Thursday 25 November 2004

This site will be updated on 2 December 2004.

Nuus - News

• Sandwiched
• Feesliggies gou aangeskakel
• Polisie gaan woel met smokkelhuise
• Redding op skoolterrein
• Damvlakke val vinnig
• Young man dies in crash
• Partner charged with murder of girlfriend
• Rowers swaar gestraf
• Central Paarl on track

Sandwiched

[ Top ]

Anne Kruger

THE Du Toit's Kloof pass was closed for about eight hours on Friday afternoon when four vehicles were involved in a multiple pile-up.

Angry truck drivers who were unable to make U-turns were forced to wait for the whole period before they could pass the crash site.

The day of bad luck started at 13:00 when an empty tanker truck en route to Worcester from Paarl jack-knifed and hit

SQUASHED. Getting past the scene of the accident proved harder than it look- ed for these two trucks, squashed together next to the tow truck on the Du toit's Kloof pass.                                                                                        

the mountainside.

Traffic was allowed to pass one lane at a time, while a towaway vehicle was sum- moned.

As the tow-truck started to hitch up the damaged tanker and a large truck headed for Worcester was passing the accident scene, the brakes of a truck coming downhill from Worcester failed, and it landed up sandwiched between the tow-truck and the passing truck (pic at left).

A provincial traffic patrol car was also damaged in the process.

The tow-truck's hydraulic system was damaged and had to be repaired before it could proceed to start towing away the first truck.

It took until 21:00 that night to extricate all the vehicles from the pile-up and reopen the pass

DIE Paarlse Kersliggiefees word Donderdagaand 2 Desember om 20:00 aangeskakel deur die burgemeester.

Vader Kersfees sal al vroeër die Donderdagaand by die Nedcor-gebou afseil en studente van die Frank Pietersen Musieksentrum sal ook optree.

Vrydagaand 3 Desember sal plaaslike sangers en dansers optree en Saterdagaand 4 Desember tree die Popstars sanggroep Afro-Zee asook plaaslike sangers op.

Daar sal ook 'n pretpark en spesiale kinderverhoog wees in Nuwestraat.

Die fees word vanjaar vir die eerste keer uitgebrei tot vier dae om Sondag in te sluit wanneer die fees afsluit met gewyde Kersmusiek deur kore en die Heilsleër, uitgevoer by kerslig. Daar sal ook samesang wees en kerse sal deur Rotariërs verkoop word.

Van die plaaslike kunstenaars sal ook by die Kersliggiefeeste op Saron (10 Desember) en Gouda (11 Desember) optree. Gouda sal 'n "Mej Liggies" kroon.

Vir navrae, skakel Luzelle Moller (863-5009) of Thomas du Plessis by 807-2409.

Die Oukraal kunstefees word Vrydag 3 Desember en Saterdag 4 Desember in die Polisiekollegesaal aangebied met plaaslike kunstenaars, as deel van die Liggiefees.

Een van die hoogtepunte is Saterdagmiddag om 14:30 wanneer Lana English (wat die hoofrol in Phantom of the Opera gesing het) en haar broer Victor optree.

SATERDAG gaan die Polisie woel onder die misdadige elemente in Paarl-Oos. Dit is die belofte wat areakommissaris Ganief Daniels aan inwoners gemaak het by die Bambanani-byeenkoms om te praat oor veiligheid in dié woongebied.

Komm Daniels het sy kommer oor toestande in dié deel van die Paarl uitgespreek en gesê hy is vasbeslote om alles in sy vermoë te doen om dit te verbeter.

"Ek het onlangs deur Paarl-Oos gery en elke keer is ek meer en meer in skok as ek die omstandighede sien waarin mense moet lewe - en waarin kinders grootword," het hy gesê.

Hy is van mening dat die Drakenstein stadsraad sy plig teenoor die gemeenskap versaak.

"Heelwat smokkelhuise is in strukture wat totaal onwettig is," het hy gesê en bygevoeg dat die Raad dié ondernemings kan toemaak.

Maar Daniels lê egter ook 'n groot deel van die skuld vir die hoë misdaadsyfer voor die deur van die gemeenskap.

"Smokkelhuise is aan die gang van Vrydagaande tot Maandagoggende. Die kinders lê daar en die ouers laat dit toe."

