Edition / Uitgawe 7

26 July 2013

Six years
page 7

Wisdom from Madiba 4

Your brand new uncle 5

R200 up for grabs 11

Strange marital facts 15

GPS News

From the editor

Being the owner of an independent community newspaper may seem glorious to some, but a very few se lected people realise what effort and hard work is put into the creation and making thereof. Firstly, before we start any issue, the personnel pray together that the next issue will be successful and re main true to what we stand for good uplifting community news. Then the process starts firstly with our journalists seeking news, arran ging interviews, taking photos, writ ing the articles and sending it through. The articles are then for warded to the responsible person for copy editing, ensuring that the standard is kept high. The marketing department is re sponsible for finding advertisers (not an easy task in our economic cli mate, but God is good), as well as the collection of the information from the clients necessary for the adverts. The information is then re layed to the graphic designer. After pulling out all the stops for the cre ative juices to flow to design it, the ad is, upon approval by the client, sent to the editor. The editor and the page layout specialist then sit to gether and decide which ad goes where, and what story is placed on what page. That, dear readers, is the reason newspapers have deadlines! If an ad or article is late, it really throws a spanner in the works. After spending many hours creat ing each page individually, the pa per is then ready to be sent electronically to the printers in Jo hannesburg. The full amount for the printing of the newspaper has to be paid and cleared in the printers bank account before they will commence with printing, and believe me, it is not a small amount of money. Upon com pletion of printing, the newspaper is couriered to our offices. In the mean time, the admin of ficer has to process the invoices and ensure that they are all paid. Upon receipt of the paper, inserts have to be manually inserted into the paper (an easy but extremely tiring task imagine repeating the

GPS News 22 Main Road, Sabie Tel: 01 3 764 31 27 Fax: 086 57 43454 Facebook: gpsnews Twitter: @editorKemp Editorial/Advertising: Valerie Kemp, tel: 083 565 9458 E-mail: editor@gpsnews.co.za Reporters: Christine Roussouw (Sabie, Pilgrims): 079 233 4801 Gerda van den Bos (Graskop): 083 324 7254 Graphic design: Sydney Mashele Editing and layout: Pedrie Roberts
same task 5 000 times in one day, the number of GPS News copies that are distributed), and only then do we distribute the newspaper. Although it is extremely hard work, it is a privilege to be associ ated with GPS News. Please feel free to contact us should you have an idea for a good story, or would like to suggest something to enhance our newspaper. I would like to thank all out readers, advertisers and the public for being part of our paper.

S o c ia l Ca le n d a r Sosiale Kalender
Let us know about any events for placement in the Social Calendar. It is free!

1 -31 July

Available the whole month: Canimambo Restaurant Portugus & Moambicano cuisine.

27 Julie 27 July

Sitrusfees, Schoemanskloof. Kontak: 076 455 0009. Spur Schools MTB 2 Uplands College. Contact Mark Meyer: 082 338 9532.

27 Julie 27 July

NG kerk Sabie se basaar voor die stadsaal. International X Country Enduro in Pilgrims. Full TV coverage.

Briewe / Letters
Verstom oor goedheid
Met hierdie brief wil ons eerstens vir ons Hemelse Vader vir Sy beskerming dankie s. Dit was net Sy genade wat ons beskerm het tydens die gewapen de rooftog wat in die vroe oggendure van Vrydag 19 Julie by ons huis plaasgevind het. Wat ons wel verstom het, is die goedheid en bystand van die mense in Sabie. Ons het altyd geweet ons woon in n spesiale dorp, maar dit is hierin bewys. Ons wil nie iemand uitsonder nie, maar wil tog vir die volgende mense dankie s vir hul bystand in die chaos: Ben junior, wat onmiddellik gekom het, my familielede wat daar was ty dens die rooftog wat ons bygestaan het met die polisie en skoonmaak, Stefan en PetroNel Davey van Supa Quick, Berrie Linde en Amanda en Sean Bushney. Ons kan nie almal persoonlik noem nie, maar jul oproepe en alles wat jul le doen, sal nooit vergeet word nie. n Hartlike dankie aan almal wat n by

3 August
drae gelewer het om dit vir ons mak liker te maak. Al het Ben baie bloed verloor, her stel hy goed en ons glo en vertrou hy sal ten volle herstel. Marie Oberholzer

MTB Marathon, Krokodilpoort, Nelspruit.

7 August

LEFPA general meeting. 09:00. Contact Annalize: 082 902 5854.

9 August

Smalls
Woonstel te huur
Gedeeltelik gemeubileer. Stil omgewing. R2 000 pm. Water en ligte ingesluit. Skakel 082 940 3560.

