Month: January 2021

Stand van die damme in die Wes-Kaap

Die damvlakke van die voorsieningskanaal van die Wes-Kaap het Maandag op 85.4% gestaan, in vergelyking met verlede week se 87.4% en verlede jaar dieselfde tyd se 72%.
Die Bergrivier se vlak het Maandag op 86.1% gestaan. Verlede week het die damvlak op 88% gestaan en verlede jaar dieselfde tyd op 86%.
Die Laer-Steenbras is nou 80.5% vol, in vergelyking met verlede week se 82% en verlede jaar se 79.1%.
Die Theewaterskloofdam het Maandag op 88.4% gestaan. Verlede week was die dam 90.1% vol en 65.2% verlede jaar op dieselfde tyd. Die Wemmershoekdam was Maandag 86.2% vol, waar dit verlede week op 87.8% gestaan het. Verlede jaar was die dam dieselfde tyd 73.5% vol.
Die Voëlvleidam was Maandag 81% vol. Verlede week het die dam se vlak op 82.7% gestaan en verlede jaar op 73.5%.
Bron: www.capetown.gov.za

Die Voëlvleidam, die Swartland se enigste voorsiener van water, se waters maak golwe soos dit teen die damwal slaan. Sien die stand van die damme binne.
Foto: Samuel Walters

Benefits of using Solar

Solar energy is obtained from the sun’s radiation and it can be converted to electricity or heat. It is freely available and thanks to advances in technology, we can now harness even more of the solar energy that is continuously available to us.

Here are 7 benefits related to this renewable source of energy.

Impact on the Environment
Benefits of Solar EnergySolar energy has the least negative impact on the environment compared to any other energy source. It does not produce greenhouse gases and does not pollute the water. It also requires very little water for its maintenance, unlike nuclear power plants for example, needing 20 times more water. Solar energy production does not create any noise, which is major benefit, since a lot of solar installations are in urban areas, such as domestic solar panels.

Reduce Your Energy Bill
Generating your own electricity means that you will be using less from the utility supplier. This will immediately translate to savings on your energy bill. Plus, you can also make money by selling the unused electricity, which you have generated, back to the grid. Through solar panel grants offered, you can make your green investment even more beneficial.

The more energy you produce, the less you will need from the supplier which will increase your energy self reliance.

Energy Production during Peak Hours
Advantages of Solar EnergyEnergy demand tends to be higher in the 11:00-16:00 time frame and then early in the evening. Naturally, this is the period when the price of the electricity peaks. Solar energy happens to reach its maximum production capacity during those hours.

Electricity produced at that time has higher value than if it was generated at night. With the additional electricity input of solar energy, prices in those time frames could be driven down to a level close to those of night hours.

Solar Energy Is Applicable Everywhere
As long as there is sunshine, solar energy can be deployed anywhere. This is particularly useful for remote regions with no access to any other source of electricity. There is a vast amount of people around the world with no access to electricity.

Independent solar systems could be deployed in those regions and improve the lives of millions of people. Moreover, solar energy is also used to power up spacecrafts and boats.

Less Electricity Lost During Long-Distance Transport
Pros of Solar EnergySome of the energy, around 3-5%, is lost during transportation and distribution. The longer the distances between the production and the supply points, the more energy is lost. Those losses might not seem significant but they can influence the performance of the installation in regions with high population density.

Having solar panels on the roof or in the yard significantly reduces this distance, therefore increasing the efficiency of the solar panels.

Improves Grid Security
The grid is less vulnerable to blackouts if there are many power plants which are spread out. A grid with high penetration of solar energy has thousands of energy production centres which are widely spread out. This improves the security of the grid in case of overload, natural or human-caused disasters.

