Bela-Bela SuperSpar is open 3 All indications are that there should be no loadshedding over Christmas. However, the Eskom management wishes to caution otherwise. — Read full story on Page 3 — Graphic illustration Lesley Barnard 14 December, 2018 2 Website: diepos.co.za NEWS Politics continued to characterise the region FEBRUARY: Modimolle-Mookgophong May was the passing of celebrated sharply on the appointment of The BEAT Team Mayor Marlene van Staden painted a gloomy photojournalist Sam Nzima. Modimolle’s Thandi Moraka as provincial picture of the water supply challenges in the At The BEAT we got reporters to relate their MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture. The highlight of the political landscape in the area. own personal experinces of Nzima, with SEPTEMBER: Heritage Month seemed Waterberg during the year 2018 was perhaps In another trending story, the DA questioned reference to a wortkshop he had conducted for to have put a lull on political activity in the time the DA was sent packing from Bela- Waterberg District Executive Mayor Morris among others, our own team. the region, at least as far as the pages of Bela’s Ward 9, by the ANC during by-elections Mataboge’s top-of-the-range official Mercedes For the uninitiated, Sam Nzima is the The BEAT were concerned. held in the month of July. Benz GL SUV. photographer who took the picture of the OCTOBER: This was a sombre month in Boetie Maname received a slight majority to MARCH: The BEAT ran with a story titled first victim of the 1976 Soweto which the Waterberg mourned the passing nudge the DA’s Eddie Aschendorf from the “Cyril’s local touch”, based on the appointment uprisings, Hector Peterson. of homegirl and Environmental Minister hotly-contested by-elections. of four Limpopo politicians into the Cabinet. In the picture is the dying Peterson Edna Molewa. Andreas Mwambo of the Economic Freedom They were namely Pinky Kekana, Dipuo carried in the arms of an older Bela-Bela ANC Youth League activist, Fighters (EFF) came out a distant third. Letsatsi-Duba, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and schoolboy, Mbuyisa Makhubu, with Mantsetsi Thiyo, was also laid to rest JANUARY: The BEAT ran with a headline Cassel Mathale. Peterson’s then schoolgirl sister, the during the same month. suggesting that many white folk were likely to APRIL: The Bela-Bela Local Municipality weeping Antoinette Sithole running NOVEMBER: This month was when consider voting for the ANC following the unveiled newly-appointed managers geared at hysterically alongside. community-based leaders named and triumph of Cyril Ramaphosa at the Nasrec capacitating service delivery. JUNE: Jamaican Rastaman and dub/ shamed allegedly corrupt councillors in elective conference in December 2017. Also in the news was Bela-Bela Local rhythmn poet Mutabaruka swept through Bela-Bela. Ramaphoria was at the time sweeping Council Chief Whip, Henrietta Ledwaba, when Modimolle, dishing out his ever DECEMBER: As the curtain was about through the land like a whirlwind. she paid a moving tribute to the late Struggle controversial political statements. to fall over the year 2018, there were The other local narrative was that Bela-Bela stalwart, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, ex-wife JULY: Boetie Maname emerges as the threats by the Limpopo Government to homegirl, Pinky Kekana, was elected into the to the iconic Nelson Mandela. new Bela-Bela Ward 9 councillor. dissolve the DA-led Modimolle- all-powerful ANC NEC. MAY: The political narrative in the month of AUGUST: The DA and the ANC differ Mookgophong Local Municipality. Statutory rape case referred to the NPA Threesome arrested after The victim has since given birth to a high-speed car chase Lizzy Bapela child. on the run — offered a lift to a hitch-hiker. The case was opened by a social worker TK Mashaba The four occupants then stopped the car A case of the alleged rape of a mentally- from Mookgophong on Friday 8 June, and robbed the hitch-hiker of his mobile challenged minor by a likewise mentally- after being alerted by members of the Three suspects who were rounded up at the phone. challanged suspect has been referred to the community. end of a high-speed car chase were The four suspects, Van Zyl said, then National Prosecuting Authority for a Limpopo provincial police spokesperson, expected to appear before the Bela-Bela abandoned the victim, taking a U-turn and decision. Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, said the social Magistrate’s Court mid-week. speeding towards Bela-Bela. The 47-year-old suspect was released worker opened the case on behalf of the Kgomotso Mokebe (34), Jacob Kgosana The victim was able to seek help, which from the Mookgophong Magistrate’s victim and the suspect was subsequently (43) and Victor Lebelo (46) were arrested at ended up with the Rooiberg police giving Court on warning. arrested on Wednesday 21 November. the scene of a car crash in Bela-Bela. chase. He stands accused of violating and The suspect was due for court on Tuesday According to Bela-Bela SAPS The three suspects crashed the getaway impregnating a minor, at the time she was 22 January 2019, but that the matter was spokesperson, Sergeant Hester van Zyl, it car, after attempting to beat a roadblock in 14 years old. now in the hands of the NPA. all started in Modimolle with the occupants Bela-Bela. of the car — allegedly among them the They were arrested by the police in Bela- arrested threesome and a fourth suspect still Bela. A Merry Christmas for firefighters offspring Lizzy Bapela Children of firefighters based at the Rooiberg Bawaria Base will this year have a really Merry Christmas, flowing from cash vouchers awarded to each child. Base manager Annelie Becker said it was decided that the end-of-year celebrations in 2018 would be used to spread cheer among the children of members of the Working on Fire (WoF) team. A total of 25 firefighters from the Department of Environmental Affairs’ initiative, Working on Fire (WoF) Limpopo, are based at the Rooiberg base. Children accompanying their parents to the 2018 year-end function held on Friday 30 November were each offered a voucher worth R300. The base has been in operation for three years, but has been hailed as a life-saver in terms of firefighting operations throughout the Waterberg. The children accompanying their parents to the event returned with goodies for the holidays. Photo: Lizzy Bapela Contact us Code of Conduct Audit Copyright Accounts This newspaper subscribes to the Code of Ethics The reproduction or broadcast without written permission of any Tel: 014 736 2723 and Conduct for South African Print and Online material published in Die Pos/The Post and its supplements is Media that prescribes news that is truthful, forbidden and expressly reserved to Upfront Events Two (PTY) Ltd, under section 12(7) of the Copyright Act, 1978 and any amendment Classifieds accurate, fair and balanced. If we don’t live up to thereof. Die Pos/The Post is typographically prepared, published and Tel: 014 736 2723 014 736 2723/014 717 1774 the Code, within 20 days of the date of publication distributed by Upfront Events Two (PTY) Ltd and is printed by Caxton Fax: 014 736 3428 of the material, please contact the Public Advocate Printers, 14 Wright Street, Industria, Johannesburg. Sales at 011 484 3612, fax: 011 4843619. You can also Address: 014 736 2723/014 717 1774 contact our Case Officer on Die Pos/The Post: 7 Minnaar Street, Minnaar Street 7 [email protected] Tel: (014) 736 2723, Fax: (014) 736 3428, Bela-Bela Editorial or lodge a complaint on our PO Box 16, Warmbaths. 0480 014 736 2723/014 717 1774 website: www.presscouncil.org.za E-mail: [email protected]. Editor: Keina Swart. 14 December, 2018 Website: diepos.co.za NEWS 3 Shop ’till you drop at re-opened Bela-Bela SuperSpar Nostalgic memories were the order of the day when Bela- Bela’s SuperSpar finally re-opened its doors to shoppers on Wednesday 12 December. The original store went up in flames ahead of the festive season in the year 2017, leaving management, workers and shoppers in limbo. The re- opening of SuperSpar was also expected to ease off the anticipated grocery stores’ congestion over the Christmas holidays this year in the tourist town. Photos: Herman Steyn Loadshedding knife-edge Residents now Mzamane share the scarce Ringane necessity that is water, through a rotational process The much-loved which allows all reindeer-drawn sections of town sleigh of Santa and Phagameng to Claus is likely to have access to deliver bagsful of water at stipulated sporadic incidents periods. of load-shedding Residential areas and some rain. in Phagameng While Public experienced what is Enterprises widely known as Minister Pravin “water shedding” Gordhan recently for two days, and promised there was only receive pro-active work supplies about 12 being done to avoid hours on the third load-shedding from day. Saturday 15 These areas December, but include Ou-kasie Eskom has chosen (old location), to caution Phomolong and otherwise. Mandela section. The bulk power In downtown supply unitility’s Modimolle, the spokesperson, outage occurs for a Khulu Phasiwe, was day, with water this week on record being restored the cautioning that next day and so should there be Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink. Photo: Mzamane Ringane forth. “unexpected” At extension 12 breakdowns at Against this background, households Weather Service forecast for Modimolle, Modimolle residents are already seeing a and Extension 13 power stations, a from across the Waterberg continue to be Bela-Bela and Mookgophong was mostly glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.