National Womens Day.

1 0 August 1 4 August

Das Auto MTB Series 3, White River Blood donation: Sabie Country Club 1 5:001 8:00 Graskop Town Hall 1 5:001 7:00 Pilgrims Rest Information Centre 1 0:00-1 4:00

Is this true?

1 6 August

GPS News next edition.

Bowls @ Sabie Country Club

Every Wednesday and Saturday @ 1 3:30.

GPS News

Staff members of TJ Corner: Patricia Milanzi (middle), Cindy Khoza (back right), Nancy Nonyane (front left), Thandeka Shube (front right) and Webbie Mabunda (back left). Insert: TJ owner Thembeni Mashigo.

TJ caters for everyone

hembeni Johnny Mashigo (31) knows that a mans (and a wo mans) heart runs through the stomach. And being the owner of TJ Corners Kitchen in Sabie and some one who loves cooking, she is conquer ing the hearts of the towns people. This mom of two girls and one boy decided that she wanted to start her own business. She gained valuable experience in the restaurant business whilst working for Petena Pancakes, but had to resign due to pregnancy. After having the baby, she sold fruit en veggies at Sabie Market Square. She saw that a shop was vacant, and after discussions with her husband, Thomas, she decided to take the leap. TJ Corner opened on 17 January last year. The rest is history and by the grace of God a huge success. TJ does not only offer traditional food like tripe and pap and chicken dust, but also has a reputation amongst its customers for making the best fish and chips in town. Thembeni is running the shop, en suring the customers get the freshest and nicest food at extremely afford able prices. She attributes a lot of the success of the shop to the support and dedication of her staff. The shop is kept hygienically clean and the food is freshly prepared daily. On an average school day, they pro cess up to 20 bags of potatoes. The staffs demeanour is friendly and professional. There are currently five permanent employees and two casual workers. Thembeni says: I think a part of the success of my shop is that we cater for the whole spectrum of people, and my secret ingredients for the free chilli mixture offered with the food also plays a big role. The most valuable and appreciated person on her team is her husband, Thomas. He is her plumber, carpenter and electrician, as well as her rock that she can lean on. Thembeni would like to thank her customers for their loyal support, and if you have not tried their food out yet, dont hesitate to come and see and taste and be convinced.

GPS News

What a Mandela Day celebration!

Shirly Mathebula
ast Thursday, on Mandela Day (18 July), when many South Africans celebrated former President Nelson Mandelas 95th birthday and spent 67 minutes doing volunteer work, Thaba Chweu muni cipality together with the greater community of Sabie celebrated the legacy of Mandela by giving back to the needy at Ekuthuleni Hall in Simile, Sabie. Local sponsors such as the munici pality, Full OutPut, Floreat Riverside Lodge, Uzenzela Wena Orphanage, Thaleda, Sabie Taxi Association, Sa bie licensing department, BP and Cal tex, Matjeya Trading, Ayeshas Deli, Maleshoko Trading, Greenview Spar, local churches, local Pakistani busi nesses and Sabie Hospital contributed positively to the event to make a dif ference in the lives of others. The national theme for the celebra tion was: Take action, inspire change, make every day a Mandela Day. In his address, Thaba Chweu Exec utive Mayor Michael Ncongwane said: local pastors, who joined hands to participate in an interdenominational prayer session for Tata Mandelas re covery. About 150 pupils from Lindani Primary, Harmony Hill Primary and Memezile Secondary School moved with excitement when they received grocery packages during the event. Disadvantaged senior citizens also re ceived groceries and blankets. Ncongwane further appealed to the community to walk in the footsteps of the honourable icon Nelson Mandela by making each day a Mandela Day. We must not only contribute with material gifts, but also by giving ourselves in the service of others from generation to generation. We must learn from our great master Jesus Christ, who gave his life for humanity. Let this day remain a living memento for generations to come.

Executive Mayor Michael Ncongwane help learners to cut the birthday cake in honour of Mandela. As we celebrate Mandelas birthday, we are trying to expand the work that he did years ago by today performing volunteer service in our communities. The event was attended by officials from Thaba Chweu municipality and various government departments, loc al schools, community members and

Excited pupils dining at the lodge.

