PIGGERY PROJECT

In 2008 a project was initiated in Aberdeen as part of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and Agrarian Land. Sixteen beneficiaries were identified who showed an interest in pig farming, and the Aberdeen piggery was built. It is situated on municipal land 3km out of town on the Kliplaat road, on the outskirts of Lotusville, and comprises four piggery structures with 100 units per structure. 

Initially the project members started full of enthusiasm, but over time, five men have dropped out, with one new member joining the group. There were some problems in that not all the members kept to the strict hygiene standards required, and at the beginning of 2011 Lana Olivier was approached by two of the members to become their mentor. Olivier's father farmed pigs, so she has a great deal of experience to offer the group, and she has in turn enlisted the help of Aberdeen resident Karen van der Merwe.

The Department of Agriculture and Agrarian Land has assisted since 2009 by providing piglets and pig feed. Eight kilometers of fencing has been erected around the piggeries, an essential to prevent theft. A borehole was drilled, and the project has a solar-powered water pump as well as water tanks for rainwater.

A total of 27 jobs were created in the initiation phase, and casual workers are also employed from time to time. Most importantly, the eleven men and one woman who farm the pigs have been provided with an opportunity to learn skills which will enable them to generate an income to support their families.

Recent developments include the planting of lucerne for the pigs earlier this year. A new market has been found for the meat - the pigs will be sent to the abattoir in Graaff-Reinet, and the three major supermarkets have agreed to buy the pork.

Members of parliament with an interest in agriculture have visited the project, and have been very impressed by the achievements of the farmers and by the quality and healthiness of their stock. The farmers are very grateful to the various government departments for giving them this chance, and the skills passed on from their caring mentors are much appreciated.

The Aberdeen Piggery project has grown, with successful breeding of their own pigs ,so the farmers are now in a position to sell off some of their surplus animals. Over fifty pigs are available for purchase, mostly about six months old and weighing in from 60kg. The price is R12 per kg, which is discounted to only R10 per kg if more than one pig is bought. Nicholas Skosana, who has been tasked by the farmers to market the animals, explained that the farmers wished to give others the opportunity to start their own small farming initiatives.

Anyone who is interested in purchasing pigs can contact Fana May on 071 754 4029

A teacher from Aberdeen Secondary School was among those tragically killed over the holiday period. Amanda Thandokhazi Tebeka was on her way to visit family in Cape Town, accompanying her brother's two children. The taxi in which she was travelling was involved in an accident at De Doorns, in the Western Cape, on Thursday 13^th December. A bus travelling in the opposite direction, coming from Cape Town to the Eastern Cape, burst the tyre on the right front wheel and the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to crash head-on into the taxi. The taxi caught fire, but despite already being burnt Amanda managed to break a window and throw the two children through – they were the only two to survive from the taxi. The children, aged eight and ten, suffered a broken leg and broken arm respectively, but were otherwise unharmed. The driver and one other passenger were also burned to death, and twenty one passengers from the bus were treated for minor injuries.

Tebeka was born and bred in Graaff-Reinet, and qualified as a teacher from the Cape Town University of Technology with a Bachelor of Education just a year ago. Aberdeen Secondary School, where she taught business studies and English, was her first teaching post, and the 26 year old soon settled in. She was widely respected by teachers and pupils alike, always with a smile and very willing to please. Her positive attitude endeared her to all, and she soon crept into everyone's heart in this small community. One of her colleagues remembers an example of Amanda's kind-hearted nature, when she went out of her way to help two matric girls who couldn't afford to attend the Matric Ball.

Her funeral was held in Graaff-Reinet on 22^nd December. She will be sorely missed in Aberdeen.

                                        Matric success at Aberdeen Secondary

Principal Kerneels Kamfer Is delighted with the 58% pass rate achieved by the 2012 matriculants of Aberdeen Secondary School. Of the 31 learners who were entered for the exams, 18 passed, and all but one of those who were unsuccessful have qualified to write the supplementary exams next month. Seven of the learners received marks high enough to study for a bachelor's degree at university, and a further six achieved the necessary grades to pursue a diploma course. The top student is Nadier Flippies, who has been an outstanding achiever throughout his school career.

The school's results show an encouraging rise from the 2011 level of a 46% pass rate, and it is hoped that this trend will continue for the 44 learners who are in grade twelve this year.

                             

                  Some of the excited successful matriculants of Aberdeen Secondary School

Military Veterans Info Meeting

Over sixty people gathered in the Kabouterland Creche in Lotusville last week to listen to Samuel Manuel, chairperson of the South African Cape Corps Military Veterans Association. The aim of the Association, which is based in Port Elizabeth, is the upliftment of military veterans and their beneficiaries, helping them to claim those benefits to which they are entitled.

This is the third time that Manuel has visited Aberdeen, as part of his travels around the Eastern Cape. Many of those present were there to find out the progress on their applications for the various benefits available, and Manuel and Secretary Cedric Bosman patiently answered the many general queries as well as helping with specific problems.

Bosman explained the details of how a claim for compensation can be lodged, and the documentation required to be admitted to the veterans' medical aid scheme. This was of particular interest to those present.

More information is available on the Association's website www.mil.vet.co.za, or local representative Maria Lewies can be contacted on 074 382 0985.