They were never encouraged to create a business for themselves so that they can create job opportunities for their people.

For the people in the township, work is so scarce that they try any means of making money. Some even resort to stealing fruit or vegetables to sell.

Next to the supermarket there are women selling fresh produce in all weather conditions, from rain to heat, to keep body and soul together.

Many children are starving while their mothers try to find work.

Some say that there have been no changes since they voted people into positions of power and that the government should concentrate on job creation as a crucial part of development.

Others say, "We need to wake up and start doing something for ourselves. We need to empower the people to be able to create jobs for themselves."

Creativity is the only way to be able to make it.

One such creative individual works at Nompumelelo preschool.

He has a love for the soil and decided to sow some seeds. He has a vision of tranforming his garden into a farm in the future.

The women at Nonceba sewing group at the Bhabhathane Centre use sewing as an empowerment tool to develop themselves and the community.

They sew Xhosa traditional clothes for the tourist market and hope to expand into a factory that can produce clothes and woven mats.

"We need more people with vision who have a compelling picture of the future and can harness creativity towards greatness, looking inside themselves instead of looking at the bad things that are happening around us," they say.

'n STREEKRAAD wat voortaan alle probleemareas in die minibustaxibedryf gaan aanspreek, is vandeesweek op die been gebring.

Die Breederivier Streeksraad sal voortaan die hele Boland bedien en sal deel vorm van die Provinsiale Taxiraad.

Verteenwoordigers van 19 taxiverenigings uit die Boland het die vergadering in die Paarl vandeesweek bygewoon.

"Die stigting van dié Raad is 'n inisiatief om die taxibedryf te demokratiseer. Afgevaardigdes van die 18 streke in die provinsie sal dien in die provinsiale Taxiraad," het Justin de Allende, assistent-direkteur: Openbare Vervoer, gesê.

"Ons doelwit is om 'n verenigde industrie wat leierskap het, herkenbaar is en wat kollektief kan handel in alle lede se belange, op die been te bring,"

Hy het verder gesê dat die stigting van streekrade die beeld van die industrie moet verander.

"Die Provinsiale Administrasie het fondse bemagtig vir die opbou van die bedryf en die opleiding van die onderskeie rolspelers daarin.

"Ons poog om die diens meer verbruikersvriendelik te maak en te verseker dat 'n beter diens aan die gemeenskap verskaf word."

'n Vergadering waar die provinsiale taxiraad aangewys word, is gister gehou met die Provinsiale Minister van Vervoer, Tasneem Essop, as spreker.

DIE Boland Distriksraad pak tans die opgradering van die Safcol-behuisingsprojek by La Motte aan, as agent vir die Department Grondsake.

Die dienste by die woongebied gaan opgegradeer word met behulp van die staatsubsidie en heffingsfondse, voordat die huise aan die inwoners oorgedra word.

Die opgradering behels veral die verbetering van die rioolwerke by die woongebied, die bou van 'n waterreservoir om standhoudende waterdruk te verseker, asook aansluiting by die Wemmershoek-waterpyplyn.

Soortgelyke opgradering van die Safcol Wemmershoek woongebied gaan ook later vanjaar aangepak word deur die Boland Distriksmunisipaliteit, met die oog op die oordra van behuising aan die inwoners.

Die projek om die woongebied se dienste op te gradeer, staan onder beheer van konsultante Arcus Gibb, wat ook die tenderproses beheer.

Die rioolwerke sal uitgebrei word en die dorpie sal ook met die Wemmershoekpypleiding verbind word.

Albei woongebiede sal na opgradering onderverdeel en deur die Stellenbosse Munisipaliteit geadministreer word.

* Die lys begunstigdes vir die Lanquedoc Behuisingskema naby Boschendal word tans opgestel met die oog op opgradering van dié woongebied. Elektrisiteit moet onder meer daarheen aangelê word. Amfarms maak 'n bydrae tot die kostes.

PLAASLIKE sakelui is oor die algemeen positief oor die Minister van Finansies, Trevor Manuel, se begroting vir die nuwe belastingjaar.

Toegewings aan Jan Publiek sal sorg vir meer geld in die sak, wat hopelik sal lei tot groter besteding en dus 'n inspuiting vir die plaaslike ekonomie.

Paarlse eiendomsagente is vol vertroue dat die verlaging in die kostes van oordragkostes op eiendomme 'n positiewe uitwerking op die plaaslike ekonomie sal hê.

"Kostes was nog altyd baie hoog en die verlaging in die kostes kan net 'n positiewe uitwerking hê," sê Hanlie de Waal van Aida.

