.

Follow this link to watch the full media briefing on the Coronavirus in South Africa: https://youtu.be/PtxCrNqHUYY

This video was streamed live by SABCNews. – Ané Prinsloo

First outbreak of Coronavirus confirmed in SA

Last week on one of the radio stations the presenters were joking about the Coronavirus. They were saying that there were only 2 confirmed cases on the African continent. Little did they know that this week there would be a confirmed case in South Africa.

The World Health Organisation explains the virus as follows: Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. 

https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-updates.html

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. 

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. 

https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-issues/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. (https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus)

https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2020/03/04/why-hand-washing-more-important-wearing-mask

This morning, 5 March, the first confirmed case of the Coronavirus was confirmed in South Africa by the Minister of Health, Minister Zweli Mkhize.

The Minister tweeted the following on his official account:This morning, Thursday, March 5, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed that a suspected case of COVID-19 has tested positive. The patient is a 38-year-old male, who travelled to Italy with his wife. They were part of a group of 10 people and they arrived back in South Africa on 1 March 2020.”

This announcement was made on Twitter moments before a Parliamentary debate on South Africa’s readiness to deal with Coronavirus (COVD-19).

The patient consulted a private general practitioner on Tuesday, 3 March, with symptoms of fever, headache, malaise, a sore throat and a cough according to the Minster. The practice nurse took swabs and delivered it to the lab. The patient has been self-isolating since 3 March. The couple has two children.

“The tracer team has been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal with epidemiologists and clinicians from NICD. The doctor has been self-isolating as well. The Emergency Operating Centre (EOC) has identified the contacts by interviewing the patient and doctor,” said Minister Mkhize.

Minister Zweli Mkhize

A media briefing will be held after the Parliamentary debate by the Minister to ensure that the public is kept up to date.

“A press briefing will be held later after the parliamentary debate this evening to shed more light on this issue,” said Mkhize.

Follow this link to watch the full media briefing on the Coronavirus in South Africa: https://youtu.be/PtxCrNqHUYY

This video was streamed live by SABCNews. – Ané Prinsloo

Police impersonators nabbed

PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER APPLAUDS POLICE AND TRACKER CONNECT FOR ARRESTING SUSPECTS WHO DISGUISED THEMSELVES AS POLICE 

Nelspruit – The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma has applauded police from Gauteng, Mpumalanga as well as Tracker Connect Team who collectively arrested three suspects, aged between 26 and 36, on Thursday 27 February 2020 at Emalahleni, for robbery, impersonating police as well as for possession of suspected stolen property.

The arrest of the suspects is part of the police’s efforts to put an end as well as bring to justice all the suspects who are terrorising motorists by posing as different law enforcement agencies, where they would often pull over vehicles and rob occupants of their goods or belongings around Delmas on the N12 and Emalahleni on the N4, between Balmoral and Bronkhorspruit as well as surrounding areas. Police have registered several cases at which suspects masquerading as law enforcement agencies would flash blue lights at the motorists signalling them to stop, then rob them of their belongings or cargo in the case of trucks. Some of the victims happen to be foreign nationals and domestic tourists who according to information, are usually followed from Gauteng then pounced on around Witbank and Delmas respectively.

In Delmas, vehicles that are targeted  include trucks transporting different cargo, they also stop the drivers by flashing a blue light then force them to drive to secluded areas, the suspects  then tie the victims, empty the loads, leaving them( victims) helpless in the bushes. Overwhelming complaints were reported at Delmas police station however, the modus operandi revealed that police in Mpumalanga were facing a common challenge with their counterparts in Gauteng and therefore worked together hence the breakthrough. After receiving these complaints, both provinces have been initially working on a plan that would bring an end to this reign of terror. They then coordinated their activities diligently as a collective with Tracker Connect Team and monitored movements of these suspects. 

According to reports, police analysed the suspects’ trends, flowing from Gauteng. It is also however known that some of the victims were followed from Nelspruit and other areas in the lowveld but pounced on around Witbank and Delmas. On the said date, police spotted a VW Polo on the N4 National road which fitted the same description of the vehicle they were looking for and it had three occupants, they(police) instructed the driver to stop but he deliberately ignored them. The actions of the driver led to a high-speed chase where the suspects were finally cornered at Emalahleni. Upon searching the three suspects as well as the vehicle, police recovered SAPS Appointment Cards, cell phones believed to be those belonging to the victims as well as other items. The trio were immediately brought to book and charged accordingly.

Extensive investigation into the matter is underway but police are not yet convinced that these are the only suspects operating around Delmas and Emalahleni. A preliminary probe suggests that the trio might be connected to several cases which were committed mainly in Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces respectively. They (police) have vowed to broaden the scope of their investigations against the suspects with a view to ascertain whether the trio are involved in the series of criminal activities, that have been registered around White River and Hazyview as well as other areas where foreign nationals in the main, were victims. 