Job Creation
The are many advantages of solar energy, and another one is job creation. Large part of the cost associated with solar systems comes from the installation of the panels. This contributes to local job creation. Using solar systems boosts the economy and positively affects the local community.
Source: www.greenmatch.co.uk

Hoe gemaak met…Februarie in my tuin

Ja, die eerste maand van 2021 lê op sy rug en ons is al op pad na Februarie. Dit is ook die maand van die jaar waar ons as tuiniers bedag moet wees op die welstand van ons tuine, want dit is baie warm en droog.
Ek lees in DIE TUINIER van FEBRUARIE die volgende waarheid aangaande tuinmaak: “Daar was ‘n verskuiwing na waar ons nie meer plante bloot net vir die estetiese in ons huise inbring nie.
Tuinmaak het ‘n bewustheidsbeweging aan die gang gesit – ‘n beweging wat deur middel van grond kalmte en skuilte meebring.
As tuiniers glo ons dat daar ‘n verbintenis tussen die natuur en ons algemene welsyn is.
As jy dus nodig het om te ontspan, is dit tyd om jou hande vuil te maak omdat tuinmaak die begin van beter liggaamlike en emosionele gesondheid is.
Die tuinmaakfilosofie is daarop gerig om vir mense vreugde en vir plante gelukkige huise te gee. Kom ons maak saam tuin!
Hierdie tyd van die jaar moet ons nog veral op die uitkyk wees vir ‘n paar peste en plae.
Met die warm weer kan swamsiektes soos WITROES, SWARTVLEK & ROES nog gereeld sy kop uitsteek.
Daar is gelukkig heelwat produkte wat ons kan help om dit onder beheer te bring en verdere verspreiding te voorkom.
Probeer ook om jou plante nie laat in die aand nat te maak nie, dit kan net die siektes aanhelp, probeer vroegoggend of vroeg-namiddag nat te maak, dan kan die plante nog afdroog.
Nog ‘n plaag wat ook huidiglik baie bedrywig is in ons tuine, is die SNYBEKKEWER of ook “wingerdkalander” genoem.
Die plante se blare is vol klein merkies gevreet, veral op die rante van die blare. Hulle is lief vir ons sonrosies (echeveria’s), clivias, rose, asook verskeie ander plante en struike.
Hulle kom snags uit die grond uit en kan nogal vinnig groot verwoesting saai.
Gelukkig is daar goeie insekmiddels beskikbaar vir die klein kalant.
Met die warm en droë weer sal die ROOISPINNEKOP plantmyte ook nie vir ons laat rus nie, so ook nie die WITVLIEGIES nie. Ek weet ek het in ons vorige artikel van 25/11/2020 taamlik breedvoerig hieroor gesels, maar ek kry nog elke dag navrae in verband met die plae.
Ek moet net weer beklemtoon, bring ‘n voorbeeld saam as u kom navraag doen (plaas dit in ‘n verseëlde houer asseblief), maar bring ook ‘n lysie saam met watter produkte jy alreeds by die huis het, dit maak dit net makliker om vir jou die korrekte raad te gee.
Laastens wil ek graag ernstig praat oor die natmaak van ons tuine.
Sommige tuiniers dink dat as hulle vinnig deur die tuin gehardloop het met die tuinslang en die plante se blare sopnat gespuit het, dan is die plante nat genoeg.
Ek kry elke dag die vraag; “Hoe gereeld moet ek my plante nat maak?” of “Hoe baie water moet ek my plante, veral die in houers, gee?”
By plante in houers (ook die potplante binnenshuis) is die goue reël, voel met jou vinger hoe nat of klam die grond is.
Die Engelse het ‘n goeie gesegde; “You do the knuckle test”.
Dit wil sê, jy steek jou vinger tot by die eerste lit in die grond en voel. Indien dit nog goed klam is, gaan verby, maar indien dit droog is, gooi ORDENTLIK nat.
Indien die houerplant alreeds verlep is, is daar ‘n beter metode om dit deeglik nat te maak. Plaas die plant met houer en al (indien moontlik) in ‘n groter kom of emmer en gooi dit so nat dat die hele plantpot bedek is met water, laat dit so staan vir ± 30 minute, haal uit en laat eers deeglik afdrup, plaas dan weer op sy staanplek in sy drupbak.
Buite in die tuin is die modus operandi min of meer dieselfde.
Maak seker dat jou tuinslang ‘n spuitkop vooraan het wat sagte water op jou plante en grond laat val. Indien moontlik spuit plante van bo-af nat sodat die water deeglik in die grond kan intrek en spuit totdat die water staan om die plant. Dit gaan niks beteken as die blare blinknat is, maar die grond is nog nie deeglik nat nie.
‘n Nog beter metode is natuurlik ‘n deeglike besproeiingstelsel wat die water saggies en eweredig versprei.
‘n Ander opsie is ‘n klein “skilpad” mis-sproeier wat jy strategies plaas, sodat die water op al die gewenste plekke kan val (dit sluit grasperke in). Laat dit vir ten minste 15 tot 20 minute per keer spuit, dan is jou grond goed en diep nat, dan kan die plante dalk vir ‘n dag of wat oorleef.
Onthou: Koop plaaslik en sorg so vir jou eie gemeenskap.
Tuingroete tot 27 Februarie 2021.
George Retief

