SANBS Commemorates World Blood Donor Day and Youth Day, Recognising Lifesaving Contributions
Johannesburg, 12 June 2023 – The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) proudly joins the global community in commemorating World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), celebrated annually on June 14th. This significant day serves as an opportunity to honour and express gratitude to blood donors who selflessly contribute to saving lives through their invaluable donations.
In South Africa, June 16th is celebrated as Youth Day, commemorating the pivotal role played by young people in the fight for the country’s freedom and equality. SANBS recognises the significant role that the youth of South Africa play not only in the historical context but also in shaping the future, including their immense contribution to the blood donor pool.
Creator: Craig Butler
The slogan for the 2023 World Blood Donor Day campaign is “Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.” It focuses on patients requiring life-long transfusion support and underlines the role every single person can play, by giving the valuable gift of blood or plasma. It also highlights the importance of giving blood or plasma regularly to create a safe and sustainable supply of blood and blood products that can be always available, all over the world, so that all patients in need can receive timely treatment.
“In the vast realm of compassion, blood knows no boundaries, no race, or no religion. It is a universal lifeline that connects people from all walks of life, transcending their differences and bringing them together in the pursuit of a common goal – saving lives. On this World Blood Donor Day, we celebrate the incredible diversity of blood donors and the positive impact of their selfless contributions”, said Thandi Mosupye, SANBS Senior Manager: Marketing, Communication and Brand.
In commemoration of World Blood Donor Day, SANBS has organised a series of events and initiatives across the country, including youth-focused blood drives, interactive educational campaigns, and partnerships with high schools in Soweto and Durban.
“We invite the youth of South Africa to join us in celebrating World Blood Donor Day by donating blood, mobilising their peers, and embracing the spirit of Youth Day in the most impactful way possible. By donating blood, they become a part of a tapestry of love, and unity that spans not only in South Africa but across the globe.” Mosupye added. To be eligible, prospective donors must be between the ages of 16 and 75, weigh more than 50kg, and be in good health. Interested individuals can find the nearest blood donation centre by visiting the SANBS official website and clicking on the donor centre map or follow SANBS on its official social media platforms: Twitter (@theSANBS), Facebook (@SANBS), TikTok and Instagram (@thesanbs).
Arc-en-Ciel once again proved to be one of the top Brahman breeders at the Royal Show in Pietermaritzburg.
The Royal Show is Africa’s largest mixed agricultural show and boasts around 220000 visitors per show. This year was the 173rd show.
Throughout its history, ‘The Royal’ has had the privilege of hosting merchants and businessmen who recognise the benefits and harmony of interacting with one another, the agricultural sector and the general public.
Today the Show is the largest mixed exhibition incorporating a fully-fledged agricultural component on the continent of Africa. Not only does this include the exposition of some of the country’s finest livestock and agricultural equipment but also a range of ancillary activities and displays covering the industrial, commercial and service sectors within the province.
Arc-en Ciel Brahman Stud, situated just outside Secunda, proved again that their stud line is one of the best. “I am very proud of our animals,” said Josè Maciel, owner of the Arc-en-Ciel stud.
Under the expert hands of Cor Loggenberg, the stud manager, the Brahmans continued to impress.
Some of the exceptional achievements include:
42 – 48 months 1st place and 2nd place, Senior Champ, Breed Senior Champ
Pair Class: 1xBull and 1x Female obtained 1st prize
Arc 19/79 was crowned Reserve Senior Champion
Arc 20/89 was crowned Junior Pair Interbreed Champion
Arc 21/154 was crowned Junior Breed Plan Champion and Junior Farmers Champion
Arc 19/122 R.A.S. Champion Senior Champion Gold Cup runner up
Other prizes also awarded to them are the following:
The past Few years also saw winners in various categories at the different shows.
Arc-en-Ciel is a stud that sets the pace in the Brahman industry and cattle from this stud is very sought after in the farming industry. This stud was started in 2009 and has bout 600 stud and 100 commercial animals on the farm.
The video below is when The Bulletin spoke to Cor in May 2022 (Afrikaans only).
