Wednesday: 30 April 2003

This site will be updated on: 8 May 2003 at 17:00

Nuus - News

• End of 'exile'
• Ses jaar tronk toe
• Roof op Paarlberg
• 'Dronke' vrygelaat
• Widow Slain on farm
• Polisiemanne speel nie
• St Stephen's: Real spirit of reconciliation
• Groot-oog oor uile
• Wellingtonner moet skade betaal oor 'siekte'

WE cannot erase the past, but we can embrace the future, said an emotional, but joyous Father Roderick Cox of St Stephen's Parish in Paarl on Sunday.

He was speaking at the historic occasion in Noorder Paarl where the original church building was restored to the congregation.

The church, which dates from 1877, was packed to capacity by dignitaries and prominent members of the St Stephen's Anglican and the Paarlberg Dutch Reformed congregations.

Other members of the congregations as well as interested parties gathered in the neighbouring Paarlberg Church, where they watched events on a big screen.

On 18 October 1979 the Community Development Board bought the church for the sum of R50 000 in terms of the Group Areas Act of 1961.

In 1980 the Board sold the property to the Paarlberg Dutch Reformed Church for R20 000, who used it as a hall for weddings and community projects.

During the recent negotiation process the Anglican Church and the Dutch Reformed Church agreed on letting the St Stephen's congregation utilise the vacated church building, pending the finalisation of the claim.

After taking improvements done to the property, the historical market price and the current rand value of the property into account, it was agreed that the State would pay Paarlberg R780 000 to settle this claim.

"We realise very little can be done to redress the injustices of the past," said Rev Pieter van der Walt of Paarlberg.

"Our children want to know how we could have allowed it, why we didn't say or do anything about it - and we don't have answers.

"Today I want to thank the people of St Stephen's - you have shown that we can begin anew. This makes us very humble. This     gracious attitude: "I know you were deeply hurt and I want to apologise again for our part in the events.

"Thank you for deciding to apply for the building. It is a sign that you haven't given up hope on us."

He also said he was deeply grateful and proud of the role played by the Paarlberg congregation.

Beverley Jansen, Commissioner for Land Claims in the Western Cape, said: "It is the day that we proclaim to the world that we are prepared to share this land.

"This is a great day. It is the day of freedom. It is the day that the people of this beautiful town reconcile.

"It is the day when the honour of the people of Paarl is restored. I believe it is a day that will forever be written into the history of our land.

"When we watch the turmoil in the world, we can take comfort from the fact that most times we know how to extricate ourselves from difficulties by talking.

"We live in difficult times and the church's role is to lead us all. From today onwards we will only look to the future."

"We shall then all be 'proudly South African'"

'n JONG man wat verjede jaar sy neef met 'n mes in Paarl-Oos doodgesteek het, is hierdie week tot ses jaar gevangenisstraf gevonnis.

Rodney Rogers (20) van Bosbokwoonstelle B8 het op 4 Maart sy neef, Nigel Paulse (19), in Bosbokwoonstelle, Chicago, tydens 'n stryery doodgesteek.

Rogers is skuldig bevind aan strafbare manslag en tot ses jaar gevangenisstraf gevonnis. Hy is 'n verdere drie jaar vonnis opgelê vir ernstige aanranding, wat in die geheel opgeskort is.

Insp David Manuel was die ondersoekbeampte.

VYF buitelandse studente is verlede week na bewering op Paarlberg deur gewapende mans beroof.

Speurders stel ondersoek in na die voorval, waarin die jong mense van rugsakke met selfone, paspoorte en 'n kamera ter waarde van R20 000 beroof sou wees.

Die besoekers het aan die polisie vertel dat hulle ná 'n wandeling Donderdag om 14:15 teen die "kettingrots" deur die mans oorval is op pad na hul motor by die Paarlrots.

Die rowers, twee wit mans, het glo 'n broodmes en 'n pistool op hulle gerig en geld geëis. Die mans het ontvlug in 'n wit motor, vermoedelik 'n Nissan met Mpumalanga nommerplate.

Die Fransman, Duitser en drie Hollanders studeer vanjaar in Kaapstad totdat hulle in November na Europa terugkeer.

Inligting sal waardeer word deur inspekteurs Johan Coetzee en Nardie Groenewald by 807-4000.

'n VERDAGTE huisbreker wat hom vermoedelik as 'n dronkie voorgedoen het, is glo per ongeluk uit die Paarl polisieselle vrygelaat.

Japie Jacobs (50) is al lank in die visier van die polisie en word na bewering met talle huisbrake in die Klein Drakenstein omgewing verbind.

Nadat hy Saterdag verlede week in hegtenis geneem is, is hy in die polisieselle aangehou saam met persone wat vir dronkenskap aangekeer is.