‘Deur saam te werk kan ons seëvier’

Uit die kantoor van die uitvoerende burgemeester van die Swartland Munisipaliteit – Raadsheer Tijmen van Essen
Maart 2020 – ons lewe verander handomkeer. Die virus is hier – ons is nie seker wat om te verwag en watter impak dit gaan hê nie.
Ons hou die nuus dop, sien die statistiek, mense word siek, sommige sterf, maar dit raak ons nie, want toe was dit net syfers op ‘n tabel.
Nou is dit 2021 – weer begin die getalle klim, maar hierdie keer is dit anders, hierdie keer is dit persoonlik.
Ons sien name wat ons ken, ons neem afskeid van familie, vriende, kollegas, bure. Op Facebook en WhatsApp sien ons daagliks boodskappe van medelye – nog iemand is weg.
Ons weet almal van iemand in kwarantyn, in isolasie, in die hospitaal.
Die virus is baie erg, ons is bekommerd, selfs bang. Ons bid, ons ondersteun, ons reik uit.
Vandag wil ons graag, uit die diepte van ons harte, aan elke persoon en familie wat as gevolg van hierdie virus iemand aan die dood afgestaan het, ons innige simpatie oordra.
Aan elke persoon of gesin wat in isolasie is, of was, wens ons beterskap toe. Wees verseker dat julle in ons gebede is.
Ons glo en vertrou dat die Swartland se mense, soos altyd, met Genade van ons Hemelse Vader, met ons sterk deursettingsvermoë en kenmerkende saamstaan gesindheid, hierdie vyand sal verslaan.
Wees veilig, dra julle maskers ten alle tye buite jul huise, was en saniteer gereeld, handhaaf sosiale afstand en bly so ver moontlik tuis. Deur saam te werk kan ons seëvier.

Namens die munisipale raad van die Swartland.

Covid-19 Vaccination

Sr Pienaar on vaccination:

I need it and my colleagues need it!
Early signs of the West Coast District reaching its COVID-19 peak in the second wave is at hand. Over the past seven days there has been an 18% decline in new cases of COVID-19 and a drop in people hospitalised.
Western Cape Government Health and other role-players who band together to beat the pandemic in this area yesterday received Premier Alan Winde and the MEC for Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, in Morreesburg and Vredendal.
If you live in the West Coast area, you will be tested for COVID-19:
• If you have COVID-19 symptoms (e.g. a loss of your sense of taste and smell, a sudden sore throat or fever). This includes healthcare workers and people living in communal spaces like old age homes, hostels or correctional facilities
• If you are awaiting surgery
• If you are a healthcare worker who have been in quarantine and by day 7 still do not have symptoms
• If you recovered from COVID-19 and 90 days later develop COVID-19 symptoms again

Support loved ones who are in hospital
Staying in touch with family members and friends while they are ill, is very important. If you have a loved one in hospital, identify one person that will call the hospital ward for an update on the patient’s well-being. This person can share the update with others who are concerned about the patient. If your loved one has a cell phone, make regular contact through sending messages and calling.

