Tohito Hosts Christmas Luncheon For The Aberdeen Book Club

(fltr) Meredith Kraut, Janet Prestwich, Gloria Peniston, Gaye Day,
Marian Van Staden, Sharon Landman, Sandra Bowker and Sue Shaw

On Wednesday 2nd December, a delicious luncheon was served to the Aberdeen Book Club by Mabel Joubert of Tohito. In a wonderfully cool setting surrounded by one of the most beautiful gardens in Aberdeen, the book club members all enjoyed Mabel’s hospitality. The table arrangement was festive in keeping with the season, red the being the predominant colour. Starting the luncheon, sherry was served with an ice cold fruit dish. Ham with a cherry sauce was one of the main meat dishes and a quiche filled with spinach and cheese was mouth watering. The several salad dishes on offer, were crisp and tasty, and complimented the meal. Appropriately the first of the seasons Christmas pies with ice cream and a hot chocolate sauce was the sweet dish.
Each Club Member brought a present, and the presentation of a gift was made to Janet Prestwich who sadly will soon be relocating from Aberdeen to East London.
The luncheon was a happy way to end a year of ‘good reads’. The Aberdeen Book Club reconvenes at the end of January 2010.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Aberdeen On Serious Water Restrictions

A notice has been issued to all Aberdeen residents from the Camdeboo Municipality on behalf of Mr Monde Longbooi with regard to the usage of water. The municipality is struggling to meet the high water demand, and all residents are requested to use water sparingly.

The following water usage is now prohibited in Aberdeen between the hours of 06H00 and 16H00 until further notice:-
1. The watering of gardens using a hose pipe or using tap water during the above period.
2. The refilling and filling of swimming pools.
3. The washing of cars using a hose pipe or using tap water.

*Action will be taken against consumers who do not respond to the above water restrictions.

The above decision has been taken by Mr Longbooi after nearly two weeks of little or no water pressure in Aberdeen, resulting in little more than a trickle of water or no water at all from household taps during the day. The Municipality, under the direction of Mr Clive Kombani, is urgently investigating more reliable resources of water delivery to Aberdeen, Lotusville and Thembalisizwe, but this exercise if it proves successful, will not occur immediately.
Residents are therefore requested not to drain the water facilities by over usage of water after the stipulated prohibited hours of 06H00 the 16H00. The water situation will not resolve itself if residents do this, and it will defeat the entire object of using water sparingly during the prohibited times.
On the 14th October this year, an urgent meeting was held in Aberdeen to form a ‘Lead Water Working Committee’ to preserve the source of water which feeds the town’s ‘Lei Water’ system. At that time, Ward 1 Member of the Ward Committee Mr Nikolas Jankovich-Besan told 20 concerned residents who attended the meeting, that of the ‘four eyes’ which are the source of the water, only three were operational. He also said that the Fonteinbos Dam which is the Aberdeen water source, was three quarters full of silt, and that the channels through which the ‘Lei Water’ runs is usually full of rubbish, also that storm water cannot be properly channeled through the town.
The water delivery to Aberdeen has now obviously reached a critical stage, due to the drought and the level of the water table dropping.
The Lead Water Working Committee met on October 21st to form a ‘working document’, and concerned residents are hopeful that within this document solutions have been formulated by the committee to assist the Municipality in stabilizing the output of water to Aberdeen, Lotusville and Thembalisizwe.
The water shortage should not only be the concern of the few residents who attended the meeting called by Mr Jankovich and of the Municipality, but of all residents of Aberdeen, Lotusville and Thembalisizwe. There are ways to save water, and hopefully all households will constructively implement ways to do this.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Everton United Football Club Awards Ceremony In Aberdeen

CEO and Executive Director of Everton United
Mr Daniel Pieterse presents a medallion
to one of the Senior Lady Players