General Zuma welcomed the arrest of the three men and thanked the team of police from Mpumalanga, Gauteng as well as Tracker Connect for their relentless efforts in dealing with this type of sophisticated crime. “The arrest of the trio has somewhat come as a breakthrough for us and I have ordered for a thorough investigation into this case, especially because police items were used to commit crime. The investigation will reveal how the suspects got hold of these items. Anyone who will be found to have crossed the line, will face the full might of the law. We cannot allow individuals to drag the name of the law enforcement agencies through the mud without any consequence, ” said General Zuma.

Police cannot rule out possibilities of linking the suspects to other reported cases of robberies in and around the province.

Meanwhile the three suspects were expected to appear at the Witbank Magistrate’s Court, Monday 02 March 2020. The police are also making an earnest call to victims who were robbed at the areas mentioned but did not open cases to please approach the Witbank Police Station for help

Secunda Mall Win Your 2020 School Fees Competition

Every year the Secunda Mall runs the Win Your School Fees competition. This competition was started with the idea in mind to excite parents and children who are going back to school. The prize is a year’s school fees. This also gives some financial relief for the year ahead as everyone knows January is 2 months long!

This year the lucky winner was a student from Hoërskool Oosterland, Ethan Lockwood. Ethan’s very proud grandmother entered him into the competition.

Secunda Mall’s Marketing Manager, Danelle van der Watt and Operations Manager, William Smith, surprised Ethan at Hoërskool Oosterland yesterday, 3 March. Ethan was humbly surprised and shocked when Danelle handed over the cheque worth R 16 500.00.

Danelle van der Watt, Mall Manager and the lucky winner, Ethan Lockwood

Danelle said: “Everyone at Secunda Mall would like to wish Ethan only the best in this academic year. We know he’ll be successful in the future.”

Congratulations Ethan on being the lucky winner!!! – Ané Prinsloo

Misty Goes International

0

Misty Waters is going international!! We are so excited to release our third and final artist announcement for Misty Waters Music Festival 2020 that will take place at Lake Umuzi Waterfront in Secunda, Mpumalanga.

Kongos Misty Waters Music Festival

All the way from Phoenix, Arizona the KONGOS brothers – Johnny, Jesse, Dylan and Danny – will be visiting their dad in South Africa in April / May 2020 and we have the privilege to have them on the Misty Waters stage. Growing up in London and Johannesburg, these 4 brothers are no strangers to sunny South Africa.

After 9 years of searching for that first break, it finally came in 2011 when “I’m only joking” became a radio smash in South Africa, followed by multiple top 40 hits from their second album “Lunatic” and “Come With Me Now”.

Therefore, it is only fitting that KONGOS come to South Africa, and more specifically to Misty Waters at Lake Umuzi, to launch their new venture KONGOS BEER.

Safety First! Misty Waters

Next up, we have Safety First! combining different styles of genres and personal joy and agony. Safety First! has stumbled onto a uniquely quirky and uplifting sound that will make your foot stomp and heart skip a beat.

Die Wasgoedlyn Misty Waters Music Festival

Die Wasgoedlyn

It is the freshest thing that has hit South Africa’s music scene. It is an innovation to do nation-building through people that have a passion for creating and living out their talents. They are people that get a kick out of making music, just for the sake of creating, without boundaries, rules or genres keeping them inside a predetermined doctrinal box. On the Misty Water stage, we welcome Die Wasgoedlyn with Churchill Naude, Riku Lâtti and Jackie Lâtti.

Akkedis

Akkedis can be dubbed as the stepchildren of South African Rock ‘n Roll. The infamous Dennis-twins, Arthur and Rudolph, strummed their first chord at the age of 12, after being exposed to everyone from Neil Young to Bob Marley.

When Adrian John Graham joined the group, their sound progressed into the timeless rock sound South Africans have known and enjoyed for over two decades. African, Reggae, Blues, Rock, Folk, Zulu, Afrikaans, English, there’s nothing these boys can’t do.

Double Sun

Double Sun

A 5-piece psychedelic, post punk, blues, rock experience with experimental influences from Pretoria.

The Tazers

The Tazers

The Tazers are a psychedelic rock band from Johannesburg. They are a fan favourite in venues in Pretoria, Joburg and Cape Town. Their latest album, Plastic Kids, can take you on a journey through the night from mushroom top to mushroom top.

Stephen Jonathan

Stephen Jonathan is a South African musician and songwriter from Pretoria, who has been active in the music industry for twelve years. Although, he first became known for his incredible guitar skills, Stephen also proved himself as a formidable singer and writer early in his career.