Die vermoede bestaan dat Jacobs 'n vals naam opgegee het, en so vrygelaat is. Die sak word ondersoek.

Sy broerskind Japie (Boere) Jacobs (26) is dieselfde middag op die plaas Lanquedoc deur lede van die Klein Drakenstein Plaaswag in hegtenis geneem as verdagte op 28 huisbrake.

Tydens die arrestasie is 'n polisieman met 'n mes teen die nek gedreig en is die knope van sy uniform afgeruk.

AN elderly widow, co-manager of the farm Waterfall in Klein Drakenstein, was murdered in her home early on Monday morning.

Two suspects, aged 17 and  18, were apprehended in the Fairyland informal settlement within hours of the killing.

Sheila Stander (65) had been bashed on the head, bound and gagged, wrapped in a duvet and left on the floor of her bedroom on the boegoe producing farm.

The house had been ransacked and a television, other electronic equipment and clothing, carried off.

According to investigators, the widow had visited her children at the weekend, and had made a telephone call on Sunday night to assure relatives that she had arrived home safely.

Burglars presumably entered the house through a bathroom window, attacking Stander in the early hours of the morning.

Willie Engelbrecht, a farm security guard who had noticed that the porch lights were still on at mid-morning, found the house locked and the woman's car outside, its doors ajar.

When there was no reaction to his calls outside the house, he summoned help.

According to Capt Johnny May, police liaison officer, the body was discovered by farm manager Horatio Godfrey.

Police immediately started following leads, with dogs running on tracks leading from the murder scene and past a dam, in the direction of the Stokkiesdraai Road.

Fingerprints were taken from the bathroom window, as well as inside the house and on the victim's car, which the burglars attempted to use to transport their stolen goods.

When the two suspects were apprehended in a shack in Fairyland, one of them wore stolen jewellery around his neck and had two Waterfall kitchen knives in his possession.

Both boys have had previous run-ins with the law.

Most of the other stolen goods were recovered in another hiding place in the squatter area.

A post mortum examination revealed the probable cause of death as the result of head injuries and suffocation, Capt May said.

The investigating officers, Inspectors Johan Coetzee and Nardie Groenewald, can be reached at tel 807-6042. They expect to make  three more arrests.

Stander, formerly an estate agent in Franschhoek, leaves a daughter Juliette of Cape St Francis (married to co-owner Eddie Godfrey), Michael of Noordhoek (who shared the management of Waterfall Farm's Boegoe Water plant with his mother) and daughter Frankie of Cape Town.

'n MAN wat 'hoog' wil raak, word sommer gou aarde toe gebring deur die polisiemanne van die Groot Drakenstein Polisiekantoor.

Drie op-en-wakker polisie-offisiere het verlede Saterdag op 'n verdagte taxi toegeslaan en op 62 Mandrax tablette beslag gelê.

Na 'n wenk van 'n lid van die publiek, het hulle die taxi op pad Lanquedoc toe, voorgelê en afgetrek.

Inspekteurs Roland Leibrandt en Cornelius Swanepoel en reserviskonstabel Roland Williams het die bestuurder gevisenteer, waarna die vonds, voertuig en drywer na die polisiekantoor gebring is.

Die taxidrywer, Moegamat April (36) van Lanquedoc, het reeds in die Paarlse Landdroshof verskyn op aanklagte van die besit van Mandrax.

Kaptein Errol Merkeur, stasiebevelvoerder, is nie bietjie trots op sy manne se fluksheid nie.

"Ons wil ook die gemeenskap bedank vir hul positiewe bydrae om verdagtes uit te wys aan die polisie en die samewerking om misdaad te bekamp.

Hy het die publiek uitgenooi om hom of insp Mark Adonis gerus te skakel by 874-1669. Enige inligting sal vertroulik hanteer word.&4W4_4s4

"THIS gathering represents the restoration of our dignity and puts within our grasp the God-given ability to lead the process of reconciliation in Paarl," said John Martin at the handing-over ceremony of St Stephen's Church in Paarl on Sunday.

Martin, a member of St Stephen's and chairperson of the Paarl Land Claims Committee, grew up in Sanddrift Street and was also secretary of the Noorder Paarl Waaksaamheidskomitee which opposed the resettlements of the Group Areas Act.

"The central theme of this momentous gathering is the reaffirmation that this is the House of the Lord.

"Today we are celebrating the recognition of set-backs and suffering, but more especially the victory wrought by God.

"It is an occasion when we will draw on the apparent nullification of us as a people, in order to re-assure our youth that the faith and legacy of our forebears are tangible and real and that we worship a God who neither sleeps nor forgets the plight of His children."

Martin recalled the past history of the church, before the Group Areas Act forced the community to relocate to Paarl East.

