The Bulletin News

Opened in prayer and a reading of Psalm 23 by Piet Niewenhuys.
Chairman Henry Buys welcomed all. Referring to the reading, Henry asked that we use the basis of God being our guide in this coming year, that we always look to Him in our endeavours in order to make a difference where we live. Our focus would continue with our current projects supporting pupils at Laerskool Trichardt and the Janelle Children’s home .
A great time was had sharing breakfast and we look forward to next month’s gathering on Saturday, 8 February at 08H00 at Kruik church. Also that day at 17H00 we will be attending a Pro Patria parade at the MOTH shell hole.
Anyone interested to join this wonderfully supportive group is welcome to contact Henry Buys on 0723692611 or Kevin Oliver on 0716135965

AfriForum se Bethal tak het gewoeker gedurende die feestyd deur verskeie projekte aan te pak.
Daar is ‘n groot straatnaam projek afgehandel en ‘n klomp strate se name is herstel en weer aangebring.
“Die projek is geloods om twee redes. Die eerste is om die prag van die dorp te herstel en die tweede is omdat nooddienste sukkel om adresse op te spoor as straatname nie duidelik is nie”, sê Hennie Bekker AfriForum se distrikskoördineerder vir die Laeveld.
“Die projek sal deur die loop van 2020 voortgesit word om ander dele van die dorp ook te herstel” sê Bekker verder. Grassny projekte is ook besig om aandag te geniet. Die plaaslike polisiestasie se gras is gesny en die N17 hoofweg word ook gesny. As ons nie nou ingryp nie gaan die parke en sypaadjies nie meer bruikbaar wees nie”, sê Ingrid Human, Voorsitter van AfriForum se Bethal tak.
AfriForum Bethal het ook weekliks 30 asdromme in die sentrale besigheids distrik van Bethal skoongemaak. Die aksie vind elke week plaas en help om die dorp skoner te hou.
Daar is verdere beplanning om die Nestlè brug en die driehoek daar naby weer netjies te maak en te herstel ook. Die area is ‘n kenmerk van Bethal en talle besoekers ry daar verby elke dag. Sluit vandag nog by hierdie aktiewe tak aan SMS “Bethal” na 45350 (R1). Hennie Bekker Distrikskoördineerder: Laeveld

With a new decade upon us, this is a time for reflection and resolutions. A time for making plans for the year ahead. However the beginning of a year is a time when for many the demands of our day to day life still continue. Such is the case for doctors who work hard at saving lives and in many cases can only do so with the help of blood and blood products from blood donors.
Due to the loyalty of our regular blood donors and the increasing number of South Africans who have started donating, 2019 was a successful year for the South African National Blood Service (SANBS). Blood stock levels were adequate throughout the year and well over a million blood products were issued to patients requiring blood transfusions. The SANBS wishes to thank all blood donors for their support during 2019. During the last week blood stocks have, for the first time in many months, dropped below the ideal level of 5 days cover due to the holiday period and associated decrease in blood donations. 3500 donations is required daily to meet the demand of patients. The SANBS encourages the public and current blood donors to find time this New Year to donate blood and help us ensure another year of sufficient blood products so that every patient requiring a life-saving blood transfusion receives it when needed. Each blood donation can save up to three lives. Bring your friends and family and commit to starting the year on a good note and offer someone in need an opportunity to do the same with their loved ones.
The SANBS can only do this with the help of regular and committed blood donors.
Visit www.sanbs.org.za or contact 0800 11 9031 to find out where you can donate blood. Follow us on Twitter (@theSANBS), Facebook (@SANBS) and Instagram (@thesanbs).

