Aberdeen Pays Respect To Deceased Police Officials On National Police Day

Aberdeen Library Hall was filled with respectful residents, police official’s and members of their families, as Apostolic Ministers led by Bishop Vaaltein of the New Apostolic Church, paid tribute to those police officers who had paid the ultimate price in the service of law and order in this town, this province and this country.
It was a solemn occasion, and the service was conducted in both Xhosa and Afrikaans.
A message of gratitude was delivered by the Apostolic Ministers to those who had put devotion to duty above all else, and a prayer was said wishing the public to be diligent in remembering this sacrifice.

The Apostolic Choir led the congregation with a lyrical rendition of ‘How Great Thou Art’, ‘Give me joy in my heart’ and ‘Amazing Grace’.
The Bishop encouraged the police officials to continue to work with devotion to duty, putting aside any partiality, the taking of bribes, any type of corruption, and developing trust and respect within their community, thus being an example to the youth.

Police Officer Derek Erasmus thanked all those present for sharing this day with the police officers and their families and paid respect to those who had passed away. They will always be remembered.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Aberdeen Unemployed Workers Union And Members Confront Councilors At Municipality

On Thursday 21st January a confrontation in front of the Aberdeen Municipality between an Aberdeen Councilor Vusillie Jacobs and the Unemployed Workers Union and their members took place. The project of repairing the roads on the R77 which started in January 2010 was under heated discussion. This project according the Unemployed Worker’s Union and its executive member Lungile Majabangua, had not been advertised as is stipulated by law. Five positions were given to the community of the Lotusville without consultation with the Unemployed Workers Union, or without an advertisement being placed which would have given availability to all to apply legally, and favouritism or even perhaps the dreaded word nepotism is feared. Although executives of the Unemployed Workers Union later met with Councilor Vusillie Jacobs and Councilor Maureen Jacobs, no reasonable solution could be found to this problem. Dissatisfaction with the handling of this limited availability of work has not endeared the participants of these high handed decisions to those desperately seeking work.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Authorities Should Practise What They Preach!

On Friday 22nd January 2010 in the kitchen area of the main Aberdeen Library Hall, which is an Aberdeen Municipal building, a tap could be seen with a stream of water running from it. It is impossible to close the tap, and this has been the situation for over a year according to Zodiwa Nikelo, despite numerous requests for the tap to be repaired. The sink is totally encrusted with chemicals found in the Aberdeen water supply. It would be interesting to know how much precious water has been lost in that time. It is also amazing to think that no one within the Municipality has queried the amount of water being used by a relatively uninhabited building during the day, except for the Library staff and occasional functions.
Residents of Aberdeen, Lotusville and Thembaliswize have been on water restrictions since December 2009, and there has been no ‘lead water’ for months. On the 4th of December 2009 an article appeared in the ‘Advertiser’ informing Aberdeen, Lotusville and Thembaliswize residents that there were water restrictions and fines would be given to any person who did not abide by the municipalities hours of water usage.
What fines should the Municipality pay for not abiding by the restrictions and allowing water to flow freely down the drain for a “year”?

Article By: Joan Tinker

Lunch On The Farm Badsfontein Starts New Year For Aberdeen Book Club

(fltr) Sylvia Krause, Gaye Day, Sandra Bowker, Sue Shaw, Theresa vd Merwe, Marianne Meijer, Gloria Peniston, Tanya vd Merwe, Sharon Landman, Meredith Kraut & Joan Tinker

Tuesday 26th January was the first book club get together of the new year for the prolific readers of Aberdeen. The venue was the farm of Henry and Tanya van der Merwe, who kindly hosted the event. The luncheon was an inspirational idea of the club members, who all traveled out to the farm ‘Badsfontein’ in the Camdeboo region. This wonderful farmhouse with enormously large rooms, wide verandahs and special views of the misty Camdeboo range, was a peaceful backdrop for a delicious luncheon and a selection of wonderful new ‘reads’. On the drive to the farm, Angora goats, Merino sheep and Boerbokkie, all in wonderful condition, were seen grazing in large fenced areas.

Garden of Middle Plaas with old Slave Bell in the background

After lunch and book choices made, the members drove to a nearby farm, 'Middle Plaas', where Tanya van der Merwe, showed the members around her colourful garden. The most interesting aspect of the day was meeting the beautiful little Kudu named Giselle, that had been abandoned by her mother and that Tanya was rearing.

Sharon Landman sharing a special moment with a tiny dassie and 'Giselle' the Kudu

Next was an introduction to Tanya’s little Dassie, that was extremely friendly and outgoing, but it was her sheepdog, ‘Smiley Milie’, - that genuinely smiles when spoken to - that completed an extremely interesting and different book club happening.

Tanya's Sheepdog 'Smiley Milie'

Article By: Joan Tinker