Missing parrots seem to be a frequent occurrence in our area lately and since these birds are human-imprinted, it is really dangerous for them outside, especially in the winter times. We understand that accidents can happen, but for me, if it happens multiple times then it is not an accident. Remember that they didn’t get to choose you as their owner and you are responsible for keeping them safe. Prevention is better than cure, but today we will provide a guideline on what to do if it do escape.
BE PREPARED FOR AN ESCAPE
Birds instinctively tend to fly when their adrenaline level is high. They also generally fly up to the highest point they can land. However, most pet birds today have never fully fledged (fledging is the process of learning how to fly). While smaller birds can often fly quite easily, larger parrots require more skill to be able to take off and land at will and to navigate where they want to go.
For all pet owners, please have flyers ready just in case. Take a few minutes now to create one for each pet. Have copies available so a friend can make copies for you while you do an initial search. You don’t want to take this time after the escape nor do you want to find you have no photos. A photo should show the bird in full colour both back and front view and with wings spread if possible. If you leave town and your parrots in the care of others, make sure they fully understand the recovery process and that they understand to notify you immediately if your bird escapes.
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
1. Always check that windows and doors are closed when they are out of their cage.
2. Wing clipping should only be done by a qualified professional. Remember they can still fly quite a distance, especially on a windy day.
3. If you take them for outings make sure it is a safe and secure carrier or wear a safe harness.
4. Practice recall and teach them to fly down to you from higher perches, trees, roofs, or the top of stairs.
5. Have a poster or at least pictures ready in case they get out. It is sad to see how many pet owners do not have pictures of their pets.
FINDING AN ESCAPED BIRD – HOW TO PROCEED
Act Immediately – Locating your bird is the first step. This must be done as quickly as possible. So, start searching as soon as you realize your bird is lost. If you see them fly away, note the direction!
Place his/her cage outside – Put the cage outside and fill it with his/her favourite treats and fresh water. Leave the cage door open.
Canvas the neighbourhood – Most birds are recovered within 3 kilometers of the escape location, so within hours you need to have everyone within that area know how to contact you. Let your neighbours know that you lost your bird. Walk around the neighbourhood and call his/her name. The best way to do this is to go door to door to every home within a kilometer of the escape location. If you have other birds, take them with you on the search if possible.
Distribute flyers and share them on social media (correctly) – Post and pass out flyers with a detailed description of your bird and a picture. Include instructions that say to leave the bird alone and not attempt to recover them and your contact number. Facebook messenger is not an effective method if you are not friends on Facebook. When you share on social media, do a post on your personal profile with the privacy setting on public. Then share and reshare that particular post everywhere instead of doing a new one every time.
Ensure that as many eyes and ears as possible are on the lookout – Give flyers to school crossing guards and distribute them to students exiting schools local to the escape location.
Keep your phone charged – The phone number listed on the flyer should be a fully charged cell phone with service available in the area where your bird was lost. If this is not available the phone should be with a friend or family member who will be able to contact you while you are out searching. Give an alternative number too.
Offer a reward- You could offer a reward for the safe return of your lost bird. Keep in mind that this may encourage the theft of animals, so, in general, I do not encourage this.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Even brightly coloured parrots blend in amazingly well and are hard to spot. The bird will most likely start calling within the first 24 hours. Those living close by should know how to contact you. Days are not counted with 24 hours, but how many nights the parrot has been out.
DAY 1 is the day of escape whether morning or late in the afternoon.
DAY 2 is the day after the first night spent out.
DAY 3 is the day after the 2nd night out etc.
FIRST 24 HOURS
Looking for parrots should begin the moment they escape and continue until dusk and resume every morning at dawn. Large parrots are quiet and roost at night making searching at night fairly pointless.
THE NEXT 24 HOURS
If you have not spotted your parrot within the first 24 hours make sure someone does the round at local shelters and veterinary hospitals daily. As time passes the chances of recovery lessons so move fast and keep moving. Send your flyer to your local avian vet.
Call your local animal care and control and rescue organizations/shelters and list your bird as missing. Go there every day to see if your bird has been surrendered.