Onder applous en instemmende uitroepe uit die gehoor, het hy bygevoeg dat die polisie dit net in groot getalle by die smokkelhuise kan waag, anders word hulle deur die gemeenskap aangeval.

"Nog 'n groot probleem is die mark vir gesteelde goedere. Ons eie mense is die oorsaak dat daar ingebreek en gesteel word, want die goed word terugverkoop vir 'n appel en 'n ei.

"Dan die ander sieklike ding in ons gemeenskap, is verkragting.

"'n Vrou wat by 'n smokkelhuis drink, is 'n teiken - sy kan gelukkig wees as sy môre nog lewe."

"Hoe gaan ons die probleem oplos?," het hy gevra.  "Polisiëring is net een gedeelte. Daar moet ook gekyk word na strukture, rommel en beligting."

Dan praat hy ook van wat hy noem 'n "sameswering tot stilte".

"Solank dit nie met my gebeur nie, bly ons mos stil," het hy gesê en bygevoeg, "die oplossing is in ons hande, en in die hande van die stadsraad.

"Die vraag is, as so baie mense bymekaar is, moes iemand mos gesien het wie het ingebreek of geroof?"

Daniels het ook oor dienslewering gepraat en gesê daar is nog gevalle waar mense 'n noodgeval aanmeld en dan word dit laat opgevolg of glad nie.

"Maar ons is nie hier om klippe te gooi nie, ons moet eerlik met mekaar wees."

Die kommissaris wil 'n opname by Paarl-Oos laat doen waarin by 50% van mense met sake navraag gedoen word of hulle tevrede is met die diens.

Daniels het die buurtwagte bedank vir hulle bydrae, maar het ook verwys na die voortdurende twiste: "Ons kan nie bekostig dat buurtwagte onder mekaar en met die polisie baklei nie."

Hy het 'n beroep op buurtwaglede gedoen om bysake eenkant toe te stoot en kragte saam te snoer teen misdadigers.

Oor die verskerpte optrede wat Saterdag begin, het hy mense gewaarsku: "As jy jou hand oplig vir 'n polisieman/vrou gaan jy swaarkry of seerkry. As jy oortree het, kom liewer saam.

"Kyk ook wat ek gaan doen oor smokkelhuise."

Hy het onder luide applous bygevoeg dat hy persoonlik die "geraasbokse" (juke boxes) met 'n boutsnyer (bolt cutter) wil gaan afknyp.

"Ons kan nie die situasie duld nie. Mense kry nie rus in die nag nie. Ek waarsku smokkelhuise: vergeet dit, moenie geld belê nie, jy gaan nie wins maak nie."

Vrae uit die gehoor het hoofsaaklik oor spesifieke sake gehandel en het jeugmisdaad, opvolg van sake, buurtwagte en gedrag van polisielede ingesluit.

Oor klagtes dat polisielede by smokkelhuise drink, het Daniels gevra dat sulke voorvalle onmiddellik aangemeld word by tel 082-469-1815. Dié nommer moet vir geen ander sake gebruik word nie en daar kan 24-uur per dag aanmeldings gedoen word.

'n Voorstel dat buurtwagte gebruik word om misdaad in die middedorp te bekamp, is met luide applous begroet.

Verskeie lede van die gemeenskap het ook gevra dat die gemeenskap hul samewerking vir die polisie gee en kyk hoe hulle 'n bydrae kan maak.

Daniels het die gemeenskap beloof dat daar vroeg in die nuwe jaar weer 'n vergadering sal wees om vordering (of nie) te bespreek.

* The public had the opportunity to air their grievances about crime and policing at the Bambanani meeting in Paarl East last week.

DIE sirenes loei. Die ambulanse jaag om by die motor te kom, en die seun te bevry wat in die groen wrak vasgekeer is.

Die brandweer kom terselfdertyd op die toneel, want lekkende brandstof kan enige oomblik die motorwrak laat ontplof.

'n Ambulansman klouter dadelik deur 'n agtervenster en kalmeer die beangste seun. Kollegas bring suurstof en apparaat om die beseerde se lewe te red.

Twee ambulansmanne dra die lewenskake nader en sny 'n opening in die wrak. Binne sekondes is die seun bevry en word hy versigtig op 'n draagbaar na die ambulans gedra.

Die omstanders klap hande.

Maar die gevaar is lank nie verby nie. Die motor bars in vlamme uit, nes in 'n aksiefilm.