This talented man has formed part of several successful bands/groups, including Stones & Gold (founder, singer, songwriter and guitarist), Jackvalve (guitarist and songwriter), Joshua na die Reën (acoustic guitarist) and Deon Bakkes and the Stolen Horses (rhythm and main guitarist), to name but a few.

Black Water

Black Water

Black Water is one of the south’s hottest and most entertaining emerging rock bands. Black Water’s sound is a combination of the old and the new, the heavy and the traditional, a mix of rock, southern influences and classic metal all wrapped up together!

Jackal & the wind

Jackal & the wind

Jackal and the Wind is an independent band from Stellenbosch, South Africa. The band has been gaining steady acclaim since its inception in 2013. The band’s whimsical name is reminiscent of the yearning of the jackal and the intangible emotion of a howling wind and pays homage to their wish to whisk their listeners away, to a world without boundaries, by means of their emotive harmonies.

Murray

Murray.

These four musicians who all happened to play different instruments (you know… big guitar, small guitar, those barrels you hit), decided to play those instruments together in specific time intervals, based on a recurring pattern of musical notes, accompanied by a rhythmic pronunciation of vocal sounds that were not dissimilar to their spoken languages… classic stuff.

SOZLOL

#Sozlol

Needing little introduction, and making up the first half of these deck-wrecking tequila twins, is long-time legend of the SA music industry, Catherine Grenfell.

Unless you’ve been living under a Jacaranda in the Highveld, you’ll most certainly recall the effervescent presence of Catherine on 5FM, and her subsequent evolution to becoming part of the brains behind radio killing video station, The Eye.

Completing the other half of this party-hardy pair, is rum-loving, gin-sipping gypsy, Vicky Jankiewicz, who, much like the medicinal flu-balm of the similar namesake, Vicks Acta-Plus, will leave your chest feeling warm and your breathing easy.

Wielding the singing voice of an angel, and infectious spirit to match, Vicky has had much experience in the many facets of our local music community, from behind the scenes in radio, to social media and many other interesting adventures and misadventures.

Vicky Jankiewicz and Catherine Grenfell will keep the party going as #SOZLOL after all the bands have played.

There you have it the FULL line-up for Misty Waters 2020. We are super stoked for the next 55 days to fly away so that the REAL party can begin.

Check out the full line up here  – Misty Waters Music Festival

Misty Goes International

0

Misty Waters is going international!! We are so excited to release our third and final artist announcement for Misty Waters Music Festival 2020 that will take place at Lake Umuzi Waterfront in Secunda, Mpumalanga.

Kongos Misty Waters Music Festival

All the way from Phoenix, Arizona the KONGOS brothers – Johnny, Jesse, Dylan and Danny – will be visiting their dad in South Africa in April / May 2020 and we have the privilege to have them on the Misty Waters stage. Growing up in London and Johannesburg, these 4 brothers are no strangers to sunny South Africa.

After 9 years of searching for that first break, it finally came in 2011 when “I’m only joking” became a radio smash in South Africa, followed by multiple top 40 hits from their second album “Lunatic” and “Come With Me Now”.

Therefore, it is only fitting that KONGOS come to South Africa, and more specifically to Misty Waters at Lake Umuzi, to launch their new venture KONGOS BEER.

Safety First! Misty Waters

Next up, we have Safety First! combining different styles of genres and personal joy and agony. Safety First! has stumbled onto a uniquely quirky and uplifting sound that will make your foot stomp and heart skip a beat.

Die Wasgoedlyn Misty Waters Music Festival

Die Wasgoedlyn

It is the freshest thing that has hit South Africa’s music scene. It is an innovation to do nation-building through people that have a passion for creating and living out their talents. They are people that get a kick out of making music, just for the sake of creating, without boundaries, rules or genres keeping them inside a predetermined doctrinal box. On the Misty Water stage, we welcome Die Wasgoedlyn with Churchill Naude, Riku Lâtti and Jackie Lâtti.

Akkedis

Akkedis can be dubbed as the stepchildren of South African Rock ‘n Roll. The infamous Dennis-twins, Arthur and Rudolph, strummed their first chord at the age of 12, after being exposed to everyone from Neil Young to Bob Marley.

When Adrian John Graham joined the group, their sound progressed into the timeless rock sound South Africans have known and enjoyed for over two decades. African, Reggae, Blues, Rock, Folk, Zulu, Afrikaans, English, there’s nothing these boys can’t do.

Double Sun

Double Sun

A 5-piece psychedelic, post punk, blues, rock experience with experimental influences from Pretoria.

The Tazers

The Tazers

The Tazers are a psychedelic rock band from Johannesburg. They are a fan favourite in venues in Pretoria, Joburg and Cape Town. Their latest album, Plastic Kids, can take you on a journey through the night from mushroom top to mushroom top.