DAY 3
By day 3 you should enlarge your flyer area to about 1.5- 2km and grow it each day thereafter.
The most critical part of recovery is: DON’T GIVE UP!!!!
Place an ad in your local newspapers. Some of them place ads about lost and found animals for free.
Share on social media frequently with updates on the original post if the bird was spotted in some areas with times. Not in the comments!
Seek a bird rescue organization or rescuer near you and let them know you lost your bird. They often take in stray birds as well.
List your bird as missing at other lost and found bird websites out of town.
RECOVERING A LARGE PARROT
Wait until the bird is ready to come down
Consequently, if a bird flies to something high, like a tree, it may not have the skill and experience to know how to fly down. This means that most large parrots who escape their caregivers need to be found quickly and then monitored until they are ready to climb down on their own. Once the parrot is located, if it is above arm’s reach, you need to wait until the parrot climbs down willingly. The parrot will do this on its timetable, not yours. Food treats and attention by the caregiver are the only tools that should be used to encourage the parrot to come down sooner, rather than later.
Remember your bird will probably have to glide down instead of fly immediately down.
Do not spook the bird into taking off again
Chances are, the parrot will not come down until she/he has spent two nights out. Thus, your goal is to ensure that nothing spooks the parrot into flight. The worst thing that can happen is for the parrot to take flight again so you have to resume your search. This means that under no circumstances should anyone climb a tree, or use a ladder, net, pole, hose, or other reaching item to access the parrot. A few cold nights are far less dangerous to the bird than having it fly onto a power line or to a location where you can’t spot it. The hard part is finding a bird!
Observe the bird
The parrot should be observed from dawn to dusk. The parrot will probably just roost. Food should not be left out or distributed around the location. The goal is for the parrot to climb down to the caregiver. This usually happens on day three. Avoid too many strangers at the location. You want the parrot to focus on its caregiver.
Watch for signs the parrot is ready to climb down:
Fluttering of wings
Movement in the tree to ensure a good view of the caregiver
Calls to the caregiver when not in view
A movement toward the caregiver
Start the food fest
Once the parrot is showing clear signs of being ready to climb down, start passing favourite foods to other spotters around the location within the view of the parrot. Make yummy sounds showing great pleasure in having such wonderful treats. Use fairly large visible portions of brightly or strong-smelling foods that the parrot sees as a treat. This should get the parrot fairly excited if it is ready to come down. Continue with the food fest with only the primary caregiver directly at the base where the parrot will need to climb down.
Leave and return
If the parrot settles a bit during day three, leave a spotter at the location and have the primary caregiver leave for an hour or so, returning with a plate of food. Offer the food to the spotter and start the food fest over again. Most likely, by the end of day three, the parrot will give in and climb down to its caregiver.
If it is getting late in the day on day 3 and the parrot is looking like it is settling in for the night, try one last shot for that day.
By day 4 most parrots will climb down to anyone, but for those few holdouts, just continue as on previous days. The parrot will eventually climb down when they are ready.
BIRD CARE & ENCLOSURES
Most of the cages and even food sold by pet shops and some vets are likely not right for the birds. The bird must be able to fully stretch the wings and flap them without touching the sides of the cage.
Correct diameter perches where toes must not fully close around the perch (the general rule of thumb is 2/3 or 3/4 close) should be in the cages as well as some sort of platform where the feet can be stretched open. Two additional sizes can be beneficial too.
Horizontal space is just as important as vertical space. Ideally, the cage size must provide enough space to fly from one end to another. Avian welfare expert Dr. Kim Danoff notes, “Depriving birds of flight is mentally and physically stressful.”
You also need enrichment activities and foraging opportunities inside and outside the cage.
Make sure you give species-appropriate food and clean water daily. The typical sunflower seeds and peanuts are not ideal and can even be dangerous.
Make sure you visit an avian vet for your bird’s needs. Not all vets can just treat birds or exotic animals.
I always advise against birds as starter pets for kids.
If you have any animal, but especially parrots that reach 30 plus years of age, then you need to have a plan for them in your will and last testament!