Increasing our protection through vaccination
We are embarking on the biggest vaccination programme of its kind as we prepare to receive 1 million doses of Covishield by the end of January and a further 500 000 in February.
Vaccines are an important part of keeping us safe and stopping the spread of COVID-19. Vaccines protects an individual, by reducing their risk of infection or the severity of their symptoms if they do become infected. When enough people have received the vaccine, they develop “herd or population immunity” which results in a low risk of the virus continuing to spread within that community.
To ensure the vaccine is safe and effective Covishield was tested on 11 636 participants. Only half of the group received the vaccine. Of those who received it, only 30 developed COVID-19. Of the other half who did not receive the vaccine, 101 people got COVID-19. It was noted that the 30 who were vaccinated and did become infected with COVID-19 were mildly ill and did not need hospitilisation and there were no deaths. Of the 101 who were not vaccinated, ten had to be hospitalised after getting COVID-19 and one passed away.
In preparing for the roll-out of the vaccine the Department is engaging with various role-players the first being healthcare workers and Labour Unions. Healthcare workers are the first group who will have the opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19. As part of the first engagements with staff, the Department asked staff to participate in a rapid poll. Of the 1 680 staff members who participated, 918 indicated they would take the vaccine.
For Sr Hanneke Pienaar of the Department’s Swartland Sub-district Office vaccination is a step in the right direction. She has seen the impact of the pandemic in clinics. She has held colleagues and friends who lost loved ones due to COVID-19. She has wept with patients and held her breath when hearing another colleague tested positive. Now it is time for change. “Vaccinations are the reason modern medicine have been able to contain so many diseases. It might still be a thin sliver of hope on the horizon, but it is hope. I am going to get immunized. I need it and my colleagues need it. For us to continue the battle, we need all the protection that is available.”
During the second phase of the roll out, essential workers and high risk groups will have the opportunity to be vaccinated. This includes people in congregate settings and people older than 60 years as well as people who are older than 18 years who have chronic conditions. In the third phase the broader population of persons older than 18 years can be vaccinated.

Malmesbury Liefde

SWARTLAND CARES

Calling all Swartlander’s! Support a frontline health care worker. Please donate a care package as a token of our appreciation for their efforts under very challenging circumstances. The number of care packages distributed to the hospitals and clinics in the participating towns will depend on the number of donations received.HOW DOES IT WORK?Put together a self-care package with a special note. Deliver the package to one of these tourism offices: Malmesbury, Riebeek-Kasteel, Moorreesburg, Darling,Yzerfontein and Piketberg.CARE PACKAGE DETAILS• Something for coffee break (cappuccino, 3-in-1 coffee sachets, or biscuits)• Something for energy (energy bar/ drink/ dried fruit/ nuts)• Something for tired hands (hand cream)• A personal note of encouragementThis is a joint project of the Swartland Wine & Olive Route and Swartland Tourism. #SwartlandCares#Swartland /#MeetMeInRiebeekThank you to our media sponsor for this project, Swartland Joernaal .

Nuwe hospitaal vir Malmesbury

Indien alles volgens plan verloop, sal die Swartland eersdaags sy eie privaathospitaal hê op Malmesbury.
Dié hospitaal van die Samaritan-groep sal oor 83 beddens beskik.
Daar is ook onlangs aanpassings gemaak, sodat nog ‘n teater tot die planne gevoeg kan word.
Dit lê nou by die Departement van Gesondheid en moet ook nog deur die Swartland Munisipaliteit goedgekeur word.
Die hospitaal se planne sluit vyf teaters, 83 beddens, intensiewe sorgeenheid, hoësorgeenheid, kraam- pediatriese eenheid, dagsaal, neonatale hoësorgeenheid en meer in.
Die Samaritan-groep staan aan die stuur van hospitale, klinieke en versorgingsoorde vir verswakte persone asook diegene met dimensie.
Dit is nog onduidelik wanneer grondwerke sal begin.

