Category: News

’n Onlangse werknemersindeks het weer eens beklemtoon dat korrekte vak- en studiekeuses onmisbaar is om finansiële vryheid te verseker.

Volgens die Adcorp-werknemersindeks is daar tans ongeveer 344 000 Suid-Afrikaners met grade, diplomas en sertifikate wat werkloos is omdat hulle nie oor die vaardighede beskik waarna werkgewers soek nie.

Die verslag toon verder dat die getal afleggings in Januarie die hoogste was wat dit in tien jaar was, met 36 290 Suid-Afrikaners wat hul werk kwyt is. Boonop is daar verlede maand slegs poste geskep vir hoëvlak- gekwalifiseerde personeel en is daar tans ongeveer 470 000 vakante poste in die privaat sektor wat gevul kon word indien die vaardighede daar was.

“Nog nooit was dit meer noodsaaklik vir leerlinge om ’n ingeligte besluit te neem wanneer hulle hul vakkeuses op skool maak nie,” sê Riaan du Plooy, adjunk uitvoerende hoof: onderwys en opleiding van Solidariteit Helpende Hand. “Verkeerde vakkeuses kan beteken dat matrikulante nie na skool aanvaar word vir hoëvlakstudierigtings nie en dat hulle dan op die ou end sit met ’n tersiêre kwalifikasie wat nie in die huidige beroepsmark bruikbaar is nie.”

Solidariteit Helpende Hand se beroepsvoorligtingsprogram fokus op hierdie probleem deur aan Afrikaanse jongmense oor die land heen ’n bekostigbare beroepsleidingdiens ten opsigte van vakkeuses en beroepskeuses te bied. “Tersiêre opleiding is peperduur en daarom maak dit sin om in professionele loopbaanvoorligting deur psigometriese en aanlegtoetse te belê,” sê Du Plooy.

Verskeie pakkette is beskikbaar en Helpende Hand se voltydse, geregistreerde psigometris sal gratis na ’n dorp reis mits daar tien of meer jongmense is wat van die diens gebruik wil maak. Die beroepsleiding sluit ʼn informele gesprek met die ouers en leerling, die evaluering self en ʼn professionele verslag na afloop daarvan, in.

Skakel gerus vir Helpende Hand by 012 644 4390 of stuur ʼn e-pos na diens@helpendehand.co.za vir meer inligting. •

 

Mense vra my dikwels watter inheemse bome hulle kan aanplant om dorstige uitheemse bome te vervang  –  maar hulle moet vinnig groei!”

Hierdie week wil ek graag vier bome aanbeveel wat goed in ons omgewing aard en wat boonop voëls na jou tuin sal lok.

Waterbessie / Waterhout / Water berry / Umdoni / Waterwood  –  Syzygium cordatum  (SA boomnr. 555)

Hoewel hierdie boom inheems is vanaf die Oos-Kaap noordwaarts, groei dit baie goed in die Suid-Kaap en bereik ‘n hoogte van tot 15 meter.  Die blomme van die Waterbessie is romerigwit, soetgeurig met baie nektar.  Die vrugte word ‘n pragtige pers en donkerrooi as dit ryp word, is eetbaar en smaak na bloekomlekkers.  Lekker jellie kan van die ryp vrugte gemaak word.  Alle vrugtevretende voëls hou van die vrugte.  Die boom moet nie naby ‘n gebou geplant word nie aangesien dit ‘n aggressiewe wortelstelsel het (5 m en verder is heeltemal voldoende).  Hierdie boom is bestand teen koue en hou van genoeg water.

Wildeperske/ Speekhout / Spekhout / Vaderlandsrooihout / Wild peach –  Porkwood / Spokewood  –  Kiggelaria africana   (SA boomnr. 494)

Die Wildeperske is ‘n baie mooi sierboom wat vinnig groei.  Dit bereik ‘n hoogte van tot 25 meter met ‘n mooi regop en skoon stam.  Hierdie boom is eenslagtig en manlike en vroulike blomme is op verskillende bome.  Voorheen is die hout in wamakery gebruik vir speke.  Die sade word deur voëls wat van sade hou bv glas-ogies gevreet.

Maar moet dit nie aanplant as jy bygelowig is nie.  Daar is geglo as jy die boom aanraak trek dit weerlig aan!