Stephen Jonathan

Stephen Jonathan is a South African musician and songwriter from Pretoria, who has been active in the music industry for twelve years. Although, he first became known for his incredible guitar skills, Stephen also proved himself as a formidable singer and writer early in his career.

This talented man has formed part of several successful bands/groups, including Stones & Gold (founder, singer, songwriter and guitarist), Jackvalve (guitarist and songwriter), Joshua na die Reën (acoustic guitarist) and Deon Bakkes and the Stolen Horses (rhythm and main guitarist), to name but a few.

Black Water

Black Water

Black Water is one of the south’s hottest and most entertaining emerging rock bands. Black Water’s sound is a combination of the old and the new, the heavy and the traditional, a mix of rock, southern influences and classic metal all wrapped up together!

Jackal & the wind

Jackal & the wind

Jackal and the Wind is an independent band from Stellenbosch, South Africa. The band has been gaining steady acclaim since its inception in 2013. The band’s whimsical name is reminiscent of the yearning of the jackal and the intangible emotion of a howling wind and pays homage to their wish to whisk their listeners away, to a world without boundaries, by means of their emotive harmonies.

Murray

Murray.

These four musicians who all happened to play different instruments (you know… big guitar, small guitar, those barrels you hit), decided to play those instruments together in specific time intervals, based on a recurring pattern of musical notes, accompanied by a rhythmic pronunciation of vocal sounds that were not dissimilar to their spoken languages… classic stuff.

SOZLOL

#Sozlol

Needing little introduction, and making up the first half of these deck-wrecking tequila twins, is long-time legend of the SA music industry, Catherine Grenfell.

Unless you’ve been living under a Jacaranda in the Highveld, you’ll most certainly recall the effervescent presence of Catherine on 5FM, and her subsequent evolution to becoming part of the brains behind radio killing video station, The Eye.

Completing the other half of this party-hardy pair, is rum-loving, gin-sipping gypsy, Vicky Jankiewicz, who, much like the medicinal flu-balm of the similar namesake, Vicks Acta-Plus, will leave your chest feeling warm and your breathing easy.

Wielding the singing voice of an angel, and infectious spirit to match, Vicky has had much experience in the many facets of our local music community, from behind the scenes in radio, to social media and many other interesting adventures and misadventures.

Vicky Jankiewicz and Catherine Grenfell will keep the party going as #SOZLOL after all the bands have played.

There you have it the FULL line-up for Misty Waters 2020. We are super stoked for the next 55 days to fly away so that the REAL party can begin.

Check out the full line up here  – Misty Waters Music Festival

Locals torch Acornhoek Pastor’s church and vehicles

0

PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER CONDEMNS THE BURNING OF CHURCH, HOUSE, AND OTHER PROPERTIES BELONGING TO A LOCAL PASTOR

Nelspruit – The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma has strongly condemned the torching of a church, vehicles as well as property belonging to a local Pastor in Acornhoek during the early hours of Monday morning, 02 March 2020.

Reports indicate that at around 03h30am, unknown suspects entered the yard of the 63-year-old Pastor and torched two vehicles as well as damaged windows of his house. At the time, the Pastor and his wife were still asleep when the wife woke up from some strange noise coming from people who were shouting. The terrified wife woke her husband up to inform him that their cars were burning. At the same time, the windows of their house were also pelted with stones.

The couple quickly ran outside and witnessed their cars engulfed in flames while some community members were already in the yard trying to extinguish the fire. Whilst the community was still trying to extinguish the flames, the Pastor received a call informing him that his church was also in flames. 

Police were notified about the incidents whereupon cases of arson as well as malicious damage to property were opened and investigations thereof are underway. Police noticed that there was a message on the church wall levelling accusations against the church which was written in graffiti style. The writing, amongst other things accused the church of raping people but currently, no such allegations of rape can be proven against the Pastor nor the congregants.

The Provincial Commissioner has called for a quick arrest of the suspects. “We cannot allow lawlessness to prevail, where criminals go on rampage and burn buildings, cars and damage other people’s houses. There are laws in this country, and no one can destroy property in the name of being wronged or having certain grievances against other people. When one feels (s)he is being offended, then that person must report the matter to the relevant authorities. The perpetrators of these cases must be arrested and face their day in court, ” said General Zuma. 

In the meantime, the police call on anyone with information that can assist in the investigation to call Lieutenant Colonel Albert Manzini on 0824691031.

Members of the community can also anonymously call 0860010111 or send SMS’s to 32211.

MYSAPSAPP can also be downloaded where valuable information can be shared with police and the information will be treated with strictest confidence.