Please note we are against keeping of any exotic animals or birds as pets, in cages, and breeding with them. Most people who have birds are not meeting their needs and it is heartbreaking for us to see this. There are far too many abandoned birds/animals or those that get passed on from one home to another.
Please think long and hard before getting a bird as a pet. Volunteer at a rescue first and do proper research about all their needs. If you have a bird, don’t take away their ability to fly and to be birds, and make very sure that your enclosures can keep them safe as well as train a good recall!
We will fight not until cages are comfortable, but until cages are empty! Next week we will look at why spaying and neutering your pets is a good idea!
The food and wine were divine at the Genade Shoppie Wine tasting.
When Genade Shoppie prepares any food you are bound to have a taste experience like no other. Combine this with good wine from Genevieve and Luddite, and your meal will be even more enjoyable.
The hall was packed with wine and food lovers and the noise grew louder as the patrons found their seats and chatted with friends. The kitchen was buzzing with a frenzy of activity as the staff made final preparations before serving the first course.
Photo: Liefling Photography
The food was presented as Popular restaurants by Kirsten from Genade Shoppie and it was then paired with the wines and the winemakers explained the pairing and the wines.
Photo: Liefling Photography
Genade Shoppie is known for its passion for food and its fresh products. Contact them at 066 241 1954 or email genadeshoppiesecunda@gmail.com
The courses were:
“Ocean basket” Spinach filled Calamari,
Photo: Liefling Photography
“KFC” Crumbed Chicken with Soy, Ginger and Honey Mustard.
Photo: Liefling Photography
“Spur” Pork Belly with Blooming Union.
Photo: Liefling Photography
“Mcdonalds” Aged Yellow Fat Rump patty on homemade Pretzel bun with homemade Mayo.
Photo: Liefling Photography
“Krispy Kreme” Caramel filled doughnuts with sweets.
Photo: Liefling Photography
The wines:
Genevieve NV Rosé
A 100% Shiraz that was handpicked at 19°B for fruit and elegance and high natural acidity. 14000 Bottles were produced in a Méthode Cap Classique cellar, Paarl
Tasting notes: Salmon sunset colour with a delectable fine mousse. Cherry and pomegranate aromas on the nose accentuate fresh white strawberry and white peach flavours on the palate making for a lingering and silky finish.
Photo: Liefling Photography
Genevieve Blanc de Blancs 2018:
A 100% Chardonnay (2017) that was handpicked at 19°B for fruit and elegance and high natural acidity. 2016 was our greatest yield to date. 14 500 Bottles were produced in a Méthode Cap Classique cellar, Paarl
Tasting notes: Delicate and generous bubbles with crisp aromatic complexity of citrus blossom and white fruit. Vibrant entry with a delicate concentrated structure. Overall balanced finesse with an appealing acidity offering a long attractive crystalline finish.
2009 was the maiden vintage of the Saboteur Red. This was an exciting year for the Luddites. It was the year they used their own cellar for the first time and the first year that all the grapes were sourced from the Bot River valley. It was also the first time that a new wine was bottled to join the Luddite Shiraz.
With the Saboteur Red, the style is unashamedly new world where we are going for crunchy, juicy fruit balanced by vibrant tannins. This contrasts nicely with the Luddite Shiraz which is more classic in style. The red blend will always be Shiraz driven with a Rhone slant. What makes it different is that our Cabernet Sauvignon is too damn good to leave out! It only spends one year in barrel with sexy wooding and is released soon after bottling.
The buzz word is balance and therefore the blend percentages will change depending on the vintage. It will always contain Shiraz, Mourvédre and, hopefully in the future, some Grenache Noir. The fruit is sourced from Bot River and neighbouring wine regions making a wine of origin Cape South Coast.
2015 was the maiden vintage of the Saboteur White blend, created to partner the successful Saboteur Red blend.
Niels set out to make a white blend that was both serious and refreshing. It’s a Chenin Blanc based blend with different percentages of Viognier and Blanc Fumé, depending on the vintage. And it turns out that this new wine, with its new closure and new packaging, was an excellent tribute to the Saboteurs…it sold out within 3 days.