Kaapse essenhout / Vaal-essenhout / Cape ash / Dog plum / Mountain ash –  Ekebergia capensis  (SA boomnr. 298)

Hierdie pragtige immergroen boom kan ‘n hoogte van tot 30 meter bereik.  Manlike en vroulike blomme kom op aparte bome voor.  Dit is ‘n goeie boom om vrugtevretende voëls soos loeries, houtkappers, tiptolle en muisvoëls en nog baie meer, te lok.  Die Essenhout se wortels is nie aggressief nie en kan dus naby geboue geplant word.  Dit word dikwels as ‘n straat- of skaduboom geplant.  Essenhout kan van saad of steggies gekweek word.  Die boom groei vinnig (tot 1 meter per jaar) en is droogte- maar nie rypbestand nie.  Dit groei die beste as dit genoeg water kry.

Wildepruim / Suurpruim / Wild plum / Sour plum  –  Harperphyllum caffrum   (SA boomnr. )

Die boom word ongeveer 10 m hoog en dra baie eetbare vrugte en waarvan rose wyn en jellie gemaak kan word.  Wildepruim is ‘n gewilde tuinboom in ons omgewing en is aantreklik vir vrugtevretende voëls soos loeries, tiptolle, spreeus ens.  Slegs die vroulike bome dra vrugte en daarom moet meer as een boom in ‘n tuin aangeplant word.  Die wortelstelsel is nie aggressief nie.  Die Wildepruim kweek maklik as ‘n bonsai en vorm gou ‘n baie dik stam.

Soms is dit moeilik om Wildepruim en Essenhout van mekaar te onderskei.  ‘n Maklike metode om die twee bome uit te ken, is om die blare te vergelyk.  Op die foto (links) hieronder sien jy die Essenhout se blare se groeiwyse – teenoorstaande en op ‘n reguit takkie.  Kyk nou na die Wildepruim s’n regs.

Die Wildepruim se takkie waaraan die blare groei is op die voorpunt feitlik altyd gebuig.  In die botaniese literatuur word hierdie verskynsel beskryf as: “die hoofaar is nie presies in die middel van die blaar nie en die basis is merkbaar asimmetries”.

Jy kan enige van hierdie bome in die koeler maande plant.  Omdat Mosselbaai n droër klimaat as die res van die Tuinroete het, moet veral jonger boompies gereeld nat gehou word.

Inheemse groete.

Danie Muller • 082 320 1833 of 044 531 6790.

SOUTH AFRICA (February 2014) – It is a new year which of course means challenges…challenges we can overcome together and later stand back and admire the miracles we lived as one.  Pink Trees for Pauline will, like in 2013, strive to promote quality of life for cancer patients and their families during and after cancer.  Target 5 of the World Cancer Declaration: Reduce stigma and dispel myths about cancer will be the focus of World Cancer Day 2014 (4 February 2014) under the tagline “Debunk the myths”.  These myths will only be dispelled if we work vehemently towards unveiling them as just myths and if we advocate the truth. Probably the most obvious myth in our cancer communities is “I don’t have the right to cancer care”.  John F Kennedy said “The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.”  The challenge will be to reach as many as possible communities, especially in the rural areas to communicate the facts about cancer.  That will only be the first step, and the simple one.  The most important message about cancer is communicated through our actions.  By creating awareness about cancer and raising funds to support cancer communities we commit to being there where we are needed most.  We must get the message across that all people have the right to access to cancer care. During the Pink Trees for Pauline drive in 2013 we witnessed miracles every day…miracles of volunteers working fervently to create awareness wrapping thousands of trees in pink along kilometres of roads all across South Africa and Namibia.  People from all walks of life worked together with one objective in mind – to help people in need in their cancer communities in their own towns.  Pink Trees for Pauline also played a substantial role in empowering communities to take care of their own.  And with what people came to learn about themselves and each other during the 2013 drive they will be able to impart knowledge about cancer in order to dispel myths.  The message Pink Trees for Pauline will carry forward into 2014 is still one of Love, Care, Acceptance, Calm and Hope.

In 2013 some 55 towns across South Africa and Namibia embraced the initiative and stunned cancer communities with their enormous hearts.  In 2014 more than 100 towns have already committed to help cover South Africa and Namibia in pink!  This means double the number of feet, hands and hearts working as one to create awareness and raise funds to support cancer communities and their families.  This means that maybe the next time when a scared seven year old boy has to go for chemotherapy 500km away from home his mother will be able to travel with him.  This means that in future ‘the right to access to cancer treatment” will mean that ‘treatment’ will include a loved one…not going on this journey alone.

Charlotte Lunsford said “We don’t always know whose lives we touched and made better for our having cared, because actions can sometimes have unforeseen ramifications.  What’s important is that you do care and you act.”  May 2014 be the year in which we care more and act with greater impact!