Honouring Madibas birthday in style

Shirly Mathebula
About 100 pupils from Harmony Hill Primary and Lindani Primary School in Sabie spent Mandela Day in style by dining with Thaba Chweu Execut ive Mayor Micheal Ncongwane at Floreat Riverside Lodge on 18 July. Floreat took the initiative to honour Mandelas life by inviting the children to indulge in an unforgettable dining experience at the lodge. Like other businesses who took part in the local Mandela Day celebrations, Floreat welcomed municipal officials and vul nerable local children to unwind at the lodge with a wonderful meal. Floreat owner Constantine Kazand jis said: Thaba Chweu municipality approached us and we took this initi ative to give back to the community as a way to honour Tata Madibas life. As a nation we pray for his life and his family. Mandelas birthday touched the lives of the children in a remarkable way as it was the first time in their lives that they dined at such a luxuri ous restaurant. Floreat Riverside Lodge is nestled next to the Sabie River, perfectly situated on the majestic Panorama Route, offering a unique experience for all guests. Municipal HIV/Aids coordinator Fikile Ndlovu said: We would like to thank Floreat Riverside Lodge for the sponsorship and also all our other generous sponsors who supported the Mandela Day event and for pledging 67 minutes to serve needy and vul nerable children. We encourage the community of Sabie to mark this day every year to fruitfully donate to the less fortunate.

GPS News

GPS News

The worst plantation fires in local history...

S
Christine Rossouw
aturday will mark exactly six years since the Panor ama witnessed the worst plantation fires in South African history. On 27 July 2007, wild fires ripped through Mpumalanga. A total of 80 000 hectares of land burned, leaving 17 dead and hun dreds homeless. As fires seared across the mountains that night, Sabie residents evacuated their homes and gathered at the Engen garage in the centre of town, awaiting instructions. It took two weeks for fire fight ing teams to extinguish all the fires across the province that dev astated farms, plantations and towns. The outofcontrol fires were the result of an incredibly hot and powerful wind that swept the flames through the dry plantations like a freight train, devouring everything in its path. A month after the catastrophic fires, the province was declared a disaster area. And two months after the fires were extinguished, the ground was still smouldering. Fire fighting teams rushed out systematically to dig out and douse burning root systems as fires con tinued to flare up on hot, windy days throughout August and September. Only in November 2007 was the danger truly over when the first heavy rains started to fall.

GPS News

The weather conditions that winter of 2007 made it humanly impossible to contain and control the disaster from happening. What further complicated fire fighting efforts was the fact that EnviroVi sion Solutions (EVS) operations centre at Bakenkop was completely engulfed by flames and burnt to the ground on the eve of the out break of the fires. Fortunately the crew members, who play a crucial role in fire de tection and management, all nar rowly escaped tragedy, but the operations centre and equipment housed therein to detect fires and communicate their location and movement was lost. In 2008, a small fortune was spent moving the operations centre to Tweefontein and upgrading it to the best fire detection technology available. Cameras that capture, stabilise, digitise and send images via radio transmitter to the EVS operation centre have been placed in strategic positions around the Lowveld and beyond. EVS crew members monitor the images 24 hours a day and when a fire is spotted on the screen, the technology allows for the burning area to be instantly georeferenced, whereupon the crew can notify fire fighting teams and landowners at the specific plantation. This allows for the early detection and arrest of a potentially hazardous wild fire. The most crucial component of fire fighting is early detection and

early attack, so should you spot a fire anywhere from now until the end of October it is imperative that you report it to EVS by calling 013 764 4900 or 082 462 2469 or 0860 66 3473 (NO FIRE). As a rule, no open fire or burning is allowed between 1 June and 31 October the transgression of

which is punishable by law. While we have been blessed with some wet days this winter, resid ents should not allow that to make them complacent as to the poten tially devastating results of wild fires. Keep alert and be sure to report any wild fires to 0860 66 3473.

GPS News

Graskop houses part of North-West University

Teachers attend a live lecture during North West Universitys Open Learning Groups winter school hosted at Panorama Second ary School in Graskop.

Gerda van den Bos

Long distance learning has never been easier. Thanks to advanced techno logy, students can now attend classes on a regular basis without travelling to a university even in Graskop. NorthWest University established a Unit for Open Distance Learning in Potchefstroom with study centres across the country and in Namibia. And one of its centres is operated from Panorama Secondary School. The university provided the school with a whiteboard and internet facil ities. At scheduled times, students come to the school to attend classes

presented by lecturers from the Potchefstroom campus. These lectures are broadcasted from Potchefstroom to all the study centres in the country and the students can even interact with the lecturers. Karen Bloem and Lumari Faber, both from Panorama Secondary School, coordinate the Open Learning Group in this area. During most weekends, students attend classes for various courses at the school. They also have to attend a week of summer school during December and winter school in July. Karen says they also facilitate the exams twice a year when the students

write their examinations at Graskop Primary School. According to NorthWest Uni versitys website, the Unit for Open Distance Learning serves 28 000 stu dents, mainly through the Faculty of Education Sciences (teachers), but also a smaller number of students from Health Sciences (nursing) and Theology. Students can register at any time, but they have prescribed min imum and maximum times to com plete their qualifications. Teachers who wish to enrol in the programme to better their qualifica tions can contact Karen on 083595 9710.