Die omstanders word op 'n veilige afstand gehou en die brandweermanne draai die krane oop.

Met 'n paar sterk hale wit skuim is die vlamme geblus en weer juig die omstanders die noodredders luid toe.

'n Lewe is gered en 'n brand is gekeer.

Hierdie keer was die ongeluk egter nie in Klein Drakensteinweg nie, maar op die speelterrein van Ebenezer Laerskool in Paarl-Oos.

En die beseerde was eintlik 'n gewillige leerder wat sy lyf laat bloedrooi verf het om die toneel eg te laat lyk.

Die noodredders het, as deel van die skool se kermis, hul staal gewys en die kinders was baie beïndruk.

Al het die "beseerde" van die pyn geskree in die wrak, weet hulle nou, die ooms met die wit handskoene, die pype en die naalde, is nie daar om seer te maak nie, hulle is daar om te help.

Die wrak is geskenk deur Steve's Spares van Wellington, en is na die "ongelukstoneel" gesleep deur Niel Steyl van Paarlberg Towing.

* Paarl emergency personnel staged an accident and rescue operation in Paarl East.

DIE hoop op reën bly beskaam - die katspoegie oor die naweek was slegs 3mm en die Wemmershoekdam se watervlak daal vinnig.

Die damvlak staan nou op 48% na  die hoogste wintervlak van 57%. Verlede jaar was die Wemmershoekdam tot 75 persent vol.

Die Paarl-streek se gemiddelde jaarlikse reënval is 938mm en vanjaar het 793mm geval. Verlede jaar was daar nog minder reën (684mm).

Die waterbeperkings het wel reeds 'n impak op waterverbruik in die vallei gemaak. In Oktober het Paarl en Wellington saam 310 600 kiloliter water minder gebruik as wat die projeksie was sonder enige waterbeperkings.

Dit is 'n 20% besparing, soos deur die Departement van Waterwese vereis. Die situasie sal van maand tot maand geëvalueer word.

A FORMER top student of Franschhoek High School died in a car crash in Groot Drakenstein early on Sunday morning.

Warren Anger (20), who lived with his parents at Franschhoek Vineyards wine cellar, was killed when the Ford Sapphire left the R45 and smashed into a telephone pole at 06:00.

The driver of the vehicle, Pieter Hodgson (22) of Ombreaux, La Motte, was released from hospital on Monday and is still suffering pain from injuries.

The young men were returning to Franschhoek from Stellenbosch when they allegedly collided with a car on the Banhoek Pass.

The driver of the damaged Toyota Conquest immediately reported the incident to the Groot Drakenstein police, giving a description of the car that had allegedly sped away without stopping.

Police were pursuing the young men at speed, when the driver of the car lost control at the entrance to the L'Ormarins wine estate.

Warren was the top matriculant two years ago, his mother said this week. He was working as waitron for Topsi & Co restaurant in Franschhoek.

"He was quiet, but always made us laugh with his wonderful sense of humour. We would have liked to have him with us still, but we believe he's gone home."

Warren is survived by his parents Lawrence and Adrienne, brother David (17) and sister Jessica (13).

The funeral service will be held at the Shofar Church in Franschhoek at 10:00 today.

A WOMAN who had repeatedly laid charges of assault against her boyfriend, was murdered in her home in OR next to Mbekweni. The boyfriend, Sebenzile Madingana, has been arrested.

Phindize Magwaxaza (32) was last seen alive last Sunday when she returned to her home in Republic Street after she had complained to the police about domestic violence. The boyfriend was warned to stay away from her.

On Monday night her boyfriend reported having found her dead on the floor of the house.

Police rushed to the scene to find Phindize had been stabbed to death.

Madingana was arrested.

During the past years the woman has laid several charges of assault against the accused. The latest complaint was made on the day she died.

She had also tried in vain to obtain an interdict against the man who had allegedly been beating her. The interdict could not be served as the man could not be found, a policewoman said.

Madingana had previously been found guilty of serious assault and was sentenced to one year imprisonment, suspended for five years.

Constable Elana-Mari Laubscher is the investigating officer.

Information

* Information is needed about a hit and run accident in Mbekweni.

Qinisekile Ngolomana (56) of Mbekweni was crossing Mphakalasi Street on 10 July when a blue and white Citi Golf smashed into him. He was severely injured.