The grapes for the Saboteur range are sourced from Bot River and the neighbouring wine regions, making it a wine of origin Cape South Coast. Although the blends varied in 2016 and 2017, the vintages have lived up to the precedent set by the maiden vintage and have received great reviews (and excellent sales!).
Community Notice – Atmospheric Emission Licences’ (AEL) requirement
Sasol Secunda Operations will host Public Consultation Sessions on Air Quality as part of the Atmospheric Emission Licences’ (AEL) requirement on 14 and 15 June 2023.
The public consultation sessions will focus on Sasol’s performance on air quality matters and update on air quality improvement roadmap.
You are therefore invited to attend either or all the following sessions to be held on 14 and 15 June 2023 as follows:
Fires have been raging out of control over the past few years when irresponsible fires were started. The damage to livestock and grazing amounted to millions of Rands.
Please follow the guidelines carefully and diligently.
Here is the full notice
BURNING PROHIBITION NOTICE 2023
IN TERMS OF CHAPTER 2 OF THE NATIONAL VELD AND FOREST FIRE ACT 101 OF 1998,
the Highveld East Fire Protection Association (HEFPA), duly registered as the fire protection association in the Govan Mbeki Municipal area (MP307), hereby declares a period of extraordinary fire hazard within its boundaries and therefore directs:
That no person shall from Monday, 01 June 2023 make an open fire in open air, allow it to continue to burn or add additional fuel thereto, otherwise than –
Fires made within a demarcated picnic or camping area or caravan park, or holiday resorts, but only at places within such an area which have been specifically prepared and maintained for that purpose; provided that such fires are properly extinguished with water and/ or sand;
Fires for the preparation of food on residential areas;
Fires made on residential and industrial stands in proclaimed townships;
Fires made for initiation school purposes, but only at places which have been specifically prepared and maintained for that purposes to prevent fires from spreading.
Trees and plants
That no person shall from 01 June 2023 destroy by burning and slashing any timber plantation or self-sawn exotic trees or alien invasive plants.
Burning of Firebreaks
That no person shall from 01 June 2023 2023 destroy by burning residue, cultivated crop fields or veld, clear or maintain a firebreak by burning;
Provided that such fires may be made only on days when the average Fire Danger Index at 14:00 for the fire region is less than 60 and predicted wind below 10km/h for the period after 14:00.
Burning permits shall only be valid from 16:00 on the day that it is issued for, and permits must be closed upon completion of the burn.
Special permits for burning from 08:00 will only be issued when the requirements as specified in the Rules and Regulations are complied with.
Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA) (Act 43 of 1983)
Burning of Grassveld and planted residue (Block Burning) can be done under the following conditions:
Block burn permits shall be made available from 15 July 2023
Double width fire belt (20 metres or more) must be prepared around the planned block burn area before 7 July 2023
Permit must be obtained from HEFPA
Acceptable fire fighting equipment must be present as per the minimum standards and requirements of HEFPA
Maximum FDI prediction of 59 or less must be forecast for the day when the burn is planned
THE FDI prediction for the following day at 14:00 may not exceed 55.
Rules and Regulations
All permitted fires must comply to the HEFPA Rules and Regulations Revision 3.
Fines and Penalties
Offences and penalties as specified in Sections 24 and 25 of the Act shall be subject to a minimum fine of R5000 (five thousand rand) as approved by the Acting Chief Magistrate, Mpumalanga.
It is further recommended that grazing veld should only be burnt on rotation every 3 years.
More details can be obtained from:
Gert Kühn, Chairperson, HEFPA, 082 084 6921
and
Shelly Shabalala, Fire Protection Officer, 082 742 3847
RAND WATER TAKES FIRM ACTION TO ADDRESS OUTSTANDING DEBTS OF APPROXIMATELY R5 BILLION FROM MULTIPLE MUNICIPALITIES
Troubled Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) is facing possible action from rand water as the utility company is forced to implement debt collection measures against defaulting municipalities. While the Executive Mayor of GMM downplayed the water troubles in his State Of The Municipality speech, the Rand Water account continued to be the second biggest single debt of GMM.