Moral Regeneration Month celebrated

Gerda van den Bos
On a sunny Sunday afternoon at the beginning of July, community mem bers, government officials and police officers gathered at Waterhoutboom just outside Graskop as part of Graskop SAPS moral regeneration project. Women from one of the local churches spontaneously started to sing and dance while they waited for the programme to start. Men sat under the trees, watching from a distance. Then the Programme Dir ector, M. Mohlala, called for every body to stand to sing the national anthem. It was one of those goose bump moments. Standing in an opensided tent, with washing blowing in the wind at the nearby houses... and then the people star ted to sing. There was no music, only the voices of a handful of people growing stronger as the song progressed. After the national anthem, I was surprised to realize that all the chairs in the tent were filled. Nobody was sitting under the trees anymore. Once again music had pulled people together. Various dignitaries of the local pastors association, the Department of Health, the Department of Edu cation, Sassa and the Department of Safety, Security and Liaison, as well as S. Nkuna, Chairperson of the Ehlanzeni Moral Regeneration Movement, addressed the people. Capt. Maphana, Station Com mander of SAPS Graskop, said that in order to win the war against crime, people need to find their morals again. A community with high morals is a community without crime. These celebrations were part of Moral Regeneration Month as pro claimed by the government. Accord ing to the government website, Throughout July people are en couraged to recommit to efforts of building communities on positive values and to rededicate themselves to building a caring society in pur suit of creating lasting peace and prosperity in the country. July was picked for this special programme as it coincides with the celebration of Mandela Day on 18 July, and it is the birthday month of former President Nelson Mandela, who is considered to be the main leader of the formation of the Moral Regeneration Movement. July also marks the date on which the Charter for Positive Values was ad opted on 28 July 2008. The Moral Regeneration Move ment calls everybody in South Africa to be part of the solution and not the problem, to stand together and to remember that fighting crime starts with me. Building a better future starts with you and me as well, by doing those little things, like donating a blanket, spending time with the elderly, joining a foodscheme at your local school... or at least paying your taxes, keeping to the speed limits and keeping our streets litter free. Together we can make it!

GPS News

The metalhead with a softer side

Christine Rossouw
t only 24 years old, Courtney Gibson is a real force to be reckoned with. Not only is she a musician worth keeping tabs on, she has almost singlehandedly put Graskop and Canimambo Restaurant in particular on the map as a growing musical hub within the Lowveld. Upon meeting this softspoken beauty with her petit frame and earthy style, you would never guess that she is the drummer of one of South Africas most upandcoming metal bands. I was introduced to metal by my older sister. I didnt understand it until, when I was 12, my sis ter put on a CD and told me to close my eyes and listen to the music without worrying about the lyrics. I will never forget that day because soon after that I would nick my siblings CDs and listen to them alone in my room, Courtney says. At the age of 15, she started yearning to play the drums and a year later, she started teaching herself. Two years later, she moved to Johannes burg to study contemporary music and drumming. This is where, together with fellow students, she formed Mizera. The group is becoming a favourite on the Gauteng metal scene and recently, after a performance at the Roodepoort Civic Theatre, ac quired a band manager and sponsor. After spending three years in Johannesburg, Courtney returned to Graskop, where she would infuse the town with her passion for music. She organised the first Free Form Music and Art

Festival at Canimambo in 2010. I wanted to in troduce my band to the local audience and also create a platform for other local bands, she says. After that first festival, which showcased only four bands, it has grown in leaps and bounds. Last year, Courtney was forced to tighten the slots for musicians as band submissions came pouring in from musicians all eager to perform at Graskops local music festival. The festival now attracts groups from as far as Tzaneen, Nelspruit, Johan nesburg, Potchefstroom and Durban. While Courtney says that metal is her first and true musical love I just love the tone in the in struments and vocals and the passion that the musicians put into it its hard to describe, but I just feel it in my soul and in my bones there is another side to this musicians soul. She ventured into the world of acoustic guitar song writing about three years ago. After playing around with the guitar for a while, I started adding lyrics to my songs and singing them softly. I got amazing reactions from people that gave me the confidence to perform my solo, acoustic stuff, she says. While her metal side is inspired by such old school greats as Pantera, Metallica, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, acoustically Courtney draws her inspiration from artists like John Butler, Xavier Rudd, The XS, Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. In between her traversing between Graskop and Gauteng for Mizera gigs, Courtney organises monthly live events at Canimambo and weekly drumming circles.

