Nuus - News

• Couples to the rescue of orphan babies
• Die 'skip is na aan sink'
• Wie se skuld is dit?
• Bad debt is now R112m
• Tieners se aanvallers vas
• Ernstig na botsing
• G'n speletjies by sportwinkel
• 'Te veel vir salarisse , te min vir onderhoud'
• Watch out for crooks at autotellers
• Daggasmous vas
• Goud verdof
• Deepening democracy through Ward Committees

Theo Senekal from Paarl, Anne and Niel Franken from Wellington and Charmaine and Len Rhoda from Newton have between them reared 60 babies during the past three years.

"We feel somewhat like the mothers-to-be. When the call comes we get everything ready. We go for a nap to be awake all night. And then we wait, often just to hear it was a false alarm," Karen says.

"The genuine call normally comes in the middle of the night, and we rush to fetch the new-born baby."

In private deliveries babies are handed over immediately after birth and the kangaroo mothers give them their first bath and first bottle.

When born in a hospital, the baby comes to its kangaroo mother after a few days.

And after 60 days - the period allowed for the biological mother to change her mind - they have to part with the healthy, happy infants.

They are given into the arms of their future adoptive parents, many from foreign countries like Germany and Sweden.

"It is never easy," all four women agree.

"We make albums for the babies. They have to one day build the puzzle. They have to see that they were loved right from the beginning."

When the couples get together, the talk seldom strays from the bundles in the cradles or on their laps.

"Look at this revolutionary bottle for colic. It costs R80, but after all these weeks without rest I'll pay R100 a night just to get some sleep," a mother announces.

"I just don't want a sick baby," another adds.

"You know, the not so pretty ones sleep better. Oh, they are all wonderful."

The Frankens are caring for a boy ánd a girl at the moment. The list of babies they have reared now stands at 40. They have two children of their own, aged 18 and 21.

The Purchases care for a baby girl. They have had nine other babies. They have four children of their own, two dogs and a parrot.

The Rhodas are caring for a little boy, their eighth baby. They have three children, aged 26, 22 and a daughter of 12 who loves playing mom.

The Senekals are the youngest kangaroo parents. They are now caring for their third baby. Their own children, daughters aged 10 and 8, are only too happy to assist.

"The entire family has to be involved and we take care not to neglect our own children," the women say.

"We cannot do it without our husbands. Often they take over so that we can get some sleep.

"You don't just put your baby down. They go where you go - to church, to work, in the kitchen and in the bedroom.

The organisation behind the movement is Procare, working in conjunction with the AGS and Methodist Churches.

As their homes are registered places of safety, kangaroo mothers are reimbursed R13 a day. But that does not stretch far - not with having to supply the food, nappies and clothing including the little going-away outfit.

Babies with allergies need special creams and goat's milk at R6 a litre, only available at Klapmuts.

The mothers cannot afford to take their young to a private doctor, so they spend hours in the queues at Paarl East Hospital.

"We are not their aunties, we are their mothers. And we don't see their colour," Charmaine says.

"They are all the same to us. But people stare. Some whisper behind your back. They wonder who did the wrong thing. Was it your daughter? Other walk up to you and ask."

Charmaine was with her white baby when a passerby queried their different complexions.

She replied: "Didn't you know a black hen can lay a white egg?"

Anyone wanting to assist the kangaroo mothers, especially with newborn clothing, nappies, blankets, bath products and bottles, can contact Karen Purchase (872-6748) or Anne Franken (873-4509) or Procare co-ordinator Eloise Loots (873-0532)

"HULLE sê die NNP is soos die Titanic besig om te sink - maar as hy sink sal ons nie soos baie ander kapteins die skip verlaat nie, ons sal saam met hom sink."

Só het Elizabeth Windvogel, lid van die NNP in die Paarl, gesê nadat sowat 100 van dié party se ondersteuners verlede week 'n vergadering voor stadsraadslid Bokkie Claassen se huis in Chicago gehou het om hulle ontevredenheid uit te spreek oor hul party se planne.

"Ons ondersteuners op die grondvlak wil nie ons identiteit verloor nie - die NNP in Paarl-Oos het sy eie identiteit," meen Windvogel.

Die meeste van die NNP-ondersteuners wat die byeenkoms bygewoon het, was vroue en hulle het hul misnoeë op plakkate gesit.

"Die NNP het sy eie manifes, die NNP het sy eie identiteit in Paarl-Oos en Paarl  NNP sê nee vir ANC insluk en vir samewerking," het van die plakkate gelees.

Alhoewel baie van die vrouelede gegrief is oor die stappe van hul party, sal hulle nie sommer na 'n ander party verhuis nie.