Eiendom: Jou huurder en sy kennisperiode

Huurder: “Ek gee jou 20 dae kennis om my huurkontrak te beëindig”.
Verhuurder: “Maar die huurkontrak sê jy moet twee kalendermaande kennis gee!”
Mag die huurder dit doen?
Om hierdie regsvraag te beantwoord moet verbruikers bewus wees van die relevante bepalings in die Verbruikersbeskermingswet 68 van 2008, beter bekend as die Consumer Protection Act (CPA).
Die eerste vraag is altyd of CPA op die spesifieke huurkontrak van toepassing is. In meeste gevalle is die CPA van toepassing op huurkontrakte, al verhuur jy net een eiendom. Daar is natuurlik uitsonderings, maar vir die doeleindes van hierdie berig, aanvaar ons dat die CPA wel van toepassing.
Indien die CPA wel van toepassing is, is die tweede vraag of Artikel 14 van die CPA op die spesifieke huurkontrak van toepassing is.
Artikel 14 is slegs van toepassing op vastetermyn huurkontrakte en word uitdruklik uitgesluit wanneer ‘n huurooreenkoms tussen twee regspersone (maatskappy, beslote korporasies, trusts, ens) aangegaan word, ongeag hulle jaarlikse omset. Artikel 14 is dus van toepassing op die meerderheid residensiële huurkontrakte en sommige kommersiële huurkontrakte.
“Maar die huurkontrak sê jy moet minstens twee kalendermaande kennis gee!”
Indien die CPA van toepassing op ‘n huurkontrak is, kan ‘n verhuurder nie uit die bepalings van die CPA kontrakteer nie. Indien die CPA van toeapssing op ‘n huurkontrak is is dit onderhewig aan die relevante bepalings, ongeag of daar ander bepalings in die huurkontrak is.
In terme van Artikel 14(2)(b)(i)(bb) van die CPA mag ‘n huurder sy/haar huurkontrak enige tyd gedurende die huurtermyn en vir enige rede kanselleer met 20 besigheidsdae skriftelike kennis aan die verhuurder. Die skriftelike kennis kan in enige toelaatbare vorm gestuur word, selfs ‘n WhatsApp of SMS-boodskap, maar die inhoud moet duidelik wees.
Huurders moet egter versigtig wees wanneer hulle besluit om ‘n huurkontrak in terme van Artikel 14(2)(b)(i)(bb) van die CPA te kanselleer.
In terme van Artikel 14(3)(a) en (b) van die CPA is ‘n huurder steeds aanspreeklik vir alle huur- en verwante gelde in terme van die huurkontrak en die verhuurder is geregtig om ‘n redelike kansellasie fooi van die huurder te eis op datum waarop die kansellasie in werking tree.
Die redelike kansellasie fooi kan op twee maniere bepaal word.
Die huurder en verhuurder kan met die ondertekening van die huurkontrak ooreenkom op ‘n minimum kansellasie fooi wat dan die redelike kansellasie fooi is of, indien geen voorafgaande ooreenkoms bereik is nie, deur middel van Regulasie 5(2) van die CPA, welke Regulasie ‘n lys faktore bevat om die redelike kansellasie fooi te bepaal. Regulasie 5(3) bepaal egter dat in beide gevalle die redelike kansellasie fooi nooit so hoog mag wees om die huurder sodanig af te skrik dat hy nie sy reg kan uitoefen om die huurkontrak te kanselleer nie.
Wat “te hoog” is hang van elke situasie af en kan nie in hierdie berig met duidelikheid uitgelê word nie.
Dit is dus baie belangrik dat huurders en verhuurders die implikasies verstaan wanneer ‘n besluit geneem word om ‘n huurkontrak in terme van die CPA te kanselleer.
Behoorlike advies deur ‘n prokureur of verhuringsagent is dus van noodsaaklike belang om te verseker dat jou huurkontrak en besluit aan die bepalings van die CPA voldoen.
Hierdie berig is deur William Koch van William Koch Prokureurs saamgestel. Indien jy enige vrae het kan hy gekontak word by 022 125 0610 of stuur ‘n e-pos aan william@kochlaw.co.za.
• Hierdie berig word slegs vir algemene doeleindes gepubliseer en vorm nie regsadvies nie.