Her biggest dreams are for Mizera to become an internationally renowned band and for the Free Form Festival to grow into a threeday music festival that competes with other established South African music festivals. Locals can catch Courtney playing her acoustic set live at Jungle Caf in Hazyview on 28 Sep tember, and diarise 14 December, when the next Free Form Festival will take place at Canimambo.

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GPS News

Lefpa is prepared for the fire season

Christine Rossouw
With the lead up to fire season, Lef pa (Lowveld and Escarpment Fire Protection Association) have been furiously busy visiting farmers and landowners with the aim of assess ing and eradicating any fire risks. Lefpa is a volunteer organisation with 515 members comprising state land, big forestry companies, agri culture, plots and conservation properties. The Lefpa Sabie ward, headed by Berrie Linde, meets once a month with its members to discuss fire risks and developments in fire fighting and detection, and to keep members up to date on fire prohibi tion legislation and enforcement. According to Linde, the greatest fire risks Lefpa is dealing with are the uncompliant burning by indi viduals without a burning permit (burning is prohibited by law from 1 June to 31 October every year), accumulated sawdust and wood stock piles, which act as dangerous fuel loads, as well as wood products stockpiled beneath power lines. Lefpas function, as a fire protec tion association, is to educate the public on fires and get people fire wise. They daily monitor the weather and fire risk indexes and send twicedaily updates to all their members. Belonging to the association provides members the opportunity to attend firefighting training at discounted rates, as well as the op portunity to utilise the Working on Fire team based in Graskop for all preseason burns at no cost. There are also legal benefits of being a member of Lefpa. There is an annual membership fee of R188 or R1,38 per hectare, whichever is applicable. Individuals interested in joining the association can attend the next meeting on 7 August at the EVS Operations Centre at Tweefontein. Enquiries: Annalize on 082 902 5854.

Museum tells the

Shirly Mathebula
hen arriving in Sabie, many people find it fascinating to visit the only forestry mu seum on the continent. The Sabie Forest Industry Museum and Inform ation Centre, run by South African Forestry Company (Safcol) subsidiary Komatiland Forests, is one of a kind. The museum serves as a forestry landmark it documents the history of the forestry industry and also showcases exhibits that inspire in terest in modern forestry methods. The museum, on the corner opposite Ford Street and 7th and 10th Avenue in Sabie, is open for the public. Senior Administrator Chantelle Seiling told GPS News: The museum welcomes people from different places, including tourists and school groups, who will be exposed to the history of forestry and related activities. The museum, which was officially opened on 7 May 1998, has a confer ence centre that can accommodate about 50 people and that is dedicated to the memory of Dr Godfrey Winck

The unique Forest Industry Museum in Sabie. ler, founder and first curator of the Sabie Forest Industry Museum. In front of the museum are two at tentiongrabbing, old machines that were used in the early days of the loc al forestry industry. As you start your journey through the museum you will witness where it all began before the first European people arrived in Africa. Inside the museum, a map shows all of Komati land Forests current plantations and their sizes, giving you an idea of the scale of the companys operations. On display are some petrified trees and many more interesting artefacts. As you go further, there is an exhibit that shows where the forestry in dustry grows its trees, the planting and tending, and exhibitions presen ted by Sappi, Working for Water and many more. There is also an ecotour ism office inside the museum opening the way for travelling, hiking, 4x4 and other experiences. The museum welcomes all people, including residents, tourists and school children, to explore the forestry industry in a fun and interactive way, says Seiling. Visiting hours: Mondays to Fridays 08:0013:00 and 14:0016:30. Saturdays: 08:0012:00. Closed on Sundays and public holi days. Entrance fees: Adults R5, children R2, pensioners R2. For bookings contact Chantelle Seiling on 013 764 1058.

One of the many inter esting exhibitions.