"As die party sink sal ons manskappe nog, tot die bitter einde lojaal aan die party wees, ons gaan nêrens nie," het Sus Kruger gesê.

Baie mense glo dat Chicago nog die laaste vesting van die NNP in die land is.

Windvogel sê die stap om saam met die ANC op nasionale vlak te werk, kan rooskleurig vir die leiers van die party wees, maar op grondvlak lyk dit minder wenslik.

Sy sê hulle het nog niks van hul leiers verneem nie, maar verwag dat in September se oorloopvensterperiode, skuiwe kan plaasvind.

* NNP members protest ed against co-operation with the ANC.

'n HELE klompie boos belastingbetalers het Dinsdag by die Drakenstein Munisipaliteit tou gestaan om te verneem waarom hulle krag afgesny is, ten spyte daarvan dat hulle hul rekenings betyds betaal het.

"Die mense by die werk en die bure dink nou seker 'n mens het nie betaal nie," het 'n baie ongelukkige Patrick Moses aan die Paarl Post gesê.

Sy rekening is reeds op 5 Junie by Checkers betaal. Dinsdagoggend het sy vrou hom by die werk geskakel om te vertel van die nood by die huis.

"Ek moes nou 'n halfdag afneem by die werk om te gaan uitvind wat gebeur het.

"Die amptenaar het na my kwitansie gekyk, toe op die rekenaar gaan kyk en vir my kom sê dit is 'n fout, hulle sal die krag weer aanskakel.

"Maar wat nou van ons ongerief? Daar het 'n onderwyseres ook in die tou gestaan - sy vertel sy het sommer in trane uitgebars van ontsteltenis toe haar kind van die huis af bel om te sê alles is af.

"Dan is daar nog mense wat vanaand eers gaan uitvind as hulle by die huis kom. Wat van die skade wat mense só opdoen?"

Dit wil voorkom asof die probleme gekom het by rekenings wat by buitedienspunte betaal is.

Volgems n woordvoerder van die Munisipaliteit lê die probleem by die kontrakteur Easypay.

* Local residents are up in arms after  electricity cut-offs.

RESIDENTS of Drakenstein are falling further behind on their payments of rates and taxes.

The Mayoral Committee have invited all organisations and individuals active in the field of debt collecting to submit proposals in this regard.

VIR twee tienervriendinne van Wellington wat twee weke gelede saam verkrag is, is daar 'n skrale troos: die verdagte is in hegtenis geneem.

Raymond Rana (29) van Jardinestraat is in Februarie uit die tronk vrygelaat waar hy 'n vonnis vir roof uitgedien het, die laaste in 'n reeks botsings met die gereg sedert sy jeugdae.

Die twee meisies - 14 en 15 - het Vrydag 4 Junie om 19:00 in die Hoogstraat omgewing gestap toe 'n onbekende man hulle oorval het.

Hy het die meisies van hul selfone beroof en toe onder bedreiging van die dood na die dam op die aangrensende oop veld gedwing.

Hulle is 'n uur lank aangehou terwyl hulle onsedelike dade moes verrig en verkrag is.

Die jong meisies is erg getraumatiseer en hul gesinne en die gemeenskap was in opstand.

Konst Piet Koordom saam met insp Marlon Joseph en konst Heydrich Pietersen het inligting opgevolg wat hulle na die aankopers van die geroofde selfone gelei het.

"Ek is baie trots op hulle. Hulle het baie ure gewerk en moeite gedoen en was deurdrenk van reën toe hulle die verdagte aangekeer het," het Wellington speurhoof kapt John Adams gesê.

Rana is van verkragting en roof aangekla ná 'n uitkenningsparade.

Bewysstukke van die verkragtingstoneel en die distriksgeneesheer word by die polisie se forensiese laboratorium ontleed.

Die polisie gaan môre Rana se borgaansoek in die Wellington landdroshof teenstaan.

* A man suspected of raping two teenagers has been arrested  in Wellington.

HONDERDE nuuskieriges het Saterdagaand ambulansmanne toegepak terwyl hulle geveg het om die lewe van 'n vasgekeerde motoris in Paarl-Oos te red.

Derick Solomons van Kraanvoëlstraat, Amstelhof, was in sy motor vasgekeer ná 'n botsing om 18:30 op die Ribbokstraatkruising met Van der Stelstraat.

Sy passasier, Ernest van Wyk van Suikerbekkieterm, Amstelhof, is vir behandeling na die Paarl Hospitaal geneem.

Die bestuurder van die ander motor, Ruben Carolus (21) van Velddrif, is nie ernstig beseer nie.