Mobile testing unit available in Malmesbury

An increase can still be seen in the number of COVID-19 cases in the West Coast District, although there are early signs that the province has entered the second wave’s peak. The West Coast District is one of the rural areas where the surge in cases started at a later stage than many other in the province.
We now have 2 741 active cases of COVID-19 compared to 2 725 active cases as on 11 January. Our hospitals and staff continue to be under extreme pressure. In the last seven to 14 days 159 people from this area were hospitalised due to COVID-19.
The District has welcomed a Mobile Testing Unit that was used in the Garden Route District. The Mobile Testing Unit, currently at Malmesbury Community Day Centre (CDC), provides antigen testing. Antigen testing lets healthcare workers determine if the protein that is part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is present. The antigen test results should be available within 30 minutes. If it is positive, you have COVID-19. If the antigen test is negative, you will still need to be tested for COVID-19 by swabbing in the back of your throat.
Dr Anthony Hawkridge, Manager of Medical Services in the Swartland/Bergrivier Subdistricts of Western Cape Government Health says the availability of this service will increase their testing capacity and relieve some of the pressure on the CDC and Swartland Hospital.
“It brings testing closer to those who need it most. It should also allow us to rapidly detect those who are positive and give them appropriate advice regarding isolation. At the moment we advise them to quarantine awaiting a result,” says Hawkridge.
“It may allow us to pick up patients who may need admission earlier than would otherwise have been the case.”
The Western Cape Department of Health is aware of rumours about a large number of COVID-19 positive workers at the Broodkraal farm in the Piketberg area who are apparently not in isolation.
The team monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic locally has confirmed that at 14 January there were eight individuals on the farm with active COVID-19.
Earlier in the pandemic an isolation facility was established on the farm so that employees would not have to leave their community during their time of isolation. Following the rumours our healthcare workers visited the farm on 14 January. “The co-operation from the farm managers are excellent. Just like when you separate yourself from others when you isolate at home, you have to have no contact with people from outside when you are in an isolation facility. You have to complete your ten days to prevent others from getting ill,” says Aletta Haasbroek who leads the COVID-19 monitoring team in the West Coast District.
She wants to reassure the community that the monitoring team responds quickly when someone tests positive. The Department remains in contact with role-players like famers to support them and their employees during this challenging time of the pandemic.
How to quarantine/isolate yourself
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, if you tested positive for COVID-19 or you are awaiting your test results, you should separate yourself from others for 10 days. You can end your time of separation sooner if you receive negative test results. If you were close to someone who had COVID-19 without wearing a mask and for more than 15 minutes, you must also separate yourself from others for 10 days.
“Our monitoring team reports that despite clear guidance from healthcare workers some people who should be in isolation have been seen shopping and moving around in the community. Being in isolation is an important barrier in protecting others from COVID-19. It also gives you the chance to rest and recover. If you cannot safely separate yourself or make alternative arrangements for food and medication, ask your healthcare worker about going to a Quarantine/Isolation facility.”
During your time of quarantine/isolation, you should:
• Stay in a room on your own. If this is not possible, do not share a bed with someone.
• Use your own towel and make sure others don’t use it. Disinfect the surfaces/objects you touched after using the bathroom. Make a mixture of water and bleach (JIK) to use for disinfection.
• Only you should use the plate, fork, knife, cup, etc. that you are using.
• Ask the person who is caring for you to wash your clothes in warm water to disinfect them. The person caring for you should always wear a mask.
• Stay in your room as far as possible and avoid others in your home who are more vulnerable to get very sick if they get COVID-19 (older people and people with chronic conditions).
• Neither you nor others in your home should receive visitors. Everyone in your household must remain home.
Ask friends and family to run errands like buying food and medicine.
• Get as much rest as possible. Keep taking your chronic medication and drink lots of water so that you stay hydrated. If you have a fever, cool yourself by using a damp cloth. You can also use paracetamol like Panado as prescribed.
• If you are concerned that you cannot safely separate yourself from others ask your healthcare worker about the quarantine/isolation facilities in your area. There is no charge for staying at the facilities offered by Western Cape Government Health for quarantine/isolation.
• If you have trouble breathing, have chest pain or if you feel confused or struggle to wake up, you must get help urgently.
Call the ambulance (10177) or call the COVID-19 hotline at 080 928 4102.