The Greytown Gazette

There are still many people out there who have not realised or accepted the disastrous and devastating impact that the AIDS pandemic has had throughout the world. But this article is focussing on the children of Umvoti only based on based on the very comprehensive database operated by the Centre. The bulk of the data comes from the 185 home based carers providing care to the sick in their communities. Known as the "angels" they provide nursing, care, advice, clothing, advice on nutrition etc etc. From January to the end of September this year these amazing caring volunteers had visited 19 204 in need of care in 3 725 households. 44% of the children living in Umvoti are orphans. The Centre has assisted just under 4 000 this year with love,support, food, obtaining grants,schoolfees and uniforms etc. A vital aspect is the psycho social support programme to help these youngsters who have been affected by multiple family losses. In the first nine months this year 2 160 children between the ages of 5 and 16 have been counselled on how to cope and come to terms with their grief and loss by the Centre's trained bereavement counsellors . Guest speaker MsTamara Mathebla, programme advisor to Irish Aid, reminded all that "children orphaned by AIDS are especially vulnerable to abuse and exploitation because of stigma and lack of adult care and support'. She emphasised how critical the work being carried out by NGO's such as Umvoti Aids Centre was in assisting Government to implement its policies and programmes. With the firm belief that no-one should go to bed hungry food security has become more and more a feature of the Centre's spread. A project "Khulisa Imifino Ngemisundu (growing green with worms) is in operation to involve communities and schools in self sustainable acitivities to feed themselves and beyond.Local experts contribute their skills -Department of Agriculture;Wizzard Worms;CPS - tunnel gardens and wormery installations are explained and installed. With the bolstering of such partnerships the ultimate goal is to provide nutritionally fortified meals for all plus the economic stimulus of income generation. Another facet of this acitivity is making available fresh vegeables for the many vulnerable children at the day care and drop in centre who are given a cooked meal after school and a snack to take home. Two soup kitchens, using spinach from the tunnels, were feeding 500 people with funding form the Department of Social Development. However there have been such delays in the flow of this funding that the needy were only fed for two months of this year. The new property is taking shape and a lot of work has already been done...but there is plenty more. Architects, surveyors and enginners have drawn up the plans of what will be. The Centre has already set up a support group to make bricks being used in the various constructions. It is hoped that by the by the beginning of next year the office block, short term place of safety will be fully operational.Major donor has been the Ilembe Airport Construction with a massive one million rand backing to launch the project. So much has been done. So many have been helped. BUT so much more needs to be done. And so many more helped. If you would like to be involved please contact UZC director Joan Dutton;deputy director Philani Madi or Project manager Justin McAmmond. ENDS GREYTOWN COUNTRY CLUB

Wednesday Golf was won by S van der Merwe and S Clarke.

Friday's Chicken Run was cancelled due to unfavourable weather, but our Halloween Happy Hour was a great success. Chris Fourie won the R1 000 cash prize and Paul du Preez won the bottle of Chivas Regal. Wendy Edkins and the Ladies Golf Section won the consolation prizes. Once again thank you to the sponsors Spot On Liquor Store for the food and Greytown Beer Distributors for the SAB beer. Your loyal support is greatly appreciated. We had some very well dressed little boys and girls running around the Club. They all looked fabulous, thank you for going to all the trouble to dress up.

Remember our Wednesday restaurant specials and pensioners special on Thursday where R10 can buy you a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

Please support the Chicken Run on Friday. T-off from 3.30pm with only 9 holes to play. Four players are required for the prize to be won.

The next attendance draw will take place on 6 November at 6.30pm withR500 up for grabs - remember you have to be in attendance to win.

Dates to diarise: 7 Nov - Mascor Monthly Mug

14 Nov - Greytown Classic

5 Dec - FNB Golf Day

Remember to book the PANNAR lounge for your year-end function.

ends

St Cathryn's News.

The St Cathryn's Team that travelled down to Scottburgh and Umdoni to play Inter-Club, was one of the strongest teams ever, according to non-playing captain and mananger, Piet Nel.

