Lynette Louw
Both teams of Barberton Rugby Club were triumphant in their matches against Malelane on Saturday at Coronation Park. However, the long break of four weeks in league matches, clearly took its toll on the teams.
Together with Nelspruit, White River and Belfast, Barberton and Malelane are battling it out for top position and with only three matches remaining, anything could still happen.
Although there were many handling errors 'and the medics worked full time attending to unfit players strewn over the field, Barberton were clearly the better team. They managed to clinch the match in their favour, 43-15 after leading 17-8 at half-time, scoring six tries which also gave them the bonus points they needed.
The games started at a slow pace and it was only after approximately 30 minutes that Barberton's Sean Westcott put the first three points on the scoreboard with a penalty kick.
Malelane retaliated by scoring the first try of the match when Nicky Kritzinger dived over the goal line four minutes later. Barberton did not take this lying down and scored two tries within the next six minutes, one by Dane Heyneke and the other by a clearly ecstatic
Dante Boehme. Westcott converted both. Malelane managed to add another three points to their total just before the half-time whistle blew when Patrick Hanningan succeeded in a penalty kick.
The visiting team started the second half with more fire and were rewarded with a try when Kritzinger managed to score his second. Hanningan added the two points. This was, however, the last time they could break through the tight Barberton defence line.
Barberton on the other hand smelt blood and kept driving their opponents back again and again. Four more tries were scored. The first was by Andro Venter and the second by Karel Theunissen who came onto the field as a substitute. Westcott scored another try and the last nail in the coffin was hammered in by Dane Heyneke when he dived over the goal line. Westcott converted three of the four tries. Thinus Breedt, coach, said this was sweet revenge although they also managed to win their first match against Malelane, which was played at the Mbombela Stadium, in the dying minutes of the game, with 36-32 in April. The second team won their match with 41-0 after leading 22-0 at half-time. Malelane didn't get a chance to score and it was clear from early on in the match that they'd lost all confidence. Barberton on the other hand kept
the tries rolling in.
Seven tries were scored - two by Jaco Strydom and Jurgens van Staden and one each by Karel Theunissen, Wimpie Koekemoer and Blessing Zulu. Banie van Aswegen converted
two and Donovan Wiehlan one.
No matches take place this coming Saturday due to the InniBos festival and Barberton will travel to Nelspruit on July 9 for their second clash against Nelspruit.
Richard Nkosi
The Barberton police are investigating a suspected criminal syndicate believed to be behind a string of robberies that recently took place at businesses in town.
On Friday, June 17, three armed robbers attacked and robbed the Nashua Mobile shop. They escaped with R1 400 in cash and two cellphones. The value of the cellphones, which were supposed to be collected by customers, were approximately R12 000.
Sibongile Mavuso, Nashua sales consultant, said she was alone inside the shop when three gunmen approached her at about 08:30, soon after opening for business.
"I opened the door at around 07:55 and helped two clients. One was experiencing a problem with his cellphone and the other came to collect his. After they left, three men wearing caps entered the shop, pulled out
weapons and ordered me to keep quiet," she said. They asked her how many people were inside the shop and she told them two, although one was not in the shop at that specific time. "One pointed a firearm at me while the other two ransacked the shop." said a clearly traumatised Mavuso
This is the second robbery in the space of a week in the area. In the previous edition of Barberton Times we reported a similar robbery at Morkels.
Const Tutu Nkosi, police spokesman, said the police suspect the robberies were connected. "Their tactics were similar and we are investigating the possibility," she said.
She warned business owners and staff to be on the alert when they open and close their businesses for the day.
"If they see any suspicious vehicles or people they must not hesitate to contact the police immediately."
Six Mahlalela family members are lucky to be alive, following a fire that gutted their three-room shack last Tuesday in Ext 14 in Emjindini. The fire left them homeless with nowhere to go during this cold time of the year.
The fire was allegedly started by a candle that fell over in one of the rooms around 02:00.
The mother, Victoria Khoza (38) said they lost everything and were left with only the clothes they were wearing.
Unemployed Khoza shared the shack with her husband Paulos Mahlalela (40) and four children, Derrick (18), Foster (16), Innocent (7) and Ntando (12). Fortunately no one was seriously injured during the blaze, but damaged is estimated at R70 000. Derrick sustained minor injuries to his left arm and was admitted to the Barberton General Hospital but discharged the same morning.