"Most of my generation were baptised here, were married here and within this pristine white walls we said a final farewell to our grandparents and parents.

"Like today, we often sat in awe watching the sun of God's mercy stream in long fingers through these windows.

"St Stephen's was in veritable walking distance from our homes and the congregation meeting and greeting after walking to church was a common and heart-warming sight. This was a tight community.

"Some of us older ones will remember Jakobs at the front gate, begging the faithful for a sikspens, or Ta Daisey Doppie whose life fulfillment was working for the bazaar, or the venerable Drans  Julies, whose claim to fame was being the first to visit London and who never wanted anyone to forget it.

"Who will ever forget the commanding Father LK Zeeman who was a spiritual and social leader for so long and the venerable Fr Charles Simon, who preached faith, love and decency both through word and example."

Martin gave the congregation glimpses of both priests and wardens through the years who always professed their belief that "one day our temple and monument, St Stephen's, will be returned to us".

"As much as we sense power and victory today, we also recall the numb impotence of our struggle against the devastating war machine of the past, hell-bent on breaking up our sense of community and trampling underfoot the dignity of our leaders, fathers and mothers.

Estranged

"At first we returned on Sundays, from our new places across the river.

"We came in buses and cars to worship. Slowly the realisation grew that our St Stephen's was also going to be estranged from us.

"Then came the final day when our church doors were locked for the last time - it was a fateful day that is emblazoned in our collective memory as if it happened only yesterday.

"I remember how my dear father, Joey Martin, and Sister Fortuin took up position at the front door in the bright morning sun.

"The congregation gathered around them - emotions palpable and raw. No one dared to breathe.

"Time stood still under the sheer weight of the moment. Confusion abounded. Did God turn His back on His people? Would Paarl ever be the same?

"An air of expectation hung over the flock - a miracle could still take place - then the click of the key in the lock, an audible sigh of resignation and time began to move on again as the congregation slowly departed to their assigned place, out of sight across the river - to another and separate Paarl."

Martin described the years that followed as confused times, where hatred, malcontent and doubt abounded. Then came democracy and the Land Claims.

"We immediately regrouped ourselves and called for the return of our church. At first there was every sign that we were going to be engaged in yet another struggle," he said.

But then came the new priest, Fr Roderick Cox, and the church councils of St Stephen's and that of the DR Paarlberg under the leadership of Rev Pieter van der Walt met.

"I was amazed when the congregation of Paarlberg, whom we resented so much, began to pronounce their central desire to seek and find unity and Christian reconciliation.

"They collected R10 000 for the restoration of St Stephen's and Brother Johan Dempers is actively involved within Paarlberg to help restore the church, rebuild dignity, demonstrate the spirit of Christ and engage in the process of real reconciliation."

WANNEER 'n groep vroue bymekaar is, kwetter dit mos gewoonlik. Maar verlede week was die gaste van die Klein Drakenstein VLV so stil soos muise.

Nog nooit het die goud-geel oë van 'n gevlekte ooruil en die wit narbeverfde gesiggie van 'n nonnetjiesuil hulle so van naderby aangestaar nie.

Aan die woord was "die uilvrou van Tulbagh", 'n naam wat ongevraagd oor haar pad gekom het, het Elize Kemp vertel.

'n Vriendin het 13 jaar gelede twee baba-uiltjies in haar hand gestop, en vandag het sy 30meter-hokke, 'n hospitaaltjie en tien hoësorg-eenhede vir voëls in 'n ou perdestal.

Sy behandel, bewaar en rehabiliteer uile, arende en valke. 'n Veearts doen die grootste werk, maar Elize is al net so handig.

Ná die behandeling leer die voëls in 'n groot tent om te vlieg, word hul vlerke sterk en leer hulle om self lewendige muise te vang.

Om die muisbevolking aan te vul, betaal Elize R1 'n muis aan plaaslike kinders.

Onlangs het sy 'n pleegmoeder tussen haar pasiënte ontdek. Toe sy besef Princess is broeis, het sy 'n stukkie vleis voor haar neergesit en sowaar, daar voer die uil dit aan 'n weeskuiken.

Nou hoef Elize, tot groot verligting van haar man, nie elke nag heen en weer uilkamp toe te loop om die wesies te voer nie.

Dis dieremishandeling om uile mak te maak, meen Elize.

Sy voer hulle met 'n handpop wat lyk soos 'n uil, met minimum kontak en sy praat ook nie met hulle nie.

"Dis moeilik, want ek is so versot op die uile, maar as ek aan hulle raak, is ek die ma. Dan verloor hulle hul vrees vir mense en kom later in die moeilikheid."

Al kan hul koppe 260 grade draai, verongeluk uile omdat hul oë nie in die kaste draai nie. So sien hulle nie die motors wanneer hulle agter prooi aan oor die pad vlieg nie.