"Dit sal definitief ligter wees op die man in die laer prysklas se sak. Hy kwalifiseer byvoorbeeld soms vir 'n lening, maar dan kan hy nie die oordragkostes bekostig nie."

Ada Flowers van Joss Eiendomme stem saam dat 'n verlaging in oordragkostes goeie nuus is.

"Dit sal positief wees, in die lig daarvan dat meer mense in die laer prysklasse dit nou sal kan bekostig om huise te koop.

"Huispryse op sigself is egter nog steeds baie hoog en dit sal selfs nog beter wees as mense realistiese pryse vra," het sy gesê.

Sommige kenners maan egter dat mense nie te optimisties moet wees nie nie en meen die toegewings is te min om 'n wesenlike invloed te hê.

Iain Smuts, 'n persoonlike belastingkonsultant, waarsku dat salaristrekkers geen rede het om agteroor te sit nie.

Hy herinner salaristrekkers daaraan dat die R1750 limiet op pensioene en aftree-annuïteite onveranderd bly.

"In ons huidige ekonomiese klimaat is dit glad nie goeie nuus nie. Dit beteken basies dat hierdie passiewe aftreespaarplan uitgelewer is aan die negatiewe effek van inflasie asook die voortdurende waardevermindering van die skommelende rand," sê Smuts.

In die landbousektor is kommer uitgespreek oor die verhoging in aksyns op drank en sigarette.

"Die styging in die sogenaamde sondebelastings was feitlik sonder uitsondering weereens veel hoër as die heersende inflasiekoers," het Japie Grobler, president van Agri SA, gesê.

"Die uitwerking van hierdie tipe belastings op primêre landbouproduksie verdien 'n omvattende ondersoek.

"Kernbelangrike aspekte vir die landbou soos die behoud van 'n oop ekonomie, vergrote besteding aan infrastruktuur, groter bewilligings vir veiligheidsdienste en verlaagde insetkoste, is wel in die begrotingsrede in 'n mindere of meerdere mate aangespreek." 

Grobler het ook gesê dat dit uit 'n koste-oogpunt verblydend is dat die belasting op dieselbrandstof nie verhoog het nie. Hy het egter aangedui dat 'n verdere verhoging in die afslagbedeling ten opsigte van die belasting op diesel noodsaaklik is ten einde die mededingendheid van landbou verder aan te help. 

Grobler het bygevoeg dat dié aanpassing in die drempelwaardes soos die vir boedelbelastingdoeleindes van R1 miljoen na R1,5 miljoen eweneens 'n belangrike stap is om vir inflasie voorsiening te maak.

Intussen wys Ilse Fourie, advertensiehoof van die Paarl Post, daarop dat sakelui gerus hul vertroue in die begroting kan bewys deur hul advertensiebegroting opwaarts aan te pas.

"Advertensies kan sorg dat Jan Alleman, wat nou meer geld in sy sak het, by u deur instap."

Verder is dit ook belangrik om te onthou dat advertensiekostes verhaalbaar van inkomstebelasting is.

INTEREST in April's Cape Wine 2002 hosted by Wines of South Africa (WOSA) at Nederburg in Paarl is so buoyant, says CEO Su Birch, that exhibition space is oversubscribed and booking allocations for foreign trade and media are increasing daily. 

In Birch's view, the very positive response to the three-day exhibition of South African wine producers from April 16 to 18, points to an acceptance of the much improved quality image of South African wines.

"Several major international awards for local wines in the last two years have helped to enhance the country's reputation. This is also borne out by an impressive growth in exports. 

"International sales for 2001 increased 17,8% compared with 2000, despite evidence of the global economic downturn. Sales of red wines, in particular, have shown aggressive growth.

"It has become increasingly apparent to the international wine fraternity that local wines provide excellent value across all price segments and that there exists much potential to tap."

While Britons are steadily increasing their support for South African wines, which is now reflected in a market share of 7,8%, (compared with the previous year's 6,7%), the average price per litre of 4,81 pounds is still below the overall average retail price in Britain of 4,90 pounds.

In the Dutch market, South Africa has the biggest share of any New World wine producer at 13,8% in value terms, according to AC Nielsen data.

A GRANT of R150 000 for an investigation of alternative water sources for the Drakenstein Municipality has been obtained from the Boland District Council.

Ninham Shand consulting engineers were appointed to do this investigation into improving the bulk water supply to the area, as Drakenstein Municipality is currently buying bulk water from the City of Cape Town's dam at Wemmershoek at a cost of almost R10 million per annum, while sustainable water sources exist at Paarl, Wellington and Saron.