Besides the pittance Paulos earns on a farm where he is a tractor driver, supplemented by social grants for Ntando and Innocent, they have no other form of income. The children, who are all at school, lost all their uniforms,
books, textbooks and even birth certificates. Derrick (grade nine) and Foster (grade eight) attend Emjindini High and Ntando (grade seven) and Innocent (grade one) Sikhutsele Primary.
"We lost all our belongings in less than an hour. We don't know what we're going to do now," Khoza said, who was found by Barberton Times sitting on a chair warming herself at a fire while neighbours and friends were trying to salvage some of the damaged materials to re-erect the shack.
She said luckily they woke up and managed to escape the blaze. Neighbours assisted them
in trying to extinguish the fire. The situation was exacerbated by the unavailability of running water at the stand and they had to use water from the trenches dug in the street by the municipality which was busy installing sanitation in the area. The Umjindi fire brigade was called but battled to reach the scene quickly because of the trenches.
Anyone willing to make donations to the family can contact Paulos on 083-359-2460 or 083-543-9127.
Disgruntled residents of Ext 14 in Emjindini said the only way to avoid fires destroying their shacks was to build RDP houses with properly installed electricity. This year alone, residents claimed that no less than 10 shacks have been gutted by fire. They felt betrayed as promises made by the Umjindi Council last year that they will all have access to electricity by the end of May 2011, had not been kept and accused the council of dragging its feet.
A tender to bid for the electrification of Ext 14, phase two came out in July 2010. Currently electricity meter boxes have been installed in almost every house, but most have not yet been switched on, but for a chosen few.
Zandile Bhiya said Rebecca Manyisa, former councillor of the ward, told them in February that if a household can pay a deposit of R200 the 'council will be able to switch on the electricity. The full amount for installation is R465. Bhiya aid she paid the ,deposit in May but has received no electricity to date.
Busisiwe Sibiya said she paid the full amount in May but is also still waiting for her electricity.
"I went to the municipality to enquire about the delay but was told
that the owner of the stands has to make the enquiry. I explained to them that he was in hospital and can't walk as he is terminally ill. They were quite willing to take my money and didn't need the owner of the stand then," she said. The situation has left the residents no choice but to conduct illegal electricity connections from the adjacent Ext 14, an area with access to water, electricity, housing and sanitation. Sizwe Mabena said they will continue stealing water and electricity until the council provided proper services.
"We were promised services but now we're told to wait for another few months," said Mabena who has illegal electricity and a tampered water pipe connection at his stand. Samuel Jele, Umjindi spokesman said the delay was caused by the supplier of the materials needed. He gave the assurance that the project will be completed in the next two months or so.
"We ask residents to be patient. Once the project reached completion we will switch the electricity on," he said.
After last year's successful Kohin youth week it was decided to repeat it this year.
It was recently held with the theme, "Celebrating life together we will rise".
According to Celia Joubert, Kohin youth worker, the aim this year was to reach the greater community of Barberton, both young and old. The purpose was to:
Positive social activities were introduced in order for the youth to get off the streets and use their time proactively. "The intention is to help them realise that they play an important role in their individual and community transformation processes," she said.
The event addressed various social issues. The language of the young people is social networking and role modelling, good morals, and acceptable standards in the community. The Kohin-Acts team played a major role in ensuring that the message was carried across effectively as they performed every day and at every venue that was arranged for productions in the schools and community.
"Our schedule took us to five external schools which included Gateway Christian School, Barberton Academy, Kamhola High, Emjindini
High and Barberton Secondary. All were incredible!"
The week also served as a platform for the youth to showcase their talents. This initiative was very effective and crossed the cultural boundaries in town. Three local choirs, Exalters, Umjindi Youth Collaboration and Bayethe, blessed the community with their self-composed youth-week theme song while the Aquila band added to it with a night of worship. Learners of Fairview Primary brought in a cultural facet which amazed the community as they stood up and applauded with much enthusiasm and awe.
"These are some of the positive youth events that will continue with the momentum fashioned by the Kohin-Acts team and will continue changing the negative mindset of the youth in Barberton into a positive understanding that they have hope and vision for the future."
Celia expressed her thanks to all the helpers who had made the week a huge success.