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11

Earth tremor felt in the area

Christine Rossouw
Social media sites were abuzz on 7 July when an earth tremor was felt by many residents of the Panorama at approximately 16:52. Initial measure ments by the United States Geological Survey indicated a magnitude of 4,7 on the Richter scale, however head of seismology at the Council for Geoscience, Michelle Grobbelaar, con firmed that they had recorded a tremor with a magnitude of 3,8 on the Richter scale approximately 49,2 km west of Barberton. But the tremor, it appears, was not felt by all. Christine van Wyk of Sabie was in the Sabie Hospital at the time of the tremor and said she felt it clearly, and couldnt understand why others in the ward seemed oblivious to it. The doc tor who was busy putting in a drip didnt even look up, she said. Jessica Lester of Graskop confirmed that she too had felt the tremor. According to the Council for Geoscience, the tremor was very shal low, occurring 5 km below the earths surface. But what triggered the tremor is still unknown. Just over a year ago, on 27 May 2012, a tremor with a magnitude of 4,0 hit parts of Swaziland, Mpuma langa and southern Mozambique. This epicenter of this tremor however, which occurred at 21:00, was located on the banks of the Maguga Dam in Swaziland. It was caused by the un derlying rock adjusting to cope with the tremendous weight of the body of water in the dam, which had been completed in 2001 during a joint pro ject between South Africa and Swazil and. Seismic expert Prof. Raymond Durr heim of the University of the Wit watersrand said mild tremors were common when big dams filled with water after construction. Mild earthquakes like this can be felt months or years after a dam was completed, said Durrheim. He added that some tremors can even be felt 20 years after a dams completion as the crust of the earth settles and readjusts under the pres sure of the dams water.

Caption competition you can win R200!

The winner of the competition to write words to go with the picture of the relaxing lion (above left) was Claudia van Aswegen (52). Claudia was very surprised when she heard the news, saying she has never won a competi tion before. The winning phrase was: Oh, what a NIGHT! Chris Colverd of Wayfarers Guesthouse is the photographer and sole judge of the com petition. You might be the next winner! It is so easy: look at the picture below and say what you think it says, and you could be R200 richer. Send your entry by email to editor@gpsnews.co.za or by SMS to 079529 0256.

A dream you don't have to fight for isn't a dream. It's a nap. One changes your day, one the world.

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GPS News

Lewensuitkyk deur lens van passie

Gerda van den Bos
aak nie saak hoe siek jy voel of in watter krisissituasie jy jou bevind nie, as jy by dr. Roeloff Jansen van Vuuren se spreek kamer in Graskop instap, ervaar jy kalmte. Dit is grotendeels te danke aan die vriendelike rustigheid van Maria, wat in beheer van die ont vangslokaal en praktykbestuur is. Maria s dit was egter nie altyd s nie. Verlede jaar het onvermydelike veranderinge in die praktyk plaas gevind. Sy het haar dank uitgespreek teenoor die gemeenskap vir volgehoue ondersteuning, begrip en geduld deur di tydperk en ook teenoor die perso neellede Marthie en Petunia wat saam met haar en die dokter hul volle gewig by die praktyk ingegooi het. Maria is baie meer as net die rustige ontvangs dame met die vriendeli ke o. Sy is ook die eie naar van die aangren sende gastehuis, Le Gal lerie, en is n uitsonder like kunstenaar wat (wanneer sy die tyd kry) haar talente in fotografie, skilder en brandglas uitleef. n Kunsfoto grafiereeks getiteld Res toration versier die mure van die kamers in die gastehuis. Elke foto beeld f n ou motorwrak f n bouvallige gebou uit en vertel n storie van uiteindelike hoop en bevryding aan elkeen wat daarna kyk. Maria s vir elkeen van die gaste wat in die uitstalling belang stel, is daar gewoonlik n spesifieke foto wat tot hulle spreek. Sy het doelbewus nie haar storieweergawe van elke foto daarby gesit nie om ruimte te laat vir die individu se verbeelding en begrip sodat elkeen op sy eie manier daar deur geraak kan word. Hierdie merkwaardige kunstenaar

Dr. Roeloff en Maria Jansen van Vuuren

Een van die kunswerke in Maria se Restorationreeks. As die storms en die winde van die lewe woed en die see onstuimig raak, kan jy soms in die proses jou dak verloor en die lewe kan sy letsels (graffiti) op jou laat. Maar as die huis op die Rots gebou is, sal jy staande bly en sal daar weer n tyd van kalmte en rustigheid kom waar jy God kan toelaat om jou te herstel. Die woord restoration beteken: to bring back to a former state, or better. En die potensiaal is in elkeen van ons! Maria Koch. Fotos verskaf deur Maria Jansen van Vuuren jaar gelede in Graskop kom vestig het. God het egter gou aan haar geopen baar dat Hy deur die gastehuis die nasies na haar bring. Sy het al toer iste van oor die wreld heen ontvang en vir baie van hulle het sy n spesiale boodskap gehad. Haar kunswerke spreek tot die mense, raak hul siel aan, en laat n blywende indruk. Maria het n passie vir Graskop en sy mense en sy sien gereeld geleenthe de vir restourasie in mense raak. Sy en haar man deel die liefde vir God en vir fotografie. Saam maak hulle n verskil in Graskop. Maria nooi mense in die omgewing vriendelik uit om haar as mens te leer ken. Om n begeleide toer deur Restora tion te kry, maak n afspraak deur haar op 013 767 1093 of 082 849 8401 te bel.