Sy passasiers, sy niggie Lucretia Fortuin (22) van Riversidestraat en haar vriend, Rudolf van Wyk (23) van Steenbokwoonstelle, Paarl-Oos, is vir veelvuldige minder ernstige beserings en skok behandel.

Verkeersmanne het die verkeer gereël terwyl polisie die nuuskieriges beheer het en ambulansmanne gespook het om Solomons uit die wrak van sy motor te bevry.

Hy is met ernstige kop, nek en rugbeserings na die Tygerberg Hospitaal gehaas.

"Die mense ry te vinnig hier, en die ongelukke sal nie ophou voordat hier spoedwalle of 'n verkeerslig op hierdie kruising is nie," het 'n inwoner van Chicago op die toneel gesê.

'n Aanklag van roekelose en nalatige bestuur word ondersoek.

Familielede van die beseerde jong mense is gefrustreerd omdat daar ná die botsing geen bloed-alkohol monsters van die bestuurders geneem is nie.

"Daar was 'n duidelike drankreuk en 'n hoop leë bierbottels agter in die rooi motor," word beweer.

* A huge crowd descended on the scene of a serious accident in Paarl East on Saturday night, while paramedics worked to free the motorist.

DIT is nie speletjies as inbrekers dit regkry om oornag jou sportwinkel leeg te dra nie.

"Sewe jaar lank betaal ek al vir 'n alarmstelsel," het 'n gefrustreerde Pierre Schoeman van Pêrel Sport hierdie week gesê.

"En nou kry die inbrekers dit reg om in te kom sonder dat die sekuriteitsmaatskappy daarvan weet."

Inbrekers het die nag van 8 Junie eers 'n afstandbeheerde hek in Fabriekstraat gebreek.

Daarna het hulle dakplate opgelig om deur die plafon in die sportwinkel in Lady Greystraat te kom.

Sestig pare skoene, sweetpakke en warm baadjies ter waarde van meer as R60 000 is weggedra, vermoedelik deur 'n agterdeur.

"Waarvoor betaal 'n mens die hope geld aan sekuriteit en dit help alles niks?" vra Schoeman.

"Ek het twee jaar gelede my sekuriteit opgradeer, maar ek het nie geweet dat 'n addisionele radiosender aangeskaf moet word vir wanneer die firma se telefoonkabels afgesny word nie.

Die inbrekers het op die dak van die sportwinkel die telefoonkabels afgekap en so die alarmstelsel gedeakativeer.

"Met 'n radiosender sou die onderbreking by die sekuriteitsmaatskappy geregistreer het, maar daarsonder nie."

'n Polisiewoordvoerder het beaam:  "Ek hoop die publiek neem kennis van die sekuriteitsrisiko, die booswigte is wel deeglik bewus daarvan."

"Kapt Klaas Cloete van die Paarl speurdiens was baie behulpsaam en ek glo arrestasies sal eersdaags gemaak word.

"Dit bring egter nie die gesteelde goedere terug nie."

* A Paarl sports shop was hit by thieves who deactivated the alarm system. The owner has warned the public to ensure that their security covers all burglars' tricks.

DIE DA, die amptelike opposisie in die Drakenstein Stadsraad, het verskeie amendemente tot die 2004/5 munisipale begroting van die ANC/NNP koalisie voorgestel en onder meer beswaar gemaak teen die groot oorhoofse kostes, veral uitgawes aan salarisse en lone (insluitend dié van raadslede).

"Die totale uitgawes aan salarisse en lone ten bedrae van R174 miljoen, moet met 5% verminder word tot R165,3 miljoen.

"Hierdie besparing behoort aangewend te word om die uitgawe-begroting van die stadsingenieur met minstens R5 miljoen te verhoog vir onderhoud, in die lig van die swak toestande van die munisipaliteit se paaie en die hoë onderhoudsbehoeftes van rioolwerke, waterwerke, pypleidings en ander dringende knelpunte in die lewering van dienste."

Die DA meen ook daar moet dringende oorweging geskenk word aan die privatisering van sekere munisipale funksies om oorhoofse koste te begin verminder.

"Die hoë oorhoofse koste word hoofsaaklik toegeskryf aan swak bestuur en beplanning. Die swak bestuur hou hoofsaaklik verband met ontoereikende delegering en politieke inmenging."

Hulle is ook bekommerd oor die elektrisiteitsinkomste wat aangetoon word vir die jare 2005/2006 en 2006/2007, in die lig van die beoogde herstrukturering van die kragvoorsieningsnetwerk wat waarskynlik binne die volgende twee jaar mag plaasvind.

