Thursday 8 October 2020 FREE NEWS YOU CAN USE Naval Hill issues persist Sazly Hartzenberg [email protected] More than a year after Bloemfontein Courant visited the old dilapidated backpackers building at the bottom of Naval Hill, residents in the area are at their wits’ end regarding the living conditions of the squatters and how the situation is affecting them. Residents in the area spoke to Bloemfontein Courant on condition of anonymity. One resident said it’s been going on for a couple of years. “We have complained over time to various departments as well as to the police, yet nothing has come of it.” She explained that many times during the night she hears the helpless cries of females. It also appears as if squatters have been occupying various spots on Naval Hill and it seems as if they cannot be removed. “I have seen how they knock down trees to use as wood and burn plastic, which is toxic for us living here.” According to her the whole setup there is unhygienic for people. Another resident who lives at one of the complexes close to backpackers building, said it is extremely unfair to be paying to live in her flat while she is subjected to the smell of smoke and the noise of the squatters every night. “They use part of the veld as a toilet, so it smells terrible. I also feel so uncomfortable when standing at my garage as they shout at me to get my attention for money or water, or simply just stare at me.” She asked how can this be happening The living conditions inside the old at the foot of a tourist attraction; it is so backpackers building at Naval Hill in messy, smells like dagga and the squatters Bloemfontein. Smoke from the fires on Naval Hill. can be heard coughing nonstop. Another resident raised questions about to the municipality but nothing has been “We are not criminals. We are a group job opportunities to prove ourselves to the safety of the people in the vicinity and done as yet. of normal people with normal aspirations society. Some of the guys are plumbers complained about the continuous fires Squatters have told Bloemfontein and normal challenges.” and some are builders. We just need to being made in the veld. He said that four Courant previously that they have nothing They have also blamed the municipality be given a chance,” one of the squatters men have been living there, and now there to do with the crimes being committed and the department of social development said. are also women and children. He is in in the area. They said that although the for the conditions they were forced to live Bloemfontein Courant asked the agreement with residents saying that they police always harass them, most of them in. municipality for comment, but received no have called the police and tried to speak are very peace loving citizens. “All we want is proper housing and response at the time of going to print. 2 Gemeenskap • Community Bloemfontein Courant • 8 October 2020 Local gin gets gold at Michelangelo awards Nomaqhawe Mtebele happen to make lovely gin. It’s amazing [email protected] that our product is being recognised for how great it is,” she explained. KolleGin, a local gin made by four friends, KolleGin received a gold medal under has been awarded a gold Michelangelo the gin category after scoring no less than International Wine & Spirits Award medal. 89 points out of 100 during a blind tasting The group of women started brewing of the beverage by the award’s panel of colourful craft gin that comes in various judges. The brand makes gin in different flavours in 2019 and have since even flavours including a blue coloured “original begun exporting the beverage beyond our juniper” and pink “rosé” but it was the shores. brown hued “rooibos” flavour also infused The Michelangelo International Wine with honey that won the judges over. & Spirits Awards was established in “We could only enter one of our flavours, 1997 to offer South African producers so we chose rooibos because it’s so the opportunity of having their wines distinctly South African. So, having it adjudicated locally by a highly experienced recognised, will open up more doors for and respected panel of professionals the brand overseas,” said Oosthuizen. from around the globe. Since 2003 the The mommies have started exporting the competition has received an increasing handcrafted gin to Germany where the number of entries from international wine spirit has been eagerly welcomed. producers. The competition remains KolleGin has also been well received unique in South Africa, in that all judges locally with booming sales in boutiques KolleGin is a local range of colourful and flavour infused gin made by four friends and moms and has are hand-picked wine experts, representing around Bloemfontein and online. been awarded a gold Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Award medal. From left to right: Erina Oosthuizen expressed that despite all seven continents. Cillié, Annel Oosthuizen, Elani Pretorius and Elizma Maritz. KolleGin’s Annel Oosthuizen, expressed lockdown the brand has been able to her excitement over the brand winning the expand because it caused more people to opportunities to expand your brand. We scared to buy online but now, they see that prestigious award. “We are so proud and embrace buying online. started a non-alcoholic range during this it’s a reliable way to get what they want,” excited because we are just mothers who “In lockdown there were actually lots of time. I think before lockdown people were she said. Miss FS SA to be crowned next year Pierce van Heerden vision for 2020 was very neutral. [email protected] We envisioned to portray and highlight the fact that it doesn’t The Miss Free State SA matter what race, colour, beauty pageant, which helps language, abilities or even to empower and uplift young disabilities, you might have, we women, will only be crowning stand together and unite as a their new winner in 2021. This powerful team. Alone you can comes after long discussions achieve so much in life, but with the management team, together you are stronger, more who has decided to carry the powerful and have a louder 2020 title over to 2021. This is voice for what you believe in. So due to the limited time spent and for 2021, we decided that we will contact the organisation had be bold, fierce and full of colour,” One of the graduates, Kim Sauer who with the current finalists as a said Koupis. Petrus Terblanche obtained his obtained a qualification in BA corporate Octavia Makhetha, who obtained a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2020 finalists have been qualification in BSc Quantity surveying marketing LLB degree The crowning is set to working non-stop and have take place in May next year been keeping themselves and the public can expect busy with tasks and virtual Virtual graduations kick off at UFS extravagance and excellence projects. “We also have several as the organisation never workshops and judging is Heidre Malgas from the three UFS campuses are to than when they have first began disappoints and always dreams planned for the end of the year, [email protected] be virtually awarded undergraduate their studies. bigger. Yolande Koupis told all depending on the state of the and postgraduate qualifications During the four days the Bloemfontein Courant that Miss current pandemic, but we are Graduation season is upon us and over a period of four days as graduation ceremonies are taking Free State SA as a whole will optimistic and excited for what’s with the many factors contributing an alternative to the traditional place, qualifications are awarded never back up, never let go and ahead of us,” concluded Koupis. to students not being physically ceremonies, which are impossible to students in the form of higher no matter what challenges they Keep an eye out and follow able to attend their graduation, due to Covid-19 regulations. and advanced certificates, national face, together they will unite their journey on social media at the University of the Free State is A few students have taken to professional, advanced certificates, and come out stronger. “Our Miss Free State SA. still providing them with a special social media to express how they national professional, advanced, ceremony to celebrate their special feel: Octavia Makhetha says she and postgraduate diplomas, day. is from a small town in the south bachelor’s degrees; postgraduate A virtual graduation ceremony of the Free State called Smithfield, certificates; bachelor’s honours has been held on 6 October 2020 and she has studied for her LLB at degrees; and master’s and and will continue until the end of the the University since 2015 - 2019. doctoral degrees in faculties such week. She has especially enjoyed Family as Economic and Management According to the Rector and Law, Law of Delict, Admin Law and Science, Education, Health Science, Vice-Chancellor of the University Jurisprudence at campus. Humanities, Law, Natural and of the Fee State, Prof. Francis Another graduate, Teboho Khiba, Agricultural Sciences and Theology Petersen, this may perhaps not be says he is a postgraduate student and religion. the graduation day the students in the Department of Sociology. They are making the most of an have envisaged, however, like He holds a degree in Sociology unprecedented ceremony. Students, all graduations, it is a celebratory and Languages and is graduating families and friends are able to event that marks the culmination with his Postgraduate Certificate in use the UFS’s YouTube channel to of the hard work, dedication and Education.