en dinamiese vrou s die lewe het ook al harde paaie en draaie met haar ge loop, maar as n wedergebore Chris ten het sy geleer om die Heilige Gees in haar besluite en lewe te vertrou. Sy roem nie in haar eie krag nie, maar nederig in die krag van die Vader. Jare terug het sy n profetiese woord gekry dat sy nasies sou benvloed (na sionaal en internasionaal). Sy s sy is profeties geroepe om die liggaam van Christus te bedien, en daarom was sy verbaas toe God haar vyf en n half

CocaCola, in conjunction with Spar, launched a national comp etition where a 2 liter Coke or Fanta had to be purchased. By en tering you stood a change to win one of 830 home theatre systems. Sabie had a winner. From left: Gerhard Coetzee of Greenview Spar, N. Weyers, the winner, and Bengi, CocaCola representative.

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13

Leonie Ellis and her mother, Mrs Joy Steyn.

Her legacy will live on

Gerda van den Bos
Mrs Joy Steyn from Graskop passed away on 2 July. She was 98 years old. Her daughter, Leonie Ellis said her mother was very proud when she turned 98 this year as she had broken the family record. One of her mothers sisters died when she was 97 and a couple of months. To her friends and family, Mrs Steyn was the Grand Dame of Graskop. Originally from Komati poort, she moved to Graskop in 1995 after her husband had passed away. She continued doing all the things she loved, including work ing in her garden and making clothes. She was an excellent seamstress who took up tailoring in her nineties. Mrs Steyn had been a devout Christian all her life and was a member of the Methodist Church in Pilgrims Rest. Leonie found a photograph of her mother and some of the congregation members taken outside the small church in Pilgrims Rest. On the back of the photograph was a handwritten note to thank Mrs Steyn for bringing cakes and biscuits to church every Sunday. Leonie recalls that her mother had been a very independent wo man all her life. My father was a sugar farmer and that kept him out of the house most of the time. My mother soon learned how to fix everything around the house. She also was very handy with a rifle. When she moved to Graskop, Emily, one of the farm workers, moved with her. Emily soon be came more than an employee. For the past 18 years she was Mrs Steyns caretaker, housekeeper and friend. Mrs Steyn and Emily were always laughing about something and the two of them en joyed watching sport on television. Leonie says her mother lived to be 98 because she stayed active. She never wanted to do old people stuff, like taking a nap after lunch. At 98 she was still making clothes for Emily.

Christian book club a blessing

Tina Allingham
Some years ago, whenever a mission ary couple, Ross and Colleen Davis, would go to America on furlough, they would bless us with a stack of Chris tian books. I was so blessed by this collection of books and longed to share them with other believers. One day, the Lord dropped the idea into my heart to start a Christian book club. So around 2001, armed with my collection of books, I gathered a small group of my enthusiastic Christian friends, and we began meeting once a month in various homes. The blessing of this group has not only been that we get to read some of the best Christian books available that many people cannot afford to buy for themselves, but at each meeting we have a wonderful time of fellow ship, discussing the books we have read, sharing and encouraging each other through lifes everyday joys and burdens. The club currently has a member ship of about 15 ladies and even though, for convenience sake, we now meet at St Peters Church, we are a totally interdenominational group. Each member pays R25 per meeting that is given to the hostess of the month (who also supplies the tea, cof fee and eats that month), and she then buys books of her choice that re main in the club until everyone has read them or until she leaves. Our only conditions for joining are that you enjoy reading and that you love the Lord Jesus Christ! Call 082926 2079 if you are interested.

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GPS News

Glory Hill appoints new teachers

Glory Hill Primary School in Graskop recently appointed a num ber of new teachers. From left: Principal Daan Rossouw, Liehan drie Stoop, Mashego Dikeledi (new head of department), Werdie Stoop, Doris Nyakane, Sello Mashego and Evette de GoedeDreyer. They have all settled into their new posts and form part of a team of excellent teachers that makes Glory Hill Primary School one of the best nonschool fees schools in the province. Gerda van den Bos

Exhibitors sought for Christmas crafters market

Gerda van den Bos
Graskop will host a silk extravaganza and Christmas crafters market on 2 and 3 November. There will be lots to eat and drink as well as top quality arts and crafts and other homemade goodies that will make ideal Christ mas presents. Avoid the Christmas rush and the shopping malls this year and make sure that you will be free to browse the stalls and have a good time during the first weekend of November. The organisers are inviting poten tial exhibitors to contact Rezne Deeks at radeeks@gmail.com with photo graphs and detailed descriptions of their range of products. The closing date for entries is 31 August. All entrants will be judged to ensure quality craftsmanship and unique products. The qualifying exhibitors will be notified by 8 September. Only after a stall has been approved will that exhibitor be provided with an of ficial entry form. GPS News will keep you posted on all the exciting events that are to take place during the market weekend.