If you need more information regarding Pink Trees for Pauline contact Managing Director Adri van Nieuwenhuizen on +27 82 460 6386 or email adri@pt4pauline.co.za. Visit facebook.com/PinkTreesForPauline and www.pinktrees.co.za for the newest information.

More information: Media Release for Pink Trees for Pauline Adri van Nieuwenhuizen  adri@pt4pauline.co.za  +27 82 460 6386 Media Release by interface by goji

Mimi Finestone mimi@gojipr.net +27 84 583 3144 •

Many local music lovers will recall the brilliant performance by the award-winning, internationally acclaimed Cape Town Youth Choir at the Community Church last August. Annabelle Conyngham was so inspired that she immediately resolved to organise a return visit to Plett during 2014 as a fundraiser for Hospice Plett.  She said: “ I have seldom heard such sublime singing and I wanted to share the beauty of the choir’s music with the people of Plett, while benefiting Hospice at the same time”.

Plett and Knysna residents will soon have the opportunity to enjoy two very different fundraising  concerts, featuring the choir’s repertoire for the 2014 World Choir Games to be held in Riga, Latvia, later this year.  They will be led by their animated and engaging conductor, Leon Starker.

Saturday 22 February 2014 at 18:30: The James Thomas Memorial Concert at the St Thomas Methodist Church, off Marine Way in Plett.  This concert is dedicated to the memory of a most remarkable man, James Thomas, the chairman of the choir. He was the only South African victim to perish in the Al Shabaah Somali attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, less than two months after his visit to Plett with the choir. Under his visionary leadership the choir had flourished and achieved great heights. Tickets R100 available from Barney at the Info Kiosk at Market Square.  Contact: E-mail: plettinfo@telkomsa.net. Phone : 044 533 3219  Cell : 082 744 1884.

Sunday 23 February 2014  at 11:30: Bosky Dell Rose Garden  (off N2, entrance opposite The Heath).   Rae and Greg Gilbert are generously hosting the concert  in their beautiful  new conservatory, to be followed by a delicious brunch  in the garden pavilion. Tickets R180 available from Lady Conyngham, E-mail:  aconyngham@telkomsa.net Tel: 044 533 5178. Ticket payment: The Plettaid Foundation, FNB, Code 210514, Account no 62048095063. Reference Bosky Dell.  All ticket enquiries to Lady Conyngham – please leave contact number if a message is left.

Please see poster below.  Both concerts will start promptly and everyone is encouraged to arrive in good time.

The Cape Town Youth Choir brings together exceptionally talented young South Africans, giving them an opportunity to excel both artistically and scholastically.  Extremely high international standards mean that only the truly gifted are admitted.  Several successful candidates come from disadvantaged areas and some are orphans.  Their multi-lingual repertoire ranges  from Renaissance compositions, African folk songs to contemporary choral music.  Conductor Leon Starker has an advanced diploma in choral conducting (cum laude).

They have sung in St Paul’s Cathedral, the Carnegie Hall, Salisbury Cathedral and many other international musical venues.  They have won several prestigious international competitions and Grand Prix, including winning the Choir of the World title at the Llangollen International Eisteddford in Wales and, most recently, winning  two gold medals at the Second Grand Prix of Choral Music in Graz, Austria.

A proportion of the funds raised by the two concerts will go towards the choirs forthcoming participation in the World Choir Games in Latvia. •

strong international contingent will compete for top honours at the African Continental Mountain Bike Championships, in Durbanville, Cape Town, from Saturday.

The lineup includes riders from Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia and Mauritius, and a competitive team from hosts South Africa.

South Africa will have at least 30 participants each in the men’s junior, under-23 and youth classes. The junior women’s group is the largest to date, at 15 riders.

On Saturday, 209 South African riders will compete in the XCO.

Max Knox and Kevin Evans line up with the Elite men for fast and furious short-course racing on a revamped track at the Willowbridge shopping centre.

Local Mariske Strauss has set herself a high target in her first year as an Elite.
“I am super excited about the race, but being in a new class I am just taking it as it comes,” she said.

“My coach Jeroen [Swart] is a great mentor. The track has a few more new jumps this year, and the technical standard has certainly been lifted in preparation for a technical World Championship track later this year in Norway.”

The junior women start at 11am, followed by elite women (12.30pm), under-23 women (12.35pm), junior men (2pm), elite men (3.15pm) and under-23 men (3.20pm).

On Sunday, the downhill competitors race their final runs in a contest for the African Championship title at Contermanskloof, on the outskirts of Durbanville.