With players like Rikus Kloppers with traveling commitments, Klaus and Kevin with injury woes, Paul Els busy with restaurant bookings, young Steve Nel playing cricket -- we sent Barry Oehme handicap of 10, Country Member Duggie Rheeder handicap of 10 and Piet Coetzee handicap of 16. Our club played in the Frog Division against 58 other clubs and beat the likes of Empangeni, Maritzburg, Royal Durban and Howick 2 --- they did very well.

The excitement on Friday was similar to what the Cheetahs felt on Friday, as we were in a commanding 10th position. Sporting injuries also plagued the team with Barry who had been travelling and had played at Pecanwood on Tuesday, Duggie suffering from old rugby injuries and Piet Coetzee being his normal old self, prompted Barry to play number one, Duggie number two and Piet C at number three.

Saturday morning the team was met with a North Westerly of a good few knots and playing from St Cathryn's one could think that our players are used to the wind but the coastal boys came through.

Final Standings on Saturday night :

St Cathryns 23 rd out of 59 teams - Well done Team.

The spring treatment has been completed and the course is open again - It will be a bit bumpy and sandy still this week. On Sunday the heavens opened and the course received 50mm of rain and hail that was 5cm deep -- some of the trees look damaged and we will be busy with clean-up this week. The telephone line took a direct and is lying literally in pieces -- so please phone Piet on his cell 083 269 1661 for this week to book for golf.

The restaurant is open for dinner on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights and Paul and Tanya will be having Sunday Lunch this coming Sunday 8 November 2009, please phone 084 5966 292 or 084 523 1144. Booking essential

ENDS.

CHRISTMAS POT POURRI PARTY

Guaranteed to put everyone in an early festive mood, the Garden Club’s end of year meeting is aptly named - a pot pourri of Christmas activities.

Taking place next Tuesday, 10th November at Langverwacht farm, Seven Oaks at 9 for 9.30 an amazing range of interesting and fun items will be on the go. Anyone looking for new ideas on gifts and packaging -the Christmas presentation by Karien, Lousie and Rochelle with the focus on interesting and different ideas for gifts, cooking and table decorations
A mini market will have stalls with various goods on sale and to complete the Christmas feel - music and singing by talented local starsLots of prizes throughout the morning and of course the Garden Club’s traditional extra special festive tea and cakes.

ENDS

CRIME CLEAN UP BY GREYTOWN DETECTIVES

Greytown Police have recorded a number of successful conclusions to cases involving rape, theft, kidnapping and assault with the criminals being arrested, charged and sentenced

In a press release to the Greytown Gazette Greytown Station Commissioner , Superintendent Maphalala reported that , with D/Inspector Wanda as Investigating officer: in one case of theft, goods to the value of R14 000 had been recovered and the accused had appeared in court and in another case the accused, Danny Reddy had been sentenced to three years on housebreaking and theft.

Sibusiso Majola, who was found guilty of the rape of a seven year old girl was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment on the 21st October -the Investigating officer was D/Sgt B.V. ShezI.

A life sentence plus was imposed on Sbongiseni Bongumusa Zondi for crimes committed in Greytown and Kranskop -D/Insp P.P.M. Mbambo was the investigating officer. Zondi was sentenced on 23rd October to the following
15 years for rape committed in Greytown 5 years for kidnapping in Kranskop
Life for rape committed in Greytown;and one year for assault GBH Kranskop.

Two Greytown Detectives, D/Insp N.P. Ramkison and D/Sgt B.V. Shezi were shot at by a suspect they were chasing at the lower end of York Street on the 11th October
Information had earlier been received that a wanted suspect had been seen in a house in that area. When the two detectives arrived the suspect opened fire and ran into the residential area. They gave chase, together with Field Security personnel and community members. Three suspects were arrested in lower Pine Street and a 9mm firearm recovered by the two Detectives.Further investigation showed that the suspects were linked to housebreaking cases in Kranskop and Wartburg
One escaped when taken by Kranskop Police to point out a crime scene after appearing in Court.On information received by Greytown detectives the escapee was traced to Gauteng and re-arrested.