"Die elektrisiteitsinkomste waarvoor begroot word, moet verminder word om voorsiening te maak vir die moontlike verlies aan inkomste of gebrekkige kontantvloei wat mag voortvloei uit die beoogde herstrukturering.

"Hierdie verlies kan ernstige finansiële gevolge vir die munisipaliteit of sy inwoners inhou en dit moet vroegtydig in sy finansiële projeksies en state aangedui word," waarsku die DA.

Ook meen die DA die begroting is oor-optimisties oor die betaalvermoë van belastingbetalers.

"In die lig van die uiters swak betalings van munisipale rekenings deur inwoners van verskeie wyke in Drakenstein, moet die begrote inkomste uit elektrisiteit, belasting, vullisverwydering, riool, huur en water met 5% (ongeveer R21 miljoen) verminder word.

"Indien dit nie gedoen word nie, bestaan die gevaar dat die begrote inkomste te hoog beraam is, wat dus op oëverblindery neerkom.

"Die Burgemeester en sy komitee pas nie die invorderingsbeleid konsekwent toe nie en dit kan tot probleme lei."

Die uitgawes op rente (R12,6% van die begroting oftewel R61 miljoen) is 7,3% meer as die vorige jaar, hoewel rentekoerse intussen gedaal het. Daar moet gepoog word om algemene reserwes op te bou en minder staat te maak op geleende geld.

Die party meen ook oor die Geïntegreerde Ontwikkelingsprogram: "Sekere GOP projekte van R10 miljoen vervat in die begroting, asook die prioriteite daaraan verleen, moet in heroorweging geneem word.

"Niemand weet watter prioriteite in ag geneem is nie, want geen motivering is verskaf nie - dit is lukraak en subjektief gedoen.

"Dringende kapitaalbehoeftes soos geïdentifiseer deur die senior beamptes, en die behoeftes van alle gemeenskappe (wyke) in Drakenstein, moet in ag geneem word."

* The DA has criticised the ANC/NNP's municipal budget for its high operating expenditure on costs like salaries, but low capital expenditure on infrastructure improvement and maintenance.

TWO people were robbed of their cash cards and lost thousands of rands at a central Paarl bank last week.

The suspects have been described as the same three men of whom the public were warned in an article in the Paarl Post on Thursday last week.

"My husband (aged 66) became a victim to this thuggery at the Absa Bank ATM in Fabriek Street in Paarl at noon on Friday," Joy Brophy said.

She said three men were seemingly doing transactions when her husband keyed in his pin number.

"He was about to request a mini-statement when the tall fellow pushed his arm onto the machine saying there was something wrong with it.

"My husband immediately sensed something was wrong, grabbed his arm and a tussle ensued.

"This thief then tried to grab the card when it was ejected from the ATM and again my husband managed to force it out of his hand.

"He turned his back on the machine and argued with him whilst trying to attract the attention of people in the bank.

"After this the thug casually walked out into the parking area opposite, my husband tried to draw some money, only to find that he could not as the maximum R1 000 had just been drawn - obviously by this syndicate."

The woman would like to know why, since the banks were aware of this problem, was there no security guard, especially as the article pointed out that this syndicate targets its victims on Friday and Saturday.

She also asked why the surveillance camera had not picked up this crime so that the crooks could be identified.

"On laying a charge with the police, I was told that this was the second incident of fraud reported at that Absa autobank on that day.

Errol Smith of Absa replied: "Absa is deeply concerned by the incident and sympathise with the Brophy family."

"As soon as we deploy security guards at certain problem ATM's, the criminals shift their focus to other ATM's," Smith said. 

"We have had several cases where our guards have either been assaulted or intimidated."

Smith said a customer is welcome to contact branch staff for assistance should he feel unsafe.

"For transactions after hours, take someone with you to keep an eye out for criminals while transacting.

"Never allow strangers to assist you or stand too close to you and always keep one hand over the pin pad when you key in your PIN.

"When strangers harrass you at an ATM, press the Cancel button and wait for your card and your slip, but do not enter your PIN number again.

"Make sure that you have your own card in your possession and leave the ATM immediately. Report the matter to either the branch staff or the Police."

'n DWELMHANDELAAR is Saterdagoggend in die Paarlse middedorp aangekeer.

Die Tanzaniër, Khalfain Mwamnyanyi (29) is tydens 'n optrede teen onwettige daggahandelaars in die omgewing van McDonalds kitskosrestaurant in Hoofstraat in hegtenis geneem.

Beslag is gelê op sewe banksakkies dagga ter waarde van R300.

Die polisiediens doen 'n beroep op die gemeenskap om daggasmokkelary te rapporteer.