– Sapa
– See more at: http://thegremlin.co.za/plettenberg-bay-news/wordpress/2014/01/25/kevin-evans-to-race-in-durbanville/#sthash.yV2fiDb6.dpuf •

 

Training forms a central part of FAMSA Knysna’s activities in Sedgefield, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.

Initially training was done exclusively to equip volunteers who are involved in the various activities and projects at the organization. Subsequently they found that the skills learned could be of benefit to most members of the community and growing interest was expressed by many who wanted to attend.

As a result, most of the training is now open to the general public and after completion of specific courses, some may become volunteers for FAMSA Knysna. If each attendee applies the skills learnt only in his/her personal life an enormous impact in the preservation of relationships and families will already have been made. These skills can also be applied in the working environment and lead to improved productivity.

The various courses/workshops presented include the acclaimed counselling course known as the Family Foundation Training which is made up of several “blocks” spread over about 9 months. Other workshops include Intimate Relationships, Intimate Partner Violence, Self Esteem & Boundaries, Child Abuse, Addictions, Anger/Conflict Management & Assertiveness, Depression & Suicide, Parenting Skills, Trauma, Stress, Death & Dying, Personality & Psychological Disorders, Trauma Psychological First-Aid, Trauma & children, etc.

Specific training courses are presented for the volunteers involved in FAMSA’s various projects, which include Women of Worth, Parenting, MEN, etc.

On request, training or workshops are done for other organizations and businesses and can be streamlined for specific needs. Employees can benefit immensely from learning various skills, which in turn are conducive to a more positive working environment.

The fee charged for training is a fraction of that in larger cities. Many of the workshops are also presented by experts in the field.

Contact Estelle at FAMSA in Knysna on 044-382-5129 and Mia at FAMSA in Plettenberg Bay on 044-533-0515 ASAP for further information.

Nelson Mandela achieved something unique: he was all things to all people. To the oppressed people under Apartheid he was a major figure in the struggle for liberation. For white South Africans he provided leadership which brought a peaceful transition to democracy, when many expected civil war. In the world outside South Africa he was a symbol of a fight for freedom that almost everyone could identify with. Though some people try to be possessive about him and claim him for one group or another, more than anyone else in our time, Mandela belongs to everyone, in South Africa and throughout the world.

From my viewpoint, what has placed Mandela in this unique position and makes him such a profound example for the rest of us was his adherence to principles. He held the principles on which he based his life as more important to him than his own life, which he not only claimed he was willing to sacrifice, but said so in a situation, his trial, where the claim itself could have cost him his life.

Politics is a game in which pragmatism, ideology and personal gain can easily overcome principles, and very often do. Mandela did not let his own personal interests corrupt the work of his principles. His role was to help bring about the liberation of South Africa in such a way that there was a possibility for all its citizens to fulfil their dreams. He achieved this, and then stepped down. But the work has only just begun. The vision of a non-racial democracy could hardly be further away than it is now.

Following his example, our duty to ourselves, as I see it, is to develop principles that express and articulate our own unique selves, and live according to them. By doing this, we can begin to repair the ruptured integrity of the country, and begin to build the non-racial democracy that was at the heart of the vision of those who struggled for liberation. •

With 2014 set to be a milestone year as we celebrate 20 years of democracy and hold elections, there is much to be upbeat about. After five years of inhibited growth, activity in the primary urban areas has strengthened notably with conditions at the healthiest levels since the economic down-turn. Next year, we may well see the first signs of real growth and double-digit price growth is a real possibility in the primary urban areas. Based on our turnover that is up by 20% year-on-year and agent feedback, activity has improved significantly with more buyers at show houses, multiple offers and better prices for sellers. This, along with growing stock shortages point to greater normalcy and balance and, while still too early to talk about a major recovery in view of the wider economic landscape, we anticipate a more robust 2014.

Price gains though will remain conservative, but sellers can look forward to shorter selling times and good offers provided the pent up demand persist. The protracted low demand in the coastal and second home markets is likely to continue with buyers discerning and particular about what they are looking for and how much they are prepared to pay. The historically low interest rate will continue to boost home affordability and while some areas are moving towards a sellers’ market, conditions will continue to favour buyers. For those that can and want to buy, the time is now. Sellers too can look forward to better selling prices and in turn take advantage of the favourable buying conditions.

Recovery of the market will be slow with the primary sector picking up the bulk of the momentum as we have seen. The key macro-economic indicators, most notably economic and job growth will continue to drive the market and only once the economy picks up are we likely to see a significant uptick in sales volumes and prices. For now though, we are optimistic about the outlook for 2014. Visit www.seeff.com for more information or contact us on 044 533 0311 or email plett@seeff.com<mailto:plett@seeff.com> . •