The study must determine the exact needs and cost of alternative water sources in order to meet the demand, and to cut down on purchase costs from Cape Town.

Alternative sources of water would be obtained by raising the supply level of Bethel and Nantes dams on Paarl Mountain, increasing pumping capa-city from the Berg River to these dams with treatment of the water, as well as completion of the pipeline between Antoniesvlei and Wellington.

Furthermore, they will look into the development of the Spruitrivier scheme and the possible treatment and augmentation of water sources at Saron.

* The Municipality is investigating the number of taps linked to water wastage in the area, especially illegal connections in Mbekweni.

A survey has indicated that there are 53 taps being used by residents without payment for water. Among these are five taps which have been erected illegally in Mbekweni by squatters who have tapped into underground waterpipes.

There are also three taps at the church and existing ablution facilities at H Block that are being used by the squatter communities in the areas.

Attempts to install a prepayment system on illegal taps in Drommedaris Street have been rejected by the community and the systems were vandalised. These taps have now been fitted with pressure reducing valves to reduce water wastage.

The community have threatened Water Works personnel and prevented them from restricting the flow at the illegal tap in Phokeng Street.

* Drakenstein Municipality also received R300 000 from the Boland District Municipality for alterations to the inlet at the Wellington waste water treatment works. V3 was appointed to design the alterations, call for tenders and do all contract administration, including site supervision.

* The Provincial Department of Economic Affairs has secured Poverty Relief Programme funds of R1,94 million for the upgrading of roads in Fairyland.

* Entech has been appointed to investigate the provision of a legal and sustainable waste handling solution for the Saron, Gouda and Hermon areas.

The Boland District Municipality approved an amount of R300 000 for the improvement of refuse handling for these areas with a further R200 000 for the next financial year.

At present both Saron and Gouda have waste sites which are considered illegal as they do not have permits from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.

With the towns now being part of Drakenstein it is expected that the Department will start holding the Municipality responsible for the current environmentally damaging operations, and methods of improving the operations will be investigated

The outcome would probably be either a central dump site in the Saron/Gouda area, or small transfer stations at Saron, Gouda and possibly Hermon with a transportation contract to Wellington site.

THERE are 17 new participants in the line-up of 84 of the country's top producers and brands at the 28th Nederburg Auction in Paarl on April 12 and 13 this year.

This represents a big increase of 20 percent in participation, making the auction more representative of the industry and bringing the total number of wines on auction to 157.

The spectrum has further been widened with the introduction of a pre-release wine category from newcomer participants Fort Simon, Havana Hills, Mount Rozier, Fleur du Cap and Philip Jordaan.

Other newcomers are Dieu Donné, Goede Hoop, Jacobsdal, Knorhoek, Le Riche and Slaley with their superb red wines and the Pinotage Association with its first Absa Top Ten Pinotage collection of 1997.

Longridge, Old Vines and Rijk's Private Cellar represent the white newcomers while Pongracz and JC Le Roux each have an MCC sparkling wine on offer.

As usual, 104 red wines lead the field, followed by 38 white, eleven fortified wines - including six Ports, five Muscadel and Jerepigo wines - and four sparkling wines.

Reds include a Petit Verdot, a new wine from Nederburg on auction for the first time, 39 Cabernet Sauvignons, 24 red blends, 15 Shiraz/Syrah wines, 14 Pinotages, seven Merlots, three Cabernet Francs and one Pinot Noir.

The white wines include 15 Chardonnays, four Chenin Blancs, three Sauvignon Blancs, three Semillons and one Pinot Blanc.

"In only 15 years since 1987 when the first Chardonnay (Nederburg Chardonnay 1984) was auctioned, Chardonnays have risen to the top of the white wine list," according to Bennie Howard, Auction Manager.

Other local wineries participating are Agusta, Bellingham, Boland, Boschendal, Glen Carlou, Graham Beck, Hoopenburg, KWV, La Motte, Monis, Nelson's Creek, Plaisir de Merle, Simonsvlei, Veenwouden, Villiera and Wellington.

The Nederburg pre-auction wine tastings for the public will be held in Cape Town on Tuesday 26 February at 18:30. Tickets cost R45 per person, which includes sparkling wine on arrival and light snacks afterwards. Bookings can be made at Computicket.

LUCY ESTERHUYSE skitter behoorlik wanneer sy praat oor haar beroep en dis geen wonder nie. In haar juwelierswinkel, Cape Wholesale Jewellers in die Paarl se Pick 'n Pay winkelsentrum, kan jy maar gerus glo alles wat skitter is regtig goud.