Police looking for owners of stolen goods

On Monday 8 July, SAPS Sabie arrested suspects with suspected stolen property in Nkanini (informal settlement in Simile). If you recognise any of the items on the photo, please call W/O S.P. Maun ye on 076296 9060. If you have reported a case of theft, the police urge the public to do a followup in case any goods have been re covered. For any enquiries, contact Maunye on the number above.

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S t r a ng e marital FA C T S

Sharon Mandy
tatistically one in two mar riages fails in South Africa. That means that one has a 50/50 chance of actually spending ones life with whomever one chooses as a spouse. Of the remaining 50% that actually make it, 25% stay with one another because of the children, and then once the children fly the coop as it were, they are too bone idle to move and so they just stay where they are and put up with each others foibles. The next 25% simply stay with one another be cause financially they cant afford to live apart, and the third 25% are afraid of change and so just go about existing, and finally the last 25% ac tually love each other and are de lighted to be married for the rest of their lives. Sadly the last 25% are the ones that generally have a spouse die on them, and no one knows why that is, but perhaps in this case the spouse dies before they have time to become really irritating to the other person. Sometimes I look at couples and really wonder how they manage to stay together. I once knew a really mousy woman that was the opposite of flamboyant, and her husband decided to do her a favour at an auction and buy about 100 hair dyes really cheap. The catch was that not one was labeled, so she never knew what col our her hair was going to be next. For the following six years that I knew her, her hair would really be ex traordinary and different shades every month. One month her hair would be fire hydrant red, and the fol

lowing month it would be sugar plum purple, followed by iridescent blue, followed by an inky black, though once it was inky black only the colour of her roots would change, until it finally was cut out. All the time this long suffering woman meekly went about with her hideous hair heralding her arrival. It was not my place to ask her why she put up with it, especially as she declared that she was very hap pily married. Her husband eventually went off with someone with a decent hair colour. There was another woman who de cided that she would exercise her lungs by singing opera at five in the morning. She claimed that it kept her healthy and would give her longevity. She didnt really sing in tune, but could project her voice to a phenom enal level. Everyone up to three blocks away began to look for an Indian temple which they thought they had missed somehow. Her husband would clamp a pillow to his head, once he realised that he was not being at tacked by a herd of elephants, and sincerely hoped that the bit about the longevity was farfetched. Perhaps what someone that I con sider very wise said to me the other day, is true. He said the secret to a happy marriage is to always see the humour in any situation. This is sometimes difficult but although it takes a little practice it can be done, and humour in any situation auto matically makes it more fun. One must not take life too seriously we are not going to get out of it alive anyhow. My advice to South Africans, there fore, is just to laugh more.

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GPS News

Sabie golf wins silver

The final of the Pro Shop Nett League was played at Kruger Park Lodge on 13 July. Sabie A league team proudly con tested for the gold medal against Ly denburg Golf Club. It has been many years since Sabie has made it this far in the Lowveld league. The men fought hard until the bitter end, but lost 6 to 2 on the day. Congratulations to Lydenburg and we wish them all the best for their game against the Highveld league winners. Guys, from all of us at Sabie Coun try Club, thank you and we are really proud of your achievements and com mitment over the past season.

Back: Vusi Nkosi, Dawie Smuts, Leslie Friedental (Captain) and Weber de Klerk. Front: Sunnyboy Sehelabela, Fiaz Bhikhoo, Vic Wilkens and Faried Bhikhoo.

Bowls business challenge

Where: Sabie Country Club When: Saturday 3 August 2013, 13:30 to 17:00 Why: A funfilled afternoon on the bowling green! Prizes to be won! Who: Teams of two or four from your own business or combine with another business. How: Submit your entries together with R50 per person to Anne Coetzee on anne.co@vodamail.co.za or at 082 562 4609 by 1 August.

SPORT CALENDAR
GOLF @ SABIE COUNTRY CLUB (01 3 764 2282)
27 July Flag Competition 24 August Multiplication BB 3 August IPS 31 August American scramble 1 0 August Monthly mug 1 7 August CANSA Relay for Life (greenkeepers revenge)

@ PILGRIMS GOLF CLUB (01 3 768 1 434)

27 July - Golfer & Non-golfer Day better ball 3 August Monthly mug

1 0 August IPS 1 7 August Forever Resorts 24 August Bonus Bogey