River Of Rubbish

There is a river at the end of Meintjies Street in Aberdeen, and an empty property next to it which ends on the corner of Church Street. This area, being an empty property, plus the land going down to the river is being used as a dumping site and as a toilet. 4x4’s, donkey carts and bakkies regularly bring foul smelling rubbish and dump it onto the banks of the river. Trees are being chopped down and the stone wall used as a bank to stop soil erosion around the river, is being taken away and used as building material by nearby residents.
The disgusting odour, and the increasing health hazard caused by incessant flies has to be borne by the nearby residents whose view from their gardens is now a rubbish filled area.
This derelict property which has an empty dam on it, is filled with papers, plastic bags, beer and cool drink cans, also has signs of fires being lit inside the dam.
This unfenced property is clearly now being used as a thoroughfare and recreation area for vagrants.
It is pitiful to stand amidst this rubbish strewn property, and look straight up the street to the beautiful N.G.Kerk.
The Municipality has been contacted about this situation and has promised to have the area cleared. In the meantime, residents are photographing all vehicles using this area as a dumping ground. The Municipality should contact the absentee owner who lives in Mossel Bay and have him/her clear the property and fence it off from the river. In this way there would no longer be a thoroughfare or availability for dumping. Perhaps the Municipality will advise the residents of Meintjies Street of the actions they will be taking to restore this area to a residential site and the river area to its pristine condition.

Article By: Joan Tinker

‘Karoo Smiles’ Opens In Aberdeen

Yes, the Karoo definitely smiles on Aberdeen with the enhancement of a new coffee shop and take away facility which has opened next to the Magistrate’s Court. It has a light airy atmosphere and a cool clean feeling with its lemon-painted walls, white antiqued furniture and smart tablecloths. Delicious cakes are on display in a glassed cake fridge, and curios together with interesting knick-knacks are on sale.

There are two menus, the take away menu which features all the normal takeaways one could require, and an A La Carte Menu with interesting dishes which are not overpriced.
There is seating outside on the verandah which is enclosed by a white picket fence adding to the charming look of the shop.
Hans and Helena Roux who own Karoo Smiles have recently moved to Aberdeen from Rietbron. Their pleasant approach to the customers will stand them in good stead, and it is obvious that the coffee shop is already attracting customers.

Article By: Joan Tinker

Dining At Karoo Moons

Imagine dining in serene surroundings with aromatic spice blends in the cool night air of the Karoo. Imagine exotic orange turbaned and flamboyantly dressed Indian dancers on wall murals against cool plastered walls, with elegant furniture set on a beautiful cream tiled floor set beneath a hanging black cut-glass chandelier.
In a dining room with views of a stoned terrace from large windows, one can enjoy the finest quality of carefully selected Indian foods served in self-warmed silver dishes.
Your perfect hosts Ernest and Ramsay are charming, entertaining and knowledgeable about the exquisite dishes served. The music is soft and blends with the calming atmosphere of the establishment.
To stay at the Karoo Moons must be an experience akin to spending time in a restful retreat. The private dining area is luxurious with an Italian hand-carved dining table and the most beautiful paintings.
All the bedrooms are en-suite and the ‘moon trend’ is carried throughout the sleeping areas with an enormous lunar print tastefully framed above the bed. The beds are designed to easily accommodate a seven foot basketball player.
The lounges are elegant and comfortable in keeping with the exquisite taste of Ernest and Ramsay. As luxurious as the décor is, its tasteful simplicity is designed to be both inviting and functional. The Karoo Moons is set amidst well kept lawns with plentiful secured parking. It is most certainly a star in Aberdeen’s galaxy.

Article By: Joan Tinker

John Rantyisi Maqabangoa se Aftreeding

John Rantyisi Maqabangoa was gebore op 11 November 1942 te Aberdeen as die agste oudste van 10 kinders.
Hy het sy skoolopleiding aan die Bantu-Mission School Aberdeen ontvang. Op September 1960 was hy by die Anglican Church gedoop.
Na sy skoolopleiding het hy skeerwerk gedoen en later wol geklassifiseer. Toe het hy sy werk verander en as ‘n voertuigbestuurder vir sy ouboet se winkelbesigheid begin werk. Hy het ook as a padbouer gewerk in Bloemfontein.
Op die 3 Januarie 1972 het hy met Sophia Thandeka Jacobs in Aberdeen in die huwelik getree. Hulle het 7 kinders gehad.
Op 12 Desember 1967 tydens ‘n Godiens te Thembalesizwe, was hy opgeneem in die Nuwe Apostoliese Kerk. Op 13 Maart 1977 het John die Heilige Verseeling ontvang deur Apostel A.A. Mitas.
Op 10 Augustus 1977 is John verorden in die Onder-Diakenamp en op 20 Julie 1980 in die Diakenamp. Op 8 Desenber 1982 was hy in die Priesteramp ontvang.
Saam met Priester Skosana, en later Gemeente-Evangelis Jacobs, het John gehelp om die Here se werk in Thembalesizwe te bevorder. Hy het ook sendingwerk in Klipplaat en Steytlerville gaan doen.
In 1998 het John die Herderamp ontvang om as Gemeenteleier God se kinders in Thembalesizwe te versorg.
John se, “Die kinders van God lê baie na aan my hart, en die werk van die Here is vir my ‘n vreugde en sal vir my ‘n vreugde bly.”

Artikel Deur: Joan Tinker

Andries Smit’s Traditional French Craft

Andries Smit, a cane and raw hide weaver of note, grew up in Middleburg and lives in Adendorp just outside Graaff-Reinet. He demonstrated the art of weaving chair seats with cane and raw hide (also called riempie) at the Agricultural Show in Aberdeen.
Andries was trained in this technique of curing the raw hide for weaving into chair seats by his grandmother who is from French extraction. In France they used the hide of cattle and goats. Andries is the only person using this specific technique in South Africa. It takes fourteen days to accomplish this curing. The hide is cut in the old fashioned way and all the work is environmentally friendly. Eland hide is used for long benches. Work done on a Colonial type chair takes a day to weave.
Andries has fixed customers all over South Africa and also sends the specially cured riempie to Perth and London. When sending riempies out of South Africa, special treatment is done on the hide, and is accompanied by a Veterinary Certificate. Andries sells almost 10,000 riempie lengths annually.
Andries also builds donkey carts with padded seats. He sells these carts together with all the reins and leather work for the donkeys. These donkey carts are sold all over South Africa. This art of chair seat weaving, which Andries perpetuates, is traditional to all beautiful old Cape furniture, and the riempie used is very strong and lasts up to 20 years.

Article By: Joan Tinker