Residents of GMM had to endure water shortages in the past due to restrictions imposed by Rand Water.
Rand Water released the following statement in this regard:
Rand Water, South Africa’s leading water utility provider, thanks all Municipalities who are responding to the call to pay for the water provided to them by Rand Water. Rand Water’s financial sustainability which impacts the current and future provision of water depends on Municipalities paying for the water they receive from Rand Water. Rand Water is facing a significant challenge in relation to outstanding debts owed by various municipalities. The cumulative debt owed by Municipalities is R4,617,629,351 and is shared among municipalities in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and the Free State. These Municipalities include Emfuleni Local Municipality, Govan Mbeki, Merafong, RandWest, Victor Khanye and Ngwathe Local Municipalities.
As part of the options available to it, Rand Water sort alternative means to recover monies owed to it and attached Emfuleni Local Municipality’s bank account but has not yet been able to recover any funds from it due to persistent interference from the Municipality. To recover funds owed by Municipalities, Rand Water is proactively engaging with various government entities through the Inter-Governmental Relations (IGR) process.
Whilst certain municipalities are struggling to pay within the agreed timelines, others are unable to meet their payment commitments. Rand Water has planned infrastructure development projects that are designed to improve the provision of water services and is thus negatively impacted by the lack of revenue generation to support such projects. Rand Water urges municipalities to pay for the water they receive and commits towards collaborating with them to come up with payment plans that they will be able to adhere to.
Rand Water urges defaulting municipalities to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation and proactively cooperate with Rand Water to find mutually beneficial resolutions. By working together, we can devise sustainable payment plans and mechanisms to recover the outstanding amounts, thereby ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of both the municipalities and Rand Water.
“We urge ALL consumers to continue using water sparingly.”
DA in Govan Mbeki votes against unfunded and increased service delivery budget for 2023/24
The new Troika coalition, ANC+EFF+ATM, forced an unfunded budget against opposition objections.
The Council of Govan Mbeki Municipality convened on Wednesday 31 May 2023 to consider, in particular, the new budget. The council consist of 63 councillors of which the ANC has 26 Cllr’s, the DA has 17, the EFF has 14, VF+ has 3, ARP has 2, IFP has one and ATM has one.
During a lengthy debate by the DA and even the ANC’s coalition partner, a vote was called to accept or reject the budget. The Troika used their numbers to push the acceptance of the budget.
James Masango, DA councillor in Govan Mbeki municipality, said that the presentation of an R3 billion unfunded budget by Govan Mbeki municipality is a repetition of their previously passed budgets which contain unrealistic objectives.
James Masango Photo: Alet Joubert/Netwerk24
Despite the municipality’s financial mismanagement and service delivery shortcomings, this budget was passed, thanks to the coalition of the ANC, EFF and ATM.
“The DA rejected this budget on the basis that the funding plan has not been modernised to address the challenges that residents are faced with,” said Masango, “The truth of the matter is that the majority of our residents are struggling to make ends meet and the Govan Mbeki economy is on a downward spiral.”
“Therefore, charging ratepayers more for services that are non-existent is a no-brainer. The municipality is still losing 35% of its water and 75% of its electricity. Yet, there is no plan in sight as to how these losses will be mitigated.”
“The DA believes that the prices of services should be affordable and that ward committees should engage and advise council on the affordable rates for communities. Effective and cost-efficient service delivery should be encouraged,” continued Masango, “It’s even more concerning that the municipality is still battling with implementing debtors and creditors policies in order to achieve maximum revenue collection.”
The DA understands that the approval of a budget in municipalities is one of the most important tasks undertaken by councillors.
Municipalities have the responsibility of ensuring there are enough funds for their planned expenditure to make sure that their budget is balanced. However, this is not the case in Govan Mbeki.
This contravenes Section 215 of the Constitution which indicates that this budget must adhere to the national legislation since municipal budgets are regulated by the Local Government Municipal Finance Management Act of 2003 (MFMA).
“The DA will follow up with the Department of CoGTA, as previously stated in our letter to the department, Govan Mbeki needs to be placed under administration,” stated Masango