Sy het ook 'n ontwerperateljee en werkswinkel, Le Designs, met takke op Malmesbury, Paarl en Wellington.

Lucy het in 1980 'n B.A.-graad in Beeldende. Kunste aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch behaal. Daarna het sy 'n diploma in personeelbestuur, verskeie bestuurskursusse, 'n diamantgraderingskursus en 'n kursus in gekleurde edelstene en pêrels voltooi.

Volgens haar het die voorliefde vir juwele reeds in haar kinderjare ontstaan.

Lucy is oorspronklik van Port Elizabeth, maar sy en haar man Johan en dogter Lauren (11) is al vir die afgelope veertien jaar Paarliete en sy geniet elke oomblik van "die wonderlike dorp".

"My werk verskaf die grootste plesier aan my. Om die genot en vonkel in die verliefde paartjies se oë te sien, maak dit alles die moeite werd.

"Almal is deesdae so negatief en om die liefde tussen twee mense te sien, is so positief," vertel sy.

En is die mansmense nie romanties as hulle die jawoord vra nie! Vir een moes sy die ring om die steel van 'n vonkelwynglas besorg, terwyl die ander een sy ring met 'n posduif laat aflewer het!

Vir een kliënt moes sy 'n ring met 'n toiletpot bo-op ontwerp. Nee, sy weet ook nie wat presies die man met so 'n tipe ring in gedagte gehad het vir sy bruid nie!

Volgens haar speel bestuurseienskappe 'n groot rol in die sukses van haar besigheid.

"Dit gaan alles om kliëntediens. 'n Mens kan eenvoudig nie 'n suksesvolle besigheid sonder kliëntevaardigheid bedryf nie. Prys speel ook 'n groot rol.

"Dit is altyd 'n uitdaging wanneer 'n mens produkte met die hand skep. Dit veroorsaak dat arbeid ietwat duurder is en dan moet jy 'n prys vasstel wat die kliënt se sak pas.

"Atmosfeer dra natuurlik by tot jou klant se tevredenheid. Baie mense is geneig om geïntimideer te voel wanneer hulle by 'n juwelierswinkel instap, omdat dit 'n "duur" omgewing is.

"Vir my is dit belangrik om die klant te lei in sy keuse van juweliersware en goeie diens te verskaf, sodat hy moet voel dat hy iets spesiaals ontvang het wanneer hy my winkel verlaat," sê sy.

Behalwe om asemrowende juweliersware te ontwerp, lê liefdadigheid Lucy ook baie na aan die hart.

"Ek bied dikwels kursusse aan by skole en tans is ek betrokke by 'n bemagtigingsprojek op nasionale vlak, waarby voorheen benadeelde kinders betrek word.

"Ek voel as vrou het ek 'n groot stryd gestry om in 'n bestuursposisie te wees. Daarom wil ek my posisie gebruik om ander te help sonder om self enige voordeel daaruit te trek."

On New Year's Eve the plan was to lunch out with very old friends, but it was not long before we were to learn how few restaurants were open.

Driving up Paarl Main Street we very happily fell upon Pontac, known for its excellent accommodation and now gaining a well-deserved reputation for its cuisine.

We were warmly welcomed by Nazeema who, throughout our meal gave us very polished service, friendly but not intrusive, and was ably assisted by her colleague Liza.

The restaurant is located in one of the original farm buildings alongside the main house, and has now been given an "African" theme. It looks out to a small courtyard where one may also sit, with a non-stop view up Paarl Mountain.

Our intention was a "light lunch" and although there were tempting offerings on the lunch menu, all resistance crumbled when the Chef's daily recommendations were brought to our notice!

The two men started with a lightly curried apple and mussel soup which, looking so appetizing was savoured by the ladies as well, and proclaimed utterly delicious.

Three of the party were then enticed by rack of lamb, succulent and tasty, served on polenta with a reduced sauce.

The fourth member, with less stamina, ordered the warm duck salad which was just as a salad should be (and mostly is not) - a pretty selection of really fresh greens in which nestled morsels of meat.

We chose a selection of puds and each one was delectable and beautifully presented. A fitting finale.

Pontac was a great find, and we shall return. The restaurant is open every day for lunch and dinner. Lighter lunches are available ,but it is just the place for a special meal or celebration.

Whilst it is not inexpensive, the cost is not exorbitant and we thought it good value.

The wines of Paarl Vintners were well represented, with some other choices and we noted with pleasure that the mark-ups were most reasonable for this type of establishment.

A real gem for Paarl.

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