Insp Nico Davids (864-1515) is investigating a charge of reckless driving.

TWEE mans is skuldig bevind en gevonnis tot 19 jaar  tronkstraf vir gewapende roof, onwettige besit van 'n vuurwapen en die diefstal van 'n motorvoertuig op Wellington.

Thabo Jiba (43) en Manene Senti (34) van Guguletu het Saterdag 24 Maart 2001 kort voor 12 uur die middag by die BoE bank in Kerkstraat 'n sak geld gegryp toe 'n kliënt daarmee die bank wou ingaan.

Hulle het 'n motorbestuurder in sy voertuig gedwing en weggejaag.

Die mans het tot in Blignautstraat gejaag waar 'n polisievoertuig hulle gestop het.

Naby die spoorlyn het hulle uitgespring en probeer weghardloop. Die mans is aangekeer en die kontant, meer as R44 000, is teruggekry.

Die derde aangeklaagde, Sipho Mkhize (33) van Guguletu, het verlede jaar by die Paarl streekhof ontsnap en is steeds op vrye voet.

Landdros Annamarie Immelman het die twee beskuldigdes in die Paarl streekhof gevonnis tot 12 jaar gevangenisstraf vir gewapende roof, vyf jaar vir die onwettige besit van die vuurwapen en twee jaar gevangenisstraf vir die diefstal van die motorvoertuig.

Die aanklaer was Sonja Naik en die ondersoekbeampte speur-insp Francois Conradie van Wellington.

Getuies

* Die polisie soek dringend na getuies van die verkragting van 'n 21-jarige vrou in Wellington verlede naweek.

Die vrou het in die vroeë oggendure Saterdag halfnaak op 'n veldjie naby die Mfuleni smokkelhuis in Colibristraat wakker geword.

Mense wat inligting het kan dit gee aan die ondersoekbeampte, insp Gert Louw, by 082-334-9615.

* Armed robbers have been sentenced to 19 years imprisonment.

THE central Paarl urban renewal project has been a contentious issue for a long time now, but it looks like the latest initiatives have set the process in motion once again.

The total upgrading of the CBD is still in its planning stage, but the first phase will be underway shortly.

The current stakeholders, consisting of 11 property owners and the Council, are now looking for local Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) investors. 

The new company will be an ordinary public company structure with basically three sources of funding or shareholding: current owners (40%), BEE (40%), and financial institutions (20%).

BEE investors must have money or access to money to join, and preference will be given to local people. There is government funding as well as bank funding available for approved BEE participants.

Property developer Johan Pauw said it was important that potential investors understood that the opportunity was an investment in property and therefore carries a higher risk than, for example, investing money in a bank account.

"High risk investments, however, also generally offer a higher return than say, money left in a bank account."

The first phase (the top section of Lady Grey Street between Main and Verster Street) is to cost in the region of R184 million and a target of 40% of this has been made available to BEE investors, with local residents being given first preference.

The initial return will be in the region of 12% and the annual escalation will be between 8% and 9%.

"Investors should note that the vacancy factor has not been taken into account in these figures and this could have an effect on the rate of return," said Pauw.

The plan is to have approximately 70% of tenants composed of national companies with the rest being small operators like boutiques and other niche shops.

Entertainment will also play a major role and a food court is planned with appealing restaurants and line shops.

The ambience of the place will be that of a secure but open shopping experience although shoppers will be able to walk under cover throughout the centre.

Parts of Lady Grey and New Streets will also be turned into pedestrian areas.

Parking will be upgraded and ample secure parking will be available, especially in the Patriot Square area where a new food anchor and 7000 m² of additional shops will be constructed.

"Potential investors should know that the area still has to be rezoned and public participation will form a major part of the final approvals and could therefore have an effect on the current planning and financial forecasts of the CBD revamp," said Pauw.

He says rezoning could take some six months and after that a construction period of some 18 months would follow.

"The development will be implemented through a company and understandably it would not be practical and cost effective to accommodate hundreds of small, individual investors. For this reason investors are encouraged to form groups of people having the same investment profile to invest as a group in the CBD company.

"This is an historic opportunity for previously disadvantaged people of Paarl and Drakenstein to become involved in the social and economic revival of their area and to benefit financially.

[ Top ]

Tel: (021) 871-1170 - e-mail: edit@paarlpost.co.za  

[ Top ]