Join our #spekboomchallenge
Plant a Spekboom in 2020! Not just one but 10, that is the challenge!
Global warming and carbon emissions are slowly killing us. We can, however, make a difference! The Spekboom can absorb Carbon and it is also easy to cultivate.
The Bulletin would like to challenge everyone in the Govan Mbeki Municipal area to take up this challenge. Purchase one plant from the nurseries in GMM and start your own project. Challenge everybody that you can!
The Bulletin partnered with Garden Terrace to ensure that the Spekboom is as affordable as possible. Please visit them next to Lake Umuzi in Kiewiet Street and purchase your own Spekboom.
The Bulletin will have a photo album on our FB page so that you can post photos of your Spekboom.
The #spekboomchallenge originated from Boplaas Vineyard in Calitzdorp. The following is taken from their website www.boplaas.co.za: “Boplaas has always been conservation-minded. Now we’ve stepped up our drive and pledged to establish one million plants of the Portulacaria afra succulent variety – commonly known as the spekboom – before 2025.
The world is at a tipping point and we should do everything in our power to avoid a global climate catastrophe. The spekboom that is indigenous to the Klein Karoo area is a carbon miracle worker. Spekboom, for the amount of water it uses, is the most efficient carbon sequester in the world. The humble spekboom can gobble up between 4 and 10 tons of carbon per hectare per year. But it needs our help. According to the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, the world currently produces 1 331 tons/sec CO2. Our goal at Boplaas is to escalate plantation of the spekboom through strategic partnerships and as a wider aim to spread awareness. We want to encourage its cultivation in private gardens, on estates and on farms. It’s not an impossible task – the spekboom is great at adapting to its surroundings and can flourish almost anywhere. It makes wonderful hedges and beautiful shrubs; and, can be planted in fields, flowerbeds and pots.
Boplaas has over 2 200 hectares of veld under conservation where the variety occurs naturally. In addition to planting more, this project will actively distribute spekboom cuttings from our Calitzdorp farm and our wine tasting room in Klein Brak River on the Garden Route.
We will also distribute information on how further cuttings can be made and the best way to plant them. The spekboom requires very little maintenance and can survive with only the most minimal amounts of water.
If we can get 1 000 people to plant 100 plants, that’s 100 000 spekboom shrubs helping us fight global climate change.”
Spekboom – Wonder plant?
Global warming is here to stay! Our air quality is deteriorating at an alarming rate… but never fear when the Spekboom is near! There were a lot of debates regarding the qualities of the Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) in the media lately and The Bulletin decided to highlight some of its features.
Whether you call it a Spekboom, Elephant’s Food or Pork Bush, this incredible plant with its bright green, circular leaves should be planted in every South African garden (and maybe even every garden around the world). Here’s why:

1. It improves the quality of the air we breathe and helps fight climate change.
   Spekboom (aka Portulacaria afra) is a succulent that helps fight air pollution. It has the ability to ‘sequester’ or capture four to ten tons of carbon per hectare! Essentially, it acts as a carbon sponge, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and turning it into plant matter. Excess carbon in the atmosphere is responsible for global warming, so the more carbon we can remove from the air and return to the ground, the better.
2. The Spekboom is a proudly South African plant.
   The Spekboom is indigenous to the Eastern Cape where South African elephants consider the plant a delicacy.
3. It’s water wise.
   No time to water your garden? The Spekboom is a water-wise plant that’s ideal for low-maintenance gardens. This drought-resistant plant can survive on just 250 – 350mm of water a year!
4. Suitable for all seasons and weather conditions.
   The Spekboom has a photosynthetic mechanism which allows it to adapt to both rainforest-like conditions and semi-arid conditions, making it incredibly adaptable and suited to almost any garden.
5. It’s easy to grow.
   The Spekboom is easily propagated, which is great news for budget gardeners. Simply cut or break off a piece of a Spekboom, let it dry out for one or two days and then stick it in the ground. Give it a little water every few days and you’ll soon have a new Spekboom plant of your own. Make sure you don’t give it too much water or it will rot.
6. The Spekboom is a really versatile plant.
   Whether you are looking for a plant that can be turned into a hedge or a bonsai, or used as groundcover or a large bush, the Spekboom can do it all. It responds well to pruning and grows densely, making it an excellent, hardy screen or hedge. Some varieties grow low to the ground and others reach as high as 2 metres!
7. You can even eat it.
   We’re not suggesting you chow down on a plate of Spekboom, but it is edible and apparently has a light, citrussy flavour. If you ever find yourself hiking through the Karoo, you can suck on a leaf – they are traditionally used to treat exhaustion and dehydration.
   Monique Warner – All4Women

Metal, the music with the most subgenres. Adaptations of heavier music, popularised in South Africa in the previous century, spawning and inspiring unique and mind-grinding bands such as Black Cat Bones, Rhutz, Boargazm, Demogoroth Satanum and many more.
Set by the beautiful freedom and rebellion brought to the scene by legendary vocalist and guitarist; Jack Hammer (Piet Botha). Although they weren’t playing metal at all, they broke the ground and built the foundation for what the metal scene has become in the last decade. Jack Hammer was the opening band for acts such as ZZ top and Uriah Heep, causing their exposure to skyrocket and it made their message of rock n roll even more clear.
There are a lot of opinionated misconceptions about the metal scene, not only in South Africa, but worldwide. This is because of the extreme sound and controversial lyrical content.
Yes, there are dark themes and evil lyrical and visual content, but one should look deeper into the subject matter or no? Metal touches the harsher side of life one does not necessarily embrace and it shouldn’t be considered as such, rather an outlet for that “harsher side of life” in a beautifully chaotic and enjoyable manner. On the other side, there are bands who are blatantly violent or evil for the simple reason of entertainment. It consists of the same kind of aesthetic that thriller novels and movies have… it is an acquired taste of course. Those associated with this particular scene may seem very brute in nature, but rest assured they are the most laid-back and loving people you might ever come across. Ordinary people, with extraordinary views of themselves and the world. – Henco
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