Neighbourly Notes – 29 September 2016

MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN: Nadia (nee Swart) and Kunle Omiduso were married on Saturday and held their reception at the Halyards Hotel. We wish them all the best as they continue life as man and wife. Picture: JADE ANN PHOTOGRAPHY
MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN: Nadia (nee Swart) and Kunle Omiduso were married on Saturday and held their reception at the Halyards Hotel.  We wish them all the best as they continue life as man and wife. Picture: JADE ANN PHOTOGRAPHY

ON October 2 1996, the very first edition of your favourite community newspaper, Talk of the Town, hit the streets. Throughout those 20 years we have attempted to keep Ndlambe and Makana residents and visitors up to date with all the latest local news, and have become the primary local news source in the area. With this in mind, Talk of the Town, its management and staff, would like to sincerely thank all our advertisers and readers for their genuine interest with the “goings on” in all our distribution areas, and their fantastic and continued input that has made us successful as your community newspaper.

AND, on the subject of anniversaries, the world-wide Scouts movement is celebrating 100 years this year, and a special variety show is scheduled at Port Alfred High School for Friday this week, with a Saturday matinee performance the following day. Tickets are just R20 for adults and R10 for children, and funds raised will go toward life jackets for the children to enable them to attain their Sea Scouts badges. This is a worthwhile endeavour, and special thanks must go to all those who have assisted in putting on the performance, especially Akela, Dot Fetherstonhaugh, whose tireless and endless efforts in promoting Scouts in the area have become somewhat legendary. So, get to the Port Alfred High School at 6.30pm on Friday or 2.30pm on Saturday for a fun-filled time and support local Scouting.

WE are still faced with student protests at many of our higher learning institutions around the country, where student representative councils have distanced themselves from the violent acts of what they regard as “just a handful” of disgruntled individuals. However, several universities have threatened to or have actually shut their doors, leaving students no facility to study for their all-important qualifications. If an entire year is lost due to this, then South Africa will undoubtedly suffer in the long run. However, the many students who cannot afford (either financially or in terms of time) to sit through another year of academia will ultimately suffer the most.

WHILE on the subject of university violence, a young activist at the University of Cape Town, Slovo Magida, who was banned from the university’s campus for violent behaviour as well as burning “colonial” paintings (some of which were painted by black artists) is appealing for his ban to be lifted. He is a contradiction in that Magida wishes to pursue opera, possibly the greatest cultural influence of the West, abroad, but will not qualify for a visa if he has a criminal record. Magida says he has no regrets with what he has done, but the mildly schizophrenic former student does not understand the hypocrisy of his actions. Yet, perhaps it would be better if he gets his visa so he can leave.

OH dear, will the SABC never learn? The reappointment of Hlaudi Motseoneng as group executive of corporate affairs at the public broadcaster flies directly in the face of the Supreme Court of Appeals’ ruling that Motseoneng’s previous appointment as Chief Operating Officer was irrational and illegal. Although some – mostly recording artists and local TV personalities – have applauded Motseoneng as a visionary for his stance on supporting local content on all SABC TV and radio stations, his reappointment to any position within the SABC, and the fact that the Public Protector, Thulisile Madonsela, is investigating him, does not seem to have deterred his supporters. Motseoneng himself has not been silent on the matter, and gave a defiant if rather arrogant and inappropriate dressing down to the media at the funeral of kwaito star Mandoza recently. The SABC has already lost credibility among many for its stance, promoted by Motseoneng, of censoring the news, but reappointing him as Chief Operating Officer still looks likely to happen when the post is re-advertised.

BEST wishes and happy birthday greetings to everyone having a birthday in the week ahead, especially Jongisipho Matthews, Gill Wansell, James Viedge, Jacques Swanepoel, Martha Voorvelt, Layton Hilpert, Fernando Gallant, Margaret Foulkes, Reay Squires, Megan Hobson, Bronwyn Fick, Donnae Colesky, Peter Beaumont, Sean Cullen, Dennis Laubser, Jenny Henning, Heather Rowe, Chase Dell, Pat Wilson, Jax Taskov, Gordon Japp, Shaun Wilken, Ingrid Griffiths, Jim Fox, Pieter Steenkamp, Ava Beukes, Franco Klopper, Di Cockcroft, Zoe Wille, Basil Solz, Penny Maddocks, Peter Larkin, Ingrid Griffiths, Dylan Murray, Ava Beukes, Melissa du Randt, Wendy Mills, Mark Pauls, Tanya Jacobs, Roy de Wet, Yvonne McDonald and Dalene du Toit.

EVERY success for many more years to follow are the wishes we convey to the following businesses and organisations on another anniversary, especially Flower Boutique, Feathers Farm, Kwaaihoek Builders, Alpha Dry Cleaners, Tyre Mart, The Fig and Daisy, Wharf Street Fruit and Veg and Wally’s Motors.

THE rand is holding its own against most international currencies, and the price of Brent crude is still hovering around the $45 per barrel mark this week. This is a good thing for imports and has assisted in generating positive returns for several industrial sectors. However, we have been warned that the drought experienced throughout the country this year will have a very negative effect on the economy by the end of the year. With last year’s in brackets to compare against, the rand was trading at R13.58 to the dollar (R13.82), R17.66 to the pound (R20.98) and R15.22 to the euro (R15.52). Commodities were trading with gold at $1 325.71 per fine ounce ($1 123.27), Platinum at $1 029.30 per ounce ($923.00) and Brent crude oil at $46.43 per barrel ($47.96).

SPECIAL thoughts and prayers are with all those folk who are not well, who are having or have already had tests, operations and treatments. “Sterkte” to Roy Potter, Andrew de Vries, June Hart, Linda Hulley, Val Kilian, Ben Kember, Blake Squires, Llewellyn Wicks, Philly Dell, Myrna Keet, Barbara Tee, Bevan Edwards and Brenda Shelton.

HAPPY wedding anniversary congratulations to Anton and Annelien Gouws, Adrian and Cathleen Clarence, Loua and Devon Coetzee, Jonathan and Jenny Lyn (Tuppy) Timm, Des and Liz Cooper, Terence and Doreen McCarthy.

THE Boks take on the Wallabies on Saturday at Loftus Versveld, Pretoria and, given South Africa’s poor showing at this year’s Rugby Championship, the game is more about pride than points. However, Loftus is never an easy stadium for visitors, and this might be the best chance the Boks will have to win one of the last remaining games. The last will be against the All Blacks at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban on September 8, and there is little chance the Boks will match the power and speed of the team that has already won the championship for this year.

THOUGHT for the week: “We fluctuate long between love and hatred before we can arrive at tranquillity”.

BEST regards as always,
The Team.