Paarl polisie hou Saterdag 'n dwelmbewusmakingsuitstalling by Checkers om die verskillende dwelms te identifiseer en die gevare wat die gebruik inhou, te illustreer.

* Polisiebeamptes van die Paarl Misdaadvoorkomingseenheid het verlede naweek gewoel onder onwettige drankhandelaars.

Tydens twee optredes by provinsiale administrasie-wonings langs die N1 in Suider-Paarl, is beslag gelê op 65 bottels bier, sewe vyfliter papsakke wyn en 'n yskas.

Die vermeende dranksmokkelaar is in hegtenis geneem.

'n Vuurwapen is ook op die perseel gekonfiskeer. 'n Verdagte is in hegtenis geneem en van poging tot moord aangekla.

'n GOUDHANDELAAR van die Paarl het verlede week twee vroue wat na bewering onwettig goue juweliersware aankoop, in hegtenis laat neem.

Grant Johnson het te hore gekom van 'n vrou wat naby die Paarl Hospitaal van deur tot deur gaan en goud vir kontant aankoop.

"Ek het drie keer die polisie geskakel voordat sersant Swys Pietersen daar aangekom het," het Johnson gesê.

"Teen daardie tyd was die vrou en 'n medepligtige al pad af. 'n Lid van die publiek het my egter gebel toe een van hulle by haar aangedoen het, en haar besig gehou totdat ek en die polisieman daar kon kom.

"Die vrou is gekonfronteer. Sy het gesê sy werk vir Cash for Gold, maar dit is my firma, en sy werk beslis nie vir my nie.

"Later het sy erken sy werk vir 'n Peter in die Kaap. Ek het daarop aangedring dat daar op die skaaltjie en die juweliersware beslag gelê word.Dis mos handel dryf in goud sonder 'n wettige lisensie."

Die twee vroue is na die Paarl polisiestasie geneem waar hulle 'n verklaring afgelê het.

Volgens insp Julia Claasen is daar "genoegsame inligting" verkry waarop 'n lêer geopen is sodat die aangeleentheid ondersoek kan word.

"Vervolging sal geskied indien die gereg dit vereis."

Johnson sê: "Volgens die wet moet sulke aankopers geregistreer wees.

"Al die aankope moet aangeteken word, met die verkoper se identiteitsnommer en naam, en dan sewe dae lank gehou word voor herverkoop.

"So word die verkoop van gesteelde goedere uitgeskakel."

IN an effort to strengthen community involvement in local government, Drakenstein Municipality will soon establish Ward Committees in their constituency.

This is  in line with the constitution and the Municipal Structures Act that makes provision for community participation through Ward Committees.

Local government is the sphere of government which interacts with ordinary people most directly: it delivers services to people's homes; makes planning decisions which shape the environment in which people live; and maintains local facilities and amenities.

It is thus important to ensure that citizens are able to participate in the municipal decision-making process.

Ward Committees can also improve communication between the municipal council and local communities, and play a role in identifying community needs and fine-tuning municipal programmes to accommodate local circumstances.

What is the ward participatory system?

The ward participatory system of municipal government allows for the establishment of Ward Committees to facilitate community participation in the matters of local government.

Most municipal areas are divided into wards for the purposes of local government elections.

The ward participatory system allows for matters of local concern to be addressed by committees established for wards. This gives residents a more direct voice in the governance of their neighbourhood.

It enhances participatory democracy in local government by providing a vehicle for local communities to make their views and needs known to the municipal council.

Policy framework

Recognising the need for ward committees to have clear guidelines on how to enhance public participation, a policy framework with such guidelines to support Ward Committees in all their important tasks is issued.

The purpose of this framework is to provide uniform and simplified guidelines to Ward Committee members, ward councillors and the Drakenstein Municipality on the establishment and operation of Ward Committees.

However, ward committees may submit proposals for the amendment and/or revision of the policy framework to the council for consideration.

The speaker will have the sole and binding authority to rule on any dispute resulting from the interpretation of this policy framework and/or any such matter not provided for by this framework.

Status of Ward Committees

The objective of a Ward Committee is to enhance participatory democracy in local government and as such is meant to be an institutionalised channel for communication and interaction between communities and the municipality.

A ward committee is an independent advisory body, which must be impartial, and perform its functions without fear, favour or prejudice.

It carries no mandate from a constituency, and therefore has no mandate to govern the ward, and may thus not impede, interfere, or hamper the right of the municipal council to govern its affairs.

It may also not impede on any individual's rights to participate in any local government matters, and may not exclude the participation of individuals from the broader community in government affairs.

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