All three appeared in Greytown Magistrates Court on 27th October
ENDS

Kaokoland at St James<

Stunning scenery, wild and inaccessible places with some extraordinary plants and a wealth of animals adapted to this harsh environment. Want to know more? </p>
St. James invites all interested to join them for a pancake supper evening on Friday 13th. November – a very lucky thirteenth! </p>
Guest speaker is Leigh Harrison, retired diamond geologist, who has worked around the world but spent a considerable time in the Kaokoveld, an area he and his wife, Judy both love and who have recently returned for another trip>
Tickets R50 each are on sale at Pinkz, Umvoti Fuel & Oils and the Parish Office during weekday mornings. The organizers ask that you book your tickets early to assist the catering team tossing pancakes! There will be a variety of fillings to suit every taste and there will be a cash bar. The event takes place in the Leuchar’s Hall, adjacent to the Church, parking behind the Church and a car guard will be on duty for the evening. The date – Friday 13th. November, time 06.30 for 7.00 p.m.

For further information, please contact Sue Swan Tel. 033 507 0047

ENDS

PLANT RESCUERS TO THE FORE

With just 2 % of the world’s mistbelt grasslands still intact it should be expected that environmentalists and wildlife authorities would pull out all stops to save whatever they can when any such area comes under threat. . Many species of plants, insects and wildlife which are solely interdependent on one another within the grassland environment are rapidly becoming extinct because of the destruction of this valuable biome. However it is evident the “red tape” of bureaucracy and theoretical policy is as much responsible for the loss and extinction of many species of flora and fauna they are trying to protect as the people carrying out the destruction.

Local environmentalist Jen Cowie reports that last Tuesday bulldozers began working on widening a shoulder of Greytown bound lane of the Muden/Greytown road. She states “I was informed by the Senior Roads Superintendent that these excavations would extend all the way down the hill toward Greytown as far as the Mooi River Road junction and that all plants in the path of the machinery would be destroyed despite the fact that this is a section of valuable mistbelt grassland”. On inspection of the site with local plant “fundi” Vic Schutte it was discovered that apart from some magnificently large and mature specimens of Aloe boyleii and numerous grassland plants there were also a number of currently protected species of wildflowers and bulbs directly in the path of the excavating machinery. As the Roads department operators were to resume work on this section of road on Thursday time was of the essence as it left just one day in which to initiate a rescue operation to remove and relocate these valuable plants out of harm’s way.
Being aware ot the fact that there are laws that protect the the flora and fauna from indiscriminate removal and trade Jen contacted the permits section of Ezemvelo in Pietermaritzburg and was told that it was necessary to obtain a permit to relocate these threatened plants. This had to be done through the Greytown DSO,who also had to have the site inspected before a permit could be applied for.Jen told the Greytown Gazette that repeated attempts to contact the DSO proved futile.She then again explained the urgency to Ezemvelo and “ that we did not have the luxury of time to go through the process of firstly, making contact with the DSO then applying for the necessary permits” This was met with the traditional bureaucratic reply “rules are rules.”. And unbelievably that should the required permits not be obtained then the plants would have to be sacrificed!
But thanks to the dedicated efforts of Jen Cowie and her team, CREW, SANBI and other environmentally aware individuals many of the threatened plants were carefully dug up and relocated on private property, just 20 metres away in a pristine area which was part of the original grassland ....way out of the path of any mechanical destruction or bureaucratic disregard

ENDS

READERS WRITE

Sir

Captain Marie Naicker was throwing trash on the dump the other day when he noticed a very damp dirty Wedding Album. He picked it up and opened it. On the first page was a 50 year old press report on the wedding of John and Marilyn Northmore...followed by the wedding photos.

.As I am in the process of moving have been sorting out hundreds of photos, including albums and accidentally threw away this most precious photo album. It was thrown away at least 2 months ago and yet all the photos were retrievable, They have been dried out and will be put carefully in a new book for the family archives.</p>
So many thanks Marie for your wonderful find and the return of the album and thanks to the Municipality for their stinking rotting heap of trash they should have removed weeks ago>

Marilyn Northmore
EDITOR’S NOTE: How’s that for luck and timing. Residents will be pleased to note that the “tons of trash” have been removed and the Transfer Station is now operating normally

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