Hulle het fyn, ultra-soniese gehoor in oorgaatjies weerskante van die kop.

Die regop "oortjies" op hul koppe is eintlik 'n jag-hulpmiddel, sê Elize toe sy die veertjies met haar vingers regop vryf.

Die vere laat die uilsilhoeët soos dié van 'n kat lyk sodat wanneer die uil op 'n dak neerdaal, die muise bevrees wegskarrel, en die uil hulle kan vang.

Dis onnodig dat uile doodgemaak word weens die bygeloof dat hulle onheil bring, het Elize vertel.

"Die doodsassosiasie het gekom van mense wat in die nag wakker by 'n sieke waak. Die uil skree in elk geval, maar slapendes hoor net nie die naggeluide nie."

Mense skiet ook uile vir kos, maar al lyk hulle pofferig en oënskynlik vet, is die lyfie maar lig en seningrig.

Hartseer is die uile wat sonder kloue by haar aangebring word, wanneer die kloue deur muti-dokters afgesny word vir die maak van oogsalf.

Veral die kinders in die gehoor was verstom oor Elize se versameling haarbolletjies uit die uile se mae.

Twaalf uur nadat 'n uil geëet het, gee hy 'n groot gaap, vertel sy, en dan val 'n vars gekompakteerde balletjie uit sy bek.

Spysvertering het reeds plaasgevind en die rot-ribbetjies, muis-kakebene en mossie-skedels word saam met hare, vere en vlerke uitgespoeg.

Uile vreet molle, muise, rotte, vlermuise, klein eendjies wanneer hulle in die nag op die dam swem, fisant- en tarentaal-kleintjies asook insekte, slange, visse en krappe.

Hulle eet nie kuikens nie, vertel Elize, maar sy kry gereeld dooie dagoud kuikens, wat sy dan oopsny, vir haar hospitaalpasiënte om te eet.

Gebruik tog omgewingsvriendelike gif, het Elize gepleit. Gewone rotgif het 'n langdurige werking en maak nie net die muis dood nie, maar ook die uil wat hom vreet.

Die vroue van die VLV het lekker geglimlag oor die feit dat die uilmannetjie niks mooier as die wyfie is nie, al dra sy meer gewig (omdat sy die broeityd op die eiers sit en die mannetjie aanhou jag).

Kontak Elize by tel (023) 230-0639 vir inligting oor uile.

* The "owl woman" of Tulbagh recently addressed the Klein Drakenstein VLV in Paarl.

'n VOORAANSTAANDE inwoner van Wellington is deur die hof verplig om skadevergoeding van R100 000 te betaal nadat twee eisers 'n seksueel oordraagbare siekte opgedoen het.

Boetie Theron en sy huidige vrou Gertruida, het die eis van Chris Bellingan van Bellville en sy vriendin, die tweede eiser Rosemary de Beer, teengestaan.

De Beer moes na bewering as gevolg van die toestand  ginekologiese behandeling ondergaan.

Landdros Patrick Ross van Wellington het by 'n vorige verskyning voor hom die partye aangesê om mediese toetse te ondergaan.

Die doktersondersoeke was vir 26 Maart vanjaar gereël, maar die afsprake het nie gerealiseer nie.

Theron het ook nie voor die finale datum, 16 April, verweer geopenbaar of op die eis gepleit nie.

Landdros Ross het Vrydag verlede week die vonnis by verstek toegestaan.

'n Lasbrief is uitgevaardig waarby die balju beslag kan lê op bates ter waarde van R100 000, die maksimum-eis wat in 'n landdroshof toegestaan kan word.

Intussen sal 'n aansoek, deur Theron gebring, vandag in die Kaapse Hooggeregshof aangehoor word.

Deur middel van sy regsverteenwoordigers beroep Theron hom op die Wet op Kwelsugtige Gedinge en wou daarmee verhoed dat die saak in die landdroshof voortgaan.

Hulle is egter voorgespring deur Bellingan en De Beer se regsverteenwoordiger, Johan Matthee van Matthee en Vennote van Malmesbury.

Theron kan nou in die landdroshof met beëdigde verklarings en goeie rede aansoek doen vir die tersydestelling van die vonnis van R100 000.

Dié voormalige Wellingtonnner van die Jaar en jarelange eienaar van Boland Drukpers, was in 2002 ook in die nuus met die beweerde verdwyning van 'n familielid, Pierre de Vries.

De Vries het glo in 2000 vermis geraak kort nadat hy 'n erflating van Marina Theron, sy tante by wie hy voor haar dood ingewoon het, ontvang het.

*A prominent Wellington business- man has been sued for R100 000 by claimants who contrtacted a disease.