On Friday night, the Everton United Football Club of Aberdeen produced an amazing gala celebration to present awards to achieving players.
The Aberdeen Primary School Hall decorated in the Club’s colours of red and white, continued the colour theme with the tables set for dinner, whilst the walls of the school hall were festooned with red balloons and club jerseys.
To a hall filled to capacity with players, the M.C. Mr Marius Frazenburg ran the event like clockwork. He praised the committee and coaches of Everton United for their dedication to the youth and to the game of soccer, but his greatest compliments went to the C.E.O. and Executive Director of the Club, Mr Daniel (Fearless) Pieterse for his inspiration to the players.
Mr Pieterse who is a guiding light in the club’s progress to the extent that they now have a clubhouse of their own, and playing fields which are soon to be planted with lawn and maintained. He has organized transport and finance for all the teams to destinations in ‘away matches’ and his enthusiasm and total belief and devotion to the youth and the game, sees his senior men’s team taking part in the ‘Castle League’, and the senior woman in the ABSA Development League. Everton’s teams have represented the Eastern Cape in Kwa Zulu Natal, and in the Chris Hani Memorial Tournament.
Soccer players from Jansenville were present to enjoy the moment, and to give their support and recognition to the Club’s achievements.
In his speech, Mr Pieterse gave an overview of the Everton United’s achievements and asked the players to create an environment in which to become useful citizens and to utilize their talents for the good. He thanked the coaches for all their efforts and continued his plea for funding of the Club’s own transport, as this could ease their financial burden. He has meetings set up to discuss the transport issue with other towns in the Karoo, but hoped that businesses would assist and participate in this fund.

Outstanding Goalie of the Year Graham Boesak
with Captain Edgar Minnaar of Aberdeen SAPS

Captain Edgar Minnaar of the Aberdeen police, who presented trophies for outstanding achievements, brought a message to all the young people present. He said that the same level of discipline that is shown in sport should be carried over into their every day lives. Alcohol, drugs and a permissive way of living should be avoided, as this was not a responsible way of life. Players listened attentively to his words on the expected behaviour amongst the youth, and Capt. Minnaar wished them all good luck in their future endeavours.

Article By: Joan Tinker

“Honderde Kinders Sal Honger Ly Bakkery Wag Vir Geld Van Department Van Onderwys”

DIE BURGER

The above report was published in DIE BURGER in November 2009 by Richard Roberts of Port Elizabeth who outlined the fact that the Aberdeen hostel children were not going to be supplied with food should months of outstanding debt by the Provincial Department of Education’s Financial Services to the local ‘Bakkery’ remain unpaid. The local Hyper Store in Aberdeen, which has been supplying provisions to the school hostel for the past 15 years, has a large overdue unpaid debt from the Department. After the Hyper Store had stopped all deliveries, they still gave necessary groceries to the school.

Learners, who live in the school hostels from Monday to Friday, are from farms in the outlying districts of the Camdeboo, and it is of concern to the two food suppliers in Aberdeen, who due to financial constraints will stop deliveries, as to how these children will obtain food.
The School Principal Mr Piet Minnaar said that the matter was being investigated by the Department of Education.
Mr Alfred Pannies, Head Administrator of school feeding programs, and hostels in the district of Graaff-Reinet was also contacted. According to Mr Pannies, the Department has apparently asked all parties to be patient, as letters are being sent to the schools to advise them of how all the outstanding debts will be paid.
Mr Malibongwe Mtima spokesperson of the Provincial Teachers Department made the comment that earlier in the year there had been a problem with the suppliers banking details.
Schools are now about to close, as will government departments during the December holidays, and the unpaid debts situation is still not resolved. This is of great concern to the two suppliers in the present economic climate, and they are hoping that an urgent resolution to this matter is found.

This article will be emailed directly to Acting Superintendent General Professor R.H. Nengwe Khulu of the Education Financial Department whose motto on their website is, ‘To ensure sound and effective financial management’.

Acknowledgements to: Richard Roberts and Die Burger

** FOLLOW UP OF UNPAID DEBTS SITUATION IN ABERDEEN
This matter has now been resolved, and payment has been received in full by the Aberdeen suppliers from the Education Financial Services.